soupornuts’ reasons to click - #1
As en entrepreneur, bolgger, motivator, pseudo-computer geek and all-around curious guy, I am always “on the click”. I search, research, read skim, click, go back , scan scour, and devour a vast amount of material in both the blogosphere and the “huge” database that we call the web.
This is my initial offering of “reasons to click”, which will be a series of posts that highlight web sites, blogs, articles/posts and videos that I’ve come across and consider to be “click worthy”. Take a look and give me your opinion.
1. The suicide of someone that you know is shocking.
It rocks you to your core. What could I have done? Why didn’t I see it? What should I have done? These questions and many more will confront you as you try to understand.
Tina Fukuchi at Public Spark posted a great article – Why do people commit suicide – that addresses some of theses questions. This is definitely an article that everyone needs to read.
2. Are you looking for help with your blog?
Have you ever seen a really cool blog or web site and thought, “I’d like to try that on my site”, but didn’t know how to start. I had this problem recently – How do you put all those links at the end of each post without having to key them in every time?
Fortunately, or by the Law of Attraction, its the same thing to me, I came across Average Joe Blogger. Nathan Snipes has some great articles about blogging and how to make your blog better. How to manually add Social Book marking links provided me with the raw information and a detailed map of how to do what I’d been trying to do for some time. Thanks Nathan.
3. A couple of new blogs.
Developing a new blog is hard work, especially if you have no idea where to start or how to start. It’s a lot more than just writing articles/posts. There’s the admin, finding ideas, theme development, building a readership as well as defining your writing persona.
Eric Sanders recently did a couple of guest posts on a blog that I co-author called My-Tool Talks. Eric has exceptional writing skills and having been bitten by the “self-expression” bug, has started a blog called Brainwavers.
It’s still developing (in fact, as I went over there just now, I could see that he was having trouble with his theme – but his text was still there and that’s the important part). Eric has the skills to create something special, given a little time and encouragement. Check out Brainwavers.
Brad Baggett has a new blog going a Juice of Champions. Brad is a connector. He is one of those people who “knows people”. In my endeavors to spread the word about the Rotater, Brad has put me in touch with a bunch of people who can help me that I could never have met without him. Thanks for your help Brad. Give him a click, you won’t be disappointed.
4. The Desiderata series.
Bob Clubbs at every, every minute has rounded up a number of the bloggers from Priscilla Palmers’ List of Personal Development Blogs to participate in the dissection of the Desiderata.
The Desiderata, a poem by Max Ehrmann, is quite thought provoking. Bob has asked for bloggers to volunteer to take one of the verses and expound upon it. My contribution to the cause will be posted on October 2.
Take the time to see how different minds look at the thought-provoking work.
5. A free online money management tool.
Take a look at this free money management software and see if it can help you get a grasp of your finances. Peruse Mint’s testimonials.
6. A couple of inspiring videos.
I originally posted an article about Nick Vujicic in an article entitled “Video of an incredible person doing normal things”. Please visit Adam Khoo’s site and see the video for yourself.
Adversity University is an inspiring blog that has recently come to my attention. Not only is the blog inspiring for what it has to say, but the author, Stephen Hopson, leads an inspiring life. Take a look at this video and you’ll feel the power of this motivational speaker.
Okay, this is the first installment of “soupornuts’ reasons to click”. If you have any sites or blogs that you would like to add to the list, then post them in the comments. Let me know what you think. – Chris
The price of paid endorsement vs. the cost of lost credibility
Does an endorsement motivate you to purchase a product? Does it matter if that endorsement has been purchased?
Endorsements are big business.
Many professional athletes make as much or more money by endorsing products as they do participating in their respective sports. Athletic shoes, sporting goods / equipment and clothing lines are huge money-makers for athletes and celebrities alike who are willing to attach their names to these products.
But:
- does the attachment of a famous name mean that the product does what is claimed?
- does a paid endorsement make the product better?
- does a purchased endorsement increase the likelihood that YOU will buy a product?
My business partner and I have recently brought a unique product to several markets. This process was initiated in response to a motorcycle wreck which resulted in Scott’s (my business partner) third shoulder surgery.
During Scott’s rehabilitation, he became frustrated at the length of time that the rehab process was taking. So, he asked his therapists if there was some product that he could purchase to use at home that would supplement his prescribed physical therapy. Scott was told that nothing existed other than what he already had.
Rejecting “no”
Not one to take “no” for an answer, Scott set out to design a piece of equipment that he could use at home that would produce the same sensations that he felt during his physical therapy visits. His homemade prototype was the original Rotater.
Eureka!
It became apparent to his physical therapists that Scott was making remarkable progress. When they questioned him about what he was doing, Scott produced his homemade Rotater.
After demonstrating the Rotater to his therapists and allowing them to try it for themselves, Scott’s physical therapists encouraged him to get a patent.
Joint Mechanix, LLC
This initial desire to accelerate his rehabilitation has resulted in the formation of our company, Joint Mechanix, LLC. We immediately began promoting the Rotater to physical therapists. This was a no-brainer to us because we already knew that the Rotater would work for this market.
Along the way, we have received a number of testimonials from both physical therapists and physical therapy patients who have used the Rotater and achieved excellent results.
Athletes feel the stretch
Although not our initial market, athletes have discovered the unique self-stretching properties of the Rotater. This has opened a huge market for us. In fact, we went to the PGA expo in Las Vegas, earlier this month for the sole purpose of getting the Rotater into the hands of serious golfers to get their take on it. We were staggered by the number of teaching professionals who wanted to take a Rotater home with them.
As the Law of Attraction would have it, while we were at the PGA show, we were approached by a professional baseball player in the minor leagues. He asked about the Rotater, tried it and promptly purchased one.
Follow up
Usually, a couple of weeks after a show, either Scott or I or both of us try to contact as many people who received the Rotater as possible in order to see how it is working out for them. And this is how the issue of paid endorsements came up.
I spoke with a teaching pro who had purchased a Rotater from us and I inquired as to how he was liking it. Well, he raved about how good it was, about how much shoulder flexibility he had regained and how much better his shoulders felt.
When he stopped speaking, I asked him if he would like to provide us with a testimonial. I could tell that he was immediately uncomfortable and I quickly found out why.
He told me that his agent had advised him not to provide an unpaid testimonial. Now, I do see his point. As a professional athlete, HE is his product and he has every right to expect to be paid to endorse a product.
It’s a credibility issue for us
However, I don’t believe it is in the best interest of Joint Mechanix to pay someone to say that the Rotater is a great product. To me, it seems to be a conflict of interest as well as a sacrifice of credibility for us. It just doesn’t feel right.
So, if you read our testimonials, you may not see any famous names – but you will know that our testimonials were motivated by results and not a byproduct of financial remuneration.
Use your super powers for good
I am continuously awed and humbled by the things that my daughters notice, whether it’s something they’ve seen or heard. The fact that they’ve noticed these things is often revealed to me in either a quiet, one on one conversation or while observing the two of them playing together.
Children notice everything!
Here’s a news flash. They see and hear everything I do or say, they adapt it to whatever it is they are doing and then over time, if allowed to go unchecked, they adopt it into their lives. I’m sure that if you have children, at some point, your child repeated a word, phrase, idea or thought that took you a little while to realize where it came from.
The eye-opener is that I understand my influence only because I am constantly exposed to my daughters. I make it a point to talk with them and treat them as intelligent, partially grown human beings. They respond by eagerly developing into two smart and inventive little girls.
I realize the effect of my influence on my daughters only because of my continual exposure to them. This made me begin to wonder, “How many people do we influence that we don’t know about and how do we influence them?” I’ve decided to call the ways that we influence others, “our Powers”.
1. THE POWER TO INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE
When others see us:
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attempt and then accomplish a task
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meet a deadline
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overcome an obstacle
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go back to school
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learn a new skill
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go beyond what is the status quo
…they realize that “it” can be done. They are inspired to “do more” and “go beyond” their previously self-imposed limitations. By our attitudes, character and actions we have the power to move others in the direction of their true potential. We have the power to motivate them to pursue their goals because we have demonstrated that a worthwhile goal can be achieved.
2. THE POWER TO LEAD
Some individuals are natural born leaders while others have the role of leader thrust upon them. Who looks to you for leadership?
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friends
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co-workers
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children
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spouse
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others
You may be surprised. We may not see ourselves as leaders, but the odds are the someone looks up to us as their leader. Are we exhibiting good leadership qualities? Do we demonstrate:
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integrity
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a solid work ethic
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preparedness
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or a host of other qualities that we expect our leaders to have?
