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Point to
Ponder
"The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds
to it,
and exploits it as an opportunity."
Peter Drucker, Best Selling Author and Businessman
Life is interesting in that we have opportunities presented to
us on an ongoing basis. Often they come disguised as problems or
challenges. In business and especially sales our long-term growth,
success, and profitability are directly related to our
ability to recognize opportunities.
Opportunities to:
-
provide innovative, mutually profitable solutions for our
clients.
- pioneer new ideas,
methods, techniques, and sometimes create new business ideas that
open up a new industry.
- adapt our processes or
adopt new ideas which better equip us to separate ourselves from
the herd and better serve our clients.
Let me share an example with you.
I worked with a Canadian client in various capacities. We trained
their senior executives, coached their founder in his many presentations,
and helped write a defining book for their team. One February
while having lunch with their CEO and his wife, we got talking
about helping their sales teams across Canada. In our
discussions we brainstormed an idea for a simple and systematic
way to keep them focused, provide sales training, and discuss
new ideas. We even came up with a name. I looked at my client
and said, "It sounds like, if I build it, you'll buy it."
and he said, "YES!". We discussed a fee to develop
it (very reasonable) and I said, 'We'll have it for you
by the beginning of March." And, Secret Selling Tips was launched to become its own
business unit for us; a very profitable business unit with clients
across North Ameri ca and around the globe.
This opportunity presented
itself in a simple conversation. Had I not responded
from a perspective of, 'How can I serve you?' I would have missed
it.
- How many opportunities do you miss
because you don't take the time to ask questions or investigate
the challenges?
- How many do you miss due to fear or
being timid, and not being willing to stretch past your
comfort zone into the winner's zone?
- How many do you miss because
you are afraid to ask or risk rejection?
Let me share another
example. As
some of you know I had the pleasure of being invited to speak
in Vladivostok, Eastern Russia last June (2010). This is how
that came about. I was speaking at a leadership event the previous
September (2009) and noticed
that they had people attending from Russia as well as across
North America. I actually stopped during my presentation and
asked, "I understand we have some folks here from Russia. Where
are you?" A couple of hands went up, so I asked, "Can
I talk to you when I am done? I would love to come and speak
in your country." I continued my presentation and met
with them later.
They returned home and a month or so
later, I got an email which started the conversation for my trip
last June (2010). Fabulous people and place to visit and I am going
back in 2012.
I have found life is an adventure when
you see and seize the opportunities that come your way.
May 2011 be a year of
opportunities seized and successes built from taking that action.
Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey
Archives of past issues are available on our www.ideaman.net website.
When my friend Joe Boe shared
this article with me, I was immediately drawn by the title.
I have for many years considered myself a catalyst and bridge
builder between people and organizations. It is part of what
I do. In fact one of my keynotes, Building
Bridges not Walls, is about this very concept for long term
and sustainable success in any area of your life.
Enjoy Joe's article and think about how
you can be a bridge builder in your life, career, and
organization.
Are You a Bridge
Builder?
By John Boe
Biography is one of my favorite TV shows because it pays tribute
to the accomplishments of well-known, successful men and women.
I gain insight and inspiration from their stories of achievement
and personal triumph over adversity. I find it interesting to
note that successful people clearly understand the value of
a role model and the power of a mentor's guidance. Each of these
high-achievers are quick to express sincere praise for their
mentors and the positive impact they had on their lives. They're
grateful that someone recognized their talent and believed in
them enough to help them develop their full potential.
There are two kinds of people in this world, those that build
bridges and those that don't. Bridge builders are
mentors who understand the power of a kind word and the importance
of sincere praise. They're always available to share their talent
and experience. Mentors are team players all the way and lead by
example. These unselfish people invest their time and energy helping
others avoid pitfalls along their chosen path. Bridge builders
mentor without concern for personal gain or credit. They don't build
bridges for the sake of recognition or tribute; they build because
it's in their nature to encourage and support others.
