"You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

How many times have you heard this old saying as an excuse for not trying something new or avoiding a fresh approach?

The expert animal trainers say that a dog of almost any age can learn new tricks. It's the human animal that makes choices regarding when and how much to learn.

I'm constantly amazed at how frequently I hear one of my CEO clients say, "I'm too old to change."

Nonsense! This is simply an excuse to sidestep the effort required to learn or experiment.

When you try something new, you often feel uneasy about it, and frequently pull back. The security feels good. You are in your "comfort zone"

Your personal "comfort zone" is where you are comfortable in what you are doing in your job, your life and your experiences. It is when you have no feelings of risk or anxiety. Some call it "being comfortable". You could also call it "a rut".

The downside of always staying in your comfort zone is that it can be very limiting.

Why is this significant? The past few decades have seen enormous and accelerating changes in technology and social structure, in geopolitics and especially in the organizations in which we work. The pace of change is staggering and daunting. The mass of information available to humankind is doubling every 20 months.

The world passes us by as we stand still. Complacency, in our fast-paced competitive world, can be fatal to business and severely limit personal and professional growth. If you are not learning, trying new things and growing, your job or business may be deteriorating.

Having a positive attitude toward learning and changing may be one of the most important characteristics of successful people. In my years as a Business Coach, I have observed many successful CEOs and entrepreneurs. With very few exceptions, those who are successful and happy have developed and maintained a positive outlook about change and continuous improvement.

This positive attitude is not accidental. Successful business people know how to create a positive attitude and positive motivation for themselves. They don't just wait for it to happen. They purposely create positive change.

All change implies learning and vice versa. They are inseparable, one impossible without the other. If you learn, you change.

Effective learning must be conscious vs. unconscious, active vs. reactive. It must be something you seek, not just “let it happen”. If learning is not conscious, it can’t be improved. It just becomes “another task” without effective application to the circumstances in your business (and personal) life.

Learning in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing environment can’t be left to chance. Make a conscious effort to capture your experiences and learn from them or be doomed to repeat your mistakes. Worse yet, you may habitually keep doing those things that are working for you, while your competition is actively seeking new ideas, innovation and growth.

The competitive advantage of the future is your adaptability to learning and change.

"There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction." - John F Kennedy

How do you learn new tricks and <-- e x p a n d --> your personal comfort zone?

Before you just throw all caution to the wind, try some simple things.
** Drive home a different route.
** Shop at a different grocery store.
** Order something from the menu that you've never tried before.
** Sleep on the other side of the bed.

Make a conscious effort to experiment.

Let yourself feel the adrenaline level rise a bit. Allow your anxiety level to increase. Feel your heart rate and breathing going faster.

The adrenaline is your body's natural drug that, in moderation, makes you sharp, creative, and quick. It creates the feeling of excitement and exhilaration that comes from trying something new. Recognize that it also can be scary and stressful. Some stress is useful. Too much can be harmful. Some stress provides energy. Too much stress causes distress and can lead to burnout if done to extreme.

Why would you want to give yourself the stress of stepping outside your comfort zone?

Because that's where growth takes place.

Just like a muscle gets stronger when you exercise it outside its normal range of use, you get stronger when you get out of your rut. And just like your muscles, once you stretch beyond your current capabilities, you don't ever go back to your original dimensions.

As you try new things, you gain confidence. Confidence makes you feel powerful and good. And when you are confident that you can survive new ideas, you allow yourself to try even more new things.

What's the limit?

Obviously, you need to be realistic in your risk management. Most successful people think through the possible outcomes of taking a risk. Then they prepare for how they would deal with each potential outcome. Successful people take risks, but they are not foolhardy or stupid.

What are some higher level activities that could add to your personal and professional growth?

Here's my challenge to you.

Make a list of 50 things that, if you really were successful in doing them, you would be a better person or a better company. Consider a few new tricks such as:
Give a speech
Write and publish an article
Start an exercise program
Meditate daily
Teach a class
Feed a homeless person
Volunteer
Climb a mountain
Learn to play a new musical instrument
Sign up for a dance class
Try for that promotion

Then choose one or two that you are willing to do within the next 90 days. Schedule those new activities, then go for it. Afterward, choose one or two more and do it again.

