Enjoy Kevin’s Daily Musing Through The Mindset Engine Blog

Success Is A Choice

I know, I know.  That is a hard statement.  But honestly, success IS a choice.  Yes, I know that there are circumstances that come across our path.  And I also know that there are often times things that we cannot control and things that rob our progress and squash our joy.

But it wasn’t until I was forced to face the truth that I realized – Success is a choice.

You see, like you, I often allow stuff to get into my head and limit my actions.  Every professional coach I have worked with emphasizes that the greatest enemy of success is fear – pure and simple.

Our fear is what tells us we can’t.

It tells us that we are too busy.

It tells us that we can’t afford it.

It tells us that we aren’t good enough

It tells us anything it can in order for us to justify our inaction.

It paralyzes us into doing nothing – and then we wonder why nothing happens toward our dream.

I know – that is harsh.  But friend, that is what holds me back when I allow it.  And I offer to you this – your success is simply waiting right there in front of you.  Hard work to get there – but your success is already there, already present, and already complete.  You simply have to get up, get over your fear, and get started.

Now – is it going to be easy?  No.  Is it going to happen overnight? No.  Will you always see the results that you want? No.

But hard work, determination, clarity, and a huge commitment to not allow excuses are all you need.  If you are willing to get up, work hard, work smart, and be willing to try and try again, then you will find it.  In fact, your success is in the trying – not in the outcome.

I have the privilege to work alongside many incredible people and even am able to coach a few individuals as they are on their journey.  I count it a complete joy and blessing to do so.  Every coaching session, I walk away more energized and more clear on what it is I need to be doing.  By investing in someone else’s success, I win too!

So let me encourage you today.  Success is a choice.  Now, what are you going to do about it?

Let’s go!

Want more conversation like this?  Hit LIKE on Facebook

Analytics: Is Your Website Actually Working Against You?

“I can’t figure out why so many people come to my website but don’t buy anything”  or, “I cannot figure out how to get people to my site in the first place” or, ” My web site is so cool!  Why aren’t people signing up?” Analytics will tell you.

Does this sound familiar?  I hear comments like this pretty much every day and the answers are right there on the page if you know what to look for.

Just last week, a call came in from an individual that had spent countless thousands of dollars on a new website, “kick-ass” video, and landing page for his upcoming event.  Yet, even with significant traffic, people were not signing up.  They weren’t converting into sales.

What’s up with that?

Here is what I found:

• 74% of his visitors were coming via a mobile device
• 2/3 of those mobile visitors were coming on an iPhone and only stayed on the page about forty seconds
• 1/3 were on tablets and stayed on the site over two minutes
• Of those that were viewing from a desktop, 26%, they stayed on the site almost three minutes
• Less than 1% were requesting information or purchasing

Why?

The site features a “very nice” two-minute video which is interesting if you are on a desktop, somewhat interesting if on a tablet, and virtually non-viewable from a phone.  Yet, 2/3 were trying to view it via a phone and could not. The potential sale was lost – by design.

Here is how to solve this:

• First, make sure your web experts understand your core consumer or target consumer and how they are going to consume your product offer.
• Second, realize that creative and graphic design is only ” really cool” if it actually works and gets the job done – Sales, Donations, Sign-ups, etc.
•  Third, make sure that you understand, or have someone who understands, analytics.  Know how to read and interpret and then what to do about it.
• Fourth, communicate, communicate, communicate.  Consumers want to know that you hear them, appreciate them, create for them, and are thankful for the time, money, effort, etc. that they give you.
• Finally, commit to constantly evaluate your material and site.  Change what needs to be changed and let the data speak for itself.

Regardless of your message – Sales, a Cause, a Lesson, a Need, a FILL IN THE BLANK HERE – focus on analytics.  Your consumers and your site will tell you a lot if you know where to look.

Interested in a completely free site and social media evaluation?  Shoot me a note at kevinbreeding At Gmail Dot Com.

3 Ways to Move the Needle Toward Satisfaction

Do you ever feel like you are just going through the motions?

Does your life feel like a bad version of groundhog day where one day just repeats over and over?  Do you have fantastic dreams and ideas that you know can make a difference, but you can’t quite figure out how to get them out of your head and into the world?

I have been right there with you.  In fact, I lived right there alongside all that for many years – and now, I am finding the solution to life meaning and satisfaction.

Last night, I was on a call with one of the most important people in my life.  They are a true co-laborer in making me a better person.  Their viewpoint and opinion are paramount.  Also – their advice and input carry significant weight.

About 10 minutes into the conversation, I noted a serious tone of frustration and definitely zero satisfaction.  We started talking through it a bit and it dawned on me that I had a fantastic tool that helped me build satisfaction that I had once used, but had forgotten about it.  That changes today!

When I get down on myself, here is what I do:

1. Ask yourself – What do I want to be doing?  What do I want to be?

2. Ask yourself – What EXACTLY am I measuring so that I can see when the needle is moving?  (THIS IS A BIG ONE!)

3. Ask yourself – What am I willing to commit to for change to happen?

For several years, I spoke publicly often several times a week.  Every single time I would, I would beat myself up mentally saying things like, “that was lousy,” or “no one benefitted from that.”  In fact, reality was completely the opposite.  People really enjoyed what I shared for the most part.

You see – I was not satisfied with who I was, what I was about, or what I was doing.  So, instead of working on my mental position, I simply beat myself up mentally about every thing I was doing.  Candidly – it was a miserable way to live.

Now, I focus on the real issues internally rather than just teaching myself to doubt, be afraid and back away.  I know who I am, what I want to be about, and most importably, what I want to be.  I know where I find satisfaction – with everything.

Regardless how big or how small your hurdle.  Ask yourself – what are you using to measure what is going on?  It is entirely possible that you are doing great things today – you just won’t allow yourself the victory and see your success.

Here’s to beginning a new walk toward satisfaction, joy, and excitement in life.  I’ve been on both ends of life – I’ll take this one for sure!

For additional insight into making your thoughts work for you instead of against you, consider THIS POST.

Kevin is a husband to Susie, dad to Natalee and Mallory, step-dad to Carlea and Abbie, a  life-long musician, avid photographer, political junkie, and developing author of the upcoming book Total Life Matrix.  Connect @kevinbreeding or via Linkedin.