Incredible Advances in Our Society

Take a look a few inventions, processes, and successes during the past 100 years. There are many to list, but for now it is staggering to think about the incredible advances our global society has made.

• We have computers that think faster than the human brain, however, computers have evolved much faster than the human brain. Computers have been around for only a few decades, yet rapid technological advancements have made computers faster, smaller and more powerful.
• We have upwards of 50 micro processors in an automobile, and planes that carry hundreds of people to a destination in hours, thousands of miles away, instead of days or weeks.
• We have the Internet and billions of pages of information to learn from right at our fingertips.
• We have space shuttles that take our astronauts into space and back again in a matter of days. The Space Shuttle travels at a constant speed of 17,500 per hour.
• We have ways of turning goods into profits with people in a different country, and they pay the same moment that they make a decision to purchase, with the Internet and a credit card.
• We have companies like Wal Mart that bring in $4.5 billion in one week (yes billion with a “b”).
• We can hold meetings with others who might be 8,000 miles away, all in real time, and you can see them on the screen as you interact with them.
• We can cure deadly diseases and help people live normal lives that would not have been able to do so even 10 years ago.
• Credit card processing companies can process over $20 trillion (yes, trillion with a “t”) in one year.
• We can see planets through a telescope – 42 light years away. To put that into perspective, one light year is equal to 5,878,625,373,183 miles (that is 5.8 trillion miles). Pretty staggering once you think about the many advances that our society has made even in the past 100 years.

So what can a king who lived 3,000 years ago teach a society that is so far advanced in its culture? What could he possibly do for us in this day and age, and could his wisdom actually assist us in our current business practices?

For starters King Solomon can take us back to our humble beginnings and help us realize that although these things are wonderful inventions
to make our lives better and more productive, they don’t always remind us that we have a God that is providing us with so many blessings.

Solomon’s teachings can assist us in doing what is good, and what is right, and what can affect us for the eternities, not just in this life. I would dare say that the Proverbs of Solomon are more applicable today that they were 3,000 years ago.
I wrote Everlasting Wisdom with the intention that Solomon’s wisdom is even more applicable in business today… but don’t stop there. His wisdom continues to enlighten millions of people on all continents, and in many ways.

Solomon wrote: To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding. What is “wisdom” and why should we care
to achieve it in this lifetime? Wisdom is defined as “good sense and a wise attitude, belief, or course of action; the teachings of the ancient wise men.” To add to the “official definition”, I believe wisdom is a combination of:
• maturity,
• self confidence,
• reliance upon God,
• listening to your inner feelings, and
• being mature enough to accept the feelings that you experience.

I hope you buy the book and enjoy reading it…

http://www.brianhazelgren.com/books_cds.html

Wildfire Spread of Brainstorming

The Wildfire Spread of Brainstorming

Since its birth in 1941, brainstorming has spread throughout the world. The technique is known to most educated managers; but, sadly, it is often applied ineffectually because of poor training and lack of access to quality training material. Nevertheless, it is used by nearly all of the world’s largest companies and across a wide range of departments. Charities, government organizations and commercial companies all shout its praises.

Using the simple rules developed over 60 years ago, people are discovering new solutions to their problems and creating new opportunities to advance their companies and their own careers. It is one of the most exciting things ever to be the inventor of a world-changing product and to become the creator of the world you want to live in. Brainstorming promises you this and more.

Every single day there is a brainstorming session being conducted somewhere in the world. New ideas are flooding out of these sessions and society is changing because of it. Join in with the progress and make your ideas heard.

Rules of Brainstorming

Rule 1: Postpone and withhold your judgment of ideas.

Do not pass judgment on ideas until the completion of the brainstorming session. Do not suggest that an idea won’t work or that it has negative side effects. All ideas are potentially good, so don’t judge them until afterwards. At this stage, avoid discussing the ideas at all, as this will inevitably involve either criticizing or complimenting them.

Rule 2: Encourage wild and exaggerated ideas.

