Thursday, December 23, 2010

A Christmas Story

It was 5:00 pm Christmas Eve 1989, and I was locking the front door of the supermarket where I was Store Manager.

Over the years, I made it a tradition for me to close the store on Christmas Eve.

Inside the store, my employees where rushing around counting their register tills, sweeping the floor, and generally preparing the store for closing down, so they all could rush home to their families for Christmas.

At approximately 5:30pm, I heard someone tapping on the front door.
“I just got off work and I need to shop for my family", the gentleman on the other side of the glass door shouted.
“Sorry, we are closed.” I answered.
“Please, I really need to shop and you are the only grocery store open.”

In the background several of my employees yelled out to me… “Mr. Gambone, I hope you don’t let him in, we all want to go home.”

I turned to my office manager and said , “Cindy, I feel bad for this guy…will you stick around with me until we get him checked out.”
She looked at me with a frown, “Well, I hope he only needs a few things, OK.”

We let him in…he was very gracious, grabbed a buggy and started to shop.

“I’ll only take a few minutes,” he said.

Then all of a sudden, he turned around and looked at Cindy and me in desperation… “Shit!..I’m sorry for swearing, but I left my wallet in my overalls at work….I can’t believe this!!!”

He abandoned the buggy and started walking towards the front door to leave.

Cindy looked at me and said… “Well, I guess we can leave now.”

“Hold on!” I said… “Sir, you pick up what you need and come back the day after Christmas and pay us.”

Cindy looked at me as if I was crazy. The gentleman was overjoyed and continued to shop.

When he completed his shopping, Cindy and I checked him out and bagged his groceries. He purchased lots of milk, cereal, bread and basic groceries along with some gift-wrap and children’s toys.

We wished him a Merry Christmas as he left and Cindy and I locked up and went home to our families.

...............the gentleman never returned...................

Yes, I took some heat from my boss when he found out…but that’s okay. I knew in my heart that it was right thing to do at the time.

“The good you do, will come back to you.”.... Lou Z.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and may you and your family have a glorious New Year.

Bob Gambone, The Pecan Pie Guy!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Roads of Success

The other day a client of mine asked me, what is the difference between a coach and a consultant? ...a teacher and a trainer? ...and a mentor and a coach?
He inspired me to write the following:


The Roads of Success


Show me the road,
and you are my teacher.

Show me how to travel the road,
and you are my trainer.

Show me the road that you traveled successfully, and you are my mentor.

Show me the road that you have improved for me to travel successfully,
and you are my consultant.

Show me the road that you and I will travel together successfully,
and you are my coach
.
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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a full-slice of "Pecans of Wisdom", be sure to indulge yourself in my new book:
"Pecan Pie: 32 Business Success Strategies Passionately Baked To Order"
BY IT NOW on AMAZON.COM --click on link below.
“Copyright (12-15-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Entrepreneurs need a “Secret Recipe”

Entrepreneurial experts around the world continue to debate over why small businesses fail, however they do agree on one thing; now more than ever entrepreneurs need to differentiate themselves in the marketplace.***

We have all heard the buzzwords:

“Branding”

“Point of Difference” (POD)

“Unique Selling Proposition” (USP)

“Secret Recipe” (from yours truly)

Think about this; every Fortune 500 company has a brand, a trademark and a tagline. Did you ever ask yourself, why?... Yes!...we all know the answer!
Because it is a fundamental business strategy!

So why do millions of entrepreneurs fail to create a “Secret Recipe”?

David F. D’Alessandro (best selling author ) says it best:

~ A business based on brand is, very simply, a business primed for success. ~

***Sources: Small Business Administration, Entrepeneurship.org, Personalbrandingblog.com

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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a full-slice of "Pecans of Wisdom", be sure to indulge yourself in my new book;

"Pecan Pie: 32 Business Success Strategies Passionately Baked To Order!

"BY IT NOW on AMAZON.COM --click on link below.
http://lnkd.in/TNNzBM

“Copyright (12-09-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Monday, December 6, 2010

“Taking Care of Business!”

“Taking Care of Business!” by B.T.O.

I love that song!

Yes, I know, I am really dating myself…but that’s ok because we all need a song to get us fired up!

...And no matter how many times I hear it … I get fired up!

Music can really be a mood changer, and for me I always look for a song that will brighten my day, or get me out of a rut, so to speak.

How about you? What song or songs set you free!... Change your blight into excite?

Now don’t procrastinate…you know what song(s) ignite your passion.

Get that song(s) on an IPOD, MP3, tape, CD, etc…. and keep it handy… listen to it when needed and start Taking Care of Business!

T.S. Eliot says it best...“You are the music while the music lasts.”

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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a full-slice of "Pecans of Wisdom", be sure to indulge yourself in my new book; "Pecan Pie: 32 Business Success Strategies Passionately Baked To Order!

"BY IT NOW on AMAZON.COM --click on link below.
http://lnkd.in/TNNzBM

“Copyright (12-06-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Betty the Barometer

Let’s call her Betty the Barometer.

Now this story dates way back to when my hair was still black and I looked more like Mark Spitz than Jay Leno. (not to say I can compare to either of them, but you get my drift).
I was assigned as the Grocery Department manager in a new store.


Towards the end of the second week, I was walking through the store in a terrible mood because the night stocking crew did not complete their assignments and my department was not meeting customer requirements... I probably looked like a chicken with my head cut off because I circled the inside parameter of the store several times barking out orders to my employees and completely ignoring the customers.


Betty, a very petite and soft-spoken meat wrapper with 23 years in the business, had been observing me in my state of frenzy while she was stocking the meat case with fresh cut meat... As I passed by her for the third time, she called out to me.

“Gambone! …come here for second.”
I quickly stopped in my tracks and started walking towards her with a huff and a puff.

“What Betty, can’t you see I’m busy.”
“You know Gambone, that’s your problem, you are too busy. You look like you are ready to explode. What happened to that smiling face I am used to seeing?...and hey, you didn’t even say hi to me this morning!
Well, I don’t know what’s going on in your head but you can’t let your employees and customers see that you are pissed off…we need you to lift us up, not let us down.”

