Recently, I was sharing a conversation with a co-worker and he mentioned the word courage and encourage in close proximity.  So often when I hear the word encourage I think of lifting someones spirits or creating positive feelings.  Rarely do I think of courage.  Interestingly, my life’s mission to to cultivate passion and inspire courage.  I am thinking I could simplify my mission is “to EnCOURAGE.”

Miriam – Webster Definition of Encourage:

I can’t believe I sit here scared to take “The Risk” to start blogging again.  Seriously, a simple blog post…which I have written hundreds of them but I sit here in fear…Fearful that I better have something profound to share…Fearful that you will judge me for taking “A Risk” and I share another  “Failed” coaching business.  Fearful I will be asking for your attention ”Again” knowing that when I write I get inspired and might decide to take another “Risk.”  Fearful, my blog might come off as more of a “therapy” exercise than something of value for you.

So here is the truth.  It was very easy last year (April 2011) to announce on my blog that I was blazing a bold new trail in my life.  I was starting a business, “a coaching business”… I would be helping others live their dreams and living mine all at the same time.  The “All American Dream” of entrepreneurship.

Fast-forward January 2012 and I was blazing another bold trail in my life but no blog post.  What’s up with that?  Some of it was logistics but most of it was embarrassment.  You see, I had taken a “Big Risk” and started a business but “failed.”  I had given up a great paying job, a stable work environment.  I had ventured into dangerous waters.  I “wasted” a lot of retirement money.  I racked up some credit card debt.   I tried what most won’t and even tried to convince others to do the same.  But I “Failed.”  Who wants to proclaim their failure?  Not me …but I am!

That’s the real nugget in this story.  Most people never ever attempt to live their dreams never take “The Risk” out of the fear they might have to face up to their possible…”imminent failure.”  I hope me sharing my “Failure” might give you the courage to take “The Risk” and know it’s going to work out.

“The Risk” you might have to share your failure…or maybe your success.

That’s the problem with “Risk” it has unknown outcomes.  Interestingly, there is multi-billion dollar business called “Hollywood” that capitalizes on telling stories with “unknown outcomes.”

Which leads me to believe that most of us, secretly want to take “The Risk” but instead have chosen to go to “The Movies” and live vicariously through others “unknown outcomes.”  Interestingly, we like the movies because they often end in a positive way…by result or inspiration.  I believe the same is true with life.  If you take “The Risk” you almost always end up with some positive outcome.

So, you’re thinking “Brian get to the point,” how does your story end.

Here’s the deal.  I took a risk.  That risk didn’t pan out as I had envisioned.  I was hemorrhaging financially and decided to “coach myself.”  I asked myself the questions I asked of my clients.  I listened to my answers.  My answers were to regroup.  Find a job that uses your strengths, supports your family and lifts the financial burden.

So that is what I did I regrouped and I took another “Risk.”  I started to look for another job and amazingly I found one that I don’t think I could have landed without taking “The Original Risk” of starting a coaching business.

So, here is my big announcement.  In January I accepted the position of “Assistant General Manager” with ITA Audio Visual Solutions a Cincinnati based audio visual services company.  We are an in-house audio visual provider for over 30 hotels nationally in world class hotels from Marriott to Renaissance Hotels.

The position utilizes most of my passions and strengths combining my entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, coaching passion and audio visual expertise.  My goal is to eventually take over full management of the company as the owner operators consider the next phase of their life.

What’s even cooler about this story is this position wasn’t even advertised.  I took “The Risk” and applied for a sales position with a competitor of my former employer.  It was very emotional for me to consider “changing teams” but there was not a position available at my former employer at the time.  Unfortunately, despite the position being well paid and in my skill set “the competitors” position required too much travel, so I removed myself from consideration.  This was very scary to do in this job market but I had to honor my instincts.  Crazy, they came back to me with a better opportunity…The Assistant GM Position.  I share this because I think so many of us are risk averse that we limit our opportunities by playing it safe.  Life is one big story of “you can’t get there from here” kind of thing.

So, unlike a movie this story does not end here.  I am kind like “Rocky Balboa” you can expect another sequel to this story.  I am digging in at my new position and expect this is going to be a long stop on my journey.  Now that I have gotten my feet wet at my new position I have some “mental bandwidth” available to start blogging again.  I have a book on my horizon.  I have more stories, failures, half-baked ideas and success to share.

