Perfection (can be) the enemy of execution... Execution yields progress... Progress yields happiness, therefore... (The need for) Perfection is the enemy of Happiness! Enjoy! Thom, THE Unashamed Non-Conformist =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thom Rigsby is a lifestyle & business strategy expert. Drawing on his experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur launching almost a dozen startups and more than 25 years of business experience, Thom brings his creativity and "Non-Conformist" approach to entrepreneurship and getting results for you and your small business! So, whether you are looking for answers to your small business questions, time management tips, need a comprehensive business strategy or just craving some work-life balance, following Thom's exclusive personal development plan you can letting life happen to you and begin to create the life you crave with your very own small business. Be sure to connect with Thom... ...on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thomrigsbycoaching ...on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/thomrigsby ...and on Instagram http://www.Instagram.com/thomrigsby Become a part of the Work That Matters Facebook group at http://fb.com/groups/workthatmatters Thom is available for one-on-one coaching and as a motivational speaker on topics including peak performance, how to plan, personal development, success, and work-life balance to the mindset of wealth and success. Contact Thom at www.ThomRigsby.com for more details.

Do you know where the road you're on will take you? I ask this question a lot and most of the time the answer resembles, "Um, yeah...I guess." You have probably heard most of your life that if you study hard, get good grades, get a good job and work hard that you can finish happy. The problem is, what about the journey? See, the reality is that you can do all those things, just like the checklist tells you to, and still have a miserable trip only to arrive at an empty destination. Kind of like that Chevy Chase movie Vacation. After ALL THAT...the park is closed. So if following the checklist is not what you're supposed to do...what SHOULD you do? Well, I have good news and bad news... First, the bad news, you'll have to wait till next week to find out! What and how to change your trajectory is our topic next week on 7 Minutes In the Morning (be sure to watch and listen). Now for the GOOD News...there is something you can do right now to start the change. Over the weekend I want you to think for yourself, not what anyone else says...what YOU say success looks like to you. Big vacation every year? Maybe three or four mini-vaca's every year? Private jet or just a nice car. Sky's the limit here...just take some time this weekend to do this exercise... Grab a piece of paper, at the top write, "I envision a time when..." then spend the next few days writing out some bullet points to describe what success looks, feels, tastes, sounds and smells like to you. Bring that with you next week, and we'll start working on making that plan a reality for you! Have an awesome weekend. Thom Enjoy! Thom, THE Unashamed Non-Conformist =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thom Rigsby is a lifestyle & business strategy expert. Drawing on his experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur launching almost a dozen startups and more than 25 years of business experience, Thom brings his creativity and "Non-Conformist" approach to entrepreneurship and getting results for you and your small business! So, whether you are looking for answers to your small business questions, time management tips, need a comprehensive business strategy or just craving some work-life balance, following Thom's exclusive personal development plan you can letting life happen to you and begin to create the life you crave with your very own small business. Be sure to connect with Thom... ...on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thomrigsbycoaching ...on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/thomrigsby ...and on Instagram http://www.Instagram.com/thomrigsby Become a part of the Work That Matters Facebook group at http://fb.com/groups/workthatmatters Thom is available for one-on-one coaching and as a motivational speaker on topics including peak performance, how to plan, personal development, success, and work-life balance to the mindset of wealth and success. Contact Thom at www.ThomRigsby.com for more details.

There's a fine line between committed and crazy, have you crossed it? I once coached a business owner who was frustrated by their lack of progress in bringing their product to market. When I dug into the details, he told me he didn't really have the time to work on that product because he was so busy answering customer calls for another product. He was so focused on one product that he was blind to the success that was right in front of him! Knowing when to stay the course and when to pivot is hard, no doubt about it. We have to have a tenacious spirit and a willingness to do the hard work, but there is also something to be said for taking the outcome that is right in front of you and living to fight another day. Every situation and circumstance is different and ultimately you have to make these kinds of decisions on your own. But a great place to start is by asking, "which option moves me closer to my goal today?" The answer may not be the sexy one, but it will very likely be the right one. If you need help finding your why or setting meaningful goals for your business or your life, send me a message, I can help!

