Here are five main reasons why most people fail to reach their goals:
1. Wish List and Cross Your Fingers
You cannot simply write down a list of wants on New Year’s Day, stick it in a drawer for the rest of the year and wait around for your life to change. You need to read it, want it and ACT on it.
2. Clear as Mud
Your goals have to be crystal clear. You have to give clear instructions to your brain in order for it to see (Allowing your Reticular Activating System to see it) and ‘draw’ into your life what you need to accomplish your goals. Just like the combination on a lock or the digits in a phone number or an ATM code, if the instructions are off by only one digit, they won’t work.
3. All Talk
Proclaiming your goal is just the starting point. Now you have to actually draw a map for exactly how you are going to get there and define the resources you’ll need to arrive safely.
4. Houston We Have a Problem
You must have your own command and control system to keep on track along your journey into the unknown. Anticipate set backs and have a plan to work around it. Be the boat that works itself around obstacles and not the inflexible Train that is rigid and could be pushed off track).
5. Lack of Reinforcements
and don’t forget the support and guidance of people and resources you will need along the way. Before marching blindly into the next year, the first, and most important, activity is to take a look back at the year just finished. Take an inventory, add it all up and see how you did.
Samthecoach.com
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Quality Service Makes Good Cents
Ask any business owner about customer service and satisfaction and most will admit that it’s critical to their overall success and profitability. Ask them what they DO to insure their team consistently delivers quality service and the answers are vague or in some cases they simply shrug and say ‘not much’.
While customer satisfaction is important, it also makes great CENTS to improve it.
Here are a just a few things to consider:
loyal customers spend more and buy more frequently;
customer satisfaction is linked to retention;
it’s cheaper to retain customers than acquire new ones;
customers are willing to pay more when service is better than competition;
happy customers refer others; and
unhappy customers tell at least 10 others about their negative experience – who needs that kind of PR?
Seven Ways to Improve Customer Service:
Get feedback. Encourage and welcome customer input about how you can improve. Provide a method and process to get constructive comments and suggestions. Customers can be your best advocate and are knowledgeable of competitors and what they do or don’t do well. Remember, you cannot fix or improve something if you don’t know it is broken.
Treat employees well. Appreciation starts at the top. Your team will treat customers the way you treat your team. Do you greet them when you arrive? Do you thank them? Do you listen to their concerns and ideas? If you take care of your team, your team will take care of your customers.
Document and handle customer complaints. No matter how good you are, things can and will go wrong. Identify the source of the top five to seven complaints (even if they only occur periodically) and develop a process to handle them. Don’t forget to include guidelines and limits of authority so your front-line employees can resolve the majority of complaints without going to the boss! Also keep in mind, complaints that are handled well can actually build loyalty with customers.
Measure and reward customer satisfaction. If customer satisfaction is really a priority in your business, demonstrate this to your team and customers. Develop a method to measure it, set goals for improvement and reward the team when the goal is accomplished. And here’s another plus. If your ‘documented’ customer satisfaction levels are 95 percent or better – you now have a great message for use in marketing. It sure beats the “we deliver great service’ message so many businesses like to put out there!
Train your team. Customer service skills, like technical or sales skills, can be developed and improved with training. While most businesses train new employees – existing team members need ongoing training and development too. In addition to better service, employee training is linked to improved employee retention and satisfaction – a big benefit in today’s competitive labour market.
Document your critical systems and processes. Too often, the source of dissatisfaction or perceived poor quality is tied to your processes. Take a look at the processes – from initial contact through billing – and document what gets done. I guarantee you will find gaps in consistency and opportunities for improved efficiency and effectiveness. Documented systems put money on the bottom line by improving customer satisfaction and reducing re-works, returns or call-backs (a big satisfaction driver).
Set expectations. In marketing and sales, a ‘can do’ attitude is important – but only if you can deliver. Real success in business comes from delivering what you promise and doing it each and every time. So set the right expectations and remember the old saying – better to under promise and over deliver!
Brad Suger
While customer satisfaction is important, it also makes great CENTS to improve it.
Here are a just a few things to consider:
loyal customers spend more and buy more frequently;
customer satisfaction is linked to retention;
it’s cheaper to retain customers than acquire new ones;
customers are willing to pay more when service is better than competition;
happy customers refer others; and
unhappy customers tell at least 10 others about their negative experience – who needs that kind of PR?
Seven Ways to Improve Customer Service:
Get feedback. Encourage and welcome customer input about how you can improve. Provide a method and process to get constructive comments and suggestions. Customers can be your best advocate and are knowledgeable of competitors and what they do or don’t do well. Remember, you cannot fix or improve something if you don’t know it is broken.
Treat employees well. Appreciation starts at the top. Your team will treat customers the way you treat your team. Do you greet them when you arrive? Do you thank them? Do you listen to their concerns and ideas? If you take care of your team, your team will take care of your customers.
Document and handle customer complaints. No matter how good you are, things can and will go wrong. Identify the source of the top five to seven complaints (even if they only occur periodically) and develop a process to handle them. Don’t forget to include guidelines and limits of authority so your front-line employees can resolve the majority of complaints without going to the boss! Also keep in mind, complaints that are handled well can actually build loyalty with customers.
Measure and reward customer satisfaction. If customer satisfaction is really a priority in your business, demonstrate this to your team and customers. Develop a method to measure it, set goals for improvement and reward the team when the goal is accomplished. And here’s another plus. If your ‘documented’ customer satisfaction levels are 95 percent or better – you now have a great message for use in marketing. It sure beats the “we deliver great service’ message so many businesses like to put out there!
Train your team. Customer service skills, like technical or sales skills, can be developed and improved with training. While most businesses train new employees – existing team members need ongoing training and development too. In addition to better service, employee training is linked to improved employee retention and satisfaction – a big benefit in today’s competitive labour market.
Document your critical systems and processes. Too often, the source of dissatisfaction or perceived poor quality is tied to your processes. Take a look at the processes – from initial contact through billing – and document what gets done. I guarantee you will find gaps in consistency and opportunities for improved efficiency and effectiveness. Documented systems put money on the bottom line by improving customer satisfaction and reducing re-works, returns or call-backs (a big satisfaction driver).
Set expectations. In marketing and sales, a ‘can do’ attitude is important – but only if you can deliver. Real success in business comes from delivering what you promise and doing it each and every time. So set the right expectations and remember the old saying – better to under promise and over deliver!
Brad Suger
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Time to reflect
No matter how busy you are, try to find some time over the next two weeks to reflect, think, give and plan. Look in the rear view mirror so to speak.
The week between Christmas and New Year's is the ideal time for this. Try to slow things down. Take some time to talk with your spouse and kids about goals and dreams for the year 2012. Use this as a time to recharge your batteries, not just by watching TV the entire time, but to seriously and with excitement think about a handful of changes or additions you want for your life in 2012.
I believe you will find the act of reflecting, thinking, dreaming and planning (with your family) to be one of the most important exercises you can do that will positively impact the next 12 months.
And remember, do not neglect to commit yourself to set this time aside or you will find that the business of life can and will get in the way.
So let's all take a moment to gather up the past year of victories and defeats, growing as well as those times of stagnation and use it to wipe a clean slate and thoughtfully design the next year the way we truly desire it to be.
Winston Churchill once said "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts" how true is that!
Make it a great year!
Sam
The week between Christmas and New Year's is the ideal time for this. Try to slow things down. Take some time to talk with your spouse and kids about goals and dreams for the year 2012. Use this as a time to recharge your batteries, not just by watching TV the entire time, but to seriously and with excitement think about a handful of changes or additions you want for your life in 2012.
I believe you will find the act of reflecting, thinking, dreaming and planning (with your family) to be one of the most important exercises you can do that will positively impact the next 12 months.
And remember, do not neglect to commit yourself to set this time aside or you will find that the business of life can and will get in the way.
So let's all take a moment to gather up the past year of victories and defeats, growing as well as those times of stagnation and use it to wipe a clean slate and thoughtfully design the next year the way we truly desire it to be.
Winston Churchill once said "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts" how true is that!
Make it a great year!
Sam
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Are you losing motivation?
By Sam The Coach
Are you suffering from feelings of indifference or a lack of concern when it comes to marketing your business? Do you lack the passion that’s necessary to attract customers to your business?
Feelings of passiveness, disregard, and a lack of interest is
widespread among today’s businesses. This attitude is like putting a roadblock between you and your success. Fortunately, there are a number of solutions for overcoming apathy that you can start
implementing today. Try one or more of these.
1. Do something.
The best way to take a blah attitude and turn it around is to do something. You may have heard the phrase, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. The same goes for your business. Apathy often disguises itself as procrastination – lack of action. In the case of your business, an idle business can mean financial disaster.
When you find yourself not wanting to do anything, do something. Pick up a book and read for a while, call a client or two and ask them how things are going, or contact your coach to get yourself moving. If you have to, get up and do jumping jacks or take a walk around the block.
When you engage your physical body, it’s usually easier to engage the rest of you. Once you get the energy moving on your end, you’ll be able to take it and channel it into a number of avenues that can lead to business success.
2. Gather your support team.
A support team is critical to our personal and professional well-being. A support team can consist of our friends, business colleagues, family members, a loving partner or spouse, or even groups that we belong to – like business or civic groups.
When we experience rough days in our business we can call on these folks for uplifting conversation, brainstorming, or just to share a friendly “hello”. Our support team can mean all the difference in the attitude we have in our business. Not only will you benefit from the interchange, you’ll give your support members the opportunity to share their gifts with you. Everyone wins.
3. Obtain more education.
Often indifference about our business can find its roots in a lack of knowledge. You’ve probably heard the phrase “Knowledge is power”. Seeking out new knowledge, whether by reading a book, taking a teleclass, or enrolling in a workshop can be a wonderful solution to curing feelings of apathy. Seeking more education can introduce us to new people and ideas, which will often be just what is needed to get our creative juices flowing.
4. Craft a clear vision.
Having a clear vision of your business purpose and mission can be critical to your business success. A vision, designed exclusively by you, provides a roadmap to help you move from where you are today to where you want to be tomorrow.
When you don’t have a clear vision about why you are in business and what purpose you are serving, it’s easy to go in the wrong direction. Craft a written vision of your business. It will help you stay focused and on track.
5. Read a variety of periodicals.
Probably one of the best solutions to marketing apathy is to read – and one suggestion is to read a
variety of periodicals. Take a trip to your local bookstore. Visit the areas you most enjoy. Peruse
cookbooks, business books, or spiritual books – anything that catches your interest. Don’t forget to visit the magazine racks, which include hundreds of publications on almost every topic imaginable.
You don’t necessarily need to be reading books and magazines about marketing to get ideas about new things to do with your business. Look at what other companies are doing to communicate about their products and services. You might find a creative way to adapt something to your own business.
One of my favorite things to do is pick up a magazine on a topic I know nothing about and turn to the back where the smaller classified ads are listed. It’s amazing how many ideas I’ve been able to adapt from an industry totally unrelated to mine.
6. Hang out with new people.
Look at your Rolodex or database. Do you socialize with the same kinds of people all the time? How about joining a new group - maybe one that isn’t related to your business - and start meeting some new people? You may be surprised when something said would open your eyes to a new idea you can
implement in your business. Better yet, you’ll be expanding your network and increasing your
opportunities to introduce others to you and your business.
7. Take failures and turn them into successes.
Everyone has experienced a failure in their marketing or in their business. But, how you choose to look at it can mean all the difference in your attitude and determines whether you are going to remain stuck or move forward. Think of a few failures you’ve had in the past year. How can you reframe those into
positive experiences?
What did you learn from those experiences that helped you to avoid further issues? Did those
experiences create opportunities for you? In many cases, you’ll probably be able to see the “good” in the “bad”. Whenever you start feeling down about your business marketing, stop your thoughts in their tracks and ask, “Where is the good in all of this?”
8. Focus on the few.
Sometimes we find feelings of listlessness and lethargy creeping into our marketing efforts, usually
because we’re overwhelmed with all we have to do. We don’t know where to start, we feel pressured to perform and to get something out there to attract clients, but we don’t know which direction to take or which marketing technique to select.
