Without Vision People Perish

That is a well-known quote from the Bible and one I am contemplating today. By the time you are reading this with your eyes, I will have a knife in my eyes. Today I am having eye surgery. Ouch!

However, there is something even more important than eyesight and that is vision—the ability to see what is invisible to others and might not yet even exist.

"The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight,
but has no vision."—Helen Keller

There is a famous story about a block of marble back in the 1400s. This block of marble was deemed flawed, useless and was cast aside. Every sculptor who looked at it saw it too long and narrow to be valuable for sculpture. It lay there worthless for 40 years. In 1501, a 26-year-old young man happened by this block of marble. He saw something very different. He had a greater vision for this block of marble. Inside this formless mass of stone this young sculptor saw the heroic beauty, grace and wonder of a man who would become known as David. Young Michelangelo famously said, "I already saw David inside, I had only to release him by chipping away at the marble that trapped him in.

It is said we are not limited by our abilities or by our current circumstances. We are only limited by our vision of what can be. A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more.

One person sees a rock pile another sees a great cathedral.
The difference? Vision.

We are all very visual beings. Our eyes take in four million bits of information every second. Our imagination processes it and forms a three dimensional, four-color picture and puts that picture into creative motion. We all think in pictures. If I said, "big black dog", what comes to mind? A picture of a big black dog, right? Every one of us has a picture of ourselves in our mind. We have a picture of our family, our business, our abilities and our future.

Here is the scary part—you will never rise above the image you have in your mind in any area of your life.

You will live up to your vision of yourself—literally. How we see ourselves is what we become. Your marriage, your career, your bank account, your health or your children will only be as grand as your vision for it. You and your future are only limited only by your ability to be a visionary. The first step toward creating an improved future is developing the ability to envision it.

I can predict your future. I'm no prophet or fortune teller, but if you tell me your vision for your future I can tell you exactly how your future will unfold for you—exactly as you see it.

You can change your future by simply changing your vision for it.

By Joey Asher Create Compelling Presentations with the Three Q Method Save your audience from another dull presentation and increase their focus by building a presentation that answers their questions instead of smothering them with slides. Author Joey Asher explains how to create effective presentations built around real questions. Most presentations are complicated messes. Listeners wonder "What are the key points?", "Why should I care?", "Why is this so complicated?" and "Do we have to look at that many slides?" Presentations don't have to be complicated to be good. There is a simple approach to creating simple presentations that connect with the needs of any audience—and you won't need to create a single PowerPoint slide. We call it "The Three Q Method." It works because it is built around your audience members' key questions about the topic. The only prop you'll need is a flip chart. Start with What Your Audience Cares About Ask yourself "What are the three questions my audience would ask me?" Most presentations stink because they fail to provide what most listeners want—answers to their key questions. The Three Q Method addresses this issue by focusing the presentation on three audience questions. Photo by Office Now. Next time you have to create a presentation, don't go to your computer and open up PowerPoint. Instead, take out a blank sheet of paper and ask yourself "What are the three questions my audience would most likely ask me about this subject?" Those three questions will become the basis of your presentation. Delivering Your Three Q Presentation Start your presentation by briefly describing your topic. Keep it to just a few sentences. Let's say that you're a PTA president introducing a plan to raise money for school renovations. Photo by Marco Bellucci. I think we all agree that the school is in bad need of renovations. Today, we're going to talk about our plans to raise money to make sure that the school looks great for our children. After introducing the topic, introduce the questions, writing them on a flip chart. Once you've given an overview of the topic, preview your presentation for your listeners by telling them the three questions you plan to address. If I were you, I'd probably ask three questions. What are the capital improvement needs? How much money do we need to raise? How are we going to raise the money? As you introduce the questions, write them on a flip chart. This gives the audience an easy way to follow your presentation. Go back and answer the three questions. In the body of your presentation, answer the questions in as much or as little detail as you feel is necessary. Be sure to start each section by repeating the question. It's OK if this sounds redundant. The goal is clarity. Your listeners will appreciate how easy it is to follow you. Photo byVelkr0. The best way to answer each question is to give a simple answer in the first sentence or two. Then elaborate as much as you'd like. So let's talk about the first question: What are the capital improvement needs? The biggest need is the athletic fields. I think we all agree that they're an embarrassment and don't provide the kind of sports experience that our kids deserve . We need new grandstands. We need a new scoreboard. We need a new locker room . . . End by opening up the floor for questions. Everyone's favorite part of the presentation is the Q&A. It's where listeners can get their specific needs addressed. When you've finished answering the three key questions, take more from your audience. You don't need lots of slides for a great presentation. All you need to do is answer your audience's key questions simply and clearly

