Jingle Bells and You

During the next several weeks, Ron’s weekly blog will deal with various Christmas Carols and how they apply to personal growth and business.

Jingle Bells

Lyrics to the song by James Lord Pierpont

Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way

Dashing through the snow?  Absolutely!  Everyone should have purpose and meaning…AND…. be eager to accomplish it.  If you are not passionate and excited about what you are doing, then you are doing the wrong thing.  Find your passion.

Laughing all the way?  Enjoy life’s journey!  I am thinking of the Helen Keller quote “Life is a daring bold adventure or its nothing at all.”

Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright

Ask yourself, are you making spirits bright?  Are you an encourager?  Are you cheering on your coworkers, friends, colleagues and your children?  Let them know you believe in them.  Be their cheerleader.

What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight

If you are happy – alert your face.  Smile!  Notify your body.  Put some spring in your step and a tune in your heart.

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

Are you jingling your bells?  Are you shouting the joy you have?

If you are in sales……  Are you getting the word out and promoting your line of products?  Or are you just waiting around for the customer to come to you?

If you are a spiritual person…..  Are you sharing the good news of your beliefs?  Or are you hiding in and keeping it all to yourself?

If you are an employee…….  Are you the one spreading the gossip?  Or, are you the one sharing the joy?  Are you making the lunch room / break room brighter or darker when you are there?

A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot

There always will be hiccups in the process.  There will most certainly be course corrections in your journey.  The question is – are you focused on the problem or on the solution?

Problems, snags, roadblocks in any effort make you a stronger and better person.

Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

May you learn from this Christmas Carol.  Each time you hear it, may it be a reminder to check your attitude – to make adjustments – adapt to change –  and spread cheer through your positivity.

Have a good week and go jingle your bells.

Ron

Basting

In many homes across the United States people will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner this week.

One of the things that has always fascinated me over the years is the concept of basting a turkey.  Literally, it involves taking the juices that have drained from the turkey and squirting those juices on the bird to give it that golden brown look and a savory taste.

So, how can we apply this cooking technique to our own lives?  Imagine how much more marketable we would be by simply making ourselves more savory.  We could be more appealing, more positive and more effective by simply “basting” ourselves with some additional knowledge.  Pouring the juices from a self help book or a personal development book can make us better.

 Amazing!  Something so simple as inputting something upbeat and positive can change us not only inwardly but also outwardly.

Smothering ourselves with juices of personal growth can – and will – make a world of difference.

So – please share with all who read this blog – what are you reading that is offering you the juices of knowledge?  What book or books have you recently finished that have given you that golden brow glow of WOW?

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Ron

Color

A number of years ago, when I was just getting in to reading self help books, a friend introduced me to a book called the Color Test.  The book was an eye opener with regard to how we are affected by color.

There are colors that can make you hungrier.  There are colors that encourage anger.  There are colors that promote calmness.  And, colors that promote creativity.

 Few years ago, my wife was going to repaint our office.  In discussing what color to paint the office – I stressed the importance of the office being bright and cheery.  My thinking was that I sometimes sit in the office and just take in the atmosphere.  In doing so, my mind can wonder into creative areas.

We selected a soft yellow for the office. 

Now, we are in the midst of some renovations to our home and again – we are selecting colors for definite reasons.  The kitchen will be a russet brown with Magellan Green countertops and white walls.  Laid back coloring, yet warm and inviting – some may even say “homey”.

As we moved to the living area – again, we wanted brightness as the windows look out to the wooded area on our property.  The living room is brightly lit from sunshine and colors that set the tone of the room.  We selected 2 shades of peach, one wall being darker than the others.  The dark wall is the wall where the sunshine hits.  The two shades of peach offer a contrast.  The color scheme offers a fun whimsical appeal.  And, at the same time allows us to sit in the room and be creative as we gaze out at the trees behind our home.

I share this info to emphasize the importance of color. 

If you have an office where you meet with clients, it would be wise to use a color scheme that fits your type of business as well as the message you want to convey to the customer.

If your office is more of an area for you to do your work and brainstorm – then I suggest going with colors that enhance creativity.  Decorate the office for inspiration.

 If the office is a showroom for you to showcase your work – pay more attention to detail and decorate with things that accent your work and do not “steal the show” from what you are trying to display.

This leads to dress.  The color section of clothing should be consistent with the profession you are in.  i.e. you would not feel good about going to a surgeon who wears Three Stooges t-shits to work.

Additionally, your clothing should also share some of your personality.  Not too much – but just a hint.  Subtlety works best here.

Stationary, business materials and business cards should reflect the color scheme of your profession, work or office.

Caution – always keep in mind “branding”.  If your company has a branding that utilizes a specific color – stay with that color scheme.  However, if you have yet to establish a color in your branding – start considering what colors you want to be known for.

When you see an orange and silver box truck on the highway – chances are it’s a U-Haul.  As popular as their name is – people are more likely to associate their color scheme with them name.

Pick up a copy of the book Color Test – and I am certain you will be amazed at how color impacts our lives.

Have a great week.

Ron

Connectivity

Recently, when beginning my daily work routine, I attempted to log on to the Internet.  Within seconds that dreaded screen popped up saying that I was NOT connected.

