The Business Owner “Winner’s Recipe”

With the current economic trends, employee layoffs, and uncertainty in “job security”, many are now seriously looking into other options.  Some have decided to follow their passions and have leaped out in faith to start their own businesses full-time, while others are looking into part-time business opportunities where they have the control in deciding their true value.  Jim Rohn aptly put it this way, “Wages make you a living, while profits make you a fortune”.   However, before you leave your "Wages" - current job voluntarily or involuntary to launch that business - "Profits", consider the following ingredients of my “winner’s recipe” to determine if you are willing to invest what it takes to go the distance of that decision. 

Ingredients:

1.            Be Organized: Organization is the Root of your business – Disorganization leads to missed opportunities. (e.g. goal setting, business plan, etc.)

2.            Understand: Marketing is simply, “Exposure”

3.            Market what you do to everyone, everyday.

4.            Understand: Ignorance on Fire is better than Knowledge dormant – Do it Afraid

5.            Learn the essence of “Failing Forward”

6.            Become a student of your business – The more you learn, the more you earn.

7.            Understand: “Well Done” goes farther than “Well Said”.

8.            Be ProActive rather than ReActive

9.            Develop a Positive Winning Attitude – “the man who thinks he can and the man that thinks he can’t…are both right.”

10.       Be Coachable – Listen, learn, and apply the success techniques of others.

Preparation:

Take the first three ingredients and mix them up together until you get the mental clarity and belief needed to excite you about each day.

Then add ingredients four through six in order to get the consistency needed to firm up the foundation. 

Once you firm up the foundation add in ingredients seven and eight and you will start to see your business rise.

Lastly, ingredients nine and ten are needed in order to sustain the growth that you are now experiencing.

This recipe is an abridged version.  However, if you will consistently apply these ingredients to your specific line of business, and prepare your business as outlined, you will start to see that you too can be the CEO of your future.  Leonard I. Sweet said, “The future is not something we enter.  It’s something we create.”  Where do you plan on being vocationally in the next 5 to 10 years?  If it is not where you are today, then it may be time to properly plan for your exit.  Be bold!  Be Courageous! Be YOU!    

Aim High…

© 2011 Aldean Pearson

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aldean “Al” Pearson is a Professional Speaker, Trainer, and Perspective Coach.  He is the Co-Founder of the LĪVE! movement, a speaking, training and coaching organization committed to developing extraordinary people, families, and businesses. His “up-front and candid,” yet at times humorous approach empowers his clients and audiences to look past their limitations to find the hidden gems of capability within. He is married with twin boy and girl. 
Contact: AlPearson1@gmail.com

Become Inspired! 
Join our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/AldeanPearson
Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/AldeanPearson
Connect on LinkedIn: www.Linkedin.com/in/aldeanpearson

10 Steps to Building Your Self-Confidence

Building your Self-Confidence is not an overnight process.  It takes a changing of your mindset.  Let’s first examine the difference between your Competence and your Confidence. Competence is your ability to do something.  However, Confidence is your willingness to do something.  Therefore, I’d like to leave you with 10 steps to help you build your willingness to do something.

1.         Know who you are.

This is a key component that I share with most of my coaching clients. Once you know who you are, you can create a market or environment for being who you are.  If you never know who you are then your environment starts to create you which is a recipe for failure. If your environment starts creating who you are, then that means that that gem inside of you has not been developed.  Develop and polish that gem inside and one day others will start to see your true value.   This is a key Confidence-booster.

2.         Identify or recognize your true skill sets.

Find your strengths.  No inventor creates a thing without a purpose.  God has created you also for a purpose.  He has given you all the tools necessary to achieve it.  It’s up to you to discover them.

3.         Developed and enhance those true skill sets through constant learning and exposure.

You must understand that you are always learning. “The man who thinks he knows it all has death for a friend”.

