Is It February, Finally?

This Weeks Summary:

Learned: The long January

Planning: Timelines

Business idea: Know your customer

Vet Opp: Armed Forces Vacation Club

I met: Many conferences

Stoic Quote of the Week

No man can have a peaceful life who thinks too much about lengthening it."

-Seneca

What I learned this week:

I don't know about y'all; there is something about the month of January that feels like it will never end. Every year, I stroll into January with the knowledge and perception that it is the longest month of the year for me. There is no reason other than the belief that I have. December blows by. Heck, even November is a speedy month. It only has 30 days, so it really doesn't count. I have never been able to put my finger on why I feel like January is the longest month of the year. It should be an exciting month because it is the kick-off to a new year and an opportunity for a new beginning. Heck, that's why everyone makes New Year's resolutions. In the end, January is no longer than July, May, March, or even December. My mind has played this on me for years. I can remember, even in the Army, thinking that the end-of-month January paycheck was never going to get here. It is all in the mind. There is just as much time in January as there is in December or any of the other months with 31 days, no difference. This is nothing more than a mental game that I put myself into. I know I will have the feeling, yet I still allow the feeling to be here that January just drags on. Well, guess what? It ain't January, no mo'!!! And, what is different about February? Nothing, except it is shorter by two days (Thank you, Julius Caesar). Our time is still the same. It is the belief that January drags on, and that is all that it is. That feeling of dragging on creates a negative tendency in my mind that this will never end! When we look at things with that attitude, we miss opportunities that are there because of a negative bias because, ugh, it's still January. In reality, this limiting belief keeps us from moving forward, taking action, and seeing opportunities. If you are like me and thankful that January is over, now is your chance to accelerate into February and run such a good year that you welcome January back in '25.

Planning thought of the week:

Timelines are something that are often skipped over in planning for business. We do the big hand, little bank account wave and say this is our five-year plan. Then, we don't set a timeline other than five years. Next thing you know, five years is up, and you haven't even come close to achieving the outcome you want. Set timelines in your plan and hold yourself and your team accountable to them.

Business idea I heard about or thought of:

A couple of weeks ago, I drove through Houston early in the morning, just as the morning rush hour started. I saw a very enterprising small business owner setting himself up for success. The business is vehicle recovery, commonly known as a wrecker. He was parked strategically in the white triangle of an entrance ramp, engine and lights on, ready to go. That is such a savvy business move. He knows Houston traffic and knows there is a high probability of an accident in the area where he is parked. Think about that. What if you understand your customer base so well that you could park right where they will need you, and pop, you are there? We should all understand our clients' needs that well. I'm sure the wrecker driver tested the market and is likely still testing the market. He is not getting comfortable with where he is and is always looking for ways to improve to serve his client base better. We all need to do that as business owners.

Veteran opportunity of the week:

I'm all about making sure we all take some time off. As a Veteran you also have access to the Armed Forces Veteran's Club (AFVC). Here is an article from the VA News that explains the packages and benefits of the club, which is free. Armed Forces Veterans Club .

Someone I met this week:

These next few weeks are going to be amazing for me. First off, the Achieve Business Explosion conference that I am speaking at. Followed by the Military Veterans Startup Conference that, I am pitching Pocket Litter at. Then, I will be back in Colorado for the Air Force Association conference on space. And there's more! Then, I am off for a hog hunt in South Carolina with other Special Operations Veterans. Exciting things are happening in February now that January is finally over, ??. I'm looking forward to catching up with a whole lot of people I haven't seen in a while, meeting even more interesting individuals, and learning about their amazing businesses.

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