Title & Subject Unknown At This Point!

Subject Unknown

I have not posted a new Selling By Building Blog since September 27th, 2011.

I need to; I enjoy writing; and it is very important for my Business.

Since that date (since 9/27/11) I have signed on to Blogger numerous (many I should say) times with the honest intention or writing a new Blog.  Yet, the fact remains I have not completed and published a new Blog recently.

Why?

Procrastination; Hesitation; Busy Schedule; Lack of Faith; Uncertainty; Inspiration Missing.

Sometimes in life, quite frequently in fact, we have to be creative and take a risk to get beyond a stumbling block.  To regain momentum.  To push forth towards our Goals and Dreams!

Today, I am proceeding in an unusual and most likely not-highly-recommended manner.  Conventional Wisdom will not agree with what I am attempting to achieve.  I have inserted the Title "Title & Subject Unknown At This Point" because, well, that fact is the unfortunate truth as of this very point in time.

I have not been able to complete a new Blog recently because I have not been inspired with a specific idea about which to write.  I have been awaiting specific inspiration.  The specific inspiration I have sought never surfaced.  So today, right now in fact, I have begun without yet having a clear subject to write about.

Where shall I start?

I am writing this Blog to help support and promote my Small Consulting Business: Selling By Building.  I try to keep the subjects of this Blog related to and in support of the same areas I choose to focus on in my Business: Sales & Customer Care; Accounting & Finance; Communications; Business Development.

To assist me with my Goal here of coming up with a specific subject......I ponder all of the other Great Blogs I have been reading recently.  I am immersed in Social Media so I am consistently introduced to great recommended Blogs by people I am "connected with" and share content with on Twitter, LinkedIn, Stumbleupon, Google+ etc.

I follow the recommendations of people I am connected with who steer me to specific content on a daily basis and read great Blogs on the subjects of Sales, Customer Care, Accounting & Finance, Communications, and Business Development.  I really enjoy and learn a great deal from this content and these Blogs.  Over time I have grown to fully appreciate the great and infinite power of and value of the Internet and Social Media.  I actually do not consider it "work" which I must endure to try to promote my Consulting Business.  In fact, I really love the process.  Building Relationships is fun. Life before Social Media is now hard to remember. 

Twitter Power

When I first heard about "Twitter" I thought it was something on the "fringe" that I would never need to learn about.  Now, it is a part of my daily existence.  The first time I finally pushed the "Enter Button" to Post a Tweet I was so nervous and reluctant that it is now, in retrospect, laughable.  It was like I selfishly thought that when I Posted that very first Tweet that all 7 Billion People on the Planet were going to instantly read it and collectively laugh at what I had just "Tweeted."  Now, I Tweet daily and confidently.  With a clear mission of simply and honestly sharing content, ideas, and my philosophy to try to help everyone that I am connected with, I proceed without hesitation.  I proceed with a mission.  And I believe in what I am doing. 

Being consistently immersed in the World of Blogging and Content-Sharing on a daily basis one would think that I would be able to quickly and easily come up with a clear, concise, and interesting specific Subject for this Blog.  It should be easy.  With no hesitation.

Don't you agree?  Or have you too experienced "writer's block?"  Do you from time to time not know where to begin on a particular project? 

Conclusion

I began writing this Blog without a specific subject at the forefront of my mind.  But I proceeded anyway with an honest desire and commitment to create with my written word something that a reader might enjoy.  An entertaining Blog.  Unique.  A Blog that, despite having no official Title and known Subject-Matter, might retain the interest of my Readers to the very end.  I have actually enjoyed the creative process of writing this Blog, the Blog With No-Subject.  I have overcome the hurdle of getting another Blog posted.  I have achieve this one small Goal on this very day.  Next time of course I will have to start with a Known Title & Subject. 

But this was fun!

Looking back now since I am in Blog-Closing Mode, the Subject Areas which ended up being the focus of this Blog were: Goals & Stumbling Blocks; Social Media & Communication; Creativity; and, of course, Blogging!  These are all great subjects which interest me a great day.  So there we go.  The Subjects of this Blog have, over time, revealed themselves.

Now why didn't I just think of those Subjects to begin with before I began writing this Blog?  It just wasn't meant to be.  But, actually, it was more fun and rewarding proceeding as I did.

Lesson Learned

The next time you come face-to-face with an annoying and stubborn stumbling-block try proceeding in a creative, unique, unconventional manner.  Take a Risk.  Push Forth.  Think out-of-the-box.  Find a way to have fun.  Continued inaction and procrastination is a sure-fire recipe for failure.  Taking action and taking a calculated risk can be a prudent step forward to help move you closer to your goals and greater success.

