100% ain't everything

As a business owner that has had a vision come to pass, sometimes it's hard letting go in any capacity. Sometimes you have to let go completely, sometimes you let go just enough to keep the vision alive and going.

Who owns Microsoft? I'm sure we all are saying Bill Gates right? But just how much does he own? A whopping 4.52% by latest reports! Granted his 4.52% may be worth a lot more however it points to a successful business model.

Wandering MBA Lesson.....100% ain't everything! If you can leverage resources whether financial or personal to push and keep the vision alive, don't be afraid to give up some equity with a like minded partner!

Who's time?

Timing is everything! Sometimes as business people we lose track of time. Not only our own time with family or outside of the business but the right timing of the introduction of new products and or services. Don't make decisions in haste. Take time, take a step back and assess, seek guidance from the universe or whatever source you choose.

Wandering MBA Lesson....be mindful of your time. The universe is never out of order, take a listen and realize you're on her time anyway!

Anger and favor

Psalm 30:4-6 the lords anger lasts only a day, his favor a lifetime. 

Wandering MBA Lesson.....don't let one speed bump make you doubt your God given destiny and purpose!

Hold on Your Wave is coming...

It's easy to get discouraged as entrepreneurs but when you are in balance mind, body and spirit God and the universe has a way of sending you signs to encourage you along the way.

Take the waves in this picture below, I walk or run past these waves daily most times not paying attention. Today I took notice though and while the waves were not that big some surfers still took advantage and got in the water and had what looked like a good surf.

Wandering MBA Lesson.....life and business are sometimes like those waves but don't get blinded looking for the big waves of lie (opportunities, jobs, etc) and miss the little waves(love, peace, health, family) or even just a smaller blessing that is coming to bless you as well. Get in the water look for and ride all the waves not just the big ones!

System reset...

According to my workout plan, Wednesdays are my rest days but I'm also using it to do a one day fast and cleanse using the old lemonade diet recipe. A day without food increases mental focus and allows me to hear more clearly from God and the universe.

For those that haven't tried it and need the recipe it's simple. Fresh squeezed lemons, cayenne pepper and grade B maple syrup and add water. The syrup is just a little sweetener so only a table spoon and cayenne as much as you can handle! 

Wandering MBA Lesson.....sometimes in business and life you're forced to hit the reset button. But why wait, you can hit the reset button for yourself physically, mentally, spiritually and in business. This can be time to start a new venture, improve on an old venture or whatever. 

My first 32oz of good ole lemonade! Don't judge my thermos!

Learn, study, recognize your influences...

Any one that truly knows me knows that my dad, Lloyd Arthur Wright, is my idol. I've met and know a lot of good ppl but he has taught and shown me more than anyone.  Is influence is all over everything I do.

I'm not a junior, the second, II, deuce, bubba or none of the other names associated with being named after someone. I'm Lloyd Anthony Wright... While my father, sister, and now my daughter all share the LAW initials my middle name is obviously different from his. Hmm. Prophetic? Maybe who knows but it does point to my individuality. 

I have to dig deeper and find out how far the name Lloyd goes back in our family but throughout my life it's been mostly associated with the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Oddly enough I had an interest in architecture before I knew who Frank Lloyd Wright was.  Any way, the point of this digression is something I found about  Frank Lloyd Wrights work ethic...

 "It wasn't that Frank Lloyd Wright necessarily worked well under pressure. He just wouldn't sketch anything until he'd worked out an entire design in his head."

Throughout undergrad and grad school I used to beat myself up for what at the time seemed like procrastination. I would party all night and wake up around 4-5am and get it in. I mean write papers, I hadn't started, tests I hadn't studied for but that's when I worked best. It took my older sister living with me for a while to point out this habit. Thanks sis! 

Wandering MBA Lesson.....learn, understand and appreciate your uniqueness. By being an entrepreneur, you're by nature a risk taker; automatically different. In the words of #russellsimmons "do you". Do what works.

Below are some photos of #FrankLloydWright architecture 

Network, network and then network some more

Met an old colleague to discuss some opportunitites that are promising...

Wandering MBA lesson...work your network. Many of your old friends and professional contacts have moved on to new and exciting things. Reach out, catch up and see how you can be of service! Yes serve not just work or job!

