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Sometimes You Have to Think of the Box

April 16, 2014 By

The Candle ProblemOften times when we are trying to problem solve we are working so hard we don’t see the solution in front of our face. We are told to think outside the box but sometimes you need to look at the box itself. The container may just have the solution you are seeking.

In 1945 “The Candle Problem” was published.  It was created some time before that by psychologist Karl Duncker.  The premise of the problem you can see in the picture to the left.  Participants were given a book of matches, a small candle, and a box of tacks.  They had to find a way with these materials to put the candle on the wall and light it but the candle could not get wax on the surface below it.

Sometimes you just have to think of the box.

The video below is from Dan Pink where he discusses motivation and the candle problem in detail.

 

Filed Under: Business, Creativity, Life Coaching Tagged With: , , , ,
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Start a Movement

April 2, 2014 By

The brief video below is one of my favorites.  Don’t be afraid to be first regardless of how you might be judged.  The person who goes first becomes the leader and a leader can start a movement.

Filed Under: Business, Creativity, Leadership Tagged With: , , , , ,
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A Real Paper Letter?

February 5, 2014 By
Writing on a Notepad

Photo Courtesy of Dr. Stephen Dann

Real paper? Yep, it still exists. Send some of it out!

In the world today we have so much electronic communication.  Texts, e-mails, social media, and, yes, blogs.  Due to all of this written communication is getting less and less.  Even celebration cards are going digital.

The digital world has certainly changed our lives.  Because of this you can change someone’s day by going back to 10 years ago – write a letter or card by hand and mail it.  I try to do this a few times per month to various people thanking them for something or just saying hi.

Writing the card only takes a few moments.  It can create a huge impact in a person’s day because they probably haven’t gotten anything like that in quite some time.  It is such a rarity for most people that you become the stand out and are remembered as the person who did this.

Another reason for this is after applying and interviewing for a job.  Send a card thanking them for the opportunity to apply for the position.  Simple and easy – the goal is for them to see your name.  Then, after you have an interview, send a thank you card to the interviewer for giving you some of their time.  Again, simple and easy to keep your name in the mix.

The written word is still incredibly strong.  Choose one person today that you can send a card or letter to and see how it changes their day!

Filed Under: Business, Careers, People Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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Why Do You Go To Work?

October 9, 2013 By
Time Card

Photo Courtesy of Marcin Wichary.

There are very few things that you have to do in life. You have to eat, drink, and take care of yourself in order to survive but other than that there really isn’t anything that you have to do.

With that, why do you go to work? Is it because you enjoy it or because you need a pay check? If the answer is because you need a check I think you might need to look a little deeper as to the reason you go.

I am an advocate of doing work that you love. There really needs to be more of a reason to go to work than just to trade your time for money. You should enjoy what you do and find deeper meaning in going to work. If you don’t then it may be time to look for another line of work.

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” Martin Luther King Jr.

You have the choice to go to a job you hate tomorrow or to look for another job. If you do not enjoy your current employment then come up with an exit plan over the next 60 days. Put in applications, make phone calls and once you secure a job doing something you find meaning put in your notice and go do good work that matters to you.

Question: What is something that gives your current job meaning?

Filed Under: Business, Life Coaching, Motivational, People, Time Management Tagged With: , , , , ,
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Serve Them Well

July 24, 2013 By

Serve others.  If you have read self development materials for any length of time you have heard this and for good reason – it is the root to many good things in life.

“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” Zig Ziglar

When you serve other people you are able to release stress and get out of a depressed state.  You can do many things to serve:  be in the military, donate time to a non-profit, or even creating a product that fills a need and makes you rich is still an example of serving others because you have filled a need and brought it to the marketplace.

Recently our car was totaled in an accident when a vehicle hit ours from behind (nobody was seriously injured).  Of course, it is can be a nerve racking experience.  Questions are up in the air and you are lost if you have never been through one before on what to do about getting your vehicle repaired, rental cars, etc.  However, it was made a lot easier thanks to my agent who took the time to explain things to me and the other person’s insurance adjuster who was there to serve us.  They should both feel good about what they do and the help they provide in moments like they deal with.

