J.H.Now

I’ve been pretty unbalanced this last month.

I still don’t know if that’s a good idea or not. Its certainly natural for me to take one thing and focus on it so hard that other things fall off my plate.

I think there are times when such tenacity is needed to push through obstacles and get things done.

But the long term issues might bite me in the butt.

Here are three areas that I don’t think should suffer when you are going all out:

1. Your Relationships

Some of your relationships are an integral part of who you are. Don’t abandon the needs of those you are in relationship with (especially your family). Make sure to take time everyday to connect and refocus on those you love.

2. Your Health

This is one area that is starting to effect me. I’ve been burning the candle from both ends for days - so I’m starting to get chronically tired and fatigued. Not a good idea.

Another thing - I need to set up a better office space, specifically for how I sit. My posture and lower back are getting effected with my current setup.

3. Your Cash Flow

If you lose your cash flow - you lose everything. Don’t be so focused on something else that you lose sight of the main point of it all. Financial Freedom.

It’s amazing the impact and influence other people can have on your life.

My last few months have been on the fast track simply because of the new associations I have made.

I love it.

I haven’t been posting much because I’ve been working on my “passion project”.

Since I don’t do anything small, it’s certainly lots of work, huge vision…and a long term goal.

I doubt it will go public until at least the fall - but when it does - some of my readers will find it to be amazing.

Here are some of the most recent lesson’s I’ve learned:

1. Don’t edit your text in a Prezi. Edit it in your doc program, and once its finalized, then put it in the prezi.

2. Oh. Prezi is awesome btw.

3. Accountability and Masterminds help you achieve your goals.

4. You can survive on less sleep…at least for the short term.

5. I love writing. I hate editing.

6. Ommwriter rocks for getting into a thought flow.

7. Dan Andrews (and others in the DC) are rock stars.

8. Too much information actually hurts your reader.

9. I focus - hardcore - when I need to. Maybe at the expense of other things…

10. I really want to go to the mountains.

I love capturing “timeless moments” - when the beauty of life just arrests me.

One of the main ways I do this is experiencing nature.

Because of this passion, I’ve had a burning desire and goal to travel most of my life.

Many people travel to see other people or other cultures…Not that those reason’s don’t get me excited - but honestly all my destinations are based upon the unique locations on earth that capture my imagination…mountains, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, tree’s, oceans…

It almost gets to the point of me thinking - ‘if only I was in the mountains right now…’ or ‘if I only I was backpacking…waking up to the gentle fog, cool breeze and hints of pine.’

But the entire point of this post is this: Moments of beauty that can capture me are all around me wherever I am.

I only tend to see them when I take specific time out to do so…like a vacation to the mountains.

Nearly everyone I meet who lives in the mountains start taking them for granted as time passes…

I think its because it isn’t necessarily the location that captures us.

Its that we took the time to notice the beauty in the location.

I can take the time to embrace the beauty all around me…today. At this moment.

Doesn’t that mean that living life to the fullest is more dependent on us taking the time to notice the beauty than anything else?

I think so.

I love things that are under my control.

With a full heart…enjoying a beautiful sunset in a flat (but wooded) Kansas.

~ Jonathan

Look - It doesn’t really matter what you want to achieve. Part of the formula for nearly every big accomplishment has to include some consistent action applied to your goal nearly everyday.

Most people naturally try to take huge leaps towards success every several days rather than little steps towards success on a consistent (almost daily) basis. This won’t work nearly as well.

You have to return day in and day out - be it exercising, building a business, eating healthy, learning a language or getting better at a sport or hobby - consistency is one of the most important secrets for achieving our goals.

But since its also one of the hardest things for us…

You have to be building a business in an area you love. Then you don’t mind being consistent everyday - because you don’t mind doing it over and over.

If you try building a business where the consistent action you need to take for success isn’t something you love - there is huge opportunity that you are wasting possibly years of your life struggling because you will have to fight to be consistent and that will limit your potential and success.

Find work you don’t mind doing consistently. Do it. Achieve.

I’m in the process of building a business. If you are building one as well, this post is for you.

Don’t Forget to Build Change into the very Core of your Business Model.

Old businesses use to look at the current market trends, identify a good niche, and then build a business fortress on the foundation of the niche.

That’s impossible now.

