Mortgages: Texas

2012-01-27T05:52:00.001-06:00

“Without dreams, there can be no courage. And without courage, there can be no action.” - Wim Wenders, German film director (b. 1945) It’s interesting how one thing feeds another, and the continuum keeps on keepin’ on… Dreams, courage and action. If that’s all we could bring to the game each day, we’d probably be ok. But they’re not all we can bring. When we intersperse these traits with planning, wisdom, experience and knowledge (not necessarily in that – or any order), then incredible things start to happen. Layer on a dose of practice, and wow, we’re rolling! Interesting to note, though, that action and courage are linked. Even when the outcome is more sure than others – courage is at play. Those that watch things happen tend to wish they were the ones making things happen. Make something incredible happen today! Dream….courage…..action! STEVEN T HESTON

Dream Big, Think Small

2012-01-19T18:10:00.002-06:00

This is a partial post from Fran Tarkenton's weekly newsletter Fran's Corner at GoSmallBiz.com. While this article is written to Small Business Owners, it pertains to all of us. Great article and thanks to Mr. Tarkenton and GoSmallBiz.

Put your time into dreaming about a great big idea: a great product or a great service. Dream about solving big problems for your friends and neighbors. Dream about doing something better than anybody has ever done it before. Don't dream about having offices in London, Shanghai, and Dubai, with a plush corporate jet to fly you between them. The big idea will take care of all that. Dream about relevant customer benefits and competitive differentiation, and the big idea will pull you right into the Hall of Fame.

Dream big, but think small. Too many small companies try to act the way they think big companies act. And too many big companies try to act like the Fortune 500 act. I'm not sure if you noticed lately, but the Fortune 500 has not been acting so smart. They think big: big corner offices, big corporate jets, big office towers, big signs on professional sports stadiums with their names on them. Big costs-but not-so-big profits. They have shareholders who will put up with that foolishness. As a small business owner, your number one shareholder better not put up with it, or all you'll own is debts and regrets.

- Fran Tarkenton, GoSmallBiz

To that end....

Danny

Sync Your Lips with Your Feet

2012-01-16T07:32:00.000-06:00

What you do speaks so loudly that what you say I cannot hear

- Anonymous

Stephen M.R. Covey states "trust is one thing that changes everything. Trust is common to every individual, team, family, nation and organization." Mr. Covey continues with building an excellent compelling business case for Trust and how it is something you can get better at.

Having become a student of Covey's brand of trust the past 4 years, I've used his teachings in my daily practice of coaching, training and life. The one factor that stands out higher than any other is his 2nd core of credibility -

Intent: What's Your Agenda?

You can find this in his words and detail beginning with page 73, but I'll give you my version.

1. Words and Walk; the words and the walk must be the same every time. When they aren't, I lose traction with the relationship and everything slows down. When the words and walk are consistent, then our relationship speeds up and will grow.

2. Watch out for Blind Spots; be aware of the fact that we trust people based upon how much we trust ourselves and our own feelings about trust. If our tendency is to not trust, then relationships don't grow and business slows down. If we tend to blindly trust others, then we'll get burned. Subsequently, as we trust well, we'll build relationships and business between within those relationships will flourish.

3. Willingness to Win/Win; intentions and motives. Is everyone in the relationship pointed towards not only the same end mission or purpose, but also goals along the way and the basis for how to get there? Does everyone understand the other person's "win?"

My favorite Trust Behavior is -

Create Transparency (page 152): tell the truth in a way people can verify. Be real, open and authentic. Over deliver your disclosure.

Opposite is - hidden agenda / withhold information / not disclosing because "they didn't ask"

Counterfeit - masking the real behavior and agenda with hidden agendas and motives / being passively-aggressive / technically telling the truth (Covey has this as part of "Talking Straight" but in practice I've found it to be important here also)

Our lips and feet come out-of-sync in many ways and that can be driven by a lack of focus, the greed to sell something at the moment and volatility. Some of us don't even realize what we are doing at the time, others of us do and mistakenly think the end result is the only thing that matters.

Look over your shoulder and be aware of what you leave along the way; bad and good - improve on the bad and relish the good. Practice trust well.

To that end......

Danny

Third Time's A Charm: I hope

2012-01-05T09:16:00.001-06:00

I subscribe to John Maxwell's Your Word Today is.... and today's Word he gave his viewers/listeners was Self Control.

My first view was early this morning and my thought was YEA! I agree, I have control of myself! By 8:30 though, life had attacked and I was in the middle of a couple of controversies; one with someone not making a call they were supposed to make, and then my seemingly inability to perform simple taks on the computer....a certain software this morning.

