30 Tips, Tricks and Techniques for Achieving Lasting Success
Success
One Minute at a Time
[Link]
by Doug Petch
Success One Minute at a Time
About This eBook
I want to succeed. You want to succeed. In fact, we would be hard-pressed to nd a single person who doesnt want to succeed. Yet many of us assume that success is beyond our grasp. Its too hard, we say. I dont have what it takes, we think. And our dreams die, victims of our self-doubt.
It doesnt have to be that way. While there is no great secret to success, there are a number of simple concepts that can help us achieve the success we desire. I share some of these concepts each week on The Sixty Second Success Seminar, an audio program available at [Link] and through Apples iTunes service.
Each episode of The Sixty Second Success Seminar consists of a simple idea that will help you navigate the road to success. These Sixty Second Success Secrets, as I call them, are drawn from my experiences and years of studying successful people from all walks of life.
This eBook features 30 tips from The Sixty Second Success Seminar. From simple techniques for successful networking to tips for the new leader to developing the character traits that are important to success, youll nd a variety of tips, tricks and techniques designed to help you achieve the success you deserve.
It has been said that success is achieved by doing the right things for the right reason at the right time. I humbly hope that this eBook helps in some small part in your quest to do just that.
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Success One Minute at a Time
1. One More Step
I was in Airborne training, struggling through a grueling run over the hills of Ft. Benning, Georgia when I found myself running next to a Navy SEAL. As I struggled to climb an exceptionally steep hill this SEAL looked at me and said something that has stuck with me to this day:
Dont let one more step stop you.
It took a moment for his words to sink in, but the impact when they did was amazing. In seven one-syllable words he helped me realize that my immediate goal wasnt to complete a physically demanding 5 mile run but rather to simply put one foot in front of the other just one more time. If I did that one thing consistently there was no doubt that I would achieve my larger goal. And as I later reected on his words I realized that they applied to more than just completing a run.
And thats your 60-second success secret. Break those seemingly insurmountable tasks into a series of smaller steps and then, Dont let one more step stop you.
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Success One Minute at at Time
2. Conversation Starters
If you nd it difcult to begin conversations with strangers, let me suggest two techniques that my father, a successful salesman, used to break the ice.
The rst is a simple conversation starter. No matter the time of day he always greeted people with a cheerful Good Morning! As you can imagine using that greeting in the afternoon or evening resulted in responses that my father was able to turn into conversations.
Another technique that he used was to always wear a Mickey Mouse Watch. Whenever he found himself in a group of strangers he would nd a reason to check the time and invariably someone would comment on a grown man wearing a Mickey Mouse Watch. Again, from this simple beginning he would build a conversation, and quite often a relationship.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Develop something thats uniquely you that people will comment on. Where you go from there is up to you, but at least youve started the conversation.
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Success One Minute at at Time
3. Forte
If you dread being asked to speak on the spur of the moment, using the word FORTE as a mnemonic will help make your impromptu presentations more effective:
First, FOCUS on what youre being asked to respond to. Remember you cant answer a question you didnt hear and understand.
Next, ORGANIZE your thoughts, using the same Opening, Body, and Closing formula as you would use in a prepared speech
Then, RELAX. You know your stuff, and your audience wants you to succeed, so theres no reason to let your nerves get the best of you.
Now that youve prepared yourself, TALK to the audience about the topic at hand.
Finally END your remarks by emphasizing your main point and then stopping. In other words, dont ramble.
And thats your sixty second success secret. If you focus, organize, relax, talk and end youll make impromptu speaking your forte.
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Success One Minute at at Time
4. Commitment
According to tennis legend Arthur Ashe, success is a journey. And, just as a physical journey requires a destination, a journey for success requires a goal. But while a goal is important to success, its not the most important part of the journey. In order to succeed, in order to reach that goal youve set for yourself, the most important step is to commit to your goal.
