Need to vent

I need to vent. I’m angry as f***. I’m pissed because:

- A business colleague did not get back to me
- Another business colleague is ignoring me
- It’s taking so f’ing long to complete a project
- A so-called friend and business partner treats me like he’s my superior
- It’s taking so f’ing long to implement a client project
- A business colleague told me great job one day and bugger off the next
- I put on 20 pounds these last few months

I just needed to get this off my chest. Here’s what I’m going to do about these issues.

BUSINESS COLLEAGUE NOT GETTING BACK TO ME. To be fair, this same business colleague was very complimentary the last time we spoke. Plus, he made a very strategic introduction a couple of weeks ago, which he didn’t have to do. He told me that a very large company is very interested in my product.

FEEL BETTER? Yes. It was helpful to take a steps back and look at things more stoically - less emotionally.

ANOTHER COLLEAGUE IGNORING ME. To be fair, I have not reached out to him in months. This guy is a major industry figure, so it behooves me to keep a level head and to be patient. My product can make a big difference. HIs company also recently partnered with a company that could eventually become a very strategic partner. I need to continue to focus on bringing my product to market. Just take a deep breath and soldier on. A relationship with his company is hugely valuable to me.

FEEL BETTER? Yes. It was helpful to vent and put things in perspective. I would rather get angry “here” and be cool, calm and collected (and assertive) out “there”.

TOO LONG TO COMPLETE A PROJECT. To be fair, the extra time is allowing me to really hone in my message and positioning. The agreement should be ready for signature this week. Again, I know this has been a long time coming, but stay patient. Set a goal to update the messaging and presentation this week.

FEEL BETTER? Yes. I fortunately have some ramp because we landed a new project. I need to come up with a launch plan. In other words, assume the product is ready for launch in August, I need to define exactly what I need to do.

SO-CALLED FRIEND. To be fair, he has been a very good friend and I did very clearly let him know how I felt in no uncertain terms. It behooves me to stay friendly. I just need to be assertive when I’m around him. He’s got a huge ego and wants me to play second fiddle. I just need to be friendly and assertive. We’ll be fine.

FEEL BETTER? Yes. I like that I am motivated to be assertive.

CLIENT PROJECT TAKING TOO LONG. The good news is that you have made great progress the last few weeks and it looks like you addressed a couple of key issues. This guy is a big fan and will be a reference, so I just need to focus on reconnecting next week at which point I’ll show him a couple of new features.

FEEL BETTER? Yes. This has taken a long time but will be worth it in the end.

GREAT JOB THEN BUGGER OFF. To be fair, he didn’t tell me to bugger off. He simply wanted two colleagues with whom he’s worked for 15 years to take the lead on building the solution. You, very wisely, reached out to the two colleagues to educate them about your product. They responded very favorably both when they first saw the product and, second, to your education email. You’re definitely going to meet again. So, you could also take the attitude that it’s awesome that you’re involved in designing this very significant solution. Stay positive. Stay strong. Plus, don’t forget that you are about to sign a partnership agreement, which will create a phenomenal opportunity for you.

FEEL BETTER? Yes, definitely. This is a great opportunity. The fact that the two colleagues responded so positively to my email will also help my colleague feel better. Do the market opportunity exercise by working on your document and the messaging for the launch.

20 POUNDS. You have been able to lose this weight and body fat before and you can do it again. You know what you need to do and have started to do it. Use the anger from the above issues to fuel your motivation to get in phenomenal shape. In fact, this will be your full-time job for the next two weeks. You simply have to be disciplined especially about not snacking at night. You’ll workout - just push your intensity, which you are also starting to do. You already made good progress from yesterday to today by not snacking after 8 pm.

FEEL BETTER? Yes. I wish I could get rid of the fat over night, but I can and will fix this. It’s super important. It will give me the confidence to interact with anybody. I can and I will do this.

I’m highly disappointed that I have not heard back from some colleagues. It makes me mad, sad, and discouraged. Whatever happened to personal and professional courtesy?

WHAT I FEEL LIKE SAYING BUT WON’T

M, why in the f*** didn’t respond to L’s and my email? That’s so f’ing rude and unprofessional. I’m tired of having to chase you down.

C, why do you constantly ignore my emails? You were very positive after our last interaction, but then you ghost me.

D, I don’t get it. One day you tell me what a great job I’m doing and the next you tell me to wait.

TRIGGER: No response to email from M, C, and D, and no contact from DM

AUTO: This is f’ed. This means M is mad at me. It means C thinks I’m a loser. It means D is going to make it harder to work together. It ultimately means their company no longer wants to work with me, so my business will be ruined.

DISTORTIONS. Discounting the positive + Catastrophizing

RATIONAL CONVERSATION.

C. I completely understand why you would be upset. Overall you have a big issue with feeling rejected and ignored. I also understand why this might feel hurtful. I also understand your distress and fear because this has to do with your livelihood.

M. That’s exactly right. I’m sad, angry, discouraged, and afraid. Plus, I just read about how another company offers a competitive product. I feel incompetent and impotent.

C. Thanks for sharing. It’s useful to get these emotions out in the open, so we have something to work with. Okay if I ask you a few questions?

