Have you heard of Servant Leadership? If you’ve been reading my column for any amount of time, I’m quite sure you’re aware of it. Meeting the legitimate needs of others is the center of it all. It’s not about being a slave but more about choosing to be there for others and taking a genuine interest in them.
I just discovered another term for Servant Leadership. It’s called Lean Manufacturing. One company, Barry-Wehmiller, is a leader in Lean Manufacturing. Barry-Wehmiller owns many manufacturing companies, including one right here in Green Bay, Paper Converting.
Barry-Wehmiller’s slogan is “We build GREAT people who do EXTRAORDINARY things.” In Paper Converting’s case, the slogan is not “We build great machines that do extraordinary things.” This company gets it. Machines do nothing without people! I received a copy of a DVD that shows Barry Wehmiller’s CEO Bob Chapman talking about its philosophy, what it looks like inside and the results. Amazing!
If you haven’t decided yet to take a genuine interest in the people you serve… why? Let’s be greedy for a moment. What if I gave you a guarantee? What if I guaranteed that if you took an active interest in getting to know your associates better by asking for their input on projects and getting them more deeply involved in issues that your paycheck would increase by 30%. Now would you do it?
More and more companies are showing amazing returns when they practice their form of Servant Leadership. I called Bob Chapman’s office and asked if I could interview him for my radio show, Monday Mastermind, on WTAQ here in Green Bay. Guess what he said? Yes! We are working on details as to when. Have you ever wanted to learn from someone successful but were too afraid to make the call?
Let me tell you, I take anyone’s call who wants to learn. That’s what a
Brander-In-Chief does. We relied on people to help us on our journey and still do and we want to give back. Make the call, introduce yourself and learn.
Do you remember the old 80/20 Rule? In business it refers to 20% of your customers who provide 80% of your income. The same principle exists in life. Why is it that when I open up my closet doors I have five yards of clothes to choose from but I always wear the same articles? 80% of my clothes I never wear!
This morning I went to my cupboard full of mugs and sought out one of three that I prefer to drink from: My Branson Mug, World’s Greatest Dad Mug, and my Dog mug. Why just those three? I have 12 to choose from! The 80/20 Rule refers to vendors in your business too. We work with multiple vendors, but there are about 20% that we use on a continual basis.
These vendors we call Process Partners. Process Partners, I have found to be the speed of business. When a Process Partner is embraced by the company they do business with wonderful things begin to happen. They know the vision and direction and they know the part they play in helping you achieve your goals. They can then offer advice and take on more of a consulting role within their area of expertise.
Companies who understand how to recognize and appreciate these key vendors find they work harder, are fully engaged and make the company more money. The money you can save on payroll alone pays for these key partners. Some Process Partners we have are in the areas of payroll, public relations, accounting, banking, and production–just to name a few. Many carry our business card and represent themselves on Prophit Marketing’s behalf.
The power of the Process Partner…embrace them and grow!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Establish your key vendors, bring them in, share your vision and ask their input. They will leave respected, appreciated and motivated.
Foreword: Attend my free marketing Road Show next week, Thursday July 16th. Learn the seven ingredients to great marketing! (Informational only) To RSVP, please email me at info@prophitmarketing.com.
So, I was cleaning up my office last week when I came across a sheet of paper titled, “2008 Goalsâ€. These were goals I wrote down in December of 2007. I hadn’t looked back at this sheet since I penned the goals over a year ago. I found it ironic that I wrote the goals and never referred back to them through out the year. Reflecting on this I then thought, “Well how did I do?â€
After reviewing these goals I think I found a lump of wisdom. I hit every goal. Without referring back to my goals at all over the course of the year, and having even forgot I wrote them down, I hit every one:
1. Write my first book.
2. Start a publishing company.
3. Figure out a system to understand people quicker.
4. Go on regular “date nights†with my wife.
5. Spend one-on-one time with my kids.
6. Speak/present the Prophit Marketing Road Show 25 times.
7. Grow the company by 25%.
8. Begin a three-year journey in developing a residual income system that will truly make the company recession-proof.
Ok, so 1 and 2 are related, as is number 8 and I’m 6.5 months into year number two. Still, could writing goals down create an unconscious power of will? If anyone out there has more information on this, I would love to learn more about the power of the written word!
This year I’ve written 12-month goals and 10-year goals. I know I’m not the first one to suggest writing things down, however, perhaps simply writing down goals triggers something unconscious in the brain that creates a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Ok, I’m getting a little too deep. Maybe I’ll take my 10-year goals and bury them in a time capsule labeled 2019, sounds like a good project for my son and I!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: What are you goals for the next 6, 12, or 18 months? Write ‘em down!
Ten years ago a couple of guys began something that many thought would never fly. You see the reason for this doubt is based on the two businesses that are the most difficult to sustain: live theater and restaurants. These guys combined them by beginning a dinner theater. Nuts, huh?
