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Point
to Ponder
 As I write this, I am sitting at our home in Mundare,
AB. I'm getting ready to drive over to meet with a client to work
out details and schedules for a two day (April weekend) strategic
planning and visioning retreat for their town councillors and senior
staff. We'll be talking about what is important for them in moving
forward to becoming a more viable and sustainable community. I have
facilitated similar meetings for a few other groups over the past
few years. Each has its own challenges.
Facilitation in this kind of
situation can be a challenge.
1) Getting people to talk and to
share their input and ideas in a public forum,
2) Controlling those who like to
talk a lot.
3) Keeping everyone focused and
energized as we work for a common goal.
As I write this, I am drinking
coffee from a mug that has this little inscription:
"NEVER LET YOUR MEMORIES BE GREATER THAN
YOUR DREAMS"
Part of the visioning
process leading up to strategic planning is getting people to dream,
to see in their minds what could be... not what is or what used to
be.
I remember sitting in a
little fish and chips shop in Adelaide, Australia talking with my
friend Peter J. Daniels when I first started
speaking. Along with some advice and tips for sustained success in
this business, Peter challenged me to dream bigger and to stretch
myself. Good advice.
I challenge people to
dream big dreams and then work to build solid
foundations for success under those dreams. I challenge myself on
this path as well. Some of our greatest advancements in history have
come first as a dream. Many of those became realities when someone
was diligent enough to begin crafting a plan to build them or make
them work. Many of the joys and successes I have come to enjoy
started as dreams. One of my dreams is to see our Secret Selling Tips triple in subscriptions, want
to help?
What are your dreams?
-
Are they greater than your memories or are you living
in the 'back in the old days I did...'?
-
Do you still remember them?
- Are you still working
on them?
 Dust them off, polish them, hone them, refocus them, and
then get working to make them a reality. Dreams along with strategic
planning and action become the success stories that inspire others
to dream too.
Talk to you next
month.
Bob
NOTE from Bob: I continually read a variety of articles,
magazines, books, blogs, and other on-line materials to keep my
mental hopper full and my focus positive and creative. This reading
also serves to challenge my viewpoint while continuing to grow
myself, my ability to serve my audiences and readers, and of course
my business.
I came across this blog
(Jan. 31st) from one of my Facebook friends and liked what Tom had
to say. He comes from a perspective of investing and those
ideas work in the areas of investing in our growth,
empowering our teams, and in expanding our business in this exciting
and challenging time. I believe those of us who do not hide from the
storm and actually invest in ourselves during this challenge will
emerge not only stronger, but in better shape competitively from the
experience. He was kind enough to allow me to share it with
you.
How to Stay Positive
in a Depressed Economy
by Tom Wheelwright,
Founder and CEO of ProVision Wealth
Strategies
 Every time I turn on the news or pick up a
newspaper, there is article after article about the sorry
state of our economy and how much people are hurting. It's so
depressing I hate to even look. And it's just going to get worse
over the next few years.
Yet, this is the Great Opportunity!
Never again will we see real estate, stock and business prices
so low. But with all of the negative reinforcements, it's easy to
sink into our own depression about the economy and worry about our
own financial situation. These thoughts can easily prevent us from
going out and doing something positive to take advantage of this
Great Time to make positive changes.
So what do we do? How do we keep our thoughts and actions positive?
Here are three keys to positive thoughts and actions
during this period.
1. Get out of the house and out of the office.
And I'm not just talking about going to the grocery store. Go to a
seminar or some other place where there are people who are talking
positively about the future. I'm in Canada right now at Greg
Hasbritt's Master Wealth real estate conference. 150 investors
looking for opportunities. In Feb. '09 I was at the Rich Dad Annual
Forum in Orlando. 1200 investors looking for opportunities. These
are positive environments where the focus is entirely on
opportunity.
2. Associate with people who see 'opportunity' in this
time of change. This may require some serious changes in
your life. A number of years ago, I had to make a change in a
business partner. It was the most difficult choice I have ever made,
since this partner was also my best friend. But while immensely
painful (and, to be honest, still painful when I think about it), it
was one of the best decisions I have ever made as it has made a huge
improvement to my business and has greatly reduced the stress in my
life. Think about your friends, your business partners and
associates, and your advisors. Are your advisors constantly telling
you to pull back and to protect what you have or are they advising
you to take advantage of this time? If the former, it may be time
for a change (your CPA, for example?).
