There is a saying, "If your best thinking got you to where you are, maybe you need to change your thinking.
This morning Mike Hosking talked about a company that has made recession a swear word and you have to put money in a swear jar if you say it. Their thinking is, if you're talking about the recession you are not being productive or moving forward.
That to me is a great example of changing your thinking because until they put that in place everyone probably thought it was ok to talk about the recession. It was their best thinking at the time until it was pointed out that it wasn't getting them anywhere.
Your thoughts do have an effect on you. I was woken up at 4.30am by a dream/nightmare I was in a coffin being buried alive. I couldn't close my eyes without thinking about being buried. However, I also kept coming up with ways to get out, lots of ways. For me, apart from scaring the hell out of me, this opened my eyes to how I could grow my business. Amazing what a good scare will do to your mind.
Have a terrific week and maybe put a recession swear jar in your office.
My thoughts on Earth Hour
At my house it's Earth Hour everyday. If we are not in a room the lights are out. In fact everybody I know doesn't leave the house ablaze in light. Was this because we were brought up in the 70's when the constant call of, "When you come into the lounge [replace with any room], turn the lights out."
Nop. My girl wasn't raised in the 70's and she is constantly telling me to turn lights out. When I leave a room a voice (hers) will always pop into my head, "Turn the lights off."
The other common phrase is, "Last one out turn out the lights." So why are the lights of so city offices left on? I have always wondered whether anyone was actually working and if a lot of them turned their lights out I hope they keep it up.
What do I feel Earth Hour achieved in most houses in NZ last night? I suspect nothing. Yes I understand it was a vote for the Earth. I read the about page on the website and listened to media. But most people probably just sat in the sat in the dark watching the Warriors.
Nice idea but didn't your mum always tell you to turn the lights out?
Nop. My girl wasn't raised in the 70's and she is constantly telling me to turn lights out. When I leave a room a voice (hers) will always pop into my head, "Turn the lights off."
The other common phrase is, "Last one out turn out the lights." So why are the lights of so city offices left on? I have always wondered whether anyone was actually working and if a lot of them turned their lights out I hope they keep it up.
What do I feel Earth Hour achieved in most houses in NZ last night? I suspect nothing. Yes I understand it was a vote for the Earth. I read the about page on the website and listened to media. But most people probably just sat in the sat in the dark watching the Warriors.
Nice idea but didn't your mum always tell you to turn the lights out?
Back to the basics - Take Two (I think)
I am sure I have written about "The Basics" before, however, Ben Ridler at the Results Group pointed them out to me in language I could understand last week.
There are three parts to building a business: generating leads, converting leads and providing a product or service. We generally focus on the last one, providing a service. We work on it, add value etc and then sometimes sit there waiting for the phone to ring.
Having been in a lucky position of having people ring me for the last few years I had been working diligently away on my service when, BAM!, I lost a big client. They had pulled out of New Zealand and about 90 people lost their jobs. It really affected my turnover and brought "recession reality" crashing down on me.
What Ben pointed out to me was I had forgotten to focus on the first two things: generating leads and converting them, the BASIC'S. We are now busy doing that and life is so much more exciting and I have a lot more energy.
So you've read to here and you're thinking, what now Glenn? It's simple, get on the phone and start generating leads. You know where you will get them from, your friends, your colleagues, the interweb, existing clients. Start now and don't email, call. Even the conversations give you a boost and you never know you might be able to help someone and so get a new client.
Smarts + Persistence = Getting What you want
A small boy is sent to bed by his father.
Five minutes later.....'Da-ad....'
'What?'
'I'm thirsty. Can you bring a drink of water?'
'No, You had your chance. Lights out.'
Five minutes later: 'Da-aaaad.....'
'WHAT?'
'I'm THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??'
' I told you NO! If you ask again, I'll have to smack you!!'
Five minutes later......'Daaaa-aaaad.....'
'WHAT!'
'When you come in to smack me, can you bring a drink of water?'
Five minutes later.....'Da-ad....'
'What?'
