Cause & Effect

I invest in my team because I have money… I have money because I invest in my team.

I’m happy because I’m relaxed… I’m relaxed because I’m happy.

I’m healthy because I exercise… I exercise because I’m healthy.

I smile because I’m in a good mood… I’m in a good mood because I smile.

I’m intelligent because I read… I read because I’m intelligent.

I learn because I love my teachers… I love my teachers because I learn.

I’m a successful salesman because I listen… I listen because I’m a successful salesman.

I’m optimistic because life is good… Life is good because I’m optimistic.

Success Library - Part I

Do you have all of the knowledge necessary to succeed? Could you benefit by learning more information about your craft or industry? Then, that must mean that you have a success library of books that are helping you gain that knowledge.

You are the only person preventing yourself from gaining the knowledge you need to be successful.

What’s in your success library?

Here are some recommendations:

Leadership: Tribes by Seth Godin / The Essential Wooden by John Wooden

Achieving Excellence: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell / Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin

Perseverance: The Dip by Seth Godin

Problem Solving/Creative Thinking: The Back of the Napkin by Dan Roam

Passion: Rules of the Red Rubber Ball by Kevin Carroll

Business Improvement: Good to Great by Jim Collins

Success: The Success Principles by Jack Canfield

Avoiding Organizational Disaster: How The Mighty Fall by Jim Collins

Sales: The Secrets of Closing the Sale by Zig Ziglar

Stress Management: Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff by Richard Carlson

Miscellaneous Wisdom: The Essential Drucker by Peter Drucker

"You're Fired!"

Most people think that only bosses can fire someone. That is not true. Every individual & organization has not only the authority, but the obligation to fire the following types of people:

• Underperforming employees
• Unprofitable customers
• Negative friends
• Valueless manufacturers
• Disengaged board members
• Inactive volunteers
• Boring television
• Bad musicians
• Irrelevant news
• Lying politicians
• Etc., etc.

A negative influence is worse than no influence. Who should you fire today?

Lessons From The Lawn

Personal & professional relationships are a lot like grass. Nurture them with regular attention… provide basic care… and they will reward you with many years of growth. Neglect them (for even a short period of time), and not only will you guarantee short-term damage… you run the risk of killing them forever.

For the record, it does not matter if it’s “not your fault” (like not realizing a sprinkler head is broken for three consecutive 100+ degree days). Neglect something or someone, and you might have to start all over again.

Who are you neglecting?

"You're Special!"

Are some of your customers more ‘special’ than others? Maybe it’s the amount that they purchase… or how much they contribute to your bottom-line. Maybe it’s their longevity as a loyal client… or maybe it’s just the prestige they give you by being your client.

Whatever the criteria… every customer is not the same.

So, what are you doing about that? What are you doing to show your ‘special’ customers that they are important to you… and that you really appreciate their business?

If you want to differentiate your company, maybe you should differentiate your customers.

How Are You REALLY Doing?

It is very easy to pretend that we care about others in our lives… because the words come so easily – “How are you doing?”… “I hope that you are doing well!” With good intentions in our hearts, we ask these types of questions… make these types of statements… and, then go on with our lives pretending that everything is OK.

Underneath the surface, however, everything is rarely OK… and often those same people (who just gave us the answer they thought we wanted to hear) are desperately searching for words of advice, encouragement or a shoulder to lean upon. They are desperately waiting for someone to ask, “How are you really doing?” so that they can be honest… and trust that true friend with the truth.

As this world becomes more & more ‘connected’… we can easily become more & more detached.

Which Comes First?

Thinking & behaving like a successful person... comes BEFORE being a successful person.