ANSWER: They all began their film careers at the bottom as “extras.” They started at the entry level of their chosen field and earned stardom which many would describe as “overnight success.” For the majority of those listed above, that “overnight success” took years and, in some cases, decades. They gained knowledge and experience, sought mentors, learned the rules of the game, and demonstrated perseverance against all odds.

The same scenario has been witnessed in most every field of endeavor … politics, sports, manufacturing, sales, military, finance, technology, health care, and the list goes on. This path to foundational strength is essential for success in today’s very competitive and ever-changing environment. And yet, sadly, it’s seldom discussed, much less encouraged, in high school and/or college classrooms across the country.

By the time an entry-level employee reaches his/her career battlefield today, most employers assume this traditional work ethic is well understood and about to be eagerly executed. Sadly, that seldom, if ever, occurs.

At a time when employment is difficult to secure, far too many applicants are ill-equipped to compete. When can we expect to see the re-emergence of the traditional work ethic that built this great country? I’m afraid it’s going to take a concerted effort by many — parents, teachers, employers, mentors, and leaders in every field. Until that happens, we will continue to struggle.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Return of the Work Ethic is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

I never have!

I doubt if I ever will!

We’ve been successfully touring the country for quite some time now with our Customer Service Boot Camp. It didn’t take long to recognize a very evident common thread among those organizations that experienced this intensive training event: Few of them actually needed it!

Don’t misunderstand …

• Everyone learned a great deal.
• They gained new tips, tools, and strategies.
• They’ll be much better off for the experience.
• They grew as individuals and as organizations.

However, the majority of those who chose to invest their time, energy, and money in this experience were already doing a good job when it comes to serving their customers and clients! That’s so often the case.

Jim Collins, in his best-seller Good to Great, states that “Good is the enemy of Great! The vast majority of companies never become great precisely because they become quite good — and that’s their main problem!”

Those who attended our Customer Service Boot Camp did so because they were focused on attaining that elusive level of GREATNESS! They thirst for knowledge. They strive for C.A.N.I. (Continuous And Never-ending Improvement). There was no cost involved in this program as they viewed it as an investment, which it surely is!

Sadly, those who most need this customer service training are those who did not attend! … as is almost always the case! Their reasons are many but always extremely weak … no money, no time, other projects, etc. None, by the way, is as important as preparing their employees to better serve those who keep them in business.

Think of those many companies, in every industry, that boast that “the customer is our reason for existing,” “the customer is the boss,” or “the customer is always right”! In most cases, it’s nothing more than lip service! Their true challenge lies first in translating these slogans into actions which can convince customers that they are indeed sincere.

Their second challenge lies in getting their customer contact people trained to convey that sincerity to those they serve! These employees are usually the lowest paid people in the organization and almost always the least trained — and yet they are those chosen to face the customer day in and day out! That simply doesn’t make sense!

Consider the fact that a multibillion-dollar fast food operation places its success squarely in the hands of minimum-wage teenagers taking orders, handling money, and delivering the food!

In addition, the image of a multibillion-dollar bank relies on entry-level tellers to handle day-to-day transactions which determine the image of the organization.

Most criticism of multibillion-dollar government agencies are judged largely by the receptionist who answers the phone, greets the customers, answers questions, or transfers the calls … thus setting the tone for any transaction which may follow.

Regardless of job title, education, experience, or position in the organization, the number one task of everyone in the company should always be to attract, satisfy, and preserve customers — this is NOT rocket science. And yet, in today’s very competitive, highly chaotic, environment, very few excel in this critical mission which leads to success for anyone truly focused on the attainment of GREATNESS.

When are those slackers going to wake up, provide the EXPECTATIONS, TRAINING, ACCOUNTABILITY, and CONSEQUENCES that will certainly lead to greater customer service and desired success?

I just don’t get it! I never have! I doubt if I ever will!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Customer Service Dilemma is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Sunday’s Women’s World Cup soccer final provided many lessons for those not only involved in the sports world but for anyone in the business world as well.

Let me be direct. Consider the following facts:

• This was Japan’s first appearance in the final of a major tournament!
• Japan had not beaten the Americans in their first 25 meetings!
• Japan suffered a pair of 2-0 losses to the U.S. team in warm-up games a month prior to the World Cup.
• Throughout the tournament, the Japanese teammates poignantly reminded the world that they were playing for their battered country, still reeling from the devastation of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami where nearly 23,000 people died or were reported missing.
• Several of their key players had considered skipping the World Cup this year as a result of the disaster. They changed their mind only at the last minute.
• They were hoping their success could provide even a small emotional lift to their nation.
• After each and every game, the team unfurled a banner which read: “To our Friends Around the World — Thank You for Your Support!”
• They paraded the banner prior to Sunday’s final as well. After the game, they unfurled another banner which read: “Champion — the First Asian country to win this title!”
• The odds were against them. Everything they read and heard predicted a U.S. domination of the final.
• They came from behind twice before winning this crucial final.

A closer study of this unique Japanese team will provide volumes on the subjects of teamwork, motivation, pride, determination, and focus.

Another valuable lesson appeared at the close of the game. While the U.S. team played a good game, they were beaten. Plain and simple. And they were shocked and devastated as their hopes for a Final World Cup victory were crushed. And yet, in the chaotic turmoil immediately following the end of the game, I watched several of the U.S. players approach their opponents with congratulatory hugs, handshakes and kind words … at a time when they probably would have preferred to be alone in their locker room drowning their sorrows. That says a great deal about the integrity and class of those young ladies. They served as a fine example for the millions around the world viewing this event. They’ll be back and they’ll be successful once again!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

The Business World Could Learn Much from the World Cup is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

However, know this! Leaders in every industry find time to do so. They either make time in their schedules to do so by delegating and empowering others to deal with less important tasks, OR they have someone to monitor current events and keep them informed. They’ve made a conscious decision that there is tremendous value in observing life outside our own realm.