As a boy, I recall reading a poem under the glass on my father's
desk entitled The Bridge Builder. This insightful verse and
its message of mentorship has served me well over the years and is a
great example for all of us to emulate. If you're a bridge builder
congratulations, the world is a far better place because of the
difference you make in the lives of others. How many bridges have
you built lately?
The Bridge Builder by Will Allen
Dromgoole
An old man, going a lone highway, Came, at
the evening, cold and gray, To a chasm, vast, and deep, and
wide, Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man
crossed in the twilight dim; The
sullen stream had no fear for him; But he turned, when safe on
the other side, And built a bridge to span the tide.
"Old
man," said a fellow pilgrim, near, "You are wasting strength with building
here; Your journey will end with the ending day; You never
again will pass this way; You've crossed the chasm, deep and
wide- Why build you this bridge at the evening tide?"
The
builder lifted his old gray head: "Good friend, in the path I have come," he
said, "There followeth after me today, A youth, whose feet
must pass this way.
This chasm, that has been naught to
me, To that fair-haired youth may a
pitfall be. He, too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good
friend, I am building this bridge for him."
John Boe presents a wide variety of motivational and
sales-oriented keynotes and seminar programs for sales meetings and
conventions. John is a nationally recognized sales trainer and
business motivational speaker with an impeccable track record in the
meeting industry. To have John speak at your next event, visit www.johnboe.com or call 937-299-9001 Free
Newsletter available on website.
Last Minute News
February is going
to be a mixed activity month. As you read this Irene and I
are in Cuba celebrating her birthday week - a new tradition we've
observed since she joined me in Paris on my way back from Mumbai two
years back. We'll relax, do a tour or two, and definitely visit
Havana as we're close enough this trip. We'll also recharge
and refocus our energies.
Irene is getting
more design clients and a variety of web projects to create
and is looking forward to being able to do more of that when
she retires in a few years. Me, I will stay semi-retired forever....smile.
Have two programs to deliver this month, both of which are
going to be streamed to 20-25 sites across Alberta and Sask.
I'm working with 6 coaching and mentoring clients, and a couple
of writing projects are germinating. Presently working
out the paid advertising strategies for our www.AlbertaSpeakers.com 2011 promotional year and
thinking about a redesign of the site. We are also looking
at beginning a redesign of the www.ideaman.net site
over the next few months. Whew, I need a vacation!
I've taken on the
role of 2011 Director of Programing for our
CAPS Edmonton chapter and finding it fun and challenging to
ensure we create value added business development workshops
each month. In addition, I am serving my 3rd year as a trustee
on the CAPS Foundation and continue as a member of the NSA
Chapter Leadership Council... so am keeping myself from being
bored...
Thanks for
reading
Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey would be pleased to be a
part of your success team and to work with you to help
make your conference, meeting, or training event a success. For
more information about customized keynotes, professional and
personal leadership training and coaching, or seminars/retreats,
please visit http://www.ideaman.net or call our Creative Office
at: (780) 736-0009
for
availability.
Ask about a customized conference, coaching or
training package to suit your specific career, company, or
organizational needs.
Ask about our innovative leadership and/or sales leaders'
motivational training programs.
*****
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Irene and I are
having a wonderful time in the sun recharging our
batteries in Cuba.
Watch for a new Pocket
Wisdom addition in the next month or so.
Connect with Bob:
About
Bob
Bob is a professional speaker, author,
leadership, sales, and business success
expert
He is proud to
be an active professional member of these amazing
groups of people dedicated to polishing their craft
and to better serving their clients and audiences.
Bob is the co-founder
and a past president of CAPS Vancouver, an honorary
founding member of CAPS Sask., an honorary member
of CAPS Halifax, as well as being an active member
of CAPS Edmonton. He served as CAPS National Director
(2000-2002).
He would be happy
to discuss how he can work with you to equip and
motivate your leaders, their teams, sales teams,
or volunteers to grow and to succeed.
Call him today at
1-780-736-0009 to explore leveraging his innovative Ideas At
Work with your organization.
Ideas At Work! 10 Creativity
Corner Egremont, Alberta T0A 0Z0, CANADA |
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