It is much easier to tame a wild idea than it is to think of an immediately valid one in the first place. During brainstorming, then, the “wilder” the idea, the better. Shout out bizarre and unworkable ideas to see what they spark off. No idea is too ridiculous. State any outlandish ideas. Exaggerate ideas to the extreme.

Use creative thinking techniques and tools to start your thinking from a fresh direction.

Rule 3: Quantity counts at this stage, not quality.

Go for quantity of ideas at this point; narrow down the list later. All activities should be geared toward extracting as many ideas as possible in a given period.

The more creative ideas a person or a group has to choose from, the better. If the number of ideas at the end of the session is very large, there is a greater chance of finding a really good idea.

Keep each idea short, do not describe it in detail—just capture its essence. Brief clarifications can be requested. Think fast, reflect later.

Rule 4: Build on the ideas put forward by others.

Build and expand on the ideas of others. Try and add extra thoughts to each idea. Use other people’s ideas as inspiration for your own. Creative people are also good listeners. Combine several of the suggested ideas to explore new possibilities.

It’s just as valuable to be able to adapt and improve other people’s ideas as it is to generate the initial idea that sets off new trains of thought.

Rule 5: Every person and every idea has equal worth.

Every person has a valid viewpoint and a unique perspective on the situation and solution. In a brainstorming session you can always put forward ideas purely to spark off other people and not just as a final solution. Encourage everyone to participate, even if they feel they need to write their ideas on a piece of paper and pass them around. Encourage participation from everyone.

You will know that you have created a healthy brainstorming environment if everyone feels confident to contribute.

Building Your Brand

I was reminded today about the importance of building a solid brand. Barbara, from Boston had called into a radio talk show interview that I was doing, and she wanted to let the host and me know how much she enjoyed answering the questions in my book The Complete Book of Business Plans.

She stated that her husband had left her to raise her three boys on her own, and she had no idea what to do at first. A friend had suggested my book to her and she purchased it with the hopes of writing a business plan, and getting a loan to launch her boutique business.

Barbara completed her plan, and went to the bank to get an SBA guaranteed loan of $10,000 to launch her first boutique. She was calling in to the show let us know that she was opening her third boutique since the first two were so successful; and to let the listeners know about the 130 questions in the book that she had taken the time to answer.

This is so exciting to for me to hear! To have Barbara share her story on answering a few questions…completing a business plan…raising capital for her small business…and the success she has found, is priceless. Way to go Barbara…and congratulations a hundred times over on your success!

www.brianhazelgren.com

Making Choices

When I was growing up my Dad used to tell me to be wise in my choices of friends, choosing my career, and how I speak to others. He would remind me that there are people who would only look out for themselves and to always make sure that I could count on my friends to do the right thing. If my friends were unwise in their choices he expected me to exercise wisdom and make the right choice. I wish I could say that I carried out my father’s request to perfection.

If I had, I would not have made some of the stupid choices that I ended up making, and could have saved myself embarrassment, sleepless nights, and a little bit of sanity. Unfortunately even as an adult, I have sometimes relied on my perceived wisdom, and at times ignored the big picture.

I guess we all go through that at one point or another in our lives. You know it’s when we feel like we really want to do something, and then just “know” that we ought to do x_________. “I can make this work, because, well I’m me, and I can make anything work!” Yeah, that has been me in times past…the cavalier, the maverick, the eternal optimist.

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this confidence. I love to be around confident people, and consider myself to be one as well. I am still the optimist that believes we must follow some kind of executable plan. What I hope we can all start doing is exercising more wisdom in making decisions. My hope is that this book becomes the foundation for you to find wisdom. We can all learn from the pages penned by one of the most successful ruler’s in the world’s history.

My long time friend George once told me about the “five-finger friends” in life that we should all seek to find. You can usually count on one hand how many people you can count on in life, and that these were the five-finger friends that we should never have to worry about.

