No Regrets

No Regrets in 2020string(18) "No Regrets in 2020"

December 31, 2020
, , Holidays 3

As I look back over the year, it was a year full of changes: Networking changed. Businesses changed. BNI changed.  My family changed. The one thing that did not change: I had no regrets in 2020 on the decisions I made.

I’m sometimes asked some variation of a question about whether I have made any major mistakes that I’d like to have a chance to do over. Or, if I have any regrets about decisions I’ve made throughout my career. I always welcome that question but I generally re-position it in a way that I feel is very important.

Mistakes are your tuition to success, and I’ve made a lot of mistakes and paid a lot of “tuition” over the years. I’ve learned from those mistakes and I always endeavor to never repeat them, but I don’t have any regrets. I don’t have regrets because those mistakes have molded me into the person that I’ve become. You see, if you are clear about your personal values and you live a life striving to live those values to the best of your ability – you shouldn’t regret the decisions (even the bad ones you made when looking back) because you were being true to those values.

I think many people feel deep regret when they waiver from their values or make choices that were expedient and possibly not congruent with their inner beliefs. When that happens, we are likely to regret the choices we’ve made. As a rule, I have always tried to make decisions based on having as much information about an issue as I can – while making sure to get advice from the people I trust. Many times, that has served me well. Other times – let’s just say it was definitely a “tuition” opportunity.

Mistakes are ok. Paying tuition is good. Regrets – no thanks.

New Years 2018

New Years 2018 Messagestring(22) "New Years 2018 Message"

January 1, 2018
, , , Goals, Holidays, Ivan Misner, Video Blog 5

For many cultures around the world, today marks the dawning of the new year.  People were up at midnight, full of energy, excitedly celebrating the clock striking 12:00 a.m.–the start of 2018. More importantly, it symbolizes the chance for people to start fresh and move forward in bigger and better ways. I would like to wish you a happy New Years 2018 with this personal message about setting both personal and professional goals and achieving them in 2018.

Every year, during the last week of the year, I take time off from work and Beth and I reflect on the passing year and strategically set new goals to accomplish bigger and better things with each coming year.

With 2018 having just kicked off today, it’s a whole new year and time to reflect and re-examine why you’re doing what you’re doing. Here are 4 Questions to Start the New Year off Right.

If you have not done this yet, take 30 minutes today to sit down and take stock of the good, the bad, and the ugly from the past year. Then, you can forge ahead in the new year with a fresh set of goals and a specific plan to achieve those goals.

You cannot hit a target you are not aiming at. So create those targets and work towards them.

Post a message here on my blog as to what your biggest goals are in 2018. I would love to read them.

 

Make a Resolution You Can Keep for 2016string(39) "Make a Resolution You Can Keep for 2016"

December 31, 2015
, , , Goals, Growth 1

newyearsThe new year is always a time when people choose to make resolutions to make positive changes in their lives. In general, people’s resolutions tend to fall flat, and I know we’re all guilty of taking up a resolution and dropping it by the end of January.

For 2016, you should consider making a resolution that is not only realistic so you’ll be more likely to keep it, you should also consider making it something that can help you grow your business. Here are three resolution ideas, and how to keep yourself motivated to complete them (if growing your business isn’t enough motivation, that is).

 

At least once a quarter, attend a networking event where you don’t already know everyone

And, to top it off, make it a point to get to know the people you don’t already have connections with. How else are you going to grow your network in 2016? You have to put yourself out there!

Need motivation? At the beginning of the quarter, post on your social media that you are looking for events to attend. As your current contacts suggest events in their circles to you, make plans to attend some and ask your contact to hold you accountable. Having someone to ensure you attend the event can be enough to motivate many people.

 

Make a plan and keep it

This refers to a budget, a hiring plan, and an end goal for where you’d like to see you and your business by the end of 2016. You should spend the first couple weeks of 2016 making this plan, and perfecting it. Above all else, make sure that your plan is something that you will strive to complete, but is also doable.