Remember, never expect more from others than you are willing to give. It is a sobering thought to know that someone is watching and emulating what we say, what we do, what we think, how we act and the attitudes we portray.
3. THE POWER TO TEACH
You have skills. You know things. Perhaps you:
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know a shortcut for doing a particular job
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know a tip or technique for doing a task more efficiently, quicker or more economically
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know who to contact to get that “certain something” done
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have devised a system that others are unaware of
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know where to go for the answers
Tell someone about your unheralded skills. It will make you feel good to share plus you will help someone else become more productive. Rest assured, 99% of the time, they will give you the credit for developing their skills.
4. THE POWER TO LEARN
If you want a new skill, then learn it. It doesn’t matter whether is is becoming proficient with a new software package or learning how to use a hand plane (a woodworking tool), you can learn. Your mind is like a muscle, it never loses it’s ability to increase it’s functions. You can develop new skills and abilities through hearing, observation, imitation and deduction. The only realistic limitations we have are the ones that we place on ourselves.
5. THE POWER TO ENCOURAGE
It is truly amazing when you stop to realize how much affect a few words of encouragement can have. A simple “good job” or “nice try” lets others know that we see and value their efforts and accomplishments.
One of the largest complaints that I hear in my position is, “no one respects or appreciates what I do”. Studies have shown that workers in general are more likely to perform better, quicker and more efficiently if their efforts are noticed. Continual improvement is more reliant on this personal encouragement than the promise of financial gain.
Stop to encourage others with a word of appreciation or a smile. The benefits will be long lasting - even if you don’t see them.
Soupornuts’ short list of 7 rules for success
1. Decide what success means to you.
My definition of success and your definition of success are, most likely, different. You may find that my definition (or anyone else’s for that matter) is too limiting or too broad. My definition is unimportant and doesn’t matter, because you will only fight, tooth and nail, for what is yours – what you believe in, what you have dreamed and what you have designed!
Define what success is to you and then work toward it.
2. Make a commitment to yourself.
Your journey from where you are to where you want to be (your definition of success) begins when you commit yourself to doing whatever is necessary to achieve your dreams. This commitment is a promise to yourself to use all of your skills, abilities and contacts for the purpose of attaining your definition of success.
Don’t try to fool yourself, if you are not committed in the beginning, then you won’t have the staying power to complete your journey and you will quit when difficulties arise. And difficulties always arise.
We value others by their level of commitment to us. Those that we feel are the most committed to us are the ones that we hold dear. They are the friends that will never let us down.
Without personal integrity and commitment, a life a mediocrity awaits. The pull of the status quo is powerful, but if you wanted to be like everyone else, then you wouldn’t be contemplating committing yourself to the achievement of your dreams, would you?
If you choose to give up and take the easy road to middle class status quo, then for the rest of your life you will be forced to wonder what your life could have been.
Create the life you want and you won’t wonder what could have been.
3. Think on paper.
Or use a PDA. In order to move toward your goal, you need a plan. If you don’t know how to make a plan, then make a list. Make lots of lists.
- Who can help you?
- What skills do you need?
- What knowledge do you need?
- What steps must be taken?
Once you have a list, then you need to prioritize it. What is the most important thing that you need to do? Do that first. What’s next? Do it!
By making lists and prioritizing them, you begin to form a rough outline which you can condense into a logical and formidable plan to achieve your goals. Never underestimate the power of a list.
4. Read, read and read.
Books, magazines, blogs and online articles provide the means to increase your knowledge. If there is a subject that you need to know about, then someone, somewhere has written about it.
You must commit yourself to a regimen of lifelong learning. Set aside a specified amount of time each and every day to be devoted to reading about any subject that you want to become proficient in. A little time devoted each day adds up to a tremendous accumulation of information that you can call upon to make educated decisions.
All successful people understand that if you want to make excellent decisions, then you must have valid, current information at you disposal.
5. Develop your “people” skills.
People do business with people they like. That’s a fact. In 1986, my father and I went into business together and bought a service/gas station. I felt like it was tremendously undervalued and we got an excellent deal. The business was located on a major thoroughfare and in relatively good condition.
