Learn Before You Earn And 3 Reasons Why

It is nearly impossible to build an automobile engine if you do not know how to make an automobile engine. It is almost impossible to perform open-heart surgery if you do not know how to perform open-heart surgery. It is nearly impossible to be a multi-millionaire if you do not know how to be a multi-millionaire.

It is nearly impossible to be successful at anything unless you first learn what it is you want to be successful in doing. You must learn before you earn. Learning always comes before Earning, and the only scenario this does not apply is in the dictionary alphabetically. You must also understand three reasons why learning before earning is the key to your success.

 Others Will Define You If You Don’t

The Merriam-Webster definition of define is: to determine or identify the essential qualities or meaning of. What defines you? Better yet, who defines you?

It is human nature that we categorize, label, or define those around us by classifying people as rich, poor, smart, challenged, weak, strong, successful, struggling, big, little, blue-collar, white-collar and so on. We are all guilty of it from time to time because we are human. We define others, and the flip side to that is, others define us. Refusing to believe that your peers have defined you would be doing yourself a great disservice, trust me, you have been defined.

Unfortunately, many of us begin to believe our capabilities are limited to what others have defined or decided about us. If those around us do not think we are creative, then our internal creative process becomes limited because we do not believe we have it within ourselves. We believe what others have led us to think because we have no other affirmation, nothing telling us any differently.

Growing up, I experienced this type of definement first hand. Early on in my childhood, several teachers shared concerns with my parents because they noticed a timid, quiet behavior from me. They suggested to my parents that maybe some therapy would be good. The therapist I went to asked me to draw my family. I am the literal type, so I drew my family, which consisted of a father, mother, and two brothers. In front of my parents, the therapist asked if I had finished drawing, and I confidently said yes. He wondered why I was not in the picture, and I told him because you asked me to draw my family. I drew all of them. He did not say your family and you. 

The therapist defined my behavior as a lack of self-esteem. And from that point forward, guess what, I had a lack of self-confidence. It was not until I decided that only I could define myself, that things started to change for me. I researched and learned the things I wanted to be, and that made me more confident. I had to teach myself the things that I wanted to know in order to be successful. And you have to do the same. 

Truth be told, my quiet and timid behavior had nothing to do with self-esteem in the beginning. To this day, I absorb everything around me quietly. I study people and read people. This behavior, and asset, has served me well in all of my many ventures.  

It is vital that you learn and genuinely know how you want to be defined. If you do not, others will do it for you. And I can assure you they will limit your full potential. You have to define yourself. No one believes more in you than you do! Once you know and understand this, it can be one of your most excellent tools.

 Emotions Do Not Make Good Decisions

This past year I had a significant, life-changing career decision to make. I struggled daily, leaning from one choice to the other. It drove me insane for months because, within twenty-four hours of making a decision, my emotions would change so drastically. Hours of research on the internet could not even help me make a firm decision on this one.

A book by Andy Stanley, “Ask It,” put it all in perspective. His book claims there is one question that will revolutionize how you make decisions. His claim is accurate. As I finished reading the last page of his book, immediately, my life-changing career decision was made. 

The question you ask? Don’t read the next sentence if you don’t want a spoiler. The question he proposes is, “In light of your past experiences, current circumstances, and future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing for you to do in order to avoid regret in this area of life?”

It quickly dawned on me why I had been on both sides of the fence for so long. Before reading this book, my decision-making process was based purely on my current emotions. The emotions I was presented and processing with each day. This life-changing question solely based on facts and not feelings. I am not saying you should make unwise decisions based on the opposite of regret, but don’t hesitate to do something out of fear of failure. Moving forward, when you solely base your learning and decisions on facts and not emotions, you will be successful.

What does this have anything to do with first learning to earn, you ask? So many people have no clarity in what they need to do to reach their full potential. They wake up every day and let the day’s emotions decide their actions and tasks. They don’t know what they don’t know. Successful people know what they are going to do before their eyes open every morning. They do this by learning facts that provide clarity in their decision-making process, leaving the emotions out of it. Emotions can build a business as quickly as they can tear it down. Knowing when feelings should be followed is the key to success. Be emotional about what you are passionate about. The actual business decisions shouldn’t have emotion involved.

