7 Keys to Quality of Life

As a business coach I always try to stress that your business should not be your end all.  It should be the vehicle to help you get what you really want out of life.  Your life shouldn’t be your business.  Your business should get you more out of life.

Here are what I believe to be are the 7 keys to improving ourselves and achieving the quality life we want and deserve.

1. Quality of Results – To increase our quality of life, we need to get better results.  That’s easier said than done.  How do we increase the quality of our results?
2. Quality of Actions – By increasing the quality of our actions, we will improve the quality of results.  So how do I do that, you might ask?
3. Quality of Decisions – To increase the quality of our actions, we need to make better decisions.  The next key will help us to increase the quality of our decisions.
4. Quality of Questions – The better the questions, the better the decisions you will make.  One of the key ways that I help my clients as a business coach is by asking the difficult questions and coaching my clients to start asking themselves those difficult questions.
5. Quality of Beliefs & Dreams – You can’t ask better questions if you don’t know what it is you don’t know.  When you have strong beliefs and big dreams, you begin to ask better questions because you need to know why.  You’ll start asking yourself what is keeping me from achieving that success.  But how can someone build better and bigger dreams and a stronger belief system?
6. Quality of Education – By increasing our quality of education and always trying to learn more, our beliefs will get stronger and our dreams will get bigger.
7. Quality of Mentor/Teacher – We have to first admit that we don’t know everything.  Today we have the ability to access many mentors and teachers, not necessarily personally, but through their workshops, books, CD’s, DVD’s, etc.

One person I consider to be my mentor, but have never actually met is Jim Rohn.  Though he has passed away and he is missed by many, he said two things that have always stuck with me.  “You have to work harder on yourself than you do on your job.” AND “Don’t wish that your life was easier, wish that you were better.”

If we strive to have a mentor who can teach us and mentor us to look at the world and ourselves in a new light, THEN....

• We will increase the quality of our education 
• Leading to higher quality beliefs and dreams
• Allowing us to ask better questions to make better decisions
• Allowing us to take better actions
• Leading to achieving better results 
• Resulting in an increase in our quality of life

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below...

BE pro-active, NOT reactive!

When I go out and speak with business owners I hear a lot of mixed comments.  Unfortunately, most are complaining about how bad the economy is and that their competition is under cutting the market.

At the same time, many businesses are not sitting back and waiting to see what’s going to happen.  They are being pro-active!

Just think, if you can get just a few % points of all the business that is happening in your industry here in Jacksonville, what would that mean to your business?  When I ask that question to business owners, the response I get is 'that is probably more business than I can handle right now'.  Now isn’t that interesting...

If that’s the case...

• Why do most businesses do nothing to get their “unfair” share of the business that’s out there?  
• Why do these businesses think that by using their same old ideas, they are going to get different results in this new economy?  
• Why do they let their sales people chase after clients like a sick puppy and do nothing about it?

These businesses are re-acting to the market, instead of creating a plan with...

                                                       NEW goals

                                                       NEW strategies

                                                       NEW tactics            

                                                                            .... bringing them different results.

Your business can be thriving today!  One of my clients just reported to me today that their YTD  revenues have increased 15% and their profits have increased 70%.  A lot of their competition has not survived in this economy.  The competition did not make it because they did not have a plan and they were re-acting to the market place instead of being pro-active.

My clients succeed because they have a plan and are pro-active, instead of waiting for the economy to change!

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below...

It's Time for Your Personal Break Through

As I am sitting here exhausted from all the preparation getting ready for the Jewish festival of Passover which begins tonight, I am reminded that success and happiness is not easy.  

Most of us are aware that the Jewish holiday of Passover occurs this time of year because the TV networks seem to always replay one of the most successful epic motion picture, of all time, The 10 Commandants starring Charlton Heston.  It’s the biblical story of how G-d took the Jewish people out of Egypt and took them to Mt. Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments and Torah.  This week Jews all over the world come together to remember and relive this historical event but if understood properly there can be many lessons in which we call all take away.

