A baby's hug

A story from an unknown author -

"We were the only family with children in the restaurant.

I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter.

And his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

Anticipation: a word filled with hope, life and excitement

Thanks John. A great word for Christmas Eve.

Bringing HOPE into my thoughts

I used to read a lot of woodworking magazines and remember one story about how this former corporate exec turned woodworker (for profit) prioritized his day.

He wrote, "I always have numerous builds going on, from small repairs to large tables, bookcases, etc. And, I never really know what I'm going to work on that day until I get my 2nd cup of coffee, walk across the yard and open that door to m...y shop. Sometimes the anticipation is overwhelming!"

What an awesome way to start your day. Huh? I don't have "quite" that freedom. Do you?

Maybe we do.

I bet this guy had a lot of HOPE. I bet he intended to win, was always sensing victory.

Go into today with anticipation. Think about the day you have and bring HOPE into your thoughts.

Can HOPE be a discipline?

Follow-through. The energy it takes to work your database can be exhausting for many of us. 

In a lunch and learn yesterday we were discussing the differences in being "victory vs defeated" focused/oriented (the overall subject was "hope").

This morning, thinking about my database, how I haven't been near as diligent in my practice to "never-waste-a-handshake," I realized, in the context of the lesson I taught from Maxwell's book "Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn," that maybe I don't have enough HOPE. 

Treating everyone fairly and justly...

Traditional marketing focuses on the masses, treating everyone the same. 

Guerrilla marketing treats everyone fairly and justly by treating everyone differently. 

Guerrilla marketers come to understand and practice win/win relationships.  

Guerrilla marketers think about their prospect's behavior and how to best relate with them. If you, the marketer, have a High D temperament, but your  prospect is a High C, your marketing "output" is naturally different that your prospects "input." You tend to be direct, to the point. You want to move through the process and get it finished so you can move on. Your High C prospect wants details, details and more details. The High C wants time to think through the details, ask questions and insure he gets good answers. 

If haven't taken a DISC assessment in the past year and would like to learn more about your temperament, email me at Danny@DannyLSmith.com for a link to a free online DISC.  

Danny L. Smith

512-773-6528

"The top 1% of successful entrepreneurs build themselves ahead of their business."

Goal setting; are you willing to dig into the tasks?

Thinking about 2014. Success will be great deal about digging in and through

Time, Attitude, Skill, and Knowledge...with a bit of Style.

What are you willing to do differently to have something different?

Keller on Community & the Millennial Generation

Community is a big thing to the younger generation, but then, I suppose it is to many of us in one way or another. Keller points out how it has to move from the social media to more face-to-face.

Yet, many of us in the older generations can take a lesson on how community is built on-line.

Click below for a bit of Keller's wisdom (love this guy)...



To that end......

7 Essential Behaviors for Leaders

Pondering previous postings....from 8/22/2011 -

Bossidy and Charan's Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done is an excellent book for small businesses and teaches fundamentals of GETTING THINGS DONE. This book is one of those I pound out at clients, covertly and otherwise :-), to improve their processes. The authors lay out the argument of 3 Building Blocks and then 3 Core Processes of Execution.

These factors are especially important for the small business* person and his/her intentional focus on results.

Building Block #1: The Leader's Seven Essential behaviors

1. Know your people and your business 
2. Insist on realism
3. Set clear goals and priorities
4. Follow through
5. Reward doers
6. Expand people's capabilities
7. Know yourself

Four core qualities that make up emotional fortitude are authenticity, self-awareness, self-mastery and humility. 

To that end....be purposeful, be intentional.

 *I define small business as any entity (division, branch, company, sales) under 100 people; this includes individual sales people, loan officers, Realtors, etc.

Related Articles 

Marketing's Three Building Blocks of Execution

Missing Link(s)..or Broken?

Thoughts on....

A couple of thoughts have come together this morning, and they haven't, so-to-say, "crashed." But have rather been slow moving burn.

1. I've been thinking more and more about how Potential lies within me and Opportunity lies outside; and without uncovering the potential, opportunities will be missed.

2. Jordan, a loan officer on my sales team, asked for a book I'd recommend him reading; my instant thought was "QBQ; The Question Behind the Question." That was a couple of days ago and I've had thoughts around the content, what to really ask yourself to eliminate blame, complaining, and procrastination."

