PRESS ON!

Branding Is Not For Your Business, It’s For Cows!

2008-05-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

“Branding is for cows!” is what I told them. They were attending our new

New Media Show

called,

You’re ON

! (click

to see what it was all about.)

In the program (show) I demonstrated that marketing is way past branding – it’s about personal performance (show) marketing™, and all the talk about brandings is yesterday’s stuff and may not be right at all. Branding is not for your business, it’s for cows.

Marketing today is about telling stories, creating experiences, and demonstrating how good and wise you are so that people will be attracted to you, pay well for the service experiences you provide, and recommend you to others.

These are challenging business times and you should make an investment in learning about our performance marketing way of thinking and then performing. Our new CD will tell you the story. It is entitled,

Branding Is For Cows & Could It Be That Your Marketing Is Nothing But A Dead Tree?

Find out more information by clicking

here

and then order it for a mere $12.00. It will challenge you and may change your whole view of personal and business marketing.

Ken Burns

once said about his award winning films.

“I seek to put the story back into history

so that people will pay attention”

On a personal note.

This past Friday our family celebrated as my daughter Megan had her book published by Houghton Mifflin. The intriguing title is,

How To Be Useful

A Beginners Guide to Not Hating Work

. Check it out on the link below.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Useful-Beginners-Hating/dp/0618713506/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209826535&sr=1-1

All the best for the marketing shows you must perform this week. Break a leg!

You’re One of The Richest

2008-04-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

My friend Dave Laurion has done the work. Dave took seriously the ideas I taught him about the experience economy. He opened up his new office and it is carefully designed, indeed there is real choreography in what he has done, in order to make doing business with Dave and his colleagues, a great experience. It's a stage and there is drama. The office is full of ways to tell stories and to demonstrate what is important to clients and colleagues.

Dave also took seriously my challenge to have a flagship, Super Bowl, "one thing", one-minute message that leads his financial planning practice and business. Dave can tell you more, but in a summary, he hopes to help his clients not only grow in their wealth, but in their faith. Unfortunately most of us do not. It's a simple but profound challenge.

Dave tells his story with one blank sheet of paper and a simple drawing. It is simple elegance. You cannot just sit there and listen, you will be challenged. One of the ways Dave challenges his friends is to go to a web site that moved me deeply.

Last week I mentioned that a thankful and grateful heart is seldom a fearful heart. The more gratitude we have, the better, longer, and happier our lives will be. Today there is a lot fear and a lack of gratitude in the hearts and minds of many. After doing the exercise on the web site, even though I am deeply challenged by many things, I felt deep gratitude for how blessed I am, and so probably are you.

Go to the web site; do the exercise, and write and tell me your feelings. It is called

The Global Rich List

…. check it out, you're probably on the list.

http://www.globalrichlist.com/

With deep gratitude for your reading this, caring, and asking me to help you perform at your best.

It’s About Gratitude

2008-04-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

As I said last week, if we all got what we deserved in life and business, we would all be in big trouble. To which I might add, “So stop wining!” if wining is what you do. I am also like many of you, seeking to maintain our calmness in the midst of some pretty challenging business times.

The latest issue of Barron’s that came out Saturday speaks of continuing investor anxiety. I believe that is a critical issue in business today and one of the reasons we have revived our program on

Communicating Confidence to Clients in a Climate of Fear and Crisis.

(See the attached pdf flyer about this program)

But how do we best deal with fear? I have said for years and seek to remind myself,

“A thankful and grateful heart is seldom a fearful heart.”

Next week I will share with you what my good friend Dave Laurion showed me. It is a web site that will help you find out where you are in terms of income percentile of the world’s population. You will discover that you have a lot to be thankful and grateful for. Stay tuned for that.

Let’s live a life of gratitude to the best of our present grace and ability in the circumstances we are in. With those thoughts at hand another good friend (I am so grateful for so many good friends), Herald Johnson shared with me this video link about how we can show our gratitude to our armed forces service men and women for what they do. It is a sign of gratitude. Take a minute to look at it.

http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/shortmovie.php

Again – remember that a thankful and grateful heart is seldom a fearful heart.

Thoughts on the Titanic and Other Things

2008-04-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, it was 96 years ago today. On April 14, 1912, the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic. I have often wondered how I would have responded if I had been there on that tragic night. Would I have maintained my courage in the midst of all the fears, chaos, and confusion? Would I have cared for others more than I care for myself?