I thought...self control, self control, self control...why am I thinking self-control! And then I remembered----Maxwell's word.

So, I just now listened to it again. And I feel better. Or did. Not so much now as I write this and I'm thinking one, about the phone call (did it happen?) and two, I've got to get learn how to use that software and get that work done.

Self-Control.

I hope the 3rd time I watch that 1 minute video helps.

To that end...

Deep breaths.

Changes are Hard

2011-12-30T07:55:00.002-06:00

He who rejects change is the architect

of decay. The only human institution which

rejects progress is the cemetery.

~ Harold Wilson

I don't care who you are, change is hard.

Just hard.

It doesn't matter if you're trying to change, or having to changing. It's hard.

Just hard.

Whether you need to change, trying to change or having to change. It's hard.

Just hard.

If you say it's not, I'll say, as my brother Randy is fond of saying "you lie to your friends and I'll lie to mine, but let's not lie to each other."

Embrace the fact that change is hard and you'll be better prepared to handle the tasks it will take to change.

Because it's hard.

Just hard.

To that end....let's purposefully change in 2012.

And it'll be hard.

Just hard.

But that's ok. It's supposed to be.

A Baby's Hug

2011-12-25T11:44:00.001-06:00

From an Anonymous author…..

A Baby's Hug ~

We were the only family with children in the restaurant.

I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter

And his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists.

This was Christmas time and we were eating before going next to the mall for Erik to see Santa. Frankly, it was annoying for Erik to be so interested in this man across the room.

'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?'

Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.' Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The Old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.

Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty Cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.' Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed.

We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his Repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments. We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot.

The old man sat poised between me and the door.

'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.

Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes.

His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a Time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'you take care of this baby.' Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me My Holiday gift.' I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.

With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was Crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, Forgive me.' I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny Child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not.

I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?'

When He shared His for all eternity.

May we all remember the purpose of this season.

Steve Heston on Tebow, Trust and Results

2011-12-16T10:00:00.004-06:00

Another great post from Guest Blogger - Steve Heston

“You can’t create a high-trust culture unless people perform.”

- Craig Weatherup, former CEO of PepsiCo, as quoted in
The Speed of Trust; The One That Change Everything
by Stephen M. R. Covey
and recommended by Randy Watson

Tim Tebow is 7-1 as a starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos.

He “can’t throw,” “can’t read complex, high-speed NFL defenses,” “can’t make multiple reads,” etc.

He’s 7-1.

He can, and does, win. He performs. He gets results.

His teammates, interestingly enough, trust him. Because he performs, but not just because he performs.

By all accounts, his integrity is impeccable, his intent (to be a winner) is clear and his capabilities have at least allowed him to be in a position to be in the NFL, so those cornerstones are set.

But integrity, intent and capability aren’t enough over the long haul. That’s significant today in our world, because we’re finally having “long haul” conversations again within the walls of this here place we spend our waking hours.

So, what are “results?” To loop Einstein in to the conversation; “Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted.”

Covey frames it with six objectives:

1) Play hard

2) Have fun

3) Be a good sport

4) Be a good team player

5) Learn something

6) Win

Pages 114-117 give more depth, so in the interest of space, I’ll move to how Covey suggests we can improve our results;

A) Take Responsibility for Results

B) Expect to Win

C) Finish Strong

Tebow’s Broncos have come from behind in 6 of those seven wins. The loss, by the way, was a crushing defeat to the Detroit Lions (before several of the Lions got sent home for being thugs). Tebow bore the responsibility for that blowout loss, and he’s deferred to the team (see #3 and #4 above) in the wins. Those would be the wins he’s expecting, and the ones he’s producing by finishing strong. With the teammates he trusts and who trust him.

Integrity. Intent. Capabilities. Results.

The four things that make up the core of the One Thing That Changes Everything. Trust.

Make something incredible happen today.

STEVEN T HESTON
SteveHeston@AOL.com

7 Reasons to Stop Being a Perfectionist

2011-11-30T17:29:00.001-06:00

Krista Jezek shared this with me yesterday. She got it off a discussion on LinkedIn and I've Googled looking for the original source but it seems the list has been around for some time and lot's of credits.

Here's the list (and please let me know if you know who originally came up with it)...

Perfectionism causes procrastination
You get caught up in the details
Perfectionism doesn't allow you to be yourself
Perfectionism set you up to need others' approval
Perfectionism causes you to be in a constant state of stress, because you’re always trying to meet your perfect standards
Perfectionism stops you from taking a risk
Perfectionism stops you from picking up the phone

I'm sure those "C's" out there (and you know who you are) will find this to be very true. If your DISC companion is a D, then you can generally get away from the C tendencies without too much problem, especially if your D is high. But, if you have a high "S"...get help. Seriously, find an a strong accountability partner or a coach that really understands this stuff.

22 of the Many Roadblocks to Successful Marketing (and getting money in the bank)

Killing Marketing's Most Dangerous Enemy

T.A.S.K.S. Based Goal Setting

Life Isn't a Straight Line, But a Series of Circles

To that end...

Danny L. Smith

Business Coach / Consultant

Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach^TM

Big Solutions for Small Business

Hi Impact – Low Cost

Strategies | Actions | Results

Phone: 512-773-6528

www.dannylsmith.com

www.linkedin.com/in/dannylsmith

www.twitter.com/dannylsmith

24220 Spur Trail

Spicewood, Texas 78669

Counterfeit Credibility

2011-11-20T10:46:00.003-06:00

Googling counterfeit brought up over 7 million hits; counterfeit behavior 948,000.

Counterfeit means; made in imitation so as to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine; not genuine; forged: counterfeit dollar bills. Pretended; unreal.

Credibility means; capable of being believed; believable: a credible statement. Worthy of belief or confidence; trustworthy: a credible witness.

Counterfeit Credibility then means that one's credibility, or credible statement, or credible witness is an imitation, deceptive, not genuine, and deceptive.

Normal counterfeit behaviors that destroys others trust in us, AND one's trust in oneself include:

Technically telling the truth
Legally splitting hairs
Spinning the real issues
Withholding information (well, they didn't ask the right question)
Hidden motives and agendas
Passive-aggressive behavior
Being driven by circumstance and not conscience
Being two-faced; pretending to care
Pretending to pay attention
Being busy to look busy and not getting results
Not accepting the blame when it is your fault

To that end....

An Amazing Post. Simply Stinking Amazing.

2011-10-28T07:32:00.004-05:00

This is an "amazing" post. I say "amazing" because "amazing" is what my coach told me to say when I thought something was stupid, horrible, bad attitude.....or when I don't have anything good to say.

Not that I believe this post is stupid, horrible or even comes with a bad attitude. Well, maybe the attitude part. But I am having trouble having something good to say and I want to get this posted this morning before I take a deep breath and decide to write some nice. Sometimes I can't stand nice.

I am astonished how "amazing" many people are! The number of business owners, sales people, people that need to get better in order to change their lives, yet do NOTHING! And the belly-aching! The whining! Good grief.

Get a grip...know that in order for you to change, you are going to have to change. Do something simple...like download some free instructions on how to do something you've never done before. Do something different...learn something just a little bit new.

Seriously....are most of us so beat down, so entrenched in our ways that we don't think things are ever going to change? Or is it this "instant" "got-to-have-it-now" culture we live in.

I'm starting to feel bad about writing this and don't believe I have time to start talking about the amazing people that look for the bad in everything and......never mind.

Amazing.

Keep Looking Over Your Shoulder

2011-10-15T08:03:00.004-05:00

The step that most directly controls our success or failure is our

behavior - what we do or not do. Behavior means our actions.

How we act, what we do, each moment of each day...

- Shad Helmstetter What to Say When You Talk to Yourself

What did you do to be successful last week? Look over your shoulder? Literally. Look to see if you did what it took to succeed last week.

Assuming that you're responsible for generating income...Did you make a sale? Did you market well last week? Did you bring new people into your sphere of influence. Did you go out, meet people and tell them about your offer? What you're selling? Did you start new relationships last week?

In days of old (ten years ago), most of us only started new relationships over the phone and/or face-to-face. These days, there's the social media aspect, email and other internet impact.

And, the guy that succeeds in these relationships will usually use many ways to touch his spheres.

Building relationships will more than a handful (that's 4 or 5) takes a process. A process requires, yes requires, evaluation and correction. Look back through your calendar and complete filling it out for last week and do this -

1. open your calendar
2. start filling out everything you did last week.
3. go back through the call log on your phone.
4. this will take some time, but it is a great exercise of what you are spending time on
5. look at all your social media postings
6. log everything
7. evaluate it
8. what could you have done differently?
9. what will you do differently today
10. do this again tomorrow morning to see what you did today

Are you spending time doing what you need to do to succeed? You can't get the check if you're not marketing, and if you're not marketing you aren't getting new prospects. If your business depends upon new face-to-face prospects, you can't prospect if you're not in front of people. You can't make that sale tomorrow, next week or next month if you don't meet people today.

Oh! You don't want to look back, you just want to look forward? Then I'll be bold enough to say you're going to make the same mistakes over and over again.

The purpose of "looking over your shoulder" is to uncover blind spots and begin establishing a robust evaluation and correction system. Blind spots are called blind spots for a reason. Figure out where they are and do something about them.

Ask yourself: what could you have done 7 months ago to help your situation today? What could you have done last month to help sell something today? What could youhave done last week, or yesterday to help today?

So, do that TODAY to help yourself tomorrow, next week, next month, next year.

To that end....fill out you calendar today and look back at it tonight and make a difference today in your future.

Danny

Notable BizTweets this Week

2011-10-07T07:29:00.007-05:00

Without Good Followers, There Are No Real Leaders http://ow.ly/6GTFW

RT @TomZiglar: Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker. Zig Ziglar

handyrene Mar 12, 12:52pm via RockMelt

The Best Daily Deals in Austin - Two Hours of Home Repair and Maintenance - LivingSocialhttp://me.lt/207so

HumanInitiativs Sep 28, 2:54pm via Bullhorn Reach

Health Reform Timeline: Know the Factsbull.hn/l/7G7W/

Retweeted by DannyLSmith

RT @rbalius: Passion-Purpose-Positioning-Personality | Content from this mornings roundtable @AustinAMA Thx @flabasida @MoxieMarketing

DannyLSmith Sep 28, 10:05pm via HootSuite

RT @donnyimpala: This is a great workshop if you want to learn how to market yourself or business. Lunch is included. lnkd.in/e-77-H

DannyLSmith Sep 28, 10:20pm via HootSuite

When you talk to yourself, say great things. Praise your work, others and your strengths. It matters. #GoSmallBiz

@ResidentRealtyA: With Real Estate, you get most bang for buck in Texas, your investment will continue to appreciate as Austin diversifies.

Sep 28, 11:20pm via HootSuite

Practice adding value to things, people and yourself

RT @QBQGuy: #1 office peeve: Lack of ownership. #2: Complaining. The QBQ! book hits on them both. Article: www.cnbc.com/id/44691645/

@rbalius: 3 Austin banks receive $7.1M through small business fundbizjournals.com/austin/news/20… via @MyABJ

ep 29, 6:12pm via HootSuite

Dream Big, Think Small...... http://ow.ly/6J1SQ #GoSmallBiz

RT @BlairEvanBall: 8 Creative Ways to Customize Your Facebook Business Pagegoo.gl/alG8y

RT @rbalius: is a Sales and Marketing partnership possible? Facilitating a round table with the @AustinAMA

ep 29, 10:05pm via HootSuite

Helping small business owners, one call and one click at-a-time. #SmallBizSolutions #GoSmallBiz

Market/Sell your competitive advantages, not your competitor's disadvantages.

Attention Loan Officers.....are you marketing your brand? Or the company's? It's your business first.

RT @BlairEvanBall: 5 Brands That Are Surprisingly Successful on Facebookgoo.gl/c9aD7

Using your competitor's disadvantages to market/sell your business makes you look stupid.

RT @austensmith: Small Business equipping.....all day event and over $400 in extras... ow.ly/6KFeE

RT @ResidentRealtyA: Our website is a resource! Search listings by area, save favorites, check recent price changes! austinlistingalert.com

.RT @BlairEvanBall: 5 Twitter Tips to Give Your Content More Exposure goo.gl/CtQFb

VIsion can be hard to explain by the visionary.#GoSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

RT @ProTect_Paint: We love Red, White and Blue, America too! Support a local business and help keep America running and economy stimulated.

What does "small business" mean to you?

Guerrilla Marketing was made for Loan Officers. Free classes and coaching w/Small Business Solutions. #GoSmallBiz

Practice adding value to things, people and yourself today.

When you talk to yourself, say great things. Praise your work, others and your strengths. It matters. #GoSmallBiz

Think before you lead, before you follow....just think.