Life is based on a series of choices that we make and those choices form who we are, and who we can yet become. During the course of a normal day we end up making hundreds of choices that have an effect on that particular day. Those choices can also end up charting the course set for the rest of our lives. Take a deep breath, think about the potential consequences…and make the right decision.

Check out my book Everlasting Wisdom… http://www.brianhazelgren.com/everlasting_wisdom.html

Making Choices

When I was growing up my Dad used to tell me to be wise in my choices of friends, choosing my career, and how I speak to others. He would remind me that there are people who would only look out for themselves and to always make sure that I could count on my friends to do the right thing. If my friends were unwise in their choices he expected me to exercise wisdom and make the right choice. I wish I could say that I carried out my father’s request to perfection.

If I had, I would not have made some of the stupid choices that I ended up making, and could have saved myself embarrassment, sleepless nights, and a little bit of sanity. Unfortunately even as an adult, I have sometimes relied on my perceived wisdom, and at times ignored the big picture.

I guess we all go through that at one point or another in our lives. You know it’s when we feel like we really want to do something, and then just “know” that we ought to do x_________. “I can make this work, because, well I’m me, and I can make anything work!” Yeah, that has been me in times past…the cavalier, the maverick, the eternal optimist.

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this confidence. I love to be around confident people, and consider myself to be one as well. I am still the optimist that believes we must follow some kind of executable plan. What I hope we can all start doing is exercising more wisdom in making decisions. My hope is that this book becomes the foundation for you to find wisdom. We can all learn from the pages penned by one of the most successful ruler’s in the world’s history.

My long time friend George once told me about the “five-finger friends” in life that we should all seek to find. You can usually count on one hand how many people you can count on in life, and that these were the five-finger friends that we should never have to worry about.

Life is based on a series of choices that we make and those choices form who we are, and who we can yet become. During the course of a normal day we end up making hundreds of choices that have an effect on that particular day. Those choices can also end up charting the course set for the rest of our lives. Take a deep breath, think about the potential consequences…and make the right decision.

Check out my book Everlasting Wisdom… http://www.brianhazelgren.com/everlasting_wisdom.html

 

Building Your Brand

I was reminded today about the importance of building a solid brand. Barbara, from Boston had called into a radio talk show interview that I was doing, and she wanted to let the host and me know how much she enjoyed answering the questions in my book The Complete Book of Business Plans.

She stated that her husband had left her to raise her three boys on her own, and she had no idea what to do at first. A friend had suggested my book to her and she purchased it with the hopes of writing a business plan, and getting a loan to launch her boutique business.

Barbara completed her plan, and went to the bank to get an SBA guaranteed loan of $10,000 to launch her first boutique. She was calling in to the show let us know that she was opening her third boutique since the first two were so successful; and to let the listeners know about the 130 questions in the book that she had taken the time to answer.

This is so exciting to for me to hear! To have Barbara share her story on answering a few questions…completing a business plan…raising capital for her small business…and the success she has found, is priceless. Way to go Barbara…and congratulations a hundred times over on your success!

www.brianhazelgren.com

Wildfire Spread of Brainstorming

The Wildfire Spread of Brainstorming

Since its birth in 1941, brainstorming has spread throughout the world. The technique is known to most educated managers; but, sadly, it is often applied ineffectually because of poor training and lack of access to quality training material. Nevertheless, it is used by nearly all of the world’s largest companies and across a wide range of departments. Charities, government organizations and commercial companies all shout its praises.

Using the simple rules developed over 60 years ago, people are discovering new solutions to their problems and creating new opportunities to advance their companies and their own careers. It is one of the most exciting things ever to be the inventor of a world-changing product and to become the creator of the world you want to live in. Brainstorming promises you this and more.

Every single day there is a brainstorming session being conducted somewhere in the world. New ideas are flooding out of these sessions and society is changing because of it. Join in with the progress and make your ideas heard.

Rules of Brainstorming

Rule 1: Postpone and withhold your judgment of ideas.

