What Do You Show Me When You Are Losing?

It was a tough game. My daughters, who are playing soccer on their high school team, suffered their first loss.  The team they had played was really good. 

"They played hard," I said. 

"Great," a friend said.  "Now they all get a participation ribbon."

To his credit, my friend was kidding (for the most part).  But it certainly reminded me of the swirl of controversy James Harrison created when he forced his sons to return their "participation trophies."  His point was simple.  They didn't earn them.  Sometimes you give your all and it isn't good enough.  Harrison's point is, that should drive you to do better.

Before you think I am attacking this notion (or my friend), let me say that I agree with them.  I DO think we are creating a sense of entitlement with some kids. 

But as Paul Harvey would have said, "Here is the rest of the story..."

The game started with the other team looking clearly dominant.  They worked the ball around the field in control, while our team ran like crazy to keep up.  We went down 1-0.  Then 2-0.  At halftime we were down 3-0 to the better team.

After halftime it was more of the same.  The other team scored again.  Our girls were down 4-0 and I was afraid this contest might really get out of hand.

But then something happened.  Our girls kept playing.  They kept hustling.  They kept trying--really trying--and we got a break.

One of our forwards burst through and pushed in a goal toward the open net!  Goal!  The energy changed for both teams, and we started the climb back.

Now, you know they lost.  I told you that earlier.  But the final score was 5-3 and the last 10 minutes was a REAL contest.  I learned something about our team.

They had competed.  They had hustled.  They had not given up.  In the face of sure defeat, they had battled.  I don't think they should get a trophy or a ribbon for it.

But if that is not the lesson we are trying to teach them through sports, what is?

New Beginnings (and the First Day of School)

Today is the first day of school for my daughters.  It's hard to believe I have a Senior and a Freshman...but here we go!

As we led up to the "end of summer," I hear adults ask kids all the time "are you excited for school to start?"  Of course the answer is always a resounding "No!"  I understand.  It's the end of late nights, late mornings, fewer commitments, no homework, warm weather and more.  (My guess is, teachers feel the same).  :)

There are very real reasons why they would never want summer to end.

But what about new beginnings?  With each new school year, students have the opportunity to create a new path.  They can create new memories.  Try new things.  They can create a new future.  They do not have to settle for what happened "last year."  They can start today to make a new experience that they will remember for a lifetime.  As an adult, you can see that for them...right?

But what about you?  Are you excited about new beginnings?  Do you see them as opportunities or for more work?  Do you see them as a chance to take your career to the next level or do you sigh at the potential failure?  To some degree, this attitude will create your future. 

In the book Mindset, Dr. Carol Dwek says people define people as "growth" OR "fixed" mindset.  People with a "growth" mindset are naturally more excited for new chances.  New chances mean new opportunities to learn and grow. 

So with each new project or new business trip, try and focus on the opportunity ahead.  Don't think of the homework and the teachers (or students) nagging at you.  Focus on the chance to get better. 

Each of these new challenges are your "First Day of School."  Make it a great day.

Oh, and to my lovely young daughters, here's to a great school year!  I love you!  Here's to New Beginnings.

Keeping up with the Content

As you may have noticed, we have really taken the idea of content creation and run with it.  Our goal at Hasseman Marketing is to create valuable content for you...no matter what you need.  So here is where you can find us!

First up, our website at Hasseman Marketing is new and improved.  We have not only made it more representative of what we do...but we also have new content updated right there on the home page a few times a week.  Any feedback on that is very welcome!

Next, when it comes to personal development, motivation and inspiration, this is the best place to find that.  My personal blog is updated several times a week as well. 

In case you didn't know, we also have a Weekly Word series.  This is a weekly video that we create to provide information and inspiration to those in business.  Short and sweet...and you can find that here.

And of course we also have the Delivering Marketing Joy series.  This is a weekly interview show where I get to ask business leaders, marketers and entrepreneurs questions about how to grow a great organization.  Here is that playlist!

Both of these can be found at this Youtube channel...feel free to subscribe!  But wait!  There's more!

We have also moved and improved the Hasseman Marketing blog!  It is now located at the Hasseman Marketing website.  We have some great new content there.  Here is post from today...just for example.  In addition, if you miss any of this, we have created Last Week at Hasseman Marketing for a weekly view at our content!

And of course we have the Hasseman Marketing Youtube Channel.  We have more video content on this site.  I am excited about this new feature called the Fast Five!  Check that out here!

Okay so that's a quick list!  Can you keep up?  If not, feel free to follow me on Twitter here.  Have a great day and keep up the hustle!

Look For The Good

No matter how positive a person you are, and no matter how much you generally like people, you WILL come across a person that rubs you the wrong way.  You will have a moment where you say "I just don't like that guy!"  I get it.  Often, you won't even be able to put a real finger on why.

