WillPemble.com

Is that a light at the end of the tunnel?

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Burning Bridges & Building Toll Booths

If you're an entrepreneur, it's likely that you've got a fair bit of walter-mitty-wide-eyed-optimism in you. Generally speaking, you tend to feel like things are going to work out for the best. And, I'll bet that if you feel that way, things generally do turn out for the best.

But, I'll also bet there are one or two people, one or two deals, and one or two ideas that never quite seem to come true. And even though they never come true, if you're like me, you never quite give up on these people, deals, or ideas.

 Over the years, I've been fortunate to have quite a few people, businesses and idea come true. I've also built a small (but not small enough) list of businesses, ideas, and people that I should lovingly set aside. But time and time again, whenever I get a call, I jump in with both feet, lend my expertise and ideas to the project, and most times, everybody makes money.... except me.

In my more cynical moments, I say things like, "That's it. No more Mr. Nice Guy. I'm dumping that loser of an idea and never going back to it. I'm never going to take so-and-so's call again."

And then I figure that just to be sure I don't stick my hand in the blender another time, I figure maybe I'll call or write a scorching email, so that the next time I even think about that person, company, or idea, they wont take my call! 

Yep. I'll just burn that bridge so I'm never tempted to try opening that door again.

But, for better or worse, I never do that. It runs against my sense of wide-eyed-optimism, and I bet it runs against yours too.

SO, what I've started doing instead of burning bridges, is I install Toll Booths.

"Hey, Larry! It's great that your new blog is going so well. I'm glad I was able to get on the phone with you for 45 minutes and walk you through exactly how to set that up. Really and truly, it was my pleasure to do for free what most people pay for. After all, business consulting is my profession. It is, as they say, What I Do. And now that you've had an awesome, Free Sample of my work, I hope you'll think of retaining my services the next time you need advice about Blogging, Online Business, Digital Marketing, or anything else you'll need to get your project off the ground and keep it going. I would love to be your consultant, and I'm proud of the value I bring to any business situation."

See? I haven't burnt the bridge, I've built a Toll Both. Larry knows he can call me anytime for advice. He knows that I can break down business ideas, strategies and tactics as well as, if not better than, anybody in the industry. But most of all, Larry knows that if he wants to cross this particular bridge again, he's going to pay the toll, just like everybody else.

I'm All Out Of Favors, So Don't Even Ask

"Hey, man, can you introduce me to so-and-so? I could really use a favor. Or maybe you could take a look at my resume for me?" These questions above are completely normal in the context of a friendship, or even a workplace. People, I've always believed, are glad to help.

But as times get tougher, this is changing. Financial pressures increase, with more and more executives and middle-managers delivering pizza or making coffee for a living, the favor bank seems to be drying up.

Core Problem: People are Scared.
Symptom: People Get Angry.
Result: People Are Less Likely To Help
Solution: OFFER TO HELP!

If you're in business for yourself, or if you're still employed, make absolutely, positively sure that your product or service solves a problem your customer has. No one cares about your problems. They care about their own problems, their own jobs, their own businesses, their own survival. This is a sad thing, but it's a true thing. DO NOT bring your issues to other people.

Meanwhile, you've still got to survive. You need to sell your product or service. You need to keep your job. The last thing any of us wants is to become a foreclosure statistic. Here's how to do that.

Give people their reasons for doing your thing. If I want you to buy my Social Networking Wizard service - and I do - then I had damned well better have a very good reason for even starting the conversation.

For example:

Hey! Do you need a job? I can help you get one. How? Well, my company can set up your Linkedin, Facebook Twitter, Delicious, and Skype accounts for you in no time flat and then people can start finding you online. You will look like an expert in your field. Your profile can bubble to the top of search results. Your qualifications will be more noticeable to hiring managers. So again, if you want a job, we can help. Just click here!

See? That paragraph is all about your reasons to do my thing. It also happens to be true, by the way. We can do all that stuff for you, and more. But the only way your going to get even a hint of attention is if you are focused entirely on the needs of your customer. This alone will set you apart from the crowd.

