How to Make Your Cake Taste Homemade

Don't know how to bake? Me neither. Fret no more! Next time your tasked with the job of bringing something to the party simply remember to swap out the water with coffee. Box cake + plus coffee? Hm, interesting. Check out this article by Heather Yamada-Hosley, lifehacker.com.

Being creative with your work is a never ending process. Simply changing one thing in your typical process can have a HUGE difference in your end result. Try it today!

Identify. Change. Witness. 

DV

***Disclaimer - This post does not apply to you mom, sorry. You still have to make homemade cakes. :)

Mom's "Chocolate/Chocolate" Cake (w/ Coffee Ice Cream)

Apple Introduces the New iPhone SE

Something looks familiar? Hmm. Yup - iPhone has gone back to the iPhone 5 design. It packs pretty much all the specs from the iPhone 6s but with the smaller 4 inch screen. It's set for pre-orders March 24th. For more info checkout apple.com/iphone-se.

This is a great example of Apple listening to their customers. An idea you will hear me discuss and build on in my upcoming audio groundupSALES.

DV

How to Find Your Competitive Advantage

Another great morning post by marketing guru Seth Godin. "What is your edge? In a hypercompetitive world, whatever you're competing on is going to become your focus," says Godin. Clink the link above to check it out!

He suggests that understanding precisely what you compete on is critical for you to thrive in your market. For example if it's price focus on pennies, if it's smarts then get smarter, if it's getting picked then audition more, if it's hustling then look for shortcuts, etc. "In any competitive market, be prepared to invest your heart and soul and focus on the thing you compete on," says Godin. So hone in! Strong, strong insight - love it!

What are you competing on?

Define. Focus. Execute.

DV

The BIG List of Inspiring Quotes from NCAA Basketballs Greatest Coaches

As I watched the NCAA Basketball Tournament over the weekend CBS continually showed snippets of coaches in the locker room's giving speeches to their players. I thought to myself - WOW - this is one of the highest degrees of emotional displays you're ever going to see. A leader trying to motivate his men in a complete "do or die" situation.

So in honor of March Madness this is a compilation of great quotes by equally great NCAA basketball coaches. Boost your morale to start the week with this list of 19 motivational quotes provided by Cecilia Meis, SUCCESS.com. 

“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” - John Wooden

**Wooden's work is timeless and I highly suggest reading any of his books on leadership. 

DV

The Friday Media Review #1

Every Friday I will do a short review (more like recommendation, ha) on a book, album, or movie/tv show. There is simply to much negativity already in the world to waste your time telling you something stinks! Like bestselling author Darren Hardy says, "Garbage in, garbage out. Don't turn your head into a trash can." 

The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

What I liked best: It's easy for me to suggest this book because of the large IMPACT it had on me personally. I picked this book up on a whim prior to a cross country flight last August. Little did I know it would set a course of events that would change (albeit slowly but surely) my outlook on life - forever. This book is an EASY read and will outline EXACTLY what it takes to jump start your success.

Best Quote: "What's simple to do is also simple not to do therefore the magic is not in the complexity of the task but the magic is in doing the simple things repeatedly."

***It should be no surprise this quote also makes an appearance in my flagship audio groundupSALES!

DV

The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

It starts with ONE

I had a minor epiphany last night. My father always says, "Doug, a good song draws out some distinct emotion. It may be sadness, joy, excitement, anger, just something BUT that's how you know it's a good song." For some reason as I laid in bed I thought about this and said to myself "Doug, a good quote draws out..."

I've always been intrigued by a good quote perhaps now I know why. The cleverness and ease in which they draw out an emotion. Below is good one by famed Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. 

Indulge in quotes. Enjoy emotions.

DV

How to BREAK the Habit of Assumptive Thinking

If I was to tell you this 13 yr old was going to KILL this Megadeth guitar solo before he stepped on the stage, your response would probably be "yeah, okay, well see."  Well, guess what? He absolutely kills the guitar solo. Watch the video below. 

This made me think of the maxim "don't judge a book by it's cover." It should be a reminder to always "read" the book. If we are curious then take the time to find out. Take the time to understand. 

"Be curious, not judgemental." - Walt Whitman

DV

Is your PASSION lost?

Have you ever thought to yourself? I wish I could just find my passion. In the video below Marie Forleo founder of MarieTV and B-School says "stop thinking, start doing because clarity comes from engagement not thought." She encourages us to bring passion to everything we do. Yes, even the dishes!

I can't tell you what YOUR passion is but I can tell you that YOU already know it. Your passion can't be found because it is not lost. The magic is in the doing. ACTION is your map.

DV

PS - Marie is amazing. I highly suggest checking out her stuff.

We almost didn't have Ringo??

You'll often hear me write or speak about Seth Godin simply because of tremendous admiration I have for his work. In his latest blog post he uses an interesting example of how the George Martin landed on Ringo as the drummer of the Beatles. Labeling Ringo as the galvanizer.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2016/03/galvanized.html

"Often, our best work happens when we're in a situation we wouldn't have chosen for ourselves. The hard part is choosing to be in that sort of situation in the first place, the uncomfortable one where we have no choice but to do better work", says Godin.

Just CARE and your WORK will SHINE. Ringo did.

DV

Ringo Starr

ATTACK your Weakness

Over the past couple days much has been made of the New York Giants free agent spending spree. Whether you feel they overpaid for star DE Olivier Vernon or you're happy they bolstered their crumbled (league worst) defense one thing is certain...they ATTACKED their weakness!

Lesson being don't worry about what everybody else thinks. You know YOUR weaknesses. Get stronger. If you "overpay" consider it a learning experience. I mean, you already know the status quo. Are you satisfied with that? ATTACK!

DV