COACHING INSIGHTS
Are You Tolerating Flakes?
If you run your own business (like me), you may suffer an all-too-common occupational hazard: FLAKES! I'm talking about people who miss meetings, don't return calls, don't pay bills on time, and don't do what they promise. It would be wonderful if everyone acted with integrity all the time, but I believe that occurs only in an "alternative universe." When I began writing this article, I wanted to declare "all-out war" on flakey behavior--that is, a no-tolerance policy. But the truth is: most of us flake out from time to time. We forget an appointment, we miss a meeting Read more ...The Art of Listening – Part 1
HOW YOUR BELIEFS IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS
Your mindset exerts a huge effect on your business (and your life).
When I talk about mindset, many people think it’s all about positive thinking. Though positive thinking is a nice thing, what I’m talking about goes much deeper.
The fundamental thing that can make or break your success in business is your deep-seated beliefs about yourself, other people, and the world.
To a great extent, your Read more ... ARE YOU ACCOUNTABLE?
Is there an essential business activity that you're avoiding? Maybe it's marketing, sales, or client follow-up.
Most business owners, entrepreneurs, and salespeople manage their own activity. They pretty much decide what to do and when to do it. Being your own boss can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you get to call your own shots.
On the other hand, you may neglect certain important activities that are Read more ... KNOW THY STRENGTHS!
Consider this for a moment: What are your main strengths at work?
Many people aren't sure what their strengths are. A lot more people can easily identify their weaknesses.
Here's a hint: Think about how you feel performing different aspects of your job.
When you feel energized, like you're operating 'in the zone,' and time seems to pass by quickly, you are probably using your strengths.
When you Read more ... HOW TO PICK THE COACH THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
There are a lot of us business and sales coaches out there. Picking a coach is a very personal decision. Just because someone is a good or experienced coach, doesn't mean he or she is right for you. I'm going to give you 5 vital tips for choosing your coach. Before I do, I want to emphasize that there is one essential reason to work with a coach: to get the results you're after. A coach cannot only help you solve your most pressing challenges, he or she can help you work smarter and increase your performance, so you achieve the results you Read more ...PROCRASTINATION 101
Who among us hasn't procrastinated? Sometimes it's no big deal, but other times we undermine ourselves or let others down when we put things off. Some people have a pattern of procrastination--they routinely blow things off or stress themselves and others out in a last-minute rush to hit a deadline. In this article we'll take a look at the real reasons we procrastinate. Understanding why we choose to put things off is the first step to breaking the procrastination habit. Many of my coaching clients come to our first meeting with a list of goals that they've Read more ...ARE YOU THE CEO, OR HEAD WORKER BEE?
Think about how you operate day-to-day in your business. Do you have a "worker mentality" or a "CEO mentality?" There are many advantages to approaching your business as a CEO, even though that may not be your title or position.
What Do You Actually Do in Your Business?
What are your personal responsibilities in your business? Do you do project work? Management? Sales? Marketing? Admin? Customer relations? Read more ... TRANSACTIONS VS. RELATIONSHIPS
Please Don't Make this Mistake Once of the biggest mistakes I see many salespeople and professionals make is that they take a purely transactional approach to business. They reach out to their clients or customers only when there’s a transaction or an issue to deal with. They seem to think that all that’s important is that they know their stuff and that they do a good job. The problem with this approach is that on the end of every transaction is a real person. We humans are relational beings. We thrive on relationships, not transactions. You may do a Read more ...HOW YOUR BLINDSPOTS AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS
You're partially blind. We all are.
No matter how aware or intelligent we are, we don't always see ourselves or our situation clearly. We all have preconceptions, assumptions, and blind spots that get in our way. It's part of being human.
This partial blindness can have big repercussions on your business. You may be unaware of ways you're holding yourself back. You may also fail to see opportunities that Read more ... 
