Notes from James O’Connor: Are You There Yet?

Good People,

Through the years we have heard the question, “Are we there yet?’ If we are driving our reaction is different then if we are the passenger. Most everything is defined from our personal point of view. Which is often only one of many views. My suggestion is in business and our personal lives that we sit in the driver’s seat when we are the passenger and sit in the passenger’s seat when we are driving when it comes to seeing the view.

That being put out there for us to practice I would also like to remind us that the Bible is a guide to getting us Home. Along the way there is a most glorious scenic view that we are being afforded. Is it not then not then that the destination is purposely set for us to travel to get there? If so then is there not a purpose for which this road is there for us to travel? Accepting the Wisdom of such then instead of us asking ‘Are we there yet?’ what then would you suspect would be the desired hope of the Driver?

Once we have this practice down we may find our hearts lifted a bit more in all our endeavors and in such practice better skills in all that we do….and how we approach all aspects of our lives.  “Are you there yet?”

Wishing you much success in all aspects of your life….

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Good People,

Got an inch you scratch it. A thought that comes to you is the same. Sorting through the sources of our thoughts helps when we follow through. Some thoughts are filled with fear, prejudice and hate often these are out right up front and sometimes they hide behind supposedly ‘good Godly intentions.’

How does someone sort through the sources of our thoughts? I learned something from a multilevel marketing green company I just discovered. They base all their decisions on two questions when facing a project. 1. Is it good for the independent representatives. 2. Is it good for the company. There must be a ‘yes’ ‘yes’ answer to these questions before they will proceed with the project or concept. The independent reps come first. The foundation of the company is ‘green.’ Upon that foundation they place the good of the people and then the good of the company. So far this looks like something of value.

What I ask then is, “How do they define as ‘good’?” Until we know how someone personally defines a word we can not evaluate their intensions. Same for the sources of our thoughts. Just how do you define what is ‘good’?” Once we define ‘good’ I believe we then would find our thoughts inspired by ‘Good.’

Recently someone sent me one of those ‘fear’ emails. You know those emails that are ‘fwd’ type hype lacking intelligence that still manage to instigate mob anger with the intent of creating thoughtless action. I felt I needed to put a pause in this kind of war like strategy. Yes, war. Over the years we have stepped farther and farther away from the frontlines of battle. Sitting at computers sending out bombs from anonymous sites. Now this same mentality is growing among thousands upon thousands of people sitting at their home computes fwding bombs with glee feeling protected by the distance not needing to take responsibility for their actions.

My reply to my friend is as follows….

I do appreciate all the emails you send. Isn’t it amazing all the little fires of ‘fear’ that people are running around starting….Even people who claim and advertise that they are ‘good’ people are getting caught up in it. Fear Fear FEAR…Yet, if the good people actually believed in God…in our Lord and Savior Jesus….would they be running around with fear as their partner?

My thinking is…I am expected to focus on, nurture and cultivate the good of God’s love. In His love I do not remember being taught or shown any example of propagating fear, and its often by-products of hate and prejudice. I know that the kinds of words that you have read and then pass along to me have you with these same thought. There are many of us out here who do keep our focus on the Good.

May each of us build a foundation upon which inspiration of thought comes to us and directs us all in the ‘Good’ of all our projects.

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Good People,

Recently I ran across a concept that stimulated my mind in such a way that I thought you might appreciate my sharing it with you.

The Afformation Factor….

For years we have read, been told, seen examples from the experts, in just about every field of endeavor out there, informing us that we need to picture our success. Saying our ‘affirmations’ daily. In some cases even being told to say our affirmations ‘hourly.’ Focus our winning or gaining in our minds and repeat this over and over in our mind. We are told that this is what the successful people do…this is what winners do. The big question is, “Does it work?” The answer is, “Sometimes.”  

