So, How Are Those Resolutions Coming Along? January 27, 2011
Posted by Anthony E. Baldwin in Mentoring, Personal Growth, Purpose, Small-Medium Business Development.Tags: Coaching, Mentoriing, Personal Growth
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Here it is, almost the end of January 2011. I am cheering you on as you work on achieving your most important goals for the year. But after the first month are you still on track or have some of your goals already fallen by the wayside? We all know we need continuing motivation to stick with our goals. But with our busy lives we may not always take the steps we know will bring us success.
It’s easy to start the new year full of enthusiasm and optimism. But to maintain your momentum through the year, there are time-proven steps you must take to see them through fruition.
Are your goals powerful and crystal-clear? Did you spend some serious “self-time” thinking about exactly what you really want out of this life?
Who do you want to be?
What do you want to experience?
What do you want to accomplish?
Are your business and personal goals in alignment?
A big obstacle for many people in achieving their goals is a lack of specificity. Wanting a “new” car is very different from wanting a 2011, silver, Mercedes S class. I’m reminded of the story of the car dealer who wished to be the owner of a foreign car dealership. He woke up in China owning a Ford dealership. He immediately commented that what he meant was to be the owner of a successful Ferrari dealership in Los Angeles. Be careful what you wish for… better yet be mindful of the goals you set.
The other side of the coin is recognizing exactly what you want, for example the Ferrari dealership in LA, but when you can’t immediately see how it will be possible you dismiss your desires as foolish and unattainable. Don’t sabotage yourself this way! You wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) let anyone else stomp out your dreams. Please don’t do it to yourself.
Your brain is your biggest supporter. Paint a clear picture of what you want – and if you REALLY want it you will figure out how to get it; especially if you are willing to share your dreams with others. You might be surprised just how much support is out there for you and who you know that may be able to help you reach your goals. You have to ask yourself what you are willing to do to reach your goals.
Try and establish goals that will give you a balanced life. Consider all the important areas of your life such as financial, career/business, leisure time, health/appearance, relationship and my favorite – personal growth to name a few. Don’t limit yourself but don’t overload yourself with unrealistic or unachievable goals either.
I’ve said it before and I cannot say it enough – write them down! Remember to make them SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time Bound. Review them every day. Keep them in forefront of your mind. Let’s face it, where you focus your thoughts your energy and actions are sure to follow. Remember to focus on what you want – not what you don’t want. There are numerous exercises you can complete in just a few short minutes every day to help keep you focused and on target and ultimately successful in reaching your goals and living the life you truly want.
One of my coach’s favorite questions is, “What is one thing you could do today to move toward the achievement of this goal?” If you don’t have a coach – ask yourself. Then write down your answers and take those actions. And you might want to spend a few minutes considering if you have the right people; friends, co-workers, mentors/advisors in your life to help you clarify, develop and implement your plan and keep you motivated and on task through completion.
Here’s to your continued success and best year ever!
Your Most Important Gift December 17, 2010
Posted by Anthony E. Baldwin in Leadership Development, Mentoring, Personal Growth, Small-Medium Business Development.Tags: Coaching, Leadership Development, Mentoriing, Personal Growth
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By now you’ve made your list and checked it at least twice. And most likely have most of your shopping completed unless you are like me and haven’t started yet! But that’s pretty standard for me. There’s nothing like the mad holiday dash to get ready for Christmas day!
There’s really no other day like it throughout the year. Spending time with family and friends, Christmas parties, holiday treats we only see around this time – the infamous fruit cake for example. Speaking of which, I just received my home-made fudge from Aunt Carm. I don’t even have to open the package to know what waits inside. Of course I did, and it’s delicious as always. There are only two steps left in this holiday tradition, calling to say thanks and then calling my other brothers so we can all swear our tin was bigger than theirs and insisting we are the favorite.
I love Christmas. Most of all I love when someone opens my present and I can tell it’s exactly what they wanted. I’m sure we all spend considerable time picking out the perfect gift that says, “I know you, I care about you and I wanted to show it today.” Sure, I love opening mine as well, but the real joy is in giving. So let’s talk about your most important gift. Did you remember to give yourself something?
What are you giving yourself for Christmas this year that will allow you to be Santa all year long for your family and friends? Perhaps it’s hiring additional team members so you can spend more time with your family and not miss out on all those important events that seem to pass you by so quickly. How about forming or joining a CEO or power group to help you take your business to that next level of success? You could update your business plan, set challenging revenue and profit goals. Take a much needed business class in sales & marketing, leadership, management, or interpersonal skills. Get a business coach or mentor to help you fill in the gaps to add to your current success. There are numerous ways you can continue your personal growth to help make your business support the lifestyle you really want to have.
So be sure when you have checked off your list this year and finally have all your gifts ready to give that you haven’t forgotten the most important gift of all. Give yourself the one thing that will help you be more successful than ever so you can continue to put smiles on the faces of those you love all year round – including your own.
All of us at Total Synergy Solutions wish our clients, readers, partners and friends the most joyous and special holiday cheer and an abundant, success-filled New Year!
The Season of Appreciation November 24, 2010
Posted by Anthony E. Baldwin in Human Capital, Leadership Development, Mentoring.Tags: Coaching, Employee Retention, Human Capital, Talent Management
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Thanksgiving Day is once again upon us. The busiest travel day of the year brings family and friends together to recount the many blessings we have enjoyed, appreciated and, perhaps overlooked, for the past 364 days. Most of us enjoy the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings followed by the obligatory unbuttoning of the pants and an afternoon of football or family movies in front of the TV. One of the many traditions practiced this day is individuals taking a moment or two to share what they are most thankful for before carving and devouring their turkey.
No matter where we are in our respective lives we can all find something for which to be grateful. Personally, my list is too long to print here but I would like to acknowledge the great relationships I have that make every other thing in my life possible, and much more special. I am certain we would all have an equally long list if we took a moment to first check our perspective.
And perhaps it would be beneficial to all of us, in both our personal and professional lives, to do it more often than once year. When was the last time you brought your team together to acknowledge their achievements, great and small? Were there occasions throughout the year when a manager or coworker has mentored or offered assistance that went unacknowledged? How much of your daily interaction has become expected or common place to the point where it appears to be unnoticed or unappreciated?
In a business setting having a team that feels unappreciated is the leading cause for dissatisfaction which opens the door to myriad of unnecessary problems. I suppose you could say they should be thankful to have a job and receive a regular paycheck. And, in part, I agree that we should all be thankful for our jobs. We are all aware of the growing numbers in unemployment. But if they weren’t there what would your business look like? More importantly, what affects might you see in your bottom line if your team was fully engaged; putting all their efforts into their work and not dividing their time between job searches, computer games, water- cooler- complaining and all the other distractions that come from the feeling of being unappreciated?
How loyal are your customers? Do you and your team take the time to let them know you are thankful for their business? Do you provide the highest quality products and levels of customer service? I would suspect if your team isn’t feeling exceptionally appreciated they are passing that along to your customers, in both product and service delivery. And your customers will eventually start passing by your door to find a better place to spend their money; a business that makes them feel appreciated.
The list goes on and on. A successful business depends on successful relationships with your organization’s team members, your customers, suppliers, vendors, strategic partners, creditors, neighboring businesses, and so forth. When one area begins to fail it can be a short ride to the domino effect of an equally long list of dissatisfaction. A simple remedy that is proven, reliable and requires a very small investment is to acknowledge and appreciate these most important relationships. Let’s all make an effort to do this on a regular basis, far more regular than the fourth Thursday of November each year.
Total Synergy Solutions wishes you all a very Happy Thanksgiving Holiday. We appreciate your business, your continued support and your interest in our company. We are most thankful for the opportunity to help you achieve all of your business goals and remain committed to providing you with the highest quality of professional, affordable finite solutions for your infinite business opportunities!
There’s No Place Like Homer September 30, 2010
Posted by Anthony E. Baldwin in Human Capital, Small-Medium Business Development, Workshops.Tags: Employee Retention, Human Capital, Seminar, Talent Management
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There’s No Place Like Homer
So it’s not the most original article title ever but it is accurate. Everywhere you look it’s like a giant screen saver picture. Sea otters to the left, Bald Eagles to the right, snowcapped, tree-lined mountains in almost any direction and, of course, the most genuine bunch of people you could expect to meet; at the ready to greet you and make sure you don’t need anything. And I don’t mean just the resort staff – everybody I met from Homer seemed to take an interest in the visitors to their community.