I looked at Betty and said, “Wow Betty, thank you …I never would have thought I'd hear that from you….but you are right…thank you again.”

From that day forward, when I got in a bad mood, I would always check with Betty to see if my “mood” was actually coming to the surface.

We all need a Betty in our lives.

Ask yourself…Who is my “business barometer?”

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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a full-slice of "Pecans of Wisdom", be sure to indulge yourself in my new book;

"Pecan Pie: 32 Business Success Strategies Passionately Baked To Order!"

BY IT NOW on AMAZON.COM --click on link below.
http://lnkd.in/TNNzBM

“Copyright (11-14-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The Diamond RULE²

-----------TOP RATED POSTING-----------


We all know the Golden Rule (treat others the way you want to be treated), many of us have heard of the Platinum Rule (treat others the way they want to be treated)…

The Diamond RULE² applies specifically to leadership.

R- Respect everyone; everyone’s job is just as important as everyone else’s…pay grade is based on the position, not on the importance of the person.

U- Understand their vision, it may be different from yours; strength of a team is in its diversity of its members.

L- Listen and learn how to help; we all learn something new everyday, from anyone.

E- Enthusiastically and passionately support your team; attitudes are contagious, believe in them and they will believe in you.

E- Exceed what is expected of you; leadership is not just making a living, it’s making a life.

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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a "full-slice" of passion, be sure to indulge yourself in my new book,
"Pecan Pie: 32 Business Success Strategies Passionately Baked To Order!"
BY IT NOW on AMAZON.COM --click on link below.
http://lnkd.in/TNNzBM

“Copyright (7-1-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

From Manager to Leader…My Own Personal Journey

---------------------Top Rated Posting -----------------

I was the best.
(well, at least in my own mind)

No one could build displays, order product, stock shelves, take inventory and write schedules better than me.
“He never slows down, runs around 24/7..."
"…Bob is the hardest worker I have ever seen.”
(words often expressed by my co-workers and Store Managers.)

So why was I passed over for upper level management time and time again?
I was a great manager, everyone said so. I was winning all the display and selling contests.
I was the best at getting work done, and lived by the credo: if you want something done right you need to do it yourself.
In fact, every time I would go on vacation, I would return to deplorable conditions and I would have to work overtime just to get the department back up to standards.
Again, so why was I not promoted?

In one word…leadership.
I was lighting fires under the feet of my employees instead of inspiring the fire in the hearts of my team.
And then I was given a revelation…a great mentor of mine said:
“Bob, it's not how good your department looks when you are here, the true test of your leadership is the condition of your department, when you are not here.
We want our managers to work smart not hard.
Yes, you will always have to pitch in, but you need to let go and have your team pinch hit for you, you can’t always do everything yourself."

From that point on, I realized:
Managers live for the task, leaders live for their team.

Three months later, I was promoted.
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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a full slice of "Pecans of Wisdom", be sure to indulge yourself in my upcoming book, "Pecan Pie", fresh from the oven, early November!...stay tuned! “Copyright (10-13-2010) by Robert V. Gambone Sr.”

Saturday, September 25, 2010

"Got It, Thank you."

Did you ever send an email to someone and then anxiously pondered if they received it?

…of course you did, I have many times.

Today with all the spam, junk and security filters, the reality is our emails (sometimes very important) can be shuffled into the never-to-be-read email abyss!

I know, some of you are saying: well I usually get a “your email was read” return.Reality check please, those scripts are not very reliable for many reasons (which I will not get into).

Here are 4 simple words to help secure the communication and put the sender at ease:
“Got it, thank you.”….that’s right …simply email them back “Got it, thank you.”

Consider this example:

Imagine sending a potential client a proposal and instead of wondering anxiously if they received it, you get an email back from them that said “Got it, thank you.”… WOW!, you can now exhale.

“Got it, thank you.” is not meant to be an end-all solution and of course you will have to adapt it to your style.

So if you do “get it” ...then simply say, “Got it, thank you.”

Want more tips?  please read---

Pecan Pie: 32 Business Success Strategies Passionately Baked To Order!
"A must read!" Ivan Misner New York Times Bestselling author
BY IT NOW on AMAZON.COM  click on link below
Click here to purchase Bob's Book

 “Copyright (9-25-2010) by Robert V. Gambone Sr.”
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Friday, September 17, 2010

Motivational Pledge

I found this in my archives; it was written as a 'motivational pledge' for my store team, as an inspiration to maintain our #1 status in a corporate wide-year long competition...over the next 8 months, we stayed on top, and ended the year Number One!!!
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"A true champion celebrates his success,
while at the same time acknowledges his vulnerabilities.
When you are the best,
you will be tested by the best.

You are number one and being chased by those who cannot accept defeat.
Know this…second place is the first loser,
don’t settle for anything less than number one.

Remember you can’t do it alone...
it's great to be a champion,
but it takes a TEAM to win a superbowl.
The challenge is now upon us:
WE must champion our Points Of Difference,
with a
Passionate and Enthusiastic Pursuit of Excellence!"
---------------------------------------------
***This is just a sample!... if you would like a full slice of "Pecans of Wisdom", be sure to indulge yourself in my NEW book, "Pecan Pie" ON SALE NOW, CLICK ON LINK BELOW!
Click here for Pecan Pie 

 “Copyright (9-17-2010) by Robert V. Gambone Sr.”

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Paralysis by Analysis

PROCRASTINATION!!!

Calling all Entrepreneurs!....why do we do this?!

Yes, it is good that we examine things.
Yes , we need to be patient and cultivate business relationships.
Yes, we need to do our due diligence with respect to weighing our options.

But what I am talking about is;
when the ball is in our hand,
not a defensive player is in sight,
our Team is surrounding us,
and yet, we are afraid to run!? … because we might trip, fumble, or not make it to the end zone? ***

Here are 7 great quotes about procrastination.
Read them, and then read them again…and oh by the way…read them one more time.“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”Abraham Lincoln

“How soon not now, becomes never.”Martin Luther (1483-1546) German priest and scholar.

"Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy."Wayne Gretzky

"Even if you’re on the right track-you’ll get run over if you just sit there."
Will Rogers
“One of these days, is none of these days.”Proverb

“I remember reading somewhere about an organization called Procrastinators Anonymous. I think they had been in existence for some years but had never gotten around to having a meeting.”
Unknown Source

“By not making a decision, you have made one.”
The Pecan Pie Guy.
*** So come on entrepeneuers! Get the lead out of your butt and make a run for it!!!
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Monday, September 6, 2010

Go Bananas!!! When Building Strong Business Relationships.

Did you know that the number one selling item at SuperWalmart (according to Bloomberg/ Business Week) is... BANANAS?
Wow!? …who would have thought!

According to Progressive Grocer Magazine, 75% of supermarket shoppers purchase bananas on a regular basis due to their nutritional value, low cost, and the fact that bananas are a very perishable product.

What is the number one strategy in building your business through networking?
Correct!
Building strong relationships. And, just like bananas, strong trusting relationships are nutritious (in a business sense), can be very cost effective, and very perishable if you do not keep your “credibility” in stock.

Here are three quick tips to maintain a good "credible" inventory of your networking relationships.

1). Send a “reconnecting” email if you have not seen or heard from them in the last 30 days.

2). A personal inspirational greeting card is a great way to remind them of your relationship.

3). It may be old fashion in today’s techy world, but a simple “Hi Joe, how are things going this week?” phone call, really sends a message that you care.

So when it comes to building strong realtionships...Go Bananas!!!

 “Copyright (9-6-2010) by Robert V. Gambone Sr.”
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Saturday, August 28, 2010

Common Sense ?!?

Did you know that,
“One person’s common sense is another person’s mystery.”
source unknown
Absolutely! It's true!

Think about this;

We live in a global economy.

We can find out what is happening on the other side of the planet in minutes.

We can talk with people in every hemisphere within seconds.

So….is anything really common anymore?

And how about “sense” ….just because it makes sense to you, doesn’t mean it makes sense to someone in Bulgaria, or even to your next door neighbor, right?


My thought is, the saying “common sense” stems from the old golden rule philosophy of treating others the way you like to be treated…so if you ask someone to use common sense, you are really asking them to think the way YOU think.

Listen…the term “common sense” had its place and time, but it is time to move forward.

Let’s consider The Platinum Rule¹ philosophy; treat others the way they would like to be treated… so let’s all delete “common sense” from our vocabularies and replace it with the words sound judgment.

Now when we ask someone to use sound judgment, we are asking him or her to take action based on the way THEY think.

Mystery solved.
¹made popular by Dr.Tony Alessandra

Bob Gambone's Book  is "A must read!" Ivan Misner New York Time Bestselling author
Pecan Pie: 32 Business Success Strategies Passionately Baked To Order!
BY IT NOW on AMAZON.COM

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Expectations in Leadership - Take a Look Back and See Where You Started

I was looking through my old files and found these training bullet points that I put together back in 1983...

I was 28 years young.

We all need to reflect. Go back; 10, 20, 30 years ago... Ask yourself, what was my vision then and what is it now?


•Positive Attitudes...We are on a stage...Attitudes are Contagious

•Professionalism... We must set the tone and the example.

•Leadership...Respect your Position as a Leader

•Employees expect you to be a leader.

•Integrity...Confidentiality...Honesty.

•Teamwork...you can’t do it all yourself.

•The task is never more important than the customer.

•The customer may not always be right but they are still the customer.

•Reward want you want repeated.

•Manage what you don’t want repeated.

•Recognition must be genuine.

•Set a goal for recognition.

•Treat employees with dignity and respect.

•Don’t Procrastinate...Have a Sense of Urgency

•Take initiative, be assertive, don’t assume.

•Learning is a continuous two -way process

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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a "full-slice" of passionate enthusiasm, be sure to indulge yourself in my upcoming book, "Pecan Pie", fresh from the oven, early this fall!...stay tuned!“Copyright (8-26-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

"When Are You Going To Get A REAL Job?!

Entrepreneurs!....how many times have you heard this?!

...and to make it worse, most of the time, the question comes from our family and loved ones.

Well, it is time to fight back!

Here are Seven inspirational quotes from entrepreneurs , just like yourself, to use as ammo against the pessimists that challenge you.

"When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser. The choice is yours and yours alone. Refuse to throw in the towel. Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel. It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure."
- Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer."
- Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's

"Innovation is the specific tool of entrepreneurs, the means by which they exploit change as an opportunity for a different business or a different service. It is capable of being presented as a discipline, capable of being learned, capable of being practiced. Entrepreneurs need to search purposefully for the sources of innovation, the changes and their symptoms that indicate opportunities for successful innovation. And they need to know and to apply the principles of successful innovation."
- Peter F. Drucker, "The Father of Modern Management"

"Experience taught me a few things. One is to listen to your gut, no matter how good something sounds on paper. The second is that you're generally better off sticking with what you know. And the third is that sometimes your best investments are the ones you don't make."
- Donald Trump, real estate and entertainment mogul

"The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it."
- Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies

"We were young, but we had good advice and good ideas and lots of enthusiasm. Our success has really been based on partnerships from the very beginning."

- Bill Gates

"I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others... I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent."
- Thomas Edison

AND....Just in case someone says (like my niece did to me)

"Well Uncle Bob, you're no Thomas Edison"

"You're right", I said, "but who was Thomas Edison before he became "Thomas Edison" ? "
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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a "full-slice" of passionate enthusiasm, be sure to indulge yourself in my upcoming book, "Pecan Pie", fresh from the oven, early this fall!...stay tuned!“Copyright (8-11-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

"Feedback Is A Gift"

His name was Lou.
Lou was 35 years my senior and started in the grocery business before I was born.
He once told me,
“Bob, always remember when a customer complains to you, make sure you listen to them, apologize to them and mean it, then make them happy by fixing the problem and last and most importantly thank them.”

