Prospecting: Week 4

Read more about the 13 weeks here.

The value of prospecting is irrefutable. This is the main reason I selected it as part of my 13 weeks. Prospecting could include a lot of things, but for most people this week's focus would include finding more clients. For me, I noted desired focus areas of networking, leveraging connections, and asking for the business.

Not just Networking.
My intention was not just to do more networking because that is one of my best strength areas. I am naturally drawn to relationship building and feel this is easy for me. However, even as a business owner who knows better, I am not particularly good at capitalizing on those relationships. And frankly I am emotionally torn about this. I know darn well that when done well, it is absolutely the right thing to help more people by asking for the business. And yet, like so many people out there, including most of my clients, I don't feel all that comfortable wearing the "sales" hat. I love coaching! I am in business to coach people to succeed in business. So...well you can see the irony here. When in the right frame of mind I actually enjoy what can be called the sales process, but I tend to avoid it when I think of it as the sales process.

"Sales" really isn't a four-letter word!
We are all sales people in a sense. Perhaps if we think of it as gentle influence, expressing natural curiosity, and sincerely looking to be helpful by meeting needs, then we would never procrastinate or avoid sales activities.

Overall, I scored myself a 2 out of 5. Yes despite my disappointment in not really taking it to the next level, I did manage to hit all three focus areas. Unfortunately, I found myself organizing my business contacts list more than actually talking to people, but I did attend several networking events, and followed up with prospective clients. I also identified several opportunities for additional service offers with past and current clients. Now I just have to continue the follow-through!

How to Focus (No, It's Not Hocus Pocus)

Pay attention! Focus! How many times did you hear this is a kid (or as an adult, come to think of it)? When the ball is coming at your head or when you have 2 hours until a big deadline...all you need is more focus. Ugh, "just focus." Yeah right, like it's so super easy when your stress level is through the roof. Aaaah, but it can be. Easy, I mean. With practice. Yep, that's the catch. But it's not really a catch as much as a way in, and it is SO worth it!

Focus Defined
Q. Are focus and discipline the same thing, because I just can't seem to get a handle on either of these?
A. No, although the road to learning laser focus probably requires a bit of discipline for most people. Focus is the ability to put thought energy toward something specific. Discipline is the ability to give yourself a command and follow it.

What About This, That, and the Other?
Do you have this challenge too? You just sit down to focus on that project and almost as soon as your butt touches the chair, one or more things you "have to do" pop up. Such as: I have to go to the bathroom, and I should get that email out to the team before I forget, and oh I just remembered I need to call Bill, and omg I should have eaten lunch because I'm starving... First of all, rest assured this is normal in our modern world of work. Almost everyone feels like their focus is scattered pretty much all the time. My personal theory on this is that we are simply used to it, and we now expect it, and the cycle continues. We expect ourselves to be masterful multi-taskers. However, just like a computer processor, the human brain technically handles only one task at a time, even if it is at the speed of light.

How to Increase Your Focus
Determine what type of structures or processes you can use to help you create and maintain focus when needed. As an example of something my clients really benefit from, try using a kitchen timer to keep yourself focused. Determine a specific task to focus on, take a few minutes to clear out the procrastination items (go to the bathroom, refill your water glass, set the phone to silent, etc...) then set the timer for a reasonable period of time and focus ONLY on completing the desired task for that amount of time. This works because essentially you give yourself permission to put the other stuff on hold temporarily. Try it.

What to Focus On?
Another facet of Focus leads us to what exactly you put your focus toward. Which thoughts and actions will ultimately help you be more effective? What are you working toward? If you don't know your desired outcome, start by focusing on that.

As an example, if you have a project due soon, be able to articulate what you want to accomplish. In others words, what would you like the outcome to be? (At a medium-sized contact center, they determined as a team they wanted the clients totally satisfied, the team to feel the project was worthwhile, they worked together well and didn't have to put in as much overtime, and also the profit is in the good range due to improvements in project flow.) Once you have the goal to focus on, being as specific as you can, stretching for improvements with a bit of pragmatism. Then, hold the picture of this accomplishment in your focus while asking simple questions to help you drive it forward from your starting point. What could you do to make it happen? (If you have a team, like in this example, brainstorm with them.) Do NOT filter the ideas until AFTER you have a ton of real possibilities. Then figure out which ones to take action on.


