business decisions | Words For Hire

What Will You Do for Fame?

August 25, 2010 by Karen Swim

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How far would you go to be famous? If offered a shortcut that would catapult you into stardom, would you take it? Would you change the way you act to fit in to the accepted vision of fame? Would you prioritize your friends and family based on their influence? Would you step on a few toes along the way for the greater goal? How far are you willing to go? Would you distance yourself from your old life to achieve fame and fortune? When the spotlight shines on you will you stand in it alone or share it with those who contributed to the journey?

What would you do for fame?

I am willing to bet that a number of you rejected the self serving, ego-driven behaviors implied by the above questions. You may have even shaken your head as you declared, “No way, not me.” If it’s so distasteful why are you doing it now?

Signs that you may be selling out for fame:

You only connect with influencers because your time is too valuable
You turn down a guest post on a small blog in favor of one with more visibility
You quickly wave everyday but would not recognize the security guard at the front desk of your building
There is not enough time in the day so you respond to @ replies from important people but ignore the rest
A client heaps praise on you but you don’t mention the contributions of your team reasoning that any praise includes them too.
You have not been to a single soccer game or school play in months
At work you are funny and engaging but so distant from your family they think you moved out of state
Wanting to appear sophisticated you accept the glass of expensive wine offered to you, even though you do not drink. You will hold it all night occasionally taking a sip, no one will know.

While the above signs are extreme there are other subtle ways which we make tradeoffs. We may reason that it Is the price we have to pay but over time it can erode your soul.

In business and life we all have our own unique version of fame. For some fame is a title, for others it is recognition, and still others it may be the outward signs of financial success. It is our version of fame that motives and drives us as we move toward our goals. Those daydreams of “stardom” fuel our forward motion and inspire us to grow, learn and create. Nothing wrong with dreaming of stardom but there are checkpoints along the way, decisions that allow us to choose who we are now and who we will become in order to achieve our dream.

You can choose to relentlessly pursue fame at any cost, shoving others aside as you grab the spotlight or you can pursue a version of fame that doesn’t sacrifice your values or the people around you. What will you choose? What will you do for fame?

Changing Your Choices for a Better Future

July 12, 2010 by Karen Swim

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In the United States, obesity is a huge health challenge. According to a new report “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010″ adult obesity rates increased in 28 states in the past year. It seems that as a culture we have chosen short lived instant gratification over long term health. The problem is not limited to our waistlines but has become a mindset that invades all aspects of our lives.

In this country we have narrowed our field of vision to today. We do what makes us feel good or that which is convenient in the moment. We buy now and pay later with our health, wallets and business practices. Unfortunately, we have passed these traits onto our children. Does it scare anyone else that cholesterol drugs are now being made in chewables for children or that more than 15% of high schoolers are obese?

To make decisions that would result in a better long term outcome requires changing your mindset about the short term, and a willingness to endure some discomfort as you make the shift. We view saying “no” to the things we want today as a sacrifice, and we complain that it is uncomfortable and hard. To truly change we must come to a level of understanding that we are not sacrificing but making a choice. If you choose to continue to routinely eat food laden with sugar, salt and fat you have chosen obesity, and a higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses. If you choose to buy things you cannot afford on credit you are choosing debt over financial freedom. You can choose business practices that deliver quick bursts of one time sales or customers but you will be sacrificing building a solid base.

This mindset has so pervaded our culture that it seems normal. Corporations choose short term profit over long term safety. Mines collapse, oil spills occur because the future was ransomed for the quick immediate hit. Television networks opt for “reality” shows because they’re cheap and easy as opposed to hiring writers to create quality content and devoting time to building an audience. You cannot even escape this mindset on social media, where users opt for spray and say spam messages rather than doing the work of finding people who need what they have to offer.

I don’t know about you but I’m in this for the long haul. I’d rather pass up unhealthy or questionable habits in life and business for a higher quality and longer length of days. In the short term, that means making choices about what really matters but in the long term I plan to still be here. How about you?

Vision or Lie?

May 4, 2009 by Karen Swim

Written by Karen D. Swim

Ron entered the building right on time for his appointment with Neal. The office was modern with a coolly detached vibe. After giving his name to the receptionist, he was directed down a long hallway to a spacious hallway with a large oak desk. After exchanging pleasantries, Neal and Ron got down to business.

Neal, told Ron that their company had moved to the state and would be renovating 60 homes per month. Ron liked Neal and the process he laid out. An hour later, Ron walked out with the specs on the first job, which he would start in two days. The economy had been challenging and Ron was afraid he would have to lay off a few of his guys. This contract could not have come at a better time.

