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I started making sales calls this week. My goal was to make ten sales calls. What am I selling and to whom? For my current promo campaign I am targeting wedding photographers. I am selling partnership. I am offering my services as a video editor to any wedding photographer who would like to offload their post-production work so that they can spend their time behind their camera instead of their computer.
I have collated a list of almost 500 photography businesses in GTA and have identified that 168 of those claim (or once claimed) to do wedding photography. In theory, if I call each of those 168 businesses I should find someone who will want to do business with me, yes?
I used some of the tricks I learned at my weekend with Tony Robbins (see Walking on fire) to get myself in the right frame of mind. Change my physiology to change my state - sit up straight, don't slouch; smile, look up and not down.
The first call I made was a wrong number and the second call went to an answering machine and it didn't sound like a business. I didn't leave a message. What if my whole list was garbage? What if I spent the time calling each of the 168 prospects and they all turn out to be wrong numbers? Discouragement started creeping up on me.
Well forget that. Next!
On call number three, the guy I spoke with said, "Yeah, we might be interested in outsourcing when we get busy." Great! Now what's my next step?
Do I sound like I was a little under-prepared? Yes. But I needed to start building momentum. I needed to start building my sales muscle. That's why my initial goal was to make only 10 calls out of 168. What did I learn? I felt as much hesitation before making call #10 as I did before making call #1. I thought it was supposed to get easier with practice. So far it hasn't.
Maybe I need to continue building my muscle.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Discovering the writing process
I've completed the first three chapters of the novel I started writing last year, That Warrior Spirit. I am way behind the schedule I set for myself last year but I am determined to get back on track. The idea for this book came to me about a year ago; I spent July and August of last year creating the characters and the outline, and started writing it, probably around September.
In my outline I set it to be eight chapters, so after a year I am almost halfway done.
This weekend I started pre-writing for Chapter 4. This is a new word that I discovered and I've adopted it to describe what I've discovered to be one of the steps in my writing process. I have found that even with a comprehensive outline I am still sometimes challenged to sit down and write a scene. It takes me a while to get into the zone, to connect with the characters and connect with the scene. The step of pre-writing is a step in which I write from stream of consciousness. I keep the language very informal. I just sit down, start asking the characters what they do and write down whatever comes up. Almost always during the pre-writing process I land in the zone, where the ideas, the emotions, and the words just start to flow. Very often all I need to do next to write the scene is to change the language of a pre-write; change it from present tense language into past tense language.
I used to call this step a writing blitz but I saw the term pre-writing in a book about writing and decided to adopt it. The step of pre-writing is similar to the exercise I used to do, writing morning pages, when I was going through The Artist's Way.
In my outline I set it to be eight chapters, so after a year I am almost halfway done.
This weekend I started pre-writing for Chapter 4. This is a new word that I discovered and I've adopted it to describe what I've discovered to be one of the steps in my writing process. I have found that even with a comprehensive outline I am still sometimes challenged to sit down and write a scene. It takes me a while to get into the zone, to connect with the characters and connect with the scene. The step of pre-writing is a step in which I write from stream of consciousness. I keep the language very informal. I just sit down, start asking the characters what they do and write down whatever comes up. Almost always during the pre-writing process I land in the zone, where the ideas, the emotions, and the words just start to flow. Very often all I need to do next to write the scene is to change the language of a pre-write; change it from present tense language into past tense language.
I used to call this step a writing blitz but I saw the term pre-writing in a book about writing and decided to adopt it. The step of pre-writing is similar to the exercise I used to do, writing morning pages, when I was going through The Artist's Way.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Walking on fire
I had an intense and incredible experience at the Tony Robbins program this weekend, Unleash the Power Within. The program went from Thursday to Sunday. The highlight of Thursday was the firewalk. It seems counterintuitive that the firewalk would be on the first night - after all, where do you go after you've done the impossible?
I was impressed by Tony Robbins, I expected that he would put in an appearance for an hour or two and that other speakers would fill the remainder of the program. Surely the promoters were just using his name to sell the program, yes? Well, no. Robbins started around two o'clock on Thursday and he kept on going and going and going. He took no breaks (and gave none either!), and kept going for a good eight hours or so. He has an incredible amount of energy and presence.
The bulk of the program on Thursday was used in preparing the 3,000 participants for the firewalk. The top three tools that he used to reinforce the learning were repetition, repetition, and repetition. For most of the afternoon I did not know whether I would do the firewalk or not. I had various reasons for not doing it, but I also could see clearly what was on the other side for me if I did - I saw the rest if my life on the other side.
