Success 101: Positive Mental Attitude

Santi Chacon

Denver, Colorado 

Business Coach

Another Restless Life

You were meant to fulfill a radical purpose but as it stand you can't even get a foot hold. You are losing time and wonder if you will ever see the light at the end of the tunnel. At the moment you find yourself in that restless place again wishing for the type of success you have only dreamed of. The pangs of frustration is what is felt as you consider your failures against the landscape of achievers. Your soul aches for a resolution, a breath of fresh air as you labor relentlessly during those endless nights. The questions that beckon accountability over and over again scream:

Why aren't you as successful?

When will your time come?

Time To Reexamine

You are only as effective to the degree that you understand and work with fundamentals. If you are not achieving the success you desire than you must first discover the fundamentals of achievers and next you must measure what you do against those fundamentals. In this series you will discover those fundamental and will be invited to consider your attitude or posture around the specific behavioral principle. Just remember after you begin to apply these precepts your success is only a matter of time, so hang on, and press through.

Back To The Fundamentals

Fundamentals are not anything you do; as some type of technique, although “Doing” is in the nature of an achiever. The nature of fundamentals is about “Being” or whom you become as a process of habit and character development. To receive the greatest benefit from this series: after you are introduced to the character or behavioral principles, think on paper of how you can apply it in your current environment.

As you begin to re-discover the fundamentals in this series do not fall in the trap of thinking: 'I already do that,' The goal is 100% saturation of each principle before moving on. Take your time with this stuff and witness the transformation of your business life.

Attitudinal Principle #2:

The study of quantum mechanics reveals the key element in possessing a positive mental attitude. The principle element states: 'As your perception of a thing changes, the very nature of that thing changes.'

Entrepreneurs should have an attitude that is unshakable. The acronym I like to refer to for this occasion is 'GIGO'; Garbage In Garbage Out. What you put into your mind will either move you away or toward your goal for success:

• What do you read?
• What do you listen to?
• What do you watch?
• Is what you surround yourself with positive?
• How can you nurture more of a positive mindset?
• Who do you need to distance yourself from?

You must look at difficult times with a sense of curiosity and ask 'what is life attempting to teach me at this moment?' while working to improve yourself. You will be transformed by the renewing of your mind. If you want a better business, than put new things in your brain. You must know without a shadow of a doubt that you are a winner and that success is around the corner. Understand that things happen for your purpose, and that life is conspiring to make you successful.

Success 101: Purpose (Revisited)

By: Santi Chacon

Denver, Colorado

Business Coach

Every executive’s purpose is like a finger print there are no two alike. Each person brings his gifts and talents to the world of commerce. As you rediscover and renew the purpose for your business you will begin to witness the unfolding of a new brand.

• Purpose will always have a way of redefining your brand. 
• Purpose will make your voice stand out with authenticity from the hundreds of thousands of businesses in similar industries. 
• Purpose is branding! Purpose will give your voice personality and depth of character.

When thinking about your company's purpose engage others in the conversation including friends, employees, partners, customers, and investors.

Put It On Paper!

Allow your unique perspective and meaning to ring throughout your purpose statement. Don't settle for some mediocre concept like "Our Purpose is to Provide a Great Service", "Our Purpose is to be the Best...(WHATEVER)", or :Our Purpose is to provide Great Customer Service." - THIS IS MEDIOCRITY!

Go deeper into your soul and answer the question: what do you stand for? and What should your business stand for?

If you are wondering how to define such a broad concept, answer the following questions:

• What are you passionate about?
• What is your unique signature (talent)?
• Is it the way you strategize?
• Is it the way you communicate?
• Is it your Unique vision?
• What unique gifts and passions are you keeping outside of your business? (business should be personal)
• How could you tie your unique passions and gifts into your business?

Purpose and passion bring a sense of play back into our lives. Our businesses should work as extensions of our lives.

Do Me A Favor:

• Don't settle for a business, CREATE a movement!
• Identify your purpose
• Identify your unique passions and gifts
• Rethink your business model
• …and perhaps RETHINK how you have been living your LIFE!

Success 101: Purpose

By: Santi Chacon

Denver, Colorado

Business Coach

Are you ready for another attitude adjustment? I hope so, your success depends on it. The principles presented in this series are invaluable and will take you from rags to riches, if that is your goal. Taking these principles and applying them to your business is crucial to your peace of mind and financial well-being.