“The Risk”…is playing it safe.

My favorite way to expand my circle is by reading blogs.  Recently, I was reading one
of my favorite blogs “Shoestring Branding” by Mario Sanchez Carrion and he mentioned on
of his favorite blogs was by Mark Cuban.  I don’t know much about Mark Cuban and for
some reason I thought he was a blowhard and I would not like his message.  What’s
interesting is; he is probably a blowhard but I enjoyed reading his blog.  I started
thinking a great way to expand my circle of influence is to find out what my “influence’s”
are reading.  If Seth Godin is one of my favorite bloggers then where is he getting his
inspiration.

Since, I hope I am one of your influencer’s I am going to share my ten favorite blogs aside
from Seth’s Blog since that is a complete given, he’s my favorite.

• Hello, My Name is Blog – Scott Ginsberg
• Very Cool Life – Drew Rozell
• Sales Caffeine – Jeffery Gitomer (actually a newsletter but clearly an influencer)
• Hubspot Blog – Hubspot Marketing Company Blog (sign up for their reports as well)
• Gaping Void – Hugh MacLeod
• The Art of Non-Conformity – Chris Guillebeau
• Fail Blog
• Event Manager Blog – Julius Solaris
• The Marketess – Krista Neher
• LifeHacker

Of course many of these are part of the blog echo-chamber but there are a few relatively
“popular unknowns.”

Share your favorites in the comments on my blog or Facebook.

If you are unfamiliar with these group coupon websites the basic idea is the website strikes up deals with local businesses with outrageous deals like 50% coupons for services and products but only if enough people buy the coupon.  This seems like a win/win for everyone.  The website makes money, the business gains access to new clientele and the end client gets a great deal but I have heard a dirty little secret about this business practice.  The only one winning at this model is the coupon website.

What I have heard is the people buying the coupons are bargain hunters who often have no “Intention” of ever becoming regular customers of the small business. In addition, the increase in traffic often tasks the business and current customers become disgruntled with the businesses service quality being strained which leads to a similar experience for those finicky bargain hunters who also have a lack luster experience.  It’s a bad cycle and by the way most of these small businesses are losing money on each of these deals.

I feel like “New Year’s Resolutions” are very much the same racket except they just offer one deal per year.  If I were opening a daily resolutions company I could call it “DreamChicken” because that is what it really is…playing chicken.

New Year’s Resolutions are kind of like multi-level marketing.  They sell you on the dream but their record for results is very slim.  Why are you wasting your time with such a failed model. NYR degrade and cheapen your dreams.

Here is how NYR are similar to group coupons.  We all do it but we really have no “Intention” behind it.  Once we “Buy” or make the “Resolutions” that is often where the “Intention” ends.  Similar to group coupons they also put a strain on many people.  If you haven’t been working out or dieting all year what makes January 1st a better day to start, in fact its probably a bad day to start.  July 1st surely seams like a better day to put on my running shoes.

So, what’s a bargain dream hunter to do?

Find a new method.  I recommend getting clear what you want and creating a plan for success.  I also recommend doing it all year long.  Do it on a Monday, Wednesday or Saturday.  Do it on the 15th or the 23rd.  Make up your own New Year’s Day on June 4th or some other random day.

Seriously folks, I know very few people who have kept any New Year’s Resolutions for any length of time.  I can only honestly admit to one, “wearing my seatbelt,” and that one is a law.

Good Cluck on your Dreaming.

Before you jump my sh^t about running “Red Lights”, give me a little bit of credit since it’s actually quite rare for someone in a hurry barreling through intersections to have an epiphany without a tragedy like a traffic ticket or accident.  Yes, I am a rare breed of hurried and Zen like driver.

Anyway, I was thinking about my approach to life and most of the people I know.  They generally fall into two camps…”Red Lighters and Green Lighters.”

You are probably familiar with the “Red Lighters and Green Lighters.”  The “Red Lighters” are the nay sayers or the timid mice.  They find the faults and fears in an inspiration.  Then of course there are the “Green Lighters” who make lemonade from lemons and like to make things happen.

Of course, there are both positives and negatives to both approaches and I don’t mean to oversimplify either type of person.  I just want to explore the idea of a “Yellow Light” approach to life.

