Up Market |
- Freedom to Fail
- Article Marketing: The Advantages of This Marketing Strategy
- Getting Things Done
- Listen, Question, Observe, Repeat
| Posted: 26 Feb 2012 09:00 AM PST
We arrived with 10 knitting machines, textile supplies, and a tentative plan. Our ladies were keen to learn, and most moved on quickly. All except one lady named Sylvia. Sylvia had a cataract that left her completely blind in one eye, and she had no depth perception. The machine had been damaged during our plane flight and would not sit flat on the table, yet she refused to work at another. Over and over, she cast on her stitches, and the knitting fell into her lap. Undaunted, she would unravel the piece and start again. On the fourth day, I watched as Sylvia failed yet again, and prayed for God to give her just one success. I took the machine back to camp, and worked with one of construction crew to repair the machine. The next morning, Sylvia completed her first piece, and went on to become an accomplished knitter. I realized that we can sometimes hinder the progress of others by not allowing them the freedom to fail. What does failure teach? It teaches us what not to do, to seek out solutions when things don’t go according to plan, to improvise, ask for the input of others, and work together to achieve a common goal. By working through her failures, Sylvia gained the skills she needed to succeed.  |
| Article Marketing: The Advantages of This Marketing Strategy Posted: 26 Feb 2012 06:00 AM PST All it takes to maximize the potential to reach out to a vast number of individuals is to publish content which is informative and relevant.  |
| Posted: 25 Feb 2012 05:00 PM PST Book recommendation: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
This book is a detailed program designed to organize everything in your life; every idea, every post-it note, every piece of mail. It is time-consuming to work the program, but once you do the initial hard work this program can double or triple your productivity. Of course, like all organizing programs, it is only easy if you maintain it, but David helps you with that, too. There were two pieces of his program that I loved. He has you write down every idea that is in your head. Small, big, important, and unimportant I wrote down every thought that I had ever had that might be a project. It was an amazing list. He then helped me organize the ideas into short term and long term goals. It was liberating to get all my wandering ideas on paper where I could study them. I may not ever finish my list, but I have a lot more room in my brain for working on my goals. David insists that everything should be written down. Your mind is no place for your to-do list. His other idea that I loved was his two-minute rule. If something can be done in two minutes then do it. Do it now. Get it off your list. Don't clutter up your life with little items. This idea has saved me lots of time and helped me get so much done and out of the way. Whether you need a complete organizational overhaul or are just looking to get some tips this book is a must-read for anyone who wants more success in their business or personal life. For more great information, and a free newsletter, visit David's website at www.davidco.com.  |
| Listen, Question, Observe, Repeat Posted: 25 Feb 2012 01:30 PM PST
One of the greatest things I learned early on is you can't judge a book by its cover nor learn by talking. You have to listen, and listen carefully. If you feel the need to speak it should be to ask a question. Then what is just as important, but many forget, is to observe. Do the words, actions, statements, or other things make sense? An example might be: Listening to the person who is bragging about constantly attending lavish formal dinners yet observing they're holding their knife and fork as if they are to enter mortal combat, or their boasting about their wealth or jawing on about the car they drive. Are they really what they claim to be? Just because everyone in a room is driving brand-new luxury cars, the richest person in the building might be the one driving the oldest. And you'll never find out unless during a conversation you ask questions, listen, or observe. Never ask questions that set up an opportunity for you to answer. (Which by the way so many in business do.) People often prejudge or qualify a person by the way they're dressed or a myriad of other factors only to find themselves embarrassed or worse, insulting. True listening is the only moderator I know of that can help one avoid these situations. In business it's an imperative skill that must always be honed. There is no substitute. Years back I was living in Texas with family after moving from the Northeast. One day I was with my uncle and he was discussing business to a gentleman by the name of Junior. He was a scruffy looking older man in dusty jeans, worn boots, and driving quite an old pick up. I paid no attention to the conversation but when it was finished I asked my uncle, "Who was that guy, a hired hand?" He went on to tell me he was a very wealthy man who buys and sells oil equipment as a hobby. His "hobby" usually means making deals to buy the equipment for cash anywhere from $500K to a few million dollars, depending. I never looked at someone wearing an Armani suit in a Beemer the same way again. So many of us want to be the center of attention in all situations. In business it can cost you dearly. Never assume your potential client doesn't have the resources or the capacity to possibly be your greatest client. You'll only find out by listening, questioning, and observing. I used the term honed earlier because it's a skill that can dull on you if you are not constantly aware. How do I know this? A few years back I was at one of the premier recording studios in the country. The studio is actually on a working horse farm. As my friend who was recording there was showing me the grounds we were approached by this gentleman in jeans, a plaid shirt, and looked a little scruffy. He had a short conversation with my friend and when it was through we started walking about once again. I asked him "Who was that guy, one of the stable hands?" He responded, "No Mark, that's Mick Jagger's manager." © 2012 Mark St.Cyr Photo Credit: American Backroom  |
When I traveled to Uganda in 2004 to help start a women’s work cooperative, I was unsure what to expect. The women I would be working with had lost nearly everything to tribal genocide and AIDS only a few years before. All had lost husbands, fathers, and brothers. They were left to fend for themselves and their families, most without a formal education. We hoped that the tools and knowledge we were sharing would give them the option of hope.
People who are organized generally get closer to reaching their goals than people who aren't. This may not always be true, but what is true is that most of us wish we were more organized. I have projects and paper and books stacked all over my office and it seemed like I could never keep track of the piles or my goals. Then I read Getting Things Done by David Allen and my work life changed.
As I move along through life I am amazed at how much I know now, and just how stupid I was a few weeks ago. The trick in life and business is of course to grow and learn. However I am more often than not astonished at how many people assume they have the answers to every question asked on any subject no matter whom they're talking to. If it were a discussion on health issues they start quoting terms so full of jargon I'd notice a real doctor looking up terms on his smart phone to follow along. Another thing I see so many do is the proverbial "judge a book by its cover." If someone doesn't look the way they think someone should look, well then, they must not be! Just gives them one more reason to keep talking.| You are subscribed to email updates from Upmarket To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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