Over the next few weeks the jobs came in starts and stops, not the steady flow of work Neal promised. Ron could not keep his crew on hold for days at a time so he opted to take other jobs. He went in to pick up his check for the last job with every intention to speak to Neal. He ran into the Project Manager, Andy in the parking lot. Andy shared that he was leaving the company and opened up to Ron about the promises that were never kept. It was then that Ron learned that Neal had presented a vision of where he wanted to the company to go and not the reality of where the company was today.

Like many business writers, I am often invited to take on jobs for companies promising lots of steady work. Inevitably, the company wants to leverage that promise for a lower rate.

“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” – Jack Welch

There is a great deal of focus these days on having a big vision. We are told to put our faith in action by changing our mindset and language. I completely agree that we must fix our minds on what we want and rid ourselves of self-limiting beliefs BUT we must be careful when we recruit others to our vision.

When hiring employees or contractors, it is important to present the reality and allow each person to make their own choice. To present the vision without the reality is a lie. Contractors plan their accounts receivable based on billable hours, just as employees plan their budgets based on income. It is unfair to ask someone to set aside billable time when you cannot deliver on your promise.

“I think there is something, more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren’t enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision.”– W. Clement Stone

Many will believe in your vision and will be willing to take the risk with you. However, do not be offended by those who are unwilling to take the risk. Respect the right of everyone to make his or her own choice.

Have you ever unintentionally misrepresented your business? Were there repercussions? Have you ever signed on for a vision that did not match reality? How did it make you feel?

3 Tips to Avoid the Money Trap

August 7, 2008 by Karen Swim

Stairs of rock to fit and placed into a natura...

Image via Wikipedia

Written by Karen D. Swim

“As she rounded the second flight of stairs, she caught sight of something on the step. Folded green paper. She paused, leaned over. Twenty dollars. As her fingers brushed the bill, a current of air swirled behind her.

The man looked down at her body, sprawled awkwardly over the steps. A twenty placed at eye level. A human trap.”

The passage above is from the fictional book, “Exit Strategy,” written by Kelley Armstrong (This author apparently writes otherwordly fiction but this particular book is a good old fashioned murder mystery). In this passage a serial killer uses a folded twenty to divert a victim’s attention. This particular victim was on her way to work and had already been reminded of her money problems. As she mentally ran through solutions to help her afford a new dress, the money appeared in her path. Transfixed by the bill, and laughing at her good fortune she never looked above or below her to ensure she was safe in a deserted stairwell. Her focus was on the money alone. Dollar stair

While you may not meet an end as bleak as the one described in this fiction read, it is possible to fall prey to this very real human trap. We are besieged with the promise of easy riches. We live in a day and age where anyone can seemingly be rich or famous. Videos, emails, and advertisements place dollars at eye level in hopes that you will take the hook. If the opportunity for money intersects with your point of need, you may be tempted to grab that dangling carrot, without considering the consequences. And yes, there are consequences, and a real danger if you do not raise your eyes above eye level.

Money plays a big role in all of our lives. It is the trading commodity used to buy the goods and services that we need and want. We must be prudent with how we spend, save and invest this commodity. Our checkbooks are a mirror to our soul as they reveal what is truly important in our lives. Yet, how we make that money is an equally important decision that should not be made based on dollar signs and decimal points alone.

Before you reach for the money, here are three things you should consider:

What strings are attached to the currency? Let’s face it there’s always a string! You may not see them all at once but they are there. A large salary may have a string attached to lots of travel and time away from your family. A business opportunity may be attached to giving up sole control. You cannot avoid the strings but you can choose which ones you will allow in your life.
Who’s holding the cash (and strings)? I have known many people who reached for the money only to discover later that they were in business with a boss, investor or partner who neither shared their vision nor values. The promise of financial relief quickly gave way to misery. It is easy to make a financial decision but harder to walk away from one.
Is the face value the real value? I learned this lesson early in my corporate career. I added up the hours I was working and discovered that my six figure salary was not so attractive after all. With the hours I was working, my hourly salary was equivalent to flipping burgers. As an entrepreneur you may take a client job that seems valuable only to realize it would have been more profitable to walk away.

It’s nice to believe that money comes easy but in reality it rarely happens that way. Even lottery winners have had to make trade-offs for their windfall. Most unprepared for the “easy” riches end up broke again. I am definitely not anti-money but believe that when you allow money alone to motivate your decisions you may end up with a pocketful of regret.

Have you ever made a decision based on money that you later regretted? How do you maintain balance when making decisions that involve money? Add your two cents (or twenty dollars) right there in the comments. Your money is good here. 😉