Morning Motivator - What a Winner Knows

"I learned the rules so I would know the loopholes. Then I could use it to my advantage."
- Tim Ferriss, paraphrased from The Four Hour Work Week

I am LEARNING a very good lesson - time and time again. The lesson is continually handed to me by my friend and owner of the Nashville Sports Leagues, Philip Steen.

Philip is a member of the National co-ed flag football CHAMPION team, Mean Machine. Everyone is MAD at him because playing their team is so FRUSTRATING! Do you know what makes them so darn GOOD? It is not that they have SUPERIOR athletes. It is not that they have BETTER plays. It is PURELY that they have a complete UNDERSTANDING of the rules... And thus a TOTAL advantage over others.

Are you a MASTER of the rules of business? Do you know how to surf the LOOPHOLES of contracts and RFPs? What would change if you did?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
By INVESTING the time to become a MASTER of the "rules," you are creating an ADVANTAGE that cannot be matched.

When you have the POWER and ABILITY to take advantage of opportunities other are not aware of... You ENSURE your success.

What are you doing to be a MASTER of the rules? What steps could you take today to PROVIDE yourself with a fair "unfair" advantage?

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 – The Friday before Vacation

"It is amazing how much a person can accomplish when they are motivated with time constraints and a reward."
- Tim Ferriss, Paraphrased from The Four-Hour Work Week

Its Friday, 8am, and your flight leaves at 3pm for whatever WONDERFUL vacation spot you have decided upon. The CHALLENGE facing you is that you have 10 hours worth of work and only 5-6 hours (subtract the pre flight time) to get it all done (and that's assuming you DON'T take a lunch). What will you do? Will you have to RESCHEDULE your flight? What happened the last time this HAPPENED?

If I was a betting man… I would put money on the idea that you ACCOMPLISHED all your work – with time to spare. How is that POSSIBLE?

Here is what we know about work HABITS. Most people have a much GREATER capacity to accomplish than what they operate at. A MAJORITY of people can complete their work in 4 hours or less each day; HOWEVER, they extend it over an 8 hour period so they can stay engaged the entire time. As a MANAGER, what is a good solution? Shorter work days? More work? Fire those LAZY s.o.b.'s and get better employees that are willing to put in the extra effort!? How many BOSSES' would ALSO be fired? Be honest…

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Here is what I suggest: Create 2 functions to your day – (1) Maintenance and (2) Growth.

In the MAINTENANCE portion of your day, you will EXECUTE the activities that are defined as your "job." These are the activities that are most important TODAY to be accomplished. These would include sales, follow ups, management, reporting, trouble shooting, etc.

In the GROWTH portion of your day, you will INVEST into the "future success" of your job and company. These activities will include exploratory research on related products, services, competitors, etc. Additionally, this will include training, education, creative development, and new strategies.

AMAZINGLY, you will not only become more EFFICIENT and EFFECTIVE in your daily functions, you will also become more DYNAMIC and VALUABLE to your company as you INVEST into the future success of your team. Try it for a week… Regular work first. As soon as it is completed (whether 3 hours or 6 later) INVEST into your GROWTH. THREE months of this effort will help you achieve and attain more goals than you have ever in the past…

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 - A Lesson from Fundraising

"Sometimes the desire for 'perfect' can drive away 'better.'"
- Marshall Goldsmith

Have you ever been asked to DONATE to a worthy cause? Not just some garbage non-profit that doesn't clearly do anything, but a GOOD one. One you BELIEVE in.

Why did you NOT make the donation? It is ok to admit it. I am not JUDGING you... truth be told, I fail to give too.

In a discussion I had recently with a non-profit CEO (one of the good ones), the comment was made that often people are AFRAID to give their time, money, etc because they feel they cannot give ENOUGH. Hmmm... interesting. I asked why that was the case. The response I received was, "Often people feel that unless they can give a large financial donation or spend a great deal of time at the facility, then they are not making a difference."

