I have been reading Napoleon Hill today and found a great quote. He says, "A rich man's money came to him side by side with the development of his insight, his ability, his knowledge of people, and his knowledge of the world". What came to mind after reading that was how insight played a role in our business.
I like to birdwatch out my window while I work. I just throw out some bird seed and see who comes to dinner. After some time, I noticed who was new at the feast. Lately it has been a sparrow with a glandular problem. I say that since he is fat. The other sparrows and house finch are sleek and thin, but this one is round. Now, babies are round too, but this guy wasn't being fed by his mum, so naturally he stood out of the crowd. I've seen injured birds, a hawk, and a road runner once or twice. To the bird watching student, these events are noticable.
As a business owner, special events happen too. Normally called "opportunities", these unusual occurances jump out at you if you watch for them. I'm speaking of being a student of your business. Watching daily in the newspaper, reading the property listings from your agent, and driving neighborhoods increases the development of your insight as a real estate investor just as Hill mentions above. When an unusual deal crosses your path, you recognize it like a new species of bird who drops into your diner. Our first deal came after a 10 month search (being the student). "The deal" (insight) stood out from the others and we moved on that opportunity.
Success doesn't happen over night. Take the daily steps of being a student of your business. Gain the education even if it is a slow process. Time will pass, and you will have the education and "insight" built into your business process.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Make a Change and Create Opportunity
When a person is not succeeding as well as desired, it only makes sense that some change is indicated. Norman Vincent Peale
I recently heard that most people don’t have a time management problem, they have opportunity overload problem. I would have to agree. At this moment, I’m alone for a few hours and could choose to see a movie, read, clean house, cook, exercise, clean the yard, paint, sew, or brush the dogs. None of those activities listed are on my to do list, yet the opportunity is available. Choices are always before us. So how are you deciding how to spend your time? One of my favorite quotes is from Earl Nightingale, "Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use." It helps me focus on what it is I really want and not to let how long it takes for me to achieve the goal deter me from beginning.
I’m in the middle of an online class right now that is self paced. I started out with the plan of 1 chapter a day. After several classes taken that way, I wasn’t pleased with my progress. I spent some time thinking about the goal of the class – to pass. Not to get the best grade, not to memorize every fact. My goal is to be done so I can use these credits to be eligible to the licensing test. I made a change. Like Norman Vincent Peale reminded me in his quote above, if it isn’t right, make a change. I did 3 chapters today in about the time I was taking to do one chapter deeply.
Change also may be needed in perspective. Of all the opportunities available, which activities will bring you closer to your goal? View all that you do in a day and start filtering out and eliminating busy work, time wasters, and time fillers. Do you have to sort the mail everyday? What about making the bed? Literally take some time to think about what you do and how you do it. Is there another way? That “new” way may make the difference in reaching your goals faster or afford you more opportunities.
I recently heard that most people don’t have a time management problem, they have opportunity overload problem. I would have to agree. At this moment, I’m alone for a few hours and could choose to see a movie, read, clean house, cook, exercise, clean the yard, paint, sew, or brush the dogs. None of those activities listed are on my to do list, yet the opportunity is available. Choices are always before us. So how are you deciding how to spend your time? One of my favorite quotes is from Earl Nightingale, "Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use." It helps me focus on what it is I really want and not to let how long it takes for me to achieve the goal deter me from beginning.
I’m in the middle of an online class right now that is self paced. I started out with the plan of 1 chapter a day. After several classes taken that way, I wasn’t pleased with my progress. I spent some time thinking about the goal of the class – to pass. Not to get the best grade, not to memorize every fact. My goal is to be done so I can use these credits to be eligible to the licensing test. I made a change. Like Norman Vincent Peale reminded me in his quote above, if it isn’t right, make a change. I did 3 chapters today in about the time I was taking to do one chapter deeply.
Change also may be needed in perspective. Of all the opportunities available, which activities will bring you closer to your goal? View all that you do in a day and start filtering out and eliminating busy work, time wasters, and time fillers. Do you have to sort the mail everyday? What about making the bed? Literally take some time to think about what you do and how you do it. Is there another way? That “new” way may make the difference in reaching your goals faster or afford you more opportunities.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Golf lessons for improving your life
My husband plays golf.
He is totally self taught these last three years. This weekend he did 18 holes and achieved a 92. The beauty off that score is that he tied with my dad who has been playing for over 20 years.
So you don't play golf and don't know if that is a good score. I don't play either, but my husband was excited about his score. It signified improvement. After a couple of years, he looked back and saw improvement. Yes, you read that right. A couple of years of very part time practicing and he has shown improvement. Let those ideas sink in for a moment. Learning any new skill takes time to be reliably proficient.
One significant trick he did share with me has to do with focusing your effort. First consider that he has educated himself on the game. Videos and books on improving his game fill our library. The obvious implication here is that he uses them regularly to feed his mind with the valuable information the professionals have to offer. However, the trick is to take your information and pick one area you want to work on improving. For example, he would take one tip on a particular golf swing and memorize it. He would focus on that one tip during his warm up. He takes that tip and uses it on the course. He doesn't focus on his score. His focus is on improving that one swing. He analyzes what he was doing before and if this new technique is working for him.
In business and in your personal life, you may have a long list of areas you want to improve. Educate yourself in the new habit or skill you want. The focus. By concentrating on improving small areas at at time, you will be rewarded for your consistency of focused effort.
He is totally self taught these last three years. This weekend he did 18 holes and achieved a 92. The beauty off that score is that he tied with my dad who has been playing for over 20 years.
So you don't play golf and don't know if that is a good score. I don't play either, but my husband was excited about his score. It signified improvement. After a couple of years, he looked back and saw improvement. Yes, you read that right. A couple of years of very part time practicing and he has shown improvement. Let those ideas sink in for a moment. Learning any new skill takes time to be reliably proficient.
One significant trick he did share with me has to do with focusing your effort. First consider that he has educated himself on the game. Videos and books on improving his game fill our library. The obvious implication here is that he uses them regularly to feed his mind with the valuable information the professionals have to offer. However, the trick is to take your information and pick one area you want to work on improving. For example, he would take one tip on a particular golf swing and memorize it. He would focus on that one tip during his warm up. He takes that tip and uses it on the course. He doesn't focus on his score. His focus is on improving that one swing. He analyzes what he was doing before and if this new technique is working for him.
In business and in your personal life, you may have a long list of areas you want to improve. Educate yourself in the new habit or skill you want. The focus. By concentrating on improving small areas at at time, you will be rewarded for your consistency of focused effort.
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