The World is a Mirror, Part 14

A is for ATTITUDE
B is for BREAK PATTERNS
C is for CONSISTENCY
D is for DISCIPLINE
E QTis for EVOLUTION
F is for FRIENDLINESS
G is for GOOD WITH NAMES
H is for HAPPINESS
I is for IDEAS
J is for JOY
K is for KNOWLEDGE
L is for LAUGHTER
M is for MUNDANE
N is for NAMETAGS

I need to apologize.

See, sometimes I get so wrapped up in the big picture of approachability, be that guy, make a name for yourself, that I lose sight of why I started this in the first place: because nametags rock.

Plain and simple. Heck, that was the whole point of my first book!

But last month, something happened that really got to me.

After giving a talk at a hospitality conference in Columbus, I noticed a woman I’d met a few months prior. Unfortunately, I couldn’t recall her name. So, when I first approached to say hello, I was hoping to read her nametag to jar my memory.

But her hair was covering it.

“Forgive me for blanking on your name,” I said, “but, well, your nametag is sort of covered!”

“Oh, sorry about that,” Sarah said as she moved aside her brown locks.

“You should make your nametag more visible,” I joked.

“Well, I could,” she whined, “but my hair looks just hideous when I put it up!”

Oh. I see.

And then it hit me: nametags are not about you.

Nametags are about everyone in the world BUT you.

Nametags are about making someone else feel comfortable; maybe because they’re shy, or maybe because they’re bad with names.

And yet, so many people still complain about wearing them:

“I feel silly wearing this thing.”

“My nametag doesn’t match my outfit.”

“Everybody at this meeting knows me already.”

That may be true, but the problem with these (common) objections to wearing a nametag is this: they’re all about you.

If you’re attending a meeting or event – especially if you’re an existing member – one of your duties is to make guests and newbies feel comfortable. So whether you’re extroverted or shy; friendly or caustic; aloof or gregarious, at least some part of that goal can be easily accomplished by one simple act: wear your nametag!

Because sometimes you have to put the comfort of your guests in front of the comfort of yourself.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What’s your best objection to wearing nametags?

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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The World is a Mirror, Part 13

Today I’m celebrating my six-year anniversary of wearing a nametag 24-7! Woo hoo!

Which means it’s day 2,191 – but who’s counting, right?

(Actually, the counter at the bottom of my website is.)

Anyway.

Wearing a nametag 24-7-365 for six big ones represents a simple, yet powerful business idea: make the mundane memorable.

I’m still surprised more organizations don’t embrace this. It’s not our corporate policy. It violates our company’s handbook. We don’t want to do anything risky.

Come on. That’s garbage!

Businesses NEED to be doing this stuff. Because when companies can find a way to make the mundane memorable, fives things happen:

1) Customers start talking
2) Employees have more fun
3) The brand lives and breathes in a new way
4) Uniqueness shines through
5) Loyalty skyrockets

QuikTrip is the perfect example of this. I fill up at QT whenever possible (ahem, loyalty), just to hear the cashier say, “Hurry back!”

That’s what they say. In every transaction.

Not “Have a nice day.”
Not “Thank you, come again.”

They say, “Hurry back.”

And people do. Not to mention, they’ve made the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For 3 years running. Wonder why?

Mundane into memorable.

Or Bishop’s Barbershop in Portland, where you can get a great haircut for roughly the same price as anywhere else. Except at Bishop’s, the minute you walk in the door for your appointment, the receptionist gives you a free bottle of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

That’s just cool. I don’t even drink, but I used to go there when I lived in Portland, just to get the free beer!

Mundane into memorable.

Then there’s my favorite ad agency, The Hughes Group. When you walk into their elevator, you’ll notice 21 buttons, just like any other elevator. Except theirs doesn’t say “4,” it says “Hughes.” And you better believe every client, potential client or guest comments about it. Then they tell five other people about it. Awesome! (See a picture of the button on my original post from 2005.)

Mundane into memorable.

Or what about the parking garage down the street from my office? Every time I go there for a meeting, the guy in the little ticket box takes my slip and says, “That’ll be $4000!” I go back there every month, just to hear him say it. A parking garage! It doesn’t get more mundane than that!

The point is: this stuff is easy. Yet very few companies (and people) do it.

Because they’re scared of stepping out of their corporate comfort zones.