I think it's time to revisit the QBQ principles and dig deeper into how asking the right questions (what, how and where...not why and when) will help me be more aware of my potential and be able to fully take advantage of my opportunities!

That's a good burn.


Danny L. Smith
512-773-6528

"The top 1% of successful entrepreneurs build themselves ahead of their business."

Credibility 1st, then Behavior

Trust is a "core competency." In this video Mr. Covey tells us a bit about how trust plays out in the marketplace.



How creditable is your character and your competence? Both matter.

Learn more about ways to speed up your trust, lower your expenses and raise your profits at our weekly Lunch & Learn series: click here for more information.

What I believe about Mission, Vision, Purpose and Calling

Definitions can be confusing. Here's how I use Mission, Vision, Purpose and Calling:

 - Mission is what I'm going to do "period-the-end." It has nothing to do with money or position. Mission doesn't change without a life changing event. Mission, along with values, is one's core ideology.

- Vision is my desires, plans and goals. It is "where I see myself in 'x' days, months or years." Vision can change.

- Purpose is how I am to serve God's plan for me. I serve God's purpose through faith. As a follower of Christ (a Christian) my life has purpose, the work I do has purpose, beyond just being happy and making money. It is with this purpose I serve His plan. I don't always have a good grip on the plan, but I know I'm to serve Him through His purpose.

- Calling is how "I'm called according to God's purpose." Calling is what I do individually to fit into God's purpose.

Pondering these this morning have led me to really realize that two can be easily summerized, two not.

Lord, what other questions do I need to ponder, to clarify? Not necessarily the answers right now, but what questions?

To that end..........I pray I truly come to understand my purpose and my calling, few do.

Leadership Ability impacts.....

Leadership ability determines a person's level of effectiveness

- Law of the Lid, John C. Maxwell

Lids negatively impact all of us, everyday. Experts say the we typically go about our day working solely from our unconscious. In other words...on autopilot.

In a marketing class today I was asked "do you think we should take a leadership class to improve our marketing abilities?" My answer was "yes, nothing will help you more than to constantly improve your core leadership abilities. Improve your ability to lead and you improve your ability to trust yourself, others will trust you more, your spheres of influence will increase and your marketing impact will improve in direct proportion." Maybe not word-for-word, but something like that.

What lids are keeping you where you're at? What leadership roadblocks are keeping you from "rising to the next level?"

Think about the characteristics of leadership and marketing. Do you agree they're so closely aligned?

A couple of suggestions:

1. If you'd like my 22 Common Roadblocks Scoring Sheet, email me at Danny@DannyLSmith.com.

2. Click on the Leadership Lunch & Learn tab above for info about upcoming events.

To that end....  

Changes are Hard

He who rejects change is the architect 

of decay. The only human institution which 

rejects progress is the cemetery. 
~ Harold Wilson

I don't care who you are, change, purposeful change, is hard.

It doesn't matter if you're trying to change, or having to changing. It's hard.

Whether you need to change, trying to change or having to change. It's hard.

It's just hard.

If you say it's not, I'll say, as my brother Randy is fond of saying "you lie to your friends and I'll lie to mine, but let's not lie to each other."

When it's not hard is when your molding to the ebb and flow of the world around you and you don't notice the change. 

Otherwise, it's hard to purposefully change. 

Embrace the fact that change is hard and you'll be better prepared to handle the tasks it will take to change.

Because it's hard.

Just hard.

But that's ok. It's supposed to be.

To that end.....

"The top 1% of successful entrepreneurs build themselves ahead of their business."

Les and John; behind the scenes

If you've ever thought about becoming a professional speaker, you'll love these videos. Grab your favorite beverage, click the image and enjoy.

Who's in your inner circle? How are they impacting you?

A leader's potential is determined by those closest to him

- John C. Maxwell, The Law of the Inner Circle

What 3 people do you go to for advice?
What 3 people do you regularly feed from (authors, speakers, etc)?
What 3 people give you advice whether you ask for it or not?

These 3 - 9 people have a tremendous impact on your productivity, your accomplishments, your income, your life.

John tells us (page 131 of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership) "most people create an inner circle of people. However, they are usually not strategic in doing so."

How was your week? Reflect back on it and how it was impacted by those closest to you?