M. Please do

C. If I’m not mistaken, even though you haven’t heard back from M, the opportunity with CL still exists, right? I know it’s delayed but per L’s email, he’s requesting to wait until August. In fact, he said he wants to do the deal but because of COVID they don’t have budget right now. The main thing is that they want to move forward. Also, budget will become available at some point. In other words, it’s not like the customer is saying to get lost. The opportunity still exists and you have an agreement to regroup in August, right?

M. That’s true

C. So, given this, there’s a high likelihood that you and M will interact probably in the near term because he has to respond to the customer and by default also with you, right?

M. That’s true. I doubt he would have responded to the customer without copying me..

C. Feel a little bit better about this issue with M?

M. Yes, thanks

C. You emailed M again this morning. My advice is that you wait until later this morning or early afternoon and then call and/or text M. Again, the main issue is getting back to the customer and that will happen.

M. That’s true. Thanks for helping me see this perspective.

C. Regarding the lack of response from C, if I’m not mistaken, he sent you a text saying “good job” just last week after you showed him the product, right?

M. That’s true. He did.

C. He also told you that a large company specifically asked for your product, right?

M. Yes, he did say that.

C. And his colleague was also complimentary, right?

M. Yes, she was.

C. And the week before he reached out to you to include you in a meeting with a VERY important executive at a VERY important company, right?

M. Yes, he did.

C. Let’s explore this a little bit.

M. Okay

C. Do you think he would have invited you to such an important meeting if he still didn’t believe in PM?

M. That’s a fair point

C. Think about it. He knows HS. He knows G. He knows MT. But he invited you, right? That’s a big deal. He did not have to do this, right?

M. You’re right. He didn’t.

C. D, that’s the ultimate form of belief in what you’re doing. And he also asked you about S position in your company, right?

M. That’s also true.

C. You’re completely ignoring this comment. He just got off a call where you showed your product to this very important guy at this very important company and the first thing he asks is, what’s S position with your company? He did this based on how this very important person at this very important company reacted to your product. Come on, man. This is a very, very positive signal, right?

M. You’re right. It is. I had completely dismissed this.

C. That act outweighs his not returning your email by 100x. Come on, man!

M. Okay. You’re right. Thanks for reminding me and helping me appreciate the importance of that gesture.

C. Feel better about the issue with C now?

M. Yes, much better. Thanks! BTW, I just heard back from M. We’re on for Thursday.

C. Excellent. Regarding D, did he tell you that he’s excited about working with you?

M. Yes

C. Did he say he is working on putting together an agreement to work together?

M. Yes

C. Have ALL of your conversations with him over the last several weeks been VERY positive?

M. Yes, they have

C. Did he encourage you to create a “new” product that S can sell?

M. Yes, he did

C. Why is that a big deal?

M. Well, for one because it’s his idea, he will endorse it.

C. Why is that a big deal?

M. Because he and the team he is building of which I will be a part only focuses on very large companies. This creates the opportunity to sell PM to lots of big companies. For one, I will be able to sell my product and services under their name, which is huge.

C. Why is that “huge”?

M. Because they have a GREAT brand in our field, so being able to call on companies as part of their company SIGNIFICANTLY improves my ability to generate business.

C. Why?

M. Because they are a large and very well known and respected company whereas my company is relatively unknown. I would no longer have to worry about the objection of “Who are you?” or “How many customers do you have?” I cannot begin to tell you how helpful and appealing this is for me.

C. Very good. Feel better, overall?

M. Yes, much, much better. Thanks for helping me take a step back and see things from a different, logical, and evidence-based perspective. This has been hugely helpful. I’m grateful to have found a little corner of the Internet to be able to vent and problem solve “in public.” There is something very cathartic about this.

C. I’m so glad to hear this. I enjoyed our conversation and happy to hear it helped. Have an awesome day.

M. Thanks. You too!

NEED TO VENT

TRIGGER: Making a car purchase

AUTO THOUGHTS: What the f*** are you doing? You’re such a f’ing idiot. We’re in the middle of a pandemic!

DISTORTIONS: Magnifying + Filtering + Labeling + Shoulds

RATIONAL CONVERSATION

C. I understand why you might feel anxious. This is a big purchase, so it’s understandable that you’d feel concerned. Let me ask you a few questions.

M. Okay

C. First, your current car is 20 years old, right?

M. That’s right

C. Tell me about it

M. It’s all banged up. It got hit by another car about 6 months ago and now has dent and a long scratch mark on the driver side. The hood is dented and the passenger side is all scratched up. The ceiling cover is drooping and falling off. The driver side window doesn’t go down and the driver side mirror is falling off. The engine stalls at stop lights. I’m constantly having to add coolant and even then the coolant light goes back on. And the engine is constantly sputtering.

C. Okay. You’ve also said that you feel “trapped.” What do you mean by this?

M. My wife and I are hesitant to drive too far a distance out of fear that car will break down. The battery has run out a couple of times in the last few months and I’ve had to call a tow truck to get it recharged.

C. Go on

M. Frankly, I’m ashamed to be seen in this car. Both times the battery stopped working was in a public setting with lots of people around. It felt so embarrassing to be seen in this piece of **** clunker with a tow truck next to it. I felt like such a low life.

C. Go on

M. Like I said, I feel trapped. I’m afraid to drive it because of the engine and I’m ashamed to drive because it’s such a clunker. It makes me feel depressed. I wish I was stronger and that I could tough it out, but the truth is that it really gets me down.