How will you know you've 'made it'? It's a pretty common question, especially in entrepreneur and business owner circles. So common in fact that we don't really pay attention to what the question assumes...namely, that there IS such a thing as making it! Too many business owners, leaders, and high performing individuals assume that the promised land awaits if they just keep their head down and soldier on. Do you feel that way? What if that's wrong? In my coaching practice, I've had the opportunity to work with several business owners as they were making an exit from their company. All but one of them looked back on their time owning the company with a perspective of failure, or at least missed opportunities. "We never really made the big time" kind of thinking. It's not until I remind them that they did manage to keep their family fed, clothed, housed, kids through college, employees employed, suppliers supplying...that it finally dawns on them that they'd been "making it" all along. So instead of seeing today's trials and challenges as failing, or as Sir Winston says, "Going through hell," consider it par for the course. These are the things that keep out the weak and give the strong the opportunity to shine! So yes, if you feel as though you're going through hell, by all means, keep going. You certainly don't want to camp out there. But also consider just how bad today's "hell" is...maybe it's not so bad after all. If you are having difficulty seeing the value in the journey or you're just feeling the weight of 'failure', DM me...I can help! Enjoy the journey.

Would you answer your phone the next time it rings if you KNEW the call would change your life for the better? What if it MIGHT change things for the better? Many people, maybe even you, look at an opportunity as a single big-thing delivered with a bow on top and a card with instructions. The outcome is guaranteed, just plug it in and the world is yours! But just like many a birthday or Christmas present, the reality of that present is much different than what you've built it up to be. Oh yeah, it's awesome to rip open the paper and see the gift you've been hoping for. Then you open the package and the dreaded "Some Assembly Required" or "Batteries Not Included" annotation that you overlooked on the outside of the box becomes painfully real. So now that gift that you wanted more than anything else just lost a bit of its luster, work is required and now, maybe, you want it just a little bit less. It's hard to turn on the television, scan through the YouTube feed, or read through entrepreneur forums without finding a title similar to, "Looking for the next opportunity." You've even seen it on LinkedIn "Between Opportunities." The problem is too many people are saying opportunity when they really mean gift. They want a plug-and-play solution when the reality is...it's not that simple! You are uniquely gifted, talented, and placed to do work that matters, and that work will call to you. Ever had an idea that just wouldn't go away? Maybe it was a product idea. Maybe it was an open-ended offer to join a startup. You may find a career and income, maybe even prosperity without it, but you'll never find fulfillment and the joy of knowing you are answering the call! Whatever yours is, it is calling to you because THAT is YOUR work that matters. If you're not answering the call, it's not too late (remember yesterday! You're not a tree!) If you're not sure what that nagging emptiness is, I can help! Just ask. Will you answer the call?

Have you ever had a request from a customer that was just completely ridiculous? Did you do it anyway? The only thing that makes any request ridiculous is our perception of the request. If you run an ice cream food truck and someone comes up looking for coffee...you might think that's ridiculous. For whatever reason, that lost customer didn't think it was ridiculous... hhmmm. So adding a coffee pot, that's pretty simple. Adding an espresso machine, not so simple. Since our job is to solve problems for other people, it stands to reason that the more problems we can solve the more customers we will have. Now, we have to balance cost/benefit for sure, but the more times you say YES, the more happy customers you create...and the more happy customers you create, the better your bottom line will be. Don't get hung up on "that's not what we do here, man" kind of thinking. Make your business about solving problems rather than ___. And if that scares you, good! Real growth only occurs outside your comfort zone! So get out there, say yes, and enjoy the benefits! Enjoy! Thom, THE Unashamed Non-Conformist =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thom Rigsby is a lifestyle & business strategy expert. Drawing on his experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur launching almost a dozen startups and more than 25 years of business experience, Thom brings his creativity and "Non-Conformist" approach to entrepreneurship and getting results for you and your small business! So, whether you are looking for answers to your small business questions, time management tips, need a comprehensive business strategy or just craving some work-life balance, following Thom's exclusive personal development plan you can letting life happen to you and begin to create the life you crave with your very own small business. Be sure to connect with Thom... ...on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thomrigsbycoaching ...on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/thomrigsby ...and on Instagram http://www.Instagram.com/thomrigsby Become a part of the Work That Matters Facebook group at http://fb.com/groups/workthatmatters Thom is available for one-on-one coaching and as a motivational speaker on topics including peak performance, how to plan, personal development, success, and work-life balance to the mindset of wealth and success. Contact Thom at www.ThomRigsby.com for more details.