Thinking thoughts about Multi-Tasking

Friend and colleague Craig Foster asked me this morning "how're you doing?"

I proceeded to tell him how much I thought the "thoughts" about multi-tasking being non-productive are a crock.....I went on about how energized I get when I get into my multi-tasking mode versus how a pain it is to be singularly focused (what do you call not-multi-tasking?).

In the end, I'm sure he'll think twice about asking how I'm doing in the near future.

So, multi-tasking......What do you think?

Competencies, Processes, Gray Boxes....and Dreams. Thank you Lord for Dreams.

Competencies. Personally, I like a list such as the attached (see files) that gives me behaviors to add to my process.

"Think-into-the-results" you want to accomplish. Dream about what you want. Dreaming will get you out of your rut.

The results of your Dreams will be a direct reflection of your engagement in your processes. Implement any process, work it, evaluate it, correct it. "Think" about it as a circle and keep going around and around that circle (implement, work, evaluate, correct, implement, work, evaluate, correct, imple......). A good read to reiterate this point is the "Hedgehog Concept" Jim Collins discusses in his book "Good to Great."...

If you haven't read "Good to Great," today's a good day to go to Barnes and Noble, grab a copy off and read the gray boxes.

Every business person should read the gray boxes in Good to Great.

Have a Great Day. It's raining in the Texas Hill Country! Maybe my old dock will float and I'll get to sell it!

Blessings, Danny

Picking the right company to work for: "the 6 Ps"

After making a couple of bad employer choices back in the mid '90s, I decided I needed to decided ahead of time what I was looking for in an employer.

That thought process brought up the 5Ps: People, Processes, Products, Pay and Pricing. A friend, Mark Hairston suggested adding a 6th P (Purpose) in 2015 and I've since substituted Processes for Platforms.

I've been involved in recruiting a large number of people over the years. And I've been recruited. My experience (good and bad) has proven, good and bad, that it boils down to the 6Ps; Purpose, People, Platforms, Products, Pay and Pricing.

You can throw in a few others, and is more of an art than science, but always comes down to the 6Ps.

Note: My experience (not opinion) is that the order is important but not entirely weighed equally. 2nd Note: this is specific to a mortgage company but can be easily adapted to other industries.

Bias Warning: I have a bias towards leadership and believe that everything "rises and falls on leadership." How do you define leadership? Influence. This is a period-the-end thing for me and if you don't agree with that, then you won't agree with the rest of this.

Thinking into results

My coach and mentor Paul Martinelli reminds me to "think into my results."

Here's a great thought....

"Blessedness, not material possessions is the measure of right thought; wretchedness, not lack of material possessions, is the measure of wrong thought." - James Allen

Danny L. Smith

512-773-6528

"The top 1% of successful entrepreneurs build themselves ahead of their business."

Goals, growth, dreams. Which is most important?

Goals, growth, dreams. 

If the DREAM is strong enough, the GROWTH will happen by putting in the Time, having (or getting) the right Attitude, developing the Skills and gaining the Knowledge. 

The TIME, ATTITUDE, SKILL and KNOWLEDGE are T.A.S.K Based GOALs. Achieving big goals, without a strong enough dream, are almost impossible. The comfort zone and the impact of reason are too powerful.

But, when the DREAM is strong enough, I'll break free of comfort zone, get past the reason and move through growth.

What DREAMS do I have? It doesn't matter how big they are, but how strong. That strong desire will cause me to want to grow. The goals will be set and I'll grow into the person to accomplish them and get my dreams.

Dreams are the fuel to growth and goals.

To that end....

Resource - Are you on LinkedIn and not sure how to benefit?

Getting ready for the week?

Getting ready for the week? 

Remember these words of Ralph Waldo Emerson 

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

Reach for your potential this week.

How much abundance did I miss out on this week?

Coach @EdDeCosta asked this morning "How much abundance can I possibly stand today?"

I know Ed a bit. He's part of the JMT faculty and he's serious about that question.

How about this question, "How much abundance did I miss out of this week?"

That's a question I wonder about. Normally I'll look back over my shoulder, review my calendar, phone calls made and received (missed?!) and emails - on Saturday morning. Not Friday.

Today, I'm doing that so I can finish the week with a bit more abundance, a tad more purpose, and reach harder for my potential. And abundance.

