Tag Archives: Business

Don’t Break It: Keeping Success Growing

Posted on April 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

“It’s easy to give up and fail than to continue growing forward.”

I don’t know if there’s a quote like that where I’ve read, but this morning it just came to mind. Going through Facebook looking at the great friends and people I’ve met through the years they all have one thing in common, they’ve continued to grow and carry on with themselves. I see they’re doing so well, some are starting to have a family, others joining the army preparing to be deployed. It brings a smile on my face knowing the people I grew up with are continuing their success. As for me, something I focus myself in is to keep growing through this embarkment which I choose to take.

Visiting my family in Boston last year for Christmas, many of them I had the chance to meet for the first time since more than 8 years; it’s been a while. Having the chance to catch up on things, most already had kids. One had a new born while the other had three kids already, I’m glad to see that they’re doing well and being safe. One of my cousins’ asks “So how come you don’t have any kids?” I have a slight pause and answer her that I feel that I’m still too young to have kids at my age, although there may be some people that think the age of 23 is appropriate to have kids.  It felt as if I was left out because everyone was growing families and I was seen as the selfish one. Thing is I can choose to have kids grow a family and carry on with my life, but what I have focused in mind is too big for it. Not that it’s such a demeaning move, but I want continuous growth to succeed and  having more responsibility increases the risks of failing those goals I have set myself in.

The past years of reading John C. Maxwell, Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, Zig Ziglar, and many more books, I felt that I have gained such great knowledge from them. I want to keep continuing my success to grow. Books are a nourishment for the mind, and I plan to use it so I can grow forward.

However, sometimes it comes across that it seems so complex that after all this much of listening to these speakers and trying to come up with ideas and methods of improving myself, that I can just drop it, let go, give up and just carry on with whatever life throws at me. But reality is I just can’t, it’s not in my mind to even have it mentioned. Something I talked about in earlier post about discipline. When it’s looked at, failure is a simple task. Throwing our goals away or giving up after going through a long process being many steps far from where it was started is so easy. Compared to setting our mind straight and having this constant go looking forward to each step we make, planning our strategies and making it happen. It’s something that pops in mind at times, and perhaps it’s a bad thing but I tend to get over it and continue my path.

Has anyone ever felt like this after looking at yourself and wondered how it’d be like to “blend in” with the crowd sort to say? How is it handled when it occurs and what are your responses to those who ask you why?

Leave a comment

Posted in Business

Tagged , , ,

Disciplining Ourselves: What Does It Take

Posted on April 2, 2013 | Leave a comment

Is discipline really that hard for us? If we apply it within ourselves can we be capable of getting used to it that it no longer becomes discipline? I’ve read many stories of people being well disciplined to complete a goal they had set. Is it beneficial for us or bad? If it is, what ways help you stay disciplined?

According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, discipline is punishment, obsolete: instruction, field of study or a training that molds, perfects the mental or moral character.

As kids we are often disciplined because we are confused we don’t know what we are doing and as a way to better understand it, we often result in being disciplined from mom and dad. The same method transitions into our adult lives, not by our parents, but within ourselves. When we want to reach new heights we have to understand that discipline has to be applied, its a key of series. A great quote I heard was motivation keeps you going, but discipline helps you grow.

I’ve always loved sports being involved in programs after school such as soccer and basketball. At first it was very difficult. Getting up in the morning, going out to jog for 30 minutes, coming back to eat breakfast, and do strength training few hours afterwards. I didn’t want to do it, but time after time I kept putting it in my head that I have to. There’s no if’s or but’s just go out there and practice. Allen Iverson quotes, “Practice? We’re talking about practice.” I just didn’t desire getting up that early. Disciplining myself however has really helped. People I’ve met and close friends would all ask how am I capable of waking up so early to run? I just tell them I got used to it. The results that year was the best and all leaded to one thing, disciplining myself.

Now that I’m getting into my young adult life, I find it difficult finding ways to stay disciplined, as a way of being consistent. I desire to start a new project, something that I have visioned for, but the lack of committing myself and focusing towards it fades away through time. Anyone else relating with the same issue?

There are several ways I remember I kept myself disciplined. It started out with a push. I tried looking for someone with the same mindset as myself. Hearing their experiences motivated me which is also key. I needed that one person to push me so I can get a head start and continue. Kind of like when a small boy is learning to start to ride a bike. The father pushes him and the child will start to get a feeling for it. The same went with me. After entering that lifestyle I grabbed great knowledge of what I will be dealing with. Part of that push to continue forward with disciplining myself, I felt that I needed to be motivated as well. Why motivation? Because I know the outcome will be greater. If I wasn’t motivated at the time, any discipline wouldn’t have happened nor any of the hard work I did.

As I come to conclude this post, just think about any of the projects you’ve compromised in the past. If you are starting a new project/goal, will the methods of disciplining yourself be the same as previously? How do you keep yourself on the correct path without falling over or where would you begin with disciplining yourself?

Leave a comment

Posted in Starting a Business

Tagged , , , ,

Quote

Path to Victory

“What is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory- victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road my be; for without victory, there is no survival.” -Winston Churchill

I love this quote from Mr. Churchill. When we have that mentality to win, there should be no alternatives for it. No matter the circumstances we must keep focus on one thing and it’s our path to victory.

Leave a comment

Posted on March 23, 2013 in Business, Church, Starting a Business

Tagged , ,

Pre-Plan: Mission Statement

Posted on March 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

During this pre-planning phase I understand building a great business plan and mission statement is important. How do we set this?  How long should mission statements be? I understand that two keys should be included in the mission statement and that is what are my skills/abilities, and lastly, what do I value.

Recently not so long ago I stepped into a local mechanic shop for a minor maintenance and this shop is very small. As you step in you’re in the front office, and as you see behind the front desk person is a door that leads directly into the work area. So as I setted up everything with the person taking my information I took a look at their small laminated paper that is their vision statement located on the far right corner of the office. It stated “To be the best of the best.”

So what’s wrong with this? I think it’s a little too broad. Best of the best in what and where and even in how? I commented on that and he told me that it was part of their goal. A goal? Maybe it’d be more helpful if we can narrow it down a bit and specifically state how they’re gonna get there. I gave him some helpful insights: Lets start out firstly being the best within these few blocks or this street. Once you become a great recommended shop from the area, it’s now a great time to start putting goals on becoming the best in town. From being the best in town, now we can focus on becoming best in state. Being best in state to best in country. Sounds like a hard way correct? I know it can be accomplished if we stay motivated to it. That’s also what mission statements are; to look back and help us stay motivated and on task. When we are lost and overwhelmed on what we were suppose to be doing in the first place, we should look back at our mission statement because that’s what we do. Nothing more, nothing less. Next I think it should include what skills I bring into my services. What do I have to offer that customers will feel satisfied. Skills that aren’t part of the service shouldn’t be mentioned.

Getting back to what was first mentioned, what do you guys include in your vision statements? How long do you think it should be and should we put a lot of time into it? Are you motivated time to time looking back at it?

Leave a comment

Posted in Business

Tagged , ,

Sticking Together: Ways to Bond (cont.)

Posted on March 7, 2013 | Leave a comment

As we have learned in the previous post about the ways to have a better bond with your team-members. Today lets finish up on the last three keys of these seven key series I wanted to share with you.

  • Focus on Them: It’s important that you focus on them and not most of the time on yourself. As part of being a good leader, you want your team to be the best they can and you must pull your attention to them guiding them in the correct direction. When you focus on them, you are growing and becoming better together.
  • Believe: You must believe in them that any project or goals can get accomplished. When you believe in them they become motivated and influence in getting things done. Not only does the business improve but the culture as well. The atmosphere is better and everyone is staying positive.
  • Offer Direction: I believe this is one of the strong keys to having greater bond with your team. When you guide them on the correct path, you are building their trust in you and confidently in the end, they will also guide someone else. There can always be bumps and bruises, but the outcome of guiding someone is always remarkable. When spectating a father guiding his son for the first time to ride a bike, you see how the father feels proud and overjoyed. That’s the same feeling we have when we guide, with that little bit of direction we have drawn them the map of where to go.

