Principles of Success Don’t Only Apply for Humans
I recently had the pleasure of getting to read “Success – One Day At A Time“ by John Maxwell. Not a large book but it comes packed with an abundant supply of useful information. Chapters in the book deal with material ranging from the amount of work involved in the attainment of success, just what it is that constitutes success and why failures can be a good thing.
One of the more interesting passages in the book told a story of the flocks of seagulls that inhabited the section of the seaside town of Monterrey, California known as Cannery Row. This part of the book described how during the era when the fish cannery’s were in full swing, the seagulls would feast on the abundant supply of fish scraps that were discarded in the canning process. There was no need to keep their hunting skills fresh, all the birds had to do was show up and the meal was there for the taking. But one day, the cannery’s closed and guess what, the bird’s meal ticket was gone! It was soon noted that by the locals that the birds were starving; they had forgotten how to fish on their own! Someone finally suggested that seagulls from outside the Monterrey area be imported and intermixed with the local flocks. This way, it was hoped that the local birds would once again catch on to what was necessary so that they could once again rely on their own skills.
The idea worked! Seagulls that were facing a pending death from hunger watched what their new neighbors were doing and soon their self-reliance was restored and the threat was averted. How about this as an example of “Birds of a feather………(you know the rest).” It just goes to show once again that if you wish to pursue success, do what the successful people are doing. Also of importance is that you become clear in your mind as to what constitutes success for you; money isn’t always the answer.
In closing, I would like to list the “Seven Steps To Success” that Mr. Maxwell has listed in his book:
1. Make a commitment to grow daily.
2. Value the process more than events.
3. Don’t wait for inspiration.
4. Be willing to sacrifice pleasure for opportunity.
5. Dream big.
6. Plan your priorities. (This can be tough but it is oh so important!)
7. Give up to go up.
Don’t read this jewel of a book just for the seven steps listed above, there is plenty of other good chapters as well!
Now I like to consider myself one who has read a fair amount of books dealing with the subject of success. But I can say that without a doubt, ”Success – One Day At A Time” by John Maxwell definitely ranks as a favorite and of course it comes highly recommended.
(Is this an affiliate link? You bet it is!)
Here’s To You!
A Real Source of Inspiration
At some point in our lives we all experience a feeling of doubt as to whether or not we can accomplish something. More often than not, we hear “No you can’t!” than “Yes you can!” People also tend to be inclined to accept the negative influences that come their way instead of standing up to them and focusing solely on the positive.
Back in 2002 I had the experience of watching a movie titled “Door to Door” with William H. Macy. This is the story of a remarkable individual named Bill Porter who would not take no for an answer. Stricken with cerebral palsy, Bill Porter was basically faced with the prospect that he would not have a normal life. Undeterred by his physical obstacles and with the unending support of his parents, Bill was determined to make his own way in life. Landing a position with the J.R. Watkins company, Bill began his career as a door to door salesman promoting the company line of culinary, personal care and home cleaning products.
Did he get the door shut in his face? Oh I’m sure it happened many times! Did he worry about what people would think when they saw a physically handicapped man knocking at their door trying to sell them stuff? Actually I don’t know but either way, Bill Porter was determined to succeed. Over the course of time, he went on to become the top grossing salesman for the company in the United States.[1] With relentless determination and a positive outlook, Bill had made a life for himself as an individual. Just reading about the obstacles that he faced just made my jaw drop and say “Wow”! The man couldn’t drive, could barely walk and spoke with difficulty.
After being hit by a car in 1997[2], Bill Porter was no longer able to travel on foot to meet with his customers. He then resorted to keeping the business going through contacting his customers by telephone as well as having his own website on the Internet. With the help of an assistant, he is able to get the tasks done that he is not able to complete himself.
What made me think of writing this? I had been thinking about the “demons” that we sometime have within ourselves that hold us back from achieving or doing what we want. For some reason, the name Bill Porter came to mind and I realized that often the biggest obstacle we have is ourselves. For me, the life story of this truly remarkable man makes me realize that with the right mindset, anything is possible. Take a look at the links below to learn more about someone who can be a source of inspiration for all!
p.s. The Watkins Company looks like they have a pretty interesting product line; you should check it out!
Article in People Magazine about Bill Porter
[1] From http://www.who2.com/bio/bill-porter
[2] “Life of a Salesman” by Susan Horsburgh, People Magazine ; Vol58 No4, July 22,2002
Have You Been Drifting?
For the past couple of weeks, I have been finding myself continually succumbing to the tendency to allow myself to engage in activities that have not been productive as far as my online work is concerned. I have found myself spending a lot of time playing a WWII aviation video game that I like and looking back, I know I could have gotten so much more done with regards to achieving my online business goals.
