In this issue...
• Point to
Ponder
• I'm curious, aren't you?
• Seasons
Greetings
• Last minute thoughts and ideas
• Thanks for
reading
|
 Point to Ponder
The Greatest Gift!
December is a month of hectic activity. For North
American retailers, it is traditionally a month that can make a
major difference in their fiscal year. For the rest of us in
business it can be very busy as well.
Not everyone celebrates Christmas, but most of us
at least pause to reflect on 'gifts' during this tremendously
commercial part of the year.
I'd like to challenge
each of you to consider the greatest gift of all.
Danny Thomas once said, "Success in life has
nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself.
It's about what you do for others." Wise words from a very
successful entertainer, investor and community supporter.
Wise words for those of us in business as well.
Isn't 'giving' the essence of what makes the successful business or
career grow?
What is the greatest gift you may be thinking?
Well, I believe the greatest gift we can give is our
appreciation and recognition that we do actually care.
-
Have you told your family that you appreciate
their contributions and support over the past year? Their
gifts of love and support.
- Have you told your friends and colleagues the same thing?
-
How about your staff who have worked with you
this year to build or work through the challenges together?
Their gifts of diligence, support and value-added
contributions.
-
How about your suppliers who helped you and
were consistent in making sure you had what you needed to serve
your clients? Their gifts of service and support for your
efforts.
-
How about the most important people in your
career or business life - your customers? Have you
let them know how much you appreciate the gift of their trust in
doing business with you lately?
My challenge for each of you this month is
to take a moment and reflect on the people who have given you
the gift of their friendship, love and support; and then find some
tangible way to let them know.
All the best for this Christmas season. See you in January,
2008
Why not send this ezine along to a friend or
colleague? We hope it will be a gift of knowledge,
encouragement, and enjoyment to all who receive it.
It is our continuing gift to your
growing success.
Bob
PS: Santa and I have changed a bit,
but the spirit of Christmas remains the same. Give someone a reason
to smile, to hope, and to dream. Perhaps
yourself?
PS2: My friend Bev Baker-Hoffman just
shared a few ideas for gifts for that special person. One size fits
all.
The gift of wisdom, the gift of encouragement, the gift
of inspiration, the gift of hope, the gift of
time, the gift of a listening ear, the gift of
compassion, the gift of kindness, the gift of
appreciation, the gift of optimism, the gift of
humour, the gift of loyalty, the gift of
strength, the gift of courage, the gift of
connection, the gift of faith, the gift of
respect, the gift of honesty, the gift of
forgiveness, and the gift of patience. I would add one more to
this list,the gift of friendship.
I have been blessed with many fine supportive friends...and
wanted to remind you that the gift of friendship is one that keeps
giving all year long.
|
 I'm curious, aren't you?
Curiousity and courage are the basis of innovation,
creativity, and idea generation.
Curiousity about how things work. Courage
to challenge the status quo and then making changes to improve
it.
This is where those who lead their respective
industries truly excel. They are not afraid to go outside
the confines of their narrow field and to borrow, beg, and sometimes
'steal' ideas from other fields and industries.
It is a good
management practice to occasionally look at your norms and ask
yourself the contrary or flip side of the equation questions. This
is where innovation and the real creative spark exist and glow the
brightest.
That doesn't mean you always throw away what you
are currently using. At times it is still very effective and may be
the most productive use of your time, resources and energy. But,
what if there is a better way, a more productive way, a more cost
effective way... and your competitor finds it first? Hmmmmmm?
The secret to thriving and succeeding in our competitive,
and by now everyone should understand, globally competitive market,
is in being constantly on the 'improve.' Sometimes that means
'improv' to find the answers to the questions your existing and
potential clients are asking.
Recently, I attended the Applied Improv Network annual
conference at the Banff Centre to satisfy my curiosity. I sought to
learn new techniques I could apply in my own speaking and
training. I learned some that will be beneficial in helping me think
and draw creatively on both sides of my brain in expanding my
business and the value-added services I provide to my audiences and
clients.
So keep questioning and keep on the quest to
personal and professional success.
©2007 Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey
|
 Seasons Greetings
At
this holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have
enriched our lives, and made our
progress possible.
