A Cool Business Decision (IMHO)

Sometimes when you're out there "doing what you do" you never know what great things are waiting in the wings to support your journey.  And when you MAKE A DECISION to make something happen, it sparks some action in the universe and sometimes the MAP to the treasure chest just appears at your feet.

If you've been following me for a while then you know I've been fine-tuning my business model and I determined that 2012 is my year. I'm unifying all the facets of my business activities under one brand -- Intensely Positive -- because it identifies my mind set and my life choice, really, and many awesome things have presented themselves to help me on my adventure.

One such awesome event was being chosen by Jacqueline Edwards of Business Pipeline for a promotional interview to be posted on her website and exposed to her contacts and colleagues, that could help increase my visibility. She'd been looking at my activities via Twitter and thought her services would be of value so she approached me. Initially, I thought she was just being nice to me because I was a nice guy, so when she mentioned that there was a fee... I balked -- had an attack of that small business / small mind thing.

These days, whenever something comes into my life I query it to see how it fits, and why the opportunity came to me, and the words of my good friend and advisor Sophie L'hoste rang in my ears.  Two years ago Sophie said to me, "Kelvin, I notice that whenever an opportunity comes to you, you like to bargain for it. You want to have money but you never want to spend money; you like the free stuff.  If you look around your life -- your business life -- you'll see that you are attracting people who feel the same way you do.  They don't want to pay for your services; they want to bargain and get it for free."  Those words have been with me every day since she said them... and they've changed the way I look at things.  In the words of Wayne Dyer, "When you change the way you look at things; the things you look at change."

So I said yes to Jacqueline, sent her the (very reasonable) fee she requested and we scheduled the interview! Note that the interview was for a 5 minute spot on her new website.  I asked Jacqueline for the interview questions ahead of time, and she gently declined with, "I want  your listeners to have authentic answers, not something you rehearsed to perfection."  (Hmmm. Integrity; how about that.) I didn't like it, but I agreed.  I am a Toastmaster, after all (hee hee), so impromptu questions aren't a problem for me.  So the morning of the interview, she called -- precisely on time.  We had some initial hello chat (we'd been twitter followers for two years but had never taken it off 140), conducted the interview, then had some more chat, then off she went.  In two weeks (busy season for her) she posted the interview on Twitter.

I was initially shocked. She under-promised and over-delivered.  I expected a 5 minute interview posted on her site, but the teaser YouTube video really got me excited.  Then she spent time promoting that video and interview to her lists. Just looking at the work she put in to putting that presentation together, my first thought was, "Wow... this is worth way more than she charged me."  Major Win!  And there were other nice surprises I didn't expect.

So am I glad I did it?  Absolutely!  Was it worth it? Absolutely, because not only is it on her web site and promoted to her clients and contacts, but I have the option of putting them on my website as I wish.  Small business owners -- really small business owners -- don't usually have access to quality presentations.  We tend to do a lot ourselves FOR ourselves, and most of us aren't really talented enough to create the presentations we really need to represent us.  I believe that Jacqueline and Business Pipeline can give us that little extra "umph", that little push of exposure, that little boost to our public image, whether she's sending new traffic our way or whether the traffic we already get starts looking at us in a new way.  What's one new client worth in your business?

So check them out at their website, follow her on Twitter (@helpbusinesses), check out my video and interview (the interview link is right under the video), and decide for yourself.

To your success!  Have an awesome day.

Kelvin

This is Why I Write!

Every once in a while we get a vision, a glimpse of the effect -- or maybe affect -- that we have on people.  Goodness knows I enjoy writing my Ramblings and the other things I write and I usually get some warm kudos for them, but every once in a while something comes across -- out of the blue, it seems -- that tells me unequivocally that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. In this case it happened a couple of days ago, via someone who accidentally stumbled onto this blog, and left an incredible comment that made me grateful that I could be there for her to find.  

I'm going to share an excerpt from the last of her post, and this is not by way of bragging, but mostly to say that I take seriously what I write, and I take seriously the responsibility of sharing my perspectives with my readers, and when I get a comment like the following, I am incredibly humbled... and that much more careful because I realize my words can have an affect far greater than the concept of just sharing a few thoughts.  And you know we talked about "realizing" in my first Ramblings audio -- which I think we're going to dub "K-Talk". You can listen to that here: http://ramblings.ringold.net/audio/ramblings1.mp3

 

But this comment from an "accidental" visitor... This is why I write!  (and now speak) and I thank you for reading and finding value in my words, and coming back time after time:

"I want to thank you for using your natural gift of empowering and creating positivity to pass on to me. I feel better right now than I have in weeks, and you're right, I can get there. I have subscribed to your Once-a-day-vitamin-K and can't wait!