Salespeople.....think like small business owners. #GoSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

All day Small Business Equipping Event in Austin - Over $450 in Bonuses with registrationhttp://ow.ly/6PkVc

Small Business Marketing: "you can have multiple niches." #GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

Small Business Marketing: "success requires keeping a marketing calendar for forward & backwards evaluation" #GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

Small Business Marketing: "be purposeful and intentional in EVERYTHING you do, whether you think it is marketing or not"#SmallBizSolutions

Small Business Marketing: "line your weapons up and use effectively" #GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

Small Business Marketing: "target your market and find your niche(s)" #GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

Small Business Marketing: "define, understand and marketing with your identity" #GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

Small Business Marketing: "your budget can be small and still be hugely effective"#GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

I subscribed to hostwink's channel on YouTube. youtube.com/user/hostwink?…

Individual commitment to a group effort is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. Lombardi

What are you looking for in a business relationship? 3Cs...Character, Competence, and Chemistry. #GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

11 Major Attributes of Leadersprepare1.com/11-attributes-…

RT @ErikaMarcoux: Between the two poles of expression and suppression lies a third option, mere observation. erikamarcoux.com

Building Your Business: Dr. Schwartz on attitude - "Grow the SERVICE FIRST attitude and let money take care of itself."#GOSmallBiz...

Building Your Business: Dr. Schwartz on attitude - "Practice Appreciation." #GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

Building Your Business: Dr. Schwartz on attitude - "Practice calling people by their name"#GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

Building Your Business: Dr. Schwartz on attitude - "Don't hog glory, invest it instead."#GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

Building Your Business: Dr. Schwartz on attitude - "Dig and you'll become enthused"#GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

Building Your Business: Dr. Schwartz on attitude - "Broadcast GOOD news."#GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

Building Your Business: Dr. Schwartz on attitude - "Grow the YOU ARE IMPORTANT attitude." #GOSmallBiz #SmallBizSolutions

To that end....

Make today a great day and tomorrow even better

Danny

www.twitter.com/dannylsmith

Without Good Followers, There Are No Real Leaders

2011-09-26T07:46:00.001-05:00

Just a quick note this morning to remind those that follow this blog that in order to be a great leader, you have to have great followers.

You can read more about what I've written on the subject by searching this blog. For now...please learn to follow well. If you think of yourself as a leader, then who are you following? If you have people that report to you, are you following their leads? They should be on your team for a reason and you'll be a better leader as you learn to follow their strengths. If your team members, or others that follow you, aren't worthy of following, then that's another problem, but practice following, use a good evaluation and correction process, but follow well.

What are your weaknesses? Are you allowing someone with the strength to off-set your weakness to lead you? Again, have a good evaluation and correction process to drive you and others in your 360 degrees of influence to become better followers, and thus leaders.

You'll be a much better leader as you learn to follow well.

To that end...

Danny Smith
Small Business Solutions
Are the details associated with your entrepreneurial seizures getting you down. Click here for help.

Points-to-Ponder: Strategic Thinking Leadership

2011-09-22T08:21:00.003-05:00

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to

entertain a thought without accepting it.

Aristotle

A strategy is a theory of how best to organize and invest resources and ways of working together (including organizational culture) to achieve goals. To be able to think critically; analytically and systematically is critical to being a successful and an effective leader.

Notice that Aristotle (above) did not say an "educated person" but rather a trained or educated mind. Hence, a disciplined way of thinking.

Effective organizational leaders who succeed at the strategic thinking level have the individual capacity to cope with the complexity, fluidity, and uncertainty of situations. You do not have to have everything laid out for you. You seek clarity over certainty in every decision and you have the resiliency and ingenuity to adapt to new and different circumstances.

As a strategic leader your prime responsibility is to ensure that your organization is going in the right direction. What is the right strategic direction? How and where do you establish it? Why is implementation so difficult?

Some Points-to-Ponder:

Thinking involves manipulation and transforming information in memory
Reasoning is logical thinking that uses induction or deduction to research a conclusion
Decision making involves thinking in which individuals evaluate alternatives and make choices between them
Confirmation Bias is the tendency to search for information that supports our ideas rather than refutes them
Belief Perseverance is the tendency to hold on to a belief in the face of contradictory evidence

Why is strategic and critical thinking so important to leadership?

Because strategic and critical thinking views individuals and organizations within the context of the possible. As such, people and an organization do not exist as an island unto themselves, but as part of a larger network web or matrix of systems that all function, or less independently, yet interdependently.

The net result.....better results, more profit and a better culture.

It is critical to your organization's future that you see the world with clarity and an understanding of how the rest of the world impacts your business.

To that end....

Danny

The source for this material is from MuRF Systems' Leadership and Strategic Thinking management/leadership training program.

To learn more about this training and how it can help your company achieve better results, contact Danny Smith at danny@RP2Development.com or 512-773-6528.

Sync Your Lips with Your Feet

2011-09-18T06:11:00.000-05:00

What you do speaks so loudly that what you say I cannot hear

- Anonymous

Having become a student of Covey's brand of trust the past 4 years, I've used his teachings in my daily practice of coaching, training and life. The one factor that stands out higher than any other is his 2nd core of credibility -

Focus! Almost Getting Derailed.

2011-09-13T11:22:00.003-05:00

My mission statement states "I will endeavor to glorify God by making a difference and a reasonable profit."

Endeavor, glorify God, make a difference, make a reasonable profit; endeavor, glorify, God, make, difference, reasonable, profit.

All of that came forth with a client recently. This client, I'll call Susan, is a very high "I" or Sanguine personality. These personality types are typically unfocused, even to the extent of being extreme. Their strengths include high energy, talk to most anyone, works a crowd well and lots (LOTS) of ideas and stories.

A Sanguine weakness is "lack of focus." You can typically tell if you are talking to a Sanguine if he/she doesn't stay focused on the subject. They can easily relate their ideas and or stories back to one focus point and will even rationalize why all the subject matters are important.

Small Business people with this temperament have plenty of ideas but have a history of trying loads or variances, of products and services.

My job, my purpose, is to coach a client through a process of characteristics and improve competencies. Fulfilling that purpose varies from client-to-client depending upon his/her temperament they bring to the table. But I first have to get the client to the point of where they understand their temperament. Second, I have to get them to the point that they want to change and improve. And, that's where I can lose the client.

Now back to Susan: She has a lot of ideas and knows what she needs to do. But it's not about the ideas. It's not even acting on the ideas. It's about acting on the ideas WELL. Well includes good follow-THROUGH.

The "I's" (Sanguine) don't naturally do follow-through. They'll follow-up from time-to-time, but not follow-through. They are not typically focused, purposeful and intentional. But, when they learn who they are, what their natural tendencies are, how they naturally function; WOW, it's like corralling a tornado!

Hopefully, I got a bit of my lariat around Susan today. We'll see.

To that end...

Danny Smith
Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach
512-773-7628
danny@dannylsmith.com
Ask me about the Small Business ToolBox.

Fires Attract All Personalities, But....

2011-09-06T09:45:00.008-05:00

Fires attract all kinds of people, but not everyone acts the same once they get close. Such was the case this week with the Pedernales fire. I live on the Pedernales River and was forced to evacuate, and though I did leave , I didn't go far. Cathy didn't want to watch, and didn't, but I was drawn back out of curiosity, concern, and just the general fact "it's a fire!"

The gas station close to my place is up on a hill and there were a couple of hundred people jammed down the sides of the road and parking lot watching the.....well, the smoke.

Where there's smoke, there's fire. And where there's a fire, people show up. Not all people. The "S" (phlegmatic) temperaments that do make it are typically dragged unsuspectingly by a very introverted spouse. But the "I," or Sanguines! You can tell who the Sanguines are. He or she is walking around talking, asking questions, and giving advice. They're telling about their own fire experiences from childhood 30 years before and likely embellishing it a bit to one-up the unsuspecting conversation partner! If that person happens to be another Sanguine, well, they're having a blast spinning tails.

The Choleric will just walk away looking for someone to boss around while the melancholy is counting the people, hot spots and thinking about his list of things to do and how this chaos is causing disruptions in how he gets that list done. But that's ok, that's what happens to lists and what he enjoys.

But what happened to the Phlegmatic? If the Sanguine caught him in a conversation, he's too nice to walk away and is thinking how he never gets himself into this situation again. The Phlegmatic, you see, if he does ever get excited he'll just lay down until the feeling goes away.

How does this pertain to small business, sales and marketing? Well, we naturally market, sell and network (both faces of Social Media) the same as we react to fires. And we need to be aware of what we do well, not so well and what we should stop. We then look at what we can do better or who we team up with to improve our results. Sanguines need to act more like a Melancholy, Phlegmatics like Choleric, Melancholies need to be more "I" and Cholerics regularly need a shot of "S" (just chill a bit and think).

To that end....

Danny L. Smith
Certified Guerilla Marketing Coach
Small Business Coach
GoSmallBiz
512-773-6528
www.dannylsmith.com

Don't Make It Complicated

2011-09-01T00:18:00.009-05:00

Hi Impact, Low Cost Strategies, Actions and Results absolutely requires (absolutely requires) that you NOT complicate matters.

Many Small Business Owners have all kinds of ideas about how to market their products and services. Their challenge, problem, is putting feet to the thoughts.

