“Welcome back from the Holidays and thanks for tuning into today’s segment of Cooking with Doc, with your host Chef Boyar-D-O-C. Today we’ll be cooking up a special Island recipe that can be used to prepare Jerk Chicken, Pork, Shrimp and maybe even Goat…” That might sound like a great intro for a new TV show, but it’s just my imagination. However, it’s a good place to start talking about running your business or career like a Celebrity Chef.

Not long ago while TV Channel surfing I stumbled on a show where the host was sharing tips on preparing a certain holiday meal. The Chef (along with his assistant) was working with a four-burner commercial-grade stove. He started out by working on the meal with one pot on the stove. As he got going another pot was added on the stove until eventually all burners were fired-up.

I don’t envision being up to commercial-grade standard as a Chef any time soon. But I was inspired by the Cooking Show. As you position your career or business for the next level of success it makes sense to turn up the heat in the following areas:

1.     Mindset

2.     Method

3.     Motivation

4.     Money

If you’ve been following the News you’re probably aware of the plight of the Big Three US Automakers. Some wonder whether they’re going to make it through these tough economic times. The concern that many industry critics have is whether the Senior Executives are operating with the right mindset or are they simply out of touch. This might then raise the question, “do we have the right mindset to live our dreams or to follow through on our resolutions?”

As a former Software Engineer I can tell you that there was a way of doing things. Not that everybody’s way was the same but there was a methodology to be followed. This was necessary to help minimize errors. This was done to help streamline the product’s development. This was a must so that there was a system in place. As you turn up the heat this year make sure there is a method to your madness in order to move closer and closer to your greatness.

Everybody needs love some time and everybody needs a little motivation as well. Maybe next time I can share more about how I stay motivated but for right now this is not about me. There are many tried and true ways to stay motivated but one of the best is to continually provide excellent service to your boss, clients, customers or loved ones. This will help to put a feather in your cap and as a bonus might turn into a pay raise, increasing revenue stream or even a strong personal/professional connection.

Money makes the world go ’round, that’s what they tell me. We need not live and die by money but we need to position our skills, talents and abilities, products, services and personalities in a way that returns maximum market value. You can choose initially to focus on mindset or method or motivation or money in your preferred order. But once you turn up the heat and things get cookin’ in all areas, others will feel your passion, be blessed by your flava and as you do more of what you love, the money will follow.

Music Soundtrack – Latin/Pop Flava “Double-Play”

Play first audio track here

Play second audio track here

 The Black Friday sales numbers are in but the retailers aren’t ready to celebrate yet. With a shortened holiday shopping season and with less money to go around it’s not clear whether to be happy or worried. The question that many retailers have begun to ask themselves is “how can we maximize the value we deliver to the marketplace?” The same might be true for consumers as well as working professionals.

If you’ve ever asked this question then a quick movie review might provide some clues. In the holiday flick Deck the Halls starring Danny Devito, the discovery is made of an Internet site where they could locate the neighbors’ house. For some reason when Devito entered his home address there was no such luck. So he decided that in the spirit of the holiday season he was going to decorate his house so brightly that it would be visible from outer space.

Hold that thought as you think about the work you do on the job or the product/service you provide as a business owner in the marketplace. Whether you work on an assembly line or write punch lines, whether you’re starting a business or looking to grow your business there is a process for going from good to great that involves:

1.       Researching

2.       Prototyping

3.       Networking

4.       Fine-tuning

Did you know that one of the ways Colleges/Universities attract revenue is through research? This is where time is spent checking the laws, the facts, the history, the validity of an idea or invention. While we all don’t have the funding like these institutions we can still put our ideas in motion by first doing some research. Research will get you to open doors, roll over stones or turn pages that you would not otherwise. And this is oftentimes where an ‘aha moment’ occurs.

After researching the business concept or project idea, it helps if you can develop a prototype. Before a new car makes it to the assembly line it first shows up as a model. This allows the automaker to develop a working knowledge for the concept vehicle. Some prototypes are built on paper while others are built by hands. A young Miami Pilot showed how to do just that when he recently flew a model plane that was built by inner city teenagers.

If you’ve ever been shopping at a Wholesale Marketplace you’ll see networking in action. Effective Networking in the 21^st century is part social, part strategic and part situational. When you walk up to the table where product samples are provided for taste-testing chances are the store clerk will strike up a conversation. After handing the sample to you the clerk will say what aisle the product is located. Now, not all products are “sample sold” in the same way. It depends on the season or the situation.

After marketing the concept to customers, your boss or even your peers you will be provided feedback. This is good information for making your idea even better. Danny Devito stumbled on similar feedback which helped him to succeed with his idea. After researching, prototyping and caroling with the neighbors his goal was reached. The world was now able to see his house with the click of a mouse because it was shining bright enough for even God to see.

P.S.

A special Holiday Buy One Get One (BOGO) discount offer for my latest book entitled Becoming Layoff Proof: What it Means to be the CEO of Me Inc. Email my Publicist at pen@purposefullivingventures.com with any questions or to reserve your autographed copy now. Otherwise you can visit the Book Store to order online.

Music Soundtrack – “Good for the Soul”

Play audio track here

 In many American households, the first introduction to the Money Game comes by playing Monopoly. The object of this game is to increase wealth by building capital. Each successful roundtrip of the board qualifies a player for $200 of free money from the Banker. The more houses and land you own the more rent you collect from those who stop by your property.

The game of Monopoly is a useful metaphor for how business is done in America. It’s also a good example for how to turn passion into profit. Over the past few months we’ve seen the passage of a Wall Street Bailout Bill in Congress. More recently, some are asking for a bailout of the automakers. Those who were against the Wall Street bailout felt it was just another “free money” Government program. Those who were for it suggest it was necessary to prevent the financial services sector from going bust. That’s because many institutions were on the verge of going bankrupt.

How did we get here? A quick review of the facts show the following root causes:

1.       Credit Squeeze

2.       Credit Swap

3.       Credit Freeze

In a nutshell, the problems in the economy stem from businesses trying to make more money by squeezing more out of consumer and commercial credit. Then there were those on Wall Street who invented financial paper by creating credit investments. These are similar to an insurance policy that is paid out on loan defaults. They involve “hedging a bet” that a business or homeowner will fail to make loan payments.

As failure rates started to climb and the payout on these policies boomed, the financial institutions ended up running low on cash in the bank. This along with homeowners not making their mortgage payments then resulted in a credit freeze. These factors contribute to a loss in consumer confidence which translates to less spending. The drop in spending thus forces businesses to cut back expenses which often results in massive layoffs.

If that makes sense then you can see why Becoming Layoff Proof increasingly means for some people, owning your own business. Whether you see yourself as Me Inc. CEO, Campus CEO, Urban CEO or Heartbeat CEO might be up for debate. However, Monopoly reminds us that playing the money game is about establishing ownership. This involves understanding how business is done in America if you want to break out “the Benjamins.”

What’s Your Business Type? See poll in sidebar.

Music Sountrack – “Break out the Benjamins”

Play audio track here