Marketing messages are useless unless they are delivered by passionate messengers

It is amazing to me how much easier it is to implement and execute best practices by yourself and those that are motivated to achieve than it is to push the same thoughts and practices down an organization that is sufficiently happy with the status quo.

After cutting the hell out of my company from 30 to 7 people it amazes me that the seven that we have are enthusiastic and excited about distinguishing themselves from their competition. They want materials and marketing programs designed at setting themselves apart - designed to create a palpable difference in what they are doing. It is refreshing to say the least.

This differs greatly from trying to motivate 30 unmotivated, uninterested, unspectacular people who really don't give a shit about anything but picking up their paycheck every two weeks.

One of the most frustrating things about being a marketing person where the marketing philosophy is disconnected from sales is that the marketing is rendered impotent. It cannot be championed because sales is championed. Marketing, culture and differentiation must be driven from the sales leadership as well as the marketing leadership for any change initiative or marketing focus to be executed correctly.

Take for example the Customer Service Pledge that I designed for my company. It was designed as a tool to help combat some of the early customer inadequacies that our customers pointed out to us. Lack of return phone calls, lack of availability at signing, etc. were all ills that I hoped to stamp out through the implementation of this pledge.

The pledge was somewhat successful but not entirely. While some agents used it as a differentiator at first; human laziness tends to set in and inertia grinds them to a stop in using the form. The pledge does no good if it is not being sent out to the potential customers. Further the pledge wasn't being effectively enforced. The sales people weren't held accountable for acts of transgression. So the pledge - while nice and warm and fuzzy failed to produce the culture it expoused because there was lack of follow up from the leadership who was supposed to implement it.

And there lies the biggest problem for the marketer. Getting the leadership that must do the front lines execution of the plan excited and passionate enough about its need to make it a priority of theirs. If their isn't a burning need perceived by the leadership marked to carry this message out and through the masses it has no chance. The marketing team must make sure that the leadership sees it as a burning issue - a strategic competitive weakness - that can be corrected to add to the bottom line before they will put their effort behind it.

It is only when tying the customer and corporate benefit together that most sales leadership see the light go on. They have a harder time understanding and appreciating the fringe benefits of such a "culture" piece.

It's also a failure on the marketing side to not reinforce the values of the pledge and the importance of the document to the company's culture. Whether sales leadership pumps it down and out to the team is somewhat irrelevant if the marketing team stays on task and message and makes it a priority to spread out through the organization. This can be done via evangelists in the department who constantly promote their vision to peers.

By keeping focus (something marketing departments are notorious for losing) the marketing department can help cement and maintain the key core components of company culture and customer marketing via vigilant communications of those values to individuals through out the organization.

So, at the end of the day it is the responsibility of the marketing department to make a conscious effort to:

1. Identify the core values that will create customer value, improve corporate culture, and differentiate the sales offering.
2. Ensure leadership buy-in through passionate pitch to those responsible for championing the corporate message out to the customer interface. Maximize congruence between corporate goals and values and those outlined in number 1.
   
3. Maintain focus on those issues through constant evangelism and communications to those tasked with implementing and executing - living those core values.
4. Revitalize or replace all customer interface people who purposefully subvert, derail or ignore the value initiatives.
   

Positive Thinking - It's an Effort!

The mind is a creature of habit. It thrives upon the dominating thoughts fed it.

When any negative emotion presents itself in one's mind, it can be transmuted into a positive, or constructive emotion, by the simple procedure of changing one's thoughts. - Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich and The Power of Positive Thinking are two of the titles that have been at the front of my library for the last few months. I try to read a few pages of Think and Grow Rich every few days before I get my day started in the office. I listen to The Power of Positive Thinking in my car on the 20-minute drive home from work. I'm on my 3rd time through the CD set.

Thinking positively in its simplest form "sure does make things easier". Stress, worry and headaches melt away when you are able to combine self-confidence with knowing you are not alone in the world (whether it be from your God, your family, or whatever you choose to believe in) and then add positive thinking to all of that. It has been a transforming power in my life. My wife would probably say its been incremental, and at some times it has, but my long term demeanor has definitely improved and I think my success as a person has improved along with it.

Thinking positive thoughts and taking pride and humbly appreciating everything you have in life is the best way that I have found to be a happier person - and that is what we are all after in this life, right? Every morning I thank the Lord for my wife, my son, my family and my health. I read my primary aim: "Provide a great life (one with love, joy, happiness and abundance) for me, my wife and my son." and I smile thinking about all that I have.

Regardless if work is tough, regardless of the unpleasantries associated with a lack of money, the inability to do certain projects that I am interested in doing because of money, I know that with a positive outlook those items will be attracted to me and I will achieve them at the time I am supposed to. I know that without those items nothing is lost as long as I have my family. For as long as I have them and their love I am the richest man in the world. It feels good to say it and know it's true.

TED Talks

The TED conferences produce arguably some of the best ideas and insight in the world from the world's best and most innovative thinkers. These conferences feature luminaries giving short (20 minutes or less) speeches on a wide range of topics.

I am a big Malcolm Gladwell fan, and I've embedded his talk below. The amazing thing about these TED talks is that they are all available, for free, on their web site. I highly recommend that you go watch some of these and get insight from people who normally get $40,000 per speech for free right from the comfort of your home or office or home office.

4 Steps Essential for Success

1. A definite purpose backed by a burning desire for its fulfillment.
2. A definite plan, expressed in continuous action.
3. A mind closed tightly against all negative and discouraging influences.
4. A friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage [you] to follow through with both plan and purpose.

-- Napoleon Hill

The goal, as he says, is to make these four steps habit. No matter what we do on a day-to-day basis, dealing with the humdrum of everyday life, we need to make sure that we have these four elements constantly working for us. We need to take the time to set them in motion and then help them pick up steam.

