Posts Tagged ‘relationships’

Platinum Rule
Monday, October 17th, 2011

A long time ago, someone told about the Platinum Rule – “Do unto others as they want done unto them…”

In other words, before you try and impress a client, prospect or industry find out what they want.

Makes sense doesn’t it?

Then why is almost no one living by this rule?  How come every time someone attempts to sell me something they start off by handing over a brochure?

While I’m sure there are a ton of reasons, I think that we have all become experts at talking and completely forgotten how to listen.

We are so consumed with pushing information (email, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) that we neglect to ask ourselves the following question – “Does anyone care about what I am saying?”

What if you became the one person who listened first?

What if you put the interests of others before your own?

Why not give it a shot?

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Posted in Blog, Business, Habits, Life, Sales, Uncategorized |

Do you Click?
Monday, September 19th, 2011

Have you ever wondered why it’s so easy to connect with some people and impossible with others?

The Brafman brothers (Rom and Ori) addressed the topic in great new book called “Click”.

This book points out that our ability to make a meaningful connection or “click” with another person can lead to success on many levels.

For example, in a sales situation an emotional connection to a prospect is critical to closing the deal.  In other words, people buy from people they like.

The book also provides a handful of simple strategies (backed up by compelling research and data) for helping you “click” with others.  These strategies are intuitive and easy to implement/  In fact, within hours after completing the book I used one of these tactics with an audience and felt the energy in the room completely shift.  I “clicked” with the group and was successful in getting them to connect to my message.

As technology changes the way we communicate, it’s going to be more important than ever to build deeper relationships with the important people in our lives. Click will help you learn how to build these relationships.

So, the next time you lose a deal or struggle to motivate an employee, I would recommend that you consider how “clicking” could have changed the outcome.

CJ McClanahan

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Posted in Blog, Business, Habits, Life, Sales, Uncategorized |

What are you becoming?
Monday, August 1st, 2011
“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to
give something back by becoming more” – Tony Robbins

For some reason, this past week I have had the “What’s the purpose of life?” discussion with many of my clients.

The answer is… I’m not sure.

However, I do know one thing.  We can’t stay the same.  You’re either getting better or getting worse at everything in your life.  Your relationships, your job and your health.

What are you becoming?

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.

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Posted in Blog, Business, Habits, Life, Sales, Uncategorized |

Is the glass half full or empty?
Monday, May 16th, 2011
“Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can.” – Willis R. Whitney


There are 2 types of people in this world – those that see problems and those that see opportunities.

Guess which person makes more money, has better relationships and makes the most progress towards their goals?

Which one are you?

CJ

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.

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Posted in Blog, Business, Habits, Life, Sales, Uncategorized |

Blind Spot
Monday, April 25th, 2011

Have you ever changed lanes in traffic and been startled by a loud horn from someone that you just cutoff?

Unless you ride the bus to work, this has probably happened to you on multiple occasions.

The problem we all have as drivers is that there is a small area that you can’t see in your rear view mirror called your “blind spot”.

What most people don’t realize is that they also have blind spots in their personal and professional lives.

These are areas where we have (and often have had for a long time) deficiencies we don’t realize.

For example, in my first few years in business I would attend many networking events.  Rarely did I meet anyone interesting and often left the event wondering why I had wasted my time.

One evening a good friend and client of mine (Larry) walked up to me and said, “Why don’t you just go home?”  When I asked why he suggested I leave, Larry told me that, “Everyone can tell you don’t want to be here.  You stand in a corner with this awful look on your face like you are better than everyone else.  Do you think people want to talk to someone like that?”

Initially, my feelings were hurt.  However, now I was aware that the reason I wasn’t getting good results from networking was because I was a jerk.

I changed my behavior and built my business attending these events.

Where’s your blind spot?

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.

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Perception vs. Reality
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

I recently completed a book called Sway by Ori and Rom Brafman.

It reinforces the concept that perception is almost always for more important than reality.

We often tell ourselves that we shouldn’t “judge a book by its cover” but unfortunately most people do.  And with the onslaught of information coming at us each day, this is the new reality.

As a result, it is absolutely critical that you consider the impression you leave on others at all times.

If you’re not sure where to start ask yourself the following questions?

1.    What does my physical appearance say about me?
2.    What does my facial expression say about me?
3.    What does my voice mail greeting say about me?
4.    What does my car say about me?
5.    What does my tone of voice say about me?
6.    What does my email signature say about me?
7.    What does my website (think initial impression) say about me?
8.    What does my contract say about me?