I thought about the saying, if you want to walk on water you have to get out of the boat. I stood by and watched other people do the walk. I stood by for quite a while then noticed that I was letting lots of people walk past me and do the walk while I just watched. I finally mustered up my courage and moved into line. Soon I was at the front of the line and it was my turn.
It took about five quick steps and it was over. Woo hoo! I did it! I didn't feel any heat at all during my walk. The sensation I felt was like walking on cool ashes. I felt something peel off the bottoms of my feet after I came out of it. Did I sear the skin on my feet? Were the bottoms of my feet all burned and blackened with layers of skin peeling off?
No. It was just leaves and grass that had stuck to my feet before I did the walk, and were now peeling off. My feet were fine, still white. In fact, the day after they felt like I had just had a great foot massage.
I celebrated my triumph with some of the other participants and I texted a few people to brag about what I'd just done and then I headed back to the convention hall to get my shoes and socks. When I got back to the hall, it seemed that I could tell by the look on people's faces who had done the walk and who had not. I was really glad that I was one of the people who did do it.
I was impressed by Tony Robbins, I expected that he would put in an appearance for an hour or two and that other speakers would fill the remainder of the program. Surely the promoters were just using his name to sell the program, yes? Well, no. Robbins started around two o'clock on Thursday and he kept on going and going and going. He took no breaks (and gave none either!), and kept going for a good eight hours or so. He has an incredible amount of energy and presence.
The bulk of the program on Thursday was used in preparing the 3,000 participants for the firewalk. The top three tools that he used to reinforce the learning were repetition, repetition, and repetition. For most of the afternoon I did not know whether I would do the firewalk or not. I had various reasons for not doing it, but I also could see clearly what was on the other side for me if I did - I saw the rest if my life on the other side.
I thought about the saying, if you want to walk on water you have to get out of the boat. I stood by and watched other people do the walk. I stood by for quite a while then noticed that I was letting lots of people walk past me and do the walk while I just watched. I finally mustered up my courage and moved into line. Soon I was at the front of the line and it was my turn.
It took about five quick steps and it was over. Woo hoo! I did it! I didn't feel any heat at all during my walk. The sensation I felt was like walking on cool ashes. I felt something peel off the bottoms of my feet after I came out of it. Did I sear the skin on my feet? Were the bottoms of my feet all burned and blackened with layers of skin peeling off?
No. It was just leaves and grass that had stuck to my feet before I did the walk, and were now peeling off. My feet were fine, still white. In fact, the day after they felt like I had just had a great foot massage.
I celebrated my triumph with some of the other participants and I texted a few people to brag about what I'd just done and then I headed back to the convention hall to get my shoes and socks. When I got back to the hall, it seemed that I could tell by the look on people's faces who had done the walk and who had not. I was really glad that I was one of the people who did do it.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
The Einstein Effect
Sometimes when I play with GIMP late at night I end up having interesting dreams. In this case, I had a vision. Albert Einstein in a Starfleet uniform, a book cover. Maybe this will be the third book in my Mission: Dawn series (I already got other ideas for book two).
Friday, May 08, 2009
Do not leave popcorn unattended in microwave
A few weeks ago I was playing around in GIMP, the open source graphic image manipulator. I read some tutorials on how to make starfields and nebulas. Tonight I read a tutorial on how to make a planet.
I felt like munching on a snack and I'd already had some ice cream so I found a bag of popcorn and put it in the microwave oven. I don't trust the Popcorn setting and I recall from past experience that 2:30 is about the amount of time that it takes. So I punched in 2:30, hit Start, and went back to my laptop to build my first planet.
Two and a half minutes the microwave beeped. I went back to the kitchen and opened the microwave door. Smoky smoky smoky! There was a nice big burn mark on the paper bag. So 2:30 is too long for this brand of popcorn. But it is enough time to make a decent looking planet.
Monday, May 04, 2009
A Grand team meeting
If any team meeting had the potential to be a totally screwed up meeting it was tonight's meeting (see A Grand new journey). I was burned out all last week and didn't tackle planning the meeting until Sunday night - the night before. Kind of late for delegating major parts of the meeting to other men. So I would need to prepare to lead most of it myself. Add to that half the team being busy and not coming, add to that we met at a location where we had never met before, add to that me being late because I didn't leave the house early enough to get to the site on time, add to that there was only one man there when I arrived...