I was lucky enough to stumble across an article written by another blogger that I know where he makes reference to a book that I read a couple of years ago titled “Outwitting The Devil” by Napoleon Hill. In Hill’s book, mention is given to a mental state known as “drifting.” A person who is drifting is one who finds themselves going throughout their lives with a lack of focus, direction and purpose. Now I am not going to go into too much detail about this book but I would definitely put it on every entrepreneurs “must-read” list. The whole precept behind this book is nothing short of fascinating.
What benefited me most from reading this blog post was up until then, I was not aware of what I was experiencing except that I knew I was certainly suffering from something that was cluttering up my brainwaves. But after reading this reference to “drifting” I knew right then and there what I was going through. With this new awareness being suddenly bestowed upon me, I immediately set on a course to realign my thoughts and behaviors so that I would set out upon a more productive path. One thing that I make sure I do with more regularity is to write a list of what it is I wish to achieve and then put myself to task to get those things done. As a result, time is spent more efficiently and results are more likely to come to fruition.
I also read another great post written by the great blogger John Chow titled “100 Ways Rich People Think Differently.” In his post the author gives 100 (yes one-zero-zero) examples of beliefs and attitudes that rich people have in their lives with regards to their dealings with money. One of my favorites on the list alludes to instead of money being the root of all evil is that poverty is the root of all evil. This list is just another example of how people are ultimately responsible for the reality that they create for themselves.
This two articles gave me a good reevaluation of how a person can make sure they stay on track and how to be aware of what is taking place in the event they find themselves milling about aimlessly. So if you find yourself at that mental stumbling block and aren’t getting much done as a result, you may very well be drifting so snap out of it and get back on track!
Here’s to you “Making It Happen!”
100 Ways Rich People Think Differently
James K Larson post re: “Outwitting The Devil” by Napoleon Hill
How to Achieve Online Success
Recently I started bookmarking pages that contained stories I knew that I would want to read at some point in the future. These deal with topics concerning the latest online trends as well as what other people have experienced in their pursuit of success as online entrepreneurs.
As a result of reading one of Donald Trump’s books that mentioned the importance of focus, I wrote down an action item for myself to start going through the articles that I set aside in my bookmarks. As soon as I got home, I read one of the articles and came out all the more inspired because of it. It was a guest post listed in John Chow’s blog (johnchow.com) written by Tyler Cruz.
In this post the author outlines his overall experiences at the onset of his involvement with affiliate marketing and discusses the time frame that elapsed while encompassing his failures as well as arriving at eventual success. A main point in this post is that Tyler did not give up. He learned what didn’t work and went on to find out what did work for him. Being as how we are all individuals, we need to find out in our own way what works for us. So without further delay, I am going to provide you with a link that takes you to this most noteworthy post. Thank you Tyler Cruz for sharing this with us! May this post give those who are having a tough go of it a much needed boost.
Here’s to you “Making It Happen!”
Related articles
A Book for Entrepreneurs
One of the precepts that I have always believed in is that if you want to be successful in something, find out what the people who are already successful are doing. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the luxury of talking with those people face to face so we have to resort to other available means to find out what actions the successful people have taken so that we have an example to go by. This mainly consists of videos, online articles and books.
Robert T. Kiyosaki (credit: www.last.fm)
two names in the entrepreneurial world should need no introduction. Even though I am not finished with my reading of this book for entrepreneurs, I have thus far been so impressed with it that I wanted to share my current findings with you. The two points covered in this book that I have most impacted by are that of focus and what Mr. Trump calls the “B-I” (for business integrity) triangle. The term focus is described as an abbreviation for “follow one course until successful.” Too often people allow themselves to be distracted by a myriad of other things without keeping their priorities in line and as a result find themselves not achieving the results they desire. The business integrity triangle is an illustration of the eight essential components of a business and outlines where the entrepreneur should place themselves in order for the business to have a greater chance for success. It is mentioned why successful entrepreneurs are generalists that have specialists working for them. The thing that makes “The Midas Touch” a must-read is that the authors describe why most entrepreneurs end up failing while only a few actually become rich. Priceless advice and counsel from two who know!
Also given great emphasis in the book is the importance of relationships. Trump goes to
Donald Trump (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
length explaining how strong relationships with professionals in a variety of fields can go a long way to helping a business succeed. He also goes on to mention that learning as an ongoing, lifelong process is essential to help ensure both personal as well as professional growth.
The book contains a multitude of other traits that prospective entrepreneurs need in order to round out their overall makeup. I am going to keep this post short with the intention of leaving you to want to find out more about this book. In closing, I recommend “The Midas Touch” wholeheartedly and without reservation.
Here’s to you!
Related articles
- 21 Recommended Books for Entrepreneurs (smarthomebusinesssolutions.com)
- Billionaire Businessman Donald Trump Discusses His Book “Think Like a Champion” (lugenfamilyoffice.com)
The Importance of Focus in Business
In order to achieve the business results you desire, it is essential that you possess a strong sense of focus. By this I mean that in order to stay on track towards the accomplishment of business goals, consistent and dedicated effort must be carried out towards them.
