Success is pretty easy.

Be the one!

Be the one:

• who picks up the trash
• who starts the company blog
• who organizes the team
• calls the CEO of your top prospect company
• who starts a non-profit helping somebody in need
• who identifies an under served market
• who polishes their public speaking at Toastmasters
• who takes additional writing classes
• who hires a personal coach to guide their career
• who updates their resume quarterly and is ready when opportunity knocks
• who studies for additional industry certifications
• who seeks a mentor for career guidance
• who creates a personal board of directors to hold them accountable
• who mentors others giving back the experience others have bestowed you
• who does the job nobody else wants
• who stays late when the job requires
• who starts early to ensure the quality of their work
• who does what others won’t, put off, forget or are afraid to do

“Be the One” when opportunity knocks who answers the door.

We should find somebody to organize the warehouse.

We should find somebody to update our marketing materials.

We should find somebody to speak at our next fundraiser.

We should find somebody to head up that committee.

We should find somebody to streamline our processes.

We should find somebody who can organize our files.

We should find somebody to get our blog off the ground.

We should find someone to manage our training.

Is there somebody in your pocket? When you say “We Should” who exactly is included in your “We”?

“We” is the trap.

“We” is the belief that somebody else will do it.”

“We” never happens. The truth is there is no “We” without an “I” first.

I will get a team of managers together to organize the warehouse.

I will work with the ad agency to update our marketing materials.

I will call the founder of “insert company” to speak at our annual fundraiser.

I will form a committee.

I will hire a process management consultant.

I will manage the overhaul of our filing system.

I will learn about blogging platforms.

I will organize a monthly training session.

“We” sounds great on paper.  The more the merrier so to speak but the truth is your boss, your leader, your friends, your members, your co-workers are looking for you to take the reigns.

Next time you say “We” stop yourself and feel the power of “I.”

I will change my world, I will change the world.

I bet you will start you next big project when you get the right experience.

I bet you will embark on you next big dream when the timing is right.

I bet you will start your blog when you have enough time.

I bet you will start playing guitar when you get hired by a band.

I bet you will write that resume after you get that new job.

I bet you will make that phone call when you get the courage.

I bet you will have another excuse tommorow.

I bet you didn’t know that Less Than Perfect always is the first step.

I bet you didn’t know that Less Than Perfect gives you the space to learn and grow.

I bet you think this post is kind of lame, but I don’t care.

I am Less Than Perfect but I am living my dreams every day.

Perfect is the booby prize!

Less Than Perfect, I am living my dreams.

Did I mention I want to be a best selling author, that is why I am learning to write on this blog.

When are you going to get started living your dreams?

Is Perfection going to get in the way?

How can I help you get started?

The attached ticket grants the holder Permission to Fail in 09!

Facsimiles, Copies, Torn, Wet and/or Counterfeit Versions of this ticket are acceptable for entrance into this Down Economy.  Watch CNN & FoxNews for tour updates.  This tour WILL be coming to your town.

It’s inevitable The Down Economy, The Recession and The Great Depression Revisited are coming to a town near you in 2009.  You have no options except to fail.  That is why 2009 is a great year to get started living your dreams.

Are you following me.  Since you are going to fail at everything else.  Everything is bleak.  The sun will never rise, you no longer need to worry about the risk of failure.  It is inevitable.  It is for sure. So, if you are doomed to fail and so is everybody else,  why not take a chance on living your dreams in 09.

It is a bit counter-intuitive but 2009 could be your best year ever to start living your dreams.  Here are 9 reasons 2009 might be the year for you.

1. Stocks are cheap.  Buy Low and Sell High. Warren Buffet is doing it.
2. Housing Bubble has busted.  Once Again Buy Low and Sell High.
3. Others have given up.  You might be surprised there are businesses that are thriving.
4. If you fail you can blame it on the economy.
5. Businesses are reassessing contracts in an effort to save money.  This is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door.
6. A great time to scale down, get out of the rat race, reassess your lifestyle.  Even the “Joneses” are scaling back.
7. The world was supposed to end in 2000 so you have been granted at very least an extension.  Get moving.  Maybe it’s a 9 lives type of thing and 2009 really is the end of the world.
8. If you take the numbers 2009 and add them together you get eleven its a great Blackjack hand.  The experts, recommend that you “Double Down” on eleven.
9. George Bush’s last day on the job is January 20th.

