[VIDEO] Duncan Nugget® #344: Your Strategy For Dealing With Failure

A professor once asked me, “Al, in your opinion, why do students cheat?”

“Because they have an ineffective strategy for dealing with failure.”

Think about that. When people don’t know how to deal with failure they’ll do anything to avoid it.

Nobody wants to fail, but exceptional people aren’t afraid to fail. They develop a strategy.

Here’s mine:

1. Forgive yourself. The Duncan Nugget® that I probably quote the most is #21: Failure is only permanent if you quit. I might get sad. I might get mad. But I refuse to beat myself up about it.

2. Master the lesson. Analyze what went wrong and don’t do it again. Duh!

3. Work hard to get better. Learn and practice what you learned. If you don’t know how to improve then ask someone who knows what s/he is talking about.

That’s my strategy.

Million Dollar Question:
What is your strategy for dealing with failure?

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ACTION STEPS AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

[VIDEO+ACTIVITY] Duncan Nugget #60: Present Yourself In High Definition

High Definition (HD) videos and images are clearer, sharper, and more vivid than normal videos and images so, they’re worth a premium.

The same thing goes for high-definition people—exceptional individuals who have an accurate internal definition of who they are, what they bring to the table, where they are going, and how they plan to get there. This helps them to come across as clearer, sharper, and more vivid the than competition. They’re worth a premium because they present themselves in high definition.

If you are coming across fuzzy, start with your self-definition. Who are you? What’s most important to you in life? What do you want to do? Once you have clear answers to those questions, create a plan and learn how to articulate your plan. Then you’ll be able to come across in HD.

Million-Dollar Question:
Are you determined to take the necessary steps to present yourself in high-definition?

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ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR DUNCAN NUGGET #60

[VIDEO] Duncan Nugget® #77: When The Pot Is Hot

Any great cook or professional chef knows that it’s best to start cooking when the pot is hot.

That goes for ovens, pans, and grills, too. They should be the ideal temperature when you start cooking. This small, vital step is one of the secrets to cooking a great dish.

It works the same way with ideas or things you want to get done. The best time to build momentum is when you first think of an idea or start on a task.  The motivation is there. The excitement is there. The desire is there.

The pot is hot.

Take some immediate action steps that you can use to measure your progress. Wait too long and your pot gets cold.  The motivation is gone. The excitement is gone. The desire is gone. Not cool.

Million-Dollar Question:
Isn’t it time for you to start cooking up some more success?

[VIDEO] Duncan Nugget® #198: Outside Or Inside Your Head

“Mr. Duncan, this is crazy! My biochemistry book costs $120!”

“Didn’t you just spend $125 getting your hair done?”

“Yeah.”

“So, it’s cool to spend that kind of cash on the outside of your head, but not on the inside?”

“I never looked at it like that, but real talk, Mr. Duncan, I gotta get my hair done.”

—conversation between Al Duncan and a college student

What’s in your head (and heart) determines what’s in your life.

Nice hats, expensive sunglasses, earrings, haircuts, and hairdos cost you thousands of dollars. A book on personal or professional development might cost you $25 and could help you make thousands, maybe millions, of dollars.

There’s nothing wrong with taking care of the outside of your head, but take care of the inside too.

Million-Dollar Question:
Do you spend more time, money, and energy on the outside or inside of your head?

[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?