Join me by looking back at your calendar, phone calls and emails. Let that exercise jog your thoughts, mess with what's "in-the-box" (your head and heart) and finish the week well.

Reach for abundance today.

Blessings

Do you have Untapped Potential?

What do you honestly believe about your potential?

Think..."what do-I-honestly believe about-my-potential?"

One of my coaches, Christian Simpson, reminded me this morning that we can't manage and improve something "if we're not aware of it."

You have potential you're not using. We all do. Evaluating where you are now in life, your business, your leadership, your marketing....it seems trivial but it is THE important 1st step in your journey.

Again, "what do-I-honestly believe about-my-potential?"

I believe you have so much untapped potential it's mind-boggling!

Elevate NYC 2013 Keynote - Just because you don't like it.....

Immediate takeaways from this video below....



Immediate takeaways from this video below....

- 90% of the people today (2013) are marketing there event as if it were 2004

- We get stuck; mail, email, advertising, banners

- We have to understand habits change, things we will do today doesn't mean we'll do it tomorrow.

- Storytelling. People want to hear stories. We have to learn how to tell stories in the media where people are at.

- Just because you don't like a marketing idea, doesn't make it wrong

- Just because you don't like Facebook, doesn't make it not good (even for you)

- Just because you don't want to do something, doesn't mean you shouldn't do it anyway.

- The quickest way to go out of business is be romantic about the way you make your money.

- If you plan events and aren't a story teller on Facebook, Twitter....you'll be irrelevant in 12 months.

- Your events and you as individual are a media company. If you choose not to participate, you're being too quiet in a noisy world.

- Change, keep-up, or you'll go bankrupt.

To that end...thanks Caroline Reaves-Powers for the LinkedIn message to watch this video

I'm biased

I'm undoubtedly biased in a few areas, but in particular, I have a bias towards leadership.

After a post this morning about marketing, I'm once again not surprised of the constant similarities between marketing and leading WELL. 

Being personable and wearing blue shirts

Click here

Blind spots. Who's helping you?

Blind spots are called blind spots because they're in a spot that's blind to you.

I have to either strain to see around a blind spot or have someone to point out what's in my blind spot.

What are you doing to see better?

Who's helping you?

What market are you in?

It's Saturday...what's the One Thing you can do differently on Monday?

The most important question you can ask yourself is

"what's the one thing you can do differently on Monday."

- Peter Drucker

When Efficiency is Demeaning

Demonstrating Respect is a clear example

of the disproportionate impact of the

"little things" in building Trust Accounts

 - Stephen M.R. Covey

When is efficiency demeaning?

Efficiency is demeaning with it steps on the intrinsic value of another.

Huh?

Think about a time you were in the middle of a conversation and were "disrespected?"

- at a restaurant; the waiter interrupted your discussion to ask if you wanted something
- at a networking event; you're talking to a prospect and someone else walks up to say hello
- during a meeting; your not through your point and someone else is called on to talk

The waiter is only trying to do his job (be efficient), the network interrupter is just trying to get to more people and the person running the meeting wants to finish on time. All trust withdrawals.

Don't think so? Ask someone on the blunt end of the examples above, think about you're feelings when you've been on the receiving end....and you don't like it. And now you have feelings about the person's behavior, the results you received because of that person and it becomes a matter of trust (integrity, intent, capabilities and/or results).

Demonstrating respect might come across as a "soft" behavior but it's not. It is one of the hardest behaviors to live out correctly.

Be aware of your efficiencies today (whether their too loose - another topic, or tight).

 

Dating and Trust

Dating engages every point of marketing and selling; the better you market, the easier the sell. 

The Attraction to Market blends with the Market Attraction, you stop wasting handshakes and move from Know, to Like, to Trust. 

People do business with people they Trust.

How do you speed up the Trust process in your business? 

(Some of you thought I was going somewhere else with this post, didn't you?)

Process, raising your lid and questions

Guerrilla Marketing is a Process: a series of actions, steps and/or events taken in order to achieve a particular end.

