BigFishTopDogs.com » Setting Goals

You Can Be Anything You Want

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:51:42 +0000

I cut my teeth on real estate investing with single family properties. I flipped, renovated, bought, held and sold duplexes and single family homes. As an investor – not as a real estate agent.

One day we decided to meet with the owner of a small boutique brokerage house. The firm specialized in small to medium sized apartment buildings.

I briefly considered starting with a younger broker in the firm. Someone who might be really hungry for business. Unfortunately my ego got in the way. It was the owner or no one for me.

His receptionist brought us back to the conference room. I almost always take the chair at the head of the table. To me, it’s kind of a joke. I like to see what the other guy will do. The one who usually sits in that chair. I also like to subtly send the message that I’m a client with an agenda. And that I’m there do to business.

As the meeting began, and without any prompting from me, my husband said, “I’m only along for the ride, Marc, my wife is the real estate expert here. So, talk to her.”

I was pretty impressed with my husband. I didn’t ask him to say that… but I did want to lead the meeting. Alas, Marc couldn’t care less what my husband said. He spent the next 45 minutes pretty much ignoring me… and talking to my husband.

And that’s when I got my first inkling of what a good ol’ boy world commercial real estate was.

Finally, once this guy Marc got it in his head that I would be buying the apartment building, he said, “Start with a duplex”. I don’t think he quite added ‘little lady’ but it was pretty much there in neon flashing above his head.

It was all very motivating.

My Mom tells a story about when she announced her decision to go to law school to a group of ‘friends’. An attorney pointed a finger at her and said with a boisterous guffaw, “She thinks she can be a lawyer. Hahaha”

She had just finished undergraduate school as a single mom of six — at the age of 35. How the heck did he know whether she could make it or not?

By the way, she’s been practicing law for a long time now.

And we started with a 30 unit building.

The moral to the story.

My Mom claims she finished law school on the pure grit she got from that single comment. Nothing inspired her as singly as that misguided pig headed lawyer who knew absolutely nothing about her. I knew I had the education and experience to move into multifamily investing on a larger scale than a duplex.

If you are truly excited by something, or passionate about a goal, don’t let naysayers get in your way.

With education and some true grit, you can be anything you want.

Inspiration can be found in “No”.

When was the last time you accomplished something in spite of being told it would be impossible or beyond your abilities?

Carpe Diem

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:28:43 +0000

Do you ever stop and think about how you’re being? Who you are in the doing?

Last week, one of the members of our mastermind group suggested we write down our top 10 goals and share them with the rest of the group. In itself, that’s not an unusual thing to do. Mastermind groups are a fabulous place to share and work on goals.

But Martha added a twist.

She suggested we write down how we wanted to be as we achieved those goals. After doing the exercise, an interesting, and surprising theme emerged — to a person. It became immediately apparent that quality of life trumped ‘quantity’ (as in money and possessions).

What actually developed was a list that read like, “This is how I’m going to enjoy my life as I achieve my goals.”

Maybe there’s a pleasant side effect to this recession after all. What ails us is not all bad. My group consists of some pretty high achieving individuals who, two years ago, might have had goals that sounded like they came straight out of the Donald Trump school of thought. You know, make big bucks, have all the luxuries, work super hard, things like that.

Instead, the predominant thought was more like ‘simplify’.

We would be:

Worry free.
Spending quality time with loved ones.
Open to new opportunities.
More playful.
Body aware.
Introspective.
Sleeping soundly.
Outgoing and exuberant.
Believers in impossible things.
Friends and mentors.
Able to find happiness in each day.

I was truly amazed to do a goal setting exercise that had such a wonderful result. It helped me open my eyes to the fact that the way we spend our days is the ultimate gauge of our quality of life. And, in the end, of how our lives were lived (yes, read ‘past tense’).

When was the last time you asked yourself, “How am I being?”

Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think. ~Chinese Proverb

Who are you right now? Dream it and begin it.

Cool Tool, The Entrepreneur’s Pledge, Odds and Ends

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:25:56 +0000

Odds and ends… I think that’s a sewing term but I don’t have time to ‘Google’ it. This post will be a little bit different today. I’ve just got a couple of things on my mind that I want to share with you.

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A friend shared this little link during a recent mastermind call (thanks Denise). If you need a mission statement, here’s a pretty cool little tool. It will get you thinking. Always a good thing!

Free Mission Statement Builder

Check out my comment below after you try the tool to see what I came up with.

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Next up is the really great ‘entrepreneurs pledge’ poster my husband gave me for Xmas. I hunted around online looking for the link to the poster so I could share it with you, but it looks like it’s only made available periodically. I’ll keep watching for it and give you a heads up when the next posters are released.

For now, here’s the pledge in a one-minute video (or read the text below).

source: www.entrepreneurship.org

The Entrepreneur’s Pledge

I am an Entrepreneur.

I am following a dream, pursuing an opportunity, taking charge of my own destiny.

I am bringing something of value to society, making a job for myself and for others, and creating wealth that benefits my family, my community, my country, my world.

I am one of a movement of millions of entrepreneurs and innovators who made America great, and who will continue to keep our economy going…and growing.

I am what I am because many people have helped me along on this journey.

Therefore…

I will tell my story, sharing my successes and failures, so that others taking the entrepreneurial path can learn.

I will strive to mentor an aspiring entrepreneur.

I will make my voice heard by those who make policy decisions that affect me and my business.

I will appreciate and celebrate my accomplishments, and the accomplishments of all my fellow entrepreneurs.

I will give back to the society that helped me to be successful.

I will build a stronger nation, and in doing so, a better world.

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And here’s a final thought for you… something I read over the weekend:

“If you owe the bank thousands, then the bank owns you. If you owe the bank millions, then you own the bank.”

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Watch for my comment below… and if you use the mission statement tool, come back and share your statement with us! Oh, and what are you doing to celebrate your accomplishments?

A New Year Greeting: Looking Back to Look Forward

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 13:45:58 +0000

Happy New Year! When I sat down at my laptop to write a New Year Greeting I decided to look back at what I’ve written throughout 2010 for some inspiration.

Here’s my New Year’s wish for you in a greeting composed of some of my post titles. And, if you’re really motivated about starting the New Year off right, this little greeting has links to some of my favorite posts.

A New Year Greeting

You gotta know you’re good.

Be useful and compassionate.

Hit the ball out of the park.

Believe impossible things.

Ask for the money.

Expect something to happen.

Shift your perspective: serve others.

Take everything as a challenge.

Find inspiration in a single action.

Ask empowering questions.

Find your why.

Be more childlike.

Set goals.

Don’t let overwhelm stop you before you begin.

Get into action.

Pay yourself first.

Never give someone a fruitcake.

Happy New Year to all of you! Let life be an experiment with amazing and unexpected outcomes.

And, of course, I’m always thrilled to get your comments.

Ready to Hit the Ball Out of the Park in 2011?

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:14:56 +0000

Let me start this post by acknowledging my banker’s hours this morning (by this time Monday morning I’ve usually published a new post). It’s really nice to break the rules every now and then. I’m turning this week upside down on it’s head… just for the h*ll of it.

This is my week to set deadlines and finalize my schedule for my new projects and strategies over the year to come. Actually I’ve been planning the year 2011 since early 2010 when I started my blog. Now I get to implement some of those ideas.

But mostly, I’m sitting here thinking about you. I’ve been wondering about what you might want to read on this blog over the next few months. Where do you want support? Could you use some coaching or mentoring and if so, where do you need it?

I know you’re working on your goals for 2011. You’re either still planning, which is totally cool, or you’re already rockin’ and rollin’. The question is, how can I help?

Take some action today. Comments are open!

PS. – if you haven’t stopped by for a few weeks, I’ve been writing about planning for 2011. Poking around here would be a great place to start. And my archives offer a ton of ideas in the inspiration department.

PPS. – watch for my free personal coaching offer in the next few weeks!

PPPS. – it’s okay to acknowledge you’re not 100% sure where you want to go in 2011. Doing nothing is not cool.

Back Into Your New Year’s Resolutions

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:33:21 +0000

Instead of making New Year’s Resolutions why not set a target date of May 3, 2011 as the day three big things will be done? These are your strategies.

Then back into them.

What tasks need to be completed in order to accomplish those strategies? These are your tactics.

And, who is going to hold you accountable?

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Oh! And here’s a bonus post from last February that may help you think differently about those New Year’s Resolutions: How’re you doing on those resolutions?

Your turn! What are you planning to do differently in the New Year? Comments are open!

Out With 2010: Hello 2011

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:50:17 +0000

What are the top five things you didn’t get done in 2010… and are they baggage you want to carry into 2011?

hint: It’s OK to say “No”.

(Comments welcome.)

2010 Global Entrepreneurship Week

The Difference Between Reactive and Proactive Activities

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:59:30 +0000

Do you want to drive yourself totally crazy? Spend a day, or a week, reacting to everything that comes your way… and getting nothing done as a result.

After publishing my post, Proactive vs Reactive: Who Really Owns Your Business?, I’ve been getting some questions about how to tell the difference between reactive and proactive activities. This list will help you start the New Year with some essential course corrections to your activities:

When you are reactive you are:

Letting events control you.
Letting other people dictate your schedule.
Jumping to take phone calls, reply to emails, and answer questions.
Correcting mistakes.
Putting out fires.
Doing everything yourself.
Waiting for things to happen.
Buried in paperwork.

When you are proactive you are:

Making your business happen.
Working on your vision.
Delegating and making sure the right people are on the right projects.
Making sure your team feels valued.
Taking control of events.
Planning your schedule, and sticking to it.
Actively marketing your business.
Working on new projects and products.
Strategizing on ways to monetize your business.
Developing affiliate programs and joint ventures.
Working collaboratively to grow your business.
Connecting with others for advice and partnership.
Evaluating your market.
Improving customer service.
Predicting outcomes.

When you spend your time reacting to the needs of your business, you are working in your business. When you focus on nurturing your business, you are working on your business. It’s that simple.

As you head into the New Year take some time to really give this some thought. Knowing how you spend your time is critical to setting new goals and projections for your business. You want to be working on your business. Ask yourself, “How am I going to accomplish that?”

You can start by leaving a comment here. Putting things down in writing is a great way to explore your thoughts, to plan, and to make things happen!

Oh! If you haven’t done so already, grab my RSS feed or subscribe by email by clicking these links… you’ll be the first to receive new posts hot off the press!

Believe Impossible Things

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:00:44 +0000

“Alice laughed. ‘There’s no use trying,’ she said. ‘One can’t believe impossible things.’

‘I daresay you haven’t had much practice,’ said the Queen. ‘When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” — Lewis Carroll

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This is not just another pretty or quirky quote. It’s something you can actually do. And I’m going to ask you to do it before breakfast. With some help.

Pretend you are somewhere in the near future. How bold do you want to be? Six months? Two years? Five years? The further into the future you go the more challenging this may seem. It can also be a lot more fun to picture yourself years from today.

Start with these questions:

Where do I see myself?
Who am I?
What am I doing?
Who’s with me?
What am I wearing?
Where am I living?
What unimaginable tools am I using?
Who am I helping?
Whose life am I changing?
What problems am I solving?
How do I feel?
How did I get here?
Why is this important to me?
When am I going to start?

Do you see a theme here? It’s the old Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How! When you’re looking to explore the impossible this an excellent way to begin.

Believing the impossible is:

Expecting something to happen.
Transforming reality.
Not believing it can’t be done.
Looking outside what you know.
Changing your environment.
Creating ideas through imagination.
Thinking collaboratively.
Sensing opportunity.
Breaking the rules.

It’s about looking at things as they are and seeing them as they might be with a nudge here and a twist there. It’s really about creating new worlds out of the one in front of your eyes.

Ready? Set… Go! What “impossible things” can you imagine for yourself? Are you willing to practice right now? How would you answer any of the questions above? It’s a great place to begin! You can start by leaving a comment below.

Oh! If you haven’t done so already, grab my RSS feed or subscribe by email to bigfishtopdogs by clicking these links… you’ll be the first to receive new posts hot off the press!

Breaking Inertia: Want to Feel Really Motivated? Jazzed?

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:07:03 +0000

How would you like to accomplish something today? Something that gets you really motivated? More fired up to get things done?

My friend, Ken Starks, who is a new blogger over at Credit Repair Entourage, left a great comment on one of my posts yesterday. Actually he left comments on numerous posts. That’s Ken. He’s prolific. So it’s a good thing for all of us that he’s started blogging on a topic where he truly is an expert.

Also, Ken’s a really smart guy and I’m glad he’s been joining the conversation here.

Here’s an excerpt from Ken’s comment,

“When I have felt stuck — my wise friend and Coach Will once told me… to just DO something… organize the office, do a small task… DO something…”

So, here’s the thing to think about today. Sometimes we feel as though when we finally get into action it has to be something HUGE. Something that will make a great impact. But do you know what? Taking action doesn’t always have to be something that moves you towards your goal or project.

You know that old gravitational influence that sucks you down and makes you feel like “why bother?” You can change that immediately by doing some little task. Maybe something you’ve been putting off because it doesn’t align exactly with your goals.

And when you finish it, the feeling of reward, of accomplishment, can be so great that you want to feel it again. And again.

So, when you get feeling blue, and your to-do list seems way too long and the tasks are too daunting, do a little thing.

Here are some tasks you can do to get really motivated:

Organize your desk or office.
Make those phone calls you’ve been avoiding.
File the pile of paperwork that’s been building up in your office.
Get something done early. Do you have something that usually gets put off to the last minute? Like tax records? Or quarterly reports? Get an early start on it.
Delete all of your old emails. Clean out your inbox.
Complete three slides of that powerpoint you’ve been planning on doing. Just three slides.
Book a vacation including travel, lodging, and transportation.
Start a database or a list of clients.
Write the first chapter of your book.