If we remember how the mind works we may be able to increase the effectiveness of this practice. Many times when we hear a statement we hear it and then set it aside ready to continue on to something else. On the other hand, most of the time when we are asked a question our mind will keep working until there is an answer. Take for example someone asks you who acted in a particular movie and you can not immediately come up with the name. You may walk away from the conversation but your brain will continue to search out that name. Your brain will work on locating an answer until hours later you are struck with the answer. Your brain automatically goes into the search mode and will remain active on that question until comes up with the answer.

Let us take that same process to help us with our success in whatever field we are wanting to focus on at the moment. People are told to repeat “I am rich.” Let us now take that and turn it into an afformation. “What makes me rich?” or “What makes me wealthy?” or “Why am I wealthy?” Now your brain is searching out positive reasons why you are wealthy. Could be that you have a great plan, a great support group, a great faith in God’s plan for your prosperity and so forth. Your mind has wrapped itself around the idea, the picture of your state of wealth and supported your belief.

 For me I consider including affirmations and afformations in my daily routine which helps me keep that connection from breaking less frequently.

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Good People,

My Personal Tip of the Day

Back in my youth I would come up with gems such as while watching my mom vacuuming, “Gee Mom, they should invent something to vacuum out people’s fat.” The response was, “That’s stupid and it would be much too dangerous.” Some years later when videos first came out I said to my parents, “Gee someone should come up with some kind of lending business, like a library, for videos.” The response was, “Oh that is stupid. Besides videos will never last.” A couple years later I said, “That old saying ‘The squeaky wheel gets the grease…People should be reminded that the squeaky wheel gets replaced.” I was told I was silly….of course years later I spotted a sign “The Squeaky Wheel Gets Replaced.” Around the same time as the Squeaky Wheel I said something to my parents about if tea can come in tea bags why couldn’t coffee be in little bags. My parents’ response, “That is stupid.” What I learned, with humor in mind, was not to share with my parents any of my ideas.

With that in mind I would like to share with you something I have been saying for years as a twist to the old saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.”….my twist…. “If you lead a horse around long enough he will drink.”

There are two points here in this twist of an old saying. The first is if you remain persistent and approach a situation from a different view you can come up with a profitable solution. The second is….be careful about what you are accomplishing by leading someone around.

Wishing you much success in all your positive endeavors….James

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Good People,

This long campaign of Business Tips for the Day may seem to be going on and on. What I have discovered is that at this moment people only have a moment to make a decision whether to hang on to something or let go. “Quick” is the pace they are in as they look about tying to latch on to something that will be their life jacket. With this in mind I had decided to provide ‘short’ bits of wisdom from the experts in the field and pass them along. Something that people can hold on to for an hour or a couple of days that can be the life jacket they need for the moment.

From Biz Tip of the Day

If you’re pursuing your own business then you know about dreaming. Most likely your dreams of financial freedom, time freedom and being your own boss were what prompted ou to investigate owning your own business I the first place. All we’ll add is to cling tenaciously to those dreams. Don’t ever let them go. All of the great discoveries this world has ever known were once dreams.

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Notes from James O’Connor: Biz tip of the Day

Good People,

Biz Tip of the Day

If your prospect doesn’t have any problems your product or service will solve, you don’t have a prospect.

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Good People,

From ….Biz Tip of the Day

Instead of showing people who smart you are, help people realize how much they already know.

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Good People,

Enjoy this Business Tip of the Day from Kave Golabi of Liquid Designers, Argentina.

“We are conditioned to believe that we have to pick a profession. In elementary school, my teachers never asked me if I wanted to start my own corporation when I grew up. Because of this, subconsciously, we have become afraid to take a chance and start something. I believe that if you want to try to build a company, try. You might fail, but if you do, you will regroup, get some more cash and try something new. Eventually you will get it right and become successful. Otherwise you can stick with your 9-to-5, but don’t expect to move any mountains. As a caveat, it’s not a bad idea to keep your 9-to-5 temporarily while you get your entrepreneurial venture off the ground — but you better be willing to put in the hours.”

