Is making a decision an easy option for you?

Are you worried about making a mistake?

I know that making decisions is the key to progress. I say that because if you are not right and make a mistake this is just a golden opportunity to learn. When you learn you make progress.

One of my favorite bands was ‘The Band’. Rick Danko (1942-1999) was the bass player. He gave the world the following quote about decisions; “Go with your first thoughts; they're usually your best thoughts. Pay attention, stick to your goals and follow those guidelines. It's all right there if you reach for it, unless you want to punch time clocks and work for somebody. That's what we liked about America, the land of opportunity. All your dreams can come true."

What decision can you make today that will move you closer to your dreams?

How confident are you?

When things get tough, do you have the strength and smarts to decide if you should keep going?

These two questions have come into my life many times. I remember 30 years ago I was a young, very confident start-up small business owner. The first 9 months were not working out how I had envisioned. I started to doubt myself. Then a realized that I would not have started this business if my intuition or ‘gut-feelings’ had not directed me.  I then reviewed in my mind why I had decided to make the leap into business. Within the next two years our business was growing faster than I would have dreamed.

What was the key? I knew that my idea was not delusional. I was doing something for the right reasons. I was focused on giving to my clients something that they were not getting from any of my competitors.

So the next time, the challenges are mounting in your business and in your mind. Ask your self these questions;
•    What was my intent when I started this?
•    Am I doing this for me, or my potential customers?

For more information on the type of work I do, go to – www.TheResilienceDoctor.com

Did you know that there are 5 ways to bring innovation to your organization?

Are you using all of them?

Today I am going to address one way to innovate in your organization that appeals to me. It is the need to ask new questions and start new conversations. I hope you noticed that I said the need. It is not a want, it is a need! When you give your staff the opportunity to start new conversations and ask new questions you open your business to new and unique ideas.

One of the better questions to ask is; ‘How can we make this ___ better?’ All the ideas may not be perfect but you have opened up the opportunity to grow your business.

Isn’t this a great way to improve your business?

Isn’t it a great way to use the potential of your staff?

Do you think that your sense of smell has an impact on you?

Are you thinking what I was?

Yes when I first heard about aroma marketing I had a funny smile on my face. Then I started to ponder about experiences in my life and realized how much aroma has an influence on me. Has it had the same impact on you?

Today I would like to direct your attention to a blog. It has a great article called ‘Turning Smell Into Action’. It was written by Jessica Miller and it gives a whole new meaning to how aroma drives our actions.

Speaking of action; when will you go to this blog?

http://www.businessvoice.com/blog/

What is it that makes some companies outstanding?

In other words, what can we learn from other companies to improve our businesses?

You must go beyond what is expected by your customer’s. As a business, you need to do the things that people would not expect.

Let me give you an example. At Disney World if a child accidentally drops an ice cream cone; the procedure is that the staff member is to stop whatever they are doing, find out what flavor the child had and get a replacement for the child.

Do you think the parent’s will tell their friends all about this event? Of course!  Then ‘the story’ will become viral all over the neighborhood. When these neighbors are planning a family vacation, where do you think they will go? Of course Disney World!

What can you do in your business that that will make it an outstanding in your customer’s minds?

Should your company move into a new business segment?

Is it possible to change from what you are doing now?

Let me give you an example of a story I read recently. The Cintas Corporation who is primarily known for renting uniforms since its founding in 1968 has made some impressive changes to it’s business structure over the past number of years.

They are still delivering freshly pressed garments to their customers, but that constitutes less than half of their business. It has now expanded into restroom products, first aid and safety products as well as document shredding services.

While this has worked well for them so far, I am not sure how diversified a business should be before it begins to lose its way. I only mention that as a precautionary measure. It is my opinion that no matter what type of business you are in, you need to follow your Mission Statement and have a laser-like focus.

Is you business focused on its primary objective?

Do you offer rewards to those that shop at your business?

These rewards are more than they expect when they pay you.

