Intuitives: They are led by intuition; concentrate on the possibilities; avoid the details and tend to look at the bigger picture.
Thinkers: They are analytical, precise, and logical; process a lot of information, often ignoring the emotional or feeling aspects.
Feelers: They are interested in the feelings of others; dislike intellectual analysis and follow their own likes and dislikes; enjoy working with people and are capable of great loyalty.
Sensors: They see things as they are; have great respect for facts; have an enormous capacity for detail and seldom make errors; are good at putting things in context.
FYI…Lessons from Michael Dell
"In leadership, it's important to be intuitive, but not at the expense of facts," writes Michael Dell, Founder of the Dell Computer Corporation. "Without the right data to back it up, emotion-based decision making during difficult times will inevitably lead a company into a greater danger. There is a very easy way to test whether you're making decisions based on emotions. When you come across data that is strikingly different from what you previously thought, how long does it take for you to shift your thinking? Do you deny the data and say, "Well, I don't believe this?"
ZDT Author’s Comments:
The repeating dichotomy is that facts and emotions are in constant conflict when making decisions. The key is to be able to manage your decision, with these competing factions, through a process that gives you a more predictable result. We know of at least one.
Zillion Dollar Thinking
Posts
All Comments
Please visit me at ProducersWEB.com
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Zillion Dollar Thought
“The average bed is home to over 6,000,000,000 dust mites…considering all the beds since the first one…zillions.”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Teen Decisions...Not Teeny
Most people are indecisive by nature, so the process of making decisions is usually a difficult one. Even people who seem as if they have their lives in order sometimes do not make smart, timely decisions. This often happens because they never learned the skills of good decision making.
Often you can avoid poor decisions if you consider all the different reactions that could happen as a result of your decision. You must consider the consequences of your decision for yourself and for others.
One example of a famously bad decision happened in 1938. Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel sold the rights to their comic-strip character Superman, a creation later worth millions, for $130, or $65 each. More recently, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the partners who developed the Google Web search engine, offered to merge with Yahoo! in 1998 for a small parcel of stock. Yahoo! turned them down, and now Google is worth $20 billion. Whoops!
You can encounter all sorts of problems when faced with the task of making a decision. Under pressure to come up with a conclusion, you may not consider all the consequences of your choice. You may be less informed then you should be, blinded by misinformation, or led by your emotions…all situations that could impair your ability to think logically and clearly. You may choose your easiest option in haste, even if it is not the best choice. Or you may choose not to decide at all, allowing someone else to make your decision for you.
Directing Your Life
Sometimes people have such difficulty when they are faced with making a decision that they cannot cope well. These are the folks who let events in their lives unfold around them and react to situations after they occur rather than deciding what they should do about a problem in advance. These people cannot take charge of their lives. They cannot seem to make decisions needed to promote positive change. In order to avoid falling into this trap, it’s important to learn how to fully think about and consider all of your choices and options. Consider your desires and immediate needs, but also consider how your decision will affect those around you now and over time.
In addition to your own needs and desires, consider how your decision will affect others. One way to do this is to ask other people for their advice. However, you must be able to see for yourself what is good for you and what is not. This is difficult for people who cannot choice one option over another. Instead of standing up for themselves, they try to say yes to everyone. An important part of decision making is learning how to say no.
The ability to evaluate situations clearly will help you throughout your life. Often you can avoid poor decisions if you consider all the different reactions that could happen as a result of your decision. You must consider the consequences of your decision for yourself and for others.
Would you cheat on a test? Would you deal drugs? Would you physically attack someone? Would you steal? Many people who make these mistakes find themselves cornered in bad situations from which they cannot find an escape. Often their difficulties are the result of a series of poor decisions. If they had further evaluated their options, they may have not ended up in their current situation. They might not be in trouble or might not have broken the law.
You are already making many decisions for yourself, although you may not realize it. As you get older, however, your decisions become more complicated. Life can seem confusing and chaotic. To prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed, take a little bit of time to stop and learn the skills of good decision making. You will be glad you did.
Article Citation:
http://teenhealthfiles.rosenpub.com/articles/decisionmaking.html
Schaefer, Laura. "Decision Making." Teen Health and Wellness: Real Life, Real Answers. January 2007. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc..
ZDT Author’s Comments:
Good post. This works for adults as well as teens.
Email us for our ZDT SCORE.
Often you can avoid poor decisions if you consider all the different reactions that could happen as a result of your decision. You must consider the consequences of your decision for yourself and for others.
One example of a famously bad decision happened in 1938. Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel sold the rights to their comic-strip character Superman, a creation later worth millions, for $130, or $65 each. More recently, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the partners who developed the Google Web search engine, offered to merge with Yahoo! in 1998 for a small parcel of stock. Yahoo! turned them down, and now Google is worth $20 billion. Whoops!
You can encounter all sorts of problems when faced with the task of making a decision. Under pressure to come up with a conclusion, you may not consider all the consequences of your choice. You may be less informed then you should be, blinded by misinformation, or led by your emotions…all situations that could impair your ability to think logically and clearly. You may choose your easiest option in haste, even if it is not the best choice. Or you may choose not to decide at all, allowing someone else to make your decision for you.
