Attract Success: Master Your Craft

Become more attractive to customers, clients, or superiors by mastering your craft. Being the best at what you do is the easiest way to become successful. This principle isn't promoting competence - it implies an even higher standard than mere competence. To master your craft means to learn how to deliver your services to fit the ever-changing needs of your customers, clients, or managers. It means to invent better ways to do everything you do.

Mastering your craft is about raising your own personal standards within the context of your professional life. It is about reducing the costs (in time and emotions) of delivering your services. It is about increasing the demand for your services. It is about making any and all necessary personal changes in order to move forward.

When you master your craft, you often experience the following:

• You learn more.
• You learn faster.
• You separate yourself from colleagues and others who drain you.
• You find better ways to do what you're doing - even if you're already good at it.
• You find greater joy in your work and in your life.
• You influence others more easily.

Being the best at what you do is the easiest way to become successful. Master your craft.

Attract Success: Deliver Twice What You Promise

Another excellent way to attract success is to deliver twice what you promise. When you consistently deliver more than was expected, new customers and clients are drawn to you. Anyone can do this by positioning themselves to always do more than is expected, more than is necessary, more than others in the same business or job are doing. This sets you apart from all others in the same field. This makes you the "go-to" person and makes you more attractive in business and in life.

This principle is fairly easy to implement. It begins with a commitment on your part that you are controlling your repsonse to all requests from superiors and customers or clients. You decide that your response to all requests will be twice what is being asked for. It is closely tied with eliminating delay because in order to deliver twice what is promised, you must get it done without hesitation.

Delivering twice what you promise not only will attract success - it will be a huge stepping stone in your career and professional life. It will set you apart from all others.

Attract Success: Eliminate Delay

Eliminate delay. Time is expensive. Wasting time is very unattractive. Putting things off is unattractive. People do not buy from unattractive businesses when other options are available; therefore, eliminating delay is an excellent way to attract business, customers, and clients. Personally, this principle works to attract friends and colleagues as well.

But, eliminating delay does not mean rushing. Details are still important. Steps cannot be left out of important procedures. Eliminating delay refers to making the most of our time. Eliminating delay refers to removing the obstacles to our success. It doesn't mean working faster - it means working more efficiently and more productively. It means doing what is most important and doing it now. It means refusing to let the obstacle spin our wheels. It means refusing to let anything else get us off our game.

People and organizations who are slow to respond will get further and further behind. People and organizations who are most successful are the ones who eliminate delay.

Attract Success: Unhook Yourself from the Future

Unhook yourself from the future. Attraction works in the present, not in the future. No one wants to know what you're going to do, they want to know what you are doing. This principle of attraction works in your personal life as well as in your business life.

Too many times we wait for just the right moment, just the right job, just the right amount of money in our account, just the right weight in order to do something. And in the process of waiting, we miss the opportunity that now brings us. Now is the time to do whatever it is you need or want to do. Putting things off until an arbitrary date in the future immediately disempowers us. Even if we must have a future date for a project, there is nothing that prevents us from working on it or towards it today.

Unhook yourself from the future. Attraction works in the present, not in the future. How will you attract success today?

Attracting Success: Become Selfish

Thomas Leonard developed 28 principles of attraction that formed his book "The Portable Coach". This week I'm taking 5 of these principles of attraction to illustrate what I know to be true about attracting personal and business success.

Become incredibly selfish. Without you, there is nothing, and attraction isn't possible. Selfishness isn't always a negative character trait. When we become selfish in a positive way, we take care of ourselves and are able to grow and develop in ways never before experienced. No one attracts success when they are tired, run down, and drained. We can only attract success when we are fueled and energized. Our fuel and energy comes from our "selfishness" that creates boundaries that protect us.