I hurried in to the room where the router and wireless connection are.  They looked fine – but I opted to shut them down and reboot.  I checked all the electrical wires to ensure that each wire was fully connected.  I went back to my lap top and logged on to the Internet.  The same screen appeared.

Drat.  I have to get this work done before going out of town I thought.

I sense there are many people who can relate when I say, “I don’t like not having an Internet connection.”

Of course, years ago, businesses actually operated without the Internet (pre Al Gore days) and without computers. 

But in this day and age, it’s a part of life.

I felt a sense of aloneness as I again tried to log on and saw that same screen showing that my connection had “timed out”.

Why do we get that feeling when we cannot log on, aside from the concern of not being able to get work done.

Simple.  As humans, we all need to feel a sense of belonging, a feeling of being connected to others.  That is one of the reasons why people join churches and join groups.  We need other people.

God created Adam, and recognized he needed a help mate.  God even said it is not good for man to be alone.

Of course there is that extreme small section of the population who are happy with a shack in remote sections of Montana.  But, people as a whole, need other people.  You may not be a social butterfly or a great conversationalist – but the need to be around others is still there.

So, what does all this have to do with the business community and sales people?

Plenty.

If your network of people is just you, then, after you have bought your product from yourself – then your sales will go down.

You need to constantly expand your network of people.

Where do you find those people?  I would suggest not to look further than the current planet you are on. 

I also would suggest you make the move out of your desk chair and out of your office. 

Now, I am NOT a big Chamber of Commerce type person.  But some people swear by their effectiveness in networking with other people.

Trade shows can be great opportunities to meet new people.  Business events, community related functions and charitable programs also can be a great place to meet people.

Now I MUST stop here and say that I do not suggest that you become a “Hey how are ya, here’s my card, call me and I’ll give you a discount” type of person.  There is a strong line between meeting people and lusting after a sale to people.

My mentor and friend, Bob Burg says, “All things being equal, people will do business with people they know, like and trust.”

Utilizing that great wisdom…..first, one must make friends.  Then, as I have mentioned in a previous blog – love the person - don’t lust the sale. 

The key is to expand your network.  Increase your sphere of influence.

Good luck in growing your network.

Ron

It’s all in how you look at it

As I am writing this, it is late in October and it is snowing like it is mid February.  A quick glance on Facebook – and I hurried to jump off.  Why?  Whining and complaining about the snow, events being cancelled, and what an inconvenience it is.

For all of us, life happens.  There are sunny days and snowy days.  There are good times and sad times.  There are challenges and there are successes.

For some people – it appears as though they live for the drama.  They cannot wait for the next distraction or deterrent to “cripple them into inaction”.  This allows them to blame their inaction on someone or something else.  In reality – their own inactivity is what is slowing their progress down and NOT that thing or situation.

For others, they handle the speed bumps and hiccups of life as just that – speed bumps and hiccups.  They don’t allow these events to slow them down or stop them from moving forward toward their goal.

Years ago a friend and mentor, Mark Gorman, did a wonderful talk on “The Twig of ’93”.  Mark’s talk was based on a line from the movie “A Bug’s Life” where the group is all processing – when all of a sudden – a leaf falls in their path.  The bug’s immediately stop.  Discussion ensues on what to do.  One of the leaders steps up and says, “Stop.  We are trained professionals.  We will go around the leaf.”  The group is amazed.  They never realized this was an option.

See the following link.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynzcUw9wv0E

Isn’t that what many of us do when something arises that stops the smooth sailing of our ship?  We become numb, unable to do anything but stop our progress.

I know that is EXACTLY what many people on Facebook did on October 29^th.  They stopped.  They froze.  They whined.  They complained.  None of that made any progress.

What did we do in the Orendi house?  We did a course correction.  A slight change in plans and we made it a productive day.  We tackled projects that had been sitting on the back burner.  We took time to clear away tasks that were time sensitive.

Consider that we are ships made to sail the mighty seas of life.  We were NOT made to sit in dock in calm waters.  We were made for stormy seas.  We were given brains that can come up with creative ways to solve dilemmas.

Your success will always be determined by the level of problems you can solve.

Was this a crippling snow in the north east.  No.  This snowfall was a reminder of how beautiful the landscape looks with untouched white snow everywhere.  This was an opportunity for all of us to realize that there is something greater than us that is in charge.  Should we allow it to thrust us into stagnation or to become numb in peril?  No. 

After spending years in multi-level businesses, I witnessed people who yearned for days like this.  It was their excuse to do nothing.

If you own a business or are in sales or operate a home based business – look at your calendar.  If your business is struggling today – go back 6 months and look at your activity in promoting / working your business.  What went on last April that stopped your progress?  What froze you into inaction?

Chances are, once you look back – you will have the answer to why things are the way they are today.

It’s not the fault of the economy, the President, Congress, or some other factor.

The man who made buggy whips blamed the economy, progress and other factors.  The reality is – he did not meet the changing demands of the buying public.

 The operators of Hills Department Stores, Zayres, Mongomery Wards and many other retail stores did not change to meet the demands of the changing buying public.

Would now be a good time to open a Blockbuster Video store?  How about a business where you build carborators?

Times change.  People change.  Stuff happens.

But it’s how you react to it that makes all the difference in the world.

Have a great week

Ron