Chasing And Catching Entrepreneurship: What Do You Want To Be Known For? (Part 2 of A 4-Question Video Series)

Entrepreneurship, Video / By

People often go to one extreme or the other when considering today’s question. Sometimes I see people write down a full page of various things they’d like to be known for. If they lived to be 1000 years old they still wouldn’t be able to accomplish half the things on their list…and that’s assuming they had the natural aptitude for each thing.

At the other end of the spectrum are those poor people who struggle to write down a single thing. They can’t think of anything they want to known for. When I encounter these people I drive them immediately to a crisis center for counseling. I fear for their safety.

We likely fall somewhere in the middle. We don’t want to limit ourselves, so our list expands. We don’t want to live unnoticed, so we write down something.

Narrow your focus to business related pursuits and it doesn’t simplify things for most of us. Today’s question is why so many companies fail to properly identify their target market. Everybody can’t be your target, but neither can nobody. You need somebody!

As you consider what you’d like to be known for you must also ask yourself, “By whom?”

Mentioned in today’s show:

• The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau

• An anonymous company that is not so anonymous. I ran across this company in the summer of 2007. Here in Texas it gets really hot and I was investigating ventilation options for a warehouse when a Google search led me to them. I instantly “got it.”

• Perry Marshall is a guy you ought to pay some attention to. He’s smart and I trust him. No, I’ve not met him, but I’ve paid attention to him for the past 5 years or so. Well, in his archives is a terrific article and audio interview about the aforementioned company.

Take some time and give this question the attention it deserves. You’ll be rewarded with the clarity you need to make progress. Like most of these questions, it won’t be easy. Don’t rush it. Just keep on pushing forward sorting through all the noise in your head. When things quieten down you’ll likely be getting close to your answer.

P.S. Congratulations to the New Jersey Devils and their fans for advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. It should be a great series!

Chasing And Catching Entrepreneurship: What Do You Want To Be Known For? (Part 2 of A 4-Question Video Series) Read More »

Episode 131 – The Never Ending Quest For The AHA! Moment (Why Content Consumption Is Worthwhile)

Personal Development, Podcast / By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More

The Podcast: Download | Non-Flash Playback

Don't we all crave the AHA! moment?

Days pass. Nothing profound. Same ol, same ol.

Still we read numerous blogs. We spend hours Googling a variety of interesting articles. Stroll over to YouTube and Vimeo and we watch a dozen videos. Cruise on over to iTunes where we download some podcasts for our daily workout.

Still nothing profound. No AHA! moment.

Until it all changes…and we experience what we were looking for all along. Well, we weren’t looking for that exact one, but still we found it. The needle in the haystack!

The AHA! Moment

If I could predict or create the AHA! moment…I’d be the wealthiest man on the planet. I’d surely be the world’s most interesting man.

Sadly, I’m neither. But I am a man in search of an epiphany. I think you are, too. We’re all searching for more AHA! moments. More epiphanies. Those moments feel so terrific when we experience them.

I’m going to tell you why all this “content creation” and “content consumption” is worthwhile, even if it’s not all greatness. Much of what we consume – maybe MOST of what we consume – is not life changing. Still we consume it.

We should. Click play and I’ll tell you why!

Mentioned in today’s show:

• The Radical Leap Re-Energized by Steve Farber (I read the 1st one, but I’ve not yet read this one)
• Daniel Clark of QAQN.com posted a funny message on Facebook that helps prove my point about content.

You guys are all opening my eyes about this episode… I don’t know if there was something in my water yesterday or what, but I think we need a do-over. Think Tank was not without a few flaws – many my own hangups (the ‘bikini’ discussion) – but if the overall impression you’re all getting is that we had a lousy time and Think Tank sucked… that’s not at all how I feel about it. If podcasters are allowed one train wreck of a show, this might be mine.

Leave me a review over at iTunes, please!

Have a safe, happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Episode 131 – The Never Ending Quest For The AHA! Moment (Why Content Consumption Is Worthwhile) Read More »

Chasing And Catching Entrepreneurship: What Do You Care Most About? (Part 1 of A 4-Question Video Series)

Entrepreneurship, Personal Development, Video / By

Behind the bench at a hockey tournament

Nothing I’ve ever done has consumed me like coaching hockey. Nothing even comes close.

When I began I read everything I could get my hands on. I connected with people from any English speaking country who could teach me anything. I was a sponge…driven to learn more so I could help my teams.

I’d long been a student and fan of the game, but I never played. Regularly I’d joke with players that I simply had a hockey Rolodex that would trump anybody they knew. Bulletin boards, forums and every obscure hockey website were regularly visited by me as I made notes and obsessed with things I could pass on to my players.

The roller hockey scene of 20 years ago hit. Warm weather locations like Texas, California and Florida were embracing the sport with grand enthusiasm. I dove headlong into that area of hockey at the time because it was virgin territory and the old head ice hockey guys had a strong prejudice against it. I didn’t.

When USA Hockey in Colorado Springs realized the inline version of the game was an opportunity to expose more young players to a great game – they began to bring order and organization to the sport. The Executive Director at the time recruited me to become a Regional Director, a completely volunteer position that I happily accepted because coaching was that important to me.

Over time I coached countless kids, from 6 year olds to college guys.* And I loved every minute of it, even dealing with obnoxious, idiotic parents. Because I had a bigger purpose. A more important compelling reason. I wanted to impart a little bit of knowledge, a little bit of wisdom and a whole lot of life lessons to the players.

My aim was high. To be memorable by helping them achieve more than they might be able to without my help.

I was fully devoted to them, and to the sport.

Coaching hockey has, for years, been the barometer for me whenever I’m looking at my own passions and trying to answer today’s question. Maybe there’s something in your life that serves you like that. I’d love to report that it has helped me clarify things, but it hasn’t. Some days it only serves to confuse me further. And for a guy like me, confusion comes easily so I don’t need any more help in that department.

Look deeply into your life. Look into your past. Carefully consider today’s question. There are three more coming behind it. My hope is that we can work through these questions and learn more about ourselves. Along the way perhaps we can figure out some ways to earn more money because money is the fuel that helps us maintain our passions, and our causes. We need money to support the causes we care most about.

Question 1: What Do You Care Most About?

* Note: The photo was taken of me coaching the roller team of the University of Texas at Arlington during a college national championship tournament. I coached this UTA team for four years. They were, deservedly, the last team I ever coached.

Chasing And Catching Entrepreneurship: What Do You Care Most About? (Part 1 of A 4-Question Video Series) Read More »

Lifelong Learners Make Better Lifelong Teachers

Leadership, Video / By

Mentioned in today’s show:

• The 100-Mile Walk: A Father And Son On A Quest To Find The Essence Of Leadership by Sander A. Flaum & Jonathon A. Flaum

Leadership is not a one-way street.

People need leadership. That doesn’t mean leaders are without their own needs.

Leaders need feedback, information, dialog and instruction. Nobody knows everything. Not even the most accomplished or capable leader.

Fathers have a great deal to learn. Sometimes from their own children.

CEO’s have a great deal to learn. Sometimes from low level, frontline employees (see Undercover Boss).

The compelling reason why I do what I do with these podcasts, videos and blog posts is summed up in a single phrase, “Passing it on.”

It doesn’t mean I’m an expert with nothing left to learn. My ability to teach, to instruct or pass it on is greatly enhanced by my ability to listen and learn. Lifelong learning improves lifelong teaching, and mentoring.

It’s the fabric of legacy!

 

Lifelong Learners Make Better Lifelong Teachers Read More »

Episode 130 – Quiet Desperation: How Do You Handle Adversity?

Personal Development, Podcast / By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More

The Podcast: Download | Non-Flash Playback

The fog of adversity and sorrow rolls in on us all.

Live out loud. Be loud and proud.

Over 20 years ago Jeffrey Gitomer would open a sales training seminar much like he does today. He’d ask a room full of salespeople, “Who is the most important person in the world?” In unison the room would answer, “The customer!”

Gitomer would then ask, “Let me put it another way. There are two people left on the planet – you and the customer. One of you must die. Who’s it gonna be?” Again, in unison the room would answer, “The customer!” Exactly.

Gitomer’s point was well made. We all think we’re the most important person in the world.

We know what our problems are, even though others may not have a clue.

Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.

We might be surprised at the trouble others have seen.

Mentioned in today’s show are two books (they’re both old):

• Quiet Desperation: The Truth About Successful Men by Jan Halper

• Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments by Kent M. Keith

It’s a new week. Go make it a better week for somebody else. It’s the best way I know to make it a good week for yourself. Oh, and one more thing. Don’t tell anybody.

Do me a big favor. Leave me a review over at iTunes.

Thank you,

Episode 130 – Quiet Desperation: How Do You Handle Adversity? Read More »

Scroll to Top