by Matthew Best
What do we charge for this service? Who's going to implement? Which company should
we partner with? Who has the right information? What should we eat for lunch? We are presented with question and decisions like these all day long. We make decision after decision after decision. Most of the time we don't even think about these decisions or stress over making decisions. But there are those times when we feel we are in the grip of indecision.
We just don't know what to do. I had an opportunity to speak before a chapter of the American Business Women Association this past week and the topic was indecision. I shared with them a simple three step process on overcoming indecision. I call it the stop, drop, and roll method. Of course this is the famous saying taught to children about dealing with fire. I hope you'll see the connection to decision making.
Step 1 - Stop. When you are in the midst of being indecisive the first thing you need to do is recognize that you are having trouble making a decision and just stop. Stop all the chatter in your mind. Remove yourself from the situation. Stressing over indecision consumes a lot of energy. Stop.
Step 2 - Drop. Drop the emotional baggage. As we start to think about all the things we can do, we become emotionally involved in many decision. Remember, the mind is a tool
for your use in making a decision. It's a rational tool. For those times when you can't just "go with your gut" you need to drop the emotional attachment the options and to your fears.
Step 3 - Roll. Use your imagination with this one. My kids love to roll down hills, just like most kids I know. It's next to impossible to roll down the hill though if there are obstacles in the way. When it comes to decision making, you have to identify all the obstacles that are preventing you from rolling down the hill. In most cases, you'll probably find that a good portion of your obstacles are due to a lack of information or criteria. Without important information or the criteria, how can you make an appropriate decision. Identify the information or criteria you need, find it and then roll right into making a decision. Peter Drucker once said something like this - Decisions are easy when we have all the information.
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Saturday, September 5, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Instruction Manual
by Matthew Best
"Take this pill to cure your _______." "Read this book in order to _______." "Take this course so you can _______." "Eat this so you can feel or do _______." Directions, instructions, directives, regulations, rules, laws, etc. All day, every, day we hear innumerable directions from others either directly or indirectly telling
us what is good or bad for us. Those that tell us these things think they know what is best for us. And why shouldn't they? How many people out there are looking for direction or instruction - a sort of instruction manual for their life.
We aren't born with an instruction manual – at least not a written and edited version
anyway. The scary fact is that all this well - meaning instruction is nothing more than attempting to get one person to do what the other person wants them to do. Most people don't have a clue how to be themselves, let alone tell someone else how to= run their life. Here's the only instruction you need - You need to be the best you can be.
When we realize this, our first question is typically "how do I do that?" That's the wrong focus - that's looking for an answer that is "out there" as if there is some instruction manual or someone else actually knows the answer of how to be the best you. They don't and you won't find that external instruction manual.
"Being" is usually considered a passive word - just sitting around waiting for something to happen. My understanding of being is a bit different - it relates to the word obedience. The Latin origin of this term means "towards, to hear." Obedience has everything to do with listening.
When is the last time you really listened? Listen to yourself.Listen to what others are really saying - the meaning behind what they are saying. Listen to what is happening around you. There isn't a written instruction manual you can read on how to be you. However, I can tell you this - listen, it makes life easier. What can be said for you personally can also be said for your business, relationships, and so many other things.
Sign-up at http://www.coachwithmatt.com/
"Take this pill to cure your _______." "Read this book in order to _______." "Take this course so you can _______." "Eat this so you can feel or do _______." Directions, instructions, directives, regulations, rules, laws, etc. All day, every, day we hear innumerable directions from others either directly or indirectly telling
us what is good or bad for us. Those that tell us these things think they know what is best for us. And why shouldn't they? How many people out there are looking for direction or instruction - a sort of instruction manual for their life.
We aren't born with an instruction manual – at least not a written and edited version
anyway. The scary fact is that all this well - meaning instruction is nothing more than attempting to get one person to do what the other person wants them to do. Most people don't have a clue how to be themselves, let alone tell someone else how to= run their life. Here's the only instruction you need - You need to be the best you can be.
When we realize this, our first question is typically "how do I do that?" That's the wrong focus - that's looking for an answer that is "out there" as if there is some instruction manual or someone else actually knows the answer of how to be the best you. They don't and you won't find that external instruction manual.
