Where Are You Hanging Your Hat?

As I write this week’s blog, I am sitting in a café / food court area of a grocery store.  I enjoy people watching.  And, even more, I find people to be extremely inspiring as I write.

I am sitting among people eating their lunch, swinging business deals, and socializing.  Their conversations are fascinating.

But, within close proximity of where I am is a vending machine selling lottery tickets.  These scratch off tickets are priced from $1 to $20.  I am staring in disbelief as people franticly scratch on the cardboard ticket hoping to become the next millionaire.

The “scratchers” – judging by the way they dress are from a variety of incomes.

It is human nature for all of us to want to be winners at something. 

But, these “scratchers” want it the easy way.  They want success without paying the price.  Maybe that is why 80% of the people who hit the lottery for big money file for bankruptcy within 2 years of hitting it big. 

We can learn so much from these people.  There is a price to pay for success.  No matter whether we are talking about financial success, business success, entertainment success – you have to pay the price.  And, that price is paid over time, through experiences…..and through failing.

It makes me wonder – what are we hanging our hat on?  What are we investing our time and our money in to make our future brighter?

Are we investing in our minds and growing as a person?  Or, are we succumbing to a “voluntary government tax” where you hand the government money and they tell you whether or not you win or lose via a piece of card stock paper with alluring graphics?

That $20 for a scratch off ticket could buy a book – filled with wisdom of someone who was a success in a particular arena.  I selected the $20 ticket to use as an example here because that is the “sold out” slot in the lottery vending machine.

Investing in your own growth sweetens the pot for your own success.  Sure it takes longer – but it also lasts longer.

I have seen people at conferences balk at buying a speaker’s training materials – but think nothing of spending a similar amount on a fad or video game.

I have even had people tell me they would “never” spend that kind of money to hear a motivational speaker……yet they will (without batting an eye) spend money to go see their favorite sporting event.

Whether your team wins or loses has no outcome on your success or financial future.  BUT, that speaker may inspire them to stretch themselves and set new goals to attain.

So be careful where you hang your hat!

Hang your hat on a hook that positions you to succeed long term.  Hang your hat where the odds are in your favor rather than some long shot.  Hang your hat where you can grow to be a better you.

Have a great week

Ron

Feel free to share your thoughts on my web site blog.  

Listen - Listen - Love - Love

Some of you may know that I do prison ministry.  In the Kairos Prison Ministry model, they have a saying – Listen Listen Love Love.

A four word phrase, with its redundancy, that has so much meaning. 

Listen.  Many times it has been said we have two ears and one mounth – so we should speak only half as much as we listen. 

Listening is difficult for many people. 

Why? 

Perhaps it is because you are not interested in what they have to say.  Maybe it is because while someone else is speaking, you’re point is not being made.  Sometimes it is because we don’t want to hear what the person is telling us.  And, just maybe it is because we are SO BUSY, we don’t take the time to give that person OUR time.

Whatever the case – the principle of listen listen love love has many applications in our daily life.

One can improve on their skills by asking, “am I listening more than I am speaking?’ 

This is NOT easy.  In fact it is one I struggle with on a regular basis.

So, that’s the listen part – what about the love part?

Again a self assessment can be done by asking, “Am I patient?  Am I tolerant?  Am I being understanding?  Am I willing to look at all angles of the situation before responding?   Do I look at what is good in others – or do I just see the negatives?”

These are just a few questions that will help us to improve on our love skills.

Have a great week – and let me know how you are doing with your upgrading you, your listening skills and showing love to others.

Ron Orendi

Loving The Client vs. Lusting After The Client

You have a whole Rolodex full of leads and contacts.  You have a computer data base and address book filled with customers and contacts.  You have attended every Chamber of Commerce, business networking event in your area.  You’ve schmoozed at mixers.  You’ve golfed with everyone in your community that owns a set of sticks.  Yet, you still feel as though you are spinning your wheels.

Are you doing something wrong?

Why am I getting all these leads, making the contacts, building the relationships – and NOT getting the sale?

Well, quite possibly – you are lusting after the potential client rather than loving them.

Clients, casual acquaintances, business contacts, and even the general public can tell when you have your “shark fin” up and your JAWS are wide open.   <insert Jaws music here>

 People know when you are looking at them like they are a piece of meat just waiting to be devoured by your sales pitch.

Your quest for the sale is as much of a turn off as the stranger who runs up to you, grabs hold of your arm, shakes you and screams in your face, “Have you been saved?”

So how do you change?  How do you help them change their opinion of you?  How do you undo what you have done?

Well, for starters, you stop lusting after them and start loving them.

“How do I do that”, you ask.

Well, you begin with focusing on the client and not yourself.  If you help them meet THEIR needs – you will meet YOUR needs.  Or another way of putting it is to help them solve their problem – and in doing so you will solve your problem.

That’s the starting point – then…………………

You can learn the rest of the techniques in my MasterMind program.  To host a MasterMind group for your friends, church group, business associates, or sales team – simply call or e-mail me.

Ron Orendi

717-802-0483

ron@ronorendi.com

Upgrading

Every so often a box will pop up on my computer screen stating that there is an upgrade available for a program that is already in my computer.  The message appears because the computer gurus who designed my computer assume that I would want the latest version of a program.

Upgrades are important, they keep you up with the times using the most modern version.

Whether we are taking upgrading a computer program, your car insurance , your cell phone plan or even your medical coverage – the process is the same.

Step 1 – Look at what you presently have.

Step 2 – Assess what your needs are.

Step 3 - Examine options of what is out there for you.

Step 4 – Compare and analyze.

Step 5 – Subscribe, agree, install, implement

Step 6 – Learn the new program / product

Step 7 – Learn to make it work best for you so that you are more efficient.

Does it take time?  Sure – BUT it is time well spent.  It is time invested in you, your business, or your life.

I can almost guarantee, the person who does not upgrade themselves will fall behind the rest of the pack.  They will become the Zayres, Hill’s, and Montgomery Ward of their industry.

So just how do you upgrade you?

Well it begins with a decision – a decision to improve.  From there, I suggest doing a self assessment.  What are your strong points?  What are your weak points?

You do not have to be excellent in everything.  After all, a relief pitcher does not have to be a star fielder – he just needs to know how to catch the ball.

Focus on developing your weaknesses by just a few percentage points – and watch what a difference there is.

Next – JUMP on every opportunity you have to grow…whether that is through books, cd’s, dvd’s or seminars – or better yet – a combination of the aforementioned.

The winner in a race need not be twice as fast as his or her competition.  The winner only needs to be .001 seconds faster.

Remember, growth is ALWAYS an option. 

Feel free to share your thoughts and your own stories.

Have a great week.

Ron Orendi