What is the Hedgehog Concept?

The hedgehog concept is explained in the book entitled, "Good to Great" written by Jim Collins. As you can see from the image, the hedgehog concept is found within the three circles. I'll briefly describe in more detail what these three circles represent.

What you can be the best in the world at. Just because you are good at something doesn't necessarily mean you can be the best in the world at it. Focus on that one thing that you can be the best in the world at!

What drives your economic engine. What brings you the most success? What brings in more profit for your business? Find that thing, and exploit it!

What are you deeply passionate about? Focus on what you are passionate about. The idea is not to stimulate passion, but figure out what makes you passionate!

Conclusion: The Hedgehog Concept is finding the intersection of these three circles. If you would like to view a video version of the hedgehog Concept - watch Jim Collins teach it!

Level 5 Leadership

Many of you have read the book entitled Good to Great written by Jim Collins. If you have, then you should be familiar with the term "Level 5 Leader". Jim Collins focuses on 12 companies that he refers to as "great" companies and picks apart how each one of them achieved this status. The first area that he discusses is leadership of the company.

What is a Level 5 Leader?

• A level 5 leader never in a million years will stop trying to become qualified for the job
• Channel their ego needs away from themselves and towards the success of the company
• Modest and willful, humble yet fearless
• Dedication and desire to make anything they touch the best it could possibly be
• Ambition and concern first and foremost for the company, not for one's own riches
• Sets up their successor for success
• Don't talk about themselves
• Fanatically driven to PRODUCE results

• Look out the window to give credit when things are going well, and look in the mirror when things aren't going so well, never blaming bad luck when things go poorly

Now look at the Level 5 Leadership image above. Where do YOU fit in on the pyramid?

Level 5 Executive: Builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humiity and professional blend of personal humility and professional will.

Effective Leader: Catalyzes commitment to and vigorous pursuit of a clear and compelling vision, stimulating higher performance standards.

Competent Manager: Organizes people and resources toward the effective and efficient pursuit of predetermined objectives.

Contributing Team Member: Contributes individual capabilities to the achievement of group objectives and works effectively with others in a group meeting.

Highly Capable Individual: Makes productive contributions through talent, knowledge, skills and good work habits.

No matter where you are on the pyramid, if you apply these characteristics of a Level 5 Leader you will progress upwards towards the end goal of becoming a Level 5 Leader.

Be Motivated to Be Credit Worthy

Today we would like to provide some information to help you towards a debt-free world. Below is a tip on what a credit inquiry is, and how to avoid negative effects that are associated with them.

What is the definition of an inquiry and what does it matter to the credit conscious consumer?

CREDIT INQUIRY - "An attempt to seek information concerning interest rates and the availability of funds without disclosing your identity, or specifying the need or purpose of the proposed borrowing, or the specifics concerning your creditworthiness."(www.lectlaw.com)

When you take into effect that a credit inquiry can effect up to 10% of your overall credit score you may want to start paying attention. A rule of thumb is to be careful with these inquiries not to accrue more than 4 every two years. If you need to shop for loans, as for a mortgage or some other large sum then try and have these inquiries occur within a 10-14 day period. After seeing thousands of credit reports our friends at Credit2Buy can tell you that usually those who take care of their inquiries usually take care of the other aspects of their credit report.

To make it as simple as possible let's illustrate it like this. Imagine you are playing a game similar to 20 Questions. In this game however it is more like 4 Questions or 4 Inquiries. Use them wisely which means probably avoid giving your full name to used car dealers. They seem to have an affection of running your credit to see what mid sized sedan they can squeeze you into.
Remember:
A credit inquiry can effect up to 10% of your overall credit score.
Never accrue more than 4 inquiries over a 2 year span.
Don't give out your full name to used car dealerships.

For more information on the matter check out credit2buy's blog or email credit2buy@gmail.com

Making Progress Toward Your Goals

If you are tired of feeling like a little boy walking around a corn maze, lost, frustrated, no idea where to go next, then take heed to these principles and apply them as soon as possible.