"Being" is usually considered a passive word - just sitting around waiting for something to happen. My understanding of being is a bit different - it relates to the word obedience. The Latin origin of this term means "towards, to hear." Obedience has everything to do with listening.
When is the last time you really listened? Listen to yourself.Listen to what others are really saying - the meaning behind what they are saying. Listen to what is happening around you. There isn't a written instruction manual you can read on how to be you. However, I can tell you this - listen, it makes life easier. What can be said for you personally can also be said for your business, relationships, and so many other things.
Sign-up at http://www.coachwithmatt.com/
Running a Business is Like Buying a Vehicle
by Matthew Best
This past week we bought a "new" minivan for our family. It's not brand new - I'm not a big fan of buying new vehicles, we needed to do this. Our old minivan had just about 160,000 miles on it and was, as our trusted mechanic stated - "getting close to being on borrowed time."
Over the course of this process several things occurred to me that I think relates this process with running a business that I'd like to share with you.
1.Be Clear. You have to know what you are looking for in a vehicle. There’s a huge difference between a minivan and a two seated BMW Z4. While yes, the BMW is fun, is it practical to your situation? For us, it's not as much as I wish it could be.
You have to make several other decisions - what color do you want, or at least know
what you don't want. What's your budget? Are you getting a loan or paying cash? If you finance, how long? How much will you be putting down? Got a trade in? And isn't all this similar to a business? You have to be clear with your business - who is your target market? What's your message? What do you charge for your product or service? What's your profit margin? Etc.
2. Sales. The only way a car is sold is through a sales person ultimately. Of course in our tech savvy age, that sales person could be a website, but it still acts as a sales person. How does the sales person treat you? Are they the used-car salesman stereotype, or are they an assistant buyer asking you questions to find the best fit instead of trying to get the biggest commission. Sales are vital for any business. What kind of sales person are you with your client? What impression are you leaving with your clients? Are you a resource for people?
3. Details. Proof of income. Proof of insurance. Registration. Odometer reading. Sign here - this document says we can check your credit. Sign here - this document says you are waiving this option. Sign here.
This part of buying a vehicle can be confusing for a customer. With all the papers and documents and numbers flying around, you have to have your stuff in order. Is this any different from running your business. Your clients probably don't have a clue as to all the hurdles you jump through for some of the things you do for them. You have been organized and you have to understand it well enough to be able to explain it to your clients with confidence.
Sign-up at http://www.coachwithmatt.com/
This past week we bought a "new" minivan for our family. It's not brand new - I'm not a big fan of buying new vehicles, we needed to do this. Our old minivan had just about 160,000 miles on it and was, as our trusted mechanic stated - "getting close to being on borrowed time."
Over the course of this process several things occurred to me that I think relates this process with running a business that I'd like to share with you.
1.Be Clear. You have to know what you are looking for in a vehicle. There’s a huge difference between a minivan and a two seated BMW Z4. While yes, the BMW is fun, is it practical to your situation? For us, it's not as much as I wish it could be.
You have to make several other decisions - what color do you want, or at least know
what you don't want. What's your budget? Are you getting a loan or paying cash? If you finance, how long? How much will you be putting down? Got a trade in? And isn't all this similar to a business? You have to be clear with your business - who is your target market? What's your message? What do you charge for your product or service? What's your profit margin? Etc.
2. Sales. The only way a car is sold is through a sales person ultimately. Of course in our tech savvy age, that sales person could be a website, but it still acts as a sales person. How does the sales person treat you? Are they the used-car salesman stereotype, or are they an assistant buyer asking you questions to find the best fit instead of trying to get the biggest commission. Sales are vital for any business. What kind of sales person are you with your client? What impression are you leaving with your clients? Are you a resource for people?
3. Details. Proof of income. Proof of insurance. Registration. Odometer reading. Sign here - this document says we can check your credit. Sign here - this document says you are waiving this option. Sign here.
This part of buying a vehicle can be confusing for a customer. With all the papers and documents and numbers flying around, you have to have your stuff in order. Is this any different from running your business. Your clients probably don't have a clue as to all the hurdles you jump through for some of the things you do for them. You have been organized and you have to understand it well enough to be able to explain it to your clients with confidence.
Sign-up at http://www.coachwithmatt.com/
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