The Last Missing Piece.
In my years of research studying human potential and development – both personal and professional, there has always been a single common denominator that stands between success and failure when it comes to fulfillment and achieving any goal. And this last missing piece always lands in just one of three categories...
As I’ve explored in all of my previous articles, there are only three categories in life and business as far as elements go, that we have to work with to obtain the results we desire. These areas are always with us and they are operating wherever we go. I’ll highlight them again here so that you can pinpoint what your last missing piece might be, so that your present goals can become the reality you wanted to see.
Our three base foundation categories are:
Emotions:
Our emotions are energy that we put into motion. They effect how we all feel based on the qualities of it. Since energy flows both in and outside of us at all times, this directly has a positive or negative effect on ourselves and others (our relationships), and on the steps (logistics) we are taking together to accomplish our goals. When positive relationships become the norm between everyone involved with your business, positive energy builds and this gives us the energy we need to move forward and to feel good about what we're doing. Rather than a loss of energy individually in the exchange process, each person gains even more personal energy than they had before our positive encounters. When people feel good – where they are, they’ll always desire to come back to that place. This goes for employees and customers alike. Feeling good is a place that all of us want to be in. Our positive encounters put us right in the middle of that feeling and the energy boost that’s found there, immediately. From here, this is what we're directly giving to our customers, along with our goods and services. We can try to "put on" a happy face, or we can simply come from a place where we are already happy, because we have an abundance of positive energy already. To me this is the most left out piece of how most businesses work. If we're not getting along, then how are any of us going to have the motivation to continue day to day? It doesn't come from some unknown remote place. We are manufacturing and producing drive and motivation with how we get along with the people we work with. And this goes for everyone. It doesn't matter what your position or title is. Biologically, stress simply eats away at what we're working to accomplish. And stress is actually trying to tell us that, with how we feel. We were meant to work together and enjoy the process. This is at the heart of everything we're trying to do. It's not a woo-woo idea! You already know from your own experience how it feels to work together successfully, or to be at odds with every step that we need to take. So, let your experience be your guide as to how much this helps your cause. I've repeated this over and over again, because no matter how many times we've heard it, we still think that we're losing something or that we can get around this dynamic. Rather than being a lofty idea, it's the foundation that all of our actions are based on, and it helps to make everything we're doing, work like a charm. Our positive relationships at work become the internal and external climate that we have to work with. And that's why it's so important. We only gain more energy in the process, and this helps to move us forward. When we feel good about what we're doing, not only do we do it better, but we actually want to keep doing it! See how this works now? That leads us directly into the steps we need to take to make our business operations work.
Logistics:
The actions or steps we need to take so that we can obtain positive results with a goal we have in mind. This could be as simple as attaching a paperclip to a page, or growing our business to ___ times larger than it is now. Since these first two areas are connected in our body, our emotions always affect the logistical process we are working on, and the results we achieve. When we feel good emotionally, we can focus much more effectively and easily on the tasks we have in front of us. The combination of positive emotions and logistics that work, allows success and energy to build up in whatever we're doing. Logistics that work naturally make us feel good because there’s no stress involved, and success happens easily. Add positive relationships to our steps and this loop is now complete. So, our positive relationships allow us to keep taking our steps together. When we complete a task together successfully, the build up of energy motivates us to continue on to complete our next series of steps. The more success we have, momentum grows and the entire logistics process becomes that much more enjoyable and easier to navigate. Get the idea of how these two places fit together now?
