Creative Solutions

In the middle of every problem is the seed of it's solution. There is a creative solution to every problem. Steve Jobs was a great believer in creative solutions. Stepping up into the creative is where breakthrough happens.

The bog of the problem cannot contains us to the point of starving out all creativity. Shake it off and dream. This is where I love to take a break and paint a picture, go for a walk, garden anything but be caught in the doing in the bog.

Today is one of those days. I know there is more than the bog, more than the mundane, there is the creative life inside, I have to find it. I want the spectacular not the boring same old.

Time to dream!

Encouragement

Encouragement is something we all crave and need. It can feel real lonely at times and especially when we are facing our own wall.

It is important to remember the very thing we need, we need to sow into someone else's life an it will come back to us, because it is out there now.

Remember the song 'What the World needs now is Love sweet love'. Well we don't need to go to mushy stuff but a real act of love for our fellow man and woman is encouragement. It takes effort as does praise.

You want some praise for a job well done and no one is in sight? Find someone who you can praise and watch what happens!

Go!

Stick to the Plan

I am so grateful for a business plan. In the establishment of my business it has taken far longer to set up and far more resources than I had planned but I must keep moving on, according to the plan.

The plan produces results. The plan brings the next stage into focus. It is like going up in an escalator. Until you reach the top you cannot see clearly the path from then. If another escalator is the next step to get to it requires negotiating the crowd and to get to it, it is usually not straight in front of you.

Being anxious about the next step is a waste of time. "Today has enough troubles of it's own." Keep a cool head and control the emotions and keep on walking.

As I send out letters and make follow-up calls I am finding less results than I thought I would get, but I keep walking, I keep making the calls, keep sending the letters.

Focus is so important, it will keep you on track. Control your mouth and speak the plan not the circumstances and you will arrive.

Coping With Unfaithful Clients

How do you cope with the failure of others? Are you greatly disappointed? Do you turn away from those who disappoint you? Do you have clients who choose not to buy from you but go elsewhere?

When others fail us we need to remember 'there but for the grace of God go I'. I fail, I make mistakes.

I have had what I consider good clients who I have worked tirelessly for and failed walk away from me and buy elsewhere, it hurt, but hey if I cannot deliver someone else can.

We cannot expect total faithfulness from clients and friends if we are unable to deliver. The client wants the product and they will have to get it from a stranger if we cannot provide.

This is life! We would do the same. So be gracious to others when they fail you in the area of faithfulness.

Follow the Lead

Do you get an inkling you should go a certain way, call a certain person? You probably do and if you are not cluttered in your mind and heart you will. Women call this intuition. Guys call it luck.

In business you will have a plan and there are, like a jig-saw puzzle, many pieces moving into place. You know they are all important and at the right time you will pick up a piece and know where it belongs.

Struggling and straining to make pieces you do not recognise go into place uses valuable energy and wastes time.

Being of a cool spirit helps. If we don't allow the demands of the day dictate we can tune in.

The way to deal with the dictates is to write them all down, then they are happy they have been put somewhere, on paper. Once they are all out of the way, intuition can kick in.

Yesterday I had such a day. I knew I needed to go and look at furniture for my new office but I also knew a contact was out the same direction so I went, I made contact and the timing was right.

I have country trips planned. One was going to be at a later date yet I know I need to go earlier as a contact will be in that town at the same time. When the contacts are there, then it is time to go.

Timing is important, more important than dictates!

Keep Your Word

If you say, "I will call you before 5pm", do it! If you say "I will get that information for you today", do it!

Remember that the little things are important. If you are waiting desperately for some information for your own life and that person does not get back to you, how does it make you feel?

You word is worth cherishing it shows that you respect yourself and others.

If you have trouble remembering write it down, keep a log, do what it takes to keep your word.

You will find that because so few people do return calls you will gain a reputation of being a man or woman of your word and you will be respected.

I have been let down again and again lately and the one thing I really appreciate is a person who keeps their word. Would I pay them more? Definitely!

What is Important

Are you driven by the dollar? Do you see houses, cars, furniture you want? Do you want a bank full of cash?

Do you want a secret or two?

1) Don't waste your time looking at stuff, look at people, learn to like them

2) Learn to give. As you measure it out it comes back to you

3) Don't wear yourself out for money, it will kill you and destroy all those you love.

Try simple medicine! It works!