Received as an email...
I was talking to a friend of mine's little girl, and she said she wanted to be President some day. Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked her, 'If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?'
She replied, 'I'd give houses to all the homeless people.'
'Wow... what a worthy goal.' I told her, 'You don't have to wait until you're President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward a new house.'
She thought that over for a few seconds while her Mom glared at me, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, 'Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?'
And I said, 'Welcome to the Republican Party.' Her folks still aren't talking to me...
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. version 2.0
When I set up this blog, it was my intention that it would be less technical and more about people, relationships and the "softer" side of business. It didn't take long before I felt the need to communicate topics that weren't necessarily appropriate for this venue.
Announcing the birth of Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. version 2.0 . There I will blog the trials and tribulations of a business owner trying to re-invent his business in the midst of a rather tough economy. Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1997 as a sole proprietor company. It incorporated in 1999 and hired its first employee the same year. Since that time there have been some minor ups and downs, but for the most part a WHOLE LOT of sideways. Follow along as the company attempts to do a "Total Make-Over!"
Our friends at PartnerPoint are launching a new customer facing portal and they have asked us to post a banner, so here it is...
Announcing the birth of Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. version 2.0 . There I will blog the trials and tribulations of a business owner trying to re-invent his business in the midst of a rather tough economy. Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1997 as a sole proprietor company. It incorporated in 1999 and hired its first employee the same year. Since that time there have been some minor ups and downs, but for the most part a WHOLE LOT of sideways. Follow along as the company attempts to do a "Total Make-Over!"
Our friends at PartnerPoint are launching a new customer facing portal and they have asked us to post a banner, so here it is...
A Proud Member Of |
Monday, September 1, 2008
Success... Recommended Reading
My last posting considered the value of goal setting in the pursuit of Success. Today we will step back and discuss a basic building block for attaining knowledge. That knowledge can then be a contributing factor in attaining Success.
It is often said that "Knowledge is Power." One way to obtain knowledge is to read. People read for a variety of reasons. I for one don't like to read. I read out of necessity. Having said that, nearly everything I read serves a purpose, it addresses a need. So if I am currently experiencing a need to become more successful, what should I read? I'll share with you a few books that I am reading, have just read or more importantly, re-read.
One of my fellow HTG13 members, Karl Palachuk has recently written a book called Relax Focus Succeed: A Guide To Balancing Your Personal and Professional Lives and Being More Successful in Both. I am about half-way through it. So far, I have found it to be a very interesting read. I have known Karl (through his public presence) for a number of years. I have seen him in action at a number of technical events. However, we were just formally introduced and officially became colleagues in July. It will be interesting for me, once I finish the book to see if Karl can "Walk the Walk..." That will be the true test of the value of this book. I'll keep you posted.
The book that I most recently finished is called The Go-Giver. For those of you who like me, don't really enjoy reading, this is an easy reading book that shouldn't take you too much time or effort to read. The book was oddly enough, given to me by Arlin Sorensen. Arlin and his wife Nancy graciously hosted an event on their family farm that featured teaching on this simple little book. You can read about it here. If you look closely, you might even find reference to "yours truly."
I am still amazed every time I meet someone in business (SMB) who has not read The E-Myth Revisited. If you have not read this book, buy it. Buy 5. Trust me, once you read the book, you will want to give it to friends and associates. It is THAT good. I bought the paperback originally back in 2005 and I recently purchased the audio book so that I could "learn it" all over again.
No discussion about books, knowledge and power would be complete without explicit mention of the Bible. There is simply no book that contains more TRUTH, KNOWLEDGE and POWER than the Bible. If you were only allowed to read one book the rest of your life, that is the only one that you need. Oh, BTW, there are plenty of tips for Success, contained in its pages as well.
It is often said that "Knowledge is Power." One way to obtain knowledge is to read. People read for a variety of reasons. I for one don't like to read. I read out of necessity. Having said that, nearly everything I read serves a purpose, it addresses a need. So if I am currently experiencing a need to become more successful, what should I read? I'll share with you a few books that I am reading, have just read or more importantly, re-read.
One of my fellow HTG13 members, Karl Palachuk has recently written a book called Relax Focus Succeed: A Guide To Balancing Your Personal and Professional Lives and Being More Successful in Both. I am about half-way through it. So far, I have found it to be a very interesting read. I have known Karl (through his public presence) for a number of years. I have seen him in action at a number of technical events. However, we were just formally introduced and officially became colleagues in July. It will be interesting for me, once I finish the book to see if Karl can "Walk the Walk..." That will be the true test of the value of this book. I'll keep you posted.
