In this issue...
• Point to Ponder
• Welcome to our 'Opportunities' in October Issue
• Phrases That Pay!
• Leadership and Business Reading
• Last minute notes and thoughts
• Thanks for reading our October issue
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 Point to Ponder
Are you taking advantage of all your opportunities to be happy?
"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know, the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." Albert Schweitzer
Are you happy in your career or business? Does it show?
Many of us miss amazing opportunities to bring a little joy into the lives of our customers, and through that ourselves, when we forget why we are in business. I tell my audiences that, "the main purpose of business is to make the lives of our customers better, at a profit."
I had the privilege of sharing these and other thoughts for Edmonton's Business Link last week. We broke new ground as we video cast this presentation to 17 other centres across Alberta and Sask.
When we are too focused on the daily challenges of dealing with conflicting demands, customer quirks and the hectic pace in which we live and do business, it is easy to forget. We lose the joy and zeal we had when we first started. This is a downward spiral making life more difficult and our relationships less satisfying. This spiral can be easily halted and reversed. It's a matter of perspective and choice!
Our success in business and life is built on relationships. Those relationships are enhanced and enriched when we reach out and touch people. I had the opportunity to visit with my friend Eric Chester, CSP when he was presenting here in Edmonton. Eric is the authority on dealing with Generation Why? He has a new book out "Getting them to give a damm" that we'll be reviewing in the future.
"There is a great paradox in reaching out to touch someone - and that is, the more you reach out to others, the more you will be touched yourself. Joy and happiness in great measure are waiting for us if we will reach just a little further," writes Joan Rawlusyk
My challenge for you this month is to make a conscious effort to reach out and touch the people that come into contact with your life personally and in your business. Be open to sharing joy and happiness in what you do.
If you're curious about the kids... a few years ago I had the great opportunity to work with two delightful grade 3 students - Astounding Announcers, who were introducing the speakers (including me) at a CAPS Edmonton event I was hosting. They were so much fun and a joy to work with... and they were very good too! Got me inspired to push myself in polishing my craft.
As always, I would love to hear some of your stories. Write me at: bob@ideaman.net
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 Welcome to our 'Opportunities' in October Issue
"A well run restaurant is like a winning baseball team. It takes the most of every crew member's talent and takes advantage of every split-second opportunity to speed up service." McDonalds Founder,
Ray Kroc
A few years back I took the opportunity of getting to know the hotel staff in Mexico when I caught this 115 lb sail fish. They were kind enough to prepare it, along with side dishes, for myself and 20 people I invited to join me for dinner by the ocean. What fun! An experience and shared memory that has lasted over the years.
What 'opportunities' are you choosing to explore this month?
What opportunities can you find to expand what you do to better serve your clients, make work more fun and productive for yourself and your team?
What opportunities can you create to make memories with those you most care about?
Welcome to our Ideas@Work! - Strategies for Success e-zine.
If you are new to our Ideas At Work! family, welcome aboard. You can jump ahead to the articles, if you previously read this introductory note.
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 Phrases That Pay!
Simple Statements that Increase your Perceived Value
by Jeff Mowatt, CSP
Quick - name two words which, when frequently used by waiters and waitresses, increases tips by 12%. (Hint: it's not please or thank you).
Give up? The answer is, 'for you.' So, rather than saying to a customer, "Would you like some more coffee?", the savvy waiter would say, "I brought more coffee over for you." The patron thinks, "Gosh, you did that for me, how thoughtful!" and tips accordingly - on average 12% more.
That's what I call easy money.
If you answered correctly - ignore the rest of this article. If on the other hand you'd like more phrases and tips that increase your perceived value, then read on.
(Editors note: Jeff's insight gives us guidelines for any business. Jeff models this attitude in his personal and professional life. He has been a great friend, professional colleague and challenging example to raise my standards and professionalism.)
Take the 5 minutes or less, needed to read his full article... it will pay off big time, for you!
There is a special offer at the end of his article, don't miss it!
>> Read Jeff's full article here
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 Leadership and Business Reading
In addition to making recomendations for additions to your leadership and business success library, I'd like to mention 5 additional business and career reading opportunities in that area.
We've been learning how to maximize our presence and performance on the web and in how to leverage that involvement to better connect and serve our clients. We've expanded our Blogs in the last week or so.
We'll be back with some great books for you to consider adding to your success library in November. I I wanted to invite you to check out these new writing adventures. Feel free to leave a comment or suggest additional content for any of them.
This new venture pushes me outside my comfort zone in adding new material on a more frequent basis... a good thing! It also allows me to share shorter ideas and thoughts as they occur, giving me the opportunity to share my Ideas At Work! with a larger audience.
Here are the five different blogs for your consideration and investigation.
