Coach Thom's - Marriage, Marketing and Beyond

No Muck Messages: Can You Hack It?

2011-08-03T05:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in FOREVER ... but, will be starting up again in August at some point when I get really clear on my purpose and intention for this blog.

Meanwhile, what better way to break the silence than to share a post and the story of friends of ours. Their son, Sy, has a rare condition that in essence makes him allergic to ALL foods! Yes, you read that correctly!

While friends and family nosh on all the yummy stuff like pizza, hamburgers and birthday cakes, Sy has to sit by and watch while he consumes an icky medically formulated liquid diet!

Our church is taking the day to fast and pray for Sy - that God would heal him or change the world through Sy and his challenges.

Of course, we'd invite all believers to participate in whatever capacity you feel called. You can read more about Sy on his blog ...

No Muck Messages: Can You Hack It?: "Tomorrow, August 3, our community will be gathering around Silas and joining him on a 24-hour liquid diet fast. As we think about the place..."

Day 62 - SBTV.com Highlights Extreme Business Makeovers 2010

2010-04-06T08:25:00.000-07:00

In case you couldn't tell ... for beginning just after Valentine's Day, my life begins to revolve around my annual Extreme Business Makeovers event. It's hard to describe just how special it is. I can only say that it's something you really have to experience for yourself.

If you haven't visited the site lately, you should hear some of the interviews that I've been posting on the blog there. Alisha Whiteway - aka AlishaTV - has been doing a great job interviewing the speakers who will be sharing with us at this year's event.

Here's another cool thing that I just received - a spotlight video announcement that SBTV.com just did about XBM2010 in their Bizz Buzz segment...

Hope I get a chance to see YOU at Extreme Business Makeovers 2010!

About This Chart: For those who haven't been following, I created this daily chart for the purpose of communicating and tracking some of my more important goals - publicly. You can read about it in THIS EARLIER POST.

Day 47 - Hot Videos You Can Create On Your Own (Part 2)

2010-03-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

In Part 1, I introduced you to the great online tool, Animoto. A few of you even tried it out and sent me a link to the cool little videos you put together. GREAT job for taking action!

Now I'm going to take it a step further and share with you how you can use this powerful online tool to produce videos that have a truly professional look and feel.

Here's an example of one that I produced on Friday ...

As you can see, even though I used Animoto to do the actual production work on this video, it doesn't have a "me too" feel that a lot of these types of videos have. Here's the process:

1) Planning - No matter what technology you're using, putting together a video without planning is like picking up a Stratavarius violin without music and expecting to play a great concerto.

You need to determine, in advance, the Message you're trying to convey, the Sequence of your thoughts and images and the Call to Action you are going to leave your viewers with.

2) Content Gathering - Now that you know what and how you're communicating, it's time to get your content ready. And, this is where 95% of everyone who produces videos using Animoto or similar types of online programs fall flat ... because they use only the stock content available on those sites versus finding sources with fresh content.

I start with finding the soundtrack because the length of the song determines how many images and slides I will be able to use in my presentation. I've found Pond5 to be an EXCELLENT source for royalty free music, images and even video clips. I paid $19.95 for the music clip that I used in the Extreme Business Makeovers video ad above. I believe the unique and energetic feel that it provided were well worth the investment.

After I select the music, I decide how I'm going to present the words in the presentation. For most, I will use the built in text input of Animoto. For others, however - like the slides in the Extreme Business Makeovers presentation that include pictures of the speakers - I create Powerpoint or Keynote slides and convert them to jpeg images to upload.

Finally, I source and select images. Hint here - incorporating an actual video clip somewhere in the presentation can really kick up the look of the video and make it feel less like an automated slide show.

I use Pond5 to find video clips. Rather than pay, per image, for actual photos, however, I use ClipArt.com which has thousands upon thousands of clip art images and photos that you can use - royalty free - for a weekly, monthly or annual fee. Their search function makes it easy for me to find the images I am looking for.

3) Production - If you've done your job right on the first two steps, this one will be a breeze. THIS is where Animoto will save you hours over using standard video editing software. You simply upload the music, images, text slides and video clips. Then, type in any additional text and select which, if any, slides you want to highlight (meaning pause on longer). Finally, select from 3 speeds for your clips to be displayed and click to render the video.

Remember, if you aren't happy with how Animoto rendered your video, you can always click to remix it and it will create another version with different transitions - automatically!

I still use my iMovie or Final Edit for any videos I produce where I'm mixing in several pieces at once - like text, video and voiceovers, but for music and image driven videos for inspiration or advertising, Animoto literally saves me hours upon hours of final production time (and frankly does such a great job at analyzing the music and selecting the appropriate slide tempo and transitions, that it's better than I could likely do on my own).

Note: While the FREE Animoto service is great. I upgraded mine to the PRO status in order to have the ability to produce videos longer than one minute, create them in High Definition AND have them without Animoto's logo on them.

Free or Pro, the important thing is to give it a try ... put together a few videos that inspire or help others understand what you're all about. And remember, when communicating in person or in video, people will often forget what you say, but they seldom forget how you make them feel!

Day 43 - Hot Videos You Can Create On Your Own (Part 1)

2010-03-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows that video is really hot online. People LOVE checking out videos for entertainment, learn how to do something and even to be inspired.

So, it makes sense for your business or personal brand to harness the interest in video and produce some of your own. I recommend that you definitely do some personal videos, with you explaining your business, your heart, some of what you teach, etc... It's great for making personal connection.

This can really be as simple as setting up a YouTube account and recording directly through your web cam. Of course, you can always buy a Flip Cam and use some basic editing software to add some bells and whistles. But, don't wait till you have it "all together" to get started. Just do it!

In addition to the personal style videos, it's also great to create videos that create a good feeling about your product or service. Here's one I did to help spread the word about the Go-Giver Award ...

Believe it or not, with today's tools, it's easy for you to do something just as dynamic. Here's an online tool that empowers even the least creative and computer savvy among us to create very respectable MTV style videos from images and multimedia files.

Animoto can effectively be used to produce ads, inspirational videos, announce an event, raise awareness for a cause, give a special greeting or message for clients and even to produce book trailers, like the one I did here for Your Time Your Life.

Of course, there are still many times I want more personalized controls or the ability to easily mix in music and voiceovers, so I use my iMovie or Final Cut software. But for projects that I want to have this type of feel, Animoto is hard to beat. It saves me hours and even at the professional price (which I gladly pay for the ability to do full length videos in high definition without Animoto branding) it's a bargain!

I highly recommend you get started testing the waters by signing up for their FREE account HERE. Then, try putting together a short video using their stock images and music - just to get a feel for it.

Tomorrow, I'll show you an Animoto project I'm working on today and I'll give you some tips on how to easily make your videos look truly professional and stand out from others.

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This Chart: For those who haven't been following, I created this daily chart for the purpose of communicating and tracking some of my more important goals - publicly. You can read about it in THIS EARLIER POST.

Day 36 - The Hidden Benefits of Branding

2010-03-11T09:34:00.000-08:00

Have you ever struggled with making a decision about a business direction or opportunity for your company? It can seem like there's no end to the options and there's not always a clear right or wrong answer.

Often, the calls I get from my newest clients revolve around helping them sort out the possibilities and make the best decision they can. I'll lead them through a simple decision tree process to come to a solution that they think AND feel is right for them.

While having a good system for making decisions is helpful, I tell them that they'll never have to make 90% of those tough decisions if they have a well-developed corporate brand! Huh? What's that Thom? What does a brand have to do with business decisions.

Well, if by "brand" you are simply thinking about a mark or logo, then not too much. But, if you understand the full scope of what a brand can and should be, then it has everything to do with your direction as a company. While there are many different definitions and understandings of what a brand is, here is how I break it down...

A Brand is the overall perception of your product or service in the marketplace. It is not merely the ideal communication of a logo or tagline externally. A mature brand actually encompasses feedback from the marketplace about the reality of their experience with your product or service.

