can you swim for it?....

July 29th has arrived.

Last week, my only mission was to make sure that everything ( that I can control) is off the plate BY July 29th.  Of course, that list included a few items that I have been putting off for quite some time... and for good reason.

-Porch restoration
-Screen replacements
-Garage door
-Kitchen light
-Tenant storage cleanup
-New Lights in community area
-Repair of fan/light fixtures
-Car painting and body work
-Air bag replacement
-Bee control

Fortunately, the list was completed (for now).  And the sole reason was because of today.

When starting a business, every list that we put together, they become less of "to do" lists...and more of "stepping stones."   Each item that you cross out, will show you how much closer you are to the vision.

You see, I believe early on in the entrepreneur's life, he/she works 10 times harder, but earns 10 times less than his peers.     And this is rightfully so.  It is the price to pay in order to make your own path in life.

Once the path/vision is complete, life will balance everything out.


But, along the way, an entrepreneur will have chances to test himself against those that have not seen the other side of life and what it truly takes to survive.

Today is one of those days.

Just another thing on the list and an essential step we must take.


Everyone has a vision.  The question is: do you have what it takes to swim for it?

guest blog..

  Although I am away from the office this week preparing for July 29th ( a new chapter and another level), I still wanted to update you with a guest blog from John Donovan.

Enjoy! 

 A Line in the Sand

"I listened to a portion of a Rich Roll podcast today while on a jog. His coach said the simplest, inexpensive, most underestimated way to make progress and get better AT ANYTHING is establishing a baseline. "The Only Way to Move Forward is to Have a Line in the Sand".

"Where are you starting from?" is vital in deciding how you are getting to there AND how long its going to take to get there. And the more clear that starting point is, the more direct the route is.

When we are developing our software, our branding, our culture, GoNextWorld is passionate on establishing a baseline.  In the case of our Rewards software, WE draw a line in the sand for restaurants using it. They gain a brand-new, vivid perspective for their customer base. AFTER UNDERSTANDING THIS, its much easier to move forward. They know who to market to, what specials bring people back, etc.  

The more they understand about where they stand, the more informed decisions they can make, and the more progress they have.

We've become slightly obsessed with this mentality. We know that it is transferrable to way more than just jogging or customer tracking for restaurants.

- Establish a baseline
- Set Your Goal
- Track Your Progress and Adjust

It sounds simple... because it is. Just #HitYourMark"

29...

I turn 29 years old on August 10th.  That gives me one year to finish a few of the items on the "Must do before I'm 30 list".

But, I also have a "Must Finish before July 29th list" that comes first.  You see, July 29th will be another chapter all together for GoNextWorld.  It will be the beginning of another revenue stream, and a life changer for us. 

On that list, is an item I have been putting off for years - to restore my porch.  Come August, I may not have the time.  Yesterday morning, I finally began taking the first steps to cross this one off.  Its not only a project that takes time and money... but a lot of patience and aggravation.  The question is: When are you ready to put yourself through it?

Without a time frame and a deadline, it will never get done.  My deadline is July 29th.

Once its done, the outcome will be one more thing off the list AND it will be stronger than its ever been.



When are you ready to put yourself through the hell in order to cross an item off the list? Whats your deadline?

Just like the porch, the outcome will be the same.

don't fall...

Last week, a major storm blew through Pittsburgh.  Unfortunately, it pushed a tree onto the roof of my rental property.

Rather than hire a "professional" and pay them $4,000, I figured to do it myself.

At midnight, the night before I drove by and figured out how it was going to be done.  You see, not only is it 3 stories high, with a very steep roof, but there are 3 sets of of power lines below the tree.  A controlled demolition was required. 

Standing there, late at night/ early in the morning (depending on who you ask), I knew it was going to be tough.  But, I didn't know how tough it would actually be.

Speaking of which, the first thing I noticed when I climbed to the top holding a 15ft chainsaw extension, was a bowling ball-sized bees nest right where I would need to stand.  It was just one more obstacle that I did not need added to my plate.

Wearing a leather jacket, dressed like a storm-trooper, cutting trees and fighting bees...trying not to fall or be electrocuted.  It was one of the most dangerous jobs I ever did.

After a few days of incessant battles, I was able to accomplish the mission for all less than $100.

 I used to be deadly afraid of heights.  I used to be afraid of making a mistake. I used to think being risky meant investing in a certain kind of stock or mutual fund.

Then we started a business...


Just when you think its going to tough, the world will add one more thing to your plate.  Can you handle it?

Don't fall.

 

focus on the end...

Inner battles.  We all have them.  And we always will.   

Especially, when you come across something that this world has never offered to you before.  It can be very exciting, but it requires the ability to not lose focus.

Some things will blind you, like money and opportunity.  This is when you can't listen to anyone or anything else and just trust what you have learned on your own.  

The only question you should ask yourself is: "What is the end goal?"  and only you know that answer.
That answer alone will allow you to forget the very small day to day battles that really dont mean anything in the end.

You see, when the "nothing to lose" mentality is what gets you to that next level, it's important not to change. 
It's just validation from the world that what you are doing is working.

The way I see it... You should always save the last dance for the one that brought ya.

and playing the game with nothing to lose is just another way to keep the dance going.

Just focus on the end.

Weekly Progress Tweet for @Petco -Mcknight Rd Total Visits (punch-ins):5 Unique Customers:3 New: 3 Repeat:0 http://t.co/uoFqkv4GN6
— GoNextWorld (@GoNextWorld) July 11, 2013

whats your reward?...

I believe in incentives.

