Author: Garth Beyer

I’ve found that self-awareness is the most important skill to develop in life as it impacts work, health, relationships, spirit – everything.

I’ve met a lot of people who aren’t self-aware. As a result, they run themselves into an unhealthy state, they miss great opportunities, they lose in the realm of love – the list goes on. What’s worse is when you are self-aware, but don’t listen to yourself.

I met someone earlier this week who fits that description. She can notice she’s working more than her body or mind can handle, but still works more. She notices that she’s become more lethargic, but doesn’t change her eating habits or exercise. She can see where the line is drawn, but still crosses it.

My advice: run your body like a brand.

Stay Positive & Listen First, Then Act On What You’ve Heard

Photo credit

“How can I help you?” is probably the most powerful way to end a conversation.

More importantly, though, one must go into a conversation knowing what the answer would be if they were asked also.

It’s natural to give and get; it’s how relationships are built.

At the very least, share a goal you have so the other person can find a way to help. Flipping it around, ask what a short-term goal the other person has so you can begin brainstorming how to help.

Stay Positive & People Are Inclined To Help And Be Helped (Leverage It)

Photo credit

The best kind of learning, I’ve found, is learning from others.

I say this in a very personal way. Obviously we learn from others, but in different ways.

I could read a book from an author who I will never meet and I could learn something from her. You can learn all  about E = mc ² from a guy who is dead. When I say learning from others, I actually mean learning from someone face-to-face, voice-to-voice, skype-to-skype.

Fond of an author. Write to her. Connect. Talk.

It isn’t knowledge that will move you forward, it’s people with that knowledge.

Much of the learning we do, we do in hiding and that doesn’t lead to anywhere special. Success comes from finding the sweet spot between learning and doing. And it’s people who can help you find that medium.

Stay Positive & Where Ya Headin’?

Photo credit

We unduly attempt to uncover tough ideas that we can execute simply.

We think deeply about a problem, looking for an idea that’s never been thought of or done before, but it’s got to be easy to do. Great work, well, doesn’t work like that.

There is, however, a magical bank of unlimited simple ideas.

The caveat is they are often tough to manufacture.

Consider this simple idea from Forever21 who took the fans selfies content and turned them into the material they make their clothes with.

It’s not a new technique to think about two items that have never been put together and then put them together, but the more you focus on the reverse, the tough ideas with simple executions, the more you become a path finder, not a trail blazer. And at the end of the day, it’s often the work of the path finder that the trail blazers mix and match with. All you’re doing is fueling the work for those to be better than you.

Stay Positive & Care More About The Tough Work, Less The Tough Ideas

Photo credit

Brand loyalty is harder to measure than you may think.

Brand loyalty is not a matter of how long a customer has been around, it’s not a matter of how many times they purchase your product within a week, it’s not a matter of them only having your number in their phone.

Brand loyalty is about the sacrifice or nuisance one is willing to make or go through to have what you offer.

When someone is willing to stand in line in the freezing cold 24 hours before you open, that’s brand loyalty. When someone is willing to go through your poorly designed online shopping cart, that’s brand loyalty. When someone is willing to stay with you when a competitor is offering a huge discount, that’s brand loyalty.

Brand loyalty doesn’t come from surprising and delighting people, it comes from telling such a strong story and selling such a quality product that they would go through hell to stand by your side.

Stay Positive & What’s Your Story? How strong is it? Brand loyalty strong?

Photo credit

When you rely solely on others to motivate you, to hold y0u up, to remind you of what you need to do, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

People, friends, family, loved ones, colleagues are meant to support your self.

The self-confidence in you. The self-esteem. The self-motivation.

It starts with your self and at the end of the day, it ends with it too.

Stay Positive & It Doesn’t Make It Easier, But It’s Satisfying To Know

Photo credit