We have one client that has actually created a team of three talented employees who do nothing but monitor the news, determine what can be learned from what’s happening, consider how their organization can benefit from adopting and/or adapting concepts and then making it happen.

Now, I’m certainly not suggesting that you copy other people and businesses. What they’ve done simply may not apply to your needs and goals. However, you can certainly use their accomplishments to stimulate your own thinking in new directions.

Many of today’s successful and accepted products and services were inspired by observing totally unrelated influences:

• Zip lock food-storage bags
• Pet-grooming shops
• Fed-Ex
• Henry Ford’s assembly
• Motown
• Velcro
• Camouflage
• Liquid Paper
• Snow shoes

The list goes on and on.

At a time when the economy, for so many reasons, has closed or down-sized more businesses than ever before, I’ve witnessed many organizations growing and prospering because they’ve followed the simple formula of Looking, Learning, Thinking and especially DOING!

In the past two weeks, the news has reported many examples of what I’m talking about:

Airline Industry

The airline industry reports $3.4 BILLION in bag fees over the past year! Not only is that up 24% over the previous year, but it’s also a major reason the industry made money after three consecutive years of losses. I’m not happy with the fees myself, but it’s a fact that this idea saved a floundering industry.

Southwest Airlines

At a time when everyone seems to be “waiting it out” in hopes that things may someday change, Southwest Airlines purchases AirTran to become the nation’s first megasize, low-cost airline. “Calculated” risk has often been the decisive factor in achieving success while others flounder.

Target

Target initiates an aggressive “full speed ahead” campaign at a time when the retail industry remains dormant and very cautious. Target is currently remodeling more than 400 stores, opening smaller urban stores to ward off the assault of the many dollar store chains, planning to expand to Canada, and totally overhauled its website … soon operating independently of Amazon. Target is also expanding its fresh food offering as well as adding a new higher-end clothing line and expanding its housewares line. Target is approaching today’s soft economy by taking action while so many of its competitors “play it safe.”

McDonald’s

Did you ever think you’d enter a fast food restaurant to find fire places, free WiFi, comfortable faux leather couches and chairs, or large flat-screen TVs? That’s all part of a $1 billion+ make-over that McDonald’s has planned for more than 14,000 of its U.S. locations. McDonald’s is even doubling the number of its drive-thrus. “McChanges” may just be the word to describe this ambitious game plan for the home of Ronald McDonald and his friends. By the way, this strategy was inspired by observing the emergence of the Apple stores. The CEO pointed out that “entering a new Apple store makes you feel as though you’ve actually entered an IPad and never want to leave. We want our customers to feel the same about their visit to any McDonald’s location.”

Do you see a common thread among these examples? Daring leaders in successful organizations are opting to “take action” to strive, survive, and succeed in one of the worst economies this nation has ever witnessed.

I’m not suggesting that you duplicate any of the efforts mentioned above. I’m suggesting that you watch these organizations closely to see what works and what may not work. Note their creativity, strategies, daring, and precise planning efforts. Then create a powerful strategy for yourself. “Sitting and waiting” is no longer a feasible strategy … it’s a “death wish.” Do something!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

LLTD — Look – Learn – Think – Do! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

This particular survey was conducted by the Society of Human Resource Management. Human Resource professionals were asked what most concerned them most about their younger employees.

• 55% — Inappropriate clothing
• 54% — Poor work ethic
• 38% — Excessively informal language behavior
• 38% — Need for supervision
• 38% — Inappropriate use of/excess reliance on technology

I had to re-read this list several times to believe it! Apparently our younger generation is out of control, hopeless, and simply can’t be reigned in. Personally, I would be ashamed to admit that I was having to deal with any of the above issues!

The behaviors listed above are NOT the problems of today’s younger workforce. In fact, today’s young workforce is as creative, diligent, and productive as any in our history. Full responsibility for each of those behaviors lie solely with the leadership of any organization. Those conditions will NOT exist in any environment that focuses on CULTURE.

Three simple steps will insure that the above conditions will never exist in your organization.

• Expectations must be clearly established concerning accepted behaviors and performance of every member of the workforce.
• Accountability at every level must exist to insure that all established expectations are met by everyone in the organization.
• Consequences, as rewards and/or discipline, must be applied fairly to everyone based on their performance and execution of expectations.

How much more simple can it be? Time and time again, we have learned that organizations that faithfully practice these three strategies seldom, if ever, have to deal with the concerns listed above by Human Resource Professionals.

However, very few organizations have established and continue to maintain these simple but critical practices. How does your organization fare? If your workforce was asked to rate, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being fully enforced, each of those three practices, what results would you see? Are you satisfied with those results? You might want to give this issue some serious thought!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Customer Service Training or Customer Service Keynote Presentation Information Customer Service Training Seminar: Customer Satisfaction Strategies Customer Service Keynote - Vigilante Consumers to Raving Fans Customer Service Speakers and Customer Service Training Customer Service Articles Words of Wisdom on Customer Service Customer Service (Category with more articles.) Sweat the Small Stuff for Great Customer Service Exceptional Customer Service Again Threatened How Good Customer Service Could Send Your Customer to the Competitor A Culture of Customer Service Empathetic Customer Service Customer Service Is a Choice Is Customer Service Falling Down? Why Doesn’t Anyone Take Customer Service Seriously? Customer Service Books and Customer Service Posters Customer Service Book Reviews Top Customer Service Books Customer Service Poster

What Seems to Be the Problem? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

I’m so tired of seeing so many companies downsize, reduce employee levels, and even go out of business … for the wrong reasons!

• Yes, the economy is at an all-time low!
• Yes, competition is tremendous!
• Yes, we have no leadership on Capitol Hill from either party!
• Yes, clients and customers have less to spend and are more demanding than ever!
• Yes, it’s challenging to find good employees!

HOWEVER, while every one of the above conditions can be crucial to the success of any business today, the two most obvious reasons for failure are not on that list!

1. Poor leadership!
2. Poor customer service!

While many will immediately dismiss these two elements for any number of unsubstantiated reasons, it takes only a moment to discover credible evidence to the contrary.

Let me give you an example that most of us have witnessed in our own communities. Best Buy vs. Circuit City.

Consider the following data:

• Both stores were usually located within a mile of one another.
• Both stores appeared very much the same inside and outside.
• Both stores served the same customer base.
• Both stores hired from the same potential employee base.
• Both stores carried pretty much the same product lines.
• Both stores charged relatively the same prices as they both price matched.

Consider this data and you can pretty much eliminate the majority of the initial reasons listed earlier for the failure of businesses today! Based on this data, how do you explain one company “busted” while another “boomed”?

As the world watched the demise of Circuit City, a large number of magazines wrote articles suggesting why this may have happened. Time Magazine was one of many that discovered the obvious. Here are a few of its findings:

1. Circuit City stopped selling appliances. (poor leadership and poor customer service)
2. It didn’t move as aggressively into gaming as it should have. (poor leadership and poor customer service)
3. It missed out on big in-store promotions with thriving companies like Apple Computer. (poor leadership and poor customer service)
4. Circuit City neglected to improve its Web presence, just as online retailers like Amazon.com were hitting their stride. (poor leadership and poor customer service)
5. Circuit City laid off its highest-paid hourly employees, including salespeople, and replaced them with cheaper workers. That same year, the CEO received $7 million in compensation. (poor leadership and poor customer service)
6. Circuit City became complacent — a fatal mistake in the fiercely competitive and fast-evolving business environment. (poor leadership and poor customer service)
7. Circuit City’s most obvious failing was its customer service. A quick Web search on “Circuit City complaints” would bring up hundreds of thousands of entries. (poor leadership and poor customer service)

I could go on and on, but at this point anything I might say would be redundant.

Sit down with your Board if you have one, your leadership team, and even your employees to discuss the obvious facts listed above. It doesn’t matter if you own one location or close to 600 like Circuit City. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in business for less than a year or more than 60 years as Circuit City was at the time of its closing.

Apply this information to your own current situation and create an action plan to eliminate negatives and create and/or accentuate the needed positives you may discover.

You can do very little to impact or change the many excuses companies are using for not doing well today.

However, you can do a great deal to enhance the two areas which are most critical to your success … Good Leadership and Good Customer Service! Will you?

If you’d like some assistance, we travel all over North America assisting our clients in their enhancement efforts in both critical areas! Call us at 1-800-886-2629 today!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

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Want Business? WAKE UP! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

I’m certain at this point you’re probably thinking something like: “If that’s true, why don’t more people do just that?” Well, if I had the answer to that one, I’d be signing copies of my best seller in the lobby of New York City’s Barnes and Noble. In fact, that’s the million-dollar question in today’s chaotic world. Why don’t more people make an effort to enhance their lives when it costs nothing more than a mental re-frame of the way we think?

Let me share an example. I recently flew from Detroit to Miami to present a keynote presentation for a long-time client. As usual, this was one of those flights that are so common place for me. In the row ahead of me, across the aisle, was an elderly couple traveling with two, yes two, miniature dogs in cages which fit under the seats ahead of them. Directly in front of me was a couple with a young child who was peacefully sleeping as the plane took off.

Minutes into the flight, the two dogs began barking at each other for some reason. I don’t think they stopped until we landed in Miami. Two minutes in the air and the barking dogs woke the young girl in the seat in front of me and she began to cry. I’m sure she was attempting to drown out the annoying sounds of the barking animals.

Moments later the pilot blessed us with a dual announcement:

1. the Wi-Fi connection wasn’t working on this particular flight
2. we were heading into a storm front and would be experiencing some rough travel conditions ahead.

At this moment in my typical flight, I’m usually asking myself, “What else could possibly go wrong?” … which creates a negative attitude, which soon leads to a migraine headache. The perfect addition to barking dogs, a crying child, no Wi-Fi and a bumpy ride!

Well, over the years I’ve learned how to manipulate my re-frame abilities and search for a more positive mind-set. In doing so, I suddenly recognized the following facts:

• I’m sitting in a comfortable seat in a metal tube 50,000 feet (almost 10 miles) in the air with more than 200 fellow travelers!
• I’m traveling at more than 700 miles an hour! On the ground I’d get a speeding ticket for anything over 70 mph!
• Outside the plane the temperature is 35 below zero! I’m perfectly comfortable in the plane in shirt sleeves.
• I’m going to arrive in Miami in just three hours. If I were to drive the 1,411 miles non-stop, it would take me close to 24 hours!

Realizing the enormity of where I am, where I’m going and what I’m doing, I think I can weather the challenge of the barking canines and screaming youngster. I can live a few hours without my computer, and I have a seat belt to make the ride a lot smoother. I simply insert my dependable ear plugs, adjust my therapy neck support pillow, recline my seat, close my eyes and welcome the embrace of the Friendly Skies!

THAT’S a re-frame and every one of us are capable of doing the same thing whenever we choose. The question lies in why more of us don’t do it more often! Think about it. It’s YOUR choice!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Re-frame – Reduce Stress & Enjoy Success is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

I played football in high school and in the military. I later coached the game and announced from the booth. In my current role, I’ve had the opportunity to work with two professional football teams. I’ve been an avid fan all my life so I thoroughly enjoyed the Big Game.

However, I found myself moved mentally and emotionally by several events other than the game itself.

