Scott's Thinking - Page 137 of 173

Look To Nature For Answers

Posted on January 6, 2021

When I am not sure how things naturally happen, I look around. I consider how things are in the Animal Kingdom. I look to nature for answers.

Look at the trees, butterflies, monsoons, fires, lions and gazelles. You will see things play out naturally. No human interference or political interest group. There are no TMO, VAR or other instant replay opportunities.

Many species move in groups, though some are solitary. Some groups, like zebras will hang around gazelles or water buffalo. Elephants and giraffes can be found together too. But you don’t see the lion, leopard or cheetah chumming with the vegetarians too much.

Vultures are a unique bird of prey. They clean things up. Every animal plays its part in the ecosystem. You may like some more than others but they all have a unique contribution.

Is life fair? Should the lion attack, and feast on, the weakest gazelle or youngest zebra? Or should the herbivores be left alone and therefore the lion and lion cubs starve to death?

If people were to get involved, they might have the lion go vegetarian. But that might have other consequences such as over population of herbivores.

Things tend to evolve naturally, both good and bad. And they tend to naturally self-correct if things go too far in either direction. So we may be best to live and let live.

Look to nature for answers.

Action Progress Reframe your thoughts Time

You Call That A Plan?

Posted on January 5, 2021

I’ve seen more detail on a holiday itinerary. Plane tickets have more specifics than the plan you have for 2021. You call that a plan?

If you are serious about the plan you have, you should review it today. Set aside 15 – 30 minutes today and read what you have written down for your plan. Pretend this is your child’s plan. Would it past muster with you? If this was the plan of a random stranger, would you invest in it or bet they would achieve it?

It might be a good directional idea. You could call it a good first draft even. For that, you should give yourself a pat on the back. If you’ve written anything down, you’re way ahead of most people. But you are not most people. You want to look back on 2021, 12 months from now, and be delighted with your progress and growing success.

I know you can do it. I know you want to do it. My guess might be that you are a little hesitant. You might be procrastinating. There is something holding you back already. The crazy thing is that it is you.

It’s time to get uncomfortable for a bit. Accept that you are uncertain, and don’t want rejection, or to fail. That is ok. But you owe it to yourself to make a plan worth executing. Get specific with dates, times, milestones, weekly progress, metrics, measurements, celebrations and what you will need to give up or sacrifice to fit this new challenge in.

You call that a plan? Make it solid.

Financial Observe Time

Save Time Or The Environment

Posted on January 4, 2021

When you have a hole in your clothes or a button pops off, do you mend it, have it mended, recycle it or bin it? Do you save time or the environment?

We have a skateboard which has stiff wheels. Maybe the ball bearings need replacing. Or maybe it is the wheels. More lubricant does not seem to do the trick. The options are to get rid of the skateboard and buy a new one for £30, or keep it and try to fix it.

If we keep it and fix it, we need to spend time on finding and ordering new parts. Then we need to go collect the parts or have them delivered. Once we have them, we need to get tools out and spend time replacing the parts. Hopefully that solves the problem.

The parts might cost £10 and then there is delivery or pick up costs, such as petrol. Then it depends on what you consider your time is worth. You may see it as a monetary value per hour or simply the value of having an hour of time to yourself in a busy week. Either way, there is a cost to you.

So whether it is mending a shirt or a skateboard, we all make these assessments about our time, money and the environment.

Do you save time or the environment?

Action Progress Reframe your thoughts Time

Stick With It

Posted on January 3, 2021

Failure occurs when you stop trying. As long as you press forward, you have not failed, you are on the path to success. Stick with it!

Apart from ageing, change can be difficult, uncomfortable and time consuming. However, if you truly want to achieve anything, you need to set the course and stay the course. You will need perseverance and determination. Mental fortitude will be helpful, as will resolve.

If you can push through the challenges and see past the setbacks, you increase your probability of succeeding. It can get frustrating, embarrassing and even overwhelming at times. But these moments pass. Push through to the better times.

Accept you are not perfect and that setbacks occur. Realise some things won’t be easy for you, though other things will be. Enjoy the progress while you are making it. Double down on your resolve to succeed when the future looks bleak and uncertain.

Allow yourself to be uncomfortable in some situations. It’s natural. Accept that it might take longer, or stretch you further, both mentally and physically.

You will savour your progress, success or victory more if you have to endure challenges, uncertainty and hardship. It becomes less about the outcome and more about your ability to have weathered the storms.

Despite the gathering clouds and the anguish, stick with it.

Action Progress Time

Follow Up

Posted on January 2, 2021

What is the difference between done and pending? How do you shift a ‘no, not right now’, to a ‘yes, thank you‘? Often you just need to follow up.

This action does not always guarantee you will move something forward. However, in my experience, making an extra call, visit or effort, can move things closer to a resolution.

People are often not prepared to buy, or move forward with your request, until they feel comfortable of familiar with you or the situation. In addition, some studies note that you need seven, regularly frequent touch points before they will be ready to act.

So you need to be determined and persistent. ‘No’ can often mean not now or not yet. Sometimes it will be no, not now and not ever.

Often we see flyers come through the door and we do not act on them. We toss them in the recycling bin. But one day, our garden will need some work done or a room will need repainting. Then we will act and maybe call on the company we have seen drop flyers through our doors for the past several months.