The challenge here is that our natural tendency is to focus more on those we don't like.  We might walk up to a group of 5 people (4 of which we like) and we can only see "them."  So we might avoid the situation or any interaction with that group just because of the one person.  Remember, based on the numbers, we like 80% of them!

We miss a lot of life that way.

So follow the advice my friend Bill Petrie gave me...look for the good.  No person is all good or bad.  Look for the thing in that person that you DO like.  Find the trait you admire in them...and focus on that.

First, it will allow you to have a great interaction with the other 80%.  And who knows, by focusing on that one trait, you might find some more you like about that person as well.

At the very least, it will take your focus off the things you DON'T like.  And that's not what you want to be focusing on anyway.

What Do I Do Next?

My family has been looking to sell our former family home for some time.  We have listed it with a realtor (a while ago), tried to sell it ourselves, and rented it out.  In the interest of just finally selling it, we had made the decision to auction the home.  We felt like this was a risk, but were excited about the finality of the event.  Get it sold...be done.

Last night we put out the signs (and balloons!) and held the auction...and no on showed up.  Needless to say, I was extraordinarily disappointed.

This happens, sometimes, in business and in life.  We set up a huge appointment.  We get ready for a big sale.  We have the audition.  We create the perfect event...and it doesn't go like we want.  Not only has there been a ton of effort (and sometimes money) thrown at the effort, but the mental letdown can be huge. 

It's natural, in those moments, to throw up your hands.  "What now?"  "Why me?"  I get it. 

But that was yesterday.  That attitude does me no good today.  In the face of that disappointment I need to reconsider my options.  I need to look at what I can do differently.  I need to NOT focus on yesterday.  There is just one question that helps me move forward.

"What do I do next?"

Updated Reading List

I set the goal to read 50 books in 2015.  It's a lofty goal but I am on my way.  I have been asked for a rundown of my list so far...so here we go!

Here is a quick update of the books I have gotten through so far!

Start by Jon Acuff:  Great book to start off the new year!  I like Jon's style and it's a great motivator if you want to get yourself going!  Love the line "Punch Fear in the Face!"  (Side note:  Since I wrote this I saw Jon speak...awesome.  If you get a chance you should see him!  He has a new book called Do Over!)

Switch on Your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf:  Not a bad read.  Ties bible lessons to science on happiness and productivity.

The Self Made Billionaire Effect by John Sviokla and Mitch Cohen:  Not bad but probably my least favorite so far this year.

Transform by Jeff Haden:  Really liked this one.  Lots of Jeff's best stuff in one place.  Great book to read one chapter per day.  Jeff was also nice enough to spend some time on my web show! 

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz:  Love this one!  Several times I felt like he was following me around!  :)  Highly recommend this one for anyone who has a business.  This has really changed the way we account in ours.  Mike was also a great guest on Delivering Marketing Joy! 

What To Do When It's Your Turn by Seth Godin:  Really good reminder that it's always our turn to step up and make a difference.  Quick read...great one to share!

Scaling Up by Verne Harnish:  This was a good one but I should not have gotten it on audio.  This would have been better as an actual book.  Great things to make me think...but would have gotten more out of it if I could see the references.

Pumpkin Plan: by Mike Michalowicz.  This is another great book for those trying to figure out how to grow your business.  "The riches are in the niches."  I really like Mike's books.  Recommend for sure!

Mastering Monday:  by John Beckett.  This is a good reminder that Monday does not stink if your work (and your life) have a purpose.

New Rules of Sales and Service:  by David Meerman Scott.  If you are not a believer that you can make a huge difference in your business by "giving first," read this one.  He lays out a great case for being a content leader.

The Automatic Customer:  by John Warrillow.  This is another game changer for me this year.  This one opened my mind that nearly any business can be a "subscription business."  I am getting ready to launch a new business and the idea came from this book!  Love it.

Duct Tape Selling: by John Jantsch.  The beginning of this and New Rules were similar.  But I liked that the 2nd half dug into the "how" a little more.  Good one.

Invisible Selling Machine: by Ryan Deiss.  It's a quick read for sure.  But if you want to become a real pro in email marketing, this has some weight.  I use Infusionsoft and I am going through this book to make sure I am setting sequences better.

Train Your Brain For Success: by Roger Seip.  Love the tips in here on how to read faster and remember more.  Once you get through that, good tips on being more successful in life.

SCRUM:  The Art of Doing Twice The Work in Half the Time:  by Jeff Sutherland.  Scrum is a concept created in software development.  If you are getting ready to create a new company or launch a new project, this is a great read first!

Awesomely Simple: by John Spence.  So many times in business, we over think.  We over analyze.  In reality, business success is simple.  This book highlights the down and dirty truth about success in business.

The Undefeated Mind: by Alex Lickerman.  If you are struggling with any issues in life, this book is a great resource to show you how to be resilient.  Dark at times...but shows real life examples on how to overcome.

