Diamonds in the Rough- Today's Successful Young Entrepreneurs

The other day I met with an amazing young business owner. She is in her early twenties, charismatic, passionate about people, and has a vision for success.
Throughout our two hour conversation, she reminded me of several other young entrepreneurs that I have had the pleasure to meet with over my past four years of business ownership.

People of my generation, I'm 58, often refer to Gen-y'rs" aka the "Millennials" as those lazy young people who expect to succeed without working hard. I know this, because I am guilty of it. Shame on us.
While I am sure there is some truth to our prejudice, that statement is a common thread in every generation, including mine.

Here are Seven Tips to help you identify "Millennials" that are Diamonds in the Rough- Today's Successful Young Entrepreneurs:

1. You schedule your first meeting with them and they show up and arrive on time!
2. During that first meeting, you recognize that they understand the importance of building relationships and are not trying to "sell" to you.
3. They have a vision and can articulate it.
4. People that have helped them,  are identified as their heroes throughout the conversation, and they credit them for their success.
5. You leave the meeting having learned something that you did not know yesterday.
6. You are intrigued by the fact that this young person inspired you, and rekindled your passion for your own success.
7. Finally, you realize that you were wrong about "Those Millennials" and are compelled to blog about it!

Don't Be a NO-SHOW!

You both schedule a business meeting, agree on the time and place...and guess what?
The other person is a NO SHOW!

Has this happened to you? Sure it has.   Have you been the NO SHOW?

Five Action Steps to Prevent "NO SHOWS":

1. ALWAYS write it down. Once you agree on a time (AM or PM) and a place (exact location -address), enter the information on/in your calendars and share the calendar (meeting invite) if possible.

2. ALWAYS make sure to share cell phone numbers and contact information.

3. ALWAYS review upcoming meetings 7 days in advance and reschedule if needed. Respect people's time, that TIME that YOU scheduled only happens once in a lifetime.

4. ALWAYS confirm 24 hours in advance, call or text. If you email and do not hear back from the person within a few hours, then call or text....DO NOT assume that he or she received the email.

5.  ALWAYS make sure you know what the person looks like and do not assume the person knows what you look like, send a picture or a description. If you arrive first, send him or her a text to let them know where you are sitting.

Remember; "there is no time like the present, and no present like the time." Georgia Byng

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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