You’re in a box.

Warm and snug, you’re content to stay in that box because you know everything about that box. You know how big it is and what it feels like. You know what’s inside that box with you. Stuck in the company of everything in that box, you are blissful in comfort. You are the controller, the owner, the virtual king or queen of that box.

But then suddenly your world changes…not the world inside your box, but the one outside of it. Your box has become old, outdated, unwanted. Suddenly, what was once comforting and viable for survival is now inappropriate and dysfunctional.

So what do you do—stay the same, or adapt with your surroundings?

Change is not an easy thing to accomplish. In fact, it’s often hard to do and downright scary. And what are the biggest reasons why we are fearful? Perhaps we don’t have a good plan set in place, or the support or knowledge we need to keep moving forward, or the confidence we need to push through adversity.

Do not fear—help is here! Fear is the body’s natural response to something we don’t know that could cause us pain, embarrassment, or just plan failure. It’s the mind’s automatic need to turn away from the unknown in order to remain happy and comfortable. Breaking out of one’s comfort zone is not easy, but it’s necessary to change, to learn and to grow. And when you have the strength to break out of your comfort zone—your virtual box—you will find yourself moving with the fast-paced current of change, and you will find yourself around new peers who can help you, and new customers who will keep your business afloat!

And guess what? It’s okay to make mistakes, because that’s all a part of learning and growing as well! When learning something new, you’re bound to make a few mistakes, but that just makes you strong and your confidence even stronger.

~

“Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.”

“The key to success is often the ability to adapt.”

And here we are: the final installment to our Energy Bus serial posts!

This quick read has been an inspiration to us, and we hope it has been for you, too. If you get a chance, pick up a copy of this wonderful book to get the full experience of what George went through on his daily bus rides with Joy. As you take a glimpse into his life, maybe you can find bits and pieces you can associate with, aspects of your life where The Energy Bus can help you succeed!

And now we come to the last rule, the final note of wisdom:

Rule #10: Have Fun and Enjoy the Ride.

You’ve all heard the phrase, “life’s too short…”, and it has been used over and again to describe anything to fit any situation, dire or comical. But the fact remains that it’s true. If you spend all your time focused on the negative aspects of life, you lose sight of all the wonderful things that are happening around you.

A survey was presented to a group of geriatrics that asked them one question: “If you could do it all over and live their life again, what would you do differently?” There were three distinct answers:

1. Reflect more. Enjoy more moments.
2. Take more risks and chances. Life’s too short not to go for it.
3. Leave a legacy, something that would live on after death.

Think about that a moment. Notice how none of those things had anything to do with money and power. People get so wrapped up in work and making money that they forget about their family, their TRUE legacy left on this planet–some don’t even start a family at all!

That’s all personal choice, and if it makes you happy, if it makes you feel successful, then you’ve succeeded. Don’t forget, though, that there’s a whole wide world out there for you to explore. See things. Meet people. Try new things. Spending 60 hours a week locked in corporate cube world, working hard to work up, won’t get you outside smelling the flowers.

Everybody has a different goal in mind. We all have different destinations and paths on which we travel. The point of this is to get your bus going, wherever that is, get those riding with you comfortable, and above all else–enjoy the ride.

Remember that positive energy has the power to create goodness where you go, that it can make your destination that much more attainable. If not, at least it will be a fun ride!

ACWI

We’re getting close to the end!

Awhile ago we posted an entry about our recent exposure of The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon. So powerful was this book! Its message was simple, profound, and it hit a cord so deep that we felt anyone and everyone should understand the ten basic principles, as discussed in the book, as it can be applied to everyday life—at work and at home.

Ten  principles, ten blog entries. That is something you can look forward to in the beginning months of 2011.

Rule #9: Drive with Purpose.

Spirit and energy are what fuel your bus. It’s the reason that people are happy and projects succeed. Driving with a sense of purpose gives yourself validation for everything you do in life. You are an integral part of your team, your friends and your family, and it reflects well upon them if you show them their presence enthuses you. You have zest! You have passion! You have energy! Strive for greatness! And don’t forget to “share the light” with those around you. Energy—both good and bad—is contagious, so you need to show off your driving sense of purpose, your electricity, your passion.  It will invigorate those around and come around again as a recycled boost of energy.

