Xcelerate Your Efforts!

Xcelerate Your Efforts!

Yes, I know that the actual word is, "accelerate". But, how many words do you know - that can be used in our "positive alphabet" start with the letter "X"? Xactly!

Dictionary.com defines the word "accelerate" in the following ways:

verb (used with object) 1. to cause faster or greater activity, development, progress, advancement, etc., 2. to hasten the occurrence of 3. Mechanics. to change the velocity of (a body) or the rate of (motion); cause to undergo acceleration.
4. to reduce the time required for (a course of study) by intensifying the work, eliminating detail, etc.

verb (used without object) 5. to move or go faster; increase in speed.
6. to progress or develop faster.

Now...let's clarify something with this definition - "to cause greater or faster activity" may be part of the definition of the word, "accelerate" but it is NOT what we are talking about in today's podcast and blog entry -- UNLESS that greater/faster activity is leading to results! You see, many times we can busy ourselves with activity and be making no progress at all. You know what I'm talking about. I've done it and you've done it. No one needs to explain that to you - you knew what was going on while you were doing it, right?

So, instead, let's look at definition 6 - "to progress or develop faster" - as a better definition of what I'm talking about today.

You know the problem, right? We talk, we plan, we talk, we plan some more, we plan and then we talk....get the picture? But, what's missing in this picture? DOING! ACTION!

Again, I'm NOT talking about moving without proper planning and preparation - but, sooner or later you have to MOVE into action!

Those of you that have kids, let me ask you this question: If you had waited until you could have AFFORDED to have kids - would you even have them today? Probably not!

You see, we cannot wait for everything to be in perfect alignment before we begin to make our move and take action toward the realization of our dreams, goals and desires.

The one main thing I talked about in today's podcast (and, by the way, there WILL be a Part 2 to this topic) was the idea of "leverage". Now, to understand leverage you can consider many different examples.

Example 1: the use of a lever to gain leverage - A lever is designed so that you can get more out of less. Less exertion on your part (due to the lever) is able to exert a greater amount of energy on the object. So, you are able to produce more with less.

Example 2: This is the example I used on the podcast - the idea of using leverage in working. A teenage boy mows lawns for the summer. He does quite well and realizes that he has made good money doing this job. However, he realizes that he can only do 4 yards a day (if he is able to maintain his energy enough to do that and if the weather permits) X $30 per yard for a potential total of $120 per day. Not bad. IF the weather works in his favor and IF he can keep his energy up and IF he doesn't get sick. And, there are many more "ifs" to consider. He realizes that by getting other teens to work with him that he can get more business, more yards mowed and more money coming in. Yes, he knows that he must pay the largest percentage to the guy doing the mowing, yet HE can also get a part of each yard mowed for himself. MORE opportunity for MORE money with LESS work from himself - the very idea behind leverage. He still decides to mow 2 yards a day ($60) but he also has 8 other teens mowing yards and he is getting $5 per yard from each of those for an additional $40, which adds up to $100 per day. You may say, "Wait a minute, he's making $20 per day less!" Yes, he is, but he can also take the afternoon off and go swimming if he'd like OR he can mow one more yard OR he can involve a few more guys -- the leverage gives him CHOICE.

What can YOU do to leverage your efforts and, in so doing, "Xcelerate" your efforts?

Be thinking about that and be sure to listen to tomorrows podcast and come back to tomorrows blog entry as we continue to discuss this thought. But, until then - BRAINSTORM for yourself and see what ideas YOU can come up with for yourself! After all, that's what this is about --- YOU and YOUR goals and dreams, right?

Keep working, keep moving, keep taking those steps and, never forget to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike