WOW!  So many emotions over the last few months as the dream of publishing a book became a reality.  The release of Leadership by Invitation: How to RSVP and Embrace your Role as a LEADER, has provided many lessons, many of which I did not see coming during my book launch.

As I put together my launch team, I really wanted to add value to them – the people who were willing to invest in me by promoting and creating a buzz around the release of the book. I had no idea it would become so much more than that.

I recorded videos and did a couple of special calls for my team with the intention of adding value to them.  I was able to talk a few friends and associates to give away some of their content as well to add the the fun.

Hats off to my team.  They blew away my expectations in sharing through their social media circles with links, comments and graphics.  I made a pre-release version of the book available and as soon as the book went live on Amazon, I was able to get several positive reviews.  Thank you Team.  I can’t adequately express my gratitude!

But it was the unexpected that really made this effort a success and it had nothing to do with the book – well not directly anyway.

Part of what I wanted to give me team was a “behind the scenes” look at how I wrote the book and why I wrote it.  I was overwhelmed but the impact that this had.  Inspired by my story, ebooks were published during the course of the launch and commitments were made by others to start writing their own books – or as I like to put it – “their own story.”

We all have a story to tell and I believe that story can help people – YOUR story can make a difference! [Tweet This]

In one of the bonus calls I did, I shared about where I got my inspiration to write the book and part of my own journey to start embracing my role as a leader.  The comments and conversations that resulted from sharing my story and my journey blew me away.  I never thought simply sharing my own experience could have such an impact.

I often use the phrase “The goal is never about the goal, it’s about who you become in achieving that goal.”  What I learned from this experience is that it can be much bigger than that.  Our personal goals can have a greater impact than just on us.

I have always been a big “story” guy, but I am more convinced than ever that more of us need to share that story.  It doesn’t matter if it’s in a book or from the stage – tell your story!  You can make a difference.

Look, I don’t know what your story is, but this I know: it needs to be told.  As much as your personal journey is unique to you, other people are facing the same challenges that you have overcome and you have the opportunity to make a difference in their life. The time to do it is NOW!

QUESTION TODAY:  What goals have you set?

CHALLENGE:  Make that goal a goal that will impact more than just you!

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===> LEADERSHIP by INVITATION now available on AMAZON <===

Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

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Barry Smith  6/20/14   photo courtesy of Kendra Cagle   © Building What Matters 2014

The post What I Learned From My Book Launch – It’s About More Than The Book! appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

One of key concepts I include in almost everything I speak on, teach on, or write about is CLARITY.  Clarity adds power and impact to anything we attempt to do.  [Tweet This]

The SCORRE framework that Davis has broken down does exactly that.  It provides clarity and impact to any idea you might have, regardless how you will be presenting it.

Davis offers two primary functions of the SCORRE process:

• It serves as a scope to force the speaker to focus on a single objective.
• It serves as a logical grid forcing the speaker to make sense and lead the audience to the objective.

I believe that those two functions can serve us in any kind of presentation, written or spoken. Let’s take a closer look at the SCORRE process.

SUBJECT

Nothing too scary or difficult here – simply pick a subject.  It can be anything, but ideally a subject that people are interested in.  Remember, the whole idea of putting a presentation together is to add value to the person watching the presentation or reading the content.

CENTRAL THEME

The central theme is going to be a part of the subject that allows you to build to a specific piece of content.  Your subject might be the automobile but without a central theme, such as fuel mileage, you will find it difficult to provide the clarity needed to engage your audience.

OBJECTIVE

The objective is simply the purpose of the body of work.  When you have clarity on what exactly you are trying to accomplish, you will find it much easier to put together a presentation that makes sense and that the audience can follow and understand.

RATIONALE

The rationale is the logical content of your presentation that will lead the listener to understand the purpose behind it.  In short, these are the main points that support the purpose.  This is the structure of your work.

RESOURCES

The resources are the added “personal touches” that enhance the rest of the story. This could be through graphics, data, humor, or any number of different additions that take a framework or outline and turn it into an interesting, engaging, and value adding presentation.

EVALUATION

As a speaker an author myself, I understand the idea of “dual purposing” everything I create.  It is my work, cradle to grave.  The evaluation part of the process allows me to take a look after each time I present it and see what I need to add, subtract or change.

