Morning Motivator – It Gets Better With Practice

"The first time you do anything, you are not very good.  If you practice and focus on improving, it always gets better."
- Unknown

When you ask SUCCESSFUL people how they differ from the rest, you often hear some adaptation of this answer:  "I am willing to fail in order to succeed and I rarely make the same mistakes twice."  Hmmm… POWERFUL!

I would ATTEST to the fact that these people are more EDUCATED than the vast majority.  Not in the traditional four-year college or post graduate degree manner, rather in the ways of PRACTICE.  (I hope a few of you are now doing the Allen Iverson rant in your head.)

The SUCCESSFUL people understand that LEARNING comes from failures and success comes from PRACTICING excellence.  They PRACTICE the things that deliver results and practice them OBSESSIVELY.  They are better at the few things that make SUCCESS an option, than most people are at their all time favorite hobby. 

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Practice is simple.  FOCUS on the few things that you find ACHIEVE the results you are seeking, whether that is sales presentations, networking, advertising, client follow up, etc.  Once you target what YOUR success tactic is, find manners in which to ENHANCE your skills daily.

The best ways to ENHANCE your skill set may be found in videotaping yourself and analyzing your execution (a personal favorite!), reading books and articles on advanced tactics in your skill area, or even just grabbing a friend and asking them to challenge you with role playing.

SUCCESS, like failure, is a CHOICE that you make.  PRACTICE is a choice made by those who UNDERSTAND success is found in a few fleeting moments of opportunity.  They also know the one that has PRACTICED more and PREPARED better, will most ALWAYS win the day!!

Do you have an hour scheduled for PRACTICE daily?  If not, why not!?

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 – It is NOT That Complicated

"Simple is effective."
- Unknown

Historically, what always seems to be most effective?  The SIMPLE solution.

If simple is EFFECTIVE, why do we always tend to overcomplicate things?  My diagnosis:  We want to JUSTIFY our salaries/income or we just want to prove how dang INTELLIGENT we are.  What ya think?

When you consider the things that work best in business – 3 pricing offers (good, better, best), direct marketing based on personal relationships, and reward programs for your BEST clients – it would seem that all the other CRAP we try to invent is really just a waste of time.

Why would you invest $5,000 into an advertising scheme, when you could spend $2,500 on your BEST clients and get 5x the referrals?  Why would you consistently call on someone you "think " would make a great client, when you could go to a trade show and find 100 GREAT clients in a 3 day trip?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Learning to HUMBLE oneself is a sign of professional maturation.  Every young professional BELIEVES to be SMARTER, FASTER and MORE TALENTED than anyone around.  Kudos to confidence!  Yet, it is only upon the MATURATION of the individual, often discovered through gross failure and loss of opportunity to others, that we DISCOVER that simple is better!

Simple is proven less expensive, more effective, more impactful, less frustrating and easier to manage long term.

Now, why the HELL are you continuing to complicate things?  (Yeah, I just said that in the mirror)

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 – Do As Your System Intends You

"I don't what I am supposed to do.  I wait for my phone to tell me."
- Zachary Barker, phone junkie

Systems are built to produce a YIELD that you can consume and utilize.  Whether that is a manufacturing plant producing automobiles or a simple email system used to follow up with people.  The most important piece to a system is USING IT.

How many "systems" do you use currently?  From your routine in waking each day, to the use of your phone, to the automobile you drive, etc.  There are a MULTITUDE of process and systems utilized daily in your life.  So what happens when you STOP listening to your systems?

In a simple term:  FAIL.

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
We develop systems and processes to create consistency in delivery and relieve you of stresses – mental, physical or otherwise.  In order to maximize the effectiveness of a system, you must, REPEAT MUST, use it as intended.

If you fail to ACT when your fuel light comes on in your vehicle, you will soon be on the side of the road stranded.  If you CEASE to eat the proper foods as part of your diet, your heart will cease to function properly.  If you fail to INPUT meetings into your phone or calendaring system, you soon will find that your business and reputation are in SHAMBLES.

Appreciate your systems for their purposes.  Utilize them consistently and effectively.  Even in the face of utter inconvenience, take time to input into your systems as intended, OTHERWISE, no complaining when you are all screwed up on the back end of the process!

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 – Compliment Your Services

"For every deal made there is another one that needs to be made as a result."
- Unknown

Ask yourself a question:  How many people care if the car is broken down if they cannot find their keys?

With every solution, a new CHALLENGE creates.  It is not that the "new" challenge was never there, it is more that it was not RECOGNIZABLE as it was of lesser importance or priority at the time.  Many challenges people have are truly UNKNOWN until after the MOST PAINFUL need is satisfied.  However, the TRUE PROFESSIONAL knows what challenges MOST COMMONLY uncover after a solution implementation.  YOU can see it coming long before they can…

Are you DELIVERING solutions to those needs as soon as you provide your initial solution?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
One of the most EFFECTIVE and EFFICIENT manners of generating high revenues along with high client LOYALTY is by solving multiple challenges in a single solution. 

"Single solution" does not always mean that you are the provider of the total solution.  Sometimes, it means that you "see" the full need and have arrangements for others to fulfill the needs.  This is most EFFECTIVELY managed when you discuss this with your clients up front.

What if you KNEW what would happen from A to Z from the beginning of a client engagement and had "plans" in place for fulfilling each step either internally (which pays you directly) or externally (which should be arranged for a referral fee or external commission)?  What if you could make your money, make additional monies and solve the clients overall solution in less time for less money and less hassle?

BOOM!  I would call that a WINNER!!

What services compliment your own?  Who can help you fill those needs?  How much are they willing to pay you to help them do their job more efficiently?  THAT IS YOUR "COMPLIMENT" – GET PAID!!

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 – Do You Have a Job?

"I cannot take a vacation.  My business does not work without me."
- Anonymous

I once heard someone say that if you cannot leave your business without it losing momentum, you do not have a business at all.  In fact, you have a JOB. 

Everyone DREAMS of a time where they can do what they want, when they want, in whatever manner they want.  There are really one two ways to go about this:  (1) Save a BUNCH of money, retire and live off your wealth, or (2) build a BUSINESS that operates with minimal involvement and live off the checks you collect.  I like OPTION #2.

What will it take to get you out of a JOB and into a BUSINESS?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
For most people, we ARE the value of our offering.  We PRIDE ourselves on the idea that our clients BUY our relationship first, then our product or service, as a result, of our involvement.  Don't get me wrong – that is AWESOME!  It says something about a person that has such great personal value that people will invest in them FIRST.

The CHALLENGE is that when you are gone – on vacation or worse, out with illness – from WHOM are they BUYING?  Is it your back up?  Is it your company?  Is it an 800 number operator?

What if your clients felt COMFORTABLE knowing you were in CHARGE of their account, MANAGING their needs and ENSURING that their experience will be more than worth their investment? 

What if you were able to spend a week in ARUBA while someone that was empowered to assist your clients was in charge of their experience and account? 

What if the people you serve KNEW that if the person they interacted with did not do an EFFECTIVE job, that YOU would be capable and willing to RESOLVE the issue rapidly?

Now THAT is the type of BUSINESS to be in!  The kind that is BASED on the value of YOU, but driven by the execution of OTHERS.  Your clients trust you, know you and trust the people you EMPOWER to execute on your behalf…

What is keeping you from EMPOWERING others, under your relationship, to service your clients, whether you are there or not?  Why are NOT doing it yet?

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.