Always always be open to new opportunity

As entrepreneurs we sometimes become myopic and narrowly focused on one goal and miss other opportunities in our face that may even be or become complementary businesses or services.

Found this space. Could be coffee/tea house, deli/cafe, small eatey, boutique, etc. All of which I've had an interest in at some point. 

Wandering MBA lesson....be open to new opportunities. You're an entrepreneur which doesn't always mean you have to be an owner/operator.

Daily physical focus

I'm back on my workout, back on my regiment, back in the gym again! See earlier workout plan posted...

The bee vs the butterfly

A lot can be learned about ourselves and others by observing all of God's creatures, their habits and interactions. 

One timeless observation and comparison is that of the bee and the butterfly. The bee works and prepares for hard times storing up honey to live on when the winter comes. The butterfly lives only for today. When the winter comes the butterfly is gone.....

Wandering MBA Lesson.....be like the bee gather and store not only financial gains to meet material needs when times are difficult; but also gather and store tools and resources to use when your mental and physical focus becomes dull and needs sharpening. This can be done through books, seminars, webinars, etc

Start each day with spirit and mental focus

Each morning I awake for at least 30mins or more of prayer and meditation. This routine and discipline sharpens mental focus. Readings include the Bible along with other spiritual leaders. 

My road dog normally gets me up around 6 and we take the first walk of the day down the beach to get the blood pumping.

Nightly Spiritual regimen

Ending the day as it began...giving thanks for blessings, grace, peace and mercy today.

I also forgot to introduce my roadie Simba, MBA who's obviously also exhausted 

Physical focus... Intense workout

Running 5k's for breakfast doing this workout by my favorite trainer....

Physical focus...healthy eating

Gave up beef and pork over two years ago. Now trying vegan for the past few days to improve focus and discipline. 

Back to the basics...

Each day I'm starting with the mental. I awake between 4:30-5am each morning. Find a quiet corner for prayer and meditation. Each day I pray to God and the universe, what shall I do today? What is your will for me today? Order my steps...After some practice I began to hear a quiet still voice giving me guidance on what to focus on that day. I started to make a list of each task and check it off as I progressed.  I had a mentor early in my professional career that would force me to make a list at the beginning of each day of what I wanted to accomplish. This was back in 1992. Computers weren't as widely used so he had me make a chart on old accounting grid paper. At the end of each day, I was to go over each item and assign a % completion. Picked this structure and habit back up.

Wandering MBA lesson....do what works. 

Stick to your old guns, add to your old guns, or ditch the old guns and get some new artillery!

So with the sale of the business on hold and still pressing towards the April dividend payout, funds are dwindling. Reminds me of an earlier Wandering MBA lesson...make an honest assessment of the situation. 

My daughter is my focus and motivation to lead by example. So when I made the decision to move I had in mind a place with her own room etc. it will be some time after April when she gets to visit so until then I can downsize and live off little; keeping the focus on personal improvement and awareness.  So getting rid of one old gun (larger more costly apartment), for a new gun (less costly living arrangements) to save even more.

Professionally my old gun is the bar business. Do I stick to it, add to it or go get some new artillery? For the time being doing a combination of all three. Sticking to the old gun as I work through reorganization, adding to it with some new renovations and marketing strategies lastly my new artillery......a job!! Never know but have to be open to,all possibilities. Paid good time and money for those three important letters..MBA might as well test the waters as well for anything new and exciting.

Wandering MBA Lesson...changing course midstream is not always a bad thing, as long as you chart a new course first.  Be open to new opportunities even if it requires working for someone else for a while.

A new daily regiment for focus and clarity...

I took a step back from focusing so much on the business and how to fix it and said I have about six weeks till a dividend payout. Why don't I downsize, focus on my spiritual, mental and physical well being and leave the worries of business and success to God and the universe? I mean things are tight as is couldn't hurt right? 

So I set out to do just that..focusing primarily on those three areas. Of course I still have business to tend to but I am not overly consumed with it. 

Wandering MBA Lesson......give your mind and body rest thru proper sleep, nutrition and exercise. Your body and business will thank you later.

Getting burned out....

