G.N.O.M.E.S will give you the basic structure to not only build a business plan, but implement it. Using proven strategies, G.N.O.M.E.S will help you become better organized, effectively manage your time, overcome call reluctance, and set attainable goals that you can work towards with dedication and passion.
N.eeds: What are your Client's Needs?
E.valuation: The Constant Process of Keeping on Track
Preparing for Greatness
Discipline. (Posted 06/28/11)
Where there's a will, there's a win.
H.P. Liddon said, "What we do on some great occasion will probably depend on what we already are; and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline."
Simply put, discipline is doing what you really don't want to do so you can do what you really want to do. The areas we need to be disciplined in are the areas we don't like. That's human nature. There are three areas of continued development.
Disciplined Thinking - Playwright George Bernard Shaw remarked, "Few people think more than two or three times a year; I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week."
Disciplined Emotions - We have two choices when it comes to our emotions: We can master them, or they can master us.
Disciplined Action - Albert Hubert said, "Parties who want milk should not seat themselves on a stool in the middle of the field and hpe that the cow will back up to them."
We must take action when faced with tasks we don't like. Thomas Huxely remarked, "Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned, and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns."
Discipline is a quality that every team member must have.
Lead Your Life. (Posted 06/17/11)
Its’ time to push yourself and your life forward.
Do you want to be the leader of your own life? No problem. Just do the things you don’t feel like doing. That’s how you become your own leader. Of course, that’s easier said than done because we’ve all trained ourselves to do only what we feel like doing.
Consider this common morning routine as an example. The alarm goes off. The sound seems to start somewhere behind your eyeballs. You instantly press the snooze button. Silence returns and you consider your options. Today was supposed to be the fifth day of your new exercise program. But it feels awfully early to be getting out of bed and walking across the cold floor in your bare feet.
You know that it’s important to stick to your goals, but there’s nothing inspiring at all about getting up in the morning. It sucks. Whose dumb idea was it to promise to exercise anyway? One day off won’t matter that much. You close your eyes and feel the welcome lull of sleep come over you.
A few minutes later the alarm sounds, and you hit the snooze again. You’re not feeling up for the exercise. Your knee was bothering you yesterday, so it’s probably better not to push it too hard. You fall asleep again.
The alarm rings, but at this point it’s too late to jog anyway. You hit snooze and drift off again.
No single invention has so perfectly captured the perverse power of the mind to defeat its own best intentions as the snooze button. Every grand resolution, every promise you’ve ever made to yourself, every good intention can be instantly wiped away with a simple press of a button. The snooze button is the perfect symbol of human resistance and the emblem of anyone who feels stuck—stuck in a dead-end job, stuck with a flabby body, stuck with a bunch of cool ideas that you never find the time to execute. . . just plain stuck.
Everyone already has a snooze button pre-installed inside them. It's always there if you want to use it, and use it we do. We come up with every imaginable excuse to delay, avoid and stay stuck right where we are.
The fastest way to become a leader is to start acting like one. Try this: Set your alarm for 30 minutes earlier than you normally wake up. Tomorrow morning, as soon as the alarm sounds, open your eyes, throw off the covers, sit up, put your feet on the floor and stand up. Your day starts NOW. No pillow over the head. No snooze. If you lie in bed more than 10 seconds before standing up, you fail the test. If you can do this exercise successfully for five days straight, you’ll see a significant shift in your ability to push yourself and your life forward.
Leaders don’t hit the snooze button in life, and now, neither will you.
The Top Twenty Percent. (Posted 06/16/11)
Make yourself lists. Making a list is crucial to really getting things done. When you know what it is you are to get done, you do not waste any time trying to figure out where to begin.
Always work on the top 20% because there is never enough time in life to do everything but there is always enough time to do the important things. So always work on the top 20% of the items on your list that make up for the greatest amount of value whether it be what you accomplish at home or at your job.
It is pretty typical for people to write their list of things to do and then pick out that which is easy and fun to do first which NEVER leaves time to accomplish anything of true value and then they wonder why they don’t get things done and this can weigh very heavy on your mind.
When we truly want to develop personal power and help keep our mood from slipping into a negative pattern we must constantly feed our minds with positive productive thoughts.
The sense of pride that you will feel for getting things accomplished is a very strong tool in maintaining a positive mental attitude.
You must train yourself to concentrate on the hardest yet most valuable tasks if you really want to achieve the type of success that propels you forward in life. By keeping personal development at the top of your list of things to do on a daily basis you cannot help but to see improvements in your life.
The ability to single minded concentrate on one thing at a time, to persevere and to will yourself to accomplishing that one major task is a huge key to building your personal power and it is a trait that is shared by all great achievers.
Are You Willing to Fight for Happiness? (Posted 06/14/11)
Sometimes a hard-won battle makes victory even sweeter.
Happiness is a feeling-but it goes deeper thatn that. If you think about what has made you the happiest, it probably didn't come without a struggle. In fact, the things you should feel happy about, the things you don't have to work for-being pretty or smart, growing up in a nice neighborhood or having supportive parents-you barely recognize. Instead, it's the things that were not easy to come by that make you stand up and take notice: the relationship that twisted your stomach into knots, childbirth, the house your weren't sure you could afford, beating cancer, doing your own thing for a living. If you got the rewards from any of those challenges, you had to fight through nerves and overcome struggles. You had to battle for the rewards. But when you finally got what you so desperately desired, you were more than happy. You were fulfilled.
When you understand this, you will realize that in order to be happy, you must be willing to be uncomfortable during the process fo getting what you want. You can tweak your level of happiness like a modern-day alchemist by exercising, hanging out with good friends or listening to music. But to be truly happy, you need to be going for something that is slightly out of reach.
Managing Relationships. (Posted 06/13/11)The Dunbar 150 theory, which holds that humans can realistically only have meaningful relationships with up to 150 people, still prevails. The average number of friends that Facebook users have is 130. However, for those of us who are natural connectors, as described by Malcolm Gladwelll in his book The Tipping Point, our ability to build meaningful relationships with hundreds, even thousands of people is a breeze. Others can learn this skill, too. With reliable social customer relationship management tools, you can easily keep detailed notes on a vast number of connections. And tools like Gist.com and Rapportive.com display the social profiles of everyone in your social network and email inbox, making continuous networking easier and much more effective.
What If. (Posted 05/31/11)
Get out of your comfort zone today by asking yourself some "what if" questions. What if you didn't market the same way everyone else does? What if you didn't work 60 hours a week? What if you asked for help?
Make a list of five questions and answers. Now make one of them reality!
Work with Your Energy Patterns. (Posted 05/27/11)
Your energy patterns fluctuate during the work week. If you design your work around these patterns, you'll be more productive.
On Monday's, you're warming up after your weekend. It's the best day for low-demand administrative tasks such as setting goals, organizing and planning.
