Small Business Leadership and Sales Blog

This is a guest article from Westley Annis. Enjoy these words of wisdom!

Peace, Love and Gumbo

Marvin LeBlanc LUTCF, CNP

Customer Service is everything.

Anyone who has been in business for more than three hours knows that to be true.

The funny thing, is that customer service seems to be falling away.

The first time you go into a store and see a self-checkout register, you go to it for the novelty of it. The second time you do it because the service at a human check-out register is lacking.

Not all self-checkouts are created equal. At WalMart, they are nearly as useless as a human check-out if you have more than a few items. Home Depot is a little better, but you better not have any big items. Sam's Club, who just rolled theirs out in November 2011 are the absolute best. So, your mileage will vary depending upon where you are shopping

Every national chain, especially franchises, now have only surveys where they want to know what kind of experience you had. This means it should be even easier to keep track of the service level of individual stores and workers. Unfortunately, either they are not getting enough people to fill out the surveys or they are ignoring them.

I am a mystery shopper. I get paid to visit different businesses as a customer and report back about my experience. The report I have to give is detailed. In fact, I am instructed on specific things to look for. I know what the uniform code is, how displays are supposed to be arranged and how long I should wait in line.

However, I don't think I would need this knowledge to recognize the level of bad service that is rampant, especially at fast food restaurants.

With the level of service you find at a McDonald's or Burger King, could they have grown from a few stores to the international chains they are today? The same goes with some of the younger chains like Subway.

Do we, as the paying public, accept the mediocre service in exchange for moderate prices and hopefully fast service? The cost of a "value meal", or whatever they want to call it, for one person is close to $7.00. For another few dollars, you can often get better food and better service, but at a slower pace.

Now that I think about it, maybe this old business sign is truer today then it ever was.

Hello Marvelous People:

Everyday there are certain activities and tasks that you must complete.
Some of these activities and tasks are enjoyable. Others are mundane.
Some you are “hoping” or “wishing” for a positive outcome. Other activities and tasks, you “KNOW” will give you the right outcome.

My simple idea today is a daily habit that I KNOW will give you a positive outcome. Why? Because I’ve employed the habit and you can too.

What’s the idea?

Everyday, read 10 minutes a blog that was written by one of the following people.

Marvin LeBlanc
Jim Rohn
Brian Tracy
Denis Waitley
Seth Godin
Malcolm Gladwell
Chris Brogan
Joseph Lalonde
Jeffrey Gitomer
David Newman
John Maxwell
Michael Hyatt
Jeff Goins
Brendon Burchard

Well, why would this be so important? Because you need to feed your mind the right thoughts, (to overcome all of the daily incoming negative messages) and you need to feed your mind EVERYDAY. Well, Marvin do you mean weekends too?

Did you hear me?
I said, EVERYDAY.

Why just 10 minutes? Because you have lots of other stuff to do and because more than likely, your attention span is so short that reading more will just make you procrastinate on other things that you should be doing.

NOTE: in a short 10 minute read, you will pick up 1-3 ideas. Ideas that if you “THINK” about and “TAKE ACTION” on these ideas, your subconscious mind will lead you to more valuable and meaningful results.

This is a LAW.

“What you think about & act upon & ardently desire, will ultimately be yours”.

So look at your calendar or appointment book and decide when you will PUT YOURSELF FIRST.

Positive self-talk affirmation:
“For just 10 minutes, I will PUT MYSELF FIRST.

• I will not check other email.
• I will not allow myself to be distracted.
• I will write down only 1-3 ideas from my 10 minute session.
• I will “THINK” about and “TAKE ACTION” on these ideas and how they will help me improve my life.
• I absolutely “KNOW” and “EXPECT” improvements to occur because it is a Universal Law and that law is:

“What you think about & act upon & ardently desire, will ultimately be yours”.

