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    Jake

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    Junk Mail and Telemarketers

    Do you like to get phone calls during dinner time, from strangers selling products you don’t want? Really? Me either. And yet every night around the world dinners are interrupted by ringing phones. The companies calling must be having some level of success to justify the cost right? Why would they do it if it wasn’t working?

    Bad customer service

    For the past two weeks my wife and kids have been travelling and I have been holding down the fort on my own (red meat and ice cream!!). Each night when I get home from the office I immediately grab the mail from the box. I barely flip through it before adding it to the growing pile on my kitchen table (its over 5 inches high). When my wife is in town, she gets the mail. She goes through the pile and removes all the junk. By the time I see it only the important letters remain (mostly bills L). This morning, as I stared at that pile of wasted paper, I thought, “What is the point”? Does anyone ever read this stuff? It must have some value to justify the cost right?

    Junk Mail Pile Stack Envelopes Direct Marketing Advertising Lett

    This morning as I got up I flipped my phone to Facebook, just to check in anyone new had “liked” my latest post. 15 minutes later I realized I had seen enough cat photos and kids blowing out birthday candles to last a month. I hadn’t accomplished anything, didn’t increase in knowledge, and (honestly) wasn’t even entertained. It was kind of a waste. Why would I sit on Facebook for 15 minutes? It must have had some value or I wouldn’t have done it right?

    Thankfully we do not have our tv hooked up to ESPN because I know exactly what would happen tonight when I finish work. I would head home, sit on the couch (with ice cream) and watch Sportscenter. As soon as that ended I would switch to ESPN2 and watch the replay. And before I know it, it would be 11:30 and I would know everything there is to know about the latest sport scandal. I would ask myself, “What was the point?” Obviously there must be some value or I wouldn’t do it….right?

    Today at work I had a productive day. I cleared out my email box, I rewrote my to do list, I filled up my water bottle 27 times, I had a very productive social lunch with a colleague and I organized my file folder. I didn’t get everything done on my list, I ran out of time to make those sales calls and I didn’t quite finish that proposal but I feel pretty good. I got stuff done. I added value to my company didn’t I? I wouldn’t have spent so much time on those tasks if it wasn’t effective….right?

    It is easy for us to say that we hate telemarketers and junk mail but do we recognize that there are things in our life that are like telemarketers and junk mail to our personal and work goals? Each of us has our own distractions and time suck traps that we are tempted to fall into and can derail us in our productivity and impede our journey of success.

    To avoid telemarketers we can use caller id and not answer calls from out of state or numbers that we do not recognize. With junk mail we can ignore the letter and immediately filter it into the garbage without wasting another minute. But how do we avoid the time and energy sucks that we have in the other parts of our lives? Here are 4 ways that we can keep focus and priority and progress.

    1. Have a plan- I recognize in my life that ESPN is a huge temptation and a rabbit hole that tempts me in. So I made the choice to disconnect my cable. I didn’t just unplug it, I put the cable box in my garage a flipped off the light. Are there things that I miss? Of course. But I have not regretted taking back control over what I am doing in my life. Do you have goals and objectives that you refuse to let fail? Do you have a plan to accomplish them? You cannot hit a target you do not have.
    2. Reward focus- When I was training my dog to “stay” I would sit him a few feet away and I would tell him to “stay”. If he did I would smile, tell him he’s a good boy, scratch his ears and give him a biscuit. It didn’t take long for him to learn that “staying’ was a good idea. The same thing can work for you in your life. Rewarding and reinforcing positive behavior trains your brain to continue. Tell yourself that when you make these 5 sales calls you will go to the movies (or get a scoop of ice cream).
    3. Set limits- Do you have the discipline to set limits? Can you force yourself to turn off Facebook after 15 minutes or stop scrolling through Twitter? Yeah? Me either. So I have found that I need to set stronger enforcement. Often I will set an alarm that triggers me to react or you can use one of the many webtools or apps that limit the length of time that you can stay slippery internet slopes. Another option is to remove the notifications from social media on your phone.
    4. Reinforce your why- Maybe the most effective way to cut through the junk mail in your life is to know your why. What is the reason for you productivity? You have goals, processes and procedures but ultimately why do you want to accomplish your assignment? Knowing that overriding purpose can give you the discipline and focus to cut through the distraction and stay focused.

    Angry Girl Phone

    So, if you are calling during dinner tonight from an out of state number please understand that your call will go unanswered. And tomorrow, if you want to chat about the latest MLB melt down or scandal, know that I will probably not won’t have a clue what you are talking about. Oh, and if you need me, I’ll probably be making sales calls or eating ice cream. I hate junk mail and telemarketers.