“Thank them?” I asked.

“Yes!” Lou, a genuine soul, looked into my eyes and said, “Bob, any customer that takes the time to complain to you is really doing you a favor. They want to make your business better; they want to be your customer. In some cases this is your best customer.”

“Lou, come on…are you telling me that customers who complain are my better customers?”

“What I am telling you is, that you should listen to them because in many cases the feedback is very constructive, you really should encourage it… and by thanking them, you demonstrate to them that your really care about what they have to say.
Would you rather have a customer get upset, and simply not complain, and then never return? Did you ever think; a customer, who never complains but never comes back, might be your worst customer?”

Lou was right. Feedback is a gift!

In any business, a customer that is not satisfied with your product or service, does not communicate their disappointment and then never frequents your business again, well …they are your “worst” customer.

Here are 5 easy steps to take upon receiving your “gift” face to face.

1. Listen attentively.
2. Be thankful for the opportunity to fix the problem.
3. Provide a quick fix.
4. Assess the problem.
5. Implement a permanent fix.

Fact: A satisfied customer will share their positive experience with up to 5 people.
Fact: A dissatisfied customer will share their negative experience with up to 20 people.
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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a "full-slice" of passion, be sure to indulge yourself in my upcoming book, "Pecan Pie", fresh from the oven, early this fall!...stay tuned!“Copyright (8-4-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Monday, August 2, 2010

Everyone Is Talking About Passion

Do you have the passion to succeed?

Are you passionate about your business?

Do your customers appreciate your passion for service?

Yes, Yes and Yes!!!

If you are an entrepreneur, of course, you have passion.

The big question is, do you also have enthusiasm?

Passion is defined as an internal mind set. (What you know)
Enthusiasm is defined as how others perceive you. (What others see and know)

I recently attended a networking event and was introduced to a financial advisor, who was in his third year of the business. Throughout our 30-minute discussion, he told me how passionate he was to succeed. All the while, not smiling and never providing me with any non-verbal communication that he was actually excited about being a financial advisor. In fact, the person beside me almost fell asleep listening to his story. Would I want this person to handle my money? Probably not.

When you have passion and show it, people want what you have, they want to tap into your ENTHUSIASM!!!

Yes…continue to be passionate…but if you want to take your business to the next level...

Repeat after me...

“Success just doesn't happen…You must GO AFTER IT, with PASSIONATE ENTHUSIASM!”

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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a "full-slice" of passionate enthusiasm, be sure to indulge yourself in my upcoming book, "Pecan Pie", fresh from the oven, early this fall!...stay tuned!“Copyright (7-15-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Thursday, July 29, 2010

What Is YOUR Bottom Line Focus?

Single Focus -Good:

-Strategies geared towards a strong bottom line enabling financial stability benefiting your shareholders / owners.


Dual Focus- Better: (weighted equally)

1). Strategies geared towards maintaining a strong bottom line enabling financial stability for your shareholders / owners.

2). Strategies designed to sustain your customers and employees by meeting their requirements.


Triple Bottom Line Focus- BEST: People, Public, Profit (weighted equally)

1). Strategies geared towards maintaining a strong bottom line enabling financial stability for your shareholders / owners.

2). Strategies designed to sustain your customers and employees by meeting their requirements.

3). Strategies that support your community goals and in turn your community will support your company.

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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a "full-slice" of passion, be sure to indulge yourself in my upcoming book, "Pecan Pie", fresh from the oven, early this fall!...stay tuned!“Copyright (7-15-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Friday, July 16, 2010

Carol The Trainer

Before “Train the Trainer” (a company that patented a 4-Step Process in 1977) there was Carol the Deli Manager…the best trainer I ever met.

I was first introduced to her in 1973 when she was training employees for a new store opening. I was totally impressed with her unique training style.

Fast forward a few years later: Carol was the deli manager at a store that I was managing.
Carol’s performance appraisal and overall department rating was off the charts!
And…at a time of 60% employee turnover in deli departments, Carol’s department turnover was close to zero.

Why?
…because Carol trained her team so well that they never wanted to leave. Yes, the reality is there are many factors that cause employee turnover… “lack of training” is always high on the list.
Oh, by the way…Carol’s training was so effective, that she was one of the few deli managers that did not have to work overtime in order to maintain the standards in her department.


Carol’s 5-Step Recipe for Training:

1. Why?...tell the trainee why they are being trained; what’s in it for them.

2. How?...show them how to do it. (Be empathetic, try not to intimidate them with your expertise)

3. Try…let them try; it’s their turn. (be sure you are observing)

4. What?...tell them what they did right and what they need to improve on. Be positive!

5. Follow up and thank you…always check back with them to see how they are doing, thank them for learning something new and participating in the training process (step five was Carol’s “Midas Touch”)

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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a "full-slice" of passion, be sure to indulge yourself in my upcoming book, "Pecan Pie", fresh from the oven, early this fall!...stay tuned!

“Copyright (7-15-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Jack, The Meat Guy

Jack was the cleanest head butcher that ever worked for me. Why?...because Jack chose to have his team do the meat cutting, while he worked the sales floor providing meal solutions to his customers.

Customers loved Jack and trusted him to solve their daily dilemma of “what’s for dinner tonight?” I remember one day walking up to a customer, after Jack had served her, and I said… “Thank you for your business ma’am, I see Jack has taken care of you… so what did he suggest?"

“Oh," she said so confidently, “I'm not sure what cut of meat this is, but it sounds delicious and Jack gave me all the cooking instructions, he is such a sweetie pie!"
And to top it off, after further inquiry, I found out she never even asked about the price.
This phenomenon happened repeatedly for months with thousands of customers!

I was amazed!
Customers were actually buying Jack, and not the products. He had branded himself and created a point of difference as “The Meat Guy”....Jack literally had customers buying whatever he wanted them to buy.

A few months later, Jack was transferred to a store about 5 miles down the road... sales in my meat department dropped 18%!
Why?
Customers followed Jack to the other store, because he was their ...
“Jack, The Meat Guy.”

