7 Minutes In The Morning

Do you ever feel like giving up? I do...and here's how I keep going. Some days are better than others. You wake up with all the energy and excitement you need to power the week! Then other days...not so much. Why the difference? Frankly, there are lots of reasons from the physiological to psychological to the weather...but today I want to address the REAL underlying reasons why you want to give up. Have you ever seen the movie 300? Did you know it's based on the true story of King Leonidas and the Battle of Thermopoly? How did Leonidas get somewhere around 300 men to fight to the death against a Persian army of almost a million troops? And why didn't they want to quit? I've been fascinated by stories like this most of my life all leading me to ask the same question...why didn't they give up? Why not just quit and live to fight another day? I've found that the answer for all of them, and for you, is remarkably simple... You have to know your why! I can't tell you how many aspiring business owners I've faced ac

Yesterday we talked about there being no easy path, no 'lotto solution' to your challenge. Those of you with kids can probably relate to this (or maybe it was an employee!). They work so hard and spend so much time trying to get out of doing something that you look at them and think (or say), "You know, if you'd spend that much time doing what I asked, you'd be done already." While I do believe that you are uniquely gifted, talented and placed to do your work that matters...that is only part of the story. You still have to put in the work, and sometimes, maybe even most of the time, that work is difficult! But that's okay, in fact, that's preferred! Why? Simple, because the harder you work for an outcome, the more valuable it is to you! The sense of accomplishment and fulfillment you get from completing something hard far outweighs the momentary difficulty of the work! So just like fear and risk are really good indicators that you are on the right path, so to is hard work! It reminds me of that old saying, "I

Psst...hey...are you looking for a watch? I guess a more modern version of this old trope would be, "Hey, buddy, you looking for a 100% guaranteed way to make $10k of totally passive income by tomorrow?" Why are we so enamored by these kinds of offers? What makes them so appealing even when we immediately view them with doubt and skepticism? I often say that an opportunity that doesn't come with some risk is not really an opportunity, it's a gift or a hand-out. Intuitively we know that anything of real value comes with a cost. For an opportunity, that cost is risk! So when we are offered something "risk-free" we (should) start asking questions! But isn't risk bad? Shouldn't we be trying to avoid risk? NOOOOO! Just like yesterday's post about fear being a great indicator that you're on the right track, so too is risk. NO great accomplishment was ever made without risk! And in fact, the greater the risk, the greater the reward, in both monetary terms and personal satisfaction! So yes, be on the lookout for risk

What fun, exciting, or great thing are you missing out on because you are afraid of failing? Stop missing out! Fear serves a great purpose for us...it is our mind telling our body to pay attention and it kept us alive for many generations! But when you accept fear for what it is, and why it exists, overcoming it gets easier. All fear is rooted in uncertainty and serves to help us avoid pain. The only way to reduce or remove fear is by reducing uncertainty by 1) studying the situation or 2) just do it. I was talking with a coaching client yesterday who kept adding tasks in between now and THE critical task in his journey to success. He was avoiding the fear! There's at least one other tactic you can use right away to reduce fear...but you're going to have to check out the podcast for that one (link in bio)! Just remember, regardless of what you're afraid of, it is impossible to demonstrate courage in the absence of fear! If you're afraid, be courageous and be a winner!Enjoy! Thom, THE Unashamed Non-Conformist

Do you have what you want or settle for what you can get? As a life and business coach, almost every day I have a conversation with an aspiring business owner that starts out something like, "Yeah, I have a great idea for a widget! I have a solid design and I'm ready to quit my job to work on it, BUT {insert excuse here}!" You've probably heard of the placebo effect, you know, patients given sugar pills experience the same benefits as those that get the real thing? Why is that? Simple, because they believed! And you don't have to know how it works to use it to reach your goals! You still fly on an airplane without understanding how to fly it yourself, don't you? Your understanding has very little to do with it. You may want to write this date down in your journal because I'm about to give you a pass on something (that NEVER happens!). It's not your fault! You've been duped! All your life you've been told that you can't buck the system, follow the rules and you'll get your reward, focus and work hard, etc, etc

