When Running on Empty

I'm waiting (and praying) for this latest fuel assault on my bank account to subside. Never in my life have I seen so many bitter and angry truck, SUV and V6+ drivers. Road rage is taking an interesting twist and "drafting" behind other vehicles is a new daily sport.

I personally never fill my tank to full anymore, hoping beyond hope I will see some honest gas station that is not gauging the desperate fuel consumers. It creates a bit of daily anxiety ... especially when my fuel light flickers on and I hear that ominous "ding".

This is no different from life in general. When we're stretched to the limit, "running on empty" and forced to make unwanted choices that consume our valuable resources, we become bitter and angry. Unfortunately all others see is your bitterness and anger ... which do not attract, if you follow any of the trendy "Law of Attraction" blurbs. These definitely repel people and leave you little energy to focus on all things plentiful, proactive and positive.

So how do we avoid finding ourselves in this mode?

It IS avoidable. There are some people you can count on to always be consistent, professional and pleasant. How do they do it?

Investment.

There's a prickly word in today's economic climate, but let's face it, if we had fuel tanks in our backyards and invested in additional fuel when prices were low, we'd be laughing instead of crying (which is what the fuel companies are doing).

No, of course we're not going to install fuel tanks in our backyards ... but what about our own business and personal resource tanks? If this present climate is as good as it gets, what should you stock up on to weather an upcoming storm? What resources are most important to you?

• public relations?
• goodwill?
• talented staff?
• personal friendships?
• time with family?
• paperclips?

It's no different from the saying "Make hay while the sun shines" or the story of the ant who stored up for the winter and the grasshopper who sang away the summer.

Invest NOW in the resources that are important to you! Go extra miles while you can. Ensure you have plenty ALWAYS. Stock up on the things that truly matter and you will have plenty of resources available to draw from through the tough stretches.

The key is to know what truly matters to you. Just like last week, I recommend two vital resources to get you started:

Online Personal Style Indicator (PSI) and the Online Values Preference Indicator (VPI)

These will show you your inherent strengths and your true core values you need to honour and utilize in whatever direction you take.

Happy investing!
May your dividends and ROI be abundant!

How Did I Get Here?

If that title made you sing a Talking Heads song, you're as old as me.

The concepts suggested in the song's words "Letting the days go by ..." and "Same as it ever was ..." are tragically all too real for most of today's society. The character in the song wakes up in a world he's created and become trapped by while sleepwalking through life.

In careers, we see this happen when people follow convenience, jobs offered by well-meaning relatives or friends and a need for a paycheque. We see this in people setting goals that are not in line with their passions, strengths and purpose.

Where Do I Go From Here?

If you've been at that crossroad described above, you know you really have three choices:

1. Go back to your familiar sleepwalking;
2. Go to sleep somewhere else thinking the new environment will make a difference; or
3. Get out of bed, take a good look in the mirror and start working on a purposeful life!!!

#3 is exhausting, but well worth the journey and does not alienate those who have grown to love and depend on you. As entrepreneurs #3 is vital to your ultimate success or all you've grown will dissolve "... into the blue again after the money's gone ..."

A good start to this journey is "the mirror" - a clearer picture of who you are, your inherent strengths, how you show up day to day and your true core values. You can sift through feedback from those who know you, engage the help of a life coach or psychologist, or take a few self-directed assessments. I recommend the triple-threat:

1. Start with the assessments
2. Discuss your self-discovery with those closest to you and engage their feedback
3. Round it out with targeted life coaching

Two self-scoring self-interpreted assessments I highly recommend are:

The Online Personal Style Indicator (PSI) and the Online Values Preference Indicator (VPI)

Both hold the mirror up at different angles, and also teach you how to look at others in a whole new way! There are many life coaches available, each with a different background or focus. There are many ways to find a coach in your area. Talk to other professionals you respect and see if any of them have a coach they would recommend to you. There are coaches who work over the phone as well.

Life is a journey, not a destination. The day we stop growing and learning how to be the best possible version of ourselves is the day we stop inspiring others ... and the day we begin to stop mattering to anyone but ourselves. What a sad day that is.

Clarity, Direction, FOCUS!!!

One of my clients pointed out the fact that September, not January, is actually the NEW YEAR! It's true. Everything is suddenly kicking into high gear, people are revisiting their goals with renewed enthusiasm, school is starting, there is a run on food and consumer goods ... September IS when everything seems to start fresh.

There are a few of us who are completely prepared for this frenzied flurry of activity, and there are those of us who are very creative ... this energy on everyone else's part seems to pull us into a mode of renewed possibilities. It is vital now more than ever to have your VISION and your MISSION statements completed and close at hand - displayed prominently in your office, at the top of your inter-company correspondence, on the front inside page of your daytimer ...


Here are two inevitable and well proven truths:

1. The longer you look at something, the clearer and more in focus it becomes.
2. When skiing through trees, your skis travel directly where you focus.

So ... an interesting opportunity presents itself (as so many are right about now). Look at your goals, your vision and your mission statements LITERALLY and ask these critical questions:

• "Will putting energy into this idea help achieve my goals?"
• "Does this opportunity fit my vision?"
• "Does this activity help fulfill my mission?"
• "Will taking action in this direction help or hurt?" (picture skiing through the trees)
  

Go with MAXIMUM IMPACT (on your goals, not the trees) lasting over greatest time period ALWAYS!!!

This is a good time to revisit your Vision and Mission, review and revise your goals and create a plan of action for ultimate success. Write it in a fresh document and design ways to chart your success.

Don't wait until January!!! Make September your fresh start and sail into the official New Year already ON PURPOSE!!!