What’s your mission? Have you identified it? If not, get a piece of paper and draft out what your purpose is in business, family and your individual life. Why are mission statements important? If you don’t design your life, someone else will. www.lhyatesconsulting.com
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Have you ever made a big mistake? My Mom would occasionally make a salad that consisted of a pear, scoop of cottage cheese and Miracle Whip on top. This may sound unappetizing to some but it is actually tasty. Sometimes when I am longing for my home I will make this concoction.
One day I made this for lunch and went to put a little paprika on it and I goofed! Instead of opening the lid with the sprinkles I opened the larger lid that you pour from. This was a big oops – see picture! No matter what we may do to prevent making mistakes, they will come.
The trick is to laugh at them, learn from them and sometimes start over. That is exactly what I did with this little salad. What mistakes do you need to move on from? Start today and enjoy the fruit of your labor.
Have you ever considered what values you utilize in your day whether it be in your business or personal life? Want a winning edge? List out today what you value. By identifying your values you will be able to determine whether or not you are achieving all you desire. Realizing the importance of values and how they impact your ability to be successful is yet another tool to build the life, team and business you desire.
Do you shake with fear at networking events? This tip is a powerful secret to gain more confidence in all our networking strategies.
Tip of the week – You are what you eat! Want more energy? Change the fuel you are putting into your body. If we consistently remember throughout the day and especially at night when we are tired and craving salt and sugar fueling our energy level is key to creating a winning edge.
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.
A few weeks ago my daughter, husband and I were discussing customer service. My daughter and husband were sharing experiences from their work days of how the customers they were dealing with would ask obvious questions or demand unreasonable requests. My daughter quipped that she had an idea for a comedic handbook on delivering customer service to individuals who test the limits of the customer service professional.
I found all of this conversation interesting because I too have been in the business of delivering customer service for over 30 years and have written numerous articles about the elements of great customer service. What I found most interesting in this conversation was we each had different perspectives. When we are delivering customer service it really doesn’t matter what the giver perceives rather what the receiver interprets.
The more we can put ourselves in the mindset of those we are trying to serve the more effective we will be. How do we get ourselves in the right mindset? We may find some days it’s easier than others. One of the best ways to keep our minds in a positive state is to look for the good in the person we are trying to serve. If we have the assumption that this next customer is going to be a challenge, then guess what? The experience will end up that way.
It is important to remember that this may be the 50th person today you have told the same information to, this is the first time this individual has heard it today. There is an art to staying engaged and pleasant. I find that when I’m taking care of myself, with enough rest, hydration, nutrition and exercise I’m on my game and the game is a positive experience.
For some individuals, keeping your cool or not becoming sensitive may be a challenge. The old saying of counting to ten in your head really works. The more we can keep our perspective as close to the perspective of those we are trying to serve the more successful we will be.
Giving service is something we all do in a variety of ways. On the flip side we are all recipients of service. There have been times when I have been frustrated with the service I am receiving. The more I communicate my position and try to put myself in the position of the individual giving me service, the easier it has been to let go of the frustration and experience a positive outcome. What we perceive becomes our reality. The objective then is to control our perception.
Looking for the win/win to every experience will put joy in our heart and money in our pocket.
Passion comes in many shapes and sizes. When you hear the word passion, you may automatically picture your relationship or a visual may be created in your mind. If you were sitting with a therapist and he or she asked you to respond through word association you might blurt out a hobby or your work. Perhaps a material item would be the first word you would utter. Passion is unique to each one of us.
Here are five questions that I would like you to give some thought to. If you grab a pen and paper and write down your answers you will be able to apply an individual message:
1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word passion?
2. What do you have passion for?
3. How would passion help you achieve your goals?
4. Who is someone in your life that exudes passion and what can you learn from them?
5. What are some things you can do to help reignite passion for those areas in your life that are most important to you?
Some may believe that they are passionless, that life is a routine. I would challenge that thought and pose the question of what brings about a smile or a lightness to your heart? That is the beginning seed of passion.
I have gone through cycles in my life where I exuded more passion for something or someone. Typically I can think about what triggered that increase. When I identify that trigger I can recreate it to experience that deeper passion that I desire.
I love observing individuals who show passion for their work. I am blessed to work with such incredible human beings. I will never forget participating in a worldwide conference where I was able to observe the leaders of my organization present to a group of 20,000 individuals. They radiated an intensity and passion for life as they participated in the conference and as they listened to each other present. Such intensity or passion has been the success of these individuals.
There may be some things in your life or business that may be drudgery. However, if you can focus your energy on those things you have passion for the balance of your life will be filled with more of the things you desire. We attract those things we think about. If you are not happy with something, take the steps to change it.
The secret to life is passion and living in the moment.
Last week in the article “The Extra Mile”, the reference “servant leader” was used to describe the general manager of a historical hotel where I had one of the most memorable service encounters of my life. So that you can see I keep my promises, let’s explore together what a servant leader typifies.
What comes to your mind as we use the term “Servant Leader?” Do you have a positive reaction to the term or do you believe it describes someone with weak qualities? I have found some of the individuals in my life who are my heroes, own this time-honored and obtainable, guiding value. To be a Servant Leader you recognize those whom you serve are the most valuable asset to your organization. Your job is to enable those you oversee or lead to be able to do their job to the highest degree.
Servant Leaders have many attributes. Some of the most important attributes they have is the ability to inspire, lift and empower those they lead. I love the word inspire. This word means to give breath or life. Think back with me on those who have inspired you the most throughout your life. Hope this brings a smile to your face. These individuals are willing to put others ahead of themselves. They understand if we seek each other’s interest we all prosper rather than just the individual.
Perhaps you are trying to learn how to be a Servant Leader but are afraid you are giving up control. The highest form of control is self-control. When you exercise self-control, you have the ability to determine how you will react in any given situation. Let me share with you an experience by Frank Koch from The Naval Institute magazine, “Proceedings.”
Two battleships had been on training assignments at sea for several days in extreme weather conditions. Frank Koch was serving on the lead battleship and was standing watch on the bridge as nightfall came. Due to poor visibility and patchy fog the captain remained on the bridge overseeing all the activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.” The captain asked, “Is it steady or moving astern?” Lookout replied, “Steady, captain,” which meant we were on a collision course with the other ship. The captain then ordered the signalman, “signal that ship: we are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees.” Back came a signal, “advisable for you to change course 20 degrees.” The captain said, “I’m a captain, change course 20 degrees.” “I’m a seaman second class,” came the reply. “You had better change course 20 degrees.” By that time, the captain was furious. He spat out, “I’m a battleship. Change course 20 degrees.” Back came the flashing light, “I’m a lighthouse.” The battleship changed course.
Lighthouses don’t move. Guided by principles and laws. We have the privilege of developing qualities. By following guiding principles if developed from our conscience, will not run us to dry ground.
We can become the type of individuals who will inspire others to be the best they can be and provide exceptional service. The more you practice following your conscience the stronger it will become. The result will be one of pleasure and prosperity throughout all areas of your life. True joy comes from positive interactions with others. May you have the courage to listen and obey your conscience throughout your life and to be able to teach others to do the same.
The Extra Mile
A colleague and I were meeting in my office and he made a comment about a plaque hanging on the wall. This plaque has a doorknob protruding out from it and he asked what the story was behind the doorknob. This question brought a smile to my face as I recounted to him why and how I was presented with this honor.
This doorknob is a relic from a historical hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio. The beautiful hotel hosted several past United States presidents and Hollywood actors such as Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, The Beatles, and a multitude of others throughout the years. The reason they gave me this beautiful recognition plaque was because I was involved in bringing a new revenue stream to their already successful organization.
As I shared this story, my memory was reignited about the incredible service our group received while staying there. It all started when I entered my suite.
The General Manager would be labeled today as a “Servant Leader.” We will cover that term and what it all entails in next week’s issue. As I entered my suite after a long travel day, he was actually doing some last minute touch-up vacuuming and overseeing my arrival.
In all the travel that I have done throughout my years, this was a first! We soon came to understand that this was not a first for him or this organization. At every turn whenever we needed something they delivered, and if they could not deliver they would let us know and offer alternatives. He especially was very good at anticipating our needs. While discussing logistics on a daily basis he would hover closely and really listen to what we were saying to see if his organization could go the extra mile.
That week was one of the most enjoyable experiences in my professional life. The entire organization was courteous, respectful and discreet as they performed their individual roles. It made me contemplate how they made this a part of their culture and how they instilled in new employees this value of great service.
It obviously started at the top and was expected of everyone in his or her respective role. I asked this General Manager about how they handled those who did not comply. He told me they exercised discipline with their performance evaluation and feedback system. Individuals were warned and if the expectation was not met they were fired. I have often thought back on that conversation.
What can you take away from this experience? I learned that if I expect certain behaviors from those individuals in my life that I lead, whether it is professionally or personally, I must set the tone and the example. We can also take away that discipline is key to success. How often do we let things go or rationalize people’s behavior? Perhaps if we start expecting exceptional service we will start to see that happening time and time again in our lives.
Is it hard to go the extra mile? Not really, if you expend just a little more effort, the rewards could potentially be tripled, if not more. Others may or may not see your efforts, but deep inside you will know that you were true to your internal compass. That will breed happiness and peace throughout your life. May you have the courage to push yourself to go the extra mile and enjoy the results of your labors!
