Company Of One With Dale Callahan

Being bored at work seems normal. Studies indicate 43% of office workers are bored - many hoping to find a new job. So if you are bored, then note that you are normal. Now - does that make you feel any better? I thought not.  So what do you do? Quit and find another job? Some of you will take this path, only to quickly be bored again.  So instead of quitting and starting again at a new place, maybe there are creative ways to make boredom go away. Are You Bored at Work? (podcast outline) What to do when you are bored at work?  Want to stay in current job - just wish I was less bored Embrace it. You do not have to work too hard. Maybe that is OK.  Explore. Look around and become curious about what is going on. Get away from your desk (or normal job) and go learn about what others do.  Stop doing so much. Often we are bored when we are not using our gifts. A person who likes movement would prefer sweeping the floor or walking around taking inventory vs sitting at a desk. And some are the opposite. F

Who is living your dream? Do you know?  Or put another way, who do you want to grow up to be? Whether their occupation, their success, their ministry, their impact on the world - who is your role model for success?  John, a CIO at a multi-billion $ company told me “No one ever asks me how to be me. No one seems to want to be CIO.” His statement was odd because the same statement is written in the book Rich Dad Poor Dad - no one ever asks him how to be rich.   But the key to finding success is to answer three questions - and one of them is to find out who is living your dream.  Who is Living Your Dream (podcast outline) The Hard Truth: Many people do not have a role model. They are drifting. We need to find people who have walked the path we want to walk.  Who is Living your dream - how to find out. The three questions you need to answer: What do you love to do? How do you make money doing that? Who is living your dream? Today we focus on the last question - who is living your dream?  But

Finding your path after 30 has some unique challenges. College is just a memory. You have a good career. You have a family. But when you look around at what you do and what comes next - you might be yearning for some direction. The words I hear so often are, "I want more." A client recently told me this: When you get into your 30’s, you do not know where to go. Up to now, you had a plan. High school counselors and parents helped you find a college, college helped you find a job, and when you started the job you had some direction since you were new and just learning. Now, you are experienced with so many options of where to go, and no one is directing you. She said it well. Finding your path after 30, when no one is there to guide you, and you have so many choices can be a rough and lonely road. Finding Your Path After 30 (Podcast Outline) Warning signs you might be on the wrong path (Some of these are taken from Jack Canfield's post on how the universe is speaking to you. The universe aside - some good thou

Have you forgotten how to dream? I asked that question of a client the other day as he was talking through all of his options. Should he take the job that was a minor promotion (my words - not his) or should he take the job in the other company which is also a minor promotion? (Again - my words not his.)  As he described both, I could tell his heart could care less? “What do you really want?” I asked. He then started comparing the options between the two jobs.  No - I mean “What do YOU really want?” Take all of this off the table. What do you want to do if you could step back and money was not the issue? He stared at me as if I had just morphed into speaking Chinese.  After a moment of awkward silence, I said - “Have you forgotten how to dream?" After another moment of awkward silence, he said - “I have even forgotten what it means to dream."  Have you forgotten how to dream? (podcast outline) We have let others do the dreaming for us. They set the agenda. What has happened to all of us? We used to be a

Do you hate marketing yourself? The other day someone told me “I hate having to market myself. It just feels slimy - like I am a used car salesman."  (No apologies to the used car salesmen out there - the label is well earned.) But, a central component of any business is marketing and promotion. So, in the Company of One model - where you look at yourself as a business - marketing YOU is important for growth.  So if you hate marketing yourself, this episode is for you.    Be comforted. Marketing yourself is NOT what car salesmen do - well it should not be unless your goal is to have people run from you when you walk down the hall - then it can be pretty effective.  So today we want to talk about what marketing yourself looks like. Professional, not pushy, and very effective.  I blogged about marketing yourself or showing your value in this blog post with similar content: How to Show Your Value.  What To Do If You Hate Marketing Yourself (podcast outline) Operations vs marketing. Operations are abou

You need to become a better reader. I know - this might be something you have not heard since grade school. The old adage “leaders are readers” might not be 100% accurate, but I have found that most people who are getting things done and breaking new ground are in fact, avid readers.  I have also found that those who do not do a lot of reading are typically not growing and average. They usually do not have a lot of insight and seem to be OK with the status quo. Not knocking it - just an observation.  Another observation - I can usually tell who is a reader without asking them.  So whether you are a reader or are wanting to think about how to become a better reader and develop a better reading habit, this list should help you out.   Three Steps to Become a Better Reader in 2020(Podcast Outline) First, learn to consume content faster. No, I do not mean speed reading (although that is an option - but takes work) but I mean read smarter. To become a better reader, you need to be able to read more. But, let’s

Write your 15 minute business plan and then get moving providing goods and services for other people.  After all, the only person who reads most business plans is the person who wrote it - the business owner.  But unlike all those people who spend months writing a plan, you need to develop your 15-minute business plan and then start with the execution phase. Here is all you need. 15 Minute Business Plan for Your Startup (podcast outline) The key elements of a business plan are simple and should be obvious if you are getting ready to start making money and serving customers.  Your 15-minute business plan should answer the following questions: What problem(s) are you trying to solve? Do not be cute or wordy, just state what the problem is in normal words. Best to use the words you have heard potential customers use. Example: Help busy moms with preteen kids lose weight. They are so busy with kids that taking care of themselves is hard. Who you will serve? It needs to be someone who has the proble