4.         Become an specialist or learn to do one thing very well.  It will serve as the foundation for other things.  Being the “Jack of all trades” spreads you thin and in demand only when other measures are exhausted.  Excelling in a particular area let’s others know who to call when the job needs to get done the first time.

5.         Stay away from asking questions if you aren’t prepared to receive the answers.

In other words, if you really don’t want to know, then don’t ask the question. 

6.         Avoid making statements outside of your knowledge base.

This could put you in an uncomfortable position.  This is a real Confidence-killer especially when you may feel the need add your two cents.

7.         Be quick to listen and slow to speak.

The heart of a person is most often in their mouth.  Your Confidence builds with your ability to hear and respond accordingly.

8.         Be open to new ideas and try them sometimes

Being open to new ideas could broaden your talents and skill sets.  Walt Disney would not be the Powerhouse it is today had it not been open to the new ideas and fresh minds of the people it employs.

9.         Read and learn from the successes and failures of others. It can serve as a roadmap to you on your journey.  It is said that it is “better to learn from the mistakes of others, because you will never live long enough make them all yourself.”  Those are truly words to live by.

10.       Understand mentally the difference between “try” and “train”.

When you try something, you don’t know if you will fail or succeed.  However, when you train for something you have an expectation of succeeding. For example, athletes may “try out” for the Olympic team, not knowing if they will make the cut.  However, once on the team they “train” for the Olympics because the team is sent with an expectation of winning.    Do you always win…not necessarily, but you have the Confidence to know that you are in position to win.

There is a “YOU” inside each of us that the world is waiting to see.  Greatness is knocking. Don’t let fear, intimidation, or your past suppress it.  Are YOU ready to let it out?  

Aim High…

© 2011 Aldean Pearson

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aldean “Al” Pearson is a Professional Speaker, Trainer, and Perspective Coach.  He is the Co-Founder of the LĪVE! movement, a speaking, training and coaching organization committed to developing extraordinary people, families, and businesses. His “up-front and candid,” yet at times humorous approach empowers his clients and audiences to look past their limitations to find the hidden gems of capability within. He is married with twin boy and girl. 
Contact: AlPearson1@gmail.com

Become Inspired! 

Join our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/AldeanPearson

Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/CoachMotivator

Connect on LinkedIn: www.Linkedin.com/in/aldeanpearson

The Overlooked Leader

When was the last time you saw a leader?

Was it at Church? 

Was it at the last training session you attended?  Or was it at the last sporting event where you cheered?

After reading this you will realize why I believe it is more recent than you may think.

What is a Leader?

There are many definitions of a leader. Some define a leader simply as one who influences; some influence through Inspiration others through Manipulation.  I side with Myles Munroe when he says, “The secret to leadership is not the pursuit of power, authority, or position. Leadership is the pursuit of self.”   A leader is simply, one who has discovered himself.  When you discover yourself, why you were born, what you were sent to earth to accomplish, then a Leader is born.  You are that overlooked leader.

How is the Leader Developed?

There is an Al-ism that I have that states, “When you have no vision for your life, you make everyone else’s dreams come true.”

You are more than a follower.  Yes, there may be seasons in your life where you serve in a follower capacity; however, that was not the design, intent, or sum of your life.

There is a LEADER in each and every one of us.

You may have been told that “you will never amount to anything,” “you’re just like the rest of your family,” or “nobody cares about what you become”.  The hurt from those words are valid feelings; however, I challenge you today not to let words or your past define you; use it as a tool to refine you.  As my wife often says, “Your opposition is your value identifier.”  In other words, wherever you find your greatest attack is actually where you have the greatest value, which will catapult you to the next dimension of greatness.  It is through believing in and recognizing your value – which are the gifts, talents, and abilities you posses – that your true leadership ability will shine.  Whatever pain you consistently feel, you were meant to solve.  That pain is the leader inside you screaming for exposure. 

You are more than the sum of your past and the confusion in your present.  You are a leader.

Who are Some Leaders We Recognize Today?

