Blowing The Doors Off Business

Winging It Is Not The Best Policy

It seems too common today.  Just Wing It.  It happens in our relationships, at home, and especially in our businesses.  It happens when we have to get ready for a presentation or a proposal.  It happens when we come to running our business.  It happens in marketing, and actually in nearly every facet of your business.

To wing it comes in varying descriptions and varying degrees of involvement.  It can mean you do not prepare at all for whatever the assignment which lies ahead.  If that is the case, you probably will not last long.

It can mean that you have done preparation, but are unwilling to do the necessary final work, whether that is electronic or gathering a specific outline for your speech.  No matter what "winging it" means to you, it really means that the final result is not what it could have been.  It is at the most average, or a little above, but it is not excellent and well done.

So, how do YOU WING IT?  Do you fail to plan, fail to write down your goals, stop short of rehearsing that presentation, or not taking the amount of time needed to have an excellent performance?  Do you not keep up with your business reading or listening to business CD's or DVD's?  Do you think at the end of your presentation or assignment that it could have been better, should have been better, and better be better next time.

If so, you may possibly be part of the Wing It Crowd.  That means disaster for you and your business or team lies not far in the future.

Is It Time Yet?

We all know people just like this. They have an idea. They mull over it and think about it. They talk about it and even dream about it and what could happen to them if they made it happen. But they NEVER DO IT. They never jump in and even attempt to make it happen.

They share their idea with others, who sometimes become excited about the idea, however they let everyday life get in the way and time moves on. The idea never becomes a reality, because they DO NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN. They are dreamers only. They are not visionaries that make it happen. They just dream and daydream and hope and wonder "what if."

Many years ago, I thought about writing a book. While I was a pastor of a congregation, I was asked to do some writing of articles. They were both good ideas and intrigued me, but I hesitated, rationalized, delayed and got detoured and the writing remained nonexistent.

Years passed. After I went into business, my partner and I started to consider an eBook on the area of our expertise, but again I delayed it, got detoured and it remained a one page outline of potential subjects that never went anywhere and got lost in the inner memory of my computer.

Then one day, a friend and I were talking about eBooks, and brainstorming some business topics we could see written about. He said to me, "So, get started on it." "Sit down, and start writing and do not stop until you have something going." At that time in my life, I decided that he was correct. So I sat down and started writing what was supposed to be an eBook on business. What started out as a small eBook, has become an elephant project of a print book, a workbook resource guide and soon an audio CD book. Now other projects are in the works.

My point to all of this is that we wait around dreaming of what could be and do not actually get started doing that which needs to be done. Everyday life, procrastination, fear, intimidation, and much more block us from making things happen.

It happens on projects that become due at our employment, at home on those projects that your spouse and you have talked about, and those very special ideas that come to us that could change our very lives. So many ideas are lost for eternity because we delay, detour, and relegate to the shelf of our memories, that which might even change the world. 

You see, you will never hit a home run if you do not get into the batters box of life. Yes, you may strike out. You may only hit a single, double or triple. You may even walk. BUT YOU WILL NEVER GET THE OPPORTUNITY UNLESS YOU STEP INTO THE BATTERS BOX OF LIFE AND TRY. In baseball, the best hitters only hit three times out of ten. But those home run hitters get in the box every time their time comes up and they try.

Recently I gave a major proposal to an association representing nearly 1000 companies. I went up against four or five other companies. The decision as to whom they chose has not been made or revealed as yet, but one thing is for sure. One would never get the opportunity to serve these companies, had I not spent hours in preparation, traveled two hours away from my office, made the presentation and offered the proposal.

You will not win if you do not try. It is such a simple principle, but true. There are far too many spectators in the arena of life. They watch others out on the playing field, and cheer or jeer them on. However, they fail to realize one thing. It is not about them. It is about those who get out on the playing field and participate in the game of life.

Internet marketer and inspirational speaker, Mike Littman, says something that to some is quite controversial. However, I believe that he is really on to something. He says that "you do not have to get it right, you just have to get going."

Of course, we should strive towards excellence in all we do. But if we are always preparing and never get into the batters box, then it will be all for nothing. You do not always have to get it right at first, you really need to get moving though.

We are on the time clock of destiny. It is 11:59pm. We only have a minute left. There is only 60 seconds in it. You can lose it, you can abuse it, you can misuse it, you can assume it. THERE IS ONLY 60 SECONDS LEFT AND IT IS UP TO YOU TO USE IT. Get in to the batters box.

You may find that you have to make adjustments. You may find that you have to try over and over again. You may find that it doesn’t come easy. However, do not hold back. Do not let fear of the unknown or failure stop you in your tracks. Do not let procrastination put your dream off.

You see, it really is time to get moving!

We Are Back!

There has been a lot going on in recent months, and for a time i thought I would move this blog to one of my sites.  But....  I have decided not to do that, and to again become consistent in reaching out to you, sharing with you, and really hoping you will give feedback to what we share. So, officially, We Are Back Blogging At Blowing The Doors Off Business.

