Morning Motivator – A New Look at Project Management

"There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still."
-Franklin D. Roosevelt

Last night was the Professional Development series in the NAJCC. We had a great guest speaker, Sallie Hussey of Management Solutions Group, chat with us about the keys to SUCCESSFUL Project Management.

As I was listening and taking notes, I began to think about what PROJECTS I had been working on. BarkLoud, NAJCC, house rehab, speaking… then it occurred to me – I AM THE PROJECT and the SUCCESS is in MANAGING myself effectively. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be deep and dynamic in this thought process, rather looking at my DEVELOPMENT as a project – a special goal, with limited resources, a specific desired end result and a time frame to complete it in.

Consider this. Your life is ONGOING with no breaks or stoppages along the way to regroup. To ACHIEVE your dreams, how can you best identify the needed RESOURCES to achieve? See… you are a PROJECT. So what are you doing to ensure the QUALITY of your MOST IMPORTANT project?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
All good project managers take a few CRITICAL steps to ensure the success of their project:

1. Write a plan of action – who, what, when, where, why, how

2. Identify the needed resources to complete and procure them – money, time, people, knowledge, etc

3. Schedule time to complete tasks and review along the way – if you don't block the time to do it, you will NOT complete the project on time

4. Be flexible and make changes as conditions and resources change – don't be afraid to change your goal or shut it down if it doesn't make sense

5. Review your successes and failures once the project is complete – use the intermittent reviews along with an overall review

6. CELEBRATE! - you finished on time, on budget and learned from the project… you deserve some time in the sun!

I again make note of my most favorite saying from my mentor, Andy Herzer – "We all overestimate what we can accomplish in one day, and underestimate what we can accomplish in one year." Make your life a series of manageable projects and you will find you achieve more, with less. Got get em!

Cheers,
Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com

The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator - How to Please Everyone

"Work, love and play are the great balance wheels of man's being."
- Orison Swett Marden

Do you feel pulled in 10 different directions? Does it seem that EVERYONE wants a piece of you? Do you lack the TIME to give everyone the attention they need?

What is the secret to pleasing everyone? Not to try! Yes, you have heard that before, so I want to REINFORCE it for your again - DO NOT TRY TO PLEASE EVERYONE. This concept is a personal CHALLENGE as I am very insecure about how people perceive me and thus want EVERYONE to like and RESPECT me. Here's the TRUTH I (and you) have to learn - pleasing everyone will NEVER happen! Even, Barney the Purple Dinosaur has people that he (is it a he?) can't please.

The GOAL is to find a BALANCE of pleasing others and ACCOMPLISHING the tasks you need to in order to ENSURE your long term fulfillment. Think of it like this - if your spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend is NOT the right person for you, yet you stay with them to "please" them, what do you expect will happen to you long term?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:

What should we do if we can't please ALL these people? BE TRUE to yourself. Stick to your VALUES and MORALS. Personally, I have DISCOVERED a great volume of PEACE in my life in the past 18 months and I have enjoyed it by living the following ideal:

"I can only be honest with myself. If I am honest about my desires and intentions taking action according to those values, what occurs as a result is EXACTLY what should happen - good or bad."

When you are honest with yourself and others... the RESULTS are honest too.

Cheers,

Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com

The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator - Time Well Spent

"I want to live well later and has as much fun as possible now."
- Todd Shafer

As noted in the last Morning Motivator, this was a Vegas weekend with my buddies for a bachelor party.

I realized while we were on our ADVENTURE that I was living one of the BEST moments of my life. Consider this - how often do you REALLY get to take time and ENJOY your close friends? How much TIME are you spending INVESTING in your personal EXPLORATIONS? Are you allowing money to OVERSHADOW your desires to have fun?

I am becoming AWARE of the fact that my life is CHANGING rapidly. Relationships alter perspectives, friends grow closer or apart based on TIME allowances and personal ADVENTURE is often "back burnered" for more "RESPONSIBLE" decision making. Are you letting your best days slip by out of FEAR?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
As a VERY conservative financial professional, I am often CHALLENGED with determining the REAL VALUE of my money spent when it comes to vacations/getaways.

Here is what I have implemented as a new SYSTEM for managing my "getaways". Once per quarter, I allow myself to take any 3 day vacation I wish. I do make efforts to recruit a friend to I can share TIME together and strengthen the relationship. By working 3-6 months in a advance, I am able to book flights and rooms inexpensively.

The TIME we have on Earth is very limited... Don't let a FEAR of security keep you from enjoying your DESIRE for adventure.

Cheers,

Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com

The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator - Taking Time to Recharge

"Its human to stretch, to go, to see, to understand. Exploration is not a choice, really; its an imperative."
- Michael Collins, Apollo 11

Todays Morning Motivator will be brief as I am taking a day to recharge my batteries.

Today I will be enjoying time with my good friends, Todd, Stefen and Jay, in Las Vegas CELEBRATING Stefen's upcoming marriage... (Yes, I'm at a bachelor party).

One of the most IMPORTANT reasons we work is to ENJOY the benefits of our labor. It is our TIME spent re-investing into our RELATIONSHIPS and PASSIONS that support our work efforts.

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:

To ensure you are RECHARING your batteries consistently, schedule a weekend trip for every 3 months. You don't need to go to great expense, simply FOCUS on spending time with those you CARE for and doing things you ENJOY.

These "mini-vacations" will serve as an EXCELLENT compliment to your annual retreats and provide you the MOTIVATIONS to keep driving forward!!

I will you each a delightful weekend. Be safe and have fun...

Cheers,

Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com

The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator - Sometimes You Get Pooped On

"If I were to say, "God, why me?" about the bad things, then I should have said, "God, why me?" about the good things that happened in my life."
-Arthur Ashe

This will be a story you will enjoy... Yesterday, myself and 3 other immediate Junior Chamber leaders amassed at SATCO restaurant in Nashville for a meeting of the minds.

Our GOAL: to discuss the FORWARD motion of our group and how we BEST see ourselves ESTABLISHING the processes to ensure longevity.

We enjoyed COMPELLING discussion and at times found ourselves in AGREEMENT, then in DISAGREEMENT. What a great discussion! We settled on an ACTION PLAN and adjourned. As we were walking through the crowd of dining patrons to the parking garage and bird pooped on my face, REPEAT a bird pooped on my face... A freakin' bird POOPED on my face!!

Yes, it was EMBARRASSING to get pooped on in front of 50 people. Of course, it was a TERRIBLE thing, able to ruin my afternoon. How would you react?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Okay, What's the lesson? The lesson is... Don't sweat the small stuff like bird poop.

If a bird pooping on you is the WORST thing to happen today, say your prayers and make them thankful. Have a laugh, enjoy the opportunity to share a great story, and show your QUALITY of character by being able to share in the humor. Great stories are hard to come by... I am CONFIDENT this one will be shared again today. =)

Cheers,
Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com

The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.