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World renowned speaker, trainer and best selling author. Tim is the best selling author of over 70 books including several international best sellers, Soft Sell (the number one best selling sales book in the world today, now in 21 languages) Above Ground, A Story Of Life's Gifts To You and Life Is Short, Live Laugh And Love While You Can. Since 1981 his books have sold over 3 million copies in 23 countries. Tim ... [More]

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12 Things Every Sales Super Star Knows
[Business:Sales] There are only three ways to sell more. Do more right. Do less wrong or do both. Learn the keys to doing both and achieving sustained sales success.

25 Sales Fundamentals For Success
[Business:Sales] Want to know the 25 basic keys to sales success?

52 Weeks To Guaranteed Success And Happiness
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] The following 52 behaviors when mastered as a part of your personal and career development will guarantee increased success and happiness.

52 Weeks To Sales Success
[Business:Sales] The following 52 behaviors when mastered as a part of your personal and career development will guarantee increased sales. Each of the 52 topics are critical to your continued sales success.

A Few Questions And Answers From The Singapore Business Press
[Business:Sales] 1/ You have been involved in the art of sales and leadership for more than three decades. What has changed, and what has not? Selling is about relationships. Successful selling is about sustained relationships. In the past many salespeople as well as sales management were only concerned about the sale or the transaction without regard to the "lifetime value" of the client. Successful sales professionals, sales managers and leaders are finally coming around to the simple facts that;

A Few Things To Consider As You Begin The New Year
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] What consequences are you paying today as a result of past choices? If you could go back in time with what you know now, would you have made different choices? If so what would you have wanted the new outcome to be? It is interesting to note that people who are happy understand that they made the best choices they could at the time, with the information, experience and insight that was available to them. When asked, ‘if you could live your life over, what would you do differently?’ The response is almost always, ‘nothing’.

A Great way To Resolve Conflict
[Relationships:Conflict] One of the problems in relationships is the issue of communication, specifically, people interrupting others while they are talking. When you interrupt someone you are saying: you don’t matter, your ideas are not important, I am not listening to you, I don’t care about what you are saying etc. None of these contribute to open honest communication and relationships.

A Lack Of Accountability Is One Of Corporate America's Biggest Challenges
[Business:Ethics] If your organization lacks accountability I will guarantee that you have some morale challenges. Ignore these to your peril.

A Lack Of Commitment Is One Of The Major Causes Of Failure
[Self-Improvement:Success] People by the millions are bailing out of jobs, careers, businesses, relationships and life in general. Many of these people lack commitment to a cause, lifestyle, purpose, or outcome. When it gets a little tough, uncomfortable, or they don’t get the results they thought they would as quickly as they thought they should, their response is: "I'm outa here."

A Simple Success Question
[Self-Improvement:Success] Most people who fail to achieve their potential in life do so for a few simple reasons. They lack belief, passion or resolve. They don't improve themselves or they fail to take action.

A Time For Reflection
[Self-Improvement:Goal-Setting] Want to make better decisions and choices? Work from knowledge, experience and a specific plan and answer the following questions.

Above Ground, Life's Gifts To You
[Self-Improvement] Your life is filled with choices that lead you to your enlightenment or keep you stuck in the ambiguity of adversity, disillusionment, distress, and discouragement.

Adversity Can Make You Stronger Or Weaker - It's Up To You
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] To have a life without adversity is to live in fantasyland. Sooner or later, adversity strikes its victims when they least expect it or want it. Adversity takes many forms.

An Attitude Of Gratitude Will Ensure You Achieve Your Dreams
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] Have you ever noticed that some people seem to have more of some things or everything than others? More fun, stuff, friends, success, money, influence, achievements, wisdom, peace, harmony, freedom, just to mention a few.

Any Time Is A Good Time For Reflection
[Self-Improvement] Expecting different results from repeated behavior is a mild form of insanity.

Are Management Roles Changing Today?
[Business:Management] There are a number of conditions that are impacting the roles of managers today. A few of them are:

Are Salespeople Becoming Obsolete?
[Business:Sales] Will the continuous advances in technology replace the profession of selling in the foreseeable future?? I am not a fortune teller or a mystic, but I do believe that we will see dramatic changes in the roles salespeople play in their organizations and the economy in general. During the next several years and stretching into the next few decades there will be dramatic and all encompassing change in every industry, field and profession. No one will go untouched by the swath that will cut across every age group and discipline.

Are These Times the New Status Quo For the Future?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Everything I have read during the past few months written by people who understand what is really going on (not politicians) tells me that what we are experiencing in the world economy today is and will be the new status-quo. That business life as you have known it in the past, is history and that the rules have changed.

Are We Losing The Simple Courtesies In Life
[Self-Improvement:Success] Whatever happened to the simple thank you, please, I beg your pardon I'm sorry and numerous other simple common courtesies? Have we become so busy, self-absorbed, insensitive, self-centered and arrogant that we no longer have the time or interest in sharing these few, but simple, niceties? I don’t know about you but I believe there are fewer people with manors today than at any time in the past.

Are You A Creative Manager?
[Business:Management] Creativity is often ascribed only to those special people who seem to have the ability to create something from nothing. The artist who starts with a blank pallet. The composer who begins with an empty page. The poet who reaches deep for inspiring and thoughtful prose or the author who shares ideas and concepts with his or her readers. What about creative management?

Are You A Giver Or A Taker?
[Relationships] Givers in relationships are always looking for ways to help, support, give and be a benefit to their partners. They give because it is in their nature to be generous, kind, giving or supportive.

Are You A Learner Or A Dunce?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Years ago I can recall that a few teachers used to make some children who misbehaved stand in the corner. (Yes, some even made you wear a dunce hat. I won’t go into all of the possible negative ramifications of that now.)

Are You A Planner Or A Crisis Management Expert?
[Business:Management] One of the biggest shortcomings of many managers and business owners is the lack of ability, willingness or time required to plan. Planning involves a variety of issues, steps, agendas, requirements and time. In the long run, my experience tells me that managers who spend adequate quality time planning an activity, project, strategy, campaign or any business event will save money, time, energy and will contribute greatly to their bottom line, competitive position and overall reputation and success.

Are You a Routine or Periodic Procrastinator?
[Self-Improvement:Time-Management] Why do people procrastinate? Is it their fear of the unknown? Could it be acceptance of the status quo even though their current circumstances are less than desirable or do these people just have too much on their plate? For every procrastinated decision, action or behavior change there are any number of perceived legitimate reasons as well as excuses that people give themselves to justify their lack of action.

Are You A Thinker Or A Doer?
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Over the years I have asked myself the same question a number of times: Why can’t or don’t I do what I know I should do about - whatever? There are so many people who want different outcomes in their life but who seem to be unwilling or unable to take the necessary actions or steps to move forward. (I know, I have been one of those people on numerous occasions during the past 45 years.)

Are You A Victim Of Sales Cycles
[Business:Sales] Many products and services have different sales cycles – from the first prospect meeting to the close of the sale. Some cycles can be several months to a few years. Some can be just a few days.

Are You Allowed to Be Who You Are?
[Relationships] We all need to change something, right? Wrong.

Are You an Avoider Or Discusser?
[Relationships:Communication] Ok, so discusser isn't a word. I love making up words when I know that even though it isn't in the dictionary that most people know what I mean. So, what's an avoider?

Are You An Effective Communicator
[Business:Sales-Management] I don't care what else you accomplish this year. If you can effectively address these three issues, you will be amazed at how much more profitable and competitive you can be in the market place.

Are You An Optimist Or A Pessimist?
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] It is a proven fact that people with an optimistic life outlook accomplish more than negative people. You can't control everything that happens in your life but you can control your reactions and actions.

Are You An Order Taker Or A Sales Pro
[Business:Sales] What is the difference between a clerk (order taker) in sales and a professional salesperson? A definition I have used can be summarized as follows:

Are You Changing With The Times Or Are You Going To Be Left behind?
[Business:Sales] The profession of selling is changing and has been for a number of years. This change is being driven by...

Are You Correctly Reading Your Prospect's Signals?
[Business:Sales] One of the fundamental premises I teach in my two-day sales boot camp is that, “If two people want to do business together, they won’t let the details get in the way. If two people don’t want to do business together they will let any detail get in the way.”

Are You Creating A Favorable First Impression?
[Business:Sales] There is an old saying – "you never get a second chance to make a first impression". I don't really know whether it is true or not. Many old cliche
s have a way of hanging around for years and people seldom question them. Point is, first impressions do matter especially in business.

Are You Cultivating Your Acres of Diamonds?
[Business:Sales] One of the classics of self-help literature was written years ago by Russell Conwell shares a simple yet profound truth, that what you are searching for in life may be right in your back yard but to find it you have to stop looking everywhere else and focus on where you are. This parable has sold millions of copies worldwide and is still selling well after 60 years on the market. Why?

Are You Expressing Your Feelings or Stuffing Them?
[Womens-Interests] Generally speaking women live longer than men. One of the reasons is that they share their feelings more often. Men tend to stuff their feelings. This is a good practice to continue if you want an early grave.

Are You Giving Customer Focused Sales Presentations?
[Business:Sales-Management] In a recent sales survey, it was discovered that most salespeople cover 5-7 features during their presentation. When asked what the prospect remembered 24 hours later, they mentioned only one of the features. Guess which one? Not the first one, or the last one, but the one that related to their need, want, problem, desire or concern.

Are You Guilty of Projection?
[Relationships] There is a psychological principle called projection that is at the heart of most of the relationship trauma in most relationships. Exactly what is projection? Let me give you an example.

Are You Guilty of These Common Sales Mistakes?
[Business:Sales] Every day thousands of salespeople annoy their customers and prospects with a variety of actions, behaviors and decisions. Are you guilty of any of the following? If you are you might want to re-evaluate your selling behavior. Why lose sales or customers needlessly when all that might be necessary are just a few minor changes in your selling style or communication methods.

Are You Having Trouble Forgiving Someone?
[Self-Improvement] Why is it so hard for people to forgive. In every relationship each partner will from time to time behave in such a manner that their partner will have the opportunity to forgive them or hold on to the blame, resentment, anger or disappointment.

Are You Hiring the Best Candidates?
[Business:Human-Resources] Who are the best? Who among the thousands of available potential candidates would bring just what you need to your next open position to ensure that you don't make a rushed hiring decision, one that after a few weeks or months you will come to regret?

Are You Laughing Enough?
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] I recently read a study that said that the average child under the age of six laughs an average of 350 times a day and the average adult over the age of 30 laughs less than 12 times a day.

Are You Learning From The Past
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Each of us has a unique life history. We have learned different lessons, have had special circumstances, and have had some similar, as well as unique, experiences. This past – mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally – has contributed today to:

Are You Letting Your Worrying Kill You?
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] I recently came across an interesting statistic. Now generally, statistics can be very misleading, but they can give us some insight if we don’t get ourselves worked into a twit over them. Anyway, I read that 85 - 90% of the population worry about something on a consistent basis. People worry about:

Are You Living Or Just Existing?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Life for some is a daily adventure filled with gratitude, laughter, fun, achievement and embracing each moment to the fullest. Life for others can best be described as filled with fear, uncertainty, boredom or aimlessness. I've been in both places; looking forward to and anticipating with passion the next minute and wishing the day would come to an end so I could hide between the covers in sleep. What's the difference between these two very different groups of people? Oh, and of course you could spend your time somewhere in the middle of these two mental states.

Are You Looking At Your Relationship Through A Telescope Or Microscope?
[Relationships] When girl meets boy, and they begin a new relationship with each other, they tend to look at their partner through a telescope. They only see the qualities, traits, habits and behavior that they want to see. For whatever reason, they fail to observe early signals regarding those qualities and behaviors that they either don’t like or want to see.

Are You Looking In The Right Direction?
[Business:Sales] Are you looking in the right direction for the answers to your life's questions? Often we are tempted to look outside ourselves to our: spouse, company, church, friends, gurus and wizards for the answers to the burning questions about our life:

Are You Losing Control Of The Sales Process?
[Business:Sales] One of the common sales traps that many salespeople fall into is the loss of control of the sales process. Here are a few common examples.

Are You Managing By Example?
[Business:Management] In today's fast-paced and rapidly changing business climate, it is critical that organizations maintain flexibility, fast response time, customer focus and agility. The vital ingredient necessary to accomplish all of these is creative, imaginative, loyal, productive, motivated and well-trained employees.

Are You Managing Top-Down or Bottom-Up Or Both?
[Business:Management] There are only three ways to manage your organization, department or branch – Top-down, Bottom-up or a combination.

Are You Mastering the Basics?
[Business:Sales] Many things have changed over the years in the sales profession but one has not. That salespeople who routinely embrace the basics tend to outsell their counterparts again and again.

Are You Moving From Day To Day In Auto-Pilot
[Self-Improvement] Life is lived one moment at a time in the present. When we react unconsciously, we turn the power over the quality of our life to past experiences, other people's expectations, remarks or deeds, or whatever we feel is beyond our control.

Are You On The Right Path Into Your Future?
[Business:Sales] What can we do to ensure we are on the right path, we stay true to it regardless of the pressures form others or our environment and find satisfaction in the journey along the way?

Are You Paying Attention to Customer Buying Concerns?
[Business:Sales] Closing more business is not about asking for the business. It is about discovering where the prospect's concerns are highest and they feel they are out of control and then showing them how your products or services give them back the sense of control they need.

Are You Paying The Price Of Discipline Or Regret?
[Self-Improvement] In life, we either pay the price of discipline or the price of regret. We pay these prices in all areas of life: our careers, relationships, health, spiritual development, and financial affairs.

Are You Practicing On Your Best Prospects
[Business:Sales] How much time do you spend practicing and developing your skills? Do you practice a new technique on a prospect or on a fellow salesperson or your supervisor first? Do you not practice at all, but just show up?

Are You Ready for 2007?
[Business:Sales] 2007 is at hand. What are you going to do to ensure it is a more productive/successful/ enjoyable year than 2006? Here are a few assignments that will get you started:

Are You Ready For New Thinking?
[Business:Sales-Management] Are you ready for the relentless changes that are coming or are you stuck in your paradigms refusing to see that there may be another way to look at things? Let me give you 2 simple examples:

Are You Ready For Something New?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Life is filled with a variety of changes and uncertainties. Each of us lives through many such situations without preparation or awareness of their value.

Are You REALLY Happy In Your Relationship Or Have You Just Settled?
[Relationships] I recently read a study that indicated that 91% of all people in relationships were not happy. Now I can't tell you if this percentage is true, if it is an accurate portrayal of the average relationship or an exaggeration to get people’s attention. I don't know the details or particulars of the study as they were not given in very much depth. But the fact remains, that if 91% of the people surveyed felt this way, can we assume that many other people in general who were not surveyed are not happy as well? I don’t like to make assumptions but this number is really scary.

Are You Running Too Many Poor Or Non-Productive Meetings?
[Business:Sales-Management] One of the common complaints of many employees (including managers) is how many meetings are held that are a waste of time, energy and company resources. Most meetings generally take too long, cover too little, end without specific plans, objectives or outcomes and waste time, money and resources. I believe that “meeting” is an important business function. Meetings get people together to share information, ideas, problems, activities, solutions and feelings.

Are You Selling At The Right Level
[Business:Sales] Most salespeople who tend to do poorly are selling to the wrong person or at the wrong level. This approach wastes time, energy and resources.

Are You Selling By The Numbers Only?
[Business:Sales-Training] For years, sales managers and sales trainers have been saying that sales is a ‘numbers’ game. I can recall my first sales manager telling me over 35 years ago, “If you will see enough people, you will make enough sales.” First of all what’s enough sales? Second of all, how many is enough people? Thirdly, is this the best approach to take to prospect for new business? This is why I hate clichés and managers and sales trainers who quote them only because that is what they have heard for years.

Are You Sending the Wrong Signals?
[Business:Sales] You would be amazed at how many well meaning salespeople put their foot in their mouth wile selling and then never take it out. There are numerous ways that salespeople sabotage their success.

Are You Sharing the Wealth?
[Business:Management] Over the years, I have observed two distinct attitudes in regards to 'sharing the wealth' with employees. One attitude is that employees are paid to work, and when they do, they get to keep their job and get a check every week.

Are You Sorting Before You Sell?
[Business:Sales] Have you ever given a sales presentation to a poor prospect? Why?

Are You Spending Too Much Time Getting Ready To Sell?
[Business:Sales] Selling today is easier in many ways, but it is also more difficult in other ways. It is easier because of the internet, globalization, improved customer education and sophistication, better quality products and services, improved organizational management and increased selling skills training.

Are You Starting Over Again in a Career or Relationhsip?
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Endings are filled with confusion, grief, anger, frustration, uncertainty, fear, anxiety and pain. There are always more questions than answers. New beginnings are filled with hope, anticipation, energy, desire, adventure, excitement, joy and wonder. The unanswered questions that linger in your mind are unimportant. The future looks bright.

Are You Still A Believer In Those Old Sales Myths?
[Health-and-Fitness:Skin-Care] Over the years, a great number of sales trainers, as well as sales managers, have perpetuated a number of sales myths as if they were truths.

Are You Stuck in a Sales Rut?
[Business:Sales] Feel stuck in any area of your sales career? Read on.

Are You Stuck In One Of The Common Motivation Traps?
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Everyone is motivated. However they aren't always motivated by the things that we would like them to be motivated by. There have been countless studies and case histories done on the subject of motivation. Although there are many similarities as well as differences in their ultimate results there are several concepts that can be pulled from all the research regardless of its focus or purpose.

Are You Throwing Away Your Money When it Comes to Employee Development?
[Business:Management] Your employees are your most important asset and resource. What good does it do to have the latest technology if your employees are under a great deal of stress, de-motivated due to management approaches or economic factors? Believe me, you can have the latest and greatest toys, software, products and services, but if your employees lack the creativity, initiative, motivation, skills, attitudes and empowerment I'll guarantee that these resources will be under utilized.

