tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36779542723461736392024-03-12T23:22:01.187-05:00Life Is A Work In Progress...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-2782762824105808622013-03-07T11:07:00.000-06:002013-03-07T11:07:07.615-06:00HOW TO TRULY INSPIRE GENERATION Y<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>W</strong></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">orking with college students has given me a whole different perspective about this new breed of future leaders, Generation Y. Read articles, listen to podcasts, scan research- they all have similar descriptions of these tech-saavy, independent, and fearless students and leaders. But the negatives often overshadow the positives. Their seen as entitled, spoiled, and lack communication skills. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/LiteBriteNeon"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/LiteBriteNeon</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, peel back the layers and you will discover something quite special and unique.Yet you still ask ,"how do I reach them?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the question many leaders, educators, and business people ask? How do I inspire Generation Y?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are <u><strong>3</strong></u> key strategies to influencing Generation Y:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <strong>Ask for their feedback</strong>. These students are longing to have a voice. Compliance has been a part of their upbringing and education. But they continue to ask, "WHY?" Let them! They truly want to understand why for many reasons. Ask them what they think- and then <strong><u>listen</u></strong>. Don't judge or interrupt. Many have never had the opportunity to share or describe their own thoughts and feelings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <strong>Don't be afraid to call them out</strong>. A big fear for many leaders and educators is the uncertainty of the response from Gen Y when they are called out for their behavior or performance. But the reality is this generation wants to do good- they want to contribute- but they really do need tough love every now and again. Recently one of these young leaders made excuses as to why they couldn't complete something on time- <em>excuse after excuse</em>. I stopped him and said, "excuses only make YOU feel better; it doesn't help me or the situation." An hour later I received and email that explained, "thank you for bringing that to my attention, this will stay with me forever! THANK YOU!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.<strong> Let them drive</strong>. Sometimes you have to let go of control and give them the keys. Be close by in case they veer too far off the path. Give them responsibility and hold them accountable, but allow this generation to discover innovative approaches to everyday tasks. </span><a href="http://growingleaders.com/blog/eight-ideas-to-inspire-generation-y-on-the-job/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tim Elmore</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> explains to let them work on whatever they want. Freedom will often lead to incredible opportunities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Start today brand new. Inspiring these bright minds is easier than you think.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em><strong>Encouragement excites, inspiration ignites</strong></em>. - Brock Patterson</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-84215812081192947142012-12-17T15:17:00.000-06:002012-12-17T15:20:17.200-06:00WINNING THE LOTTERY OF LIFE<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">I</span> <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">had a guest speaker, Mick Anderson, visit my Introduction to Business class this semester to talk to the students about financial planning and wealth management. What I didn't realize about his speech was that he was about to coin a phrase that resonated loudly in the classroom. Mick described people who had "won the lottery of life." People like Taylor Swift, Peyton Manning, Justin Beiber, and other famous celebrities and athletes. These stars have accumulated great wealth by using their talent whether it be singing, dancing, or playing football. And as a result- they hit the lottery. Their income from their talent will continue to pay them now and well into the future. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAOsISCzKjBpzDuZtkzoQ2-CR0y58umg9l6PMmc-xzxQnO4U8O3vSck7XU1Aytq06qrZqsNzfXivv7x_jnBuNbbWyx6YDMQRh2sjoXrG3SggDZmJMjZZxrgOwLLzcYaXIGRejic8gPZ3O/s1600/lottery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAOsISCzKjBpzDuZtkzoQ2-CR0y58umg9l6PMmc-xzxQnO4U8O3vSck7XU1Aytq06qrZqsNzfXivv7x_jnBuNbbWyx6YDMQRh2sjoXrG3SggDZmJMjZZxrgOwLLzcYaXIGRejic8gPZ3O/s320/lottery.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of: </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/LisaBrewster"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/LisaBrewster</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">But here is the reality. We all will not hit the lottery of life. Many of us will work great jobs and make a good decent wage. But lottery numbers? Hardly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The point in Mick's message was simple. We have to play our own numbers whatever they are. If you are a $35,000, $55,000, or $100,000 a year income provider- then make those numbers work for you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Will you be able to drive the same cars? Doubtful! But can you purchase a car? Absolutely! Will you have three homes in different parts of the country? No! But you can have one beautiful home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This doesn't mean stop working hard to reach your dreams. But it does mean stop spending your money like your winning ticket numbers have just been called. Do more with less. Accumulate experience not stuff.</span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-72491940556305767382012-12-07T20:25:00.000-06:002012-12-08T10:30:13.275-06:00WHY YOUR REPUTATION TAKES TIME TO REBUILD<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">M</span></strong>y son, Braxton, who enjoys playing Xbox online, told me about several encounters with his online community of friends. He described disagreements that he reacted to with frustration and name calling. I said, "Braxton- not only are your friends going to be hurt by your comments, but they are going to tell their parents. And their parents will form an opinion of you- your <em>REPUTATION</em>. And once your reputation isn't good it takes time to rebuild and repair it."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcMa8nMZH5kkpNt_qjcFjV3PjW7tRGr83SQ91kNNu0qW3XhW5eALFnbOcvJ8ARJKSE1vjsAfiqvBO3e1IvTQhfM95Uv2TE7RmJOXPYq3EuzuCqqJYYUNvmtSXvh3SVdmTd1XRaewBluc7/s1600/googone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcMa8nMZH5kkpNt_qjcFjV3PjW7tRGr83SQ91kNNu0qW3XhW5eALFnbOcvJ8ARJKSE1vjsAfiqvBO3e1IvTQhfM95Uv2TE7RmJOXPYq3EuzuCqqJYYUNvmtSXvh3SVdmTd1XRaewBluc7/s320/googone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/Allmeeps"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/Allmeeps</span></a></div>
