One of the keys to Working Less, Making More is focus. Today, I want you to focus on your three highest value activities. For now, forget the other stuff.

At some point in the Work Less, Make More journey, you’ll realize that you really do have it all. You have love. You have money. You have time. And you have opportunities. That’s because the more successful you are, the more opportunities are attracted to you.

Don’t feel like you have to jump at every opportunity that comes along. Think about each opportunity carefully, and take only those that factor into your overall goal of living your best life.

The Work Less, Make More program is all about working with your strengths. It has absolutely nothing to do with working on your weaknesses, or trying to balance out your skills. The secret to working less and making more is discovering your brilliance—your natural gifts. Once you discover them, you focus on them. It’s as easy as that.

Okay, maybe I’m simplifying things a bit. Designing your life around what you’re good at is the easy part. But discovering what you’re good at, on the other hand, can be quite challenging.

Why is it so difficult to discover your strengths? Well, if you’re like most of my clients, you aren’t used to focusing on your strengths. You’ve probably been taught to focus on your weaknesses. Think about your last performance review. Most supervisors heed the old adage, “Start with the good, and end with the bad.” So they spend about 10 minutes telling you what you are good at, and the remainder of the hour telling you what you need to improve.

If you’re a driven person who wants the best for yourself, chances are you spent the majority of your time working on those weaknesses. If you’ve ever been through a performance review your supervisor spent the first 15 minutes praising you for improving those weaknesses. But how did you spend the next 45 minutes? Discussing new weaknesses!

What do you think is happening to your strengths as you focus on your weaknesses? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. They’re staying the same.

And that’s too bad. Because by ignoring your strengths, they become dull and unused. Instead of honing those strengths to stand out in the crowd, you’re just like everyone else. Sure, you’re getting the job done. And yes, you are even improving your weaknesses. But in the process you dilute your strengths. You blend in. And that’s boring.

If you want to work less and make more, it’s not the way to go.

You need to change your way of thinking. Deep down inside, you know what you are brilliant at. It’s time to focus on it. Maybe you have great people skills, or have the ability to get out of tough situations. Maybe you are good at organizing and coordinating, or maybe you can sell ice to Eskimos. Whatever your brilliance is, it’s time to uncover it. Focusing on what you’re good at will energize and inspire you.

Can’t find your strengths yet? Keep looking. You have them, and chances are they’re right under your nose.

There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who make things happen, and those who make excuses. And you can’t be both. Which means that—no matter how focused you are on making your goals a reality, no matter how much time and money you invest, no matter how many books you read and seminars you attend—you’re never going to be successful unless you stop making excuses and start taking responsibility for the situation you’re in.

I don’t mean to be harsh. I know some obstacles seem insurmountable, and over the years I’ve heard just about every excuse imaginable. Some of the excuses I hear over and over are:

“I don’t have the right education.”

“I don’t have enough money to get started.”

“I don’t have enough time.”

“I don’t have the skills and talents.”

“I’m not rich enough, famous enough, or good looking enough.”

Okay, you get my point. But lots of people have faced much tougher obstacles and have still gone on to succeed. It’s not your education or lack of money. It’s not that you don’t have time, skills, or talent. It’s not the economy’s fault. It’s not your boss’s fault. It’s not your grandmother’s fault. Do you see where I’m going here? No matter who you are—and regardless of your situation—there’s only one thing blocking your success.

You.

I know, that’s a tough thing to accept. It’s much easier to blame your lack of success on someone else. But guess what? You can’t.

If you really want to Work Less, Make More, you need to take responsibility for the way things are in your life. Why? Because when it comes down right down to it, you are the only one who has the power to change these things.

Many people don’t even attempt their goals because of one excuse or another. They say things like:

“It’s more important for me to spend time with my family right now.”

“I’m working long hours as it is and just don’t have the time.”

“I’m not in a position to take a risk right now.”

These sound like pretty good excuses, right? But here’s the deal. You’ve got to start somewhere. If you sit around waiting for the perfect time to get going, chances are you’ll never work less and make more. Because there is no perfect time. Or, let me reframe that. The perfect time is right now.

At the end of the day, would you rather have more success, or would you rather have a whole pile of excuses? The choice is yours. If you are not exactly where you want to be, stop making excuses. Take some responsibility, and good things will happen.

As you may already know, I coach successful small business owners, self-employed professionals, and executives. At JWC Group, we help people just like you figure out a way to have an amazing career and an amazing life, all at the same time. We call this program Work Less, Make More.

There are two things I know about entrepreneurs and professionals, and the obstacles that are preventing them from living the lives they are meant to live:

1. I know how to help them. I’ve been coaching for a long time, helping my clients to become even more successful in their careers and businesses, and doing so in a way that gives them more time to enjoy their lives.

2. I can’t help all of them. To work less and make more myself, I simply don’t have the room in my schedule to coach everyone who wants to hire me. Not only that, but many others who need a coach can’t afford one. Working with me one-on-one is expensive, and it’s not for everyone.

So I’ve been trying to come up with a program that helps people to work less, make more, and make more of their lives, but is still affordable for everyone. I wanted to create a support structure similar to our coaching program, so you can stay learn, grow, and stay motivated on a consistent basis.

It’s finally here, and we call it the Success Circle Monthly Interview Series.

http://www.successcirclemonthly.com

Every month, I’ll interview experts in different areas of business and success who have incorporated the powerful concepts of working less and making more into their own lives, and often helped others to do the same. Many of the people I interview will be big names you will recognize, while others will be successful business owners, self-employed professionals and others you may not have heard of.

Once a month, every month, you’ll discover:

- Real-world success stories of people who have built six- and seven-figure businesses… on their own terms.

- Personal success principles that will help to create the results you want faster, easier, and with greater predictability than you could on your own.

- Money-making strategies so you can increase your income without working more hours to do it.

- Successful tools, techniques and systems to help your business run smoothly…whether you’re there or not.

- Mistakes to avoid along the way, saving you both time and money.

Each month, you’ll get a ton of “step-by-step techniques” for personal and professional development. And with each interview, you’ll take away actionable, results-oriented ideas that will literally program you for success.

** CD Recordings of Each and Every Interview Mailed Directly to Your Door!

I spent a lot of time thinking about how I should share these interviews. I could’ve sent them by email…or e-newsletters…I could’ve written a book or hosted a series of webinars.

I want to make it convenient for you to listen to each interview, and also provide a valuable tool for ongoing learning. So I decided to make an audio recording of each interview…and mail it directly to your door!

** Written Transcripts of Each and Every Interview

In addition to the CD, you’ll also receive a word-for-word transcript of each month’s interview. You can read and follow along with the audio recording, or just read the transcript by itself. Our members tell us they appreciate being able to underline, highlight and make notes on this printed version of the monthly interview.

** Monthly Newsletter Featuring Additional Information, Strategies and Resources

You’ll also receive an information-packed newsletter with each CD. Your monthly newsletter will summarize the most important techniques and concepts from the interview. It will also contain articles, featured products, inspirational quotes, and other hot topics of interest. You’ll want to keep this with your CD, so you can review them on a regular basis.

** Access to My Own Personal "Million Dollar Rolodex"

I can’t begin to tell you how many hundred of hours and thousands of dollars I’ve spent trying to find the best contacts, vendors, resources and information to run my businesses. After a few years of blood, sweat and tears, I have built a list of resources that I either use personally and find invaluable, or that have come to me with the highest of recommendations.

** If you’ve read this far, you’ll be glad you did. Because I’ve saved the best part for last:

You can join this exciting new program and get the latest research, tools and resources… delivered right to your mailbox each month…and it won’t cost you one red cent for the first two months!

Go ahead and just click the link below to activate your free trial:

http://tinyurl.com/6nrsms

You won’t pay anything for the entire trial period. Then, after your first 60 days, you will be automatically charged the lowest price I will ever offer this program: only $47.00 a month. As long as you remain a member in good standing, you’ll continue to have access to these membership benefits:

- Monthly interviews with you and your hand-selected experts in the areas of business growth, marketing, and success.

- CD recordings of each and every interview delivered right to my door.

- Written transcripts of each interview so you can follow along with the recordings, or read by itself.

- Monthly newsletters with articles, featured products, inspirational quotes, and other hot topics of interest.

- Access to my "Million Dollar Rolodex", giving you inside access to the list of people, tools, and resources that I use in my business.

If after testing the waters for 60 days, or anytime thereafter, you want to cancel your membership, simply let us know via phone or email, and we will STOP charging your credit card immediately.

No questions, no hassles, no problem. If you’re not increasing your income, reducing the hours you work, and having more fun, then we don’t want your money.

That said, I know that once you experience the Success Circle Monthly Interview Series you’ll be hooked, because you’ll be blown away every month by the tips, techniques and strategies to make more money in your business, AND have more time to enjoy your life.

(Remember, I’m SO sure of it that I’m giving you an entire 2 months for FREE!)

Click the link below to get started with your first interview rushed out to your door totally at my risk:

http://tinyurl.com/6nrsms

For more information, visit http://www,successcirclemonthly.com.

I look forward to welcoming you to the Success Circle!

The 2008 Summer Olympics gets under way today in Beijing, China. Approximately 10,500 athletes will compete in 28 sports. 

I love the Olympics. The competition. The struggle. The triumph. The battle that participants have fought along the road to Beijing. 

While I enjoy the athletic competition of the Olympics, the greater effect on me is the inspiration I get from watching the Olympics. These athletes have focused for years on getting to these games—single-minded focus on the achievement of a very specific goal. 

Here’s my question for you: What could you accomplish if you focused like that? 

Although you might not want to focus quite that intently, it’s certainly interesting to think about the possibilities. Why not let these 2008 Summer Olympics inspire you in one or more areas of your life? 

So pick an area. What do you want to be, do, or have? Write down one significant goal you want to achieve before a certain date (the end of the year, before your next birthday, one year from today, etc.).  What’s one thing you can do this week to make it happen? What will you need to do next week? Next month? 

Create an action plan—your “Roadmap to the Olympics.” For additional inspiration, think about your goal as your watching the Olympics over the next couple weeks.

To learn more, visit the official site at http://en.beijing2008.cn.

Did you know that 20% of your customers want to buy more from you?

You might be leaving money on the table if you’re not offering additional items, add-ons or accessories. It’s called upselling, and you probably experience it every week. If you play your cards right, you can increase transaction size, and double or triple your profits!

If you’ve ever been in a McDonald’s, then you’ve experienced upselling through one of two questions:

1. Would you like fries with that?

It’s a simple phrase. Just ask your customers to buy one more item.

Think of the impact this has on revenue (and profit) at McDonald’s. The company operates over 31,000 restaurants, and serves nearly 47 million customers each day. They ask the upsell question 47 million times a day. Now I’m not sure how many people say yes, or how much more profit McDonald’s earns because they ask the question. But they wouldn’t be doing it if it didn’t work. It DOES work.

2. Would you like to supersize that?

Another great question. The idea behind this promotion is that, for an extra 39 cents, a customer could dramatically increase the size of the meal. And McDonald’s could incrementally increase the size of its profit on that transaction.

McDonald’s isn’t the only company to have figured this out. In fact, you probably experience upselling on a regular basis. I went into Nordstrom to buy a suit, and left with four shirts and seven ties that I hadn’t planned to buy. I purchased an iPod Touch at Best Buy for my daughter, and was offered an extended warranty. In each case, I was encouraged to add on to the purchase I was making.

Are you asking YOUR customers to add on to the purchase they’re making?

Maybe when a customer buys one item at the regular price, they are able to get a second at half price. Maybe you offer them a complimentary item related to the original purchase, like a warranty, accessories, or something else that adds to what the customer is buying. Maybe you create a package that contains every item you sell.

You have to figure out what works best for your business. Write out three or four ways you could upsell to your customers or clients.

