HOW TO INCREASE YOUR EFFECTIVENESS!

I don’t know about you but there are times of the day that I perform better. Some people are early morning people and others are late night people. Where do you fall in this?

Each of us has a different inner clock that functions at its best at different times. My daughter is a nurse and she works the 7PM to 7AM shift and she functions better during this time. My wife is an early bird. For me this changes depending on my schedule.

If you can tune in to your inner clock and find out what is better for you, you will increase your effectiveness greatly.

When you have this figured out; schedule your priority tasks during your peak performance time. In other words, don’t do important and pressing tasks when you energy level is low. You will also be mentally fatigued giving you a double negative whammy!

Activities that require peak performance include: creative writing, negotiating, work related reading, report writing, studying, etc.

Activities that can be done during off peak hours include: entertainment, errands, exercise, meals, personal phone calls, shopping, doing housework, etc.

Try it. You will be pleasantly surprised!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

BUSINESS MYTHS TO CONTEMPLATE !

1. We have no competition! Who are you kidding? If you think you don’t have any competition-your dead meat. Everything is changing so quickly today that we have to be aware of trends and changes immediately.

2. Downsizing is the way to go to eliminate costs! Again this could be a huge mistake. I worked for a company for 17 ½ years and during that time they merged with two other companies. At both times, they downsized people and departments and guess what-they used to be # 1 and opened the door for so many competitors to move in that we lost count. They have been struggling every since.

3. Always be nice to subordinates! Having been a supervisor and manager I learned that trying to be nice all the time does not work. Why? Those people that need to be kicked in the behind to get things done don’t respond to being nice. They need a different approach. If you don’t stop being nice to deadbeats, the deadbeats will kill your business.

4. The customer is always right! Boy, this needs to be revisited. I have lost count on how many times I have asked customers what they wanted and when I provided them with it. Guess what? They changed their minds. Sometimes customers themselves don’t always know what they want or need. Save yourself time and money and don’t assume that the customer is always right.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

ARE YOU MANGING YOUR TIME?

We all have 24 hours per day and it seems to go by so fast! I don’t know about you but the days, weeks, months, and years just seem to fly by. We all know that we cannot by back our time and it behooves us to use time wisely.

How about interruptions? How many times have you answered the phone and the next thing you know 20-30 minutes has gone by. I have learned that if I am involved in a project and I am not expecting a phone call and the phone rings, I don’t answer it. I have an answering machine and I can also take care of this later. You will be amazed at how much time you can save with this little adjustment.

If you operate a business out of your home get a separate business line and don’t give it out to personal acquaintances. This will eliminate family members from running to the phone for business customers.

I know there is a lot of controversy about using cell phones while driving but I find this a good time to make and return calls. Use a hand free device and use prudence.

Making a list and checking it twice-the night before is a good time saver. You know exactly what your schedule is for the next day and this will prevent you from responding to requests from other people who may want to divert your precious time. When asked to do something or go somewhere, you can refer to your list and excuse yourself because of your prior commitments.

If you are not in control of your time believe someone else will.

Jacques
Creating WealthThat Lasts

HOW TO SURVIVE THE MUNDANE!

Sometimes life is a series of everyday acts that seem insignificant but are an important part of life. Irma Bombeck once said “ Housework can kill you if done right!”

Taking out the garbage, cleaning the house and car, washing clothes, picking up groceries, taking the car to the garage, picking up the kids at school, the list is endless. All of this makes up the fabric of life and it is part of a full life.

We must all learn to do the mundane to the best of our ability. One of the things that we taught our kids was to do the mundane chores around the house and this builds character.

I can tell a lot about people when I visit their home or drive in their cars. Are they neat and orderly or is everything in shambles and chaos. How you live your life on the outside reveals a lot about what is going on in the inside.

Most of our lives, if we are honest with ourselves, is unexciting but fulfilling if we approach it in the right way. The daughter who talks care of her elderly mother, the single mom raising a family, the dad working two jobs to make ends meet; they are all doing day to day stuff that may not get noticed but it is adding value to countless lives around them.

Don’t discount the small, seemingly insignificant parts of life. When you add it all up-it’s a life well lived.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

ARE YOU SETTING THE RIGHT PRIORITIES?

If you are like most people it’s a challenge to find the time to do everything. We need time for family, social, work, business, self, and on and on. As part of my business life, I have learned that I need to plan well ahead and to use my planner at all times.

I have learned to also plan family time, social time, personal time and it all goes in my planner! That way I don’t get off track and I live a more balanced life. I used to plan family time and then business issues would come up and I put that first. Now, everything is in my planner and if something is planned with my family and it is scheduled, it is a priority and I stick to it.

If something is planned with my wife or children I stick to it. I have planned this in advance and I make it a priority. Try this and it will make a huge difference. I guarantee it.

Are we living to work or working to live? All that we have is the present moment. Once it is gone-it’s gone for good. If we don’t make an effort to plan our time we are at the mercy of others or anything that comes up that disrupts what we are doing at that time.

By planning ahead on a regular basis in all areas of life, you will become more productive, you will feel more in control of your life, and you will have a lot less stress.

Having said all that-what are your plans for tomorrow?

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE TIMES!

With the entire world in upheaval and encountering situations and times never before seen is it a wonder that people do not know who to believe or what to do.

As a Christian my perspective is different for I have learned to trust in a God who is real and in control. In control you might say-YES. His ways are not our ways.
Man has been given a choice and as we make choices we reap the consequences-good or bad.

Creating Wealth That Lasts can only come about with a true relationship with Jesus Christ. I might lose some of you at this point but it is what I believe. I saw a comment on my Facebook page from a young woman who stated that she did not believe in Jesus Christ because she did not believe that belief was real. She did however have belief in her unbelief!

How can we have peace and find direction in today’s world? Only if we truly believe that God is who He says He is. The Bible is the book with the answers to life. In it we find direction for all of life’s challenges. We can find peace in a time of confusion.

American society is getting to the point where we are falling away from our roots as a nation. We have enjoyed economic prosperity and freedom because we have founded our country on Christian principles.

100 years from now it is highly probable that none of us will be physically on this earth but we will still be spiritually alive some place. Where will you be?

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

INCREASING YOUR INVESTMENTS!

How about a 30%, 60%, or 100% return. What can you invest in that will give you these consistent rates of return? Books. A friend recommended that I share what I read. Instead of giving exact book titles I will focus on authors.

Robert Kiosayki and His Rich Dad Poor Dad series are classics that every business person or anyone interested in getting into business should read. His advice goes against the grain on what traditional business experts advise. His series has expanded into real estate advice, tax issues, incorporation, trademarks, etc. These are well worth the money and can be reread over and over again.

On leadership John Maxwell’s books are excellent in all respects. John has been advising corporations, organizations, and individuals for several decades and he is a sought after speaker all over the world. Must read stuff.

C.S. Lewis on Christianity is also a must read. He was a professor at Oxford and in his attempts to disprove Christianity became a believer. His books have recently been made into movies. Oswald Chambers and his classic book My Utmost for His Highest is a book that everyone needs to read. He was a chaplain with the English army and while stationed in Egypt passed away at the age of 44. He was wise way beyond his years.

On attitude and maintaining a positive outlook on life: W. Clement Stone, Napoleon Hill, Og Mandino, and Norman Vincent Peale.

All of these authors have multiple books and this should keep you busy the rest of the year.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts