Are you fishing on the right side of the boat?

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One night I dreamt I was fishing on a boat – working hard, but catching nothing. Someone told me, “Drop your nets on the other side.” Perplexed for a moment, I did it and shortly after my nets were so full of fish, I needed help to reel in the catch.

I made a connection to my career…

I believe I’m in the right profession, but what if I’m selling to the wrong crowd?

Being an entrepreneur is an up and down journey. I’ve learned so much about perseverance, clarity and being a continual learner. I can’t do this alone and I’m finding out it’s more about who you’re connected to, rather than how much you know.

Sure, I have doubts when times are dry, but I bounce back when I envision what it can be.

I’m convinced I’m in the right profession based on my passion and commitment level. I’m most fulfilled when sitting with a client, listening to their story and trying to help them reach their goals. I know what I do provides value, but I haven’t found the consistency I’m looking for yet.

As I reflect and strategize, I know that “great catch” isn’t far off… 

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What’s your journey? Please share your comments.

What Poker Can Teach Us About Business

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In Tony Hsieh’s book “Delivering Happiness“, he makes parallels between poker and business. Listen to what the Zappos CEO learned from playing the game:
 
1) Evaluate Market Opportunities
Where there are a lot of competitors, it’s much harder to win. Choosing to play at the right “table” may be the difference between winning and losing.

2) Finances
Are you prepared for the worst case scenario? If you want to make a long-term impact it will take time and sacrifice.
 
3) Strategy
Only play games you understand. Stick to your principles, be flexible and stay patient. Players with the most stamina and focus usually win. Differentiate yourself from the others.
 
4) Continual Learning
Educate yourself. Read books. Learn from others who have done it before. Surround yourself with talented players. Ask for advice.
 
5) Culture
Love the game you play. Be nice and make friends – it’s a small community. Share what you’ve learned with others. Look for opportunities beyond what you’re doing now. Have fun – it’s more enjoyable that way.
 
Interested in starting your own business? Find what you’re passionate about and committed to. Remember, make logical, mathematical decisions, not emotional ones.
 
Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence! E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

5 Steps to Choose a Mentor

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Mentors guide us by showing us their way. Most learn best through watching someone else’s example, so you can learn a lot from the experience of a mentor. Here a 5 easy steps to choose your next mentor:
 
1) Mutual Admiration
Find someone who excels in an area that you are interested in. Notice if they show interest and see potential in you.

2) Clarify Expectations
What do you hope to receive out of this relationship? Communicate to your mentor what you want to learn and see if it’s a good fit.
 
3) Be a Student
Be willing to adjust to your mentor’s availability. Ask questions and listen. Soak up as much information as you can.
 
4) Remove the Pedestal
Don’t expect perfection or you’ll be disappointed. When you “look up” to someone, the only place they can go is down.
 
5) Times Change
Strive to have several mentors in a lifetime. As your mentors change, so should you.
 
Seek out mentors that you can learn from, but be realistic about what he/she can offer. Look for someone who is willing to show and tell you. Because you learn best through example; find an “example” that best suits you!
 
What’s your experience with mentors? Please share your comments!

Need help finding a mentor?
Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence! E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

Do You Manage Your Emotions Well?

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When emotions arise, do you react or respond? Managing your emotions is about choice. Take a look at your 3 available options:
1) Express Them
Reacting immediately makes you feel better, but it’s not always appropriate. In the heat of the moment, we speak before we think. What is the context? Who are you telling? Do you want to be viewed as overly dramatic?!

2) Suppress Them
Holding your feelings inside makes you feel worse. Private people prefer not sharing how they feel with others, yet if bottled up for too long it creates a volcano that will eventually explode!

3) Label + Reframe
Did you know that labeling your emotions reduces your arousal? Once you identify how you are feeling, re-frame it positively and your emotional response will shift.

Managing your emotions is a sign of maturity. Successful people can observe their mental processes and regulate their emotions. Managing your emotions reduces distractions and increases your performance! Next time you feel an emotion, try identifying, labeling and positively re-framing it!

What’s your experience with managing your emotions? 

Please share your comments…
 

Want to manage your emotions better?
Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence! E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

Should Companies Train like Athletes?

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How would training like an athlete affect your performance at work? Did you know productivity is linked to your body and emotions? Let’s look at how physical, emotional and mental energy determines your peak performance:
 
1) Physical
Your body is your fundamental source of energy. How you treat it determines how you will perform. Try exercising 30 minutes daily (preferably in the morning), eating healthy and sleeping 7+ hours each night. Your endurance will skyrocket immediately!

2) Emotional
How you manage your emotions either drives or drains your energy. Athletes use music as a pre-routine to calm them. Be aware of your body language; it illustrates your confidence level. Strengthen close relationships and it will add to your positive energy.
 
3) Mental
Your mind utilizes the available energy from your physical and emotional state. Enhance focus by visualizing your desired outcome. Think positive thoughts as it actually reprograms your mind. While working include taking short breaks each 90 – 120 minutes for mental recovery and to sharpen focus. 
 