You're full charged by Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Take on the most challenging work.
By Thursday afternoon, energy starts to ebb. It's a good day for meetings requiring a consensus.
Friday's mark the lowest energy level for the week, especially Friday afternoons. Schedule open-ended work such as brainstorming, long-range planning and relationship-building.
Action is the Answer. (Posted 05/26/11)
Frustrated with lack of results? Start rewarding yourself for action.
Make an accomplishment list of actions you took this week toward growth. If you're not getting the positive response you want, adjust three actions in your goal list for next week.
Give an Assist. (Posted 05/25/11)
To be a team player, learn to focus on the benefit for the team rather than yourself. Do all your goals have to do with you your own achievement? Make a list of five ways you can contribute to the overall advancement of your team.
Create Greatness. (Posted 05/24/11)
Stan Lee, creator of superheroes, says, "There are no secrets-no tricks. Without good ideas you're nowhere."
Think of your priority project today; are you staying true to the big idea or are you trying to take shortcuts? Pick up the phone now and get some trusted feedback on your direction.
Bust Through the Gatekeeper. (Posted 05/23/11)
Getting Through to the Decision-Maker.
It's both a saleperson's worst nightmare and an everyday occurence: You find a promising lead with all the makings of a sale. You make the call with contact name and a perfectly crafted and well-rehearsed opening line at the tip of your tongue. The receptionist answers. "I can take a message for you," she says. "No, I'm sorry. She does not have voice mail. No, she does not use email." You do not get through. The opening line dies in your mouth along with your enthusiasm.
Get the Name
The biggest mistake sales people make is not asking for the right person. If you find yourself without the name of the appropriate decision maker, ask the receptionist for a contact by title, as opposed to "decision maker" or "your boss." By asking, "Who is the Branch Manager?" you're asking the receptionist to come to the conclusion for you, which makes him or her feel helpful and more likely to transfer you directly through.
If this doesn't work, speak to the gatekeeper as if her boss is in fact in charge of purchasing your product. Simply start the conversation as if their boss is the right person to speak to. This is called 'pattern interrupt.' It isn't what the person expects the conversation to be like, and they will immediately correct you and offer the right decision maker.
The Mirror Principal. (Posted 05/20/11)
The first person we must examine is ourselves.
People are unaware of who they are and what they do often damage relationships with others. The way to change that is to look in the mirror.
A leader's tendency is to examine someone else, asking what is wrong with that person. Why are they doing their job correctly?
Why don't they ever come to work on time? Unfortunately this is how many leaders react. It's easy to teach leadership; it's difficult to model leadership.
Victory over self is essential for the leader.
Author Terry Felber in his book Am I Making Myself Clear? said the following:
Learn Your Trade. (Posted 05/19/11)
I have discovered there are basically three steps in life: learn, earn, and return (Readers are Leaders, Leaders are Readers ~ Earners are Learners and Learners are Earners).
Through your life you will have many opportunities to learn and earn. But be sure to give back more than you receive.
Perfect Your Elevator Pitch. (Posted 05/17/11)
It's no doubt that you have a lot of qualifications and experience. But the hard reality is that no one--expect your mom--wants to hear that much about your accomplishments. When you are networking and getting the word out about yourself and your company, you should resist the urge to give a 10-minute introduction. Instead, prepare a short 15-second elevator pitch that hits on your high points and top skills. Think about what's unique about what you have done and what will help you stand out in the crowd.
Find a Way or Make One (Posted 05/16/11)
If the perfect opportunity hasn't found you, it could be time to take matters into your own hands.
If you're frustrated with a lack of opportunity, why not create your own? Success is never an accident. It typically starts as imagination, becomes a dream, stimulates a goal, grows into a plan of action--which then inevitably meets with opportunity.
Eighty-five percent of the process of finding an authentic fit in your career comes from looking inward. We often put the cart before the horse by searching out the hottest business opportunities without doing a reality check to make sure they're right for us.
Trust your passions. Don't be deterred because you've been told your idea is not realistic or practical. Passion drives success in unusual ventures.
Create a clear plan of action. Passion or enthusiasm alone is not enough. You need a strategy and a timeline.
Don't look back. Confidence enthusiasm and boldness overtake those negative emotions as you become clear about what you are moving toward.
Commit to one year of focused action without looking back.
Adopt a Rock Star Attitude. (Posted 05/10/11)
If you want to connect with people individually or in group presentations, you have to put your ego aside and develop a "Rock Star Attitude." In other words, talent is not enough. Sure, you can play guitar and sing, but audiences don't buy it unless you show them some love.
When you're making a presentation, showing the "love" is easy. Start by maintaining eye contact and smiling - a genuine grin, not a grimace or some plastic version. Lighten up. Don't focus so hard on the pitch that your face looks strained. Bring a little levity, interject some humor and get your audience involved by asking questions and expecting answers. Be prepared and rehearsed, so you can relax and actually enjoy the human interaction of the pitch. Audiences will feel your authenticity.
Sales in its simplest form, connects people with what they need. The sharper your ability to discern prospect and client needs, the greater your sales success. But the easier you make it for your client to relate and communicate with you, the easier it will be to discern those needs in the first place.
Competence. (Posted 05/09/11)
Winning teams have competent players. The Law of the Chain from John C. Maxwell's book The 17 Irrefutable Laws of Teamwork states that the strength of a team is impacted by its weakest link. And that weakest link is always going to determine the load the team is able to carry.
If you have a bad coach and bad players, you most definitely are going to have a bad team. If you have a bad coach and good players, you'll have a fair team. But to have a good team you need a good coach and good players. That weak link--whether it's the coach or the players--will keep you from reaching your potential.
The weak-link player affects the team three ways:
Be a Student of All You do. (Posted 05/02/11)
You must become an expert in your field. How? Read! Ask questions of mentors and peers. Attend training. Start today by identifying areas for improvement, looking for training opportunities in your field and signing up for seminars and webcasts, reading or listening to personal-development material, seeking out people you would like to emulate and approaching those you'd like as your mentors.
Build Value Every Day. (Posted 04/29/11)
Business is all about high-touch/high-trust relationships. In this age of dramatic distraction, it's especially easy to forget that. People do business with people they trust and people who make them feel special. Create a ritual that ensures our reach out to three possible or current clients every day. This isn't about asking for the order; this is about adding value. The more people you help, the more profits you'll see. Send them an article. Connect them with a business opportunity. Do something to help them close in on their greatest dreams. They'll soon help you close in on yours. Zig Zigler says it best, "You can have everything you want in life, if you will only help enough other people get what they want."