However, for those bold few who choose to embrace the mundane, here’s what happens:

Breaking the silence = breaking the pattern.
Breaking the pattern = mundane into memorable.
Memorable moments = increased comfort.
Increased comfort = increased approachability.
More approachability = strangers into friends.
Friends = people who become loyal, aka, fans.
Fans = people who love your stuff.
More fans = more positive word of mouth.
More people talking about how much they love your stuff = 🙂 🙂 🙂

Mission accomplished.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
When was the last time someone make the mundane memorable for you?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Picture your typical day. You interactions with customers, prospects, coworkers. Now think specifically about five mundane moments. List three ways each of those moments could become more memorable. Post your lists here and next week I’ll compile all the answers for a new article (along with a link to your organization’s website.)

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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The World is a Mirror, Part 11

A is for ATTITUDE
B is for BREAK PATTERNS
C is for CONSISTENCY
D is for DISCIPLINE
E is for EVOLUTION
F is for FRIENDLINESS
G is for GOOD WITH NAMES
H is for HAPPINESS
I is for IDEAS
J is for JOY
K is for KNOWLEDGE

Emerson once said, “Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I shall learn of him.”

80,000. That’s roughly the number of people I’ve met over the years of wearing a nametag 24-7.

And I’ve learned a lot from them…

We gain knowledge from any number of sources – books, newspapers, TV, classes, experiences – but the most valuable spring of knowledge comes from our greatest resource, each other.

I know. Cheesy, right?

But it still holds true. For example, the other night I attended a pre-conference cocktail hour hosted by my client. I sat down with several women and somehow got on the topic of marriage, kids, divorces and the like.

During this conversation two terms caught my ear. I asked what they meant and wrote them down.

Here’s what I learned:

1) Toe Tag Marriage: till death do us part. No divorce. We’re in this together. Forever.

2) Casserole Wife: when a man’s wife dies, the first single female neighbor to bring him a casserole within the next 24 hours is most likely to become his next wife.

I never new that. But thanks to that conversation, I’ve now expanded my lexicon of interesting terms. Excellent.

Come to think of it, some of the best books I’ve read, movies I’ve watched and experiences I’ve had were the recommendations of total strangers I met, thanks to the ol’ nametag.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What’s the most interesting thing you learned from someone you recently met?

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Make a list called “5 People, 5 Lessons.” Post it here!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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The World is a Mirror, Part 9

1. You HAVE to write all of your ideas down on paper. Get a notebook, a journal, a jotter, a dry erase, whatever. Write it on your hand if you have to. But you’ve got to capture the information.

2. Unrecorded = unremembered = unleveragable.

3. Read books on creativity at least once every few months. I suggest Sam Horn’s new book, POP! Read it on the plane yesterday. It’s amazing.

4. Don’t be afraid to share your ideas with people. Even if they think you’re out of your mind. Especially if they think you’re out of your mind.

5. Which reminds me of what Jack Canfield says, “If everyone thinks you’re out of your mind, you just might be onto something!”

6. Use venues like blogs, forums and bulletin boards to test your ideas. Throw ‘em out there and see how people respond. You can even do it anonymously if you want.

7. It’s tough to be creative alone. Find an idea partner.

8. Especially a partner who’s willing to tell you if your idea sucks.

9. There is no such think as a Natural Idea Guy. Those who come up with the best ideas study and practice and get better at coming up with cool ideas. They aren’t born that way. Get that out of your head. If you’re not coming up with great ideas regularly, it’s your fault. Not your DNA.

10. Crazy, remarkable, cool, hilarious, exaggerated and ridiculous ideas are the ones that spread and last and get supported. For example, here’s today’s number one movie on YouTube. This is SO cool:

11. Kant’s philosophy mentions the “Universalized Maxim,” in which an idea generator asks, “What if everybody did it?” Lesson learned: start asking yourself this question. All the time.

12. Google your idea before you go any further. See if it’s been done before. If so, don’t get mad; get connected. Email the person who thought of it ahead of you and join forces. If not, get the domain name. Today.

13. Lists are your friends. They boost creativity, force you to come up with a quota and organize your thoughts. Just read any of Tom Peters’ books, he’s got this list stuff down. Lists work.

14. Ideas are only as strong as the people (other than you) who support it. Get a fan club. Stay in front of them. Get feedback from them.