Despite all that, it was a great meeting for the men who did come. In total we were five men - four members plus one first-time guest. I remained focused on my context, purpose, and results, and on delivering value. My purpose was "having great communication in all relationships", and a couple of results I had were "all men including guests are encouraged to participate" and "men are encouraged to be open with each other". With that in mind, I managed to direct a non-purposeful chit-chat session into a spontaneously developed exercise in which men shared things about themselves and then expressed what they learned about the other men.
What I learned - we don't need to have a large number of men present to have a Grand meeting. Also that I am good at being flexible, adapting my agenda on the fly, generally by listening to and trusting my intuition. It does speak to me when I need it. Although this is a strength that is good to have for producing value under dubious circumstances, I have to be careful not to become too cocky, not to use it as a substitute for planning and preparation.
Oh, by the way, I finally had a chance to say "Make it so" tonight.
Despite all that, it was a great meeting for the men who did come. In total we were five men - four members plus one first-time guest. I remained focused on my context, purpose, and results, and on delivering value. My purpose was "having great communication in all relationships", and a couple of results I had were "all men including guests are encouraged to participate" and "men are encouraged to be open with each other". With that in mind, I managed to direct a non-purposeful chit-chat session into a spontaneously developed exercise in which men shared things about themselves and then expressed what they learned about the other men.
What I learned - we don't need to have a large number of men present to have a Grand meeting. Also that I am good at being flexible, adapting my agenda on the fly, generally by listening to and trusting my intuition. It does speak to me when I need it. Although this is a strength that is good to have for producing value under dubious circumstances, I have to be careful not to become too cocky, not to use it as a substitute for planning and preparation.
Oh, by the way, I finally had a chance to say "Make it so" tonight.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
A string of wins
I've had a string of recent wins in the past few weeks and I've been so busy and working intensely that I haven't had time to celebrate them until this week.
My successful presentation and completion of Phase III; the completion and delivery of my "Final" business plan; a successful completion of Legacy Discovery weekend as Training Team Manager; the sale of one of my rental properties. These are all some big wins that I've had lately.
Last week was an intense week for me. My business plan was due on Monday and I knew I was going to not have time on the weekend to work on it, so I was scrambling to finish as much of it as possible last week. I handed it in yesterday and went to Booster Juice to treat myself to a smoothie as a celebration.
Today I was in decompression mode. I felt the need to feed my creative side. I spent some time doing the layout for a photobook in Scribus, and in the evening went to High Park with my digital camera to shoot some more pictures. I only took a few before the battery in my camera ran down.
Batteries running down seems to be a theme this week. The battery in my Palm Pilot won't hold a charge for very long anymore, so I may need to look for a replacement soon.
I need to charge up my Palm Pilot, I need to charge up the batteries for my digital camera, and I need to recharge me.
My successful presentation and completion of Phase III; the completion and delivery of my "Final" business plan; a successful completion of Legacy Discovery weekend as Training Team Manager; the sale of one of my rental properties. These are all some big wins that I've had lately.
Last week was an intense week for me. My business plan was due on Monday and I knew I was going to not have time on the weekend to work on it, so I was scrambling to finish as much of it as possible last week. I handed it in yesterday and went to Booster Juice to treat myself to a smoothie as a celebration.
Today I was in decompression mode. I felt the need to feed my creative side. I spent some time doing the layout for a photobook in Scribus, and in the evening went to High Park with my digital camera to shoot some more pictures. I only took a few before the battery in my camera ran down.
Batteries running down seems to be a theme this week. The battery in my Palm Pilot won't hold a charge for very long anymore, so I may need to look for a replacement soon.
I need to charge up my Palm Pilot, I need to charge up the batteries for my digital camera, and I need to recharge me.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Allergic reaction?
I think I am allergic to Touched By An Angel.
There is a book in the house, it's called In the Words of Angels. It contains “twenty inspiring stories from Touched By An Angel"; it belongs to one of my house mates. I like to read when I'm eating and I often pick up this book and read a couple of stories while I'm having my breakfast or dinner.
With every story that I've read in this book, I've experienced an allergic reaction. My throat constricts, my eyes water, and I feel a peculiar sensation in my heart. Are those not symptoms of an allergy? So far I haven't needed an epinephrine.
