Category: Uncategorized

Get Off Your Butt & Get Going

Lately more than ever in this digital age of distractions I’ve found that procrastination is becoming a bigger and bigger problem. I don’t believe I’m the only person noticing this problem, so this is something I want to touch on.

I don’t notice this problem solely in business either. This issue seems to apply to not only your work life, but also your personal life. For example, in my free time I find great pleasure in coaching a kids sports team, and in these kids I see a definite difference in the level of distraction now vs back when I was playing sports as a child. With the digital age of games and digital media, the kids seem to be constantly engulfed in this world and it becomes more and more difficult to maintain their attention for the task at hand. I see this constantly in business too, people are constantly talking about media trends and the latest big thing, showing that they are fully engulfed in these distractions and becoming less and less able to focus on the current task at hand.

We will continue on this topic later, but I would love to hear some comments about the readers opinions on this issue.

Until next time,

AM

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The Universal Need for Leadership

It doesn’t matter what field you’re in, what you’re doing, or what you plan to do.  Whatever the future holds, one of the most valuable sets of skills to possess are those of a leader.   Some people are said to be born leaders, however, I don’t personally believe this to be true.  I believe that people are a product of their environment and that these people learn their leadership skills as they grow.

I believe that skills are learned through either desire or desperation.  When desperate you learn new skills in order to survive.  If you need a particular skill to get a job, keep a job, or something along these lines, you push and push to learn this skill quickly, in order to ensure you can survive.  When it comes to desire, things are different and yet the same.  People with a strong desire, still have a feeling of desperation, however, this desperation is a need to achieve, a need to be better than they were yesterday.  These motivators are what allow you to learn new skills.

So when it comes to leadership, its either a burning desire to be a leader that allows people to become leaders, or a situation of desperation where something major hangs in the balance without the correct leadership initiative taken.

Whether you’re at work, playing sports, with your friends, or your family.  You’ll find leadership everywhere you look.  Leadership is essential to life.

AM

New Month – New Opportunity

Why is it that every January we set new resolutions for ourselves with expectations that we will change our lives overnight?  We as a society are inherently lazy and are looking for any excuse to not have to do the hard work now.  I don’t set my goals based on a year for a New Years Resolution, I set myself a new goal every month.  Nothing crazy, but a small goal with 28-31 days (depending on the month) to hold myself accountable for, and build a new habit!

For February my goal is to track every calorie I eat and work on my health.  Setting a small goal like this gives the month to build the habit with a shorter expectation of myself to hold accountable for.  Once the month is over, it will be second nature to continue this habit.

Try setting a new goal for this month.  A small change that will make a big difference in the long run.   Whether that goal is to read 4 books this month, to spend 1 more hour a week at the gym this month, to leave the office 20 minutes earlier to spend more time at home, or to eat more healthy foods.  A timeframe of one month makes this goal feel achievable and is a perfect timeframe to build a good habit and set a baseline for the future.

Have a great month!

AM

 

INTERVIEW – Allen Hewitt

Today, I’ve had the opportunity to interview a professional that is truly self-made.  Someone who started a company from nothing more than an idea, and has worked his ass off to turn this company into something that not only allows him to be better but also betters the lives of his employees and clients alike.  Allen Hewitt is the Founder and Owner of North Western Synthetic Grass.

Question:

Please describe what you do as your profession.

Answer:

I own North Western Property Maintenance Inc.  We specialize in 3 areas; synthetic grass installation, synthetic grass distribution, and salting/plowing.  As the owner, I motivate my team to drive our company goals and mission.

Question:

What made you want to get into business?

Answer:

In short, it was a complete fluke.  I was fired from my previous sales position.  At that exact moment I told myself I would never work FOR someone again.  With my only expense at that time being a mortgage.  Ironically, I started off doing the very first thing I did to make money when I was 12.  I took my parents lawn mower and started knocking on doors.   When I started the business it was more about proving myself and surviving.  Since the beginning, we have grown to a staff of 12 employees and millions of dollars in revenue, how things have changed.

Question:

What is your biggest motivator day to day?  What keeps you going?

Answer:

There are a few motivators that keep me hustling.

1)    The knowledge that my efforts directly contribute to the betterment of my employee’s kids, wives, and significant others.

2)    Competitiveness, I want our team to be the best.  I want our reputation to be the best.  At the end of the day, we do not want to compete, we want to dominate.  Having these values forces massive action and they act as gigantic drivers for me.

3)    Customers – Knowing that we can drastically change any clients yard for the better in less than 5 days ensures I am always in a hurry to help. This helps push me forward.

