Thinking about your time

Successful people think differently about their time.

They think about production and achievement – they think about how far they can move toward their goals in the time they have in an hour or day.  

Basically, they feel they have no time to waste – so they waste none.

As a result of how they think about what they are doing in time and with time, they act differently.

How do you think about your hours?

Can you speak well?

“Oratory can turn a commoner into a king” – Winston Churchill

Like most other people, when I started speaking to groups I was quite uncomfortably nervous.  Today, it’s very different.

What changed?

I did.  I know that if I speak on things I know about, if I am prepared, and if I am there to help others with my message instead of being there to look good, then I have nothing to worry about.

Speaking to rally your team can be a very important part of being a leader.  Invest in this skill.

Simple Ideas, Ruthlessly Executed

This is an idea from my School of Entrepreneurship (thesoe.com).

There are lots of good ideas out there – too many to even pay attention to, nevermind implement in your business.

The good news is you don’t need all of it to succeed. 

Pick some easy-to-understand, easy-to-teach ideas, principles/models that will work for your business and that fit into your vision and value system –  and EXECUTE on them – deeply; no excuses.

Simple ideas, ruthlessly executed.

Avoid stress

Yesterday I talked about stress.  Stress is not what happens, but your response to what happens.

So it’s in your control. You can stress, or simply respond productively – maybe even with a smile.

I wanted to share some of the things I do that help me stay relaxed amidst being responsible for over 30 businesses and 1600 employees.

1) I have good people that have been with me a long time taking care of just about everything.  If you chase people away, you won’t have this one day.

2) I became good at what I am doing and have solved the persistent big strategic problems.  The world keeps throwing the same problems at you until you get it right.  I rose to the challenges in previous years.

3) I eat pretty well.  Limit the sugar and carbs (that I really like!).

4) I try to get enough sleep.  This can’t be stated strongly enough.  Sleep is my number one self-care strategy.

5) I exercise.  I work out in my basement or ride motocross or wield a chainsaw by myself for several hours.  Every other day I am sure to work out.

6) I get into the woods.  Being outside in nature, many times by myself, I am sure does my mind and soul good.

7) I delay gratification.  If I don’t get what I was hoping for right now, it’s ok.  I’ll keep at it and I know one day I will.  I’m patient for results, impatient to take action to get them.  (Wow, that was pretty good line!  I have to write that down!)  

8) I work at home in the mornings to get my “thinking work” and creative projects done in silence.  You may not have that luxury, but find silence to think and work and get organized somewhere in your day or week.

9) My wife Marie and I have lots of fun together.

10) I go on trips racing in Mexico and elsewhere; adventures that I really enjoy with my wife and friends

What works for you?

Comment with the orange button!

Build your tolerance for "problems"

When I was about 30 years old, I had been in business for 13 years already.  As my business had more and more employees and more dimensions to it, the problems increased.  I was doing a lot IN it.  Problems came everyday it seemed.

The way I processed these problems was to take them personally, as failures, and they didn’t match my expectations, which were flawed – I didn’t expect so many problems.

I felt stress.  I felt like my blood pressure was very high some days, and even felt pressure in the front of my neck.  Am I going to have a heart attack?

Well, it’s nearly 30 years later and my business is far bigger, has far more dimensions, and we still have lots of “problems”, or things that didn’t go the way we had hoped.  I’ve even had some problems that are far bigger than anything I was dealing with back then.  And yet, I am not stressed like I was before.

When you are responsible for a business, especially if you want to grow it, it doesn’t really get easier.  But what can change is your tolerance level. 

You expect problems and when they get here there is no surprise.  With many problems that come, you may have dealt with something like this before and know what to do and the likely outcome.  The problems get less unique and less puzzling.  You know it won’t kill you and you will get through it.

Dealing with problems and crises is part of the top job, because sh*t that nobody else can handle flows uphill – to you.  

But like all other business skills, when you get better, things will get better for you.

Handle it, but be tolerant.

Don’t let problems master over you – you master over them.

It doesn't matter what you NEED

“The only thing you present to opportunity is talent, skill, and performance.  You don’t present need to opportunity.” -Jim Rohn

When I was on the starting line for my third attempt at finishing the Baja 1000 solo on a dirt bike, it didn’t really matter how much I needed to finish.  It only mattered if I was prepared, and had the ability and if I’d perform through it.

The same is true for anyone with any opportunity.  It doesn’t matter how much you NEED the money, result, win, or sale.  Your NEED has nothing to do with it.

Your performance does; and you can influence how you perform in all the days, weeks and years before the performance when nobody is looking.

See who you can become

“Your goal is the development of your full potential.  Why not see who you can become?” – Jim Rohn

Owning a business and being a leader is an amazing opportunity to become someone better and to see what you can really do in the world.

I started in the basement waterproofing business (still in it after 35 years).  What could someone expect from a kid who stumbles into the basement waterproofing business?

Any business can be redefined and done a new way. 

Any business can be a canvas for the expression of creativity and higher value and a gateway to an even more positive impact in the world.

But that – is up to you.  It’s up to what you do with this, right now, today.

It’s not about what you get in the end, it’s about who you have become in the process.

Give praise and recognition

“Be so busy giving recognition that you don’t need it.” – Jim Rohn

I know bosses who became the boss because they need to feed their ego.  When that is your why, people know it and they don’t like it and ultimately will not cooperate with you.

Recognize your employees.  Praise them.  Smile at them.  Thank them.  

You can delegate this, but it means so much more when it comes from the guy at the top.

You’ll get more of what you recognize.

Work on you first

“Go to work on yourself harder than you work on your job.” – Jim Rohn

If you are the leader, the business will never exceed your personal leadership.

Work on you.  Your knowledge and understanding before taking action.

Work on your people skills.  

Work on your sleep, fitness, diet and health (energy).

Be a better more capable person that others will more likely follow.

Jim Rohn Week!

For the next five days (at least) I will quote one of my favorite mentors, Jim Rohn.  If you are looking for someone to listen to, you can get a lot from listening to Jim.

“Remember that whatever you move towards, tends to move towards you”.

What is your biggest problem?  The one thing that is holding you back?

Take lots of action in solving it.  Declare your intentions to everyone around you.  Get help.  Look it up.  Ask people who have dealt with this before. Ask.  keep taking action.  Try.  Ask.  Don’t stop.

The answer moves closer to you when you move closer to it.