What do you think about this quote from Tom Brokaw? Is it easier to make a buck than a difference? I look at this and think "Transactional versus Relational"... and relationships are hard, thus, making a difference is hard. Okay...how about an example. Here in the south, we have the Publix grocery store chain. They do lots of "little things" right but one of the most visible is that they offer to take your groceries to the car for you. Nah, it's more than that...they assume they are going to unless you tell them no...and they don't allow tipping! So why is that important? Because any one of the millions of grocers in the US will execute a transaction with you, Publix wants to make a difference! In my business coaching practice, I often talk with business owners and leaders who are too focused on making a buck and they miss the opportunity to make a difference! Frequently this is rooted in a cash flow problem but more often than not, they just aren't thinking about it. Why should they worry about it? Why shoul

Do you want to make a profit or make a difference? How about both! Sometimes we get so wrapped up with trying to make money, make a profit, that we lose the perspective of our customer. I like to share the story of a business coaching client that owned a food service business. She entered the business through the back door every day and allowed her employee to open the front door. She always saw the store from "the inside" and lost the customer' perspective. Keeping the customers' perspective is critical though if you are going to make a difference in their lives. To do that, you have to be well connected AND open to hearing what they say. Too often the business owner thinks they know best...but the best isn't always what your customer will pay for! So make the effort, stay connected to your market and then give them what they want! Remember, people don't want to buy drill bits, they want to buy holes!Enjoy! Thom, THE Unashamed Non-Conformist =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thom Rigsby is a lifestyle &a

Do you have what it takes to win? Are you willing to do whatever it takes? I had a terrible boss once. No, I mean REALLY bad! Combine that with my stubborn streak and what do you get? I became determined to stay at the company longer than he did. That vision, that mission, gave me the will to put up with a LOT of crap! For many people, the 'will to win' is something soldiers or athletes need but you don't need it in your role, right? Well, maybe! I hate to break this to you but every day won't be a great day, in fact, some days will be downright terrible. But even those aren't the days when you need the will to win. When you've been working on that big pitch, trying to land that game-changing client, or working diligently to open a new store...then you lose! The pitch get's accidentally deleted, the game-changing client goes with someone else. The new store has a new neighbor...your biggest competitor! THESE are the days you need the will to win! Join me for today's installment of 7 Minutes in the Morning, my

What change are you putting off or avoiding? This week on the podcast we've been talking about change and how to make it happen and now we are down to where the rubber meets the road! Before you go any farther, think about the change you need to make... Let me guess, that conversation in your head went something like this... "I need to ___ (quit this dead-end job and go out on my own), but ___ (the benefits here are really good, the kids need braces, etc). You know, it's really not that bad, if I can get ___ (my boss) to ___ (do something you know she's not going to do), then I could be happy here again!" Or something like that... Am I right? Difficult decisions are called 'difficult' for a reason...they're hard. So what do we do in the face of a difficult decision? Make it harder! We pile on complexity, insist that our situation and circumstances are unique, add completely unrealistic possibilities, and thus justify NOT deciding and acting. The reality is that decision making is not that difficult IF you fol

Is there something you're not doing because it's 'risky'? Let's talk about that... We deal with risk every day. Driving a car, or for that matter just riding in a car, is risky! According to the CDC more than 32,000 people are killed and another 2 million are injured every year in car crashes! Okay...so it's not risk you're afraid of... Maybe instead of saying you are avoiding risk, you could say you're 'playing it safe' or 'pursuing that safe career instead of the risky business or job opportunity with that startup. I say it has NOTHING TO DO WITH SAFETY! Nope, you're not looking for safety... you're looking for predictability! We've misused the word safety for so long, we don't even realize it anymore. That job is no more safe than driving...in fact, IT'S MORE RISKY! In 2016, almost 20 million people were laid off or fired! 10x more than the number killed in car crashes! So be honest, stop saying you want safety and acknowledge that you're just comfortable with the predictable. THEN you can embrace the risk

