106 Excuses That Prevent You From Ever Becoming Great.

I rarely do this. I'm pointing you to an incredible blog with an incredible message. I'm an avid reader of Chris Brogan's blog and tweets — he is THE guru of social media and tours the world helping organizations efficiently and effectively employ it in their marketing. Well . . . he hosted a guest post from Tommy Walker that knocked my socks off.

I went through all 106 excuses and to be honest — I find many of them creep into my head from time to time. This information is a great way to stop that from happening and ensure you stay on your chosen path to greatness.

So here it is . . . Enjoy!

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. What excuses do you use to keep you from being great? Let’s talk. I’ve worked with thousands of business owners and executives and have helped them manage their 'de-motivational' behaviors — call or email me to schedule a complimentary session.

Enjoy The Little Things In Life.

This past weekend, I celebrated my birthday. In addition to receiving hundreds of incredible emails (I relished EVERY one and they made me feel so special), my wife hosted a small get-together with family and close friends. And for a few days, I let life FLOW. No direction - no worrying - no decisions - no running around. Just letting it FLOW. And let me tell you — it was GREAT.

It made me realize two things:

1. You need to detach from time-to-time and take it easy. No one is going to die on an operating table — your boss isn't going to fire you — and your clients aren't going to flee. Step back and enjoy the little things (life, health, family, friends) — which are usually more important than the big things (work).

Did you catch what I did? I actually called the most important things in life the little things and your career the big things. Why? Because that's how we usually treat them — we tend to worry, focus and act more on work items and let the more important things take a back seat.

I've always said you juggle a number of balls in the air — family, health, friends, relationship, kids and work. All the balls are made of glass, except for work, which is made of rubber. If you drop one, the glass balls shatter and are incredibly hard to replace. Your work ball bounces right back — because you can always find another job.

2. You need to focus on the little things and try to incorporate that attention every day. How? If you caught one of my previous posts last week (click here), at the end, Shawn Achor mentions five things you should do to make your life a little more special, more powerful, and have more meaning. They are:

a. Three gratitudes - think about 3 things you are grateful for. b. Journal - write down one positive experience in a small book or file. c. Exercise - get out each day - even for a simple walk and move your body. d. Meditation - take 5-10 minutes and meditate - focus inward. e. Random Act of Kindness - send one positive email to one person every day.

If you set aside just a little time every day (I do it and it takes me no more than 15-20 minutes throughout the day), I not only appreciate, but I embrace the 'little things' in life.

Try it.

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P.S. Having a hard time fitting in these small things? Let’s talk. I’ve worked with thousands of executives and have helped them manage their time — call or email me to schedule a complimentary session.

Six Things Successful People Do Differently.

Everyone is looking for that one magic pill to take and instantly become successful. Here are some realities:

• It's hard. You're going to have to work at it.
• It's fleeting. Never, never, never give up. Stick with it.
• It's capricious. You have to be in the right place at the right time with the right people.

How does one get successful? You need to work at it — every day.

I've found six inter-related behaviors of highly successful clients I've tracked in my 11 years coaching:

1. They Self-Motivate

Get out there and make things happen. Most people expect their boss, their job, or their colleagues to somehow get them motivated (directly or indirectly) so they can perform their duties.

Successful people have an internal engine that revs them up in the morning and keeps them energized all day long. Or they leverage external motivators on a regular basis to keep them at a peak performing state.

Check Out: Five Ways To Make Your Commute Bearable

2. They Push Until It Hurts

Most (if not all) of us procrastinate in one form or another. We put things off, we extend deadlines, we miss delivery dates.

Successful people get things done, on time. They push themselves, their staff, and everyone around them to ensure agreed upon dates are met. Sometime it hurts, sometimes they work late, but in the end, the pushing delivers results.

Check Out: How To Eliminate Procrastination

3. They Partner & Connect

We tend to work with the same people and cocoon within our company. It's safe, it's easy, and it doesn't over-extend our comfort zone into meeting new people. Hey, it's worked so far, so what do you have to lose? A lot.

Successful people regularly extend themselves inside their company and outside into the marketplace. They reach out to connected individuals and influential executives to build solid relationships.

Check Out: Why Networking Is Dead - Part One & Why Networking Is Dead - Part Two

4. They Track

You go on your merry way each day getting your work done, taking on new projects and tasks, and never really step back and look at the big picture.

Successful people are not only working in their job, but they are also working on it — they step back and assess their progress regularly. They track themselves against their peers and clearly know what needs to be done to accelerate and excel.

Check Out: What Have You Done So Far?

5. They Relax

Business is cyclical — so is your career. It has it ups and downs — unfortunately, many people get too stressed out when things go wrong or not as planned. They then take it out on themselves and everyone around them.

