Groundhog Day Is Coming

Ground Hog Day is coming!

Yes, in a little over one week, that silly holiday will come and all eyes will be on Punxsutawney Phil – the prognosticator of all prognosticators.

Being from western and central PA, I have always been fascinated with the pageantry surrounding this day and specifically this rodent.

And, of course, one of my favorite movies will be shown during the coming week.  I was sure, when it debuted, that this Bill Murray movie would receive an Oscar.  But, then again, it shows my taste in films.

Although I have never been to Punxsutawney for Groundhog Day, I am told the whole town takes on a party atmosphere.

Obviously this holiday is more than a day for weathermen and women to get excited about.  And, it is certainly more than a day for a bunch of redneck acting people to climb Gobbler’s Knob in the wee hours of the morning.

Let’s take a look at how Groundhog Day applies to us as we live in 2012.

The centerpiece of the holiday is Phil – the groundhog.  Phil, by nature of his species has absolutely no clue what is going on.  He has no true sense of what the outcome will be of his seeing or not seeing his shadow.  There is even much question as to whether or not Phil has the capacity to see of not see a shadow.  Does he even care?

Yet, year after year, Phil gets all the credit.  He is mentioned on newscasts across the country.  Yet, he did nothing.

How many of us know someone who is a Phil in the office or at the job? 

Weather forecasters spend years in college studying the science of meteorology only to be overshadowed (no pun intended) by a varmint that most folks would rather hit with their car.

Then, there is the Inner Circle of people who surround Phil on the 2nd of February. 

They are easily spotted by their tuxedos and top hats.  Supposedly these guys are in Phil’s corner and he only communicates with them on weather related issues.

Right now, some of you are thinking to yourselves – “I know a couple of people like that who cheer on the guy who does nothing, yet takes all the credit.”

And, we cannot forget Phil’s handler.  Yes, he is the guy closest to Phil.

More office dynamics are dancing in your head, aren’t they?

What about the crowds who gather in snowy conditions, braving bitter temperatures?   

They dance around and sing trying to endure the cold of a Pennsylvania February morning.

Again, you may be thinking – “I know people at work like that, just looking for any old excuse to party.”

The town is filled with mobile television trucks carrying news media all waiting for that one minute to proclaim we will have 6 more weeks of winter or an early summer.
Ol Phil sure is getting more than his 15 minutes of fame .

But there is another group of people in this event.  These people look forward to hearing the results of Phil’s morning as he is pulled out of his hole / home.  They are really not interested in Phil – they simply wish to allow Phil’s findings to set the tone of their day.  They allow Phil’s prediction (right or wrong) to set their mood.

So what?

So, what does this have to do with personal growth?

Well, let me ask – are you allowing others to set the tone of your mood?

Are you allowing other people to determine your future?

Are you willing to throw your attitude into the hands of anyone or anything that bears good or bad news?

Or – how about this one – are you just afraid of your shadow and refuse to come out of your own hole?

As this silly holiday approaches, ask yourself …..
• Are you a Phil?  Do you take the credit when you truly did not contribute to the project?
• Are you an Inner Circle person?  Do you align yourself with the people who get the credit?
• Are you a handler?  Handlers don’t do much, but they are in the spotlight when the credit is being awarded.
• Are you a news person?  They anxiously await the next breaking piece of gossip to share with everyone who will listen.
• Are you a party crowd person?  You truly don’t care about the job or the work that needs done.  “Let’s get through it, doing the bare minimum, so we can go out and celebrate.” Is your philosophy?

If you see yourself as any of these characters, know that change is always an option. 

You don’t have to live Groundhog Day over and over again.

Ron

But I Am Only One Person

But I am Only One Person

Often this phrase can be heard from people who have an idea or desire change.  Even though they feel strongly about their idea, product or opinion they allow the negativity of “I am only one person” to set in and snuff out their dream or idea.

The comment is also heard around political discussions regarding voting.  I am only one person.  What can I do?  My vote doesn’t really matter.

True, you are only one person.  That is a fact.