Make personal and professional growth a lifelong habit. You will not become an old dog as long as you keep learning new tricks.
© 1997 - 2010 BizSuccess, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication

As you launch into this very special new year, consider these resolutions. Taking action on any of these could transform your enterprise and your life.

Resolve to expand your comfort zone
Each of us has our own personal comfort zone. Some would call it "a rut". Staying in your comfort zone can be very limiting. The world passes us by as we stagnate. If we are not learning, trying new things and growing, our jobs and businesses may be deteriorating. Make a list of 50 things that, if you really were successful in doing them, you would be a better person or a better company. Things like give a speech (oh no!), write and publish an article, start an exercise program, meditate daily, teach a class, feed a homeless person, volunteer, climb a mountain, learn to play a new musical instrument, sign up for a dance class, try for that promotion, and so on.

Then, from your list, choose one or two that you are willing to do within the next 90 days. Schedule those one or two new activities, then go for it. Afterward, choose one or two more and do it again. Make personal and professional growth a lifelong habit.

Resolve to get better clients
Most businesses take on any client who steps up with the money. Consider the cost to you for dealing with the people you serve. Have you ever noticed that some people make you feel good just to be around them? These are the people who give you energy when they are near you. On the other hand, there are probably others you can think of who drain all the life out of you. Which clients would you rather have? You can surround yourself with people who are pleasant, easy to deal with, interesting and, oh yes, profitable. Get better clients. You deserve it.

Resolve to get organized
Too much going on?.... Not enough time?.... Sound familiar? How would you like to have more time for what YOU want to do? Resolve this year to plan your days, reduce interruptions, clean off your desk, say "No", make lists. The benefits of getting more organized include being more effective at your work, having more positive control of your workstyle, saving time and money, improving your professional image with clients, bosses, etc. and taking control the stress.

Resolve to be a rainmaker
I've seen many people who sat around waiting for rain. They would wait by the phone, hoping a prospective client would call or come to the business. Others, including some of the most successful, took positive action to "make it rain". These are the ones who made calls, ran ads, got out of the office to make their own contacts. Through their activity, these business professionals created opportunities for new business. More clients, more revenue, better client relationships and happier employees are just a few of the advantages you'll realize when you take business-building action for your enterprise.

Resolve to cleanup loose ends
We all have messes in our lives. Messes are incomplete tasks, disorder, disarray, or conflicts that distract you and cause you to lose energy, break your concentration and reduce self-esteem. Messes can include cluttered desks, relationships gone awry, physical well-being, finances, incomplete agreements and legal issues. Every time you eliminate a loose end, you boost your confidence, increase concentration, and feel a surge in energy. For the year 2010, target a mess a month.

Resolve to focus on your strengths
Conventional wisdom says we should work on improving our weaknesses. What a terrible waste of time, talent and opportunity! Highly successful entrepreneurs, as well as top scientists, artists, athletes and entertainers throughout history have achieved greatness by focusing on their areas of strength. Everybody has a natural aptitude in some areas. No matter how hard you try, it is unlikely you will ever be more than average in areas where you do not have an aptitude.

Working on your weaknesses undermines your self-esteem since you will focus mostly on your deficiencies. Developing your natural talents is rewarding and motivating, allowing you to continually realize higher and higher levels of ability, achievement and success. This year, experience the immense satisfaction that comes with being superb at something.

Resolve to take more free time
Free time isn't a reward for working hard; it's necessary for optimum performance and productivity. We need free time, away from the business, to rejuvenate ourselves. When you are aggressive about getting rest and relaxation, regularly and frequently, you'll see increased creativity and productivity. The more free time you take, the more creativity and productivity you will experience. To make breakthroughs in income, productivity and creativity, significantly increase the amount of free time away from your business.

Resolve to develop stronger business relationships
Your economic future is dependent on other people's future. Your success in your enterprise is based on the extent that you help other people to succeed in their lives. Ask every person you encounter what he or she wants to have accomplished three years from now. Focus on finding ways to help others in achieving their goals. By adding value to their preferred future, you not only deepen your relationship; you also create huge opportunities for yourself.

