BY: JP Maroney
My wife watches a lot of Food Network TV. I’m almost embarrassed to admit it… but I watch a fair share too.
But only to keep her happy! (wink)
Anyhow… the recent episode of Bobby Flay’s “Smackdown” show really made me sit up and think.
Quick note: In case you’re unfamiliar with Bobby Flay or his newest show, “Smackdown” here’s the briefing…
Bobby seeks out the best of the best in any given food field and challenges them to an unannounced head-to-head contest in their given area of expertise.
He takes on BBQ guys… wedding cake gals… etc.
The latest, was an Ice Cream guy with a joint named IZZY’s Solar-Powered Ice Cream. http://izzysicecream.com/
Anyhow, you’ll have to watch the show to find out all the details. But, here’s the point of my post…
Bobby Flay showed up, camera crew in tow. But Jeff Sommers, the guy he was challenging, didn’t even know who “Bobby Flay” was.
Now get this… Bobby has multiple TV programs, books and restaurants.
To me… that was the “Ultimate Smackdown.”
But the fact is, it was a reality check. It reminded me that no matter how big, how important, how “guru-ish” we might become, there are always people out there who don’t know who the flip we are.
It reminded me also that we have amazing and exciting opportunities to continue reaching more and more people. That we shouldn’t get complacent in the idea that “We’ve Arrived!”
If you have a business… there are most customers to reach!
If you’re a speaker, author, guru of some sort… there are more people to reach!
Don’t stop. Don’t get lazy. Don’t get satisfied.
Thanks Bobby Flay, IZZY’s, Jeff Sommers, and Food Network!
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Exceptional people know and leverage their personal strengths. Rather than focus on their weaknesses, and spend all their time trying to improve those areas, they first look for and then concentrate on areas where they are brilliant.
This idea flies in the face of conventional wisdom, which contends that people should learn where they are weak and then work on improving those weaknesses. Look at the school systems where children are taught to focus on their weaker subjects in an effort to improve their overall grades and develop a “well-rounded” skill set.
Consider the traditional workplace where people are carted off to seminars, enrolled in training programs, or given books in order to compensate for their weak areas, while the areas where they are truly exceptional go unnoticed and underdeveloped.
Does this mean that people should not improve? Is this an excuse for lacking certain skills? Not at all.
Instead, every effort should be made to insure that personal weaknesses do not sabotage a person’s effectiveness. At the same time, great attention should be placed on discovering where a person is truly exceptional, and then making sure they are involved in activities that make the most of their strengths.
Take time to discover your greatest talents and strengths. Then invest your life in leveraging these areas of excellence in the service of other people.
BY JP MARONEY
Imagine what a day would be like and how few people you could deal with if there were no phones.
    Perhaps you like that idea?
Nevertheless, telephones have made it possible to stay in one place and do business in different cities, states, and even countries. They also have made us more accessible to others.
We are rarely out of touch… especially now that cellular phones go with us everywhere.
Today, even with the growth of email and internet technology, the telephone is still a very relevant and highly vital tool in business today. In fact, it is in many ways more powerful than ever.
Here are 5 telephone tips for answering the call:
First, when you answer the telephone, identify yourself and your company, and offer to help. Some companies find it useful to create a script and instructions for answering the telephone. This provides uniformity for the organization, and familiarity for callers.
Second, speak clearly so the caller can easily understand you.
Third, project a positive image with your voice and attitude. To help you accomplish this, smile when you answer the phone and while you’re assisting the caller.
Even though the caller can’t see you, they will be able to “hear” your smile. Some people even keep a mirror near their telephone to remind them to smile while on the telephone.
Third, if you have to put someone on hold, first ask their permission, and then honor their response.
Fourth, if the caller is trying to reach someone who is either out of the office or busy with another client, do what you can to help them. At minimum capture as much information as possible so that your team member can effectively return the call and satisfy the caller’s needs.
Finally, block out distractions that might prevent you from giving total attention to the caller. These potential distractions can include co-workers, customers who are talking nearby, or the arrival of new email.
It’s important to remember that when you’re on the telephone, the caller on the other end of the line is the most important person at that very moment, and they should be treated with utmost respect and attention.
