Small Business Leadership and Sales Blog

Hello Marvelous People!

Okay, by now you should be sick of articles and blog posts that talk about your 2011 goals.

But have any of those articles “INSPIRED YOU TO ACT”? Because if you have a perfect plan and you don’t BEGIN TO EXECUTE THAT PLAN WITH MASSIVE ACTION, then you will spend 2011 just like you spent 2010. It’s time to DO MORE, BE MORE, EXPLORE MORE! Don’t just be a candle in the wind, Marvelous People. As my mentor, friend and Certified Speaking Professional Mikki Williams says: “BE OUTRAGEOUS, it’s the only place that’s not crowded!”

May I offer this one warning? Go back and look at your 2011 “WRITTEN GOALS”. (Yes, written. If it’s not written, it’s not a goal, it’s a dream. More specifically, it’s a fantasy pipe dream that’s not going to come true for you.)

Assuming you are NOW looking at your written goals, can you honestly point to an item that has anything to do with the subject of Personal Development Training? Personal development training is not company training. Point: you may know company knowledge, policies and procedures but without developing your soft skills, your effectiveness will be severely limited. Complete knowledge, policies and procedures do not make you more productive – personal development and human relation skills do.

The soft skills are the hardest skills to master. Human Relations Skill development is critical. Human Relations Skill development does not have a destination. It is an endless journey. Work harder on yourself than any other item.

So here’s your CALL TO ACTION.
1. Stop planning. Start MASSIVE ACTING on your plan.
2. Let yourself go for – MORE!
3. Put your WRITTEN Goals in your Purse, Wallet, Refrigerator and Bathroom Mirror NOW!
4. The Soft Stuff is the Hard Stuff!

Peace, Love and Gumbo!

Marvin LeBlanc, LUTCF, CNP

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Marvin LeBlanc is a left-handed, right-brained, fun-loving Cajun that is obsessed with Life Performance and Overcoming Adversity. He is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker and founder of Marvelous Performance Systems. Marvin is available for business retreats, keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, & individual coaching programs. His book “COME HELL OR HIGH WATER” will be available in the Fall of 2011 through New York Publisher www.BloomingTwig.com. To rent Marvin’s brain, contact him marvinleblanc@aol.com

Here we are at the beginning of the year and we’re trying to develop new relationships with customers.

Well, why not have a little fun and get with a local vendor and grab yourself some high quality popcorn and some boxes and get into a routine whereby you call on your target market. Whether it be 10 people or 15 people or 20 people, and you bring them a big tin of popcorn. As they eat their popcorn and you say hello to them jovially, you get an opportunity to talk with them about what is going on in their business and how might you be able to assist them in 2011 on their business.

And as fate would have it, it’s time to leave and then you say to them, I’ll see you in a couple of weeks to fill up your popcorn.

This was a very successful marketing campaign that was put on by my roommate many years ago. His Crown Victoria was completely packed with bags and bags of popcorn, and that’s what he would do. He’d go in, have fun, and fill up popcorn bags. They would welcome him in and that provided many opportunities for him to learn about what projects were coming up and how he could benefit.

So think through and have a “Pop On By” popcorn marketing campaign. Keep it light, keep it fun, but at the same time remember when you’re there to ask those very important four essential questions. [If you haven't heard my "Four Essential Questions" talk, you can find it on my brand new CD Come Hell or High Sales.]

We’re available to help you and your team members get inspired to have a great 2011.

One day all the employees reached the office and they saw a big sign on the door on which it was written “Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym.”

In the beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of their colleagues. But after a while they started getting curious to know, who was this man who hindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself? The excitement in the gym was such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd in the room.

The more people reached the coffin, the more the excitement heated up. Everyone thought, who was this guy who was hindering my progress? Well at least he died. One by one, the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin and when then they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless, they stood nearby the coffin shocked and in silence as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.

There was a mirror inside the coffin. Everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said, “There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth. It is you.”

Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when you company changes. Your life changes when you change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs.

Examine yourself. Watch yourself. Don’t be afraid of difficulties, impossibilities and losses. Be a winner. Build yourself, and build your reality. It’s the way you face life that makes the difference.

Peace, Love and Gumbo~

Marvin LeBlanc

Dear Marvelous People!

Unless you are an insurance industry expert, more than likely you have never been made aware of the miracle benefits that can only be provided with a Life Insurance program.

