Morning Motivator – A Work in Progress

"Don't boast about projects in progress. Celebrate their completion."
- unknown

I think if we are all honest with the person in the mirror we can say that we are a WORK IN PROGRESS. Often, we are difficult on ourselves, EXPECTING that perfection is a standard and that if we are not perfect, then we have failed. Interestingly, I have not yet found ONE person that is perfect and only read of one ever.

What we do commonly practice, however, is the EXPRESSION of what we are "going to do." You know, the GREAT idea you have but never take action on. The schooling you continue to RANT about yet never enroll. The millions of dollars that are in your mind, yet not in your bank. Don't get me wrong – I AM A DREAMER too! I am one that says you must BELIEVE to ACHIEVE…

What I want you to consider is WHEN is the best time to celebrate your VICTORY. I appreciate the fact that you have the PLAN and want to see the success of taking the NEXT STEPS. The celebration comes in the COMPLETION of those next steps. It is when you are able to MEASURE the success of your idea, TRANSFORMED into actionable tasks, that are then EXECUTED that you should CELEBRATE! What is your next step? What REWARD will you give yourself when you complete and execute that action?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Planning is still the CRITICAL step in this process. By using the S.M.A.R.T. goal setting strategy (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time Bound), you are able to define the points at which SUCCESS is achieved and CELEBRATION is appropriate.

Learn and use the S.M.A.R.T. goal system to your advantage. By defining as much structure as possible around your goals, you are able to create CLARITY in your steps and thus enhance the speed at which you are able to achieve. As a reader of the Morning Motivator, you are already taking the steps to enhance yourself, now take the SPECIFIC steps to get what you want out of life!!

Have a great weekend…

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 - Focusing On What is Critical...

"My success, part of it certainly, is that I have focused in on a few things."
- Bill Gates

In the past 24 hours I have had an INTERESTING opportunity presented to me. Effective November 1st, my company is downsizing our staff and I, as the most recent hire, am part of the DECISION.

Now, many people may FrEaK OuT, yet I will not. I know that by FOCUSING on what is most important, this time will pass and I will GROW stronger as a person, as well as a professional. (Don't get me wrong, I will still take your help if so inclined to make quality introductions).

I do think this brings up a great OPPORTUNITY to chat about FOCUS and the IMPORTANCE of knowing what is CRITICAL to you. Money will come and go. SUCCESS is a matter of interpretation. CHARACTER is what counts and HONESTY with yourself is what will lead you in the right direction.

So what is CRITICALLY IMPORTANT to you for life, love and happiness?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Learning to FOCUS on what makes you GREAT at what you are great at is THE defining element of top achievers vs average success.

People that have HIGH levels of success know what makes them HAPPY and do it. Know what ATTRACTS others to them and execute accordingly. They know what GROWTH is important to their development and take the time to educate.

FOCUS today on 3 elements of your life: personal, professional and relationship. Identify ONE action you can take to FOCUS on what is most CRITICAL to success and put that step in your calendar to do. You will appreciate yourself for making the effort later!!

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 - What's Your Plan?

"Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it. You know, I just do things."
— the Joker in The Dark Knight

I really like this quote and have an ODD feeling that many of us live by this same mantra to one degree or another. If something unforeseen was to occur to you today, would you be ready to deal with it APPROPRIATELY? Or are you flying blind in the dark without instruments?

Admittedly, I am not someone that stays up at night PLANNING all my next moves. I have an end GOAL, a plan to make my next IMMEDIATE step and a GENERAL idea of what additional steps are involved. Do you have a CLEAR vision of what your path is? If someone were to ask you today... "where do you want to be in 3 years?" would you be able to answer that question CLEARLY? If not, how do you EXPECT to know when the right time to make a move towards your DREAM is upon you?