There can be many facets to a well-developed brand. But, there are 3 primary ingredients:

1) The Look - The logo, packaging, vehicle, decor, ambience, uniforms or any other ingredient used to make an initial impression upon or connection with your target audience.

2) The Promise - What exactly your company promises to deliver to your clients. The most powerful ones focus on avoiding/alleviating a pain or delivering a pleasure.

3) The Experience - The style and competence of delivery and feeling that clients experience in doing business with you.

If you have thoroughly thought these through and decided what your intention is in all three of these areas, then you'll have a much better chance of consistently delivering on the expectations that you build in the marketplace.

As an added benefit, most of those nagging questions you have concerning new directions or opportunities won't even have to be made. Viewed through the prism of your "look," "promise" and "experience" you will find many options are legitimately "good," but not the BEST for you or your clients long-term. And, as you know ... in business, what you DON'T do is often as important as what you do!

Day 30 - The Power of Presence

2010-03-05T04:49:00.000-08:00

With our Extreme Business Makeovers Experience beginning 7 weeks from today, my venture partner and co-host, Bob Burg and I find myself in a good number of conversations about it every day.

One question I know that I repeatedly get is often a variation of this ... "It sounds incredible, but can't I get as much just from buying the DVDs?" Fair question, so I'll do my best to answer it briefly.

In a word ... Yes - IF all you're looking for is information about a specific strategy, tool or tactic. Hey, I market speakers, authors, coaches and consultants for a living, so it goes without saying that I LOVE information products and find them very helpful.

However, the true power of attending a seminar or conference goes way beyond just the information you'll receive.

The 3 "Super-Powers" of Attending Events

1) The Power of Focus -
Yes, the information is vital to a great event. And, you can get all the information in DVDs after the event. But, there is something magical that happens to that information when you attend live. Rather than having a volume of information and no idea where to begin - like walking into a library and getting inundated with wisdom and experience from all directions - when you're there in person, one or two things a speaker says will just 'hit' you. It's something that immediately jumps out at you begging to be applied and you'll have that feeling inside like, "Aha .. THIS is why I was here."

2) The Power of Momentum -
Lets face it, information isn't power, it's just potential power. Applied information is power. And, corporations and organizations have reams of research to show that those who attend events are more likely to apply new information. That's why they often have annual events and perhaps even smaller training times throughout the year.

Have you ever tried to take a vacation in your own home? There's just too many distractions and the momentum is with the status quo of your normal daily routine.

When you attend an event, you are able to detach from your daily routine and focus on something new ... and then take that focus and leave with a momentum for change.

NOTE: One thing I'm particularly proud of with Extreme Business Makeovers is the emphasis on using our Event Action Planner throughout the weekend to help our awesome participants develop a focused plan from all the incredible information. So, we all leave knowing what we're doing to begin applying what we've learned beginning on Monday (and with a hit list for implementation for 6 months to follow).

3) The Power of Connection -
Of course, in my opinion, the most vital ingredient of a live event is the people. Even though I'm considered a social media expert (whatever that means), there is simply no substitute for the connection you can make with someone in person. Relationships begin and grow very rapidly. And, because everyone is there with similar motives and expectations, powerful joint venture plans and referral relationships often happen literally overnight.

I've always said that the participants we get at Extreme Business Makeovers are as dynamic and powerful as the speakers. Some are speakers and authors themselves, who choose to attend because they want to continually learn and build their network. Others have one or more successful businesses, but choose to participate because they believe in "constant and never ending improvement." Others still have had various successes in their lives, but they find themselves in a time of transition and they are looking for some new ideas and direction for the next stage of their personal and professional growth.

It's amazing - having people at different stages and with different gifts and experiences, but the same spirit of teamwork and selflessness creates an incredible environment for connection.

With this being our 4th annual Extreme Business Makeovers Experience, we have a huge number that choose to participate every year. One even told me that it was kind of like the summer camp that they went to every year and couldn't wait to go back, but these days it was even better because they could use the internet to stay in touch and work together throughout the year.

So, do I think information DVDs are great? Of course, but there's nothing like attending a live event to make new and exciting things happen in your business and personal life!

What do you think? Have you ever had a seminar experience that helped you grow or change in a significant way?

Day 29 - Too Much Control In Marketing?

2010-03-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

I just trashed another email from someone offering a product that sounded like an interesting and perhaps very helpful resource. Though it sounded really great, I trashed it because of the video sales page. No, it wasn't lewd or offensive in any way (at least that I know of - I only watched 10 seconds of it). So why did I trash it? In a word - CONTROL.

You see, it was one of those sales videos that I've been getting like crazy over the past few months. You may have seen them. They let you click on them and that's it. They don't tell you how long the video is going to take or let you scroll ahead. I find it intensely frustrating.

I understand why they do it. In many cases, it is a replacement for pages that made you optin to find out what everything was about, without even giving something for doing so. They've just wound up replacing one controlling and annoying tactic with another.

Seriously ... to me, this is like having a salesperson in my office who insists on going through his script, refusing to let me interrupt to ask anything or skip to the question of price. As a former VP of sales and marketing for a public company, I understand that it is ideal to control the presentation. But, I also know that if the prospect felt controlled, the salesperson would lose the sale before they even got started.

Of course, it may just be my 'control issues,' but frankly, in today's open architecture, on-demand environment, I think we ALL have control issues to some degree. It's not a mass character flaw thing, it's just that we're now used to getting information we're seeking on-demand and I don't think I'm the only one who has resentments when that is taken from me. Am I?

I'm not advocating that we give up any control whatsoever. However, the same person whose video and product I'm now ignoring, could have accomplished what they needed to in many other ways - including an optin for a free report and video - with the next page being the same video I was watching with the ability to scroll forward. Or, perhaps even just a button below the existing video saying "If you're in a hurry, click here and download a free report with all the details."

The bottom line for me - I want to always be marketing to others as I want to be marketed to ... or even more important, as I want others marketing to my wife or children. I don't just think it's the right thing, I think it's the SMART thing for an entrepreneur who understands the value of brand and relationship building versus short term transactional success.

The savvy entrepreneur understands that they can build relationships and positive PR even with those who don't become clients immediately. And this good 'experience' or feeling that you leave even non-clients with can pay off handsomely as they share your message, products or services with others in their sphere of influence.

Oh ... and as a side note. This video tactic isn't even fool-proof. You see, die hard control freaks like myself figure out workarounds. If it's something I really want to hop to the bottom line on - I simply use my screencasting software to capture the video in the background while I keep working and then later, I can open the file and scroll ahead to the features and price that I'm looking for ;-)

So, am I the only one here that get's put off by this tactic? Are there other marketing tactics that you find annoying or off-putting?

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Day 28 - A Cool Time-Saver

2010-03-03T14:51:00.000-08:00

Not to go totally "techno geek" on you, but I absolutely love my Evernote.

If you don't know what it is, here's the CEO giving a super brief explanation:

In short, it's my online clip file of everything from web pages and articles to meeting notes and thanks to my iPhone - even offline magazine articles.

I've been using it for a while and literally have over 1,000 different easily searchable notes on my Evernote.

But, the reason why I brought it up today is that I'm all excited because I just found out that since Evernote can search by text that's IN A GRAPHIC, I can quickly take an iPhone snapshot of business cards that I receive and easily find the one I'm looking for later. Here's a demo of how it works:

Clearly, some cool online tools add to your time on the computer. Evernote has saved me tons of hours and helped me easily organize my information.
It's worth checking out (and, NO, I'm not an affiliate or anything). They have a free level and premium level for a whopping $5/month.
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Day 27 - What's On Your Soundtrack?

2010-03-02T06:37:00.000-08:00

It amazes me how thoughts, words, music and even smells can immediately trigger deep emotional responses. For instance, if I were to tell you to think of the theme music from the movie, Rocky, I can almost guarantee you that as it plays in your mind, you begin to feel powerful - like an underdog that's destined to overcome their greatest obstacle. You'll likely picture yourself running up the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum and your heart rate may even begin to elevate.

