Small Business Leadership and Sales Blog

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

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