You want to succeed, so prove it! Show those around you that you’re not going to take “no” for an answer, that you’re not going to bumble into success—you’re going to make it yourself!

Last time we discussed the eighth rule dictated in The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon: Love Your Passengers. We offered an overview as to the whats and whys to loving your passengers when it came to riding your bus. But now the question is how.

The truth of the matter is, you can’t get through life without the help of those around you. You need to get everyone around you on board, on your bus, as you drive to success.

Five Ways to Love Your Passengers:

1. Make time for them—Spend time with your employees, because it shows them you care. It shows that you are interested in nurturing and growing your relationship. It’s building trust by showing that you’re there for them.

2. Listen to them—One of the most important factors that determines a high management approval rating is whether the manager listens to the employee. And not just listening…do you actually hear what they’re saying? This also goes beyond the standard workplace talk. Show empathy and care about what they have to say, why they’re happy or what their goals are. If you care, they will care.

3. Recognize them—This goes beyond trophies and awards… Recognize your employees for the unique individuals they are by giving them handwritten notes on their birthday, by proving their worth in front of their peers by asking for their recommendations for office parties and events. You appreciate them, and giving them personal attention shows that.

4. Serve them—A great leader once said, the higher you get in an organization the more it is your duty to serve the people below you rather than having the people below serve you. The key is to serve their growth, their future, their career and their spirits so they enjoy riding on your bus.

5. Bring out the best in them—When you love someone you want to bring out the best in them, because you want the best for them. And when you bring out the best in each individual, it affects your team and the project as well. If you truly want to show your Passengers how much you love them, do everything you can to support and promote them.

Help those around you, and your bus will go far. Sounds selfish and it is to a point. You need to look out for yourself because, frankly, no one else is going to do it. It’s your bus, your passengers. You need to take care of the whole ball of wax on your own in order to make any progress.

ACWI

A very nice article by author Anjali Banerjee. It’s tailored to writers, but her words are inspiring for anyone in any profession. Enjoy.

~

Nurturing Creativity, by Anjali Banerjee

On my continuing journey as a writer, I’ve learned a few personal truths about how to protect and develop creativity. I hope these tips will help you a little.

Find mentors

In my new novel, Haunting Jasmine, a young divorcee – a harried L.A. businesswoman – reluctantly agrees to run her aunt’s bookstore, in a creaky old Victorian mansion on a rainy Pacific Northwest island, while her Aunt Ruma is away in India. Ruma conveniently forgets to tell Jasmine about the ghosts of dead authors inhabiting the bookstore – ghosts who become mentors, helping Jasmine to slow down, reinvent her life, and fall in love with an enigmatic young stranger.

I believe we all need mentors to help us reinvent our lives and develop our creative selves – whether these mentors are ghosts or living people. Without help from other skilled and experienced writers, I would not have become a published author. I learned craft, discipline, and business savvy from others who were generous enough to share their knowledge and expertise. Seek mentors who are better at their craft than you are – people who can teach you. Consider their advice and learn from the way they conduct their professional lives.

I try hard to give back to others the way mentors have helped me, while still protecting my own writing time.

Embrace imperfection.

Write crappy first drafts. Writing is about revising. Sometimes I find I’m mentally editing my books even after they’re published.As a mentor once told me, “Even War and Peace needs revision.” As Anne Lamott wrote in her wonderful book, Bird by Bird, “Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.” (Page 25)

You can’t revise a blank page. If you expect perfection to flow out of you at some future date, *it will never happen.* Not only should you allow yourself the freedom to play with your art, but *welcome* the fun of creating crap! Bad first drafts are so much fun to write and to read aloud. They’re just so…terrible.

Learn the craft.

Sometimes people tell me, “I’m going to write a book someday, when I find the time,” as if producing the Great American Novel simply requires a free weekend or two or three. I could just as easily say, “I would love to perform brain surgery one day, when I find a free moment.” Forget medical school, right?