Share Your Vision, Show the Way. (Posted 04/28/11)
In any economic climate, it's important for business leaders to clearly articulate their vision, goals, and specific plans to achieve them, but even more so during challenging times. A lack of clarity, the presence of ambiguity, obviously flawed business logic or constantly shifting priorities/positions are the death of many a venture. Those that implement a well thought our and clearly articulated vision create a sense of stability and a bond of trust amongst the ranks.
When employees know the plan, the direction, the mission, and the goals, it gives them something concrete and real to focus their actions toward. It helps them understand how they add value to the direction of the company and shows them their own worth toward building success for the organization.
Transparency Is First and Foremost. (Posted 04/27/11)
In today's uncertain business climate, there is no more powerful leadership attribute than the ability to be genuinely honest about one's weaknesses, mistakes and needs for help. Nothing inspires trust in another human being like vulnerability-there is just something immensely attractive and inspiring about humility and graciousness.
So many. . . feel the need to demonstrate that they have the right answers and that they don't make mistakes. Not only do people see this as unauthentic, they often feel that they are being condescended to and manipulated. What people really want is honesty and humility.
Leadership Keys that Lead to Transformation. (Posted 04/26/11)
Like drafting behind a faster car, following in the trail blazed by someone ahead of you can drastically reduce the resistance you face. What area are you having the most trouble? Pinpoint somone who has traveled the road before you. Study their action plan; then step out boldly where they stepped first.
Mind Matters. (Posted 04/20/11)
A good reason to get moving this spring: It's good for the brain. "From an evolutionary perspective, our brains developed while working out, walking as many as 12-miles per day. The brain still craves that experience, especially in sedentary populations like our own. Exercisers outpeform couch potatoes in long-term memory, reasoning, attention, and problem solving tasks," says, John Medina in Brain Rules.
Hit Your Target Market. (Posted 04/19/11)
Identify top tools to find people in your target market, potential strategic alliances and possible media contacts so you can connect with them. For example, Twellow.com is great for finding Twitter users by keywords in their bio, category, or location. And LinkedIn Groups can be very helpful for finding the right people to reach out to.
Self-leadership. (Posted 04/18/11)
Where there's a will, there's a win.
H.P. Liddon said, "What we do on some great occasion will probably depend on what we already are; and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline."
Simply put, discipline is doing what you really don't want to do so you can do what you really want to do. The areas we need to be disciplined in are the areas we don't like. That's human nature. There are three areas of continued development.
Disciplined Thinking - Playwright George Bernard Shaw remarked, "Few people think more than two or three times a year; I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week."
Disciplined Emotions - We have two choices when it comes to our emotions: We can master them, or they can master us.
Disciplined Action - Albert Hubert said, "Parties who want milk should not seat themselves on a stool in the middle of the field and hpe that the cow will back up to them."
We must take action when faced with tasks we don't like. Thomas Huxely remarked, "Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned, and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns."
Discipline is a quality that every team member must have.
Lead Your Life. (Posted 06/17/11)
Its’ time to push yourself and your life forward.
Do you want to be the leader of your own life? No problem. Just do the things you don’t feel like doing. That’s how you become your own leader. Of course, that’s easier said than done because we’ve all trained ourselves to do only what we feel like doing.
Consider this common morning routine as an example. The alarm goes off. The sound seems to start somewhere behind your eyeballs. You instantly press the snooze button. Silence returns and you consider your options. Today was supposed to be the fifth day of your new exercise program. But it feels awfully early to be getting out of bed and walking across the cold floor in your bare feet.
You know that it’s important to stick to your goals, but there’s nothing inspiring at all about getting up in the morning. It sucks. Whose dumb idea was it to promise to exercise anyway? One day off won’t matter that much. You close your eyes and feel the welcome lull of sleep come over you.
A few minutes later the alarm sounds, and you hit the snooze again. You’re not feeling up for the exercise. Your knee was bothering you yesterday, so it’s probably better not to push it too hard. You fall asleep again.
The alarm rings, but at this point it’s too late to jog anyway. You hit snooze and drift off again.
No single invention has so perfectly captured the perverse power of the mind to defeat its own best intentions as the snooze button. Every grand resolution, every promise you’ve ever made to yourself, every good intention can be instantly wiped away with a simple press of a button. The snooze button is the perfect symbol of human resistance and the emblem of anyone who feels stuck—stuck in a dead-end job, stuck with a flabby body, stuck with a bunch of cool ideas that you never find the time to execute. . . just plain stuck.
Everyone already has a snooze button pre-installed inside them. It's always there if you want to use it, and use it we do. We come up with every imaginable excuse to delay, avoid and stay stuck right where we are.
The fastest way to become a leader is to start acting like one. Try this: Set your alarm for 30 minutes earlier than you normally wake up. Tomorrow morning, as soon as the alarm sounds, open your eyes, throw off the covers, sit up, put your feet on the floor and stand up. Your day starts NOW. No pillow over the head. No snooze. If you lie in bed more than 10 seconds before standing up, you fail the test. If you can do this exercise successfully for five days straight, you’ll see a significant shift in your ability to push yourself and your life forward.
Leaders don’t hit the snooze button in life, and now, neither will you.
The Top Twenty Percent. (Posted 06/16/11)
Make yourself lists. Making a list is crucial to really getting things done. When you know what it is you are to get done, you do not waste any time trying to figure out where to begin.
Always work on the top 20% because there is never enough time in life to do everything but there is always enough time to do the important things. So always work on the top 20% of the items on your list that make up for the greatest amount of value whether it be what you accomplish at home or at your job.
It is pretty typical for people to write their list of things to do and then pick out that which is easy and fun to do first which NEVER leaves time to accomplish anything of true value and then they wonder why they don’t get things done and this can weigh very heavy on your mind.
When we truly want to develop personal power and help keep our mood from slipping into a negative pattern we must constantly feed our minds with positive productive thoughts.
The sense of pride that you will feel for getting things accomplished is a very strong tool in maintaining a positive mental attitude.
You must train yourself to concentrate on the hardest yet most valuable tasks if you really want to achieve the type of success that propels you forward in life. By keeping personal development at the top of your list of things to do on a daily basis you cannot help but to see improvements in your life.
The ability to single minded concentrate on one thing at a time, to persevere and to will yourself to accomplishing that one major task is a huge key to building your personal power and it is a trait that is shared by all great achievers.
Are You Willing to Fight for Happiness? (Posted 06/14/11)
Sometimes a hard-won battle makes victory even sweeter.
Happiness is a feeling-but it goes deeper thatn that. If you think about what has made you the happiest, it probably didn't come without a struggle. In fact, the things you should feel happy about, the things you don't have to work for-being pretty or smart, growing up in a nice neighborhood or having supportive parents-you barely recognize. Instead, it's the things that were not easy to come by that make you stand up and take notice: the relationship that twisted your stomach into knots, childbirth, the house your weren't sure you could afford, beating cancer, doing your own thing for a living. If you got the rewards from any of those challenges, you had to fight through nerves and overcome struggles. You had to battle for the rewards. But when you finally got what you so desperately desired, you were more than happy. You were fulfilled.