15. Like I said, find out where you suck. This is key. It’s the only way your idea is going to get better.

16. It’s not the idea; it’s how you leverage it.

17. If you explain your idea to a stranger and they don’t respond with some permutation of, “Hey, that’s cool!” then it probably won’t spread.

18. Is your idea simple enough that a five year old could understand it?

19. Here’s a common idea-related phrase: “Man, I wish I would’ve thought of that!” My question for you is, are you the person who says that, or the person other people say that to? Hopefully the latter.

20. Ideas might thrive in one environment and die in another. Be sure to frequently displace yourself.

21. I once read that Walt Disney would ask 10 people what they thought about his new idea. If the majority of them said he was out of his mind, he would say, “Great! Let’s get to work.”

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What’s your best idea about ideas?

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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The World is a Mirror, Part 10

For the past few months I’ve been writing essays on how wearing a nametag 24-7 for the past 2,139 days to make people friendlier has reflected back on my own life. (Hence the title, The World is a Mirror.)

If you’ve been keeping up, I’ve addressed myriad issues: personal, professional, simple and humorous.

None of those categories apply to today’s post.

When I got to the letter “J,” I thought long and hard about possible words to tackle. Job? Jerk? Jabberwocky? (Which, by the way, is my new favorite word.)

Nah. I’d rather pick something bigger.

I decided to go with “joy.”

The word actually means: “To feel great happiness or pleasure, especially of an elevated or spiritual kind.”

So, it’s kind of like happiness, but better. Deeper. Bordering on ethereal.

Now, I won’t waste your time with quotations or scriptures about joy. That would be too easy.

Instead, I’d like to share a few things that happened to me over the past year as a direct result of wearing a nametag that have been sources of joy.

1) Over the summer I gave a speech at a conference for The Washington Initiative for Supportive Employment. Many of my audience members had physical or mental disabilities, some of which were unable to speak. After my speech was over, a man from the front row whose badge read, “Hurricane Mike,” came right up to me a with a huge smile on his face. And even though he could barely put the words together to speak, he placed his hand on my nametag and said, “It’s not the nametag; it’s the heart behind it.”

2) Last year I received an email from a subscriber to my blog who said, “Scott, I’ve been having a terrible time moving my bowels lately; but thanks to your blog, apparently daily hysterical laughter has kept me regular!”

3) When I returned home from giving a speech in Orlando, I received an email from a fellow blogger who said, “Scott, your speech changed my life. I am serious. You got me thinking in completely different ways now!”

4) Yesterday I met a woman who had just heard me give a speech to 2000 people in Salt Lake City. Her only comment was, “Scott, I want to meet your parents.”

5) My older brother and I were hanging out in Chicago a few weeks ago for his birthday/engagement celebration. On the way to the airport he said, “Scott, I know I gave you a lot of shit when you first started wearing a nametag, but I’m really proud of you.”

Truthfully, stuff like this makes me tear up. But these are tears of joy. Tears that I’m happy to shed. And tears that in no way compare to the tears shed by thousands of people five years ago who lost their lives – or the lives of someone they loved – in the 9/11 attacks.

Here’s the point: today when you open the newspaper, turn on the TV or listen to the radio, you will be exposed to articles, interviews, pictures and stories about the horror that was 9/11.

And it’s going to be sad. It’s going to be tough. It might even scare you a little.

So, when that happens, I want you to do three things:

1) Mourn for the people who lost their lives during the attack.
2) Pray for the intrepid soldiers defending our country to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
3) Give thanks for all the things in your life that give you joy.

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

The World is a Mirror, Part 8

A long time ago I saw a bumper sticker that read “HAPPINESS IS SKIING.”

I liked it. I liked how specific it was. And later that day it dawned on me: happiness can be whatever you want it to be. And, nobody can take that away from you – that’s what’s so great about it.

So, at the risk of addressing a vague and difficult topic usually handled by people like The Dali Lama, here goes…

For me, Happiness is Nametags. Has been for a long time. And while I’m not trying to boil down my happiness to only one source, nametags are definitely a biggie.

Like the smile from a bored, tired cashier’s face who says, “Hey Scott!”

Like the childlike curiosity which engages complete strangers to interrupt their patterns, break the silence and ask me a question.

Like the relief I sense when someone who otherwise would’ve forgotten my name still said hello.

Like the jokes I’ve heard 10,000 times that make me, the joker, and the other people on the airplane grin, i.e., “Scott, do you have a memory problem?”

I could go on.