If you’re truly interested in improving customer service at your business — especially in the area of telephone skills — then you should get a copy of, “Service By Phone,” the complete learning system from my People Builders series.
This program teaches you and your staff:
* How to answer the telephone effectively and    efficiently * How to put people one hold * How to take a message * How to leave effective voice mail messages that    produce results * How to deal with angry callers * How to “Serve By Selling” * How to safely use your cell phone * How to reduce neck and shoulder strain while using    the telephone * And much, much more
It’s available in two formats…
1) Video DVD for group staff training 2) Audio CD for personal learning
The video program includes everything you need to conduct a 45 to 60 minute employee development session on this topic.
It’s a complete, turnkey system that includes:
* Professionally produced 20-min video * Leader’s guide with facilitation instructions * Master copies of employee handouts (for unlimited    reproduction) * Employee feedback forms * 3 motivational posters to reinforce topic * Topic-specific newsletter
Claim your copy of the video system here: http://www.goldbar.net/sc/ap.php?m=7982&i=1244
Claim your copy of the audio system here: http://www.goldbar.net/sc/ap.php?m=7982&i=1245
If you have any questions or need more details, call 1-800-304-5758.
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JP Maroney a.k.a. “The Pitbull of Business” is a business growth strategist, best-selling author and award-winning speaker. Receive his FREE book, “5 Ways to Double or Triple Your Business” by visiting www.JPMaroney.com
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Interested in publishing this article in your magazine, newsletter, blog, website or article directory? Send an email to info at jpmaroney dot com or call 1-800-304-5758.
Two major stumbling blocks keep people from really having what they want in life.
1) Doubting the future 2) Pouting about the past
They doubt the future, always expecting the worst possible outcome. I mean really…how can they ever expect to get what they want in life if they doubt the possibility that they’ll ever get it.
Duh!
They need to start thinking optimistically. People who know me say I’m “eternally optimistic.” So I looked up the word “optimistic” in the dictionary. The definition is this: A tendency to expect the best possible outcome. That’s me. In everything I do, I always expect the best possible outcome.
One of my wife’s friends, who is in sales, was over at our house recently, and said something I simply can’t agree with. She said, “when I go in on an appointment, I don’t expect to come away with any kind of sale. If I do make a sale, it’s just a bonus.” Well, that’s not stupidly simple, that’s simply stupid. Why would you do that? To set yourself up for failure? To give yourself a way out if you don’t close a sale?
ive me a break.
If you want to get more of the things you want out of life, you’ve got to start expecting them to come to you. Begin seeing yourself already in possession of them. Believe you can achieve your goal. Expect the best, and you can’t possibly lose.
As I mentioned above, the second thing people do to sabotage their own success is to pout about the past. How many people do you know who say things like these:
I would be more successful if…
Oh, grow up. Forget the past, and PLEASE stop pouting about it.
The economic climate in which we live, removes every single excuse you have for not advancing your career, increasing your income, starting a business, etc. Stop blaming your parents, your heritage, your nationality, your race, your spouse, or any other “lame blame” you can come up with to excuse yourself from succeeding in life.
Each of us is responsible for our own success. Take charge of your future. Remember, it’s up to you. It is your future, after all.
You can’t expect others to do it for you. Besides, when you leave it up to other people, they usually don’t do it like you want it done. Right? That does not mean you don’t delegate responsibilities, but the ultimate responsibility for whether or not the goal is reached, belongs to you.
I actually find that to be exciting. That means I’m in control of whether I fail or succeed. Don’t you prefer that? Instead of sitting around waiting on someone else to produce the results, you can go out and do it yourself.
There is a certain freedom that comes from gaining control of your life. Yes, the responsibility is heavy sometimes. Yes, there are times when you will feel alone in the world. But, resist the urge to blame someone else, or your circumstances, for the fact that you are not achieving your goals and dreams.
One characteristic that really attracted me to my wife when we were dating, was her ability to get beyond the things that happened to her in the past, and go after the things she wanted to achieve in the future.
