HolidayBlogging

Tag: chance

  • How to set and achieve your goals as an entrepreneur in 2021

    How to set and achieve your goals as an entrepreneur in 2021

    When you start out as a business owner, there’s no set path to follow. You need to create your own progress, and if you want that progress to be significant, you’ll need to set some goals for yourself.

    But most entrepreneurs—in fact, most people in general—struggle with setting goals and achieving them. Whether it’s related to the success of your business, your health, or your personal life, setting and achieving goals is a difficult process that leaves many people feeling discouraged and frustrated.
    Over my 40 years of coaching business owners, I’ve been able to develop my own tools and frameworks for setting goals, and I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. I’d like to share some tips that I’ve found to be effective. These may seem simple in nature, but they’re meant to shift your thinking around goal setting and how it applies to your business and personal life. Often, a shift in mindset is all it takes to achieve goals that would otherwise seem out of reach.

    A goal is a vision

    One of the biggest mistakes business owners make when setting goals is that they focus only on the numerical component. Setting measurable goals is important, of course—it’s something I recommend all entrepreneurs do—but it’s just one component of the goal-setting process. A goal should be more than just a number.
    When I set a goal for myself, I look at it as a chance to create a bigger and better version of myself. I look at it as a vision of myself in the future, being able to operate with bigger and better capabilities. Sure, there may be a number involved to help me get there, but the goal is more than just the numerical component.
    This way of thinking makes the goal exciting. It’s no longer just a mountain of numbers to climb; it’s a new version of yourself that you can visualise. In the future, you’re going to be a new business owner operating in a new way, and the goal is just meant to get you there.
    This is perhaps my biggest goal-setting tip for entrepreneurs. While numbers are a vital component of the process, they’re not the be-all and end-all. Focus on creating a vision for yourself over the next year.
    What new capability do you want to have? This could be anything: more revenue, a new piece of knowledge, a new business opportunity … Whatever it is, visualise it and how you’ll feel when you achieve it.

    100 books in 100 quarters

    When I talk to entrepreneurs about goals, I often bring up one of the most lofty goals I’ve set for myself over the years. When I was 70 years old, I set a goal to write 100 books in 100 quarters.
    When I set this goal, I made it very public. I told my team, my clients, and everyone in my network that I was going to put out 100 books over 25 years. And within just a few weeks, I was already thinking, “What did I get myself into?”
    This goal seemed unattainable. I had no idea what I was doing or how I would manage it.
    Sound familiar? I’m sure most entrepreneurs reading this can relate to this situation and how I was feeling.
    But I took a step back and remembered my own advice. What did I really want to accomplish here? What was my vision for the future? When I broke it down, I discovered that I was really looking for two things: I wanted to present a new book to our entrepreneurs every quarter, and I never wanted to run out of new ideas or concepts for Strategic Coach.
    From there, everything started to fall into place. The easiest way to start was to take the main idea I was currently focused on for our workshops and turn that into a book with help from my team. Then, it just became a matter of coming up with one new idea each quarter and using teamwork to turn it into a book.
    For me, this new vision was exciting, simple, and attainable. Creating a new book is a daunting endeavour. But coming up with new ideas to help entrepreneurs? That’s what I do best!

    3 goal-setting tips for entrepreneurs in 2021

    I hope that example shows you that even your most lofty goals are attainable if you shift your thinking. And with that in mind, here are three simple goal-setting tips that you can implement for the year ahead.

    Start by visualising yourself at the end of 2021. What’s going to be true about you as a business owner entrepreneur at the end of this year? What will be true about your business? Your personal life?

    These questions will help you clarify what you ultimately want to achieve in 2021 and who you want to be. It all goes back to that first piece of advice—creating a vision, not a goal.

    Clarify your goals! Entrepreneurs often set goals without actually thinking through all the components. One of our most popular tools at Strategic Coach is called The Impact Filter, and it’s built to provide clarity on any number of things, including goals. Regardless of whether you use the tool or not, the idea is simple.

    For every goal, you should clarify:

    What the goal is
    Why it’s important
    What difference it’s going to make
    What the ideal outcome is
    The best and worst results
    The success criteria

    This will give you some much-needed clarity on your goals. If you’ve never taken the time to do something like this before, you’ll be amazed at how it improves your entire goal-setting process. I can’t recommend it enough.

    Instead of asking how to achieve your goals, start asking who will help you get there. Business owners often feel overwhelmed by their goals because they don’t know how they’ll achieve them. If you shift your thinking to focus on who instead of how, your capabilities become infinite and everything becomes easier.

