Six obstacles to your success

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

What is holding you back? Why haven’t you achieved your potential? Simple questions – not so simple answers. Here’s a short list of obstacles that prevent you from achieving greatness:

1. You are scapegoating through life.

All of your problems are caused by someone else or something else. Everything (at the very least, most things) are beyond your control.

Man, it depresses me just to write this stuff down. I can’t imagine how someone who truly believes this must feel. Napoleon said, “I create the circumstances that affect me.” This is true. Stuff happens to everybody – You are not special in that sense. The universe is not picking on you. Crap hits everybody. Make up your mind to deal with it and then deal with it.

Accept responsibility for your actions or more likely your inaction. Decide that you are not going to take it anymore. Then don’t take it anymore. The simple fact that you are reading this is evidence that you are searching for direction. Here it is: You have every right to be successful in life. Make it your quest to soar above your present situation. Once you make a decision, begin to search for answers and the help you need will be revealed.

Decide to be the master of your destiny or relegate yourself to being pushed around by circumstances beyond your control. It’s really up to you.

2. You are self-absorbed.

You know who you are. You get bored when someone else is getting the attention. You have the best stories (we’ve heard you one-up everybody). It’s always all about “you”.

Here is a wake up call: You are boring and dull. The only reason we listen to you is because either we are too nice to walk away or we realize that the politics of the organization we are a part of would be violated.

Your potential is diminished because you don’t understand that you cannot influence others when it’s obvious that you don’t care about them. Zig Ziglar said, “You can get anything you want, if you help enough other people get what they want.”

In order to help yourself, you must help others. There’s no better long-term strategy to achieving your success. As Dr. Phil would say, “It ain’t about YOU!”

3. You allow others to make your life decisions.

You know how it goes; someone (Mom, Dad, or whoever you deem as influential) says you should do “this or that” with your life. Why? How do they know what you want? Or how you feel?

The family needs you to become a lawyer, or doctor, or accountant, or football star or whatever. If you want me to pay for your college, then you’ll major in what I tell you to major in.

To some of us, this seems absurd, but it happens. Really. Here’s a secret, if you are not happy, then you will not be able to make anyone else happy. The only thing that is sure is that by compromising you desires for someone else you will be filled with resentment and hurt.

Eventually, those emotions will be revealed. Why not cut to the chase and deal with it now? You’ll be happier in the long run and probably save a heap of money in psychoanalyst fees.

4. You are filled with subconscious self-doubt.

You are filled with doubts and thoughts of inadequacy. You feel undeserving. If you don’t believe in yourself, then why should I? Or anyone else?

The short answer is that no one will believe in you. Therefore, by the simple act of thinking, you have defeated yourself, regardless of your abilities.

Everyday, average people just like you and me have fantastic, original, creative thoughts and ideas. But just as quickly, they are dismissed and discarded for the simple reason that they must be of no value if a simpleton like you thought of them.

People tend to overestimate the talent, ability and intelligence of others and then compound the problem by underestimating their own attributes.

Read “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale. It is a classic and deserves to be. Learn some meaningful affirmations and use them. Become a true believer – in yourself.

5. Your are afraid.

I am not even going to attempt to list the wide variety of fears that hold people back.

You must think of fear as the fence that keeps the herd in the pasture of mediocrity. You were not built for mediocrity. You are unique and you have unique abilities – use them.

6. You have no clear goals.

At least you are not alone. Studies and statistics that have been repeated many times prove that only 3–5 percent of the population have a tangible, written set of goals. Remarkably, this is the same percentage of financial independent people in the U.S. and world.

Do you think there is a correlation? It’s a no-brainer. Write down your goals and go over them daily. It will change your life.

Tags: obstacles, success

The buck stops here – accept responsibility for your life

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

Do you remember the little old lady in the Wendy’s commercial? The one that was always asking everyone, “Where’s the beef”? I’m going to tell you! Are you ready? O.K. Here’s the beef – you are responsible for your life!