Can you add to this list? Are you ready to do something?

Ken’s coach is right. Try it. I think you’ll agree. And after you do? Come back and leave us a little comment won’t you?

Oh! If you haven’t done so already, grab my RSS feed or subscribe by email to bigfishtopdogs.com over on the right sidebar of this blog… you’ll be the first to receive new posts hot off the press!

How We Didn’t Win a Million Bucks This Weekend

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:36:56 +0000

When was the last time you had a one-in-ten chance of winning a million dollars? We had that chance at a company convention in Dallas this weekend.

A $1,000,000.00 contest was held for all members of the business. The beauty of the contest was that everyone had a fair chance to win. It was not a company reward made available only to the elite few, or to the very top producers.

Each month over a 5 month period preceding the annual convention everyone had a chance to qualify for participation by meeting very attainable goals. At the end of each month the slate was wiped clean. If you were in the top 50 that month, you were in the top 250 eligible contestants. Eligible to win One Million Dollars.

We made it into the top 250. But here’s the funny thing about this. The last thing we were thinking about when we went down to Dallas was winning a million bucks. We were thinking about business, about the people we would reconnect with at the convention. We were thinking about the work back home that didn’t quite get wrapped up and would need our attention over the weekend. We hadn’t really pictured ourselves winning the million dollars until we found ourselves with a 1 in 10 chance of winning. And that was our undoing.

On Friday morning the elimination process began with the first of a series of written tests. We, or more precisely my husband Richard, took the test. Then the wait for the results began. Finally late that morning the moment of truth arrived. The top 50 contestants were announced. Richard had passed the test… he had made it into the top 50!

On Saturday morning the second test session was held. This was to determine the top 10 contestants. The questions were much harder — there were even a few trick questions this time. The wait to hear the results of the morning exam took hours. And then, finally, the top 10 were announced from the stage. You could hear a pin drop. When Richards name was announced our group erupted into wild applause. He had made it into the final 10!

The final test would be held on stage Saturday afternoon in front of over a thousand people. The 10 finalists would answer true or false and multiple choice questions in front of everyone attending the convention.

Finally the moment of truth arrived. The top 10 contestants assembled on stage with their white boards… the boards they would write their answers on and show to the crowd. The questions were read in English, Spanish and in French. Sometimes the question was read twice if a contestant wanted to hear it again. The suspense was enormous. And then, a really tough question was read. Some would say it was the trick question grand daddy of them all. And 5 contestants were eliminated — including Richard. Just like that. You could hear the groans and cheers from the crowd.

The excitement was unbelievable. Finally what turned out to be the the final question was asked. The question all but one man answered incorrectly. The winner of the million bucks!

And this is who this story is really about.

This young family man with kids. A man who knew the money would be truly life changing for his family. After learning they would be eligible for the contest, they studied. They talked about winning. It was a family event. And get this, they made an over-sized check for one million dollars and hung it over their bed so they would see it every single evening as they prepared for sleep.

They set a very clear intention of winning.

I firmly believe in the power of setting intentions and I frequently manifest results, some would say almost spookily so. I know that when a person desires something strongly enough and takes action they can manifest almost anything they desire.

So was this a million dollar lesson? We believe the right couple won. What we take away from this experience is an awesome reminder that dreams can be turned into reality as a result of seeing very clearly that they are possible.

You can bet we talked about this a lot. What would have happened if we believed we could win? If we had seen ourselves with the grand prize? Hmmm… it’s definitely worth thinking about.

So my question for you is this: “Can you do what the winners did? Can you sit down right now and clearly picture, illustrate or demonstrate the achievement of something you truly desire? Will you do it right now? And, commit to it in the comment section below?”

Is There a Difference Between a Coach and a Mentor?

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:52:22 +0000

Last week a friend of mine was trying to decide if she wanted to hire a coach. I could tell she had pretty much decided against it by the way she was talking. The cost was partly the issue and she wasn’t sure if she needed a coach because she had several mentors who she could call on at virtually any time. Because of the nature of her business these mentors actually had a vested interest in her success. When she makes money, they make money.

She’s extremely successful in her business but she felt she had reached a plateau in her growth. So, was a mentor the answer — or a coach? It’s a good question.

What is the difference between a coach and a mentor?

The Role of a Mentor:

A mentor is a role model. A mentor will assist you in your growth by being a friend and a confident. They are excellent at turning you on to new resources. They will help you with networking and can provide ‘warm’ introductions to other people in your field. A mentor is typically a colleague who acts as a sounding board for your chosen career or field.

