A former client and now cherished friend, Melody Harshbarger, sent me a reminder of just such a person. I had the privilege of meeting Melody in the aftermath of the 9-11 tragedy, and our friendship has grown over the years. She’s the owner and President of MMC Studios, an advertising and design firm in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The story Melody sent me has been around for a very long time, but I never tire of hearing it and feel that every business person in the U.S. needs to read it, understand it, and apply it daily. If that were to happen, you’d see the turnaround this country needs right now.

Now, when I revisit this true story, I think of Melody as she is so respected, appreciated, and cherished by everyone who is fortunate enough to make her acquaintance. She personifies the spirit and essence of this simple but very powerful strategy for success.

I’ve lost count of the cab rides I’ve been forced to endure in major cities from coast to coast. I’ve never had the opportunity to meet a Cab Driving Eagle like the one you’re about to meet … but I’m certainly looking forward to the experience. Read, learn, enjoy, and pass it on!

Wally – A Cab Driving Eagle

No one can make you serve customers well … that’s because great service is a choice. Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.

He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.

He handed my friend a laminated card and said: “I’m Wally, your driver. While I’m loading your bags in the trunk, I’d like you to read my mission statement.”

Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally’s Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment….

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, “Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.” My friend said jokingly, “No, I’d prefer a soft drink.” Wally smiled and said,”‘No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.” Almost stuttering, Harvey said, “I’ll take a Diet Coke.”

Handing him his drink, Wally said, “If you’d like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.”

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card, “These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you’d like to listen to the radio.”

And as if that weren’t enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he’d be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts …

“Tell me, Wally,” my amazed friend asked the driver, “have you always served customers like this?”

Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. “No, not always. In fact, it’s only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.”

“He had just written a book called You’ll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, ‘Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don’t be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.’”

“That hit me right between the eyes,” said Wally. “Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.”

“I take it that has paid off for you,” Harvey said.

“It sure has,” Wally replied. “My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I’ll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don’t sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can’t pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.”

Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I’ve probably told that story to more than 50 cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn’t do any of what I was suggesting.

Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles. Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar. Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles. How about you?

The results you’re getting are the results you should be getting. If you want different results, you must change what you’re doing! There is no prize without the price.

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Secret Hidden in Plain Sight 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

It probably started for me as a Cub Scout and gained momentum as I grew into a Boy Scout. It was emphasized even more as I played high school football, basketball, and baseball. As I entered the military, it was immediately reframed as a critical life and death strategy.

After decades in the business world, I can safely say I’ve heard it mentioned most every week of my life. However, I often wonder if it hasn’t simply become a necessary “buzz word” that we’ve taken for granted and learned to ignore.

We see almost daily examples of the importance of TEAMWORK and the positive consequences which result. And yet, far too many organizations have relegated its importance at a time when it could easily mean the difference between success and failure for everyone involved! I wonder what those organizations are focusing on which is so much more important than developing TEAMWORK.

While I’m encouraged by the increasing number of requests for keynotes and seminars on the subject of TEAMWORK, I feel far too many organizations fail to realize the true need for TEAMWORK as anything more than a “buzz word.”

We even see revealing examples involving simple wildlife and yet fail to benefit from the obvious lessons provided for us. I was recently sitting with a close friend on my deck overlooking the lake as we witnessed a flock of geese flying by in perfect formation.

It immediately brought back memories of an age-old anecdote I’ve heard time and time again. I’m sure you’ve heard it as well. The question is: “Did you learn anything from the narrative? Did you apply the lesson to gain its obvious benefits? Did you close the “Knowing-Doing” Gap?

You might want to revisit this Generational Gem and even share it with those you currently team with. It’s a short video but offers a valuable lesson for us in today’s challenging, rapidly changing, chaotic environment.

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

When Do We Learn the True Value of Teamwork? 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

One of my favorite philosophers said it best, and his advice has led me through a myriad of relationship challenges over the years. The philosopher: Kenneth Donald Rogers, better known as Kenny Rogers. The message: “Know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em!”

The following anecdote may better explain the power of choice we each possess and the need to utilize it wisely.

SAND & STONE

A story goes that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the pool and started drowning, but the friend saved him.

After he recovered from near drowning, he wrote on a stone:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”

The other friend replied, “When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.

It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Take time to live! Value who you have in your life.

