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IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, there’s nothing special about the beginning of a new year.
Yet it’s amazing how much importance we place on this event. Especially when you realize that there’s different calendars, with all kinds of various starting dates.
But here we are.
The importance of a new year is what we choose to place on it. Read the rest of this entry »
THIS WEEK I had the wonderful opportunity to spend some quality face-to-face time with one of my key partners. It was the best investment I could have possibly made in defining the future course of our partnership.
On the surface, the work we were doing was about tasks and projects and how this would add value to both of our companies.
The greater joy, though, came from our understanding of each others’ values and goals. Despite having worked together for five years, we each learned a great deal by meeting up in person and taking substantial time to talk about that non-task stuff.
YOU WANT TO BE AWESOME at everything. I get that.
The problem is that the real world gets in the way!
Here’s an example: You want to attract awesome, talented employees. But your business plan also says you’re very tight on expenses.
Which means you probably can’t pay people what they’re worth. Perhaps you’ll save money on hiring less-than-top-notch people, then spend a bundle training them up.
WE’RE ALL SEEKING APPROVAL.
I’m convinced that deep down inside, and as social beings we want recognition from those we most care about.
Somewhere in there, we want Mommy to be proud of that artwork on the refrigerator. We want to get a gold star sticker for accomplishment.
ALMOST EVERY INDUSTRY has some kind of seasonality. 
When I talk to someone about their business, it’s usually fascinating to dig into the cycles which are natural for them.
This came to mind today because I had a chance to talk with a lady who’s starting up a great business bringing products from South America and Asia here to Colorado. I suspect that many of these products will be used as gifts, which means that she’ll be connected to the gift-giving occasions around Christmas, Mother’s Day, and so on. Birthdays happen year round, of course, so that may help even out the revenue stream a little.
Her primary selling methods will be on her website and via markets and similar events – which means lots of activity during the warmer months.
THERE IS A POPULAR PHRASE, 
“You are what you eat.” If you’re unfamiliar with it, the idea is that you should be careful about what you put in your body – because it is the foundation for what your body becomes.
This is a powerful concept that can be applied to other domains as well.
A number of years ago, I started noticing that my state of mind reflected what I was watching, listening to, and reading at the time. Read the rest of this entry »
NOBODY 
CAN SUCCEED by themselves. Well, at least not with any significant venture that we’re talking about in the business world.
There are several ways to get support from others:
- Force them
- Buy it from them (with money or goods)
- Inspire them
- Use the inspiration they already have
I hope you see why these methods become more powerful as you go down the list.
THIS 
IS PERHAPS the wrong question.
But we’ve been telling our kids for generations now to do what makes them happy. “Follow your bliss,” we say.
The problem is that happiness is an emotion, and it’s fleeting. Read the rest of this entry »
FINDING 
YOUR DEEP VALUES can be like falling in love.
Love is elusive, one of those “I’ll know it when I see it” type of things.
What I’ve described as deep values also can be elusive, because it starts with what you live and breathe every day. For me, I’ve decided that being of service is crucial to my life and my business. People generally have two reactions to this:
OUR 
CHRISTMAS SEASON is now drawing to a close: Today is the twelfth day, and tomorrow is Epiphany!
It’s a time for renewal, in many ways.
The craziness of the secular holiday season is behind us. Even if you just celebrate it as a time to be with family, it can be nuts. Then with gift-giving and religious celebrations, it’s the busiest time of the year.
The Values-Based Business 