Rich Fettke

Always Open

Posted on 24. Nov, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

Welcome to this place
A place of work and rest
There is no roof and the walls expand
To welcome in the best

Everyone’s invited
Come in to meet your dreams
This is where your future starts
And thoughts turn into things

This place is always open
It is you who holds the key
There are several ways to enter
Just close your eyes and see

Bring with you some questions
And step inside to learn
There are never-ending answers
To all of your concerns

Discover all your greatness
At this place we call the mind
A gift that’s born within us
In all of humankind

ACTION IDEA:

A curious mind creates possibilities. If you are seeking an answer to a challenge you are facing or a goal you would like to achieve, then take some time and use your mind. Right now, write down a question for the answer you are seeking on the back of a business card. It may be something like, "What do I need to accomplish my goal of ____________?" or maybe something like, "What is the answer to ______________?" Fill in the blanks with the outcome you desire and then carry this card with you and refer to it throughout the day.

Create a ritual to read your card on a regular basis — maybe before or after each meal or every morning and every evening — whatever you think would be the most consistent for you. Trust that you will discover an answer (or several answers!) and you will notice how powerful your mind can be.

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Go For a Record

Posted on 22. Nov, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

Hans getting some reading in at the office

It can be very inspiring to surround yourself with people who are consistently pushing their limits.  My friend, Hans Florine, is one of those people.  Hans is a record-holding rock climber who won gold in speed climbing three years in a row at the ESPN X-Games and currently holds the world speed record on the Nose route of El Capitan in Yosemite.

Four years ago, Hans gave me a challenge — to join him in doing 100 sit-ups (non-stop) every day for 100 days in a row. In the beginning, it was tough just remembering to do the sit-ups each day…let alone completing 100 non-stop.  After a week it got a little easier.  After a few weeks it became a habit that I actually enjoyed.  Some days I’d do even more than 100.  My core got stronger (and tighter) and I felt great. When we reached our 100 day goal I didn’t want to stop!  We recommitted to taking the same challenge on for another 100 days.  Today, I am happy to report that we recently completed our fourth year of this challenge…and we don’t plan on stopping.  So far we have completed over 146,000 sit-ups in the last four years.  (36,500 sit-ups a year x 4 years)

Over the years I have given the challenge of going for a record to my audiences when I speak and to several of my coaching clients.  Now I’m offering it to you.  What record could you go for that would add to your health, wealth, wisdom or peace of mind?

Here are some examples:

• Make 200 prospecting calls in 5 days
• Complete a marathon in under 4 hours
• Write for one hour a day for 100 days
• Acknowledge or compliment someone every day for a month
• Be on time for every appointment over the next 100 days

You see, there are many different ways you can go for a record.  Start today (or tomorrow) and make a personal commitment to give it your best.  Maybe it’s some daily action to take for 100 days in a row.  Maybe it’s a one time record that will help you take a big step toward a business or personal goal. 

Whatever you choose, ask someone to be your accountability partner and offer to be theirs.  Check in on a regular basis – daily or weekly to increase your focus and commitment.  And most of all…enjoy the process of pushing your limits and expanding your success.

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Systems, Structure, and Support

Posted on 21. Nov, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

"The happiest life is that which constantly exercises and educates what is best in us." ~Philip G. Hamerton

Creating Positive Momentum by Using Systems, Structures and Support

When he hired me to coach him, Greg wanted to take his business to the next level professionally and personally by giving better service and making more money. A realtor for almost four years, he had become the third highest producer in his office. But Greg wasn’t satisfied. "I’m frustrated with the lousy job I’m doing with my personal service," he told me. "I usually have several clients who are either in the process of buying or selling a home, so I want to stay in touch with them and make sure everything is going okay."

I asked, "What’s stopping you from making the calls?"

"I get so focused on following up with new prospects. Then I always seem to run out of time to make calls to my current clients, which is a bummer because if I served them better they would probably refer new prospects to me."

Here’s what Greg and I came up with:

THE SYSTEM: First, he made a commitment to invest half an hour each day to call the recent clients he had worked with.

THE STRUCTURE: Then, he decided to schedule that half an hour on his computerized calendar with a reminder box that would pop up on his screen.

THE SUPPORT: Finally, Greg promised that he would treat that appointment as if it were a meeting with a prospective new client. If he didn’t keep the appointment he would let me know during our next session, which would hold him accountable for his actions.

Greg’s Lesson:

"The simple habit of making a half hour appointment with my self, and actually putting it on my computer’s calendar, has been very effective for ensuring that I make client calls. Not only do I feel great about giving my clients the attention they deserve, I’m also getting more referrals than ever."

ACTION IDEA:

What is a goal you’ve set for this year that could benefit from a system, structure and support? Identify a daily action (your system) that will help you make progress toward the completion of your goal. Next, identify what type of reminder (your structure) you can set up to help remind you of the system you’ve set up on a regular basis. Finally, set up accountability (your support) around the daily action or system you have planned. You’ll find that this process will help you create and maintain momentum toward your most important goals.

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Find a Scrap Piece of Paper

Posted on 16. Nov, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." -Gandhi

Find a scrap piece of paper.  Got it?  Now imagine that this piece of scrap paper is you.  Let’s say that you promised a friend that you would meet him for lunch at noon.  But at twelve you are still at your office replying to an e-mail someone sent you about a possible new business opportunity.  You finally buzz out the door at 12:10 and you arrive at the café at 12:25.  Your friend is waiting there, concerned and frustrated.  Your excuse? “Sorry, I just had to handle something at the office.”

To represent this event, tear off a small piece of that scrap paper.

Now, imagine that you made a promise to your child that you would take her to the park after school.  But when you pick up your kid your excuse is, “Oh, I’m sorry honey.  I’ve got to go by the post office and we won’t have time to go to the park today.”

To represent this event, tear off another piece of that scrap paper.

Go ahead and rip off a piece of paper for every resolution you didn’t keep, an agreement you broke, or a goal you abandoned.  After ripping off all of those pieces, look at the small piece of paper you have left over.  Do you know what that’s called?  A flake.  Not much of anything, is it?  Whether it’s a promise you make to yourself or to someone else, it doesn’t serve anyone when you’re a flake.

In contrast, when you do what you say you’ll do something very powerful happens.  You prove to yourself that you can be counted on.  When you can count on yourself — no matter what the situation is – your self-esteem (and your happiness) expands.

Isn’t that worth focus and action?

NOTE: Please don’t think that I’m saying, "I never flake."  Whatever I write or speak about is also for me to examine and take in.  Like you, I strive to be the best person I can be.  As I read this issue, I was thinking, "Okay Rich, how can YOU better live this lesson?"

ACTION IDEA:

Starting right now — make only promises that you can keep and keep the promises you make.  You’ll be amazed at what it will do for your relationships, your business, and your peace of mind.
 

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