Posts Tagged ‘sales speaker’
The Little Mind That Could – Puff, Puff, Chug, Chug
The Little Mind That Could (an excerpt from The Progress Challenge by Dean Lindsay)
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I was listening to my elder daughter, Sofia, reading Wally Piper’s classic The Little Engine That Could to her younger sister, Ella, one night and it occurred to me what a powerful little story it is. In his book, Mr. Piper shares the story of a little red engine pulling a train “filled full of good things for boys and girls” on the other side of a mountain.
When the little red engine breaks down, a toy clown hops off the little train and starts asking larger passing trains if they will help.
The first two trains refuse to help because they feel they are too big and important to pull toys and goodies.
A rusty third train relates that he is too old and tired to help, and chugs away saying, “I can not. I can not. I can not.”
Finally, a little blue engine passes by and stops immediately when she sees the clown waving. The little engine’s first words are, “What is the matter, my friends?”
The clown relays the challenge, and the little blue engine explains that she has never been over the mountain. She then sees the tears in the dolls’ eyes and thinks of the good little girls and boys who will not have any toys to play with or good food to eat unless she helps. She looks at the mountain and says, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.”
The little blue engine hitches herself to the little train and starts tugging and pulling and pulling and tugging. Slowly, the train moves forward.
“Puff, puff, chug, chug, went the Little Blue Engine. ‘I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.’” – from The Little Engine That Could by Wally Piper
Up they go, ever so slowly to the top of the mountain. When they reach the top, the toys cheer. After coming down the mountain and unhitching the train, the little blue engine chugs away, saying happily, “I thought I could. I thought I could. I thought I could.”
The conviction that we have the power to progress is a major key to progressing. Remember, our brains want to be right. Whatever the mind believes, it will work to make true.
But, the little blue engine didn’t say, “I think I can,” only one time. She said it over and over and over and over. Repetition, repetition, repetition.
What do you think that little blue engine will say next time she is asked to pull a train over a mountain?
Will she say, “I think I can”?
I think not. She will say, “Yes, I can.”
Also, the little blue engine did not say, “I think I can,” and then glide away. She said it and immediately hitched herself to the little train and started tugging and pulling and pulling and tugging. To progress in this world of change, there must be ACTION. No dallying!
The little blue engine had to tug and pull to reach her goal.
Will some of the progressive action steps that you and your company need to take to climb that mountain and reach your crafted goals be painful? Yes. Again, consider:
What is more painful to you, discipline or regret?
Finally, the little blue engine had strong reasons. She saw the tears in the dolls’ eyes and considered the little children, who would not have any toys or good food to eat unless she helped. She would feel pain if she didn’t help, and would gain pleasure, prestige, and power if she did.
Develop strong reasons for taking strong action. Remind yourself often of the personal benefits that reaching your and your company’s goals will have for your life. Help others develop strong reasons, so they too choose to take strong actions.
Define your Parameters for Progress.
Commit to well-crafted, progress-based goals.
Stop Changing and Start Progressing.
Uncover others’ Parameters for Progress.
Earn and Maintain Customer Loyalty.
Be a BAM and Believe you can help others progress.
Focus on Being Progress – not being perfect.
Believe in yourself. Chug. Chug. Puff. Puff.
Progress is a step forward. Take today’s step. To change is human; to progress, divine.
Be Progress.
(an excerpt from The Progress Challenge by Dean Lindsay)
Solid Places to NETWORK (Part 2) from Cracking the Networking CODE
PROVEN PLACES TO NETWORK (PART TWO)
from Cracking the Networking CODE by Dean Lindsay
6. Organizations with the Same Philosophy as Yours
If you care about the purpose of the organization, you will be proud to be a member and reap personal satisfaction , along with the opportunity to build relationships. Get involved in a charity that feels right.
7. Small Business Development Centers – SBDC
Most metropolitan areas have a couple of SBDCs. Whether you have your own business or are an employee, these business centers offer courses and resources to help you to grow, as well as to meet people.
8. Hobby/Passion
Join groups that offer possibilities for making contacts and achieving personal growth: art appreciation, dancing, chess, astronomy, wine and food clubs, etc. You will meet others with similar interests who are ready to network. Go to meetings that feature discussions on a topic you’re interested in.
9. Golf/ Sports
Golf has long been the sport for business networking. So if you’re a somewhat decent swinger, tee up. Jerry Lindsay (successful business owner, avid golfer, and a great dad) offers these words of caution: “The way a person relates to golf mirrors the way they relate to business. So putt everything out, play the ball where it lies, let faster players play through, do not throw clubs, and most of all, do not cheat.” Other sports work fine for networking, too. The key is to find a sport you are interested in, and get involved.
10. Spiritual Organizations
I am NOT suggesting that you join a church or synagogue only for the business opportunities. But let’s face it – many solid business relationships are forged in the pews and folding chairs of spiritual organizations. Go for the right reasons and let your light shine. Hide it under a bushel? No. You’ve got to let it shine.
Join groups that offer possibilities for making contacts and achieving personal growth: art appreciation, dancing, chess, astronomy, wine and food clubs, etc. You will meet others with similar interests who are ready to network. Go to meetings that feature discussions on a topic you’re interested in.
Golf has long been the sport for business networking. So if you’re a somewhat decent swinger, tee up. Jerry Lindsay (successful business owner, avid golfer, and a great dad) offers these words of caution: “The way a person relates to golf mirrors the way they relate to business. So putt everything out, play the ball where it lies, let faster players play through, do not throw clubs, and most of all, do not cheat.” Other sports work fine for networking, too. The key is to find a sport you are interested in, and get involved.
I am NOT suggesting that you join a church or synagogue only for the business opportunities. But let’s face it – many solid business relationships are forged in the pews and folding chairs of spiritual organizations. Go for the right reasons and let your light shine. Hide it under a bushel? No. You’ve got to let it shine.
More to Come.
Be Progress.
Funny Business Leadership Speaker Video – Progress vs Change
Funny Business Leadership Speaker, Sales Training
Dean Lindsay, Author of The Progress Challenge, on Progress vs Change
Follow him at: www.Twitter.com/DeanLindsay
Endorsements for The Progress Challenge : Working and Winning in a World of Change
“Finally a meaningful book with a workable process for progress.”
– Gerhard Gschwandtner
Founder and Publisher
Selling Power Magazine
“The Progress Challenge is a much needed kick in the pants for all of us. Dean Lindsay’s witty words and questions will wake up your sleeping intentions and challenge you to move forward with purpose in your life. What an enlightening book!”
– Ken Blanchard,
coauthor of The One Minute Manager®
and Leading at a Higher Level
“The Progress Challenge is an excellent guide to both personal and professional success. The book helps the reader understand that change is inevitable, yet progress is a choice. In Lindsay’s words…”be progress”.
– Jim Keyes
CEO, Blockbuster
“If you desire to become a better leader, I recommend you add Dean Lindsay’s The Progress Challenge to your leadership toolkit. I especially liked the insight into the life and work of Viktor Frankl as well as Dean’s use of humor throughout the book – a valuable and enjoyable read. The Progress Challenge is an honorable challenge that anyone aiming to make a positive difference should take.”
– Ramon F. Baez
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
“The Progress Challenge is a fun to read book crammed full of thought-provoking, practical and motivating take-aways. With the 6 P’s of Progress, Dean gives us all the incredible opportunity to be purposeful in creating progress, not just change, in our lives and work.”
– Julie Weber
Senior Director, People
Southwest Airlines Co.
Be Progress.
Funny business leadership speaker video, Dean Lindsay