Mentors often act as consultants in a two-way mutually beneficial relationship. They can be paid or unpaid for their time. Mentors will help challenge your underlying assumptions about your current business or goals and often perform the role of devil’s advocate. Mentors can let you know about potential mistakes or blunders you can make in your business by sharing the mistakes they’ve already made, either personally or by other colleagues in their field.

The Role of a Coach:

A coach will help you focus on specific performance and guide you in improving your performance. Ask a top athlete if he or she has a coach and the answer will most likely be yes. A coach will help you hold yourself accountable, to practice and refine your skill sets and to fill critical gaps in your psychology. They know the unwritten rules of success.

A coach will help move you through the achievement of your goals by helping you stay on track with time management. A coach can be your cheering on section, someone who helps you with self-discovery and assists in finding motivation to accomplish goals. They will help you break free of self-imposed limitations so you can realize your true potential and gifts. Coaches are usually a paid relationship.

If you are not sure if a coach is right for you, please visit my post on Is Coaching for You? (click the link).

If you are looking for a mentor, I have a lot of articles on this site that will help you find a mentor and provide strategies for working with a mentor. You can also get my book 7 Surefire Ways To Ask Someone To Be Your Mentor by visiting this link.

I’ve been a coach and a mentor for a long time but more importantly I’ve had coaches and mentors for years… I firmly believe you cannot grow without the support of both in your life.

If you have any questions about whether a coach or a mentor is right for you, please leave them in the comments below – I always reply to comments!

Oh! If you haven’t done so already, subscribe by email to bigfishtopdogs.com over on the right sidebar of this blog… you’ll be the first to receive new posts hot off the press!

Feeling Stuck? Read On…

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:51:45 +0000

Are you stuck in a rut? Lacking motivation or plans? Just not into making a change? Or wondering where you want to go?

I’m writing a guest blogger post for sharpskirts.com next week on the things that can hold us back. So I’ve been thinking a lot about this. As I write the post, I’ve also been thinking about all of the things that can really get us going… like our dreams, or having the right people in our lives.

It’s not uncommon for people to feel stuck. The difference between successful and unsuccessful people is that successful people learn how to move past it. Here are some ideas to get you thinking and motivated, along with some steps you can take today to start creating change in your life.

Set a goal: Set a simple goal that gets you on your way to your larger goals. Set something you can accomplish in a short period of time so you get to feel what it’s like when you meet a goal. Small successes can be incredibly powerful.

When I first started blogging I really wanted to meet other bloggers. I decided to pick a week where I would comment on two blogs each evening for four nights. I took my laptop and got out of my office so it wouldn’t seem like work. I wrote in front of the TV in the room where my bird Charlie hangs out. Charlie had company and I had a refreshing change of scenery. I found I liked it so much that I kept it up. In one month I had commented on 32 blogs and I had met some incredible, wonderful bloggers. In fact, one of those bloggers, Natalia Sylvester of the Copywriter’s Soapbox, invited me to guest post on sharpskirts.com! She has been an incredible inspiration to me. And just think! Without that one small goal, I would never have met Natalia.

Start hanging out with the right crowd: This isn’t easy. You’ll have to make some difficult choices. If you are spending time with people who are negative, who are stuck doing the same stuff day in and day out, who will never make an effort to change their lives and constantly come up with excuses about why they won’t change, you are hanging out with the wrong crowd.

Ten years ago my husband and I were really into white water rafting. We had our own equipment and we traveled all over the region on weeklong rafting trips. It was fun and we were having a great time but we weren’t getting anywhere on our goals for our future. We both had successful businesses but we had no long range goals or dreams. It was more like party time. We loved our friends but none of us were going anywhere very fast (with the exception of those class IV rapids).

Eventually we decided to get serious about our dreams and about out future. We joined a group of entrepreneurs that were actively working on changing their activities and their lifestyle. We got together at conferences and we held weekly mastermind calls. We still do this today. We didn’t cut our old friends out of our lives immediately or with any declaration that we were doing so. We just found that over time our relationships and our activities changed.

Decide on one thing and go for it: Have you ever heard of bright shiny objects? A lot of fish have. Those are those things that sound or look really great when you first hear about them. Everyone else is doing it and they claim they are wildly successful at it. You get totally excited and you jump on board with both feet. All your good plans and careful work go out the window. Who cares? This is IT and it’s going to be great.

