Triumph In Troubled Times!

One of the differences between winners and losers is their ability to cope with adversity, and there seems to be plenty of adversity to go around right now. From terrorism to economic recession and financial troubles, many of us would agree that, "These are the times that try men's souls."

But here is a truth that applies even in the best of times: Eventually trouble comes to each of us. Sometimes the trouble is financial. Sometimes it will be an illness, a fire or a business failure, but sooner or later, trouble comes to each of us. And interestingly, our response to life's "small" challenges is a much better predictor of our long-term success than our response to the "disasters" in life.

Disasters are big. We can't deny or avoid them; we must deal with them. It is no accident that Winston Churchill described the Battle of Britain as "their finest hour." When emergencies strike, we rise to the occasion.

The real test is with the "termites," the little things that are so easy to ignore. Things like paying our bills on time and living within our means. Things like staying fit or eating well. Things like time for loved ones, for rest and renewal.

These things are not dramatic and they are not urgent. We can neglect our health for years before problems occur, but winners are pro-active. They are "first responders." They see storm clouds in the distance and take action while others sleep.

Recently I saw a biography of Donald Rumsfield, and one of the points they made is that he "moves toward problems; he never turns his back or walks away." That is a sound strategy!

High achievers expect challenges. In the face of life's uncertainties, they maintain an attitude of optimism, humor, strength and determination. They know that as they become more and more successful, the size and complexity of their problems will grow. How could it be otherwise?

So, here are seven keys to solving problems:

1. Expect difficulty! This is no surprise, it is not "unfair" or unusual. Life is complicated. Get good at it.

2. Keep a buffer around the edges of your life. Maintain a "reserve" of extra time, savings in the bank, and a bit of energy to handle the unexpected.

3. Optimism and enthusiasm are essential. Fear and pessimism will never inspire greatness.

4. Words matter! View difficulties as "challenges" rather than as problems. How we talk about our difficulties makes a huge difference in how we handle them.

5. "We get by with a little help from our friends." Have a team of cheerleaders, experts and colleagues to help you analyze and over-come any problem.

6. Be proactive. Take care of problems while they are small. Preventive maintenance is good for your car, your relationships, and your life.

7. Choose new problems! Learn from every experience and (try) not to have the same problems twice. Learn from difficulties, make changes, and move on. Pay the tuition once, then never repeat the same life-lesson!

The key is understanding that challenges are how we learn and grow. Success is the result of solving problems and moving forward in the face of difficulty, so expect "interesting" situations. Taking them in stride builds your confidence. Never fear trouble; triumph over it!


Dustin Mitchell

The Power of Getting Shit Done!

Consultants and motivational speakers have talked about the importance of written goals at least since Benjamin Franklin. The 19th century Psychologist and philosopher, William James, talked about clear goals, and Napoleon Hill wrote about them in "Think And Grow Rich" in the 1930's. Of course you should choose clear personal goals, write them down, and stay the course!

And that's the rub. The daily grind of "staying the course.”

We all have goals of some sort. Some are written, some are vague, some are almost dream-like, but we all have things we long for. The rub is in making them happen.

Almost everyone I talk with -- large audiences where I'm the keynote speaker, small corporate trainings, and individual clients -- they ALL talk about distractions. They ALL talk about interruptions and daily frustrations. 
They ALL talk about how busy they are and how little time they have.

And yet winners find the "secret" of doing first things first. The winners in life have exactly the same amount of time and the same resources everyone else has. They work hard (like everyone else) and yet there is a huge difference in their RESULTS. In the end, winners come out on top because they have a SYSTEM for choosing their top priorities and sticking to them.

Here are a couple of practical suggestions, starting with the most fundamental truth I know: You must decide what you want in life. Life is full of options, and each of us has the responsibility to clarify our choices and pursue our dreams. No one can do that for you. Decide what you really want in life! (My Workbook Goal Setting 101) can help. It will be available for download next week by going http://goalsetting101.cre8bv.com). I know that some of you requested a kit from one of my earlier blogs, but rather than e-mailing me at the address provided you messaged me on here. If you did not get the kit, that may be a reason why. This download system will make it easy for you to access the workbooks anytime you want.

Most people don't think carefully about their most important goals. They have goals that are vague or have never been discussed and coordinated with family members. Be clear. Talk it over with the people in your life and focus on what you truly want.

But then, here are my suggestions for making specific daily progress:

1. REVIEW your goals frequently. Brian Tracy and Napoleon Hill recommended reading them every day, and they were smart people. I do a thoughtful review of my own goals at least once a month, and briefly re-write them every morning. If you aren't making progress on your goals, the first step is to review and commit to them more often.

2. Work with a TEAM. Talk with your family. Review your priorities with your boss. Get together with a mastermind group every week. Talk about your goals with people who will support you and who have the resources to help you succeed! (Watch for a copy of my upcoming book or preorder one for more information on this. You can email me at dustin@unfranchise.com for a detailed synopsis.