I know for a fact that “bad” things have occurred in your life. Well guess what, I know because “bad” things happen in everyone’s life. Most people spend their lives blaming someone else for their lot in life. Maybe we should all have a “pity” party and moan and groan to each other about how bad, hard or difficult our situation is.

If there is one person who has faced the same (or worse) trials that you face and they were able to overcome those trials, then you do not have a valid argument for wallowing in self-pity. If they succeeded then you can to. How?

1. Make up your mind to overcome – the first step is the hardest step, but you only have to take it one time. It is also the most rewarding step because with that step, you realize that you can accomplish the next step. You will begin to rebuild your life into the kind of life you want, one step at a time. The key is to make progress daily. No matter how small that progress is. Eventually you will be where you want to be.
2. Establish or find a support system – find a group of like-minded individuals (people who share the same issues as you). Learn when and where they meet. Go to their meetings. Sit in. Become accustomed and participate. Tortured souls typically find peace with each other because they can relate. Allow yourself to be helped, then in turn help another.
3. Share your experience – Once you’ve crossed the abyss, give something back. Record your thoughts and share them. Look for opportunities to listen and be available to those who remind you of your former self. It is when we are giving that we are truly human.

Tags: responsible+for+your+life

Building a successful life

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer. 

A couple of years ago, my wife and I built our dream home. A 3200 square foot, timber framed, hybrid over a full basement. It’s beautiful. We love it. But, as anyone who has ever gone through this process will tell you, it takes patience, commitment, perseverance and teamwork.

There are reams of documents that must be filled out and submitted to bankers, lawyers and contractors. There are hordes of decisions to be made, analyzed, corrected and then remade. There is the constant juggling of your schedule to accommodate contractors, sub contractors, appraisers, bankers, suppliers and more. There is the never-ending need to coordinate the sequences of events. Do we need the plumber first or the electrician? What about the sheet rockers and trim carpenters? Then of course, you have to constantly be mindful of quality and cosmetic issues.

But now, we are living our dream life in our beautiful dream home and all the stress and hard work seem insignificant. It was worth it – every drop of sweat, every agonizing decision, all the missed sleep – it was all worth it.

In retrospect, it’s seems very clear to me how similar the process of building a house is to building a successful life. Like building a house, building your successful life involves a number of decisions prior to the actual construction process.

Make the decision to have a successful life

My wife and I own a beautiful twenty acre tract of land that we envisioned would be more beautiful with our dream home on it. But nothing really happened until we made the decision to make it happen. You can tour as many model homes, open houses and home shows as you like, but until you actively decide to build your dream home, nothing will get done.

The first step is deciding that you want to build your dream home and then determining the actions you need to take in order to make your dream a reality. How big is it to be? Where will you build? What style? Financing? Blueprints? Contractors? It all starts with your decision to start.

Creating a successful life occurs in the same way. You see friends or acquaintances who seem to be enjoying a fuller family experience, a better career or greater financial security and you wonder, “why does their life seem to be more successful than your own”? Most of the time we’ve been lulled into the rut of complacency by default and inaction. We don’t realize we are in a rut and we don’t realize that there is more available to us if we will only seek it out.

Do you want a more successful life? What does “a more successful life” mean to you? Is it career advancement and more compensation? Closer family relationships? Financial prosperity? Entrepreneurship? All of these? Just like building your dream home, these are the types of decisions you must make.

It all begins with you acting on the vision that you hold in your mind of what you want and deciding to pursue your dream life.

Your blueprint for success

What will it take for you to reach your vision of success? If you are building a house, you start with a set of blueprints, assembly drawings, lists of necessary materials, spec sheets and architectural elevations. These are the documents that specify the materials, sizes and placements, functionality and appearance of your dream home.

Just as it would be impossible to build your dream home without a blueprint and the associated documents, you can’t build a successful life without a plan. No one ever wakes up one day and discovers that while they were asleep, they were selected to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. It just won’t happen. But if it did, how long would you last in that position if you had made no preparation for the job? I’m sure you’ll agree that it wouldn’t be long.

