I have gotten ideas, training, and tips from many experts. This coaching has been in the area of self improvement really although it may be sales training or management coaching. The experts keep coming back to service.
At a recent conference, I had the privelige of hearing Tom Reilly speak and his topic was Value Added Selling. The value that he spoke of kept getting back to exceptional service. You can learn more from Tom by going to his website at http://www.tomreillytraining.com/
Another excellent speaker and trainer, Bob Prosen, who spoke to a session that I attended on management, also refers to excellent customer service. You can find more from Bob at http://www.bobprosen.com/
I also refer you to the excellent book, Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service. I recommend checking out this book online at Amazon.http://www.amazon.com/Delivering-Knock-Your-Socks-Service/dp/081440765X
While hard work is certainly a main ingredient to success, providing service is s key guide to the right kind of hard work.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
A follow up on hard work paying off
There are a lot of things that I do not know. I don't know how I can make a million dollars. I don't know how manipulators of large amounts of money benefit greatly from money changing hands. I do now know how to "manipulate the system."
I do know this. Hard work will keep you going. No matter what your job is, do it to the best of your ability and do it day after day after day. When you give your very best effort at all times, good things will happen. People will eventually notice, and you will benefit.
That is a very simple formula, hard work on a regular basis equals stability. If you can't work hard at what you are doing because it is over our under your head, or if you just don't like it, find something that you can love. There is no substitute for passion. Knowledge and experience can help but they do not take the place of passion.
My favorite expert on the subject, Brian Tracy, advises you to not only work hard every day but work on yourself. Train yourself to benefit from your passion. Whatever it is that you love to do and can do it for a living, train and get better at it.
In his book, Good to Great, author Jim Collins has a bit of solid advice for successful companies that can also apply to an individual. In order to achieve greatness three things are required: can you be the best at it, can it drive your financial engine, and are you deeply passionate about it. He calls this his Hedgehog Theory. I recommend reading the book.
If you have those things going on, you will automatically have hard work on your side, and you will be be successful. Hard work does pay off.
I do know this. Hard work will keep you going. No matter what your job is, do it to the best of your ability and do it day after day after day. When you give your very best effort at all times, good things will happen. People will eventually notice, and you will benefit.
That is a very simple formula, hard work on a regular basis equals stability. If you can't work hard at what you are doing because it is over our under your head, or if you just don't like it, find something that you can love. There is no substitute for passion. Knowledge and experience can help but they do not take the place of passion.
My favorite expert on the subject, Brian Tracy, advises you to not only work hard every day but work on yourself. Train yourself to benefit from your passion. Whatever it is that you love to do and can do it for a living, train and get better at it.
In his book, Good to Great, author Jim Collins has a bit of solid advice for successful companies that can also apply to an individual. In order to achieve greatness three things are required: can you be the best at it, can it drive your financial engine, and are you deeply passionate about it. He calls this his Hedgehog Theory. I recommend reading the book.
If you have those things going on, you will automatically have hard work on your side, and you will be be successful. Hard work does pay off.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
More gains from a positive attitude
Sometimes, we enter into a situation with such a negative attitude or low expectation, the outcome is mostly predetermined. In business, there may be encounters with customers, or co-workers, or managers that you may think are going to be negative or non-productive. That attitude alone can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy.
There are times that we have attended tradeshows or conferences or visited with remote prospects that had very low expectations. I have learned that if I enter all such situations looking for the best outcome, the experience will be much better.
I have learned from other experienced people that my attitude can help to to turn situations around. Often, we can connect with people in an unexpected way. In other words, if I expect that the outome of a meeting to be that I make a sale and anything less is disappointing, I am limiting the outcome.
On the other hand, business networks can be formed from such meetings with otherwise limited expectations. In other words, just because I do not make a sale on a sales call, I might create a useful business partnership in a way that was not expected.
Always be prepared to make the best of every situation. Always be kind and respectful in all situations so that we can make the most of it. Always have a positive attitude.
There are times that we have attended tradeshows or conferences or visited with remote prospects that had very low expectations. I have learned that if I enter all such situations looking for the best outcome, the experience will be much better.