C. Seems to me that you’ve toughed it out for at least 10 years. The reality is that the car is in terrible shape, so it makes perfect sense to get a new one.

M. I suppose

C. So, what’s the worry?

M. The new car ended up being more expensive than I was originally planning on spending.

C. By how much?

M. $3K

C. Tell me about the new car

M. It’s 5 years old with less than 40k miles. I’ve been checking out cars for months and this the first time I’ve seen one at this price with such low mileage. Every other car I’ve seen typically had 80k to 160k miles. I’ve seen this same car type listed for thousands more with much higher mileage.

C. Great. So the consternation is around having to spend $3k more than you expected?

M. I suppose

C. Go on

M. I’m getting a check in the next few days which will pay for 80% of the car.

C. Go on

M. I’m still concerned about spending the full amount .

C. Okay, let me get this straight. You were comfortable using the payment you’ll be receiving this week to pay for the car, but the car ended up being $3k more than you expected, right?

M. Yes, the tax and fees brought the price up.

C. So, is what you’re saying that you would have been comfortable - not worried - if you were able to pay for the car in full with the upcoming payment?

M. Yes. I was prepared to use this check to pay for the car in full. I feel like an idiot for not fully considering the taxes and additional fees. I feel irresponsible.

C. Thanks for getting that out of your system. It’s reasonable that you needed to replace your exiting car after 20 years and given its current condition. The issue here is what to do about the $3k difference.

M. Okay

C. If I understand, you want to pay cash because you don’t want a car payment and you don’t want to take out a loan due to you trying to increase your credit score, right?

M. That’s right. I’d prefer to not have any additional debt.

C. Is part of the issue that you don’t want to apply for a loan because of the hassle of filling out a credit application and the fear of getting turned down or being charged a high interest rate?

M. That’s right

C. In that case, would you feel better if you had extra income to pay for the $3k difference?

M. Much better

C. So let’s explore what you can do to earn additional income to pay for the $3k.

M. Okay

C. The good news is that you have another new lucrative project that is due to close in the next month or so, right?

M. Yes, that’s right, thank God.

C. You also have the potential for at least one new deal through S, right?

M. Yes, in fact, I have a couple: O___ and R___

C. I think it would be helpful to look at this over a longer term horizon, say over the next 3-6 months.

M. Go on

C. It seems to me that you’re in shock because you have to outlay a large amount of money now, but you haven’t taken into account that you have good opportunities for income in the next several months that would more than pay for the difference and the car itself. Is that fair?

M. Yes. Good points.

C. Also, it seems that you are forgetting about the ____ income opportunity with S.

M. You’re right. I really didn’t think of it this way and had “forgotten” about the S long-term opportunity.

C. You need to replace the existing car for the reasons you cited earlier. You need a new car - period. Fair?

M. Yes, definitely. And I didn’t want to buy a high mileage car that had multiple owners, which is pretty much most of what I saw.

C. Okay, so you are solving a major problem and giving yourself the freedom to not feel and be stuck at home, right?

M. Yes

C. Okay, so we concluded that you have a check coming in this week that pays for the majority of the car, that you have a big payday in the next few months from this next project you will be part of in the next couple of months, and that you have a couple more opportunities with S that would more than pay for the car, right?

M. That’s right

C. Okay, here’s my advice. Enjoy your new car. It looks beautiful and less than 40k miles is unbelievable. You weren’t expecting that were you?

M. No, the last car I looked at for about the same price had close to 60k miles and most of the others had at least 80-90k, if not more.

C. Second, continue this week to focus on your “foundation.” It feels good to be making progress on your fitness, and weight and fat loss goals, right?

M. Definitely. Felt good to see the scale read a 5 pound and 1% body fat loss in a relatively short period of time and due to my training and diet and sleep hygiene discipline.

C. That’s great. Third, spend some time working on your product this week. It serves you well to do so because it helps you appreciate the opportunity it represents. Work on the PB. Review and update the listing. Update the demo.

M. Okay

C. For today, take care of finalizing the car purchase and schedule delivery. Make arrangements to donate your existing car and have it picked up. Take care of your stock situation. Schedule meeting with M. Call M. Focus on rebounding today. You had a tough night sleep wise, so focus on fitness, prayer, and reaching out.

M. Okay

C. Did this help?

M. Definitely. It helped put things in perspective. It really does help to get stuff out of my head and on “paper.” I’m finally after years going to solve this major problem. I found a great car with super low mileage. I just checked and a new 2020 model is 3X the price of this car. Also, thank God, that I do have multiple income opportunities that will make this a non issue. This was very helpful. Thank you! I am a bit tired, so I will focus on wellness and getting back in balance today.

C. Good, ___. Things are not as dire as you make them out to be, my friend. It's easy to get mired in negative thoughts. That's the brain’s tendency, especially given everything that's going on with the pandemic. This is your “staycation” week. Take it. Do the foundation stuff and the work items listed above. Take care of yourself and get after it!

M. Thanks again. Will do.

PUTTING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE

TRIGGER: Conversation with M

AUTO: He’s so f’ing arrogant. He acts like he's better than me. Who the f is he to tell me What to do. Pissed me off, he's working on the U project.