3. PLAN your day and do it each evening so your mind can prepare for the new day while you sleep. What has to be done tomorrow? What problems will come up and how will you deal with them? What is your one major target for tomorrow? Decide the night before.

4. Each MORNING, confirm your daily targets. I write my three most important tasks on a 3x5 card each morning. I do it with my morning Isotonix™. I think it helps.

For most of us, the key to daily action is a SYSTEM that keeps us focused and brings us back to our most important goals. On our own we are too easily distracted. We lose focus and waste time. Instead, use a SYSTEM that gets you back on course like an autopilot. Then, trust the system and get to work!

Dustin Mitchell

I encourage you to go to marketamerica.com/dustin and look at the valuable saving you’ll receive by shopping online through marketamerica.com/dustin.

Plus you will earn valuable MA Reward points! What’s better than shopping at the stores you already frequent, saving money, and having it delivered to your door? NOT MUCH!!!!

I'll Be Doin' Fine In 2009

Every year I develop a slogan or motto for the year. This year it's been "We're GREAT in '08!" For next year I've chosen, "We're Doin' Fine in '09!" I know, many people dismiss this as silliness, but I disagree.

From Socrates to Tony Robbins, many people have observed that "we become what we think about all day long." To a large degree - not entirely, but to a large degree - we DO create our world with our thoughts. I've had ample opportunity to prove that to myself these past weeks.

Many times a day, sometimes it seems like ALL day, I have the opportunity to really put a lot of thought into some mistakes that I have made over this past year. Rather than focus on the negative aspects of the mistakes I try to think about what I can do to change myself so that it doesn't happen again! I could focus on all of the negative aspects of what's happened. I decided that instead it is more productive to bring the changes that I desire to fruition by thinking about how I am going to change. Now, objectively, all of the above are true. The key is that I get to choose the ones I focus on.

If I focus on his "negativity" then I will become negative and begin to dig myself into a rut of self pity. If I focus on what I'm doing to change and how great things will be after I implement the changes in my life, my day is enriched and I laugh and develop a positive outlook on the future.

If I focus on the "woulda, shoulda, coulda" and the mistakes that I've made...well, you can imagine what happens to my blood pressure. So, which picture of my life is most accurate? Am I ambitious and forward thinking or am I the devil? IT'S ENTIRELY UP TO ME! (I know, those who are hopelessly addicted to "facts," will say that it is perfectly normal to obsess on the negative, but what do they know about how I really feel about myself?) The only person that will ever truly know the desires inside my heart is me, and it is up to me to materialize them.

The reality is that I get to decide where to focus my thoughts, my attention and my attitudes. And so it is for each of us, all day long, every single day.

Is the financial situation on Wall Street (and on Main Street) good or bad? Yes, it is. Many are anxious, fearful, and of course, millions are showing a loss on their investments. But millions of others see this as "the buying opportunity of a lifetime!" Is it good or bad? Yes, and to a large degree--not entirely, but to a large degree - you get to decide!

And so it will be with your success in 2009. I'm spending lots of time with my clients and customers looking at what worked and what didn't work in 2008, and designing strategies to move forward in 2009. I'm convinced NOW is the time to design and "blueprint" the reality you want for the year ahead, and just as I know the sun will rise in the east tomorrow, I know that Market America is the vehicle that will help thousands of people as we enter what I believe is the 2nd great depression. (I'm actually in the process of designing a website to help people with suggestions and shopping tips at www.the2nddepression.com. It is not online yet but I will send out an email when it launches.)

First, decide you WILL "do fine in '09!" Know, deep in your heart that you will adapt and adjust, you'll dance with whatever life throws your way, and you will triumph in '09! Sure, there will be clouds and maybe even rain. Occasionally, storms and even hurricanes strike, but through it all, you will "Do Fine in '09!" You can even do better than fine if YOU make the decision to make a change in y our life. Don't focus on the doom and gloom. Focus on doing whatever it takes to take care of your and yours!

Second, decide what "fine" looks like. Will you increase sales, or sell the business, go back to school or move to Montana? Will you adopt a child or retire? How about learning to skydive? What exactly does "doing fine" mean for you and your family? Make a list and be specific. Refer to your Market America career manual (which you should be reading at least 15 minutes a day) if you need help on goal setting.

Third, decide on a strategy. Whether you are buying real estate or learning French or starting a business, you'll need a plan. You'll need to know how much time, money, and help you'll need. You'll need a calendar to plot dates and you'll need a chart to list your benchmarks. How will you know you're on schedule and "doin' FINE" unless you have a plan?

Fourth, decide .. partners. As the Beatles sang years ago, "We get by with a little help from our friends." No matter what "Doin' Fine in '09" looks like, you'll need support from friends and family. You may need financing. You may need a business partner, or someone to teach you. "No man (or woman) is an island." Never be a Lone Ranger! Almost everything goes better "with a little help from our friends."