The solution to overwhelm, and the accompanying feelings of apathy, is to get focused. Select one or two marketing techniques that you feel comfortable and competent with implementing. Test them and see if you get the results you want. If you don’t, then you’ll have great feedback to try a new way. Don’t try to do everything, otherwise you’ll find yourself in a state of overwhelm, and doing nothing.
9. Create alliances with others.
Isolation can create environments where we lack motivation and enthusiasm. And, when we’re trying to market our businesses, we definitely need these two ingredients! When we work with others, we can move ahead a lot more quickly and, usually, with more ease. Who can you create a partnership or
alliance with?
Perhaps there is a person in a competing or complimentary discipline with whom you can partner with to create a workshop, e-book, or even a teleclass. Their enthusiasm will motivate you; and your enthusiasm will motivate them. Share your talents and ideas. You never know what kind of success you can create together.
10. Recognize the value in you.
Apathy can often find its roots in the attitudes we carry around about ourselves. And, the sad truth is that these often are completely false. As an aspiring entrepreneur, learn to recognize the value in you. Who you are and what you have to offer holds great value. Your gifts, talents, and your unique way of looking at the world are just what your clients are looking for!
Are you suffering from feelings of indifference or a lack of concern when it comes to marketing your business? Do you lack the passion that’s necessary to attract customers to your business?
Feelings of passiveness, disregard, and a lack of interest is
widespread among today’s businesses. This attitude is like putting a roadblock between you and your success. Fortunately, there are a number of solutions for overcoming apathy that you can start
implementing today. Try one or more of these.
1. Do something.
The best way to take a blah attitude and turn it around is to do something. You may have heard the phrase, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. The same goes for your business. Apathy often disguises itself as procrastination – lack of action. In the case of your business, an idle business can mean financial disaster.
When you find yourself not wanting to do anything, do something. Pick up a book and read for a while, call a client or two and ask them how things are going, or contact your coach to get yourself moving. If you have to, get up and do jumping jacks or take a walk around the block.
When you engage your physical body, it’s usually easier to engage the rest of you. Once you get the energy moving on your end, you’ll be able to take it and channel it into a number of avenues that can lead to business success.
2. Gather your support team.
A support team is critical to our personal and professional well-being. A support team can consist of our friends, business colleagues, family members, a loving partner or spouse, or even groups that we belong to – like business or civic groups.
When we experience rough days in our business we can call on these folks for uplifting conversation, brainstorming, or just to share a friendly “hello”. Our support team can mean all the difference in the attitude we have in our business. Not only will you benefit from the interchange, you’ll give your support members the opportunity to share their gifts with you. Everyone wins.
3. Obtain more education.
Often indifference about our business can find its roots in a lack of knowledge. You’ve probably heard the phrase “Knowledge is power”. Seeking out new knowledge, whether by reading a book, taking a teleclass, or enrolling in a workshop can be a wonderful solution to curing feelings of apathy. Seeking more education can introduce us to new people and ideas, which will often be just what is needed to get our creative juices flowing.
4. Craft a clear vision.
Having a clear vision of your business purpose and mission can be critical to your business success. A vision, designed exclusively by you, provides a roadmap to help you move from where you are today to where you want to be tomorrow.
When you don’t have a clear vision about why you are in business and what purpose you are serving, it’s easy to go in the wrong direction. Craft a written vision of your business. It will help you stay focused and on track.
5. Read a variety of periodicals.
Probably one of the best solutions to marketing apathy is to read – and one suggestion is to read a
variety of periodicals. Take a trip to your local bookstore. Visit the areas you most enjoy. Peruse
cookbooks, business books, or spiritual books – anything that catches your interest. Don’t forget to visit the magazine racks, which include hundreds of publications on almost every topic imaginable.
You don’t necessarily need to be reading books and magazines about marketing to get ideas about new things to do with your business. Look at what other companies are doing to communicate about their products and services. You might find a creative way to adapt something to your own business.