Every sales person should answer these minimum questions every day -

1. What is the Purpose for what I'm doing? (event, meeting, training, etc, etc)

2. What is the Benefit a Prospect will get by using my product or services?

3. What is my Target/Niche (don't let the confusion or frustration of not knowing your Target or Niche keep you from searching it out - it's closing than you think)

4. What Weapons am I going to use today to help me get to my Purpose and stay Top-of-Mind after I've gotten people to Know me? What Weapons can I use to get people to Know, Like and Trust?

5. What is my Image? (Remember, raise your Lid, always improve the Image you have of yourself)


To that end.........have a Blessed day

I hate goal setting

What do you do when goal setting doesn't work?

I don't "hate" many things, but I do hate goal setting. When I set goals I don't set any past this Friday. Seriously..too many things are going on that could get in the way and thinking about the whole "process of goal setting wears me out."

But, I'm driven. Very driven. But not by goals.

Scott Carley helped me with some of this by defining different types of goals. There are some wants, desires, "thing...s" I'm working on, they're just not goals (and this isn't a word-game for me). Goals are supposed to be set and reset (wears me out). 

 I do lists though, and they're in circles. Not figuratively, just the way I think about them. I keep coming back to them as I go through the day, the week. Ha, sometimes things I have on my list never get done and life goes on! They don't have to have specific time-tables (they just get done when they're supposed to get done, or not and I suffer the consequences).

 But, I'm driven. Very driven.

I'm driven by dreams. Big dreams, little dreams. Some might call my dreams passions, desires, ambitions, purpose.

To me though, they're Dreams. I'm driven by my dreams and I put them to the test, every day. Those goal things, they just get accomplished along the way as I grow into my dreams.

Dreams I've had and gotten, I wasn't big enough to get them when they first became dreams. But I grew into them. There've been some lost because I quit growing. The growing stopped when I quit dreaming, and wasn't big enough...I needed to grow through my lid and didn't. Gulp.

I've got some dreams now that I need to grow into because I'm not big enough right now. LOL, yes..physically, but not mentally , emotionally and spiritually.

I need to grow in my TASKS. How I spend my Time, change my Attitude, improve my Skills, increase (or uncover) my Knowledge and develop my Style.

And it's all fueled by dreams.

BHADs. Big Holy Audacious Dreams.


To that end.....make it a GREAT day.

To that end...

Stephen Covey is credited with the phrase "begin with the end in mind." To "what" end are you pursuing today?

Twice yesterday I asked someone "what's your purpose for (doing that activity)? It's not that difficult really. I have some things I need to get done today and each one has a purpose, but I what's my BIG purpose for today? I need to remember that to keep the others from getting in the way.

What's your purpose today? Are you going to a special event, meeting or just about? What's your purpose for going there?

Maxwell is right-on when he tells us "leaders are developed daily not in a day." Daily we live. Daily we pursue dreams, goals, passions and purposes.....even if we just going.

Go with purpose, to that end.....

The Power of Words, Still

Clean the clutter to give room for creativity

Sometimes, it's what's bothering you. It's what's weighing you down mentally. It's more than SQUIRREL! It's getting totally taken out of the game. It leads to roadkill.

Don't let yourself get taken out of the game by something you have no control over, but, recognize there might be changes that need to be made IF you are. But then again, maybe you do have control. It's just in a different sense.

Dig into what's causing the clutter.

Cleaning up the clutter will free you to be creative.

To that end..........what clutter is keeping you from what you want "to be?"

Reaching inside, with help

The real power is in the Question

- Christian (CJ) Simpson

Reaching out to a Mentor - to learn before the mistake from someone who has experience in a particular area.

Learning from a Trainer, or Teacher - to learn from an opinion that is not necessarily grounded in experience.

Growing with a Coach - to learn from someone who has the talent, the skill and the style that is focused not on the Coach, but on the question being asked by the Coach. The Coach's job isn't to impart any knowledge but to draw the knowledge out.

To that end....what questions are you pondering today?

Up, or getting up

I'm never down, but either up or getting up!!


Go here for today's Minute with Maxwell

 

#7: Evaluate and correct (taking a good look over your shoulder)

The step that most directly controls our success or failure is our

behavior - what we do or not do. Behavior means our actions.

How we act, what we do, each moment of each day...

- Shad Helmstetter What to Say When You Talk to Yourself

What did you do to be successful last week? Look over your shoulder? Literally. Look to see if you did what it took to succeed last week.

