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5 Things You Can Learn from a Service Failure
When I find myself getting really bad service, I try to extract lessons I can share with my clients. There is a national chain of upscale seafood restaurants where I’ve always enjoyed dining. I took my...
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8 Ideas to Make Your Life Better
1. You and I know how good we have become, but we don’t have any idea of how good we could be. What great projects are you undertaking in your business? In your life? Many people go through life...
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5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Conferences and Conventions
1. Ask a question. “What do I most want and/or need to learn at this conference?” Identify your own learning objectives to leverage your results. 2. Have an agenda. Review the schedule in advance and...
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How Leaders Convert Compliance into Commitment
Every leader yearns for a team that rises above merely “going through the motions” to get the job done. The dream is a team that distinguishes itself by its excellence, a team that displays enthusiasm,...
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4 Teamwork Tips You Need to Know
What does it take to make teamwork work? Teamwork happens quickly and naturally when: 1) everyone on the team knows what needs to be done, 2) they have the skills and ability to do it, 3) there are no...
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“It Never Hurts to Ask” is a Lie
“It never hurts to ask.” We often hear that said. But is it true? Recently someone asked me for a favor. The request came in an impersonal form email. I had some business dealings with this person many...
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Insights from 7th Grade Freds
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” ― Nelson Mandela Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with a group of seventh graders from Berean Christian School....
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3 Ways to Prevent Getting Fired by Customers
In the most recent Five Friends post, “You’re Fired,” there is a common thread. The situations and the kind of people or organizations who got fired vary greatly, from a landscaping company to a...
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5 Ways to Increase Your IQ (Implementation Quotient)
How do leaders accomplish more than others? And how do they achieve great things with others? I believe a leader’s success is due to his or her IQ: implementation quotient. That is the difference...
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How to Keep from “Deleting” Customers and Clients
How do you “delete” a customer or client? Here’s an example: I found a great masseuse near my office. Getting older and living in airplane seats makes therapeutic massage a necessity for me rather than...
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5 Actions You Can Take Immediately to Improve Your Life
1. Stop worrying. If you can’t do something about what worries you, worrying won’t help. And if you can do something to address your worries, then do it. Action is the antidote to worry. 2. Learn...
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The 3 Most Hated Words in Leadership
“I don’t know.” Few if any leaders want to admit this. Many should. Not knowing is not the worst leadership sin. In actuality, it can be a helpful admission. Leaders are charged with finding the...
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The Six Principles of Leadership: The Power of Focus
Focus and determination beat brains and intellect every time. Your power lies in your ability to focus on doing what is important. If you focus on the right things, and work at them often, you will...
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The Six Principles of Leadership: Power with People
Everything we accomplish happens not just because of our efforts but through the efforts of others. The biggest difference between people who manage others versus people who lead others is how they...
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The Six Principles of Leadership: The Power of Persuasive Communication
Communicating isn’t the objective in business or life. The objective is understanding. Communication is simply the tool to accomplish that. In one study, poor communication was cited as the cause of...
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The Six Principles of Leadership: The Power of Execution
As Henry Ford famously said, “You cannot build a reputation on what you are going to do.” If there is one irrefutable test of a leader, it is the results he or she produces. Intent without action is...
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The Six Principles of Leadership: The Power of Giving
“Everything I have—my life, my potential, my time—was given to me. I’ve decided to spend the rest of my life returning.” – Charlie Jones, philanthropist Why do people give of themselves? Giving teaches...
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3 Questions for Character Development
My friend Tom Marcoux is an author who writes in a variety of genres. Recently he shared this advice with me about writing fiction: “If you do try you hand at fiction, here’s a method I devised and...
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The Best Place to Be Happy
“I will be happy when I get home.” “I’ll be happy when I get to college.” “I’ll be happy when I get to the beach.” These are some of the places where people say they’ll be happy. But where is the best...
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10 Actionable Ideas
1. Develop a growth plan with each person on your team. 2. Know thyself: What time of day do you do your best work? Make a list of the most important relationships in your life. Compare your activity...
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