Seth's Blog and Superman

>> 18 June 2008

Today was an excellent full day. A two hour Agent Leadership Council Meeting but all good stuff. No coffee pot issues. Then, 4 rich and intense coaching sessions. Thank goodness for the 3:00 pm birthday celebration and delicious Boston creme pie dotted with M&M's. Life at KW....on to other interesting things:

I wanted to point you to a blog post (be sure to come back and finish reading) by Seth Godin called SUPERHEROS. I especially enjoy and relate to the last 2 paragraphs.

Crash Test Dummies (one of my all time favorite bands) also wrote a song about superhero's. Superman Song was the name of the song. Once, I heard a talk at an inner-city youth camp where I used to work about this song. It compares Tarzan and Superman. I won't go into the details yet, I'm curious to see what you hear first. Listen to the words carefully. Let me know your thoughts...really what message do you hear?

(bonus geek points for knowing who Solomon Grundy is without googling him..and NO that doesn't have anything to do with the message of the song).


Pick Your Line

>> 13 June 2008

At one point in my life, I spent a few summers trying to mountain bike. Now, being rather bike handicapped thanks to a major childhood bike accident that ended up in a broken jaw and 900 stitches in my face.....this whole bike thing was a challenge for me. I'm not usually afraid to tackle my off on the mountain bike I went.

I noticed that I was always HITTING the big rocks rather than avoiding them. I was also hitting the big potholes, too. Of course this didn't make for the best experiences on the mountain bike trails-- especially for someone who was prone to fall off bikes easily. You can tell my angst from the photo, can't you?

One day, during a bout of frustration and fear from hitting another big rock, despite focusing SO intently on "NOT HITTING THE ROCK," a friend told me,

"You keep hitting the rocks because that is EXACTLY what you are focusing on. When you say to your self, 'don't hit the rock,' that is what you do because your mind has fixated on that path."

I didn't understand. I was focusing on NOT hitting the dang rocks.

"Pick your line," he told me. "See the line you want the bike to follow and focus on that line."

Sure enough, picking my line worked. Focus on what you DO want...not so much on what you are trying to avoid. It works. I'm much better at riding these two wheeled machines....and much better at getting where I want to go while having a smooth ride.

I find it is the same thing in Real Estate. Pick your line. Focus on what you want. See the vision, establish the path and head out.
Once you pick the line, the ride feels more like this: I have a little support here in holding my line....
.....maybe that could be like having a coach?


What are YOUR Dreams?

>> 09 June 2008

I spent the weekend reading: That means I showed up today fresh, inspired, and ready to roll. I showed up today changed. Change is good. Growth is good. Reading is good.

The actions of this business are truly important. The lead generation and prospecting is vital to your success. The continual skill building is crucial in setting one apart....but....I mean AND....DREAMS are where all that begins.

Have you thought about what your dreams are lately?

Here is my exercise:

Take an 8.5" x 11" paper and turn it landscape layout.

Fold into thirds making 3 columns.

Write across the top WHAT ARE MY DREAMS.

In the left column, take some time and write down as many dreams as you can. Small Dreams , BIG dreams, Work Dreams, Personal Dreams, Family Dreams, Day Dreams, Money Dreams, Health Dreams, Wealth Dreams, Life Dreams, Week Dreams. DO you have dreams you share with someone? Write those down too.

For some of you, it won't be easy to write these down. Some of you may not really have any dreams. Over the course of time and experience, many dreams don't get realized or get crushed. The feelings of dissapointment and loss keep us from dreaming to avoid the pain of loss.

You can move away from loss and fear (by not dreaming) or move toward discovering who you really are and what you really want/want to become.

I encourage you to risk starting to dream again. Dare to dream, and old friend used to tell me. As Jeffrey Gitomer says, "NO RISK--NO NOTHING!"

Back to the Exercise:

After you have your list of dreams, go back through and ask yourself this question first: What exactly do I mean by that?" and re-word your dreams to be as specific as can be.

THEN--> Go to the middle column. For each dream, write the answer to this question: "What will reaching this dream do for me?"

THEN--> Go to the last column on the right. Now, write down the answer to this question: "And what will THAT do for me?"

The goal is to really peel away the layers....examine what it is that you are really dreaming about.

When you find these things, my hope is that you will also feel the motivation from within that will move your feelings which will in turn affect your actions.

May all your actions move you TOWARD your Dreams.


bad days, thoroughbreds and mules

>> 04 June 2008

After a few days of self discovery, coaching, coaching, and more coaching I have come to a few realizations:
Dianna had a funny at the end of our call Monday: "You can tap a thoroughbred on the rear and it will go 0-90 real quick and never quit running. But you can beat a mule over and over and it still won't budge."

In fact, I may care more about your business than you do. I'm letting that go.
Every little bit we accomplish, makes a BIG difference.
My goal is to empower you to move you in the direction of your dreams....and if those dreams are not formed, my goal is to move you in the direction of considering and discovering what they may be.

I made the mistake of letting others non-motivation affect my motivation.
Thanks for that too, Dianna, my coach!

A few other truths that I was reminded of that helped this week:

  1. Programming ---> Thoughts---->Feelings----> Actions-----> Results--->Programming.
  2. 90% of people will move away from pain
  3. only 10% will move toward pleasure
  4. there is a reason why mules don't run in the Triple Crown races.....

I'm REmotivated. I'm REminded. I'm REset, and REady.

Thanks Dianna, Izzy, Charity, Mary Lynne. Thanks Ric. Thanks Hickory Run Neighbors ...thanks Bill, and thanks Sex and the City Movie(this is a whole other blog post).

Can you call the last bad day you had a complete success at moving you forward in life? If not, get a coach or two, be around peers who are moving in the same direction that your are. Attend training. Find support...and stretch your mind space.

That was the best bad day I've ever had!