Doesn’t that seem pretty simple… Getting Started?

While many folks are looking for the nitty-gritty details and the “blue print” or the “formula” for success others are busy working toward success. What’s their Secret? They got started.

If you approached anyone in the “shiny new object crowd” with information on “how to get started” most would give you the typical response of “I’ve heard that before – please tell me something new!”

FYI: The Shiny New Object Crowd – Always looking for the next new thing (which is not that bad) but never implements anything. Further, they get upset when you remind them of principles that have been around and working for a while.

Let’s face it, there are many ways to “get started” and they may be the problem.

Because there are so many ways to get something started the choice of what to do first usually holds people up.

What you need is a “get started system” for certain areas of your life, career and business.

This system might be different for everyone. The truth is there’s really no “cookie-cutter” get started system.

The best thing to do is think about recent projects you started with success. Then, dissect what made those starts better than others.

If you need an example here’s my “start system” for a book project.

My goal is to write one or two books per year (maybe more).

The truth is I get tons of ideas for books. This is sorta a blessing and a curse at the same time.

Anyway…

If the idea really strikes me I write it down. I write it in my “goal/to do list” book or I send an email to myself.

Next, I revisit the idea during some quiet time. During my revisit the idea for the book is either going to move forward or be canned. Most get canned.

On rare occasion when a book idea makes the cut. The first step is to think of the title. This is a little backwards and most titles are changed. But I see this step as key to keeping the momentum. If I can get excited about the title that’s a good thing.

Now it’s time to open a word doc and save it. After this step I’llgo through things I’ve written in the past pertaining to the topic.

Then, I’ll outline the main points which can then turn into chapters.

Next it’s time to bring the previously written material into the new word doc.

What you end up with at this stage is a big mess and maybe an hour or two invested in the idea.

The mess is important because it gives you something to clean up. Something to work on.

The fact is getting started with a little “something” is better than “nothing.”

Think about how this simple “get started system” can be applied to what you’re working on. (Or should I say not working on.) Better yet, come up with your own “get started system” and get things moving,

Here’s the truth…

I am not a “stress expert.”

Even though I do drink a fair amount of Coffee I consider myself a fairly relaxed person.

Stress is just not something I get into

But here’s a major cause of stress. Ready?

Leaving your decisions hanging.

It’s sad to see people who have been “thinking about” doing something for months and even years.

Even though making a decision does not guarantee any action or follow through it’s still the first step on the way to taking action.

Once the decision has been made you can then begin the process of identifying the steps for bringing the end result of the decision to life. But no decision equals no first steps. End of story.

Hesitation on making a decision is a sign of low confidence.

I’m not gonna bring out the “Drug Store Psychology” here but it’s true. Hesitation is a delay due to uncertainty or fear. And that screams lack of confidence.

Some people get over the hesitation to make a decision by choosing “to do nothing.”

You’ve heard that before right?

Maybe you’re in sales and someone tells you. “Well, Sam, glad you called back. We’ve decided to do nothing for now.”

Sometimes the “do nothing action” does make sense. After all, not every opportunity is right for you and should be pursued. Other times it’s just a cop-out. It’s still a lack of confidence usually because the “do nothing” person either fears the change that will come with the decision or doesn’t trust in their ability to follow through.

The fact is you will eventually feel better once you move from Hesitation Hill to Decision Valley. And if that decision is followed by massive action. Look out! Here you come!

You’ve heard that quote about Gazelles and Lions in Africa right? The Gazelle wakes up knowing it has to run faster than the fastest Lion – the Lion has to run faster than the slowest Gazelle or one goes hungry and one gets eaten. The point of the quote is to remind us to “get moving!” Here are seven tips to get you moving.

Develop a Sense of Urgency

A sense of urgency is not based on fear. It’s not based on making hasty decisions. It’s about understanding the world moves fast. It’s about knowing most think the world is willing to stand around and wait. Since most don’t get it – your sense of urgency becomes an asset. The sense of urgency is what I call… “The Sixth Sense of Success.”

Set Ambitious Deadlines

Let’s assume everyone in your life who relies on you for anything wants what they want from you – NOW! Sound crazy? It’s not far-fetched. People are demanding. So why not let yourself be the most demanding… with you?

Let go of Waste

Hanging on to old ways of doing things or systems that just aren’t productive anymore will equal a ton of waste. Many companies that struggle in economic downturns are usually carrying a lot of waste in the form of advertising that’s not working or operational procedures that are inefficient and outdated.

Value for Value

Take some time to analyze your relationships. Are they based on a fair exchange of value? If not, you might consider changing the “status” of the relationship.

