This week’s quote:
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”
~ Henry Ford
How do you keep your goals in focus when obstacles rear their ugly head?
Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
~ Harriet Tubman
How do practice patience when your dream takes longer than expected?
Please share your thoughts in the comments section below
This week’s challenge is inspired by Bryan Leib of Leib Recovery Solutions. A few months ago Bryan sent me an email about a special he watched on TV about Team Hoyt.
Team Hoyt is a father/son duo who started racing in marathons together in 1977, and today they participate in triathlons together throughout the United States. In 2009, the duo completed their 1,000th race by competing in The Boston Marathon. But that isn’t what makes the Team Hoyt story so impressive. You see, Rick can’t walk or talk.
He was born with cerebral palsy. His parents, Dick and Judy, were told that there was no chance of recovery and little hope for Rick to live a normal life. However, Dick and Judy refused to give up. They stayed resilient in their quest to help Rick live as normal of a life as possible. Today, Rick has the capability to speak through a computer system, and although it might take several hours for Rick to put together a couple of sentences, you can imagine that it is worth the wait. His parents also assisted him in getting his own apartment with live-in help and also helped him obtain a college diploma from Boston College.
By now you might be wondering how the duo competes in these challenging races together. And instead of telling you, I thought this clip would offer the best look at Rick and Dick’s journey together. Take a peek:
If you’ve ever competed in a triathlon or a marathon or even a 5k, you know it isn’t easy. If you haven’t competed in such a race, it, too, is probably because you know it isn’t easy. Either way, it’s tough work. Dick and Rick have been racing together for more than 30 years. They’ve completed hundreds of events together, including a 3,735 mile trek across the U.S. in 1992 which last 45 days. When they run, Dick pushes Rick in a custom made running chair. When they swim, Dick pulls Rick in boat. When they bike, they ride together in a special two-seater bicycle. As of February 2011, they’vecompeted in 1,042 events together, including 240 triathlons and 68 marathons. Next month, the duo will compete in the 116th Boston Marathon. Dick will be 70 years old.
There are dozens of “lessons” that I could pull from the Team Hoyt story, but the one that I want to share this week, is the one about helping other people.
According to the official Team Hoyt website, Rick was once asked if he could give his father one thing, what would it be? Rick responded:
The thing I’d most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once.”
Everyone deals with trials and challenges. Sometimes these challenges are more than one person can carry. There are times when we carry other people, and there are times when other people carry us. From teammates to spouses to family members to friends. It might be a listening ear when tough times set in. It might be a short-term loan when the car breaks down. It might be any combination of things. But the simple truth is, we rarely do it alone.
Is there something in your life that you need help with but are too proud to ask for help with? Is there someone who has come to you with a problem and you’ve yet to offer a listening ear? Sometimes our greatest moments in life occur when we reach out to others for help and when we reach out to help others. Even random acts of kindness are good for the soul.
This week your challenge is to think beyond yourself and reach out and extend a helping hand.
As you look back on your life, can you pinpoint a time when someone offered you a helping hand which radically changed your life or career for the better?
You can share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Gary Jensen
Editor | collector mentor
To download companion worksheets to use with The collector mentor Challenge, please visit www.collectormentor.com/thechallenge.
© 2011 collector mentor All rights reserved.
This week’s challenge is inspired by Sue Wylie, legal assistant for law firm Robinson, Reagan, and Young based in Nashville, Tennessee.
Last week Sue emailed me with a challenge that she is currently working on called Good Read’s 104 Challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to encourage people to read 104 books in 52 weeks, or in other words, two books each week, and from the sounds of it, Sue is off to a great start.
Personally, I try to read three books each quarter (one fiction, one biography, and one business-related book) and at times I struggle with keeping that commitment. I have to admit, Sue’s determination to complete this challenge is impressive and inspiring and to be honest, I am not sure that I could complete the challenge.
Some statistics that are floating around cyberspace indicate that reading even one book a year would be a daunting challenge for many people. Check out these stats posted on HumorWriters.org:
I’m not certain how scientific these statistics are, however, my gut tells me that they are in line with what I observe in the world around me. Reading, for many, it seems, has become a necessary evil — we only do it when we absolutely have to.
However, there are many benefits that reading presents. In his post The 26 Major Advantages of Reading More Books and Why 3 in 4 People Are Being Shut Out of Success, author Brad Isaac gives the following benefits (You’ll have to click through for the details):
I’d say there are plenty of reasons why reading a good book – or 104 good books – is a good idea. Brad also points out that:
Brian Tracy has said one way to become an expert in your chosen field is to read 100 books on the subject. He also said by continuing the same for 5 years you’ll become an international expert. With the Internet and blogs, you could hone that time down to 2-3 years if you follow through.”
