Newsletter for October 2007: The Size of the Problems We Choose

This Months Thought
The Size of the Problems We Choose
Quotes of the Month
Strictly Business: Your Personal Services Company
Humor: Can You Read This
 

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Strive to reach higher levels of success not so you can avoid problems, but so you can respond to ever bigger and more rewarding problems. Develop the competencies and the confidence to tackle huge problems! Strive to be ready, and when opportunity (which is usually disguised as a problem) knocks, you'll answer with the skills, the energy and the ability to handle it.
 

Recently I read an article that stated you can tell a lot about a person by the size of the problems they choose for their lives. I believe this it true, because I have experienced this in my own life.

My sense is that we all have problems. Life is full of decisions, challenges, choices and complications. I think it was Mark Twain who said that life is "just one thing after another", and many of the things life throws at us are problems. Fortunately, many times, we have choices about the kind and size of the problems in our lives.

I'll go further. I suspect that big people choose big problems, while little people try to hide from problems (usually without success) or prefer little problems – which often explode into big problems despite their best efforts.

My theory goes to the observation that a great life is actually easier than a mediocre one. Highly effective people work hard, but not as hard as failures. As far as I can tell, the hardest work there is, is trying to avoid work!

I believe that highly disciplined people achieve more and struggle less than those who let impulse and chaos rule their days. High achievers get up early, have a schedule, know their priorities, stay focused and are productive all day long. They work hard but at the end of the day their work is done and they have RESULTS to show for their efforts.

People who are unable or unwilling to develop self-discipline cannot know that level of satisfaction. People who cannot say NO to interruptions just don't get as much done. People who refuse to do the unpleasant but necessary tasks in life, never know the joy of superior results.

In general, highly effective people live simpler, more structured, orderly lives than less effective people. They have rules about when to work and when to play. They avoid confusion and allow little or no distraction. Their lives and their offices are organized, efficient, calm and productive.

I think something similar happens with the size of the problems we choose for our lives.

I have had the opportunity to know some financially successful individuals, business leaders and executives, and one common thing I have observed about these people is that the greater the level of success, the greater the willingness to tackle huge problems. They risk it all to build an enterprise. They understand the complexity of business or science or government, and knowing the size of the challenge, they eagerly dive in!

Less successful people try to avoid problems, avoid risk, and settle for the small challenges (and small rewards) of life. They try to simplify their lives not by strengthening their self-discipline, but by avoiding responsibility. They try to avoid conflict; they ignore small problems until they grow into big messes. Too often, they choose to "relax" and somehow it never works out.

If you desire to win bigger prizes and achieve greater outcomes, here are two principles to keep in mind:

1. Find a way to serve more people. The more people you serve and the greater your level of service to them, the more they will pay you.

2. Tackle more and bigger problems. The bigger the challenge, the greater the potential rewards.

And perhaps a third law should go with the first two:

Strive to reach higher levels of success not so you can avoid problems, but so you can respond to ever bigger and more rewarding problems. Develop the competencies and the confidence to tackle huge problems! Strive to be ready and when opportunity (which is usually disguised as a problem) knocks, you'll answer with the skills, the energy and the ability to handle it.
 

"Identify your problems, but give your power and energy to solutions." -- Anthony Robbins

"I have always grown from my problems and challenges, from the things that don't work out, that's when I've really learned." --Carol Burnett

"Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They're what make the instrument stretch – what make you go beyond the norm." -- Cycely Tyson

"I am not a special person. I am a regular person who does special things." -- Sarah Vaughan
 

In his seminars, Brian Tracy often asks the audience to raise their hands if they are self-employed. At first, about half the audience typically raises their hands, and he asks the question again and again until, eventually, everyone gets the "trick." We are ALL "self-employed."

It doesn't matter who signs your paycheck or what it says on your taxes, at the end of the day each of us works for our selves, to achieve our own personal goals.

Now, here's a scary question: What if everyone worked exactly as hard as you do? What if every police officer, every airline pilot, every accountant and every surgeon paid just as much attention to detail, put in just as much effort and cared just as much about their RESULTS as you do? What kind of world would we have? Another question  to ponder; would you hire someone if they worked as hard and put as much energy in their work as you do?

I believe that most of my subscribers work very hard, care a great deal, and can honestly answer, "IT WOULD BE A FANTASTIC WORLD!"

Some of us, however, know there is room for improvement. Around the margins, especially on our bad days, we do not work as hard or care as much as we might. Some days we do not "go the extra mile" or make that extra call. We do not do the "little things" that make all the difference.

This month, take a hard look at your own performance and give yourself an honest grade. If you are doing your best, congratulate yourself and honor that! But if you see a few things that could be adjusted to give you a slight "edge", take action! Change them! Over time, it's those "little things" that make all the difference.
 

This is weird, but interesting! A client recently sent the following to me and even though I wouldn't call this laugh out load humor, I believe it can still make you smile. What surprised me is how easy it was for me to read this. Maybe, that’s because I’m a lousy speller. Anyway, enjoy.
  

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
  

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

You can hear me every third Saturday of the month at 11:00 am on WBAP 820 Live as I join host Cliff Robertson on his wealth management program. If you're not in the local Dallas, Texas listening area you can log on to the internet and Google WBAP radio in Dallas, tx, and listen to the show live via the internet.

Rodger Blaker works with executives, professional and business owners who want to grow their business or in their careers 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!