I was asked to speak at the Land’s End Resort 2nd Annual Marketing and Technology Conference this past week. Before we get into the conference details let me tell you a little about my hosts. I stayed at the Land’s End Resort for six days and never ran into an “employee”. I met and spoke with many people who loved what they were doing and went out of their way to provide each guest, certainly me, with an exceptional experience. I bring this up as it is a perfect example of a company that has a fully engaged staff. Each member is personally invested in the overall success of the organization and it shows in every aspect of their work. Kudos to the owners, Jon and Sara Faulkner, and their executive management group who foster the successful environment by simply engaging their team. I was pleasantly surprised to see they really “know” their teams’ strengths, weaknesses, areas of interest, and personal motivations. The resort is a shining example of investing in your most important asset, your people, to guarantee your overall success. As Human Capital -Talent Management is our focus I could not help being excited to experience the benefits of an organization that understands the importance first hand. A quick thank you to Mike Dye, CEO and Joshua Garvey, CFO for your personal attention during my visit.
Now let’s talk about the conference. It was obvious that the virtual world of internet marketing and the importance of social media were top of mind. Guest speakers’ topics included; managing your social media investment; what’s on the horizon in social media, mobile technology, website development and media event marketing, and a series of applications ranging from remote security to POS for effective and efficient business operations. I was pleased to be able to present information from our Don’t Hit Send program; Communication in today’s Virtual World. While there is no denying technology is moving business marketing and communication from largely face-to-face meetings to social media connections and electronic communication, the success of any business is still dependent on your ability to build and maintain strong, lasting relationships. The way successful organizations do business is changing quickly. You owe it to yourself and your team to maintain a competitive advantage in today’s market place. Learning about ever-evolving technology opportunities, especially your ability to deliver your message effectively and influence your prospects and customer base will be a key ingredient in your recipe for success.
The two-day event concluded with each participant committing to implement at least one new idea they learned from attending the conference. Each of the participants will meet back in Homer in approximately six months for an update/feedback meeting and share with each other the effects on their bottom line, as well as, discussing what they have done differently, why they chose that course of action and get feedback from the group on their implementation strategy. It is a great example of small to medium sized businesses joining forces and sharing knowledge and experiences to stay competitive and prosperous in any economy.
They will also be discussing next year’s conference as the organizers at Land’s End Resort have committed to strengthening their role as long-term partners in the economic growth of Alaska’s business community. They will be working throughout the year to ensure that next year’s conference is bigger and better than ever with topical speakers on the latest marketing and technology trends and business implementation strategies. I have no doubt this event will soon grow to attract national attention and participation. If you would like more information or would like to participate in the Land’s End Resort 3rd Annual Marketing & Technology Conference contact Mike Dye at leceo@alaska.net.
September 20, 2010
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What a treat having my coffee on my balcony with an American Bald Eagle!!
September 19, 2010
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Speaking at the Annual Marketing & Technology Conference in Homer, Alaska… but first some Halibut Fishing today!
September 15, 2010
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Sorry for the repeat but the original link was broken and I was asked to repost… http://ping.fm/OVnC9
What Have You Done for Your Business… Lately? August 24, 2010
Posted by Anthony E. Baldwin in Leadership Development, Mentoring, Small-Medium Business Development.Tags: Coaching, Leadership, Systems, Talent Management
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When was the last time you reviewed your business plan to see if you were actually on track for achieving the goals you set? In the past 30 days have you updated your marketing plan, reviewed your top 20% of customers, evaluated your spending, and/or had a team meeting? When was the last time you reviewed your products or services list and tracked where you are receiving the most success? Do you know, right now, what makes your company successful and where you could improve on processes, systems or personnel to affect your bottom line? Are you running / growing your business or are you relying on business as usual to get through each month?
While these may seem like the most basic questions to pose to today’s business owner you might be surprised at the answers you will get. Many businesses today are merely hoping for a better economy or more customers or better staff. By now we should all realize “hoping for” and “working for” are two very different activities. Others are simply relying on their past successes to carry on indefinitely. There are some very simple steps every business owner can take today with no investment but that of their time to start affecting the course of their business. The simplest activity is to regularly track the key areas of your business. You cannot manage what you do not measure.
The only way to know if your monthly advertising budget is effective is to actively track the results you are getting. When a new customer visits your company does anyone ask them where they heard of you? You might be surprised to learn you have an excellent word-of-mouth referral business from your existing customer base and the money spent on advertising could be put to better use.
Did your new customers increase or decrease this past month? Can you account for why? Is your staff engaged in the success of your business or are they biding their time or worse yet, updating and posting their resumes?
Every day there are a number of key performance indicators (KPI’s) you should be tracking to make regular course corrections on the direction of your business. Which of these have you reviewed…Lately?
August 13, 2010
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Check out http://ping.fm/4UnMs
August 10, 2010
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“Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.”
— Napoleon Hill: Author, Think and Grow Rich.
