mexican fisherman meets harvard mba

A vacationing American businessman standing on the pier of a quaint coastal fishing village in southern Mexico watched as a small boat with just one young Mexican fisherman pulled into the dock. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. Enjoying the warmth of the early afternoon sun, the American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

“How long did it take you to catch them?” the American casually asked.

“Oh, a few hours,” the Mexican fisherman replied.

“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” the American businessman then asked.

The Mexican warmly replied, “With this I have more than enough to support my family’s needs.”

The businessman then became serious, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

Responding with a smile, the Mexican fisherman answered, “I sleep late, play with my children, watch ballgames, and take siesta with my wife. Sometimes in the evenings I take a stroll into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs…”

The American businessman impatiently interrupted, “Look, I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you to be more profitable. You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. With the additional income that larger boat will bring, before long you can buy a second boat, then a third one, and so on, until you have an entire fleet of fishing boats.”

Proud of his own sharp thinking, he excitedly elaborated a grand scheme which could bring even bigger profits, “Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman you’ll be able to sell your fish directly to the processor, or even open your own cannery. Eventually, you could control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this tiny coastal village and move to Mexico City, or possibly even Los Angeles or New York City, where you could even further expand your enterprise.”

Having never thought of such things, the Mexican fisherman asked, “But how long will all this take?”

After a rapid mental calculation, the Harvard MBA pronounced, “Probably about 15-20 years, maybe less if you work really hard.”

“And then what, señor?” asked the fisherman.

“Why, that’s the best part!” answered the businessman with a laugh. “When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”

“Millions? Really? What would I do with it all?” asked the young fisherman in disbelief.

The businessman boasted, “Then you could happily retire with all the money you’ve made. You could move to a quaint coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your grandchildren, watch ballgames, and take siesta with your wife. You could stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play the guitar and sing with your friends all you want.”

maple tree management

One of the things that convinced me to buy my house was the trees.  Especially the big maple tree at the corner of the lot.  Huge, perfectly formed, the maple tree dominates the front yard.

There are lessons to be learned from nature, when we slow down enough to be taught. Here are some observations on "maple tree" management.

1.  Position counts.  The people who lived here before had three boys, and they had a treehouse in the maple tree. From that vantage point they could see the traffic approaching from all directions -- not just the busy main street out front, but
also the little side street. That position has also granted the maple tree the best light of the sun, and the nourishment of the cool rain.

But prime position is not without its disadvantages. Being the closest tree to the street means that a speeding vehicle careening out of control would hit the maple tree before reaching the smaller, weaker trees.  There's a possibility of damage.  But over the years, the tree has grown strong -- and in any contest between vehicle and tree, I'd bet on the tree.

In business, when you place yourself in a dominant position, you have to monitor both the main street approach (direct competition) and the side street (guerilla competition).  Be aware of the possibility of damage--but focus on building your
own strength to avoid destruction.

2.  Behind-the-scenes support is essential for strength. I've read that a tree's root system is as big - or bigger - than the part you can see.

In business, your root system is your list (of clients, referrals, newsletter and ezine subscribers, etc.). Give them time to grow strong to support the branches. If you place too much demand on them before they're strong enough, they won't be there when you need them. I once subscribed to an ezine that sent me 37 solo ads the first day I was subscribed. Guess how long I stayed on that list?

3.  You may be forced to adapt to your surroundings. There is a STOP sign at the intersection.  At least once a year, a few of the maple tree's branches have to be trimmed to keep the sign visible.  Maybe the tree doesn't like that.  But a serious accident could harm the tree, too. And if WE don't trim it, the city will -- and THEIR effort will be accompanied by a bill for the work and possible citation for violation of city ordinance.

Remember what I said about the odds in a contest between the tree and a vehicle?  Well, a contest between your business and the law has the same type of odds, only in the opposite direction -- it's a lot easier to "trim" your activities to comply with the law, than to deal with the Consequences of NOT complying.