The point is: it’s been 2,119 days. Not a single one has gone by during which I wasn’t happy, at least for a little while. And sure, I’ve received a heck of a lot of criticism – even hate mail! – for wearing a nametag 24-7. People accuse me of being weird or crazy. That I just want attention. That I’m just trying to stand out and be different.

Whatever. Let the haters say what they want. My nametag isn’t for me; it’s for other people. To make them friendlier. To make them happier. I’ve merely become happier in the process because the world is a mirror.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS: I’ve discovered something that makes me happy. And nobody can take that away from me.

Because for me, Happiness is Nametags. They make me happy because they make other people happy. (With the exception of those brave, anonymous juveniles who send me hate mail.)

So I guess that’s the key:

1. Figure out how you would complete to following sentence: “To me, happiness is ______________.”
2. Make sure the answer doesn’t hurt anybody, including yourself.
3. Guard it with your life.
4. Commence happiness.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What is happiness to you?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Ask at least 5 people you work with the same question.

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag

Are you That Guy?
Find out in Scott’s latest book at www.hellomynameisscott.com

The World is a Mirror, Part 7

A is for ATTITUDE
B is for BREAK PATTERNS
C is for CONSISTENCY
D is for DISCIPLINE
E is for EVOLUTION
F is for FRIENDLINESS
G is for GOOD WITH NAMES

In his basic writings, Freud explains that a person’s name is the single context of memory most apt to be forgotten. Guess Dale Carnegie forgot to mention that, huh?!

But we’ve all done it. We all do it. And we’ll continue to do it, unless we take the right steps to avoid this barrier to approachability.

Now, even if you have blanked out on a person’s name, and even if it happened at the worst possible moment, trust me, you don’t know how bad it can get. See, when I forget someone’s name, people act like it’s the ultimate sin. The gravest social no-no in the world! Hey Scott, do you remember my name? Come on Mr. Nametag, this should be easy for you right? Right? Come on!

People love to test me. And sometimes, it’s tough. After all, I speak to tens of thousands of people a year! I can’t remember all of them! So, in the event that I do forget a name – which happens every once in a while – not only does it offend them (more so than if I were someone else) but it makes me look like a hypocrite!

Therein lies the problem: wearing a nametag is great to help other people remember my name; but it does me no good when I blank out on theirs. So, people just expect me to always remember their names, simply from a reciprocal standpoint; which, if you think about it, isn’t really fair.

But, such is life. So, several years ago when I got tired of disappointing people when I forgot their names (even though I AM human), I made it a point to improve my name-remembering skills.

The first thing I did was change my attitude. I’d say to myself, “I am going to remember the name of everyone I meet today!” and “I am amazing at remembering names!”

Next, I read several books on the topic, the best of which was Remember Every Name Every Time.

Then I began learning why people forget names and writing articles on the subject. This was a great way to organize my thoughts and stay refreshed on effective techniques for remembering names.

But of course, reading and writing only got me so far. I had to start putting these ideas to work. For example, this week I spoke to an international student leadership group in Switzerland. 45 kids, 45 names, all of which were different. My goal was to memorize every one of their names by the second day. Here’s how I did it:

Quizzing: any time I saw any of the students from a distance, I recited their name in my head five times before approaching them.

Vocalizing: any time I talked with one of the students, I verbally used their name at least one time during the conversation.

Refreshers: any time I had a break, I’d find my way over to the students’ mailboxes. These were small envelopes on which their names were printed. I would peruse all 45 of the mailboxes while trying to picture the student in my mind.

Assistance: if I wasn’t sure of someone’s name, I’d ask one of the other staff members in private.

Reminders: if we sat in a circle, I’d take time at the beginning and end of the program to go around and say the person’s name to myself while looking at their face.

If that sounds like a lot of work, you’re right – it is! But it’s worth it. And in six years, if there’s one compliment I’ve received quite a lot, it’s in reference to my name remembering abilities. And while I don’t claim to remember every name every time, I will say that I’m pretty damn good.

Therefore, I give thanks to my nametag for FORCING me to develop this valuable skill. And I guess in end, if everyone knows my name, I may as well do whatever I can to remember theirs.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Do you remember the last time you forgot someone’s name?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Study some name remembering techniques from this article. Try them out and see which ones work!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag

Do you want to be That Guy?

