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Doug Gray, the Passionate Action guy

Fact:  We all aspire to be a superhero

Fact:  I have written a book with a purple cover called “Passionate Actiuon: 5 Steps to Creating Success in Life and Work” (2007)

Fact:  There is no sex in the book.  Sorry.

So what does it mean to be the Passionate Action guy?

1.  Passions are expressions of strong emotion.  They help us create.  Passions lead to something else.  Think of any relationship– there are passionate impulses at the start, yet relationships are hard to maintain over time.  Think of any business- there is a passionate focus at the start- yet it is hard to maintain most businesses over time.  Sparks start fires.  But they do not maintain fires.

2.  Actions require focused accountability.  Nothing sexy involved.  Daily habits lead to results.  Make your sales.  Focus on delivery.

This is HOW I help my clients make money and serve others.  Call me at 704.895.6479 for details.

My experience is that we create success when 1) luck meets 2) prepared opportunity.

In that formula, the only thing I can control is preparation.  And so I continue, day after day, year after year.  Since 1997.

Success starts with the physical actions.  Like running and yoga stretching.  Like daily calls to prospects.  Like KPIs.

So why wait?  Call me at 704.895.6479 with your story.

Most of us need a little more passionate action in our lives.

 

 

 

What’s Next?

Option 1.  Americans are known throughout the world as a country of optimists.

We were founded as the “New World”, we foster Nobel Prizes and Patents and innovations that imply global leadership for centuries to come.

The defining question is “What’s next?”

  • Consider every political campaign… or product launch… or new business…
  • Consider any Apple product launch, and the fact that Steve Jobs spent 6 weeks (consider that time investment) preparing to announce “what’s next?”
  •  Consider media descriptions, such as the West Wing television series.  Fast action.  Continuous movement– walking between rooms or hallways.  Glib banter.  And after any dramatic moment, that long pause, and the president or chief of staff turns to the exhausted team and asks, “What’s next?”   Perhaps the defining question of that television series.
  • Consider sports.  I played ice hockey in college, so I recall the Wayne Gretsky quote, “I skate to where the puck will be…”  Pick your sport.

In business we focus on “What’s next?”  We make our daily to do lists.  And we choose markets.   And we make calls to those who need our products and services.  We wake each morning with that ancient optimistic faith that we can “Make it a great day.”

Or not.

Option 2.  Some people choose to hide or protect their interests.  They do not reach forward, or look up, to embrace what’s next.  They are fearful.

Wags often state that there are two kinds of people.  Those who think there are two kinds of people.  And those who disagree.

Lately I think there are only options to the “What’s next?” question.

Are you option 1, based on optimism, or option 2, based on fear?

Call me at 704.895.6479 with your answer.

 

Success is in your blood…

… maybe.

Consider your antecedents.

“Antecedents” refers to your family or origin, parents, and grandparents.  These are “your people.”  They left you with strong messages about your probability of success.

If in doubt, read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.

If still in doubt, reflect on the messages passed on by your antecedents.

Here are two examples:

My running partner, George, has parents who met in the second grade, as school children in the midwest.  One grandfather took him for ice cream almost every day.  The other grandfather took him on weeklong trips every summer.  His extended family lived within blocks of one another.  They slept at each other’s homes.  Some family members disliked each other. But they traveled together and kept their differences to themselves.  And in the depression, one patriarch left the banking world to sell life insurance.  He made money for over 50 years… In a similar way,  George does the same work that he started at age 17 when he joined the Air Force.  Executive assessments and coaching and consulting.  His antecedents taught him something about independent judgement, business, and long term focus.

My former client, Harry, has family roots from Ontario and Buffalo, NY.  Everyone in his family skates backwards.  His grandfather was the personnel manager at the largest local business.  As such, he hired hundreds of people, including all the sisters at Harry’s grandmother’s side of the family.  All of them were employees, workers.  They measured success by hours endured at work.  During the depression Harrys’ grandfather on his mother’s side was given enough wood to build a cottage on Lake Erie.  For generations thereafter, hundreds of his descendants gathered there for summer picnics and volleyball games.  Then they returned to work early Monday morning… In contrast, Harry rebelled against that life style.  He travelled the world.  He became a masterful salesman.  Then he started his small business.  He became very successful.  His passion?  Harry refused to life the same life as his antecedents.

