What are you REALLY doing?

Don't you hate getting "called out"? You know what I mean... you're making excuses that you think everyone will accept, and someone asks you a question that gets right to the heart of the matter. Sometimes it's a relief to be able to get a struggle out in the open and get help. Sometimes it's a reality self-check that isn't always pretty. Have you been untruthful with yourself? Hiding from responsibilities? Strangled by fear? Just plain lazy? Take a moment to examine yourself and re-focus your energies. You can save energy when you use your time productively, instead of using your time to hide or make excuses. Make it a priority - it's much harder to hear it from someone else.

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Franchise opportunity

As I read several blogs and forums relating to direct sales, I'm fascinated by those who complain, complain, complain. They want something, they get it, but they want it different. They sign on to a company, but don't like how the company dictates this or that. Direct sellers - imagine you owned a franchise... let's say "Subway" (Subway is a registered trademark & only being used as an example). You have your location with the pretty sign, all of your food is purchased through your company, you have a fairly standard menu and you get to choose to participte in national advertising and pricing. And, you have to sell a significant number of sandwiches to retain your franchise. As a customer, I know that I can walk into any Subway and get a BMT that tastes almost identical to any BMT I purchase at any other location. I know what I'm getting. So what if Subway franchise owners put the name on the door but didn't follow franchise rules? As a custom...

Volunteers

I've heard many in leadership lamenting about the lack of volunteers. If you lead a church or other non-profit, or are in direct sales, you lead an army of volunteers. Sometimes, your volunteers will not hit you over the head with their willingness to serve. Sometimes, they will. Are you ready to mentor them in their volunteer position so that they will be successful? Do you follow through with them while enthusiasm is high? I think we all believe we do. About two years ago, I volunteered with a non-profit in the Quad Cities area. It took several weeks just to be able to get through to the correct person to volunteer my services with. I was invited to attend an open meeting, where I spoke of the service that I was willing to provide. Although there was much agreement that my service would be a great addition to the service they were providing, and several follow up calls on my part, I never was given the opportunity to volunteer. A...

Walls & windmills

It seems that the one thing that you can count is change. Change for the better, change for the worse, but change none the less. Change is inevitable. We all have our own ways of dealing (or not dealing) with change. "When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills." (Chinese proverb) Those that build walls tend to view change as happening to them, a victim mentality that causes many to turn bitter. Others look at change as a force to be harnassed. A chance to build and grow, a chance for things to be better. There is such a small difference between "bitter" and "better". It's "I". I choose my outlook. I choose my action and reaction. I choose whether I put the covers over my head or get up and greet the day to see what great possibilities are blowing in. Put your finger in the air. Which way is your wind blowing today?

Leadership Lessons

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