Let's Get Disciplined

Discipline is the cornerstone of personal and professional growth. It empowers individuals to overcome challenges, achieve goals, and unlock their full potential. However, true discipline extends beyond a single area of life; it requires an overall approach.

Discipline is not a one-size-fits-all concept. Being disciplined in one aspect of life, such as fitness or work, does not automatically translate into discipline across all areas. True discipline encompasses various aspects, including personal habits, relationships, time management, self-development, and more. It's essential to recognize that discipline is an ongoing journey, and cultivating it in one area requires deliberate effort and a commitment to continuous growth.

Small Incremental Steps: Achieving discipline can be overwhelming if we focus solely on big, audacious goals. Instead, the secret lies in breaking down our aspirations into small, manageable steps. By starting with tiny, consistent actions, we develop momentum and create positive behavioral patterns. For example, if your goal is to read more, commit to reading just a few pages every day. These small steps gradually transform into substantial progress over time.

Consistency is the bedrock upon which discipline is built. It's easy to become motivated and take action for a short period, but true discipline is sustained through consistent effort. By showing up consistently and adhering to our commitments, we train our minds to embrace discipline as a way of life. Small, regular actions accumulate into remarkable achievements. It is the daily dedication that shapes our character and propels us toward our goals.

Developing a Growth Mindset is an integral aspect of discipline. Embracing a belief that we can learn, adapt, and improve over time is crucial for maintaining discipline in the face of setbacks or challenges. Instead of viewing obstacles as roadblocks, see them as opportunities for growth. By reframing failures as learning experiences and staying resilient in the pursuit of our goals, we reinforce discipline and foster personal development.

Accountability and Support Systems create an environment that encourages accountability and provides support. Share your goals and aspirations with trusted friends, family members, or mentors who can hold you accountable and provide guidance along the way. Joining communities or seeking out like-minded individuals who share similar objectives can also provide valuable support and motivation. By surrounding ourselves with positive influences, we create an ecosystem that nurtures discipline.

Discipline is a lifelong journey that extends beyond any single area of life. By understanding that discipline is multifaceted, embracing small incremental steps, prioritizing consistency, cultivating a growth mindset, and leveraging accountability and support systems, we can unlock the power of discipline in all aspects of our lives. Remember, discipline is a continuous process of growth and self-improvement.

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with the best customers and top employees.    How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  How can we land and keep top talent in our organization with the salary wars.  Kevin teaches your sales and leadership teams how to build the key ingredient to be successful with their relationships and take your goals to the next level with high levels of engagement.

Kevin’s website: www.kevinsidebottom.com

Kevin’s email: kevin@kevinsidebottom.com

The Sales Process Online Membership Site 

https://www.kevinsidebottom.com/pricing-page

The Sales Process Uncovered Book 

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8XUM4QL2RC6M&keywords=the+sales+process+uncovered&qid=1673274567&sprefix=the+sales+process+uncovered%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1

How Energy Levels Affects Us

In our fast-paced world, achieving success is a common goal for many individuals. While factors such as talent, hard work, and opportunity undoubtedly play a significant role, there's one crucial element that often goes overlooked: energy levels. Our energy levels dictate our productivity, focus, and overall effectiveness in pursuing our goals. In this post, I’ll explain why energy levels are crucial for success and how we can optimize them to reach our full potential.

The Dynamics of Energy Levels: Throughout the day, our energy levels fluctuate, influenced by various factors such as sleep quality, nutrition, exercise, and stress. By paying attention to these dynamics, we can identify the times of day when our energy is at its peak. For most individuals, energy levels tend to be highest in the morning, gradually declining as the day progresses. Recognizing these patterns enables us to make the most of our peak energy periods.

To leverage our energy levels effectively, it's essential to create a well-designed plan that aligns with our peak energy times. Start by dividing your day into distinct blocks, each dedicated to specific activities or goals. For example, if your energy is highest in the morning, allocate this time for high-priority tasks that require creativity, critical thinking, or problem-solving. Use the afternoon for more routine or administrative work, and reserve evenings for relaxation and personal activities.

Three-Goal Daily Plan: Implementing a three-goal daily plan is an effective strategy to optimize energy levels and maximize productivity. Instead of overwhelming ourselves with an extensive to-do list, focus on three key objectives for the day. By setting SMART realistic goals, we ensure our energy is directed towards accomplishing what truly matters, fostering a sense of achievement and motivation. Remember, quality trumps quantity when it comes to goals.

