Newsletter for September 2007: When Is Enough Enough

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Have you had a summer yet? Have you taken the kids to the beach, climbed a mountain or played baseball? Have you read a book in the shade or gone fishing? How's your golf game? How about a nap in a hammock, or reading the Sunday paper (including the comics) as a family? Have you had a summer yet?

When Is Enough Enough?

It's the first week of September! My nieces and nephews have all gone back to school (it seems too early!) and the trees will be drying up soon and getting ready for fall. So, the question is: Have you had a summer yet?

This month I've been focused on how quickly life passes, and thinking about the things we will do "some day," as if the future will magically be more luxurious than the present. While we can all hope that "some day" things will be more relaxed and less stressful, I have my doubts.

I recall John Lennon's observation that, "Life is what happens while you are making other plans" and the oft-quoted comment that, at the end of life, "no one ever said, 'I sure wish I'd spent more time at the office'." My belief is that, as a culture, we do too much!

I think there's a useful distinction between ambition and greed, or between desire and addiction. These may not be formal distinctions, but I hope you'll bear with me for a moment.

Ambition and desire, it seems to me, encourage us to be active, curious, creative and productive. I'm saying that ambition and desire are not just "good," they are GREAT! They keep us moving forward, they encourage us to invent and build, and that's the story of achievement and satisfaction.

Greed and addiction, however, keep us working long after the necessity for hard work is over. Greed not only works us (literally) to death, it prevents us from enjoying the fruits of our labor along the way. How tragic is that!

Imagine being among the wealthiest people in all of history, having access to education, travel, medicine, transportation and entertainment that is the envy of the world -- and not being able to enjoy it because we want "more!" Isn't that where some of us find ourselves?

Now, I know it's a delicate and very personal thing. Anyone who's ever had children, started a business or committed to any of the other "big things" in life knows how many hours are required. Early in my corporate career, I put in 50-70 hours a week, working in the technology field, getting up in the middle of the night to drive into work to fix a systems problem, coming back home to catch a few winks, then driving back to work the same day. Trust me, I remember those long days and sleepless nights! Some things are important and they require all the time and hard work we can muster.

So it's not easy to cut back. I understand that. But the thought of not having time to read, or to exercise, or play with our children is too high a price to pay for "just a little bit more." I'm convinced that, as a society, we have become "addicted" to busy-ness and have succumbed to "greed" too easily.

I come back to my question, "Have you had a summer yet?" Have you taken the kids to the beach, climbed a mountain or played baseball? Have you read a book in the shade or gone fishing? How about a nap in a hammock, or reading the Sunday paper (including the comics) as a family?

Quotes of the Month

"Every man dies. Not every man truly lives." -- Braveheart

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment to improve the world." -- Anne Frank

"We are all pencils in the hand of a writing God, who is sending love letters to the world." -- Mother Teresa

"Accept the pain, cherish the joys, resolve the regrets; then can come the best of benedictions -- "If I had my life to live over, I'd do it all the same"." -- Joan McIntosh

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.” -- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Strictly Business: Excellence vs. Perfection

Last month I had a long conversation with a brilliant young woman who, by all reasonable measures, ought to be a fantastic business leader. She's strong, insightful, motivated, and ambitious. She's what Mary Foley would call, "Bodacious!" (You may find her book on Amazon.com)

And yet, she struggles. She's started a dozen businesses, but none have been really successful and she filed bankruptcy after one of them failed. She's written elegant business plans, consulted great coaches and mentors, taken all the classes, so what's wrong?

She's "too perfect by half!"

Or, to be accurate, she wants a level of perfection that keeps her from getting the job done! She analyses every angle, develops every idea, and pursues every opportunity until she's exhausted. But, in the process, she doesn't make any SALES! Her businesses don't make money! And, even worse, they don't truly serve anyone. They don't serve her as an entrepreneur, they don't serve her employees (no job security!), and they don't serve her customers.

There's a great quote that's been attributed to Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn and others: "Ready, Fire, Aim!" At some point in business, we have to say it's "good enough" and take action.

At some point, we have to settle for "excellence" and go for it! I'm not talking about being sloppy or settling for mediocrity, but in most cases, excellence is good enough. Particularly if we are willing to fix our mistakes, learn from them and seek constant improvement, excellence is good enough.

Perfection is the enemy of success.

If you would like coaching to improve your bottom line, to expand your business and improve your performance, contact me. Take action! Let's explore the possibilities and move forward. My email is: rodger@rodgerblaker.com and I look forward to hearing from you!

Humor: Famous Signs

A good friend sent me these great signs, supposedly from actual businesses. I love the creativity people have! I hope they give you a chuckle as I did.

On a Septic Tank Truck in Oregon:
"Yesterday's Meals on Wheels"

On a Septic Tank Truck sign:
"We're #1 in the #2 business."

At a Proctologist's office
"To expedite your visit please back in."

On a Plumber's truck:
"We repair what your husband fixed."

On a Plumber's truck:
"Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber"

Pizza Shop Slogan:
"7 days without pizza makes one weak."

At a Tire Shop in Milwaukee:
"Invite us to your next blowout."

On a Plastic Surgeon's Office door:
"Let us pick your nose."

At a Towing company:
"We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."

On an Electrician's truck:
"Let us remove your shorts."

In a Nonsmoking Area:
"If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."

On a Maternity Room door:
"Push. Push. Push."

At an Optometrist's Office
"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."

On a Taxidermist's window:
"We really know our stuff."

In a Podiatrist's office:
"Time wounds all heels."

On a Fence:
"Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive."

At a Car Dealership:
"The best way to get back on your feet--miss a car payment."

Outside a Muffler Shop:
"No appointment necessary. We hear you coming."

In a Veterinarian's waiting room:
"Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"

At the Electric Company:
"We would be delighted if you send in your payment. However, if you don't, you will be."

In a Restaurant window:
"Don't stand there and be hungry, Come on in and get fed up."

In the front yard of a Funeral Home:
"Drive carefully. We'll wait"

At a Propane Filling Station,
"Thank heaven for little grills."

And . . .Don't forget the Chicago Radiator Shop:
"Best place in town to take a leak."

 

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. 

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