Talk about your visionaries! Scott Adams is using his Dilbert blog as a place to collect prank ideas for April Fool's Day.
I think this is destined to become an entry at Wikipedia.
"One of the best practical jokes ever played on me took me years to figure out. I still don’t know who did it, but it was a beauty. It won’t work if your victim has caller ID, unless maybe you block your number.
It works like this: Find someone who has two phones – say a work phone and a home phone. Pick a time when you know the target is near one of the phones and no one will answer the other.
Call the phone that won’t be answered, then use three-way calling to call the phone that will be answered. When the target answers, say nothing but connect the three-way call. He’ll hear his own answering machine at home telling him to leave a message.
Trust me when I say this will freak a person out. It took me about five years to figure out how my home answering machine called me at the office."
Which of course could be taken a step further with coaching calls...
Find the dial-in numbers for a conference call being held at the same time as the one you're leading. Best if the other call is on a topic that contradicts, such as one of Andy's Secret Skeptic calls patched into a serious 'Law of Attraction' call, etc.
Instead of announcing the beginning of the call as you normally would, three-way call in the other call. (Note: If they're using this prank too, who knows whose material will end up being taught on what calls...)
Back to Scott's post - from a Microwave Use Tracking Form, text-messaging LOW BATT to pagers - to dozens upon dozens of laughing-so-hard-I'm-crying prank ideas, this post and its attendant comments are the must-read item of April 1, 2007. Or at least 10 minutes of it is. ;-)
Yes the links are real. But here are two warnings anyway:
#1: Some of the prank ideas submitted by commenters are pranks in and of themselves, but of course.
#2: Definitely a ginormous time waster. Sorry.
P.S. I wonder what Google.com will look like April 1?
Update 4/2/2007:
Alas, neither the Hollywood sign nor the Google Logo changed, but here is a little something fool-ish from Google on another channel.
Do you have way too much business? Maybe you plan to.
Too much business was the topic of a call held at the Career Coaching Institute today. Specifically, the chock-full 45 minutes was titled: “After You Attract Them and They Keep Coming: Sanity for the SOHO."
We covered 14 points in some detail, not a ton, but I managed to sneak in some of my most favorite analogies and examples. For those of you who were there, thank you for your intentions to implement and take action...
For participants in the TeleSummit, Marcia was kind enough to take notes so be sure to look to your participant-only area for those. If you didn't participate in the TeleSummit perhaps you'll glean something of the essence of our discussion from this list of 20. Or, I think you can still sign up!!
=====================================================
20 Ways to Be Ready For (and therefore attract) 'Too Much' Business
=====================================================
Note: Even if you haven't **yet** created an influx of business, it's good (VERY good) to plant these seeds beforehand.
(1) Build your team.
Yes, duh. However do this EARLY before you need it and always be hiring. Hire for temperament, drive and mindset, and be willing to train skills.
(2) Measure, measure, measure.
Feeling like you're insane is often because you have no clue 'where you are.' In business, your metrics/numbers are your compass.
(3) Stay on top of your expenses.
Insanity and overwhelm often lead to unfettered spending in an effort to do 'something' to help.
(4) Zealously guard your time off. Take more.
Doubling your income hinges on doubling your time off, really. This happened to me, ask me about it sometime.
(5) Ask 'how much is enough?'
Not knowing this is killer to your business sanity.
(6) Plan an exit.
Whether you sell, bequeath, maintain or other, get a bigger perspective/give your business context. Zoom out.
(7) Use your profits well.
Could it be real estate? Just a suggestion.
(8) Share the wealth.
Refer, of course. Go further: spin off separate business arms run by others. Build an associate coaching team. (Create a champagne fountain.)
(9) Develop yourself personally.
Consider the 'Paul Principle.' Cultivate a 'witness' self. See #4.
(10) Fire your bottom 10%.
(11) Raise your fees.
(12) Tweak your ratio of active and passive income.
(13) Dial down your marketing language.
(14) Don't try to 'ride the tiger.'
Read Pema Chodron.
(15) Seek the minimal level.
Don't use a power tool to put in a tack.
(16) Embrace systems.
Check out this cool example for managing overwhelming amounts of email while still encouraging and elevating conversation.
(17) Question all assumptions.
You make the rules. What long list of things do you think 'should' or 'must' be done. What if that's not true?
(18) Stop trying to be liked quite so much, via your business.
(19) Tithe ideas.
Use your brain as a thinking organ not a storage dump. Declutter your brain by giving ideas away.
(20) Apply the 'one-thing' rule.
What one thing, and one thing only, will you choose to do today/this week/this month/this year? Everything else falls into place in service to the one thing.
Bonus: Ask, "how might you be making things much harder than they need to be?"
Also known as 'being too smart for your own good.'
How can things be much simpler?
In conclusiong: Sanity in small business is about loosening your grip on things, not tightening them.
What are 1 or 2 action steps you can take on the above points today? Even if it's 'Think about X?'
