Challenge Yourself!

Challenging ourselves can be tough! We get caught up in our day to day duties and sometimes we forget why are are doing these things on a daily basis!I want you to think about, and write down, all the things you want to accomplish in the next 18 months, both personally and professionally.

The great thing about success is that everyone defines it a little differently. One thing that I am sure of is that my definition of success won't motivate you to do anything, and vice-versa your definition will probably not motivate me. We all have to come up with our own definition. When I say think about and write it down, what I mean is get specific. To say, “I want to make more money” isn't good enough. Write down why you want to make more money. Some people want more money to save it, others to spend it. Some want to be able to give it to their children, families, or charities, and yet others think it will make them more important. Having a vision of what you want to accomplish is more than just money. There are many different areas to think about. Family, career, your finances, your health, your relationships with your friends, your social life, etc….the list can go on and on, but the key here is to let your imagination run.

Don’t get caught in your box.I have to believe that all of us sometimes don’t think big enough. I think big, and that has allowed me things in life that others might not have the chance to experience, yet I was very humbled after I read a story on about Steve Wynn. Steve Wynn built the first “Mega” Casino in Las Vegas Nevada (The Mirage, which is now owned by MGM). When Steve built it he had a construction loan, and his goal was to pay off the loan in seven years. When he went to his accountants and all of his financial team, he asked them what it was going to take to pay off the loan in his seven year time frame. After they did the math they told him that he would have to profit $1 million dollars a day, 365 days a year, for the next seven years. If that happened he would be free of his loan in seven years. $1 million dollars a day profit, after he paid all his staff, and all his bills he would need to have $1 million dollars left each day, every day for the next seven years. Wow! To me that seemed impossible, but to Steve it wasn’t. Steve set his vision, to pay the loan off in seven years, and then he shared with everyone on his team. They put a game plan together, and began to execute. Well Mr. Wynn didn’t pay off his loan in seven years; he did it in 18 MONTHS!!!! A year and a half is all it took for him to pay it off, which means he probably profited 4,5,6,7,8 millions dollars a day, every day!! The best part about it is that after 18 months, all that profit went to him!Now I am not saying that all of us are going to profit $1 million dollars a day, but I would say that the story is a good reminder for all of us to think bigger than what we do. As Steve said, “Doubts don’t build empires…..Imagination does.”So let your imagination run as you set your vision and goals.

Stretch you mind, spirit, and body and you just might be amazed at the results.We have a mission in 2010! That is for the next 18 months to “stretch” our thinking, and we encourage you to do the same!

We have accomplished and continue accomplishing amazing things inside CCG, and those accomplishments are only going to get bigger and bigger, and help more and more people set themselves up for success. We are looking forward to the next 18 months and plan to grow even more in the next 18 months than we have in the past 10 years. We encourage you to get out there too, and make great things happen in 2010!

Good Luck in 2010!
CCG