The Blog - Where Business Collides with Human Nature

The Truth is Out There

If you believe in something enough, you will risk your very reputation to hit the mark, accomplish a goal and achieve success.  You may believe your idea is worth a million dollars or possibly believe that "everyone" is out to get you.  Your may believe that you can sell 10 million widgets... though you have not yet sold even one.

The truth is out there and you want to believe... 

But first, human beings typically learn what to do next by following the crowd.

Topics: Paradigm Business Success Deep Thoughts Personal Development

Boss Survey

How do you answer to the boss?

  • Do you create expectations in advance beyond the the boss's calendar to be ready for answers?
  • Do you challenge the boss by asking hard questions?
  • Are you someone who does exactly what the boss says?
  • Do you anticipate in advance what the boss will ask of you?
  • Do you tell the boss what your best choice is among all the available options?
  • Do your co-workers and bosses ask you difficult questions?
    • If so, do you give them support or say: "Get lost"?
  • Have you created a totally new way to do things, something no one has ever seen or done?
  • Do you seek out the boss when you make an error or mistake?
  • Do you frequently often do you push, encourage and lead your co-workers to do ever better work?
  • Will next month be one the boss will celebrate because you are on the team?
  • Do you insist that your co-workers challenge, push and encourage you?
  • Do you appreciate the boss when he/she gives feedback which contradicts your opinion?
  • Do you thank the boss?
Topics: Deep Thoughts Leadership

The Lure of Easy

Easy is the first choice because typically "easy" means less work, less time and less money.  Attempting to achieve success based on "easy" only to fail along the way brings to mind:  "If it was easy, everyone would be doing it".  This quote serves as a reminder that if a task or project is difficult, think of the difficulty in a positive light. 

Topics: Paradigm Deep Thoughts

Consideration, Respect and the Devil

Don't talk to sales people, they are the devil.  If you act like a sales person, people will think you are the devil.  Labeling people is detrimental to good relationships.  It is a bit like saying "all blondes are dumb" or "all accountants are boring".  If you label people, you are the devil.

Sales people can seem like the devil.  So can entrepreneurs who are too focused, marketing strategists who don't connect well, working mothers who are over their head or someone who is having chronic health issues.

Topics: Sales Deep Thoughts Leadership Communication

Think, Talk and Get Paid

The perfect role many wish for is:  "Think, Talk and Get Paid."  Thinking and talking seem easy enough. Often times those who are very wise and may ask: "Why am I the only one who sees this?"  

Topics: Deep Thoughts Leadership Inspiration

The Entrepreneur's Creed

A sign on my wall helps me to remember what entrepreneurs can do to achieve success.  While it seems simple and certainly not all inclusive, the sign offers a reminder for why some achieve success and others fail. 

Topics: Business Success Deep Thoughts

Bob and Bob

When you meet someone new, do you hope they are just like you?  Do you believe it is important they think as you do and agree with your opinions?  Or are you open minded, willing to accept conflict and looking forward to the new opportunities within disagreements?  Do you avoid networking because you perceive there is risk?

Topics: Deep Thoughts

Doing something when there are no guarantees - by Brene Brown

To believe that you will succeed as an entrepreneur, you will most likely feel like you are worthy of success you will have the courage to be imperfect.  Understanding courage, compassion, authenticity are aspects which must be understood by a good leader and Brene Brown has a video to expand on these thoughts.

Brene Brown studies human connection -- our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity.

Topics: Paradigm Deep Thoughts Leadership

Steve Jobs With the Ultimate Advice to Entrepreneurs [video]

If you had the opportunity to ask Steve Jobs one question, what would it have been?  This is a video where Steve Jobs gave advice to entreprenuers with a great excerpt from the D5 conference with Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.  Steve Jobs shares his advice or "secret" to creating successful companies.  Before you watch the video, can you guess what the advice might be?  Are you thinking that he will say:  Go to school, work hard, have more friends?  Watch and listen to Steve Jobs' advice about how to achieve success:

Topics: Steve Jobs Deep Thoughts Entrepreneurship

Killing Clever

If only someone had told me: "Don't be so clever" when I was a young smart mouth.  While the ultimate goal was to make people smile, my antics and craziness did not always prove to be truly helpful. (Sometimes I was not as clever or funny as I thought.)

The battle continues as my creative brain looks for ways to make people smile and feel great about the day and the opportunities that exist.  Quite a few years ago, I mostly killed 'clever' and I began to prioritize 'commitment' which is a necessary component to getting things done. 

Topics: Paradigm Deep Thoughts Leadership

It's my fake birthday today on August 1st - Gotcha!

All day long there will be a long list of birthday wishes.  There have been a few very special people who have sent me an email card and I thank you. 

Unfortunately, it is my fake birthday (August 1st) and the automated tools will begin to send birthday wishes to me.  It will be interesting to see how many software systems pour out their hearts and bend over backwards to send me their best birthday wish.

Topics: Deep Thoughts Business Success Tips

It is my fake birthday today on August 1st - Gotcha!

All day long there will be a long list of birthday wishes.  There have been a few very special people who have sent me an email card and I thank you. 

Topics: Deep Thoughts