The phrase “What can I do?” is the real kicker and will determine whether or not actions move forward or they stay stagnant.

Stop for a moment.  Look around you.  Whether you are reading this blog in your office, your home, at a coffee shop or on your phone…….take a moment and look around. 

Everything around you (Including the device you are reading this blog on) was developed from a concept by ONE PERSON.

That’s it.  One person with an idea shared it with other “one persons” who caught the idea or concept.  From there, the idea went viral.

One man or woman with a dream of something never invented before followed through on that dream, refusing to let it die in the “I am only one person” graveyard.

I think you are starting to get the picture.

One person looked at a finished product and thought in their mind, “I can improve on that.”

Do you realize that one person came up with a concept of building relationships on line with friends, family and school mates?  Bingo!  Social networking was born.

One person looked at a gasoline powered car and thought – what if we could make the car run on electricity.

One person, who hated getting out of bed at night to turn off the light in their bedroom, developed a multi-million dollar product called The Clapper.

It only took one person, a milkshake machine salesman, to come up with a concept of running several restaurants identically the same.  Boom!  Ray Kroc bought the 2 restaurants from the McDonald brothers and franchising began.  Sure there were bumps in the road.  Congress tried to say that franchising was illegal.  But when it came time to vote, the franchising concept passed Congress only by a few votes.

One man shared his idea with a friend.  He dropped out of college to make computers in his parent’s garage.  Bill Gates was one man with an idea.

NOW you are getting the point.

One man (or woman) really CAN make a difference.

Watch this video clip……

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxjZB5S_g7s&feature=share

By now, I am sure we agree that one ,man can make a difference.

So, only one question remains as I conclude this week’s blog.  Will it be you?

Have a great week.

Ron

I Want To Write A Book

I Want To Write a Book

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people say those words or similar words to me.  They want to share their thoughts, knowledge, experiences or creativeness in book format.

To start this blog, allow me to say – I would never step on someone’s dream intentionally.  If writing a book is YOUR dream and you feel lead to do it……then have at it.

Not long after I wrote my second book, I shared my excitement with my coach and mentor Charlie “Tremendous” Jones.  Charlie grabbed my hand and walked me around his book store.  Then he slapped me over the head.  And, in that famous Charlie gruff sounding voice, he said, “There’s a whole store full of books no one is reading and you wrote a book.  You want to be successful, get more people to read books.”

I walked away with a mental limp.  I had hoped for some praise and adoration.  What I got was love and good advice wrapped in a hard truth.  As the day wore on, Charlie’s words made more and more sense.

So, now YOU want to write a book. 

Let me ask – is it your story you want to get out to the world?  Or do you want to make money off of your story? 

You see, getting a consumer to part with their hard earned money and actually BUY your story, whether it is in paperback, hard copy or e-edition is a really hard thing to do.  Sure you see all those books at the chain stores put out by the big publishing houses……and visions of sugar plums dance through your head.

The truth is there are far more books at the supermarket dollar bin and at the dollar store that somehow did not attract the consumer than there are best sellers.

If you have the money, realizing your dream may be easier.  First you will need a writer or editor – mainly because the average Joe on the street has no idea how to write.  Next you will need a proof reader.  Their critical eye can be a real asset to your book being professionally written.  How about an illustrator?  Yes, that will be more money.  You can get anything published through a variety of self publishing houses.  Then you will need the book to be marketed….more money.

Oh and you’ve always dreamed of doing a book signing.  You will need to purchase a few hundred copies of your book .  Once you have spoken to the local book store reps, you can schedule a date.  Tote those few hundred books in your car (yes, the book stores will allow you to do autographs as long as there is no risk to them).  Now you sit at the table with the blue apron and hope someone buys your book.  In the mean time – several people ask you where the bathrooms are located.  Others inquire about Aunt Susie’s favorite author….assuming you work at the book store.

One must take a solid look at the book they have written and market to the audience the book targets.  Not everyone is interested in purchasing “The Cat Whisperer” with its cutesy feline photos.

What’s that?  You thought the publisher’s did all that. 

