Storm of the Century

How’s it going, guys and gals?

Well, if you live in the Great Lakes area (give a couple latitudinal points here and there), it might not be so well. We’re getting a hell of a snow storm around these parts… it started yesterday and is meant to break a couple records.

And you should read what the papers and weather channels are saying about it; it’s gonna be the worst storm in years, a mega-storm, it’s all over after twelve noon.

Sure, they have a right − it’s not going to be a pretty day. But, that storm’s still coming.

And, guess what? If you live in the area it’s going to touch, there’s just about nothing you can do about what the weather will bring.

You can clean up afterwards, you can acknowledge the trouble it might cause you, you can prepare for it. But when it’s grease to frying pan time, you’ve got to work around it.

And however bad it is, you’re going to end up living through it and having to deal with it.

It bugs me (or makes me laugh) when media sources and people in positions of authority say disturbing things like those mentioned above (no offence to media sources or people in positions of authority). They’re right and we should appreciate the facts they have to give us.

But that’s where it should end − the facts. The big titles, the record-breaking damage it’ll cause, the witty slogans of doom, they’re all unnecessary.

And people who pay too much attention to them end up wasting time and energy they could be using to do something productive.

Today could be a nightmare − you might not be able to make it into work, it could be even worse where you are than where I am. And, depending on how bad it is, it could mean a lot of extra work for you (the benefits of living in a cold country − I suppose at least I don’t have to worry about tsunamis). But you’re going to have to deal with it realistically, not with all the elaboration. As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, “more matter with less art”.

Do yourself a favour and get on with the work that needs to be done. Exaggerating the worst won’t make it better. But it might throw your mindset and make it harder to deal with the inevitable. The bad is bad, no doubt about it. But making the best use of what you have is what it takes to be successful. That’s what all the big athletes, movie-stars, singers and CEOs used, one day at a time, to get where they are.

And you’re as good as any of them are.

Talk to you next week!

Alex H.

If you like this Graceland Ontario update, you might also like these older posts:

• Graceland, Ontario: The Respectful Parting: Firing with the Future in Mind
• Graceland, Ontario: Violence on the Roads: A Lack of Humanity
• Graceland, Ontario: Your Life Is a Jagged Line
• Graceland, Ontario: Cool Down!
• Graceland, Ontario: The Elvisian Diamond Jubilee Special

Fun or No Fun?

Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen!

Welcome back to Graceland Ontario, your one stop location for success advice. Today, we’re going to be talking about fun and how it applies on the job site.

I just finished What they Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School by Mark McCormack, the founder of IMG (International Management Group), the largest independent producer and distributor of televised sports media. If you get a chance to purchase the book, it’s money well spent.

 

But there was a disagreement I had with the book: McCormack says that in his offices, he didn’t allow talking or making friends − works for work, he says.

On the other hand, Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin, a multibillion dollar corporation, used to have end of week parties all the time at his house before the company grew too big to contain his employees anymore (and even now he holds events for managers and recognized employees).

So, fun or no fun? It seems to be a personal decision. When people work, they do need to get work done − fun or not. But to me, letting people have fun, therefore enjoying their job more, will keep those people’s loyalty even if the company has financial trouble. They won't want their job to end (they were having a good time after all) so they're more likely to deal with windy weather with a smile on their face than the person who hates coming to work.

Sure a job is serious… but no one ever said that seriousness was an excuse for making your employees’s life a tragedy. As long as your people are producing and your business is making a profit, why not have an end-of-week party at the boss’s house? You see each other everyday, you might as well enjoy your time together.

See you next week!

Alex H.

 

If you like this Graceland Ontario update, you might also like these older posts:

• Graceland, Ontario: What You Have in Common with a Teenage Girl
• 35 Years Without Elvis (And Why He's So Popular Today)
• Graceland, Ontario: The Witches's Marketing Secret
• Graceland, Ontario: What's Your Lucky Number?
• What Can You Learn from an 87 Year Old Doctor and a Dead Rock Star?

A Lighter Wallet

Welcome back, friends! 

Thanks for checking out Graceland Ontario, your one stop location for success tips and other useful stuff. Today, we're going to talk about dealing with things you have no control over.

Up here in Canada the penny ceased being given as change this Monday. And, you know, I understand the official reasons why: it costs too darn much.