We usually recognize leaders when they have arrived.  However, most leaders did not set out to be leaders, they set out to be their individual best everyday with what they were gifted to do.

Michael Jordan did not set out to be a leader in the sport of basketball.  He chose to develop and maximize his gift and talent to the point that we now recognize him as a leader in the sport.

Tiger Woods didn’t set out to be a leader in golf.  However, his dad was able to recognize his talent and placed him in an environment that would foster its development to the point that Tiger Woods was able to embrace the special gift he possessed.

Oprah Winfrey did not set out to be the number one talk show host in the country.  Oprah knew that she enjoyed talking, believed she had something valuable to say, and pursued that desire to be heard daily.

It is said, “Champions are not made in the ring they are just recognized there.”  It is what you believe and work towards daily that prepares you to win.

You were designed as a specialist in some area.  You were designed to lead.

I owned a photography company a few years ago.  In my early years in the darkroom, I had to expose the film image onto the photography paper.  Although the image was burned onto the paper, it was not readily seen to the naked eye.  It had to go through a developing process in order for the picture to emerge.  Some say leaders are created and not born.  I tend to disagree.  I believe the image of a leader is burned in each of us; however, it is through our decision to endure the development process that we emerge and are recognized.  As an emerging leader, it is important to endure the developing process.

It’s time to awake that leader in you.

It’s time to get rid of your “limiting beliefs”.

It’s time to plan as if you cannot fail.

It’s time; it’s time; it’s time.

When you recognize the leader in you, I guarantee when you look in the mirror, you’ll never see yourself the same again.

YOU are that Overlooked Leader!  

Aim High…

© 2011 Aldean Pearson

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aldean “Al” Pearson is a Professional Speaker, Trainer, and Growth Coach.  He is the Co-Founder of the LĪVE! movement, a speaking, training and coaching organization committed to developing extraordinary people, families, and businesses. His “up-front and candid,” yet at times humorous approach empowers his clients and audiences to look past their limitations to find the hidden gems of capability within. He is married with twin boy and girl. 
Contact: AlPearson1@gmail.com

Become Inspired! 
Join our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/AldeanPearson
Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/AldeanPearson
Connect on LinkedIn: www.Linkedin.com/in/aldeanpearson

What Does Love Look Like?

I was driving down the road in Texas one day and while scanning the radio stations I heard the song by Johnny Lee, “Looking for love in all the wrong places…”

I thought, Wait a minute, how can we look for something unless we know what it looks like?

What does LOVE look like?

Most often when we look at society today, love is not the first, second, or even the third thing we see.  However, when we put our LOVE shades on, we get to see the world from a totally different perspective.

What does LOVE look like? Let’s examine closely and as in approaching any goal, let’s start with the END in mind: E. V. O. L.

E – Experience it

There is an old poem that says: 

“I love myself so much

So that I can love you so much

So that you can love you so much

So that you can start loving me”  (Author Unknown)

One can never give something that they have never experience or have not realized they possess.

Joy Golliver stated that, “The meaning of life is finding your gifts; the purpose of life is to give it away”.

Love isn’t love until you give it away.  It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Experience it.

V – Voluntary Self-Sacrifice 

(Doing things out of Love and not obligation, manipulation, or reciprocation)

It involves Going the extra-yard even though it may cost you or inconvenience you.

You’ve heard the saying, “People don’t care how much you know, they want to know how much you care.”

When was the last time you Voluntary Self-Sacrificed with NO STRINGS ATTACHED?

O – Ordinary Acts becoming Extraordinary Expressions

Say it with me, “OH!” “OH!” is the response you will get when you do something for someone that may be ordinary to you but becomes an extraordinary expression to them just because of the care you took in doing it.

As a child my Mom would bake cakes for the family and other people.  I would always look forward to being able to lick the batter from the mixing bowl.  No matter where I was in the house my Mom would often save the bowl and call me to do the “cleaning”.  Sure it was just a bowl of leftover batter; but for me it was an Ordinary Act becoming an Extraordinary Expression of love.