TAKE ACTION: Joe Vitale says, “Do anything to keep the momentum going forward”. Don’t focus soley on ALL of the challenges that are ahead. By doing so only brings your forward momentum to a hault because you are stuck in the thought of how in the world am I going to accomplish all of this.

JUST TAKE THE NEXT STEP: You don’t have to be able to see your destination in order to reach it. When driving from California to New York, you can’t see your final destination, but by increments you eventually arrive.

IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE RESULTS, CHANGE WHAT YOU’RE DOING:
Ask yourself, “What can I do today so the next five years are not the same as the last five?”

EVALUATE HOW YOU ARE SPENDING YOUR TIME:
More often than not we spend our time on the little things. Take a second and figure out if this is a major thing or minor. If it’s major, then spend major time on major things. Don’t let the little minors interfere with you getting done what needs to be done! Once you see the major things getting checked off your to-do list, it will fuel more results.

MAKE SURE YOUR HEART IS IN IT:
George Lucas says, “You have to find something you love enough to be able to take risks, jump over the hurdles, and break through the brick walls that are always going to be placed in front of you. If you don’t have that kind of feeling for what it is you are doing, you’ll stop at the first giant hurdle.”

PUSH YOURSELF TO REACH YOUR POTENTIAL:
Here’s what Cynthia Kersey suggests: Make a realistic assessment of your current abilities. Now imagine your abilities have increased by 10 percent. What could yo be doing if you immediately possessed 10 percent more abilities, skills and talents? You could be doing those things today if you believed you could nad pushed yourself – even a little bit- outside your comfort zone.

Our Message Motivator Update

We would like to apologize for not posting as regularly as we should. It's been a crazy few months here at Message Motivator. We currently have over 400 subscribers to our motivational text service, and are so excited to start adding more! We have received lots of positive feedback and will be adding in new features in the near future.

Our latest addition has been Pinnacle Security out of Orem, Utah. Those are some great guys, and if you are interested in an incredible experience in sales, be sure to check them out here.

We would like to thank all of our other followers/subscribers and are open to any ideas on how we can better serve your motivational needs!

Get Fit with These Great Resources

We are going to do things a little different today. Normally, we try and touch on topics that are perfect for getting you more motivated for the day. Today, we are going to share with all of you some really cool resources that are easily accessible. We recently came across these websites that are awesome in getting you fit, outside more, and meeting new motivated people. So check them out!

Active.com - This is an online community for people interested in running races, team sports and recreational activities. You can search by city to see schedules of race events, or even start online training programs.

Yougodo.com - This one is pretty cool. You type in basically what you want to do for example "learn something new" and leave the location blank. The results will include learning vacations all over the world!

Mapmyfitness.com - If you run, hike, bike, walk or participate in triathlons, here is a social networking site just for you. You can exchange routes with other people.

Trails.com - If you dig the outdoors - you'll dig this site. With 40,000 routes throughout the United States, you're destined to find a few new ones you haven't been on!

Meetup.com - Meant to get you off the internet and find groups that interest you.

Zootoo.com - If you are a pet owner and lover you'll definitely want to check this one out. Connect with other pet lovers and find out about events regarding your pets.

i-neighbors.org - Provide your zip code and this site gives you info about your community.

Reserveamerica.com - Search for a place to camp based on your preference of tent, cabin or RV. Narrow search results down to get the exact location you want to go to.

We hope you enjoy these cool resources. The internet is a great way to learn of fun events within your community. Have fun - and get fit!

The Secret Weapon

There's an excellent article in this month's issue of Success Magazine. It's called The Secret Weapon to a Sharper Mind and Better Business. Let us sum it up for all of you in case you haven't had the chance to check out the article.

A doctor named Dr. John Ratey just released a book called Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. In this book the Dr. talks about a high school in Naperville, Ill., where they approach physical education a little differently. In my high school, P.E. was all about pick up games in basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, and pretending to act tough in the weight room. Well, this high school does things a little different, the students wear heart monitors and are graded on the amount of time they are able to keep their heart rate in the optimal aerobic range for their body type. What?!!! I think in my high school, P.E. would have gone from most guy's favorite class to don't ever take that dumb P.E. class...

