2009 April

Hong Kong found me in a Wisconsin convenience store!

You never know where opportunities may come from. One of mine recently came from a local convenience store. Many of you know that my book, The Brander-In-Chief, was released this past November. I had a big media launch in an old downtown theater. It was very exciting. One of the attendees had a small chain of gas station convenience stores and he offered to sell my book in his stores.

 

Hey, it’s my first book, you got to start somewhere (by the way you can now order at amazon.com)! So we created a display stand and placed my books in four of his stores. For a month nothing moved. We decided to re-brand the display stand with, “LOCAL AUTHOR!” all over it. The books started moving at a modest rate.

 

A CEO, from a successful company, received the book from his in-laws who purchased the book (I later discovered) at one of these stores. This successful CEO asked his associates if anyone knew this Joe Kiedinger guy? One of his associates actually went to college with me and knew me quite well. The CEO wanted to meet with me because he liked the message of the book and the Brander-In-Chief philosophies and system held within.

 

I learned that one of his companies does leadership training in Hong Kong. Last night I had a Skype conversation with his office in China. After two hours I was informed that the Brander-In-Chief message would be quite well-received in Hong Kong and was asked if I would consider a two-week trip to Hong Kong to give speeches and run coaching sessions with their people. My, oh, my! I guess Disney had it right. It really is “a small world afterall.” This opportunity happened because one business owner allowed me to sell my books in his convenience stores.

 

This one powerful example illustrates how important it is to present your uniqueness to everyone you meet including people you may think can do nothing for your business: teachers, college students, vendors, even family members. You never realize the impact a meaningful conversation about your vision and unique selling proposition can have until you share those ideas with others. Sometimes these conversations can lead to opportunities years down the road, but it always pays dividends at some point.

 

As Brander-In-Chief of your life and the business you serve, you are an ambassador. You should always be talking to people and networking. You are a unique individual who brings value to others. Tell them how and show them if possible. Don’t underestimate anyone. Tell your story and live with passion!

 

Joe Kiedinger

 

ACTION PLAN: Be the ambassador!

Investment or Speculation?

I was talking to a business colleague who purchased a property in Florida with the idea of flipping it in a year. Unfortunately, this property was purchased right before the real estate collapse and was also a first-time venture in this type of money-making strategy for my colleague.

 

I said to him, “Well, you made an investment and unfortunately it went sour.” His response was, “I didn’t make an investment, I made a speculation. An investment is something you are comfortable with, in your interest and knowledge-base, that makes money, and you invest in it for long-term gain. I made a speculation.”

 

That simple conversation opened my eyes to my own company. What future ideas are we going to implement? Will they be investments or speculations? I feel it’s important to have the right balance of both.

 

Our publishing company, 9^th Street Publishing, was an investment. I studied the profits of publishing and I had my book, The Brander-In-Chief, to release. The About Me Program, on the other hand, is more of a speculation because it’s cutting-edge in helping managers understand and motivate their employees; I couldn’t find anything to compare it to.

 

It’s important to be cutting-edge in today’s business world. In order to do so you will need to invest in speculation–assuming there’s a need and many people are saying, “YES!” When it comes to innovation we tend to be protective thinkers: “Someone will steal my idea and take the money away from me!”

 

I don’t think that way. I say share it with the right people–the people who would be most likely to buy my idea (including strangers who won’t tell you what you want to hear). Allow them to sample the product or service, rather than just hearing an explanation. The goal is to create an awareness that takes off– where strangers are calling you asking for your product! We call these strangers new customers who later become new friends and, eventually, raving fans!

 

I hope this bit of wisdom has you looking at current and future opportunities in a new light. Is it an investment or a speculation? I say have a healthy mix of both.

 

Joe Kiedinger

 

ACTION PLAN: Make a list of all the things you’re involved in or are thinking of being involved in and determine your mix of investments and speculations.

You insult people every day and don’t even know it!

I’ve been studying a lot about what makes people do the things they do and how they interpret their world. I don’t mean to discuss this lightly. I’ve spent the last two years dedicating myself to the study of ‘what motivates people’.