L – Look, Listen, & Fill

My wife’s mom passed away when she was only 13 years old.  That was the last time, she remembered riding in a limousine.  When we were planning our wedding, she shared that story with me and didn’t want to ride in a limousine on her wedding day.  That story stuck with me.  However, 5 years into our marriage I was able to surprise her at the house with a white limousine, red carpet, and a night on the town to replace the childhood memory with something wonderful.  To this day, 11 years later, she smiles when we talk about it.

(As you can imagine…I was the man that night!!!...and it was all because I Looked, Listened, & Filled)

There are opportunities all around us everyday to express love.  However, it takes a willful act on our part to not just look and listen, but also to fill.

If you truly desire to make the most of your life, fuel your life daily with the right stuff.

Look for ways to…

Experience Love

Do Voluntary Self-Sacrifices

Make Ordinary Acts Extraordinary Expressions

Look, Listen & Fill

Then you will be equipped and have the strength to take on and overcome any challenge that comes your way.   As William M. Thackeray once said, “To love and win is the best thing.  To love and lose is the next best thing.” 

Now! That’s what LOVE looks like.  

Take the opportunity to make today and every day an expression of LOVE.  

Aim High…

© 2011 Aldean Pearson

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aldean “Al” Pearson is a Professional Speaker, Trainer, and Growth Coach.  He is the Co-Founder of the LĪVE! movement, a speaking, training and coaching organization committed to developing extraordinary people, families, and businesses. His “up-front and candid,” yet at times humorous approach empowers his clients and audiences to look past their limitations to find the hidden gems of capability within. He is married with twin boy and girl. 
Contact: AlPearson1@gmail.com

Become Inspired! 
Join our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/AldeanPearson
Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/AldeanPearson
Connect on LinkedIn: www.Linkedin.com/in/aldeanpearson

BE A QUITTER!

BE A QUITTER!        BE A QUITTER!          BE A QUITTER!

That sounds strange doesn't it? 

Henry Ward Beecher said, "It is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich."

Today you will be enlightened to a unique perspective about quitting! 

Most often we look at the word quitting from a negative perspective, 

However, I'd like to spark your interest in Quitting - Quitting the negatives to live positive.

Take a ride with me as we explore the lifestyle of a quitter.

Quitting means giving up, bringing a  cessation to something that you were involved in, and stopping  progress or halting growth - that's what quitting is all about -  halting growth somewhere in the process.

There’s the story of Peter, who at a New Year's party, turns to his friend Ken, and asks for a cigarette.

'I thought you made a New Year's resolution to quit smoking,' Ken responds.

'I'm in the process of quitting,' replies Peter with a grin. 'Right now, I am in the middle of phase one.'

'Phase one?' wonders Ken.

'Yeah,' laughs Peter, 'I've quit buying.'

WOW! As you can see, it's easy to quit something that can help you; but it's harder to quit something that can hurt you.

BE A QUITTER! BE A QUITTER!

It's Alright!

It’s alright to be a quitter when you're talking about smoking, alcoholism, or about drug abuse. Being a quitter is even alright when it deals with a pervasive habit of procrastination.

Isn't it nice to know that being a quitter is okay?  It's all based on outlook.

When people say to you, "You're a quitter."
You can tell them "Yes", I made the choice to quit the negatives in my life.

I have scaled the walls of rejection.

I have leaped over the hurdles of abuse.

I have persevered through the winds of discouragement. 

Yes, I am a quitter of the negatives:

I don't speak about it;

I don't involve myself in it,

And I don't celebrate it. 

Do you realize that being a quitter can make you a winner?

Vince Lombardi once said, "A winner never quits and a quitter never wins."

I challenge that, because quitting negative behaviors makes one a winner.