Find out how in 7 days with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

The World is a Mirror, Part 6

A is for ATTITUDE
B is for BREAK PATTERNS
C is for CONSISTENCY
D is for DISCIPLINE
E is for EVOLUTION
F is for FRIENDLINESS

Friendly always wins.

Cheesy? Maybe. But it’s true. It’s not possible to go wrong with friendliness.

It’s also not possible to max out on friendliness. You can always increase it. And I only say that because after all these years of wearing a nametag to make other people friendlier, a major improvement I’ve noticed in my life is: I’ve actually become friendlier myself.

I’m tellin ya, this stuff works. The moment you boost your friendliness is the moment you experience the follow payoffs:

People are rarely mean to you.
I’ve seen the meanest people in the world do complete 180’s because of friendliness. This reminds me of Tim Sanders’ book The Likability Factor. His research proves that you should never allow yourself to communicate unfriendliness as a first step because, as a social reflex, people will generally reciprocate your friendliness (or lack thereof).

Your cool factor goes up.
A Canadian University did a study on the link between friendliness and “coolness.” They based their findings on a survey of 800 respondents — mostly twentysomething university students — who were asked to rate on a scale of one to seven — one being uncool, and seven being very cool — the coolness of 90 adjectives. They then asked the same respondents to rate the same 90 adjectives according to their social desirability. And what they found was a strong correlation between the two. In other words, the qualities that make one socially desirable — being friendly, fair, thoughtful and kind — were also what makes one cool — at least in the minds of about 60 per cent of participants.

Stress is reduced.
Just like you, I’ve missed flights, lost luggage, received bad service, been cut off in traffic or been knocked into in the middle of a crowded bar. Now, because I’m human, my natural reaction is to get upset. But I don’t. I always catch a glimpse of that little nametag in the corner of my eye before I yell, “Watch where you’re going jerk,” and I’m reminded to act friendly. In 2,080 days, I’ve rarely become SO pissed off to the point of yelling or complaining. Instead, I’ve learned to react patiently and, most importantly, friendly. It’s never steered me wrong. And I’m sure it’s reduced my overall stress level.

The point is, even the nicest person in the world can still become friendlier. The benefits are scientifically based and 100% true.

This stuff works. Friendly always wins.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
In what area of your life could you be friendlier?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Think of the friendliest person you know: are people mean to them? Are they cool? Are they stressed?

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag

Do you want to be That Guy?

Find out how in 20 days with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

The World is a Mirror, Part 5

A is for ATTITUDE
B is for BREAK PATTERNS
C is for CONSISTENCY
D is for DISCIPLINE
E is for EVOLUTION

Sometimes I still can’t believe it. How wearing a little nametag for one day evolved into all of this.

Well, ok. I do believe it. I guess if I didn’t believe, none of this would have happened. But still, some days I just look at my nametag in the mirror, start laughing and think, “Man! This is crazy!”

But that’s the beautiful thing about an idea: its evolution. And I think the moment you come up with your own great idea is the moment you also begin to develop a greater appreciation for idea evolution as a whole; hence the title of this essay series.

GREAT EXAMPLE: A few months ago I watched a documentary about the making of Fraggle Rock, one of my favorite childhood TV shows. In this special DVD edition, Jim Henson narrated a behind-the-scenes look at the making of his beloved children’s program.

All throughout the documentary, Henson kept making references to a small insert that came with the DVD box. I eventually grabbed the case and found a small booklet labeled, “Jim Henson’s Sketchbook.”

I opened it and saw dozens of scribblings; original drawings and blueprint ideas from Jim Henson’s vision for an underground colony of joyful creatures called “Fraggles,” who loved to sing and dance. He even made a little note that “these creatures would bring peace and joy to children around the world.”

Sooooo cool. Actual brainstorms from one of one the world’s most creative minds! I devoured the sketchbook all night.

Stuff like that is fascinating to me. I guess I just like ideas. I like to marvel at the way they evolve from nothing to something. In fact, one of the many definitions of creativity is “to make something out of nothing.” And I think that’s a great way for people to learn: to follow the path of an idea from the cradle to the grave.

Speaking of, I recently stumbled across my original “Nametag Notebook” from my junior year of college. I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten all about it! And although it wasn’t as interesting or valuable as Jim Henson’s sketchbook, last month I took some time to read through it…

I plopped down in a comfortable chair (Carmel Apple Cider in hand) and took a trip down Memory Lane. Er, wait, maybe it was Nametag Manor. Whatever. It was a road. Anyway, here’s what I found.

