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THE SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY
You probably have heard the story about the glass of water-half full or half empty? We all know people who, no matter what the situation, would say the glass-for them-is half empty. Often, we judge ourselves too harshly. When we experience a setback or when we think that we have failed, it is easy to fall into the half-empty-glass syndrome instead of looking at the good things in our lives and the future potential for good.
EVERYBODY'S GOT TO FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY
This one principle can make a big difference in developing positive communications and effective relationships. Developing a trusting attitude toward people, making them feel good about themselves, holding them in mutual respect, and accepting them for who they are can lead to better communications and stronger relationships.
POSITIVE ATTITUDE
This may shock you, but I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my success, my failures, fame or pain, what other people think or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude is that "single string" that keeps me going or hinders my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there's no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.
Charles Swindoll
REALM OF INFLUENCE
Have you ever considered how influential you really are? Have you ever realized that you may be a role model for someone without even knowing it? Each of us has the capacity to touch the life of one or possibly thousands of people. If you have children, it may be your children's lives that you impact. In your community, you may influence other citizens' lives. At your workplace, you may be a role model to other employees.
STAY FOCUSED
Staying focused gives you a track to run on. It provides the guidelines you need to reach your individual or business goals. A lack of concentration or discipline, too much looking ahead, or spending too much money before you have it can prevent you from maintaining the necessary focus. The business world is littered with stories about companies that lost their focus. Do not become part of that litter.
DON'T BURN ANY BRIDGES
We never know what the future holds, so why not part company with class and on a positive note? Most people will be surprised by your positive behavior because others would not provide this type of response when clients leave them. They may or may not do business with you again, but they will remember you as the classiest person they ever met.
WILL WE EVER DO BUSINESS IN MY LIFETIME?
Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over 'til it's over." It is hard for people to say no. All sales professionals can show you call records going back six months to three years where a prospect says "call back," "not yet," or "maybe next month." Salespeople want to believe that the prospect will eventually make a buying decision. This can create a false sense of security if it causes you to think you have a lot of business coming in. At some point, you have to act on these holdouts and move on.
PROSPECT OR PERISH
In the world of academia, it is said that professors have to "publish or perish." In coaching, the "wins and losses" are crucial. In the corporate world, "profits and losses" indicate the bottom line. In professional sales, it is "prospect or perish."
That is why it is so important to meet new people every day. If you like what you do, then it can be fun as well as a valuable learning experience. The opportunities to meet people are endless. They are all around us. We just need to be able to see them.
IT'S NOT THE OLYMPICS
I challenge you to, "Get Active, Stay Active." There is sufficient evidence that links regular physical activity to health improvements. It will help you reduce daily stress, provide greater amounts of physical and mental energy, help you look and feel younger and more vital, and keep off those extra pounds. Just remember, an active lifestyle is available to all of us, and it's never too late to start.
THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY TO DO A WRONG THING
" . . . In the rush to write business in today's environment, or perhaps in an effort to provide service to your policyholders, you may find situations where you are tempted to [save some time] or 'cut some corners.' Some of these situations may tempt you to sign someone else's name or answer a question yourself because you don't want to bother your clients.
THE BURNING PLATFORM
No risks, no rewards. How many times have you heard this? Christopher Columbus, the European discoverer of the New World, is one of many in a long history of people who have taken a risk. There were many at the time of Columbus who believed that the world was flat and that if you sailed too far into the Atlantic Ocean you would surely fall off the end of the world. Columbus wasn't sure what he was going to find when he set sail in 1492. He must have had faith in himself. The earth wasn't flat and the rest is history.
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