In today’s Insight I discussed The Ty Cobb Turnaround.
- You learned that because your results are merely a byproduct of your actions, you cannot “commit” to a particular result. And in fact, taking this one step further, I recommend you don’t even set “goals” that involve results at all.
I know, this is complete blasphemy to the whole “goal-setting” and “think big” crowds, but I assure you, once you play with this idea for a little while, you’ll discover its power as well.
To apply this concept to your own life and your own business, you have two quick Action Items for today.
Your Business Creation Experiment:
Remember how when Ty Cobb wanted a new result (base hits he wasn’t getting) he ignored the result he wanted and instead focused on a simple action- hitting the ball hard straight back at the pitcher?
- In your own business, how can you apply this same concept? What’s one way you can “hit the ball back to the pitcher” rather than even attempting to get a base hit (”base hits” in your business being defined as making money from it)?
Perhaps instead of saying “How can I make some money today?” which would be akin to getting a hit; you instead focus on, “How can I identify place one Google PPC ad and get one click on it today?” which should cost you less than two bucks and would be equivalent to hitting the ball back to the pitcher.
If you don’t already have a Google AdWords account, your action may be “Open Google AdWords account today”. And if you aren’t doing PPC at all, choose a different area for the same application.
- Whatever you choose, post a comment below to share your choice, why you made it and what you learned from this exercise.
Your Lifestyle Creation Experiment:
You already know that one of our primary focuses in The 10-Day Turnaround is to help you create your Ideal LIFESTYLE, not just make money that requires you to exhaust yourself working all the time to keep earning it. Applying The Ty Cobb Turnaround to this concept leads us to the idea that we can start on that Ideal Lifestyle right now, today, without it requiring you to have any more pay to earn the right to enjoy your day.
Your Lifestyle Creation Experiment is to choose one small thing that will get you on the path toward the Lifestyle you want and give yourself permission to do it today.
If you are shy and want more friends or business contacts, introduce yourself to one stranger at Starbucks, the grocery store checkout line or wherever you are. If you wish you were funnier- learn one joke and tell it to one person. If you want to be more adventurous- eat one food you’ve ever eaten before; take a new route to or from work today; drink a different version of your normal coffee or latte. If you want to spend more time with your family- leave work an hour early and pick up your kids from school; take your family on a picnic tonight- even if it’s in your own back yard; or turn off your cell phone and enjoy a meal or a movie together with no distractions.
- The whole idea here is to 1) Do SOMETHING different today than you normally do, 2) View it as an “Experiment” so it doesn’t matter how it turns out - ie, there is no risk in doing it for you, 3) Enjoy it.
Some other ideas for you to consider:
- Cook a meal at home instead of going out to eat (Maybe even have your whole family each cook one course)
- Play “Iron Chef” (like the TV show) at home
- Read a novel for an hour before bed tonight, “just because” with no business reason for it
- Plant a flower or a tree
- Call your parents - or your kids- just to say hi
- Hand-write a personal letter
- Take a walk after dinner and enjoy the fresh air instead of depressing yourself watching network news
- Take the time to actually talk to a homeless person and learn their real story, give them the gift of being treated as an equal with dignity
At the end of the day…
- Share with a blog post here what you decided on for your Lifestyle Creation Experiment today and what the experience was like for you to give yourself permission to do it and to enjoy it.
Especially focus on how ideas like this allow you to increase the richness and quality of your lifestyle long before your income rises to the level you’d like it to be.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:36 am
Dear Jeff,
thanks for the chance to turn my business into a great sucess story.
My web page will be up and running soon.
