Today’s customers crave to be treated like people and to get real value. The more you can provide a personal touch, and the more value you offer in the form of exceptional service, selection, convenience, price, and integrity, the more customers you will have. These efforts may seem like backwards steps in a world of increasingly impersonal technology. But, they will win today’s customer–and tomorrow’s.
Leadership
Make a Decision
How many of us have decided in a moment of strength that we would exercise daily or quit smoking or be on time, only to give up on the decision within 24 hours? How does a person make a decision and then make it stick? You do it by finding your passion, becoming committed, getting motivated, killing the ANTs, and then doing something about your decision today.
Be a Leader, Not a Boss
What is the difference between a leader and a boss? It boils down to the person’s attitude. Whether you are the company president or working in the mail room, adopt the attitudes of mutual respect, teamwork, and commitment to the company vision. As you do, you will become a true leader.
Cultivate Charisma
People with charisma have amazing influence over others. They pass through life inspiring greatness, uplifting spirits, and planting seeds of excellence. They are a valuable part of any team and command higher salaries. The truth is, whether you are in management or not, you need to cultivate charisma. It will help you at work, in your family, and your social life.
How to Keep Your Head in Times of Crisis
We have more things to worry about today than ever before? Few of us can do anything to change the economy or the weather. So, why do we spend so much time and energy fretting about them? Whether you are worried about global challenges, or dealing with personal and family challenges that come to all of us, here are 5 steps to help you remain calm in times of crisis.
The Five Principles of Performance
Much of success is about performance. It’s about what we do and what we are able to inspire others to do. There are some simple performance principles I have learned in my life, and I want to share them with you.
Pluck, Not Luck!
Next time you feel that adversity has beaten you down, think of James Cash Penney. Don’t worry about luck, just put a P in front of it and forge ahead.
Be a Good Finder
It is important when working with others to concentrate on their strengths not their weaknesses.
Parenting: Balancing work and children
If you don’t make time for your family no one else will. Being a member of a family is one of the highest callings in life. Honor your family and honor yourself.
Be a Modern Hero
We truly live in amazing times but there’s a lot of bad news going around. The mistake people make is assuming that what is on the news is all the news there is. Not true. There are plenty of amazing, wonderful, positive things going on if we’ll just watch for them. True heroes refuse to be simply swept along with the tide of pessimism. Instead, they see opportunities, bolster hope, and provide vision.
Cultivate Humility
Do you want to be among the most intelligent, charismatic people in the world? Do you want to be a top achiever and an effective leader, one who has the respect and admiration of peers? Cultivate humility.
How to Get Out of a Slump
We all have times when our effectiveness increases and times when it fades This happens in every area of life, including sports, the arts, family or spiritual life, and in business.
Visualize Your Plan
If you will take the next step and visualize exactly how it will look, and feel, when you reach your goals–if you will describe in detail, in writing, how it will look, perhaps even make a detailed drawing or find a picture that reminds you of your goal–you will have taken a major step toward achieving your goals.
Blaze a Trail
Recently, I noticed a bumper sticker on a rickety old car. It said simply: “I go where I’m towed.
Speed and Power
Occasionally, the events of the day tap into some universal truths about the human psyche. One such event occurred during the July 4th weekend when, in the midst of the country’s yearly celebration and the death of Michael Jackson, Sarah Palin announced that she was quitting as Governor or Alaska. Her leaving office so quickly after the election with two years left in her term begs the question, what universal truth could possibility by associated with Sarah Palin’s behavior? The answer is: the speed and power of speed and power.
How to Fire Up Your Team, But Not Burn Them Out!
A shaky economic climate not only affects consumer confidence, it can also negatively impact employee morale and productivity. Negative economic news, layoffs, internal cutbacks – all whittle away at your team’s confidence and erode their productivity. And, when times are tough, you simply can’t afford to have declining productivity. Motivating employees takes time and effort, but it can also yield increased productivity and a more pleasant work environment. Here are 7 quick-tips to help you fire up your team but not burn them out.
Communication Tools
In spite of the recent boom in communication technology, our interpersonal communication skills seem a little lacking. Experts tell us that only 15% of communication is the words that we use. 85% of the meaning, therefore, comes from our tone, manner, posture, eye movement, gestures and inflection. Here are some tips…
Warren Buffett is a Super Salesman
Warren Buffett knows that without selling products and services his companies become without value. Whether its American Express, Coca Cola, Wells Fargo, See’s Candy, Wal-Mart or GE, he takes the time to shamelessly tout each one of them. Why does a Billionaire continue to promote, market and sell the value of the companies he has major stakes in? Because even the richest man in the world knows that the financial solvency of a company or household is dependent upon selling the products, services and value of that company.
Constant Amid Change
It seems that change is all around us. Business approaches, technology, social trends, fashions — all change regularly. These changes are occurring at an ever increasing rate. Many of them are positive advancements: needed to compete in a global economy. But, change is not always progress. There are some things that should remain constant.
If You Can’t Fix It, Feature It!
When faced with pending tragedy or sudden difficulties that could demoralize the team, effective leaders can decide instead to celebrate! You can create events to foster joy, gratitude, humor or hope.
Positive Communication in Relationships
Positive relationships can mean the difference between success or failure in our business, family and personal life. And, communication is the key to these relationships. The more effectively we communicate with others, the more satisfying and successful our relationships will be. Here are 10 steps that can help you right now.
Be a Team Player
If you work in a group of two or more people, chances are you are considered by the management as a “team.” The question is: do you consider yourself a team member? Are you really acting as a team? Or, do you, at times, think of the other people in your company as competition? After[Read More]
The Winding River
The Winding River: A story about leadership and vision.
10 Mistakes in a Recession
Recessions cause the economy to contract and make it more difficult for people to do business. What we are experiencing at this time cause people to respond in a similar manner, reacting to economic contraction with more contraction. While it may be a normal reaction to contract at this time it only guarantees that you will be smaller when this is all over.
Training Your Sales Team
While it is agreed that training can improve the production results of a company there is no shortage of companies and executives that question the return on investment (ROI). Before you calculate the cost of training you should calculate the cost of mishandling opportunities that result from not training your people.
The Value of Values
The values of your business are the things that matter most to it. When all else fails, these are the things that will see you through tough times. Read why in this article.
Beware of Those That Criticize Management
There was once a young man who was gifted with the ability to speak, persuade and move people. Rather than using his gifts to improve conditions around him he used his gifts to criticize what others had done or not done.
