Adding Value

stock-appreciation

The term value has several meanings. What we value also varies from person-to-person. Years ago, I worked for a company that taught accountants, attorneys and IRS agents how to perform valuations to determine the worth of a company. Through this experience, I learned the financial value of business and goodwill.

I saw this happen as I worked hard to make a positive impression to thousands of audience members throughout the country. I employed some guiding principles to make a positive impression.

Here are a few of them:
1. Being cheerful to everyone
2. Protecting my energy
3. Doing what I said I would do
4. Staying hydrated
5. Being responsive

Because I was serious about my role and I cared about those I served, my value went up to those I interacted with. People will remember how you made them feel. If you care for others and it shows in your actions your value will increase. In all our personal and professional roles, the more value you give the more successful you will become.

When you buy products or services you have an expectation of value. Your customers also have expectations. The opportunity to grow your business comes from communicating this to your customers. What are some ways you can increase your value today?

You may not own your own company but may be working for someone else. By adding value in your job your social capital will increase. The law of sowing and reaping applies. The more you sow the higher yield you will reap.

Whether it’s financial or social adding value will equal success in the long run. May you win the race!

Head Trash

Head Trash - You can eliminate it!

Head Trash – You can eliminate it!

This past week I was networking with a gentleman that admitted he was nervous to get on stage and present to a group of donors and CEOs of major companies in the area. He mentioned that he wasn’t usually nervous to speak in front of groups that were half the size. As he was speaking I was able to change his state by telling him this was head trash.

What are you allowing in your head? You have more power than you realize in controlling your thoughts and reactions to those thoughts. Here are some keys to make certain you are eliminating head trash:

1. Not buying into negative thinking – when you start thinking that you can’t; turn that thought around to “what if” – what if is a possibility statement. Success could be on the other side of that question. My brother shared a great quote he saw “You Can If You will.”

2. Reflect on a past success – when you begin to doubt, go back into your memory bank to a success you experienced. Think about what was going on in your head and copy those feelings and emotions.

3. Take the anxiety and turn it into excitement – rather than stamping out the fear use it to power through the head trash.

We are capable of more than we realize. Just as an athlete trains to make a touchdown or win a race, it all starts in our head. Don’t let head trash stop you from achieving your goals and experiencing opportunities that could move you to the next level. Your winning edge is just a thought away.

Use Fear as Energy

Have you ever been afraid to do something? I have. Fear can be a de-motivating factor that can thwart potential. We can turn fear around by facing it and using it as an energy to move forward. Understanding what fear is and utilizing it’s energy to be motivated can assist in uncovering, realize and accomplishing more than we ever thought possible.

Finding inspiration from others who have conquer a fear that you have is one way to move forward with your goals and objectives. Sometimes taking a step into the dark is where progress happens – taking that leap of faith will launch you to realizing your potential.

Thanks for watching Linda’s tips. These tips will assist you in uncovering, realizing and accomplishing your potential. Sign up today for our FREE Newsletter. www.lhyatesconsulting.com

Listening – a dying art?

listening

Recently I have been speaking to several groups on how to listen more effectively. As I have researched how this skill can be enhanced I have been amazed at the things I have learned. Some researchers have noted that listening is becoming a dying art.

First off, if we want to improve confidence then becoming a better listener is critical. If we are too busy listening to what is going on inside our own heads we will miss the opportunities of progress and fulfillment going on in the world around us.

Here are some tips to enhance your ability to listen:

1. Observe non-verbals
2. Focus on the speaker
3. Give listening cues
4. Don’t interrupt
5. Clarify points
6. Paraphrase
7. Wait for feedback

Listening – just as with anything in life can be learned. We can increase our abilities on whatever we focus on. It takes awareness and practice.

Linda’s Tip: Impact of Thank You Notes

Want to leave a lasting impression? The impact of the Thank You note will leave the receiver with a positive lasting impression of you. Thank you notes are the little details that pull a lot of punch in helping you build your brand.

Thanks for watching Linda’s tips. Sign up today for our FREE Newsletter. www.lhyatesconsulting.com

Universal Gravity

universal gravity

Universal gravity is a physical law. How do you expect to grow, profit or succeed if you don’t ask for what you want? Many years ago I was pregnant with my second child and towards the end of my pregnancy I had to be confined to bed rest. That was hard! I love to go, go, go like the energizer bunny and all of the sudden I had to stop, put on the brakes, and take care of my baby. I learned an important lesson through that experience. The only way I was going to be able to continue working and running a home was to ask for help.

The same holds true in business. How do we expect our businesses to take-off if we don’t put it out in the universe that our business even exists; and ask for what we need for it to be successful? Sometimes all it comes down to is asking for what we want and the principles of universal gravity take effect. The universe is neutral.

There is a strategy to determining who and when is the right combination. By taking time to clearly define what we want, then identifying those individuals that can help us we will be well on our way to achieving success.