Jim Collins in "Good to Great" describes a giant flywheel that takes the great effort of a constantly applied "push" to get the flywheel to begin to move. The pushes can't be sporadic or intermittent, the push needs to be constant and continuous. Only then will the flywheel begin to move. And the more pressure is applied continuously the faster the flywheel will turn. Eventually the flywheel will begin to whip around at high speeds based on its own accord and the energy you've invested in to the push.

This same philosophy applies, I believe, to the four steps essential for success. There has to be constant and continuous effort to make the four steps part of the every day. They don't work if you come back to them on the occasion of a burst of energy or epiphany. They need to be part of the fabric of your every day life.

Do not forget them in the din of the everyday - put them at the top of your list of daily activities. Water them and watch them grow in to the success you want.

Overcoming Fear

Fear, the worst of all enemies, can be effectively cured by forced repetition of acts of courage. - Napoleon Hill

I love this statement - the truth in it is astounding. I recall the fear I had, and sometimes still have at standing up for myself. A small act of courage perhaps, but no easy act for me. When I was younger my mom fought all my battles for me; this lead to me ducking many difficult situations later in life because I was incapable of effectively dealing with them. I never had to in the past.

I still get uncomfortable in confrontations, but I am less worried about the outcome now. Why? Because my wife forced me to repeatedly act with courage in sticking up for myself and our family. She doesn't let me get pushed around, but instead of fighting the battles for me she forces me to stand up for myself. I love her so much for her actions. She has helped me diminish the fear of confrontation and honesty by forcing repetition on me. It is the best medicine.

Fear will always be there, but if you can force yourself to overcome it by repeatedly engaging in acts of courage you will be able to diminish its hold on you and relegate it to one of those fleeting emotions that you have sound control over.

It's Been a Long Time...

Wow, I have really neglected my personal blog - which is never a good thing. I have been consumed with blownmortgage.com. I've posted over 200 times there since its inception a few months ago. I am also now a contributor to Bloodhound Blog and am a paid blogger for the new Loan.com blog. Oh, and I also started up our company's blog at blog.newdaytrust.com.

A lot of blogging. I've been reading a lot lately too and Monday I'll be posting some more of my Napoleon Hill learnings over the last few weeks.

Desire

"The starting point of all achievement is desire. ... Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat." - Napoleon Hill

When it comes down to difficulties (and successes) there are really only two options: 1. stand up for yourself and what you believe in or 2. pack up and go home. There isn't much else. The desire to choose yourself, to choose your success is the key to success; and it is the key to prevailing over temporary set backs. The desire to succeed, to enjoy the things in life you want to enjoy is the power that keeps the successful moving forward towards their goals in spite of great difficulties.

The weak pack up and go home. They accept what life gives them as their fate. They accept this with out any attempt to change it. The lack of desire to improve their situation is in equal proportion to the lack of power they feel to change it. Weak desires produce weak results.

Without a goal, and with out the burning desire to achieve that goal you are at the whim of the world and nature. You accept what life gives you, good or bad, because you refuse to persist to the end state you desire. Giving up because things get difficult is the surest way to failure. There is hardly a man of wealth that didn't pay for his rewards in sheer persistence in overcoming obstacles along the way.

Desire, coupled with unwavering persistence is the only way to meet your goals.

Any Road

If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. - Anon.

The world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show he knows where he is going - Napoleon Hill

Every book that I have read about self-improvement, business improvement or any other type of book that talks about how to improve a situation always starts with a defined end state. What is the goal of all of this work and exertion. If you don't know it, can't see it in your head, and don't have it clearly defined, there is no possible way that you can work efficiently towards it.

And with all I know, I still don't know enough to have my personal plan written. I don't recall my end state that I am striving for. I have written it before, but it has spent too much time in a desk drawer for it to come clearly to my head. I need to rewrite it, post it up where I can clearly see it every day, and make it a living document that I revise occasionally to keep in tune with my desires.

In Michael Gerber's E-Myth Revisited he talks about having a "primary aim" which is a broader life-goal that should help steer the efforts of your life, your work, and the business you own. He contends that if you don't know what you want, how can your business give it to you? It is so true. If you don't know each morning what you are waking up to accomplish any path that suits your fancy for the day will work. In the end you'll walk in circles, sideways, backwards, all the while wondering "Why aren't I getting anywhere in life?" when the answer is clearly "I have no where I'm trying to get to."

Having Faith

I have been listening to Norman Vincent Peale's "The Power of Positive Thinking" in the car each day, to and from work, along with my Think and Grow Rich study. Dr. Peale's audio CDs are an excellent vehicle to increase my positive outlook on life and our business. It has been a tremendous help lately.

Having Faith is one of the most important concepts in his work. The idea that your faith is what brings the things in which you believe in to reality. It's an incredibly powerful concept that I am heartened by. I like the idea that as long as you believe strongly in something and take concerted, decisive action toward the goal you can achieve whatever your mind can believe. Faith is the power that will make that happen.

What is hope? Hope is wishing for a thing to come true; faith is believing that it will come true. - Norman Vincent Peale

Personal Motivation

My wife thinks I'm never listening. She says it all the time, "You're not even listening!" or "It doesn't matter because you're not going to hear this anyway." Some times she is definitely correct. I can't do two things at once. If I try to read email and hold a conversation - forget it - you can tell in a heart beat. That's my mea culpa.

But, some times she is wrong. I like to think its more than "some times" but that is a point that she and I can argue later. Some times, I am listening. And most of the time what she is saying makes sense. Last night she said something to the effect of "you don't need all of those motivational books, we [her and my son] she be enough [motivation] for you." Those aren't her exact words, I have a terrible memory for things that I hear vs. what I read.

But it struck a chord. While reading Napoleon Hill et. al is very helpful and inspiring, there is NOTHING more inspiring in the world than coming home at the end of the day to see my wife and my son. It truly is the best feeling in the world. And for that split second everything is perfect. Nothing matters, there are no worries, it is pure, simple joy. That is what I need to constantly remember - I can have that feeling any time I want, simply by walking in my front door. What a powerful thought.