Successful people take adversity in stride — they understand the peaks and valleys of the marketplace and office. Instead of devolving down into a funk, they use this opportunity to step back, reflect, and start anew.

Check Out: How To Be More Effective On The Job

6. They Are Positive & Confident

There are so many people in corporate and those who own their own businesses who wander through the day with a negative weight on their shoulders. In addition, they ensure everyone knows about it.

Successful people usually have a glass half-full point of view. They are the energizers, the brainstormers, and the people who hit the ground running every morning of every day. In addition, they project confidence (or at least try to) — they believe in their ability to make things happen, enact change and inspire people. Here's a secret —  they also have a lack of confidence — so they fake it (we all do).

Check Out: How To Be A Confident Executive & Be Like Jack LaLanne

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P.S. Successful isn't hard — it just takes planning. You and I can work on it together so you instantly get what I’m talking about - Let’s talk. I’ve worked with thousands of people who wanted to take assertive steps in this area — call or email me to schedule a complimentary session.

Hate Your Job? Start Your Own Business.

I know — it's scary. But here are the facts: 1. There's never been a better time to start a business. Corporate life is uncertain and with technology and the market's ever-increasing needs, you have to get out there. I know it's not the best economy — but many successful businesses were started in a downturn.

2. Start slowly. Do it on the side. Build up clients and then make your break. Small steps lead to big gains.

3. Pick your area and then meet people in that field. How is it? Up? Down? Do they like it? What don't they like? Be an information vacuum — learn about the industry, business, and all the small machinations.

4. Many businesses today don't need a lot of capital to start. Years ago, you needed a storefront, loans, etc. Today, all you might need is a website, a business card, and a lot of chutzpah!

5. Just do it. A lot of people out there HATE their job and wish they were more in control of their life and career. HERE'S YOUR CHANCE. Every year, corporate positions are drying up, bosses are becoming bi-polar, and you are at the whim of the balance sheet. Make a move before they do.

Many of my clients have made the move successfully from a corporate position to running their own business. And guess what? They LOVE it.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Are you interested in starting a business? Let’s talk. I've worked with people from all over the world who wanted to take aggressive steps in their career — call me to schedule a complimentary session.

Get Ahead & Have Fun At The Same Time.

I coached a client this morning and got them focused and targeted. I thought I'd share it with you: I call it ENERGETIC ENTHUSIASM.

Let's say you have a strict deadline to deliver — 30 days to complete your task. So you have to get off your butt and get it done.

FACT: Dig deep into your well and pull out the energy to get things done quickly. But you also have to couple it with a deep sense of true enthusiasm to ensure you don't run out of steam halfway through.

The bad news: It's hard to start.

It's like a lawn mower in the back of your shed — you need to use it, but you haven't pulled the cord for years. It might take 5-10 minutes of pulling, sweating, and swearing — but when it's complete — it's running and you are off cutting grass.

The good news: It's easy to maintain. Once you start the enthusiasm engine, the energy just flows from all of your pores. Ideas flow, people are caught up in the maelstrom, and you just keep going, going, going.

The only caveat: Stay away from energy vampires. They are (in no real order):

• Gossipy colleagues and friends
• The piles of paper, to-do's, and mess in your office (you need this guy)
• Family members who complain
• The news, media or any resource that thrives on bad news
• Surfing - set a specific time to surf and then get off the web

Energy vampires will sap your energy in no time flat. Keep the enthusiasm cycle moving & keep your energy up. Here are some energy service stations:

• Exercise - do anything, go for a walk, workout, anything - get a personal trainer.
• Music - get your favorite jazzy tunes and listen - iTunes
• Motivational speakers - Zig Ziglar, Anthony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuk
• Dance/Sing - move your body and your voice, do Zumba!
• Meet energizing people - say hello to everyone and wish them a great day, go here.
• Spiritual - Go to church/temple/mosque/meetinghouse - commune with God
• Meditate - If you don't know how - check John Mercede out
• Brainstorm with your team or boss - go offsite and think outside of the box

Don't just get a little energy — couple it with enthusiasm. Don't just get a little enthusiasm — bind it with energy.

You won't know what hit you, your career and your life.

What do you do to develop your Energetic Enthusiasm?

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. How did you like this article? Let me know. Are you interested in what I can do for you? Let’s talk. I work with people from all over the world who need to fill up their energy service stations — call me to schedule a complimentary session.

Catch Rich on the GardenFork Podcast!