Want our help building your team or reading or getting coaching on these concepts? Or just have questions? Please be welcome.
"Once I dreamt I was a butterfly.
And suddenly, I awoke...
Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly
Or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming that I am now a man..."
-- Chuang Tzu
My favorite Taiwanese malaprops, with thanks to my real estate-minded parents:
"In this market, we should be looking at buying condoms."
"Wow, you are really becoming a real estate typhoon."
Courtesy of our real estate coach Cassandra White, we've now purchased a four-plex in Innisfail, a small town outside of Calgary. This is the first 'commercial' property we've invested in, and Alberta real estate being what it is right now, the projections show a doubling of our investment in 5 years.
Time will tell, but still, not too bad for beginners.
Are you interested in real estate investing?
Did you know you don't have to learn all about it to build a portfolio? Mike and I did take courses last year, and we loved it. But working with Cassandra we realize we didn't have to.
If you knew it could be simple and easy, and there was someone who would help you invest your money as if it was her own, would you try it?
As your business hits its stride and begins throwing off cash, what will you do with it (the cash)?
If you don't invest for the long term in something, real estate or no, how will your business ever earn enough? What if one day you want to stop?
Click here to read a little about evaluating real estate - don't worry that it's written by Cassandra who is Canadian - it's universal stuff.
Readers of Money, Meaning & Beyond, know I'm fond of talking about roast chicken and how it relates to success in business. So it will come as no surprise that there's more in me along this vein.
Today I'm wondering "What does the thought of Homemade Roast Chicken do for you?" Yes, you...the you that's reading this. :-)
If you're like me, it's one of those homey smells that indicates all is well in the world.
The trouble is, in this busy-busy world of ours, so many of us have simply stopped cooking. Visit the local Food Fair near you around dinner time and you'll see for yourself - more families, singles, couples, even grandparents are heading to the food fair for their nightly meal. Hey, I'll admit it, Mike (hubby) and I are probably there once a month or so.
When was the last time you chose to create an oasis of time in which to lovingly infuse your home with the smell of your favorite meal?
And if you're someone who thinks the way to success is hard work, ungodly hours and fast food, may I ask...is this really working for you?
Speaking of roast chicken, click here for a super delight of a website that will teach you exactly how to create one at home - not a whole lot of kitchen skill required.
So if you're been looking for an easy way to reconnect with your family over a home-cooked meal, all you have to do is submit your email address at the site, and a fully-illustrated, photo-by-photo recipe of how to do roast chicken will be yours. I tried this myself and it worked like a charm - yum.
Side note: Take special note of what Shelley's done at her site from a business point of view if you like. She's done a fabulous job from beginning to end, starting with her mission statement:
"Changing the world, one roast chicken at a time."
Who could resist that?
This is one of my favorite website discoveries this year. Be sure to tell Shelley I said hi! And spread the word as appropriate, wouldja? We can't have too many home-cooked meals in this world...
Back from creative hiatus, I've only been in the office for a week and it's lovely to reconnect.
Funny thing, no sooner than I got back then I received a GREAT invitation to share a time-share vacation in Maui - one of my favorite places in the world. I had to do a little stretching..."I've just come back from a month away - can I just pack my bikini and credit cards and go, really??"
I leave in the morning, ever more grateful for this enchanted life of mine, in which I'm supported to seize the moment, contribute to the world, earn more than enough, and feel good doing it all.
Two emails arrived today saying "Andrea, I heard you are ill...are you okay?" Goodness, news travels fast.
Without indulging in the details too much, let me say that yes, I'm well although I do have some stuff going on. I've decided to use my time in Maui to snorkel my fool head off (get distracted) as well as make a final decision about surgery to remove two large fibroids which have been growing and interfering with our plans to have kids (take a deep breath.)
Surgery to remove the fibroids is a big deal - 2-3 months preparatory hormone treatments and six weeks recovery. No guarantee the fibroids won't recur, and no guarantee that we'll be able to conceive. (All the plumbing is supposedly in order now but it feels really irresponsible to try to conceive without addressing the fibroids and have the baby compete with them for nourishment. They are 9 and 5 centimeters.)
"...promoting Andy's anti-secret contest seems incompatible with your deep sense of spirituality: 'Money and Meaning.'
...makes me wonder why you seem to be promoting (rather than simply reporting on) Andy's experiment."
Though several people voiced this thought privately, Tshombe was the only one who posted in public.
On the surface, I understand the question. I'm a supporter of the message in the teachings of Abraham-Hicks, Law of Attraction and the principles underlying the movie the Secret. Exactly how these messages are being conveyed and in what manner, are somewhat troubling to me but fundamentally I am pro-secret. Or maybe I should say I am pro-the-secret-not-being-secret...
So why did I post about Andy's 'Skeptic Experiment?' This quote says it all:
"Everything is valid and everything is truthful, because Law of
Attraction lets everything be. The question is not whether it's right
or wrong, whether their approach is right or wrong, or whether my
approach is right or wrong.