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Lighten Your Load in Today’s Chaotic World 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

Relationships are crucial to our survival in today’s chaotic global environment. It might be you and a spouse or significant other, friends, neighbors, family, co-workers, your boss or even your customers. Relationships are with us every day in every way.

While 50/50 sounds logical, let’s examine a new approach. What happens if we change the equation to 100/0. Absolutely! We can control our side of the relationship and commit totally to communication, loyalty, support and the many necessary components of any good relationship. What if we take full responsibility for the relationship and expect absolutely nothing in return?

Before we know it, the other person in our relationship recognizes our commitment and contribution, appreciates it and identifies it as unique in today’s world and chooses to take responsibility as well. All of a sudden our 100/0 relationship transforms into a 100/100!

Once this has occurred, think of the possibilities and breakthroughs for those involved! We’re talking life-changing experiences evolving from what was originally a 50/50 relationship. Now we’ve doubled our commitment and the positive consequences are endless! What a concept …

50/50 to 100/0 to 100/100. Give it a shot! The results could change your life!

What a concept … check out this video for additional insight.

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

50-50 Is Not the Best Partnership for Success! 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 and 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 – How Remarkable Women Lead 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

I also mentioned that I heard this particular song, I believe by design, during a midnight drive home from the airport after one of my many speaking trips. It so touched me at the time that I pulled my car into a rest area, grabbed a legal pad from my carry-on, and jotted down some personal thoughts in the form of a poem. I certainly don’t claim to be a poet but that exercise was very cathartic for me at that time and led me to make a few much-needed life-changing decisions. You might want to do the same.

“Life on a Lake”

I was born and raised on the shore of a lake …
With memories abundant and fond.
It’s a wonderful place to live your life …
And, oh, so easy to bond—

With the sun and the water,
The sky and the breeze …
It provides you a life
Of contentment and ease.

As the stress of my work-a-day life would increase,
I’d just head for home where I could release
The stress and the strain and the burdens of life
At home by the lake where there’s simply no strife!

Now my kids have all grown
And moved on as they must …
I just hope that some day
They’ll develop the lust …
To live on an ocean, a river, or lake
And appreciate life and all that’s at stake.

They come back to visit whenever they can
But usually can’t stay too long.
They must return to their now busy lives
Of which I’m just a small part—right or wrong.

I can’t critique—I’ve been there, done that,
I modeled that life for them.
So I can’t complain, I must let them gain
The knowledge, experience, and whim.

That will lead them to know, it’s okay to go slow
And enjoy the pleasures they share
With children, spouses, family and friends …
Life’s joys which are truly so rare!

Dad – 1999

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Life on a Lake 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

I was a DeeJay very early in my career and had the privilege to be exposed to some fantastic artists and unforgettable music as a result. One of the great artists of our times is seldom recognized by name today but his classic tale of parental regret is known and appreciated by millions.

Harry Chapin shared the kind of songs that forced listeners to stop, reflect on their past, and ponder their early decisions in life. He did just that with his classic “Taxi” and again with his story of “W.O.L.D.” However, he’s best known for his 1974 folk rock masterpiece we know as “Cats in the Cradle.” Many of us felt he wrote that song with us in mind because it so vividly reflects our lives and emotions.

This Boomer favorite impacts most every generation today in our chaotic journey to survive and thrive in a very challenging society. The touching and heartfelt lyrics are certainly open to interpretation as many hear them through the ears of their childhood remembering their parents, others through the ears of a parent regretting earlier decisions to chose career over family as there appeared to be no choice, and others, ironically find themselves in the present … praying their children won’t make the same mistakes.

Listen to the lyrics below and pause for a moment to reflect. You may want to share this classic ballad with family or friends in hopes of gaining some valuable insights to the challenges we face throughout our lives. I hope it does for you what it did for me and many others I’m sure.

I personally did just that back in 1999 after hearing this song on the radio coming home alone from the airport. Circumstances were such at that time that I needed to hear that message. I was so impacted by those haunting words that I pulled my car into a rest stop, grabbed my legal pad out of my carry-on and wrote a poem — 8 verses in fact. And I am the farthest thing in this world from a poet. But that exercise was very cathartic for me and led me to make a few much-needed life-changing decisions. I’ll share that poem in my next blog article.

One can only speculate how many other classics may have emerged from the heart and soul of Harry Chapin had he not perished in a tragic car accident at the young age of 38 on the way to perform a free concert in New York.