Success Is Everything by Jim Rohn

Someone once said to me that success isn't everything, and I think I know what they really meant. I believe they really meant that money wasn't everything, and I certainly agree with that. But I do believe that success IS everything.

First you need to succeed to survive. We must take the seasons and learn how to use them with the seed, the soil and the rain of opportunity to learn how to sustain ourselves and our family.

But then second is to then succeed to flourish in every part of your life. Good question to ask mature people: "If you could do better, should you?" And I think almost everybody would answer the question in the positive. If you could improve your health, shouldn't you do that? If you can learn more, shouldn't you do that? If you could earn more and share more, shouldn't you do that? If you can improve your relationships and spirituality, shouldn't you do that? And I think that is what success is really all about. It is not just a destination that is set for everybody to try and go for.

It is like Zig Ziglar said, "Improving in every area of your life to see if you can with satisfaction at the end of the day, week, month and year, say 'I have made excellent progress this year, for myself, for my family, for my business, my career and my health.'" I think that kind of success everybody recognizes is legitimate and something we should all strive for.

Interesting phrase in the Bible that says strive for perfection—not that we can ever reach it. But it is in the striving, to be a little bit better today than yesterday, in our speech, our language, our health, everything we can possibility think of.

So yes, in my opinion, success is everything!

Manage Uncertainty with Commander's Intent

http://goo.gl/oqtsr

Commander's Intent is the definition and description of what a successful operation will yield. Good Commander's Intent allows employees and teams to adapt the plan using improvisation, initiative, and adaptation to reach the original plan objectives.

Steps to grow initiative and improvisation are essential to have an employee base that can execute Commander's Intent. The following are training ideas and concepts to grow an employee capability for Commander's Intent:

1. Simulation Training and After-Action Reviews. Organizations need to find a way to allow employees to simulate new product introductions, competitive analysis, and store openings. These simulations can incorporate dynamic changes in the base business situation that will force employee's to adapt themselves and their teams to new changes to meet the existing business objectives.
   
2. Small Projects. Empowering a subordinate or a team to enter a small, untested market or attempt a new project has little risk to the core business and is an excellent testing ground to build confidence, improvisation, and a strong employee base with nominal risk.
   
3. Business History, Military History, and Current Events. A strong understanding of past events provides context, ideas, and a perspective on the value of improvisation in history and business.

How to Design an Effective Cold Calling Script

Dο уου һаνе аח effective сοƖԁ calling script tһаt mаkеѕ уου feel confident wһеח уου pick up tһе phone? Or аrе уου afraid аחԁ feeling Ɩіkе уουr telephone weighs twenty pounds? A key tο building confidence аחԁ overcoming tһе fеаr οf tһе phone іѕ tο һаνе аח effective сοƖԁ calling script. 

Although tһеrе аrе more effective ways οf reaching prospects, tһе сοƖԁ call саח still mаkе уου money іf уου һаνе tһе rіɡһt script. Hοwеνеr, having a сοƖԁ calling script іѕ חοt tһе еחԁ аƖƖ. Yου need tο practice уουr script over аחԁ over until іt flows οff уουr tongue. Yου don't want tο sound Ɩіkе one οf those telemarketers reading tһе words regardless οf wһаt уου ѕау.
CοƖԁ Calling Script Outline 

First уου ѕһουƖԁ ԁο уουr homework аחԁ find out wһο tһе ԁесіѕіοח maker іח tһе company іѕ аחԁ аѕk fοr tһеm personally wһеח уου call. Address tһеm аѕ Mr. οr Ms. аחԁ tһеіr last name. 

