Morning Motivator - What Your Message?

"Don't dress for the job you have... Dress for the job you want."
- Famous business quote

Admittedly, I am a pretty CASUAL person (blame it on my Southern California roots). I like to speak PLAINLY, dress COMFORTABLY and work LOOSELY. What does it get me though? Actually, it gets me pretty far. Why? How?

Well, first, don't CONFUSE casual as sloppy or unprofessional. My LANGUAGE use - educated, precise and well communicated. My work HABITS - focused, decisive and creative. Most importantly, my ATTIRE - well fitted, groomed and professional.

Yes... people DO appreciate a STRAIGHT TALKER and RESULTS ORIENTED business practices. Additionally... understand, CLEARLY, that your physical appearance (not body shape, etc) and the way dress yourself is the FIRST and most MEMORABLE impression you can give. What does your attire SAY about you??

Are you PORTRAYING your value to external clients? More IMPORTANTLY... Are you portraying that value INTERNALLY? What people think of you IS important, whether you wish to accept it or not.

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Keep in mind that the people INSIDE your company are the ones that will be RECCOMENDING you in the future...

Make sure you are SPEAKING, WORKING, ACTING and DRESSING for a POSITIVE endorsement down the road! A PROFESSIONAL is a package... Do you have all the pieces together?

Cheers,
Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com


The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator – Treat It Like You Own It

"He's a serial entrepreneur. Somebody stop him before he makes a killing again."
- Carl Zetie

What is an entrepreneur (and can you spell it right the first time)? An Entrepreneur is a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, esp. a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk. Are you an entrepreneur?

Many people that work from someone else would say NO. Why? Are you not the person that ORGANIZES and MANAGES the business? Are you not managing SIGNIFICANT risk for your colleagues, clients and company? Just because you don't sign your OWN check, doesn't mean you aren't the SINGLE person in charge of YOUR business.

Business owners UNDERSTAND that they are not qualified nor have the time capability to execute all the activities REQUIRED to meet the needs of their clients. Hence, they hire staff. The staff SERVES as an extension of the owner in the ways in which they meet the needs of the clients. This means that the owner RELINQUISHES their organization and management to YOU… with great RISK to their success. Now, I ask you again, are you an entrepreneur?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Since you are the one carrying the RISK – the risk of keeping the clients and keeping your income – why not treat it like you OWN it? Imagine how much more you could do and how much more likely you are to get a RAISE, a PROMOTION or become a PARTNER if you treat it like you own it now!

When you are INVESTED in a project (business or personal) such that others know you are the SOLE proprietor of your area, thus you are the "end all, tell all"… they are more willing to INVEST with you. The challenge most people have is that you have far LESS to lose than them, when you are only INVESTED at the lowest level.

Make the effort, build your business and treat it like you own it… you never know… one day you might!

Cheers,
Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com


The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator - How Will You Get There?

"What Got You Here Won't Get You There."
- Marshall Goldsmith

Ahhh... The sweet taste of ACCOMPLISHMENT. You have met your goal, received the raise, landed the client - now what?! Go do it AGAIN!

What will you do? How will you do it? What ACTIONS will you take to REPLICATE your success?

Believe it or not, what you have been doing to get to here, may not be the best way to get "there." Your HABITS, ACTIONS and BELIEFS may be enough to get you to the first tier of success, yet not enough to get you to the next. How can you make sure you BREAK THROUGH to the next level?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
First, you must IDENTIFY your personal BEST strengths. What is that you are EXCEPTIONAL at?

Secondly, ISOLATE what you are weak (or less great at) and define ways to rid yourself of those responsibilities.

Finally, seek PARTNERSHIP with others that need to utilize your EXCEPTIONAL offerings to complete their services. This is commonly someone that is also a good match for fulfilling your weaknesses.

This should EFFECTIVELY get you from "here" to "there".

Cheers,
Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com


The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator - How's Your Team Morale?

"The beatings will continue until morale improves."
- Unknown

I must say this was one of the FUNNIEST quotes I have seen in quite some time... And I found it on a PIRATE flag.

It FORCED me to consider the way we manage people and relationships. It really defines a DICTATOR mentality...

When you speak to your internal TEAM or external CLIENTS, how do you approach them? Do you put on your "game face" for the client and the ream your internal staff? Have you ever noticed what happens when you take the side of your BANK ACCOUNT (ie your client) over the side of your team (ie your retirement fund)?

Commonly, we subject our people to the worst of us by speaking HARSHLY in frustration, passing ACCOUNTABILITY when it is our RESPONSIBILITY, and DWELLING on mistakes rather than BUILDING a better process. The MORALE of your internal staff is the SINGLE, MOST IMPORTANT factor in the success and efficiency of your business. When they are CONFIDENT, EXCITED and COLLABORATIVE - client LOYALTY increases, along with revenues.

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Understanding what DRIVES a teams MORALE is a key to success as a LEADER. Being able to TEAR DOWN barriers to productivity, confusion and frustration are the critical actions of a good leader.

Once you are able to CREATE an environment of TRUST and COLLABORATION - you are then able to request increased input from your team on best ways to create improvement in process and product.

Want to build great MORALE? Trying giving more trust in your talent. They are dedicated, smarter, and more disciplined than you THINK!

Cheers,
Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com


The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator - Successful Giving

"Giving people a little more than they expect is a good way to get back a lot more than you'd expect."
- Robert Half

Good Monday morning to you all! I am very excited about today's Morning Motivator as I BELIEVE I have the secret to your success this year... More Giving!

GIVING is often a word we associate with charity. We give our TIME, ENERGY and most commonly are asked to give our MONEY. After awhile we all get TIRED of giving... and not getting. Commonly, we then turn to a SELFISH mentality derived from FRUSTRATIONS and begin seeking ways in which people can GIVE to us. We also RATIONALIZE that it's ACCEPTABLE to work in this mentality because "dang-it, I have been giving all the time and no one gives back to me!"

Do you REALIZE that "sharing" a quality business idea or the secret to finding best new bike trail in town is also a form of GIVING. Educating a prospective client about a new service or product that can BETTER their business is also a form of giving. Helping CONNECT a new contact to someone that can help them is an EXCELLENT way of giving. Best of all... none of these HURT to do.

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
By seeking new and better ways to GIVE to others in a way that helps them long term is your key to SUCCESS in 2009. Always keep in mind what you would LIKE to get in return so when the time is right and you are asked (which typically happens immediately), you KNOW what you would like.

Regardless, if you seek to CONNECT, EDUCATE and ASSIST others in a way that establishes your credibility in effectiveness and character - you WILL find that all the things you are looking for will start coming DIRECTLY to you!

Cheers,
Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com


The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.

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