We are all CHALLENGED with becoming IDLE in our lives. Often we overlook our DREAMS or decide to DELAY them because we grow complacent. We HESITATE to take the risk we need to in order to give ourselves the OPPORTUNITY to live out the visions of success we have in our minds. We allow FEAR to paralyze us from the BLISS of experiencing the excitement of chasing our dreams and actually CATCHING THEM! What is YOUR plan? What will you do when the OPPORTUNITY to take action comes upon you?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
I believe in ACTION and know that you can PLAN yourself to death. However, having a PLAN, in some sense, is critical to creating an AWARENESS that allows you the ability to SEE the opportunity you are seeking.

Sometimes the opportunity is painful at first, yet you find that you are able to rise from it STRONGER and more FOCUSED than before. Don't be AFRAID to create your plan... at least in the first few steps... then be WILLING to take action when the time is right!

You don't want to look back and wish you had taken the time to make your DREAMS COME TRUE!

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 – Do You See An Opportunity?

"Opportunities? They are all around us...There is power lying latent everywhere waiting for the observant eye to discover it."
-Orison Swett Marden

In a "downturn economy," you commonly hear people DISCUSSING the lack of opportunities in the world. They have the DOOM and GLOOM mentality of what is going on and what is to come. Yet, many people are making their way to SUCCESS and WEALTH through these "tough economic times." How are these people making their way so EFFECTIVELY?

An ABILITY to be highly aware of opportunity around you is a CRITICAL skill in the development of success in your life. Every day we are presented with new opportunities to GROW, SUCCEED and CHALLENGE ourselves. It is from our HEIGHTENED senses that we are able to identify what may seem like a piece of coal as being a "diamond in the rough." Are you AWARE of the opportunities around you?

How many times have you heard of the person that needed a better way to run their business and as a result found a BEST way to run a company? How often do we hear a "rags to riches" story about how someone took a job as a clerk in the basement and ends as CEO? What was it that made these people so SUCCESSFUL? It is their ability and desire to find those HIDDEN opportunities… are you looking for yours?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:

As we develop our awareness for OPPORTUNITY we must have a clear vision of what it is we are seeking to accomplish in a long term fashion. It is the awareness of LONG TERM success that helps us to focus on the immediate OPPORTUNITIES we have around us today. CLARIFY your needs and desires, FOCUS on the next immediate steps towards achieving them and TAKE ACTION when opportunity does hit you square in the face!

Today, you WILL have an opportunity, will you be ready for it?

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 - Your Boss Should Make Less Than You

"Leadership is the desire to promote growth in others in spite of one's own insecurities."
- B. Gavrailoff

In business, you find very INTERESTING scenarios. One of my favorite is the common EGO battle you see amongst LEADERS and EXECUTORS. This is the "WORKING" relationship between the people who DO the work and the people who drive the STRATEGY.

I have been around selling basically since I graduated college in 2000. I have heard many stories from my FRIENDS and COLLEAGUES about their past experiences. The one that sticks out most is the idea of a manager being UPSET that their employees make more money than they do.

In sales, the SPOILS go to the person that does the work. You find the OPPORTUNITY, you DEVELOP the relationship and EXECUTE the agreements. You did all the work, yet, many Sales Managers can become upset when they have a TOP PERFORMER that executes so effectively that their compensation EXCEEDS that of the leadership. Commonly, an EXCELLENT sales rep can be the HIGHEST paid employee of an organization, even over the CEO.

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Understand that as a MANAGER, if you are doing an EXCELLENT job - your people should outperform you. Your team should be compensated well for the work they do and you should take great PRIDE in the fact that you have DEVELOPED such a great environment that people are able to ACHIEVE at such high levels.

I have not yet had my RIGHTFUL shake at management (one day I will) and when I do, be ASSURED that my primary goal is to see that my team's compensations/rewards/incomes/etc far EXCEED mine as a result of their excellent EXECUTION. I have always BELIEVED that the true value of a manager is their ABILITY and WILLINGNESS to side their personal EGO for the greater development of their team!

INSPIRE and SUPPORT your team - you will find your DREAMS will come true 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.