Jonathan Vaudreuil

If you asked me to choose between time and money, I'd take the time and run.

One of my friends on Facebook posted about wishing she were independently wealthy. A lot of people want to have more than enough money. I'm no different. What I find interesting is how much people focus on having money to do things.

It doesn't make sense to me. Look, I understand it's not about having money, it's about the options which open up when you have money. Let me ask a question: if you made enough to live on and have something extra, what can you not do?

I bet you're creating a list in your head right now. Write it down. Think about it a minute.

Then go to Google and search for people who do each of those things in their life, every single day.

Now here's where you might be thinking, "Jonathan, I can't do all these things if I need to work, I just need the money."

If you can't do them in your life while you're working, then you're looking at one of two things. Either (1) you are not willing to do what you'd need to in order to do all these things, or (2) your list is too damn long. If it's #2, then what you need is more time.Read more

Has your manager ever started up a conversation on philosophy and how it applies to your job and/or company?

That’s what I did today right before lunch.

I read two short passages from books I have read this year and asked my team to throw out some ideas on how they relate to what we do. What I hoped was for any kind of discussion, and for me to be able to help them put the pieces together. It turned out even better, as everyone contributed something to a great discussion on the art of making a sales call, and how each call was different.

I plan on having one of these conversations every week with the team to see what they think of. It’s a great way to mix sales training and creativity into one session.

What are you doing to get your coworkers and team to think, learn, and grow in their careers and lives? I'd love to hear your ideas.

I made someone’s day by giving her a strawberry.

How is this possible? It’s a mere strawberry. No, she was not starving, nor is she a fruit lover who hasn’t eaten any fruit in ages. Let me tell you what happened.

I walked up to my coworker’s desk with both my hands clasped around something. The look on my face must have read, “I’m up to something goooooood and you’re about to find out.” It was obvious the whole time I had something in my hands, unless I was playing a prank. This whole non-verbal exchange might have lasted two seconds. I then asked her to hold out her hands. She did, smiling, and I dropped the strawberry from my hands into hers.

What happened there?

First, I created suspense. To create suspense you need to promise something good is going to happen without giving away what this good thing is. You’re letting the other people know, “you HAVE to see this.”

Second, I made it dramatic. I could have revealed the strawberry and given it to my coworker. Instead I kept my good little secret hidden AND made her do something for it. It built on the suspense. It makes the good thing you have even better.Read more

Ever had to fly by the seat of your pants?

Winging it, or taking action without preparing for the situation you’re in, is both fascinating and frightening. In amazing moments, winging it will open up doors no one knew existed. Other times you will mishandle what you’re doing and it will blow up in your face, knocking you back 20 feet before your head smacks the ground and you utter a few choice curse words as you begin to get up and try to pick shrapnel out of your leg.

So why is winging it both great and able to create a near-death experience? Can’t we say “yes” or “no” to winging it?

Think of a situation (or three) where winging it was the difference between topping the world and mediocrity. Find any similarities, any constant factors? There are two to consider if winging it is an option or a path to disaster.Read more

How did you take the title of this post?

On one had you could take it as "Get ready, because it's time to get better." It's as if some force is demanding things improve.

Another way is "To improve, you must prepare first."

This is about both.

Three years ago I hiked into the Adirondack wilderness for the first time with my best friend and three others. Aside from my boots I owned cheap gear and had little clue how to backpack. Camping is one thing, backpacking is a whole different game. The rest of the group was in a similar predicament, except for my best friend. My pack was falling apart, I had too much gear, and we trekked in less than three miles before setting up camp.

The Adirondacks told me what I needed to know: if I was coming back, I needed to get better.

Each year since I've had an easier time in the woods and enjoyed the trip more. As I made plans for this year's trip I realized what had happened: I was spending more time every year preparing.Read more

Last night was different.

I’ve been packing my things for the past two and a half weeks. A week ago I picked up the keys to my soon-to-be apartment and began moving my stuff in. Every day after work I drop off whatever boxes and things I could stuff in my car’s trunk and backseat, go home, eat, and begin packing again so I may reload my car before heading off to bed. Saturday’s move will be much easier because of all this.

Last night I began going through and packing my stuff. By stuff I mean things like the coconut monkey my best friend gave me from his summer-long stay in Hawaii. Random items sitting on bookshelves and bureaus, waiting to be placed in a cardboard box and probably opened last after the things I want most have been unpacked and put away. On top of my bureau were some ticket stubs to concerts and movies. I sifted through them and saw one which caught my eye, something I did not know I had kept.

It was a movie pass to the “U23D” IMAX show I went to at the New England Aquarium.Read more

Think of life as a marathon for a moment. I bet you the people who make it to the finish line with a smile on their face have one thing in common: their priorities were in order.

One of their top priorities is their health. How well would you run a marathon if you’re in poor health? Not well. So the marathoners ate right, exercised, and rested to regain energy.

Another top priority is having the running gear. You don’t need fancy stuff to run, just proper clothing and shoes which aren’t worn out.

Knowing what’s likely ahead is important, both about the runner and the course. Knowing where there are hills and flat sections matters. Heck, just knowing there are hills matters. Also, each runner knows what will slow him down and wear him out. It will not be smooth sailing the entire time.Read more

If there is one book I wish I could have read in 2004, when I graduated from college, it’s Ramit Sethi’s recently published I Will Teach You To Be Rich. Boy would I have screwed up a lot less if I had his advice then.

Of course, like most people my age I fully expect to start a fantastic business which will make me filthy stinkin’ rich by my 40’s. Money will be flowing from my pockets. Now, if I expect that scenario, why would I recommend a book on money management if I’m going to be filthy stinkin’ rich in 15 years?

Because it may not happen.

Or if you believe the experts, the odds are stacked against me. Big time.

I have a soon-to-be wife to think about, and the children we’re going to have are going to depend on me. If I want to do everything I can for them and myself financially, then I should have a plan. Sethi’s book gave me some excellent insight into further developing my plan.Read more

When people talk about the greatest athletes ever, they’re looking at a body of work from someone who was exceptional at multiple things. Michael Jordan was more than a great scorer. He was a great defender, good passer and rebounder for his position, and led his team to 6 championships. Tim Duncan is a great scorer, great defender, great rebounder, and has led his team to 4 championships.

While each player has done amazing things, they needed everyone around them to contribute to winning championships. These great players are the exception to THE EXCEPTION. Getting into the NBA is hard enough. Playing for over a decade is ever harder. Everyone who plays in the NBA has to be one of the greatest players in the world.

Now that we’re looking at the 400 or so NBA players as a collection of the greatest basketball players in the world, here’s a question: of every player who played at least 10 seasons in the NBA, who had the highest 3-point shooting percentage?

The answer: Steve Kerr.Read more

By the beginning of August I will be launching a small business themed blog. This blog will become a place for my thoughts and some personal ideas, updated at least once per week (still hoping for 3x/wk). My blogging focus will be over there, and my other writings will end up here.