There is no such thing as “sturdy ground” - trends change too fast. You have to build change into your business model.

Most 3-5 year business plans are a joke…they don’t factor in change at all.

Examples:

• Blockbuster turned down buying netflix for 50 million. They also refused to partner with redbox.
• Redbox is now having to raise prices, if they aren’t changing their model they will soon be outgunned.
• Netflix lost millions of customers, if they don’t get some massive leverage on their streaming, they will soon be gone.
• Entire business were wiped out with a touch of a programmer when Google introduced Penguin - those businesses thought Google was a foundation they could rely on.
• And now - businesses like  “Build My Rank” seem to be destroyed by Google’s last moves a few weeks ago. Millions of dollars suddenly meaningless. 
• Myspace dominated for a couple years - then plummeted.
• Pinterest just exploded on the business scene in less than a few months. (Massive Quick growth is another sign of constant change)
• Wheelchairs are going to be obsolete within a 2 or 3 years. Here is why.
• Much of the service industry will be automated in less than 10 years. Robots.

Change is exponentially accelerating. We will see more and more massively successful businesses that die out in under 2 years. And more and more massively successful businesses get there overnight.

This was unheard of 20 years ago.

There isn’t a solid ground niche to build much of anything on anymore - its an ocean of change. Make your business a boat that can sail through the change…not a house that sinks when entire societies move at the latest whim.

Change is the only solid foundation - and if you don’t know it and build that fact into the core of your business - change will destroy you in a second.

There is a massive paradox that needs to be held in balance.

You need goals that make you yearn to achieve them.

You want to feel adrenaline when you think about them…a slight fear.

You should feel compelled to take massive action and they have to excite you.

But the paradox…

It can be very hard achieving your goals if they are massive.

So this is what makes the huge difference.

Huge long term goals that get your adrenaline racing.

Easy daily habits that will eventually get you to your goal.

If your daily to-do list is massive, you won’t ever truly start on it. It will be very easy to procrastinate. If your daily to-do list is easy, there are few excuses that will keep you from it.

Keep your big goals huge and nearly impossible.

And your daily to-do list easily achievable. 

This will make a huge difference in your effectiveness and your productiveness.

The only thing we can ultimately control is ourselves.

And too many times we simply hand that control over to someone else.

Leadership is influence. Plenty of times we allow ourselves to be influenced by others, especially emotionally. Think of it. The person you might have the least respect for in a certain emotional moment is exercising control over your emotions. They likely don’t deserve to be called your leader - at least at that deep of a level - and often aren’t even deserving of our time.

So when you find yourself getting angry, emotional, sad - or dependent on someone else for your happiness - you aren’t leading yourself. Someone else is leading you and you are giving your self control away to someone who doesn’t even know they have that power. 

There are very few things so important that you give away the control of your own emotions. Keep that in mind next time you get pissed off…

If someone can make you glad, mad or sad - you’ve been had.

None of your emotions, positive or negative, should be dependent on someone else’s action.

When you are working to accomplish some audacious goals, a large challenge is staying in your “flow” mode. (That state where production seems natural and easy.)

I think our “flow” naturally comes and goes…the challenge, of course, is getting it back when it goes.

Here is how I got my flow back last week…

1. I Had to Re-identify My Major Objectives.

One of the things that sucked my flow was a large decision that subconsciously placed a few too many options on the table and limited the effectiveness of my work. I stalled out doing any real work because what work I did do might be meaningless after the decision. I had to decide promptly on the decision and then re-develop my objectives to get back my flow and focus.

2. I Had to Break Down My “To-Do’s” Into Smaller Pieces.

This is a very common tool - but it works.

Many times we are stagnating because we are tackling something that seems  large and intimidating. Perhaps we don’t fully know where the resources are coming from, or the skills we will need. Many times we are stagnating because we are waiting on something else (a decision by someone else, a sub-contractor, etc…) before we can fully apply ourselves. So subconsciously we are putting it off.

Whatever the reason, nearly every goal you have can be broken down into small enough pieces that there is some action you could be taking - even if it only takes five minutes. 

This last month I needed to start producing a short sales video. That is overwhelming to me…but writing the first minute of the sales copy wording isn’t.