Regardless of what we seek to attract - more business, more sales, more money, a stronger team - we must put ourselves first in certain ways. We must put ourselves first in terms of taking care of ourselves. We must eat the right foods, get rest and exercise. We must protect ourselves from influences that drain us or harm us in any way. We must realize that we are what we are selling. We must also realize that no one is buying "tired and worn out" when "fresh and energetic" is on the market, too. By becoming incredibly selfish, we become (and remain) fresh and energized.

A key way to attract success personally and in business is to become incredibly selfish.

Risk is Always Reducible

Risk is always reducible. Personally and in business, we can always reduce our risk. Here are a few ways risk can be reduced.

• Leave 20 minutes early.
• Have a few more copies of the report you'll need for your meeting.
• Under-promise and over-deliver. [Never the other way around!]
• Prepare "new client/customer" packets before you get new clients/customers.
• Upgrade your personal operating system (so you can manage your time, set the right goals, create balance in your life, and move forward).
• De-clutter your home and office so you don't worry about unexpected guests.
• Have a system for everything you do.
• Develop your own routine.

Reducing risk is really about having an insurance policy of sorts. Your personal and business "insurance policy" is in place when you reduce risk. Most of the ways to reduce risk are very simple and easy to implement.

How do you reduce your risk?

There's Usually a Better Way

There's usually a better way to do just about anything. When we do the same things we've always done in the way we've always done them, we generally get the same results we've always gotten. To get better results and outcomes, we need to find better ways to work - personally and in business. If we're not moving forward, we're standing still. If we're standing still, there is no growth. If there is no growth, we're stagnant.

Like with most changes, the first change is the mindset. We must believe that there is a better way. It may be simpler or more complicated. But any better way will bring better results; otherwise, it isn't better.

Think about your own personal operating systems. If you are content with the results they bring you, there isn't a pressing need to look for a better way of doing them. But, if you aren't operating at optimum performance, there is a better way. These questions may help you decide.

• Do you manage your time extremely well?
• Do your priorities fit your goals and actions?
• Do you have a life outside of your work that you really enjoy?
• Are you experiencing growth personally and professionally?

If you answered "yes" to these questions, you are working at or toward peak performance. If you answered "no" to any question, there is a better way.

Contact me for a complimentary 20 minute session to find out more about creating better ways to design personal operating systems around time management and goal-setting strategies.

Problems are Immediate Opportunities

While no one enjoys problems, they do provide opportunities for us - immediately, if we act fast enough. When you think about it, this one framework has the power to transform a negative into a positive. This alone can move us forward much faster regardless of our situation.

Problems can drain us of energy, motivation, and creativity. Problems can stop all momentum. But if we change our mindset and allow a different perspective, we can then focus on the solutions instead of the problem. Just by switching the focus, we empower ourselves and those around us to move forward. When we are moving forward, we are fueled by energy, motivation, and creativity.

Sometimes it's easier said than done, but problems are immediate opportunities for everyone and every business. Just as "necessity is the mother of invention", this coaching framework is a powerful tool in business as well as personally. Problems are immediate opportunities. Do you have an opportunity today?

The Answer is Somewhere

The second coaching framework I'm discussing this week is: The Answer is Somewhere.

Often we face problems in our personal lives and in our work - and sometimes the solutions don't come easily. But the answer to everything is out there somewhere. We sometimes have to get out of our comfort zones and face our fears head on in order to find the solution.

A critical factor in using this framework is being proactive in searching for solutions. What we focus on expands - and, if we focus on the fact that there is no way out of a particular situation, then the solution will be almost impossible to find. On the other hand, when we believe that there is a solution out there somewhere, we are much more likely to find the solution.

When we focus on the solution instead of the problem, we are 100% more likely to solve it faster. The answer is always somewhere.

Delay is Increasingly Expensive

This week I'm exploring a few of the frameworks of coaching. I'll relate them to personal and business coaching situations - and make each one applicable to everyday life for most of us. I hope you enjoy the frameworks I've chosen to discuss.

A coaching framework is simply a structure designed to support the client as he or she moves forward to a different level. The framework itself offers a perspective that often drives change.

