Get Your Priorities In Order.....Before It's Too Late

What are your Personal and Most-Important Priorities? 

Have you considered this question lately?  What are you focusing your time and energy on every day?  Are you achieving success and are you achieving the Goals that you have set for yourself?  Might you be in need of a Priority Re-Alignment to get you back on track and heading in the direction you want to go in?

Only you can answer this deeply personal question.  Only you know what your most important Goals and Objectives are!  Only you know whether or not you are succeeding in life and moving successfully closer to all you want to achieve every single day.

One thing is for sure: time is flying by.  We are not getting any younger.  If your daily efforts and activity is not in sync with your most important life goals and objectives - you will most likely not achieve them. 

Achieving Success

 If that is currently the case, immediate correction action is required.  Success will not happen by accident or default. 

Our Dreams and Most Important Personal Goals will not become reality unless we strategically make them happen; one step and one decision at a time. 

Consider the following:

1. Have you had deep in the recesses of your mind a strongly-held Personal Dream that you have never acted on?  Can you not get this Dream and Desire out of your head?  Is this a Dream that uplifts you, fills you with passion and energy, and you believe if pursued and achieved would make you more happy and fulfilled?  We only live once.  The majority of people fail to muster up the courage and personal initiative to make the decision to Pursue Their Dreams.  Are you merely one of the many who fail to act, take the risk, and pursue your dreams?  Or.....
2. Are your days worked according to a flexible and well-though-out Plan that is in alignment with the Goals you want to achieve?  Or are you not working according to any plan, always in reactive mode allowing others to dictate how you spend your time and on what you focus your finite energy?  No one plans to fail; they just fail to plan.  Sit down with a sheet of paper; clarify and write down what are the most important Goals and Objectives you want to achieve; and then translate those into a series of steps and actions you need to take every day.  Live and Work according to a Plan.  Make it Flexible; but make it strategically effective. 
3. Are you, by habit, doing things that drain you of your limited energy?  Things that bring you and increase your stress-levels?  Things that are harming your body and mind?  Life is Not Easy.  Managing Stress is Not Easy.  But, succumbing to the lure of bad habits that drain us physically, emotionally, and spiritually is a sure-fire way of loosing sight of our priorities and failing to achieve greatness.  Address these habits now; before it's too late.  Be honest; reach out and get help; and begin turning your life around.
4. Have you fallen into the me-first, only-me, strictly self-centered trap that many fall prey to?  Are you solely concerned with you?  Your needs and wants?  One of the Secrets of Successful People is that they make it their life-mission to help others; to help other People, Companies, and Organizations achieve greater Success and Happiness.  We are all part of Community.  We are not an island.  Alone we are limited; working together we can achieve great success.  We all need a Support Team.
5. Are you taking life and the positive aspects of that life for granted?  Do you not fully appreciate the following Blessings:

• Your Relative Health
• Your Family and Loved Ones
• Your ability to make a living and put Food on the Table for your and your Family
• The fact that you have Sufficient Shelter for you and your Family

How would your Life and Your Priorities Change tomorrow morning if today, as is always a possibility every day for every one of us, that:

You have just been diagnosed with Stage-Four Lung Cancer.  The Doctor says you will unfortunately most likely not live beyond six months.  How would this impact you and your Priorities?  What would you do?

Your Spouse or one of your Children has just been diagnosed with Stage-Four Lung Cancer. The Doctor says they will unfortunately most likely not live beyond six months. How would this impact you and your Priorities?  What would you do?

You have either just been fired from you job, or, in an accident, you been rendered incapable of continuing making a living doing what you have been trained to do and what you have been doing your entire adult life.  You are suddenly faced with the need to provide for you and your Family in the future but now with severely limited capacity to work.  How would this impact you and your Priorities?  What would you do?

These thoughts and considerations immediately put our lives in focus.  Give us the Clarity we have lacked.  They force us to suddenly cut through the fat.  The largess.  The unnecessary.  Then focus on only that which is important.  Live with Purpose.  Do not fail to appreciate all you have while at the same time striving to increase your success.  Live so that you have no regrets.

Again.....after have considered the above thoughts and considerations:

What are your Priorities?  What are your Goals?  What are you doing, every day, to make sure you Achieve Success?  What do you need to start, tomorrow, doing differently to increase the likelihood that your Dreams will be Fulfilled?

Closing The Sale With A Roll Of Toilet Paper

Closing The Sale With A Roll Of Toilet Paper

Please note, to be entirely honest with you, the following is, in fact, and maybe sadly, a true story!

I am not quire sure if I should be proud of this fact; or embarrassed.  But...we cannot hide from the truth.  I was young.  Very young.  It was, I believe, 1990.  I was only 21-Years-Old.  Just beginning my Journey into the exciting and at that time intimidating World of Sales.  Specifically: I was working at a local Retail Bedding Store.  We sold Mattresses and Accessories.  We sold "A Good Night's Sleep." 

