Challenging Conventional Wisdom

The Power of Influence

As I listen to Awareness, a locally produced television program originating here in South Carolina and immediately following Meet The Press, the topic, as one would expect, is politics. The discussion, following Tim Russert's interview with Hillary Clinton on Meet The Press, centers upon local support for the three leading democratic candidates. It is always interesting to hear various positions on issues affecting our community.

On of the panelists made the statement that he felt that it was a weakness for candidates to hire advisers who were more intelligent than themselves. He felt that the candidate should be the most intelligent person on the team. Come on... how realistic is that? Is not the point of having a team of advisers to surround yourself with ultra-intelligent and highly informed individuals with various backgrounds to provide valuable insights and advice based upon their expertise? Granted, decision-making rests with the leader, in this case the candidate, but the role of adviser is a critically important one, providing insights and advice filtered through their unique expertise and experience.

It has been said that "we are a product of the five people we hang around with the most." That includes all influences, not simply personal ones. It infers that we are shaped by what we read, what we listen to, which philosophies we accept, the people who are close to us and so on. That being said, those persons we choose to surround ourselves with become our closest advisers. Although we want and need diversity, those in a position of influence around us need to share common values and beliefs, otherwise their positions may provide more confrontation than common strategy.

I believe that a person, whether he or she is a political candidate, entrepreneur or parent, demonstrates superior intelligence and wisdom by choosing influencers that are smarter and wiser than themselves. Otherwise, what would be the point? We do not need yes-men, rather people who will challenge us and help us to maximize our potential.

Choose your friends wisely and be aware of media and other inputs into your life. Subtly yet surely, those closest to us do indeed influence us. The question is; will those influencers have a positive or negative impact?

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...........................
Daniel Sitter
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Feeling Warm this Holiday Season

Feeling a little glum this holiday season? Many people do. Psychologists tell us that their business really picks up around this time of year. Why is that? Are some people lonely, even in a crowd? Do they feel no one cares or cares to listen? What is really the issue?

Why the issue may vary as far and wide as the individuals in question, there is a common thread among all of us. That thread is purpose. In his huge best-seller, A Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren outlines the case for purpose and answers the question "What on Earth am I here for?" Purpose make all of the difference and can supersede all circumstances if we do not allow ourselves to wallow in self-pity or selfishness.

I submit to you that this Christmas season can be wonderful for you. You can make a real difference in your own life and affect countless others in the process. How? Simply do something for another human being. Give of yourself. Be a friend. Lend an ear. Provide a shoulder. Pick someone else up. Smile.

Did you notice that none of these were financial or involved material things in any manner? The truly important things in life seldom are.

So today, help out at your local soup kitchen, Salvation Army or faith-based facility. Invite a college student or military person with nowhere to go over to your home for Christmas dinner. Look for opportunities to provide little services for others, often going unnoticed. In so doing, you will warm up and discover joy and purpose, leading to fulfillment and happiness this Holiday Season. Try it and see.

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Just Another Pretty Face?

As I finished watching Tim Allen's "Joe Somebody" it occured to me just how much more attractive Julie Bowen gets with each passing year. She's not just getting older and more beautiful, she's getting better at her craft too. She has an innate sincerity and a giving spirit that transcends the airwaves. You can feel it. It's there on Boston Legal too. She's so much more than just a pretty face. She is intelligent and well-rounded; a complete package so to say! It is no accident that she has been selected for numerous roles, commercials and beauty products representation over the years. She delivers.

What about you and your business? Do you deliver? Is there sufficient depth? Are you prudent and smart about cash flow? Does it just look good on the outside or do you and your business supply a myriad of unique talents, abilities and services to the marketplace? Remember... products can be found anywhere and everywhere, especially on the web. You must have more to offer. What is the value that you add? Are you distinguishable from the others?

Does your marketing focus on your added value? Are you getting more polished, experienced and better-equipped to service your customers as time moves forward? You had better be. The market has no place for good looking facades with no substance.

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Eat to Live Another Day

Salt is everywhere. It is included in high and dangerous portions in much of our processed food, used freely and overtly to season foods and give them more flavor. While salt is a necessary dietary consumable for all creatures, our need for salt and the historical high value of salt is not at all related to the modern sodium cloride, our "table salt" in use everywhere today.

What our bodies were designed to consume and benefit from, what the ancient Romans were paid with and what Jesus so boldly referenced in scripture was actually crystalized sea salt, not the harmful, artificial, chemically produced version we so commonly use today. Sea salt contains the delicate balance of minerals that our bodies crave. Sodium cloride can be toxic. Doctors have been telling us for years to reduce or eliminate our consumption of it. See this enlightening article for a clear, non-technical explanation.

I now purchase and have available for my family's use, crystal sea salt in a convenient grinder, like my fresh peppercorn grinder, to allow us to benefit from the health benefits and great taste of this true salt. Give it a try. You can find it at Wal-Mart or most any food store in the spices section.

High performance, increased sales and good decisions start with good health. Our productivity output is determined by what items are input into our bodies and mind each day over time. Remember... garbage in, garbage out.

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Think Outside of the Container

Thinking outside of the box is alive and well, as evidenced by entrepreneurs of all ages. Never succumbing to complacency, Clemson University researcher Danny Roberts, age 62, is constantly pushing the often self-imposed limits of conventional thinking, stretching his thinking to come up with new ideas.

He had an idea for moving away from glass bottles in pharmaceutical applications. Using a staple product of the south, cotton, he has patented a means for mixing the cotton fibers with a naturally occurring polymer, polylactic acid, which is made from starch such as corn. What he has designed is a unique, light-weight container that is lighter than glass and biodegradable! More details of his discovery was recently summarized in an article in SC's State Newspaper.