I have learned from other experienced people that my attitude can help to to turn situations around. Often, we can connect with people in an unexpected way. In other words, if I expect that the outome of a meeting to be that I make a sale and anything less is disappointing, I am limiting the outcome.
On the other hand, business networks can be formed from such meetings with otherwise limited expectations. In other words, just because I do not make a sale on a sales call, I might create a useful business partnership in a way that was not expected.
Always be prepared to make the best of every situation. Always be kind and respectful in all situations so that we can make the most of it. Always have a positive attitude.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
All Things Connected and Related
Each individual action and reaction is connected to your moods, attitudes, and behavior. Is your attitude affected positively when someone makes an effort to be either nice or helpful or both toward you? You may not feel it directly, but your mood and behavior is affected by others constantly.
Likewise, when someone is rude or mean to you, your attitude and behavior is affected negatively or even defensively. You either get into a bad mood or try to get even. Either be lived in the feel good frame of mind? Just think then how your words and actions toward other affect them. They do.
In his book How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less, author Nicholas Boothman discusses two very important concepts that fall in line with inter connectedness. One, in dealing with others, you can have a really useful attitude and be kind, polite, and helpful, or you can have a really useless attitude and be rude, abrupt, and self-centered. Which one will have the more favorable outcome for you in most cases? Again, actions, attitudes, and outcomes are connected and related.
The second important concept that I want to share from Boothman, is the KFC method. Simply stated, know what you want, find out what you are getting, and change what you do until you get what you want. Your actions directly affect what happens to you and how people perceive you. If you know that you want to have friends and be liked, then find out what your friendship status looks like, and change what you do until achieving the desired status.
Your words, discussion, and interactions with other people are not isolated incidents that have no further affect on you or others. Instead, your every action and inaction helps to determine what your future will look like. Your now is connected and related to your future and your now is connected to your past.
Good works, kind words, and acts of service are investments in your better future. Arguments, getting even, and self centeredness are investments in a more troubled future. All of what you do and say is connected and related and it is wise to carefully choose your words and actions.
As Boothman claims, if you know what you want, then do the things that you need to do to get there. Make the daily and continuous investments to get to where you want to be. It may sound like an over-used cliché but the longest journey does start with the first step.
Likewise, when someone is rude or mean to you, your attitude and behavior is affected negatively or even defensively. You either get into a bad mood or try to get even. Either be lived in the feel good frame of mind? Just think then how your words and actions toward other affect them. They do.
In his book How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less, author Nicholas Boothman discusses two very important concepts that fall in line with inter connectedness. One, in dealing with others, you can have a really useful attitude and be kind, polite, and helpful, or you can have a really useless attitude and be rude, abrupt, and self-centered. Which one will have the more favorable outcome for you in most cases? Again, actions, attitudes, and outcomes are connected and related.
The second important concept that I want to share from Boothman, is the KFC method. Simply stated, know what you want, find out what you are getting, and change what you do until you get what you want. Your actions directly affect what happens to you and how people perceive you. If you know that you want to have friends and be liked, then find out what your friendship status looks like, and change what you do until achieving the desired status.
Your words, discussion, and interactions with other people are not isolated incidents that have no further affect on you or others. Instead, your every action and inaction helps to determine what your future will look like. Your now is connected and related to your future and your now is connected to your past.
Good works, kind words, and acts of service are investments in your better future. Arguments, getting even, and self centeredness are investments in a more troubled future. All of what you do and say is connected and related and it is wise to carefully choose your words and actions.
As Boothman claims, if you know what you want, then do the things that you need to do to get there. Make the daily and continuous investments to get to where you want to be. It may sound like an over-used cliché but the longest journey does start with the first step.
Monday, October 11, 2010
A Value-Added Lifestyle?
In business, value-added generally involve sales and adding something to the package or product that one company is selling to another in order to please the customer and pave the way for further business. However, this same principle applies to everyday life. Think about the things that you want to have happen in life and how you go about making them happen. This often means adding value to what you are doing or giving in order to create a better relationship or friendship with another person or persons. The concept is the same.
In business, we often think of companies like Nordstrom or Enterprise Car Rental who are known for adding the personal touch of value to every sale. They train and expect their employees to treat their customer as king. They place a very strong emphasis on pleasing their customers and even surprising them with excellent service. Could we do that with our relationships and friendships in life?