I am going to capture that thought in my head and use it as my reserve from now on. I'm going to continue to read and learn and build from the foundation of the great writers, thinkers, and doers, but I am going to rely more on that "walk through the door" feeling to push me along. It is the best thing this world has to offer.

Decisiveness

Analysis of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes well beyond the million-dollar mark disclosed the fact that every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly, and of changing these decisions slowly, if, and
when they were changed. People who fail to accumulate money, without exception, have the habit of reaching decisions, if at all, very slowly, and of changing these decisions quickly and often.

Again, from Napoleon Hill. I am about 3/4 of the way through the book and then we'll get on to other luminaries; but there really is so much good stuff to right about in Think and Grow Rich - its amazing.

It's important to do the research, perform your analysis, plot your objective and strategy, and then make a decision and go with it - 100%. Mr. Hill is right, once you've set something in motion the surest way to fail is to change your mind quickly and often. Without focus, there will be little in the way of results.

I've often remarked that in America there is room for nearly anything that is better, or more useful than the existing offerings available. That if you wanted, and were passionate about it, you could begin to manufacture a whole new brand of toilet paper. If you had a good enough improvement on the existing product and had the passion to deliver that difference to the market place, you could win in the toilet paper market. The most commodititzed areas of business still have room for improvement and make room when things are done better.

There are thousands of examples of this, and they pop up everyday. Look at Jet Blue, who thought there was a need for another airline? Starbucks? You could get coffee at every 7-11 prior to their launch. Whole Foods? There are plenty of supermarkets out there struggling. The list goes on and on. Even in what appears to be a "closed" market, a well-thought, well executed decision can win.

So no matter what path is chosen the surest way to success is with decisiveness and sticking to your beliefs about your idea. That is where the passion comes in. If you aren't passionate about your idea or its success then there will be no reason for you to show the resolve necessary for success to occur. You must so deeply believe in your idea that you have the courage to stick to your guns and to see your vision through. You can only do this by being decisive and then making changes slowly and methodically; and only once you are convinced it is the right decision.

Action

With all of the books that I've been reading lately there is one theme that definitely sticks out: the glory and success goes to those that take action. And not just any action, but a concerted, focused effort towards a well defined goal. It is so simple that its amazing that not everyone has figured it out; and frankly, I can't believe it took me this long, but I can already feel it working on my life.

Just by defining what I want and making a plan to get there, coupled with the desire to finish the task has me moving forward much more quickly than I have in the last few years. It feels like I've been sailing on a calm day and suddenly some wind has picked up at my back, filled the sails and I'm moving forward at a nice clip. I look forward to getting more wind in to those sails, and increasing the pace.

I've noticed that action with out the plan is wasted, scattered action. I need to take the 5 minutes, or 5 hours, and write the plan - personal strategy - and then begin to execute. With no road map any road looks good and I quickly get frustrated. If I simply lay out a path, no matter how rough it seems I have a first step complete and a recognizable milestone up ahead to shoot for. Once you have that you are ready to get moving.

I know that by building rough plans, refining them as I go and working towards completing them with out procrastination that I will achieve far more in 2007 than I have in the last few years combined. I can't wait.

Procrastination and Persistence

Napoleon Hill's 31 Major Causes of Failure, numbers 8 & 9:

8. Procrastination. This is one of the most common causes of failure. "Old Man Procrastination" stands within the shadow of every human being, waiting his opportunity to spoil one's chances of success. Most of us go through life as failures, because we are waiting for the "time to be right" to start doing something worthwhile. Do not wait. The time will never be "just right." Start where you stand and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.

9. Lack of Persistence. Most of us are good "starters" but poor "finishers" of everything we begin. Moreover, people are more prone to give up at the first signs of defeat. There is no substitute for persistence. The person who makes persistence his watch-word, discovers that "Old Man Failure" finally becomes tired, and makes his departure. Failure cannot cope with persistence.

"Start where you stand" and "Failure cannot cope with persistence" are now two of my favorite quotes and concepts. Finishing is what differentiates success from failure; seeing a project through to its end is the hallmark of a successful individual. That brainstorm, that manuscript, that business idea are nothing without your persistence to finish them. The time "will never be 'just right'" to finish or start; use the tools at your disposal and be confident that your path will lead you to better ones.

Know Thy Self!

Can you list your 10 strongest assets? Can you name your 10 biggest weaknesses? How about 5? If you can't identify clearly your assets and liabilities, how can you know what you are worth? How can you move forward in your life? And by forward I refer to progress and growth; improved job, lifestyle, and most important, satisfaction and fulfillment. I don't mean forward by the passing of years in to old age.

Personally I can't identify 10 assets and weaknesses. I can probably do 5 and 5 each, which is a start; but to not know myself completely is a liability in-and-of itself that I would not have listed. Napoleon Hill states "You should know all of your weaknesses in order that you may either bridge them or eliminate them entirely." If I am not intimately familiar with my strengths, abilities, and areas of weaknesses then I can in no way identify a path to improve.

Further, with out knowing I can in no way know what my actual worth is. And without knowing what my true worth is, I cannot fairly and accurately evaluate the opportunities placed in front of me because I will only choose what "sounds good" rather than choose the opportunity that rewards me (monetarily, spiritually, et al) the most for my worth. Hill continues:

"Your financial requirements or wants have nothing to do with your worth. Your value is established entirely by your ability to render useful service or your capacity to induce others to render such service."

In other words, its not what I feel I should "make" rather it's a question of what I provide and the value others place on that service. Instead of saying "I should be making more money" I need to reframe that to "I should be delivering more value." The focus on providing, is empowering because the situation is in my control. The idea of being paid or "making" money is disenfranchising because it is based on someone's opinion of my worth. If I feel I should "make" more I should immediately think "What can I do to deliver more value?" Focus on that will instantly create the "make"; because I will be worth more to others.

Combining the two thoughts: by identifying my strengths and weaknesses I can more effectively move forward and in-turn constantly improve the quality and quantity of the value I am providing; as that delivered-value increases so will my worth to others and the commiserate fees that are associated with that ever-increasing value-creation.