When she was eighteen years old, on the way back from a church camp, her car veered off the road, then flipped three times. She flew out the window, and landed on the shoulder of the highway. Result, broken back, and paralysis…from the chest down.
She spent months in rehabilitation, and did regain some of her feeling, but she still has no sensation or muscle control below her knees. But, she hasn’t let this stop her from enjoying life. A few years after we married, both of us became interested in scuba diving. We stopped by a local dive shop to explore the idea. The guy working in the shop was very doubtful, and stressed the importance of having use of your feet to propel yourself through the water. That wasn’t good enough for my wife.
So, we stopped by the shop again later, and talked with another, more experienced diving instructor. He looked through some catalogs, and found some webbed gloves designed for surfers. He suggested she could dive successfully using her hands for propulsion rather than her feet. Now, we were getting somewhere.
Diving has become a passion for us. It is something we share and enjoy together. And, swimming under water gives Tonya more freedom of mobility than she has on land. She could have pouted about the past, and let her physical challenges keep her from fulfilling her dream of scuba diving. Instead, she believed that there must be some way for her to enjoy to pleasure. And oh, what a pleasure it is.
Let me give you another example. We decided we wanted to start riding bikes together, for fun and fitness. Again, there are certain limitations with regard to balance, that Tonya has to deal with. So, we found a bike shop that would spend some time exploring possibilities. We decided on a three wheel bike, with a child seat mounted on the back for our daughter Karlista. Problem solved, excellent fun and family time.
So what dreams have you allowed your past to steal? Can you think of anything you would really like to do, be, or have? What’s stopping you? Step beyond the boundary of your past, and start believing in the future.
Stop pouting about the past, and start believing in the future. It is then, and only then, that you will begin to achieve your goals and dreams.
Here is an idea that will save you a lot of time and frustration in anything you do. Learn from other people who have already done what you are attempting.
When I started my first business, all I had was an idea and a lot of enthusiasm. I was nineteen years old. I had no prior business experience, no business mentors, and I had never read any business or personal development books.
It didn’t take me very long to learn that I didn’t know what I was doing. And it didn’t take very long for that business to go out of business. But, I did learn from my mistakes and experiences.
By the time I started my second business, I had read a few books, and begun to seek out other people who could share their experiences about starting and building a business. I still didn’t have all of the information I needed, but I did much better this time.
My biggest mistake, and ultimately the reason for failure was my lack of focus.
The third time I started a company, rather than simply rely on my own experiences, I devoted my energy to finding out what other people had done to succeed.
I read hundreds of books. I think this is a real key to success. Not only do you gain information about how to accomplish your goal, you also receive inspiration because you realize that anyone who has ever achieved something great has also endured many setbacks and failures. So, reading builds your belief.
And, there are no good excuses for not reading. If money is your excuse, go to the library and pull all of the books on the subject you are interested in. That will be several dozen, perhaps, several hundred books.
Another thing I like to do is go to used book stores. Books are so cheap there. It amazes me that people actually get rid of their books. I don’t. I keep every book I buy.
You can also buy books very inexpensively at garage sales. Again, stupid people get rid of good books, and they sell them very cheaply. You might get an idea out of a book that cost you a quarter, which could produce a quarter of a million dollars in income for you. Now, is that value or what?
If time is your excuse, let me blow that one real quick. Turn off the TV, and get off of the internet. Now, you’ve probably picked up at least two hours a day for reading.
Also, start taking books with you everywhere you go. When you have a few minutes, pull out a book, and read a few pages. I even keep a stack of books in the rest room. OK, don’t laugh, but that’s what I do. I keep books in my truck. Sometimes I have to wait for other people to arrive, giving me time to read.
Here’s how to read a lot in a little amount of time. Scan the pages, looking for key words and headlines. Underline information that’s meaningful to you. That way, you can go back and refer to the book later, and quickly find the portions of the book that relate to what you are trying to accomplish.
You don’t even have to read the books. That right! There are hundreds of books available on audio format, as well as speakers like me who have audio programs based on their seminars and speeches. You can listen to those in your vehicle.
Most people spend at least an hour a day in their automobile. Many people spend much more. Make that time work for you. Instead of listening to the latest, greatest songs (all of the time), use some of that time to educate yourself.
