The Entreprenologist
Conway Daily Sun, January 25, By Michael Kline
It’s the most exciting time of the year once again. Only seven shopping days left until Ground Hog day. I know your busy planning your menus, decorating your house and sending out Ground Hog day cards, but I want you to take just a moment to consider what the big holiday really means.
Throughout history, we have looked for clues about our future. We look to the stars, to the seasons, soothsayers, fortune tellers, wooly caterpillars and ground hogs to help us predict what is about to happen to us. If this is beginning to sound silly, consider the fact that today, we’ve gone really crazy and started listening to cable news channels! If we accept that it is our nature to worry about the future, what is a sensible person to do?
You are your own best prognosticator. (Well maybe second only to Punxsutawny Phil). I argue that the best way to predict the future is to create it yourself. Let’s not worry about pessimists saying the economy is going to be slow for another year or five. Let’s make our own economy better! When you take a proactive stance, assume responsibility for your own future and take action, you can change anything you want in your life. From cooking skills to diet to business and relationships, you are in charge. So what are you going to do about it?!
This is mostly (sometimes) a business column, so let’s talk work-related ideas. Ask yourself what you can do with the resources you already have. Turn off the news and spend an hour listing all the little talents, creativity, friends, contacts, and ideas you have available to you. Perhaps you had ideas a few years ago that you dismissed; today might be a great day to revitalize them. In challenging times, old ideas might more sense than they did a few years ago. There are more people in the market for new ideas, better ideas, new ways to feel better, new ways to save money, and even better ways to spend money. Not everyone is looking to spend less, but almost everyone is looking to spend more carefully and more wisely. Perhaps you could help. Next, it’s time to do some math. Calculate what it takes to make a return on your ideas. What would it take and what would be the return if you could you increase productivity, save money, improve cash flow, or make more sales? Stop telling me you need someone to lend you money – you really don’t. Using only what financial or creative resources you already have available to you, write down things you can do to start in the right direction. Get going, take action, do research, go meet people that could help, and the right people and resources start to show up in the most unexpected places.
The most important action you can take to improve your own economy is to accept that it is your personal responsibility. Please understand, I’m not using “personal responsibility” as political code words for abolishing assistance programs; I’m just saying that chances are, if you have the ability to get and read this paper, you have the power to do something to positively influence your future.
Happy Ground hog day, and may your next six weeks be filled with creative planning, excited implementation of new ideas and encouraging results. If not, spring will arrive eventually anyway.
Michael Kline is a local retailer, success coach and trainer. He may be reached through his website, www.klineseminars.com, or e-mail, mike@klineseminars.com.
Conway Daily Sun, January 25, By Michael Kline
It’s the most exciting time of the year once again. Only seven shopping days left until Ground Hog day. I know your busy planning your menus, decorating your house and sending out Ground Hog day cards, but I want you to take just a moment to consider what the big holiday really means.
Throughout history, we have looked for clues about our future. We look to the stars, to the seasons, soothsayers, fortune tellers, wooly caterpillars and ground hogs to help us predict what is about to happen to us. If this is beginning to sound silly, consider the fact that today, we’ve gone really crazy and started listening to cable news channels! If we accept that it is our nature to worry about the future, what is a sensible person to do?
You are your own best prognosticator. (Well maybe second only to Punxsutawny Phil). I argue that the best way to predict the future is to create it yourself. Let’s not worry about pessimists saying the economy is going to be slow for another year or five. Let’s make our own economy better! When you take a proactive stance, assume responsibility for your own future and take action, you can change anything you want in your life. From cooking skills to diet to business and relationships, you are in charge. So what are you going to do about it?!
This is mostly (sometimes) a business column, so let’s talk work-related ideas. Ask yourself what you can do with the resources you already have. Turn off the news and spend an hour listing all the little talents, creativity, friends, contacts, and ideas you have available to you. Perhaps you had ideas a few years ago that you dismissed; today might be a great day to revitalize them. In challenging times, old ideas might more sense than they did a few years ago. There are more people in the market for new ideas, better ideas, new ways to feel better, new ways to save money, and even better ways to spend money. Not everyone is looking to spend less, but almost everyone is looking to spend more carefully and more wisely. Perhaps you could help. Next, it’s time to do some math. Calculate what it takes to make a return on your ideas. What would it take and what would be the return if you could you increase productivity, save money, improve cash flow, or make more sales? Stop telling me you need someone to lend you money – you really don’t. Using only what financial or creative resources you already have available to you, write down things you can do to start in the right direction. Get going, take action, do research, go meet people that could help, and the right people and resources start to show up in the most unexpected places.
The most important action you can take to improve your own economy is to accept that it is your personal responsibility. Please understand, I’m not using “personal responsibility” as political code words for abolishing assistance programs; I’m just saying that chances are, if you have the ability to get and read this paper, you have the power to do something to positively influence your future.
Happy Ground hog day, and may your next six weeks be filled with creative planning, excited implementation of new ideas and encouraging results. If not, spring will arrive eventually anyway.
Michael Kline is a local retailer, success coach and trainer. He may be reached through his website, www.klineseminars.com, or e-mail, mike@klineseminars.com.
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