Expert in the Rough, Brian Monahan

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.

Today Seth Godin blogged on the idea of old world marketing versus the new tools available online.  This ties in well with my post yesterday about 7 Offline Ideas for Marketing your Business.

Email and internet tools can create the illusion of reaching a greater audience but often times these tools act as a shield or a shortcut to connecting with your customers or audience.

This week I was faced with a similiar challenge.  I started this blog in May and had a personal goal of 30 posts before I would launch it to my personal network.

I crafted a very personal email and was ready to send it out but sat on it for a day.  I shared it with a trusted friend and mentor and he mentioned it lacked the classic “WIFM” information.  Which is the eternal question we all ask,  “What’s in it For Me?”

I spent a little time thinking about what I was offering my audience and came to an epiphany.  My email would never be as effective as calling each and every person in my trusted network and sharing my new passion Expert in the Rough. I would never be able to recreate the personal connection I could create by phone or in person.

It’s going to take me a few weeks to make the calls so don’t be offended if you reading this post and have not heard from me.

Phone calls start today.

I am heading out for a little vacation today, here is some info to keep you busy until next week.

Your Momentum Monday assignment.  Get some perspective.

My favorite blog and newsletter are below:

Jeffery Gitomer, Sales Caffeine, sign up via his home page.  Well worth your time and its free.

Seth’s Blog, Seth Godin awesome, he is the best blogger on the net.  Click on his bald head to get to his blog.

These are the best on the net.