Colin Myles's Blog, page 25

What is Your Rubicon ?

In 49 BCE Julius Ceasar crossed the Rubicon river to march on and take Rome. The Rubicon was an obstacle he crossed to achieve his aim. But if he had decided it was too risky or was afraid for the future, he would have stayed where he was and being a footnote in history. Rather than the person who is stilled talked and written about today.

We all have our own personal Rubicon's to cross, to take us to the next level. Fear of public speaking, asking for the sale, take the job offer or not. Work in the corporate world or fly solo as an entrepreneur. Follow our passion and create something of value or join the masses and be just over broke at the end of each month.

It is our own personal decision to stay or roll the dice. " Let the dice be thrown " as Ceasar exclaimed before he crossed the Rubicon.

There is no right or wrong answer to this conundrum. Only you know if you want to go to the next level or not. Only you know if you want to live a legacy and leave a legacy.

What is certain, if you wish to travel to the far side and attain a higher level of success than you ever imagined. There is only two things to do . .  .

1. Identify your Rubicon

2. Decide if you want to play it safe or roll the dice and cross your Rubicon

Your choice . . .

Colin Myles
Author

P.S.
Set goals
Be relentless in their pursuit
Be inventive
Learn to tie them all together
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Be These Three Things

" I have just three things to teach,
  Simplicity, Patience, Compassion
  These three are your greatest treasures "
Book of Tao 67

Simple words with deep meaning. I do my best to read two chapters from the Book of Tao each day.
Someday's I see nothing, others it's like getting a jolt from an electric shock. How many times were these words read before they struck a chord last week ? Maybe a hundred . . .

1. Simple
In sales or sharing ideas, the greatest training I learned was " if you can't explain it you don't understand it ". The ability to be concise and simple in your use of language carries more benefit to you, than trying to impress with big words and industry jargon.

Simple in action. How many times have you bought something and the instructions to set it up, would require a degree in quantum physics ? How many times do people over complicate instead of simplifying ?

Your first treasure is to simplify and make things easier for yourself and others.

2. Patience
Today, emotional intelligence is the word of the moment. Being recognized as a key ingredient of success. Patience is one of the tools to acquire this skill. A person who can stay calm while others are losing their heads, is a treasure to those who employ this person.

Too many people have become consumed with busyness. Lots of rushing around with nothing being achieved. Rushing headlong from one perceived panic to another without taking the time to reflect.

Your ability to float above the sea of disasters that may never happen, is a unique treasure. I would say it is priceless. Take your time and start at the end and work your way backwards. You may be surprised to find out, that there was no need for the panic to occur at all. The ancient Roman's lauded the virtuous. Patience is a virtue

Be still, be calm, be patient.

3. Compassion
Everyone you meet is going through a battle. Some have big ones and some minor irritations, but everyone is fighting one. This treasure is about you showing sympathy and treating your fellow human in a humane manner. How do you treat someone who you know can do nothing for you ? How you answer this will show how far you are on your journey to claiming this last, but very special treasure. People may not remember the words you spoke, but they will remember how you made them feel.

In today's world where personal branding is huge, the last sentence in the previous paragraph is one you should highlight and get micro chipped into you mind. It is the bridge that will enable you to cross over from someone who has an idea/product/service to a person people will be willing to champion.

With the attitude of kill or be killed still prevailing in some ways, it can be a challenge to get your mind around the idea of being compassionate. But the question you have to answer is this ..... Who would you rather interact with, someone who made you feel worthwhile or someone who see's you as a means to an end ?

The people who have captured the treasure of compassion and use it wisely are the real champions.

Colin Myles
Author

P.S.
Do not waste the remaining part of your life in thoughts about other people, when you are not thinking with reference to some aspect of the common good " Marcus Aurelius

Are You Weird ?

Ever had someone say you were different or that your thinking and ideas where way out  there somewhere in weirdo land ?

Well don't worry because what Weird really means is that you are . . .