Are You Using Money To Measure Your Success?
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] As I observe friends, neighbors, acquaintances and people in general I am coming to believe that many people are still measuring their success by what they get or have than by what they can let go of and share. I am not implying that stuff is bad, that accumulating money is not a worthy cause or that surrounding yourself with the trappings of success and wealth (if you have them) is harmful. Having said that let me tell you what I believe are the negative consequences of only measuring your success by the accumulation of stuff, wealth or positive lifestyle benefits.

Are You Using Positive Anchors?
[Relationships] What is an anchor? And I am not referring to the nautical term. It is grounding yourself with a memory either positive or negative that reminds you of how you felt, what you did or what you believed when the anchor is thought of, touched, or focused on. Let me give you a positive and negative illustration of how an anchor is used.

Are You Using Technology As A Crutch
[Business:Sales] Many salespeople are relying too heavily on technology today as a sales tool to...

Are You Willing to Re-invent Yourself Every Day?
[Self-Improvement] This is the age of rediscovery. Are you willing to re-invent yourself? Bookstores are filled with hundreds of books on how to rediscover your childhood, relationships, sense of balance, your mission or purpose in life and meaning in your career or business. Everywhere I look I see people who are working harder at trying to have fun and find a sense of meaning in their jobs and in their life in general.

Are Your Beliefs Getting In Your Way Or Helping You Succeed?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Your beliefs, many of them, were formed early in life. Most psychologists agree that by age eight or nine a person’s self-esteem, self-image and their life outlook are already in place. These have come from a child’s early surroundings whether from their caregivers, surroundings, teachers or life in general.

Are Your People Busy or Hiding Out?
[Business:Sales-Training] Over the years, I have observed many salespeople and their routines – daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. It is my belief that many salespeople waste a great deal of time. Some of the common time wasters are (there are many others, this is just a quick list):

Are Your Prejudices Getting In Your Way?
[Business:Sales-Training] Because holding on to prejudices and judgments can seriously undermine your effectiveness as a manager, your challenge is to let go of them. Prejudices can take many forms, but generally are the result of your expectations, personal philosophy, experiences, life outlook, and personal agendas.

Are Your Salespeople Confusing Your Prospects And Customers?
[Business:Sales-Training] Over the years, I have observed hundreds of salespeople, who represented a variety of organizations selling both services and tangible products, lose sales and customers because of their inability to articulate concepts, ideas and benefits professionally.

Are Your Salespeople Sabotaging Their Success?
[Business:Sales-Training] Many salespeople could be so much more successful than they are. All that is needed is a willingness to stop behaviors that hurt their success and replace them with actions and attitudes that will ensure success. What are some of the factors that limit salespeople’s success? See if you can see yourself in any of the following:

Are Your Words Consistent With Your Actions?
[Business:Sales] If you lack consistency, integrity or congruence in any area that involves the customer sooner or later you are going to sabotage the relationship. I urge you to take a serious look at how and what you consistently communicate and promise to your prospects and clients. How you routinely perform. And any other questions you can come up with that help you identify any inconsistency between who you are, what you say, how you say it and what you do.

Are Your Words Getting in the Way of Your Success and Happiness?
[Self-Improvement:Success] The critical issue in communication is clarity. If your intended meaning is different than my interpretation, I'll guarantee that sooner or later there will be a communication breakdown that can lead to a misunderstanding, assumption or even an argument.

As A Manager Are You Consistent In Your Treatment Of Your Employees?
[Business:Sales-Management] One of the key ingredients of good managers is the ability to maintain consistency in all of their roles and activities. Some of these include how they:

Assuming Anything In Sales Is To Invite Failure
[Business:Sales-Management] One of the biggest mistakes many salespeople make is to assume. To believe that something is true without any verification, validation or evidence. In the area of the spiritual this is accepted practice and can be a healthy way to go through your life. In your sales career it can be the kiss of death. Assumptions are lethal. They give you confidence without any proof. They can set you up for disappointment, failure and at the worst breakdowns in communication.

Aversity Is Normal
[Self-Improvement:Success] The key to success, happiness, peace and life balance is to accept the - issues, negatives, problems, situations, challenges, struggles (I don’t care what you call them) as a part of the life process of becoming, learning and growing. Failures, whiners or victims see problems as life picking on them. Winners in life, regardless of their position, status, age or circumstances see problems and adversity as a catalyst to becoming better, stronger, wiser, and more aware of the reality of their life.

Avoid the Fourth Quarter Blues Now
[Business:Management] Several years ago I worked extensively with a large client whose sales were in the billions of dollars. After only a couple of meetings with members of the senior management team while conducting my research to determine the course of my training program, it became apparent to me what their real problem was. Since then I have observed that they were not alone with this challenge. Over time I have come to call this situation the "Fourth Quarter Blues".

Avoiding Direction Drift
[Self-Improvement:Leadership] From boardrooms to lunchrooms across America the discussions are the same. In the lunchrooms the question is, "who are we and where are we going". In the boardrooms the question is, "where are we going and how do we get there".

Avoiding Life's Potholes
[Self-Improvement] Traveling on the path of life for many is a journey filled with struggle, pain, fear, failure and adversity. For other’s it is a journey of love, joy, laughter, happiness and success. The following potholes present each of us regardless of the path we are on with opportunities for growth. Why not review each one, and consider it’s application to your life, attitudes or philosophy to determine where you might want to modify your perceptions or opinions.

Avoiding The Year End Sales Push Is The Best Sales Strategy
[Business:Sales] Every year thousands of salespeople spend the end of the year in a frantic push to reach their quota and or satisfy the demands of management to hit a specific number. I am not suggesting that this is necessarily a bad approach to increasing sales, but there may be a less stressful and more successful way to approach this challenge that I would recommend you consider in future years, if it is too late for this year.

Bad Decisions That Turn Out Right
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Would you have ever guessed that a bad decision that you made and you knew it was wrong or bad when you made it, would have ever turned out so right?

Balance, Stress and Success
[Self-Improvement:Stress-Management] One of the issues facing many people today is the ability to maintain a sense of balance in their lives. My popular newsletter, Life Balance is designed to help people who are faced with the increasing inability to maintain balance in their lives.

Be Careful What You Ask For, You Might Just Get It
[Self-Improvement:Success] There is an old saying. I don’t remember where I first heard it but at least once a week I hear someone say it - 'be careful what you ask for, you might just get it.' What exactly does this saying mean and should we pay much attention to it?

Budgets, Forcasts and Sales Quotas
[Business:Management] Over the years, I have observed any number of approaches to getting employees to work more effectively, smarter and harder. You would be amazed at how naïve many managers are today when it comes to understanding human nature, motivation and emotional needs and drives.

Can You Bounce Back From Adversity Again And Again Or Are You Stuck?
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] Everyone at least once in their life experiences some form of a setback, adversity, failure or loss in at least one area of their life. Adversity can strike with or without notice. It can hit a relationship, a loved one, a career, your business, your health or your financial status.

Can You Compartmentalize Your Life And Career
[Business:Sales] An ongoing challenge for many salespeople is the ability to ‘compartmentalize’ areas of their life. Let me explain.

Can You Detach From Outcomes?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Each of us has done more and less that we thought we would have years ago. Each of us will do more and less than we want to in the future. That's life!

Can You Forgive Yourself And Others?
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Who do you need to forgive and why? Remember forgiveness is not about the other person or what they did or didn't do, it is about who you are and who you are becoming, how you are growing and relieving yourself of the negative residual health, emotional and relationships issues that can be caused by failing to forgive someone.

Can You Handle A Few Tough Questions
[Self-Improvement:Leadership] Every manager, business owner and manager needs to be able to answer the following questions if they want to ensure their on-going success and the success of their organizations.

Can You Handle Bad News?
[Business:Management] One of the common errors poor managers make today is to shoot the messenger who brings them bad news. These managers typically want nothing but good news. They often see the bearer of bad news as negative, not a team player or a troublemaker. Their attitude is often:

Can You Live Every Day As If it Was Your First and Not Your Last?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Years ago I read two sayings in a book that resonated with me, "Live every day as if it were your last." "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." But there is a twist here.

Can You Really Accept Others For Who They Are?
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] People who live happy lives accept the uniqueness of individuals. They are not on a mission to change them, correct them or invalidate them. Happy people understand that everyone is on their own path throughout life doing what they need to do in order for them to fulfill their destiny.

Can you Smile in the Midst of Trouble
[Self-Improvement:Success] Everyone has problems. No one is imune to adversity and discouragement. Can you handle it?

Can You Think Outside The Box Or Are You Stuck In Old Thinking?
[Business:Management] Today, more than at any time in history, I believe being a successful manager, executive, business owner or supervisor requires an active imagination, creative vision, problem solving and, to quote the popular phrase, thinking out of the box.

Change It, Accept It Or Leave - These Are Your Only Three Options
[Self-Improvement] As we move through life each of us is faced with a variety of situations, circumstances, challenges and relationships that test our patience, resolve, commitment and acceptance. In each of these situations we always have three options, choices and actions we can take. We can attempt to change the person or circumstance, we can accept it or them or we can leave.

Change, Can't Live With it And Can't Live Without it?
[Self-Improvement:Success] The major challenge confronting employees, executives and managers in the foreseeable future is the rapid accelerating pace of change and the uncertainties around the next bend in the road. Whether your world is the multi national corporate corporation or the family unit change will touch every aspect of your life in dramatic ways for the next several years and beyond, if current trends in technology continue. Change will be either your benefactor or your downfall.

Coaching Challenges
[Business:Sales-Training] You cannot manage your organization from behind your desk. It is critical for coaching success that you circulate among your employees so you can observe behavior in action.

Cold Calling Strategies
[Business:Sales-Teleselling] If you have read any of my sales books, you are more than likely aware that I am not an advocate for cold calling as a prospecting strategy. Having said this yes, there are times when it is necessary to make cold calls either in person or on the telephone. Before I delve into this topic let me say that the reason I have not been an advocate of cold calling strategies is simply that there are better and more effective ways to prospect for new business.

Common Communication Barriers
[Relationships:Communication] The keys to better communication in a relationship are recognizing the following differences, and the willingness to be flexible, accepting, understanding and non-judgmental of the other person's views, opinions or communication style.

Common Hiring Mistakes
[Business:Management] If you have ever made a hiring mistake, read on. One of the difficult challenges facing managers is finding good talent among the seemingly limited number of available manpower resources today.

Common Sales Do's And Don'ts
[Business:Sales] The following concise list represents 40 critical sales ideas for your consideration that can contribute to your consistent and long-term success.

Common Sales Myths
[Business:Sales] Over the years a great number of sales trainers as well as sales managers have perpetuated a number of sales myths as if they were truth

Conducting Effective Exit Interviews
[Business:Management] You would be amazed at how few organizations routinely conduct exit interviews with employees who leave or only do them with certain positions like; sales, management or directors. If the janitor leaves there is something you can learn. If a new employee leaves within a few months there is something you can learn.

Controlling Life's Outcomes
[Self-Improvement:Success] Sooner or later each of us has to deal with a life outcome that we didn’t anticipate, plan for or expect. Life is filled with surprises both negative and positive.

Conversational Corrections That Invalidate People
[Relationships] I have been observing couples and their conversations recently and I have made an interesting discovery, one I am sure that applies to you and your partner. If it doesn't your relationship is truly one in a million. I haven't given this tendency a name yet but hopefully by the end of this article I will have figured something out that is reflective and insightful.

Corporate Disconnect - Got It?
[Business:Management] Corporate disconnect is the major contributor to every one of your challenges, problems or negative issues that undermine your growth, profitability and effectiveness as an organization. I don't care whether your sales are less than one million or over fifty billion; you have 10 employees or 50,000. I don't care if you are a start-up or you have been in business for over 100 years. Let me repeat: Corporate disconnect is at the heart of every problem you face today, yesterday and in the future. Do I have your attention yet?

Corporate Disconnect Analysis Questionnaire
[Business:Management] Corporate Disconnect is the number one contributor to every management problem you have ever had, have now or will have. Why not complete the following questioons to see if you have a bad case of CD. What is CD? It is a lack of corporate wide congruence that negatively impacts sales, profits, effectiveness and consistent healthy growth.

Could You Use Some Organizational Improvement Ideas?
[Self-Improvement:Success] There are two ways to improve the outcome of these stressors in your life. One is to modify your life outlook and attitudes the other is through better personal management. I am not referring here to better time management. It is included in the general category of better personal management. Here are a few ideas for you to consider.

Creating Intimacy in Your Relationships
[Relationships] How do you know whether you have true intimacy with your partner? Let me first give you my definition of intimacy. Most people tend to connect intimacy only with sex.

Creatively Using Your Pain
[Self-Improvement:Success] Sooner or later, in life, each of us experiences some form of emotional pain due to: -the loss of a loved one
-the break-up of a relationship
-the change of a job, career or business
-and any number of other life experiences.

Customers Are Your Best Prospects
[Business:Sales] Many salespeople treat customers or clients as one-time sales opportunities. When they have this limited view, they fail to achieve additional sales opportunities with these customers. Not only is a client a client, but also they are always a prospect for something more.

Decisions And Consequences
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Every day, each of us makes hundreds of decisions. Many of these are made unconsciously: what to wear, how to drive, words to use in conversations, as well as many other seemingly little unimportant choices. Other decisions can have a significant impact on our: day, relationships, career, life and ultimate outcomes that will be created as a result of these choices. There are also all of the major choices we make that we consciously rationalize.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
[Self-Improvement:Attraction] The question remains - what criteria or benchmarks do each of us use as we make both the major and minor decisions in our life.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions - What to Do Next?
[Business:Management] Are you an effective decision-maker? Do you act quickly and decisively on issues that need your attention, or do you tend to put decisions off? Some decisions require careful evaluation of the conditions and circumstances surrounding them.

Defining Moments For You
[Self-Improvement:Success] Sooner or later each of us has a unique defining moment in our life where we suddenly see clearly what actions we should take, decisions we should make or behaviors that we need to eliminate or change. These moments can't be planned, anticipated or often even understood. But they do get our attention and help us to see some aspect of life more honestly. They can often be just a flash of insight or a continuing process that ends with explicit clarity.

Delegating For Results
[Business:Sales-Training] One of the biggest weaknesses of poor managers is their inability or unwillingness to delegate tasks, responsibilities or outcomes

Detachment Or Disengagement?
[Self-Improvement] We all have to learn life's lessons sooner or later. We can learn them the easy way or the hard way but life doesn't care. The lessons keep coming and coming. You can whine, complain, feel like a victim or you can get on with it. It’s your choice.

Determination Is Critical To Your Success
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] How are you doing these days? Things a little tough right now? Or are you reaping the results of your previous determination? Either way, keep the vigil. You can’t ever let up. Life won’t let you. The moment you do, you invite life’s scorn, wrath and another opportunity for failure, disappointment and pain.

Dire Straights! Chaos! Discouragement! Failure! Adversity! Hard Times! Had Enough?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Want to stay motivated and inspired in a challenging economy when everything around you seems to be falling apart? If your business and/or life are facing unprecedented challenges or obstacles regardless of your career position, business or economic status it might just be time for some good news and confidence building.

Disappointment In Life, Is Almost Always Due To Your Expectations
[Self-Improvement:Success] All disappointment in life is directly related to your expectations. When you want something, expect to have it, achieve it or experience it and it doesn’t become a reality, you feel let down, upset and/or disappointed.

Disorganization Is Costing You Sales
[Business:Sales] Clutter. Technology. Stuff. A full plate. Reports. Personal interests. Home life. Career. Relatives. Friends. Too little time. Too much to do. Meetings. The list goes on and on and on.

Divorce: Can It Be A Good Thing?
[Relationships:Divorce] Divorce, even in the best of circumstances, is a painful process. It represents an ending to what has become familiar and normal. I know the sting of divorce. I have seen its ugly head rear up in my mind and in my heart without remorse or concern for my emotional well being or happiness. I know the pain of loss and the resulting low self-esteem at being left behind. It is not a happy time in anyone's life. I would wish that you would never have to experience this in your life, but if you have, I can empathize with your grief and pain.

Do It Now
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] W. Clement Stone, one of the great success stories of this century had a number of wonderful philosophies. The one that has stood out the most in my life is his famous words: DO IT NOW.

DO IT NOW - Or Don't Bother To Do It At All
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] Your success in life is directly related to your attitudes and their control no matter what is going on around you - period.

Do Words We Use Really Matter
[Relationships] I was thinking the other day (No cracks from my friends please.) about the subtle differences between words that are commonly used, sometimes not used or mis-used. Let me give you an example. I'm sorry. This simple two word sentence can be interpreted so many ways and have so many different meanings for both the person who speaks them and the person who they are directed toward.

Do You Act Like You Need The Business?
[Business:Sales] I can tell you there have been times in my forty year speaking career that I really needed the business. My bank balance was abysmal, my self-esteem was on the floor and I even started questioning my value and purpose. During these times you have two choices – whine, complain, beg, give it away or any number of other demeaning behaviors or, get creative, use your pain, hunker down and try something new.

Do You Always Have To Be Right
[Self-Improvement:Success] Why is it that people have to be right? Is it ego? Insecurity? A form of manipulation? Or some other reason that they are unconscious of? I know that during my career and life I have probably been wrong more than right. So what difference does it really make? First of all let’s establish that no one is ever right or wrong. I’ll bet that sentence will keep you reading! Let me explain.

Do You Cry Enough?
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] There is nothing wrong with crying. I have cried in movie theaters, at concerts because of the tremendous talent of the performers. I have cried at sporting events (and not because my favorite team was losing) and I have cried at funerals and not for the departed but for me.

Do You Have A Defining Statement?
[Business:Networking] A defining statement is a very specific and precise elevator statement. It combines all of the necessary ingredients so that when a prospect walks away from an elevator conversation with you they know; who you are, what you do, how they will benefit by doing business with you.

Do You Have a Faith Mindset?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Do you have faith in - Yourself? Your future? Your ability? Your circumstances? Your talent? Your decision making? Your judgment? Your goals? Your ability to handle challenges or difficult times?

