Wisdom on Wednesday
I find it interesting how some business leaders don’t notice or are not willing to admit where they need to improve. Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil… everything is just fine. Is it fine where you are? There is a great quote, and I forget who coined it: “Inspect what you expect.” 
What? I don’t see anything! Pretending Only Serves The Pretender
We apologize for an error in the “sign-up before Friday” link. The link gave the wrong email address for Lauren. Due to the overwhelming interest starting early on, we wanted to clarify.
Again, we apologize for the inconvenience. If you would like to sign up for the teleconference, please contact Lauren at laurenp@prophitmarketing.com and she will get you all the information. Thanks! Self-Promotion Made Simple! (Revised)
For those who do not have a challenge expressing what makes you, you, please disregard this Wisdom. I had more response regarding last week’s “Look At Me!” Wisdom than any in the four years since this publication began. That tells me there’s a need for more discussion on this subject. I think it’s because we simply don’t feel comfortable talking about ourselves. The belief that being self-promotional is bad was programmed in us during our formative years of childhood. Self-Promotion Made Simple!
I just spoke for a local business group the other day. The topic was: Successful Marketing on a Shoestring Budget. And let me tell you, I am fired up! I’m fired up because people are actively looking for the message I speak. I’m only saying this because I’ve spent the last 10 years of my life uncovering the core of marketing and my message’s time has come.
One of the keys to great marketing is the ability to be self-promotional. That is, the ability to say, “Look at me!” After my presentation, a couple walked up to me. They told me they were 18 months into their new restaurant. Ironically enough, before the speech, another business owner happened to bring up how wonderful this couple’s restaurant was and that people from outside the area plan special trips to eat there. This man was not telling me about his business but, instead, about how wonderful this couple’s restaurant is. Now that’s great marketing! Look at Me! Can You Say Those Words?
Just Show Up
-A guide to success -
Woody Allen was quoted as saying, “95 percent of success is just showing up.” There’s a lot of wisdom in those eight words. Just showing up is the hardest thing for people to do. Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul, and The Success Principles talks about The Cycle of Completion which goes like this: Decide, Plan, START, Continue, Finish, Complete. Most people can decide and plan but fail at showing up… that’s the start part!
Where does this fear come from? Why is it we can have so much confidence in our abilities, but are fearful about sharing it with others? There are many reasons, but the most prominent one is clarity. We are not sure HOW to communicate with others. We know the technical stuff of our craft but are fearful in how to create understanding and acceptance from the person we’re talking to.
The most confident people, Jack Canfield says, are those who work with purpose. I agree to that! With purpose comes passion. Everyone must find his or her purpose in life. I have some wonderful news! I can get you closer to that purpose. I’ve discovered a technology that can reveal your driving force in life. When I discovered mine, it blew me away. I thought I knew what drove me but it was hard for me to articulate it. This simple tool gave me clarity. It’s called Flag Page Technology and it’s changing the way people communicate with customers and employees.
Prophit Marketing Institute is emerging again this Fall with the Market Forward Series. This series of classes is offered in partnership with the UWGB Small Business Development Center. Visit our website and click on the PM Institute link to learn more. There, you’ll find class descriptions and information on how to register. Below, you can see a photo of our first class from January 2008.
We have discovered how to use Flag Page Technology to unleash your driving force into your ad message. By attending our classes, you will have multiple blueprints to great marketing and advertising, and I will teach you how to lead like a Brander-In-Chief. We all are ordinary people who have the ability to do extraordinary things. I would like to help you uncover your amazing talents. The Flag Page is included in the PM Institute curriculum. Here’s to being anything but ordinary!
- Joe Kiedinger -
Bill Zeinert, Instructor with first Prophit Marketing class.
Now Enrolling in Fall Classes
Character is everywhere!
- Unexpected wisdom around every corner -
This past spring, my son had a band concert. We transferred Alex from a private school to public this past fall, therefore, this concert was my first visit to his new school. As I roamed the halls to get to the theater, I noticed something that I didn’t think I would see at a public school: quotes on character. Big posters were all over the walls with quotes from famous people from business leaders like Bill Gates to religious individuals like Mother Theresa.
