Category: Success Attitude

Half of Success is Just Showing up!

I run Mastermind groups and several clients asked this question, “Why are people late or they don’t show up when they register for an event?”

A variation of that same question is, “Don’t they understand how much time, energy and money we invest?”

We can expend this question to include: Why won’t people return phone call, especially where a business relationship exists? I am not talking about a cold call.

I do not believe these are time management issues. I think they are behavioral issues: lack of focus, lack of clarity on what is important, maybe laziness.

Those questions are legitimate and in my opinion they reflect very badly on people who exhibit this behaviors.

When I have a sales call with a prospect I try to never be late. I believe it is a sign of disrespect when I am late. There are times when I am late. It may be a traffic accident, a call running longer than expected, etc. When I am in that situation, I call the person I am planning to meet and ask them if they want to continue with the meeting or reschedule.

I was on a radio interview promoting my latest book, Make a Difference: From Being Successful to Being Significant, and I was on the call exactly at 3 PM. She commented on my time management. I told her if I were not on time it would be the ultimate of disrespect to her and her schedule. She is busy. She has a radio program to run. She is dependent on the time slot the radio gives her. If I am late it puts her in the rough spot.

I was watching 60 Minutes and they were profiling Alabama football coach Nick Sabin.  One of his player was late for a team meeting and Sabin asked him why, “I could not get my earring out,” was his response. Sabin asked him this question, “Do you care more about your earring than this football team?”

Sabin was interrupted by someone who could not get his earrings out? Really. Shows you where his priorities are!

When you are late or do not show for a meeting or event, think of the message you are sending about who you are? Think of what the prospect thinks if you are late: are you dependable, can I trust you to do what you say you will do, will you blow me off again in the future, what will happen when I share with you my problems? They have a busy day and you are negatively impacting their schedule.

There are four rules all (sales) professional should implement daily:

1. Do what you say you will do.
2. Do it when you say it will be done.
3. Don’t be late.
4. Be a good listener.

As the old saying goes, “half of success is just showing up.”

Article Contributed by Dr. Joey Faucette

Disappointing results happen…to all of us.

It did to me recently. After hours and hours spent on a proposal, after being told, “It’s yours,” and after projecting it into our cash flow, the response came back, “We’re not going to do it.”

Hero to zero in 1.3 seconds.

Focusing on the positive and filtering out the negative is tougher sometimes than at others. How do you deal with it?

Here are 3 Positive Ways to Deal with Disappointing Results:

Take a Breath

Once you get the news, get up and do something different, preferably physical. If you just sit there, the stench grows worse. If you simply get in your car and drive away, the vehicle fills with funk really fast.

I get up from my desk and walk. My office is at home and our driveway is a quarter of a mile long, up a hill.

You can do the same around a parking lot. Or stop the car and meander through a park.

Take a breath. Give yourself at least a few moments to vent, purge, and exhaust the negative emotions assaulting you.

Take a Look Back

Next, take a look back. Glance in two directions with these questions:

1.     “When did I receive similar disappointing results and recover well?”

Remembering an experience like this one and looking at the reality of, “Hey! I’m still here and trying again” strengthens your courage and helps you gain heart to persevere.

I actually recalled some larger disappointments than this one. I recovered from that one and determined that I would this one, too.

2.     “What could I have done differently?”

There’s a lesson to be learned from every experience, positive and negative. You can control only yourself.

I decided to avoid projecting cash flow until I have the contract and a deposit. What lesson will you discern and Work Positive moving forward?

Take a Boost

Finally, take a boost. Put on a favorite, positively feel good song and dance around. Or, read an inspiring blog. Or, call an ideal client who loves you, just to say “Hey! How’s it going?” Or, write down three positive experiences you’ve had lately that you’re grateful for. Or, go get a coffee and pay for the person behind you.

A boost removes you mentally and emotionally from the address of disappointment to an entirely new zip code of positive belief.

Disappointing results last a season. Positive success endures for a lifetime so take a breath, a look back, and a boost to Work Positive in this negative world.

About the Author

Dr. Joey Faucette is the #1 Amazon best-selling author of Work Positive in a Negative World (Entrepreneur Press), Work Positive coach, & speaker who helps business professionals increase sales with greater productivity so they leave the office earlier to do what they love with those they love. Discover more at www.ListentoLife.org.

2013 has been a good year for me. I introduced many new products, created new relationships, and had a total knee replacement. I learned much and as I reflect back I want to share the top 10 learning’s I experienced. As you plan your goals, dreams and aspirations for next year, I thought I would share some lessons early in the hope you will think differently about personal growth, wealth and health going into 2014.

10. Life planning as well as business planning is essential. Create a life plan and get really focused on what is important, what makes you happy, and what provides peace of mind. Life is an experience to be lived and not a lesson to be learned.

9.   I like learning. It does not matter what it is. I realized it is important to me to bring value to every relationship and I give away too much. Not sure I want to change this too much.

8.   People who get both knees replaced (AT THE SAME TIME) impress me, I think. I know how much work it was to recover from one knee replacement, I could not image doing two at the same time!

7.   I now see the medical industry as a customer service organization. The positive service I experienced, at the hospital was extraordinary; from the nurses to the nutritionist to the physical therapist was incredible. Made the whole stay that much more pleasant and I believe my recovery time faster.

6.   I realized the value of good friends. Several stepped up to help out when I was in the hospital. I was amazed and impressed that people would be so open and sharing with their time, talent and money. What was really cool was I did not have to ask!