I was recently informed that Enterprise Rent-A-Car gives you a free bottle of chilled water when you pick up your car. Due you think that delights their customer’s? Do you think that their customer loyalty has increased?

Well the reports I’ve read indicate that they have had an 11% annual growth rate over the past twenty years. Not bad, eh? In fact it is three times the rate of the market.

What can you do today that will delight your customer’s?

Isn’t it amazing how many times things don’t go as you had planned?

Do you get frustrated and throw up your hands in disbelief?

Or do you find a way to become resourceful?

To be resourceful is the ability to think clearly in the tough times and use your inner resources to your advantage. To be resourceful is also using your influencing skills to get the assistance of others to help you overcome the challenges life offers you.

Can you list all of the resources you have available to you?

When can you start to use all of those resources?

Is taking responsibility a challenge?

Is it easier to make excuses for your results?

In the just completed London Olympics I was very impressed with a runner from Canada’s 4x100 relay team. His name is Jared Connaughton and is 27 years old from Prince Edward Island. He was part of a team that finished a unexpected third place in the relay behind the record breaking Jamaican team. At least that is what it appeared to have happened. Then he saw the disqualification of his team posted on the large screen in the stadium, and viewed the replay of the race. He noticed the reason for the disqualification.

His first reaction was to accept responsibility for his inadvertent action of stepping on the line in his running lane. His comment says everything about the type of person Jared is. He said “I have to own up to this, I can’t show people that I’m upset because I have to be responsible for what I did.”

Could you have done this?

If you are hesitant to say ‘yes’, what can you do today to become more responsible for your actions?

Can you identify the reasons your business is suffering?

Seriously, have you identified all the ways that your business isn’t as good as it could be?

Once you’ve gone through that exercise, I want you to do one more thing. I would suggest you go to a mirror and look at it. Then say the following ‘My business is not as successful as it could be because of me! It is because I blame everyone else for the situation. I make excuses for my inability to take good and consistent action. I also deny that I do anything wrong. Today is the day that things will change!’

If you have the courage to do that exercise and take responsibility, you will have taken the biggest step in improving your business. My final question is; what is stopping you now?

How flexible are you with change?

Have changes in your life been tough on you?

If it has, then you need to continue reading.

Change is merely the future invading your life today. Do you want your business to remain as it always has been? Why wouldn’t you want to improve it? Okay some of you will say; 'Yes I want improvement.' So what is the difference between change and improvement? Most people view change as forced upon them; while these same people view improvement as self-directed.

So the only difference is how you view the words.

What can you do today to discover what you and your business has been missing due to your inability to take action and change your business for the better?

Have you thought of raising your prices?

Are you concerned about whether people will buy from you at the new higher prices?

If you are concerned now, even before you raise your prices; it appears that you don’t believe in the value you give to your client’s. Why would I say that? It is because all of our actions begin with our thoughts. If you don’t believe people will buy from you due to increased pricing, it is because you don’t believe it.

What can you do about it? First of all look at the image of your business and industry. If you look like all of your competitors of course everyone is going to buy based on price, aren’t they? Secondly, if you don’t appear to be professional, price is the only variable to compare businesses.

What can you do today to raise your standards then raise your pricing?

Are all of your business actions beyond criticism?

Your actions can have a massive effect on your long-term business image, can’t they?

I want like to tell you the story of a Canadian communications company that appears to be in hot water due to their advertising practices. The entire article can be read at - http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/blogs/insight/rogers-battles-lie-consumers-160821496.html

Why do I want to share this story with you?

It is because I believe perception is everything in business. If you ruin potential client’s perception of your business, you weaken your business. Remember that when you have the potential to destroy the integrity or reputation of your business by an action, you need to stop and consider the decision before the final actions are made.

How can you use this real-life example to fine tune your business practices?

Have you looked at different avenues to promote your business?

Can being patriotic help your business?

