“Because He Said He Would”

It was an important gathering a few years ago, and one of the main people wasn’t there shortly before the agreed time. Some of the group began to speculate if he was going to show up. Some said, "Probably." Others didn't think so. Then someone announced: "He'll be here."

Someone else asked: "How do you know that?"

"Because he said he would – Not only that… he’ll be on time!"

That was that, and the conversation shifted to other matters. The meeting was set to begin at 1:00 and at 12:57 there was still no sign of him. Then at 12:58 in he walked – reliable as ever.

How valuable it is in life and business for others to trust what you say and feel comfortable depending upon you.

100% trust is priceless.

Yet many people ask “How does one develop that kind of trust”?
It’s simple…. you do what you say you will do.

You don't have to advertise it. Others will just figure it out.

What’s more, it’s so uncommon these days that you’ll stand out like a shining beacon.

Start building that trust in little ways. Lots of them! They all add up to GREAT effect.

If you are NOT reliable and trustworthy, do you think your friends will trust you?
If you are NOT reliable and trustworthy, do you think people will pass you referrals?

If you DON’T follow through on the simple things, why would anyone trust you with more important matters?

Build trust and confidence at every opportunity so that people always rely on you to do something…"because you said you would!"

Have a great week!

Anthony

The Bookends of Success

Formula 1 drivers know the importance of starting well.

Before a race even begins, they compete with one another to gain the best starting position. However, they also know that starting well is meaningless if you’re not in front at the checkered flag.
Here are the bookends of Success: START STRONG…FINISH STRONG
Have you ever noticed how the way your day starts…tends to dictate the rest of the day?
So, ask yourself today: "How will I start strong?”
What about the end of the day?
Set aside time in the evening for family, relaxation, a review of ‘today’ and a preview of how to start ‘tomorrow’. This helps you gain control and focus in your life.
Viewing your life in 24-hour increments places a premium on each day. Make each one a masterpiece. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is out of reach. That's why today matters. People who value each day know the importance of starting strong and finishing strong.
Master the bookends of success and you’ll position yourself to make an impact every day. Treat every day as your own Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Here’s to your future success!

Anthony

"I am so sorry that I am so poor"

I once attended a breakfast where George Alagiah spoke in his capacity as envoy to the movement for “Fair Trade”.

He told a story about when he was reporting from a war-torn part of the world and he met a woman called Fatima in a remote village, who made this apology:

“I am so sorry that I am so poor”

Can you imagine that?

Here was a woman with such humility that she would actually apologise for being poor.

How does that reflect on all of us living in comparative comfort and safety?

Who are we NOT to make the most of our own lives?
Who are we NOT to make our businesses as successful as they can be? Who are we NOT to become as SUCCESSFUL as we possibly can?

BECAUSE, when we do, when we are all THE BEST we can be, when we are all as SUCCESSFUL as we can be, THEN, we’ll be able to do so much more to help people like Fatima, the woman who was so sorry that she was so poor.

This week, whenever you slacken in an important endeavour …whenever you start to give up too early…whenever you under-perform…whenever you fail to grasp the nettle of success, remember Fatima. THEN, make a commitment to be the BEST YOU CAN BE.

We all owe it to her.

Anthony

By Popular Demand... New Olympic sport added!

Blindfold Archery

I was reading about the preparations for the Olympics this week relating to Archery.

It got me thinking...imagine Archery being conducted with the competitors wearing BLINDFOLDS. How DANGEROUS and pointless would that be!

Think of all those arrows being shot aimlessly into the air. No-one would even know where they hit the target.

How many Archers wear blindfolds?
The answer is, of course, NONE of them!

It would be almost impossible for them to hit the target if they didn’t know where it was.

To be successful, you must know precisely what and where your target is.

Yet, in Business (and Life, too) have you noticed how many people have only a vague idea of what they want to hit.

Are YOU one of those people?

If there was a sport of Blindfold Archery in the London 2012 Olympics, would you be one the favourites?

If you look very closely at the Archery target, you’ll see a small dot in the middle of the bullseye. They call that the “perfect 10”. That’s precisely what they aim at.

How clear are YOU about what you’re aiming at in your Business and in your Life?

Or are you competing in “Blindfold Archery”, just hoping for a million to one shot?

Even the Olympic Gold medalists rarely hit the dot of the perfect 10.
Yet their arrows often still scored 10 – and they hit GOLD!

What are YOUR “perfect 10” targets – the dots that you focus on, that allow you to score a maximum 10, even when you just miss?

To give yourself every chance of success in your own ‘Archery’ compeition:

• KNOW PRECISELY WHAT YOU WANT TO HIT.
• FOCUS on it and TAKE AIM BEFORE releasing your arrows!

Here’s to targeted success in your Business

Anthony