I Don't Have Too...

Through out life, we're afforded many opportunities & challenges. We recognize these. Many we look forward too with high expectations and anticipation while others we look on with dread & hopes that they don't come to pass.

But not all are large projects, are all pre-planned and/or foretold. Many items become routine to us and part of our normal life. I know that I'm as guilty as the next with the "I have to..." comments.

I've been pondering a lot on our attitude towards these events or tasks, regardless of their size.

And the more I ponder on these, the more I realize that I don't have to do them, I get too!

And so do you!

I get to go to work doing something I really am passionate about.
I get to serve others in helping them succeed.
I get to help out around the house.
I get to spend time with my family and friends.
I get to help my Dad with little projects he's no longer physically able to do alone.
I get to serve in the different community and church organizations I am part of.
I get to cut the grass.
I get to grill.
I get to take the garbage out to the road.
I get to do a lot of things, to numerous to mention here, that I'm blessed to do.

What are some things you get to do that others might feel they have too?

Remember: “Your Success Is My Business.”™

[Note: photo from http://gritsngrace.files.wordpress.com/]

Motivated to Blog!

Isn't it funny how sometimes the little things can motivate us? Like today...

I'm surfing the net, reading blogs, following "the trail" as we often do when clicking from one link to the next in our search of the "golden nugget" of information we're seeking...and there it was: AllBlogTools.com!

I had already earlier in the day found a site with "follow me" links FLOATING along the side, so I worked diligently to figure out the code and created some for myself on my blog (note right side of page). I couldn't believe I pulled that off!!!

Then I'm thinking, 'what else can I do to spiff the place up and make it more inviting for visitors, and what could I do in hopes of getting people to share these messages? So I started my hunt through all the blogs I already subscribe too.'

This lead me to open one of these blogs and from there I started clicking on links and the chase began!

Now, finding out little tricks of the "smart folks" is something I enjoy doing, but it's not always easy. I can't tell you how many people I've e-mailed and asked, "how'd you do that", with very few replies. That's why I wanted to share not only the AllBlogTools.com site with you, but also one from CSSReflex as well.

So, with the new tools I've found today, and the upgrades I'm incorporated into the site, I'm really motivated to pound on the keyboard and share some more of my ponders with you.

So help me out and share what sites you use to help yourself be creative & get motivated?

Always trying to help you, because: “Your Success Is My Business.” ™

[Note: photo from http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/]

The Positives About Negatives

"I hate customer complaints."
"Why are our customers always complaining?"
"Why would we want to have a social media page that allows customers to post negative comments about us?"

I'm heard this (and more) over & over from businesses all over America. I'm sure you have as well. All of these comments are with a negative thought process & with pessimistic vision for the future of that business.

But I on the other hand see huge positives in all these comments! How?

When your customer is calling you and complaining, all they're doing is begging for help. They want to do business with you, they want to give you their hard-earned money, all they want from you is to help them resolve their problem!

If a customer uses your social media page to post a complaint, here's your opportunity to show the world what great customer service you provide.

And if the customer has a legitimate problem with your business, don't you want to know where you're failing so you can correct it, regardless of how the message is delivered?

Negative comments & complaints are a gold mine for you to refine your company and move it to the next higher level of customer service and the customer experience. Don't miss the opportunites!

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

[Note: photo from http://www.all-about-forensic-science.com/]

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"Go to the Buick and turn around."

I'm watching "Any Given Sunday" the other night on AMC, not one of my favorite movies but there was nothing else on and I hadn't seen it in a long time. I did get motivation from the inspirational speeches that happens throughout the movie...in fact the speeches are so popular that you find many of them posted on YouTube.

The one that stood out to me this time, was one that happens early in the movie when Tony D'Amato (Al Pacino) pulls 3rd string quarterback Willie Beamen (Jamie Foxx) off to the side after he's pulled off numerous bad plays and attempts to settle him down.

The thing that calmed Willie down was when D'Amato reminded him of playing back home in his youth. He said, 'Don't you remember telling the guy to go to the Buick and to turn around' so that he could make the throw?

"Go to the Buick and turn around." So simple.

Is there something going on in your life now that's got you over anxious, not properly focused and maybe even those around you questioning your ability to deliver? If so, maybe you need to go to your Buick and turn around.

