A few years ago, my parents had their 50th wedding anniversary. Yesterday, we attended a party in honor of my bosses 50th. Is there a better example of commitment? Let's take a deeper look at what it means to commit.
C: The C stands for confidence. You can't commit to any person, company, or dream unless you first of all have confidence in yourself and them. When it is a relationship, you have to be able to look at the other person and know that they will be there for you and know deep down that you will always "have their back."
If there is ever a breakdown and one person (Spouse, boss, owner) does not have any confidence in the other, the foundation of the relationship is in trouble.
O: "Openness" You have to be open and communicative. There is no committed relationship without direct dialogue where each is open to say what they need to say.
M: Maturity. This is not age related. There are a number of young people who commit to their sport, school, religion, etc. You have to be mature enough to know that there will be hard times and the key to any relationship is working through those issues.
M: Motivation. In any relationship, there will be times where it doesn't seem possible to continue. The only thing that will help the relationship continue is good old fashion "want to" or motivation.
I: Integrity. Integrity is all about the type of person you are when it is just you and God. And only you and God know how hard you are working on any relationship -- especially your relationship with Him. As they old saying goes -- I don't have to like you, but I need to be able to trust you.
T: Time. One of the problems of we face today is as a society we don't want to invest the time into our dreams. We spend years getting fat and we want to take a pill to lose weight. We want to call an 800 number to get out of debt. And if our relationships are not how we like, we go get new ones and don't even think about investing our time to make it better.
Spend some time this week thinking about how you commit to your relationships, goals and yourself. Have a great week.
The next time you need a speaker, make it easy on yourself and call me. I will inspire, motivate, and entertain your group. Check out my speaking demo at www.bransonbusiness.blogspot.com then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.
About Me
- Steve Willoughby
- Branson, Missouri, United States
- A marketing consultant, a radio personality, a proven public speaker. Steve Willoughby is ready to inspire, motivate and entertain your group.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Today is special - but aren't they all?
If you are reading this entry on it's published date, it is June 21st. June 21st, 2010 is:
Monday.
The first day of summer.
The day after Father's Day (I hope you had a great Father's Day)
It is the 172nd day of the year (By the way, there are 193 days left)
So today is special. But have you figured out yet that they all are special. This past Saturday, I spent the afternoon with my wife, my daughter and my son. My wife and I will celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary in November. Our kids are grown, with my daughter in St. Louis and my son serving in the United States Navy.
We visited my family and then drove about thirty minutes to visit my in-laws. It was a blast, we talked about everything, we joked, we laughed, and we shared. It got me to thinking....how many times had similar trips occurred. Did I enjoy them as much? Was I as patient? Did I cherish it as much? Sadly, probably not.
So as you take on your week, here are a couple of suggestions.
1. Be thankful for the day.
2. Be proactive. Goals and dreaming are important -- but until you take the steps to make those goals and dreams happen, they won't.
3. Stop wishing it was another day -- every time you say on Thursday that tomorrow is Friday, you are wasting time on Thursday. Before you know it, you will wish you had that time back.
There are people who have had tremendous loss in their lives. The death of a child or watching their spouse or child go through cancer or any life threatening illness. Count your blessings and know that no one is promised tomorrow -- you make it happen today.
The next time you need a speaker, make it easy on yourself and call me. I will inspire, motivate, and entertain your group. Check out my speaking demo at www.bransonbusiness.blogspot.com then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.
Monday.
The first day of summer.
The day after Father's Day (I hope you had a great Father's Day)
It is the 172nd day of the year (By the way, there are 193 days left)
So today is special. But have you figured out yet that they all are special. This past Saturday, I spent the afternoon with my wife, my daughter and my son. My wife and I will celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary in November. Our kids are grown, with my daughter in St. Louis and my son serving in the United States Navy.
We visited my family and then drove about thirty minutes to visit my in-laws. It was a blast, we talked about everything, we joked, we laughed, and we shared. It got me to thinking....how many times had similar trips occurred. Did I enjoy them as much? Was I as patient? Did I cherish it as much? Sadly, probably not.
So as you take on your week, here are a couple of suggestions.
1. Be thankful for the day.
2. Be proactive. Goals and dreaming are important -- but until you take the steps to make those goals and dreams happen, they won't.
3. Stop wishing it was another day -- every time you say on Thursday that tomorrow is Friday, you are wasting time on Thursday. Before you know it, you will wish you had that time back.
There are people who have had tremendous loss in their lives. The death of a child or watching their spouse or child go through cancer or any life threatening illness. Count your blessings and know that no one is promised tomorrow -- you make it happen today.
The next time you need a speaker, make it easy on yourself and call me. I will inspire, motivate, and entertain your group. Check out my speaking demo at www.bransonbusiness.blogspot.com then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
It is how you say it.
A couple of weeks ago, some close friends and I went on a motorcycle ride. When we entered our choice for breakfast, a nice lady said....
A. Smoking or Non?
B. Booth or Table?
c. Or do you want to sit with the firemen?
Now, we respect firemen. In fact, there is a young man that is like a son to us that is a firefighter. But why would we sit with the firemen? We choose a non-smoking table.
It turns out that the firemen were there to raise money for MDA. Somehow that really got lost in the translation of the hostess. This entry is not about criticizing the hostess. It is about helping your business grow.
Three questions to ask yourself about your business.
1. Do you have a message that is "getting lost" in the translation to your customers?
2. Have you worked on improving the clarity of the message?
3. How will your business grow by improving the clarity of the message?
Some thought starters to help you improve your message.
