You’ve heard of the “Herd” mentality right? The Pokemon phenomenon last year was sort of like that. Or the finger spinners you see being sold is a fad, followed by the masses…
People Playing Pokemon Go in Ajax last fall (taken on my lake side walk in Rotary Park)
It is fun while it happens and if you are in business launching a fad, you can make a quick hit of cash…but in the end what wins the day is when you follow a trend.
A trend is a long term direction that society is embracing. It is a societal shift in how we do things.
Some trends include; the need to recapture our youth, cocooning is still a trend even after all of these years when futurist, Faith Popcorn came up with it.
Other trends are fitness, busy lives (where home services, prepared meals and in home health care come into play). Plus let’s not forget our need for anchoring, finding meaning in today’s crazy world through some form of a spiritual practice.
The aging population, new job or career training, retirement and dream careers, security, the new economy, Bitcoins and Cryptocurrency is another trend…
These are the forces that shape society. As a business owner or if you are in the working world…tapping into these trends are key to where the money will be for your business and if you work for a living, these societal issues will be the kind of work that you will be doing…to help solve some of these societal changes and challenges that we face.
Tony Robbins once said the more pain you can solve, the more money you will make, The bigger the problem the bigger the pay!
But let’s take stock for a moment…life is coming at us a mile a minute…sometimes the challenges facing us seem overwhelming to say the least.
People I meet are confused as what to do, They search for the perfect situation! For example, do I start my business in this market place or do I stay in my job?
Do I look elsewhere for more meaningful work, or do I just stay put and not rock the boat?
Should I invest in a new line of my business or just watch my risk and spending?
I hear all of these kinds of questions in my work.
My response is to do your homework…research what you want to do next, then assess what direction is best for you to move to next.
Follow your heart and trust your gut feel too!
Plus don’t be attached to the idea that your next move has to be perfect.,.,nothing is ever perfect…perfect is another word for procrastination.
Look at your next move as an experience. What will you learn from it? Who will you meet? What opportunities are available to you if you move ahead and forward into the new?
I remember a professor I had when I was learning at the Adler School for Coaching once said when it came time to embrace something new, he quoted his mom, she said and he repeated, “You’ll go, you’ll look, you’ll see, you’ll find, you’ll do”!!!
I love that quote and it has stayed with me for 15 years now…In life or our work or businesses sometimes you have to make the leap…
Sure do your homework, trust your heart and gut, but in the end…sometimes you just have to make the leap and go.,..look…see…find and do!
Now, to close this post…I kind of sold you some goods in the headline, so I better deliver on those goods…
Here is where if you do not follow the “Herd” mentality and think for yourself you will succeed.
- Money. Studies show we spend more time researching our vacations than we do learning about how save and plan for retirement, get out of debt faster, build a side income…Make it a priority to learn about making the most out of your money…
- Your health. Get up off the couch at night and pack the chips in the green bin. Take on healthy habits. Go for a walk with your spouse or kids at night, stop snacking after 7 pm, drink water, read more, or take an online or in class learning program! You will be healthy and well!
- Time. Use your time wisely. Block your day into the core areas of your life, such as socializing time, work/business, family, learning, prayer or meditation, exercise, financial planning, fun time, rest time…block your day into chunks to tend to these key core areas. You doing what everyone else does, will not serve you.
Snap out of the TV habit, break free from Facebook surfing sucking your time up, invest your time and energy into the areas that will make you, your family better and richer…
Look at your life as something of value (because it is) and look at the actions you take as making investments to make life better and living more productive and fun!
Now go take on the week!
Cheers/David
BIO:
David is an author, business coach and facilitator and was the former host/producer and creator of the Small Business Big Ideas Show heard weekly for over 9 years. David has taught thousands over the years in both the non-profit and for profit sectors and has coached hundreds of start-ups to make those important first steps. He specializes in helping small business owners mine their strengths, get clear on their value, their markets and then begin to develop a sales and marketing game plan that gets results.
He also can be booked to do his keynote presentations; “The 8 Keys to Success, How I got to Kiss the Stanley Cup and his new keynote called “A breakthrough-through the glass”- how to overcome the fear that life and business might throw your way. He leads workshops in sales, marketing, market research, business plans, target marketing and customer service programs. David is currently with the City of Toronto, heading up an entrepreneur training program for inner city youth and adults. He has taught thousands and coached numerous clients in the area of Small Business Start-ups and business growth strategies.