'I'm thirsty. Can you bring a drink of water?'
'No, You had your chance. Lights out.'
Five minutes later: 'Da-aaaad.....'
'WHAT?'
'I'm THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??'
' I told you NO! If you ask again, I'll have to smack you!!'
Five minutes later......'Daaaa-aaaad.....'
'WHAT!'
'When you come in to smack me, can you bring a drink of water?'
Is free worth it?
Just read some interesting copy here http://tinyurl.com/cbbcxs. A personality test website that doesn't seem to have changed since 1998. I got there from Penelope Trunk's latest post (http://preview.tinyurl.com/dfeuoa).
Is "free" worth the lack of privacy that we now have on Facebook, MySpace et al?
They didn't think so in 1998 but would all these amazing platforms be as big as they are if they cost $5. I think not. We all like free but as they say on the personality page website "Everything has a cost. The next time you get something for nothing, watch your back carefully so that you can see that cost when it sneaks up on you." ... and bites you on the butt.
What do you think?
Is "free" worth the lack of privacy that we now have on Facebook, MySpace et al?
They didn't think so in 1998 but would all these amazing platforms be as big as they are if they cost $5. I think not. We all like free but as they say on the personality page website "Everything has a cost. The next time you get something for nothing, watch your back carefully so that you can see that cost when it sneaks up on you." ... and bites you on the butt.
What do you think?
How agile are you?
Not long ago in an email exchange Mike Shaw from Omnigraphics said to me, "... in todays market you need to be proactive and agile."
I liked that because agile is an action word and proactive + agile = getting things moving. The word I want to focus on though is agile.
Agile: quick and well-coordinated movement; lithe: an agile leap.
Isn't that a great meaning? Are the decisions you are making right now quick and well-coordinated movement in the direction you want to go?
As I have said before - words are powerful. Choose words like agile for yourself and your work and your business. Put them on the wall so they are the first thing you and your staff see when you come in in the morning. Seeing things like this when you first walk in reminds you are at work and it's time to be agile and make things happen.
Have a terrific week and I look forward to hearing the powerful words you will use. Let me know what they are by commenting on my blog http://mondaymotivator.blogspot.com or you can follow me on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/glennedley.
Gary Vaynerchuk at FOWA 09
Loved this keynote by Gary Vaynerchuk. Didn't have a clue who he was until a few hours ago and I'm now following him on Twitter, bookmarked his site and watched a few of his vids.
Inspirational stuff for me because people ask me how I get the time to write everyday, or why I haven't missed a Monday in 6 years. It's because I freak'n love it - and they just don't get it. They aren't following their passion.
Best stuff about following your passion and understanding yourself I have heard + the hussle. Get out there and do it. No one is going to kick your arse if you get lazy and that sucks. I am accountable to myself and a few important people because I want to succeed and have BIG dreams and need a boot up the butt everyso often.
This is another one of my rants I know but you will understand when you watch the video.
WARNING: Gary swears - a lot sometimes. If you're watching at work, or the kids or Nana are around, wear headphones.
Gary Vaynerchuk at FOWA Miami 09 from DamianVoltes.com on Vimeo.
Inspirational stuff for me because people ask me how I get the time to write everyday, or why I haven't missed a Monday in 6 years. It's because I freak'n love it - and they just don't get it. They aren't following their passion.
Best stuff about following your passion and understanding yourself I have heard + the hussle. Get out there and do it. No one is going to kick your arse if you get lazy and that sucks. I am accountable to myself and a few important people because I want to succeed and have BIG dreams and need a boot up the butt everyso often.
This is another one of my rants I know but you will understand when you watch the video.
WARNING: Gary swears - a lot sometimes. If you're watching at work, or the kids or Nana are around, wear headphones.
Gary Vaynerchuk at FOWA Miami 09 from DamianVoltes.com on Vimeo.
Three POWERFUL words that make a difference
I might have said this before that words are powerful. The words you use to describe yourself and your circumstances define you. Make sure they are big, bold and inspirational.