One of my favorite things to do is pick up a magazine on a topic I know nothing about and turn to the back where the smaller classified ads are listed. It’s amazing how many ideas I’ve been able to adapt from an industry totally unrelated to mine.
6. Hang out with new people.
Look at your Rolodex or database. Do you socialize with the same kinds of people all the time? How about joining a new group - maybe one that isn’t related to your business - and start meeting some new people? You may be surprised when something said would open your eyes to a new idea you can
implement in your business. Better yet, you’ll be expanding your network and increasing your
opportunities to introduce others to you and your business.
7. Take failures and turn them into successes.
Everyone has experienced a failure in their marketing or in their business. But, how you choose to look at it can mean all the difference in your attitude and determines whether you are going to remain stuck or move forward. Think of a few failures you’ve had in the past year. How can you reframe those into
positive experiences?
What did you learn from those experiences that helped you to avoid further issues? Did those
experiences create opportunities for you? In many cases, you’ll probably be able to see the “good” in the “bad”. Whenever you start feeling down about your business marketing, stop your thoughts in their tracks and ask, “Where is the good in all of this?”
8. Focus on the few.
Sometimes we find feelings of listlessness and lethargy creeping into our marketing efforts, usually
because we’re overwhelmed with all we have to do. We don’t know where to start, we feel pressured to perform and to get something out there to attract clients, but we don’t know which direction to take or which marketing technique to select.
The solution to overwhelm, and the accompanying feelings of apathy, is to get focused. Select one or two marketing techniques that you feel comfortable and competent with implementing. Test them and see if you get the results you want. If you don’t, then you’ll have great feedback to try a new way. Don’t try to do everything, otherwise you’ll find yourself in a state of overwhelm, and doing nothing.
9. Create alliances with others.
Isolation can create environments where we lack motivation and enthusiasm. And, when we’re trying to market our businesses, we definitely need these two ingredients! When we work with others, we can move ahead a lot more quickly and, usually, with more ease. Who can you create a partnership or
alliance with?
Perhaps there is a person in a competing or complimentary discipline with whom you can partner with to create a workshop, e-book, or even a teleclass. Their enthusiasm will motivate you; and your enthusiasm will motivate them. Share your talents and ideas. You never know what kind of success you can create together.
10. Recognize the value in you.
Apathy can often find its roots in the attitudes we carry around about ourselves. And, the sad truth is that these often are completely false. As an aspiring entrepreneur, learn to recognize the value in you. Who you are and what you have to offer holds great value. Your gifts, talents, and your unique way of looking at the world are just what your clients are looking for!
Monday, November 7, 2011
You Are Who Your Friends Are
It is important to acknowledge the power of positive thinking. This goes not only for yourself, but also for the people you surround yourself with. Attitudes are catchy. Whether they are positive or negative, they are rubbing off on you. If you are around people who complain, judge, spread negative gossip, blame others, and play victim roles, chances are you do, too.
Who are you around most often? Are they achieving their dreams or complaining about their circumstances? Do they look up to others who are go-getters and high achievers, or do they make fun of them and roll their eyes? How do they treat you? If you are spending time with people who do not support your dreams and goals, it's seriously time to look at whom you call your friends!
Successful people surround themselves with successful people! They want to be around others who are achieving their goals and making things happen for themselves. They want to know their secrets and strategies for winning. They are not embarrassed to be hanging out with the "nerds" of this world who are studying for success and making good money.
You, too, need to surround yourself with positive influences! Join the clubs that other successful people are in, learn what they are learning, act how they act, and talk how they talk. It doesn't matter from what walk of life you are coming from. Show up and transform yourself into an achiever! Success is not just for those who have had it easy, who came from supportive homes or had expensive educations. There are so many successful people who rose up from very poor conditions and overcame obstacles to achieve the goals they had their sights set on. But they did not get there by hanging out with negative energy drainers!
Have you been limiting your success by letting yourself be influenced by other people's negative energy? Make a list of all the people you spend time with and make note of the kind of personality they have. How many negative people are you around every day? How many people on your list are achieving their dreams, are supporting yours, and are taking responsibility for their lives? You're better off spending time alone than with people who hold themselves back with a victim mentality.