Fifth, decide on a coach. All peak performers work with a coach or mentor, whether the challenge is in athletics or business, whether parenting skills or retirement planning. Sometimes the best coaches are family members or friends but more often the best coach is a professional. Get someone with the training and expertise to keep you on track, focused and productive. I have a coach because I'm serious about my goals and I KNOW that I do better with a coach. I suspect the people who will truly Do Fine in '09 will be those who work with a coach.

I have a great (Free!) tool to help you choose and clarify your targets of 2009. I hope you'll get it, and encourage your friends to get their own copy. If you would like your own copy email me. And, if you'd like to talk about coaching to "Do Fine in '09" send me an email. Let's talk about it! My address is: dustin@unfranchise.com.

I believe in you! I love you and I know that you have the potential inside you to weather any storm that may arise in 2009. It is just a matter of developing the personal fortitude to stick to your guns and create your own future!
Dustin Mitchell




MARKETAMERICA.COM/DUSTIN

Taking Inventory

Most states require that every business shut down periodically to take inventory. It's essential to physically count the products on the shelves, to re-calculate the value of equipment, supplies and other physical items that make the company run. The law requires this for equipment and products for sale, right down to the smallest items on the shelves.

Smart companies also do it with regard to their people and their skills.

Jack Welch is famous for saying that at General Electric he wanted a 10% turn-over in personnel every year. The bottom ten percent were encouraged to find other employment because he wanted only the very best, the most highly motivated and the most creative people working for him.

That may sound harsh, even heartless, but he made two vital points. (1) Do you really want unproductive people in your organization? And (2) no one benefits from having people in positions that don't suit them. We actually do people a favor when we gently but firmly encourage them to go where their talents and abilities will be better utilized, and the company is definitely better off. Under Welch's leadership, GE grew to be one of the world's great companies.

Too often, we UnFranchise Owners fail in this vital obligation.

From time to time, step back. Get some outside advice and perspective. Have the courage to judge yourself and your people in terms of productivity (the basic 5 diagnostic test is great for this), in terms of ability, and in terms of "best fit." If your company isn't producing the results you expect, it may be time to take a careful inventory not just of the products on the shelves, but of the people on your team.

Every week, get on the phone with an upline leader who can tell you what they see, and help you with the difficult decisions. Take inventory! You'll be glad you did.

NOTE: If you'd like to talk further about this, contact me! My email is dustin@unfranchise.com. Let's set up a time to talk it through.

Actions Still Speak Louder Than Words

Too often we talk about what we are going to do "someday" while we actually do very little to make our dreams come true. We talk and dream and set goals and plan. We go attend convention and visualize a future that Market America can provide. We even go as far as buying tickets to World Conference, but when we return back to the normal grind we almost refuse to except responsibility for our life and take action.

We all know that only action changes things. One of my favorite slogans is that "Nothing changes until something changes." I love the reminder that even a small step in the right direction can have huge implications! And, I love the reminder that only action will make our dreams come true.

We are blessed to live in a time when we can have or do just about anything we can imagine--yes, you really can! You can make a fortune, start a foundation, travel the world, raise happy children, run for office, publish a book, start a business or become a hermit and live in the woods. If you can imagine it, you can DO it! Whatever the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.

The only catch is that you have to actually make it happen. YOU have to turn off Oprah, get off your ass and take action!

I see at least three popular tools that are routinely used to avoid taking action. They are good tools when used properly, but we mis-use them to stay in our comfort zones, change nothing, and wonder why our dreams never come true.

First - We set too many goals. I'm a huge fan of goal-setting. I use goals in my business and personal life, and I encourage anyone I work with to set goals, so don't mis-understand me here. 

The problem is that we set goals instead of taking action. We plan and talk and set dead-lines, when what we should do is get to work and "go for it". Now you do need a plan of action!! However there is a big difference between developing your detailed plan and over planning. Losing weight is not a goal! It isn't even a long-term project, it's about putting down the damn twinkie, getting on Transitions and doing it today! Never set goals when it's simpler and more powerful to take direct action! To steal a line from Steve Ashley…I mean really! If you know you have to do something just do it! When was the last time you developed an action plan to use the restroom? HOPEFULLY not since you were potty trained. Why? Because you already know what to do. If you decided not to do it…then suffer the consequences.

Second - We wait for the right time. Timing can make a huge difference. But we mis-use that truth when we refuse to take reasonable action while we wait for a "better time," or for the moon and stars and our checkbook to be in alignment. It's an excuse, folks! There will never be a magical "right time" to start a business or start a family or start a savings plan.

The time is NOW! Take action, do what you can, move in the direction you want to go. Stop procrastinating and move it!

