Think Huge by Mark Arnold

Welcoming the New Year with Glad Hearts and Enjoyable Moments

Note: The following post was written by Taylor Wells, Communications Director for On The Mark Strategies.

“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.”
- Benjamin Franklin (writer, inventor, Founding Father)

Although the phrasing may be a bit shop-worn, it really is hard to believe yet another year has passed. These celestial chunks of time we’ve adopted to help mark the passing of the ages seem a lot more manageable in smaller pieces. Seconds, minutes, hours, even days are all chewable. It’s the years that seem to stick in our collective gullets, swallowed only with healthy doses of nostalgia, relief, trepidation and maybe even a few more bars of Auld Lang Syne.

While there are a million authors out there sharing a million well-intentioned stories this time of year, this one couldn’t help but add a few thoughts of his own. Call them an elegiac for time passed. Think of them as panacea, balm for the soul at the end of the annual race. To me, they came in the early morning hours of the last day of the old year, as a torch of promise was passed from 2011 to 2012. Instead of stumbling about for an appropriately effete title, I’ll pass them along as simply as they visited me: Things In Life To Enjoy (in no particular order; sprinkle liberally with your own heart’s calling).

A Good Book

Hardback, paperback, e-book. Whatever format best suits your tastes, dive daily into the rich and varied offerings of the printed word. Whether you’re a history fan, a thriller buff, an arts aficionado or all of the above, embrace reading, learning and enrichment beyond your current boundaries. From the Library of Alexandria to the Library of Congress to your corner used bookstore, books may contain knowledge, but set us free upon cracking their covers.

Music

Make time to enjoy music! Man has raised his voice (and later, instruments) for millennia in praise, excitement, fear and exultation of all manner. An eclectic taste is helpful here, so revel in the joy of notes and voice in the formats that speak best to your heart. Musical spokesman for all things eternal and human, Beethoven, remarked: “Music is the one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge, which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend.”

Childrens’ Laughter

Music in itself, the laughter of children passes a humbling and promising song to adult ears. We seem at once to connect to long-lost parts of ourselves and to the hope of tomorrow. The pure and undiluted pitch of laughter shared by children is as sweet and moving as any symphony. Whether it comes from your own children, grandchildren or is carried lightly in the air while passing a park or playground, inhale deeply this elixir of youth, potential and innocence.

 

 

Coffee

It’s on my desk right now. Odds are if you’re reading this at work (especially in the morning hours) you have a mug on yours, too. There’s something calming, bracing and ritualistic about our love affair with coffee, that some say has its roots in Colonial America and a rejection of all things royal (tea, for example). Add cream, milk, sugar or drink as nature intended (black!).

Hints of Seasons

In Texas, summer falls like a cruel and unrelenting hammer. Winter, even in our northern-most reaches, is usually a mere weeks-long flirtation with chill. Maybe that’s why the approach of mid-seasons (spring and autumn) holds such a dear spot in many Lone Star State hearts. As winter recedes, longer days, open windows and the crack of baseball bats engross the collective psyche. In a similar vein, the gentle approach of autumn, with its northerly winds, crisp air and (you guessed it!) football assure us that the seasons are proceeding as they should.

Whatever moves you, whatever quickens your pulse, pace or productivity, make time to enjoy it in this New Year. In twelve months we’ll all be a year older (and hopefully wiser) with nothing more dearly added to our makeup than these moments.

The team at Think Huge wishes you the very best for a blessed, prosperous and fulfilling New Year. Now it’s time to cap off the festive run that began on New York City’s streets Thanksgiving morning with that other beloved bookend of the holiday rite: 21 straight hours of The Twilight Zone!

“If in any quest for magic, in any search for sorcery, witchery, legerdemain, first check the human spirit.”
- Rod Serling (writer, narrator, novelist)

Having Supplies

 

The new school year is just around the corner. Since my wife is a teacher and my daughters are still in school, that’s a big deal in our household. If you have kids, you know the drill the week before school starts: purchase new clothes, get a fresh haircut, and make sure the shoes still fit.

