Change 1 PERCEPTION And You Can Change It All!

All too often, we go through our day, deciding what we’ll experience before an event actually takes place. We are each ‘primed’ by our experiences. We take an past experience, and label it, and then hold that label in our mind as our ‘quick’ reminder of how we perceive the person or event.

For instance, when you look at your calendar and see who you will be meeting with, you’re inclined to label them and judge them based on past experience of your interaction with them, rather than wait to see if it’s repeated this time, or not.

Today, take a frank look at a meeting you have with other people you know ‘well.’ Ask yourself:

“What am I assuming about them and their behavior?”

Right down one assumption you have about each person you’ll be seeing. For instance, “Jerry – impatient” might be one of your notes.

Now, find a different word for the description of each person. You might relabel Jerry as “passionate” or “hoping I’ll see it his way.” Find a new label for each person and hold that label in mind as you start your meeting with them. Make a point to remind yourself of your new label everytime you ‘hear’ the old label creeping into your mind.

Let me know what you come up with in the comment box below.

June 30, 2008 | Filed Under Leadership | Leave a Comment 

What Change Are You Ready For In Business?

We each say we want to know more, be more skillful, insightful, successful. And yet, how often do we deliberately learn, reflect, and use our learning to become more talented, productive, effective?

When you think about the way you are ‘primed’ how does it affect you and your business?

OK, why another video? Because they’re fabulous!

I’ve just kicked off my own work with new clients and a new coach and my brain is a buzzing with idea – each of them a tool for you.

And I no sooner decided on my theme for the article than I had the joy and laughter of this presentation about simplicity. As you know, I’m passionate about leverage and here was my own opportunity to use the fun and insightfulness of Al Seckel AND to share it with you.

Don’t you just love having your perception teased?

The reason I’m so passionate about great conversation is that it’s a verbal approach to shifting perspectives in the same way Al’ Seckel’s presentation visually shifts you!

Take a look at this presentation …

Al Seckel: Your brain is badly wired — enjoy it!

For myself, this past year I took a fresh look at how ‘general’ I’ve been in speaking about my business and the results I create for my clients. I’ve given myself the challenge of shifting my own self-perceptions, and my thinking and language. I’m playing (truly, playing) with my ideas about identity, communication, branding, programs, services.

And even when I find myself a bit disoriented by the shifts, I’m having a great time. AND I’m taking that new energy into my work with my clients.

So enjoy the TED Conference, and ask yourself what one specific change you can see to make in your business. I’m inviting you to absorb a fabulous 20-minute video that can change your life.

I look forward to hearing what YOU are freshening up in your business!

June 29, 2008 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

Success Quote

“Everything should be as simple as it is, but no simpler.”
Albert Einstein

June 28, 2008 | Filed Under Quotes | Leave a Comment 

Change 1 FRUSTRAION And You Can Change It All!

When our clients get frustrated with technology they have few options. Like the rest of us, we may curse our email or voice mail or PDAs or computers, but we’re generally stuck with them.

That’s not the reality when it comes to ‘solution’ providers. Aggravate a prospective client and they won’t bother to return your calls when it’s time to sign the contract. Make it complicated for a client to work with you, and they’ll decide that next phase of work “isn’t that important right now.”

So take a frank look at the way you have complicated either your communications with your client or the work itself. Ask yourself:

“What activities am I using that could be simplified?”

Right them all down. Then prioritize them from “simplest to fix” to “most complicated to redesign”.

Once you’ve completed your list, create an action plan to solve the activity at the top of your list this very week. Your clients will love you for it!

Let me know the results you create!

June 27, 2008 | Filed Under Processes | Leave a Comment 

Do Your Clients Find You Easy To Use?

Are YOU ‘easy to use’?

We all face the simultaneous joys and aggravations of of technology in our lives, but did you ever think about technology as a metaphor for YOU?

Take a look at this presentation …

David Pogue: When it comes to tech, simplicity sells:

… It’s confession time!

I’ve been on the road so many days this past month, with so many different topics in mind for articles that I didn’t love any of them when it was time to send this week’s newsletter to you.

AND I got such wonderful feedback from many of you about last week’s video of Jill Bolton Taylor that I thought I’d share one that both made me laugh and reconsider my approach to parts of my business.

I could take apart this presentation about simplicity and tie it function by function and activity by activity to your business, but I’ll let you enjoy the TED Conference, and ask YOU to tell ME of one specific change you can see to make in your business.

