Are you really good at what you do? Why aren't you great?

This week a friend was reading my book and sent me a text.  The text said “I think I am a pretty good real estate agent”.  Which he is.  Given his previous comments he was at the point in the book asking him to determine what he does best.  I sent back a couple of “tests” that I use which didn't make the book.  Being good at something, even really good may not be your path to happiness and healthiness.  When you find your perfect occupation, it will be something you truly love to do, so it is no longer work.

Because I don't really “work” in the traditional sense any more I really don't like to use the word.  I gave up work after finishing my book and taking my own advice.  Yes in the short term income went down as my life adjusted, my stress went down even further so the income cut was well worth it.  I have heard the term “plorking” meaning to play and work at the same time.  Plorking just doesn't roll off the tongue the way my life description should.  Some time ago I went to a seminar featuring Kevin Carrol, the guy that invented those little silicone bracelets.  The very first one said simply “play”.  I don't wear it, it hangs over my watch box with my goal sheet so I am reminded every day.

Multiple Streams of Income from the internet, is it really possible?

The internet is a funny place.  All of us get to say or do whatever we want.  We really don't know who most of the people out there writing all this stuff are.  Do you know me?  You might have been a passenger on an Airliner or Military Jet I flew.  You might have read my book.

Robert Allen, John Chow and others have made a nice living selling information and links on the internet.  Recently I ran across a blogger talking about his "three figure" income.   I couldn't help but laugh.  Does anyone really want to be happy sitting in front of a computer all day for $124 a day?  My painters, my landscaper and my techs all make way more than that.

Success Tip: Communicate, Communicate, Celebrate

When you walk into work in the morning, are you ready?  Do you have a plan?  If not get your goals for the day done right away.  With your goals in hand, does everybody above you and everybody below you know exactly what you plan to do? One of the truths in life is that we cannot do everything ourselves. We must depend on other people to do some of the work. In fact the bigger your life becomes the more you depend on other people to accomplish things for you.  You can teach anybody to do just about anything if you have enough time, patience and money. If you only have two of the three requirements for training someone your chances of success begin to approach zero rapidly.

If you are not a practiced teacher, time and patience may not be on your side. More often than not, it is a shortsighted view of money and the investment in training that prevents us from training other people to do their job to the best of their ability. So many times I hear people say things like "I just have to get them working". or "I have to get them producing, I have too much work to train them." Instead of taking the time to train them to be successful you throw them into the fire headfirst.

Keep your goals in view, don't let your telescope become a kaleidescope

Yesterday I got a phone call from a guy that I have known for 15 years.  For whatever reason our work lives really never came up.  He knew I did something in technology and I knew he did something in business with a shop.  Through a third party he got my name, so he gave me a call.

He called because his business was not doing well and he needed help getting some new customers.  It was difficult at first for him to talk since we had a social relationship already.  After listening to him for over an hour, I could see that he had no focus at all in his business or personal life, he was just running scared.  Listening to him was like picking up a telescope and looking through it to see a kaleidoscope.  All the little bits of color swirling around with very little rhyme, reason or connection.

Success Secret: Figure Out What You Really Do.

Every time I sit down with a business owner they are asking me to bring in more business through the Internet. My first question is always the same, "What kind of business do you want?" This meets with generally puzzled stares, and many times it's followed by the statement "why all of it of course!"

Bankruptcy attorneys tell me that people come to them for one simple reason. They don't know what to do or what they're doing. Because they have no guidance they get in trouble and can't figure out any other way to solve the problem than seeking help from a bankruptcy attorney. Most of the time a business owner is introduced to me it is a similar situation, they are bleeding cash or a very stressed and frustrated and can't figure out why. Their solution is to go get more business. The problem with this solution is very simple, if the business loses money performing its tasks why do you want to get more of those tasks? If business is frustrated by performing those tasks why do you want to get more business to perform more of those tasks?

Finally a Bluetooth headset that works!

One of the key aspects of success is being able to communicate effectively. Bluetooth has always looked like a great idea.  Execution on the other hand has been a little iffy.  A great headset should work with two phones and a computer with ease.  It should be clear and you should be able to walk from your car to a store in a light breeze without blowing out your own eardrums.

In business and life, one of the most difficult things to do is to catch a fleeting thought. Just about every cellular phone today and most laptops have the ability to connect with Bluetooth, and ideally a quick button press and you should be recording or calling someone.  Many cars nowadays have built-in Bluetooth speakerphones, which are a fantastic tool.  You can think of something while you're driving, say "call office" and if nothing else leave yourself a voicemail message so you don't forget what you wanted to do.