Of course, one of the most important tasks on the back-to-school list is getting school supplies. You can purchase the complete pre-set package some schools offer now or traipse all over town looking for Kleenexes, paper, pencils, and hand gel. Either way, you have to make sure your kiddos are ready for their first day of school.

But it’s not just kids who need supplies: we all do. We need supplies in both our professional and personal lives.

From a professional standpoint, do you have the tools to succeed? According to Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, in their book First Break all the Rules, one of the most important questions you can answer with your job is, “Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?” That is a very telling question to answer. If you don’t have the proper work supplies, you won’t succeed. And by supplies, I don’t just mean a stapler or a computer. Think about it: what do you really need at your job to be successful? Is it more training? Is it a laptop instead of a PC? Is it more feedback from your supervisor? Is it remote access? Too many times people fail in their jobs (or quit) because they don’t have the tools to properly accomplish their goals. If you need additional tools, you should have an honest conversation with your boss. Don’t let the lack of tools prevent you from professional achievements.

From a personal standpoint, do you have the tools to succeed? Personal tools could include time or supplies for a hobby you enjoy. If you enjoy a particular sport you’ll need the right equipment to maximize its enjoyment. For example, I enjoy fantasy football (no, that’s not a “sport” and yes, I am a fantasy football nerd). That means I subscribe to certain websites and use some drafting tools so I can win my league (and enjoy the season more). Whatever hobby you enjoy (gardening, reading, sports, etc.) spend some money on the equipment. Get the supplies you need.

Having the right tools does not guarantee success. For example, all the kids in my wife’s first grade class will show up with their supplies. But they all won’t make straight A’s. However, having those supplies does ensure her students will have a productive year of learning.

So how about you? Do you have the professional and personal supplies you need?

Think Huge!

Take Risks to Think Huge

 

One common refrain I heard when I left my day job to focus full time on speaking, branding and planning was “You are taking such a risk.” My response: it was a risk to stay.

Thinking huge means taking a risk every now and then. Sometimes you should take a major risk (quitting your paying job certainly qualifies). Sometimes you should take a minor risk (trying a new restaurant in town instead of going to the same place again).

Whether you realize it or not you are taking risks every day.

Think about your career. If you “play it safe” and do the same job over and over again year after year you are taking a risk. You are risking becoming stale at what you do. You are risking your prime years to your employer. You are risking waking up some day with the realization you never pursued your passion or what you really wanted to do in life. That’s a lot of risk.

Think about your personal life. If you “play it safe” and only do your same activities you are taking a risk. You are risking not exposing yourself to new vacation spots. You are risking not trying new things (zip lining, running a 5K, sky diving, traveling, etc.) You are risking doing the same things over and over again. You are risking coming to the end of your life with regrets.

Every day you are taking risks—of staying the same or becoming a better person. Instead of taking the risk of staying the same, how about taking some risks and improving yourself? While I’m not saying everyone should quit their job, I am suggesting to look at your life and see if there are areas you can be a bit more adventuresome.

So about you? What risks are you willing to take today?

Think Huge!

Read Crush It For Great Example of Thinking Huge

It is sometimes difficult to find a book that is both inspiring and practical. However, Crush It, by Gary Vaynerchuk is one such read. It not only encourages you to find your passion it tells you how to turn your passion into profit. The book just oozes one great idea after another.

In all honesty, I probably underlined half the book. It was so good I’m going to read it multiple times to make sure I’m applying all of Gary’s excellent material. Who is Gary? He has leveraged social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook to promote Wine Library TV, his video blog about wine. If you drink wine you are probably very familiar with Gary.

He opens the book by saying “passion is everything.” And let me tell you, passion drips from every page of Crush It. He notes that he lives by three simple rules: love your family, work super hard and live your passion.

He firmly believes that everyone needs to start thinking of themselves as a brand. That is an interesting concept and one I tend to agree with.

