Expert in the Rough, Brian Monahan

10 People stopped by my website yesterday.  I am not sure who they are.  I do know they were on Drew Rozell’s website first, thanks to my Google Analytics, which gathers way too much information.  I average around 15 visits to my website a day so this was an unusual circumstance.

When I saw this my heart pitter-pattered a bit.  Maybe Drew, my former personal coach and somebody I look up to, may have mentioned me on his website. Yes I am the eternal narcissist, so I checked my feed reader and read Drew’s latest post. It had very little to do with me and it was a sad take on the loss of his cat.  Drew is a great story teller and he also is a great writer on the Laws of Attraction.  He weaved a nice (heartfelt) article about the loss of his cat with his lessons from his life and the Laws of Attraction.

He shared a link to my website mentioning I had introduced him to Abraham-Hicks one of the most popular authorities on the Laws of Attraction.  I had no idea I was the one who referred Drew to Abraham-Hicks.  I am honored since Drew has become one of the best writers on the Laws of Attraction.  I do remember sharing LoA resources when I was working with him as a coach but never imagined I was the one to give him this referral.

Drew here is a convoluted account of how you found Abraham Hicks and why 3 babies are being born this year.

Thanks to Paul C. for sharing Abraham Hicks with me.  Drew Rozell has greatly benefited from it.

Thanks to my step mom Nancy for marrying my Dad.

Thanks to Phil H. my step grandfather.  He introduced my family to Life Success Seminars where I met Paul C.

Thanks to Bob Evans Restaurants.  Bob Evans hired my good friend Clinton C.  He moved to Cincinnati for the job.

Thanks to Cincinnati for leading Clinton C. to Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance.

Thanks to Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance for causing Clinton C. to hire Paul C. as a sales coach.

Thanks to Paul C. introducing Clinton C. to Life Success Seminars which introduced Clinton to me.

Thanks to me for introducing Clinton C. to my high school friend Jeff O.

Thanks to Clinton C. for helping Jeff O. get a job at Morgan Stanley.

Thanks to Morgan Stanley for introducing Jeff O and Lora S.

Thanks to me for inspiring Clinton to move San Diego (i decided not to go.)

Thanks to Jeff O. for introducing his friend Ryan W to Clinton C.

Thanks to Clinton C. for introducing his roomate Camille to Ryan W.

Thanks to Jen K for introducing me to Drew R.

Thanks to Life Success Seminars for introducing me to Jen K.

Thanks to Life Success Seminars and Jen K. for introducing me to Megan H.

All right enough ot the thank you’s but I do want to share that you just never know how you might change the world.

Some big results from this crazy chain.

Drew Rozell very successful writer and coach on the Laws of Attraction.

Ryan and Camille are married and just had a baby.

Jeff and Lora are married and just had a baby.

Brian (me) and Megan are due to have a baby any day now.

So I am not sure what the point of this post is but a few innocent moments in life have some interesting results.

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.

5 Ways to Make Friday Great

1. Donuts, Bagels, Cookies and or Coffee.  Buy a dozen for your clients…better yet your coworkers.
2. Give out 5 compliments by noon.
3. Smile at 3 people by 10am
4. Drive slow and let people merge in traffic
5. Give 10 hugs by 2pm

This post is also compatible with Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Seth Godin, covers a topic my “Dear Old Dad” has been covering for years.  The difference between “Get to!” and “Have to.”

Seth’s take is the classic shift of attitude,  seeing the task as an opportunity versus a drudgery.

My father Mike Monahan of Life Success Seminars, also teaches in his seminar about “Get to” versus “Have to.”

He shares a story of his two sons, Brian and Brad who are ten years apart.  Brian was given a much different perspective on taking out the garbage from a younger less wise father.  You see taking out the garbage was a chore and was something to dread.  Every night after dinner my father would ask if I had taken out the garbage and I would moan and groan as my Atari game was interrupted abruptly by a trip to the side yard.  I, “Had to take out the garbage.”

During the next ten years my father grew a little wiser and he employed a bit of a “Jedi Mind Trick” with my brother.  He positioned taking out the garbage as a privilege.  He would tell my brother.  “Hey Brad, get out the way,  I get to take out the garbage!”  Brad would jokingly reply, “No get out of my way, I am taking out the garbage!”  In the end they both ended up taking out the garbage and smiling about it.

Next time you take out the garbage give it a try, “I Get To Take Out The Garbage!”

You might “Get” a different experience.

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!”

My favorite desert is Pumpkin Pie.  After a very challenging week, I was happy to see Frisch’s Big Boy a Cincinnati, OH restaurant chain was again offering their seasonal award winning desert.

As I indulged in this Cincinnati delicacy I was thinking maybe it was time to reward you for your hard work.

I have been publishing Momentum Monday’s for nearly 3 months and it’s time for you to stop and smell the pumpkins.