Directing Your Life
Sometimes people have such difficulty when they are faced with making a decision that they cannot cope well. These are the folks who let events in their lives unfold around them and react to situations after they occur rather than deciding what they should do about a problem in advance. These people cannot take charge of their lives. They cannot seem to make decisions needed to promote positive change. In order to avoid falling into this trap, it’s important to learn how to fully think about and consider all of your choices and options. Consider your desires and immediate needs, but also consider how your decision will affect those around you now and over time.
In addition to your own needs and desires, consider how your decision will affect others. One way to do this is to ask other people for their advice. However, you must be able to see for yourself what is good for you and what is not. This is difficult for people who cannot choice one option over another. Instead of standing up for themselves, they try to say yes to everyone. An important part of decision making is learning how to say no.
The ability to evaluate situations clearly will help you throughout your life. Often you can avoid poor decisions if you consider all the different reactions that could happen as a result of your decision. You must consider the consequences of your decision for yourself and for others.
Would you cheat on a test? Would you deal drugs? Would you physically attack someone? Would you steal? Many people who make these mistakes find themselves cornered in bad situations from which they cannot find an escape. Often their difficulties are the result of a series of poor decisions. If they had further evaluated their options, they may have not ended up in their current situation. They might not be in trouble or might not have broken the law.
You are already making many decisions for yourself, although you may not realize it. As you get older, however, your decisions become more complicated. Life can seem confusing and chaotic. To prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed, take a little bit of time to stop and learn the skills of good decision making. You will be glad you did.
Article Citation:
http://teenhealthfiles.rosenpub.com/articles/decisionmaking.html
Schaefer, Laura. "Decision Making." Teen Health and Wellness: Real Life, Real Answers. January 2007. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
ZDT Author’s Comments:
Good post. This works for adults as well as teens.
Email us for our ZDT SCORE.
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Longest Memory vs. the Shortest Pencil
Writing it down is important.
Successful self improvement writers such as Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar and others repeatedly emphasize the importance of having goals…in writing. A written goal brings clarity and focus. It gives you a direction. And, by writing your goals, you not only reaffirm what your goals are, you may also have found new insights that bring more clarity and focus to your goals and your life. A written goal is also a powerful reminder that you can use to keep yourself on track.
Here are just a few reasons (my favorites) to write things down:
Remind yourself to focus. You can use paper or your screensaver or another program to give yourself reminders. Often we get caught up in our everyday business and lose track of what is most important. To keep yourself on track, instead of just keeping yourself busy with low-priority tasks, simply write down a reminder that can stop your thoughts when you see it and guide you back on track again.
I like the reminder: Is this useful? Then put that reminder where you can’t avoid seeing throughout your day.
Unload your mental RAM. When you don’t occupy your mind with having to remember every little thing (like how much milk to get) you become less stressed and it becomes easier to think clearly. This is, in my opinion, one of the most important reasons to write things down. Feeling more calm and relaxed does not only improves your health but also makes life easier.
Think clearer. You can’t hold that many thoughts in your head at once. If you want to solve a problem it can be helpful to write down you thoughts, facts and feelings about it. Then you don’t have to worry your mind about remembering, you can instead use it to think more clearly. Having it all written down gives you an overview and makes it easier to find new connections that can help you solve the problem.
Keep a record of what you were thinking. I have already noticed how interesting it is to just go back a month to see what I was thinking then. I believe that when you have kept a record of your thoughts for quite a while you’ll have some fascinating reading on your hands. It can also show you how you have changed and improved.
Record your positive qualities. When I read what have written it is sometimes fuzzy and unfocused. But other times I’m kind of surprised at how clever I was. Keeping a written record could be a good way to remind yourself of your positive qualities.
Improve long-term focus on what’s important. Reminders that I described above can be useful to keep you on track in your normal day. But you can also use a journal as a way to keep an overview of your thinking over a longer time span and to recognize both positives and negatives in your thinking. You may, for example, think of yourself as a healthy person but realize when you read through your journal that you have only been out running four times this month. This can help to spot trouble and keep you on track within a larger timeframe.
Become better acquainted with yourself. You may, for instance, have an image of your life where you are a positive person but discover when reading through your notes for the last month that you are negative about your job or a relationship in almost every entry. This might tell you something that you haven’t really paid much attention to about yourself and/or something about that job or relationship. This can bring clarity to your life.
Track your achievements. If you are working out or investing in stocks it can be useful to keep written record of your results and thoughts over a longer time span. It can not only motivate you when you are feeling down about your perceived lack of positive results, but it will let you see how far you have really come. It can also help you use problems and solutions from the past to find solutions to new problems (or readjustments to prevent problems before they even appear).
By: Henrik Edberg
For full article and credits:
http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2007/09/12/why-you-should-write-things-down/
ZDT Author’s comment:
A blog (like Zillion Dollar Thinking) is simply a written record for all to see. A written and visible MODELTM is the basis of Zillion Dollar Thinking.
Email us for the ZDT SCORE on this article.