Would I have been a Christian gentleman and truly taken care of the women and the children first? I certainly want to believe that I would have behaved with grace and courage, but one wonders. Would I have witnessed to the truth I know in the midst of fear and death? It’s reported that the band played,

Nearer My God to Thee

as the ship went down. Perhaps it is only in being in that near place that we can begin to know how we might respond.

Fear kills everything.

I recently wrote to a colleague the same thing that I wrote to you in my last blog posting. I have increasingly come to the realization that much of the work that we are called to do is to reduce the fears that we have in our own lives, and in the lives of our colleagues, clients, and customers.

Today, on Titanic day, many feel that their ship is going down. It’s probably not, but even though are feelings may not describe reality; they describe how we really feel. Would you like to read my coaching booklet on the five fears in our life that kill everything and how to deal with them? Just respond with, “fear factor please.”

Two tough thoughts.

As I look at the coming elections I am not encouraged. I have always believed that political solutions to are troubled times and frustrations are illusions. It is also true that the political craft in much of our culture has been reduced to pandering. We need to grow up and face the truth that we are fully responsible for our destiny. Here are a couple of tough thoughts that I use in coaching from time to time. Just let them sit on your head, and respond if you wish.

If you or I really got what we deserved in life we would be in big trouble.
You have one entitlement in life, and only one. You are entitled to serve others.

Remember the true bottom line. It all comes down to courage! How about a coaching experience to “en-courage” you!

Communicating Confidence in a Climate of Fear!

2008-04-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

The title of chapter 1 in my book on marketing, and chapter 5 in my book on coaching is

Fear Kills Everything

(If you would like a copy of those chapters just reply and respond – "The Fear factor please" – and we will e mail them to you.) Better yet buy my book by going to our website.

Today the anxiety is palpable and there is rising fear of economic recession in the United States. Much of this is inspired by media hype, the heat of the political season, the rising cost of gasoline, and the foreclosures coming as the housing bubble speculation has burst and many sub-prime mortgages are going under.

Right after the 9–11 attacks I wrote and spoke extensively on the subject

of Communicating Confidence to Your Clients in a Climate of Fear and Crisis

. Many said it was life-changing not only in how they did business but in helping others in their life. If you would like to hear a two minute blogcast about this program, just click

here

and listen.

I have increasingly come to know that fear does kill everything and much of my life and work is to help my clients, friends, and even myself, overcome our fears. Can I help you?

Bill Clinton makes $51,000,000 giving speeches. Is he that good

The tax returns from the Clintons show that Bill Clinton has made over 51,000,000 dollars giving speeches since he left the presidency. Is he really that good a speech giver? No, but he is an ex-president, a celebrity, and a charismatic personality. I once saw a video excerpt of a 35 minute speech he gave to an economic summit in Asia. For that he reportedly received 250k.

He was charming as always, but it was an unfocused rambling narrative that showed little preparation. I would have been embarrassed if one of my talks had gone so poorly. Our programs are customized, well-prepared, an experience, and our fees are a lot lot less! Please allow us to audition for your next conference and convention as a speaker and coaching experience presenter.

One of our top program themes,

The Marketing Life

, is soon available on CD. Here is the story.

Your life is how you market you and your business

Remember that in sales and marketing of any product, service or experience you first have to market you. People buy you. Your entire personal marketing does not come from what you sell but who you are. We call our program appropriately,

The Marketing Life

In this program I believe we have the

top ten things

you must know about how to be a great marketing person

. I believe that when it comes to marketing you; we are close to a

"theory of everything"

in this program. All you need is to provide the execution, the crowd pleasing performance. Our program and coaching can help you! Call and ask for details.

A great performer has exited the stage of life.

Speaking of great performers, Charlton Heston has died at the age of 84. The performances he gave in the film Ben-Hur and in many of the classic 1950's – 60's films are now legendary. Over twenty years ago when I was training at the BBC in London, Karen and I got tickets (we paid about $12 a piece) to see Charlton Heston and actor Ben Cross (Chariots of Fire fame) in a performance of the classic play, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, at a little shoebox size theatre on The West End. It was awesome. Isn't it great to see a master of their craft do their work? Bravo and blessings Charlton Heston!

And bravo, blessings, and "break a leg" to you in the "shows" you have to give this week.

Making History!