Thank You and Have a Great Day!
Mark

Stand Firm



Undergoing Great Change and Commencing Pursuit of Your Dream and Most Ambitious Goal is no easy task.  Definitely not for the faint-hearted.

When one purposely walks out of their Personal Comfort Zone, they will, undoubtedly, become uncomfortable.  Challenged.  Squeezed.  Pushed & Pulled in all directions.  Forced to question their motives and their ability.  Forced to ask themselves, in no uncertain terms, what am I doing?  Why am I doing this?  Have I made the right decision?

We must, when the going gets tough, remind ourselves of the following:

• Nothing Great comes easy.
• Great Success cannot be achieved without Sacrifice, Dedication, Focus, and Perseverance, and Resiliency.

Do Not Give Up.

Do Not Relent.

Renew and Refocus.

Continue surrounding ourselves only with those who strive to support, elevate, and help us in any way they can to stay on course and be successful in achieving the Worthy Goals we have set. 

Continue to educate ourselves.  Continue to be steadfast.  Move forward with force and a bulldozer-like positive and confident attitude.  We've already thrown Complacency out the window and headed in a new direction.  Very Exciting, Invigorating, and Inspiring. 

It is not easy.  But it is worthwhile.  The greater the difficulty and sacrifice required the greater the success and achievement When the Goal is Reached. 

Stand Firm!

Enthusiasm Contagion Wanted

Our Four-Year-Old is So Enthusiastic about just about everything that when you are around him you cannot help but be Positively Influenced; his Great Enthusiasm is Highly Contagious.

Which is a good thing.  A very good thing.  It is contagious.

According to www.opposite-word.com, opposite words of "enthusiastic" are:

"apathetic, disinterested, doubting, indifferent, lethargic, pessimistic, unenthusiastic, unexcited,weary"

Collectively......a very depressing portrait of an individual!

These terms all describe people that are, sadly, living their lives with a lack of energy, zest, excitement, and natural motivation. 

Enthusiasm is one of the Finer Things in Life!  Having it, as a natural trait, is no-doubt a tremendous asset to have to help one navigate through the many challenges and great difficulties we all face from time to time which we all must face.  How we handle and overcome these times will largely define how successful we are in life and whether or not we can achieve the personal goals and objectives we have set for ourselves.

Enthusiasm.  When you see it: Appreciate it; Catch it; Grab it; Hold on tight.  It will help you get through the most difficult times.  Having it will be a great benefit.  Then pass it along to others.  "Pay It Forward."  Be a positive influence in the lives of others by being, consistently, Enthusiastic.  Upbeat.  Positive.

I don't want our Four-Year-Old to ever loose his Enthusiasm. 

I hope you too are blessed by the presence of an Enthusiastic Child in your Life.  If not, by someone else.  Someone, who, whenever you are around them, exudes the great quality of being Enthusiastic.  Every time you are around them, you leave them feeling a little bit better.  Feeling more confident.  Feeling like life is good.  Feeling that you can achieve the worthy Goals you have set for yourself. 

I, personally, don't want to be around, too much anyway, people who are not Enthusiastic.  Just a personal choice.  We should associate only with those who will, by their mere presence, help support, motivate, and elevate us.

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Courage is going from failure to failure without loosing enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

Future Uncertain

We, really, have no guarantee that we will be here tomorrow. Or the next day. Or the next.

Our Future is Uncertain. We will run out of time. Eventually. The question and unknown variable is when.

The Reality of Life is that our Time Here is Limited and Finite.

We are So Lucky to even be here today!  Many, who we have known and loved, are already gone; with no more tomorrows. How many more tomorrows do we have? What would we do differently if you had a Date Certain when you will be parting ways with life as we know it? What if we had, beginning right now at this very moment and point in time, only 24 Hours To Live? One Week? One Year?

We sometimes live and act as though we do not fully grasp this reality and the ramifications.  Are we living with a Sense of Urgency and are we Passionately Pursuing all of the Personal Goals that we have set for ourselves ever single day that we are fortunate enough to be alive? Are we packing in the excitement, the challenge, the personal achievements, and great accomplishments which we consistently achieve every single day?

Or, are we living Passively? Reactively? Like we are just passengers who have no control over in which direction we are heading. Have we lost our focus? Our drive? Do we no longer have a core set of top priorities, goals, and objectives, that drive us and towards which we should be focusing all of our energy and time on every day? Have we lost our Passion?

Is there a personal dream you once had that you have since forgotten or just given up on as the years passed? Lost all hope and desire as a result of the everyday grind of life and the many obstacles that we periodically face which slow us down and leave us deflated? Have we decided to take the easier path with less challenge, less resistance, and requiring less commitment?

What are your Personal Priorities? What are the most important things to you? A very wise person once wrote to me that "We Devote Our Time, Energy, and Money Into What We Value The Most." Think about that just for a moment. What have you been focusing on these days? Are your actions in line with and fully supportive of all of your stated Priorities and your Personal Goals? Or, have you over time fallen prey to the superficial aspects and negative temptations of life and moved away from spending time where you should be?

If You, If We, are not absolutely Fired Up and Highly Motivated, we most certainly should be!  Life is Short. Our Days Are Finite. We are certainly not getting any younger.  When we look back at our lives at an older age our goal should be to be able to say "No Regrets" as opposed to "how much better would things have been if I did this or didn't do that."

What If (not out of the realm of possibility!)you received notification right now: your Future is No Longer Uncertain. You Have One Month To Live. Think about it.  Slowly.  Think hard about what your thought process would then be......  What would you do?  How would you feel?  Who would you call? 

On what, if you received the "Deadline" Notification stated above, and with your assumed newfound focus and clarity, would you begin spending your precious time?? What would you do differently tomorrow?  What would your five most important Personal Goals be to achieve during your remaining time?  What components of your life would you know label as "no longer a priority" considering your new knowledge of how much time you have remaining? 

My Message: We Should Focus Only On What is Important And A Priority To Us; We Should Shed The Rest.  And Get Moving.......Procrastination Is The Thief Of Time.......and We Have Only So Much (?)Time. 

Social Media Magic!

Two years ago I basically had no knowledge of "Social Media."

One year ago my knowledge was limited to my personal Facebook Account experience alone.

Today, I find myself immersed in Social Media on a daily basis.  Actually, I can share without reservation, that I have quickly grown to love all things Social Media.  Early in 2011 I began planning and taking some important steps to help me begin my exciting journey towards starting my own Business: Selling By Building. 

Early on in that process, a trusted confidant and supporter (who also is a highly experienced and successful Small Business Owner) enthusiastically conveyed to me the importance of quickly educating myself with and harnessing the Power and Magic of Social Media to assist me with making connections and spreading the message of my business, my philosophy, and what I am all about as I assume the challenge of becoming a Small Business Owner.

Social Media actually is a natural fit with the overriding philosophy behind Selling By Building: the belief that the most important ingredient to achieving long-term personal and business success is one's ability to successfully build strong, trusting, long-term relationships with everyone who we interact with on a daily basis.  This includes Business Owners, Employees, Management, Customers/Clients, Vendors, etc.  Communication is the Key.  Strong Relationships are the Building Blocks. 

A highly efficient means of achieving the critical goal of making connections, spreading one's message, and building strong, long-term, trusting relationships is Social Media.

I am utilizing Twitter, StumbleUpon, LinkedIn, etc., to help me achieve the following important and long-term benefits:

• Establish new connections and begin establishing mutually beneficial relationships with similar-minded people who share similar interests, philosophies, and goals for the future.  I especially appreciate the fact that I can easily connect with, share with, and learn from great people all over the world in many countries.  Being Married with two little ones under six, my ability to travel to far-away places and many countries is limited.  But, being a people person, I want to connect with as many people as I can.  The Technology and Wonder of Twitter grants me the wonderful and unparalleled opportunity to link up with and then share ideas, thoughts, and motivation with great people all over the world.  I consider this fact priceless!
• The ability and blessing to be able to share my diverse life experience and all of the great information, content, resources, quotes, etc., that I come across on a daily basis with my Connections.  I greatly enjoy this fact.  Helping other people and helping other people improve, get motivated, and achieve their goals is what I love doing the most.  Social Media has allowed me to do this easily on a daily basis.  Again.....priceless.
• Lastly: Since I have become heavily engaged in Social Media I have gained immediate access to the thoughts of others and to the Web Content being shared by and recommended by others every single day.  This has allowed me to broaden my horizons and become renewed, invigorated, fired-up again, and rejuvenated at the age of 41.  I learn from great content and links shared daily on Social Media.  I cannot emphasize this benefit of utilizing Social Media enough.  I am no longer limited to just the Great People of Syracuse, NY, that I happen to come in contact with and communicate with.  I am learning from, being educated by, and drawing inspiration from friends and connections in India, Ireland, England, Africa, etc.; in addition to those spread across the United States.  Twitter, Technology, and Social Media have brought people together.  Social Media, Technology, and the Web have increased, without bounds, the free-flow of information, ideas, and education across the Globe and between all people access to the Internet.  One last time.....priceless.