Keeping this in mind, one must also organize their time management skills so that efforts are not carried out in an inefficient manner. You don’t want to start your day with no sense of direction with regard to what you wish to get accomplished. In today’s fast paced environment, it is far too easy to get distracted with a myriad of things that can pop up. If you already have a regular day job and are investing time in your business during your off hours, focus is all the more important. I admit, at the end of a long day, I like to relax and play video games. On many occasions I have found that before I knew it, the evening has been gobbled up without having achieved anything useful and it’s time for bed.
What really made me aware of the need for focus was a book co-authored by Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump called “The Midas Touch” which discusses the elements needed for success as an entrepreneur. In this book, Kiyosaki details his time spent while training to be a Marine Corps combat helicopter pilot. In effect, Mr. Kiyosaki stressed the paramount needs for prioritizing, staying on task and not becoming distracted as skills essential for increasing the odds for surviving in a hostile environment (referring to the war in Vietnam).
The business environment can also be a hostile one. Granted no one is aiming a weapon at you on a daily basis (hopefully) but if you pursue business without focus, you will effectively be “killed” by your competitors in addition to your own inefficiency. Your time will be ineffectively spent, results will be minimal at best and you won’t be staying abreast of what is needed to survive in the current business climate.
So how does one go about attaining or increasing their focus? A very good question. For the individual who is accustomed to a regimented routine and holds themselves accountable, this can be an easily attainable task. For those who are vulnerable to becoming easily distracted and have no one to hold them accountable, this can pose quite a challenge. Also, for those who have limited time to devote to business for whatever reasons such as family obligations or due to employment, keeping oneself on track to the accomplishment of business related tasks can be a significant mental hurdle. Here are some things one can consider that may help:
- Draft a mission statement of what your business goals are. You may also include things or beliefs that you consider to be important components of your business makeup. It is also good to list a timeline you wish to follow for the accomplishment of your goals. Be sure to make your goals realistic but don’t be afraid to “raise the bar.”
- At the end of each day, write down what you wish to accomplish the following day. If you don’t know what you want to get done, how can you expect to accomplish anything? That way, you already know when you get up the following morning what your tasks are and you won’t need to stop and ponder about what you want to get done. I find it personally useful to keep a small notepad with me for ready reference.
- Find a partner! As the saying goes; “Two heads are better than one” especially holds true. Working with a like-minded individual can go a long way to help you achieve success. This will allow you to exchange ideas and come up with solutions to problems more quickly. You will also have someone to whom you can be accountable.
- “Keep your eye on the prize” Always be aware of why you are pursuing success. See yourself enjoying the fruits of your labors.
- Believe in yourself! If you have achieved partial results in a certain area, don’t let anyone make you think that you can’t do better. Think of Thomas Edison in his quest to develop the electric light bulb. Take a look at the picture below to see how Robert Kiyosaki responded to some hecklers:
Robert Kiyosaki Flipping Off the Haters (Photo credit: Casey Serin)
Are You Really an Entrepreneur?
I had to ask myself this question recently. While reading “Nothing To Lose and Everything to Gain” by Ryan Blair, mention was made of the enormous sums of money involved, the risks, vast amounts of time required to develop a business and get it started and numerous other factors. The author even mentions to the effect that if an individual dedicated six months out of the year to entrepreneurial pursuits, it would take about 10 years to be a professional.
Now I have to admit that with my current schedule (day job), it would take me at least 100 years to get to the pro point. But being as how I deal with comparatively miniscule amounts of money, my risk taking is comparatively negligible and I do use much of my free time to focus on my family life; I have to ask myself do I rate being able to describe myself as an entrepreneur?
I took a look at Wikipedia’s definition of entrepreneur and it described the term applying to a person who is willing to undertake a new venture or enterprise and accept full responsibility for its outcome. Now granted my undertakings would not even show up as a proverbial blip on the radar compared to those of Ryan Blair but going by this definition (which seems legit to me), I am comfortable in describing myself as such.
How about you? Are you one who thinks in the “9-5, Monday to Friday” mode or do you think for yourself and set your own path? Do you think of new ways to do things or is whatever comes your way good enough? Only you can accurately decide for yourself or you may be one of those people who needs someone to reveal to you what lies within. I will also say this; If you truly feel that you are an entrepreneur, you most likely are!
Once again, Best Wishes and here’s to you “Thinking Outside of The Box!”
Related articles
- Are You an Entrepreneur? Answer These 5 Qs Before Taking the Plunge (blogher.com)
- What is an entrepreneur? (industriousendeavors.wordpress.com)
Are You Ready to be an Entrepreneur?