Check back early next year for the “Pleasantly Surprised by your Success Tour. “

What can you learn from a Pumpkin?

Last week I was out picking up lunch for my wife and I passed a “farmers market” selling pumpkins.  Alright, I admit it was not much of a “farmers market” it was the strip mall’s parking lot.  But a real farmer had a trailer load of some great looking pumpkins.

50 cents a pound was a little steep but these were “round hard walled pumpkins.”  So the farmer says.

I went ahead and purchased two pumpkins.  One was to take home to my wife and one was to take to the office.

The one for my wife was more a symbol of my love, the night I proposed to my wife Sweetest Day 2002, we celebrated over a pumpkin pie.  I also thought it would make a great prop for a  picture next to my pregnant wife. (Luckily she agreed.)

The second pumpkin for the office was for social reasons.  That’s right.  Social reasons!

I really do love attention and I like to socialize so I knew a pumpkin was going to be a perfect decoration to place at the door to my office.

When I returned from lunch I carried the pumpkin to my office.  On the way a few co-workers asked why I was carrying a pumpkin.  I thought that was a silly question being it is was early October and surely a pumpkin would be appropriate in October.  I simply replied, “For the fun of it!”

After getting to my office I realized that putting the pumpkin on the floor outside my office would not be enough.  I needed a pedestal.  I took a walk to the warehouse and found a stool to place my pumpkin.

It was a busy week and I went back to work.  Over the next hour about 10 co-workers stopped by to comment on the pumpkin.  They would peak in and say nice pumpkin or make some general reference to the pumpkin, but one co-worker stopped and asked, “what is this?”  I thought that was kind of a silly question.  I said “It’s a pumpkin.”  She started to laugh.

I could not see the pumpkin from my desk and she said, “Oh you haven’t seen the pumpkin lately.”

She then waived for me to come out.  The Pumpkin had been dressed up.  I mind you this pumpkin had only been in the office for about an hour.

Here is the pumpkin that resides outside of my office.

Now these are just a few examples of how a pumpkin can make a difference in the world.  I have created a list of what you can learn from a pumpkin.

What you can learn from a pumpkin:

1. Pumpkins are social.  Put one outside your door and it’s and invitation to converse and interact.
2. Pumpkins are versatile.  Pumpkins make great pies, decorations, door stops and conversation pieces
3. Pumpkins are collaborative.  You can’t help but want to add to somebodies pumpkin.

Next time your are working on a blog post or marketing piece ask yourself.

• How is this post like a pumpkin?
• Does my post make me more approachable?
• Does my post provide value?
• Does my post attract collaboration?

Be a Pumpkin and rule the world.

Besides 1 Million and a Google you just can’t beat the number One Hundred. Did I forget about Ten.  Ten is alright but it doesn’t have any where near the number of nicknames as 100.

AKA a Hondo, a Benjamin, Century, 10 Squared and C for my Roman subscribers.  However you say it 100 is cool.  In fact 100 is so cool people are intimidated by it.  Just shy of 100, 99 over the years has given 100 a run for its money but I must say 100 always comes out on top.  If you dare to argue.  Its simple math.

Some famous 100 Brands:

• Billboard Top 100 Hits
• Fortune 100
• Audi 100
• 100% (110% gives 100 a run for its money)

I am not sure why 100 is so special, all I know is it’s a universal starting point.

I started my blog in late may.  My goal was to post 3 to 4 times a week.  For the most part I have been on target for this goal.  Now that I have 51 posts under my belt, I feel pretty confident I am sticking with this blogging thing.  I now have a goal of reaching 100 blog posts by 2009.

On my way to 100 here is what I have learned:

• Blogging is not easy
• I could have easily quit at 10 and nobody would have known the difference (except me)
• What I find interesting does not always translate into an interesting post as a novice writer
• People are really freaked out by Grammar mistakes (Can I get an editor?)
• Patience is a virtue.  Write multiple posts and save one for a rainy day.
• A budding blogging habit does not mix well with well with a day job.
• A pregnant wife needs more attention than an email subscription to my blog feed
• When I get to 100 I will be 99 posts better than when I started.

100 is a great number,  before I get to my goal of being a best selling author, a keynote speaker to thousands and  surpass 3000 blog subscribers I can find great joy smelling the roses at the Special number 100.

Momentum Monday Assignment.

Create a 100 Goal.  Everybody is doing it!