Stupid lies about money are certainly prevalent. Like weight loss, everyone has advice about how to make money and grow wealth. The problem is  - most of that advice comes from people who do not have any money. Kinda like taking weight loss advice from a fat person.  OK - to be transparent I am not fat. Oh - you really do not care about that, do you.  Maybe you care more about this. I have zero debt (including real estate) and I am a multimillionaire with multiple streams of income and I generally love what I do. - even the parts when I am working with idiots. You can hear about that on Podcast 157: Finding Joy on the Job Even When You Work for an Idiot.  But I am certainly blessed. I do not claim to be wise in all things money - but I do constantly learn from others who know a lot - and little - about growing wealth. There are definitely many lies we believe.  Before we look at those lies, there are simple, but important truths about growing wealth that we overlook. Today let’s look at a few of those.  Q

Is finding joy on the job - even when you work for an idiot  -  even possible? No, I am not asking is working for an idiot possible - we all know that it is. Painfully! But finding joy on the job is an important part. Can it be done if you work for that idiot?  I think so. In fact, I know you can find joy at work, even while working for an idiot. Here are some ideas on how. Finding Joy on the Job - Even When You Work for an Idiot (Podcast Outline) Leave. Start looking for something else in a serious hunt. You do not have to be committed to leaving - but just the hunt alone might help you find joy. Recently I was working with someone who was unappreciated at his job. He was not the most organized guy - but he was powerfully effective with clients. But the establishment did not appreciate him - especially two women on the team. He was dogged in every meeting of management. Then when he got a new manager, that manager led by giving him a written warning with human resources. I told Jack that he would never t

Leadership void is much more common than we want to admit. In fact, I think it is the norm.  Some voids are caused by poor leaders who provide little vision or direction.  Others are caused by transitions in roles (esp for your leaders) and the inability for overall leadership to define issues and set a strategy.  Either way - as John Maxwell puts it - "Everything rises and falls on leadership."  Unfortunately - even if you are a leader - you are often impacted by the leadership above you. You get stuck waiting for their direction - and in the meantime, you fail to provide direction to those who report to you. You, therefore, become a bad leader. (I have been here many times myself)  So no matter your role or the reason - leadership void is the norm - not the exception. Here are some things to do. How to Lead at Work When There is a Leadership Void (Podcast Outline) The Bold Approach Engage the leader. Ask them what is going on. Politely let them know you see a void, and things are not working.      

Looking to grow your income without leaving your day job? Growing our income is one of the most common goals we all have - but we rarely talk about it like growth. Instead, I hear others tell me “I want to make more money” But what does that mean? Usually a new job or a pay raise.  When I ask “How are you going to make that happen?” the answers come back  Wait for my boss to give me a raise, I guess? Hope that they finally pay me what I am worth. I am looking for a new job. (usually passively) The challenge is most of us are waiting on someone else to grow our income.  STOP. Take control. YOU GROW YOUR OWN INCOME! Five Ways to Grow Your Income Without Leaving Your Day Job  (Podcast Outline) #1 - Start a side hustle doing what you love. There is no easier way to increase your income and create a long term flow of money.  Teaching others how to do what you love and are good at. We see a lot of this on  - courses on how to use their camera, learn a language, do building projects, fix houses, e

What are the first 5 steps to starting your own business or side hustle? You could do what most people do when they start a business. Write a business plan. Yes, get bogged down in the nasty details that really will not matter nor be read by anyone. Go find funding — usually a loan. Avoid these stupid steps for almost everyone. Here is what to do instead.   The First 5 Steps to Starting Your Own Business or Side Hustle (Podcast Outline) 1. Find a problem to solve. Make sure the problem is for real people. Helping people take care of their lawns. Pressure washing their drives. Reducing accidents in manufacturing plants by doing periodic safety assessments. Assisting online marketers to be more productive by being their virtual assistant. Avoid things that are not real problems people have. Saving the environment. 2. Who is the customer who will pay? A business or an individual. If you cannot figure this out - move on. Sometimes these poorly defined ideas leave you looking for

Career fears are those silly things that keep us from making wise career decisions we want to make. So many of us look in the mirror and know that we are CONTROLLED BY OUR FEAR. The Big Career Fears  (Podcast Outline) Here are the primary fears holding us back in our careers. Perfectionism - I will make a mistake. I cannot do anything unless it is perfect. Wrong Path  - Once I pick, I am stuck. Careers. College, anything. Self- Made Prisoner - I am stuck in my job/career. It also has to do with relationships. “So much invested.” Overwhelmed - I cannot handle it. I am not qualified — Esp in jobs. Most jobs are not that hard. Fear of fear - We are afraid we might be afraid. We might look stupid. We might be nervous. We might have to ask for help. Click here to listen now. Subscribe & Review in iTunes Are you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes! If you like what you hear, I would be really g

