Are you giving proper credit to the people helping you with your success?  While you may not be in a position to spend thousands of dollars, surely, there is something you can do to express gratitude for your success.

I needed to get gasoline for my lawnmower so rather than drive my car 8 blocks to the gas station, I decided to ride my bike.  I put my little 3 gallon gas can on the handle bars of my bike and off I cycled.  I realize I’m not dressed very business like, I have a big baggy zip-up hoody over a white t-shirt, running pants, a bandanna on my head, and beat up running shoes on my feet.

Here are just some of the comments people made while driving by:

• LOSER!
• Get a JOB!
• Ran out of gas, huh?
• If you ran out of gas, you’re too stupid to own a car

And while I was at the gas station putting gasoline in my little 3 gallon gas can, a young teenager came over to me and asked if I needed a bigger gas can because he lived just a few doors down and he would even fill it up for me. He said, “I know people are really struggling right now, and if you need gas for your car, that isn’t going to get you very far.”  I was touched by his kindness and with a big smile on my face said, “I’m only getting gas for my lawnmower!”  He laughed, then apologized for making an assumption that I was getting gas for my car.

What assumptions do you make about others that aren’t necessarily correct assumptions?

“What does success smell, feel, and taste like to you?”

After a very long pause he nervously giggled and said, “I thought I heard you ask me what success SMELLS like?”  I told him that was indeed part of my question.

He didn’t know how to even begin formulating an answer to my question. Success, to him, meant more money and more opportunity.  When I pushed him to think deeper than dollars and opportunities it helped him put his definition of success into something very real and much more tangible; that is something he can visualize.

He could feel success in the material of the couch he would own, he could taste success by the Kobe beef he would eat, and he could smell success by the ocean he could sail on whenever he wanted to.

What does your personal success smell, taste, and feel like?  When you can get closer to your definition of success, the more likely  you are to achieve it.

• One woman who is an organizer and decluttering expert shared how her father was a hoarder. She talked about how he felt about it and her family’s experience upon his death.  It is that experience that prompted her to start her business and it is that experience that drives her.
• Another person shared experiences of her clients and how her expertise was able to impact their world.
• One of the chiropractor’s shared her story of how several years ago, chiropractic care helped her get out of her wheelchair and she’s been pain free and out of the chair ever since.

Some people were animated and excited about answering the question, “why do you do what you do?” The excitement comes across in their story. They all have great mindsets and attitudes about “why they do what they do” and they are able to express it confidently.

Others couldn’t answer the question in the time-frame allotted, some stumbled over their words, while others indicated they do it because that’s what they do.

My point here is this… if you’re an entrepreneur or small business owner and you’re not passionate and/or excited about what you do, and you can’t express it; why should anyone else be excited to be your client?

So, what’s your story?  Why do you do what you do?

You all know time management isn’t really a time management issue, right?  People know they should do the most important things first; yet so many people don’t do what they know they should be doing.  Why do you think that is?  Some answers include: fear, procrastination, disorganization.  It’s that last one I’ll briefly discuss here.  If you have “stuff” piled up and cluttering your desk and your drawers…. get yourself organized by using the 3 D’s of Time Management!  The 3 D’s are:

• DO
• DUMP
• DELEGATE

In terms of getting organized, you want to take action on items that fall into the DO category.  You need to create some sub folders for doing things. Try creating a series of folders called: Today, This Week, Next Week, and This Month.  Keep on top of those folders. 

DUMP – what kind of things are you holding on to?  Are you keeping things that support your vision, values, and goals?  You want to dump those things that are not in alignment with who you are, where you’re going, or with what’s important to you both personally and professionally. 

The 3rd D is DELEGATE!  I know plenty of people who think they don’t have anyone to delegate to.  Well, I will challenge that by saying think outside the box in terms of what and to whom you can delegate things.  I’ll write more on delegation in another blog post!

The really cool thing about mastering the 3 D’s is that they can apply to physical stuff as well as your emails and electronic documents.  You can use the 3 D’s to GET organized and to STAY organized.

Coach’s Challenge
Today your challenge is to go through at least one stack of your “stuff” and tryout the three D’s.  To make the challenge even greater, try touching each of those pieces of papers or emails only once as you categorize them into the 3 D’s of Time Management.