There is a book in the house, it's called In the Words of Angels. It contains “twenty inspiring stories from Touched By An Angel"; it belongs to one of my house mates. I like to read when I'm eating and I often pick up this book and read a couple of stories while I'm having my breakfast or dinner.
With every story that I've read in this book, I've experienced an allergic reaction. My throat constricts, my eyes water, and I feel a peculiar sensation in my heart. Are those not symptoms of an allergy? So far I haven't needed an epinephrine.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Presentation Day
I had my Presentation Day yesterday. What that means is that I handed in the first draft version of my business plan and gave a ten minute presentation to a panel of business people.
I got up early because I still needed to finish printing my business plan. I have it structured as a separate document for each section so I needed to open each document, print it, and put all the sections together. And get it stapled - my stapler won't punch through it because there are too many pages. For my next version I am going to structure it as a master document with sub-documents.
I had set my alarm to go off at 4am so I'd have enough time to do all my last minute preparations in the morning before going off to my 9am presentation.
My alarm went off promptly at 4am and woke me. Anguish! Cruel cruel universe! I did not want to do this - I just went to bed four hours before that!
I finally hauled myself out of bed. Threw the dress shirt I wanted to wear into the dryer with a sheet of Bounce. Bachelor-style dry-cleaning. Went off to take my shower.
It was sooooo nice to be in the shower. Warm. Wet. Comforting. I felt like standing under the falling water for, like, half an hour. I didn't.
I knew I needed to be thinking about my presentation, getting mentally prepared, but I was still processing my thoughts and feelings from the previous day. No time for that! I have a job to do and I need to prepare for it!
By 7:30 I was done printing my business plan and finished collating my handouts. The Executive Summary needs more work but that was all the time I had for it.
I took a moment to update my Facebook status to wish everyone in my OSEB class well with their presentations. My morning magic chuckle - watching the Muppets "Manna manna" video that one of my classmates had linked on her Facebook. Then off to McDonalds for breakfast.
McDonalds - the breakfast of champions. And of busy entrepreneurs.
By 10:47 I was done, presentation, question and answer, feedback and all. Done! It went by quickly; it went well. One of the panelists complemented my presentation skills and said that with the right tools I would have no trouble selling. My three times at Twenty First Century Leadership and my experience on the core team in MDI have paid off; this is where I have practiced my presentation style.
After it was over I went to Booster Juice and treated myself to a celebratory smoothie.
The last ten weeks have gone by quickly. Tomorrow is my last day in Phase III. I have a workshop in the morning, Introduction to Phase IV, and in the afternoon we have our class graduation party. Yipee!
I got up early because I still needed to finish printing my business plan. I have it structured as a separate document for each section so I needed to open each document, print it, and put all the sections together. And get it stapled - my stapler won't punch through it because there are too many pages. For my next version I am going to structure it as a master document with sub-documents.
I had set my alarm to go off at 4am so I'd have enough time to do all my last minute preparations in the morning before going off to my 9am presentation.
My alarm went off promptly at 4am and woke me. Anguish! Cruel cruel universe! I did not want to do this - I just went to bed four hours before that!
I finally hauled myself out of bed. Threw the dress shirt I wanted to wear into the dryer with a sheet of Bounce. Bachelor-style dry-cleaning. Went off to take my shower.
It was sooooo nice to be in the shower. Warm. Wet. Comforting. I felt like standing under the falling water for, like, half an hour. I didn't.
I knew I needed to be thinking about my presentation, getting mentally prepared, but I was still processing my thoughts and feelings from the previous day. No time for that! I have a job to do and I need to prepare for it!
By 7:30 I was done printing my business plan and finished collating my handouts. The Executive Summary needs more work but that was all the time I had for it.
I took a moment to update my Facebook status to wish everyone in my OSEB class well with their presentations. My morning magic chuckle - watching the Muppets "Manna manna" video that one of my classmates had linked on her Facebook. Then off to McDonalds for breakfast.
McDonalds - the breakfast of champions. And of busy entrepreneurs.
By 10:47 I was done, presentation, question and answer, feedback and all. Done! It went by quickly; it went well. One of the panelists complemented my presentation skills and said that with the right tools I would have no trouble selling. My three times at Twenty First Century Leadership and my experience on the core team in MDI have paid off; this is where I have practiced my presentation style.
After it was over I went to Booster Juice and treated myself to a celebratory smoothie.
The last ten weeks have gone by quickly. Tomorrow is my last day in Phase III. I have a workshop in the morning, Introduction to Phase IV, and in the afternoon we have our class graduation party. Yipee!