The Pitfalls of Poor Energy Levels: When our energy levels are compromised, our ability to perform at our best diminishes significantly. Here are a few reasons why poor energy levels hinder our effectiveness:

Reduced Focus: Fatigue and low energy make it challenging to concentrate and maintain sustained attention on tasks. This can lead to decreased productivity and a higher likelihood of making mistakes.  Some issues with poor energy levels is impaired decision making, lack of motivation, and higher stress levels.

Energy levels are a vital resource that significantly impacts our ability to achieve success. By understanding our individual energy patterns, crafting energy-focused plans, implementing three-goal daily plans, and acknowledging the pitfalls of poor energy levels, we can optimize our productivity and maximize our potential. Remember, managing and nurturing our energy is key to unlocking the success we strive for in all aspects of life.

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with the best customers and top employees.    How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  How can we land and keep top talent in our organization with the salary wars.  Kevin teaches your sales and leadership teams how to build the key ingredient to be successful with their relationships and take your goals to the next level with high levels of engagement.

Kevin’s website: www.kevinsidebottom.com

Kevin’s email: kevin@kevinsidebottom.com

The Sales Process Online Membership Site 

https://www.kevinsidebottom.com/pricing-page

The Sales Process Uncovered Book 

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8XUM4QL2RC6M&keywords=the+sales+process+uncovered&qid=1673274567&sprefix=the+sales+process+uncovered%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1

Why You Need To Build Relationships With Your Peers Or Teammates

In today's interconnected and fast-paced work environments, building strong relationships with your peers or teammates is a critical factor for personal and professional success. These relationships serve as a valuable board of advisors, facilitating idea-sharing, enhancing project speed, and ultimately contributing to your overall effectiveness and success. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of building relationships with your peers or teammates, focusing on how they can become your trusted advisors, accelerate project timelines, and elevate your influence within the organization.

The Board of Advisors: Bouncing Ideas and Gaining Insights: When you foster relationships with your peers or teammates, you create a network of trusted advisors. These individuals can provide diverse perspectives, industry insights, and valuable feedback. Utilize this board of advisors to bounce ideas off them, seek their input, and gain fresh perspectives on your projects or challenges. Engaging in open discussions and collaborative brainstorming sessions allows you to leverage the collective intelligence and experience of your peers, leading to more innovative and refined solutions. This active exchange of ideas not only strengthens your projects but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and growth within the team.

Accelerating Project Speed through Collaboration: Building relationships with your peers or teammates is crucial for achieving efficient project execution. When you establish a strong rapport with your colleagues, it becomes easier to communicate, delegate tasks, and align on project objectives. Collaboration becomes seamless, reducing unnecessary delays and streamlining workflow. By leveraging the collective strengths and expertise of your teammates, you can identify potential roadblocks earlier, proactively find solutions, and expedite project timelines. Strong relationships promote effective teamwork, ensuring that projects progress smoothly and are completed more swiftly.

The Influence Advantage for Success: Developing influential relationships within your team or organization is a catalyst for personal and professional success. When you cultivate positive connections and earn the respect of your peers, you naturally gain influence and the ability to lead. Influential individuals can drive decision-making, garner support for initiatives, and inspire others to perform at their best. By building strong relationships, you enhance your credibility and trustworthiness, which enables you to navigate organizational dynamics effectively and rally support for your ideas. The influence you wield within your team contributes to your overall success, propelling you towards achieving your goals.

Building meaningful relationships with your peers or teammates is a cornerstone of success in the modern workplace. Cultivating these connections allows you to tap into a valuable board of advisors, where ideas can be shared, refined, and elevated. Collaborating effectively with your colleagues accelerates project speed, ensuring timely completion and superior results. Furthermore, strong relationships grant you the advantage of influence, enabling you to make an impact within your team or organization. Embrace the power of building relationships, and unlock the vast potential for personal and professional growth, enhanced project speed, and overall success. Remember, the strength of your network can shape the trajectory of your career, so invest time and effort in nurturing these valuable relationships.

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with the best customers and top employees.    How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  How can we land and keep top talent in our organization with the salary wars.  Kevin teaches your sales and leadership teams how to build the key ingredient to be successful with their relationships and take your goals to the next level with high levels of engagement.

Kevin’s website: www.kevinsidebottom.com

Kevin’s email: kevin@kevinsidebottom.com

The Sales Process Online Membership Site 

https://www.kevinsidebottom.com/pricing-page

The Sales Process Uncovered Book 

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8XUM4QL2RC6M&keywords=the+sales+process+uncovered&qid=1673274567&sprefix=the+sales+process+uncovered%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1

Perseverance, Do You Have It?