The problem was that the previous owner had almost no customers, other than a few that kept coming back because they could have work done on credit. The reason that they had no customers was that the people running the business were a couple of rude and crotchety old men who didn’t give a damn about customer service.
If you don’t care about people, then they certainly will not care about you. Excellent customer service is not just about the person that you are dealing with right now, but also about every person that your customer knows as well.
- always try to address people first
- lose your attitude
- look people in the eye – it’s all about honesty
- give them your full attention – they deserve your respect
- smile – it disarms and welcomes
- listen to their problems – shows that you care
- don’t interrupt – let them blow off some steam if that is the case
- ask questions – clarify the problem, again, shows that you care
- respect their opinions
- offer a solution to their problem
- do what you say you will do – people that don’t, piss me off
- follow up – it’s the little things that make a difference
6. Do one thing each day that moves you closer to your dream.
Keep a journal. Nothing fancy, just a notebook that you can record your efforts of the day. If you will make it a rule to do at least one thing each day that helps you in the attainment of your dream, then you will eventually achieve the results you want.
- call at least one contact
- email at least one contact
- read one article
- file one piece of paper
- make some notes
- revise your plan
- do a web search about something related to your dream
- meditate
- visualize your dream
- encourage someone in their pursuit
- mentor someone
The practice of “doing” something, becomes a life-altering habit, if it is performed everyday. Create for yourself a “daily checklist” where you can catalogue your efforts of each day. This will remind you that the journey to your goals/dreams is really only a series of “baby” steps. Though these steps seem to be small and insignificant when looked at singly, collectively they deliver us to our destination.
7. Never quit and never give up
You learned to do everything that you presently know how to do because you did not quit along the way. Stop just a minute and consider that statement. You were born without the knowledge to do anything. You learned everything along the way by trial and error.
What is the implication? You can learn anything if you don’t give up. It may take a little while, but you never fail as long as you keep trying. Consider these examples:
- 13 British colonies, without the necessary funding, without a central government and without a trained army or navy defeated the most powerful nation in the world to become independent.
- Abraham Lincoln was unsuccessful in numerous attempts to reach political office prior to becoming the President.
- Colonel Sanders was turned down over 9000+ times before selling his recipe and business concept.
- Edison, with 3 months of formal schooling succeeded in creating the first successful light bulb after 10,000 previously unsuccessful attempts. By the way, he did in three years, what the best scientists of that time had been trying to do for over 50 years.
- No one believed that a national service for overnight package delivery was necessary. No one, except Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx, who did not give up in spite of a poor initial start.
We love the stories of the underdog who overcomes long odds to succeed. The Rocky’s and the Rudy’s. You can make your life a story that inspires others to believe that anything is possible - if you will never give up!
Time Bandits: stealing your life - minute by minute
Your priceless time
Time is our most precious resource. When it slips by, it is gone. Forever. The successful millionaire and the average Joe are just alike when it comes to time. Each is given the same amount each day. It then becomes very easy to see that those people who are financially successful must use their time in a more efficient manner. The truth of the matter is that a man or a woman usually finds the time to do the things they want to do.
Stealing from yourself is still stealing
If we were like Rip Van Winkle and took a nap one day then woke up and it was twenty years later, we would be furious. To wake up twenty years older, seeing our children grown and with children of their own, that would be worse than any nightmare. But is it any different when we allow minutes and hours to be stolen from us each day? Is it only the magnitude of the time that makes it a nightmare?
Time Bandits
There are events, technologies and people who unnecessarily take up our time each day. I call these things Time Bandits. Time Bandits steal your time. A minute here, a half hour there, a little at a time so you barely notice. But your priceless time is gone just the same. The following are some of the most common Time Bandits:
- The Telephone: a great device for communicating with someone who is not in your physical vicinity. Do you really need to spend as much time on the phone as you do? Just because it rings, doesn’t mean that you have to answer it. Learn how to relay your message to the recipient in as an efficient a manner as possible or learn what they are trying to say to you, then move on. Use it – don’t allow the phone to steal the one thing you cannot replace.
- E-mail: another handy device for communication. But do you really need to check it every 5 minutes? Must you reply to every email? There is no doubt that it is both a convienence and a time trap, but it can be tamed and used for your good. Set aside a special time to check and reply to your e-mails. Ignore it otherwise.