Due to this intense P.E. class, the standardized test scores of the entire student body have jumped. In math, the school placed sixth in the world. On the science section, they placed first in the entire world!

Dr. Ratey has proven that when you exercise, it changes the physical structure of your brain. It increases your speed of processing, your memory. Basically, science has proven that exercise primes your brain for success and makes you smarter. That's not all however, Dr. Ratey also says that if you want to think clearer, beat stress, put the damper on your depression and boost your confidence, you only have to do one thing, and that's exercise!

As a Man Thinketh

"All that a man achieves and that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts...His condition is his own, and not another man's. His suffering and his happiness are evolved from within. As he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains."

- This is an excerpt from one of the best all-time classic inspirational books As a Man Thinketh.
James Allen deeply stresses the importance of positive thinking, and how it has an effect on one's character. Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results. Think about that. If one can stay true to that principle, negative thoughts could never take over his mental frame of mind, for his positiveness would have already repelled the negativity away, long before it had a chance to damage his character.

We as humans understand this law in the natural world. Nothing can come from corn, but corn. When a cow gives birth, another cow comes out. Yet we struggle with it in the mental and moral world. When we are negative, we generate negativity all around us. This effects not only ourselves, but others. It has a ripple effect. This results in one way or another to us suffering. Flip this entirely around and you have a recipe for joy and happiness. Choose today to let your positivity repel all thoughts and temptations of negativity.

Life is 10 Percent What You Make it and 90 Percent How You Take it

"Life is 10 Percent What You Make it and 90 Percent How You Take it" - Irving Berlin

Adversity is not something we can avoid. If it is coming our way, we can't say - "ahh, I don't feel like having to push myself, life is good - just go away okay." We WILL face it. It WILL hit us. How are we going to respond? How will YOU take it?

We came across an awesome video clip that Mac Anderson put together. Check it out. It's very powerful. Here it is: Finish Strong.

The Daily Dozen

John C. Maxwell is one of the greatest writers/motivators in our day. We encourage all to take a look at his books, he has written a handful of helpful guides on encouraging success and reaching ones full potential. His website is here John Maxwell.



One of our favorites is Today Matters: 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrows Success.



In it, he gives us 12 daily practices to guide us in the right direction of achieving success. Here is The Daily Dozen:

1. Attitude: Choose and display the right attitude daily.
2. Priorities: Determine and act on important priorities daily.
3. Health: Know and follow healthy guidelines daily.
4. Family: Communicate with and care for family daily.
5. Thinking: Practice and develop thinking skills daily.
6. Commitment: Make and keep proper commitments daily.
7. Finances: Earn and properly manage finances daily.
8. Faith: Deepen and live out faith daily.
9. Relationships: Initiate and invest in solid relationships daily.
10. Generosity: Plan for and model generosity daily.
11. Values: Embrace and practice good values daily.
12. Growth: Desire and experience improvements daily.

Doing all 12 of these on a daily basis can be overwhelming at first. We suggest you pick 3-4 practices that you find to be the most difficult for you to do. Once you have mastered those, pick another 3-4 and so on until you naturally are integrating all 12 into your daily regime. Can you imagine how much more motivated and driven you would be if you did all 12 of these on a daily basis? We encourage all to start now. Remember, if you don't start today, you'll never start tomorrow!

6 Ways To Make People Like You

#6 - Make The Other Person Feel Important And Do It Sincerely

Dale Carnegie was waiting in line one day at the post office. He noticed the clerk looking mighty bored and unhappy. He wanted the clerk to feel the same way as himself. Dale immediately scaled the man and asked himself, "Okay, what can I HONESTLY say about the man that I admire." He found it. When it was his turn in line, Dale told the bored man, that he certainly wished he had his head of hair. The clerk perked up, smiled and said, "well it isn't as good as it used to be." The two of them then had a pleasant conversation. That man probably went home that day and told his wife what had happened. He probably looked in the mirror at himself and said you know what - you are looking good my man!

While Dale was relating this story in public once, he had a man ask him, "What did you want to get out of him?" - What! What did I want to get out of him! - You see that is how society is. In order to do something for someone else, there needs to be a reward for it. What ever happened to the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you! Can't we radiate a little happiness for others without having to receive something in return from them?