It is in this spirit, we
say…
Thank you!
Merry
Christmas and a very prosperous 2008
Click for a special 'guest' Christmas message
video
Bob ‘Idea
Man’ Hooey
www.SecretSellingTips.com
www.Ideaman.net
|
 Last minute thoughts and ideas
November was a novel month.
Actually had a couple of weeks when I was home before heading to
Halifax. Whew! And, to be honest, I needed it, so I could catch up
on some overdue writing and promotional projects... and catch my
breath.
My initial foray into the world of Applied Improv at the Banff
Centre was enlightening. Learned quite a bit I can use to make my
training sessions, workshops, and facilitation more interactive and
fun for my audiences. Perhaps, even blend a bit into my motivational
keynotes. Thanks to the AIN team who created this event.
Enjoyed a great evening with the Alberta Entrepreneurs
Association. Also received a surprise invite to The Brick's
Christmas Gala with their leadership and enjoyed my friend Wayne
Lee's amazing performance. Thanks Kim!
Launched www.EdmontonSpeakers.com and www.CalgarySpeakers.com with new speakers joining
us on a regular basis. Have sent notes to other speakers about
creating similar sites for their geographical areas. www.VancouverSpeakers.com is just starting. Will
chat with some of them in Halifax and create additional
sites next month. Kind of fun creating these joint promotional
outreaches.
Working on concepts, changes, formats and features for year two
of Secret Selling Tips. Will continue this work next month and into
January.
December will be delightful.
Sending this issue enroute to Halifax where I am attending the
annual CAPS National Conference. I will be attending a
pre-convention session with Sam Horn, author of POP;
and presenting a Meet the Experts session on Thursday
evening. I then get to fully enjoy my time with CAPS,
Federation, and NSA colleagues and friends. As I tell folks,
"I'm there for the hugs". I know I
will learn a few new things I can use to make what I do more
productive as well as profitable and fun.
I will continue working on expanding our network of Speakers
websites, getting ready for year two of Secret Selling Tips series and Alberta Speakers ad-venture project. Doing
some additional writing and article placement. (eg. Canadian Manager
just featured 3 of my articles in their Fall 2007 Issue. They also
included two from my friend and colleague, George Torok.)
This will be a productive month, as well as time well spent with
family, friends, and colleagues. Might head out to the coast after
Christmas.
PS: Dec 8th is my (younger) sister's birthday.
Missing it again, as I am in Halifax. Happy birthday, Patti...
smile... luv ya!
|
 Thanks for reading
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 training 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.
PS: Pic is from last year's CAPS convention in
Vancovuer, BC. I had fun walking on stage on the Friday morning in
my pj's and bathrobe. They were still talking about it in San Diego
this summer. What a hoot and a chance to live outside the box.
*****
If you are new to our Ideas At Work! family, welcome aboard. If
you've been with us a while, I hope you'll enjoy our new expanded
format. We publish this e-zine to share ideas and keep in touch
with our friends, readers and audience members who wanted to remain
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Secret Selling
Tips
-
If your success depends on your ability to
persuade or sell your ideas
-
If your chosen career is selling or
retail
-
If you lead or manage a team of selling
professionals
-
If your business depends on sales to
grow
-
If you haven't already visited this new online
venture, I'd invite you to do so and to tell your friends and
colleagues.
For, as little as, the price of a cup of coffee you
can equip and motivate yourself or your sales team to grow and
succeed.
Visit our site: www.SecretSellingTips.com
Secret Selling Tips is now available for
individual subscriptions. We are working on setting it up so folks
can sign up on-line. We will continue to make it available to
companies for their entire sales teams.
Professional
speaker, leadership, sales, and business success expert
Bob is a long time (over a decade) leader and
professional member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers as
well as the International Federation for Professional Speakers.
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. Or, email him at bob@ideaman.net
What's
New!
Two new 'destination' specific websites
uploaded:
Article published in Software Sales Journal
- October issue.
Several articles published in Canadian
Manager, Fall 2007 issue.
These three joint venture, promotional
sites are up and running and others are in the works. Speakers are
being added almost daily.
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