1. As always, the commercials were phenomenal … creative, humorous, and even touching at times. Of course, they should have been as the advertisers were paying $6 million per minute to share them with viewers!
2. The entertainment was sensational from start to finish. Lea Michele, of “Glee” fame, kicked things off with a touching rendition of “America the Beautiful” followed by Christina Aguilera’s moving version of the “National Anthem.” In the excitement of the moment, Christina missed a few words but recovered quickly, finished with heart like the pro she is, and was thrilled to discover that many missed the mis-que and others didn’t care. Exquisite camera work and uncanny timing captured respectful tears flowing from the eyes of an emotional player during her performance.

Expectations had to be high for the halftime performance with names like Slash, Usher, and The Black Eyed Peas, and apparently they were met, judging by the audience reaction. The performance provided big names, great music, unique outfits, and terrific high-tech choreography by hundreds of extras.

The game itself couldn’t have offered much more in the way of excitement, execution, and edge-of-your-seat outcomes. The game went down to the last 30 seconds, providing fans of both teams with the anxiety only a tried and true fanatic could appreciate.

I mentioned earlier that I was mentally and emotionally moved by several events other than those I’ve mentioned. While there were several, they each had to do with the human aspect of Super Bowl week and how the entire country seemed to be focused on football and the celebration of the upcoming competition. We heard very little about the negativity that has plagued us for what seems forever. No one was debating healthcare or watching the unemployment numbers. You heard little about mortgages, the value of the dollar, terrorist attacks, trade balances, immigration, inflation, or politics. In fact, just prior to the game, conservative newsman Bill O’Reilly interviewed liberal President Barack Obama, and both were not only civil but actually friendly to one another … despite predictions to the contrary.

Though fierce competition was evident at every turn, it was apparent that everyone was good-natured about the upcoming game and everything involved with it. Everything else seemed to have been relegated to a back burner, at least for a short time, while people chose to focus on something more enjoyable. Stress levels were reduced, smiles and laughter increased, and it seemed nice to have something positive to look forward to.

When you think about it, all of this was a matter of choice on the part of each one of us. Maybe we should strive to choose more positive thinking, speaking and interacting a bit more often. Choice is one of the few things we do control. We choose where to place our focus. Maybe it’s time to examine our current choices and make an effort to create a few more “Super Bowl weeks” just a little more often. We’d all certainly benefit from it. Let’s start today!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

We Choose Our Mindset! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

At first, that image may sound absurd … but is it really that far fetched? You may not see that message displayed as described above, but you’ve got to admit that it’s been amply declared by so many businesses across this nation today.

Think about it …

• Video rental stores generate a significant portion of their profits from late fees!
• Gifts and discounts are offered to new customers while withheld from long-time customers who have proven loyalty!
• Credit card companies approve rather than decline over-limit transactions and then charge the customer fees!
• Cellular providers lock customers into lengthy contracts rather than creating loyalty through good service.

The examples are never-ending, but the fact remains that customers today are shown less respect and appreciation than ever before. Ironically, this abuse is occurring at a time when competition is fierce and the business community is feeling the severe ill effects of today’s economic downturn.

If anything, there should be an increased focus on providing better customer service today than ever before! And yet, the level of good customer service continues to decline in most every industry.

A recent survey revealed a variety of reasons (excuses) for this growing trend—most of which were unacceptable and several which were simply too stupid to print here.

Apparently, employers aren’t providing expectations, guidelines, or training in the area of quality customer service.

Those who think they can’t afford employee training in these critical areas will soon face a harsh reality. They can’t afford NOT to prepare their staff to leave an indelible impression on potential and existing customers, even in today’s fast-paced, technological environment.

We’re experiencing an increase in requests for customer service seminars and customer service keynote presentations. Apparently many have learned that good customer service translates into repeat business, an increased bottom line, and your economic survival.

Your competitor may very well be one of those who have made this commitment to providing better service. Can you say the same?

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Customer Service Training or Customer Service Keynote Presentation Information Customer Service Training Seminar: Customer Satisfaction Strategies Customer Service Keynote - Vigilante Consumers to Raving Fans Customer Service Speakers and Customer Service Training Customer Service Articles Words of Wisdom on Customer Service Customer Service (Category with more articles.) Sweat the Small Stuff for Great Customer Service Exceptional Customer Service Again Threatened How Good Customer Service Could Send Your Customer to the Competitor A Culture of Customer Service Empathetic Customer Service Customer Service Is a Choice Is Customer Service Falling Down? Why Doesn’t Anyone Take Customer Service Seriously? Customer Service Books and Customer Service Posters Customer Service Book Reviews Top Customer Service Books Customer Service Poster

We Don’t Need Customers! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

However, in reading the book and doing some additional research on the author, I discovered something rather baffling about the human psyche. Actually, I’ve witnessed this anomaly for years, and yet it continues to mystify me.

After my recent research, I’m ready to place Tony Hsieh into a unique category with some pretty impressive company. That category would include such notable characters as: Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Jack Welch, Jim Collins, Lee Iacocca, Meg Whitman, Peter Drucker, President Obama, Ross Perot, Rush Limbaugh, Barbara Walters, Sam Walton, Stephen Covey, Tony Robbins, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, and Wayne Dyer, to name just a few.

Have you determined what these people have in common? It has nothing to do with career choices, religious preferences, political beliefs, age, color or creed. It’s true, they’re all educated, experienced, talented, accomplished, creative and outspoken. However, there’s something else.

In the arena of public opinion, each of those noted above fall into one of two categories. They are loved or despised (viewed with contempt)! It’s true. Very few, if any, would say they simply like these people. Each of them fall very solidly into one category or the other.