Do You Have A Lost Sales Strategy Or Do You Just Let Them Go Without A Fight?
[Business:Sales] Lost business does not necessarily mean lost forever. Many salespeople unfortunately neglect this lucrative source of new business. I say new because, if you learn to treat these past customers as brand new prospects, you may just regain their business. There are a number of reasons why customers leave you. Some of them are:

Do You Have A Morale Problem?
[Business:Management] You would be amazed at how many organizations today, both small and large, have a serious moral issue lurking beneath the surface of all the smiles, happy faces, agreement and apparent cooperation between employees, employees and managers, and employees and customers.

Do You Have A Sales Advisory Board?
[Business:Sales] Becoming successful in sales and staying motivated without the help of others in some type of support system - formal or informal - can be a difficult assignment for anyone

Do You Have A Sales Coach?
[Self-Improvement:Coaching] Over the years, one common denominator I have observed in successful salespeople is their willingness to invest in the continued improvement of their skills, attitudes and philosophy regardless of how they did it - books, seminars, audio products and so on. What I have also learned is that the most successful of these, had a personal coach helping them learn new skills as well as the value of discarding unnecessary habits and attitudes.

Do You Have A Strategic Planning Process That Works
[Business:Management] I'll bet 50% of the companies who are trying to successfully compete in the marketplace and who are trying to grow profitably do not have a strategic planning process that works or they don't even have one at all.

Do You Have An Effective Follow-up Strategy?
[Business:Sales-Management] Why don't salespeople follow-up? And, what are the benefits of an effective follow-up strategy? Two critical issues that will determine the success of salespeople today. Why don't salespeople follow up?

Do You Have Any Elevator Questions?
[Business:Sales] If a prospect gave you one minute to sell them what would you do with your minute?

Do You Have The Courage To Be YOU?
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] When we allow others to determine: who we should be, how we should behave, what we should believe, how we should feel, how we should think, ( I know - I know a lot of shoulds) but that is precisely the point. Who SHOULD determine who we are and who we are capable of becoming?

Do You Have The Courage To Rate Yourself As A Manager?
[Business:Sales-Management] 2006 is quickly becoming history. Your results as a manager are evident by the achievements you have accomplished and the challenges, failure and un-met goals that were for whatever reason not realized. One of the behaviors I have been advocating for many years for managers is that they carefully and routinely evaluate the areas where they have made progress and where they have not.

Do You Just Think About Doing Things Or Do You Do Them?
[Self-Improvement] There is a big distinction between people who: try, think about it - and do it. Here are a few:

Do You Know What The Number One Cause Of Failure Is In Sales
[Business:Sales] What is the number one cause of failure in sales? The inability to overcome-

Do You Know What's Working And What Isn't?
[Business:Sales-Training] I will guarantee you that every manager can improve their skills in some area. Many managers focus only on what they are doing wrong while others only focus on what they are doing right. The problem with either strategy is clear...

Do You Know Who Your Competition Is?
[Business:Sales-Training] There is a tendency of many salespeople to see their competition as only those businesses selling a similar product, service or idea. In other words, salespeople selling computers tend to see their competitors as other computer stores, retailers or manufacturers. People selling insurance, travel, furniture – you name it, whatever you sell, your competition is not just your direct competitors, but anyone and everyone who is trying to get a piece of the corporate or consumer dollar.

Do You Listen With An Open Mind
[Business:Sales-Management] Here are a few ideas to help you succeed in listening to "the bad news" or whatever doesn't match your own thinking or expectations:

Do You Live Like You Will Live Forever?
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] There are over 75 million baby boomers alive today. This group is searching for many things including, but not limited to happiness, life balance, adventure, long life, friendship, financial freedom, spiritual connectedness, career independence and stress-free relationships.

Do You Look in the Mirror Enough?
[Business:Management] I'm not referring here to checking that your hair is in place or that your makeup is applied correctly or that your sideburns are straight or your mustache is properly trimmed. I'm asking you as a manager are you spending enough time in self-evaluation or are you too busy, arrogant, ego centered or unconcerned with the possible causes of some of your organization's or department's challenges?

Do You Need A Corporate Reality Chcek?
[Self-Improvement:Leadership] In an age of accelerating change, it is critical that today’s organizations get and stay in touch with the reality of the marketplace and especially within their own companies.

Do You Need To Get Back To The Basics?
[Business:Sales-Training] For many salespeople it would seem that a ‘let’s get back to basics’ approach would be in order for any number of reasons...

Do You Talk Too Much?
[Self-Improvement] I have been accused on more than one occasion of talking too much. One of the key points I make in some of my sales seminars is that most salespeople talk too much. During my management coaching and consulting I have observed that most managers talk too much. And I can assure you that too many parents talk too much.

Do You Talk Too Much?
[Business:Sales-Management] One of the biggest mistakes poor salespeople make is THEY TALK TOO MUCH. The second is: THEY GIVE INFORMATION BEFORE THEY GET IT.

Do You Turn Your Optimism On And Off?
[Self-Improvement:Success] There has been a myth floating around for a number of years that's says, "if you act enthusiastic you will be come enthusiastic". Yes and no. If you tend to be enthusiastic when things age going well let me ask you - do you act just as enthusiastic when you are going down in flames and life is filled with problem after problem?

Do You Use Sea Gull Management?
[Business:Management] I'll bet you don't have a clue as to what I am talking about – Sea Gull Management.

Do You Want to Get it Sold Or Just Keep Selling?
[Business:Sales] "MARK, I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS FOR YOU. Since we last met and agreed to purchase your software, we have had an interesting conversation with one of your competitors and have decided to do business with them, instead." "Was it their price or something else?

Do Your Clients See You As A Valuable Resource?
[Business:Sales] In a highly competitive international business climate, it is essential that salespeople become even more creative in finding ways to service their clients to improve customer loyalty and repeat business. One principle to keep in mind is that it is easier, less stressful, less time consuming and less expensive to do more business with a present client than it is to keep looking for new clients.

Do Your Employees Always See Things The Way You Do?
[Business:Management] I was having lunch the other day and was eves-dropping on a conversation in the next booth a couple of managers were having about one of their employees. I won't bore you with all of the gory details but the one comment that struck me was when one of the managers said "His perceptions are just wrong." I guess he has never read one of my 60 plus books because one of the concepts I cover in each of them, but in different ways is that, no one's perceptions are wrong but they are theirs.

Do Your Salespeople Have Walk-Away Power?
[Business:Sales-Management] Sooner or later, you will have to walk away from a prospect or a client relationship that is no longer worth your time, energy, corporate resources or willingness to continue. What are the characteristics that could contribute to this decision? Here are a few to think about...

Does Your Management Style Need An Overhaul?
[Business:Management] During a period of uncertain economic times, mergers, acquisitions, re-structuring, increased influence of technology, increased foreign competition or any number of other market and consumer shifts, attitudes, trends and expectations, it is vital that management be aware of the impact of their management style on the performance and productivity of their employees.

Don't Become A Victim Of Voice Mail
[Business:Sales] Voice mail is the scourge of the American salesperson unless you have a voice mail strategy.

Don't Ever Lose Your Passion
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Passion is the great equalizer. It can make up for a lack of experience and knowledge. I am not suggesting that you not develop your knowledge or experience - only that until you do, your passion will be interpreted by others as a strong belief in yourself, your mission and your purpose.

Don't Get Talked Into An Economic Decline
[Business:Sales] The media is doing their best to talk us into another recession. If they have their way we will find ourselves in a full-blown economic decline. I don’t know about you, but I refuse to let the people who report the news determine my destiny.

Don't Get The Holiday Blues
[Business:Sales-Management] Many salespeople believe that between Thanksgiving and January 2nd people stop buying and become preoccupied with celebrating and eating. Quite the contrary!

Don't Go Out Of Business Slowly From The Inside Out
[Business:Management] Are you going out of business in slow motion and you don't even know it? There are forces at work both inside and outside every organization that, if not dealt with in a positive and pro-active way, can contribute to a lack of customer retention, poor productivity, shrinking profits and a loss of competitive position in the marketplace.

Don't Just Close Sales - Close Relationships
[Business:Sales] Poor salespeople focus on just closing the sale. Successful salespeople focus on closing the sale and the relationship. Which is your approach?

Don't Let The De-Motivators Get You Down
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] For years - thousands of managers, hundreds of speakers and trainers and dozens of authors have been preaching the benefits and value of: Self-motivation and goals as a way to achieve success, wealth and happiness. I must admit I am in all three categories. However, I would like to take a different slant regarding this concept of motivation or motivators.

Don't Let Your History Become Your Destiny
[Self-Improvement:Success] Yesterday with all its mistakes, failures, poor decisions and achievements, successes and accomplishments is gone. Yes you are left with the wonderful memories from the past as well as the regrets but tomorrow are yet to be created.

Don't Let Your Salespeople Lose The Human Touch
[Business:Sales-Training] Technology is a wonderful thing as long as it is used as a sales tool and not a crutch. Let me give you a recent example where I didn’t practice what I preach and it came back to haunt me.

Don't Overcome Objections - Sell Value
[Business:Sales] Most prospects or customers want their problems solved. They know that you get what you pay for and that the distaste of poor quality lasts far longer than the sweetness of low price but-

Don't Quit too Soon
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Most people quit just when they are on the verge of success. They lose resolve, passion, belief or dediaction to their goals or dreams.

Don't Wait To Tell People How Much They Mean To You
[Relationships] Un-communicated feelings mean squat! People don't know how you feel until you tell them how you feel. Over twenty years ago my best friend died of cancer. Randy was 41. He was successful, competent, always positive and loved and lived life to the fullest then he was gone.

During Challenging Times Get Creative
[Business:Sales] During challenging times you have two choices; whine, complain and sit and wait for things to get better or you can start to see your challenges in new creative ways learning how to use these difficult periods as opportunities to get better, smarter and more effective. Generally speaking poor salespeople during periods of difficulty choose the first option. Why?

Effective Sales Letters Can Make The Difference
[Business:Sales] One of the weakest areas of poor salespeople is the ability to communicate on paper - whether it is a letter accompanying a proposal, a follow-up letter after a sales visit, or a letter or memo to a prospect on a new product, service or policy.

Effective Teritory Management Is Not Rocket Science
[Business:Sales-Management] Many salespeople today will waste a great deal of time calling on poor prospects - trying to turn poor prospects into customers, or trying to close prospects that do not want or need what they are selling.

Ego Is The Biggest Cause Of Unhappiness
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] The biggest cause of unhappiness is ego. Everyone has an ego. It is the selfish part of us and it is necessary for survival. It can be useful in dealing with certain difficult situations or people. The problems begin when the ego gets out of hand and begins to consume attitudes, behavior and relationships.

Eight Leadership Myths
[Business:Management] It is unfortunate that many managers today fail to understand the role that leadership plays in the execution of their roles and responsibilities. Over the years I have read over 300 definitions of leadership. There are hundreds of books available on leadership and numerous seminars are held each year professing to teach people how to lead. And yet, many managers fail to grasp the importance of this critical attitude.

Elevator Questions Are The Key To Your Sales Success
[Business:Sales] If you were able to get an appointment with the president of an organization that was a potential customer who could give you more business in one sale than all of your other customers combined and when you sat down in front of their desk they said to you, "OK salesperson, you have 3 minutes, why should I do business with you and your organization?" What would you do or say?

Emotional Maturity Is Vital For Success And Happiness
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Emotional maturity is the ability to see life clearly. To deal in - what is.

Emotions Are More Accurate Than Your Partner's Words
[Relationships] We communicate on many levels but there are two primary methods of sharing information with others. They are verbal communication and non-verbal communication. About 7-10 % of our total communication in any given day is verbal. This may change slightly depending on your career, age and what is going on in your life.

Empowered Employees Are Up To You And Your Management Style
[Business:Management] One of best ways to determine how empowered your employees are is to observe their behavior. Do they behave the same when...

Establish Benchmarks To Track Your Progress
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] If it isn't measured, it isn't happening. As a member of my mastermind group for over 12 years, Master Speakers Int'l, I have had the privilege to learn from some of the great minds in the speaking, training and consulting business.

Ever Been To A Pow Wow?
[Business:Sales] Selling today has, in many cases, become like a giant shell game, or what I refer to as the Big Pow Wow. For those of you who haven't got a clue as to what I am talking about, let me explain.

Ever Faced A Financial Crisis?
[Finance:Personal-Finance] I could write an entire book about this topic. I have been broke three times in my life, and I can tell you, the view from the bottom of the pile is not very good. Everything in our life is there to help us to learn a valuable lesson. When we fail to learn this lesson, unfortunately we get another opportunity to learn it. And another, and another ... if we persist in failing to pay attention to our life teachers.

Ever Feel Like Quitting
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Quitting on the surface can seem quite an easy thing to do. But consider this-

Ever Lost A Job Or A Business - Welcome To The Club
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] I can recall over 30 years ago when I was fired from my first sales position. I had two children with another one on the way and not a spare dime to my name. I can remember as if it were yesterday the overwhelming sense of desperation I felt. I was letting my family down; I was even letting myself down. I didn’t know what to do or where to turn. I only knew I needed a job and I needed one NOW.

Ever Lost A Sale?
[Business:Sales] Ever lost a sale? I mean a sale that you were really counting on? I mean a really big sale, one that could make your entire year? If you haven’t, then you might find it difficult to relate to the pain that other people who have had just an experience feel. Then again, you might have been discouraged for other reasons and know the tremendous doubt, feat, uncertainty and often hopelessness from another life experience.

Ever Lost Someone Close - To Death
[Self-Improvement:Grief-Loss] During my life, I have been one of the fortunate ones. I have only lost one person to death. Recently my mother passed away, and I can empathize with those of you who have known the sting of death. There is this tremendous sense of loss. Memories that can never be shared again. Experiences you will never be able to tell them about. Laughter that is gone. Love that is gone. Friendship that is gone. Nothing but this emptiness in your heart.

Ever Made A Hiring Mistake? They Can Be Very Costly Both Short And Long Term
[Business:Management] Finding and keeping good employees today can be an on-going challenge for many managers and organizations. There are a number of reasons for this.

Ever Put Someone on a Pedestal?
[Relationships] I have and I can tell you when you do it can set you up for disappointment, frustration and fear. Why? No one is perfect and everyone is perfect. Sound like a paradox? Well it is.

Ever Thought About Looking Back Before You Move Forward In Your Life?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Looking back in life can be a valuable exercise.. It can also keep you locked in the past wishing, hoping or just remembering "how it used to be" or "how it could have been, if." Well it wasn't and isn't so get on with it. What was, was and what is, is, and there isn't mush you can do about it, except learn from it and modify your attitudes, behavior or life outlook if necessary, to change the outcomes in your future.

Everyone Is Going To Die With Unfinished Business
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] The clock of God is Ticking...Ticking...Ticking. The days pass into weeks, the weeks into years, and you guessed it, one day the clock will stop for us in this lifetime and the calendar will hit its last day.

Everyone is Self-Employed
[Self-Improvement:Success] Many people who work for a living at various jobs or careers believe that they are employees. Yes, when you are an employee you generally have a supervisor, fellow workers, an office or cubicle, a telephone and computer and get a paycheck every week or month. Sounds like the perfect world, you have a job to go to or to perform five or six days a week. This is a myth.

Everywhere You Go There You Are
[Self-Improvement] In an age of increased stress, unending stimuli, hundreds of options in everything, the desire to have more, do more and see more, the increased pace of life and the relentless changes that bombard us every day – it is no wonder people everywhere in every walk of life struggle with becoming, making right choices, finding balance in their career and personal life, and feeling a lack of a general sense of "I am OK and life is good as it is now" and nothing needs to change in the future for it to be better.

Expecting Different Results From The Same Behavior Is Lunacy
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Successful people understand the importance of letting go of expectations and plans that are no longer in their long-term best interests. Failures tend to hang on for years to plans and attitudes that are guaranteed their continued frustration and disappointment.

Facing Challenges? This Is A Good Thing
[Self-Improvement:Success] Each of us has what we have earned. Each of us gets to keep what we deserve. Each of us loses what we no longer respect, cherish or take for granted.

Fail Often So You Can Succeed Sooner
[Self-Improvement:Success] You might find the title of this article a little strange. Many of you might even think I have finally gone off the deep end and lost it. Before you hit the delete button, please give me a minute.

Fail, Survive Or Prosper - Your Choice
[Self-Improvement:Success] It doesn't matter what is going on around you that matters it's what's going on inside you that will make the difference in the outcomes you receive. There are three ways people emerge from difficult or challenging times - there will be people who fail, people who survive and people who prosper. Which group will you be in as the days, months and years ahead unfold?

Feeling Lonely Or Alone? This Could Be One Of The Best Times Of Your Life
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] There is a significant difference between being lonely and being alone. Loneliness is caused by a deficiency of the spirit – a spirit that needs people or activity with regularity in order to feel a sense of worthiness, belonging or acceptance. Being alone can be seen as a positive opportunity to get to know and like yourself better while growing in wisdom, understanding and maturity.

Feeling Some Negative Emotions Lately?
[Relationships] Everyone has emotions. Everyone has feelings. So what does it mean to have your feelings hurt? Is it because of what someone said to you, how it was said, their motives or intent behind their message or was it more due to your; insecurities, emotional immaturity, personal agendas, or some other reason?

Feeling Stuck in A Career, Job or Relationship?
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Do you feel stuck? In a relationship, in a career position, in a business, in a location, in a way of life, in a life drama or in an emotional outlook? Millions of people live with the daily frustration, fear, anxiety and or discouragement of not knowing how to get themselves unstuck from any of the above issues or others too numerous to mention.

Fighting Any Inner Battles Lately?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Communication in relationships is not easy. There are so many factors both internal and external that contribute to our interpretations, attitudes, reactions, beliefs – this list can get really long – The answer is the more you can share the truth openly the better chance you have of avoiding lingering internal battles, conflict, unsatisfied expectations and disappointment.

Focus And Concentration Are Vital To Your Success
[Self-Improvement] The ability to concentrate is one of the critical factors for success.