EMOTIONS: Anger + Inferiority + Frustration

RATIONAL CONVERSATION
C. I know that given you only slept for 4 hours the previous night that you were not operating at your best, so you were likely more sensitive than usual. My advice is that you act as if everything is excellent, that business is booming, and that P will be an incredible success. You came up with a great idea yesterday. I suggest you sketch what this will look like.

M. Okay

C. Here are the projects you told me you need to work on:
- Finish uploading content to PM
- Update media content on A/X
- Update PM demo to include templates
- Work on your version of PN
- PM launch plan
- Industry research
- Sketch P+PB idea

M. Yep. Those are the ones

C. Here's my advice. For today focus on Industry research + Sketch P+PB idea + Update media content

M. Okay

C. This will spur your thinking on the launch plan. On a personal level, continue to focus on your fitness and weight/fat loss goals. You are working toward getting into the best shape of your life so that when you're in the room with anyone, they think this guy must be an athlete.

M. Sounds good

C. I also think it's time that you shift from a scarcity to an abundance mindset. There is something to the Law of Attraction. I suggest you relisten the content. Simply put, you get from the universe what you put out. If you're in a fear/scarcity state, you're contracting. Suppose you're in a loving/abundant mindset, your expanding. You're freer, lighter, more fun-loving, more fun to be around, and much more likely to reach your dreams and maximize your potential and God-given skills. Remember, happiness is a skill. It requires work.

M. Makes a sense

C. Don't you feel better already about being in this loving/abundant mindset?

M. Yes, I do. Kind of amazing how this slight mental shift can have such an immediate positive impact.

C. Great. Double down on this and then come back later to discuss what you've learned and experienced.

M. You got it. Thanks. This coaching session was super helpful.

C. You bet. Speak with you later.

DECOMPRESS

M. Need to decompress and get clarity on what I need to do next

C. Go for it. What’s on your mind?

M. I’m upset about the call with M and that he ignored my email. Really pisses me off.

C. Why?

M. For one, it’s f’ing rude.

C. What else? Why does this bother you? What’s the self-talk? What are you imagining?

M. Great question. The self-talk is: M thinks I’m a loser. He doesn’t want to work with me. He’s upset with me because I didn’t give him content he wanted. I’m imagining that he spoke with C and D and they told him to ignore me.

C. So, you’re afraid that S, overall, no longer wants to work with you, right?

M. Yes, that’s the bigger issue. I feel that they think I’m a nobody compared to other companies they’re working with.

C. Let me ask a few more questions.

M. Okay

C. If I’m not mistaken, your last conversation and interactions with D and C and the Flo’s was actually quite positive, right?

M. I suppose

C. Didn’t D send you a very positive email from D complimenting you on the document you sent?

M. That’s true

C. Didn’t C send you a chat note saying “Nice job” after you showed him the product?

M. That’s also true

C. Didn’t he also make an intro to a key executive at S?

M. That’s also true

C. Also, didn’t D send you a thank you note?

M. Yes

C. Also, didn’t the Flo’s send you a very friendly response?

M. That’s also true

C. As much as you want to be in good standing with M, aren’t D and C the true decision-makers?

M. That’s true

C. Isn’t it also possible that if you create a PM-enabled PN that you’ll be able to work with him again?

M. That’s a good point.

C. So, based on all this, my advice is that you work on the PN tool today. Make that your priority. Work on that then come back later, okay?

M. Okay

C. Was this helpful?

M. Definitely. Thanks for letting me vent and decompress.

C. Great. Talk later.

*Outstanding*

Thank you for sharing your posts.

NEXT STEPS

M. Just need some help figuring out how to make a great day.

C. Okay. What’s on your mind?

M. Well, I had a very rough day yesterday. I hardly slept the night before, so I had very little energy. Plus, I was upset because I had not heard back from MB or DJ. And I was imaging the worst about CL.

C. What else?

M. I came up with a great idea last night and I ended up eating yogurt. It was delicious but had a high sugar content, so I was slightly heavier and had slightly higher body fat than the night before.

C. Okay. My advice is that you start having some broth late night to calm down your nerves and stomach. Overall you’re making very good progress. You hit your weight goal for the week. Tomorrow is your weekly weigh in so stick to the diet and fitness program you’ve been following, plus drink a lot of water; ideally, three liters.

M. Okay

C. My advice for today is to “run towards the fire.”

M. What do you mean by this?

C. Run toward what you fear most.

M. Go on

C. Your biggest fear is about your business failing and the financial consequences, right?

M. Yes

C. More specifically, your biggest fear is about whether or not PM will be successful, right?

M. That’s right

C. So, given this, I suggest you spend time on PM today. Work on the AX content. Work on the PAPB solution. Work on the SPM content. Work on the 10X plan.

M. Okay

C. Part of th reason I want you to work on this is because it makes you feel better when you work on PM

M. What do you mean?

C. If I’m not mistaken, you were super fired up about the SD PB, right?

M. You’re right. I was.

C. Why?

M. I loved how clean it looks. One of my goals has been to simplify the SPM demo. And the SD PM playbook looks super easy to use and implement.

C. Exactly. This is why I want you to spend time with the product. I also want you to spend time with the talk and AX content because that helps you see the value of PM. And I want you to think about PAPB to put your foot on the throat. This will allow you to tell MG that you have developed a multimedia PAPB system that includes all of the frameworks and content someone would need to include links to curated content. As opposed to one little hour course. Foot on the throat. PAPB.