4.  Technology isn't everything.  Our satellite dish is mounted on a pole beneath the tree.  (In fact, we had to trim the tree to get a satellite signal.)  In heavy winds, sometimes the branches still sway down and block the satellite signal.

No technology is immune to nature.  You can stubbornly continue to surf in a thunderstorm, but even a surge protecter may not be enough to protect your equipment.

5.  Everything moves in cycles.  The maple tree can't refuse to allow its leaves to change color and fall off. They'll grow back in spring.

How many businesses have failed because they ignored the signs of "changing seasons" and fought the cycles instead of adapting to them? Learn the cycles.  Grow when it's time to grow; change when it's time to change; discard the dying leaves to make room for new and better.

6.  Mind your OWN business.  I love the scent of the lilacs and honeysuckle.  I love the shade of the maple tree.  The maple tree doesn't try to fill the air with scent.  And there's no WAY to put the wicker rocker beneath the lilac bush.

What is your main product or service?  Do all your products and services complement each other?  There's a home business a few miles east of here that advertises (on the same sign) For sale: Night Crawlers! Homemade noodles!  I'd hate to get THOSE packages confused!  And I've noticed they don't get a whole
lot of business. Larry buys night crawlers from the "bait and tackle" shop and I buy homemade noodles from the Amish lady who sells "homemade noodles and baked goods."

7.  Your growth strategy determines your longevity. The corn out back grows several feet a month.  You can't even TELL if the maple tree has grown any in that time.  But the corn stalk is spindly and thin.  In a few more weeks, the corn will be
finished.  The tree, however, will be bigger, stronger, and a few inches taller.

How many "programs" have you seen spring up, grow fast and furious, only to disappear in a single season? I've seen at least a dozen in the past year.

8.  Nature works in harmony.  The maple tree doesn't resent the fact that other Beings benefit from it. The squirrels scamper up the trunk, undisturbed.  The cardinals and bluebirds rest on its branches.  The dog mans his "security guard" post in the maple tree's shade.

How many marketers bemoan the "tire-kickers" who take the freebies and leave?  Guess what, people? If you've ever watched a true tire-kicker, he's not really looking at the tire -- he's checking out the rest of the vehicle on his way to the tire.

The most successful marketers are the ones who follow common-sense principles and build their businesses to be sturdy, strong, and sensible.  Like the maple tree, they learn and follow the Laws of Nature.  They know when to bend, and when to stand firm.  Their roots are strong, their branches healthy.  When they burst into color, they're impossible to ignore.

And they make your corner of the street, or place on the world wide web, a better place to be.

Focusing on your most important personal goals

                                               

We all hear a lot about goals. Success magazines are laden with them. Soccer magazines are frantic about them and I have been jumping up and down about them since I began marketing online in 1998.

Firstly, what is your perception of a goal?
Is it something only ultra successful people chat about when being interviewed by a success magazine? Is it really about putting that ball in the back of the net with a fine header ("look Mom - no hands"), or is it about listening to me on my soap box ranting and raving about their importance?

Well, first of all; yes it could be all of the above. Goals are very personal which is not overly evident from the above examples. Mr/Ms Success mentions how important goals are but doesn't spend a lot of time during an interview talking
about how to implement them. The Socceroos spend five minutes congratulating one another with an abundance of hugging after one of their boys rifles the ball into the net for that ever elusive goal. We know they're important. It's just why they're important doesn't seem quite clear.

I would like to dig into the "personal" level of goal setting. Goals set by others can be only for themselves. They are a personal milestone which means an awful lot to
the person setting it. From the same standpoint, setting yourself a goal or a list of goals is important to you and you alone.

Goals - firstly and foremostly are not dreams. They may have been born as dreams but you have developed them into something which is of vital importance to you. Something, which is today, very close to your heart.

It's very easy to see the significance of your own goals as when you picture its achievement a smile on your face as big as the Cheshire Cat will probably appear. Setting your goals in all honesty is not difficult. It's as easy as writing down a (rather long) list of those things that you would like to achieve in your lifetime and prioritizing them into short term and long term ambitions.

