Setting Expectations With Yourself

Quaint Poutine Business

If a runner expects herself to only run a 5k, but finds herself in a marathon, it’s not likely she’ll make it.

If an entrepreneur expects the work to ease up for a month, but reality sets in and he needs to put in the same amount of hours for another year – that’s a recipe for disaster.

One of the best actions we can take for ourselves is a mental one: Increase the expectation of the work it’s going to take.

Then, when it does require more effort, you’re not surprised or worse, defeated.

And when it doesn’t, you feel more relief than you would have if you had lower expectations.

Stay Positive & Play The Mind Game

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If You Have To

Person Working Hard

Let’s first consider the things you don’t have to do.

They’re easier to not do, easier to postpone, easier to start and then stop.

But those things you have to do…They get done and done well. When something has to get done, we sorta become superhuman.

The trick then isn’t necessarily doing the work; it’s how to convince yourself you have to.

Stay Positive & Can You Do That?

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They Expect The Best

Two People Meeting

Every interaction, the person on the other side of the table is expecting the best of you.

Expectations are high.

Those most notable treat every interaction with the same gumption of meeting – or exceeding those expectations.

And nothing short of it.

How’s your streak going?

Stay Positive & A Tall Order (Worth Delivering)

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Golden Rule (Of Feedback)

Person With Laptop Working

Treat others the way you would like to be treated. That’s the golden rule.

At first analysis, it means to be nice and generous and thoughtful because – of course – you’d want others to be that to you.

What no one ever tells about the golden rule is that it also promotes the importance of candor, of meaningful feedback.

Because the way to be the best version of ourselves is to balance doing more of what we’re good at with getting better at what we’re not good at.

It just so happens that one of the things we’re good at is not noticing what we’re bad at. We need others to point it out and support us in our effort to improve.

And that requires feedback. Meaningful. Heartfelt feedback.

Stay Positive & Do You Still Have The Right People Around You?

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Where’s The Price Sticker

Price On Wine Bottles

Turns out people don’t look at the price sticker and then question the value of a product.

They look at a product (the design, the environment it’s in, who is selling it, if their friend has recommended it, what else is placed near it; they consider what people will think of them if they were to buy it, they imagine if it’s going to bring them joy, they wonder how it’s going to improve their life) AND THEN they find the price sticker.

As marketers, our work to craft a story that resonates starts long before a price is displayed and seen.

Which might beg the question of whether or not you should move your price sticker to buy yourself more time to connect.

Stay Positive & Show The Real Value

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Gambling Machines

Coffee Shop

Any business that adds gambling machines is going to make some extra cash to help their bottom line.

And it’s not just gambling machines. There’s plenty of options for getting some extra moola.

But, you guessed it, most of them come at a very valuable expense.

It’s the expense that comes with attracting those who might not be the right customer and turning off those who would be.

Better to focus on those you seek to serve. The some, not the many. The ones you can create meaningful change for, not steal an extra five dollars from.

Stay Positive & Focus What’s Right And Who Is Right

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To Be Understood

Typewriter With Plants

Being understood isn’t (shouldn’t) be the point.

The point is carrying on consistently and creating value for those you seek to serve.

The others (those who don’t understand) don’t need convincing.

Your time is better invested in those who get it than those who don’t.

Stay Positive & Serve The Some, Not The All

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