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
A Grand new journey
Tonight I have completed in my role as member of the core team in my Men's Division. It's been a long journey, of about three and a half years, and it is a journey that I am proud to have taken.
I don't think of it as something that I have completed, so much as something that I have exchanged for a new journey. My new journey is as Captain of a new team in the Division - team Grand Central.
When I joined the Men's Division (MDI), I joined a team called South Central. Team South Central has changed quite a bit since then. It has become a more powerful team, a team of leaders. It has also grown in numbers, to the point where men started talking about splitting the team.
Some men were in favour of splitting the team and some were opposed, but I think that all agreed that an eventual split was inevitable. Thus was born the Intentional Growth strategy - a vision and a plan for South Central to manage its own growth and evolution rather than split in anticipation of becoming too large to be effective.
Out of the Intentional Growth strategy came the idea of operating as two teams that were "separate but connected". This is a unique mode of operation within the Division, but then South Central has developed a team culture of innovating and pioneering.
Grand Central is one of the two "separate" teams that has born out of the growth of South Central, and I am looking forward to my new journey and my new role as Captain of this team.
I don't think of it as something that I have completed, so much as something that I have exchanged for a new journey. My new journey is as Captain of a new team in the Division - team Grand Central.
When I joined the Men's Division (MDI), I joined a team called South Central. Team South Central has changed quite a bit since then. It has become a more powerful team, a team of leaders. It has also grown in numbers, to the point where men started talking about splitting the team.
Some men were in favour of splitting the team and some were opposed, but I think that all agreed that an eventual split was inevitable. Thus was born the Intentional Growth strategy - a vision and a plan for South Central to manage its own growth and evolution rather than split in anticipation of becoming too large to be effective.
Out of the Intentional Growth strategy came the idea of operating as two teams that were "separate but connected". This is a unique mode of operation within the Division, but then South Central has developed a team culture of innovating and pioneering.
Grand Central is one of the two "separate" teams that has born out of the growth of South Central, and I am looking forward to my new journey and my new role as Captain of this team.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Business cards ordered
I ordered my Stage 1 business cards on Friday. I'm justa movin', movin', movin', forward.
Decided not to wait to get my business name registered.
I call it Stage 1 - this stage is about the start-up activities that I will take that can be completed quickly and at a low cost. The purpose of this stage is to demonstrate that my business really exists. It's not just a figment of my imagination any more! It's purpose is also to support my initial networking and prospecting activities; in essence, to begin building momentum.
I've set up my business email account too. So far I've completed the first three activities on my Getting started list.
Decided not to wait to get my business name registered.
I call it Stage 1 - this stage is about the start-up activities that I will take that can be completed quickly and at a low cost. The purpose of this stage is to demonstrate that my business really exists. It's not just a figment of my imagination any more! It's purpose is also to support my initial networking and prospecting activities; in essence, to begin building momentum.
I've set up my business email account too. So far I've completed the first three activities on my Getting started list.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Domain name registered
I had planned to get my first batch of business cards done this week but decided to hold off. Reason being that I found that someone is already using the business name I want to use and the domain name I want to use.
I selected another domain name that I will use instead, and got it registered. I'm thinking about whether I should get my business name registered or not before getting my first batch of business cards done. I learned in class today that registering a business name does not actually protect my business name, it merely identifies me as being the person associated with that name.
So should I register my business name or not? I'll have to register it eventually anyway, so the question really is, how important is it that I register the name before I start printing and handing out my business cards?
I selected another domain name that I will use instead, and got it registered. I'm thinking about whether I should get my business name registered or not before getting my first batch of business cards done. I learned in class today that registering a business name does not actually protect my business name, it merely identifies me as being the person associated with that name.
So should I register my business name or not? I'll have to register it eventually anyway, so the question really is, how important is it that I register the name before I start printing and handing out my business cards?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Getting started
I find it hard to believe that I'm already in Week 7 of my OSEB Phase III program. I've already submitted two milestone assignments and have one more tomorrow.
The other day, my coach Stew asked me if I had to wait until I graduated from the program to get my business started. I told him that I do not - there are people in my class that have already got a business in some stage of development.
So - what am I waiting for? Do I really need to wait until I complete my business plan before I start doing business? No, I don't need to, and I'm not going to.
I've made a list of start-up activities that I can do that do not have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. I call this list Stage 1.