You can even listen to audio cassettes while dressing in the morning, and before you go to sleep at night. Just find some time to fill your mind with positive thoughts and good information.
I also talked to dozens of other business people in a similar industry. I wanted to know what they were doing to succeed. Now, not everything they said applied to me. But, at least I had the option of using the information they shared.
I tapped into resources like the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). Once a week, for months, I went to the SBDC offices and spent time with the executive director, going over my numbers, and working on my business plan. He became an excellent sounding board for my ideas.
The guys at SCORE were invaluable. They held decades of experience between them, and provided me with great wisdom in relation to building my company. Hey, the resources are out there, you just have to tap into them. I did everything I could to learn from the experiences of other people.
In my experiences, I have learned that there are three kinds of people in this world.
 1) Stupid  2) Smart  3) Successful
Which are you? Here are the details.
Stupid people never learn from their own mistakes. Smart people do. But, successful people learn from the mistakes of others. Let me tell you a true story.
In 1999, when I sold my magazine publishing company, the two individuals who bought the company never, ever asked to meet with me to discuss why I did things the way I did them. They never asked what mistakes I had made (and I’ve made a ton), or what I had learned from those mistakes. They never, not one time, asked for ANY of my experiences from the four years since I had started the company.
Now, that’s simply stupid. Why would you pay good money to buy an existing business, and then not take time to find out what had been done in the past, and why, so you could avoid making some of the same mistakes that had already been made?
Listen, to survive, you just can’t afford to not learn from your own mistakes…that’s a given. But, to really succeed, you need to learn from the mistakes of other people.
Why?
Because if you rely completely on your own experiences, you limit your knowledge, but if you rely on the experiences (mistakes and successes) of others, you multiply your knowledge, and greatly reduce your possibility for failure. Can it get any simpler than that? I don’t think so.
—————————— Interested in publishing this article in your magazine, newsletter, blog, website or article directory? Send an email to info at jpmaroney dot com or call 1-800-304-5758.
Exceptional people are avid writers. They are constantly writing down their thoughts, ideas, observations and plans.
If you ask for a business card from one of these people they have a hard time finding one that doesn’t have something written on the back. They have little scraps of paper tucked here and there, little notes typed in documents on their computer, or things written in their day planner.
Why? Because exceptional people know that writing crystallizes thought, and thought motivates action. By investing time to write down their thoughts and ideas, they are able to sort through their many viewpoints and formulate creative solutions to their greatest challenges.
A side benefit of writing is that it creates a permanent record. That record, especially of conversations can come in handing when other people develop selective memory. You can go back to your notes and remind them about the specifics of the conversation.
Exceptional people write two important things – They write what kind of person they are going to be, and they write what things they are going to do.
The kind of person they are going to be includes their values, the things that are important to them. They write the kind of spouse they want to be, the kind of parent, the kind of professional. They know who they are, and how they want to be remembered when they are gone.
Exceptional people also write the things they are going to do. This includes their dreams, visions, goals and objectives. They regularly invest time into making a list, in fact usually several lists, of the tasks they need to accomplish.
They have project lists, a list of errands, a list of professional goals, and a list of projects. They drive everyone crazy with their lists. Yet, they know and live by the irrefutable law that people who make lists get more done than those who do not.
In fact, studies have revealed that a person with a list on average gets five times more done that a person without a list. That insight alone should be enough motivation for you to begin putting this routine into action.
These lists don’t even have to be part of a sophisticated system. They can be a list created one or more sheets of paper, or in a more elaborate system like a computer software program.
One of the greatest productivity enhancing exercises we recommend is to take the first fifteen minutes of each day to make a list of all the things you plan to accomplish that day. Or, you may prefer to make this list each evening before you go to bed.
Some people find it even more helpful to identify five or six items on that list as the most important tasks that absolutely, positively will get done that day. This ensures that they will end each day having accomplished at least their highest priorities.
Many exceptional people find it helpful to keep a journal. They invest time regularly to keep a record of what they’ve done, how it turned out, and what they could do differently next time.