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I wrote about this theater in chapter eight of my book, The Brander-In-Chief. However, what I didn’t tell you is that Mel is really created out from my own experience. Mel is really Frank from Frank’s Dinner Theater which is now Let Me Be Frank Productions.
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Frank has proven that passion and vision can persevere. His theater is for profit, all the talent is paid and it is Frank’s career. What I also didn’t tell you is I was that other guy who, ten years ago, said, “Yeah, what the heck, let’s do it.†Yes, even when combining the two worst industries (percentage of success wise) together, success can still be found.
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Today, Let Me Be Frank Productions is a staple at the historical Meyer Theater in downtown Green Bay. We began in an upstairs banquet room of a corner bar. I had to drop out once I started this business and my young family. People would refer to our group as “The Saturday Night Live†of theater. Even guys like to see these shows. It’s that brand that has built Frank’s into what it is today.
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I’m proud to say I had a role in getting Frank’s started, but I know it would happen anyway based on Frank’s drive and creativity. I’m also proud to announce that I will be in their 10th anniversary show, The Groovy 70’s; the original show title that Frank and I wrote. Of course this show is a show about how we wrote the first show. Did you follow that?
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If you like to laugh, love 70’s music, and want to see me in a leisure suit, you’ll love The Groovy 70’s! It opens this weekend and continues through the first three weekends in June. The moral of the story here is to follow your passion and the money will follow. Most people chase the money. Don’t be a chaser, be authentic and do what you were destined to do!
Foreword: We are hosting a free Prophit Marketing Roadshow in July. Empower your organization; learn the system that is growing profits. Email me for more information.
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Today’s Wisdom was inspired by an associate, Mel, at Festival Foods in Marshfield WI.
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The below section of a speech given by Nelson Mandela was orignally written by Marianne Williamson who is an international speaker on spiritual, personal, and political issues.
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“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
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I never really thought about the fears I had early on in my career, but they were ones of success and not failure. I had a “Who Am I?†conversation with myself, early on. “Who am I to manage the marketing funds of another; what do I know?†My early success brought this other voice inside of me that tried to belittle and deny me of greatness.
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I shut that voice down in a big hurry. I realized I didn’t have all the answers and that was okay. I did strive to learn from others who have gone successfully before me. This thinking helped me grow the business rapidly and included the development of the Prophit Marketing System.
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Do you hear the self-sabotaging little voice in you that doubts your success and accomplishments? If there’s ever a time not to listen it’s now! You deserve to be awesome. We all have brilliance within us. Let it out!
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Joe Kiedinger
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ACTION PLAN: Write a list of everything you wish to accomplish or experience in life. You would be amazed at how simple it is to do something little each day to help you get there.
If you had a pop quiz tomorrow on your leadership qualities, how would you score?
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I’m sure many of you are thinking, ‘I’m a good leader, I’m just too busy right now to spend the time I should be spending on leadership goals.’ We all know and understand that attitude. The working world is a fast-paced one. But you know what? That never changes! There won’t come a day when we’re suddenly able to make time to mentor, train, and treat our associates like the valuable resources they are.
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As leaders, we all need to adopt an attitude of commitment to our people. They want to know we are committed to them, their success, and their learning. Look at these relationships with a fresh eye. Your associates are counting on you to help them grow. You depend on them everyday to keep the wheels of your business turning. Now show them that they can depend on you!
Many of you are aware of my family history in performing. Music was a constant in my house growing up. My parents were in plays and musicals and us kids followed suit. Now that I’m all grown up, I reflect on my mom telling me how rewarding it was to watch her kids perform. This past Saturday I felt that feeling as my five year old was front and center at the Weidner Center in the Holiday Pops concert.
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First of all, I was blown away at this awesome performance. Dudley Birder and his daughter Alicia pulled together a show that launched the spirit of the holiday season into a couple thousand people’s hearts. It was a holiday spectacular complete with about 150 adult singers, the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra and about 100 young people from Young Performers Workshop. My Alina was a part of the latter.
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She didn’t just sing with her choir friends, she performed every number. She was smiling and working the audience like I’ve never seen her do. It appeared that she was completely in her element. The pride I felt having my little blonde rocking the Weidner blew me away. The world could have ended and I would have had a smile from ear to ear.
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It’s really something when you see someone truly shine, especially when it’s your own kid. But I enjoy watching anyone who proudly showcases his or her talents. It’s rare that a person actually works in a field that puts them in their talent. So many people need to find the passion in what they do. When that happens, as a leader, I get excited.
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I’m seeing the Prophiteers (my associates at Prophit Marketing) do some pretty amazing things and it fires me up. Do you let the people in your life know when you’re proud of them? Do you encourage and promote their growth? I hope so, because affirmation is often overlooked by people today. Create an atmosphere that allows the people in your life to ROCK!
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Joe Kiedinger
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ACTION PLAN: Affirm three people’s actions this week. Make them feel like a million bucks!
