| “Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, and remove yourself from the unacceptable.” – Dennis Waitley
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Posts Tagged ‘accountability’
Facing life’s challenges…how will you respond?
Monday, November 7th, 2011Wish your life were easier?
Monday, October 31st, 2011| “Never wish that life were easier, wish that you were better.” – Jim Rohn
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Setting Goals & Completing Them
Monday, October 10th, 2011| “The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment.” - Earl Nightingdale
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Problems vs. Solutions
Wednesday, July 6th, 2011Last night at dinner, I placed a bunch of broccoli on my daughter’s plate. Her immediate response, was the same as always – “That’s too much, I could never eat all that broccoli!”
I countered with my classic – “I have a lot of faith in you Corinne, you can do anything you chose.”
I’m OK with my daughter seeing a plate full of broccoli and seeing a problem with no possible solution – she’s 4 years old. However, at some point ( I think I’ll wait until her 5th birthday) I want her to change the way she thinks and recognize that she is responsible for finding a solution to life’s challenges.
Unfortunately, most people still approach problems like my 4 year old. They see every difficulty as an insurmountable challenge and instead of looking for the solution they spend all of the energy putting together a list of excuses why they won’t be successful.
The simple truth is that there are two types of people in this world – those that find problems and those that find solutions.
Guess which one makes more money and has more success?
Which one are you?
CJ McClanahan is the Founder of reachmore, which teaches small business owners how to build a business that runs without them. For more resources on business leadership, please visit reachmore’s seminars
Are you neglecting to execute?
Monday, June 6th, 2011| “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” – Juhann Wolfgang Von Goethe
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Hoosier Hospitality Kills Networking ROI
Monday, January 31st, 2011
When was the last time you told someone who didn’t fit your networking target market “no” to doing a one-on-one?
When was the last time you told a referral partner, “We haven’t been meeting the expectations we set out for each other. What can we do to fix this?”
Not ever.
To make any business relationship work, you have to hold everyone involved accountable.
“Hoosier hospitality” is holding many back from giving their business partners the authentic feedback that could create a breakthrough in the number and quality of referrals that you receive every month.
If you want to win at the networking game, set specific expectations with your referral partners, and then hold each other accountable. Every single time.
You won’t hurt anyone by telling them something they already know.
Jamar Cobb-Dennard is the Vice-President of Business Development for reachmore, which teaches small business owners how to build a business that runs without them. For more resources on business leadership, please visit reachmore’s seminars.
Values
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010A few weeks back I was on a plane heading to Vancouver. I was filling out the customs forms as we landed and came to the box that said “Are you bringing any commercial goods with you to sell?”.
Up until this point in my business the answer had always been “no”. However, on this trip I had 1 box of my books that I thought I might try and sell at a speaking engagement.
Before I checked yes, I thought to myself, “This isn’t really that many books. Do I really want to check ‘yes’ and slow down the entire process? What if they want to check my luggage and ask me a bunch of questions. I will just check ‘no’ and avoid the hassle.”
But, then I remembered that one of my core values is “honesty” and I reluctantly clicked the box that said “yes”. This decision did slow me down and resulted in checked luggage and a bunch of questions from the customs agent.
Values are the building blocks upon which you build your life. If you don’t have them or only adhere to them when it is convenient then you will struggle to find a sense of peace and contentment in your daily life.
There is a great quote (I can’t remember who said it) that says, “If you stand for nothing you will fall for anything.”
How about you? What do you stand for?
CJ McClanahan is the Founder of reachmore, which provides leadership coaching for small business and executives. Email CJ at cjm@goreachmore.com for the latest on reachmore’s revolutionary executive coaching program, Summit.
Click here to learn more about CJ’s new book – Thrive.
Langham’s Life Lessons
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010This year, I was accepted into the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series. This program is designed to educate our community leaders on how to have a greater long-term impact on the future of Indianapolis.