Passover is not a holiday commemorating an ancient event but a lesson to achieve true success & happiness in our lives.

The biggest lesson to take away from the holiday of Passover is that success takes hard work and preparation.  There are no short cuts to true success.  Passover is the holiday of freedom.  Jewish mystics teach us that Passover is not the holiday of freedom because the Jewish people were freed from their slavery in Egypt at that time, but that the holiday occurred then because it was a “time” of freedom.

If that is the case, every year there should be a universal energy that occurs now that we each can tap into.  This is a time for each of us to search deep inside ourselves to find the things or limiting beliefs that keep us in our rut or comfort zone and is keeping us from being as successful as we can.

When we search deep inside ourselves we will find the true source of our power and energy, and when we truly connect to this energy, we will be amazed in the abundant amount of good we can produce.

The Passover holiday is over week long.  The first days are about preparation and beginning on your path of success.   Change is not easy.  Whenever we try to change, it’s very easy to fall back into our comfort zone.  Making change last is what the last days of the holiday is all about.

The 7th day is when the Jews crossed the Sea of Reeds or commonly referred to as the Red Sea. Before they crossed and achieved their true freedom they faced a big obstacle.  They felt trapped; Pharaoh and his army where in hot pursuit and they were trapped at the Red Sea.  At this point some even thought that they should go back to Egypt (back to their comfort zone).  It was not until they refocused on their mission to go serve G-d on the mountain that things changed and it wasn’t until the water reached their nostrils that the sea began to split.

The lesson here is, when you are focused on your goal, what appears to be obstacles will split & provide you with a path to reach your goals.

Our biggest obstacle is our own limiting beliefs. Don’t focus on what you can’t do but what you can do. You’ll see the miracles appear in front of your own eyes.  How many times have we quit just before the moment of a great break though?  It’s almost scary to think about.

Jack Canfield sums it up in a formula from his book “Success Principles”.

E + R = O   Event + Response = Outcome

We all know the outcomes we want to achieve (though some of us have a clearer picture of that outcome than others).  But, there always seems to be some event or barrier that comes along and keeps us from journeying forward to our desired outcome.  Most of the time, we have no control over this event or the personal barrier that is put in front of us by ourselves or others.

The only thing we are in control over is how we respond to this event.  When we focus on the event or obstacle we lose focus and our desire to move toward our goal.  But, when we are focused on our outcome or goal, those obstacles that may appear to be as big as a whole sea that will soon split and allow us to truly break free and move toward our goal.

May this season of freedom allow you to break through to your success that is just waiting for you.

Good lessons are all around, even from a thief?

 
There are teachers and lessons all around us.  One of the keys to having more success is being aware of everything around you. If you pay careful enough attention, you can learn how to be successful from some unexpected sources.

One reason many of us do not reach our goals is that we do not want them badly enough. Generally, goals come in 2 varieties.  There are the  “I would like to have” goals and  “I must have”.

If the reward for achieving the goal is not clear enough and great enough, or if the negative consequence is not great enough, we will not put forward the effort necessary to accomplish our goals.  It is an, “I would like to have” goal.

When we are in the “I must have” mindset, we will do whatever it takes to achieve a particular goal. The goal is clear and we remain focused on achieving it.  We do not allow obstacles and life’s  distractions to get in the way of accomplishing that goal.

The great Jewish sage Rabbi Meshulam Zusya of Anipoli, of blessed memory, learned a number of methods of serving G-d - from a thief. If we look at the habits of a thief, we can also see what it takes to be truly successful in life (in a positive way of course)...

1. He works quietly without others knowing.
2. He is ready to place himself in danger.
3. The smallest detail is of great importance to him.
4. He labors with great toil.
5. Eager willingness or readiness, often manifested by quick, lively action
6. He is confident and optimistic
7. If he does not succeed the first time, he tries again and again

Keep your eyes open you never know whom you can learn from.