ACTIONS:
1. Consider your ability to focus and whether or not discipline is required. Resolve to make 1 little tiny improvement this week. What will it be?

2. Try using the timer technique today or tomorrow to complete a task you've been putting off. OH, it will feel so good! Which task do you choose?

3. Keep a notepad handy and jot down things that come to mind when you are focusing on something specific. Write it down, then get right back to it, checking the list for actions after "focus time."

Bonus!
To help you focus your imagination and get motivated, I'd like to recommend a product I use personally and recommend to clients to help focus on creating their vision for the future:
http://www.visualizeyourgoals.com/cgi-bin/t.cgi?a=476574

Business Education: Week 3

Post 4 of 14: Read more here

Wow, this was a really great week! I was so busy sponging up information on continuous improvement in my field, and immersing myself in learning that I didn't even blog about it.

I came up with a tracker in Excel to chart my progress and have been assigning myself daily ratings for how well I've been doing. With 5 being the top score and 0 being no activity in support of the focus trait, every day for Week 3 I scored a '5' - it was incredible!


Without going into nauseating detail about the activities I completed, suffice it to say I have definitely benefitted from these efforts, and have set a goal to have an additional certification and more CEUs completed in the coming months.


Once again, I feel that I'm just getting rolling with this trait and the time has come to switch gears. Arrgh. However, the good far outweighs the bad, and I am so on board with this whole idea that I just influenced another of my MasterMind groups to study this book and to do the 13 traits. We are starting it up in a few weeks. Yay!

Moderation: Week 2

Post 3 on developing 13 traits (link to more)

Wow, Week 2 came and went pretty quickly! At this point, I am a believer in this "program." I found myself whining just a bit about the extra time committed to making this all work, but frankly it is more than worth it.

I chose "Moderation" because I wanted to increase awareness of my consumption...yes food and drink, but also time spent on certain things, and applying a bit of the 80/20 rule, questioning whether I really needed to do or have certain things.

I realized a couple days in that I mis-named this one since this was meant to be about responsible living more than say, controlling myself at dinner. Therefore I believe I will rename it and clarify what that means for my next round of the 13 traits.

So was it a waste of time? Or a do-over? No.

I exercised my 6 days, I made better choices at mealtimes, I took my recyclable products home with me (and recycled them), and I committed to doing a few other related things and kept the promises made to myself.

Although it wasn't very different from a normal week for me, I definitely had more awareness and therefore considered the consequences of my actions a bit more. While admittedly in very minor ways, I am a better person for having focused on "moderation" this past week.

Any surprises? Kind of. I went a little crazy the day after the week ended, eating and drinking more, rebelling on getting a few things done, and skipping a planned workout. What the heck? Well- this just proves that focusing on it for a period of time DID have an impact.

Note: I have now "normalized" and am excited about my focus for the current week (read the next blog post to find out what it is).

Presentation: Week 1

2 of 14 posts on developing 13 traits

It's the last evening of the first week of my 13-week "traits" challenge.

7 days polishing up my presentation skills, and I feel like I just barely got the cart rolling. Yet it's time to move on to the next trait. I am updating my tracker in our MasterMind wiki tonight (ask me about this) and although I scored myself well all 7 days making effort to improve upon this trait, I feel a little disconcerted over moving on so quickly (my brow is actually wrinkled up in resistance).

Hold on. What was Ben thinking? One week to tune up my presentation skills?! I don't exactly suck, but I need more than a week (peripheral free time, mind you) to feel like I was able to take it to the next level...

Ah, but let's review my progress.

I crafted a goal card. Priceless!

I reviewed Toastmasters guidelines --which by the way reaffirmed how great that organization is for people desiring to improve speaking/presenting skills. Check it out! This was a useful exercise for sure.

