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