But that doesn’t make me feel any happier. Maybe growing up with it and being sentimental about small things make me think it was the wrong decision.

But, this is one of those cases when the problem lies outside of my circle of influence (in my circle of unfluence) − unless I attempt getting into politics and fighting the penny back into Canadian money, there’s nothing I can do.

Painful though it is to write that.

A lot of people focus on things like this that pop up in the news − incidents they don’t approve of, maybe even impact them directly. But they don’t have a way of fighting back or creating any action to change it.

Sure, I could write a petition, I could stand outside Parliament Hill (where our Federal Government’s housed), but I’ve got things I want to do with my life that take priority. Though I think it would be a cool initiative, I have priorities that prevent me from being “The Man Who Saved the Penny”.

But what do others do? They still complain, they still whine. For me? I immediately start ignoring problems I can’t help. I mean, why worry about what you can’t change?

With fights that you can take up the banner and help − things in your own life, goals you want to achieve − go get ‘em!

But, if there’s really nothing you can do (or nothing you can do without losing focus and hurting your vision), why hurt yourself worrying? It certainly won’t improve the situation and it might even take productivity away from stuff you should be achieving.

Talk to you later!

Alex H.

If you like this post, you might also like these other Graceland Ontario updates:

•  Graceland, Ontario: The Time Trap
•  Graceland, Ontario: Move On When It's Time
•  Graceland, Ontario: High Expectations
•  Graceland, Ontario: Give Back
•  Graceland, Ontario: They Gave Then, Now It's Your Turn

The Beef with Ground Hog Day

So, today is Groundhog Day… nothing wrong with that. It’s a fun day, one that I enjoy immensely. Since Kindergarten, I’ve always liked guessing whether Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow or not and how long the winter will, in theory, stretch on. And, to top it all off, it inspired a verrry good film of the same title starring Bill Murray (one of my heroes… if you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favour and get a copy − my Mum, a Murray-hater, even loved it).

But I do get a tad annoyed with people’s response to the day.

Now, I know I might be about to kick a landmine, but hear me out.

For some people, Groundhog Day is a very serious event. They get up early, checking the news channels, listening to radio stations, waiting for a sign.

People are so desperate to be told what the future is going to be like, they’ll even seek advice from a groundhog. The thing is, whether he sees his shadow or not doesn’t matter.

I’ll go one step further − if the winter stretches on for six more weeks or twenty, it shouldn’t matter either.

And, contrary to what you may be thinking now, it isn’t because the tradition lacks merit.

Heck, maybe Mr. Groundhog can sense how long winter will stretch on − maybe he’s right. I’m certainly not questioning his season-reading abilities.

It’s that both he and the six weeks of winter are external factors. Whether it snows for longer or not, your plans shouldn’t be altered. You shouldn’t be disappointed either way, even if you do believe in the shadow-sighting theory.

You are responsible for your life − the more responsible you are, the more you’ll feel like you’re at the wheel of your destiny, in charge and confident of it. The more you give away control to a groundhog, your spouse or even your boss, you’re gradually losing ground to the world outside your circle of influence. And you’re losing the deep value you receive for earning a life well lived.

So, don’t take offense, Punxsutawney Phil; you’re certainly not the problem. Nor are you, Mother Winter. But you, dear reader, may be… take responsibility for as much as you possibly can. You’ll feel better for it − extra winter or not.

Talk to you next week!

Alex H.

If you liked this Graceland Ontario update, you might also like these posts:

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• Graceland, Ontario: The Elvisian Diamond Jubilee Special

The Only Disability

Welcome back, Graceland Ontarians!

Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Wd89IydtXyk

This video was sent to me this morning, it was posted yesterday and now I’m paying it forward.

With all the hype about the upcoming Super Bowl, for some of you this may be a timely post.

 

Coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens received an email from a fan the other day entitled “A Reason to Win”. Inside, he read about Mathew Jeffers − a senior acting major at Townsend State University and Ravens supporter.

 

Mathew, at 21, is 4’2”, has enduring over twenty surgeries and has a mother with a stage four brain tumour. He realizes life isn’t fair.