The more people you serve the better your life and those around you can be.  A service animal serves the need of their owner but the owner, in turn, provides for the needs of the animal.  Along with that service comes a bonding friendship between the two.  This can be achieved with people as well as animals.

Figure out a way to serve many and go do that.  Impact millions and make life better for everyone around.

“Service to many leads to greatness-great respect, great satisfaction.” Jim Rohn

Filed Under: Business, Careers, Customer Service, Leadership, Life Coaching, People Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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Book Review: Boundaries for Leaders

July 1, 2013 By

Boundaries For LeadersBoundaries For Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud is the second of Dr. Cloud’s books that I have had the pleasure of reading.  It is clear, concise and if you take the steps outlined you can make dramatic changes your in your life at home and at work.

From the press release: “In Boundaries for Leaders, clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Henry Cloud leverages his expertise of human behavior, neuroscience, and business leadership to explain how the best leaders set boundaries within their organizations–with their teams and with themselves–to improve performance and increase employee and customer satisfaction.”

I honestly think this book could change an entire company for the better.  With over a decade of experience with a 300+ person business location I can tell you that I have seen many of these principles work in person.  I do not think it matters whether you have 5 or 500 on your team this book will help you lead better, build culture, and keep the negativity and energy draining annoyances at bay.

I highly recommend reading this book and absorbing what is taught.  While it did start out a bit slow for me it quickly picked up in Dr. Cloud’s style.  You can’t go wrong here – pick it up and be “ridiculously in charge.”

If you would like to get other points of view or purchase the book you can do so on Amazon.

*Note: I received a copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.*

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Business, Leadership Tagged With: , , , ,
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Isn’t That Interesting

June 12, 2013 By

Jim RohnOne of the most influential recordings that I listened to early on was Jim Rohn’s “Building Your Network Marketing Business.”  While the obvious focus was intended for network marketing I got so much more out of the hour I listened.  One of those jewels was Mr. Rohn’s quote “Isn’t that interesting.”

When something isn’t quite going your way simply say “Isn’t that interesting.” and move on.  This also works well when your someone comes up to you and says something or tells you to do something you don’t particularly care for.  You simply say the phrase and move on.

This technique does a few things:

1. It keeps you from saying something as a quick reaction and gives you a moment to think of an appropriate response.  Keep your foot out of your mouth in the front end and you won’t have the after taste.

2. It can defuse the situation if there is already some tension.  This can be especially true when you are using this phrase after your employer walks up.

3. It also keeps your stress level down.  Rather than get upset you allow yourself to be in another state of mind.

Give this a shot and see how much better you can feel during a stressful conversation or when you are given a quick instruction you might not agree with.  It is a thing of linguistic beauty.

Filed Under: Business, Life Coaching Tagged With: , , ,
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Alive In Your Mind

June 5, 2013 By
Main Street USA

Main Street USA at Magic Kingdom

Why do some people make changes in their lives while others don’t? One of the key reasons is those that change can see the change in their mind before it happens.  If there is something you want you have to see that you already have it in your imagination.

Want to own a restaurant?  See it in your mind so vividly that you can see the menu and smell the food.  See the layout of your place and the guests sitting in at their table enjoying their food.  Revisit this in your mind over and over to where it becomes so real for you that you.  When you do this opportunities show up and when you grab them your dreams become realities.

One of the most notable imaginations of the 1900s was Walt Disney.  In the book “How to Be Like Walt” Pat Williams says this on page 84:

Though Walt envisioned Walt Disney World in Florida, he died before it was built.  On opening day in 1971, almost five years after his death, someone commented to Mike Vance, creative director of Walt Disney Studios,”Isn’t it to bad Walt Disney didn’t live to see this?”

“He did see it,” Vance replied simply.  “That’s why it’s here.”

See yourself where you want to be and take the journey as life allows you.  It may take some time but you can get there.