If youve ever been a tness club member youre familiar with the January rush of new members with New Years resolutions fresh on their minds. But by the middle of March most of those new members have quit showing up. You see, although they made a resolution to get in shape or to lose weight although they chose a goal they failed to commit to that goal. And because they didnt commit they found it easy to rationalize failure when they encountered a bit of inconvenience or discomfort.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Commitment is the key to reaching your goals!
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Success One Minute at at Time
5. Passion
One of the keys to success is to be passionate about what you do. If you observe someone who is a superstar in their eld; for instance, actress Meryl Streep or golfer Tiger Woods, you cant help but sense the passion they bring to their craft. Thats why, if you want to be successful on all levels, the critical rst step is to discover what youre truly passionate about.
Is it your current career? A favorite hobby? Or maybe its a charitable cause. Whatever it is, youll know youve found it when the hours y by like minutes, or when youre excited to share your experiences with everyone you meet. It may take some time and some serious soul searching, but the rewards you reap from nding and pursuing your passion will be well worth it.
And thats your 60-second success secret. If you want to be successful, nd the one thing youre most passionate about and then do it.
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6. Commanders Intent
Like it or not, unexpected things happen. Yet, just as its inevitable that the unexpected will occur, its also impossible to plan for every possible contingency. The challenge, then, is to prepare our selves, our teams and our organizations to overcome unexpected obstacles.
One excellent method is to use what the military calls Commanders Intent. This is a short, simply worded statement of the desired outcome for a particular mission. Its used to ensure that every soldier understands their commanders objectives and greatly increases the likelihood that they will make sound decisions as they adapt to unforeseen circumstances while still moving toward the ultimate goal of the operation.
And thats your 60-second success secret. Think about what you want to accomplish, express that goal in an uncomplicated manner, and then prepare your team to meet and overcome obstacles in the path to success by giving them your commanders intent.
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7. Accountability
If you want to succeed as a leader you must rst understand that your subordinates, your peers and your superiors will hold you accountable for everything you do or dont do.
This concept is best illustrated by quoting Michael Armstrong, a former AT&T CEO. According to Armstrong, The ancient Romans had a tradition: whenever one of their engineers constructed an arch, as the capstone was hoisted into place, the engineer assumed accountability for his work in the most profound way possible: he stood under the arch.
Great leaders stand under the arch by accepting accountability for both their actions and the actions of those they lead. Its simple in theory, but sometimes difcult in practice. Its difcult, but its absolutely essential.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Accept accountability by acting so that youre never afraid to stand under the arch.
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Success One Minute at at Time
8. Respect Yourself
Who do you respect? Take a moment and think of the 5 people you have the most respect for. Now, if you didnt list yourself at the top the list ask yourself this question: If I dont respect myself, how can I expect others to respect me?
Respect and self-respect are so closely intertwined that it would be difcult if not impossible for others to respect you if you dont respect yourself rst. In fact, regardless of whether you believe that all people are worthy of respect or that respect must be earned, self-respect is essential to living a satisfying, productive and meaningful life. In other words, living a life that others will respect.
And thats your Sixty Second Success Secret. Live your life so that you earn your own respect rst, and the respect of others will naturally follow.
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Success One Minute at at Time
9. The First Hour
How do you spend the rst hour of your day? Are you the type who repeatedly hits the snooze button? Or do you attack the day with vigor, anxious to get up and get started?
If you want to make the most out of your day, its important that you develop a routine that allows you to prepare, energize and act. How you spend the rst hour of your day will set the tone for everything that follows.
Of course, its important that you develop a routine that works best for you, but an effective rst hour typically includes a number of common activities. For instance, resist the urge to hit the snooze button and instead get up immediately. Make time to eat a healthy breakfast and to review your plan for the day. Exercise, if you dont do so later in the day, and use a period of quiet time to reect and reenergize and then engage, putting yourself fully into the day.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Start your day with a purpose and watch your productivity and satisfaction increase.
