Eliminate Failure as an option

There are 33 days left in 2010.  Have you allowed the fear of failure to hold you back this year?  Get busy changing that right now.

 1.  If failure was not an option what would you do?  (I know not exactly an original question)  But here is why it is such a great question.  If you immediately have an answer, you have probably found your passion. When you are alone with your thoughts, you are probably dreaming about accomplishing this goal.  Why not take it further?  Why not eliminate the option of failure.  Here are some suggestions.

 A.  Don't worry about failing.  Don't worry about looking bad.  As Nike would tell you, "Just Do It."  Remember, there was a time that the concept of going to the bathroom was very confusing.  But with experience, you have it under control.  If you are truly passionate about something, you have to be willing to do it badly.

B.  Don't worry about getting paid right now.  I understand that everyone needs money.  A few sacrifices in your schedule will provide you time to gain your experience.  Jim Schwartz is the head coach of The Detroit Lions.  He got his start in the NFL by accepting a jack of all trades, non paying job with Bill Belichick, then head coach at Cleveland.  He worked hard, completed his assignments, and impressed his bosses.  You can do the same thing.

C.  Re-define failure.  The movie "Back Draft" has a great line that says, "If you have a bad day here, someone dies."  For most of our jobs that is not true.  Failure is much worse in our minds than in reality.  Never let the fear of failure deny you  the sweet taste of success.  Feel the fear and do it anyway.

332 days ago, everything was new.  A new year, a new month, a new beginning.  Maybe you had a new goal.  I encourage you to examine your mindset, your habits, and your desire.  If you allow your mindset to see yourself hitting your goal, you have a direction.  If you change your habits to mirror the habits of the people who have obtained what you are trying to obtain, you are moving in the right direction.  If you increase your desire, you will push through those days when you don't feel like keeping the habits you need to keep to be successful.

You do not have to wait 33 days to get started, do it now.  Have a great week, I will see you later. 

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 then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.

Thankful? Really??

This week is Thanksgiving, a time set aside for us to take time and celebrate all our blessings.  So are you thankful?

 I know, you answered yes.  Very few people, if any, will say no.  Allow me a second to challenge you. 

 When someone talks about blessings, what comes to your mind?  Money, house, car, health?

 This is the week of Thanksgiving, spend some time focusing on your (credit to Zig Ziglar) "Attitude of Gratitude"

If you are reading this, you have access to a computer and the ability to read.  To the illiterate, you are blessed.

If after reading this, you plan on going for a walk or run, you are blessed.  To the lame, you are blessed.

If after readying this, you can come and go as you please, you are blessed. To the prisoner, you are blessed.

This thanksgiving is going to be different for my family, and a lot of families, who have lost family members this year.  Take some time this week and truly count your blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving, have a great week.  See you later.

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 then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.

Sparky Anderson

Sparky Anderson was a baseball man.  He was the manager of the Cincinnati Reds, a team called the Big Red Machine.  Later, he became the first manager to win a World Series in both the National and American Leagues.  A feat that was later repeated by Tony La Russa.  He passed away 11/4/2010.

Anderson was know for a number of  great quotes. One of my favorites is "Baseball is a simple game. If you have good players and if you keep them in the right frame of mind then the manager is a success."  In honor of Sparky, that will be the bases of this week's blog.

A few years ago, I became a much better manager.  We hired two new sales people that instantly made me better.  So the players really do make a huge difference in your ability.  As you look at 2011, what improvements do you need to make in your personnell?

If the answer is, "nothing, my team is the kind of caliber to hit our goals and complete our mission."  Then how can you improve your performance of keeping them in the right frame of mind.  Here are some suggestions:

1.  Understand that as manager, it is your job to adjust to your team, not the other way around.  Find out what your team needs and do your best to give it to them.

2.  Lead by example.  If you are constantly having to remind people that you are the manager, you need to do a better job of leading.

3.  Find out what drives your people and use that to motivate them. Phrases like "Have you made me any money today?" or "As manager, I need you to do...."  Instead, show them how doing this activity will help them achieve their goals.

So this week, spend some time with Sparky's quote and see how you can help your team stay in the right frame of mind.

Have a great week, see you later. 

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 then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.

Edgar Renteria

It has been quite a couple of weeks for Edgar Renteria.  Renteria is the 35 year shortstop for the world champions, San Fransisco Giants.  He was hurt most of the year, he knew this was probably his last year in the league, but he had no idea that he would hit the game winning home run to clinch the series.  Then, a few days after the series, his contract was bought out.

This week is about his attitude and work ethic.

Renteria was benched because he was hurt and non productive during the season.  His response, to keep working and stay focused.  During post game interviews, teammate after teammate talked about Renteria's work ethic.  They talked about his professionalism and dedication to the team.  In fact, during a late September team meeting, Renteria tearfully told the team that this may be his last opportunity to play and he was going to do everything possible to help them win it all. He then went out and did it.

So what can we learn?

1.  If you stay focused on your goal, you don't have time to feel sorry for yourself.  Renteria could have said, I am a veteran ball player, how dare they bench me?  As a veteran ball player, he went back to the basics and continued to do his work and be ready for the next opportunity.  When that opportunity presented itself, he was ready.

What about you?  When you are presented with an unfair situation, do you just do your work? Or do you feel sorry for yourself and focus on the negative?

2.  You never know when opportunity will present itself.  Always be prepared.  There is a formula for luck it is, O + P  = L.  Opportunity and preparedness equals luck.  If you are going to be prepared, you don't have time to complain and feel sorry for yourself.

 3.  Know what your work is.  Renterias' teammates talked about how he kept doing his work.  What is your work?  Are you working out?  Reading?  Preparing for your next opportunity takes work on your part.