If a life is worth living, it’s worth recording. How many of you keep a weekly or monthly journal? How about old business cards from past employers? How about newspaper clippings of recognition or old sales handouts from when your business was younger? I guess I’m kind of a historian when it comes to my life. I have lost some of my earlier materials that I ponder on with some regret.
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Whenever we move on to something new I archive the old. Computers are great for that, especially in the agency world, because everything is captured graphically. It’s my goal when we turn ten years old (that’s 3.5 years from now) to have a dedicated space chronicling our journey. We have pictures of our original office and office number two, as well as moving day pictures and old ‘stuff’ that tells our story.
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Inspiration comes from stories. How well do you tell your story? I was told once, that if you really want a point to be driven home, tie it to a story. When a new associate joins our team they are brought by our original home within the first six months. They not only get a tour of the current office: here’s the bathroom, kitchen, copier and fax, but they get a tour of our history. This will make much more impact when the museum is put together.
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Think about your kids and grandchildren. The greatest gift we can give is our story–a story which allows a tangible bond between people. I still tell stories of my grandfather’s miniature golf business he started in 1929. Our family has pictures of him with a big ‘ole smile in front of his promotional vehicle. It failed miserably but it was just one of his many ventures, his last finding success.
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It’s not arrogant or boastful to start keeping a journal, audio, or video diary. It’s not about you. You’re recording your thoughts, dreams, successes, and failures for your descendents. It’s these little pieces that become your immortality!
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Joe Kiedinger
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Action Plan: See Joe live today at 3 pm at the MeyerTheater in Downtown Green Bay! Learn more!
When you look up the word ‘elderly’ you will find definitions that read something like: older in age, an elder of a society. Most people seem to consider 65 the marker of elderliness. This assumption is based on pension and retirement benefits mostly. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the word. Many of you may agree. The word ‘elderly,’ to me, does not describe the amazing accomplishments I see in the older generations.
I bring this up because an older gentleman recently reached out to me to see if Prophit Marketing would be a good fit in helping his nonprofit organization. I was amazed at the passion this gentleman displayed as he talked about the cause and mission of the organization. As he handed me literature, his hand was shaky but his spirit and voice were strong. I started thinking, will I be this passionate when I’m his age?
Did you know that Colonel Sanders was in his mid 60’s when he became a multi-millionaire with his chicken recipe and restaurant chain? People like him are called seniorpreneurs and today I see most going into consulting and public speaking. Fantastic! Sharing their amazing wisdom and world experience with those who can learn and grow from their knowledge.
Often, the world ‘elderly’ conjures up a picture of a little old man and woman rocking in their rocking chairs and watching the world go by. For some reason, I don’t think the Baby Boomer generation is going to participate in the whole ‘elderly’ thing. I think we should either change the name or redefine it. What do you think?
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Put November 12th on your calendar for a FREE event. Learn how you can be a Brander-In-Chief at this free Road Show! Hope to see you there!
Two years ago, and again this past spring, I wrote about a looming recession the likes of the early 80’s. Believe me it wasn’t my great macro-economic mind that forecasted it. I attended a conference where a firm with a 60-year history of successful economic predictions presented their forecast. I paid attention. Back then, I shared with you the areas that these experts indicated would remain recession-proof: education, food-related industries like grocery, health care, and senior living to name a few.
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I told the Prophiteers back then, “There is a really good chance in the next 18 months we will hit a recession. And Prophit Marketing will NOT be participating in it.†Our strategy focused on finding categories within these recession-proof areas that would help propel us through difficult financial times. One advantage we already had was a strong grocery flagship client, Festival Foods. We began focusing on non-competing grocery and food products and it paid off. We also have partnered with other categories that have found a protective niche within this poor economic climate.
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I am honored to be able to work with these great leaders of industry who have taught me as much, if not more than, I have taught them. It’s made us mutually better and viable. I would like to hear your story of how you are winning in a down market. What did you do differently? How is your industry already resilient to economic downturns?
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I’ve realized that we are all susceptible to financial hardship. I have also realized that the folks who are the most innovative and creative survive. By creative, I don’t mean they created a TV or radio script or some silly campaign. I mean the ones who stand out in their industry. The ones customers remember and say, “Cool, that’s never happened to me like that before.â€
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Pay attention to your customers and respond to their “throw away†comments when they sigh about something not being right. Ask more questions and understand what they are looking for. Example, an employee who delivered room service at a Four Seasons Hotel was sick of customers complaining about their toast being cold when it arrived in their room. This employee decided to bring their own toaster to work. Whenever a customer ordered toast in the morning this associate would bring bread up to the room, plug in the toaster and tell the customer, “Your toast will be ready in about 45 seconds.†The top management heard of this and bought toasters for every room in their hotels.
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Anyone can be a difference maker. So what are you doing? I want to know. Perhaps our other readers do too!
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–Joe Kiedinger–
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ACTION PLAN: Decide to be a difference maker for the business you work for. Your job satisfaction will go through the roof and so will your customer loyalty.
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