Stories for Reflection

Francis Kong Business Mirror

BUILDING MOMENTUM

Story: Catching A Fish

A fisherman from the city was out fishing on a lake in a small boat. He noticed another man in a small boat open his tackle box and take out a mirror. Being curious the man rowed over and asked, What is the mirror for?

Story: Catching A Fish

Thats my secret way to catch fish, said the other man. Shine the mirror on the top of the water. The fish notice the spot of sun on the water above and they swim to the surface. Then I just reach down and net them and pull them into the boat. Wow! Does that really work? You bet it does.

 Would you be interested in selling that mirror? Ill give you this to you for P2,000.00. Well, okay. After the money was transferred, the city fisherman asked, By the way, how many fish have you caught this week? Youre the sixth, he said.

Thats fine catch and this swindler certainly has MOMENTUM.

HOW TO BUILD MOMENTUM TO KEEP OUR TEAM ON COURSE & ACCOMPLISH INTENDED GOALS?

A Couple of Suggestions
The philosophy behind momentum is to first understand that you build momentum by accumulating small successes.
Doug Firebaugh says: The secret to Momentum in life can be found in the word Momentum... you create it Moment by Moment...

The bigger the project, the bigger is the payoff as long as momentum is there.

Suggestions to Build Momentum

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1. Let Momentum Be Part Of Your Plan

Have everyone know that the entire team will push all speed ahead once they know how to create momentum.

2. Target A Few Small Wins

These may be initiatives that do not cost much, easy to carry out, does not meet much objections and a few small wins give your team the starting push to get momentum going. Choose these small projects; get them done because this is your way of telling the team that you are now on the move.

3. Let Small Wins Lead To Bigger Goals

The reason why suggestion number 2 is crucial it is because you gain the energy and the zeal and most importantly the optimism to be able to tackle bigger goals. But may I suggest that you focus only on important thing and not too many of them. Trying to do too much at once may cause a diffusion of focus and demoralization in the group. You need at least 1 big win to be able to tackle some more.

4. Celebrate Your Success

Once you see the successes coming in celebrate publicly. Send e-mails, put it on your company newsletters, congratulate everyone in your team and make sure their bosses are copy furnished. Praising people publicly is one of the best non-monetary motivational tools you can use that prepares them to do more and achieve even bigger goals. You need momentum to keep your business or career going. Stay away from inertia, but kick yourself forward and build momentum.

4. Celebrate Your Success

It takes a leader with a grand vision to be able to achieve great success. Peeking through a peephole is no way to stay motivated when youre moving toward a goal. The big picture is important. The leader with the big dreamsbig goalsbig rewardsbig faithis the one who can keep his people moving through obstacles and fatigue and discouragement.

Stuck On Stupid
Mr. Santos had a leak in the roof over his dining room, so he called a carpenter to take a look at it. When did you first notice the leak? the carpenter inquired. Mr. Santos frowned. Last night, when it took me two hours to finish my soup!

Couldnt he just move his soup away from the leak from the roof?
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 Now that is a classic example of being stuck on stupid. Have you ever heard this phrase Stuck on stupid? You wouldnt want to be branded as such. Its mean and its insulting yet when you think about it, there is a ring of truth in it. Many people in the work place are not stupid but when they refuse to improve and when they resist change then they certainly become stupid.
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 If you insist on playing todays games by yesterdays rules then youre stuck; Stuck with a stupid strategy because the world has changed. Some organizations are stuck. Others move quickly. And in a world that is constantly changing, the adapters are certainly having more fun. Why do certain people go deeper into debt? Because they are stuck on stupid. They are not only acting their age, they are not acting their wage! Buying things they dont need with money they dont have from people they dont know to impress people they dont like.

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 Why do certain people cannot get a steady job? Because they are stuck on stupid. Anywhere they go they feel like the world is against them. Poor people skills and the inability to respect authority. They are all wrapped up in themselves and they make a small package. Why do certain people destroy their relationship with their families? Because they are stuck on stupid. Playing with fire all the time and not expecting to get burnt? Why do certain people continue to work in a job they dont like, live in a house they dont want and live a life they hate living? Because they are stuck on stupid. They have not taken the initiative to stop doing what they are doing and to start working on themselves more than they do on their jobs.
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 Heres what to do when stuck on stupid. Break the Mold! Start thinking differently and start behaving differently. Stop whining and start winning. Dont be an expert in blame-storming. Most people I know are winners and live with healthy habits. But if you happen to be one of these people I mentioned who are stuck on stupid, then out of love and concern I will have to talk to you this time..
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 Nononoyour colleague did not do special personal favors for your boss and thats why the promotion was given. It was simply because while you were sleeping on the job, overstaying in the washrooms, whining, moaning, grumbling and groaning every time an assignment is given you and reporting in late all the time your colleague was busy producing results and carving a name for herself. So dont get stuck on stupid it will not get you anywhere. Stop resisting and start learning. Work on your attitude. Develop healthy work habits. Put on those gym clothes and start exercising. Learn from the successful and get out of your comfort and lazy zones. Take some risks. Life is all about taking risks.
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 When you attend a seminar you risk the time and money spent on it but you can walk away with vital life lessons that will help you earn a fortune. Its a risk worth taking. When you stop resisting change and start adapting to it you risk losing your areas of familiarity but you may gain newer and better ways to be more efficient and productive. Its a risk worth taking. When you drop all those stupid and useless relationships, go back to your family and start loving and caring for them faithfully you risk ridicule from the other losers in your company but you begin to build a life and a future for those who are the most important to you. And that is a risk worth taking.
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 Listen now. If you are not living on the edge then you are taking up too much space. If you are not making yourself productive then you are merely occupying up space and sucking up air. Dont get stuck on stupid. Start living life to the full for that is what God has always wanted us to do.
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