"Happy is not a state of being, its an emotion. So now what?"
- Unknown
Are you HAPPY? Seriously, what the HELL does that even mean??
Let us be logical and analyze "HAPPY." It is not a "state of being," rather it is a feeling similar to fear, elation and boredom. It is not something that can be ATTAINED by actions or decisions. It is a FLEETING emotional experiences... so what should you be trying to ACHIEVE??
FULFILLMENT is a much better term to replace that of "happy."
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Find someone that is a recovered drug addict, a former CEO turned nature guide, a young professional that has been appointed to a non-profit board. Would you say any of them are "happy?" Maybe, maybe not.
Take the same recovered drug addict that now COUNSELS others onto the "better path." Would you say they FIND happiness in their work? How about the CEO that has finally fulfilled their child hood dream? Think they miss the HUGE salary and limited hours of personal joy? The young professional that has finally gained RESPECT by achieving their board seat... are they "happy and ready to settle?" Likely not. Yet they are fulfilled by the fact they are making a RESPECTED contribution to their community.
At my college GRADUATION, I was happy. The next day, I began setting my NEXT goals... seeking a new fulfillment. Sure, I am a "happy person," yet I am NOT ready to settle, nor am I happy "enough" to satisfy myself.
Frankly, I don't care if I am happy or not. Give me PURPOSE and FULFILLMENT. I will take my chances that positive emotions will result as a byproduct of that work. What does "happy" mean to you??
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 - Being Effective AND Efficient
"Effective is doing the things that get you closer to your goals. Efficiency is performing a given task (whether important of not) in the most economical manner possible."
- Timothy Ferriss
Yesterday, I mentioned PURPOSE. Defining WHO and WHAT you are (or will become).
As part of ACHIEVING purpose, we must all "walk the path" to get there. We must PLOT our track, step accordingly and WORK to attain our goals in order to fulfill purpose. So, how do we get there??
EFFECTIVE execution of our goals is the action of defining and executing CORRECT steps. EFFICIENCY is doing it in the least effort and time possible. We all want it NOW, but do you want it right...?
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
TIME is an arbitrary measurement, defined by our personal expectations of "believed" results.
When we are very effective and brief in execution (ie efficient) we place LITTLE value on time.
When we STRUGGLE to achieve or are required to "start over" due to missed steps (ie inefficient), we tend to place more "WEIGHT" on the measure of time.
I will conceded that time is LIMITED. However, taking the TIME, no matter how long, to be EFFECTIVE the first time around, is the DEFINITION of efficiency...
It may take me 10 years to become a college professor (which "feels" very long), yet if that's the MINIMUM amount "I" require to attain that goal... then God help me to make sure it doesn't take 11!
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.
- Timothy Ferriss
Yesterday, I mentioned PURPOSE. Defining WHO and WHAT you are (or will become).
As part of ACHIEVING purpose, we must all "walk the path" to get there. We must PLOT our track, step accordingly and WORK to attain our goals in order to fulfill purpose. So, how do we get there??
EFFECTIVE execution of our goals is the action of defining and executing CORRECT steps. EFFICIENCY is doing it in the least effort and time possible. We all want it NOW, but do you want it right...?
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
TIME is an arbitrary measurement, defined by our personal expectations of "believed" results.
When we are very effective and brief in execution (ie efficient) we place LITTLE value on time.
When we STRUGGLE to achieve or are required to "start over" due to missed steps (ie inefficient), we tend to place more "WEIGHT" on the measure of time.
I will conceded that time is LIMITED. However, taking the TIME, no matter how long, to be EFFECTIVE the first time around, is the DEFINITION of efficiency...
It may take me 10 years to become a college professor (which "feels" very long), yet if that's the MINIMUM amount "I" require to attain that goal... then God help me to make sure it doesn't take 11!
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 - Are You Defining Your Purpose?
"One person can make a difference and every person should try."
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy
WHY do you do what you do? Have you ever really stopped to THINK about it? Other than "make money," what is the PURPOSE of your actions?
Currently, I have TWO mid-life crises behind me and hope not to run into anymore for a long time (not bad for 31 years old). What happened along the way? For me, I was fortunate to find early FINANCIAL success and found it to be fruitless. I was also blessed to find SOCIAL success, while still not understanding WHAT I was supposed "to do" with it...
Personally, I am not CONVINCED that our purpose is to "own powerful businesses, save the children, or help people make money." I am CONFIDENT that we are all supposed to be doing something much bigger, much more PURPOSEFUL... and still I don't know what that is.
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
The human EGO is very good at "rationalizing" our actions by placing a value of worth on the results. Hence, beliefs of since I make a bunch of money "I am making a DIFFERENCE" or because I work for a non-profit "I am a social CHANGE MAKER." And still we ask WHY? What is the PURPOSE??
All these rationalizations and actions are INWARD focused, a self validation of our actions. We are not CONCERNED with the betterment of others (think about how you treat people that are trying to teach you about new services).
Are we truly focused on the IMPACT of our work? Or it is truly a spinning wheel with the occasional PURE ENJOYMENT of an exploratory trip, or a book in the park on a warm Saturday?
If you HAD to CHANGE the world... what would you do? THIS may be the most IMPORTANT of all questions you ask 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.
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy
WHY do you do what you do? Have you ever really stopped to THINK about it? Other than "make money," what is the PURPOSE of your actions?
Currently, I have TWO mid-life crises behind me and hope not to run into anymore for a long time (not bad for 31 years old). What happened along the way? For me, I was fortunate to find early FINANCIAL success and found it to be fruitless. I was also blessed to find SOCIAL success, while still not understanding WHAT I was supposed "to do" with it...