M. LOVE IT! I’m going to get on this right now. Thanks!

C. Great. Go forth and conquer!

RECAP

C. How was your day?

M. Thanks for asking. I had a very productive day. I worked on the PAPB project. I made excellent progress and I’m pleased with the work. I believe I’m onto something very big. To be honest, part of my motivation is to put my foot on the throat of MG. I’m tired of him acting like he’s better than me. He’s so f’ing arrogant.

C. Go on

M. I’m looking forward to dismissing his little project. I’m going to tell him that IMO there is not a significant need for one-off paid c___ when there is already so much publicly available great content on the web. My approach creates a set of f/w for specific bps that covers every phase of the cycle. I’ll show him the PAPB TOC and make the point that what people need are frameworks with examples and links to bps. That’s a more immediately actionable program.

PAPB UVP

M. Having a personalized tool with tips and and one-click access to curated bp content from the most reputable companies in the business Ed the user can immediately apply to a real world scenario versus sitting through hours of video is a 100x more effective and efficient way to drive sustainable change.

C. That is a good idea. And good for you. You’re starting to improve your self-image and self-esteem. It’s been a while.

M. Yes, it has. It does feel good to start feeling bullish.

C. So glad to here this. It’s perfectly fine to use anger and revenge as motivation, so long as you channel it properly and don’t direct these emotions to others. Always be the calmest one in the room.

M. Thanks

C. Will be interesting to see what the scale reads tomorrow.

M. Yeah, I had two slices of pizza. Other than that I stuck to K. I had roast chicken with the two slices for dinner. Other than a couple of protein bars/shakes, I didn’t eat anything else. I had some broth for an evening snack. And drank more water.

C. That’s good progress. Keep it up.

M. Thanks. Talk later.

These are great posts. Thanks for sharing.

I don't know if you are looking for feedback, but I have a suggestion about buying the car. I'd suggest getting a loan for part of the cost. Making regular payments will boost your credit score. So you end up with two positives a new car and an improved credit score. Thanks for mentioning tax and other fees. I'm in the market for another vehicle. I forgot those extra costs.

DECOMPRESS

C. How did your day go?

M. Good. Went out for brunch and worked all day on the PAPB project, which means I spent most of yesterday and today working on this.

C. How are you feeling?

M. I’m nervous

C. Why?

M. I think the idea to provide a pre-built PB with templates is a great idea.

C. But?

M. Building this is nerve wracking

C. Why?

M. It’s super time consuming

C. You already finished the first part in two days, right?

M. True

C. I think that you already have most of the content that you can easily repurpose

M. Okay

C. I suggest you continue to work on it this week.

M. Okay

C. But the main thing you need to do is to create the story. You already started working on this. Just sketch it out and start testing the idea. Spend some time on this now and come back tomorrow to discuss. Get your workout in. That still needs to be a priority.

M. Will do. I’ll pump out a quick workout

C. Good. Feel better?

M. It was helpful to get my thoughts on “paper.” Thanks!

C. You got it.

Do what you think is best, and make yourself known. You should not be angry, most likely the people that are making you angry do not even realise it.

Hi No excuses! It IS good to vent! Now you have a great attitude!

Wow, I loved the way you attacked those problems. That was a learning opportunity for me. Thank you for modelling a new way to deal with my rage and frustration. I feel bad for the emotions you're experiencing. I can relate to having to review your emotions for validity and to avoid not sabotaging yourself. I often don't say anything/respond because I don't know if my feelings are appropriate. This will help me evaluate them more efficiently. This has been so helpful.

DECOMPRESS

M. Need to decompress

C. Go for it. What’s on your mind?

M. Lots. My call with RK did not go well today. He wanted me to do a lot more than we agreed to. Fortunately, I had documented what we agreed to and was able to show. He and I co-created the agreement. I created many different versions. The last one was what we agreed to. He said we had a “disconnect.” Thank goodness I had the agreement handy and was able to show it to him. Checkmate. It bothered me because I think very highly of RK and we have a strong personal relationship. I also don’t want him to think that I’m not living up to my commitment.

C. Fortunately you were able to put up the agreement up on the screen. You can tell him when you show him that you have his best interest at heart. My advice is that you build a killer BD PB. Make it look fantastic. Make it something you would use for LG. Set aside tomorrow morning to work on this. Over deliver within the context of the agreement.

M. Okay. Thanks.

C. What else?

M. Frustrated that it’s taking so f’ing long to get the new PM installed. F—-!

C. Go on

M. It’s been almost a year. It’s so frustrating that it’s so f’ing difficult.

C. Listen, I can absolutely understand why this is so frustrating. This is your livelihood we’re talking about. Combine this with the uncertainty. It is completely understandable.

M. Yep

C. For grins and giggles let’s imagine how the new PM might look.

M. Okay

C. Imagine how great it will be to emphasize the new scoring

M. That will be great. It’s so much easier to explain the calculation.

C. Imagine how great it will be to show how to use PS for scoring

M. This is something that will really resonate with HOS

C. Imagine how great it will be to have the tips show inside of ES

M. I’m really excited about being able to demo this. This the CTC feature. This is DC in a box.

C. Imagine how great it will be to show the B perspective.

M. This will completely align with PN and as far as I’m concerned replace PN. Why would you need PN when it’s built into PM?

