Playing It Safe Is Risky!

If you want people to buy your product or service, you have to stand out. Especially if you are in a saturated or commoditized market. If you look like everyone else, you are forced to sell cheaper or cut your fees to get the business.

When you stand out, you will draw criticism. If you aren't getting criticized, you aren't doing enough to draw attention. It does take more work and it is not easy, but you will start to establish your brand.

There is a reason you do what you do. Tell your story. Stand out in the crowd of complacency. Go against the grain. Create a buzz around your brand and product.

It's not my fault!

The other day I asked my children to pick weeds. My wife later told me that she had come behind them and found they hadn't done a very good job. My son informed me that they had split the task into sides and that was his sister's side. My daughter said that some of the weeds had stickers and they couldn't get those.

While studying successful people, I have started to see common traits. They don't make excuses. They don't complain about the lack of resources. They don't blame others. They don't lower the standard so they can win.

Ultra succsessful people win with few resources. They don't let outside forces dictate their success. They take responsibility. They don't take no for an answer. They fail a lot. One thing I notice is that they fail fast. They get back up and start fast. They don't dwell on the failure, they learn from it. They learn not to repeat the same mistakes over. The next time you are tempted to make an excuse, just remember that it won't help you win.

Is your past a friend or foe?

Today is brand new! The slate is clear. You get to start over. I just flipped the switch to clear everything out for you. The only thing I am going to leave is the memory of your past. What are you going to do with those memories? Are you going to use them to determine your not good enough, not smart enough or have lost important people in your life and can't seem to move forward? 

You see, the choice is now yours to make. Only you can decide how today is going to be. You have to be here no matter what, but how you decide to use your past will determine how good your future is going to be. 

I was fired from my first outside sales job. It hurt me! I had always seemed to be destined for sales and then hit this wall. I quickly got up and moved forward. I soon built a strong sales territitory in my next position. I then went on to become the #1 Century 21 agent in the midsouth region. Does you past hold you back or propel you forward? Bad things are going to happen. How you react will determine if you win or not. 

Will it matter?

I spent something this weekend and it didn't cost a lot. I spent time. I spent time with my family. I spent one on one time with my wife. We then spent time with the kids. I spent time with my mom, dad, brothers and sisters.

Its easy to get caught up in the rut of life and not make the effort to spend time with the ones we love.  There is always a chore to be finished. There is always another appointment. There is something to be working on. In the end will it really matter?

I left something undone yesterday to be with my family and I'm glad I did. I chose the more important thing. Everyday we have a choice on where we spend our time. Just ask yourself this question when choosing. Will it matter?

Your Billboard

Tim Ferriss often asks the people he is interviewing if they could have a billboard, what would it say? He puts them on the spot to answer immediately. What would their one life's message say?

If you could have your own billboard, what would it say? I want to provoke thoughts that you may have never had. What is your purpose? Is it big enough to put on your billboard. Maybe what you thought was so important, really isn't.

You have one shot at this life. There is no practice run. As you wake up this morning, think about your day. What is on your schedule? Does it really matter enough to be on your billboard?

Obsessed

A lot of Nashville Predator fans went to bed mad after losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in game six of the The Stanley Cup Final. This made me think about being obsessed. People would literally fight someone on behalf of their team, but don't fight for themselves everyday.

If they brought half of the fire and intensity to their lives as they brought to the ice rink, they would be unbelievable! Their business would explode and family life would be amazing! If those same people brought half of that energy to church with them, can you imagine how the service would go?

Obsession is not a bad thing if focused in the right area. Be obsessed about growing your business! Be obsessed about the time you spend with your family! Be obsessed about your walk with God! If you are focused on your life enough, you won't live and die with how your team performs. 

What did you do that mattered?

What did you do today that really mattered? Whether it is tomorrow, next week, next year or ten years from now, what will make a lasting impression? How will it change lives?

You see, most people get up everyday, go to their 9-5 and go home to watch TV. They get up the next day and do the same thing. They constantly look to the weekend for relief from a life they hate.

You may not be able to change your job today, but you can certainly add meaning to your life. Volunteer, learn a new language or mentor someone. It is never to late. Super Coach Micheal Burt says this ain't no practice life! Go live today! You are not promised tomorrow!