3. Just Do It. 

Once you have some smaller pieces - just take action. By choosing to get back to work, your mind tends to start flowing again after a few minutes and you can easily identify and work on other things that help you achieve your final objective.

Once you got it back…

You got it back. :D

Nike had it right…no one else even comes close.

Just Do It.

Lets look at blogging as an example. Sometimes I have no idea what I’m going to write about. Normally I keep a journal and when I get good ideas, I write the ideas down and work off the list. But sometimes, I don’t “feel” anything on the list or I don’t have a thing on the list to write about.

So then I stare at a blank page (if I even pull out the puter) or dilly dally all day without actually writing anything. Bad idea. 

Action is King. Just Do It.

Sometimes I just have to start typing…even if its meaningless for a few sentences.

You have to have the faith in yourself. The faith that when you start taking action what you need will start to flow to you.

It’s like priming an old water pump. You have to pump several times before you see the water flowing.

I’m getting older.

And I didn’t do everything right when starting businesses the last 10 years of my life…but I still took action. I’m still on the path I want to be on. And I still learned. If I hadn’t taken action, I wouldn’t be on the path I’m on today.

Many others are not taking action towards their dreams. They think they will get the map written suddenly. They have it all wrong.

The action is how the map to success is written.

Just Do It.

Great personal change - the important and internal kind - tends to manifest itself in nearly every sphere of your life.

When you grab hold of a “life purpose” you are no longer content with the status quo and that discontent spills over into other areas of your life because you want *you* to be better.

But desiring change to happen doesn’t mean it will happen.

That’s where chaining habits comes in. 

I’m horrible at doing the little daily disciplines that helps maintain a healthy lifestyle, create value and forge relationships.

I just am.

Whats been helping me recently is to make a habit out of a routine where I chain several of the daily disciplines I struggle with together. For example - I have a list of daily disciplines I want to get done.

• Eating Healthy (Breakfast and Prep)
• Exercising
• Prayer
• Assessing my current vision/action steps for today
• Writing

There are a few others, but these are the ones I chain together.

So every morning I’ve developed a 1 - 2 hour routine where I chain all these elements together. If the rest of the day escapes me, I know I’ve at least accomplished this much.

By chaining them, I only have to do the work of developing 1 habit - my routine. This is easier than trying to do the work of developing 5 habits. It’s made the day much simpler, and it starts my day focused and energized on the priorities I know I should have.

You don’t have to chain them together in the morning. Seek out 1 or 2 blocks of time where you can build a routine of chained habits and start doing them daily. Start small. (Write for 15 minutes…workout for 15 minutes). As the habit forms, you can grow the time you dedicate to the habit as you acclimate and enjoy to the habit.

Success is good small disciplines repeated daily. (50 pushups over time).

Failure is small errors in judgement repeated daily. (2 cans of soda a day over time).

I hope this idea helps you with the daily disciplines. It is certainly helping me.

Sincerely,

Jonathan

Some of us are just too dang excited to tell the whole world about our personal growth adventure.

Seriously.

I know amazing things are happening inside. That we’re pushing boundaries and growing…that we’re changing. Where we look fear in the eye and don’t back down…

And I know that almost everyone on the planet says to tell others when you commit to something crazy (or do something crazy).

Don’t.

Its OK if you tell some of your stuff…but think of it this way:

Do you parade the last intimate conversation you had with your lover to everyone you know? Or the last challenge you two overcame together? Or the way you love it when they challenge and encourage you at just at the right moment…

Of course not. Those things are more special because they are intimate.

Keep some of your personal growth journey special. Intimate. Between you and…you. Sharing it with the whole world can often pollute its meaning. Most people won’t get it and in the end - you are tossing your pearls in front of people who don’t give a care.

Sometimes simple is hard for people. This book isn’t long. It isn’t complicated. It isn’t fancy. It doesn’t even deal with something that is new to you.

And that’s why its powerful.

Julien deals with something that we all have gnawing at the back of our brain (and we know it). He fights the elephant in our personal room immediately and relentlessly. Every word hits you right in your weakest spot again…and again…goading, pleading, reasoning, challenging you to fight back against your primal and irrational fears. (And giving you some practical steps to get you started).

Those who want to grow will embrace the discomfort and take the extremely practical butt kicking advice joyfully. They will channel their life towards expansion by doing seemingly silly things that reconstruct their entire grid of comfort and build memories of willpower and strength to use in the future. These people know - if you are not growing - you’re dying.

