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Monday Morning Motivators – September 29, 2008
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Enjoy your java with an eclectic collection of tips and ideas to use today and to get energized for the week ahead. Subscribing and unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
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Table of Contents
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1. 5S Review – Sweep & Shine - Linda Fayerweather
2. Market to current customers – Part 3 of 4 - Rebecca Booth
3. Learn Acceptance - Pat Altvater
4. Extraordinary Strength of Character - Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
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1. 5S Review – Sweep & Shine
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As a kid, I remember waiting in the car to go camping, singing some crazy song about waiting and waiting with my siblings. And what were we waiting for? We were waiting for Mom to scrub the kitchen sink and mop the floor so that “in case she died on vacation” her mother wouldn’t think she was a slob. Mom understood the 3rd S – Sweep & Shine.
Keeping everything clean is important to profit, waste identification and most of all, customers. Every now and then, I’ll hear someone say “but my customers never see my workspace”. It doesn’t matter!
--If you work in a messy environment, it will slip into messy work.
--If you are not maintaining equipment and machines, you may come up short when an unmaintained machine fails at a critical moment.
--If your drive-by appearance still has last season’s decorations, potential customers may think you are out of business!
As you travel this week, take a look and see what attracts you to other businesses – I’m guessing a ship-shape place always has an impact! There is a reason that McDonald’s is the number one place for moms with kids – clean bathrooms.
Need a quick tip reminder? You can have a FREE pocket guide to 5S. To receive yours, please email your Name, Address, City, State, and Zip code to linda@changinglanes.biz
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather
Storm the Barn with New Ideas
Changing Lanes LLC
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
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2. Market to current customers – Part 3 of 4
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Marketing? We don’t need no stinking marketing?! Do you seriously think that Clint Eastwood, aka the Outlaw Josie Wales, would cut his marketing budget if he were an entrepreneur? You’re absolutely right; the answer would be “Naw!” Instead our smart outlaw/cowboy would:
3) Market to current customers. Take a look at what you’re buying or not buying this year. Are you working with people you’ve worked with before or are you giving your business to someone who’s untried? If you’re like most people, you are making safe choices with your limited funds. Make a concerted effort to stay in touch with your existing customers. Reach out to them using a variety of tactics: from e-mail to snail mail to sales calls to lunches. By varying your tactics, you’ll stay top-of-mind without wearing out your welcome. Go ahead . . . Make their day!
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
Celebrating 10 years of delivering results for our clients.
http://www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com/
http://www.marketinginabox.biz/
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3. Learn Acceptance
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Many of us operate from an attitude of “I have to make life happen. If I don’t, it won’t be the way I want it to be.”
According to Zen teachings, we’re better off to just accept everything as it is. That sounds like a do nothing approach to life but that’s only because we confuse giving up with acceptance. However, they are very different. Giving up is an ego experience of defeat and resignation.
Acceptance is more about being in the moment and seeing what is happening and then acting out of choice. According to Cheri Huber, author of That Which You Are Seeking Is Causing You to Seek, suggests that we can plan, decide, and choose how we want things to turn out, but then we must let go and accept that if it turns out the way we wanted, great, and if it doesn’t, great. That’s acceptance!
An elementary school friend of mine died of cancer last week. She battled for 15 years, with 4 different incidences during that period. At her funeral, we heard about her acceptance over those 15 years and how she lived those years JOYFULLY, even the last few months when it was apparent that another miracle was not at hand. The lesson for us: the outcome does not matter, what matters is how you are spending this very minute.
Are you spending your moments in acceptance?
Pat Altvater
Author, Journey to WOW, Ignite the Power Within
www.ignitethepowerwithinbook.com/movies.html
http://www.ignitethepowerwithinbook.com/
http://www.patriciaaltvaterandassociates.com/
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4. Extraordinary Strength of Character
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Central Washington and Western Oregon colleges had ladies softball teams playing for the league championship. Sarah was a senior with Western Oregon. It was her last game and she had a goal . . . to hit a homerun.
It was the day of the big game. Both teams were neck and neck. Sarah stepped up to her LAST at bat with two team members on base and hit the ball over the fence!
Both teammates made it “home” safely. In her excitement, Sarah overran first base which meant she had to go back. When Sarah turned, her cleated shoes didn’t allow her foot to turn with her. The tendons in her knee were torn and she fell to the ground but managed to crawl back to first base.
The coach for Western Oregon asked the umpire about their options. The bottom line was that NO ONE on Sarah’s team could touch her or it wouldn’t statistically be a “home run”.
Melony Holtman played for Central Washington. She actually held the record for the most home runs in the league. Melony asked the umpire if her team could help Sarah. They could. . . AND THEY DID!!! Melony and another player from Central Washington cradled Sarah in their arms and carried her from base to base carefully stopping to bend just enough to touch Sarah’s toe on each one.
Each week, in life and in business, you have the chance to STEP UP TO THE PLATE and become part of a greater victory by selflessly contributing to someone else’s success . . . sometimes at your own expense.
Western Oregon experienced their first championship because everyone around them demonstrated extraordinary strength of character! Melony Holtman told Sarah that she’d earned it, she “deserved” it.
When someone in your life, in your business, on your team, on another team falls short – pick them up and (if necessary) carry them!!!
--YOU WILL strengthen your relationships
--YOU WILL strengthen your business
--YOU WILL strengthen your networks…when you choose to demonstrate extraordinary strength of character!
Take a few minutes to think about some of the opportunities you may have missed to demonstrate extraordinary strength of character in the last few weeks. What action(s) can you take to make a difference for someone else? The good news is that it will make a difference for you too!
Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKUaLlK776s to experience this phenomenal story firsthand.
Copyright 2008 Paula Frazier is a referral marketing trainer, coach, consultant and keynote speaker. She is an Executive Director for BNI and part of a select team of Master Trainers for Referral Institute. You can connect with Paula at paula@referralinstitute-va.com or paula@bniswva.com .
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5. To Do This Week
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Enjoy this equinox day. Happy Autumn (or Spring if you are downunder)