I have found that when I start the momentum, the energy of that momentum builds and it takes a life of its own. It will often take time, but the secret is too START.

By following these steps, the treasure will be yours to enjoy and build upon for the future. Remember: you reap what you sow.

1. Clearly lay out your vision and define what it is your are seeking
2. Identify those groups of individuals that can use the service or business you are providing
3. Contact them often. Use the power of the internet, the phone and face to face interaction to remain top of mind.
4. Vary your messages but remain in contact
5. Always ask what they need.

Remember that often you have to give before you can get. Looking for ways to help others achieve their goals and objectives will come back to you in the most amazing and inspiring ways. The universe is neutral – all you have to do is ask.

No Man (or Woman) Is An Island

Island

For years I had heard this phrase and didn’t think much about it. Then one day a very close relative made a choice with his life that had a ripple effect. I then understood this very profound phrase and have reflected upon it often.

What we do or do not do affects those around us and involved in our lives and business. There are hard working and smart individuals who with sheer will alone can do amazing things. However, the power of two or more is when the ROE occurs. What is ROE? It is Return On Energy.

The trick is to find those partners or team members who we feel that energy electrified. We don’t have to go it alone. Partnering with an individual or an organization can help us move to the next level.

Here are some tools to identify a good fit:

1. Share the same principles. It will serve you in the long run. Research and securing references will guide you in the decision of whom to joint venture with or not.

2. Determine if they are a competitor, or can a synergistic relationship occur? Often times combining forces with a competitor will help you both succeed in the long run.

3. Add complimentary services or products to your business. Selecting those joint ventures where it makes business, marketing and even branding sense will pave the wave of opportunity for you.

4. Implement effective communication strategies. Communication will be the secret to a positive relationship. Constant follow up and discussed strategic planning will move your combined goals and efforts along the path to success.

5. Set goals and milestones. If you plan your goals and set milestones you will be able to measure whether the joint venture was successful.

It is hard to trust others when you have experienced a bad situation. Doing your due diligence ahead of time will help prevent potential pitfalls or disappointments. Sometimes saying no to proposed opportunities are the best course of action. It pays to be picky.

As you are selecting partners look for individuals or groups who have strengths that you are missing and that you have identified would help your business grow. By doing this you will be creating a win-win solution and your ROE will be intensified.

The same holds true for personal relationships. Creating a complimentary team where all stakeholders feel invested, supported and affirmed will produce a positive and successful outcome.

Your decisions and path will affect many lives. By being strategic you can chart an excellent future no matter what had occurred in the past. That is the beauty of a new day!

Love it or hate it

Facebook icon

Sleeping schedule, latest gadget, moving – what do all of these things have in common? They were all mentioned on a social networking site. Love it or hate it, social networking is here to stay. It is interesting to hear an individual’s opinion of sites such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Some love the sites and admit to spending way too much time on them while others refuse to use them and don’t want to be found, followed or linked. If you use this medium correctly you can build your personal brand and grow your business.

I started my social networking years ago with my professional network. I am a big believer in networking period. In fact you can check out my past article – Add 40 years to your life. Human beings need to feel connected and the busier life gets we often put relationships on hold. This decision is not necessarily on purpose but days pass and our good intentions of sending a note to say hello are missed. Social networking and the ease with which it can be done can renew past relationships and create new ones.

There are many purposes to social networking. As with anything I suggest you have a plan and a purpose behind what you do. Being cognizant of what you put on a social site will serve you in many ways. The internet is a powerful tool but remembering whatever is put out there is imprinted and hard if not impossible to remove.

Here are some tips to leverage your social networking activities:

1. Fill out the profile
2. Keep information current
3. Areas of expertise should be completed
4. Join groups
5. Comment on the threads for different groups
6. Do not use the Social site solely for prospecting – give useful content and local information. Become the goto expert for your network.
7. Add links to your website
8. Add relevant data to your message and plan

Each site has it strengths and audience opportunities. There are also ways to become efficient in your social networking activities. Hootsuite is once such application where you can add all your networking sites and cross post. It’s wonderful!

As time goes on and your content becomes sought after you will find that your audience will grow and the opportunities become endless with little out of pocket costs. Discipline will be key and keeping your priorities in mind as you work your plan. Instead of 40 years being added to your life maybe 60 years will be your blessing.

Million-Dollar Contact

Dollar sign

You never know who will be your next million-dollar contact – so the trick to being prepared is to treat everyone whom you associate with as if they already were your million-dollar client, buyer and/or associate. Your ability to be respected and liked by a multitude of personalities is pivotal to your success in any aspect of professional or even your personal life.

I heard this quote from C.S. Lewis a few years ago and it has resonated with me. He stated, “Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man; it only shows what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light.”