When was the last time you experienced bad customer service? See how easy it was to remember that time? I recently read some stats that said 1 in 3 BAD customer experiences get shared with friends and/or social media but only 1 in 14 GOOD experiences. So it stands to reason that we have to create many more positive experiences to get the same "credit" from our customers. Piggybacking on yesterday's topic, it's the little things, done over and over, day after day, that create positive customer experiences. You might buy hundreds of things off eBay...then you get that one thing that doesn't live up to its pictures... And tying in the concept that you can really only have one priority at a time, the only real, long-term priority any business can have is making customers happy! Because without customers, there's no need for anything else, right? When everyone on the team is focused on how they can serve the customer, how THEY can solve problems for other people...that's when it all just works. Now, YOU as the business owner/leader owe the team something as well...but we'll save that for another day! (Be sure to like & follow if you don't want to miss the answer!) when everybody takes care of the customer every day, it just works. focus on your customer and everything else works out. Enjoy! Thom, THE Unashamed Non-Conformist =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thom Rigsby is a lifestyle & business strategy expert. Drawing on his experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur launching almost a dozen startups and more than 25 years of business experience, Thom brings his creativity and "Non-Conformist" approach to entrepreneurship and getting results for you and your small business! So, whether you are looking for answers to your small business questions, time management tips, need a comprehensive business strategy or just craving some work-life balance, following Thom's exclusive personal development plan you can letting life happen to you and begin to create the life you crave with your very own small business. Be sure to connect with Thom... ...on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thomrigsbycoaching ...on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/thomrigsby ...and on Instagram http://www.Instagram.com/thomrigsby Become a part of the Work That Matters Facebook group at http://fb.com/groups/workthatmatters Thom is available for one-on-one coaching and as a motivational speaker on topics including peak performance, how to plan, personal development, success, and work-life balance to the mindset of wealth and success. Contact Thom at www.ThomRigsby.com for more details.

Are your customers happy? Are you sure? When you are running a business, it's easy to slip into a way of thinking that your customers should be happy...just, well, because they are your customer. "I mean, they wouldn't be my customer if they didn't like my product, right?" Well, not necessarily. Customer satisfaction is not a thing or a department... it is something everybody does every day. So how do you make customers happy? Solve their problems! Bonus points if you can make them feel special as you do it! If you can find a way to set your own pride and need for confirmation aside and put instead put your customer first...you will win! Enjoy! Thom, THE Unashamed Non-Conformist =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thom Rigsby is a lifestyle & business strategy expert. Drawing on his experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur launching almost a dozen startups and more than 25 years of business experience, Thom brings his creativity and "Non-Conformist" approach to entrepreneurship and getting results for you and your small business! So, whether you are looking for answers to your small business questions, time management tips, need a comprehensive business strategy or just craving some work-life balance, following Thom's exclusive personal development plan you can letting life happen to you and begin to create the life you crave with your very own small business. Be sure to connect with Thom... ...on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thomrigsbycoaching ...on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/thomrigsby ...and on Instagram http://www.Instagram.com/thomrigsby Become a part of the Work That Matters Facebook group at http://fb.com/groups/workthatmatters Thom is available for one-on-one coaching and as a motivational speaker on topics including peak performance, how to plan, personal development, success, and work-life balance to the mindset of wealth and success. Contact Thom at www.ThomRigsby.com for more details.

