Are You Ready to Take Action?

Many people get closer to their dreams by taking action. When you purposefully decide to move in a certain direction you begin a journey that will take you in directions you may not even have imagined. Here’s what some wise people have to say about the subject.

Anais Nin:

Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.

Anatole France:

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.

Alfred North Whitehead:

We cannot think first and act afterward. From the moment of birth we are immersed in action, and can only fitfully guide it by taking thought.

Have an action-filled day,

Guy
I help people take action.

What is Conflict Really About?

Many people go through life putting out fires and reacting to whatever conflict comes their way rather than trying to prevent it. We often spend much of our time focusing on the issue on the surface but don’t do anything to resolve the underlying situation. Think about the last time you had a fight with someone you loved. What was it about? Did you fix it? Did it go away permanently? Think of the following points next time you are in conflict with someone.

What is this conflict really about?
What am I feeling inside and where does that come from?
Do I really care whether the toilet seat is up or is it about something else?
What is it about me that compels me to fight about this?
What do I need to do to fix this situation?

When you ask yourself questions like these you begin the process of understanding yourself. It is this self-knowledge that helps us figure out who we really are at a deeper level. We spend so much time fighting about things that are only the tip of the real problem that lies below. Think about it next time you get upset. Am I really mad about the lid being left off the jar or is it that I feel like no one cares about me?

Once you figure out what’s really going on you can begin doing the important work to actually fix your relationship and life conflicts.

Have a great conflict-fixing day,

Guy
I help people resolve conflict.

The Power of Positive Thinking

I was coaching a group of people all of whom had been through significant trauma in their lives. I asked the question, “Why is it that you all are able to move forward when others don’t?” What is the difference between those who can overcome adversity and those who get stuck with it?

The answer is simple but significant. The people that overcome obstacles are those who are able to focus on the positive. This doesn’t mean that they minimize trauma or don’t acknowledge difficulties it’s simply that they are able to focus on actually doing positive things.

People have an amazing ability to move in any direction they want to. Right this moment you could start doing something to change your life if you wanted to. All it takes is making a conscious decision that you are going to do something, anything. Being positive is about focusing on the things you can change and that you have control over.

We are able to change ourselves because we have control over what we do. Next time you feel like there is no hope try doing one thing to interrupt those thoughts and that will move you in a positive direction. Time after time I’ve had clients tell me that all it took to change their lives was thinking positively about something they used to think of as negative.

Have a positive day,

Guy
I help people find the positive things.

You Can Do It

When I help people figure out what they want out of their business or life in general a common theme arises time after time: that every movement in our lives starts with us. This seems like a basic concept but it can have profound implications. We can choose to move in a different direction at any time but we have to start. If you want to try out this concept try this:

1. Think of something you want to achieve in your life.
2. Think of one thing you can do today to achieve your goal.
3. Take action and do it.
4. Praise yourself for actions you complete.
5. Ask yourself, “What did I learn about myself?”
6. Repeat.

People just like you create amazing change in their lives by taking action. It’s incredible how much control we have over our lives if we consciously do things to change it.

Take care,

Guy
I help people succeed.

Workplace Conflict – Fix it Already

It’s easy to focus exclusively on our own perspective when we’re dealing with conflict in the workplace. We tend to think of the challenges in our lives in terms we are familiar with and this often means we keep repeating the same patterns and acting the same way we always have. This works well if we get great results but what happens if our behaviors always lead to less than satisfactory outcomes.

We all know people who can never quite resolve their differences with someone else and we watch them repeat the same pattern over and over. I’ve noticed that it is helpful to let in some new information and get a fresh perspective. When we let new information in it’s like opening a window in a stuffy room, we can breathe better and think more clearly. Think about some of the following ideas next time you feel like you will never resolve an ongoing conflict.

1. Who can I turn to that is not involved in my situation and can give me impartial advice?
2. Am I willing to let an outside person offer me advice?
3. How open am I to talking about difficult issues with an outside person?
4. How open am I to doing the work necessary to move in a different direction?
5. What actions will I commit to doing?