C. Imagine how clean the CM section look without all the + stuff

M. Yep it will look super clean

C. Imagine how great it will look to have the new PS and DS labels

M. This will be super intuitive.

C. Imagine how nice it will be for PS and DS to have a different color scheme

M. Again this will make PM super intuitive

C. Imagine being able to show the notepad as part of the demo

M. This is a really nice little feature which adds a lot of value. I’ll need to create one for the demo. I’ll also need to recreate the one I use for PB and update the new PB PB.

C. On that note, imagine what a great demo you’ll be able to do. It’s already great. And it’s about to get even better

M. Absolutely. I’m really happy with the motion I followed yesterday with Pinto. This will be how I run every call from now on. It was a great way to recap the call.

C. Yes, very nicely done

M. Thanks

C. Tell me about USB

M. Oh my. What a great surprise! I was not expecting to see what I saw. I’m so grateful for this. Praise God! He answered my prayer.

C. This has to be a great relief.

M. It’s an enormous relief. It gives me ramp and I still have big input coming from TG and PW. Thank you, God!

C. I’m happy for you

M. Thank you. The key is to now get PM off the ground.

C. Let’s use the next conversation with SL to create a cookbook for PB and ST. Lean into ST.

M. Okay

C. On the health front, look into jump and start working out even if it’s a super light workout.

M. Okay

C. Also start planning fun. Look into the golf lessons and getting back to the driving range.

M. Okay

C. Also pay SL/SP. Just get that done.

M. Good advice.

C. Was this helpful?

M. Super helpful! Thank you!

C. You got it. Talk soon.

DECOMPRESS

M. Need to vent

C. Go for it. What’s on your mind?

M. I’m furious

C. Why?

M. I’m pissed that f’ing SH is asking me to spend 8 hours per week with no description about what’s supposed to happen during each session. She’s a f’ing idiot. She gave me **** on Friday telling me that it would be my loss to not participate in the FS, but yet she can’t even describe what it is what I’ll be missing. It boggles the mind that she is allegedly an expert in ST but can’t even put on an effective STP. F’ing unbelievable!!!

C. What else?

M. I’m pissed that f’ing SP wasted my f’ing time today. He’s f’ing clueless. Waste of f’ing time.

C. What else?

M. I’m also pissed that I didn’t do a great job with the d___.

C. I think you’re being too hard on yourself. SP is not someone with whom you’d like to work. It was good for you to do a dry run with SP. This will help you prep for tomorrow’s meeting, right?

M. Good point

C. What else?

M. I’m pissed that it’s taking so long to get the instance up and running. I’m also a bit nervous about it.

C. It’s natural for you to feel anxious about this.

M. I still need to do the A//X work. So frustrated about how much work this entails. There is so much work left to do.

C. Here’s my take. Use this week to get the instance, A/X updated, and your PB up. You’ll also have I3 BDG 95% done, this will free up your time next week. Make sense?

M. Yep

C. My best advice is to keep plowing. Just stay after. Also, follow your instinct to get closer to Christ and your faith. Just keep plugging. You’ve been EXTREMELY productive.

M. Thanks, I kind of lost sight of this.

C. Okay, so the mantra is keep plugging. Just keep after it. Same thing with your diet. Keep after it. You can do it. You’ve done it before. You can do it again.

M. What about JE issue?

C. Just schedule a 15 minute meeting.

M. Okay

C. Was this helpful?

M. Definitely. It was useful to get all this stuff out of my system and put in perspective.

C. Great. BTW, you did an outstanding job with PW. You really nailed it.

M. Thanks. I appreciate that. I did do a good job if I say so myself.

C. Excellent. Talk later.

DECOMPRESS

M. Need to vent

C. Let's hear it

M. I'm pissed off

C. Why? What happened?

M. I didn't hear back from CB, which is f’d up

C. Why is this f’ed up?

M. Because it means I f’d up the Cal deal

C. Do you know this for a fact?

M. No, but Amy didn't ask me back and CB did not respond. Plus, I would have done it completely differently had I to do it again.

C. So why not try to do it again?

M. What do you mean?

C. Why not send CB another email? Do me a favor and draft the email, okay?

M. Okay. I sent CB a simple email to let him know I'm considering emailing A/V and asking for his advice.

C. You have nothing to lose at this point, so better to do that than wait.

M. You're right

C. What else are you upset about?

M. DJ didn't jump up and down when I showed him and LE PM.

C. If I heard correctly, I heard him and LE say something to the effect that “this is great”, right?

M. I suppose but he also said, Thanks for the update. F that!

C. If I heard right, you and LE have a call on the books for Thursday to discuss how to package SPM, right?

M. That's true

C. Sounds like she wants to work with you, right?

M. That's true

C. The fact that she wants to discuss copyrighting is a positive, right?

M. What do you mean?

C. Well, if ST perceives SPM as a mechanism to make their IP sticky, that's quite a huge deal, right?

M. How so?

C. Seems to me that customized ST content has a stronger chance of sticking, which is there main objective, right? Making their IP sticky is very strategic for them, right?

M. You're right. It is.

C. Seems to me that having ST content in a PB significantly increases the likelihood of a customer continuing to use their method, right?