I am going to attend and participate in the upcoming BizBuzz Social Media Conference to be help in Liverpool, NY, on November 1, 2011.

I am excited to be involved and a firm believer of attending this Conference because of the knowledge and appreciation I have gained recently during my transition to being an Entrepreneur and Small Business Owner. 

This Conference will allow me to continue educating myself and to share what I have learned with others. 

I have heeded the advice that was given to me early in 2011 and now I am fully engaged in (with a great deal more to learn of course) Social Media.

In retrospect: I was given great advice that I would now share with anyone reaching out to me for guidance.

My Selling By Building Journey is just beginning.  I am loving it; and Social Media is a Tool that I will continue to educate myself about and utilize to help me with my Mission: positively impacting the lives of others and long-term success with being able to do what I love to do and am passionate about.

Social Media Magic.  Bringing People Together.  Utilizing Technology And The Web.  Full Speed Ahead To Greater Success For All.

Life: Health & Wealth

As I pondered the various possibilities for the Subject of this Blog Posting I planned on writing today I received a timely phone call from my Sister.  After my meaningful conversation with her the Subject and Theme that I wanted to write about today became very clear: "Health & Wealth."

Wealth is perceived and defined in a multitude of ways.  The definition is often dependent on each individuals uniqueness and own personal life experience, background, values, character, goals, and priorities.

Wikipedia defines "Wealth" as follows:

Wealth is the abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The word wealth is derived from the old English wela, which is from an Indo-European word stem.^[1] An individual, community, region or country that possesses an abundance of such possessions or resources is known as wealthy.
The concept of wealth is of significance in all areas of economics, especially development economics, yet the meaning of wealth is context-dependent and there is no universally agreed upon definition. Generally, economists define wealth as "anything of value" which captures both the subjective nature of the idea and the idea that it is not a fixed or static concept. Various definitions and concepts of wealth have been asserted by various individuals and in different contexts.^[2] Defining wealth can be a normative process with various ethical implications, since often wealth maximization is seen as a goal or is thought to be a normative principle of its own.^[3]

Wikipedia defines "Health" as follows:

Health is the level of functional and (or) metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person in mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to being free from illness, injury or pain (as in “good health” or “healthy”).^[1] The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in 1946 as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."^[2][3] Although this definition has been subject to controversy, in particular as having a lack of operational value and the problem created by use of the word "complete", it remains the most enduring.

Many people spend their entire lives obsessed with and pursuing greater Wealth.  But at what point do we become Wealthy?  I am all for striving to make a good living beyond the basic necessities of daily living and working hard to be able to enjoy the betters things in life. 

But I wonder if sometimes people are not much more "Wealthy" than they appreciate and realize.  Life is not just about the accumulation of money, houses, and boats, etc.  These things are nice, very nice in fact, but, if you were sitting in a Hospital Room with a serious life-threatening disease you would suddenly have gained much greater perspective.  Money, a new house, a new boat, etc., would suddenly have moved down the "Ladder of Priorities" in your Life.   You would be thinking the following simple and clear thought: you would be praying that a miracle would be granted; and that you could go back in time to a point where you were in general, relative, Good Health. 

Consider this question:

• Are you Wealthy if you are Healthy? 

Today my Sister informed me during our telephone conversation that a Cousin of ours has just been just diagnosed with Melanoma; my Sister asked that we say a Prayer for her and keep her in our thoughts.  My Sister is a Nurse.  We do not know all of the details at this time other than the fact it sounds quite serious.  My Sister conveys that this is a serious disease that gives cause for concern and worry. 

My immediate thought upon hanging up: Life is So Short.  We Take Our Health For Granted.  Thank God For My Relative Good Health!  Kind of a selfish thought.

We will as requested Pray for our Cousin and keep her in our thoughts. 

Shortly after the conclusion of the conversation with my Sister I began thinking about and pondering the reality of our daily existence:

• Any one of us could, possibly, and at any time, receive a phone call informing us that one of our Family Members or close Friends has suffered great tragedy or been stricken ill.  Or even died.
• Any one of us could, possibly, and at any time, suffer great tragedy or become suddenly ill.  Seriously ill.  Or even die.

What if you received "the phone call" today about a Family Member or Friend or from a Doctor about your Health that would immediately change your Life forever?

The Prospect and Potential of this phone call for all of us always exists and will never go away.

