Life is a Matter of Inches

Life is a matter of inches. Here in America, we saw this tragically displayed this past week in the streets of Boston, the small town of West, Texas, and remotely in the Sichuan province of China where a deadly earthquake claimed the lives of 180 people and injured more than 5,700 others.

Al Pacino’s famous line from his half-time speech in the movie Any Given Sunday repeated over and over in my head as I sat glued to the news reports as last week’s events unfolded in real-time. “The inches we need are everywhere around us” was being played out on every news channel around the globe and in the lives of those affected by these tragic events.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Each day we see examples of how the inches around us can impact lives. A 4.82 second time in the 40 yard dash versus a 4.71 time at the NFL Combine can mean the difference between being selected #32 or #17 in the upcoming NFL draft. A few inches (or seconds) in your finish time in the Boston Marathon or travel time around West, Texas could make the difference between being in the blast zone or not – between life or death. Just ask Joe Berti.

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No One Said It Would Be Easy

No one said it would be easy. Even in the best of times, starting a new business can be risky business. However, despite a volatile economy and job market, more and more people have ventured out into the entrepreneurial world.

We have all seen reports that suggest 50% – 75% of new businesses fail within the first three years. Why do so many fail?

  1. Limited resources – time, people, capital and expertise.
  2. Lack of focus and planning.
  3. No formal sales and marketing system.

These are a few of the primary reasons most new business starts fail to make it. So, what can you do differently to tilt the odds of success in your favor and build a profitable and sustainable new business?

Cliff Climbing Image

There are no absolutes, but there are some fundamental things you should do as a new business owner to make it easier to achieve your goals: Continue reading…

Who Dresses You For Success?

“If at first you do succeed … try to hide your astonishment.” – Author Unknown

A funny thing happened to me the other day on the way to the Post Office. I was walking across the parking lot when I made eye contact with a woman. She literally stopped dead in her tracks, looked me over, smiled and said, “You are looking rather dapper today, did you dress yourself or did your wife help you?”

Now I am one of the “older guys”, so I rarely receive comments about my appearance these days from members of the opposite sex, other than my wife, so I enjoyed my brief moment in the sun. Responding to her question I just smiled back and replied, “My wife always helps dress me.” Although this isn’t true in the clothing department, it does raise a more interesting topic for discussion.

Dress for Success Image

Who dresses you for success?

In this context, I am not talking about your wardrobe or John T. Malloy’s famous book titled Dress for Success. What I’m referring to is to whom do you contribute your success? Continue reading…

What Inspires You to Be the Best YOU?

What is inspiration and where does it come from? The dictionary holds several definitions for the word “inspiration” or “inspire” that transcend physiological, intellectual, emotional or spiritual boundaries.

When I think of inspiration, I immediately either correctly or incorrectly, associate it with things that motivate or move me to action. Images of great inspirational leaders like John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Zig Ziglar, or scenes from classic movies such as Rocky that symbolize triumph over all odds, come to mind. How about you – where does your inspiration come from?

POI Book Cover

For the past six months, I have had the pleasure of working with Bryan Downer, the founder of Light Point Press http://www.lightpointpress.com/, our editor Corinne Shipman, and 14 amazing local authors on the Power of Inspiration Project. This project has culminated with the early release of our best-selling new book titled, POWER OF INSPIRATION: Dare to Be the Best YOU! Continue reading…

What Is On Your Wish List for 2013?

The countdown to December 21, 2012 has begun. One of my social networking friends, Chanda Gunter, summed up the end of the world predictions best, “Soooo are we suppose to party today because the world ends at midnight OR do we get to enjoy all day tomorrow and then deal with the zombies? I’m so confused.”

Daniel New Year Photo

Let’s assume that the Mayan calendar predictions are incorrect and there will be a New Year to celebrate. What is on your wish list for 2013? Continue reading…

Help Others Through His Example

Earlier this week we said farewell to one of the great motivational speakers and inspirational leaders of all time, when Zig Ziglar passed away. Through his books, cassettes, CD’s, public speaking and personal development programs, Mr. Ziglar has been an inspiration to millions of people around the world.

I first had the opportunity to hear him speak at a one-day business conference in Kansas City over 35 years ago. Mr. Zig Ziglar, along with Art Linkletter and Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, were all electrifying that day. The sold out crowd of several thousand people who attended the conference, like me, were spellbound by the presentations of these great inspirational leaders and came away from the event “on fire”.

Zig Ziglar Image

Although I did not meet him in person at the event, Zig Ziglar’s books, cassettes and The Performance Planner have helped shape my personal and professional life through the years. What has also stayed with me through most of my adult life was his most inspirational quote … Continue reading…

Stand FOR Something or Take a Seat

The past several weeks have been a busy time for Americans. We have provided aid and support to those affected by super storm Sandy, re-elected our President and Vice-President and honored our veterans this past Monday on Veterans Day.

Now with the holidays looming on the horizon, our schedules should get even crazier with holiday parties, shopping and family gatherings. It should be a time for celebration, a time for renewal, and a time for thanks giving, joy and hope. However, I just don’t sense the traditional holiday spirit this year.

Maybe it is the hangover from the presidential campaign, or the growing unrest with the direction of the country that may have taken the air out of the holiday balloon. Speaking of the election, there were more than 207 million U.S. citizens eligible to vote in the 2012 presidential election. However, only 150 million were registered to vote, and roughly 118 million people actually voted. Continue reading…

Your Business Really Does Suck

Now what??

Being an entrepreneur and a business owner presents its own set of unique challenges. Some of those daily challenges are good, some bad and some downright suck! However, when you have reached a point where it is not the daily grind, but the business itself that sucks, then it’s time for a reality check.

Hey, we have all been there. There are those days you just want to stay in bed and pull the covers over your head. But you can’t. However, if you have moved beyond this point and your business really does suck — now what? Then it’s time for you to step back and seriously explore your options.

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Whose Story Are You Writing?

It saddens me to see how far we have digressed as a nation and as human beings in just the past few years alone.

As a society, we have become far too negative and polarized, fixated on the trials and misfortunes of others. The daily headlines are littered with less than flattering photos of Kate Gosselin 40 lbs. heavier, the latest break-up or trip to rehab by some Hollywood star, and unabashed criticism of our country’s leadership. The seemly endless stream of “Reality TV” shows that glorify bad behavior and amplify the worst in people, are a further reflection of the moral decay within the fabric of our society.

What has happened to the proud America I grew up in where people went out of their way to help their neighbors and to lift others up? We were once the land of opportunity that served as a beacon of hope for the rest of the world. Where is that America today? Continue reading…

Play Your Square Yard

Some of my fondest memories are of my children playing sports. When my youngest son, Daniel, first began to play Select soccer, I remember how much we enjoyed watching the boys compete and grow together as teammates.

Several of the most competitive matches my son’s club faced in both league play and in tournaments were against a club from Mundelein, Illinois. The Mundelein soccer team was coached by a gentleman originally from Scotland. His players were very disciplined, particularly for their age group, and the transitions on the field and their overall teamwork were amazing to watch.

Recalling the memories of how well these U-9 and U-10 soccer players worked together made me think, “Why can’t business, education and government in the U.S function this cohesively?” If these 9- and 10-year-old boys can do it, why can’t we figure out how to come together to unify America? Continue reading…