A Zig and a Fig

"You cannot perform in a manner inconsistent with the way you see yourself." Zig Ziglar

Our behavior is inspired by our beliefs. These beliefs are not in what we can have in life but in what we are worthy to receive and hold onto. Our belief in ourselves guides our behavior, produces the results we see in our lives, and either lifts us higher or restrains us from what we might become.

Perhaps if we spent more time in school working to elevate the confidence each student has in themselves, the other results might just manifest too.

A "C" student becomes an "A" student when they first believe they are an "A" student. Sometimes though, they must make a temporary stop at "B" just to make sure.

houston@figment-consulting.com

Building a remarkable learning experience

Author, blogger, and mentor Seth Godin describes remarkable as something worth talking about. In other words, the service you are rendering is so remarkable your customers cannot help but share it with others.

We have the potential to build a remarkable learning experience in virtual schools -- one that is worth sharing, one that your students and families cannot help but share with others.

Remember though, remarkable encompasses far more than just academics.

You can read more about this in my Virtual School Manifesto: Nine Essential Ingredients.

houston@figment-consulting.com

to boldly explore, to go where no one has gone before

Seth Godin refers to it as Edgecrafting -- going to the edge instead of staying in the middle where it is safe.

Star Trek described it this way -- "to boldly explore, to go where no one has gone before."

A Chinese tycoon, Liu Dejian, founder of mainland online gaming firm NetDragon Websoft is showing us what Edgecrafting looks like.

And my favorite point he made from his CNBC interview:

In an interview with CNBC, the 43-year-old Liu revealed that he hoped the design of the company's new headquarters would encourage employees to live up to Star Trek's adventure-seeking spirit as his Hong Kong-listed company ventured into uncharted territories such as online education and robots.

houston@figment-consulting.com

Are you afraid?

For most of us our perceptions frame our reality. We then seek out those who agree with our reality so we can reassure ourselves.

Too few of us take the time to consider opposing views. Adopt some of them -- hardly. We find that problematic, even dangerous. Wait though, before we travel that road laced with fear, what if we simply read some views that were contrary to our own? Consider simply means to think carefully about. What if we gave careful thought to an opposing view?

Could a workweek be condensed to 4 hours? Could marketing be based on permission instead of interruptions? Could we be measuring creativity and intelligence the wrong way?

The challenge is to find a book or video that provides a viewpoint opposite to our own and then read or watch it without condemning it. Simply consider it.

houston@figment-consulting.com

Thank you @HeatherParady #YourTurnChallenge

I had multiple ideas running through my head for the Day 4 #YourTurnChallenge post via Seth Godin. Some were funny (at least to me), some were insightful, and some perhaps were even intelligent.

Then, I read the post from @HeatherParady -- Today My Husband Leaves

And, I realized, sometimes the best thing we can do is to share what others have written. So, if you have not read Heather's post, I encourage you to do so.

Perspective can change things for you. It can take what you deem important and minimize it when you see what others are facing today.

houston@figment-consulting.com

The Challenge of Your Turn: #YourTurnChallenge

I simply moved the word Challenge ahead of Your Turn. Does it take on a whole new meaning for you?

Merriam-Webster tells us that challenge is a verb, a transitive verb, and an intransitive verb. I counted 13 definitions attached to the word challenge -- does that mean we get to choose the definition we want?

Is Your Turn daring you to prove your worthiness of choosing yourself?

Is it inviting you into a competition involving others who have also accepted the challenge?

Is it asking you to prove your identity calling you a stranger in this world of choosing oneself?

Perhaps it is disputing past assumptions and calling them invalid leaving you to change your beliefs?

Or, is it stimulating you, arousing you by presenting you with difficulties. Difficulties, that once overcome, will allow you to experience the joy that comes with choosing Your Turn.

Maybe the word Challenge is a noun. Merriam-Webster tells us that as a noun challenge has three primary definitions: a difficult task or problem; an action, statement, etc., that is against something; an invitation to compete.

Perhaps one of those definitions will suffice for you.

However, before you decide ask yourself, "Who said I have to use the word challenge?"

I simply rearranged the words and put challenge first. It is just as easy for you to replace it with one of your choosing.

After all, it is Your Turn.

houston@figment-consulting.com
#YourTurnChallenge

The tribe of #YourTurnChallenge

It was a brilliant idea really, perhaps even taken from the playbook of the master of inspiration Zig Ziglar himself.

