Why do people find Knock-Knock Jokes funny? Sure, they’re corny and silly, but the puns and play on words can be entertaining. They are smart in their own way. One’s mind has to open to see the comedic twist. Here’s an example,”When is a door not a door?” Answer: When it’s ajar! (Groan)

Let’s apply this pattern to something more serious, something that leaders often overlook. “When is a strategy not a strategy?” Answer: When it’s a list of goals strung together!

I see this thinking pattern misunderstanding frequently when I work with small business in particular. Why? Part of the reason is because there are not many “advisors” around to correct a direction.

That is why I created the Pivotal Thinking topic for the Virtual Mastermind Projects as a benign way to start everyone on the team from the same starting line. Pivotal Thinking relies on the executive functions within the brain. When there is impairment or “lag” in these functions, decision making can be terrifying and difficult. Pivotal Thinking is affected by several functions. Read more here.

Take a “fear” temperature. This exercise is an opportunity to plant seeds of success and engagement at all levels. Preconceived notions can damage progress-the “ain’t broke” rule! Discover what fears would stand in the way of progress.

So, how do you check if you have a real strategy or not?

1. How well does everyone connected with the company, brand, understand what’s behind it? Purpose must be embedded or it is hollow.

2. What logic can be applied at each level or extension of the company?

3. How well does the leader realize that front-line employees are critical to the implementation of the plan? It’s not enough to create the strategy and implement it. Robert Burgelman*, Stanford professor, contends (sic) that “bottom-up initiatives must come from employees that fall within set boundaries set by the strategic intent.” Strategy Is Destiny” How Strategy-making Shapes a Company’s Future

4. Self-selected choices emerge when employees pick which initiatives, led by the strategy, they believe in rather than being forced to make something work.

5. Consider intention rather than goals—Goals are the pillars that mark the intent to achieve the created strategy. For example, how do the choices relate back to the purpose, intention? How do individuals make it part of their job description?

Successful strategists embed room to experiment and find ways that don’t work rather than finding one answer.

6. Apply the Universal Why or Toyota’s root-cause analysis of asking why until they can’t anymore! For example, ask, “Why are we doing this? Why did the first choice fail?”

This is a hot topic that you can bring to your organization. When everyone starts from the same place, the universe is your oyster!

*Robert Burgelman-https://hbr.org/2017/11/many-strategies-fail-because-theyre-not-actually-strategies

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by Coachcubas

Behavior, coaching, communication, Emotional Intelligence 2.0, fulfillment, Service, Wisdom

Gratitude is a state of mind when you allow it

November 9, 2017

Gratitude is a state of mind.

Gratitude is not a natural state. Consider two toddlers in the same room with a fistful of goodies. Often, they will want what the other one has too! This description derives from a selfish desire for survival; it is hard-wired into us. Once we recognize the selfishness, then we can move in the direction of gratitude. It is one that we can aspire to because it changes the energy in our lives.

Today, and everyday, I celebrate the energy of gratitude. It is a state of mind that I cherish learned along my path to inner peace. I want to take a different tack to obtain gratitude, because once we claim the effort, it becomes part of us.

Here’s my point—

Predictably, we are entering the celebratory end of the year. There is so much hype, and it’s difficult to escape it—Santa in his new red Mercedes, for example! Why not spread the “hype” year round?

The good news is that gratitude is a year-round attitude. Since gratitude is a state of mind, I don’t just air it out at the year-end holiday times. I invoke it toward shifting my clients’ and personal views.

First, please allow me the assumption that energy vibrates throughout the universe, like microwaves and colors. Given that premise, gratitude is also a vibration. It is powerful, and can be magnetic. Like all things molecular, there are positive and negative charges to things. Although visually unseen, we can view the manifestation of gratitude. We know it when we see it! We recognize it in others, very different that the two toddlers previously mentioned.

In coaching, we often use perspectives as tools. When clients come to a session, they are in a perspective. Often, they need to shift to a different perspective to fully realize what they want or what action to take. It is magical because it works. Sometimes, changing a perspective is as simple as walking around your chair or sitting in a different position, or doing something out of your routine. Whatever the mechanics, gratitude works similarly.