Leaders Coach! - Leadership development blog
Speaking For Success! - Public Speaking and Presentation Skills
blog
Creativity Counts! - Creativity and Innovation blog
Client Service! - Customer Service blog
And of course, our Ideas At Work! blog launched earlier this year.
Take a minute and check them out. Comment on the postings or suggest some new ideas to explore by droping me a note at bob@ideaman.net
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 Last minute notes and thoughts
As I get ready to send this October issue, I am reminded of how precious life is and how quickly the opportunites to share it can pass through our hands.
"We do know how or who our lives will impact; but we must live as tho' they will impact the world. Because they do - our world and those who share it. Our lives cause ripples in a larger pond."
Tomorrow afternoon (Sept. 28th) I will be attending a memorial service for my friend and fellow Toastmaster Evelyn Holden, ATM-Gold, who passed away last week from cancer. It will no doubt be crowded with the friends, family and fellow Toastmasters who are there to pay their respect for this wonderful woman who deeply impacted our lives. I will miss her for sure!
Evelyn and I were both members of the Wild Rose Advanced Toastmasters Club. We also had the opportunity to work closely together a few years ago, when we pioneered the creation of a speakers bureau, and trained its initial volunteer speakers for the Canadian Blood Services.
I will miss Evelyn's sometimes pointed and passionate input in my life and speaking. She challenged me to be better and I loved her for it. I am grateful I had the opportunity to hug her one more time and tell her in person during her last visit to our club this summer; just how much I appreciated her input and friendship in my life.
What is happening in October and early November?
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October 10th is Thanksgiving Day here in Canada. Our friends to the south have theirs next month. Perhaps a challenge to take the opportunity in October to express your gratitude for the many blessings, friends and of course, the trust of your clients? Turkey anyone?
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The weekend of October 15th and 16th, I'll be joining other internet marketers, learners and strategists in Calgary, Alberta. we'll be there to learn from CEO - Derek Gehl who is now leading The Internet Marketing Center following founder Cory Rudyl's death in a car accident. Not sure if there are still tickets left; but here is the Bootcamp website for more information: http://www.marketingtips.com/calgary/
I purchased Corey's amazing internet marketing training program (two binders crammed full of very valuable information) early this year. We've been learning and applying his wisdom and experience in revamping and refocusing our internet based efforts, redesign of our Ideaman site and the launching our various mini-sites.
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I'll be presenting a session on how to "Incorporate key strategies to accelerate employee success" on Thursday, Nov. 3rd, in Edmonton - at the launch of Canadian Institute of Management's "Leadership Strategies Management Development Seminar." (They hope to take this project across Canada in the upcoming year.) This will be a solid value day and if you are within the greater Edmonton market, I invite you to check it out. This will be a good investment if you want to 'Become a Leader Who Influences Others to Get Outstanding Results.'
For more information or to register call: (780) 417-6693 or visit: http://www.westrandconsulting.com/ to register.
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If you are in the London, Ontario area, I have the opportunity to be the closing keynote for D60's Fall Toastmasters Conference on Sunday Nov. 6th. I'll be there for the whole weekend meeting some new friends. Many of you who know me, know I got my start as a public speaker in Toastmasters. I consider it a great privilege when I get the opportunity to give back to this supportive oranization and the friends I cherish.
Visit the D60 Toastmasters site: for additional information on this event. Perhaps, you can attend and learn more about how you can enhance your career or company by enhancing your abilities to listen, think and speak. This is a well respected district who ranked #2 worldwide and #1 in North America for 2004-2005.Tell them Bob sent you!
Note to Meeting Planners:
If you are planning a meeting or event and want a no-cost, sponsored service to be able to invite and track those who are coming? Thought I would send this along to our readership again, and invite you to visit the skOOchie site and give it a spin. (www.skoochie.com) You can pick a series of sponsors... but I would hope you'd select ours. We're being set up as a sponsor for our Successful Meetings site. If you have a sales meeting, wedding, reunion, group function, community event or other gathering... this is a great way to electronically connect, invite and track who will be attending.
This new service from Event IQ looks like a winner and could be something you might consider in your own marketing efforts. Drop me a line and tell me how you like it. Drop my friend Dave a note at: sales@eventiq.com if you'd like more information on how you can add this low cost, effective tool to your marketing arsenal. Tell him Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey sent you.
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Thanks for reading our October issue
Thank you for reading our October 2005 issue of 'Ideas@Work! - Strategies for Success'. We know your time is valuable and our commitment is to make sure each issue has some solid value for you and your team.
Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey would be pleased to be a part of your success team and to work with you for your conference, meeting or event. For more information about customized keynotes, professional/personal leadership training and coaching, seminars/retreats, please visit www.ideaman.net or call our Creative Office at: (780) 736-0009
Ask about a customized conference, coaching or training package to suit your specific career, company or organizational needs.
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