There is one all important law of human conduct. If we obey that law, we shall almost never get into trouble. In fact, that law, if obeyed, will bring us countless friends and constant happiness. But the very instant we break the law, we shall get into endless trouble. The law is this: ALWAYS MAKE THE OTHER PERSON FEEL IMPORTANT. John Dewey said that the desire to be important is the deepest urge in human nature.

Be careful however. It is very easy to notice an insincere compliment. Once you get that label over you it is hard to shake it. Don't compliment for your own benefit. Always remember the Golden Rule, and To Make The Other Person Feel Important, and Do It Sincerely!

This is principle 6 - The Last.

6 Ways To Make People Like You

#5 – Talk In Terms Of The Other Person’s Interests


Everyone who was ever a guest of Theodore Roosevelt was astonished at the range and diversity of his knowledge. Whether his visitor was a cowboy, rough rider, businessman, politician, or diplomat, Roosevelt knew what to say. Was it because he was born with complete knowledge of every topic ever invented? No, he was able to cater to his guest’s interests by reading up on what they were interested in the night before. For he knew that the royal road to a person’s heart is to talk about the things he or she treasures most.


Try it out for a day. Maybe even a week. If you are going out to dinner with relatives, acquaintances, or a business meeting over lunch, study out your guest. Go online, find some articles or interesting facts, or even intelligent questions that you could ask. See how quickly you can make this a habit.

This is principle 5.

6 Ways To Make People Like You

#4 - Be a good listener, encourage others to talk about themselves.

Some time ago, Dale Carnegie attended a bridge party. While there he met a woman that knew a man Dale had actually traveled around with in Europe. She wanted Dale to tell her all about his travels throughout Europe. As they sat down on the sofa, right before Dale was going to start into his travels, she mentioned she and her husband had recently returned home from Africa. Immediately Dale showed interest in her trip and told her he had never been but always wanted to visit. For the next forty-five minutes she talked about that Africa trip. She never again asked him about his travels in Europe. All she wanted was an interested listener, so she could expand her ego and tell about where she had been.

Naturally, we are all like this woman. We like to share with people things we have accomplished, seen, and participated in. We need LISTENERS! However, if we are the ones doing all the talking, who is going to do the listening?

If you want to know how to make people shun you and laugh at you behind your back and even despise you, here is the recipe: Never listen to anyone for long. Talk incessantly about yourself. If you have an idea while the other person is talking, don’t wait for him or her to finish: bust right in and interrupt in the middle of a sentence. I’m sure we know a few people like this. They are bores, intoxicated with their own egos, drunk with a sense of their own importance.

Now if you aspire to be a good conversationalist, be an attentive listener. TO BE INTERESTING, BE INTERESTED. Ask questions that other persons will enjoy answering. Encourage them to talk about themselves and their accomplishments.

Remember – people that you talk to are 100 times more interested in themselves and their wants and problems than they are in you and your problems. In other words – make it a habit to be a good listener.

This is principle 4.

6 Ways To Make People Like You

#3 - Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.

There once was a man named Jim Farley. When he was 10, his father died in a tragic accident, leaving little Jim as the man of the house. Jim went to work at a brickyard, and never had a chance for education. Naturally Jim, was a likable person, and made his way into politics. As the years went by he developed an uncanny ability for remembering people's names. He never saw the inside of a high school, but by the age of 46, four colleges had honored him with degrees, and he became chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and Postmaster General for the United States. Jim said he could remember 50,000 individuals by their first name. This ability is what helped put Franklin D. Roosevelt in the White House (he managed Roosevelt's campaign).

Jim's system for remembering names was actually pretty simple. What made it work however, was that he actually DID it. His system was that whenever he met a new acquaintance, he found out his or her complete name, and some facts about his or her family, business and political opinions. All of this created a "picture" in his brain, and the next time he came across them again, he was able to ask about the family and how the garden was keeping up this year. No wonder he developed a following!

