by Matthew Best
Every once in awhile, even the most positive person will allow themselves to feel the effects of what is going on around them. It can be difficult for entrepreneurs to stay upbeat - the constant drumbeat of the media about the recession, hearing about it from friends and family, seeing it in the newspaper, etc. What's a person to do? Here's a few quick tips.
First - tune out as much of it as you can. You know what the news is going to report don't you? Death, destruction, loss, fire, damage, crime, woe-is-me stories, etc. That's what counts as news these days - skip it. If anything important happens, you'll find out - someone is bound to tell you about it.
Second - get serious about your goals. Nothing generates a positive outlook like success. Take a look at your goals and start working on them every day - do one thing today that will bring you closer to your goal. Then, when you accomplish the goal, set another one.
Third - Get creative. Generating new ideas, creating new partnerships and joint ventures, and offering new products are great ways to stay upbeat. You are most positive when your creative juices are flowing - you are focused on opportunities and possibilities.
Fourth - Create a two minute complaining session. That's right, set aside two minutes to just complain, mope, feel sorry for yourself, have a pity party, etc. Really get into the moment with this. You'll get that "down" feeling all in at once for the day, and everything else will feel a heck of a lot better.
Fifth - Exercise. When I'm feeling down or low on energy, I go for run. The toughest part is getting out the door, but as soon as I get going, I always feel better. And when I get back - I'm revived. Find your own exercise routine - even if it's walking for 15 Minutes. Getting up and moving will refresh you and give you energy.
Like what you are reading? Want more? Be sure to sign up for my free weekly newsletter - Passport for Success. It is delivered to your e-mail box every Monday morning. Sign-up at Passportforsuccess.org.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Are You Dealing the Symptom or the Cause?
by Matthew Best
If you had a stone in your shoe, what would you do? Most people I know would answer with the obvious solution - take your shoe off and dump the stone out. Problem solved.
What I find amazing though is that we may know this intellectually, but there are so many examples in life where we put aside this obvious solution and think that the simple solution of "dumping the stone" just won't work for any number of reasons.
Examples abound these days - one need only look at how government operates to understand that "dumping the stone" would mean that many government agencies and officials would be unnecessary and in short order, out of a job.
Another example would be healthcare - how many times do we treat the pain we feel as opposed to looking at what is actually causing the pain?
And how about business - especially your business? What are the "symptoms" you deal with every day? How are you treating them? Are you looking at what these symptoms are actually telling you about the situation, or are you more concerned with just making the pain go away?
Take a few moments today to stop reacting to the "pain" your business or your people are experiencing and instead listen to what that pain is trying to tell you.
Like what you are reading? Want more? Be sure to sign up for my free weekly newsletter - Passport for Success. It is delivered to your e-mail box every Monday morning. Sign-up at Passportforsuccess.org
If you had a stone in your shoe, what would you do? Most people I know would answer with the obvious solution - take your shoe off and dump the stone out. Problem solved.
What I find amazing though is that we may know this intellectually, but there are so many examples in life where we put aside this obvious solution and think that the simple solution of "dumping the stone" just won't work for any number of reasons.
Examples abound these days - one need only look at how government operates to understand that "dumping the stone" would mean that many government agencies and officials would be unnecessary and in short order, out of a job.
Another example would be healthcare - how many times do we treat the pain we feel as opposed to looking at what is actually causing the pain?
And how about business - especially your business? What are the "symptoms" you deal with every day? How are you treating them? Are you looking at what these symptoms are actually telling you about the situation, or are you more concerned with just making the pain go away?
Take a few moments today to stop reacting to the "pain" your business or your people are experiencing and instead listen to what that pain is trying to tell you.
Like what you are reading? Want more? Be sure to sign up for my free weekly newsletter - Passport for Success. It is delivered to your e-mail box every Monday morning. Sign-up at Passportforsuccess.org
Difference between Prospectors and Master Prospectors
"Prospectors value their money more than they do their time. They'll waste their time trying to hold onto their money. Master Prospectors value their time more than their money. They'll invest their money into tools that make their time more valuable." John Kalench
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Birthdays
by Matthew Best
February is a big birthday month in our family. My birthday was the first, my son turns two on the second, my oldest daughter turns six on the sixth, my wife's grandmother turns 92 on the seventh, my wife's birthday is the 17th and her cousin's birthday is the 27th.
All these birthdays are great, and yet require a good deal of planning to make all the parties a real hit.
Business is no different. You have busy times - times when everything is happening all at once - sales, projects, new hires, marketing campaigns, etc. During these busy times you know that being organized and prepared makes all the difference.
Take some time today to set some time aside to plan your week. Even better, take a look at when your busy time is and start planning what you'll need now.