Some of these emotional triggers are universally programmed in many of us through our exposure to movies and other mass media. Others, are more personal, like the smell of cinnamon that, for some, may trigger feelings of love and acceptance that came from a dear mother or grandmother who loved to bake.

The point is that we all have these emotional triggers that conjure up feelings and beliefs that were programmed into us when we were first exposed to them. The more intense the emotional experience or frequent the exposure dictates how powerful the triggers - and their effect on us - actually are. As much as we may like to think we are always conscious and fully in control, too often, we are not. To some extent, we all fall into patterns of feeling and behavior based on our response to these triggers.

So, what can we do about it?

1 - Begin To Get Rid Of Your Negative Programming

Slow down your mind and try to be more aware of how you are feeling and thinking throughout the day. If you are experiencing a negative feeling - especially one that seems disproportionate to the what you're actually going through at the moment - try to think if there is anything there that has triggered that.

I know for myself, I found that there was a particular phrase that a client of mine used that triggered the same emotional response I had as a child when a well-meaning, yet emotionally abusive loved one would shout it at me. Until then, I had no idea why a client that I otherwise loved would irk me so much with that.

By raising your level of awareness as you go through your life, you may be able to root out some destructive triggers and weed out some root causes of self-defeating or self-destructive behaviors. But, even when you don't find out what the root trigger is, you'll be far more in control as you are able to choose how you feel about an experience versus playing an 'old record' simply because someone pushed a button.

2 - Create Your Own Positive Soundtrack

The cool thing is that we can create quick and massive positive changes in our level of performance by filling our minds with positive input. Am I suggesting that you can JUST think positive things and make all the negative experiences go away. NO WAY! At the same time, an upbeat, positive mindset helps us take positive actions and perform at our best. It helps us to look beyond the challenges so that they have less effect on us.

Don't believe me? Then tell me how well you think you'd perform in your work, day by day, if you were playing the theme song of "Take This Job And Shove It" over and over in your mind, versus the theme song of "Rocky." Yeah... that's what I thought ;-)

In the Bible, Philippians 4:8 tells us --

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

As with so much of scripture, I believe this passage is not given as a restriction to limit us, but as a guide to experiencing more and greater joy. It is telling us by creating a positive soundtrack in our mind, we will have greater success in life!

So, how do we create a positive soundtrack? The key is in what we feed our mind:

The people we surround ourselves with - Are we making sure to spend most of our time with those who are positive, who build others up and genuinely want what's best for others?

The things we read - Are we reading biographies of people who we truly wish to emulate? Are we reading the Bible and other non-fiction books that help us grow and improve ourselves? Even in our choices of fiction, are the messages and lessons of the book worthy of our time or are the "good guys" not so good and the "bad guys" not so bad and the moral of the story somewhat 'dark?' Proactively pick titles that will help you develop a mindset that will bring increase to your life.

The things we watch - Just like books - garbage in, garbage out! And, if you choose to watch something that you know in your heart is more of a 'sinful indulgence' you're going to have to be extra careful to not let the negative programming take hold.

The music we listen to - this is a GREAT way of quickly changing our emotional state and empowering us to deal effectively with negative situations. I have a series of songs I listen to every morning to get me in the right frame of mind for the day. Though I'm not a country music fan at all, the song above is one of those songs. It's my FIGHT SONG for when things go wrong or I fail at something.

By consciously filling our minds with 'good stuff' we are taking responsibility for our own programming. We create our own soundtrack so that no matter what we experience, our mind and heart will immediately recall that song, that quote, that friend's words that will help us make the most of whatever situation we are in.

So what's on your soundtrack? Do you have any tips that could help the rest of us create a positive soundtrack in our own minds?
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Day 26 - Close The Door for Social Media Success

2010-03-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

"The key is in not spending time, but in investing it."

~ Stephen R. Covey

Many of my friends, clients and online audience talk with me regularly about their integration into this ever evolving, fast changing and often mind-numbing new media world.

Perhaps, 'talk' isn't even the right word. It's more like exasperated, overwhelmed cries for help. And, it always seems to be roughly the same conversation. They love social media and all the new opportunities to connect and expand their social and business network online. They see huge opportunities that social media provides for their businesses. But, they have also begun to realize that with all the time they have put into developing relationships and learning the use of new electronic tools, social media is FAR from free!

So, they call me, at wit's end, pleading for me to help them get the maximum benefit from these powerful resources without losing their sanity and family lives in the process. They're frustrated that most of the social media experts they listen to are trying to get them to conduct their business as if they, too, were social media experts and were paid to be online, accessible and interactive almost 24/7. Can you relate?

Well, being a "fellow-pilgrim" on this journey, I don't claim to have the definitive answer for ensuring productivity and profitability in social media, but I have dealt with enough different types of businesses and personalities and I have found these 4 tips to be universally helpful to all who've applied them:

Thom's 4 Tips For Maximizing Time On Social Media:

Decide On Your Outcome - Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.. are communications tools. Just as you wouldn't pick up a phone and dial a random number and not know what you were going to say, you shouldn't do that on social media either. Have an expected outcome, even if it's just to take X amount of time to see what's happening with some people in your Tweet stream or what's being talked about on Social Media.
Plan Your Time - Decide exactly how much time you'll be spending at each session and set a timer and stick to it. Then, "close the door" on your electronic office and focus on your core business. To do otherwise would be like having a full day of open office door time at work. It may make others feel good to be able to connect with you constantly, but it sure doesn't help you get things done.
Be Consistent - Do more blog posts and a greater volume of time on social media help you build a loyal audience quicker? Sure - if done correctly. But, just as important as the amount of time is the consistency of that time. Simply put, whether you put in a half hour a day on social media or 1 hour, 3 times a day, if you do so consistently (including roughly the same times and days) you will attract a following much quicker than if you were sporadic in your approach.
Get a 'Rhythm' - Just like having a 'rhythm' (or routine) for how often we maintain our cars, care for our lawn or change our air conditioning filters helps us proactively maintain our things, having a 'rhythm' for our social media activities helps us build and maintain a vibrant network. So determine, what are the things you do daily (like birthday wishes, FB and Twitter posts), weekly (like blog posts and proactive list building) and monthly (like friend/follower list review and 'scrubbing').

There you have it ... not a definitive guide by any stretch of the imagination. But, if you got really good at incorporating these mindsets/actions into your daily social media time, you will find yourself far more productive and less frustrated.

Do you have some tips that would help others with their social media time management? I'd love to hear about them.

Day 25 - You Can't Get Anywhere Unless You Start

2010-02-28T03:20:00.000-08:00

GUEST POST by Harvey Mackay

On the Web recently, I ran across the reminiscence of a senior citizen about his first job as a shelf stocker at a supermarket. "They told me I would get two weeks paid vacation," he recalls. "I couldn't wait to find out where they were going to send me. I wasn't the brightest crayon in the box."

When you're in the job market for the first time, it pays to listen to everything you're told . . . and not told, most especially before they welcome you aboard. Always remember: If you're hearing something that's too good to be true, it probably isn't . . . and you are the one who's likely making it up.

In my experience, young people usually fall into three different categories when looking for their first job. The first sort imagines a perfect job will land in their laps. The paycheck, the coworkers and the challenges couldn't be better. A short and bitter collision with reality bursts that bubble, and these exasperated souls give up and just avoid looking for work as long as they can.

The second type is more practical. They willingly punch any time clock, rationalizing that the job of the moment is just a stopgap until they put their mind to finding something better. Most people, unfortunately, fall into that category. They just forget where to put their mind. Instead, they spend their entire working lives more or less falling into one job after another, only half-heartedly trying to create a meaningful career.