Doug is such a person. Doug owns a carpeting company. He networks with people every week, doesn't hesitate to pick up the phone and will call on businesses and homeowners without a second thought.

Every morning he wakes up thinking "I've got to market better!" Doug is a typical Small Business Owner that goes out and gets the business, then works the business and then finds himself without any business...and the cycle starts all over.

Doug doesn't need a big marketing plan or strategy. Doug needs discipline that looks like this -

Keep a marketing calendar
Put every marketing "thing" on the calendar that he's going to do, check off what did and did not get done, reschedule marketing "things" and so on. For a guy like Doug I recommend a week-at-a-glance type PAPER calendar
Robust evaluation and correction of the marketing that is happening, and not happening
The "marketing plan" should be something the Small Business Owner can easily digest on the run
The "marketing plan" needs to be a living document with the minimal of information

What is the Purpose of today's marketing?

What Benefits will the customer receive buying from you?

What is your Target today?

What is the Niche inside your Target?

What Weapons are you going to use today?

What Identity are you driving each and every day?

What is your Budget?

So...3 Simple Things

Marketing Calendar

Marketing Plan

Robust Evaluation and Correction

Keep it simple.

To that end...

Right People in the Right Place

2011-08-29T17:27:00.005-05:00

This is the 3rd article in a series about the book Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan. But...with an emphasis on small business.*

Building Block #3: Having the Right People in the Right Place - the job no leader should delegate

Many Small Business Owners aren't equipped in their passion and skill sets to hire the right people for the right seat on the bus (see Good to Great by Jim Collins) and will tend to hire friends, family and others not properly "fit" for the position. Thus, the business owner needs to prepare him/herself to do it right. Here are some tips -

Remember, if you hire a talented person, he/she will hire talented people
Use outside help from assessments and consultants; not only does this assist the business owner now, but sets the standard for better results in the future
Leaders should spend 40% of their time and emotional energy in selecting, appraising, and developing people
Leaders must be decisive on tough issues
Leaders get things done through others
Leaders follow through
Leaders evaluate others with honesty and candor

"Those who build great companies understand that the ultimate throttle on growth for any great company is not markets, or technology, or competition, or products. It is one thing above all others; the ability to get and keep enough of the right people."

Jim Collins in Good to Great

To that end....look for the right people; wait for the right people.

Related Articles

Small Businesses Need Cultural Change.....TOO!

Marketing's Three Building Blocks of Execution

Missing Link(s)..or Broken?

7 Essential Behaviors for Small Businesses....TOO!

Small Businesses Need Cultural Change.....TOO!

2011-08-25T11:04:00.002-05:00

This is another article in a series about the book Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan. But...with an emphasis on small business.*

Building Block #2: Creating the Framework for Cultural Change

Be sure to provide positive rewards for good performers and negative consequences for poor performers

The inadequacy of "harmony" as a goal - harmony can be the enemy of truth
Leaders get the behavior they exhibit and tolerate

Small business must be intentionally engaged in cultural change and not living in a vacuum. The small business man or woman is typically someone with an idea or passion, has that proverbial entrepreneurial seizure, goes into this event with opinions of "when I run my business, I do it this way."

Yet, so many bumps, grinds and bruises can be missed by following the paths of successful small business people. These veterans have already lost that time and money, and experienced the pain of problems.

Back to culture change. We all experience it. We're living it right now. What "framework" do you bring to your daily game to engage in and create the right framework for cultural change.

Related Articles

Marketing's Three Building Blocks of Execution

Missing Link(s)..or Broken?

7 Essential Behaviors for Small Businesses....TOO!

To that end....be purposeful about the change that IS happening,

*I define small business as any entity (division, branch, company, sales) under 100 people; this includes individual sales people, loan officers, Realtors, etc

7 Essential Behaviors for Small Businesses....TOO!

2011-08-22T05:01:00.073-05:00

Most management and leadership books are written by and focused on big business. That's understandable considering the big money attracts and develops talent so well. Yet, even these authors become "small" businesses when they become authors!

Bossidy and Charan's Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done is an excellent book for small businesses and teaches fundamentals of GETTING THINGS DONE. This book is one of those I pound out at clients, covertly and otherwise :-), to improve their processes. The authors lay out the argument of 3 Building Blocks and then 3 Core Processes of Execution.

These factors are especially important for the small business* person and his/her intentional focus on results.

