However, there are a few classic phrases that I think we should resurrect, use regularly, and encourage today’s generation to do the same. One that comes to mind a great deal these days is: “Respect Your Elders.”

I was introduced to those words of wisdom at a very young age and practiced them all my life. Let me define the word “elders” as it was explained to me. An “elder” was anyone older than myself … be it a year older or decades older. There are a number of reasons for respecting elders.

1. They are full of hard-earned wisdom. Listen to them and learn. They may not be computer-literate or very interested in technical gadgets, but they certainly did not make it to old age without picking up a little wisdom along the way.
2. In most cases, life has given the elderly a broad scope of knowledge that they are more than willing to share. They have already experienced most things that the middle and younger generations are going through right now and could give valuable advice if only they were asked.
3. Talk to the elderly; tap into that wisdom. Talk about love, life, human nature, children, finances, politics, dreams and family. They will be glad to impart some of their wisdom they worked so hard to obtain.

Many young people today scornfully tell the elderly that they don’t know anything or that their time has passed. People are heard talking down to the elderly as if their age has taken away their intelligence. Others are seen yelling out their car windows at older drivers who choose to drive at the speed limit rather than over the speed limit. Some folks even take advantage of older people financially by scamming them out of their life savings … a far cry from showing respect.

It is so sad that this is a world where a simple thing like respect is fading away.

Starting within, families should learn to say again “Respect your elders” and demand compliance until it becomes a part of who they are, and until showing respect is as natural as blinking or breathing. Respect or honor for elders is a value that should be passed on from generation to generation. It should be taught to all children beginning at an early age, and those children should be told to teach their children.

If given the time and opportunity, I could produce volumes sharing the wisdom my elders have provided to me over the years. I’m sure most everyone could do the same. While what we have learned may differ, the value certainly does not.

If YOU are an elder, please continue to share. We need your experience and wisdom more today than at any other time in our history. If YOU have exposure to elders, do yourself a favor — dedicate time, listen and learn, and benefit far beyond your wildest expectations.

View this short video for one of many examples of the wisdom we can garner from our elders.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Carrots, Eggs, or Coffee Beans? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

That’s interesting when they seem to be so well-versed in creating new ways to spend our money, increase our debt, and tax our citizens.

We’re fast approaching a point that will require RADICAL THINKING to achieve the necessary turn-around that can return this great nation to the success, respect, and peace of mind we once enjoyed.

Those who are there now, on both sides of the aisle, obviously need some practice in this new way of thinking. They actually need to consider reversing their current thinking patterns. Maybe the following exercise may be of assistance to them.

Reverse Thinking

Let’s start with an exercise that examines the way we currently live our lives!

Life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time, all your weekends, and what do you get at the end of it? … Death … a great reward!

I think the life cycle is all backwards. You should die first, get that out of the way, then you live 20 years in an old-age home.

You get kicked out when you’re too young, you retire, and then go to work. You work 40 years until you’re too young to enjoy your retirement.

Then you go to college, you do drugs, you do alcohol and you party every night until you’re ready for high school.

You go to high school, you go to grade school, you become a child, you play, you have no responsibilities, you become a baby, you return to your mother’s womb, you spend your last 9 months floating around in the comfort of darkness and silence and you finish off as a gleam in someone’s eye!

Sounds better, doesn’t it?

Now maybe they can begin to consider how they’re currently governing and the necessary changes which need to occur, Let’s hope so — before it’s too late!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

A Wonderful Re-Frame! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

It recently dawned on me that this challenge is actually a great responsibility. I happen to possess a number of pieces which can be used to complete the “legacy puzzle” for my 9 grandchildren.

And yet I wonder if my words might fall on deaf ears. After all, I am a “Senior Citizen” these days … even though I can’t remember much of the rapid journey which brought me to this stage of my life.

Senior Citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary. I know we take responsibility for all we have done and do not blame others. However, upon reflection, I would like to point out that it was NOT Senior Citizens who took:

• The melody out of music,
• The pride out of appearance,
• The courtesy out of driving,
• The romance out of love,
• The commitment out of marriage,
• The responsibility out of parenthood,
• The togetherness out of the family,
• The learning out of education,
• The service out of patriotism,
• The Golden Rule from rulers,
• The nativity scene out of cities,
• The civility out of behavior,
• The refinement out of language,
• The dedication out of employment,
• The prudence out of spending,
• The ambition out of achievement or
• God out of government and school.

And we certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from personal relationships and interactions with others!

In addition, we do understand the meaning of patriotism and remember those who have fought and died for our country. Does anyone under the age of 50 know the lyrics to the “Star Spangled Banner”? Just look at the Seniors with tears in their eyes and pride in their hearts as they stand at attention with their hand over their hearts!

Remember… Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what in the world happened.

YES, I’M A SENIOR CITIZEN!

I’m the life of the party … even if it lasts until 8 p.m.

I’m very good at opening childproof caps … with a hammer.

I’m awake many hours before my body allows me to get up.

I’m smiling all the time because I can’t hear a thing you’re saying.

I’m sure everything I can’t find is in a safe secure place, somewhere.

I’m wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that’s just my left leg.

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

I’m very much aware that other people’s grandchildren aren’t as cute or smart as mine.

I’m not really grouchy … I just don’t like traffic, waiting, crowds, lawyers, loud music, unruly kids, stupid commercials, barking dogs, politicians and a few other things I can’t seem to remember right now.

I’m having trouble remembering simple words like …

I’m beginning to realize that aging is NOT for wimps.

I’m sure they are making adults much younger these days, and when did they let kids become policemen and doctors?