The question is: Does their approach feel good to me? And if it
doesn't, then I choose a different approach."
-- Abraham-Hicks
My questions to those who question Andy's experiment go something like this:
(1) Why are you responding negatively to it?
(2) What meaning are you ascribing to the word Skeptic and is that feeling true?
(3) If you feel a personal affront at questioning Law of Attraction, why is that?
(4) Hypothetically speaking, list 3 ways that debating the merit of the 'Secret' could be beneficial?
(5) How open (minded and hearted) are you really to the possibility that there is truth on both sides of the coin, and merit to both sides of any debate?
Just because we like something doesn't mean it's 'right.' And just because we don't agree with something doesn't mean it's wrong. Yes?
Thanks to everyone, including Andy, for generating thoughtful, smart and civilized inquiry into this timely topic. Let's keep elevating the conversation shall we?
Here's a further link to an insightful article on this topic from Michael Neill of Genius Catalyst.
And click here to access my favorite tool when it comes to expanding your thinking about Abundance in a concrete way. It's called the Prosperity Game, and it's free.
[Note from Andrea: I liked this theory about what's happening around the Secret Movie everyone's talking about. It's refreshing and rings true to me. What do you think?]
"Everything should be made as simple as possible - but no simpler."
-Albert Einstein
With the movie "The Secret" and books like "Cosmic Ordering" all the rage these days, a whole new cross-section of society is getting interested in attracting their perfect job, perfect partner and perfect bank balance. As a few seem to succeed almost instantaneously while the vast majority seem unable to get what they want no matter how hard they try, a question I'm being asked more and more is "what do I need to change in my thinking in order for me to get what I want?"
It sounds like a simple enough question, but having explored metaphysics, NLP, mind dynamics and a host of other disciplines in relation to the art and science of success for the past 16 years or so, I think the answer is worthy of a bit of complexity.
There are essentially two schools of thought in relation to getting and having what you want - the school of acquisition and the school of attraction.
The school of acquisition has been the dominant one in Western culture for many years, and its teachings can be summed up in the sentence:
*If you want it, go and get it!*
From the ancient Mongol hordes to the modern titans of business and industry, our society tends to reward and hold up as heroes those men and women who have gone after what they want with enthusiasm and passion. (If they happened to trample a few people on the way to the top, well, it's unfortunate of course, but those are just the casualties of war.)
On the plus side, graduates of the school of acquisition have helped create ancient and modern empires and contributed tremendous advances in science, medicine, and business; on the down side, they have contributed to a world culture where the strong tend to look down on the weak and wonder why they don't just get off their lazy behinds, try harder and go and get "it" for themselves.
But while the school of acquisition has been in full session for the past 2500 years or so, the school of attraction has been quietly holding classes in hidden caves and "new thought" churches, its teachings disseminated through secret texts, biblical parables and new age gurus.
The school of attraction teaches:
*Like attracts like*
*Thoughts become things*
and
*You become what you think about*
These "secret" teachings and principles of attraction were often suppressed by the ruling elite, or so the story goes, because they placed the power within each individual, although the true source of that power is often attributed to God or a benevolent, vibratory universe.
Many of the great men and women throughout history, from ancient religious icons to renaissance men like Leonardo DaVinci and Sir Isaac Newton are known to have studied the ancient texts of the school of attraction.
So now that this "secret" teaching is no longer a secret, why isn't everybody living the life of their dreams?
Here's what I believe to be the answer:
*People are attempting to use the principles of attraction as a new set of tools for acquisition.*
Instead of actually shifting the basis of their approach to life to one of planting seeds of kindness, beauty and love and reaping the harvest of a bountiful life, people are attempting to get a better parking space (or indeed a better car, girlfriend or bank balance) by "thinking the right thoughts".
The problem lies in the reason people want the car, girlfriend or bank balance in the first place - because they believe having what they want will "make" them happy. But a closer looking at the teachings behind "The Secret" reveal that it works the other way around. It is the energy of happiness that attracts the good things into our lives.
Do the principles of attraction really work? In my experience, absolutely. But if you use them to try and manipulate the universe into giving you what you think you need to be happy, you are as likely to manifest frustration and self-doubt as that shiny new husband or loving automobile.
With love,
Michael
This newsletter and all content within it is (c)2007 Michael Neill and Genius Catalyst Inc. except where otherwise noted.
Are you:
- Tired of struggling
- Working too hard
- Feeling isolated and alone
- Overwhelmed with the challenges of balancing work and life
- Wishing you could have more time off
- Confused about how to utilize technology to grow your business
- Unclear about who you are as a coach and how you want to move forward in your practice
- Feeling stuck
Then this telesummit was made for you. Marcia Bench and her crew have gathered the leading experts in both the Secret (the Law of Attraction) and key business-building areas that are tied to it to teach you the easiest and most effective ways to use the Secret in your business.
These people have used the Secret in becoming successful – and they’re here to share their secrets (no pun intended!) with you!
Click here for the full scoop and grab early bird discounts.