Do not pass judgment on ideas until the completion of the brainstorming session. Do not suggest that an idea won’t work or that it has negative side effects. All ideas are potentially good, so don’t judge them until afterwards. At this stage, avoid discussing the ideas at all, as this will inevitably involve either criticizing or complimenting them.

Rule 2: Encourage wild and exaggerated ideas.

It is much easier to tame a wild idea than it is to think of an immediately valid one in the first place. During brainstorming, then, the “wilder” the idea, the better. Shout out bizarre and unworkable ideas to see what they spark off. No idea is too ridiculous. State any outlandish ideas. Exaggerate ideas to the extreme.

Use creative thinking techniques and tools to start your thinking from a fresh direction.

Rule 3: Quantity counts at this stage, not quality.

Go for quantity of ideas at this point; narrow down the list later. All activities should be geared toward extracting as many ideas as possible in a given period.

The more creative ideas a person or a group has to choose from, the better. If the number of ideas at the end of the session is very large, there is a greater chance of finding a really good idea.

Keep each idea short, do not describe it in detail—just capture its essence. Brief clarifications can be requested. Think fast, reflect later.

Rule 4: Build on the ideas put forward by others.

Build and expand on the ideas of others. Try and add extra thoughts to each idea. Use other people’s ideas as inspiration for your own. Creative people are also good listeners. Combine several of the suggested ideas to explore new possibilities.

It’s just as valuable to be able to adapt and improve other people’s ideas as it is to generate the initial idea that sets off new trains of thought.

Rule 5: Every person and every idea has equal worth.

Every person has a valid viewpoint and a unique perspective on the situation and solution. In a brainstorming session you can always put forward ideas purely to spark off other people and not just as a final solution. Encourage everyone to participate, even if they feel they need to write their ideas on a piece of paper and pass them around. Encourage participation from everyone.

You will know that you have created a healthy brainstorming environment if everyone feels confident to contribute.

Brainstorming Your Way to New Heights!

Brainstorming Techniques for New Ideas

By Brian Hazelgren

What is Brainstorming?

Brainstorming is an incredible tool that all executives should engage in with their team on a regular basis. In just a few short minutes a day, you can literally create new ideas that will move your company to the next level of success…or even start a new industry.

Brainstorming is the name given to a situation in which a group of people meets to generate new ideas around a specific area of interest. Using rules that remove inhibitions, people are able to think more freely and move into new areas of thought and, therefore, create numerous new ideas and solutions. The participants shout out ideas as they occur to them and then build on the ideas raised by others. All the ideas are noted down and are not criticized. Only when the brainstorming session is over are the ideas evaluated. This is the traditional way brainstorming is done. The aim of this article is to provide you with the methods of traditional brainstorming and then to move on to the next level and introduce a series of advanced techniques.

Some other definitions:

• Brainstorming is a process for generating new ideas.
• Brainstorming is a technique by which a group attempts to find a solution for a specific problem by amassing all the ideas spontaneously by its members.
• To brainstorm is to use a set of specific rules and techniques which encourage and spark off new ideas which would never have happened under normal circumstances.
• Brainstorming is a fun way to unlock all those exciting ideas that a group may have buried in their minds, but are too busy to think about.
• Brainstorming will help you come up with new ideas. Not only will you come up with new ideas, but you will do so with surprisingly little effort. Brainstorming makes the generation of new ideas easy and is a tried-and-tested process. Exactly to what you apply brainstorming techniques depends on what you want to achieve. You can apply them to develop new products, services and processes in your job, or you can apply them to develop your personal life.

You can think of this as either a holistic experience if you are naturally creative; or, if you are naturally logical, you can think of it as a process of following logical rules that will stimulate your mind to think of a problem from a different angle.

Naturally, there are techniques and environments that suit certain people better than others but brainstorming is flexible enough to be able to suit everyone. Whether you do brainstorming with a group of excited colleagues or you do advanced brainstorming by yourself in an isolated room will be up to your personal preference and circumstance. Both will be successful if you read and follow the process described here.

