Time To Tweak

As we approach the first of June, it’s time to revisit our goals for 2012.  We must be brutally honest with ourselves asking questions like:

• Am I doing things to move me forward or just spinning my wheels in the sand?
• Am I following a game plan that is leading me toward achieving my goals?
• Do my goals need a slight course correction?
• Am I where I intended myself to be at the start of the year?

These are great questions to ask NOW, with a whole month ahead of us before we reach the half way mark of 2012.

Before we get too down on ourselves by answering these questions, let me offer some assurance.  Most people do not even have their goals written down.  Secondly, most of the people who DO have their goals written down – have no game plan in place to reach them.  So, smile, you are ahead of the curve.

Let’s look at each one of the above questions.  Hopefully, my suggestions will be helpful to each of my blog readers as they strive to improve on themselves.

Am I doing things to move me forward or just spinning my wheels in the sand?

In order to answer this question one must look at how their time is spent.  Some folks like to make a chart, blocking out time slots for each hour of the day.  This is a great way to determine where their time is spent.  Quite often they are surprised at how their time is spent.

Others prefer to write down in a journal each thing that is done in a day and how much time it took.  In doing so, they get a better handle on where their time was spent. 

I have learned that getting organized with your time is a real asset.  Additionally, I have learned from mentors and coaches that “it’s what you do with the little pockets of time in your life that makes all the difference in the world.”

The average American watches between 3 and 4 hours of television a day.  Now, you may be saying, “I only watch 2 hours a day – so I am doing pretty good.”  Well, yes, in once sense you are.  But instead of being entertained – what if you spent that two hours bettering yourself – or moving you closer to your goal?

Am I following a game plan that is leading me toward achieving my goals?

Having goals is one thing.  In fact it’s a good thing.  But, having no strategy to achieve that goal is pointless.  Its like a swimmer bobbing around in the water hoping to get to the other side of the pool.  But, if there is no defined plan to get their you may eventually reach the goal or you may not. 

Why not stack the deck in your favor and increase your odd dramatically?

Do my goals need a slight course correction?

In school we learned that the shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line.  Well, that does not apply in goal achievement.  Things happen that force us to adjust our goals or our strategy.  Those “things” may be from within ourselves or outside of our control. 

Sometimes our game plan needs a little tweaking.  Just the slightest adjustment in a golfer’s swing can mean the difference in a great shot or a shot going in to the water.

Most people will answer this question with a “no”. 

Life happens.  We get distracted.  We get busy doing other things. 

More often than not – we also stop looking at our goals and dreams on a regular basis.  We MUST keep our why out in front of us at all times. 

It is always wise to know where you are.  It helps you to to where you want to be in life.

Have a great week

Ron  

To schedule Ron to speak

to your business, civic group
or organization

contact him at:

ron@ronorendi.com
717-802-0483

Remember

Remember

As we journey through this 2012 year – we come upon Memorial Day.  For some it’s the start of summer.  For others, it’s the beginning of picnics with friends and families.  Others view it as the official opening of the swimming pool.

But to all of us, it should be a day we remember the price that was paid for the freedom we enjoy.  I urge all my blog readers to take the time to remember the men and women who put their lives on the line for all – some even paid the ultimate price.

It was their belief and their commitment that enables all of us to live as a free nation.

So, a good question to ask is, what are you doing that you believe so strongly in that you would be willing to lay down your life for people you don’t even know?

What are you doing to impact not only yourself or your family – but the entire country – for generations to come?

Perhaps we can learn from the example of the soldier who set aside fear.  Maybe we can follow in the huge footprints of those willing to step into danger because of what they believed was right, true and fair.

Thank you to all who served in our military.  God bless you all.

Have a great week

Ron  

To schedule Ron to speak to your business, civic group
or organization, contact him at:ron@ronorendi.com
717-802-0483

You Need A Win!

You need a win!

Those simple 4 words are the basis for many people playing the lottery, bingo, and other games of chance.

Unfortunately, not everyone understands THE WIN. 

What they want is the million dollar prize.  They want that BIG HIT.  They long for their ship to come in. 

The trouble is many people wait at the water’s edge for their ship to come in a place where few ships dock.