If we “Go” on Green and “Stop” on Red then why don’t we “Slow Down” on yellow.  I think  “Slowing down” is such an underrated option in today’s society. It’s mostly, “Go, Go, Go” unless of course it involves infringing or inconveniencing us as individuals and then its “Stop, Stop, Stop.”

Yellow is a new way of life.  “Slowing Down” is listening to the little voice inside.  It’s the voice which gives us the nuggets of wisdom we don’t find in the rush of Green and the selfishness of Red.

Yellow is gut instinct and intuition.  It’s God talking and our 5 senses in balance.

Of course, to be honest I am all about the “Green” but just for a moment I thought I would “Slow Down” and consider another option.

Yellow Light.

**Metaphoric Running of Red Light if you are a Law Enforcement Officer or my insurance company

• GET STUPID

Inspiration is unlike milk in that if you drink it (act on it) it is like an endless jug.  It automatically replenishes itself and leads to more and better inspirations.

If you are finding yourself in a creative rut you are probably not at a loss for ideas but stuck in fear or doubt.  The inspiration is probably there but you are unwilling to notice or act on it.

In fact, as I right this article my inspiration about inspiration is under attack by that little voice in my head that says,  “your blog post is boring and needs some work.”  Luckily,  I have learned to “beat the shit” out of that voice and tell it to “fuck off.”

OMG, did I really write some curse words?

Anyway, now my article is no longer boring and I got your attention.

Right Now, write down one idea or inspiration you have had in the last 24 hours and commit to taking action on it.  Seriously folks this is life and death.  The creative life source is inspiration and you must learn to act on it.  It will change your life, it changed mine.

Skim, 2%, Chocolate or Whole Inspiration….Drink It and watch it multiply.

MOOOOO!

With his passing yesterday, Facebook and Twitter lit up with Salutes, Memorial’s and Tributes to his greatness.

I am thinking the only way to truly honor “A Great Life” is to live yours to the fullest.

Steve Jobs is Gone, It’s Your Turn

Live Big!

Do you break your commitments?  Do you even make commitments?

Seriously, Broken Commitments Rock! I have a feeling you think I am yanking your chain but I am not.

As a coach I have an arsenal of tools and processes to help my clients create the life they want.  One of the most basic tools in my tool bag is “Accountability” and to be honest it’s overrated.   I think the real power in the coaching process is creating better “Commitments.”

Most people see the coaching process as make a commitment, execute the commitment and coach verify the commitment is executed but there are other steps to consider.

• Was the commitment in alignment with my values?
• Is my life set up in a way that I can keep this commitment?
• Did I have the resources needed to keep the commitment?
• Are there other commitments or steps that must be taken before I execute this commitment?
• Was this a “should” commitment versus a “want or need” commitment

The truth is the reason people break commitments is they are making bad or wrong commitments.  When I say “Bad or Wrong” I am not coming from a place of judgement but objectivity.  Objectivity is where the power of a coach or outside adviser can significantly impact the success of your commitment.  It is often hard for us to be objective with our own commitments but an independent but invested partner can provide the objectivity we need to create better commitments.

Seriously, I do love when my clients break their commitments!

Here are the reasons why I love broken commitments.

• Most people don’t take the time to consciously make commitments, they go through the motions of life unconscious of their dreams, goals and objectives…congrats to them for making commitments.
• By making a commitment it provides much needed data to make better commitments.  You need an input to get feedback.
• Commitments are a sign of being engaged in your dreams, whats not to love about people being engaged in their dreams.
• It takes courage to put your word on the line.

“I would rather die standing than live on my knees!”-Emiliano Zapata

Photo Credit – Zsuzsanna Kilian

This is a really simple concept.

Most of us are not willing to do the simple daily actions to reach a goal.

Our EGO would much rather wait it out for that one perfect day.  The day when everything is just perfect and we have everything we need to be successful.

But our EGO is a self centered saboteur.  It will self preserve at all costs.  There will  never be a perfect day.  Your EGO is tough cookie.  It’s job is to keep you right where you are because its the only you it knows.  The EGO hates change.

So, you have a couple options.  One is you can go for “The Big Leap” which I like to call “EGO Homicide” or you can “Take the Steps.”

It’s a much gentler path.  Each and every day take a small step in the direction of your dreams and goals.  Each and every day you take charge and your EGO will eventually realize you are your dream.  Your EGO will trust you and then you can take bigger steps or maybe two steps.

What steps do you need to take today in the direction of your dreams?