A central component of thinking huge is “think passion.” Crush It is a perfect book that expands on how important passion is. “Live your passion,” Vaynerchuk says. “When you get up for work every morning, every single morning, you are pumped because you get to talk about or work with or do the thing that interests you the most in the world….are you living or just earning a living?” Strong words and right to the point.

Beyond talking about passion—we all want it and few of us live it every day—Vaynerchuk offers many practical ways to start doing so. Those tips include:

· Build your personal brand (a whole chapter on that subject)

· Differentiate yourself

· Tell a story

· Create community

Those may seem like simple points, but Vaynerchuk elaborates on each of them, giving examples of how you can do that in your life.

Another advantage to reading Crush It is its style and length. The book is short (less than 150 pages) and written in a conversational tone. It’s more like you are sitting down with Gary, having a cup of coffee with him while he fires you up to go do your passion in life.

Whether you are a stay at home mom trying to earn a little extra cash for the family, the CEO of a large organization trying to understand social media or just an ordinary person trying to discover how to turn your passion into profits, then Crush It is a book you must read.

Think Huge!

Patrick Henry Hughes is Thinking Huge

Note: Thanks to Tom McWilliams for sending the video link to this inspiring story.

Below is a video that illustrates how one young man is a living example of someone who is thinking huge; he has persevered more than most folks could possibly endure to live his passion. Both father and son are amazing.

Note that of his disability, Patrick says, “It’s more ability than disability.”

 

Think Huge!

Start New Year by Thinking Huge

Welcome to 2010!

 

As the New Year begins, there is no better time to Think Huge. We’re already several days into January and many of us are off and running. Activity and business, however, does not always mean success.

 

As we said in the book, Think Huge means, “Going many steps beyond where you are today and pushing past your comfort zone. In other words, not limiting yourself. We sometimes put an invisible ceiling on what we can accomplish in life. Thinking huge means removing those barriers and accomplishing our dreams and ambitions. Maybe you want to be the teacher of the year. Or the top salesperson. Or the CEO. Or a more involved parent. Or a more loving spouse. Or _______. You fill in the blank with what areas you want to think huge.”

 

You are probably thinking (or have already set) your goals for 2010. One way to set goals this year is to break them into the six Think Huge areas:

 

• Vision
• People
• Passion
• Time
• Perseverance
• Learning

 

Here are some questions to consider in each area and then examples you can use for your 2010 goals:

 

(1)    Vision

 

Do you have a vision statement for your life, department, organization, etc.? One goal might be to write your six word personal and/or professional vision statement.

 

(2)    People

 

Who do you want to be close to or get to know this year? For example, there may be a family member you want to reach out to, an old friend to reconnect with, or a child you want to hang out with more.

 

(3)    Passion

 

Is there a particular hobby or interest you want to develop more this year? Maybe this is the year you buy the Harley! One of my passions is to speaking so one of my 2010 passion goals is to do multiple Think Huge presentations (if you want to book me, click here—how’s that for a shameless self-plug!).

 

(4)    Time

 

How can you maximize your time in 2010? Maybe it’s to reduce the number of meetings you are in or to better streamline your meetings. Other time goal examples could include spending “x” number of hours a week for yourself, spending less hours at work, or improving a particular skill you have by practicing it more.

 

(5)    Perseverance

 

Is there some area of your life you are discouraged and want to quit? Don’t give up—persevere. Perseverance goal examples could be running a marathon or half marathon, finishing school, changing your job if you’re unhappy, improving your marriage, etc.

 

(6)    Learning

 

If you’re not learning, you’re not growing. What are you going to learn this year? Examples include taking a college class, reading one business book per month, attending a conference, etc.

 

 

You probably have multiple goals for 2010. Hopefully you have some in all six Think Huge areas. What Think Huge goals have you set for 2010? Please share yours in the comments section below.

 

Think Huge!

Think Huge Lessons From UT's Championship Loss

Note: I am a University of Texas Longhorn alumnus so this post is written from that viewpoint (no offense to you Alabama folks, who deserve many congratulations on your great win)

I was all decked out in my burnt orange UT gear for the national championship game: burnt orange pants, two burnt orange shirts (it was cold!), UT socks and even burnt orange slippers. Then five plays into the game, disaster struck when Colt McCoy went out with a game-ending shoulder injury.