Games, Games And More Games
[Relationships] For years I have been observing the games people play in relationships regardless of their nature; marriage, failing relationship, new relationship, platonic relationships and romantic relationships. Before I continue however I have to admit that I have played a few myself and have been the recipient of many during my adult years. Exactly want are relationship games? They are generally manipulative tactics to achieve;

Get Organized If You Want To Sell More
[Business:Sales] Clutter. Technology. Stuff. A full plate. Sales reports. Personal interests. Home life. Career. Relatives. Friends. Too little time. Too much to do. Meetings, meetings and more meetings. The list goes on and on and on.

Getting Below The Truth Line
[Business:Sales] Let’s suppose your prospect says, “The price is too high.” Is that really what she or he means, thinks or feels? How about, “I need to think this decision over?” Are they really saying they need to think it over, or is there something more going on beneath the surface? How about, “I want to talk with some additional suppliers before I make my decision?”

Goals And Motivation A Simple Formula
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Personal motivation is one of the most important issues there is for salespeople. Research has concluded that everyone has the potential for great motivation, but not everyone is willing to pay the motivational price to achieve whatever their dreams, desires or hopes are. A critical question that many people never really ask themselves is: what motivates me? What are some of the traditional motivators:

Good Days - Bad Days
[Relationships] Everyone has bad days. All of us get good days. So what are bad days and good days in relationships?

Good Decisions That Seem To Go Bad
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] When a person makes a decisions or choice with any of the above circumstances or conditions they will tend to make decisions for the wrong reasons and generally these will turn out differently than we anticipated.

Good Negotiation Skills Don't Make Up For Poor Selling Skills
[Business:Sales] Effective negotiating is not a substitute for selling skills. Many salespeople believe that they need to be better negotiators, when what they really need is improved selling skills.

Got Any Hidden Agendas?
[Relationships] Every relationship has a degree of hidden agendas. Stuff that you don't share because you want to avoid conflict, don't want to hurt the other person's feelings, or just don't want them to know what you are really thinking or feeling. People don't always say what they mean or are feeling.

Got Any Regrets?
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] We don't have the luxury of taking back what we have said or done in the past, but we can forgive ourselves or others in the present. What regrets are you living with today that need your forgiveness?

Got Any Sacred Cows?
[Business:Management] I have not yet worked with or seen an organization that didn't have some policies, procedures or philosophies that were sabotaging their success. I'll bet if you look closely you can find a few in your organization. The questions you need to ask are:

Greatness Is!
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] One of my heroes the late Arthur Ashe was quoted having said the following: “True greatness is – start where you are, do what you can and use what you have.” It is unfortunate that many people have to have something else in place to begin changing the quality of their life or future.

Happiness Happens
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] I am sure you have heard probable even used the term S_ _ _ Happens, well how about - Happiness Happens?

Have Some Fun Today
[Business:Management] Most people take life far too seriously. You and I are not going to get out of this life alive so why not enjoy the gift of life today as if it was your last.

Have You Drawn A Line In The Sand?
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Over the years, I have been brought to my knees a number of times facing problems, challenges and failure. I can tell you, with a great deal of personal certainty, that no one – I mean no one – escapes this life without some adversity, problems or failure. The value in these is to learn and grow. There is another benefit as well: it tests your resolve.

Have You Ever Asked Yourself?
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Have you ever asked yourself the question, “What would my life be like if?” What if,

Have You Ever Computed The Cost Of Your Lost Sales?
[Business:Sales] There are only three ways to sell more. Do more right. Do less wrong. Do both. Doing none of the three will guarantee that the value of your lost sales each year far exceeds the total of your closed sales.

Have You Ever Wondered?
[Self-Improvement:Success] One of my favorite lines is, "Don't die wondering." When I first read it in a book a few years ago I wondered what it meant. Then I spent an evening contemplating these three simple yet profound words. I even used them as a chapter section in one of my latest books, Where Did All Those Years Go?

Have You Ever Wondered? or Am I The Only One?
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] During the past few weeks I have been asking myself a number of questions about several life areas. I was thinking, am I the only one who from time to time has wondered some of these same things so I thought I would share them with you this week just in case I am not alone. Have you ever wondered why some people . . .

Have You Looked In The Mirror Lately?
[Business:Management] Hindsight is 20/20 or so the experts have been telling us for years. There is only one place you can change the future and that is in the present. Yes, history can be a relevant teacher and the future can only look either dim or bright but at the end of a day or a year or your career all you have is memories.

Have You Lost the Intimacy in Your Relationship?
[Relationships] One sure signal that a relationship is going sour is when intimacy is lost for whatever reason. There are four questions I would like to address in this tip. Granted each of these questions could be a lengthy article.

Have You Met Seymour Yet?
[Business:Sales-Training] Sooner or later every salesperson meets Seymour. Actually he spells his name Seemore. He needs to see more and more and more. He never buys, but he needs to see more.

Having Fun Yet, Or Is It Same Stuff Different Day?
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Are you working harder and enjoying it less? Has much of the fun that you used to have in your career, job or relationship been replaced with stress, frustration, disappointment and anxiety? You are not alone.

Having Trouble Balancing Your Career, Relationships And Life?
[Self-Improvement:Time-Management] Time. There never seems to be enough. There are relationship, career, personal interest, family and social demands all screaming for attention in our life. Each of us has the same amount of time available to us as we begin a new day. Twenty-four hours to use or abuse as we see fit.

Having Trouble Getting Along
[Relationships] It seems everywhere I look, everyone I meet and everything I read these days that more people in relationships are struggling with some behavior of their partner that they wish would just go away. A friend asked me at lunch the other day, why do people get married anyway? I wanted to give a quick and glib answer but as I pondered the real meaning of this question I was struck by the difficulty of answering it.

Home Runs Are Great But You Need A Few Singles To Succeed in Selling
[Business:Sales-Training] Most salespeople, from time to time no matter what you sell, have the opportunity or potential for a big one. It is my experience, however if you only closed these big sales from time to time and nothing else in between that you would most likely starve.

How About A Few Vital Life Questions
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Desire and internal motivation are great equalizers. They can make up for a lack of education, a lack of a favorable background, and any number of other life adversities. For years people have been preaching the benefits and value of self-motivation and goals as a way to achieve success, wealth, and happiness. Why, then, do people lose their desire or motivation? One of the reasons is what I call de-motivators.

How Are You Doing In Life's Classroom?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Before this day ends I guarantee that life will give you the opportunity to learn something about yourself. A comment I hear on a regular basis from a wide variety of people both educated and not, is, if I just learn one thing from this experience, day, seminar, person, it will be worthwhile.

How Are You Handling The Five Biggest Challenges Facing Managers and Business Owners Today?
[Business:Management] With all of the changes, challenges and uncertainty facing managers and business leaders today do you think the roles of managers, supervisors, executives and business owners are changing and if so how? Here are just a few that I have observed during the past few years coaching and consulting with many of my clients in a variety of industries worldwide.

How Are You Increasing Customer Loyalty During Challenging Times?
[Business:Sales] It is vital that during these uncertain circumstances that you put your creative hat on and find unique ways to be of service to your existing customers or I'll guarantee that you will put this business in jeopardy. Why?

How Can You Improve Your AIM?
[Business:Sales] O.K. it's almost 2007 and it's time to make sure you are heading in the right direction. No time like the beginning of a new year to re-evaluate your goals, purpose, strategies, behaviors and ultimately your aim in life.

How Can You Know The Prospect's Real Intent?
[Business:Sales-Management] Intent and intention seems to be a hot topic these days. Why is this such an important topic today? Is it more important than it was twenty years ago? Let's take a brief look at this critical area with a focus on the real intentions of your customers.

How Can You Make Yourself Indespensable?
[Business:Sales-Management] Look at the more common picture. Managers who feel they are indispensable often behave in ways that are contrary to their organization's success. Their goals, decisions, actions, and personality styles seem to communicate that no one can manage the roles and responsibilities of their department better then they can. They feel that without them, their organization or department would fail miserably. This is often the height of an out-of-control ego, arrogance, ignorance, and/or any combination of these factors. It can also be caused by poor self-image or insecurity.

How Do You Determine Your Value?
[Business:Sales] Many salespeople and organization's business relationships are in jeopardy because they fail to give their clients and customers what they really want. These people give them what they have in inventory, can produce without too much effort or expense, can deliver, need to get rid of, are comfortable with etc. Problem is, what you want me to need and what I want may be two different things.

How Do You Want Your Life To Be Different in 2007
[Self-Improvement:Success] OK, so 2007 has officially begun. The celebrations and food fests are over and it’s back to the grind of trying to achieve, improve, accomplish and move toward your 2007 goals (if you have them).

How Far Are You On Your Journey?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Exactly what is the journey I am referring to? Many people struggle from time to time, yours truly included, with making the journey from Envy to Surrender. This is not an easy journey and can be filled with frustration, anxiety, stress and discouragement.

How is Who You Are Impacting Your Sales Success?
[Business:Sales] Who you are is more important than what you do. What you believe will become who you are. Who you are becomes what you attract. What you attract will continue the endless cycle of the you that is or was and not the you that can be.

How Many Times Have You Heard . . .
[Business:Sales] In 2006 I heard 58 times from prospects – "It's not in the budget, that's more than we had planned to spend, maybe next year we'll have more available cash, we need to do it but can't afford it at this time but keep in touch, get back to us next year - whatever," or something similar. Ever heard any of these? Well, if you have been selling for more than twenty minutes I'll guarantee you have heard something similar until you are blue in the face.

How Much Stuff Is Enough?
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Stuff, toys and trappings of success. More is better. Bigger is better. Are you measuring your success with all of the tangible possessions that are a testimony to your worth and value? Don't get me wrong – I like stuff, too.

How Much Time Do You Need With Your Partner For A Healthy Relationship
[Relationships] There are couples who spend very little time together and have wonderful relationships. For them it isn't the amount of time they have but what they put into the time. These relationships are also uncommon. Time is a factor for most of us. We need time to understand, learn, grow, accept and love. These don’t come easily or instantly.

How Old Would You Like to Be?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Are you preoccupied with your age or the passage of years? Do you constantly relate what you think, feel or do to your age and whether it's appropriate, right or necessary? Do you keep reminding yourself or others how old you are?

How To Keep Your Best Employees
[Business:Sales-Management] Have you lost any good employee talent recently? Was it necessary to lose them? Why did they leave, was it for a better opportunity or because your organization needs a serious look at the way it treats is most valuable asset, it's people.

How Well Do You Know Your Partner?
[Relationships] In many relationships two complete strangers share the same bed. They know little about their significant other. There is dialog that is often superficial, self-centered, critical and judgmental. Few couples really know each other. What are some of the things you do or don’t know about your partner?

How Would Your Employees Rate Your Performance?
[Business:Management] In 36 years of working with clients worldwide I have yet to meet the "perfect" manager. We all have blind spots, areas where we can improve and some degree of dysfunctional behavior. Failure to admit those areas where we can improve is a recipe for failure sooner or later.

How You Handle Life's Transitions Will Determine Your Success And Happiness
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Life is about transition. Successful, happy and peaceful life is all about successful transitions. There are three stages in all transitions: - Declaring endings. - Spending time in the limbo state of growth (neutral zone) – learning, understanding and resulting change that comes with contemplation and introspection. - New beginnings.

How's Your Corporate Discipline?
[Business:Management] There are average companies and there are good companies. There are poor companies and then there are the great companies. Each:

How's Your Employee Loyalty These Days?
[Business:Customer-Service] From my personal experience working with hundreds of organizations during the past 35+ years, I will tell you that employee turnover is one of the biggest costs your organization can have that will have a negative impact on every aspect of your company's future success. It impacts customer relationships, vendor relationships, competitor attitudes, employee performance and your bottom line.

How's Your Giving Up Quotient?
[Business:Sales] One of my late heroes Charlie "Tremendous" Jones was fond of saying, "I didn't want to quit, I just wanted to want to quit." Read it again. There is a difference between quitting, wanting to quit and wanting to want to quit but not quitting! I have a sign over my desk that is a constant reminded for me - You don't fail until you quit - or give up.

How's Your Life Purpose These Days?
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Purpose is the determining factor in goals and objectives. If a person lacks a clear purpose in their life, career or business it is difficult to set and achieve meaningful goals. Without purpose people easily lose their motivation or will to continue when life throws them a curve, pothole or difficult challenge.

How's Your Overall Productivity?
[Business:Sales-Training] You can’t motivate anyone. People motivate themselves. The job of a manager is to create a motivational environment where people would want to motivate themselves.

How's Your Passion These Days?
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Who do you know that is on fire with passion? Are you? Have you had it in the past but are losing it due to some external circumstances? Do you feel in welling up inside you or do you feeling it slowly slipping away?

I Never Thought My Life Would Turn Out This Way - How About You?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Let's plan the ideal life. Plan A: Perfect parents, a childhood without drama and trauma, graduate from the college of your choice with great grades, select a life mission by age twenty-one, land the perfect job in the career of your choice, married to your soulmate by age twenty-six, two beautiful, healthy, well behaved and intelligent children by thirty-five, financially independent by age forty-five, and retired to a life of leisure and travel by age fifty-five.

If You Are Not Selling To Decision Makers You Are Losing Valuable Time.
[Business:Sales] One of the biggest time wasters in sales is when salespeople fail to get to the real decision makers and present their products and/or services to people who cannot say "yes" or can only say "no." Since many organizations are undergoing sweeping changes in management and in the way they purchase from vendors, it is increasingly difficult to identify who is really in charge.

If You Could Turn Back The Clock?
[Self-Improvement:Success] What would you change or have done differently?

If You Don't Know Where You Have Been, It Will Be Hard To Get Where You Want
[Business:Sales] Have you ever experienced a sales slump? Or just not achieved the results that you thought you should have? If you have been selling for at least 4-5 years, I guarantee you have had some tough months, or even a difficult sales year.

If You Only Knew Then What You Know Now
[Self-Improvement:Success] One of my favorite questions to ask members of an audience is, "If you knew then what you know now, would you have lived any area of your life differently?" And the two follow-up questions are always more difficult for many people, "Why and how?"

If You Want Enduring Success You Must Keep Asking the Right Questions
[Self-Improvement:Success] If they wrote a book about your life:
-What would the title be:
-What is its plot or theme (comedy, tragedy, drama, documentary etc):
-What is the title of the current chapter:
-What is the title of the last chapter:
-What is the title of the next chapter:
-What do you need to do or change to make this an accurate forecast:

If You Want To Be Happy, Let Go Of Your Old Baggage
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Old baggage is emotional stuff we carry around with us for days, months or years. It is usually negative like old hurts, resentments, anger or some kind of pain inflicted by another person. It can also be just carrying around some old guilt, failure or fear that impacts our current relationships and life in general. Why do people hold on to all of these old feelings? Everyone moves through life with their own very personal agendas, needs and life issues. Old baggage starts to feel very comfortable after a while, so comfortable as a matter of fact many people die never able to let go of these hurts, slights and pain.

If You Want To Live With Joy, Peace, Happiness And Passion You Have To be Healthy
[Self-Improvement] I was significantly overweight for over forty years of my life. During that time I tried pretty much every diet that existed and by age 65 nothing had worked.

If You Want To Sell More, Go The Extra Mile
[Business:Sales] Scripture teaches us that when we are asked to go one mile, go another one. Every self-help author I have ever known or read has in some way espoused this critical philosophy. Let me take an excerpt from one of the books by one of my mentors, the late Og Mandino. (A Better Way to Live.)

If You Want Your Employees To Improve, You Need To Keep Improving
[Business:Sales-Management] It should be clear by now that if you think you are as good as you need to be, you need to think again. Let’s start with three quick questions: 1. Are you spending time consistently improving your management and people skills? 2. What have you invested so far this year in your own personal and career development? 3. What is your working philosophy of routinely investing time and resources in your personal and career development?

If Your Relationship Is Not Getting Better Every Day - Guess What
[Relationships] Many people in a relationship can be heard saying, "we are growing apart, you are not growing, I am growing faster than you or in different areas." It doesn't matter how this attitude is expressed, the bottom line is that both people are growing in different directions and at different rates of speed. This is natural and normal. No two people can grow in the same way, at the same time, and at the same rate of speed.

If Your Sales Strategy Is Not Clear Sales Will Suffer
[Business:Sales-Management] Ask any of your sales managers to define sales strategy and you might get a myriad of responses. Some right, some wrong and many just vague. Ask them to define operational effectiveness and you will tend to get more accurate answers depending on the level of the manager.

Important Life Questions
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] What is your purpose in life? Why are you here? Are you on the right path? What will it take to find true happiness? Are you in the right relationship? Why is your life filled with drama and trauma? Why is this (whatever) happening to you?

In A Slump?
[Business:Sales-Management] Sooner or later, every salesperson experiences a down period of sales results. These periods, where your continued activity seems to yield less than satisfactory results, are normal and to be expected. None of us can keep up a pace of 200 miles per hour day after day, month after month, year after year. The key is to keep your attitude positive, your focus on what is working, and your activity levels high regardless of the results.

In Everything There Is A Risk Reward Ratio
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] Everything in life in one way or another brings with it some kind of risk. One of the things I am learning is there is a reward/risk ratio in everything. Let me give you a few examples.

In Management, Your Ego Is The Performance Killer
[Business:Sales-Management] One of the biggest contributors to poor management performance, bad decisions, hiring mistakes, and a whole host of other problems is ego.

Increase Your Selling Time
[Self-Improvement:Time-Management] Each of us gets 24 hours to do with what we will. Some people wish they had more while others wish time would pass a lot quicker. Some salespeople act like they have an unlimited time bank available to them and that their prospects or clients will see them whenever the salesperson would like. Other more successful sales pros understand the importance of using every available selling minute to its best advantage.

Investing In Continuous Personal Growth Is Your Key To Life Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] Are you investing enough in your personal growth?

Is 2008 Going To Be A Repeat Of 2007?
[Business:Strategic-Planning] Do you know where you are heading next year? Well, 2007 is almost over and the new year will be on us before we know it. Are you ready?