This song will live on as long as there are parents and children.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=etundhQa724

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Reflection Is Good for the Soul 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

Loyalty from employer to employee and vice versa. Loyalty among family members. Loyalty to teams in most every sport. Loyalty to products, services, and brands. Loyalty to home cities and states. Loyalty to spouses and significant others.

The reasons are numerous and varied … many of which probably can’t or won’t be changed. It’s the evolution of progress. However, as an individual, you might want to pause a moment and ponder the consequences of this tragic loss of loyalty. While it affects everyone in different ways, few take the time or make an effort to examine those crucial consequences which affect them in so many aspects of their lives.

Consider this story as an illustration of potential outcomes resulting from the loss of loyalty.

There once was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone … except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her—unconditionally! She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including the loyal boyfriend she loved so much. Her boyfriend asked her, “Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?” The girl was shocked when she discovered that her boyfriend was blind too … and she refused to marry him!

Her boyfriend was heartbroken and devastated, walking away in tears. He later wrote a letter to her saying, “JUST TAKE CARE OF MY EYES PLEASE!”

This is an example of how people often change when their status changes in life. Very few remember what life was like before … who was always there for them when times were most difficult … what was important to them at that time … promises they made under those circumstances.

This was an extreme status change. However, similar results have been observed as a result of a job promotion, inheritance, move to a new location, lottery win, job loss, death in the family, new career, etc. Why not take a moment and examine the many aspects of your own life to determine the importance of “loyalty” to your personal success. It might be an eye-opener!

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Will Our Children Know Loyalty? 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

It reminds me of a touching story of a farmer, a young boy and a dog.

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the four pups and nailed it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a wide-eyed little boy.

“Mister,” he said, “I want to buy one of your puppies.”

“Well,” the farmer said, “these pups come from fine parents and cost a great deal of money.”

The little boy dropped his head for a moment … then, reaching deep into his pocket, pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. “I’ve got 39 cents. Is that enough to take a look?”

“Sure,” said the farmer, and with that he let out a whistle. “Here Dolly!” he called. Out from the dog house and down the ramp ran Dolly, followed by four little balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence, his eyes dancing with delight. He suddenly noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly, another little ball of fur appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then, in a somewhat awkward manner, the little puppy began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up.

“I want that one,” the little boy said, pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down to the boy’s side and said, “Son, you don’t want that puppy. He’ll never be able to run and play with you like the other puppies would.” With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so, he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg, attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, “You see, sir, I don’t run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.”

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup and holding it carefully, he handed it to the little boy. “How much?” the excited young man asked.

“No charge,” said the farmer. “There’s no charge for love!”

The world is full of people and animals who need someone who understands. Be that someone.

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Happiness = Thirty-Nine Cents! 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

The answer is a definite “NO” from 90% of those asked!

How accurate is that answer? Not very!

Are those who answered lying? Not at all!

The majority of people today honestly don’t believe that they’re the least bit creative. Yet, that opinion is disproved almost daily. Some of the most creative and productive ideas on record have originated from the most unassuming people in the organization.

Consider the following examples:

• The McDonald’s “Happy Meal”
• The UPS “Right Turn Strategy”
• The Nike waffle iron sole for running shoes
• The dial telephone invented by an undertaker
• The Birdseye Frozen Food quick-freezing process

These are just a few of the many breakthrough ideas which have changed our way of life in this country. The opportunities abound. Most are simplistic in nature. They’re all around us and continue to surface daily. We simply credit their discovery to those who are more creative than we are … which is usually untrue. The credit actually goes to those who are curious, confident, eager to expand their comfort zones and unafraid to take calculated risks.

Here’s another perfect example:

In 1991 a group of investors came up with a novel idea. After the NCAA championship basketball game between Duke and Kansas in Indianapolis, they invested $65,000 to buy the floor on which the final four games were played. That was a “calculated risk”! Would you have gambled on such an idea?

They then cut this brand new basketball floor into 22,000 little pieces. These investors then sold those little 6×5 pieces of floor to 22,000 loyal fans as souvenirs for $24.95 each. This creativity turned their $65,000 investment into $548,900 in less than one week! A profit of more than half a million dollars in one week!

Again, those opportunities are everywhere and we need to recognize them and take action. So, keep your eyes open, unleash your imagination, and be open to new concepts, strategies, products and services. Be one of those “creative minds” who continuously changes the world we live in!

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Everyone Is Creative! Few Realize 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

Two years ago I wrote an article for our blog that embodies the elements of a great example. Just recently, a new video has been produced to tell the story of true sportsmanship as illustrated by two girls’ Division II softball teams from the state of Washington.

It’s an inspirational story that should be required viewing for ANYONE and EVERYONE taking parts in ANY sport today … as a player, official, coach, fan or parent. It should be shown in every school from coast to coast at the start of every school year. It earned an ESPY Award for individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performances.

You and I can do little, if anything, to orchestrate such a required viewing on such a large scale. However, if you have a child, grandchild, nephew or niece, neighbor or friend who loves sports, they NEED to see this video and hear this message. That you can and should influence. Better yet, invite the entire family to watch it together and then discuss it afterwards. You’ll be glad you did … for those you gathered as well as yourself! You’ll also feel better about life itself … which is a real accomplishment in these times.

The blog article I wrote will provide you with all of the details and background for this very unusual story should you desire to read it or pass it on. However this new 6-minute video will reveal the entire episode from start to finish leaving you in tears and filled with hope and appreciation for the young people of this great country. Please view it and pass it on… maybe even to a local coach or school administrator. We all need to see more messages like this one.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PhvXyoGVFw

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

The Young Are So Often Role Models 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

Last week, I shared the importance of realistically dealing with the three stages of your comfort zone. I was a bit surprised at the number of comments I received from readers on a subject which many avoid at all cost.

One of our subscribers, wishing to remain anonymous, shared the following observation of those afraid to risk.

Do you feel a little nervous when contemplating the execution of a risk—however so slight? Are you afraid to commit due to the uncertainty of the outcome? Do you have a fear of failing? Do you find yourself tending to wait until all possible risks have been minimized before setting out in a new direction?

Though caution and common sense are certainly important, sometimes taking a risk simply can’t be avoided. The avoidance of taking that risk may very well be more detrimental than actually taking the risk. Consider the following possibilities:

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out for another is to risk involvement.

To expose feelings is to risk revealing your true self.

To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk rejection.

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To live is to risk dying.

To hope is to risk disappointment.

To try is to risk failure.

However, risks MUST be taken in today’s environment. The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing!

Those who risk nothing, do nothing, have nothing, and become nothing. They may avoid present suffering and sorrow, but they will not learn, feel, change, grow, love or live. Chained by their fear, they are slaves who have forfeited their freedom. Only a person who risks is free.

The pessimist complains about the wind;

The optimist expects it to change.

And the realist adjusts the sails!

Is fear preventing you from taking a necessary risk today? You might want to seriously consider the alternative.

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

The Pursuit of RISK Is Prevalent 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

Paul Anka is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor with a very impressive list of accomplishments. He first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like “Diana,” “Lonely Boy,” and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.” He went on to write such well-known music as the theme for The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson and one of Tom Jones’s biggest hits, “She’s a Lady,” and the lyrics for Frank Sinatra’s signature song, “My Way.”

However, Paul also wrote another song in 1958 that you may not be aware of. It was only 1:45 in length, but it packed a very powerful message for teenagers everywhere.It never really reached the “big hit status” of his other classics, but it was an anthem for teens at that time. Today, 52 years later, we look at the lyrics and are somewhat surprised that this advice still holds true today. Much of yesteryear’s wisdom should be revisited.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZk2Jo43BDI

1. Stop and think before you drink.
2. Don’t let your parents down; they brought you up.
3. Be humble enough to obey. You will be giving orders yourself someday.
4. At the first moment, turn away from unclean thinking—at the first moment.
5. Don’t show off driving. If you want to race, go to Indianapolis.
6. Choose a date who would make a good mate.
7. Go to church faithfully. The Creator gives you the week; give Him back an hour.
8. Choose your companions carefully. You are what they are.
9. Avoid following the crowd. Be an engine, not a caboose.
10. Or even better—keep the original Ten Commandments.

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Wisdom in Nostalgia -- The Teen Commandments 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

When they arrive home, it starts all over again … yard work, house repairs, car maintenance, grocery shopping, TV, and all of the activities involving the children. By the end of the day, total exhaustion has set in as plans for the following day ensue.

There seems to be a concern that if one can’t handle this kind of daily schedule, you’re just not working effectively.

However, several studies at major universities indicate that many productive workers credit the fact that they are returning to the fine art of FOCUS … deliberately concentrating on one thing at a time until completed before moving on to the rest of that challenging “to-do” list. This approach seems to be providing a greater flow and, therefore, increased productivity.

Further research continues to indicate that focusing on more than one task at a time actually decreases productivity and may jeopardize the fundamental quality of our work and communication.

The key of course is to maintain the proper balance of monotasking AND multitasking. In today’s workplace, and even just in our day-to-day lives in the information age, a certain amount of multitasking is unavoidable. So it seems the skill to develop is knowing when, where, and what to multitask.

So how do you know when you should “multitask” and when you should “monotask”? And how do you manage to do the latter? Some things lend themselves brilliantly to multitasking. These tend to be activities which are purely physical, or which by their nature take a set amount of time to complete—however well you focus.

It seems that we have moved from an extreme focus of concentrating on one task at a time to the other extreme of trying to do everything at once. Strive for the balance in your everyday activities. However, don’t forget why you’re working so hard at accomplishing so much so quickly. When it comes to long-term plans, you’d better be focusing on “that ONE THING” which is key to your existence. Many have lost sight of that target and others have never identified it at all.

In this 33-second video, Jack Palance explains “the Secret of Life” to Billy Crystal in City Slickers. So much wisdom in just 33 seconds!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k1uOqRb0HU

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

The Secret of Life 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

Ironically, most of those in leadership roles today have received very little, if any, training, exposure or preparation concerning either of these crucial areas. Expertise in these areas is usually acquired “under fire” in “real time” situations.

That must change in the future if the U.S. is to return to its lofty station of world leadership.

An old poem by Richard Armour makes a good point:

The bride, white of hair, is stooped over her cane
Her faltering footsteps need guiding.
While down the church aisle, with a toothless smile,
The groom in a wheelchair comes riding.
And who is this elderly couple you ask?
You’ll find, when you’ve closely explored it,
That here is that rare, most conservative pair,
Who waited ’til they could afford it!

Sensible thinking? Maybe. However, how many wonderful experiences have you missed in your life because you were waiting until everything was perfect? General George Patton said, “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed some day.” This is excellent advice in this day of rapid changes and constantly changing scenarios. We no longer have the luxury of long-term planning.

Are you reluctant to take a risk? Maybe even afraid? Are you cautious to commit because of an uncertain future? Afraid of failing? You may not wait an entire lifetime before making a major decision, but do you tend to wait until all possible risks are minimized before setting out in a new direction?

Our life can be divided into three crucial areas in relation to our future success.

1. Comfort Zone
2. Learning Zone
3. Panic Zone

Everything you do falls into one of these critical zones. Your acknowledgment, management and manipulation of these crucial areas can and will determine your future success.

The key lies in identifying and enhancing your current comfort zone, constantly utilizing and expanding your learning zone, and therefore diminishing your panic zone. This is a never-ending process which cannot be ignored if you seek continuous grow, contentment, and prosperity.

Consider the three zones … determine where you are in relation to various aspects of your life, and create an action plan to accommodate necessary changes. Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Is Your Comfort Zone at Risk? 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

However, each is very successful in what they do.

• Zappos.com
• Google
• Nordstrom
• Dreamworks Animation
• Southwest Airlines
• W.L. Gore & Associates
• Whole Food Markets
• Starbucks Coffee
• The Container Store
• Herman Miller
• Stew Leonards

Let’s solve the mystery. Each of those listed here has been recognized for its unique culture. If you were exposed to the elements which make up a unique culture, you might be surprised at how basic, yet rare, they actually are. The names I’ve shared here are just a few of the many identified by Fortune Magazine year after year as the best companies to work for in the U.S.

They boast productivity, profitability, low turnover, high customer service satisfaction scores, longevity, and creativity to name a few of their commonalities. Most companies in any industry would be thrilled to boast such achievements. Yet few will benchmark those who do. If they did a little research, they would discover that they too could share this success by focusing on the need to place people before products, services, or profits. While all three are key to success, each can be and is achieved must sooner and to a greater degree through focus on your people.

Those listed above share critical elements which have certainly contributed to their success. Here are just a few of those elements.

• Age diversity
• Open communication
• Employee involvement
• Continuing education
• Ethnically diverse
• Recognition programs
• Community involvement
• Goal establishment
• Expectation establishment
• Accountability
• Celebration of success

Think about your organization. Are these contributing factors present in your culture? If not, consider benchmarking those who have identified the importance of a strong culture and have benefitted from a focus on their people.