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Our conversation brought back the time and effort it has taken me to do that very thing. <strong>Rebuild and repair</strong>. It is so easy to drift off on a detour from life. You get busy- preoccupied with your own self-interest and before you know it- you don't even recognize yourself. And your reputation speaks for itself.<br />
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But the sweat equity exerted into being <strong>authentic</strong>, <strong>consistent</strong>, and <strong>dependable</strong> is well worth to yourself and to others. <br />
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I told Braxton, "once you have been labeled one way it is like a sticker being put on. And after it has been on you for awhile and you try to peel it away... you know that aggravating residue that takes Goo Gone to get it off?... well, that takes <strong>effort</strong>. Over time you never even really know it was there."<br />
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<em>And while some people may hold grudges- it is often because they have stickers they can't peel off their own self.</em><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-59896084609818023762012-10-11T18:23:00.002-05:002012-10-11T18:30:30.388-05:00WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?When I was little, I wasn't afraid of the dark, monsters, or even scary movies. I was afraid that I would let people down or not be who <em>they</em> wanted ME to be. <<strong>-- Read that again</strong>. Who they wanted me to be?!? Fast forward to my twenties and you will see the same me. Afraid of what other people thought. I never lived my life. I wasn't authentic. I carried this burden with me for entirely too long. So what happened?<br />
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I learned to become a work in progress. I didn't stop caring people, but I certainly stopped caring about what they thought of me. I couldn't ever fulfill their image of me. (How did I know what that even looked like?) <br />
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A quote changed my perspective, my attitude, and my fear:<br />
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<em>"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work on becoming yourself." - Anna Quindlen</em><br />
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Start today. Be a work in progress. Embrace imperfection. Be you.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-14638439667243934792012-07-03T16:03:00.002-05:002012-07-03T16:04:10.541-05:00CHANGE IS COMINGI spent the last several months finishing my Master of Business Education at Middle Tennessee State University. The experience helped me understand more about my personal and professional goals, and as the title explains, "Change Is Coming."<br />
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In my lives:<br />
Personally<br />
Physically<br />
Professionally<br />
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In my world:<br />
Socially<br />
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All around me: <br />
ChangeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-49773567303938852832012-02-27T14:02:00.000-06:002012-02-27T14:02:49.373-06:00WHY EVERY CUSTOMER TOUCHPOINT SHOULD EXPECT HONEST FEEDBACK<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>W</strong></span>e celebrated my dad's 60th birthday this weekend at a local restaurant. Happy Birthday Dad!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxI9HHsizIXgrTbnH2MyyjlqwcoeSKMH_JQNoHN5FDZHaHJW0TcLdShFyq3bpCQyYMhiudnqOzphV0MHH-Ktv47e7-CcUWqaAtCmYFmSQFwjVHY8izoJM4uRs5vFjQOGUMM9IUlWGS0Jp/s1600/60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxI9HHsizIXgrTbnH2MyyjlqwcoeSKMH_JQNoHN5FDZHaHJW0TcLdShFyq3bpCQyYMhiudnqOzphV0MHH-Ktv47e7-CcUWqaAtCmYFmSQFwjVHY8izoJM4uRs5vFjQOGUMM9IUlWGS0Jp/s320/60.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of: </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/LeoReynolds"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/LeoReynolds</span></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This restaurant has been a staple for our family as it has locations across Middle Tennessee. But the quality of the food has diminished over the last year. My mom and I had the same terrible seafood dish. The waitress was amazing so we really didn't say anything to her because, after all, she didn't cook it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once we were ready to check out, the cashier asked, "how was everything tonight?," in a scripted voice as if to expect the same, "good" or "fine" response. And I leveled honestly. "It was terrible. The quality of food is not the same." He looked stunned and puzzled as if he did not know what to say or how to respond. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He fumbled to look for a radio to get the manager and acted panicky. Had no one else received bad food? Did I do the wrong thing by not complaining to the waitress? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Businesses often become conditioned to act and respond the same way to every customer interaction. What happens is that they miss the most critical opportunity to receive incredible customer feedback because the responses do not fit in their regular pattern or sequence. Rather than greeting and bidding farewell to customers like an assembly line, encourage your staff to have regular conversations with your customers. The customers will appreciate the authenticity, and your business will likely discover opportunities for improvement. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the way, had they been concerned at this restaurant last night, they would have discovered that the cook put ENTIRELY too many green onions on the dish. Something simple to fix if they were willing to accept honest feedback. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What experiences have you had like this? What advice can you give to businesses?</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-17432977703064061812012-02-24T16:20:00.000-06:002012-02-24T16:20:31.391-06:00DO YOU HAVE TOO MUCH CARRY-ON BAGGAGE?<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">A</span>irlines have now restricted the quantity and size of your carry-on baggage. They don't have room for excess anymore. Companies are now trying to prevent the amount of corporate carry-on baggage from new hires related to their </span><a href="http://danielgoleman.info/topics/emotional-intelligence/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">emotional intelligence</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. These companies are launching pre-testing in the form of surveys, questionnaires, and other diagnostic measurements to uncover any instability in their applicants. But what about existing employees? </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr_-kHhQ30s5IdKoxpkNA43tiDCwnNc5Cdoj-TCJebcN3JYoJNlD1CS5e0_lEC2iKJn3ktv6ArgZRRgNZIL7UY4bkA8-jB2-oO352kNPI7DN2dVVdSLouh854NvfjIuv4brrsucP4z7EO/s1600/carryon+luggage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr_-kHhQ30s5IdKoxpkNA43tiDCwnNc5Cdoj-TCJebcN3JYoJNlD1CS5e0_lEC2iKJn3ktv6ArgZRRgNZIL7UY4bkA8-jB2-oO352kNPI7DN2dVVdSLouh854NvfjIuv4brrsucP4z7EO/s320/carryon+luggage.