Dollars or Donuts?

I speak with many small business owners who scramble to spend money on business cards, brochures, websites, ink pens and other gadgets.  Additionally, I hear the same small business owners complaining about not having enough money left in the budget to cover bonding costs, other business necessities, or to even eat more than a few donuts!  So, what’s the deal?  Here are some simple pointers when you are considering spending your dollars and living on donuts in order to purchase marketing materials.  Work equally on both tactical approaches and strategic approaches.  Your brochures, websites, etc… are your “tactics”; your “strategy” is the long range goal or overall impact you want your company to have (the ultimate marketplace position or perception you want your clients to have).   Now, ask these questions BEFORE, you spend any dollars:

• How do your tactical efforts support and help accomplish the strategic position?
• What are the strategic objectives of each tactical effort? (brochure, window card, etc)

If you are spending the money on tactics (brochures, websites, etc…) simply because ‘other people do’, save your dollars until your tactics support your strategies and you can hang out with ROI (Roy)… your Return On your Investment!  Don’t be so quick to lose your dollars on tactical items without ROI’s connection to strategy. No ROI means trading your dollars to live on donuts! Besides….donuts are sooo unhealthy, and dollars fit better in your pocket! 

“The PROOF of desire is Pursuit!”

Mike Murdock, in his book Wisdom for Winning, created the quote above as well as its partner: “A productive life is not an accident!”.

Most of us have desires in life.  We talk about them, dream about them, hope about them…however, we may not actually pursue them! How is it we say we want them, but the proof of the desire to possess the dream is in the pursuit of it!  A productive life is not an accident, it happens on purpose.

Many times it is because we simply don’t know what to do next.  Is that you? or is it because you feel it is too overwhelming? (a chunking issue) or is it because you have conflicting beliefs? or limiting beliefs?

First, know it is OK to feel a bit uncomfortable when you are embracing change.  Then, take control of your thoughts, versus your thoughts defining or controlling you.  Sounds easy, but not always so. You choose what to focus on and how you will focus on it.

When I teach on this, I instruct participants in this manner: Open you hand and spread your fingers wide. Now, hold the palm of your hand with its center about one inch from your   nose.  How much of the world can you see? Only fragmented pieces….right?  This is what happens when we focus on things in a particular way.  My past, my fears, lack, pain…whatever it may be, if I bring it up close to where WHAT I focus on is so BIG, I see “it” and only “it”… this will affect how I respond behave…act (take action or not take action).  Do you see how this can also affect my emotions? Beliefs? even my reality?

This affects depression, business success or failure, families, marriages, self-esteem and so much more.  So what are YOU focusing on? Is your life purpose or desire so BIG that you easily plan and take action on it producing measurable results? or are your reasons for not taking action one inch from your nose?

Be honest with yourself! Acknowledging what is there is a step towards removing its power to hinder you.  

So TODAY, brainstorm the first things that come to your mind when you think of taking action or pursuing your dream.  Don’t focus on each one, just write fast without judging. Now write what you have to believe in order for those things to come to pass. Next, what is the pain associated with not following through and continuing to live with those limiting beliefs? What would happen if you adopted different beliefs? What beliefs could you adopt that would make it easier to pursue your dreams? What will your life be like when you do fully embrace your purpose and desire?  What does it look like?  Feel what you will feel, see what you will see, hear what you will hear when you are fully walking in that dream!  

NOW, what are three (3) action steps you can take NOW towards its accomplishment.  Do it NOW!!  Yup, do it now!  When is NOW a good time to begin living the life of your dreams?   Your level of commitment will make a way. Spend at least 15 minutes every day seeing what you saw, feeling the feeling, hearing the sounds of when you are living out your purpose,… your desire.

Change occurs in the PROCESS, not as much in the outcome.

I am looking forward to hearing about your progress, as well as any challenges we all can join in on assisting you in walking through and achieving your goal.

Until next time….Just “Be”…limitless!

“It ain’t what ya know that hurts ya, it’s what you know that ain’t so”

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Comment(required)

Submit

Δ

As I sat in a restaurant enjoying my food, these words came barreling out and absolutely stopped my consumption process…which is not at all easy to do! I looked around to find the source of the comment and found an elderly gentleman in overalls with a cowboy hat in the chair next to him. He was speaking to a young lady. I did not hear the remainder of the conversation even though I strained out of curiosity. I believe it was simply meant for me to consume just those words!

So we live and operate with certain belief systems. We produce outcomes in our lives based on the decisions we make, which are based on those beliefs. Even though I want to say I believe for bigger and better, I will only produce what I truly believe is possible.  If I only challenge, or question, the questions I ask myself, I will only progress to a certain level. What if my assumptions of what is true are faulty? Then, what I think I know could actually hinder me. So, now I say, don’t just question your questions, question your assumptions! Get to what is at the core. Because, “it ain’t what you know that hurts ya, it’s what ya know that ain’t so”. 

What have you discovered when you questioned your assumptions? In your personal life, in your career or in growing your business?