Third - We look for "leverage" so we can make big, dramatic progress. Now, of course big steps forward are wonderful! They are fun and exciting and leverage can make everything easier. No one doubts that! But that is no reason to avoid doing what you can, where you can, right now.

In fact, too often the "big steps" are scary and then we find even more reasons to avoid them.

In most things, I'm a huge fan of "baby steps" and have written about taking the smallest, safest, least dramatic step you possibly can, so long as you take it today. Take small steps, just take them!

Find and use a goal-setting routine. Goals are vital to your long-term success! Just don't get so lost in the process that you forget to look up, get up, and get into action! The same is true of timing and taking huge, bold steps when you can.

Action always speaks louder than words or plans or goals. Only action gets stuff done! Take small steps, but start today. Call someone. Read something. Open a savings account. Invest a dollar, take a walk, talk with your kids. Whatever it is, just do it! Before you go to bed this evening, take some real, measurable, positive step (no matter how small) in the direction you want to go. Then tomorrow, do it again.

Learned Anything New?

We constantly hear that what you know and who you know are the twin paths to success. I believe that, and yet I'm constantly amazed at how little responsibility people take for up-grading their skills.

This week, I learned that a local garage requires their mechanics to spend more hours (and more dollars) per year on continuing education than most states require for doctors, lawyers, or other professionals. Think about that the next time you take your car in for repairs--or the next time you talk with your physician!

I try to "practice what I preach" and Saturday I'll spend the day with friends and colleagues learning more about doing business online. We'll look at best practices for marketing, for attracting traffic to our websites, and for cross-promoting each other. We'll have plenty of time for networking and fun, but the key is that twice a year, we are committed to learning to build our businesses and do our jobs better.

Periodically I hear frightening accounts of how few books the average person reads, or how few classes they take after they leave school. I remember once hearing a friend say that if her employer wanted her to get more education, "they'll have to pay me for it." What a tragic attitude!

The keys to success are being able to do more, quicker and better than your competition, and most of the time that means KNOWING more than the next person. It means knowing more about language and culture, knowing more about your industry and having better contacts. It means knowing HOW to learn, and using it to your advantage.

As Brian Tracy has said for years, read the books. Attend the seminars. Take the classes and expand your world. Jim Rohn puts it this way: "Work harder on yourself than you do on your job."

To "work less and earn more" you've got to know more than your competitors. This week, sign up for at least one seminar. Check a book out of the library. Sow the seeds for your future.

See you at the top!

Dustin Craig Mitchell

Do You Prefer Pleasure or Is Happiness More

I while ago I read Martin Seligman's excellent book, Authentic Happiness and he makes a wonderful and vital distinction. Would you rather experience pleasure, or happiness?

It's an interesting question because our culture has clearly chosen pleasure. Going back to Sigmund Freud's argument that behavior is guided by our desire to avoid pain and maximize pleasure, modern society has voted for pleasure. Interestingly, Seligman argues that this is ultimately futile, and I would argue that it is ultimately self-defeating.

First, Seligman's argument, as I understand it.

Almost all pleasures are most intense when experienced in moderation. He points out that if we eat chocolates one at a time, our pleasure sky-rockets. But if we eat them one after another, we soon lose our sense of pleasure, and if we are forced to continue eating, we quickly tire of them and may even get sick.

This is true of almost all pleasures. Think of being stuffed with your favorite food, or having to endure a back massage that lasted for days on end. Even sex is exhausting after a certain point.

The point is that while pleasure - good food, good wine, good friends, etc - is a wonderful addition to life, our society has taken the quest for pleasure beyond the point of rapidly diminishing returns. We seek more and more toys, more and more pleasures in a never-ending quest to be entertained, and ultimately these "pleasures" cannot sustain us. The data is clear. The evidence is in: Pleasure for its own sake does not work!

Here's one fascinating specific: When people are measured while watching comedies on television, even while they are laughing, their actual emotional state shows a mild level of depression! Think about that, and it's implications!

Interestingly, however, when we substitute "gratification" or "fulfillment" for pleasure, our sense of happiness actually increases, and the increase remains over the long term!

Seligman defines gratification as the fulfillment of our values or the completion of long-term goals or purposes. He quotes extensive research that people who achieve their long-term goals are far happier than those who primarily pursue pleasure or fun.

Isn't it interesting when science catches up with the wisdom of the ages? From the beginning of time, our religious leaders, poets and seers have advised us to spend our lives on things that will outlast us and to invest ourselves in the fulfillment of our dreams, rather than the pleasures of the moment.

Now, science says they were right!

If you want more joy and long-term happiness, mix small amounts of pleasure (chocolate, roller-coaster rides) with lots of time and effort devoted to your dreams. Too much chocolate ultimately leads to satiation and regret, while persistent effort on our most important projects ultimately creates "the good life." The choice is yours. Which would you rather have?