What I have learned from this is that my true character is always the foundation of who I am and affects how I treat everyone I come in contact with. Some people believe that humans cannot change; that who you are and how you act is and will always be set in stone. I also know from personal experience that is NOT true. For I have seen my own and others character transform authentically when consciously worked upon – where eventually it become subconscious. Life is a gift that if we seize the opportunity to learn and grow and change its beauty will flourish and the wealth we experience will grow in all aspects of our lives.

You can become a magnet to others through, consciously deciding to do so.

How do you treat those whom you meet as if they were a million-dollar contact? Let’s begin with a few steps:

1. Smile at everyone you meet. Now in some parts of the country or even the world this may go against your culture, your personality or even your nature. But let me put it to you this way, how do you feel when a newborn smiles at you? Does that simple gesture infuse you with warmth? Does it bring a smile to your face? Smiling is the key to your ability to succeed.

2. Make eye contact. The window to everyone’s soul is through his or her eyes. When you make eye contact you are acknowledging their existence and you are exuding confidence and imparting the feeling of trust.

3. Logging the individual’s first name to memory. This personally has been a hard thing for me to do, but as I traveled and spoke in countries around the world, I made it a game to tie the individual’s first name to a hobby or interest of theirs.

4. Ask questions. Asking questions is a great way to connect and show interest in everyone you deal with. It is through questions that synergistic opportunities are created.

5. Being responsive. After you have met the new contact and established an opportunity to follow-up be sure to make it a priority. Especially if you have made promises. It surprises me when people are surprised that I am responsive. This habit has served me well throughout my life.

You never know when you are meeting and networking with others what opportunities lie in the future, either through the first degree contact or even the seventh. By making small changes to how you interact with others, you can bring million dollar returns today and tomorrow.
As I look back over my life, I can tie every positive thing that has happened to me because of the individuals whose path I had the opportunity to cross. I know when I consciously make an effort to treat everyone I meet with as if they were a million-dollar contact I have experienced happiness and peace within myself. At the end of the day we all are incredible to degrees we can’t physically or emotionally comprehend. May you realize your potential through these simple steps.

In the ZONE!

There is nothing like being ‘IN THE ZONE!’ It is as if you are accomplishing what you desire at the very moment when the energy of the universe is blessing your efforts.

What does being in the zone mean to you? Have you ever experienced that complete feeling of focus? Focus that you have determined and are in full control of. ‘The zone’ is like a crystal goblet being tapped on a hard surface and the tone that emits the air is full of energy and touches you deeply in your soul.

Saturday is sometimes the worst day for me. Because I want to complete so much on this special day reaching the zone seems as hard as it would be to herd cats. I will start-off doing one thing, then notice something else that needs to be done and before you know it I haven’t accomplished one-half of what I had desired.

I believe men in general have an easier time of being ‘in the moment’ and not being as easily distracted as women. It is a known fact that the wiring in men’s brains is different than the wiring in women’s brains. That being said, let’s discuss being focused and what it takes to experience clarity so the zone can become a more frequent occurrence.

The first task is defining what clarity is for you and your business. Are you running from project to project? Do you have clearly written goals and mission statements? If not, this can be the first step to reaching clarity. As you write your goals and review them often you will begin to develop a clear picture of what your priorities are and what your deepest desires are within you.

Often I find that the more I re-write my goals some goals continue to remain while others fade away or become less important. Continually thinking and writing down those objectives will help keep you centered.

Forcing yourself to focus on the task at hand can be hard at first but the more and more you practice the better you will become. I find that when I try to be in the moment, the moment is more fulfilling and the stress I feel is less. Multi-tasking is sometimes the most efficient way to accomplish tasks but it can also be overrated.

For example, try driving a car while, speaking on the phone and checking your e-mail in the seat next to you. A lot is getting accomplished however, those riding in the car with you perhaps are feeling more stressed because you are not focused on the main objective and that is getting safely to where your destiny will lead you.

Some of the best experiences I have had in obtaining clear and poignant focus have been when I was running. The pounding of the pavement and the will to go a certain distance is often the most centering part of my day. Everything else melts away while running and getting into the rhythm.

Often I find that when I hit this zone I can solve problems or challenges that have me stumped. Inspiration flows into my mind and I am more creative.

In order to have repeated experiences of focus and clarity you need to achieve balance in your life. It is hard to focus on any one thing if you are sick or run down. The same holds true for organizations.

If there is a part of the organization that is in need of “medical” attention then do what you need to do in order to get that part in a more healthy state. That way the whole of the organization can be well thought-out and focused. By doing so you will be able to achieve your goals.

Some of the best lessons in life can be learned from children. Have you ever had a child trying to get your attention when you are watching television and they come up and grab your face? This is a reminder to us that asking for what you need, is the road to achieving what you desire.

Children know the importance of enjoying every moment and not taking everyday-things for granted. So the next time you are feeling frantic or frazzled, stop, take a deep breath and focus on what is most important at that moment and let everything else fade away.

The zone really isn’t that far away. We need to just grab it!