Thank you Kelvin, for making me see that today isn't an obstacle but another stepping stone to where I want to be. And that this is reachable..."

You can read the whole thing, if you like, here: https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=11513333&postID=1327873966514647269

 

Have an awesome day, folks.  And remember...the best way to predict your future, is to create it.

 

Humbly yours..

 

Kelvin

http://www.kelvinringold.com

Where Seldom Is Heard...

It's December 27th, and I'm reflecting over my year.  2009 has been an incredible year for me. It was a record year for accomplishing goals, some of which I'll detail in my next Ramblings. 2009 has also been a year of self-discovery, of awakenings and realizations regarding myself and life in general. I took some major steps this year, some of which I wasn't sure in 2008 that I would actually take, but having done so I've been richly rewarded, not necessarily with money, but with peace of mind and contentment. I wish for you the kind of peace and contentment that I feel in my life, right now.

Being content... is not to say that I'm done :-)  In my favorite book, Illusions, a passage reads, "Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't."  And, I am s-o-o-o alive :-) and ready to face 2010 with unprecedented faith, appreciation, and expectation.  Being content is also not to say that I've encountered no negative in my life. There has definitely been negative in my life, but I've learned to notice and acknowledge negative, deal with what I need to deal with, then move past it, just like we move past a traffic accident. But our major focus must remain on our destination, and at the end of every day, what's foremost in my mind are the positives and empowering events I've encountered, while the "other ones" fall quietly by the way side and give way to my gratitude list.

In the enlightenment category, 2009 has also been a year of forgiveness. I discovered I was holding on to negative feelings for a couple of people and situations in my life -- past and current.  With the help of some excellent coaches and friends, I was able to release those feelings and free myself from that huge energy drain, because it takes a significant amount of energy to feed a negative thought process; and if you examine it, you'll find that you are constantly feeding it to keep it alive. And in THAT process, one of the most important people I ended up forgiving was ME! and that was an emotional and enlightening experience.

So as you wind down your 2009, I encourage you to think about and incorporate these important things into your life:

1.  DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!  If you've made it to the end of a day, there is SOMETHING there you can be grateful for.  CHOOSE to be grateful for the small things; a smile given, a near miss, each and every pain-free breathe you take, any kind word received, the car you drive, the cardboard box you don't have to live in because you have a house. If you can't think of something, write me and I'll give you some suggestions ;)

2.  BECOME YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND. Be good to you!  Society tries real hard to convince us that we shouldn't like or appreciate ourselves.  The truth is that we MUST like, love and appreciate ourselves, or we have nothing to give to anyone else.  If you do not value yourself, your intelligence, your generosity, your abilities and talents, your good nature, your warm hand or whatever it is, how can you give away something that your don't value?  If you don't love yourself, how can you give love you don't have?  Be good to you. 

3. LET IT GO -- let go of those negative feelings you're holding onto.  Forgive whoever it is for whatever it is.  When you hold that grudge, you're only really hurting yourself. You are feeding those feelings with life energy you need to sustain yourself and your well-being.  Let it go.

4. FORGIVE YOURSELF.  Go back through your mind and look for those things that you haven't let yourself off the hook for.  Go long -- some of these things you could be holding onto since childhood.  Forgive yourself and give yourself permission to move on, make amends and corrections.

5.  PLAN FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE. Focus pocus! Your energy flows where your focus goes.  I don't know who said that first, but it is true, and it is the law of attraction. If you focus on lack, you will have more lack.  If you focus o turmoil, you will hve more turmoil. If you focus on a BRIGHT FUTURE, you will move toward a brighter future.

6.  FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!  I know; this one seems egotistical, right?  If you think so... refer to #2 above.  I'm not saying it to be egotistical; it's the feedback I get from many people on Twitter.  Positive, Upbeat, Motivational and Uplifting <-- that's me.  If you need some of that? follow me.  I was once dubbed "The Prince of Positive :-)"  Where seldom is heard ...a discouraging word!  LOL. I like it. 

So that's my 2009 wrap-up. But sign up at http://ramblings.ringold.net/ for my Ramblings Gold Edition so you don't miss my annual cheery, upbeat, challenging beginning of year, Goal Setting issue.

As always, thanks for listening.  BTW, you can sign up to receive these in your e-mail box using the sign up form on the right. 

Take care and have an AWESOME day.

