Newsletter for December 2008: Opportunities in Times of Chaos

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This Months Thought

If the news and the "warnings of impending doom" are inspiring your imagination to create awful images in your head, CHANGE THAT! Stimulate your imagination to create images of what's possible, what's new and creative, fun, loving and empowering. Remember, "We become what we think about all day long." In times of storm, think about the rainbow.

Opportunities in Times of Chaos

While I'm enormously proud of my country for our peaceful elections and the way we come together once the votes are counted, the fact remains these are chaotic, difficult times.

We are constantly warned of threats to our well-being--economic problems, job lay-offs, home foreclosures, the annual flu scare, and even warnings about a new glut of spam and email viruses on the loose. Sometimes I wonder why I get out of bed if the world is obviously falling apart and "going to hell in a hand basket!"

And then I remember a wonderful quote from Will Rogers: "Hardly any of the things I worry about ever happen." What a magnificent insight! We listen to the news, we worry and raise our blood-pressure (sometimes even give ourselves ulcers!) and for what? At the end of the day, we come home and the house is still standing. The kids and the dog still love us. We have dinner, watch a little television or put the kids to bed, and life is good. But what about all that "danger" out there?

I've often joked that for all the violent movies, news stories and the billions spent on "security" it's been a long time since anyone shot up my neighborhood with a machine gun. As a real problem, it simply doesn't exist. (I'm afraid James Bond and I live very different lives!) In my world, most of these fears are just "news" designed to make money for the publishers--and perhaps create business for the "stress reduction" industry.

For me, chaos is best used as a motivator to help me review my priorities and insure my future. Specifically, here are a few things my coaching clients and I have been talking about:

1. Assess actual risk. Are you, in actual fact, over extended or exposed in any area? Are you carrying too much debt? Is your job at risk? Does your investment portfolio need to be adjusted? Facts and numbers rarely lie. Face the truth and if you are at risk, take action. Talk with experts and get good advice. Assess your level of actual risk and protect yourself. As the kids say, "Like, Duh!" Get this done!

2. Relax and enjoy. I use the example of storm watching. Most of us prefer warm sunny days to cold rain, but resorts in Colorado do great business during the winter. People throng to the mountains to ski and snow board regardless of heavy snow fall. Later, they sit by warm fires, eat great food and talk with friends. It's wonderful to be warm, safe and comfortable while you watch it snow. View these times of crisis that way. If you're protected, relax while you watch the storm from the safety of your own hearth.

3. Chaos creates opportunity. During this recession, thousands of new businesses will start. Millions of people will change careers, move to better communities, simplify their lives, or discover talents they never knew they had. What opportunities are available to you? Instead of watching hours of bad news, read a book, enjoy dinner with the family, or sketch a new business plan and take action.

Most people will (sadly) let this recession happen "to" them. This Months Thought subscribers, on the other hand, will use whatever comes their way to their advantage. They'll see and seize the opportunities chaos always provides.

Earlier this year I heard that the common, ordinary stick was inducted into the "Toy Hall of Fame." (Who knew there was such a thing!?) The point was that kids have never needed fancy dolls, expensive toys or electronic gadgets to have fun. Give a kid a stick, let her imagination loose, and amazing things happen.

If the news and the "warnings of impending doom" are inspiring your imagination to create awful images in your head, CHANGE THAT! Stimulate your imagination to create images of what's possible, what's new and creative, fun, loving and empowering. Remember, "we become what we think about all day long." In times of a snow storm, think about skiing on white powder.


Quotes of the Month

"We become what we repeatedly do." -- Aristotle

"You are what you think about all day long." -- Dr. Robert Schuller

"Change your thoughts and you change your world." -- Norman Vincent Peale

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind!" -- William James


Strictly Business:  Let Your Light Shine

I recently read about a woman with a small business selling accessories for Mattel's "Barbie" doll and "Hot Wheels" toy cars. She collects and re-sells clothes and little tiny shoes, umbrellas and purses for Barbie, along with components for the little Hot Wheels cars. She has revenue of over a million dollars and earns a nice 6-figure income from her home.

How does she do that? Simple! She's found a niche and she lets people know she can help them complete their collections and fulfill their hobby.

In general, I'm not a fan of "advertising" in the traditional sense. Sure, for some businesses it works, but for professionals and most online businesses, I prefer to think in terms of "marketing." It's cheaper and more effective.

The fact is that almost no one needs the goods or services you provide. As a coach, I understand that less than 1% of the population are ever going to hire me. Most people don't know what a coach is, or they've never heard of me. They can't afford coaching, or don't think they need a coach. The reasons for not hiring a coach are endless!

The two keys are letting that tiny sliver of people who DO need me know that I exist, and making it easy for them to hire me. It's imperative to help them appreciate the "investment" in coaching, rather than the "cost." If they understand the value I provide, and they know they can safely "try before they buy" and if it's easy to do business with me, plenty of customers will--and do--show up. The same is true for your business.

How do you reach out to your community? How do you let your customers know you exist, that you can serve their needs, that they can trust you? How do you make it easy for them to contact you?

In the Bible there is a story that warns us not to hide our light under a basket, and it applies in business as much as anywhere else. Turn the lights on! Let the world know who you are, what you can do for them, and how to contact you. In business, that is an every-single-day activity.

If you are ready for a coach, contact me via email at: rodger@rodgerblaker.com. We'll talk about your needs and how you can quickly move toward your most important goals. I offer a no obligation, complimentary coaching consultation over the phone to anyone who is interested in exploring how I can help them improve their business, their leadership skills and their life.


Humor: Only in America

There have been many lists like this one circulating over the years, and they always make me chuckle. We humans are, in some ways, the most ridiculous creatures on the planet! I hope you see yourself in at least a few of these and have a good laugh!

Only in America do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes and candy bars at the front.

Only in America do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.

Only in America do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

Only in America do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.

Only in America do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.

Only in America do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.

Only in America do we have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.

Rodger Blaker works with small business owners and professionals who want to grow their business and executives who want to improve their leadership skills!

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!