Perseverance is the fuel that drives us toward success, propelling us forward when faced with challenges, setbacks, and failures. It is the quality that distinguishes those who achieve their goals from those who give up at the first sign of difficulty. In this blog post, we will explore three essential elements of perseverance: getting back up, embracing the philosophy of "fail forward fast," and cultivating grit. These concepts will inspire and empower you to overcome obstacles and forge ahead on your journey to success.

Getting Back Up: Life is not without its share of falls and stumbles. What sets resilient individuals apart is their ability to bounce back after experiencing failure or disappointment. When faced with adversity, it's crucial to view setbacks as stepping stones rather than roadblocks. Instead of dwelling on failure, ask yourself what lessons can be learned and how you can use those lessons to improve and move forward. Remember, success is not measured by the number of times you fall, but by how many times you rise again.

Fail Forward Fast: "Failing forward fast" is a mindset that emphasizes the importance of embracing failure as a necessary part of the journey toward success. It encourages us to learn from our mistakes, adapt quickly, and keep moving forward. Rather than being discouraged by failure, view it as an opportunity for growth and learning. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, famously said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." This mindset enabled him to persist through countless failures and ultimately achieve his groundbreaking invention. Embrace failure as a valuable teacher, and let it guide you toward success.

Cultivating Grit: Grit, a term popularized by psychologist Angela Duckworth, refers to the combination of passion, perseverance, and resilience. It is the unwavering commitment to long-term goals, even when faced with obstacles and setbacks. Gritty individuals possess a strong work ethic, tenacity, and the ability to stay focused in the face of adversity. They understand that success is not instantaneous; it is the result of sustained effort and determination. Cultivating grit involves setting clear goals, developing a growth mindset, and building resilience through consistent practice and self-discipline. When you encounter challenges, remind yourself of the bigger picture and stay committed to your vision.

Perseverance is a powerful force that can propel us beyond our limitations and lead us to accomplish extraordinary things. By embodying the qualities of getting back up, failing forward fast, and cultivating grit, you can harness the strength to overcome any obstacle on your path to success. Remember that setbacks are not permanent roadblocks, but rather opportunities for growth and improvement. Stay resilient, keep learning from failures, and maintain unwavering focus on your goals. Embrace the journey of perseverance, and watch as it transforms your life and paves the way for incredible achievements.

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with the best customers and top employees.    How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  How can we land and keep top talent in our organization with the salary wars.  Kevin teaches your sales and leadership teams how to build the key ingredient to be successful with their relationships and take your goals to the next level with high levels of engagement.

Kevin’s website: www.kevinsidebottom.com

Kevin’s email: kevin@kevinsidebottom.com

The Sales Process Online Membership Site 

https://www.kevinsidebottom.com/pricing-page

The Sales Process Uncovered Book 

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8XUM4QL2RC6M&keywords=the+sales+process+uncovered&qid=1673274567&sprefix=the+sales+process+uncovered%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1

The Benefit Of Having Mentors

Why do we need mentors?  Why are they called mentors?  How do you become a mentor?

Why is it that we think we can just do life on our own and that we have all the answers?  Why do we time and time again struggle with the same issues and not reach out for help?

I spent the majority of my life doing things on my own and finding the correct answer to my situation with tons of research and exploration.  Hours and hours were spent to solve the issue I was facing.  By doing this I ended up wasting a great deal of time and effort with little progress.

That is when I finally relented and started asking for help.  That is when mentors stepped in to help me avoid many pitfalls, increase my speed and efficiency, and grow my success faster.  I have had mentors in business, finance, faith, and in relationships. All key to my success today.

Mentors are people that have experience in the area that we are trying to walk through and have the scars from the battles we will face.  They have experienced a majority of the similar trials that we will see on our journey.  They have likely fallen into some of the traps that we will encounter.

Mentors are people with a servant heart that want to help the next generation succeed.  These individuals do not do it for the notoriety either.  They are just wanting to help others succeed. 

Mentors have helped me greatly when I sat with them to share my situation, issues, and ramifications.  They will usually share a story about how they were in that similar situation and what they did as well as the results.  Some happy ending stories, some not so happy ending stories. 

When I was going through my dad’s final year of life, I met with a mentor regularly to talk about what I was going through and the stresses involved.  This mentor was able to help me with coping, the grieving curve, and understand all that I was going to be losing as this chapter closed in my life.  This was a tough time and I am glad I had a mentor in my life to help me see through it while managing every day stressors..

