On Overnight Success

I definitely think you can be an overnight success.

It just may take seven or eight years to get there.

Be patient. The night is long.

Navigating Regret

Would you rather have the regret of starting a business and failing or the regret of never trying it out?

Would you rather regret being turned down or regret never asking her on that date?

Would you rather regret reconnecting after years apart or regret never have spoken to them again?

Sometimes, the will to act can be found by choosing the lesser of two regrets.

Regret is not a great sustainer of action, but it can be a decent catalyst for one.

Giving Speek a Look

If you host or jump on a lot of conference calls, you need to give Speek a look. This newly launched beauty is a better way to conference, especially if you or other members are in front of their computers while the boss drones on.

I just started using Speek this week to record my podcast interviews (check out some of these gems in the coming weeks). So yes - Speek can record your calls easily and archive them online so you can go back and see who said they were going to do what and when it was going to be done.

A few other highlights worth mentioning:

• Speek conference calls are easy, free and visual.
  
• Speek created a way to do conference calls with a simple link (ie., speek.com/YourName) rather than fumbling around for a dial-in phone number and PIN. 
  
• One-click access to join a call; no downloads. This is awesome as I simply call (via the online interface) other participants and boom! They're on the call when they pick up.
  
• Participants can click the link to start or join a call from any device or platform (i.e., desktop or mobile browser, VOIP, SMS, you name it. Speek has free iPhone and Windows Phone apps, with Android coming soon).
  
• Speek conference calls are visual so once you're on the call, you can see who’s joined, who’s talking, view social profiles, and comment, mute and add/remove participants.
  
• Speek PRO for $10/mo allows for unlimited callers, and gets you extra features like file sharing and call recording.

Again, I'm a fan and I'm just checking it all out. Give it a shot yourself and let me know what you think.

Convincing Yourself

Beware of situations in which you must convince yourself. Talking yourself into something is rarely a great sign.

Whether it's going to an event, choosing whom to date, or taking that new job, if the conversations in your head only point to reluctance, it may be a sure harbinger that things may not end well.

It may be easier to convince yourself that something better will be coming along. If so, wait for that.

Ask This Question for Better Everything

In my career and personal life, one question has taken me farther, faster:

What can I do for you today?

If you think this question is relegated to waitresses or bellhops, think again. This question can shorten conversations, help you understand the needs of others (be they a wife or a boss), and reveal what needs to be delivered and when.

At heart, it's the question of one interested in the welfare of others. But it's not the question of a servant.

It's the question of a leader.