Think of discipline as a hot-air balloon, the structure holding together the chaos of daily life, allowing lift. Without the nylon material, the vessel for the air, we would all be grounded. -Daily discipline in budgeting tells you where you in your monthly financial walk, and lets you know what you can do without guilt … Continue reading Discipline Equals Freedom
Perhaps you've heard the antiquated phrase: "bosses push, leaders pull" Well maybe there's a better solution that doesn't lie at the outer edges. What if the best leaders were those that pushed and pulled at the same time? In the military there is a concept called leading up and down the chain of command, described … Continue reading SEEK Ownership
Not good: What can customers do for our business? (internal-focus) Better: What can the company do for customers? (internal-focus) Best: What do customers need from us? (external focus) One of these is a sustainable perspective. The best option is to always be asking what needs customers have and to innovate in filling those needs. Becoming … Continue reading How to Frame Marketing and Relationships
The journey to the top starts with a single step. For many entrepreneurs, this first step can often sound like: "where will we get money" to fund projects, instead of "how do we make money" doing the actual work. Use the resources you already have to start, today. In the concept of effectuation, this is called … Continue reading Start
Sometimes the most loving thing we can do in a given situation is to say "no". It seems emotionally counterintuitive. If we love or care for someone, we naturally want them to have what they want. Remember: We train people on how to interact with us based on what we do over and over. The … Continue reading The Strategic No
April 11, 2012. My wife and I had spent the better part of two years attacking our debts. After going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University with a group of close friends in the Navy, we set about the business of organizing our debt snowball and pursuing the peace of mind debt freedom would surely bring. … Continue reading The Day We Became Financially Free
Military veterans are tremendously valuable in today's workplace. Here are 20 reasons why hiring a veteran might be one of the best investments you can make in your business: Veterans are trained in ways you cannot possibly train in the private sector. They are disciplined. They are reliable. They show up on time. They respect the "uniform of … Continue reading 20 Reasons to Hire a Veteran
bal·ance noun 1. an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady. 2. a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions. Remember with this concept: "Correct proportions." In his book, "The One Thing", prolific author Gary Keller proposes that a balanced life is a myth, that there … Continue reading Balance in the Level 1 Life, Defined
"Marketing myopia" is a term coined by Harvard Professor Theodore Levitt. It describes the short-sighted practice of companies that view marketing as the goal of selling specific products rather than from the standpoint of fulfilling customers' needs. Selling is often a by-product of a business that values volume over relationships. It is an inside-out approach. … Continue reading Marketing versus Selling
Intelligent investors, especially those just starting out, follow some or all of these balanced principles: They invest based on well-defined goals. They basically understand how everything they own works, before they buy it. They know how their adviser gets paid at every level. They also know how much they pay per year in account and … Continue reading Intelligent Investing
Do you work in a company or organization that is generally effective, but moves slowly and inefficiently in it's processes? Conversely, do you find that the company you work for is very efficient at doing ineffective things? Before we start a project or initiate organizational change, we had better define success. If success means more widgets … Continue reading Effectiveness vs. Efficiency
Part of planning for a new year must involve reflecting on the year that is ending. Remember how you feel today - take inventory of 2016 in all six focus factor areas and track your progress in each. How are you measurably tracking your focus factors? Here are some ideas for ways to to gauge progress: Food: … Continue reading 2016 Focus Factor Tracking
Level One Life - Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness, Food, Fun 