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Success One Minute at at Time
10. The Comfort Zone
Do you live your life in the middle of a personal comfort zone? If so, dont be surprised if you fail to advance as quickly as you think you should.
My decision while in the Army to apply for airborne training was way outside of my comfort zone and surprised just about everyone who knew me. I had to do it, though, if I ever wanted to get over the fear that I felt when I even thought about jumping out of an aircraft. And I have to admit that while I was never really comfortable jumping I have some amazing memories from the experience and I was also able to overcome my fear.
The fact that I also learned to deal with the butteries of nervousness is an added bonus and one that I draw on each time I prepare to speak in front of a group. All this because I was willing to step outside my comfort zone and try something different.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Step outside of your comfort zone to accelerate your personal growth and achieve your goals.
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11. Hope
I was talking with a client recently, and he made the comment that he hoped his new business would be successful. As I told him in response, I have bad news for you Hope is not a course of action. Or, as a computer programmer will tell you, You cant code a concept.
While hope is a positive emotion, and I would never advise someone to not be hopeful, I would also never recommend a path that relies on hope in order to achieve success. Instead, take that hope and turn it into a plan that incorporates goals and actions aimed at achieving the outcome you desire.
The goals you choose should have three basic characteristics they should be specic, achievable and measurable. And your actions should work to move you ever closer to achieving those goals.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Turn your hopes into reality by choosing your goals wisely and then taking action to achieve them.
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Success One Minute at at Time
12. Good. Fast. Cheap.
It can be frustrating to not get what you want, when you want it and at a price you want to pay. The next time that happens to you, think about the good/fast/cheap matrix. It reminds us that its normally only possible to obtain 2 of the 3 choices.
In other words, you can have it good and fast, but it wont be cheap. Or you can get it good and cheap, but you wont have it fast. And, of course, you can have it done fast and cheap, but it wont be good.
Also, dont leave it up to others to make the decision for you. Its up to you to prioritize your needs and decide which 2 of those 3 options are most important to you. Finally, just like with everything else in life, good planning and realistic expectations are the keys to success.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Remember the good/fast/cheap matrix the next time you want something done and youll avoid unnecessary frustration, delay and expense.
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Success One Minute at at Time
13. Focus
Youve chosen your goal and youve made a rm commitment to do what it takes to reach that goal, so now what? What do you have to do to turn that commitment into success? While there are a number of valid answers to that question I believe that developing the ability to focus should be at the top of the list.
If youre like me you start each day with more things to do than you can possibly accomplish. When faced with a seemingly unending to do list its critical that you identify the 1 or 2 tasks that are most important and then focus on completing those tasks. You might not get everything done that you hope to, but by focusing on and completing - your most essential tasks youll make your day a success and youll be moving closer to your goal. And as an added bonus youll also be developing the self-discipline you need to be truly successful.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Pick your most critical tasks each day and then focus your attention and your actions on completing them.
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Success One Minute at at Time
14. Going Up
Are you marketing a product, a service or yourself? If so, have you prepared an elevator speech? An elevator speech is a short presentation that can be delivered in the amount of time it might take to ride in an elevator with someone; say 20 to 30 seconds. Used effectively, it can mean the difference between making the sale and missing an opportunity.
An effective elevator speech should start with a hook that will get the listeners attention and should answer 4 key questions:
Who you are, what you have to offer, what problem you can solve, and most importantly what the listener should do as a result of hearing your presentation.
It might take a little work to condense all that information into 30 seconds, but I promise you that it will be time well spent.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Have an elevator speech ready and be prepared for unexpected opportunities to succeed.
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Success One Minute at at Time
15. Take a Chance
Sometimes you have to take a chance if youre going to succeed. But, as J.D. Pendry states in his book The Three Meter Zone, The possibility of failure comes with risk taking. Otherwise it would be called sure-thing taking.