Your plan must define what success is to you, the steps you plan to take to get there, the skills you feel must be developed, the knowledge required, plus allow for contingencies along the way.

Develop your goals

You must develop your goals system. No one can do this for you. This is a stumbling block for everyone and this is where almost everyone falters on the path to success. For whatever reasons, most people (95 – 97%) cannot, do not, or will not set goals for themselves. I am referring to actual written, recorded goals and the plans ( action steps ) necessary to achieve their goals. If you cannot make yourself focus long enough to record your goals, is it any wonder that your life is one of unrealized potential?

According to statistics that are repeated time and time again, three to five percent of our population is considered financially free and financially successful. Ironically, this is the same percentage that take the time to develop goal programs for themselves and then dedicate themselves to achieving their goals. Is there a correlation?

Develop a set of goals. Define what it is that you require, then get busy taking the necessary actions to achieve your goals. Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. Focus on your goal. Develop a plan and take action. Do it now.

Every time that you are faced with a decision, ask yourself, “Is this the best use of my time?”, “Will this action/decision take me closer to or farther from my goals?” Then, act accordingly. If you will take the time and make the effort to do this every time you face a decision, you will increase your chances of becoming the success you dream of, exponentially.

Character & Integrity: Your foundation for a successful life

Webster’s dictionary defines character as “moral strength” or “reputation”. How would your friends and co-workers describe your character? Are you honest? Sincere? Trustworthy? Loyal? Friendly? Helpful? Caring?

These are some of the characteristics of people who are considered “strong of character”. If you demonstrate these traits, then you don’t have to tell the world what you believe and stand for. Your life will show it.

Webster’s says integrity is “firmness of character”, “honesty”. How firm is your character? Will you stand up for what you believe in? Will you oppose the majority even if you have to stand alone? Will you defend the oppressed? Even if the oppressors are your friends?

Our integrity and character define what we believe in and what we stand for. The way we talk, the people we associate with and the places we frequent all tell the world in a much louder voice than our own, what we truly believe in.

You would not build your dream home on a faulty foundation and cannot build a successful life on a weak character or a lack of integrity. Your new life would never be able to withstand the storms or trials you are bound to face along the way. Begin today to always stand for what you believe in, fight against opposition to truth and always, always keep your word.

The walls of your successful life

The walls of your home provide you with protection for the elements, security from intruders, and provide support for your roof system. The first wall of your successful life is a positive mental attitude.

Your first wall: A Positive Mental Attitude

All successful people are highly motivated and possess a positive attitude. They know inherently that they are destined to succeed. Every event and every action is seen as a means to deliver them to their goal. These individuals believe that the universe is conspiring for their benefit in all things. Furthermore, successful people have an optimistic view, believing that the glass is always half full.

An action that does not go according to plan is not a failure, but a learning experience – the elimination of a theoretical solution and not an indictment of them or their abilities. Their positive mental attitude is demonstrated by the confidence with which they attack the obstacles standing between them and their destined success.

Successful people are reminiscent of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Colonel Sanders and all the rest who stumbled along the road to success but refused to quit because they courageously maintained a positive mental attitude.

Your second wall: A Strong Work Ethic

All successful individuals demonstrate a strong work ethic. Their mantra could be – “If it is to be, it is up to me.” In their mind, this is not an optional or part-time trait. Generally, they work long, long hours.

A truly successful life can only happen when you realize that in order to have it (success), you must get off your butt and go get it. You will not find it in front of you television, down at the bowling alley, over at the local bar, or out in your hobby shop. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with any of these means of killing time other than that is what they are doing – killing your time and they do not contribute in any way to acquiring the successful life you desire.