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of: </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/NaneuBags"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/NaneuBags</span></span></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are 3 ways to remove some of your excess baggage and be a productive employee:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <strong>Turn off your personal switch and turn on your professional switch</strong>. I'm not saying to not be authentic, but it helps to mentally turn off your other roles in life when you enter your workplace. If you can separate your personal and professional life as much as possible then you will be emotionally and mentally stronger to handle your daily work tasks. Schedule your breaks and lunches to handle some of your personal matters. And the drive to and from work- use that time to make phone calls and wrap up other personal issues. Your work life will be much more productive and less stressed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <strong>Stop gossip</strong>. Stay away from the known gossip groups of employees. They will only bring you down. Not only will they make you paranoid about every email and phone call, but others will perceive you as part of "them." Free up this time to build your personal relationships with key members of your company. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <strong>Get outside</strong>. One of my favorite bosses used to walk around the building a few times during the day. Oxygen will produce good blood flow and reduce your stress. If you are feeling emotionally drained in your customer support role, take a break and walk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I suggest anyone in leadership to read the book, Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman for my insight into handling your mental and emotional self in the workplace. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What are other ways you can reduce the amount of carry-on baggage for your careers?</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-47208558016106499282012-02-22T10:57:00.001-06:002012-02-22T11:02:07.202-06:00WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING ON FOR?<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Y</strong></span>ou have a firm grip with both hands. Your hands are trembling because your grip is getting tighter. Sweat is dripping faster down your forehead. You can't get the courage to move forward in your goals and dreams. You don't feel worthy. You are too old. You don't have enough education. But, the reality? It's all in your head.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>"Success in life comes not from holding a good hand, but in playing a poor hand well</em>." - Denis Waitley</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-10139058716333629042012-02-21T06:00:00.002-06:002012-02-21T08:06:22.791-06:00WHAT TYPE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL VISIONARY ARE YOU?<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>W</strong></span>e've all been at the crossroad where our blurry vision sees one path leading to greatness while the other leading to complacence. Our minds are filled with questions and possibilities. Should I start my new company? Will be start-up be successful? Can I make it as an entrepreneur? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's in that moment visionaries have one of two types of sight: Fence-posting or Landmarking. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodRKY0TFoGnkLksWRCFgMf28sX7WGk2gBjbjDzM3i7v_YQ5PiykpniCgCUu_5H7wgUlqcQ97Sut_b51VyYXZCcT1gFkON-u6LXVeV0Lyd_hKNmsD-vRv8UkK38w2rC7OSpXu0NNn3t_Ep/s1600/visionary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodRKY0TFoGnkLksWRCFgMf28sX7WGk2gBjbjDzM3i7v_YQ5PiykpniCgCUu_5H7wgUlqcQ97Sut_b51VyYXZCcT1gFkON-u6LXVeV0Lyd_hKNmsD-vRv8UkK38w2rC7OSpXu0NNn3t_Ep/s320/visionary.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of: </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/CapturedByLight"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/CapturedByLight</span></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Fence-post Visionaries</strong>: These types of visionaries picture themselves on the outside looking in on their dreams and goals. They are able to see a panoramic view of their new business ideas. Fence-post visionaries tend take longer to soak ideas, costs, operations, and strategic initiatives in before acting on them. The market may drastically change before they act on their new start-up business.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Landmark Visionaries</strong>: These types of visionaries picture themselves in the middle of the action. They are up close and personal to their dreams and goals. They have an intimate view of their customers, markets, and ideas, and can even visualize products and services long before the doors are open. These visionaries are aggressive, timely, and are ready to be excited by the thrill of risk-taking in their new start-up business. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I have learned recently about starting a new business, I had to shift from being a fence-post to a landmark visionary. If I continued to quietly observe my business from afar while not acting, I was missing out on following through on my dreams and goals. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What advice can you give new entrepreneurs about creating a vision for their start-up?</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-69361902105024306122012-02-20T06:00:00.001-06:002012-02-20T06:00:16.158-06:00BEGIN TODAY WITH A CLEAN SLATE<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>P</strong></span>icture a painting with tears, holes, and filth all over it. What used to be an exotic piece of art is now weathered and experienced. Can't the same be true about our lives? We live our young lives being cleaned up after, to be presented to the world fresh and new again. But as adults, we fail to exert the same effort needed to start each day brand new. </span><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>INSERT <clean slate=""></strong></span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is just that easy. <strong>Insert Clean Slate Today!</strong> Each day we have the beautiful opportunity of living life brand new. So what if you didn't eat healthy all weekend. <strong>Insert Clean Slate Today!</strong> Maybe you didn't spend enough time on that new project.<strong> Insert Clean Slate Today!</strong> What if you didn't get to visit family and friends. <strong>Insert Clean Slate Today!</strong> </span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The choice of yours to begin each day brand new with a refreshing charge towards all of your personal and professional goals. Don't let another second go by thinking about how imperfect your painting of life is. <strong>Insert Clean Slate Today!