When you understand this, you will realize that in order to be happy, you must be willing to be uncomfortable during the process fo getting what you want. You can tweak your level of happiness like a modern-day alchemist by exercising, hanging out with good friends or listening to music. But to be truly happy, you need to be going for something that is slightly out of reach.
Managing Relationships. (Posted 06/13/11)The Dunbar 150 theory, which holds that humans can realistically only have meaningful relationships with up to 150 people, still prevails. The average number of friends that Facebook users have is 130. However, for those of us who are natural connectors, as described by Malcolm Gladwelll in his book The Tipping Point, our ability to build meaningful relationships with hundreds, even thousands of people is a breeze. Others can learn this skill, too. With reliable social customer relationship management tools, you can easily keep detailed notes on a vast number of connections. And tools like Gist.com and Rapportive.com display the social profiles of everyone in your social network and email inbox, making continuous networking easier and much more effective.
What If. (Posted 05/31/11)
Get out of your comfort zone today by asking yourself some "what if" questions. What if you didn't market the same way everyone else does? What if you didn't work 60 hours a week? What if you asked for help?
Make a list of five questions and answers. Now make one of them reality!
Work with Your Energy Patterns. (Posted 05/27/11)
Your energy patterns fluctuate during the work week. If you design your work around these patterns, you'll be more productive.
On Monday's, you're warming up after your weekend. It's the best day for low-demand administrative tasks such as setting goals, organizing and planning.
You're full charged by Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Take on the most challenging work.
By Thursday afternoon, energy starts to ebb. It's a good day for meetings requiring a consensus.
Friday's mark the lowest energy level for the week, especially Friday afternoons. Schedule open-ended work such as brainstorming, long-range planning and relationship-building.
Action is the Answer. (Posted 05/26/11)
Frustrated with lack of results? Start rewarding yourself for action.
Make an accomplishment list of actions you took this week toward growth. If you're not getting the positive response you want, adjust three actions in your goal list for next week.
Give an Assist. (Posted 05/25/11)
To be a team player, learn to focus on the benefit for the team rather than yourself. Do all your goals have to do with you your own achievement? Make a list of five ways you can contribute to the overall advancement of your team.
Create Greatness. (Posted 05/24/11)
Stan Lee, creator of superheroes, says, "There are no secrets-no tricks. Without good ideas you're nowhere."
Think of your priority project today; are you staying true to the big idea or are you trying to take shortcuts? Pick up the phone now and get some trusted feedback on your direction.
Bust Through the Gatekeeper. (Posted 05/23/11)
Getting Through to the Decision-Maker.
It's both a saleperson's worst nightmare and an everyday occurence: You find a promising lead with all the makings of a sale. You make the call with contact name and a perfectly crafted and well-rehearsed opening line at the tip of your tongue. The receptionist answers. "I can take a message for you," she says. "No, I'm sorry. She does not have voice mail. No, she does not use email." You do not get through. The opening line dies in your mouth along with your enthusiasm.
Get the Name
The biggest mistake sales people make is not asking for the right person. If you find yourself without the name of the appropriate decision maker, ask the receptionist for a contact by title, as opposed to "decision maker" or "your boss." By asking, "Who is the Branch Manager?" you're asking the receptionist to come to the conclusion for you, which makes him or her feel helpful and more likely to transfer you directly through.
If this doesn't work, speak to the gatekeeper as if her boss is in fact in charge of purchasing your product. Simply start the conversation as if their boss is the right person to speak to. This is called 'pattern interrupt.' It isn't what the person expects the conversation to be like, and they will immediately correct you and offer the right decision maker.
The Mirror Principal. (Posted 05/20/11)
The first person we must examine is ourselves.
People are unaware of who they are and what they do often damage relationships with others. The way to change that is to look in the mirror.
A leader's tendency is to examine someone else, asking what is wrong with that person. Why are they doing their job correctly?
Why don't they ever come to work on time? Unfortunately this is how many leaders react. It's easy to teach leadership; it's difficult to model leadership.
Victory over self is essential for the leader.
Author Terry Felber in his book Am I Making Myself Clear? said the following:
There's something innate in us that looks out for our own interests before those of others. If I take a photograph of a group you are with, who is the first person you look for in the picture? Yourself if course! You'll think to yourself, look at my hair! It's all messed up! And my eyes are half closed. Look at that crooked smile on my face. The most important person to you is yourself.A key difference between followers and leaders is very simple. Followers think of themselves first, leaders think of others first. Putting others before yourself is a key victory for a leader.
Learn Your Trade. (Posted 05/19/11)
I have discovered there are basically three steps in life: learn, earn, and return (Readers are Leaders, Leaders are Readers ~ Earners are Learners and Learners are Earners).
Through your life you will have many opportunities to learn and earn. But be sure to give back more than you receive.
Perfect Your Elevator Pitch. (Posted 05/17/11)
It's no doubt that you have a lot of qualifications and experience. But the hard reality is that no one--expect your mom--wants to hear that much about your accomplishments. When you are networking and getting the word out about yourself and your company, you should resist the urge to give a 10-minute introduction. Instead, prepare a short 15-second elevator pitch that hits on your high points and top skills. Think about what's unique about what you have done and what will help you stand out in the crowd.
Find a Way or Make One (Posted 05/16/11)
If the perfect opportunity hasn't found you, it could be time to take matters into your own hands.
If you're frustrated with a lack of opportunity, why not create your own? Success is never an accident. It typically starts as imagination, becomes a dream, stimulates a goal, grows into a plan of action--which then inevitably meets with opportunity.
Eighty-five percent of the process of finding an authentic fit in your career comes from looking inward. We often put the cart before the horse by searching out the hottest business opportunities without doing a reality check to make sure they're right for us.
Trust your passions. Don't be deterred because you've been told your idea is not realistic or practical. Passion drives success in unusual ventures.
Create a clear plan of action. Passion or enthusiasm alone is not enough. You need a strategy and a timeline.
Don't look back. Confidence enthusiasm and boldness overtake those negative emotions as you become clear about what you are moving toward.
Commit to one year of focused action without looking back.
Adopt a Rock Star Attitude. (Posted 05/10/11)
If you want to connect with people individually or in group presentations, you have to put your ego aside and develop a "Rock Star Attitude." In other words, talent is not enough. Sure, you can play guitar and sing, but audiences don't buy it unless you show them some love.
When you're making a presentation, showing the "love" is easy. Start by maintaining eye contact and smiling - a genuine grin, not a grimace or some plastic version. Lighten up. Don't focus so hard on the pitch that your face looks strained. Bring a little levity, interject some humor and get your audience involved by asking questions and expecting answers. Be prepared and rehearsed, so you can relax and actually enjoy the human interaction of the pitch. Audiences will feel your authenticity.