I first heard about blogging when I saw a guy named Joel Comm speak at one of our entrepreneur conferences. He told stories about *new* bloggers who were making bucket loads of money. Joel told us about a guy who had a blog called Ask the Builder. He claimed Dave was making $40,000 a month. I’ll admit that got my attention. It also made me wonder if blogging might be a bright shiny object. If I started a blog could I sustain the activities with any regularity? Would I still enjoy it in six months? Could I make a business of blogging and set realistic long range plans?

I did not choose blogging to make wildly impossible money overnight. I decided that with a long-term commitment I could make it a platform for my coaching. Something that would demonstrate my knowledge base. The blog was not a means unto itself. Ultimately I decided to go for it. But not before I had long range goals and plans.

Shift your energy: When those thoughts of, “I can’t do this” pop up, don’t be so hard on yourself. Acknowledge these thoughts as limiting beliefs and change your energy. Start thinking in terms of, “Why the heck not? I’ve got the drive, I can stick with a plan, and so anything is possible.”

Make a list: Write down the things you want to accomplish. Get a clear picture in your head of where you see yourself in your ideal life. Let your imagination run wild. For example, do you want to have a dream vacation home? Something you can share with your friends and family? Picture your favorite room in your new home… down to the smallest detail. Picture yourself spending time there. What do you do? Where are you? The beach? The mountains?

Now write down the excuses you come up with for why this will never be possible. Are they legitimate? Do you really believe them? Poke as many holes in these beliefs as you can. Find someone you trust and read the list to them… out loud. Don’t hand them list. Read it to them in a loud clear voice. You might actually hear how ridiculous your excuses sound. Give your trusted friend permission to challenge your underlying assumptions with an open mind. Don’t take it personally.

My mentors are my best source for challenging my underlying assumptions. When I decided to move out of investing in single-family homes and into buying apartment buildings I had some pretty stubborn ideas. I was a newbie, I was pretty strong headed and I didn’t really want to hear why my plans might be pie in the sky. I was operating on assumptions. On what I imagined the process would be. One of my mentors, who actually owned apartment buildings, sat down with me and poked holes in my misconceptions. It wasn’t easy. It was hard to let go of insisting things should be the way I wanted them to be. He also helped me see that it was possible. And to see a bigger picture than I had for myself. He challenged my excuses for not getting into action and encouraged me to take the leap.

Taking one tiny step that scares the hell out you is the very best thing you can do even if you think you might fail at it or change your mind. Set an intention about what you want to accomplish. See it clearly. It all begins with a desire to take action.

What gets you going? Where do you find motivation to take action? Do you have goals you are working on right now? Please share in the comments below!

Oh! If you haven’t done so already, subscribe by email to bigfishtopdogs.com over on the right sidebar of this blog… you’ll be the first to receive new posts hot off the press!

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Perseverance: Getting Off the Ground

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:42:44 +0000

Would you like to know how many times I’ve thought of abandoning this blog? And why I haven’t?

Are you doing something right now that you want to see succeed more than anything? Do you ever think of quitting? Or wonder if you’re on the right track? Do you second guess whether or not your time is being well spent or if you are chasing impossible dreams?

Well… I understand those questions and feelings. I think of them sometimes. But mostly I think about where I’m going and where I’m going to be. I trust in my plan. I realize I can’t make my business a success overnight – that’s a big thing to remember.

Of course, a miracle could happen. My blog could go viral overnight. It could. But I won’t bank on it.

Instead, I’ll persevere… with a sold plan backing me. I know exactly where I want to be in 1 year. In 2 years. In 5 years. And I’m meeting my benchmarks. What I don’t know yet is where or when I’ll need to course correct.

But there’s one thing I’m completely sure of. The plane is in the air. I got off the ground. I can alter the flight plan as necessary. The destination won’t change.

If you have a plan and you are working it consistently – congratulations! Stick with it and hang in there. If you want to course correct I can coach you on it.

If you haven’t started your own flight don’t be discouraged. You can persevere just as well. By working on your fears, acknowledging your value, and finding a support system that will hold you accountable. Stop waiting until everything is perfect… you can course correct as needed.

It starts with a vision – backed by goals and a solid plan. What are you working on?

I love sharing ideas with you! Will you leave a comment below?

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What Are You Doing This Weekend?

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 13:14:58 +0000

Hi! Are you working this weekend? What are you working on? I was just thinking this morning about what I should do today and what I really want to do today. I mean like I could always do some filing or clean my desk but I think I’d rather do something more fun and proactive, you know?

For example, I was thinking about planning a trip to somewhere we’ve never been, maybe overseas, or working on some goals that I can get really excited about. We want to build on some property we have in Mexico, but things are so uncertain down there right now — the economy, the violence (something that, until recently, was more misinformation than reality) — that we need to look at this as a more long term idea. So, maybe we should think about planning for another location… like another part of the world.

