How do you use the last week of the year to be more productive, when the rest of the year has been anything but normal? This is the 5th-annual installment in a series where I look at how we can more effectively use the last week of the year. In normal times, that last week is a chance to do things a little differently. To take stock and make big plans. But when coming to the end of a year like 2020, how can you put a bow on it and move to the next? There are a lot of adjectives that have been floating around for the times we're in (I've adopted "wack" or "wack-a-doo" as my go-to choices). But no matter what you call it, individually … [Read more...]
Create Massive Leverage with the Last Week of 2019: 17 Experts Show You How to Master 2020 Now
One of the things I love about the internet is that you can answer any random question you have with just a few keystrokes. And this year I wanted to learn what Yule was...as in the Yule log and Yuletide and all of the other references that pop up in Christmas songs. It turns out that it was a 12-day festival that started right after the winter solstice in German and Nordic countries when they were still pagan. A lot of their celebrations morphed into our current holiday traditions. Twelve days of celebrating with some food, music, and liquid cheer makes a lot of sense when it's cold and dark all of the time. (Here in Chicago, the … [Read more...]
Create Massive Leverage with the Last Week of 2018: 15 Experts Show You How to Master 2019 Now
In December it gets way too dark, way too early (at least in the northern hemisphere). Here in Chicago, the sun sets around 5:00 and then it's a long, cold night. And the days themselves can be pretty grey. It's not very motivating. Then you add in the busyness and distractions of the holiday season, and it can be hard to focus and find motivation. Especially when you get to the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Too often, I see people just bounce around like an aimless pinball during that week. They're half-in and half-out of business mode, half-in and half-out of relaxation mode, and 100% not-engaged in anything. So … [Read more...]
Create Massive Leverage with the Last Week of 2017: 12 Experts Show You How to Master 2018 Now
Early in my career, I had a mentor that shared one of the secrets of happiness as a business owner: "When you're working, work. When you're not working, don't work." That might sound obvious, but the week between the holidays is an easy opportunity to not live by that credo. It can be challenging to approach the last week of December the same way you approach the rest of the year, but that doesn't mean it has to be wasted. I collected ideas from some of the top experts out there on how you can use this week to skyrocket your 2018, even before it happens. Escape the Black Hole between Christmas and New Year's It can be tempting to … [Read more...]
Create Massive Leverage with the Last Week of 2016: 15 Experts Show You How to Master 2017 Now
Because I’ve been in sales and entrepreneurship my entire career, I have a slightly skewed view of the last days of the year. While my friends and family were often taking days off to calmly wind down the year, I’d usually be neck-deep in spreadsheets and napkins full of sales projections. Of course, that is if I wasn’t desperately trying to find a prospect who was in their office so I could hit my year-end numbers or get a head start on my goals for the next quarter. You've probably had some similar experiences. As I continue to work with sales professionals, business owners, and entrepreneurs, I’ve found just how important this … [Read more...]
Do You Want to Start a Podcast? Here’s What I Learned from my First 11 Episodes
With Season 1 of our podcast, Beer, Beats, & Business wrapping up, I wanted to share some of the lessons that I learned from my first few months into the podcast world. It's been a lot of fun, and I'm proud of what we've created so far. If you are looking to start your own podcast, these concepts will steer you along the right path. They apply to much more than podcasting, though. Whether you are starting a podcast, a book, a blog, or a business, these ideas are totally relevant. 1. Now is Better than Perfect The podcast idea started kicking around my head 6 months before I got around to starting. I knew a little about audio … [Read more...]
How to Find Harmony in Business Like a Zen Master: Balance Strategy and Tactics
What's more important: strategy or tactics? What's your first impulse? Don't worry about getting the right answer, because there isn't one. It's a trick question. I think it's a false dichotomy and that neither is more important. It's likely, though, that your knee-jerk response favored one or the other. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but it's worth noting which way you leaned. Your unconscious tendencies have a strong impact on where you put your focus. This means they also can give us clues as to what we are missing. I've built my career looking at how professionals can be more successful by paying attention to how … [Read more...]