Is After Sales Service A Myth Or Reality In Most Organizations?
[Business:Sales] Effective after sales service is not a slogan, advertising program, button that everyone wears or a banner touting a, "We Care attitude". It is a consciousness or attitude that penetrates every nook and cranny of the organization.

Is Anger Healthy Or Unhealthy?
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] There are only two basic emotions – fear and love. All other emotions are degrees of these two. Let's look at anger as an emotion that has its root in fear.

Is Crisis Management Your Standard
[Business:Management] Crisis mis-management is the result of a management style that fails to consider a variety of forces at work in organizations today. Many executives and managers that I have interviewed during may career seem to have had a romantic love affair with this style of decision making, delegation, policy making and utilization of corporate resources. They seem almost proud, that this is the way they run their organizations.

Is Employee Turnover Costing You More Than You Know?
[Business:Management] Many managers erroneously believe that the cost of turnover is just finding a replacement employee and filling a desk or a territory. WRONG!

Is Following Up A Waste Of Time?
[Business:Sales] Follow-up in today’s world can be a waste of time and energy or it can guarantee a closed sale. Sound like a paradox? Read on.

Is it a Who Or a What Problem?
[Business:Management] Every organization struggles with the balance between personal agendas, politics, ego needs and their outcomes on effectiveness. You can either focus on the problems as a who or a what problem.

Is It Easier To Create Or Discover The Sense Of Urgency?
[Business:Sales-Training] Urgency means the prospect needs a solution, answer, product, service NOW. Price is not the issue, terms are not the issue. Your ability to deliver according to their needs or expectations is the ONLY issue.

Is It Time For A Relationship CHECK-UP?
[Relationships] Most couples just go from one day to the next and one year to the next without ever discovering the true meaning of what positive and nurturing relationships are really all about.

Is It Time To Let Go Of A Relationship?
[Relationships] You are not your relationship and your relationship does not define you. It is just one of the many roles you play in life.

Is it Time to Reinvent Yourself Or Your Business?
[Business:Management] So tell me something that hasn't changed in the past 12 months? The real question is what do you need to change in order to better adapt to these rapidly changing times? The vast majority of managers are stuck.

Is Love All That Matters, Or Is There More To Successful Relationships?
[Relationships] There are moments in life when love is easy and there are also difficult times when you have to reach deep inside yourself to love those that may not seem worthy. Certain people are easy to love while others can fill your heart with anger, grief, pain and sadness. There are times in life when the world needs more of our spirit, our souls, desire and our compassion for those less fortunate.

Is Success Luck, Timing, Preparation Or Motivation?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Is there any such thing as luck? The luck of the Irish? You lucky stiff... I never win anything... Everywhere people seem to have different views of luck or good fortune. I believe in timing and I also believe in synchronicity that concept where certain things seem to happen and we can't explain why.

Is Success Really A Secret?
[Self-Improvement:Success] If I read one more author who professes to have the ‘secrets to success,’ I think I will vomit. If there is any secret, it is that there are no secrets. Success in any endeavor, walk of life, career or relationship is the result of many factors, and not one of these is scribbled on the wall of some tomb hidden deep in the desert or jungle.

Is Teambuilding A Myth Or Reality In Your Organization?
[Business:Team-Building] If team building is seen as a concoction of management gurus and philosophers it will have a short life due in part to their lack of first hand experience with both the process and function of how teams work. If it is perceived as an inspiration of employees they will take ownership in its necessity, process and success.

Is the Romance Fading?
[Relationships] Ever watched a couple in their eighties or nineties holding hands lovingly as they walk along the street or the beach? Ever witnessed that sassy smile an elderly lady or man shares with their partner as they order coffee after a night at their favorite restaurant? Ever observed as a man opens the car door for his beloved while holding his cane in the other hand? There are numerous examples of people who have spent years together facing any number of trials and challenges who have not let the romance die in their relationship.

Is The Romance In Your Relationship Alive And Healthy?
[Relationships] So, the courting is over and you have settled in to a relaxed state in your relationship. You know your partner, you can anticipate their needs, wants and desires and you can push their buttons when and if you choose to.

Is There A Difference Between Loving Someone and Being In Love?
[Relationships] Ever get the feeling that your partner is no longer in love with you? Is it necessary to be in love or is just loving your partner enough for a lasting relationship?

Is This Just A Female Thing Or What?
[Relationships] I don’t know about you, but I have often wondered why people disguise statements, needs or expectations in the form of questions. Let me explain.

Is Visualization All It's Cracked Up Yo Be? Yes
[Self-Improvement] For years, authors, poets, mystics, speakers, certain medical practitioners and spiritual leaders have touted the benefits of visualization and affirmations.

Is Your Ego Killing Your Business Or Career
[Business:Management] Ego has cost corporate America more money than any other single factor. This is caused by poor decisions, thwarted initiatives, products that have out lived their life cycle, acquisitions gone bad etc.

Is Your Head Stuck in the Sand?
[Business:Management] Question: How will your business look in five years? Question: If you knew then what you knew now would you have done things differently?

Is Your Leadership Ability Getting in Your Way?
[Business:Management] Your management style regardless of how you would describe or define it is the driving force in your business. If you are failing, look in the mirror.

Is Your Life Out Of Control?
[Self-Improvement] Are you feeling anxious, pressured and uncertain about how to cope with a continuous flow of stressful events? Does your life feel out of control? Join one of the biggest single groups in the country. I call it the SOG. That's, stressed out generation.

Is Your Life Turning Out The Way You Planned?
[Self-Improvement] I would like to ask you a serious question. Is your life turning out the way you thought it would? Is it better? Worse? Is everything you planned happening on schedule? Have you been thrown a few curves by life? If your answer to the last question, was no, you either just landed here from some other planet, or you are the world's worst liar.

Is Your Management Style Dysfunctional?
[Business:Management] Dysfunction - a disturbance in the usual pattern of activity or behavior. An irregularity in the functioning of an organ or other part or system of the body (the following is my contribution to Mr Webster - to include a; position, department, branch, division, approach, strategy, philosophy, product, policy, tactic, goal, objective, plan - did I miss anything?) So in reality I'll bet every organization operating today is dysfunctional in some way. So, the questions are; (don't even read them if you are not prepared to be totally honest with yourself).

Is Your Management Style Reactionary?
[Business:Management] The stress and rapid pace of today's world can force many of us to abandon plans, procedures, and proven practices that over time have served us well. It has been my experience working with my most successful clients that most of them regardless of what is going on around them; the economy, their competitors, the government, the employee pool, the latest management fads or the weather - have learned that there are three essential approaches that they need to follow, adhere to and believe in.

Is Your Relationship Out Of Control?
[Relationships] There are numerous challenges, circumstances, people and issues that can have both a positive and negative impact on the quality of a relationship. Here are some of the common ones that can place external demands on a relationship thereby causing it to lose some of its intimacy, integrity, passion and even interest.

Is Your Relationships Emotionally Safe?
[Self-Improvement] “Whatever,” “Fine,” “OK,” “Nothing”—these are just a few of the comments that people make when they are indifferent to some aspect of the relationship. Continued indifference is usually followed by apathy, then total withdrawal and then finally emotional as well as physical separation. All of these can have a devastating affect on communication, trust, respect, and even whether you like your partner.

Is Your Self-Talk Sabotaging Your Relationship And Your Peace?
[Relationships] Relationships are either getting better or they are getting worse. They are dynamic entities and do not remain the same. Therefore, if your relationship is not getting better, it is more than likely getting worse in some way.

It is What it Is
[Self-Improvement:Success] We all have expectations, hopes, dreams, desire, wants or something better or different in our lives. If you don't you may as well check out of here because you probably have nothing to look forward to. We all have some form of adversity, disappointment or tribulation in our lives.

It's All About Character
[Self-Improvement:Success] I know the feeling and frustration of turning to people for help when I really needed it and getting a sympathetic no. I also know how it feels to be on the bottom and have someone rescue you emotionally, physically or financially. Having said that I also believe that the more you help people the less you help them in the long run.

It's All About The Trends
[Business:Sales] If you knew what the world was going to be like in five, ten or even twenty years do you see the benefit of positioning yourself today so that you could take advantage of them and experience greater success as these trends come to fruition in the future?

It's Been A Stressful Year
[Self-Improvement:Stress-Management] It's been a very stressful year for many of us. I don't know about you but there have been a lot of circumstances, events and situations that I just didn't seem to be able to control. All I could do was relax management expectations, work hard and keep thinking creatively and focus on what could be rather than what was.

It's Kind Of Hard To Maintain Success If You Are Overweight
[Self-Improvement:Success] Obesity is the number one health challenge facing America today. Everywhere you look, children, middle aged folks and senior citizens are overweight. Why? Sure, we can blame the food industry, the grocery stores and the restaurants that blanket the countryside, but in the end, what goes into everyone's mouth is their own decision.

It's Not Too Early To Start Thinking About 2007
[Business:Sales-Management] Getting a fast start out of the box in January is one of the best ways to ensure a successful sales year. Many salespeople get lulled into the holiday spirit (and there is nothing wrong with that), but tend to get a slow beginning after January 1st.

It's The Little Things That Count
[Relationships] As relationships mature, grow and develop people can sometimes forget the little things that can have a positive impact on the quality of the relationship. I put these in three categories: Simple courtesies, simple pleasures, and simple words.

It's Time For The Fourth Quarter Push
[Business:Sales-Management] The pressure is on and management is breathing down it’s employees necks to finish the year hitting or beating their sales numbers for the year.

It's Your Choice
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] You get to choose what you take with you and what you leave behind.

It's Your Life, What Are You Doing With It?
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] The only thing in life that is certain is its uncertainty. You can either learn to embrace the unexpected and release the expected, or live with a great deal of frustration, anxiety and stress.

Joining A Mastermind Group Can Save You Light Years In Your Journey To Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] During my career I have made more mistakes and errors than I care to admit to. Fortunately I have also made a few good decisions now and then. Starting a Mastermind Group was one of the best decisions I ever made so far during my 35 year speaking career. Let me explain.

Journal Your Way To Success
[Business:Sales] It's never too late to start a business, career, life or relationship journal. You would be amazed at the results it can help you achieve.

Just Because It Feels Right May Not Be Enough
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Just because a decision feels right doesn't make it right for either the short or long term. Just because a choice feels wrong doesn't make it wrong again for the long or short term.

Keep Life Simple
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] Life can be a very complicated process. It is full of obligations, plans, goals, needs, expectations of others, self-expectations, adversity, problems, pressures, stressors, opportunities and a variety of projects, activities, and stuff in general. As I have traveled through life, I have discovered that most people add to the already complicated nature of life with a number of emotional and physical attachments that inhibit a sense of balance, harmony, inner peace, happiness and joy.

Keeping Good Employees
[Business:Management] I don't care whether we are in booming times or crisis mode, there are always good people looking for a new career opportunity, a change in lifestyle or just a more rewarding job experience. And there are also good employees who are currently working for your organization who are hard working, creative, loyal and dedicated.

Knowledge And Success
[Self-Improvement] Increased knowledge is vital if we are to continue to succeed in a highly specialized and rapidly changing world. Each of us needs different types and amounts of knowledge to succeed and prosper. They are: Career knowledge or business skills, self-knowledge, world knowledge, people knowledge, and common sense. Let's look at self-knowledge.

Lack Of Clear Direction In Life Is One Of The Biggest Causes Of Failure
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Everyone is where he or she is supposed to be and doing what he or she is supposed to be doing. Now I know some of you might disagree with this premise. I, too, have had my doubts over the years. This doesn’t mean that you won’t be somewhere else tomorrow, doing something different next week and with someone new next year. The principle also is not designed to give people permission to change something, anything, just for the sake of changing it – on a whim.

Learning Is A Process Not An Event
[Self-Improvement:Success] Most people don't read books 6 times. They figure, I read it once that's all there is. Try something. Go back and read any self-help book you have ever read or listen to a CD just a second time and I will guarantee that you will pick up new information that was there when you read or listened the first time but you missed it for some reason.

Let Go Of Your Limitations
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] No wonder so few people realize their dreams in life. There seems to be an unlimited number of factors that can sabotage our willingness to stretch out and reach for more as we move through the days of our lives and march to an unknown drummer. I am one of the fortunate ones. I have seldom given in to what can not be done but what is possible. Oh yes, there is more I could have done if I had had:

Let it Go and Do Something
[Self-Improvement:Success] When you choose to stew on emotional stuff, remember that you have turned over the quality of your life to them or it. Don't risk it.

Let The Small Stuff Take Care Of Itself
[Self-Improvement] What is small stuff? What is big stuff? One of my favorite speakers Rosita Perez is fond of saying that: you are born, big stuff. You die, big stuff. Everything in between is small stuff!!

Let's Stop Kidding Ourselves
[Self-Improvement:Success] Everywhere you look today you can find business leaders, seminar leaders and speakers touting the value, benefits and importance of goals in life. After over 60 years of striving towards hundreds maybe even thousands of goals, achieving some and not even getting close to others I have developed a different outlook about this mystical concept called goal-setting.

Life Changing Moments
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] I would urge you to understand the critical importance of each of the momentary events that has or will impact your future. They each bring with them a series of new consequences, challenges, opportunities, and decisions.

Life Is Not A Dress Rehersal
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Each of us is born, spend our days searching for peace, success, happiness, freedom, pleasure and then we die. Some people leave a positive legacy behind while others leave a destructive one. Some people contribute to the lives of their fellow man while others only take from society. And some people have a positive impact on the world while others have a negative one.

Life Is Short
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] So friends, live your life to the fullest every moment while you can because before you know it, it will be time to say good-bye. You are here for a little while and then you are gone forever.

Life Outlook and Relationship Success
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Some people are naturally optimistic and positive, while others are the opposite. When two people in a relationship have opposing life outlooks, it is often difficult for one to convince the other that his way is better, right, or makes more sense then his partner's. As a result, the positive person will always see the glass as half full and will take that attitude into most life circumstances. The more negative partner will view the glass as half empty and let that influence his attitudes accordingly.

Life Style Is A Choice
[Self-Improvement] Everyone's idea of a "good" lifestyle varies - from being able to buy whatever you want, whenever you want, as much as you want to staying current with your rent and putting food on the table on a regular basis. I believe that most people would like to do better financially than to eke out a bare existence from day to day. But for some - that is their idea of doing well. This week I would like to focus - not on defining what your lifestyle should be according to someone else's standard but to focus on what is really important in life.

Life's Choice Points
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] You and I can’t escape making choices or decisions. From what you wear and eat each day to who you decide to marry and what career you choose to pursue and everything in between there is no escaping the responsibility to choose and decide.

Life's Little Pleasures
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Life is all about gratitude for the little things, the things we often take for granted. Oh yes, there are big achievements, big plans, big toys, big stuff, big problems and big failures. But, these pass leaving broken or challenged spirits or hearts in their wake. It’s the little things that really count.

Life's Opportunities
[Self-Improvement:Success] The interesting thing to consider is that opportunities are not reserved for the select few. They are not just for the wealthy, intelligent, savvy or creative thinkers. We are constantly surrounded with a variety of opportunities some smaller and apparently less important than others and some that could change the course of your life if acted upon.

Life's Risks Or Opportunities?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Every decision we make carries with it some degree of risk. Some of these risks are immediate, while others can take years to come to fruition. Some can lavishly reward us, while others may punish us for hours or years.

Life's Trade Offs
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Today - you will make dozens of decisions. Today - you will receive the consequences of previous decisions. Tomorrow - you will make more decisions. Tomorrow - you will inherit the outcome of yesterday's decisions.

Life's Trivia, Are You Letting It Ruin Your Day? Your Life?
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] Work with me here. You just had an argument with your spouse, boss or one of your kids. I will bet that the cause of the argument was pure trivia. Now, you can let the consequences of this stuff escalate or you can just say to yourself – just trivia – not worth getting into a twit over.

Lighten Up Will You
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Most people take life far too seriously. You and I are not going to get out of this life alive so why not enjoy the gift of life today as if it was your last. One day you will be right.

Listen Your Way To Happiness
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] One of the biggest complaints many women have about the men in their lives is that they don't listen. I have not done any formal research on the different listening abilities between men and women, but I believe women are better listeners than men.

Living Life To The Fullest
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] People’s stress levels are at an all time high. As a result, many are having a difficult time enjoying the process of their life as it unfolds. This is due to a number of factors:

Living Your Life In Auto-Pilot Will Guarantee Frustration And Disappointment
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Are you going through your life in auto-pilot? Are you letting your responses and reactions to life’s circumstances and events be dictated by your previous values, attitudes and beliefs or are your responses a result of living in the present?

Looking For Mr Or Ms Right - Good Luck
[Relationships] Mr. or Ms. Right isn't about gender, age, education, financial status, career position, beauty, religion or any other criteria that can be measured or compared. So, you ask what is Mr. or Ms. Right all about?

Losing Control Of The Sales Process is The Kiss Of Failure
[Business:Sales] Control is one of the key elements for success in sales. Successful salespeople understand that control is not manipulation, but is in the ultimate best interests of the prospect or client.

Loss Of Purpose Is A Major Cause Of Failure
[Business:Sales-Training] Loss of purpose is akin to a loss of faith or patience as it is unfolding. It is a feeling that no matter what you do - it will not be good enough or soon enough. There are nagging questions, which keep popping into your consciousness. They scream:

Low Self-Esteem Is At The Root Of More Life Issues Than You Realize
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Low self-esteem is one of the biggest causes of many of today's ills - both in relationships and society. This issue is at the root of much addiction, abuse, crime, health problems and business or career failures. Why, you ask?

Maintaining Culture Integrity After A Merger Or Aquisition
[Business:Management] It is a puzzle to me why so many organizations do such a poor job of blending the cultures of the two merged organizations into an effective, focused, and successful new corporate entity with a clear direction, culture and personality.

Make Some Positive Memories Every Day
[Self-Improvement:Success] Each day you create memories in your life, ones that you will cherish or regret until your final days. As you look back on the past remember, that these memories were created by you one memory at a time.

