[POSTER] Duncan Nugget® #257: Giving Up vs. Getting Up

Sometimes, when it seems like you’re giving up…
You are really GETTING up and moving on.

Million-Dollar Question:
Is it time to walk away or try harder?

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ACTION STEPS/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

[VIDEO] Duncan Nugget® #56: Point Of Differentiation

*Yawn*

After interviewing a dozen students for a job in the restaurant that I was managing, that was all I could do—yawn. They all gave similar answers:

“I’m a hard worker…

“I’m a fast learner…”

Boring.

Many professionals, entrepreneurs, and students are pushing the same old stuff. Where’s the differentiation? Put some salt and pepper on it. Season it up.

For example, one guy asked me, “What’s the hardest thing to make on your menu.”

“Well…there’s this souffle…”

He interrupted, “If I go back there and make it, will you hire me?”

“Yes.”

He did. I hired him.

Here’s another example:

When Vitamin Water first hit the market, they didn’t put it on the aisle with juice or soft drinks. It was on the aisle with water. It was the only colorful drink on the aisle. Brilliant. That’s differentiation.

Million-Dollar Question:
In today’s competitive market, what’s your point of differentiation?

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ACTION STEPS/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

[VIDEO+ACTIVITY] Duncan Nugget #103: Focus On The Task At Hand

Picture this:

I’m standing 3 feet away from my 5-yr old son, Mekhi. I call him. He doesn’t answer. Hmm…

I say his name a little louder, “Mekhi!”

Still no response. Grrr…

“MEKHIIII!!!”

Believe it or not, he still doesn’t respond. I’m thinking, “Oh lord! My child is deaf.” But that’s not it. He can’t hear me because he’s watching his show. He’s focused.

If you’re a parent, you’ve experienced this. If you have parents, you’ve done this!

You’re probably thinking, “That is not focus. He was ignoring you.” Ha! I can see where you’re coming from, but wait. Isn’t that what focus is?

The ability to ignore anything that has nothing to do with the task at hand. 

HINT: When engrossed in something you are passionate about, you have that ability.

Million-Dollar Question:
What are you so passionate about that you ignore all distractions and focus on the task at hand?

[VIDEO+ACTIVITY] Duncan Nugget® #84: Genuine Open-Mindedness

Is it just me or have you ever noticed that once somebody thinks something negative about a person or a group of people s/he can find all the evidence in the world to prove it, but none to refute it?

And once somebody thinks you can’t do or be something, s/he can find all the evidence in the world to prove that it’s impossible, but none to prove that it is possible.

Why?

Because genuine open-mindedness is a rare thing.

It’s common, however, for people to completely ignore (sometimes unintentionally) anything that challenges their beliefs. Even if it’s factual, people have a hard time dealing with information that contradicts what they think. Most people only seek information that validates what they want to think and believe.

Genuine open-mindedness is a master ability. It’s one of the keys to collaboration and teamwork.

Million-Dollar Question:
How open-minded are you?

[POSTER] Duncan Nugget® #14: Your Performance Today

Million-Dollar Question:
If your life was
remembered based on
how well you performed today,
would that be okay with you?

LEARN. DO. IMPROVE.

TODAY.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS/ACTION STEPS

[VIDEO] Duncan Nugget® #37: A Step Towards Mastering Your Emotions

Your limbic system is the part of your brain that produces emotions. Did you know it initially responds to mental and emotional threats exactly like it does to physical threats?

If your character or beliefs are attacked or if you feel disrespected or embarrassed, what happens? Your natural defense mechanism kicks in. It’s called flight-or-fight response.Your body says, “it’s time to run or rumble.” You think things like, “let me get out of here or I’m going hurt somebody.” That’s why mastering your emotions is challenging.

But…

You can take a step towards mastering your emotions by training yourself to effectively deal with mental and emotional threats.

It starts with awareness. Then you diligently work on improving your Emotional Intelligence, communication, and conflict resolution skills.

Million-Dollar Question:
What are you willing to do to take a step towards
mastering your emotions.

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ADDITIONAL READING AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

[VIDEO] Duncan Nugget® #78: Seize The Opportunity

Recently, I asked a friend, “Why are you procrastinating about this opportunity?” He answered, “I’m not procrastinating. I’m being patient.”

There is a thin line between patience and procrastination.

On one side, you seize opportunities. Awesome. On the other side, you snooze on opportunities. Not awesome.

“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” That’s from the Art of War. It means that when you snooze on one, you miss others you can’t even see. That’s why you must understand the difference between patience and procrastination.

Patience is taking a calculated risk. Procrastination is avoiding risk.

Patience is making time to learn what to do. Procrastination is knowing what to do and not doing it.

Patience is saying, “This will take awhile so, let’s get started now.” Procrastination is saying, “I’ll get to it sooner or later.”

Of course, later never comes.

Million-Dollar Question:
What opportunity do you need to seize right now?

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS