Getting Uncomfortable

Why is it critical to get uncomfortable? Growth. If we want go grow we have to move from the comfortable zone to the uncomfortable zone. It's necessary for positive change.

The Meaning 

When we get comfortable with being uncomfortable, it means that is our new normal. To constantly be in a state of improvement means we have to continuously live with the discomfort of trying new things. This has to be what we are comfortable doing, challenging ourselves. 

What Happens with Success

Once we accomplish or conquer something that was originally uncomfortable, it is now easy and comfortable. If we stay in the comfort zone, we stop progressing. So the answer is to get uncomfortable yet again. We have to keep challenging ourselves.

My Experience

My recent experience with being uncomfortable has to do with the quest I had to become confident on video. As you listen to the episode you can hear the story. It was a 21 day journey from fear to confidence. Once I...

 Persuasive vs. Manipulative Communication

When attempting to use intentional communication to influence someone to take an action or change their behavior, we want to persuade and not manipulate. As Business Owners we fins ourselves leading others to take some action all the time. It is important we get this right, because if we manipulate we a short circuiting the communication process, described in the last blog and Episode 27 of the Business Owner Freedom Podcast. 

Are you manipulating or persuading? First let's describe manipulation. It is the coercion, tricking, or forcing of someone's decision. It is all about control. It is not allowing the voluntary decision making process, regardless of how it looks. In simple terms, it is putting someone in a corner with regards to their choices. Persuasion on the other hand is allowing the person to come to their decision voluntarily and without the overt influence or authority or threat. It is appealing to their heart, mind...

Effective Communication

Effective Communication is the key to a high performing team and company. Being intentional with your communication as a business owner and leader is critical to your success. Sure, you can find businesses with positive net income without regards to being intentional with their communication and culture, however they have a host of issues they deal with. Those businesses aren't usually enjoyable and their culture is lacking deep trust. They sure don't provide the freedom from chaos and overwhelm we desire. 

COMMUNICATION PROCESS 

This is the communication process outlined in the episode. Look at the flow of this process. It starts on the left side with the speaker having a thought which is encoded. The message then travels through the environment to the listener. The listener then has to decode it and interpret it through their filters into their thoughts. The process continues through the feedback loop and around it goes. 

This...

The Coin Drop 

It takes getting in the game. It takes is the first step, because without that step, nothing else will happen. For Matt Miller, it started with one machine. When he heard the coins drop that first time, he was hooked. He went on to build a large and growing franchise business through that experience. He is adding value to the world everyday because he took the first step. What is your coin drop?

I can tell you my coin drop. It was the first coaching client I had in 2010. The look on his face when I helped provide him clarity and results hooked me for life. It was the one thing that pushed me to build a business around helping small business owners. It is what calls me everyday to add more value. And just like Matt hearing the coin drop over and over again, I still experience the same clarity moments in my coaching everyday. 

What is your coin drop? What is your one thing?

Get In the Game

Ironically, many of us with great and noble ideas flounder. We...

Why do people behave the way the do? There is a simple formula that explains this clearly. Values plus Beliefs equals Behaviors. We need to define each part of this formula to fully understand it.

Values are the deeply instilled principles and standards. They are personal and make up your character. Some would say they are your morals and even your conscience. Values are strongly developed in your childhood and adolescence. So your family, friends and associates have a large impact on the values you construct in your formative years. Experiences, good or bad, also have an impact on your values. Typically a value is only changed or transformed if allowed by us, and through a trauma or an impactful experience. 

Beliefs can also build during the formative years as well. They are deconstructed and reconstructed as we go through life, however. It would be very difficult for me to change a deep seeded value without impacting you greatly, however I could present you with some facts...

Are you seemingly stumped by all the advice and ideas you are given about Facebook marketing? Do you want to understand the basics of how it works for a local or national based small business? Me too! So, we asked Sally Hendrick to spend a few minutes with us to explain things.

We started our discussion with geo targeting ads. They are a great way to attract leads within a defined territory. These are great for local businesses or events. This is something you may try, to alert people within the zone of your choosing, to come try out your business. It's powerful because it is targeting them while they are in the area.

We also talked about using video in your ads. There are places for short 5 to 15 second videos and places for longer videos. Used properly, they both have specific advantages. Regardless, videos are growing in popularity and will only increase in the coming months and years.

Retargeting is an often overlooked, but an extremely necessary conversion tactic. This is...

It amazes me how the debate continues of whether Systems and Processes of a business are important or not. Many business owners will even agree they are important, yet their actions show otherwise. If you truly believe they are critical to your business, and they are, then why aren't they documented? Why aren't they reviewed consistently for continuous improvement? Why do costly errors still occur because people aren't following the processes? Why do you choose to live in chaos and overwhelm day in and day out when you don't have to?

The first explanation is the fact that it takes time and energy to document your processes. The excuse given often is 'we just do not have time'. I agree it does take energy and time to document your processes. However, I submit to you that the wasted time and energy spent man handling the process, the mistakes and the energy spent on cleaning up the dissatisfied customers and the inefficiencies that exist are costing you a lot more time and money than...

Are you ready to grow? Are you ready to take your business to a new level? Maybe you have finally hit the $1 Million mark and now you seek new heights. Maybe your business has been stagnant and you need a shot of energy. If you find yourself needing additional horsepower, so you can take more time to strategically think about your business, we know what you need.

We highly recommend you read the book Rocket Fuel if you are interested in finding the right hand person for your business. It may be that you are the Visionary (V) or the Integrator (I), either one, and need that key person to compliment you in your business. The book is so aptly titled because as this new person enters the business in this role, things can really take off. This is not without some key things that need to be understood however. 

Visionary - Ideas, Influences, Strategic Thinker, Passionate, Deal Maker, Opportunist

Integrator - Implements, Communicator, Mentor, Leader, Drives Culture, Skeptic

...

As a Business Owner, most likely you started your business to find freedom of income, time and purpose. Today we talked with Aaron Muller about exactly how to become a Lifestyle Business Owner. In his book, The Lifestyle Business Owner, he clearly articulates the steps required to do so. 

It takes planning, action and some good fortune along the way to find the right business or businesses for you and the lifestyle you desire. It also requires experts that you can plug into as guides and mentors to help you shorten the cycle to success. Aaron is very clear that one of the best decisions he made along the way was to hire a consultant and coach to guide is actions for a business he purchased. 

Whether you are business savvy, formally educated or not; business success is possible with hard work, following some timeless principles and with guidance. Finding or hiring a mentor, someone who knows the way, is a powerful way to learn. You will need several key people...

Personal Accountability must start with the Business Owner. As the leader, you are required to set the example that you want your team to emulate. As John G. Miller says so clearly, "It all comes back to the Business Owner. " 

When you hear the questions that begin with 'why', 'when' or the all too often 'who', you know that personal accountability is lacking. If you find yourself using these questions, you need to look inward for the reason for the lack of taking responsibility. Reading the book QBQ is a great place to start to change your mindset. 

The powerful and personally accountable based questions begin with 'what' or 'how". For example, "what can I do". John clearly outlines the personally accountable formula.

When you find yourself overwhelmed and in chaos as a business owner, it is all too easy to shift into the victim mindset. It's easy to cast blame, look for excuses and explain away why things didn't get accomplished. If you find yourself in...