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 eight 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

"Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain." ~ J. Susan

"Everyone falls, not everyone fails." D. Hardy

"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 to you,
"You're no Thomas Edison."
Simply reply..."You're right, but who was Thomas Edison before he became "Thomas Edison? "
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Team Dynamics - Which one are you?

Team dynamics fundamentally never change.
Yesterday I was reading an article about team dynamics, first published in the 1940s. Though the experts, yesterday and even today, don't agree on exactly how many roles there are and how to name them, 10 general personality types are consistently identified.

I personally witnessed this at BNI Leadership Training last week in several team exercises I facilitated.

*Here they are:

1. Task Leader. May or may not be the designated leader; a nuts and bolts, roll-up-the-sleeves-and-get-busy-type.
2. Social-emotional leader. Concerned with emotional heartbeat of the group; good at solving interpersonal problems.
3. Tension-releaser. "Breaks the ice" with appropriate humor at the right moment.
4. Information provider. Has research skills that stand out above all others. Could end up doing unfair amount of work.
5. Central negative. Always plays the devil's advocate role in discussions but in a non-threatening manner.
6. Questioner. Constantly seeks clarification and more information.
7. Silent observer. Speaks little, observing and taking in all information. When he or she speaks up, people listen.
8. Active listener. Listens attentively, sums up others' points of view. Good for keeping discussion on track.
9. Recorder. Has good recording skills and little interest in participating in group discussion.
10. Self-centered follower. Constantly questions opinions is a non-supportive way. Unlike the central-negative person, the self-centered follower is concerned only about personal interests.

So...which one are you?, or are you several?

For more team dynamic and leadership wisdom,  please read my book---

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

* Teamwork notes
“Copyright (9-23-12) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”
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How To Work Effectively In A Team*

A few weeks back a BNI (Business Network International) member asked me for some help with his "teamwork" skills.
He had been a sole proprietor for 15 years and new to BNI.
I told him that working as part of a team can be difficult for someone who has worked independently for a long time. Recognizing that you need to develop a team attitude is a good starting point, but the following quiz can help you refine your skills as a team member.

Answer yes or no to the following questions:

1. Do you give credit to others for their good ideas?
2. Do you admit your mistakes?
3. Do you communicate your concerns, questions, and ideas to the team?
4. Are the opinions of your fellow team members important to you?
5. Do you make sure others in your group are not surprised by anything relating to the work you're doing?
6. Are you interested in the suggestions made by your fellow team members?
7. Are you friendly with the members of your team?
8. Do you support group decisions?
9. Do you encourage others to do their best?
10. Do you feel success belongs to everyone on the team?

Score yourself: Eight to 10 YES answers indicates you are a good team player. If you scored lower, study the questions for ways to improve by reading my book,

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

* Teamwork notes

“Copyright (9-15-12) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

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"Like" Your Competition!

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

Sounds crazy, but this is really a very successful business strategy.

Lawyers and restaurant owners have been practicing this strategy for decades.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• What do I do when someone needs my immediate service and my calendar is full with current customers/clients?
• Who are the owners(names) of my three closest competitors?
• Who are three of my competitors best clients / customers?

Learn more about the key tactics to this strategy in my book or email me at Bobgambone@bobgambone.com

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 (9-12-12) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

Carol’s 5-Step Recipe for Training

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”)

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 (9-7-12) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”
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