~Joel’s Blog
The core of this article comes from Joel’s book-in-progress called Prepare For Rain; The Ten Essential Steps for Creating the Life You Want.
Activity precedes success
Intention is similar to purpose. They’re related but not quite the same. People with a passion for impacting their world can still lose their way. They are fully capable of losing their focus and drive, just as much as they are of making progress. So, it is intention is what makes all the difference. And the primary clue that intention is present is activity.
In the world of sales, it’s almost an incantation: “Activity precedes success.” But what does this mean?
At first, it struck me as incredibly stupid when my sales manager declared this in my first week as a financial planner. Of course, I thought, if I’m not doing anything I can’t expect to win. It turned out I was incredibly stupid. The key word in his short declaration is activity. I made the nearly career-ending mistake of believing I understood what he meant by “activity.” Because I didn’t, I initially suffered at succeeding in business. Once I wrapped my head around Brad’s meaning, things got much easier. As I observed my colleagues in the office, certain patterns emerged. Everyone was busy, bustling around, “getting things done.” Everywhere I looked, there was activity. Lots of it, in fact. But there was a wide variety of success. Eventually, I realized there must be something about the type of activity that was influencing the success of some and, by extension, the lack of it for others. (more…)
~Joel’s Blog
The following is an excerpt from our upcoming book, Prepare For Rain; The Ten Essential Steps For Creating The Life You Want.
Living Out Your Purpose…
For many of us, life really is good. But we forget that. Our simple daily struggles cloud our vision. Our expectations for more…for easier…for faster…for whatever…get in the way of celebrating what we already have. There are exceptions, of course. Sometimes those that struggle with major health issues, financial strains, and relational ruin, seem to have greater access to genuine thanksgiving for the things they do have. It’s as if the severe pressures they face deepen their appreciation for the good in their lives.
Still, the reason we are so often reminded to live with an “attitude of gratitude” is because too often we don’t. Patience can be tricky. (more…)
~Joel’s Blog
And Why No One Will Miss You
Look! There’s a parable in that stream!
A few years ago I heard a modern-day parable about the relevance of our careers. It’s been impossible to forget.
There were two men strolling beside a burbling stream. Both had long careers. One man confided in the other about his internal conflict over his work, because it had become, at best, stale and predictable. At worst, it was full of strife, long hours and made him feel valueless. Deep in his heart, he knew that his passion called him in a new direction, but his current position had brought income, security, even prestige. And, he said, “If I left my company now, I would lose the stability my status affords me. And I would leave my colleagues in a difficult situation.”
His friend pointed at the stream and smiled. “Follow me, watch and learn.” Squatting next to the stream’s edge, he leaned over the flowing water and pushed his hand into the stream bed until it was completely covered by pebbles and mud. “Now, observe,” he said, pulling his buried hand straight up out of the cold, murmuring stream.
What came next surprised me. (more…)
~Joel’s Blog
Plans: Don’t Leave Home Without One
Have you heard the quote
“Life is what happens after you’ve made plans”?
It’s true, isn’t it?
You made plans. Then, poof! How many times has this happened to you? Just when you think you have plans—it’s scheduled, in flow, settled, decided, prepared for, whatever—something unexpected comes along and, boom! A shift happens. Sometimes the shift is like a slight tremor. Noteworthy, maybe, but not too alarming. Other times, that shift can hit you like an earthquake.
Isn’t it odd how, once in a while, a really good thing can shake your life to its foundations? Even topple your clever plans. (more…)
~Joel’s Blog
I am not concerned that you have fallen. I am concerned that you arise.
~Abraham Lincoln
It’s the core of the American Dream:
Choose your path. Strike out. Stake your claim. Do it (cue Sinatra) your way. Work your fingers to the bone. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Seize the day. Make your dent upon the universe.
To which I sometimes declare…
Meh. Can you supersize that with fries, please?
Sometimes.
(more…)
There Be Trolls
By Joel Lund
Smart businesses routinely use surveys to obtain feedback and learn what’s working with their audience and what’s not. Otherwise, all of the company’s effort could be misfiring, resting on a foundation of hopium. So, trying to be smart about growing our business, we sent a simple survey out to our e-newsletter recipients. After waiting for a notification that people were taking the survey, we finally realized that because we used the free version of SurveyMonkey we wouldn’t receive alerts when people used it (OK, note to self). So I logged onto our account to see if anyone had.
Sure enough, a few people did. Yay! Really good feedback and engagement greeted me. Or so I thought. Skimming through the graphical analysis, my eye was drawn to the bottom of the page, where the comment section was. One person had opted to leave a comment and titled it, “May God continue to bless your efforts!”
Except that’s not what they meant. At. All.
Which makes this the most difficult blog I’ve ever written. (more…)