How about you? Do you ever fantasize or dream about awesome goals… like picturing yourself working on a beach or something? Sipping a margarita with your mobile and your laptop? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This cool weather has me thinking about the holidays. I’d like to do something completely different this year. Two years ago we spent a week in Manhattan over Christmas (my birthday, too!)… it was so much fun and totally out of the ordinary.

So, I’m just sitting here trying to figure out where I want to start this morning. I know my husband would love to talk about this. And I’d like to hear your ideas too.

What are you up to? Are you working? Do you get to take some time for yourself? Are you planning something really cool for the next few years? Please share! If you’ve got some time this weekend, will you write? I’d be thrilled to hear from you! Please drop me a line in the comments below.

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If Your Kid Started a New Business, What Would It Be?

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:38:32 +0000

Have you ever asked your son or daughter what kind of business they would start? You’ve probably asked them what they want to be when they grow up, or someone has for sure.

Why not try a new twist on the old, extremely dated, industrial age question? Instead of asking your kids “Who are you going to work for?” why not ask them what they would create? Without limitations?

Interesting, huh?

Here’s what a bunch of really great kids came up with this week — all between the ages of 7 to 11 years old:

Teach adults how to use their “smart” phones. Need I comment here? Do you know how to use all the functions on your iPhone or BlackBerry?

Vending machine business – placed at factories and business centers. He’s donating revenue to a Women’s Center.

Computer game creator. I won’t give the name or concept away but it will be “the newest and awesomest game around.”

Children’s party planner – hosting parties for kids up to 8 years old. Donating a large portion of revenue to Haiti.

Online fashion for kids. Clothing and accessories. This adorable 10 year old from Australia “Quite likes spending time with younger children.”

Fitness for kids all around the world. He’s donating some of the revenue to local children’s hospitals after seeing his 6-year-old friend die from cancer.

Video advertising for business owners. He will video interview people “in the real world” about their experience with your business and post it to YouTube.

Using social media in 20 minutes. He’ll help you set up Twitter and Facebook and show you how to advertise your small business on your Facebook page… in 20 minutes.

Breed and raise pheasants & quails. Target market gourmet meat companies and hunting reserves. His 8-year-old sister will be selling designer flip-flops and hair bows online.

When it comes to ideas for new businesses kids can be creative and open-minded. They are incredibly future driven as well. Kids seem to get that a business is not built overnight and that they are building for tomorrow. They have no boundaries to their thought processes. Anything is possible.

Can we take a lesson from these kids?

How about you? Are you ready to believe that anything is possible? Do you realize that just about anything can be turned into a business?

Will you take the challenge and ask your kids what kind of business they would start today? Will you support them in believing they can do it? Intrigued? Leave me a comment or a question below!

Oh! If you haven’t done so already, subscribe by email to bigfishtopdogs.com over on the right sidebar of this blog… you’ll be the first to receive new posts hot off the press!

Do You Wish You Were More Creative, Productive and Better Looking? #7links

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:44:30 +0000

One of my favorite bloggers, Darren Rowse, posted a challenge to his readers.

I love his challenge because it gives me an opportunity to help you be a better, more creative, and productive entrepreneur in a single post.

It also gives me a chance to introduce you to two bloggers I really love following.

Great idea huh?

The idea is to publish a post that is a list of 7 links to posts that “you” and others have written that respond to 7 categories. You might want to take the challenge!

Your first post
A post you enjoyed writing the most
A post which had a great discussion
A post on someone else’s blog that you wish you’d written
Your most helpful post
A post with a title that you are proud of
A post that you wish more people had read

Here are the 7 links:

Are you an entrepreneur?

My first post. Short but sweet. In a nut shell this post challenges whether you are truly an entrepreneur. Read it and see.

The Art of Creativity in Business

The post I enjoyed writing the most. These tips will help you approach business survival with creative thinking. It will help you turn conventional rules upside down.

A great interview question; How to ferret out what someone doesn’t want you to know

A post which had a great discussion. Is someone hiding something from you? Would you like to know the one thing your customer isn’t telling you? Are you struggling to hire the right employee or contractor? My good friend Ron Laurent commented on using this technique to get his boys to incriminate themselves.

How to Live With Your Inner Critic

A post on someone else’s blog that I wish I’d written. Jean Sarauer writes about how we let our inner critics stomp the breath out of our dreams with their verbal attacks. She’s funny and refreshing.

Setting Goals for Entrepreneurs: Three Easy Exercises for the Entrepreneur

My most helpful post. This is a three part series on setting goals. You should read these. Really. I guarantee this will give you new motivation for setting goals you can achieve.

