Why does it take an extreme to get results?

I have watched a few bits and pieces of Undercover CEO and Undercover Boss, the concept is that the out of touch CEO or business owner gets a disguise and goes undercover working as an everyday schmo to see whats wrong and right with his or her business.
The ones I saw the CEO is so shocked when she finds out that most of the people think she is a douche or the people who make the guy all his money are generally hard working , under appreciated, shitty treated cogs who are prevented from becoming great.
So the question to business owners and CEO's is simply this: "Why the hell are you so out of touch with your business that it takes a crappy disguise and a reality show to shed some light?"
No wonder North American business is in such trouble.

Lessons from the movies......

A good friend and I used to used to use lines from movies and TV shows to make points about businesses and how they were poorly operated.  It was fun to us to look from the outside in and we often made suggestions to people in businesses that were well meaning ways of improving their service.
We worked together on a few different ventures and had some fun and success.
One of our favourite movie lines was from the original Planet of The Apes, it was when Charlton Heston's character looked around at the apes in the field and said:
 "If this is the best they've got around here, in six months we'll be running this planet."
We used to use this line when we saw a place with great potential that was lacking and we would laugh about it.
It was a little arrogant on our part and on Charlton Heston's part to it turned out, but we believed we had the vision to at least try.
I still sometimes think that when I see a place with great potential, I try to be less arrogant but I can't help but chuckle a little when I say it!

How is your new year going so far?

We often start the new year with great expectations and plans for a fresh start.  We want to accomplish great goals and sometimes set sights so high we could never meet them.  Then February rolls in and we start to make excuses or chastise ourselves because we are not hitting our targets. 
That is counter-productive.  Don't beat yourself up, instead if you are not hitting the stride you want, regroup and start again.  Give yourself a new year starting today and review those goals.
 A couple steps I suggest:
1- Re-write your goals and give them a fresh start.
2- Break down the goals into monthly, weekly and daily, this makes them easier to reach targets and build confidence.
3- Be sure the goals you set are Personal, Measurable, and have a deadline.
So go ahead and start the New Year today, the most important point is to keep moving in the direction you want and not letting an arbitrary date on the calender discourage you from moving ahead.
Happy New Year!!!

We are not meant to be stress free.

I am not going to turn this into a zoo vs the wild and whether or not zoos are good or bad, my point about this is how we, as animals, survive and even thrive in an environment that allows us to be challenged and to adapt to changes.

If you ever see animals in the wild compared to those at zoos the difference is astounding.  We are brought up with the belief that having a safe environment, free of enemies and where we can count on having our meals, medical and housing looked after or at least assured will lead to a stress free life and we will do better.  Hence the zoo.  When I say "we" I refer to all animals including man.  This just is not true.
An animal in the wild looks so much more alive and aware of it's self.  An animal in captivity where it is given everything loses it's self of identity.
This may seem far fetched, but a lot of solid research backs up the point that animals due better mentally and emotionally in the wild.  They have opportunities to become leaders, survivors and even respected group members. 
The other side of the coin to this, which again is not my point, will be the people who say "well you are right, lets cut off all welfare and assistance and put these lazy bums out to work and they will feel better."  Again not my point, even zoos and wildlife sanctuaries recognise that there are species who through no fault of their own other than mans greed and ignorance would face extinction without help.  So again, this is not a political issue of Left vs Right, but the point is we need to have that feeling of striving, working, creating, rising through the ranks if we desire, in order to have a feeling of fulfilment.
So once again, in business or ventures of any type, one will produce greater work and art when doing so in a free environment rather than in a safe, secure cage or cubicle.  The life in the wild might seem a little frightening at first, but that really is our natural habitat.  We are meant out be out there running in the grass and being the best human animal we can be!

What makes you different?

If you are using your business or artistic venture to express yourself and your unique abilities and offerings, then why are you doing the same thing as everyone else in the same market?
We do better when we stretch outside of the normal and really let ourselves shine through.
I loved the story when Bill Gates was giving a presentation to some high school kids and in the question period one of them asked; "What would you recommend someone starting off to do to be successful and make a lot of money?"  Bill Gates answered simply; "Well don't do what I did, it's already been done and the money has been made, do something different!"

Stop asking for permission!

OK you can stop now, stop asking for permission to do something different to go against what everyone says is the norm, to express your art in whatever fashion you need to.  Let the Lizard Brain have it's say, then smile tell it thank you and go ahead and do it.  The lizard brain will keep you in fear and it convinces everyone of us at some time or another that we can't, we must not, we need permission.

Forget it.  No no one is going to give you the permission you need so give it to yourself and eventually you will stop feeling the need to ask permission.  You want it?  You got it.  You hear by have permission to succeed, to be great at something, to express your true inner calling.  Now stop asking for permission and do it.

Close Enough!

So what if I skimp on some of the small details of my business, so what if I only put in 80% effort into my latest creation, so what if I use a cheaper brand of produce in my restaurant.....Close Enough.  Who will notice.
This is the first step to the path of mediocrity and soon everyone will notice.
You might keep some of your business and clients, but not the ones who matter.  If you are doing what you do because it is your art, then most importantly you will notice.  No, close enough will not cut it.  Best to not start down that path as it is a dark road and full of others doing the same.  The path of quality and caring has lots of room and you don't have to worry about competition, most of them are on that short-cut of Close Enough!