Tuesday, July 1st, 2008
So, remember that post I made asking how you would leverage local flexibility for the benefit of growing your business?
Well, I found my answer.
As I write this, I’m in Boston. I’ve been here for three days, and will be here for the entire month of July. After Boston, I’ll be going to Chicago for August and September. Denver/Boulder for October.
And so on, and so forth. For 12 months.
Through the trip, I intend to make use of my physical location to meet some great and interesting people, grow my business, and see some fantastic cities around the USA.
Since you subscribe to this blog, you might be interested in that blog, being kept at:
nuudl: Musings of Ben Wills
This blog will still be updated on it’s usual sporadoc schedule, with the atypical quirks you’d expect to leave my brain. Like this crazy trip.
Thursday, March 27th, 2008
“The purpose of a business is to create a customer.” - Peter Drucker
“I skate to where the puck is going to be.” - Wayne Gretzky
“Getting fit is about nutrition and exercise.” - Everyone
People, and especially us Internet businesspeople, seem to forget fundamental concerns of the things they care about. They get so wrapped up in these complex ideas, and want to do these complex things, simply because they can.
The interesting thing is that when you look at what works and what succeeds, it’s when everything you do relates directly back to the fundamental concern of your objective.
I see this happening all over the place, and especially with social media marketing. The problem is that people get lost in the gliss (that’s not even a word, but it sounds like it should be and it sounds like the kind of word I’d like to use. So I’m keeping it) and forget why they’re on Twitter, Facebook, or even have the business that they have.
What fundamental concerns does your business address for your customers? Do you reach out to them in ways that resonate in those areas 100%, or are you farting around, exploring new opportunities without the fundamental concerns of your business at the top of your mind?
This applies to everything. For example, in rock climbing, everyone who has climbed more than once knows it’s about your finger strength and shoulder strength. Everyone who has climbed more than twice knows that climbing is all about your footwork and balance. But few people focus solely on these things. Ultimately, the ones that practice yoga to improve their footwork and balance, that exercise their grip to improve their finger strength, and practice pull-ups until their shoulders are burning, succeed much more quickly than others.
If you’re trying to succeed at something that is seeming overwhelming, take a step back. Outline the fundamental concerns of the action (hint: it’s usually 3 things), decide which practices will most quickly develop your skill in those areas, and start practicing them more than anything else.
Sunday, March 23rd, 2008
This year, I’ve taken significant steps to reduce distraction and allow for greater focus on certain things I’ve decided are important in my life.
Some examples are wearing the same clothes every day, getting rid of more than half of my possessions, eating the same nutritious meals six days a week (that’s a future post), eliminating alcohol, trimming my files from two huge cabinets to a 3″ folder, etc. I also got rid of my TV a year ago. I’ve never really been one for TV or movies anyway, but selling it was still a significant step.
The process has been great, and it has allowed me to more easily gain a mental clarity that I don’t know I’ve ever had. And despite the fact that I rarely recommend such “drastic” things, I think most people would do well to consider taking similar steps.
Yesterday, I watched a movie with a couple of friends. Blue Ray, flat screen awesomeness. When I left their place, it seemed like it took a few minutes for me to regain my mind. It was definitely palpable and awkward.
After noticing the juxtaposition of mental control, I realized that I had, in effect, stopped my mind for an hour and a half during this movie. I didn’t really think much…I let the moving picture box do the thinking for me.
I don’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. But it was definitely a thing…
Mind-numbing, if you will.
Thursday, March 20th, 2008
I got tired of thinking about clothes.
When I got to calculating the real cost of wearing clothes, I was appalled about how expensive it is to try and keep up with fashion. That awesome shirt you bought for $80 and wore twice? Yeah, that cost you $40 to wear it. That’s stupid.
So I got rid of almost all of my clothes and did this:
I expect to save several hundred dollars this year on clothes by wearing only white shirts and jeans. Exceptions: Special occasions.
When is a white shirt unacceptable? Nice jeans? I’ve got khakis but haven’t had to wear them once this year. And I won’t need to for another 5 weeks.
I’ve been doing this since the new year (beta test from Thanksgiving to the new year), and the mental space this clears up is amazing.
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