The third group is a rare breed. They constantly ask themselves what they really want to do. They learn precisely the skills they have to perfect, and they find ways to meet and understudy people who are now what these beginners want to be. They forever fine-tune their plans for where they want to be in five years. They don't waste opportunity. Always on the prowl, they learn from their present job and contacts. They leverage what they have into something they really want to do.

Today I'm chairman of a $100 million envelope company, Outside of paper routes and setting pins in a bowling alley, my first real job was as
a summer fill-in at Howard's Men's Store in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.

Sounds like a pretty remote switch, but was it really? I still consider a CEO to be any firm's #1 salesman, and what I learned about sales at Howard's was epic:
Choices: Never put more than three ties on the counter. It only confuses the customer.
Convenience: Never start locking up, even if the customer is a couple minutes late.
Commitment: When the customer tries on the pants, it's usually a done deal.

How you tackle your first job will likely shape how you manage your career for the rest of life. And, I surely learned from my share of mistakes: such as asking for time off, even though the main reason I was hired was so that senior staff could enjoy their vacations.

If you're like most people, you'll churn through 3-5 career shifts and 12-15 job changes in your working life. Smart people probably switch less, and they surely determine when and why they make most of the changes.

The difference starts with positive attitude and perseverance. Remember, if you think you can . . . or if you think you can't . . . you're right.
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THOM Note:
We all know someone who is looking for work or has stayed in a career that doesn’t fuel his or her work life. I recently spent time with Harvey Mackay, #1 New York Times Best Selling Author and he’s just come out with a new book titled Use Your Head To Get Your Foot In The Door: Job Search Secrets No One Else Will Tell You. He thinks it’s his best work in two decades since Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive, a lifetime business classic...and I agree!

If you buy the book by March 5, 2010 you gain access to nearly $1,000 worth of additional tips and ideas only available from Harvey Mackay:

· Rolodex Networking Book Download (includes 20 pages of his Harvard MBA speech summarized in the Harvard Business Review)

· 3 interactive templates, classic Harvey Mackay handouts and an exclusive Job Secrets toolbar to make the most of the book

· 6-month money back guarantee on finding a job!

Go directly to www.HarveyMackay.com/jobsecrets to check it out! (NOTE: This is NOT an affiliate code. I refer books and authors I personally follow and believe in.)

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About This Chart: For those who haven't been following, I created this daily chart for the purpose of communicating and tracking some of my more important goals - publicly. You can read about it in THIS EARLIER POST.

Day 24 - Growth Without Resistance?

2010-02-27T07:16:00.000-08:00

"The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear. It is the storm within that endangers him, not the storm without."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I was reading The Complete Sermons of Ralph Waldo Emerson this morning and came across the quote above. It made me think of body building. (LOL ... Stick with me on this ... my mind works in mysterious ways ;-)

I believe that many times, the obstacles, challenges and "dangers" we face are sent (or at least allowed) by God because they strengthen and grow us. They make us into the person that we need to become in order to achieve the goal or gain the blessing that we have prayed for or set our intentions on.

Legitimate danger aside, to pray for the removal of the obstacles and challenges then, can often be counterproductive. Much like a body builder who sets his or her goals to have a certain size muscle or to be able to lift a certain amount of weight, but doesn't want to encounter any resistance or challenge to achieve it. That simply doesn't work.

Now I'm not suggesting that the achievement of all goals has to be difficult or challenging... just as normal growth in nature occurs through proper nutrition, removal of negative influences and the passage of time.

But, I've never seen a bodybuilder who naturally just grew that way. No, they purposed themselves for it and they overcame the challenges and obstacles (skepticism, sickness, tiredness, soreness and even injuries) to achieve their goals.

So, if you and I want anything more than average growth ... if we want to develop spiritually, personally, professionally or physically beyond the norm, perhaps we should anticipate that there will be 'dangers' and challenges along the way. And, instead of praying that they be removed, we should pray for the courage and strength to move forward despite the storms and to learn and grow as much as we can through each experience so we don't have to repeat the lesson.

What do YOU think? Did that make any sense or have I just not had enough coffee this morning?

Day 23 - My Father's Legacy

2010-02-26T05:31:00.000-08:00

As you may know, my father passed away 2 weeks ago at the age of 83. He was a brilliant man (holding several patents in the arena of air conditioning and refrigeration products) and leader (rising to the head office of a substantial public company). He leaves behind a wife of 56 years, a daughter, 3 sons and 10 grandchildren.

But, I thought I'd take a moment to share with you what I believe his greatest legacy is through the words I delivered at his funeral this past weekend ...
_________

In telling people of my father's passing, I found myself repeatedly referring to him as a great man.

And,following one of these conversations, I began to think about that statement more and more. I began to wonder exactly what was it that made me refer to him as great ...

Was it his Herculean work ethic ... that drove him to strive for levels of excellence beyond that which us mere mortals often settle for?

This amazing work ethic powered him to almost single-handedly plant dozens and dozens of bushes around my childhood home and renovate a condo for my growing family. It was a work ethic that inspired him to put in tireless hours on the job only to return home to lead a boy scout troop or travel 3 hours away on countless weekends to repair and renovate an apartment complex in his desire to provide as well as he could for his wife and his family.

His work ethic truly was great. But in my heart, I knew THAT wasn't what I was referring to.

Perhaps it was his brilliance ... more specifically his "MacGyver-like" mechanical brilliance that seemingly enabled him to fix or improve just about anything with a roll of duct tape, can of WD40 and a paper clip.

His mechanical brilliance was legendary with family, friends and neighbors alike ... as he continually invested his time and talents into the lives of others by keeping dryers, pool cover motors and ice makers running ... or foraging in a junk yard and finding just the right parts to transform high school floats into animatronic masterpieces that were well ahead of their time and worthy of a Disney World parade.

His mechanical brilliance was truly great as well .. but still not what I seemed to be referring to.

Finally, in a moment of introspection, it hit me ... the one thing that seemed to stand out as a theme of his entire life ...

It was a principle that he actively demonstrated every day ... his deep desire and commitment to leave every situation better off than when he first encountered it.

It was this principle that caused him to see every circumstance with a vision for how it could be better. Whether it was seeing how a newlywed couple would be much more comfortable in their new little home with a couple air conditioning units installed.. or after perusing a school project that I'd produced -- suggesting how it could be better. At the time, I may not have always recognized the merits of his suggestions, let alone appreciate them.

But, in hindsight, I began to see how they were motivated by love and coming from his desire to help and improve.

And, while there are words I wish we both had said (or said more often), I can see that for my dad, Love was not about words or even feelings. No, for him, Love was an active improvement in the lives of those who were in his care or sphere of influence.

My dad was not a perfect man, but he was a truly great and honorable man.

Ephesians 2:10 Tells us - "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

My father's legacy was not that of endowments or libraries or hospital wings. Instead, he built people and things throughout his life and left a "wake of improvement" wherever he went.

He left his thumbprint on the world .. a thumbprint of works - in a way that only he could.

So while we will most certainly miss the daily presence of the husband, father, grandfather and friend that we knew, we can be comforted. For we will never have to miss the eternal effects that he had in each of our lives and in the lives of generations to come.

______________

As I seek to be more conscious of the legacy I'm creating throughout my daily activities, I am challenged by the example that my dad left me ... and encouraged that he probably never knew the extent of the positive effect he was having on others (as many of us might not know our own impact either).

I pray that in sharing this you are challenged and encouraged as well!

About This Chart: For those who haven't been following, I created this daily chart for the purpose of communicating and tracking some of my more important goals - publicly. You can read about it in THIS EARLIER POST.

Day 22 - Resetting The Sails

2010-02-25T13:32:00.000-08:00

What do you do when you've set out to accomplish big things and you experience challenges, setbacks and utter derailments along the way?

That's something I've had to grapple with over the last few days as I have experienced both self-inflicted and outside challenges on the road to accomplishing my 79 day goals.

In the arena of self-inflicted challenges, I completely overcommitted myself with project work - not leaving enough margin to focus on the goals I established - which are more important in the big picture, but not quite as urgent!

