Knock, Knock – Who’s There? – Fourth Quarter

Fourth Quarter 2016In case you were hiding and hoping no one would remind you, the fourth quarter has started. Yes, we are all in the first week of the fourth quarter. Do you recall way back in December of last year or January of this year? You made plans – set goals – created lists.

How are you doing now?

Let’s not get all caught up in the answer and discussing a variety of reasons why not so great. Some say these are also known as excuses.

Instead let’s look at what we are able to do right now to end the year on a strong and positive note. Make sense?

For A Service Based Business

  1. Reach out to every former client and check in with them. Create a special reason why they may want to meet with you and work with you again. If not, how about three referrals?
  1. Make certain to connect personally with every single current client. See how they are doing. What do they think of the work you are providing them with. Will they refer three people to you?
  1. Are you able to participate in or create your own event or open house at some point in the next four to six weeks?

Each of these three ideas will provide momentum for your business in this fourth quarter on their own. If you are able to conduct all three of these at the same time – even better!

For A Retail Or Sales Of Product(s) Business

  1. Have you been collecting email addresses of your patrons and customers? What do you offer a browser to entice them to provide their email address? A weekly or monthly drawing for a gift of some value?
  1. Prepare to email out and provide print copies, as well, promotions during the next months – October, November and December.
  1. Conduct an inventory check up. What is laying around which either has not been selling or you stopped promoting? Are you able to package up some of these items with other items which are more popular right now and create gift baskets or prizes for your contests as discussed earlier? Look at this inventory as money sitting on the shelf and not in the bank account.

Certainly every business is unique. Take a look at these ideas again and see where you might find a way to work through each concept to suit your specific business.

Create the momentum you need for the fourth quarter.

Mitch Tublin is an advanced, certified executive coach, trainer and speaker based in Stamford, CT. Would you like Mitch to work with you and your business to create fourth quarter momentum? Contact Mitch Here.

You Cannot Control Everything

You Cannot Control Everything“It’s not like I let people do things for me, so I guess you can call me a control freak, or you can call me passionate.” ~Courteney Cox  

In our lives we cannot control everything. Those who try to control everything around them will ultimately live a miserable life. Imagine in your own personal life if you were able to control every single thing. What would that list look like against the reality list of how everything actually works? Why not list this out right now? Try something like this:

IN MY LIFE I WANT TO CONTROL:         

1.

2.

3.

IN REALITY IT WORKS LIKE THIS:

1.

2.

3.

The key now is to own this list. Be okay with not being able to control each of these items in the reality column. Look over the items you want to control and determine if this really must be the case?

How about our lives in the business world? What if we were going to be able to control everything. What would be on this list now after comparing it to the original list? Would anyone else continue to work with you? 

IN MY BUSINESS (OR CAREER) I NEED TO CONTROL:

1.

2.

3.

 

IN REALITY THESE ITEMS ARE NOT UNDER MY CONTROL:

1.

2.

3. 

In the business world how much of a problem are the items not under your control? 

“Why worry about things you can’t control when you can keep yourself busy controlling the things that depend on you?” ~Unknown

This is especially dangerous behavior for an entrepreneur or anyone in a start up company. In a perfect scenario each person has their area(s) of expertise and they need to be given enough freedom to complete their mission.

If you are an entrepreneur or working in a start-up company try filling in this list:

TODAY I AM ABLE TO CONTROL:

1.

2.

3.

I AM OKAY WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL:

1.

2.

3. 

Is it productive to be a total control freak at work? Is it okay in the business to share ownership across various people? 

“Steve Jobs had his critics. Some saw him as an egomaniac, and others, as a control freak.” ~Kevin O’Leary

For us to stand a chance don’t we have to be comfortable with ourselves and our own beliefs. The flip side of that is to listen to what others have to say as anyone of us would be able to fall back into the ‘control this’ model. 

Are you ready to start working with a coach? Contact Mitch here.

Mitch Tublin is an advanced certified executive and personal coach who resides in Stamford, CT.

 

Do You Create Momentum in Your Business?

Do You Create Momentum in Your Business?Have you ever heard – “Good things come to those who wait!”