Get Savvy about Selling

In some circles “selling” has become a dirty word. But the truth is nothing happens until somebody sells something. You’ve got a lot tools you can use to make the process of ethical persuasion easier. Of course, things can be made easier without being easy. Nothing worthwhile is easy. The tools at your finger tips are social media and the internet. OH, and don’t forget good old-fashioned education to make yourself savvier!

Keep it Simple

To move quickly and reach all of your goals a little faster why not adapt an attitude of simplicity? Make your communication simple. Stream-line your systems. Simplify your schedule.

Assume the Worst

Assuming the Worst is How The World Got The iPhone

It was 2005. The iPod was kicking butt. It accounted for almost half of Apple’s sales. Thinking defensively and assuming the worst – would set in motion the smartphone that changed the world.

The assumption was that cell phones would eventually have the ability to store music. If that happened, the sales of iPods would take a hit. The original idea was to merge the technology of the iPod with a cell phone. It didn’t go well because Apple teamed up with Motorola and the two just couldn’t make it work. Long-story short – they ditched Motorola and two years later the iPhone was born.

Take action on some of these ideas and get things moving this year. Good Luck!

Should people feel guilty about working a lot?

In some circles – the idea of spending most days on the boat or goofing off is “advertised” as “the good life.”

Most pitchmen or pitch-women will bloviate the virtues of “lots of play” and “little work.” Naturally, whatever success secret they are selling gives them the ability to work for just a few hours here and there, yet command massive amounts of money so they can live day to day totally carefree.

In 2007, the book, “The 4 Hour Work Week” became a bestseller – yes partly because of its great title. (Had it been called “Effective Time Management & Staying Focused” it would not have sold as many copies). But the true success of the book came about because Tm Ferris hustled to market the book. The book was excellent and because he did such an amazing job of ensuring its success – many lives were changed.

But…

I feel bad for the people who take the title to heart. I feel bad for people who really believe any claim of “minimal work” and “maximum pay.” I also feel bad for the many smart, driven and determined people who think “they should be working less” and as a result feel guilty about it.

Yes, maybe after some hard and smart work for a while, or even a short while you can you take it easy. But never from the start. Laws of nature demand that time and effort be put into any endeavor you plan to make succeed.

I read an article about Martha Stewart. It was sort of a “day in the life” type article. Before I get to the details – a question: Do you think Martha Stewart can be off somewhere taking it easy? Of course she could! But here’s how her day went…

Up at 5AM, followed by an intense workout. In her office by 8:30AM. The rest of the day was filled with work. Meetings, emails, filming for her TV show. That evening she made an appearance with Sigourney Weaver at an event.  She was home and ready for bed by 12:30AM. OH, she did a little work before bed.

Now, I doubt her schedule is that grueling everyday – but I would also bet she works a lot more than four hours on any day. I’d bet she does a few things work related on the weekend and maybe on vacation too.

Am I advocating that you get up at 5AM and work until 12:30AM every day. NO way. As matter of fact, my body requires a minimum of six hours of sleep so it wouldn’t work for me. I would certainly not condone the all work and no play thing either.

But I am tired of success driven people feeling guilty about working. Don’t! And don’t listen to the critics either. Do what you feel you have to do to achieve the goals you want to achieve. And don’t buy the “work-less snake oil.” End of story.

When aiming for success in life and business you’ll have to play both offense and defense.

You must play both defense and offense at the same time. There are no breaks, no intermissions, no half-time shows or timeouts. The game is always on.

So what’s offense and what’s defense? Hard to say really. It’s not as clear as it is with sports. The only way I can put it is like this…

It’s wise to move ahead and be aggressive and go for the points. Just remember to remain aware and have your guard up as you’re in motion.

Defense doesn’t get enough credit.

I remember training for a few months with a boxing coach. As we hit the targets and did some light sparring he would constantly say… “Defense wins games.” I wouldn’t go as far as saying defense is the key to business and personal success by itself, but it surely plays a huge role.

I recently wrote an article called: “Assume the worst and make it pay off.” Assuming the worst is often confused with negative thinking. Defensive thinking is confused with pessimism. Far from it. I can prove it…

Here’s how Steve Jobs assumed the worst, thought defensively and made it pay off…

I really enjoyed Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson. It’s an amazing book and you should grab it. So many lessons to learned from Jobs.

He assumed the worst when he first started his career. He had a feeling he would die young. That feeling was some of the fuel for his amazing accomplishments. He knew he did not have much time. Relatively speaking, all of us really don’t have much time.

