The Greatest Poem Ever

The following Classic Poem, entitled "If" was written by Rudyard Kipling in 1895.  Just about 117 years ago.  This Poem will always hold special meaning to me because of the manner in which I was introduced to it.  When I was 17 years old and leaving our home for the first time to go away to College my Father handed me a white envelope; he gave it to me at the very last minute, said to hold on to it and open it when I arrived at my destination.  My Father was not always the most expressive of Men.  When I finally opened the envelope, opened the letter which was a reproduction of this Poem, and then read this Poem, I was quite moved.  I think on that very day back in 1987 I must have read this Poem at least ten times.  I thought the Poem was great and moving way back then; and as the years passed, and I, with each passing year, learned more about life and what it takes to succeed in life and as a Man, I learned to appreciate "If" even more.  So much timeless wisdom in one Poem written over 100 years ago:

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

-Rudyard Kipling

Father > Son > Son

I'm sure everyone has one favorite Poem that holds great and special meaning for them.  This is mine.  It still speaks to me and provides me with wisdom and guidance. 

I see my Father so clearly in this great, timeless Poem.  Raising eight children.  An unyielding work-ethic.  Always positive; never complaining.  An infinite thirst and hunger for learning and the acquisition of knowledge. 

Someday, many years from now when my Son is ready to go out on his own to make his mark on the world, I plan to also share this Poem with him.  In a simple white envelope; to be opened when he arrives at College.  Along with, besides the Poem itself, knowledge of how and why it became and remains my favorite Poem. 

.........................................."And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!"

Have you too been witness to pure evil and unfounded hatred?

I am very sorry to say that this is in fact a true story.  Two days ago I walked into a Chinese Restaurant to simply, I had hoped anyway, pick up Dinner for my Family.  Two Chicken & Broccoli Combos are what we ordered.

I had my Beautiful and Innocent Six-Year-Old-Daughter with me who I love with all my heart and had not yet, to this point in her life, been subjected to or witnessed the evil that sadly lurks among us.

Twenty minutes later I drove away red-faced, irate, bursting at the seams, disgusted, sad, with less faith in Humanity.  My Daughter was still smiling, bubbly, angelic; not having understood what she just personally witnessed right along with me.

Back to Our Entrance

My Daughter and I walked in following a Woman and a Man who I assumed to be her Son; they walked right up to the Employee working at the counter; then twenty minutes of uncalled for fiery stress, tension, and commotion began.

They were there to pick up their Chinese Food which they must have called in and ordered by phone.  But....they came in to pick up the food an hour late.  So, naturally, their food had cooled.  You could see some smoke still elevating off of the food they had ordered; but it was not as hot as it would have been if they had been in when they said they would.

The Woman, who appeared to have been drinking and/or doing drugs all day, said, in a loud and rude tone, that she was not going to pay for the food.  She demanded they throw it out and cook her new, replacement food.  The Owner stated, in a personable and professional tone of voice, that they unfortunately could not do that. 

The Woman immediately started swearing, screaming, and threatening.  The Owners and his Family tried to not respond in kind; but after a while, and understandably, he grew upset and yelled back in defense of themselves.

(My Young Daughter stood next to me, holding my hand, watching all of this escalate with a blank, not-understanding, innocent, and scared look on her face.)

(I was thinking to myself....you have got to be kidding me!  Imaging the timing required for me to arrive at the exact same moment as they Woman and Man who have to be the two rudest, most offensive, evil people I have seen in my life!)

Some People Just Lack Perspective

I thought to myself: there are sick people dying in Hospitals; Soldiers sacrificing their lives to defend our freedom, our rights, and to help others achieve the same; and there are Homeless People living on the streets simply praying for their next meal.  There are innocent people being killed by natural disasters such as Earthquakes and Tornado's. 

Yet, before me stood this lady; about to have a heart attack, cursing every bad word in the book in front of my Six-Year-Old-Daughter, and absolutely ruining the day of this hard-working Owner who was sweating his butt off and working hard along with his Family to make an honest living, all because she was very late and her food was not piping hot!

It got so bad (the worst possible curse words flying non-stop) that I asked them to be mindful of the Beautiful Little Girl standing next to me; they both responded by screaming that they "don't give a " "" and by saying they would kick my " ".  

I had to stay calm because my sole concern at the time was getting out of there with my Daughter safe and sound.  I feared they were looking for any reason to pull a knife or even a gun.  I had not witnessed such pure evil and intent to create conflict in a long time. 

Not Giving In To Hatred / Our Children







I still get upset as I type and re-tell this Real-Life and highly depressing Story that just occurred less than 48-hours-ago.

But....I will not give in to hatred.

People like the ones I have just described are fortunately the exception.  In retrospect I understand there are underlying stresses and difficulties which result in this seemingly incomprehensible behavior.

We try to be empathetic.  Though it is not easy.

Those of us that are raising young children who we love into this World have to beware of the evil and danger that unfortunately exists.  We have to live with it to a certain extent; and at the same time do all we can to address and lessen the evil circumstances around us.  Our Children will, as they grow, witness evil.  We can't shield them forever.  They will see it in their Schools.  On TV.  Read about in on the Internet; on their I-Phones.

All we can do is try to raise our Children with strong values, high morals, and a clear sense of right and wrong.

Faith, Hope, & Peace.

That is what we all need!

Change: Fear or Embrace?

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) English Naturalist

Fearing Change

Why do so many fear change? 

Because:

1. It is much easier to continue on with the status quo and to keep doing that which we have already mastered and does not require a great deal of conscious thought and effort.  Embracing and successfully navigating change is hard and requires that we renew our commitment to learning and growing; that we be comfortable with ambiguity and imperfection. 
2. Change, and any new challenge or endeavor which we embrace, brings with it the possibility of failure.  A likelihood that we will be less than perfect.  This fact makes people nervous and uneasy; they avoid potential change like the plague.  The fear of failure, sadly, holds many people back.  Keeps them stuck where they stand; firmly planted in their present situation and personal circumstances.  Unable to break free, move forward into unknown territory, and grow.  This is a sad fact. 
3. Some people lack the self-esteem and personal confidence required to succeed when making a life-change. 

Without positive change....we cannot grow.

Embracing Change

Why should we not fear change?

1. Because life is short.  Why not, instead of limiting ourselves, try to embrace change and a variety of life experience so that we can expand our horizons and grow?  Why be complacent and continue doing that which does not stretch our mind and broaden our experience?  That is how we grow.  That is how we gain perspective.  With infinite places to go, things to do, people to meet, experiences to be had, and unique moments to incorporate into our lives, we should embrace change.  Conquer our fear.  Overcome our reluctance and hesitancy to branch out and challenge ourselves.
2. New experiences are what gives us perspective, knowledge, and wisdom.  Sheepishly avoiding change and doing the same thing, in rote fashion, over and over again, keeps us where we are.  Prevents us from great and diverse possibilities that are available to those bold enough to pursue them.
3. Change keeps us young.  Keeps us sharp.  Forces us to stay on top of our game.  Keep learning.  Never stop acquiring new skills. 
4. Meeting new people.  Usually inherent in change is meeting new people; forging and building new positive relationships with diverse people.  That is what life is all about.  The media just reported that the population of Earth has surpassed 7 Billion People.  7 Billion!  Hard to fathom.  Why limit ourselves to the same people in the same circle of friends and family that we have always had?  Change always us to meet great new people and to be gain access to new knowledge, ideas, and experience. 

