Grant Baldwin’s Blog

You’ve probably heard the cliché – “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

I couldn’t help but think of this phrase when I was reading an article in the latest issue of Wired Magazine. One of the magazine’s photographers decided to use Starbucks as his local art shop. He started using some of the materials available from a Starbucks and created this…

In case you’re interested, here was his material list…

• 1 Tall Lid
• 10 96-oz. Coffee Boxes
• 12 Sample Cups
• 37 Grande Cups
• 63 Drink Holders
• 216 Stirrers

For more info on this wicked awesome project and even better, how to make it, check out the Wired page here.

Why do we always put things off till the last minute?

Why do we pay our bills the day before they’re due?

Why is the first time we review our notes or read that assignment, the night before it’s due?

Why do we wait until April 14^th to mail in our taxes or December 24^th to do our Christmas shopping?

Why do we wait until there is a financial crisis before we pay attention to our money?

Why do we let the gas gauge go below ‘E’?

Why do we wait until there’s a medical emergency before we pay attention to our health?

Maybe you’ve noticed this principle in your life. Preparation leads to relaxation.

So why would you wait until the last minute?

What are you putting off until tomorrow that if you did it today, tomorrow would be much less stressful?

Have you ever noticed that the smallest, simplest of gestures can make the biggest difference?

It may be letting the other person have that premium parking space. Or offering to pay for a stranger’s lunch just because. It could be as simple as a smile or a wave.

Think of those moments in your own life when someone has done something seemingly insignificant, yet it made a profound impact in your world.

What could you do today to provide that same experience to someone else?

When you wake up on a Monday morning, what’s the first thought that goes through your head?

I wish I could sleep in…

Should I call in sick today?

Is it Friday yet?

Did you know that suicides occur more often on Monday mornings than any other time during the week? Why?

Because most people dread Monday mornings. We live with the mentality that “Thank God it’s Friday” to “Oh God, it’s Monday!” What a horrible way to live life!

What if you could wake up feeling excited, exhilarated, and eager for the new week that lies ahead? To some of you that may sound like an oxymoron.

Excited for Monday morning? Are you kidding me?

But it doesn’t have to be an oxymoron.

On Sunday nights, I’m excited for Monday morning. By Monday morning, I’m amped for the week ahead. Not because I’m crazy in the head, but because it’s another opportunity to do what I love.

If you hate Monday mornings…why are you settling?

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately promoting and marketing my new book, Reality Check. As most of you probably know, I’m a solo-entrepreneur, so it’s not like I’ve got a massive PR budget to work with!

So I’ve been doing a lot of grassroots marketing trying to get the word out. I’ve been sending lots of emails to high school principals, counselors, librarians. College bookstores, libraries, and freshmen orientation directors. Media contacts, writers, and bloggers. Not to mention the countless teenagers I’ve talked to as well.

And because I believe so much in this resource and think it will be valuable for students, I’ve given a lot of books away for free to try and generate some word-of-mouth interest and buzz.

Why am I telling you all this?

Because if you have a book, website, article, product, CD, service, or anything of any kind that you’re trying to get out into the marketplace, don’t think you have to spend big bucks to make that happen. The best investment I’ve made in getting the book out isn’t by hiring some PR professional. It’s not by getting an interview with Oprah or appearing on The Today Show (although I’m not opposed to those).

The best investment I’ve made is a resource we all have the same amount of…

TIME.

Don’t try to become an overnight success. Let your resource cook in the Crockpot, not in the microwave.