- Cel Phone and Text Messaging: sort of a hybridization of the worst of the telephone and e-mail. They have their benefits, but for your sake, use them in moderation. Plus, it gets very annoying to see someone constantly texting when they are supposed to be doing something else. It’s sort of like communication espionage.
- The Office Talker: you know who I’m talking about. They stop by to “shoot the breeze”, but all they kill is your time. Not only are they not doing their job, they are also making sure that you are not doing yours. Do yourself a favor, institute some boundaries and introduce the Talker to them. You’ll thank me later.
- Television: aka – the drone box. Do you think you’ll be lying on your death bed and lament that you would have liked to watch a few more episodes of some show? I doubt it. Be productive and expand your mind at the same time. Read. It doesn’t matter if it is a book, magazine, or an online article, but actively use your mind instead of allowing it to become a sponge for hollywood propaganda.
We live in an era when there are more time-saving devices than ever before and yet we have less time. How is this possible? Time is what we want the most and then use in the worst possible ways. When we waste time, we are devaluing our lives. We will never get it back.
Realize the value of your time
We must “seize the day” and “grab the bull by the horns”. Ask yourself, “Is what I’m doing right now the best possible use of my time?” This simple question, if asked prior to beginning any new task will help you in your endeavor to spend your time wisely. Does reading this blog help you? Does it provide technical or motivational information that is worthy of the time you are devoting to it? If the answer is yes, fantastic. If the answer is no, then stop reading now and move on to something that facilitates your growth and development. Don’t waste time. You don’t get a do-over.
Other Resources:
1. Penelope Trunk at the Brazen Careerist blog wrote an article entitled “10 tips for time management in a multitasking world” that offers great insight for great time management.
2. The Secret of Time Management in J.D. Meier’s blog tackles time theft from different angle.
Obstacles and fears: the filters of success
How many times have you heard someone say that they had the original idea for some “hot”, new product, service or web application? The chances are pretty good that they did have the original idea or one very similar to it. So:
- What happened?
- Why did their version of the idea “die on the vine”?
- Why are they not reaping the harvest of their “original” idea?
The quick and dirty answer
The quick and dirty answer is that having ideas is easy, whereas implementing those ideas is not. Please note that I did not say that the activation of their idea is hard. I merely said that it was not easy – not easy in the sense that there is work to be done. But I did not say that the work would be difficult.
Difficulty is a matter of opinion
People tend to associate difficulty with any task that is awkward or time consuming. Almost anything new to you will be awkward at first but this does not mean that it is difficult for you. It only means that there is a learning curve involved, which will consume some of your time.
Learning to walk as a child was both awkward and time consuming, but you did not give up. You tried, you fell, you tried, you stumbled, you fell and this repeated over and over until you became proficient at walking. The same things occurred when you learned to ride a bicycle, swim or drive a car.
Learning anything new takes time. How much time? It depends on a number of variables:
- your desire to learn – do you want to learn or is it being forced on you?
- your motivation to learn – why do you want to learn this new thing?
- your determination to learn – how badly do you want to learn?
It’s up to you
You can and will do what you want to do in most cases. I can hear some people saying that they would rather be doing this job or pursuing that lifestyle. My response is, “then why aren’t you?”
And typically I get a list of obstacles and fears. Obstacles are those things that stand between you and the realization of you dreams. Obstacles can be:
1. A lack of “know how” – you don’t know what to do, what’s involved or where to start on your big idea. This obstacle is easy to overcome in theory. You only have to find the information and then apply it to your situation.
In practice it is time consuming. And because it is time consuming, it is confused with being difficult. Well here’s a clue – the difficulty may lie in you having to tear yourself away from you favorite sitcom, but the learning part is a piece of cake because you are way more intelligent than you give yourself credit for being.
The difficulty is being determined by you attitude to the time you must allocate to acquiring the information and not by your aptitude which for most people is being underutilized.
2. A lack of funding – again it seems difficult, but when you “break it down”, you may change you mind.
If you have equity in you home, then getting a home equity line of credit or a 2nd mortgage is really easy. The difficulty is in putting your home on the line.
If you have a 401k retirement account or a life insurance policy, then you can borrow against them. This is not hard to do.
You may have a “rich” friend or relative who is willing to invest in your idea or lend you the money outright. The hard part is having the humility to ask.