Pursue happiness. It's the ultimate high!

Dustin Mitchell

Want to be a leader? Stay ahead of the pack!

One of the most over-looked traits of a business leader is that they actually lead.

As I work with business owners and managers, one of the things I observe is the need for the leader to stay ahead of the pack. There are a zillion things to do as the boss. It is easy to get bogged down in day-to-day operations and we forget to maintain a vision for the business. And yet your employees, your customers and the future of your business depend on your ability to set the standards and lead the way.

Bill Gates is reported to take a week off for thinking every three months. I understand he maintains a retreat on Hood Canal and often goes there to review and renew. Apparently, the practice has worked well for him.

Benjamin Franklin treasured the time on his trips across the Atlantic because it gave him perspective. C.S. Lewis often took walks of up to 20 miles in the country for time to think. Hundreds of successful business leaders have reported that their most productive time is the hour they spend planning.

When I coach business leaders, I encourage them to divide their planning and visioning time into two components: Business Design and Personal Growth. Both are essential.

Take time to lead. Design the future you want for your business, and in your personal life. Choose the course, develop a strategy. And then, be sure your personal development program equips you to be the leader your company will need down the road.

The Memorial Days of Our Life

This is Memorial Day, a time traditionally set aside to honor those who gave their lives for our freedom.

Liberty and democracy are fragile things and they do not flourish by themselves. They require loving care and, too often, costly sacrifice by those who cherish them. Every day, liberty is under attack by those who would censor our words, our thoughts and our prayers. Every day, freedom is challenged by those--often good, well-intentioned people--who want "order" at the expense of chaotic, inefficient democracy.

We are free people and we can disagree about where, and when, and how we should defend freedom, but we are only free because brave men and women have resisted tyranny. In honor of those who died on 9/11, and to those who have sacrificed in the past and are continuing to sacrifice every single day so we can enjoy our holidays, have our picnics, and have our debates: Thank you.

And now I want to make a tricky intellectual "pivot" and turn from talking about honoring those who fought for our freedoms, and talk about how we build our own lives, and the "Memorial Days" that signify our progress. Clearly, we must first acknowledge Memorial Day the way it was intended and honor those who have given their lives for our freedom, but we honor them most by USING our freedom, not merely luxuriating in it.

I'm going to make a strong, blunt statement that may offend some, but here goes: I believe too many of us (around the world, not only in the U.S.) have grown flabby and lazy. We enjoy our freedoms, our wealth and our opportunities, but we also squander them.

Too often we use our freedom to become consummate consumers, rather that expert builders. Too often we use our freedom to complain rather than to create. Too often we use our wealth and our power to become couch potatoes and channel-surfers rather than pursuing our potential and exploring the limits of possibility.

As you celebrate this national Memorial Day, I encourage you to note the key Memorial Dates in your own life. As you look back, do you mark the date you graduated, or the date you launched your business? Do you mark the date you set your own course, perhaps the day you risked it all for your dreams?

I remember a blustery, rainy day in September 1999. That was the day I met my mentor and business partner Dan Gaub. I agreed to remain coachable and follow his guidance, I launched a new direction in my life. It is one of my Memorial Days.

How about you? What are your personal Memorial Days? Have you used your freedoms, your talent, your dreams and abilities to create the life you want? Some dates are specific and easy to recall, others may not have seemed special but in retrospect, we know they were turning points. We all have these Memorial Days and they are important.

Honor them. Honor yourself! Freedom and opportunity only exist if they are used! And more than that, one of the ways we fuel our dreams and empower the future is by "borrowing" confidence, courage and momentum from the past. Celebrate your achievements and use them to know, deep inside, that you can boldly go wherever your wish in the future!

Dustin Craig Mitchell

Learning when to say, "Next"!

There are two contradictory truths in selling. One is that in many industries the great majority of sales come after the fifth, eighth, or even tenth call, and the tragedy is that too many sales people never make those "fruitless" follow-up calls.

The second truth, however, is that in other industries, sales follow the "law of large numbers." This law says that if someone doesn't buy after two or three calls, they will probably never buy and successful salespeople know to move on and find a new prospect. In these industries, the best salespeople make one or two contacts, give their best presentation, then quickly learn to say, "Next!" They move on without hesitation.

Which truth applies to you and your business? Knowing the answer is critical to your success!

And what happens if there is no "industry standard" and you have to decide on a case-by-case basis? Think about car buyers.

Some customers visit a dealership to dream or "tire-kick." They are just looking and will keep on looking for years, perhaps until their current car falls apart. Repeated invitations to come back because we "just got a new model, and it's your favorite color" are a waste of time. When they are finally ready to buy they'll come in, negotiate a price and sign the papers. They've been "looking" for years and they know what they want. Until then, repeated calls make no difference.

