Do-It-Yourselfers

When it comes to business owners, there are three types of  Do-It-Yourselfers (DIYS)

1. No Money-  DIYS

Fact: This business owner may be just starting out and has no funds to hire an admin, a marketer, web designer, business coach, etc…

Upside: When the cash starts flowing they will hire experts to help them grow their success.

Downside: Procrastination, wrt letting go and empowering others, can and will hinder growth.

2. Control Freak – DIYS

Fact: this business owner lives in fear and trusts no one to get “inside” his or her business.

Upside: Total control can be very rewarding because you can relish in the “I did it! I did it all!”

Downside: Burn out is inevitable and horizontal growth is impossible.

3. The Know-It-All – DIYS

Fact: This business owner knows a little about everything, and believes that makes them an expert. Albert Einstein said it best, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”

Upside: If your favorite photograph is a “selfie”, you are in your zone and you may be successful.

Downside: When your business does not grow and you become completely frustrated, you will catch yourself saying, “What the heck happened!”

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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.

The Best Tip for Better Storytelling

We all know great storytellers.

Whether it is a family member, friend, or a business associate… when they speak, we listen and with great anticipation.

I have always been intrigued by a great storyteller because of their ability to retell a story over and over again while sustaining the attention of their audience…I attributed that skill to a great memory.

Well....about 8 months ago, I had an “Oh Wow!" moment.

I was privileged to be part of a training session conducted by Ivan R. Misner, PhD. (founder of BNI, the world’s largest networking organization).

Ivan had just completed telling a story to the class, one that I know I have heard him tell at least 3 times.

After the applause quieted down, I asked Ivan;
“Ivan, how do you do it? How do you retell a story over and over again with the same passion and enthusiasm?”

Ivan looked all of us in the eye and said… “Never retell a story, relive it!”

For more inspiring stories and leadership wisdom, please purchase 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

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Think Small for Huge Results

Do you ever wonder why some members of your team always come up with new and unusual approaches to problems...solutions you never considered?

In the book A Whack on the Side of the Head, author Roger Von Oech offers the following four tips for jogging your mind from its mental rut.

1. Don't always look for the "one" right answer.

2. Don't always be a "Spock", its okay to be illogical at times.

3. Avoid the "yeah, but" thinking...instead think, "what if".

4. STOP thinking you're not creative! One of the major differences between creative people and non-creative people is that;  creative people pay attention to their small ideas, knowing they could lead to a big breakthrough.
"Believe in the worth of your ideas and have the persistence to build on them."
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7 Questions for a Rainy Day

Ask Yourself;

1. Are you climbing the ladder of success, or are you just 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 business team, and how do you help each other?

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?

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10 Characteristics of Successful Leaders

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

2. Leaders model the 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 up the hill.

4. Leaders are not necessarily the best talent, they are skilled at recognizing and utilizing talent.

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

6. Leaders know when to let other and better “leaders” lead... when the situation demands it.

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

8. Leaders turn problems into opportunities.

9. Leaders understand that everyone falls, but not everyone fails.

10. At the end of the day... while others may think about the tasks that were completed, leaders reflect on the people that completed the tasks.
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Be the CEO of Your Life

***Please welcome my guest blogger, Maripat Abbott***

Create and Share your Transition Vision – Be the CEO of Your Life

A traditional leadership coach is someone who helps others sharpen their leadership skills in the corporate or entrepreneurial world. That is not my mission. I help my clients to become the CEOs of their life, empowering them to give themselves that promotion.

In my experience, most of us have somehow sublimated our CEO title – given our power over to someone or something else. It saddens me when I can clearly hear that a person has been demoted – or put on severance – not by a company, but by themselves.

I most often see people demote themselves during times of major life transitions like a health challenge, a job loss or change, a relationship status change, pregnancy or any other large life events. During times of transition, fear and resistance to the unknown can begin to dominate,  which can cause us to lose our power.

So how can we avoid losing our CEO title during the transitions in our life? How do we trust that there is no candidate better than ourselves to lead us through? How can we remember that we are the single most qualified one to lead our life?

One helpful tool is to create a powerful vision statement that outlines how you intend to run the company of YOU during this transition. Then you must communicate that clearly to your support system of family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances, who are in essence a part of your company.

Like a CEO, you respectfully require that your community understand and follow your vision statement so that the company of YOU thrives throughout this transition and you do not lose your primary relationship – the one with yourself.  This is always your number one job.

Your vision statement and request might sound something like this: “I am in the midst of… [changing jobs, getting divorced, selling my home, opening a new business] and am very optimistic about the ultimate outcome. I need you to hold this vision with me and remind me when I forget.”

Your primary goal is to maintain your leadership role without being forced into a severance package from your own life.

Maripat Abbott

Executive Relocation Coach

Certified Life Coach

Certified Yoga Instructor

Phone: 630-708-RELO

Email: mp@HolisticRelo.com

Website: HolisticRelo.com

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