Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"

Shipshape

defn: Leadership-the ability to guide, direct, or influence poeple.
defn: Craftsmanship-somebody who proforms with great skills and expertise.

True leaders deliver performance that is durable, that unifies staff, and treats them fairly. Leaders are intrinsically motivated to improve oneself and their organizations. True leadership is creating environments where excellence in performance becomes inevitable.

I have seen this environment where excellence in performance is given each and every day. You can hear it in the receptionist; her smile is given over the phone. You can feel it in the post card; reaching out a helping hand. You can see it the habits; creating power not by fame, but power in true service.

The leader of this environment is Linda Craft and along with her team, they create an environment where excellence in performance is inevitable. Linda fosters a spirit of teamwork that is critical to any organization's success. And a key element is trust. Trust for the leader and trust for each other. Her team works at the speed of trust.

Success is a very personal thing, but I think most people would agree that true success is about being fulfilled in LIFE. And, I feel there would be no greater feeling to look back toward the end of your career with a "smile in your heart" knowing that you made a positive difference in the lives of others.

Linda Craft and her team have made a difference in my life and I am sure whenever they decide to look back, they will smile.

Streamlining Engagement

The Vision of this title might seem like your in Vegas, waiting in line to get married by Elvis in the chapel. Complete with the "Teddy Bear" and "The Chain Around Your Neck".

But alas, the title does come with one similarity. You need true commitment!

Commitment to Streamlining your Engagement Processes.

As the economic environment moves toward greater efficiency, maximizing efficiency can not only decrease wasted time and thereby increase profitability for your business, it also can help businesses who face staffing challenges that can enable the business to offer better services and increase their base without increasing staff.

The "paperless" movement has changed our work processes forever. Moving us from inefficient paper storage to media built date silos.

This paperless document management and control was actually the first step in the ongoing evolution of today's business technologies.

Now we need to focus on strengthening our data flow between programs and platforms, not only inter-office, but from Business to Business and Business to Customer. Automation of your systems through innovation and implementation should be one of your strategies for business growth.

Let's list some criteria:

1. Ease of Use. Navigational components, access to key features, reporting tools, etc. These are necessary in reaching heightened proficiency.

2. Date Import/Export/Integration. Ability to pull client data, field data, all data from online information creates an efficiency that shows up in speed and accuracy.

3. Product Presentation. Standards should meet the needs of the client. Access should be immediate and generation of the product or service in high quality is essential.

4. Engagement Features. Systems should automate together to provide a seamless platform for the business and the client. Streamlining engagements not only involves managing paper flow but also the collaboration required between the business owner and staff, business owner and client, and staff and client.

The integration of these systems must create review mechanisms that let all people involved in the process know what steps must be taken, how to take them, when to take them, and where potential issues may arise.

Hopefully not at the alter!

You know Bill, that guy is always smiling. He loves his job. He loves his boss. He loves his territory. He loves his wife. What a great life. He is always has time for his children. He is always at work on time. He helps out everywhere. He takes on situations, challenges the situation which then becomes an opportunity. He performs at a higher level. He is a go getter. He looks out for everyone.

He is a KEEPER!!

Have you ever heard someone say he or she is a keeper? I'll bet you have and wouldn't you like to have them working for you. Maybe you have had a few keepers, but you could not keep them. Why not? 82% of employers say they should have and could have done more to retain these key people. Why KEEPERS?

1. Their energy is contagious
2. Their drive is not monetary
3. Their loyalty is unquestionable
4. Their service is immense

These KEEPERS are easily recognizable. They glow!! You should be paying them 20% more than your competitors. I just saw you mouth open and you in the back of the room, sticking your tongue out let me finish. This 20% does not have to be cash. Is that all you think about? I just said 20% more. I did not say more of what. Keep reading.

Let's Define More:

Education. This shows that you care about them becoming better. We all want to be better. In the words of Jerry McGuire, "Help me Help you!"

Fair Goals. Set goals together. Help me set an attainable goal that will challenge me but will also be in reach.