The sale of the business is going slow. Getting frustrated almost ready to walk away and focus on reorganization paying debtors etc.  forces me to ponder next options...have an investment that will pay some dividends in April but that's two months away...so continue to focus on the sale, the new business, go get a job or what?

Wandering MBA lesson.....know when your interests have waned. never be afraid to cut your losses.  You're in business to make money.

To sale or not to sale, that is the question....

In business, as an owner you have to make tough decisions.  One of the toughest I made was to close my club and reorganize the business and financials.  At the same time, I've advertised the business for sale.

What shall I do, what shall I do?

So at this point as a professional with an MBA you take a step back, dust off case studies, back track and try and figure out mistakes and correct them.  You approach it with the intensity of completing a case study or exam except its real life.  The books are your books, the successful or failed marketing strategies are yours, the failed management plan is yours too and so on and so forth. This helps from having to dig to deep into the MBA archives for some quick reference.

When the cats away....

So one major catalyst for the wandering were some drastic changes in my core business and income. Currently in entertainment as a bar owner. However, three full months of being an absentee bar owner and sales are off by 35%. I didn't fully assess the operations and my role in its success before focusing on other ventures.

Wandering MBA lesson....make an honest assessment of where you are personally, professionally or in your business before delving into new things that will take up more of your time and focus.

Santa Monica....healthy living and fitness

It seems as if everything here is geared towards healthy eating and living. Just what I need. Don't have to search for vegan foods or places to do yoga or exercise.

Santa Monnica, Ca Wandering post #1

Originally thought I'd be in the city but was drawn to the water of Santa Monica as my chakra reading indicated...

Chakra Reading

Had my chakras read twice and they both said the same thing...take time and enjoy life don't work so hard. Take Tai Chi or yoga, find some water and paint. 

Vortex!

In Sedona the vortex magnetic energy is said to be so strong that it twists the trees. That's how you know you're close.

First stop Sedona Arizona

At this time business is decent.  Drive is cool.  Had to stop at Sedona. I heard about the vortices had to experience it myself.

And the wandering beings....

Left a thriving business to move to santa Monica for a break and rejuvenation. Made the drive from Houston to Los Angeles but with some great stops along the way! 

Why wander and why now?

Glad you asked...the time is now. Going thru a reorganization of one successful business while trying to build another small business miles away. This will document the ups and downs and how I personally push thru all of the personal, family and financial challenges associated with following your dreams.

Thus far I've found peace and balance by focusing more on personal spiritual, mental and physical improvement than poring over business documents and plans tirelessly. As entrepreneurs we breathe, eat and sleep our business so it really takes a focused effort to take ones attention off our regular duties and focus on ourselves or others.

Master or Mastery Defined

¹mas·ter

 noun \ˈmas-tər\

Definition of MASTER

1

a (1) :  a male teacher (2) :  a person holding an academic degree higher than a bachelor's but lower than a doctor's

b often capitalized :  a revered religious leader

c :  a worker or artisan qualified to teach apprentices

d (1) :  an artist, performer, or player of consummate skill (2):  a great figure of the past (as in science or art) whose work serves as a model or ideal

2

a :  one having authority over another :  ruler, governor

b :  one that conquers or masters :  victor, superior <in the new challenger the champion found his master>

Well got 1a down so that professor wasn't too far off base! Let's get down to 2b.

One that conquers...leads to....

mas·tery

 noun \ˈmas-t(ə-)rē\

: knowledge and skill that allows you to do, use, or understand something very well

: complete control of something

That's the focus of this time....to conquer or master the spiritual, mental and physical during this time of transition leading to increased or complete control of those aspects of your life. Then apply those same mastery techniques to your new or existing business or job.

MBA...."Master of Being Anything"

I remember in one of my first classes in my MBA program at Rice University, one of the professors asked the class. You know what MBA stands for don't you? Of course all of our intelligent selves blurted out Masters of Business Administration of course. But the professor said yeah that's one meaning, but the real meaning is Master of Being Anything!

Well this blog is dedicated to prove that theorem! Does an MBA really prepare you to become a master of anything? Lets test this out, see if we can make a b-school case out of it while we're at it.

This will chronicle and document my daily routine as a well educated entrepreneurial professional experiencing the highs and lows of being just that.......an entrepreneur.