Assuming that you're responsible for generating income...Did you make a sale? Did you market well last week? Did you bring new people into your sphere of influence. Did you go out, meet people and tell them about your offer? What you're selling? Did you start new relationships last week?

What's your process for staying engaged?

In the past, many of us only established and maintained relationships over the phone and/or face-to-face. These days, there's the impact of social media, email and other internet methods.

Those that succeed in these relationships will usually engage on many levels, use many recourses. Building relationships takes follow-up. It takes a process. A good process requires evaluation and correction.

John Maxwell's quote about The Law of Process states, "Leadership develops daily, not in a day." And, since everything rises and falls on leadership...


Here's a trick I learned a few years ago to help my daily progress/process:

- Grab your calendar, your phone, your emails and your list of 100+ weapons
- Look back through each
- Let your mind wander through the conversations
- Write, on your calendar every time you used one of your marketing weapons
- What weapons do you have easy access to and your not using?
- Write, on your calendar, what you "could have" used...

Do this on a daily basis and you'll gradually become more aware of the weapons you're using, how to use them better, and how to start using other weapons.


And you'll start marketing at much higher level of impact.


To that end....


"Marketing is everything you do before and after getting the check"

 

Impromptu text this morning

Danny L. Smith
512-773-6528

"One cannot long out perform their own self-image" - Maxwell Maltz

"You'll be the same five years from today, as you are today, except for what you listen, what you watch, who you associate with, and what you read" - Zig Ziglar

An impromptu text from Scott Carley and my immediate response this morning.

Help finding camera

From Adam Gene Chavez

On August 7th, I lost a Sony Wifi Camera at Blues on the Green. $100 Reward if you are instrumental is getting it returned to me--here's the Craig's List posting and thanks for your help: http://austin.craigslist.org/wan/3990226961.html

#5 - Image / Identity

Danny L. Smith
512-773-6528

"One cannot long out perform their own self-image" - Maxwell Maltz

"You'll be the same five years from today, as you are today, except for what you listen, what you watch, who you associate with, and what you read" - Zig Ziglar

#2 - Benefit, so what if I buy from you?

#2 of 7 Step-It-Up Marketing Plan

Danny L. Smith
512-773-6528

"One cannot long out perform their own self-image" - Maxwell Maltz

"You'll be the same five years from today, as you are today, except for what you listen, what you watch, who you associate with, and what you read" - Zig Ziglar

#1 - Purpose (meandering or deposit slips)

When you show-up today, what's your purpose for being there?

This a marketing and leadership principle: "know your purpose."

Why are you doing what you're doing?

From the leadership perspective this relates heavily to my dream.

As to Marketing, knowing my Purpose is the difference between meandering and a future bank deposit slip being filled-out.

Say this....."When I show-up today, I know my purpose."

To that end.....

Dig it, and Dung It! - by guest blogger Scott Carely

How healthy is your referral landscaping?

When we built our home in Lubbock back in 98, landscaping wasn't in the bid….so I got to do that!  Flowerbeds, a hedge, monkey grass trimming the driveway, moguls and a grassy front lawn.  Part of my dream house included a lawn without stickers.  Weeds brought stickers.  Weeds had to go.

I went back to the nursery and told the owner I needed "weed killer".  Instead…he suggested fertilizer.  I clarified the issue: WEEDS.  He clarified the solution: FERTILIZER.  He taught me something really powerful.  "Fertilize your grass.  Water it.  Aerate it.  Strong, healthy grass will choke out all your weeds."  He was soooooo right!

Interesting story in Luke 13:6-9  Read it.  It's good business advice.  I'm just saying…..

Luke 13:6  And He began telling this parable. "A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7  Then said he unto the vineyard keeper. 'Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?' 8   And he answered and said unto him, 'Lord, let it alone this year, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer (dung); 9  and if it bear fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'" (NASB)

 Here is what we learned:

1. Three years into this project, the owner isn't happy with the crop return.

How long have you been into some projects and you're not seeing the return you want?

2. The dresser wants time to execute a strategy

Time isn't always the answer….unless it is accompanied by a plan or strategy.

3. He is going to Dig and Dung it (fertilize).

Digging simply means that you need to work your prospect and referral connections.  Sort out your contact base. Make some calls.