Life insurance is so much MORE than leaving money for the surviving family members.

No other financial product can offer you the benefits of Life Insurance.


Life Insurance has the following uses:

• It can create an estate.
• It can pay death taxes.
• It can fund a business transfer.
• It can continue a business.
• It can protect against the loss of a valuable employee.
• It can provide funds to charity.
• It can ensure your own legacy.
• It can pay for college education.
• It can provide emergency funds at unexpected times.

What matters most is that you talk to a trusted professional in your town or city. Just talk. It’s more affordable than you think.

Marvin LeBlanc, LUTCF,CNP
Let's Connect on LinkedIN!

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Marvin LeBlanc is a left-handed, right-brained, fun-loving Cajun that is obsessed with Life Performance and Overcoming Adversity. He is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker and founder of Marvelous Performance Systems. Marvin is available for business retreats, keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, & individual coaching programs. His book “COME HELL OR HIGH WATER” will be available in the Fall of 2011 through New York Publisher www.BloomingTwig.com. To rent Marvin’s brain, contact him at marvinleblanc@aol.com and request a Free Personal Coaching Session.

Immediately embrace “REVERSE MENTORING”.

What in the world is “REVERSE MENTORING”?  It is the concept whereby you as a business owner or team member makes a conscious decision to embrace the need to have a mentor that is much YOUNGER than you are.  No matter how open minded you are to technology and change and new ideas, the perspective that you can gain from a YOUNG, FRESH MIND and how they process information is very different from you. Why? Because how they learned in their formative years is fundamentally different.  How they receive information is very different.

Ask any college student and they will show you how most of the notes they take and most of the exams they take, are all done electronically. I’ve been an Insurance Entrepreneur since 1986 and I’ve been honored by several young entrepreneurs to be asked to mentor them. So, usually we either have a phone appointment or we have a cup of coffee monthly.  What I quickly realized is that after they had asked me questions that pertained to where they were getting stuck in their career – I found myself taking notes. And when I left the appointment I realized it was I that was being mentored. The attitude of reverse mentoring has helped me immensely better connect with my clients and my team members. Who do you know right now that is a “Young Gun” that can mentor you?  Contact them now.  It’s as important as any resolution that you’ve recently considered making.

Look for Rule #3 coming shortly. And remember, MAKE MARVELOUS HAPPEN!

(If you’ve not already done so, please click the RSS Feed Subcribe button – right up there next to Marvin’s picture – so that you will be immediately notified of his most recent blogs as they are posted.)

Marvin LeBlanc is a left-handed, right-brained, fun-loving Cajun that is obsessed with Life Performance and Overcoming Adversity. He is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker and founder of Marvelous Performance Systems. Marvin is available for business retreats, keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, & individual coaching programs. His book “COME HELL OR HIGH WATER” will be available in the Fall of 2011 through New York Publisher www.BloomingTwig.com. To rent Marvin’s brain, contact him at www.MarvinLeBlanc.com and request a FREE, FUN Conference Call.

“Practice your lines”.

That’s right.  Practice your lines.  Your job, like a Broadway Play is a performance.  And no great Broadway Play opens up to the public having never practiced their lines.  The great Indiana Hoosiers basketball coach Robert Montgomery Knight once said, “everybody wants to be National Champions but no one wants to come to practice.”

If you’re not committed to practicing your lines, so that you can clearly articulate what your companies’ unique value offering is – then quite frankly you’re not really serious about business.  More specifically, you’re not serious about WINNING in Business.  So that’s rule #1 to avoiding becoming “roadkill” in your industry.  Practice.

Look for Rule #2 coming shortly.   And remember, MAKE MARVELOUS HAPPEN!

(If you’ve not already done so, please click the RSS Feed Subcribe so that you will be immediately notified of his most recent blogs as they are posted.)

Peace, Love and Gumbo

Marvin LeBlanc

1. “Hold up, Hold up, slow down will ya?” You’re talkin’ too fast and your enthusiasm is kinda scaring me.  Other people that I know that are “fast talkers” don’t let me get a word in & it really makes me feel like it’s a one-way conversation.  Because it is.  Don’t tell anybody, but if you really want me to buy, just ask me value-oriented, interest bearing questions that allow me to do most of the talking.