Other customers, however, are ready and want to buy, but need hand-holding. They want to be encouraged. They want to be valued and they will respond to a second, a third or fourth invitation to buy.

Knowing your industry, and being able to "read" the intentions and buying styles of individual customers makes all the difference. It's a skill and it can be learned. If you are in business, you are in sales. Get good at it.

Dustin Craig Mitchell
Market America UnFranchise Owner
Built on Product. Powered By People.

The Highway to Happiness

This week I want to talk about not just "pursuing" happiness, but actually being happy! I think there's a big difference.

For our purposes, I'm not convinced that happiness is primarily an emotion, and I'm not convinced that happiness is directly related to "success" in the usual sense. I've known too many miserable millionaires! I prefer to think that happiness is a "way of being."

For Thomas Jefferson and the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the "pursuit of happiness" meant primarily the right to pursue wealth. They were concerned about life, liberty, and the freedom to pursue their interests as farmers or merchants. Today, we think of happiness very differently.

For most of us happiness is either an emotion ("I feel happy") or an on-going sense of fulfillment and satisfaction with our lives. I'm more interested in the longer-term. I want a lifetime of happiness! Sure, I enjoy moments of happiness during a party or on a roller coaster, but it's so short-lived! I want the long-lasting variety!

For me, the bigger and more interesting question is, "Can I achieve a life-time of happiness and personal fulfillment? Is that possible?" I believe the answer is a resounding YES! You CAN be happy most of the time, for the rest of your life.

How?

First, decide to be happy. Abraham Lincoln, who struggled with depression his entire life said, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Happiness seems to begin with a desire to BE HAPPY! Most people focus their time and thoughts on getting things done, on achieving various goals or avoiding failure. And, there's nothing wrong with that, but in the process they forget to focus on being happy. Choose happiness as a project or goal or value, and focus on it. Take time to be happy every day.

Second, notice what makes you happy. Most of us know what makes us laugh or feel giddy for an evening, but we're not as certain about what brings long-term happiness. What fills you with pride or satisfaction? What gives your life meaning and purpose? What people, places, activities and values bring peace of mind, contentment or fulfillment? Note these and see if they could play a larger role in your life.

Third, happiness is active, not passive. Happiness seems to come from living our values and priorities. Happiness comes from doing valuable and worthwhile things, from making a positive difference in our world. We all know the frustration of spending a hectic day being frantic over trivial things. Don't spend your life that way! Every day, invest some time doing things of ultimate value. Do things that reflect who you are and what you stand for.

Finally, happiness is more about giving than receiving. I've been blessed to have many things, and there are even more things I want in life. And of course, in small ways, many of these things do "make me happy." I enjoy them! But few of my "things" actually seem connected to my long-term happiness. I suspect we focus too much on the things we want, and not enough on the things we have to share. It has been said that "It is better to give than to receive." Based on many observations, from the Dalai Lama to Mother Theresa and my own "best moments," I think there is truth in that.

If you want happiness, give more of yourself.

Dustin Craig Mitchell
Market America UnFranchise Owner
Built on Product. Powered By People.

Your Impersonal Dream

I recently read Michael Gerber's new book, Awakening the Entrepreneur Within, and it touched me. He makes a vital distinction between our personal dreams for success, wealth, fame or whatever, and the "impersonal dream" that lies behind every great business.

An impersonal dream is our belief that what we do will make an essential difference to the whole world. When he launched Microsoft, I'm sure Bill Gates had a personal dream that included things like money, influence, a nice house, a new car and so forth. He certainly didn't launch Microsoft with a dream of failing!

But he also had an impersonal dream that made all the difference. He wanted "a computer on every desktop." He dreamed of a world where ordinary people could harness the power of computers to communicate and produce. He had an impersonal dream that his little operating system could open doors he knew nothing about on every desktop and in every office around the world. Now that's a dream!

Your business needs such a dream. Gerber argues that starting a business to make money or to employ people is nice, but it's not enough. To keep going when things are tough requires a sense of mission, an impersonal dream that your shop, your book or factory or restaurant will ultimately touch thousands of people in a vital way.

What's your "big idea?" If a million people copied your idea or bought your products or used your service, how would that change the world?

When managers and owners, entrepreneurs and inventors have huge "impersonal" dreams their businesses flourish because their sense of mission makes everything better.

What's your impersonal dream to make this small planet just a little bit better? Find it and your business will taken on new meaning, and perhaps, new profits.

(To order Gerber's excellent book and have it delivered to your door, click here.)

See you at the top!

Dustin Craig Mitchell

Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness

This week I read about a huge survey (over 100,000 participants) that said only 47% of Americans describe themselves as truly "happy." This is the biggest survey ever on the topic, and it amazes me that more than half of us (think of that!) are not fulfilled, satisfied or "happy" with our lives. How can that be?