 The Toilet Paper Story

At the Retail Bedding Store where I worked the highly experienced, very competitive Salespeople who I worked with and were training me back in 1990 took great pride in Closing Sales.  Our Goal: To Close Every Single Sale. 

• We were on Commission.  Our livelihoods depended on it.  At the age of 21, as was my priority at that time, I needed to generate money to go out on the town in Syracuse and have fun.  (how priorities change the course of 20 Years!)
• We were all fully indoctrinated in the theory that if someone makes the decision to, let's say on a Saturday Weekend Afternoon, set aside time to drive to a local Retail Bedding Store, spending their valuable and finite time, that they obviously have a specific and pressing need that needs to be met.  A problem which requires a solution.  A bad back, which their 20 year old Mattress is contributing to, that is causing them great pain and negatively impacting their life.  A Young Child that has outgrown their crib and now requires a bed.  And on and on.  There is a need.  It must be met.  If the Customer leaves the Store that need has not been met.  If you have truly done your job you will have utilized all of your extensive training, knowledge, and expertise, to provide that customer with a Solution.  All this in addition to the cost and investment required to as a first step get that Customer in the Door. 
• Pride.  Salespeople take great pride in achieving positive results.  Producing revenue.  Closing sales.  Being recognized.  
My Impenetrable Customer: Retelling The Story In Bullet-Point Fashion
• My Customer had been in the store for what I believe was going on two hours.  From the start I recognized him as the type of Customer who did not trust any Salespeople.  He must have had previous back experiences which he carried with him.  He would not make eye contact with me.  He communicated disbelieving body language and gestures throughout the time we had spent together.  He was a "notebook carrier."  A detail man.  A Consumer Reports Consumer.  Needless to say: he was hell-bent and determined to not make a buying decision on this particular day. 
• I, conversely, being young, confident, and slightly arrogant after having achieved great results in my young career, was 100% determined, focused, and insistent on meeting this particular customers needs right here, right now, on this particular Saturday Afternoon.
• This Gentleman had his Wife with him.  This was a positive for me.  Both ultimate decision makers were in attendance.  Not only that...but she was extremely nice, friendly, and she and I, unlike her Husband and I, had quickly forged a positive, trusting, friendly relationship. 
• After having tested, discussed, and compared, just about every single Mattress in the Store, along with every single Feature, Advantage, and Benefit of all, I knew that we had successfully narrowed it down the the single best option and solution to successfully meet this Client's needs. 
• After having tried to Close this Sale for what seemed like eternity......I was nearing the end of my patience as a young 20-Year-Old Man.  Granted, we can't, in reality, Close every Sale.  That is just the ideal.  That is the Goal we strive for.  But before I threw the towel in and accepted this reality for this particular customer, a sudden rather creative, in retrospect questionable, idea arose in my mind................................................
• Several Minutes Later I walked back onto the Sales floor with a brand new, unopened, roll of toilet-paper carefully held in my hand. 
• As a last-resort, at wit's end, and in a half-joking half-serious manner I raised that roll of toilet paper high up in the air and theatrically stated my offer that if they could find it in themselves to make a decision to buy that Mattress which we know is best for them and at the very best possible price I would, out of the generosity of my heart, include this Beautiful Roll of Toilet Paper along with their purchase!

Creativity and Resourcefulness

Sometimes in life, when the normal protocol and regular steps in a Process fail to produce the results we desire, we must try to be Creative and Resourceful.  Where there is a will there is a way!

My last-ditch effort and offer (which they knew was merely an attempt to break through the barrier that stood before me) to include a Beautiful Roll of Toilet Paper actually worked.  After a split-second reaction of shock and amazement, they laughed.  We all laughed.  Then I quickly re summarized the reasons the purchase was the right decision, now with the customer in a lighter and friendlier mood, and they gave the go-ahead.  I cannot recall, with 100% certainty, what kind of Toilet Paper it was which played a critical role in my Closing the Deal and Earning the Sale.  I'm sorry I can't share that important detail with you.  They didn't really take the Toilet Paper.  They appreciated the creative effort so much thought that they rewarded me with a Sale.

Sales: Thinking Out Of The Box

Remember The Toilet Paper......and Break Out The Creativity.  It might just work!

Your Participation

Have You ever had to resort to an extreme tactic and attempt to Close the Sale and Cross the Finish Line?  If so....please share....

Thank you!

Mark





Man in the Arena

Teddy Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt is, in my opinion, right on the mark!  Words spoke a hundred years ago still ring true from our Former President.  They incorporate great wisdom from a great man who had risen to be President of The United States of America.  But I will transition to that subject in a moment.

Who Else Is Seeking To Improve In An Area Of Their Life?

Recently, concluding 15 years of consistent intention but failing to follow through and take action, I joined Toastmasters. 

My clear-cut goal: to improve my Public Speaking Skills.  (if you find less-than-perfection in my Blog don't worry....I also embrace the goal of improving my Writing Skills as well!)

