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DAY 71

Back in the AM with a continuation of what I see now as a three part discussion regarding the Coach Richard Quick segment in Investors Business Daily's Leaders and Success Section.

Here are the items that I have to complete discussing:

5. Small, incremental STEPS!
6. Staying Hungry
7. Keep the "big picture" in mind --make sure that you keep your humble beginnings
8. “Swimming fast, winning championships, winning gold medals, I really don’t think any of that is important unless in the process of the journey to those high goals you learn principles and values that are going to help you have a better world for yourself and have a better world for (other people),”:

Back... I started the above discussion and I had to walk away because frankly I didn't know how much time it would take. Perhaps an hour or so. I may have the time now, so let me get back to it!

5. Why small incremental STEPS? The reason is simple. It is far easier to take 10 small steps than one giant leap.

UPDATE: Wednesday, 04-May-2005 0:15 AM

This is not complete and I must get back to it later in the week as my complete attention has been devoted to the maxsimo.com project. Sam out. I'll return to blogging when all is done and going. But right now, I have to complete testing!

Well, same day, much later...

These are the thoughts that I left with last time:

 

5. Why small incremental STEPS? The reason is simple. It is far easier to take 10 small steps than one giant leap.

This statement goes back to the time I discussed Michael Jordan, his airness, and the way he committed himself to reaching goals.

Rather than face insurmountable challenges with goals that are too big to accomplish, it is far better to break down the goal into as many smaller goals and reach each one -one at a time.

Sound familiar? Well, in my case the challenge has been broken down to 31 STEPS and each one is getting done step by step. Then I broke it down even further to PERSONAL, BUSINESS and FINANCIAL success. So, 93 steps. It might as well be 100 STEPS.

BUT, I have to do it because in this process I have committed myself, I have motivated myself and now I have gained momentum!

In that vein I have other news to report. The Google Ad Sense program is bringing in revenue. Although, it is very little at this time, it is getting the pot growing again, after a long hiatus.

About time, right? Well, sooner or later it was bound to happen.

Once again, my goal now is to get past STEP 11 with 5 instances. I have no idea how I am going to get over STEP 12 and for that matter any of the STEPS that are prior to the brokerage account.

But, experience has shown that I will come up with an idea of two to accomplish the task at hand.

Getting the PRESS RELEASES done might be the trick.

I simply haven't written them because the ideas behind them keep changing. I think shortly I will be able to write them because I did end up with a unique angle that I want to explore when I launch them online.

Anyway, I will work on them as I now have it as PRIORITY ONE on my "To Do" list. Well, that is *after* the testing is done on Maxsimo.com.

Now, back to why I sat down here: Breaking down goals. Once again, let me take the press releases as an example.

Here is what I'll do: I'll break down the press releases to individual paragraphs. Then I will work across the board on all the releases at the same time and work the same content into all the releases.

Let's see IF that approach will complete the task.

6. Now on to another of Coach Quick's comments and that was the "STAYING HUNGRY" idea.

I must tell you that I grew up a bit like the Family Ties (80's American Sitcom starting Michael J. Fox as Alex) type of childhood. I didn't really have any major problems. I didn't study much. I could basically get A's and B's in school without much study. And I did. Most of my free time was spent working on hobbies, tennis and 'projects'. I did watch a bit too much TV. Perhaps, why I shun it now. All that time I could have put to use. Or well.

All of my funding was from the paper route that I started when I was 12 years old. I kept that for 6 years and grew the revenue from $28 (total profit the first month) to well over $500 per month by the end. I finally gave it up the freshman year of college. So, for six years I never needed money from my parents. The work paid for everything that I needed and even got my first car when I was 16! Those were the days.

You could say that I "like to grow things" -- I do. From Bonsai plants, to fish and many other things, including this blog, I often ask myself "What if" and unlike most people --I do it. I've been doing it for 16 years, from behind the computer mostly.

But, that leads to the question: WHY? About 10 years ago, when I first got things going on a larger scale, I ran out of money one quarter and my wife asked me IF I had a gambling problem. I said "NO". But the truth of the matter is that I have a "TERMINAL CASE of GROWING THINGS" --of working to make something "BIG". Very much like the paper route that I kept growing, I have a need to grow everything that I am a part of.

