Perspective is in the Eye of the Beholder
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” -Henry David Thoreau Perspective is everything. What we see is what we believe is true and actual, but the biggest mistake we’re all guilty of is believing others see things in the same way we do. I’m […]
Customer Loyalty: You Get What You Give
We all know that the cardinal rule of sales is to solve a problem and not sell a product. When you solve a problem the product sells itself. Why? Because it earns you points in the trust department. It doesn’t happen overnight and it doesn’t mean it’s going to last. It has to be proven […]
Remembering Bacall: Leadership Lessons From a Class Act
“You know you don’t have to act with me, Steve. You don’t have to say anything and you don’t have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle …” – Lauren Bacall as ‘Slim’ Browning, in “To Have and Have Not”’ 1944 That was Lauren Bacall’s first role and the one that made […]
Expecting Good
Tom Hopkins is a well-respected leader in the field sales training and executive consulting. In fact, he’s been doing it for close to 40 years. He’s written a lot of books on the subject too, all valid and insightful regardless of endeavor. My favorite quote of his is a very simple, yet opens up a […]
Entrepreneur or Business Owner?
“Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.” – Andy Warhol Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur or a business owner? Many people use the term interchangeably, but there is a difference. The […]
Defining Success
Here we are, almost into the 4th quarter and it’s a good time to take stock of where we are in relation to where we thought we’d be when we set our goals for this year. So. how are you doing? Will you be successful? Will you make your numbers? Does being successful mean you’ve […]
Labor Day: 23 Quotes on the Value of Work
Ah, Labor Day. Although its roots go back to the inception of the Labor Movement and the first unions back in the late 1800’s, man has always known that every effort demands hard work. Funny though that sometimes we’re so close to our work – so caught up in it – that […]
Preventive Medicine Can Improve Employee Retention
Business owners and managers are often blindsided when a good employee quits. Too bad, because a little preventive medicine could go a long way to increase retention, loyalty and good will. A degree of turnover is expected. It’s a given; but good, trusted employees are assets, and their departure hits us where it hurts. We […]
8 Things Great Leaders Do to Stop Stress
Do you ever compare yourself to other leaders and feel you’re coming up short? Do you think the confidence they exude is a product of money, demeanor, intelligence and personality? Are you and others attracted to them because they have a big “L” written on their foreheads, or is there something more? They handle problems […]
A Simple Glass of Water
We played the glass of water routine on our friends back in in high school, or maybe it was junior high. I’m sure you know this one. We filled a glass half way with water and then took it around asking, ’Is the glass half full or half empty’? If a person answered half full, we’d tell […]