Now that quote does project a feeling of persistence and endurance; however, after closer inspection, its accuracy is based on the perspective of subject matter.

What are you quitting?

Are you quitting something that's going to help you?
I challenge you to do the contrary.

Today, look at yourselves as winners as you begin to quit those things that have been hurting you and causing hurt to others.

Those things that have held you down. 
Those things that have pushed you back.

Those words that were spoken over you that you accepted as truth.

Quit - looking at yourself as a statistic. You're better than that.

Quit - looking at yourself based on past relationships. You're stronger than that.

Quit - looking at yourself based on a lapse in judgment. You're smarter than that. 

Quit - looking at yourself based on the neighborhood you grew up. You're more than that.

Quit - looking at yourself based on the family you're in. You're bigger than that.

The world is only a reflection of what you believe. You can make this world better by first believing in yourself and the one who created you.

As Anita Koddick said, "If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room."

Think about it…

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

You were created to do something that no one else has the talent, capability, looks, and strength to accomplish.

When you are able to see yourself in that capacity, then you will be able to quit doing those things, hanging around those people, and going those places that hinder your purpose.
You were created to WIN!

BE A QUITTER!  BE A QUITTER!   BE A QUITTER!

It's alright to be a quitter, when it allows you to grow.  

Aim High…

© 2011 Aldean Pearson

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aldean “Al” Pearson is a Professional Speaker, Trainer, and Growth Coach.  He is the Co-Founder of the LĪVE! movement, a speaking, training and coaching organization committed to developing extraordinary people, families, and businesses. His “up-front and candid,” yet at times humorous approach empowers his clients and audiences to look past their limitations to find the hidden gems of capability within. He is married with twin boy and girl. 
Contact: AlPearson1@gmail.com

Become Inspired! 
Join our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/AldeanPearson
Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/AldeanPearson
Connect on LinkedIn: www.Linkedin.com/in/aldeanpearson

Possibilities, Potential or Promise?

How are you viewing life?
Do you see it as having Possibilities, Potential, or Promise?

If your view of life is either of the first two, let me take a moment to give you a different perspective. 

Possibilities:  Viewing life from the perspective of possibility is merely looking at life as a likelihood or chance of your success.  Playing odds may at times gain you a victory here or there, but does not sustain you in the long run. For example, it is said that over 70% of all lottery winners squander their winnings in a few years.

Potential:  Viewing life from the perspective of Potential is merely living beneath your capacity.  Potential is merely unused capacity.  It is said that some of the greatest authors, teachers, musicians, architects, etc. are in the cemetery.  They died with Potential.

Promise: Viewing life from the perspective of Promise gives your life not only meaning, but also drive.  A promise is an agreement, pledge, or declaration that something WILL BE DONE.  You were created with a promise.  You were sent here to fulfill a purpose.  The journey of life truly begins when you can embrace that understanding.  Regardless of how you got here, whether planned, through one night of reckless enjoyment, or any other situation. YOU ARE NOT A MISTAKE!  You had to be here at that moment to create change and fulfill a PROMISE. 

Live your life knowing you can do something that NO OTHER PERSON ON EARTH is assigned to do.  That not only makes you special, it gives your life PROMISE.

Go out today living out your PROMISE and go to bed EMPTY every night knowing that you’ve maximized your capacity for THE DAY.  

Aim High…

© 2011 Aldean Pearson

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aldean “Al” Pearson is a Professional Speaker, Trainer, and Perspective Coach.  He is the Co-Founder of the LĪVE! movement, a speaking, training and coaching organization committed to developing extraordinary people, families, and businesses. His “up-front and candid,” yet at times humorous approach empowers his clients and audiences to look past their limitations to find the hidden gems of capability within. He is married with twin boy and girl. 
Contact: AlPearson1@gmail.com

Become Inspired! 
Join our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/AldeanPearson
Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/AldeanPearson
Connect on LinkedIn: www.Linkedin.com/in/aldeanpearson