Tag: markets

The Times, They Are ‘A Changing’

On By seancovellIn business, Philosophy, UncategorizedLeave a comment

 

Are you prepared?

I’ve been thinking very deeply about Amazon’s recent purchase of Whole Foods and what it means to the marketplace as a whole. What does is mean for those of us who have businesses or jobs? Marcus Aurelius writes:
“We have but one job, to be good people.”
While this is true, we all have another job– to meet and actually exceed the demand of the marketplace. The market is the greatest human invention ever. It is essentially voluntary cooperation between people and that is a beautiful thing. It gives us unlimited choices in entertainment, food, travel, occupation, knowledge. However, the marketplace is also highly demanding and can be very very cruel. It often has no regard for whether you have a good product or not. The market doesn’t care whether you’re too tired to make cold- calls that day. The market doesn’t care if you’re having a bad day and it takes too much energy to smile to a customer. It doesn’t care if you’ve been in business for a month or for a decade. All of us must meet the demands of the marketplace EVERY SINGLE DAY if we are to thrive. In fact, we all have one boss– and that’s the market.

The market determines the type of people we hire, the type of customers attracted to us, the types of products and services we offer, the hours of operation. As seen with Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods, the marketplace is changing and we all must be vigilant about keeping very high standards and delivering an incredible experience EVERY SINGLE shift, month, week, day and year. I realize sometimes people may see me as a demanding boss and fairly high strung, but the truth is I understand what it takes to make it in the marketplace today and it’s very different than 5, 10, and especially 50 years ago. During these hot summer months, (and really all months to come )the marketplace will demand even higher standards– more energy, world-class products , great marketing, energetic workforces, and obviously 10x clean facilities. In other words, both the marketplace and employers will be looking for producers- people that don’t just go the first mile, but go the extra mile, to meet the demands of the rapidly changing market. Are you going the extra mile? How has your industry changed or how will it change? Are you doing whatever it takes to thrive?

In health,

The Quiz On Life

On By seancovellIn Health and Wellness, PoliticsLeave a comment

Want to evaluate your philosophy towards life?  Take the quiz….

The Quiz on Life
1. The number 1 factor in your success and fulfillment in life is:
a. Your family history
b. The amount of money you make
c. How many friends you have
d. Your personal philosophy
2. The number #1 reason for failure in any endeavor is:
a. Fear
b. Lack of persistence
c. Complaining
d. Lack of confidence
3. The biggest reason for failure in an organization or relationship is:
a. Anger
b. Shyness
c. Poor thinking habits
d. Lack of harmony
4. You are responsible for everything that happens in your life
True / False
5. If you want to earn more money:
a. work harder
b. think better
c. add more value to yourself and the marketplace
d. stay at a job for a long time

6. Great leaders:
a. take extreme ownership
b. are compassionate
c. understand what others’ needs are
d.have vision
e. all the above
f. a and b only
7. Don’t ask for it to be easier:
a. ask that you become better
b. ask that others help you
c. ask “why did this happen to me”?
d. just keep going
8. There are only 3 things you have total control over in life
TRUE / FALSE
9. You can learn the most from someone by learning:
a. their family history
b. what they do for a living
c. what their metaphor for life is
d. what they majored in
10. Focus, Meaning, “What Do I Do Now” are:
a. the only three things you have total control over
b. total B.S.
c. a product of your upbringing
d. none of the above

11. You may not be at fault for something:
a. so you shouldn’t worry
b. it’s the Democrats fault
c. Republicans are racists
d. You still should take responsibility for it
e. always blame others
12. Your life is affected mostly by:
a. your past
b. your purpose
c. how you think things are, not how they are
d. what you watch on TV
13. You are your thoughts
TRUE / FALSE
14. In business:
a. a “broken window” can cause great damage
b. the culture of the business is extremely important
c. cash-flows and production matter a great deal
d. the customer’s perception is the reality
e. a spirit of harmony must exist among all associates
f. a burning desire to achieve an outcome matters most
g. all of the above
h. none of the above

15. Biography equals destiny
a. true
b. false
c. if you let it
d. the future matters more than the past
15. Success is a science and fulfillment is an art.
TRUE / FALSE
16. Even if terrible things happen to you:
a. suffering is your choice
b. life’s a bitch
c. it’s because you’re a bad person
d. others will never understand you
17. Life is both a miracle and a struggle for some, but:
a. it all depends on what your personal philosophy is
b. No, it’s just a struggle
c. Life is easy
d. Life has no purpose
e. how people think about life determines how happy they will be
f. A and E
g. A and C
18. It’s best to ignore the bad in life and think about only the positive
a. Yes, that is correct
b. Depressed people focus only on the bad
c. You must recognize the negative and deal with it
d. It’s best to see life as it is, but not worse than as it is.
e. A and B
f. C and D
19. Bad things happen in life and that means there is no God and no purpose to anything.
a. if you believe that, it is true for you
b. expect bad things, but don’t focus on them only if you want happiness
c. to be fulfilled in life, acknowledge that problems are a part of life, but not all of it
d. None of the above
e. All of the above
20. Lack of following up:
a. is a major problem in business, parenting and relationships
b. following up is someone else’s job
c. don’t bother me, I’m busy
21. If you want to increase your value to others and the marketplace
a. work harder on your self than you do on your job
b. work more than you get paid for
c. you reap what you sow
d. the law of compensation is an immutable law over time
e. All of the above.
22. Stress, anxiety, worry, are all code words for

23. You are in control of mind:
a. if you want to be
b. you are not
c. you can only control it if you’re rich
d. it’s the only thing that humans have over other animals
e. none of the above
f. A and D

24. There are two basic fears that hold us back from accomplishing ANYTHING
a. the fear of death
b. the fear of poverty
c. the fear that I won’t be loved
d. the fear that I’m not enough
e. the fear of what others think
f. A and B
g. A and C
h. C and E
i. C and D

BONUS
ANYONE IS CAPABLE OF ANYTHING BECAUSE:
a. even billionaires and bums have the same 24 hours in a day
b. there is no limit on the value you can add to others and yourself
c. by choosing a Definite Chief Aim, you control the course of your life
d. true, but you have to be wise and careful
e. true, but you have to acknowledge problems while identifying solutions
f. yes, but only if you focus on an outcome and make decisions accordingly
g. of course, but you have to take ownership of everything in you life first
h. only if you can stop complaining and blaming others
i. humans can choose which direction they want to go, we are not geese
j. success leaves clues
k. ALL of the above
l. None of the above
m. A, D only

EXTRA BONUS
The biggest “addiction” problem in America is:
a. People addicted to alcohol
b. People addicted to narcotics
c. People addicted to prescription drugs
d. People addicted to their problems