Small Business Leadership and Sales Blog

I start off each day with a daily checklist.  Every day needs a certain routine, and I’ve got about six or seven things on my daily checklist.  The reason why I am covering this right now is that I often see entrepreneurs, business owners, and team members not having a clear daily checklist written down to be followed.  And they get blown around all day long like a candle in the wind.  In my particular example, I start my day with email subscriptions from people like Jim Rohn, Timothy Ferriss, Malcolm Gladwell, Seth Godin, Warren Buffett. HINT: what you read is who you are.

Start your day with something positive. Don’t let the news media throw up all over you first thing in the morning. You’re smarter than that. You and you alone are the controller of the input you receive from the outside world.

I then go into my old trustworthy appointment calendar. If you love electronic calendars, then use those. But don’t get hung up on “WHAT” you use, just get hung up on the need to “USE SOMETHING”. So a 20 second glance and  I know what the events are for that day.  I still have a paper file for papers one through 31.  Days one through 31.  And so whatever day of the week it is, I certainly go into that file and clear that day’s work of paper.  I also go into my company’s Outlook e-mail for that day, and either the work is being completed by someone else in my office, I’m deleting unnecessary e-mail or I’m delegating that e-mail, or I am working that e-mail.

Then, there’s three questions that I always ask my team members – and your questions might be different but this will give you a good start.  Touch base with your team members with these three questions.  1) What did we sell yesterday?  2) What is in the hopper for today?  3) And how can I help?

Just some simple thoughts that start your day, and get them organized so that you can have maximum effectiveness.

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 Personal Coaching Session.

“We are distracted from distractions by distractions.” – T.S. Eliot

So, you’re thinking of all the things you want to get done today, right? May I suggest cutting the list in half? Or even smaller.

Go alone to a quiet place.
A beautiful place and just breathe.
Still.
Quietly.
Peacefully.
Restfully.
Just you.
With you.

Idea: Today, if you have a rocker or a porch swing, be diligent and use it. If you don’t have one, take a slow stroll through a Flea Market or a Garage Sale and find one.

Today — NOW — MOVE AWAY FROM THE NOISE!

Share your ideas and experiences with us here!

Peace, Love and Gumbo

Marvin LeBlanc

Finally the 5 year Anniversary of Katrina is over. And now it is time to give ourselves permission to MOVE FORWARD. So many of you that read my blog were directly involved with this experience called “Katrina”.
Others were not. But they have been a huge support along the way.

I’ve been asked, “Marvin, what did you do on the weekend of the 5 Year Katrina Anniversary?”
Answer: I went back to the exact same place when I was told to evacuate.

That place is Manresa Retreat House.

Use this space as a place to release and reflect. Post a comment and answer the question “What did you do on the weekend of te 5 Year Katrina Anniversary?”

Peace, Love and Gumbo ~

Marvin LeBlanc

Hello Marvelous People!

Ok, stop right now! Answer this simple question.
Are you a Spender or a Saver?

If I asked your significant other, or your parents, or your best friend–would they give me the same answer that you would? Go ahead. Ask them now. I’ll wait.

After interviewing thousands of couples since 1978,  I’m totally convinced that the two most important factors in our lives is: 1. Emotional Security 2. Financial Stability. These 2 factors are interconnected.

And whether you are a Spender versus a Saver has a huge impact on your emotional security and your financial stability. If you are a Spender,  how many more years are you “willing” to work? How much longer will you “need” to work? If you are a Saver, how many more years are you “willing” to work? Or “need” to work?

At this point,  if you’re unwilling to face these questions, then let me make it easy for you. Chances are you’re a Spender. And you will never retire.      Seriously. How’s that make you feel?

My dear people, in volatile times, it’s EASIER to REDUCE LIFESTYLE than it is to INCREASE INCOME. Now I didn’t say it was EASY. But I did say it was EASIER. Frivolous, spontaneous, unplanned spending today will only do two things for you.

1. It will extend the number of years you will need to work. Possibly NEVER retiring.

2. It will choke your chances to pursue your dreams that really matter. Friends, Family, Travel, Career choices – they all suffer.

So my action step for you is to take hold of your finances. One small step at a time. You didn’t get into your situation over night. So it’s gonna take a little bit of work and some commitment on your part. But we can get you there. I promise. Take faith.

If you email me, MarvinLeBlanc@aol.com, I will give you my time and a formula to get you on the path to Emotional Security and Financial Stability. It won’t cost you a cent. That’s not what this is about. I will give you something much more valuable than money. I will give you my time & my experience and the first step.

I can’t wait to connect with you. Let’s move forward to a better place.

Marvin LeBlanc (LUTCF, CNP)

If you’d like to visit with me, call 225-938-4177 to set up an informal visit in person or for a phone appointment.

I read this at http://theartistfarm.com and wanted to share. Please post a comment and let us know what you think.

In the deepest sense money isn’t real. It’s true. Intrinsically it has no real value. It’s just a fancy piece of paper. If you were to take our money to an alien world what could you use it for? Money is simply a mutually agreed upon token we use to exchange for things that provide REAL VALUE to us like food, community, comfort and shelter. It is the thing we buy with money or the thing people buy from us that has actual value.

Why then do we stress over money? You stress about money because you have mistakenly identified money, the actual money, as the thing of value.  You feel stress because you are “fighting” to get something that doesn’t exist – the closer you get the more elusive it becomes. There is another way.

Look at the thing of value as what’s underneath the money. If you want to generate more income, then think of how you can generate more value, not more money. Also recognize that both value and wealth come in more forms than just money. You can be financially wealthy but be bankrupt in true friendships, peer respect or health.

This observation is universal; applicable to anyone, anywhere in any business or organization. It applies to the artist business, the management company and the United States Government.

In equation form it looks like this:

Wealth = Value Provided by Y * Number of Entities that Directly Value Y

(Where Y is the product, employee or subject generating wealth.)

Think about this on a higher plane. We are all connected in a giant ecosystem and the flow of money is merely a manifestation of the exchange of our energy. Next time you are stressed out about money be self-reflective. Rather than stressing about how you can get more money for money’s sake, focus instead on how you can provide more value to more people. All sorts of wealth will flow from this mindset.

Peace, Love and Gumbo -

Marvin LeBlanc

I have a new client that I recently began coaching. Our last conference call was fulfilling as we discussed his direction as a speaker and consultant. We completed the call with much excitement and anticipation. A specific plan of action was agreed upon. Things were moving forward. The most important item that came out of our discussion was that he wanted to have some quality dialogue with his wife about how they would proceed into the future.

And then I received an email. His wonderful wife had received a “bad blood test”.  A doctors’ “second opinion” is in order. So, “in JUST ONE MOMENT” a couple’s life is “moving forward”.  And in the next moment, life is “put on hold”. Hopefully, we pray everything will work out for the best.

Right now as you read this article, your life is either “moving forward” or it is “on hold”. It may or may not involve the health of a family member. Maybe you’re depressed or you “have the blues” as I call it. Or perhaps, you’re just living and existing in an “uninspired” way. Maybe the responsibility of aging parents or the rearing of children has you down. Could be you’re “just tired” of  juggling home life with the demands of maintaining a job. Life can be overwhelming.

If you’re “on hold”, how can you transition to “moving forward”?
If you are “moving forward”, were you once “on hold”? If so, how did you get yourself back to a place of “moving forward”?

Attention Readers: We strongly encourage you to share your experiences with your fellow readers.  Certainly, you can remain anonymous if you choose. Realize that others can benefit from your experience, so please post your thoughts here.

On our next blog, we’ll explore and share ideas on transitioning from an “on hold” life to a “moving forward” life.

Until then, remember to “Focus on Being Significant — Today!”