Successful self improvement writers such as Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar and others repeatedly emphasize the importance of having goals…in writing. A written goal brings clarity and focus. It gives you a direction. And, by writing your goals, you not only reaffirm what your goals are, you may also have found new insights that bring more clarity and focus to your goals and your life. A written goal is also a powerful reminder that you can use to keep yourself on track.
Here are just a few reasons (my favorites) to write things down:
Remind yourself to focus. You can use paper or your screensaver or another program to give yourself reminders. Often we get caught up in our everyday business and lose track of what is most important. To keep yourself on track, instead of just keeping yourself busy with low-priority tasks, simply write down a reminder that can stop your thoughts when you see it and guide you back on track again.
I like the reminder: Is this useful? Then put that reminder where you can’t avoid seeing throughout your day.
Unload your mental RAM. When you don’t occupy your mind with having to remember every little thing (like how much milk to get) you become less stressed and it becomes easier to think clearly. This is, in my opinion, one of the most important reasons to write things down. Feeling more calm and relaxed does not only improves your health but also makes life easier.
Think clearer. You can’t hold that many thoughts in your head at once. If you want to solve a problem it can be helpful to write down you thoughts, facts and feelings about it. Then you don’t have to worry your mind about remembering, you can instead use it to think more clearly. Having it all written down gives you an overview and makes it easier to find new connections that can help you solve the problem.
Keep a record of what you were thinking. I have already noticed how interesting it is to just go back a month to see what I was thinking then. I believe that when you have kept a record of your thoughts for quite a while you’ll have some fascinating reading on your hands. It can also show you how you have changed and improved.
Record your positive qualities. When I read what have written it is sometimes fuzzy and unfocused. But other times I’m kind of surprised at how clever I was. Keeping a written record could be a good way to remind yourself of your positive qualities.
Improve long-term focus on what’s important. Reminders that I described above can be useful to keep you on track in your normal day. But you can also use a journal as a way to keep an overview of your thinking over a longer time span and to recognize both positives and negatives in your thinking. You may, for example, think of yourself as a healthy person but realize when you read through your journal that you have only been out running four times this month. This can help to spot trouble and keep you on track within a larger timeframe.
Become better acquainted with yourself. You may, for instance, have an image of your life where you are a positive person but discover when reading through your notes for the last month that you are negative about your job or a relationship in almost every entry. This might tell you something that you haven’t really paid much attention to about yourself and/or something about that job or relationship. This can bring clarity to your life.
Track your achievements. If you are working out or investing in stocks it can be useful to keep written record of your results and thoughts over a longer time span. It can not only motivate you when you are feeling down about your perceived lack of positive results, but it will let you see how far you have really come. It can also help you use problems and solutions from the past to find solutions to new problems (or readjustments to prevent problems before they even appear).
By: Henrik Edberg
For full article and credits:
http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2007/09/12/why-you-should-write-things-down/
ZDT Author’s comment:
A blog (like Zillion Dollar Thinking) is simply a written record for all to see. A written and visible MODELTM is the basis of Zillion Dollar Thinking.
Email us for the ZDT SCORE on this article.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
How to Make Decisions without Stress
Simplify your life today.
Every day we make decisions…dozens of decisions. We have to decide what we want for dinner, what to wear, whether to enroll our kids in a sport, choices at work, choices with our business. Every time you turn around, there’s another decision to be made. It’s enough to stress out anyone.
When the choices and decisions get to be too much, what do we do? Most of us procrastinate. Instead of making a choice, we set it aside, waiting. We let it fester. The string of things that need deciding don’t go away, in fact, they pile up rather quickly. Soon, instead of having to make one decision, we have to make five…or ten…or fifty. You get the picture.
Not only does this keep you from getting anything accomplished, you become anxious about the things piling up. You don’t want to think about it, but it’s all you can think about. That’s no way to go through life...being afraid to handle your day to day issues. There is a very simple solution though.
Please consider: when faced with a choice, make a decision immediately.
Using the information you have available right now, make a choice. Decide how to solve the problem right now. Then, that problem is handled, it’s done, and it’s gone. It’s handled, and it’s no longer contributing to your stress levels.
But what if I make the wrong choice?
Making decisions quickly will give you less than perfect results sometimes. You won’t always make the perfect choice, but you need to understand this: That’s OK. Sometimes, good enough is good enough. The fact that you made a decision immediately is far better than letting it sit, and become a festering sore.
Stressing over what to eat for dinner tonight? Just pick something. Eat baked chicken with mashed potatoes. Unsure what to wear for your date this weekend? Go with jeans and that blue polo shirt you like. Should you hire help for your small business? Yes. Do you get it yet? Just make a decision.
Please remember, no matter what you decide, no matter what the outcome, it’s better than not deciding.
Full article and credits: The Simple Llama
http://simplellama.com/how-to-make-decisions-without-stress/
ZDT Author’s Comments:
This post is all about Action (Step Four of the MODELTM)…
Email us for our ZDT SCORE.
Every day we make decisions…dozens of decisions. We have to decide what we want for dinner, what to wear, whether to enroll our kids in a sport, choices at work, choices with our business. Every time you turn around, there’s another decision to be made. It’s enough to stress out anyone.