Dunging means…. you need tofertilize the referral connection with things that are a value add!  Give them something.  Recognize their efforts. Invite them to an event.  Offer something complementary.

If you want fruit (results)… Dig it and Dung it!

My clients use a 7-7-28 plan.

• 7 New connections to their data base per week
• 7 Personal notes or cards out to their A and B client list per week
• 28 Personal phone calls to A and B clients or Prospects.

Last week….one of my clients closed a $5600 proposal…..Digging and Dunging.  Contact me and I'll get you a shovel and some Miracle Grow!

Scott Carley, Coach512-470-0570

Coach@GrowthDynamic.com

Click HERE to test your Networking Proficiency

Read more

A BIG THANKS for this excellent post to Scott!

....all the time!

"Try to tell me there's not a creator" - Bruk Schenken

Advancing in my dreams

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." - Henry David Thoreau

That's an incredible statement. Dreaming, being confident in moving forward, having images of what the dreams look like, uncommon hours, achieving success.

Ask this,

- What am I dreaming?

- What do I really want?

Dream big and test them them by moving confidently to their achievement.

Don't just seize the day, throttle it.

To that end....Dream FIRST

Seize it. Throttle it.

Danny L. Smith
512-773-6528

"A time comes when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being the man you want to be." - Bruce Springsteen

Email: Top 3 Marketing Weapon

http://huff.to/1501YCM

I agree, in part with the author's colleague who believes emails from smartphones don't seem to offer a full or credible response. Emphasis on "seems." 

Having said that, you can say all you want, the "sent from......" is a bad marketing message. I'll add to this discussion "please excuse my errors..." Heck, that's not just bad marketing, it's bad leadership. How exactly does that statement influence someone? It does, negatively. And it makes the user looked used. 

Marketing is everything I do before and after getting the check, and everything rises and falls on leadership. 

My email is a top 3 marketing weapon and it needs to be tuned-in every time I use it. 

          To that end.............

Danny L. Smith

512-773-6528

"A time comes when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being the man you want to be." - Bruce Springsteen 

New Beginnings

"During the first period of a man's life the greatest danger is: not to take the risk" - Soren Kierkegaard

I don't know what context Kierkegaard wrote that comment but I contend that the same danger lies in the latter stages.

To "finish well" requires the risk of making the mistakes AGAIN.

So, is your dream big enough to take the risk, again?

To that end.......


"A time comes when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being the man you want to be." - Bruce Springsteen

Implementation, evaluation, correction

Lack of business is usually the lack of

Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation - Evaluation - Correction - Re-Implementation................

Get it?

 

Struggles

If I had only one piece of advice for someone in the midst of a problem, it would be

"Don't waste the struggle."

Thinking back on some of mine, it would be literally horrible to have wasted them.

Danny L. Smith
512-773-6528

"A time comes when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being the man you want to be." - Bruce Springsteen

Thinking about yourself

Charles Stanley, in his book "Success God's Way," asks the question "how do you think about yourself?"

How we think about ourselves manifests into how we relate to others, our business, our marriages, our health and other aspects of our daily life.

Today, join me in having good thoughts about ourselves.

Danny L. Smith
512-773-6528

"A time comes when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being the man you want to be." - Bruce Springsteen

Changing the small things

It's changing the small things that matter. The more I pray, ponder and practice, the more I look at what's added value, what hasn't...the more it's about

changing the small things.

What did you change yesterday?

Annual Read: Declaration of Independence

You're Welcome

Please say "you're welcome" when I say Thank You.

Please don't make me think it might have been a problem by saying it's not one.

Thank you

Keep it short

Michael Hyatt's post this morning included the following tips on blogging  - 

1. Use short words.
2. Use short sentences.
3. Use short paragraphs.

Wise words in any context.

Read Michael's post at http://michaelhyatt.com/improve-writing.html

To that end.....

Danny L. Smith

512-773-6528

"A time comes when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being the man you want to be." - Bruce Springsteen 

Good, bad or otherwise, harvest the good - Paul Martinelli

What if you train yourself and you leave? What if you don't and you stay?

That's a play on Zig's

"What if you train your employees and they leave?

What if you don't and they stay?"

 

But you can't "leave" yourself. You're stuck with yourself but not who you are.
 