In business, we often think of companies like Nordstrom or Enterprise Car Rental who are known for adding the personal touch of value to every sale. They train and expect their employees to treat their customer as king. They place a very strong emphasis on pleasing their customers and even surprising them with excellent service. Could we do that with our relationships and friendships in life?
Sunday, October 10, 2010
"I Can" and baggage
If you have problem people in your life, you can either 1) solve your problem with those people or 2) avoid them. Once you have invested your time in trying to mend a relationship and come to the realization that mending is just not going to happen, then move on. You don’t need to burn bridges or hate people but you don’t need to keep going down a dead end trail. Just move on. Remove the baggage of that relationship.
Whatever is worrying you that does not need worry about, consider how to fix, cure, or solve it and make that attempt. If it is not working, move on. Don’t burden yourself with unfixable situations. Often, holding on to problems leads to anger and almost inevitably, gossip. You will want to vent and people are interested in listening because human nature is to love gossip. Don’t do it, try to fix it and move on. Don’t burden yourself with people or relationships that are bringing you down. This is not for you. If you have conflicts that are not going to work out, move on. There are many other people out there interested in the real you. Connect with these people and get going on a positive track.
Get rid of baggage of burden and conflict and get on with your career and life. I am not telling you to turn your back on anyone who disagrees with you though. You know which situations and which relationships are unworkable. You will know when you should move on.
Whatever is worrying you that does not need worry about, consider how to fix, cure, or solve it and make that attempt. If it is not working, move on. Don’t burden yourself with unfixable situations. Often, holding on to problems leads to anger and almost inevitably, gossip. You will want to vent and people are interested in listening because human nature is to love gossip. Don’t do it, try to fix it and move on. Don’t burden yourself with people or relationships that are bringing you down. This is not for you. If you have conflicts that are not going to work out, move on. There are many other people out there interested in the real you. Connect with these people and get going on a positive track.
Get rid of baggage of burden and conflict and get on with your career and life. I am not telling you to turn your back on anyone who disagrees with you though. You know which situations and which relationships are unworkable. You will know when you should move on.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Some Great Advice
I attended a presentation recently by Tom Reilly who is an author, coach, speaker, and sales trainer. He wrote the book Value Added Selling and his presentation, given at the Fluid Power Distributor Association/International Sealing Distributors Annual Summit, was all about adding value to every sale.
This advice reflected on how to add value rather than discounting price in the process of growing your company. Tom gave several examples of companies that are champions at adding value such as Texas Roadhouse restaurant, Nordstrom, and Johns Manville.
His lessons of adding value in sales and service can actually be extended to everyday life. In fact, they blend in nicely with the advice often given by author Marcus Buckingham in is KFC plan. Know what you want, find out what you are getting, and change what you are doing until you get what you want.
In this case, the know what your want would be increased revenue and profits for all businesses. In the case of your personal life, the know what you want could be happiness, security, love, stability, and much more.
The find out what you are getting is self explanatory. The change in the business scene is increased service and value-added business partnerships. In your personal life, the change could be kindness, understanding, cooperation and on and on.
Business and life are not that much different. There are ways to affect the outcomes you are seeking and the advice given by Tom at his presentation apply to business and to life. I suggest that you visit his website for more information http://www.tomreillytraining.com/
This advice reflected on how to add value rather than discounting price in the process of growing your company. Tom gave several examples of companies that are champions at adding value such as Texas Roadhouse restaurant, Nordstrom, and Johns Manville.
His lessons of adding value in sales and service can actually be extended to everyday life. In fact, they blend in nicely with the advice often given by author Marcus Buckingham in is KFC plan. Know what you want, find out what you are getting, and change what you are doing until you get what you want.
In this case, the know what your want would be increased revenue and profits for all businesses. In the case of your personal life, the know what you want could be happiness, security, love, stability, and much more.
The find out what you are getting is self explanatory. The change in the business scene is increased service and value-added business partnerships. In your personal life, the change could be kindness, understanding, cooperation and on and on.