Intelligent risk-taking is the hallmark of virtually every successful businessman. The key is to learn to recognize those risks that have the greatest potential payoff and least possibility for negative outcomes. You wont get it right every time, but weighing the upside and downside to any potential course of action is what separates intelligent risk taking from mere gambling.
Of course, what may be an intelligent risk for you may be a foolhardy gamble for me. You have to rely on your own experience, knowledge and judgment when assessing risk. And the more you do it, the better youll be at taking intelligent risks.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Learn to take intelligent risks and increase your chances of success.
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Success One Minute at at Time
16. Get Smart
How smart are your goals? Before you answer I should explain that Im not asking about their intelligence or your intelligence in choosing them. Rather, Im asking whether you chose them by using the SMART approach to goal-setting. Using this approach, your goals should be Specic, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and time bound.
As an example, I want to be rich is not a SMART goal. On the other hand, I want to have one million dollars in the bank by the time Im 35 years old is. It is because it includes a specic, measurable objective with a nite time limit for achieving it. In the context of this example, were also assuming that it is attainable and realistic given the individuals circumstances.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Be SMART about your goals by making them Specic, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
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Success One Minute at at Time
17. Observation
One of the most difcult tasks for a leader is to take charge of an existing team especially if youre coming in as an outsider. You can simplify the transition, though, if you remember one word:
Observation.
By taking the time to observe your team youll gain critical insight into its strengths and weaknesses, identify the informal leaders, and begin to formulate a plan for moving forward.
Its equally important to understand that the team will be observing you as you settle in to your new role. With that in mind you should always strive to show rather than to tell. In other words, instead of sending out a urry of policy letters or philosophical statements, demonstrate who you are and what youre about by rolling up your sleeves and establishing your credibility through your willingness to be an active part of the team.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Take the time to observe and be observed if you want to start strong as the new leader on an established team.
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Success One Minute at at Time
18. What Do You Do?
So, what do you do? Have you ever thought about your answer to that question and what it says to the listener? For instance, do you respond with a title? Im a speaker. Or do you give a list of your specialties? I present speeches and workshops on leadership, teambuilding and communication.
Those are the typical responses, but they dont set you apart from everyone else who does what you do. Thats why you should focus your answer on results I help organizations that want to quit talking about team building and start doing team building.
Its a subtle change, but by describing outcomes youll give them a better understanding of what you have to offer. And even if theyre not in the market for your services, they likely know someone who is and can provide a recommendation or referral.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Move beyond titles and focus on results the next time someone asks you what do you do?
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Success One Minute at at Time
19. Leader or Manager
Are you a leader or a manager? Here are ve simple questions that will help you decide:
First, do you have the groups respect? Remember, you can demand obedience but you must earn respect.
Do you emphasize the WE or the ME? A true leader worries less about whats in it for him or her and more about whats best for the group.
Are your actions value-driven? Leaders have solid values that are important to them and strive to instill those values in those they lead.
Are you honest with yourself and with others? This is especially important when it comes to being honest about your failures.
And nally, are you compassionate? Rules and procedures are important, but a compassionate leader knows when its appropriate to favor the person over the process.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Answer these questions honestly and learn what you need to do to be a better leader.
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Success One Minute at at Time
20. Do as I Do
Abigail Van Buren of Dear Abby fame once said, The less you talk the more youre listened to. This is especially important advice if your goal is to be an exceptional leader.
The most effective leaders are those who demonstrate who they are and what they expect on a daily basis. While its true that telling your team what you believe and what you expect can achieve results in the short term, if you dont back those words up with your actions youll nd it difcult to turn those results into long term success.
On the other hand, if your team sees you consistently walking the talk theyre much more likely to support you and your goals for the organization. Never forget that youre under constant observation and that what people see is much more powerful than what they hear.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Demonstrate your values and your expectations on a daily basis and youll nd it much easier to achieve lasting success as a leader.