This week is about celebrating.  Reward yourself with a favorite desert.  You deserve it.

Newsflash, I have a day job and it has nothing to do with blogging!  I work in the audio visual productions industry.  I produce corporate sales meetings, conventions and special events.  The industry is 1 part tech, 1 part hospitality and 1 part logistics.  The 3 parts often are challenging to combine on any given day.

This week, I had the equivalent of nearly a years worth of business in the past for me. The company produced its largest event ever last week and propelled into one of my events this week the companies second largest event ever.

Needless to say things have been a little hairy.   I had a truck full of equipment denied entry into Canada as well as the drivers.  I had shipments arrive at my dock in Cincinnati which should have been on a dock in Las Vegas.  I had a meeting completely scrap their agenda 24 hours prior to meeting load in and start over.  I had a custom set piece arrive damaged as a cherry on top at 5pm yesterday.

Being an over-achiever, I have surpassed the bad things come in threes theory.

But in the end its all going to work out.

Because surprise, I am on “Candid Camera.” You remember the game show which puts people in challenging  but silly situations and sees how they respond.  After putting the unsuspecting person through the ringer, the host Allen Funt, comes out and lets the cat out the bag, letting people know it’s all a practical joke, pointing out the hidden cameras all around.

This week was a great lesson for me.  If you take the time to consider life as one big practical joke it’s easier to just move on.  Next time you feel like its all falling apart, stop and say to yourself.  Smile, You’re on Candid Camera.

I admit I am a bit of an “Idea Junky” in fact some have dubbed me the “IdeaManiac.”  My bad habit is buying notebooks.  I am addicted to capturing my ideas.

Recently I came up with an idea.  Imagine that!

Tag or categorize my ideas.  I now have different notebooks for different inspirations.  My biggest idea generator is running, however, I am inspired by just about anything.  I have this huge fear I am going to miss an idea.  Since I have so many ideas and interests I thought it would be cool to track my ideas by the inspiration factor.  I could see if the ideas generated when I was running or just before going to bed or after reading a book, whatever, the category generated different results.  I want to know which inspiration factor leads to the best results.

Here are 3 ideas for categorizing your ideas:

1. Buy 5 Notebooks and Label them with a Sharpie by category.
2. Use Google Docs and add category names to your idea lists.  You can now search by keyword.
3. Create 5 Word Documents on your computer by category.

After a few months or years of documenting your ideas by category or keyword tags you will now have some data to prioritize your ideas.

Note: If you have more than 25 notebooks for tracking your ideas, you might be an IdeaManiac.

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.

Kajagoogoo the Nostradamus of musical acts made a bold prediction in 1983 with their hit song “Too Shy.”

When it comes to Social Media, I am “Too Shy.”

Social Media has been a buzzword around the blogosphere.  Oops that is too many buzzwords in one sentence but if you were wondering Social Media is basically people talking to each other via electronic media.  This includes blogs, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to name some popular platforms.  It’s a loose definition but chances are you are engaged in some form of Social Media.

What I have found interesting is when I engage in new Social Media arenas I often find myself experiencing many of the same anxieties I face when in person.

On Twitter a micro blogging website which allows you to follow people and their short insights or daily interactions often feels to me, much like a loud cocktail party.  People are sharing their opinions left and right with nonsense about their daily challenges or links to blog that they read but I am a little shy.  Do I reply to people direct or share a link.  Do the people posting actually want to talk to me.  Will they reject me.

When I go to a high profile bloggers website and read a post and comment will they check out my blog and judge me since I am just getting started.  Maybe I need a professionally designed header.  Maybe he will notice I am using a free Wordpress Theme.  I am just a hack.  I couldn’t even afford to pay for my template.

I just Dugg one of my own blog posts.  I bet people will think I am narcissistic.  Am I a bore to be promoting my own blog?

Patty Craft a friend of mine who also blogs recently posted about how she was blasted by a new acquaintance as being “self-centered and grandiose.” I thought that was kind of funny.  I actually had to break it to Patty that maybe that person was right.  I think the idea of even having a personal blog is “self-centered and grandiose,” but so is having an opinion for that matter.  I guess the difference is where or how you share it???

Social Media is no different than the ancient cave drawings that scatter the world.  Social Media is the same feelings you have on the first day of grade school.  Social Media is the jokes on the bathroom stall.  Social Media is just that another media for socializing.

Mark Hayword at My Tropical Escape, shared his thoughts on how to successfully use Social Media this week.

Be Human.

That reminded me I am on the right track.  Since I am feeling shy and anxious when I Twitter and when I go to networking meetings in person….yes I am the same person online and off-line.  By the way I also am having a blast exploring writing as a hobby and a career.  Blogging is my training ground.

Social Media is just the tool.  Just like the phone, a letter or an email.  Be yourself.  Follow your dreams and the rest will follow.

Follow me on Twitter

My Human/Personal Website Coachbriany