So, take a minute to do the following:

1.  Make a list of “who” and “what.”  Who were you antecedents and what did they teach you?

2.  Share that list with 6 people in your Inner Circle.  If you do not have 6 people, then you need to invite them.  Or hire me.

Success is largely shaped by our antecedents.

For details on how to be more successful, then call me at 704.895.6479

 

Corporate earnings vs. wage earnings vs. professional development

Perhaps you have seen this chart from Q4, 2012?  This data amazed me.

The red line indicates corporate earnings, which are at an all time high.

The blue line indicates individual wage earnings, which are at an all time low.

The gap between these lines is one indication of low engagement by most workers.

IMHO we need more professional development of key talent.  Companies have the cash assets.  Individuals have the need.

What does this gap suggest about the need for professional development at your company?

What does this gap suggest about the proliferation of outsourced specialized roles, such as external coaching and consulting?  (Some 40% of the American workforce…)

I need your help.  I am part of that 40%.

Since 1997, I have guaranteed results with coaching and consulting clients.

Please give me a call and let me know how you are doing.  704.895.6479.  Thanks.


My coaching guarantee

Since 1997, I have provided an unconditional guarantee on coaching services from Action Learning Associates.

There is no “fine print.”

If you are not happy, then I do not want your money.

With many clients, I offer a coaching for results guarantee.  If we agree to work together, and you do the work, then you can pay me at any time.  I guarantee high value.  To date, after hundreds of clients, 100% of them have paid for their coaching services.  Some agreed to pay a lesser amount than we had expected.  Some agreed to pay more.  Virtually 100% found the coaching to be valuable.

Here is why I provide that guarantee.  When I was in high school I had two paper routes.  And I worked at a warehouse after school.  And I cleaned windows and did lawns in the neighborhood.  One neighbor wanted the windows cleaned.  I said, “Yes of course.”  It took about two days.  Imagine sweaty grimy paper towels and windex.  Three stories of filthy windows.  Midsummer heat.  I was tired… but I did my best to do the job.  When the neighbor asked how much to pay me, I countered with, “Let me ask you two questions and then we will likely agree on a number.”

The first question was, “Were you delighted with the service I provided and would you hire me or refer me if the need arose again?”  She said yes.

The second question was,  “What was the value of this service for you?”  She said a number that was higher than what I expected.  I said thank you.

That was in 1981 or so… and I have used that process ever since.

Recently I learned that Marshall Goldsmith, a premier executive coach, uses a similar model when coaching for results.  Here is that model:

 

 

Our coaching tracks the proven eight-step process:

  1. Select the appropriate coach
  2. Measure baseline performance
  3. Identify areas for skills development
  4. Formulate a custom training regimen
  5. Secure stakeholder buy-in
  6. Implement the training regimen
  7. Follow up with stakeholders
  8. Measure results
I like this model and this list.  There are no “fine details.”  All about coaching for results.
So, are you ready to work together?  Give me a call now.

 

Profits are better than wages

Jim Rohn, the great business consultant and philosopher, tells a story about his childhood.  You may like this story…

As a boy Jim learned that he had two choices:

1.  He could work for others and earn a wage.  As an employee.  For as long as he was able.

2.  Or, he could develop himself and his team, and earn a profit.  As a small business owner.  And earn profits.  For as long as he was able.

He could have learned about these choices at any age.  He could have been your age when he learned about them.  Jim quickly realized that earning a profit would lead to wealth.  He embraced choice #2.  Here are some reasons why you should do the same:

Personal development leads to wealth.

Self education leads to wealth.

Professional development leads to wealth.

The small business owner with the strongest team is the wealthiest…

Professional coaching and consulting with me is guaranteed to help you make profits.

And profits are better than wages.

So call me now.  At 704.895.6479.