Short term comprises: Today's "to do" list, this week, one month up until the next 3 months. Long term includes biannually, yearly, biennially, five, ten, twenty years as well as lifetime goals and desires.

You must set time lines for your goals, otherwise they may slip down into your "gunna list" (one day I'm gunna get around to this). If this happens then you need to re-evaluate the importance of the goal and give it the respect it deserves, otherwise they may never see the light of day again. Therefore it won't ever get the opportunity to come to fruition.

I am very much a fan of brainstorming.  It is only prudent that you spend ten minutes now going wild with your ideas and write your goals down. After you have finished this article make sure you do this exercise... I kid you not, it will play a huge role in your life as to whether you reach them or not.

After you have written them down you may notice at a second glance some of them aren't quite as important as others will be. Put these into a "maybe" list and review their importance each quarter. Then there are the important ones which mean very much to you.

Okay - now you have your starting point. Your short term goals are those that you want to accomplish in the not too distant future. They are therefore, very important. Similarly, a lot of your long term goals will need to be achieved piecemeal so you may need to include additional short term goals as interim stepping stones so that you can actually see the progress you make with them. It really is an excellent way to monitor your strategies.

Keeping focused on your goals is only really as strong as your dedication, desire, persistence, diligence and your stamina.

You must be totally committed to their achievement. If you're not then it quite simply won't happen. You must do more than just promise yourself that you will do it. It needs to be an undertaking of the highest order; a personal commitment.

This commitment will most likely see a lift in your values and standards as not too many goals you set will see them come down a level or two. Goals are always about making you a more complete person as you undertake those things dearest
to you. If you find your values and standards, as a result of your goals actually dropping, then I strongly suggest that you re-evaluate them immediately.

You need to write them down and have them in your face - virtually at all times. They are important. Maintain the visual. Keep the attitude. Develop your methodologies. Stick to your guns. But whatever you do, do not, at any stage, give up. You may need to re-assess, re-value, adjust and amend on the odd occasion. That's fine. We all need to review our actions to determine our position but if you should ever venture far enough to give up then failure will have found you. This personality killer, called failure, is the Wolf, and you must do all within your power to keep him from your door. If you do manage to not just keep The Wolf at bay, but maintain your attitude and focus, then you are well and truly on the way to achieving those that are indeed, most dear to you!

We only ever have fifty years on this earth as adults. Every year removes 2% of our entitlement. So the time is now to pursue our dreams. Remember tomorrow never comes, so start your goal list now and go for broke.

FF: Famous Failures

Einstein was 4 years old before he could speak.

Iassc Newton did poorly in grade school and was considered "unpromising."

When Thomas Edison was a youngster, his teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything. He was counseled to go into a field where he might succeed by virtue of his pleasant personality.

F.W. Woolworth got a job in a dry goods store when he was 21, but his boss would not permit him to wait on customers because he "didn't have enough sense to close a sale."

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.
Bob Cousy suffered the same fate, but he too is a Hall of Famer.

A newspaper editor fired Walt Disney because he "lacked imagination and had no original ideas."

Winston Churchill failed the 6th grade and had to repeat it because he did not complete the tests that were required for promotion.

Babe Ruth struck out 1,300 times, a major league record.

A person may make mistakes, but is not a failure until he or she starts blaming someone else. We must believe in ourselves, and somewhere along the road of life we will meet someone who sees greatness in us and lets us know it.

story that can change your life

In 1972, Jim Cathcart was working at the Little Rock, Arkansas Housing Authority, making $525 a month, with a new wife and baby at home, no college degree, no past successes, and not much hope for the foreseeable future.

One morning, he was sitting in his office listening to the radio, to a program called "Our Changing World" by Earl Nightingale, who was known as "the Dean of Personal Motivation." That day, Nightingale, in his booming voice, said something that would change Jim's life forever: "If you will spend an extra hour each day in study of your chosen field, you will be a national expert in that field in five years or less."