Delay is increasingly expensive. Another way to state this is: If not now, when? Often when we wait for "just the right time", we miss the opportunity completely. Windows of opportunity are usually small - so waiting jeopardizes our success. In personal situations as well as business situations, time is usually extremely important. I'm not advocating jumping off a cliff; however, I'm totally against waiting around trying to "over-perfect" the task at hand.

Delay is increasingly expensive. Believe in your abilities. Trust your instincts. Go for it. Make it happen. Your coach is the safety net.

For more information on how this coaching framework can support you personally and in business, contact me and I'll arrange a complimentary session to illustrate this framework.

Stop Talking about It - and Make It Happen

The real key to finding balance is to make it happen. We need to stop talking about the lack of balance or feeling out of balance - and create it for ourselves. We really do have the power to balance our lives - maybe not 100%, but we can create some balance in our lives and in our work.

My point is this: What we focus on expands. When we focus on the fact that we don't have balance in our lives, the "lack" of balance gets so big that we become paralyzed by it. The paralysis keeps us from being productive and efficient - and happy. The cycle, at this point, becomes difficult to break; however, it definitely can be broken.

Break the cycle of imbalance.Stop talking about it and make it happen. Create some balance in your life - and get more accomplished, live easier and happier, and have more energy. How can you create more balance in your life?

Take a Break - without Feeling Guilty

An excellent way to achieve some balance quickly is by taking a break without feeling guilty about it. It can be a day off, a weekend away, or even an afternoon away from work. We all need to be rejuvenated in order to be productive. Tired and "out-of-balance" people aren't nearly as productive as they could be with some rest, relaxation, and sheer enjoyment. Stephen Covey calls this time to sharpen our saw.

Last weekend I took the entire day on Saturday to rejuvenate. I had an absolute blast! I just needed time to myself - so I rented 4 DVDs and had my own film fest. I never even left the house the entire day! What a wonderful respite I had. And, believe me, it has had powerful carry-over into my work, too.

It doesn't have to be an elaborate event in order to have positive effects. The point is that this time off must be relaxing to you and must not make you feel guilty about taking the time away from other things. It is tremendously important to create balance in our lives in just this way. Taking a break is necessary for balance, productivity, and our overall mental and emotional well-being. Try it and see what happens in your life and in your work. My bet is that everyone around you will take note of the change. Give yourself permission to take a break without feeling guilty.

Create Balance with Stronger Boundaries

I believe that we can balance our lives with stronger boundaries. It is extremely important to set boundaries and honor them. No one will respect our boundaries unless we are committed to them and protect them. Initially, it may be difficult; however, once we respect our own boundaries, they are truly set in place.

What boundaries can we set for ourselves? There are too many to name, but here are some:

• a closed door
• "voicemail only" times during the day
• structured start and stop times for tasks
• "Do Not Disturb" sign
• saying "no"
• a 10-minute walk
• definite meal times
• scheduled short breaks during the day

It really doesn't matter what the boundary is - the purpose of it is to protect you. In the process, it creates balance in our lives and in our work. When we have balance, we are more efficient, more productive, more relaxed, and happier. Create balance by setting stronger boundaries - and honoring them.

Balance is a Verb, Too

Often our use of the word "balance" is in the noun form. We want balance and we want to feel the power and peace it brings. But what I've found is that we all sometimes forget that balance is a verb, too.

When we shift our mindset and focus on the fact that we really have the ability to "balance" things in our lives and in our work, we then move to a totally different field of play. Just this shift in thinking allows us to create balance. We can do this by:

• allowing ourselves to set boundaries that protect us and our time
• deciding when we will complete our tasks
• specifically setting times (start and stop times)
• letting go of the need for absolute perfection
• making the commitment to create more balance in our lives and in our work
• taking charge of our schedules - of our time
• making decisions and sticking with them

This isn't necessarily an easy concept to implement; however, once done, it can be the most powerful tool we will ever have, personally as well as professionally. When we use balance as a verb, we become much more confident and competent.

