Five Performance Lessons From The Biggest Loser

To give you an idea, the most recent winner, Danny Cahill a 40-year-old man from Oklahoma, went from 430 pounds to 191 pounds in 7 months (that`s 239 pounds LOST).

When my wife first began watching the show and telling me how fascinating it was, I wasn`t that interested; reality TV didn`t seem very real to me, and I didn`t really want to watch. After a few more conversations, I decided to watch with her.

The show is "reality TV" and therefore there are elements that don`t interest me that much, and I wish it wasn`t so long (it`s the perfect candidate for your DVR), but overall I really enjoy the show.

Why?

I enjoy the show because of the truths it highlights week after week about human performance, success, goal achievement and leadership. And, of course, these lessons are available to us all regardless of how much we weigh.

Here are five of the most valuable lessons you can take from this show and apply in your life.

The importance of vision. How can we arrive at any destination if we don`t know what it is? Contestants on the show often say "I`m not ready to go home yet" (most weeks at least one contestant leaves "the ranch" where all contestants live while they pursue their weight loss full time). This statement connects to their vision. Often what they mean but don`t say is that they don`t yet have the skills, tools, and more to be successful on their own at home in reaching their vision. Their vision is clear and those who stay the most focused on it have the best results.

The power of purpose. As with most reality television, there is a monetary prize for the person who loses the most weight (as a percentage of their initial weight). Yet, if you didn`t already know that as you watched the show, you wouldn`t learn it from the contestants. Do they want to win $250,000? I`m sure they do. However, that is never a topic of conversation; rather they talk about why they want to lose the weight - to play with their children, to live longer, to be a grandparent, to literally be able to have children, and more. These statements of purpose are the real "why" - the real reason they are putting their bodies and minds through extremes. Those with the strongest purposes, make the most progress.

The need for massive action. You must agree that you can`t lose 20-50+% of your body weight in 7 months by eating a few less chips or walking once in awhile. The people on the show aren`t timid about their actions. They are doing the extreme! When I watch them I am continually reminded that if you want massive change, you must take massive action.

The value of new habits. During the course of the show, there are episodes where all the remaining contestants go home for one or more weeks. During this time, they need to continue to exercise and eat correctly because when they return for the weekly weigh in, they will be accountable for their actions of the week. Those that are most successful at home are those who have built new habits of thinking and acting; habits that transcend the time away from home. So it is for us - we must consciously build habits that support the goals we want to achieve, and make choices that are consistent with those goals.

The consequences of coaching. The show has two trainers who work with the contestants throughout the show - helping them with diet, exercise and mindset changes. Would the contestants be as successful without a coach to help them with their improvement? Of course not! Few of us would embark on physical fitness change without some coaching; yet often we try to reach other personal or professional goals without informed help. Crazy isn`t it? If you want great success, get informed, caring, wise assistance.

Each of these lessons is incredibly valuable, and when intentionally applied can create great change. They apply to those we lead as well. When you take these lessons and apply them to your leadership activities, you can make a bigger difference within your organization.

Am I telling you to watch the new season, or watch past episodes online?

Not necessary; that is up to you.

What I am telling you is that if you want greater results in any part of your life, pay attention to the lessons I have shared above.

Because they work.

Remarkable leaders know that their ability to master these ideas makes them more effective leaders. One of the ways you can learn the skills related to goal achievement, focus and influence (and much more) is by participating in The Remarkable Leadership Learning System - a one skill at a time, one month at a time approach to becoming a more confident and successful leader.
Get $748.25 worth of leadership development materials including two months of that unique system as part of Kevin Eikenberry’s Most Remarkable Free Leadership Gift Ever today at MostRemarkableFreeLeadershipGiftEver.com. Kevin is a bestselling author, speaker, trainer, consultant and the Chief Potential Officer of the Kevin Eikenberry Group (www.KevinEikenberry.com).