Jim was stunned, but the more he thought about it the more it made sense. Although he had never given a speech, he had always wanted to help people grow in areas of personal development and motivation. He began his quest to put Nightingale's theory to the test by reading books and listening to tapes whenever he could. He also started exercising, became better organized, and joined a self-improvement study group. He persisted through weeks of temptations to quit, just by doing a little more each day to further his goal. Within six months he had learned more than he had in his few years of college, and he began to believe he could turn his goal of becoming a motivational speaker into reality. All the hard work, the discipline, and study paid off. Jim now has delivered more than 2,500 speeches worldwide and has won every major award in the speaking industry.

Just like companies have market value, so do people. In the simplest terms, your market value increases by knowing and doing more. Knowledge is power, not only for your career, but also to improve your family and spiritual life. I once heard a quote that sums it up well, "Knowledge is like climbing a mountain; the higher you reach the more you can see and appreciate."

I love stories because for me, they can bring an idea to life. This one and many others can be found in my book, The Nature of Success.

via inspire21

worse than a bad decision

Do you know why 95% of people out there never “have enough” of anything and find themselves lost, confused, and constantly searching for the reason WHY?

The answer is simple…

"Most people will loose more to indecision than they will to a bad decision."
-- Andrew Carnegie

This is not only the truth; it is the Number One reason people remain unsuccessful in their lives. Even the unsuccessful people aware of this principle remain unconvinced of how powerful decisions are and how debilitating indecision can be.

Let me ask you this…

If someone asked you to give up the next 20 years of your life, without being paid, how long would it take you to make that decision?

Maybe you know the story of Andrew Carnegie (believed to be the world’s first Billionaire - see footnote below).

He called a young cub reporter into his office and asked him to devote 20 years to interviewing only the world’s richest people in order to share ‘The Secret’ of wealth, success, and happiness with the rest of the world.

But, did you know that Mr. Carnegie secretly held a stopwatch beneath his desk and gave Napoleon Hill only 60 seconds to answer yes or no before he would lose the opportunity forever? Mr. Carnegie knew that if Napoleon required more time to think about it then he was the wrong guy.

You see, Mr. Carnegie knew that 'Successful People' make decisions quickly.

Napoleon Hill took 32 seconds to say YES... and his lack of indecision led to the writing of "Think and Grow Rich," the best-selling book responsible for helping to create an estimated One Million Millionaires!

Born into poverty in 1883, Napoleon Hill rose to become one of the world’s most distinguished and respected authors of all time. He moved from newspaper reporter to law student to working for Andrew Carnegie, and became a confidant and advisor to businessmen and presidents. Hill has counted among his many associates Franklin D. Roosevelt, Mahatma Gandhi, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford,Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and hundreds of other world leaders.

who packs your parachute?

                         

Charles Plumb, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was a U.S. Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane as destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb.

"I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn’t be here today."

Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat, a bib in the back, and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor."

Plumb thought of the man hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory-he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.

As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize the people who pack your parachute.

via inspire21

what makes a teacher or coach successful

The other day while attending my wife’s monthly sorority meeting, I met the husband of one of my wife’s classmates Ed Clark. Ed is a Naval Academy graduate and a retired submarine officer. He and his wife Sally traveled from Virginia to attend the meeting. While the wives chat and catch up on the happenings, the husbands drift off
to another part of the house and engage in "man" talk. Eventually, the discussion turns to education and the comparison to the system of the 50s when we were growing up.

Ed Clark told us this story of his elementary school days. As a boy, Ed was a product of a Catholic school located in Pottsville, Pa., and during his tenure, he ran into a very tough nun. Ed admitted that he had become a thorn in her side with his unacceptable behavior in class, so it was only fitting that the nun design something special for Ed. The sister accused Ed of being inspired by the devil and made him kneel at the beginning each day before a statue of Mary and pray for guidance and forgiveness. Each day this occurred, and the entire class was also informed as to what was going on. Ed, upon hearing the devil implication, said he believed what the good sister told him, and of course, wanted no part of the devil! So he did
what any good Catholic school student would do and obeyed.