Positive emotions and logistics that work allows us to stay in the flow of what we're doing, so that the steps almost become effortless. In sports, this is referred to as the Zone. I’m sure you’ve seen or heard about all of the amazing results that can happen in this emotional state. From here, goals and expectations are almost always exceeded, without pressure. It just happens, because we’ve set the right conditions, so that our results are always beyond what we originally thought they would be. Can you imagine how you would feel, if almost everything you set out to do, had results at this level? When we make the process easier and we work together in a positive way to keep our spirits “up” our results will always surprise us, even if we’re expecting them to be positive. As for our financial concerns, just like our ledger numbers, positive relationships plus logistics that work equals our bottom line, every time. These are the only two areas that we have to work with, before a positive transaction with a customer is made. If everything else is in place up to this point a growth in profits is guaranteed. This is the last step in the three point process before the money lands directly – into our hands. So, it's everything we're doing before the transaction that ensures the exchange itself will be a profitable one! The sales transaction is simply a continuation of what we've been doing, all along. And as long as our business is open, we're simply repeating those successful actions. Rather than being boring or repetitious, when we're right in the middle of success it's a very exciting place to be in. It's seeing this all unfold before our eyes that makes our lives and our businesses exactly what they could really be...And, that is why working together happily creates those results. Little by little everything is adding up to the unbelievable results we wanted to have. Except this time seeing is believing, because that's what we'll be looking at! We know that it can work like this for some very brief moments in time, but understanding what's taking us there will allow those results and those feelings to be with us much more often. That was the whole idea behind these principles. They're taking us to exactly where we wanted to go!
Finances:
Everyone in business wants to make a financial profit from the positive steps they are taking to produce something valuable for their customers. This component gives everyone in the company the ability to live happily, and to continue to bring in positive energy to keep your services up and running successfully, for many years to come. Just like positive energy, we also need money to keep this entire “loop” moving, so that we can continue to add value to others, and to gain what we truly desire out of life for ourselves. When this area is lacking, it puts a damper on the emotional and logistical areas that are necessary to produce your financial gains. A negative in this category for your employees, produces a negative on the other side of your bottom line. One side of your business circle always mirrors the other, perfectly. This goes for the other two areas, as well. The equation is as simple as, before and after. That’s one easy way to understand the entire process from here – to there.
So before we move ahead, let’s briefly summarize the process loop from start to finish:
We have a goal in mind that makes us feel good about achieving it – enter our positive emotions. We take that energy and the positive steps necessary for our goal to be realized – our logistics. Here, we make ourselves and others happy in the process of working together (our relationships), and the money that we give out and receive (our finances) allows us to keep this cycle moving in an upward direction. This complete loop or circle of positive action is how we continue to grow in all ways – both personally, and in our place of business. As our results change for the better, we are transformed in the process. In essence, we become more of who we already are, and we are operating at a much higher level of ability and satisfaction, than ever before.
Everything we set out to do in one way or another is made up of these components. When we succeed at anything from the simple to the complex, these three areas are working together, so that our results are created. When we fall a bit short on the
results we desire, one of these three areas and how they work together needs to be strengthened to see our goal through.
There are two smaller and simpler parts that fit into this equation to make it work. They are appreciation, and how fast we are literally moving – this process around! Like anything else, these parts are also connected to each other.
When we feel good about the process of working together and we share this regularly, not only are we making the circle of our business grow larger, but our motivation to move ahead naturally grows with us here, too. This nourishes and strengthens the circle of energy in and around us, so that our business can keep expanding on its own. The pace of how fast we are moving directly effects how we feel, which keeps that wheel moving forward, as well. At a snail’s pace, we’re not moving very far at all. Moving too quickly however, will only set us back due to stress, mistakes, and not being able to see – and appreciate our results in real-time. So a steady, but not rushed pace will allow everything in the process to unfold with ease, and very close to perfection. With this stream of positive energy in place, there is literally nothing in the way of the results we desire to create. It's as simple as that.
So taking a look without judgement, where are you now in this process?
What area might need to be strengthened, so that this loop of energy grows and successfully moves itself forward? Take a glance at the three categories again: Emotions, Logistics and your Finances. Each part is attached to one another in a circle that turns your business wheel around. Can you identify an area that needs a boost?
