Market Update: Team Hoyt & CAN!
Feature Article: A Simple Way to Make More in 2011
Critical Reads: Santa's Top 10 Favorite Cities
The Funnies: The Funeral Procession
Team Hoyt & CAN!
I don't have a market update for you this week. Instead I have something even better...
Last week I had dinner with a few friends. We had competed in a few sprint triathalons this past summer and were swapping stories about who was better. You know, the typicaly trash talking guys tend to do! Before we changed topics, one of my friends, Dave Berrow, brought up Team Hoyt and suggested I watch the video. I grabbed my iPhone and sent myself a reminder email.
I'm glad I did, because I learned about Dick Hoyt and his son Rick. From TeamHoyt.com:
Rick was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt. As a result of oxygen deprivation to Rick's brain at the time of his birth, Rick was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. Dick and Judy were advised to institutionalize Rick because there was no chance of him recovering, and little hope for Rick to live a "normal" life. This was just the beginning of Dick and Judy's quest for Rick's inclusion in community, sports, education and one day, the workplace.
The story continues...
In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Far from being a long-distance runner, Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles, coming in next to last. That night, Rick told his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped."
This realization was just the beginning of what would become over 1,000 races completed, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons (6 of them being Ironman competitions). Also adding to their list of achievements, Dick and Rick biked and ran across the U.S. in 1992, completing a full 3,735 miles in 45 days.
Today Dick and his son participate in Ironman Competitions. Dick pulls his son through the water in a raft during the swimming course. He carries him through the transition areas, rides with him on his bike, and pushes him through the marathon using a specialized running wheelchair.
It's one of the most inspiring stories I've heard in a long time and makes me want to work a little harder. If Dick Hoyt can do this for his son, what can you and I accomplish? Take some time to check out their story and make sure you watch the video. Here's the link to their site: TeamHoyt.com.
A Simply Way to Make More in 2011
A recent study from DayTimer.com found that workers with the highest incomes and most success in the workplace had written goals. The study revealed these individuals had the habit of writing daily task lists with priorities associated with each task. The simple task of setting goals seemed to keep them focused on the most important activities, which allowed them to get more accomplished week-after-week.
You've probably experienced something similar in your life. Think about the last time you went on vacation. Did you get more accomplished the week before your trip than you had in the previous month?
Probably.
For some reason, were able to get twice as much accomplished the week before a vacation than in a normal week. This is true for almost everyone and it seems to happen for each and every vacation. Sure were motivated and excited about our upcoming vacation, but could there be more to this massive level of activity? Could our massive level of activity be the result of a detailed list of specific goals?
Yes!
Before a vacation, we typically have several "To Do" lists for work and home. These "To Do" lists include things we have to get completed before we leave. Maybe you have to get a report finished at work so it's ready while your gone. At home, you've got detailed lists of things you must do. These lists include everything from stopping the mail while your gone to what you need to pack.
When you stop and think about it, our vacation "To Do" lists are really specific written goals and these written goals seem to be the foundation of our high level of activity and accomplishment.
Maybe you've heard of the famous Harvard Business School study on goal setting performed some time ago where they studied a group of students 10 years after graduation. Here's what they found:
- 27% needed financial assistance. This group of students had absolutely no goal setting process in their lives.
- 60% were living paycheck to paycheck. This group of students had basic survival goals (having enough money to cover the bills)
- 10% were living comfortably. This group of students had general goals for the next 5 years.
- 3% were financially independent. And guess what? This group of students had specific goals that were written out including detailed steps.
I'm not sure if this study is legit or not, but it sure seems to make sense and it's pretty easy to test. Take a few minutes right now to list everything you accomplished last week. Will use this list in our little test.
Now, for next week, take some time to set specific goals you'd like to accomplish. Be as detailed as possible and include daily activities you must accomplish to reach your goals. Track and measure your progress each day by crossing off the things you've accomplished.
At the end of your second week, compare what you accomplished without detailed written goals to what you accomplished with detailed written goals. See if you were more productive with written goals. My guess is that you'll find you've accomplished significantly more with written goals than without.Guess what?
This level accomplishment compounds from week-to-week when you consistently set written detailed goals as evidenced in the study highlighted above.
As a special gift, you can download my book "Achieve" on how to set and accomplish goals, without charge, at this link. You'll also receive specific worksheets you can use to set and achieve more in 2011. Links to download the book and workseets will be emailed to you!
I only have two items for you this week and they're definitely not critical. They're actually more on the fun side. Here they are..
Santa's Top 10 Favorite Cities
The folks over at Zillow published a list of Santa's Top 10 Favorite cities. Click here to see if your city made the list. Believe it or not, they factored in many variables to formulate this list including: weather, number of fireplaces, number of children, the number of single-family homes and more. It's fun read as head closer to Christmas!
Celebrity Homes (Including Pictures)
Did you know Miley Cyrus secretly bought a 1.9 million dollar beach home in Florida last year? Well she did! NYDailyNews recently posted pictures of celebrities and their homes which you might find interest. You can see these homes at this link.
The reason why we've included this as a critical read is to hopefully insire you to set big goals for 2011. Our feature article highlighted the power of setting written goals and maybe a new home might be on your list!
The Funeral Procession
A man was leaving a convenience store with his morning coffee when he noticed a most unusual funeral procession approaching the nearby cemetery.
A long black hearse was followed by a second long black hearse about 50 feet behind the first one.
Behind the second hearse was a solitary man walking a dog on a leash.
Behind him, a short distance back, were about 200 men walking single file.
The man couldn't stand the curiosity. He respectfully approached the man walking the dog and said, 'I am so sorry for your loss, and this may be a bad time to disturb you, but I've never seen a funeral like this. Whose funeral is it?'
'My wife's."
''What happened to her?"
The man replied, 'My dog attacked and killed her'
He inquired further, 'But who is in the second hearse?'
The man answered, 'My mother-in-law. She was trying to help my wife when the dog turned on her.'
A poignant and thoughtful moment of silence passed between the two men.
'Can I borrow the dog?'
The man replied, 'Get in line.'
Have a geat week!
Rob Minton
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