Often, viewed in terms of blessings, gratitude is an awareness of one’s state of being, related to emotional intelligence (hyperlink). It can reflect what resources, conditions, feelings, and people are involved in our spheres. It marks our place in our universe. It can manifest in sharing and wanting to give from a spiritual or soul place of abundance (it’s difficult to give to another from scarcity.)

So, how can we actively invoke gratitude?

Many attribute gratitude to luck rather than reviewing the path of preparation and diligence of being prepared to receive and achieve. The power is in the actions we do toward our goals. That’s why I believe so much is said about the journey, not the destination! I’m grateful when I have the energy to see my actions through. It propels me further forward.

See how this “check in” works for you: Do you deserve things or do you earn them? How you answer can steer you toward feeling more gratitude.

When we don’t take things for granted or feel we are entitled, we have heightened awareness that the gratitude force is in our lives. It opens us to share, and makes room to receive more.

Learning how to experience more gratitude behooves us to pay attention. I find the little things can be filled with gratitude, stopping long enough to take it all in, and celebrating them. “Little things” are more abundant so they can raise our awareness more frequently. For example, going to the dog park with my beloved American Eskimo, Yukon,

is joyful for me. It is an actual feeling and brings me calm and serenity. I store it up for a time when I need it to remind myself of my blessings.

Gratitude is humbling, especially when we realize how precious life is. For me, I want to honor life and “show up” for my family, friends, clients, and strangers as my best self. That can be hard when a surly waitress comes to the table, for example. In such a case, I make an extra effort to understand she may have had a disastrous phone call or was up all night with a sick relative. Then, I shower her with kindness and call her by name. Amazing how this turns the energy of the situation around.

Gratitude is non-competitive

It thrives in abundance and never runs out. Exchanging one’s competitive drive to one of understanding and service works wonders! I only compete with myself to improve what I can be.

Often, gratitude is a compass.

When we are self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and understand the impact we have on others, gratitude can guide us to higher ground to be our higher selves. It opens doors and improves our likability factor! Not to be dismissed, our likability factor can be the difference between being hired, a photo finish in a race, or promotion in one’s career.

There is one requirement gratitude asks of us—

We must stop swirling in our lives long enough to observe and to listen to the vibrations around us. Once we are still, the gratitude in our lives can manifest, and we can enjoy what it brings.

Here is my gratitude mantra, my three gifts of gratitude: (♬ ♪♫♬ Sung to the tune of my favorite things!)

· I am grateful for the blessing of a sharp mind and the ability to learn and share ideas with others.

· I am grateful I can contribute to the world and my circle of influence.

· I am grateful for the ability to engage in different perspectives when addressing issues and challenges while I seek solutions.

Joy to you all. —MC

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by Coachcubas

Action plan, business plan, entrepreneurs, failure, Marketing, Risk, small business, start up, Strategic Plan

Turn Your Hobby Into A Business

September 18, 2016

Ever wanted to Turn Your Hobby Into A Business?

After watching the video, create a worksheet.

Jot down notes and answer these questions:
Did you begin?
1. What stopped you?

Fear
Lack of confidence
Influence of others
Your __________

2. Define your strategic plan in three sentences.

Define your objectives within your plan
Define your goals within your plan

3. How solid are your resources?

Credit cards? (Hint: Bad idea)
Small business loan
Savings
401 (k)
Other

In what stage is your business plan?

Would you invest in this idea if you were a stranger?
Write out 10 single key words to describe your enterprise.
Write out 10 ways people would search in phrases (long-tail SEO) for your offering.
Who are two competitors in your channel?
What do you know about them? Write what you know and then research them.
What are three unique characteristics of your offering different than two competitors?
What is the worst thing that could happen to your business?
What is the best thing that could happen to the business?

This sheet will help you get started—Do it today!

Who needs coaching? Maybe you do to get this starship launched!

Your coach,

CPCC, ACC

Positive Potentials LLC

Schedule private time with me here:

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by Coachcubas

Lessons Learned from Knock-Knock Jokes Apply to Strategy

Gratitude is a state of mind when you allow it

Here’s my point—

Turn Your Hobby Into A Business

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