The Power of Procrastination, part 1 of 5

We all procrastinate. Fundamentally, procrastination is a decision one makes, consciously or unconsciously, to delay getting into action due to some underlying roadblock, diversion, fear or concern.

Some people are naturally starters while others are finishers. In either case, procrastination can cause problems. Persistent procrastination can drain one’s energy and result in nagging feelings of guilt, diminished self-confidence, missed opportunities and anxiety. 

Reality, thinking, changing

I've come across some interesting numbers the past few months (you can Google for many references)...

- we receive 20,000 bits of data per day through what we see and hear. That's more in one week than someone in 1900 received in a lifetime.

- we have 60,000 thoughts per day.

- 90% of our thoughts are repetitive.

Whether you ask for it or not, who gives you advice?

Your potential is determined by those closest to you - John Maxwell

We all have an inner circle of people who impact us (good or bad). 

We also have "spheres of influence" and we should be very careful about how we allow them to blend together. 

I've learned to be intentional and mindful of who I let impact me on a continuous basis (inner circle). I'm influenced regularly by things that go on around me, but I want to limit that impact as much as possible. 

How do you look?

When you change the way you look at people, 

the people you look at change - Wayne Dyer

That's an incredible statement "When you change the way you look at people, the people you look at change."

Think about it....I change the way I look at people and they change! Isn't that GREAT.

If I want people to change, I just need to change the way I look at them.

What a great lesson.

To that end....start looking at people differently.

Potential

1. Write the word on a piece of paper
2. Put a question mark after it
3. Leave it laying where you can see it every day

What is your potential?

What self-limiting belief is keeping you from moving towards your potential?

What to do when goal setting doesn't work - Part 3

Putting my thoughts and practices about goal setting into writing hasn't been easy! Especially since I really can't stand "goal-setting." 

But, as we all (should) know, goal-setting works. For me, it's the small goals, the things-I-get-done-today that is the most important. Not tomorrow (there's a Bible verse about that). Not yesterday (other than a quick review, evaluation and correction). 

Three questions people are asking about you

You can't make the other fellow feel important in

your presence if you secretly feel that he is a nobody.

- Les Giblin, former National Salesman of the Year

In the critical read Everyone Communicates, Few Connect author and leadership expert John Maxwell tells the reader (pages 37 to 42)...

"You must be able to communicate that attitude of selflessness. How do you do that? I believe you do it by answering three questions that people always ask themselves when interacting with others.....

1. Do you care for me?

2. Can you help me?

3. Can I trust you?"

Today's Word is Laughter

6 Things, Just 6 Things.

Hello, this is Danny Smith and it's a GREAT DAY. You're listening to the LET's Start Something Podcast.

For months, every Monday morning at 8am sharp this salesman would come to Andrew Carnegie's office asking for an appointment. This was in the 1800s and that's what salesmen did, showed up asking for an appointment. Every time, for months and months, the steel tycoon's secretary would turn him away. 

Using The Law of Process to achieve goals

Why do many goals never come about and others not sustain? 

In our lunch and learn this week we'll begin a series to dig into this matter. Every goal starts with an idea and any idea that's different from what we've accomplished in the past is in conflict with what our subconscious believes to be our reality. And there the trouble begins. 

What to do when goal setting doesn't work - Part 2

I love to start things, to come up with new ideas and think into the results I want from those ideas, these "dreams." 

Finishing. I like finishing also. Finishing gives me a sense of relief and energy and satisfaction. It's all that stuff in the middle that gives me problems. I don't do that well at all and regularly have to start getting things done in the middle.

What to do when goal setting doesn't work - Part 1

If goal setting works well for you, stop reading. If not, maybe I can help you just-a-bit. I don’t like goals. I don’t like them because I don’t do goals well and when I don’t do something well I feel like a failure and I don’t like to feel like a failure. I also don’t like to keep doing something over and over again and goal setting just isn’t something that’s sustainable. For me. But I need to set goals. I know I do, so I set daily goals. Small goals. Nothing past today is called a goal. You might think this is just a play on words, and maybe it is but “what you say to yourself matters.” That’s a take on Shad Helmstetter’s book What To Say When You Talk To Yourself.

Stop it, just STOP IT!

13.5 Million Acorns in Your Hand

By Scott M. Fay

Author, Discover Your Sweet Spot 

In order to build my organizations, I first needed to build myself. And in order to build myself, I needed to create an environment conducive to growth.

Think about it. As humans, space is essential. For starters, we take up space.

But more than that, we also design space, build space, and even maintain space. In landscaping, we intentionally utilize space with a specific purpose in mind. But too often when leading ourselves and those around us, we unintentionally permit a space that sabotages our potential.

Thoughts

What are you saying when you talk to yourself? This morning, how have your conversations with YOU been?

Have good conversations with yourself. Ask questions that are focused on "I," and begin with "what" or "where." Don't asked "they, why and when" questions.

Be purposeful.

Danny L. Smith
512-773-6528

"The top 1% of successful entrepreneurs build themselves ahead of their business."

A baby's hug

A story from an unknown author -

"We were the only family with children in the restaurant.

I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter.

And his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

Anticipation: a word filled with hope, life and excitement

Thanks John. A great word for Christmas Eve.

Bringing HOPE into my thoughts

I used to read a lot of woodworking magazines and remember one story about how this former corporate exec turned woodworker (for profit) prioritized his day.

He wrote, "I always have numerous builds going on, from small repairs to large tables, bookcases, etc. And, I never really know what I'm going to work on that day until I get my 2nd cup of coffee, walk across the yard and open that door to m...y shop. Sometimes the anticipation is overwhelming!"

What an awesome way to start your day. Huh? I don't have "quite" that freedom. Do you?

Maybe we do.

I bet this guy had a lot of HOPE. I bet he intended to win, was always sensing victory.

Go into today with anticipation. Think about the day you have and bring HOPE into your thoughts.

Can HOPE be a discipline?

Follow-through. The energy it takes to work your database can be exhausting for many of us. 

In a lunch and learn yesterday we were discussing the differences in being "victory vs defeated" focused/oriented (the overall subject was "hope").

This morning, thinking about my database, how I haven't been near as diligent in my practice to "never-waste-a-handshake," I realized, in the context of the lesson I taught from Maxwell's book "Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn," that maybe I don't have enough HOPE. 

Treating everyone fairly and justly...

Traditional marketing focuses on the masses, treating everyone the same. 

Guerrilla marketing treats everyone fairly and justly by treating everyone differently. 

Guerrilla marketers come to understand and practice win/win relationships.  

Guerrilla marketers think about their prospect's behavior and how to best relate with them. If you, the marketer, have a High D temperament, but your  prospect is a High C, your marketing "output" is naturally different that your prospects "input." You tend to be direct, to the point. You want to move through the process and get it finished so you can move on. Your High C prospect wants details, details and more details. The High C wants time to think through the details, ask questions and insure he gets good answers. 

If haven't taken a DISC assessment in the past year and would like to learn more about your temperament, email me at Danny@DannyLSmith.com for a link to a free online DISC.  

Danny L. Smith

512-773-6528

"The top 1% of successful entrepreneurs build themselves ahead of their business."