Making Top-Down Decisions Without Bottom-up Feedback Is A Sure-fire Way To De-motivate Employees.
[Business:Management] I am not suggesting that every decision made in an organization, department, division or group should involve every employee’s concerns, attitudes, problems, wants, issues or needs. I am, however, suggesting that...

Most Limitations Are Self-imposed
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] It has been said by many people smarter than I, that "the only limitations we encounter in life are those self-limiting ones we place on ourselves."

Motivating Employees Is Not Rocket Science
[Business:Sales-Management] I constantly hear from managers - how do I keep my employees motivated?

Need Some Down Time?
[Self-Improvement:Time-Management] I have friends who are either always working or feeling guilty that they should be when they aren't. I know some people who would like 'life' to be one long vacation and they wouldn't feel an ounce of guilt or responsibility to anyone. There has to be a happy medium. There must be a happy medium if you are to enjoy the adventure of life as well as the privilege of work. What's the answer?

Negotiating Concessions
[Business:Negotiation] First of all, effective negotiation skills will NEVER make up for poor selling skills or attitudes. With that as a given, let’s look at some of the negotiation problems common to many salespeople today. Let me give you four basic negotiation concession concepts/premises, and then a little more detail on them.

No One Looks At Life The Same - Everything In Life Is A Totally Perceptual Experience
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] No one looks at life its events, conditions or circumstances the same. We see life not as it is but as we are. Each of us has a mental filter through which we interpret other people's behavior, events and circumstances. Ten people can look at the same piece of art, auto accident, movie or sunset and see it differently. This gives life is diversity and its relationships their challenges.

Non-Verbal Messsages Are More Important Than What The Prospect Says
[Business:Sales-Management] If there is an inconsistency between the verbal message and the non-verbal message you are getting from a prospect, I would advise paying more attention to the non-verbal. The non-verbal message will always be more a more accurate representation of the person’s feelings, attitudes or beliefs.

Not Letting Go of Life's Issues is the Number One Challenge Facing Humans Today
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] I believe that "letting go" is one of the biggest personal challenges we face as humans. Unfortunately not letting go keeps us stuck in the past, wishing and trying to control the future and fundamentally living our life in auto-pilot where our ego and mind are the rulers of our personal domain and life outcomes and not our heart, spirit and higher inner self - the real - who we are.

Nothing Stays the Same
[Relationships] Everything changes. Everyone changes. Some people get nicer as time passes and some people become more angry, resentful and controlling. One of the things I've learned over the years in relationships is that people as they get older, tend to become more, read on.

Now is the Time to Say Good-Bye to What Isn't Working
[Business:Management] If you have been around for a while, what we are experiencing now is not all that alarming. Over the years you have seen companies fold, industries re-invented, financial headaches, high interest rates, gas lines, yada yada yada.

Now More Than Ever
[Relationships] Now more than ever it is time to be vigilant, alert, receptive and willing to look at your relationship and how it is evolving in a creative and honest way. Fail to do this and I'm sure you know what's coming. More disappointment, more stress, more frustration and more fear of the unknown.

Now More Than Ever it is Time to Boost Your Sales Creativity
[Business:Sales] Your clients, customers and prospects have not stopped buying what you sell. They may want something more or better, but the world hasn't nor will it come to an end. So get busy, learning, growing and investigating.

OK, So You've Got Competition?
[Business:Sales] Competition is a good thing. It keeps you honest, professional and requires continual learning to overcome the strategies, techniques and approaches used by organizations that are trying to take your business or where you are trying to win new business from them. Too often I hear salespeople complaining about the competition and their "low ball" pricing, less than honest approaches or simply their better products or services and ability to compete successfully in a competitive market place.

Opposites Attract, Then What?
[Relationships] You've heard it a million times, opposites attract but have you ever considered the various consequences of these attractions? Let me begin with a few of the opposite personality traits that can contribute to potential conflict, distress and frustration in any relationship.

Overcoming The Pain Of A Loss
[Self-Improvement:Grief-Loss] Sooner or later in life, each of us experiences some form of emotional pain due to: - the loss of a loved one, - the break-up of a relationship, - the change of a job, career or business, - or any number of other life experiences.

Patience Is One Of The Critical Attitudes Of Happy People
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] So, you want it now, all of it...Not willing to wait patiently at the gate of happiness and success you struggle, pursue, push, pull, fret, and stew over why life doesn't give you what you want when you want it.

People Want Your Presence Not Your Presents
[Relationships] Presents will never make up for the lack of presence.

Positive Power vs. Force
[Business:Management] Force can be defined as – coercion, pressure, to compel, to restrain, compulsory, obligatory, etc., etc. There are many managers, as well as organizations, who still rely on this unproductive approach to motivation and productivity. Management by coercion (force or fear) contributes to:

Pour It On, Go For It, Reach For The Stars, What Do You Have To Lose?
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Many people in life settle for a life filled with routine, sameness and boredom. No wonder so many people are unhappy, filled with stress and grow old with little in the way of happy memories or exciting adventures other than work-work and more work.

Problem Or Project - You Decide
[Business:Sales] In one of my favorite books, Eric Butterworth discusses the topic of seeing problems not as to be solved, avoided or stressed over but as projects to be tackled or completed. I love this analogy because one of the biggest challenges for salespeople is to see their challenges not as something to overcome but as something to be solved.

Promise A Lot And Deliver More
[Business:Sales] Many salespeople make a lot of promises or benefit statements while trying to sell a new prospect or existing customer. The assumption these salespeople often erroneously make is that it is necessary to promise the world in order to close the sale.

Prosperity And Abundance Is Not Just About Money And Financial Wealth
[Self-Improvement:Abundance-Prosperity] What is prosperity? Is it the prosperity of the your soul? Your body? Your surroundings or environment? Your emotions? Your financial status? Or all of the above? When many people think of prosperity, they tend only to think of financial wealth, income, possessions or lifestyle. There are many types of prosperity in this world.

Random Acts Of Kindness
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] What Random Acts of Kindness have been done for you in the last few days by any of the people in your life? What have you gone out of your way to do for others?

Re-activating Past Clients
[Business:Sales] Lost business does not necessarily mean lost forever. Many salespeople neglect this lucrative source of new business. I say new because, if you treat these past customers as new prospects, you may just regain the business.

Reduce Your Relationship Stress
[Relationships] Relationship stress can be caused by any number of issues; money, children, careers, in-laws, neighbors or the weather. Yes, the weather. However, in reality none of these things really cause relationship stress.

Regret Weighs Tons
[Self-Improvement:Success] There's an old saying that the price of regret weighs tons and the price of discipline weighs ounces. I'd like to modify it just a bit and say that regret weighs tons and that to avoid them is to always make choices that are in your long term best interests.

Relationship Rituals Can Help You Or Hurt You
[Relationships] With the passage of time relationships can tend to fall into some negative and positive routines. Many of these contribute to the nurturing of the relationship while others can undermine its success. One of the things I have discovered over the years is that developing some rituals can ensure that the relationship stays on a positive track. Although no relationship is perfect (or ever will be) and experiences ups and downs these rituals can help keep the relationship focused on those attitudes, behaviors and feelings that you want to see continue.

Relationships That Survive
[Relationships] There are literally hundreds of books on the market on how to make relationships last. Some of them are just fluff and many of them offer sound suggestions for keeping the romance, love, respect and acceptance alive and well. Some of them are by celebrities or media people who don't have a clue about relationships and others by psychologists that are just too deep for me to understand. As you know I like to keep things really simple.

Relax, You Are Not Going To Get Out Of This Alive
[Self-Improvement] You can not rush the timetable of the universe. If you try, you will live with frustration, anxiety, and stress. Ultimately things happen when they are ready.

Resiliance Is One Of The Vital Keys To Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] One of the critical skills for ongoing success is the ability to bounce back from adversity. Sooner or later in life everyone experiences failure, disappointment, setbacks, or the desire to keep on keeping on.

Role Models, Mentors And Coaches Can Save You Years and Money
[Self-Improvement:Success] There is a wonderful way to cut twenty years off the learning curve in your career. It is to hang out with people who are where you want to be or people who have done what you want to do. The key is to create win/win relationships with them. A mentor is one of many ways to accomplish this objective.

Sales Challenges In A Competitive Economy
[Business:Sales-Training] Salespeople face a variety of challenges in their career. Selling is like no other profession in that it requires exceptional people skills as well as the mastery of a great number of specific sales competencies and attitudes that are not generally found in other careers.

Sales Ethics Is Everything
[Business:Sales] The sales profession today needs people with integrity, honesty and the ability to develop trusting relationships with customers, support staff, suppliers and management. Let’s look at an example and you tell me whether integrity rules in this scenario.

Sales Objections are A Good Thing - Don't Hide From Them
[Business:Sales] How many prospects do you have in your funnel now who are stalling? How many excuses for not buying have you accepted during the past thirty days? How often do you think your prospects lie to you about why they are not really buying?

Same Stuff - Different Day?
[Business:Sales-Training] When you look at the sales process, there are six major pieces: attitude management, prospecting, presentation skills, disarming sales resistance and closing and servicing the customer for repeat and referral business. Let’s look at one (and there are many) creative approach in each of the five areas.

School Is Never Out For The Pro
[Business:Sales] Over forty years ago, I made what I feel is one of the significant decisions of my life. I decided that for the rest of my life I would invest 10% of my time and income in my personal growth.

Self-esteem And Your Sales Success
[Business:Sales] You can learn every sales technique in the book, master every sales strategy and spend all of your free time learning how to prospect better, close more effectively and give better sales presentations but, if you have low self-esteem you will still never become a sales super-star. Why not? Why is your self-esteem the most critical aspect of your sales success?

Self-Management is Your Key to Enduring Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] During the past several months I have been researching what the defining differences are between those people who are struggling in any area of their life and those who seem to sail though the days and years of their lives with apparent ease. Don't get me wrong the one thing that both groups have in common is adversity, challenges, failures and problems.

Self-Promotion Is Your Key To Long Term Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] Regardless of their chosen profession, business or discipline each of the following are successful for a variety of reasons but one thing they all have in common is that they are or were ruthless self-promoters.

Selling - Defined
[Business:Sales] If you asked 1000 people to define selling I'll guarantee you would get one thousand different answers. Some might say it's persuading others to buy, moving products and services, closing the deal, helping others get what they want, selling ice cream to Eskimos, or convincing people that what you have to offer is the best there is.

Selling Is A Process Not A Static Event
[Business:Sales] One of the biggest problems for many salespeople is not understanding that selling is a process not a staticevent. Effective selling is not just closing the sale, better prospecting or more effective sales presentations. Although, all of these are important in their own way, effective selling today is blending each of these together in such a way that the prospect trusts, believes, respects you and your organization and wants and or needs your product or service to help them improve the quality of their life or business enterprise.

Should You Or Shouldn't You?
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Many people today struggle with the need to know what will happen tomorrow, next week or this year. Some have the need to manipulate tomorrow or to have life be 'in order' or 'certain.' I can only tell you that one philosophy which has served me well all these years is: learn to embrace the unexpected and release the expected.

Showing Gratitude Is A Sure-Fire Way To Get More In Life
[Self-Improvement:Success] Each year around this time I reflect on all that I am thankful for in my life. I will not burden you with the entire list, but here are a few that are vital for my health and general well being.

Silence Your Mind and Discover the Answers You Seek
[Self-Improvement:Success] For thousands of years the idea of silence to get in touch with your inner essence has been promoted by various religions, spiritual teachers, counselors and self-help practitioners. I am not talking here about meditation but the willingness and ability to quiet your mind at routine times during your day to just feel the ebb and flow of your life.

Simplify Simplify Your Life
[Self-Improvement] Simplifying life can range from an arduous task to a delightful process - it depends a great deal on what you want from life and to what you may be attached.

So - Are We Having Fun Yet
[Business:Management] People who work in a fun environment are more productive and loyal.

So, What Is Success Really
[Self-Improvement:Success] Many people have a contorted idea of what success is and isn't. So what's the answer?

So, What's Your Personal Story?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Each of us has a personal story that both defines who we are as well as who we are becoming. Everyone’s story is unique and very personal. Yes, there may be common threads that run through all of our stories but in the end the story that we create and how it ends is totally up to us.

So, You Are Getting Older
[Health-and-Fitness:Anti-Aging] Welcome to the real world of getting old. There is a difference, however, between getting old and growing old. We all age – that’s life – but none of us has to grow old. We can hold on to the outlook, spirit, and attitudes of our younger years and our youth. Youth is not a time, but a state of mind.

So, You Are Thinking About a Career In Sales
[Business:Sales] Selling is fun and rewarding. You help people solve problems, overcome challenges, improve their sales or results, help them sleep better at night because of your creative solutions. The average professional salesperson keeps at least 30 other people employed in our economy. That, my friend is a worthy profession. However, this success does not come cheap. There are hurdles, challenges, problems, risks, potential failures and numerous opportunities when you will feel like quitting.

So, You Have Problems, Congratulations
[Self-Improvement] Problems. What are they and why do we have them. Where do they come from and what can we do about them. Before we can discuss problems from an intelligent perspective let's first some basic criteria as to their nature.

So, You Think You Have The Perfect Relationship?
[Relationships] So, are there perfect relationships? No, because there are no perfect people. Are there successful relationships? Yes, millions of them. What is the difference between perfect and successful? Re-read the previous paragraph and you will now see the difference. Here, I'll help you.

So, You've Got Problems - Welcome To The Club
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Got problems - welcome to the club! One of my heroes, the late Norman Vincent Peale, once said, "There is only one group of people that don't have problems, and they are all dead. Problems are a sign of life. So the more problems you have, the more alive you are." My addition to Norman's quote would be, "If you don't have any problems, maybe you are on the way out of here and you don't even know it yet."

Spending Too Much Wasted Time In Your Car?
[Business:Sales] The average salesperson spends over 30,000 hours in their career in their car. Most of these salespeople are spending this time listening to music on the radio. Can you possibly imagine what 30,000 hours re-directed to another activity than listening to music could have on your career success and income? Think for a minute;

Staying in Touch is No Longer a Luxury!
[Business:Sales] I recently had a conversation with a CEO friend who told me that they were scrambling so much for the past several months that he didn't have time to visit with some of their best customers. I told him, that if their business is so important to their survival that he had better make time unless he wants to put this business and ultimately their business in jeopardy.

Still Selling By The Numbers?
[Business:Sales-Training] Why are so many managers and trainers still teaching this garbage? I am not sure, but I can guess it is because they don’t know how to teach more effective prospecting so they want you to make up for poor prospecting skills with more calls. Now, here is a real winner for success.

Stop Sabotaging Employee Performance
[Business:Sales-Management] If you have a problem or challenge in your organization look up the ladder for the causes and down the ladder for the solutions. Most poor managers and executives reverse this process.

Stop Trying To Fix Everyone Else - Why Not Work On Yourself First
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] I have never understood why some people feel the need to 'fix' other people. We all need fixing in some way if you ask enough people. Someone, somewhere will have a problem with one of our attitudes, philosophies, behaviors, beliefs, values, and ad infinitum.

Stopping Employee De-Motivators in Their Tracks
[Business:Management] Everyone wants to feel secure but too many people turn this over to forces outside of themselves. Everyone wants to feel in control and yet few of us really have control over many of the situations in our lives. So what's the answer?

Stress Is The Number One Killer Today?
[Self-Improvement:Stress-Management] Are you slowly killing yourself? If you have never read an article about stress, you have probably just landed here from some distant planet. I will also wager, that if you are an employee, employer, parent or spouse, you know the symptoms and causes of stress.

Success and Other Illusions
[Self-Improvement:Success] What is success for you? Even more importantly, when will you know you have achieved it? These are two critical questions, that we must have reasonable insight into as we move toward our destiny in life.

Success Breeds More Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] It is very difficult to picture what success will look like in your mind in any endeavor before you actually achieve it. I've written over 50 books, sold a bunch but still don't have a million seller book. I want one, work at it every day but still haven't achieved this success.

Success Is A Choice We Make
[Self-Improvement:Success] Achieving sustained success is not all that complicated, unless we choose to make it so. Success is truly a choice. For many, the benefits of success are illusive. These people struggle, search and try year after year to create a life filled with financial security, nurturing relationships and a sense of purpose and meaning. Others appear to effortlessly achieve greatness, independence and happiness as they travel through the days of their lives.

Success Is A Process
[Self-Improvement] Many success gurus have been professing for years that success is a journey and not a destination. This would seem to imply that this is a journey that everyone can ultimately take and reach a desired destination. I would agree that the purpose of a journey is a destination but I would also ask you to consider the following:

Success Is Between The Pages
[Business:Sales] During the past 100 years there have been more than ten million books published on some aspect of success, wealth, and happiness. How many have you read?

Success Is Just A Game
[Self-Improvement:Success] Life is a game - You will win some, you will lose some and most of the time you will break even. You won’t win them all, lose them all or often get what you think you want. But you still have to stay in the game.

Success Isn't
[Self-Improvement:Success] Ever wondered what success isn't for you?

Successful Managers
[Business:Sales-Management] Why not evaluate yourself on each to determine where improvement might have a positive impact on your management style, as well as the performance and productivity of your employees. The list is in no particular order of importance.

Talking, Conversation Or Sharing - What's Your Communication Style?
[Relationships:Communication] I believe there are three types of communication in relationships. There is talking, conversation and sharing. Let's take a quick look at each of the three.

Tension, Stress And When People Buy And Don't Buy
[Business:Sales] Got a prospect who is stalling? I've had a few of those. Got one who placed an order then cancelled the order. Had a few of those too during my career. There are any number of reasons why prospects stall or cancel but here is the major one. It's called stress and tension. Let me explain.

The 16 Biggest Mistakes New Salespeople Make
[Business:Sales-Training] There are only three ways to sell more. Do more right. Do less wrong. Do both. Here is a list I have compiled during my 35 year sales training career. that will help you understand the most frequent mistakes new salespeople make.

The Books You Don't Read Can't Help You Sell More
[Business:Sales] The teenager who goes into the classroom unprepared will fail. Salespeople who go into the marketplace unprepared will also fail. The only difference is that in the classroom you get to repeat the class. In life, the circumstances may be a little more dramatic.