Long before I was introduced to the “Laws of Attraction” or Oprah outed “The Secret.”  I was introduced to a concept called visualization.  Visualization generally associated with meditation and is a technique for getting in touch with your goals and desires.

After getting into a meditative state, you visualize in your mind your goal.  The more clearly you can visualize your goal, the greater your chance for success.

In 1993 I was in the United States Marine Corps.  I was a Lance Corporal and was very motivated.  Promotions were slow in my field so my only chance for advancement to Corporal was via Meritorious promotion.  My company has over 200 Lance Corporals and only one Meritorious promotion available each quarter.  I requested a nomination from my supervisor and started to prepare for the competition.

The competition involved performing before a board of senior Marines who would judge each candidate based on their past and current achievements, physical fitness scores, Marine Corps Leadership knowledge and the ability to lead Marines in Drill.

I prepared for the competition with study and practice but I had an ace in the hole.

I had already purchased my Corporal Chevrons and placed them on my desk when I decided to compete in the Meritorious promotion competition.  This actually drew some criticisms from colleagues.  They felt I was naive to think I would get Meritoriously promoted in my first competition.  I told them I just wanted to be prepared.  I secretely knew it was an extension of my visualization techniques I discussed earlier. Actually it would be more appropriate to call it a trigger.

Everyday when I came to work I had to look those Corporal Chevrons in the eye.  Seeing the Chevrons everyday were a trigger to study, practice and believe.

I went on win the competition.  I was Meritoriously promoted on my first try.

What kinds of symbols and triggers do you have in place?

Give it a try, you might be surprised at your results.

FYI, I added a Speaking section to my blog.  I aspire to be a keynote speaker.  I figured I would just go ahead and buy the Chevrons so to “Speak!”

Thinking tommorow will be a better day to get started.

Last week Mark Hayward over at My Tropical Escape posed the question “What are your goals for the week?”

I listed 3 goals:

1. Create a Fitness Plan
2. Work on a Birthing Plan with my Pregnant Wife
3. Clean the basement

A simple but powerful exercise.  I publically posted my goals on his website.  What was interesting is over the last week I noticed I was naturally drawn to action on these goals.  In fact on Thursday I ran on the treadmill in the basement and proceeded dripping in sweat to clean the basement.

I have been studying personal development for nearly 20 years and this simple blog post might incorporate two of the most powerful factors for success.

The first is writing down your goals.  I did not write these goals on paper but yes I created a concrete list.  By having a list of goals you now actually have a tool to prioritize your activities for the week.  Should I attend join the Cincy Tweetup or clean the basement.  Should I take a nap or should I lace up my running shoes.

The second is accountability or peer pressure.  I love to publicly proclaim my goals.  Sometimes it comes off cocky but somebody generally asks me about my progress.  I now have an option.  I can be a person who keeps my word or I can be a person who becomes known as all talk or (blog).

I must admit, occasionally I don’t deliver on all my proclamations but more often than not I follow through with my goals.

Your Momentum Monday Assignment:

What are 3 things you need to accomplish this week?

Who are you going to announce it too?

My 3 Goals for the Week!

1. Get company internal blog online and operational.
2. Run 12 Miles.
3. Finish painting the baby’s room.

Blog it, write it, tell a friend.  Success is waiting.

I'm A'Scared!

“Are you “A’scared?”

This is one of my favorite taunts and lessons from one of my bosses.

He usually presents it to me when I find myself all worked up making a mountain out of mole hill.  It usually revolves around things I have no control over and will run its course in due time but yes “Damn It” I am “A’scared.”

• I am scared of failing
• I am scared of confrontation
• I am scared of hurting somebodies feelings
• I am scared I don’t have what it takes
• I am scared I am not interesting
• I am scared I won’t ever be a huge success
• I am scared of a bunch of things

When you were a kid were you:

• Scared of the Dark
• Scared of Adults
• Scared of Heights
• Scared of Girls/Boys
• Scared of Big Dogs
• Scared of Spiders
• Scared of Riding the Bus

As an adult have you overcome most of these fears?

As a kid how did you overcome these fears?  Did an adult show you the truth?  Did repetition create comfort?  Did you face your fears head on and learn most of them are made up in your head?

What I am learning about myself and others is we often stall out in life because we are scared or as my boss taunts me “A’scared.”

What I love about the word “A’scared” is it’s so childish that it’s silly. Next time you feel a little stuck in life, ask yourself am I just “A-scared?”

You might find yourself feeling silly and moving on with your life.