In business as in life, there are ups and downs. Nobody is immune to this. The difference between successful outcomes and unreached potential (either personal or for your organization) can be measured using a lot of different variables. However, there is one that is the best indicator of potential success or abject failure.

I call it The Laziness Influence.

If you want your organization to progress, if you want to keep your job, if you want to achieve your greatest potential, you simply cannot be lazy.

Being tired and being lazy are not the same things. Being tired is a physiological reality. If you’re human, you’re going to get tired. Being lazy is a choice. And it’s a terrible one. Is a lazy day acceptable every now and again? I guess you could say yes. That’s not what we’re discussing here.

We’re talking about chronic laziness – on an organizational level. When the muscles in our bodies aren’t properly flexed and exercised, they get stiff. When chronic laziness is allowed at your organization, your people lose their edge. Laziness, like bad attitudes, is contagious. You don’t need employees that do the bare minimum. They aren’t adding anything to the bottom line. You don’t need leaders who ignore chronic laziness because they have more important things to worry about. Dwight Eisenhower said, “that which is urgent is seldom important while that which is important is seldom urgent.”

Remember, being lazy is a choice. If you truly want to achieve more, you’ll have to give your people an ultimatum – you can choose to be lazy, but you’ll have to choose to do it someplace else.

No company or individual ever achieved enormous success by letting opportunities go by. If you know that something is important AND urgent, take the leap. There’s no such thing as the “perfect time.” If you continuously kick the can down the road, you’ll get nothing in return but tired legs. Decide to be a market leader in something…anything.

One of the most detrimental and dangerous causes of chronic laziness is fear. A healthy amount of fear is OK. But if you’re letting fear cripple you or if it’s holding your company back, your problem with laziness will simply get worse.

Here are a few things to do:

1. Eliminate unhealthy fears. You’re going to make mistakes. Suck it up.
2. Laziness is a choice. Choose to be something else.
3. Chronic laziness is an epidemic. True leaders deal with these Be a leader.
4. Like your muscles, your mindfulness, aptitude, and desire for success will become fatigued without exercise and practice. Push yourself to do just a little more or go just a little further.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Leave your comments below. Feel free to share this post through social media using the share buttons below – let’s get a robust discussion started!

 I’ll make a donation to a charity of your choice. Keep reading for details!!

For the life of me, I can’t figure out why more people haven’t taken me up on the offer I’ve been advertising the past 30 days or so. Some have and they are benefiting from it.

As a reminder, I’ve been offering free stuff – a sneak-peak and final published copy of my upcoming book, “What’s In It For Me?” Maybe you’re not a reader….that’s cool! So I’m going to sweeten the pot a bit. All you have to do is complete a short contact form to schedule a 15-20 minute phone conversation with me. That’s it! You’ll get the book AND this extra bonus even if you decide not to do business with me.

Here’s the “pot sweetener” – if you schedule and complete a phone consult with me, I’ll also donate $10 to the charity of your choice….in your name!! 

What do you have to lose??

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! But these offers will expire on 10/18/15.

You have some time left for us to get our schedules together to find a mutually beneficial time to chat. As long as the agreed upon date/time is on my calendar by 10/18/15 at 5 pm Central Time (U.S.) you’ll receive the gifts after we actually complete our call.

 The first step is to complete the form. I’ll be in touch within 24 hours to schedule your no-obligation 15-20 minute chat. After we have our chat, I’ll send you the book preview and will put you on the special author’s list so that you are one of the very first to receive the complete book once it is published. Then, I’ll send you an electronic charity donation card – you’ll be able to select from a number of charities to be the recipient of the donation.

 All for having a short conversation…..

But WAIT!! There’s one more bonus I’d like to offer…..

If you schedule that phone consult with me by 5 pm Central time on  10/18/15, you’re already going to receive the book preview, the entire book once it’s published and the $10 charity donation card.

But let’s say that we decide to work together after our phone call and your due diligence, I’ll also give you a 10% discount on your investment. Depending on the specific program/service you choose, that could be a savings of up to $5,000! You’ll receive the discount as long we finalize our arrangement within 30 days of our original phone chat!

Complete the form, get your 15-20 minute consult on my calendar by 5 pm Central time on 10/18/15, and we’re on our way! 

Information on ABSURD! – A Leadership Training & Thought System:

 CLICK HERE FOR THE ABSURD! INFORMATION FORM

For planning, speaking, and other training needs:

CLICK HERE FOR THE GENERAL CONTACT FORM