Upselling is an easy way to increase revenue, and to double or even triple your profit per transaction profit. Try it out, and see what happens. You’ll be glad you did!

Okay, so you’re committed to this Work Less, Make More idea. You think it sounds like the life you want to live. Your first question is probably, "Where do I start?" 

You start by looking at who is in your life right now.

In order for you to redesign how you operate, you must consciously decide who’s on your support team and who’s on your sabotage team. The support team is full of the people in your life who want you to succeed. They want you to be happy, fulfilled, and passionate about living. And they are willing to help you create whatever kind of life you want to create.

Your sabotage team is made up of all the people who don’t support your growth. It’s not that they are evil people – it’s just that your success is a constant reminder that they aren’t living up to their own potential. They say things like:

"You can’t do that!"

"What a stupid idea."

"Why aren’t you satisfied with what you have?”

Your sabotage team derives a tremendous benefit from having you stay the same. But when you’re on the Work Less, Make More journey, you’re not going to stay the same. You can’t. And your changes will threaten your sabotage team. It’s like asking your drinking buddies at the bar to support your quest to stop drinking. It hardly ever happens.

So many times I see people’s dreams squashed because they didn’t consciously decide whom to let into their lives. I hear things like:

"But I’ve been friends with her since I was five years old."

"He doesn’t really mean to be critical. That’s just who he is."

"I know that despite what they say, they do want me to be happy." 

Don’t be fooled. You’re making excuses for people who aren’t ready to support you on your success journey.

The truth is, you become the sum total of the people you spend time with. If you’re hanging out with negative people, you’re going to be negative. If you’re hanging out with passionate, inspiring people, chances are you’re going to live a passionate and inspiring life. Yet most people don’t consciously decide whom they spend their time with. Don’t let this happen to you.

The first step toward working less and making more is to decide who’s on your support team. Take some time to ask them for their help as you redesign your life. Let them know how much you appreciate their encouragement, and how rare it is to find support like theirs.

You may find that you’ll need to build a new circle of friends. And that’s okay. Part of changing and growing is upgrading the people you allow into your life.

But how should you handle your sabotage team? Limit the time you spend with them, and keep your successes to yourself. Don’t expect them to applaud your success. They probably won’t be able to. Just know that your life can become a shining example of what their lives could be. 

And that’s the best gift you can ever give them—and yourself.

I had an idea about a year ago, and I’m finally getting around to writing about it.

As I was planning my two-week family vacation in Europe last summer, I thought it would be really cool to make a “Work Less, Make More” T-shirt, and take pictures of me “working less” in Europe. It was a blast doing it, and here’s one of the pictures:

I started thinking about this idea again a couple weeks ago. (Yes, on vacation. Are you starting to see a pattern here?) I wanted to come up with a way for you to share your experiences “working less”—maybe wearing a Work Less, Make More T-shirt while doing so.

Here’s what I’ve come up with:

Where do you work less? Where do you make more?

Send us a picture of you in your Work Less, Make More T-shirt: with your family and friends, with a celebrity, at a landmark or vacation spot, or even relaxing at home. Be creative! All pictures will be posted in the gallery and may be used in future Work Less, Make More promotional materials. Photos must be uploaded as digital files, which can be done in our Photo Gallery:

We’ll add it to our photo gallery and you could win fabulous prizes. One winner will be drawn at random every month and prizes will include our own products—books, CDs, DVDs, workbooks, etc! Periodically, we might even give you the opportunity to vote for a grand prize winner, and award something cool like an iPod Touch, a 3G iPhone, or some other cool stuff.

Categories:

1. You with Friends & Family: Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July, birthdays—great times for get-togethers, and to have your picture taken in a Work Less, Make More T-shirt.

2. You with a Celebrity: Meet a celebrity while wearing your T-shirt. They’ll appreciate the concept, and you’ll get a cool picture. Click!

3. You at a Landmark or Special Vacation Spot: Mount Rushmore, New York City, the Grand Canyon, the beach, amusement parks or wherever else you like to have fun.

