January 23, 2014
January 21, 2014
Work-Life Crisis Mode (Part 1)
Everyone has an opinion about the 20 somethings and once you hit 40, you're over the hill, but little is said about the stage in between: your 30's. Why is that?
Maybe because once you hit your 30's it's "gut check" time.
It's either "work sucks" or "my life sucks."
Translation: I've been working this job for while now. I know it's not the best fit for me, but I have no idea how to transition into something else plus I'm not willing to risk quitting my job if nothing better opens up.
Have you been there? Are you there right now?
I'll actually cover "my life sucks" in part 2 of this post next week.
So you're at a crossroads where you look back at your 20's and ask yourself, "Where did time go?" "Why didn't I plan more?" "Is this really what work is supposed to be like?"
This is post-dreaming...it's reality. I've seen this stage in a lot of my clients who want to get into a new industry, but have no idea of how to do it. It's too much of a risk starting over, but you're also rotting away from the inside-out if you continue to stay where you are.
Try this perspective: do you want to look back on your life and regret not taking a chance? I don't.
Landing a new career is not an extremely fast process, but it can happen if you're willing to do the right things.
What are your strengths? How strong is your network? How willing are you to go through the "back door?"
These are challenging, but necessary questions to answer in order to move forward. Everyone's situation is different, but I believe the same process works across every industry.
If you're at a point in your career where you need a change, but just don't know how to make it happen, let's talk.
Once you have a game plan and are committed to execute it, it's only a matter of time before things change.
January 14, 2014
What is a Lifestyle Entrepreneur?
Someone who creates a business around what they are passionate about with the intent of earning enough income to support their lifestyle.
In simpler terms: doing something you love, getting paid for it and living off it.
Basically there are 3 types of Entrepreneurs (based on motivations):
1. Wealth Creation
2. Lifestyle
3. Social
Number 1 is focused on making money. Build it, scale it, sell it, cash in and repeat.
Number 3 is determined to create a solution for an existing social problem.
None are better than the other. It comes down to what category you fall into.
Personally, I'm motivated by (#2) freedom and flexibility of schedule so I can spend more time with my family and friends. I appreciate all entrepreneurs, but I resonate with lifestyle entrepreneurs the most.
I never dream of managing hundreds of employees or leading a multi-million dollar company. That's not my style. I prefer to be involved with my business on a daily basis and do what I love around my family's schedule. Being a lifestyle entrepreneur means I see my business as a means to an end, not an end in itself.
That's what has lead me to pursue coaching lifestyle entrepreneurs, because we share similar motivation and values. I can't stress how important the "why" you do what you do is.
Making money is important, but not the most important to a lifestyle entrepreneur. Most LE's love to travel. Others want set days off. Time is finite and in this economy, time as a currency is extremely valuable. If you're driven by relationships like I am, you'll sacrifice your personal ambitions for loved ones. I don't want to spend several years of my life grinding away and look back at my career and feel I missed out on important life experiences.
By no means am I knocking the wealth creation or social entrepreneur. In fact they do a much better job making money than most lifestyle entrepreneurs. Most of my business mentors are a hybrid of the wealth and social entrepreneur. I learn so much from them especially in the areas where I'm not wired the same way as they are.
After reading this post, if you consider yourself a lifestyle entrepreneur, let's talk!
In simpler terms: doing something you love, getting paid for it and living off it.
Basically there are 3 types of Entrepreneurs (based on motivations):
1. Wealth Creation
2. Lifestyle
3. Social
Number 1 is focused on making money. Build it, scale it, sell it, cash in and repeat.
Number 3 is determined to create a solution for an existing social problem.
None are better than the other. It comes down to what category you fall into.
I never dream of managing hundreds of employees or leading a multi-million dollar company. That's not my style. I prefer to be involved with my business on a daily basis and do what I love around my family's schedule. Being a lifestyle entrepreneur means I see my business as a means to an end, not an end in itself.
That's what has lead me to pursue coaching lifestyle entrepreneurs, because we share similar motivation and values. I can't stress how important the "why" you do what you do is.
Making money is important, but not the most important to a lifestyle entrepreneur. Most LE's love to travel. Others want set days off. Time is finite and in this economy, time as a currency is extremely valuable. If you're driven by relationships like I am, you'll sacrifice your personal ambitions for loved ones. I don't want to spend several years of my life grinding away and look back at my career and feel I missed out on important life experiences.
By no means am I knocking the wealth creation or social entrepreneur. In fact they do a much better job making money than most lifestyle entrepreneurs. Most of my business mentors are a hybrid of the wealth and social entrepreneur. I learn so much from them especially in the areas where I'm not wired the same way as they are.
After reading this post, if you consider yourself a lifestyle entrepreneur, let's talk!
January 7, 2014
Why Habits are Better than Goals
By this point you've probably already failed at keeping your New Year's Resolution. Why is that?
You had the best of intentions, plus you were highly motivated when you made them.
Besides your goals not always being S.M.A.R.T...
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely
The main culprit is ONCE you fail to complete a goal, RARELY will you continue to pursue it.
Let me explain further. Most goals can't fully be controlled by you. For example, if you're a salesperson, your goal may be to make $5,000 a month. That's a good number, but there are too many factors that are out of your control. A better HABIT would be to make 50 cold calls a day and base your results around that.
The reason why HABITS are better than GOALS is because they are only controlled by you. That means it's 100% dependent upon your efforts.
In my line of work as a career coach, most of my clients come to me with the goal of finding a new job. One of the first things I tell them is I can't promise to find you a job. What I can do is share what I've seen as successful habits and hold you accountable to completing those tasks. If you maintain good HABITS, you'll eventually reach your GOALS.
Goals are about the RESULT.
Habits are about the PROCESS.
Once you change your focus from setting goals to creating good habits (and having someone/something keep you accountable for them) you're on the right path. In this world of instant gratification, everyone wants to be the quick rabbit when in fact it's the slow and steady turtle that wins the race.
Form good HABITS and you'll eventually get the RESULTS you want!
You had the best of intentions, plus you were highly motivated when you made them.
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely
The main culprit is ONCE you fail to complete a goal, RARELY will you continue to pursue it.
Let me explain further. Most goals can't fully be controlled by you. For example, if you're a salesperson, your goal may be to make $5,000 a month. That's a good number, but there are too many factors that are out of your control. A better HABIT would be to make 50 cold calls a day and base your results around that.
The reason why HABITS are better than GOALS is because they are only controlled by you. That means it's 100% dependent upon your efforts.
In my line of work as a career coach, most of my clients come to me with the goal of finding a new job. One of the first things I tell them is I can't promise to find you a job. What I can do is share what I've seen as successful habits and hold you accountable to completing those tasks. If you maintain good HABITS, you'll eventually reach your GOALS.
Goals are about the RESULT.
Habits are about the PROCESS.
Once you change your focus from setting goals to creating good habits (and having someone/something keep you accountable for them) you're on the right path. In this world of instant gratification, everyone wants to be the quick rabbit when in fact it's the slow and steady turtle that wins the race.
Form good HABITS and you'll eventually get the RESULTS you want!
December 24, 2013
Emotional Buying
As logical as you think you are, most of our decisions are made purely out of emotion.
Take a look at most commercials, advertisements and retail stores/eateries...
It's simple: we see something that appeals to us, we buy it.
All great brands know if you have a nice design (packaging), you significantly increase your sales.
Take for instance Costco. The reason they don't label their aisles (and frequently move around products) is because they're hoping you'll make extra "emotional buys" that you didn't plan on.
So as a consumer, how do you counter your mortal ways?
Wait.
Yes, that simple. The next time you're on Amazon searching, put items on your wish list instead of purchasing them right away. I bet in a week you'll forget what you saw. If you remember, buy it then.
Emotion doesn't wait for logic, unless you command it to.
Examine the last time you lost your temper. Was there really a good reason to blow your lid? (most of the time, no.)
If you pause, leave the situation briefly, then return and you'll probably respond differently.
That's why marketing is geared toward penetrating your heart more than your mind. Brands prey on filling your emotional needs.
We think we make decisions with our brains, but usually that's not the case.
I'm not suggesting you become a robot, just be more mindful of how you make your decisions.
Make sure the "cost" doesn't outweigh the verdict.
Take a look at most commercials, advertisements and retail stores/eateries...
It's simple: we see something that appeals to us, we buy it.
Take for instance Costco. The reason they don't label their aisles (and frequently move around products) is because they're hoping you'll make extra "emotional buys" that you didn't plan on.
So as a consumer, how do you counter your mortal ways?
Wait.
Yes, that simple. The next time you're on Amazon searching, put items on your wish list instead of purchasing them right away. I bet in a week you'll forget what you saw. If you remember, buy it then.
Emotion doesn't wait for logic, unless you command it to.
Examine the last time you lost your temper. Was there really a good reason to blow your lid? (most of the time, no.)
If you pause, leave the situation briefly, then return and you'll probably respond differently.
That's why marketing is geared toward penetrating your heart more than your mind. Brands prey on filling your emotional needs.
We think we make decisions with our brains, but usually that's not the case.
I'm not suggesting you become a robot, just be more mindful of how you make your decisions.
Make sure the "cost" doesn't outweigh the verdict.
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