After I read the interview I was glad to see that one of Hollywood’s well known personalities hadn’t forgotten his roots and was grateful for others and his own abilities. I’d like to weigh in and share with you a few things that Jay Leno’s success can teach all of us in today’s sped up and often impersonal digital world.
Persistence pays off. Leno’s rise to fame was built on hard work and endless years spent toiling in comedy clubs and showing up time and time again to practice his craft. He performed stand up anywhere and everywhere ranging from strip clubs to small comedy clubs in often dangerous or run down parts of town in many a city. Known for his relentless work ethic, many a person today could learn from his drive and passion to get better at his craft.
Overnight success is extremely rare and usually packed and hyped up on TV talent shows where the one-in-a-million person auditions and becomes a 15-minute YouTube sensation. They hit the spotlight quickly and rarely stay in the limelight for the long haul. I’ve met many talented people in my life, and I’m sure you can recall a few in your own life, who’ve squandered their gifts by being lazy, having bad associations, or weren’t willing to put in the necessary time and discipline to master their talents at a world class level. I’ve also seen those with much lesser talent initially, work their tails off, shake off the critics, and like Leno has done, rise to stunning heights that would easily knock other mere mortals quickly out of the game.
Being authentic. Leno’s upbringing in a middle class family in Massachusetts obviously impacted Leno. He had a good old fashioned normal upbringing. No trauma, no horror stories, no abusive parent to blame or hold a grudge against. A solid family that lead by example. As he’s risen up the ladder of success Leno’s resisted what I call the ‘entourage mentality’ that many celebs embrace which often puts up a wall between themselves and everyday people including the fans who’ve made them a fortune.
When I had the chance to meet and hear Gene Simmons from the rock group KISS ® speak last year the same common thread as Leno was how accessible and friendly Simmons was to people he encountered from all walks of life in restaurants, walking through the hotel and at the event. He took pictures, signed autographs, and engaged in relaxed conversation with stranger after stranger, myself included, which was quite amazing. During his speech at the conference he mentioned why he still engages fans with respect and how foolish it is for other celebs to not be thankful and supportive to those who’ve made them wealthy and famous. How refreshing and instructive for everyone to hear.
Solid work ethic. It’s stunning to me how spoiled and lazy many people have gotten these days. When you travel a lot, you meet and talk to lots of people, and notice certain patterns that appear. Here’s my beef: If it’s such a bad recession out there how can millions of people still afford to own homes, three TV’s, two PC’s, $300 iPods, the two cars in their driveways and still find time to eat out several times a week? I want you to stop and think about that question for a second. To give you some historical perspective, our grandparents who went through a real recession, would shake their heads in disbelief at how spoiled most people have become these days. In addition, the entitlement and bailout mentality running rampant in our federal, state, and local governments would certainly make their blood boil.
It’s my opinion, a lot of this recession is a big, media intensified ratings game designed to instill fear and doubt within the economy and prolong the time it will take us to recover. Yes, a few industries are in dire straits, and many knew the day of reckoning would come. Hello GM, what have you been doing the last 30-years as competition picked off huge chunks of market share?
Why were so many people the last few years in the hardest hit sectors not upgrading their skills or diversifying their income when times were better? If you ask almost anyone under age 30 about jobs and the economy, they’ll tell you that job security is an ancient and outdated practice in the age of the Internet and global competition. Sadly, too many people were and are still stuck in the land of denial on this point and refuse to see reality.
Understand that if you’re reading this newsletter you don’t fall into this category of denial and constant complaining outlined above and here’s why. You believe in self-improvement and investing in yourself. There are so many more people that should be reading this newsletter, and listening to the wisdom shared with our expert interviews, but the laundry list of excuses I hear as to why they can’t or won’t cough up a measly $20 a month to subscribe would astound you. These are often the same folks who spend several hundreds of dollars a month in entertainment but can’t afford to invest in the most important thing they have which is their own mind!
Having an upbeat attitude and subscribing to this newsletter separates you from the many masses of society who are waiting around, and complaining while at the same time not able to compute or figure out why opportunity fails to show up in their lives. It doesn’t work that way in spite of what the media says, relatives and even co-workers might have you believe. While it may not be sexy or glamorous, a positive attitude, applied knowledge, and hustle are the essential ingredients to a life of significance and success for yourself and those you love and care the most about.