I have also been mentoring a young man who is at the stage of his life where he is trying to figure out his career path.  He is an intern at a very well-known local organization and trying to figure out what doors to walk through.  The discussions we have had and stories I have shared have helped him rethink his possibilities. 

He has a bright future and I look forward to seeing where he goes professionally as well as relationally.  The hope is that he avoids some of the pitfalls that I have experienced in my life with the stories and insight that I have shared. 

Mentors are great resources to help us with questions we have about what we are going through.  They are people that want to help poor in and serve us with their knowledge.  Finding a mentor for a particular area of life that we need help is going to benefit us more than we can ever imagine.  Seek out a mentor today if you are struggling with a decision, or offer to be a mentor.  You will feel a sense of purpose when you lend a hand, or a story to help someone else avoid the pitfalls of life.

One of my favorite quotes: “Do or do not. There is no try…” - Yoda

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

The Sales Process Uncovered Membership Page

Let's Not Make Excuses For Poor Performance Shall We

If so and so would have done this, or that then I would have we would have won.  I could have done this if it weren’t for somone else… 

I had a conversation with my son while teaching him to drive a car right after I screamed stop.  We were in the left turn lane and he had an obstructed view.  I could see that a car was coming and if we had turned in front of the car I would likely not be here typing today. 

The car was traveling over 50 mph.  His response was that he could not see around the car in the opposite turn lane.  I informed him that if he had turned in front of that vehicle that vehicle would have likely would not have had time to react resulting in that person being injured and the result of the crash meaning that my son would not have a father. 

We pulled over and had the discussion and a few tears were shed about the incident.  It shook me and caused me to not trust his ability to drive for some time.  I was more on edge when riding in the vehicle with him.  Scrutinizing every mistake and pointing them out.  This lowered the trust level with him and delayed his ability to obtain a license.

Now this was an extreme situation compared to most of our lives.

We all have done this from time to time.  We learned this as children.  When we did not do something that we were supposed to do, we made an excuse for why we were not able to do it.  Sometimes the reasons that seemed logical in our minds made our parents laugh at our response that really did not make much sense. 

We make excuses for underperforming at our jobs, fitness goals, financial goals, etc.  We are constantly making up excuses for our underperformance.  Unfortunately, when we do this, we actually give away our power. 

That’s right when we make excuses, we actually give power over to something or someone else.  We actually give our power to achieve away when we do this.  That means that we can not actually look at ourselves in the mirror and say that we are in control of our lives. 

We also affect our relationships with others when we give excuses for poor performance.  We tell others that they can not trust us to perform and that we will need to be watched more closely when given a task.  This puts more work and effort on their plates slowing them down on what they need to do.

Trust is the currency that relationships and businesses function on.  Without trust we will affect the organization’s profitability.  When trust is high, speed goes up and costs go down in the organization.  When trust is low, speed is slow resulting in more effort and higher expenses for similar tasks. 

This also affects stress on the organization’s most important resource.  The people that work for the organization are it’s most important resource.  Without high levels of trust then we will falter and lose money. 

We need to stop making excuses for poor performance if we want to increase trust and profitability. Today make the agreement with yourself to stop making excuses for poor performance and own your setbacks. 

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

The Sales Process Uncovered Membership Page

What Does Winning Look Like?

How does an employee understand each day they arrive at work if they are winning or losing?

How are these employees able to track each day where they are towards their goals?

Below are a few examples of annual goals that organizations published for individual sales professionals.

Achieve sales revenue of $44.0 million collectively as an organization

Achieve net new business of $50 million for 2023 for business unit

Manage travel and expense to AOP

Too many large organizations cast out annual goals for employees that are very difficult to understand.  Some goals are collective goals that is very difficult for an individual to know if he/she is winning.  Others are downright confusing.  Where does the individual review what the score is collectively?  How would you know where to look to see how you are doing in the above examples?

Instead of this vague approach to goal setting why not keep it simple?   

Organizations like that of Ramsey Solutions in Franklin, TN use  Key Results Area or KRA’s for short show what “winning” looks like to the individual and their position.  These KRA’s are reviewed with the employee and the manager to make sure that the employee truly understands what winning looks like.  The individual employee can take this KRA sheet and review it each day, week, or month to know where they are standing in achieving a high-performance level.