2008-03-26T11:15:00.001-07:00

I was startled, then a bit of a lump came to my throat, and then a tear to my eye as I read the article in the

Wall Street Journal

. No!, I was not reading about my portfolio. The article was entitled

War and Forgiveness

. It was an obituary column that took me back to a sunny summer day almost fifty rears ago that had a huge impact on me when I was an awkward and rather bookish young Junior High boy.

We were on vacation in the little town of Colchester, Illinois where my Grandmother lived. It was a Sunday afternoon and my father came and told me that he thought I might like to go with him to the city park where a man he had heard about was going to speak. After having just endured three hours of Sunday School and Baptist preaching services in the morning, that was not on my list of things to do that afternoon.

He knew that. He told me that the man that was speaking was a member of the Doolittle Raid and would be telling his story. That got me. I was fascinated by the stories of World War II (I still am) and had just read the book in the library entitled,

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo

It was the story of a near suicide mission in April of 1942 when a bombing raid was launched over Japan just a few months after Pearl Harbor. It achieved very little but was a tremendous morale boost for the people of America because finally we had struck back. Most of the crew members of that raid were killed and captured, and many died in captivity. The man speaking was a survivor. There I saw and met Jacob DeShazer.

Young Jake DeShazer was a gunner and crew member on one of the Doolittle raid planes. After the mission it crash landed in occupied China and DeShazer was captured. He spent nearly the next four years in brutal captivity, tortured beyond measure, and watched as friends and mates were executed. But he survived and was released in August of ’45 when the war ended.

But now the rest of the story. He returned to America and went to school to study theology, and in 1948 returned to Japan as a Christian missionary. There he shared his deep God-given love for the Japanese people and his message of forgiveness from him to them; and the message of forgiveness for all. I sat there entranced.

But there is more. He then said that at one of his meetings in Japan a man came to him and asked forgiveness too. The man’s name was Mitsuo Fuchida. My mouth dropped open. I was a young student of history even then, and knew that Mitsuo Fuchida was the brilliant young commander of the raid on Pearl Harbor. The one who shouted “Tora, Tora, Tora!” Was it the same one I thought in surprise!

Today as I write, I still remember the feelings when I remember how Jake DeShazer then told how he and Mitsuo were now loving brothers in faith, and loved each other deeply. The Pearl Harbor bomber and the Doolittle raider; brothers in faith.

The Wall Street Journal article was about Jake DeShazer and his recent death this month at age 95. Here is the article, and the story of Mitsuo Fuchida.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120640512680161037.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuo_Fuchida

This is one of the stories of my life that reminds me that love is the greatest force in the world, and that there is always hope. Most of us are fortunate in our lives if we make a living, make some money, and make a difference in the world. Some make history, and some even make it for all eternity.

Thank you, and blessings on you Jake DeShazer.

Have a good week, and make some history!

Easter Monday & Random Thoughts

2008-03-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

I share again a story that I tell every year at this time of the year. I’ve always wondered why it never became one of those traditional rituals. This is Easter Monday in the Christian religion. The day following the story of the resurrection of Jesus has an interesting scene. The scattered followers have been wandering around after the events of the crucifixion. Some are lost and confused and some have gone back to their work of fishing.

According to the story on what may have been the following Monday, the disciples finished a miracle fishing trip and came to the shore and found Jesus cooking breakfast for them on the shore. He invited them to “come and dine

”

I have often wondered why an Easter Monday Breakfast was not part of the tradition followed by the Christian faithful.

I have personally followed that practice myself from time to time by inviting people to join me for an Easter Monday Breakfast. It is a way of reminding me of three good things that I should seek to bring into my life, business, and leadership practices.

Obviously the followers were surprised to see their master and mentor serving them breakfast. Successful and thoughtful people are full of good surprises. In fact they often cultivate a sense of mystery about them.

Mystery, with authenticity, combined with service, is very powerful.

That brings us to the second quality.

It would have seemed that Jesus should be the guest of any such event. It had been an eventful weekend! But instead he was the host; he was the one doing the serving.

Successful people who make their mark in a broken world are not those who lead us by their power, as much as those who lead us by their service

Thirdly, the gift of hospitality is the essence of what we are made for

. The wisdom of the ages in all the traditions of faith invites us to remember that opening our hearts, homes, and pocketbooks to share what we have with others, assures us that life will go better for us.

These are just some of the things I seek to remind myself on Easter Monday.