Eric Rochow is a very peculiar man. Peculiar in a way that he's just like me. He loves a lot of really cool things. Eric has one of the most listened to and watched podcasts on iTunes, called GardenFork TV. I ran into it one day while browsing the main list of famous podcasts. GardenFork is an eclectic mix of cooking, DIY gardening, and whatever cool stuff Eric thinks might be fun to share with people.

And his personality is perfect for the podcast medium. He's a great interviewer, knowledgable about a million different things, and a genuinely nice person. I listen to ALL of his podcasts on my commute to my office each day and on the weekends, my family and I watch his video podcasts.

I reached out to him a few weeks ago with a short letter* inviting him to breakfast since his weekly commute (to his weekend home in CT) takes him smack dab past my town of Oxford, CT. Next thing I know, Eric invites me on the air to coach him!

So without further ado — here's my full interview with Eric. Enjoy!

*Did you catch that readers? A simple email invitation opens doors. Yes it happens in real life.

10 Gifts For YOU.

As my holiday gift to you, here are my most read & requested posts from 2011:(it's funny - most of them have steps, tips, or ways)

Set Your 2012 Goals In Two Steps It's December 2011. Many people are scrambling to get their end of the year targets complete. How do you guarantee a great 2012?

5 Tips On How To Treat New Employees Whew! After a phlanx of interviewees and resumes, late nights, early mornings and lost lunches, you've just hired that new team member. Now make sure your new hire is happy, engaged, enthusiastic, and motivated.

Four Powerful Questions To Ask Yourself This Season Most people use New Year's Eve (and Day) to plan forward for what might be in store for 2012. And that's a good thing. During the holidays, I try to look back at what happened over the past 12 months and ask myself a few simple questions.

Top 10 Powerful Pieces Of Advice To Be Successful As a coach, I run into many great pieces of advice from books, clients, workshops, seminars, and instructors. Here is a powerful cross-section of great advice I've used in business and life.

Top 5 Regrets of the Dying I've just finished one of the most powerful books I've read this year. It's by a wonderful woman named Bronnie Ware,and it focuses in on the actual voiced regrets of people she encountered when they were dying. Powerful stuff!

The One Secret To Look More Confident There are hundreds of books out there. Thousands of speakers. And they all talk about confidence. But it's really easy. Here's the secret.

5 Mistakes You Make With Business Cards They bring me business and success everyday. That's why they are ALWAYS in my left pocket. But most people either don't have them (shame on you) or if they do - have terrible designs. Here are some mistakes people make with business cards.

Top 5 Regrets of Struggling Businesses This post is for all business owners - In my 10+ years of coaching around the world, I've seen it happen to many successful businesses. Most people get it, but there are a few who take their eye off the prize and let their house of cards tumble to the ground.

3 Ideas To Bring A Bit More Sanity To Your Life I was sitting in church this Sunday and we had a simple prayer. One part really stood out for me.

How One Powerful Poem Can Change Your Life I love Rudyard Kipling's "If". It's a magnificent poem - it doesn't get too maudlin, but it does have its highs (it's been voted Britain's favorite poem).

Get set for an unbelievable new year. It's almost 2012! - Rich

Four Powerful Questions To Ask Yourself This Season.

Most people use New Year's Eve (and Day) to plan forward for what might be in store for 2012. And that's a good thing. During the holidays, I try to look back at what happened over the past 12 months and ask myself a few simple questions:

1. What went right?
2. What went wrong?
3. Who did I help?
4. Who helped me?

Why? It's a great way to assess your growth, your track record, and to clearly see who is important in your life. I try to develop a list of bullet points under each question to ensure I am concise and targeted for each question. Let me break each one down:

What went right?

I always like to start with a positive — it gets me going and I dive right into any exercise. What did you do right this year? What decisions really paid off? What directions did you take which delivered increased revenue, energy, or positive challenges? What client not only loved you, but came aboard with gusto?

Next Steps: Keep doing this.

What went wrong?

What didn't turn out as we expected? Where did one of our decisions go off the tracks? Who did we expect to help us and they dropped the ball? What client didn't come through? What has been going along swimmingly and then all of a sudden stopped, disappeared, or caused a major upset?

Next Steps: Stop, reassess, and change direction.

Who did I help?

This is by far the most important question for me (and probably for you too). With my guidance and abilities, who did I reach out to and give them guidance, assistance, or direction? How did I use my talents to help them do their job? How did I help them make more money? Build a stronger client base?

Most importantly, how did I help them when they were down?

Next Steps: Who else can you help in 2012? How can you help more people?

Who helped me?

This is the one we always forget. This time of year is for reflection on those special people who went out of their way to help us grow our business, strengthen our career, and make us a better human being.