The Power of Money: Several Speakers.  I thought this was a book but was actually a compilation of teachers.  There are always nuggets of wisdom in any book (and this one had them) but it was not what I expected.

Mastermind Dinners: Jayson Gaignard.  This one was definitely short and sweet.  Jason takes networking to the next level by curating Mastermind Dinners.  Interesting concept for sure.

Nail It Then Scale It: by Nathan Furr and Paul Ahlstrom.  Real similarities to the Scrum concept.  The book says the way we create businesses is broken.  I enjoyed this one.  It's on my mind as I ready to launch a new project.

It Takes More Than A Big Smile, A Good Idea and a Twitter Account: by Wes Schaeffer.  This has some real nuggets.  It's a compilation of blog posts from Wes.  Great for sales professionals and sales managers.

Procrastinate on Purpose: by Rory Vaden.  I really liked this one.  Good for anyone that is trying to "manage time."  Not easy!  Good insights in this one!  

The Talent Code: by Daniel Coyle.  Coyle studies the "talent hotbeds" of the world and discovers that the secret is not in their DNA, it's in a chemical inside our brains called Myelin.  Really interesting stuff about how to get better at ANYTHING.  Really.

The 10X Rule:  by Grant Cardone.  I had actually read this before.  But this is a no nonsense kick in the pants kind of book.  Need a reminder to work harder?  Here it is.  You are not thinking big enough or working hard enough.  Grant reminds you!

The Art of Social Media: by Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick.  Want to know some real no b.s. tips and tactics for doing social better?  This is a good one and a quick read.  Recommended.

Bold:  by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler.  I will say that this one started slow.  But I was really glad I stuck with this one because that last 2/3 of the book really got me thinking!  I love that!

Creativity, Inc.  by Ed Catmull.  From the very beginnings of his career to running Pixar and Disney Animation.  Some great lessons here, especially on managing creative companies.

 Relentless (From Good to Great to Unstoppable) by Tim Grover.  Not bad.  Good if you need a kick in the pants and motivation.  Got a bit repetitive after a while.  But some interesting stories from the trainer of Kobe and Michael!

Difference by Bernadette Jiwa.  Short and sweet.  I liked this one.  Reminds you that if you want to be a succesful business today...you need to strive to make a difference!

The Innovators by Walter Isaacson.  This one was a struggle for me.  I bought it thinking it was a business book...but it was history.  Great if you are into that...but not what I was expecting or looking for.

The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz.  I liked this one (though sometimes it was a little dark).  But it talked about the many challenges a CEO faces...with no sugar coating.  Good insights into growing a company.

I have more books on the way!  But I will continue to update here!  Any suggestions or recommendations are welcome!

Want to be better? Play up!

When I was a young tennis player, I worked hard to improve.  I practiced.  I worked out.  I played for hours and hours.  And I got better.  The hours of practice helped me improve.  But with every endeavor, regardless of how hard you work, you will find plateaus.  You will come to places where you can't seem to break through to the next level.  It's frustrating.  So what do you do?

You need to play up.

I found the best way to really get better was to up my level of competition.  Get around people who would beat me.  Be willing to deal with the frustration (I literally HATE to lose) so that you can be better.  It is really hard to (mentally) make this leap.  It's hard to put yourself out there knowing you are in above your head.

But that's how you get better.

I was reminded of this lesson this week at the NALC (North American Leadership Conference).  I spent just one day around some of the most influential leaders in our industry and I was energized.  My biggest regret is I didn't spend more time.  When given the chance to spend time, learn and network with people more successful than you...you should.

I need to play up.

My Gratitude Challenge

We hear about the power of being positive all the time.  But let's face it.  It is really hard to avoid the negativity in the world!  And we can't even blame "the media."  Though it is right that the media does run a ridiculously high proportion of negative stories, so do we.  Our social media feeds are filled with all of the bad, and scary and complaining in life.

So it's hard to stay positive when surrounded by all of that.  But it's not impossible.

One way I have found to put my mind on the right track is through gratitude.  By taking the time to be thankful for what I have in life (for how GOOD life is) I am able to re-frame most days.  And of course, when I am in a positive frame of mind I am more productive...which ironically creates more for which to be grateful!  That's a productive loop!

So for the next month, here is the challenge I am giving myself (and I would LOVE for you to join me).  I am doing a 30 day Gratitude Challenge.  Each day for the next 30 days I am going to send (at least) one card to someone thanking them for what they mean in my life.  It might be someone from a while ago.  Or it might be something that happened that day.  Please join me. 

I am confident if we spend every day looking for something to be grateful for, we will find it!

I am going to use Send Out Cards because that makes it convenient for me.  But do this however you like.  It will take time.  There will days that it will be hard.  But I would love for many of us to go out and spend the next 30 days showing the universe our attitude of gratitude.

Who is with me?  Oh...and please let me know how it goes!