The Cost Of Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] The cost of failure is always higher than the price for success. The cost of failure in a relationship, job, career or any area can cause a great deal of disruption and chaos in your life. Here are just a few for examples, the need to:

The Customer Is Always Right - Phooey
[Business:Sales] For years I have heard the comment that the customer is always right. Baloney! There have been many times that I as a customer have operated under false assumptions, bad advice, unrealistic expectations, rumors and hearsay. Ill bet if you think about it, that you too have not always been right as a customer.

The Fine Art Of Appreciation And It's Many Benefits
[Relationships] One of the best ways to keep relationships positive, regardless of whether with friends, relatives or business associates or customers is to shoe appreciation. Going out of your way often to tell people how much you appreciate what they have done, regardless of how unimportant or little it might have been, puts you in the minority of the human race. (unfortunately)

The Journey From Loneliness to Solitude
[Self-Improvement] The days pass slowly filled with needless tasks and wasted time and the nights drag on while I wait for the dawn to finally end my search. The sun rises and then it all begins again. I fill the quiet pain of each day with music hoping that this nightmare and aching emptiness will soon end. But it never does. A new day begins and the loneliness continues, no it's worse than it was the day before.

The Keys To Improved Performance
[Business:Sales-Training] I am often asked by my corporate clients how to improve sales or management or overall organization productivity. It is never a simple answer, as you can see from the above list. And that is not the complete list of issues that must be considered when you are evaluating productivity.

The Last Goodbye
[Self-Improvement:Grief-Loss] No one is immune in life to the sting of death of someone close to them. Sooner or later we all lose a loved one. This book is not about preparing for the death of someone close, the psychology of dying or coping with your loss. It is about life and all those moments and memories that you have left - before it, too, is your turn to pass from this world to the next.

The Law Of Attraction Is Governing Every Aspect Of Your Life Today
[Self-Improvement:Success] One of the fundamental and all powerful laws of the Universe is the Law Of Attraction. This law has been in existence for billions of years and it governs every aspect of the of everything that is.

The Lost Art Of Story Telling In Sales
[Business:Sales] One of the best ways to get a point across regardless of the communication situation, a sales call, a management meeting, a coaching session or anytime you are trying to influence or persuade someone is with a story, an illustration or an example. Let’s talk about stories for a few minutes.

The Missing Ingredient in All Sales Presentations
[Business:Sales] There is one critical ingredient that is missing in almost every sales presentation that will be given today by tens of thousands of salespeople worldwide. What is it? Tension management. What is tension management?

The Most Frequent Management / Leadership Mistakes
[Business:Management] Over the years I have observed and worked with numerous managers, business owners and executives in a variety of industries worldwide and I have made a number of observations. There tend to be common consistent management mistakes and errors that are made routinely.

The Most Frequent Relationship Mistakes People Make
[Relationships] No relationship is without stress, disappointment, problems or frustration. Regardless of whether you have been married for 50 years, dating for 6 months or living together for anything inbetween I will guarantee that sooner or later you will make or have made one of the following relationship mistakes.

The Myth Of Closing Sales
[Business:Sales] "You will never turn a poor prospect into a customer with a good product, slick presentation or tricky close. However, a well qualified prospect will make up for your incompetence and or inexperience."

The Myth Of Sales Forcasting
[Business:Sales-Training] One of the activities management expects salespeople to provide bottom-up help with is in the area of sales forecasting. Unfortunately, many sales managers shove their sales forecasts down the throats of their sales staff due to the demands /expectations for sales increases of senior management.

The Natural Born Salesperson Is A Myth
[Business:Sales] There is no such thing as the natural born salesperson, any more than there is a natural born pilot, athlete or physician. There has been a myth circling for years that people who are successful at selling have some natural skills, attitudes or personalities.

The Not So Secret Secrets Of Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] In every self-help book I read, every seminar I attend or every success guru I talk to, sooner or later they give me “their secrets for success”. I too have been guilty from time to time of advocating my particular success theories, so I shouldn’t really point the finger at anyone else. The interesting thing I have noticed through the years, is that there are always some common denominators in these lists and always a few areas where one person includes something and the next person doesn’t.

The Path Of Least Resistence
[Self-Improvement:Success] What are the causes, symptoms, results, negative consequences, feelings, attitudes and benefits of both? Yes, there are benefits to being in a rut, and negative consequences to being in the groove. The path of least resistance doesn’t mean:

The Price Of Failure Is Always Higher Than The Cost Of Success
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] I will guarantee you that if you have ever failed (and I hope you have) that the price you paid was higher than the price that you would have had to pay to avoid it.

The Price, Cost Value Relationship
[Business:Sales] People don't want cheap. They want value. People don't really want things that rust, break, are inconvenient or difficult to understand. They want life to be easier, less complicated, less stressful, happier and more fun. Show them how your product or service can do all of these, and I guarantee price will never be an issue.

The Prize Price Relationship
[Self-Improvement:Success] The prize has no economic value, and once you win it, no one can take it from you. And you can’t buy it, you must earn it. The prize is worth whatever price you have to pay, but you must be willing to pay it. You can’t win the prize if you don’t pay the price. That’s just the way life is.

The Rapids Of Change
[Self-Improvement] Change... Can't stop it and it's hard to live with. So what are your options? Enjoy the adventure of life today. Today is a gift. Be thankful and give to this day and take from it all that you can and all that you are.

The Road To Success - Are You On It?
[Self-Improvement:Success] The road to success is filled with disappointment, frustration, stress, anxiety, failure, problems, risk, heartache, sacrifice, loneliness, adversity, and letting go of dreams. Not a pretty picture. So why begin or take the trip? It is also filled with achievement, satisfaction, happiness, contributing to the lives of others, personal growth, valuable life lessons, recognition, peace, harmony and freedom.

The Search Continues
[Self-Improvement:Success] Each of us has within us the desire as well as the capability of finding success in life. The key is to know how you are defining that success and how you are continually thinking about and acting on those beliefs that will bring your success from the realm of the possible to the reality of actual results.

The Three Keys to Happiness
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Think about it, is it possible to be happy 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you have figured out that one you should be writing the books and giving the seminars. No, we do not live in a state of constant blissful happiness but we can experience frequent moments on a regular basis if we understand what happiness is and how to achieve it.

The Three Stages of Love
[Relationships:Love] Love. Can it be explained or only felt? Is it a feeling, an emotion or a mindset or something more? For centuries poets, authors and philosophers have been describing the "state of love" and I am one to tell you that after reading everything I can get my hands on about this subject I still can't explain it to everyone's satisfaction.

The Twelve Love Languages
[Relationships:Love] Can you possibly imagine the peace, serenity, happiness and harmony you could experience in a relationship when two people focus on giving only and not receiving? When they have no expectations from their partner? If you have read Chapman's book, The Five Love Languages, you are familiar with what he believes are the 5 things people want or need to feel loved. Although I agree with his 5 behaviors I believe there are several others so I would like to give you his five and then 7 of my own that I have learned over the years. Please keep in mind that no matter how many of these you perform or demonstrate in your relationship that if you fail to give your partner the one or ones they need to feel loved, no matter how many you do, these will all be in vain.

There Are Only Two Ways To Go Through Life
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] There are only two ways to go through life: proactive and reactive. People who use the latter as their philosophy tend to:

There Is Light At The End Of The Tunnel
[Self-Improvement] Have you ever been discouraged? Ever been at the bottom of the emotional barrel? Ever felt like no matter which way you turned or whatever you did it didn’t matter? Well, I have on a number of occasions during the past 45 years and I can tell you, but those of you who have experienced this already know, that the world seems to be crashing in around you and there doesn’t seem to be anything you can do to change your circumstances.

There Is No Substitute For Effort
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] One of the unfortunate myths today is that you and I can get rich without a lot of time, hard work and patience. Not so. Oh yes, some people may appear to achieve greatness quickly, but I believe it is better to build your future on a solid foundation of effort than quick good fortune, whatever the cause or source.

There is No Tomorrow
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] I'm not being pessimistic here just wanted to get your attention. Yes, there is always tomorrow for some people but not everyone. Not everyone gets to witness the beauty of a new sunrise or a new day to learn, laugh, play, work or love. However most people tend to live their lives as if tomorrow was assured; well it isn't for you, for me, for anyone. So, how are we supposed to live if there is no tomorrow?

There's Always 3 Sides to Every Story
[Relationships:Communication] Communication is the foundation of ever human relationship. If your communication isn't open, honest, clear and congruent there will always leave room for assumptions, misunderstanding and any number of potential conflicts that can tear relationships apart at the seams.

There's Never a Right Time
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Why do people wait for what they feel will be the perfect time or circumstances before making changes in their life that could ensure peace, happiness and contentment? Is it fear; the lure of uncertainty, the lack of self-trust that they can handle whatever life gives them?

This is One Technique I Guarantee Will Increase Your Sales and Customer Loyalty
[Business:Sales] If you had a technique for ensuring that people would buy from you again and again or your boss would promote you on your terms not theirs or your competitors would sit around their conference table at midnight, night after night agonizing over how to successfully compete with you when you easily take business away from them and make it impossible for them to take business away from you – would you be interested?

Three Simple Keys To Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] During 2006 I developed a new keynote address I shared with several audiences that covers what I believe are the three keys to lasting success, happiness and a worthwhile lifestyle. The three keys are: what you believe, what you know and what you do. These ultimately determine your inner peace, lifestyle, direction in life and everything you will become, accomplish and do with your time while you are here. I do not mean to imply that these are easy to master and weave effectively into your life but they are simple concepts. Ultimately your happiness, success, peace, satisfaction and contentment are either gained or lost because of them.

Time - Friend Or Foe
[Self-Improvement:Time-Management] There is one common denominator with all people - both successful and unsuccessful and that is the amount of time they have available to them in an hour, a day and a life. Yes, some people have more years than others, but no one has more than 60 seconds or 24 hours

Time Is More Than Money!
[Business:Sales] Time is more than money. Time, when used effectively, will guarantee that you will always have time for what is really important in your life. There are two critical areas to ensure that you turn your time into money and more available time for other important life areas.

To Find True And Rewarding Success, Embrace The Unexpected
[Self-Improvement:Success] It is vital that you develop a strategy for anticipating the unexpected. It is critical that you learn to let go and put closure on a failed plan, goal that you are no longer passionate about, a relationship that is over or any other life experience that you can do little about other than whine, moan, blame, point your finger or carry around for years after it is over.

Today You can Make A Difference In Someones Life
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Each of us has numerous opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others or the world in general. Each day people cross our path: strangers, clients, friends and relatives that give us the opportunity to touch them in a positive way. We can offer them:

Too Much Time And Too Few Goals!
[Business:Sales] If I have heard it once I have heard it a thousand times - there just isn't enough time in the day, week or month to get everything done. I just don't have enough to prospect or sell.

Traits Of Six Figure Income Salespeople
[Business:Sales-Training] Got what it takes to excel? Can your salespeople measure up?

Traits Of Successful Relationships
[Relationships] After researching numerous books and attending seminars on effective relationships I have found that the following behaviors are pretty consistent in relationships that last and are filled with love, happiness and friendship. Yhey are and in no particular order of importance.

Truth Vs Fiction - What's Your Management Style?
[Business:Management] Can your ego allow you to consistently share the truth with your employees? Are you secure enough in your own skin to be able to let people know bad news in a timely manner without sugar coating it? Do you trust yourself and your employees enough that you can be vulnerable and honest about your weaknesses, mistakes, shortcomings or lack of ability or skill to handle a problem, challenge or issue? Or, are you overly concerned what some people might think of you and your leadership ability or management skills that you fail to communicate with integrity, consistency and clarity?

Turn Your Stress into Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] The number one killer today is stress related illnesses. Everyone has stress in their lives. Successful people turn their stress into success.

Two Vital Traits If You want To Be Really Happy
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] There are two ways to go through life. Be or act and share or hoard. Guess which ones happy people embrace.

Unlearning Is Just As Important As Learning
[Business:Sales-Training] Without a doubt learning new skills and developing the right attitudes in sales is vital. Without them it is impossible today to ensure your continued success. Whether these new insights come from a mentor or coach, reading, attending seminars, listening to CD’s or just talking with peers or your manager it is essential to continue to hone your abilities if you want to successfully compete in today’s changing world.

Unresolved Conflict Will Have A Negative Impact On Your Happiness
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] If you don't have conflict in your relationship it is probably because you have a long distance relationship or are living in denial.

Vision And Mission Statements - Are They Worth The Trouble?
[Business:Management] In a highly competitive and rapidly changing world, organizations need focus, clarity and clear direction. One of the tools that can contribute to this outcome is a mission - vision, defining statement and/or statement of purpose. In my opinion, it doesn't matter what you call it as long as you have some way of determining what you are, what you are becoming and why you want to get there.

Want Better Performing Teams?
[Business:Sales-Training] Any of these can be difficult to administer. Team leadership requires: finesse, tact, skill, patience, courage, a firm hand, good people skills, outstanding sales skills, ego control, judgment, effective communication skills, and planning – lots of planning.

Want Inner Peace? Have More Patience
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] No one likes pain: emotional, physical or spiritual pain. Each of us wants to sail through life from birth to death without ever having any:

Want Success? Raise The Bar
[Self-Improvement:Success] From time to time everyone hits either a real winning streak or a real slump in their life.

Want to be Happy? Say It And Do It Now
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Happy people have developed the habit of, doing it now. They know that the present passing moment may never come to them again, so they work as if they will live forever, but live as if today is their last. One day we will all be right!

Want To Be Happy? Be Kind To Yourself
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Here is a list of things to consider doing to - pamper yourself, be kind to yourself or to help you deal with stress, frustration or any negative life throws in your way.

Want To Know What Kind Of A Leader You Are - Keep Asking Yourself
[Business:Management] Before beginning of 2008, why not spend a little alone time on the following questions? I guarantee that if you will take the time to carefully consider any question that may be appropriate to your management or leadership style and spend...

Want To Make God Laugh? Tell Him Your Plans
[Self-Improvement:Success] During my recent trip to Ireland to speak to a sales conference, my host shared with me one of the concepts that his father shared with him during his lifetime. I won't mention his name in the event he would want to remain anonymous but he will know I am not taking credit for this idea. John shared with me that there were over 3000 people at his father's funeral. He truly positively touched many lives while he was here. He said, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” I gotta tell you, I just love this line, may even make the title of my next book.

Want To Run Better Meetings?
[Business:Management] Most meetings generally take too long, cover too little, end without specific plans, objectives or outcomes and waste time, money and resources.

Want To Sell More? Just Ask
[Business:Sales] This three letter word is at the root of more failure and success in sales than any other I know. People who consistently succeed in sales, whatever success means to them, do so because they ask for what they want. Salespeople who tend to fail do so because they fail to either know what they want or to ask for it.

Warning - Pay Attention To Early Signals
[Business:Sales] I'll bet every one of you has at least one customer you wish you didn't have. Right? If so, when did this customer tell you he was going to be like the way he is? Yep, you guessed it - early in the game.

Was It A Comedy Or A Documentary?
[Business:Sales] Remember, your prospect is constantly asking themselves, "Why should I give you more of my valuable time?" The ability to ask the right questions at the right time and in the right way keeps the prospect's focus on his/her needs, problems, concerns and off of your products, features and selling style

What Are You Searching For?
[Self-Improvement] Life is a neutral process. It tends to give us what we desire, work for, and believe in. If we lack a clear vision, unrelenting belief, and consistent focused action, we will inherit the appropriate results.

What Are Your Benchmarks For Success?
[Self-Improvement:Success] There is a surefire way to ensure your continued future success and that is to develop a variety of benchmarks along your life path. Keep in mind that each of these benchmarks can be a very positive process for the person who routinely examines their life decisions and actions. However, the problem is most people don’t. The vast majority of people just truck along not connecting today’s issues, challenges or problems with yesterday’s poor judgment, choices or behaviors.

What Are Your Success Rituals?
[Self-Improvement:Success] One of my heroes, Ben Franklin, who was one of the great minds of his generation over 250 years ago had a simple program for success, wealth and happiness.

What Defines Who You Are?
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] Many people today are confused about who they are or what "defines" them. Some see who they are as defined by their roles as: parent, spouse, salesperson, manager, executive, business owner, child or offspring.

What Do You Have To Do To Reach Your Sales Goals?
[Business:Sales] Every year I set sales goals and every year I either exceed them or fall short of them so I am beginning to wonder why should I bother taking the time to set goals in the first place? And, believe me for a person that teaches goal setting as one of my more popular seminar presentations this can create just a bit of a problem.

What Does It Really Take For Success?
[Self-Improvement:Success] I spent over a week there meeting people in a variety of sales and sales management positions and it struck me after only a few days as to why Ireland has one of the most flourishing business climates and one of the most prosperous economies in the world today. Let me share with you why I believe this culture is headed for greatness in the near future.

What Does Luck have To Do With Success
[Self-Improvement:Success] There is an old saying that says - luck is when preparation meets opportunity. So, how can you get luckier to guarantee your future success. There are two things you can do:

What Everyone In A Relationship Wants
[Relationships] Most people are searching for only four or five things in life. I believe the major ones are: love, acceptance, appreciation, validation and to connect with other humans in a meaningful way. What are you searching for that you don’t have in your life? Let’s take a brief look at each of these:

What If
[Business:Sales] What if this year-

What Is Leadership Anyway?
[Business:Management] Business leaders need to chart an effective course into the future even though they don't have a clue what their organizations will look like tomorrow let alone next year. Many business leaders are mired down in philosophies, strategies and approaches that were the standards held years ago when the rules and the world was more predicable.

What Is Life Trying To Teach You Today?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Before this day ends, I guarantee life and it's circumstances and the people who cross your path will give you the opportunity to learn something valuable about yourself. A comment I often hear from a wide variety of people is, "If I just learn one thing from this person, seminar or life experience it will be worth while."

What is Truth to You?
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Truth, what is truth? Your truth? Mine? And what makes anything true or not true?