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Success One Minute at at Time
21. Under-Promise and Over-Deliver
When I was a teenager I always tried to negotiate curfews that were an hour or so later than I actually planned on coming home. That way, if I came in later than my self-imposed time limit my parents were happy that I was home early instead of angry that I was late.
Since then I have continued to use that same method when dealing with clients. For instance, if I know that I can have a project completed by a particular date I will promise delivery on a slightly later date. As you can imagine, my clients are pleased when Im able to deliver earlier than promised.
A similar technique is to add additional value to what youve actually promised. It doesnt have to be anything complex or expensive, but whatever you add should demonstrate your willingness and ability to make an extra effort to satisfy your clients needs.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Under-promise and over-deliver in order to cultivate satised, long-term clients.
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Success One Minute at at Time
22. Juggling or Spinning?
Are you constantly juggling the conicting demands of your home life, work life and social life? If so, maybe its time you stop juggling and start spinning.
If youve ever seen a juggler in action, you know that constant attention is required in order to keep everything moving and to ensure that nothing hits the ground. Similar effort is required if youre trying to juggle the elements of your life.
On the other hand, a plate spinner focuses attention and effort on one plate until its spinning rapidly enough that he can leave it and move on to the next. He then only has to return to a particular plate long enough to ensure it is spinning with enough speed to remain balanced.
You can use the same technique with the many responsibilities that you face. Concentrate on each one in turn and return to it only when additional attention is required to keep it on track.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Focus on one responsibility at a time to ensure that none of your responsibilities come crashing down.
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Success One Minute at at Time
23. Gifts and Presents
What type of gift giver are you? Do you put a great deal of thought and effort into choosing just the right item or do you rely on gift cards and cash?
Regardless of which camp you fall in your gesture will be more meaningful if you rst understand the difference between a gift and a present. At the most basic level, a gift is something that you know the recipient wants while a present is something that you want them to have. Or, to put it another way, a gift is given for the benet of the receiver and a present is given as an expression of kindness or appreciation.
Different occasions call for different approaches and understanding the difference between a gift and a present can make your gesture that much more memorable.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Consider whether a gift or a present is most appropriate for the occasion and youll be remembered for both your thoughtfulness and your creativity.
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Success One Minute at at Time
24. Sharing Success
Its not just about you. In fact, what you do to help others succeed in life can have an impact on your success. I was brought up to believe that I should share some combination of my time, my talent and my tithes my nancial resources.
I recently began reading newspaper articles as a volunteer for a service that broadcasts audio programs to the visually impaired. By sharing my time and my talent Im giving something back to my community and hopefully helping at least one listener lead a more satisfying life.
If you would just take a moment to think about it, Im sure you can come up with a way that you can use your unique gifts to help someone else succeed. And remember it doesnt have to be through a grand gesture. Often times its the simplest acts that do the most good.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Helping others succeed should be a part of your personal success strategy.
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Success One Minute at at Time
25. Your Best Year
You can make this your best year ever if you take three specic steps. First, DECIDE what your best year would look like and then decide on what it will take to succeed in making this that year.
Second, select the SMART goals that will get you to that point. For those of you who have never heard the term Smart goals, it refers to goals that are Specic, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-based.
And third, join up with an accountability partner. Your accountability partner should be someone with goals that are similar to yours and with whom you can provide mutual support, motivation and, yes, accountability.
And dont think you need to wait for the start of a calendar year. Your best year ever can start NOW.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Decide to make this your best year ever, select SMART goals to support your quest, and join up with an accountability partner to keep each other motivated and on-track.
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Success One Minute at at Time
26. Brick Walls
Have you hit a brick wall in the quest to achieve your goals? It could be anything from the skepticism of someone you trust, to a lack of money, to just about anything else that could cause you to give up on your journey.
I recently viewed a presentation by Dr. Randy Pausch titled Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams. One of his key points is one Id like you to think seriously about He said, and I quote, Brick walls are there for a reason. They let us prove how badly we want things.