These KRA’s really make it easy for both the employee and the manager to point to any specific areas where the employee is killing it and where attention might be needed to help the employee obtain success.  When employees obtain vague goals, it is hard for them to understand if they are actually winning.  This is an ingredient in a disengaged work environment.  Or for those on the latest vocabulary, “Quiet Quitting” 

People want to know if they are winning or losing at work so they can excel.  No one shows up to work and actively wants to do a bad job.  They want to feel like they matter and that they are doing something to make impact.  Take that away and hope goes along with it slowly killing the spirit and making people do the grind Monday through Friday in hopes that they have a fun weekend.

Our top performers want to know quite often how well they are doing.  Sales professionals especially want to know if they are winning or losing.  It’s healthy to want to know how we are doing so we can improve.  Why not give them something that they can use to gauge against and know often how they are doing.

Dave Ramsey is mostly known for Financial Peace University for helping people get their finances straight, but for business owners they have created Entreleadership which started as a book and now has its own podcast as well as coaching and summits.  They do a fantastic job at creating an environment for their teams and customers to thrive in any environment.  If you are looking for something to learn more about leadership in business or finances, these two are the top places I recommend people going. 

Disclaimer:  I make no money from referring my readers to Dave Ramsey items.  This is just knowledge that I am passing along that has helped me.

The examples on Dave Ramsey’s site allow you to see examples of these KRA’s when you head into goal setting with your teams.  I hope it helps your teams really make greater strides and achieve better results.

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

The Time Is Now To Dig Deep

Welcome to 2023!!

The new year and we are all waking up on the first weekend since the New Years rang in.  We have had one week of back to the grind.  One week of running around getting back into the grove of things.  A week of driving through “winter weather”

This is the time that we get challenged by life against the goals that we recently planned for the new year.  The question is are we going to be able to make it through the remaining 51 weeks of this year.  When the going gets tough and we are hit in the face with adversity.  Where do we look for strength to grind through this?

We need to look at that Purpose Statement like we talked in the last week of December.  That is what has to keep us focused to keep taking one more step.  We need that courage to push farther by looking at that statement of success for our lives.  We need to take a breath and then get back to work for that vision of success with that statement.

How do the goals line up with that purpose statement?  Are they strong enough to handle the punches we take from the daily grind.  Do they have the timing set up so we can gauge success with them?  Do we use the SMART goals?

Are the goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound?  Our goals need to have these five measurables answered.  This way we can see how we are doing as we move throughout the year.  Without them being specific and being too broad we will not be able to understand if we are going the right way.  If they are not measurable and achievable then we will not be able to know where we stand.  For instance, if I say I want to make $20,000 per keynote as a goal I will likely not achieve that.

That goal does not have anything other than a value.  A better goal would be I would like to make $20,000 in the month of February by booking X number of keynotes.  Now that is a smart goal.  That is a goal that I can look at to see where I stand and any time.  That is a goal that is going to keep me on track. 

If I want to construct a new training for my membership page, I can set goals for having the program broken down by a certain time, number of videos recorded and edited by a certain date.  Now I have a direction and a SMART goal set up so I can look at the calendar and then look at my goals to kit that key objective.

What is it that you struggle with goal setting?What keeps you from achieving your goals?What is holding you back from being a success?Reach out or leave a comment below and I would be glad to help you with goal planning.

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

Are You Using A Compass?

Naval Captains, and old explorers used these interesting yet simple tools called compasses to help navigate how to get where they wanted to go.  Yes, they used other tools, but this one tool helped them stay on track for their headings.   Even in storms they used these compasses to stay the course.

Today we use directions and a voice in our navigations tools to tell us turn by turn which way to go.  The early days had us sometimes driving on unpaved roads and some stories of people driving right into water because they believed the navigation units solely. 

In our everyday lives we need to use a tool that helps us stay on track.  There are many names for the tool like mission statement, vision statement, goals, etc.  I like to call it my compass.  I have a compass that I have created to help me use what I know about myself and how I am wired to make planning for the year have the best chance of success with my goals.

Yes, it is something from church, but it’s a took the DISC assessment, a gifts assessment, and our passions to help us make a purpose statement.  We need to live on purpose otherwise will just be drifting along with no direction.  Those that are intentional and lean into their compass do move forward with great speed and intentionality. 

By having a compass (purpose statement) we can eliminate detours that take away the most precious commodity we have available…TIME.  Yes, time is something that we are not able to add, multiple, but only subtract and sometimes divide.  We lose a lot of time and energy if we are doing tasks that don’t align with what fuels us forward.

