Think Huge by Mark Arnold

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone to Achieve More

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

We all have our pre-defined “comfort zones” as human beings. Depending on a host of factors, including genetics, experiences and education, there are some things we can easily do, while others come with more difficulty. For example, a phobia about heights (acrophobia) might make it tricky for someone to be a successful mountain climber. While I would love to scuba dive one day, my fear of sharks will more than likely preclude this from happening. Yes, I know I am more likely to die from bee stings or lightning than a shark attack, but those infamous notes in the Jaws soundtrack will always make me wary.

That being said, it is often not only a good but a necessary thing to expand our horizons and break out of our comfort zones, if we are to grow, personally and professionally. In our business lives, change is inevitable and adaptation is required in order to survive. Those of us uncomfortable with emails some twenty years ago must now face the reality (and convenience) of that technology in everyday life.

It is vital to challenge ourselves in some new way on a regular basis. The self-examination it takes to figure out what we need to learn, achieve or accomplish in this growth goal is not always easy. It requires a hard and honest look at where we fall short and what we could do better. Education is key. Do all you can to learn about the things you need to improve on. This might mean reading a book, taking a college course or making new friends and mentors that can help you along the way. Remember, a blade that is used often (like the human mind) needs regular sharpening to keep its edge.

We all want to achieve more, at home and at work. Often, the formula for expanding our success in both areas is the same. The question becomes, how hard are we willing to work to make this happen? Life is full of giants and the best way to face them down is by shedding our comfort zones and taking them on directly.

I may even try scuba diving, one day. In a pool.

Think Huge!

Start Thinking of 2012 Goals Now

December. A month to celebrate, shop and spend time with family. We may slow down at work and speed up at home (to get all the shopping done). But whether you tap the brakes or hit the gas pedal in December, we typically aren’t thinking about the upcoming year. We’ll let the New Year’s Resolutions begin in January.

But now is the perfect time to begin thinking of your 2012 goals. You may want to review what you fell short on this year (personally and professionally). You may also want to think about some of the lifelong ambitions you have put to the side lately.

If we wait until January to start planning our goals we waste precious time. Giving proper thought to what we want to accomplish in our work and personal lives requires true thinking time. You don’t want to rush through your goal setting process and just jot down some random ideas. Instead, you should take your time. So take this month for that goal setting time.

Setting your 2012 goals in December means that when January 1 rolls around you are ready to go. For example, instead of thinking about your exercise goals, you can start working on them immediately. Instead of thinking about what you want to achieve professionally, you can start down that path right away.

December is indeed a great month to reflect on the previous year: what we achieved, how we changed, what we missed. But it’s also the perfect month to set the stage for 2012 by setting our goals now.

Think Huge!

Attention To Detail Matters

“Attention to detail.” You’ve probably seen that on an employee evaluation or two. Sometimes it might say “attention to detail is lacking” or “she has great attention to detail.” Although one of the think huge principles is “think vision,” we can’t lose sight of how important the little things are in life.

Attention to detail does indeed matter—both professionally and personally. And the more you pay attention to detail, the more you are going to successfully think huge. I’ll be honest: I tend to struggle in this area. I’m more of a “big picture” guy. While vision is extremely important, you can’t lose sight of the details.

Two recent examples reminded me about the importance of details. As I was returning home from a business trip to Baltimore I casually strolled up to the ticket counter to check in. After swiping my card at the self-check Kiosk my information didn’t pull up. When I went to the gate counter, the airline employee noted that my ticket was for the next day. Oops—when I made the online reservation I plugged in the wrong date (ouch—I didn’t pay attention to the detail of the return day). Then when I was back home and reviewing plans for my next trip I noticed I was flying to Tucson. The only problem was the strategic planning session I was conducting was in Phoenix (another ouch—I didn’t pay attention to the detail of which city I the event was in).

Before you think I’m a travel idiot (which I may very well be!), I usually double and triple check my travel plans when I’m making reservations. But despite those checks, I still missed those details (dates and cities). You see, attention to detail does matter. Those mistakes cost me—and a lack of attention to detail will cost you.