You spend time and money on new gadgets, systems, equipment, marketing, compliance, stuff, more new systems, more stuff and hire more people. Yet, do you train your people?

Do you train yourself?

Statistics continue to prove that the more training/coaching a company provides (or you GO GET), the more productivity, the more trust, and the better overall results. Companies that have training programs rank over 70% higher in local and national best places to work surveys.

Train others, train yourself.

 

 

To that end....

In-the-Box Thinking

The purpose is to stimulate my creativity 

from within, not construct from without 

- Paul Martinelli 

Thinking-in-the-box releases me from thinking I need to come up with new stuff. I believe the ideas, and what-it-takes-to-get-it-done is already inside me. Behavioral scientists say we only use a fraction of our abilities. Yes, maybe I need a bit of the stimulus I get by reading books, listening to speakers, seeking counsel, having good conversations, but I want to reconstruct and build on what God's given me.

I don't want to open that box up in front of St. Peter and find all the things God had in store for me that I didn't receive because I spent so much time piling unnecessary stuff on top of it.

Think-in-the-box and let me know if it frees you up just a bit, if your creativity expands.

To that end....have a great day!

A new generation being "formed"

At 58, I'm a digital immigrant and not a native, 

but I feel like a commuter. 

Thanks to Hurdie Burke for sharing this Google publication

Google's THINK group have declared a new generation: Gen C. 

Dig in the box long before thinking out of it

We grow by dreams

Goals and growth are properly fueled with DREAMS

What gives you the gumption to keep getting up, to keep-on-keeping-on? Dreams.

Small dreams, big dreams, dreams about a better life, a better job, better health, a house, a car...dreams. There are good dreams and bad dreams. There are dreams you should go after and those you probably shouldn't. 

Woodrow Wilson said, "We grow by dreams. All big individuals are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day, or in the red fire on a long winter's evening. Some of us let those great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nourish them through bad days until they bring them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true."

Whatever you goals are, whatever growth you want, keep dreaming or start dreaming again. Whether their little dreams, or BIG HOLY AUDACIOUS DREAMS (BHADs).....just dream.

To that end......

Repeat Well, and Simply Lead

Repeating myself

I repeat myself over and over again for 3 big reasons: 

I tend to forget things, I think it needs to be repeated 

and sometimes I just like telling the story

As I move farther away from yesterday, I want to remind myself of a few things I said recently -

Daily Ps, The 6th P - Peace, Another P? Number 7

Stay connected to your confusion..

To that end.....Smitty, lead yourself well first and watch those rabbit trails you get led down. Pay attention to what's really going on!

Head down...

Some days you just need to put your head down and pay attention. 
These are the times when the focused disciplines show up as habits.

God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood

Solopreneur, not a sustainable business concept

I don't struggle with the solopreneur concept, 

it's just a bad concept and I don't struggle with it.

A solopreneur is defined as an entrepreneur who works alone, a company of one. You can not maintain a successful business by yourself. A solopreneur is a non-sustainable business model, concept and THOUGHT.

You can be the only "paid" employee in your company, but you still must develop a Team. We all need a team, paid or not.

Think bigger that one, bigger than solo.

To that end...

Clutter, and self-image...Raising Lids

You can't outperform you self-image. Maxwell Maltz

Clutter. As I focus on the Ps (plan, pause, pray, patience, purpose, peace, persistence..is that the right Ps?), I'm reminded more and more of the clutter that gets in my way of the big R - RESULTS.

Clutter is not all about what I create for myself, but what others create on my behalf. Or is it what I allow others to create? Either case, I have to deal with it.

And such, it becomes the inability to create. The inability to move forward. Some might say it's a spiritual thing. Maybe so. But, as with a post last November......

Clutter snuck in.

And when that happens, this Choleric/Sanguine (D/I) gets caught up in the reactions.

What am I going to do? I'm Purposefully driving back through my Speed of Trust disciplines and behaviors. I'll Pay attention to my Integrity, Intent, Capabilities and Results as I practice the following 3, of 13 behaviors (can only concentrate on 3) -

Talk Straight, Clarify Expectations, Deliver Results

It's also time for a celebration - looking through the 13 behaviors, I realize how much better I am at practicing all of these than I was 5 years ago. Even a few months ago.

To that end....it's a GREAT DAY!