5 Ways to Thrive During Tough Times

This is a great motivational read.

The below article is written by Jon Gordon.  You can find out more about Jon at www.JonGordon.com.

5 Ways To Thrive During Tough Times

Budgets are tightening. The economy is stagnating. Competition is building. Fear is spreading. And uncertainty is growing.

Staying positive doesn't mean you ignore this reality. Rather it means you stay positive and take positive action in spite of this reality - regardless of how bleak the situation may seem.

Now is a time to get back to basics, zoom focus on the fundamentals, grow your business, gain market share and seize the opportunity. Yes, opportunity. Despite what you have been hearing now is a great opportunity for you and your organization to create lasting success.

Study history and you'll find that a lot of people and organizations made a name for themselves and grew their businesses during recessions and downturns. These successful people and organizations all shared similar characteristics and took similar actions to thrive while others merely tried to survive. These success stories offer a blue print we can follow to thrive during tough times. They show us what is possible if we are willing to stay positive, repel fear, and take initiative.

In this spirit, here are five characteristics and actions you can take to thrive right now.

1. Refuse to Participate in the Recession - Businesses and people that thrived during past recessions continued to go about their business as usual regardless of the market conditions. They stayed positive, worked hard and focused on taking actions to grow their business. Focus on business as usual and while others allow fear to paralyze them you will charge forward and move ahead of your competition.

2. Increase Marketing and Advertising - It may seem counter intuitive to spend more money on advertising and marketing but with so many people and organizations cutting back on these expenses this is a great opportunity to build your brand, expand your presence and gain market share. People will still be buying goods and services and they will buy from those who they trust and see in the marketplace. This is a great time to win new customers and stand out.

3. Innovate - Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes, great ideas and new business ventures are born during economic hardships. GE, Disney, and Microsoft were all born during recessions. I believe when times are tough we are more open to new ideas, new products and new ways of doing things. For example, smart political and business leaders should be working on new technologies and infrastructure that will lead us into the future.

4. Become a Talent Magnet - If you are a leader or manager there is no better time to find, attract and hire the best talent. Focus on strengthening your business now and you’ll be in a great position to capitalize when the market rebounds.

5. Think Big, Take Action - Consider that both the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge were built during the Great Depression. Now is a time to think big, create your vision and take action. With more people living in fear and fewer people taking initiative the rewards and recognition will be greater for those willing to work hard and dedicate themselves to building a great business, product, service, and vision. As we know, there is no substitute for hard work and now is a time where those with a positive attitude and great work ethic will shine.

Think Before You Invest

How do you invest your time?  How do you invest...you?

I have shared before how much I enjoy reading Sally Clarkson's work.  Today's post on her blog, I Take Joy, is so relevant for all that I wanted to share it with you.  Check out what she has to say about "Investing your life or frittering away the coins of time".

Great Summer Dessert

Need a great summer dessert that is super easy to make?  I have it for you.  My Key Lime Pie recipe is about as easy as it gets.  This recipe comes from the grandmother of one of my best friends from college. Marie and I stayed with her grandparents in FL during one of our Feb Breaks (yes we had a week off in February in addition to a normal Spring Break) and she kept the pies coming the entire time we were there.  I couldn't get enough of it!

Graham cracker crumb crust

Original Cool Whip

Sweentened Condensed Milk

Lime Juice - one of those little limes with the juice in it is the perfect size, but if you have to buy a big jar of it, then you need 2/3 cup

Mix the cool whip and condensed milk.  Add in the lime juice and mix some more.  Throw it in the pie crust and then into the freezer.  Tada!  

I like to keep mine in the freezer and pull out at serving time because it can soften up fairly quickly in this 100 degree weather.

Great for making ahead of time.  And it keeps for a long time.

Enjoy.

Give Me a Break

I've never been one to sit still for very long.

