When you continually add weight to your personal and business life without a safety factor, it becomes difficult to carry the load and maintain balance. One of life’s tendencies is to add more stuff and lots of it. Do you have too many things in your life?
You probably have more stuff in your personal and business life than you need or can handle. When you are maxed out and exceed your balanced limits, I call it: Stuff Overload.
Work Harder or Smarter?
In life, it’s hard to slow down when you are maxed-out traveling fast with a heavy load. You don’t have any extra time to stop, pull out your road map and reflect on your destination. In the race for more and better food, clothing, shelter, business commitments, customers and stuff, you’ll get lost, forget where you were going and often lose direction and focus.
Time management experts tell you to work harder, smarter, faster and more efficiently and then you’ll eventually gain control of your life. By trial and error, you’ve learned this approach doesn’t work. To gain control of your life and business priorities, you must know the right direction to go and have a map or plan to get where you want to go. Speed is not an issue—only progress and balance are important.
Live Life’s 6 Fs!
A business that works always is on-purpose and on-target according to your priorities. It gives you what you want! What will make your business on-purpose for you? I want my business to always make a profit, create repeat loyal customers, be 100% run by my management team, grow my equity, create wealth and allow me the freedom to enjoy the 6 Fs: freedom, family, friends, faith, finances, fun.
Live Life’s 3 Rs!
Putting your priorities first is tough. Each day of your life involves difficult demands and tradeoffs. To be ‘On-Purpose … On-Target!’ you must be ruthless about your decisions, choices, commitments and priorities. What’s the best time to try new ideas and work different? (Hint: It’s not ASAP.) The best time is now! Trying new ideas and doing new and different things daily is hard to accomplish. But, forgetting old ideas and comfortable ways of acting and doing is even harder! Putting your priorities first is tough. Each day of your life involves difficult demands and tradeoffs. To be ‘On-Purpose … On-Target’ you must be ruthless about your decisions, choices, commitments and priorities.
Accept Responsibility!
The following responses to circumstances have become the norm in today’s society: “It’s not my fault.” “It’s just not fair.” “It’s not my job.” When business owners, entrepreneurs, and winners take on a job they get it done. Period. No excuses. No rules. No reasons why not. Need I say more?
Accept Reality!
Sitting and waiting for “it” to change is counterproductive to living on-purpose… on-target! Accept your current situation as it is. You can’t change the past! However, YOU can change your future—starting NOW! Get on with it. Go for it. Make the best of what you’ve got and make tomorrow even better. Start making those slow but steady changes in how you manage your life. You can do it!
To gain control of your life and business priorities, you must know the right direction to go and have a map or plan to get where you want to go.
Accept Risk!
Most successful businesses were started by individuals with a clearly defined vision, purpose and goals. The definition of an entrepreneur is one who assumes the risk in a business in expectation of gaining a profit. Step up and step out in both your professional and personal life. Take a stand. Take a risk and act like an entrepreneur. Expect the best to become the best! Take that first step to get what you want. Yes, the first step is often the hardest.
Failure is the Key to Success!
Have you ever noticed in life successful people always get up when they fall down. And the really successful ones fall down a lot! Stay alert. Watch for opportunities. Be quick to change. Make your own luck. Always be ready and well prepared. Know where you want to go and let others know where you want to go too. Ask others how they did it. Seek advice. Stay informed. Keep improving. Stay on top of your field. And always go for it!
What you GET is a RESULT of what you GIVE!
I receive an overwhelming return on my investment every time I give my time, talent and money. Giving is the outward expression of your inner commitment, character, and dedication. There is a direct conduit between your heart and your wallet. People who donate money generously and on a regular basis can be trusted. People who don’t find time or money to give to others are self centered and can’t get everything in life they want. People who don’t give are the only ones who complain about giving. Give giving a try. I guarantee you will get more in return than you ever give.
George Hedley, CSP, CPBC, helps contractors grow and profit as a professional business coach, popular speaker and peer group leader. He is the author of “Get Your Construction Business to Always Make a Profit!” and “Hardhat BIZSCHOOL Online University,” available on his website. Visit www.hardhatbizschool.com for more information.