Ever get to the end of day 30 and you are still worn out, tired, and with an empty tank?  Sure, we did something, but did that something actually get us closer to where we want to go?  Did it give us more tools to help us move faster in the future?

I have been in seasons where I was serving on countless non-profit activities, serving the community as a volunteer fire fighter, playing in adult flag football leagues, etc.  These all seemed fun, but did they help me get to my end goal?  I still support in some ways and have an active community, but I have chosen to put my energy in learning how to communicate better and help others through this blog, my Youtube channel, and my trainings to help businesses and leaders succeed. 

I have been intentional over the past decade to make sure my family will be taken care of, preparing for my later years, and how to help impact others for the better.  I have said no to good things in order to say yes to great things.  It has and is still a charted course I am on, but I know the path I need to take to get there.  Without my compass this would not be possible.

Having a compass to guide our path to the future selves we want to have, we need to be intentional and know what it is that we want to achieve.  It can be monetary, but it can also be relationally.  We should have a compass and a clear vision of where we want to go, before we just start moving because we only have a short period of time to get there before the sands of time run out for each one of us.

What does your compass look like?

Have a great week!

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/5AF12 - Sales Process Uncovered Online Training

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/68N10 - Trustworthy Online Training

Just One More...

Have you ever wanted to just give up?  This fight is just too much and why am I still doing this?  It’s just too much effort and it shouldn’t be this hard?  Do you still get up and give it one more shot anyways?

We all get knocked down many times in our lives with different set-backs.  Set-backs are not failure.  I don’t like the word failing unless I have totally given up.  Set-backs are just what they sound.  In football set-backs are like getting hit behind the line of scrimmage by another person that loses you a yard or so.  Basically, losing momentum for a short period of time.

As long as we keep getting back up and trying one more time we are not failing.  I have had many set-backs in my life, whether they be relationships, business, financial, health, etc.  One thing that I can pride myself on is that I got back up and gave it just one more shot. 

Yes, we should not just keep running into a brick wall in hopes it will break down finally by some miracle.  There are times when we have to walk away, but those come after we have set our limit of how much we are willing to try.  I have even given one more try even after that limit as well.  I guess I am just stubborn.

I like to make sure that I have exhausted every opportunity before I walk away from something.  Yes, it may have given me more pain, but in most instances, it has been that “one more try” that has elevated me past the issue and I have moved forward. 

Too much of our culture is set up that if there is any kind of resistance then we should try something else, or move away. We have a Failure Culture in this world that says if something is hard, then we should move to something easier so that we can have that sought after “good life.”

I have met many successful individuals and one thing that they all have in common is that they have gotten back up with that “one more try “mentality.  They face challenges, get knocked down, and get back up.  Some may take a little longer than others, but they still get back up. 

We must keep grinding especially if it is that dream that we have had since we were younger.  Our mission that we set out on, the path we were born for.  We need to keep getting back up and driving forward.  Just one more step, one more pushup, one more phone call, will get us closer to the that goal. 

Having that “one more try” mentality will allow up to build up our resilience muscle so we are stronger.  We need this if we are going to grow any kind of life change, business, or movement.  So get back up and give it one more try because you can do it!

Have a great week!

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/5AF12 - Sales Process Uncovered Online Training

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/68N10 - Trustworthy Online Training

Why We Need Rest

Do you ever get back from a vacation and think that you need a vacation from your vacation?  Are you able to unplug when you are away from the office on vacation?  Do you feel truly rested after the weekend?  How often when you are supposed to rest are you checking emails for work behind your family’s back?  Like you have some secret mistress known as a J.O.B.

I have been spending the time to relax on my Sundays over the past year.  I take time to rest because I keep a pretty rigorous schedule.  I’m up between 5 and 6 am to get started on my day by prepping with reading, my devotions, and my goals.  This is all before I hop in the shower to get ready to work.  

I work hard and workout hard.  This means when it is time to rest, I need to rest.  Now I don’t have an oxygen chamber, freezing chamber, or any of that scientific stuff.  I take power naps, read, hang out with friends and family, take walks, relax on the boat, etc.   I need to unplug so that I can refresh my mind.  

When our mind is constantly going and firing on all cylinders it gets fatigued.  Our brain needs rest to repair and form new synapsis.  Which is why when we are rested we typically come up with the greatest break throughs for problems that we are trying to solve.   Our creativity goes up, our brain does not feel foggy, our decision making is more clear, etc.  Forbes did an article that is helpful with understanding why we need rest with some action steps we can take to accomplish rest.  