Many of us have upward career goals and using books to improve our skills seems like a natural fit.
Maybe you disagree with Brad and Brian, but certainly you wouldn’t disagree with Dr. Seuss, would you? As the good doctor stated:
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
This week, you get to pick your challenge:
Enjoy a good book!
Gary Jensen
Editor | collector mentor
To download companion worksheets to use with The collector mentor Challenge, please visit www.collectormentor.com/thechallenge.
© 2011 collector mentor All rights reserved.
A couple of weeks ago my son and I had the opportunity to attend a local youth basketball game. Although my son doesn’t play on the team, several of his friends do, including his best friend who happened to stop by prior to tip off to visit with us in the bleachers. My son asked him if he thought his team would win. Surprisingly, his answer was no, followed by an are-you-kidding type of laugh.
Puzzled by the response, I asked why he was throwing in the towel before the game even started. His response, “We’ve only won one game all year and these kids are undefeated.” Recognizing an opportunity to share a life lesson with him and my son, I proceeded to give the Henry Ford, “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re usually right,” spiel.
This dilemma – expecting failure – can be all too real for the everyday collector who often has to hear no upwards of 10 times just to hear yes once. With so much defeat, it can be easy to get caught in the trap of expecting failure on every call, and it can be even easier to allow negative self-talk to unintentionally influence negotiations.
I’ve often seen collectors give up before they’ve even placed the call. Sometimes this is because the previous collector was unsuccessful on the account or because the collector takes the rejection from the last call into the next call.
Self-talk is negative. Attitude is negative. Expectations are negative. None of which are ideal for a collector with hopes of achieving payment.
As Thomas Jefferson so wisely stated:
Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; and nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”
February is International Expect Success Month, which was created by Karla Brandau. And the challenge this week is to honor the mantra:
Expect Success, then work like there is no other option.”
Remember, every collector has had an unsuccessful call that has resulted in non-payment; however, the most successful collectors brush these failures off and move on the next call with the expectation of receiving payment in full, today, with a check over the phone.
It can be difficult to shift perspective from “I can’t do it,” to “I think I can,” to “I know I can!” It certainly was for my son’s friend. However, learning to expect a positive outcome is important for collecting successfully (and winning basketball games).
Expect success!
Gary Jensen
Editor | collector mentor
To download companion worksheets to use with The collector mentor Challenge, please visit www.collectormentor.com/thechallenge.
© 2011 collector mentor All rights reserved.
This week marks the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. As one of history’s most dedicated civil rights activists, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. changed lives for millions of Americans and his legacy continues to make a difference even today.
In honor of the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Corporation for National & Community Service launched the MLK 25 Challenge, which is,
A call to all Americans to honor Dr. King by pledging to take at least 25 actions during 2011 to make a difference for others and strengthen our communities.”
Dr. King once remarked,
Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
Your challenge this week is to commit to taking part in the MLK 25 Challenge. Use your own ideas or complete some of the 75 ideas posted on the MLK 25 Challenge, website.
Here are a few ways you can serve:
To spice things up, you might consider completing the challenge with a team of coworkers, with your spouse/family, or with friends. In fact, you can even order free promotional materials online to assist you in planning your event.
What will you do for others?
Gary Jensen
Editor | collector mentor
To download companion worksheets to use with The collector mentor Challenge, please visit www.collectormentor.com/thechallenge.
© 2011 collector mentor All rights reserved.
Moving up in the world is not as easy as it used to be. Gone are the days when an employee could be promoted simply by showing up and putting in their time. Nowadays, tenure alone will not get employees to the next level. Instead, those with plans of onward and upward growth must learn to mirror the habits of top performers, while also taking a sincere interest in the expectations of their manager.
When your manager sees you, talks to you, and reviews your body of work, does he or she see a budding professional who can accept added responsibilities? If not, your potential for upward growth will be limited. There are dozens of “peels” that can cause a career slip-up, but the three highlighted below are at the forefront for many managers.
PEEL #1 | UNRELIABLE ATTENDANCE
Employees who cannot get to work when scheduled create the impression that they are not good with time management. As employees seek positions with increased responsibilities, deadlines and punctuality become increasingly important. There are times when life happens, and calling in ill may be unavoidable, however, employees can set themselves apart by toughing it out and being the person who can get to work when the snow starts to fall. Business strategy hinges on good attendance, and managers want to know whom they can count on.
PEEL #2 | AVOIDING GOALS
Goals move business forward and companies need goal setters at every level. You can help your career grow by setting goals on a regular basis and sharing those goals with your manager. Go above and beyond the traditional month-to-month collection goals, and set goals that allow you to grow and develop professionally. By setting goals, you send the message that you are committed to continuous improvement and that you pay attention to results.