Please feel free to share this blog post with friends, neighbors, co-workers and relatives. From time to time, we all need a little “pick me up”, help someone get that.

Peace, Love, and Gumbo~

Marvin LeBlanc

We all have a monthly entertainment budget. There’s a certain amount of money and time that we spend on that entertainment budget. We also all have a monthly education, learning and personal development budget.

Today I’d like for you to reflect on the amount of time and money that you dedicate to your own personal development, education, learning experiences.  I have a sobering message today—Your income will not grow until you do.

What we need to embrace is that we are compelled and responsible for expanding our own knowledge, skills and most importantly expanding our own attitude. Somewhere in the Bible it says “Stand guard at the gateway of your mind.”  What that means to me is that we have to be very careful to watch what we let in, what we say, and what comes out of our mouth.

If you’re constantly speaking negatively of others or yourself or the economy, your boss, your spouse, your kids—How is it possible that you are going to positively enhance your life? When my mother was young she was an optimistic person. Toward the last seven years of her life she became extremely negative. My father on the other hand has always had an insatiable optimistic view of the world. So I had a choice—I could choose my mother’s attitudes or my father’s. Either way I had to make a choice.  There’s only so long we can play the blame game on how we were parented and use that as an excuse on why we are currently not succeeding.

My father in his Cajun accent used to tell me “Can’t ain’t a word.” But as I got older I chuckled at this saying; it was a great reminder. We didn’t use that word. Oftentimes at the brink of achieving a significant increase, day after day I constantly see people lay down and quit. It drives me nuts. They convince themselves thru powerful negative self talk, they just can’t do it.

Show me a loser and I’ll show you someone that is comfortable with the habit of quitting when circumstances of life get difficult. Show me a winner and I’ll show you a person that has developed the skill of being comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Don’t fall for the myth that successful people are successful because they are lucky, or smarter than you or better looking than you, or because they did something unethical or immoral to get ahead. Most unsuccessful people use this rationalization to justify their lack of initiative to make some small changes that can lead to huge results.

What I’m asking for you to embrace today is to turn your entertainment time into education, learning and self development time. Well Marvin, I don’t have a big budget. Fantastic, I’m going to give you some ideas you can afford on virtually no budget.

Everyone reading this has access to a computer. Then you have access to free information at places like Google or Bing. All you have to do is think of a word and search it, and then you are into a library of information. Wikipedia.com also has unbelievable information that you can access.

Some of my favorite online destinations include The 4-Hour Workweek, Jeffrey Gitomer and Seth Godin. Another thing that inspires me is blues music, and one of the best is Louisiana’s own Tab Benoit. (He founded Voice of the Wetlands, a non-profit to help build awareness about the loss of wetlands in south Louisiana.)

You can also use public libraries and open up to huge worlds. Give yourself the opportunity to read in a library for one hour on a Saturday or Sunday.  How about a public book store? How about asking a friend or coworker if you can borrow a book to read?

I’m asking you to read—and I am strongly encouraging you to devour the material—read deep into the meaning of what can develop you further.

Get started on your journey toward education and self-development, not towards entertainment. Write your comments here about things you read (books, websites, blogs…your call) and share how you are improving “YOU.”

Have a marvelous day! Remember, marvelous performance is not accidental, it’s always intentional.

Peace, Love and Gumbo~

Marvin LeBlanc

How do we express that “inner soul,” that voice inside of us?

Earlier today I received a call from a friend in Rochester, New York who is pursuing his dreams of writing, speaking and coaching. We had a great discussion and covered six ways to express his inner soul. You can follow these steps too:

1)      Identify your compelling story. We all have a story of significance. What’s yours?

2)      Be careful with whom you share your dreams with initially. Some of your inner circle is well meaning but lots of times they doubt the direction that you seek.

3)      Be careful but also be outrageous. One of my friends, Mikki Williams, has a quote—“Be outrageous. It’s the only place that’s not crowded.”