Let's go create some value!!!

Customer Service Nailed

As I continue through my reading of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, it amazes me how many of the immutable business truths he properly outlined and expressed in a book that was first published nearly 50 years ago. Each one of the business books that I have read espouses one of the principles outlined in this book.

I read this quote today:

The conduct, or the spirit in which you deliver service, is a strong determining factor in connection with both the price you receive and the duration of employment.

This is probably the most succinct explanation of the value of customer service I have ever read. Customer service, the spirit in which you provide to your customer is directly tied to how long that customer remains with you and how loyal that customer feels towards your business. Regardless of how fast you accomplished something, how cheap the service was, it will boil down to the spirit in which you serve - in which you give to your customer.

Surely, speed, price, execution are all important parts of the puzzle; but they are expected from all competitors. Speed, price, executional excellence are no longer differentiators between you and your competitor. This world demands speed, price and execution in everything. These are no longer hallmarks of great business; these are merely tickets to the show. Anyone not delivering on speed, price and execution are dead on arrival.

The spirit in which you deliver that execution is what begets the loyalty you need to thrive and succeed. That spirit is what makes you remarkable, and remarkable service is what wins you business over and over again. Think back to the last time you were really pleased with a business experience. It was probably due to someone who took the extra time to explain something to you, who showed you a bit of personalized attention. It is that spirit - the human spirit? - that compels business forward.

When delivering your services don't make the mistake of resting on speed, price or execution; put your money on your customer service and the spirit in which you deliver it. That is where your money is.

A quitter never wins -

and a winner never quits. - Napoleon Hill

There are so many easy excuses to quit. Each day you probably run in to 5 things that make you want to throw your hands up, let out a sigh, and perhaps even contemplate changing careers or jobs so that you can avoid those 5 things. It surely happens in any industry and in any job setting from self-employed business owner to CEO of the largest firms and every position from mail-room clerk to Supreme Court Justice. It is inevitable that there will be things in your everyday course that make you want to quit.

As you achieve more those forces become stronger. There are larger hurdles, they pile up, they begin to seem insurmountable. They increasing become about larger sums of money and greater tests of responsibility, ethics and faith. And it is because they grow that it becomes more rational to see quitting as an option.

Quitting is not an option. A winner never quits. There is no valid excuse for quitting in the midst of a well-developed plan to achieve your desired outcome. None. And it makes perfect sense that it should be this way. When things are going well and you feel on top of the world, you don't contemplate quitting. You savor the moment. It is only in the dark moments, the moments that test your resolve do we let the weakness of the option of quitting creep in to our conscious. It is unacceptable. If the option is not present in your position during the good times, it shouldn't be there in the bad times either.

Commit to never quit. Throw quitting out the window with all of the other false options that give you any type of excuse to not rise to your challenge. Notice I said "your challenge" not "the challenge" - it is no one's challenge except your own. Your life will not be what you wish it to be if, at moments of difficulty, you shrink from the opportunity to rise and take your life's vision to the next level in your quest.

There are many times, too many times, when I have made quitting the first option that has come to my mind. It is easy, it feels safe, it feels less difficult in its execution. These are illusions. For quitting is never easy and is never safe. Quitting ensures that you don't progress to your goal - it promises you a lack of fulfillment. It promises nothing more than the angst that you feel when you first contemplate it and manifests itself in life-long regret.

Don't quit. Drop the option from your vocabulary. Become unburdened with that language and you will work more creatively to succeed and to find solutions to the temporary difficulties that face you. And by using creativity you will surmount those difficulties and achieve new levels of self-respect and fulfillment. I will not let myself quit any longer. The only one who is hurt by my quitting is me and my soul. My soul wants more than a life of second guesses and lost opportunities. My soul wants greatness and fulfillment - two items not provided by the choice - at any point - to quit.

Definiteness of Purpose

"Definiteness of purpose is the starting point from which one must begin." - Napoleon Hill

Only is it when we truly decide with a definiteness of purpose what we want to achieve can we begin to achieve it. Random ideas, thoughts that swirl through our brain and tease us with our fleeting desires are no better than other fanciful thoughts of imagination not backed by any purpose or desire.

Until you decide to, with definiteness of purpose, pursue that idea you have no starting point for action, and therefore no ability to get moving towards your goal. You are stuck with great ideas and frustration from having no outlet. Put the purpose with the idea and then you have something powerful. A personal example:

For years I had always wanted to start a business. What type of business? One which I could make lots of money, of course. It didn't matter if it was to be a dot-com, a service business, consulting, or any other manner of enterprise; as long as I was making my fortune. And sure enough, with such a vague goal nothing came of these thoughts.

Then, after years of trying to figure out what type of business to start my brother-in-law came to me. His family said he should start a mortgage company; and he thought I would be a great partner. I agreed. Now my desire to start a business had a definite purpose. The purpose was to start a mortgage company. Now that the type of business was clearly in view I could move forward making it happen.

Within a week I had my best friend from college involved in the idea, ready to commit his money, licensing and time to make the business go with my brother-in-law and myself. And within a short three months we had the plans complete, the financing lined up and the business doors open to the world.

All it took was the definiteness of purpose to spur the action. It was not difficult, it was merely committing to the idea with a definiteness of purpose.

When you have an idea or desire, grab on to it, tie a definiteness of purpose to it and watch it go. With out a definite purpose the ideas have no where to put their creative energy to work. They just sail around with no direction. Once you give those thoughts the direction they need - by being totally committed to bringing an actual event to bear (not just any event, but a very specifically identified event) you can harness the immense power of those thoughts and make what you dream happen.

Pick a purpose based in your desire, and put all of your thought and energy in to bringing about that definite event. That is the only way to achieve.

Positively Positive

In my New Year's resolutions my over/under for maintaining a positive attitude was March - and smack in the middle of it I am here to reaffirm my commitment to it.

I'll admit, I've wavered, downright regressed, but I think I'm up for the year, if only slightly. So here is the 3-month push again to keep it going.