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Good People,

Creativewebgroup.com puts up a new, random “Biz Tip of the Day” each time their page is loaded or reloaded. For the next few posts we will enjoy some of the tips they have to offer.

Biz Tip of the Day

Compose emails as if the person your are corresponding with is setting right in front of you. Give your message a little personality

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Good People, 

Seems that many of the successful people who manage busineses repeat the basic same tips for success. We do understand and appreciate the wisdom in repetition. Though there are times we feel, “Gee, I already heard that.” Much like the same thing people are thinking when they hear us repeating how to gain spiritual success. With this in mind I am pleased to present another example of our need to hear over and over again how to gain success.

12 Business Tips for Success

by Bob Reiss

Entrepreneur.com

What’s important to the success of small-business owners and entrepreneurs? Knowledge, skill and talent.

However, many competitors have the same traits you do. The key to beating the competition and achieving success is mental, reflected in one’s attitude, totally controlled by the individual and requires no cash. This holds true in most human endeavors besides business — in sports, the arts and politics.

How many times have we seen the underdog team or player win over the more talented opponent? The

difference is often attitude.

These 12 attitude attributes can put you in the right mindset for achieving entrepreneurial success.

1. Have passion for your business
Work should be fun. Your passion will help you overcome difficult moments and persuade people to work for you and want to do business with you. Passion can’t be taught. When it wanes, as it surely will in difficult times, take some quiet time. Whether it be an hour or a week, take inventory of all the reasons you started the business and why you like being your own boss. That should renew your passion.

2. Set an example of trustworthiness
People have confidence in trustworthy individuals and want to work for them in a culture of integrity. The same is true for customers.

3. Be flexible, except with core values
It’s a given that your plans and strategies will change as time goes on. This flexibility for rapid change is an inherent advantage of small over large business. However, no matter the pressure for immediate profits, do not compromise on core values. 4. Don’t let fear of failure hold you back
Failure is an opportunity to learn. All things being equal, venture capitalists would rather invest money in an individual who tried and failed founding a company than in someone who never tried.

5. Make timely decisions
It’s okay to use your intuition. Planning and thought are good. But procrastination leads to missed opportunity.

6. The major company asset is you
Take care of yourself. Your health is more valuable than the most expensive machinery or computer software for the company. You don’t have to choose between your family or your company, play or work. Maintain your health for balance and energy, which will, in turn, enhance your mental outlook.

7. Keep your ego under control
Don’t take profits and spend them on expensive toys to impress others. Build a war chest for unexpected needs or opportunities. This also means hearing out new ideas and suggestions no matter how crazy they sound.

8. Believe
You need to believe in yourself, in your company, and that you will be successful. This confidence is contagious with your employees, customers, stakeholders, suppliers and everyone you deal with.

9. Encourage and accept criticism graciously. Admit your mistakes.
You need to constantly work on convincing your employees that it’s OK — even necessary —to state their honest opinions even it if conflicts with the boss’s opinion. Just stating it once or putting it in a mission statement won’t cut it for most people.

10. Maintain a strong work ethic
Your employees will follow your lead. It will also help you beat your competition by outworking them, particularly when your product or service is very similar.

11. Rebound quickly from setbacks
There surely will be plenty of ups and downs as you build the business. Learn from the setbacks and move on. You can’t change the past.

12. Periodically get out of your comfort zone to pursue something important
Many times you will feel uncomfortable in implementing a needed change in technology, people, mission, competing, etc. For the company and you to grow personally, you sometimes have to step out of your comfort zone.

Many organizational and leadership shortcomings can be overcome or mitigated with the good attitudes described above. All can be learned except passion, which comes from within. Take time out of your hectic schedule to periodically reflect on these attributes. You may be inspired to act.

Bob Reiss is the author of ” Bootstrapping 101

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