When the choices and decisions get to be too much, what do we do? Most of us procrastinate. Instead of making a choice, we set it aside, waiting. We let it fester. The string of things that need deciding don’t go away, in fact, they pile up rather quickly. Soon, instead of having to make one decision, we have to make five…or ten…or fifty. You get the picture.
Not only does this keep you from getting anything accomplished, you become anxious about the things piling up. You don’t want to think about it, but it’s all you can think about. That’s no way to go through life...being afraid to handle your day to day issues. There is a very simple solution though.
Please consider: when faced with a choice, make a decision immediately.
Using the information you have available right now, make a choice. Decide how to solve the problem right now. Then, that problem is handled, it’s done, and it’s gone. It’s handled, and it’s no longer contributing to your stress levels.
But what if I make the wrong choice?
Making decisions quickly will give you less than perfect results sometimes. You won’t always make the perfect choice, but you need to understand this: That’s OK. Sometimes, good enough is good enough. The fact that you made a decision immediately is far better than letting it sit, and become a festering sore.
Stressing over what to eat for dinner tonight? Just pick something. Eat baked chicken with mashed potatoes. Unsure what to wear for your date this weekend? Go with jeans and that blue polo shirt you like. Should you hire help for your small business? Yes. Do you get it yet? Just make a decision.
Please remember, no matter what you decide, no matter what the outcome, it’s better than not deciding.
Full article and credits: The Simple Llama
http://simplellama.com/how-to-make-decisions-without-stress/
ZDT Author’s Comments:
This post is all about Action (Step Four of the MODELTM)…
Email us for our ZDT SCORE.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Spaghetti Decision
MODELTM Opportunity: Line Extension
Spaghetti was a somewhat foreign commodity when it was introduced in the U.S. early in the twentieth century. Over time it developed to be a staple item in the family pantry.
Some of the original food companies marketed it under Italian names at less than seventy cents a box. About 15 years ago, the innovative companies saw the opportunity to introduce line-extensions of the product. One of the first moves was to reframe the word to “pasta” with several twists.
Consider that Linguine, Fettuccini, Angel Hair, Bow Ties, Ziti and multiples of other shapes, sizes and colors took their place on shelves in most retail grocery stores. Then, sauces became the next natural target. Sauce with additions of meats, spices and veggies joined the old traditional sauce that used to dominate the shelf space.
In essence, the marketing innovators converted a stock product into a stylish food. You can now find in the refrigerated units of a store, fresh pastas, Ravioli, Fettuccini, Pesto, Alfredo on and on. The original 69-cent box of Spaghetti moved in a strategic direction. The big shift now is that you are willing to spend $6.99 and more for the newest fashionable fare of sauce and pasta…a long way from $.69.
It’s also happened in other markets and brands like the sporting goods industry, clothing, drug companies and about every other industry: Zillion$. Point is…in the decision making process, consider the marketing principle of line-extension in both company and personal applications.
Remember, Step One of the MODELTM is Opportunity.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Ten Steps to Wise Decision-Making
From: U.S. Small Business Administration
This process can be applied to any situation where you need to make an important decision. If you follow these ten basic steps, you will find yourself making wiser decisions in your professional as well as your personal life.
Define, as specifically as possible, what the decision is that needs to be made. Is this really your decision or someone else's? Do you really need to make a decision? (If you do not have at least two options, there is no decision to be made.) When does the decision need to be made? Why is this decision important to you? Who will be affected by this decision? What values does this decision involve for you?
Write down as many alternatives as you can think of. Brainstorm as many different alternatives as you can imagine. Let your imagination run free and try not to censure anything; this is not the time to be judgmental. Just be sure to write everything down.
Think where you could find more information about possible alternatives. If you only come up with a few alternatives, you may want to get more information. Additional information generally leads to more alternatives. Places where you can look for the information you need include friends, family, clergy, co-workers, state and federal agencies, professional organizations, online services, newspapers, magazines, books, and so on.
Check out your alternatives. Once you have a list of alternatives, use the same sources of information to find out more about the specifics of each option. You will find that the more information you gather, the more ideas will pop into your head. Be sure to write these down and check them out too.
Sort through all of your alternatives. Now that you have your list of alternatives, it is time to begin evaluating them to see which one works for you. First, write down the values that would come into play for each alternative. Second, look for the alternatives which would allow you to use the greatest number of your values. Third, cross the alternatives off the list which do not fit into your personal value framework.
Visualize the outcomes of each alternative. For each remaining alternative on your list, picture what the outcome of that alternative will look like. Here, too, it helps if you write out your impressions.
Do a reality check. Which of your remaining alternatives are most likely to happenCross off those alternatives that most likely will not happen to you. Which alternative fits you? Review your remaining alternatives and decide which ones feel most comfortable to you. These are your wise decisions. If you are very happy about a decision, but are not as comfortable with its possible outcome, this is a clue that this is not a wise decision for you. On the other hand, you may dislike an alternative, but be very excited about the possible outcome. This decision would probably not be wise for you either. If you feel you can live with both the alternative as well as the possible outcome, this is the wise decision you should follow.