M. Yes.

C. What's more useful to a SR, generic courseware or customized PB content?

M. The customized PB content.

C. And if it's more useful, do you think it increases or decreases the chance of a customer re-upping?

M. It increases it

C. By a lot or a little?

M. By a lot

C. Do you believe this?

M. I do. Rather than clicking to content, the user has exactly what they need, when they need it. In my case, once I codified JR, I really no longer need to listen or watch the video again.

C. Exactly, but you sound like him now, right?

M. I did sound like him during my call with I3.

C. I heard you and you did. B even commented that it sounded like you were standing up, it came across so naturally, right?

M. That's true

C. T/G is a great example of how you're bringing this to life, right?

M. What do you mean?

C. It's super complex, but you developed a model and track for different cases, right?

M. I did and I was able to bring this up on my call today. I was able to say this was the most complex scenario ever, but that we were able to come up with a construct for even this very complex scenario, I felt like DJ was trying to object, but I fortunately had a great response based on a real world scenario.

C. Seems like LE got it, right?

M. Yes, she did.

C. You also had a great call with Joe, right?

M. Yes, it actually went extremely well.

C. One door closes another door opens, right?

M. Good point

C. Want some advice?

M. Please!

C. Put your foot on the m-f throat. Grind. Don't give up. Persevere. Get to bed early tonight. Don't eat after 8pm. Drink lots of water. Tidy up. Prep for tomorrow and hit the road running in the morning. You have been up since about 5am “working.” Thinking about Cal at 5 am and trying to figure out what to do is working. You haven't taken a single break all day. You didn't even eat lunch for goodness sake.

M. That's true

C. You also worked all weekend, both Saturday and Sunday. Take time now to recharge your batteries and get after it in the morning. You can pencil the CS agenda, but no more computer work. You need to give your brain some rest.

M. Okay

C. Regarding Cal, cut yourself some slack. You're better for it and fortunately you have other real opportunities, right?

M. Yes, that's true.

C. Was this helpful?

M. Surprisingly, yes. It was helpful to get this stuff off my chest and put it in perspective. Definitely helpful. Thanks so much!

C. You got it. Talk later. Take care.

M. You too. Thanks.

DECOMPRESS

M. Need to decompress

C. Go for it

M. F’ing G did it again.. He always needs to be the f’ing center of attention.

C. What do you mean?

M. Yesterday at the meeting with a potential customer, he started talking about himself. He showed slides with testimonials about HIM. It was so inappropriate and unnecessary. We had to extend the meeting because he spent so much f’ing time talking about him. Me this and me that. It was my meeting and opportunity. I invited him and ends up making it about him. F’ing unbelievable!

C. Completely understandable for you to be upset. What did you do?

M. I called him immediately after the meeting and told him that what he did was poorly done and completely unnecessary. I did not mince words. I wrote the word ”assertive” on a sheet of paper before I called him to put me in that mindset. I wasn't overly emotional, but I also don't mince my words. He got the point and backed down. I'm laughing about it now, but f***.

C. Feel good to get this out of your system?

M. Definitely. I needed to.

C. What else?

M. Well, do you remember how upset and worried I was about S? How I thought that M and C were pissed with me? How I imagined that they no longer wanted to work with me?

C. Yes

M. Well, it turns out that I was wrong. Everything is fine. Had a great conversation with D. He and I get along great. He's a great guy. It was a very productive and enjoyable conversation. We even joked around a bit.

C. That's great to hear.

M. Yeah, I was relieved to hear that it's full steam ahead. We’ll be signing the contract in the next couple of weeks. He still loves PM. It turns out the other people have an issue that has nothing to do with me. So, long story, short, we’re good.

C. Excellent. What else?

M. I was fatigued after the call. I've been working nonstop for weeks, including over the weekend, and dealing with lots of stressful situations., including being anxious about the COVID situation and everything else that's going on. I think it finally caught up with me, which was kind of weird given I just had had this great conversation with D. Fortunately, I am sleeping better.

C. These are stressful times.

M. They are, but I need to persevere. I can't let up, and I'm up for the challenge.

C. That's the spirit! Go get ’em!

M. Will do. Thanks for ”listening.”

C. You got it.

DECOMPRESS

M. Need to decompress

C. Go for it. How was your day?

M. I ended up making today about getting organized. I didn't do any business work other than one meeting.

C. Go on

M. I cleaned the house including the kitchen and my office. Went grocery shopping and worked out.

C. Go on

M. I'm trying to lose some weight and body fat, but not making a lot of progress even though I'm working out regularly and my diet is decent.

C. So what do you think you need to do differently?

M. I need to do IF.

C. Go on

M. I'm doing low carb but my weight is not budging.

C. What about your workouts?

M. I'm doing strength training and a little bit of cardio.

C. Okay. Tomorrow instead of the protein shake for breakfast, have coffee with almond milk and protein powder. Then don't eat anything until lunch.

M. Okay.

C. Also increase your cardio. It's okay you used today to collect yourself and get the house in order, so to speak.

M. Okay, thanks.

C. What's the game plan for tomorrow?

M. I have a client meeting at 11:30. It's an important meeting because I want to delight them, so I need to do some prep work in the morning.

C. Go on

M. I'm then going to work on the SDPM A/X.

C. That's a good idea because you can use this for your other projects.

M. Yep

C. Look at and update your to do list for tomorrow.

M. Will do

C. Did this help?

M. Absolutely. Thanks!

DECOMPRESS
M. Hey, need to get some stuff off my chest

C. Go for it

M. I'm better now, but I sure was pissed about the incident with M. I'm tired of it, but instead of continuing to whine about it, I'm going to use it as fuel.