That's where the fun is. That where the learning is done.

I don't think it is the money that drives me, but the experience of doing well today and then making it better tomorrow. I better clarify that as I don't plan on going homeless either. I don't own the house from the perspective the bank takes.

I did that even as a kid and now I am doing it in many different ways now.

I have no idea how I got to that, but once again, I grew up with Alex Keating and the "Family Ties" every week.

Just a pause for a smile.

Ok, the HUNGER. How to build it? Well, it can. The way I keep my focus is to think of the items that I like to do and keep that fresh in my mind. Off to the right of me is a picture behind the helm of a sail boat from a few years ago. I don't have a picture of me behind a cockpit, and I don't want to hang a picture from the time that I went hang gliding for years (that ended with a crash and broken wrist) -but, you get the picture?

The point is that you need to find your passions and then remind yourself daily the reasons that you work hard. For me the flying and sailing have done it on the VERY HIGH END. Life is a journey, as I have said, as is this blog and there are great things like the 5 bonsai plants that I am growing from scratch. These and other things anyone can make part of their passion in life.

Don't make a passionate connection with a goal, but try to work with what you already have. As I have said, when you practice excellence, it DOES NOT MATTER what you practice with --as long as you do, you'll find it easier to transfer that thought and mindfulness to what ever you need to do next.

Some are slow, I might add.

But the flying, sailing and many other "reminders" are all around me. I try to often remind myself --perhaps I have too many of them.

I always try to go to Oshkosh for the air show. I try to visit a boating show or two. I get the annual update from my favorite boat builder, Royal Huisman Shipyard.

I also get a bunch of magazines to remind me monthly. Although, since I came to the Netherlands I haven't renewed Flying and Popular Mechanics. That reminds me...

Anyway, the point is that you'll need to keep the reasons that you are doing this for fresh and IN YOUR FACE so that you are reminded nearly hourly why you are doing it.

Why you are building STEPS to reach some goal.

I do.

Perhaps, it's your family. Perhaps your kids. Perhaps, your goal is better health. Perhaps, any one of a million reasons OR just one.

The important thing is that you "DO" and not spend a lot of time dreaming. You'll have time for that later.

Feel the hunger? Trust me, you will. Cape Diem!

 

7. Keep the "big picture" in mind --make sure that you keep your humble beginnings

I felt that Coach Richard Quick had a great point in mentioning this. Often successful people seem to exude a bit of cockiness.

DON'T.

Go the humble route. No matter what status, or position or event/goal that you accomplish, never forget where you started.

I remind my self often of the days when I earned a few hundred dollars doing the paper route. I remember the days when I got below ZERO in Columbus, Ohio. They were Fahrenheit degrees I might add.

I remember the days when my fingers were numb on Sunday morning after delivering around 400 papers. I remind myself of this because that helps curb my waste of money. I earn a living very differently now and because I sit in a nice and cozy office area, and type away while about 90% of my time is spent reading --I quickly forget how much easier things are. The problem is that money also becomes easier to spend and when most of the time I don't even get to touch it, it's just disappears rather quickly.

This was partly why it was a goal of my at the turn of the year to get rid of all the credit cards. Even the one that costs a bit over prime in interest. Anyway, they are all getting killed and I'll keep the several debit cards. These days there no reason to keep a credit card as even car rentals accept debit cards.

SO, what about THE HUMBLE LIFE? It's a good life. Living under the means does work well. And if there is any doubt just take some time to read the best seller "The Millionaire Next Door" --it's a rather accurate portrayal of Americana and the neighbors.

Not the Hollywood picture I might add.

Now, strive for the top. Reach for excellence. And all that time and all that accomplishment and all that success --Don't forget where you started.

I still don't pass a coin laying on the sidewalk. Of course, my favorite are the pennies.

8. “Swimming fast, winning championships, winning gold medals, I really don’t think any of that is important unless in the process of the journey to those high goals you learn principles and values that are going to help you have a better world for yourself and have a better world for (other people),”

That is a quote by Coach Quick. I don't need to comment. I think that it says it all. Nothing more to say.

I have a lot of testing to finish, so, I've got to go. Back in the coming days. Don't worry. I'll be here. Sam, out!

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