I actually prepared ahead of time for a new 1/2 day workshop I have coming up soon. Very valuable! (I am sure I will feel less anxiety as the countdown continues.)

I also read several chapters from books I've had on the shelf for quite awhile that I had been meaning to get to. OK, I concede some definite value there, not just because I rifled through the books and have a better understanding of my existing resources, but also because the content was helpful.

I listened to some audio files on sales presentation skills. OK, yes I gained some perspective while also validating what I am doing is still the best approach for me (while doing household chores too!), so this was a good use of my time.

Hmmm...then again, I guess that Benjamin Franklin guy had some things right after all.
Week 2, here I come!

Who Are You and What Do You Do?

Oh, the dreaded cocktail-laced networking event line, "Sooo, what do YOU doooo?"

If it's a couple martinis in during a networking-gone-wild event (don't act all surprised; you know exactly what I'm talking about), I'm likely to deliver a spirited diatribe on why a person should get a little more creative when asking about work. Frankly, I think I'd prefer "Who are you and what do you do?" At least it would make me chuckle! On the other hand, if it's a fairly serious event, I'm tempted to be polite and stick to the basics of elevator-speech-giving/self promotion.

But wait? How many people out there have this networking stuff mastered? Very few. BUT- it could happen just about anywhere, any time. You want to be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities for self promotion!

Networking Do's
1. Dress like you mean it. Are you a professional? Okay then. Manage your image appropriately for your industry and your brand (company and personal).

2. Have your business cards on you at all times. No exceptions. (Don't push them on people, but have them handy.)

3. Talk to people. Let's break it down:

How do you start a conversation with others during networking?
What if you are terrified to approach someone you don't know? Get over it. (OK, that's a bit mean...) Look for ways to connect. You already have several things in common with every person in the room: you are all there to meet people, you were invited to the same event, you are in the same city, you are a working professional, etc... Even if all you can muster is, "do you know where I can get a new nametag?" , "how did you hear about this event?" or similar, it's a start! Work up to "Hi, I'm ____ ," stick out your hand and be ready with something positive, tastefully humorous, or a question.

As a coach, I ask questions of others easily - partly because I have a lot of practice. My advice to novices? Try asking the questions you really want to ask or stating something interesting.

• What are you curious about and how could you ask it in a way that shows that you care about the answer?
• What could you sincerely compliment that person on?
• Ask about family, recreation, or goals.

When you get them talking they will almost automatically come around to their work. Then you can ask clarifying questions. It's easy. The key is to really care about the person and their answers. (In case they drone on and on, and you need to keep mingling, have a polite way to break away.)

How do you talk about what you do?
First, you have to know what you do and how to state it concisely and clearly without being bland. If you haven't taken the time to nail this down, start it now. Let it sit and come back to it a couple times, then share with others and tweak it again. This is so worth doing that I cannot even remotely express the importance here. Currently, I personally like the format, "I am a _____; I specialize in ________."

For example:
"I am a business coach. I specialize in coaching women to succeed in business."

People always query for more. Then you can either share a well-crafted blurb about your product or service BENEFITS (not features!), or you can share your passion statement with full-on enthusiasm. That'll get their attention.

Keep the conversation going to make a real connection.
Ask them more questions about their passions, achievements, or current challenges in their work. IF you would like their information for any reason, ask for their business card. Let them ask for yours.

Once you made the choice to be at the event, enjoy every moment that you can. And at the end of the night, even if you didn't connect with some of the types of people you intended to, be optimistic about the connections to come from your newly expanded circle.

One last thing---and I almost hate to add this, but seriously: never judge a book by its cover.
Happy networking!

Sincerely,
Heather A. Legge

13 Should Be a Lucky Number!

Have you heard of this system that Benjamin Franklin used for self development?
13 weeks of self-improvement...
13 areas of his own choosing - those traits which likely contributed a great deal to his success and the many benefits we enjoy because of it...

I was not familiar with this before a member of one of my MasterMind groups suggested we read a book by Frank Bettger, "How I Raised Myself From Failure to Success in Selling."
Bettger revised Franklin's list, modernizing it a bit and tailoring it to his own circumstances and definition of success.