    Question; How about you, how do you stay focused on what is truly valuable in your life? Leave your comment below or by clicking here.

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    The Six Pack Challenge

    Throughout my life I have always desired six pack abs. I went through a period in my twenties where I worked out consistently, every day, for roughly 2 hours and always did cardio and abs. But being young and ignorant I thought abs were a product of exercise solely. I have since been educated and recognize that abs, of the 6 pack variety, are more a product of nutrition…plus some exercise.

    Not really me...but could be.

    Not really me…but could be.

    So last week I set a goal to focus on my eating and my exercise, to take a four month challenge to get noticeable abs. For those of you who know me well this will be a huge challenge. I love to eat and the foods I love to eat are not exactly healthy. I like pizza, ice cream and candy. But for the next 4 months I am being intentional in my eating and intentional in my work outs.

    I plan to chronicle my daily routine and hopefully by the end you will see a transformation. I will look at my wins for the day, my obstacles and challenges I had to overcome and share my exercise routine and food consumption. I am doing this for a couple of reasons. First, I need to be accountable, so keep me honest. Second, maybe you can relate, maybe not, but either way I hope this journey inspires you to set a goal and go after it.

    I am 38 years old and have never had a noticeable six pack.  I call this my six pack challenge. You can also follow the journey on twitter (@jakeacarlson #my6pack). My daily postings will be at www.familybeforefortune.com/mysixpackchallenge (Click Here to Check it Out)

    Start the timer!!

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    Morning Mastery- How I Jump Start The Day

    This is the second time I have written about my morning routine (other article). And the reason for the repeat….it’s changed. Like life, we go through periods where one way is working and then as time progresses we see changes or we make improvements and that is what I have done with my morning routine.

    Athletic strong man doing pushups, outdoor.

    My focus recently has been on becoming the master of my morning, morning mastery. Learning to take control over my desire to snooze and focusing my mind during times of wander. Maybe you have experienced something similar. I have always, and remain, a strong advocate for waking up early and getting a jump on the day.

    “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” – Benjamin Franklin.

    My current morning routine includes

    1. Early to bed- turning off the lights at 10:30pm has now become the first thing I do in my morning ritual. To have success, you have to prepare for success which means starting the night before.
    2. Read, no screen time- I have found that when I watch tv or look at my phone or tablet I do not sleep as deeply and I don’t wake up as refreshed as I do when I read a book before bed. There is something about the glossy screen and the flashing color that wakes my brain and creates restlessness.
    3. Wake up at 5am- I have done this for years and see no reason to change. As I studied the habits of the most successful and influential leaders, a common theme of 5am wake up is noticeable. If it works for them, it’ll probably work for me.
    4. Hydrate- I am a groggy morning guy. I love to sleep and hate to wake up early. The best way I have found to get rid of the cobwebs and focus in on the day is a big glass of water. I set it out the night before so I can stumble directly to it when I wake up.
    5. Exercise- Like waking up early I also hate to exercise (like run and workout). I like the results of waking up early and running and that is why I do them but getting started is still (and always will be) tough. I have to get my exercise in first thing or I will never do it. Lately I have been alternating between a video workout routine and jogging. It’s been working.
    6. Stretch- ok I am starting to feel my age (in my back) and so I need to take a few minutes to stretch out my legs and my back.
    7. Review my goals for the week and day- at this point I pull out my goal journal and review what I want to accomplish. I order and prioritize my tasks for the day and determine what I “must” get done to call the day a success.
    8. Quote of the day- every morning I get a great quote to my email inbox that motivates and inspires and gives me something to think about and aspire to for the day. If you would like to get this terrific quote (free) just click here and enter your email address.
    9. Prayer/mediation- I am a pretty religious guy so I like to start my day with prayers of gratitude and desires for help. If you are not religious you may want to try meditation. Visualize success and how you will accomplish it. Use the law of attraction to bring opportunities and friends your way.
    10. Carpe Diem

    So there you have it. The 10 steps I have implemented into my daily routine so that I can be the master of my morning. It has been working for me. I love having a simple outline of things to accomplish right when I wake up to make sure that I am productive and I use my time wisely. That is my morning mastery.

    “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the [morning].” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (with my small adjustment).

    Question: What is part of your morning routine that sets your day in the right motion? Leave your comments below or by clicking here.

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    What Am I Afraid Of?

