Strike the Match

Time to Take the Plunge?

If your extraordinary life involves having your own business, right now might be the opportune take the plunge.  Two great reasons:

1.)  Everyone else is too scared
2.)  Any current competition is being conservative

My pick would be a flexible business with LOW to NO overhead.  It would provide a great position to run circles around the competition.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Travel Light

Check out One Bag for some great tips on traveling light.

Keeping things simple lets you focus on the purpose of trip instead of the stuff you brought along. 

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

McLife

McDonald's is a success because people are afraid of the unknown. People know McDonald's won't be the best meal of their life, but it also won't be the worst. So they choose the Golden Arches over the local rib joint down the street.

Everyday millions of people make the same choice with their life that they do with their food. They choose the ordinary over the extraordinary.

Why not at least sample a couple alternatives? I'm pretty sure the McLife will still be on the menu if you decide it's your favorite option.

Strike the Match. Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

A Friend's Insight

As the saying goes, it's often hard to see the forest from the trees. That's especially true when you're trying to decide where to focus your professional efforts.

Why not ask those who know you best? Perhaps a friend will be able to add a couple ideas you never considered.

Strike the Match. Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

More Than Money

"The relentless pursuit of wealth may fill your bank account, but it will leave you empty as a human being."

What a great line from a great post by Bill Taylor.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Roadmap to Becoming An Expert

You want to be an expert but you're not sure how to get there.

Start by creating an "expert" resume.  Outline where an expert would have worked, what positions they would have held and what they would have accomplished.  Add any degrees or certifications an expert should have and top it off with any associations they would join. 

There's your roadmap, go get it.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Take It From Socrates....

"An unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates

Are you getting the hint?  Self-reflection is important.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Your Right Direction

The speed of life is constantly increasing. Consequently, we make more and more decisions in less and less time.

This time crunch leads us to look for ways to "short-cut" our decision process. We listen for recommendations or popular decisions and then follow the crowd.

Buying Vlassic pickels on a friends recommendation is probably ok, deciding to pursue a MBA based on a friends recommendation is not.

Take time out of the race for self reflection. Make sure you're going in your right direction.

Strike the Match. Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Thoughts on Art

Art has been twisted into being about dollars and museums.

Art is really about what speaks to you. If you love it, whatever it is, that's enough.

Strike the Match. Take Action, Be Extraordinary

Passion AND Skills

When people look for a job they usually take one of two paths. They either focus on their passion or they focus on their skills.  If they're passionate about skiing they try to make a living skiing.  Or, if they're good at sales they try to make a living selling. 

Why not combine the two?  Make a list of your passions and make a list of your skills, then see if you can find an occupation that includes both.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.