To achieve a goal worth having requires hard work. Ask any person whom you consider to be successful how they achieved their status. I don’t believe any will say, “ I just wake up one day, went to work and they made me president of the company” or “My business just took off one day while I was watching TV” or “ The kids came and got me out of the bar and gave a Father or the Year party.”

No, every successful person realizes that his/her effort brings about the desired result. The buck stops here. You must take responsiblity for your own success and happiness. Truly successful people have the ability to clear their minds of the common distractions that we all face and focus on their goals. This ability to focus results in the development and implementation of plans that produce the achievement of their goals.

The successful person is action-oriented. They don’t take a wait and see approach. More than likely, they will start whatever it is they wish to accomplish and then make adjustments along the way based on feedback they are monitoring. I’ve heard it described as the “ready, fire, aim” approach. The point is, there comes a time when you’ve got to take action.

Your third wall: Passion

Few successful people have ever reached their status without passion. Passion is what drives you. It’s what you lie in bed and think about at night, examining new ways of approaching pertinent issues that you are faced with. Passion is the fuel that powers your engine. If you desire to be successful, find out what it is that you are passionate about and then develop a way to exploit your passion.

Your passion is anything that constantly occupies your thinking. It may be a hobby (woodworking, restoring antique automobiles, computers, entrepreneurship), your family, or any combination of things. Only you know where your passions lie.

Based on what your passion is, embrace the fast-changing landscape of the internet to research innovative ways to capitalize on your passion. All successful people understand that the future of technology is all about the proliferation of information via the internet. It is to your benefit to embrace this fast-moving technology and try to keep up with emerging advancements and how you can apply them to your passion.

Use your passion, be innovative and embrace new technology (it’s not going away). This will help you to welcome change which is just another way of saying, “be progressive with your passion”.

Your fourth wall: Perseverance

The last wall of your successful life/house is perseverance. The never-say-quit, refusal to give up attitude. Sometimes we see these people struggling and we wonder why they even bother. I know people have asked that about me. The reality is we set our eyes on our goals and nothing will deter us from achieving it.

The obstacles we encounter are only opportunities to display creative problem solving skills. Nay sayers only make us (me) want it more. Those who truly believe in us motivate us beyond words.

Those who succeed thrive on pressure, embrace deadlines, are committed to overcoming obstacles and are determined to succeed. They won’t quit. The don’t quit. They can’t quit. Think Rocky Balboa and his refusal to stay down in the original Rocky movie. That’s perseverance!

Your roof: Continual Learning

To protect the interior of your dream home/successful life, you need a roof. That roof is a commitment to continual learning. Someone said, “If you’re not growing, then you’re dying.” I am in full agreement with that statement. Our minds thrive when we stimulate them and provide them with challenges.

Subconsciously, we limit ourselves when we say, we can’t do something or “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. This sets us up to fail. The truth of the matter is we can and will learn anything we want to learn if we are given the right motivation.

Twenty five years ago, few people considered the long-range impact the PC would have on every aspect of our lives. Consequently, most people did not rush to learn how to use them. However, everyone now realizes that computers are an integral part of our lives. To survive in our present world, we must adapt and adopt this technology.

What you know today will not be enough tomorrow. It is as plain as that. Don’t be left behind. Commit to learning. Everyday.

Maintenance

Finally, in order to enjoy your new home/successful life, you must maintain it in good working condition. Do periodic self-evaluations. Try to stay humble. Give back something. Mentor someone. Be introspective. Remember to thank those that helped you along the way. No one becomes successful without help.

 

 

 

Tags: success, a+successful+life

6 small steps for daily growth and long-term personal development

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

This blog (soupornuts) is written to inspire, motivate, educate and help you become the person you can be. I believe in goals and the power of goal setting. The first step in the journey to becoming a “new” you is to have in your mind a clear picture of the person you want to become. Without a clear picture of what you want in your mind it is like traveling down a road that divides into a number of different options. How do you choose which option to take? If you don’t have a goal, It really doesn’t matter. Does it? If we don’t know where we are going it really doesn’t make any difference which road we take to get there because they all lead to the same place – the land of lost dreams, lost hope, missed opportunity, and regret.