Obstacles stand between you and your goal. There are ways around, over, under or through them. It’s up to you to figure out how to eliminate or minimize them.
Fears are mental roadblocks
1. We are afraid of what others think – if you have a great idea and don’t launch, then people are going to say that you lack courage, that you are not committed. If you do “dive in”, then someone will say that you are reckless, that you lack “good” judgment.
The bottom line is who cares what someone else thinks? You can’t please everyone anyway. Anytime that you try to move away from the “herd”, you are inviting criticism and scrutiny because if you can be successful, then what does that say about the rest of the “herd”?
Do not underestimate the “power of the herd”. The status quo is a powerful motivating force that opposes all change. But in reality, if you want to be successful, can you remain in the herd? It’s a rhetorical question – the answer is no.
To be successful, you must think, speak and act like successful people. That alone will cause you to alienate yourself from the drones of sameness.
2. We are afraid to get out of our comfort zone – whatever it is that we are doing right now is a known situation and that makes it comfortable. Anything new will be uncomfortable.
But you can refuse to think of your discomfort in terms of anxiety or stress. Instead, see it for what it is – the butterflies of excitement. It’s the “pump” before a big gave or a big presentation. It’s the thrill and anticipation of attempting something new and wonderful. It’s all in how you choose to look at the situation.
The filters of success
Obstacles and fears are the outer and inner roadblocks to success. They are the filters that stop so many people. They are the reasons that so few ( 3–5% ) ever reach financial independence. They are the excuses that keep the “herd” of mediocrity full. These are the reasons that you hear people say, “I had that idea first”.
Decisiveness, dedication & determination: a 3-dimensional success story
Mr. G is an extraordinary individual. He is an expert craftsman, a highly skilled technician, a college instructor, an entrepreneur, a business partner and my friend. He is active and responsible on all these fronts professionally while at the same time being very conscious of his family’s needs and his responsibilities to them.
Recently, Mr. G has become something of a 3-dimensional success as well. Since the fall of last year, he has been able to reduce his weight by over 80 pounds. Being his friend, I have been able to see his progress and how he tackled this tremendous task. Never once have I heard him complain about the foods he is missing, the extreme effort this has taken, or the time he has devoted to exercising.
Because of his attitude and effort, I have used the term 3-D as an acronym to describe the characteristics he has exhibited during his journey to a healthier lifestyle. The three D’s that set him apart are:
1. Decisiveness
Mr. G is a decisive person. At some point last fall, Mr. G decided that he would change his lifestyle. Now any of you who have embarked on journey of change know that there are many obstacles along the way to success. However, the first step is never taken by many because of they fail to make a decision or they fail to remain committed to that decision. The first step in obtaining any goal is deciding that your goal is what you want and that it is worthy of your pursuit.
Mr. G decided to change his lifestyle. Notice that the initial step of his journey began in his mind with a decision. Change your mind first and then your life will change. Your thoughts determine both the quantity and quality of your life.
2. Dedication
Mr. G dedicated himself to learning how to be successful in his endeavor.
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He did not leave things to chance.
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He did not approach his goal haphazardly.
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He obtained the necessary information from experts in the areas of nutrition, physical fitness, exercise and motivation.
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He dedicated himself to acquiring and using the knowledge necessary to distinguish himself from the masses who seek to become healthy and fail.
Once he became more educated, Mr. G dedicated himself to developing a plan of attack with subgoals and ways to monitor his progress along the way. He has left nothing to chance. He knows when, what and how to eat. He knows how many calories a certain food has and if it is eaten in combination with another food, how it will affect his insulin levels and thus fat production and storage. He dedicated himself to starting and maintaining an exercise program because he knew this was a mandatory step in the realization of his goals.
Mr. G dedicated himself to obtaining his goals and having produced in his mind the vision of his future self, has not wavered along the path to success.
3. Determination
Determination is:
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the unwillingness to quit, falter or give up
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keeping your eye on the goal and forging onward
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unstoppable
Mr. G has made steady progress.
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I have never heard him complain once of the effort this must have taken.
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I’ve never heard him complain about what he could or could not eat.
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I’ve never heard him complain that he has to get up a 4:00 a.m. to go workout.
Mr. G’s determination has been an inspiration to me and to many more that have witnessed his progress.