Toward the end of the year, Ed was picked to play Joseph in the school play. However, as he told his classroom nun, he could not accept the role because of his ties with the devil. So the Nun asked Ed to kneel in front of the statue of Mary while she poured Holy Water over him and chased the devil away forever. Ed then was free to participate in the school play. Needless to say, this harsh treatment didn't seem to bother Ed as he went on to graduate from the Naval Academy, enjoying a full naval career to retirement.

We all laughed and agreed this form of discipline probably would not be tolerated in any school system today. With the climate surrounding the educational system today, that treatment of Ed would not have gotten past the first day! And rightfully so. However, what the nun did for Ed and the class was to set a tone conducive to learning. The major discipline problems disappeared from the class, if only out of fear. An attitude for learning was established for Ed and the rest of his classmates. We guys discussed the fact that it was quite possible the good sister actually believed what she had told Ed about his behavior being influenced by the devil.

Fast forward to 2011. That same condition for learning must be established by the teacher today if any effective teaching is to take place. Not the same as the nun presented, but something that will create an atmosphere conducive to teaching and learning. The teacher must work overtime in preparation to generate a positive feeling of purpose within the classroom if he/she has any chance of
getting his/her message across.

For instance, it’s a known fact that all successful coaches accomplish this attitude with any and all of their teams. Playing for something that is actually greater than yourself. Once this is established, teaching, learning and participation can begin. Coaches look for this emotional edge every day of a season, and if the right circumstance doesn’t appear naturally, they create a situation that will
propel the team into a stage of competitive readiness for the upcoming season, or game.

Indeed, in coaching, the responsibility falls directly upon the head coach to bring his/her team to a complete state of readiness to compete every time they set foot onto the playing surface. In her way, Ed's former teacher was doing just that.

Teachers also should follow this process in the classroom regardless of the subject matter. Many teachers do this and have no idea what they are doing because it just comes naturally. The teacher who has experienced trouble in the
classroom should look to building a togetherness attitude among the students and attempt to accomplish something that is greater than the class itself.

If we examine successful teachers and coaches, we will see that they are very much into the team building philosophy. For the student, after school is long over, it is these team-building strategies that students really recall. In
fact, some students may not recall many of the x's and o's in the classroom, but they vividly remember the climate-setting strategies used by the teacher or coach.

via inspire 21

difference a teacher can make

                       

Steve, a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic parents, was about to be lost forever, by the U.S. education system. Remarkably, he could read, yet, in spite of his reading skills, Steve was failing. He had been failing since first grade, as he was passed on from grade to grade. Steve was a big boy, looking more like a teenager than a twelve year old, yet, Steve went unnoticed... until Miss White.

Miss White was a smiling, young, beautiful redhead, and Steve was in love! For the first time in his young life, he couldn't take his eyes off his teacher; yet, still he failed. He never did his homework, and he was always in trouble with Miss White. His heart would break under her sharp words, and when he was punished for failing to turn in his homework, he felt just miserable! Still, he did not study.

In the middle of the first semester of school, the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests, and continued to dream of other things, as the day wore on. His heart was not in school, but in the woods, where he often escaped alone, trying to shut out the sights, sounds and smells of his alcoholic home. No one checked on him to see if he was safe. No one knew he was gone, because no one was sober enough to care. Oddly, Steve never missed a day of school.

One day, Miss White's impatient voice broke into his daydreams.

"Steve!!" Startled, he turned to look at her.

"Pay attention!"

Steve locked his gaze on Miss White with adolescent adoration, as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.

"You all did pretty well," she told the class, "except for one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but..." She hesitated, pinning Steve to his seat with a sharp stare, her eyes searching his face.