Sincerly sabrina
September 24th, 2008 at 12:40 am
I met a lady who had car problems, she needed something at a store further away than walking distance. I volunteered to pick up the item for her. She was so grateful and it also made my good deed for the day.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Accept I cannot do everything. Some things will fall over the edge. Use what resources I already have. Only take on what I can manage.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:37 am
I was tired of being abused by my husband of 12 years and went to see a Counsellorlegal advisor. He advised me that I should throw him out of my home or sit back and accept this as my life. I only just got back home and waiting for the right time to talk to my husband because I will not accept this as my way of life anylonger. As soon as I am financial enough I will have the strength behind me.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:17 am
spoke with family today, and adked them for help. the response was overwhelming,as i do not usually let them know if i require any help.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Check your website and have the determination to improve it one day at a time doing something even very little.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Right on the money Jeff, Last night I received an email about
a 12 year old that is making good money, yep 12 years old,
using hyper vre with google ads and now that I have a few dollars
to work with I decided to give it a try. Its only $3. for 30 day trial and
you get 12 content rich ads for 12 different niches to work with.
I have never used this method before because I write all of my own
ads but I figured it would be worth a try. cheap enough anyway!
on my way to the top with your guidance Jeff , thanks
September 24th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I am just getting started in CMPS and need to focus on the process now instead of goal in order to get myself set up. This is a good lesson for me to hear today. There are many practice swings needed before I can send that ball flying toward the pitcher. If I strike out, I can get back in front of the ball as many times as I need in order to get to base.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Today I wasn’t in the mood to go to a brand-new entrepreneurial meetup group starting in my area. Although I had signed up to join the group, I was very nervous about attending because I knew everyone who would be there, already had a small business going. I don’t have a business yet but it’s my dream to have one. I was afraid I would look stupid and stick out as the only attendee who was a non-business owner.
I almost chickened out but after I read your post, I realized I had to go in spite of my fear and nervousness. So I went and it turned out to be the best thing I ever did! I got great ideas and energy just from being around like-minded entrepreneurs.
Your insight made me realize that we DO need to commit to the simple actions that move us forward toward our dreams every day!
September 24th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Good point today. I often get excited about starting a new venture. The end result is what I want. However, I always get tripped up along the way because I have trouble just hitting the ball back to the picture.
I get it now. I knew this before, but for some reason it eluded me.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:48 am
I’m determined to write at least one value added content page a day for my website no matter the time I close from my job and get some adverts and incoming links on it. No more procrastination. Explain my opportunity so that anyone who is interested can contact me
September 24th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Today I wasn’t even going to turn my computer on. Thank goodness I did.
If my results are the byproduct of my actions, then I’ve certainly got to take some action from today.
As I’ve got exams in less than 3 weeks and I want good results, then I’m going to have to increase my revision. That’s my action for today and the rest of the time I have. After that, I can step up my business activities with a clear conscience and renewed enthusiasm and not feel guilty for putting it all on the back boiler.
Jane.
September 24th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
My action plan is to find one new advertising venue today and place an ad. To spend 30 minutes enjoying my lunch - I will not answer the phone or the door, I will not listen to any educational cd’s or read my mail. And as I am writing this, the phone is ringing - that’s what answering machines are for.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Jay,
I will do something for you. Give you a tip. get your financial information together first before talking to your husband and telling him you want it over. I have been tied up for years. He is vindictive and wants the kids and all the money. He was rarely around. Everyone suffers. Do yourself a favor. Always have your paperwork. Diane
September 24th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I need to reduce wasting time on emails and start getting some work done.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
i now realise i have been bogged down by goal setting ,so its good to go with the flow and do ones best!
September 24th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
The one thing I am doing today is that a member was in who had lost her husband over the summer of 55 years. She was sharing with us about his tractor & how he used to bring her a bouquet of flowers in when he came back from being out on the tractor. So when she left, I had my assistant order her a bouquet of wildflowers. That is in line with my simple goal of relationship enhancement that I am focusing on - the little things that make life & business so sweet!
Personal note to Jay: sometimes “As soon as” never comes - sometimes that is just another excuse of doing something we know we should but don’t have the ability to carry through with it. Just like waiting until the right time to…..when is the RIGHT time??? I don’t know your personal situation, I am coming from my experience and being in a destructive personal relationship years ago & I had to realize that it really wasn’t him…it was me not being happy with myself so therefore I had created the circumstance that put myself in that situation. It wasn’t until I read Psycho-Cibernetics by Maxwell Maltz that I realized I needed to work on ME.
