Innovation! It is one of the hottest areas of focus for most businesses across a multitude of industries, markets and countries, or so it seems, on paper. However, when it comes to actually doing what’s needed to even have a shot at being truly innovative, most fail.

Culture enables innovation and that is something that needs to be understood by more people.

Money isn’t enough. While it can be a powerful motivator for many, money alone is not enough to make you happy and help you enjoy what you do. Instead, position yourself where you enjoy (even love) the journey, not the destination. Furthermore, spend time, effort and energy on what you are great at paired with market need and you can’t lose. Money is a byproduct of quality work, not the north star guiding your decisions and actions.

FINISHED is better than perfect! While I’m a fan of quality in all that I do, at times, it is possible for us all to spend way too much time on things that don’t provide as much value in return. Furthermore, we often sit on thing at 80% or 90% complete and we keep finding excuses as to why we didn’t finish it yet. We all know that these are just that, excuses, nothing more and as such they shouldn’t be allowed to rule our lives, our goals and derail our plans.

You know what you need to do, now go out and do it, FINISH what you’ve started.

Today is as good of a day as any of them to start addressing your major goals and making progress towards achieving them one day.

We all have major goals that have somehow drifted towards becoming dreams as we think and daydream, but don’t act nearly enough in order to accomplish them. Thinking, planing, strategizing, wishing…all important, but ultimately useless without decisive, determined and focused effort and energy, without action! START TODAY!

A year from now you’ll wish you started today

Rresilience is what differentiates those who have succeeded from those who gave up (often a bit too soon). It is always about consistency and daily practice in all that you want to accomplish as a major achievement in your personal and professional life.

All great things require work, focus, energy, determination and consistency. Be consistent!

As you work to grow your business or your own personal reputation within an organization or across an industry, it is important to be aware of the environment you operate within. Analysis and assessment of market trends, shifts and needs is essential for future growth and sustainability. As we all know, needs and demands change all the time, which is why it is essential to be nimble, flexible and able to react and respond quickly to market shifts. Furthermore, don’t be romantic about how you got to your current state as that is rarely what will take you and your business to the next level of performance, quality, value and revenues.

Keep innovating, keep challenging status quo and take risks.

Aalways play the long game when it comes to things that matter and are of importance to you. When it comes to family, health, career…it’s always important to look beyond today and think, plan and act intentionally toward creating your own future.

That time will come either way, will you be prepared when it does?

We all have goals, but how do you set the stage in order to achieve those goals? First, your major goals need to be measurable and large, very large! They need to be so monumental that they will keep you moving forward and making progress for years, even decades to come. When it comes to smaller goals, they generally come in all shapes and sizes so feel free to set your sights on the heights that matter to you.

Furthermore, while many have referred to the SMART acronym (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) when it comes to establishing goals, I am not necessarily a fan of all of it. Yes, goals, should be specific and measurable, but why do they have to be realistic and (easily?) achievable? See where I’m going with this? 😉 Dream big!

How many times have you heard: “it’s who you know!” as the reason or a justification why someone has made it or succeeded in some way. While it is important for you to get out there, network and meet new people, it’s even more important for them to know you.

If people know you as someone who is honest, trustworthy, capable, as someone who produces quality work, they will remember of you in the opportune time and make that call or send that text or e-mail.