During that first year of nametagging, I jotted down observations of group reactions to wearing a nametag, individual stories and encounters, comments made about my nametag, even the names of new friends I made while wearing the nametag! The pages oozed with experiences and encounters with strangers and friends alike. I even sketched out a diagram of the chest placement of my nametag to prove that left vs. right didn’t matter; and that vertical placement was more important.

And check this out. The most interesting entry of all was towards the back. I found a near-blank page with the following note written in large, block letters in the center:

REMEMBER TO RESEARCH THIS WORD: “APPROACHABILITY”

It was dated April 25, 2001.

Before I started writing books on the word.
Before I started giving speeches on the word.
Before I built a business around the word!

Sooooo cool.

That’s evolution: the growth, expansion, development, progress and transformation that makes something out of nothing. It’s a beautiful thing.

I encourage you to take some time today to think about one of the coolest, most successful ideas you ever had. For work, for life, for anything! Consider its origins. Ponder its evolution. See how far it’s come.

You’ll probably end up marveling to yourself, “Man! This is crazy!”

LET ME ASK YA THIS…

What’s your favorite idea evolution example?

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag

Do you want to be That Guy?

Find out how in 26 days with the release of Scott’s forthcoming third book!

Check out www.hellomynameisscott.com for all the juicy details!

The World Is A Mirror, Part 4

A is for ATTITUDE
B is for BREAK PATTERNS
C is for CONSISTENCY
D is for DISCIPLINE

At least one audience member in each of my speeches usually asks, “Scott, have you ever missed a day wearing a nametag?”

Actually, no.

Sure, I’ve come close many times: walking down the street, jumping into the car or getting out the door and then realizing. “Ah damn it! I forgot to put on my nametag!”

But that’s why I carry 10 spares in my wallet, bag and car at all times.

So, no, I’ve never missed a day in 2,065 days. Which either means I’m incredibly disciplined or incredible OCD.

Probably both.

But here’s the thing: after 6 years of wearing a nametag 24-7, one of the strongest and most noticeable changes in my life has been my discipline. For example, I start work every morning around 6 AM. I write for two hours before any calls are made and before any meetings are held. I also read two books a week, pound out 3-4 articles a month, meditate daily and somehow manage to post on both of my blogs 5 days a week.

The result: three books in three years. (New book August 1, 2006!!)

And while a lot of my colleagues and clients think I’m crazy, I always say, “Yeah, but when you work for yourself, discipline is the only boss you’ve got.”

It’s the same with exercise. Whether I’m here in St. Louis or traveling around the country to give speeches, I always find time to run, walk or swim. Even if the conditions aren’t ideal. Even if it’s really, really hot outside. Even if I get lost in the Rio Grande Park in Albuquerque, lose my room key somewhere in the brush and eventually return to my hotel room 3 hours later.

(Hypothetically.)

Still, I think back to the late 90’s, or as I like to call it, “BNT: Before Name Tag.” My work wasn’t as dependable. I didn’t exercise consistently. I slept in all the time. And I didn’t read or write unless I had to.

But as soon as I starting wearing a nametag, things changed. Formerly annoying tasks and habits became the standard. My discipline grew stronger than ever before! And while I’m not solely attributing my discipline to wearing a nametag, it’s certainly helped.

Because discipline carries over.

For example, most kids who play sports in high school get better grades than non-athletes. Why? Because if a coach requires his players to practice for 3 hours after school every day, some of that dedication is going to rub off in other areas.

What about you? What are you disciplined to? Consider your business. Pick one discipline you’ve been practicing DAILY for years. Maybe it’s making calls, reading, writing, rehearsing or showing up at the office 2 hours early before anyone else gets there.

Think about your business/life BEFORE your started doing that one thing and compare it with your business/life AFTER that one thing.

Was there a change? Did the discipline carry over?

If so, awesome! Keep it up.

If not, don’t worry. This is your chance. Pick something TODAY that you will discipline yourself to doing every single day for the next month. Keep a journal. Watch how the discipline rubs off. It’ll blow you away! I’m tellin’ ya, this stuff works!

But don’t take it from me; take it from Plato. He said, “The first and best victory is to conquer self.”

That’s exactly what discipline is.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to put on my nametag before I go take out the trash.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…

How has discipline rubbed off on your business/life?

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

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Tag: the world is a mirror

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