Kelvin

Prime the Pump

When I was child -- until I was 10, I think -- in the summer we used to go stay with my grandparents "in the country." Mom-mom and pop-pop lived on a farm, raised hogs and chickens, and all that. The house they lived in was in the middle of great fields, and each year there was a different crop. My grandfather drove a tractor -- or a combine or whatever he needed to -- to help harvest whatever crop was planted.

It was kind of fun, most years. Back then, we kids didn't realize it was WORK going out in the fields to pick baskets of peas or corn or potatoes to bring back to the house for my grandmother to cook. We were under the impression that we were having FUN! We didn't even realize we were getting exercise running through those fields, we thought we were playing :-) It's amazing changing how you look at something, changes how you feel about it. So we played, and had fun, and ate really well, and slept very peacefully each night.

But back then, the farm house -- 1960 or so -- had no running water, per se, but out on the back porch, there was a hand pump, so whenever we needed water, we went "out back" to pump it. But sometimes when we got there, the pump would be dry and nothing would come out, so we'd have to prime the pump. This meant taking some of the water we had left, and pouring it into the top of the pump while we kept pushing the handle. That created a seal around the plunger, which created suction, to pull the water up through the pipe from the well, and we'd pump as much as we needed for the day, or the morning, and life was good.

Later, if we needed more water, we'd go back out and pump more. If it was dry again, we'd prime the pump again to get what we needed (laundry day was another FUN day, as we kids got to pump all that water and still didn't realize it was work! Perspective!)

Did you ever go to tackle a new task or project, and your pump was dry? You just didn't have the energy, or confidence, or maybe even the strength... but somewhere along the line you got what you needed and you made it happen and ended up feeling great about it. All you did, was "prime the pump" and got your energy moving. That's what winners do! Winners constantly prime the pump.

NEW project, BIG project, short deadlines, and you don't know how you're going to do it. The pump is dry! But you know you've done this kind of thing before, so you reach back into your memory and grab some mental water, and your start pouring it into your pump. You think about how savvy you were on the last project you thought you wouldn't get through. You realize that you'll need those same skills and talents for this one, and you pump that handle. You remember how you broke the problem down into pieces and took it step by step and you pump that handle. You recollect the people you called, the resources you're privy too, you keep that going until you remember that victorious feeling you had when you finally got it done, even though you originally thought you wouldn't be able to handle it, and when you get to the point where you are replaying the victory... the pump is primed, the water is flowing and completion is a done deal. At that point you've already won "in your mind" and that's where the real victory takes place! Everything after that is just process. "If you can see it, you can be it "(Craig Valentine)

If you don't remember your last victory, then pre-member your next one :-) Of course you have victories! You couldn't be reading this if you didn't. Replay your past victories and, as TonyRobbins says, put yourself in that winning "state", that state of empowerment. Recount the tools, resources, and processes you used to win last time, take a deep breath, hit replay and step boldly into your next victory. You've already won.

Listen carefully. Can you hear that? Yes...? Sounds a lot like the theme to Rocky, doesn't it? Prime your pump, and go get 'em, champ.

Have an awesome day.

Kelvin

It's Your Attitude, You Know

I had a meeting today. I hate (most) meetings, and this one in particular, because 99% of the time (I feel) it has no relevance to me. Worse, I had to walk 10 to 15 minutes, in the Syracuse c-c-cold, to get there!

So I got my grumpy self up (as grumpy as I get, at least) from my desk, donned my coat, hat and gloves, and headed out. It was cold so I walked briskly -- picked up the pace. Crossing the street, dodging cars, walking fast, up the hill, jump over that pothole... when I noticed that I was humming a catchy little tune, thinking pleasant thoughts and... and... enjoying the walk -- cold and all! I laughed at myself.

My morning would have been much more pleasant if I had chosen that attitude -- instead of the one I did. You might say, "but you didn't choose" the attitude, but in fact... I did. I didn't want to go to the meeting, I intentionally adopted that attitude, that mind set, and then I fed it... kept reinforcing the feeling, telling myself how much I hated meetings and how silly it was and staying annoyed. Then, during the walk I got side-tracked and forgot to feed it and my natural (habitual) mind set took over and there I was... happy, enjoying the walk and the exercise, the brisk winter air and the beaming sunshine.

Be aware of the attitude you choose, and be aware of what you tell yourself to feed it and keep it going! If you're angry over something, listen to your self talk and see if you're not continually feeding that anger. If you've been sad about something for a while, listen to your inner conversation and you'll discover that you're constantly telling yourself how sad you are and why, and how "whatever your circumstance" is unfair and ... actively blocking any thoughts to the contrary, because... that attitude must be feed, to live.

So, take control of your mind ! It's your attitude -- choose one that's better for you, and and feed that one!

Let me know how you do.

Kelvin