Attitudinal Principle #1:

Dr. Viktor Frankl discover the power of purpose as he forged his way through the concentration camps of world war II. After coming away from this experience, he spent the rest of his career assisting others in defining the cornerstone of human existence: life’s meaning. Dr. Frankl stated that if we have a big enough “why” we can accomplish any “what”. If we define our purpose (our “why”) we will not only endure hardships but grow from them.

Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. - Helen Keller

It is our connection to purpose that refuel you with passion and replenish an otherwise tired soul. It is that connection to purpose that reveals opportunity in your ventures and paves the way to greater fulfillment. The more meaningful your purpose is, the greater hope you will have, and the greater the contribution you will make in the lives of others. Entrepreneurs are the artists of our time. As any artist, entrepreneurs are romanticists striving on the hope of a better future.

Purpose and Business

According to Bloomberg 80% of businesses fail in the first year. This 80% is not including how many fail within the first five years. These are 8 out of every 10 chief executive officer’s who pack up and leave the business game within one year of opening the doors. The high rate of failure is due to the lack of preparation. Although there are many ways a new chief executive officer can forsake to prepare for the battle of her life; one of the most consequential areas left unexamined is in the area of purpose.

Purpose and Contribution

An entrepreneur understands that her purpose is driven by the need to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Her purpose is not based on what she receives, but on the contribution she makes. The entrepreneur understands what she contributes entitles her to receiving.

Let's Get Pragmatic

Your writing assignment is to write down in detail the answers to the questions listed below inasmuch detail as you can. If for any reason you can't answer (ouch!) you have some details to consider.

What is the purpose of your life? (In exact detail)

What is the purpose of your work? (In exact detail)

What is the purpose of your business? (In exact detail)

Unless you have spent time thinking about this stuff recently, do not settle for the first thing that comes to mind or give into conventional thought. Ignore your psychological tendency to lean toward what you “think” or “feel”' people's impressions of you are Use this time as an excuse to do some self-discovery.

• Write a first draft
• Let the themes resonate in your consciousness as you consider the meaning of ‘purpose’ over the next several weeks
• At this point take your rough draft and rewrite it, and rewrite it again
• Even if you think you know what your purpose is recreate and rethink it!
• Find a reason to be passionate and refreshed again as you put a new spin on old themes. Tie your purpose into whom you are, and to those things in life and in business that bring you the greatest joy, feelings of contribution, and satisfaction
• Last review your purpose on a regular basis and adjust it over time as you gain clarity
• Purpose and Branding

Success 101: The Extra Mile

By: Santi Chacon

Denver, Colorado

Business Coach

The Foundation For Success

The greatest rewards in life will be attained based on the expansion of personal and collective energies. Think of successful people as those who have contributed sufficient energy in a specified direction. Personal energy takes different forms internally: emotions, thoughts, words, and actions.

• The more focus a person’s attention is, the more energy will increase.
• The greater the frequency, in which an individual fixes her attention on a goal the more energy will increase.
• The more an individual visualizes and affirms a goal, the more energy will increase.
• The more a person can join energies with others who have similar goals, the more energy will increase.
• The more you give and the more effective you are at contributing value, the more energy will increase.

The more energy we expand consistently in one direction, the more we have the opportunity to influence our future opportunities. In the world of energy expansion progress will always take more energy in the beginning and less energy to maintain. Whether a person is starting a career or business thinking in terms of energy will bring insights into the rewards we will soon create for ourselves.

Call Me A Pragmatic

Although much more can be said about energy expansion, one sure way to succeed based on this principle is to pick a direction or purpose and work hard to 'Go The Extra Mile.' Nothing will give a better chance at attracting the best customers, or opportunities than going the distance. Business will give back what you put into it.

Consistently increase the value you contribute, learn to perform better, work on your communication, work on your leadership, work on your business disciplines, and skills and give, give, give. In the process of giving you will not only find new opportunities, but build better skills: management skills, leadership skills, business skills, and communication skills.

Think About Serving

Evaluate your business model, specifically your protocol around customer fulfillment, customer service, and leadership. If there is anything that will perfect how you play the business game it is the ability to perfect your value creation. Rewards are on the other side of service. You will be amazed when the rewards come. Think through how you are creating value, and ask how can you improve on this? A better way of doing business will always exist!

IT IS WHAT YOU GIVE THAT ENTITLES YOU TO RECEIVE!