Focus Buddy, Focus..

Last week I exposed my plans of changing Flick around a bit. I'm going to start by narrowing the focus.

I realized that I'm covering a wide range of subjects. However, constantly leaping from one topic to the next is a sure way to lose touch with the real objective of the blog, as well as a great system for boring the audience. This is not my goal.

My goal is to learn and teach entrepreneurship.

Because this is a wide topic itself, there may still be some bouncing around. However, the main theme shall be contained within the subject of Young Entrepreneurship. I hope you like it.

The ADD Entrepreneur And Other Stories About Never Focusing

Here's a photo of my brain.. Basically.

I realized something about my brain that's so evident on my blog: The amount of focus of both is nearly zilch. I've covered topics ranging from being a good employee to my experiences in getting a job in North Dakota. Flick has been bouncing around to various subjects, successfully displaying no underlying objectives. Something must change. I think it's my responsibility to do so.

Here's what's I plan on doing: Create some structure, convey a clear message, focus on the message, implement a theme, and redesign the site.

Flick is off to a good start with well over a thousand hits so far. Now is a good time for change. Enjoy!

What's It Worth?

I was thinking. It's always an interesting time when I think. During my thinking episode, I thought a thought. It went like this: "How do I add value? In all my doings in business, work, and school, where do i add the value I can add?" Another thought: why does adding value matter?

I came to this conclusion: Adding value in all walks of life is part of being different. It's part of being weird. It's part of challenging the status quo. That's what this blog is about.

I came up with a few suggestions for adding value at work, the first of which is this: Go the extra mile. Always. The surest way to provide value for an employer is to do more than you're told. Go above and beyond. Make it a habit.

Second, don't fall into the perilous Not-my-job Syndrome. This kills. Don't be bound by a job description. Just get over it and clean up the mess.

Lastly, keep your chin up. This is huge for fellow employees, your employer, and the customers. If I may quote Zig Ziglar, "Its your attitude, not your aptitude which determines your altitude."

Try out my theory and let me know how it worked for you.

Home

Monday morning found me in the observatory car on the Amtrak line, the Empire Builder. I decided that a great way to begin a week is to watch the sun rise over the Columbia River Gorge while munching on a four dollar breakfast of Frosted Flakes.

The train is a great way to travel, but I noticed many points in which Amtrak could improve their operation. I understand their Theory of Customer Service Apathy: "People are going to ride our train anyways because we're cheaper than flying or driving, why bother improving?" This is a somewhat revolting ideology, in my opinion. In my mind, Amtrak could raise the price of every ticket by $10, and more than pay for a staff member to be on board strictly to clean up garbage, scrub the bathrooms, vacuum the carpets, and change light bulbs. This would result in a far more pleasant experience for the customers and the staff, which wouldn't be half-bad.

This is from an outsider's perspective. I don't know how they work their operation. Maybe I just had the train with the least customer-minded staff.

Don't get me wrong, I still suggest the train as a way to travel. $140 from Williston to Vancouver. Not bad.

A sharp blast from the train horn mounted atop the engine signaled our arrival. We pulled into the Vancouver train station at 9:25 am.

I'm home, and the adventure is about to begin.

Something That Scares You

I know, I know.. It's a video blogpost, and I'm in North Dakota. Don't ask me how I shot, edited, uploaded, and posted a video blogpost while in the forsaken town of Tioga, ND.

This is about overcoming fear. It's a little motivational clip that might just prompt you to do something that scares you today. Or you can just sit there, ignore my message, and not do something.

Do something, my friend.

Here I am..

I'm back into civilization. Somewhat.

Actually, I'm sitting in a travel trailer in Montana. Not civilization.

Here's an update on me:

I got to Montana last Wednesday, and, after six hours of sleep, I headed up to Williston, North Dakota with some of the buddies to look for a job. Myself and my traveling partner Nik started our trek at Wal-Mart, and applied at each place of business we walked by.

Forty five minutes later, we found ourselves being interviewed in a cluttered office in the lower story of the local Napa Auto Parts. Ten minutes later, we both had a job, starting the next morning.

We were pretty pumped. In fact, we still are.

We're working forty hour weeks. We get up at 5:00 am, pack a lunch (this is frugal and really smart), and head up to work. We have a fifty minute drive to work, and we go through a time-change on the way. It makes it interesting.

I'm practicing laundry, cooking, working, shopping, and a bunch of other activities that I'm not totally accustom to. That's okay though, cause this stuff might come in handy some time.

That's a little bit to let you catch up on my activities.

More to come!

Charged

If you've never taken the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, I'd suggest you do so. It's an excellent tool that helps pinpoint who you are as an individual. At the end of the questionnaire, your personality type is identified, and you can read the results for your personality type. It's a little creepy how much they know about everyone.

If you'd like to take the test, sift your way through this website: meyersbriggs.org

The reason I bring this up is because, today I was again reminded of who I am, and, in specific, what charges me:

I detailed a car this morning. I visited, negotiated, and enjoyed the company of the owner. I left feeling charged.

I had two interviews this afternoon (more on that later). I gave one and I received one. I left both feeling charged.

As an extrovert, people charge me. (Apparently the Energizer Bunny is an extrovert; he's always charged. Actually, it's a different kind of charge, I believe; charged with battery.)

That which charges you should be what you spend most of your time doing.

I don't believe this should be used as an excuse for hanging out in the comfort zone. After all, not much gets done in the comfort zone.

Do what charges you.