The following words are words I really like: design, engineer and create. These 3 powerful words when used in any job, career or life make an amazing difference. Here's why;
Design: take time to design your life.
There is a common saying that people spend more time organising a party than their own life. Spend 10 mins a week designing your life and you will be far ahead of the crowd. You will have spent almost 9 hours over the year - 9 hours from 10 mins a week.
Engineer: engineer your life.
Sketch it out. Use your eraser and pencil to trim here or add there. When you're happy with it use ink and make it permanent. You now have a blueprint and a plan to follow.
Create: use your plan and start building.
Have you ever built a house or a model plane? Thats how detailed you need to get. Don't think you can do this in one sitting. Just 10 mins a week at a set time going over the plans, imagining what your life will look like in minute detail is exciting. You will feel like a kid again and have so much energy nothing will stop you.
Try it today. Doing this exercise helped me to change my attitude after a particularly shitty hard day and reminded me where I am going.
The following words are words I really like: design, engineer and create. These 3 powerful words when used in any job, career or life make an amazing difference. Here's why;
Design: take time to design your life.
There is a common saying that people spend more time organising a party than their own life. Spend 10 mins a week designing your life and you will be far ahead of the crowd. You will have spent almost 9 hours over the year - 9 hours from 10 mins a week.
Engineer: engineer your life.
Sketch it out. Use your eraser and pencil to trim here or add there. When you're happy with it use ink and make it permanent. You now have a blueprint and a plan to follow.
Create: use your plan and start building.
Have you ever built a house or a model plane? Thats how detailed you need to get. Don't think you can do this in one sitting. Just 10 mins a week at a set time going over the plans, imagining what your life will look like in minute detail is exciting. You will feel like a kid again and have so much energy nothing will stop you.
Try it today. Doing this exercise helped me to change my attitude after a particularly shitty hard day and reminded me where I am going.
Article that grabbed my attention
I read the SAMBA Blog and the latest post, Natural Rights of Innovative Companies, really grabbed my attention.
It points out we are for small 'plucky' business and against BIG business. A modern day David and Goliath battle. However, we seem to forget big companies were once start-ups and have grown into the behemoths they are today. They created categories that people accepted and went for it.
What a great observation. The article talks about how much we can learn from them and in todays open world we can lots. Have a read. It made me think about big business and my business in a different way.
Read it here.
It points out we are for small 'plucky' business and against BIG business. A modern day David and Goliath battle. However, we seem to forget big companies were once start-ups and have grown into the behemoths they are today. They created categories that people accepted and went for it.
What a great observation. The article talks about how much we can learn from them and in todays open world we can lots. Have a read. It made me think about big business and my business in a different way.
Read it here.
Are you using it?
What is it?
It, as described by Seth Godin in a recent blog post is; the luck you've been handed, the place you were born, the education you were given, the job you've got, your tribe, your customer base and your brand.
All of that added up gives you opportunities your parents dreamed of and your grandparents couldn't have conceived would be possible.
So friend, are you using it?
Are you using the luck, the place you were born, the education you've got and everything else you have to grow both yourself and your country (that's a stretch I know).
Over the weekend I realised I am not using everything I have and I plan to from now on. I feel positive this is the way to stay ahead of the negativity around the recession and forge ahead. Because when the world realises it's been given a fantastic chance to change I plan to be ready and I trust you will be too.
Have a terrific week.
It, as described by Seth Godin in a recent blog post is; the luck you've been handed, the place you were born, the education you were given, the job you've got, your tribe, your customer base and your brand.
All of that added up gives you opportunities your parents dreamed of and your grandparents couldn't have conceived would be possible.
So friend, are you using it?
Are you using the luck, the place you were born, the education you've got and everything else you have to grow both yourself and your country (that's a stretch I know).
Over the weekend I realised I am not using everything I have and I plan to from now on. I feel positive this is the way to stay ahead of the negativity around the recession and forge ahead. Because when the world realises it's been given a fantastic chance to change I plan to be ready and I trust you will be too.
Have a terrific week.