More importantly – Do you actually believe – “Good things come to those who wait!”?

Sad to see you miss this week’s article if you do stop reading now and go wait somewhere for good things to come.

Who decided it was a great idea to recite sayings such as this one and then plant these seeds into the minds of young people? Young people grow up and in their subconscious reside this type of hogwash. Then to repeat the process for each generation again and again.

Nothing – Absolutely nothing is taught with statements of negativity such as this one.

Let’s go on to prove this is true. Momentum in life, in business, in sports is something you are able to feel. You feel the activity – the actual shift in energy – it happens when action is taken and then in your life – in your business – in your sport – everything begins to click. This is Momentum. Momentum is never started by waiting. It is impossible. It is against all of the laws of physics. It is against all of the laws of nature.

Yes that is correct – Nature! Consider for a moment – a tornado – a hurricane. Check it out – Momentum is picked up and the winds gain speed and things begin to move quickly. None of this takes place with waiting.

From dictionary.com momentum definition is: Force or speed of movement; impetus, as of a physical object or course of events.

What would assist you in creating momentum for you in your life – in your business – in your sport? Would you find participating with other like minded people who are seeking to create their momentum to be of interest for you? Find out more here.

A group provides accountability and if by a phone conference line it provides anonymity if you are shy! Mitch is a Master Facilitator and you may find this group process to be exactly what you need to create your momentum. It is not about waiting for good things to come. Instead it is taking action – creating motion – stirring the pot – getting excited about doing something.

Here is the thing… you have heard this saying before no doubt… The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting different results. You must change it up! Try something new. Quite often a slight shift in course will make a huge difference.

My good friend, Les Brown has told me and others numerous times, “You can’t see the picture when you’re in the frame.” This is why the group process is invaluable for you!

Mitch Tublin is an advanced certified coach, business consultant and professional speaker who resides in Stamford, CT.

What Are Your Highest Payoff Activities?

What Are Your Highest Payoff Activities?What are your highest payoff activities? Sad to say for many people it may be easier to answer this question: What are your lowest payoff activities?

Either one – it is your choice – take a few minutes and write down – yes write like with a pen – your answers. Start out with three for each question. Feel free to return later to add in more onto your list. Want to see the value? Once you complete these go right to the bottom of this article where noted.

My Highest Payoff Activities Are: 

  1. _______________________________________
  2. _______________________________________
  3. _______________________________________

My Lowest Payoff Activities Are: 

  1. _______________________________________
  2. _______________________________________
  3. _______________________________________

 

Now that you have this information here is what you need to – no correct that – MUST DO! Schedule to spend more time on your high payoff activities. Schedule, hire in or eliminate your time spent on low payoff activities. No two people are going to be alike. There will be a few common threads.

Typically a high payoff activity will be in one of your main areas of focus. For your business this may mean sales calls, closing the sale, delivery of your product or service and accepting payment. In your personal life this may mean a date with your spouse each week on date night. Keeping your relationship alive and thriving. In your spiritual or faith area this may mean attending church or leading a bible study class or both. In your community maybe you volunteer serving meals in a shelter a few hours a week or a month. These may be high payoff activities for someone.

For the low payoff activities it is easiest to spend a week or two writing down how you are spending every fifteen minutes from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed. You may find the amount of time spent in front of the TV to be on the top of your list. The amount of time on the internet without a purpose or a plan may be a close one to the TV depending upon your age. Include time on social media and this includes utilizing your smart phone and this will easily come into first place. There is nothing wrong with spending time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media as long as there is a reason, a purpose and a plan. Otherwise schedule to limit the amount of time you are willing to spend in this arena. Three hours goes by very quickly and these hours never come back.

***RIGHT HERE***

Now calculate the value of your time! Every hour you are spending in the low payoff activities is like you are robbing yourself! Do you fully understand? Go back now and read the article if you skipped that part.

Mitch Tublin is an advanced, certified coach, business consultant and speaker based in Stamford, CT.

Would you ready to work with Mitch to identify your high payoff and low payoff activities and how to leverage yourself and manage your time more effectively CLICK HERE.

Do You Focus?