A. Start with the end in mind. What do you want your clients to do after they get their message.
B. Is your goal clear to the clients?
C. Have you tested your message? The best way to test your message is asking your best customers. How do they see your business? What are the reasons they count on you? Take those comments and edit your statement.
D. Role-play your message with your team. (I know most people hate role-playing) But, it is a great way to use the best of everyone to focus your message.
Think about all the things that you want your clients to know about you. Take this week to add laser focus to your message.
The next time you need a speaker, make it easy on yourself and call me. I will inspire, motivate, and entertain your group. Check out my speaking demo at www.bransonbusiness.blogspot.com then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.
A. Smoking or Non?
B. Booth or Table?
c. Or do you want to sit with the firemen?
Now, we respect firemen. In fact, there is a young man that is like a son to us that is a firefighter. But why would we sit with the firemen? We choose a non-smoking table.
It turns out that the firemen were there to raise money for MDA. Somehow that really got lost in the translation of the hostess. This entry is not about criticizing the hostess. It is about helping your business grow.
Three questions to ask yourself about your business.
1. Do you have a message that is "getting lost" in the translation to your customers?
2. Have you worked on improving the clarity of the message?
3. How will your business grow by improving the clarity of the message?
Some thought starters to help you improve your message.
A. Start with the end in mind. What do you want your clients to do after they get their message.
B. Is your goal clear to the clients?
C. Have you tested your message? The best way to test your message is asking your best customers. How do they see your business? What are the reasons they count on you? Take those comments and edit your statement.
D. Role-play your message with your team. (I know most people hate role-playing) But, it is a great way to use the best of everyone to focus your message.
Think about all the things that you want your clients to know about you. Take this week to add laser focus to your message.
The next time you need a speaker, make it easy on yourself and call me. I will inspire, motivate, and entertain your group. Check out my speaking demo at www.bransonbusiness.blogspot.com then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Perfection in Mistake
I am sure that you have heard about Major League Baseball umpire Jim Joyce's mistake that cost Detroit Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game. In case you haven't, Galarraga had pitched 8 and 2/3 of a perfect game. The final batter grounded to first base, the first baseman fielded the ball and threw to Galarraga about a step and half ahead of the runner.
All that we needed for the third perfect game of the season was an out sign. Instead, Joyce signaled safe. Later he would say, I thought he was safe up until the time I saw the replay. "I just cost that kid a perfect game." Galarraga was equally gracious in his attitude in forgiving Joyce. As one ESPN reporter said, there was no perfect game tonight, but we had a lot of perfect moments. What can we learn?
1. Mistakes are going to happen. I believe that there has been one perfect man walk on earth 2000 years ago. That means that the rest of us will make mistakes. How we handle those mistakes goes a long way to determine our legacy.
Now Joyce really did not have much of a choice because of the re-plays that game footage offered. At the same time, he immediately owned the mistake and faced Galarraga and his teammates, the crowd, the media, etc. You and I don't have instant replay to spotlight our mistakes. But I am willing to bet that we have all had that moment when we realized we were wrong, our reaction talks about our character. Do we own our mistake or do we try to rationalize?
2. What about when someone else makes a mistake? Last week we had a small issue around the station. I asked the person who was in charge of the situation what happened? She looked me right in the eye and said, I made a mistake and it is fixed. As a leader, that is really all you can ask. She owned the mistake and fixed it.
3. Put the mistake in perspective. I think Jim Joyce's mistake was actually good for baseball. I know it sounds weird. But give me a second here. The sport, I love by the way, has had a lot of bad press. Steroids, former stars lying to congress, and tell all books, just to name a few. This story is about character, honesty, and doing the right thing. The next time a mistake is made on your team, look for the learning opportunity.
Remember, if you have a team who is afraid to make mistakes, you will have team who is under achieving. Have a great week.
The next time you need a speaker, make it easy on yourself and call me. I will inspire, motivate, and entertain your group. Check out my speaking demo at www.bransonbusiness.blogspot.com then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.
All that we needed for the third perfect game of the season was an out sign. Instead, Joyce signaled safe. Later he would say, I thought he was safe up until the time I saw the replay. "I just cost that kid a perfect game." Galarraga was equally gracious in his attitude in forgiving Joyce. As one ESPN reporter said, there was no perfect game tonight, but we had a lot of perfect moments. What can we learn?
1. Mistakes are going to happen. I believe that there has been one perfect man walk on earth 2000 years ago. That means that the rest of us will make mistakes. How we handle those mistakes goes a long way to determine our legacy.
Now Joyce really did not have much of a choice because of the re-plays that game footage offered. At the same time, he immediately owned the mistake and faced Galarraga and his teammates, the crowd, the media, etc. You and I don't have instant replay to spotlight our mistakes. But I am willing to bet that we have all had that moment when we realized we were wrong, our reaction talks about our character. Do we own our mistake or do we try to rationalize?
2. What about when someone else makes a mistake? Last week we had a small issue around the station. I asked the person who was in charge of the situation what happened? She looked me right in the eye and said, I made a mistake and it is fixed. As a leader, that is really all you can ask. She owned the mistake and fixed it.
3. Put the mistake in perspective. I think Jim Joyce's mistake was actually good for baseball. I know it sounds weird. But give me a second here. The sport, I love by the way, has had a lot of bad press. Steroids, former stars lying to congress, and tell all books, just to name a few. This story is about character, honesty, and doing the right thing. The next time a mistake is made on your team, look for the learning opportunity.
Remember, if you have a team who is afraid to make mistakes, you will have team who is under achieving. Have a great week.
The next time you need a speaker, make it easy on yourself and call me. I will inspire, motivate, and entertain your group. Check out my speaking demo at www.bransonbusiness.blogspot.com then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.
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