Sometimes it is hard to remember someone's name especially if it is a rather difficult one. So what do we do? We don't remember it, and that makes for a rather awkward situation for the next time we have to address that person. Here are just a few experiences of how important remembering names can be.

Andrew Carnegie, a very successful gentleman in the steel industry had a great idea while just a mere boy. He came across a momma rabbit, and in no time he had a whole nest of baby rabbits, but had nothing to feed them. He told all the neighbor kids that if they would go out and pull enough clover and dandelions to feed them, that he would name the rabbits in their honor. The idea worked brilliantly!

Another experience, later on in life, came when Andrew and a fellow businessman George Pullman were battling each other in the railroad sleeping-car business. They met up one day and had a conversation. Pullman asked Andrew what was on his mind, and Andrew told him he thought they should merge their companies together. He thought it would be much more efficient if they worked together rather than against each other. Well, Pullman wasn't buying it. He asked Andrew what he would name the company, and Andrew replied, " Why, the Pullman Palace Car Company, of course." Pullman's face brightened. He told Andrew to step into his office to talk it over. That talk made industrial history.

Remember - the name sets the individual apart, it makes him or her unique among all others. From the waitress to the senior executive, the name will work magic as we deal with others.

This is principle 3.

6 Ways To Make People Like You

#2 - Smile!

Actions speak louder than words, and a smile says " I like you. You make me happy. I am glad to see you." Like a baby's smile, it can make us happy when we are at our lowest points.

Professor James V. McConnel, a psychologist at the University of Michigan, expressed his feelings about a smile. "People who smile," he said, "tend to manage, teach and sell more effectively, and to raise happier children. There's far more information in a smile than a frown. That's why encouragement is a much more effective teaching device than punishment."

So, what if you don't feel like smiling? Force yourself to smile. If you are alone, whistle or a hum a tune. Pretend as if you were already happy, and this will tend to make you happy.

Everyone in the world is seeking happiness - and there is one sure way to find it. That is by controlling your thoughts. Happiness does not depend on outward conditions. It depends on inner conditions. Abe Lincoln said, "most folks are about as happy as the make up their minds to be."

Your smile is a messenger of your good will. Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it.

This is principle 2.

6 Ways To Make People Like You

How To Win Friends & Influence People is one of the greatest books ever written. With some of the most basic concepts Dale Carnegie is able to deliver the messages in a way that makes you yearning to apply the techniques instantly in your own life. With that in mind, we have decided to dissect a section of his book. Each post will take one of the 6 ways to make people like you, explain it, and light the fire within yourself to strive to be a better person. Let us begin.

#1 - Become Genuinely Interested In Other People:

Have you ever stopped to think that a dog is the only animal that doesn't have to work for a living. The hen has to lay eggs, a cow has to milk, the canary has to sing, and the dog makes his living by giving you nothing but love. Where are we going with this - you'll want to write this down and ponder it quite regularly -

YOU CAN MAKE MORE FRIENDS IN 2 MONTHS BY BECOMING INTERESTED IN OTHER PEOPLE, THAN YOU CAN IN 2 YEARS BY TRYING TO GET PEOPLE INTERESTED IN YOU.

This is very hard to do. For example, when you are shown a picture that includes yourself in it, what do you do first? Look for yourself. The world today is falling more into the realm of how can I get the edge over my peers, that being interested in others gets thrown out the window. Zig Ziglar say's it best -

"You Can Only Get What You Want, If You Help Enough Other People Get What They Want"

Take for example President Theodore Roosevelt, who even his servants loved him! His Valet James E. Amos wrote a book about him entitled, Theodore Roosevelt, Hero To His Valet. In this book James writes of this experience:

My wife one time asked the President about a bobwhite. She had never seen one and he described it to her fully. Sometime later, the telephone at our cottage rang. [ Amos and his wife lived in a little cottage on the Roosevelt estate at Oyster Bay.] My wife answered it and it was Mr. Roosevelt himself. He had called her, he said, to tell her that there was a bobwhite outside her window and that if she would look out she might see it. Little things like that were so characteristic of him. Whenever he went by our cottage, even though we were out of sight, we would hear him call out: "Oo-oo-oo, Annie?" or Oo-oo-oo James!" It was just a friendly greeting as he went by.