Next Steps: Send each of these people a personal letter or card telling them how much they changed your life. Do it today.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. How did you like this article? Let me know. Are you interested in what coaching can do for you? Let's talk. I work with people from all over the world who have the same questions — and we developed a successful and actionable plan for 2012. I schedule infrequent complimentary sessions — catch one today.

Image provided by Rich Gee.

Top Five Regrets Of Managers.

This post is for all those frustrated managers out there — I was in corporate for 20+ years and managed many large teams of dedicated people. It's one of the hardest positions to have — there's a lot of uncertainty when it comes to high-level decisions.

1. I should have worked harder to keep my best person.

The simple truth is — if they're your best, they're going to flee at some point. And there's nothing you can do about it.

When people get 'the itch' — moving upwards or onward — there are very few things you can do to hold them back. Why? Because the single action of 'holding them back' delivers the exact opposite reaction within that person. They want to grow, meet new people, experience new challenges, and make more money.

I always say — if one of your people have made the decision to leave — help them and don't get in the way. You will make a friend forever — and maybe someday — you can hire them back when you start at another company.

2. I should have spent more time growing and motivating my people.

Yes, you should have. One of the most important duties of every manager is to motivate, grow, and push their team. If you're not doing that on a regular basis, you're not managing. It's that simple.

Take time at least once a week to better understand the motivators with each direct report you manage. Do they need more attention? Less attention? More direction? Accolades? Acknowledgment? Money? Understand the motivators and you will key into what drives them to do better work and deliver 150%.

3. I should be more effective managing upwards.

You are absolutely correct. But don't focus 100% of your efforts towards this. You'll then turn into a suck-up — and no one likes a suck-up.

Find out the motivators and deliverables of your manager and help them in any way you can to deliver on their projects. It not only gives you the opportunity to learn new techniques and challenges, it allows you (and your team) to hone in on what's really critical for the company.

Also, LISTEN. Don't always go to your boss with problems. Be a sounding board and a trusted resource. Listen to what they say - don't try to solve the problem at first, just be Larry King and keep asking questions. Get them to open up. They will LOVE you for it.

4. Why do I keep hiring the wrong people?

Put on your seat belt — this is going to be a bumpy ride. 

1. Be VERY clear about the job description. Know exactly what you want in a person and what you want them to do. Most manager screw this up or are very lackadaisical about it.
2. Make time for the interview. Don't rush it. Ask key questions which will elicit answers to allow you to better understand each applicant and their experience.
3. Most of all - look for enthusiasm and fit. You want someone who has an internal power source which is ready to rock every day. In addition, you want to look for nice people, not jerks. This is a gut call sometimes, but with the right questions, you will better understand each applicant.
4. Hone in on 2-3 finalists and then have your people check them out. Also, tell them as much about the company, the position, and the environment as possible. You are looking for a good fit.

5. I need to better document performance issues.

Yes, you should. And it's not that difficult. You should do two things:

Have two files for each direct report — one for all the good things they do and one for all the performance issues. Document, document, document.

• Sunshine file - all the good things. Keep the emails, the testimonials, the comments from clients, etc. Comes in handy at review time or when they're having a bad day.
• Performance file - Add quick notes with the date, time, people involved, and the issue. Keep to the facts and don't add any emotion or perspective. If it starts to become an issue - get your HR rep involved immediately. Better safe than sorry.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. How did you like this article? Let me know! If you are interested in what I can do for you, let’s talk. I work with managers all over the world who have the same questions — and we developed a successful action plan. I schedule infrequent complimentary (i.e., free) sessions – catch one today.

Top Five Regrets of Struggling Businesses.

This post is for all business owners — In my 10+ years of coaching around the world, I've seen it happen to many successful businesses. Most people get it, but there are a few who take their eye off the prize and let their house of cards tumble to the ground. Here are some of their regrets:

1. I should have see the change in the marketplace.

This has been a HUGE regret over the past few years. Of course we all know about the economy — but there are so many business owners who think life will just go on if they stick their head in the sand and fervently hope for the best.

First, understand what market pressures are hitting your industry — are prices going up? Hard to get materials? What's changing?

Second, develop 'What-If' scenarios for these changes — if my A clients go away, I need to tap into B clients with this strategy. Also, don't get caught up in developing strategy without taking action — if you see the marketplace changing, take action TODAY.

2. I should have seen my clientele changing.

This is the one that sneaks up on you and suddenly bites you in the butt. Maybe you lose one of your better and oldest customers, then a new one defects. Suddenly, it's a downpour of defections and you don't know what to do.

First, keep your eyes and ears open. See what's happening to your direct (and indirect) competition in the industry — are they getting hit or going out of business first?