Think about these questions and keep in mind that none of us has all the answers but we all have the ability to acquire new information if we are open enough. Let some air in, enjoy a fresh perspective and start moving in a new direction.

Take care,

Guy
I help you resolve conflicts.

Leadership: Do You Inspire or Perspire?

I coach many leaders and the concept of the effort expended vs. results seems to keep coming up.  Somewhere along the way someone told leaders that they had to fill their day with as much activity as possible and to always be on the run in order to make their business thrive.  While I agree that success requires constant and deliberate action, many people squander away much of their day on busy work that they don’t really need to do or that they could delegate in some way.

Those who perspire spend their day running from one emergency to the next and putting out fires.  They don’t have time to think or plan because they’re too busy reacting to whatever comes their way.

Leaders who inspire live a very different life.  They plan beforehand and have the systems in place to deal with emergencies.  Last minute chaos is much rarer because they have trained people to expect the unexpected and have policies and procedures to deal with contingencies.  This frees up the leader to focus on inspiring her employees.  Here are some of the characteristics of an inspirational leader.

• Helps people be content in their job.
• Communicates openly and respectfully.
• Helps people grow.
• Supports innovative thinking.
• Shares information openly.
• Praises employees constantly.
• Focuses on employees’ strengths, skills and abilities.
• Offers opportunities for education and career advancement.
• Prioritizes and plans his or her own day well.
• Involves staff in planning.
• Models excellent behavior.
• Behaves with kindness and empathy.
• Educates instead of punishes (and only when requested).
• Gets out of the way.
• Is open to new ideas.
• Delegates well and frequently.
• Smiles.

Think about yourself and whether you practice the ideas above.  I recommend that people focus on these areas and become good at doing them the majority of their work day, preferably 90% of the time or more.  Those who become adept at doing these things are able to inspire their staff.

Being an inspirational leader doesn’t require changing one’s personality it can be accomplished by basic, deliberate action.  Once you become an expert practitioner of the ideas we’ve talked about you will find that you will inspire staff to do more and to grow because you believe in them and inspire them to do their best.  It makes your life and theirs easier and you don’t have to spend your day sweating the small stuff.

Take care,

Guy

I help leaders inspire others.

How to Make More Money

People often ask me how they can make more money.  The answer to this question is different for each person or business but there are some basic ideas that can help anyone make more money.

Do What You Love

If you follow what you love doing you will be functioning from a place of genuine interest and excitement.  Focus on working in a field that is a passion of yours, not just one that you have the ability to do or have settled for.  Steer clear of projects that promise great wealth but take you away from your dreams.

Surround Yourself With Experts

Reach out to people who have a deep connection to what you do.  These people will be far more likely to understand where you come from and what you offer than other people who only superficially understand you or only have a passing interest in your product or service.

Ask For Help

Look to industry leaders and the people who support them and learn from them.  Ask for advice and guidance and use what fits for you.  Find someone who can mentor you and provide valuable life experience.  Remember that you don’t have to do everything yourself.

Promote Yourself

Don’t be the best kept secret around, let people know you’re out there and that you’re open for business.  Try to talk to people in terms of the benefits you provide them and remember that you’re promoting the most important thing in the world, you.

Create Deeper Relationships

People who know and trust you will be far more likely to use your product or service and refer others they know.  Take time to listen to prospective clients or partners and create deeper relationships that will help you build your business.

Identify Who is Buying Your Product

Once you know who is interested in your service or product you can move on to market yourself to them.  You can’t do this if you don’t know who is buying.  Do some research on your previous customers and look for trends.  In that way, you can focus your energy on the people who really want what you offer.

Be Flexible

Be willing to learn new things and do things in a different way.  Be aware of what works and what doesn’t and put your energy into the productive areas.  Be willing to take advice and guidance from your clients and colleagues.  Move with the changes that come your way and use your talents to stay in the race.

Never Give Up

Many people give up before their first major break.  If you follow your dreams you may encounter challenges and naysayers but you will always have the comfort of doing what you love.  Keep moving forward no matter what and you will create momentum that will lead to success.