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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a "full-slice" of passion, be sure to indulge yourself in my upcoming book, "Pecan Pie", fresh from the oven, early this fall!...stay tuned!
“Copyright (7-15-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Friday, July 9, 2010

D.R.E.A.M.S.

“The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you.” Tom Bradley


Ask yourself the following questions:


Doing, what are you doing right now?


Really, what do you really want to be doing?


Expectations, what are your goals and vision?


Action plans; how are you developing and implementing?


Measure your performance, what process are you using?


Sustain your progress, who is holding you accountable?

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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a "full-slice" of passion, be sure to indulge yourself in my upcoming book,"Pecan Pie", fresh from the oven, early this fall!...stay tuned!“Copyright (7-1-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Goal Setting , Measurements and Vision


5 Great Insights:

-What gets measured, gets done…what gets measured and shared, gets improved.

-If you do not have a destination (goal), any road you take will get you there.

-Live not to measure the length of the journey, live for the destination and the journey will measure itself.

-If your memories are bigger than your future, then its time to turn things around.

-Do what you love, Love what you do, and Share that love with everyone!


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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a "full-slice" of passion, be sure to indulge yourself in my upcoming book,"Pecan Pie", fresh from the oven, early this fall!...stay tuned!“Copyright (7-1-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”


Monday, July 5, 2010

The Diamond RULE² -Servant Leadership in Business

We all know the Golden Rule (treat others the way you want to be treated), many of us have heard of the Platinum Rule (treat others the way they want to be treated)…

The Diamond RULE² applies specifically to leadership.

R- Respect everyone; everyone’s job is just as important as everyone else’s…pay grade is based on the position, not on the importance of the person.

U- Understand their vision, it may be different from yours; strength of a team is in its diversity of its members.

L- Listen and learn how to help; we all learn something new everyday, from anyone.

E- Enthusiastically and passionately support your team; attitudes are contagious, believe in them and they will believe in you.

E- Exceed what is expected of you; leadership is not just making a living, it’s making a life.

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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a "full-slice" of passion, be sure to indulge yourself in my upcoming book,"Pecan Pie", fresh from the oven, early this fall!...stay tuned!
“Copyright (7-1-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Thursday, July 1, 2010

NETWWORKING²

The definitions for networking are many… the bottom line is;
Networking = the opportunity to build relationships.

N- Never sell when networking!


E –Earn people’s interest before exchanging business cards


T- Talk with people, not at people


W- Wear a Smile!


W- “Wherever you go, there you are.”…so network!


O- Open body language, non verbal communication says it all.


R- Resource; be the one for connecting others.


K- Keep focused on your network strategy.


I- Information; gather it for your referral partners and referral sources.


N- “Net-xcitement,” its contagious…don’t get caught up in buying and selling, avoid the “morning- after dilemma”. Schedule a business meeting to buy or sell.


G- Giver’s Gain, The BNI Credo; learn it, live it, love it!


G- GO!...don’t just talk about Networking…GO do it!

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***This is just a sample!... if you would like a "full-slice" of passion, be sure to indulge yourself in my upcoming book,
"Pecan Pie", fresh from the oven, early this fall!...stay tuned!!!
“Copyright (7-1-2010) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

"Continuing Smart" ?

A few years back I heard a very intriguing statement,

“The reason why radio and TV talk / news are so popular (i.e. Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh) is because people love to be “smart” but don’t have the time to be “educated.”

Listening to this type of media can supply you with a lot of information quickly and conveniently, and may help you demonstrate mental alertness (definition of smart) when engaged in business or casual conversations, but it will not educate you. The definition of education is knowledge acquired by learning and instruction.

Just recently, I heard another intriguing statement about condensed versions of books available for iPhones, Laptops, etc. The gentleman said “reading a condensed version of a book, is really learning the material based on what someone else, not the author, thought was important …I would rather read the full version and decide for myself what’s important. I want to be educated, not just smart.”

Wow, I thought to myself…this guy has wisdom, which is the art of utilizing accumulated knowledge and experience with sound judgment and insight.

Yes, I watch and listen to TV talk / news media and occasionally read a condensed version of a book…but I am also a strong advocate of gaining wisdom. One of my lifetime goals is to always participate in “continuing education” in order to grow personally and professionally…after all who ever heard of “continuing smart”?

Friday, June 18, 2010

Leadership is not selfishness

Why do you think you are instructed to put your oxygen mask on first in an airplane emergency?

Well, the obvious answer is to save yourself. The more robust answer is to save yourself so you can help others.

Quite often leaders in our society are frowned upon because they are taking care of themselves. For example, those is leadership roles are considered “selfish” for; taking vacations with their families, allocating time for continuing education, playing golf, going on a retreat, etc.

The reality is leaders need to take care of themselves in order to effectively lead those they serve.
I don’t know about you, but I want my “leader” to be healthy and wealthy. Not just in a monetary sense, but as a whole person; physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Vince Lombardi once said: "The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence regardless of their chosen endeavor."

Bottom line: Leaders need to first take care of themselves, in order to be effective quality leaders.

Friday, June 11, 2010

They Weren’t There For Me…I Was There For Them.

One evening, years ago, while performing an evening audit in a store that I managed, I entered the backroom of the Produce department frustrated about some work that was not completed.

“Hi Judy, hi Paul can I see you for a minute?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Guys, I’ve known you both for a long time, ever since you went full time about 12 years ago.”

“Yes, it’s been about that long,” replied Judy, and Paul nodding his head. (two top senior clerks, part of a team of 18 in that department).

"Well, I don’t understand why I repeatedly have to come back here and solve problems, follow up to see if things are being done, and make all the decisions. You each have a dozen years in the business; you should know how to run this team.”

Paul put his head down, shaking it back and forth, but Judy looked right at me and said;

“First of all, Paul and I both know how to run this team. Second, well…if we wanted to take on the responsibilities we would have signed up to be Managers, well we don’t want that job…that’s your job Bob!
I think this team back here does a great job, but sometimes we drop the ball, like today, but overall things get done…and when issues surface, well guess what, that’s when we need you. We expect you to make the decisions, Bob, because we don’t want the hassle.