Second, retention is a HUGE part of your client relationship. Ensure you have a healthy communication channel with your customers (see #3) and you are personally speaking with them on a regular basis. What do they like? What don't they like (people hate to ask this question)? What could you improve? If you ask these questions now, you won't lose your key customers later.

3. I should have paid more attention to marketing and promoting my business.

Face it — we get comfortable in the house we build. Clients flock to our business, we make gobs of money, and we think we have a winning formula. But life (and your marketplace) changes in a millisecond. Every sustained and successful business KNOWS the secret to success is consistent and focused marketing to communicate to your new (and current) audience.

First, assess what you're doing right now. What's working? What isn't? Ask your prospects and customers how they've heard about you. Track your marketing dollars and develop a monthly ROI trend with all the things you do to market your business.

Second, don't be afraid of abandoning a tried and true method of advertising. I've had so many clients enraptured with radio (and spending thousands of dollars a month on it) and when they did a quick calculation of its current ROI, they found it came in dead last for delivery of qualified prospects. Sometimes you need to put certain marketing avenues on the shelf for a little while and try out new directions — see what happens.

4. I should have kept my eye on the 20% who deliver 80% of my business.

In business, it seems the 80% of bothersome and small-value clients make up the monster-share of our business troubles. They're the ones who are nit-picky about everything, argue about every single penny, and are never satisfied about the final product.

First, understand who are your 20% and who are your 80%. Begin to make a persona for the 20% and go out and find more of them. Actively spend more money, marketing dollars and time to find these people.

Second, clearly define who the 80% is. And start firing them — begin from the bottom and move upwards. You don't make a lot of money from them — why spend so much time trying to make them happy? A great book to read on firing your bad customers is Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port. Great way for you to put the velvet rope in place to access your services.

5. I worked so hard and put in long hours, but it didn't matter.

Welcome to the real world Neo.Every one of my clients need to be shown the red or blue pill — and take the right one to understand you need to work smarter, not harder (or longer). Everyone thinks they need to kill themselves to 'be a success'. Understand, I know there are times when there is an emergency or the delivery of a major project — you will then need to put in the requisite time and energy. But it shouldn't be permanent — only temporary.

First, take a long hard look at how you REALLY spend your time and what REALLY benefits your bottom line. We tend to do the things we like and sometimes, these things really don't contribute much to the bottom line. I had a client, a manager of a major store, spending his time replacing florescent fixtures in the ceiling while he maintained he had no time for marketing his business permanently. I instructed him to delegate the light fixture duty and get his butt out on the street to build his clientele.

Second, be smarter about HOW you work and WHEN you work. Many people ask me how I get everything done AND have a full-book of clients (with a waiting list) all the time. I tell them I get up every day at 5 AM and get 1-2 hours of work in prior to my first coaching session. In addition, I also get up on the weekends at 6 AM and work until 8 AM (when my family gets up). If you do the quick addition, I get in an extra 14 hours of work on my business every week without impacting my regular coaching session hours. Try it!

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Did this article hit a nerve? If so, let's talk. I've worked with many businesses who have the same questions — and we developed a successful plan to tackle their problems and obstacles. I schedule infrequent complimentary (i.e., free) sessions - catch one today.

150 To 5,384 Visitors In One Week — OMG!

What a week! As you can see from above, a single post really hit a chord with my readers and invited in a whole slew of new visitors.

Maybe it was the title: "Top Five Regrets of the Dying". Something resonated with an exponential increase in friends who are interested in this topic.

When I usually check my analytics, I get a wide variety of readers from all over the U.S. and the world every day. Based on the comments I received on my site, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google+, many people appreciated the recommendation and each of the 'regrets'.

As a coach, I'm constantly looking for engagement with my clients and readers.

What did you really like about the article?

What do you want me talking about?

What topics would you like to see?

Thanks ahead of time for your comments and insight!

P.S. I've continued my series with "Top Five Regrets of the Unemployed" and on Monday you'll see "Top Five Regrets of Struggling Businesses". Enjoy!

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

Are You Working Too Much? Here’s How Click It Down!

CLIENT CALL:"Rich — just started working here a few weeks ago. I'm starting to get emails from my boss and peers with timestamps of 2:00 and 3:00 AM. Getting nervous here — I am NOT going to work 60-70 hour weeks — what should I do?"

SOLUTION:

First off — don't worry. There are certain situations where people work crazy hours:

• Startups - everything is on the line to deliver and the benefit is all yours if you SUCCEED.
• Emergencies - something is broken and you need to fix it IMMEDIATELY.
• End Of Projects - everything is coming down to the wire and you must DELIVER.
• Reduced Staff - you've lost a valuable resource and someone has to do the work or the engine STOPS.
• S*** Happens - too much work, too many interruptions, too many meetings, you just have to get past this and get back on track.

