“The less you have of something critical, the more important it becomes and the more wisely you use it. This is true with everything – love, food, money, and even (or especially) toilet paper.”—Mike Michalowicz
A few different postings on LinkedIn this morning reminded me of a book I read prior to opening a performance sports training facility several years ago. The book had an intriguing title: The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur (by Mike Michalowicz). It is a book that I highly recommend to anyone who is looking to start their own business. It is a bit crass, but informative. Like many small businesses, mine was short-lived, but had I not followed some of the principles detailed in the book, I would have lost a lot more than I did in my endeavor. In a nutshell, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur is, like its subtitle states, “the tell-it-like-it-is guide to cleaning up in business, even if you are at the end of your roll.” I’ll just let your mind figure that out.
It occurred to me this morning that the book and the concept of the “toilet paper entrepreneur” has implications beyond the world of business. Indeed, it has implications for the way in which we live our lives—for “well-centered” living. As in the above quote, life necessitates that we use such critical things as love, food, money—and toilet paper—resourcefully. Too often, in our desire to get ahead or to impress, we adopt the mentality of “go big or go home”. We lack the patience to delay gratification in life.
I see this as a university educator. Students borrow great sums of money to “buy” an education and expect that the diploma is going to come with a high-paying job upon graduation.
I see it in relationships. We are looking for “that one person” to make us whole and fail to value the journey in finding this person. As young people, we don’t date to find ourselves and grow as a person. We don’t date to better understand people. We date solely to find that “one and only”—or for lesser reasons. Likewise, in friendships, we gravitate to those most like us rather than investing in developing a range of relationships that will affect us for the long-term.
I see it in how we spend our resources—time, money, etc. In “well-centered” living, we consider the importance of these resources as they relate to our Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social dimensions. Too often, we invest thoughlessly in these and end up at some time in life looking at an empty roll.
My take home from The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur was that I must put my greatest resources toward what will have the greatest return. In well-centered living, we put our greatest effort toward the things that have the greatest significance. For me, these are evident in my core values: faith, family, friends, growth, health, and impacting others. Significance is related to the quality of importance and lasting value. The return on our investment extends far beyond personal gain and, thus, has a compounding effect.
Mike Michalowicz identifies eight attributes of the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur (TPE):
1) cultivates a powerful foundation of beliefs;
2) has passion;
3) slants toward premature action;
4) is extremely great at extremely little;
5) uses ingenuity over money;
6) dominates a niche;
7) marries long-term focus with short-term action; and
8) is NOT normal.
Let’s look at these from the perspective of “well-centered” living. I find they apply quite well.
The well-centered individual cultivates a powerful foundation of beliefs. Like the TPE, well-centered people know that “success is nearly 100% determined by his or her beliefs, not education, means, or circumstance.” Well-centered people trust in Purpose and act accordingly.
The well-centered individual has passion. Well-centered people are positive and take charge of the day. Carpe momento is their mantra. They are on a mission in life.
The well-centered individual slants toward premature action. Like the TPE, well-centered people prefer to take action rather than wait for things to happen. Failure is inevitable, at times, but the end result of aiming high and taking action is forward movement and high-achievement. Those who act may fall short, but falling short of lofty goals nearly always exceeds success in “realistic” goals.
The well-centered individual is extremely great at extremely little. The well-centered individual knows his strengths and exploits them. Time is not wasted in pursuing that which one lacks the capability to do. The emphasis is on be your best today; be better tomorrow.
The well-centered individual uses ingenuity over money. Here, I would consider “money” to be any resource of value—love, emotions, time, mental energy, physical effort, etc. “Opportunity cost” applies. Such resources are limited and, thus, are not to be spent frivolously. They are invested wisely and with compounding effect.
The well-centered individual dominates a niche. The well-centered person explores his or her giftedness and develops these talents.
The well-centered individual marries long-term focus with short-term action. Well-centered people are goal-oriented. They know where they want to go and have an action plan to get them there.
The well-centered individual is NOT normal. Well-centered people are not content with being on the successful side of mediocre. They challenge themselves to grow and achieve goals that are, per Coyte Cooper, “not reasonable by normal expectations”. Status quo is not acceptable.
So, as you ponder life staring a fresh roll in the holder, consider how you are going to use it. Will you squander life and find yourself empty midway through, or will you use life wisely and make the most with what you are given?
Carpe moment!