Like Danny, adopt change as a way of life, always pushing the limits of conventional thinking. As a result of his dissatisfaction with the status-quo, I'm certain that we can expect additional innovations from Danny Roberts and others like him. How about you? What is your great idea?

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Absenteeism or Costlier Presenteeism?

In his recent blog post, Steve Rucinski cited an article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer as reported by the Associated Press addressing worker absenteeism.

"Organizations are engaged in a tug-of-war for their employee's time," said Pamela Wolf, an employment law analyst for CCH. "With unscheduled absences trending upward, companies need to get a good understanding of why employees are calling in sick at the last minute, what impact this has on other employees who are expected to pick up the slack, as well as the impact it has on customers and anyone else relying on the absent worker."

The article continues: "Unscheduled absenteeism at U.S. companies and organizations has climbed to its highest level since 1999, according to results of an annual nationwide survey of human resource executives in U.S. companies and organizations. Regardless of the reason, the trend is costly for U.S. companies. CCH, which provides human resources and employment-law information and services for businesses, said absenteeism costs some large employers an estimated $850,000 per year."

Absenteeism however, is only a part of the cost equation. Presenteeism (prez.un.TEE.iz.um), a relatively unknown concept, is the more costly complement of absenteeism. It is defined as the measure of lost productivity cost due to employees actually showing up for work, but not being fully engaged and productive mainly because of personal health and life issue distractions. Currently, presenteeism is estimated to be up to 7 ½ times more costly to employers than absenteeism.

Statistically, Presenteeism rears its ugly head and shows itself for what it really is… a costly, somewhat unseen threat to employers. It is considered a dangerous threat because of its stealthy nature. The term itself is new, only recently added to our language. Business owners must be knowledgeable of both concepts, as they both represent a significant operational cost to their businesses.

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Cranium is a No-Brainer

In 1998, Richard Tait and Whit Alexander had a shared vision to to start a company. Their unique idea was to create "a new lifestyle brand fueled by experiences that would lighten and enlighten people's lives." Their principal task was to allow people of all ages an experience of "laughter, discovery, and opportunities to shine." That vision became Cranium, Inc.

Cranium's first product, Cranium, went on to become the fastest selling independent board game in history. "Kids and adults of all ages shine as they create works of art and imagination, perform hilarious feats, discover fascinating new things, and connect with friends and family."

Tait and Whit didn't simply invent a new game, but a new mindset for play, a new paradigm and a new brand that has enjoyed stellar growth since its inception. They learned to be different, to think differently and encourage difference. Their company is far from average, encouraging all employees to "shine" and create. They have created and fostered a playful, relaxing environment to eliminate stress and encourage creative expression and a free-flowing of ideas. Guess what? It works. Sales have never been better.

Let's hope that other companies are paying attention. Not every firm can have the playful environment of Cranium, but major modifications and enhancements in the daily work environment will likely pay big dividends in the long run. The 60 hour work-weeks and fever-pitch pace of many firms is overwhelming employees and their families alike. 

We all are paying the price. For example; What are currently the fastest growing classifications of prescription medications? Stress, gastro-intestinal and depression. That alone says a great deal about business and explains the overwhelming success of Cranium. Kudos!

A Born Salesman

"She could sell ice to Eskimos" or "He's a born salesman" are cliched expressions we tend to hear often, especially when used to describe salespeople or someone with extraordinary oratory or verbal articulation skills. Contrary to conventional thinking, there is actually no such thing as a "born salesperson," only well-trained and properly-prepared salespeople. You too can become a leader in this exciting field, counted among the top 5% of income earners everywhere! Be aware, "Caveat Emptor" holds true here as this field is not for everyone.

If you are truly serious about changing your sales circumstances, increasing your earnings and improving your quality of life, you must learn new selling skills now, learning faster than ever, to enable you to do just that. The world is changing faster than ever, shrinking at an incredible rate. You must keep abreast of this wave of change and remain able to add value to the selling transaction.

Each day that you settle for the status quo, yesterday's triumphs, the odds against your continued success grow greater, unless you take action now! Your decision to act is the key to your future. Remember... change is the only constant, and it's just for a moment.

Learn today so that you can earn tomorrow!

Integrity? Who Says?

Prospering begins with extraordinary thinking. Incredible thinkers and writers such as Socrates, James Allen, Earl Nightingale and Napoleon Hill certainly espoused such beliefs. Extraordinary thinking must begin with integrity. How does integrity relate to prosperity? After all, they are not mutually exclusive. It’s really quite simple… we reap what we sow. Man was given a conscience to act as a moral compass, a barometer, constantly receiving feedback from our thoughts and actions and then responding back to us with guidance.

If we sow with integrity, we will also reap in abundance. Sound biblical? Our enhanced reputation will enable us to attract others who will seek us for engaging in business transactions. We will actually attract prosperity and abundance by living lives of integrity. Learn this lesson now and see for yourself what a difference it makes.

Press Release Magic

Conventional thinking predisposes that the traditional press release is a tool for increasing the visibility of a company or event by "getting the word out" by utilizing the far-reaching power of the press. Does the press really have that much clout? That may be so, but current times demand far more from our marketing efforts.

In her recent post, Deborah Chaddock Brown of All Write Ink, Inc. commented on a post regarding multiple methods of "working" a press release and how these directly relate to redefining one's Google ranking.  There are few simple solutions to developing an effective marketing campaign, but most would agree that a great press release is a superb means towards that end. A wonderful internet ranking, although highly desireable, is certainly not the only criteria in designing the effectiveness of a complete marketing campaign. As a major component of that plan however, a superbly-crafted, well-timed press release certainly deserves your time and attention.