The reason I bring this up is a marketing plan initiated by the car maker Mini. The Mini Cooper has been a British icon since the 1960s. Although the Mini is owned by BMW Group, it hasn't lost its British allure. In the advertisement they used the London Philharmonic Orchestra and a very familiar tune to conjure up good feelings about Great Britain. The link is below.

The question I have for you is; can you do something like this on a local or regional level?

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ik9AtJQXaHQ?rel=0

Does your business need any improvement?

Are there some small changes that would make your business better?

The answer to that question says a lot about you. This is because if you said ‘Yes, we have room for improvement’ all that you need to do is take action. If you said ‘No!’ you have larger issues.

If you are struggling with taking action on improvements then you need another type of business system. This system I would call an improvement system. It is a process that seeks to improve the area that needs to be improved without destroying the areas of your business that are running great. This is a very delicate balance.

What can you do today to design an improvement system for your business?

Do you have all your systems in place?

Did you know that if you did your business life would be easier?

Let me explain. I believe that systems are keys in business. The systems that I am talking about are itemized and detailed ways that all the processes in your business are done. That means that you have a sales process that everyone knows and follows. It also means that you have a particular process that everyone follows when they answer the phone. The list can go on and on. You may be asking why are systems so important?

It is simple. If you have systems or processes in place your business will be more professional and your business will also run like a fine-tuned machine. Isn’t this what you really want?

The question I have for you is; ‘When will you start to put these processes in place?’

Have you ever wondered why you were not connecting with others?

Have you ever wondered why it seems that you were on a different wave-length?

This is because people collect and process information in different ways. Due to this collection process we make different decisions as well. So what can you do about it?

I would suggest that you start asking better questions. These questions must be focused on getting the information you need from the person you are speaking with – so that you understand their perspective. By understanding their perspective you will be more in synch with them and can help them on their terms.

What better questions can you develop today that will help you form closer connections with others?

Are you a value creator or a product pusher?

Better still, do you know the difference?

A product pusher is a person who just is interested in making a sale (at any cost). Becoming a value creator is achieved by understanding your product or service first, then understanding what your customer needs or wants, then finally customizing your product or service to fit the customer’s needs.

Have you been doing all you can to be a value creator?

What is one more action you can take today to become an even better business person?

Are you working hard to make your life your own?

That is to make sure that everyone can differentiate you from your competitors.

I am constantly reminded about what the late Steve Jobs (of Apple fame) said; “Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.”

What can you do today to start your own path, and get off of someone else’s highway?

Do you think that Albert Einstein was a smart man?

Of course he was, look at what he accomplished and what he said.

He once proclaimed that "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." I chose to live my life believing that everything is a miracle. You may ask why?

It is because if I know that even the bad days will turn around through the power of a greater being and the actions I take. Believing that everything is a miracle gives me hope and many possibilities.

This is not a ‘Pollyanna’ way of life! It is based on my 60 years of living. It is due to observing how I’ve been blessed during the good and the bad times in my life.

Isn’t this a better way to live your life?

Isn’t it amazing what we hear from others?

That is, if we really listen.

My friend Rod met with his regular doctor the other day. He received all the good news. He told me that while he chatted with his doctor she asked him if he knew how many young men he had mentored. This led to the comment about the many times that we do not know the impact that we have on others’ lives. Rod concluded by telling me that his doctor finishes every lecture that she gives to new medical school students with this quote, “Keep your eye on the patients; and they will grant you a front row seat on their lives.”

What does this have to do with you?

Why don’t you change the quotation to read, “Keep your eyes on your clients; and they will grant you a front row seat on their lives?”

Is your business very detailed and complex?

If it is, maybe you should look at it more closely.

The reason I say that is because of what Jack Welch an American business executive stated and I quote "People always overestimate how complex business is. This isn't rocket science. We've chosen one of the world's simplest professions."

What can you do today to simplify the processes in your business to make it easier for everyone in and outside of your business?