Treat your creative pursuit as a profession, a lifestyle. Attend conferences, take classes, read books about writing, meet with other writers. If you want to write fiction – or do well at any creative pursuit – you need to learn the craft. I’ve had eight books published, and I still consider myself a beginner, always learning, picking up tips, striving to improve my writing. I still have a lot to learn about characterization, texture, story arc, foreshadowing, and suspense.

And of course, practice. Write as often as you can. A surgeon has to practice, too.

Take time out

Some of the best writing happens when you’re not writing. Take time out to exercise – jog, walk, swim, hike – and to read. My subconscious mind is still working on the writing when I’m doing other things. My brain is absorbing concepts I’ve learned and formulating new scenes. Sometimes the best ideas come to me in the shower or in a dream!

Be humble and respectful

I’ve found that many highly creative people don’t seem to recognize their formidable talent. Well, they do on some level, or they wouldn’t be pursuing their art. But they write because they have to write, because they are compelled to write – it’s a thirst, a passion. They always strive to improve their craft. They tend to be sensitive and a little insecure.

I’m not saying that great artists have low self-esteem. Quite the opposite. You have to trust your creativity to be able to write at all. Like any other writer, I trust my creativity, but I also suffer from bouts of self-doubt or “crises of confidence.” This is normal. The key is not to let the self-doubt defeat you. Just let it roll over you, or through you, like a passing wave. The wave, the edge of insecurity drives me, compels me to excel, to do better each time. I can always do better.

Porous Skin, Solid Core

People say you need thick skin to be a writer. You need to deflect bad reviews and criticism. This is good advice. In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron discusses the various methods we employ to prevent ourselves from recovering our creativity.  “Poisonous playmates” are people who may feel threatened by your creativity. Perhaps they’re facing obstacles of their own. Minimize or avoid time spent with people who make you feel guilty, unsure or uncomfortable with your own dreams and goals.

But sometimes you do need to consider criticism and use it to your advantage. I believe that instead of having thick skin, we need to have porous skin to filter out the unhelpful and poisonous elements and absorb the helpful and nurturing elements. Protect your solid core, the inner self that knows you are good, that remains creative, focused and ambitious regardless of what’s going on around you.

In Haunting Jasmine, the hero and ghosts are mentors to Jasmine, helping her move forward. Jasmine’s ex-husband is a negative force – similar to a poisonous playmate. She embraces her mentors and discards her poisonous playmate. She learns the craft of being a bookseller, making mistakes, having fun, and she takes time out to walk on the beach, to read – and to fall in love on her enchanted island.

Awhile ago we posted an entry about our recent exposure of The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon. So powerful was this book! Its message was simple, profound, and it hit a cord so deep that we felt anyone and everyone should understand the ten basic principles, as discussed in the book, as it can be applied to everyday life—at work and at home.

Ten  principles, ten blog entries. That is something you can look forward to in the beginning months of 2011.

Rule #8: Love Your Passengers.

Enthusiasm is super important in getting a team and keeping a team together. But LOVE is the answer. “To really, really, and I mean really, tap the power of your heart and lead with positive, contagious energy you must love your passengers,” Joy said. “You’ve got to become a love magnet.”

How do you become a love magnet? Simply by loving everyone around you! Love your employees, your customers, your company and your family! You must “share the love generously”!

What does love mean? Love doesn’t mean money… You can give your employees raises and bonuses ’til you’re blue in the face, but what happens when the excitement of money fades away? People crave intangible modes of payment–praise…respect…encouragement–and it’s that that fuels them on the rest of the day. You show your appreciation, and those around you will show diligence and integrity through to the end! Loyalty knows no price, and it keeps these people on your bus!

Keep in mind, though, that love takes time. “It’s a process, George,” Joy said, “not a goal.”

Awhile ago we posted an entry about our recent exposure of The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon. So powerful was this book! Its message was simple, profound, and it hit a cord so deep that we felt anyone and everyone should understand the ten basic principles, as discussed in the book, as it can be applied to everyday life—at work and at home.

