OMG - It's 2014 and I don't have any New Years Resolutions!!!

  Hi there!

  Here are a few tips on making something happen in 2014. Some folks will disagree with my suggestions, but tough tiddliwinks.

  How to set goals, the quick version:

   1. Keep it simple, measurable, and in spite of the "soar with eagles" chatter, within reasonable grasp. Complexity messes up your thinking, measurement is essential, and by finding some things you can get done with a modest effort, you can always reset your target with the confidence gained from round one.

   2. Find a way to give your goals some synergy. Losing weight? How about a 5k run as another goal? The training will help with your other goal of losing weight. Losing weight will make running easier. Or if you want to read more, then add joining a book club. You get the idea. 

   3. Write it down! Commit it to a friend! - Everyone says this. Why? Because it works. Writing it down makes you internalize it. It's harder to forget. If you put it somewhere (like your calendar) it will keep staring you in the face. Good. Tell a friend too. They can also stare you in the face! If you have someone who will give you a friendly nudge, take advantage of it. Big help.

  4.  Don't be too rigid. Things go wrong. Adjust and move on. Rigid thinking is what puts goals on the shelf for another year. Relax a bit and if something goes wrong, dust yourself off, adjust and keep plodding along. You'll make it!

   5. Whatever you do - this is critical. Have fun. The more fun your goals are to reach, and the more fun you inject into the mindset, the more likely you'll make it happen. Fun: have it!

   Get your PEN and PAPER. Make it happen. Don't clean a drawer. Don't have a bagel. Sit down and move your life in a better direction for 2014. 

   Have fun. Really. Lot's of fun.

   Happy New Year.

TY 4 RTs & SOs! #RocktheHouse

   What is up with those crazy tweets? And why so many of them? What do they mean?

   I get asked about the #gratitude tweets from time to time, and it seemed like a good idea to have a blog entry to explain the meaning, purpose, and mechanics of the hieroglyphics. 

   First, the long hand version of the tweet is "Thank you for retweets and shout outs." The hashtags are for fun and to break things up a bit. The reason to use shorthand is simple math. With only 140 characters it is important to use as few as possible. I'd rather explain and make sure I have room to mention EVERYONE.

   The quantity of the tweets is dictated by the amount of people who have either retweeted or responded to something. I thank everyone since it would be impractical to examine the nature of every exchange. Occasionally someone doesn't recall making a mention, but I take the history directly from Twitter, so it is most likely a lapse in memory. 

   The second reason there are so many is that I try not to them every day, though that is getting harder as things get busier. There are limits on the number of tweets per day etc and I have to follow the rules of Twitter. I have worked to make them appear fairly quickly, and then finish. Always tweeking the tweets. :-)

   The meaning is simple. I really appreciate people taking the time to drop by and interact with me, and my content. I'm not sure what noise a tree makes falling in an empty forest, but I think it is boring and disrespectful not to respond to the interaction. Thanks is owed, so thanks is paid. 

   Hope this helps to explain the tweets. Feel free to ask any questions you might have. 

   Thanks again! 

   All the best, Tim

An ode to Excellence, a #twog for Tom.

In the past couple days I engaged in a flurry of activity encouraging people to follow Tom Peters (@tom_peters) on Twitter to get him across the 100,000 barrier. 

Now why would I do such a thing?

There is more than one answer, so here you go:

1) If you are serious about success, Tom is an excellent resource. Funnily enough, I think the fact that such amazing content and interaction is essentially free throws people off. Don't value it by the price, value it by the utility.

2) As Cameron Morrissey (@ManagersDiary) coincidentally wrote in his recent blog entry #200, (Celebrate Milestones - http://dld.bz/c6cBm ) milestones matter. Sure, Tom is a remarkably accomplished and successful guy. Does that diminish his desire for recognition? I haven't asked, but I rather doubt it. If success alone was enough for most, there wouldn't be so many multi-gazillionaires still working and so many top athletes stretching their careers. 

Let's sound the trumpets as he crosses the line! Three cheers. You'd want the same.

3) I also did it because I like Tom and I'm grateful to be acquainted with him. He gives a tremendous amount of himself on his Twitter account. Moreover, he is the kind of person that everyone should hope is advising them or their employer. He cares about people and it radiates through virtually everything he talks about. In a world of self-aggrandizing dolts, Tom shines through as a genuinely nice fellow who happens to be very knowledgeable about leadership. 

4) The final reason, which is something obvious: I did it because I felt like it. If it makes him smile, then my mission is accomplished. 

Thank you Tom.  For sharing your thoughts and insights on a regular basis on Twitter. For sidestepping the trolls, and steadfastly holding down your end of every argument. You could have the campfire all to yourself, but you open it up frequently for anyone to pop by for and enjoy some heady conversation. 

Congratulations on cresting the 100,000 follower mark. There couldn't be a more deserving person.