Small Business Leadership and Sales Blog

Hello again Marvelous People!

Today we are honored to have an internationally known coach and author.
Paula's writings are amazing and insightful.
Please be sure to pass this on to the friends, neighbors, co-workers or relatives that you know are in the midst of a crisis.

Keep in touch. And be kind to yourself!

Marvin LeBlanc, LUTCF, CNP
Best Selling Author - Small Business Owner

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Crisis Times: Respond Using These 3 Timely Tips

By: Paula Eder

Crisis times come unexpectedly, by definition. How do you respond? When it’s someone else’s crisis that strikes, do you find yourself full of feelings and knocked off track?

The time challenges that a crisis presents are complex. But the good news is that a friend or family member’s crisis, while very difficult, doesn’t need to throw you totally off balance. You can respond from a centered, grounded, and warm place. But how do you get there?

Crisis Scenario
Here’s a situation to consider: Suppose a close friend of yours unexpectedly loses her job. This certainly qualifies as a crisis! She is angry, frightened and hurt emotionally. Her need for your support goes beyond the usual social contact that you both enjoy. Her crisis makes the need at once more immediate and less flexible than usual.
In response to her crisis, you are called to find time to be a good friend right now – not tomorrow or next Friday, when you might actually have free time. So, what can you do?

3 Timely Tips for Crisis Situations

1. First, it is important to be aware of your own feelings about the crisis.
You need to find time to understand how you feel about this event before you can provide support to your friend. Do you feel obligated? Do you feel pressured? Do you feel guilty thinking about how the need to support your friend will complicate your planned activities?
The more conflicted you feel, the more difficult it is to provide support for your friend in crisis.So, when a crisis hits, start finding the time to be the friend you’d like to be by clearing your mind of all sense of obligation or guilt. These don’t provide a good base for responding to the situation.

2. The next step is to be realistic about what you can do in the context of your existing commitments.
Don’t create expectations that you may not be able to meet. Scan your schedule and take a look at your priorities. Once you have considered your own feelings, you have the clarity to realign your plans and respond to your friend’s crisis from a clean, grounded place. You will then be able to balance being the friend you’d like to be with accomplishing what you need to do.

3. Your presence is what counts!
When you respond to a friend in crisis, remember that offering your undivided, unhurried attention with genuine caring always provides more support and relief than ‘sacrificing’ more extensive time while feeling distracted, resentful and over-extended. Your authentic and warm presence is a gift that helps in ways that are very meaningful and sustaining.
Crisis times are always going to be disturbing and disruptive. But, to the extent that you can find time to connect with yourself and stay grounded, you will be able to respond rather than react to what is happening. This is very helpful energy to bring to a crisis, or to any challenging situation.

Paula Eder, PhD is an internationally-known coach and published author who specializes in mentoring heart-based entrepreneurs and small business owners, from the inside out, to align their core values and energy with their time choices and behaviors so that they make more money, create more freedom, and find more time. To learn more about Paula’s unique, Heart-Based Time Management™ System and begin your transformational journey, sign up for her Finding Time Success Kit . Discover how you can find time for what matters most.

Imagine that some major corporation like Google, Apple or Coca-Cola were to invite me into their headquarters and ask me, “Marvin, you’ve been around the world, and
talked with many people. You’re confident enough, and you sound like you know what you’re talking about… So, could you tell us what the next ten years are going to be like for our company?” That’s not an easy question for anyone to be asked, let alone with my knowledge of what can happen when disaster strikes.

One thing I know is that I’ve seen a lot of people. I have had fantastic mentors. I’ve read important books. And I’ve lived through Katrina.

Right now is a great time for opportunity in our country. There will also be more people who lose their job in the next decade than ever before, and there’ll be more millionaires in the next decade than the decade before.

Get in touch and let me help make your next 10 years the best yet!  I would love to have a virtual cup of coffee with you to discuss your goals and challenges. 

- Marvin

Ships are safer in the harbor, but they were not built for that. We are not built to merely stay in one place.

Life is so exciting. There are so many things we all still want to see and do. And all this stuff we go through in life is nothing more than us committing to different choices.

On the flip side, lots of days I don’t feel like I’m getting a good hand from the dealer, but that’s the hand that I have to play, so I do it with as much marvelousness as I can. As I stated earlier: Without adversity, there is no personal growth.

Usually I try to learn from mistakes and take a lesson from hardships. But there are times when I look up at the sky and say, “Lord, I’ve grown enough today.”