5.   One of our dogs died this year. The other became very depressed. It is very clear to me they need company and create deep relationships that benefit all.

4.   I love being greeted so warmly by my dog when I come home. I will take time and allow him to greet me when I walk in the door and I will greet them with the same level of love and enthusiasm (this was on the list last year.)

3.   Honesty, integrity and common sense make me tick. I love business and personal relationships with people where I know what makes them tick. I want to know what is important to you. I can always get better at communicating my intent and cultivating valuable relationships. Some people will love you and some won’t. Some feel it is ok to criticize because they can do it anonymously and no one will know. Relationships can be difficult. Always give them the benefit of the doubt and trust that when the time is right, things will be ok.

2.    Nothing is as valuable as your health. Having experienced a number of health challenges with a new knee make me aware of how I value mobility, sleep and activity. It is amazing how my attitude got better when the body feels better. Enough sleep is essential to great health and a positive attitude.

1.    Getting back to “my why.” For years I had a strong spiritual practice. I got away from it due to family obligations, business challenges and other reason. I changed and my spiritual practices did not change as I changed. I will implement practices that keep me grounded and focused on what is important. When the “why” is clear, life gets easy.

Bonus Lesson: The same challenge will keep showing up in your life until you learn the lesson life is presenting to you.  You would have thought that I would have learned that by now!

Another bonus lesson: Be Grateful. Share your gratitude.

Just as winter came in, our dog died. It was devastating.

She was my first dog, the sweet soul I’d longed for as a child and we had become firm friends. She had been there during some rough times and I had come to love our precious time together.

Our morning walks had become my morning prayer – a time for reflection, meditation, beautiful scenery and just 20 sacred moments of tranquility at the start of my day.

I vowed after she died, that I would continue these walks. Never miss a day.

What do you think happened? Well, it took me 8 months to get back to my morning prayer/walk; 8 months before we got a new dog and I returned to my blessed routine.

And I ask myself, what the hell took me so long? Why did I forget my vow? Why did I abandon the practice that meant so much to me? Why did I forget my needs?

Does this resonate for you too?

Is there something that you know you need in your life that you just don’t do?

Do you realize that not only is this starving your soul, you’re also feeding your fear and preventing profit in your business?

Yes, it’s that important.

And it’s all about the lies we tell ourselves.

Here are the biggest ones!

1. I don’t have enough time –

This is the classic excuse; no time for exercise, no time for a coffee with a friend, no time to listen to that inspiring lecture or beautiful piece of music.

Come on, you know that if (dare I say it…) your child got sick tomorrow you’d have all the time in the world to nurse them back to health.

You see, we free up time for what we prioritize, we just have to start prioritizing the stuff that makes a difference to us.

2. I’ll do it tomorrow

Yep, another classic! It’s procrastination which basically means not doing it at all.

Every time you say to yourself or others,” I’ll do it tomorrow”, you’re basically saying, “I’ll never do it.”

The great Tony Robbins once said (not a direct quote) ‘never leave the scene of a decision, without taking an action that affirms the decision’.

Wise words! If you’ve decided to do something, start NOW. At least make the initial effort, that way you really will get to complete it.

3. I’m committed to this

Really?

So here’s a challenge. Right now, sit down and write a list of all the things you are committed to. Write it in detail; job, business, family, relationships, communities, school, exercise, healthy eating…yes, everything.

Once you have the list written, take a good luck at it (usually these lists are really long!!) Then ask yourself a simple question, are you REALLY committed to all these things? Are your actions completely in line with your commitments? If not, edit the list and focus on what you are truly committed to.

Start telling yourself the truth about your commitments.

4. It doesn’t really matter

If I had a dollar for the amount of times I’ve heard myself and others say…well, it doesn’t really matter, when deep down I know that it matters a hell of a lot.

Don’t give up so easy.

Don’t compromise on what you really believe in and what you really want.

Next time you hear yourself saying, well, it doesn’t really matter, stop what you’re doing. Think about it. Does it matter? I suspect you’ll be surprised.

Stay true to you. Don’t compromise.

5. There’ll be time later

How do you know that? Life is surprising; things happen that we don’t anticipate.

Just when everything seems to be going smoothly life sends us a curve ball. I’m not being over dramatic here, but think about it, how often have you realized that you should have done it when you had the chance, because now everything has changed?

If you get the chance, just do it!

6. It’ll Just Take a Minute

That other thing, (the one that you don’t really want to do but feel you have to) it NEVER takes just a minute.

It’ll eat you alive, and take your whole day or at least the part that you need to do whatever it is that you WANT to do.

Prioritize your time for the stuff that’s important and aligned with your goals.

Do whatever it is that feeds you passion, your heart and your business. Don’t steal away your time with ‘it’ll just take a minute’.

7. What Difference Does it Make

The only difference it needs to make is to YOU.

When you’re on track and on purpose, you’ll make the difference to the world that you’re here to make, first you have to make a difference for yourself.

If it’s important to you, then the rest will take care of itself. Be true to YOU.

Listen, this is real human stuff. I mean, we all fall for it, a lot of the time. First step is awareness right? Then action.

So, read the list again, make some notes, take some action.

Right now I have my new dog (a total sweetheart by the way!) to remind me to take my morning walk/prayer. So I’m good on that one. But I need this reminder as much as you do. Every moment of every day; stay true to you. Okay?

What’s keeping you on track? Which of these lies are you telling? Share your story below.