What Is Your Driving Emotions?
[Self-Improvement] There are any number of emotions that will determine a person's actions and behaviors. On the positive side there are things like - desire, hope, joy, happiness, adventure, fun, pleasure, success, achievement, humility, compassion and then there are - guilt, anger, fear, power, resentment, blame, obligation and jealousy. Yes many of the positive ones can be for negative reasons and some of the negative ones can have positive intent.

What Is Your Real Intent?
[Business:Sales] Intent is important but your success comes from your action - what you do. I believe it is important to have positive (good) intentions but show me what a person does and I will show you what their REAL intent was.

What Motivates You
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] As I look back over both my failures as well as my successes of the past I am amazed at how little difference there was between my actions and attitudes and the subsequent outcomes.

What Would You Try If You Knew Failure Was Impossible?
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] How do you know what is possible until you give it your best shot? You don't! Imagine for just a minute what your life could be like if you just...

What's Driving You, Your Circumstances Or Your Values?
[Business:Sales] You need the sale. You need the money now but you hate giving in to internal pressure to deviate from your values. So you tell yourself that this circumstance is an exception due to the need to pay certain bills. You begin to waver on your fundamental values and allow yourself the privilege of seeing this situation in degrees.

What's In Your Success Toolbox?
[Business:Sales] There are many traits and attitudes required for enduring and satisfying sales success. Ultimately your personal definition of success will become the primary factor determining whether you have achieved success or not. There are five factors to consider when defining your success.

What's Life All About Anyway?
[Self-Improvement:Positive-Attitude] The world is changing at unprecedented rates. We are all being flooded with more new information than we can ever read, understand and assimilate. And, it is going to get worse. Pleasant thought! Don't get me wrong. I am not against progress, technology and new ideas.

What's Next For You?
[Self-Improvement:Success] OK, so you've had a challenging year or you have had one of your best years ever or somewhere in between. Regardless, what's next for you? I don't mean this afternoon or next week, but what's next on your agenda of challenges, accomplishments or activities that you plan to start or take to the next level?

What's on Your Wish List?
[Relationships] Enduring relationships are not about compatibility. Sound outrageous? Well, think about it. Both of you liking to dance, take walks in the park and loving Fried chicken will in no way help you through the difficult times ahead. I know, I've been there.

What's Really Driving Your Business?
[Business:Management] Many executives and managers are enough out of touch with the reality of their business they often act surprised when they get thrown a curve by a competitor, the economy or even one of their own departments.

What's the Impact of Your Management Style?
[Business:Management] The key to successful self-management is the ability to function from the inside-out and not the outside-in. In other words the ability to remain centered, calm and focused no matter what is going on around you. This is not an easy task if you tend to have a reactive or heavy top-down management style.

What's The Role Of The Sales Manager?
[Business:Sales-Management] To manage means to manage. To do means to do. Be careful you don't confuse these.

What's Your Excuse?
[Business:Sales] So what kind of a year are you having? We are heading into the last quarter of 2007 and if you are not on target for your goals you have two possible attitudes. Write off this year and play a lot of golf and hope that 2008 will be better or even a banner year. Hustle your fanny and do whatever it takes to salvage the rest of this year and end it with a respectable outcome.

What's Your Frequency?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Radio stations send out signals and you can choose the station you listen to. People send out signals and you can choose whose signals impact your life.

What's Your Hurry? Are You Keeping Life In The Proper Persepctive
[Self-Improvement] What's your life pace? I am not talking here about how fast you drive or eat. I am referring to your general life pace. First of all lets define pace: rate of movement, rate of activity, temp or velocity, speed, rate and swiftness. Now that we have that out of the way let's discuss this rather simple concept as it relates to your life as it moves forward one moment at a time and one day at a time.

What's Your Personal Motto These Days?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Successful people tend to have a variety of ways of maintaining their positive outlook during difficult or challenging times. Some have personal mission statements while others use a variety of affirmations both visual and written. Still others use psychological anchors to keep them on track and upbeat no matter what is going on around them. Some of the most successful people increase their self-improvement activities like reading good books, listening to CD's (not music) and attending courses and seminars. And very few have what I refer to as a personal motto that is ingrained in their consciousness and guides their every decision, action and attitude.

What's Your Reaction to Confrontation?
[Business:Sales] During stressful economic times buyers will often react to your proposal or sales offer with defensiveness, fear or any number of other negative emotions. This is normal. They have a lot on their plates and may have limited resources to satisfy their needs and desires no matter how much you believe that your product or service will benefit or help them.

What's Your True Intention?
[Relationships] Everyone is doing the best they can at any given moment given their awareness, skills, experience and knowledge. If this is true why does people's behavior sometimes affect us the way it does? There are a number of reasons.

When Was the Last Time You Asked Your Employees to Evaluate Your Management Style?
[Business:Management] Many of my clients are using an employee review process called the three/three/three. The value of this instrument is that it is both a top-down as well as a bottom-up review process.

When Was The Last Time You Did An Honest Self-Appraisal?
[Self-Improvement:Success] From time to time regardless of where you are on the path of life; succeeding, failing or somewhere in between it is prudent to reflect on who you are, why you act the way you do, where you are heading and how your attitudes and beliefs are impacting the quality of your life.

When Was The Last Time You Dreamed The Impossible
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Each of us needs a dream to keep us filled with hope and desire and often even alive. The worst thing that can happen to anyone is that they lose their dream(s) and it doesn’t matter whether you are 23 or 67, male or female. I have seen the dull look in people’s eyes who no longer believe in the possibility of their dreams.

When Was The Last Time You Just Walked Around Your Organization?
[Business:Management] When was the last time you got out from behind your desk and just wandered around your department or organization with no particular agenda in mind other than to just talk with the members of your department or organization? It is called MBWA.

When Will You Know If You Are Successful?
[Self-Improvement] Most people in life see their success as grounded in some future event, relationship or set of circumstances – or the past, with all its achievement and history. Future dreams and desires and/or past accomplishments.

When You Lose Your Walk-Away Power - You Lose Your Objectivity
[Business:Sales] All prospects are not created equally. Some are worth the continued investment of your time, resources and energy, while others will only sap your motivation, as well give you ample frustration and send you to an early grave. (Sales grave, that is.) Why do salespeople give these poor prospects more time than they deserve? Here are a few reasons for you to consider

Which Comes First Success or Happiness?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Everyone is searching for success, happiness, fulfillment and a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives. Many people unfortunately have not learned that putting the cart before the horse does not answer their dream of lasting happiness and a meaningful life.

Who Are We And Where Are We Going?
[Business:Management] After 34 years of consulting with clients and speaking to groups of managers, executives and salespeople, I have discovered that there is a common problem among many businesses today. It is a sense of identity, or, in the words of one manager I interviewed last year, "I don't know who we are or where we are heading, and yet I am supposed to help us get there." These feelings are common among many workers today whether expressed or kept to themselves.

Who Are You Responsible To?
[Relationships] There is a significant difference between being responsible to people and for them. Being responsible for people is when you feel responsible for another's outcomes, pain, failure, feelings, problems, struggles, adversity, and need satisfaction - as well as their success, joy, achievements and growth.

Who Are Your Role Models?
[Business:Sales] Who are your role models? Your heroes? And do you even have any? I believe one of the problems we have in society today is that we lack positive role models who influence us in a healthy way. Just look at many of the successful people today in: sports, entertainment, politics, business and religion. You don't have to look very far to find numerous examples of - negative role models. So why bother having a hero or role model? Role models can help us a great deal as we move through our careers, relationships and lives. They can:

Who Has More Rules - Women For Men Or Men For Women?
[Relationships] OK, here's a test - who has more rules - women for men or men for women? If you guessed men for women you are WRONG. During my relationship research over the years (no this research wasn't formal, had no benchmarks or was validated in any way - just gut reactions and experience) I believe that generally speaking (I'm using the word generally because I'm trying to avoid the wrath of any women out there and their need to email me their personal views on the subject) anyway, I believe that women have more rules for men than men do for women.

Why Are Some Salespeople More Successful Than Others?
[Business:Sales] Over the years I've observed not only my own sales behavior but that of hundreds of salespeople who worked for my clients and I can tell you that the line between super sales success and mediocrity is a very thin one. Let me explain.

Why Are You racing Through Life?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Everywhere I look I see people rushing through life. They rush to meetings and appointments and back to their offices again. They eat fast, drive fast, talk fast and make love fast. They rush to the seminar on meditation to learn how to relax and to the health club to rush through their workout.

Why Do Men Give Women So Many Bad Gifts?
[Self-Improvement:Attraction] Every day millions of women receive dumb gifts from the male gender that lack creativity, thoughtfulness or indicate a total lack of knowledge about what women want, like or need.

Why Do People Feel The Need To Struggle?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Why is struggle a part of life? Any time you try anything difficult or new, you are bound to have some type of struggle. Exercise requires struggle. Changing an opinion, belief, expectation or attitude requires struggle. Anytime you attempt growth in any area of your life, you will struggle. Why is it, then, that some people seem to go through life with no apparent struggle, while others seem to attract it into their life with every breath? I have known struggle in every area of my life: my career, my relationships, my financial life and my willingness to let go and surrender.

Why Do People Quit?
[Self-Improvement:Success] Why do people quit, give up or just throw in the towel? Are there times when it makes sense to quit? Are there advantages to quitting or giving in or up? And what are the benefits of standing firm and drawing a line in the sand? Here's my take on these four questions.

Why Do Prospects Challenge Price?
[Business:Sales] In every sales training program I conduct whether one of my public sales boot camps or a custom in-house seminar the question always comes up again and again and again... How do we overcome price objections or price resistance?

Why is it That Imperfection Over Time Causes Problems?
[Relationships] There is a saying that I once read that we are attracted to people in spite of their imperfections but as time passes their imperfections get on our nerves or become intolerable to handle. First of all what are imperfections? I don't know about you but I don't have any.

Why Not Ask Yourself Some Important Questions Before It Is Too Late
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Some importnat Life Questions to ask yourself.

Why Not Take The Happiness Quiz And Discover The Real Meaning Of Happiness
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Are you happy? Really happy with every area of your life? 85% of the population would change something to find greater happiness. Are you one of them?

Why Not Take The Relationship Quiz Now?
[Self-Improvement:Attraction] Why not take the following quiz and ask a person you are in a relationship with to take it also. It will give you and them an idea of your mutual understanding and application of some of the critical issues, concepts and techniques that have an impact on the quality of relationships. Please give me a call if you would like the answers to this quiz.

Why Not Take The Sales Quiz To see How You Are Doing?
[Business:Sales-Management] Why not give the following sales quiz to your sales staff. It will give you an idea of their understanding and application of some of the critical issues, concepts and techniques that have an impact on their sales performance and results. If you feel your team could benefit from an in-depth Custom in-house sales training program, please give me a call. I will be happy to discuss a custom curriculum for your staff with you. Please give me a call if you would like the answers to this quiz.

Why Not Take The Success Quiz Now?
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Success means different things to everyone. Each of us is on his or her own path toward their ultimate destiny in life. The characteristics for success are different for each of us.

Why Not Take This Management Quiz Now?
[Business:Management] Why not give the following quiz to your management staff. It will give you an idea of their understanding and application of some of the critical issues, concepts and techniques that have an impact on their performance and success as managers. If you feel your team could benefit from an in-depth custom in-house management training program, please give me a call. I will be happy to discuss a custom curriculum for your staff with you. Please call me if you would like the answers to this quiz.

Why Not Teach Your Salespeople This Great Technique?
[Business:Sales-Training] The critical ingredient in a successful sales outcome is the ability to get adequate and accurate information as early in the sales process as possible. Those of you who have read my books, previous tips, or have attended one of my sales seminars are well aware of the importance I place on the ability to ask good questions – in the right way, at the right time. It is unfortunate that many salespeople are still selling by going into a "feature DUMP" too early in the sales process – before they have learned:

Why People Don't Buy
[Business:Sales] People buy for their individual and personal reasons, not for the reasons the salesperson's (or the organization's) marketing department think they should. You cannot turn a poor prospect into a customer with a great product or persuasive sales appeal. The key to increasing sales is to identify why people buy and what will cause them not to buy.

Why People Don't Use What They Learn
[Self-Improvement:Success] Although everyone's brains are made up of similar anatomy and billions of cells, research over the years has indicted that there are literally trillions of neural connections that have recorded every memory, experience, thought, action and behavior during a person's life. Everything a person has learned and their reaction to that learning is stored somewhere in a person's mind. Evidence has also shown that due to the repetitive nature of neural function that over time, people begin to think in similar ways and have predictable reactions to similar events, people and circumstances.

Why Prospects Challenge Price
[Business:Sales] For over thirty years, I have surveyed my sales audiences and asked them what they think is most important to consumers, and the results have been consistent: low price first, quality and service last. We seem to have a difference in perception here!

Without Effective Feedback Employees Will Continue To Perform Poorly
[Business:Management] It is amazing to me, after working with hundreds of organizations over the past 30 years and observing or coaching thousands of managers, executives or business owners, as to how many just don’t get this very simple management principle: you get the behavior you reward. If you want positive behavior repeated, reward it. Let people know you appreciate their effort, dedication, energy, time, etc. If you are getting negative behavior and you ignore it; it, too, will be repeated.

Work On Yourself First and Let Everyone Else Take Care Of Themselves
[Self-Improvement] You are who you are but you are not who you could be yet. Remember that who you can be is up to you and only you. Never delegate your personal growth and success to anyone else.

Working Smart Will Never Replace Effort
[Self-Improvement:Success] You can work smarter and more effectively, but I don't believe there is any substitute for sweat, effort and doing whatever it takes to achieve your goals, mission and purpose in life. I believe in balance in life. I believe there are other worthy elements in life besides work, careers and running your business. Few people on their deathbed will admit they should have worked harder during their life.

You Are Responsible To Employees, Not For Them
[Business:Sales-Management] Do you treat all employees the same yet differently? This concept, at first glance, might seem to contradict the previous one we just discussed. But if you will carefully observe, you will see some very subtle differences.

You Are Your Future
[Self-Improvement:Success] Each of us creates our future one decision, moment, action and thought at a time. Some people are creating futures filled with pain, loneliness, heartache, insecurity, resentment, guilt and fear, while others are today carving out futures filled with joy, happiness, peace, love and security. Why will some people spend their final years in negative circumstances, while others spend them in comfort - growing, sharing, learning, loving and being loved? Here are a few thoughts to consider today as you move through the decisions and actions in your present that will determine the quality of your life tomorrow.

You Can't Escape Life's Transitions
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] You can’t escape them, life’s transitions. They will either sneak up on you and gradually appear in your life while you are not paying attention or they can smack you in the forehead when you least expect or want them. There are dozens of them, here are just some of the common ones, the transition;

You Can't Manage Your Time
[Self-Improvement:Time-Management] You can't manage time. Interesting concept when you consider there are thousands of salespeople and managers every day trying to improve their time management.

You Can't Predict The Future
[Self-Improvement] "Life is what happens to you as you are making other plans." John Lennon. What a great line. Life just happens. I believe in setting goals, planning, and spending time trying to figure out how to create a better future. Problem is, life can change in a heartbeat. I will guarantee at least one person who is reading this e mail - that your life has not turned out in every way the way you planned it, or thought it would. It is either better in some ways or worse.

You Get The Behavior You Reward Not The Behavior You Want
[Business:Management] Don't like the behavior you are getting from an employee or group of employees? Stop looking at the behavior and start evaluating the reward system that is in place that is causing the behavior.

You Have Exactly the Love Life You Want
[Relationships] The other night I was watching one of my favorite movies, The Wedding Date. There is one line late in the movie that has always struck me as interesting. I'm not sure if I have it verbatim but this is close, "Everyone has exactly the love life they want."

You Won't Find Happiness Here
[Self-Improvement:Happiness] Trying to find happiness? Don't look here.

Your "R" Quotient Will Determine Your Success As A Manager
[Business:Management] Do you know what your "R" quotient is?

Your Competitors Are Not Always Who They Seem
[Business:Sales] Salespeople tend to think of their competition only as organizations that sell the same products or services as they do. I suggest you to see this issue from another perspective.

Your Corporate Self-image Will Determine Your Success
[Business:Management] If the management team in an organization, for whatever reason(s), is not in sync with its direction, goals, decisions, philosophy, communication etc. it will create confusion, a lack of harmony, very little employee empowerment and poor performance among its employees.

Your Illusions Can Be Preventing Your Success
[Self-Improvement:Attraction] Life is filled with illusions that present themselves as real. One of the biggest illusions that people who are happy, have let go of, is that anyone other than themselves is responsible for their happiness, success, security, well being, and life outcomes.

Your Inner Voice Has All The Answers
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Each of us has an inner voice that guides, directs, prods and helps us as we travel the many highways and crossroads of our lives. Now I ask you would an all loving God put enough sense in squirrels to gather nuts, birds to fly south and fish to swim upstream and not put something at least comparable in humans?

Your Life Can Be An Adventure or a Disappointment - You Decide
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] As we move through life, each of us is faced with a variety of situations, circumstances, challenges and relationships that test our patience, resolve, commitment and acceptance. In each of these situations, we always have three options, choices or actions we can take. We can attempt to change the person or circumstance, we can accept it, or we can leave it and move on.

Your Power Of Choice
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] If I hear one time from some one "I am stuck. I don’t have any choices." Everyone has options. Everyone has choices. Not everyone always likes their choices or options, but they have them nonetheless in every situation whether they choose...

Your Reality - My Reality
[Self-Improvement] Everyone has their own reality and it is based on a number of factors things like; upbringing and early conditioning, life experiences and their outcomes, their education, spiritual values, their perceptions and judgments and so on. No two people have the same reality. Reality is how we see the world around us and how we respond to this world.

Your Sales Self-Image
[Business:Sales] All sales success is the result of a foundation grounded in right attitudes and positive self-esteem and/or self-image. If a salesperson has all of the skill competency and yet lacks the right attitudes, sooner or later they will sabotage their results and performance due to a lack of self-control and discipline. An example is price resistance.