I have a positive attitude. I know what I want in my life. My primary aim is to have and genuinely feel contentment, comfort and joy for myself and my family.

I may not know exactly how I will achieve it, but I know that I can - and that is all that matters. Today I re-up my commitment.

As Jim Rohn says:

Philosophy drives attitude. Attitude drives actions. Actions drive results. Results drive lifestyles. If you don't like your lifestyle, look at your results. If you don't like your results, look at your actions. If you don't like your actions, look at your attitude. If you don't like your attitude, look at your philosophy.

Here we go - let's get after it.

Banks Crawling

Here are some clips of him crawling around - he is really crusing these days!

First Timer

So Banks started crawling this weekend - stud! Here is a clip of him at the end; first time with the video and a little slow - d'oh! I will get more of the man on the move in the near future!

Props to My Boy

Mike Young for signing a ultra-lucrative contract with the Texas Rangers. The 5 year, $80 million deal is the second largest in franchise history behind Alex Rodriguez's 10 year, $250 million contract. It may not last long if Scott Boras and Mark Teixeira have anything to say about it.

Let's enjoy the moment though for a guy who one scout had listed as "average arm, below average bat" when he was in the minor leagues playing for the Blue Jays. Now look where he is - second in the major leagues in hits only behind Ichiro since 2003. 4 straight 200 hit seasons. 1 All-Star game MVP, 1 AL batting title.

Why is this so sweet? Because Mike knew he would be here all along. He knew when he was a kid, he knew in high school, in college, wherever. Mike has the best work ethic, is grounded with an amazing family, and has a sense of self and self-belief that is second to none. So in a world of greedy, scandalous athletes here is a guy that should be celebrated as being a good guy, rewarded for his hard work and belief in himself.

Congrats buddy.

What a Week

Wow - what a week. I've been busy over on my mortgage blog and have been commenting on a bunch of topics all over the internet. It has provided a stimulating outlet for me to learn more about new ideas on the web in the mortgage industry and beyond. I finally feel like I am starting to "catch up" on my technology after being out of the loop for so long.

It amazes me how many people are blogging/podcasting, etc. out on the Web. I hope that I can stay on top of it moving forward.

I have a lot I want to talk about - Martin Scorsese's first Best Director award for The Departed is up at the top of list; along with the recent vetting of our staff at our office.

Great Quote

Forest Whitaker tonight at the Oscars in his acceptance speech for Best Actor in The Last King of Scotland:

“When I was a kid the only way I saw movies was from the back seat of my family’s car at the drive-in movie,” Whitaker said. “It wasn’t my reality to think I would be acting in movies, so receiving this honor tonight tells me it’s possible. It is possible for a kid from east Texas, raised in south-central L.A. and Carson, who believes in his dreams, commits himself to them with his heart, to touch them and to have them happen.”

Excellent inspiration for us all.

Life Plan

I just dug out my life plan that my mentor was kind enough to help me put together at the end of 2004 and again at the end of 2006. It's amazing looking at was has been accomplished v. what hasn't and what would have been if i had (wait for it) ...


Just followed the plan.

Blown Mortgage

So as a result of my last post I've created Blown Mortgage, a blog that will be solely focused on exposing the worst parts of the mortgage industry and process so that hopefully some people will save some money and in the best case scenario some homes are saved. Check it out.

A word about your mortgage

FYI - As the owner of a small mortgage company I wanted to give you a freebie about your mortgage. No matter what, people are getting paid on your mortgage. When you shop for a mortgage and someone gives you a rate over the phone do two things, PLEASE!

1. go to bankrate.com or wellsfargo.com or some site where you know you are getting decent information and see what the going rates are on the type of loan you are looking for. if you are getting quoted a rate that is not on one of those sites the person is LYING TO YOU. Go against your gut, against your hopeful wishes and don't waste your time. The rate doesn't exist, don't let false hope compromise your financial situation. It's not worth it.

2. demand from your representative a copy of either a. a FULL APPROVAL or b. the RATE SHEET they are quoting the rate off of. if they won't give you either before you get to the final documents you are getting screwed for sure. Same goes for the TIL.

P.S. the GFE they send you will be good for two things: starting the fire in your fireplace or lining your pet's cage. nothing else.

Dream a Dream

I re-read an essay given to me back in 2004 from one of my mentors who at the time identified in me a malaise - not unlike the current one I find myself in - with the goal of breaking me out of the funk and helping me on my way.

It did. While it is not published anywhere that I know of, it should be. One of my favorite parts of it is summed up by: "Don't be afraid to imagine your life as it would be if you achieved the greatest heights you could visualize in your mind."

What an amazingly powerful concept. To think of your life with out the burdens of self-doubt, lack of confidence and excuses that are surrounding you, like a mortgage, a family, security. To, with supreme confidence, know that your destiny in life is to live at your fullest potential doing exactly what you were meant to do, is a concept that puts goosebumps on my skin.

I know that I am destined for great things; everyone is. Whether we let the excuses and doubts stop us is individual choice. I choose not to be stopped.

Mentors

Mentors have to be some of the most amazing people on the planet. People who have been there, done that provide you wisdom, guidance and insight for free. They take their time, which is usually worth a small fortune, and share it with you. They allow you to absorb as much of them as you like; as long as you take it.

I have two great mentors. I have managed to let them wither and turn their attention elsewhere by not being smart or persistent enough to keep their attention and show them my appreciation for their time and insight. I am ashamed. I hope that this year and I can fully engage my mentors (if they'll have me back) and learn the easiest way there is; through them.

When in doubt, shut up.

I haven't posted on my blog in over a week, and in an effort to keep what had been an enjoyable habit going I'm here, grinding out a post in hopes of recapturing the interest I had in everyday items that made me repeatedly up my post count throughout January and early February. I guess I've been in a bit of a funk lately, an overall general malaise that has manifested itself in muting my desire to share my everyday thoughts here. I've even said to myself numerous times since my last post "I don't even have a good idea to put up on my blog." And, several times, I've sat late at night falling asleep trying to contrive something worthwhile or interesting to post about - only to fail myself over and over again.

