Morning Motivator - Are You Inventing Things to do to Avoid the Important?

"We create stress for ourselves because you feel like you have to do it. You HAVE to. I don't feel that anymore."
- Oprah Winfrey

Disclaimer:  Today's Morning Motivator is a republication of one from a few years ago... yet very applicable today.

What is it each day that contributes MOST to your job? Is it balancing the books? Generating new sales opportunities? Establishing the schedule for upcoming events?  And... What do you do FIRST in your day?

Interestingly, most people DREAD the primary function of the trade. Sales people hate cold calls, Accountants hate bookkeeping, HR reps hate review management. More interestingly, we often are in our trade because we are so NATURALLY skilled in it. Yet, we make 1000 reasons a day not to do what needs done first.

Do you want to get to the "next level" professionally? What is holding you back? Why don't you go tackle that task first and get it out of the way?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
The most efficient path to success is directly through your highest value activity. The quickest way to effective accomplishment is by eliminating non-valuable tasks:

- IDENTIFY your primary value added activity (what is the most important thing you do today?)

- FOCUS on the time wasters in your daily function (emails... All emails!, phone calls that lack direction or purpose, meetings that are for reporting - not action)

- ELIMINATE the time wasters as much as possible (most "crisis" are nothing more than over reaction... Don't let the drama slow you down)

- BATCH the low level tasks (call backs, emails, follow up letters) and spend imited, specific time to accomplish

By limiting your access to time wasters, batching your low level tasks and focusing on the most valuable activity - you can expect to free up 2 hours per day (10 hours per week) that you can now use for YOUR personal development! How to leave work early is another Morning Motivator yet to come..

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 – Sometimes it is Tough...

"The only real failure in life is the failure to try."
- Unknown

Someone asked me the other day if writing the Morning Motivator every day is DIFFICULT.  My response was that it is only CHALLENGING 5% of the time.  The few times I do not KNOW what about to write.

The FUNNY thing about a DAILY commitment is that you have to ACCEPT that everyday will not be groundbreaking.  They will not always be EASY or FUN.  This is why the term "daily grind" is so prevalent. 

The TESTAMENT to ones success is their ability to persevere through CHALLENGING lulls.  Your work at the gym is not EXCITING every day, yet if you cease to do it, you WILL gain weight.  Your business needs ATTENTION daily to its clients and finances, otherwise, a small lapse may cause a MAJOR meltdown.

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Sure, sometimes it IS tough to be STRONG and battle through.  Yet, like a great mentor of mine told me, SHOWING up is more than most others do, thus being there is more important than anything else.

If you are "there" and continuing to work through the slow times or tough times, you will find that MOST others have fallen off.  Your reward will be plentiful because you had the RESILIENCE to take the step others would not.

Like I said, it is tough… but your SUCCESS depends on 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 republication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator – Don’t Chase the White Rabbit?

"The older I get, the more I see a straight path where I want to go. If you're going to hunt elephants, don't get off the trail for a rabbit."
- T. Boone Pickens

I must admit, one of my FAVORITE movies is "Alice in Wonderland."  The new version is very cool, but nothing in comparison to the ORIGINAL Disney version.

Interestingly, people use the term "chasing a white rabbit" as an analogy for someone that is MISGUIDED or EASILY DISTRACTED from their primary focus.  I want to CHALLENGE that term…

Consider the movie, once Alice DECIDED she wanted to know more about the white rabbit, she stopped at nothing to ACHIEVE her goal.  She overcame MULTIPLE obstacles, numerous DISTRACTIONS (some of which would do anyone in) and CHALLENGED a feared leader in order to see that she was able to learn about that white rabbit.  Her FOCUS would not be broken…

This would SUGGEST that chasing a "WHITE RABBIT" is actually something more of us should be doing!

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
What is YOUR white rabbit?  What are you CHASING with such laser focus that you would over look a Dodo dancing, a smoking caterpillar and playing cards "painting the roses red?"

Do you find that you are chasing MULTIPLE white rabbits, HOPING that one is slow or dumb enough to get caught??  Is the EASY catch the one worth chasing anyhow?

Find YOUR elusive and worthwhile rabbit.  CHASE it with vigor and determination.  When you FINALLY do catch that rabbit, you will see that "chasing a white rabbit" was a COMPLIMENT, not a jab at your ability to FOCUS!

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 republication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator – The RIGHT Tools for the Job

"A determined soul will do more with a rusty monkey wrench than a loafer will accomplish with all the tools in a machine shop."
- Robert Hughes

I must say THANK YOU to Jeremiah Pyron and Clay Parkes for the INSPIRATION to write this Morning Motivator.  I greatly APPRECIATE your friendship and help.

On Sunday, the handy duo above (along with their trained monkey – me), REPAIRED a fence in my backyard. 

The project was an undertaking of carpentry, earth moving, engineering and creativity.  Overall, we were a SUCCESS in attaining our goal.  Most notably, we discussed how much EASIER the project would have been with "the right tools."

What was a 5-hour project could have SIMPLY become a 1-2 hour project with the addition of a nail gun and a bobcat.  But then again… what project would not be better with the insertion of a nail gun and especially, a bobcat!!

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
In examining your SUCCESS and the ability to attain it, ask yourself, "Am I using the right tools?"

Those tools may be LEVERAGE from your contacts, BUILDING up your contacts, INCREASING your education, ACQUIRING the right tools or OUTSOURCING the work to someone more suited.

As you consider ways to FURTHER your achievements and EXPEDITE the process, you must understand the tools needed, the accompanying skill sets required and then determine WHO should be executing accordingly. 

In addition, remember… most often YOUR TIME is more valuable than the outflow of cash.  Thus, just rent the bobcat!

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 republication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator – Know Your Timeline…

"Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday."
- Proverbs

Friday, I FINALLY had lunch with a good friend, Lindy-Jo Mowery (no she is not southern).  We CAUGHT UP, shared some laughs, some dreams and talked about some silly nuances of business.

We discussed the HUMOR of business people running around rampantly to close business on the last day of the month.  While not unusual to hear of such CHAOS on the last day, the humor was in the fact that anything closed AFTER Wednesday would not count in the measured period anyhow.

How is it possible that people would NOT know when their "last day" of business was?  Why would they STRESS so harshly to close by end of day for a deal that would not help them meet the goal they were seeking?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
First, let me say that EVERY sale should be executed with fervor and speed.  Each opportunity should be MEASURED for efficiency in execution, while ELIMINATING any wasted steps.

With that said… If you are TARGETING  a goal for revenue, time, or otherwise; let me suggest that you UNDERSTAND your cut off dates for achievement. 

Front load your efforts and stress.  Increase your ACTIVITY early in the measuring period, as opposed to scrambling at the end. 

By maintaining DISCIPLINE up front, you will find time is your friend in the end.  You can then watch your associates run around WILD while you bask in the glory of your hard work.  Get it done today – don't wait until August 23rd to start WORKING.

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 republication with proper citations.