Our group of professionals is now embarking on our own 13 week focus to strengthen those traits that we (individually) feel are the keys to our success.

By the way, the concept includes repeating the process each quarter so that after a year's time you will have spent 4 weeks on each area and experience significant gains - ultimately to be living more successfully.

Here are my 13 (each with a definition/focus relevant to my personal development):

1. Presentation
2. Moderation
3. Business/Continuing Education
4. Prospecting
5. Intention
6. Communication
7. Relationships
8. Organizing
9. Spontaneity
10. Peacefulness
11. Effectiveness
12. Generosity
13. Strategy

I am excited for the progress each of us will make, and the difference we will make because of it!

To your success,
Heather

More on Confidence

(Part II)
STEP OUT BOLDLY
I did it!
I said I would and I did.

Despite a minor injury, I set my mind to completing the triathlon and striving to beat my time from last year. I achieved my goal; I beat my time! I attribute this to the mental strength I've gained over the past year more than the physical endurance gained. It hasn't been a full week yet, and already I'm planning my improvements for next year's race, and have committed to a running event later this summer.

Frankly, I didn't feel great about my odds for achieving my goal, but I had committed to go through with it anyway and to make the best of it. (Yes, I did envision crossing the finish line with time to spare and feeling AWESOME, and I even took time to appreciate the beauty around me on the race route.) To reiterate from my last post: making a decision and sticking with it creates confidence. Even in the face of fear, doubt, uncertainty, confusion, etc...

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE OBSTACLES (EXCUSES)
"But," you say, "I can't do a triathlon." "That's completely different from something like taking risks in business!" Is it? If you're not pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you don't need confidence. You don't need faith either. Nor a host of other states of mind that make life worth living. Setting even tiny goals and accomplishing them gives you confidence. You feel good, and you gain the winning attitude that can drive forward those bigger goals.

During almost every client meeting this week, I've been noticing the value of confidence. Confidence in making the right decision: to change the focus of one's organization, to hire an assistant to lay the foundation for long-term growth despite the strong siren call of the higher profit margin in the short-term, to taking that leap to start up a new business in an unprecedented market. Confidence to be persistent: to not worry about what other people will think, to hire the right person and not go with the first one who seems mostly competent, to stick to your guns in a negotiation when they are giving you (only) 75% of what you want, to keeping promises to yourself and your family. Doing what you said you'd do takes some confidence, but it breeds even more, especially in the face of what seems tough or unfamiliar. (Remember that fear is imagined; all of it!)

" I see only the objective; the obstacles must give way." ~Napoleon

LAUNCH!
Take the first step, then course-correct IF needed. Too much preparation means you never leave home.

Do you know people who talk about great ideas, yet they're a bit like a missile that never gets launched? As John C. Maxwell says, it's "aim, aim, aim, aim....aim........aim." You've got to "Fire!" if you're going to reap the rewards.

USE YOUR STRENGTHS
Everyone has the means to make things happen. Have confidence in yourself as a human being who has unique strengths, insights, resources and talents. (If you don't think you have enough, contact me right now. In just one session I'll teach you to see these things more clearly.) What would you say to a friend or colleague in the same situation? After "What do you want to do?" and "Have you thought about this?" Probably, "Just do it!"


Here's to your success,
Heather

(402) 690-4946
Heather@EnvisionSuccessConsulting.com

Confidence For Any Situation

It's the eve of a triathlon, and I'm not worried today... I should be. I'm not the type who excels at these things. In fact, people are probably surprised that I participate in fitness events. I'm healthy, but I'm no star athlete.

Last summer was my first tri, and I signed up again this year. At some point I told myself I was going to beat my time by 20% --but then life cruised on and I focused on other goals. I didn't fully commit through action until the past couple of months.

I was a little freaked out about it. I was training pretty hard and it was great (met some awesome milestones!) but then a week ago I started limping. My left foot was hurting a lot and I started to wonder if I could do the triathlon at all. I put my workouts on hold. I allowed myself a few daily thoughts of "This sucks!" "It's not fair!" "Waaaahhh." I went through my days in a minor depressive state...