There is no victory in lying down.

• You will win as long as you keep fighting in this great game of life.
• Don’t ever accept being mediocre.
• Be marvelous, no matter how bad things get.

Peace, Love & Gumbo

Marvin LeBlanc

Please share your comments below or feel free to email me directly at Marvin@marvinleblanc.com. 

I stay continually amazed at how clueless many managers are about what their team members want, yet they’ve been managers for years. Ask questions of your team
members and listen to their responses. Your job is to make sure they have one heart.

When put in charge, take charge, and have the courage to do the right thing. Continue to show appreciation of your team. Courage is not passing it off or acting cowardly. Courage is tak- ing the necessary action steps to get to a worthwhile goal. Make a commitment to the goal and make a commitment to get better. Taking risks is OK, too. Players who take no risks usually lose. Don’t let your ego get in the way.

Leadership is essentially the ability to lead, inspire, and in- fluence. Leadership must define the talent. Leadership and teamwork are intertwined. You are the leader of your team, so lead by example and don’t expect your team to carry you. The following few easy actions can help you maximize the output from your team:

• Hire the right people (discussed below). People won’t burn out if they are the right people, if they are open to train- ing, and if you continue teaching them.

• Utilize their strengths. Maximize everyone’s talents through leverage, training, expectations, accountability, conse- quences, and empowerment. Realize that very rarely does the true core of a person ever change. Sadly many managers tend to manage around their team members' weaknesses. Avoid this tendency & forever strive to manage around a team members' strengths.

• Train. Hold training sessions from 8-9 a.m., four days a week. An employee cannot find money if they don’t know what they’re looking for or where to look for it.

I would love to hear your ideas in the comments.  In case you missed it, you can downlaod Chapter 1 of my book, Come Hell or High Water by clicking here!

BRING MARVIN TO YOUR GROUP...

Marvin LeBlanc is a professional entrepreneur who built a thriving business in the insurance and financial services industry for 30 years, and who is still actively engaged in his business in New Orleans, Louisiana. A Dale Carnegie graduate and professional member of the National Speakers Association, Marvin is available to motivate and inspire...

• Dynamic people with initiative and vision
• Insurance agents and associations
• Entrepreneurs
• Sales professionals
• Colleges, universities, high schools
• Home-based business owners
• Network marketing organizations

Marvin's keynotes, seminars and team training workshops are now available now.

Call 225-938-4177 or email marvin@marvinleblanc.com to discuss your group's needs and how we might work together to make “Marvelous” happen!

Hello Marvelous People!

After a busy holiday season I bet you are feeling a bit sluggish. The New Year is upon us and sadly, many people remain unhappy, unmotivated and negative. 

Our guest post today is none other one of Vogue’s 100 most influential females.

Read carefully and choose at least one of Loren’s 7 ideas to infuse positive energy back into your life.

As always, add your feedback, comments for the benefit of the entire group.

Peace, Love and Gumbo!

Marvin LeBlanc

Have you thought about the idea of using positive energy to overcome health problems, stress and maybe even disease? Dealing with stress and illness can take a toll on more than just your physical self, burning to a deep emotional space. Entire families and circles of friends feel the worry that clings to someone when they are tackling a tough situation. But what if positive thinking could have the power to turn things around?

Going way back, when I was working with my husband to start our business, times were tough. Not only had we poured every ounce of our savings into building our dream, but we were working around the clock to make it happen. Our friends and family were our business partners. We were all tired and stressed but determined. Especially during that time, we did not surround ourselves with anyone who wasn't positive and encouraging in our endeavor. Think great thoughts and embrace the idea that you are bound for success.

In business and in our personal lives, we are challenged at some point with unexpected hurdles. It's only human for your attitude to go one of two ways. You can embrace the challenge, tackle it head-on and kick its butt, or you can let it kick yours. Wrapping yourself in positive energy by surrounding yourself with good people, good habits and love can be the perfect segue to using optimism to overcome a challenge.

Just recently, I was curious if a positive attitude has been proven to help patients who are suffering from illness or disease to overcome and heal. What I found, delighted me. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health." By embracing an optimistic approach, you are able to tackle tough situations productively and with a solution-oriented mindset. By weaving optimism into your attitude, your ability to cope with challenges may increase.

I have certainly heard incredible stories about people who have used a great outlook to overcome life-changing obstacles, and I am a total believer. I have seen the power of positive energy work for me -- when I believe, I can handle anything that life sends my way. When I am feeling down and negative, things always seem worse than they actually are. Don't get to that space, because everything is magnified.

Putting life and challenges into perspective and reminding yourself that you have the power to change your attitude are incredible gifts. There is no doubt that life throws some curveballs, but hitting a homerun and reaching that peak is totally worth it. The next time you find yourself seeking an avenue to bring a touch of positive thinking into your situation, try these methods for embracing the power of positive energy:

· Practice deep breaths.
· Try yoga, tai chi or another calming, centered activity
· Awaken your natural endorphins with a bike ride or run
· Cut back on smoking and alcohol
· Try a detoxifying juice cleanse
· Be assertive and communicate your needs
· Spend a few quiet moments reflecting on the things and people who bring you joy

What have you done recently or plan to do in 2013 to bring the power of positive thinking into your life? Have you seen results?

For more by Loren Ridinger, click here.

If I asked you what is the most important day in the upcoming year, would you know?

You may think that every day equally important.

In my opinion, the answer is no. Each day is not equal. 

The most important day for you is - TODAY!

Well why?

Before you can actually achieve and complete a worthwhile goal, you
must first "experience" the goal in your mind and in your heart.

And remember, what you feel in your heart is far more important than what you think in your mind.

"THE HEAD CAN'T STOP WHAT THE HEART WANTS!"

So the truth is when you actually accomplish your goals, its actually the second time you accomplished the goal. Because the first time you accomplished the goal you achieved the goal when you DECIDED in your mind and heart it was meaningful to do.

Here's your action plan.

Step 1:
Write down the goals and dreams that popped in your head when you were reading this article. (Remember, until you write it down its not a real goal.)

Step 2:
Decide:
If today is going to be your most important day. Nothing will save you if you are unwilling to DECIDE and COMMIT.

Step 3:
List the frivolous distractions, interruptions and time wasters in your life and eliminate them. Now you will have MUCH MORE time to work on what's REALLY important.

Step 4:
If you get stuck, give me a holler and we'll work through it. You don't need to be perfect. You just need to START.

Marvin LeBlanc helps entrepreneurs and small business owners overcome adversity, build business and increase sales. He offers motivational small business support through coaching, consulting, on-site training and webinars, 

Find out more at: http://www.MarvinLeblanc.com  

Contact Marvin at 225-938-4177 email:  marvin@marvinleblanc.com for your free “virtual cup of coffee” session.

Hello Marvelous People.  Please enjoy this guest post from FC Etier.  Happy Holidays! 

Remembering Leroy Anderson -- who?

You probably know who he is already. At least you’re probably familiar with his music -- and may not realize it. He’s the guy that wrote that song. You remember the Christmas song with the bells ringing? It was the one with the lyrics, “We snuggle close together like two birds of a feather would be.” and “It’ll nearly be like a picture print from Currier and Ives.” One of my favorites!

He also wrote that other song. The one with the clock, and then there’s the one with the typewriter. Don’t forget the one with the cat meowing either. He also had a song that reached Number One on the Billboard charts and earned a Gold Record the year I was born -- 1952. It was “Blue Tango”.

But his first composition was written in 1938. It was a piece written for Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, “Jazz Pizzicato”. Aaaah, jazz. Fiedler must have been a jazz aficionado as well, because he soon requested another jazz composition and Anderson complied with “Jazz Legato”.

Light orchestra music may not get the appreciation it deserves and Leroy Anderson shouldn’t be considered only as “that guy who wrote the song about a syncopated clock.” Anderson earned two degrees from Harvard, served as the band director, and went on to become a prolific composer whose work has been covered and paid tribute to by artists across the music spectrum from Winton Marsalis to Lawrence Welk. Like Elvis, Anderson interrupted his endeavors in music to serve in the U.S. Army (he spoke nine languages fluently), working in the Pentagon and later serving in Korea.

Leroy (le - ROY) Anderson’s honors include a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and being the namesake of the Anderson Band Center at Harvard. His music lives on as a popular resource for television show themes and in frequent tributes.

Can you name a singer with a Christmas album that hasn’t covered “Sleigh Ride”? Originally intended as a description of a winter event, Mitchell Parish wrote lyrics for it and it became another number one for Anderson on the Billboard charts.