They were right. They weren’t there for me…I was there for them.

From that day forward, I learned that not only do I need to serve my customers, more importantly… I needed to serve my employees.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Never Run Out Of Stones

As a child growing up in a small town, Rennerdale Pa., I can remember walking down to the fishpond with my father on weekends.

Along the way, my Dad would allow me to fill my pockets with stones to toss into the pond.

We would stand on the edge, and I would throw the stones in the pond making those memorable circles of ripples reaching out all the way to the water’s edge.

Eventually my pockets would empty, I would run out of stones and the ripples would fade away.

Fast forward to today. Those seemingly endless ripples in the water remind me of word of mouth marketing. Your circles start off small and continue to expand as you build relationships with people. The secret is to never run out of stones!

For more information of having deep pockets and an endless supply of “stones,” give me a call…412.491.7317.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

"You've got me? But who's got you?"

One of my favorite scenes from a movie is the image of the "Man of Steel" comic book Superman hero / alias Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) with red cape and tights soaring over Metropolis, especially when he saves Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) as she falls from a helicopter and their conversation,
Superman (politely) :
"Easy, miss. I've got you."
Lois Lane (screaming):
"You've got me? But who's got you?"

In these great United States of America, the entrepreneur spirit is alive and well. Entrepreneurs are the foundation of the American business culture, as they live by a vision in search of their dream.

Along their journey to that dream, most entrepreneurs, feel like they too have been dropped from a helicopter. From increasing unemployment, to the devaluing of the dollar, to escalating business taxes and overall business costs, entrepreneurs need “Superman” to save them.

Unfortunately, that only happens in the movies.

The next best thing for entrepreneurs is to build a team. A team that will be there, a team they can rely on and trust to support them. The keystone for that team starts with a Business Coach.

For more information on building your team and a strong business foundation, drop me a note and I will catch it (pun intended).

Bob Gambone, rvg444@aol.com
I help entrepreneurs tap into their passion, ignite their leadership, to grow their business.
“See the Vision…Capture the Dream!”

Thursday, May 27, 2010

If You Are Looking For a Competitive Edge, Start With Leadership

---True Story About Leadership---

I was anxious and excited.
It was my first day as Store Manager at a new location.
As I entered the store, smile on my face and notebook and pencil in hand, I mentally prepared myself to meet new customers and employees.

Top of mind was the new “Cleaning” initiative that the company was going through, and my approach would be to talk with employees and department heads about the status of the project as I toured the store.
I was very intrigued, as I walked from department to department, to find that everyone was saying the same type of thing. “Denny has us on top of it”, “Oh yes, we make sure we follow the checklist, wouldn’t want to upset Denny”, and “Nice to meet you, and if you see Denny ask him to stop by, we have some questions”.
Of course my confidence level peaked knowing that Denny, probably a co-manager, was on top of things, and really had the store’s team engaged in the new initiative.

When I finally got upstairs where the offices were located, I asked my Human Resources Manager for a list of the store’s department heads and managers.
After reviewing the list, I turned to Debbie (the HR Manager), and said,
“Does Denny go by a different name? I don’t see him on this list”.
She looked at me, quite puzzled, and said,
“Our Denny? ... He’s the Janitor.”

Denny was not a manager or a department head and had never aspired to be one.
Denny, however, was a leader, and was clearly filling a void that was left empty by the management team.

This realization convinced me that leadership is found in the person and not in the position.
Take a hard look at your management team. Are they inspiring their teams to do the job?
Or are they just simply assigning work.
In today’s economy, more than ever, business owners and executives need their managers and department heads to be Leaders.

Here are seven quick tips to help you identify Leaders:

1. Leaders have passionate enthusiasm! Attitudes are contagious and your team “leaders” need to understand that they are role models.

2. Leaders model your company’s values and “walk the talk.”

3. Leaders pull their teams up the hill, face them, and don’t turn their backs.
Old school managers push employees.

4. Leaders are not necessarily the best workers,
and they understand that the “task” is never more important than the customer.

5. Leaders develop others, place a high value on the “we,” and discourage the “I.”

6. Leaders understand when people need to be led and when to let people take the lead.

7. Leaders listen and provide positive reinforcement and constructive criticism.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Planting the Seed

Leaders are full of ideas and innovations that can improve the business performance of their teams.
If you want to kick your leadership up a few notches try “planting the seed” versus just telling your team the new idea / innovation that you have formulated.

In “planting the seed,” you will need to provide “teaser” information, and then coach your team to get to the desired outcome. Along the way, your team members may even improve on your original idea, so be open to suggestions, but stay the course.

You will find that this process will motivate your teams to improve their performance because they now have ownership of the idea / innovation.
Remember the 3 P’s- Plan, Prepare, Practice before you implement “planting the seed.”

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Communicating to Our Customers: Drop the Acronyms and Industry Speak!

Did you ever answer a customer's question and receive a very confused
look from them in return?
A few years back a customer asked me why we were out of a particular item.
My answer was, “I know that we “surveyed” that item, but I think it was either “scratched” or on “allocation.”
The customer gave me the same look I gave the young doctor when he told me that my “diastolic” number was fine but he was concerned about my “systolic” number.

The point is we need to communicate to our customers on their terms. Many of us with retail experience use words like “discontinued”, “selector error”, “focus item” “shipper” "drop-ship" ... just to name a few...and acronyms like "OOS" "CSS" "POS" ...what do these mean to our customers? Nothing!

Knowledge of the your business is good, but the ability to successfully communicate and have your customers understand you is excellence!
This presents an unique opportunity to “raise the bar” in customer communications and in conversations with those that may not be related to your specific industry.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

We All Need A Reason To Wake Up In the Morning", inspired true story

His name was Vince. I met him one day at the Burger King while eating lunch.

“Excuse me; are you the Store Manager over there?”

I then introduced myself and Vince went on to tell me his story.