Hopefully that helps…Hugs to all!
September 24th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I am now just catching up with day 1 and reviewing day 2. I think it’s amazing how we tend to forget about the basics in both our personal lives and in business.
I will take some time to play with my son today. I often find myself tired after a long day at work and usually don’t have the energy to spend quaility time with him and he is growing so fast…
September 24th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
i,m confused already
September 24th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Picnic in the back yard, what a great idea I thought, family now thinks I am loosing my marbles for sure!
Awesome, Thank you.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I started my day with a walk on the beach just for 30 minutes. Something I don’t allow myself to do on a regular basis because I set myself too many tasks per day and never get through even half of them. Not that I don’t try, I’m just being unrealistic of what is practical in a days work. I resolve to take my dog for a walk 2-3 times per week - no excuses!
I also promise myself to make at least one phonecall for my business - not just hide behind my computer all day.
Eva
September 24th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Success like baseball, golf, or shooting a hoop (among many other thing in life) really boiles down to one thing, ” It’s all in the follow through…”
Free Quote a day
http://www.gainuniquewisdom.com
September 24th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
You have inspired me to look at each new day as just that - a new day. Anything that went wrong yesterday, or didn’t work yesterday, had a new beginning today. yesterday was not a good day for me, but i woke today with yesterday’s tip to start with a clean slate, and forget about yesterday. Today I made both my son and I a lunch to take to our jobs, so we didn’t have to spend money (which we didn’t have) and he was so appreciative. I thought I could spend a little effort doing something helpful for him but I didn’t expect how surprised he was and how much it meant to him.
I am also going to spend more time and add to my blogs on a regular basis. I had gotten frustrated and started to neglect my dedication to it and my business input. Thanks for inspiring me again. Your positive outlook is addictive!
September 24th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
It was a beautiful day and I walked to lunch as an “action” to be a more fit person.Usually I go farther by car. If I continue the action, walking to lunch, I’ll achieve the goal of being healthy.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
I think with what I have learn today, it will open a lot of doors to different avenues in my life. I really do appreciate being a part of this program and I looking forward to the next lesson that we will have tomorrow. Thank you very much Karry
September 25th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Today, I went to work tired, but in a very good mood. Tonight I am looking to see how to make a business for myself and my family.
Neat
September 25th, 2008 at 12:28 am
Today. I started my clean slate by reading the Bible in the morning before any work is done.
I noticed the Biblical inspiration combined with yesterday’s action plan helped narrow my focus on actions rather than results,
which was “today’s
action plan.” This
is really works!
September 25th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Because of my schedule, i usually do not get to sit down and read this until the end of my day, which would be almost into day 3 for most of you. but let me tell you how today went. i went out to my father who is 87 yrs. old and has both early dementia and stenosis of the back. i arrived at 930 am and found him on the floor of the bedroom.. he had fallen at 1 am, while on the way back from the bathroom. and laid there until i arrived at 930 am (early, mind you.) now, i had signed him up for Lifeline thru our local hospital. but he won’t use it because he feels he ‘bothers’ people if he does use it. took him to the hospital, and thank God , the x-rays came back negative. no broken bones! so, now i talked to his attendant thru his home health agency. and i told them that they need to have someone spend the night with him since i am unable to. and just send me the paperwork, and we can discuss it in the am. im going thru the VA to get the Paperwork process for his VA pension, that will pay for his health treatment. i sent his seperation papers from the USMC (Marines, for some of you.) to the VA in St. Louis back on 13 Sept. and they arrived there on the 14th. but it’ll take them at least another week or more before they even will acknowledge receiving that and send them back to me. so i can then send them to the Veterans Home in Mexico, Mo. about 50 mi. from where i live..