Get started! Once you have made your decision, get moving on it. Worrying or second-guessing yourself will only cause grief. You have done your very best for the present; you always have the option of changing your mind in the future. Remember, no decision is set in stone.
Be sure to review your decision at specified points along the road. Are the outcomes what you expected? Are you happy with the outcomes? Do you want to let the decision stand or would you like to make some adjustments? If the decision did not come out the way you planned, go through the complete decision-making process again. In the process, answer the following questions: Did I not have enough information? What values actually came into play? Were they my values or someone else's?
Remember, you can always change your mind!
ZDT Author’s Comments:
Let us hear from you. Email for our ZDT SCORE.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
No Decisions Necessary
Natural and General Laws:
To name a few…
24/7/365
Gravity
Night/Day
Hot/Cold
Right/Left
Seasons
Atmosphere/Galaxy
Progressive Aging
Man/Woman
Temperature
The list could be long. Point is, we don’t have to make decisions about certain subjects because they are going to act the same whether we decide on them or not.
Gravity is always an easy example because it is a natural law. No matter if it was considered a discovery or simply acknowledged as fact, it has worked the same from the very beginning right up to now.
If you throw the ball up…it’s coming down (eventually) every time. There is no decision to make. Question: wouldn’t life be so much simpler if everything operated under such laws?
Funny, but many folks think that is the way it does work. The reason we say that is because of the general absence of any track, system or model as an objective aid to their decision making.
In summary, let’s be thankful for those natural law decisions that give us relief from having to decide. But, if you do not already have one, please consider adopting a simple, step by step and effective MODELTM for all those other challenging opportunities.
ZDT Author's Comment:
Please email me for some suggestions.
To name a few…
24/7/365
Gravity
Night/Day
Hot/Cold
Right/Left
Seasons
Atmosphere/Galaxy
Progressive Aging
Man/Woman
Temperature
The list could be long. Point is, we don’t have to make decisions about certain subjects because they are going to act the same whether we decide on them or not.
Gravity is always an easy example because it is a natural law. No matter if it was considered a discovery or simply acknowledged as fact, it has worked the same from the very beginning right up to now.
If you throw the ball up…it’s coming down (eventually) every time. There is no decision to make. Question: wouldn’t life be so much simpler if everything operated under such laws?
Funny, but many folks think that is the way it does work. The reason we say that is because of the general absence of any track, system or model as an objective aid to their decision making.
In summary, let’s be thankful for those natural law decisions that give us relief from having to decide. But, if you do not already have one, please consider adopting a simple, step by step and effective MODELTM for all those other challenging opportunities.
ZDT Author's Comment:
Please email me for some suggestions.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
How To Make Decisions
(That Lead To the Results You Want)
Let's say that you set a goal to quit smoking, or to lose 20 pounds or to make a million dollars. What is your very next step?
In any of those instances, the first step is basically the same. You need to make a decision. Whatever goal you want to achieve is the direct result of the decisions you make to achieve it. Everything you've experienced, in your career, your personal life, in your financial status, is a result of the decisions you've made. And, if you don't like the results, then you need to change the decisions.
In fact, I encourage you to take that even one step further. Don't just change the decisions, change your decision-making process. The decisions you make are a result of your decision-making process, and you just might have a faulty process.
Only you know for sure if your decision-making process is flawed. How is your year going? Are you living the glory days or just a mediocre existence? Are you achieving outrageous success or is your business just full of challenges? You know because you're living it.
Learn the three key questions you should ask that will help you to improve, not simply the decisions that you make, but the way in which you make them.
1. "What's the worst thing that can happen?" Consider the worst-case scenario when you make a decision. Asking yourself this will help you learn how to take risks in your business. It will toughen you against the possibility of any little thing going wrong, and will give you the confidence to move forward in spite of that possibility.
The thought of losing money holds a lot of people back from taking risks or making changes. But if you consider the worst that could happen, it's impossible to lose money. If something doesn't turn out the way you anticipated, you may not have received the expected return on your investment, but you didn't lose. You learned. Consider it an education expense.
2. "What will it cost me if I don't do (or buy) this?" If you ask yourself, "What will it cost me to do this (or buy this)?" instead, you are allowing the cost of something to be the prime motivator in your decision-making.
How much money you have or don't have should not govern the decisions you make in your business. The key is that when you're not afraid of losing money, you make different decisions about money and it no longer governs your business decisions.
3. "What do I need to get an instant return on this investment?" When you invest in something, like a product or a mentor or even a virtual assistant, you want to know how to ensure that you see that investment back quickly. In the end, what you need is for that investment to not actually cost you money but end up making you money.
Notice that not one of the questions asks, "What's the cheapest way to do this?" That's not how I want you to think. That's not how you should make decisions.
Apply these questions to an investment you've been considering - something that you've been thinking about doing in your business, something that you've wanted to do and that you know would help you grow your business. Maybe you've been telling yourself you can't afford to do it.
Approach that investment with these three questions and you'll see what happens. These questions will lead to different solutions for you. These are some of the very questions that I include in my own decision making, and I know that they will open up some new possibilities for you.