Mr. G decided that he wanted to be healthier, he devoted himself to learning how to become healthier, he applied his knowledge to the acquisition of his goals and he remains determined today.
Last night, a mutual friend commented to me, “You know, Mr. G seems to hold his head higher. He seems to stand taller.” I agreed with him and I realized that Mr. G may be smaller on the outside, but he is much, much bigger on the inside.
He is a real-life, 3-D success story.
Interest vs. commitment: a matter of time management
Time is the one commodity that we are all freely given. Though it is precious, it is also our most perishable commodity. Regardless of what you hear, you will never save any time. You may do a task in a more efficient manner and be able to move on to something else, but you will never have any more time than your allotted 24 hours in each day.
If you don’t manage your time…
However, by the effective management of our time today, we can create the future that we desire. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t manage your time, your time will manage you.” There must be a commitment to the development of a plan for effective time management. You do not manage your time by accident. It is only done through a definite, systematic plan.
Commitment vs. Interest
Many people are deluded. They truly believe that they are committed to managing their time, but they seldom exhibit this in their lives. Conversations with these people often have comments like:
- “there just isn’t enough time in the day”
- “I don’t have enough time”
- “I am too busy”
…sprinkled throughout the dialogue. Perhaps there is a misunderstanding of “commitment”. Here is a short example that helps me remember what commitment really is.
Two men, Bob and Tom, were traveling down a small river in a canoe. It was a nice, simple trip. Just a lazy day drifting. But on this particular day Bob and Tom each shifted in the canoe at the same time, in the same direction, which resulted in the canoe capsizing.
Bob was interested
Bob, being an excellent swimmer, came up and slowly considered the temperature of the water and how refreshing it made him feel, then lazily began swimming toward the side of the river. Bob was interested in getting out of the water because he was uncomfortable.
Tom was committed
Tom however, did not know how to swim. When he surfaced, he did not care how refreshing the water felt or what the water’s temperature was. He didn’t even notice the water’s temperature. He simply gasped for air and began to fight, all the while frantically searching for something to grab onto. He pushed, pulled and struggled to breathe. Tom could see the shoreline and he desperately wanted out of the river. Tom was committed to doing whatever necessary to get to the shoreline. For Tom, getting out of the river was not just a “good idea” or “an excellent theory”. It was the key to his survival. Tom was committed to doing whatever was necessary because he wanted to survive.
Effective time management requires daily commitment
Like Bob, most people are interested in time management. They think that it is a good idea. The highly effective, successful few are like Tom. They realize that their survival and their future depend on their commitment to a systematic plan of time management. They are as committed to time management as they are to breathing.
Study time management. Study your lifestyle. Do the two compliment each other or do they clash? What we become tomorrow will be the result of:
- how we think today
- what we do today
- how we use our daily allotment of 24 hours
Commit to a time management philosophy today.
soupornuts.com to participate in Desiderata blog series
I have responded to a request made by the blog “every, every minute” to participate in a blog series based on Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata. I have chosen to post an article on “As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons”.
I like the poem and the idea to expand and expound on a brilliant piece of literature. Stay tuned for more details.
Talk to your children about finances, credit cards and fiscal responsibility
Traveling provides me with the opportunity to meet unique and interesting people. I met such a person this past week at the PGA Expo in Las Vegas. His name was Howie Walfish and he is on a mission.
Saving the youth
Howie is involved in sports marketing and entertainment. And he is entertaining, but he is also passionate about helping the youth of today avoid a lifetime of grief by becoming financially aware. His premise (and it is an excellent one) is: no one teaches us anything to prepare us for how to handle our financial affairs once we become adults. We learn:
- science
- english
- math
- social studies
- foreign languages
- government studies
- western civilizations
…but we do not learn financial preparedness before we are tossed (or willingly jump) into our early adult lives. The results have been disastrous and are demonstrated by:
- escalating credit card debt
- increasing bankruptcies
- people trapped in poverty or near poverty living conditions
Through his own life experiences, Howie has developed a unique outlook on how to help the youth – teach them about finances before they are exposed to the ruthless onslaught of credit card companies and sucked into a lifetime of debt.
Howie is a stand up comedian and wants to speak to the youth of America. Visit his site and see if he can help someone you know.
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