How do you recognize and overcome fear? Fear plays a dominate part of most lives. But success often is found on the other side of fear.  How to Recognize and Overcome Fear (Podcast Outline) What fear really looks like Excuses Procrastination Perfectionism - Seth Godin -  SHIP IT. What it feels like Panic attack Frozen (not like the song or movie) What drives fear Danger - Reality  Ego and Pride How to get past the fear Consistent actions- Daily Drive through fear - not around   Click here to listen now. Subscribe & Review in iTunes Are you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes! If you like what you hear, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast. I also love reading them and connecting with you. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me kn

It's OK If You Don't Want to Be an Entrepreneur. Really! You see the message everywhere that you should quit your day job, take the risk, and make money. You might be hearing statements like: You are busy making someone else rich. You are selling out. Entrepreneurs are modern heroes. Business owners make the big bucks. University Entrepreneurship programs are booming. Must be something - right? Forget the lies and the hype - instead, learn to be a company of one - as an entrepreneur or an employee. Then you have all the choices in the world! It's OK If You Don't Want to Be an Entrepreneur (Podcast Outline) The messages we hear about entrepreneurship. What is the truth? About earnings. About freedom. About being the CEO. About customers. About entrepreneurship programs at universities. Being a Company of One. Find the work you love doing. Serve others. Grow. Click here to listen now. Subscribe & Review in iTunes Are you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not

You should want to grow your career. Right? It just makes sense? But wanting to grow your career is not enough - you have to work at it. Once we start our engineering career (or any career for that matter), we get busy. Work and life take over, and we are so tied up in just keeping up that we forget we need to keep growing.  Last week we hit on the subject of WHY you need to grow your career.   This week we want to dive into some of the HOWs. How do you grow your career continually and intentionally? How to Continue to Grow Your Career as an Engineer (Podcast Outline) Develop a Mindset of Growth Enjoy the game of growth - always explore. Be curious. Be OK with change - it is going to change anyway. Do not be afraid of breaking things. Learn from successful people/companies Pay attention to the competition. Pay attention to innovations - LinkedIn videos, conferences, things you hear that you might discount as being irrelevant. Think strategically.  “Skate to where the puck is goi

Do you grow as an engineer or technology professional? You know the saying "If you are not growing, you are dying" It is true for your career - a lot more than you think. You see, many of us engineers think "We've got this." The technology changes going on around us are the one thing we know well. In fact, we sometimes created them. But blinders are everywhere. Today I hope to help you see why growth is so important. Why You Need to Continue to Grow as an Engineer (Podcast Outline) Why -  Recognize how critical it is to grow as an engineer Most technology professions are changing rapidly New engineers “graduate" every year with new skills Constant pressure on companies to make the best use of workforce and skillsets Companies are always exiting the old stuff and moving to the new. What part are you in? Current innovations that will change the game Major Movers in Tech Networks and sensors Infinite computing AI or Artificial Intelligence - 80% of jobs involve service industry - f

Do you really need a college degree to become an engineer? This subject is an often debated topic - especially in the hallowed halls of higher education. Many of my peers hotly disagree with me on this subject.  They think I am committing blasphemy to bring up the idea that we may not be adding as much value as we (or any other institution) think we are adding.  Can you become something without the degree? Even something like an engineer, where the expectation is a college degree? Let’s examine the facts. Can You Become an Engineer - or anything else - without a Degree (Podcast Outline) Education is important - but... Universities do not own the knowledge - we are one path Universities and society THINK they are the only way Universities do two critical things to add value Accountability Credentialing Universities do not ALWAYS do these things Quality education Relevant education So what will disruptive innovation look like in higher ed?  The Dim Future of Higher Education 

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” is one of the most frequently asked questions in an interview. Yet, I often wonder if your answer matters much. After all, many interviewers are just following a script. But forget the interview and think about it for yourself. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? If you do not know - think about it. Why is this important to what you do today? Lea and I have been struggling with this question lately because there is a part of us that thinks we can just coast. Why do we have to work at anything? We are done. But recently we have been convicted of how wrong this thinking is.  Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? (Show Notes) You need a direction Having a goal creates energy and enthusiasm. Without a goal, you get lazy and depressed. Story of those who have sold out to retire.  Today’s decisions impact tomorrow's outcome Consider these paths: Want to be in a new job? Want to be in a new city? Want to be earning more money? Want to

Develop confidence. That is the challenge.  The desire to develop more confidence and composure under pressure is a common theme we see in our professional graduate students. Even those who seem like they are highly confident will confess one-on-one that they are lacking.  A quick look will show that everyone lacks confidence at some level. And all want to develop confidence to a higher level. Yes, even those hard-driving people who look and sound like they eat confidence for breakfast. We are all insecure.  So how can you and I become more confident? It is not as hard as we might think. How to Develop Confidence and Composure (Podcast outline) First, recognize that you are not alone Everyone lacks confidence Imposter Syndrome Bill Smith story Control your inner talk Capture your thoughts Use Third Person (refer to Late Bloomers) Take back control in the moment Smile - relaxing for you and others Breathe -  In these intense moments, we tend to hold our breath Deep and