The book that I most recently finished is called The Go-Giver. For those of you who like me, don't really enjoy reading, this is an easy reading book that shouldn't take you too much time or effort to read. The book was oddly enough, given to me by Arlin Sorensen. Arlin and his wife Nancy graciously hosted an event on their family farm that featured teaching on this simple little book. You can read about it here. If you look closely, you might even find reference to "yours truly."
I am still amazed every time I meet someone in business (SMB) who has not read The E-Myth Revisited. If you have not read this book, buy it. Buy 5. Trust me, once you read the book, you will want to give it to friends and associates. It is THAT good. I bought the paperback originally back in 2005 and I recently purchased the audio book so that I could "learn it" all over again.
No discussion about books, knowledge and power would be complete without explicit mention of the Bible. There is simply no book that contains more TRUTH, KNOWLEDGE and POWER than the Bible. If you were only allowed to read one book the rest of your life, that is the only one that you need. Oh, BTW, there are plenty of tips for Success, contained in its pages as well.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Success...
I started Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. just of 11 years ago. As a business owner, you might say that I have more than just a passing interest in this thing called "success."
Like so many words, the word Success means different things to different people. Judging by most standards, neither QSS nor Rick Bahl would be considered a success. To be perfectly honest, I would tend to agree with those assessments. In order for me to succeed, in business or in my personal life, I need to have goals. Attainment of those goals will ultimately determine whether I am successful. Others may disagree, but technically, if I attain the goals that I set for my business and myself, then I have succeeded.
Therein lies the problem. Like so many people (and businesses), my goals are vague, poorly defined or non-existent. What I do have would be more accurately called Dreams. Dreams are a topic for a different discussion at another time. Realizing the error of my ways, I am taking steps toward ensuring SUCCESS, by anyone's measure, and the process is largely focused on setting and achieving goals.
S.M.A.R.T. Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time-bound. Those are the attributes of a useful goal. Knowing that is not enough. I still need some help. A lot of help. I "KNOW" an impressive amount of "things." Don't believe me, just ask my kids... There is an enormous difference between Knowing and Doing.
For me, Doing is going to take some work and a good deal of help. Enter Arlin Sorensen and his HTG Peer Groups. Arlin is all about Execution. He likes to quote Thomas Edison, who said, "Vision without execution is hallucination." I was invited to become a member of HTG13. We had our first quarterly meeting in July and will be meeting again the end of October in Kansas City. If you would like to know more about Arlin or the HTG Peer Groups, let me know and I'll provide additional details.
Naturally, there are more ingredients to Success, than simply having and attaining goals, but let's stop here of today and we'll pick up the topic again in the future...
Like so many words, the word Success means different things to different people. Judging by most standards, neither QSS nor Rick Bahl would be considered a success. To be perfectly honest, I would tend to agree with those assessments. In order for me to succeed, in business or in my personal life, I need to have goals. Attainment of those goals will ultimately determine whether I am successful. Others may disagree, but technically, if I attain the goals that I set for my business and myself, then I have succeeded.
Therein lies the problem. Like so many people (and businesses), my goals are vague, poorly defined or non-existent. What I do have would be more accurately called Dreams. Dreams are a topic for a different discussion at another time. Realizing the error of my ways, I am taking steps toward ensuring SUCCESS, by anyone's measure, and the process is largely focused on setting and achieving goals.
S.M.A.R.T. Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time-bound. Those are the attributes of a useful goal. Knowing that is not enough. I still need some help. A lot of help. I "KNOW" an impressive amount of "things." Don't believe me, just ask my kids... There is an enormous difference between Knowing and Doing.
For me, Doing is going to take some work and a good deal of help. Enter Arlin Sorensen and his HTG Peer Groups. Arlin is all about Execution. He likes to quote Thomas Edison, who said, "Vision without execution is hallucination." I was invited to become a member of HTG13. We had our first quarterly meeting in July and will be meeting again the end of October in Kansas City. If you would like to know more about Arlin or the HTG Peer Groups, let me know and I'll provide additional details.
Naturally, there are more ingredients to Success, than simply having and attaining goals, but let's stop here of today and we'll pick up the topic again in the future...
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