Losing focus - turn off the phoneWhat specific items or areas of your life do you spend the time and effort to focus on? The media loves to speak about and write about how never before was there such a lack of focus and inability to quiet the mind for periods of time in order to focus.

Let’s begin with what are some of the basic techniques needed in order for anyone to really be able to focus. It goes without saying….maybe it needs to be said… First thing is to remove any distractions or potential distractions. Some examples are: turn off the cell phone, the TV, and any devices which may ring, beep, vibrate and more.

These three fundamental techniques will take you toward a state where you will be able to focus for five minutes or fifty minutes depending upon your objectives. My suggestion is to slowly build up to the amount of time you might need. Consider starting out with five or ten minutes as your goal. Then slowly add a few more minutes each week until you reach thirty minutes or fifty minutes whatever your goal time might be.

Start out with your breathing as your first technique. Deep breathes into and out of your nose not your mouth. Nice long and deep breathes into and out of your nose. Practice this technique as often as you like. The breathing should become slow and steady and in fact very calming. Afterall isn’t that the whole point?

The second technique is your body movements and posture. Are you able to either sit or stand comfortably for a period of time without fidgeting or shaking your foot or scratching somewhere? All of these are distractions to your mind.  Your posture should be comfortable yet without slouching shoulders or bent over. You should be able to sit upright or stand upright and still be comfortable.

The third technique for focus is to not allow anything to enter your mind except the specific item you intend to focus on. This will take practice. Practice is exactly what you should do and as often as possible. Of the three techniques this one may be the most difficult to master.

In summary, these three techniques, steady slow and deep breathing, no body movements and good posture and a clear mind will bring you to a state where you are able to focus.

The best part is the techniques may be applied anywhere! Take them to your office. Take them home with you and work on them with your family. Take them on the road with you and on the jet flying out and back. Try it out and let me know how you focus! 

Mitch Tublin is an advanced certified coach, trainer and speaker who resides in Stamford, CT.

Are you interested in becoming a certified coach, trainer and speaker CLICK HERE!

 

What Do You Take For Granted?

What do you take for grantedFor this article would you take one minute to respond to the question – What Do You Take For Granted? – in the comments area. It would be so cool if you do that.

One of the things I know I take for granted is the sky on a clear night. The stars and the planets are beautiful to look at and think about how this is the same sky that humans have looked at for how many years? When at the Jersey Shore and it is a clear sky at night it is mesmerizing. Why can’t we take a few moments in our lives and look up, especially if we live somewhere not impacted by tall buildings or the lights of a city.

A second big item many of us take for granted is the ocean. A number of people will say, “Well where I live we never see the ocean and we have nothing to do with the ocean.”

Sorry, wrong answer!

The ocean covers over three quarters of the planet earth, holds over 90% of the planet’s water, produces half the oxygen in the atmosphere and absorbs boatloads of carbon. No matter where you live on the planet earth, the ocean matters – big time.

The other aspect of the ocean, especially for those with access to the ocean, is how relaxing it is to hear the waves by the shore. A perfect place to think or to meditate or stare at for hours at a time.

A third item we take for granted is our ability to create space for ourselves. If we are determined to find a place of peace and quiet for even five minutes a day, we are able to do it. Whatever your personal situation is you can do this if you choose to prioritize it.

For those in First World Countries clean running water and electricity are not even a thought until a storm hits or there is some type of disaster and we don’t have it available. We take these for granted every single day. Along these lines would be access to the internet and the instantaneous communication and information this provides us with.

What about trees? Trees are amazing. If you live in New England do you appreciate the changing of the colors of the leaves each fall?

Do we take for granted medicine, our health, access to vaccines? There are many people on the planet earth who have no access to medicine or vaccines at all.

Maybe you are thinking of some things you are taking for granted? Allow me to close with books. Books allow us access to many other points of view, imagination of various authors, and the ability to continually learn and grow. In fact, this week, my wife, Dr. Patty Ann has her second book out in publication. Consider taking a look at it. You may learn more here: http://womenandmoneybook.com/

A subject no one should take for granted.

Mitch Tublin is an advanced, certified business coach, trainer and speaker who resides in Stamford, CT.