Perfection (can be) the enemy of execution... Execution yields progress... Progress yields happiness, therefore... (The need for) Perfection is the enemy of Happiness! Enjoy! Thom, THE Unashamed Non-Conformist =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thom Rigsby is a lifestyle & business strategy expert. Drawing on his experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur launching almost a dozen startups and more than 25 years of business experience, Thom brings his creativity and "Non-Conformist" approach to entrepreneurship and getting results for you and your small business! So, whether you are looking for answers to your small business questions, time management tips, need a comprehensive business strategy or just craving some work-life balance, following Thom's exclusive personal development plan you can letting life happen to you and begin to create the life you crave with your very own small business. Be sure to connect with Thom... ...on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thomrigsbycoaching ...on YouT

Do you know where the road you're on will take you? I ask this question a lot and most of the time the answer resembles, "Um, yeah...I guess." You have probably heard most of your life that if you study hard, get good grades, get a good job and work hard that you can finish happy. The problem is, what about the journey? See, the reality is that you can do all those things, just like the checklist tells you to, and still have a miserable trip only to arrive at an empty destination. Kind of like that Chevy Chase movie Vacation. After ALL THAT...the park is closed. So if following the checklist is not what you're supposed to do...what SHOULD you do? Well, I have good news and bad news... First, the bad news, you'll have to wait till next week to find out! What and how to change your trajectory is our topic next week on 7 Minutes In the Morning (be sure to watch and listen). Now for the GOOD News...there is something you can do right now to start the change. Over the weekend I want you to think for yourself, not

There's a fine line between committed and crazy, have you crossed it? I once coached a business owner who was frustrated by their lack of progress in bringing their product to market. When I dug into the details, he told me he didn't really have the time to work on that product because he was so busy answering customer calls for another product. He was so focused on one product that he was blind to the success that was right in front of him! Knowing when to stay the course and when to pivot is hard, no doubt about it. We have to have a tenacious spirit and a willingness to do the hard work, but there is also something to be said for taking the outcome that is right in front of you and living to fight another day. Every situation and circumstance is different and ultimately you have to make these kinds of decisions on your own. But a great place to start is by asking, "which option moves me closer to my goal today?" The answer may not be the sexy one, but it will very likely be the right one. If you need help

How will you know you've 'made it'? It's a pretty common question, especially in entrepreneur and business owner circles. So common in fact that we don't really pay attention to what the question assumes...namely, that there IS such a thing as making it! Too many business owners, leaders, and high performing individuals assume that the promised land awaits if they just keep their head down and soldier on. Do you feel that way? What if that's wrong? In my coaching practice, I've had the opportunity to work with several business owners as they were making an exit from their company. All but one of them looked back on their time owning the company with a perspective of failure, or at least missed opportunities. "We never really made the big time" kind of thinking. It's not until I remind them that they did manage to keep their family fed, clothed, housed, kids through college, employees employed, suppliers supplying...that it finally dawns on them that they'd been "making it" all along. So instead of seeing toda

Would you answer your phone the next time it rings if you KNEW the call would change your life for the better? What if it MIGHT change things for the better? Many people, maybe even you, look at an opportunity as a single big-thing delivered with a bow on top and a card with instructions. The outcome is guaranteed, just plug it in and the world is yours! But just like many a birthday or Christmas present, the reality of that present is much different than what you've built it up to be. Oh yeah, it's awesome to rip open the paper and see the gift you've been hoping for. Then you open the package and the dreaded "Some Assembly Required" or "Batteries Not Included" annotation that you overlooked on the outside of the box becomes painfully real. So now that gift that you wanted more than anything else just lost a bit of its luster, work is required and now, maybe, you want it just a little bit less. It's hard to turn on the television, scan through the YouTube feed, or read through entrepreneur forums without fin