Sadly, there’s a major drawback to pigeonholing people. Let’s take a look at a harsh reality. Pick someone from the list above that you truly admire. If you’re like the majority of people in today’s society, you will have an inclination to believe everything that person says and does.

Now choose a name from that list that you might despise. In this case, you will have a tendency to believe absolutely nothing that person says or does. Therein lies the problem.

• We must strive to change our thinking here.
• No one is always right.
• No one is always wrong.
• The same holds true for religions, political parties, and business organizations.
• There may be a great deal to learn from someone you may not admire or agree with.
• And you shouldn’t necessarily believe and/or agree with everything simply because you hear it from someone you do admire and respect.

Take the case of Tony Hsieh. Here’s a young man with an impressive background, successful track record, and a creative mind who has created an empire built on great products, good prices, and an unequaled culture of customer service.

My research revealed that he has a fantastic following of employees, vendors, clients and business professionals who wholeheartedly believe in Tony, his philosophy, and everything he’s accomplished. They believe he’s a charismatic leader who has his best days ahead of him and, in the meantime, can do no wrong.

My research also revealed a good number of people who view this young man as a flippant, self-centered, cult leader who came from an extremely privileged background which paved his way to a snooty high school and then on to Harvard. Therefore, his entire career was handed to him on a silver platter. He’s too close to his employees and treats them all as though they were fellow partygoers.

My point is this. I believe there may be some truth in both sides of this story … as there is in so many other scenarios in today’s world. Our challenge is to look at every person and organization we come into contact with and seek out the useful information which may assist us in achieving our personal goals. Most everyone has something to offer us. We must not turn a deaf ear to this information because we don’t approve of the source.

On the other hand, don’t make the sometimes fatal mistake of believing that someone is 100% correct on every issue for the simple reason that we approve of the person and/or organization as an infallible source.

Look for the good, ignore all else. The value you’ll receive will be priceless.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Evaluate Your Choices! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

During his brief introduction, he used a phrase that was obviously recognized by his entire team. He used the term BFO which I later learned was an acronym for “Blinding Flash of the Obvious.” Later in the evening, at my request during dinner, he defined the phrase for me as I had never heard it. Over the years I’ve heard a number of various definitions, but I’ve always preferred his straight-forward explanation.

“A BFO is something that is really very obvious. However, until you actually say it, see it and follow the logic of it … the inherent magic of it remains a buried treasure of potential for change.”

Here’s a perfect example: Walk into any bank or grocery store today and you’ll find a large number of high-tech, state-of-the-art check-out lanes fully equipped to service impatient customers navigating overflowing shopping carts. A further look will quickly reveal that BOTH registers are open and each have a very long line of disgruntled customers! Yes, of the 6 to 9 or more available registers, BOTH are open. It never fails! Regardless of the organization or the location … we find only two lanes open when many more are needed.

What’s the BFO? … OPEN LANE #3!

So obvious, so simple, so sad!

Every customer sees it! Why doesn’t the staff or management see it?

Over the years, I’ve heard dozens of reasons why those extra lanes aren’t open. However, I have yet to hear a single explanation that justifies the negative results which emerge in such a situation! I doubt if I will ever hear a suitable explanation to justify such a poor decision!

I’m certain you’ve experienced this aggravating frustration time and time again. You know how it feels. Now let me ask you a question: “What is YOUR Lane #3 scenario?” There’s a better than average chance that you have one … or more!

True … you may not have a register or a lane where you work. However, do you have a situation which causes the same anguish to those you serve? Maybe it’s:

• the way you answer the phone (or don’t).
• the difficulty in getting your customer in touch with the right person.
• the complexity of forms, applications, etc.
• packaging, shipping or handling challenges.
• advertising and/or marketing concerns.

Adapt a battle cry of “OPEN LANE #3″ and start searching for any BFOs you may have within your organization. Ask yourself what your customers may deem as frustrating as the need to “Open Lane #3.” Then take action to correct the situation. This should be an ongoing strategy in your quest to provide phenomenal customer service!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

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Have You Missed a BFO? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Worry has been defined as follows: as a verb: to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.

As a noun: a cause of uneasiness or anxiety; trouble.

I once heard worry described as “interest paid on trouble before it comes due.” Worry has become one of America’s worst enemies. Worry is like a rocking chair as it requires a lot of energy while getting you nowhere!

When you really think about it, it simply doesn’t make sense to worry. For years psychologists and other researchers have told us the following:

• Roughly 40% of what people worry about never happens.
• Nearly 30% has already happened and can’t be changed.
• 12% of our worries involve unfounded health concerns.
• 10% Are Petty Miscellaneous Worries!

That leaves only 8% of our worries that are real! Therefore, we are worrying 92% of the time for no good reason … and it’s killing us!

In the future, simply re-channel that 92% of your time and energy into focusing on the 8% of your worries which are real. You’ll quickly solve those few problems you’re worrying about, you’ll enjoy better health, longer life and become much more productive in every aspect of your life!

In short, if you’re not happy with your current situation in life … don’t worry, do something about it. Worry less and act more. Or, as Bobby McFerrin suggests: “Don’t Worry—Be Happy!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

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Worry Bankrupts the Spirit! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

As I watch the election results roll in, I’m amazed to say the least. If you were to ask people if they are unhappy with their current status, you would probably discover that 80% to 90% are tired of what’s been happening in this country. And, interestingly enough, the blame doesn’t fall entirely on one particular party. We seem to agree that we’re fed up with politicians from both sides of the aisle.

Here’s what I find baffling. As I watch the results flow into television stations across the nation, it looks as though 20% to 30% of the country will be making the decisions as to whom holds office in the coming years. If 8 or 9 people out of every 10 are fed up with the status quo, why is it that only 2 or 3 people out of every 10 are willing to vote in hopes of solving some of the problems? That doesn’t even make sense.

