Tag: Work

Don’t Bother

“If you’re not going to come into the office on Thanksgiving Day, don’t even bother coming in on Christmas day”, the overworked, underpaid leader stated to the others on her team.

The Beatles got it right, didn’t they – “Eight Days A Week”.

This is a good time to be working harder than you ever have before.  I know firsthand, and some think I’m crazy, but I work seven days a week. And have for a long time.

Ain’t braggin’.  Just stating the facts.  And sometimes I wish the week had eight days. But mostly, an extra day just to sleep.

Hope you have an extraordinary week of hard work. We reap what we sow. This is the time to be out-working your competition. When others are ready to give up, it’ll be your opportunity to shine.

Fortune Favors The Brave

Fortune favors the brave.  It does indeed.  But what does that mean, “favors you“?  Or what does it mean, “brave“?

This sounds pretty inspiring, yet how do we apply it or gauge whether we are brave?  Try this on for size.

I believe if everyone likes you, you are not brave enough.  Courage implies risk. And risk implies challenging the status quo. Generally, people do not like being challenged.

This also applies to us when we look in the mirror.  I am often tempted to not  challenge myself to do more, do better, do differently.

Why?

Because it’s too much work, too much risk, too much uncertainty. Isn’t it?  Ever find yourself thinking like this?  Good.

Most people intuitively understand that hard work pays off, that uncertainty is part of life, that risk is a key ingredient for continuous improvement and that fortune favors the brave.

Noel’s Tree Service & the Hidden Disney Secret?

Noel’s Tree Service, and the hidden Disney secret?

Not exactly.

Last night I spoke with Noel (his first name and my last name – what are the odds) about trimming my palm trees, an annual event that I’ve done myself for the past 17 years.  We have about 30 sabal palms, the Florida State tree.

He can’t come out today to give me an estimate.  Bummer, right?  He’s got a fishing tournament.  Once every month, men from his Church go bass fishing.

I think it’s great that:

  1. He has a sense of community
  2. Has his own business
  3. Is so busy during these turbulent times
  4. Commits to time away from work to recharge
  5. He called me back at 7PM on a Friday night

An hour before I spoke with Noel, I spoke with my car mechanic, or should I say car magician, Randy.

Randy also has an interest in fishing.  Small world, eh?

Noel will be on a Central Florida lake.  Randy goes deep sea fishing.

Well, Randy doesn’t actually go fishing, he goes catching.

BIG difference.

The language difference that Noel and Randy use “to do the same thing”, makes all the difference in the world.

Same at Disney.  Same for me.

And while you may not realize it, it’s the same for you.  The question then becomes, “Are you maximizing your language to have a great personal and professional culture”?

Words must be leveraged to be great.

Let me say that one more time – must be leveraged.

You don’t have to leverage your language to become world-class; however, your chances of ever becoming world-class pale in comparison to those that harness this simple business strategy.

The choice is yours.  Always has been.  Always will be.  Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂

Disney, Branding, Disney?

Disney, Branding, Disney?

Personal branding is something we are all aware of, right?  Just like personal wellness is something we are all aware of.  Are you with me?

OK, so we know these things, but the people who actually get great results, versus good results, are those that work the hardest.

Seriously, it’s what we all know to be true, but hate to admit.

Why, because hard work is, well, hard.

Here’s a case in point from my early morning drive to work this past Friday.

Like Tiger told me a year ago, “Out work ’em”!

Words to live by, but only if you want to get great results.

If great results are not part of your responsibilities, then I would just enjoy this post for what it is.

A personal opinion expressed by someone brought up in a culture where getting great results is a personal brand.

Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂

jeff noel + blog =?

Hey, business blogs and professional networking are occupying a big part of my dreaming capacity these days.    How is it with you?   The dreaming part.

To me, dreaming is synonymous with vision, in my opinion.

How important is vision?  What is your vision each and every day.  This can be challenging to answer.

Why?

Because we often don’t think about it.  Why?  Because we are so busy trying to accomplish what’s directly in front of us.  Am I wrong?

Wanted to add a quick post  to share a vision that business blogs and social networking will someday soon be an energizing force to help make the world a better place.  I can feel it in my bones.

What are you passionate about?  What do you dream about?  Who needs to be involved?  How long do you have?

When do you find time to think of questions like these, let alone answer them?

I’m challenging myself to work harder and smarter than ever.  I hope you do what feels right for you, and for your organization.

To me, it feels like the clock is ticking faster.  The competition, working harder.  Carpe diem, jungle jeff noel  🙂