    I checked the knot, adjusted my helmet and leaned backward over the 180-foot cliff I was supposed to be rappelling down. The wind whipped through my helmet and made a whistling sound. I leaned back a little bit more and then… froze. I couldn’t do it. I was just too scared. Of what? I can’t even remember. I was 14 years old and this was my very first rappelling adventure.

    Desert Rappeling

    This past week my 10-year-old daughter asked me what I was afraid of. She added I probably wasn’t afraid of anything. (Such a brave daddy) And it got me thinking, what am I afraid? It’s no longer heights and I love public speaking, I don’t even fear death. So, what am I afraid of?

    I have come to the conclusion that there are only 3 things that I truly fear in life. Are they rational fears? Maybe, maybe not.

    1. Fear of Success– I spend a lot of time working towards what I define as “success”. I have spent a lifetime studying motivation, sales and business skills. And yet the unknown of success causes many people, including myself to hesitate when faced with an opportunity.

    As the Marianne Williamson quote, made famous by Nelson Mandela, states “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?”

    But her answer gives us hope “Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine…”

    1. Fear of not Succeeding– Similar to the fear above, the fear of not succeeding creates inaction. Sometimes called the fear of failure, embarrassment or humiliation, the desire to avoid looking incompetent or mistaken stops many of us from reaching our full potential. I find it interesting that the dual fears of “success” and “not succeeding” often appear in the same person. The result is that we do not act, we become complacent and we settle. I am not sure which fear is more harmful.
    2. Fear of Imagined Pain & Suffering– I have been hurt more times than I could probably count. I have broken ankles and wrists, been stitched head to toe, sat through MRIs, CAT Scans and surgery. I’ve been doctored in some of the nicest facilities in the world and received care in the backyard of a local 3rd world resident. And yet I have always recovered.

    The pain has subsided and my life has gone on. Mostly the memories have faded into great stories to tell at cocktail parties. Nothing in my past has given reality to my imagined fear of pain and suffering and yet I still hesitate before leaping out of airplanes. Maybe it is more sanity than fear? Often many of us are paralyzed by imagined fears. It may not always be pain or suffering, it could be embarrassment or loss.

    So, what can we do? Knowing that I suffer from these fears and likely you do too, I thought I would share a few ways (well….11) that we can overcome fears and keep moving in the direction of success- to reach our potential and realize our dreams.

    1. Recognize the fear– once you accept that everyone faces uncertainty and “fear” you can begin to strengthen your resolve. Those who have succeeded before you have faced similar challenges, maybe greater challenges than your own.
    2. Friends– you cannot do it alone- No one reached the top of Everest by himself, it takes a team, a support network, mentors, and education. Surround yourself with people who can lift you up and give you the skills you need to progress.
    3. Kill the negative– If you are like me, most of your fear comes from that crazy little voice in your head. I am much more critical of myself than others are of me. Stop the negative self-talk and replace it with positive. Whether you think you can or think you can’t you are generally right (thanks Zig Ziglar)
    4. Visualize the outcome– Many of our fears are the unknown and perceptions of false reality. Take a deep breathe, relax and visualize the outcome. When things go bad they usually aren’t as bad as you thought, when it’s good it’s usually better than you thought. Fill that half glass full.
    5. Take control– recognize that the outcome is often in your control. You may not be able to control every aspect, but largely the end result can be affected positively in your favor. Take control and persevere.
    6. Be bold– a very successful podcaster friend counseled that “fortune favors the bold” (thanks John Lee Dumas)
    7. Celebrate success– even if you fear success, celebrate it. Positively reinforce your success, make it common… make it subconscious.
    8. Be curious– Always be looking for new ways to approach a situation or problem. What makes you nervous about one solution may make you confident in another. If you fear public speaking but want to verbally share your message, try a podcast (or you can listen to mine)
    9. Enjoy the ride– Life is short and sweet. We have little blessings that pass through our days to give us joy, lift us up and remind us to breathe. This crazy ride called life can produce more excitement and adrenaline than scuba diving with sharks or peering into a live volcano (trust me).
    10. What is the worst thing that could happen? Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn… either way you come out ahead. Oh, and remember that bones heal while glory lasts eternally.
    11. Start small and grow– the first time I spoke in public it wasn’t in front of 300 guests. Baby steps to success.

    Since that first rock-climbing adventure at 14 years old, I have been up and down hundreds of rock faces. I have fallen and recovered and learned to absolutely love the sport. I even proposed to my wife during a climbing adventure. The fear that paralyzed me so many years ago is gone, replaced with other fears and obstacles. But, like the fear of heights, as I continue down my road to success I will triumph and succeed and love every minute of it.

    Question: What is holding you back from reaching your potential? Leave your comments below or by clicking here.

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