I also believe that we are the sum total of the past decisions we’ve made. All those little and not so little decisions have resulted in placing us right where we are today. The point? Change your perspective from one of passivity to activity. Make up your mind that today you have a purpose and a goal. And your goals are whatever YOU determine the goals to be. Realize that starting today you can actively determine your future by making decisions today that are in line with achieving your goals. If you can make only a small step in the direction of your goals, you have something to build on tomorrow and you begin to gain momentum.

Be easy with yourself. Here are some of my goals for today.

1. Today, I will make it a point to smile at everyone I meet.

Not a sly or seductive smile, but a “happy, How’re you doing” smile. Researchers say that one of the first things people notice when they meet another person is the presence or absence of a smile. If you smile, 99 percent of the time they will smile back. They can’t help it. Someone has to actively force themselves not to smile.

A smile puts people at ease. It comforts them and is welcoming. The vast majority of the time your smile causes the recipient to smile in response to you. The simple act of smiling causes the release of endorphins in the brain resulting in a pleasureable feeling of happiness. The simple act of smiling can cause someone to physically feel happy. What power.

2. Today, I will engage someone in conversation.

I’ll ask, how they are doing. An then I’ll actually take the time to pay attention and listen to their answer. People like to talk. This is my opportunity to give some what they want. People need to talk. People want to talk to a willing and attentive listener. This will provide me with the chance to allow someone to vent their needs and emotions. Or maybe just communicate. Maybe they want my opinion, maybe they don’t. If they do ask for my thoughts, I can spread a little good news, offer a suggestion or provide them with a source of information they might find helpful.

3. Today, I am going to assist someone.

I’ll help a little old lady with her groceries or my daughter with her homework. By offering assistance, we show others that they have value to us. Because we value them, we want to help them.

Who can you help today? Does someone you know need a ride? Can you pick up something for your spouse on the way home from work? Do your kids need some specials one-on-one time with you? Take them to the park or play in the yard. Get involved in their lives. Give them you most precious commodity – your time.

4. Today, I will embrace the opportunities a new day presents.

Today, I have the opportunity to start fresh and handle every situation independently of every previous interaction. Today is a “do-over”. I can attempt to correct or modify my previous mistakes or learn from them what “not” to do again.

I will embrace the changes that a new day brings because all progress and growth involves change. I want change. If I am going to progress on a personal level then it stands to reason that I must change and I will start the changing process today.

5. Today, I will be thankful for all the joy and blessings that are mine.

I choose to see the good in everyone and everything. I will give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I will be appreciative of what I do have and not be upset, saddened or discontent about what I don’t have, because I realize that my happiness is determined by what is inside of me and not what I possess. I will tell those close to me that I love them because I am not promised anymore than the present moment. I don’t want to ever regret a missed opportunity. I will hold my wife and hug my children and be eternally thankful.

6. Today, I will grow.

I will dedicate a portion of today for the purpose of expanding my mind. I will read or research a topic that interests me because I understand that “a mind is a terrible thing to waste”.

I choose not to watch television because I prefer to be in a meditative state of mind and not a vegetative one. I understand that what I allow to go into my my mind will be revealed in my thoughts, words and actions. I will experience life personally and not through the filter of broadcast media.

These are the things I will accomplish today. Each of these steps, though small and insignificant at first look, propel me toward the person I want to become. These are conscious decisions that I make and renew each day. For me, these simple decisions and declarations are the first steps in becoming an enlightened person, a happy person and a productive person with a great life.

Tags: daily+decisions, growth+and+development, goals

The power of a kind word

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

This past Sunday (Mother’s Day), my wife, my daughters, and I went in search of a digital camera. Having done a little research on our own, we had narrowed our choices down to a couple of manufacturers and models. The decision was made to make a purchase this weekend. We went to a couple of retailers who specialize in the camera trade and began to ask questions. Much to our surprise, we found the best, most knowledgeable, most helpful and friendliest representatives at Best Buy. We were so impressed with the two representatives that helped us that after we had completed our purchase, I asked to see the store manager.