Sales in its simplest form, connects people with what they need. The sharper your ability to discern prospect and client needs, the greater your sales success. But the easier you make it for your client to relate and communicate with you, the easier it will be to discern those needs in the first place.
Competence. (Posted 05/09/11)
Winning teams have competent players. The Law of the Chain from John C. Maxwell's book The 17 Irrefutable Laws of Teamwork states that the strength of a team is impacted by its weakest link. And that weakest link is always going to determine the load the team is able to carry.
If you have a bad coach and bad players, you most definitely are going to have a bad team. If you have a bad coach and good players, you'll have a fair team. But to have a good team you need a good coach and good players. That weak link--whether it's the coach or the players--will keep you from reaching your potential.
The weak-link player affects the team three ways:
- Loss of Opportunity - Opportunity can never be discovered when you have a weak player on a team. The energy expended while trying to cover for a weak player is energy that is taken away from finding opportunities.
- Loss of Morale - Every person on the team knows who the weaker person is. Resentment can set in because other team members know the team is being held back from what it could become because of this weak player.
- Loss of Productivity - This is a given. You'll never be as productive with that weaker team member as you would be if that player were not there.
Be a Student of All You do. (Posted 05/02/11)
You must become an expert in your field. How? Read! Ask questions of mentors and peers. Attend training. Start today by identifying areas for improvement, looking for training opportunities in your field and signing up for seminars and webcasts, reading or listening to personal-development material, seeking out people you would like to emulate and approaching those you'd like as your mentors.
Build Value Every Day. (Posted 04/29/11)
Business is all about high-touch/high-trust relationships. In this age of dramatic distraction, it's especially easy to forget that. People do business with people they trust and people who make them feel special. Create a ritual that ensures our reach out to three possible or current clients every day. This isn't about asking for the order; this is about adding value. The more people you help, the more profits you'll see. Send them an article. Connect them with a business opportunity. Do something to help them close in on their greatest dreams. They'll soon help you close in on yours. Zig Zigler says it best, "You can have everything you want in life, if you will only help enough other people get what they want."
Share Your Vision, Show the Way. (Posted 04/28/11)
In any economic climate, it's important for business leaders to clearly articulate their vision, goals, and specific plans to achieve them, but even more so during challenging times. A lack of clarity, the presence of ambiguity, obviously flawed business logic or constantly shifting priorities/positions are the death of many a venture. Those that implement a well thought our and clearly articulated vision create a sense of stability and a bond of trust amongst the ranks.
When employees know the plan, the direction, the mission, and the goals, it gives them something concrete and real to focus their actions toward. It helps them understand how they add value to the direction of the company and shows them their own worth toward building success for the organization.
Transparency Is First and Foremost. (Posted 04/27/11)
In today's uncertain business climate, there is no more powerful leadership attribute than the ability to be genuinely honest about one's weaknesses, mistakes and needs for help. Nothing inspires trust in another human being like vulnerability-there is just something immensely attractive and inspiring about humility and graciousness.
So many. . . feel the need to demonstrate that they have the right answers and that they don't make mistakes. Not only do people see this as unauthentic, they often feel that they are being condescended to and manipulated. What people really want is honesty and humility.
Leadership Keys that Lead to Transformation. (Posted 04/26/11)
- Grow with discipline.
- Balance nutrition with rigor.
- Innovate around the core.
- Don't embrace the status quo.
- Find new ways to see.
- Never expect a silver bullet.
- Get your hands dirty.
- Listen with empathy and over-communicate with transparency.
- Tell your story, refusing to let others define you.
- Use authentic experiences to inspire.
- Stick to your values; they are your foundation.
- Hold people accountable but give them tools to succeed.
- Make the tough choices; it's how you execute that counts.
- Be decisive in times of crisis.
- Be nimble.
- Find truths in crisis and lessons in mistakes
- Be responsible for what you see, hear, and do.
- Believe.
Like drafting behind a faster car, following in the trail blazed by someone ahead of you can drastically reduce the resistance you face. What area are you having the most trouble? Pinpoint somone who has traveled the road before you. Study their action plan; then step out boldly where they stepped first.
Mind Matters. (Posted 04/20/11)
A good reason to get moving this spring: It's good for the brain. "From an evolutionary perspective, our brains developed while working out, walking as many as 12-miles per day. The brain still craves that experience, especially in sedentary populations like our own. Exercisers outpeform couch potatoes in long-term memory, reasoning, attention, and problem solving tasks," says, John Medina in Brain Rules.
Hit Your Target Market. (Posted 04/19/11)
Identify top tools to find people in your target market, potential strategic alliances and possible media contacts so you can connect with them. For example, Twellow.com is great for finding Twitter users by keywords in their bio, category, or location. And LinkedIn Groups can be very helpful for finding the right people to reach out to.
Self-leadership. (Posted 04/18/11)
Self-leadership means scheduling what's important to you. Make prioritization your passion.
If you do not take control of your schedule, it will take control of you. Stephen Covey put it this way, "The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule but to schedule your priorities." In this high-productivity world we often forget that there comes a time when we need to unplug. Work spills over into family. Family gets neglected. Stress builds and relationships-the ones closest to you-become strained.
You must learn to schedule time with your loved ones first and foremost. You must be in the memory making business. Schedule your lunch break so that it shows up on busy on your calendar. Schedule time with your kids during the workweek; when something work related comes up, simply fall back on your calendar that says, "baseball with Schyler" or "picnic with Eli."
Here are a few keys to making memories:
- Never say no to a memory making moment. It may never present itself again.
- Take as many pictures as you can and take one night a week to look at them as a family.
- Become passionate about creating memories by giving cards that people will keep a lifetime.
- The smallest phrases are the most powerful, and overtime create the most priceless memories.
You Will Never Exceed Your Self-concept. (Posted 04/15/11)
Most people's greatest roadblock is, fear. Fear of what people will think about you or what they don't think about you. When you allow this fear to overcome you, you devalue your self-concept - You let other people determine your destiny.
Your self-concept is how you see yourself, your self-esteem, your self-ideals, your self-image. Remember this: Your results in life can never, ever . . . EVER exceed your self-concept. Control your little voice - don't let your little voice tell you, "I'm too old, I'm too shy, I'm too this or I'm too that" The best way to overcome this is through affirmations. Every time that little voice says, "You're not strong enough." Replace it with an affirmation that says, "I love myself, I like myself, I am worthy, I am capable, I am deserving, I CAN DO THIS." Do this until you override that incessant little voice. This is what great athletes do, this is what great performers do, this is what top producers do, this is what I do, as taught to me by my mentors and gurus.