Three Indisputable Facts

1. We are getting older every day (if you deem a potential change to be a positive one which will help you grow and improve your circumstances, life, and happiness.....then muster up the courage to make that change; the opportunity will not always be there!)
2. If you do as you have always done.....you will keep getting the same result.  If you have a Dream or a Goal which you believe in passionately with all your heart - then find the courage to commence pursuit of that Dream or Goal.  If you don't, you will never know what might have been. 
3. Opportunities abound.  Listen, research, read, network, and never stop communicating with positive people that you trust.  Life can always change for the better if you so desire.  Be open-minded to recognizing great opportunities and then be confident and courageous is seizing them. 

As Michael Jackson stated in one of his most famous Songs: "If you want to make a change, take a look at yourself, and make that change." 

Stop 4 1 Second

Stop 4 1 Second!

Often, we find ourselves stuck in a routine.  A victim and hostage of our long-time habits.  We've been doing certain things, or certain things in a certain way, for so long, possibly for so many years, that we find it extremely difficult to stop, step back, and ask ourselves a couple important questions:

1. Why am I doing this? 
2. Is this the best way to do what I am doing?
3. Is this the best use of my time?
4. Should I stop doing this and do something else?
5. Is what I am doing and how I am spending my time, my days, and my life in line with and in support of my most important personal goals and objectives?

Life is so, so short.  Every minute, day, week, month, and year is flying by.  Consistently, forcibly, and in an unstoppable manner. 

Someday towards the end of our lives we will be sitting in a chair, looking back, and assessing our life; we will ponder what we accomplished, what we did not accomplish but wish we had, and what our legacy will be.  How did we impact people lives?  Did we make a difference?  Did we make things better?  Were we successful according to our own personal definition of success? 

(We devote our time, money, and energy into what we value the most!)

Sometimes we have to force ourselves to Stop 4 1 Second.  Assess.  Evaluate.  Give ourselves a report card.  Critique ourselves.  Be honest. 

Change course if you must; make a change if needed!  Be brave.  Be courageous.  Be willing to adapt and proceed in a different manner if that is what is needed to help you with time achieve your goals.  To be successful.  To lead a purposeful life.  To make a difference.

Do not let the force of habit, complacency, and a fear of change hold you down. 

Stop 4 1 Second.

But then get moving again, steadfast, in the direction you choose..........time is of the essence!

When you look back at your life, many years from now, you want to be able to say "no regrets."  Good Job.  Success.  If you let life slide by and live without periodically taking time to assess and adjust to all of the inevitable change if your life and the world around you, you may be looking back without such admiration.....and instead with regret.

Website: Selling By Building 
Twitter: SellByBuild

Don't Over Complicate Networking!

Simplifying and Enjoying the Process of Networking

The Focus is Simple:

1.  Consistently meet new people who are or will be in a position to help you, as well as you helping them in return of course, meet your personal goals.  To achieve long-term success the need for this will not diminish with time.  Make this an enjoyable part of the fabric of your life and you will forever reap the benefits.

2.  Confidently and Clearly articulate and spread your message.  Believe in yourself.  Have faith.  Be mindful that you are not bothering people or interrupting people; in fact, you are trying to get a very important message to them.....the message that you are unique, special, honest (I hope!), and have great knowledge and expertise.  Your Business can and would love to help them identify and implement solutions to their problems.  You can actually help them reach their goals.  Why be reluctant to deliver such a positive message?  You only have very short and brief periods of time to get your message across to those you are communicating with. 

Perception of Networking

Do you avoid Networking? 
Do you perceive the Process of Networking as a "chore" which you must reluctantly force yourself to complete?
Are you uncomfortable in Networking settings?
Do you fear that no one really wants to meet you and learn more about you and your business and the value you have to offer?

Networking should be fun!  If you learn to enjoy the Process you will in fact be much more successful!  Remove the stress.  Do not procrastinate.  Keep in mind that everyone is in the same boat.  Regardless of what particular industry one works in or what one does for a living, they can benefit from consistent and successful networking.  They too (they very people you desire to meet and network with) are also pondering how they can be more successful, meet more people, and maximize the results of all of their interactions with decision makers and influential people.

They want to meet you!  So what are you waiting for?  Change your mindset, approach the Process with Enthusiasm, and you will achieve far greater success and results!

Networking Tips

• Prepare, Practice, and Build your Confidence in advance.  Your level of confidence will be broadcast by your voice, your message, and your body language.  If you lack confidence it will show.  So work on this in advance. 
• Be Genuine.  Always.  Authentic.  Make sure you are not perceived as being phony and solely meeting someone to be a vulture who is solely trying to extract market knowledge or information for your personal benefit.  Mutually Beneficial.  Over time all relationships, whether personal or business, have to be mutually beneficial.  This is a critical objective when communicating that is not easily achieved.  No body wants to establish a relationship with someone they perceive as selfish and only seeking personal gain.  What can you do for them?  Are you the kind of person who enjoys helping others succeed or are you solely interested in your own success?  Keely observant people have a sixth sense.  The will quickly filter out and remove from their line of sight people they do not trust. 
• Be Positive. 
• Be Enthusiastic.
• Be a Great and Empathetic Listener!  I can tell when somebody is only 20% listening and tuned in to the the conversation in progress.  Very annoying and damaging to establishing a relationship!  I can also quickly tell when someone is not making good eye-contact and trying to sneak looks around the room to see who else they should be networking and marketing to.  This certainly does not help establish trust and a strong relationship right off the bat. 
• Be Unique and Memorable.  If someone is at a Networking/Marketing Event and they meet 20 people they are not going to clearly remember and recall all 20 people.  They are going to remember those who succeeded at standing out; being unique; and leaving an indelible positive impression.  They are going to remember that person who quickly and clearly conveyed the fact they have something valuable that can help people or businesses improve and achieve a higher level of success.  They are going to hold on tightly that business card and not toss it into a trash can at their earliest convenience. 

Success

Approach Networking from the Perspective that nothing is more important to your long-term success than your ability to successfully build strong and trusting positive relationships with everyone you interact with; and the more people with whom you achieve this goal the better!  Your Success depends on it!  The more people you meet and interact with the more ideas and information you have access to and can learn from. 

"Business, after all, is nothing more than a bunch of human relationships."
-Lee Iaccoca
Master, Embrace, and Enjoy the Process and Art of Networking.  Success will follow.

Title & Subject Unknown At This Point!

Subject Unknown

I have not posted a new Selling By Building Blog since September 27th, 2011.

I need to; I enjoy writing; and it is very important for my Business.

