Mindset and Motivation Archives – Page 10 of 17

18 Apr 2011

Run Like a Gazelle – Agile for Small Business

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:46:13-06:00April 18th, 2011|Categories: Doug's Blog, Leadership, Mindset and Motivation|

Most software developers have heard of agile development. Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), Test Driven Development (TDD), etc.

Other business books such as "The E-Myth" talk about working "on" the business versus working "in" the business; and treating your business as a franchise prototype.

As a small or mid-sized business owner, you need to balance off:

Finding and servicing your customers,
Planning and executing your strategy,
Working on your business (making it better),
Working in the business (keeping it all running).

The problem is, every day you have a gazillion things to take care of. The world is getting more complex and faster paced by the minute. Your world is getting […]

14 Apr 2011

The Gap Between Intention and Reality

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:46:17-06:00April 14th, 2011|Categories: Business Strategy, Doug's Blog, Mindset and Motivation|

Most business owners see a gap between what they intend and where they really are.

You may have an intention to have a certain culture and live by certain values.

You may have an intention to follow a certain higher mission.

You may have an intention to implement a new vision and achieve certain goals.

This is all fine.

The gap between intention and reality creates movement; hopefully towards your ideal state. The larger the gap, the more movement (or change) required.

The Problems Start When…

The problems start when you sell the intent and not the reality.

You sell the intent to your customers but that is not what […]

28 Mar 2011

Rejoicing in the Success of Others

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:46:41-06:00March 28th, 2011|Categories: Doug's Blog, Leadership, Mindset and Motivation|

"Rather than being unhappy and hateful, we should rejoice in the success of others." Dalai Lama

This quote showed up courtesy of a Twitter feed. Whether or not the Dalia Lama actually said it is not point. This point hit home for me for three main reasons.

1. Personal Fulfillment

It is unlikely you will ever be truly happy if don't find happiness in seeing others grow and be happy.

This one is truly hard; especially if you are competitive or insecure by nature.

It is one thing to see your friends succeed and cheer them on, if you are doing just as […]

22 Mar 2011

Is Building A New Product A Dream?

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:46:46-06:00March 22nd, 2011|Categories: Business Strategy, Doug's Blog, Mindset and Motivation|

Is it your dream to launch a new product into the market? Are you looking for your dream job? Dream house? Are you dreaming of running a successful business?

Stop dreaming!

Actually, don't stop dreaming. Dreaming is good.

Stop "stopping" at dreaming.

Make your dreams real.

Dream, plan and take the action require to manifest it.

On two levels that is what our Manifast vision is about:

Building and shipping a useful software product (us),
Helping business owners manifest their dreams (us helping others).

It is not a just a dream. It is happening.

What is your dream?

19 Mar 2011

Always Give People Your Best Show

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:46:55-06:00March 19th, 2011|Categories: Doug's Blog, Leadership, Mindset and Motivation|

Personal and business lessons are everywhere, even in the things you do as hobby or for fun.

I've mentioned before that I play Celtic music in couple of bands here in Calgary. One of those bands just completed a Saint Paddy's Day performance. We were the opening act, initially playing for a sparse crowd that then grew into a full house. It was also a noisy pub night environment; people drinking and talking with their friends.

One might be tempted to think people are not really watching and not put your full energy or talent into the show.

But this would be a mistake.

You Never […]

4 Mar 2011

If You Want To Accomplish Something – Choose!

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:47:20-06:00March 4th, 2011|Categories: Doug's Blog, Leadership, Mindset and Motivation|

There are 60 seconds in a minute

There are 60 minutes in an hour.

There are 24 hours in a day.

There are 365 days in a year, plus a bonus day every 4 years.

Everyone has the same constraint.

(As far as I know) you have to sleep, eat and breath to live. The rest of your time is yours to spend how you want; but you only get to spend it once in this lifetime.

Some people accomplish amazing things in that time. Others don't seem to accomplish much, but they may be busy; even very busy.

The magic secret?

Choose.

Every single day, every week, make […]

3 Feb 2011

Fair is Fair (Red Gate and CRTC)

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:47:55-06:00February 3rd, 2011|Categories: Doug's Blog, Leadership, Mindset and Motivation, Software Development|

I've been reading a book called "Your Brain At Work" by David Rock lately. It is really about how your brain works (or doesn't) during the day both at work and at home. The concept is that if you understand, you can use the knowledge to your benefit by controlling how you think and react to the world. This is one of the best books I have read for its impact on my own thinking.

In the book the author states that we are wired to know what is fair and what is not. In fact survival often depended […]

25 Jan 2011

Focus On The Good News Folks!

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-04T14:28:42-06:00January 25th, 2011|Categories: Doug's Blog, Mindset and Motivation|

It is a funny thing.

I wrote my last post thinking, “Hey this is good news, I can pretty much do anything I really want to if I am willing to just work at it.” and “As I practice I will get better and better.” These thoughts really pumped me up and I saw opportunity to keep growing as a person… maybe even become great at some things.

A lot of people when they read it went, “I guess I’ll have to settle for not being very good then.”

I’ve always assumed I can do most things if I put my mind to […]

24 Jan 2011

Practice Makes Perfect – Period

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:48:09-06:00January 24th, 2011|Categories: Doug's Blog, Mindset and Motivation, Software Development|

To become good, better or great at something we need to practice; right?

But obviously there are some people who have natural talent that slingshots them past everyone else. They can become great at something in a fraction of the time of regular people; it is called talent. These are the instant success stories you hear about all the time… they are born with "the gift".

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? More relevant here… which came first, the talent or the practice?

I was killing a bit of time in a bookstore recently and skimmed the book "Talent Is Overrated: […]

15 Dec 2010

Driving Corporate Change – Made Easier

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-04T14:40:43-06:00December 15th, 2010|Categories: Books and Courses, Business Strategy, Doug's Blog, Mindset and Motivation|

If you’ve been reading my blog posts over the last few years, it should come as no surprise that I have been putting a lot of focus into what makes companies and people succeed. I’ve been reading books, attending seminars, reading blogs, etc.

Our mission is

“Help people achieve their full potential; including living a fulfilling life.”

We are building a software product to do just that for entrepreneurs and business coaches.

We are at an amazing point in history; so much of the knowledge that people have amassed is readily available and openly shared for our taking. This blog is […]