Your results can never exceed your self-concept. So, anytime you go into that self-doubt, you have to override it immediately with these affirmations. If you can do this consistently, over time, and I am not talking about years, I am talking a couple of days, you will find magic in your life. You will find that-that little voice no longer pops up. What pops up is the affirmation, automatically rather than the self-doubt. Don't let anyone or anything stand in your way. As soon as you start to feel doubt, repeat the affirmations over and over until you regain your confidence.
Control Your Little Voice. (Posted 04/13/11)
There is an internal dialogue constantly going on in your head. You have to distinguish which part of that dialogue is really you and what part is old experiences, other people's influence, information coming from your parents, the media, old tv shows, and bad advice, as it applies to the situation right now. If you don't know what I am talking about it's that little voice in your head that just said, "what little voice, I don't have a little voice." It's that incessant chatter going on that is either self-debilitating, self-doubting, causes you to have a hard time making decisions and there is also that part of you that big, that feels expansive. So the question is; which one are you listening too and are you making a choice in what you want to listen too? When you make that choice of which one you want to listen too and which one you want to stop success in your tangible life will follow.
Involve the Team in Finding Solutions (Posted 04/12/11)
Openness often leads to better problem-solving. Be transparent and allow your team to help you find solutions to your largest challenges. You don't have all the answers, and science is showing that a group of committed collaborators trumps a single genius for finding amazing solutions.
The act of involving team members in addressing a need simultaneously answers another desire: They want a stake in things; they want to know they have contributed and been heard. They want to become part of the ecosystem that is the business in which the are involved. They want to lessen the gaps from executive to front line and address the real issues, and they plan to do it in real time.
Act as if it were Impossible to Fail. (Posted 04/11/11)
If everyday, you act as if it were impossible to fail . . . you won't. You will succeed if you act everyday.
Create four statements that you can make to yourself as soon a negative thought comes into your mind. This happens to a lot of sales people, they get on a downward trajectory. You cannot keep a negative thought and positive thought in your mind at the same time. It's one or the other. If you say these four statements, they are triggers. They will chase away that negative thought every time.
- I am worthy! Just say that, "I am worthy." You'll begin to believe you are and it will chase it away every time.
- I am capable! I have unique gifts, I am capable.
- I am deserving! If I don't do this, someone else is going to. So why not me.
- And most important . . . I trust myself!
Harnessing Your Time. (Posted 04/08/11)
What differentiates the top performer from all the rest? One thing is for certain, the way they use their time.
Most people have never been trained to effectively manage their time. The results are very evident--time tends to manage them. The typical strategy is to manage time by reaction. Each day's time allocation is determined by the immediate need of the situation. We refer to it as "the problem of the moment." Many people operate in a "vacuum", getting sucked into whatever activity requires their immediate attention. It is reacting to the seemingly urgent, rather than doing the most important.
There are some, however, who are effective time managers maintaining their schedules with more success. At the onset, it should be understood that perfecting your control strategies is a never-ending challenge, the more effectively time will work for you. The sales professional who becomes an effective time manager realizes higher levels of sales volume, customer satisfaction, and commissions.
A few basic thoughts:
- Time is finite. It's a perishable commodity. We cannot save it, we can only spend it. You cannot create more and once it's gone it is lost forever.
- Time management is self-management. No time management system will overcome a lack of personal motivation or self discipline.
- Time is personal. The best time management system for you is the one that you will utilize regularly.
- Time is fair. Everyone gets the same amount of time each day. It is your ability to focus your efforts on the areas that are the most important to your success that will make the difference.
- Time is yours. Only you can choose how you let others use your time.
Everything people do, they do for a reason. Have you heard of the difference between influence and persuasion? When you persuade someone, you're really getting that person to do it for your own reasons, while when you influence someone you're really getting that person to do it for their reasons and the difference it's going to make for them. Persuading is you convincing someone, while influencing is your assistance in helping them convince themselves. Persuading is telling them...selling them, while influencing is sharing and caring...showing and growing. There is a difference.
Become the "Pied-Piper". (Posted 04/06/11)
Success breeds and feed success! Become someone who is worthy to be followed. As you go, so goes your team. Everything you do and or don't do, has an effect on your team. By being a great leader, you will attract other people who will follow you because they also want to become successful. Your referral sources will also be attracted to do business with you. How do you become the "pied-piper"? First, list all of the reasons another person would want to work with you. Then list all of the reasons another person would want to follow you. Then list all of the skill-sets necessary to become a great leader such as communication skills, people skills, and analytical skills. These are the skill-sets and strengths you must possess in order to proceed in helping others succeed. How do you improve upon these skill-sets? Listen to CDs, go to seminars, read books, and most important. . . study, practice, teach - study, practice, teach! According to research, if you read one business-related book per week, after three years, you will be in the top five percent of knowledge in your field. The reason for this is that the average American only reads one business-related book per year.
Lead in Your Own Life. (Posted 04/05/11)
Each of us has influence, but it's up to us to determine how we use it. We tend to think if "leaders" as the heads of companies or organizations, but it's important that people throughout society--in any occupation, financial rung or social circle--realize that they, too, have the capacity to be leaders in their own right.
We are all leaders in some part of our lives. Every employee, every manager, every person.
Trust in Leadership. (Posted 04/04/11)
In leadership, there are no words more important then trust. In any organization, trust must be developed among every member of the team if success is going to be achieved.
Earn Loyalty by Serving. (Posted 04/01/11)
Working to develop trust between leader and follower will yield loyalty--an undervalued commodity that leaders only earn when they realize that their purpose is to serve those whom they lead.
When you closely examine the core characteristics of what really makes for great leadership, it's not power, title, authority or even technical competency that distinguishes truly great leaders. Rather it's the ability to both earn and keep the loyalty and trust of those whom they lead that sets them apart. If you build into those you lead, if you make them better, if you add value to their lives, then you will have earned their trust and loyalty. This type of of bond will span positional and philosophical gaps and survive mistakes, downturns, challenges and other obstacles that will inevitably occur. As a leader seek unique ways to develop and support the people you are privileged to lead.
Sellers Must Think Like Buyers. (Posted 03/31/11)
You have to get in the head of your buyer. You have to know what our customer's needs, fears, and wants are. You have to listen to the customer.
Today's customers come ready to buy; they didn't come ready to buy 10 years ago because they didn't have the information. The seller had to explain how things worked. If a customer goes into a store today and the salesperson starts telling them the features of the product they've already researched and studied on the Internet, they're likely to get offended. Today's buyers have already done their homework.
Instead you have to make a friend. If a customer doesn't like you, chances are he's not going to buy from you.
What is the Inside Advantage? (Posted 03/30/11)
Every business has something inside it--a strategic asset. It might be hidden or asleep, but it's something you can use to grow your business. You shouldn't try to copy someone else; you should find your uncommon offering, your inside advantage.