I approached the store manager, introduced myself and told him how happy we were with the individuals who had assisted us in our purchasing decision. The manager thanked me, encouraged me to go online and fill out a survey and to note the names of the representatives on a submission form and then he took out his personal business card and told me to present it the next time I was in the store for a ten percent discount on any purchase.

Wow! That was not what I expected or wanted, but it made an impression with me.

After leaving Best Buy, we headed over to Outback because that’s where my wife wanted to eat. The parking lot was full and people were milling around the front doors. I knew immediately we were in for a wait, I just didn’t have any idea how long it would be. I approached the matre’d and he immediately informed me that the approximate waiting time for a table would be 70 -80 minutes. My wife noticed that there were a couple of empty tables in the bar area and we asked the matre’d about them. He said they were available on a “first come, first serve” basis. After a quick consult, we headed to one of the tables.

There was an empty beer bottle and a wet rag on the table. I quickly wiped the table down and put both the bottle and rag near the edge of the table. A few minutes later, a very harried waitress showed up and began apologizing for the dirty table and her tardiness. I said, “Stop, for just a minute.” She looked at me questioningly and I said, “we all want to wish you a happy Mother’s Day.” Her eyes lit up, her face beamed and she literally gushed appreciation.

To make a long story shorter, our food was excellent. Our service was quick and our waitress was very attentive. As if all this was not enough, while my wife and daughters were gone to the restroom and as I waited for our check, our waitress returned with a big bowl of ice cream, chocolate syrup, whip cream and a cherry. Gratis. Free. On the house.

I realize that desert did not represent a huge outlay to Outback, but the smiles of delight on the faces of my daughters were priceless. And to think that it all hinged on taking the time to genuinely say a few words of kindness.

Both of these instances illustrate that people appreciate being appreciated. It was a great opportunity to teach my children the power of a kind word.

Tags: powerofkindness, a+kind+word, kindness

3 Reasons NOT to become an Entrepreneur

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

At some point, I think everyone toys with the idea of going into business for themselves. It is definitely a romantic notion – to be able to hang out your shingle, start selling and shipping your products and just watch the money roll in. Well, take the advice of this entrepreneur and many others, “It just ain’t so.”

A quick perusal of any bookstore, magazine rack or online article repository will reveal a plethora of reasons to “start your own business”, “become your own boss”, or “go into business for yourselves”. Yes, there are quite a few benefits to consider, but you may also want to consider the possible downside. Here’s my short list of reasons NOT become an entrepreneur.

1. You believe at least eight hours of sleep per night is mandatory.

Once you start your own business, you realize that any sleep is a highly sought after commodity. Unless you have built up quite a “nest egg” or had a huge windfall ( ie – you won the lottery, Uncle Joe Bob left you a sizeable inheritance, cashed in your 401k / IRA, or have been befriended by some angelic venture capitalist), you will have to work at some other job to provide the needed cash flow for your current living expenses and maintain a minimal level of necessary insurance coverage.

If you are working at your “mandatory” job to provide cash flow and benefits, then when you are “off” from that job is when you will be promoting, growing and maintaining your new, fledgling startup business. This leaves precious little time for your spouse, kids and sleep. So if eight hours sleep each night is important to you, rethink the whole entrepreneurship thing.

2. You’re not into research and details.

Let me guess, you’re an “idea” man and you may be the greatest “idea” man ever, but someone still has to address the research and details. Is there a market for your products and/or services? Who? What are their demographics? How will you reach them? Have you set up manufacturing, inventory, delivery and tracking platforms? Who’s verifying and validating your bookkeeping? What type of business structure will/have you set up? Sole proprietorship? Partnership? LLC? Corporation? Do you have a lawyer, a CPA, a patent or a mentor? Do you have a budget? Do you have a business plan?