    When I first started on my goal of writing 100 books in 100 quarters, I had no idea how I was going to get all the work done. The primary reason I’ve been able to be successful with this goal is because I focused on finding the “Whos” for my “Hows.”
    When you approach goals with this mindset, it makes them less daunting and more enjoyable. You don’t have to worry about all the things you don’t know how to do, because someone else will do them for you, freeing you up to focus exclusively on what you do best. Whether it’s a partnership, new hire, or freelancer, there is someone out there who can help you achieve your goals—and they’ll be happy to do so. You just need to find them!
    These tips are simple, but I guarantee that any entrepreneur who follows them will be able to make 2021 their best year yet.

  • Gen Z Showdown: Nationalists vs. Communists

    Gen Z Showdown: Nationalists vs. Communists

    We’re Not One: The New Age of Generation Gaps

    Imagine you’re at a coffee shop, and instead of ordering your latte, the line‑up starts debating whether well‑known snack foods should “stick to the grain.” That’s the vibe of today’s young Americans—they’re splitting into camps faster than a playlist that suddenly drops 2024 hits.

    Why the Split is Going Viral

    • They’re switching sides. One half is all about innovation—think tech startups and bold guesses that the future belongs to “femtech” and “blockchicken.”
    • The other side is grounded. They ask if traditional values and the “good old‑fashioned” ways still matter in a world that’s moving sideways.

    The Ripple Effect

    When a generation fractures along “idealo‑fault” lines, the ripple feels from school boards to boardrooms. It’s the new kind of family drama you’ve seen on your favorite streaming show—just with higher stakes and more likes.

    Bottom line

    So, next time you’re scrolling through Post‑Reeb, remember: it’s not just a bunch of headlines. It’s a generation trying to find its own soundtrack in a world that’s played in a key that’s always shifting.

    The Youthful Tug‑of‑War: Right‑wing Racists vs. Left‑wing Dreamers

    A Quick Look at the Current Climate

    In today’s polling world, most surveys still ask the classic “Democrat or Republican?” question, even though these labels are becoming as outdated as last‑season social media trends. Luckily, I’ve got a captive audience of teenage kiddos and a network of friends who are vocal about their political stances, so I can get a slice of the market.

    Who’s Who in the College Age Crowd?

    • America‑First Nationalists – a rising group of right‑wing advocates who believe the United States should protect its borders, industries, and pride. Their mantra? “In America, in the Church, in the good places.
    • Hardcore Socialists – fiercely left‑leaning youth who champion universal healthcare, student‑loan forgiveness, and a radical rewrite of the economic playbook. Their slogan? “From capitalism to capitalism overthrow!”

    The split is striking: girls tend to lean toward the far‑left, while nearly every boy I know is marching toward the far‑right. In my neighborhood, this gender gap is as obvious as a vending machine stocked with snacks.

    The Root of the Intense Polarization

    Like a group of political surgeons, these divisions are driven by anger – and there’s good reason for it. The system’s lately been a house‑flat offers “homeownership as a myth.” The data is stark: the average age at which people buy a house has escalated across the decades. Below is a quick visual reference:

    Chart of average homebuyer age

    This trend leaves the younger generation feeling that the key to stability (a down‑payment, a mortgage, a roof) is being dismissed by the same institutions that were supposed to help them. That nagging frustration fuels their political fire.

    To put it simply, the youth are shouting: “Hey, we’re not just a demographic; we’re the future!” And we’re listening – just hopefully with less drama than a summer blockbuster.

    When the Median Homebuyer Turns 56

    Age on the Rise: From 31 to 56 Since 1981

    Every time we look at the housing market, another fact slides into view: the median age of the homeowner has jumped from 31 back in 1981 to 56 today. It’s like the title of a sitcom where the main character finally learns that the “American Dream” is a passing fancy instead of a life‑saver.

    Wages vs. Housing: A Classic Bad Match

    Wallets have decided to take the scenic route, while apartment prices keep cruising straight ahead. That means many folks are now dreaming of the “home” that they can only see in a spreadsheet of monthly payments.

    Gen Z: Graduated, Debt‑Loaded, and Feeling the Heat

    • College promised six‑figure desk jobs. Reality? A massive loan that feels like a personal fork‑lift.
    • Graduation night was a mix of pride and price tags.
    • Job market? Rough crowd for fresh white‑collar hires. Think of it like a “job search” playlist full of glitchy chords.

    Blue‑Collar Workers: Still on the Job Queue

    They’re sticking to the grind, but inflation turns wages into an endless revolving door—so “steady” varies depending on how you define it.

    The Political Divide: Socialism vs. America‑First

    The left has a vision of a world where prosperity comes from shared resources, while the right writes in the margins that government should slim down and put the country first. Both want to tear down corruption, yet their methods are worlds apart.