Those who sit on the sidelines and can’t recognize that failure to get outside of their comfort zone has limited their entire life…they will dismiss this book quickly. Likely as silly, simple and repetitive. (And will fail to expand their own comfort zone in the process).

For me, I see this as a book I will skim again and again when I need inspiration: The inspiration to change my perspective and man up. The inspiration to take charge of the irrational gnawing fear I experience when I’m outside my comfort zone.

Julien urged me to the action that moves me forward and expands who I am and what I can do.

Remember when you were younger? Remember the dare that you knew if you took you would always remember the moment as a thing of awe in your life? (For me it was jumping off a cliff into blue water…far far below).

Maybe you took it. Maybe you didn’t.

And now, as adults, we refuse to live and expand. The feelings are the same as the moment of your dare - and this book identifies that line in the sand holding you back and gives you the tools to forget it ever existed.

And its free.

Whats your excuse?

P.S. One word of advice. If you read this book and don’t do the challenges, you will be further entrenching and empowering what holds you back currently. Don’t decide to read the challenges if you haven’t also decided to do them.

Download for Free: http://www.amazon.com/The-Flinch-ebook/dp/B0062Q7S3S/ref=cm_rdp_product

Julien Smith: http://juliensmith.com/

I write a bit for some investment blogs, and one thing that happens often is investment groupthink.

I know this might be easy to see from the outside - but I think all of us are trapped in some sort of groupthink constantly. 

I know I am.

I think we all know that being a learner is important. But how we go about learning is a bigger deal. 

Many of us keep ourselves trapped in a learning cycle that continually teaches us what we agree with. This happened in the 08 housing bubble - nearly all experts kept teaching that real estate was sure thing. Those investing were still learning - they just weren’t learning the right thing.

So once you have decided to learn - what is step two?

Challenge what you think you know. When I believe something strongly, I purposefully seek out counter views and opinions so then I have the information to rationally and objectively sort and challenge my own opinions. If they stand the test - I keep them. 

This learning step is powerful and crucial.

Find the “clash of ideas” before you finalize your view.

And have fun doing it. :)

Tell next time…  

Had a great business meeting this morning with my mastermind group. Nailing down the direction I’m taking this year in business. 

I haven’t written anything for along time, so I feel that this blog post is a bit like trying to romance your woman after you ignored (and hurt) her.

I’m sorry.

I will do better.

(I know I must prove it…)

Here is something of value:

Business as usual is over. MBA’s and typical business approach tells you to survey the terrority than build a house when you find your niche and “solid ground”.  

Technology has sped up so much that entire industries and waves of consumers are moving way faster than anyone can hope to keep up…if they have the old type of a business model. 

Instead of a house strategically placed within a steady market - Imagine your business as a boat strategically placed on an ocean.

Are you building a business that can’t move or change? One with stiff walls and the assumption of a permanent market? 

Or are you growing a business that can evolve as your market evolves…are you building a boat on the ever changing ocean? 

More to come later. 

Jonathan

Balance is key.  That’s why I have made it into one of my personal growth goals. 

A few examples:

God

God is a great reflection of balance.  Truths in tension.  Grace:  Unearned and overflowing.  Works:  You are nothing if your actions are nothing.

God can’t steer a sitting car.  You can’t get a car moving without God. 

God helps those who help themselves.  God wants you to need and ask for His help - He requires that you ask. 

Helping.Giving and Getting.Receiving

I love giving to people.  But I can’t give anything if I don’t have anything to give.  I must get so I can give.  But if I over focus on getting and receiving, I lose site of helping and giving.  I find that the people that turn down generosity are the ones that can’t be generous themselves.  It’s a balance.

Any area vs Any other area

If I completely forget my physical health in preference for another area (relationships for example)…I will lose in the long run.  If I forget another area (relationships) and focus only on my physical state…I will lose in the long run. 

The balance of ones different areas of responsibility is often like the tires on a car.  If one is flat -none of the areas of life will go as far as they could go if you spent focused and intentional time in each arena with a balanced approach. 

We are always off balance.  It’s an eternal juggling game that should be embraced. 

Which of your tires has slowly been deflating over the holidays?