Fail to plan is plan to fail

In most of my recent conversations with budding entrepreneurs this is the most important subject I harp upon. In todays fast paced business environment, and internet of things age it is very easy to forget the basics and get swamped in hurricane of information that is being thrown at us everyday.

Recently I have been appointed acting VP on yet another board which will make the current mark to 3 start up boards I am presiding on. All very different sectors one is Food Industry, second training and third technology company excluding my own brain child Green Lab Films & Media. I can not reaffirm anymore the need to better plan upfront to save toil later. However, I also know for fact no matter how much you plan things will still go wrong it will still rain during parade.

This is when having a plan B comes into action, you must have already heard about the buzzword "fail fast, fail forward" for people who haven't heard this term earlier. It means don't be afraid to fail "let fear not freeze your actions" which is another way of saying plan better my friend. I remember my maths teacher always use to say "Try and try again until you succeed" and I can't deny for fact how true it is for Lean Entrepreneurship.

In my 25 years of entrepreneurship experience (I started my first venture at fourteen, now don't calculate my age ok!) I can't tell how many times I have failed at one thing or another but still have kept going. From selling door to door instant dumplings mixture to selling pest control solutions to selling NB nature bonds to selling media technology and film distribution. One thing always led to another only what counted was not burying my head into failure but focusing on solution. In-fact that's what lean entrepreneurship and agile mindset talks about, which if succinctly to put in my words is nothing but planning enough to never run out of runway.

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. - Abraham Lincoln"

To read more about lean entrepreneurship or attend my upcoming seminar register here or put a comment below. Till then, Sayonara!

Photo credit: Dilbert.com & Scott Adams.

Fun Fitness Alternatives!

“Hit the gym, quit sugar, cut down alcohol, eat more veggies, meditate, floss your teeth, and get a health cover…”

Cultivating healthy lifestyle can seem like a mammoth task, but there are many ways to make it easier. Staying fit need not be an Olympic level commitment, if you don’t like lifting weights in the gym then don’t do it. If you don’t like running, don’t do it. No point giving grief to your limbs if you are not cut out for it. However! Fitness and well-being is thought process and a lifestyle thing, there are ways to get your exercise dose complete without forking out gym membership.

Consider this: “Your main goal should be for you to enjoy the physical activity” and find a way to do it more than four times a week. Also combine this with making better decision about food you put in your body and that’s it.

Here is a list of my favourite fun fitness alternative that doesn’t feel like exercise:

Hiking, especially with friends: I always love a walk around Woodcraft Lake near Blacktown NSW, I’ll be surprised if you can’t find a place to stroll or hike with family or friends in Australia. In darn blue Aussie accent “Hell yeah maties get on and get going…”

Zumba Fitness: I must admit I tried it myself once or twice apart from being the only guy shaking my booty along in class full of ladies. I felt like quitting every 5 minutes but I stayed on and after 15 mins I was not only enjoying it but sweating like a pig.

Weekly sports night: I love to play Tennis, TT & Badminton and make sure I book at-least one weeknight for it apart from socialising it is great way to stay fit.

Active Video games: Believe it or not Microsoft invented its first video game in 1990’s step dance (which you see at every game parlour) to overcome obesity in American kids. This was even taken further by Wii, Nintendo, Kinetic and Sony, I personally love playing boxing on my Wii and it is bloody entertaining and great work out.

Play childhood games: I don’t mean to push world’s population on name of fitness  J J… However playing with my 3.5 year old daughter gives me a good run for my breath. Best part is you get to re-live your childhood with kids and they never go out of energy J

Adult Gymnastics: That thing that couples do? Yeah? Do more of that, self-explanatory. Moving on! (Don’t laugh)

Clean the house: Yeah, yeah that’s my usual answer to my wife when she asks me to get up and clean when in middle of an interesting TV show on Sunday morning. I know it sucks sometimes but you name it vacuuming, gardening, dishes, moping anything per say does get you sweaty. Isn’t it? So what are you waiting for? Do it for love. Clean house, happy partner and fitness all in one!

Yoga: Build flexibility, strength, sweat and relax all in one. There are million types of yoga, and it is fastest growing fitness industry in Australia so go and check it out yourself.

There are several other ways to keep fit like martial arts, salsa dancing, rock climbing, golf, ice skating, swimming the list goes on and on… Staying fit could never get easier than this best to follow this five point approach if you need a push over the fence.

Say yes to it before you say no, commit in advance, go with a friend or family, and expect to suck in the beginning (like I did with Zumba) and finally have fun.