I know there are some of you reading that think that sleep is for the weak and the dead.  That is something my mother still says to this day.  The toughest people I have ever met are Navy Seals.  There we twenty years older than me and could outperform me.  These people actually go through something called Hell Week and they are up with no sleep for days.  Not hours, days.  They hallucinate, they have depleted testosterone levels, they have trouble making decisions, etc.  

A gentleman names Kirk Parsley was an active seal and studied health and he actually teaches high performing people on the effects of sleep.  I have put a link here for a quick video of him talking about sleep.  He briefly talks about how these high performers had testosterone levels of young girls because of the deprivation and constant fatigue from lack of rest.

If Seals and athletes need to make sure that they take time to rest, the rest of us humans should take notice.  We need to make sure we are having self care.  I know for some people may think they are stronger than the rest and can go without rest, but it is true.  We need to unplug and rest if we are going to continue to function at high levels.  

If we do not take time to rest then we will not function and it can impact our health with different diseases.  Not just being grouchy, but actual diseases that can kill us.  Do yourself a favor and take time to unplug to rest and recover so that you can get back into the fight rested with more capacity.  

Have a great week!

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/5AF12 - Sales Process Uncovered Online Training

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/68N10 - Trustworthy Online Training

How are Your Goals Doing?

New Years resolutions are made each and every December 31st and fail by the first two weeks of the new year.  Only about 8% of people achieve goals according to the university of Scranton.  Only 8% succeed in their goals.  That is staggering.

We wonder why productivity is low and that we can’t stick to things?  It’s staggering to think about how many people don’t take time to work on their goals.  Now I have to say that it wasn’t until about 5 years ago that I jumped onto the 8% train.  I just pushed forward on whatever I thought I could do which is why I did not have much success throughout the years.  When I got disciplined and wrote down my plan, is when I started seeing change.

Each year I take time in December to look back at what I have managed to accomplish for my goals list, what I need to focus on, and what my core values still are.  I actually use the EOS system for my goal setting and I write them down and work through them each quarter of the year.  This allows me to keep reviewing and seeing how close I am towards the larger goals on a quarterly basis. 

Now I am not saying that I am perfect.  I do miss some goals like trying to get down to a weight target, or achieving my annual sales numbers.  Even if I fail for the target, I am still making movement which is better than aiming at nothing.  If we set a goal and hope to achieve it, then we are at a disadvantage because without a plan hopes / dreams perish.

We need to have action to put forth towards our goals.  Other leadership gurus will tell you that you have to have smart goals.  Which means they have to be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time bound.  That has been the system that people have been using for the past few years to describe good goals.  That is fine if you just want to check in every now and then to see how you are doing, but for intentional people we need to be checking on them at least once a quarter if not more.

I’m more of an application oriented / task person, so my goals revolve around me using my goals as steps in a larger process to achieve them.  That is why I like the EOS system that I can make smaller goals each quarter for the larger goals.  

If I need to make so many blog posts per year, or videos per year, I need to break down how many I need to do per month and make sure that I action accordingly.  Because I also like to compete with myself, I try to beat the timing each and every time.

We need to have goals and break them down into manageable process steps that we can work to make our goals come true.  By simply putting something down on paper we will not be able to make goals come true.  We need to make a plan and have a process in place to work towards those goals each and every day / week.  

Kind of like waiting till the last minute of semester to study for a final exam.  It typically does not work out well to wait until the last minute which then seems like an overwhelming task.  If we take it small bits over time to truly learn the material, we will be able to walk into the final exam with more confidence.   

We need to set goals and back up those goals with a plan if we want any chance of success.  What are some of your goals that you are working towards and how are you doing on them thus far?  We are over halfway through the year so we need to pick up the pace to finish strong.  We don’t walk to the finish line, we run!

Have a great week!

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/5AF12 - Sales Process Uncovered Online Training

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/68N10 - Trustworthy Online Training

What Are You Learning?

It has been said that learners are growers.  Those that are constantly evolving in their learning are those that are successful.  Those that have excelled in areas typically don’t stumble into those successes.

I have been reading and learning trying to add new tools constantly by reading at least 12 books a year.  One a month.  I do this by reading ten pages a day.  Small steps over time to accomplish a larger task.  I also invest in myself for trainings as well.  I then take time to apply what I am learning.

Just because we are learning new items, does not mean that we have it automatically engrained.  We actually lose about 50% of what we learn in the next 24 hours.  If we don’t apply the newly gained knowledge then we will forget it and that is actually just a waste of time.  