Since that date (since 9/27/11) I have signed on to Blogger numerous (many I should say) times with the honest intention or writing a new Blog.  Yet, the fact remains I have not completed and published a new Blog recently.

Why?

Procrastination; Hesitation; Busy Schedule; Lack of Faith; Uncertainty; Inspiration Missing.

Sometimes in life, quite frequently in fact, we have to be creative and take a risk to get beyond a stumbling block.  To regain momentum.  To push forth towards our Goals and Dreams!

Today, I am proceeding in an unusual and most likely not-highly-recommended manner.  Conventional Wisdom will not agree with what I am attempting to achieve.  I have inserted the Title "Title & Subject Unknown At This Point" because, well, that fact is the unfortunate truth as of this very point in time.

I have not been able to complete a new Blog recently because I have not been inspired with a specific idea about which to write.  I have been awaiting specific inspiration.  The specific inspiration I have sought never surfaced.  So today, right now in fact, I have begun without yet having a clear subject to write about.

Where shall I start?

I am writing this Blog to help support and promote my Small Consulting Business: Selling By Building.  I try to keep the subjects of this Blog related to and in support of the same areas I choose to focus on in my Business: Sales & Customer Care; Accounting & Finance; Communications; Business Development.

To assist me with my Goal here of coming up with a specific subject......I ponder all of the other Great Blogs I have been reading recently.  I am immersed in Social Media so I am consistently introduced to great recommended Blogs by people I am "connected with" and share content with on Twitter, LinkedIn, Stumbleupon, Google+ etc.

I follow the recommendations of people I am connected with who steer me to specific content on a daily basis and read great Blogs on the subjects of Sales, Customer Care, Accounting & Finance, Communications, and Business Development.  I really enjoy and learn a great deal from this content and these Blogs.  Over time I have grown to fully appreciate the great and infinite power of and value of the Internet and Social Media.  I actually do not consider it "work" which I must endure to try to promote my Consulting Business.  In fact, I really love the process.  Building Relationships is fun. Life before Social Media is now hard to remember. 

Twitter Power

When I first heard about "Twitter" I thought it was something on the "fringe" that I would never need to learn about.  Now, it is a part of my daily existence.  The first time I finally pushed the "Enter Button" to Post a Tweet I was so nervous and reluctant that it is now, in retrospect, laughable.  It was like I selfishly thought that when I Posted that very first Tweet that all 7 Billion People on the Planet were going to instantly read it and collectively laugh at what I had just "Tweeted."  Now, I Tweet daily and confidently.  With a clear mission of simply and honestly sharing content, ideas, and my philosophy to try to help everyone that I am connected with, I proceed without hesitation.  I proceed with a mission.  And I believe in what I am doing. 

Being consistently immersed in the World of Blogging and Content-Sharing on a daily basis one would think that I would be able to quickly and easily come up with a clear, concise, and interesting specific Subject for this Blog.  It should be easy.  With no hesitation.

Don't you agree?  Or have you too experienced "writer's block?"  Do you from time to time not know where to begin on a particular project? 

Conclusion

I began writing this Blog without a specific subject at the forefront of my mind.  But I proceeded anyway with an honest desire and commitment to create with my written word something that a reader might enjoy.  An entertaining Blog.  Unique.  A Blog that, despite having no official Title and known Subject-Matter, might retain the interest of my Readers to the very end.  I have actually enjoyed the creative process of writing this Blog, the Blog With No-Subject.  I have overcome the hurdle of getting another Blog posted.  I have achieve this one small Goal on this very day.  Next time of course I will have to start with a Known Title & Subject. 

But this was fun!

Looking back now since I am in Blog-Closing Mode, the Subject Areas which ended up being the focus of this Blog were: Goals & Stumbling Blocks; Social Media & Communication; Creativity; and, of course, Blogging!  These are all great subjects which interest me a great day.  So there we go.  The Subjects of this Blog have, over time, revealed themselves.

Now why didn't I just think of those Subjects to begin with before I began writing this Blog?  It just wasn't meant to be.  But, actually, it was more fun and rewarding proceeding as I did.

Lesson Learned

The next time you come face-to-face with an annoying and stubborn stumbling-block try proceeding in a creative, unique, unconventional manner.  Take a Risk.  Push Forth.  Think out-of-the-box.  Find a way to have fun.  Continued inaction and procrastination is a sure-fire recipe for failure.  Taking action and taking a calculated risk can be a prudent step forward to help move you closer to your goals and greater success.

Thank You and Have a Great Day!
Mark

Stand Firm



Undergoing Great Change and Commencing Pursuit of Your Dream and Most Ambitious Goal is no easy task.  Definitely not for the faint-hearted.

When one purposely walks out of their Personal Comfort Zone, they will, undoubtedly, become uncomfortable.  Challenged.  Squeezed.  Pushed & Pulled in all directions.  Forced to question their motives and their ability.  Forced to ask themselves, in no uncertain terms, what am I doing?  Why am I doing this?  Have I made the right decision?

We must, when the going gets tough, remind ourselves of the following:

• Nothing Great comes easy.
• Great Success cannot be achieved without Sacrifice, Dedication, Focus, and Perseverance, and Resiliency.

Do Not Give Up.

Do Not Relent.

Renew and Refocus.

Continue surrounding ourselves only with those who strive to support, elevate, and help us in any way they can to stay on course and be successful in achieving the Worthy Goals we have set. 

Continue to educate ourselves.  Continue to be steadfast.  Move forward with force and a bulldozer-like positive and confident attitude.  We've already thrown Complacency out the window and headed in a new direction.  Very Exciting, Invigorating, and Inspiring. 

It is not easy.  But it is worthwhile.  The greater the difficulty and sacrifice required the greater the success and achievement When the Goal is Reached. 

Stand Firm!

Enthusiasm Contagion Wanted

Our Four-Year-Old is So Enthusiastic about just about everything that when you are around him you cannot help but be Positively Influenced; his Great Enthusiasm is Highly Contagious.

Which is a good thing.  A very good thing.  It is contagious.

According to www.opposite-word.com, opposite words of "enthusiastic" are:

"apathetic, disinterested, doubting, indifferent, lethargic, pessimistic, unenthusiastic, unexcited,weary"

Collectively......a very depressing portrait of an individual!

These terms all describe people that are, sadly, living their lives with a lack of energy, zest, excitement, and natural motivation. 

Enthusiasm is one of the Finer Things in Life!  Having it, as a natural trait, is no-doubt a tremendous asset to have to help one navigate through the many challenges and great difficulties we all face from time to time which we all must face.  How we handle and overcome these times will largely define how successful we are in life and whether or not we can achieve the personal goals and objectives we have set for ourselves.

Enthusiasm.  When you see it: Appreciate it; Catch it; Grab it; Hold on tight.  It will help you get through the most difficult times.  Having it will be a great benefit.  Then pass it along to others.  "Pay It Forward."  Be a positive influence in the lives of others by being, consistently, Enthusiastic.  Upbeat.  Positive.