As I watched the rest of the national championship game (and Colt’s interview after the game) in agony, I realized there were several  Think Huge lessons the game illustrated:

Think Perseverance

One of the six Think Huge principles is “think perseverance.” In the book, we note that “thinking huge is not a ‘name it and claim it’ gospel. You will encounter trials in your life and that chapter helps with tools for overcoming those obstacles.”

Last night, the ‘Horns encountered a major early obstacle: the loss of the quarterback with the most wins in college football history. But they didn’t give up. They could have easily rolled over and quit. A lot of teams would. Instead they fought and fought and fought. Even with a true freshman quarterback, UT closed the score to 24-21 with under five minutes to go. But then Alabama’s defense took over the game.

As commentator Kirk Herbstreit said after the game, “They never gave up.”

That is thinking huge. Sure they were deflated after the McCoy injury but they continued to persevere. And that’s what you will have to do in life as you think huge. There are going to be times when you’re going to get knocked out (lose your job, family member get sick, have a mean boss, etc.). But you have a choice: you can fight through those difficulties or rollover and quit. If you think huge, then you’ll never give up.

Think Passion

I hope you stayed up after the game to see Colt’s interview. He said some amazing things that are “Think Huge” principles.

“I love this game,” McCoy said. “I have a passion for this game….I would have given everything I had to been out there.”

Click here to see the full interview:

 

 

Is there anything you would give everything to do? Then that’s your passion. Whatever it is, go do it. Don’t wait. Time is precious.

How do you think Colt feels today? Some may think he feels sad that his college career is over and ended on such a down note. But I’m also betting he has a sense of joy: that for four years he lived his dream by doing his passion of playing college football.

Are you doing your passion? Think Huge offers a passion quiz to help you determine if you’re in the your passion spot or just bidding time.

While losing the  game was disappointing as a fan, it reminded me to think perseverance and think passion.

 

Think Huge!

Adjusting Your Goals

I recently completed the White Rock Marathon in just under four hours. There is good news and bad news in that statement: the good news is I finished; the bad news is it took me four hours (which is 30 minutes slower than what I trained for and was expecting).

Here are some lessons I learned about goals (and missing them) during my fourth marathon:

Adjust Your Goals on the Fly

I was cruising and ahead of my goal pace all the way until mile 17. Then disaster struck. I felt a sharp pain in my right knee and my legs began to feel like mush. It was pretty obvious that a 3:30 marathon was not going to happen.

Let’s be honest: there will be times in your life that you will not reach your goals. So what do you do? Do you get depressed and feel like a failure? Do you quit? No—you adjust your goals.

It may not even be a matter of adjusting your goals. It could be layering your goals. For example, my number one goal for the White Rock Marathon was to not wind up in the medical tent (which happened at the Austin Marathon last year); the second goal was to finish; the third target was to run it in 3:30. So with the layered approach I actually attained my first two goals; it was only the third and final “stretch” goal that I missed.

Let’s be clear: it’s important to set goals for you, your family and your employees. And those goals need to stretch you. However, don’t be a slave to the goal: give yourself some flexibility and adjust if you run into problems outside your control.

Analyze Why You Missed Your Goals

Immediately after finishing the marathon and missing my target time I began to ask questions. What went wrong? What mistakes did I make? What could I have done differently?

If you missed a goal, you should analyze why you didn’t reach it. That involves a lot of questions (both to you and others). For example, I went to multiple online running groups and posted questions about what went wrong. I received a great deal of advice from fellow runners.
If your goal is work related or family oriented and things didn’t go the way you wanted it to, ask others for their thoughts. There are probably others that have walked similar paths you are currently undertaking. Pick their brains. Don’t just sit back and settle for a missed goal: research what you can improve.

Never Give Up

After the knee injury at mile 17 I hit the proverbial marathon wall at mile 20. Not only was my knee hurting, my legs absolutely left me. I had a choice to make: quit or keep going. There will be times in your personal and professional life you’ll have a similar choice to make.

