Small Business Leadership and Sales Blog

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. 

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.

Hello Marvelous People!  Please enjoy this guest blog from Chip Etier. 

It Happens Every Home Game

“Let’s go watch the band march in.”
We had just about wrapped up our tailgate party (circa September 1981) and were relaxing waiting for time to go to our seats, when my neighbor, Mike (not the Tiger), made that suggestion. We had our kids with us and everyone enjoys a parade, right?

This isn’t officially a parade, but it might as well be one.

About an hour or so before kickoff, the Golden Band from Tigerland assembles outside the band hall, near the Greek Theater on Dalrymple Drive. Their march carries them to Field House Drive and finally a right turn onto North Stadium. That turn is situated at the top of a hill known to Tiger fans as “Victory Hill.”

Thousands of fans line North Stadium Road and watch for activity at the top of the hill. As soon as the drum cadence can be heard, the cheers begin. We were waiting with the crowd and I put my son up on my shoulders so he could see better. The human version of LSU’s mascot, “Mike the Tiger” leads the procession with the Golden Girls right behind. The color guard is next followed by the drums and the rest of the band.

Anticipation is about to peak.

The entourage stops when the drumline reaches the bottom of the hill so that most of the band is on the hillside. The cadence stops and the crowd awaits eagerly.

Cymbals crash, snare drums rattle and are quickly joined by the entire drumline. The band raises their instruments, do a quarter turn to the left and fulfill the crowds desire with the most famous four notes in college football -- “HOLD THAT TIE-GAH!”

A half-turn back and it’s repeated to the right side of the street. By now, the cheers are so loud and continuous, it’s hard to hear the 325 member band. A quick segue into “Touchdown for LSU” and the band begins to run in tempo down the hill and to their entrance into Tiger Stadium.

Some SEC schools have well known two-word slogans but only LSU has those famous four notes. Their sound sends shivers down spines and motivates the faithful.

The Earthquake Game

Prior to the 2011 season, it was rare that the margin of victory in the annual regular season game between LSU and Auburn would be more than a touchdown. More often than not, it was even less. One, two, and three point games were common place. Most games between these rivals were -- and still are memorable.

And so it was in 1988. LSU trailed 6 - 0 when Tommy Hodson threw a touchdown pass to Eddie Fuller with barely a minute left in the game. LSU converted on the extra point and held on to win 7 - 6.

The Louisiana Geological Survey had a seismograph set up in the geology department near Tiger Stadium. The morning after the game, it was discovered, that the crowd’s reaction had registered on the Richter scale.

I was there.

I’ll never forget the “earthquake game.”

Eric Reid's incredible interception against Alabama

This play is most likely the key play (in an undefeated season) that is responsible for LSU being in the BCS National Championship Game. It was reviewed by the instant re-play official. The call on the field was not reversed. LSU eventually won. Reid’s interception was chosen by several pundits as “The Play of the Year” for 2011.

Had Eric Reid not made this interception, maybe Alabama would have scored a touchdown and perhaps won the regular season game between these two long-time rivals. Who knows what MIGHT have happened?

All we can say for sure is what DID happen. LSU earned their way in to the title game with an undefeated season and consensus number one rating by all the raters. Alabama got into the game because two other teams lost.

Many football fans around the country aren’t happy that two teams from the same conference are in the title game.

SEC diehards are happy with a sixth consecutive national title for their conference.

Many LSU fans remember what Nick Saban said when he was head coach of LSU, “Any team that cannot win their own conference has no business playing for the national title.”

Alabama didn’t win their own division within their conference this season.

It is what it is. Monday night, January 9, 2012, we’ll see what shapes up to be another great game.

That football ain’t round, and it takes some crazy bounces. It could be that one of those crazy bounces determines the outcome.

Geaux Tigers!

When I entered the Ear/Nose/Throat specialist office in Metairie Louisiana, one of the most important questions on my mind was “will I be able to continue to speak effectively with my motivational business after this surgery?”

The doctor was explaining the surgery process and how the pre-cancer cells on my tongue will be removed.  When I asked the doctor the question about my motivational business and speaking, he hesitated and then responded with “Marvin, you will just have to learn to use what you have.”

How often in life are we dealt with a challenge that could seemingly take us completely out of the game? What if we lost one of our greatest strengths?  How many of us would give up, and how many of us would find a way to pick ourselves up and move on?

I chose the path to move on and keep my  speaking business going. 

In life it is critical to persist and overcome obstacles – no matter how great they may seem.  All of us have strengths as well as weaknesses.  And we should all commit to working on them regularly.  Follow these tips to help you capitalize on strengths for small business success:

• Take a pencil and paper and then list your strengths.  Everyone will have more than one strength, just as everyone has more than one weakness.  For this exercise it is important to focus on your strengths.  Your strengths may include positive attitude, health, dedicated family, good relationships, or solid partnerships with your coworkers.  Make sure you list more than one strength, and feel free to add to this list at any time.