I often wonder, if you’re only as old as you feel, how could I be alive at 150?

I’m a walking storeroom of facts … I’ve just lost the key to the storeroom door.

Yes, I’m a SENIOR CITIZEN, and I’m having the time of my life.

I simply pray that I can impart a fraction of the wisdom to my grandchildren that my grandfather shared with me. That challenge tops my Bucket List.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Creation of a Legacy? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

There is something that meets that description, and you’re probably already aware of it. You simply don’t believe it! And that’s your choice.

As a professional speaker, I’ve been exposed to videos, audio tapes, books, magazines, and some of the greatest speakers in the business singing the praises of a “Positive Attitude.” I’ve spoken to tens of thousands of people on the subject myself over the years.

I’ve lost count of the stories of actual accounts where “attitude,” good or bad, made a decisive difference in the lives of people from all walks of life.

And most of us have heard the many platitudes which have been passed down from generation to generation:

“Two men looked out through prison bars; one saw mud, the other, stars.”
~ James Allen

“Life is 10% what you make it, and 90% how you take it.”
~ Irving Berlin

“Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure.”
~ Norman Vincent Peale

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”
~ Zig Ziglar

And the list goes on and on. Millions of dollars have been generated spreading this message, and numerous studies have proven that your attitude can and does affect your:

• Behavior
• Relationships
• Communication
• Will to Live
• Mental Health
• Aging Process
• Physical Health
• Career Advancement
• Emotional Health
• Academic Advancement

If that’s true, why do we see so many people demonstrating negative attitudes today? Think about it. Visualize a typical day in your life. As you experience that day, from the time you get up until the time you go to bed, do you witness more people with positive attitudes or negative attitudes?

Attitude is defined as a way of looking at life; a way of thinking, feeling, or behaving.

Of course, there are numerous situations in today’s chaotic environment that can easily lead to a negative attitude. However, it’s also obvious that possessing a positive attitude creates much better outcomes in those situations.

Then why don’t more of us try that approach?

Did you hear about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude while in grade school? … middle school? … high school? … or college? Most of us didn’t, and why not if it affects every aspect of your life? Did you learn about it in Sunday School or from your parents or grandparents? Or did you learn it on your own through trial and error?

Here’s a better question. How are your children and/or grandchildren learning this very valuable lesson? That’s a powerful responsibility for each of us. If you haven’t started as yet, here’s a short, inspiring video that provides you with 7 Simple Rules for Staying Positive.

Try them yourself for a week or two and then pass them on to a member of today’s younger generation. Let’s see if we can make an impact!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Does Attitude Really Make A Difference? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Most everyone has heard it, but how many have truly heeded the advice to avoid procrastination before it’s too late? How many people, in the last days of their lives, have looked back and said, “I wish I would have spent more time at work and less time involved with my children, parents, loved ones and friends?”

This is another perfect example of the failure to close the knowing-doing gap! We know exactly what we should be doing but actually fail to do it — time and time again.

Some of us don’t learn until very late in our lives and some never learn this valuable lesson at all. Read the following true story and give some serious thought to the moral of the story. Hopefully it will cause you to re-evaluate your philosophy of what’s really important in your life.

Discuss the story with a friend and/or family member and then pass it on to others. It’s certainly a message worth sharing.

What are YOU Missing?

A man sat at a metro station … in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

You’ve Heard the Wisdom. Did You Heed the Advice? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

1. What is the definition of stress?
2. What causes stress?
3. How does stress affect you personally?

Simple questions, right? However, ask a dozen people those three simple questions, and you’ll more than likely receive a dozen different answers to each of them.

The reason is simple. There is no common definition of “stress” that everyone can agree on. What may be stressful to one person may be pleasurable or have no effect whatsoever on another. For a wide variety of reasons, we all react differently to stressors.

However, most would agree that stress can be a crucial challenge in today’s ever-changing, chaotic environment. Most of us are busier than ever before. We’re busy at work, busy at home, busy with children, and busy with social and religious obligations … and simply trying to keep our heads above water.

I have personal friends, family and associates who are currently dealing with the consequences of stress. Earlier in my career, I actually lost my eye sight for a period of time as a result of stress factors in my life.

Most of us can easily define the “stress” we’re currently dealing with. We’re well aware of the fact that stress is responsible for high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and a growing number of other health issues.

Most of us know exactly what’s causing the stress in our lives.

And, ironically, most of us know a number of things we can do to reduce our current stress levels. It might be diet, exercise, sleep, or any number of coping strategies that we’ve been exposed to. We know what to do—we simply don’t it.

For some, it’s because they really don’t believe they’ll experience those negative consequences. They have to SEE it to believe it. They actually have to experience a

S ignificant
E motional
E vent

before they’re willing to take coping action of any kind.

In short, it goes back to the knowing-doing gap. We know what we should do—we simply don’t do it.

You might want to take a proactive stance on this critical issue before you suffer the negative consequences which could very well change your life.

Take a few minutes to review this short video to learn 10 Rules to Simplify Your Life and reduce stress levels.

You’ll gain nothing by watching the video.

You’ll gain nothing by learning, even memorizing, the 10 rules.

You’ll gain a great deal by executing what you learn from this short video!. Are you willing to do that?

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Stress Is Taking Its Toll is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Of the dozens of programs we offer, “Productive Chaos” is, by far, the most requested and has been for the past 20 years. It applies to any organization in any industry because it focuses on the power, potential and productivity of PEOPLE — the foundation of any successful business.