We need to apply what we learned so that our mind and body start to really save this information for future use.  Whether it is a book, training, trick, etc we need to apply what we are learning if we want to record it for future application. 

It’s like learning to waterski.  It took me about three years to learn how to waterski and gallons of water up my nose.  I thought I was going through an interrogation at some points.  I kept trying to learn how to get up on two pieces of wood and a rope that was tied to a boat.  

After I learned how to waterski on two ski’s I learned how to ski on one.  Balance was not something I had a lot of when I was younger so this took some time.  There were a great deal of highlight reel wipeouts.  I’m sure if digital cameras and social media were around back then, I would have been one of those celebrities of fails.

I finally got good enough now that I can start from deep water on one slalom ski and cut across the wake at speeds of 50 mph without wiping out.  I also don’t have to attempt every day to do this.  I actually only do this once or twice a year now, but because I learned and applied, I am able to show up now and do it without too many attempts.  I can enjoy all of the work that went into learning and go out and have fun.  

By applying what we learn we are able to achieve higher levels.  We need to keep learning and keep growing if we want to get to a better place.  We have to keep up with this process to accomplish more.  It’s okay to want more and to work towards it.

To do this, we need to apply a date to when we want to accomplish by.  Having that target out there will keep us focused on moving forward because it is real.

What is something that you have been putting off learning, or applying that you have been nervous to?  It’s okay to try and and have set backs.  If we don’t try that is actually failure.  As long as we try we are not failing.

Post in the comments something that you have been wanting to learn / apply that you are going to do now.    

Have a great week!

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/5AF12 - Sales Process Uncovered Online Training

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/68N10 - Trustworthy Online Training

Three F’s You Need to Utilize!

When I am on stage speaking, I bring the audience in to where I began in sales.  I was working for a 6-foot 5-inch ex-Navy Seal.  He was a successful driven business leader.  He was intense and was always moving forward.  He also flipped my thought process upside down.

Growing up in my blue-collar family it was always pressed to do my best and do it perfect.  I am also a “one” on the Enneagram so I naturally trying to make things better and as close to perfect as possible.  I was devastated when I got into college and my best would however only generate B’s and C’s.  Highschool was easy to obtain A’s, but college was a whole different ball game.

I was failing to get A’s and I was pissed off and angry throughout college.  I graduated with an electrical engineering degree and had a great job right out of college, but I always looked back that I was not perfect in college.  It left a feeling that I was not good enough back then.

In reality no one is totally perfect.  We all have flaws.  No one can do everything perfect the first time either.  What we do is Fail Forward Fast.  Fail Forward Fast is a phrase that navy seal operators use quite often in training.

Navy seals as I was taught by my mentor are okay with set-backs.  Fail Forward Fast works like this.  Apply action -> review -> apply action for a constant loop for improvement of whatever the situation is.  Failure is not about making a mistake, failure is giving up. 

It’s okay to have a set back and learn from it so that when you are attacking the same activity the next time you move through it more efficiently.  The cool part is that the action does not have to be a massive game changer.  It is small incremental adjustments as you go through the loop.   

Another benefit from this small action is that doubt is eliminated through action.  Figuring out the next small step will keep doubt from tackling us from behind and stopping us from moving forward in our process.  How awesome is that!  A small step of action puts doubt on its butt and allows us to move forward.

Do you remember riding a bike without training wheels for the first time?  Most of us as children would fall, get back on the bike and moved a little farther, fall again, get back on the bike and moved farther and farther each time until we were riding the bike without assistance from anyone.  It took a progression and learning how to balance while pedaling and occasionally stopping before running into something.  It is rare for someone to just jump on a bike for the first time and get it perfect. 

I love the Fail Forward Fast because when I am working on a project and the “Have to be perfect” phase pops in my head, and I am able to remind myself that it is okay.  Sometimes I also find out that the desired outcome that I had was not the one I needed to be shooting for.  I am able to pivot towards the better desired outcome instead of coming to the end of the experience and learning that I am nowhere near where I truly need to be.

Fail Forward Fast is essential in all growth and I have applied it to my life so that I can keep going when tough times happen.  Sometimes we just need to focus on one small step at a time to keep moving forward instead of looking at the long path that is ahead of us. 

I hope this blog is helpful to you.  If it is, please leave a comment below of how this or another blog post has helped you!

Have a great weekend everyone!  

Sincerely,

Kevin Sidebottom

www.kevinsidebottom.com