This book is a highly recommended read for anyone who wishes to communicate in a dynamic way that will connect.  The SCORRE framework will allow you to put together a competent presentation or body of work that will provide a clear message and add value to the one receiving it.

Davis has done an amazing job putting what he has presented into the way he has presented it. You can see the SCORRE process throughout the book.  His wit and wisdom bring the book to life and he has clearly described what has made him a leader in his field.

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===> LEADERSHIP by INVITATION now available on AMAZON <===

Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

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Barry Smith  5/31/14   photo courtesy of Amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Secrets Of Dynamic Communication – The Final SCORRE appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Last month in the Platform Builders Mastermind Group, we dove into “Leading The Starbucks Way: 5 Principles for Connecting with Your Customers, Your Products, and Your People” by Joseph A. Michelli.

Sure this book is about Starbucks, but it’s much bigger than that.  Michelli shows why Starbucks has become the coffee bean superpower of the world.  And it has nothing to do with the beans.  I guess that’s not entirely true, but their success is built much more around who is serving rather than what is being served.

I will admit, I have invested my fair share in the Starbucks brand but I never gave a thought as to what goes on behind the grinder, so to speak.  Michelli explores 5 Principles that give Starbucks the advantage over their competition and I for one, will pay much more attention to what is going on behind the counter next time I visit my local Starbucks.

Definitely a great look at what has made Starbucks so successful, but at the same time, the bar has been set very high for them to continue to live up to their reputation.

In this, the final of three posts, I will recap Michelli’s exploration of Principle 4 – Mobilize The Connection and Principle 5 – Cherish And Challenge Your Legacy

PRINCIPLE 4 – MOBILIZE THE CONNECTION

Nobody knows better than Starbucks that the power in any marketing strategy is going to depend greatly on social media.  Michelli points out that Starbucks has identified 5 core elements in their digital strategy:

1. commerce
2. company-owned web and mobile channels
3. loyalty/customer relationship management (CRM) targeted database
4. social media and
5. paid digital marketing

I have found it interesting how many ways there are to be a Starbuck’s customer while not even at the store.  You seem to see the Starbuck’s name almost everywhere you go and it has all but become a household term anymore.  I received a $5 Starbucks gift card through facebook a while back and when I used it this morning, the barista asked me where I got it.  Made for a great conversation.  Again, building relationships … the Starbucks way!

“By building social media connections through individualized experiences, unique preferences, thoughtful platform selection, and respect for the platform community, Starbucks pulls customers to its content, as opposed to pushing marketing materials to them.”

I love that quote.  Many of us think of sales as more of a “push” process and even though we see Starbucks marketing everywhere, I don’t think I have ever felt like it was being pushed on me.  Maybe I am just “pulled” to it because it’s a solid brand with great customer service.  What do you think?

PRINCIPLE 5 – CHERISH AND CHALLENGE YOUR LEGACY

The final section of the book is worth the price of admission.  Michelli takes an in-depth look at how Starbucks has considered all their decisions, both good and bad, as they move into the future.  No doubt they fully understand that without a strong client base, they will not exist.

“For our purposes, we will look specifically at behaviors leadership demonstrates in the course of setting goals, taking action, and measuring progress in the areas of environmental stewardship, ethical sourcing, community development, and job creation.”

As they look into the future, they will depend greatly on their leadership to make sure that what is important, stays important.  The bottom line is that their success is about the relationships they have built, both on the personal and corporate level.  It’s no wonder that this business model is one that is being imitated on a daily basis.  It works!

Responsibility is part of the Culture!

This is probably my favorite quote from this section of the book:

“True leadership requires a willingness to invest in the long-term health of one’s business and active collaboration with others, out of a genuine sense of responsibility.” 

There is so much information in this book but my big takeaway is that Starbucks has created a culture that extends well beyond the people drinking their coffee. [Tweet This]  Something to think about for all of us.

TODAY’S QUESTION:  How much time do you spend thinking about your legacy?  Does it end with the person right in front of you or have you considered that what you do might just impact someone you will never meet?

• Click here to read Part 1
• Click here to read Part 2

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===> JOIN THE “LEADERSHIP BY INVITATION” LAUNCH TEAM <===

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Barry Smith  5/19/14   photo courtesy of amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Leading The Starbucks Way – Part 3; Challenge Your Legacy appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Sure this book is about Starbucks, but it’s much bigger than that.  Michelli shows why Starbucks has become the coffee bean superpower of the world.  And it has nothing to do with the beans.  I guess that’s not entirely true, but their success is built much more around who is serving rather than what is being served.