Next time you’re enjoying Christmas music “snuggled up together like two birds of a feather”, thank Leroy Anderson and remember, “These wonderful things are the things we remember all through our lives.”

You can check out more about FC Eiter here. 

5 Critical Lessons for Career Success You Won't Find in Any Textbook

by: by Myra Corrello

We all know that marketing is a complicated mix of product line, pricing strategy, positioning/branding, and promotion. That mix becomes even more complicated when one is attempting to market oneself. In today's competitive environment, career professionals and entrepreneurs alike must be able to demonstrate their value to the right people in the right contexts in order to gain a competitive advantage.

Here are five strategies to keep in mind:

1. Determine a clear strategy for everything. Whether you are contemplating attending a networking function, volunteering for a special project, or deciding whether to get another degree or go to a conference, it's critical to truly understand what , specifically, you need to gain from your investm ent in money, time, and energy. All three are precious resources and can easily be squandered. Any time you are considering a new activity or project, take time to carefully consider the following questions:

Why am I doing this?
Why am I doing this in this way?
What else can I do with this?
What do I really want to happen as a result of this?
Who or what is critical here?
How will I measure success?
2. Capitalize on all opportunities to gain exposure and influence. If you're a regular reader of this newsletter, you've heard this one many times. It's all too easy to disappear into your own silo and then wonder why no one is calling you. In order to be considered for special projects and assignments, you must first be seen and you must be seen when the opportunity exists.

Think about a quit-smoking program. If you have a product that helps someone quit smoking, there is only one time that matters when your product must be seen -- when the person actually commits to quit smoking. Therefore, you must be "out there" on a regular basis in order to be there when the time is right for them.

How can you gain exposure and influence on a regular basis?

Speak at conferences and in your community
Write articles for trade publications and your own company newsletter
Be active in social media, write a blog, and actively participate in other leading blog-sites
Host meetings, networking functions, task forces, and other activities that bring influential people together
Connect with influential people within your company and within your industry and area of functional expertise and continue communicating with them on a regular basis
Volunteer for key assignments and in any community activity where you will be able to informally interact with influential people
3. Leverage everything. Think "green" in terms of your work. Recycle everything in a different form. Your hard work deserves to be seen by as many people as possible. Ask yourself:

How can I repurpose this:

Training program?
Proposal?
Report?
Research?
Presentation?
For whom?
In what form?

For example, record your conference presentation, take the .mp3 and have it transcribed cheaply through a vendor you find in eLance.com, take the transcribed Word document and then have a writer break it into a series of articles, and then pitch it to a trade publications editor. You can also take the same .mp3 recording and break it into segments and create an audio product from it, post podcasts on your blog, use it as the basis of a recorded webinar, or simply send segments to influential people who may benefit from your message. The combinations are endless.

4. Strike when you're hot – follow up. Sadly, this is the Achilles' Heel for almost any busy professional or entrepreneur. You meet someone who could offer you incredible access to valued resources and you take their card back to the office with every good intention . . . and it gets lost in the shuffle. How many business cards do you have lying around that you didn’t follow up on? Even with the ones you did, how many did you re-connect with to create the most important round of sharing or conversation? When an opportunity comes your way:

Follow up immediately – within the first 24 hours
Suggest a "next step" if one is not offered
Follow up again within 2 weeks and take the conversation or sharing one step further
Create a system for regular, ongoing communication and sharing - and add all high-value resources to it. (See the June issue for a great tracking system.)

5. Plant lots of seeds. Living in the "Information Age", we are bombarded by free tips on how to do anything and everything. You may need to be willing to share your best knowledge more freely than is often comfortable. However, by giving away the right information to the right people, you begin to create goodwill, trust, and liking. When the time comes for that target to choose someone to assist in their specific projects, you will have positioned yourself to be a safe and smart choice. Just like in planting seeds, you never know for sure which goodwill gestures will "sprout". It takes the right timing and conditions. Therefore, plant many seeds and you will be assured good, viable sprouts on a regular basis.

Provide demos or work samples regularly to your strategic targets
Give freely and regularly to demonstrate your expertise and build rapport/likeability
Give them lots of no- and low-risk ways to access/invest in you
Whether your goal is to continue building a successful career or growing your own business, these timeless tips will serve you well. Take a little time each day to make sure you evaluate opportunities from a strategic view, continue to build exposure and influence, leverage your best work in every way possible, follow up religiously, and keep planting those seeds.