Here is my current list of Stage 1 activities:
I'm targeting to have my business card design completed by Tuesday.
The other day, my coach Stew asked me if I had to wait until I graduated from the program to get my business started. I told him that I do not - there are people in my class that have already got a business in some stage of development.
So - what am I waiting for? Do I really need to wait until I complete my business plan before I start doing business? No, I don't need to, and I'm not going to.
I've made a list of start-up activities that I can do that do not have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. I call this list Stage 1.
Here is my current list of Stage 1 activities:
- Design and print 250 business cards.
- Register domain name.
- Set up business email account.
- Attend first networking event.
- Complete first Touchstone (portfolio) video (add soundtrack and ending).
- Create initial list of people I want to be in my Mastermind group.
I'm targeting to have my business card design completed by Tuesday.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Practice practice practice
I went to see Avalon at the Queensway Cathedral tonight.
The opening performance was by Jay Calder, a very talented guitarist. He played a very unique style, one in which he provided all of his own accompaniment - all with just one acoustic guitar.
Steve O was there too. During the break he said to me, "I'll have to step down from the worship team now that I've seen him play guitar."
To which I replied, "Forget that, you should just practice more."
The opening performance was by Jay Calder, a very talented guitarist. He played a very unique style, one in which he provided all of his own accompaniment - all with just one acoustic guitar.
Steve O was there too. During the break he said to me, "I'll have to step down from the worship team now that I've seen him play guitar."
To which I replied, "Forget that, you should just practice more."
Friday, March 06, 2009
Is today Friday?
I had three all-day workshops this week - one on Monday, one on Wednesday, one today (Friday).
The lifestyle I have now is very close to my dream lifestyle, in the sense that I am no longer in the Monday to Friday nine-to-five schedule. However, I am sometimes confused about what day of the week it is. On Wednesday morning when I came to the workshop I was tempted to ask my classmates, "How was your weekend?" I see the same people several times a week and I hadn't seen them the day before (Tuesday) so my mind started telling me that a weekend had just finished.
A similar thing happened at the end of the day on Wednesday. I was tempted to say, "Have a nice weekend" as I left for the day. I knew I wasn't going to see them the next day (Thursday) so my mind started telling me that a weekend was about to begin. Not a bad lifestyle, having a one-day weekend the day before and a one-day weekend the day after.
As I left class at the end of today I realized that I actually could correctly say "Have a nice weekend."
The lifestyle I have now is very close to my dream lifestyle, in the sense that I am no longer in the Monday to Friday nine-to-five schedule. However, I am sometimes confused about what day of the week it is. On Wednesday morning when I came to the workshop I was tempted to ask my classmates, "How was your weekend?" I see the same people several times a week and I hadn't seen them the day before (Tuesday) so my mind started telling me that a weekend had just finished.
A similar thing happened at the end of the day on Wednesday. I was tempted to say, "Have a nice weekend" as I left for the day. I knew I wasn't going to see them the next day (Thursday) so my mind started telling me that a weekend was about to begin. Not a bad lifestyle, having a one-day weekend the day before and a one-day weekend the day after.
As I left class at the end of today I realized that I actually could correctly say "Have a nice weekend."
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Two deliverables
I had two deliverables due this week that were significant to me. The first deliverable was the completion of the first milestone for Phase III in my OSEB program - Mission Statement and Company Profile. The second deliverable was my participation in the Team Dynamics Training event held by MDI.
I completed my milestone assignment on Thursday evening and handed it in on Friday morning. I took the night off from rehearsal to have more time to complete it.
The Team Dynamics Training event was an all-day event yesterday, Saturday. I think the training went well and I feel good about how I did in my part.
Getting my first milestone completed in my OSEB program and delivering a successful TDT training are my top two accomplishments of this week and both are events worth celebrating.
I completed my milestone assignment on Thursday evening and handed it in on Friday morning. I took the night off from rehearsal to have more time to complete it.
The Team Dynamics Training event was an all-day event yesterday, Saturday. I think the training went well and I feel good about how I did in my part.
Getting my first milestone completed in my OSEB program and delivering a successful TDT training are my top two accomplishments of this week and both are events worth celebrating.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Mission Statement
My first assignment for the OSEB program is due next week. My assignment is to write the Mission Statement and Company Profile section of my business plan. This is what I have come up with for my mission statement: To create and shape new and better realities.
How well does this work as a mission statement for my business? For it to work it has to be more than a mission statement for my business, it has to be a mission statement for my life.