I don't want our Four-Year-Old to ever loose his Enthusiasm. 

I hope you too are blessed by the presence of an Enthusiastic Child in your Life.  If not, by someone else.  Someone, who, whenever you are around them, exudes the great quality of being Enthusiastic.  Every time you are around them, you leave them feeling a little bit better.  Feeling more confident.  Feeling like life is good.  Feeling that you can achieve the worthy Goals you have set for yourself. 

I, personally, don't want to be around, too much anyway, people who are not Enthusiastic.  Just a personal choice.  We should associate only with those who will, by their mere presence, help support, motivate, and elevate us.

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Courage is going from failure to failure without loosing enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

Future Uncertain

We, really, have no guarantee that we will be here tomorrow. Or the next day. Or the next.

Our Future is Uncertain. We will run out of time. Eventually. The question and unknown variable is when.

The Reality of Life is that our Time Here is Limited and Finite.

We are So Lucky to even be here today!  Many, who we have known and loved, are already gone; with no more tomorrows. How many more tomorrows do we have? What would we do differently if you had a Date Certain when you will be parting ways with life as we know it? What if we had, beginning right now at this very moment and point in time, only 24 Hours To Live? One Week? One Year?

We sometimes live and act as though we do not fully grasp this reality and the ramifications.  Are we living with a Sense of Urgency and are we Passionately Pursuing all of the Personal Goals that we have set for ourselves ever single day that we are fortunate enough to be alive? Are we packing in the excitement, the challenge, the personal achievements, and great accomplishments which we consistently achieve every single day?

Or, are we living Passively? Reactively? Like we are just passengers who have no control over in which direction we are heading. Have we lost our focus? Our drive? Do we no longer have a core set of top priorities, goals, and objectives, that drive us and towards which we should be focusing all of our energy and time on every day? Have we lost our Passion?

Is there a personal dream you once had that you have since forgotten or just given up on as the years passed? Lost all hope and desire as a result of the everyday grind of life and the many obstacles that we periodically face which slow us down and leave us deflated? Have we decided to take the easier path with less challenge, less resistance, and requiring less commitment?

What are your Personal Priorities? What are the most important things to you? A very wise person once wrote to me that "We Devote Our Time, Energy, and Money Into What We Value The Most." Think about that just for a moment. What have you been focusing on these days? Are your actions in line with and fully supportive of all of your stated Priorities and your Personal Goals? Or, have you over time fallen prey to the superficial aspects and negative temptations of life and moved away from spending time where you should be?

If You, If We, are not absolutely Fired Up and Highly Motivated, we most certainly should be!  Life is Short. Our Days Are Finite. We are certainly not getting any younger.  When we look back at our lives at an older age our goal should be to be able to say "No Regrets" as opposed to "how much better would things have been if I did this or didn't do that."

What If (not out of the realm of possibility!)you received notification right now: your Future is No Longer Uncertain. You Have One Month To Live. Think about it.  Slowly.  Think hard about what your thought process would then be......  What would you do?  How would you feel?  Who would you call? 

On what, if you received the "Deadline" Notification stated above, and with your assumed newfound focus and clarity, would you begin spending your precious time?? What would you do differently tomorrow?  What would your five most important Personal Goals be to achieve during your remaining time?  What components of your life would you know label as "no longer a priority" considering your new knowledge of how much time you have remaining? 

My Message: We Should Focus Only On What is Important And A Priority To Us; We Should Shed The Rest.  And Get Moving.......Procrastination Is The Thief Of Time.......and We Have Only So Much (?)Time. 

Social Media Magic!

Two years ago I basically had no knowledge of "Social Media."

One year ago my knowledge was limited to my personal Facebook Account experience alone.

Today, I find myself immersed in Social Media on a daily basis.  Actually, I can share without reservation, that I have quickly grown to love all things Social Media.  Early in 2011 I began planning and taking some important steps to help me begin my exciting journey towards starting my own Business: Selling By Building. 

Early on in that process, a trusted confidant and supporter (who also is a highly experienced and successful Small Business Owner) enthusiastically conveyed to me the importance of quickly educating myself with and harnessing the Power and Magic of Social Media to assist me with making connections and spreading the message of my business, my philosophy, and what I am all about as I assume the challenge of becoming a Small Business Owner.

Social Media actually is a natural fit with the overriding philosophy behind Selling By Building: the belief that the most important ingredient to achieving long-term personal and business success is one's ability to successfully build strong, trusting, long-term relationships with everyone who we interact with on a daily basis.  This includes Business Owners, Employees, Management, Customers/Clients, Vendors, etc.  Communication is the Key.  Strong Relationships are the Building Blocks. 

A highly efficient means of achieving the critical goal of making connections, spreading one's message, and building strong, long-term, trusting relationships is Social Media.

I am utilizing Twitter, StumbleUpon, LinkedIn, etc., to help me achieve the following important and long-term benefits:

• Establish new connections and begin establishing mutually beneficial relationships with similar-minded people who share similar interests, philosophies, and goals for the future.  I especially appreciate the fact that I can easily connect with, share with, and learn from great people all over the world in many countries.  Being Married with two little ones under six, my ability to travel to far-away places and many countries is limited.  But, being a people person, I want to connect with as many people as I can.  The Technology and Wonder of Twitter grants me the wonderful and unparalleled opportunity to link up with and then share ideas, thoughts, and motivation with great people all over the world.  I consider this fact priceless!
• The ability and blessing to be able to share my diverse life experience and all of the great information, content, resources, quotes, etc., that I come across on a daily basis with my Connections.  I greatly enjoy this fact.  Helping other people and helping other people improve, get motivated, and achieve their goals is what I love doing the most.  Social Media has allowed me to do this easily on a daily basis.  Again.....priceless.
• Lastly: Since I have become heavily engaged in Social Media I have gained immediate access to the thoughts of others and to the Web Content being shared by and recommended by others every single day.  This has allowed me to broaden my horizons and become renewed, invigorated, fired-up again, and rejuvenated at the age of 41.  I learn from great content and links shared daily on Social Media.  I cannot emphasize this benefit of utilizing Social Media enough.  I am no longer limited to just the Great People of Syracuse, NY, that I happen to come in contact with and communicate with.  I am learning from, being educated by, and drawing inspiration from friends and connections in India, Ireland, England, Africa, etc.; in addition to those spread across the United States.  Twitter, Technology, and Social Media have brought people together.  Social Media, Technology, and the Web have increased, without bounds, the free-flow of information, ideas, and education across the Globe and between all people access to the Internet.  One last time.....priceless.

I am going to attend and participate in the upcoming BizBuzz Social Media Conference to be help in Liverpool, NY, on November 1, 2011.

I am excited to be involved and a firm believer of attending this Conference because of the knowledge and appreciation I have gained recently during my transition to being an Entrepreneur and Small Business Owner. 

This Conference will allow me to continue educating myself and to share what I have learned with others. 

I have heeded the advice that was given to me early in 2011 and now I am fully engaged in (with a great deal more to learn of course) Social Media.