Wishing you much success,
Coach Steve


Find out more about how a business coach can help you accomplish your goals.
Schedule a Free 1/2 Hour telephone coaching session.

Lead and they will follow, 3 tips to get your team to follow

Why do geese fly in formation?  Scientists found that it is for 2 reasons.  The first, is to conserve their energy.  There is less wind resistance flying in groups, enabling them to fly greater distances with less effort than birds flying solo.

The second reason is that they can easily keep track of each other. By contrast, pelicans who fly alone, beat their wings more often and have higher heart rates than geese.  

 As a leader in your company do feel like the goose or the pelican? 
 Is your team following your lead?
 Does your company or department run like a well oiled machine? 

If not, here are 3 tips to help you become the leader your employees want to follow…

1. Communicate EffectivelyTo be a good leader, you must first be a good communicator. Your team must clearly understand your vision, goals, and expectations in order to help you accomplish them.  True communication is the response that we get.  Good communicators watch for verbal and non-verbal clues that their messages are being received and understood.

This is especially important when starting a new initiative or adding a new team member.  Schedule enough time to review objectives thoroughly and foster an environment that encourages staff members to ask questions.  Have them mirror back what you have said to be sure they understand. 

I found that one of my clients was moving too quickly through new material.  I coached this client on taking frequent pauses when giving instructions  to make sure his team understood what he wanted before he went onto the next subject. Implementing this simple strategy improved his team’s effectiveness and his business’s profitability tremendously.

2. Lead by example
”A leader is one who knows the way, shows the way, and goes the way.” (John C. Maxwell)  Reflect on the words you use and actions you take in front of your team.  Do you pitch in with the “grunt” work during extra busy times?  Do you have stated work hours but, consistently show up late?  Does the quality of your work inspire your team? Be the rule you want your employees to follow not the exception.

3. Be Congruent
Apply the “golden rule.” It is impossible to build a positive, motivated team while possessing a negative attitude and treating others poorly.  Ever hear your boss speaking negatively about a co-worker?  Did you wonder what he was saying about you?  The bottom line is we need to be congruent as leaders.  Being respectful and appreciative of your employees will inspire them to treat each other and you with respect. 

To “BE” a leader, you must “DO” what leaders do and then you will “HAVE” that leaders have. Leadership comes from within.  Focus on making the internal changes necessary to become the person you want to “BE”,  that will inspire others to follow. The people around you will see the changes in your behavior, in your actions and in the decisions that you make. You will soon create a desire in others to follow your lead. Success is contagious.

You will also begin to see success is neither “yours” or “theirs”, it is “ours”.  When the lead goose gets tired, he falls back and lets a new leader take over. They all share in the work and in the success of getting to their migration point. A true leader knows it is not about “me” it’s about “us”.

As Zig Ziglar said,” You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”

Wishing you much success,

Coach Steve
 

This informative whitepaper will help guide you through the process of recruiting and keeping stellar employees. 
Download your free copy of “How to Intentionally Attract & Build Dream Teams” now.

Are you a market expert in your industry?

Instant access to information is a double edged sword.  There is so much information available that it can be difficult for your customers to weed through it all and find you. 

One way to help your customers cut through the noise is to become an industry expert. Is your business viewed as a commodity? 