Question:

What would you say is the key to your success?

Answer:

Four factors have contributed to my success:

1)     Athletics – by treating my body like a Ferrari I can outwork and out hustle my competitors.  My physical and mental health allows my vision/focus to stay clear. This is completed by being physically active.

2)    Went all in –I came across the product (synthetic grass) while walking my dog one evening.  I knew it would be a hit and got in my car and drove to Alberta to visit a supplier the next day.  I then spent the company’s savings on attending a massive home show telling the world that we install synthetic grass.  My ability to control fear and push through resistance guaranteed our inevitable success.

3)    Humility in Success – I still pick up the phone at any given time of the day.  I will still put on work boots and get to the shop floor.  My skill set is not above a broom.  In order to feel the heartbeat of the company, as leaders, we need to be on the shop floor, next to the accountant and in the face of as many customers as we can.  My humility helps to ensure continued success.

4)    Mentors/Good Family – By nothing more than luck I have surrounded myself with incredibly generous (with their time and advice) mentors.  These are the type of people that have “been there done that” owning companies that are generating 20 million + in sales.  To have access to their brains and advice is a huge advantage.  I was also fortunate in having easy going parents (both teachers) and loving/supportive Sisters, Cousins, Aunts Uncles and Grandparents. I was never pushed to succeed but swayed politely to be humble and do the right thing.

Question:

What do you believe the future holds for you?

Answer:

Business:  The path of life will force you to go left or right.  I am certain that I will be steered into another business venture completely different than the one I am in.  I will acquire and or start more businesses and will see NWPM hit 10 million in sales within 5 years.

Question:

Finally, how do you define success?  Is it a dollar amount, a certain lifestyle, something else?

Answer:

That is an in-depth question, that I haven’t, but should put more thought into.  As of today, I would define my life as being successful if I helped people achieve more.

To define the success of my business it would be to hit 10 million in sales.

Money and or purpose are required to be successful.   I don’t care who you run into in life, no one will ever tell you (with a straight face) that they will not take a Rolex watch for free or turn down money offered to them with no strings attached.  Money is important as with it you can do more good than without it.  I’d rather be unhappy and rich than unhappy and poor.

However, in my opinion “next level” successful players in the world have a laser focus purpose (Mother Teresa, Terry Fox..).  If you have a “worthy” purpose you can achieve success without possessions or money.  And without doubt, achieve a greater lasting legacy.

In conclusion, the easy way to ensure a “successful” life in my eyes is to make money, be generous by striving to make others become a greater “them” and if you really want to have the holy grail of success find a purpose that helps people and hit a home run with it.

 

Wrap-Up:

Though we all have different opinions of success, it’s clear that Mr.Hewitt here is motivated by what is inside him, and what he can for the people, and the world around him.  People like this don’t build and scale businesses to make money, they do it to make a difference in the lives of others.  Whether those people are employees or clients, I personally believe that Mr.Hewitt is making a difference.

 

As always, if you enjoy the article please follow the blog so you don’t miss what comes next, and give the post a share with your friends so we can help as many people as possible.

You can find us on Facebook at Climb to Success (@climbtosuccessca) or on Twitter at @climbtosuccess.

Until Next Time,

Alan

Money Stress – Don’t Let It Drag You Down

I’ve seen stress about money get in the way of the success of more people around me than anything else.  Being in a negative state of mind unfortunately prevents us from reaching our full potential, and I’ve found that more often than not, money is the thing that puts people in a negative state of mind.

Our modern capitalist society gives people a false sense of need.  We’re constantly exposed to media, and content.  This content tells us what they want us to buy, and the more we consume this content, the more we believe we need the newest car, the newest cell phone, and other new items to make us feel successful, and look successful to those around us.

The first thing to focus on is to live within your means.  If you can’t live within your means and understand that you don’t need the nicest, newest version of everything, then you’re heading down the wrong path.  If you can spend your time in a social circle of people in a similar financial situation to you.  If you spend your time with more affluent people, then you’re more likely to spend in excess to try to keep up.

If you can focus on saving money properly, and automating these savings so you don’t have a choice, and then spending within your means for the rest of the period until your next paycheque, you’ll begin to build a cushion.  The larger this nest egg or cushion gets the better you’ll feel about your finances.  If you don’t have to stress about your finances, then you’re more likely to be able to stay focused on the end goal.

More on saving, budgeting, and finances to come soon.

Follow the blog so you can see the latest as it comes.

Until Next Time,

AM