In retrospect: I was given great advice that I would now share with anyone reaching out to me for guidance.

My Selling By Building Journey is just beginning.  I am loving it; and Social Media is a Tool that I will continue to educate myself about and utilize to help me with my Mission: positively impacting the lives of others and long-term success with being able to do what I love to do and am passionate about.

Social Media Magic.  Bringing People Together.  Utilizing Technology And The Web.  Full Speed Ahead To Greater Success For All.

Life: Health & Wealth

As I pondered the various possibilities for the Subject of this Blog Posting I planned on writing today I received a timely phone call from my Sister.  After my meaningful conversation with her the Subject and Theme that I wanted to write about today became very clear: "Health & Wealth."

Wealth is perceived and defined in a multitude of ways.  The definition is often dependent on each individuals uniqueness and own personal life experience, background, values, character, goals, and priorities.

Wikipedia defines "Wealth" as follows:

Wealth is the abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The word wealth is derived from the old English wela, which is from an Indo-European word stem.^[1] An individual, community, region or country that possesses an abundance of such possessions or resources is known as wealthy.
The concept of wealth is of significance in all areas of economics, especially development economics, yet the meaning of wealth is context-dependent and there is no universally agreed upon definition. Generally, economists define wealth as "anything of value" which captures both the subjective nature of the idea and the idea that it is not a fixed or static concept. Various definitions and concepts of wealth have been asserted by various individuals and in different contexts.^[2] Defining wealth can be a normative process with various ethical implications, since often wealth maximization is seen as a goal or is thought to be a normative principle of its own.^[3]

Wikipedia defines "Health" as follows:

Health is the level of functional and (or) metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person in mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to being free from illness, injury or pain (as in “good health” or “healthy”).^[1] The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in 1946 as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."^[2][3] Although this definition has been subject to controversy, in particular as having a lack of operational value and the problem created by use of the word "complete", it remains the most enduring.

Many people spend their entire lives obsessed with and pursuing greater Wealth.  But at what point do we become Wealthy?  I am all for striving to make a good living beyond the basic necessities of daily living and working hard to be able to enjoy the betters things in life. 

But I wonder if sometimes people are not much more "Wealthy" than they appreciate and realize.  Life is not just about the accumulation of money, houses, and boats, etc.  These things are nice, very nice in fact, but, if you were sitting in a Hospital Room with a serious life-threatening disease you would suddenly have gained much greater perspective.  Money, a new house, a new boat, etc., would suddenly have moved down the "Ladder of Priorities" in your Life.   You would be thinking the following simple and clear thought: you would be praying that a miracle would be granted; and that you could go back in time to a point where you were in general, relative, Good Health. 

Consider this question:

• Are you Wealthy if you are Healthy? 

Today my Sister informed me during our telephone conversation that a Cousin of ours has just been just diagnosed with Melanoma; my Sister asked that we say a Prayer for her and keep her in our thoughts.  My Sister is a Nurse.  We do not know all of the details at this time other than the fact it sounds quite serious.  My Sister conveys that this is a serious disease that gives cause for concern and worry. 

My immediate thought upon hanging up: Life is So Short.  We Take Our Health For Granted.  Thank God For My Relative Good Health!  Kind of a selfish thought.

We will as requested Pray for our Cousin and keep her in our thoughts. 

Shortly after the conclusion of the conversation with my Sister I began thinking about and pondering the reality of our daily existence:

• Any one of us could, possibly, and at any time, receive a phone call informing us that one of our Family Members or close Friends has suffered great tragedy or been stricken ill.  Or even died.
• Any one of us could, possibly, and at any time, suffer great tragedy or become suddenly ill.  Seriously ill.  Or even die.

What if you received "the phone call" today about a Family Member or Friend or from a Doctor about your Health that would immediately change your Life forever?

The Prospect and Potential of this phone call for all of us always exists and will never go away.

I ask you and I the following logical questions to ponder in light of the undeniable fact that our continued healthy existence is by no means a guarantee and that life is so short:

Why do we take so much for granted?
Why do we not fully appreciate our relative good health to a much greater extent than we do?
Why do we not sacrifice more of our Time, Energy, and Money to help others - and there are many! - who have already been stricken ill and and really, really suffering and struggling on a daily basis due to poor health?
Why do we all, myself included, so often choose to make the wrong things priorities and focus on or complain about trivial, inconsequential, and in retrospect meaningless, matters on a daily basis?
Why do we sometimes go about our lives in a robotic manner?

Why do we not spend more quality time with our Family and loved ones?


Why do we not exercise more and follow healthier diets that are proven will increase our level of health and reduce the likelihood of suffering poor health and being stricken by disease?

I have known friends who have died young.  I have a friend with two very young children who is courageously battling ALS Disease (and embracing the opportunity to inspire others!)  Today I just learned I have a Cousin who is battling Melanoma. 

If you've been blessed with relative good health and have not thought about and truly appreciated this fact in a long time, I remind you not to take such things for granted.

If you are amongst the many battling a serious health issue: my thoughts and prayers are with you to give you strength and courage to battle on and to fight.

Consider again this question:

• Are you Wealthy if you are Healthy?  

I argue in many ways yes.

Considering the Wikipedia definition noted above would we consider Good Health to be a "Valuable Resource?"  You bet.  Without sufficient energy levels and a general feeling of good health it would be difficult for us to be able to live the life we desire and achieve the goals we set for ourselves. 

Good Health is truly and undoubtedly a Blessing that not everyone is fortunate enough to have. Let's not take relative Good Health for granted and be truly grateful every single day; at the same time let us not turn a blind and selfish eye to those who are suffering and in need.

It could be any one of us any day.  Carry that thought with you.  Every Day.

I Wish You Good Health And The Perspective And Ability To Appreciate It When You Have It!

10 Tips To Help Achieve Your Worthy Goal

Achieving a Worthy Goal is not easy.  We need to consistently set and achieve specific goals if we want to achieve great success and be the very best we can be.  Following are some Tips and Suggestions to help us Successfully Achieve our Goals:

1. Write your Goal down on paper.  Be specific.  Set and write down a Target Date.  Included with this should be the personal reasons why you are setting this Goal, the challenges and obstacles you have identified that you will need to overcome if you are to achieve your Goal, and, in precise detail, all of the Benefits and Advantages to be had when you successfully achieve the Goal.
2. Do not loose #1.  Refer to it often for a refresher and reminder as to why you are expending the great energy that you are (or should be!) on a daily basis to move you toward the successful achievement of the Goal.
3. Adopt and Maintain a Positive Mental Attitude.  This takes work.  Self-doubt, negative thoughts, pessimism; these trouble-makers will undoubtedly hurt you and your Goal-Achieving efforts.
4. Expect the unexpected and expect to overcome the unexpected without ever being thrown off course.  Life is unpredictable.  Sometimes things happen at the worst possible times.  One curve-ball or one set-back will not the not-truly-committed off-course.
5. Be Steadfast.  I've always loved that word!  Maintain a clear focus and keep your eye on the Goal and the Benefits to be had that you memorialized in Step 1 and keep mentally strong; nothing can keep you from achieving your Goal unless you let it happen.  Again: Be Steadfast.
6. Earn and benefit from the support of those around you.  If sacrifice is required that impacts the lives of your Family or your Closest Friends, then you need to educate them and enlist their support.  You will need their support and their motivation when life gets tough, you feel overwhelmed, and achievement of your Goal lay in jeopardy.  Help Family and Friends understand the sacrifices you are making and the commitment you are making by openly sharing with them why you're doing what you're doing and what you are going to gain by achieving your Goal.  Nothing is more important than our Family and our Friends.  We need them and their support.
7. Keep Healthy.  We need Great Energy to be able to pursue our Goals Relentlessly.  Great Energy is a direct result of Living a Healthy Lifestyle: eat well; exercise daily; minimize stress; embrace healthy habits.  The more difficult and challenging a Goal is the more Energy we need.  Continuously educate yourself on how to be as healthy as possible and live according to that knowledge.
8. Make the Process Fun.  Life is Short.  Enjoy and Respect the difficult journey often necessary to achieve a Worthy Goal. 
9. Let each successive successful step that brings you closer to achieving your Goal inspire you and provide you with some positive motivation to help continue to carry you forward, remain committed, stay focused, and ultimately Reach That Goal!
10. Don't give up.  Never give up.  Nothing truly great has never been achieve without great sacrifice, commitment, dedication, and resilience. 

"Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination." Fitzhugh Dodson
Good Luck! Go grab a pen a paper and get a jump-start on your next Goal?  What will it be?

Entrepreneur? You?

Are you cut out to be an Entrepreneur? 

Am I cut out to be an Entrepreneur?

How do the successful ones succeed while so many....the majority....fail for no lack of effort?

Might you be the next Bill Gates?

Could you succeed and might you be much happier and more fulfilled if you carefully and cautiously started your own Small Business which would enable you to finally focus on simply doing what you love to do and are truly passionate about?

What really is an Entrepreneur?  Why are they collectively considered such a unique and special group of human beings?

Wikipedia defines this so-often used and often-misunderstood term as follows:

An entrepreneur is a person who has possession of a new enterprise, venture or idea and is accountable for the inherent risks and the outcome.^{[note 1]} The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to help launch a new venture or enterprise and accept full responsibility for the outcome. Jean-Baptiste Say, a French economist, is believed to have coined the word "entrepreneur" in the 19th century - he defined an entrepreneur as "one who undertakes an enterprise, especially a contractor, acting as intermediatory between capital and labour".^{[note 2]} A broader definition by Say: "The entrepreneur shifts economic resources out of lower and into higher productivity and greater yield."^{[clarification needed]}

Regardless of how anyone specifically defines an Entrepreneur one thing is for sure: it takes a highly special and creative individual with great drive, perseverance, and passion, to be able to, in the face of all the nay-sayers, many doubters, and willing negative anti-risk advisers, push forward with a dream, a vision, and a plan, and to successfully start their own business.

Whether I will ultimately fail or succeed with my dream and vision (Selling By Building) remains to seen: only time will tell if I will be successful in making the transition to doing what I love to do and am passionate about and be able to make a living.  But I am confident.  I believe.  I am committed.

But, regardless of trying to predict the future, I am absolutely loving and enjoying the entire entrepreneurial process and all of the accompanying challenges inherent with starting a new business.

As a result of my current efforts in starting my own Small Consulting Business I have gained a much greater understanding of and appreciation for Entrepreneurs.  Their chosen path is not easy!  Those without sufficient perseverance, passion, and dedication may give up in the face of the varying challenges that all Entrepreneurs face on a daily basis. 

But......I believe and I think most Entrepreneurs will tell you that it is all worth it! 

To Succeed against great odds an Entrepreneur must be blessed with or committed to continually developing the following success traits and characteristics:

• Strong Work Ethic
• Highly Competitive
• Great Passion
• Great Vision
• Unyielding Drive
• Genuine Empathy
• High Level of Organization (or at least keep striving to improve in this area like me!)
• Uncanny Communication Skills: the ability to easily communicate in a positive manner in any given moment
• Exhibit Strong Leadership Skills
• Strong Presentation Skills
• Highly Developed Listening Skills
• Be Patient When Necessary
• Great Confidence
• Not Be Patient When Necessary To Make Things Happen!
• Want To Genuinely Help Other People and Other Businesses To Succeed and Develop Solutions To Problems
• I could go on.  But for brevity sake and because I know you have other things to do I will stop.

For anyone who is dissatisfied with their current lot and personal situation and who is in the research and personal exploration phase of potentially taking on the biggest and most exciting challenge of their life there is an infinite amount of knowledge and tips available at all times on the Web and many great books on being an Entrepreneur and what it takes.  We must all be committed to continual learning and never, ever giving in to "complacency." 

http://www.entrepreneur.com/ is a great source of knowledge and guidance.

If you are interested in starting a Consulting Business I highly recommend "Getting Started In Consulting" by Alan Weiss, PhD.  This is a fantastic book which has helped me a great deal; I share his Philosophy and like the the way he lays out information in an easy-read manner. 

I have also been learning a great deal from the life experience of several Entrepreneurs and Business Owners that I know and have met during my Journey.  There is no better source of knowledge and help that from those who have already been down the road, survived, and achieved success.  So do not hesitate to reach out; I have found Business Owners are more than willing to share their success and experience and to help teach and coach others.   

"When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser. The choice is yours and yours alone. Refuse to throw in the towel. Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel. It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure."
- Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

"If it really was a no-brainer to make it on your own in business there'd be millions of no-brained, harebrained, and otherwise dubiously brained individuals quitting their day jobs and hanging out their own shingles. Nobody would be left to round out the workforce and execute the business plan."
- Bill Rancic, winner on Donald Trump's "The Apprentice"

"The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it."
- Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies

Being an eternal optimist and annoyingly positive person who loves to help others I am going to say if we are 100% confident in our ability and passionate our Personal Dream and Vision that we should leave the hesitation behind Get Moving.  Then is it all up to you to make it happen.

Life is Short.  Do Not Settle.  Develop a Plan.  Build a Team of Mentors and Supporters.  Progress Carefully and Thoughtfully.  Never Stop Asking Questions.  Keep on Learning.  Stay Positive.  Remain Flexible.  Follow Your Dreams.  Persevere.  Prioritize.  Focus.  Push Forth.  Help Others.  Do Not Give Up.  Do Not Loose Sight Of What Is Important In Life.  Appreciate Your Health.  Take Nothing For Granted.  Enjoy!

Taking Some Great Personal and Business Advice From Our Dogs!

Our Family has a new addition: a Dog named Red.

He is a Red-Tic English Coon Hound.  (No, I also had never heard of this particular breed!)