The history and use of brainstorming begins in 1941. Alex Osborn, an advertising executive, found that conventional business meetings were inhibiting the creation of new ideas and proposed some rules designed to help stimulate creative thinking. He was looking for rules that would give people the freedom of mind and action to generate and reveal new ideas. To “think up” was the original term he used to describe the process he developed and that, in turn, came to be known as “brainstorming.” The rules he came up with are the following:

• No criticism of ideas.
• Go for large quantities of ideas.
• Build on each others ideas.
• Encourage wild and exaggerated ideas.

He found that, when these rules were followed, a lot more ideas were created; and that a greater quantity of original ideas gave rise to a greater quantity of useful ideas. Quantity produced quality.

Using these new rules, people’s natural inhibitions were reduced, inhibitions which previously had prevented them from putting forward ideas which they felt might be considered “wrong” or “stupid.” Osborn also found that generating “silly” ideas could spark very useful ideas because they changed the way people thought.

I Will Never Forget My Commitment to Freedom

As we just reflected upon that tragic day 10 years ago that woke us up as a nation, and let us all know how vulnerable we are, I am one that will never forget…

I will not forget where I was when I learned about what was going on the skies and on the ground.

I will not forget how angry I was that some outside evil force had attacked our citizens, and shook the very foundation of our freedom.

I will not forget how our men and women of the military proudly stepped up and declared that they were ready to fight and protect their families, their nation, and the freedoms that we all enjoy.

I will never forget what incredible freedoms we enjoy each and every day that we wake up, and know that we all have choices, and how we only give up our freedoms if we are not willing to make a stand.

I will never forget how the leaders of our nation stood up and looked evil squarely in the face, and declared that we will never back down, and that we as a nation will rise up and defeat this enemy to freedom.

I will never forget the prayers that I offered and asked God to help us, and to forgive us for forgetting the we need to worship Him, and that we serve Him and His children.

I will never forget the empty and helpless feeling of knowing there was nothing I could do for a time except to pray and ask for assistance to find the strength to get through this tragedy.

I will never forget the pain I felt for the families of the victims, especially those families who did not know where their loved were…if they had perished, or if they were safe.

I will never forget the images of despair and utter disbelief on the faces of those who were at ground zero.

I will never forget the images of the brave firefighters, police officers, medical personnel and paramedics giving no thought of themselves, but rushing to save lives.

I will never forget the anger I felt inside and how badly I wanted to face the cowards who had done this. And, how I wanted to personally usher them into hell for what they had taken away.

I will never forget how proud I was on the tragic day, and how much more proud I am today of the American people, and for the resiliency of a people who not not cower in the face of evil, but will stand up and fight for our freedom.

I will never forget how I had to explain to my children that there are mean people in the world who want to hurt us. And then quietly asking for guidance from God to help me find the words to explain to my kids that there are millions of people who are good and who want to do what is right.

I will never forget the images of 9/11/2011 and watching the American people roll out flags the size of football fields to show our appreciation and dedication to remain free.

No, I for one, will never forget how this great nation was founded on the principles of Freedom, and when its people band together and worship God and ask for His assistance, there is nothing that we cannot overcome, and nothing that will stand in our way to keep our freedom in tact.

I will never forget how much I love this country, and will fight to my last breath keeping our country free from tyranny and oppression.

I will never forget how much strength the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance give to me personally, and to millions of Americans as we celebrate our patriotism, and our freedom.

I will never forget my commitment to Freedom.

Brian Hazelgren, September 12, 2011

Productivity

Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort. Being productive also ties into the three things that I constantly talk about: Efficient, Effective Execution. My company is named after these three words, and its called e3 Factor (pronounced e-cubed factor). Focus on becoming more Efficient, so you can more Effective in running your business. You can accomplish these things much easier as you drive Execution in your company.

I will be holding webinars and workshops on this very topic in the Fall. Stay tuned from the website and the Facebook site Think Like an Entrepreneur.

www.brianhazelgren.com