SuccessCo

Success Video ~ The Magnificent Howard Hughes

When you think about success, who do you think of?

For me, I think about the renaissance entrepreneurs like Ted Turner and Howard Hughes.  Bold, audacious, defiant risk takers.

Lucky for us, with the power of video we can take a glimpse back in time to re-live the spirit of Howard Hughes . . . a true entrepreneur.

Forget about the stories of decrepitude and isolation in his latter days,   remember him as he was in his finest hours, a defiant risk taker - here is a video refresher.

Business Humor ~ Run For Your Life

Two gas company servicemen, a senior training supervisor and a young trainee were out checking meters in a suburban neighborhood. They parked their truck at the end of the alley and worked their way to the other end. At the last house a woman looking out her kitchen window watched as they checked her meter.

Finishing the meter check, the senior supervisor challenged his younger co-worker to a footrace down the alley back to the truck to prove that an older guy could outrun a younger one. As they came tearing up to the truck, they realized the lady of that end house was huffing and puffing right behind them. They stopped immediately and asked her what was wrong.

"When I saw two gasmen running as hard as you were," gasped the woman, "I figured I'd better run too!"

Surefire Ice Breaker and Conversation Starting Technique

Have you ever found yourself in a business networking environment or a social situation where you weren’t quite sure how to open a conversation with someone? If so, try using this technique to get the conversational ball rolling.

Make a statement
Offer personal disclosure
Extend a verbal invitation

Here are a few simplified examples. . .

Statement - The turnout for this event is great
Disclosure - I came here to gather information on Acme services
Invitation - What brings you here or have you been to this type of event before?

Statement - Sure is nice weather we’re having
Disclosure – It makes me wish I still owned my convertible
Invitation - How do you take advantage of weather like this?

Statement – There sure are a lot of Chamber members at this event
Disclosure – I joined the Chamber to meet other business professionals in the Dallas Area
Invitation – What prompted you to join the Chamber?

Great opening statements come from observing the other person or the environment that you are in. Great personal disclosures come from you and your personal experiences.
Great invitations come from genuine interest in the other person you are trying to strike up a conversation with.

While this is a fairly easy technique to master, make yourself more comfortable in its use by first trying it in normal everyday environments such as the grocery store or gas station. You will find it’s easy and very effective in breaking the proverbial ice.

-Jim
© 2008 SuccessCo.com

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Success Quote

"It's hard to beat a person who
never gives up."

Babe Ruth

Success Book ~ The best Seller

Excerpt from The best Seller written by Ron Willingham

You have to want to use your time better before you will

This is true! You have to want to use your time better before you will.
You must also be willing to put up with some pain! For me, the discipline of overcoming poor time management was painful, at first. But then, most discipline is, isn’t it. Painful at first but rewarding later. So, let me say that if you’re willing to endure some pain of discipline, this chapter can help you enjoy some new levels of confidence, time efficiency and income. And if you’re like me, you have to work on this discipline constantly. Only you can decide whether the rewards will outweigh the discipline.

The Best Seller!: The New Psychology of Selling and Persuading People

For more info on TM - See Time Management Tips A to Z or click on time management in the catagories section of this blog.

Tips on How to Negotiate Successfully

When negotiating, it’s important to determine early on if the person you are dealing with has the authority to make a final decision.

Here are some great communication strategies to insure you know where you stand, and to eliminate the higher authority objection from cropping up unexpectedly.

 Who else might be involved in this decision making process?
 Who else might you need to consult before we can come to final terms?
 If we reach an agreement, will anyone else need to approve it?
 If we came to an agreement here today, what would the next step be?
 If we come to agreement, can you approve it?
 If you are happy with today’s conclusion, when can we get started?

If there is another person involved in the negotiating process, it’s always best to deal with them at the same time. Otherwise, you take a weaker position and give the other party an upper hand. Therefore, use the questions above, or a variation of them to know where you stand BEFORE the process ever begins.

More on negotiating  - Keys to a Successful Negotiation   

-Jim
© 2008 SuccessCo.com

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Does Your Organization need Volunteers?

If your company, organization or project needs volunteers, and you use printed material for their recruitment, refrain from using the word “volunteer”.

The word volunteer conjures up lots of pre-conceived images and stereotypes, therefore use phrases like, “get involved”, “make a difference” or "become a change agent” instead.

This is particularly applicable to a Chamber of Commerce and other non-profit business organizations.

-Jim

© 2008 SuccessCo.com

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Stand Out & Rise Above Your Co-Workers

Try volunteering for all the tough jobs and assignments that nobody else seems to want to do. Take on the toughest customers; deal with the most challenging clients and call upon the hardest prospects. While this tact is not the path of least resistance, it will likely pay the greatest dividends and you will become know as the “can-do” person. After all, that’s what leaders do!

-Jim

© 2008 SuccessCo.com

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Success Video ~ Lou Holtz on Success and Determination

One of my favorite motivational speakers / leaders is Lou Holtz. Here are several clips from his inspiring speeches.

Business Humor ~ Top 9 Things to Say When Caught Sleeping at Your Desk

Top 9 Things to Say When Caught Sleeping at Your Desk

9. "They told me at the blood bank this might happen."

8. "This is just a 15 minute power-nap like they raved about
in that time management course you sent me to."

7. "Whew! Guess I left the top off the White-Out. You
probably got here just in time!"

6. "I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on the mission
statement and envisioning a new paradigm."

5. "I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance."

4. "I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve
work-related stress.”

3. "Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a
solution to our biggest problem."

2. "The coffee machine is broken..."

1. "Someone must've put decaf in the wrong pot."