It’s obviously important to pay attention to details professionally. You need to double and triple check your work. Read your reports and proposals multiple times. Complete fact checks. Rerun your numbers. Check for accurate names and punctuations. Anticipate questions others might ask. Build in time for the detail work so you aren’t turning something in at the last minute.  In many cases, it’s better to get it right than just get it done.

It’s also important to pay attention to details personally. One way to do that is to study your loved ones. Find out the little things that are important to them or that make them tick. Everyone has unique nuances: get to know the little things about your kids or your spouse. Try and find one new thing about your children or your spouse that you don’t know. You can even turn that into a fun game. Sometimes we get so busy with our own interests and our own selves that we don’t take time to really know the details of our loved ones.

So as you go about your day, try and pay attention to the details.

Think Huge!

Five Tips to Writing a Good Mission Statement

 

Most organizations (and many successful people) have mission and vision statements. If you don’t have one—or one that resonates with you—then you probably don’t have much vision. And without a clear vision, neither you or your organization will succeed.

We often see many companies trying to be all things for all people. That is a recipe for disaster. The more refined focus you have, the better result you’ll produce.

So what makes a good mission statement (personal or professional)? Here are five guidelines to consider:

1. Make it six words or less—This is called “thinking in billboard or business card” format. You should be able to put your mission statement on a business card and not have it in small print.
2. Make it real—Avoid using overly flowery words that don’t mean anything. If you read your mission statement to your first grader or your teenager, would they “get” it?
3. Make it active—Use words that are doing something. Examples include helping, serving and making. Don’t use the passive tense because you don’t want to be a passive person.
4. Make it broad—Cast a wide net; don’t limit yourself when it comes to your mission statement. Thinking huge means having a huge personal and professional mission statement.
5. Make it personal—It has to be something that fires you up and inspires you. If it doesn’t excite you, it’s not going to excite someone else.

Having that clear vision doesn’t mean we won’t get lost from time to time. However, a clearly defined vision improves your chances of success both personally and professionally.

Think Huge!

Writing Down Goals Increases Your Odds of Achieving Them

 
 
  

Note: The following post was written by Colleen Cormier, of Cameo Marketing

 “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”—Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Last week, a friend of mine was telling me some of her goals for 2011. One of them involved major home improvements. She said her goal was to do one home improvement a month, if she could afford it.

“Write it down,” I said.

“Write what down?” she asked.

“Write down your goals,” I said.

“I don’t need to write them down,” she said. “I already know I want to do them. I just don’t know if I’ll have the money. What’s the point of writing them down if I don’t know what our budget will be?”

I clearly struck a nerve, and at that point, I decided it was best to change the subject. But, there’s a part of me that wishes I had finished the conversation. The answer she needed to hear can best be summed up by the quote above: “A goal with a plan is just a wish.”

There is true power in putting your goals down on paper. It holds you more accountable. You form a connection between what is in your head/heart and what you will actually do. Writing them down removes ambiguity and lessens doubt about your ability to achieve them. It makes you more committed to following through. It turns your wish into a plan.

My friend didn’t want to write down her goals, because she wasn’t sure she’d have the money. If she doesn’t write down what she wants to achieve, how will she know how much money she needs in the first place? If she doesn’t write down what home improvements she wants to make, how will she know what supplies she needs, how much she can do herself and which projects she may already have the money to complete?

When leading NFL rusher Emmitt Smith was inducted to the Football Hall of Fame, he said writing down his goals was on of the life principles that made him so successful. Here is an excerpt from his speech:

There's a difference between merely having a dream and fulfilling a vision. Most people only dream. I not only had my childhood dream, but I did everything in my power to fulfill it.

For example, I wrote down my goals and how I was going to achieve them, because Dwight Thomas used to tell us, ‘It's only a dream until you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.’ By the time I was 20, I wrote,’ I want to play in the Super Bowl, be the MVP, become the all-time leading rusher, and finish college, because I promised my mother I would.’

Over the course of my career, all of those things came to pass, and I know that writing down my goals was an essential strategy.