Need motivation? Set measurable and attainable goals for deadlines throughout the year, and when you reach one of those goals at or before deadline, reward yourself. Go see a movie, have your favorite meal, spend time with loved ones – whatever you can promise yourself that you will work toward.

 

Keep your focus

As I’ve said numerous times before, keep your work at work and your personal life at home. So many of us are guilty of bringing work home, or daydreaming about weekend plans at our office. Keep these things separate and maintain your focus in 2016 – you’ll be amazed at the results.

Need motivation? The quality time with your loved ones, the improved productivity at work, and the cleared peace of mind should be more than enough motivation.

 

What are you resolving to do for 2016? Share with me in the comments below!

How to Persevere in the New Yearstring(32) "How to Persevere in the New Year"

January 5, 2015
, , , , , , , Focus, Goals, Growth, Purpose, Self Development, Strategy, Success 5

My good friend Julien Sharp is a brilliant editor who has worked on a countless number of writing projects for me and done a top-notch job. She is also founder of Funnybone Toys® and Funnybone MuseTM, a fantastic networker and businesswoman, and an exceptional author who contributed a great article entitled “From Mickey Mouse to Cruise Ships” to my 2007 bestseller, Masters of Sales.

Julien Sharp

Julien Sharp

The article talks about her early childhood dream to be a musical performer on The New Mickey Mouse Club, how that transitioned into a desperate longing to become a cruise ship entertainer, and how she went from a kid growing up in rural Indiana to a successful cruise ship entertainer performing in exotic locations like the southern Caribbean.

Although Julien’s story is certainly an interesting one, the reason I bring up her article is not to detail her journey from Mickey Mouse to Cruise Ships, but to focus on the main points in her article, which explain how she achieved success.

Julien says that even today, she’s never forgotten a quote she read as a young girl from Lee Iacocca: “You’ve got to say, ‘I think that if I keep working at this and want it badly enough, I can have it.’ It’s called perseverance.”

This idea became the mantra that guided Julien to success. She says, “I had to have the perseverance to finish what it took to achieve my goal, and I had to realize that perseverance virtually never comes into play without the first two words in the quote: ‘I think . . .”

As a result of making Iacocca’s quote her mantra, at an early age Julien learned:

  1. To convert her dream to a specific goal
  2. How to research her target market
  3. To create an impassioned sales presentation, and
  4. To sell with passion.

Julien’s all-encompassing goal was to sing on a cruise ship, so she researched her client (cruise ship companies), rehearsed her presentation (created a demo cassette, packaged with the most professional photo she could afford, and included an introductory letter detailing her experience, education and the absolute passion she had for achieving her goal), used her enthusiasm as her best selling tool (all her money and every ounce of emotional desire went into 12 demo packages destined for various cruise lines in Miami), and persisted in chasing her goal. It’s no surprise that she achieved that goal, and now she continues to achieve even greater goals with each new year.

So, what’s your goal this week? This month? This year? Please share your answers in the comment forum below and if you really want to achieve your goals, remember the Iacocca quote, take a lesson from Julien, and learn to persevere.

Year End Reflections and Goals for the New Yearstring(47) "Year End Reflections and Goals for the New Year"

January 1, 2015
, , , , , , , , Goals, Self Development, Strategic Planning, Strategy, Success, Uncategorized, Video Blog 8

For many cultures around the world, today marks the dawning of the new year.  Here in the United States, most people were up at midnight, full of energy, excitedly celebrating the clock striking 12:00 a.m.–the start of 2015 and, more importantly, the chance for people to start fresh and move forward in business and life in bigger and better ways.  So, what was I doing to celebrate the new year? . . . I was giving thanks for the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful view from my lake house in Big Bear, CA  (pictured below) and it moved me to record this video about year-end reflections and new-year goal setting.

