The Roads of Success

Some time ago, 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.

***This is just a sample!... be sure to indulge yourself in my book:
"Pecan Pie: 32 Business Success Strategies Passionately Baked To Order"

BY IT NOW on AMAZON.COM --click on link below.
click here for Pie

“Copyright (1-27-2012) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

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Who’s Your “Blankie”?

A very good friend of mine shared a great story with me a few months back. Her daughter, a very successful business entrepreneur, called her in a frantic and wanted to know when her “blankie” would be repaired.

“Blankie” was a blanket, hand sewn by her mother, and given to her on her second birthday. Now thirty-three years old, married, owner of a business, mother of two, and still relying on her “blankie” for security and comfort (especially for falling asleep at night)...well, she was in a panic because she had been without her "blankie" for three days.

Now before you stop reading this and thinking this is silly…hear me out!

Most successful people, that I know, have a “blankie” in one form or another.

Why not?! If an object brings us warmth, inspiration, security, happiness and hope…I say, got for it!

Recently I conducted my own little survey among some of my closest friends. Their “blankie”?  

Here are their answers:

• -          Carries a picture of his dog in his wallet.
• -          Bible in her purse.
• -          Teddy bear given to her by her dad.
• -          Cross hanging on lamp near his bed.
• -          Lucky coin in his wallet.
• -          Christmas pillow made by her grandmother.
• -          Birthday pillow made by his mother.
• -          Picture of her entire family taken at a reunion, placed safely on her mantel.
• -          First love letter from her husband.
• -          Blue scarf given to him, from his childhood sweetheart.
• -          Mine?   My three marathon medals draped over the baby pictures of my three children.

So…….Who’s your “blankie”?

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Paralysis by Analysis

----------------------- Top 10 Posting -----------------------------

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.”
Bob Gambone - The Pecan Pie Guy. 

*** So come on entrepreneurs! Get the lead out of your butt and make a run for it!!!

Now Available...My 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 (2-26 -2011) by Robert V Gambone Sr.”

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Rennerdale: Life Lessons

It was the bottom of the sixth, two outs, bases loaded. 

My team, the Rennerdale Braves, was beating the Rennerdale Indians 4 to 3 in the last game of the local Little League World series when Mike Grimes stepped to the plate.

Killer moment for me. How do I pitch to him? Mike was the best, a homerun king.

I remember gripping the ball tighter than ever and throwing the ball harder than ever.

And then I heard the sounds of screaming fans as I looked over my right shoulder to see the last pitch I would ever throw,  fly over the fence…grandslam!

For those of you that have experienced heartbreak as a young child, I really don’t have to tell you how long I cried over that moment.

As I walked towards the family car my mother put her arm around me and said; "Now Bob, its only a game, and when lose, you will really appreciate winning even better.”

Back in the ‘60s only the champions received trophies. Losers walked away with tears and parents (in efforts to comfort their kids) saying things like, “It’s only a game”. 

Correct, it is only a game and by definition a game is; a competition played according to rules and decided by skill, strength or luck.

Sounds like "life" to me.
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Rennerdale

Growing up in the 60’s in a little town called Rennerdale continues to fulfill my story telling moments with family and friends.

One of my favorites is the story of Richard and Gary (names changed), both my age, and two of my best friends growing up.  They lived at the further end of town near the train tracks by the water filled quarries.

Richard had 4 brothers and three sisters…Gary had two sisters and three brothers.

Both dads worked for the railroad, the families ate what was in the deep freezer from hunting season, well water was a given, along with no TV and hand-built outhouses (outdoor toilets, basically a hole in the ground).

At the age of 9, I was fascinated by Richard and Gary’s lifestyle.

So much so, I would always ask my mom if I could stay at their places for the weekend…and I did, many times.

They experienced so many things that I never did; hunting, trapping, fly-fishing, handmade toys, five kids in one bunk bed, and NO TV!

To this day when people ask me; have you even eaten rabbit or groundhog? I can honestly say, YES!

Recently I reconnected with both of them on Facebook.  In separate messages to each one, as we went down memory lane, I told them I was intrigued to hear of their success.
 “Gary / Richard", I said,  "I am so happy to hear that you found success, especially since you were so poor growing up.”

Both replied to me after a short pause,  with almost exactly the same words, “Well Bob, we didn't have a lot of fancy things, but we never considered ourselves 'poor'."

To this day, that has been my “Ah,ha” life reflecting moment … and it reminded me of a quote from 

 Art Buchwald, “The best things in life aren't things.”

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Want to be a bore? Here's how

Researchers at the University of Chicago asked students to rate 43 boring behaviors. Here are the top eight. They'll earn you the label of being "chronically boring": *

• Complaining about one's own problems (health, finances, relationships) and not being interested in the problems of others.
• Talking constantly about trivial things, always including unimportant details, and repeating tired old jokes.
• Showing no emotion, failing to make eye contact. and talking in a monotone.
• Seriousness- never smiling, joking, or making light of things.
• Tediousness, especially talking too slowly.
• Low participation. Never joining in conversation and always just going along with what is being said.
• Distracting behavior, including frequent use of expressions such as "you know" and "just saying".
• Self-centeredness. Always talking about your own life, experiences, and interests.

Credo to live by: "Be interested first, then you will become interesting."

*Teamwork notes

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Big Al

---Repost---

The story was, you hated him, feared him or loved him…I was all three.

His name was Al. 

Al started in retail when he was thirteen and fifty years later died in action.

Al was an old school retail manager who believed that no one could be trusted and everyone should put his or her career first before family.

Al worked 80 hours a week, was a master micro-manager and believed that his day was not over until he fired someone or at least made an employee cry.

Okay, so you ask, WHY did I love this guy? Not for any of the above things, that is why I hated him and feared him. I loved him because I was able to translate his prehistoric management style into lessons that I still utilize today.

Three Lessons from Big Al

1). Al used to say, “The best and easiest recognition program is to have NO recognition program at all.”

            Translation: Employee recognition programs must be managed,  be fair and be consistent or your results could actually weaken employee morale.

2). When Al said, “Just because I’m pissed off at you, doesn’t mean you can walk around here with your tail between your legs.”

            Translation: Wear a smile and have a positive attitude; no one wants to work for a “Debbie-Downer” manager.

3). One day Al looked me right in the eyes and said, “I’m too old to change now Gambone, what you see is what you get…”

             Translation: I always knew where I stood with Al. Al taught me that leaders need to be right up front with people by providing balanced,  fair and concise feedback.

My 18 months as Al’s co-manager was very stressful, yet very rewarding.

Take a few moments to reflect on your old boss, teacher or coach…dig deep and I am sure you will find a few sunny days somewhere in that storm.
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