Now more than ever we need to realize that it’s extremely difficult to overcome a first impression.

By the way… If you find yourself thinking, “I don’t want to do business with people that are going to allow my appearance, car, tone of voice, etc. affect their opinion of me?” get ready to cut your pool of prospects by 90%.

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.

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Posted in Blog, Business, Habits, Life, Sales, Uncategorized |

Inspire Others with Your Presence
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Jenny just bought a ridiculously awesome brand-new Ford Taurus SHO.  The car has heated seats, air conditioned seats, full navigation, DVD player, retractable rear sun shade, 21-speaker surround sound, blue tooth telephone capability, automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers, blind-spot indicators, and a host of other sweet options.  Oh, and by the way, the seats massage your legs and back while you drive!!!

She let me drive this beast for the first time two weeks ago, and I had so much trouble paying attention!  I mean, every other second some automated system was starting up, a light was flashing, or a sound came on alerting you to something.  It was so distracting that I had trouble driving!  Who knew a seat massager could cause an accident!

I especially had trouble paying attention to Jenny.  While every one of the “loaded” options was doing its thing, Jenny was also trying to carry on a conversation with me, and for the life of me, I barely heard what she was saying.

That’s when I remembered that I had to get present.  I couldn’t just live in the distractions that were around in the car, or survive only with the thoughts in my head.  I had to get present with every word that was coming out of Jenny’s mouth in order to inspire and connect with her.

Life can be one big distraction.  You have so many conflicting priorities and “shoulds” that you want to get done.  Life can be so distracting that we forget to be present with the people who run our businesses, with the strangers we meet, and with the families who love us so dearly.

Be present.  Feel everything your body is touching.  Listen to every sound in your environment.  Connect with your energy and focus your attention on the human beings who are around you.

If you truly want to be an inspiration to your environment, and connect with other people, be present.

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.

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Posted in Blog, Business, Habits, Life |

“Be Love” to Captivate People
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

We buried my Great-Grand Aunt Mae Mae last Thursday, and at the funeral of this 91 year old woman I saw something amazing…  The church was completely packed!

I don’t know if you have ever been to a funeral for someone over 90 years old, but there typically aren’t that many people there.  Most of that person’s friends and extended family members have passed away, and all who are left are close family members and a few scattered community members.

This wasn’t the case for Aunt Mae Mae.  Every single seat was taken, the balcony was full, and there were over 15 personal tributes spoken for my Aunt’s life.  Most of those tributes mentioned something of her ability to love wholly, unconditionally, and without respect of person.  She had over 60 kids, grandkids, great grand kids, and great-great grand kids, and a handful of others who considered her their “adopted” mother.  Not only were those family members at the funeral, but also the friends of those family members who may have not even met my Aunt.  People who didn’t even know Aunt Mae Mae were recipients of her love through those that surrounded her.

That is a powerful love; a love that is so deep and stretches so wide that it impacts an entire community for generations.

Aunt Mae Mae did not just love.  Nor was she just a caring soul.  Aunt Mae Mae was love.  Love permeated and drove every decision and interaction she had with people.

I learned the power of being love last Thursday.  Love is what draws people, influences them, and holds them close to you for a life time.  Be love and emote that energy to your family, to your employees, and to every stranger you meet.  You will see a magnificent difference in how your life’s dreams manifest themselves.

Be love.

Thank you for the lesson, Aunt Mae Mae.  I love and miss you.

Jamar Cobb-Dennard

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Posted in Blog, Business, Habits, Life, Uncategorized |

Relationships
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Recently, I asked a group of business owners to write down the name of the most important business relationship that they had developed in the past 5 years.

After a few minutes I asked the group to provide me with a few names.

Initially, I thought that after meeting hundreds of people this group would have a difficult time narrowing their list down to a few names.

I was wrong.

Nearly everyone in the room struggled to put down one name.

It’s a symptom of our professional lives.

We live under the misconception that our goal should be to meet as many people as possible instead of developing a handful of meaningful relationships.

As a result, we walk into a crowded room and share a quick “hello” with many people, but struggle to have an important conversation with anyone.

Take a minute and jot down the names of a handful of professional relationships that you value.  If you have a team of people you lead – a few of them should be on this list.

Next, take that list and schedule a lunch with each of these individuals.

When it comes to relationships – go deep – not just wide.

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Posted in Business, Life, Sales |

“CJ consistently impresses me with his energy and knowledge.”

- Nicole Bickett, Organize to Optimize, LLC

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