 

Filed Under: Business, Creativity, Motivational, People Tagged With: , , , , ,
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I Dare You

May 22, 2013 By
Jason Kincaid

Professional wrestler Jason Kincaid on top of the world doing a handstand overlooking a deep gorge.  Photo by Will Trotter.  Used with permission.

This week I wanted to share a small piece from the book “I Dare You” by William H. Danforth.  I hope it means something to you.

I loved it the first time I heard these lines.  We were digging through a bin of books and came across a small leather-bound red one with “I Dare You” in silver ink on the cover.  I dare you, after reading this, to go do amazing things for other people.

I DARE YOU!

IT IS DIFFICULT to put a challenge on paper. I would rather look you straight in the eye and say, “I dare you!” In my mind that’s exactly what I am doing. I am on one side of a table. You are on the other. I am looking across and saying “I dare you!”

I Dare You, young man, you who come from a home of poverty—I dare you to have the qualities of a Lincoln.

I Dare You, heir of wealth and proud ancestry, with your generations of worthy stock, your traditions of leadership—I dare you to achieve something that will make the future point to you with even more pride than the present is pointing to those who have gone before you.

I Dare You, young mother, to make your life a masterpiece upon which that little family of yours can build. Strong women bring forth strong men.

I Dare You. boys and girls, to make life obey you, not you it. It is only a shallow dare to do the foolish things. I dare you to do the uplifting, courageous things.

I Dare You, young executive, to shoulder more responsibility joyously, to launch out into the deep, to build magnificently.

I Dare You, young author, to win the Nobel prize.

I Dare You, young researcher, to become a Microbe Hunter.

I Dare You, boy on the farm, to become a Master Farmer—A Hunger Fighter.

I Dare You, man of affairs, to have a “Magnificent Obsession.”

I Dare You, Grandfather, with your roots deep in the soil and your head above the crowd, catching the rays of the sun, to plan a daring program to crown the years of your life.

I Dare You, who think life is humdrum, to become involved. I dare you who are weak to be strong; you who are dull to be sparkling; you who are slaves to be kings.

I Dare You, whoever you are, to share with others the fruits of your daring. Catch a passion for helping others and a richer life will come back to you!

William H Danforth

 

Filed Under: Business, Leadership, Life Coaching, Motivational, People Tagged With: , , , , ,
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Go First

May 15, 2013 By

Jon AcuffOn a recent EntreLeadership Podcast Jon Acuff mentioned something I really liked and wanted to share.  He mentioned that as a leader you need to take the first step and allow everyone else to go second.  Why?  Because it is easier to go second and more people will follow.

This is something all leaders need to understand.  To get people to follow you have to go first (sounds obvious, right?).  But so many “leaders” want to tell people where to go instead of leading them where to go.  People are more likely to follow your actions.

Imagine working in a fast food business and you see your manager empty the trash every night while you are doing the final cleaning.  He doesn’t call attention to it but you notice that he is doing it.  One night he is swamped with office work and without considering anything you simply go and take out the trash without being asked.  Why did you do this?  Some will answer because it is their job.  I expect many others will say it is because their LEADER does it all the time they were willing to help him out without being asked.

There was an excellent TED Talk by Derek Sivers on “How to Start a Movement” where one person is in a park and starts dancing (the leader) which made it easier for a second person, then more, and more, and more until they had a group.  The hardest thing was not the dancing but being the first one to dance.

If you want to be a leader then do it first.


Filed Under: Business, Leadership Tagged With: , , , , ,
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It Is How You Say It

April 24, 2013 By
words

Photo Courtesy of Susana Fernandez

My dad always told me “It isn’t what you say but how you say it.”  I lost count long ago on how many times I heard this as a child.  As an adult I can appreciate what it means.

When you are speaking with anyone whether it is personal or business you must say what you mean and how you mean it.  This is conveyed by tone of voice, volume, and, of course, body language.

Be conscience of how you speak to someone.  If you can tell that you are loud then make an effort to take your volume down a couple notches.

Speaking, just like all other skills, takes practice.  Actively practice and you can become great!

I wanted to share this video with you as well.  It shows that the words you use can change everything.  Enjoy!

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