good isn’t good enough

“If you are willing to satisfy people with good enough, you can make just about everybody happy. If you delight people and create change that lasts, you’re going to offend those that hate change in all its forms. Your choice.” – Seth Godin

What’s it gonna take…? 

What’s it really gonna take to get to the next level?

You’ve got to know how to effectively communicate with people in all areas of your personal and professional life and know how to SELL YOURSELF.

World-class is the phrase that comes to mind.  Depending on your specific aspirations and goals, your business and your marketing have to be world-class.  Sounds big and intimidating doesn’t it?  It should.  Because to really have a legitimate shot at “making it” or becoming “successful” in whatever you do, your total package better be world-class. Your equation better be complete. Otherwise, unfortunately, you’re fooling yourself and potentially wasting a lot of time.

You see, being good isn’t good enough. You’ve got to be GREAT.

You’ve got to be a PRO:

Professional – have compelling presentations of your product or services that separate you from your competition.

Responsible – consistently do what you say you will do, follow through, over-deliver, and be accountable no matter what.

Organized – know where you’re going and be committed to figuring out how you’re going to get there.

Always look to spend your time engaged in “high-payoff” activities; those efforts that will produce the biggest return on your investment.

Put down any vices, devices, or distractions that hold you back. Think world-class, become a professional, and stop trying to please everyone. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Become great at what you do. Great sells itself. Always has, always will. It’s your choice.

©2008 Tom Leu

I Don’t Care Anymore

“I Don’t Care Anymore” (1:06)

Real success requires the journey be more important than the outcome.

©2008 Tom Leu

nobody from nowhere?

The Internet is the great equalizer especially if you are a “nobody from nowhere” – someone without a famous pedigree, a fat wallet, or exceptional circumstances. Nothing has leveled the playing field giving us all access to the world market quite like the Internet has. But to make a name for yourself in any endeavor, you must create a product and brand that is visible and viable. What do I mean…?

Visible – First, people have to know about you and/or your product, and where to get you and/or your product.

Viable – Second, you and/or your product must be capable of solving problems quickly and easily.

Visible + Viable = Valuable

Visibility without viability, or viability without visibility equals little/no perceived value. This is a big problem!

If what you do is perceived (notice I said perceived; it may or may not be in actuality) to be a commodity, then you have a steeper hill to climb. If something is a commodity, and everybody has it or can get it easily, its value goes way down. The challenge is to make what you do appear unique, therefore in low supply, therefore very valuable. Put a different spin on the tried-and-true. Intend to break the mold. Create something that would get your attention. If your product isn’t necessarily unique, the way you deliver it must be. Capitalize on what makes you, YOU!

Unsigned bands and artists for example, are definitely a commodity. Everyone is vying for attention and fans. Actually making money from their music is not the focus of most.

TAXI founder, Michael Laskow made this observation regarding independent musicians:

“Success is mostly just about getting heard. Success is feeling validated.”

With whatever you do, sometimes simply having people pay attention is compensation enough and a good start. The Internet can create opportunities, but you must deliver the goods once you’ve got a foot in the door. If you want to transcend being a nobody from nowhere… become visible, viable, and ultimately valuable. If you wanna get heard, then you must separate yourself from the herd.

Are you hearing me?

©2008 Tom Leu

Uncommon Time

“Uncommon Time” (1:07)

Consider getting better at identifying the right time vs. the wrong time for things… right now.

©2008 Tom Leu

Groove Machine

Recognize that thoughts are things and that minds have moods. Get into a positive groove regarding your thinking and your actions.

©2008 Tom Leu

dream stealers

Distance yourself from dream stealers; those people who take energy and inspiration from you rather than give it to you. Dream stealing often comes disguised as good advice,“for your own good.” There are two types of dream stealers… those who view you as:

1) a Nut – These people truly feel that your endeavors may be unrealistic or are unattainable. In an effort to be protective, they try to kill your enthusiasm in the name of helping you avoid future disappointments. Though their intentions may be good, the poisonous message they’re sending is that you aren’t good enough. Only you can decide that.

2) a Threat – These people cannot, or will not support you completely because you and your ambitions make them feel bad about themselves. You are a mirror to their own perceived inadequacies. There are strong elements of competition, jealousy, and envy present. They often react uninterested and/or apathetic to your efforts because you are inadvertently calling theirs into question. These are the worst kind of dream stealers that need to be avoided at all costs.

If you can’t turn them off, at least try to turn them down.

“We are all either building our own dreams or building somebody else’s.” – Jeff Olson, The Slight Edge

©2008 Tom Leu

It Don’t Come Easy

Trust your instincts and monitor your motives while persevering your passions.

©2008 Tom Leu

Stay Hungry

“Stay Hungry” (1:07)

The 3 steps necessary to maintain motivation and to foster ongoing action that produces tangible results.

©2008 Tom Leu

communication breakdown

It matters little how good you are at your art, business, or craft; if your communication skills lack, your business productivity will suffer. Whether you realize it or not, first impressions count, while second impressions define.

Especially with any business interaction, you are wise to convey to people that you are at least as interested in them as they are in you. Usually, you have to appear more interested in them. Otherwise, you risk leaving people feeling flat or put off by you. We are all our own favorite subject. And awareness and action around this precept is paramount to long-term success in any field. The circumstances of the interaction also matter. Are you being approached, or are you doing the approaching? It’s important to understand the different communication nuances that different situations require.

Your ability to competently manage relationships and successfully interact with others is arguably the single greatest asset you possess. An inability to communicate effectively in all kinds of situations minimizes the impact of your other skills, and ultimately the level of your success. Recognize where your communication breaksdown and resolve to seek out solutions to do something about it today! Nobody benefits more than you do in the long run.

©2008 Tom Leu

under a rock?

Here’s some great advice from David Hooper of Kathode Ray Music:

Elbert Hubbard said, “To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”

“That’s good advice. If you look me (Hooper) up in Google or elsewhere, you’ll see there are plenty of people who think I’m full of it. So what?”

“When you touch enough people, somebody is going to be pissed. And a lot of the time, the problem isn’t you, it’s them.”

“So just ignore those folks who think (you) suck. You can’t please everybody. And if you try, you’ll please nobody.”

I thought this was good stuff to take to heart, especially for those who “put it out there,” refusing to live under a rock their whole life… 

I’d like to leave you with another great quote that really resonates with me… 

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss

©2008 Tom Leu