Ear Time. Give me "you gotta minute" time. I want to give you my opinion or idea. If I have a good idea, take action on it. I want to contribute.

Support. Give me structured support systems that will help me reach my goals and unlock my potential.

Rope. Trust me to run with a couple of different things that might be just out of the box. I will not embarrass you.

Recognition. Tell me what you think of my actions. Sincere thanks for a job or action well done goes a super long way.

Career Opportunities. Mentor me down a career path. I do not want a job, I want a career. Guide me along that path.

You can add these together to come up with 20% more. If you give you employees 20% more of what they can't find anywhere else, why would they ever leave?

P.S. Cash is also good. Especially if they have earned it!

Persuasion: An art form that has been developed across time by many great sales people. I like a simple definition for persuasion "getting your way".

You can read all types of books on persuasion written by psychologists, business coaches, and sales professionals. They will give you lists and scripts. They will give you qualities and a skill set. They will write from 100 pages to 500 pages on persuasion. They will give you so much information you will have to first persuade yourself to read another book.

Let's simplify all these books and look at the main ingredient in persuasion. The skill set you will need to develop is storytelling. I know you cannot believe it, but buried in all those pages that you have read is storytelling. It may be disguised as vision. An authors word for storytelling. It may be disguised as engagement. A psychologist word for storytelling. It may be disguised as manipulation. A slanted salesman's word for storytelling. Whatever they want to call storytelling it is still storytelling.

Storytelling is painting a picture so clearly and vividly that your client can see the wind blow and feels the sunshine on their face. Most people do not remember facts or numbers, but a good story will be retold to everyone.

The object of your story is for people to agree with you. If they agree with you then they can learn from you. If they can learn from you then they can be persuaded by you. Then you get your way all the way to the bank.

Storytelling is not presenting. Presenting is making something evident. Presenting is not the right approach for persuading. Storytelling can help you uncover needs while you are trying to build value. Storytelling will help you gain trust by being believable, likeable, and confident. Present to your accountant. Tell stories to your customers.

Your "get my way" strategy or objective should be to engage people by storytelling. Remember, everybody likes a good story!

When you were just a youth, you could go from 2 to 3. You may have started with blocks. Now you have grown and you still need to play with blocks. Can your business now go from 2 to 3?

Marketing for most of us starts with 2 blocks. These building blocks are Stories and Statistics. The first "S" block is the Stories that define everything you say and do about your business, your products, your people, and your service. Stories apply to everyone in your business, in your partners, in your vendors, in your office. People love to tell stories and the right stories can make your marketing efforts priceless. Our next "S" block is Statistics. This is data of what you actually do or accomplish. Either you are the keeper of statistics or you have someone keeping the statistics. Statistics are powerful and boring. Ignore statistics and you will fall behind. Pay attention to the statistics and your marketing can be right on target.

These 2 "S" building blocks will now lead you into the next marketing blocks. Goods and services, exchanges, and connections.

This block is the "G" block. Goods and Services are material. They let you feel and touch in the story. They help spread your story. The better the story the faster it spreads. If the story is uneventful you had better re-think your Story and re-examine your Statistics.

The next block is "E" for Exchanges. These are the tactics and tools that you will use to actually touch the customer or client. You exchanges range from the way you answer the phone to your web page. Your business card is an exchange. Your invoice is an exchange. Your community actions are an exchange. Exchanges are your ace in the hole. They are like the anti to get into the game, but if you bluff, you will be called out.

The last block is the "C" block. Connections are the highest level of the stack and your end goal. Connections are how you measure your marketing efforts. Connections are between you and the client, connections are between you and your vendors, and connections are between you and your market. When your marketing is successful at this level, customers, vendors, associates, partners, and clients will want to be part of your story.

How do you stack your blocks? Does your Statistics and Story lead to solid Exchanges? Is your Story supported by your Goods and Services? Are your Exchanges leading to Connections? Are you able to go from 2 to 3?

Is your company's marketing stacked? If not, go get some blocks and start building your business.