As a result of my involvement in this exclusive program, I gain access to some of our city’s great business and civic leaders. One of those leaders is Cathy Langham, President of Langham Logistics, a member of multiple for-profit boards, and a key member of the committee that petitioned the NFL to bring the Super Bowl to Indianapolis.
Cathy sent me a letter a couple of months ago, that included 14 choices that can help me move toward the life I want. I was so honored to receive these from an uber-successful business and civic leader, that I thought I would share them with my reading audience:
1. Get your inner game tuned up – become an expert in your industry.
2. Get out of your own head, and help somebody!
3. Get connected in the community and give back
4. Step up accountability
5. Have fun!!
6. Slow down to speed up.
7. Call 5 people per day and let them know you appreciate them
8. Surround yourself with people that give you energy, and don’t spend time with the folks who don’t!
9. If you want something and don’t know how to get there (relationship, money, business, etc) model someone who is already there.
10. Find a mentor (but don’t tell them they are one!)
11. Quit swearing (her 10 year olds suggestion)
12. What is the one goal that makes your palms sweat? Do 3 things to work toward it every day.
13. Do something extraordinary for someone each day.
14. Choose language that inspires and empowers you.
The final note from Cathy read, “Believe that you are worthy of the space you occupy on the planet. You demonstrate this by insisting that every last one of your choices – from the food you put in your mouth, to the commitments that you put on your calendar – moves you toward the life you want.”
Jamar Cobb-Dennard is the Vice-President of Business Development for reachmore, which teaches small business owners how to build a business that runs without them. For more resources on business leadership, please visit http://blog.goreachmore.com.
Authentic Accountability Grows Business
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010During our 7 Tips Seminars, we ask the participants why they decided to get into business for themselves. Most of them respond that they wanted freedom and they were more talented than their leaders.
As a result of their desire for freedom and autonomy, we have a group of entitled know-it-all small business owners who don’t want to be managed. If you’re offended right now it’s okay. You are one of them, and so am I.
To keep small business owners on the right track, we still need leadership in order to “right” the performance of business in the marketplace. If every business owner was just doing their own thing with no system of checks-and-balances, small business would no longer be the spine of a healthy economy.
Some of the systems of check-and-balance are customer satisfaction scores and repeat buyers. Sometimes a check-and-balance will come from a mastermind group or a business coach.
What business owners really need to do is give each other authentic feedback about how they’re running their business.
A new referral partner of mine came to my referral team meeting last month. After the meeting, I asked him what he thought of the meeting. He said that it was run well, but he was disappointed that there weren’t more people there.
At first I was offended. How dare he come into my team, which is one of the best in the association, and tell me that we weren’t up to snuff! But, he was right. We were slipping, and it took an authentic outside perspective to shine a light on where we needed to grow.
Help the small business community get stronger by giving authentic feedback to your colleagues. Tell them where they’re falling short, and where they’re shining through.
They need it, and you need it too.
Jamar Cobb-Dennard is the Vice-President of Business Development for reachmore, which teaches small business owners how to build a business that runs without them. For more resources on business leadership, please visit http://blog.goreachmore.com.
The Rule
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010I have a “to do” list. It is related to my quarterly goals which are a subset of my 2012 objectives.
Like most, I get off track from time to time and wonder if I set the wrong goals.
Maybe.
However, when all is said and done, what is real reason that I set out to accomplish these daily to-do’s?
That is the question. In fact it may be the only question that matters.
Is my goal to have more checks on my “to-do” list than anyone else? Is it to make more money? Have more clients?
Something tells me that you probably face the same questions on a daily basis.
And if you answer is that you want more money, more clients and more stuff that is OK. As long as these things provide fulfillment to your question (What is the reason I do what I do?).
However, experience tells me that it is unlikely that the acquisition of more money, clients and things will lead to any satisfaction.
So, what will?
I am certain that it is different for everyone. Nevertheless, this week I would like to suggest that you try an experiment.
This week, let the following question guide your daily activity – “How can I make a positive contribution in the life of someone else?”
Give it a week, I promise you won’t regret the investment of putting the needs of others before your own.