Lifelong learning is essential. Leno and his team of writers are masters at staying updated on trends and humor. Living off of old monologue and jokes would be the kiss of death for the Tonight Show. In such an intensely competitive industry as TV and entertainment, the best ideas and marketer’s win. The ratings and ad dollars don’t lie. It’s that simple. Leno has to stay at the top of his game five nights a week, week in and week out, or risk losing his audience to hungrier, funnier, and more relevant competition.
That’s how each of must approach our chosen industries and professions. Information is doubling every 12-months. This is why it’s called the ‘Information Age’. The world is awakening and people are sharing new information and ideas on a continual basis. No one person can know everything in an industry or profession. It’s simply impossible. On the other hand, claiming ignorance and not staying up on trends and new information is a certain path to being left behind in the global economy. In an age of great choice delivered via the power of the web, customers expect and demand competent service providers to improve their life or situation or they’ll find someone else who will provide it for them.
Giving back is good for business. Some people get mad when I talk about this because it’s brutally honest. Let me explain. When we donate time, talents or services to others, we obviously want to give back, no question. It’s also common that by serving others an often unexpected byproduct is that we’re also rewarded for our kindness and contribution. It’s not often immediate or even measurable. What I’m talking about is goodwill.
Leno’s free shows have generated a ton of great publicity and goodwill for Leno and as a byproduct for his employer NBC. The network pays him for his talents and brand equity based on profits he produces with his show. The positive PR for his giving back is extremely powerful and a huge value add that NBC is well aware of. Having played the publicity game for many years in the telecom and advertising industries, and now as a bestselling author and speaker, I can tell you that helping others and leveraging the media to spread the word is essential.
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( 3 / 1520 )In the last blog we discussed the first two ways to reflect, renew and recharge your mind. Here are the other three strategies:
#3. Be flexible and remember that when you make a mistake that no one will likely remember it a year from now except you. This is a tough strategy to follow. It’s far too easy for people to relive their negative experiences over and over in their head when they know deep down they should let go of it and move on with their life. We all make mistakes. I make tons of them but I do my best to learn the lesson it’s trying to teach, so I can quickly get back in the game of the present moment. Sadly, there are millions of people walking around each day on the planet letting past experiences hold them mentally hostage when they could and should be free.
To give you some perspective, think about the past challenges you’ve faced and the success stories or positive new changes that have been a result of going through them. I call this flipping your frustration into fascination and it’s a wonderful exercise to help you maintain a flexible and healthy perspective when confronting life’s challenges.
#4. Always give the audience your very best regardless of what they think about you. This may sound cocky or arrogant but let me quickly explain. We can’t control others. No matter how much people wish this were true it’s simply impossible. This is why it’s essential that you have strong faith, goals and be persistent when chasing your goals and dreams.
You’ll be amazed at how many people will not see eye-to-eye or roll out the welcome wagon for you. This shouldn’t bring you down, but rather serve to inspire and fire you up even more. I’ve been told and still hear the word “no” each and every day. Some of the deals I don’t win make me shake my head in disbelief, while others I win surprise me sometimes even more.
In life and in business no one wins all the time and I fully expect that what I offer isn’t a fit for everyone. That’s fine because I know where I’m heading and the people I intend to positively impact in my life. I never take rejection personally and neither should you.
For example, I learned many years ago that when I’m hired to speak before a group or association that as soon as I open my mouth from the stage and utter my first word, I immediately have a few people that disengage, don’t like my style and stop listening. It used to bother me greatly but I had to stay focused and learn to get over it quickly. I can’t worry about these people, but on the other hand I can stay focused on bringing the best message possible to those who are really listening to what I’m saying. I recommend you focus on your fans and followers, not your critics. Why embolden and permit the critic to slow you down?
#5. Laugh at yourself. I was at a local Toastmaster’s Christmas party a few years back where I witnessed a wise and amazing woman, by the name of Judy Johnson end her speech with the wonderful quote, “Laughter is a momentary holiday.” It was such sage advice, that I wrote it down and make it a daily habit to take a few holiday’s each and every day. It troubles me how serious people are these days.
Life moves quickly and with each passing birthday, school year with our kids and wedding anniversary I take stock of where my life has gone. It’s too easy to get worked up over what we don’t have and miss what we should be grateful and smile about. We know the world has challenges. It always has and always will. To be able to laugh at yourself is a great way to take what Judy described as “a momentary holiday” when you’re going through the ups and downs of each passing hour, day and year.
Right now in a time of great economic change many well intentioned people are crushing their talents, drive, ideas and energy by acting as if everything they do is life or death. Sorry to rain on your parade, but very few of us are working each day to cure cancer or save the planet like Superman. Slow down, lighten up a little and laugh each day. You’ll not only feel better, but so will others around you. Plus it doesn’t cost you anything. That observation alone should put a smile on many people’s faces 
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( 3 / 1460 )“If the inner world is sick, the outer world will eventually catch up.”