"You will get what you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want." Zig Ziglar

Over 500,000 people follow Seth Godin and his daily blog. We are, in essence, the Tribe. And, with the #YourTurnChallenge, Seth is able to give the Tribe what they want. In return, hopefully he receives what he wants (and it is much more than sales of his new book).

The beauty of it all is the Tribe has come to life, sharing their stories, and "shipping their art" as Seth likes to call it.

And because of Seth's genius idea, we are all benefiting from being introduced to such talented artists.

Andy Stitt poured his heart into the Day 1 Challenge and through it we learned how to simplify the complexity of generosity.

Priscilla Tallman reminds us we are all in this together and that one voice can changes lives -- though only when it speaks.

Vanessa Thomas took the Challenge to new heights by starting a blog in response to it. She was ready (Junbi) to choose herself, and we are all better for it.

Tosinger is sharing her art, inspiring us all to stretch our dreams.

Catrina Ossman reminds us that sometimes all we need is a little motivation to get started.

Drew Griffin is thinking deeply about the Challenge itself, sharing insights into what it means to ship, opportunity, and acceptance.

But, one of my favorites of Day 1 was Tom Larsen. Tom is in insurance and somewhere along the way I saw a note from him lamenting the fact that he is concerned that blogging about insurance is not exciting enough.

Yet, in perusing his first post it led me to look over his blog overall. I encourage you to read Tom's blog. Insurance may not be sexy but saving money, protecting your belongings, and increasing your wealth is sexy. Sometimes they just disguise themselves under the insurance heading.

The Tribe is much more extensive than this list, and I could truly not do it justice in trying to describe it, or even the ones I listed here. However, I simply encourage you to join us. We are a worldwide Tribe who share the commonality of following Seth Godin and his writings.

However, there's always room for you in our Tribe. We need to hear what you have to say.

#YourTurnChallenge

houston@figment-consulting.com

Keep moving forward: #YourTurnChallenge

Though the Promised Land has not been reached, that does not mean we should halt our journey. 

We must learn from the past, be inspired by the potential of the future, and do what we can today, now, to take that next step. 

We must fly, run, walk, and crawl. We must keep moving forward.

#YourTurnChallenge

houston@figment-consulting.com

3 Blogs Worth Following

Below are 3 bloggers you may want to follow on a regular basis. The quality of the content they offer on a consistent basis is what I aspire to offer as well. Whether or not I am accomplishing that is still a question.

However, these bloggers make you think, and see things differently. And, I believe that is what they should do.

1. Michael Michalko

www.creativethinking.net

Author of books such as Thinkertoys, Michael's blog posts and thought projects are some of the best I have ever read and used. If you want to dive in deeper, expand your mind, and tap into your inner idea genius, then I would also encourage you to purchase his books.

2. Seth Godin

www.sethgodin.com

Seth is one of the most prolific authors, bloggers, and thought gurus in recent history. His insight into marketing, entrepreneurship, self-development, and personal growth is a daily dose of wisdom and action-provoking ideas.

3. Richard Branson

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson

Founder of Virgin, Sir Richard may not be for everyone. However, within each of his blog posts lies great nuggets of information that can help you reach your potential. His posts are filled with inspiration and challenge you to reach beyond what you think possible.

Hope these suggestions help you in some way. I encourage you to read them, follow them, and consider using their suggestions to help you reach your dreams.

houston@figment-consulting.com

The problem with Seth Godin . . .

. . . is that he continues to make such sense in each one of his books that it is frustrating to me I did not think of writing them first.

In his latest book, What To Do When It's Your Turn (and it's always your turn) Seth challenges you on each and every page to rethink what you think you know, to move beyond waiting for others, and to take responsibility for yourself and your life.

It's both simple to read and very difficult to read at the same time.

If you desire for 2015 to be completely different, then take the time to go through Seth's new book.

houston@figment-consulting.com

The Power of AND

And is such a small word yet packed with powerful potential. Yet, we tend to turn to Or much more often.

"I can either do this or that." "I can be this or that."

With Or we limit ourselves. With And we open up the possibilities. And expands the mind, Or compresses. And increases, Or decreases.

Be a teacher and a learner.

Be a leader and a follower.

Be inspired and inspire.

Fail and succeed.