Here are a few ideas to change your perspective:

• Ask yourself, “will this matter in a week, in a month, in a year?”  or, as a friend of mine asks herself, “Is this earth shattering?”  Take a moment and evaluate if the energy you are putting into a problem is worth the investment of your time. 
• Take a break.  Sometimes you get so focused on a problem that you can’t think straight about it.  Step back, walk away, and clear your head.  Come back to the problem with fresh eyes and a new perspective.
• Ask “why” over and over again.  We’ve all had “that kid” in our family who always asks why? Well, be that kid.  Ask yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing and keep asking why until you get to the nitty gritty - is what you’re doing in-line with the future you want? Why?

Of course, hiring a coach is a great way to find a new perspective too!  I’d love to hear from you, what do you do when you need a new perspective on something?

In a soon to be released book, “Why Selling Sucks!“, Jay Niblick makes the argument that you don’t have strengths and weaknesses; rather you have talents and non-talents.  Your weakness comes into play when you rely on your non-talents to achieve your goals. 

I really appreciate Jay’s approach as it makes sense that your talents would be your strengths, when you use them.  It begs the question, are you trying to make a non-talent work for you? Or are you using all of your talents to navigate your way to success?

Your Challenge
Write down your top 5 talents (strengths) and compare that to your goal achievement plan; how do your goals and your talents line up?

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Related blog posts: Confidence in your strengths

This woman displayed no common courtesy whatsoever.  As I was feeling horrible for hanging up on her, these thoughts were going through my head: She was dishonest on why she really wanted to talk with me.  If she knew anything about me she would know I don’t call my coaching practice a business. If she wanted to sell me assessments, she should have told me that up-front.  When I call somebody I usually say, “hello, is this still a good time to talk?”  At the very least, I ask, “how are you?”  And when I ask a question, I actually listen to the answer.  And then….

…She called me back and as soon as I picked up the phone said, “We must have been disconnected, where did we leave off?” After a slight pause, she said, “Oh right, I was talking about all of my assessments. So what do you think?”  I took a deep breath and politely told her I already have a pool of assessments I use and that I’m very happy with them.  She lit into me telling me I wasted her time.  At this point, I was very firm with her and said, “Now just wait a minute!  YOU wasted my time!  You told me you wanted to discuss MY articles and that is clearly not why you called.  When you asked me if I use assessments YOU never let me answer the question and you wouldn’t let me speak.  Had you let me answer your question, you would have known I was not interested in what you are selling.”  She had a few choice words and hung up!  And I just laughed – what else can you do?

I believe there is a lesson in every situation and sometimes the lesson is just a simple reminder.  Here’s what I take from this phone call:

• Be honest about why you want to have a conversation with somebody
• Small talk is courteous (How are you, is this a good time talk, etc…)
• When you ask a question, stop talking and listen for the answer
• If you don’t want an answer to your question — don’t ask your question
• Don’t let somebody else prompt you to behave rudely – rise above it

May your day be filled with common courtesy!

Do your words and attitudes limit the length you will go to achieve your goals?  Do you quite before you even try to start? Do you think you can only go 10 or 20 yards? 

My bet is on you.. YOU can make it to the end zone!  If you’re struggling with that, give us a call, we can help get you in the best field position for you to make it to your end zone – - – success!

Have you ever been underestimated?  I know I have.  How do you react? 

•  Do you question yourself or your abilities?
• Does it impact your self-confidence?
•  Do you believe them?
• Do you quit?
• Do you try harder?
• Does it motivate you to prove them wrong?
• Do you think of other options?

Perhaps you underestimate yourself. Have any of these thoughts entered your mind? “I’m not good enough. I can’t do it. This will never work. I’m not smart enough.”  Every time you think one of these thoughts, you’re holding yourself back and you’re essentially telling yourself you’re not good enough.

Overcoming the influence of underestimation

Here are just a few thoughts on overcoming the negative influence of being underestimated:

• Use affirmations (e.g. I AM good enough. I AM smart enough. I CAN do it.)
• Reflect on all those things you have accomplished and where you have seen success in your life.
• Trust yourself. If you have to, start with the small things to build your self-trust.
• Stop comparing yourself to other people. (We all define success differently.)
• Surround yourself with people who believe in the power of your dreams – they lift you up so you can soar to greater heights.

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” Wilma Rudolph