Then I stood back and wondered if my anxiety about meeting my goal was somehow the root cause of my physical distress. As a business coach, I know darn well that the mind is far more powerful than any circumstances --and I resolved to change my tune.

I made a decision: I will do the race no matter what & if I have to limp across the finish line, then so be it. Then when I looked back at my written goals, I realized I had committed to completing it and to beating my time from last year. And I felt better about it (what? where did the 20% come from??).

The point of this blog? The reason I am taking the time to type it up before I load the car with my gear? Because I realized that ultimately what matters to me is simply keeping my promise to myself. And I want to share this with you-

I'm doing this event because it is in line with my vision of the person I am becoming. This gives me confidence for tomorrow. This feeling of moving one step closer to my goals, my future, my "ideal" self gives me confidence. I'm doing the right thing by acting in support of my decision...no matter how the race goes tomorrow. This habit of sticking to a decision in the face of fear and uncertainty also gave me confidence a few weeks ago just prior to a speaking engagement I didn't feel truly ready for. And it will give you confidence when you need it.

Are we ever totally physically ready for whatever comes our way? I don't think so. Not fully. You just can't address every contingency for every situation. Besides, who wants to live a "worst case scenario" lifestyle? No thanks.

However, we CAN be mentally ready...for anything. I believe one way to experience this is by acknowledging who we are now and who we want to be. Then by making choices that fit with that vision we step boldly in the direction of our dreams. That IS confidence.

Who do you want to be? By the way, I don't mean you should care about what other people think or emulate others' behavior or accomplishments. I mean that when you think about your future self, what traits do you want to have? Who do YOU want to be? Step boldy in the direction of these dreams and goals, and live confidently! Live Out Loud! Act As If!

Establish Relaxed Control in Your Work Day

What is Relaxed Control?
Relaxed anything sure sounds good. And control over the work day too. But what the heck does relaxed control really mean? And how does a person go about having it?

Relaxed control is a sort-of opposite to how most working people feel these days, at least some of the time: frantic, overwhelmed, reactive, under-the-gun, stressed, anxious, over-stimulated; you get the idea. In fact, you might feel more tense just after reading this (!).

So whoa, let's slow things down. Relaxed control is a way of being that allows thought processes to take place that tap into one's creative genius, allows the body to respond rather than react, and allows for a more consistent flow of energy throughout the day.

Relaxed control is a mindset. It may take a bit of practice, but I assure you that anyone is totally capable of experiencing this on a daily basis in their work, or in any other circumstances.

My Story
I know, because I am living proof. I used to get worked up, tense, sometimes angry or emotional about interruptions, unplanned changes, people being rude, things being unfair, not having enough time to get all my work done, being "graded" on circumstances I couldn't control, etc... You can relate? Wow, small world.

Now I am able to see things from a different perspective and I don't waste energy or experience negative emotions due to things that I cannot control. Instead I place positive intentional focus on the desired outcomes in a variety of circumstances and on my being more effective toward creating all or part of those desired/expected outcomes. And frankly I can say with conviction and no tongue-in-cheekness whatsoever that every day is a good day. I don't have "bad days" in my work any more. I don't have "bad days" at all - not even from last week's ridiculous airline delays that caused me to miss a family rehearsal dinner. It would have been great to be there, but ultimately the purpose of the trip was still fulfilled. So I didn't let it ruin my day or the whole trip. Why would I give that "power" away?

Sure, I may have stressful moments, and yes I am human and I too cannot possibly get everything on my "to-do list" completed within the next few years, but it just doesn't bother me like it used to. I am able to gain perspective at a moment's notice and see what is going well and see my opportunities to go more in the direction I'd like, and then I act. This has resulted in my being much happier and also more effective.

As an example, this could be something as simple as asking "How can I _______?" when confronted with unexpected changes, or letting someone in front of me in traffic and smiling about it, rather than being so occupied with how I am going to get through traffic faster. After all, if I am running late, I am the one who put myself in that situation, and I'll get there when I get there.