</strong></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-29149726560191819192012-02-19T16:36:00.000-06:002012-02-19T16:36:02.051-06:00IS SCRIPTED AUTHENTICITY AFFECTING YOUR CUSTOMERS?<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>I </strong></span>spent several years in customer service management for inbound/outbound call centers. What surprised me more often than not was that senior leadership wanted "scripted authenticity." Scripted authenticity means everyone speaks from the same corporate megaphone, and the content is scripted or slanted to position the company as flawless. Talk about imperfection.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH20-3SL9gaLwiTT-1r__YIpgvGI3Au21WgzC7wI9HUYyFW4sJcjGtpiEENCf2qOxmM7IghWm_E032zkZUJa-rYhwBN_1RyjVEQeUCljLV6LcqGl9RJW7t0v6gZ4v1IA_DR1lCDwyxU_4j/s1600/truth+free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH20-3SL9gaLwiTT-1r__YIpgvGI3Au21WgzC7wI9HUYyFW4sJcjGtpiEENCf2qOxmM7IghWm_E032zkZUJa-rYhwBN_1RyjVEQeUCljLV6LcqGl9RJW7t0v6gZ4v1IA_DR1lCDwyxU_4j/s320/truth+free.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo courtesy of: </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/CaptureCreation"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.flickr.com/CaptureCreation</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With information changing rapidly inside companies, shouldn't leadership be as transperant as possible to breed innovation and progress? Will customers be more likely to provide feedback and suggestions to companies who promote open discussion without becoming highly defensive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new </span><a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entrepreneur</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> magazine came in the mail this week. As I flipped through the first time, I noticed the layout and design was different from the previous issue. I couldn't tell the difference between an ad and an article. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I took it to Twitter and reached out to Entrepreneur Editor </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/EntMagazineAmy" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amy Cosper</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> about my dislike of the new layout. Immediately she responded with appreciation about my concern and said she would forward the information. Just. Like. That. Without a defensive posture about "HER" magazine. She wanted me, the reader and customer, to be happy, and was warm and welcoming in her feedback.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Can you say the same about your company and leadership team? Do you seek out regular feedback from customers? Do you have any similar stories about authentic leadership in companies? What thoughts can you add?</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-78613139578632525572012-02-16T10:06:00.000-06:002012-02-16T10:06:15.110-06:00HOW TO STAND OUT AT A CAREER FAIR<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>V</strong></span>alentine's Day I attended a career fair for both education and business industries. I was pleasantly surprised with the number of employers that attended. Current college students and alumni buzzed with anticipation and hope in finding that perfect career opportunity. Recruiters were excited to critique resumes and interview this incredible group of new talent. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr99kSQGThOmr7yhfa0HoIQL0aiOICqhg2CsMSU-z60cZ_x8mhQrds5_zLiDexx8IcCMmj0YOP1EMdB8DhJZqPflDt-A6wgxgbj_JXzQjlH9hohQP8dokeWYeEoS09l-owuZ6AFrWuZe8N/s1600/job_fair1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr99kSQGThOmr7yhfa0HoIQL0aiOICqhg2CsMSU-z60cZ_x8mhQrds5_zLiDexx8IcCMmj0YOP1EMdB8DhJZqPflDt-A6wgxgbj_JXzQjlH9hohQP8dokeWYeEoS09l-owuZ6AFrWuZe8N/s320/job_fair1.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></span></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So as I made my way around the booths, I took notice of a few key points and here is what stood out:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <strong>Look the part</strong>. There were too many students wearing jeans and other inappropriate career fair attire. Several men had ties that only went half-way down their chest. It is critical to look sharp and dress professional. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <strong>Do you homework</strong>. I overheard many students respond to recruiters with, "what does your company do?" If this was one of those reality singing shows, an "X" would have lit up over the students head. I scanned through the list of employers that I wanted to visit and then used my iPhone to search in more detail about the company. It paid dividends because I received phone calls from recruiters in less than 5 hours of attending.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <strong>Speak the language</strong>. This is a great time to speak jargon, i.e. industry terms and related topics. One recruiter I wanted to make a great impression even said to her fellow colleague, "he speaks our language." Do you think my name was highlighted, circled, or starred? I would imagine so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. <strong>Express authenticity and sincerity</strong>. Recruiters are speaking with so many people that they can filter out insincerity. Repeat the recruiters name in conversation. Pause before speaking. Genuinely make a connection and you will stand out among the crowd.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Career fairs are a great place to make connections and find jobs, but only if you are willing to put in a little extra effort. Share you experiences in career fairs with others here:</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-53523224684323169082012-02-12T19:23:00.001-06:002012-02-12T19:23:50.557-06:00THE EFFORT EPIDEMIC<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Y</strong></span>ou can't coach hustle," a phrase I have used many times coaching youth sports. It resonates with parents of children who think their child is the next </span><a href="http://www.packers.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clay Matthews</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Derek Jeter</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, or </span><a href="http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Albert Pujols</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. What that means is that all of the talent is nothing without effort or hustle. The same principle applies in businesses. Employees have found the minimally acceptable amount of work needed to maintain job security. Leaving additional duties, tasks, and projects for those employees who give the most effort- who hustle.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7tzI9TAf8o23MZybvIRyjZNfQBBmSjnAPb-9ZOGHr0OiWwSIu_DCznRg8jHaTx9bDdftfcNroMQq9Wk0YCKItSW3vHoGn8sYro_ckUiZxNunCguYbNXKHRN1p0TS7F8VRXnjc1JGyNkd/s1600/effort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="245" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7tzI9TAf8o23MZybvIRyjZNfQBBmSjnAPb-9ZOGHr0OiWwSIu_DCznRg8jHaTx9bDdftfcNroMQq9Wk0YCKItSW3vHoGn8sYro_ckUiZxNunCguYbNXKHRN1p0TS7F8VRXnjc1JGyNkd/s320/effort.