How do we define DIFFERENCE? What is ENOUGH? Why do we feel as though we have to JUSTIFY what we do and give? And how does that RELATE to our personal/professional life?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Here is the lesson that I have learned from fund raising... you don't have to be PERFECT, you just have to be GOOD ENOUGH. With good enough being defined as "YOUR best efforts."

Seriously, consider your GROWTH personally and professionally - are you the "BEST anything" at work? Likely ONE thing - sales, accounting, management, solitaire. If you are the BEST at TWO - you need to find someone to do the lesser of your skills. Everyone has STRONG skill - likely not the BEST in the world - just better than everyone around them. That's good enough!

Was Michael Jordan the BEST basketball player ever? Many would argue, YES. Yet, would he be able to consistently beat Shaq playing center for the Bulls? Likely NOT. But he could beat him ENOUGH...

The MARGIN between PERFECT and GOOD is huge. The margin between GOOD and BETTER is short... and can be measured in your effort to be BETTER.

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 - Focus on Effective

"Focus on the one action that can make the greatest effect on success. That is your only, 'Best Choice.'"
- Zach Barker, author of the Morning Motivator (ha ha)

In the book I am finishing by Marshall Goldsmith, an interesting COMPARISON is made between golf and success. The idea surrounds PRACTICE of the "short game." Here is a paraphrase of the passage...

"It is common wisdom that 70% of all (golf) shots take place within 100 yards of the pin... Focus on fixing your short game; it represents at least 70% of your score. Yet if you go to a golf course you'll see very few people practicing their short game. They're all at the driving range trying to hit their oversized drivers as far as they can."

Amazingly, as a golfer, I know you can ONLY hit driver 12-14 times maximum per round, whereas you will putt or chip 40-50 times. So why would someone seeking to be a BETTER player, try to kill 350 yard drives? Are you a DRIVER or PUTTER at work?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
What is the MOST effective action you can take at work to successfully accomplish your job?

Are you taking that action DAILY? If no, start immediately!!

With a clear UNDERSTANDING of what you need to do to be successful, a daily COMMITMENT to complete execution and a MONITORING system in place to demonstrate the results of your actions... Your SUCCESS is a foregone conclusion.

Take best actions, execute consistently... REAP THE REWARDS!!

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 – The Power of Your Dreams

"Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other."
-Brian Tracy

We have all heard of the power of POSITIVE thinking. The idea that if you focus on one centralized thought … it WILL come to you as a result. Some know it as "The Secret."

I am a VERY optimistic person, seemingly always looking for the best in an OPPORTUNITY. This weekend I had a very good friend ask me why I felt he failed to achieve a goal he sought after. I gave him my thoughts. HOWEVER… I do NOT feel that he FAILED. What he is failing to do is see the IMPROVEMENT and ENHANCEMENT in his skills, actions and decision making. What he is also failing to do is focus on what he REALLY wanted. I don't feel he was CLEAR about his goal.

For me, I am LASER FOCUSED on just a few things these days. I am not the Zach of old that had a million ideas and zero execution. I know am focused in on a LIMITED number of objectives – attaining $30,000 n recurring monthly revenue for my company, finalizing grad school options, transitioning the Junior Chamber for success and making sure my girlfriend knows she is loved. These are my TOP focuses and I am near OBSESSED with ensuring these things are achieved…

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Here is what has happened thus far, since gaining my new obsessions:

1. I expect to have $10,000 in recurring revenue for Advanced Network Solutions by the end of May (good start)

2. I have been presented with a fellowship opportunity that could pay for my grad school at Vanderbilt if attained (great opportunity)

3. The Junior Chamber has enjoyed its most successful fundraiser and is well ahead of schedule for transitioning (the best news possible)

Are these COINCIDENCES? You may think so (and so may I), however, I KNOW that it is my continued thought, dedication, focus and obsession with seeing these DREAMS realized that is driving me towards these end goals. Will I be SUCCESSFUL? Maybe, Maybe not. Does it matter?

The JOY of life isn't what we have accomplished, rather what we risked and experienced to get to the end. DREAM BIG – You might just get EXACTLY what you want!!

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.