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

[Note: photo from http://www.library.jhu.edu/]

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The Greatest of the "New Hire"

The "new hire". Don't you love them? The brand new team member (employee) at your business --- all happy, excited, energetic, optimistic and enthusiastic. They come in like a sponge looking for every drop of information they can get. Their minds are fresh & full of creative thoughts - even if some of them won't fly, they voice ideas about ways they believe will grow and prosper the organization.

Everyone they meet or are introduced too around the office they're smiling and shaking hands with, all seemingly amped up on caffeine or some magic "new hire" drug. They get home and tell their friends & family about how they've just landed the best job every. They share all the incredible opportunities ahead of them and what a super company it is they're associated with.

But somewhere along the line, something happens to these new hires. Haven't you seen this happen? Did it even happen to you?

What is it?

Somewhere along the path they stop smiling at everyone, they stop shaking hands, end all their enthusiasm and energy, quite coming up with creative ideas...and have none of the excitement or motivation like they used too. Now, the career that they once thought was a blessing has suddenly caused them to curse it.

As the leader or business owner, you have the more difficult task in all this: Keeping everyone motivated and acting like "new hires" each and every day!

As a leader, here is a list for you to review:

• Are you, the leader, constantly sharing the vision?
• Are you constantly talking about the culture?
• Are you removing roadblocks that create frustration?
• Are you the great communicator within your company?
• Do you immediately resolve internal conflicts?
• Do you constantly carry the rallying cry of the purpose of your company?
• Do you provide constant, regularly scheduled employee evaluations so that people know exactly where they stand?
• Do you eliminate incompetence?
• And finally, do you make work fun?

As the leader, it's up to you to continue to fuel your team and to help them maintain that "new hire" mentality regardless of how long they've worked with you. Do so and watch your business grow!

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

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

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Twins

I'm a pretty big guy. Sure there are guys bigger than me, but I'd have to say I'm up there myself. It's not often that I see someone taller than me. At 80 inches tall and about 270lbs, it takes a lot of material to fully cloth me.

And I don't think of myself as tall or out-of-the-normal. When I stand around with a group of guys, I just feel like a normal "one of the guys" guy myself from my perspective. It's only when I see someone that's really tall that it dawns on me about my physical size.

My friend Francis Mitchell always calls me her "twin" when we see each other..."twins separated at birth" is what she always tells me, kinda like Arnold Schwarenegger and Danny Devito from the 1988 movie Twins. Of course you can see from the photo that this would really be like the movie Twins if it were true. From Francis' perspective, I can't imagine how I "look" to her. It's got to be a little scary.

So as I was pondering on all this, my perspective of the world versus Francis' perspective of the world, I began thinking about this from a business point-of-view.

My friend Jason Jennings wrote one of my favorite books, "Think Big, Act Small" about great companies that are really big (such as Dot Foods, Sonic, Cabelas, etc.), but how they act small in the attention they give to not only their customers, but also to their employees. As a fan of Cabelas myself, it's always a pleasure to shop in their stores because of all the wonderful customer service I've always received. They always seem like the small town business that cares so much for their customer. This giant of a company seems to me like a friend.

What businesses do you shop with that is a really big business, but from your perspective seem to be a friend to you, or maybe even closer - like a brother...or even a twin? Why do you think they have this perspective?

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

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False Peace

I just read a statement that said, "There are times in our lives when our peace is based simply on our ignorance." Now that really makes you stop & ponder on what it is that we currently have peace with simply because of our ignorance of it.

Let's not look at this from a personal point-of-view (though I encourage you to take some time to ponder it that way) but rather let's look at this from a business stand-point.

Since the down-turn of the economy, the majority of businesses have great clarity now on items that before I don't think were very obvious to them. To me a great business has focus on being cost effective in all they do, are efficient at all the processes and deliver world-class service to all their customers regardless of current ecomonic conditions. Were they ignorant to all these when we were living in the "good times" (stock market growing) so they were at peace with all the issues they've given priority focus on in the past few years? What if they'd implemented all their recent changes back in 2000 before the down-turn in the economy? What if...

What issue(s) do you see businesses over-looking and living "at peace" with that they should have focus on?

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

[Note: photo from http://www.stephenblack.org/]

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