Just a few more random thoughts ….

Communicating confidence in a climate of fear and crisis

Right after the 9-11 attacks the markets and financial institutions were in a tailspin. Since I have many coaching clients in the financial services, many called me to ask how they could best help their clients who were panicky. I sat down and wrote a coaching article for one of my clients on

“Communicating Confidence to Clients in Crisis.”

I then posted it in on the internet and shortly after that a national magazine asked me if I would do a version for them. I did that.

I then created a coaching experience seminar that was very popular. It helped anybody, (not just financial advisors, though that was the theme) on how to communicate with people who are fearful and panicky; indeed in crisis.

In the current economic and marketplace atmosphere I have been asked to bring it back and update it for the current economic and market times (It has CE credit in the financial services sector). If you would like to have me bring this program to you and your group, please contact me, and I and one of my team members can give you full details. It is powerful and helpful.

How to be a coach to your clients

I can also help you learn how to be coach to your clients and prospects. Coaching people is far more effective and more fun than trying to sell them! A major national newsmagazine,

National Underwriter

asked me to write a article on being a coach to your clients and the article appeared this month. It can help you be more effective as a leader and as a sales and marketing person. It is a simple one-page read and you can link it here.

How to be a coach to your clients.

Remember that 2008 will be a tough year in many business sectors, so seek to be bold, brave, and continue to perform at your best.

Putting Your Dog Down!

2008-03-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

When my wife Karen brought home another dog from the humane society several years ago, I smiled and decided that, “great, but I will not get attached to this dog.” Of course you already know where this story is going. The little dog was cute, no doubt about it, and Karen learned from the humane society, and we discovered by his fearful behavior, that he had been terribly abused and we were now involved in his rehabilitation.

Chaucer was the name we finally gave him, and there is a story in that, and as life went on, Chaucer became a story as he became a part of our family story. Remember the power of stories! If anything becomes important in our lives, there is a story behind it.

In my morning walks and spiritual meditations I usually had a partner; Chaucer. Despite my intentions to be tough, Friday was very hard on me. Without going into all the details; Chaucer eagerly got into the car since he loves rides and we went to the vet because he had developed some very bad shaking issues. After the observation and discussion, the decision was what I feared, and I stayed and helped as we put him down. Right now you are probably asking questions about my behavior and response; and the answer is probably yes to most of them. And of course writing this brief piece on Saturday is part of the mourning.

I do not have any great thoughts or life lessons, or some clever segue about this. This is just another common day event that most of you have gone through too. The world was full of hard times and some terrible tragedies on Friday. This was not even one of them. It just made me sad along with some other truly sad things that I knew about from the day.

Saturday I will spend teaching young kids how to do radio programs and hopefully see the delight in their faces as they get the chance to “be on the radio.” That will be good for me. Enjoy the weekend! If you are of the tradition think deeply about the meaning of Palm Sunday, and be safe and sane on St. Patrick’s Day!

Dress for Leadership™ and YOU!
… and Image is Not Everything,
but It is The First Thing.

2008-03-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

We met when we did a program together and have now become good friends and clients of each other. His name is Daniel and he is the leader of Daniel's Custom Clothing. The program was for young business leaders and advisors in the financial services. I was first up and talked about how to market yourself and referred to chapter 2 in my book on marketing entitled,

"Image is not everything, but it is the first thing!"

(If you would like a copy of that chapter let me know by responding with "Image please")

Then Daniel did the second part of the program, and it was the first time he had really ever spoken in public. He did just fine and right away I saw a business opportunity for Daniel. He was so good in what he said that he needed to not just design clothes for individual clients; but could be very helpful to businesses in helping them with the many dress and appearance issues which are plaguing so many.

So I worked with Daniel and we remembered the old and classic book by John Molloy entitled,

Dress for Success!

(remember that?). We decided to do something different and with greater value than just success (whatever that is). We came up with the title and theme,

Dress for Leadership!

It hit just the right note and so Daniel has now trademarked that program and slogan. It is now

Dress for Leadership™

Way to go.

Daniel now has separated himself from all the other custom clothiers and tailors with his own

DWI

(

emonstrated

isdom and

nsight). As you might recall from last week, that is one of the ways you can escape the commodity sales trap. (See our CD

escape the commodity trap - What Do Wal-Mart, The Internet and YOU Have In Common?