I’ve heard all of the excuses for not voting and even share the frustration of feeling as though my vote doesn’t count. Well, think about this. What are the alternatives if you should choose not to vote? I think you would agree that they are little or none.

I’m certainly not advocating a vote for a particular candidate or party. I’m suggesting that if you’re happy with the current direction your city, state, or nation is heading, get out and vote for the current candidate or party to make certain that direction isn’t deterred. If you aren’t satisfied with the way things are going, vote for those who will bring change.

The point is to GET INVOLVED! Stop complaining and do something about your concerns. And don’t stop with voting. Sign a petition. Attend meetings to support your beliefs. March. Rally. Write a letter. Join an organization that supports your concerns. Talk to others. Make a phone call. Knock on a door. Get educated on the issues. Educate others and get them to join you in your efforts. Do something!

Doing nothing will get you just that—NOTHING! Think for just a moment what could happen if the other 70% of those who are not showing up at the voting booth would do just a few of the things mentioned above. There would be enormous change for the better from coast to coast. Stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Stop Complaining! Go Solve the Problem! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Maybe it’s because I’ve spent so many years frequenting airports all over North America. As a result of constantly changing flight schedules, you tend to have a great deal of time on your hands and very few choices available to fill that time. Thus … people-watching … which, by the way, soon becomes addicting.

Maybe it’s because, as a professional speaker, I’ve had the opportunity to attend thousands of large conferences over the decades. I always laugh at the fact that no one in my audience seems to realize that I’m looking at them at the same time they’re looking at me! And I have far more choices to look at than they do!

One of the numerous things I’ve learned by people-watching over the years is the fact that the majority of people today will believe anything simply because they read it in a newspaper, magazine or tabloid, see it on TV, hear it on the radio, or find it on the Internet! For some unexplainable reason, they feel that these sources are reliable and simply cannot be challenged. Why is that when most every day a news story, claim, photo, or rumor is proven to be false?

For instance, over the past week, I have received several e-mails from clients and readers sharing a very interesting story that they felt I might want to pass on … and for good reason. I’ve also seen this same article appear numerous times on Facebook and several blogs. For several reasons I found it interesting, informative, and entertaining. For those reasons, I’m going to share it with you today.

However, I feel obligated to point out that while the content of this story may contain a much-needed dose of realism for today’s youth and something that many of us have learned the hard way over the years … the background story is totally FALSE!

The following content was supposedly recently written and delivered to a high school graduation class by former Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. Here are the facts:

• Bill Gates did not write or deliver these words of wisdom.
• They did not originate as a high school speech.
• They are not at all recent.

In fact, the very entertaining piece you are about to read is a somewhat abridged version of an original piece that was penned by author Charles J. Sykes. The full version was originally printed in the San Diego Union Tribune on September 19, 1996, and has appeared world wide in many publications since that time. Sykes is the author of Dumbing Down Our Kids, 50 Rules Kids Won’t Learn in School, and several other books.

This article, like so many others was drastically edited by person(s) unknown and began making the e-mail rounds under Bill Gates’ name in February of 2000 and is still, to this day, making those rounds—thanks to you!

The piece has been falsely attributed to others as well as Bill Gates, including the late science fiction writer, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

However, one cannot argue with the actual wisdom of the content. It strikes a familiar chord with most everyone who reads it. So enjoy …  And be certain to pass it on!

11 Rules Your Kids Did Not and Will Not Learn In School

Rule 1: Life is not fair—get used to it!

Rule 2: The world doesn’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won’t be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent’s generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades, and they’ll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Don’t Believe Everything You Read! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

1. Push the button even though it’s already lit, indicating that others have pushed it before you. Do you think it’s going to get there faster by doing that?
2. When it arrives, you then enter the elevator and automatically turn and face the front.
3. You push the button of the floor you want—even if it’s already lit.
4. You avoid eye contact with any of the other passengers.
5. You probably fold your hands in front of you or behind you.
6. You focus on the small screen showing the passing floors.
7. Or you look straight ahead or at the floor.
8. You say nothing to anyone or, if you’re with a companion, you speak only in hushed tones.
9. When you get to your floor, you quickly exit the elevator and resume acting like an earthling.

Now my question is simple. Where did you learn to do that? Was it covered in grade school, middle school, or maybe high school? I don’t think it’s taught in college. Did, at some point in your young life, one or both of your parents sit you down for “THE” talk … you know, the “how to behave in an elevator talk”! Is it something you learned in the military or maybe a “job training program” at some point during your career? Or maybe it was much more simple than that.

Maybe there was a sign on the wall listing those behaviors. No, we know there’s never been a sign.

Obviously not. Our behavior is under the control of unwritten social rules, implicit norms, which govern appropriate elevator demeanor. Social norms are expectations shared by the members of a group about appropriate ways to behave in given situations.

And it’s not formal training by any stretch of the imagination. It’s not even openly acknowledged. Yet we’re manipulated like puppets on invisible strings and this unusual experience isn’t limited to an elevator. Consider how we act in a court room, in a hospital waiting room, in a library, attempting to board an airplane at the airport, in a laundromat, or in a restaurant. In each situation we mindlessly follow the dictates of group norms and situational forces.

Years ago there was a very popular family TV program called “Allen Funt’s Candid Camera.” In what might be his most ingenious stunt, “Face the Rear,” his staff rigged an elevator so that after an unsuspecting person enters, four Candid Camera staff members enter, and one by one they all face the rear. The doors close and then reopen; now revealing that the passenger had conformed and is now also facing the rear. Doors close and reopen, and everyone is facing sideways, and then face the other way. I’m sure you can guess the outcome.