For full article and credits:
By: Bernadette Doyle
http://www.ecademy.com/node.php?id=152171
ZDT Author’s comments:
Please email us for our ZDT SCORE and explanation.
Let's say that you set a goal to quit smoking, or to lose 20 pounds or to make a million dollars. What is your very next step?
In any of those instances, the first step is basically the same. You need to make a decision. Whatever goal you want to achieve is the direct result of the decisions you make to achieve it. Everything you've experienced, in your career, your personal life, in your financial status, is a result of the decisions you've made. And, if you don't like the results, then you need to change the decisions.
In fact, I encourage you to take that even one step further. Don't just change the decisions, change your decision-making process. The decisions you make are a result of your decision-making process, and you just might have a faulty process.
Only you know for sure if your decision-making process is flawed. How is your year going? Are you living the glory days or just a mediocre existence? Are you achieving outrageous success or is your business just full of challenges? You know because you're living it.
Learn the three key questions you should ask that will help you to improve, not simply the decisions that you make, but the way in which you make them.
1. "What's the worst thing that can happen?" Consider the worst-case scenario when you make a decision. Asking yourself this will help you learn how to take risks in your business. It will toughen you against the possibility of any little thing going wrong, and will give you the confidence to move forward in spite of that possibility.
The thought of losing money holds a lot of people back from taking risks or making changes. But if you consider the worst that could happen, it's impossible to lose money. If something doesn't turn out the way you anticipated, you may not have received the expected return on your investment, but you didn't lose. You learned. Consider it an education expense.
2. "What will it cost me if I don't do (or buy) this?" If you ask yourself, "What will it cost me to do this (or buy this)?" instead, you are allowing the cost of something to be the prime motivator in your decision-making.
How much money you have or don't have should not govern the decisions you make in your business. The key is that when you're not afraid of losing money, you make different decisions about money and it no longer governs your business decisions.
3. "What do I need to get an instant return on this investment?" When you invest in something, like a product or a mentor or even a virtual assistant, you want to know how to ensure that you see that investment back quickly. In the end, what you need is for that investment to not actually cost you money but end up making you money.
Notice that not one of the questions asks, "What's the cheapest way to do this?" That's not how I want you to think. That's not how you should make decisions.
Apply these questions to an investment you've been considering - something that you've been thinking about doing in your business, something that you've wanted to do and that you know would help you grow your business. Maybe you've been telling yourself you can't afford to do it.
Approach that investment with these three questions and you'll see what happens. These questions will lead to different solutions for you. These are some of the very questions that I include in my own decision making, and I know that they will open up some new possibilities for you.
For full article and credits:
By: Bernadette Doyle
http://www.ecademy.com/node.php?id=152171
ZDT Author’s comments:
Please email us for our ZDT SCORE and explanation.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Zillion Dollar Thought
There are 35,000,000 digestive glands in the stomach…
Considering all the stomachs since the beginning…Zillions.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Decision: Should You Filter Information?
Decision Step Four (of Four): Action
Just think, you can take all the time and effort necessary to develop each of the previous three steps, but not acting on them is worthless. It’s that simple. Action is the gas in the car, the wind in the sails, and the energy of accomplishment.
Please remember, the graphic image of the MODELTM for these four steps is an equilateral triangle with the action step at the top. The graphic quickly shows the time requirement relative to the other steps. It shows that if the first three steps are properly completed, it’s not necessary to “think about,” stall out, or ponder any longer…it’s time to act.
Here’s a post from a business marketing coach who summarizes the lack of action very simply…
In business, it’s impossible to avoid making decisions!
“I regularly speak with small business owners who have left important areas of their business suffering, rather than make a decision and take action. Their concern is that they will make the wrong decision. So, they do nothing at all, which often has serious implications for their business and their future.
What people who avoid making deliberate decisions fail to understand, is that by electing to do nothing, they have actually made a decision. They have decided to sit on their hands again and hope things turn out OK. That’s not much of a strategy. Things don’t just get better by themselves.
In my work, I hear from people all the time, who make the decision to call or email me, rather than continue to struggle. Conversely, I see people complaining about how slow business is, but electing to keep repeating the same marketing errors, rather than make the decision to do take action.
One of the common traits behind every successful businessperson I know is that they make good decisions in a timely manner. They understand that if they avoid making decisions, they surrender control of their business and their future, to others. After all, the actions we take are what determine our success and these actions are governed by our decisions.”
For the full article and author credits:
http://jimsmarketingblog.com/2010/07/11/decision-making/
So, in summary, the action relative to this decision is to execute the written plan with time checkpoints, and remain accountable in the process. Here, we identified a specific topic and the decision connected to it. More importantly, we walked through the four steps of the MODELTM, and how it can be effectively applied to most any decision that comes your way.
Considering your own model…we would welcome your comments.
Just think, you can take all the time and effort necessary to develop each of the previous three steps, but not acting on them is worthless. It’s that simple. Action is the gas in the car, the wind in the sails, and the energy of accomplishment.
Please remember, the graphic image of the MODELTM for these four steps is an equilateral triangle with the action step at the top. The graphic quickly shows the time requirement relative to the other steps. It shows that if the first three steps are properly completed, it’s not necessary to “think about,” stall out, or ponder any longer…it’s time to act.