Again, these are just a few of the factors which must exist to achieve the success you seek by attracting and keeping the people who will make it happen.

Check out this short video for further clarification of the importance of people.

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

More Focus on Culture 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

1. Push the button even though it’s already lit, indicating that others have pushed it before you. Do you think it’s going to get there faster by doing that?
2. When it arrives, you then enter the elevator and automatically turn and face the front.
3. You push the button of the floor you want—even if it’s already lit.
4. You avoid eye contact with any of the other passengers.
5. You probably fold your hands in front of you or behind you.
6. You focus on the small screen showing the passing floors.
7. Or you look straight ahead or at the floor.
8. You say nothing to anyone or, if you’re with a companion, you speak only in hushed tones.
9. When you get to your floor, you quickly exit the elevator and resume acting like an earthling.

Now my question is simple. Where did you learn to do that? Was it covered in grade school, middle school, or maybe high school? I don’t think it’s taught in college. Did, at some point in your young life, one or both of your parents sit you down for “THE” talk … you know, the “how to behave in an elevator talk”! Is it something you learned in the military or maybe a “job training program” at some point during your career? Or maybe it was much more simple than that.

Maybe there was a sign on the wall listing those behaviors. No, we know there’s never been a sign.

Obviously not. Our behavior is under the control of unwritten social rules, implicit norms, which govern appropriate elevator demeanor. Social norms are expectations shared by the members of a group about appropriate ways to behave in given situations.

And it’s not formal training by any stretch of the imagination. It’s not even openly acknowledged. Yet we’re manipulated like puppets on invisible strings and this unusual experience isn’t limited to an elevator. Consider how we act in a court room, in a hospital waiting room, in a library, attempting to board an airplane at the airport, in a laundromat, or in a restaurant. In each situation we mindlessly follow the dictates of group norms and situational forces.

Years ago there was a very popular family TV program called “Allen Funt’s Candid Camera.” In what might be his most ingenious stunt, “Face the Rear,” his staff rigged an elevator so that after an unsuspecting person enters, four Candid Camera staff members enter, and one by one they all face the rear. The doors close and then reopen; now revealing that the passenger had conformed and is now also facing the rear. Doors close and reopen, and everyone is facing sideways, and then face the other way. I’m sure you can guess the outcome.

Watch this short, but hilarious, video but pause before laughing too loud. Think about how many times, in each of the scenarios mentioned above, YOU have been manipulated like a puppet on a string!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8zlk9TZ4bA

Well, times are changing and norms are being replaced by new strategies in hopes that we can survive and thrive in today’s challenging and chaotic environment. It’s time to challenge norms, rethink current strategies, try different approaches, consider calculated risks, and expand comfort zones!

Why not start with the ELEVATOR? The next time you enter that “sacred square” consider one of the following behaviors to liven up the existence of those still connected to those invisible strings.

1. Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral.
2. Say “Ding!” at each floor.
3. Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.
4. Stand silent and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.
5. Whistle the first seven notes of “It’s a Small World” incessantly.
6. Crouch in one corner and growl menacingly at everyone who gets on.
7. Stare, grinning, at another passenger for a while, and then announce: “I’ve got new socks on!”
8. Read Green Eggs and Ham as though it were Shakespeare. Sound out every word!
9. When there is only one other person in the elevator, tap them on the shoulder and then pretend it wasn’t you.
10. As the elevator is going up, jump violently up and down, shouting, “Down! I said down, darn it!”
11. Announce in a demonic voice: “I must find a more suitable host body.”
12. Upon entering a full elevator, face the entire group and say: “I’ll bet you’re wondering why I called this meeting.”

Now that you’ve had some fun, focus on other situations in your life where you’ve been a victim of unwritten social rules or implicit norms. Re-frame, leave the path, make a difference, strive and thrive … and keep me posted!

Now excuse me as I gather my pogo stick, tripod, and snare drum … I have an elevator to catch!

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Did You Attend Elevator University? 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

Can you put a price on an offer that promises to change your life as you know it today? Most would struggle to do so.

I can make you that offer and will gladly do so at absolutely no charge. However, there IS a price! It’s simply discipline, application and execution!

It’s been proven that having a compelling vision of your future that is in line with your values, interests and desires gives you an edge in bringing it into reality. Leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.

