Gratitude Lifts Attitude

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude.

In business we can be thankful for so many things; we appreciate our clients /customers, our partners, our shareholders, our employees, our suppliers, the list can be plentiful.

One strategic way that we can show our appreciation is by bragging, not about ourselves,  but about those who help us grow and secure our business. Specifically people who may be our strategic partners, referral teams, and networking colleagues.

Pick one person, just one, and throughout this Thanksgiving holiday season brag to others about this person using the specific points answered in the following three questions.

1. What strengths do you see in this person?

2. What specific contributions has this person made to help you grow your business?

3.  How does this person bolster a positive environment?

You will find that bragging about others will benefit their credibility and yours.
Your gratitude will lift your attitude resulting in a more fulfilling Thanksgiving holiday season.

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How to Become a CFO

Not a Chief Financial Officer...I'm talking  "Chief Fun Officer" *

Many years ago, a very wise mentor of mine said. "When it comes to work, if you are not having fun... well, that's your fault!"
We all need to become our own CFO.
Below are some unique quotes about work and having fun:

" I like work; it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours."
- Leslie Nielsen

"When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him: 'Whose?' "
- Don Marquis

" Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."  --Theodore Roosevelt

"It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man."
-Benjamin Franklin

"There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is having lots to do and not doing it.".
-Andrew Jackson

"People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing."
- Dale Carnegie

"I never drink coffee at work...mainly because it keeps me awake."
- Unknown

"I don't feel bad about online shopping at work, it's the only place I can spend money WHILE I make it."
- Anonymous

"I always give 100% at work: 10% Monday, 23% Tuesday, 40% Wednesday, 22% Thursday, 5 % Friday!"
- Grazer

* Leadership Freak

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Whatever Happened to "You're Welcome"?

---- Top Rated Post---

Just last week, I had someone open the door for me, I said “Thank you!” …his response, “Sure”.

Then the server at lunch brought me an extra napkin. I said “ Thank you”…she replied, “Don’t mention it”.

Next, I dropped my pen at the bank, the person behind me picked it up and handed it to me, I said “Thank you,” he said… “No problem”

“No problem” ?  ... Well I’m glad I wasn’t a problem!

“Don’t mention it” ?… Okay guess what, I did!

“Sure” ? … Sure of what?

When a person says, “you are welcomed” or even “you’re welcomed,” they are basically saying thank you,  to you,  for thanking them and responding with politeness.

Leadership lesson?  Yes!
Saying “you are welcomed” is letting the person know that you are thankful to them for giving you the opportunity to help them.

"Leadership is Giving" ---- Sven Goebel
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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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