Jim Collins picturized momentum, in his book Good to Great, as a flywheel.
Imagine the flywheel as being gigantic gear, meant to be moved in one direction. Push your shoulder into it, heaving with all your might, until it starts to roll. You keep pushing in the same direction, again and again, and the flywheel picks up more speed. Before too long, using the same amount of energy, you can keep it going in that same direction. Using that momentum is one of the keys to greatness.
Work at something long enough, for weeks, months, years, and decades, and you're bound to change the world. How much of the world is up to you and how much momentum you use. There are people I've met who try something new every other week. Sound familiar? Guess where they are a year from now. You guessed it: right in the same place where they started. If you stick to one thing long enough, you'll get good.
And then, over time, you'll get great.
Find your why, as Simon Sinek says, and put it into action. Today.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Start a to-NOT-do list
Of all the concepts laid out by Jim Collins and his book Good to Great this one had the most profound affect on me.
Practically every business/success book or course out there prescribes the notion of having a to-do list. This is typically at the heart of every time management book. There's nothing wrong with this, because it lays out what needs to be done. I use a to-do list all the time.
What Jim Collins prescribed was a "stop doing" list or a to-NOT-do list.
On one's to-NOT-do list may be as follows:
I will NOT watch 8 hours of mind-numbing television a day (or 2 or 4 or whatever your number of hours may be).
I will NOT oversleep and not write for the 1 or 2 hours I had planned in the morning.
I will NOT not write something every single day.
I will NOT drive to work listening to the latest political blow-hards on the radio or my favorite 80's rock tunes I've listened to and WILL listen to something inspiring (for me it's either a podcast by Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller, Earl Nightingale, or Writing Excuses).
I will NOT spend my breaks and lunches at work checking my Facebook status and not working on my book.
I will NOT waste my time on mind-numbing tasks on the Internet when I planned on writing or working on my blog.
I will NOT plan one weekday where I don't have at least one blog posting.
I will NOT watch the news every single day. A 30-minute local news broadcast is fine, but not the hours and hours that Fox News/CNN/MSNBC/Etc. bring to us in their 24/7 news cycle. Bad news is everywhere. I don't need to fill my mind with it.
I will NOT not take a break every once and a while, simply because it gives my body and mind time to rest.
I will NOT physically devestate my body or medically devestate my mind through poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and negative attitudes.
I will NOT start my day wishing it was a different day (Monday is just a day of the week, not something to be dreaded, so get over it.).
What's on your to-NOT-do list?
Practically every business/success book or course out there prescribes the notion of having a to-do list. This is typically at the heart of every time management book. There's nothing wrong with this, because it lays out what needs to be done. I use a to-do list all the time.
What Jim Collins prescribed was a "stop doing" list or a to-NOT-do list.
On one's to-NOT-do list may be as follows:
I will NOT watch 8 hours of mind-numbing television a day (or 2 or 4 or whatever your number of hours may be).
I will NOT oversleep and not write for the 1 or 2 hours I had planned in the morning.
I will NOT not write something every single day.
I will NOT drive to work listening to the latest political blow-hards on the radio or my favorite 80's rock tunes I've listened to and WILL listen to something inspiring (for me it's either a podcast by Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller, Earl Nightingale, or Writing Excuses).
I will NOT spend my breaks and lunches at work checking my Facebook status and not working on my book.
I will NOT waste my time on mind-numbing tasks on the Internet when I planned on writing or working on my blog.
I will NOT plan one weekday where I don't have at least one blog posting.
I will NOT watch the news every single day. A 30-minute local news broadcast is fine, but not the hours and hours that Fox News/CNN/MSNBC/Etc. bring to us in their 24/7 news cycle. Bad news is everywhere. I don't need to fill my mind with it.
I will NOT not take a break every once and a while, simply because it gives my body and mind time to rest.
I will NOT physically devestate my body or medically devestate my mind through poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and negative attitudes.
I will NOT start my day wishing it was a different day (Monday is just a day of the week, not something to be dreaded, so get over it.).
What's on your to-NOT-do list?
Monday, December 5, 2011
I am a published writer!
Okay, self-published . . . and for now, only in this context of this blogging world.
Because every single time I write a blog, I have to click on the Publish tab at the top of the page. Oooo, what a feeling.
So, in other words, I am a published writer.
Just not being paid a gazillion dollars . . . yet.
As you might've noticed, I updated the progress status of Beholder's Eye. I have finished editing up to chapter 14. And I have 62 total chapters (61 chapters and an Afterward titled Views From The Outhouse. Sound familiar?)
Because every single time I write a blog, I have to click on the Publish tab at the top of the page. Oooo, what a feeling.
So, in other words, I am a published writer.