Ten  principles, ten blog entries. That is something you can look forward to in the beginning months of 2011.

Rule #7: Enthusiasm Attracts More Passengers and Energizes Them During the Ride.

Are you a CEO? Do you know any CEOs around you? Did you know that anybody can be a CEO…a Chief Energy Officer? All it takes is focus, drive and positive energy, and anybody, from the part-time assistant to the owner of a thriving business, can be one.

Remember what I said before about positive energy being contagious, about it being the fuel of your bus? A big part of that is not just having the positive energy and positive attitude, but actually being excited about it as well!

“CEOs live and work with enthusiasm,” Joy said. “They tap into the power of their heart by getting excited about being alive, by filling up with loads of positive energy, and by being optimistic about life and work. They don’t let fear stop them. No, they charge forward with positive and powerful energy and look at challenges as opportunities to learn, grow and succeed.”

The word enthusiasm comes from the Greek word entheos, which means “inspired” or “filled with the divine”. There’s a crazy sort of divine energy that you can bring unto yourself. It’s powerful, it’s magnetic, and it’s all for you if you harness it with just living enthusiastically.

Each day is a gift…that’s why they call it the “present”. That’s horribly cliché, I know. But could anything be more apt? Invigorate your days, invigorate those around you! It will help the ride be more pleasant, more productive, and definitely more successful!

ACWI

BUSINESS COACH EARNS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN MENOMONEE FALLS

Michael Stelter, business coach, entrepreneur and owner of ActionCOACH of Wisconsin in Germantown, Wisc., was honored with the 2010 Volunteer of the Year Award, given by the Menomonee Falls Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011. The award was given to commemorate his service within the community acting as a chamber ambassador and executive committee member of 2010 The Big Pig Gig, along with his local Rotary membership.

In addition to being an active member of the chamber, he was recently inducted into the Board of Directors of the Menomonee Falls Chamber. He is also active in neighboring communities as a member of both the Germantown and West Bend Chambers of Commerce.

“I am so happy to be a part of such an amazing team that accomplished a great task,” Stelter said. “I look forward to benefiting the chamber in whatever roles they see me filling in the future.”

Stelter is the owner of ActionCOACH of Wisconsin in Germantown, Wisc., a Top 100 ranked franchise owner within ActionCOACH, which was ranked as the 16th fastest-growing franchise in the world by Entrepreneur Magazine. His clients have won multiple awards for achieving high levels of performance. His clients’ success includes Best Bottom Line Profits for a single business in the entire global ActionCOACH franchise in 2009. Stelter is internationally recognized and has won industry awards for high levels of achievement and strong community involvement.

You can follow Michael Stelter and his business online at www.actioncoachofwisconsin.com, www.blog.actioncoachofwisconsin.com, on Twitter at @ActionCOACHofWI, on Facebook and on LinkedIn.

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Note to the editor: If you would like testimonials or additional information about ActionCOACH, please contact Jen Hermes at actionpa@actioncoachofwisconsin.com, or call her at 262.293.3441.

One of the least understood aspects of entrepreneurship is why small businesses fail, and there’s a simple reason for the confusion: Most of the evidence comes from the entrepreneurs themselves.

I have had a close-up view of numerous business failures — including a few start-ups of my own. And from my observation, the reasons for failure cited by the owners are frequently off point, which kind of makes sense when you think about it. If the owners really knew what they were doing wrong, they might have been able to fix the problem. Often, it’s simply a matter of denial or of not knowing what you don’t know.

In many cases, the customers — or, I should say, ex-customers — have a better understanding than the owners of what wasn’t working. The usual suspects that the owners tend to blame are the bank, the government or the idiot partner. Rarely does the owner’s finger point at the owner. Of course, there are cases where something out of the owner’s control has gone terribly wrong, but I have found those instances to be in the minority. What follows, based on my own experiences and observations, are the top 10 reasons small businesses fail. The list is not pretty, it is not simple, and it does not contain any of those usual suspects (although they might come in at Nos. 11, 12 and 13).