4)      Constantly be stimulating your mind with additional new material. Allow yourself to be outrageous and if you do have thoughts inside your soul, remember great readers are great leaders and great leaders are great readers.

5)      Be encouraged. Most of my good ideas are considered ridiculous by my inner circle when I first mention them—and a lot of them are! Don’t get discouraged. That inner circle may be right initially because I do have ridiculous ideas. But I keep developing those ideas. I am encouraging you to develop your ideas and have undaunted courage (like Lewis & Clark did during their expedition toward the West!)

6)      Forget the world of reason and probability. Just write it or speak it out. This is from Kelly Corrigan, writer of the books The Middle Place and Lift.

Listen to your inner heart, that idea, that compelling story, that seemingly ridiculous dream…that voice of your inner soul will serve no one if you don’t give it birth through writing or speaking your message into existence.

Remember, obstacles are the things that you see when you take your eyes off your goals. Search your heart and find those goals. Search for a way to be significant.

Peace, Love and Gumbo~

Marvin LeBlanc

1.  Avoid the meeting totally.  Yes, I’m serious.  Never have a meeting that could have been more briefly &  more clearly covered in an email.  Almost never is a need for a meeting as urgent as perceived.  Never have a meeting just because, “we always have a  regular weekly meeting”.   If it’s not substantial enough to put on an agenda, then it should be covered in an email.

2.  Always have an agenda.  It’s not a meeting without an agenda.  In our  organization a  meeting without an agenda is called a “HUDDLE”.  Just like a football team “HUDDLES” to call the next play. “Huddles” are quick, spontaneous and mostly last less than 5 minutes.  Never over 10 minutes.

3.  Get the agenda out prior to the meeting.  Even when you do have a meeting, it will not be an effective meeting if all parties attending the meeting didn’t get the agenda at least 1 day prior.  Why?  Because they will not BE PREPARED with thoughtful contributions.  And who can blame them when the person calling the meeting did not give them respectful consideration.

4. Make darn sure the meeting has a START & END TIME!  Your meetings will be more effective when the participants know:  a)what the agenda is  b) that there will be no “small talk”  c) that the meeting will have a set time to end.  If topics are still not covered and the END TIME has arrived, stop the meeting!! And schedule the next “tentative” meeting.  Why did I just say, “tentative”?  Because you’re going to repeat step 1.  Meaning that those unfinished items can very well be completed via email &  AVOID another meeting.

5.  During the meeting, never forget to ask & probe for clarity.  So many times I’ve left meetings only to have participants approach me individually asking for additional clarity.  Have you ever had a meeting with 5 people and later feel that they were all attending a different meeting?  Hello!!  That’s a sure sign that more clarity should have been sought while the meeting was still taking place.

6. At the conclusion of the meeting, everyone should know “who” is completing “each” follow-up action.  Remember that the purpose of the meeting is to move the organization forward.  Nothing can possibly move forward without a follow-up action plan.

Author:  Marvin LeBlanc, (LUTCF, CNP)

If you feel this blog was valuable, then USE IT & tell others. If you feel it could be better, then TELL ME.    I don’t have the corner on every great idea.

(Permission is granted for you to copy or electronically share so long as the authors’ tagline for contact information is included. )

Marvin LeBlanc is an actively engaged State Farm Entrepreneur and  the founder of Marvelous Performance Systems.   MPS is a “customer centric think tank” of ever evolving Best Practices. 

People don’t care…

…how good you are. They care how good you’re going to help them become.

…what you can’t do. They care what you CAN do.

…if you’re having a bad day. They care how you’re going to help them have a better day.

…about price. They care about value, convenience and risk.

…about your company. They care about the problems your company can solve.

…about being apologized to. They care about answers, solutions and resolutions.

Article Written by Scott Ginsberg

Peace, Love and Gumbo~

Marvin LeBlanc