Business and life are not that much different. There are ways to affect the outcomes you are seeking and the advice given by Tom at his presentation apply to business and to life. I suggest that you visit his website for more information http://www.tomreillytraining.com/
Friday, October 8, 2010
"I Can" still continued
Perhaps you think that being the company president or owner, is for other people. It is only for people who are gifted. Not true. If your passion is to become the president of your company or to own your own business, then you can. It will take effort and a commitment but you can get there if you decide that you want to and will.
The main point is that achievement in your career and in your personal life begins with believing that “I can.” That belief can become very clouded with what I call baggage. This includes worrying about things that don’t need to be worried about, getting bogged down in bad personal or business relationships, and simply just being hampered by carrying the baggage of life that you can get rid of.
The main point is that achievement in your career and in your personal life begins with believing that “I can.” That belief can become very clouded with what I call baggage. This includes worrying about things that don’t need to be worried about, getting bogged down in bad personal or business relationships, and simply just being hampered by carrying the baggage of life that you can get rid of.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
"I Can" Continued
Let’s start with some small examples. Let’s say that you think that skiing or scuba diving or playing the drums looks like fun. However, for some strange reason you have come to believe that those activities are not for you because you are not capable of them. They are too expensive, you don’t live in the right area, you don’t have the talent, or you are not athletic enough. Some of that may be true but it should not preclude you from taking part in those activities.
If cost is the problem, start small, rent the equipment and go to inexpensive places. Take lessons from friends and work your way up. Over time and with proper budgeting, given the fact that you are capable of the activity, you will be on your way. If you are passionate about the activity, it will happen.
If cost is the problem, start small, rent the equipment and go to inexpensive places. Take lessons from friends and work your way up. Over time and with proper budgeting, given the fact that you are capable of the activity, you will be on your way. If you are passionate about the activity, it will happen.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Culture of "I Can"
One of the main points of this blog is to convey to you the reader that “you can.” Hopefully, you have grown up in an environment that encourages you to be the best that you can, but also to do whatever you want.
How do you get there? Well, a lot of preparation is needed to get you to your goals but one ingredient that is absolutely necessary for success is to believe you can. Believe that you can accomplish whatever it is that you desire to accomplish in life. Believe that you have what it takes to be however successful that you want to be.
One of the big mistakes that we can make in life is to not attempt to accomplish a goal or a desired achievement because we believe that we can’t. I call that the culture of “I can’t.” Avoid that.
How do you get there? Well, a lot of preparation is needed to get you to your goals but one ingredient that is absolutely necessary for success is to believe you can. Believe that you can accomplish whatever it is that you desire to accomplish in life. Believe that you have what it takes to be however successful that you want to be.
One of the big mistakes that we can make in life is to not attempt to accomplish a goal or a desired achievement because we believe that we can’t. I call that the culture of “I can’t.” Avoid that.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Continuous Education
consider formal education and what it might do for you regardless of your present age. If you work in marketing and need strengthening in accounting, consider going to your local community college for a course or courses in Accounting. If you are trying to improve your own personal marketability, take a careful look at your skills and determine where you can use some help. And then get that help.
In addition to institutions of higher education like universities and community colleges, you might find local adult learning centers that can help you in your quest to gain knowledge in skill in your area of interest. Whether it is accounting, photography, dance, management, finance, or biology, your area of interest and perhaps passion can be fed through formal education if you are willing to invest the time and money in this area of self improvement.
Another tremendous resource available to all is the internet. There are actually many good learning opportunities online. Whether you search Wikipedia for information or You Tube, there is lots of information available to you.
With help in your career, you can search the many job boards. As for educational opportunities, they are very searchable as well. If you are looking for financial resources, consider Yahoo Finance, CNBC, or any of the financial websites available for free.
Overall, the most important aspect of continuing education is being open to the idea that you are a continuous learner, that you do not know it all. This frame of mind will open the door to learning from every situation that you encounter. It should nourish your desire and interest in learning from daily life and putting those lessons to work for you and for others.
In addition to institutions of higher education like universities and community colleges, you might find local adult learning centers that can help you in your quest to gain knowledge in skill in your area of interest. Whether it is accounting, photography, dance, management, finance, or biology, your area of interest and perhaps passion can be fed through formal education if you are willing to invest the time and money in this area of self improvement.
Another tremendous resource available to all is the internet. There are actually many good learning opportunities online. Whether you search Wikipedia for information or You Tube, there is lots of information available to you.