The Current View from My House in Big Bear, CA

The Current View from My House in Big Bear, CA

The thing is, the only reason I’m able to sit here enjoying the life I’ve created is that I continue to reflect on the goings on of each passing year and strategically set new goals to accomplish bigger and better things with each coming year. New Year’s Day is the perfect time for all of us to sit down, take stock of the good, the bad, and the ugly from the past year and forge ahead in the new year with a fresh set of goals and a specific plan to achieve those goals.

In this video, I talk about how I go about setting goals each new year and I share the template (shown below) I use for outlining my goals on paper.  I share my main goals for business and life in 2015 and I would really love to hear your goals for the new year as well so please share your goals in the comment forum below.  Thanks and Happy New Year!!

GoalsAndControlsReportTemplate

How to Set Goals for the Year Aheadstring(35) "How to Set Goals for the Year Ahead"

December 18, 2014
, , , , Business, Goals, personal story, Self Development, Strategic Planning, Strategy, Success, Video Blog 3

As 2014 draws to a close, many people are beginning to think about what goals they would like to accomplish in the coming year. In light of this, I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you how I personally go about setting and achieving my own goals.

Watch the video now to get my top three tips on how to plan your goals and what actions to consistently take in order to achieve success when it comes to reaching your goals.  Also, I’d love to hear what tactics have worked for you in regard to goal accomplishment so please share your thoughts and ideas in the comment forum below.  Thanks!

4 Questions to Start the New Year off Rightstring(43) "4 Questions to Start the New Year off Right"

January 6, 2014
, , , , , , Business, Goals, Growth, Strategic Planning, Strategy, Success 4

With 2014 having just kicked off, it’s a whole new year and a perfect time to re-examine why you’re doing what you’re doing. You may think you know why you’re in business, but perhaps it’s been years since you gave it serious thought.

 

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • What is my business mission? — Beyond simply making a living, what are my long-range professional goals? Do I wish to become the standard by which my competitors are judged? Is it my dream to help make the world a better place?
  • Where is my organization going? — Am I achieving my mission? Am I making plans to accomplish it? How can I change policies, procedures or personnel to improve my chances of achieving my mission?
  • What environment is my organization operating in? — What are the social, economic and technological trends that affect the way I do business and my progress toward my goals?
  • What are my core competencies? — What do I like to do? What is it that I do better than my competitors? Is my business mission compatible with my values and aptitudes?

I’ve seen too many business professionals and companies make the mistake of trying to be all things to all people. Starting out with the fundamentally sound goal of finding a niche that will make them successful, they go astray by changing direction every time a customer or associate suggests a new product or service. The mission gets lost in a frantic scramble for business before the original idea ever gets a chance to pay off.

So, even if you think you know your mission, it will serve you well to pause periodically, analyze your business and, if necessary, refocus on your mission and philosophy.

If you found the questions above helpful in identifying where you and your business currently stand and where you’d like to go within the next year, I’d love to hear what you discovered.  Please share your thoughts in the comment forum below. Thanks!

International Networking Week® 2011–New Videostring(52) "International Networking Week® 2011–New Video"

December 27, 2010
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Announcement, Business, Global Business, Networking, Networking Prep, Referral Institute 3

The new video for International Networking Week® 2011, is now available on YouTube!

The short, eight-minute video, sponsored by NetworkingNow.com and the Referral Institute, discusses the history and significance of this exciting, celebratory week which will be recognized across the globe this coming February 7-11, 2011 (Mark your calendar now! :)), and it also explains a concept many networkers fail to recognize but which all networkers need to be aware of–the ‘networking disconnect’.

This is the fifth year for International Networking Week® and it is now recognized by many countries around the world, with thousands of events being held during the Week.  One of the main goals of the Week is to help businesspeople everywhere build their networking skills; don’t wait until the last minute to join in the celebration and start the year off as a better networker–watch the video now, find an event in your area, and come back and let me know what you’ll be doing to recognize International Networking Week®.

For additional information go to www.InternationalNetworkingWeek.com.