Assuming the Worst is How The World Got The iPhone

It was 2005. The iPod was kicking butt. It accounted for almost half of Apple’s sales. Thinking defensively and assuming the worst – would set in motion the smartphone that changed the world.

The assumption was that cell phones would eventually have the ability to store music. If that happened, the sales of iPods would take a hit. The original idea was to merge the technology of the iPod with a cell phone. It didn’t go well because Apple teamed up with Motorola and the two just couldn’t make it work.

Apple ditches Motorola.

Jobs was always pushing to combine hardware, software and design into all of Apple’s products. There was a secret project underway already. Apple was working on a tablet computer (what we now know as the iPad). Long story short, they realized what they were working on would also be the foundation for their new phone. So the iPhone was born. It was born out of defensive thinking. It was born out of assuming the worst.

So think defensively! It’s OK, no matter how much grief your “positive thinking, head in the sand,” friends give you. Assume the worst because you never know what it could lead to.

In my first book, Motion Before Motivation, The Success Secret That Never Fails I mention being thankful for my smart, hot and “Alpha Female” wife, Jamie – My two healthy and intelligent daughters, Julia and Marissa and My parents, Joe & Tina.

I’m also thankful for my brothers, my friends, clients, customers, readers, colleagues, networking partners and suppliers. Even though it’s not said enough I’m thankful for my business partner, Elsa and the team we have which continues to help us grow and get things done.

While this is a week of thanks, my guess is being thankful all the time is something we can all work on. The truth is you really do get more of what you’re thankful for. So why not be thankful all the time?

Something most are NOT thankful for…

Are you thankful for the mistakes you’ve made?

At first, the answer might be… “No Way!, Why would I be thankful for mistakes?” Or maybe you’re thinking… “Yeah, you just said, you get more of what you’re thankful – so why the heck would I want more mistakes?” I guess you’d be right if you just looked at the mistakes and didn’t dig deeper.

It’s the deeper part of the mistake that you should be thankful for. The deeper part of the mistake is the lessons and wisdom buried inside it. It’s what you learn after the dust of the mistake has settled and you can think clearly again. It’s the “take-away” that makes you stronger.

You’re not being thankful for the mistake – you’re being thankful for the wisdom. The wisdom stays with you.

You must also be thankful for wisdom you get from others…

Getting wisdom from others is another thing to be thankful for. Maybe you got the wisdom from a book, an audio, or a seminar. But wisdom can come from anyone willing to give you some. If you’re paying attention – you’ll have it forever.

When I was twenty-four and running my biz in Philly I got a ton of wisdom from everyone I interacted with. One time really stands out for me…

He was a Baptist preacher and he really looked the part. He was charismatic, well-dressed and drove a late model Cadillac Devile with gold seal white-wall tires. At first glance, he was almost intimidating. But once you got to know him his passion and mission was infectious.

He parted some wisdom on me that I’ll never forget…

Even though I did not intend to be, I was a little arrogant when I was in my twenties. Don’t get me wrong, I was easy to get along with. For me it was a weird internal arrogance. Even though I did not project it to the world it held me back. In my own mind I really thought I had it all figured out. Which is why, I really did not understand the wisdom he gave me at the time. Maybe he knew what was going on inside my head.

It went something like…

“The vast majority of people in their twenties, no matter how successful they are, are all clueless to some extent. But the truth is you’re going to make mistakes. As you get older you can take the mistakes of your twenties and apply them to your thirties. You’ll make mistakes the rest of your life too. You can do the same thing with each passing decade. If you take the wisdom and apply it to your life, you’ll constantly grow and improve. You’ll never figure it all out and that’s a good thing because when you understand you will never really figure it out – you’ll constantly gain wisdom.”

So be thankful for the mistakes you made last week and last decade. The wisdom can serve you!

So when is the best time to make a change?

Do you believe the whole meta-physical argument about being ready to make a change when the stars are aligned and the the “universe” says: “you’re ready!” ?

You either want the change more than you want to remain in your current situation or you don’t.

If you say you want to change but then take no action you really don’t want to change. Is it really that simple? What do you think?

Upwardly mobile people are always getting new input in the form of new knowledge and information. This new input can fuel the fire of change or plant the seed of starting down the path of making a change.

Here’s a personal example then we’ll talk business…

What if someone realizes a particular habit or way of life is causing them to gain weight? If they learn a new (to them) idea for staying fit and because of this input they start down a path of “change” this is an example of mental input affecting physical reality.

For many years I operated a business that kept me on my feet and forced me to remain active without thinking about it. When my life changed and I made a transition to a new business that did not keep me active physically active I started to pack on the pounds.