We have had him one full week; a small duration of time during which he has already:

• Urinated once on our Bedroom Floor. 
• Busted out of his supposedly solid and full-proof metal crate.  Every single day I should add since we got him.
• Decided to empty every single trash can in our house on several occasions.  Unfortunately because of our young children the contents of most of the trash cans I am referring to included diapers. 
• Helped himself to a big bag of Potato Chips....eating about 50% of the bag and then spreading the remaining chips, very neatly, all around our main living area.

Patience is a Virtue!!

Despite all of this, I have grown to love Red; he is a keeper.  It has been several years since we had a Dog and both my Wife and I love dogs in general.  We are happy to again have a loving and trusting Dog in our lives; and our two little ones are so happy they care barely contain themselves!

This afternoon as I took Red for an hour-long walk and great conversation (mostly one-way) I got to thinking: what exactly is it that so endears us to our Dogs?  Why do we grow to love them so much despite the hard work and sacrifice required to care for them on a daily basis?

After considering this I concluded the secret to their success is: the establishment of Trust and Faith!

We have complete trust and faith in our Dogs. 

I then, shortly thereafter, because I have been thinking so much lately about my new consulting business (Selling By Building) and the many issues and ideas I want to address and share, realized that Business Owners and Entrepreneurs can learn some important lessons from a Dog like Red.

If you (or we I should say) want to be successful and grow your Business you too need to, as a result of how you service and treat your Customers or Clients consistently, successfully establish Trust and Faith.

This is no easy task because indeed there are many dishonest, selfish, unscrupulous, and unethical Business People out there.  Because of this fact Customers or Clients are going to be hesitant, cautious, and resistant to instantly and without good reason, trust us right out of the gate.

But, We can Build Trust and Faith by adhering to the following suggestions and goals:

1. Be honest with your Customers and Clients.  Do not sacrifice honesty and long-term trust and relationships by being dishonest in any way to achieve a short-term benefit.  Nothing helps Built Trust and Faith in the minds of your Customers more than their earned perception that you are honorable and truly operate with their best interest in mind at all times.  (Dogs don't lie!)
2. Listen clearly and intently and sympathetically to concerns and problems expressed to you.  Real and honest empathy both felt and expressed is a tremendous asset.  When something goes wrong with a product or service you have represented and sold very often that is when you can prove what kind of person you are and what kind of Business you are.  If you are resistant to learning about problems being experienced and conveyed to you and not sympathetically passionate about helping service your customer and help find the best solution to the greatest benefit of your customer then you are missing out one the greatest opportunities to lock in a long-term Customer who would have been a willing promoter of you and your Business.  (Dogs are the best listeners!)
3. Do not consistently and automatically judge.  Again, keep the focus on listening openly and sympathetically to your Employees, Customers, Vendors, Management.  Always seek to gain a greater understanding from those you may disagree with or not understand.  Render judgement only when asked or absolutely necessary.  But make sure you are communicating in a positive manner expressing only constructive criticism.  (Dogs don't judge!  They just keep on listening)
4. Be reliable.  I believe to consistently achieve this goal you have to truly care about those you are interacting with and not solely be existing for the benefit of yourself.  If more people would embrace this Philosophy the world would be a better place.  If you are perceived as highly reliable by your customers they will stay with you and keep coming back to you and your Company for help, value, solutions to their problems, etc.  The reason we all turn to our Trusted Dogs at the end of a long, stressful, day is because we know, unquestionably and without reservation, that they will be glad (and excited as only our dogs can get excited!) to see us, listen to us, and help us feel better.  That is why we love them so much.  (Dogs define being reliable!)

So, taking Red's and your Dog's Advice, we can all benefit from focusing on these basics of Communication and Customer Service, to better ourselves and our businesses. 

Now I have to ask Red to proof-read my communication here to see if he approves!  I don't want to misrepresent him in any way.

Business Development: The Role of Customer Service

Business Development: The Role of Customer Service

When I ponder the current state of Business Organization's Customer Service Departments and Employees who choose a career path in Customer Service there are two current realities that come to the forefront of my mind from both my diverse experience within Business Organizations and as a typical Consumer who has to communicate and rely on "Customer Service" Departments for assistance:

1. The Customer Service Function is commonly under appreciated today.
2. Opportunities abound for business development and achieving revenue growth from existing customers.

1. Under appreciated

Customer Service / Customer Care Organizations and Employees should be recognized and appreciated for the vital role they play.  The ability to successfully communicate with and service the needs of customers on a daily basis in an often fast-paced and high-stress environment is not easy.  A combination of procedural understanding, technical know-how, product or service in-depth knowledge, and just as importantly great patience and people-skills are required.  Remaining calm and focused in the face of extremely upset and often irrational customers or clients is not easy.  The ability to express empathy, understanding, concern, and a clear willingness to help and ultimately satisfy the needs of customers can be challenging but is vitally important.

What is at stake is the entire investment that made to acquire that customer: advertising, commissions paid to salespeople, etc. 

The cost of loosing a customer is very high.  The cost of that customer spreading negative word of mouth to other potential customers is very high. 

2. Customer Service Business Development Opportunities

Conversely: the benefit and value of a customer that is not only merely satisfied with the service received but in fact so happy with your Customer Service Department and Company that they become a no-cost marketer and advertiser for you spreading positive word-of-mouth is tremendous.  For a progressive Business Organization whose goal is growth this should be the real goal and objective. 

Sales and Customer Service Departments within Business Organizations should be treated as separate and distinct. 

Businesses should strive to build and achieve a free-flow of communication, information, ideas, and feedback between Sales and Customer Service Departments.  Once a deal is closed and a sale is made Sales should not wash their hands clean of responsibility.  Funneling customer feedback back through all channels will help educate and aid in achieving the goal of continuous improvement.  Sales should be in constant communication with Customer Service to maintain a clear understanding all of all concerns and issues that arise that the customers they brought on board experience so that they can: 1. assist to ensure their customer's satisfaction; and 2. assimilate all knowledge obtained back into the Selling Process with a focus on constant improvement in both Sales and Customer Service.

There is a not entirely recognized and untapped great opportunity for Business Organizations to develop additional business and revenue both directly from servicing existing customers and by doing a much better job leveraging their relationships with existing customers to identify and market to new customers. 

If you value and clearly understand the importance of successfully servicing your existing Customers/Clients and are seeking long-term success and growth, focus on the following within your Strategic Planning Process:

• Clearly understand, appreciate, and make a sufficient investment of time and resources into your Customer Service Department.  Is there room for improvement?  Are you loosing too many customers/clients?  Put in place a Customer Service Improvement Program to better train and equip your Customer Service Employees to be a world-class service organization.
• Creatively turn your Customer Service Department into a low-cost Revenue-Generating Machine by training and teaching Employees to adopt an entrepreneurial spirit that, besides trying to exceed customer expectations while providing service on existing products and services, also seeks to extract and achieve new revenue growth at all times when communicating with customers.

A sea-change mentality as I am suggesting here from merely and minimally servicing existing customer's needs to a new-age, proactive, entrepreneurial service organization will produce great results and increasing revenue. 

