Remembering Walter Cronkite

Last night I found a two-hour TV special on the life of Walter Cronkite. Frankly, had he not recently passed away, I probably would have keep surfing. But with his passing, I wanted to watch this special.

[Note: This may not be as sentimental of a journey for those of you born after 1970.]

As someone who grew up watching him every night on TV (my dad watched him religiously if he was home from work in time), he was a mainstay in our family, just as he was for many hundred of thousands of other American families during the 60's and 70's. During the show, I recalled all the historical events that happened during his time as anchorman for the CBS evening news (I posted the above photo of him because this is exactly how I first remember him on our small black & white TV set with rabbit ears and the traditional tin-foil wrapped ends to help reception of the three channels we could receive). I recalled watching the first man-on-the-moon (40th anniversary this past Monday), the Watergate investigations, the Vietnam war and so much more that I learned through watching Walter Cronkite each night. As kids, we would imitate his "...and that's the way it is..." I never was big on Sesame Street or the like, but I don't recall hardly ever missing the evening news.

As a WWII historian, another thing that really stands out for me was his reporting of the war. In later life he did a WWII documentary that I also enjoy. He was right there in the fight during the war years and his reports were top notch.

Something closer to home for me now was his reputation as being known as the "most trusted man in America". Now that's what I call "personal branding"!! I believe he gained that title because of the incredible customer experience that he provided. He held his profession up to the highest standards and demanded that out of not only his team mates, but from his colleagues in the profession as well. You could truly consider him a SME and guru of what he did, because it was truly a passion of his. And he delivered that passion, that professionalism, that since of responsibility of what he was providing to his customers - the American public - who "bought" his product every night for two+ decades.

What a legacy of excellence he leaves us an example of, that we have the opportunity to mimic in our careers regardless of industry.

I'd love for you to share you story of what you remember about Walter Cronkite and how he influenced your life. Please post in the comments section below.

Thanks for allowing me a little walk down memory lane.

Until next time, remember “Your Success Is My Business.” ™

[Note: photo from http://sirenschronicles.com/]

What Stops You?

What is your ‘brick wall’? The better question is, ‘how do you get around it?’

All of us have brick walls in our lives. No one is immune to them. The people who aspire to great things are the ones who understand this, prepare for them, and then work to get around them versus letting them stop them in their tracks.

Being prepared, doing your homework, staying up on current technologies, knowing everything about your prospect/customer, being relentless about customer service, and thinking with a world-class mindset are all small parts of not letting the brick wall stand in your way.

What "wall" do you have in your life? What is slowing you down? Who can you reach out too that could help you remove that wall? I'd love to hear your stories (click comment below).

Here's a short video by Jeffrey Gitomer with some additional points for you:

Until next time, remember “Your Success Is My Business.” ™

http://joeypeacock.com/

[Note: photo from http://www.bigfoto.com/]

Blogs...which ones?

As part of this “blogging” universe, I’m sometimes asked about which blogs I read so I thought I’d share the list here:

* Big Business Blogging Corporate Blogging
* Buildify Corporate Blogging
* Chris Brogan One of the best sites about Social Media
* Fred Reichheld’s Blog Net Promoter (customer experience) topics
* Giant Perspectives Leadership
* Great Leadership Leadership
* Hello, my name is Blog Scott Ginsberg’s thoughts about personal branding
* Hope for the Hopeless My fried Clint Singleton’s blog
* Jaffe Juice Joseph Jaffe’s world of marketing
* Jeanne Bliss’ Blog Customer Experience
* John Maxwell Leadership
* Leading Smart Keeping me focused leadership from God’s perspective
* Living Life Forward My friend Ralph Yoder’s blog
* Living Loved My friend Elizabeth Bennett’s blog
* Made to Stick Creative thinking
* Michael Hyatt Marketing & Social Media
* Never Eat Alone Networking
* Paradigm Shift Social Media
* Perceived Randomness My friend Jarrod Wester’s blog
* Personal Branding Blog Personal branding
* Power of Who Personal branding
* Power Shift A great Social Media blog
* Rise to the Top For Entrepreneurs
* Service with a Smile My friend Daniel Bennett’s blog
* SmartBlog on Social Media Another of my favorites on Social Media
* 3Connect My friend Kevin Yoder’s blog

Fortunately for me, not all of these folks posts new blogs everyday so it’s actually not that difficult to manage. I also use Google Reader to subscribe to each so that helps me keep track with what’s new.

And as you can see, my focus is on leadership, the customer experience and social media.

What blogs do you follow and why? Let me know by commenting (below link). THANKS!

Until next time, remember “Your Success Is My Business.” ™

http://joeypeacock.com/

[Note: photo from http://www.ibspro.net/]

He said, "Don't blink"

"Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney

I was listening to this song on the radio, and one of the lines really popped out at me:

"...when your hour glass runs out of sand,
you can't flip it over and start again..."