Have you ever had a request from a customer that was just completely ridiculous? Did you do it anyway? The only thing that makes any request ridiculous is our perception of the request. If you run an ice cream food truck and someone comes up looking for coffee...you might think that's ridiculous. For whatever reason, that lost customer didn't think it was ridiculous... hhmmm. So adding a coffee pot, that's pretty simple. Adding an espresso machine, not so simple. Since our job is to solve problems for other people, it stands to reason that the more problems we can solve the more customers we will have. Now, we have to balance cost/benefit for sure, but the more times you say YES, the more happy customers you create...and the more happy customers you create, the better your bottom line will be. Don't get hung up on "that's not what we do here, man" kind of thinking. Make your business about solving problems rather than ___. And if that scares you, good! Real growth only occurs outside your comfort zone! So get

When was the last time you experienced bad customer service? See how easy it was to remember that time? I recently read some stats that said 1 in 3 BAD customer experiences get shared with friends and/or social media but only 1 in 14 GOOD experiences. So it stands to reason that we have to create many more positive experiences to get the same "credit" from our customers. Piggybacking on yesterday's topic, it's the little things, done over and over, day after day, that create positive customer experiences. You might buy hundreds of things off eBay...then you get that one thing that doesn't live up to its pictures... And tying in the concept that you can really only have one priority at a time, the only real, long-term priority any business can have is making customers happy! Because without customers, there's no need for anything else, right? When everyone on the team is focused on how they can serve the customer, how THEY can solve problems for other people...that's when it all just works. Now, YOU as the bus

Are your customers happy? Are you sure? When you are running a business, it's easy to slip into a way of thinking that your customers should be happy...just, well, because they are your customer. "I mean, they wouldn't be my customer if they didn't like my product, right?" Well, not necessarily. Customer satisfaction is not a thing or a department... it is something everybody does every day. So how do you make customers happy? Solve their problems! Bonus points if you can make them feel special as you do it! If you can find a way to set your own pride and need for confirmation aside and put instead put your customer first...you will win! Enjoy! Thom, THE Unashamed Non-Conformist =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thom Rigsby is a lifestyle & business strategy expert. Drawing on his experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur launching almost a dozen startups and more than 25 years of business experience, Thom brings his creativity and "Non-Conformist" approach to entrepreneurship and getting

It's a saying you hear all the time...at least I do...and it makes my skin crawl! All week we've been talking about how to get stuff done and be more EFFECTIVE if your pursuits so you have the time to enjoy the benefits of being an entrepreneur. But even entrepreneurs say this all the time...and it's all I can do to maintain my composure and not fly off the handle with them. The truth of the matter is that your time is the most expensive resource you have available to spend and discounting or being dismissive of it's value hurts you in the long run. Be SUPER PROTECTIVE of your time! Don't waste it and don't let anyone else waste it either! Don't be afraid to interrupt an unproductive meeting, ask to adjourn until everyone is prepared! I GUARANTEE next time everyone will come prepared! Enjoy! Thom, THE Unashamed Non-Conformist =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thom Rigsby is a lifestyle & business strategy expert. Drawing on his experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur launching almost a d

Do you ever have so much to do that you don't know where to start? This is something that is common with many of my coaching clients. They are high-performing leaders, founders, or executives in a business and they are looking for ways to do even more. But doing more is very rarely the answer. Instead of working more, I actually encourage them to work less by being more focused on results rather than activity. To implement this in your life, follow these simple steps: 1) KNOW the outcome you are working toward. It is shocking to me (although maybe it shouldn't be by now) how many executive or leadership teams can't articulate the goals of the business. If you are the leader of the company, cast the vision and hold your team accountable for their results. If you are deeper in the organization, how will your little slice of heaven help the company really it's goals? 2) Say NO to the things that don't move you toward -- this one is much harder! High performers have a fear of saying No, it's like a challenge. The