PEEL #3 | MIXING PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
Most managers would agree that employees who share too much of their personal life in the workplace present additional challenges for the company. Surely, we have all seen employees who gossip and who share stories about their wild weekend, even going so far as to cruise the aisles and distract fellow co-workers. Employees must be careful to represent themselves well while on the clock. Don’t be the employee who texts while talking to customers, clogs up the email system with personal emails and crude jokes, or who uses the phone system to place long distance phone calls. These behaviors put managers on alert.
Employees should be aware of how their behavior affects their long-term career aspirations. By learning to avoid these three peels, you will create a competitive advantage for You, Inc., and, in doing so, prevent a possible career-ending slip and fall.
On New Years Eve, as my wife and I were passing the time until midnight, we came across a documentary on TV about David Blaine. Blaine, a well-known magician who many people equate to a modern day Harry Houdini, not only pushes a card deck to its limits, but also his own body and mind by completing death-defying endurance challenges that many people–including doctors–say are impossible.
Here are a few of Blain’s most notable feats:
Frozen in Time – Encased in ice for nearly 64 straight hours.
Vertigo – Stood on a 100ft high pillar for 35 straight hours.
Above the Below– Spent 44 days in a in a 3ft wide, 7 ft tall, and 7ft long plexiglass case surviving on only water.
Drowned Alive – Submerged for seven days and seven nights in a water-filled glass sphere.
Guinness World Record – Held his breath under water for over 17 minutes.
Clearly, Blaine loves to test people’s theories of impossibility while using himself as a guinea pig, and he has shown that with proper training, a strong desire to achieve our goals, and an appropriate mindset, that we can achieve things that people, including ourselves, never dreamed possible. In fact, Blaine once remarked,
In truth, the only restrictions on our capacity to astonish ourselves and each other are imposed by our own minds.”
Now, I don’t know about you, but my mind loves to get the best of me, especially when I’m chasing after a big dream.
Being that we just rang in the New Year, many people are focusing on a resolution to shed weight, stop smoking, save money, spend more time with family, and the like. And, while many people will be successful, many others will not. Sorry, I don’t mean to be Mr. Negative, but that’s simply the truth. The challenges become too painful, and the commitment proves to be too much. Our mind imposes restrictions. We struggle. We give up. We stop believing in ourselves.
However, this week your challenge is to proactively prepare yourself for those moments when your mind tells you that it is okay to reach for a cigarette, splurge on that shopping spree, or slip in a few more hours of work instead of spending time with the family. You can find inspiration by reviewing Blaine’s accomplishments and reflecting on his drive, determination, and desire to make the naysayers eat their words. Then, tuck those lessons away in the back of your mind for safekeeping, and when you are ready to give up on your goal, think about Blaine hanging in a 3x7x7 box for 44 days surviving on only water and dig deep to know that you, too, can make the impossible, possible. You just have to believe in your own personal magic, because as Blaine also points out,
We are all capable of infinitely more than we believe.”
To hear Blaine share his personal story, you can watch his talk at TED here:
Have a great week!
Gary Jensen
Editor | collector mentor
To download companion worksheets to use with The collector mentor Challenge, please visit www.collectormentor.com/thechallenge.
© 2011 collector mentor All rights reserved.
Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the death of legendary business philosopher, motivational speaker, and personal development guru Jim Rohn. According to his official website, Rohn “shared his message with more than 6,000 audiences and over 5 million people from all over the world.” Rohn is highly regarded as one of the most successful personal development seminar leaders in history, which isn’t too bad considering he dropped out of college after only one year and had collectors calling him at the age of 25.
So what happened? How did this Idaho farm boy go from having nothing in the bank in his mid-20s to becoming a millionaire in his early 30s?
Simple. He choose to become more valuable.
In his book, The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle, Rohn outlines five factors that he used to approach success: Philosophy, Attitude, Activity, Results, and Lifestyle. According to Rohn:
It is our personal philosophy that establishes our individual attitude. It is our attitude that determines both the quantity and the quality of our level of activity. That activity produces a final and proportionate result, and the result provides the lifestyle that we live.”
With Rohn, everything started with personal philosophy:
For this week’s challenge, take a moment to reflect on your career philosophy, and try to identify at least three ways that you can become more valuable to the marketplace within the next 90 days. If you didn’t complete last week’s challenge, I suggest starting there.
For additional inspiration and ideas you might check out these Rohn quotes:
Be about it!
Gary Jensen
Editor | collector mentor
To download companion worksheets to use with The collector mentor Challenge, please visit www.collectormentor.com/thechallenge.
© 2010 collector mentor All rights reserved.
