It would be easy to skip the conference. Easy to use the same lesson plans. Easy to tell the same jokes. Easy to take the promotion. Easy to choose the largest offer.
But…
Easy is often the least satisfying, least fulfilling, least wise decision to make.
So…
Your move, decision maker.
Traveling for work can be a struggle.
When you’re not dreading your destination, those things don’t go away.
They’re just not really a struggle.
In baseball, you practice hitting off the tee. You practice hitting whiffle balls. You practice hitting 50 MPH lobs in the cage.
You practice your mechanics until you croak.
Then the game comes and you can stop thinking so much.
You’ll crush the fastballs.
And you’ll even be ready to handle the curveballs.
“Let’s put together a deck.”
Heard that before?
That’s the go-to solution for Big 4 consulting firms.
Any decision, big or small, that’s the answer.
A PowerPoint deck.
The irony is that the decks are intended to make these consulting firms look like they have all the answers. Yet, they actually do the opposite.
Copious words and bullet points? Flow charts and meaningless jargon? Excessive company branding?
C’mon.
Might as well add a slide at the end of the deck showing what they charged to put it together. And, don’t forget to include all participants’ billable hour they’ll charge for the meeting that unveils the fancy deck.
How about a 10-minute phone call instead?
Some of the best, most exclusive, most sought-after jobs inevitably end in an abrupt change.
The abrupt change is not usually because of failure.
Rather, it simply became time to move on.
Sure, some people keep those jobs forever. But, then don’t we yearn for the abrupt change everyone else gets?
(The coach that should be fired. The on-air personality that is tired. The politician that is coasting. The parents with grown children who still live at home.)
The key is to not fear the abrupt change. Seek out the best, most exclusive, most sought-after jobs.
And when the abrupt change happens, take joy in the opportunity you had and the future that lies ahead.
So you just bought or were gifted:
Sure, you’ll get a lot of use out of it at your new job, and you need the security in your new small business, and you’ll be baking a lot in your new home together.
But none of these things are logical purchases.
They’re merely rites of passages.
Find one to sell and the audience who has “earned the rite,” and you’ve struck gold.
If you’re looking for a new job, your best asset is your attitude. Experience, education and the like all come second.
If you’re looking for a spouse, your best asset is your gratitude. Looks, compatibility and the like all come second.
If you want the happiest, most fulfilling life, have an awesome attitude and give lots of gratitude.
The new job and spouse, then, will simply be a bonus.
Here’s the secret to making more money.
Don’t listen to anyone offering advice on how to make more money.
Why?
The big reason THEY make money is by selling YOU products on how to make more money.
And until you’re doing EXACTLY what they’re doing, it’s pretty tough to make more money by simply following their advice.
It’s the tiny receptions of genuine gratitude that make difficult work worth doing.
“I read your blog and really enjoy it.”
“This is my favorite store. Always love shopping here.”
“Thank you for your five years of loyal service to our organization.”
Knowing how inspiring, empowering, and motivating it is to receive said gratitude, why not give it out a little more?
It usually costs nothing, yet is worth so much to the recipient.
It’s a large room with hundreds of tiny workstations.
Headsets, computers and a messy array of printed scripts, reminders and notes line each one.
It’s a call center, people.
And there’s a person making X dollars per hour at each of those tiny workstations.
Their job is to fix your problem.
Keep in mind, though, there’s almost zero chance THEY are responsible for causing it.