If so, becoming an industry expert will increase your value in the marketplace and add to your unique selling proposition.  Be the first call your customers make.
Here are 3 tips to help turn you into the market expert

1. Create a Personal Brand Identity - We all have a story to tell. What’s your story? Why did your choose the industry you are in? What challenges did you face while creating your business? How does your story (your past experience) help you to be a problem solver for your clients? Let people know what you stand for?  Are you an advocate for your industry? Using stories to relate your business vision and mission will inspire trust in your prospects, reassure clients and improve you image in your market
   . 
2. Study your market - Get to know your direct and indirect competitors. Know what they do, where they are and how to contact them. Let’s say you own Tennis Town. You have the widest selection of tennis rackets in 3 states and your service is the best in the business. Fantastic. Now, one of your good customer calls asking for a badminton racket and they need it today. You do not have it and cannot get it that quickly. What if the conversation did not end there? What if you could give them the name of the closest badminton store, maybe even their number? Not only have you solved a problem for your customer, they will tell their friends how much you helped. Demonstrate that you want to get your clients what they need even if it means sending them elsewhere for something you do not offer.
   
3. Brand your process - Your USP (unique selling proposition) is what sets you apart from your competition. Creating your USP is only the first step. You must be able to communicate it in a way that your prospects and clients understand. Identify the steps in how you serve your clients, then explain each step and develop a “brand name” for the process. This will ensure that your customer base understands what you have to offer and how it can help them. Developing your own proprietary phraseology to explain your process adds to your branding power. 

Becoming the market expert does not happen overnight. Take the time to fully develop your personal brand identity, study your market and brand your process. Create a plan to introduce your USP into the marketplace. 

You will know you are on the right track when customers begin conversations with,” I don’t know if you can help me but, I thought of you first.” 

Remember, nothing happens until you take action!

As an ActionCOACH, I advise business owners on how to increase profits and cash flow, work less hours, and develop their team.  In other words,  to get their business working so they don’t have to. We coach you to create a commercial profitable enterprise that works without you. For some business owners that might be hard to believe. To help them understand the process we have developed ActionCOACH’s “6 Steps to a More Profitable Business”. Breaking our coaching process down into six-steps makes it easier to understand and implement.
Schedule an appointment now.

Wishing you much success!
Coach Steve

Mind Your Own Business

How many times have you heard that?  Some of the synonyms listed for the word “mind” are, attention, tend, and take care of.  When sales are down, when key employees are leaving, when customer complaints are up,  there is a big temptation to look at what the competition is doing and react to that.

How many business owners say they started their business to beat the competition?  Most say they struck out on their own to be the best at what they do and deliver what their customers need. 

Watching the Olympics brought this idea home.  Many of the athletes interviewed said their primary goal was to achieve a personal best.  Jesse Owens, who won 4 Olympic gold medals in the 1936 games,  was quoted as saying, “the only victory that counts is the one over yourself.”

Business owners who push themselves to be better not only improve their business, they set the tone for the business, inspiring team members to do their best in delivering quality products and stellar customer service. 
This does not mean ignoring the marketplace. 

Runners focus on the finish line.  During the race, they may take a little peak at the other racers and go right back to keeping the finish line in their sights.  They understand that putting too much attention on their competitors splits their focus and can cost them the race.  Winning is achieved through improvements in individual and team performance.  This concept applies with businesses as well as individuals.

As motivational speaker Jim Rohn said, “You have to work harder on yourself than you do on your job”.  This type of mindset embraces playing to win.  Staying too focused on the competition is playing not to lose.  Playing to win keeps you minding your own business, staying focused on the goal you had when you started, to be the best at what you do.  Winning starts with a look in the mirror.

Wishing you much success,
Coach Steve


Find out more about how a business coach can help you keep your eyes on the finish line.  Schedule a FREE 1/2 hour telephone coaching session.

Developing Your Unique Selling Position

Selling customers on the value of what your business offers is a great idea.  We can agree on that.  However, translating that idea into action can be challenging.  Businesses tend to fall back on the price cut strategy  because they truly do not know how to differentiate their business from the competition.

3 Reasons Not to sell on price:
1.  On any given day a competitor can meet or beat your price. Many businesses offer a price match guarantee.
2.  You run the risk of cheapening the image of your product or service.
3. You are working harder for the same amount of profit.
Creating a Niche for your products and services gives you the ability to sell on value.
At ActionCOACH  we define Niche as “No Price Competition”.
The ActionCOACH system coaches clients through the process of determining their USP, their unique selling proposition.