"...The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!"

She just stared at Steve, as the class spun around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.

After that, it was war!! Steve still wouldn't do his homework. Even as the punishments became more severe, he remained stubborn.

"Just try it! ONE WEEK!" He was unmoved.

"You're smart enough! You'll see a change!" Nothing fazed him.

"Give yourself a chance! Don't give up on your life!" Nothing.

"Steve! Please! I care about you!"

Wow! Suddenly, Steve got it!! Someone cared about him? Someone, totally unattainable and perfect, CARED ABOUT HIM??!!"

Steve went home from school, thoughtful, that afternoon. Walking into the house, he took one look around. Both parents were passed out, in various stages of undress, and the stench was overpowering! He, quickly, gathered up his camping gear, a jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread, a bottle of water, and this time...his schoolbooks. Grim faced and determined, he headed for the woods.

The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in, all sparkle and smiles! God, she was beautiful! He yearned for her smile to turn on him. It did not.

Miss White, immediately, gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test, and was the first to hand inhis paper. With a look of surprise, Miss White took his paper. Obviously puzzled, she began to look it over. Steve walked back to his desk, his heart pounding within his chest. As he sat down, he couldn't resist another look at the lovely woman.

Miss White's face was in total shock! She glanced up at Steve, then down, then up. Suddenly, her face broke into a radiant smile. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test!

From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same, but life still changed. He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was good at it! He discovered that he could understand and retain knowledge, and that he could translate the things he learned into his own life. Steve began to excel! And he continued this course throughout his school life.

After high-school Steve enlisted in the Navy, and he had a successful military career. During that time, he met the love of his life, he raised a family, and he graduated from college Magna Cum Laude. During his Naval career, he inspired many young people, who without him, might not have believed in themselves. Steve began a second career after the Navy, and he continues to inspire others, as an adjunct professor in a nearby college

Miss White left a great legacy. She saved one boy who has changed many lives. I know, because I am the love of his life.

You see, it's simple, really. A change took place within the heart of one boy, all because of one teacher, who cared.

Where have all the leaders gone?

Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where
the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a
gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've
got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after
a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad,
everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay
the course'

Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned
'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!'

You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe
I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country
anymore.

The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in
handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and
nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead
of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the ' America ' my
parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about
you?

I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not
outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is
Crisis! Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis.
It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or
send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield
yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.

On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in
our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes.

A Hell of a Mess. So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war
with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest
deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge
to Asia , while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health
care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent
energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves.

The middle class is being squeezed every which way. These are times that cry
out for leadership. But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have
all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where
are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common
sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.

Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us
take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent
billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to
do is react to things that have already happened.

Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina.
Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the
hurricane, or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in
the crucial hours after the storm.

Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again.
Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out
what you're going to do the next time.

Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can
restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that
there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car
companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do
about it?

Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the
debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The
silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our
country and milking the middle class dry.

I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your
asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked
and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so
afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a
break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?

Had Enough?

Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to
light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope, I believe in America .
In my lifetime I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's
greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: the 'Great
Depression', 'World War II', the 'Korean War', the 'Kennedy Assassination',
the 'Vietnam War', the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years
culminating with 9/11. If I've learned one thing, it's this: 'You don't get
anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take
action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for
our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising
in this book. It's a call to 'Action' for people who, like me, believe in
America . It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake
off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had 'enough.'

Sense of a goose

                          

Next Autumn, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying in a "V" formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. 

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are heading the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. 

It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. 

What message do we give when we honk from behind?

Finally - and this is important - when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of the formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their own group.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that

via inspire21

5+5=5

I know your thinking... 'Okay, John, 5+5 does not equal 5.'  So, please let me
explain.

Let's start with a question. How many times have you heard that you need to have a "long term" goal and be focused for the entire length of that "long term?" In this message, I am going to focus on a 5 year goal and explain how you will know if you are truly on track to achieve your 5 year goal in life.  In the equation, the answer 5 is your five-year goal and the 5+5 is the underlying secret to attaining that goal. 

