Tuesday, December 30, 2008

2009 - Horrible or Outstanding?

As we head into a New Year that many people seem to be dreading, it seems to be a great time to talk about goals.

Michelangelo said "The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we hit it."

Is that how you feel in your life? If you're like most people, you probably haven't thought much about it and you fall in the latter category.

Every millionaire I know has set goals in their lives. Check out the interviews I've done with them and learn how they found success in their lives.

Will 2009 be a year of excitement for you and your family, or will it be similar to 2008? The time to make that decision is now.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Lacking Ideas?

It's far easier to say you don't have an idea to act on than it is to admit you are afraid to act on the ideas you do have.

It's pretty rare that I talk to a business owner who has no ideas for their business. They may say they don't have any ideas, but once pressed you'll find fear at the heart of their decision making.

If there is one thing that is detrimental to business, it is operating out of fear. If I find myself making any decisions in life based out of fear, I know the decision will usually be wrong.

What can you do to confront your fear? If you cannot then you have two choices.
  1. The idea must not be acted on
  2. You have no business being in business
Are you operating out of fear?

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Save on Groceries Quickly

Angle Food Ministries is incredible. Christine and I have been using them for months. No seconds or left overs and it's open to everyone.

$80 of groceries for $30. What could be better?

Monday, December 15, 2008

The Key to Success is One Thing at a Time

Did you know that each of us has a limited supply of willpower, and that if you exert it in too many areas at once you run out? This could explain why if you try to make too many changes in your life at once, you may end up giving up.

A study from Case Western Reserve University revealed this. When researchers placed freshly baked chocolate chip cookies before two groups of participants they told one group to eat two or three and the other to eat radishes, while watching the others eat the cookies. Afterward, everyone was asked to try and solve an impossible puzzle. Those who had to resist the cookies gave up on the problem twice as fast as those who indulged.

The researcher, Kathleen D. Vohs, PhD, said to think of the reserve like gas in your car. When you resist temptation you use some up. The more you resist, the emptier the tank gets until you eventually run out of gas.

This is an important consideration if you are trying to make health changes. You should focus on the most important thing you want improve and avoid making other changes at the same time. For instance don't try to cut back on television time and try to eat healthier at the same time. You will be much more likely to give up before being successful.

Friday, December 12, 2008

The Uncoachable Coach

I am usually amazed when talking with other coaches, counselors, practitioners and business owner. Many of them come to me because their businesses are not supporting them financially and they have a big lack of clients.

As a coach who coaches with other coaches and business owners to help them build their practices, I have a lot of experience in dealing with some major egos.

The amazing part is that these coaches expect clients to knock down their doors seeking their advice and pay a fee to do it, but they themselves do not do the same in their business.

I for one have hired numerous coaches throughout my tenure as a coach and a business owner. I've spent two days 1:1 with a coach, traveled across the country and have had countless phone calls to help me improve my offering.

Why in the world would I expect someone to engage with me if i won't engage with others?

And this is why 51% of coaches in the US made less than $10,000 last year.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Living Your Calling or Hating Your Job?

The common thing many Americans do is to plan their life around their work. This tends to lead to stress, marital and family issues and even depressing weekends, because Monday is just around the corner.

Why do we do this? Doesn't is make much more sense to plan our work around our lives instead of the other way around? Unfortunately most people cannot get over what I call "comfortable misery".

In other words, they are stuck in a rut, but it's not so bad they are motivated to make a change.

There are many things you can do if this describes you. I suggest you start by planning your goals for next year and at least 5 years into the future. I've made our goal-planning worksheet available to you for free if you'd like a bit of help getting started.

Monday, December 1, 2008

The Hottest Job Markets

With all the talk of employees losing their jobs, there are still some hot job markets in the U.S. My home city of Raleigh, NC (and neighboring Durham) scored a spot as the fourth hottest in the country in a study by the American City Business Journals.

Raleigh added nearly 79,000 jobs over the past 5 years, which is a 22% increase, towering above the nationwide average of only 6%. The Texas cities of Houston, Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth scored the top three slots.

What is not included in this study is the number of businesses that have been started in the area.

Over 98% of companies in the U.S. employee less than 100 people. Small business literally fuels our economy. If you're not in a position that you like, take charge, follow your passions and increase your income doing something you love.