Well, i was hoping to start a business venture right now, but caring for my dad is going to be my ‘venture’ for awhile. JIm, today’s post was tremendous. i guess i was able to ‘hit one back at the pitcher.’; even though, i had not been able to read your blog. sorry about that. however, reading it is giving me the incentive to learn to be even more proactive in taking care of my dad. and regrettably, i’m an only child, so the burden is on me. but i knew that one of these years i will pay him for the times he and Mom helped me out when i couldn’;t help myself.
and to Jay i also don’t know your situation, either. but the more steps you can take to resolve your ‘toxic’ relationship with your husband, the easier it will be to move forward in both your personal and professional life. time is of the essence. i, too, was in one of those also. besides, you have a good group of fellow participants in this program.i’d like to see all of us ’succeed’ together. Good Luck!
September 25th, 2008 at 4:06 am
IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM , WHATS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME ; I’M LIVING OUT THE REST OF MY LIFE ; HEALTH , FAMILY , HAPPINESS AND WEALTH. I SPENT SOME QUALITY TIME WITH MY FAMILY TODAY AND EXPLAINED THAT I’M GOING TO BE COMMITTED TO MAKING SOME POSITIVE CHANGES TO MY LIFESTYLE AND WE COMMUNICATED HAVING A GREAT OLD HEART TO HEART , I FOCUSED ON MY LOVE AND CARING FOR THEM ALL, AND AS OF TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE ( I MIGHT NEED THIER HELP TO REMIND ME IF I GET SIDE TRACKED ) , I MADE A PROMISE TO PUT MY FAMILY ON THE TOP OF MY TO DO LIST ALONG WITH MY HEALTH , AND NOT MY WORK , ANY MORE ! MY PAGE ISN’T BLANK ANY MORE, TOMMOROW I’M GOING FOR A WALK AND GETTING MY POSPONED BLOOD TESTS COMPLETED. YEAH! GERRY
September 25th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I decided to remember others with cards. This is something that not only lifts the hearts of others but also gives joy to the giver. I’ve been meaning to do that on a regular basis, however, my follow through is inconsistent. Thanks for the nudge.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:30 am
please note i have just received these so i dont know what business i need to start but
your stories today are a real inspiration - is there a way you can help with a type of
business to do on the internet which will be to my liking
thanks
gerry
September 25th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I’m with Andy — confused already! I don’t have a business . . . just looking for a niche. In what way does this help me?
September 25th, 2008 at 11:55 am
BCE:
I would attempt to incorporate the feedback from my JFK School meeting into the current ‘Support Plan’ I am working at for a client; I would review this updated plan at the meeting I’m having tomorrow at my Client’s respite home.
LCE:
I hope to step out on a walk around the neighbourhood with my wife tonight.
September 25th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I guess I signed up late for this 10 days and am just reading the 2nd day now, however; I definately feel I’m on the right track. I always make excuses for not having enough time. I am starting to call my own bluff. We have all the time if we WANT to make it. My father is 80 years old and is doing well, but I don’t talk to him enough. Him and I are a lot alike. We aren’t big talkers on the phone and we don’t want to inconvienence anyone by asking for help. Because of this, sometimes we loose touch with people we love. Even though I think about them, I don’t take time out to call. Well for the last two weeks, every time I drive home, I think to myself, “I’m going to call Dad.” Finally last night on the way home I finally actually did. No big deal, but I feel much better that I made time. It is silly that I don’t keep in touch. He never gets mad, but we both feel better when we talk to each other. I am going to commit to calling him at least once a week.
I also started reading a book for the fun of it. I never do that. I think it is really helping. I am also dedicated to work on my internet business EVERY DAY. I can’t do a lot during the week, but I can do something Every Day and more on weekend. Thanks for your motivation.
September 25th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Wow. I guess I am making my CMP business harder than it has to be. I am dedicated to start adding some pages to my website as often as I can. I have started to write an article, but dont really know enough yet to make the subject matter interesting.
Dana, take care of your dad. He will be gone before you know it and by helping him first and formost, the possible guilt will not be there. I was there for my mom when she was dying with cancer and I took care of her the last two years of her life. Long story short, my brother nor sister ever came to see her or help her. When they diagnosed her with terminal liver cancer and gave her 1 month to live, she only lived 6 days after that. Although I begged my siblings to come to see her, they refused. That was in 1995. They regret never being there and will have to live with that decision the rest of their lives. I can put my head on my pillow every night knowing my mom knew I loved her with all my heart.