Like what you are reading? Want more? Be sure to sign up for my free weekly newsletter - Passport for Success. It is delivered to your e-mail box every Monday morning. Sign-up at Passportforsuccess.org.
February is a big birthday month in our family. My birthday was the first, my son turns two on the second, my oldest daughter turns six on the sixth, my wife's grandmother turns 92 on the seventh, my wife's birthday is the 17th and her cousin's birthday is the 27th.
All these birthdays are great, and yet require a good deal of planning to make all the parties a real hit.
Business is no different. You have busy times - times when everything is happening all at once - sales, projects, new hires, marketing campaigns, etc. During these busy times you know that being organized and prepared makes all the difference.
Take some time today to set some time aside to plan your week. Even better, take a look at when your busy time is and start planning what you'll need now.
Like what you are reading? Want more? Be sure to sign up for my free weekly newsletter - Passport for Success. It is delivered to your e-mail box every Monday morning. Sign-up at Passportforsuccess.org.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
What are you and your business becoming?
Do you realize that you and your business are always changing? What I find amazing is that we spend so much time attempting to get ourselves and our businesses to a position of familiarity - actions that we feel comfortable with. We do this because it’s human nature to want to feel like we are in control.
Usually though, if we are in a position familiarity, we get ourselves lulled into a false sense of security - and that’s when we start to fall behind. You can read endless stories about people and organizations that were at the top of their game and then came crashing down, all because they stopped changing.
When something gets to be familiar, it’s usually time to examine it and see what needs to change. That doesn’t always mean change to doing something different. Sometimes change can mean doing what you are familiar with, only better - small changes that enhance a strength.
So the questions for you this week is this - What are you becoming? What is your business becoming? What’s familiar and comfortable for you? What needs to change?
- Like what you are reading? Want more? Be sure to sign up for my free weekly newsletter - Passport for Success. It is delivered to your e-mail box every Monday morning. Sign-up at Passportforsuccess.org.
Usually though, if we are in a position familiarity, we get ourselves lulled into a false sense of security - and that’s when we start to fall behind. You can read endless stories about people and organizations that were at the top of their game and then came crashing down, all because they stopped changing.
When something gets to be familiar, it’s usually time to examine it and see what needs to change. That doesn’t always mean change to doing something different. Sometimes change can mean doing what you are familiar with, only better - small changes that enhance a strength.
So the questions for you this week is this - What are you becoming? What is your business becoming? What’s familiar and comfortable for you? What needs to change?
- Like what you are reading? Want more? Be sure to sign up for my free weekly newsletter - Passport for Success. It is delivered to your e-mail box every Monday morning. Sign-up at Passportforsuccess.org.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Manifesto
What’s your company’s manifesto? I know you are probably sitting there saying - “what in the world are you talking about Matthew? Manifestos? What in the world does that have to do with my business?”
A lot actually. I was listening to an audio book and the author suggested that every company should have a manifesto. What a great idea. I’ll be working on the Best Solutions’ manifesto this week, won’t you join me?
See, manifestos don’t have to be just political or religious documents stating a set of principles or beliefs. Coupled with a vision, mission and core values, a manifesto is a great addition to any business.
One key obstacle you might be identifying right now is this - how do you write one?
Well, you can do a quick Google search to see what others suggest if you like. Here’s the summary of what I found that seemed to be a consistent theme.
First, it’s got to be something you feel strongly about. Think about it - you are writing a document for all the world to see. You better have something important to say and feel passionate enough about it to share with the world. A quick Wikipedia search on the term ‘manifesto’ revealed some well known examples: The Declaration of Independence, the Communist Manifesto and the Contract With America are just three of the dozens listed. I don’t think anyone can argue that those are three documents that made an impact.
Second, be clear and concise. Say what you have to say. Manifestos are not full-length novels that go into great detail - they are a set of beliefs that are clear and concise.
Third, be bold. The purpose of a manifesto is to tell the world about your cause, to start a movement, to change the status quo, etc. Think about those documents I mentioned before - they all boldly call for a different way of doing things.
There is no rule that says manifestos are reserved for political movements. You and your business are a movement. You and I and everyone else with a business are all in the same business when you think about it - we are in the business of change. Every entrepreneur is looking for a new way to do something, a way to change the process, to reduce costs, improve revenue, change the way people shop, and on and on.
So what’s the cause that your business takes up? How does this cause affect and inspire others? How are you and your business going to change society, or our nation, or your state, or even just your community? What’s your entrepreneurial manifesto?
- Like what you are reading? Want more? Be sure to sign up for my free weekly newsletter - Passport for Success. It is delivered to your e-mail box every Monday morning. Sign-up at Passportforsuccess.org.
A lot actually. I was listening to an audio book and the author suggested that every company should have a manifesto. What a great idea. I’ll be working on the Best Solutions’ manifesto this week, won’t you join me?