Don’t wait. Today is day 1 of the rest of your life. Please share your stories publically at this blog or privately at Marvin@MarvinLeBlanc.com

Be Marvelous and Put Yourself First Today!
Marvin LeBlanc

As a Corporate Training Specialist for the Dale Carnegie Courses in the early '80's, I had the honor to meet a man named Morris Starnes. Morris was one of our students in our Baton Rouge Dale Carnegie Course.

This is his true story. I was there in attendance.

When Morris would get paid, he would put all of his bills in his hat.

He would pull each bill out 1 by 1 and would write the check for that particular bill.

When he was out of money, he would not pay the remaining bills. His viewpoint was that he did all he could do, until next time. Back to work he would go. 

So as fate would have it, an angry bill collector calls Morris one night demanding he pay the bill owed.

Morris, an honorable hard working man, explained to the collector that he knew that he owed the bill, but that the bill collector has just been unlucky for 2-3 months in a row. At this point, the confused bill collector asked Morris to explain himself.

So Morris, in his slow, country drawl patiently explains to the caller his bill paying system.

Step 1
All bills go in his hat.
Step 2
Lucky bills get pulled out of hat and paid.

Morris ends his call by asking the collector, now lets understand something, you do realize if you all me again and bug me about that bill, I will take your bill out of the hat? So, don't call me and pray for good luck. If you do that, you might just get paid next month.

When Morris shared his story with us, he was stone cold serious. At the end of him telling us what he told the collector, our group howled and roared with laughter.

This soft spoken, hard working, blue collar tree cutter never knew how powerful of a communicator he really was. But he knows now.

Morris grew immensely in our course and we were all the better for having to meet Morris Starnes.

This is the system Morris used to stop worrying about his bills. Perhaps it will work for you.

Do you have a topic or a question you would like to have covered in our blog?  If so please email Marvin@marvinleblanc.com with your small business challenge or question.  

Don't miss valuable content for your business.  Stay connected with our monthly newsletter. 

Peace, Love and Gumbo,

Marvin LeBlanc LUTCF, CNP

In your business, are you primarily grabbing just the low-hanging fruit?

Close your eyes and think with me for a moment. If you were hungry and standing at the bottom of an apple tree right now, are you immediately going to leave the apple tree to go look for a ladder? Of course you wouldn’t do that. You would simply and conveniently grab the low-hanging fruit -- the apples that are hanging the lowest to the ground and the easiest to grab.

Be careful with overusing this approach in your business. We might be spending so much time picking low-hanging fruit in our business that we no longer focus on the high-level, more profitable fruit. Why do we do this? Because it's easier; it's comfortable.

Many producers (and companies, too) stay in a certain market because they don't feel they're worth more. But take courage and stretch! Upwards! Higher!

Don't get confused. I am not saying that you shouldn't pick any of the low-hanging fruit.

I am saying pick the low hanging fruit and keep the ladder handy for other opportunities. Don't get lazy. Remember that picking low-hanging fruit is a complacent, low-energy, passive activity. Picking high-ladder fruit is a strategic, high-energy proactive activity.

The low-hanging fruit will not always be readily available. To prevent large slumps, another diversified strategy must be implemented that will allow you to bring in revenue and use sales volume from a different source.

- Consider identifying a niche market in your area, one that is either not being served by you at all or a competitor is currently serving that and you know you can do better than that competitor.

- Consider assigning some of your team members to picking the low-hanging fruit. Others may be specialized and held accountable to focus on harvesting "high fruit." If I spoke to all your team members separately, would they all clearly know who is responsible for what? That kind of clarity is a big part of gaining team focus. To sustain growth, your business model will need to have that type of balance and agility.

-Remember the Titanic. You remember that huge boat that no one ever thought would sink. Well it sunk. What sank the Titanic was not the ice they could see. It was the ice that they could not see, the ice they didn't anticipate or plan for. So many people died that day because they did not have enough ladders to get into the rescue boats. Plan to have your ladder with you and available at all times in your business. You and your company will die if you do not have other sustainable alternatives.

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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.