Often, I say out loud, " I have more than enough time for everything that is important to me." And it's true. I have never once dropped the ball and suffered terrible consequences for it - I always get things done that really need to be done. I may let things go that don't really matter. Or it might be in the nick of time, but after all, there are generally no points for finishing early. Why put that on yourself?

It's not about a lack of feeling or being blase or naive or even happy-go-lucky because I don't think anyone would describe me in those ways at all. It's more about seeing the bigger picture any time I need to.

How Can You Get There?
Evaluate your expectations. Determine what you really WANT. Focus more on the goal than on the obstacles. Allow yourself to be "good enough" when it makes sense. And relax. The control lies in controlling yourself and your emotions and your own expectations. You'll feel better; you'll get more done; you'll be living proof that relaxed control is a better way to approach work and life.

Enjoy!
More to come on this... Subscribe to updates/new posts!

Goal Achieving Versus Goal Setting

Did you set New Year's Resolutions or yearly goals for 2009?

Many people did, and yet some have already fallen off track. Yet it's not too late; it's never too late for success! If you're one of the fallen, how can you get back into the groove in terms of making progress toward goals? There are a couple of simple things to do, and many people are just not aware of them, and consequently it's much harder for them to succeed.

By the end of this post you will have the critical tools needed for setting AND achieving your goals. Ready, set, go!

You may be wondering right about now, "what's the difference between goal setting and goal achieving?"

The short answer is: Envision...Focus...Action

Envision
First you need to know what you want. If you are at point "A," do you know where your point "B" is? What do you want to be different? What exactly do you want? Figuring out some details regarding what you want naturally helps you envision the desired outcome. Do some daydreaming and make some notes. Big goals, little goals, it doesn't really matter as long as the idea of accomplishing [it] helps you grow and ultimately makes you happy in some way.

As an example, let's assume Bob wants to increase revenue this year and he knows he can't raise prices, so he wants to serve more customers. He looks at his schedule, he imagines being able to help more people, he envisions the daily differences in his work, and the extra income earned, etc...

Focus
You already have a good start because you had to focus some energy on figuring out what you want. Let's take it a step further... You've heard that writing down your goals is important, right? Do you know why? Do you realize that by writing something down, it is imprinted differently in your mind and therefore it is more likely to "stick" and you will be more likely to succeed. You've heard of SMART goals? When you write your goal in a way that illustrates how it is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and TimeBound, you will have established the details of the goal that will help you succeed, and in addition you will know when you succeeded. Focus also includes reminding yourself consistently what you are working toward.

When Bob first told me he wanted more money, I flipped him a quarter and said, "OK, you have more money; are you happy now?" He laughed and realized he needed to get more specific about how much. After a bit of thinking, Bob's goal statement looked something like this: Increase customer services performed by 30% by the end of 2009.

Action
Goals should push us to grow and expand in some way, and this is done through mental and physical action. Smart business people strategize some before bolting into action, and they do not get bogged down in planning every detail so that the action phase never arrives.

Make a plan, don't obsess about it, do something that takes you a step closer to achievement, and repeat.

Action includes persistence. Therefore yes, it does take some discipline to succeed, but a key part of the action phase is to continue feeding your desire to achieve the goal so that you don't have to rely on tough discipline alone. You can't expect to overcome a variety of obstacles without continuing to focus on the desired outcome and reminding yourself WHY you want [it].

It's the combination of setting an appropriate (SMART) goal, focusing on the desired outcome, and consistent action that makes the difference between goal setters and goal achievers.

Bob has done some brainstorming with me, his coach, to come up with ways to better meet more customers' needs. He has implemented a referral program and a special offer on new and existing ancillary services. He continues to focus with positive expectation on his 30% goal for a couple minutes twice daily, which he noticed helps him stay in a better mood. He is excited to report some new sales the past month and is on track for his goal.

Get On Track Now!
Envision what it will be like to achieve your goal.
Focus for a moment; pretend like it's already happened and feel great about it.
Now act! Do something right now to move you in the direction of the goal.
Enjoy your success!