Tһеח give tһеm уουr name аחԁ company аחԁ thank tһеm fοr tһеіr time аחԁ Ɩеt tһеm know уου wіƖƖ bе brief. 

Yου ѕһουƖԁ further introduce уουr self wіtһ a short commercial. One sentence tһаt sums up simply аחԁ clearly һοw уου саח һеƖр tһеm solve a problem. 

Next аѕk tһеm a closing qυеѕtіοח wһісһ further shows tһе benefits οf уουr product οr service. 

If уου ɡеt a positive response, close fοr tһе appointment. 

If уου ɡеt a חο, tһеח уου ѕһουƖԁ һаνе another qυеѕtіοח prepared stating another benefit οf уουr product οr service οr bе direct аחԁ іf tһе benefit уου аrе offering іmрοrtаחt tο tһеm? 

AƖѕο Ɩеt tһеm know tһаt tһе appointment tһеу аrе setting wіƖƖ bе brief. 

I һаνе many times ѕаіԁ tο prospects… I need аbουt 10 minutes οf уουr time tο ѕһοw уου tһе benefits οf mу product οr service. At tһе еחԁ οf tһе ten minutes іf уου believe ουr product οr service іѕ חοt fοr уου I'll leave. 

Iѕ tһаt fаіr? 

Bе prepared wіtһ аחѕwеrѕ tο tһеіr objections ahead οf time. Yου know wһаt tһеу аrе ѕο bе ready wіtһ аחѕwеrѕ.
Sample CοƖԁ Calling Script 

Gοοԁ morning Mr. James, Mу name іѕ Sally Jones wіtһ Lessmony. 

I appreciate уου giving mе a moment οf уουr valuable time tһіѕ morning. I promise tο bе brief. 

I specialize іח helping you plan your vacations аחԁ reduce costs to 80 - 90%. 

If I сουƖԁ ѕһοw уου a way tο go for a vacation and also get paid for it , wουƖԁ уου bе interested? 

(If уου ɡеt a yes, close fοr tһе appointment.) 

I need аbουt 10 minutes οf уουr time tο ѕһοw уου tһе benefits οf mу product οr service. At tһе еחԁ οf tһе ten minutes іf уου believe ουr product οr service іѕ חοt fοr уου I'll leave. 

Iѕ tһаt fаіr? 

WουƖԁ tommorrow аt 10:15 bе ɡοοԁ οr wουƖԁ Wednesday аt 2:45 bе better? 

(Tһеח thank tһеm аחԁ restate tһе time аחԁ tһе location οf tһеіr office.) 

Grеаt, I wіƖƖ see уου Wednesday tһе 29th, 2:45 аt 2006 Clearwater Avenue. 

(If уου ɡеt a חο, аѕk another benefit qυеѕtіοח οr rephrase уουr first qυеѕtіοח) 

Sο, going for a luxuries vacation and as saving a lot of money isn't іmрοrtаחt tο уου? 

If уου feel уου mау һаνе a ɡοοԁ prospect, keep closing, іf חοt hang up аחԁ mονе οח tο tһе next. 

Much οf уουr success іח sales wіƖƖ bе determined bу һοw much уου prepare. Tһіѕ сοƖԁ calling script іѕ οחƖу one οf many, һοwеνеr, іt wіƖƖ give уου a template tο υѕе tο ɡеt ѕtаrtеԁ. Gеt a script tһаt works fοr уου, memorize іt аחԁ υѕе іt tο convert more οf уουr calls tο appointments. 

10 Powerful Positive Emotions that help you succeed in life.

1. Love - Having constant feeling of love inside you will drive all the negative emotions out of you. If someone is angry or upset with you, you should remain cool and loving towards them by adopting a belief that we can eventually get them to calm down. You are able to change their state of mind and intensity towards you. All communication is either a cry for help or warm loving response.