You can begin by asking yourself these 6 questions

1. What makes you special?
   Do you understand the solutions your clients’ are seeking?  What do they need?  Does that differ from what they want?  Are you able to deliver those solutions in a meaning way to your client?
2. Can you explain it to your customers in a way that they understand how it helps them?Are you effectively communicating your solutions to the customer? You may have the perfect the best widget for that client’s need.  If you are not communicating that in a way they understand, it will not make a difference.
3. Does your customer or prospect know why they should buy from you?Do not say customer service! Everyone says they have the best service. You have to prove it. Make sure it is easy to do business with you.  Do they truly know what makes “you” different from the guy down the street selling the same product or service.
4. What do you do better than your competition?
   If I ask you, “ Why I should buy from you instead of your competition?” you better be ready to give me 5 real reasons immediately. After you come up with those 5 ask yourself, “Could my competitors be saying the same thing?” (i.e., we offer great service). If the answer is yes, you better be ready to prove your excellence beyond a shadow of doubt. The best way to do that is through relating examples of how you deliver “excellent service” or are “problem solvers”.
5. How is your competition better than you?
   Understanding their strengths does not mean battling them head on.  Can your incorporate their strengths into your business model?  If not, highlight what you do best and do that better than anyone else. 
6. What is your written guarantee? A strong guarantee will help lower your prospects resistance to doing business with you at a higher price. In addition, it reassures your current customers and makes them feel good about recommending you. A strong enough guarantee can make you a market leader and force your competitors to change the way they do business.

Wishing you great success,
Coach Steve

Click here to find out how to get  a ½ hour telephone coaching session to get clarity on your unique selling proposition.

What does attitude have to do with success? Everything!

What separates human beings from any other creations in this world? It is the ability to translate thoughts into the spoken and written word so that our ideas can be shared.

The spoken word gives us the ability to share our ideas and emotions with others, it builds community.  Synergy is created as we exchange words, allowing people to combine ideas and mulitply our strengths. 

Written words give us the ability to make permanent records, to create a history for future generations to study.  Hopefully, learning from the mistakes and building on the successes of those who came before them.

Is it possible to quantify the value of our words? In the Hebrew language each letter has a numerical value. Historically, Jewish sages have used these values to find hidden insights into words from matching the numerical values of the letters that make them up.

Can a similar connection be found in the English language? Could we find the secret to having the complete life that so many of us are in searching for? Can uncovering the numerical values of the letters in our words provide that answer?   With the help of a friend, this is what we discovered.

Each letter is assigned a corresponding number ....
A=1  B=2 C=3 D=4 E=5 F=6 G=7 H=8 I=9 J=10 K=11 L=12 M=13N=14 O=15 P=16 Q=17 R=18 S=19 T=20 U=21 V=22 W=23 X=24 Y=25 Z=26

Now let’s see what makes life complete or 100%....

Hard Work = H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K = 8+8+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
Knowledge = K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E = 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
Love = L+O+V+E = 12+15+22+5 = 54%
Luck = L+U+C+K = 12+21+3+11 = 47%

If it is not Hard Work, Knowledge, Love, or Luck, what is it?  What makes 100%?

Is it Money? ...No
M+O+N+E+Y =13+15+14+5+25 = 72%

Leadership? ...No
L+E+A+D+E+R+S+H+I+P = 12+5+1+14+5+18+19+9+16 = 89%

What is the one thing that we alone have the power to control?  The one thing we have the  power to change or improve that will make a difference in our lives?

ATTITUDE!
A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E = 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

It is our attitude toward our life and work that impacts 100% of our lives.  Whether positive or negative it is the attitude we adopt when facing the good and bad that affects everything.

Attitude is EVERYTHING! 

Change your Attitude...Change your Life!


Wishing you much success,

Coach Steve

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below...