• Pick one strength from your list each day and stay conscious of that strength throughout the day. Find ways to use your strength in some form.  It could be to mentor someone else, to make a winning sales pitch, or to simply finish that task that has been sitting on your to-do pile.

• Each night before going to sleep, make it a habit to review how you used your strengths during that day.  Think positively and try to avoid the negative thoughts like “I should have…” that can often creep in and corrupt our ability to succeed.  Do not dwell on what you did not accomplish.  Instead look closely at what you did accomplish and how your strengths played a part in that success.

• Paste a note on your bathroom mirror as a reminder to focus on the strengths that I have TODAY. By cultivating your strengths and building them to be even greater, you can achieve success in many areas of your life.

Strategic Coach’s Dan Sullivan once said “if all you do is focus on strengthening your weaknesses, at the end of your life all you will have is a list of strong weaknesses.”  This is an important message when so many of us are bombarded with negative attitudes and weak thoughts.  It is not easy for many of us to realize our full potential because we are held down mentally by so many obstacles and challenges.  Treat those challenges as opportunities to shine and prosper.   Focus on your strengths – use what you have – for your life and small business success.

Peace, Love & Gumbo - Marvin 

Remember, “Marvelous Performance is always intentional. Marvelous Performance is never accidental.”

Feel free to send me your opinions, comments and feedback. We encourage you to inquire how our systems will help inspire you, your team, group or association to measurable Marvelous Performance.  Email me at Marvin@MarvinLeBlanc.com

To have success in business, mentors can give the inspiration needed to achieve.

General Ferdinand Foch of France once quoted

“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”

Through mentors people can be inspired and their souls set on fire with drive and determination for success in business.

If you think you can achieve success in business and be inspired without a mentor, you are being naive. Everyone needs a mentor to some degree to keep direction and retain motivation.

Perform your own self-evaluation and consider these four things honestly:

1. Who are your mentors? What people have inspired you in your life? From childhood through college and into adult life, there are numerous people who have given you than extra push to achieve and become inspired.

2. List your mentors by name and recall how they inspired you. Mentors can take different approaches. What may seem like a small thing to one person could mean a life of positive experiences for another. From a simple pat on the back from your football coach, to that encouraging message from the local church leader, or that gentle yet firm lecture from your teacher – mentors can affect you in many ways.

3. When have you last been in contact with your mentors? Can you reach out to them and rekindle your relationships again? You can initiate by making a simple “thank you” call and telling them how they have changed your life in a positive way. Or you can find out how they are doing and show concern for their well-being.

4. Be open to seeking out new mentors. There are more people willing to help you than you may realize! At work there are always good supervisors and managers who are seeking out people eager to be mentored. Even fellow coworkers or those in people in your social network may be willing to give some inspiration and guidance to help you on your way – all you need to do is ask and be open.

Never believe you have all the knowledge that you need. There are always opportunities to gain knowledge and inspiration from the mentors in your life. Keep an open mind and welcome the inspiration to ignite your soul.

From my book “Come Hell or High Water” chapter 8 is devoted to mentors. Pick up your free chapter and learn more!

The New Orleans Saints have arguably been one of the premier NFL teams in recent history. The success of the New Orleans Saints stems from a set of core values that keeps the focus on winning ways.

Just as the New Orleans Saints have a focus on winning ways, so should your business. There are key areas that can help a business to sustain high performance excellence. Most successful businesses today hold tight to some core strategies that keep them moving forward and performing well.

At the heart of establishing winning ways for business success is a sound performance leadership-training regimen. With sound and consistent performance business success can almost come naturally. Your company should implement a performance leadership-training program as your first step towards business success.

Within performance leadership training, business success will be achieved using several strategies:

• The right people – Finding the right talent is the foundation for success. With people that not only have the skills to perform the job, but people who are driven towards success, your business can realize significant performance improvements. The right training will help you to identify real performers and how to recruit the best talent for your business budget.

• The right nucleus – At the heart of business success is a nucleus of values and processes that are tailored towards high performance. Streamlined systems that keep the focus on delivering results for your customers keep the wheels of success greased for continuous improvement and excellence.

• The right strategy – Even the best performing sports car needs a driver who knows when to accelerate and when to brake. With the right strategy for success, your team will know when to take the field, what tactics to use, and how to execute properly to make sure sales are made, shipments are shipped, and profits are booked.

Marvelous Performance Systems has a series of performance schools available that can be customized to suit your particular business needs. The schools can be structured for private meetings, private coaching, classrooms or keynote speaking to point your company team towards business success. We can work with you to put together a program with your specific goals in mind and that is unique to your particular industry and business.