    Unexpected Common Ground

    And just when you think they’re miles apart, they actually converge on a few cliffs in the political landscape—like realizing that knocking down the status quo is a good start no matter who’s pulling the wedges.

    Increasing Nationalism

    Why Are Both Sides Getting a Little Too Anti‑Immigration?

    It’s a paradox: the left and the right are both suddenly shouting, “No more people moving in!” The “rules of engagement” in politics are shifting, and mainstream leaders who once welcomed newcomers are facing a groundswell of opposition. At the same time, the more militant factions on each side are starting to bounce off each other, whining about America’s tangled overseas drama.

    The End of “Go Big on Immigration”

    • For years, the Republicans and Democrats alike had the plan: “Let’s fill the country with talent.” It worked—now, it’s looking like a rough draft that people are flipping a page on.
    • And each side has sworn to keep the “border clean.” Forget about differences; the formula is the same: stop the flow.

    The War in Ukraine? Yeah, Let’s Just End It

    From the fervently patriotic troops of the left to the more hard‑line, “I‑do‑not‑trust‑any‑foreign‑mess” right, everyone is eyeing the biggest overseas conflict with a common goal: “Uh, can we just stop? Seriously.”

    Gen Z’s Taking on the Israeli Support

    When you ask the Gen Z crowd about American backing of Israel, most say “nah.” In contrast, older conservatives are still the pin‑point supporters of the same stance. It’s not a whim—it’s a worldview difference.

    Where the Youth Want to Focus At Home

    • “We’re facing brain‑depletion, student debt, house prices, the American health system, and a coal‑cut‑off. It’s hard to see why billions are going out of our own borders.” They want to give the US advice on what’s happening at home.
    • Meanwhile, the debt has a rapid growth rate—like a runaway freight train that is headed toward a deadly derail.
    In Short: A Great Match‑Made Pairs

    When the young people tune in to a combination of streams—on one side reacting to the wide‑out of the old System (who are still in love, remain cautious) and on the other side not willing to engage overseas—we can see the probable inferred result:

    • The young generation is revamping their ideology toward a more home‑focused policy based on the isolationist states concept.
    • Older conservatives remain firmly within the radical seeking. They are still on the same team.

    Consequences and Direction

    The Flip‑Side of the Culture War: Why Gen Z Men Are Turning the Tables

    For three decades the left has been holding the reins on the culture wars—politically correct talk, DEI workshops, LGBTQ material in schools, and the whole immigration circus. Even the mainstream conservatives seemed to buckle under that pressure. But the tide is turning, and the ripple effects are set to stretch far into the future.

    Robert Sterling Sets the Stage

    A recent tweet from Robert Sterling sums it up: the left simply doesn’t know the monster they’ve cooked up with Gen Z men. He highlights a generation that has overdosed on a relentless social experiment—COVID lockdowns, micro‑aggression drills, pronoun gymnastics, land‑acknowledgment speeches, and intersectional justice sessions. 

    The result? These guys are bursting out of their cages—no longer terrified of being canceled, realizing that a black stamp on their “social credit score” fades, and starting to own the accusations they’ve faced instead of fighting them.

    The Reactionary Surge

    What’s emerging is a heat‑wave of reactionary sentiment targeting not just a political party but the entire culture—everywhere it seems to threaten their masculinity. From their perspective, the system rewards ugliness, mediocre work, and even breaks normal standards by elevating what they consider sacred. 

    From this crucible, some of the most fiercely right‑wing a generation has ever seen are forming. These men, brimming with anger, are carving out the next wave of legislators and policymakers.

    Who’s Behind the Shift?

    President Trump certainly sparked the spark, but the young right is likely to eclipse his brand of conservatism. Tik‑tok culture meets “America First.” Trump, as a platform, is a huge upgrade from Biden and the old GOP playbook—yet he still feels two‑step behind the tick‑tock rhythm of Gen Z discontent.

    Anticipating the Bigger Picture

    Historically, each major political upheaval has been set off by frustrated young men. That’s exactly where we’re at today, especially on the right. The left, oblivious to the weight of the backlash, can’t fathom the domino effect this could spark.

    What’s Next?

    • Context: Mainstream Democrats, ruling elites, and the “RINOs” have been steering America’s ship for thirty years.
    • Reality: This new generation is gearing up to steer the ship into uncharted waters.
    • Outcome: The cultural war is about to get a fresh, male‑centric driveway with a brand‑new exit from the old guard’s labyrinth.

    Gear up, because the next chapter in the political saga is headed by the very people who had been pushed to the sidelines—ready to rewrite the rules and break the old templates. Let the playbook update begin!