I will admit, I have invested my fair share in the Starbucks brand but I never gave a thought as to what goes on behind the grinder, so to speak.  Michelli explores 5 Principles that give Starbucks the advantage over their competition and I for one, will pay much more attention to what is going on behind the counter next time I visit my local Starbucks.

Definitely a great look at what has made Starbucks so successful, but at the same time, the bar has been set very high for them to continue to live up to their reputation.

In this, the second of three posts, I will recap Michelli’s exploration of Principle 2 – Love To Be Loved and Principle 3 – Reach For Common Ground

PRINCIPLE 2 – LOVE TO BE LOVED

In a word, this section is about trust.  Both trust of the product and the service and more importantly, consistency in delivering them.  It’s not surprising that there is more content about the people than the product in this book.  That is where the trust is built.

Think about when you have purchased a product that you believed in but received less than stellar service.  You might stick with the product, but if your are like me, you will look elsewhere to get it.

“If you select people with genuine talent for serving others, give them opportunities to become more knowledgeable and passionate about your products, and insist upon product and consumer experience excellence, you are well on the way to gaining the pride and passion of customers.”

While in construction, I often chose service over cost because at the end of the day, I needed someone that would deliver WHEN they say they would and make me feel like I was their most important client.  I realize I probably wasn’t, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be treated like you are.  Truth be told, I was pretty loyal to those vendors.  Hmmmm!

PRINCIPLE 3 – REACH FOR COMMON GROUND

A deep look into the Starbucks way of connecting with their customers, explains much about the forward motion of the organization.  It’s one thing to communicate with your customer, but are you really connecting?  And I’m not just talking about words.

Starbucks looks at ALL aspects of the environment, the architecture of the store, the neighborhood, the customer base, and the competition.  These all factor into the experience that we have when we enter a Starbucks.

“The goal of leadership is to create the right environment for human connection to occur and to help staff members manage the inevitable issues that surface.”

There is certainly risk when you bring the human condition into the business model, but then again, if you want to be the best at what you do, you better be willing to risk something to get there.

I don’t want to feel invisible!

This is probably my favorite quote from this section of the book; “The number one request or desire of every human around the world is to be seen and heard.”  (Tweet This)

TODAY’S QUESTION:  How effectively have you sought partnerships while building your business and have you positioned yourself to provide services or products that are relevant to your market?

Click here to read Part 1

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===> JOIN THE “LEADERSHIP BY INVITATION” LAUNCH TEAM <===

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Barry Smith  4/17/14   photo courtesy of amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Leading The Starbucks Way – Part 2; Connecting With Trust appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Sure this book is about Starbucks, but it’s much bigger than that.  Michelli shows why Starbucks has become the coffee bean superpower of the world.  And it has nothing to do with the beans.  I guess that’s not entirely true, but their success is built much more around who is serving rather than what is being served.

I will admit, I have invested my fair share in the Starbucks brand but I never gave a thought as to what goes on behind the grinder, so to speak.  Michelli explores 5 Principles that give Starbucks the advantage over their competition and I for one, will pay much more attention to what is going on behind the counter next time I visit my local Starbucks.

Definitely a great look at what has made Starbucks so successful, but at the same time, the bar has been set very high for them to continue to live up to their reputation.

In this, the first of three posts, I will recap Michelli’s exploration of “The Starbucks Connection” and Principle 1 – Savor and Elevate.

THE STARBUCKS CONNECTION

The story starts with Howard Schultz stepping back into the role of Chief Executive Officer in 2008.  Schultz introduced his “Transformation Agenda” establishing a forward-looking vision that enhanced the companies established mission.  Michelli shares that:

“While the Starbuck mission was “to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, and one cup and one neighborhood at a time,” the transformation vision set an energizing and rallying objective, “to become an enduring, great company with one of the most recognized and respected brands in the world, known for inspiring and nurturing the human spirit.”

Whether you are a fan of the coffee or not, I guarantee you will look at the organization differently after giving this book a look.  The investment that Starbuck makes in their people is impressive.  Their commitment is to not only continually improve the product but the way they connect with the customer.  It’s not too hard to figure out why your local Starbucks is always full.