Resolve to get in better shape
Take a hike. Or a jog, swim, or bike ride. With few exceptions, those who are consistently successful have lots of energy. They have the stamina and the energy to be creative, to tirelessly serve their clients, to put in the extra effort when necessary and to go the extra mile for their employees. The bottom line is that regular, strenuous exercise is good for business, because it's good for you. You can increase your well-being, jump-start your days, boost your confidence, turbocharge your creativity, and knock down stress by exercising consistently.

And that's not all. Think of exercise as your gift to yourself and to your loved ones. A gift of longer life, more energy, happier disposition, increased creativity and reduced pain. You can increase your well-being, jump-start your days, boost your confidence, turbocharge your creativity, and knock down stress by exercising consistently.

Start by exercising your free will. Commit to any of these new-decade resolutions and make this a great 2010!

© 1997 - 2010 BizSuccess, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication

My two sons, Dan and Doug, were five and seven years old.



On their fist day of school, we started a new game. At dinner that evening, I asked, "Boys, what was the fun-est thing you did today"?



Watching their response, I could tell what they were thinking. "Oh-Oh; Daddy's on a new kick again". Regardless, Doug and Dan each told of something fun and interesting they did that day. I contributed by relating to them something weird and funny that had happened at my office that day (something weird was happening at my office almost every day, it seems).



We laughed at each other's stories and went on to enjoy a delightful dinner together.



The next evening, I again asked them, "Boys, what was the fun-est thing you did today"? This time, they each had one ready to tell. And I once again told them about something weird and funny that had happened at my office that day. As the first evening, we laughed and had a good time with this.



Each evening at dinner, I asked the same question. By the end of the first week, the boys could see that this was going to be a regular thing. They came to the dinner table already knowing what their evening's story would be.



In the weeks to follow, Doug and Dan each had at least one fun thing to tell and sometimes two or three. They even competed to see who had the fun-est story. Dan would say, "I want to go first. My story is better than Doug's".



After a while, it almost seemed that these boys were making fun things happen during the day, just so they could tell about it at dinner. We laughed a lot and enjoyed each story.



Where was their focus?  That's right; on the positive things that were going on with them. During this time of their lives, do you suppose that Dan and Doug had any unpleasant things happening to them or around them? Of course they did! We all have negative events and negative people in our lives.



I just didn't want the negatives to be their primary focus. I wanted my sons to see past the unpleasantness around them and experience the positive.



How many times do you end your day stewing about?
    The heavy traffic
    The report that didn't get finished
    People who haven't returned your calls
    Deals that are dragging on
    The computer's not working correctly
    And on, and on, and on.



I am not suggesting that you ignore the challenges in your life. I AM suggesting that you just not dwell there.



Successful entrepreneurs develop their positive attitudes because they feed on progress. 

At the end of each day, instead of recounting all the difficulties and all that remains undone, write your accomplishments. Write the three most positive, interesting things that happened to you this day (the fun-est things). You can literally end each day on a positive note by jotting down the three best things that happened this day. 

These may be things that happened to you, people around you, events that just felt good to you, or just a sunny day. Some of the most rewarding things to capture are your own actions. Often, there is no one around to acknowledge your achievements, especially those little ones that happen in the course of the day.  By focusing a few minutes on your accomplishments, you give yourself a little pat on the back and recognize progress, even when small.



Having a positive attitude toward your business and toward life in general may be one of the most important characteristics of successful people. In my years of experience as a Business Coach, I have observed many successful entrepreneurs.  With very few exceptions, those who are successful and happy have developed and maintained a positive outlook.



A positive attitude is not accidental.  Successful entrepreneurs know how to create a positive attitude for themselves.  They don't just wait for it to happen. 

Start today. Write down or tell someone about the three best things that happened today. This recognition of the positive things in your life will restore your confidence and your sense of well-being. You will likely gain a new perspective, a higher energy level and increased creativity.



Start now. "What was the fun-est thing you did today"?

© 1997 - 2009 BizSuccess All rights reserved. No duplication

Look at your appointment calendar. See any "white space"? If you're like most busy CEOs and business professionals, you are booked non-stop for meetings, luncheons, dinner meetings,
charity functions, planning sessions and... Well, you get the idea. In between the bookings, you scramble to keep up with projects, reviews, financial reports, investors, staff, customers and suppliers.



Tired yet? This weariness can wreak havoc on your business.  Consider the symptoms of fatigue: lack of innovation, irritability,  reduced productivity, and stress. The list goes on. And we are frequently unaware of how run down we are getting.



We are moving away from the industrial age into the information age, yet the work ethic that most of us grew up with taught us to maximize work time - time at the factory or the office. Even our language reflects the inherent value judgment of time away from work. We call non-work time “off-time” or “down-time”.



The emergence of creativity, ideas, and information as our most valuable resources, and the pervasiveness of the global, 24-hour business world has changed our concept of “time equals money”. Now, it’s “results equals money”. And we all know that more time at the office does not mean more results. In fact, it often means fewer results and more mistakes.



Build some "white space" in your life. Build reserves of time. Create more-than-enough time to do the things you want and need to do.



Let's get something straight first. Building a reserve of something you need in your life is only one part of the puzzle. The other piece is to identify what is draining your reserves. If you're pouring into the top of a leaky bucket, you won't make much progress. 



Let's look at how to create reserves of time. Many of my new coaching clients complain of having too little time. Their "time tank" is running on empty, so they feel uptight, frustrated, flustered,  pulled in every direction, and tired. Often, this is the first thing we work on together. Clearly, a reserve of time would reduce the stress. So, how do you do it?



Start by plugging the leaks. Let go of some of the activities that are consuming your time. Many of today's high performers seem to have a common thread: the "Superman/Superwoman" ideal; i.e., Taking on everything and trying to get it done by tomorrow.



Success or failure often seems to be measured by the state of "busyness". Face it; you can't do justice to everything at once and you often don't have perspective of all you have going on. It's like tossing another ball to the juggler...33 at once for the average busy executive. Focus on what counts. Take aggressive action to let go. Here are some possibilities:



Let go of tasks that someone else can do - Good delegation is a key skill for managers, yet the average manager spends 45% of his or her time on tasks that could be done by a staffer. "I can do it better and faster", you say. Sure you can, but ultimately, you are judged on what you can cause to happen, not just what you can do on your own. As a general rule of thumb, in non-critical cases, if another person can accomplish a task 80% as well as you, delegate. 



Let go of your need to say "Yes" to every request - Those around you will give you all the work you are willing to take. This is true in both our business and personal lives. Some of the most stressed people around can't say no to the next fund-raiser, the next committee, the Little League, the church, etc., etc., etc. Politely, but firmly say “No”. Examine all the organizations where you spend your time. Which ones can you "let go"?



Let go of some meetings - The typical manager spends 17 hours each week in meetings plus 6.3 hours getting ready for those meetings. Nearly a third of that time in meetings is wasted. That works out to be about six full weeks of the year of useless meeting time. You've seen the symptoms: hastily called meetings, no ending time stated, no agenda, no official record of what was done or said, no followup. If even one hour per week is saved, it could mean two additional effective workdays per year!

 Skip some of the meetings or send someone else.



Let go of interruptions - Interruptions can drain 1-2 hours a day. Rather than spend time with anyone who happens to stop by, close the door, turn off the phone or work from home one day each week. 



Let go of the clutter - Is your desk or credenza piled with pending and unfinished work that will be done when you "get around to it?" The average businessperson spends 3 hours each week looking for things plus 2 hours being distracted by the stuff lying around. The most effective people work from a clean desk. Having an uncluttered desk helps you stay focused on your most important  project.



Let go of useless tasks - quit doing some of the routine things you do just because "that's what I've always done". Practice good priority management. Plan each day to stay focused on those  tasks that will move you toward your goals. Watch for tasks that can be delegated or simply dropped. 



Let go of "Crises management" - Ever feel that you're leaving a trail of unfinished projects, unreturned phone calls, unread mail, partially completed reports? Crises arise from a job we left  unfinished to work on another unfinished task. Another term  for crisis management is "fire fighting." 

Most of this is really caused by losing focus of true priorities. Learn to tell the difference between "urgent" and "important".



Bottom line... Many people pay a heavy price for their success - poor health, failed marriages, neglected friendships, no self-development in any area except business. Start today to plug the leaks and create ample reserves of time for yourself.



