The Importance of Friends

Matrix Key:  Relationships - Friends

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.' " - C. S. Lewis 

When it comes to relationships, we often think only of the significant other in our life.  But what about friends?  We must also be in relationship with the broader community around us, and develop friendships that will enlighten, support, and enrich us.  A person can have work friends, school friends, church friends, friends from every area of your life, and enjoy different types of relationships with each one.

Just as with your significant other, your relationship with your friends needs to be nurtured and tended.  You may talk to some friends only sporadically through the years, and each interaction is as fun and fulfilling as the last.  Or you may have some friendships that demand more of your attention, and require additional effort to remain viable, but are worth the extra time.

The WholeLife Matrix shows that the keys to a good friendship are very similar to those of a successful significant other relationship:

1. Affinity and Respect
2. Mutual Commitment
3. Time Together
4. Common Interests

 Allowing yourself to be open to new friendships and connections with people in your environment will yield amazing results.  Because everyone needs friends to share the good and bad times, the losses and the wins.  And as C. S. Lewis points out, we each need to see ourselves in the eyes and heart of another as we navigate this life.

Are you ready to win?

Estimating and Pricing System

Matrix Key:  Financial Viability - Profitability - Estimating and Pricing

"And when is there time to remember, to sift, to weigh, to estimate, to total?"  - Tillie Olsen

Within the Financial Viability quadrant of the WholeLife Matrix we have included a section on the importance of  an Estimating and Pricing System.  As any good bargain shopper will attest, it pays to know what things cost in the marketplace, and what it will cost you to source materials to produce your product.  Your production cost doesn't include just materials either...time is an equally precious commodity.  You must have a clear understanding of your costs and be able to accurately estimate them if you want to be profitable.

               The four requirements of an estimating/pricing system are:

1.      You must have estimates for time and material

2.      You must be able to compare estimates to actual results

3.      There must be a system to track the percentages of time and materials used

4.      There must be a system to deal with significant variances from your estimates

If your business is not as profitable as you think it could be, review your systems for the four above principles.  An accurate cost accounting system with help you determine your gross profit margin, track your expenses, and calculate your net profit.  Estimating and pricing take time, but the potential savings can show up as big wins on your bottom line. 

Are you ready to win?

Start With the Self

Matrix Key:  Personal Awareness - Self

"Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart.  Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." - Carl Jung

Why is it important to be self-aware?  Why do we include that as a component of the WholeLife Matrix?  Because everything we are and do in life begins with the self.  The essence of being begins with the self.  And if we take time to be in tune with our self, we will be much better equipped to contribute to the world around us...our relationships, our business, and our community.

So how do we become self-aware?  The WholeLife Matrix breaks self-awareness into four key components:

1. Psychological Awareness
2. Energy Field
3. Embodiment
4. Physical Awareness

Our "self" is much more than just some thinking about what we want to do and be.  Our "self" is an intricate cross section of several integral concepts and thoughts.  In order to be truly self-aware, we have to devote time and energy to discovering our "self."  Scheduling time in your calendar to develop your self-awareness will show up in all your activities, and will give you the power to live a happy and fulfilling life.

Are you ready to win?