This is not something that the President had to do because it came with the title. He chose to be interested in others' lives - even his servants. REMEMBER:

YOU CAN MAKE MORE FRIENDS IN 2 MONTHS BY BECOMING INTERESTED IN OTHER PEOPLE, THAN YOU CAN IN 2 YEARS BY TRYING TO GET PEOPLE INTERESTED IN YOU.

This is principle 1.

What Motivates You

What Motivates You - By Suzette Walker

For some, the question of what motivates you can be difficult to answer. However, your main motivation lies in your own background and experiences. You must look back on your past events, whether it be in the work place or at home, to find where your motivation to succeed comes from. For most people, the answer is simply ‘money’, but the truth is really something much more substantial and this is your true motivation. Simply put, money would not be the answer but what money can permit you to do can be. Donald Trump once said, “Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game.” In other words, money is too general of a motivator -- what is it that money enables you to do that you would want it so much? Is it that you need the money to become independent from an employer or debt free. Money would also give you the ability to enjoy your leisure time without feeling unproductive. In this instance, the enjoyment of leisure time would be your true motivation.

To find your true motivator, make a list of your most exciting accomplishments. Think about the times when you felt energized at work or when you looked forward to going to work. Scan your resume and look for key words or phrases that made that job enjoyable. Was it the ability to lead a group of people into accomplishing a difficult task? Were you enlivened by the accomplishments that you created or the skills that enabled you to manage a large group? Maybe it was not the attainment of reaching the goal that exhilarated you as much as the recognition you received from your boss or others that was your true motivator. Also include tasks that you have achieved since working from home in your list. Think about projects that you have completed that excited you or that you tackled with exuberance.

Once you have a list of your most motivating experiences, take a look at it and circle key words or phrases that appear more than once. This will help you identify a clear pattern of what motivated you. Sometimes it can be as simple as having accomplished a goal accurately and in a timely manner. Other times it can be as complex as the prestige that you were awarded by others once the task was completed. Either way, it will give you a stronger sense of what motivates you right now.

8 Qualities of a Successful Salesman

With a little help from Brian Tracy we've created an awesome checklist of a high class salesman. Follow these principles and you'll be amazed at how you go about things differently!

1. Honesty- Keep your word (it builds credibility)
2. LOVE WHAT YOU SELL (think about it all the time)
3. Believe in yourself and in your product
4. Will power and determination
5. Ask good questions and LISTEN
6. Empathy for customers (quickly learn to care about them)
7. Make the extra effort
8. DON’T WASTE TIME!!!
   

Inch by Inch Lifes a Cinch

"Any time a thought, a sentence, or paragraph inspires you or opens up your thinking, you need to capture it, like a butterfly in a net, and later release it into your own field of consciousness."

~Steve Chandler

With so much going on in our lives - it's so easy to get caught up in everyday things. It can lead us away from goals we've set, or the lifestyle we desire. That is why it is so important to have something that can remind you regularly of the important things in your life. A good man Mac Anderson say's, "Inch by inch, life's a cinch; and yard by yard, life is hard."

Stop for a moment, and figure out what it is that inspires and motivates you. Cling onto that, do it daily, make it a habit!

Stress-Reduction Strategies

Here are some nice stress reducing techniques we can all apply, while trying to make it in this crazy world!

Body-rythm basics - Do what's best for you by honoring your body rythmns. For example, if you're a morning person, don't waste your best productive time in coffee klatches.

Do the tough work first - If you tend to procrastinate you'll find more anguish is produced from guilt than if you had just tackled the project immediately.

Energy-gaining activities - Develop a routine of activities that give you energy rather than drain you, such as deleting, delegating or organizing.

Get up out of the chair - Energy sags quickly when sitting. Make sure you get up to move around every hour or so.

Go outside - A quick five or 10 minute rest or stroll outside does wonders to clear the mind. Breathe and be present.

Rest your eyes on the great outdoors - Being in nature reduces stress. If possible, position your desk or office so you're looking out the window. Stare out the window and visualize your favorite vacation spot.