Simply stop spending time with the negative people on your list. Join the clubs that will put you in with a positive circle of friends. Set a new standard for yourself and don't become friends with people who fall below that standard. Invite your old friends to come with you and you'll know who has potential and who to stop being around entirely.
You have to take responsibility for this area of your life. Look around you at the people you call friends, you act just like them! Does it make you proud? Are you selling yourself short? Or are you on the right track? Keep successful people around you and you will be successful! Be around people who can accomplish their goals and you will accomplish yours! The choice is yours to make.
www.samthecoach.com
Who are you around most often? Are they achieving their dreams or complaining about their circumstances? Do they look up to others who are go-getters and high achievers, or do they make fun of them and roll their eyes? How do they treat you? If you are spending time with people who do not support your dreams and goals, it's seriously time to look at whom you call your friends!
Successful people surround themselves with successful people! They want to be around others who are achieving their goals and making things happen for themselves. They want to know their secrets and strategies for winning. They are not embarrassed to be hanging out with the "nerds" of this world who are studying for success and making good money.
You, too, need to surround yourself with positive influences! Join the clubs that other successful people are in, learn what they are learning, act how they act, and talk how they talk. It doesn't matter from what walk of life you are coming from. Show up and transform yourself into an achiever! Success is not just for those who have had it easy, who came from supportive homes or had expensive educations. There are so many successful people who rose up from very poor conditions and overcame obstacles to achieve the goals they had their sights set on. But they did not get there by hanging out with negative energy drainers!
Have you been limiting your success by letting yourself be influenced by other people's negative energy? Make a list of all the people you spend time with and make note of the kind of personality they have. How many negative people are you around every day? How many people on your list are achieving their dreams, are supporting yours, and are taking responsibility for their lives? You're better off spending time alone than with people who hold themselves back with a victim mentality.
Simply stop spending time with the negative people on your list. Join the clubs that will put you in with a positive circle of friends. Set a new standard for yourself and don't become friends with people who fall below that standard. Invite your old friends to come with you and you'll know who has potential and who to stop being around entirely.
You have to take responsibility for this area of your life. Look around you at the people you call friends, you act just like them! Does it make you proud? Are you selling yourself short? Or are you on the right track? Keep successful people around you and you will be successful! Be around people who can accomplish their goals and you will accomplish yours! The choice is yours to make.
www.samthecoach.com
Evaluating Your Associations
If you were to evaluate the major influences in your life that have shaped the kind of person you are, this has to be high on the list: the people and thoughts you choose to allow into your life. Mr. Shoaff gave me a very important warning in those early days that I would like to share with you. He said, "Never underestimate the power of influence." Indeed, the influence of those around us is so powerful! Many times we don't even realize we're being strongly affected because influences generally develop over an extended period of time.
Peer pressure is an especially powerful force because it is so subtle. If you're around people who spend all they make, chances are excellent that you'll spend all you make. If you are around people who go to more ball games than concerts, chances are excellent that you'll do the same thing. If you are around people who don't read, chances are excellent that you won't read. People can keep nudging us off course a little at a time until finally, we find ourselves asking, "How did I get here?" Those subtle influences need to be studied carefully if we really want our lives to turn out the way we've planned.
With regard to this important point, let me give you three key questions to ask yourself. They may help you to make better analyses of your current associations.
Here is the first question: "Who am I around?" Make a mental note of the people with whom you most often associate. You've got to evaluate everybody who is able to influence you in any way.
The second question is: "What are these associations doing to me?" That's a major question to ask. What have they got me doing? What have they got me listening to? What have they got me reading? Where have they got me going? What do they have me thinking? How have they got me talking? How have they got me feeling? What have they got me saying? You've got to make a serious study of how others are influencing you, both negatively and positively.
Here's a final question: "Is that okay?" Maybe everyone you associate with has been a positive, energizing influence. Then again, maybe there are some bad apples in the bunch. All I'm suggesting here is that you take a close and objective look. Everything is worth a second look, especially the power of influence. Both will take you somewhere, but only one will take you in the direction you need to go.
