Just because we want something

Just because we want something doesn’t mean it’s important.

As an example, there is a forum where they discuss college soccer. Every year there is a posting complaining about the coaches who don’t announce their signings of new recruits.

While it’s nice for some to see which players are joining which teams (although it’s interesting that the interest seems to be in how these players will help the team and not how the school will help the person) I’m not sure why these people posting this complaint feel it’s something the coach is obligated to do or why they feel it’s owed to them.

It would be nice if I could get all of the information I want, when I want it. However, just because I want it (and want it now) doesn’t mean I’m entitled to the information or owed it in any way, shape or form.

It would be nice if a restaurant offered the food that I like, when I want it and for the price I want it. That doesn’t mean they will or that they should.

Just something to think about.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

The World is Changing

The world is changing…are you?

While things might be great right now, if you aren’t careful, others will pass you by.

I was speaking with someone involved in technology and he spends an incredible amount of time trying to anticipate where technology is going 1, 3 and even 5 years down the road. This doesn’t mean he is always correct but at least it gives him a heads up regarding where he wants to be headed in the future (and where he doesn’t want to head).

Just something to think about.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

Great Innovations

Many people want to be involved with the next great innovation. While many people might want to be involved with these types of innovations, many of us will never have that opportunity.

The thing to remember is we don’t have to be involved in a great innovation, instead, we can use someone elses great innovation to do something significant ourselves.

As an example, a person didn’t have to invent the elevator but could use the invention to build a taller building.

A person didn’t have to invent Facebook to use Facebook for their own business.

A person didn’t have to invent the automobile to use cars for deliveries.

Keep an eye on innovations in order to see how you can use things for your own benefit

Have a great day!

Lawrence

Sometimes really good is good enough

Sometimes we don’t realize something is as good as it really is.

I was looking at some software recently which isn’t on the market yet and couldn’t believe how powerful it was. When I asked the developers why it wasn’t on the market yet their response was “there are so many other features we want to add it’s simply not ready”.

Their problem is that they don’t realize just how good the program is currently. Maybe they can make it even better later but they are missing out on some great opportunities in the meantime.

While great s better than good, sometimes very good is good enough

Have a great day!

Lawrence

The quality of the list

The quality of the list is much more important than the size of the list.

As an example, I attended a fundraiser last week in which they raised $140,000 with an invitation list of around 150 people. The invitees were carefully selected based on their interest in the cause and ability and willingness to contribute. Instead of inviting 150 people they could have invited 500 people and raised less money because it wasn’t about the number of attendees but rather the fit of the attendees.

A camp can send hundreds of thousands of camp brochures and get no response or they could send a few thousand to a better list and get a great response.

Go for the quality when compiling lists of peoples. It will be much more effective than going for the quantity.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

Be flexible with your schedule

For some people having a full schedule means they are being productive.

For others, it’s much more productive to keep their schedule open to allow for last minute opportunities that inevitably come about.

The challenge is if you keep your schedule too open, you don’t do anything and if you schedule too full you lose last minute opportunities.

Work on staying busy but also stay flexible whenever possible

Have a great day!

Lawrence

Yards After Contact

In football they have a valuable stat which is Yards After Contact (YAC). This is the amount of yards the ball carrier picks up after a defender made initial contact. The great backs pick up their yards both before and after they have been hit. The lesser backs pick up their yards primarily before they get hit.

In business, and in life, the big successes are the ones who can keep going even after they have suffered a setback. The ability to persevere after taking a hit is what separates the good from the great

Have a great day!

Lawrence

Just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s smart

People are getting using QR Codes more and more (if you don’t know what a QR Code is, it’s the funky design you see people scanning with their phones which frequently takes them to a web site or provides them with some form of information). For some people it’s simply a cool way to get people to their web site, for others, it’s a way to provide information in a way that makes them feel special.

Personally, the idea of scanning a code that I don’t know to take me, potentially, to a web site I don’t know is absolutely ludicrous. You are exposing your phones contents, and anything connected to your phone to great risks. If you scan the ‘wrong QR Code” you could be exposed to viruses, people stealing your identity and much worse.

If you think it’s the cool thing to do, keep doing it but realize the unnecessary risks you are taking.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

Think moves ahead

When playing chess top players think 3-4 even 5 moves ahead.

In your business life and in your every day life, how many moves ahead do you think?

Just something to think about.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

Become a hacker

A productive computer hacker will change the way software or hardware is used to make them more productive.

For example, they might alter the way a program runs it’s reports too allow them to get the report they actually need.

Why don’t more people become hackers outside of technology? Instead of doing things the way they always have, why not hack the process to become more effective?

Look for ways to hack a process when possible. It might annoy some people but others will appreciate the effort and efficiencies

Have a great day!

Lawrence