If you do something better, go further, think smarter, accomplish more, or work faster than the others, then there should be a reward.

When you you put yourself through hell, there should be something(out of the ordinary) that is waiting for you on the other side.  That "reward" may be different to everyone.

That reward may be to:
drive the wicked car, build something that lasts, go on that amazing vacation at the end of year, get the girl,  treat yourself to a damn good meal, do what they want on the weekends, or just to go home after a long day to see their pup wag their tale. 


Yesterday, I told Alexandra, our phone sales rep, "If you hit your mark of X amount of successful phone calls, I will turn on the air conditioner for ya."


Everyone needs an incentive.

What's your reward?

the sound of what is to come...

Step 1 of 10 is complete......

la oia es mia...

Many nights, when others were sleeping to the sounds of rain, I was out moving garbage til 2am.  Not because I wanted to, but because I had to.

The ability to put my mind somewhere else was put to the test. 
 Smelling week-old trash, the feeling of maggots crawling on my skin, the touching of god- knows- what with your bare hands. Its all very tough to forget.  But I feel that somethings should not ever be forgotten.    

You see, if you ask an entrepreneur why he does something, the answer will have to do with one of two things(or both) : money and time.  A company's survival all comes down to money and time.

In order to survive through those dark and rainy garbage nights, there must be a certain type of drive.. a certain type of hunger that is very rare.  This is what separates the Richard Branson's from all the people that start a business just because they hate their 9-5 job.  It has to be for more.

The trick, I feel, is to NEVER LOSE THAT HUNGER when a small amount of success does start to happen.   

Tomorrow, Alexandra, our inside sales rep, will begin reaching out to some big name companies for the first time.

No matter what happens, we must never forget garbage night.

can't stop this fire...

Yesterday, I watched a documentary on the history of the United States.  It talked all about Revolutionary War and how the rebels were truly outnumbered by the the British, which at that point, the British were the strongest and largest force ever assembled.  The rebels had no formal training and were very limited on resources. So, how did they still win?

Well, as one of the historians put it, the rebels won because of one major difference:

The British were fighting for their king... the rebels were fighting for their lives and their family's lives.

Of course, that mentality difference was only the fire starter that united the rebels.  The formal training, planning, and expertise on how to defeat the enemy came from their leader, Washington. 

But it all started with the want and the need to survive.



I still think this mentality is the difference between the levels of success nowadays.

Some people go to work for a paycheck....  Some people go to work to fight for the life that they want.

Which side are you on?

before the fireworks begin...

Tomorrow is the 4th of July; one of my favorite holidays.

To me, it is the definition of summer.  You know, cooking outside, a reminder of freedom, and the anticipation of something to arrive.

 At 9:35pm, you have a good idea what everyone is doing... watching the fireworks.  For roughly 30 minutes, everyone puts down their to-do lists and they just sit and watch.  Sort of like the scene in "Sandlot".


The crazier life gets, the more valuable those "just sit and watch" times become. 


The more you take on, the more you test yourself.  The question is: "Can you do what you want in life, make sure the thousands of little pieces of your puzzle somehow fit together, and pull it all off in time before the fireworks begin?"


All of those small pieces of the daily puzzle that may look like:
Making sure the groceries are bought, the trash is taken out, the bills are paid, the morale is up, there is gas in the car, the laundry is done, the job is completed, the phone calls are made, the dog is comfortable, the bed is made, the dishes are removed from the dishwasher, you make it to the 3 meetings that day on time, the food is cooked, you have milk and eggs for the next morning, the must-send emails/faxes/ are sent, you fix the door and sink, you got your daily exercise in, you got tires for the car, you deposited the check in time, the dog got his walk in for the day, the dog has been checked for ticks after being in the woods, the quarterly statements are done, the pots and pans are not laying in the sink, the rug is vacuumed, the sink doesnt have toothpaste in it, the screen door is shut tight, the hornets nest has been sprayed, you know what needs done for tomorrow, you got your hair cut, you picked up deodorant and toothpaste from the store, you asked her out, you figured out what day you might be free next week, you were there to sign for the package from UPS delivery, you make it home in time for your father's birthday, etc.


But at 9:35 tomorrow night, everything stops and you just sit and watch.


Can you pull it all off in time?

The fireworks wont stop if you do...

all i know is what i know...

Like I said in a previous blog, an opportunity came across our table recently.  Something we couldn't pass up.  In order to be eligible, they required a few tests.

One of which, was a personality test.

If you never had the pleasure of a personality test, it is a series of questions regarding different scenarios.  The test seems to ask the same question in many different ways in order to gauge the accuracy and honesty of your answers.

To be honest, in school, I never was a good test taker.  I learned that some of the best test takers back in school, didn't know how to change a tire on a car.  So, for that reason, I never gave the SATs and CAT tests much merit. 

However, the personality test was a little different.  It was testing you to see how well you know yourself.  Instead of asking: "how fast the train will be if Adrian leaves on a tuesday with the windspeed at 47 mph in your direction" (Well, they asked that on the other tests that day)... they asked one question that I feel is a pretty damn good question to ask anyone.

The question was :  At this very moment, what phrase best describes your life?  Which of the 10 following stages would you consider the most accurate?"  Well, I cant remember all of the answers, but there was one that stood above the rest....


But, think about that question for a moment.  If you asked someone that and they gave you a true and honest answer, you can learn a helluva lot from them.

Whether its for an investment, a job, a friend, or a relationship, that is sort of the ultimate question isnt it?

Depending on the answer, you could determine if that person is a good fit to your puzzle or not... and how well they know themselves.

At this very moment, what phrase best describes your life?