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Greetings!
Everyday, life finds a way of preventing you from accomplishing your goals. Sometimes life presents us with opportunities that distract us from what we set out to do. While during other times, it creates hardships that take priority in our minds and our hearts. But in both situations, it is very important to prevent from becoming so distracted that we lose our focus on what is most important to us - our vision and our long term goals. In the last couple months, business has been very good for us here at Impossible Futures - with a large influx of clients in the last two months. But, as business improves, it is very easy for us to become more focused on our clients than what generated the new clients in the first place - working in our business rather than on our business. It's easy to get distracted from getting the things done that actually got us to where we are today. So, in order for us to continue to grow our business, it's just as important for us, as well as those we coach and serve, to recognize how important it is to maintain discipline and focus on our goals. We all must make sure that we review our plans, our goals, our priorities, and our Mission, Vision, and Commitments regularly and ensure that those concepts drive our actions. The theme of this month's newsletter is Focus and Discipline. As you read through the articles, take a look at yourself, your team and your business, and do your best to objectively analyze how well you are at staying on target with regards to your goals and vision. |
Video Clip of the Month
As part of our ever growing desire to make this newsletter more valuable and because of the popularity of the "Last Lecture" video by Randy Pausch, we 've decided to add a 'video clip of the month' to the newsletter. Of course, we will do our best to keep the clip aligned with the theme of the newsletter. But please be willing to stretch your mind a bit - as some of the clips will simply be small motivational / moving clips that you can share with your family, friends and co-workers. This weeks clip is actually from SimpleTruths.com. It is a short video slide presentation about The Power of Attitude. Please Enjoy. Watch the video.
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Take Advantage of Opportunities and
Maintain Discipline.
By JJ Reich
 The most successful businesses maintain focus on their core mission and how it serves clients. Your core business should be a combination of what you do best, what you are most passionate about and what pays the bills. When opportunity comes knocking, and it will, you must have the discipline to make sure that it is aligned with your core mission and your strategic vision before you jump on it - always think carefully before you commit your company resources to what may turn out to be a costly endeavor that takes your time, money and assets from what you do best.
Although these opportunities may appear to benefit the company in the near-term, they often distract us and stretch us so thin that we begin to deviate from the path that we set out on - the path to our vision.
This is why small business owners should always work hard at the beginning stages of creating their business to understand what exactly they are trying to create - in the long term. And it's why, in my coaching practice, I spend the entire first month working with my clients to help them understand the importance of Mission, Vision, Commitments and long-term Goals.
As it turns out, at least once a week, I have a client, either in a coaching session or over the phone, ask me if an opportunity that has "popped-up" is worth pursuing. They ask me, as if I have the answers for them. And much to their dismay, I often answer their question with more questions - the same questions every time.
How does that fit into your Mission, Vision and Commitments?
How will it help you reach your Goals?
How does that fit into your Business Plan?
Click on the link to read the Full Article
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This Month's Book Summary
First Things First
by Stephen Covey
 For those of you not familiar, First Things First is the third habit of Stephen R. Covey's famous Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. It is the habit of prioritization and focus. This book provides an incredibly powerful method of improving your daily productivity by focusing your time not so much on what's urgent in your life, but more on what's important in your life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles in life because they don't think they have enough time to do everything they want in life.
To read the entire summary of the First Things First, click here.
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Tip of the Month
Review your Goals - Every Day
You may or may not have goals - long term or short. But setting goals is only the first step. We all like to set goals - that's the fun part. But only the few that spend time every day reviewing their goals, consistently, actually achieve them. So every morning, either when you wake up, or when you get to work, review your goals. Take 5 minutes before you start reading your e-mails, start answering the phones, and refresh your mind of exactly what you are trying to accomplish. And watch what happens. I think you might be surprised. 1. Start out with your long-term goals - your 1, 3, and 5 year goals that are driving you and your business in the direction of achieving your vision. 2. Then you should review your mid-term goals - your 4-9 month goals. These mid-term goals should be clearly defined goals that give you intermediate metrics on how well you are doing in your efforts of accomplishing your long-term goals. 3. Finally, as the last step, review your short-term goals - 1 week to 1 month goals. These goals are the ones that when achieved will build directly toward you achieving your mid-term goals and eventually your long-term goals. But more importantly, these short term goals are the ones that are going to drive you to take action - make you do the things that you need to do each and every day that will eventually help you achieve all of your goals. To many of you, this probably sounds simple - almost inane. I won't lie to you - IT IS! Of course, we should all review our goals every day - that's common sense. But as we have found, "common sense is not common practice."
So, do it for one month - review your goals. And let us know if it helped. If you are any closer to actually making your goals happen. We look forward to hearing. |
 
SPOTLIGHT
on
Gillman Brother's Pita Pit
The Best Pitas - by far!
Truly a family business, Gillman Brothers LLC, was formed by Laurie, Richard, Robert and Jeffrey Gillman a little over two years ago. It is a business that brings the family together and is intended to be the foundation for futures of Robert and Jeffrey Gillman to build from.
Although a "franchise", Robert Gillman, Chief Executive Officer, runs this chain restaurant like a family owned business - focused on family values, hard work, and quality food.
Located in downtown West Chester, Pa, the business is doing great. They are conveniently located near the University of West Chester and just a five minute walk from the county seat. So if you are visiting the heart of Chester Counter, or just want an out of this world Pita, stop in this quaint little restaurant and say hi to Rob and his entire staff - and of course enjoy their fabulous Pitas.
Mission Statement
To
provide a healthy, fresh, affordable dining alternative to our friends, clients and family
in the West Chester and surrounding areas.
Vision
Become the most successful
Pita-Pit in the Tri-State area.
Located in downtown West Chester, Pa, the business is doing great.
They are conveniently located near the University of West Chester and
just a five minute walk from the county seat. So if you are visiting
the heart of Chester Counter, or just want an out of this world Pita,
stop in this quaint little restaurant and say hi to Rob and his entire
staff - and of course enjoy their fabulous Pitas.
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