It's easy to just dismiss the things that influence our lives. One man says, "I live here, but I don't think it matters. I'm around these people, but I don't think it hurts." I would take another look at that. Remember, everything matters! Sure, some things matter more than others, but everything amounts to something. You've got to keep checking to find out whether your associations are tipping the scales toward the positive or toward the negative. Ignorance is never the best policy. Finding out is the best policy.
Perhaps you've heard the story of the little bird. He had his wing over his eye and he was crying. The owl said to the bird, "You are crying." "Yes," said the little bird, and he pulled his wing away from his eye. "Oh, I see," said the owl. "You're crying because the big bird pecked out your eye." And the little bird said, "No, I'm not crying because the big bird pecked out my eye. I'm crying because I let him."
It's easy to let influence shape our lives, to let associations determine our direction, to let pressures overwhelm us, and to let tides take us. The big question is, are we letting ourselves become what we wish to become?
—Jim Rohn
Peer pressure is an especially powerful force because it is so subtle. If you're around people who spend all they make, chances are excellent that you'll spend all you make. If you are around people who go to more ball games than concerts, chances are excellent that you'll do the same thing. If you are around people who don't read, chances are excellent that you won't read. People can keep nudging us off course a little at a time until finally, we find ourselves asking, "How did I get here?" Those subtle influences need to be studied carefully if we really want our lives to turn out the way we've planned.
With regard to this important point, let me give you three key questions to ask yourself. They may help you to make better analyses of your current associations.
Here is the first question: "Who am I around?" Make a mental note of the people with whom you most often associate. You've got to evaluate everybody who is able to influence you in any way.
The second question is: "What are these associations doing to me?" That's a major question to ask. What have they got me doing? What have they got me listening to? What have they got me reading? Where have they got me going? What do they have me thinking? How have they got me talking? How have they got me feeling? What have they got me saying? You've got to make a serious study of how others are influencing you, both negatively and positively.
Here's a final question: "Is that okay?" Maybe everyone you associate with has been a positive, energizing influence. Then again, maybe there are some bad apples in the bunch. All I'm suggesting here is that you take a close and objective look. Everything is worth a second look, especially the power of influence. Both will take you somewhere, but only one will take you in the direction you need to go.
It's easy to just dismiss the things that influence our lives. One man says, "I live here, but I don't think it matters. I'm around these people, but I don't think it hurts." I would take another look at that. Remember, everything matters! Sure, some things matter more than others, but everything amounts to something. You've got to keep checking to find out whether your associations are tipping the scales toward the positive or toward the negative. Ignorance is never the best policy. Finding out is the best policy.
Perhaps you've heard the story of the little bird. He had his wing over his eye and he was crying. The owl said to the bird, "You are crying." "Yes," said the little bird, and he pulled his wing away from his eye. "Oh, I see," said the owl. "You're crying because the big bird pecked out your eye." And the little bird said, "No, I'm not crying because the big bird pecked out my eye. I'm crying because I let him."
It's easy to let influence shape our lives, to let associations determine our direction, to let pressures overwhelm us, and to let tides take us. The big question is, are we letting ourselves become what we wish to become?
—Jim Rohn
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Inspirational Business Thoughts.
Whatever your job title, you are in the business of customer satisfaction. Who is your customer? - Brian Tracy
Internalize the 'Golden Rule' of sales that say, 'All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like and trust.' - Bob Burg
Make sure you don't end up the richest person in the cemetery. You can't do business from there. - Colonel Harlan Sanders
Business success comes from identifying and targeting specific customer groups or market segments for your product or service. - Brian Tracy
Choose a job that you love and you won't have to work a single day in your life.
Eat and drink with your relatives; do business with strangers. - Greek Proverb
It isn't the number of people employed in a business that makes it successful, it's the number working.
Live together like brothers, but do business like strangers. - Arab Proverb
Business? It's quite simple. It's other people's money. - Alexandre Dumas the Younger
Humor is the great equalizer. When you make someone laugh, you make them feel good. When they feel good around you, they tend to feel good about you. When they feel good about you, they want to do business with you.