 You Will Earn Only As Much As You Want To Learn

Ever heard someone say I wish I could sing? Or, I wish I could draw? Or, I wish I could get a better paying job? Or, I wish… Yeah, me too. Well, let me tell you something. They are full of that dark stuff that comes out the back end of most mammals.

If someone truly wants to sing, they will invest their money and time by finding a vocalist to teach them to sing. Or if they want to be an artist for a career, they will spend their time and resources at their local college. If they genuinely wanted to get a better paying job, they would invest their time and resources in changing their career path.

Yes, you must indeed learn before you earn. But, you will only earn what you are willing to invest in yourself and nothing more. If you are questioning whether you really want to be a millionaire, you will know the answer quickly by how much time and resources you invest in learning to be a millionaire.

If you want to be a millionaire, learn how to be a millionaire before you earn it, or you will fail. Lottery winners prove this point time and time again. They win a vast multi-million-dollar fortune and lose it all within a short period because they never took the time to learn how to be wealthy.

Closing

Define yourself based on facts and not emotions. Only learn what you are willing to invest, and your return will be rewarded in abundance. Life is short; don’t wait to learn! Start today. Do today what others won’t. So tomorrow, you can do what others can’t!

And if you have a skill set others could learn from, write a book so they can learn before they earn. Learn why by clicking here to watch my video.

3 Simple Steps To Crush It In The New Year

No matter where or when you were born, we all entered this world in the same way, naked and uneducated. Each of us had a unique childhood, and through childhood, most of us were under the guidance of another human being. Growing up, those around us influence our thoughts and beliefs.

Most of us did not get a choice of who we wanted to become due to rearing by a caretaker, influencer, demographics, geographics, or activities that went on around us. Many blame current problems on past situations. 

Well, that was the past, and this is the present. Now, you are responsible for you. No one is keeping you from achieving your wildest dreams, but you. Now is when you strip yourself from your past. You are not what you were born into; you are not under guidance anymore. You make choices every day that are impacting your future. Most of us enjoy our independence, but we still need direction and some accountability. It is ironic how we all came into this world the same, yet when we leave this world, our achievements, self-worth, and sense of accomplishment will differ vastly. Are you going to leave this world crushing it, or not?

Here are three simple steps to help you crush it in the New Year so that you can live to your fullest potential.

Get Serious

Life is a serious business. We only get one shot.

When working with individuals in their golden years, I often hear the common phrase, I wish. I wish I would have done this; I wish I would have done that. This reflection is a reflection of regret. Regrets that they did not fulfill their passions.

Each day that passes, all of us are getting another day closer to our golden years. We will not physically be able to do the things that we can do today. Like most, we will have a lot of time on our hands to reflect. 

When we get to that stage in life, we will be reflecting in one of two ways. One, what a beautiful life I've lived. Everything I wanted to do, I did. I cannot imagine changing anything.

Or, two, a regret. I wish I would have started this or done that. I wish I would have gone here or seen this. I wish I would have been kinder to my spouse so that he/she would not have left me, because it sure is lonely living these last years on earth alone.

We have a short amount of time on this earth. The moment we are born, we begin to die. Get serious about today because tomorrow will be here before you know it.

Make A Plan, With A Strong Why

A critical part of this process is also figuring out a reason to carry out the plan and figuring out why you are going to stick to the idea. Bypassing this step is the number one reason why most people fail to accomplish their goals. New Year's resolutions are a prime example of failed accomplishments.

Only 8% of people are ever successful at achieving their New Year's resolutions. That is less than 1 out of every 10 people. The reason? There is not a strong enough "why" to fulfill these goals.

The number one New Year's resolution year in and year out is to lose weight. Now, if less than one out of every ten people ever achieve their resolution, how high do you think this percentage would rise if we added a strong enough why? What if your doctor had a crystal ball and told you today that if you do not lose 30 pounds that you will die of a cardiac arrest in 90 days? And that you would never see the children or spouse that you love so dearly ever again. Think the percentage of achievement and the drive would increase?

