Questions are the Answer

Many people in our culture have a “tough man” mentality, and believe that no one can do the job better than themselves. This egotistical manner will not get them very far in business. The truth of the matter is that in order to advance yourself in business you need to surround yourself with people who push you to reach your full potential. With dealing with relationships and other people (which can be a very tough skill-set to learn) you need to be able to ask empowering questions. In order to fully comprehend someone’s thoughts, feelings and intentions you need to be able to ask the right questions at the right time. This is a very powerful form of leadership and has been used throughout the ages, even dated as far back as biblical times. In Zig Ziglar’s book Selling 101, he points out that in the Bible most of what Jesus preaches is stated in question format. You must be able to guide the conversation with and lead the way with questions.

Many people are so egotistical that they will only believe what they think and not what someone else tells them (even if that someone has a lot of credentials and proof). No, as a matter of fact there are a lot of “know-it-alls” out there in our world today. The way you (as a business professional) get people to believe in you is to guide them to ask questions which will provoke them to find answers with in themselves that you initially intended to tell them in the first place. That way, the bottom line or point of the conversation is not coming from you, but instead coming from them and what they believe.

College Debt Crisis

Believe it or not folks, the educational system in the US has taken a turn for the worst. Don’t read me wrong right off the bat, I’m all about education. The truth of the matter is that education isn’t broke but our education system is.  Most people would be floored to find out that in National Global Rankings of Educational Score Performance, the US falls 33 in reading, 22 in science, and didn’t even make the chart for mathematics.  Now rankings don’t say everything but it should be a gut check.  Are we really applying our youth and what kind of education are they receiving in our public education system?

On top of the staggering numbers we are dealing with a financial crisis from college debt in America.  Many private loan companies are taking full advantage of the strong “push” (or should I say shove) for students to get into college.  It’s not even a question any more what you do after high school, rather the question is….where are you going to college?  No body hardly ever asks, how do you plan to pay for your investment?  Until you are out of school and your 6 month grace period kicks in.   According to CNBC’s The College Debt Crisis the percent of private loans for student education continues to rise at an excruciating rate.  This is particularly dangerous because most private loans have interest rates in the teens and are a very risky and expensive source of credit.  Besides, we can’t forget that most of these lenders (including the colleges) are in the money-making business.  I’m not here to “scare” anyone away from education or continued education; but I do want to be a voice of concern.  You really are making an investment when you take out a loan for school; the sad reality of the matter is that most people really don’t understand investment, or interest (at least I didn’t when I started college).  You really have to make sure you understand the financial situation you are putting yourself if when you take out any type of loan, even a loan for education.

Decision making, makes the difference.

What you’re looking for isn’t in the outcome, it’s in the decision!

The game is on the line, all tied up at 21 all.  Ball’s on the 45, teadering on the edge of field goal range.  Nine seconds left, just enough time to run one more play.  This is where heroes are made, a test of true character and composure. Kick the field goal or take the shot?  Yes everyone’s thinking about who is going to win, but they are too focused on the outcome…What they really should be concerned about is the decision.

Life hands you these “game-time” decisions all the time, and one’s ability to evaluate the situation and make the ‘best’ decision is powerful enough to  leave their names in the books of history.  The question you’re probably asking yourself right now is…”How do I make the ‘right’ decisions?”

1. Perfect Practice makes Perfect Decisions

Decision making is just like anything else in life…if you practice it, you’re bound to get better at it.  Start with every day things like: what you’re wearing, where you’re going to eat, and what road you’re going to take during rush hour.

2. Evaluate the Situation

Start asking yourself questions that are going to serve you! Don’t panic, get to the bottom of what you’re trying to decide by evaluating the situation.  Weigh the benefits to consequences of all your options, and make that decision count. Great questions are the answer to your big decision.

3. Time is Precious

After you collect as much information as you can in the time you have, make the decision and stick with it!  Sometimes you have days to decide, other times you have seconds. Don’t panic, compose yourself and keep your mind clear.  There is a place in life for emotions, this is not one of them.  Use your time wisely and after the evaluation is complete, go with decision and stick to it!

4. Give it Time and Role with the Punches

Sometimes you’re going to immediately regret your decision…or so you think.  Give your decision time to develop, maybe it doesn’t seem like you made the best decision right away; but it could turn out for the better in the grand scheme of things.  Once you’ve made it, stick with it, trust in it and keep a positive attitude that you really did make the best decision!

It all starts with a dream!

