I’m helping a friend of mine, Grant Boshoff, promote his first book. It’s pretty good – excellent in fact! It is a free download until midnight tonight- 6 June 13(I had to pay…so if you end up paying a couple of bucks – worth it.) Check it out – it is fairly short and an excellent read: http://amzn.to/14KPgu9
If you are Welsh or just like good historical fiction, this book is a fantastic read. It may or may not be close to a true accounting but he sure makes a pretty good argument and an amazing story to boot:
If you are being passed while driving on the left side of the road you are doing or not doing one of the following:
1. You are not checking your rear view mirror.
2. You are an uncertain driver
3. You are an idiot
4. You are lazy, (you don’t care about others)
or
5. you live in a country where the right lane is the passing lane.
Those reading this are likely pretty well mannered. Most of the more ‘rude’ people are not really aware of other drivers. Driving is not so much about rules as manners and being aware of others. I don’t really have a problem with someone driving in the left lane as long as they are paying attention and get the hell out of the way when someone is coming up faster than they are. Too many drivers are worried, I think, about moving from one lane to the other to move out of the way. That, to me, is poor driving. That person should be training and figuring out how to drive more confidently. Then there are those who are just being ‘right’. I guess. Not sure really but…I have run into all sorts of justifications for this. But I really think that it is much safer overall for people to get out of the way of faster cars.
Just sayin’.
It is said that a big part of genius is ‘FOCUS’. And I think that is underrated.
I’ve always known that people that are more focused seem more intelligent whether they are or not. Less noise – ‘just get the job done’ equates more success generally.
Research and writing can go a long way to helping with this.
Let us take sales as an example:
It is common wisdom that product knowledge will increase a person’s sales. There are a couple of ways one could go about gaining this knowledge. Memorizing or learning a patter or secondly, thorough understanding of the product one is attempting to sell. Most of the time the first step is necessary to start but I believe the second is needed to be successful long term.
One can just sit and read through research on a product or service. Or one can research and put those thoughts together in one’s own articles for the purpose of enlightening others on the benifits of the product or service. Research in this case would be more than just reading. As much as possible one needs to experience the product or service. If it is a car, drive it. If it is cookware, cook with it. And test it in differnt scenarios. A set of new tires are supposed to be particularly good in snow and ice. Figure out a way to go out and drive on them in ice and snow. Make sure that you understand why and write about your experience – how it went. Having done this you will find the next time a prospect asks you about the tires with regard to snow you will answer easily and with certainty and the customer will perceive this.
The more of this you do the less people will be able to knock you off your game. The actual writing down of the research and experience allows one to think it through. You are now not just flying by the seat of your pants. Understand that this has nothing to do with being a ‘detail’ person it is just helping to organize your learning process.
Liking the subject that you are dealing with helps but is not absolutely necessary. If you love cars, you may do some of this automatically but on the other hand if you are not a total car ‘nut’ it works just as well: the more you learn and put your thoughts together in writing, the more understanding you will have and the more you will like cars or whatever it is that you are researching and writing about.
I have been selling one particular product for years and have researched the “whys and wherefores” of this product very thoroughly. Part of my time is spent in direct sales in addition to selling the product online. I have sold this product with other sales people for several years and working beside them and answering their questions has helped train them. The knowledge I gained from my research and writing helped increase their sales considerably.
A hundred people may have written on a certain subject but you will find your own view and with that your own experience. If nothing else the writing out of what you have learned will help organize your thoughts and help make more sense of it.
If you are going to do this, just start. Take a subject get some information about it and then write. Don’t try and be perfect the first time or the second time. Just get your thoughts down based on what you have learned or experienced. As you do this on a regular basis you will find that you get more out of the travel or driving that car. You will be more connected and that will communicate.
For example if you are writing about your travels: you may find yourself asking more questions of the locals or tasting the wine differently and generally experiencing things more thoroughly knowing that you are going to write in your journal that night.
Again, don’t worry about being perfect the first time or the second time or the third time. And do not let anyone criticize your work. Never. Keep your own counsel on your writing. (More on that later.) Just keep writing and trying to organize your writing to make it communicate more clearly each time.
You will become more focused feel smarter.
I found this recipe on a site whatscookingamerica.net
I’ve adjusted it some to suit my needs and tastes.
Balsamic Chicken with Pears Recipe
Ingredients:
6 chicken breasts halves boneless and skinless – I use boneless chicken thighs.
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
(I also use butter in the pan with the oil – personal preference)
1 shallot or green onion, chopped – I did the recipe once like this and now use 4-5 shallots(or green onions) – I think it makes the whole experience better – far better.
2 medium fresh pears, peeled, cored, and sliced – I use 3-4. Usually ‘harder’ pears are better although I’ve used both – sometime a couple of different types in one dish.
1 cup chicken broth or stock – I had to use beef broth once and it was not a problem – it actually tasted marvelous.
1/4 cup good-quality aged balsamic vinegar – or 1/3 cup
2 tablespoons sugar (never be shy when it comes to adding sugar – seriously)
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 cup dried tart cherries – I use cranberries, more like 1/3 to half a cup. C’mon really!
How to prepare:
I have found that it is wise to prepare all the separate parts of this recipe … well, separately. Prepare chicken, cut up pears, prepare the sauce, cut shallots before you start cooking anything. The reason for this is that you want to stir as you go and if things are not prepared, well, timing is off and things may burn.
Pat chicken dry with paper towels(if you want). You can hammer the breasts/thighs flat or as I do, just cut ’em up to sizes that you like. Season on both sides with salt and pepper or just throw in the seasoning in later when you add the sauce. I won’t tell.
In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil(and butter – butter is really good for you). When the oil is hot, add the chicken and sauté, turning once, for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until golden brown. If you are really good at it … or do as I do and just stir until they are browned all over. Remove from heat and transfer to a platter, cover, and keep warm.
To the same pan, add the shallot and sauté over medium-high heat for 2 minutes or until soft(I usually add a touch more butter and oil before I add the shallots and stir lots so there is no burning; decrease heat to medium and add the pears. Continue sautéing, stirring occasionally for 3 to 4 minutes, until the pears are soft and golden brown. If they are not completely soft, don’t worry you are going to cook them more with the chicken so… I don’t like them too, too soft so….
To prepare the sauce, combine chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch in a small bowl. Pour over the pear mixture; add the cherries. Increase heat to high and simmer, stirring frequently for 6 to 8 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly. (Again, prepare this before you start actually cooking.) This is usually where I add the salt and pepper as I have forgotten to add earlier.
Return the chicken and any juices to the pan. Bring the mixture back to a simmer; decrease heat to medium. Cook for 10 minutes
Not enough carbs in here for me so a few sweet potatoes or yams done in the oven are perfect on the side or some left over stamppot. We also had some delicious steamed asparagus with this meal.