While we’ve delivered this program, with great success, all over North America, for the past several decades, it’s interesting to note that no two clients have received the same program. That’s how it was originally designed in order to deliver the greatest impact for each client.

Each and every seminar has been customized, at no additional cost, to meet the need of the client as it pertains to their industry, product, service, staff and customers. Each program has also been updated to include the latest tips, tools, data and strategies derived from our on-going and in-depth research. Information is shared from media reports as recent as the day prior to the presentation.

The content of each program is determined after focused conversation with the client as to their current challenges and concerns, targeted outcomes, current status, and potential barriers.

In 1987, Tom Peters, noted author, speaker and business consultant, wrote a book titled Thriving on Chaos. In that bestseller, he shared a profound observation that is as relevant today as it was at that time. He pointed out the simple fact that chaos has been with us forever and, more than likely, always will be. There is little or nothing we can do to stop it as long as change continues to appear in our fast-paced environment. It always has and it always will.

However, there is a conscious choice we must consider.

1. Do we become a victim of this chaos as so many others have over the decade? We’ve watched one-time leaders in every industry fade into oblivion as their relevance diminished as a result of the chaos they encountered.
   OR
2. Do we adapt to the constant change in every aspect of our environment and harness the potential greatness which can be found amidst the chaos? In doing so, we find ourselves in the very unique position to be able to succeed by doing the same for others.

The choice is OURS! The outcomes phenomenal!

The winners of tomorrow must deal proactively with chaos and must view it as the source of market advantage, not as a challenge which must be overcome. Chaos and uncertainty are now and will be market opportunities for those who prepare today for future success.

There is much rhetoric today about “adaptive organizations,” as there well should be. In these perilous and fast-changing times, adaptivity is arguably skill/goal #1 and the bones of those, old and young, who fail to adapt will litter the landscape.

Our “Productive Chaos” seminar and/or boot camp shares not only tips, tools, and strategies for harnessing the power of chaos but also focuses on those organizations that have done so and many that failed in their efforts. Lessons abound in this fast-paced program.

Successful organizations in every field are those that constantly adapt, evolve, and create “Productive Chaos.” Are you prepared for the challenges which lie ahead? Contact Dr. Jeffrey Drake at our office at 800-886-2629 or fill out our form for further information.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Productive Chaos – Oxymoron or Success Strategy is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

GOALS

Studies have forever verified the fact that goal-setting has enhanced levels of productivity, achievement, and profitability for both individuals and organizations alike. Plain and simple! No questions asked!

Why then do so many people fear this most productive process?

Why then don’t more businesses teach, encourage, and support a process that has proven to be so beneficial?

I’ve met CEOs, Ph.D.s, entrepreneurs, and time-tested leaders who, although familiar with the goal-setting process, choose not to take advantage of it.

In fact, extensive national studies all agree that:

• Less than 5% of the population set goals!
• The vast majority have no goals at all!
• Less than 1% of those who do have goals, write them down!

Consider the value here. If you set goals, you have an definite advantage over 95% of the population!

If you write those goals down, programming your subconscious as a keyboard programs a computer, you have a major advantage over those few who do set goals!

The question remains: “Why don’t more people take advantage of the vast benefits provided as a result of utilizing such a simple but powerful strategy?”

Studies have revealed several reasons why people don’t set goals:

• People simply don’t understand the importance of goal-setting.
• People don’t know how to set goals.
• People have a fear of failure.
• People have a reluctance to meet expectations.

These reasons obviously outweigh the many benefits provided by the goal-setting process.

Pause for just a moment to take a look at the last year of any aspect of your life … business or personal. I think, if you’re honest, you’ll have to admit that you’ve experienced a great deal of change.

To cope and conquer the challenges of this constant change, successful goal-setting will be essential to both individuals and organizations.

Consider the simple process of strategic planning … in essence, fancy words for goal setting. Doesn’t it make sense to establish a big picture strategic plan for your organization and then follow through by having your middle management level do the same? This plan would reflect the chosen strategy for supporting the larger focus. The front-line staff should then create individual goals describing how they plan to support the corporate focus.

Organizations that have chosen this simplistic multi-level approach to strategic planning have enjoyed tremendous success! Ironically, this productive approach is based on the simple process of goal-setting.

Sadly, far too many businesses and organizations have yet to expose and involve their employees to this essential process. Our “On Your Mark, Get Set, Goal!” program does just that. Call us at 1-800-886-2629 for more information about this powerful program. In fact, set a goal to call us within the next 48 hours!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Goals for Glory – 2012! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

ANSWER: They all began their film careers at the bottom as “extras.” They started at the entry level of their chosen field and earned stardom which many would describe as “overnight success.” For the majority of those listed above, that “overnight success” took years and, in some cases, decades. They gained knowledge and experience, sought mentors, learned the rules of the game, and demonstrated perseverance against all odds.

The same scenario has been witnessed in most every field of endeavor … politics, sports, manufacturing, sales, military, finance, technology, health care, and the list goes on. This path to foundational strength is essential for success in today’s very competitive and ever-changing environment. And yet, sadly, it’s seldom discussed, much less encouraged, in high school and/or college classrooms across the country.

By the time an entry-level employee reaches his/her career battlefield today, most employers assume this traditional work ethic is well understood and about to be eagerly executed. Sadly, that seldom, if ever, occurs.

At a time when employment is difficult to secure, far too many applicants are ill-equipped to compete. When can we expect to see the re-emergence of the traditional work ethic that built this great country? I’m afraid it’s going to take a concerted effort by many — parents, teachers, employers, mentors, and leaders in every field. Until that happens, we will continue to struggle.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Return of the Work Ethic is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Stocks and corporate profits may be rising and the economy may be expanding a bit. However, far too many Americans feel left behind. The problems remain frustrating … joblessness, home foreclosures, and the growing ranks of the long-term unemployed.