Sincerely,
Heather A. Legge
Results coaching for business people

It's Going to Be a Good Year!

A VERY GOOD YEAR.

Why will some businesses thrive this year, while others will close their doors?

Could it be a matter of expectation?

I know, that doesn't appeal to our human nature of making things more complicated than they need to be. Yet there is a simple truth here that I'd like to serve up. Straight up.


A Guessing Game
Every one of us has made guesses, which upon coming true, proved our ability to tell the future. Probably every one of us has made a prophecy, or a "guess" when we were pretty darn sure of the outcome. Sometimes it's a no-brainer; we just know. Other times it's pure braggadocio.


Expectation is the Key
In those moments when we must declare certainty, can we alter a plain guess into a prophecy? Most people tend to do this only when there is an intuitive nudge in one direction or the other, but there is something to be said for making a bold affirmative statement. And what about intentionally creating expectation in the desired direction?


Expect the Best!
Try it! Expect the best possible outcome from the next situation you go into. Want a new client from that networking event, or a new contract from that sales meeting, or a raise from your next performance review? Make a bold affirmative statement, declaring your desired outcome!

Figure out exactly what you want, believe it is possible, then go into it expecting success.

Let's apply this to a whole year's worth of transactions...think of the cumulative effects! When you expect the best you will make decisions differently, you will have a spring in your step, you will look for opportunities rather than succumb to failure, and you will likely have a much better year in 2009 than someone else guessed.

Learn From the Best: Actively Create Your Success

Are you ready to experience more success? Well sure! But how?

I help people daily determine how to intentionally create their professional and personal success, whether they are business owners, or working professionals within a larger organization. I am always working to help people understand that it doesn't have to be difficult to get what you really want, nor do you have to sacrifice other things you want. It is a matter of making a decision and carrying out some simple, proven steps for creating your own version of success!

My objective here is to share some information, and give you at least one take-away that you can apply immediately that is helpful, and to allow you to make some decisions: Do you want to be ordinary, or do you want to be extraordinary? What is your next step?

What is Success?
Everyone defines success differently, but the most typical comments include a measure of financial freedom. And when we make a point to study the most successful people in our culture, we can see patterns emerge that differentiate them from the masses financially. While we acknowledge that money doesn’t make us happy, it makes us comfortable, gives peace of mind, and allows us to provide greater service to others and also allows us to do a lot more of what we want, when we want.

On that note, let me ask you this: Why do approximately 1% of people have over 95% of the money? It’s NOT due to luck, nor intelligence, nor is it related to formal education. The ones at the very top did not have everything given to them either. These people made a DECISION to actively create their success.

How?
We can look at 3 critical, yet simple things the ones at the top do differently from the rest:

1- Know what you want!
How can you possibly get from A to B if you don’t know what B is? Do you just get in your car and start driving aimlessly? NO, before you get to the end of your street, you know your desired destination. Strangely, most people don’t know what they want. Like most people, I used to spend more time determining where to go for dinner, or making out their Christmas list than determining what to accomplish over the next year. What do you want to be known for? What is your Mission? Or, for the purposes of this article at least, what is your primary goal for the next 6 months? Take action by acknowledging specifically what you want and writing it down.

2- Apply the Art of Thinking!
No, I’m not being facetious here. Most people (the other 99%) assume that they are thinking on a daily basis just because they are using their brain to get through the day. But, that’s not quality thought. Are we really thinking when we are watching TV? (Using brain; not thinking!) What about when we are driving? What about when preparing for a project or a presentation or writing a research paper – that’s a lot harder and we have to think for that, right? Wrong. That’s not it either. What I mean by “thinking” in this case is the ability to expend thought energy which is completely focused toward something specific (yes, even in our widespread, self-professed world of Attention Deficit). Focus. So we apply the Art of Focused Thinking on getting what we really want.