So, when in doubt, shut up. I find it weird that I can go through periods of mental block, like a weight sitting on my frontal lobe that keeps me from entertaining interesting thoughts of my own. Instead, I've been a recluse wrapped in others thoughts and ideas, burning through pages of different books looking for a spark of interest that would propel me to my brainstorming ways in short order. While I've read a lot of great material non has proved the able flint necessary.

I think part of it is because of this whole name thing - the gravity, or maybe in-gravity, or neither of the whole exercise has left me feeling morose and impotent; or afraid to put my rusted marketing mind to the challenge. Anyway, I'll keep grinding and thinking, trying to regain the optimism that is given to me everyday by my son and wife. To capture and manipulate that feeling on command, to regain the confidence of my own ideas is where my head will be at this week.

Web 2.0

Here's a cool look at the internet as it expands and grows. It pisses me off that I used to feel like I was on top of everything going on in the computer/technology space. Now I don't even know how to put someone on hold on my cell phone. What the hell happened to me?

So check this out, its a pretty cool video.

Amazing Movie

This movie was on Comedy Central tonight. It is a great movie. It's so accurate it's scary. Every job I've worked at is like this - even the ones that try their hardest to not be.

Disclaimer

It's nice not to have a disclaimer. I don't have to disclose anything. I don't have to put anyone on notice. I don't have to qualify my statements. I don't have any of the following on my blog: confidentiality notice, privacy policy, copywrite notice, trademark notice, interest rate disclaimer, lease term details, money back guarantee disclaimers, nothing. Not a single disclaimer. My brother's blog has a disclaimer because he is publishing snippets of his creativity and doesn't want it stolen. Just so my brother can rest; "I agree to the terms and conditions associated with reading your blog."

Dammit, I just thought of one for me: "The views put forth in this blog are not the views of New Day Trust Mortgage or its management team. In no way do they represent the views of New Day Trust Mortgage and New Day Trust Mortgage cannot be held liable for any views or opinions expressed herewith."

3 down, n more to go!

Where 'n' equals years left of my life. Happy anniversary to me and my wife! Good lord, its a veritable blizzard of Brown-family Memorial Days all piled together in the depths of winter (if such a thing exists in the OC). Yesterday was our 3rd wedding anniversary. I didn't post exactly on the day because I vowed to myself not to turn my computer on all night last night so that I could spend time with my wife. I spend too much time buried behind a small fuzzy screen.

When I do peer over it I see my beautiful wife sitting there, she is gorgeous. She doesn't think so, but she is the most radiant, beautiful woman that I have met in my life. She is my foundation and my rock. She keeps me motivated, grounded, honest, passionate, positive; she keeps me from taking myself to seriously. She is my best friend and love of my life. I can't say any more - she is perfect for me. She has given me everything I have in my life and I am so grateful for that. Thank you to my best friend for everything. I am so glad to be celebrating our 3rd of many, many more to come.

Happy Birthday Banks!

Happy Birthday to my son. The boy who has given me purpose, strength and the purest joy I could ever know. I love you Banks and I am so proud of you for fighting your way in to this world, fighting to stay, and being here today. I am truly blessed and will cherish you forever. Thank you for an incredible year and for the hope of a brilliant future. I can't believe you are one!!!!

Love, Dad.

I get a lesson in persistence

Last night we had our friends Ben & Johanna over for dinner. They both work for an ad agency Y&R here in the OC. Ben is in the creative department and works on several accounts. He recently proposed, and won, the concept that made up the latest Range Rover commercial. You can see the micro-site here.

Having your concept chosen as the one that an account goes with for their global campaign is no small feat. It is kind of like making it to the major leagues in sports, or getting your first script green-lit by a Hollywood studio. It's a big accomplishment.

It took Ben 5 years to get his first commercial concept win. 5 years in the same agency, getting idea after idea torpedoed until he broke through. Now people are asking for his input on everything. 5 years of no, 1 yes and now the opportunities come rolling in. 1,825 days of no. 1 day of yes.

That is presistence. That is what gets you on track to the top of your career. That is something impressive. I hope I can learn from him.

Kites

Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it. ~ Winston Churchill

One of the things that no one tells you about when you open a company is that sometimes you are just going to end up feeling like hammered shit. Things are going to go wrong, and just when you think you've gotten a handle on something another item pops up that makes you want to pull your hair out.

The above quote came to me in the mail on a Boys & Girls Club invitation on a day that truly sucked. It was perfect timing. Persitence is the only answer to anything. When things get bad, and then get worse, the only thing that you can do is keep grinding. Keep your eye on the prize and keep pressing. The only failure would be in giving up.

In Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow rich there is a great story about a 49er who went to California as part of the gold rush. He bought a plot of land and began to mine for gold. For months and months he toiled with no success. Frustrated and broke, he gave up the mine and walked away. He sold the mine for pennies on the dollar and went home.

The man he sold it to went down one of the failed mine shafts and began picking away. He went 3 yards further than the man that had given up and ran in to a major vein of gold. It turned out to one of the richest mines in California. After digging and digging for months, the original owner had come within 3 yards of a fortune for generations to come and had given up.

I don't want to give up 3 yards from the gold.

Summer Learns Photoshop

MORGFACEJPG
Originally uploaded by Summer Brown.

My wife is discovering the joys of Photoshop. She's getting really good at it and took one of my existing photos and turned it in to a Scarface tribute. Very cool. I think I'll have to put this on a t-shirt one day...

Lack of Patience

I suffer from a major lack of patience. I go from calm to infuriated in about .5 seconds. Since January 1st I have made it my goal to be more patient and a nicer person. So far I think its worked but I can feel it wearing off. Where did my patience go? I used to have a lot of it. I used to think patience was a good thing, now I wonder if I was just being a spineless pussy. I am sure there is a balance to be struck somewhere.