8.7 million people lost their jobs during the recession … think about that number! Sadly, more than 7.3 million are still without work. There are still nearly five job seekers for every job opening.

Washington politicians tell us that it will be years before the economy puts all those folks back to work. That’s probably true if we depend on them to make it happen.

Many, however, have decided to avoid reliance upon empty promises and instead have chosen to engineer their own comeback.

The rules are somewhat simple … the execution a bit more challenging. However, chances for successful outcomes are greater than waiting for others to do the job for you. Take a look …

Comeback Rule #1:

Refuse to die. Those with the character to triumph in the end tend not to allow the indignity of failure to force them down. Those who come back accept disaster, laugh in its face, and crawl to their feet again.

Comeback Rule #2:

Decide to fight. Those who come back have an inner sense of justice that refuses to be violated. They manage their emotions, reminding themselves of where they’ve been and why they’re here, and resolve that nothing will stop them.

Comeback Rule #3:

Get clever. Savvy fighters won’t make the same mistake twice. They accept the hard rules of the real world, analyze how they wound up on their back, and chart a course around the problem. Often as not, they turn trouble to their advantage.

Comeback Rule #4:

Focus, focus, focus! Once you’re on your way, don’t look up and don’t look back. A hundred distractions, doubts, and setbacks will haunt someone recovering from disaster. The true champion rolls with the punches and keeps coming back for more.

Comeback Rule #5:

Enjoy the ride. The reward for those making a comeback is to see their vision come to life in the real world. And they enjoy the deep confidence of one who had fought his way through hell and emerged to see the stars.

Begin your journey today!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Are You Gonna Make a Comeback? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

• He was illiterate, so he never read newspapers.
• He was hard of hearing, so he never listened to the radio.
• His eyes were weak, so he never watched television.

However, enthusiastically, he sold lots of hot dogs. His sales and profit went up. He ordered more meat and got himself a bigger and a better grill. Things were certainly going well.

As his business continued to grow, his son, who had recently graduated from college, joined his father. Then something strange happened.

The son asked, “Dad, aren’t you aware of the great recession that is coming our way?” The father replied, “No, but tell me about it.” The son said, “The international situation is terrible. The domestic is even worse. We should be prepared for the coming bad time.”

The man thought that since his son had been to college, read the papers, and listened to the radio, he ought to know and his advice should not be taken lightly.

So the next day, the father cut down his order for the meat and buns, took down the sign and was no longer enthusiastic. Very soon, fewer and fewer people bothered to stop at his hot dog stand. And his sales started coming down rapidly. The father said to his son, “Son, you were right. We are in the middle of a recession. I am glad you warned me ahead of time.”

This same process is happening to US today. The national media (radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, Internet) reports only the negative for the simple reason that they make more money by doing so. If we allow them to control our dominant thought we downsize, lay off, reduce advertising and training, become less creative, fail to offer service as we should, etc.

This is an interesting concept at a time when we see very successful organizations grow, hire more people, become more creative, increase advertising, marketing and training, enhance customer service, and offer new products and services.

As a result, they prosper at time when we’re told that can’t and won’t happen! You can see examples in most every industry today. The moral of this story SHOULDN’T have to be explained. It’s as plain as the nose on your face! However, it’s quite obvious that far too many CANNOT learn from these positive examples. For those we offer the following:

1. Many times we confuse intelligence with good judgment.
2. A person may have high intelligence but poor judgment.
3. Choose your advisers carefully and use your judgment.
4. The tragedy is that there are many walking encyclopedias who are living failures.
5. YOU control your most DOMINANT THOUGHT and you will ALWAYS move in that direction! What is YOUR most DOMINANT THOUGHT at the moment?

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

The Dominant Thought Strikes Again is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

This year we’ve found a large number of both positive and negative examples to support our many messages. Pause to observe media reports and you’ll gain immeasurable experience and guidance to expedite your journey to success.

For instance, consider the rise and fall of both Blockbuster and Netflix to discover crucial knowledge to benefit your own business.

• Blockbuster began in 1985 as a provider of home video and video game rental services.
• At its peak in 2009, Blockbuster had up to 60,000 employees in 1,700 Blockbuster stores in the U.S. with locations in 17 countries worldwide.
• In 1993, Blockbuster Viacom purchased Blockbuster. Blockbuster separated from Viacom in 2004.
• The company filed for bankruptcy in 2010 and was won by satellite television provider Dish Network at auction for $233 million in 2011.
• Dish soon announced it would only keep 500 Blockbuster stores open. At its peak, Blockbuster had more than 4,000 stores nationwide.

We continue to see this familiar rise and fall of businesses for a variety of reasons in most every industry.

Some say cable killed Blockbuster. It wasn’t cable that’s hurt Blockbuster; it was NetFlix’s rent movies by mail and RedBox’s rent movies by vending machine. (Can you say no labor costs and low overhead?)

Layer in the fact that in the 1990s late fees represented approximately 50% of net income for Blockbuster, which Blockbuster was ultimately forced to surrender, and you can see why Blockbuster was having serious problems.

What Blockbuster really needs to do is 1) forget the past and 2) re-invent itself for the future. Don’t expect that to happen.

Is the same pattern emerging at Netflix?