Here’s a post from a business marketing coach who summarizes the lack of action very simply…
In business, it’s impossible to avoid making decisions!
“I regularly speak with small business owners who have left important areas of their business suffering, rather than make a decision and take action. Their concern is that they will make the wrong decision. So, they do nothing at all, which often has serious implications for their business and their future.
What people who avoid making deliberate decisions fail to understand, is that by electing to do nothing, they have actually made a decision. They have decided to sit on their hands again and hope things turn out OK. That’s not much of a strategy. Things don’t just get better by themselves.
In my work, I hear from people all the time, who make the decision to call or email me, rather than continue to struggle. Conversely, I see people complaining about how slow business is, but electing to keep repeating the same marketing errors, rather than make the decision to do take action.
One of the common traits behind every successful businessperson I know is that they make good decisions in a timely manner. They understand that if they avoid making decisions, they surrender control of their business and their future, to others. After all, the actions we take are what determine our success and these actions are governed by our decisions.”
For the full article and author credits:
http://jimsmarketingblog.com/2010/07/11/decision-making/
So, in summary, the action relative to this decision is to execute the written plan with time checkpoints, and remain accountable in the process. Here, we identified a specific topic and the decision connected to it. More importantly, we walked through the four steps of the MODELTM, and how it can be effectively applied to most any decision that comes your way.
Considering your own model…we would welcome your comments.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Decision: Should You Filter Information?
Decision Step Three (of Four): Solution
The solution to any problem can have singular or multiple answers. Our problem is information overload. One part of the solution is to recognize the symptoms.
First, overload yields confusion…confusion is identified by:
Distraction
Disorientation
Chaos
Errors
Bewilderment
Disorder
Defeat
If either by accident or design, you find yourself feeling the above symptoms, you may want to take stock. Here’s a verse: Psalms 71:1
The next part is the weight you assign to the problem…Considering the symptoms, we would suggest that you rank this right up there as an active battle…even talk in war terms. It can get serious.
Even though technology is a major part of the problem, we believe the basis of the solution will be found in technology (a dichotomy).
To start, simply search the topic: “Solutions for Information Overload” which should yield at least a million results on most engines. Still overwhelming? Then start narrowing down to the specifics that fit you and your activities.
A prominent technology coach said:
“Most people’s approach to dealing with more information is an incremental one: work harder, catch up on the weekend, etc…but there has become too much data to just accept it all. You have to zero down.”
Another said…
“The competitive advantage we gained from getting more information faster is starting to disappear; now it’s how to get more relevant information. That applies to corporate and personal issues.”
In other words, to solve this problem, the design work will need to be tailored by you and for you using the miracle of technology to get there. It sounds simplistic, but that’s our goal…not to create more overload.
Zero down…simplify…order…control. A few links we would point to:
http://www.technotheory.com/2009/06/information-overload-an-invitation-and-some-new-videos/
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/info_overload_the_problem.php
http://blogs.bnet.com/entry-level/?p=2586
Again, there are zillions of examples, but using specific search terms should get you there in short order.
Now, to bake this cake, take your ingredients from the above, design a written plan, subscribe various dates of completion to it, and try to include some form of accountability in the process.
That’s Step Three.
The solution to any problem can have singular or multiple answers. Our problem is information overload. One part of the solution is to recognize the symptoms.
First, overload yields confusion…confusion is identified by:
Distraction
Disorientation
Chaos
Errors
Bewilderment
Disorder
Defeat
If either by accident or design, you find yourself feeling the above symptoms, you may want to take stock. Here’s a verse: Psalms 71:1
“In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust, let me never be put to confusion.”
The next part is the weight you assign to the problem…Considering the symptoms, we would suggest that you rank this right up there as an active battle…even talk in war terms. It can get serious.
Even though technology is a major part of the problem, we believe the basis of the solution will be found in technology (a dichotomy).
To start, simply search the topic: “Solutions for Information Overload” which should yield at least a million results on most engines. Still overwhelming? Then start narrowing down to the specifics that fit you and your activities.
A prominent technology coach said:
“Most people’s approach to dealing with more information is an incremental one: work harder, catch up on the weekend, etc…but there has become too much data to just accept it all. You have to zero down.”
Another said…
“The competitive advantage we gained from getting more information faster is starting to disappear; now it’s how to get more relevant information. That applies to corporate and personal issues.”
In other words, to solve this problem, the design work will need to be tailored by you and for you using the miracle of technology to get there. It sounds simplistic, but that’s our goal…not to create more overload.
Zero down…simplify…order…control. A few links we would point to:
http://www.technotheory.com/2009/06/information-overload-an-invitation-and-some-new-videos/
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/info_overload_the_problem.php
http://blogs.bnet.com/entry-level/?p=2586
Again, there are zillions of examples, but using specific search terms should get you there in short order.
Now, to bake this cake, take your ingredients from the above, design a written plan, subscribe various dates of completion to it, and try to include some form of accountability in the process.
That’s Step Three.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Decision: Should You Filter Information?