3. Take time every day to thank God for all of your many
blessings. And thank your family, your friends and everyone
you meet who helps you in any way. Yesterday at the Master Wealth
seminar, Greg invited the staff of the Hotel Arts where we are
staying to come on stage so we could give them a round of applause.
The energy in the room was amazing. I don't know who got more out of
this show of appreciation, the staff or the seminar participants. I
know it was very positive for my mental attitude.
4. Take time to serve others. (I know, I said 3
keys - just consider this a bonus). Serving gets us out of
ourselves. We begin to see that our problems are not so big and we
feel so good about the help we give others. This is my greatest
reward when I teach, whether on stage in front of 1,000 people, or
with my Sunday School class of 5 eleven-year olds. It is such a
privilege to serve others.
It's easy to get sucked into the great negative that is
being perpetrated on us by the government and the media. So get out
and do something positive and take advantage of the chances to
create your future! And be thankful. We have so much.
Warmest regards,
Tom
Last Minute News
February just flew
by... seems like just a few days ago I was flying
back from Paris (Jan. 31st) and this evening (Feb. 27th),
we are packing to head south to Puerto Vallarta for 8 days.
It has been a productive
month in scripting and shooting two dozen videos for use on our
site, updating and republishing two of our mini-books, updating
websites, writing articles and the normal challenges of taking care
of two homes and offices. My office in Mundare, AB is coming along
nicely and it is much easier to productively work here when I am
home. I still spend a day or two in Egremont when my schedule
allows. Enjoy spending time with my neighbor Steve and his
friend Mike.
Spent Feb
25th in the town of Bonnyville, Alberta (close to Cold
Lake, AB where we have a Canadian Forces Base). Spoke to the
Northeastern Alberta Realtors (R) Association at
their Annual General Meeting. Erwin Thompson
(amazing man) organized my visit and took advantage of my
being there to create a special evening jointly sponsored by the
Ag Society and the Chamber of
Commerce. He worked diligently to make sure the town knew
about the event with posters, radio and print ads and even a sign on
main street. The sub-arctic weather coming in (-27 when we started
that evening and it went down to -35C later) didn't help much and he
got less than his anticipated standing room only. Very nice group of
people who braved the cold. I shared tips on how to " Unleash your business potential and
Out-think, out-market, and out-perform your competition, even in
tough times." Warm reception and definitely worth
the trip and the cold weather.
March looks to be a good
month to dig in and write. Have quite a few projects on the go
including the "Foundational
Success, Building blocks for personal and
professional success" fund raising e-book in support
of our CAPS Charitable Foundation. We have some pretty talented
guest experts from around the globe who are contributing to add
their wisdom. My schedule is to have it completed and available for
purchase by early April.
Going back into the
studio on March 18th to film a few more video
clips. We've added a video archive for our paid subscribers to
Secret Selling Tips and we will add them here as well as on the
site.
March
21st I will share my rescheduled, "Have Mouth - Will Travel, the misadventures of the
Canadian Ideaman on the road" presentation with my
fellow CAPS Edmonton members at our business development meeting.
Should be fun to reprise some of what I have learned in the last few
months while travelling to Paris, London, Frankfurt, Zurich enroute
to speaking in Tehran, Iran and Mumbai, India.
Late breaking
news
 Not so much breaking news as sharing some good news.
You'll be getting this March '09 issue while Irene and I are taking
a break in sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Decided to take a
writing break in a warm place. Have my notebook computer
and reference materials packed and will do a bit of writing while
recharging my creative energies.
This is
something I tell other people to do, but don't always practice
myself. Hope to get at least one day of sailing in, perhaps
two...
Just got the
dvds from one of the Iran events in the mail today. I will look
forward to viewing them and pulling out a few clips for the website
when we return from Mexico.
This shot
was last August on the Elias Mann off the coast of Puerto Vallarta.
Haven't heard back from the crew for the Gypsy Spirit, so not
sure who we will go out with this trip. But, sail we will! Smile..Note:
Gypsy Spirit is not chartering at this time so we went out for
another day with the crew of the Elias Mann.
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 www.ideaman.net or call our Creative Office at:
(780) 736-0009
or call me on my
cell: 780-707-0189 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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What's
New!
5 months
and still happily married...
Updated 'Unleash'
for 2009 with a focus on how to succeed, even in
tough times.
"I
chose to not participate in 'this' recession. Instead,
I will lead by example and encourage people to stretch,
to grow and to succeed, even in tough times."
Bob 'Idea Man'
Hooey
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.
10 Creativity Corner
Egremont,
Alberta T0A 0Z0, CANADA |
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