Newsletter for August 2009: 21st Century Skills: Thrives on Chaos
Contents:
21st Century Skills: Thrives on Chaos
Strictly Business: Attracting Riches (and Money)
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21st Century Skills: Thrives on Chaos
NOTE - This is my final part of a continuing series on achievement in today's world. The "old" tools are still necessary. Loyalty, honesty, integrity, hard work will never go out of date, but peak performance in our world also requires NEW skills. You can read previous issues at: http://www.rodgerblaker.com/business-life-coach-newsletters.htm
The most effective people in the new century will be those who understand and thrive in a world of chaos. They do not believe the world is actually "chaotic" because the old laws of cause-and-effect still apply. You still get results based on intelligent action and focused effort. But they understand we live in a world that "seems" chaotic and they thrive on it.
Peak performers in the 21st century will be comfortable with ambiguity. They know they will never have "all" the information. They know that the rules are constantly changing, and yet they play "flat-out" because they expect to win. They know that action and direction in the midst of chaos is STILL the key to leadership and success.
In this regard, I'm intrigued by the popular TV show, "Desperate Housewives." Millions of people identify with the chaos, confusion and over-whelm of the characters. We identify with the over-worked mother of hyper-active kids and the dizzy divorcee.
Obviously this fictional show is designed for drama and ratings, but what troubles me is that unlike the characters on the show, the WINNERS in life do not fall into the trap of over-whelm and dysfunction. They still have to get things done.
Several things are necessary to thrive in the midst of chaos:
1. Exceptional boundaries. This is where the "desperate" housewives go astray because they seem to have no boundaries at all. Winners know how to say no. They know how to close their doors and ignore disruptions. They know where they are going and they tolerate few, if any, distractions.
2. Exceptional vision. They know their priorities and their desired outcomes. They know what they want and they can see, taste, smell and almost touch their results in advance. They have goals rather than mere hopes or dreams.
3. Exceptional self-direction. I talked about this last month as Positive Self-Projection. They are in charge of their lives and chaos around them is just that – other people's chaos swirling around them, while they maintain an inner calm. They are not lost or confused about their priorities or their direction.
4. Exceptional optimism. They see chaos as opportunity. Chaos "stirs the pot" and opens doors. Rather than annoying or frustrating them, they love it! On a wild and windy day, a rainbow may appear at any moment and they welcome it.
5. Exceptional Reserves. They take care of themselves. They eat well, rest often, save and invest wisely and when opportunity knocks, they are waiting to answer the door. They operate from strength and stability, while a chaotic world wreaks havoc on the competition.
6. Exceptional response-ability. Rather than reacting from anger or anxiety, they see an ever-changing world and they thoughtfully respond to opportunities that present themselves. "Desperate" people react; winners respond.
John Lennon observed that "life is what happens while you were making other plans." Life will not wait until we are ready or until we catch our breath. The winners in the 21st century will thrive on chaos. They'll see and seize opportunities, and they'll love the wild ride. They'll recognize the risks and enjoy the drama, while operating from a place of inner calm. In a world swirling with change and chaos, they'll invest in themselves and in their reserves.
"If you are clear about what you want, the world responds with clarity." -- Loretta Staples
"Fear is nothing except a drain of energy and not a power unto itself. Trust in yourself, for therein lies the true power." -- Lori Hard
"Enthusiasm finds the opportunities, and energy makes the most of them." -- Henry Hoskins"
"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it." -- Jonathan Winters
Strictly Business: Attracting Riches (and Money)
Making money is an interesting hobby. There is lots of money in the world and the world is awash with it. There is more money floating around, changing hands and making people wealthy than ever before. And yet, most of us work very hard trying to find a way to attract more of it.
Here's a simple rule: Making money is hard; being of service is easy.
And here's the brilliant corollary: If you can serve enough people, they will give you money out of gratitude.
Too many business people go directly for the money and find it awfully hard to get ahead. Money does not want to be trapped or tricked or corralled. Money is a reward for the service we provide to others and in some strange way, it flows to those who serve.
Do you need a good business plan, good people and good products? Of course! But the primary focus must be on providing value and serving your customer. If you do that, and do it with honesty and with style and enthusiasm, the money will follow. It always has and always will.
We all prefer doing business with people we like and trust. We prefer doing business with people who make things easy, who serve us well, and who stand behind their product or service, and do it with an easy smile and lots of grace.
Only rarely is a deal based primarily on price. I routinely drive past businesses (grocery stores, lawyers, repair shops) who might offer a lower price in order to do business where I have confidence in the service I'll receive. I bet you're the same way and in business, you want to use that to your advantage.
Find a way to provide extraordinary service and the money will follow. That's been my experience and I trust it. I think it'll work for you, too.
If you would like coaching to improve your bottom line and the quality of life you experience in both work and play, contact me. Let's make the future far more profitable (and fun!) than the past. I'm at: rodger@rodgerblaker.com
Humor: Steve Wright-isms
If you're not familiar with the work of Steven Wright, he's the scientist who once said: "I woke up one morning and all of my stuff had been stolen and replaced by exact duplicates!" His mind tends to see things a bit differently than the rest of us. Here are some of his gems:
I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Borrow money from pessimists - they don't expect it back.
42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand.
The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met.
OK, so what's the speed of dark?
How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink?
Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.
Hard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now.
I intend to live forever; so far, so good.
If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?
What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.
The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.
The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it.
Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don't have film.
Rodger Blaker works with executives, small business owners and professionals who want to grow in their business and create an extraordinary life!
For info on resources for your success, visit: http://www.rodgerblaker.com or call me at 214-485-2238.
Please forward this copy to your friends and colleagues! That's how I grow!