It was encouraging to see core life values expressed through artwork hanging all over the school. Okay, so fast-forward three months. Alex joins Karate America. The first two meetings are one-on-one with the instructor discussing expected behavior and how to show proper respect. The kids are told that to advance to the next belt color that they must come to class twice a week, maintain good grades, and show respect at home.
WOW! To care if the pre-teen is nice to Mom and Dad is really cool and unexpected! We need all the help we can get. I heard about this and had to sit in on the class. The instructor was a ball of positive energy. He would give an instruction and the whole class would yell, “Yes, Sir!” Unbelievable! These weren’t just older kids; there were kids as young as five in the class. What a great life lesson. Between exercises, the instructor gathered the kids and had them repeat after him, “To get what you want… believe in yourself… make a plan… work the plan… be successful.” The kids repeated this five times.
The truth is, it really does take a village to raise a child. It is one thing for Alex to observe respect and character coming from his parents every day, quite another from a Karate mentor. I don’t know, I think this respect/character business is coming back. It’s refreshing for me to see programs that incorporate core values into their curriculum. I don’t make recommendations often, but if you’re kid is thinking about Karate, give this organization a call. They’re worth every penny!
- Joe Kiedinger -
ACTION PLAN: Discuss respect and character to your kids. We need more emotionally intelligent adults in this world. Please help! 
You Can Do It!
- Everyone is behind you -
I made a commitment on March 4th to march forth to healthier me. It began with a quick walk through the neighborhood five days a week. That led to a run/walk through the neighborhood and that led to hiring a personal trainer three days a week. This past weekend I did something I never thought I’d do… the Bellin Run. The Bellin Run, for those of you outside the Green Bay area, is the largest organized run (that I’m aware of) in Wisconsin. Fifteen thousand people participated: from a kids run on Friday night to the main 10K run on Saturday morning.
The team was my wife and I along with a two-kid stroller holding our five and three year-old girls. We were in the stroller/walker group. I’ve never seen so many people all wanting to run! We completed the 6.2 mile romp in 1:17:33. Now, to a runner, this is not a wonderful time, but to a non-runner, like myself, our walk/run effort made us proud. Our girls screamed and giggled with delight when we began running, so much so, that a police officer, who we raced by said, “Your team is definitely having the most fun!”
So now that you have a little background on the race, let me share with you the energy of the race. When you run in an organized event, like the Bellin Run, you are supported by a community of people who care. All along the race route are crowds of people encouraging you. They’re cheering, “Who-hoo, you can do it. Keep going, you’re doing great!” There was a banjo player on a ladder singing a song about running, volunteers handing out water every mile or so, families with their garden hoses spraying runners and keeping them cool. I was absolutely amazed.
Could you imagine a company working together like this? I’m proud of the culture we’re fostering, but we have a long way to go if we’re going to match the unconditional support of an organized run. I think many people in business are scared. They’re scared of people above, below, and beside them. I see organizations filled with distrust and skepticism. This serves no person and no long-term strategy. To win in today’s business environment leaders need to work on establishing transparent organizations. Organizations that make their associates feel like they’re a part of something special. Where freedom to speak up is supported and rewarded. Where a person feels safe and secure. Are you with me?
- Joe Kiedinger -
ACTION PLAN: Make the decision today to pick just one individual you’re going to grow this year. Take them under your wing and establish trust by asking their opinion on growing initiatives. Give them responsibility and allow them make decisions in certain areas. The message you will be sending is “I care about you and you’re important to me.”
The Anatomy of a Habit
-Reframe your thinking!-
I was reminded recently of the powerful force of a habit. I once heard a theory about this powerful force and I’d like to share it with you today. In the theory, called the Anatomy of a Habit, there are four stages which can tell you a whole lot about a person and how best to lead that individual. I truly feel this can be a tool to help communication flow in the workplace.
Step one of a habit is: Unconscious and Unskilled. Your associate’s mind is like an unmolded lump of clay. They’re uninterested or unaware of a desired behavior. In this stage, your associate may be unaware of how to properly greet a customer. It’s at this point that you need to make them aware of what they are unconscious of by pointing it out to them.