Many of us are in the process of making and refining our goals for the year. Increase your odds of success by writing them down.

  

Connecting With Your Team

If you also read my Mark Arnold blog, you know I had the opportunity to attend the Texas Credit Union League Annual Meeting last week. In addition to the session by  Amanda Vega on Comment Marketing, I also enjoyed two sessions by Bob Prosen, president of The Prosen Center for Business Advancement, and author of Kiss Theory Good-Bye.

Prosen is an incredibly dynamic speaker and consultant so I knew he would be challenging. He did not disappoint. In fact, many of the things he said apply to the Think Huge concept. Here are some of the bullet point notes I took from his session on “How to Connect with Your Team and Win in Tough Economic Times.” Key points he made (in complete random order) and what think huge principle the cover include:

• You can help those around you win by removing the roadblocks (think people)
• You must build an accountability culture (think people)
• Make time to think and plan as part of your daily activities (think time)
• If you had to do it all over again, would you still hire the same people working for you now? (think people)
• Make sure your people catch the vision or catch the bus (think vision)
• Where could things lead? The possibilities are endless (think passion)
• Hire people smarter than yourself (think people)
• At the beginning of the day it’s all about possibilities; at the end of the day it’s all about results (think perseverance)

“How to Connect With Your Team” may not seem like a “Think Huge” subject but in reality it is. Thinking huge is so much about connecting your vision with your people. Applying Prosen’s thoughts helps us build key connections with those around us.

Think Huge!

Do You Know Where You Are Going?

My wife and I took a vacation to New Hampshire a few years ago. It was a great time for us to see the fall foliage and changing leaves. It was truly a beautiful trip. In order to see the best colors, we took many back roads. At one point during our excursion, we were completely lost. We didn’t have a clue where we were. We just knew we were somewhere in the backwoods and back roads of New Hampshire with no idea where we were headed.

Fortunately, we had a GPS system in our rental car. When we plugged in the address of where we were staying, the navigation device quickly kicked in, telling us which turns to take, what roads to travel and how to get back to our destination quickly. If it wasn’t for that GPS system, we’d still be in New Hampshire today!

Don’t you wish we each had a GPS system in life? You know, a device in which we could just plug in where we want to go and have it tell us exactly what direction to take. Which job offer to accept. Which person to marry. When to have kids. What to do with our teenagers (okay, that one may be impossible!).

Vision, thankfully, is that GPS system for life. The more clearly you know where you are going, the more likely you are to get there. So where are you going? Do you have a clear idea about where you want to go with your career? With your family? With your life?

It’s important to answer these questions clearly. Without a clear idea about where you’re going, you cannot expect to get there. Too often, the answers to those “where are you going” questions are vague, not specific and undefined.

So how do you do this? I recommend writing a six word vision statement for your life. Focus on answering the question, “What are you about?” For example, my personal vision statement is “Elevating the lives and business of others.” (Yes, I violated the six word principle by one word!). I’m actually having my work team do this exercise: they each have to write their own personal vision statement.

The more clearly you can define where you’re going (what you want to do with your career, what you want to accomplish with your family and kids, etc.) the better vision you will have. The better vision you have in your life, the more likely you are to both think huge and accomplish huge things. Be sure to pick your vision. Don’t let it pick you.

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!

Vision Leaks

“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision.”
—Theodore Hesburgh

 

 

If you are in a leadership position (whether at work, home, volunteer area or all three) your role requires vision. And your vision leaks.

 

The vision you have as a leader leaks to those around you. In other words, people follow the cues their leaders give. There can be positive or negative leaks. There can be motivating or de-motivating leaks. The vision leaking principle applies both at home and at the office.

 

Here are some quick questions to ask yourself about your vision leaking:

 

(1)    Can you quickly articulate your vision for your company, your family and your life?

 

I always recommend using six words or less. For example, my vision is “helping others elevate their life & business.” (Yes, that is the subtitle to Think Huge).

 

When day to day life hits at home and when tactical issues strike at work, it’s important that everyone understand why we do what we do. A strong vision helps those around us stay focused.