Jay, I too was involved in an abusive relationship. Also my brother physically abused me all my youth. Get out and get out fast. The first time he is abusive is his fault. The next time is yours. Life is too short to be in an abusive relationship. Dont waist anymore time with this man. You are too good of a person to be with someone who has to hurt you.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I am going to take a leap and put my website address as a signature to even my work e-mail. Somebody may come tell me I can’t do this but that will just be like the pitcher caught the ball. At least I made contact.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Jeanie, I, too am involved with CMP.And my mother died with terminal liver cancer in a very shotr time. It is brutal and very fast moving. (smoking was the cause_She was 67
Pat volk
September 25th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Hi Jeff!
Day two is the beginning of the rest of my life! I changed my lifestyle “habit” today by cooking a nutritious meal and taking the time to go for a short walk. I love Fall and it is such gorgeous weather! The air was brisk and fresh so was my walk (smile). It is the things that make for a quality of life that I was missing-thanks again. Stefve
September 26th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
My Lifestyle Creation Experiment today was to buy a stick of RAM for my pc in order to have enough memory to install Ubuntu. This is what I did : I installed Ubuntu on my second hard drive, installed 121 upgrades to this new system. I had my first problem that I solved immediately and then I played around with my new OS.
Frank
September 27th, 2008 at 8:32 am
I TOOK ACTION and ordered Mike G’s Email ad program to get traffic to my site.
I’ll comment later on the results. The emails should start to go out next week.
I have not had any luck with other forms of advertising so now have fingers, toes and eyes crossed hoping for some positive reults.
No more sitting on the fence and being a GUNNA with a ROUNDTOIT ( ” iI’m gunna do it when I get around to it”)
I read an article today that made me sit up and take notice.
The average life expectency for someone of my generation is 75 yrs ( I attain the biblical 3 score years and 10 one week afer Christmas)
So 5 more years is only 260 weeks or 1820 days– .
Rather scary when its broken down like this don’t you think.
Just in case I only have that 260 weeks I’d better make every one count.
Spend quality time with family, no time to be grumpy. work smarter not harder.
Forget about the dusting the dust willl still be there when I’m not.
So I’m going to have fun.
Try to use my time wisely and
learn something new every day
September 28th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Jeff, you hit the nail on the head! I let the stock market mess derail me from GCFN. I also need to get in touch with my siblings before it’s too late. It’s a good thing I have a clean slate! Thanks, stay on top of us or we might stray again. Your insight badly needed and I wish I could learn it in one try, but sadly history has a tendency of repeating itself.
rafael
P.S. good luck to all!
September 28th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I am late getting started with this program…one of my “issues” is procrastination. Then I get overwhelmed because I am “so far behind”. I have been having health isssues, fatigue being among the litany of symptoms. I see now that some of the fatigue is the baggage I allow to pile up. I LOVE the idea of blank pages and “do-overs” as well as the paradigm shift to “it’s all just an experiment”. I knew I needed an attitude adjustment, but I couldn’t find an attitude that “fit”. This is definitely IT! I have let an error in judgement (getting caught up in a real estate scam) and pending consequences paralyze me from moving forward. Thank you for the permission to be free to “play” at life, find my stride, and focus on the basics.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I love the layed back approch. Life is becoming too stressfull & your advise & view points are exactly what I need.
Thank you so much, I really needed this,
Bruce
September 30th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I am going to make dinner for the wife tonight(even if it is a stouffers lasagna) Funny thing is I decided on this before I got home to read this. But that is a good thing. Also , I need to let go of my frustrations before they get the best of me. One of my dreams is to sponser a baseball and/or softball team , especially now that we couldn’t find enough players to make up a team this season, which is part of my frustrations as well as an outlet for other frustrations. Nothing like chasing down a fly ball or smacking a gapper for a double, or even diving in the dirt for a ball and coming up with nothing but a mouthful of sand….ptwooey. I WILL be playing in the spring!!!
Thanks Jeff,
Donald