At just twenty-nine I ended up with a “spar-tire.” It was depressing. I had been physically fit since my early teens and now I had blubber around my waist. What did I do? Two simple things really…

1. I cut out most sweets. Three times per week I’d eat a do-nut or piece of cake with my mid morning coffee. I replaced that bad habit. I eat fruit as a mid-morning snack now.

2. Next I learned that multiple “exercise” sessions during the course of the day do wonders to burn fat and keep your metabolism fired up. Maybe I “knew this already.” But there’s a difference between knowing and doing. In the the past I only needed to “workout” once per day to keep fit. But my new “less physically active work” demanded I add another exercise session. So I tacked on another thirty to sixty minutes of moderate exercise without sacrificing work or family time. How? I just figured it out because I wanted to get rid of and keep off the spar tire more than I wanted to make excuses.

   I’m happy to report I’ve held my weight steady at 190 for two years and I currently feel (and look) better than I did in my mid twenties.

I have more examples, but I figured that’d be the easiest one to start with.

So what about you?

Whether business or personal – is there a change you want to make?

In my internet marketing business I come across business owners who know they need to make a change to their overall web strategy. Some know their websites are crying to be updated because they are communicating a poor message to their best prospects. Some know how now is the time to add a “mobile website” because of the increased traffic from mobile devises.

Sadly… Not all take action. They are more comfortable leaving things the way they are even though they know what they gotta do.

If you know you have to make a change and you are resisting it – are you just not ready in the grand scheme of the universe? I doubt it.

No matter what it is…

Getting rid of and keeping off a spar tire like me or making an improvement in your business… Gather some knowledge – take some action – you know what you gotta do – so just get moving.

I do a fair amount of networking these days.

For a while I really did not understand networking but now I love it. I’m going to show you how this pig thing ties into networking.

Have you ever heard the one about the Ham & Eggs breakfast?

The chicken was involved – the pig was totally committed?

What I’ve discovered is in order to succeed and continue to succeed at anything you must have pig level commitment. The minute your commitment starts to fizzle your results will show.

I go to a few networking groups that give each member a minute or two per meeting to “tell the group what you do.”

Recently I got up and told the ham and egg thing and then said… “And I must confess, I’m a pig!” (pause). Everyone chuckled.

And then I went into the numerous ways I am committed to my clients and my business.

OK– back to networking. Which really is just getting to know people a little. Trying to figure out how you can help them. If there are two people both looking to help each other you end up with a valuable exchange.

Are you doing it?

Are you doing it right?

Are you “pig-committed to it?”

You should be. But if you’re still dipping a toe in the water here’s some ideas for you whether you run your own business or not.

1)Find a productive group.

Chambers are a good start – but often times their primary focus is not networking. So you end up with more “social-slanted” networking rather than really finding out what others do and letting them know what you do. So start with the Chamber and ask members where else they “network.” Most good networkers are also chamber members.

2)Be consistent and committed.

I have seen so many sporadic business people in my networking circles. Heck, for a while I was guilty of this too. Once you get started – keep at it. It’s the only way to build trust and rapport.

3)Meet one on one.

A sit down between two business people who are genuinely interested in helping each other synergize and grow can be really productive. Not all of these meetings will turn into gold, but a few will.

OK– I have more of these, but this is a good start when it comes to networking.

Guess what?

In this article I’m not gonna tell you a damn thing you’ve not heard before in some way shape or form.

And yes, while 98% of you reading this might be able to shout out…

“I’ve heard that before?”

The truth is only a small percentage can say they’re actually living it.

Sometimes I run into people who are on a new “kick.”

When I was a little kid and fell in the love with a certain kind of cereal I would end up on a “kick.” Reminding my father to “make sure” he picked up whatever brand it was at the time during his supermarket trip was part of the kick. He would reply back, “That’s right Mike, you’re on the (blank) cereal kick, how could I forget?”

Those kicks would last about a two weeks, then I’d be off on another breakfast kick… “Maybe scrambled eggs with cheese?”

Food kicks, entertainment kicks – maybe you’re committed to re-watching season one of “Seinfeld” for a while, and a few others are not really bad for you. But there is some danger inherent in the “kick” mentality.

Ever been around someone who was on a “health kick?” Reduced calorie count, cardboard for lunch every day and seven days a week of intense exercise are part of the kick.

How about the personal development kick? Maybe you know someone who watched a late night info-mercial with Tony Robbins and is now “committed” to self-improvement.

The problem with “kicks” is, like the cereal brand that my taste buds became immune too, they are short lived.