That wraps up the seven keys of what I believe are vital to helping create a better bond with you and your team.

  • Knowing Yourself
  • Communicating with Openness
  • Sharing your Vision
  • Getting on their Level
  • Focusing on Them
  • Believing
  • Offering Direction

In what ways have any of these keys helped? Are there examples you know of that the outcome was great? Have in thought to remember to apply these when you’re in need of creating a better culture and make it part of your strategies of business making decisions. I hope to see improvement in your business or organization if it’s slacking in making great connections within one another.

Leave a comment

Posted in Business

Tagged , ,

Sticking Together: Ways to Bond

Posted on March 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

In business or in an organization we must all have great connection with one another, without it, a leader or employer creates a setting in which it becomes dark, not trustworthy and team members not communicating effectively with one another. We have to get on a more personal level with them. I would like to share with you seven keys that can help build this long lasting relationship between you and your team. I will explain the first four today, and the last keys for Thursday.

  • Knowing yourself: Take a minute to sit back and reflect on yourself. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What’s needed to be improved? Something I would recommend is to talk with your team one on one, and let them give you feedback on what they think they see in you is needed to be improved upon. Most employers/leaders I’ve seen have refused this. They won’t mention nor perhaps will they ever. Because of the title they hold, it signifies they know what they’re doing and every aspect of themselves is perfect. I disagree, if we get to know ourselves on a more better standard we can easily connect with other members. Thus creating a bond to an extent.
  • Communicate with Openness: I believe we have to be open and sincere at the way we speak with others. If there’s a project going on and you feel a disagreement of some sort, it’s best to say it because in the end the results could’ve turned out better, and due to not being open about it, you’ve decided to stick back. We also have to be sincere and not so shallow.
  • Share your Vision: Your team has to have the same understanding of what your vision is. Where are they going with this? Are they getting anywhere? When we stick to vision, goals are achieved quicker and our team becomes stronger connecting with one another.
  • Get on their Level: When you communicate with them, communicate in terms that they can understand clearly. For example, lets say the way we communicate on a one through ten scale is an eight. Their number would be a five, so we’d have to lower ourselves that same number so they can have a clear thorough understanding of what is trying to be said. If we communicate with them on terms that we’re still at an eight, they become lost and tasks become relatively complicated. I believe also that we have to get on a level that is more deeper to them. Interests they do is an excellent example. If you tell them if they’ve seen the new gear exclusively for hunting that just been released, some if not most wouldn’t know squat. They would just ride along the train and pretend they know what you’re talking about, waiting when you’re about to leave so they can carry on. Instead how about a football game. Talk about how bad the game was yesterday allows them to fully engage you on their terms and at the same time it creates a great bond.

Take a look back and apply it to yourself. Do you have a great bond with your team-members? Do you see someone else that may need improvement to bond with their team? The team may be bonded together, but may not so much with you. How can you tell? Hope these first four keys help if you are struggling to bond with people in your setting or are seeing someone else in this situation.

Leave a comment

Posted in Business, Church

Tagged , ,

Quote

Connecting

“The stronger the relationship and connection between individuals, the more likely the follower will want to help the leader.”