• Netflix was founded in 1998, offering flat-rate rental-by-mail to U.S. customers. It was originally a single rental service, but the subscription model was one of a few radical ideas Netflix created. Having unlimited due dates and no late fees has worked in a powerful way and now seems obvious (to everyone but Blockbuster).
• Netflix has amassed a collection of 100,000 titles and more than 23 million subscribers. Even if Blockbuster were able to catch up to NetFlix in movie rentals by mail, it’s too late.

NetFlix basically announced through its actions that the DVD by mail business will soon be obsolete, and movie delivery by Internet is its new focus.

Something like 60%+ of NetFlix customers watched at least one movie delivered via the Internet in the past 30 days.

NetFlix recently signed a deal to license movies for Internet delivery for a total deal size of $1 billion for a five-year plan. Initially, that sounds like a lot of money until you consider what Netflix has been paying for postage!

Just as Netflix seemed to have total control of the industry, it announced that subscription prices were increasing, some by as much as 60%, a move which led to reported customer backlash, cancellations, less than projected subscriber growth, and a decline in stock price.

This price hike caused 805,000 paid subscribers to jump ship in one quarter …. the biggest exodus in its history!

Netflix announced that it would spin off its popular DVD business under a new brand name, Qwikster, leading to even more customer and market confusion. Netflix reversed the decision less than a month later.

What happens now? Not even Netflix appears to know, although millions of customers and all investors are watching with interest.

Return now to the first paragraph of this article and consider the true application of our focus in our Customer Service Boot Camp! Trigger Events, Cycle of Service, Functional Blindness, Raving Fans, Vigilante Consumers, the Service Triangle, and the Knowing-Doing Gap have all surfaced in this ongoing chronicle of errors by two colossal players in a major industry. They will affect YOU as well … regardless of your size and status.

If the economy is 30% different today than three years ago but your company has only changed by 10%, it doesn’t take a genius to realize that someone is in the process of being left behind. Take steps today to insure your future!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Times Are Changing …. Are You? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Professional speaker and consultant Harry K. Jones has written more than 200 book reviews for:

• Change Books
• Communication Books
• Creativity Books
• Customer Service Books
• Decision-Making Books
• Leadership Books
• Motivational and Self-Help Books
• Networking Books
• Project Management Books
• Quality Books
• Retention Books
• Teamwork Books
• Time Management Books
• Women-in-Business Books

An additional mailing list is available for the book reviews section of our web site. Click here to subscribe to the AchieveMax® Book Reviews by e-mail.

Melanie L. Drake focuses on the publishing and marketing sides of the AchieveMax® company. AchieveMax® professional, motivational speakers provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services on change management, creativity, customer service, leadership, project management, stress management, time management, teamwork, and more. For more information on AchieveMax® custom-designed seminars and keynote presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

New Book Review – Great by Choice is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

If you’re a frequent flyer, as I am, you are about to become a member of a large “captive audience” that will soon be exposed to more advertising than any other segment of our population!

It’s bad enough that the entire journey from your home or office to your airplane seat is paved with advertising messages … billboards, newspapers, ads in taxis or buses, ticket kiosks, on airport walls and digital screens, in jet ways, and even on baggage carousels.

However, a new wave of unusual target opportunities is now available for advertisers that are assured a captive audience. Consider the fact that we sit there in an environment where cell phones are turned off and we’re pretty much stationary having to focus on visible ads for an average of three hours.

Now that the FAA has approved this campaign, you can very soon expect to see ads on seat pockets, seat backs and tray tables, napkins, flight attendants’ aprons, snack boxes, bulk heads, boarding passes, ticket jackets, in safety videos and even in announcements by the flight crews. Can you imagine hearing: “This seat belt demonstration brought to you by Ford Motor Co.”

Spirit Airlines, AirTran Airways,and Delta Air Lines are three of the first U.S. airlines to take advantage of every inch of in-flight display space to generate ancillary revenue by renting display space to advertisers.

Onboard Media Group has created a system that allows the airline to change ad messages quickly. They’re hoping to reach two million passengers a month on AirTran using this out-of-the-box leap for a broader market.

Delta is already showing Lincoln automobile commercials prior to their pre-flight safety video.

And for a cool $14 million, you can advertise on the exterior of every Spirit Airlines jet.

If that’s too steep, consider plunking down $196,000 for three months of ads on the overhead bins in Spirit’s planes, $119,000 for ads on their tray tables, or $18,500 for ads on, are you ready, their air-sickness bags.

Many marketing experts are warning that this encroachment on the privacy of an already stressed customer segment may very well backfire on both the airlines and the advertisers. We’ll soon see. Until then, this effort is another example of creative thinking by many who have felt the pressure of an ever-changing, chaotic, and competitive marketplace.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Buckle Your Seatbelts … Creative Juices Are Flowing! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

In 1992 the U.S. Congress proclaimed Customer Service Week a nationally recognized event as well. It’s celebrated annually the first week in October.

Or is it? I saw absolutely no evidence of it in the five states I happened to be traveling in over those seven days!

In past years, I have always tried to provide a blog article during the last week of September to prepare our clients for this special week. In those articles I have shared a variety of advertising, marketing, and celebration activities which can be used in hopes of gaining full advantage of this promotional week.

This year I decided to pass. I wanted to try something a little different by simply observing which organizations might celebrate and utilize this very obvious occasion.

I sadly found nothing … and I can’t blame it on the fact that I happened to be working in an area which simply fell short on their efforts. I happened to be in five different states that week and still saw nothing.

• Nothing on television.
• Nothing on the radio.
• Nothing on the Internet including Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• No billboards on the side of the road.
• Nothing in my mailbox.
• Nothing in the newspapers.
• Nothing in any magazine.
• No banners in the windows of an store.
• No signs inside any store, restaurant, etc.
• No Customer Service Week specials being offered.