THE FUNNY THING:

All of these situations are temporary (for the most part). Unfortunately, a lot of people get locked into a 'busy-busy-busy' mindset and they turn 'temporary' into a permanent situation.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE TROUBLE BEGINS.

It begins to affect:

• Your health.
• Your family.
• The quality of your work.
• YOUR SANITY.

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:

1. Just Starting A Job or Project — You need to work some heavy hours to not only learn the lay of the land, but to set expectations for your boss, peers, and team. Say at least 50-60 hours a week for about 90 days. Then you can cull back your hours to a reasonable 40-50.

2. New Boss Or Client — Kick up your hours and visibility and watch what your boss does. Are they an early-bird? Do they stay late? You need to establish the perception of a 'hard-worker' to them and then once built in, you can then cull back your hours slowly.

The whole idea is to work smarter, not harder/longer. But you do have to deliver a perception of working hard so most people don't feel you are short-changing them. It's a weird generational thing — but you have to do it.

Hold the line — if you get questions about your schedule ask them:

"Has the quality of my work suffered?" "Were you not able to reach me in an emergency?" "Am I not always available when needed?"

Their response will always reconfirm your decision to work normal hours. Trust me. If you are in a situation or location where crazy hours are the norm, you might want to reassess what is REALLY important to you — the money or your life.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Did this article hit a nerve? If so, let's talk. I've worked with many clients who have the same questions — and we developed a successful plan to tackle their insecurities. I schedule infrequent complimentary sessions - catch one today.

3 Ideas To Bring A Bit More Sanity To Your Life.

I was sitting in church this Sunday and we had a simple prayer. One part really stood out for me: "We imagine a world where peace and justice are the ordinary realities of life. We dream of a planet where giving and sharing are second nature to all people. We envision an earth where joy and celebration fill the news and our lives."

Just take a second today — what if you opened your newspaper or clicked on a news link and saw this:

• "No Fighting Recorded Anywhere On The Globe — A World Record"
• "Soup Kitchens Overflowing With Food; All Charities Exceed Their Goals"
• "Elected Officials, Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street, and Police All Sit Down To Solve Problems"

Okay, maybe I had a little too much 'spiced' eggnog over the weekend. But what would it be like if you read something like this?

Is it crazy? Can it never happen? We are the same civilization who sent a man to the moon, eradicated smallpox and polio, and went from TNT to nuclear bombs in 6 short years.*

Let's dial it down a little bit — what can you do in YOUR world, with all the PEOPLE you touch, in a SHORT amount of time?

• How can you add just a little more peace and justice?
• Where can you give and share just a little bit more?
• What can you do to build a little bit more joy and celebration to your world?

During this season, let's see if we could do some of these things — what would happen if everyone added their little bit to the mix? Everyone took time out to add peace, giving, and joy to the world?

What would our world be like?

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

*P.S. I'm not wild about bombs — it's the speed, focus, and delivery of an IDEA. The Manhattan Project began modestly in 1939, but grew to employ more than 130,000 people and cost nearly US$2 billion (roughly equivalent to $24.4 billion as of 2011).

What would happen if we took $50 billion back in 2001 and eliminated petroleum from all transportation? What would our world be like today?

P.P.S. I hope I'm not proselytizing too much here — let's focus more on the philosophy — not where it came from.

Do You Believe In Your Product?

Why arent you selling more? Why arent you happy at your job?

Why arent you fulfilled? Challenged? Focused?

Why arent you moving up? Making more money?

You probably don't fully believe in your product. You say you do — but deep down — you really don't. Either you don't believe it works, or is too expensive, or you've seen a lot of dissatisfied customers.

This happens often — you might start out strong — but after awhile, you begin to doubt the efficacy of your product or service. Well, you have two choices:

1. Start believing in your product again.
2. Get another job.

It's that easy. You can't go on faking your interest in your product. It will start to show — first your peers will see it, then your boss, then, ultimately, your customers.

Unless you want to find a new job or vocation, begin the process to produce a new interest in your product — one where you fervently believe in it.

This happens all the time to coaches. Since coaching is somewhat subjective, there are times when I question its' efficacy. Usually after one or two unmotivated clients.

I then need to step back and clearly question — is it coaching? Is it me? Or is it the unmotivated client? I need to clear out all of my doubt — I then can get back to business.

Do you have a crisis of confidence sometimes?

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Do you sometimes lose confidence in your profession? Let's talk. I've worked with many clients who have the same problem — and we developed a successful strategy to make things happen. If you’re not a client . . . pick up the phone and call me (203.500.2421) — I offer one (and only one) complimentary session each week.