In the past couple of centuries, we've done well on two of the three freedoms proclaimed in our Declaration of Independence. We've more than doubled life expectancy. Progress in medicine, sanitation, and safety give us more years than ever before. And we certainly have more liberty!

We can say, think, travel, learn, buy, do or experience more variety than ever before. Even our parents never dreamed of the freedoms we take for granted every day.

And yet when asked closely about our lives, we are no happier (and perhaps not as happy) as past generations. Headlines proclaim that we are anxious, stressed, cranky or depressed. We take more pills than any people in history. We worry. We feel less safe than our ancestors who faced famine, war and pestilence. What's going on? How can this be and what can we do about it?

Partly, I don't think we actively seek "happiness" as much as we might. We are so busy pursuing things and taking care of business that we forget to enjoy our lives. Sometimes I'm not sure we even expect to be happy! In part, I blame our work ethic for this. We are so focused on a better tomorrow that we forget the wonders of today.

I'd like to propose that happiness be considered a kind of skill. There are keys or steps to increasing happiness, and they can be learned. Here are five suggestions:

1. Happiness Requires Safety. When Abraham Maslow introduced his "Hierarchy" in 1947 he began with security. I suspect happiness begins with locking the doors at night, with some money in the bank, with a belief that we and our loved ones are safe. Yes, we could be hit by a bus and we lost Cody suddenly last week, but to increase your level of happiness, take security seriously. Take care of your environment. Nurture a sense of personal control. Save money and invest wisely. For most of us, basic safety is attainable. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.

2. Happiness Requires Community. People are happier when they have caring, loving relationships. Spend time with family and friends. Invest in your neighbors and co-workers. Remember that we are "tribal" creatures and we need our friends. Whether it's an extended family, your golfing buddies or girlfriends, nurture your community. Happiness is found in community.

3. Happiness Requires Contribution. This means doing work that gives you fulfillment and satisfaction. Happy people make a difference! Most of us do our work through our jobs, but it can also come from volunteering or in some other way. You have talent and ability! Share it. Make a positive impact in your world. Contribute. It will make you happy.

4. Happiness Requires Fun. Happy people have fun! Whether it's playing catch, making love, watching a movie or flying a kite, we don't laugh as much as we could. We take our fun too seriously. Too often, we define "fun" as flying to Vegas or hosting an elaborate party. Why not grill hot-dogs and be done with it? Pillow fights are fun. Watching a sunset or washing the dog can be fun. I like Jimmy Buffet's observation that "having fun is about as good a hobby as there is."

5. Happiness Requires the X-Factor. We each find happiness in our own ways. For some, it's the excitement of discovery. Others are happiest climbing mountains. Franklin Roosevelt enjoyed his stamp collection. Whatever makes you happy, do more of it.

If you aren't happy with the car you drive, with the house you live in, with the amount of time you spend with your friends and family...then you owe it to yourself to spend 1 hour of your time speaking with me. I firmly believe that I have a system that can change your life, if you are brave enough to implement it.

If you would like to request time to speak with me please email me by clicking on this link:


See you at the top!

Dustin Craig Mitchell

The Value of Lifetime Customers

There's an old truth that one customer, well satisfied, is worth a fortune. Over and over again, I work with companies who are determined to improve their advertising to attract new customers. They spend fortunes looking for better copy, the write spokesperson or the right "media mix." All the while, current customers are evaporating or (worse) doing business with their competitors.

There's a wonderful old story about a couple looking for a hotel on a rainy, dreary night. At last they pull up to a small hotel in a rural Pennsylvania town, go inside, but are told the hotel is full. Seeing their fatigue and despair, the young man behind the counter offers to let them use his own quarters, a small room in the back of the building.

In the morning, the couple is so grateful and impressed, the husband promises that someday he will open a hotel and hire the young man to manage it. Time passes, and one day the young man gets a call from that weary traveler. It seems he has opened the Ritz Carlton Hotel in New York and would like the young man to manage it.

I have no idea if that story is true, although I've heard variations of it for many years. The point, however, is clear: Every customer is potentially worth a fortune!

It is always easier and more profitable to keep a customer than to attract a new one. Advertising is expensive! Negotiating the first sale, learning the needs of the customer and serving them well is difficult. To grow your business, focus on repeat sales.

Your customers are your best source of new ideas and innovations to put you ahead of the crowd. Listen to them, honor them, go the extra mile and work with your customers to achieve what you both want: a satisfying and profitable long-term relationship.

See you at the top!

Dustin Craig Mitchell

Attracting Wealth (Money)

Making money is an interesting hobby. There is lots of money in the world. The world is awash with it! There is more money floating around, changing hands and making people wealthy than ever before, and yet many of us find it difficult to keep enough of it for ourselves. How can that be?

Here's a simple rule: Making money is hard; being of service is easy.

And here's the brilliant corollary: If you can serve enough people, they will give you money out of gratitude.

