FINISHING STRONG, 7: PRODUCTS

"If you keep your eye on the profit, you’re going to skimp on the product. But if you focus on making really great products, then the profits will follow." - Steve Jobs

Products

The 7th P, of Finishing Strong is PRODUCT. I believe that when God blessed the man in Genesis and said, "be fruitful, Multiply, Replenish and Subdue the Earth" He wasn’t just referring to procreation of physical, flesh and blood babies, He also referring to mind babies - Products. I believe that, for one to be able to subdue the earth, he must first be able to convert his skill, talent or gift into a product. An invention. Something marketable.

As with many innovations, the originator of 3M's sticky yellow Post-its, didn't know what he had at first. Researcher, Spence Sliver was curious about what would happen if he mixed an unusual amount of monomer into a polymer-based adhesive he was working on. The result was an adhesive that would "tack" one piece of paper to another and even re-stick, without leaving any residue on the second piece of paper. The company had no use for the new adhesive until 3M's Chemist, Arthur

THE GIFT OF A DAY (26); JUST ONE DAY

"For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something." - Steve Jobs

One Day

It's you, not events, that have the power to make you happy or unhappy today. You can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, to make that decision and I suggest you make decisions that are going to make you happy be happy in it.

Here's a story. "As a kid, I was always doing the right things. I was active in sports, school work and I was just a great kid to be around. However, one day my life changed for the worse. I was hanging out with some school kids, and I wanted to try out things I'd been told not to do. They had weed wrapped in a piece of paper and asked me to try it, that it wasn't a big deal...I took it between my fingers like I'd seen in movies; after it was lighted and took a drag. I'd started smoking pot.

THE GIFT OF A DREAM (18); ARE YOUR DREAMS BIG ENOUGH?

"Dare to Dream big dreams; only big dreams have the power to move men’s souls." -Marcus Aurelius

 

One of the secrets of successful people is this; they Dream Big Dreams!

Allow yourself to dream. Allow yourself to imagine and fantasize about all your life and desires and the kind of life you would like to live. Think about the number of people you'd like to affect and have better lives because of you.

A Disney executive charged with revitalizing the Disney stores turned to Steve Jobs - Disney’s largest shareholder - for advice, to whom Jobs responded, “Dream bigger.” And, the story is told of Bill Gates, while he was younger - as a kid - he had big dreams to the point where he used to just shutdown from talking and go into hiding; thinking about his dreams and how to fulfill it. One day while preparing the meal, his mother needed him and called out to him severally, but there was no response. So, she had to leave for a minute her cooking to go find him. After some search she found him, stooping next to the dining table, stunned she calls him again but still no response. She moved closer and called out to him and in response he retorted, "Shut up mum, (I'm thinking) don't you think?" Now, I'm not advocating being disrespectful to your parents or elders, but that your dreams should be big enough to make you do unusual things. Things not everyone will do.