It's a saying you hear all the time...at least I do...and it makes my skin crawl! All week we've been talking about how to get stuff done and be more EFFECTIVE if your pursuits so you have the time to enjoy the benefits of being an entrepreneur. But even entrepreneurs say this all the time...and it's all I can do to maintain my composure and not fly off the handle with them. The truth of the matter is that your time is the most expensive resource you have available to spend and discounting or being dismissive of it's value hurts you in the long run. Be SUPER PROTECTIVE of your time! Don't waste it and don't let anyone else waste it either! Don't be afraid to interrupt an unproductive meeting, ask to adjourn until everyone is prepared! I GUARANTEE next time everyone will come prepared! Enjoy! Thom, THE Unashamed Non-Conformist =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thom Rigsby is a lifestyle & business strategy expert. Drawing on his experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur launching almost a dozen startups and more than 25 years of business experience, Thom brings his creativity and "Non-Conformist" approach to entrepreneurship and getting results for you and your small business! So, whether you are looking for answers to your small business questions, time management tips, need a comprehensive business strategy or just craving some work-life balance, following Thom's exclusive personal development plan you can letting life happen to you and begin to create the life you crave with your very own small business. Be sure to connect with Thom... ...on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thomrigsbycoaching ...on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/thomrigsby ...and on Instagram http://www.Instagram.com/thomrigsby Become a part of the Work That Matters Facebook group at http://fb.com/groups/workthatmatters Thom is available for one-on-one coaching and as a motivational speaker on topics including peak performance, how to plan, personal development, success, and work-life balance to the mindset of wealth and success. Contact Thom at www.ThomRigsby.com for more details.

Do you ever have so much to do that you don't know where to start? This is something that is common with many of my coaching clients. They are high-performing leaders, founders, or executives in a business and they are looking for ways to do even more. But doing more is very rarely the answer. Instead of working more, I actually encourage them to work less by being more focused on results rather than activity. To implement this in your life, follow these simple steps: 1) KNOW the outcome you are working toward. It is shocking to me (although maybe it shouldn't be by now) how many executive or leadership teams can't articulate the goals of the business. If you are the leader of the company, cast the vision and hold your team accountable for their results. If you are deeper in the organization, how will your little slice of heaven help the company really it's goals? 2) Say NO to the things that don't move you toward -- this one is much harder! High performers have a fear of saying No, it's like a challenge. The truth though is that you have to say no to the wrong things so you can focus on the right things! Don't fear "No," embrace it, because it means you're culling out the dead-weight in your day. 3) Finally, rinse and repeat. Ask yourself these questions constantly throughout your day. You'll be glad you did. Do you have a favorite system, process, or hack for getting things done? Share in the comments, I'd love to hear them. And if you could use some help finding the outcome or creating the plan, I can help. Send me a DM or call the office, 844-234-8466. Enjoy! Thom, THE Unashamed Non-Conformist =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thom Rigsby is a lifestyle & business strategy expert. Drawing on his experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur launching almost a dozen startups and more than 25 years of business experience, Thom brings his creativity and "Non-Conformist" approach to entrepreneurship and getting results for you and your small business! So, whether you are looking for answers to your small business questions, time management tips, need a comprehensive business strategy or just craving some work-life balance, following Thom's exclusive personal development plan you can letting life happen to you and begin to create the life you crave with your very own small business. Be sure to connect with Thom... ...on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thomrigsbycoaching ...on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/thomrigsby ...and on Instagram http://www.Instagram.com/thomrigsby Become a part of the Work That Matters Facebook group at http://fb.com/groups/workthatmatters Thom is available for one-on-one coaching and as a motivational speaker on topics including peak performance, how to plan, personal development, success, and work-life balance to the mindset of wealth and success. Contact Thom at www.ThomRigsby.com for more details.