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of: </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/qisur"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/qisur</span></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't see this paradigm changing anytime soon. The 80/20 principle will continue to apply to effort in that 20% of your employees will produce 80% of the output of work. So what that means to employees is:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a. If you give more effort, then you will get more opportunities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">b. If you give more effort, then you will receive better compensation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">c. If you give more effort, then you will obtain promotions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">d. If you give more effort, then you will be more personally satisfied.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Make sure you are the 20%. Effort equals opportunities, compensation, promotions, and satisfaction. What can you add to the effort epidemic? Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-56879678810358979762012-02-09T13:18:00.000-06:002012-02-09T13:18:17.640-06:00SHIFTING TO A "WHAT ABOUT NOW" MINDSET<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Never put off tomorrow what you can do today." - <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/thomasjefferson" target="_blank">Thomas Jefferson</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>I</strong></span>t seems our lives are moving faster than ever before. Technology has sped up how we receive information. We are racing from professional events to personal events almost daily. And we spend more time planning future events than those intimate, important daily interactions with our clients, friends, and family members. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lou Holtz, former Notre Dame and South Carolina head football coach, made a lasting impression with me during a <a href="https://getmotivated.com/" target="_blank">Get Motivated</a> seminar event in the fall of 2011. He said that the reason he built better relationships, won more games, and became more successful was his principle of "WIN." WIN stands for What's Important Now! <a href="http://www.washingtonspeakers.com/speakers/speaker.cfm?SpeakerID=429" target="_blank">Coach Holtz</a> expressed the importance of making decisions about items that had the biggest impact now, not six months from now.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXK3d3fau_-O6y063kZNepOfbDWoCBdzyFHF9UF5xzh39EugrUHn25-JiADNwuhjQJrt_Dc7_f5IgNi9JPPDwJG0Q8enUeUu44ZIuxZ0Fj0HmLrZlvjsoNT8yB2LZUwLFYuiqMZxvXItG/s1600/now.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="236" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXK3d3fau_-O6y063kZNepOfbDWoCBdzyFHF9UF5xzh39EugrUHn25-JiADNwuhjQJrt_Dc7_f5IgNi9JPPDwJG0Q8enUeUu44ZIuxZ0Fj0HmLrZlvjsoNT8yB2LZUwLFYuiqMZxvXItG/s320/now.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of: </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/annpar"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/annpar</span></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shifting your mindset from thinking about "what's next" to "what now" has long-lasting benefits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a. <strong>People will appreciate you removing distractions</strong> as you are fully engaged in conversations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">b. <strong>The details will likely become just that...detailed</strong>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">c. <strong>You will begin to eliminate procrastination tendencies</strong> because you are focused on the here and now and not the might be whenever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">d. <strong>Simple moments will have greater meaning and signification</strong>. You will appreciate and notice the small things that sometimes go unnoticed. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What can you add to this? I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-8762329512832525202012-02-07T06:00:00.002-06:002012-02-07T12:34:21.353-06:00WHY YOUR LIFE IS NOT MOVING WHEN THE LIGHT IS GREEN<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>W</strong></span>e all have those moments when you feel like you're unstoppable. Everything slows down. It all seems easy. But then you feel like you are staring at the green light, but this time you are not moving. Have you lost momentum? Or better yet, are you stuck in park?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjli9TXHqi6Dysb8ga0VQcUXmfOYiv5BBHRCyeUtuqSJF1t5vbQ4AuGE-eg7uNMvwPrkP0e0ve6e4YUTKrxYaBVLAJbnLzYMSpelY0K-1QfubhURojZaSOr1Am_s8WMyJVPeenfdZG5d5_y/s1600/green+light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjli9TXHqi6Dysb8ga0VQcUXmfOYiv5BBHRCyeUtuqSJF1t5vbQ4AuGE-eg7uNMvwPrkP0e0ve6e4YUTKrxYaBVLAJbnLzYMSpelY0K-1QfubhURojZaSOr1Am_s8WMyJVPeenfdZG5d5_y/s320/green+light.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of: </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/eleda1"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/eleda1</span></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are 3 reasons you may be sitting still in life when the light is green:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <strong>Plateauing</strong> - You may have reached a pinnacle in life that took extraordinary effort on your part. This is the time to fully REST, RECOVER, and REFLECT. It may take weeks, months, or even a few years to be ready. Don't be disappointed in this phase. Stay busy planning your next goal(s).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <strong>Observing</strong>- You have spent the last few months moving from task to task that you missed the scenery. Use this time to observe your surroundings. Did someone help you along the way that you need to connect with more? Should you read more in your career field? This is a great time to soak everything in while life is slowed down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <strong>Re-Routing-</strong> There are times that you are so focused on one particular thing that you lose sight of your overall path. This is a time to re-route your life journey. Are you in a job/career that you are unhappy with? This is the time to go back to school, evaluate other career options, and challenge yourself to make happiness a priority over achieving seniority.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you been at this same green light in life before? What can you share for others to be inspired?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0_7_BEQO7hY/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0_7_BEQO7hY?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0_7_BEQO7hY?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-20490985612295535252012-01-31T08:33:00.000-06:002012-01-31T08:33:28.674-06:00HOW TO CLIMB THE NEW CORPORATE LADDER<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>I</strong></span>f you have worked during this new millennium, you have found that the corporate ladder has changed since those who are now retiring after 30+ years of service. We are happy with 5 to 10 year terms with companies. How are we going to handle this changing corporate terrain? What does this new corporate ladder look like?