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!

Cold Calling vs "Inbound Marketing"...

While there are undoubtedly some points of this video to argue against, including the language, the point it makes needs to be considered. 

And remember, things are a changing. We old guys need to be sure we know what we are up against!



 

Hope Is Not A Good Business Strategy

Success is more likely to happend if the desired results are defined, a plan is layed out, evaluation and correction is done and we work hard at staying in that box. Or redefine the all the above.

We get outside that box when we try to shoot from the hip, or...when we attempt to circumvent the plan.

We want things to go well, people to get along, and just get the job done. Or...that's they way the Type A, Dominant personally, boss wants it. Right?
Yet....we have to do the basics of defining the box we have to work in. We have to write the policies and procedures, explain to all involved what we want to happen. People must be held accountable to their actions but they can't be held accountable to "things" we haven't explained very well..if at all.

Peter Drucker wrote, way back in 1967, that "a good manager has to manage by walking around, and he has to repeat his desires over and over again. And if he doesn't keep repeating himself people will not believe he is serious."
I've been told there is a book titled "Hope is Not a Strategy." The book is probably about managers lead (or not) by hoping someone will adhere to a policy or procedure that hasn't been written. There's very likely a chapter on those that think something really needs to get done but doesn't take time to tell anyone else and instead hopes it happens.

I bet there's even a chapter on two people working on a procedure together, implementing that procedure, and hoping it is correct....even though other people in authority over the procedures actions haven't been consulted.

To that end....define your box.

Blessings

Loan Officers - Pay attention to the 4 Ps and Get Better Results

Results. Good results. The thing we all want is good results. Philosophers back to at least Aristotle (350 BC) have been pondering the number 1 thing a human craves and they've always decided "fun." People just want to have fun. Most of us can equate fun to results; Good Results = FUN.

I was recently asked if I felt the current market (down, money's tight) was causing problems in my coaching/consulting practice, and were people really spending money on assessments in times like these? My answer...

"No, when times are tough, people are trying harder right now to get results. Times like these causes us to dig deeper, to look harder at our strengths and abilities, and to get more out of what we already have instead of spending money on new speculations."

In my coaching and training I use what I call the 4P Path Initiate to improve results -

1. Define your Purpose: what mission are you trying to fulfill?

2. Be Prepared for the path: determine and strengthen you Talents, Attitudes, Skills and Knowledge

3. Lay out a Plan: set goals, have variances in your strategies, know your sales attraction

4. Practice your purpose, preparedness, and plan; be purposeful about what you are doing and know that everything except your Purpose needs to mature. Learn, re-cast, and change.

Preparing yourself for the path will strengthen whatever path you find yourself on and you'll be better prepared to achieve good results.

Prepare the student for the path, not the path for the student.

Brad McCoy - Colt's Dad

To that end.....