Week of September 22, 2008

Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .

 

IN OUR WORLD

 

Just back from beautiful Atlanta where they actually had cool weather!

 

I was honored to have my Interpersonal Communications learning program a permanent part of sales training for one of my top clients and get to teach a group of bright sales folks.

 

At the same time projects were piling up around the Repeatable Successful Acts platform that requires me to customize the program to meet specific industry needs.  This is always a great enjoyment because it gets me the opportunity to learn about industries as diverse as rural telecommunications to genetic identification efforts.  It is amazing what you can learn.

 

Next week I have a quick trip to LA, and then back to Dallas for a project, then on to San Francisco before I get a chance to sleep in my own bed.

 

I remain honored and full of energy around the opportunity to show how the strategies I have designed can benefit any industry!

 

 

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

 

It is the heart of the political season and all eyes are on America as the dance between ideologies changes from a waltz to a jitterbug.  It is fascinating to watch the strategies unfold and the ups and downs that can happen in the blink of an eye.

 

In our “instant” world, there is little or no room for error.  Every time you open your mouth it is simultaneous chance for success or failure.  Sound bites rule the airwaves and we have become a society who believes you can understand any issue with a series of bullet points.

 

A politician is a great source for watching presentation skills.  As the debates happen or for that matter don’t happen, use them as an opportunity to observe and improve you skills.  Here are a few things to watch for:

 

• Hand Motion:  Americans are expressive in our speech patterns.  Watch how the candidates hold their hands and use them to create impact.  See if they have been “over-coached” causing them to look unnatural.  Every speaker has a very personal style, I call it their “JAZZ” and you need to build on the JAZZ to make them effective instead of reconstructing to make everyone appear the same.  This is a foundation point of our teaching philosophy.
• Speed of Response:  Though they will know the questions ahead of time, there is still a need to think before responding.  Most mistakes are made when time exceeds thought or when speed gets the upper hand over thinking.  The candidates that think first will come out ahead.
• The Face:  Watch for how the candidates us their face.  Do they smile at the appropriate time (smiling is one of the most powerful aspects of presenting), do they shake their heads in disagreement over their opponents position (a big mistake).

 

Use these debates to learn!

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT

 

 

MOVIES:  Eagle Eye looks to be really exciting and I have only a small window this weekend to get in a film, so this will be the one!

 

NetFlix Fans:  The Arrival –   Yes, this is a Charlie Sheen movie, BUT it is really fun and about an alien attempt to terra form the planet to meet their hot house needs.

 

TV:    Though football season tends to dominate my TV time with catching the University of Texas (for my son Dylan), the University of Arkansas (for my son Colin) and of course the Cowboys, I am still able to catch a few of the new shows.  The Mentalist on CBS was kind of interesting and the new season of House continues to make it my favorite show.  By the way, this weekend the Horns play the Razorbacks and Colin is headed to Austin where by son’s will lock up in opposition for the big game.

 

BOOKS:  The Little Red Book of Selling – by Gitomers.  This is a must read for ANYONE in business.  Don’t forget, everyone is a sales person!

 

MUSIC:   Coming back from Atlanta I chose to listen to one of my favorite singer / songwriters – Bruce Cockburn.  I was floored when I found this FANTASTIC video of him singing one of my all time great songs – Pacing the Cage.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAcqr3MYMmM

 

WEB SITES:   Do you dig magic?  Try this web site:

                                        

 

 

 

 

 

SOUTH OF NORMAL

I am amazed at what people don’t know!   This week two wonderful young high school girls knocked on my door, seeking support of a Republican candidate running for office.  They had on red, white and blue shirts filled with buttons, a hat with the candidates name and were armed with a clipboard.  As I opened the door, even before they could talk, I held up my hand and said, “I have two questions for you”. 

I asked one, “Tell me what you like about ________________.  She paused, looked at the other girl and said, “He’s really nice.”  OK.  I then asked the second girl; “what makes _______________ different from his opponent?”  She said;” he likes people”.  OK.  So I said, then his opponent, who is running for a job in which his product is PEOPLE, does not like people.

They both looked at me, wishing they had knocked on someone else’s door.  I said; “you both really don’t know anything about the candidate for whom you are seeking support.”  They laughed and told me that no one had asked them anything.

I made a simple recommendation; Make sure you can answer two simple questions:

1.      What value will your candidate bring to his country?

2.      What separates your candidate from his competition?

 

If you can speak to these you will be successful with any question.

I imagine they made a mark on my mailbox warning others to stay the hell away from this house!

 

 

I never knew what you all wanted, so I gave you everything.

Bruce Cockburn

 

Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.