Beyond focusing on what we want, there is another facet to the Art of Thinking that the most successful people have mastered. In terms of success, there are 2 distinct mindsets to understanding how a person is getting their current results (and how to change future results). The 1st mindset says that one’s results are caused by things outside oneself, like government and taxes and weather and Joe down the street did this and Betty did that and he or she makes me angry and the economy sucks and that’s why my business is down, etc... Sound familiar? So what do we do about it? Most people go about trying to change their results by acting on what they see in their circumstances. Then they are frustrated because they aren’t seeing the change in results that they want. This is exactly why just about everyone thinks changing habits is so HARD.

Do you want to set yourself apart from the crowd? Do you want to be unforgettable?

The 2nd mindset is the success-oriented way of thinking,. What that top 1% has completely mastered is this more illuminating view of cause and effect. While others are looking at the circumstances around them as the cause of their results, the most successful people in the world acknowledge that the results they are seeing around them are the Effect. What is the Cause?

MY actions are the cause for MY results!! And it’s not just about taking personal responsibility, it’s much more powerful than that; it’s about thinking in a different way. What I see around me in my daily existence is the result of what I am consistently thinking, saying, and doing. What these top achievers do differently, and what I help my clients with, is creating daily habits of thinking and acting applied to the Cause, and therefore achieving the desired Effects. Have you heard the saying “Doing great things is a simply a matter of doing small things in a great way.”?

Anyone can change their future results by applying the Art of Thinking. It’s not new, it’s not hard, and it’s well within anyone’s reach in terms of having the money (next to nothing need be spent to learn this stuff), and also in terms of time (I’m talking about maybe 10 minutes of focus time a day, more if you have it – but that’s all it really takes to make a HUGE difference and see improved results). More than anything, applying the Art of Thinking is about learning how to focus on what you really want.

3- Maximize your resources!
The very wealthy are very good at leveraging their resources for maximum returns, a good example is establishing multiple sources of income so they are making money while they sleep, while they lead a very comfortable lifestyle, and of course while they are "playing" because many of them don’t “work” at all. They are also very good at continuously looking to maximize their resources in innovative ways that other people do not take advantage of. Look around and start considering how you can maximize your resources.

Applied Knowledge:
I’ll share here two techniques that you can apply immediately, or at least in the next week:

1- In the spirit of applying the Art of Thinking, I’ll suggest that you establish a creative perspective in business. 'Creative' in this case does not mean 'artistic,' it refers to an approach to problem solving that is geared away from the more common competitive mindset. You cannot always be worrying about what your competition is doing; it is far better to blaze a trail than to be a follower. During the very next situation you face in your work that requires some problem-solving, I invite you to take a more creative approach. One easy method is to start asking questions. Don’t allow yourself to automatically say “I can’t” – start asking “How can I?”

2-In terms of Maximizing Your Resources, leverage expert knowledge from other people. No one wins on their own; everyone has a team of people and various resources from which they pull in order to put everything together. Even lone ranger entrepreneurs and sole proprietors need other people to ensure their success. Your customers are an excellent source of expert knowledge. Are you asking your customers what they think? Start asking; there are hundreds of options for approaching your customers and gathering their valuable insight, and in addition to strengthen your relationship with your customers. (If you need a survey or verbal poll, contact me and I can help you put one together.) Another really powerful way to leverage others’ knowledge is to join a group of people in business that understand the same challenges as you are facing but are not direct competitors, that you can rely on for honest feedback, generating ideas, you can focus together to create and implement amazing solutions for the very specific challenges that you are individually and collectively dealing with. The very elite in business have been doing this for some time, and it is my pleasure to bring this concept to you here. Right now I am helping groups of 8 form together to start in January, and each group will focus on helping their own businesses thrive in 2009 by leveraging each other’s strengths, and by pooling their resources together to gain the benefits of a having a professional business coach facilitate their progress. (Contact me for details.)

What's Your Next Step?
Remember I said the ones at the very top made a DECISION to actively create their own success? Do you know what you really want? Are willing to apply the Art of Thinking to get what you really want? And are you maximizing your resources? Talk to your customers and put that expert knowledge to work.

Still not sure what your next step is? Consider joining a group of successful business people and experience something extraordinary over the next few months.

Don’t settle for ordinary. Don’t assume you’re going to have a rough year in 2009. Make a decision now for how you can actively create your success!