Dreams are the fuel for your mind.  They are the road map, navigating you through the streets of life.  They light the way when things around you seem dark, and they keep you on the path you’ve set out for.  They fire up the soul and influence you to take affirmative action when necessary.  Dreams encourage you to keep going and give you the determination it takes to move forward.  A man/woman  without dreams and ambition is like a caged lion, stripped of their freedom.  Dreams are so powerful they can bring you from zero to hero.  Dreams are the foundation of our beliefs, which are the foundations of our convictions, which in turn lead to our actions. They are strong enough to move nations of men and women, without one touch of a hand (such is the case of Mahatma Gandhi).”

Your dreams are a medium of vision to your mind, a mechanism of programming your subconscious.  If this sounds unreal, let’s dig a little deeper into the human psyche…Many war veterans experience a disorder called Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) long after they have been discharged from the army.  Diagnostic symptoms for PTSD include re-experiencing the original trauma(s) through flashbacks or nightmares (also known as Dreams).  But how can someone be effected so much by dreams and dreams alone?  Because their mind has been programmed to believe that it is as real as the day it happened, and that they are still in immediate threat or danger of the past event.

The almost unexplainable power that is experienced in PTSD cases can also be applied to positive, reinforcement thinking for people like you and I.  Our dreams can be so convincing that what we believe can actually be manifested into reality.  So what is it that you really want?  Write it down, make a board, cut out pictures, envision it in your mind…and soon it will be yours!

Momentum can work for you, or work against you!

It can take you to the next level, or it can make you fall right on your face.  In the business world, as in most of life, momentum can be your best friend or it can be your worst enemy.  You can learn to harness it when it’s going well, and break dodge it when things just aren’t going your way.  Its the ebbs & flows of life, and depending on how you tame the beast could make a large significance throughout your life.  Here are a few tips to ensure  momentum will be  on your side.

1. Plan ahead, preparation is key

Planning and preparing can prepare you to catch the wave, or dodge the bullet.  Organization and planning  does not come easy these days in our fast-paced society so you’re going to need to be conscious about preparing yourself for success.

2. Remember, your in control!

Whether your having the worst day, or you just won the lottery; your next move is still in your hands.  If momentum seems to be taunting you, step back and say “wait a minute momentum, I’m the one in control here!”

3. Allow your momentum to be passed on to others.

You always seem to get more momentum when you allow it to pass through you to others.  For example, let’s say you’re having a bad day and you get a nice gesture from a total stranger, he just passed on his ‘good’ momentum to you; return the favor to someone else and you will see how momentum comes to you to go through you.

4. When things are going well, be grateful.

Never take anything for granted.  Even when you’re on the top of your game, if you get arrogant and let your guard down, you more than likely will be catching the ‘bad’ momentum train on it’s way to Nowhere USA.

With every new day, there comes a new beginning.

Do you ever wonder if what you’re doing is  really what you should be doing?  Well Troy, that’s kind of a loaded question.  Yeah it is, but most people forget to stop and think about it.  It’s a very simple answer that is not so simple to come to…is what you’re doing coming from the heart?  You’re probably saying to yourself right now “That’s so cliche! No one ever does what they love in their heart!”  It’s time for a reality check because there ARE people out there who love their life, because they love what they’re doing with their life!  Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself to determine if what you’re doing is really what you should be doing…

Are you excited when you wake up in the morning to seize the day?

If you love what you are doing then you just can’t wait to do it, even if it is every morning!  When it comes from the heart you should be like a kid at Christmas, jumping out of bed and running downstairs!

Is what you’re doing making you a better person?

The day you stop striving forward towards becoming the best person you can be, is the day you start dieing.  It doesn’t matter if you are 15 or 75 you still have an amazing potential to reach.  Surround yourself with challenges to conquer and goals to reach and always, always keep on moving forward.

Are you living a life of significance?

You know how the saying goes…”There’s only one thing you can take with you when you leave this world, other people.”  No one ever said they wished they spent more time in the office instead of with their family and friends.  Is what you’re doing positively influencing those around you?

Can you look in the mirror at the end of the day?

After the work is done and your day is over, can you look in the mirror and say “I did everything to the best of my ability today.”  Just for an exercise try looking into the mirror and asking yourself “Is what I’m doing, really what I should be doing?”

Do you love what you’re doing?

If someone asked you (and they inevitably will) “What are you up to these days?”  Could you tell them that you absolutely love what you are doing?

Just remember, it’s your life, don’t compromise…Live life from the heart.

Networking: An essential skill in business.