As I speak with numerous people on a daily basis, I hear their frustration about their goals that they‚ve set and the lack of progress that they have made.  As I say, "A mountain is built one pebble at a time and climbed one step at a time." 

The first "5" in the equation represents the 5 people that you call our friends, associates, etc.  I suggest that you make a list of the 5 people that you associate with on a regular basis, and then take a good look at it to see if they either have goals similar to yours or are progressing towards the achievement of a goal similar to your 5-year goal. A major key to unlock the secret to your future is to be 110% conscious of the fact that you will ultimately become who you associate with. For example, if you have dreams of becoming healthy and wealthy and your associates are overweight smokers that complain about working one-minute overtime, then I can predict the odds of you being healthy and wealthy is slim to none.

Millions of people never attain their dreams, because their "friends" serve as "cement shoes" as they walk towards their goals in life.  As I set my goals, I surround myself with people who are on the same path in life that I am on. If you truly internalize this same mindset, then you can achieve your goals in life. 

The second "5" in the equation is to take a personal inventory of the last 5 books that you have read or cassettes that you have listened to.  Just for fun, the next time one of your friends complains about something... ask them what were the last 5 books that they have read or cassettes they have listened to. You will get one of two answers:  I do not remember or I do not have the time to read.  Your last 5 books that you read will determine where your focus or direction is in life. The average person reads 1 book a year after high school, which is the #1 reason why 95% of people are "dead broke at age 65." Even the greatest computer in the world needs to be programmed in order to perform its functions. 

We are all designed for greatness, but we need to be conscious of our associations and what we are reading or listening to on a daily basis will decide the level of greatness that we all reach. Decide today to focus on your 5 year goal and realize that your 5 friends and the 5 books/tapes that you listen to will determine if you hit your goal or not. Success is simple, but not easy because it takes the ability to grow, stretch, search and learn to enjoy everyday as you progress towards your 5-year goal. 

5 + 5 = 5... give it a try and let me know if it works for you.  

I can actually predict your results: 5 + 5 = your dream.

a million dollar lesson

A cab driver taught me a million dollar lesson in customer satisfaction and expectation. Motivational speakers charge thousands of dollars to impart his kind of training to corporate executives and staff. It cost me a $12 taxi ride.

I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on a client. Time was of the essence and my plan included a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. A spotless cab pulled up.

The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As he got in the driver’s seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy.

Well! I looked around for a “Candid Camera!” Wouldn’t you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, “Obviously you take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell.”

“You bet,” he replied, “I used to be in Corporate America. But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my niche in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be.

I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day’s work and done it well. I evaluate my personal assets and… wham! I became a cab driver.

One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED the customer’s expectations! I like both the sound and the return of being ‘great’ better than just getting by on ‘average’”.

Did I tip him big time? You bet! Corporate America’s loss is the traveling folk’s friend!

VIa  inspire21

a meeting of minds

Martin was returning to work in his London office after spending two weeks with his brother over in New York. He was coming back with a heavy heart. It was not just that it was the end of a wonderful holiday; it was not just that he invariably suffered badly from jet lag; it was that Monday mornings always began with a team meeting and, over the months, he had grown to hate them.

Martin was aware that colleagues approached these meetings with hidden agendas; they indulged in game-playing; and he knew that people were not being honest and open. The meetings themselves were bad enough - but then there was all the moaning afterwards."The usual people saying the usual things." "I could have improved on that idea, but I wasn't going to say." "I was thinking of making a suggestion - but I couldn't be bothered."

As this morning's meeting began, Martin braced himself for the usual moroseness and monotony. But, as the meeting progressed, he became aware of a strange background noise. At first, he thought that he was still hearing the engine noise from the aircraft that had brought him back to London - he had had to sit over the wing and the droning was terrible. But, as he concentrated on the noise, it became a little clearer.