Leave a comment

Posted on March 3, 2013 in Business

Tagged , ,

Great Job: Giving Compliments

Posted on February 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

Remember the times when you were young playing some sort of sports activity? Basketball, soccer, football, just about anything. You would turn to the stands to find out that your dad or parents are watching you closely to see if you can do something dramatic.
I remember playing soccer in school back in the day, and it motivated me enough to play better every time I saw my dad make it to the game. I would play much better, concentrated and do something for a change. There were times when I just couldn’t do anything. Following the game returning home, I would be upset walking straight to the dinner table and discussed what happened during the game while having dinner with my parents.
We would talk what strategies might have been better. What could I do for my team to improve. I have it my all but coach was always upset at us for not doing what we thought was enough. Further more at the end of our discussion I felt unmotivated. I didn’t want to do anything anymore. Something however struck me, my father would always compliment me on how great I played out there. He didn’t make it sound as if he just threw it out there, but it felt like he said I was still looked well playing out there (what I think). These compliments he would say felt great. A vast majority of these are part of the reason why I was still motivated to work on my gameplay the following day.
If we apply this to our personal lives and in the work place, we build great bonds with the people we work with. We become a team! What I noticed was that in the work environment, often we never receive a compliment. A co-worker I once worked with said to me he never received a compliment for his work in four years. I was speechless. Great man, seems very loyal to his work and great to talk to. But I wanted to know why hasn’t he received any compliments. Was the manager that selfish being not able to compliment people around him? It’s interesting I was reading an article that most people haven’t been applauded to or received compliments since graduation. But they say “you don’t understand, I don’t have time for that.” No, you do have time for that. It doesn’t take that much time of your day to go out and compliment someone. Complimenting someone not only will make them feel better at what they’re doing, but also it will motivate them to be even better. They are confident, they have a clear understanding and they will get motivated at what they do. It’s not that difficult. When we compliment we build our relationship even better.
When was the last time you complimented someone at your workplace. Maybe your team never heard you compliment them since they were first hired and upon hearing great job the first three days on the job, they never heard of it again. Giving compliments makes us feel better about ourselves. We build stronger trust and a leader needs trust. It’s part of the process. Compliments are key. How do you compliment people? Your staff and personally people you meet. Any given thoughts you have or questions regarding the post.

Leave a comment

Posted in Business

Tagged , ,

Planning Ahead

Posted on February 14, 2013 | Leave a comment

Planning ahead is part of being a leader. Without it, we fall into place we never thought of and makes the process that much more difficult to accomplish. John C. Maxwell’s book on “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” he states anyone can steer a ship, but can they steer it through the rough waters? Looking at this I think planning ahead puts your team at lower risk of failure. The example of how the author portrays a two men leading their crew down to Antarctica. One prepared as ever while the other not so prepares. Obviously looking at this both the leader and his men successfully reached their. Unfortunately for the other crew, most of its members hardly made it. They got there of course, but results were frostbite, death, and starvation leaving their food on route.
So what so we learn from this? Planning ahead is part of the leadership process. If you have a team and want to accomplish a certain goal, we must build the blue print in order to succeed the results. Lets not forget also, with less risk involved as well.

Leave a comment

Posted in Business

Tagged ,

What is it: Stuck starting a business

Posted on February 8, 2013 | 2 comments

Throughout the day I go through podcast listening to speakers of great knowledge in the business and financial field, giving words of wisdom and what is needed to do to succeed in growing your business. So I ask? What is needed to start a business and why does it seem to take so long?

I always have that mentality of starting a business, but one of the reasons I feel that I can’t is because of fear. This state of mind which corrupts my entire body and mind from starting. I can’t go anywhere without putting aside fear and start bringing in that confidence I have. The thought of already starting a business, but soon after; the fear of my services not going anywhere or not having the interest from the public. Being Christian, I believe daily prayers to set aside the spirit of fear will make me feel better about myself not only knowing that fear is out of my mind, but that I get closer with God each and everyday.

So although this fear of starting a business may come and go. What is needed to start a business? One thing is ideas.

I’ve struggled so much with this because there’s so many ideas I have in my mind, I don’t know how I could put it in real life to better serve people. It’s such a task, sitting down at your local Barnes and Noble, sipping on some Starbucks coffee, and just think. What can I sell? What can I do to better serve the public and make their lives much better? How can I help them feel better about themselves? How can I make life much easier for them? Thinking about these ideas can be frustrating at times, because some days I’ll have great ideas; while other days I’ll have stupid to no ideas.

Just a thought I wanted to share with everyone. Of course I will be writing more, and hope responses come that will not only help me, but everyone else with the same thoughts and struggles to better improve themselves.

2 Comments

Posted in Business, Starting a Business

Tagged , , ,