May 2009

I heard once that “Good Things Come In Three.” I suppose that’s true… probably LOTS of things come in three. Even weird things… anyway, I digress.

But strangely enough, I did get THREE of darn-near the exact same question… about the same topic… from THREE totally unrelated people… over the last THREE days.

As I travel from Point A to Points B, C, or D each day… I make it a habit to return ALL calls that have been left on voicemail.

Supposedly that’s weird… as is… my 23 year practice of NOT screening calls in my office. If I’m available, I just pick up… no big deal.

Why do I do that?

Well, I guess because there’s usually people on the other end… and you never know where that can lead. It’s a practice I learned from Bob Harlan… the legendary CEO of the Green Bay Packers many years ago… and, well… it’s paid off in ways unimaginable.

You can read about it in Can We Talk… Part I, Part II, and Part III.

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Anyway, back to today’s thought… the flip side of taking calls… is returning them, and it is what my voicemail message says…

“Hi this is Steve… I’m either on the other line right now or away from my phone… but if you leave your information… I do return EVERY phone call. So I will look forward to speaking with you soon… and in the meantime I hope you’re having an awesome day…”

EVERY call? Yeah… every call. Salespeople, fundraisers, family, friends, enemies (thankfully… not too many enemies call)…  you name it. So, imagine THREE people being shocked to get a return call after they’ve left a message asking me to return their call… on a voicemail system that says I return EVERY call.

The stunned callers exclaiming, “You ACTUALLY DO return ALL your calls!!!?”

Yup, it’s your lucky day.

I guess it must be weird… I don’t know… maybe I’m weird. But I just kinda like having MY calls returned too. Life’s pretty simple when you figure that principle out.

Question:

In the last 30 days, it is likely that someone called with an idea that was an absolute game changer…

Did you take the call?

Photo Credit:

The Pug Father

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Alright… so let’s do this.

You pick the area of life… family, career, health, finances, fitness, ministry, friends, charity, hobbies, personal growth, whatever… and I’ll ask two questions.

Go ahead… pick an area. This isn’t a test.

Okay, so it’s finances… yes, more and more… it’s always finances. So, here are my two questions: With respect to your… (fill in the blank, in this case… FINANCES):

1) Where do you WANT to be in 12-15 months?
2) Where do you EXPECT to be in 12-15 months?

Are they the same answer?

Okay, pick another area… this time fitness. Now, ask the same two questions.

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The answer to the first question is simple. Usually people have a general idea where they’d LIKE to be… or at least where they would like NOT to be.

But it’s the answer to the second question that reveals character, leadership, and responsibility (or the lack of). You see, in order for expectations to line up with desire… there are at least three critical components that must be present:

1) Commitment
2) Plans
3) Actions

Miss one… and our WANT becomes a mere wish… a fleeting hope… a pipe dream.

But together… with the commitment to take whatever actions are necessary to fulfill our plans, regardless of the challenges… we begin to expect the eventual outcome.

Simply put… we no longer just HOPE we will get what we WANT. Instead, we now EXPECT to get that to which we are COMMITTED.

Big difference.

Questions:

In terms of this discussion, what is the difference between FAITH… and HOPE? Which do you have more of?

In which area of your life do you have the most concrete plans? How have you measurably moved the dial on those plans in the last 45 days?

Which of your life-goals most closely resemble a wish… as opposed to an expectation? What one thing could you do by this weekend to change that?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Photo Credit:

PictFactory

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I just got off the phone with an old friend who is stuck in his career.

It seems he had read all the signs correctly over the past three years, and predicted with almost exact precision the situation he is in today. 

In other words, he’s right about where he expected to be.

But here’s his real trouble… I asked where he expects to be next year at this time, if… he doesn’t change anything.

Answer… worse off than today.

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If you’re not satisfied with the current track, then it may be time to change the expectations… for your work… for your finances… for your health… for your family… for your dreams… for your hobbies… for your community… for our country… for your missions and purpose and reasons for living.

Yes… it is time for change.

