Optimists Die of a Broken Heart

It's a cliche, do you find the glass half empty or half full?  A fantastic read is the book, Good to Great by Jim Collins.  Most of the latter part of the book Jim talks about businesses having the Hedgehog Concept.  When he describes this concept he explains there is a Greek parable that asks, are you a Hedgehog or are you a Fox?  A Fox is cunning, smart and always trying to think of ways to capture the Hedgehog.  A Hedgehog knows his strengths and he knows his weaknesses, he is consistent.  The Fox, being cunning, gets excited when he sees the Hedgehog in front of him, gets ready to pounce when the Hedgehog says to himself "Here we go, again" and rolls into a spiked ball.  The Fox sees this, and turns around and says to himself "Ok, off to make another plan to sneak attack the Hedgehog."

The Hedgehog is a Realist.  They accept the brutal facts, they know what they are good at, what they will never be good at, and go through life with the gift of knowledge.

This is great news, strong and steady wins the race.  What does that have to do with Optimists, I thought being Optimistic was the best way to be?  Jim Collins also refers to The Stockdale Paradox in his book.  Admiral Jim Stockdale was the highest ranking officer in the "Hanoi Hilton", a German concentration camp.  He was there over 7 years and tortured over 20 times.  He came out of the camp even stronger then going in.  Jim Collins talks about his meeting with Admiral Stockdale and says of him "He endured everything and was never never wavered in faith that he would prevail, he would prevail by turning it into the defining event of his life that would make him a better person." Then Jim Collins asked Admiral Stockdale, "Who didn't make it out", the Admiral said, "Oh that it easy. It was the Optimists."  Collins said "I don't understand, the Optimists?" Stockdale replied, "Yes, the Optimists always said "We will be out by Christmas", then Christmas would come and it would go and there would be another Christmas and they said "We will be out by Christmas" and they died of a broken heart.

Stockdale then grabbed Collins by the shoulder and said "You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end – which you can never afford to lose – with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be."

Facing the facts and asking questions to get to the other side take much more time and energy then the "outs" that a Pessimist or an Optimist have, where the one will go one way without thought, the other will go the other way without thought, the Realist will sit down and face the facts dead on, figure it out and move to the next.  Who are you going to be?

Why saying yes gets you further away.

Who has a better client base, the Roofer who only does only metal roofs or the Handyman that can do some roofing, a little plumbing, heck he can also till the garden and paint walls.  The Roofer.  Why though?  Do you think the Roofer has connections on other types of roofing?  Yes, he most likely does. Do you think the Roofer also might be able to do a little plumbing, till the garden and paint walls?  The answer to that is yes too, he probably does that at his own home.  Why then do you think the Roofer has more business, constant referrals and an overall better business?

Because the Roofer is clear and consistent with what he actually does and what he does not do.  Human nature needs familiarity and the need to connect one person or business with a specialty, not all of the above.  Be an expert in your field, just because you can do something, don't say yes unless 1. your time is not valuable to you or 2. you are only in it for the short term financial goal.  Something might make you $100 now, but are you giving up $100,000 long term because you are diluting your business?

Don't say YES to every opportunity that comes your way.  Pick and choose what is most relevant to who you are, what you do, and what you stand for.  

45 Ways to Stay Young

Going through some folders and found a list of important "mini inspirations" from last year.

1. You are what you give away.
2. BE YOURSELF; stop caring about what people think, it’s your opinion that matters most.  
3. FAMILY IS always the top PRIORITY. 
4. Surround yourself with smart people.  
5. Dance in the summer rain. 
6. Listen.  
7. Style is a perception, make your own.  
8. Live by your PASSION.  
9. Find something that you can thoroughly connect with, intertwine your heart with it, passion is obsession. 
10. We have one shot at this amazing life. Never wonder "...what if...".  
11. Money doesn't buy happiness, PASSION does. 
12. Be passionate about everything you purposefully choose to connect yourself to, your "mate", your "hobbies" and your "work". 
13. Don’t subscribe luck, you make your own opportunities. 
14. If you want something, go get it.  
15. Dream BIG. 
16. Understand the power of THANK YOU. 
17. Listen. 
18. Seek out positive energy. 
19. There are never dead ends, only alternative paths. 
20. Fail fast. 
21. The opportunity to FORGIVE, is one of the best opportunities you will ever receive.  
22. SMILE. 
23. Go on road trips.  
24. Wake up each day willing to be accountable for your actions. 
25. Learn how to say; I’m sorry, I was wrong, I need help, please forgive me. 
26. Trust and believe in others.  
27. HUG PEOPLE.  
28. Go on a date once a week, even if it’s with yourself. 
29. Change the status quo. 
30. Anything is possible. Find answers. 
31. Get excited and share it.  
32. Recognize those who help you. 
33. Live by you WHY. 
34. Believe in David and Goliath. 
35. Without RISK there is no REWARD. 
36. Need some creativity? Turn off the TV. 
37. Communicate constantly with your significant other.
38. Learn at least one new thing each day.  
39. Write down your goals.
40. Give without wanting anything in return.
41. LOVE what you do to earn a living.
42. Kindness in your heart will get you through any situation.
43. Take the time to call your friends.
44. Living is FUN.
45. Listen.

How to Successfully Brand your Company

Branding and demographics are two different things.  Pepsi markets young but their demographic is not young.  Jeep markets off road but how many people go off roading in Jeeps?  Not many.  And most people that buy Jeep's are moms, yet they specifically don't market to moms.  Moms and women buy the product because it's a feeling they get.  Why do you go to a movie?  It's the feeling you get watching it.  

The Starbucks Experience.  No matter what coffee you love, where do you get a feeling from? Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts?  How do you feel when you walk into a Starbucks?  How do you feel when you walk into a Dunkin Donuts?  Which place makes you want to stay and hang out?

People will pay more for an experience even if they products are identical.  Go above and beyond and you will be different.

We all know about The Disney Experience.  If you have a child and a family, you must get to Disney.  It's a feeling, and it's all about memories.  They will even pick you up from the airport and pick up your luggage and take it to your room.  An entire experience that costs quite a bit, but can you put a price tag on memories with your kids?

If you have a niche market and a unique marketing edge, don't water it down just because it doesn't necessarily match who your customers are.  It just might be that you have these customers because of your unique branding.

These words are notes taken from a conversation from a fellow Entrepreneur, Peter Truby the Founder of Salazon Chocolate.