PRINCIPLE 1 – SAVOR AND ELEVATE

There are many great quotes about the Starbucks philosophy throughout, but the message is consistent.  Connect with your customer and create an experience that will be remembered long after that last sip from the cup.

This is done by being passionate about your product and the service provided to deliver it and do it in a way that inspires the customer to share the same passion.  Here is a great quote that represents the Starbucks culture:

“We take the ordinary … and give it new life, believing that what we create has the potential to touch others’ lives because it touched ours.”

It is clear that Starbucks culture is built around both the customer and the product and it’s hard to tell which is top on the priority list but one thing is clear, they are completely committed to make both the best.

This is probably my favorite quote from this section of the book; “all business settings are a stage from which all experiences emerge.”  (Tweet This)  What if we all looked at our business that way?  People are going to pay for your service or your product or both.  The real question becomes, will they enjoy it?  The answer to that will determine whether or not they come back.

TODAY’S QUESTION:  Your brand is really a representation of who you.  What are you doing to use that brand to create an experience that will get your customer or client to share in your passion?

***********************************************************************

===> JOIN THE “LEADERSHIP BY INVITATION” LAUNCH TEAM <===

Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

Don’t miss a single post from Building What Matters by subscribing at the top left of this page. 

Help support us by clicking here and Liking our facebook page

Barry Smith  4/10/14   photo courtesy of amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Leading The Starbucks Way – Part 1; Savor And Elevate appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Sinek, the author of Start With Why, provides a deep look into what creates the most effective teams and more importantly, what keeps them working together, even during the most difficult of times.

This is one of those books that will take you a little bit longer to read because so many thoughts require you to take another look, just to make sure you understood the power behind them.  A phenomenal effort by Sinek, Leaders Eat Last not only looks at the dynamic of the team but of the individuals that make up that team.

What really sets this book apart is Sinek’s unique look at why some people make good leaders and others don’t and the “why” behind the results they get.  In this post, the third of four, I will attempt to capture the basic thoughts of the eight parts of the book.

PART 5: THE ABSTRACT CHALLENGE

ABSTRACTION KILLS – Interesting how much our behavior changes when we are not directly connected to the outcome.  Sinek provides an interesting look at how what can happen when we simply follow orders or instructions and disconnect from the results of our actions when we don’t actually “see” the outcome of them.

MODERN ABSTRACTION – A great discussion on the impact of what happens when a employer or leader becomes more concerned about the numbers than the people.  Caring about your people will produce the numbers.  Never forget that!

MANAGING THE ABSTRACTION – A great quote from this chapter “We like to actually be around people who are like us.  It makes us feel like we belong.”  As good as the virtual world is becoming, it will never replace sharing the same physical space with like-minded individuals.

IMBALANCE – Simple but powerful thought here.  No matter how good something may be, or appear to be, it still needs to remain in balance with everything else. Too much abundance can be a damaging as not enough – maybe even worse!

PART 6: DESTRUCTIVE ABUNDANCE

LEADERSHIP LESSON 1 – So Goes The Culture, So Goes The Company – Culture trumps everything.  A leader must provide focus and intentionally keep the culture of the company as a priority.  Sinek quotes a former Goldman Sachs employee who described the company as “an environement with no trust, no mutual respect, and above all, no accountability when things went wrong.”

LEADERSHIP LESSON 2 – So Goes The Leader, So Goes The Culture – Some great thoughts here about leaders that empower their people.  Your people will act as you do and treat others as they are treated.

LEADERSHIP LESSON 3 – Integrity Matters – A great piece of wisdom here with this one, “Integrity is not about being honest when we agree with each other; it is also about being honest when we disagree, or even more important, when we make mistakes or missteps.”

LEADERSHIP LESSON 4 – Friends Matter – Sinek suggests that cooperation doesn’t mean agreement, it means working together to advance the greater good, to serve those who rely on our protection, not to rack up wins to serve our team or ourselves.  We need friendly relationships and need to keep our agenda separate in order to work cooperatively. (Tweet This)

LEADERSHIP LESSON 5 – Lead The People, Not The Numbers – A great observation made here by Sinek, “When a leader has the humility to distribute power across the organization, the strength of the company becomes less dependent on one person and is thus better able to survive.”  Building up your people and making sure that they have a path to success is leadership, not the bottom line.  Lead well, and the bottom line will take care of itself.