To find more info, and to order, click

here

Now how about you? What is your demonstrated wisdom and insight to help you be different? Do you know? If you are not, you are in trouble and we can help you! Also do you have some wisdom, idea, or slogan that you need to trademark? Go for it. At present I own five trademarks and can claim them as part of my own unique intellectual property. What do you know or own that could be your trademark?

Again, just think about that, and if I can help you let us know. If you see me looking a little bit better dressed (better looking is out of the question) in the future it will be because Daniel is helping me create my own unique signature style! Do you have one? If you would like to contact Daniel you can reach him at

danstensgaard@aol.com

Remember image is not everything but it is the first thing!

“Can You Help Me With My DWI?”

2008-03-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

That's what he said after listening to my new CD,

What Do

Wal-Mart, The Internet and YOU Have In Common?,

and after our coaching session.

No my client is not talking about being in trouble with the law. He was not being charged with

riving

hile

ntoxicated!

What he was concerned about was that he was not able to do one of the seven vital ways to break out of the commodity sales trap.

Today your business and your career are becoming a commodity. No matter what you do or what product and service you provide, it is becoming a price-based commodity. That is not a good place to be. It means you have to keep lowering your price to meet the competition.

Now one of the best ways of the seven commodity-busters is

emonstrated

isdom &

nsight (

DWI

Demonstrated wisdom is not having product knowledge. That is a given. Don't claim any superior value because you understand the product you are selling. Don't claim any superior value because you know what is expected in your career or vocation.

Demonstrated wisdom and insight is the extraordinary wisdom and help you can provide people to help them live better, be happy and make money! My friend has been in his business for over 20 years and he had no clue about how to stop being a commodity, and no idea on how to claim and demonstrate wisdom to his clients and prospects.

Do you?

If you do, write and tell me what DWI you have that you can share with others. I would love to know.

If you don't know, you are in trouble in 2008. It will be a difficult year and you need every non-commodity advantage. Ask me how we at the PTM Group can help you; and you can start by listening to the very same CD that got my friend on the way to being a fear-less and more confident marketer of his business. So here is the pitch; buy it, and be in touch.

Escape the commodity trap

. Every business is becoming a commodity. No matter what product or service you sell it is becoming a commodity where low price is the only consumer concern. There are seven ways to escape the trap; this CD tells you what the seven are

The title is -

What Do Wal-Mart, The Internet and YOU Have In Common?

To find more info, and to order, click

here

I’m Afraid I’m Like Hillary!

2008-02-25T09:48:00.000-08:00

There, I went and did it again just like last week. I'm sure some of you are wondering, "does this man have no shame?" Yes I put Hillary in the title again knowing that more of you would open this article and read. But this time it is more than a cheap marketing trick.

Last week I pointed out that one of the reasons that Hillary Clinton is having a challenging time winning the Democratic Party presidential nomination is that she does not have the best story, or right now even a good story, to go up against the Barack Obama phenomenon. She may still make it but it is a difficult challenge for her.

But here is where the issue of "the story" again, becomes very practical for you. One reader and good friend called me and pointed out that most people in business and life have the same problem that Hillary has. They haven't developed their good story to tell because they don't know exactly what is, or they have not found time to put it together. Could that be true for you? I can help solve this dilemma.

I have heard so many boring sales presentations by people who have not honed their story to effectively connect with the prospect and customer. I also regularly attend networking events. You know how that works. Everyone goes around the table and has 30 – 60 seconds to do their introduction commercial. With few exceptions they are universally terrible. They are boring and inspire nothing that would interest me or anybody else. They lack energy and mystery. They are terrible stories. I recently went to one such meeting and I finally said to one person after their fumbling monologue, "with your permission, can I help you with your introduction?"

Now how about you? I am really good at helping people do their sales and marketing story. You need help to find, write and speak your story, and decide if it is a good marketing story. You can have a story full of reflection and self- description, but it may mean nothing to the listener, the prospect; the customer you hope to have. You need another person to hear your story from the listener's point of view and guide you to make it sharper and more effective for influencing others. You need a coach.

Remember the best have a coach. (Tiger Woods has a coach) I can come to your organization and help your entire staff do the work and then tell their story that helps everyone become a marketer in your organization. Remember what I said last week, and I say it again and forever,

the one with the best story wins.

The future belongs to the storyteller. So call or email to begin your story.

So you can live happily ever after!