 

Leaking a strong vision for those around you is a sign of a true leader. Don’t wander aimlessly. Know what you want from your home and work life. Know what you want your team to accomplish.

 

If you have no vision, then you are leaking nothing. And your followers will notice that there is nothing coming from your vision.

 

 

(2)    Is your vision leaking positive or negative images?

 

Are you optimistic the next six months will be better or do you have a pessimistic approach? The best leaders tend to be more optimistic in their attitude and approach on life (not necessarily Pollyanna but positive).

 

Whatever you are mulling over in your head leaks to others. If you thinking positive thoughts, then positive things come out.

 

For example, I struggled the past few years with what I call “negative self talk.” If something went wrong at home or work I took it really hard and beat myself up. I blamed myself and felt like I was a total failure. I was setting perfection as a standard (which of course I couldn’t reach).

 

And then one day I heard one of my daughters doing the exact same thing (talking negatively about herself). I wonder where she learned that habit? You guessed it—her father. I realized then that my negative tendencies has “leaked” to her.

 

So now I’m focusing on the positive. I’m trying not to lose sight of the bigger picture when little failures occur. In other words, I’m trying to leak positive.

 

(3)    What is the size of your vision?

 

Is it huge or is it tiny? What do you expect—from yourself and those that work for you? Too often we only focus on incremental goals and thus limit ourselves. Someone is going to make the big sale, why shouldn’t it be you? Someone is going accomplish one of their lifelong goals this year, why shouldn’t it be you?

 

If you don’t expect much from your employees or your family, then that’s probably what you’re going to get—not much. However, if you expect greatness from those around you, then you’re far more likely to see greatness as well.

 

Don’t limit your vision. Your vision should be awe-inspiring and challenging. In other words, don’t set the bar so low that anyone could reach it. People are more inspired when they feel you want them to make a difference in life.

 

 

In some ways leaders are like a full cup of coffee. When you tip the coffee mug, something usually comes out. It’s the same way with your vision: when your followers (kids, employees, spouses, etc.) tip you something comes out—and hopefully it’s a strong vision.

 

So what are you leaking?

 

Think Huge

First Impression is Not Always the Last Impression

When you meet someone, do you automatically assume and form opinions about who they are? Do you make assumptions in your head about that person and set expectations for them? This is true for most people (even though we may deny it); we are guilty of preconceived notions upon a first impression. Do these first impressions change over time or are they set in stone for you?

If you saw a guy in old, dingy jeans and a t-shirt, would a CEO of a successful, international company come to mind? This Whole Foods Market CEO dresses in his own style, but the bottom line is that he rules the market. Or maybe there has been a time that a person looks absolutely charming until they open their mouth? We tend to jump to conclusions too quickly, which may not be the best route to take in our personal and professional lives. A famous idiom often used is “do not judge a book by its cover.” It is very important to be able to give the person a chance to prove themselves and not develop an impression.  We were taught this lesson as children, yet we tend to forget the wisdom learned at that age. Taking the time to force yourself to dismiss your immediate assumption not only allows you to see someone with new eyes, it also opens the door to a new experience.  Having the vision to recognize these situations and reroute the usual assumptions is a great way to Think Huge.

Sometimes, forming impressions lead to a form of discrimination that we as individuals may not even realize. We have certain misconceptions of various people and as human beings, we tend to identify one individual’s doing to their race, age, gender, religion or beliefs. Forming opinions according to the misconceptions keeps us from treating each other equally. By keeping your renewed vision of fairness in mind, you allow each person the opportunity to prove themselves.

 Developing impressions and assigning expectations according to them can be quite unpredictable. You may form high expectations of someone, but when they are not able to meet those expectations, it causes you frustration. This also goes for people forming expectations about you. Always under promise and over fulfill to exceed others’ satisfaction. When you are hiring someone, looking to do business, meeting for a date or even just dealing with a stranger, Think Huge about others’ possible potential. Maybe these people will return the favor and not make first impression assumptions about who you are.

 Do you believe that first impressions are lasting impressions? If so, why? Leave a comment and let’s find out!