4. Relaxing at Home: Your hammock, your man-cave, your kitchen, or anywhere else you relax while at home.

5. Making More: At the office, with customers, or wherever you make more money!

6. General: A picture of you in your Work Less, Make More T-shirt that doesn’t fit into one of the above categories.

If you don’t have a Work Less, Make More T-shirt, there are a couple ways to get one.

1. If you’re going on an amazing vacation in the next month or so, and want to take a picture with your new Work Less, Make More T-shirt, please add a comment below. I’ll pick 5 entries at random. (Note: Please email me separately with your name, address, and shirt size.)

2. Invest $75 or more in our Work Less, Make More Store, and we’ll send you a FREE T-shirt. (Please specify size in the special instructions.)

3. Or, purchase one for just $9.95 in our Work Less, Make More Store.

New pictures will be posted weekly, as long as you send some in. So get going!

My family and I had the privilege of visiting Disney World recently. We have been to both Disney World and Disneyland before, but this time we were there for eight days! We stayed at the beautiful Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and had an amazing time.

I’ve always loved Disney. For me, it is as much a “business case study” as it a family vacation. I love it every time I go, and could easily visit much more often than we do. I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for Walt Disney, who is one of the greatest visionaries ever.

We can learn a lot about business—and about life—from Walt Disney World. Here are some of the lessons I learned at Disney:

1. Walk your talk. More often than not, it seems, companies invest time and money to create a “mission statement.” But few employees even know what it is, let alone follow it. At Disney, however, everyone walks the talk. The company invests a lot in training its employees, and its efforts pay off.

I was amazed by how helpful people are. When cast members (employees) notice a guest (customer) in need, they are urged to stop whatever they’re doing, and offer to help. Whenever I stopped and appeared to be looking for something, a cast member appeared to ask if he or she could help me find something.

Contrast this with our typical experience in a store. (I’ll resist the temptation to name names.) We’re looking for something, and not only can we not find what we’re looking for, but we can’t find anyone working there, either. It’s almost as if someone turned on the lights, and they all scattered!

Are you walking your talk? Or, to paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson, is what you’re doing thundering above your head so loudly that your customers can’t hear what you’re saying?

2. Exceed expectations. Whatever Disney was involved in—cartoons, animated films or theme parks—Walt always went the extra mile. He called this “plussing”, which he defined as “giving people a stellar entertainment experience ‘plus’ constant improvements on it.” If something can be made better, it’s done.

One example of this is the name Disneyland Paris. You may remember that it was originally named Euro Disney. The euro is now the official currency of the European Union, and Disney didn’t want its theme park name associated with money and commerce. It didn’t fit with the image Disney wanted in the minds of its guests, so the name was changed, or “plussed.”

3. It’s the little things. The attention to detail at Disney is unparalleled. Imagineer John Hench describes it in the book Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service. “What’s our success formula? It’s the attention to infinite detail, the little things, the little, minor picky points that others just don’t want to take the time, money, or effort to do.”

My favorite example of this is the music at Disney World. In the morning, guests hear lively music as they arrive. Everyone is upbeat and energetic, and the music supports that energy. In the evening, though, the music is mellow. Guests are tired after a long day, and the cast members are more relaxed as guests leave. This isn’t something that people are consciously thinking of, and yet Disney has invested a lot of time and energy on this one aspect of its theme parks.

4. Treat all of your guests like VIPs. One example I observed during our vacation was the way people with disabilities were served, to ensure that they, too, had a pleasant experience. I saw this numerous times on the bus, when disabled guests in wheelchairs and mobility scooters were given extra attention to make sure that they were safe and secure. I’m sure riding public transportation is not easy when you’re not able to walk, but Disney seemed to turn it into a positive (or at least neutral) experience.

For more on this topic, see an article that I wrote years ago called “How Are You Treating Your Customers… In Life?”)

http://tinyurl.com/28nz84

If you’ve been to Disney World, what are the lessons you learned there? Post a comment, and tell me what you’ve done to integrate those lessons at work or at home.

All your dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them.

- Walt Disney