Plan, Plan, Plan

Develop a plan.  Many people lose their way because they don’t take the time to plan before they do stuff.  When you develop a coherent plan you will be able to take a more objective look at your situation and make decisions based on careful thought rather than last minute reactions.

Take some time to think about these ideas and you will begin the process of creating a mindset that will lead you to wealth.  Making money is not a get rich quick process, it’s a deliberate movement based on your actions and decisions.  When you take some time to figure out what you want to do in life you then open up the doors of opportunity in ways you can’t when you settle for simply bringing home a paycheck.

Take care,

Guy

I help people achieve their dreams.

The Effects of Micromanaging

Micromanaging is the act of inserting yourself into every task you employee is doing. At its most basic, micromanaging is the inability to let other people do their jobs. Why does this happen? Often it is simply that we don’t know any other way to manage people. You can enjoy even better results from you employees if you keep the following tips in mind:

1. Let people do tasks alone and only help if they ask.
2. Give people the opportunity to show you what they do well.
3. Provide education only when people ask you.
4. Figure out why it is you choose to micromanage.
5. Picture what you could do with your business if you weren’t micromanaging.

They myth in business is that you have to be a “hands on” manager. Regrettably, this approach does not allow employees to grow or to experience the learning that comes from doing things oneself. True growth occurs on the job when we are allowed to learn from our mistakes and our successes.

Regards,

Guy
I help people stop micromanaging.

Are You Using Your Employee’s Brainpower?

As owners, executives and managers we often are so busy that we forget a cardinal rule of managing people: Identify their strengths and build on them. Many of the innovations that occur in businesses come to fruition because a smart manager knew how to use the brain power of his or her employee. It is helpful to remember that many of the future innovations and ideas in our business could very well come from our employees. Set the tone for your organization by thinking of the following ideas:

1. Identify the things your employees do well.
2. Identify the tasks your employees enjoy doing.
3. Listen carefully and often to glean information from your staff.
4. Set up mechanisms to help your employees talk freely with you.
5. Create a workplace where communication flows in all directions.
6. Let your employees know and reward them for their creativity.

When you open yourself to the brainpower your employees possess you open the door to creating greater success and dynamism in your company.

Regards,

Guy Farmer
I help companies harness brainpower.

Proactive vs. Reactive Thinking

Did you know you can live with fewer emergencies?  I frequently coach business people and facilitate trainings where they talk about how they run from one crisis to another and never seem to catch up on things.  While there is nothing horribly wrong with this approach, it tends to stress us out and wear us down rather quickly.  Yet millions of people spend their entire days reacting to events rather than trying to foresee them.

There is an approach that helps people get out of triage mode and move toward balance.  It takes a shift in mindset but the rewards are that we get to relax more and avoid many emergencies.  It’s called planning.  Try the following tips to help you develop fewer ulcers.

• Make a list of possible emergencies that could happen.  This will help you start visualizing all the things that used to take you by surprise.
• For each item on the list, develop a series of actions you can take.  This helps you plan what you’re going to do instead of reacting.
• Clear your head and tell yourself you will not react to emergencies.
• Tell your employees that you will only allow emergencies to be dealt with at a certain time during the day, say, 1-3 PM.  This will broadcast to your employees that you are non longer defining every event as an emergency.  It sets a new tone.
• Plan each of your days in advance and stick to the plan.
• Do not deviate from the plan unless there is a dire, life-threatening event.  The reason for this is that you are forcing yourself to get out of crisis mode and lay back a bit.
• You are not required to hover over everyone and be part of everything that happens.  I encourage you to become a better leader by trusting that your employees are doing their job.  Make yourself available by appointment if they need some education or training or delegate that task to someone else.
• Take a lunch and leave the facility.
• Breathe deeply and sigh with relief because you’re not running from one crisis to another.

Moving from reacting to behaving proactively requires that we let go of the notion that we are only valuable if we are in problem-solving, crisis mode at all times.  Try the ideas we’ve mentioned above for at least a month and you will enjoy the benefits of being more proactive.

Regards,

Guy

I help people be more proactive.