A Hand Up (Posted 03/29/11)
There is no more powerful leadership attribute than the ability to be genuinely honest about one's weakness, mistakes, and needs for help. What's your biggest problem? Take time out today to ask at least one person for help. Not sure where to start? Make a quick list of your fears to see where some of your weaknesses lie.
Cultivate the Next Leaders. (Posted 03/28/11)
When considering the road ahead, strong leaders must see beyond themselves--beyond their own tenure, as well as their own strengths. John C. Maxwell says, "A leader's lasting value is measured by succession."
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
~ John Quincy Adams
Invest in Organization. (Posted 03/25/11)
Take an hour to think about your workspace organizing systems. Is everything working the way you would like? Do you need to make some adjustments? Write down two main areas for improvement and take an hour today to reorganize. It will pay dividens in tomorrow's productivity.
Lead by Example. (Posted 03/24/11)
Too many leaders take an attitude that says, "Do what I say, not what I do." But as Albert Einstein explained, "Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another; it is the only means." If you really want to help others become successful, you can't just tell them what to do; you must show them.
Successful Selling. (Posted 03/23/11)
To sell successfully you must be sold youself. And it must 100 percent truthful. Make a list of the attributes you love and appreciate most about your offering and remind yourself of your passion for what you sell.
Make Them Care? (Posted 03/22/11)
People don't talk about things they don't care about. So it's up to you to make them care, which means you have to care first.
Going Up? (Posted 03/21/11)
The sole purpose of the elevator speech is to intrigue the listener and get you more face time in the future. Are you trying to cram too much into 30 seconds? Write down your elevator speech and make some cuts until you have a new, intriguing version.
Getting the Brush-Off. (Posted 03/18/11)
Having trouble connecting?
Keep your approach with your clients simple and on target with what their priorities are right now. Pick one client, and brainstorm current urgent needs. Then write a pitch that shows how you can improve their most pressing issue.
Mind Meld. (Posted 03/17/11)
Surrounding myself with talented people helps me tap into my own creativity.
Write down three questions you have about a current project or goal, and call someone right now to set up a time to discuss your options. Success isn't a solo endeavor.
Step It Up. (Posted 03/16/11)
Arianna Huffington says that in the face of failure, perseverance is everything. Think about your last failure, and write down three lessons you learned from that experience. Now turn one of those lessons into the next action step toward your goal.
Make Each Day Your Masterpiece. (Posted 03/15/11)
You are in the process of creating a masterpiece. Every day there is an opportunity to improve. The most successful people change their lives because they can see the opportunity to change something today. You are an agent of change, and your life and your business are both your responsibility and your opportunity.
Never too Young.(Posted 03/14/11)
Why your chidlren should start a business.
A lot of great things can come from starting a business at a young age: Gaining independence. Dealing with hard knocks. Resourcefullness. Self-confidence. Money-management and goal-setting skills. Maybe even hitting on a great business idea. If you look at all of the big names in entrepreneuship, almost every one started when there were a kid. Bill Gates began programming computers at 13. John D. Rockefeller began raising and selling turkeys at the age of 7.
Regardless of the career path somone ends up following, entrepreneurship skills are valuable life skills.
Building Transformational Relationships (Posted 03/11/11)
The trick here is to "go deep" with friendships--not wide. That means spending more time building transformational, not transactional, relationships. Cultivate your "Who" friends and increase their numbers. When 'Who' friends open up their world to you and invite you in, you have now been given access to a whole new group of quality people, each of whom have their own 'Who' world. Those over-lapping circles are the 'Power of Who.' It's a whole different world than mere marketing.
On a personal level, all you have to do is join LinkedIn, the online professional networking site, to understand how your friends' connections might impact you and how yours could impact them.
Create Strategies to Counter your Weakness. (Posted 03/10/11)
Everyone has their strong points and their weak points. In order to succeed in our careers and lives we need to develop strategies to counter our weak points. Like you don’t fill your fridge with sweets and ice cream if you know you can’t control your appetite. If you hate doing the paperwork or garden can you hire someone . If you don’t like the idea of going to the gym but actually enjoy it when you are there well think of a reward for yourself if you go there 4 times in a week. Don’t know how to change the oil in your car or use a kitchen gadget well find and watch a YouTube video explaining it all.
It is much more fun to seek to improve our strong points but you can get much more leverage by nullifying a weakness!
Adveristy. (Posted 03/09/11)
In order for us to win in life, we must push through the adversity we face. Without facing it, we are poorly prepared for winning. The truth is most of us don't welcome adversity like a long-lost friend. We don't embrace with passion the pain and setbacks that occur.
Alfred Russell Wallace was a famous botanist of the late 1800s. One day, Dr. Wallace was observing an Emperor butterfly struggling through the life and death adversity of escaping it's cocoon. We wondered if he assisted the butterfly in its exit, what effect that would have on the butterfly. With a knife, Dr. Wallace made an incision the length of the cocoon that allowed the butterfly to exit the cocoon with ease. The butterfly emerged from its cocoon, spread its wings, and died. The butterfly did not have to encounter adversity in struggling to exit the cocoon. Through the struggle, the butterfly would have grown in strength. Since it failed to struggle and grow, it did not have the strength necessary to survive.
We often try to make incisions in our challenges and take the easy route. We take the quick exit as this butterfly did and fail to acquire the strength to compete.
Turning Your Knowledge into Power. (Posted 03/08/11)
Kiss the Couch Goodbye.
If you're only doing what's comfortable, you're not moving in the direction of your goals. Sure, TV is entertaining. But what three things could you do tonight if you just turned off the tube? Make a list right now. Then hide the remote and get busy.
Strong Interviews Build Lasting Relationships (Posted 03/07/11)
Strong business relationships are built on quality and value from the very beginning. The value given to your prospect when you "court" them-during the approach campaign-must remain high and carry over into the interview phase of the sale.
The foundation for strong business relationships has two components: a well-targeted, value-driven approach and a skillfully-handled, meaningful interview. It could be argued that the approach is similar to the wheels of a car. The wheels make movement possible. The interview, then could be compared to the car's engine. It provides the energy necessary to move the vehicle along. Without an engine, the vehicle has potential, but little usefulness.
Adopting a Go-for-Failure Mindset
Start within your strength zone.
Build upon what you do well and then push beyond your comfort zone, beyond the limits of what you've done before.
Focus on the prize.
Keep your eye on the big, hairy, audacious goal. Visualize having achieved it. Bask in the glory of your success and what it will mean for you.
Keep a positive attitude.
Like the high-wire walker, there's nothing to be gained from looking down.
Celebrate the lesson.
When you fail, reflect on what you learned and celebrate the lesson as a growth experience.
Get busy.