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEice1NtG9T0JDG_3P0UENnKNfmsulRwTjSqPdU9UNU7xGVWyzYSbJrM4STqyfiIJXmC9HtU7-ESb-ReGF_zwllA2y1WolbKh-hrNsGACcSymCiumgyYiIlwI9c5zS5QDZ9G3vk0DOeNC4u5/s1600/corporate+ladder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEice1NtG9T0JDG_3P0UENnKNfmsulRwTjSqPdU9UNU7xGVWyzYSbJrM4STqyfiIJXmC9HtU7-ESb-ReGF_zwllA2y1WolbKh-hrNsGACcSymCiumgyYiIlwI9c5zS5QDZ9G3vk0DOeNC4u5/s320/corporate+ladder.jpg" width="308" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/VividQuotes"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/VividQuotes</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Employees are moving side-to-side, up-and-down, and diagonally to reach new career opportunities. Employees are fighting for a small number of promotions and advancement opportunities. Corporate hierarchy has flattened out in most organizations. New proposals and regulations are restricting CEO salaries and bonuses. Where do we fit in?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are 3 ways of climbing higher:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <strong>Education</strong>. This goes without saying. High-school, college, post-graduate, on-the-job skills, and continuing education are vital components for our careers. The more knowledge and skills you have, the greater your chances of climbing. A bachelor degree will be as common in the future as a high-school diploma was for the second half of the 1900's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <strong>Experience</strong>. Any and everything counts. Summer jobs, volunteer work, internships, family business, entry-level, and even student organizational roles will create experiential learning opportunities. We have to be diverse and well-rounded. The ladder has changed. It is moving side-to-side more than it ever has. Think about your last 3 positions. Were they all upward climbing or did you move "lateral," in an effort to acquire more experience for the next rung in the ladder? Chances are you took a lateral promotion. Knowledge gained from other departments of the business allow you to be more marketable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <strong>Network</strong>. Everyone is jumping on the social media train. We can update our status and blog about anything. You have an outlet and platform if you use it correctly. Readers. Friends. Followers. All who know YOU! That's right. </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/BrockPatterson" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It's not what you know, it's not even who you know, it's who knows YOU!"</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Separate yourself from everyone else. Be authentic and create a network. Do your "friends and followers" know more about your eating habits and complaints than they do your business skills and corporate endeavors. </span><a href="http://danschawbel.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Market yourself.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> You never know who just might find you.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Corporate America is changing. Can we transform our careers? What are some ways you think we can climb to higher and make bigger contributions? How do you think we can be successful?</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-4632976543952938992012-01-30T14:37:00.001-06:002012-01-30T14:38:27.718-06:00"FAKE IT 'TIL YOU MAKE IT" AND OTHER BAD ADVICE<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>W</strong></span>hen I worked more frequently with call center management, I remember hearing many leaders tell their employees to, "fake it 'til you make it," while attempting to provide world class customer service. While their intentions and heart were in the right place, these leaders could not have given any worse advice. </span><br />
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</span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjsRYX845Ir8sHjeYOVR6XLm-Q7XRX2Nx1Il3stW9inmDtcC3rWGzqzVLjHsB0Imr8U1z0LgGSScO3SA4SMvde1_VtHT858oXw_Rc85-sY7_PE_MrDTupqmToKoOMirN8mKyFXyIx_mOh/s1600/fake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjsRYX845Ir8sHjeYOVR6XLm-Q7XRX2Nx1Il3stW9inmDtcC3rWGzqzVLjHsB0Imr8U1z0LgGSScO3SA4SMvde1_VtHT858oXw_Rc85-sY7_PE_MrDTupqmToKoOMirN8mKyFXyIx_mOh/s320/fake.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem did not occur to management that the issue wasn't customer service, in fact it had to do with their corporate culture and hiring practices. By telling employees to "fake it" was damaging any credibility of the management team. Business should be more concerned on the front end to make better hiring decisions, and train the appropriate skills and behaviors that fit their core corporate values and strategic initiatives.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a few other bad pieces of advice:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <strong>"The only thing that matters is the bottom-line."</strong> True, however, skipping critical steps in processes, overstepping boundaries and authority is a good way to turn the bottom-line from black to red.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <strong>"It is what it is."</strong> No, it's not. I have written about this before. Sure, there are several things in business that are fact, but you can't just sit idle in hopes that change will happen. It takes persistence, effort, and a good plan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <strong>"Don't rock the boat."</strong> I am working on an article about this very topic. Businesses are becoming more and more diverse which means that collaborative thinking and participation is widely accepted. Don't just sit there and agree for the sake of looking bad. Provide sound reasoning and justification behind your ideas. Give statistics and testimonials. The boat just might start moving forward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Have you heard any other phrases that you can add to this list? Leave your comments.</strong></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-23125265618642816342012-01-24T20:02:00.000-06:002012-01-24T20:02:29.874-06:00HOW CAN I BETTER SERVE YOU?<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hat was the statement that changed my career forever. It had been several months of head-butting, ego, and territory marking with my manager when it finally hit. "He is worried that I am not supporting him but rather have my own agenda," I thought. Sure it bothered me that, yet again, I was the one eating a piece of humble pie. But trust me, it was well worth then and has continued to be several years down the road.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3dLDsxCcBWMMBdOFwI-sLRIA_48fu-7XIZS4I9-Kr6WUycZmutrwFpbk68ruBwI1l4p5V9USYrEso4yG_x6WSvy9gIx6vlmEOeQ0gXZDFgmROjIZH02BC_grG3Kp6c3iOwnTqnK92AyL/s1600/humble+pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3dLDsxCcBWMMBdOFwI-sLRIA_48fu-7XIZS4I9-Kr6WUycZmutrwFpbk68ruBwI1l4p5V9USYrEso4yG_x6WSvy9gIx6vlmEOeQ0gXZDFgmROjIZH02BC_grG3Kp6c3iOwnTqnK92AyL/s320/humble+pie.