Too many business people go directly for the money and find it awfully hard to get ahead. Money does not want to be trapped or tricked or corralled. Money is a reward for the service we provide to others and in some strange way, it flows to those who serve.

Do you need a good business plan, good people and good products? Of course! But the primary focus must be on providing value and serving your customer. If you do that, and do it with honesty, style and enthusiasm, the money will follow. It always has and always will.

We all prefer doing business with people we like and trust. We prefer doing business with people who make things easy, who serve us well, who stand behind their product or service, and do it with an easy smile and lots of grace.

Only rarely is a deal based primarily on price. I routinely drive past businesses (grocery stores, lawyers, repair shops) who might offer a lower price in order to do business where I have confidence in the service I'll receive. I bet you're the same way and in business, you want to use that to your advantage.

Find a way to provide extraordinary service and the money will follow. That's been my experience and I trust it. I think it'll work for you, too.

If you would like coaching to improve your bottom line and the quality of life you experience in both work and play, contact me. Let's make the future far more profitable (and fun!) than the past.

Dustin C. Mitchell

Surving & Thriving On Chaos

There is no doubt about it...things are chaotic today. In the past two weeks one airline has canceled 3000 flights (yikes!) and three airlines declared bankruptcy. We all know about the mortgage crisis and problems in the housing market. And of course, it's an election year. Chaos reigns! And winners will find a way to thrive on it.

The most effective people in the new century will be those who thrive in a world of chaos. They do not believe the world is actually "chaotic" because the laws of cause-and-effect still apply. You still get results based on intelligent action and focused effort. But they understand we live in a world that "seems" chaotic and they thrive on it.

Peak performers in the 21st century will be comfortable with ambiguity. They know they will never have enough information. They know the rules are constantly changing, and yet they play "flat-out" because they expect to win. They know that action and calm, purposeful effort in the midst of the storm are still the keys to success.

I'm intrigued by how easily disrupted our lives are. From speaking with people who were at the airport this week, the variety of responses was mind-blowing. Thousands of people were upset, angry, tense or confused. But here and there, little clusters of people were getting work done. Sure they were tired and sometimes hungry, but they were on their computers or cell phones. Or they were taking naps, reading, playing cards or talking with other stranded travelers.

In the midst of chaos, winners do not fall into over-whelm and dysfunction. They get things done. As the old cliché says, When life gives them lemons, they make lemonade.

Several things are necessary to thrive in the midst of chaos

1. Exceptional boundaries. Winners structure their own lives and refuse to get caught up in other people's drama. They know how to close their doors and ignore disruptions. They know where they are going and they tolerate few, if any, distractions.

2. Exceptional vision. They know their priorities and their desired outcomes. They know what they want and they can see, taste, smell and even touch their results in advance. They have goals rather than mere hopes or dreams.

3. Exceptional self-direction. Winners are in charge of their lives and chaos around them is merely someone else's drama swirling nearby. They maintain their inner calm. They are not easily lost or confused. They know their priorities and their direction, even when their flight is canceled.

4. Exceptional optimism. They see chaos as opportunity. Chaos "stirs the pot" and opens doors. Rather than annoying or frustrating them, they love it! On a wild and windy day, a rainbow may appear at any moment and they welcome it.

5. Exceptional Reserves. They take care of themselves. They eat well, rest often, save and invest wisely and when opportunity knocks, they are waiting to answer the door. They operate from strength and stability, while a chaotic world wreaks havoc on the competition.

6. Exceptional response-ability. Rather than reacting from anger or anxiety, they see an ever-changing world and thoughtfully respond to opportunities that present themselves. Most people react; winners respond.

John Lennon observed that "life is what happens while you were making other plans." Life will not wait until we are ready or until we catch our breath. Winners thrive on chaos. They'll see and seize opportunities, and they'll love the wild ride. In a world swirling with change and chaos, they invest in themselves and they get things done.

See you at the top!

Leverage Your Assets

Every business contains a wealth of undiscovered and unused assets, and often I have the opportunity of helping an owner or manager utilize those assets far more profitably.

Your database of customers and clients, even your list of competitors, are incredibly valuable assets! How could you expand your network, or your community, and provide value to these people? Find the answer, and watch your business explode!

Here's a small example from one of my customers. A Chiropractor routinely closed her office each evening and the building sat empty. By allowing other professionals (her colleagues and her "competition") to use the building for workshops and seminars, she earned a small amount of rent, but more importantly, those people were advertising her location and building her reputation in the community. The synergy proved extremely profitable!

Thousands of businesses have discovered the value of "joint venturing" by allowing another business to announce a special service to their current customers. Others have discovered new markets or new uses for established products and seen their sales skyrocket!

What assets are you sitting on? What tools, knowledge or skills are not being shared with the world and not being used to expand your profits and enhance your community? Find those hidden assets and put them to work!

Dustin C. Mitchell