“So are you guys hiring?...I need a job. I am a retired executive from US Steel, my wife passed away about two years ago and my kids are spread across the country.
I fly every weekend to visit them, so I can work Monday through Friday.
You know I miss working. A man can only play so much golf, I am really getting bored, …I need a reason to wake up in the morning.”

Vince was a tall man, wearing a wrinkled non-matching jogging suit and sporting a 3-day beard. I felt sorry for him, he really looked like he needed a job and the story he told me, well that really seemed a bit far-fetched, so I hired him.

Vince came on board and worked Monday through Friday 7 to 11am pushing carts and greeting people as they entered the store. He really loved his job; smiling and saying thank you, talking to customers, keeping the place clean, and I felt good because I gave this guy a job.

About 6 months later Cindi, my office manager, came to me, “Bob, the Payroll dept. called and said they need Vince to cash his paychecks.” Well I was really surprised, Vince?...the guy who needed a job so bad, not cashing his paychecks?!
“How many paychecks hasn't he cashed”? I asked Cindi.
Cindi looked right at me and said, “Bob, Vince has not cashed a paycheck since he started 6 months ago!”

At that moment I realized, I did not give Vince a job,he gave me a life lesson.

We All Need a Reason to Wake Up in the Morning, thank you Vince P.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Inviting Your Customers to Return, the Missing Link in Service

Companies that boast good customer service in most cases are missing one very important component that could really raise the bar……Invite your customers to return.

The next time you visit a retailer, restaurant or any business, pay close attention to the final words you hear.

90% will offer a thank you, 5% will say nothing and only about 5% will thank you and ask that you to return in the near future.

Step back, listen and observe…are you inviting your customers to return?
Asking your customers to come back can be a huge point of difference for your business.

You will need to practice this until it becomes a habit. Say something like, “Thank you and please come back and see us again real soon, mention 'Joe' when you return.” (one way you can measure the process)

Monday, April 19, 2010

"Willing To Learn" by Julie Ann Sullivan

While getting my son’s lunch ready, I expressed that all the food and drink would not fit into his lunch box.
I told him I would have to use something different.
He said, “Can I try?”
I was outraged! I told him how rude it was for him to say that. Didn’t he think I was smart enough to have tried all the possibilities?

In that same instant, the lesson began. Still angry, I told him to try, but if he couldn’t do it, he lost TV for the day.
Indignantly, I went out of the room to get his juice box for lunch, which surely would not fit.
I’d show him!
On the way back to the kitchen, I realized there might be another side to this story besides my predicted outcome.
I said to him, “Get it all to fit and that’s $5 for you.”

You know of course, he figured out how to get it all to fit. I paid up the money and learned several valuable lessons:

1. It’s not always about me
2. People like to try for themselves and that’s not about me either.

*Julie Ann Sullivan*
Learning Never Ends
724-942-0486
Visit my web site @ > > www.julieannsullivan.com

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Reached a Plateau? You May Need a Paradigm Shift

Time to revisit your:


-Vision Statement


-Mission Statement


-Point of Difference / Value Statement


-Target Market


-Strategy

***Most importantly; Your Team (you can’t do it all yourself, it is okay to ask for help).

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Top 5 Reasons Small Businesses Fail

Top 5 Reasons Small Businesses Fail
By Abbie Drew

If you’ve been under long-held belief that 50% of businesses fail in the first year and 95% fail within five years, you can put those dismal stats behind you.
The truth is you do have a realistic chance of success.The bad news is if you do not run your business well, your business could fail within 5 years.

And according to the NFIB over the lifetime of a business only 39% are profitable.
Another 30% of business break even, the other 30% lose money and 1% can not say.
So how do you make your business one of the profitable 39% that succeeds for the long term?

You start by avoiding these 5 big mistakes.
I have been profitably running DEMC since 1995 and I speak from experience. I have battled the mistakes I am about to review and I have worked with 100s of small businesses over the years. Thus, I have seen what works and what doesn’t.

Here is what you need to avoid.

1) Fail to establish a team.

I saw a great definition of entrepreneur in an email I received from Dan Lok recently. Entrepreneur was defined as an individual who uses the time and money of others to make his ideas a reality.Think about that definition and your own business. Are you are doing all of the work in your business yourself? If yes, you need to re-evaluate.

Too many small business people are caught up in doing the day to day tasks of running their businesses. As a result, they are unable to work on the bigger picture of growing their businesses. When your business is not growing and improving it is falling behind and headed for extinction.

You have to stop trying to be your own copy writer, web designer, customer support staff, product innovator, tax accountant, marketer, search engine optimizer, press release contact, book keeper, etc., etc., etc..Start becoming a believer in the saying – “Do what you do best and farm out the rest!

Establish a “Team” of people who help you succeed. Some will work with you and/or for you. Others will be mentors to you.
Use your team to help build your business and improve your prosperity.To emphasize the importance of establishing a team, I encourage you to review some of the Interview articles from past issues of DEMC.

In fact, I’d recommend you start by reading the interview in today’s issue of John Di Lemme.

You will find again and again in these interviews, that successful business owner mention how their “Team” has helped them arrive where they are today.

Want to know Two through Five? Clink on the link below

Bottom Line....it is okay to ask for help!

http://www.demc.com/

Saturday, March 27, 2010

POWER Feedback

We all like to receive compliments from our fellow business associates when our business is successful. Verbal feedback or an email is quick and immediate, but there is “feedback” and then there is “POWER Feedback.”

Listed below are five different styles of verbal / email feedback… only one is POWER Feedback.

1.) Hi Joe! Hey, nice job on growing your business, keep up the good work.

2.) Joe, I wanted to let you know that your business is really taking off. Everyone I talk to is amazed on how well you are doing.

3). Hi Joe. Wow, your business is really doing well. I heard sales were up 10% over last year as a result of the new marketing strategy you recently implemented. I really want to thank you… you made me rethink my business strategy. Great job!

4). Joe….EXCELLENT! Your business is taking off…WOW!!!! Tremendous!!!