I've decided to operate under the premise that, whether or not I know my mission statement, I am living it out in my life. So to test this MS I would look at different parts of my life and ask "How does this MS show up in this area of my life?"
How does this MS show up in my music? When I write music, the song that I create becomes a new reality.
How does this MS show up in my writing? When I write for my novel, the characters and situations that I create become a new reality.
How does this MS show up when I participate on the training team for the Legacy Discovery weekend with my men's division? When I train a man or give a man my truth and he makes a different choice and improves his life, then I have shaped a new and better reality.
So I think that my mission statement lines up well with my personal mission and is close to my personal ideology, if not bang on.
How well does this work as a mission statement for my business? For it to work it has to be more than a mission statement for my business, it has to be a mission statement for my life.
I've decided to operate under the premise that, whether or not I know my mission statement, I am living it out in my life. So to test this MS I would look at different parts of my life and ask "How does this MS show up in this area of my life?"
How does this MS show up in my music? When I write music, the song that I create becomes a new reality.
How does this MS show up in my writing? When I write for my novel, the characters and situations that I create become a new reality.
How does this MS show up when I participate on the training team for the Legacy Discovery weekend with my men's division? When I train a man or give a man my truth and he makes a different choice and improves his life, then I have shaped a new and better reality.
So I think that my mission statement lines up well with my personal mission and is close to my personal ideology, if not bang on.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
OSEB application accepted
I got the word last week. Congratulations! You've been accepted. I'm about to start a new chapter in my life - the OSEB chapter. It's ironic that I got that call because the same morning, perhaps two hours earlier, I had a dream that they told me no.
Friday was contract signing day. I won't say that I've signed my life away, because I have already signed my life away several times. I will say though that I've signed the next 52 weeks of my life away.
Tomorrow is my first day at school.
Friday was contract signing day. I won't say that I've signed my life away, because I have already signed my life away several times. I will say though that I've signed the next 52 weeks of my life away.
Tomorrow is my first day at school.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
A new prayer
I have stopped praying for God to find me a wife. Instead I pray for God to make me be the kind of man that a woman would want for a husband.
I have stopped praying for God to give me a family. Instead I pray for God to make me be the kind of man that children would want for a father.
I have stopped praying for God to give me a family. Instead I pray for God to make me be the kind of man that children would want for a father.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Speed dating
I attended a speed dating event last week. The premise of the event is that an equal number of men and women attend, all pre-screened by age bracket. Each man has three minutes to talk to each woman. At the end of three minutes a bell rings and the man and woman each rate each other on the basis of would they like to see each other again. They rate each other on a scorecard that they turn in to the event organizers at the end of the evening. Where a man and a woman both ranked each other as Yes then the organizers send them each others contact information.
I was apprehensive about going to the event and was not in a great space about it. I even considered not going, but I had already committed to it last month so it wouldn't do to not go. Ninety percent of success is just showing up, right? The eleventh tenet of the leadership covenant - As a leader I never take myself out of the game. If you want to be a champion, fight one more round.
So I went. Three minutes go by very quickly. The premise is that most people know in less than three minutes if there is chemistry. That may be so, but I think that three minutes is not enough to get to know someone.
I did come away from the event feeling good and I enjoyed myself. Time went by so fast that I didn't have time to not enjoy myself.
A couple of days later I got the results back from the organizers and I had no matches. That left me feeling discouraged and wondering if dating is really all about superficialities. Will I do this venue again? I don't know; right now it's a toss up between not wanting to set myself up for disappointment or deciding that it's just a numbers game and keep playing it that way.
I was apprehensive about going to the event and was not in a great space about it. I even considered not going, but I had already committed to it last month so it wouldn't do to not go. Ninety percent of success is just showing up, right? The eleventh tenet of the leadership covenant - As a leader I never take myself out of the game. If you want to be a champion, fight one more round.
So I went. Three minutes go by very quickly. The premise is that most people know in less than three minutes if there is chemistry. That may be so, but I think that three minutes is not enough to get to know someone.
I did come away from the event feeling good and I enjoyed myself. Time went by so fast that I didn't have time to not enjoy myself.
A couple of days later I got the results back from the organizers and I had no matches. That left me feeling discouraged and wondering if dating is really all about superficialities. Will I do this venue again? I don't know; right now it's a toss up between not wanting to set myself up for disappointment or deciding that it's just a numbers game and keep playing it that way.
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