Wonderful
yes, you have a wonderful way of looking and thinking about things

Exciting
those wonderful ideas and way of thinking make you an exciting person to be around.

Interesting
who wants to hang with the same old people with the same old way of looking at the same old sad stories and situations. Interesting people are the natural stimulants of this world.

Real
yes, you are real. There is no flaky fake persona trying to please everyone. You are you and that is all there is too it. Real people like real people, so don't worry about the frauds and fakes.

Different
The robots are coming, but that doesn't mean you have to act like one to fit in. Embrace the fact that you are different. You look at things differently and you see the world differently and that my friend is a good thing. For the different see what others are blind to and not afraid to say so.

You are  Wonderful, Exciting, Interesting, Real and Different
Be you , be Weird and enjoy your day.

Colin Myles
Author

P.S.
Be different and be the change only the weird can bring.

P.P.S.
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IKIGAI

Ikigai is the Japanese word for " a reason for being, the thing that gets you up in the morning ".

Your day will go better if you know why you do what you do. Your day will be even better when your why is what gets you up in the morning. But when you truly know in your heart, that thing, that reason, you go to bed in anticipation of getting up in the morning.

Most people don't feel that way. They dread the alarms on their smartphones buzzing loudly to remind them to re-join the rat race for another fun filled day. The commute they loathe, the co-worker they try to avoid at all costs and the crazy boss who doesn't know what persona they are going to be today. Then it is all over and they have to retrace their steps on the commute they loathe.

If this is you . . . sorry !

However, take a closer look at that beautiful simple Japanese word " Ikigai ". You can find if you look, the thing that gets you up in the morning. I hear you, bills and mortgage to pay. Kid's education, car repayments and health insurance.

Rise above them for a second and imagine how much better your day would go with IKIGAI in your life. Go ahead dig a little deeper, find that one reason which trumps them all ....
Your personal IKIGAI

Colin Myles
Author

P.S.
" Some days you just have to create your own sunshine " Unknown

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Why you must know Why you Disagree

" If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough " Albert Einstein

Whether it is an idea, a product or service, an innovation, you must know why you disagree with its premise.

Just saying something is stupid, bad or crazy is not good enough. For the idea, product or service and innovation to improve and move forward or stop altogether, your reason must be clear.

The worst thing is disagreeing, just because you yourself did not come up with the idea. Same way as a person who comes up with something, now has to explain it clearly and simply. The reason why it should be embraced. You, if you see a flaw, must explain why this will cause challenges.

You must explain where you believe the challenge occurs and offer ways to look at the challenge from a different angle. There is nothing as frustrating as someone who keeps saying " NO " without explaining why.

Not every idea or innovation is going to set the world on fire. Not every new product is going to be a trailblazer, remember Zunes. An idea that is agreed upon by a bunch of sycophants, can just be as damaging to the business bottom line, as an idea not going ahead, because an ego got in the way.

Before you say no or express caution, can you clearly explain why you have doubts ? It is ok to disagree, but you must know why you disagree.

Colin Myles
Author

P.S.
How long will you keep saying no without justification

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5 Keys to Doing Business with the Right People

No:1 Phrase in Customer Service

" It takes three months to gain one new customer and thirty seconds to lose them " Various

Last weekend whilst clearing out, I came across a notebook from a seminar I attended in 2007. Looking through it, this phrase caught my eye " I am sorry to hear that . . . could you please tell me more "

The majority of us like to believe we provide the best product or service and people would be foolish not to buy from us. However we and the people who work with us are human and from time to time blips occur.

A lot of the time when someone claims our product or service was not up to scratch, we go on the defensive. A natural reaction, but tends to cause more friction and adds fuel to the fire of an already irate customer.

The secret of the above phrase is that it allows empathy and the under utilised skill of listening to come to the fore. In my experience, most people when they complain want someone to listen to them. They get angry when management goes on the defensive and quotes rules and regulations and clause C subsection 77. By saying " I am sorry to hear that " you empathise. Followed up by " could you please tell me more ", this shows you are willing to listen to their story.