Help performance come back to your workplace and achieve real success. Click here for your free small business downloads! 

Dear Marvelous People:

Our message today is entitled “The Power of Habit." For decades I’ve been involved in study groups and I highly encourage you to find a good study group in your field of endeavor as well. The book  “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg, recently inspired our Study Group Leader, Mr. Brooks Tish to be inspired to make positive personal behavior changes.
May you be inspired as you seek out your own positive behaviors and habits.

Marvin LeBlanc, LUTCF 

Brooks writes:
A few days ago, while discussing “The Power of Habit,” I promised (warned) that I would send something personal from my experience from the book.

Those of you who have been members for three or four years are aware of much of my health history, which has been compounded by being too short for my weight. My dear friend Mike Stoiber, in a total spirit of love and concern, approached me during a recent Tracker2 meeting and asked “Brooks. Have you ever considered losing weight?” I told Mike it was a high priority but tough due to injuries to my left ankle and my right knee it was tough to exercise. As much as I watched my diet nothing happened without exercise.

The first of March I dug a little deeper in the willpower well and stopped eating anything with flour or sugar, even most fruits. I knew that exercise was important. This is where “Habit” came in. I found an unused reporter’s notebook that was left over from my 16 years of writing for newspapers and magazines. I started a diary of when I walked, what time of day, the wind, and how far I walked. I visited my knee specialist and had him inject some cortisone under the right knee cap to help ease the pain.

I exceeded my weight management goal of 20 pounds in March by ½ pound. We have a doctor’s balance beam scale in the master bath so it is easy to see half pounds. Before I knew it, I was emptying out the dishwasher for my wife Dorothy. For some reason that chore really bothers her. It takes her half an hour to stress, drink another cup of coffee and slowly put the clean dishes away. So I started doing it. It takes me three minutes at most. One small success leads to another small success. Remember one of the “universals” we often discuss at the study group? Everything matters to everything else.

Today’s entry: I started my walk at 9:10 this morning, in a light drizzle with a three knot wind, and walked one mile.

This book was selected for a reason—to help us find ways to change habits, to become more accountable to ourselves, personally and in our offices.

Even if you are unable to be with us in our upcoming study group, please find a small notebook and pick out a habit you would like to change, design a plan, and keep notes. It is motivating.

One more thing. It is hard to help your team members change an office or personal habit until they see their leader lead by example.

To a great small habit change.

Brooks Tish

The habit of focus is an ongoing process. It is about regularly redefining what is important and saying NO to what is not important. Marvelous performance is the result of the cultivated and intentional habit of focus.

You should always be free to express your feelings and emotions. Before taking on a project think of whether or not you can do the job, and more importantly if you can do it in the time frame required. Can you meet the deadline? Always focus on your priorities and clear your mind before taking on too many projects.

Do you find you can’t meet deadlines? Have you ever listed out all of your priorities and then politely said NO to the less prioritized work? Remember, it’s not necessary to say yes all of the time and it’s not that difficult to say NO. You just need to realize that you can’t do the job. Saying NO will help you stay stress-free and not only successfully complete all your other more pertinent jobs, but complete them on time.

You should know that time is precious and in some cases, “time is money”. When some work is not contributing to your growth and is mostly a time-waster, you need to have the courage to say NO.

Make sure that you limit yourself from wasting your time and getting distracted due to unimportant tasks. Make your priorities clear and always develop boundaries so that you don’t get distracted! Staying away from distractions helps you concentrate and focus on your most important work.

This habit of focus will help you concentrate more on your work and complete your goals successfully by the deadline. Having strong work habits will help you increase your productivity and meet deadlines.

One of the biggest distractions in today’s business world is the addiction of social networking and website browsing at work. Your favorite websites will tempt you to get distracted and check for updates throughout your day. You need to keep in mind that you have to carve out time for these activities, but only after your work is complete.

Focusing on things you are passionate about will help you in your professional growth, but you must say NO to things that don’t help your growth. Initially your priority should be working on things that you passionately feel compelled to complete. If you are enthusiastic to do a job, then you are more compelled to accomplish it in order to achieve your goals. Employ the habit of focus to achieve those things that you passionately want to accomplish.

Initially when you start implementing the habit of focus, you might find it difficult to stick to it. But gradually you’ll find that life is more difficult without this important habit of focus. More and more distractions or interruptions will create more complications in your life and invite stress into your life. Focus on lessening the interruptions and increasing your work time and attention.

The habit of focus is and on going process and it doesn’t stop. There is no end to this procedure. Practice saying “no”, practice keeping distractions to a minimum, and always work toward being more focused.

Think of this analogy:
We don't buy eyeglasses because we want eyeglasses.
We buy eyeglasses because our "vision needs to be focused".
Most people can "get by" without the eyeglasses, but it will be more difficult.
You can "get by" without the Habit of Focus, but it will be more difficult.
So I'm perplexed, why do we "get" the eyeglasses, but we don't "get" the Habit of Focus?

Hello Marvelous People!

In a world that is consumed by negative media messages, let us take some time today to review a life lived with positive purpose. A life lived with positive meaning. A life that has enhanced the lives of millions.

I have paraphrased for brevity the recent eulogy given by Mona Simpson, Steve Jobs' sister. Her eloquent message shares key experiences and important life traits that we may all consider and reflect upon.

May the words of Mona Simpson inspire you as you travel down your own road. Take the time to reflect on each point, PAUSING FREQUENTLY to contemplate it’s meaning in your life.

His Full Life
• He worked at what he loved and he worked hard every day.
• He was the opposite of absent-minded
• He was never embarrassed about working, even when his results were failures.
• He was never ashamed to admit that he tried and that he failed.
• Although immensely innovative, he was also loyal. (if he saw a shirt that he liked he'd buy 10 or even 100 of them)
• He favored people his own age.
• He was never one to favor gimmicks or trends.
• He was willing to be misunderstood.
• Love was his supreme virtue. He spent time talking about love and kept track and worried about the romantic lives of the people working with him.
• He believed that love happened all the time - everywhere!
• He was never ironic, cynical or pessimistic.
• He loved broccoli, especially in season, simply prepared, with just the right recently snipped herbs.
• He felt that his success at his early age served to isolate him somewhat.
• He loved bikes and loved the Palo Alto Bike Store.
• He was humble and always liked to keep learning.
• He loved colleges and loved walking around the Stanford campus.
• He cultivated whimsy and loved roses.
• He always had surprises tucked away in his pockets. Various treats, words to songs he loved, poems, etc.
• He treasured happiness.

His Illness

• Even in his illness, so much was still left after so much had been taken away.
• And he tried. He always tried.
• He was an intensely emotional man.
• Even during his illness, his taste, his judgment and discrimination held.
• While intubated in the hospital, he still sketched:
A- devices to hold an iPad while in a hospital bed.
B- designs for new fluid monitors
C- designs of new x-ray equipment

Important things Mona Simpson learned from her brother.
• character is essential.
• Steve was an absolutist.
• Steve was a romantic
• Steve was idealistic

A powerful idea to apply in our life:

Imagine if you printed and read these words every morning in your quiet time and allow your subconscious mind and your own spirit to be transformed by these character traits.

Might that assist you as you seek to live life with more meaning and purpose?

Drop us an email (Marvin@MarvinLeBlanc.com) and share with us your story on The Life Traits that have sustained you throughout your life.

Yes, we really care and we really read what you share.

Until next time remember that:
Marvelous Performance is ALWAYS - Intentional!
Marvelous Performance is NEVER - Accidental!

See Marvin in action at: http://www.youtube.com/user/MarvinLeBlanc/videos

Two weeks ago we explored the first 3 sub-phases of frustration. If you missed the article, you can read it here.

This week we will finish up with the final 3 sub-phases of frustration, which are anger, justification and acceptance.

Anger is the most important sub-phase. In Cajun terms, people get “pissed off.” That’s the point where they’re going to have to make a critical decision. Contrary to popular thought, there are two kinds of anger: positive and negative.

Negative anger can overtake you if you submit to it. You say, “Man, we are done for. We’re poor and we don’t have a car, so we’re going to wait it out.” It is the thought and feelings of helplessness. You allow the negative energy to control your thoughts and actions.

Some take the attitude as if “Nobody’s going to make me move out of my house.” It is distorted, possessive, hardheaded and ill-conceived reasoning. Most of these people are just plain stubborn.

On the flip side of negative anger is positive anger. Positive anger is where I chose to hang out, and it’s where all of the people who are coming back to New Orleans chose to hang out. It’s where I’m asking you, the reader, to hang out when life is overwhelming and your frustration is overpowering.

Positive anger gives you the opportunity to bypass the other sub-phases of frustration. If you stay in negative anger, you’re going to go straight into the fifth sub-phase.

Justification: You are looking for all the reasons why it’s not your fault that all of this is happening.

You won’t have a sense of ownership. Instead, you might have a sense of entitlement, thinking someone else should fix this and send a helicopter or a boat.

The last sub-phase is acceptance, when you accept that this is your fate, which makes you then stay in a stage of being stuck.

The good news is, that if you have positive anger, you can avoid looking for something to get excited about. You can avoid blaming it on others and you can take on an ownership spirit.

Don’t play the victim.
Don’t play the blame game.
Own it!

With an ownership spirit, you can recommit. This is the most important, and final phase of your attitude.