How To Successfully Get Into Business By Buying A Good Business - With Almost No Money Down

Did you know that now may be the easiest time ever to create exactly what you want? Why? Because the economy seems to be spinning out of control, and baby-boomers are at a particular stage in their lives. Let me explain…

Most people don’t know this but the fact is that you can achieve financial and time freedom easier, faster and safer by buying rather than starting a business.

There are two things that you should be aware of if you wish to financially liberate yourself and your family practically, fast, effectively, powerfully and safely - with almost no money down…

Fact #1: Did you know that your fastest, safest, and possibly easiest vehicle to securing your financial and time freedom is, paradoxically, buying a business? It is not, for most people, starting a business. It is not saving. It is not investing in real estate or shares. And it is not working hard at your job. All these things have their place in life, and I am not saying that you should not consider or participate in them. By all means, they are good and have their place. But recognize what their place is. So why is this fact so? Hang on a minute please. Let us look at fact number two first.

Fact #2: Did you also know that this is the best time, in the history of the world, to buy a business? Why?

Allow me to explain both positions.

First of all, why is buying a business better, in many ways, than starting one?

Well, the advantages of buying over starting are that:

- Purchase price/terms are negotiable and can be fixed. When you are buying a business of any size, you get a ready, running package that you can see and touch, that is operational, and you can negotiate the terms and know upfront how much it will take to get into it. Starting, on the other hand, is not so predictable, and things often don’t go according to plan.

- Funding options widen when you are buying. Whereas it is difficult to get bank loans and investors for new start ups that are just an idea, it is relatively easy to get bank loans and investors for businesses that are already running and have customers, suppliers, products and so on, all already manifest and provable.

- Cash flow from day one. When you buy, you are buying a ready package with cash flow. And cash flow is like blood to a business. You cannot do without it.

- Less risky. Again, from the fact that the business is already running and proven. Whereas 75% of start-ups fail within the first 5 years, 75% of franchises, for example, succeed. Businesses that are already operational are somewhat like franchises. The tables are turned. Sure, you get more flexibility with a start-up, but you get more surety with a business that is already running.

- You can flip it soon after buying. Just like a house, you buy, renovate it, and sell it at a higher price.

- Best of all, you can buy it for almost no money down. How? Just a minute, we will get into that shortly.

Second question. Why is this the best time, in the history of the world, to buy a business?

Because of two factors:

- A once-in-a-lifetime global asset fire sale. Because of the state of the financial world right now, almost all assets are cheaper. Way cheaper. So now you can negotiate a very good price whereby you build profit into the purchase price.

- A once-in a lifetime baby-boomer generation's business sale. Many people are approaching retirement and wish to offload their business. These are the baby-boomer generation. They were the first major group to get into the start up business movement. And now they wish to sell. For all sorts of reasons. Some are just tired and just wish to get rid of it and will give you great terms on their businesses. Some did not organize their business well enough and cannot compete without making the kind of changes (such as technology) that you may be able to make. Some just want to realize their retirement. Whatever the reason, today there are more businesses for sale than there are buyers of businesses. It is a buyers market.

This brings us to the best part. How can you possibly buy a business for no money down? Well, because of the global financial state, the over-supply of businesses for sale (even on eBay only, you will find tons, everything from small websites to large concerns), and the fact that baby-boomers desperately want to sell, you can easily get seller financing. Here is one way you can get a business for almost no money down. You simply let the owner understand that you will be able to pay them using the revenues of the business. So in effect, you will buy their business. But instead of paying cash for it, the owner will keep title of various assets in the business, and maybe even title to your car or other assets. As security. And then over the course of the year, you will pay them an agreed sum monthly, until the full price is paid, and then the title to the assets will revert to you. If you fail to pay, the owner gets back the business. But if you do your homework well, and arrange the deal well, you will easily get the money to pay the owner from the very business you bought. This sounds unbelievable, but veterans in business know that in many areas and industries about 70% of businesses are bought and sold this way. You can do this. I will show you how here: http://www.revolutionscape.com