I go back and forth on this. I believe my former patience was me really just putting up with a bunch of crap and bottling it all up inside. Now my lack of patience is a new found outlet and like a new instrument I'm learning how to play it.

Maybe my patience is like two tectonic plates and letting off a little steam here and there is better than one big earthquake. Or maybe I just enjoy being agitated? For now I'll keep riding the patience wagon and let you know as soon as I break my New Year resolution. The over/under is March 1st.

This Just In...Chris Daughtry

I guess the American Idol guy I was complaining about in an earlier post has the number one album in America right now. Still, him singing the National Anthem before the Bears/Saints game was a blatant plug for the new Idol season and it still pisses me off. I think I'll boycott his music just to make me feel good about sticking to my earlier spouted beliefs.

iTunes Annoyances

Is it just me or is iTunes infuriatingly difficult to use? Finding and organizing music is a pain in the ass. Creating playlists to group your tunes in a somewhat cohesive manner is cumbersome. So now my digital music collection is as scattered and useless as my actual one. Instead of my CD collection stolen and strewn about many different friends' apartments, I now have music on 4 computers. Of course I can't get it all on one and when I play music on my iTunes it plays either all the same artist or some jumbled uncomfortable set of music that you might here on the terrible 93.1 JACK FM. I admit my music tastes are not great, but iTunes is sending me in reverse. I now have all of the impulse buys of the catchy singles that have been released in the last few years with a few complete albums. It has made my music experience disjointed and more importantly disappointing.

I wonder if I felt the same way after I tossed my VCR and bought my first 4 DVDs; realizing that it was going to take forever to get a collection that satisfied my movie needs.

Attorney's are not marketers

Apprentice is amazing. Not amazing in like "wow, that is great television!" amazing; but more along the lines of "wow, how the fuck are these people the top of the business food chain?" wow. Case in point is the week's loser (I am not an avid watcher of the show - I missed the last two episodes) Marisa who is an attorney. My regard for the bar has been diminished.

The task simple. Make a new chicken bowl for El Pollo Loco, market and sell the hell out of it. Most sales win. Marisa was in charge of marketing. Her idea? Two chickens on a busy intersection waving in business. That was vetoed by the team. Her other idea? Oh wait, did she mention the chickens?

Her one dimensionality would scare the crap out of me if she was defending me, or if I was her lead prosecutor. "The case has to be argued this way." I can hear her whining repeatedly like a neighborhood four year old.

She kept saying the "chickens were an out of the box idea" except when the idea is vetoed where is the rest of the marketing plan and strategy? This is a slam dunk challenge - a softball - you get traffic to the store and then you close with a good pitch. One, two, done. But she had no backup. Once the dancing fowl were vetoed she tanked. No balloons, no banners, no handouts and fliers, nothing.

On the other hand, maybe she is a research type attorney who's one dimensional approach gets to the details that wins cases. I doubt it. Watching this ineptitude makes me think that I should be president of the world, or at least the Donald's apprentice.

On Tipping - this is perfection

I am reading a new book I got for my birthday called Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux. It is excellent so far and he has a great take on tipping during his travels:

"Tipping confounds me because it is not a reward but a travel tax, one of many, one of the more insulting. No one is spared. It does not matter that you are paying thousands to stay in the presidential suite in the best hotel: the uniformed man seeing you to the elevator, inquiring about your trip, giving you a weather report, and carrying your bags to the suite expects money for this unasked-for attention. Out front, the doorman, gasconading in gold braid, wants a tip for snatching open a cab door. The bartender wants a proportion of your bill, so does the waiter, and chambermaids sometimes leave unabmiguous messages with an accompanying envelope, demanding cash. It is bad enough that people expect something extra for just doing thier jobs; it is a more dismal thought that every smie has a price."

Plug This

Why is everything a plug these days? It is almost to the point of absurdity. Watching the NFC Championship game last weekend on FOX we had the following: Chris Daughtry from American Idol singing the National Anthem, then actors from the various FOX series like 24 either in the stands, on the field or in the booth and of course game MVPs getting a Chevy Silverado.

Then, today at the Buick Invitational (where Tiger won his 7th in a row, BTW) they had an interview with the Buick Golf director who went on and on about: how proud they were that a Buick partner (Tiger) won the event, how Buick just finished its latest rounds of commercials for their newest vehicle featuring Tiger, how Buick has sponsored the event for 16 straight years, and how Buick is the official car of the PGA.

How has this become acceptable? It's like give me my 3 minutes back for watching an ad for Buick in the pretex of an interview. And to Fox, way to lessen our national self-esteem by pimping out the National Anthem to an Idol wannabe runner-up to highlight your new season of American Idol. You're already getting 37 million viewers per episode - can't we just leave the National Anthem out of it - what are you looking for - 38 million?

I am all for marketing and trying new ways to reach the audience - but what's next? Are we going to have Nascar logos on Bibles and Mont Blanc logos on reproductions of the Constitution? Stop, please, and send more spam!

Hospitality

On Mad Money last night Cramer talked to Danny Meyer who is a big time restaurateur and author of a new book titled Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business where he emphasizes that delivering service is no longer enough to make a business great. Everyone says they deliver great service, every customer expects great customer service. Great customer service is no longer remarkable and no longer enough to succeed in business.

The answer is now hospitality. How you are able to make the customer feel. How hospitable you are at every point in the transaction with you customer is what determines if you win or if you lose.

I think its a great way to look at how to differentiate yourself in a world where everyone is screaming service. To get beyond is to be hospitable.

Thirty...and One

Well happy birthday to me. Tonight while I sleep my biological clock will tick forward to 31 years of age. Normally, I get pretty depressed on my birthday, well maybe just grumpy, but this birthday I don't really feel that way. I feel like its a good birthday - like I can't believe I've made it this far and have produced so much. I have accomplished some too, but not as much as I want. I have made with my wife the most wonderful boy in Banks. He truly is a miracle and I believe his success is my biggest success.

My birthday also marks a milestone of putting the last 3 years of turmoil behind us and gives our family a fresh start to again pursue happiness together. I take 31 and reaffirm to myself all that I want to accomplish in life for my family. It truly has become about us and not me and it is an incredible transformation. Everything I want I now want for my son, my wife and myself, and it is an unbelievable feeling.

So cheers to me at 31 - a great birthday, milestone and launching point for the days and years ahead. For all that I will acheive in my 30s and all that I will provide for my family, and most importantly the experiences that I will share with the people I treasure the most.

31 is a good number and no matter what 2007 brings I will know that I have been blessed.

Effort

What is with the phenomenon that the older you get and the more success you have, the harder it becomes to improve on that success? When you're young and playing intramural soccer you win a few games and get a trophy. Go to high school and log a couple of study hours and get good grades. Go to college, you have to study a bit more to succeed. Get in to business and then it gets infinitely harder.

Our company has been open for two years now, and each step to improve the company has gotten harder and harder. We most recently got our correspondent lender approval with Countrywide - this by far has been our hardest undertaking yet. The success of getting it felt great but the effort and amount of time to achieve it has been enormous. And even when you get a huge win like this there are a million other pressing issues that keep you from resting and enjoying the success. It's like on to the next thing before we get eaten alive...

While I enjoy the big victory after a lot of work it would sure be nice to get a few easy wins here and there instead of feeling like each new initiative requires every ounce of energy and wit you can muster for 8 months before 'winning.'

Drive Thru Follies

Oh, the joy of living in Southern California where our ethnic diversity is a blessing. I went to Del Taco for an unexpected morning snack and sat in the drive through lane watching a lady in front of me repeat her order 4 or 5 times becoming increasingly agitated before pulling up to the window. Once at the window this rotund ball of fire was handed a drink, apparently the wrong drink, got her money back, tossed the soda on the drive through counter and sped off.

I guess it would help if the guy at the drive through could actually speak and understand English. Maybe just understand? I'm not being biggoted here, I think that anyone that can fulfill the basic duties of the job should have the right to work, but come on, putting someone who can't speak English on the drive through during the morning crunch is insanity.

The poor guy was so rattled that by the time I got to the window my order was, of course, wrong. I had to correct him as he was putting it together from what I could see of his operation (no, that was a Diet Coke). And I had to remind him 1) that I needed to pay (seriously, he gave me the food and then looked at me with a blank stare), 2) for hot sauce and 3) for napkins.

Finally he said $5.88 as my total and I gave him $20. I received $14.52 in change. Thank you Del Taco and God Bless America!

Give Me Nuke

The Guardian comes out on DVD on January 23rd, which reminded me - when is Kevin Costner going to stop making movies? I mean has he made a good movie since Field of Dreams? Field of Dreams and Bull Durham are two of my all-time favorite movies. Dances with Wolves was good when making epic films wasn't cool and Tin Cup can crack my Top 100 on an off day - but since then he's really gone down hill.

Some of the worst Costner movies of all time: Waterworld, For Love of the Game, Rumor Has It, 3000 Miles to Graceland, The Postman, The Bodyguard.

I think Guardian will be in the second, growing list. Please stop Kevin and let me enjoy Bull Durham.

Caller ID

Is there an invention that has been any worse yet any better for mankind at the same time than caller ID? I mean, it has completely put you in control of who you talk to and thus how you spend your time, which is great. At the same time allows you to decide how, on a case-by-case basis, big an asshole you feel like being. Mom calling for the fourth straight day? Send it to voicemail or pick it up? Voicemail. Unknown number=autoVM. If you have any doubt about this phenomenon call my brother.

(LUV)

LUV is the stock symbol for Southwest Airlines. Southwest is known for their extraordinary management, customer appreciation/care and employees first approach to business. It's amazing to me as a small business owner that Southwest can carry the "we care" theme all the way to their stock symbol. Talk about being consistent and living the message all the way from the ground level to the board room and beyond. Now that's a company to emulate.

Why Banks? 'Cause he's money!

Banks Morgan Brown, will be 1 on February 5, 2007. He is the most amazing kid I know. Summer, my wife, does an incredible job capturing photos of him like this. She takes hundreds of him and they are all amazing. One day I'll tell the story of Mr. Banks but for today I just want to say I love my wife and my son. My family is the best thing to ever happen to me and they are my foundation. I love you!!!

Mad Money

I have to say, Jim Cramer got me. Jim Cramer is host of CNBC's Mad Money. This is a show where he analyzes stocks, takes phone calls on the fly in the Lightning Round and pretty much entertains you while teaching you about the stock market. His book "Mad Money Watch TV, Get Rich" is a light, easy read that really explains to you what is going on in the market and how to educate yourself on the stocks that can help you make money by investing.

Since I love learning new things Jim has inspired me to learn the stock market. My grandfather always held a lot of stock and seemed to do well with it. Since it took me 16 years to pick up golf, the sport he loves, I guess 30 to pick up stocks, the investment he loves, seems to make sense.

I have no idea what I am doing by the way. But, I'm sure I'll pick up a level of understanding enough to earn a decent return while not losing my shorts. (Is it weird that I debated using shorts or pants to end that sentence for almost a minute?) I'll keep you posted as I go...

Hello World

Why do I know what "Hello World" means? Why do I know the history behind it? Why am I using it to start my blog? Because I like to know just enough about everything to make it seem like I know everything about everything - but in reality I know just enough for a 15 minute conversation on the matter and then well, lets switch subjects.

"Hello World" is what tech guys use to launch a new program or application out to the world. It's the test output for the first transaction of many software and tech products. I have no idea why. But it works for my first post of my blog.

To be honest, I'm motivated to blog because my brother started one and so it must be a good idea. I am 30, happily married with a beautiful 1 year old baby boy. I own a mortgage company which provides for my family and provides me with plenty of stress and enjoyment.

I'll probably make about 4 posts and call it quits so enjoy it while it lasts - but I have a few things banging around in my head that I might feel like posting just for posterity - if it interests anyone else well then that's a bonus.

Hello world.