I ask you and I the following logical questions to ponder in light of the undeniable fact that our continued healthy existence is by no means a guarantee and that life is so short:

Why do we take so much for granted?
Why do we not fully appreciate our relative good health to a much greater extent than we do?
Why do we not sacrifice more of our Time, Energy, and Money to help others - and there are many! - who have already been stricken ill and and really, really suffering and struggling on a daily basis due to poor health?
Why do we all, myself included, so often choose to make the wrong things priorities and focus on or complain about trivial, inconsequential, and in retrospect meaningless, matters on a daily basis?
Why do we sometimes go about our lives in a robotic manner?

Why do we not spend more quality time with our Family and loved ones?


Why do we not exercise more and follow healthier diets that are proven will increase our level of health and reduce the likelihood of suffering poor health and being stricken by disease?

I have known friends who have died young.  I have a friend with two very young children who is courageously battling ALS Disease (and embracing the opportunity to inspire others!)  Today I just learned I have a Cousin who is battling Melanoma. 

If you've been blessed with relative good health and have not thought about and truly appreciated this fact in a long time, I remind you not to take such things for granted.

If you are amongst the many battling a serious health issue: my thoughts and prayers are with you to give you strength and courage to battle on and to fight.

Consider again this question:

• Are you Wealthy if you are Healthy?  

I argue in many ways yes.

Considering the Wikipedia definition noted above would we consider Good Health to be a "Valuable Resource?"  You bet.  Without sufficient energy levels and a general feeling of good health it would be difficult for us to be able to live the life we desire and achieve the goals we set for ourselves. 

Good Health is truly and undoubtedly a Blessing that not everyone is fortunate enough to have. Let's not take relative Good Health for granted and be truly grateful every single day; at the same time let us not turn a blind and selfish eye to those who are suffering and in need.

It could be any one of us any day.  Carry that thought with you.  Every Day.

I Wish You Good Health And The Perspective And Ability To Appreciate It When You Have It!

10 Tips To Help Achieve Your Worthy Goal

Achieving a Worthy Goal is not easy.  We need to consistently set and achieve specific goals if we want to achieve great success and be the very best we can be.  Following are some Tips and Suggestions to help us Successfully Achieve our Goals:

1. Write your Goal down on paper.  Be specific.  Set and write down a Target Date.  Included with this should be the personal reasons why you are setting this Goal, the challenges and obstacles you have identified that you will need to overcome if you are to achieve your Goal, and, in precise detail, all of the Benefits and Advantages to be had when you successfully achieve the Goal.
2. Do not loose #1.  Refer to it often for a refresher and reminder as to why you are expending the great energy that you are (or should be!) on a daily basis to move you toward the successful achievement of the Goal.
3. Adopt and Maintain a Positive Mental Attitude.  This takes work.  Self-doubt, negative thoughts, pessimism; these trouble-makers will undoubtedly hurt you and your Goal-Achieving efforts.
4. Expect the unexpected and expect to overcome the unexpected without ever being thrown off course.  Life is unpredictable.  Sometimes things happen at the worst possible times.  One curve-ball or one set-back will not the not-truly-committed off-course.
5. Be Steadfast.  I've always loved that word!  Maintain a clear focus and keep your eye on the Goal and the Benefits to be had that you memorialized in Step 1 and keep mentally strong; nothing can keep you from achieving your Goal unless you let it happen.  Again: Be Steadfast.
6. Earn and benefit from the support of those around you.  If sacrifice is required that impacts the lives of your Family or your Closest Friends, then you need to educate them and enlist their support.  You will need their support and their motivation when life gets tough, you feel overwhelmed, and achievement of your Goal lay in jeopardy.  Help Family and Friends understand the sacrifices you are making and the commitment you are making by openly sharing with them why you're doing what you're doing and what you are going to gain by achieving your Goal.  Nothing is more important than our Family and our Friends.  We need them and their support.
7. Keep Healthy.  We need Great Energy to be able to pursue our Goals Relentlessly.  Great Energy is a direct result of Living a Healthy Lifestyle: eat well; exercise daily; minimize stress; embrace healthy habits.  The more difficult and challenging a Goal is the more Energy we need.  Continuously educate yourself on how to be as healthy as possible and live according to that knowledge.
8. Make the Process Fun.  Life is Short.  Enjoy and Respect the difficult journey often necessary to achieve a Worthy Goal. 
9. Let each successive successful step that brings you closer to achieving your Goal inspire you and provide you with some positive motivation to help continue to carry you forward, remain committed, stay focused, and ultimately Reach That Goal!
10. Don't give up.  Never give up.  Nothing truly great has never been achieve without great sacrifice, commitment, dedication, and resilience. 

"Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination." Fitzhugh Dodson
Good Luck! Go grab a pen a paper and get a jump-start on your next Goal?  What will it be?