However, a recent study revealed the shocking fact that LESS than 5% of the population, 1 out of 20, has a personal “vision.” In fact, the majority of people today would struggle to even define “vision.”

Simply put, a “vision” is the structure that gives your life its meaning and purpose. It’s gives us a reason to stretch ourselves, expand our current comfort zones, capitalize on our strengths, strengthen our weaknesses, learn new skills, expand our networks, and establish hope for a better future.

A strong “vision” acts as a compass to keep you on track to reach your chosen destination. A “vision” can be the proverbial “fire in the belly” that keeps you going, sustains tenacity, and assures you of a better tomorrow. It forces you to look into the future and identify possibilities as you maintain a focus on what needs to be done today to achieve your future success.

Creating and pursuing a vision may sound as though it requires an effort on your part. It certainly does! However, isn’t that effort well worth the positive consequences you’ll certainly enjoy in the end? And consider this … what’s the alternative? For most, it’s continuing to wander aimlessly through today’s chaotic environment in hopes that the future will be kind to you. Consider the odds.

The offer I mentioned earlier? Do some research, create a vision of the future you desire, develop a strategy, and begin this crucial journey today! Follow this simple formula and you become one of those one out of twenty people who are in a much better position to overcome the odds in your pursuit of happiness and content.

Also take a look at some of the compelling quotes on the subject of vision on our website.

Feel free to check out our in-depth offering of quotes on many additional subjects should you be in need of a refreshing thought, idea, slogan or profound nugget for an upcoming meeting, presentation, or lunch room bulletin board.

We offer interesting quotes on the subjects of attitude, change, chaos, creativity, customer service, dreams, employee engagement, employees, empowerment, enthusiasm, execution, fear, gender, goals, graduation, leadership, mentoring, motivation, networking, passion, patience, persistence, politics, potential, random acts of kindness, reading, repetition, sales, sense of urgency, smiling, teachers, teamwork, time management, women, and now vision!

Click on “Words of Wisdom” in order to review our entire offering.

Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Vision Is Newest Category for Words of Wisdom 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

Prior to condemning me as having finally lost “it”… consider this true news report. A young five-year-old boy, Andrew Gentile, stepped into a New Jersey lake that his mom thought was shallow. Actually, it was over six-feet deep, and Andrew couldn’t swim. His neighbor, boy hero Reese Ronceray, 8, jumped into the water, swam out to Andrew, latched onto him, situated him in the crook of his arm and quickly swam them both to safety.

Reese said he had simply imitated something he had seen on the popular cartoon show, SpongeBob Squarepants. He remembered the lifesaving strokes he had seen on the episode “SpongeGuard on Duty.”

I often read and hear comments about the evils of television and the horrendous impact it has on today’s younger generation. I’m afraid I have to agree. However, there’s always an exception to the rule, and this certainly appears to qualify as one of those wonderful exceptions. I’m sure you’d agree if either of these young men were beloved members of your Circle of Life.

If you’ve never heard of SpongeBob Squarepants, you might be interested in revisiting a blog article I wrote last year about this loveable character, explaining how his vast empire was created and how it was impacting children worldwide.

SpongeBob is currently Nickelodeon’s highest-rated show, the most distributed property of MTV Networks, and among Nicktoons Network’s most-watched shows. SpongeBob is now broadcast around the world and millions of fans know him as a sea sponge, but in shape and color his body more closely resembles a kitchen sponge and, of course, he lives in a pineapple under the sea!

Laugh if you will, ignore if you must, but realize that this cherished cartoon character changed the lives of these two young men and those who love them. Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

A Thank-You Note to SpongeBob SquarePants 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.

By the way, this is a great story to share with your children or grandchildren the next time things aren’t going just the way they’d like them to.

SEASONS

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn to not judge things too quickly … so he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and returned, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The father then explained to his sons that they were all correct, because they had each seen only one season in the tree’s life. He told them they could not judge a tree, or a person, by only one season. That the essence of who they are, and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life, can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons have passed.

If you give up when it’s winter, you’ll miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and the fulfillment of your fall. Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don’t judge life by one difficult season.

Persevere through difficult times, and better times are sure to come.

Aspire to inspire … before you expire!

Happiness keeps you sweet,
Trials keep you strong,
Sorrows keep you human,
Failures keep you humble, and
Success keep you growing!
Harry K. Jones is a professional, motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

The Seasons of Life 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 and custom-designed training and keynote presentations.