Floyd Wickman

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

I just set a new 5 year goal for myself.  Some may think it silly to be setting a 5 year goal at age 69.  What might be even sillier is that I have no doubt but that I will achieve it. 

On one hand I am humbled and blessed to think of all that I have achieved, and overcome, throughout my life. On the other hand, I believe there are some very specific ingredients that worked for me and will continue to work as I strive to achieve my next goal.  I share them with the hope that someone reading this can use these ingredients to achieve his or her goal, regardless of age.

1.  WORK HARD.  Nothing will ever replace hard work as a major force in taking one toward the goal.  Asking ones self "what can I accomplish during my workday?" rather than "what can I get out of doing during my workday?" is one noticeable difference between an achiever and a wanna-be.  Remember, if you wish to leave your footprints on the sands of time...wear work-shoes!

2. STRONG CORE VALUES.  Those traits that best describe a person and his or her ethics, guidelines or promises can often predict the outcome of ones efforts toward achieving the goal can be reduced to concise and clear core values.  A person needs only to look back upon a successful period of his life to discover his core values.  What traits obviously contributed to the successful outcome?  How would others describe the 'work ethics' or conspicuous characteristics he demonstrated. 

To help the reader understand what I mean by Core Values, I give you mine.  To Always...

...Live by the Get-by-Giving Philosophy.

...Make my clients number one goal, my number one goal.

...Live up to my standards despite temptations to lower them.

...Be willing to work toward a common good.

...Do what I say I will do.  Sometimes more, just never less.

Each person should ask themselves this question.  "Are my core values such that, if I adhere to them, I have the best chance to achieve my goal?

3. HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE.  This is a term my 'big brother' Zig has reminded me often of throughout the years.  Simply put, he says we cannot succeed to our full potential without the people in our life rooting for us.  Encouraging us to be our best.  Whether its our spouses, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers or just our closest friends, our odds of success soar when they are cheering us on and giving us our space to grow.  How do you get this?  You get by giving.  By encouraging the people closest to us; giving to our families the love and attention they want and need; and, putting their needs high on our 'to do' lists, we dramatically increase our odds of having that 'home court advantage". 

 Linda and I have been married for 46 years and I can tell you,  beyond the shadow of a doubt, without her encouragement, belief and support, I could never have achieved the success I have.  No one does it alone.  In my book "letters to Linda" www.floydwickman.com we share the 15 principles that has given each of us the 'Home Court Advantage'.

4.  TRUST GOD.  Believe that God wants the best for you.  Believe that He has a purpose for you to fulfill.  Believe that He is there in the toughest of times.  Believe that He wouldn't have given you the dreams you have if you weren't able to accomplish them.

Hope this helps.  Oh, by the way, my 5 year goal is to Speak to 100 separate 'general' audiences (other than real estate groups) on or before October 20th 2015.  Wish me success.

Love,

Floyd

FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT. WHAT IF...?

  

 Need to pull yourself out of a rut?  Have a strong desire to achieve more?  Are you hurting financially? 

 Here's something to think about.  No!  Better yet, here's a question that needs answering.  What if, for the next six months, you did everything you knew you should be doing do be successful?  What would be the end result in just six months?

If you thought the right thoughts, did the right activities, used every talent God gave you, said the right words, responded positively to all negative situations and applied just the success principles you already know, what would be the end result?

Simple.  You'd be happier, feel more secure, have a better self image, build your self confidence, you'd earn more, the people in your life will be drawn to you and, well on and on and on...

Most people will do what they need to do only after they hit bottom.  The losers will stay there.  The winners are the ones that realize they must begin doing those things they already know how to do.

You realize, "when you're down to nothing, God's up to something".  Is it possible He is testing you to see if you are going to do what you already know to do?  

All the books you've read, seminars you attended, recordings you listened to and coaching you received have prepared you with all you need to work your way up.  Or, back up, as the case may be.  All you need to do is do it.

As "my brother Zig" would say, "When one finger is pointing at the problem, three times as many are point to the solution".

 

If I could do it over again...

 

I hate to admit it but there are times when I give someone advice and later, after having more time to think about it, I wish I would have said it differently.

This is the story of one of those times.

Yesterday I kicked off a program with over 300 network marketing people.  It was the beginning of 6 weekly sessions of my Selling Skills program.  The attendees wanted to learn to sell more effectively.

As I was wrapping up to leave, a young woman approached me and asked if she could talk with me for a moment.  I never say no to a student, so we sat and talked.

As tears filled her eyes, our conversation began.

“I don’t know if I can do it”, she said. 

“Do what?”  I asked.

Showing discomfort, she answered, “Make the calls that I’m supposed to make”.   I noticed her hand visibly shaking as she wiped a tear from her cheek. 

“What is it about calling that frightens you so?”

“Just the thought that they think I’m trying to sell them something.”

“What bothers you about that?”

“I feel like I’m pressuring them.”   She answered as if she suddenly discovered the real problem.

“Are you?”  I asked, trying to understand her fear enough so I could give her the best lesson.

She looked at me with surprise and replied with a definite, “No!”, as if to question my sanity to even ask such a foolish question.

I gave her my standard advice and I’m sure it will be of help.  But…

…the more I thought about it, the more I wish I would have offered her the following advice:

“You will learn to control your fear when you complete the following steps.”

One – Understand the fear.  We are always 5 why’s or what’s to the true reason.  Why do you feel this fear of calling?  Why is that bothering you? And why is that a concern?  Why are you letting those reasons stop you from doing what you know you need to do?  What are you going to do about it?

Two – Accept the fear.  Cowards have fear but so do heroes.  The difference is the hero does not let it stop him.

Three – Decide how important the success is to you.  How badly do you want to succeed at this?  Is the desire greater than the fear?

Four - Change the purpose of your calls.  Don’t make the calls to try to sell the prospect.  Take the attitude that you are calling simply to see if they have an interest in talking about what you’re offering.  This can take much of the pressure off both you and the prospect.

Five – Do it til you want to.  Just like exercising, you may hate it at the beginning but when you do it often enough and long enough you will eventually not hate doing it.  Maybe you won’t ever get over the hate or the fear but it does get easier and more comfortable as time goes by.

Remember the words of my brother Zig…”If you never take a chance you will never have a chance”.

Love,

Floyd