Some Thoughts About Hillary,
and What We Can Learn

2008-02-17T19:50:00.000-08:00

Yes, of course it worked. Some of you were not planning to read this at least now. But I now have your attention. It is truly a cheap marketing trip. I knew that by using Hillary's name in the subject matter line that many would stop and read this blog. Whether you love her or not, everybody knows who she is and has some feelings about Hillary Clinton.

But I am going to disappoint you if you were hoping for a tirade for or against Hillary. Whether Hillary will win the nomination over Barack Obama for the Democratic Party presidential nomination is an open question. I don't know of any political pundit or commentator that got it right in predicting where the presidential nomination processes in both parties would be now; six months ago.

They all have been wrong so far except one. That's me, and I am not a political animal at all. But many of you might remember what I wrote.

I said the winner will be the one with the best story, because the best story always wins

. Again, you can love him or hate him or leave him, but John McCain has a great story. Mike Huckabee, the 100 pound weight losing, marathon running, guitar playing Governor has a very good story.

Barack Obama has lived and is creating a great "there will be change" story that draws many in to him. Unfortunately Hillary forgot my advice, and does not presently have, nor has she been able to create a great story. That is why she is in trouble today when everyone thought her nomination was a sure thing. You need to be aware of the mistake she made, and how you can avoid some of the same mistakes that might hurt your career.

This is very practical stuff, and of course I am going to draw you in further. If you want to hear the rest of the story about Hillary's resume mistake, you can listen to our five minute blogcast entitled,

Hillary and YOU

. You can listen to it by clicking

here

.

What a shameless attention-grabbing marketer I am! You're right, now listen to the blogcast and the then come back.

Now what's your story and your offer? Remember the one with the best story wins.

A Thousand Marbles!

2008-02-09T11:44:00.000-08:00

You get a lot of junk on the internet, but when I get something from my good friend Mark Johnson I know it is not junk! I want to pass it on to you for three reasons.

First, I was s a ham radio operator as a kid and this “ham radio” story struck me. “Hams” are an unusual and talented group of men and women.

Second, it is a wonderful story.

Third and finally, it proves again my point that so many of you in sales and marketing are still having trouble with; Storytelling is the only effective means of communication.

Here we go. It’s called, A Thousand Marbles; and once upon a time…

A Thousand Marbles!

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it’s the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it’s the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.  A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the garage with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it:  I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind; he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whom-ever he was talking with something about “a thousand marbles.” I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say  ”Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you’re busy with your job.. I’m sure they pay you well but it’s a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. It’s too bad you missed your daughter’s “dance recital” he continued. “Let me tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities.” And that’s when he began to explain his theory of a “thousand marbles.”  ”You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years.  ”Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I’m getting to the important part.  It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail”, he went on, “and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays.” “I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear.”  ”Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight.”  ”Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time.”  ”It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band. This is a 75 Year old Man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!”  You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter.  Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. “C’mon honey, I’m taking you and the kids to breakfast.” “What brought this on?” she asked with a smile. “Oh, nothing special, it’s just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we stop at a toy store while we’re out? I need to buy some marbles.  A friend sent this to me, so I to you, my friend.  And so, as one smart bear once said...”If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.”

- Winnie the Pooh.

And as the master teacher and storyteller says, “Let him who has ears, let him hear.”

Do You Want to be a Changemaker?

2008-02-05T08:52:00.000-08:00

Remember that the Super Bowl changed nothing. Your life is not better or worse in real terms because of the game or who won. In fact if the game had not been held at all, life would still be just what it is today, on February 4

I have spent time thinking about what I must do to make a real difference in the world. Sometimes we all live with the dread that what I said of the Super Bowl might be said of us; our life, our work, and our business … it made no difference.

Part of that thinking led a few us of us to begin what you often see mentioned in this blog, The Changemaker Minute. Our logo is the following. (click the logo to go to the web site)

It’s a series of one minute messages to help men and women bring their spirit and faith into the marketplace and learn some practical and profitable ideas for performing at our best. I would like you to listen every day. And to give you a demonstration I have included the last seven programs as part of this blogcast.

These are based on the top seven questions

(There are 20 questions altogether and if you would like all twenty, ask me for a copy)

that I ask people who want to change their life, their work, their business, and who knows, even their world

So here are the seven Changemaker questions. They are each one minute long. Click the question and take a moment to listen to the questions and commentary, and then find your own answer.