 

I found a really simple answer: people’s motivations themselves. You might say, “What? That Kiedinger cat is crazy!” As a matter of fact, I’m developing software that will create understanding between people and allow managers to better communicate and create buy-in from day one.

 

During the last two years I’ve learned the following:

 

-          PhD types and social scientists who promote the use of personality tests make it too complicated and most people, though they agree with most of the information, don’t like to be pigeon-holed into being this or that. Also, no one likes to be told they are an introvert, even the introverts! The companies I’ve interviewed who use such tests agreed they are complicated, and typically are only used for hiring and then filed away forever.

 

-          Generations have little to do with how you communicate with someone. Respect for a 50-year-old is not that much different than respect for a 25-year-old.

 

-          Our motivations are programmed by the age of 11.

 

-          People insult others everyday without even knowing it.

 

For example, for those who know me, I’m a fun-lovin’ dreamer of a guy (ok, it’s my post, let me color my world). Growing up I was interpreted as lazy and irresponsible. People found it difficult to truly communicate on my terms.

 

People who are quietly intelligent are often interpreted as not engaged or not passionate about their work, which can be simply untrue. The hard natured driver of achievement is often interpreted as a jerk who doesn’t care about others. Again, this too can be untrue. That hard natured leader simply doesn’t know how to express their soft nature.

 

When we understand what motivates people we can become better leaders. It is proven that companies with strong leaders are far more profitable. Really, companies that create a corporate culture built on understanding and buy-in from their associates are highly profitable.

 

Make an impact in your associates’ lives by getting to know what motivates them. I can show you how.

 

Joe Kiedinger

 

Action Plan: To understand where a person is coming from ask them about their parents and what it was like growing up. Ask them what they learned that helped them to succeed today. You’ll be amazed at what you discover.

Will You Be Just Another Name?

Five…ten…twenty years from now, what will people at your organization say about you? Will they have a plaque on the wall to commemorate your leadership skills? Or will you be just another name in your company’s long history?

We have the opportunity today to be leaders who are remembered tomorrow. Not just remembered, but leaders who made a difference in the lives of their associates, in the health of their company, and in the welfare of the community.  

How do your current leadership skills stack up? Are you just going through your daily routine without much thought or are you constantly evaluating the bigger picture? I urge you not to let the day-to-day aspects of your business become your focus. Your responsibilities are an awesome opportunity to make a difference.

Will you be a legend or just another name?

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Focus on the bigger picture this week. What can you do to create lasting change?

The Four Ingredients to Growing a Great Team

For those of you who have been subscribed to this publication for awhile know without equivocation that I am big on teamwork. Getting things done through a volunteer workforce is the tell-tale sign of a great leader. I have recently put the finishing touches on what I call the “About Me Program”; it’s been nearly two years in development.

 

Recently we’ve had interest with an American professor who teaches leadership in China. Apparently, China is waiting for a product just like this. Of course, I am excited about this unexpected development, which has directed this week’s Wisdom.  If I had to simplify team development I would have to narrow it down to four main ingredients:

 

1)     Understand One Another.

The About Me Program gives you a look into a person’s world by revealing the hidden motivations that are the key to their happiness. Simply stated, when we understand one another it removes speculation and increases acceptance which, in turn, allows information to flow freely.

 

2)     Communicate Purpose and Values.

Everyone wants to be a part of something special. When the leader clearly defines and communicates the vision, purpose, and values of their organization, it will create buy-in for the team members and success through a common focus.

 

3)     Back Each Other Up.

There is nothing that blows up trust faster than when a team member throws another “under the bus”. When this happens, the flow of information abruptly comes to a halt.

 

4)     Give Mutual Respect.

This ingredient almost goes without saying. However, this ingredient is incredibly important in times of disagreement. It’s okay to disagree, but there must always be respect in the interaction.

 

Teamwork isn’t always easy. It takes extreme patience and consistency of character to get it going. Remember, trust isn’t something that is easily attained, however, over time you’ll find your team will begin to mature and develop into something truly special and profitable.

 

Hey, if it were easy, everybody would do it!

 

Joe Kiedinger

 

ACTION PLAN: Review the four above ingredients with your team. Ask the question: Do we have these four ingredients within our team?