People talk about that grand prize, the Mega Millions, the pot at the end of the rainbow.

But is THAT truly what they want?

I don’t believe it is.  I think what they truly want is a win. 

Let me explain…..  They want to have some level of success to build on.  They want to prove that THEY can do it. 

Sadly, so many people have dwelt so long on their losses, they believe that they cannot win.  They throw their hands up in the air and QUIT.

From there, negativity and a defeatist attitude set in.  They not only believe they can’t win, they want you to believe you cannot win either.  In fact, some folks will do whatever is necessary to prevent you from getting a win.

This is where it gets complicated………..

They watch sports and root for their favorite team.  In fact, they become so desperate for a WIN that they take ownership of the team and attach themselves to the team’s win.  You don’t believe me?  Listen to people speak about their Miami Heat winning.  You will hear things coming from their mouths like. “My Steelers can kick Raven butt.”  Or, you will hear, “Yeah it’s been a while since Dale Jr. has been in victory lane, but we’re still up there in the points race.”

They speak as though their fan loyalty truly is part of owning the team.

People are hungry for a win.

That’s why they watch Dancing With The Stars, American Idol, Amazing Race, the Bachelorette, The Voice, Survivor and similar shows. 

By nature most of us are competitive.

Somehow through the magic of television, viewers identify with a performer and celebrate the performer’s victory as though they had a part in the win.

We root for the underdog because we want to know there is a chance of a win for people like ourselves – the little guy.

So, is that WIN out there for us?

Absolutely.

But, here is what I suggest.  Go for smaller wins.  That’s right – instead of going for the million dollar (or multi-million dollar) prize – go for the hundred dollar prize. 

Attack the smaller win.  From there, you WILL build your self confidence.  You will develop a bigger belief IN YOU.

Go for a 10% improvement in your sales.  Change one bad quality about you.  Gather 5 new business contacts.  Do 3 things you have been putting off doing.

THEN – go for another 10%.  Get 10 more contacts. 

Improve on you a little more.

All the while you are getting win after win after win.  As you win, you become stronger and more confident.  That lost belief in you has now been restored.  Your posture is better. 
Your speech is improving.  You are even dressing better.

Why?

Because you have a foundation of wins under your belt telling you that YOU CAN DO IT!.

Have a great week

Ron  

To schedule Ron to speak to your business, civic group
or organization, contact him at:ron@ronorendi.com
717-802-0483

Who Are The People In Your Neighborhood?

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

Way back when my children were preschool age, a children’s program on the local PBS station had a show where they sang a song about “Who are the people in your neighborhood?”  The show may have been Sesame Street or even a locally produced show.

The point is, who are the people in your neighborhood?  Do you know?

With central air conditioning, and no front porches on newer homes, many families keep their play time indoors.  In doing so, we often do not get out and meet the people around us. 

Routinely, we hop in our car, push a button to open the garage door, set our cd or XM radio player, turn on the car’s ac and back out our driveway.  By locking ourselves in to our own world, we often miss the hurting neighbor next door’s cry for help.  We also miss the elderly neighbor who may need a hand at completing a task.  And, we miss the outward signs of a struggling person who lives within a baseball throw of our own home.

So, who are the people in your neighborhood?  We know what kind of cars they drive.  But, sadly we know little else.

Our busy lifestyles, hectic schedules and our isolationism have caused us to become disengaged from (quite possibly) a vital contact or connector for our business who is within a stones throw of where we live.

The limited “free” time in our lives has caused us to compartmentalize who we associate with.  If we golf, chances are our friends golf.  If we hunt, probably our friends hunt.  If we are Methodists, odds are so are the people we spend time with. 
If we have a dog, chances are we know people on our street who have a dog. 

I encourage everyone to get out and meet your neighbors. 

Get to know them.  Allow them to get to know you.  Build a relationship.  And watch the magic that happens.

My wife and I have very little in common with our neighbors – but, by listening to their stories and them listening to ours – we have a bond that is amazing.  Over time, we have grown to have a commonality other than living in the same zip code.

Go ahead, as the weather gets nicer – get out and talk to your neighbors. 

Have a great week

Ron