Sometimes it is good timing that someone knocks on your door when you are in need of what they are offering. But sometimes they just need to follow up. Remember to do so too.

Action Reframe your thoughts Time

Welcome To Your Year

Posted on January 1, 2021

Everything you have chosen to do in life has lead you to where you are now. You have been preparing for this. Welcome to your year.

You have had your unique challenges and opportunities. You have made decisions and reacted, or responded, to situations you’ve been faced with. However, now you are ready. Enough is enough. Your training is over.

No more playing around the edges. No more playing small or not fulfilling your potential. This is going to be the year that you launch out of the gate. You will begin with a strong start followed by a determined follow through.

Think quickly but with long a term vision to guide you along. You will take action and seek definitive results. Play offence like your life depends on it.

Make the call. Delegate. Ask for help. Seek out mentors, advisors, guides and those who can help. Make new friends who challenge you to go beyond the yawn of daily life. Become an unstoppable force. Be sought after and recommended.

You can make this happen. But you have to want it bad enough. Yes, there will be some sacrifice. And you will be outside your comfort zone often. However, you, and only you, can take the actions to get the results. Finish 2021 with success and pride.

Welcome to your year.

Financial Gratitude Health & Fitness Time

Happy New Year!

Posted on December 31, 2020

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope you are making the best of things. Whatever the future brings, I’d like to wish you a Happy New Year!

Although 2020 will be long remembered for many things, we know what the main one, world-wide, will be. Covid-19 and it’s many challenges, including physical, financial and mental health related.

This next year, 2021, will come in with some similar challenges. In addition to masks, social distancing, lockdowns, and tiers, there will be the added component of a vaccine.

Hopefully this will allow us to have a major shift in getting back to regular life.

This time last year, we did not know this major health and economic challenge was going to be impacting us. Now we do know. We still don’t know how it ends, as no one can accurately predict the future at any time.

However, this year, you start by knowing it will be a part of your life in various ways. How will you play the 12 months that you will have in 2021? Knowing what you know, how will you think, what will you do and what things will you focus on?

I hope you have found ways to successfully navigate the challenges you’ll find in the year ahead. May you have peace, prosperity and good health, both mental and physical.

Happy New Year! ?

Action Financial Reframe your thoughts

Don’t Leave It To The Kids

Posted on December 30, 2020

Have you had a look around your house recently? Are there books, clothes, papers, tools or toys that should be tossed? Don’t leave it to the kids to clean up your mess when you are gone.

One of the best things a parent can ever do for their children is to keep their house streamlined. Every year it is easy to add more things to the family collection.

We buy new clothes but don’t always give away or recycle older clothes. We tell ourselves we will still wear the item once in awhile and it is still good. Or the classic thought that we will fit into it after we drop a few pounds this year.

Old sports equipment also gets this treatment. We assume we will use it again one day. I enjoyed squash in my 20’s so I am bound to start it up again in my 40’s or 50’s. Right?

Books you’ve read build a library. But is it a library worth keeping? Would the kids want to inherit this collection? Keep your absolute favourites on a shelf. However, gift all the others to your children now or send those books off to the local library or charity shop.

Take a picture if any items that conjure up fond memories.

Just don’t leave it to your kids to clear out all your stuff.

Action Observe Progress Reframe your thoughts

Everything Has A Process

Posted on December 29, 2020

If you want to achieve anything in life, you are well advised to find out how successful people before you have done it. Everything has a process and it is your job to find out, or figure out, what it is.

Every process fits along a spectrum. Some processes can be quite ineffective while others can be exceptionally useful. Your task is to find one for what you want to achieve. Ideally you will find one that is closer to the exceptional end of the continuum.

Regardless of where you start, you will then want to look for better processes to adopt and build into your life. Continual search and personal improvement would be a good personal mission to run with.

So take a look at the processes you are using, that have become habitual, and see if you can improve upon them. If you are looking for a new job, or a promotion, see what has worked for others in your field of interest. Look at the top 10 people in your field of interest and dissect their careers backward.

What schools did they go to? Did they apprentice or intern?

For others, how did they lose weight, improve fitness or gain muscle? Look for a book that helps you achieve anything you are interested in.

Everything has a process. Find it and use it.

Action Time

Get It Done!

Posted on December 28, 2020

Go after whatever it is on your mind. Take the first step today. Phone a friend, call a company or make a plan. Whatever it is, get it done!

Don’t let up and keep moving. The prize will come in the end. You’ll really have to go swiftly. Be sure not to break or to bend.

It may seem easy, especially to say it. But as you move forward you realise there is more to it. There will also be more obstacles than you had predicted. Getting things over the line is seldom easy. The persistence, tenacity, and discipline required can be exceptional.

Regardless, you just need to press on and keep your head held high. Ask some questions, particularly of someone who has knowledge in that area. People are often open to helping. Use your manners and be mindful of the time involved.

It is amazing how much easier it is when you focus and get some help. People are service oriented. In addition, if they know it is your dream, and it is a good, just and fair one, many will go to great lengths to assist.

Map out what the next five steps are to be completed. Then start working on those steps. Don’t delay.

Get it done!