Living in my Shadow – The law of the squirrel

Squirrel. The squirrel is an indecisive creature, likely the most indecisive on the planet. No scientific studies, probes, nodules or graphs to prove this statement, only the power of observation. The road around my home is littered with flat squirrels that could not make the decision of which way to safety. This may be a phenomena isolated to squirrels from the United States, maybe other countries don’t have this issue, though it feel like their character may be universally flawed in this area of decision making.

I must have some squirrel DNA

Why?

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The Dopamine of Speed

I had a revelation.

Speed is a Dopamine.

Dopamine was apparent in full splendor and clearly displayed on my way home from a recent conference.

I’ll set the stage: I’m cheap and I efficiency (read speed) is my jam.

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Morning reflection

Consistency.

Consistency is not sexy.

Consistency is a difficult virtue.

Consistency is admired but only after years of results

Consistency allows for habits to flourish into masterpieces

Consistency builds influence

Consistency makes you look lucky.

Woe is my communication style

Not so great.

Nope.

Not so great.

I’ve lost my ability to connected – if i ever had one.

I’ve not connected well with people. I’ve done well enough to succeed in mortgage, but not enough to connect in life. It is tedious to do this well, and I have not gone to the trouble.

This has to change.

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My Future Self

Write a letter from your 100-year-old self.

It has been a little while. I can’t believe how long I’ve lived. I really thought I’d only make it to 2060 and here I sit. The eve of my 100th birthday. I’ve been such a late bloomer in so many ways. I wanted to change the world – I only wish I had consistently tried earlier. I had no path, no direction and no idea. Luckily for me I wasn’t a tree without fruit. I bloomed. Late, Still bloomed. At the half way mark is when my mind was opened to what I’ve wanted. I wanted to be a consultant. A financial wizard. A respected voice in the finance world, able to speak at conferences, write for journals and publish 10 books. Glad I took the chance and tried. I felt worthless for many years and did not attempt to do so. I’m glad I tried. I’m glad I got out of the people pile, like John C. Maxwell shared so many years ago. In hind sight my dreams were so small. If I had started earlier, It would have been more. Thankfully, I didn’t miss the vision and chose significance over success.

What was the key?

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Construction block: start the corners

When setting the foundation of any building, large or small, the corner blocks are always the first ones set. These blocks define the space and ensure a “square” building with perpendicular lines and right angles – code word for easy to build on. Take the time in the corners, the rest will easily follow.

The corner block for the business really is at the center of a general strategy. With a general and simple strategy in hand, one can begin to create repeatable business. Nice concept, hard on the execution.

Business flywheel for http://www.MyRVAMortgage.com

Not so sure that my business flywheel will fly, but it does appear to be reasonably sound and will allow for momentum. Built around the cog of Trust. Trust needs to be at the center of the flywheel. Without trust, we really don’t have a repeatable business model, one that serves with credibility and can gain momentum.

Trust

Each of the 5 momentum points need to be balanced to create inertia, eventually a very unstoppable momentum.

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Step One: Foundation

More like one block in the foundation than the entire foundation. I really believe that the currency in building a 100 year plan starts with

Trust

If I can’t cultivate trust in what I am trying to build, I will certainly have nothing lasting 100 years. Big failures I’ve seen in my time:

• Kmart
• Woolworths
• JC Penny
• Sears
• Bed, Bath & Beyond
• Circuit City

I’m sure there are more, these are top of mind. Were the companies destroyed by lack of trust? I don’t know that for certain. They could have bloated structures, poor purchasing, poor inventory control, poor in a multitude of ways. What I do know is the public chose to shop elsewhere. There had to have been a loss of trust at some point. Either a loss in pricing trust. Loss in customer service trust.

If it is Trust, How do I build Trust?

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The path to 100 year plan

I don’t even know what I’m doing for breakfast much less what will happen in 100 years. I imagine that to build a 100 year plan, I need to focus on the image of what I seek, then apply principles which will guide my activities. Like this:

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Plans fail

Where do the highest amount of failed plans come from? I’m curious. in my life, I’ve succeeded and I’ve failed. Both at very high levels.

what ensures success?

Well, I’ve heard from a friend that having advisors helps. The challenge with that is what advisors do I want to talk to? Who do I trust in this venture?

Who sets the bar for the “advisor”?

I really need to know what bar needs to be set and who would be considered a worthy advisor. One person recently put it out there:

Don’t take advice from someone who you wouldn’t trade lives with ~ complete paraphrase from unknown individual

What prompted this post was my reading of King Solomon where he says:

“Plans fail of lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

I would think that only creates noise one has to filter through to get the nuggets. Didn’t think it would be that difficult to get a good advisor. One who is as vested as I am. Think about it, I need someone:

• Willing to share
• Humble enough to share mistakes
• Brave enough to share the hard
• Grateful enough to share the silver bullet
• Honest enough to share the steps

Not an easy conversation. Like looking for a gemstone of great value in a pile of fakes.

Where does one find one of these gems?

Walking with the wise – Who I surround myself with

I’ve heard this. I understand this. This statement is a reliable predictor of your life.

Your are the average of your 5 closest friends.

They stole the concept from King Solomon when he memorialized this statement in Proverbs 13:20 by saying

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise

I’ve been looking to up my game. Take it up a notch. It appears I need new people. People who think bigger, who risk more and have seen victory and defeat. I want to walk with the wise.

What could be some outcomes of walking with the wise? Well, here are a few thoughts:

1. Better thinking

2. Higher level conversations

3. Focused direction

4. Superior outcome

The question is who do I try to align with? Who?