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/novice09"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/novice09</span></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are 3 reasons why it will help you:</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <strong>TRUST</strong>. Your manager will recognize that you are on "their" team which will strengthen the relationship and break any barriers to trust. <em>Expect praise</em>.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <strong>RECOGNITION</strong>. Your manager will begin to see all of your contributions that had previously been hidden by the weakened relationship. <em>Expect to see career progress</em>.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <strong>AUTONOMY</strong>. Your manager will allow you to work more independently because they belief that you are working for the better good of the company, your manager, and your customers. <em>Expect freedom</em>.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can I better serve you?</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-35652140123776101782012-01-23T05:05:00.001-06:002012-01-23T05:05:01.005-06:003 TIMES DURING THE DAY ATTITUDE AFFECTS TELEPHONE CUSTOMER SERVICE<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>I</strong></span>t is simple. You have a choice to have a good attitude towards your customers. They should never be on the receiving end of your anger, frustration, or tired mind. If you don't want to hear from them, stop answering the phone. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJJJA7DE53udRSUejgdMkwm6s97sz6WIZZv49OzNLxLZGl7Hxd_rOM-fXyuGU31iYDdYSBDcIRqC2-celT2UMGKW4Ccr1_ZpYPy3pqwJexak_17qNI9Z5_9tp8VLEFWQqafmm2FIJp8zw/s1600/phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="186" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJJJA7DE53udRSUejgdMkwm6s97sz6WIZZv49OzNLxLZGl7Hxd_rOM-fXyuGU31iYDdYSBDcIRqC2-celT2UMGKW4Ccr1_ZpYPy3pqwJexak_17qNI9Z5_9tp8VLEFWQqafmm2FIJp8zw/s320/phone.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/JamesCage"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/JamesCage</span></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are the 3 critical times during the day that your can affect telephone customer service. And these are no brainers, but you will see why.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. 7:00-8:00 a.m.- Customers are commuting to work themselves and have dozens of things going through their mind. If they are reaching out to your company, consider that a good thing. Customers don't want to hear you be irritated because the phone rang so early. If you are open for business, BE OPEN for customers. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Lunch Break- When customers leave for lunch, many are trying to resolve personal matters including that customer service call to your company. Sure, you "may be experiencing higher than normal call volume," but customers deserve the same amount of attention now than any other time. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. 4:30-6:30- The drive home is relaxing for many people because they are unwinding mentally from the day. If they call your offices, don't take your tired, long day out on them. Be patient and understanding. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you can recognize these 3 critical times of customer service and respond professionally with understanding and appreciation to resolve the issue then you will likely maintain a loyal customer. Otherwise your company will be the next written vent session on social media platforms.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-20410500068178539482012-01-19T12:53:00.000-06:002012-01-19T12:53:11.589-06:00STOP BEING THE DR. PHIL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>R</strong></span>ecently I have called two customer service departments to have something resolved. After a few attempts the issues were still unresolved, like many of you, I had spent too much time on the phone with the company. At every point in the conversation that I seemed or sounded frustrated, the customer service representative and the manager acknowledged my empathy with, "I am sorry that happened." They continued with, "I understand how you feel." Really? You really are sorry and understand how I feel, Dr. Phil?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4JM-bGtGDcFjvUdHfq7Eiz99ZRiFtK7P-rDW4merpetLYgY-Z_cLsWND4upl3frc4LhBSYuxg7hKCsalsCufh4g0Y8DiWK4xmKAqsar3a8ahZ1916m7YEkOyUbUvkEQEFVdvLOPKRHjr/s1600/drphil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4JM-bGtGDcFjvUdHfq7Eiz99ZRiFtK7P-rDW4merpetLYgY-Z_cLsWND4upl3frc4LhBSYuxg7hKCsalsCufh4g0Y8DiWK4xmKAqsar3a8ahZ1916m7YEkOyUbUvkEQEFVdvLOPKRHjr/s320/drphil.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Companies have to stop training their employees to show empathy in such a planned and programmed way. It sounds the same with every company I call. I am sorry to hear that. Sure, they are getting the points in the call quality survey, and leadership is satisfied with their attempts but is it adding any value to the call or the relationship?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a 2 ways to improve this scene:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <strong>Sound authentic</strong>- use a different tone, pitch, and pace during the conversation. This will only happen if managers and leaders are having authentic conversations with their employees rather than having "coaching sessions." Be real.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <strong>Allow the customer to vent and pause</strong>. Once they get it out, the customer will feel much better. Then you can add some empathetic statement of value... but you have to.... PAUSE!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Customers just really want the situation fixed. Remember- solve the problem not the person.</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-72474394113723548802012-01-17T17:01:00.001-06:002012-01-17T17:02:20.100-06:00HOW TO MOVE YOUR CAREER FROM THE SIDELINES TO THE HEADLINES<a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>B</strong></span>aseball</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is America's favorite past-time and I am one of baseball's biggest fans. I played collegiate baseball and have now found solice in adult men's softball leagues. Our careers are very similar to a baseball team. There are star players and performers, average, consistent members, and those who are waiting for their chance to shine. While there are stories in sports media of the ill-tempered rookie demanding higher salaries and more playing time, learning opportunities can be found in many stories to move you from the sidelines to the headlines.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a. <strong><span style="background-color: white;">Observe</span></strong>- This is the opportunity to soak everything in like a sponge. Keep a notebook with you at all times. Write down things you notice about your coworkers, other departments, management, systems, and client relations. Don't formulate your opinion or reserve<span style="color: white;"> </span><span style="color: black;">judgment </span>until you completely understand all of the processes and people involved. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">b. <strong>Ask</strong>- Now is the time to learn from trainers, supervisors, and your peers. Ask plenty of questions. Remember that notebook....I hope it is still handy. Take time at the end of each day to compile of questions to ask the following day. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">c. <strong>Practice</strong>- You may be given the opportunity to place sales calls or even create a new marketing campaign. Don't expect perfection. </span><a href="https://twitter.com/BrockPatterson" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Practice Makes Progress</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Get in there and make mistakes. Practice. Practice. Practice.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And when your supervisor/manager calls on you to perform, you will be ready to play! Put me in coach!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-8834296681613083852012-01-17T09:52:00.000-06:002012-01-17T09:52:11.590-06:00WHAT TO DO WHEN LIFE GETS OUT OF CONTROL<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>R</strong></span>eading about the latest catastrophic event that happened with the </span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/italian-disaster-unlikely-to-halt-growth-of-cruise-line-industry/2012/01/14/gIQAeMqDzP_story.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cruise line</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in Italy made me really think hard about how to handle life when it gets out of control. This event is so much more dramatic than some of our day to day events. The hardest part is simply hanging on.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcGPDc5rzexEcAqqJgaLAwnvzjgDR_M9hhUr2VPbO1YRi_Sak1-bV0yOXJhSh6suR0jvQASVn9CpMV2AMvvnCbAx2oZVUOuU_9MVm6FueQ5FTL_TAnJhCaFoqfP430HoLRiqMSiJFAi4N/s1600/hanging+by+a+thread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcGPDc5rzexEcAqqJgaLAwnvzjgDR_M9hhUr2VPbO1YRi_Sak1-bV0yOXJhSh6suR0jvQASVn9CpMV2AMvvnCbAx2oZVUOuU_9MVm6FueQ5FTL_TAnJhCaFoqfP430HoLRiqMSiJFAi4N/s320/hanging+by+a+thread.jpg" width="250" /></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of: </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/MeticulousArt&Design"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/MeticulousArt&Design</span></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How we handle life when it begins to unravel is critical in discovering who you truly are. I told a friend of mine, Al, during our corporate restructuring to, "ride the bull." A phrase that stuck for several years. Riding the bull meant acknowledging the difficult situation we were facing and understanding the reality. It didn't mean pretending it didn't exist or to what extreme. Championship bull riders are challenged to stay on for </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/8-Seconds-James-Rebhorn/dp/B00002SSKG" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 seconds</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. A short but grueling 8 seconds. </span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In life there are critical moments that require us to simply hang on for a short period of time. The stronger we become at hanging on the easier it becomes over time. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-54008540505692728692012-01-16T07:48:00.001-06:002012-01-16T09:51:32.990-06:00PRESSING FAST FORWARD IN THE MOVIE CALLED: LIFE<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>W</strong></span>e all have been there before when we pressed fast forward in a movie to see the final outcome. Sometimes we did it out of boredom while other times out of anticipation. In our lives, we need to have the ability to play the movie, our LIFE, out in our heads before making decisions or next moves. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4bWcMDt6usQk2C645Ht9LLBV9sc1EX4B6CL1KPWW0rv9E6NyglMaWzvRWhmWgzTL8WitXjUb3C-jlu3owxOrJnCvAluaRPEvxyze8BmEjq4GndpJqiEOs5_57ENioe10tCPz7fM-rJUY/s1600/fast+forward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4bWcMDt6usQk2C645Ht9LLBV9sc1EX4B6CL1KPWW0rv9E6NyglMaWzvRWhmWgzTL8WitXjUb3C-jlu3owxOrJnCvAluaRPEvxyze8BmEjq4GndpJqiEOs5_57ENioe10tCPz7fM-rJUY/s320/fast+forward.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of: </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/JunkByJo"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/JunkByJo</span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a friend who constantly looks for answers to several moments in their life. I simply tell them to, "play the movie out in your head," to get a glimpse of the big picture. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's how to play the movie forward:</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Consider every alternative.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Keep asking what-if.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Imagine your life after each decision made.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using this imagery will help you make better decisions and understand how certain events will impact the other. And remember, practice makes progress.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677954272346173639.post-5663695252308594622012-01-14T12:34:00.000-06:002012-01-14T12:34:53.113-06:00WHY I STOPPED CHASING AFTER TITLES<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>I</strong></span>t had become an obsession of sorts. My ascend into the corporate ranks was filled with many opportunities including those with higher salaries and prestigious titles. But I was chasing titles which had intrinsic value but by their stagnant nature couldn't clearly define who I was and what I did. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJRxko8kN9oyMk2GWr7OLvfNnbC4kUVOsMW3JHAWmCHQggfSGKhWoF80xhJ8F__5odmhfHcvWWFCNIxqt86wa_yv6uWKG1HqxroxZhyYYRgpQNC04EnqQDD-Z-w9MvN-d3Qh_312R1iao/s1600/nameplate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJRxko8kN9oyMk2GWr7OLvfNnbC4kUVOsMW3JHAWmCHQggfSGKhWoF80xhJ8F__5odmhfHcvWWFCNIxqt86wa_yv6uWKG1HqxroxZhyYYRgpQNC04EnqQDD-Z-w9MvN-d3Qh_312R1iao/s320/nameplate.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/K-Scall"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.flickr.com/K-Scall</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I stopped chasing titles and starting creating change. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- changes to my personal development</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- changes to my physical self</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- changes to my intellectual being</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- changes to my spiritual self</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- changes to my professional development</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And with those changes, I stopped chasing titles that labeled me and started created change that defined me.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0