What happened?

There are actually dozens, maybe even hundreds, of ways that Customer Service Week could have been promoted to increase customer traffic, awareness, sales, image enhancement, etc. And yet … nothing.

Maybe we were all too busy complaining and crying about the economy, rising prices, taxes, government leadership, fair trade, loss of customer loyalty, competition, and the growing number of reasons on which we can blame our declining business results.

Obviously, there’s nothing that can be done about that first week in October of 2011. It’s dead and gone. Far too many missed the opportunity. However, maybe it can serve as a valuable, however costly, lesson for us.

Next year we can rally everyone in the organization in hopes of coming up with new, creative ideas in which to celebrate Customer Service Week … ways which will send a message that we DO, indeed, value and appreciate those who have permitted us to serve them. Let’s let them all know that our doors are always open and that we realize we have no business without them.

It’s time many businesses wake up and realize what it really takes to maintain and grow a business in today’s ever-growing chaotic and competitive business environment. There is no existing success formula that doesn’t include “customer” in some way.

Personally, I don’t think there should be a Customer Service Week! I feel we’d be much more successful if there were only a Customer Service DAY, and we honored and celebrated it 365 days a year!

What did your organization do this year during Customer Service Week?

Will you be around to celebrate the next one?

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Bet You Didn’t Even Notice Customer Service Week! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

I never have!

I doubt if I ever will!

We’ve been successfully touring the country for quite some time now with our Customer Service Boot Camp. It didn’t take long to recognize a very evident common thread among those organizations that experienced this intensive training event: Few of them actually needed it!

Don’t misunderstand …

• Everyone learned a great deal.
• They gained new tips, tools, and strategies.
• They’ll be much better off for the experience.
• They grew as individuals and as organizations.

However, the majority of those who chose to invest their time, energy, and money in this experience were already doing a good job when it comes to serving their customers and clients! That’s so often the case.

Jim Collins, in his best-seller Good to Great, states that “Good is the enemy of Great! The vast majority of companies never become great precisely because they become quite good — and that’s their main problem!”

Those who attended our Customer Service Boot Camp did so because they were focused on attaining that elusive level of GREATNESS! They thirst for knowledge. They strive for C.A.N.I. (Continuous And Never-ending Improvement). There was no cost involved in this program as they viewed it as an investment, which it surely is!

Sadly, those who most need this customer service training are those who did not attend! … as is almost always the case! Their reasons are many but always extremely weak … no money, no time, other projects, etc. None, by the way, is as important as preparing their employees to better serve those who keep them in business.

Think of those many companies, in every industry, that boast that “the customer is our reason for existing,” “the customer is the boss,” or “the customer is always right”! In most cases, it’s nothing more than lip service! Their true challenge lies first in translating these slogans into actions which can convince customers that they are indeed sincere.

Their second challenge lies in getting their customer contact people trained to convey that sincerity to those they serve! These employees are usually the lowest paid people in the organization and almost always the least trained — and yet they are those chosen to face the customer day in and day out! That simply doesn’t make sense!

Consider the fact that a multibillion-dollar fast food operation places its success squarely in the hands of minimum-wage teenagers taking orders, handling money, and delivering the food!

In addition, the image of a multibillion-dollar bank relies on entry-level tellers to handle day-to-day transactions which determine the image of the organization.

Most criticism of multibillion-dollar government agencies are judged largely by the receptionist who answers the phone, greets the customers, answers questions, or transfers the calls … thus setting the tone for any transaction which may follow.

Regardless of job title, education, experience, or position in the organization, the number one task of everyone in the company should always be to attract, satisfy, and preserve customers — this is NOT rocket science. And yet, in today’s very competitive, highly chaotic, environment, very few excel in this critical mission which leads to success for anyone truly focused on the attainment of GREATNESS.

When are those slackers going to wake up, provide the EXPECTATIONS, TRAINING, ACCOUNTABILITY, and CONSEQUENCES that will certainly lead to greater customer service and desired success?

I just don’t get it! I never have! I doubt if I ever will!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Customer Service Dilemma is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

I have his permission to share this unusual story as long as I don’t reveal the name of the organization … for obvious reasons.

Several months ago, I was asked to present a customized version of our often-requested “Productive Chaos” seminar. Over the years, we’ve presented various versions of this popular program to thousands of clients across a wide variety of industries from coast to coast. However, this request was rather unique.

The majority of previous presentations have been to those in leadership positions at various levels in the organizations we serve. This particular client requested that we share that same relevant content with his frontline staff! Here’s why he felt it was so important to do so.

• These are challenging times which call for increased productivity from every level of the organization.
• The majority of his frontline staff were not college-educated and had never attended an out-of-town conference of any kind. In fact, many had never received classroom training of any kind, even on the premises.
• This group of key employees was very concerned about the state of the business and the deteriorating status of our U.S. economy. In short, morale was low and self-confidence and self-esteem were far from what they should be to inspire the performance needed from this critical support staff.
• Our client felt they needed a boost and wanted them to know how important their performance was to the success of the company in these trying times.
• Therefore, he scheduled the entire staff to attend this presentation of “Productive Chaos” over several days of continuous sessions.

It’s been a few months now so I was certainly happy to hear from him this morning. In short, he was ecstatic. He rambled on for quite some time sharing the results of his risky decision. When he scheduled the seminar, he was honest in saying he wasn’t certain if the cost burden of training at this point was a wise decision. However, after seeing the results, he no longer uses the terms “cost” nor “burden.” He claims it was one of the best “investments” he’s ever made.