As you can see, the research and details can be mind-boggling. I’m not trying to scare you away or rain on your parade, but you need to be realistic and methodical in your approach to starting a business. The issues above are just a minor sampling of the details that must be addressed. Is it doable? Yes, definitely and I encourage you to, but only after you throw away your rose-colored glasses and dive into the research and become acquainted with the possible ramifications.

3. You have a “good” idea.

I don’t remember who, but someone said, “Good is the enemy of great”. Truer words have never been spoken and that’s why having a “good” idea is not good enough. Having a “good” idea does not stir up the fires of passion. Your idea must be great. It must create within you a passion to defend it against the onslaught of detractors who will be standing in line to tell you why your idea won’t work. “Someone else is already doing it”, “It’s been tried before and didn’t work”, “What if you fail?”. You’ll hear all the protests and derogatory remarks. Are you passionate enough to defend your “great” idea?

If you’re not, then don’t waste your time and money. Keep your day job.

Tags: entrepreneurship, entrepreneur

Time Bandits

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

Time is our most precious resource. When it slips by, it is gone. Forever. The successful millionaire and the average Joe are just alike when it comes to time. Each is given the same amount each day. It then becomes very easy to see that those people who are financially successful must use their time in a more efficient manner. The truth of the matter is a man or a woman usually finds the time to do the things they want to do.

If we were like Rip Van Winkle and took a nap one day then woke up and it was twenty years later, we would be furious. Waking up twenty years older, seeing our children grown and with children of their own, it would be worse than any nightmare. But is it any different when we allow minutes and hours to be stolen from us each day? Is it only the magnitude of the time that makes it a nightmare?

There are events, technologies and people who unnecessarily take up our time each day. I call these things Time Bandits. Time Bandits steal your time. A minute here, a half hour there, a little at a time so you barely notice. But time is gone just the same. The following are some of the most common Time Bandits:

1. The Telephone: a great device for communicating with someone who is not in your physical vicinity. Do you really need to spend as much time on the phone as you do? Just because it rings doesn’t mean you have to answer it. Learn how to relay your message to the recipient in as an efficient a manner as possible or learn what they are trying to say to you, then move on.
2. E-mail: another handy device for communication. But do you really need to check it every 5 minutes? Must you reply to every email? There is no doubt that it is both a convienence and a time trap, but it can be tamed and used for your good. Set aside a special time to check and reply to your e-mails. Ignore it otherwise.
3. Cel Phone and Text Messaging: sort of a hybridization of the worst of the telephone and e-mail. They have their benefits, but for your sake, use them in moderation.
4. The Office Talker: you know who I’m talking about. They stop by to “shoot the breeze”, but all they kill is your time. Not only are they not doing their job, they are making sure that you are not doing yours. Do yourself a favor, institute some boundaries and introduce the Talker to them. You’ll thank me later.
5. Television: the drone box. Do you think you’ll be lying on your death bed and lament that you would have liked to watch a few more episodes of some show? I doubt it. Be productive and expand your mind at the same time. Read. It doesn’t matter if it is a book, magazine, or an online article, but use your mind.

We live in a time when there are more time-saving devices than ever before and yet we have less time. How is this possible? Time is what we want the most and then use in the worst possible ways. When we waste time, we are devaluing our life. We will never get it back.

We must “seize the day” and “grab the bull by the horns”. Ask yourself, “Is what I’m doing right now the best possible use of my time?” This simple question, if asked prior to beginning any new task will help you in your endeavor to spend your time wisely. Does reading this blog help you? Does it provide technical or motivational information that is worthy of the time you are devoting to it? If the answer is yes, fantastic. If the answer is no, then stop reading now and move on to something that facilitates your growth and development. Don’t waste time. You don’t get a do-over.

5 ways to expand your mind and expand your possibilities

Our mind controls our body. Everyone knows this. Our mind also controls our future. Fewer people will acknowledge this, but the extent to which you develop and use your mind will determine your destiny.