Be Obnoxious & Visceral To Get Noticed.

That's right . . . obnoxious & visceral. What do I mean? I don't want you to be disgustingly objectionable or dealing with crude or elemental emotions.

I want you to stand out and be noticed. And frankly, politeness is not invited to the party. Politeness will only get you so far — but if you want to stand out, you must wedge your foot in the door and throw your shoulder to barge in.

Most executives and business owners don't want to do that. We've been taught to play fair, act with integrity, and treat everyone nicely. And that works to a certain extent — until you hit a wall and can't get through.

Maybe it's a problematic client. Or a close-minded boss. Or a peer who just won't listen. Or a vendor who keeps doing the same thing even though you remind them to do it differently.

Sometimes to cut to the chase and make a strong impression, you need to be obnoxious and visceral. What do I really mean?

Communication issues? You need to cut to the chase and explain exactly what is bothering you. Don't dance around the bush — tell them exactly what the issue is and then ask how they will solve it. Don't worry about their 'feelings', if they've been treating you badly, or bad-mouthing you — get real with them. Don't argue — get right to the point and in their face.

Hard to get an audience with a client or higher up? To get things done, you might have to be a bit more aggressive, more pushy, more 'in your face' than usual. First, get your act together and plan exactly what you're going to say — then get in there and say it. Forget about being polite — you need to be heard  — pick the right time and location and just DO IT.

The funny thing is — most people will not take it as an insult. In fact, they will probably see a little bit of them in you and really appreciate it.

On the other hand, if it doesn't go well — usually all is not lost. People will understand you are serious and hopefully make time for you at a later date. Almost no one will completely disown you for being brash.

Where do you need to be obnoxious and visceral today?

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Hard getting your message across? Let's talk. I've worked with many clients who have the same problem — and we developed a successful strategy to make things happen. If you’re not a client . . . pick up the phone and call me (203.500.2421) — I offer one (and only one) complimentary session each week.

One Guaranteed Secret To Reach Your Goal.

Are you ready? Here it is: If you are absolutely, relentlessly focused — no, obsessed — on one singular goal, you will achieve it.

That's it.

I would love to insert a special quote from Anthony Robbins, Eleanor Roosevelt, or Chuck Norris to reinforce my point — but the simple fact remains NO amount of quote-compiling, mantra-repeating, excuse-making, or navel-gazing will get you there.

I'm not going to waste your time trying to convince you otherwise if dozens of graphics, quotes and stories have failed to do the job.

You either do it, or you don't.

No magic, just dedication.

"That's how Dad did it, that's how America does it . . . and it's worked out pretty well so far." - Tony Stark

Power Up Or Power Down Your Thinking.

There is a subtle mindset in the marketplace today. The only way to explain it to you is to describe each 'direction' of thinking. So here goes: POWER DOWN

• Save money.
• Spend less.
• Make things last longer.
• Don't take chances. Be safe.
• Stay with old behaviors and practices.
• Worry and plan for bad things to happen.

POWER UP

• Invest to grow.
• Spend more.
• Use items until they aren't useful and purchase new ones.
• Take chances. Be a maverick.
• Innovate new ways of doing things.
• Be scared and plan for the future.

Neither is bad, neither is good. They just ARE. And I agree there are times when every one of us has had to either power up or down.

But there are situations when you have to pick the right one:

1. When you hate your job or your clients suck.
2. When you need to grow your business or get that promotion.
3. When things are just not working right.

YOU NEED TO POWER UP.

Powering down just won't get you there. 

Why? Because what you have been doing will not deliver NEW opportunities. You need to change the dynamic and venture outside of your comfort sphere.

Take chances. Meet new people. Spend more time, money, and effort to grow your career and business.

Many big businesses are powering down. They are stocking money away, firing people, not investing in their infrastructure, stay with the same behaviors, and worry about the future. And they wonder why they can't effectively compete.

Here's where everyone fails — when they try to Power Up and Down at the same time. Guess what? It's a recipe for failure.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people trying to do it everyday. Let me give you an example:

Typical family . . . powers down . . . they don't take chances and stay with old behaviors and practices . . . and they worry and plan for bad things to happen.

But . . . they spend the same amount of money (or more) . . . they take chances.

Guess what? They power down their income-making capabilities but they power up their spending. What do you think is going to ultimately happen? Bankruptcy.

And it's happening all around us. 

So what is your plan? Powering UP? Or powering DOWN? It's your choice.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Are you in this situation? Do you find yourself powering down when you really need to power up your life? Let's talk. I've worked with a number of clients on this specific topic — and we developed a successful strategy to reverse course and turn things around. If you’re not a client . . . pick up the phone and call me — I have one complimentary session left this month. It will probably disappear by next week.