Athletes spend a tremendous amount of time training and resting to promote peak performance. Experts point to lack of recovery (rest), not stress, as the main culprit of poor execution. Next time try training your body, emotions and mind like an athlete for optimal results!

Want to “train” like a Corporate Athlete?
Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence! E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

How to Follow-Up

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How do you stay ahead in this vastly interconnected world? Make sure you effectively follow-up! Here are three tips to help you pursue contacts more efficiently:

1) Keep your Word
If you say you’re going to contact someone, do it! Don’t use words lightly. Say what you intend to do and follow-through with action. Your word shapes your reputation.

2) Pursue Respectfully
When you propose an idea and are told “no”, it could mean “not right now” or “revise it.” Don’t take rejection personally. Perseverance is key. The next time you are turned away, ask if you can follow-up at a later date.
 
3) Track your Steps
No matter how great your memory is, you need a tracking system. I track when and how I interact with each of my contacts in an excel document. This reminds me who I need to follow-up with and when. Create your own tracking system so you can follow-up effectively.
 
Follow-up is an essential skill. It multiplies your chances to succeed! Strive to be known as: tenacious, a go-getter and persevering! 

Want to become more effective at “follow-up?
Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence! 
E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

Food Truck Evangelism

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Listen up entrepreneurs, businesses & churches! This L.A. based trend is revealing insight on how to attract loyal fans. Here are three takeaways that you can apply in your organization:



1) Go to Them
Find out where your customers hang out and bring your product or service to them. Potential customers are more “comfortable” on their “home turf.” Make convenience your ally.

2) Create Excitement
There’s a buzz in the air when something is perceived as fun. When you create an environment that appeals to the senses, people become captivated. Feelings drive your actions.
 
3) Provide Value
Price is important, but people are willing to pay for something great. Value is cost PLUS quality and customer service. Listen to your customer’s needs and plan your agenda around them.
 
Food trucks are followed on twitter because of the overall experience they create. We can learn a lot from this growing trend by going to our customers, creating excitement and providing value for them! Are you creating an experience worthy enough to be “followed”?

Need a plan to attract customers?
Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence! E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

Show, Don’t Tell

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Effective communication is about the receiver understanding the message. Books like Presentation Zen & Back of the Napkin are great examples of the power of visual communication. The next opportunity you have to present an idea, remember these three steps:

1) Right beats Left
We are better at visual recognition than we are at verbal description. This concept it based on verbal overshadowing. Our left brain thinks in words while our right brain thinks in pictures. When explaining, use visual cues to clarify your message.

2) Tell a Story
It’s much easier to listen to a story than comprehend bullet points. For example, when using PowerPoint engage your audience with high quality photos. Don’t bore them with data. Images supplement your story. Take them on the journey with you.

3) Imagine…
Did you know this is most powerful word in the English language? “Imagine” registers the most powerful emotional response. (Why do you think Disney uses it so much?) Include this word in your talks to paint the picture of the ideal future.

Selling yourself is about the package and the product combined. That means how you present is as important (if not more) than what you present. The next time you pitch an idea, remember to show, don’t tell!

Ready to become a visual presenter?
Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence!
E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

Does your Process lead to Progress?

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Process is defined as a series of actions to achieve your desired result(s). Results are the name of the game, but how you get there is extremely important. Let’s look at 3 ways to build a better process:

1) Visualize
Process is a means to an end, so what is your target? Structure your process to reach your goals. Never lose sight of the big picture. Track progress based on your destination.

2) Value-Based
What are your top 3-5 core values? Your moral compass guides your decision making. Authentic choices come from doing what’s right, not what’s easiest. Stick close to who you are.

3) Vacate
We can only be great in a couple of areas. Figure out what’s important and purge the rest. Prioritize, delegate and drop what’s not important. A successful process is spending time on what matters.

Building a better process is about visualizing, being value-based and vacating excess baggage. Improving your process will result in making progress towards what’s important and valued!

Ready to build a better process?
Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence!
E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

Kobe + LeBron = Blue Flame

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Scientifically, the blue part of the flame is the hottest. In business, the blue flame is where passion meets ability. Let me illustrate this point by using Kobe Bryant & LeBron James as examples:


Passion
Kobe Bryant’s work ethic is unmatched. He is not the most physically gifted player in the NBA, but he is the hardest worker. He prepares to succeed. When it comes to your career development, what areas are you extremely passionate about? Imagine waking up each morning energized for work…

Ability
LeBron James is arguably the greatest athlete to ever play in the NBA. He’s a basketball player in a football player’s body. He is physically far superior to others. In your career, what are you talented at? Where do your strengths lie? Envision what do you do better than anyone else…

Blue Flame
Aim for the heart of Kobe & the talent of LeBron and you can achieve greatness in your career. What do you love doing? What gets you excited every time you think about it? Once you figure that out, identify what areas you are truly gifted in. Passion + Ability = Blue Flame.

“Figure out what you love doing & are great at, then find a way to get paid for it!”

Want to find your “Blue Flame”? Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence! E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!