Do You Have Exit Mentality?

I am fresh back from a rejuvenating vacation at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. That's me all bundled up to ward off the bitter cold, probably around 38 degrees. (We Californians are such weather wimps!)

We stayed at the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and were actually there for the closing day of the season. Although I'm not complaining about the service we received, I have to say, it was clear that nearly every single staff member we encountered suffered from a huge bout of Exit Mentality. And they weren't shy about it. We asked each employee how they felt about leaving for the winter and what their upcoming plans were until May when the lodge reopens. Their response could usually be boiled down to 3 words, "I am DONE."

Do you know that feeling? When you are just so over working with a difficult client who is getting ready to wrap up their current contract? Or you can't wait until your membership runs out with a particular networking groups or organization? We have all experienced this phenomenon at some point.

So what's the solution? Or is this truly a problem? How does this mentality affect you and your business? Does it impact your performance, ability to generate new business, or attitude? Only you can say for sure.

Or maybe you see evidence of this in your own team members or staff. How can you lovingly or curtly, depending on your personal style, call this to their attention and address it in a productive manner?

If you discover that you have momentarily checked out and are just going through the motions, make the time to recharge and get excited again about the vision for your business.

For the notes to a recent training I led at the Results Mastery Club on strategic planning and refining your vision, click here.

Free Traffic for Your Blog?

This site bills itself as the "fastest and easiest way to instantly drive a flood of targeted readers to your blog…absolutely free." I dig the concept, but haven't yet taken it for a test drive.

Visit their site. Watch the video. Decide for yourself. Then come back and let us know if it deserves cheers or jeers.

What's Your Contingency Plan?

This topic has popped up a lot lately...in conversations with my clients, in my coaching group, and most recently, this morning in my Business Network International (BNI) meeting. And let me tell you, it's surprising how few business owners have back-up plans in case of an emergency!

Do you safeguard against a computer crash or theft? I know a photographer who lost portrait photos that he had downloaded for his clients when his laptop was stolen out of his office in broad daylight. Lost forever. And a lot of explaining to do to an angry client.

What happens if you misplace your schedule or leave your cell phone at home?

What happens if the power goes out?

Can you still run your business?

Something to think about....Identify the worst case scenarios that can literally put you out of business, at least temporarily. And then design a plan to save the day.

Risk Management is something we'll be working on at the Results Mastery Club in the near future.

Find Hot Spots in a Flash

I read this tip in Tim Ferriss' book, The Four-Hour Workweek. This little gadget from Golden Lantern, called a Wifinder, helps you locate wireless hot spots quickly and easily. It's a nifty little (small enough to fit on your key chain) tool if you do business on-the-go a lot and need to find a good signal fast for your PDA, laptop, or other wireless device.

And as of this writing, it's on sale. Sweet!

Happy Thanksgiving

To all our friends in Canada who celebrate Thanksgiving Day today (and to everyone else as well):

“Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.”

--Kahlil Gibran

3 Stories From Steve Jobs

Apple has always been near and dear to my heart. Having learned how to do desktop publishing on a clunky MacIntosh computer back in the early 90s, I remain ever faithful to Apple technology.

Now Apple brings you closer to free education via iTunes U. Search for classes from major universities in a wide range of subjects from physics to philosophy. Their current top download is the immortal commencement address that Apple founder, Steve Jobs, gave at Stanfurd University (no that's not a typo...I went to arch rival Cal Berkeley) back in 1995. He tells 3 inspiring stories from his life including the upside of being publicly fired from Apple and his fight against cancer, finishing with the advice "Stay hungry. Stay foolish."

You don't need an iPod to listen to any of these fantastic resources. Just download iTunes to either your Mac or PC computer. It's free. Once on iTunes, click on iTunes U on the left sidebar. Then you're free to learn to your heart's content.

Is Your Office a Pain in the Neck?

If you sit and work on your computer for any length of time, you are vulnerable to the aches and pains of poor ergonomics. And because your health and well-being are the foundations of your business, it just makes good sense to invest a little time and effort into making your command center (i.e. your work station) as comfortable as possible. You can also increase your productivity and enhance your work quality of life.

Check out Office-Ergo.com and learn more than you ever wanted to know about workplace ergonomics. Don't let it overwhelm you. Visit pages like "Eyestrain Basics" and "Hand and Arm Basics" and you'll be good to go.