With help in your career, you can search the many job boards. As for educational opportunities, they are very searchable as well. If you are looking for financial resources, consider Yahoo Finance, CNBC, or any of the financial websites available for free.
Overall, the most important aspect of continuing education is being open to the idea that you are a continuous learner, that you do not know it all. This frame of mind will open the door to learning from every situation that you encounter. It should nourish your desire and interest in learning from daily life and putting those lessons to work for you and for others.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Connecting and Networking
How can you connect with new people? I have found two excellent coaches on that subject. Shawna Schuh gives seminars, writes books, and offers audio and video programs that can help you to connect with people in a very positive way. Get one of her books or attend one of her seminars and study what she suggests. Her advice will help anyone to connect better with others. This is an ongoing educational process and Shawna can help you.
The author of How to Connect With Anyone in 90 Seconds, Nicholas Boothman, offers great advise and insight into making the best impression with others to help you improve your life. Study what he offers because it will work for you. This too is an ongoing educational process that requires you to work at it.
When studying various authors on social interaction, we must be open- minded. It may be difficult at first to understand or accept a given coach’s advice. We may feel that we already know better. My best advice on that is to work at being open to the coaching.
Why do you want to connect with people anyway? Well, for many reasons not the least of which it makes life so much more interesting. If you are the type of person who wishes that you could interact better with people, who sees others interacting in social settings that are attractive to you, then this is for you. Connecting and interacting is a gift for some. Having an outgoing nature and gift of gab comes easy for many people and they can use this gift to their advantage.
If you don’t have it, you can acquire some degree of skill interacting and networking if you choose to work at it. Another great audio program that I have listened to repeatedly is by author and trainer Leil Lownes. 62 Tips on Connecting With Anyone is full of great suggestions on how you can improve your interpersonal skills and begin connecting with people in a very positive way right away. However, this type of training is again part of your lifelong educational process. Half of the battle is admitting that you need help in this area. The other half is getting that help.
In this program, Lownes offers many suggestions that apply to a wide variety of settings and situations for connecting with people. Again, as a student of this program, one must be very open even to suggestions that appear a bit uncomfortable.
In addition to the two audio programs that I recommend, I also recommend that you look into Dale Carnegie courses or Toastmasters International for help in all areas of interpersonal interaction. This includes confidence building in social situations as well as in public speaking. Whether you are speaking to a large crowd or a small group, it is still public speaking and you can get help in this area if you choose to do so. This is all included in your commitment to lifelong learning.
The author of How to Connect With Anyone in 90 Seconds, Nicholas Boothman, offers great advise and insight into making the best impression with others to help you improve your life. Study what he offers because it will work for you. This too is an ongoing educational process that requires you to work at it.
When studying various authors on social interaction, we must be open- minded. It may be difficult at first to understand or accept a given coach’s advice. We may feel that we already know better. My best advice on that is to work at being open to the coaching.
Why do you want to connect with people anyway? Well, for many reasons not the least of which it makes life so much more interesting. If you are the type of person who wishes that you could interact better with people, who sees others interacting in social settings that are attractive to you, then this is for you. Connecting and interacting is a gift for some. Having an outgoing nature and gift of gab comes easy for many people and they can use this gift to their advantage.
If you don’t have it, you can acquire some degree of skill interacting and networking if you choose to work at it. Another great audio program that I have listened to repeatedly is by author and trainer Leil Lownes. 62 Tips on Connecting With Anyone is full of great suggestions on how you can improve your interpersonal skills and begin connecting with people in a very positive way right away. However, this type of training is again part of your lifelong educational process. Half of the battle is admitting that you need help in this area. The other half is getting that help.
In this program, Lownes offers many suggestions that apply to a wide variety of settings and situations for connecting with people. Again, as a student of this program, one must be very open even to suggestions that appear a bit uncomfortable.
In addition to the two audio programs that I recommend, I also recommend that you look into Dale Carnegie courses or Toastmasters International for help in all areas of interpersonal interaction. This includes confidence building in social situations as well as in public speaking. Whether you are speaking to a large crowd or a small group, it is still public speaking and you can get help in this area if you choose to do so. This is all included in your commitment to lifelong learning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)