06.29.21
Posted in Happiness at 11:29 pm by Administrator
As we celebrate the upcoming Independence Day, I’m reminded of one of the most impactful sentences of the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.???
While we are far from perfect as a nation, I am thankful to be living in the United States of America where, in spite of our imperfections, we continue to advance these principles forward.
As you celebrate, take a moment and think about these self-evident truths and encourage someone in “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
?Regards,
Brian
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05.24.21
Posted in All Gave Some at 2:29 am by Administrator
One of the beautiful monuments of San Diego is Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, which sits at the top of Mt. Soledad and overlooks the Pacific Ocean and San Diego county. As I visited the memorial a few weeks ago, I learned that the memorial has names of those who dedicated their lives in service to the United States from the Revolutionary War until present day.
I am thankful for those who I know and those who I don’t who have sacrificed all or a portion of their life serving our country. If you are a veteran, I salute and want to thank you for your service and sacrifice for my family and your fellow countrymen and women.
Have a blessed and safe Memorial Day.
Brian
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04.28.21
Posted in Stay in Your Lane at 2:31 am by Administrator
Have you ever driven down a street that is recently paved with no painted lines indicating where the lanes are? It may normally be a two-lane road but there are two cars in each lane treating it as if it were a four-lane road- all because someone didn’t finish painting the lines.
Something that can happen in business and relationships is confusion when there are not clearly defined lanes, roles and expectations. Much of this can be boiled down to communication. Businesses large and small usually rate communication as an area that can always improve. Here are a few bullet points to consider for your situation that may be helpful to explore further.
· Does your staff clearly understand the expectation you have of them? (sell more stuff may be a little light on the details)
· Regarding communication, do you personally communicate clearly? If not, what specific items can you work on- more details, better listener, ask someone to repeat their understanding of what you just explained
?
Next time you want to yell at someone on the road to stay in their lane, hopefully you will be reminded to make sure your business has lanes clearly established so everyone knows where they are going.
Regards,
Brian
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03.31.21
Posted in Right the Ship at 4:12 am by Administrator
As we have navigated turbulent waters created by COVID, I have had conversations with frustrated managers and sales representatives about the limitations placed upon them to perform their job. The challenge is balancing the employee’s safety and health, governmental regulations, the customer’s needs, and requirements while continuing to build a business. Some companies, in an effort to protect their interests have allowed their legal and HR teams to determine the trajectory of the company. While these are important parts of any business, without sales and growth, the business will ultimately fail.
Leaders- I encourage you to take the wheel of your ship and continue to push through the difficulties, and fight through the resistance that you will encounter. Righting the ship takes resolve and progressive action but it will be worth the effort as you rebuild and move forward into better times.
Regards,
Brian
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02.22.21
Posted in The Owner Called... at 3:04 am by Administrator
I am one of those statistics that you’ve read about caught up in the remodeling craze of 2020. The permit for the pool in the backyard took over five months to be approved (yes this is California) and now we are waiting for the construction start date. As the schedule has extended, there has been some frustration on my part with the pool contracting company- most over things that are out of their control. However, the owner of the company called and with a short five-minute conversation we were back on track. Not a lot changed but the phone call validated the frustration I had and confirmed that someone was engaged and cared.
Sometimes in our businesses when things begin to spin out of control, one of the last people to be involved is upper management or ownership. Obviously we cannot be involved in every difficulty but on occasion, a well timed phone call to your client showing them you care and are actively involved with their concern can bring some resolution and progress.
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01.25.21
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:00 pm by Administrator
Responding to a questionable decision in a playoff game, the quarterback responded- “It wasn’t my decision.” In the book Extreme Ownership there is this statement, “…all responsibility for success or failure rests with the leader. The leader must own everything in his or her world. There is no one else to blame.” Whether it is a quarterback on a football team, a corporate executive, or other type of leader, we don’t have to look very far to see someone blaming another person or group for their failures.
President Truman had a sign on his desk that said “The Buck Stops Here.” In our businesses, organizations, or nations, we begin making progress when we acknowledge there has been a failure, stop blaming and then begin to move forward. We can then develop a plan that addresses what caused the issue then rebuild from there. It is not easy, but teams and people who excel have learned to use those difficult times to improve the situation.
Remembering “The Buck Stops Here,” can encourage others in different levels of leadership to accept the blame and move forward to create a winning situation.
Regards,
Brian
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11.22.20
Posted in Thankful Thanksgivings at 10:29 pm by Administrator
What a wild and interesting year this has been! It is easy to find plenty to complain about but this week let’s all remember to take a moment or many moments and be reminded of Thanksgivings. Thanksgivings for family, friends, health, spiritual and physical blessings, freedom, and anything else you can think of.
Thank you for your support and encouragement and enjoy your week!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Brian
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10.26.20
Posted in Flower in the Forest at 2:44 am by Administrator
Last month I was on a pack trip in the high Sierra Mountains in an area that had been burned over a couple of years ago in a forest fire. As me and my oldest son hiked through the area it resembled a war zone, yet in the middle of the devastation grew a beautiful red flower.
I was struck by the thought that amid turmoil and despair, there is always hope and beauty. It was also a reminder that as individuals, we can be agents of hope and beauty when others around us only see what is wrong in the world. My encouragement to you is to be the person today that brightens the day of a fellow worker, neighbor, family member or stranger. The world will be a better place because you did.
Regards,
Brian
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09.28.20
Posted in What's the Reference Number? at 4:50 pm by Administrator
In the world of a sales representative that calls on retail flooring stores, a common phone call from a retailer can be, “I need a lower price.”
The challenge for the sales representative is not to become the one who trains their customer to know that there is always a lower price which in turn erodes the profit margins of the company and affects their commissions. Often, the call for a lower price is made after the retailer has secured the contract and is seeking to increase the profitability of the project while lowering the rep’s.
One simple solution is to ask the question, “What’s the reference number?” This does two things- if there is a reference number, the order has been placed so there is no valid reason for lowering the price. If there is no reference number, it may be a legitimate request that is needed to secure the business.
At the core, the better the relationship is that exists between the representative and their customer, the easier it is to navigate these conversations and know when it is better to hold firm or be flexible.
Happy Selling!
Regards,
Brian
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08.25.20
Posted in Keep Moving Forward! at 3:05 pm by Administrator
On my early morning drive to the office I see an older gentleman (much older than me) bicycling on a long uphill climb. Some days he is walking and pushing the bicycle, but every day he seems to get a little further up the hill before he is pushing his bike.
What a lesson for life! Even when we may be out of breath or tired, keep on moving forward. In this current season of life it can be difficult to have the mindset of keep on moving forward, but that’s what winners do. Never stop, never quit, move onward and upward.
Make it a great day!
Brian
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