If it helps to get a better visual, picture your business and everything in it, as a circle. This is the area that you have to work with, and you're in that circle as well, even if you’re at the very top of it. Everything that happens here moves its way around, and it affects everyone in your circle. When the process is working well, everyone greatly benefits from it.
Since we’re done with the layout and the movements made inside of your business that's producing your results, what could you use a bit more of to move it forward now, with ease?
When you’re closer to figuring that out, can you see how this last missing piece will also enhance the other parts of your business, as well?
The single most needed step, if put into place, begins to complete all of the other smaller steps necessary for you to succeed. Like a lead domino, there is usually just one that causes a chain reaction, and it moves all of the other pieces into their places.
If the process is so simple to understand, then where's the real block to our success?
Sometimes in business and in life, it’s very common to hold back a bit on what’s needed – to try to save something else. So, let me assure you here, whatever you put into the equation that’s a plus for your business – is exactly what you’re going to get out of it, as far as results go.
The secret to being able to release something more into your business without a concern of loss is to recognize that whatever it happens to be – it's going directly back into your circle. That investment is really for you, and the results you seek. It’s not something that goes out into somewhere else. The energy and your investments always stay “in-house” to make the process of producing profits and doing business so much easier, and with much less effort to make the system work. So, when you hold back a bit, you’re holding back the full results that you desired to see, as well. In all of my years of experience and research, if a business can grasp this one idea and fully understand it, then – there is literally nothing else to realize. Every beneficial step will follow that single train of thought. This is the only lead domino that moves all of the other pieces into their places. Anything that’s needed for refinement in the future will occur naturally as the next logical step, once this idea is embraced and what’s needed is put into place. Again, it's really as simple as that. We are the gatekeepers that say “yes” to putting in what's needed to create the huge gains everywhere that we desired to have. There is nothing outside of us holding our outcome back. So, I hope this gives you the green light that you needed to open the floodgates so to speak, so that your results can come in – almost as quickly, as they were let out!
Any component that’s needed the most, will only continue to make your business grow and ensure that the entire process will keep moving forward in an enjoyable and profitable way. These two ends – enjoyment and profitability, are directly related to each other. In fact, they are right next to each other, so that’s an important clue for you to remember, about how your profits are being made.
If you’ve identified an area that needs something specific and you add it in, that’s all you’ll really need to do to feel fantastic and sure about what you're doing. This will only continue to produce results for you: Emotionally, Logistically, and Financially. So, there was never really a need to sacrifice one part of your business, for another part of it to make a gain. The three parts all build on one another to produce your results, and to make the whole process a rewarding, profitable, and enjoyable one. When these areas are working together, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish as far as goals are concerned. All three pieces of the puzzle are now in place and they fit together perfectly to produce the greatest outcome that’s possible for you to have...
How does it feel to finally realize this?
Does it take the worry and stress about producing the outcome out of the equation?
This very comfortable, care-free and fulfilling place is the final goal of arrival that we all desire to achieve, in our lives and in our business. Once you’ve arrived, you’ll enjoy exactly where you are now, even as you take your next series of steps forward. See how this entire loop is completely connected now? Here, you’ll enjoy the process just as much as the destination. And then, the positive cycle of growth starts all over again...And, that’s all there is to it!
This article completes the last missing piece of the puzzle that’s necessary for you to easily identify what’s needed, so that everything runs as well as it possibly can: For You, your Employees, your Customers, and your Shareholders.
In the end, a positive step in the right place will work wonders for every single part of your business at the same time. That’s all the incentive you need to finally give yourself the permission to go all in 100% – with what you already have, so that the outcome you desire is never in question.
All of us, no matter what position we hold are a necessary piece that keeps this positive circle growing and moving forward into the more prosperous and happier futures we would like to see, and are working together to create. We can make the journey and the process so much more enjoyable and productive with the steps that we are already making to achieve those results. And if you need a helping hand, let me know how I can assist you in accomplishing – just that.