Spend some time this week thinking about your attitude and how you can be prepared when opportunity presents itself. 

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 then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.

It's all in the attitude!

I had an interesting Saturday.  Derinda and I spent the weekend with my in-laws.  I found myself at a flea market of all places going booth to booth seeking treasure.

Most of the booth owners were sitting in a chair a good distance from their customers, speaking only when asked a question.  Then I approached a different kind of booth.  The worker approached me, thanked me for being there, and explained to me his pricing system.  As soon as I looked at his merchandise, he gave me the price.  I left his booth, without buying anything and he thanked me for shopping with him.

The attitude was much better than 98% of the other booth owners. He really stuck out in a positive way.  It reminded me of a story that I heard about a cab driver in New York City.  When he picked up his customers, he went through his routine, which included:

1.  Getting out of his cab and opening the door.
2.  Offering them a complimentary drink, bottled water or various soda.
3.  Asking them what type of music they preferred on the radio.
4.  Presenting them with the current edition of the major papers or the current business magazines.
5.  He would then present his customers with his business card, including his cell number, so they could call him when they needed a cab.
6.  He always kept his cab immaculately clean.

When asked why he was so different, he explained that there was a time that he hated driving a taxi.  Then, he decided to make the most of his job and look at it as a way to serve.  Once he started this routine, he never had to wait in line for a fare.  His clients would call him and make appointments.

What is the common thread?  Attitude.

 So what about your attitude?  As you get ready to start this week, think about your attitude.  Are you like my two examples here?  Are you thankful for your blessings and go about your day looking for ways to serve more?  Are you focused on the things in your control?  You can control your attitude, your action, your focus.

 My dad used to tell me that you will never earn the money, unless you do more than what you are getting paid to do.

Think about your attitude this week and go make yourself more valuable.  Have a great week, have fun, I will see you later.

The next time you need a speaker, make it easy on yourself and call me. I will inspire, motivate, and entertain your group. Click here to see my speaking demo then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.

Colby

I had a really cool experience this past week.  I was able to meet Colby.  Colby was born last Monday, his mom and dad are like my kids and his paternal grandparents are some of our closest friends.  On Wednesday, I got to meet Colby.

So what can we learn from Colby?

1.  Attitude:  I can't wait until Colby goes through the "I can do anything stage."  I have always thought it interesting that God gives us the mind-set that we can do anything we want to do.  Kids are very open about what they want to be when they grow up.  It is not until we allow others tell us that we can't do something, that we start doubting ourselves.

 2. Willingness to allow others to help.  Obviously at a week old, Colby has to rely on his parents.  Many years from now, he will be the dad taking care of his child. We can learn from Colby by allowing others to help us.  There are people who can help us achieve what we want to achieve.  Then, we can help others achieve their goals.

3.  Don't worry.  Colby is not worrying about things, that is not his job.  Obviously it is a lot easier for Colby not to worry than it is for you.  At the same time, how much of what you worry about is totally out of your control.  Focus on what you can handle and forget the other stuff.

I understand that this is a different type of entry.  It is a way to salute Colby and welcome him to the world.  At the same time, there is something special about the attitude of a baby.  Jesus talked about the spirit and faith of the little ones.

Have a great week, look for ways that you could have child like faith and improve your week.  Have fun, see you later.
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.

Managing a Killer Whale

We have spent some time this weekend visiting our son in San Diego.  Of course, we wanted to do some tourist things, so we went to Sea World.  If you go to Sea World, you have to see Shamu and it got me thinking about management challenges.

During the show, there is a time for questions and answers.  One of the questions was very obvious, "how do you train a killer whale."  The answer was very insightful, here are the main points of the answer.

1.  The trainers earn the whale's trust.
2.  The trainers always show respect.
3.  The trainers never make them do anything, they ask them very nicely.

Let's talk about these answers.

Trust:  Like anything else in life, if you want to earn trust - you have to trust others.  People will never trust you as a person just because you are the manager or the boss or the parent.  Those amazing killer whales couldn't care less that "the trainers" are the trainers.  But once they learned that the trainers would feed them,  care for them, and actually wanted what was best for them, they built trust.

What about you?  Are you a leader or just a manager?  If you were paid by the number of people who would really follow you, would you like your paycheck?  If trust is a the first part of training a killer whale, it seems like a good place to start in managing people.

Respect:  The trainers always show respect.  Now, it is not hard to understand why you would show respect to a killer whale, but what about the  people you lead?  Respect is a key part of getting the most out of their ability.  Here is the best way to show respect.

1.  Explain to them why they need to do something. Give them why it is in their best interests to do what you are asking them to do.  One hint,  if you are saying to do it just because you are the manager, there is not a lot of respect or trust being built with your team.


2.  The trainers take care of the whales by feeding them.  Take care of your team.  (Chances are you won't need to feed them - but you do need to keep them motivated)

3.  Listen.  You can learn a lot about your team by listening to their questioning and point of view.  Additionally, always remember, you are the leader.  It is up to you to adjust to your team, not for them to adjust to you.  Your team will always be made up a number of different personalities.  Work with those personalities.

4.  Always have their best in mind.  At the same time, explain how their best benefits the company.

Ask nicely:  This one is tricky.  There are times to be direct.  At the same time you can be direct and nice.  Nice is a good thing and always remember you can destroy a lot of trust very quickly by not being nice.

Training, leadership, and being "the boss" can be very tricky.  It takes a lot more than just having your title printed on a business card.  However, if you want your company to grow and build a foundation, it is up to you build trust, show respect and be nice.  After all, if it works on killer whales - it should do great with your team.

Think about the team that you are trying to lead....your family, your division, your team....and learn from the people who train killer whales.  Have a great week -- I will see you later.

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.   Then call me at (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.