Finding Balance in Life and Work

Finding balance can be one of the most difficult things we face. There always seems to be too much to do - and something gets left undone as a result. We never seem to have enough time to do many of the things that we really enjoy. We feel drained because we don't have enough rest - or enough recreation.

The real truth of the matter is this: Balance isn't either/or - it's AND.

The way we find balance is to create it by changing our mindset - and making room for the fun things and the important things in our lives - and in our work. Our biggest restriction is the 24-hour day; however, with the right mindset that can be handled.

For starters, change your mindset so that you aren't choosing one thing over another - but changing something else so that you can have both if it is possible - and if it is important enough. Finding balance is about finding ways to do the things we really love to do - and want to do - while doing the things we have to do.

Intentional Leadership

Intentional leadership is leadership defined by each member of an organization regardless of position. It defines the role of leadership as it plays out on a day-to-day basis and strengthens the organization. Intentional leadership creates a culture that develops all members and holds the expectation that everyone assoiciated with the organization grows personally as well as professionally in all areas.

Intentional leadership is expressed and illustrated by:

• decison-making based on the beliefs, values, and culture of the organization
• open communication with and between all members of the team
• ownership, responsibility, and accountability from, with and by everyone
• commitment
• results!

What I'm really saying here is this: while some leaders are born, all of us can become leaders by our intention. Intentional leadership is developed. In fact, I have designed a coaching program that does just that - it develops leaders intentionally. If you'd like more information on my coaching program, please contact me @ 703.791.4741 or email thecoach@SLFConsulting.com.

Trademarks of a Leader

Leaders are unique in many ways; however, there are qualities that every leader possesses. I call these the trademarks of a leader.

• good communication skills
• great motivator
• excellent ability to persuade others
• leads by example
• rallies the team
• is unselfish
• puts goals of the organization ahead of their own goals
• determination
• courage
• confidence
• results-oriented and results-driven
• ability to create the future by believing in the team
• positive attitude
• takes ownership
• accepts responsibility
• accountability abounds
• makes decisions
• appreciates team efforts and expresses that appreciation
• commitment
• enthusiasm

When these trademarks are developed, organizations are effective and successful. Organizations without effective leadership are never as successful as they could be. Leadership skills must be developed - in all areas of every organization - regardless of position.

5 Ways to Develop Leadership

Leadership can be developed in these 5 ways.

1. You must believe that leadership is personal and not positional.
2. You must listen more than you talk.
3. When you talk, you must say something that really matters.
4. You can delegate authority, but not responsibility.
5. You must be authentic. No one will follow a "fake" into battle.

Real leaders are everywhere - not just in positions of power and "leadership." Organizations need good leaders in all areas - top to bottom. Real leaders are the ones who step up and believe in what they are doing. They believe in the people who work with them and for them. They hear what is said and they hear what isn't said. When real leaders talk, they speak of things that matter to them and to their organization. While delegation is often the mark of good leaders, responsibility is never delegated and real leaders step up and accept that responsibility.

The real key to developing leadership is authenticity. Real leaders are the ones who aren't fearful of rocking the boat. Real leaders take charge regardless of the role they play in the organization.

Thoughts on Leadership

Leadership is a hot topic right now. There are articles in business magazines, books on the best seller lists, workshops and seminars - and coaching programs on the topic. What is the fascination with leadership and why is it so important?

Leadership is extremely important. Without it, organizations never reach their fullest potential. With it, they soar to new heights. Leadership can't be bought or sold - it is something you either have or don't have. With it, you are followed into battle. Without it, you are chased from the playing field. And I still firmly believe you can develop leadership - but it doesn't happen instantly.

Leadership can be developed in anyone who is seriously interested in personal and professional growth. It comes from within the person and isn't necessarily connected to any position. Regardless of profession, leadership is key to moving forward in business - as well as personally.

How does one develop their leadership skill set? (Please read my blog on Wednesday, July 5 when I address developing leadership.)