I can remember this one time when we were little and my mom, sister and I were in a doctor's office.  Not sure if someone was sick or if it was just a routine check-up, but while we were waiting I proceeded to open up every jar and cabinet to examine every item in this tiny room.  It didn't matter what it was or what it was used for I was just finding something to do really.  (No patience then, and still working on my patience even now).  But what sticks out most in my memory is my sister trying to make me stop and just sit still.  My mom, I'm sure knowing better at this point, told my sister that I wasn't harming anything I just had to keep moving.  So, knowing I had permission (within boundaries) and that I was irritating my sister, of course I didn't stop.

Now that I'm older I still find it hard for me to sit still, but for somewhat different reasons.  There is always something that needs to be done.  Laundry to fold, dishes to wash, toys to pick up - I'm sure you can rattle off your own list without really trying too hard.  So making myself take a break is hard sometimes because I feel the guilt settle in like a weight with all the things I could be doing.

So, give me a break.  No seriously.  This is the one way I am guaranteed to relax and not feel guilty about it.  This past Christmas my managers and district managers gave me a 60 minute massage at Westwood Day Spa.  Is there really any better gift for a woman?  I can't think of many.  But of course, in classic mommy fashion I kept putting it off because its not convenient during the week and I hate giving up my family time on the weekends.  But finally I couldn't wait any longer - my certificate was about to expire.  And for 60 minutes yesterday morning I took a much needed break.  Completely guilt free.

Need a gift for the ladies in your life?  Call the spa and make her take a break.

Laura's ABCs

A...B...C...D.......watch and learn

Cookies & a Baby Turtle

All we needed was a project.

During our Friday play date we stretched the limit of time that toddlers usually last with a simple project.  Cookies.  We tried using the 101 kit of cookie cutters that I found at Target on our cookie dough, but very quickly we discovered that logs of cookie dough are not meant to be formed into different shapes.  But regardless the project provided enough structure and focus to make a Friday play date last almost 5 hours.  And when its raining out side this was a huge win for the mommies!

After naptime, Grant provided another treat for our Friday - a baby turtle.  One of his crews found it and he brought it home to show LB.  She loved it.  And we had to watch her cause she would get so excited and start jumping up and down right around it.  Thankfully she never landed on it and we sent the turtle on its way in our backyard.

Jon Gordon's Weekly Newsletter

TRUE FREEDOM

By Jon Gordon

I love July 4th. Not just because of the fireworks, barbeque and excitement that Independence Day brings. I love it because it’s a holiday that celebrates the greatest gift to humanity... freedom.

Freedom is not something many of us think about on a daily basis and yet if you consider the great struggles and triumphs throughout history they are stories of an oppressed group of people who sought, desired, and found freedom.

The quest for freedom is also a story that lives inside each and every one of us.

I remember three years ago when I went on a book tour for The Energy Bus. I drove thousands of miles and visited 30 cities. My wife and kids joined me for part of the trip but I also spent many hours, days and miles driving alone.

At one point on the journey I looked in the rearview mirror and realized I had all this stuff on my bus that I didn't need. Why did I travel with all these bags of useless stuff for so long, I wondered?

I believe every one of us can say the same about our life journey. We hold on to bags that only weigh us down. For some it’s the bags of the past or the bags of disappointment. For others, it’s the bags of distrust, self-doubt, mistakes, fear, anger and pain.

We may live in a free country but we are often imprisoned by our negative thoughts and emotional baggage.

You know the baggage I'm talking about. They affect your work, your life and your relationships. Just as I looked in the rearview mirror of my bus, you can look in the rear view mirror of your life and know which bags need to be left behind.

Then you can do what I did. I didn’t want to drive heavy. I wanted to travel light. So I let the bags off the bus. You can do the same. As author Max Lucado says, “You can release the burdens you were never meant to carry.”

I remember the moment I let the bags off my bus. I was somewhere past Phoenix driving through the desert. I found a big trash can and put the bags where they belonged. I got back in the bus with the past behind me and a road full of daylight ahead. A big smile came upon my face. I was now free to enjoy the ride.

I hope you'll do the same... and experience true freedom.

www.JonGordon.com