Look For Goodness

This Weeks Summary:

Learned: Special Operations Wounded Warriors

Planning: Backup Plans

Business idea: Who's your avatar?

Vet Opp: Computer give-away

I met: Jess Aylward, SOWW

Stoic Quote of the Week

Each day, acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes, as well, and after you have run over many thoughts, select one to be thoroughly digested that day.

-Seneca

What I learned this week:

This past week is still a whirlwind in my mind. I spent a long weekend in the Carolinas hunting hogs as a participant in the Special Operations Wounded Warriors (SOWW) Takin' Bacon annual event. The entire weekend was all about reconnecting with our tribe. We spent many hours together waiting and listening to the hounds trailing the hogs. That was time for connection and sharing. It was the same thing when we weren't out hunting and back at the lodge, except expanded. Several past participants were there to share and connect. It comes as no surprise how easily we veterans connected, especially since we all had spent many years in the same Special Operations community. The other connections I made were what was really a pleasant surprise to me. The people who provided food and cooked for us. The men and dogs who hunted with us each day. There were countless people behind the scenes that I never had the opportunity to meet in a word, amazing. Meeting all these non-veteran people with whom I had no previous connection confirmed that there is goodness in the world if we are willing to look for it. None of those people had any reason to be there other than to show their gratitude to us veterans. Each of them sacrificed their most precious asset, their time, to ensure we had the experience of a lifetime. I'll speak for all my fellow hunters that we did have the experience of a lifetime because of them because they all took the time to show their gratitude with action. Whenever you begin to doubt that there is goodness in the world, stop yourself immediately and look for something good. When you find that first thing, you will find another and another. Looking for goodness and giving gratitude will change your outlook on life at that moment. That change can change not only your outlook on life at the moment but your outlook on your entire life. Look for goodness; it is always there if you choose to find it.?

Planning thought of the week:

Backup plans should always be in place. They should not be a go-to. That is the difference between having a plan A that you are focused on and willing to continue to push through to get to the outcome/ed state and shifting off plan A as soon as adversity hits. Always have a backup plan, but don't be anxious to jump to it. Make sure you've given plan A everything you've got, then make the shift to your backup, and do not hesitate. Be decisive in the shift.

Business idea I heard about or thought of:

I ran across this talking with another business owner yesterday, and frankly, I've said the same thing. As a matter of fact, I think all business owners have said this at some time or another. Even more interesting is that some of the fellows I coach through The Commit and Honor Foundations have their own versions of it. The problem is, it doesn't work. Yes, you can do it, and I know it can work, but I also know it doesn't. Truthfully, when you say this as a business owner, you are doing your business and the people that you want to help a disservice. Do you know what that phrase is? It is, "We help everyone," "Everyone can use this," and "We'll do anything to get business." All of those are copouts, excuses, and a sign of laziness on the part of the business leadership. Can your product be good for everyone? Yes, maybe. Is everyone going to buy it? No. If you cannot describe your ideal client and the problems your business solves for them, then you can't really explain your product and truly don't understand what it takes to be successful. Know your market and your niche and narrow it down to an ideal Total Addressable Market (TAM) that makes your business profitable. If you want to learn more about what I mean, give me a shout.

Veteran opportunity of the week:

I'm not a gamer, but I'm going to guess that a $2500 computer made for gaming is pretty badass! Regiment Gaming is giving this computer away to a Veteran or active-duty service member. You can register here.

Someone I met this week:

I met Jess via email a couple of months ago through the SOWW. Jess is one of the many people who supported our SOWW Takin' Bacon. He's THE Guy. You know, the one who knows everyone and knows how everything is being run behind the scenes. Jess's ties to SOWW are because he wants to help and give back, and boy does he. This event is his baby and has been for nearly a decade! Jess is also a small business owner in Myrtle Beach, SC. He owns an auto body shop. If you are a small business owner, you know that breaking away and spending as much time on volunteer duty as you do on your business isn't easy. If you are in Myrtle Beach and need some work done on your car, call Jess Aylward.

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