The kind of change that begins inside with leadership… and character… and accountability… and dedication… and honor… and respect. Change that involves encouragement… and bold action in the face of every threat or obstacle or fear. These are the traits and activities that change the status quo, and… the expected outcomes.

It turns out that people tend to live right about at the level they always thought they would. It’s where my friend is right now… it’s where I am… and it’s likely where you are also.

After all… what did you expect?

Photo Credit:

Lachlan Hardy

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What is it that you think you can’t do?

Years ago I heard a quote from Henry Ford which addressed this very topic. I will paraphrase it as follows:

“If you think you can… you can; if you think you can’t… you can’t.  Either way… you’re right!”

Could it be that it is really that simple? According to Henry, it seems like the greatest enemy of success… are these four simple letters “c-a-n-’t.”

And in many ways, his statement is true… taking for granted, of course, that we back up our belief by acquiring whatever resources we need in order to make it so… and then absolutely working our buns off to achieve it.

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Let’s look at another four-letter word.

Vince Lombardi observed that “Winners never quit… and quitters never win”, and Norman Vincent Peale added that “It is always too early to quit.” I guess when it comes to achieving, “q-u-i-t” is also a concept we’d be best off to avoid.

In fact, rather than avoiding these words, maybe we should just eliminate “can’t” and “quit” from our vocabulary all together.

Or should we? Maybe the trick is just to use them together… can’t quit.

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Last evening, I spoke with a friend of mine. Like most of my friends, he owns and operates his own small business. Just to be sure we’re on the same page, I define “Small Business” as fewer than 100 employees… or, less than $30,000,000 in annual gross revenue.

During our conversation, he admitted that his business was not where he wanted it to be right now.

In his case, though, it’s not so much the economy… but a series of health challenges within his family; in fact, we’re burying his mom tomorrow morning. But because of his ownership stake in life, he’s been able to prioritize… to take care of what’s really most important.

And certainly, over the last few years… the time that he has spent with his family is absolutely priceless… and could never have happened working for someone else.

So, though not building as fast as he’d like too… still, he is building. And, no doubt like the rest of us… he will reach his goals. “I have a long-term perspective…” he said. “I just can’t quit.”

Can’t quit… winners never do.

Photo Credit:

truello

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So, let’s start by looking at what I didn’t say in the last two articles.

I didn’t say that real go-getters are eager to jump on every band wagon that comes along… or that they would jump on yours. And I didn’t say that you should give your time to any and every cause at the expense of your own missions, goals, health, or family.

I also didn’t say that there is unlimited time available, or that you can always give another eight hours here, or sign up to volunteer for that over there. Moreover, I didn’t say that you can accomplish your major purposes in life… and maintain “balance” (whatever that really means) at all times.

I DID say that I AM NEVER TOO BUSY… to move my major purposes forward… at least a little.

Never…? Never.

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I was asked last week by an up-and-coming leader how he can do a better job of managing his time while he looks to grow his own business. My first question to him was one I’ve asked hundreds of people… “Do you know how much time you have..? In other words, how much time are you playing with… how much time do you have available… each week?”

He didn’t know… most don’t.

This young man started to do some quick math, but then defaulted to telling me about his standard work week… which was about 55 hours, including his commute.

Back to the math… we worked the numbers together.

There are 168 hours in a week… and they are ALL yours. Subtracting his work and commute he had 113 left. He determined that he spent 19 hours per week between eating and hygiene… 5 on exercise and 49 sleeping. That leaves him with 40 hours every week to use or invest in whatever is important to him.

I suggested he take 60% of it (or 24 hours), and invest it in his family and relationships. This extra time also allows for a buffer if he needs it. Then I proposed that he take the remaining 40% (or 16 hours) and invest it in growing a business online that can replace his income in the next 3-5 years.

He opted to reverse the numbers… and replace his full-time job in 2-3 years instead. Darn kids! BUT PRETTY COOL, huh?

And yeah… I know… there’s next-to-no T.V. time in there… oh well. When he leaves his job… he does get 55 hours per week back… if the tube is still that important!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Questions:

Is your vision well defined? Are your plans written down? Are you on track?