In the arena of outside challenges, my father suddenly took a turn for the worse and passed away ... and in the days leading up to our unexpected trip to North Carolina for his funeral, my wife and 6 kids were all stricken with a very nasty stomach bug - leaving me as the 'last man standing' to clean up and help nurse everyone back to health.

However, even taking all that into consideration, I probably should have only lost 6 or 7 days out of the 79 days I've alloted for reaching my goals. So, why did it take longer? What did I do to compound the challenges and make it harder to keep going strong? Faulty Thinking!

FAULTY THINKING #1 - Perfectionism - I KNOW ... these posts and my other projects are FAR from perfect. But, that doesn't keep me from 'noodling' with them and working and re-working them to death so that they wind up taking longer than they are probably worth and represent an overwhelming task when the 'squeeze' is on with the rest of life.

The Solution - Step up the volume and force myself to allow projects to leave my desk before I'm comfortable with them... AND, remind myself daily that mediocre execution beats perfectly undone any day!

FAULTY THINKING #2 - Self-Imposed Rules - When I first fell behind, I began thinking that I had to go back to where I got derailed and catch up on all those days of posts. So, the overwhelm of getting behind became more and more daunting with each passing day.

The Solution - Reframe my failure - I came up with the goals and activities in order to increase my service and value to others. They were put in place to help me grow. So, why would I use them to beat myself up instead? (It's a bad habit I've had since I was a kid and I'm finally trying to change that.)

Additionally, I need to reframe my view of temporary setbacks. Too often, I act as if they are like taking a wrong turn on a road where I have to backtrack to where things went wrong before proceeding. Instead, if I view the journey to my goals as a sailing expedition, I recognize that even when I am blown off course, I can simply set a new and more direct course to reach my goals based on where I am right now.

The good news is that some progress has continued to be made and, unlike some of my past failures, I didn't wind up giving up completely. Hopefully, by sharing all of this, others of you who may struggle with the same faulty thinking can find encouragement and help.

Meanwhile, I've reset my sails and charted an alternative course - still fully intending to achieve everything I set out to accomplish.

Day 4 - A SUPER Sunday!

2010-02-08T06:11:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl Sunday is always a fun experience - even for those like myself who aren't normally into watching sports. There's just something about a big exciting event that draws people together and creates fun experiences.

I brought my 'tribe' to a church Super Bowl party complete with a huge outside screen showing the game and more food than anyone should consume. Despite cold weather and the potential for a civil war with 3 of my sons rooting for opposing teams, a great time was had by all!

As far as the game itself goes, I offer no value in commentary on the play by play action. What I walk away with, however, is incredible respect for two teams who have both worked incredibly hard to be the very best in their business - both playing their hearts out and playing it clean (no fights, not a bunch of personal fouls - just fierce competition).

I'm also left with incredible respect for Sean Payton, the coach for the New Orleans Saints ... who would appear to be a man of guts, confidence and the willingness to change things up and try a different tactic when the one he's using isn't working. Like my friend and client, Rebel Brown, he seems to be willing - no - EAGER - to challenge the status quo! And, boy did it pay off!

In my opinion, the 4th quarter interception may have been the 'nail in the coffin' so to speak, but the game was won with the unprecedented decision and flawless execution of an onside kick in the 3rd Quarter. Not only did it garner New Orleans the points needed to get them back in the game, but it caused a huge emotional shift in both teams that affected the remainder of their battle.

As far as the Super Bowl commercials go - don't get me started... It's a yearly RANT of mine! As a top-tier ad agency Creative Director in my early days, I developed a disdain for overpriced super bowl commercials that sought to entertain with little, if any, thought of creating desire in the heart of a target audience let alone actual sales. Every year it's the same ... most of the companies whose commercials are ranked BEST by consumer studies ... are, as brands, completely forgotten! Those same consumers simply couldn't remember what product or service those ads they loved were actually advertising. Certainly, agencies could do better at leveraging the power of a massive audience than that.

Here are some of my takes on the 2010 ads and winners/losers in my opinion:

1) In the Cute & Clever category - Coke and its sleepwalking ad. For me, it was a throwback to watching Mr. Magoo cartoons back in the day. This is a meaningless category and Coke could have done better with some sort of engagement to a social media campaign or involvement with a special promotion of sorts. But, being Coke, they seem to believe that all they need to do is reinforce their brand.

2) In the Most Effective category - Etrade and the babies. I think they managed to create something that was entertaining and at least worked SOME of their service benefits and positioning into the ads. And, through funny use of the babies, they have great viral potential.

Honorable mention in this category goes to Denny's ... not so much for the commercial itself, but for the marketing strategy. Offering a FREE Grand Slam breakfast and then following up on Grand Slam Giveaway day by giving guests a coupon book with coupons for breakfast and dinner deals month by month through June! (NOTE: The only reason why I would give Etrade the slight edge in this category is that it is more focused on long-term establishment of the brand versus short-term transaction. However, if in-store follow-up is done right, then Denny's will be the bottom-line winner by far.)

3) In the Funniest Line category - a tie ... between Etrade and the "Milkoholic" exchange (see above) .. and HomeAway.com with the hotel front desk clerk who exclaims, "It's complementary with an 'e.' The water complements the room. It's not free." HomeAway.com also managed to get some point in their commercial by stirring up fear (and sometimes memories) of hotels and vacation properties that didn't measure up to their advertising.

4) In the category combining Worst Commercial And Greatest Missed Opportunity - Taco Bell with Charles Barkley. Not only was that an embarrassing use of a celebrity and annoying to watch, but it also did NOTHING to take advantage of the massive audience to expand Taco Bell's market.

The way I see it, they have an entire NBA season to remind everyone that they are the choice of "late night gangstas and playas." They had a massive opportunity to go beyond brand reinforcement - and build connections with a much larger, broader audience. I would think that ads aimed at increasing awareness of their lower-cal, lower-fat, Fresco menu would have gained them market share without negatively impacting their existing audience. What? Didn't know Taco Bell HAD a Fresco menu with healthier options? Yeah.. that's my point!

I could definitely go on ... but I'd rather let go of my frustration and redirect my attention to the small business owners and authors/speakers and consultants I deal with who want to make every marketing dollar and effort produce results rather than create ads for the sake of vanity.

All in all - it WAS a Super Sunday and a great time with my family! Here's where the progress chart is at ... will be surprised if I didn't lose a little ground in the weight category with the Super Sunday junk food ;-)

Day 3 - There's no "Do-Over Button"

2010-02-08T05:03:00.000-08:00

Made it through Day 3 without breaking anything or trauma of any kind ;-)

In fact, I had a great day at my buddy, Ken McArthur's JV Alert Live in Orlando. I met several dynamic new people, finally had a chance to see Stirling Valentine speak (been wanting to for a while .. and he did NOT disappoint - superb) AND had a chance to visit with some old friends like Dawn and Michael Angier and Brad Semp - All three of whom have actually moved to Florida since the last time I saw them.

Had a fun conversation with Brad at breakfast - mostly getting caught up on what's happening with our businesses, families and churches. One theme seemed to emerge that I believe is particularly relevant and universal ... That of moving forward when things go radically different from what you had planned.

You see, we both had been sharing 'war stories' of business - those times when we both had gotten involved with companies or people and had adjusted our life plans around them ... moving, building houses, uprooting families ... only to suddenly have that situation radically change through a contract termination, partnership dissolution or otherwise sudden end of the road for where we thought we'd been headed.

Have you ever had anything like that happen ... job loss, divorce, failed business, etc... ? If you're like me, your first inclination is to think "Boy, THAT was a mistake. I should have never taken that position" (or whatever it happened to be for you). Then, I start regretting the fact that I had made major shifts in my life - like moving or building a home - with THAT position or situation in mind.

Frankly - I want a "Do-Over Button" ... something I can do to reset the situation back to where it was and let me take a different route.

But, life's not like that ... a road or a track that you can just make a U-turn on and go back to the last intersection and choose a different direction -- with no consequence other than some lost time.

No, our lives are much more like an oceanic expedition. We chart our course and set sail (though many are on a voyage with no clear plan of where they are going at all). Then, whether through our own mistakes or character flaws or outside conditions or other people, we get off course - sometimes a little and sometimes it's an encounter with a tsunami that leaves us with a damaged vessel and heading in a completely different direction.

It's at those moments, I believe the wise person takes these actions (at least they are the ones I'd take if I were wise ;-) ...

1) Renew - Ask ourselves if there was any mistake we made or personal character flaw that may have contributed to getting off course. And, if so, what will we do to make things different as we set our sails and resume our voyage.

2) Re-evaluate - Determine if you still really want to venture to your original destination or has the things you've experienced along the way changed your heart and desires so you don't even want what you thought you did at first.

3) Resume - If you decided that the original destination was not what you wanted, decide on a new one and set sail. But, if you decided you still want to reach your original goal, then look at your current location and determine if there is now a better path to reach it. Often, what we think has blown us completely off course has actually shortened our trip but with a new path that we hadn't anticipated. (As a driver, I've found that some of the best shortcuts I've found over the years were the result of a wrong turn.)

I believe the Bible describes it this way in Proverbs 16:9 when it says, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

To me that is such an incredibly cool verse. Our Creator, the God of the Universe allows, even encourages us to decide what we want - what our intended course and destination is. But, He will often allow and even cause different circumstances to occur in our day to day lives that will alter that path that we take - so that we experience, enjoy and grow in our journey in a way that we could never have imagined, nor would we have planned in advance.

Okay... didn't mean to go off on that subject. It's just always nice to know that we're not the only ones who ever feel hopelessly off course and in need of re-navigation.

Day 2 - Lessons From A Bumper Ding

2010-02-06T06:31:00.000-08:00

Okay .. so judging from how Day 1 went and the title of this point, I'm sure you can guess where this brief post is heading ;-)

Yep, on Day 2, on the way to be on the expert panel at Ken McArthur's JV Alert Live event in Orlando, I got into a fender bender. (Side note: Have you ever wondered how it's possible to have so many friends get into accidents and it's NEVER their fault? Really ... stretches the boundaries of probability doesn't it? ;-)

Anyway, back to the story. Here's what happened. I'm rushing to the event - cutting it closer time wise than I should have. And, about 2 miles from my destination, some drivers seem to be getting into a sort of race with each other, weaving in and around everyone trying to get ahead. I can only surmise that one had managed to tick the other off. All I can say for sure is that these guys made me look relaxed!

Well, one managed to get ahead by the other by cutting me off as they darted back into my lane. This left his vanquished rival right behind me and visibly upset ... and riding my back bumper. Here's where it gets ugly. I was so focused on what was happening around me and was so tense about the guy behind me, that I hadn't paid proper attention to the car in front of me to notice that he had to stop short while turning because of oncoming traffic.

I looked up and saw the car ahead of me and slammed on my brakes. But, too little too late as I skidded several feet and dinged his rear bumper. ARRGHHHH!

Ever done anything like that on the road? Or perhaps in business? Have you ever been so focused on the turmoil around you or your tension over a situation that is behind you and you miss what's in front of you? I'm sure we all have times when we miss out on opportunities or create our own unintended calamities because we just aren't focusing on the road ahead.

Meanwhile.. still plugging away on my goals. Here's the outcome of Day 2:

Day 1 - The Wind At My Face

2010-02-04T19:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever made your intentions known publicly in a big way and shortly thereafter, it seemed like anything and everything was conspiring against you?

So went my first of 79 days! From computer files that weren't working right, to issues with our health insurance company to challenges with people that have never been anything but rock solid. It really felt like the wind was at my face all day long!

I wasn't complaining, but I also didn't do the greatest job at adjusting the sails to harness the wind either.

However, in keeping with the wise advice of one of my mentors, Dr. Mollie Marti, I'm going to do my best to celebrate my small successes. On the list today, I shed a half pound, posted to this blog, called my Mom and even created this little updatable chart so I can make it easy for everyone to see how I'm doing at a glance... and, of course, all of my regular daily work.

It doesn't feel like much yet, but I know that I'll start building some momentum here. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to a new day tomorrow. It will be a fun one too! I'm a Panelist for Ken McArthur's JV Alert Live. I love being on panels and other forms of consulting from the stage.

Well, now off to do something else my wife, Jody, told me should have been on my list - SLEEP! Goodnight!

Living Out Loud - A Social Media Experiment

2010-02-03T10:27:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been struck by an idea and not known whether it was inspiration or insanity?

Having the impulsive personality I do, I must say that most of my greatest accomplishments and life changes have occurred when I've started to act on certain ideas without stopping to evaluate how do-able (or even smart) they might be. From creating the Extreme Business Makeovers Experience to proposing marriage to my wife with my very first words to her, my life has been forever enriched when I got out of analysis and into action. (NOTE: Some actions - like proposing marriage to a girl you've never spoken with - should carry a warning label which reads: KIDS, DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME. Fortunately, God has often shown me favor for my faith regardless of my lack of sense - as He did in my impulsive proposal to my wonderful wife Jody ;-)

So, this morning I had the idea to do something BIG to really challenge and inspire others ... something that will bring my authenticity and transparency online to a whole new level.

While I was journaling, I was thinking - I'm really a happy guy overall ... very blessed and grateful ... and, in most people's view, successful. At the same time, as I journal, I'm always writing things that I'm working on and goals that I have in order to increase my level of integrity. I know myself so I know firsthand how much more I can be doing. Most of these areas tend to be cases of "the cobbler's children having no shoes." Often, I'm helping others create balance, massive income gains and passive profit centers, while I'm running around like crazy trading my consulting time for dollars and neglecting important things like health, relationships and my own message development and product creation.

In order to make a dramatic and intense shift towards improving those weak areas and achieve my goals, I had the idea of reviving this abandoned blog of mine and use it as a tool to post my goals and give a daily update on progress and lessons learned along the way. When I told Jody, her initial response was, "It sure is gutsy." But, I figure it will:

- force me to treat myself like a client and take my own counsel
- be the ultimate accountability tool
- create a massive amount of energy and action
- inspire others to 'play full out' - at least THAT's the theory anyway

Hence, my little social experiment begins today. I'll start by posting my short-term goals. Then, starting tomorrow, I'll be posting here daily and will include an update chart to let you know how each goal is coming along.

Since my annual Extreme Business Makeovers Experience is April, 23, 2010, I thought I'd use that as my first goal deadline date and create a fresh set of goals after that! Here are the things I'm committed to accomplishing (in addition to my regular work) in the next 79 days:

1) Shed at least 50 pounds
2) Start and complete 1 book
3) Create and launch 1 informational product of my own
4) Launch 3 websites and post over 100 times
5) Help Go-Givers Sell More achieve bestseller status
6) Bring Jody on at least 10 dates
7) Call my Mom at least 10 times
8) Have at least 5 Scott Family Fun Nights

Nothing too ambitious eh? ;-) Just a few of the things that I've put in the "back seat" for too long! I'm excited about embarking on this journey and even having you along for the ride. Buckle up ... it MAY get bumpy ;-)

What do you think? Am I crazy or inspired? ;-)

A Winning Game Plan For A Rough Economy

2008-08-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

Between higher gas prices, a media that has conducted a rather lengthy campaign to convince us "the sky is falling" and a natural correction in the markets due to government agencies and large finance companies artificially bolstering the housing sector for several years, mass consumer fears appear to have taken hold. The result, of course, is that even those who have been minimally impacted are pinching their pennies and not spending anything they don't feel they have to. Since over 70% of our economy is based on U.S. consumer spending, if the overall public mood remains negative, it is possible this will devolve into a more long-lasting slump.

Note: If you prefer to listen to this article, you may click here:

That, of course, is the GENERAL economic outlook. However, that does not have to be your PERSONAL economic outlook. The facts are irrefutable; in times of economic shift, there are massive opportunities that accompany adversities. In fact, while millions get fearful and sell off their stock market holdings at a loss, the calm and focused few make money by shorting the market or picking up deals that will soon rebound. In my neighborhood, someone recently picked up a home that had been sold 2 years ago for $1.2 million dollars - for a greatly discounted $475,000. They are now renting it back to the original owners for a monthly profit! And, in the general business arena, while some are losing customers, others are making tremendous market share and revenue gains!

"Are You Playing To Win? Or, Are You Playing To Not Lose?

So, what makes the difference between those who gain and those who lose? I would suggest that it is the quality of their questions and expectations. In short, are you playing to win? Or, are you playing to not lose? We see it in professional athletics all the time. Oftentimes in a championship game we will see an underdog up against a team who has proven themselves to be superior throughout the balance of the season. They are dominant, scary and clearly have the momentum on their side. In other words, like today's economic outlook, the challenge is very real.

If the underdog looks at their situation with any intellectual honesty, they will conclude that, barring their rising above their current comparative limitations, they will lose. However, not all underdogs respond the same way. Some will play with a mindset and game plan that is set on not losing. They strive and toil and fall all over themselves to try to keep the superior team from trouncing them. They inevitably lose and often, they lose by blowout margins. Other underdogs, however, play to win. They may intellectually recognize that the other team has some very dominant forces and on an average day, would be headed toward victory. So, they decide that it is not going to be an average day. They decide to "leave it all on the field" and play to win. The result - either a spectacular victory or at worst, a highly respectable loss where they held the dominant team to a fraction of their usual margin of victory.

As you can tell, I'm not one who embraces the general population's negative views and attitudes about market conditions. But for now, let's dispense with our positive vernacular and take a cold, hard look at what have become facts. The negativism in the economy has become the opposing team. It is big, It is scary and It is winning. And, whether or not you are playing on the front lines that have already been negatively impacted, or whether you are in the backfield, it is going to change your circumstances.

Separate Yourself From The Millions Who Will Lose In This Economy

So, the question is, "What is YOUR Winning Game Plan?" Do you have a strategy and tactical plan to grow during this time? Or, are you like the masses - cowering and fearful and attempting to hunker down till the storm passes? There is no status quo in business. Short of a salaried job, the numbers on your monthly income statements are not stagnant. They are going up or going down. And, just like a Karate student who is attempting to break a board, if your focus is on the board, you will fail. Your focus instead needs to be beyond the board! So, ask yourself ... What opportunities does this economy present me with that I didn't have before? How can I use this opportunity to grow and win? How can I help those around me come out winners as well? By asking yourself these questions, you will separate yourself from the millions who will lose in this economy. You will have responsibility versus being a victim of circumstance. And, whether you win or lose, you will be FAR better off than you would have been.

The World is Officially Upside Down

2008-07-22T03:32:00.000-07:00

Okay... not my usual post, but I had to comment on a "news" item that I just came across on DrudgeReport.com. Apparently, there is this rapper, "Rick Ross" who has recently been caught in a lie and lost his "cred" (credibility for those of us who still speak some form of English). Why is his audience up in arms? Was he caught in some perversion or illegal activity? No, apparently, "Rick" (real name - William Roberts) once made the unforgivable mistake of working an honest and worthwhile job as a correctional officer for 18 months.

Sad but true my friends. There is a subculture that values rebellion, anarchy and lawlessness. They are preaching their message of hate and destruction through their music. Many parents may not even be aware of the messages their kids are exposed to or they may not be concerned because little "Sally" or "Johnny" still gets A's and doesn't have any tattoos. It's a slippery slope though. You and I both know that what we fill our minds with WILL eventually manifest itself in attitude and action.

For me, not only is this a "wake up call" to examine what I'm exposing my kids to, but myself as well. No, I'm not a closet rapper, but am I reading too much "news" and not enough of The Bible or other inspirational works? Am I spending more time with "go-nowhere complainers" or with friends who will challenge me to live up to my potential? The actions we take tomorrow are a result of the things we fill our minds with today. Let's all choose wisely!

You're the best,

Thom

Kudos to Sprint

2008-07-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

It's not often that I compliment big companies on their advertising, but I have to give Kudos to Sprint. In my opinion, their new campaign for its Instinct phone is nothing short of brilliant. First check it out and then I'll let you know why I believe it will be successful.

Pretty funny huh? It manages to successfully deliver on the AIDA formula:

1) It grabs ATTENTION whether viewed online or on TV.

2) For those with iPhone envy, it develops INTEREST by showing the screen of the phone with similar touch type controls.

3) By using an "edgy" style and fun, hip tie-in to the internet and social media, it creates DESIRE in those looking for an iPhone alternative other than the Blackberry.

4) AND, will wonders never cease? An actual call to ACTION in a mass media television commercial? Be still my heart!

Seriously, I'm an iPhone guy so they have no chance at my business. However, there are tons of people out there who are on a Sprint contract that want an iPhone-like solution. There are also a ton of people who won't get an iPhone even if they secretly want to - just because they don't identify with the brand. This approach and message will resonate with both these groups and increase overall awareness of and acceptance of this phone in the market - so people who buy the Instinct will gain the social status of having one of the latest and greatest phones.

And, of course, their integration of offline and online advertising with new media and social networking is an unbelievably powerful combination. The only thing that would make it better in my mind is to set up a video station with Flip recorders at every Sprint store so that someone who buys an Instinct can immediately record their own "blatant product placement" or testimonial commercials and upload to YouTube on the spot.

That's it for now.

Be Blessed,

Thom

Time to Adjust the Sails

2008-07-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

I'm back from North Carolina with the family... totally charged up and ready to plough through the rest of 2008 with a joyful fury! ;-)

During my two weeks away, and the subsequent few days I've been home, I've noticed a dramatic shift in the mood of even my most optimistic friends and a generally dour outlook from strangers I've met. Between the erratic economic indicators, some very real issues in the banking/mortgage sector and the culmination of an almost endless multi-year campaign by the media to assure us that we're heading into economic crisis, it appears that the mass psychosis has taken hold. So now, what has been conceived in the minds of the masses is actually manifesting in very real situations. Even those of us who haven't had to sell real estate or stocks feel the pinch at the gas station and grocery store and many businesses are getting into survival mode.

If you're feeling a bit anxious about the economy and how it will effect you, I'll offer these simple thoughts.

1st - Remember - our journey in business and in life is NOT a like a train on a track. I've never seen a business fully execute according to plan. They often hit or surpass their goals, but seldom, if ever, in the neat and tidy way they were envisioned in the plan. No, our journey is much more like an oceanic sailing adventure.

We determine the destination we are wanting to reach and the timeframe in which we want to reach it. We chart the course and we set sail. Then, all bets are off. Winds change direction and storms unexpectedly roll in. Our job is simply to control our own responses and adjust the sails and steer the ship to compensate for the outside forces that come our way. As the Bible puts it .. "In his heart a man plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps."

In a time of shifting economic conditions, it's time for us to remember that we have no control over the outside forces. So, we can either waste our time cursing the winds or we can adjust to take advantage of them in a way that we perhaps hadn't thought of before.

The Chinese symbol for Danger is the same as the one for Opportunity. You will only be able to recognize and take advantage of the current opportunities that are emerging if you are asking yourself quality questions like "Who is making money now that might not have been a few months ago?" and "What can I do right now to profit while others are living in fear?" In a time of dramatic shift, those who keep their heads on straight and their focus on their goals, will adjust the sails instead of dropping anchor. They will use the same force that grounds other vessels to propel further and faster along their course of success.

2nd - Don't lose your joy and zest for life! The Bible says, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." So, no joy, no strength to overcome ... to be buoyant and rise above situations.