'If you could only love enough, you could be the most powerful person in the world' – Emmet Fox.

2. Appreciation - thinking and expressing your thoughts with actions of appreciation or gratitude is another emotional state that guides us to focus on positive angle of life. Often we forget what we should be grateful for and tend look at the odd situations of expectations failing to please us.

3. Passion - biggest driver of success and achievement in life. Passion adds that juice to anything we set our mind/heart to do. It turns any challenge into an opportunity for us. This emotion pushes us to move forward in our lives at a faster pace to achieve our dreams or goals. Passion also means getting rid of fear or negative thoughts.

4. Energy - This is a common denominator in all Successful people in the world. It is a key driver to success. Often we see the marathon winners on the last two laps giving a pep talk to themselves to keep going. Although physically tired but mental emotional power is strong enough to carry you through to the finishing line. People who are stressed out are usually lacking oxygen – probably stopped breathing properly. So it is important to take care of your body by developing your mind power to pump you up to complete tasks or goals set out in life.

5. Confidence - When you are confident then you are emotionally ready to achieve your aims in life. Your body feels different and you get geared up to face any situation. In life we all have to face tough conditions when confidence is important to have. It gives us a sense of certainty rather than fear. The ability to act with faith and hope is what helps us move forward in life. You will be amazed at the dividends it pays if you are consistent enough. Many people ruin their lives as they avoid doing things because they are afraid. Generally it is a sign that you don't believe in your own self.

6. Determination - is another key driver to success. It is question of never give up attitude. It speaks out about how you deal with problems, disappointments, let downs and challenges. This emotion pushes you with a powerful force of commitment when odds are against you. Acting with determination means cutting off all chances of other possibilities and making a harmonious committed decision to accomplish what you want in life.

 

7. Happiness - There is something about you that has been noticed – you always seem so happy – as people comment. There is a big difference being happy inside and just showing it outside. Cheerful people are always happy and smiling. They have power to influence others and touch your lives. This emotion overcomes the negative ones like guilt, inadequacy, frustration, anger etc. Typically things can be changed by feeling happy (from inside) rather than letting your mind filled with irritating opinions. Frequently it aids to get rid of painful or hurtful feelings.

8. Curiosity - get rid of the boredom or laziness or procrastination by becoming curious. Keep asking yourself and it will not a chore for you to do anything. Children are always curious and they often wonder and grow up to accomplish their dreams. Curiosity helps us to learn more about things in life. To grow in our lives, we must learn to become curious like a child as it brings unending bundle of joy. In the fast paced world we frequently get bored and lose interest. By developing this emotion we can create more fun and develop ourselves to add values to others.

9. Contributing Attitude - Often it has been quoted that – 'Secret to living is giving in life'. There is no richer emotion than feeling that you as a person need to contribute to this world before death. In our life time we learn a lot which is through someone's contribution. There comes a time in life that we have to give back to this world which makes our living worthwhile. This emotion indicates what sort person we are at heart. If our lives do matter than we surely have developed a connection for people, environment, nature, etc. With pride and self-esteem. It becomes a duty as a human being to contribute in whatever way we can. A feeling of contribution makes us really worthwhile. This emotion or feeling is far more satisfactory than just earning money alone. However it doesn't necessarily mean that you should become a martyr by just contributing or giving all up at your expense.

10. Flexibility - The way we approach at times creates hurdles for ourselves. The need to be flexible is important. This feeling is crucial when dealing with different personalities as all are not same. We should adopt to changing demands and circumstances to thrive and succeed in ever changing technological market. Throughout our lives there will be things that we will not be able to control or meet our expectations. The ability to be flexible in your thinking, beliefs, rules will surely assist in making you feel happy. Commonly we do get attached to our values, things etc and unable to handle ourselves. The reed that bends will survive the windstorm. Meanwhile the oak tree is bound to crack. So many people lose their jobs or damage others or go to war or fight because they remain inflexible.