Life is not scripted. While we may wish everyday was exciting and fun that’s not how life works. We all have our off days. At the end of the week, I’m grateful when my good days outnumber the challenging days. In the digital age I’m amused at how spoiled most of us have become with the variety of creature comforts, options, and answers to questions that are often available with a quick Google or Amazon online search. We are a nation that’s addicted to digital access and all the gadgets that make real-time communication as common as water from a drinking fountain.
With all the information available in the online world and the speed at which we expect it, I often believe that far too many people expect the same quick fix with real or complex challenges they’re facing and mentally trying to solve. I’d like to share with you a few ways that I’ve discovered and learned from others to recharge my mind, get refocused, and hit more of my goals. Here are five powerful mental exercises you can use to reflect, renew and recharge yourself in the age of speed, digital overload and distraction.
#1. Schedule ‘off-grid’ time each day for yourself. The death of patience in a world of massive options, Internet speed, and real-time communication is a huge mental challenge for most of us. To draw a parallel from marketing consulting, I often see existing business owners wanting a 10-minute, sound-bite, solution to a problem that took years to create. I advise them that it’s not going to be a ‘quick-fix’ and it will require a plan and then executing on it. The challenge is often slowing them down enough to consider options and the pros and cons associated with each.
One of my favorite things to do that I strongly recommend you try is to have a block of time each day where you go ‘off grid’. This could be the first part of the day where you shut off your email, cell phone, turn off the radio or TV and simply focus on yourself. A few ideas include exercise, reading a great book, prayer, meditation, reviewing your goals or writing in a journal.
This will be challenging at first because your inner self talk will often tell you things such as, “Hey, we’ve got too much to get done today. We don’t have time. I’ll fall behind.” Once you block out these thoughts and really buckle down you’ll be amazed at how enjoyable it is to give yourself the gift of ‘off grid’ time each day.
#2. Remember where you came from and where you’re going. Humans have the wonderful ability to self reflect and I’m amazed at how we forget to use it in the proper balance. I meet lots of interesting people on the road and when I’m speaking at conferences. I can usually pick out the speaker’s and author’s that believe their fan mail and inflated ego versus those who are genuine, real and haven’t forgotten where they came from. It’s stunning to me how many of them discount any constructive help and forget who’s helped them along the way. Success is not a solo journey. Hollywood and TV would have you think this way, but behind every successful person are many people who believed in them even when they at times didn’t believe in themself.
Here’s one of my favorite sayings that reminds me to not get too big for my britches. “You’ll meet the same people going up the ladder as you will coming back down it.” This was said to me many years ago from a mentor in the speaking business and it’s true. While I hope to never go down the ladder too far, I’m also realistic and pragmatic enough to know that there are many things I can do my best to control but their will also be situations and lessons, good and bad, which will surprise me. This is how life works for everyone.
With that said, it’s important to not believe all your press clippings. Who you are today is not the same person as yesterday, a month ago, or a year ago. Pull from what you’ve learned from the past and do your best to stay grounded in each day with a solid plan for the future to guide you. The most interesting thing I often observe with many people is that they either relive their past ‘glory days’ or dream too much about the future when their day-to-day efforts are lacking attention and hustle.
#3. Be flexible and remember that when you make a mistake that no one will likely remember it a year from now except you. This is a tough strategy to follow. It’s far too easy for people to relive their negative experiences over and over in their head when they know deep down they should let go of it and move on with their life. We all make mistakes. I make tons of them but I do my best to learn the lesson it’s trying to teach, so I can quickly get back in the game of the present moment. Sadly, there are millions of people walking around each day on the planet letting past experiences hold them mentally hostage when they could and should be free.
To give you some perspective, think about the past challenges you’ve faced and the success stories or positive new changes that have been a result of going through them. I call this flipping your frustration into fascination and it’s a wonderful exercise to help you maintain a flexible and healthy perspective when confronting life’s challenges.
I'll save the fourth and fifth strategies for my next blog post so you have time to start moving on the one's you've just discovered!
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( 3 / 1405 )When I was in the telephone business selling local and long-distance phone services – which by the way is probably the most hated industry on the planet – we had a seasoned, battle-tested director of sales who used to drill us on what he called “being offense minded versus defense minded”.
What did he mean? Simple: make sure you’re doing more “offense” related activities each day to generate enough prospects and leads in the sales funnel to hit and exceed your monthly sales quotas.
