Disruptance

2020 was certainly not what anyone expected it to be, but that also means there was a lot that could be learned from it.

On this episode, Eric Forney and Michael Bounds look back on the last year and discuss what they learned and what they would have done differently.  Michael shares how having time to sit out on his deck helped him gain perspective on what's truly important, and how it could be heaven on earth if we all started acting a different way.  Eric discusses how he created so many habits and routines around his environment in 2019, so losing that environment made continuing some habits more difficult.  They discuss what was lost in only meeting people virtually and not physically, and how leadership had to change because of it.

Why do we procrastinate and how can we get ourselves out of that pattern?

On this episode, Eric Forney and Michael Bounds flesh out where procrastinating comes from and how to combat it.  Michael shares how he procrastinates the most on items on his list that bring about conflict, like inspection responses.  He discovered, though, that if he just pushes through and knocks it off his list, he has a clearer mind and isn't anguishing over one task.  He also talks about how he has learned to delegate certain tasks to his assistant so he knows they will get done immediately.  Michael explains to Eric that Eric is a rebel type and that in a book he read, he's learned that Eric needs a clear WHY for him to do a task and do it before a deadline.  Eric agrees and shares how he struggles the most with self regulation and that he has learned he has to artificially create environments around him that force him to self regulate which leads to him getting tasks done and not procrastinating on them.

What makes people the most successful - hard work or getting lucky?

On this episode, Eric Forney and Michael Bounds debate whether hard work or luck is the key indicator of success.  They discuss how some people feel like hard work is what gets them to the point where luck happens, while others feel like working hard is the only pathway to success.  Michael shares how he has always felt like he needs to stay ready so he doesn't ever have to get ready, so he feels luck goes against everything he has built his career on, and Eric argues that some of the most successful stories from the most successful people include huge amounts of luck, like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates.   

There's the age-old saying work smart not hard, but does that actually work in reality?

On this episode, Eric Forney and Michael Bounds dive into the merits of working smart versus working hard.  They discuss how time on task is a very important indicator for how well you will succeed in real estate.  They also examine how working hard is the only way to get the results you want when you're chasing a six pack or trying to improve at football or basketball - you can't outsmart how much time it takes to get results in those arenas.  They talk about how working hard can mean practicing things you don't enjoy doing, but the practicing of those things is what can allow you to do what you love at the highest level possible.

It would be easier to live in a world where money provided happiness, but since it doesn't, what do we need to do to find it?

On this episode, Eric Forney and Michael Bounds talks about the search for happiness.  They discuss how we think there are things we can do in life that will guarantee happiness - get married, make more money, gain status - but those things only temporarily improve upon our happiness, and we are left still searching for deeper meaning.  They talk about how comparison is the thief of joy and a way out of happiness, and how it's important to focus on what you can control instead of comparing yourself to what you don't have.  They discuss the importance of valuing time over money, and investing in experiences instead of things.

Does the word discipline have a positive or negative connotation to you?

On this episode, Eric Forney and Michael Bounds talk about the way discipline and routine actually give you freedom instead of the confined structure some people think of.  They discuss how most people don't actually like discipline or routine, but enjoy the results that those behaviors bring.  Since time is the only resource you really have, the cost really is very high for trying to accomplish things without routine.  They discuss will power, how hard it is to harness it, and ways they make themselves effectively use it.  Eric shares how he realized the more he practices discipline and routine, the closer he gets to being able to live his actualized life.

What monsters are hiding underneath your bed?

This week, Eric Forney and Michael Bounds discuss the many ways we experience fear and how they hold us back.  They discuss the fear of success and everything that comes with it: will I let people down, will I lose time for the comforts I enjoy?  They also flesh out how most of our fears are stories we construct in our head that we make out to be worse than reality.  They talk about the fear of whether you are enough for those who love you if you can’t close deals and provide for your family.  Ultimately, they discuss that the way out of fear is to shift your mindset when a problem comes up from seeing it as a difficulty into seeing it as an opportunity to grow and learn.

Why do we struggle so much with simplifying our business and personal lives?

On this episode, Eric Forney and Michael Bounds discuss how important it is to simplify all areas of our life, and why it can be so hard to do so.  They talk about how trying to use your brain as a filing system just leads to anxiety, and better ways to keep track of everything you need to do.  They share their experiences in creating processes for their teams to follow, and how they realized that the more complex the process, the harder it is to enforce, and it ends up costing time and money to accomplish it.  They talk about Warren Buffets 5-25 rule and how it applies to simplifying your life, and how McDonald's became as big as they are by perfecting a very simple, basic menu.

What if it's time to fire yourself from some of your day to day activities?

On this episode, Eric Forney and Michael Bounds examine how difficult it can be as an entrepreneur to let go of control in some aspects of your business, but how it is necessary to grow.  They discuss how you can drill down on which activities could be done better by someone else, and how to find the maturity to be honest with yourself about those aspects of your business.  They talk about a few prolific business people who found immense success in their fields without directly doing a large part of the day to day work in their industries.  Ultimately, they decide that everyone in your business should be replaceable, including YOU.

What do you have to do to insure that your business is running at it's peak performance?  You have to consistently check in on it's health.

On this episode of Disruptance, Eric Forney and Michael Bounds talk about the importance of auditing your business, and all the angles you should take when auditing it.  They discuss the necessity of auditing your people, including yourself, because as you change, there may be tasks that you aren't best suited for, and you might be able to get more done if you find someone who is great at those tasks.  They talk about how important it is to simplify processes to explain to your team, and that they should be able to be understood by a six year old if they are going to be effective processes.  They discuss how meetings should be audited as well, and how learning whether something needs to be a meeting or a memo is a valuable time saver and helps other people feel like you respect their time.  Ultimately, they decide one of the most valuable things is to be crystal clear on the mission and direction of your company.