Your journal can be kept in many different forms, including a bound book, a 3-ring binder, in word processing documents on your computer, or even on the note pages in your day planner. Find what works for you, and make a habit of journaling.
Writing can also be a great decision-making tool. Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the center. On one side write down all the positive things that could happen if you made a particular decision or chose a particular solution to a problem.
On the other side, write down all the negative things that could happen as a result of your decision or action. Use the information you write down to analyze the possibilities and then make the best decision based on the facts.
You can also use writing to solve your greatest challenges. Doctor Robert Schuller often used a list of ten to solve his problems. For example, if he was trying to raise a million dollars to complete a building project, he might make a list of ten possibilities. Ten different ways to get the money.
Becoming an avid writer is a master key to success. Make a habit of consistently and regularly writing the kind of person you’re going to be and the things you’re going to do.
Use it to make decisions and solve problems. Use it to analyze your experiences and plan for improvements. Adopt this practice of writing and you will have implemented a key quality of exceptional people.
Exceptional people have a clearly defined purpose in life. They know precisely what they want to accomplish or attain. They have a reason for being, a causation of behavior that motivates them and drives them to action.
People call it different things. Some call it a sense of purpose or destiny. Others call it a mission, goals, objectives or intent.
Regardless the label or definition, exceptional people have this sense of purpose and it sets them apart from others who only wish for more out of life. Exceptional people place great importance on their definite purpose because they realize without it life is empty and pointless.
Now, we’re not talking about your responsibilities. While important, very few people gain pleasure or power from the thought of cleaning the kitchen, or changing the oil in the car.
Nobody is going to get up in the morning, get excited, go out and work hard just to pay the bills. A purpose for your life goes deeper. It has to be more than that.
Your purpose can embrace a desire to be a great spouse, an exceptional parent, and financially successful. It can include your passion to maintain good health and physical conditioning. It can incorporate your professional ambitions to win in business, build a sales career, or write a book. It may mean knowing you’ve contributed something worthwhile to the world.
Bottom line, your sense of purpose must be important to you. It should get you excited. It should create drive and urgency.
Exceptional people are enthusiastic about their purpose in life. When they get up in the morning they are excited because they know where they are going and how they’re going to get there.
So, do you have a sense of purpose for you life? Does it excite you? Do you get up each morning with a high level of anticipation? Do you go to bed each night looking forward to what great events may happen the next day?
The incredible opportunity in life is that you have the power to choose your purpose. It is up to you. However, it must be something about which you can be passionate.
When you speak of your purpose, they things that are important to you, a light should come on, and your eyes should glisten. People should be able to tell that you love what you’re doing. You should receive strength by simply considering the possibilities of fulfilling your definite purpose.
It could be that you want to be an artist. You have ideas for paintings just waiting to be applied to the canvas. Now, is the time to make that a part of your life purpose.
It may be that you want to write books, start a business, get a degree, or enter a marathon. These hidden or un-pursued personal interests should be incorporated into your life purpose.
Once they become part of your overall life purpose, you can set goals, determine next actions and begin pursuing them. But, until they have been recognized and made part of your overall life plan, they will remain unachieved.
Once you define your life purpose, everything you do should support it. The tasks to which you commit yourself, the organizations you join, the classes you take, the books you read, the people with whom you associate should all support your definite purpose.
Think of it this way. Your definite purpose is your life journey. Your goals and objectives are points of interest along the way. Your dreams are the rewards for reaching your goals and fulfilling your purpose.
So how do you define your purpose in life? How do you make a choice of what to pursue? What determines the overall theme of your life?
You have to look inside yourself to find the purpose that can and will drive your life. And don’t overlook the obvious. There are probably things right now on which you place great importance. Yet, if you stop to think about it, you’re probably not doing all you should, or all you want to in those areas of your life.
Since you make the choice, you must ask yourself some important questions, including:
Once you’ve answered these questions you can write a personal statement of purpose. Some people call this a mission statement. It should incorporate all the things that are important to you in affirmative terms of how you plan to live your life and what you plan to do.
Most importantly, it brings it all into perspective. And it gives you something you reflect on each day when you have the potential of getting sidetracked from your life purpose.