So, how badly do you want to achieve your goal? Do you want it badly enough to do whatever it takes to get over, under or around whatever brick wall you may be facing? If so, what are you waiting for? And if not, why did you make it a goal in the rst place?
And thats your sixty-second success secret. That brick wall is there for a reason. How you approach it will determine whether you succeed.
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Success One Minute at at Time
27. Faults or Fixes
When you come up against a problem do you nd fault or do you nd xes? Its easy to nd faults, but doing so is good for nothing more than giving you the false sense that the problem is due to something outside of your control.
The mind-set that the damage is done and its time to start pointing ngers is a common one, but one that wastes time that would be better spent coming up with a solution. So why not forget the fault and focus on the x?
Of course, nding xes isnt always easy. And it requires you to immerse yourself in the problem in order to fully understand it and then develop a course of action to overcome it. In the end, though, the time you spend nding xes instead of nding faults will actually lead to the elimination of a problem and isnt that the goal in the rst place?
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Move beyond nding fault to nding xes in order to overcome the problems that you face.
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Success One Minute at at Time
28. Take a Sip
Have you ever considered SIP-ing your way to success? Now, Im not talking about taking a small drink; The SIP method is actually a three-step process that begins with studying what others did to achieve their success. Books, articles and personal observation can all help you uncover the most effective techniques and strategies.
Next, incorporate into your routine the techniques and strategies that youve decided could have an impact on your success. After all, theres no need to reinvent the wheel when you can follow an established blueprint.
And nally, in order to ensure that those techniques have a lasting impact, you must practice them consistently to turn them into habits.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. Study, Incorporate and Practice proven success strategies and techniques in order to develop the habit of success.
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Success One Minute at at Time
29. Lead Something
Do you want to know the one guaranteed, sure-re method to becoming an effective leader? Its easy; Go lead something.
Thats right in order to become an effective leader its essential that you actually step out front and lead. Learning from the results of your actions will teach you far more than you will ever learn from books, articles or classes, although those are effective methods for becoming familiar with basic leadership skills.
Remember, though, that in order to become a better leader by leading it is also important that you have a trusted coach or mentor who will provide you with relevant and objective feedback. You will experience both successes and failures as you grow as a leader, and the feedback you receive will help you turn your experiences into improved performance.
And thats your sixty-second success secret. You must lead in order to become a better leader.
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Success One Minute at at Time
30. So What?
We all want to succeed, but never forget that your success depends on your ability to meet the needs of others. You can have the greatest ideas in the world but like it or not those around you will be thinking so what, who cares, whats in it for me? In order to convince them to follow your lead, buy your product, or accept your ideas you must rst convince them that doing so would serve their self-interest.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to resist the temptation to focus on the features of your plan, product or idea and instead highlight the benets. Never forget that its your ability to craft ideas and solutions that meet both your needs and the needs of others that will determine how successful you will be.
And thats your sixty-second success secret be prepared to address the so what, who cares, whats in it for me? issue if you want to be successful.
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About the Author
Doug Petch spent over 20 years in the United States Army, serving in elite Airborne and Special Operations units. His experiences in both war and peace taught him the importance of team building, leadership, and communication skills to organizational and individual success. He now helps organizations and individuals achieve success, sharing his experiences, insights, and unique point of view through dynamic and entertaining keynote speeches, workshops, and seminars. Combining decades of real-world experience with a Masters degree in Management and a background in training, Doug helps audiences learn and implement effective strategies for achieving peak performance and building high performance organizations. An engaging and entertaining speaker, Dougs specialty is challenging individuals and organizations to recognize and harness the passion and drive that they naturally possess.
When hes not speaking or writing youll likely nd Doug either in his roadster looking for new roads to conquer or on a tractor around the small Kentucky draft horse farm he shares with his wife and a houseful of retired racing greyhounds. Visit [Link] to learn more about Doug and how he can help you reach your goals.
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