Now this is the big secret. When they start to tell you their story . . . Shut Up and Listen. Most of the time the solution is simple and going to cost less than you imagined. Because you listened without interrupting and ask as gently as  possible " what would you like me to do ", their position has softened.

Why ? Because you showed empathy and listened. Don't be afraid of a customer complaint. Handled with the No:1 Phrase, you will learn how to improve your product or service. All without having to spend a fortune on focus groups. Imagine that !

I'm listening

Colin Myles 
Author

P.S.
" The only thing worse than training employees and losing them, is not training them and keeping them " Unknown

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Getting the Balance Right

" Governing a large country
  is like frying a small fish
  you spoil it with too much poking "
The Book of Tao

This post was triggered by the above quote and an article in the WSJ on innovation in farming [read here ] .

Here we are talking about balance in the workplace. Getting it right between micromanagement on one extreme and a lack of innovation because people are afraid to fail, on the other side. Striking the right balance between autonomy and an atmosphere of being willing to try something new, whether it fails or succeeds.

Probably the later is the most challenging. It is better to fail, fail fast and learn from the mistakes. What worked, what didn't and then move on. A lot of places get caught out when they become mired in the " sunk cost fallacy ".

Every workplace has certain requirements, which must be followed. But as yet I haven't come across anybody who loves being micromanaged. Here is where the balance needs to be found. Micromanage to the maximum degree and no one will tell you when things are going wrong. No one will share any ideas for improvement because the micro manager has nuked the willingness to help out of the souls of your staff.

This feeds into innovation. With no ideas bubbling up, you start to look at what your competitors are doing. Then comes copy and paste innovation. Because you want to do what they are doing, failure is not an option. The thinking becomes catch up. The mantra is " catch up or be left behind ". You pour money in and what comes out can only described as scrambled noise.

Getting the right balance is the challenge. Too much poking and you spoil what is working. Being afraid to fail and people will just copy and paste to keep you off their back. When you do decide on something and three quarters way down the road, you realise you have a mess, but because the sunk cost fallacy is ingrained, you will plough ahead and produce something. Something your customers do not want or care about.

You will have to take a hard look at your business. Why you seem to be playing catch up all the time. The balance between what is required for the business, have engaged employees and a system that allows people to innovate, but also pulling the plug when you see the dogs dinner is been cooked right in front of your eyes.
This is your challenge, should you wish to proceed to the next level.

One idea ; start praising the effort put into the innovation, stop the critics. You may be surprised what happens when people feel free to innovate without being castigated.

Colin Myles
Author

P.S.
" When you start walking the way, the way appears " Rumi

P.P.S.
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Real Retail Magic

A couple of weeks ago there was an article in the FT weekend edition by Charlie Porter. It centred around his visit to a shop in Paris called Buly. One thing in particular peaked my interest, he intended to spend only $25 but ended up spending $220.

How did this magic happen. He was held captive by the mere act of the staff wrapping people's purchases in a Japanese style of wrapping. Then they hand wrote the buyer's name on a tag in calligraphy. Yes the shop is an emporium selling candles, pot pouri and skin creams and you could easily scoot around it in ten to fifteen minutes, but people stayed and lingered because of the theatre of magic that was being created.

The owner stated that in two years since opening, no one ever complained. Why, because in his words " They are not waiting, they are watching the play unfold ". As adults any place that can capture our imagination and return us to a child like state of fascination has a greater chance of capturing not only our hearts but our wallets.

I believe it was Zig Ziglar who said " the wallet is tied to the heart ." Creating theatre and a place of magic does not happen on a whim. It is something which has to be learned. Each person who works at Buly has to know the 400 products they sell, off by heart. Each of them must become a calligraphy master. This is the hard part most will try to skirt around. Without the hard work and dedication that goes on behind the closed door, you are just as likely to end up with Bozo the clown instead of watching a David Copperfield show.

Skirting the learning and training will lead to you putting on something like a high school play. Full of enthusiastic participants but still an amateur production. Now you have a choice. Pay the price and produce something wonderful or try and take short cuts and end up with something the kids from your local high school produced.