When you get out into the business world there is one skill that will stand out above the rest, that skill is networking.  If you can ‘win’ friends, and be able to explain your dreams and goals to others you are going to get far in business.  Don’t get me wrong, I believe there are a handful of necessities that one needs in order to be successful.  However, networking is one of those skill that is worth talking about.  When it comes to networking, most people believe it’s something that should come ‘natural’, either your a people’s person or your not right?! Not necessarily! Networking can be something that you develop over time, and a role that you grow into. The first rule of networking is…

1. Be confident in yourself!

Many people have fear of talking to others because they think that someone is going to reject them. The best way that you can stand out in a crowd is to have confidence in who you are and where you are going. You are not going to come off as arrogant if you are polite and wait your turn to talk. Which leads to the second rule of networking…

2. Listening

Listening to others is very important to becoming good at networking. Many people are too busy thinking of what they are going to say next, or what they can say about themselves to ‘top’ the other’s story. Listening is about taking in what someone else is saying and completely understanding where they are coming from. Sometimes what it takes is to…

3. Get out of your comfort zone

Nobody has ever been become great at networking by sitting on there coach at home. Sometimes you need to get out and put yourself in a position where you are going to meet people with common interests than you. And when you run into someone always…

4. Grab some information

It never hurts to ask for someone’s information: there phone, email or where they work. You never know if your paths could cross down the road. So it’s better to take initiative and be prepared when networking with others. After you talk to someone and get there information, make sure you…

5. Journal what you remember about them

One of the best ways to catch someone’s attention is to recall the conversation you had when you first met. Journaling is a great way to remember and record a conversation you had with someone so you won’t forget them in the future.

Unlock the unlimited power of your subconscious mind.

Have you ever been so passionate about something that you could not stop thinking about it?  How about when you were a kid and you dreamt of being a professional athlete or walking on the moon someday?  You would lay in bed at night picturing yourself living the life of your dreams.  Even then you didn’t realize that you were already tapping into the power of your subconscious mind.  You were creating images that were so real that your body and mind  “believed” that they actually happened.  Essentially, you became the person you imagined yourself to be.  At any given time the maximum percent of brain function being used is merely 10%, the other percentage is used for storage, recording the environment around you and controlling certain physiological functions (like your heart beat).  The subconscious mind (or the part of the brain that is not focused on exactly what your doing) is always aware, always alert.  By ‘feeding’ your subconscious mind fuel of thought you are preparing it to go to work for you, even when you are not conscious.

The human mind is a powerful tool, and most people do not understand how to harness all of its power.  It can be your best servant if you program it to be.  We need to remember that the brain is wired like an intricate computer; it can receive, store and execute particular information or actions, even when you are ‘not present’.  Whether you are sleeping or concentrated on a project at work your greatest servant is still processing and channeling the information you have given it the night before, last week and even years and years ago.  There is a saying in nutrition that goes “you are what you eat” and it is very noticeable when someone neglects a healthy diet.  Your subconscious mind is the same way…”you are what you eat.” Or put another way, you become what you feed your mind to believe through your very own thought!

Bridge the gap between average and financial freedom

According to CNN Money ‘s recent post, The rich are much richer than you and me, the gap between the middle class and wealthy class is widening in America.  According to research the richest 1% of Americans have over 225 times the net worth of the average American household.  I will put that into perspective for you in just a minute, but first we must review net worth.  Net worth is a measurement of one’s assets (things you own, or liquid assets aka money) minus one’s liabilities (debt, mortgage, car payment etc).  According to the Wall Street Journal, as of 2009 the average US household’s net worth was $175,000.  Now if statistics say that the upper 1% is 225 the net worth of the average US household, we’re looking at roughly $40 million, which is the largest gap ever recorded in history. The upper 1% didn’t just stumble across that money. No, you can bet the majority of that upper class has some equity in business.

The reason for the extensive widening of the economic classes can be partially attributed to our economic stability.  There’s no doubt it’s a “business owners” market out there.  Now more than ever the saying applies “We’re in business!”  With a saturated job market many people are forced to get jobs to “just make ends meet”…or so they think.  Listen, you and I don’t have to fall victim to our j.o.b just so we can put food on the table.  “But Troy, there are bills” I practically hear you scream through the computer.  Yes, you’re probably right and I’m not endorsing you neglect those.  You still have to maintain an income stream, but that doesn’t stop you from constantly developing your business mentality.  The gap is widening, the ship is setting sail and I don’t see it coming back anytime soon.  If you want to be in the upper class economically, now is a critical time to take a look at your development; because truth be told, you may not have long.

Our nation was founded on free enterprise and capitalism with little government sanctions and control.  Today, those same freedoms which our nation was founded on (and has thrived on) are being threatened by power-hungry individuals in our government. We need to act now before it’s too late, before there has been irreparable damage to our nation and our freedoms. Get out there and vote!