I have a lifetime of knowledge and experience acquired and many strongly-held beliefs and philosophies that I want to share and utilize to help as many People and Organizations improve and increase their levels of success as they like me strive to make the most out of our lives. 

But, I am more comfortable writing than I am speaking in front of large groups. 

Therefore, I have taken action.  To address this and improve.  Now rather than later. 

Toastmasters is a side note to the core of this particular message.  But, before I proceed, let me convey that joining this Organization is one of the smartest and most rewarding decisions I have made.  It is a positive, supportive, knowledgeable, optimistic group of people coming together with a singular purpose to help each other improve and be successful.  I am committed to open-minded in receiving the consistent feedback and to focus my efforts on improving my Public Speaking Skills.  It will be a long road. 

The first time I got up and spoke in front of our group - on day one I might add! - I quickly conveyed to all in attendance why I was there.  I spoke rapidly, incorporated "um" into my speech, and lacked organization in my articulation.  But...the only way any one of us is ever going to achieve real improvement where we are lacking is to attack the matter head-on.  Stand up.  Practice.  Practice.  Consistently.  Be secure enough to elicit feedback on how we can improve.  Incorporate that feed back.  And on and on.  Tenaciously.  Steadfastly.  Over time.....we will improve; by being tenacious and committed, we may even get to be very good. 

At our last Toastmasters Meeting a Speaker got up, right after me I might add which, relatively, really made him look like the greatest Public Speaker in the entire world, and read to the group a Famous Quote from Teddy Roosevelt that I had never heard. 

Man in the Arena

That Quote - now entitled "Man in the Arena" - was the perfect selection for Jason.  It was so relevant for me because I had just sat down red-faced having been reminded how lacking I am in Public Speaking.  Jason's delivery was perfect.  I was entranced.  The content and speech made by Teddy Roosevelt lifted me up!  Though I am lacking in an area of life in which I seek to improve; I was now in attendance at a Toastmaster's Meeting with a group of people I had just met.  I had gotten up and spoken in front of these people.  This took Courage.  Resolve.  Commitment.  I am on my way.

Teddy Roosevelt was, when he first uttered these words back in 1910, absolutely right on. 

Following is the "Man in the Arena" by Teddy Roosevelt.

Enjoy....and, If You have not yet done so and are standing on the sidelines of life, reluctant, hesitant, letting concerns about what others may or may not think hold you back....then I hope my Blog and Teddy's give you a slight nudge to get up and Jump Into The Arena!

My Goal is not to remind everyone how great Teddy Roosevelt was and how poetic he could be.  My Goal is to remind You and I that Life is Short; we only have one chance and opportunity to make the most of this life; so we had better refuse to sit comfortably on the Sidelines and rather by Fighting in the Arena.

Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena"

Man in the Arena

One of the top three most requested quotes is that regarding the "man in the arena" or "not the critic"

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Succeeding By Getting Mad

I'm Mad

Sometimes.....we just have to get mad.  Angry.  Fired up. 

For those of us who are facing the greatest challenges of our lives - in whatever form that great challenge may exist - we need to, somehow, someway, find a way to overcome the obstacles that stand between us and that which we desire; to focus only on the keys to success while not letting significant life distractions derail us; to muster up personal improvement in the areas that our greatest personal challenges lay. 

I'm Focused

Succeeding is not going to come easy.  In fact, is not going to come at all without our giving 110%. 

Achieving difficult Personal Goals may just never happen.  Starting to go after and pursue our Personal Dreams, Goals, and Desires is really easy.  Sticking to the task at hand though, once the going gets touch and the Obstacles arise, is not easy.  Being tenacious, steadfast, and absolutely never giving up until that Personal Goal is achieved is challenging, difficult, and exhausting. 

But The Prize Awaits.

Success is Possible.

Goals Can Be Achieved.

Obstacles Can Be Overcome And Destroyed With A Sledge-Hammer.

We can take our negative traits and characteristics and, over time, with a well-though-out game plan of attack, lessen their impact.  Even turn negatives into positives.  Turn life-long weaknesses
into strengths. 

Paying It Forward

I loved the Movie "Pay It Forward."  If you've never seen it - you have to see it. 

I think it should be required viewing for High-School Students.  The Philosophy espoused in the Movie is very much in need these days as we walk into the New Year of 2012. 

If you want to start to see good things happen in your life.....start to help others achieve good things in their lives.

We cannot be truly successful until we realize it is not just about us and our accumulation of personal success and material possessions. 

We have to, we should, we must, the world will be a much better place to live in if we all, take it upon ourselves to help other people.  Help other people in need.  Help other people who are sick.  Help other people who, as we are, are trying to achieve success and improve their lives in the face of great challenge and difficulty.

We cannot succeed alone.  They cannot succeed alone.

Generously Help Others......and Success Will Follow!

Let Passion Prevail

Great Passion is what we need.  Getting Mad Without Showing It.  Keep a Smile On Your Face while a fire burns within you that drives you forward and propels you closer to, and then unites you with, your Goals. 





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!"