Step two is: Conscious and Unskilled. At this stage, your associate becomes aware of the new behavior, but has not developed the skills to perform it consistently well. Your associate may appear awkward, uncomfortable, and intimidated by your company’s way of greeting a customer. They’re trying to adapt to the new behavior, but it’s a challenge. As a leader, you need to keep an eye on these people and make sure they are learning the right skills.
Step three is: Conscious and Skilled. Here, your associate is becoming skilled and comfortable with the new behavior. Practice is creating habit slowly but surely. At this point, as a leader, you need to give your associate lots of positive feedback to cement their new skills in their head.
Finally, step four is: Unconscious and Skilled. Your associate doesn’t even have to think about the behavior anymore. It has become a habit to greet customers in a professional and friendly manner.
It’s been said it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. With plenty of instruction and positive enforcement, your associates can master the great habits that make your company unique.
- Joe Kiedinger -
ACTION PLAN: Find out where your associates fit into this continuum. You’ll learn a lot about how you can best help them thrive and grow!
You Are In Control!
- Know when you’re not -
I belong to a TEC group. TEC is an organization of CEO’s who get together and discuss business issues. During my most recent meeting, like after all TEC meetings, I left with an “Ah ha!” moment. Most of us are involved in a business, all at different stages. Some are executives or associates of a medium business. Some of you have just opened a small business and others are involved in a thriving enterprise. The message I left my TEC meeting was this: It is rare that the team who built the company from scratch is the same team that can take it to the next level.
“Wow,” I thought. I need to be prepared for that. Now, I believe our business has a lot to grow before we reach that growth challenge, but when we do, I need to be prepared. Who knows, I may need to possibly step aside and allow another leader to take the reigns. One whose better qualified to lead the company into the new stage of development.
Do you know of a company that is successful, but has stayed the same size for many years? The owners are not willing to allow new people with the knowledge to take their business to the next level. When this was revealed to me today, it kind of made me realize that I need to always remain humble in acknowledging what’s best for my business and the people within it. When I feel I’m no longer in control, is the time I’ll need to seek a new level of expertise to take our whole team to the next level.
For now, I love being green and growing. I love the adventure of doing things better tomorrow than I did them today. How about you? Does Monday get you down or is it an opportunity to begin a new week? I hope you’re with me, because this life we live in is way to short to spend a moment unfulfilled!
- Joe Kiedinger -
ACTION PLAN: Be honest with your growth plan of your business. Draw out an organizational chart of what your business may look like in five years. What’s your vision?
Popcorn and Peanut Butter Taste Yummy!
- Who’s Judging? -
It’s amazing how two different people can taste the same thing, see the same thing, experience the same event, and come away with two totally different accounts. It’s remarkable, don’t you think? Yes, there are people who like the combination of two un-related foods like popcorn and peanut butter. I am not one of those people. However, I appreciate a variety of opinions and feelings towards things.
What I recommend, is that instead of disputing the taste of popcorn and peanut butter, give them a try. Instead of getting angry of the difference of opinion, try next time to understand. People are fascinating and because we all come from different backgrounds there are so many things we can learn.
Ask questions like: “What did you mean by that, help me understand.” or “That’s interesting, how did you arrive at that?” As a culture we don’t ask enough questions. Five year-olds are great; they ask questions all the time. What happens when we shut down the ‘why’ questions? We de-stimulate curiosity.
The best ideas and solutions in business come from the individuals who spend over half their waking hours within the four walls of the organization. They’re the secretaries, sales staff, support staff, and billing people. Business leaders sometimes forget about them. Get your people involved by asking them questions. Questions ranging from, “How could we increase our efficiency?” to “How should we market this product?” Answers are all around us, we simply need to learn how to think like that 5 year-old and ask those questions. Who knows, you may discover that the right popcorn (caramel) dipped into peanut butter tastes delicious!
- Joe Kiedinger -
ACTION PLAN: Practice asking questions. But you already know that.