Even if you've taken a big hit, put it all in perspective and remember what and who you value ... what really makes your life rich and rewarding. Money most definitely makes life easier, but nothing and no one can take away the true richness and rewards that reside in the heart of someone who is "living out loud" the way God has wired them to be and according to the values that they have in their hearts.

Times like these offer a fresh start. They cause us to get out our maps and dust off our compasses and evaluate where we're at and make the adjustments necessary to stay on course, or in many cases, get back on course... in all areas of our lives ... spiritual, relational and professional.

If you're one that perhaps has drifted way off course take heart. Thank God for the threatening storms that made you take notice. Be at peace with where you're at (it is what it is and you can't change it) and use the knowledge you've gained from experiences that landed you where you are to propel you forward.

I'll end with a few You Tube music videos. For me, music can touch my heart and lift and direct my spirits in a way that mere words cannot. So, hopefully, these clips will resonate with you as well.

This one is by Point of Grace - great song to remember to play full out!

Here's Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield to remind you that you are writing your story every day and you can make it what you want it to be.

Finally, Vivere (Dare to Live) by Andrea Bocelli and Laura Pausini

Hope you enjoy them and experience renewal.

Be buoyant and get excited about what lies ahead. I believe in you!

All the Best,

Thom

Could I be replaced by a machine?

2008-07-07T01:56:00.000-07:00

So my parents are all moved into their new apartment at an assisted living facility in Hendersonville, NC. Jody and the kids and I came up to spend some time with them and my siblings, brother-in-law and nieces.

Beyond all the emotional challenges that this move has presented to my folks, there are also some very practical challenges of moving from a large, 2 story home into a more manageable 3 bedroom apartment ... the biggest of which is storage.

My brother David and I decided to take advantage of my being there by installing some shelving in their closets to help them maximize the space. So, off we went to the local Lowes to pick up supplies where we experienced what my business partner, Bob Burg, and I have termed "Anti-Wow' customer service.

First, though we were passed by MANY Lowes employees as we combed the aisles in search of the shelving units, not a single one even acknowledged our presence, let alone asked us if we were finding everything we needed.

Then, when we did find the particular set of modular shelving units that we were seeking, they were out of stock on the shelves we could reach (certainly not their fault), but fortunately, there were more boxes of them available on the top shelf of the warehouse-like aisle. Immediately, I attempted to flag down an employee who could help us locate the person who could retrieve the product we needed only to be literally waived off as if I were attempting to hail a cab in front of Carnegie Hall after a show. This rather odd customer service technique was displayed by not just one, but two employees who, by all indications, were on duty and fully capable of speech (though perhaps not rational thought).

Okay, so I'm certainly not going to let a little customer service glitch foil my efforts to help my parents out. Next step ... I'm off to the Customer Service desk where, after over a minute of waiting with no one else in line, the customer service representative was nice enough to break off her conversation with a fellow employee about the concoctions they drank at their 4th of July party, so I could ask her to please send someone to our aisle to retrieve the boxes from the top shelf. She immediately hopped on the PA system to send the message. So, I returned to the aisle to wait ... and wait .... and wait ... for OVER 20 minutes - with still no sign of anyone who was going to help us and with employees passing us by right and left.

If I were there alone, I would have driven to the Home Depot 2 blocks away after only about 10 minutes of waiting. However, I did have my older brother there so we were able to take advantage of the time and catch up on the happenings in each others' lives (though both of us would probably have preferred the conversation over a glass of wine back home or a Cider and darts at a local watering hole.)

But alas, here we are still waiting and wondering if anyone even heard the announcement that the customer service representative had made. Back again I went to the customer service counter as I asked her once again to help me. Put out, our once-friendly representative reminded me that she had already honored my request once before. But, since I was still without the product I was so desperately attempting to purchase, she reluctantly agreed to issue the dictum one more time.

9 minutes and 22 seconds later (I'm now very conscious of the time), an employee comes to retrieve the boxes from the top shelf (which took him 37 seconds total).

Ahhhh, now it's off to the checkout where we are faced with the decision of going to a checkout line with a real live cashier and only one person in line before us, or go to the self-checkout station where there are 2 people at each of the 4 machines. You guessed it - we went for the machine. It was quicker and in my imagination (based on my experience there that day) probably friendlier as well.

My point? Well, it comes down to the value-added benefit of service. Those employees at that particular Lowes store added virtually nothing to the sales experience and when they did actually perform their job, it was with great reluctance and poor attitude. Rather than be driven to deliver such a high level of customer service that they could not possibly be replaced by a machine, they seemed almost hell-bent on hastening the process of their demise.

After experiencing the let down of their real customer service that day, I opted to checkout with a machine. And, you'd better believe that if I heard of a store that had mechanically rotating shelves so that I could move the top shelf down myself, I'd be bringing my business there... bing, bang, boom - I'm empowered and former employees are looking for work (and likely blaming the big "heartless corporations" for putting profits above people).

However, don't take this as a rant against certain parts of the retail sector. Frankly, there are some companies as a whole and individual employees that are so good at delivering service which does in fact add value, that I wouldn't consider going to their competitor - even for a lower price.

So the question we all need to pose ourselves is this ... Are there any areas of our customer service where we are resting on our laurels ... that we take advantage of the competitive benefits of our primary service or our products and are falling short on cultivating relationships where people LIKE doing business with us?

If you sell nutritional supplements, could the customer just as easily buy them through the company directly and not miss a thing with you removed from the equation? If you're a CPA, could a hot new computer program with super new fuzzy logic (like a "Quicken on steroids") make you look replace-able? For me, if someone developed a fuzzy logic marketing plan builder that reveals hidden assets and provides a plan to maximize them, is there anything I bring to the table above and beyond the pure and simple intellectual output that would compel someone to do business with me? Could I be replaced by a machine?

Food for thought ....

All the Best,

Thom

End of June already???

2008-06-30T03:52:00.000-07:00

It's the end of the month already and I've been so swamped that I have neglected to post much of anything. Sorry about that!

The Extreme Business Makeovers event was a smashing success on the 19th-21st. Over a week later now and I'm still getting people sending me emails and cards to thank me for putting it all together. I've got to say, it was an incredible lineup of speakers and each one not only delivered different expertise, but they have the same deep care for our participants that I have!

So, now that 2008 is half over, it seems an appropriate time to measure where I'm at for the year ... what's working, what's not and how to maximize the strengths and workaround the weaknesses.

Which leads me to the topics of balance and structure - not something that a typical "creative" type like myself excels in. I tend to bounce back and forth between juggling 50 projects at once or getting ultra picky and ultra focused on a particular project. The end result is the same ... a lot of busyness and much less fruitfulness. And, I've also done a lousy job at consistently taking care of myself by getting enough sleep and eating regular small meals versus my feast or famine pattern. Do you ever feel challenged in that area?

Well here's how I'm handling it for myself. First, I've created a block schedule, as per my friend, Stephanie Frank's advice. In it, I account for Focus Time (for projects), Flex time (general office stuff/communications, etc...), Family Time and Free Time. By making sure I have that Focus time when the door is shut, the phone is off and I'm not checking emails, it's much harder to get sidetracked or distracted by the tyranny of the daily urgent stuff and neglect the big projects that have huge payoffs.

Also, starting tomorrow, I'm taking a couple weeks for a working vacation - first to go to Hendersonville, NC to visit with my Mom and Dad, my sister and brother-in-law and their kids and another of my brothers. Then, after that, we head to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a mini reunion with my In-Laws and my wife's sisters and their husbands and children. With 13 grandchildren and 8 adults all staying in the same house, that should be a fun time. And, of course, the time out-of-pocket will give me the time to come back to the office ready to implement my new schedule versus if I didn't have that transition time for my mind.

On the positive side, I'm working on a book and should have a really large chunk of it done by the time I return! I'll save the details about that for another day.

If I don't post before then, have a super and safe 4th of July holiday! Be sure to take time to be grateful for this incredible country we live in!

All the Best,
Thom