Don't overthink your mistake. Move forward, applying what you learned as you embark on your next venture.
Stay Positive and Stay Focused.
Every selling career faces challenges. When you hit a challenging cycle in business, there are two keys to moving forward: staying positive and staying focused.
It is critical to keep your attitude positive. When you're down, you're more likely to do important things, things that make money. Why? When you're feeling down, your threshold for handling rejection tends to be low as well. In other words, if you allow your spirits to sink, your sales performance will, too.
Your positive attitude is a precious asset; protect it.
Being Fake.
No matter what profession you're in, nobody likes a fake person, and that rings especially true in sales. Because so much of your success is based on trust, it's important to be authentic and real.
Do not try to be someone you are not. People want to trust someone who they know is genuine and honest. Many make the mistake of trying to look or act like someone they think others will like.
Succeeding Together.
No team has ever achieved extraordinary results without a 100 percent commitment to the cause and a common vision where everyone is pulling in the same direction. To have full commitment, a team must understand the vision, contribute to it, own it and, eventually pass it on.
The team that is committed to a common cause will display unwavering loyalty. Loyalty must be earned but not fought for. Earning doesn't mean "proving", but living up to the positive attributes that have been ascribed to you.
Excerpt - Succeeding Together - The Core Values of a Winning Team - John C. Maxwell - SUCCESS Magazine February 2011
Life is a gift not a loan . . .
We only have a certain amount of time on this planet. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow may never come. TODAY is all we have. Take action. Success will not wait. If you delay, success will be wed to another and lost to you forever. This is the time. This is the place. ACT NOW.
Life is an Acronym: L.I.F.E.
Learn - Read books, attend seminars, seek the advice of a mentor, coach, etc.
Implement - Take one thing you learned from the last book you read, seminar you attended, colleague you spoke too, and take action upon it - implement.
Fail - Be willing to fail. Failure is a good thing. It is the beginning of growth. Just like how we grow muscle, we must take it to the point of failure. Then and only then will it begin to grow back stronger than it was before.
Evaluate - your performance. How can you tweak, improve your performance to achieve the success you desire.
The Mentor.
Non-thinkers become thinkers by having a mentor. A mentor is someone who helps you with your model. They are individuals who at one point in their career had someone help them and they are now giving back.
This person could be a peer, a manager, or someone completely outside of your business on who you rely for coaching and accountability. This is a relatively simple process that has at its core, accountability. I have witnessed that the areas in which sales professionals, managers, and even owners of companies benefit tremendously are in the areas of accountability.
Success is Never Final.
Achieving professional success doesn't mean that you've arrived, rather, that you're always moving toward your next project, your next opportunity for success. As Winston Churchill asserted, "Success is never final."
Schedule your every Working Hour! Plan each day’s activities before you start.
List all the things you want to accomplish each day. Prioritize the things you want to accomplish and list them. Focus your attention on those tasks that are urgent and important. At the end of the day review your list. Cross off each item successfully completed on your list and carry forward each item remaining onto the next day’s list.
Get Motivated.
In order to get you motivated, you must think and always focus on the achievement of your dreams and goals. Think about going to your favorite places for vacation. Think about driving your dream car fetching someone you love. Thank about having all the money and have your friends envy you. Whenever you focus on the rewards, you will switch on your hot button and get yourself motivated. This is how successful people are able to stay motivated all the time.
Make Improvement your Initiative.
Self-evaluation is not easy to learn, nor is it easy to do. It takes true humility to admit that things may not be going so well-that you are off course. But self-evaluation is a key asset to sound self-leadership. It is something that never really ends, but that continues to develop over time.
The Power of Positive Thinking.
Positive thinking is a mental attitude that admits into the mind thoughts, words and images that are conductive to growth, expansion and success. It is a mental attitude that expects good and favorable results. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it finds.
Non-Thinking.
Non-thinking is described as reacting before we think, before evaluating the reality before us. The practice of non-thinking stops growth, stops breakthroughs, stops everything. It is in fact the single biggest reason why our efforts are not giving us the highest returns possible. For example:
- Making sales calls without designing the call in advance only to experience failure. And then the behavior of repeating that over and over again because it's just a numbers game.
- Starting out the day without a plan of action and hoping to get the right amount of business for that day.
- Thinking about losing weight but never conscientiously being aware of what is going into the mouth.
What actions can I take today to reach my goals? What is your belief about how far you can go in your career? What is your attitude? Are you focusing on the process or the problems, or are you focusing on the outcome? Are you prepared to do whatever it takes to get the job done?
Time Management is Self-Management.
No time management system will overcome a lack of personal motivation or self discipline.
Make Failure Your Friend.
Self-evaluation means nothing if you cannot learn from your mistakes. Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, said, "When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal," great advice! Learn from your mistake. You plan is not sound, so make corrections and get back in the game.
THE SMARTER you work the more you make for the same effort.
The more you plan your day’s activities the less you have to react to time wasting problems and interruptions. Track each day’s activities in your sales book and pipeline reports. Schedule every waking hour!
Be known for your integrity.
Your mother was right: Honesty is the best policy. Integrity may mean owning up to a mistake or admitting a failure, but it also means the people around you can depend on you for transparency. And that goes a long way in the business world.
Practice the habit of getting it going.
What you need to do to achieve what you truly want in your life is to take action each and everyday. Even if it is just a small action, you need to do something everyday so that you will move toward your goals and dreams. You just have to get it going. Do not wait for the perfect time, the best time to achieve your dream is now.
Be a risktaker.
Imagine all of the things we would be living without if it weren't for risktakers: electricity, airplanes, even the Internet! Taking the easy route is safe, sure, but it rarely leads to greatness. Success isn't easy, and it's not going to come to you while you're sitting idly at your desk. So get out there—go against the grain—you could be behind the next great discovery of something we can't live without
Stan Rapp on the Difference between Advertising Versus i-Vertising
Direct marketing legend and bestselling author Stan Rapp says advertising is so 20th century. That’s why successful media campaigns in newspapers, magazines and other periodicals need a more direct, personal approach to advertising. Its called i-Vertising. Go to video, click HERE
Talk to strangers.
It may seem odd, and yes, a little awkward, but talking to strangers is a great way to expose yourself to the ordinary greatness around you. The next time you are in line at the grocery store, sitting in the airport terminal, or out walking the dog at the park, take the time to talk to someone you don't know. You never know when you may meet someone extraordinary, and by not taking the chance to meet new people, you are passing up greatness every day!
Greater potential.
Your potential can be greatly maximized as you avail yourself to the new and often unexpected doors that open to you by way of divine encounters. This requires your willingness to move in a new direction and a greater awareness to those situations as they appear. While they may look very different from what you had anticipated, it is often those unexpected opportunities that can be the launching point for great development of your full potential.