The "why" is like the main ingredient to a recipe. If you do not have the main component of a recipe, your odds of achieving a fantastic edible meal are very slim. You can have all the ingredients of a recipe to make mouthwatering ribs. But if you do not have the ribs, then you are not going to have ribs for dinner.

Before making a goal or plan, you must figure out a strong "why." This plan of action is critical for you to discover, or you will never have the determination to carry out the hard work to achieve your goals.

Take Action

The late Jim Rhone, a personal development speaker, describes success like this, "Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines (actions), practiced every day."

That sounds simple, right? Easy to say, easy to understand, right? Most successful people say the only thing that separates them from others is that they took action. Everyone knows what to do, but most don't do it. You have to take action in your life today that will impact your tomorrow. Think about where you would be in a year if you took steps every day and build on them each week or month. Start small or start big, just start.

Actions take time. The more you repeat an action, the more natural it becomes. It is an ongoing process. Actions require repeated efforts until they become habits. And with the right habits, success follows.

The ability to drive a car is a perfect example. Most people were nervous about learning to drive for the first time. Yet, in no time at all, it becomes habitual. So routine that most everyone I know has driven past an exit or a turn they usually take and not realize it until later. We get set on autopilot and are so focused on other things that we just drive, and before we know it, end up on an old route or at an old job site.  

Changing or taking action takes time to become habitual. 

Closing

Life is a serious business! Each week passes faster than the last. 

Make a plan with a strong enough reason "why" you need to achieve this goal.

Take action! Make my mantra your mantra, "Do today what others won't. So tomorrow you can do what others can't."

You can do this!

#1 Reason Your New Year’s Resolution Does Not Work!

For most, somewhere in the middle of December, something triggers anticipation. The anticipation of counting down to the new year. The anticipation of counting down to a new you.

The count down, the anticipation, and the determination that, this time, I'm going to do it. This time, I'm going to conquer my New Year's resolution. 

Kudos and high fives to everyone that never gives up trying. That is awesome and important! But it is also essential to realize why so many people fail time and time again. Some statistics show that only 8% of people ever achieve their goals. That is less than one out of every ten people.

Why is that? Hint: part of the question is part of the answer. Do tell, you say? Let's go.

The number one New Year's resolution, year in and year out, is to lose weight. And, for a good reason. No matter how much or how little, most everyone I know could lose an inch or so after the holidays. Of course, I'm not judging. I am often in the same boat.

So, for that reason, let's focus on weight loss as an example.

Of course, there is an abundance of reasons why most of us would fail before we even began to see substantial results. They vary from: it's too much work, the results are not coming fast enough, self-doubt, lack of a plan, lack of motivation, no social support, and on and on and on.

But, for those that are determined to succeed this time, there is one critical component to be considered when planning out your New Year's resolution to succeed.

Realizing the success rate of goals is only 8%, how high do you think the success rate to lose weight would increase if you went to the doctor today and he said, "If you do not lose 30 pounds in 9 weeks, you will die of cardiac arrest, kidney failure, or diabetes." If you knew you would not see your loved ones ever again or would not be there for your children when they graduate or get married, would the fact that you would not be around when your family needs you most be a motivator to change your lifestyle? Do you think the percentage of New Year's resolution achievements would go up?

I don't know about you, but the possibility of imminent danger usually gets my attention loud and clear. Realizing that my lack of effort may cause me not to be around for my family when they need me most, gets my attention. And most people feel the same way.

So, why do we fail so often? Actually, because "why" is the answer. The lack of a "why" to be specific. 

For everyday purposes, we are going to refer to your "why" as the main ingredient to your favorite recipe. You cannot successfully prepare an edible meal if you do not have the first part. If you are attempting to smoke chicken or ribs, you can vary the measurements of the rub, spices, coal, and wood for smoking. But, if you do not have the chicken or ribs, aka - the "main ingredient," you will not have chicken or ribs that day.

You have to have a strong enough "why" or you will not accomplish your goals. If your "why" is strong enough, you will find a way to achieve your goals. You will do what it takes and make fewer excuses. You are always busy, but if you have time to remember the main ingredient every day, you can meet your goals!

