Tuesday, February 26, 2013

What Am I Good At?

Did you ever say to yourself, what are my gifts? my talents?

A few years ago I had a meeting with entrepreneur who wanted to expand into another business. Her dilemma was that she was not sure what type of business to start.
I asked Patti,  "What are your skills?"
"Skills? I'm not sure", she answered humbly.
I knew right away that she needed my help.

I think we all struggle sometimes with identifying what we are good at.

Here are three questions you probably never asked anyone before:
  1. Ask three of your closest friends;  "What do I do that you depend on?"
  2. Ask three business associates; "If I worked for you, what would you have me do?"
  3. Ask three clients/customers; "What is it about me that made you decide to purchase my service/product?"
Write it all down and read through your notes several times. Take a few moments to think, and the question; What am I good at? ...will be answered.

Today Patti's new business is growing because she recognized her gifts and her talents and decided to do what she was good at.

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Friday, February 22, 2013

Fire, Aim, Ready!

I know what you're saying, isn't it... Ready, Aim, Fire?

When it comes to growing your business by word of mouth marketing...it is  Fire, Aim, Ready!

Fire: 
  • Ignite the "fire" with a smile and a passionate conversation.
  • Fuel the fire by showing interest in the other person.
  • Keep the fire burning by giving and offering hope.
Aim:
  • Ask; what is your target market?
  • Educate them on your target market.
  • Help each other "aim" at your respective target markets.
Ready:
  • Develop trust with each other.
  • Commit to helping each other.
  • Then you are "ready" to accept leadership for each other.
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Saturday, February 16, 2013

Improve Your Problem Solving Skills

This quiz can help you find the strengths and weaknesses of your skills in solving problems, as well as point you to ways of improving in this important area.*

Answer YES or NO to the following Ten questions.

  1. Do you gather all the information you can before trying to solve a problem?
  2. Do you seek input from your fellow team members?
  3. Do you get opinions from outside experts?
  4. Do you list all the possible solutions on a piece of paper?
  5. Do you then visualize the strengths and weaknesses of each solution?
  6. Do you let your subconscious work on the problem?
  7. Do others seek your help?
  8. Are you willing to try another solution if your first idea isn't working?
  9. Do you see problems as challenges and get satisfaction from resolving them?
  10. Do you practice your problem-solving skills on puzzles and games?
Score yourself: 8 to 10 YES answers indicates you are a pro at solving problems. Six or seven is average, but if you had a lower score, study the questions for ways you can improve.

*Teamwork notes
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Saturday, February 9, 2013

10 Questions Your Team Should Ask*

"Is your team on track?"

That's a question every team should be asking itself periodically. The following ten questions can serve as a starting point in a team-evaluation. For team members to maintain anonymity, the questions can be answered on paper and typed up together on a master sheet without attribution. Then, at a special team-development meeting, the collected answers can be discussed and corrective action taken.

Here are the questions:

1. Do we trust each other?
2. Are we genuinely interested and concerned for each other?
3. Do we feel free to communicate openly?
4. Do we understand our team's goals?
5. Do we have a real commitment to these goals?
6. Do we make good use of all our abilities?
7. Do we handle conflict successfully?
8. Does everyone participate?
9. Do we respect our individual differences?
10. Do we enjoy being members of this team?

Will Rogers said it best... "you may be on the right track, but if you don't move on, you will eventually get hit by a train."

*Teamwork notes.

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Saturday, February 2, 2013

Are You a Groundhog?

Did you know that Groundhog Day has been around since 1841?
Well, it is true!
Punxsutawney Phil has been coming out of his burrow, once a year, for 172 years!...AND he still looks the same! He never changes!

Is your business changing?  Are you adapting to changing times?... or does it look the same as it did ten, five, or even two years ago?

Top Three Ways to Continuously Improve Your Business:

1. Network! -  not just once a year...EVERY week, get out of your burrow!

2. Sunny day and business is booming?  That shadow you see is your competition. "Keep your friends close, and your competition closer."

3. Avoid the "Bill Murray Effect"... live by "Giver's Gain"...the good you do will come back to you and to your business.

Happy Groundhog Day!
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