Big name publishers rarely take on new clients.  And, when they do – it is usually someone who has already had several works published.

You can submit manuscript after manuscript after manuscript to every publisher in the U.S.  Be prepared for form rejection letters.

Writing is a crazy business.

A few years ago, one of the top mystery writers spoke at the podium after winning Mystery Writer Of The Year.  He said, “This is such a strange business.  Tonight I am being honored for being the best mystery writer of the year.  This morning I received 6 rejection letters from publishers telling me I did not know how to write.”

Should this discourage one from writing?  I hope not!

Writing is first and foremost therapeutic.  It’s an outlet.

As a person who has made money in writing – I thought it fair to paint the true picture for you.  Kind of like Charlie did for me.

If you love to write – do it daily.  Also, it is important to have several projects on several topics in varying stages of production going at one time. 

Doing so will prevent lost time – known as writer’s block.

Also, keep in mind, you can only write about what you know.  Writing about something you know nothing about is certain doom.  And, it offers no internal reward.

Research your topic.  You may think you know a lot – but learn more.

Plan on it taking a year or more from concept to finished product.  Many authors take 5 years to complete a work.

Happy writing.  

Ron

A Keurig Kind Of Life

A Keurig Kind of Life

Over the Christmas holiday, we received a Keurig Coffee Maker as a gift.  It was a wonderful gift.  And, it made my wife’s eyes open wide.

I should point out that I am not a coffee drinker.  My wife, on the other hand, loves “the bean” by the pot full.

For those not in the know, a Keurig is a state of the art coffee machine that provides a piping hot cup of joe – one cup at a time – in seconds. 

I have heard people tout the positives of a Keurig:  it saves time; it does not waste coffee; it provides an opportunity for 2 people to enjoy a cup of their favorite blend (Columbian, flavored, breakfast, etc.); it also offered a coffee drinker and a tea drinker to enjoy their hot beverage at almost the same time.

I want to take a look at what a Keurig does – and how it relates to leadership and personal development.

 A Keurig’s purpose is to serve up a single serving of a piping hot beverage.  Sounds like such a simple task when looking at it from the point of the end result.  But, to set out from what we all knew as the carafe w/ a hot plate and hone in on brewing a superb cup of Chai, cup of hot cider or a cup of coffee takes a lot of work AND a lot of focus.

So what?  What does this have to do with personal development, leadership and goal setting?

A lot!

As we begin a new year, many of us have set goals – whether it is to lose weight, stop smoking, be more organized, read more motivational materials, etc.

But THAT – just like with a Keurig shows our end result.

In order to achieve that goal, we must focus – focus on ONE thing.  We must give 100% of our effort in to brewing that one cup of coffee just right.

Many hands worked as a team to create that Keurig.  Likewise, it will take more than YOU to help you reach your 2012 goal.  Keurig used engineers, design experts, chemists and assembly line people to reach their goal.  In order for you to reach your goal, I strongly suggest you get coaching from people who are experts in your goal area.  You also will need cheerleaders to root you on when you hit bumps in your journey.  And, you will need accountability people to help hold you to your word.

By focusing on one goal at a time, you are stacking the deck in your favor of achieving your goal.

Understand that you are separating yourself from the pack when you line up all your ducks with support. 

People often fail at goal achieving because they try to do too much, they set unrealistic expectations or they give up when discouragement sets in.

THAT is why many weight loss centers are jam packed in January and nearly empty by March. 

You want to be like a Keurig?  Focus on doing one thing great.  Surround yourself with a strong support team.  And, know that reaching your goal is NOT the end.

What was that?

Yes, the biggest naysayers with a Keurig was the high price of the individual coffee cups.  So how did Keurig respond?  They came out with a K Cup – a washable small cup that you can use your tub of Folgers with.  That’s right, you can keep buying coffee in your usual canister or bag and use it in a Keurig.

In 2012 learn from Keurig – focus on one thing – being your best at whatever you set as your 2012 goal.

Then, once you reach your goal – DON’T STOP!  Press on to the next goal – and the next……

I know you can do it…….

Ron