Many people dream of entrepreneurship. The thought may come up while at work if the person is unhappy with their job for whatever reason. The reason could be due to dissatisfaction with the commute, the work environment or the obligation of committing one’s time on a daily basis to meet the requirements of another person.
The notion of being able to work your own hours, be answerable only to yourself as well as more freedom in your personal schedule can be powerful lures. But how does one know if they are truly ready to assume the role of entrepreneurship? Needless to say the whole proposition can pose a substantial amount of various risks such as financial, emotional and physical.
I came across an article recently written by well known blogger Yaro Starak. In his blog, entrepreneurs journey.com, he lists what he calls the 7 signs of not being ready to be an entrepreneur. The article contains very good tips and relevant guidance on what to consider should you be contemplating the jump over to the entrepreneurial side of things. Click on the link –>> 7 Signs You Are Not Ready
After you read it stop to pause and ask yourself where you fit in. Are you ready? Are you already there? Did you think you were ready but discovered that you really weren’t? Only you can decide. My thanks to Yaro Starak and I encourage you to spend some time checking out his blog www.entrepreneurs-journey.com.
Best Wishes and here’s to you “Thinking Outside The Box!”
Related articles
- Who is THE ENTREPENEUR? (Part 1) (forbes.com)
- What does it take to be an Entrepeneur? (aliben86.wordpress.com)
- Are you the Technician, Manager or Entrepeneur? [Dr Terry Loong] (ecademy.com)
- Entrepreneurs-Journey.com New Design (entrepreneurs-journey.com)
The Need for Authenticity as an Entrepreneur
Right now I am reading “Nothing To Lose Everything To Gain” by Ryan Blair. In his book he mentions what he refers to as the need for authenticity. By this I interpret him to mean that people who are in business need to be upfront and truthful with their customers since people in the today’s marketplace have a keener sense than ever before when it comes to seeing that something looks fishy and suspect.
I myself could not agree more. Since coming onto the online seen, it has become so apparent when people present you with rhetoric that you could swear has been used by numerous other individuals. The promises of quick profits, massive website traffic, skyrocketing sales conversions are triggers that make me instantly say to myself “Yeah, Right!” People doing business in today’s marketplace need to endeavor to present themselves as genuine as well as being truly interested in the needs of their customers. When this takes place, customers will see it right away and be more inclined to do business with you. You will not be perceived as just another online marketer peddling their wares.
Now how can you go about doing this? Well, since you don’t want to be seen as being “just like one of the others,” you want to think about what you can do to make yourself stand apart from the crowd. In other words, figure out what you can do to brand yourself and make yourself stand alone. You can start out by just being yourself, acting with sincerity (if there is something you don’t have an answer for, say so and let the person know when you will get the answer) and conveying true interest in the needs and wishes of those who you want to attract to your business.
Another thing you can do is to strive to provide true value to your customers. Provide service that is of greater value in relation to the compensation you are receiving. This doesn’t mean that you have to give the shirt off of your back but you will not go wrong by providing top-notch service to your clients.
As always, Best Wishes and here’s to you “Thinking Outside The Box!”
Related articles
- What does it take to be an Entrepeneur? (aliben86.wordpress.com)
- Feel the fear, become an Entrepeneur (kingfishermktg.wordpress.com)
How Hesitation Can Result in Missed Opportunities
When it comes to those situations where you find yourself at a loss for what action to take, it may end up that when you decide what it is you want to do, the opportunity will have slipped away. Also, if you know what it is that you want to do but procrastinate in taking the action, it may also move beyond your reach.
Now granted there are those situations that come up where if one acts hastily, a less than desirable outcome may ensue. I think it is safe to say that when Trump Tower was built, it was not the result of marking the spot with a piece of chalk and beginning construction the next day. But sometimes we just need to go with our inner feelings and trust that they will give us the guidance that we need for taking the right actions. So the next time something presents itself to you, you may be left with nothing else than trusting your intuition and using that to make a choice. If it turns out to be the incorrect choice, see what you can learn from the experience and take it from there. Make an effort to see the good in whatever you are faced with.
A recent experience of mine dealt with having to write content for when I received an offer for a sponsored review on a product that I liked using. I was given a three-day deadline for submitting the content but kept on putting it off and putting it off. By the third day at the time when I decided to start writing, I saw that the offer was withdrawn and no longer available. So as a consequence, I was out some good money. But the lesson learned was a good one hence the reason I wanted to share this with you. One might think that they can do something another time, but it may turn out that this was the only time.
Best Wishes and here’s to you “Thinking Outside The Box!”
Related articles
- Leadership Thought #242 – Life Does Not Reward Those That Hesitate (edrobinson.wordpress.com)
- The Future of Marketing: Winning the Zero Moment of Truth (greatfinds.icrossing.com)
(23)
(8)
Recent Comments