Just not being paid a gazillion dollars . . . yet.
As you might've noticed, I updated the progress status of Beholder's Eye. I have finished editing up to chapter 14. And I have 62 total chapters (61 chapters and an Afterward titled Views From The Outhouse. Sound familiar?)
"Good to Great" - merging Jim Collins's concepts into my writing
A month ago, I read a book by Jim Collins called Good to Great. In it, he talks about how certain companies defy the odds over a number of years and become truly great, even in the midst of economic turmoil. He compares the wide spectrum of publicly-traded companies (because their financial records and press releases are open) and whittles the list down until he emerges with a list of companies that he calls "great." He compares them to similar companies within the same timeframe, and lists why one company failed and the other became successful.
Over the next few blogs, I'll explore some of his concepts and merge them with my writing career. Even though he picks large companies, like Walgreens and Wells Fargo, as the truly great companies in terms of stock prices/profits, I'm going to turn back the dial and show how the concepts can be applied to one's own individual life/career. I believe they can be used on an individual level, and lead you to a better life, to a more successful life.
Over the next few blogs, I'll explore some of his concepts and merge them with my writing career. Even though he picks large companies, like Walgreens and Wells Fargo, as the truly great companies in terms of stock prices/profits, I'm going to turn back the dial and show how the concepts can be applied to one's own individual life/career. I believe they can be used on an individual level, and lead you to a better life, to a more successful life.
Friday, December 2, 2011
This blog - it's not just for writers
It doesn't take long to figure out that this blog is mostly intended for writers . . . although the advice can spill over into other arenas of thought.
I recently listened to a podcast (www.48days.com) where Dan Miller talks about why he attends various seminars, even if it's not in his area of interest--for those of you who don't know who Dan is, he's a successful career coach and author. He gave the example of attending a real estate seminar. He doesn't even sell real estate, but the principles he learned only increased his knowledge of what he's doing. He took out what he could work with.
The same could be said about this blog. I'm not sure the demographics of who reads this, and although there may be a majority as writers, let me speak to some of the others right now. Finding out what one truly loves to do--something Dan Miller speaks about a lot, so I strongly encourage you to read his blog as well and listen to his podcasts--and doing what you love to do is a journey I believe everyone should take. As Simon Sinek calls it, find out your "why."
If you love to work on Harley Davidson motorcycles, woodworking, creating quilts, restoring classic Mustangs, painting portraits, coaching people through the difficult parts of their life, photography . . . and the list goes on . . . whatever that may look like, envision it.
To help you, let me ask you a question I've been asking people for quite some time now: if you were able to be paid $500,00 (or even a million) dollars a year to do what you love to do, what would that look like? Be honest with yourself. The answer could surprise you.
Speaking of woodworking, one of my cousins has found his passion in woodworking. But not just any woodworking. Woodworking by hand, without any need for power tools. I've been following his blog for quite some time, and I can honestly say it's very impressive. His blog is http://insidetheworkshop.blogspot.com/ I don't love working with wood as much as my cousin, but it still inspires me to do what I love: writing.
I recently listened to a podcast (www.48days.com) where Dan Miller talks about why he attends various seminars, even if it's not in his area of interest--for those of you who don't know who Dan is, he's a successful career coach and author. He gave the example of attending a real estate seminar. He doesn't even sell real estate, but the principles he learned only increased his knowledge of what he's doing. He took out what he could work with.
The same could be said about this blog. I'm not sure the demographics of who reads this, and although there may be a majority as writers, let me speak to some of the others right now. Finding out what one truly loves to do--something Dan Miller speaks about a lot, so I strongly encourage you to read his blog as well and listen to his podcasts--and doing what you love to do is a journey I believe everyone should take. As Simon Sinek calls it, find out your "why."
If you love to work on Harley Davidson motorcycles, woodworking, creating quilts, restoring classic Mustangs, painting portraits, coaching people through the difficult parts of their life, photography . . . and the list goes on . . . whatever that may look like, envision it.
To help you, let me ask you a question I've been asking people for quite some time now: if you were able to be paid $500,00 (or even a million) dollars a year to do what you love to do, what would that look like? Be honest with yourself. The answer could surprise you.
Speaking of woodworking, one of my cousins has found his passion in woodworking. But not just any woodworking. Woodworking by hand, without any need for power tools. I've been following his blog for quite some time, and I can honestly say it's very impressive. His blog is http://insidetheworkshop.blogspot.com/ I don't love working with wood as much as my cousin, but it still inspires me to do what I love: writing.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
"Bah humbugs" are not welcome here
"Bah humbug!"
We all know the famous line by Charles Dicken's Ebenezer Scrooge, but more and more people lately seem to be saying the "bah humbugs" this holiday season.