He realised - to his amazement - that he could hear what his colleagues were thinking as well as what they were saying. As he concentrated still harder, he found that he could actually hear what they were thinking at the same time as they were speaking. What surprised him, even more than the acquisition of this strange power, was that he discovered that what people were saying was not really what they were thinking. They were not making clear their reservations. They were not supporting views which they thought might be unpopular. They were not contributing their new insights. They were not volunteering their new ideas.

Martin found it impossible not to respond to his new knowledge. So he started to make gentle interventions, based more on what he could hear his colleagues thinking than on what he could hear them saying. "So, John are you really saying..." "Susan, do you really think that …" "Tom, have you got an idea on how we could take this forward?" He was aware that his colleagues were unsettled by how insightful were these interventions. They looked at him mystified. In truth, he felt rather proud of his newly-acquired talent.

Emboldened now, Martin forgot his usual misery at participating in such meetings and began making comments of his own. However, he became aware that some of his colleagues were looking at him quizzically. One or two even had a gentle smile playing on their lips. Only gradually did it dawn on him - they could hear his thoughts and he was not really saying what he was thinking.

As the meeting progressed, Martin became aware of changes to the tone and style of the event. It was clear to him now that, one by one, each member of the meeting was learning how to hear the thoughts of all the others and this was subtly changing how they inter-acted with one another. The game-playing started to fall away; people started to speak more directly; views became better understood; the atmosphere became more open and trusting.

The meeting ended. As people left the room, Martin found that he could still hear what they were thinking. "That was the best meeting we've ever had." "All meetings should be like that." "In future, I'm going to say what I think."

via  inspire21

Ice cream on the road

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Charlie Francis set up mobile liquid nitrogen ice cream parlour Lick Me I'm Delicious in 2011 and is set to grow his turnover from £60,000 currently to £140,000 in his next year of trading. 

How did it begin?

I had been working in the advertising industry but it had got a bit boring for me so I decided to set up on my own. My parents have been making ice cream in Wales for 30 years and it made sense to go into something where I could draw on that experience.

How did you finance it?

I entered a competition with Barclays bank, the (now defunct) Take One Small Step competition. It was like the X Factor for businesses, entrants got given a text number and a website address and had to get as many votes as possible from a panel of judges and members of the public. I spent a lot of time giving out free samples of ice cream and ended up winning £50,000 from that. I also put in another £20,000 of my own savings.

How did you research your business?

My aim was to create a machine of some sort that could make any flavour of ice cream. At the time a chef friend of mine said he had started using liquid nitrogen to freeze his ice cream and the process made for a silky smooth texture of dessert.

I built my first contraption, a portable flat pack ice cream parlour, with a lot of trial and error. Like any entrepreneur when you set up in business you can't know everything and I spent a year speaking to people in the cryogenics industry to some eccentric professors, people who were willing to share their knowledge. You can get so much expertise for free if you look for it. I spent a year learning, and then six months or so working with different suppliers to build the contraption.

How did you spread the word?

Much of my business comes from events where your image can be quite prominent. My first sales came through PR though. If I had put my marketing budget into magazine [advertising] I wouldn't have got very much interest but if you create interesting stories and make your business exciting to others you can get a lot of noise in the press.

I ended up getting on BBC News, into the nationals and various other outlets. For us, our target market is quite disparate, anyone from corporates to wealthy individuals. Once I got some PR exposure I started working with events companies and grew through word of mouth, and more PR.

What have been some challenges?

The biggest challenge has been a strategic one: what is the business direction I should take? I originally was going to open a [static] ice cream shop but it's a very risky venture and a slow growing business requiring a huge amount of start-up capital. I could easily have ended up opening a shop because people had expected me to do that, but going down the mobile parlour route there are more opportunities for me I think.

What next?

I am planning to take on more staff, I' ve got a new product i can't talk about currently but when it comes out i will be expanding the business.