You have to have your heart in the business and the business in your heart. - Thomas J. Whatson, Jr.
Exposure plus 95 cents might buy you a decent cup of coffee. The key is to 'position' yourself in your market as the expert, the resource, the only person your prospect would ever even THINK of doing business with, or referring to others. - Bob Burg
Because its purpose is to create a customer, the business has two basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs. - Peter Drucker
Proper business planning demands that you focus on the self-interest of the customer at all times. - Brian Tracy
Your memorable actions create a classic opportunity to examine how customers can make or break your business after a transaction has taken place. - Jeffrey Gitomer
Profit in business comes from repeat customers, customers that boast about your project or service, and that bring friends with them. - W. Edwards Deming
Wherever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision. - Peter F. Drucker
When everyone is looking for gold, it's a good time to be in the pick and shovel business. - Mark Twain
Imagine if your business burned down and you had to walk across the street and start again, what would you do differently? - Brian Tracy
When people ask each other for a referral, or a business reference -- it's given based on their past personal experience -- or what they 'heard' from others. What's the word out on you? - Jeffrey Gitomer
You create a customer by convincing him overwhelmingly that you are the lowest-risk, highest-value, easiest person and company to do business with. - Brian Tracy
Success or failure in business is caused more by mental attitude even than by mental capacities. - Walter D. Scott
In business, everything costs twice a much as you expect and takes three times longer than you planned. - Brian Tracy
Get Real... People hope for friendly, but rarely get it. You can capture business with friendship gestures. You can lose business without them. - Jeffrey Gitomer
A man to carry on a successful business must have imagination. He must see things as in a vision, a dream of the whole thing. - Charles M. Schwab
Internalize the 'Golden Rule' of sales that say, 'All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like and trust.' - Bob Burg
Make sure you don't end up the richest person in the cemetery. You can't do business from there. - Colonel Harlan Sanders
Business success comes from identifying and targeting specific customer groups or market segments for your product or service. - Brian Tracy
Choose a job that you love and you won't have to work a single day in your life.
Eat and drink with your relatives; do business with strangers. - Greek Proverb
It isn't the number of people employed in a business that makes it successful, it's the number working.
Live together like brothers, but do business like strangers. - Arab Proverb
Business? It's quite simple. It's other people's money. - Alexandre Dumas the Younger
Humor is the great equalizer. When you make someone laugh, you make them feel good. When they feel good around you, they tend to feel good about you. When they feel good about you, they want to do business with you.
You have to have your heart in the business and the business in your heart. - Thomas J. Whatson, Jr.
Exposure plus 95 cents might buy you a decent cup of coffee. The key is to 'position' yourself in your market as the expert, the resource, the only person your prospect would ever even THINK of doing business with, or referring to others. - Bob Burg
Because its purpose is to create a customer, the business has two basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs. - Peter Drucker
Proper business planning demands that you focus on the self-interest of the customer at all times. - Brian Tracy
Your memorable actions create a classic opportunity to examine how customers can make or break your business after a transaction has taken place. - Jeffrey Gitomer
Profit in business comes from repeat customers, customers that boast about your project or service, and that bring friends with them. - W. Edwards Deming
Wherever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision. - Peter F. Drucker
When everyone is looking for gold, it's a good time to be in the pick and shovel business. - Mark Twain
Imagine if your business burned down and you had to walk across the street and start again, what would you do differently? - Brian Tracy
When people ask each other for a referral, or a business reference -- it's given based on their past personal experience -- or what they 'heard' from others. What's the word out on you? - Jeffrey Gitomer
You create a customer by convincing him overwhelmingly that you are the lowest-risk, highest-value, easiest person and company to do business with. - Brian Tracy
Success or failure in business is caused more by mental attitude even than by mental capacities. - Walter D. Scott
In business, everything costs twice a much as you expect and takes three times longer than you planned. - Brian Tracy
Get Real... People hope for friendly, but rarely get it. You can capture business with friendship gestures. You can lose business without them. - Jeffrey Gitomer
A man to carry on a successful business must have imagination. He must see things as in a vision, a dream of the whole thing. - Charles M. Schwab
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