Kicks VS Getting a Kick In The Ass

Don’t get me wrong, we all need a “kick in the ass.” And if seeing Tony Robbins late at night is the spark that ignites the flame of personal growth, awesome! If, looking in the mirror and not being happy with the rolls looking back at you fires you up to get moving and stop eating so much of the wrong foods – awesome. But a Kick in the Ass must lead to an overall behavior change, not more kicks.

The Marothon Principle…

I’ve never competed in a marathon and I have no plans, desire or ambitions to ever do so. But I do know most people would rather finish a marathon than win one. For most marathon runners the reality of beating the guy from Kenya and the girl from Ethiopia is far-fetched. So they focus on making sure they simply finish.

I would guess training for marathons is a life-style thing more than it is an athletic thing. What I mean is I doubt the successful marathon runner goes on a “kick” a few weeks before the marathon and starts training.

The same is true with anything else…

If you’re committed to personal growth, you’ve gotta do a little each day.

Read a book that will inspire you and inform you for thirty minutes daily. The reason to read is not just to soak up some “knowledge” but to give your mind some raw materials to generate ideas.

If you’re committed to growing your business you must also stay up to date on your industry/profession.And of course, you’ll have to take action on ideas constantly. You’ll have to be committed to testing things out and not get discouraged when you screw up.

Want to get in shape so you look damn good?

Sorry, a “kick” won’t work. You’re going to have to do some kind of exercise every day. You’re gonna have to eat a reasonably healthy and balanced diet. You’re gonna have to get on a moderate weight training routine to shape your muscles. And you’re gonna have to say… “No thanks, I am much more interested in looking and feeling good, than I am that extra piece of cheese-cake.”

Go on, feel free to “kick” something off. But just remember, for it to actually work, you must stay with it.

Did you ever have one of those feelings?

You know the one that says… “Something’s just not right with this?”

And then you hear someone else talk about it and articulate it in a way that makes you say…

“EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING!”

I had one of those moments recently and then right after I actually encountered a situation where I was able to experience it in action.

Here’s what I’m talking about and WHY YOU MUST BE CAREFUL…

While on a pretty long road trip I had the pleasure of listening to the audio version of T. Harv Eker’s, “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.”

I’m also taking Eker’s advice and listening to it once a month for the next year.

Anything earth-shatteringly new about success and abundance found here? NO, not all, but the truth is I read an average of 1 book every 10 days not for “New Tricks” but for reminders of “Timeless Principles.”

I love when Eker says, one of the worst things anyone can say is “I’ve heard that before.” His answer: “Great, but are you living it?”

Anyway, back to the story…

His book is all about mindset. Eker points out how most people who are destined to struggle financially often harbor feelings of anger toward those who actively promote themselves in order to grow their businesses or careers.

When I heard him say it – I thought, “Yep, I’ve had some people ‘hate on me’ over the years.”

And I’ll admit, that on some occasions my learning curve on “subtle and smooth self-promotion” was not quite caught up to my enthusiasm about my products and services so I may have come across a little pushy. Now I do my best to bring value to the table for anyone I come in contact with.

Of course, I can bring more value to the table for my clients who are paying me.

Last Week…

Last week I got a nasty email from someone on our free email list. He was upset with me for sending out a reminder email. Basically, I sent one email introducing a new “free webinar” but actually screwed up and sent it a day early. So the next day I sent a reminder. My logic was that I usually don’t send emails on Sunday so I didn’t want anyone to miss it. Plus, this was good info that would be helpful to anyone who took the time to watch it.

As soon as I saw his complaint email, something to the effect of…

“Why are you sending two emails about the same thing?” and… “You are supposed to be helping me, this is not helping me!”

He went on… to tell me how I was just the same as those other hucksters out to make a fast buck. (my interpretation.)

Right away I heard Harv Eker’s voice and realized I was dealing with someone who had a very negative “Success Blueprint.”

Seriously… what an entitlement mentality! I removed the guy from the list!

One Quick Fact: I’ve been doing what I do for a while now and if I was in it for a “fast buck” I’da been gone a long time ago!

3 Take-Aways…

1. A lot of people are scared to promote themselves because they fear morons like this. DON’T fear idiots like I described above. And don’t let them hold you back. Keep doing your thang!
2. Watch yourself! If you find yourself falling into this mentality by getting bitter at those who are not afraid to do their best to offer value to others via self-promotion stop and give yourself a mental check up.
3. Learn something from every situation. Even though this guy is an idiot IMHO I was reminded about how you’re only as good as your last base hit. Meaning: Yeah, he got some great ideas and tips from me and chose to subscribe, but it all takes is one thing to “un-do” some goodwill. Not that I’m sad to see him go of course!