5.) Hi Joe, well I wanted to let you know that you are doing better in your business than I am in mine. I am still struggling, maybe since you are doing so well you can send me some pointers. I mean, we go way back and I always gave you ideas, maybe its time you give me some of yours. You’re the best!

What is the correct answer?

What is POWER feedback and why?

What is the advantage of POWER feedback?

Let’s continue the discussion, email; rvg444@aol.com

Monday, March 8, 2010

5 TIPS TO SUCCESS by Crystal Barr

1- Be Consistent. Do an activity everyday that will help you towards your goal, then make it 2 a day. This will help produce results.

2- Be Confident. Who cares what others think or say. When people doubt your dreams or visions, stand your ground and stay true to what you know to be true.

3. Develop Systems. This will help with the activities that you find yourself doing over and over and over, that are necessary but take alot of your time. Mary Kay always said "Don't waste dollar time doing penny jobs." for example- If you find yourself answering the same questions for clients or team members, develop an email that answers that question and save it instead of recreating it everytime.

4. Be an energy giver not a drainer. Be the person that everyone wants to be around. Not the person that everyone dreads. When people can leave your space pumped up, you will be a person of influence.

5. Set a goal and do not waiver from it. Remember, a goal is written in pen and the date in pencil. It's ok to fail when working towards a goal. That will only make the end that much sweeter. The journey is where we learn, the finish line is where we celebrate. Without a defined goal we are just lost.

Crystal Barr
Independent Sales Director
Mary Kay Cosmetics
724-375-4295
www.marykay.com/cjbarr
.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Seven Questions***

1. Are you climbing the ladder of success, or are you part of the ladder?

2. Are you working to live, or living to work?

3. Is your work getting in the way of your job?

4. Who is on your team?

5. Is your month longer than your money?

6. Are you a passenger on the bus, or are you the driver?

7. Are you getting in the way of your own success?

***What are your answers?

I can help you find them, call me at 412-491-7317 or email rvg444@aol.com

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Do what you love, love what you do, and share that love with everyone!

Edward L Gambone Sr., my Dad, retired in 1983 after working 48 years for the Kroger Corporation. For the next several years, my Mother and Dad traveled the country in a motor home in search of a place to settle down. They fell in love with Sun City Arizona and dropped anchor. Unfortunately within a very short time my mother passed away leaving my Dad in a state of bewilderment. “She was my best friend, I don’t know what I am going to do with myself,” Dad would say repeatedly. For a short time, my Dad went into deep depression.

Then it happened. Dad’s passion came to life. He began telling stories of his business life experiences to any retiree in Sun City that would listen. He became very popular with the poker players and lady friends that cooked for him. A genuine interest in people and what they did was always Dad’s true passion in life. Yes, he worked for Kroger for 48 years, but his real job was so much more. Thousands of people loved Dad because he had a unique gift of celebrating their life experiences as they lived it. And now years later, he was reliving their stories. Dad, with his gifted photographic memory, was able to be so specific in his story telling, he truly amazed his listeners.

So Dad and I developed a great routine. I would meet someone that knew him. (This happened quite often since we were both in the Grocery Business). I would call my Dad, my Dad would tell me a funny story about this person, sometimes dating back 20 to 30 years ago, I would contact the person and relay the story….WOW! They would often say, “I can’t believe he remembered that!” Sometimes they would be so overwhelmed that my Dad, who retired as a District Zone Manager, could even remember who they were… “I was only a part time bagger when I worked for your dad!” But Dad had a gift, and he loved to use that gift until the day he died.

In the last days of his life my Dad did not talk about all the money and success he had, he talked about all the people that shared his life. Dad did what he loved, he loved what he did and he shared that love with everyone.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

From Rebel To Champion - The Story of Mary

Mary was a rebel.
She was a bakery manager that forgot more about baking then I would ever know.
But, my first impression of her, not good. Her performance evaluations over that last three years, fair. Her department’s performance, mediocre.
I was told by many to “watch out for her, she’s trouble.”
So how do you explain that 14 months later Mary and her Team became the most celebrated bakery in the history of the company and Mary herself won the highest award possible in the company?

I would love to have a discussion with you about the championship journey of Mary and her Team.

Email me:
Rvg444@aol.com

Thank you,
Robert V Gambone Sr.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Credibility First, Referrals Second

In the world of networking and word of mouth marketing, we often have a sense of urgency to help our fellow business associates by providing them with "leads". But ask yourself, is the "lead" you are exchanging a creditable source? You may be jeopardising and diluting your "brand" if you are not 100% sure.

For more information on passing "leads" versus "credible referrals"....contact Bob Gambone at rvg444@aol.com.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Keep Your Friends Close, and Your Competition Closer

"Keep Your Friends Close, and Your Competition Closer."

Sounds crazy, but it is really a progressive successful business strategy.

Lawyers have been practicing this strategy for years, and so do restaurant owners.

If you would like to know the key tactics and results of this strategy, email me at rvg444@aol.com.

Thank you
Bob Gambone

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Start the New Year Off Right, Share Your Mission Statement and Customer Promise (see my example)

Bob Gambone
PASSION, LEADERSHIP, RESULTS
Business Life and Leadership Coach / Consultant

Mission Statement

With passionate, enthusiastic leadership, I am dedicated to coaching entrepreneur minded business professionals, in a face-to-face customized process designed to improve their business lives and the lives of the people they touch.©


Statement of Values

I will coach my customers with a personalized approach geared towards their specific needs.

I will coach with an unconditional and nondiscriminatory passion.

I will keep my customers focused by being a great listener while at the same time identifying what they ‘need to do’ vs. what they ‘want to do’.

I will utilize positive feedback and constructive criticism.

I will provide effective continuous improvement through the feeding of information and will not “fire-hose” my customer.

I will develop a professional coaching relationship with my customers, founded in honesty, diversity and respect.

I will help my customers… “See the Vision…and Capture the Dream”


Credos

Coaching is 90% attitude and 10% technique.

Coaches are not great players, coaches make their players great.

Coaches are the ‘keystone’ holding together the pillars of skill and desire, forming a “whole” that is greater than the sum of the parts.