He cautioned us about not getting caught up and distracted by the daily “defense activities” such as maintenance,paperwork, wasted meetings, etc. that seemed to consume so many unsuccessful sales reps.
This same analogy relates to your marketing. How much time are you spending each day to promote, generate new leads, meet with serious prospects and create new business? My guess - not nearly as much time as you could or should be!
Yeah, I know you’re busy running the show, training the staff, checking emails, sitting in meetings, and doing a host of other
activities that are quite honestly good excuses for pushing marketing
and promotions to the back burner.
Please realize that most daily activities are chewing up valuable “offense” time and are purely defense-minded. People get blinded each day doing busy work and before they can stop and look at the clock it’s 5:15 PM and they haven’t done anything in the offense category to insure future leads and deal flow.
The #1 reason this happens: Most business owners let others dictate their day with little if any resistance. The time is now. They must make marketing a daily habit, especially in today's economic climate.
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( 3 / 1420 )Yes, the famous quote from former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt has been on my mind lately when I meet with business and non-profit leaders to discuss marketing strategies and the present state of the U.S. economy. I get various reports from many of them on how sales and profits are doing. Many economists are now saying we’re in a recession and that the future is grim. While my opinion is just that, I want to push you to think differently in a market that has obvious challenges and opportunities at the same time.
So let me ask you a direct question: What is your business or non-profit doing to not just maintain but grow right now? This isn’t a practical joke. I’m going to jump on my little soapbox with this blog post today because frankly, I’m getting tired of the fear and excuses being made by people from all sectors complaining about the economy, gas prices, inflation, and most of all their sales.
I’m very pragmatic and maybe too direct with clients and in my live seminars (Ten years studying with fellow marketing guru Dan Kennedy does that to you) and fully realize that some industries are being negatively impacted more than others. Airlines, auto and housing immediately come to mind.
I often think and ask myself, were the folks in some of these segments asleep at the wheel or just plain naïve about the changes taking place in their industry? There’s no simple answer to this question, but let me offer up a clue and quick marketing lesson that I hope serves you in the current state of fear we find the economy and many people experiencing.
Brace yourself, I’m about to challenge many of you to think very differently about your primary function in the market. I truly believe that most people have no idea that they’re first and foremost in the marketing business. What do I mean? It’s easy. Regardless of your title, position or what product, service or firm you represent, your mind set should be that of a good marketer.
Good marketers are relentless and always promoting their message in good times and bad regardless of what’s happening with the economy. They protect their mindset carefully and often ignore the doubters who attempt to sabotage or bring them down. You’d be surprised, but their are a few businesses that are actually doing well and sales are up. While they don’t blast it from the rooftops in the village square, they do have one key thing in common that we can ALL learn from.
Many are great at marketing. When times were easier they never became complacent in the sales and marketing functions. When a challenge arose in their industry they were prepared to diversify and capitalize on their particular industries change, but more importantly fear. This is what I describe in my first Mind Capture book as 'offense versus defense' thinking as it relates to sales. Far too many businesses are stuck in defense mode right now. Unless they change their thinking and get good at marketing and see it as an investment and not an expense, they risk losing market share and future growth due to a competitor who turns up the marketing heat when most people are cutting back.
Here are three quick ways to keep your marketing axe sharp and at the ready:
1. Read every day. For example, this blog, bestselling books, magazines, trade publications and other sources of knowledge must be picked up each day. Ignorance is not bliss is the digital age, it’s extinction. Staying current and aware of trends that help your business is a smart strategy and pays many dividends.
2. Listen to or attend seminars. This could be audio podcasts, CD’s or attending live programs. Serious students of success allocate a healthy percentage of their gross income, regardless if their employer reimburses them or not, to ongoing education. I can tell you that I’ve easily spent two to three times more on my continual learning the last 13 years versus what I paid to get a four-year college education. In addition, I would easily estimate that 80-90% of what I learned at the university is outdated. Heck, the Internet was just starting when I turned the tassle of my cap and threw my hat high into the air at the graduation ceremony.
3. Keep a swipe file. This is a common term and business practice in direct marketing circles. What it means is simply keeping a file of great ads, promotions and offers near your work area and on your computer that you can reference when you need inspiration or a great idea. In my opinion, it’s often a huge waste of time to start with a blank slate when creating offers or brainstorming. The world is full of great ideas, templates, and proven promotions that I’d rather review and modify (not outright copy) if it makes sense. Time is precious. Great sales, marketing and promotional ideas are abundant and plentiful.
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