If it is your desire to attain a new job or position, you must develop the skills necessary to perform this new initiative. This requires that we use our minds to access and accumulate information that can be translated into knowledge. How can we do this?

1. Return to school. This option is not viable for everyone because of family and financial obligations, but it is a very good way to extend your current skill level as well as develop the needed new skills.
2. Let school come to you. Online learning has become accepted and is widely available. This may help you with your family obligations, but the increase in cost will not go away. However, there is a website that does offer free access. Free-ed.net offers an extensive list of courses that may help you increase your knowledge base and prepare you for a step up the career ladder or develop new skills to take you in an entirely new direction. This option is worth a look!
3. Read. Though it is an old-fashioned method, it works and can be cost effective if you don’t mind shopping for used books. Used book stores, flea markets, second hand shops, the options are endless and cheap. If you have the ability to discipline yourself to devoting a specified amount of uninterrupted time to daily reading the results will truly amaze you. By reading one hour each day, within one year you will have read more and devoted more time to study than is required for 2 or 3 college courses. Give it a try.
4. Listen. Not as cheap, but really convenient. Listen to self-help / personal-growth cds in your car while driving or on your mp3 player while doing manual tasks. The number of books available in audio form is mind-boggling. Most of the time, these audio books are entertaining and easy to listen to. Plus, you can listen to them over and over. A really good option for people who don’t enjoy reading.
5. Find a mentor. There are many people who are willing to devote their time in your quest for knowledge. Find someone that has the skills you desire or has attained the success level that you desire and ask them to help you. You will be giving a compliment to that person by asking and most of the time that is all it takes. Ask, you shall receive. But if they say, “no”, you haven’t lost anything. Go to the next person who could help you. Helpful hint: If you know someone who is retired, ask them, but prepare to be astounded by their accumulated knowledge.

Expanding your mind is not hard but it does take discipline and dedication. The following are some things that can hinder you.

1. Television. Brain candy. This is your mind on mush. As a society, we waste huge amounts of time sitting, eating and drooling ourselves into oblivion. Get out from in front of the TV so you are not living life vicariously. At least cut back on TV. You can free up a lot of learning time here.
2. Sleep. Do you really need to sleep late just because you have a day off? Can you get up a half hour earlier? Try it. You’ll be surprise at how much you can accomplish.
3. Socializing. Look at the people with whom you are spending time socializing. Do you look up to any of them? Do you wish to have their level of success? Probably not. You do become like the people you congregate with. It’s a fact.

Expand your mind and expand your possibilities. You can and do control your destiny.

Today’s choices produce your destiny

We are where we choose to be.  Where we are today is the result of the choices that we’ve made in our past.  This is not something that most people want to acknowledge, but nonetheless, it is true.  Each day we make life altering choices.  Oh, they might not alter our immediate situation, but each choice begins a chain of events that ultimately determines our destiny.

How we interact with a stranger could be huge or not.  Suppose that you are introduced to someone and by choosing to find out more about this new person, you discover that he/she knows someone that may be able to produce that new product that you’ve been trying to get to the consumer.  You chose to take the time to find out about this person, and therefore to discover that this new person was in a position to alter your future.  But the choice was yours.  You choose your destiny.  Destiny does not just happen.  A million  little, seemingly insignificant choices have culminated in placing you right where you are today.

Once you realize the magnitude of each day and of each encounter of each day, you begin to understand that you can control where you will be tomorrow.  If what you do today affects where you will be tomorrow, why not make better choices today?  Why not choose your tomorrow?  If you knew of one action that you could perform today that would increase the likelihood of your success tomorrow, would you hesitate to perform it today?

Whatever your goals are, resolve right now to do one thing,  no matter how small that thing is, that will bring you closer to the realization of your goal.  If you can do this, then today will be a success and tomorrow will be a success as well.

The choice is yours.