How thought provoking --- something to really make you stop and ponder...or does it?

I'm the first to admit I didn't stop & ponder on this when I was in my teens, or in my 20s, and no, not even in my 30s. I wonder would I have made different choices then if I had. Would you have? Don't we all procrastinate and think we have "tomorrow"?

But now as I come up on my 30 year senior class reunion in a few weeks, this whole "don't blink" thought I find to be more and more true.

What if I'd had mentors in my life during those early years? Do we encourage mentors in our children's lives?

How 'bout specific goals, following your passion(s)? It can never be too late to do that.

One of my friends always says, "Life is to short not to take advantage of it and live it to the fullest."

Personally, I've put off learning another language for years (even though I have Rosetta Stone). I've put off learning a musical instrument. I've put off many hobbies & passions because I always thought I'd get around to them. I've postponed eating healthy and exercising because I've lived the greatest cliché, "I'll get to it."

How are you doing yourself? Are you following your passions or are you putting them on the back burner?

And "don't blink" goes for your education, relationships, careers, etc. as well.

I used to think when I was young how great it was that I knew my great-grandfather and that he had personally witnessed the dawn of a new century. Now in the blink of our eyes, most of you (if not all) reading this, like me, have not only done the same thing, but have also witnessed the dawn of a new millennium...and our grandchildren will (hopefully) think how awesome that was for us to have experienced!

Maybe seeing the movie "The Bucket List" also has me more focused on all of this...?

But pondering on something and making an active pursuit are two different things. One is passive and one is a deliberate action required.

So, "...life goes faster than you think, don't blink". Think I'd better stop blinking and get focused & active. How 'bout you?

Until next time, remember “Your Success Is My Business."™

http://joeypeacock.com/

How Will You Finish

You face challenges every day. Whether you consider them ‘brick walls’, ‘pot-holes in the road’, ‘mountains & valleys’, ‘the rollercoaster of life’, or anything else, every day you face some challenge (or better yet, some opportunity to grow!).

But how will you finish when you face these opportunities?

Finishing strong is the only way to finish.

Just like with your monthly business goals, and any personal goal that you have in your life, you should finish not just at your goal, but always exceeding your goal!

Do you have a story to share about some goal you had that was a huge challenge, but not only did you finish you finished so strong and so far exceeding your goal that you were even amazed? I'd love to hear!

Take a few minutes to view the following short video presentation about finishing strong.

Until next time, remember “Your Success Is My Business."™

http://joeypeacock.com/

From Your Customer’s Perspective…

How do your customer’s see you? Are you a “Tigger” or an “Eeyore”? Are you positive, motivated, even with a sense of having fun in everything you do? Or are you the bearer of bad news, have a solemn or down attitude and rarely smile with a complete lack of enthusiasm in what you do?

It’s obvious who you customers would rather do business with, but are you conscience of this while you’re with them?

As Art Williams would often state, ‘People don’t want to do business with a negative, dull, disillusioned, frustrated cry-baby.’

So, while you’re out in the field, think about being a Tigger and people will notice. Always be focused on your personal “brand”.

“Enthusiasm is a vital element toward the individual success of every man or woman."
~Conrad Hilton, hotelier and philanthropist

...See this video...

Until next time, remember “Your Success Is My Business."™

http://joeypeacock.com/

"Go Ahead...Make My Day!"

Of course we all know that famous line from the Clint Eastwood movie. And I don't think "Dirty Harry" meant it to have a positive outcome for the person he was interacting with.

But that doesn't mean we can't use "make my day" in a positive way with the people we interact with every day.

In today's hectic world, it seems that courtesy sometimes takes a back-seat in trying to make it to the next appointment.

So, I came up with some suggestions for us to do so we can all "make someone's day":

• Find the manager at the restaurant you eat at and tell them what a great meal you had and what fantastic service your host provided you.

• E-mail the company of the hotel you stay in and share the wonderful way their team took care of you during your stay.

• Next time you're getting food from a fast food restaurant, make the person behind the registers day and leave them a tip.

• While checking out at the grocery store, graciously thank your check-out person and be sure to use their name when you do it.

• Hand write a letter to your best friend's mother and thank her.

• Drop a message to your old school teachers and thank them for everything they did for you...especially for putting up with all your pranks.

• Find and tip your garbage person. Be sure to apologize to them for only doing it at year end.

• E-mail your company CEO a "super success" story about a co-worker and how they delivered a world-class customer experience to a client.

• Call every family member and thank them for a life full of love, support and blessings.

• Anonymously buy someone's meal.

• Ask someone behind you to move ahead of you in line.

• Wave at everyone you meet while driving.

• Find something to compliment about each person you see today and tell them at the beginning of the conversation.

• Find out everyone you know birthday date and, even if you have to note it somewhere, never forget to wish them happy birthday each year.

And lastly, let's all focus and "make someone's day" everyday.

Until next time, remember “Your Success Is My Business."™

http://joeypeacock.com/