Morning Motivator – Obscurity or Popularity?

"Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever."
-  Napoleon Bonaparte

My good friend and business partner, Philip Steen, made a profound quote to me the other day as I discussed my IMPATIENCE with the rapid speed at which our business is growing.  He said, "I think your biggest problem is, as much as you think people know... they don't."  OUCH!

At first, I was a little taken aback by the comment, then, in quick consideration REALIZED… he is right!  As much as I think I have done a fabulous job of making people aware of our business, its offering and its brand, the REALITY is, I have likely only communicated it properly to 5% of the viable population.  I realized I might be much more OBSCURE than I believe…

What must we do to GENERATE a positive popularity about our self, our business and/or our brand?  How do we get people not only aware of who we are, but also what we do and HOW we do it?  How do we convert our message from NOISE to VALUE?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Initially, I think we must ask the question of whether we want to be GENERALLY popular or LOYALLY popular.  What is the difference?  One has MANY "fans" that engage you somewhat… the other has FEWER "fans" but they are FIERCELY loyal!

Of course, FIERCE sounds much better, but is it?  Does it suit your business?  What if you are a Realtor and your client, that may only buy four houses in a lifetime, is FIERCELY loyal?  Seems being more GENERALLY popular would be the gift here.

What is the answer?  Who KNOWS?!  The idea is that be aware that you are BATTLING obscurity and the METHODOLOGY for overcoming this will be defined by the type of POPULARITY you are seeking. 

We are all OBSCURE in a sense.  So how do you gain YOUR popularity… and in what sense?

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 is Your Angle?

"If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own."
- Henry Ford

Someone recently noted her amazement that I ALWAYS seem to be "working an angle."I must admit, I was AMAZED that they were not.

When you got up for work today and picked out your clothes… what was your angle?  What were you trying to PROJECT or ACHIEVE in your attire?  An air of distinguished confidence, the need to feel comfort in the workplace or maybe just NOT to offend anyone (hello accountants!)?

Everyone, all the time, always has an angle.  People are ALWAYS working for something.  There is a reason you are friends with people, why you do or do not email someone, why you hold out on making a decision about dinner for 15 minutes.  You are WEIGHING your options to determine what one BEST SERVES your needs.  Admit it… we are all self-centered, self-indulgent, self- serving people. 

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
The MASTERING of "working angles" comes from one's ability to continually engage people in a manner that allows them to serve in part of the solution while fulfilling their personal needs as well.  If you can solve your problem by solving someone else's problem, then what is the issue?!

Seeking MUTUAL benefit in your "angle" is what will catalyze one's ability to achieve more rapidly than others will.  For those that believe it is in poor taste or "salesy" to ask people to ask people for help or assume they will be a part of your goals, well, good luck to ya!  You have a long, hard road ahead…

For those that RECOGNIZE that people are what drive your success, they will find ways to be INCLUSIVE of others in their goals, solving challenges and rewarding or reciprocating along the way.

So, what is my angle with the Morning Motivator?  To make you more aware of what others are doing so when we become community leaders, we do not have people that think in silos.

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 – Become Underwhelmed

"Sound character provides the power with which a person may ride the emergencies of life instead of being overwhelmed by them. Failure is... the highway to success."
-  Og Mandino

What happens when you have TOO MUCH work and TOO LITTLE time? 

The intense feeling of being OVERWHELMED "kicks in."  That feeling of anxiety coupled with the pressure of timelines and tasks that are more for your system than can be efficiently managed.

What if you changed your PERSPECTIVE on the way you managed your stress?  What if you sought out the need to be "UNDERWHELMED" as opposed to managing at a standard capacity – your comfort zone?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Changing the way you think can also change the way you work.  If you work in a manner that is TARGETED towards increasing down time and eliminating "rush work," you will find yourself in a state of underwhelming execution. 

Does that sound BORING?  Maybe.  Does it sound LIBERATING?  Absolutely!

When you eliminate all the crap from your day and get your basic operations to a point of simplistic execution, you allow yourself the FREEDOMS to explore creative opportunity, social engagements and deepen relationships.

What would you rather do… be overwhelmed by work or exploring new ways to do more, better, faster?!

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, Just Act Dumb

"Just because you are smart, does not mean you cannot act stupid."
- Christopher Lloyd

Why do the SMARTEST people always seem to get the BEST answers out of people?  They know how to act dumb…

Being dumb and acting dumb are two VERY different things.  One if genetic, passed on to you by your parents.  One is learned and mastered by the BEST professionals.

What is the one of the best ways to act dumb?  ASK MANY QUESTIONS.  Ask questions in a manner that forces others to go into vast detail about their operations, systems and expectations.  Ask them in a way that INFLATES their ego and allows them the opportunity to demonstrate their superior intelligence or execution.

Just keep asking…

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
The key to getting and gaining more information than you give is learning the IDEAL manners in which to ask questions. 

To understand how to do so, look to experts that have mastered it as well - Donald Trump, Tony Robbins, or even Barack Obama.  All have mastered the ART of seeming clueless about a subject in order to extricate the ideal amount of information for the purposes that they deem PRIORITY.

Try it today!  Ask a dumb question of a smart person.  Then ask another.  Admit that you do not know much and that you appreciate their "expertise," and then, watch the flood gates OPEN WIDE!

Enjoy it…dummy!

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.