Is Your Ego So Big You Get In Your Own Way?

A post with a title that I am proud of. Is your ego a liability or an asset in business? In life? You do not have all the answers. This will help.

30 Tips to Becoming a Great Leader

A post that I wish more people had read. Please read this. Read it more than once. And comment.

Thanks to Darren Rowse at problogger.net for the inspiration to write this post. Did you take the 7 link challenge? Please leave a link to your post in the comments below!

Living Lives That Just Happen To Us

Theresa Bradley-Banta — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 01:53:34 +0000

Have you ever had an idea and when you went to retrieve it, it was gone? This morning I had an idea for a blog post and then I spent the rest of the day trying to remember what that idea was.

Uh-oh. I’m leaving for Dallas in the morning and really wanted to write this post tonight. Memory failed me on that one. So, lacking a topic I decided to go to my quotes file and see what resonated with me tonight.

And out jumps the quote,

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”

– Arthur Ashe

And, just like that, I remembered what I was going to talk about.

I was talking with two friends this morning. We were figuring out how our friend was finally going to drop AOL email and join the rest of the world. But she had cold feet mostly because she’s not technically savvy and didn’t know where to start. New email, exporting a database, backing up old email, etc.

That’s where we came in with the advice. Problem pretty much solved.

Then my friend said,

“OK, I’ll get this done over the next month.”

Next month? …. I write (a lot) about taking action. Doing something today. I told my friend she should just set aside a couple of hours and get it done. Knowing my other friend would support me in this, I enlisted her agreement.

“Don’t you agree?”, I asked my friend.

And she said,

“Yeah, just take one little bite out of it each day until you get it done.” (I’d hardly call that agreeing.)

So now we’re back to a month… or longer. Here’s the thing… baby steps can turn into some day. And… nothing gets done today.

And then we end up living lives that just happened to us.

Worth thinking about. And, then again – maybe my friend will get it done in a time that’s comfortable to her. But, I have to wonder how long she’s been thinking about doing this already.

Finding Your “Why” — What the Yellers and Tellers Leave Out

bigfishtopdogs.com — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:45:40 +0000

Posted by Theresa Bradley-Banta

Today we’re going to talk about finding your “Why”.

This is not be confused with your “What”. Those are things like making lots of money or taking your dream trip.

The yellers & the tellers as my husband calls them, love to preach about finding your passion… your “why”. It’s the key to success.

Right, they’ve got the concept… and they’re going to tell you all about it. You might even be inspired for a little while.

But, after the buzz wears off, you’re left scratching your head and saying, that’s great so how do I apply it to my life?

I posted a link yesterday to a really good video – and you should watch it.

But, after posting the link something happened to me.

I realized that all of these guys, the yellers and tellers, preach the importance of discovering your “why” – they’ll even give you an exercise to sit down and write it on a card that you will carry for the rest of your life – but, they fail to adequately describe what a “why” is.

So, let’s make it really simple.

It starts with having a sense of purpose. Here’s a short list and I would love to hear your ideas:

Inspire others.

Live a life of compassion.

Build or invent something that makes life easier for others.

Be the very best in something.

Do something that brings tears to your eyes.

Change the world.

Affect lots of people.

Empower others.

Level the playing field.

Realize or spread joy and happiness.

Teach.

Mentor.

Explore new ways of self-expression – let loose your creativity.

Connect with hidden talents.

Put a smile on your face.

Put a smile on someone else’s face.

Discover confidence and lack of fear. Teach others to do the same.

Feed the hungry.

Do something you would regret never having done.

Express your values.

What can you do differently today that would give you a sense of purpose in your life? I write this blog to inspire others. Do you have an inspiring story? I would love to hear it. Our readers would love to hear it. Do you have ideas on finding your “why”? What does this mean to you? Please share in the comments below.

Theresa Bradley-Banta, co-creator of www.bigfishtopdogs.com, is a musician, award winning graphic artist, mentor, coach, blogger, real estate investor and owner of multiple businesses. You can follow her on twitter @bigfishtopdogs.

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Start With Why

bigfishtopdogs.com — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:30:54 +0000

Why do you do what you do? What is your purpose, your cause, your belief? Do you know?

Martin Luther King Jr. said “I have a dream”, not “I have a plan”. There’s a big difference.

Leadership expert and author, Simon Sinek discusses this and more in his video found at this link. A friend shared this with me yesterday and it is well worth your time if you’ve ever wondered why having a “Why” is so important to the outcome of your goals.

It’s an inspiring video and makes me want to go buy his book, Start With Why.

That’s it – hope you enjoy!

Oh, and ted.com is a pretty cool site, check it out while you’re there.