HOLDING YOUR PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE

My favorite take from this section of the book comes from Sinek’s summary of Captain David Marquet’s Turn the Ship Around.  He says this, “It is a leader’s job instead to take responsibility for the success of each member of his crew.  It is the leader’s job to ensure that they are all well trained and feel confident to perform their duties.   To give them responsibility and hold them accountable to advance the mission.”

Read that again and just think about it for a minute.  Does that describe your leadership style?  How about the person that is leading you?

• Click here to read part 1
• Click here to read part 2

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Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

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Barry Smith  3/20/14   photo courtesy of amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Leaders Eat Last – Part 3; Culture Trumps Everything appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Stephanie works as a Food and Beverage Supervisor at the World Marriott in Orlando, Florida.  Hmm?  22 years old and a food and beverage supervisor already.  Isn’t that interesting!

Through a connection with one of the chef’s at the World Marriott, we were able to set up a private catered dinner for myself and the event coordinator of the John Maxwell Team.  The John Maxwell Team holds two large events there every year and we were excited at the opportunity to get a look “backstage” with food services.

The service we have received during our visits to the World Marriott has been nothing short of phenomenal, and after our peek at what goes on behind the scenes, it’s easy to understand why.  I won’t pretend to understand what it takes to run a kitchen of this size, but what we saw appeared to be a well-oiled machine, running full throttle, and without a miss.

A big part of the experience was our private server, Stephanie.  Just like with Ben in Las Vegas, I was intrigued by her attitude, professionalism, and self-confidence.  All characteristics I only occasionally see in adults twice her age.  A few of her comments really made me think …

“If you want another course, we will throw it in.”

Logic would suggest that the objective was to take care of a significant client, but the delivery was sincere.  Right from the beginning Stephanie made us feel like the only people in the building.

This was something I have never experienced before.  A specially constructed room built in the middle of the kitchen so we could see everything going on around us but from within an environment built exclusively for a fine dining experience.  I think it’s fair to say that Stephanie really wanted us to enjoy the experience and her commitment to making that so, was authentic and intentional.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!”

Just as in everything we do, things don’t always go as planned.  Upon a minor mishap, exclusive to our private venue, Stephanie immediately apologized, owned it and, most importantly diffused a situation that could have disrupted the entire evening.

In our opinion, it was no big deal, but it certainly could have changed the emotional state and attitude of any person providing service.  I find it interesting how difficult it is sometimes to own our actions and simply say “I’m sorry.”

“I can talk through a brick wall.” (Tweet This)

What a great statement.  My takeaway from this comment … how long could you speak “intelligently” about your profession?  How about in a random conversation with clients or colleagues?  Stephanie spent the entire time in the room with us that night and we spent a lot of time talking about all sorts of topics.  I don’t remember any that went beyond her ability to add value to the conversation.

I am still amazed at the competence and confidence of someone her age and her ability to control the atmosphere of the room.  I suppose you could say that education had it’s benefits.

“I don’t think I have ever said no.”

This was my favorite.  We had been giving her a hard because everything was so amazing and it sort of became a challenge to see if they could actually deliver on “anything” we wanted.  So naturally, a person of my intellect, came up with a great challenge.  “Fresh chocolate chip cookies and vanilla gelato.”  No way they could bust that out.  Wrong!  “No” was not an option.

As I custom desert request arrive, I asked her what they do when they get a request for something they can’t make happen.  Her response, “I don’t think I have ever said no.”  I guess that pretty much sums up the evening!

Do You Want To Be The Best?

It will be a meal I never forget, but something tells me that Stephanie does the same for other people everyday.  I will not soon forget the attitude and effort that went into that dining experience and the real point of the story is that if you want to be the best, you need to act like it – and not just when you have to, but when you don’t.  That’s what will set you apart from the rest.

Like Ben, Stephanie has big aspirations for her career.  She eventually would like to end up in the California wine valley as a wine sommelier.  I know she will make it and she just might be the youngest female to ever become one.  I won’t be betting against her anytime soon.

THE QUESTION:  Are you serving people in a way that represents your best?

THE CHALLENGE:  Do something today that will take your quality of service to the next level.

Read part one by clicking here

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Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

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Barry Smith  3/17/14   photo courtesy of amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Raising The Bar For Generation Y- Part 2 appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Four sections, seventeen chapters, and almost 40,000 words.  The thought of writing a book never would have even entered my mind three years ago. And now I have done it.  I typed the last word, hit save and just looked at the screen.  What now?

Since I started blogging almost two years ago, I have looked at many more of my experiences as not just something that happened, but something to write about.  If you think about it, there is really something to be learned in almost everything that happens to us.

I spent a good part of today reflecting on my journey through this book project.  There are many different challenges I faced.  I went back and forth on the things that many authors probably do. Things like what chapter to put where and what quotes to insert for emphasis and character.  You know, author stuff.

But as I put word count and punctuation to rest for a while, I discovered that there are much bigger lessons that I learned.

It’s not over until it’s over, and it will never be over.

I felt a multitude of emotions as I looked at the screen, which for the first time in weeks, did not have a word document icon appearing in the task bar.  I felt excited that it was done.  I felt anxious because there is still quite a bit to do before it actually hits a bookshelf.  Finish the cover art, editing, interior layout and so on.  The words are written, but the project is far from over.

The thought that came next was actually quite inspirational.  This book, due to the isbn number it has been assigned, will be forever.  Well, as long as they keep track of that stuff I guess.  But that will probably be quite a while.

Our decisions and actions don’t only determine our future.

But the thing that struck me is that the content will be able to add value indefinitely. This magnified the fact that lots of things we do will last forever.  The decisions we make and the actions we take all frame what comes next.  Every single thing, even down to the smallest detail, will set a unique trajectory for our future.

Let me give you an example.  Suppose you go to the store and the checkout clerk is clearly having a bad day.  You could return the attitude or you could value the person instead of the action and show them some random act of kindness, thank them and go on your way.

Random acts of kindness really do matter!

Now that experience might be done for you, but you have no idea what a difference it might have made for them.  It might have changed the direction of their entire day, including what happens when they get home with their spouse and kids.

You don’t have to think too hard to realize my new book, Leadership by Invitation, is about leadership.  One of the most popular quotes by my mentor John Maxwell is, “Leadership is Influence, Nothing More and Nothing Less.”  (Tweet This / Post on LinkedIn)

In the book, I make a very clear case that everyone is a leader.  After all, we all influence others in some way or another, don’t we?  My point is this.  The things you do matter.  They all matter.  The thing we overlook all too often is how much they can continue to matter, even after we think we are done.  Your influence matters.  Make it count!

The Question:  How much do you think about the collateral impact of your actions?

The Challenge:  Do something today for someone that won’t matter at all to you after your done, but will make a big difference for them.
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Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

Join me on the STOP CHALLENGE CHOOSE 12 week health transformation

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Barry Smith  2/14/14   image by Kendra Lynn Cagle   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Done Isn’t Done; Sometimes It’s Just The Beginning appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

You remember high school?  How many cool english teachers do you remember?  (No offense if you are an english teacher, remember – this was from the mindset of a teenage male.)

High School english class must have been a traumatic experience!

I honestly don’t even remember what we did in english class.  Maybe I have formed one of those mental blocks that keeps you safe from traumatic experiences.  So how does someone like that become a writer?  I have no idea!  It just sort of happened.

As a project manager in the construction world, I often needed to write letters.  Usually they were because I wanted something that the person the letter was addressed to probably did not want to give me.  Man, as I look back, I wrote some good ones.  So I guess I became a writer by way of necessity but I never enjoyed it.

Somewhere around 250 blogs in less than two years, one kindle book and a hard copy due out later this spring.  You know what?  I like writing now.  So what happened?  I think it comes down to WHY you write.  Just so happens that those in the Jeff Goins community were recently challenged with that question – Why do you write? Additionally there are many of us committing to 500 words or more every day this month.  (Interested in joining in?  Click here)

Isn’t about time you share your story?

I pondered this question for a while and I think it comes down to this – I write because it is a way for me to share my story and add value to others that I would not be able to otherwise.  People all over the world read and comment on my thoughts and I think that’s pretty cool.

I used to live in a pretty small world with lots of walls but a few years back my world opened up, or maybe it was really my mind that did, but I realized that there are people that believe what you believe but think different thoughts everywhere.