Watch this short, but hilarious, video but pause before laughing too loud. Think about how many times, in each of the scenarios mentioned above, YOU have been manipulated like a puppet on a string!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8zlk9TZ4bA

Well, times are changing and norms are being replaced by new strategies in hopes that we can survive and thrive in today’s challenging and chaotic environment. It’s time to challenge norms, rethink current strategies, try different approaches, consider calculated risks, and expand comfort zones!

Why not start with the ELEVATOR? The next time you enter that “sacred square” consider one of the following behaviors to liven up the existence of those still connected to those invisible strings.

1. Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral.
2. Say “Ding!” at each floor.
3. Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.
4. Stand silent and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.
5. Whistle the first seven notes of “It’s a Small World” incessantly.
6. Crouch in one corner and growl menacingly at everyone who gets on.
7. Stare, grinning, at another passenger for a while, and then announce: “I’ve got new socks on!”
8. Read Green Eggs and Ham as though it were Shakespeare. Sound out every word!
9. When there is only one other person in the elevator, tap them on the shoulder and then pretend it wasn’t you.
10. As the elevator is going up, jump violently up and down, shouting, “Down! I said down, darn it!”
11. Announce in a demonic voice: “I must find a more suitable host body.”
12. Upon entering a full elevator, face the entire group and say: “I’ll bet you’re wondering why I called this meeting.”

Now that you’ve had some fun, focus on other situations in your life where you’ve been a victim of unwritten social rules or implicit norms. Re-frame, leave the path, make a difference, strive and thrive … and keep me posted!

Now excuse me as I gather my pogo stick, tripod, and snare drum … I have an elevator to catch!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Change Management Training or Change Management Keynote Presentation Information Change Management Training Seminar - Productive Chaos: Riding the Wave of Change Change Management Keynote - Productive Chaos: Riding the Wave of Change Change Management Speakers and Change Management Training Change Management Articles Words of Wisdom on Change Constant Change (Category with more articles.) Tomorrow's Work Place Generation Communication Gap: Do You Really Know that Generation Y College Freshman You Call Family? Are You Ready for Some CHAOS? Alright Already! Enough with CHANGE! What We Can Learn from Change Fall of the Mall - History in the Making The Flip Side of Change Change Management Books and Change Management Posters Change Book Reviews Top Change Books Change Poster

Did You Attend Elevator University? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

As a business consultant, I see proof of this infinite “truth” every week! It has nothing to do with the industry I’m working with … the organization, product or service. It’s a “people” issue.

In working with clients, I have found that almost always we have determined that “the problem is never the problem—the response is the real problem!”

Consider the Gulf tragedy. Everyone talks about the problems the oil spill caused. Closer focus would reveal that the oil spill didn’t cause a fraction of the problems that the “response” to the oil spill caused … by BP, by FEMA, the Coast Guard, affected states, Washington, etc. Historians will document in great detail what we’re currently ignoring daily.

Consider your personal challenges with a simple re-frame. Forget what you once assessed to be a problem and focus, instead, on how you reacted or are currently reacting to that challenge. In doing so, you’ll find yourself focusing on action you can actually take to make a difference. Think about it. Try it. You now have a new weapon in your arsenal, a new strategy in your game plan, a new map for your journey to success!

Invest 2:10 to listen to Tom Peters, world-known author, speaker and consultant, summarize the importance of this concept.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Sometimes the Obvious … ISN’T! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

By the way, if you have any additions to add to our list, please feel free to send them along to me.

• Wouldn’t it be ironic to choke on a lifesaver?
• Wouldn’t it be ironic to punch someone in the face with a bottle of Johnson’s No More Tears?
• If a cat chokes to death while eating a mouse, who killed who?
• If a pig loses its voice, is it dis”grunt”led?
• Why is everyone in such a hurry to get right up when they fall down?
• Did you ever notice that there are two political parties in America—the one you’re aligned with and the Know-nothing party?
• Have you noticed that there are only two emotions on an airplane: boredom and terror!
• Why do we press the start button to turn off the computer?
• Why must hailstones always be the size of something else?
• We have mileage, yardage, and footage. Why don’t we have inchage?
• Why do they say a football team is the “world champion” when they don’t play anybody outside the U.S.?
• Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?
• Is it legal to travel down a road in reverse, as long as you’re following the direction of the traffic?
• Are eyebrows considered facial hair?
• Why is it, that on those rare flights that arrive early, there’s always another plane at our gate making us sit on the tarmac forever?

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Obvious Questions Continue to Puzzle Us is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Think about these shocking facts:

• 100 years ago, none of the taxes listed below existed.
• Our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
• We had absolutely no national debt.
• Today our national debt is 12 trillion, 890 billion, 837 million 190 thousand, eighty three dollars and 39 cents!
• We add $4.16 billion per day to the above figure!
• We had the largest middle class in the world.
• Mom could stay home to raise the kids if she chose.

Do you think taxes are too high today? And I’m not talking about your payroll taxes alone. Don’t think your W-2—think what you’re actually paying. How many of these taxes apply to you? The Accounts Receivable Tax, Building Permit Tax, CDL License Tax, Cigarette Tax, Corporate Income Tax, Dog License Tax, Excise Taxes, Federal Income Tax, Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA), Fishing License Tax, Food License Tax, Fuel Permit Tax, Gasoline Tax, Gross Receipts Tax, Hunting License Tax, Inheritance Tax, Inventory Tax, IRS Interest Charges, IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax), Liquor Tax, Luxury Taxes, Marriage License Tax, Medicare Tax, Personal Property Tax, Property Tax, Real Estate Tax, Service Charge Tax, Social Security Tax, Road Usage Tax, Sales Tax, Recreational Vehicle Tax, School Tax, State Income Tax, State Unemployment Tax (SUTA), Telephone Federal Excise Tax, Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax, Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes, Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax, Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax, Telephone State and Local Tax, Telephone Usage Charge Tax, Utility Taxes, Vehicle License Registration Tax, Vehicle Sales Tax, Watercraft Registration Tax, Well Permit Tax, and Workers Compensation Tax … to name a few.