Let me cut to the chase. This is NOT a commercial for employee training. Paraphrasing our client’s feedback, he noted the following:

• In the days following the training, he observed an obvious increase in productivity by the majority of his employees.
• He observed more and better communication among individuals and departments.
• He saw daily evidence of greater morale, better attitude, and enhanced confidence and pride among his employees.

At this point, I would love to tell you that these key outcomes were a direct result of our powerful “Productive Chaos” program content and our unique method of delivery. Sadly, that wasn’t the case.

In further discussion with our client, we agreed on the obvious. His staff differed little from other employees all across the nation today. They were beaten down and frustrated by daily media reports of a nation in demise. They were constantly exposed to reports that the future looks bleak and prospects of a turnaround grow more dismal by the day. In short, they were running out of gas and had little or nothing to look forward to.

Then our client gambled. He sent a subliminal message to his staff that they were indeed important and a crucial key to the company’s future success. The message was clear. They were important. They were needed. They were going to receive training with the expectation that performance and increased productivity would soon follow because their potential excellence was recognized, appreciated and a key ingredient for future success.

They were validated!

Sounds too simple doesn’t it? The results speak for themselves. People today want and need validation. The majority may not even be aware of it. I’ve seen it time and time again. A simple “thank you” or “good job” can make a difference. Eye contact, a smile, or a handshake can and will do wonders. People want to know that they possess value and can contribute in some way. Don’t you DARE underestimate the value of validation.

I don’t care who it may be …. a parent, child, spouse, friend, significant other, neighbor, vendor, client, employee or team member …. the results are the same. You’ll see greater pride, enhanced self esteem, increased performance and productivity, higher morale …. and the list goes on.

I saw it in the faces of those attending the training. They suddenly realized they were important enough to their company to receive training, to spend a day in a classroom increasing their ability and worth, to warrant their boss to bring in an outside speaker just for them. Of course, there were the typical number who didn’t care and refused to take part. There always are … but you don’t focus on those folks. You focus on those who care and appreciate your efforts. And the results cannot be denied.

I recently saw a video which so impressed me that I shared it on our blog. At the time, I honestly thought it was somewhat “corny.” However, 30 seconds into the content, I couldn’t turn it off. In fact I can’t believe I watched it to the end. It shared a very powerful message which should bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye and inspiration to your spirit. It should be shown to every parent, spouse, teacher, CEO, supervisor, manager, team leader, and team member everywhere. In addition, it should be shared in every classroom in the nation.

Today, with this call from our client, that video content was validated!

It’s worth your time to view it. Who knows, it may lead to the successful outcomes experienced by our courageous client who sent a special message to his staff. Can you spare a few minutes? What are you possibly doing that could be more important. Enjoy and prosper!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao

“>http://youtu.be/Cbk980jV7Ao

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Validation – A Powerful Strategy in Trying Times! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

An amazing study was once conducted among kindergartners that certainly illustrates this point. The children were given a white piece of paper with a medium-sized black dot in the center of the page. They were asked to describe what they saw. Here are just a few of the answers they recorded.

• A squashed bug as seen from an airplane.
• A snowman’s eye which fell into the snow as he ran away.
• An ice-fisherman’s hole in the lake after he left.
• A rabbit hole in a snow-covered back yard.
• The top of a telephone pole in Alaska as seen by an astronaut.

The same picture was later shown to a group of seniors in high school, and the majority of them agreed on the same answer — a black dot on a white piece of paper!

What happened to this last group of students between their first and last years of school? They obviously lost their creativity, imagination, and resourcefulness. They had little or no desire to let their minds wander without the fear of rejection. Can you imagine what happened between their senior year and their first day in the work world? Frightening isn’t it?

Well, let me tell you about a young man who managed to avoid that sad transition.

His name is Hart Main, and he’s only 13 years old. This young entrepreneur has done for candles what Netflix did for movie rentals and Groupon has done for coupons. Last November his 12-year-old sister was selling candles to raise money for school. Hart, who wasn’t crazy about the girly scents, joked that there ought to be candles for guys — guys who didn’t want their bedrooms to smell like lavender soap or fresh laundry.

I’m sure a lot of people would agree with Hart. However, the difference between this young man and those people is very obvious. He took action! He did something about what he identified as a challenge.

He created a candle with a masculine aroma. He calls them “ManCans,” and they’re available in a variety of unique scents such as Grandpa’s Pipe, New Mitt, Fresh Cut Grass, Campfire, New York Style Pizza, Coffee, Dirt, Bacon, Crackerjack, Sawdust, Hot Coco, Buttered Popcorn, Bubblegum, and Breakfast in Bed (bacon coffee flapjacks).

He sells each ManCan for $9.50 and is certainly doing well for a startup. He’s averaging 300 orders a week and requests for his products are growing. Hart makes the candles in soup cans, so he purchases soup and donates it to local soup kitchens. He then returns the empty cans, and he and his mother make the candles in their kitchen. He orders oils from suppliers around his home state of Ohio and combines them with the wax. They’re currently looking for a space to rent as making the candles in the kitchen is getting out of hand.

Adults close to the 13-year-old entrepreneur are impressed how the 13-year-old has risen to the challenge of running his own company. Hart is apparently very much in charge of this business and is as hands-on as any CEO would be at the age of 50. He handles himself so well in media interviews and with the whole business that it’s amazing to watch, because you have to be reminded that this is a 13-year-old middle school student who simply wanted to be able to buy a bicycle with the extra money he would earn.