Question 1 -

What are you really good at?

Question 2 –

How do you influence others?

Question 3 -

What do they pay you to do?

Question 4 –

What about the 80 stuff?

Question 5 –

Significant goal of the years?

Question 6 –

Three beliefs

Question 7 –

Your best idea

And now what are you going to change? Can I help?

The Coach Is IN!

I am starting a new feature called,

The Coach is In

, with open and no cost coaching just for you. If you have a question that I might help you with, just call during open office hours and ask. As I said, no charge except for your long distance cost. Our office hours for this week for your coaching experience call are

Wednesday February 6 at 6 PM EST

(5CST, 4MST, 3PST).

Call 520 818 1608.

Super Stories & Steps

2008-01-28T12:57:00.000-08:00

I am told that some Super 8 Motel rooms are going for 500 dollars a night for the Super Bowl in Phoenix. I don’t know if that is true, and it could all be a part of the super hype. But it leads to one of my original marketing exercise ideas!

I recently returned from Cody, Wyoming where I had the privilege of speaking to the Dude Ranchers Association of America. What a great group of people, and of course I love what they do. I spoke on the

“One Thing.”

Those of you who remember the film

City Slickers

with Billy Crystal and Jack Palance, which was centered on a dude ranch, remember the famous “one thing” episode. If you don’t, ask and I will tell you the story. It is a super story.

The first thing I told them was that you must tell stories to market yourself and your business today. But you know that if you are a regular reader. Then I introduced them to the idea of doing a Super Bowl commercial for their ranch; and how powerful it is to come up with a “one thing” story that you could tell and produce; and then how to put it on your web site. Yes, you too can have a Super Bowl commercial just like the big guys; just put it on your web site and tell all your friends, clients, and prospects.

If you want to learn how to do a commercial and learn the “secret” formula called the

AIDDA

formula; listen to our recent podcast. Click and listen to

I Do Coaching - The AIDDA Formula and How to Produce Your Super Bowl Commercial

Now get educated as to how you can thrive in 2008 by listening to our three new marketing CD’s.

Here is the story on the three steps you need to take to make 2008 the best

. (Remember, do not participate in the fear-monger’s predicted recession.)

Step 1 – Escape the commodity trap

The title is -

What Do Wal-Mart, The Internet and YOU Have In Common?

To find more info, and to order, click

here

Step 2 – Discover that the only effective way to do modern selling is by the ancient art of selling by storytelling

. Every great sales person tells stories whether they know it or not. Here you can learn how to become a great sales person by becoming a master storyteller. The CD title is -

If You’re Not Telling Stories, You are Not Selling at Your Best!

To get the rest of the story and to order, click

here

Step 3 – Learn that branding is not enough because branding is for cows.

You will also have to tear up most of your brochures because dead-tree (paper) marketing is dead. Do I have you a bit curious as to what that is all about? That is what all good marketing is all about.

You will learn that it is not branding you need, but to become a master performer and learn the art of personal performance marketing™. Again, to get the story that could save you thousands of dollars and maybe your business, order

– Branding Is For Cows & Could Your Marketing Be Nothing But a Dead Tree

? To find out how, put your browser

here

and brand it!

More good stuff and new ideas coming next month to help you be at your best!

Branding is For Cows!

2008-01-20T11:45:00.000-08:00

Marketing is about getting your attention. You must get people’s attention in about 5-7 seconds. If you don’t, one of the most significant inventions in life and marketing will take over the meeting. That life changing invention is the remote control for your television set.

The remote control changed the world. We all became creatures of the click-and-switch view of life and the messages that are out there seeking our attention. If I cannot get your attention in 5 -7 seconds the importance and attractiveness of my message will leave very fast.
You will click and go someplace else!

That is why you must learn the importance of the

AIDDA formula

for broadcast commercials, marketing and sales presentations, and for the stories you tell. If you don’t know the formula, your sales and marketing is not going to have the power it needs to compete in the land of 10,000 messages every day. Do you know what the formula is?

Well I will get you started.

A = Attention

I =

D =

D =

A = Action

But what is in between? You better know, and if you don’t you better ask? So go ahead ask me!