Just to bring you up to date on what is happening on the business front here, I want to share some of the news....  We have started a publications company, (especially for my upcoming "Business Building Simple Strategy" package that includes the print book, "11 Ways To KILL Your Business ...And the KEYS To Save It!" and your very own personal workbook resource guide for strategizing the growth of your business, "11 Ways To GROW Your Business."  The publication company is Solid Ground Publications and the new website to order our Business Building Simple Strategy package is 11 Ways To KILL Your Business  . The website will be live on Aug 29th, 2007, or if you want pre-launch information and a discount, email me at info@solidgroundfulfillment.com . 

Which brings me to another announcement.  We have started Solid Ground Fulfillment Center, primarily for those of us who want to provide outstanding information products to our clients and potential customers.  We can take care of the full or partial array of fulfillment needs from graphic design, layout, printing of Print On Demand material, printing of workbooks, distribution, duplication of CD's and DVD's, processing, and web site design.  You and your information product needs will always be on solid ground with Solid Ground Fulfillment Center.

Watch for some unbelievable news coming soon!  We are launching a new referral program, GET REFERRALS NOW referral system.  With this system you will be able to double or triple your referrals.  Who would not want to do that?

Remember, (and this will upset some of you.) Mike Litman, of internet marketing fame, says, "You don't have to get it right, you just have to get it going!"  How many of us stand around, or sit around, saying, "I am thinking about doing this or that!"  You know what, we never do more than that.  We just think about it.

That is what happened to me for some time.  Years ago, (many years ago) I thought about writing a book.  Two years ago, my partner and I gave consideration to writing an eBook.  But that is all we did.  We let other things get in the way.  We put higher priority on other things. 

Then one day a friend of mine challenged me to stop thinking about it and start doing it.  He said, "Sit down and start writing."  I did.  And it happened. I will tell you that in this last year I have learned a tremendous amount through the experience. There were times when I just wanted to forget about it.  There were many times when other things got in the way.  But I could not let the dream and goal die.  In fact, what started out as a small product offering, has taken on a life of it's own.  And, through the process, the ideas for more and more products have begun to blossom inside the 6" between my ears.

Well, I say to you.  You will never hit a home run if you do not get into the batter's box.  Yes, you may strike out, you may get a single ... or a double, or even ...a triple.  But you will never hit the ball if you do not try.  Don't just think about it.  Get into the batter's box and SWING!!!!!

And be sure to let me know what you are thinking, starting today!

 

Do Not Choose "Average"

When my sons were much younger and in school, one of them chose to get by with "C" grades.  When asked why he did not try harder to get the higher "B" and "A" grades, he said that he wanted to be average.  You see if "C" was average, he chose to be "average."  He was not willing to exert the extra time and effort to get the better grades.  That was proven out later when he did very well in college.

Unfortunately that attitude is often carried over into all of life for far too many of us.  Let's just get by with the average.  Why exert ourselves to be excellent, or above average?  Why try harder, succeed more often, and enjoy the benefits of such success. 

Let's accept average.  It is far easier; requires much less effort; and hurts less because there may be less failure. 

It really is an attitude you know.  Mike Litman, internet marketer and author, talks about staying away from the "not much" crowd.  You see, these are the people that respond to your question of "what is happening?" by saying, "not much."  Whether you ask them yesterday or haven't seen them in five years, their answer is "not much."

The "not much" or "no" or "can't do" crowd will destroy your resolve, your efforts, your desires, and your dreams.  They are directly opposed to the "CAN DO" attitude that each of us must have to succeed.  You see, we need to stay away from the "not much" crowd and stay near the "CAN DO" group of people.  They are the driven, the opportunity takers, the dreamers, and the risk takers of life.  They CHOOSE TO BE ABOVE AVERAGE.

So where will you stand? And by whom?

Made Any Connections Lately?

Connections!  It is a term used very commonly today for what we used to call "Networking."  Whether you call it networking or connecting, have you actually done any lately?  The opportunities are endless.  They are everywhere you go, everywhere you find yourself, and at any time.  I find them on the airplane, in airports, at restaurants, just anywhere you find yourself.  You can find them at the traditional "networking groups" but more often than not, if that is the only place you are "looking", you are missing out on wonderful possibilities. 

I was having a conversation with my hair stylist today, and we were talking about connecting.  I relayed that an unspoken goal of mine every time i go someplace or find myself on an airplane or in an airport, or wherever, is to find someone i can really connect with.  If you do that, the most interesting things will happen to you.  She said, "What a wonderful idea!  What a way to meet the most interesting people and find yourself in the most unbelievable situations."  And i totally agree.

Connecting is more than just meeting someone new and possibly getting business from them or a new referral. Connecting is giving value to someone else.  Connecting is opening you up to others, giving something meaning from you to others.  It is not looking for something, but giving something. 

When you do that.  When you open yourself to give meaning and value to others, the payoff is huge.  When you give, you receive.  Maybe not from them.  More than likely you will from them, but your receiving may come through someone you meet through them.

Connection is giving value, knowing that it will come back to you.  I have met the most intriguing people, been placed in the most unbelievable opportunities, made myself available at the most inconvenient times, but I have never been disappointed in "connecting" with someone else.   And it has been very beneficial to our business, even when I was not looking for it to be.

So, let me ask you a question.  Have you made any connections lately?  Have you done it to give value to someone else?  Try it this week.  You will not regret it at all.

By the way, let me know what happens.  Post some comments here about your experiences.