10k, Done. New Home Page, Done.

Which came first?
Which caused which?

A: Both

Mindset Fitness

Lyle Makes Paper

Recycling in it's purest form!

Focus On Climbing, Not Falling

In Australia, where we lived in 2008, the kids are hella brave. Mainly, because their parents aren't warning them about the dangers of being a kid. Liz and I got the message, dialed back the over-protectiveness a bit, and wouldn't you know it, our kids climb and jump and play - and fall - and get back up - and it's just fine. Better that fine, actually.

Why are we failure-focused and safety-obsessed? Why do we spend our lives bracing for impact?

Don't focus failure. I promise, failure will take care of itself. Focus on success. Focus on what's at the top of the climb. :) 

You Probably Already knew This

There are 10 Teaspoons of sugar in one can of Coke. Naturally, I'm as disappointed as anyone about this.
I'd heard that Water a pretty good, so I tried it. Quite good, actually, especially with ice, which is another water product :)

 

I Quit!

I had an interesting conversation with my Mindset Fitness Coach today during a quick 5-mile run.

SIDEBAR: Yes, even though I invented Mindset Fitness Coaching, I still need to have my own coach. Anybody who's great at anything has coaches, advisors, mentors, friends and loved ones upon whom they absolutely rely for guidance and support. If you want to fail miserably, just try and do things on your own.

ANOTHER SIDEBAR: Yes, I talk to Coach Veev while I'm running. At the core of Mindset Fitness is the basic scientific fact that when the heart rate gets up above 120, and the adrenalyn starts flowing, we experience an altered state of cnsciousness. Runners call it the Runner's High, but it's not reserved for runners, and it's way more productive than getting high. Check out the Mindset Fitness Page to learn more.  Now, back to this post.

Anyway, our conversation went something like this:

"I'm not sure a particular part of the business plan is going to work. I'm thinking of dumping it."

Then, Coach Veev (His name's really Vivek, but I call him Veev) said, "Are you sure you're not just quitting because you don't really like this part?"

I think I said something like, "Well naturally, that's part of it! Why would I quit something I liked???"

OKAY - Here's the IMPORTANT PART: 

Just because you really want to quit something, and just because quitting seems expedient and instantly gratifying, doesn't necessarily make it a bad idea! 

Now, the next thoughtful question might be, "What about Quitters Never Win? What about never, ever, ever, ever give up?  These are great bits of advice, and I often give the second bit about never giving up. 

However, there's a difference between quitting and giving up. In this instance, I was looking at a component - a part - of a larger plan. I started to implement this part of the plan, and immediately, it started to NOT get results. Based on the information I was looking at, it seemed like it would take quite a bit more effort to get this particular initiative to work. Veev was all to kind in pointing this out. "You're not just quitting because you don't want to work harder on this?" 

Let's face it: Something like 95% of all new businesses fail. Now, that could be because 95% of all ideas are bad, right? This idea was just plain bad, for a number of reasons. I can say this because it was my idea. I have ideas all day every day. Most of them are absolute crap. Yes. Most of my ideas are absolute rubbish. And that's fine. As soon as I come up with a bad idea, I QUIT! But I only quit on that particular idea. I NEVER GIVE UP on the bigger picture, the business, myself, my friends or my family. 

I'm a Quitter and I'm a Success. 

So yes, Veev. I'm quitting this idea. I'm quitting this idea because I couldn't possibly Give Up on the business. 

:)

We'll Talk Later About The "C" In DISC

Try to find one of these every day.

Stop and Play. Often!

These two really know how to have fun.

Easter Day

People are getting smarter, I think

Low EQ Can Be Leveraged

See that nice family out for a walk? Not me.

What I see are 3 people who are ahead of me on this trail. Or, at least that's what my EQ sees.
Must... Run... Faster!!!
Infantile? You bet. Gonna shave 15 seconds off a mile? Absolutely.

SO - understand what EQ is, and know your EQ. That way, you'll can indulge those impulses when it's good for you. :)
 

Good Advice & Encouragement Is Where You Find It

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