Business Advice from George Costanza

This weekend I was sitting outside in the sun at the farm doing some homework for one of the Mastermind groups I’m in.

(Yes, I’m a big time student, as well as a small-time teacher. I invest over $31K per year to be in Mastermind Groups.)

As I worked through the exercises, I realized what I needed to do in order to take my business to the next level.

But it wasn’t what I wanted to do. It was the exact opposite. In fact, the situation reminded me of one of my all-time favorite TV episodes.

And so today’s lesson comes from a strange man, George Costanza, the legendary character on the show, “Seinfeld”.

Now if you’re not a TV watcher, here’s what you need to know:

George Costanza was a Jerry Seinfeld’s loser sidekick, for whom nothing ever went right.

Finally, in one season, things finally start going right for George, all because he starts acting in the complete opposite way of his instincts.

Perhaps you remember this scene where George think he might get a job with the New York Yankees…

George: “A job with the New York Yankees! This has been the dream of my life ever since I was a child, and it’s all happening because I’m completely ignoring every urge towards common sense and good judgment I’ve ever had…

…something is happening in my life! I did this opposite thing last night. Up was down! Black was white! Good was…

Jerry: …bad

George: Day was…

Elaine: …night

George: Yeah!
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Now before you go and hunt for the rest of that episode on Hulu or Itunes, let me explain what it means to us. At one point in this episode, George says,

“It all became very clear to me sitting out there today, that every decision I’ve ever made in my entire life has been wrong.  My life is the complete opposite of everything I want it to be.”

Now I know that doesn’t describe you, but it might describe your experiences with trying to build a website business.

Is your online business NOT everything you want it to be? If so, then maybe you need to start acting opposite to your instincts and common sense.

For example, one of my online business friends is struggling with getting things done, but he doesn’t want to give up control and delegate.

So what’s the solution?

There is only one – Do the opposite of what he wants to do.

He MUST – absolutely must – give up his control obsession and delegate lower skill tasks or else he will drown in opportunity.

Another one of my friends – who is now the most successful renegade fitness coach online – once told me he hated sitting behind a computer, but he wanted to build a website business.

But guess what finally worked for him?

It was only when he “pulled a Costanza” and forced himself to write and create that his business took off, and now he gets almost 5000 people to his blog everyday.

And he’s darn good at writing – perhaps one of the best in the entire fitness industry.

Then there’s little ol’ me.

I’d love nothing more than sit behind this lil’ computer and write all day long. And I’ve made good progress with that system.

But if I want to spread my mission – to really, truly impact ALL of the people I want to help with my 1 Million Transformation Mission in the fitness industry – then I too must be like George and do the opposite of my instincts.

And so I’m planning more live events. I’m doing more speaking. I’m working on the product launches and filming videos.

It is tempting for us – myself included – to remain in our comfort zones. But that is not where we grow, improve, and make the changes necessary to dramatically move ahead.

So my challenge to you today, and this week, is to pull a Costanza and do the opposite.

Look at what you are doing to stay in your comfort zone and think, “What is the opposite action of my instinct? And would this opposite action be the better solution?”

After all, it worked for George.

“Yes, I will do the opposite. I used to sit here and do nothing, and regret it for the rest of the day, so now I will do the opposite, and I will do something!” – George Costanza

Sounds like a plan.

Lessons come from the funniest places,

Craig Ballantyne
Internet Independence on Facebook

“I’m back in business, baby!” – George Costanza