Now I get to collaborate and connect with these people every day.  I got to tell you – it has made a huge difference in my quality of life.  It feels good to help other people and have them help you.  I guess that’s why I write – it makes me feel good.

There are a couple of other reasons that I think are important.  I believe everyone has a story, and their story needs to be told.  What better way to do it than put it out there and share it.  The other thing that I think results from writing – it empowers the reader to change the way they think.  Some of you already know what’s coming next … my favorite quote by Dr. Wayne Dyer:

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

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Could you use a little change in your life?  What if your words could change the life of someone else?  What if your story might just be what someone else needs to hear?  

Obvious question today: What are you writing?  Uh oh!  I think I heard someone say they’re not writing?  WHY NOT?

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Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

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Barry Smith  1/4/14   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2014

The post How Does Someone Who Hated English Class End Up A Writer? appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Some of you probably recognize Burg as the co-author of The Go-Giver, but this one is all his and according to the author, his finest work – the book he was meant to write.

Burg starts out by introducing us to the idea of Ultimate Influence ==>the ability to get the results you want from others while making them feel genuinely good about themselves, about the process, and about you.

Burg suggests that Ultimate Influence is based on five key principles that occur on an ongoing basis.  In this post, the third of four, we will take a deeper look into the third and fourth principles (3) Acknowledge Their Ego and (4) Set The Proper Frame.  Take a look at these and see if any of them might apply to your life.

3. Acknowledge Their Ego

• Don’t Shame or Embarrass – Never criticize or condemn publicly.  Always seek to build up and encourage!  Ultimate Influencers build trust and empower others.
• Be a Judge, Not a Lawyer 
• The Principle of Agreement – Avoid using the word “but” because in most cases, it eliminates what you just agreed to.
• Ego Repair
• The Power of Handwritten Notes – Remember the wisdom of John Maxwell; “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” What are you doing to tell others that you care?
• Edification – a Powerful Key To Influence
• Do You Look for Disagreement? – Respond before you react.  Set yourself up for success and find the things you can agree on before the things you can’t.
• Compliment the Uncomplimented
• Caught in the Act! … of Doing Something Right – This is one of my favorites. How often do you catch someone in the act of doing something right – and then recognize them for it?
• “I Appreciate Ya” – When was the last time someone told you they appreciated you?  When was the last time you told someone else?

4. Set The Proper Frame

• Positive Expectation Works, but Not Why You Think It Does – Simply stated, you get what you expect.  No it doesn’t always work but when you believe in a positive outcome instead of a negative one, you will be much more successful.
• Framing Your Influence in Your First Conversation – First impressions, right? Simply make the conversation revolve around the other person and you set the tone for everything that follows.
• Sometimes’ It’s Good to Let ‘Em See You Sweat
• The Ransburger Pivot
• The Value of the Correct Phrase
• “What Can I do to Help?”
• Win by Making the Other’s Case First – Understanding and accepting the fact the the other person has their own thoughts and ideas, and believes them to be true, puts you in the position to control the outcome.
• Help Them to Live in the Solution – The best way to create an alliance is to bring a solution.  Wanting to solve the problem indicates your attitude of working towards a solution – no matter who comes up with it.
• Avoid Negative Framing
• Don’t Fall Victim to the Either/Or
• Persuasion Secrets of a Ten-Year-Old
• Change Your Frame, Change Your Life – Want allies?  Turn negatives into positives.  No it’s not easy, but staying in the negative will never solve anything.

Well, there is a taste of the thoughts and ideas found within this book.  I encourage you to pick up a copy and fill in the stuff I left blank on your own.  Some of the chapter headings listed above don’t make a lot of sense until you listen to Burg’s wisdom.  Now is your chance!

We certainly have much more to look at in Adversaries Into Allies but understand that people generally believe they are right because their beliefs are based on the experiences they have had.  Right or wrong, until you recognize that they believe what they believe, you will find it difficult to persuade them otherwise.  So ask yourself this question – Is it really worth the fight or is working together going to provide a better outcome?”  Win-Win outcomes are OK!

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Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

Don’t miss a single post from Building What Matters by subscribing at the top left of this page. 

Help support us by clicking here and Liking our facebook page

Barry Smith   1/3/14   photo courtesy of burg.com   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Adversaries Into Allies – Part 3; Motivation and Outcome appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.