When we encounter change or challenge in our everyday life, it can be so easy to refer to the past and use it as the primary tool for decision making. But is it always the best tool?

We use tradition as our guide. “It worked then, why shouldn’t it work now?” “We always do things this way.” “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” We use tradition as a source of pride. “like those before us who began this great movement/business/organization/family/church…” “… the RICH traditions of our past…”

BUT, we also use tradition as a crutch. “I know it’s an antiquated system, but we don’t have time to reinvent the wheel, just keep doing what you’re doing.” Instead of making decisions based on tradition, why not make them on intention? our intentions grow and change with the current needs of whatever movement we’re a part of. every day has an intention, a goal, a step towards the grander intention or goal. traditions are the oposite. they stay put. they are the result of achieving an old goal. although this is something worth celebrating and considering when encountering the future, it isn’t necessarily the best decision making tool, and yet it seems to be used in a disproportionate way.

When we come to the point of making a decision, our mindset shouldn’t be “what has worked in the past?” but “what will propel us into the future?” or “What will help us best fulfill our intentions/goals?”

[guest blog: Jason Shafer]

You want to be extremely productive with your day?
Turn off your phone.
Turn off your internet connection.
* You can still use your computer, it does still function very well without being connected to the web.
NOW, go to work and focus on your 2 biggest projects.
Try this for 2 whole hours… straight!

EXTREMELY PRODUCTIVE time can be found in dis-connectivity.

Ask any working person who flies regularly. They will tell you how great their time on an airplane is for getting caught up and also getting way ahead. The world continues to function. Earth and all of it’s joys and heartaches will still be here when you plug back in. There was an era where we were highly functional human beings without the drugs of facebook, twitter, email, text and calls… there really was.

It’s as simple as it sounds OR you become addicted to the internet.

We have been working with Jim on a few various projects of his, and his clients. Here is what he thinks about factor1.

Matt Adams and Factor 1 Studios has been our “go to” partner from the beginning of our firm and has significantly made the difference in our impact and growth.  Matt has the successful combination of listening deeply while guiding the conversation to realize better ways of communicating our vision and services.  The results has created an offer that has the “wow” factor to draw in the client and engage them in our services.  We have been pleasantly surprised at the added reach of our services through the media that Matt created.  Clients from coast-to-coast contact us purely from what they read and see on our web site.

I highly recommend Matt Adams and Factor 1 Studios for their cutting edge understanding of global communication, the timely delivery of quality designs, professional guidance to keep the edge on our offer, and the integrity of their entire operations.

Matt’s work and care are so highly valued that I recently entrusted to him the presentation of Technology for Small Business to a group of entrepreneurs that I was leading through a ten week session.  His presentation and valuable offer was the highlight of the entire ten week series!

Jim Rives
President & CEO
Executive Leadership Institute Inc.

This is a simple concept, yet I see so many companies fail at this.

Make it easy for customers to move around in your company.

What do I mean by that? When navigating from one part of your site to another, don’t make them log back in. If you ask callers to enter their phone number, find a way for the operator to NOT need to ask for the number again.

There may be more frustrating things in life—sure, but this is such a simple issue that can be fixed. Log in once, and they are in. Ask for their account number once, and they are in.

Connect the dots. Streamline your systems for your customers, and they will thank you for it.