2. When you called me, you explained to me that you were gonna tell me who your company is, what you do & how it can benefit me.  So, if it’s not askin’ too much, when you show up, can you cover what you wanna tell me exactly in that order?  I seem to be so much more impressed when someone engages me with organized, thoughtful conversation.

3. Take a HINT! And get a MINT! Oh, I’m sooo sorry.  I really don’t wanna hurt your feelings.  But your breath speaks so loudly that I don’t want to hear a single thing you have to say.  There’s no recovery you can make from starting off with bad breath.  So take a hint & get a mint!

4. Now remember, on the phone, you asked me for 22 minutes of my time, right? So please don’t make me have to stand up first so that you can get the hint that your 22 minutes is up.  Rather, be courteous and remind me that our time is up & LET ME DECIDE if you’ve been interesting enough to warrant more of my time.  If it’s not, don’t get snotty or snippy with me.  HINT! If you didn’t get me interested in the first 22 minutes, you won’t get me interested for the next 22 hours either. You want me to respond better.  Then you need to GET BETTER!

That’s it for now.   Except for this one last question for you, “HOW CAN I MAKE MARVELOUS HAPPEN WITH EVERY CUSTOMER INTERACTION?”

Until next time – Be Marvelous in your small business leadership!

You may know me as a professional speaker. You may also know me as an Insurance Agent of 23 years. I wanted to share a post from my dear friend in Alabama, Mike Coleman. Take a read, feel free to contact him directly at 800-308-5220. This information is applicable to anyone, so make sure you share with EVERYONE!

FIVE BIG INSURANCE MISTAKES

The Insurance Information Institute says there are five big insurance mistakes that should be avoided.

Mistake #1: Insuring a home for its real estate value rather than the cost of rebuilding. When real estate prices go down, some homeowners may think they can reduce the amount of insurance on their home. But insurance is designed to cover the cost of rebuilding, and not the sales price of the home. You want to have enough coverage to completely rebuild your home and replace your belongings. A better way to save: take a higher deductible. If you raise your deductible from $500 to $1,000 for example, you could save up to 25%.

Mistake #2: Selecting an insurance company by price alone. You want a company that is financially sound with good customer service. Check the financial health of an insurance company by using ratings from independent ratings agencies. A better way to save: ask friends, relatives and business colleagues for recommendations. You want a company that will respond to your needs, answer questions and handle claims fairly and efficiently.

Mistake #3: Dropping flood insurance. Damage from flooding is not covered under standard homeowners and renters insurance policies. Coverage is available from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). A better way to save: before purchasing a home, check with the NFIP to see if the home is in a flood zone. It might be better to purchase a home that is in a less risky area. If you are already living in a flood zone area, look at mitigation efforts that can reduce your risk to flood and purchase flood insurance.

Mistake #4: Only purchasing the legally required amount of liability protection for a car. In today’s litigious society, buying only the state minimum means you’ll likely pay more out-of-pocket in a crash and these costs could be steep. A better way to save: Consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverage on older cars. As a general rule, it’s not cost effective to pay for comprehensive or collision coverage on a car worth less than $1,000. Instead, use the money you saved to up your liability limits. The insurance industry and consumer groups generally recommend a minimum of $100,000 of bodily injury protection per person and $300,000 per accident. Since accidents may cost far more than the minimum limits mandated by most states.

Mistake #5: Neglecting to purchase renters insurance. Renters insurance covers your possessions in the event of fire or other disasters. It also provides additional living expenses should you have to move out. Most importantly, it provides liability protection in the event someone is injured and sues. A better way to save: Look into multi-policy discounts. Buying several policies with the same insurer, such as renters, auto and life will generally provide savings in the form of a discount.

Peace, Love and Gumbo~

Marvin LeBlanc

Attention You Good People out there in a Managers’ Role!!!

May I suggest the following points worth considering if you want to know what your people want you to provide them as their leader.

1. A leader that they can be PROUD of.  Proud of?  You know what I’m talking about. They don’t want to make excuses to protect you. They want you to be reliable, consistent and predictable.

2. A leader who exhibits POSITIVE and PRODUCTIVE behaviors.   Example: Not being rude to waiters, clerks or manual laborers. Behaviors like showing up on time & having as few meetings as possible. Or better yet, have meetings with agendas that are adhered to – that start on time and more importantly – END ON TIME!   After all, don’t you want your Team Members to PERFORM?  Well, they can’t perform for your customers if their eyeballs have to be pealed on you while you grandstand in your own boring meetings of self-importance.

3. Team Members watch everything you say & do.  Or DON’T DO!  If you’re a leader, don’t stop for one second and ever think you & your behavior are not constantly being observed. Work toward transparency. You might think you look good and smell good, but you are not smart enough to maintain two images. The image you think you should be and the image you are. Being transparent scares weak managers because they fear that their vulnerabilities will be exposed. They’re right! So embrace it and decide to recommit to constant personal growth. It’s the only way you’ll be able to save yourself from yourself.

4. Team Members want DIRECTION and Structure. Every step of the way. PSST!  They actually need it more when they try to convince you that they don’t need direction & structure. This is how you’ll know you need to provide more of it. Oh by the way, did you know most leaders can mutually benefit from the same direction and structure they provide others. Example: Think hard before you send a stinking, interrupting email to your Team Member during work hours. Haven’t you discovered the “DELAY” feature in OUTLOOK email software? If not, stop reading now and go find out. But, don’t interrupt anyone.  This idea alone will make you send this blogpost to every person in your organization. HINT!   (marvinleblanc.com)

5. A leader that is REAL. Yep, that’s right. I said it.  REAL. But Marvin, I am real. Really, well if I  privately asked all your Team Members and/or all your Direct Reports, “Are you REAL or are you a COPY?”, would you be confident that 100% would say you are REAL? Because, if it’s not 100%  then you’ve got problems. You see, the answer is simple. Either you have to improve to earn “REAL” with them or you have someone that’s not aligned with you & the company values and does not believe in you as a leader. So, they need to go. Respect them and their opinion and allow them to go find something or someone they can believe in.

By the way, did you know that real leaders don’t have to look perfect, be perfect or even pursue perfection. Perfection is a crock.  Real leaders know that it’s far more practical to pursue EXCELLENCE, knowing that the pursuit of perfection only stalls progress because the projects never get initiated fast enough. (You’ll see me revisit this notion in a future blog. So stay subscribed and share it with 100 of your best friends. They’d like to become better leaders too. Besides, aren’t you tired of those  friends calling you to bitch about Team Members that aren’t following their lead? Now you know why.)

6. Team Members want to WIN!  They better darn well want to win. Otherwise, why do you have them on the TEAM?  Not because you want them to help you LOSE MORE.  I’m not joking. Think about this. The business climate is difficult enough when all TEAM MEMBERS are pulling on the same rope in the same direction. To have someone pulling against you is suicide.  It’s far better to run with a LEAN TEAM that is pulling together than a LARGE TEAM with people that are just collecting checks. It’s too hard to maintain the driftwood. Let them float. How do you find the winners? Well, here’s a hint. You’re not going to find them when they show up at your door with a resume’ in their hand. You have to go find them happy & engaged & gainfully employed somewhere else. So go find the winners and help them to win. WITH YOU!

If you enjoyed this content, go to your group emails and share it with people so that the material will have a chance to move their organizations toward Marvelous Performance.

Are you Planning Ahead?

In Louisiana, 61% of individuals lack a “rainy day” fund to cover expenses for three months, in case of emergencies such as sickness, job loss or economic downturn. Other states are better, but most are as bad if not worse.

In the case of job loss, the average time out of a job is 8 months. So a logical question is this. Do you have 8 months of income, stashed away in a bank account, that you are currently not touching, that you can use to pay your bills if you lose your job unexpectedly?

Very few people reading this blog article can say that they are 100% SECURE that they won’t ever lose their job.

So if you don’t have 8 months of income, IN THE BANK –  right now, what is your plan?  Are you confident that you can lean on a friend, neighbor, co-worker or relative that will come up with money for your bills? Go ahead and call them now. Just for the heck of it and see what they say. Then tell them you were just joking. THIS TIME. And are you prepared for the bad energy this “borrowing” of cash will have on your relationship with someone that you know well?

Please remember:   “PROCRASTINATION is NOT a MONEY STRATEGY!”

Proper planning is your only solution.  And did you know it doesn’t cost you a penny for us to have a casual conversation on this matter?

Let’s have that conversation, beautiful people. BEFORE you lose your job.

Planning ahead helps you to overcome adversity much easier.

Peace, Love and Gumbo~

Marvin