See, manifestos don’t have to be just political or religious documents stating a set of principles or beliefs. Coupled with a vision, mission and core values, a manifesto is a great addition to any business.
One key obstacle you might be identifying right now is this - how do you write one?
Well, you can do a quick Google search to see what others suggest if you like. Here’s the summary of what I found that seemed to be a consistent theme.
First, it’s got to be something you feel strongly about. Think about it - you are writing a document for all the world to see. You better have something important to say and feel passionate enough about it to share with the world. A quick Wikipedia search on the term ‘manifesto’ revealed some well known examples: The Declaration of Independence, the Communist Manifesto and the Contract With America are just three of the dozens listed. I don’t think anyone can argue that those are three documents that made an impact.
Second, be clear and concise. Say what you have to say. Manifestos are not full-length novels that go into great detail - they are a set of beliefs that are clear and concise.
Third, be bold. The purpose of a manifesto is to tell the world about your cause, to start a movement, to change the status quo, etc. Think about those documents I mentioned before - they all boldly call for a different way of doing things.
There is no rule that says manifestos are reserved for political movements. You and your business are a movement. You and I and everyone else with a business are all in the same business when you think about it - we are in the business of change. Every entrepreneur is looking for a new way to do something, a way to change the process, to reduce costs, improve revenue, change the way people shop, and on and on.
So what’s the cause that your business takes up? How does this cause affect and inspire others? How are you and your business going to change society, or our nation, or your state, or even just your community? What’s your entrepreneurial manifesto?
- Like what you are reading? Want more? Be sure to sign up for my free weekly newsletter - Passport for Success. It is delivered to your e-mail box every Monday morning. Sign-up at Passportforsuccess.org.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
New Year's Promises
We are now a few days into 2009 - how are you doing with your resolutions for the new year? Did you make any?
Recent studies suggest that fewer people are making resolutions and the ones that do make them are breaking those resolutions faster than previous years.
Here’s my advice for your New Year’s resolutions - don’t do them. Instead make one significant New Year’s promise. This is something that you will absolutely promise to complete by the end of 2009. It could be something personal or business related.
Why a promise? Because a resolution is nothing more than a wish, when it comes down to it. There’s no plan of action and no consequences if you don’t fulfill the resolution. Unless you have a Superman-like will of steel, the chances that you’ll keep your resolution for the entire year are minimal.
Think about it - if you are like most people, when you make a promise, you’ll do everything in your power to keep that promise. That’s because when we make a promise, we are putting our integrity on the line. Integrity is one of the the most important values that a person has. Think about this - we’ll be dishonest, just keep our integrity from being questioned - that’s how important integrity is. And no, integrity and honesty are not the same thing. Honesty is giving your word, integrity is keeping it. If we never give our word (make a honest commitment), then we don’t have to worry about keeping our word do we?
So what’s your promise for 2009? It’s not too late to make a promise for the year. If you need some accountability - e-mail me at matt@somedayisland.com with your promise. I’ll put it in my calendar to ask you about your promise at the end of the year.
Make 2009 a great year. Make a promise and keep it. You’ll be glad you did.
- Like what you are reading? Want more? Be sure to sign up for my free weekly newsletter - Passport for Success. It is delivered to your e-mail box every Monday morning. Sign-up at Passportforsuccess.org.
Recent studies suggest that fewer people are making resolutions and the ones that do make them are breaking those resolutions faster than previous years.
Here’s my advice for your New Year’s resolutions - don’t do them. Instead make one significant New Year’s promise. This is something that you will absolutely promise to complete by the end of 2009. It could be something personal or business related.
Why a promise? Because a resolution is nothing more than a wish, when it comes down to it. There’s no plan of action and no consequences if you don’t fulfill the resolution. Unless you have a Superman-like will of steel, the chances that you’ll keep your resolution for the entire year are minimal.
Think about it - if you are like most people, when you make a promise, you’ll do everything in your power to keep that promise. That’s because when we make a promise, we are putting our integrity on the line. Integrity is one of the the most important values that a person has. Think about this - we’ll be dishonest, just keep our integrity from being questioned - that’s how important integrity is. And no, integrity and honesty are not the same thing. Honesty is giving your word, integrity is keeping it. If we never give our word (make a honest commitment), then we don’t have to worry about keeping our word do we?
So what’s your promise for 2009? It’s not too late to make a promise for the year. If you need some accountability - e-mail me at matt@somedayisland.com with your promise. I’ll put it in my calendar to ask you about your promise at the end of the year.
Make 2009 a great year. Make a promise and keep it. You’ll be glad you did.
- Like what you are reading? Want more? Be sure to sign up for my free weekly newsletter - Passport for Success. It is delivered to your e-mail box every Monday morning. Sign-up at Passportforsuccess.org.
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