But now back to the cows. Yes, branding is not for you and your company, branding is for cows, and dead tree marketing is dead. That is the title of our new CD, and you can order it right now at our store. Click here for more info. But here is a seven minute sample intro via our new idea for PTM, a blogcast. So listen to this

Press ON blogcast™

Branding is for Cows

. Click

here

to start the show>

And in the spirit of good marketing, and just having fun because this has nothing to do with me or my service. Here is a fun show for those of us who love the music of Billy Joel and grew up in the ages of the song,

We Didn’t Start The Fire

. So turn up the speakers and go, and go back and listen to the blogcast!

http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.html

Stay warm, best and blessings.

In the Most Hum-Drum Life

2008-01-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

I heard it on the radio. A talk show host said with an obvious double edge, “Even in the most hum-drum life there are lot’s of good stories.” I trust that I would be kinder than this on my radio show, but the sentiment is true.

I would not want to describe anyone’s life as hum-drum, and I know that I can take anyone’s “ordinary life” and by asking the right interview questions find and tell an interesting and perhaps fascinating story.

That, as I taught the participants in a recent storytelling and selling seminar coaching experience to a premier retirement planning corporation for public employee’s, is also part of what it means to sell by storytelling. You not only tell your stories, you listen to the client’s and prospect’s stories. Nothing is more gratifying than to have someone listen to and care about our story.

I have come to believe this so strongly about sales and marketing that I am convinced that every other sales training system around today is fatally flawed.

So right now try and become a master sales person by investing a bargain $12.00 and order my new CD,

If You Are Not Telling Stories, You Are Not Selling at Your Best!

Click

here

for more information.

Next week we will be finishing up another new marketing coaching CD,

Branding Is For Cows and Dead Tree Marketing is Dead!

Watch for it.

On a related note … Internet radio is starting to take off and we are ready. Our

Do It Right Radio

Internet radio station will be launching soon and perhaps you can join us with a program of your own and be

on the air

very soon. In order to learn how to do that book our

How To Make Your Business Marketing Moves with The New Media

show right now. It is taking off and you need to bring it to your place and space right now.

Here is an example of what you need to be able to do. Listen to this podcast program on

How to Make 2008 Great

! It’s only 10 minutes long. Listen, feel the energy, and learn the open secrets of success for 2008. Click

here

Get engaged in your personal greatness and true success and, make it so!

I Know Who Will Win &
What Are You Thinking About?

2008-01-08T22:13:00.000-08:00

The column is late. I was all day Sunday and Monday flying to and working and speaking in Washington D.C. I was coaching and working with a group of sales reps for a major organization on the power of using experiences and storytelling as the best way to sell. The program went very well and many saw the possibilities for making their work and career much more fun and profitable through selling by storytelling and story listening. Both are important.

Now you should learn more about that, our newest CD is available. It is called, If You’re Not Telling Stories, You’re Not Selling At Your Best! Click

here

and find out more about it.

I also can tell you who will win the presidential election in November. It is confusing but watch for this. It will not be the issues and ideologies. In a time when people claim they want change, the candidate with the best story will win. Just pay attention to how that is already staring to work out.

By the way, it is time for every person to revisit their life and career story and seek to put part of that story in the future tense of hope and aspiration. Tell me your story for the next seven years. It may be the story that will change your life and help you to win what ever life contest you are in.

Here is a way to start. One of the short readings that has always inspired me is the classic little book, a booklet really, entitled, "As a Man Thinketh". It is now long–time in the public domain, and I would encourage you this week to seek to improve your life story by discovering more about the real secret … that as you think, you become. That’s the story. Read it and tell me your thoughts.

Click here to download your complimentary copy of As a Man Thinketh

PRESS ON!

Branding Is Not For Your Business, It’s For Cows!

You’re One of The Richest

It’s About Gratitude

Thoughts on the Titanic and Other Things

Communicating Confidence in a Climate of Fear!

Making History!

Easter Monday & Random Thoughts

Putting Your Dog Down!

Dress for Leadership™ and YOU!… and Image is Not Everything,but It is The First Thing.

“Can You Help Me With My DWI?”

I’m Afraid I’m Like Hillary!

Some Thoughts About Hillary,and What We Can Learn

A Thousand Marbles!

Do You Want to be a Changemaker?

Super Stories & Steps

Branding is For Cows!

In the Most Hum-Drum Life

I Know Who Will Win &What Are You Thinking About?

Dress for Leadership™ and YOU!
… and Image is Not Everything,
but It is The First Thing.

Some Thoughts About Hillary,
and What We Can Learn

I Know Who Will Win &
What Are You Thinking About?