2011 has certainly been a trying year for our family, one that started with two heart-wrenching events in January (quite a mess to clean up, that's for sure) and another with my wife being diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukemia) in April. We worked through the events in January and learned our lessons from it as it prepared us for the near-fatal disease that turned our world inside out. Luckily, with today being day 91 after her bone marrow transplant, she's back at home and recovering quite well. She still has weekly appointments in Rochester for the next few weeks, and then they'll change to monthly.
It'd be easy for me to be pissed off at the world and just spout off a horde of "bah humbugs" . . . but I'm not. Before I go on, I certainly don't need anyone to feel sorry for me. That's not the point of this. Because, believe it or not, there are other people worse off in this world than even us.
For those out there who have to be constantly spouting off their "bah humbugs" on everyone, I have three words for you:
GET OVER IT!
Our family of five could've very easily ended the year as a family of four. Thank God we're not. Is the war over? Certainly not. We're fighting battles every single day. Thank God we have close family and friends (and a community) who are willing to help out at a moment's notice.
Speaking directly to you "bah humbugs" out there, you could have very valid reasons for feeling that way. I understand. But I choose not to do so, not to have those negative attitudes. I choose to live my life looking to the future, seeing the glass as half-full, and knowing life is going to get better. Sure, there will be more curveballs thrown at us. We're ready for them. We'll work through them like we have everything else.
And always remember that there are others who can't help but get struck with those curveballs . . .
We all know the famous line by Charles Dicken's Ebenezer Scrooge, but more and more people lately seem to be saying the "bah humbugs" this holiday season.
2011 has certainly been a trying year for our family, one that started with two heart-wrenching events in January (quite a mess to clean up, that's for sure) and another with my wife being diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukemia) in April. We worked through the events in January and learned our lessons from it as it prepared us for the near-fatal disease that turned our world inside out. Luckily, with today being day 91 after her bone marrow transplant, she's back at home and recovering quite well. She still has weekly appointments in Rochester for the next few weeks, and then they'll change to monthly.
It'd be easy for me to be pissed off at the world and just spout off a horde of "bah humbugs" . . . but I'm not. Before I go on, I certainly don't need anyone to feel sorry for me. That's not the point of this. Because, believe it or not, there are other people worse off in this world than even us.
For those out there who have to be constantly spouting off their "bah humbugs" on everyone, I have three words for you:
GET OVER IT!
Our family of five could've very easily ended the year as a family of four. Thank God we're not. Is the war over? Certainly not. We're fighting battles every single day. Thank God we have close family and friends (and a community) who are willing to help out at a moment's notice.
Speaking directly to you "bah humbugs" out there, you could have very valid reasons for feeling that way. I understand. But I choose not to do so, not to have those negative attitudes. I choose to live my life looking to the future, seeing the glass as half-full, and knowing life is going to get better. Sure, there will be more curveballs thrown at us. We're ready for them. We'll work through them like we have everything else.
And always remember that there are others who can't help but get struck with those curveballs . . .
He walks . . . or he walked. Present vs. past tense.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist--or someone with a doctorate in literature--to ascertain the conclusion that the majority of books written are in past tense. And if it feels natural to do so, just do it.
But there's a few writers out there who tackle the present tense. And yours truly is one of them.
From as far back as I can remember, I've written in present tense. To me, I view my writing as a portal to another age or land, and I'm bringing you on this journey. Present tense feels natural to me, despite the countless books I've read that are in past tense.
A friend of mine described his writing of the past tense as telling a story over a campfire: "Long ago, in a far away land, there lived a princess . . ."
I'm just giving you something to think about. I'm not trying to be clever by writing in present tense. I just write what feels natural to me. A few stories I've written are in past tense, and those stories felt right in that tense too.
Experiment, if you wish.
(As a side note, there is also the future tense, but primarily those are reserved for build-your-own adventure stories and such. I've never read a future tense story - I'm sure there's one out there)
But there's a few writers out there who tackle the present tense. And yours truly is one of them.
From as far back as I can remember, I've written in present tense. To me, I view my writing as a portal to another age or land, and I'm bringing you on this journey. Present tense feels natural to me, despite the countless books I've read that are in past tense.
A friend of mine described his writing of the past tense as telling a story over a campfire: "Long ago, in a far away land, there lived a princess . . ."
I'm just giving you something to think about. I'm not trying to be clever by writing in present tense. I just write what feels natural to me. A few stories I've written are in past tense, and those stories felt right in that tense too.
Experiment, if you wish.
(As a side note, there is also the future tense, but primarily those are reserved for build-your-own adventure stories and such. I've never read a future tense story - I'm sure there's one out there)
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