This year, start with a strong "why" behind your goals and build a successful plan from there. You can do this!

Your Business Reputation Is On The Line! And It's Not With Your Client's!

Welcome to the Morrison Minute where we focus on personal development and business strategy. Today we're going to focus on the small business.

 If you were to ask most business owners to prioritize employees, vendors, and clients, most business owners would say clients first. And, although clients bring in sales and they are important to the growth of the company, they're not your number one asset.

 In my opinion, the employees are. Because if you don't have great employees, you don't have customers. They're not going to stick around.

 But what's more important than that, is venders. Vendors can destroy your reputation. Customers are transactional. You provide a service; they pay the bill. You provide bad service; they provide a bad review. You refund the money and they move on.

 Venders know your deepest darkest secrets! They know if you pay on time. They know their experience of when they deliver products to your business to resell, how they were treated when they went to the dock. They know just about every mmm… from one end of your building to the other. Let me give you an example of another way that vendors can destroy your reputation.

 I had a prospective client that hired me for coaching services, and we were to meet once, once, a week for an hour. On the first visit, I drove 45 minutes from my office to meet there. I texted him and let him know that I was there. And right when we were supposed to begin, he texted me back saying, “I thought that was tomorrow.” Okay, my bad.

 The next week I called him, actually, I emailed him a week in advance, confirmed. I called about three days before, confirmed. I get to the meeting place… I text him where I was located at and he never replied. I texted again, no reply. Phone call, no reply. This went on several times. and some of you may be asking, “why did you keep going back?” Well, we had a non-contractual, but a verbal agreement, that I were to provide services for a certain dollar amount. I wanted to hold up my end of the bargain. I'd already committed those hour blocks to that person.

 And guess what? I now share that with other people in the industry of my experience with that person. Because I'm a vendor and if he treats me that way then he's just providing a facade to his clients or employees.

 If you’re a business owner that would like a business coach that can think outside of the box, things like this, not your typical everyday situation, let's have coffee. And if you'd like more personal development skills and more business development strategies, sign up for more Morrison Minute. I'd love to see you again!

Should You Write That Book You Keep Talking About?

Welcome to the Morrison Minute. We focus on personal development & business mastery.

 Today we're going to focus on personal development. In 2018 I released my first book, titled, “DO NOT: Start Or Run A Business, My Way.” It was simply a memoir of all the mistakes I feel that I made when I started my first business. Mistakes that I wanted to share with other small business owners, so they don't replicate the same mistakes.

 I'm asked by those that I know, those that have always wanted to write a book, “Should I write a book?” My answer, “Absolutely, yes!”

 You can go on the internet and you can find dozens if not hundreds of reasons why you should write a book. But I want to inspire you by sharing just a few that have stood out more than other’s since I've released mine.

 For one, it is therapeutic. We're all human, we all hold emotions inside. There's just something about getting those emotions out on paper.

 Another reason is, it's empowering. It's a confidence booster because only 1% of the population ever writes and releases their book.

 Another reason is, you have a story to tell. There's eight billion people on this planet. Someone's bound to be inspired by your story.

 One of those that have been most beneficial to me is its opened-up doors of opportunity. I've had speaking opportunities; I've had business owners pick up and read my book and call me for coaching and mentoring services. I’ve had publications reach out to me as a subject matter expert.

 If you’ve got a book that you've been trying to write, trying to finish for the last five, ten, fifteen years… reach out! I’d love to be your accountability partner and inspire you and help you finish it.

 If you've always wanted to write a book, you just didn't know where to start, reach out and I'd love to help you as well.

 And if you're looking for more personal development skills more business mastery skills sign up for more Morrison Minute. I’d love to help you there as well!

Marketing Your Logo Could Be Costing You Future Business!

Welcome to the Morrison Minute where we focus on personal development & business mastery. Today, we're going to focus on the small business owner. You see, just the other day I was waiting at an intersection, the light was red, the windows were down, the tunes were going, and the light turned green.