1. The math just doesn’t work. There is not enough demand for the product or service at a price that will produce a profit for the company. This, for example, would include a start-up trying to compete against Best Buy and its economies of scale.

2. Owners who cannot get out of their own way. They may be stubborn, risk averse, conflict averse — meaning they need to be liked by everyone (even employees and vendors who can’t do their jobs). They may be perfectionist, greedy, self-righteous, paranoid, indignant or insecure. You get the idea. Sometimes, you can even tell these owners the problem, and they will recognize that you are right — but continue to make the same mistakes over and over.

3. Out-of-control growth. This one might be the saddest of all reasons for failure — a successful business that is ruined by over-expansion. This would include moving into markets that are not as profitable, experiencing growing pains that damage the business, or borrowing too much money in an attempt to keep growth at a particular rate. Sometimes less is more.

4. Poor accounting. You cannot be in control of a business if you don’t know what is going on. With bad numbers, or no numbers, a company is flying blind, and it happens all of the time. Why? For one thing, it is a common — and disastrous — misconception that an outside accounting firm hired primarily to do the taxes will keep watch over the business. In reality, that is the job of the chief financial officer, one of the many hats an entrepreneur has to wear until a real one is hired.

5. Lack of a cash cushion. If we have learned anything from this recession (I know it’s “over” but my customers don’t seem to have gotten the memo), it’s that business is cyclical and that bad things can and will happen over time — the loss of an important customer or critical employee, the arrival of a new competitor, the filing of a lawsuit. These things can all stress the finances of a company. If that company is already out of cash (and borrowing potential), it may not be able to recover.

6. Operational mediocrity. I have never met a business owner who described his or her operation as mediocre. But we can’t all be above average. Repeat and referral business is critical for most businesses, as is some degree of marketing (depending on the business).

7. Operational inefficiencies. Paying too much for rent, labor, and materials. Now more than ever, the lean companies are at an advantage. Not having the tenacity or stomach to negotiate terms that are reflective of today’s economy may leave a company uncompetitive.

8. Dysfunctional management. Lack of focus, vision, planning, standards and everything else that goes into good management. Throw fighting partners or unhappy relatives into the mix and you have a disaster.

9. The lack of a succession plan. We’re talking nepotism, power struggles, significant players being replaced by people who are in over their heads — all reasons many family businesses do not make it to the next generation.

10. A declining market. Book stores, music stores, printing businesses and many others are dealing with changes in technology, consumer demand, and competition from huge companies with more buying power and advertising dollars.

In life, you may have forgiving friends and relatives, but entrepreneurship is rarely forgiving. Eventually, everything shows up in the soup. If people don’t like the soup, employees stop working for you, and customers stop doing business with you. And that is why businesses fail.

Jay Goltz owns five small businesses in Chicago.

Courtesy of Jay Goltz and the New York Times. See the article here.

Awhile ago we posted an entry about our recent exposure of The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon. So powerful was this book! Its message was simple, profound, and it hit a cord so deep that we felt anyone and everyone should understand the ten basic principles, as discussed in the book, as it can be applied to everyday life—at work and at home.

Ten principles, ten blog entries. That is something you can look forward to in the beginning months of 2011.

Rule #6: Post a Sign that Says “No Energy Vampires Allowed” on your bus.

“You got to be strong enough to tell people that you will not allow any negativity on your bus,” Joy the bus driver said. “You want a positive and supportive team and whoever is negative will be kicked off the bus!”

Isn’t that the truth? If positivity is easy to catch, then negativity is just as contagious…perhaps even more! Energy vampires will suck the life out of you, your team, the entire driving force of your collective goal. Don’t let them! Give them the opportunity to change, to become a team member who is not just physically part of your team but emotionally invested in it! If they lack the energy, desire and vision to help you succeed, you as a team, then you need to kick them off the bus. You will not have energy vampires infecting your team and ruining your success!

ACWI

No Energy Vampires Allowed!