[stylist] 3 Keys To Business Success./Re: new writing prompt

Fri Feb 3 03:44:08 UTC 2012

This is intended as a casual conversational 
newsletter type piece, mixing light-hearted situation with business concepts.

3 Keys to jingle on your keychain of business Success

Have you ever had a pivotal moment? One of those 
moments like, “Hey, I just signed a 1-year 
membership to a health club. Now I’m going to 
have to do some mental exercises to excuse away 
why I can’t work out. Gee, I hope that won’t be too difficult.” Ha. Ha.

I had a pivotal moment last winter. I’d checked 
the clock and thought, “yeah I’ve got time for a 
quick bowl of oatmeal before heading out this 
morning.” I microed some water, tossed in the 
fixin’s, and let it steep on the counter. A kiss 
goodbye from my wife as she left warmed the 
weather guy's statement of it being the coldest morning that winter.

Poking my head outside, I found the frozen 
nostril test read 15 below 
that’s subzero for 
all you folks not in the Twin Cities-- 
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area. “Better go start the truck,” I moped.

Snabbing my truck keys, patting my pup on the 
head with an, “I’ll be right back pal,“ then 
shutting the door on my way out; an immediate 
thought came to mind, something like, “Did I 
just? 
 Oh no I didn’t. Oh yes I did! I just locked the door when I shut it!”

Writer’s note: In case you weren’t paying 
attention? That would be the pivotal moment right there.

Faster than Clint Eastwood’s cheroot clenched 
pistol draw, I made for a quick jab to the left 
front pocket, no keys! In one fluid move 
 a slam 
to the right front chest pocket of my 
cover-alls--which would have impressed even Chuck 
Norris. Rats! No keys there either
 and no cell 
phone! My wife had just left, and could have come 
back to let me in 
 that is 
 if I remembered to slip my cell in my pocket.

To continue my “Dance of External 
Disappointment,” if I recall the moves correctly. 
Let’s see now, it was
 tighten fists, flap lips 
in various unrecognizable contorts, blend in a 
burst of vocal expression of self-disgust, 
followed by a disgraceful delivery of the “heel knock” technique.

For those unfamiliar with that particular skilled 
technique, that would be an animated alternate 
forward crash of your heels in a childish tantrum.

Rounding out the choreographed diatribe, was a 
simultaneous wielding of the arms ,with an ugly 
spasm-like twist of the torso. And the big finale 

 the irritated rooster strut, otherwise seen as a jerking head of rage.

Can you hear the judges now? “9.9, 9.7, 9.8,” 
folks tossing flowers at me while screaming as I 
walk away with the Gold Medal in the “Childlike 
Behavior by an Adult” competition?

I’d thought I heard the neighbors squinting out 
their front window saying “Wow honey. Get a load 
of this. Brad’s doing some sort of Moshercise, 
Turbo Slam or something out in his driveway. In 
the dead of winter no less? Oh I see now, he’s in 
insulated cover-alls. Hmmm that must add a level of difficulty to the workout”.

So, there I stood in the driveway, the pup 
staring at me through the front door glass with a 
tongue dangling toothy grin. I couldn’t tell if 
the toothy grin was just a sympathetic expression 
of a canine panting in despair of its owner’s 
predicament, or more like “Brad? That hot oatmeal 
on the counter right over there? That’s mine. Yeeaaah baby!”

I was thankful for my intuitive fluke of slipping 
my cover-alls on before going out, and didn’t 
jump out there in the usual sweat pants and 
T-shirt with moccasin type slippers. That would 
have made for a new Olympic event called “The 
Half-Naked Shivering 40 Meter Dash to the 
Neighbors House” which I most certainly would have won.

So how important is remembering your house keys 
when heading out for the day? Pretty dang important at 15-degrees below zero.

Come to think of it, there are a few important 
keys you need to remember heading out to your 
business day, every day, or get the big chill.

Key#1: Have a positive attitude and believe you 
can do it. How important is it you believe you 
can get out there and get the difficult jobs done? Pretty darn important.

One thing I’ve learned, no one will ever believe 
in your ability to be successful as much as you 
will need. OK yes, there are those around you 
that see your potential and offer support, but if 
you don’t see it, or play it down with excuse, 
they’ll eventually stop. No one wants to 
continually smack the encouragement ball to the 
outfield and drag you to first base.

It’s your own belief that counts because you’re 
the one out in the trenches. And you know? You 
really can do it if you just get after it. Just 
about everything in this world is a teachable 
skill, and despite what it might appear, we’re 
all learning everyday so you’re not alone. Simply 
believe in yourself, your ability to learn what 
needs learning and do what needs doing. Just go 
for it and don’t forget to have fun along the way!

Key #2: Get going and actually do something. 
Isn’t it funny how once we decide to do 
something, we’re always expected to take action 
on it? Whose idea was that anyway?

That doesn’t mean endless answering of emails, 
rabbit trailing down YouTube lane, checking with 
your neighbor if he brought back the rake he 
borrowed last fall so you don’t accidentally step 
on the business end of it bonking yourself in the forehead with the handle.

It means prioritizing your goals, provided you’ve 
made them, and account for your time. You’re the 
boss, it’s up to you to give yourself performance 
reviews, and your boss can get a bit tough. Focus 
on your tasks, don’t’ procrastinate, you’ll 
“loose end” yourself to a point of overwhelm.

Key #3: Balance the view. When you’ve forgotten 
the second key on your keychain, don’t spend all 
your time looking in the rear-view mirror for it 
or constantly reminding yourself of all those mistakes you left behind.

Learn from them yes, but hey, there’s a reason 
the windshield is larger than the rear view 
mirror. Spending valuable time squinting at that 
mirror only leads to not paying attention to the 
things coming at you through that big clear glassy thing with the wipers on it.

Basically, glance at your past to learn from it, 
and spend the majority of your time looking at 
what’s ahead. In case you need a blunt reminder? 

That would be your immediate future, and you’re 
the one behind the wheel driving straight into it whether you like it or not.

One final item before I go. Does anyone have a 
spare brick and know the rough cost of a window 
replacement? I forgot to put on my cover-alls, 
you know 
 the ones the dog has in her teeth 
staring out the window at me, with the cellphone 
and keys in the front left pocket?

Brad Dunsé

"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." --John Wayne

http://www.braddunsemusic.com

http://www.facebook.com/braddunse

http://www.twitter.com/braddunse