If a young man like this can capitalize on his creativity, most others can as well. In our creativity seminars, the majority of those attending deny they are creative. Is that true or are they in denial or unaware of their potential?

If you were given that piece of white paper with a black dot, what would you see?

Check out Hart’s website at www.man-cans.com. Listen to this young man as he describes his journey in this short video clip.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Creative 13-Year-Old Boy Finds a Need and Fills It is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

In addition, I don’t expect you to believe what I have to say nor agree with it. However, if you’re a business person who IS concerned about costs, savings, and profits, you’ll read this article and investigate its content for relevance to your organization.

Another call came into our corporate office today asking the question we hear many times a day, every day, “How much does your training cost?” As usual, we pointed out that there is NO COST for our training. Not bad, huh? There is an INVESTMENT which is based on what you’re looking for … a half-day seminar, a full-day seminar, a seminar series, a boot camp, a keynote, a package, consulting, etc. Give us an idea of what you’re looking for, and we’ll gladly reveal the INVESTMENT you’ll need to make.

But wait! While you’re in the spirit of asking questions, consider a few of these:

• What’s it going to cost us if we DON’T train our staff to make the necessary changes to deal with the ever-growing challenges causing chaos in today’s business world?
• What’s it going to cost us if we settle for the lowest bidder we can find? We may save money but not provide the best training, tools, tips and strategies that our people need to grow, compete and succeed. Is that really saving us money? Inadequate, ineffective training at any cost is not a bargain!
• What’s the difference between a “COST” and an “INVESTMENT”? Look up the formal definitions if you must, but you know that a good investment will yield a return that will keep you productive, profitable, competitive, and successful!
• Can we spare the time to conduct training at this point? Here’s a better question. Can you afford NOT to strive for Continuous and Never-ending Improvement (CANI) for your staff at a time when your competition is doing exactly that? You’d better give that question some serious consideration!

One last question!

If you knew that productive, innovative, motivational training of your staff could do the following:

• improve morale
• empower your workforce
• reduce turnover
• enhance communication and teamwork
• nurture greater creativity
• provide better customer service
• increase productivity and profitability

… would you consider what you paid as a “COST” or an “INVESTMENT”?

Check media reports to find examples of what’s happening in today’s business world, and you’ll find your answer in what leading companies are doing:

• Disney is adding to the size of its parks while competitors merge, sell or close their doors.
• McDonald’s is investing a billion dollars to enhance its facilities and menu while competitors downsize, merge, sell or struggle to keep their doors open.
• The Super Bowl increases the price of a 30-second ad to a record $3.5 million.
• The Big Three automakers are reopening closed plants, building new plants, and adding employees.

At this point you might think: “Sure, these companies can do these things because they’re so successful!” Re-frame that thought as you ask: “Are they doing these things because they’re successful, OR are they successful because they’re doing these things?”

COST or INVESTMENT? The choice is yours! The decision is critical! The answer can be life-changing!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Business Leader, Dare You Answer This Question? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

AS OF JANUARY 1 OF THIS YEAR, EVERY SINGLE DAY MORE THAN 10,000 BABY BOOMERS WILL REACH THE AGE OF 65. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE NEXT 19 YEARS!

That means we’re going to see a mass exodus of key people who have the education, experience, and knowledge of our organizational culture. Those people are going to be very difficult to replace, and it certainly can’t happen overnight. Thus, there is the need for a combination of a strong mentoring strategy and a future leaders program to begin the development of potential candidates!

We’ve been very fortunate to be able to work with many clients in a wide variety of organizations from coast to coast as they seek, select and prepare potential leaders for the challenges they will soon face.

Let me share an abbreviated game plan revealing the crucial steps in this program which is growing in popularity.

Future Leaders

Most of our clients have decided to choose a creative name for the group of potential leaders they have selected for future leadership possibilities. While “Future Leaders” certainly describes the next generation of leaders, our clients have settled on a variety of creative monikers. Listed below are just a few:

• Strike Force
• Fast Trackers
• Pace Team
• Supreme Team
• Transformation Team
• C.A.N.I. (Continuous And Never-ending Improvement)Team

Criteria for Potential Leaders

• A genuine interest in leadership
• The desire to lead
• The potential for leadership
• Education and experience
• Enthusiasm and positive attitude

Guidelines and Parameters for Those Selected

• No title
• No authority
• No pay increase
• No additional hours
• No promises or guarantees

Benefits to Those Selected

• Opportunity to attend meetings, conferences, trade shows, etc.
• Opportunity to interact with leadership, customers, and vendors
• Opportunity to attend Board Meetings and Focus Groups
• Opportunity to get involved with special projects, R & D, etc.
• Opportunity to lead, mentor and train others
• Opportunity to experience various challenges of leadership
• Smoother transition into leadership role when the time comes

Benefits to the Organization

• Long-term preparation of employee for a leadership role
• Increased productivity of candidate
• Increased motivation of candidate
• Increased productivity and motivation of fellow employees
• Opportunity to observe candidate in action
• Increased probability of success for candidate

Clients have worked with groups as small as three candidates at a time and as large as 35.

Some clients provide half-day or full-day formal training sessions weekly, monthly, or quarterly based on need and availability.

Those organizations that have utilized this unique program have been extremely satisfied with the results. The transition for candidates from this continuous training into an actual leadership role, when the need arises, has been extraordinarily smooth and flawless … providing a win-win situation for everyone involved.

For more information about the Future Leaders program, give us a call at 1-800-886-2629. You’ll be glad you did!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Dealing with the Daunting Challenge That Most Organizations Don’t Even Acknowledge is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.