Dr. Myra Corrello helps entrepreneurs, executives, and subject-matter-experts craft presentations to increase revenue, secure investors, build PR, or enhance overall effectiveness. She offers presentation-skills support through coaching, consulting, on-site training, webinars, and downloadable self-study resources. Find out more at: www.PresentationsForResults.com or contact Myra at (504) 899-8660 or by email: Myra@PresentationsForResults.com.

I wanted to express to you my excitement with using a tool that has enabled to be more productive, while being mobile.

Our company right now is spending a large amount of time making our company more efficient.

Mobility with technology has never been more at the forefront of our culture. For a couple of years now, I have used a product -- or shall I say, a service -- from Copytalk. Copytalk.com is, essentially, a dictation service. What it allows me to do is dictate a message of all of the details and follow-up items of the meeting from my phone, in my car, before traveling to next appointment.

I can dictate so that no balls are dropped!! The work delegated, (via CopyTalk) can begin by my team back at the office – before my return.

Hello!!! Are you thinking this through Productive people?? This is a MONSTER time-saver idea!! Don’t miss it.

Additionally, when a small business owner or manager is mobile and she has an idea for her team members as an agenda item for a team meeting, at the press of a button she can dictate out her message while keeping her hands on the wheel.

I strongly encourage all people in leadership positions to spend time discovering Copytalk.com. They're located out of Sarasota, Florida and would be more than happy to discuss how their service can increase the performance of your group or enterprise.

My helpful CopyTalk person is Deanna Faris at 866.267.9825 x419

Tell her the Ragin’ Cajun sent ya!

As always, we encourage our readers to share your “productivity” ideas with us here.
All of us can benefit when one of us cares enough to share!!

Until next time.
Peace, Love and Gumbo!!

Marvin LeBlanc 

Welcome Back Marvelous People!

When someone describes you, what is the one word most frequently used to describe you? Do you  know what that word is? Do you even care? You may say, Marvin why the heck should I care? Well here's why. Because your life has a purpose. You matter. Your life's legacy can be that you were a "difference maker".

DIFFERENCE MAKERS ARE PERMANENT MARKERS IN A DRY ERASER WORLD!!

You can choose how large your COMMITTMENT is to "difference making".

Just for your family and that's all? Great!! That's huge. The world can benefit greatly from people like yourself that's committed to "taking care of their own".

How about your family and your neighbors? (look outside. Is there a neighbor that just needs to sit and talk with you over a cup of Community Coffee?)

How about your family, neighbors and the community you live in? (that community you live in, which group of people there are going through a world of hurt?)

How about your family, neighbors, community and the state you live in? (I bet you know what the biggest problem your state faces. Hint: your family, friends and neighbors talk about it all the time. How can you make a dent in the problem?)

How about your family, neighbors, community, the state and the country you live in? (A pebble in a pond makes a ripple that reaches wide)

You may be thinking: "Oh now hold on Marvin, you're taking this thing way too far?"
Really.

Explain to me WHO told you that you can't be a difference maker for all 5 of these groups.

Who are these people?
Do you even know their names?

Let me tell you exactly who these people are.

They are DREAM KILLERS!! Yep, I said it. Who are "they"? Do you even know their names? Have you ever sat down with them and shared a meal?

Important Point:Obsess with memorizing and repeating this question over and over until it becomes a part of your very fiber.

Ready for the question? Here it is.

WHY NOT ME??? (write that down!!! Go ahead, no one's watching. Now put it in your purse, wallet or on your refrigerator. The Places you visit often.)

Get this:
It requires no special talent, no special training, no special college degree or ANY degree or even a High School diploma to commit to a life of being a "difference maker".

What it DOES take is:
1.Selflessness
2.Daily Random Acts of kindness
3 Compassion
4. We, we, we. Not me, me , me.

Now be honest - if you don't already possess these 4 traits of a difference maker, can you not develop these 4 traits?

All it takes is to CHOOSE. The world needs you now. I could care less what your past is. The only thing that matters is the choice to be a difference maker now. Live in the present.

Will  you choose to be a Permanent Marker or a Dry Eraser?

I hope you enjoyed today's message.

Speaking of choices, our "Community" of readers could really benefit from your ideas and tips on how they can be better difference makers. Be sure to use the comment and feedback feature we have provided. Be selfless. Be a Giver!

Until next time!

Peace, love and Gumbo!!
Marvin LeBlanc, LUTCF, CNP
South Louisiana