Now the author of the article on Buly ended up spending over 80% more than they intended. People will not spend for something thrown together on a whim, but they will spend when you capture their hearts. The heart controls the string attached to the wallet. I have added this shop in Paris to my bucket list of places to visit, because this is retail theatre i want to experience.

When was the last time you entered a shop and spent more than 80% more than you intended. Imagine how much better your business would be, if people where prepared to let the heart string pull their wallet, because you created an experience that was magical. Just imagine !

Colin Myles
Author

P.S.
Treat others as you yourself would be treated" . Golden Rule

P.P.S.
There is this bit of wisdom that states "Truth is always simple".
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Where ideas come from . . .

" When you start walking the way, the way appears " Rumi

Over the weekend I watched a video of the founder of Chobani yogurt talk about how the business started out. In it he mentioned the above quote from Rumi. You can watch the video here.

After buying the plant and wondering what to do with it, he was stuck. But the main wall had been allowed to go black, so he decided the first job was to paint the wall white. It was while painting the wall the idea of starting Chobani came into his head.

It was here he mentioned the Rumi quote. What does it mean for you ? It means you have to start somewhere. You have to start walking the path you want to journey on. If you want to become an accountant, better start learning how to add, subtract, multiply and divide. If you want to start a retail business then you need to look at the various options out there and see if there is a gap in the market or something that could be improved for you and your customers benefit.

Just thinking and wishing about something is not going to make it happen. You need to start taking action. Action is what starts the mind, the creative juices flowing. Start walking the path you want to journey on, how else will you know if it the right path or not.

Sitting around and proclaiming your bad luck and how  the economy sucks, is not going to start the ideas flowing. It is taking the first step, the first action, that leads to the next step, the next action until suddenly your mind and body are in flow.

When you are in the flow, it is amazing the how the ideas and future starts opening up for you.

Stop being stuck and take the first step on the path you wish to journey on.

Colin Myles
Author

P.S.
" Energy creates results "

P.P.S.
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Vainglorious People

Last week I finished reading a book about the rise and fall of an athlete. In the book they used press clippings to boost the narrative. One of the clippings had the word " Vainglorious ". What a beautiful and strange word, it really caught my attention.

So I grabbed my trusty thesaurus and here's what popped out.

Vain
someone who is pleased with themselves, conceited
show off, egotistical
proud and arrogant
stuck up
narcissistic
swaggering

Glory
someone who gloats and relishes and revels over others

Glorious
the archaic meaning of the word is ; blistfully drunk ; with the antomys of unpleasant, disgusting and unknown.

A light bulb went off and like you I have come across people in life and business who would match the description of the above words to a tee. We have all come across the person who is so drunk on their own ego, it just becomes sad to be around them.

We all know someone who relishes in gloating over others, whether it be their position,title or money. We have met the proud, narcissistic and swaggering, who stand on a perch and views with disdain all who appear to be beneath them.

They may seem like life is good to them, but if you take a look at the traits mentioned, it is all probably a myth in their own mind. What to do you say ; well avoid them like the plague, they are just not worth your time and effort. It is not worth getting caught up in their games, because to them you are just a stepping stone, nothing more, nothing less.

In your work life if you happen to have a boss like this, tread carefully. You will have to figure out for yourself, whether the company will allow this person to survive and thrive or get rid of the rotten apple. Each place is different.

All I know is that it is not a nice environment to be in or around. Same way as it is difficult to have a conversation with someone who is drunk, the vainglorious person is the one talking, not listening. Plotting not collaborating. Smashing up not mending.

Luckily I stopped hanging around people like that and it has made my life more peaceful. In the end the majority of people with the vainglorious attitude tend to come to an ugly end. Make sure you are not caught in the rubble as their mythical kingdom comes crashing down around them.

Colin Myles
Author

P.S.
Meditate,
Live purely,
Be quiet,
Do your work with mastery,
Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds ! Shine
Buddha

P.P.S.
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