Selling By Building: Achieve Long-Term Business Success one step or positive interaction at a time.

http://www.sellingbybuilding.com/

The Importance of Positive Communication

The following YouTube Video is a powerful message that helps to illustrate the importance of how we communicate and the impact of the messages that we construct and deliver when we communicate:

http://youtu.be/Hzgzim5m7oU

How well we communicate on a daily basis has a powerful and direct impact on the levels of success that we achieve.

Do you believe that poor communication amongst your Employees or between your Employees and your Customers, Vendors, and Management, is poor and holding your Organization back from achieving even greater levels of success?  Or are you having to spend a great deal of time addressing situations that result from poor communication that is taking you away from more valuable, revenue-generating tasks that you would much rather be focusing on?

You are not alone. 

In most Organizations today there is a great focus of time, energy, and resources on technology and how to best utilize available technology to be as efficient as possible, as competitive as possible, and and profitable as possible.  Of course these are very worthy goals.  But, I contend that we have unintentially taken our focus off of taking steps to increase positive and effective daily communication in all we do on a daily basis: how we communicate; how effectively we communicate; and on how we communicate is impacting our business's success and profitability.

An operating environment and company culture that espouses and takes proactive steps to ensure Consistently Positive Communication throughout an organization provides a business with a competitive strength that has a positive ripple effect throughout the entire organization.  Employees in these organizations are more likely to be highly motivated and to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit.  Because there is open communication and because employees feel more secure and comfortable in these companies they will be more likely to express ideas, make suggestions, and give 110% to the company.  In addition there is a lesser likelihood that employees will be seeking to leave the company.  The high cost of high Employee Turnover makes this a problem to be addressed.  An employee that is relatively happy, content, and that feels comfortable and empowered where they work will be more likely to stay and be committed to their company on a long-term basis.

Selling By Building (http://www.sellingbybuilding.com/) suggests some Simple Steps to take if you have not done so already to easily improve your Company's Communications and Environment:

1. Have a clear and concise Company Mission Statement that is published and consistently articulated to all Employees that will help keep a daily focus on the overriding single most important Goal the Company seeks to achieve.  When the entire Organization has a clear focus and understanding of your Mission they will be better able to stay on course and contribute.  Employees like to feel that they are a key part of their Companies overall success; if they are just told to focus on their specific daily tasks without an understanding of the bigger picture and what their Company is seeking to achieve they will not feel empowered and will be less likely to think out of the box and to be creative.  A strong and well-articulated Mission Statement brings the Organization together and promotes clear vision and greater Teamwork.
2. Have an official set of Company Core Values that you insist your Organization live by and operate according to on a daily basis.  Incorporate into these Core Values the need to have positive and open communication.  Convey that treating each other with respect and working together as a Team is a must. 
3. Do not ignore the Employee that is consistently negative, no longer makes positive contributions to your success, and that willingly undermines Management and the Organization.  Weeds spread very, very quickly.  When not addressed in a timely fashion, they spread and grow.  The analogy is clear.  Strong and positive leadership in an Organization requires immediately addressing and taking action when needed with difficult Employees who, it has become clear over a period of time, is not only no longer an asset but now a liability. 
4. Embrace and require positive and clear communication in your Organization with a consistent focus of resources on Employee Personal Development.  Utilize Individual Development Plans annually to insist on and keep the focus on continual improvement.  To keep these simple and easy to manage and follow through on agree on only two to three specific goals and objectives for each Employee to make a priority in the coming year.  Do not let complacency take hold in your Company; embrace a culture of continuous improvement and skills development.  Educate all Management and Employees on the need for and benefits of living by open, honest, positive communication. 

For more on the subject of Employee Individual Development visit http://www.goalsguy.com/ and click on the "Knowledge" tab.  This Website is a favorite of mine and is a great resource of knowledge, ideas, and tips on Personal Development and utilizing the Power of Goal-Setting as a tool to help us succeed and achieve happiness personally and professionally.

Achieving an environment with Open and Positive Communication along with a company-wide focus on and investment in Employee Development will help you improve employee morale and satisfaction; increase customer satisfaction and retention; and ultimately help you achieve long-term business success: one positive interaction at a time.

The Journey Begins: Introducing Selling By Building

"The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With a Single Step" - Lao Tzo, Chinese Philosopher

I have reached the conclusion that having my own Consulting Business and working as an Independent Contractor will be the ideal and most rewarding career path for me to pursue in light of my unique personality traits and because of my professional long-term goals and objectives:

• To Coach, Motivate, and Assist as many Individuals and Organizations as I can to improve and be the very best they can be and to have fun and enjoy the process. 
• To Love and be Passionate about what I am doing on a daily basis. 
• To not be bound up in one office all day and not be able to fully utilize my creativity and natural people skills to help other people.
• To reject complacency and keep learning and challenging myself for the rest of my life.

Selling By Building is the single most important step I have ever taken; it will also be the greatest challenge of my life to date..........but, if I succeed, it will ultimately be the greatest success of my life!

I have had this unique business name in my head now for several years.  My Wife has been forced to listen to me refer to Selling By Building and my desire to have a Consulting Business for a long time.  The good news is that over time she has realized how very passionate and serious I was about this endeavor and how important it was for me to take this step: she now supports me 100% which is very important to me.  My Family comes first with me: my Wife, Karen; my 6-year-old Daughter, Abigail; and my 4-year-old Son, Teddy.  Family support is a must.  I am a lucky man!  Nothing is more important in life I believe than our Family and Friends. 

But.....I also recognize that we work for close to a third of our lives.  What we do and how fulfilling the work is that we do on a consistent basis has a major impact on the overall quality of our lives.  It is for this reason that I believe Individuals had to take control of and be responsible for managing their careers to ensure they are moving in the right direction and that their work contributes to the happiness and quality of their lives as opposed to a necessary evil that detracts from the quality and happiness of their lives.  I also believe Employers can benefit from helping to create and maintain an atmosphere and environment that is conducive to helping their Employees enjoy their work, to helping their Employees consistently grow and develop professionally, and to feel rewarded and appreciated for their efforts on a daily basis.  When this is accomplished the Employee wins, the Employer wins, and the relationship between the two is strengthened and the likelihood of a long-term mutually beneficial relationship is increased.

The business name "Selling By Building" refects my long-held opinion that the single most important factor in one's attempt to achieve long-term success in Life and in Business (this theory applies to both Individuals and Businesses) is the ability to successfully Build strong, trusting, long-term relationships with all who we interact with on a daily basis: colleagues; customers/clients; vendors; employees; management/ownership; etc. 

I will utilize this Blog to periodically articulate my thoughts, observations, ideas, recommendations, etc., going forward relating to:

Sales / Customer Care / Accounting & Finance / Communications

I welcome your ideas and thoughts and advice to share with all.  Together we can move forward one positive interaction and conversation at a time. 

Life is Short: if we together focus on continuous improvement, one day at a time, and just as importantly on helping others achieve success and happiness, good things will happen and success will follow. 

Selling By Building!  Full Speed Ahead.