Business Lesson # 212: Riches in Repetition
Reliability - The ability to perform routine tasks as effectively and proficiently as high priority ones, consistently.
All too often, I find myself pondering "What to do next"?? Embrace the entrepreneurial spirit, I Like to be Creative, "Swing for the Fences" idea... Think of the millionaires you have met, or just successful people in general, who have this "ENERGY". I remember the first person I met with this. He probably doesn't even remember me, or the one evening we spent together, but those few hours we spent made an impression on me. His name was Cliff Baize. He owned a company that worked in business office solutions, copiers, faxes, etc.. (this was back in 1994).
I was a pilot in the Army at the time and a friend invited me to an evening on 6th street in Austin, Texas. About 6 guys went out in a limo, bar hopped, just had a great time. When we picked Cliff up in this limo, he lived in a gated community around a BEAUTIFUL golf course, just outside of Austin, Texas. Cliff took us on a brief tour and walked us down to the club house, and wouldn't you know it, there was Tom Landry, Dallas Cowboys head Coach, who lived a few doors down, putting on the practice green. Needless to say, I was in awe.
After a few hours and a few "more" libations, Cliff and I were talking and I asked him, "What is your secret - How did you become so successful?" His response was effortlessly profound. "Brent, you just try things, here there, figure out what you want to do. And then all of the sudden, it clicks. You figure it out what it is you want to do, who you want to be and you FOCUS. You have to focus your energies and do it." I will never forget that twinkle in his eye when he said it, and now that I'm writing this blog, I am inspired to reach out and find him to tell him the profound effect that conversation had on me.
Flash forward to today. I have rode the wave of building businesses, some flourished, some crumbled, but ultimately, enjoyed the ride. I will say this, one of my biggest mistakes was not listening to the advice that Cliff Baise gave me back in 1994, which inspired me to leave the military after 6 years of being a Green Beret, officer, Medevac Helicopter Pilot and get into business. FIND YOUR FOCUS - Take action.
Understanding that people have peaks and valleys, happy days and sad... the way you look at your own work is affected by this as well. When you start to say that you "Don't like talking to customers anymore", The phone never stops ringing, I always have to say the same thing over and over, "My job is boring"... Remember this - The repetition is there BECAUSE you are good at what you do. Know thy self.
Business Lesson 212: There are Riches in Repetition.
Enjoy Life... it's much too short. ;)
Kluge Out!
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