Personally, I am not CONVINCED that our purpose is to "own powerful businesses, save the children, or help people make money." I am CONFIDENT that we are all supposed to be doing something much bigger, much more PURPOSEFUL... and still I don't know what that is.
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
The human EGO is very good at "rationalizing" our actions by placing a value of worth on the results. Hence, beliefs of since I make a bunch of money "I am making a DIFFERENCE" or because I work for a non-profit "I am a social CHANGE MAKER." And still we ask WHY? What is the PURPOSE??
All these rationalizations and actions are INWARD focused, a self validation of our actions. We are not CONCERNED with the betterment of others (think about how you treat people that are trying to teach you about new services).
Are we truly focused on the IMPACT of our work? Or it is truly a spinning wheel with the occasional PURE ENJOYMENT of an exploratory trip, or a book in the park on a warm Saturday?
If you HAD to CHANGE the world... what would you do? THIS may be the most IMPORTANT of all questions you ask 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.
Morning Motivator – Seeing the Unexpected
"A first-rate organizer is never in a hurry. He is never late. He always keeps up his sleeve a margin for the unexpected."
- Arnold Bennett
I have always heard that no matter how well you PLAN, you will never plan well enough. This seems to hold TRUE in near all capacities that I have experienced. From business to personal, fun to finances, you are always playing some type of "CATCH UP." What can YOU do to foresee the unexpected?
EXPERIENCE proves to be one of the best ways to overcome short sighted planning in any project. You may be LIMITED in experience because of age, exposure, education or understanding, but that doesn't mean you are LACKING in your ability to LEVERAGE experience.
As with any great project manager, you MUST know who your "go to" people are. You BUILD your team of experts that possess a shared belief in your vision and goals. By serving as the COORDINATING factor within the team, you are able to allow others to UTILIZE their best skill sets and thus produce optimal results with limited "surprises."
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Occasionally, you will STILL be presented with unexpected… don't sweat it!
Like most things in life, the REALITY of what the situation "is" and what you "feel it to be" is as wide a chasm. Don't get SUCKERED into a rash decision based on emotional contexts without taking a moment to BREATHE DEEP, RELAX, ANALYZE, DIGEST and then… ACT!
You will NEVER be able to see everything coming, yet if you BUILD an exceptional team of EXPERTS and provide yourself the BREATHING ROOM to manage the hiccups that do occur; you will be better able to effectively manage all situations and gain advantage.
Many GAINS are made on the irrational mistakes of others made under pressure without focuses… don't let someone gain off YOU!
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.
- Arnold Bennett
I have always heard that no matter how well you PLAN, you will never plan well enough. This seems to hold TRUE in near all capacities that I have experienced. From business to personal, fun to finances, you are always playing some type of "CATCH UP." What can YOU do to foresee the unexpected?
EXPERIENCE proves to be one of the best ways to overcome short sighted planning in any project. You may be LIMITED in experience because of age, exposure, education or understanding, but that doesn't mean you are LACKING in your ability to LEVERAGE experience.
As with any great project manager, you MUST know who your "go to" people are. You BUILD your team of experts that possess a shared belief in your vision and goals. By serving as the COORDINATING factor within the team, you are able to allow others to UTILIZE their best skill sets and thus produce optimal results with limited "surprises."
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Occasionally, you will STILL be presented with unexpected… don't sweat it!
Like most things in life, the REALITY of what the situation "is" and what you "feel it to be" is as wide a chasm. Don't get SUCKERED into a rash decision based on emotional contexts without taking a moment to BREATHE DEEP, RELAX, ANALYZE, DIGEST and then… ACT!
You will NEVER be able to see everything coming, yet if you BUILD an exceptional team of EXPERTS and provide yourself the BREATHING ROOM to manage the hiccups that do occur; you will be better able to effectively manage all situations and gain advantage.
Many GAINS are made on the irrational mistakes of others made under pressure without focuses… don't let someone gain off YOU!
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 MUDBUG Lesson
"Get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats."
- Jim Collins
- Jim Collins
A good business lesson can be DERIVED from just about anything... if you are looking for it. A REALLY good one finally slapped me in the face this weekend as I was playing flag football.
The team I play on, "The Fighting Mudbugs," is a co-ed flag football team within the Nashville Sports Leagues. We have played together for 2 years now and have always been "above MEDIOCRE," and knew we could complete more effectively. We have had GREAT players on our team, we have had GOOD players and we have many ROLE players. What we FINALLY have found... is the right mix.
Just as Mr. Collins alludes to in the quote above, having the "right people" on the bus makes ALL the difference. This concept is NOT suggesting that you must have an ALL STAR team of superstars. It also isn't suggesting that you can just get the RIGHT people and put them in whatever places you have available (known as a "forced solution). What IS suggested is finding the people most APPROPRIATE for the role they are being asked to do... and doing it well.
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
I conceded that the "Fighting Mudbugs" may still not be the best team in our league, nor the most talented. We are, however, UNDEFEATED this season as a result of exceptional TEAM play.
As a team, we have checked our EGOS and dedicated ourselves to exceptional execution in our defined roles. We know what we are asked to do, and even though everyone occasionally wants to mix it up, we play disciplined in our ROLES. We have the right players playing in the right places... and it is AMAZING what can be accomplished as a result.
We may still not win the ELUSIVE championship we pursue, yet we may. Regardless, we have found the right SOLUTION and going forward, we know exactly what we need of our players. A GREAT business lesson... and I am CONFIDENT there will be championship in the near future 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.
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