Let go!


© 1997 - 2009 BizSuccess All rights reserved. No duplication

One of my clients is a brilliant commercial real estate broker and developer in Birmingham, Alabama. Len is very successful by any measure.

During our meeting this week, Len was describing the way he can drive by a piece of property and instantly see, in his mind's eye, the possibilities for that land. He is able to imagine all the possible uses of the property and instantly select the one that would produce the highest and best value.

The most amazing part of this is that Len can do this in a blink of an eye. And, for Len, it is effortless. He just knows. Other brokers and developers focus on the technical aspects of the property, the zoning, the topography, the financial details and so on. While these things are important (Len is good at these as well), the real magic that Len brings to the table is his innate ability to visualize the property being used in its most valuable form.

My sister, Lana, has an amazing musical ear. Lana can listen to a song on the radio one time, then sit down at her piano and play the song perfectly and beautifully. I just don't know how she can do that! And she has been able to do that since she was a child.

It's magical.

When I talk to Len about his ability and with Lana about her talent, they both told me the same thing. They said that it was easy. They just couldn't understand why other people can't do the same feat.

For Lana and Len, and for you and me, the special ability (the magic) seems so easy, it feels "normal".

Everyone has a natural aptitude in something. You, too, have a special "gift". You may be especially good at working with numbers, drawing pictures, teaching children, growing plants or caring for those less fortunate than you. Your special talent may involve music, athletic ability, empathy, writing, or working with your hands.

Chances are, you don't even recognize your own aptitude. You might think that all of us can see and appreciate the subtleties of color the same as you. You may not get that some of us are not as graceful as you. You might believe that all people are able to effortlessly grow a beautiful garden.

The truth is that we are all very different. You are able to do some things better than I can. And, I can do some things better than you.

Remember in school, when you signed up for subjects in which you were already knowledgeable? How did this make you feel? "Great! This is going to be easy."

What advice did you get from your counselors? Probably, they recommended you take classes where you were weakest. What a drag!

While learning new subjects is a great idea, striving to develop weaknesses can work against you. Conventional wisdom says we should work on improving our weaknesses. This is a terrible waste of time, talent and opportunity.

Imagine what would have happened if Chopin, Einstein, Chris Evert, or Pavarotti had followed that advice. All these people devoted their life to developing their natural strengths. As a result, they each were tops in their field.

Highly successful entrepreneurs, as well as top scientists, artists, athletes and entertainers throughout history have achieved greatness by focusing on their areas of strength.

How do you discover your natural talents? First, notice those things that you do that seem easy for you. These are the things that you can do that seem almost effortless. Often, the tasks that are easy for us are those where we have a special aptitude.

Next, make note of those things you do where time just seems to fly by. When you are doing these activities, you may look up and realize that hours have passed without you even realizing it. This is a good clue to activities where you have natural talent.

Finally, consider all the activities that make you happy. These are things that make you smile. These are the tasks you would do just for yourself, with no promise of gain, just because they're fun, interesting and fulfilling.

Look through the three lists to find the common activities. These are likely to be the areas of your natural aptitude and talent; your magic. These are the areas of greatest potential for you. Imagine if you could spend most of your time developing and playing at something that makes you happy, where time flies and where it's easy for you. Wow!

Don't get caught up in the old advice to work on your weaknesses. Hire someone who is good where you are weak. Delegate tasks that you don't enjoy to others who do enjoy those things. Automate the repetitious tasks. Contract out the chores that you are not great at doing.

No matter how hard you try, it is unlikely you will ever be more than average in areas where you do not have an aptitude. Always working on your weaknesses undermines your self-esteem since you will focus mostly on your deficiencies.

On the other hand, working to develop your natural talents is self-rewarding and motivating. Pursuing your talents allows you to continually realize higher and higher levels of ability, achievement and success. Invest your time and energy in being great at something. Really great. Discover your magical talent. You will be happier. And the recipients of your work, your customers, will reward you for your excellence. What a combination; doing what you love and people pay you for it!

Experience the immense satisfaction that comes with being superb at something.

Find the magic!

© 1997 - 2009 BizSuccess, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication