STRATEGIC CONSULTING
Today we just want to pose a simple question for your consideration.
“What is your most important technology?”
Give it some thought and let us know at info@moseleywilliams.com. We’ll post what we think our most important technology is on Tuesday, May 21.
Over and out. Oh and by the way, do something today to ACCELERATE.
It is easy to talk about change. Talk is cheap, actions speak louder than words. We have heard it all before. But knowing all of that are you still left wanting?
Change, evolution, innovation. Call it what you want it is not easy. It takes more than enthusiasm and passion, those are short lived. It takes burning desire.
Many pay lip service to change but only a few actually make it happen. What do you stand for? What do you care enough about to really dig in and make a shift? Find something, do that hard work, stay focused and you will ACCELERATE.
In business and in life, we go from feelings of being bored to feelings of being overwhelmed. As an Advisor, you dislike both. There are times when you feel you have called everyone, the portfolios are all fine and you are at a loss as to where your next ticket or new client will come from. Then one day, it all changes.
Your phone starts to ring, you have a few issues to deal with, portfolio reviews, appointments, a compliance issue and next thing you know, you can’t figure out how you will get it all done. You have gone through this cycle countless times and you know you will work your way out but is there a better way? The short answer is yes!
When we imagine (perceive) that we are overwhelmed by outside events (the tough choices, situations, ways to make money, dealing with the rude big client, etc.,) it is an illusion because the brain does not function that way. Only a thought repeated and believed can produce a feeling of overwhelm. In a simple life in which you only do what’s in front of you, there can be no overwhelm ever!
That is the life that is yours to create. It never just arrives. It must be created. The next time you feel that overwhelmed feeling, write down all of the things you have to do or that are on your mind. Prioritize the list. Then just do the most important item on that list until its fully completed. Check it off and feel the joy and the relief. Then move on to the next item.
That is the non-linear time management technique that is best. The one that destroys the feeling of overwhelm. The one that creates the life we want and can enjoy. By staying in the moment. In action. Not the distorted future created by our minds.
Uber Car Service is a gift from heaven to all of humankind, especially (but not limited to) all of humankind who travel for work. Uber has become a regular part of my work experience, and my life is better for it.
Uber is an excellent example of how a simple innovation can change an experience for the better, and change an industry forever, in this case the taxi cab business.
What is a taxi/car service? Answer – They are a convenient way for a client (passenger) to get from place to place easily, without the need (necessarily) to own a vehicle. You can wave one down, or call to book a pre-arranged ride.
Uber is a free App that I downloaded to my iPhone which allows me to request a car (taxi, town car, SUV) to my location and get picked up and dropped off without any of the usual hassle of a typical taxi or car service experience.
Some background – when you register with Uber you give them a credit card number, mobile # and a photo. As all smart phones have cameras and access to the internet doing all of this was EASY.
A quick play by play of my first Uber experience: I am walking through the lobby of my hotel heading for the coffee service before a ride to the airport and a long flight home. I hit the Uber button and utilizing the built in GPS in my phone; Uber shows me exactly where I am and asks me if I want to get picked up at my current location, somewhere else, and when. So all of the usual logistics are eliminated – specific location, intersection, building etc. that is normally involved plus all the time it takes to get those details clear.
I click yes ‘here’, and yes ‘now’ and then the map updates to show me where all the Uber drivers are, represented by small black car icons all over the screen scattered across downtown San Francisco. Literally within seconds I am notified that one of the drivers has accepted the request and I am told his name, and exactly when he will arrive (3 minutes 22 seconds). This is EASY.
One time in New York city I walked out of my hotel to meet my driver, I found a crush of cars and people and I wondered how I would find him. Just then I hear “Mr. Moseley-Williams” and I turned to see a stranger holding up his cell phone. When the driver arrived he looked my profile up to see my picture so he could identify me. That was EASY. I literally laughed, the problem was solved before I had considered it.
Finally, when the ride is complete all the payment happens automatically – the driver literally says “Take care Dennis” and I get out. When I signed up I gave them all my payment information so the receipt, including gratuity etc. is sent via text message to my phone, which is convenient for expense tracking. THAT COULD NOT BE EASIER. Ask anyone who travels for work, taking your wallet out, handing over the credit card, waiting, signing, folding, storing, replacing it all a hassle.
Everything Uber does is focused at making things EASIER and therefore better.
They don’t try to be anything they are not, but they have mastered what they are. Bravo.
Ticking Away The Moments That Make Up A Dull Day …
The cruelest truth about achieving a life of happiness is that by the time most of us figure out what we want to do, and how to achieve it it’s too late. As they say, youth is wasted on the young.
Know what you want to do. Know what you don’t want to do and avoid it. Do not be tempted to take on that is not ideally suited to you. You will regret it.
Innovate around how you use your time; do not get stuck in conventional thinking as it relates to how you achieve your goals. Succeeding and innovating and living a life less ordinary is all very simple, believing it so that you can start living it is the hard part.
Personally I wake up really early because I hate feeling rushed in the morning or ever for that matter. When I feel rushed I direct all kinds of energy at managing my emotions and trying, often in vain, to get control of myself. Whereas when I wake up early and have all kinds of time I am much more restful and clear with my thinking.
I never like to have scheduled appointments on Mondays, which I use to focus on my week ahead, to follow up with anyone remaining from the week. Admittedly this is an incredibly simple innovation but the effects it has had on my life are almost immeasurable. I rarely, if ever, walk into my office in any kind of panic or unsure about what is going on that day, or with my business in general. I waste no money on stress.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are my big days. I usually load up Tuesdays and Thursdays with appointments and I use Wednesday as a Buffer Day (with a tip of the hat to Dan Sullivan at the Strategic Coach.) I reserve Fridays for me. Sometimes I need them for work, and sometimes I need them for escape. To get to the lake, or the ski hill and remind myself that life is good!
Time, energy and money. That’s what you have. That’s what you have to master. Know who and what you are. Keep a calm mind, be focused and create your art and rest and recover. Innovation will be much easier. So will celebration. Listen to this.
Want to talk more about living a life less ordinary? Email me directly, dmw@moseleywilliams.com
Sorry, this blog is not a metaphor based on MC Hammer’s famous song. Or maybe it is …..
So here is the hard truth, just about any competitive or unique advantage you have can be copied by a competitor. Ouch that stings. Now here is the relief, while you can be copied there is no short cut for developing the roots of knowledge that come with experience.
Build a culture in your organization where you innovate and evolve based on lessons learned and the internal body of knowledge that you gain through those experiences. This is what gives your organizational culture deep, strong roots. As your organization becomes stronger and wiser, the copycats continue to fixate on short terms results and looking for the next silver bullet to come along.
Thx, MC.
Managing expectations is a critical part to a successful long-term client relationship. To a large extent managing expectations comes down to ensuring the client is satisfied that they received what they ‘paid’ for. Organizations/ businesses/firms that are very good at communication expectations are typically well respected by their customers/client. They have become masters at getting aligned with their clients/customers before any agreements were signed or money changed hands.
Give it some thought. Where can you tighten up your agreement on expectations
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” - Mark Twain (1835-1910)
One of the few shows I watch is Dancing With The Stars. My hat goes off to the stars that put fear aside to dance with professionals in front of a live audience and millions of viewers. They talk about how the experience was one of the most gratifying in their lives because they were out of their comfort zone. They struggled but they grew. On Monday’s show, one of the judges told a contestant to stop being a pretender and start being a contender. “Man up” he told the person. That was a powerful statement and made me reflect on my own life.
I could think of times when whether it was as an Advisor, Manager or even a husband that I was just going through the motions. I took the attitude that it was “good enough”. I told myself I was “all in”, but I knew I wasn’t. Sure it was better than most but not to my potential. Like going to the gym and seeing the wallflowers that are socializers. They spend two hours talking rather than lifting weights or breaking a sweat. I am sure you see it as well in your office. These are the complainers and the victims.
I realize that if I have committed then I have to contend. Jack LaLane said that every time he hit the gym he trained as if he was preparing for the Olympics. He died at 96. Walter Chrysler once stated the key to success was enthusiasm. He later corrected his statement and said that more than enthusiasm is excitement. Excitement is contagious.
From this day forward, get excited about everything that you do. Do a little extra because I am convinced that doing a little extra each day will reap huge rewards over the long run. Perform and live up to your potential. Let’s stop pretending and start contending. Take pride in the things you do. It’s all about attitude and effort: not about time. Play like a champion today. Then, do it every day thereafter!
When the rules of the game change, you have to change right along with them. If you insist on playing today’s game by yesterday’s rules, you’re going to lose and you may lose badly.
Some organizations and entrepreneurs are stuck and failing to innovate. They are trying, even passively, to resist innovation and change. They are hanging on to their old ideas, and failing to embrace change and the opportunity to thrive in the experience economy.
How can you make what you do better? How can you make what you do matter more to the people who like it the most?
Besides who is having more fun – the people leading the charge, creating something new, making something better or the people fighting to protect the status quo?
I wrote this blog a few years ago about an entrepreneur in my neighbourhood who had transformed the typical gas station experience. The Island Park Esso remains the only gas station in town worth talking about and the other day I was reminded why.
First of all Island Park Esso is a full service station and without writing the same blog twice it’s not just full service – its incredible service. When I pull up at least two kids climb all over my windows, and on my most recent visit two days ago one of them even noticed that I needed a new wiper and asked if I wanted to have that replaced right then.
While I was there, I saw John Newcomb who is the owner running out to a car from the office. The car had just pulled up, and the owner was running out to meet them and pump gas.
Obviously John is committed to something that is greater than him alone. He is committed to creating his vision of what a perfect service station experience is. In his mind they are clean and staffed by young people who are engaged and polite. He has at least three guys working and often four at a time to take care of you when you pull in, and they pay attention to the details (Sir, you see you need a new wiper? … Would you like me to take care of that?) What was I going to say? “No, thanks I didn’t even know so instead I’ll drive myself to the giant store, decipher the guide that tells me which blade I need then try to fit the thing on myself without breaking it while I curse under my breath …”
I know there are other entrepreneurs who would take that station over, convert to a self-serve model that everyone is not only familiar with but expecting, fire most of the kids and save some money and compete on price. This would be such a mistake. They would be throwing away their only competitive advantage; they would be trading the exceptional for the predictable.
John owns the place but he runs to the pumps. The longer I spend working on my business and chasing down my own version of success the more I pay attention to what people do, and less about what they say.