Even if you aren’t able to hit your goal, you should never give up. That is a key Think Huge principle. No matter what is happening, don’t quit. Even if you can’t make your target, finish the task. If you don’t finish a marathon, there is a “DNF” on the results next to your name. That stands for “did not finish.” Don’t ever let there be a “DNF” next to your name with any life goal you set.

Life is like a marathon—there will be times when you don’t hit your goals. But instead of just stopping and feeling sorry for yourself, adjust your goals; analyze why you missed your goals; and never give up.

Think Huge!

Your Job: The Next Scary Movie?

Why do we look forward to watching horror movies? We know that we will be frightened and probably won’t sleep that night, but we continually subject ourselves to this experience.  These movies hook us for two main reasons; the rush of anticipation and fright as well as the thrill of the unknown/unexpected.

The rush from these movies is addictive because it is fun to not know what (or who) is around the corner. Classics such as "Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Friday the 13th" use this anticipation to involve the audience with what’s going on. When you feel the urge to shout, “Don’t open that door!” at the screen, then you have been hooked. You are involved in this movie because you know that just behind that door is something scary. The fear of the unexpected keeps you on the edge of your seat.

What if you applied this to your life? Does this rush of not knowing translate into a fear of the unexpected? In your professional life, it may seem silly to think that you should feel this rush often, but this may be the key to career happiness. Your passion should be at the center of your career, with each opportunity providing that rush for you. Allow yourself to Think Huge and experience this. Dedicate your time to finding your professional passion (whether it is at your current job or if you are looking to pursue a new career path). That rush of adrenaline serves as a great motivator for completing the each new task at hand.

Also, unexpected tasks and opportunities should present an exciting challenge, not a fear of the unknown. Looking forward to the next task is a good indicator that you have found your professional passion. Each opportunity provides a unique opportunity to get past the unknown and discover something new about yourself. Now, I am not saying that each day at your job should be like a horror movie (if it is, then you may need to have a chat with your boss), but each new task presents a unique opportunity to learn and grow. Approaching your career with this attitude allows you to Think Huge.

And for those scary movie fans in need of an extra rush of adrenaline, here is a great list of the Top 50 Horror Movies. Remember to Think Huge and feel free to shout back with any feedback.

Finding Your Passion Quiz

Passion, passion.  Everyone wants passion in their jobs and in their employees. Is passion overrated? I don’t think so. In fact, passion is so important it is one of the six tenants of Think Huge. As we said in the book, “you need to love whatever you are doing in life.”

In our book, Think Huge, we spend an entire chapter exploring the issue of passion. But you have to start with finding your passion first. How do you do that?

You take the Passion Quiz. While the complete quiz is contained in the book, below are excerpts centered around four areas (your strengths, your interests, your love, and your assets).

To discover your passion, complete the following quiz. Do the quiz quickly, responding with the answer that first comes to mind. Don’t get bogged down. Just answer the question, what describes you most of the time in most circumstances, no matter how ridiculous it may sound. Come back to your answers in a week. See if you still agree with your initial thoughts. Then come up with any additional ideas you may not have considered at first.

The quiz is divided into four sections. Here are some of the easy questions in each:

—What are my strengths?  

•    What do people frequently compliment or praise you on?
•    What are the things people ask for my help?

  —What are my interests?
•    What are the things I enjoy most?
•    What would I still do even if I won the lottery?
 
 —What do I love?
•    What are things I’ve overcome that others may struggle with?
•    What are some things that bother me deeply?
 
 —What are my assets?
•    What are some things I have done as a job, a volunteer, or through general life experience?
•    What are the things I have education or training to do?
 
In addition to the Passion Quiz, here are some additional questions to help you discover your passion.

•    What do you spend hours reading about?
•    What books and magazines do you buy? Is there a hidden passion in there?

If you want a complete passion quiz, just order the book (sorry for the shameless plug!). Are there other questions you can think of to include? If so, just submit a comment.

Think Huge!