Here’s a reflection about the last 1%.

I’ve been working on several projects that culminate in the next few weeks.

I’ve written a new book and released it for purchase yesterday. I have a webinar today and another in two days. I have a seminar for it in three days. I have sales goals for the next quarter. And a business plan, and a marketing plan.

Luckily for me, I have a set of deadlines and events scheduled so that all of this will simply take place.

So much planning has gone into all this that it seems like all I have do is show up.

And some days just showing up is what you need to do. As the old one-liner goes: “Our success depends on your execution.”

I’ve written about the three focal points of success (see http://www.relaxfocussucceed.com/Articles/2004120001.htm). These are the ultimate goals, the short-term goals, and the present moment.

When you’ve battled 99 yards and you’re finally at the one yard line, it’s all about the present moment. It’s about doing this one thing in front of you as well as you can. And I don’t mean that you should just be there and go through the motions. Be there and do the best that you can!

The great danger is not that you’ll trip and fall and stumble, although that’s possible. The real danger is the next project. The real danger is that you’ll take your eyes off the ball and start playing the next game before this one’s over.

For example, I’m launching a new adventure in a month. We’ve hired our first employee, started building the web site, set up the credit card processing, and it’s becoming real. It also has a business plan and a marketing plan.

There’s a ton of work to be done on that front and it’s very easy to spend my time working on the “new” projects. But that means taking my focus off the current project. And if I do that, then I won’t do my best at the job in front of me at the moment.

Balance is critical in everything.

And sometimes the right balance is to put all of your energy on one thing for a period of time!

So I’m going to work hard to finish this last 1% before I throw my energy into new adventures.

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So this duck goes into a pharmacy.

He puts some Chapstick on the counter, and the pharmacist says,

Do you want me to put that on your bill?

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I’ve been catching up on my blogs and came across a great posting from one of my favorite people.

See http://www.uksmbgirl.co.uk/blog/archives/244.

 Wherein Susanne Dansey makes some excellent points regarding enjoying your job. She also manages to throw in a few notes about trollies, tills, and tutting.

You know, we spend a lot of time talking about good customer service. There’s also a thing called being a good customer. Consider, as you go through your day, are you the kind of person you would want as a customer?

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One of the best things you can do, in many area of your life, is to be silent and take in the world. Here are three quick thoughts.

First, we all hear the advice over and over: You have two ears and one mouth, so you should do twice as much listening as talking. True enough. At work, at home, and with our children. Let the other person give you all the information they have so you can make better decisions.

Second, examine what truly successful people do. In high level meetings, the person who says the least is usually the decision maker. They observe the discussion and take in the advice. They know they can speak whenever they want to, but that’s not necessarily what’s needed from them.

Third, try some quiet time. Every morning, sit quietly by yourself and think about the day ahead.

If you love truth,
Be a lover of Silence.
Silence like the sunlight will illuminate you in God
And will deliver you from the phantoms of ignorance.
Silence will unite you to God…
  — Thomas Merton

So how do you get started? Here’s one article to get you pointed in the right direction: http://www.relaxfocussucceed.com/Articles/2004040001.htm

Enjoy.

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When you look around your work area, what do you see? Is it drab and dreary or inspiring?

Whether you work at a desk, a home office, a cubicle — or any place else — you can make your workplace inspiring. Here are a few things that might help.

First, you should have your goals posted.
Which goals? Well, whichever you want in front of you. What are your major projects for the year? Write them down and put them in front of you.

Second, put up some of your favorite quotes.
I have a series of picture frames — the basic cheap black 8.5×11″ kind — posted on my wall. Each one contains one of my favorite quotes. In fact, several of them have old favorite quotes hidden behind the one on display. So I can cycle through them. It never hurts to glance up and be inspired!

Third, put up things that make you happy or help you look forward to something.
My wife has a huge newspaper article about walking tours posted on the wall above her desk. That thing’s been up there for more than two years. Guess what? She’s going on a walking tour in France next month.

You could put up a bunch of sarcastic cartoons, dirty jokes, and stuff that makes fun of your boss. But let’s assume you have a limited amount of workspace: why not put up things that give you a positive attitude and help you advance along your way?

I don’t stare at the wall next to my desk. But I do glance from time to time. And when I do, I’m likely to spot some little thing that lifts me up and helps me along my way.

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