What activities take up at least four hours of your week, that are not moving you significantly toward your goals?

Are you willing to put those activities on hold, at least temporarily? If so, when? If not, why not?

Photo Credit:

Bug-a-Lug

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Okay, so real quick… if you need to refresh on yesterday’s article… scroll down or click here. And then let’s pick up where we left off.

So it was back in 1992 that my dad decided to retire… for six days. Yes… you heard correctly, and no… that was not a misprint… SIX DAYS. And then he immediately accepted the responsibility of starting a brand new mission congregation… from scratch, with a handful of ragtag volunteers.

I was one of them.

Today, almost seventeen years later, he still leads the organization… because, well… that’s what he does. He’s a leader. Although I must tell you that one thing has definitely changed… the handful… has become hundreds.

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I remember his advice as though it was yesterday. Well, maybe that’s because I wrote about it yesterday. “Steve…” he said, “if you’re looking for someone who can get things done… talk to the busiest person you know. If it’s worthwhile, they’ll figure out a way to do it.”

And now I know why my phone was ringing so often back then… I WAS the busiest person either of us knew. At the time, having recently having paid down ALL the debt from a start-up company… we were growing like a weed.

Several months earlier, we had moved into new offices… many times the size of the originals. Over the next few years I would open several new ventures… in several industries… in several cities. And all while trying to balance the eighty hour work weeks with the responsibilities of being a decent husband and homeschool dad in a young family.

Come to think of it… there was no balance.

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“…talk to the busiest person you know.”

And as my dad and I spoke, I accepted the responsibilities of doing the church’s marketing… chairing the finance committee… as well as the evangelism committee. A seat on the executive committee of a Detroit-based international charity followed… and oh yes, I served as an Elder for about fifteen years.

Imagine that… an Elder. I had always thought that was reserved for those with much grayer hair… or, at least… less hair. Anyway… I digress!

So, one more time. “If you’re looking for someone who can get things done… talk to the busiest person you know. If it’s worthwhile, they’ll figure out a way to do it.” The operating words being “IF IT”S WORTHWHILE…”

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So how do you determine “IF IT”S WORTHWHILE”? How do you maintain balance in your life, and not cave to everyone else’s demands or expectations? How do you have the energy to keep going when your already doing double-time in your career? And how do you FIND THE TIME to move forward on YOUR MISSION, YOUR PRIORITIES, and YOUR GOALS and DREAMS without trashing your personal life, or hurting those who are closest to you?

Great questions… for tomorrow.

Photo Credit:

NathanFromDeVryEET

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Years ago, I remember my dad giving me some advice regarding putting together a team. “Steve…” he said, “you need to have people around you that you can count on… and they need to know they can count on you.”

And then he went on…

“If you’re looking for someone who can get things done… talk to the busiest person you know. If it’s worthwhile, they’ll figure out a way to do it. Everyone else… those who accomplish the least… well… they just never seem to have any time.”

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I’ve seen this concept proven over and over again. The ones with the most to do… those who live on purpose… tend to become experts in prioritizing their life. I’m not saying they’re always willing to jam eighteen more things into their day… but they do make time for the really important things… and aren’t often sidelined by activities that come out of left field.

On the other hand… without using a calculator, I can’t count the number of people I’ve met who are seemingly tossed by the waves… by other’s expectations… by pop culture… and peer pressure. Their lives are ruled by their boss… their mother… their children’s teachers… and the TV Guide.

And then opportunity knocks… or missions call… the chance of a lifetime awaits. And they are answered by… silence. These folks are too busy to notice… or too tired to care. Most often, they don’t even realize what just passed them by.

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Come to think of it, for many years… the busiest person I knew was… well… ME. And during that time, my dad definitely put this teaching to work… in BOTH of our lives.

That story… along with how to start a business when your already working eighty hours a week… tomorrow, right here.

I look forward to hearing your stories.

Questions:

Who is the most successful and engaged person you know?

How open are they to help others?

How much TV do they watch?

Photo Credit:

Paul J Everett

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