Lighten Up.

This has been and still is a hard week for the East Coast. For Connecticut, the hurricane wasn't that bad, but the aftermath slowly became more worse for wear. My power has been out since Sunday and even with a generator, it's been hard. Just taking a shower out of a small tub can be fraught with many incidental steps and procedures. Stepping on extension cords in bare feet is the worst — it hurts!

But you have to keep your sense of humor about you — a lighter side of your personality to help you get through each adversity as it comes along. It's not fun hitting the gas station every day with a trundle of gas cans to spend $60-$70 for the generator to run for 24 hours.

I use this as an example — we all hit some level and type of adversity in our lives. It's not really what happens — it's how we respond to it that matters.

Look on the bright side — instead of focusing on what you've lost — focus on what is now available to you. With cable, wi-fi, and most lights out, my family and I spent the last few days constructing a 2000 piece puzzle, cooking on the grill, reenacting colonial times with candles, and sleeping altogether in our bedroom (we brought in their mattresses — it's like camping).

Now let's turn our lens to WORK. If something goes awry, what other door(s) open up? If you focus on the positive, it will allow you to see all the potential possibilities available to you AND expose your enthusiastic nature to your superiors and clients. Don't think they don't notice — they do.

• If a project is dropped, what did you learn while doing it? Where should you go next?
• If a client leaves, how can you make their departure more elegant and inspiring? With the extra time open, how can you increase your marketing to get new and better clients?

It's how your react to problems that truly defines us as a professional.

What adversity did you encounter and what did you do to lighten up?

Are You Prepared?

Right now, the east coast is bracing for Hurricane Irene to hit. It might be bad. It might be nothing. But it's smart to prepare.

Get everything outside, inside. Batten down the hatches. Extend the leaders from your gutters. Get your generator in order. Fill your bathtub. Radios? Batteries? Prepare a 'big-out-bag' with your important information and necessities — (Go to this site to learn more).

Take the media with a grain of salt — their job is to inform — but sometimes they do their job a little bit too well. It might turn into hype and provide undue stress to you and your family. Pick a trusted information source and stick with it.

Now I'm not the National Weather Service. I'm a coach. So how does this information track to your career or business?

1. Mentally Prepare. This is not the time to lose your mind. If the economy is tough and people are losing their jobs/clients all around you — start to develop contingency plans. The better prepared you are mentally, the better you will react if something bad does happen.
2. Don't Worry — Think — Take Action. Don't get stuck in analysis/paralysis. Once you have a clear direction or strategy in case something does happen, take the appropriate action(s) to ensure you are ready.
3. Don't Get Stressed — Listen to trusted sources of information. Don't play into the myriad of cable channels pushing out the pablum of fear. Click into those outlets who deliver NEWS — and then you develop your OWN opinion.
4. Prepare Your Bug-Out-Bag. Is your resume in order? When was the last time you updated your contact list of colleagues and friends? When did you last connect with your customers? Who are your favorite companies to work for? Who would be a perfect client for you? Start taking action now.
5. Weather The Storm. Keep your cool while things are spinning all around you. Stay flexible and nimble and most of all — keep performing. Don't freeze and hunker down — it's critical you maintain and elevate your performance.

What else can you do to prepare for career/business bad times?

Why Aren't You Working On The Big Stuff?

Your life is filled with small stuff. And sometimes, as Richard Carlson said, "Don't sweat the small stuff". Unfortunately, we get caught up handling the small stuff almost all the time.

And it takes us away from working on that one big thing which will define us. That one project to get us exposure, a promotion, and solidify our position in the organization.

Or the big thing which will allow us to exponentially grow our business to great heights. To give it the perfect acceleration to grow beyond our dreams.

But we still spend most (if not all) of our time messing around with the small stuff. Why?

• It's easy. One and done — small things are simple to accomplish.
• We can do lots of them. We feel we are really making progress when we do them in succession.
• Organization. We can clean off our desk  of all the annoying papers, post-it notes, reminders in Outlook, etc. We are making progress!

Now don't get me wrong, they are important. But they shouldn't take up ALL of your waking hours to complete. You need to allocate a certain fraction of your day to work on the one or two BIG things which will ultimately define your work.

A great example is social media (read this). Lately, we've been indoctrinated to get out there and touch social media 'all the time'. Being hyper-active with social media tends to satisfy the 'small things' part of our workday (and I've been guilty of this lately). You also need to allocate time for your big thing.

So what's the ONE BIG THING you're working on this week?