Decision Step Two (of Four): Commitment
With the decision to be starkly aware of the effects of information overload, there are several commitments that could/should be made. Remember, this is the step where many well intentioned decisions break down. Most decisions do not consciously consider this as an early step.
Commitments come in various forms:
“I Do” in marriage
“I Will” in court proceedings
“I Promise” to your kids and/or spouse
“I Guarantee” in selling
You get the picture.
The casual approach is:
“Let me consider”
“I’ll think about it”
“Maybe if”
“There’s probably”
The opposite of commitment is:
Indifference
Ignorance
Naivety
Avoidance
In this decision, we are committing to (to name a few):
The four steps of the MODELTM
A simpler life
A change of habit
Solving a technology problem by adopting a technology solution
The main ingredient is a “whatever it takes” attitude. This actually becomes the glue that holds the decision together. Just think, if there is no specific commitment, why even spend the time to act out the whole exercise? That is really the reason so many decisions get aborted.
One way to cement the commitment into the process is to write it down, and fix a date to the expected completion. That is way more specific and likely to produce a positive result as well as form a new habit.
Obviously, this step is vital and yet so often ignored. In some marketing circles, they may even promote this as the “secret to success.” We are calling it…Commitment.
That’s step Two.
With the decision to be starkly aware of the effects of information overload, there are several commitments that could/should be made. Remember, this is the step where many well intentioned decisions break down. Most decisions do not consciously consider this as an early step.
Commitments come in various forms:
“I Do” in marriage
“I Will” in court proceedings
“I Promise” to your kids and/or spouse
“I Guarantee” in selling
You get the picture.
The casual approach is:
“Let me consider”
“I’ll think about it”
“Maybe if”
“There’s probably”
The opposite of commitment is:
Indifference
Ignorance
Naivety
Avoidance
In this decision, we are committing to (to name a few):
The four steps of the MODELTM
A simpler life
A change of habit
Solving a technology problem by adopting a technology solution
The main ingredient is a “whatever it takes” attitude. This actually becomes the glue that holds the decision together. Just think, if there is no specific commitment, why even spend the time to act out the whole exercise? That is really the reason so many decisions get aborted.
One way to cement the commitment into the process is to write it down, and fix a date to the expected completion. That is way more specific and likely to produce a positive result as well as form a new habit.
Obviously, this step is vital and yet so often ignored. In some marketing circles, they may even promote this as the “secret to success.” We are calling it…Commitment.
That’s step Two.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Decision: Should You Filter Information?
Decision Step One (of Four): Opportunity
In the book Zillion Dollar Thinking is the MODELTM for Intelligent Decision Making. The MODEL has four distinct steps. The first step is Opportunity (the basis).
One opportunity that can be overhauled today: the decision of how to personally digest, deal with, and filter today’s oppressive barrage of information.
We have smart phones, computers of every kind, TVs, radios, papers, magazines, on and on…all are steady screaming sources of information. The information is both positive and negative. The positive, we can generally handle as long as it is based in the truth.
But, negative information today is primarily reported on a catastrophic, alarming, and life-altering basis. That can result in worry, frustration, confusion, and uncertainty…not good.
We can all differ in why we think it has come to this point…the deal is…it has.
Left unchecked, this constant assault on American’s psyche is not sustainable (“information overload”). Very much like our spiraling national debt, and that frog sitting in the slow boiling pot. At some point…
So, at this beginning step, we are witnessing a real-time problem which can be converted into an opportunity. The opportunity is to stop, identify and become aware of the consequences of constant information bombing, and the fact that it will have dire results if left unchecked.
This is Step One. Steps Two, Three and Four will be developed to follow…
ZDT Author’s Note: Please take all the time and effort necessary to conclude that this is, in fact, a problem for you, and that you are in agreement with this premise. As stated before, due diligence is the primary requirement of Step One.
In the book Zillion Dollar Thinking is the MODELTM for Intelligent Decision Making. The MODEL has four distinct steps. The first step is Opportunity (the basis).
One opportunity that can be overhauled today: the decision of how to personally digest, deal with, and filter today’s oppressive barrage of information.
We have smart phones, computers of every kind, TVs, radios, papers, magazines, on and on…all are steady screaming sources of information. The information is both positive and negative. The positive, we can generally handle as long as it is based in the truth.
But, negative information today is primarily reported on a catastrophic, alarming, and life-altering basis. That can result in worry, frustration, confusion, and uncertainty…not good.
We can all differ in why we think it has come to this point…the deal is…it has.
Left unchecked, this constant assault on American’s psyche is not sustainable (“information overload”). Very much like our spiraling national debt, and that frog sitting in the slow boiling pot. At some point…
So, at this beginning step, we are witnessing a real-time problem which can be converted into an opportunity. The opportunity is to stop, identify and become aware of the consequences of constant information bombing, and the fact that it will have dire results if left unchecked.
This is Step One. Steps Two, Three and Four will be developed to follow…
ZDT Author’s Note: Please take all the time and effort necessary to conclude that this is, in fact, a problem for you, and that you are in agreement with this premise. As stated before, due diligence is the primary requirement of Step One.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)