Well, if you’re complaining about all those taxes, you should be ashamed of yourself! You should be asking your politicians for even more taxes to pay! We seldom consider the wonderful benefits we enjoy as a result of those taxes. Let me share just one recent example before you call to thank your political representatives.

TWEETS FOREVER

The U.S. Library of Congress this week revealed it will archive every public tweet not flagged as private! According to a blog post from Twitter founder Biz Stone, more than 55 million tweets are broadcast each day by Twitter’s 105 million users, pushing the total of tweets tweeted into the billions.

That means every one of those tweets will be made available for all to see after six months. Twitter donated its entire archive to the Library of Congress. Careful what you tweet as those 140 character or less slices of life will now be around for eternity … cataloged at the oldest federal cultural institution and the country’s largest library.

Can you imagine the size and scope of this project? How many people will it take to establish and maintain an archive which grows by 55 million tweets a day? And who do you think is going to pay for that? That’s why we pay taxes. Remember that the next time you gather with friends, family and neighbors to browse the U.S. Library of Congress Tweet Archive.

Two closing thoughts:

1. Be very careful what you tweet. It’s now a matter of record … complete with your name and possible photo.
2. From time to time check out the following link to see how much our National Debt has grown since yesterday!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Change Management Training or Change Management Keynote Presentation Information Change Management Training Seminar - Productive Chaos: Riding the Wave of Change Change Management Keynote - Productive Chaos: Riding the Wave of Change Change Management Speakers and Change Management Training Change Management Articles Words of Wisdom on Change Constant Change (Category with more articles.) Tomorrow's Work Place Generation Communication Gap: Do You Really Know that Generation Y College Freshman You Call Family? Are You Ready for Some CHAOS? Alright Already! Enough with CHANGE! What We Can Learn from Change Fall of the Mall - History in the Making The Flip Side of Change Change Management Books and Change Management Posters Change Book Reviews Top Change Books Change Poster

Give Government the Bird! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

We’ve all had at least one special teacher in our lives that in some way made a difference in our lives … it may have seemed small at the time but as we reflect back to those formative years we’ve discovered that difference has been crucial. For me it was a particular teacher who daily encouraged me to read. The emphasis was on developing the love and appreciation of reading as opposed to what I read. He pointed out that content would change over the years, but my desire to read would never wane and would always be an asset. He was certainly on target. Reading has been instrumental in my career path, and I’ve tried to pass that critical advice on to as many children as I possibly could. My nine grandchildren have grown up thinking everyone had an in-home library!

Here are a few shocking facts you might want to pause and ponder when you get a moment.

1. There are close to 8 million teachers in the U.S. today educating our children from pre-kindergarten through high school levels!
2. These teachers spend more time with our children in one school day than we’re able to spend in an entire week! I’m not talking about being in the same building with our children … I’m talking about actual face-to-face interaction with those cherished treasures.
3. While educational costs continue to escalate tremendously, our teachers are grossly under-paid for the services they render today.

Have you considered the fact that you are placing the safety, well-being, education, and future of our children in the hands of these dedicated men and women? Today your child’s teacher is a hero:  a hero who pays for school supplies out of his/her own pocket … a hero who is building your child’s character and teaching him/her to make the right choices as he/she grows toward adulthood … a hero who is encouraging and preparing your child for a higher education.

We’re entrusting our most cherished possessions to our teacher’s today. Here’s an action plan that’s certainly worth pursuing: Simply take a moment to thank a teacher. Send an e-mail or hand-written letter expressing your appreciation for their dedicated efforts. Better yet, stop by the classroom and express your feelings face to face. They certainly deserve it and will whole-heartedly appreciate it!

Take a look at this short video and you may have a better understanding about the “Heart of a Teacher.”

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Thank a Teacher Today! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

For as long as I’ve been professionally keynoting and facilitating seminars, there has always been a demand for tips, tools, and strategies designed to assist both individuals and organizations to better adapt to the constant challenge of CHANGE.

As a result of that constant request, I created a seminar and keynote program that we’ve been sharing with clients all over North America, in a wide variety of industries, for the past 18 years now … “Productive Chaos: Riding the Wave of Change.” 

Throughout those years, we have never delivered that program content twice in the same way. The reason for that fact is simple. We update the content every single time we deliver the program, utilizing research from radio, television, books, magazines, the Internet, and personal interviews and experiences. We do that, in short, to insure that we walk the talk of constant change.

What mystifies me is why most everyone finds it so difficult and challenging to deal with change when we’ve been doing exactly that all our lives! We’ve known nothing but CHANGE and yet continue to struggle with coping with its consequences.

Take a look at this short video, “Change Is Good—You Go First” to enjoy 21 tips for dealing with this on-going challenge and its many implications!

If that’s not enough to do the job, give me a call. I’d be happy to spend an hour, a day, or a week with you and your staff discussing Productive Chaos!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Change Management Training or Change Management Keynote Presentation Information Change Management Training Seminar - Productive Chaos: Riding the Wave of Change Change Management Keynote - Productive Chaos: Riding the Wave of Change Change Management Speakers and Change Management Training Change Management Articles Words of Wisdom on Change Constant Change (Category with more articles.) Tomorrow's Work Place Generation Communication Gap: Do You Really Know that Generation Y College Freshman You Call Family? Are You Ready for Some CHAOS? Alright Already! Enough with CHANGE! What We Can Learn from Change Fall of the Mall - History in the Making The Flip Side of Change Change Management Books and Change Management Posters Change Book Reviews Top Change Books Change Poster

Change = Chaos … Is Your Chaos Productive? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.