C. Tell me more

M. This is a ”chip on the shoulder” type of motivation. It's motivation from getting tired of him treating me like I'm a subordinate.

C. Go on

M. It's me saying, ”F*** you. Watch me!”

C. Go on

M. I have a great opportunity in front of me, and I'm going to maximize it. The plan is beginning to emerge.

C. Go on

M. I've been pushing hard the last several weeks (years) and starting to have some breakthroughs. I feel like Rocky. I persevere, get knocked down for a day, but get back up, and steadily keep fighting. I just set the timer and work regardless of my motivation level.

C. That's called grit.

M. Anyway, I'm going to kick his ***. He wants to compete. Game on!

C. Go on

M. So, I'm motivated to get into the best shape of my life.

C. Go on

M. I'm trying to lose weight and body fat. I put on about 15 pounds and want to miss this and get my body fat % to a lean level.

C. Great. How are you going to do this?

M. I'm going to start doing IF. I've tried this before, and it works for me.

C. Excellent

M. I'm going to emphasize plant-based and also focus on eating foods that support brain health.

C. Like

M. Green leafy vegetables, salmon, grass-fed beef. Lots of mixed salads. Organic eggs. Cauliflower. Broccoli. Berries.

C. Sounds healthy

M. Because I enjoy cooking, but hate cleaning I tend not to cook during the week. I make salads and stuff I can pop in the microwave.

C. Go on

M. So, today I'm going to meal prep. I'm going to prepare meals that I can store and reheat during the week.

C. Excellent. What else are you going to do?

M. I'm going to work out more intensely and drink more water. I like doing strength training but don't like doing cardio. However, I realize that for my overall health, I need to do a few cardio sessions per week.

C. What's gotten in your way before and what are you going to do to prevent or minimize this from happening again?

M. Good question. Poor sleep. Working nonstop. These are the primary obstacles.

C. Okay. Anything else you want to talk about?

M. I'm good for now.

C. Can I make a suggestion?

M. Sure

C. I think you're watching too much TV. You have it on all day while you work. I don't think that's good for your brain health.

M. That's a fair observation and good advice. I think I’ll start scheduling what I’m going to watch.

C. Last question. If you had Thursday night to do all over again, what would you have done differently?

M. That’s the night I did not sleep at all because I was so upset about MG.

C. So, in retrospect, what could you have done differently?

M. As I recall, I took a hot shower and followed a pretty good pre-sleep routine. But I watched TV all night and possibly all day. I would have stopped watching TV, put on classical music, done some deep breathing, and, most importantly, I would have journaled in my paper journal. I would have listened to positive psychology content.

C. Good. Want my advice on how to make today a great day?

M. Of course

C. Do this:
- Do IF + plant based keto + meal prep
- Take care of finance stuff so this stops weighing on you
- Go through each envelope and take action
- Do a tough DG workout
- Listen to upbeat music or advice content while you cook
- Catch up on your Pocket reading
- Practice critical thinking writing
- Have a LK and STD mindset
- Create and listen to an encouraging mantra

M. That’s great advice. Thanks! Will let you know how it goes.

C. Great. Feel better?

M. Yep. Thanks again!

C. You got it.

DECOMPRESS

M. I’m finding that I’m holding onto this anger more than I would like

C. Tell me more

M. I have all sorts of emotions I’m dealing with

C. Anger?

M. Yes

C. Expand. Just get everything out

M. Okay. So, seeing the picture he posted about this project he’s doing made me feel bad

C. Why is that you think?

M. It bothered me that he again was trying to make himself the center of attention

C. What else?

M. It made me envious that he got a like from someone we work with

C. Why did this bother you?

M. It made me feel inferior and frustrated

C. Go on

M. I think it bothered me because of what he did earlier in the day in terms of butting into my meeting.

C. Let’s shift your thinking for a moment, okay?

M. Okay

C. Imagine that you get PM and SDPM listed on A/X + you complete the PAPB and include it with PM and SDPM + you sign with ST and then you list this on your profile + you get FC to do BD

M. Go on

C. When this happens you can tell him that you’re now officially part of ST and that this will make it easier to open doors than MLP because of the power of ST. Take a crack at what you might be able to say.

M. Okay. I could say:

“Hey, just expanded my relationship with ST to help them build their CP. I’m pretty excited about this because from a BD perspective it’s so great to be able to have ST in my signature and be able to say that we work with ____ like ____, ____, and ____.

AND also have a customer who wants to be a partner and will devote BD resources to PB. They’re also part of SF.

AND we are now listed on A/X with two products.

So, very excited about all of this. Main focus is building p——. Finally have not just one great product but four: PM + SDPM + PAPB + SPM and incredible partners and the ST name, so very, very excited. This will allow me to approach any account, PE or BC firm. I’m also hiring a person to help me deploy the PBS.”

C. How did that feel?

M. F’ing great!

C. Great. You can also imagine him being like a foot tall dressed in a fur coat and a purse.

M. That’s funny

C. Second to none! Time to compete! Stand strong! Assertive!

M. Got it!

C. Did this help?

M. Absolutely! Thanks!

C. My pleasure