“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” – Albert Einstein

It’s tempting to tell a little white lie.

We’ve all done it at some point. Fudged on our SAT scores, the salary of your latest job offer or the time you got up last Saturday.

This week, a successful client of mine, told me that what differentiates his team from the competition is that they are brutally truthful in all matters, even when it leads to a major financial setback.

Your life is built upon a foundation of fundamental values. One of these is honesty.

How solid is your foundation?

C.J. McClanahan
Reachmore Strategies
317-576-8492
cjm@goreachmore.com

“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” – Mitch Albom

Recently, I served as a “Mystery Reader” at my son’s second grade class.
As I greeted the teacher, I imagined that now would be a perfect time for her to get some grading or other admin work completed while I addressed the kids.
But she didn’t.
She did a few things at her desk and then turned around and watched the kids, participating as necessary. You could see how much she loved guiding these young people.
I left thinking how lucky I was to have her teaching my son.

How passionate are you about your work?

C.J. McClanahan
Reachmore Strategies
317-576-8492
cjm@goreachmore.com

“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

Most people feel stress and anxiety when they begin to borrow trouble.

If you’ve ever had an uncomfortable conversation with your boss and spent the next few days worrying about how you’ll find a job in this economy, you know what I mean.

A good rule of thumb is to focus exclusively on what you can accomplish by the time you go to bed each day.

C.J. McClanahan
Reachmore Strategies
317-576-8492
cjm@goreachmore.com

I am a tactical machine. I love spreadsheets, project plans and making sure that everyone knows exactly what their supposed to do. No project ever gets complete unless someone takes care of the tactics.

However, I have had a revelation in 2011.
The tactics don’t matter.
Let me clarify.

The most important component in all personal and professional achievement is that you begin with a goal or vision. In addition, you need to have a powerful emotional connection to this goal.

For example, imagine that you are 40 years old with two young children. At your annual physical, your doctor tells you that you need to lose 50lbs or you are at high risk of having a heart attack in the next 12 months. The thought of missing your family creates an emotional connection to the goal of losing 50 lbs. As a result, you do whatever it takes to hit your target. You don’t need the latest fad diet or fancy workout machine – you figure it out.

Conversely, imagine that instead a having a heart attack, your doctor tells you that you could stand to lose a few pounds. You have a moderate desire to look better at the swimming pool this summer so you go and purchase “Buns of Steel” at the bookstore and ask your wife to add more vegetables to the weekly shopping list. Unfortunately, you never get past the first chapter and convince yourself that onion rings count as a vegetable. You can always wear a shirt at the pool.

The tactics just don’t matter if you don’t really care about achieving the goal.

C.J. McClanahan
Reachmore Strategies
317-576-8492
cjm@goreachmore.com