Building Block #1: The Leader's Seven Essential behaviors

Know your people and your business
Insist on realism
Set clear goals and priorities
Follow through
Reward doers
Expand people's capabilities
Know yourself

Four core qualities that make up emotional fortitude are authenticity, self-awareness, self-mastery and humility.

As an old friend, Chas Winckel, used to say..."I don't care who you are, that's good stuff!"

In the coming weeks, I'll be pushing more and more about these blocks, processes and action steps to practice them in your business of doing business.

Related Articles

Marketing's Three Building Blocks of Execution

Missing Link(s)..or Broken?

To that end....be purposeful, be intentional.

Danny L. Smith

Business Coach / Consultant

Big Solutions for Small Business

Marketing | Talent Analytics | Leadership/Management/Follower Training

Phone: 512-773-6528

www.dannylsmith.com

*I define small business as any entity (division, branch, company, sales) under 100 people; this includes individual sales people, loan officers, Realtors, etc.

Small Businesses 3 C's of Success

2011-08-18T17:15:00.001-05:00

Working with a client this week and discussing the qualities they were looking for in a new hire, the "3 C's" came up in the discussion. I was reminded of two men I highly respect - Bill Hybels and Dan Cathy. Both have built incredible organizations and use the qualities of Character, Competence and Chemistry in their selection process for new hires, associates and in Mr. Cathy's case, owner/operators of Chick-Fil-A stores.

My definitions are borrowed in part from Speed of Trust.

Character: Integrity and Intent - walking the right walk while motive, agenda and behavior line up with each other.
Competence: Talent, Attitude, Skill, Knowledge and Style that gets Results
Chemistry: A person’s personality and behavioral characteristics fit well with others in the corporation.

Danny L. Smith

Business Coach / Consultant

Big Solutions for Small Business

Marketing | Talent Analytics | Leadership/Management/Follower Training

Phone: 512-773-6528

www.dannylsmith.com

Blogger in 7 Minutes

2011-08-15T12:07:00.004-05:00

I wrote Why Blog? recently and was surprised about the number of people who were surprised that I used the Blogger platform. Blogging can be a very important weapon in your arsenal. My platform choice for 5 years has been Blogger. It is simple, easy to use and quick to get up and running (see video).

I've tried to go to more robust (so the critics say) platforms, but each time, due to the agile and simplistic ease of use, I keep coming back to Blogger.

Here's a video on becoming a Blogger in 7 Minutes.

Small business owners and single contributor sales/marketing types must use high impact & low cost marketing. If you have expertise in your field..if you have a customer stories to tell...if you can describe your benefits...if you want to stand out in your profession..if you want all the other things I mentioned in Why Blog?........BLOG!

To that end....

Danny L. Smith

Business Coach / Consultant

Big Solutions for Small Business

Marketing | Talent Analytics | Leadership/Management/Follower Training

Phone: 512-773-6528

www.dannylsmith.com

Treat Your Profession Like the Small Business It Is; and Do That Right!

2011-08-11T08:03:00.000-05:00

Key to Change and Success is Spaced Repetition

2011-08-08T07:40:00.023-05:00

I didn’t say repetition, I said spaced repetition.

- Ken Blanchard in “Know Can Do”

Experts say that improving anything is 90% spaced repetition. I’ll repeat…. 90% of learning, changing and improving is not just about hearing, reading and experiencing it again and again and again, but hearing, reading and experiencing it again and again and again spread out over a period of time; days weeks and months.

In “Know Can Do,” Ken Blanchard, along with co-authors Meyer and Hue, lay out an incredible story about how to listen, learn, experience and change; these guys are true change agents.

A few years ago I told my friend Don Harris that I wasn’t going to read any new books that year. Instead, I was going to re-read some previous reads again, experience and learn from them again.

My fast from starting new books didn’t last that long, but it did cause me pause and reflection that helped me pay attention to some things. That was the year I was given “The Speed of Trust!” Great book, great read, and I read it at least 3 times before taking a course from Covey. I don’t know I would have paid that much attention to it if I’d been on my normal reading routine.

How about you and your business, your planning, your marketing? Are you where you want to be? If not, are you breaking from your normal routines? Running a business well, marketing well is not something that comes natural to most of us and we have to learn to be purposeful and intentional.

Do you know how well you are doing in comparison to your competition and other important factors that impact your bottom line?

For a free online business risk assessment, contact me at danny@dannylsmith.com.

To that end....

Danny L. Smith

Business Coach / Consultant

Big Solutions for Small Business

Marketing | Talent Analytics | Leadership/Management/Follower Training

Phone: 512-773-6528