Do this and that, be this and that.

Think And before Or then see what happens within you.

houston@figment-consulting.com

If I could only read three books next year they would be . . .

Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire

Walt's story is well documented. However, without his brother Roy, would there ever have been a Walt?

One night at a Los Angeles dinner gala, Walt Disney gave a rare public statement about his older brother, Roy: "We started the business here in 1923, and if it hadn't been for my big brother, I swear I'd have been in jail several times for checks bouncing."

Author Bob Thomas takes readers on Roy's journey showcasing his business acumen, financial expertise, and his overall desire to bring Walt's dreams to life.

Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable

Author, blogger, and marketing guru Seth Godin presents a compelling case on ways in which businesses can stand out, go to the edge, be different -- or as he calls it, a Purple Cow.

Imagine what you would do when traveling down a back road, and off to your right you see a purple cow. Would you pass it by? Or, would you stop, take photos, and share it with everyone you knew? Before long, they too would share it and more people would make the drive to witness firsthand the purple cow.

The same is true in business. In a world where we are all the same kinds of cows, the companies that stand out and make a difference are those who achieve the status of being a purple cow. Seth Godin shares his thoughts, ideas and examples on how to move toward the purple color.

Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle

Why do certain people succeed and others don't? Why do some live the life they always imagined and others simply survive?

Author, speaker and business consultant Jim Rohn spent over 40 years focused on the fundamentals of human behavior. And while he left us a few years ago, his knowledge continues to be shared and his popularity continues to increase.

This book, in my opinion, is Jim's best. It's a quick read but full of information and thought-provoking philosophies.

If you want to put your life puzzle together in 2015, then Jim's book can guide you through the process.


And now, how about you. If you could only read three books in 2015, what would they be?

houston@figment-consulting.com

The KittiesMama society

On August 9, 2008 KittiesMama joined YouTube. It is a channel dedicated to weekly vlogs, funny skits, and a little girl that plays makeup guru. Its wholesome entertainment.

KittiesMama now has over 767,000 subscribers and over 423 million views of her videos since they launched back in 2008.

This is the world in which we now live. You can choose yourself, launch a YouTube channel, and create your own destiny.

If you are waiting to be chosen by someone else - an employer, a boss, or a school -- give thought to choosing yourself. There's never been a better time to do so.

houston@figment-consulting.com

Finding Bigfoot teaches marketers . . .

Finding Bigfoot is a program that airs on Animal Planet, with four individuals covering the country searching for the elusive creature (whether Bigfoot actually exists, I will leave that up for others to debate).

If you watch it, even one episode, you will find that it can teach us the critical element about marketing. I gave in and watched an episode with my boys the other evening and it occurred to me as to why it has achieved success.

It's about the tribe.

Author, blogger and speaker Seth Godin has written an entire book on this concept of tribes (naturally titled Tribes), and it is in full display with Finding Bigfoot.

The four Squatchers, as they are called, travel to various states in their quest to find further evidence for Bigfoot. One of the four is a self-proclaimed skeptic which adds nicely to the narrative. Part of what they do though, and in my opinion the main part, is they hold town-hall meeting with locals in the area who come out to share their Bigfoot encounters.

Why is this so critical? It's building the tribe, connecting the tribe, and the four Squatchers are, by default, becoming the leaders of this tribe.

As Seth would argue, Finding Bigfoot did not create this tribe. They merely tapped into it, and set up four individuals to lead it. This tribe already existed in large numbers. There are some who are the die-hard believers, some who are not sure, and even some who are just plain curious. Together though they form a tribe large enough to support a television show -- leading Animal Planet to record performances in ratings. It was a tribe ready for a leader, and now they have one.

The episode I watched drove this home because it was a behind-the-scenes look that showed what goes on at the town-hall meetings prior to filming. The Squatchers posed for autographs, photos and simply spent time visiting with those that had come out to share their personal stories.

Then, it followed the Squatchers as they visited Comic-Con in New York City where again they were greeted with autograph-seekers and posed for photos with fans of the show.

The executive producers understood early on, it is not about finding the creature, it is about building the tribe. And, they do this effectively -- in person, online, etc.

The question for us is "Are we spending our time, money and energy trying to create a tribe or find one to lead?" A tribe in existence, waiting for someone to lead them might be the more effective path to success.

houston@figment-consulting.com