For myself, this past year I simplified. I reduced my consulting and coaching options, increased my rates 50%, and sold 80% more work. Everyone of my clients has told me they love the simplicity of our work together and the results they are creating in their work and lives.

That’s absolutely fabulous for ‘both’ of us – and a High Payoff Idea Worth Spreading. After all it’s all about making it easy for our client and colleagues to love working with us, right?

So take a look at that video, and answer for yourself and your business: Have you made it simple or complicated for your clients, colleagues, vendors and employees to work with you… and how can you make it simpler, starting today? I bet that if you take on the role of ‘tap counter’ for business, you’ll find ways to simplify your business and ‘feel the love’ in no time!

June 26, 2008 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

Success Quote

“Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. It’s a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment.”
Thomas Carlyle

June 25, 2008 | Filed Under Quotes | Leave a Comment 

Change 1 COMMITMENT And You Can Change It All!

It’s not at all unusual to become stalled…. as an unconscious reaction to mis-aligned goals and projects.

If it’s been a while since you reviewed your Vision, and the action plans you’ve been following, you may have begun pursuing projects that feel like ‘shoulds’ rather than ones that have a direct, high payoff for achieving your Vision.

And if you’re keeping yourself over-worked and over-whelmed, you’re not building in time to notice that you’re putting energy into activities taking you further and further off-course.

So take a look at the most recent Vision and Objectives you set. And take a look at what you’ve got scheduled on your calendar. Ask yourself:

“What percentage of the activities I’m focusing on actually align with my Objectives?”

Make a 2-columned list – place the activities that are on track on the left and the ones that are off-track on the right.

Now create an action plan to wrap up the activities in the right-hand column in the next 10 business days. When you commit your attention fully to the actions that are aligned with your Vision, your results will be achieved much more rapidly than you ever anticipated!

Let me know the results you create!

June 24, 2008 | Filed Under Managing, Vision | Leave a Comment 

Use ALL Your Brain In Business

Have you given thought to how to use ‘all’ of your brain, your mind, your capabilities in designing and achieving your life?
Synchronicity is FABULOUS!

I spent this week coaching two executives on how to take control of their personal power in meetings in order to get greater participation from others. One element of our discussions was a technique that quiets the Left Hemisphere of the brain and all it’s chatter, and shifts thinking over to the Right Hemisphere.

TED Jill Bolte TaylorAnd there in my email was a link to a wonderful, profound, moving presentation by neuro-scientist Jill Bolte Taylor. Jill’s presented her personal experience and discoveries when she experienced a stroke – a stroke that forced her out of her left brain and into her right, involuntarily.

She’s recovered from it and used her acute skills as an observer to create a presentation about her experience at the TED Conference.

I’ve followed the TED (Technology, Entertainment & Design Conference) since the early 1990′s. And now that technology has enabled them to post the contents of this invitation-only $6,000 event on-line where you can view it for ***free***. Well… honestly I think everyone should watch one of their recordings every single week – but I’m biased… I believe in stirring up new perspectives and new possibilities on a regular basis!

Jill delivered her experience in a fashion that every viewer – that’s you and me – can apply to our lives. So watch it and let me know what it says to you about what you can create – in your business and your life – using the opportunities presented by both halves of your brain.

This video will transform how you thing about the possibilities and start you on the path of actually accessing the ‘rest; of what your mind is just waiting to offer you.

Tell me what you think of it.

June 23, 2008 | Filed Under Ideas, Inspiration | Leave a Comment 

Success Quote

“The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself.”

Douglas MacArthur

June 5, 2008 | Filed Under Quotes | 2 Comments 

Change 1 FONT …

… And You Can Change It All!

Are you squinting to see the fine print? Guess, what – your clients and colleagues may be as well.

If you’re using PowerPoint to get information across and the page is crammed with tiny text, your audience is ‘trying to see’ and distracted from the information itself.

And if they’re distracted, trying to see the words you’ve put in front of them at the same time as you’re speaking… Well perhaps 10% of the information you want them to get is actually making it through.

So take a look at the presentation you’ve been using and ask yourself:

“Is the font size I’m using at least ½ the age of the oldest person I’m showing it to?”

That means if you’re presenting to a 40-year old, the font should be 20-point and so on.

It also means you need to take the words off the page, show only the key points and say the rest.

Rather than giving your colleagues and clients vision checks, be IN conversation with them!

June 3, 2008 | Filed Under Catalyst Action Tip | Leave a Comment 

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