 

But despite all the pain he’s gone through, he also realizes that life doesn’t care how sorry you feel about yourself. It only responds to a positive attitude, to pushing forward even when you feel you’ve had enough, even when you’ve lost your last couple games − even when your mother’s dieing.

His message: The Only Disability in Life is a Bad Attitude.

Instead of the Ravens focusing on how bad things have gone, he encourages them to look on the bright side, like him, and keep pushing to win.

 

I don’t know what you’re going through, I don’t know the pain you’ve suffered, I can’t understand where you are in your life but one thing’s for sure − Mathew’s advice is good. It is solid. And you’d be wise to take it.

 

Good luck to the Ravens, good fortune to Mathew Jeffers and his message and good will to you… keep thinking positive.

 

See you next week!

 

Alex H.

 

If you like this Graceland Ontario update, you might also like these posts:

• The Time Trap
• How to Have a Better Coming Year than those in the Past
• Graceland, Ontario: The Witches's Marketing Secret
• Graceland, Ontario: They're Exceptional − And YOU Can Be, Too!
• Graceland, Ontario: The Elements of a Good Story

Love Will Teach You Persistence

Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen!

Welcome back to Graceland Ontario − your one stop location for success advice and tips to take your life to the next level. This week, we’ll talk more on persistence.

I figured I’d bring up the old Elvis story again, because it’s good − and most people, when they think of Elvis, discount it.

Elvis was persistent, contrary to what people may say. Sure, his manager, Colonel Parker was good (and sometimes pushed him around). Sure he had a lot of fans, but not originally.

Elvis worked a lot of shows under the Blue Moon Boys title back in ’54 with Scotty Moore on guitar and Bill Black on bass. He kept performing even when people told him he should go back to trucking (his previous career), like the talent producer on the Grand Ole’ Oprey (then the largest country music show in the U.S.). But he kept chugging along with his routines just the same.

Because he loved it. Listen to him live, or even after singing a take in the studio. When you love what you do, you’ll keep doing it. Even when people insult you. Even when you’re not certain you can become great yourself, your love of what you do will pull you through.

That’s the key to persistence guys… love it or lose it − a motto to work by.

See you next week!

Alex H.

If you  like this post, you might also like these:

• Graceland, Ontario: Failing is Not a Reason to Give Up
• Graceland, Ontario: Getting Into It
• Graceland, Ontario: A Lesson from Steve Jobs
• Graceland, Ontario: Your Life Is a Jagged Line
• Graceland, Ontario: Doing All You Can
• Graceland, Ontario: Elvis Presley meets Usain Bolt

A Lesson from Steve Jobs

Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen!

Welcome back to Graceland Ontario! So, we’re going to change the format of the blog a bit, opening it up to success lessons from all over. Sure, Elvis will remain the patron, but it’ll allow you to get some fresh perspectives from other historical and current leaders.

So, today’s post is on coming back.

What do I mean by ‘coming back’? I mean, when someone’s smashed you on the nose and you’re laying face-first on the ground, your saying “screw it, I’m standing back up again”. It’s a matter of persistence. People who keep pushing see results in the end.

Look at Steve Jobs… Apple kicked him out. They weren’t doing so well so they fired him, a founding member, in 1985 thinking it would help. But it didn’t. And by 1997 he was back as interim CEO after several successful years leading NeXT computers and Pixar. By 2000, he was solely considered leader of Apple. People thought Apple was toast… but Jobs’s persistence (along with the rest of the Apple brand) lead to the introduction of the Ipod and practically complete domination of the phone, music player and, later, tablet markets.

Jobs could’ve thrown down his hat after getting fired from Apple. I mean, how would you feel if you lost control of the company you’d worked for years creating. But, unlike most people, he kept pushing, continued building his success elsewhere and then returned to lead his old company to glory. Follow his example, keep pushing even when bad things happen and never give up − if it worked for Steve Jobs it sure as hell can work for you.

Come back next week for more notes on persistence!

Alex H.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like these:

• Graceland, Ontario: Your Life Is a Jagged Line
• Graceland, Ontario: Cool Down!
• Graceland, Ontario: What You Have in Common with a Teenage Girl
• Graceland, Ontario: Elvis Presley Would've Made a Poor President
• Graceland, Ontario: Getting Others to Believe in You (the Elvis Way)