Writing it all down (Step 4)

Every business has to take inventory.

But what do you mean Seth? I don’t have any products, so what am I inventorying?

My answer is everything. Inventory the clients, the staff, our systems. Taking an inventory doesn’t just mean “counting” something. It means taking a good look at what I “have” and then determining what still has value so I can retire anything that no longer does have value. If I find a staff member for example doesn’t have value because they aren’t productive then I may want to take a look at that. Give that staff member a review. Some constructive feedback and let them know that I am looking for some improvement. Better yet without insulting or hurting that person’s feelings I can offer them additional training – adding value to an existing asset is always better than replacing it when that is a practical option.  Let them know that I am genuinely interested in seeing them succeed, and I should be interested in seeing them succeed because if my employees and colleagues succeed then I succeed and if I helped them, then I will have a loyal dedicated employee. If I offer that employee free help and training and they resist, well then it’s pretty clear where that relationship is heading.

So I inventory my relationships. I do this in my personal life all of the time. How many of us know people who bring us down whenever we see them. After a while it becomes painfully apparent that they will bring me down long before I can bring them up. Do I want to be around this person? In my experience I am better off not. If an employee is constantly complaining about their job they should be encouraged to move on. They are bringing down the value of my company because other employees who may really enjoy being here will be brought down by this.

Criticism is never constructive, only solutions are

If you have a co-worker who is constantly complaining about the company you both work for and you enjoy working there are they not ruining your experience? 99% of the time the person complaining  is not “exposing the truth” as much as they are very simply creating a negative environment for people who otherwise enjoy a positive one. So take inventory of your relationships. I have written much about keeping a keen focus on whom I choose to surround myself with. When I find a person is negative I keep my distance from them. They will ruin my experience every/any time I let them in.

Anything done like this is always better done in the written form. When you put together a budget that is a financial inventory – looking at what you have coming in and making sure it is enough to cover what has to go out. Well we don’t just “think” about a budget, it has to be written down (or otherwise done in a spreadsheet). So it follows that any inventory we do should be written. This makes us accountable and it gives us something to study, rather than just think about. We want to have an experience with this. A positive one. And it will be positive because we are doing this so that we can grow. that’s what makes it exciting.

Write out a paragraph describing the picture of what you want your life to look like, but write it in terms of being the present picture. Here’s an excerpt from mine to give you an example:

I am in great shape. I have the look and strength of Atlas. I am surrounded by feelings of gratitude and contentment. Everyone around me is happy with me and what I can do for them. I am a beacon of “service light” constantly striving to help others. This is what maintains me at all times. Thank You G-d for everything you have given me, for all that you have taken away and for everything you have left behind.

Daily I am writing and recording tutorials, free and paid. I am bringing in a ton of advertising revenue and I have my first book written which is selling like hot cakes and earning me speaking engagements where I can get the opportunity to inspire others.

I have been reading mine every day. Make sure that what you write inspires a feeling within you. When I read the part about having the strength of Atlas I visualize an image of atlas that causes me to actually feel something – I get excited about the idea of being in great shape. If you don’t write something that inspires a feeling within you when you read it then keep working on it. The whole key is to feel an emotion when you read it, and make sure you are visualizing an image in your mind while you are reading it back to yourself. That image will often be the thing that actually inspires you while you are reading.

When you get a chance, feel free to share yours here or directly with me via e-mail

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