 As I proceeded into the intersection, out of the corner of my left eye, I see a large service vehicle with a trailer behind it come barreling through the intersection. It's clear they ran a red light! Like most humans, I honked on my horn! Just as quick as I honk my horn, the driver of that vehicle rolls down his window and flips me, the bird!

 A friend of mine who has a lot more internet followers than I do had a similar experience. Except, he took his experience a step further. I didn't post my experience on the internet, he did. He took a picture of the vehicle that endangered his life, he said how they endangered his life, how they responded to their action, and asked people not to use that company.

 Back to the intersection I was at, there were probably a hundred or so cars waiting from all directions to get through the stop lights. And, I would venture to guess that probably half of them saw, what I saw. They saw a commercial vehicle endangering other people's lives, running a red light, and how they took ownership of their mistake by flipping others off.

 If you’re a small business owner and you’d like to visit about things like this, how we can make sure that your employees are representing your company in the most professional away. Or, maybe it's you the owner, that we need to talk about! If you're not willing to take ownership of your actions with your logo on your chest on your apparel or on your vehicles, then maybe it's time to not wear the logo.

 If you're looking for more personal development skills or business Mastery skills sign up for more Morrison Minute. I'd love to see you again!

3 Simple Strategies to Crush It!

Hi, I'm Michael Morrison! And welcome to the Morrison Minute where we focus on personal development and business coaching. Today. we're going to focus on personal development. I'm going to share with you three simple strategies to crush it in anything you do.

 Step one, is simply Get Serious. From time to time, I interview elderly people and, well, for wisdom. There’s two common words that I hear often more than not. That is, I wish! I wish I would have wrote that book. I wish I would have downsized my home. I wish I would saved more money. I wish I would have started that business. I wish, I wish, I wish! Step One, is simply get serious about it is what you want to do.

 Step two, is Make A Plan. A plan is like a recipe for your success. If you think about a recipe in a cookbook, it always starts with the main Ingredients, the top priorities. And, it works this way down from there. A plan is simply creating your top priorities and working your way down from there. Nothing else matters. 

 Step three, the most critical, is Take Action. I’ve trademarked a quote, which is, “Do today what other’s won't. So tomorrow you can do what others can't.”

 Three simple steps: Get Serious, Make A Plan, and Take Action.

 If you’d like to dig in a little deeper, I've created some curriculum called “Get Serious.” On my website, michaeldmorrison.com, go there for more information where we look at your past, your present, and your future. And then we create a detailed plan for your success. So, that every day, you know the top three things that you need to be doing to meet your goals.

 And, if you'd like more personal development skills, or, more business coaching skills, sign up for more, Morrison Minute. I'd love to see you again!

Working "In" The Business Could Be Costing You Money!

Hi, I'm Michael Morrison! Welcome to the Morrison Minute where we focus on personal development and business coaching. Today, we're going to focus on the small business owner. Because you see, on the internet, there's this cliché - are you working “in” the business or are you working “on” the business. Let me explain.

I know of this successful printing company where there were several business owners and they had a business coach, fully staffed, sixty to seventy employees. They had positions within the company like press operator, bindery operator, IT Department, HR department, etcetera, etcetera. One day, in the business owners meeting, the coach asked each one, “what did you focus on this past week?” First business owner says, “business development.” The second business owner says, “operations.” The third one says, “well, I got stuck working in production, cutting paper.”

 You see, in the printing industry, printers print on big sheets of paper and then they get cut down to size to deliver to the customer. FYI.

 The business coach says, “what does that position, paper cutter typically pay.” The business owner says, “ooh, typically ten to fifteen dollars an hour.” The business coach jumps out of his seat and says, (knowing that this business owner, makes a business owner salary) and he says, “do you realize you are the most expensive paper cutter not just in your region but probably the world?”

 You see that's working “in” the business. Working “on” the business is growth, strategies, working on your mission, carrying out your purpose of the company, community development, connections, etcetera, etcetera.

 If you’re a small business owner stuck working “in” the business, and, you'd love to work “on” the business, let's have coffee and chat. And if you'd like more personal development skills and more business coaching skills, sign up for more Morrison Minute. I'd love to see you again!