Hopeful News

March 2010                                                                                                              Volume 4, Issue 3

I recently read The One Minute Entrepreneur by Ken Blanchard, Don Hutson and Ethan Willis.  The way it was written is unusual for a business related book.  It’s written as a story.  It starts out when the young boy is a senior in high school and follows him through his life.  It points out what he does right and not so right.  Below are some of the things he learned along the way.  Some of them seem rather simplistic and they are as long as you’re following them.  Yes, they are business related, but most apply to life in general, too.

1. If you associate with value-driven yet successful people, you can’t help but improve yourself.
2. Keep a notebook of the wisdom you read, hear and learn, and distill that learning into One
    Minute Insights.
3. You can get what you want in life if you help other people get what they want.
4. Take care of your numbers and your numbers will take care of you.
5. Four things to remember to be a successful entrepreneur:
     a. sales have to exceed expenses   
     b. collect your bills
     c. take care of your customers         
     d. take care of your people
6. Too many people dream too small.  Remember, you’ll never achieve more than you think you
     can.  So create a big dream.
7. Profit is the applause you get for taking care of your customers and creating a motivating
     environment for your people.
8. Creating legendary service starts with an image of what kind of experience you want your
     customers to have.
9. An important part of creating raving fan service is a question of listening to customers and
     then taking action on what you hear.
10. Once you have a clear picture of the experience you want your customers to have – an
       experience that will satisfy them, delight them, and put smiles on their faces – you have to
       figure out how to get your people excited about delivering that experience plus a little bit
       more.
11. There are two kinds of people in life: ducks and eagles.  Ducks act like victims.  Too many of
       us act like ducks in life.  Eagles, on the other hand, take initiative and soar above the crowd. 
       Which do you want to be?
12. As a manager or coach, you become the cheerleader and supporter of good performance by
      your people or clients.  What it really is about is helping, cheerleading and supporting their
      efforts.
13. Effective leadership is about treating people the right way by providing the direction and
       encouragement they need to be their best.
14. Long-term success is about more than making tomorrow’s numbers.
15. Everything you are and possess today, good or bad, will pass down to those who come after
       you – not only the monetary stuff, but also your beliefs and philosophy.  The legacy you leave
       is the legacy you live.
16. Being an entrepreneur is about committing to success one step at a time.



By the way, I reward referrals.  If you send someone to me that becomes a client for at least 3 months, you will get your choice of a gift card to Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, Staples, WalMart or if you're a paying client, I will discount your next month's invoice.  Your choice!  I appreciate referrals and want to thank those who send them to me.

March
Employee Spirit Month
International Ideas Month
National Craft Month
Act Happy Week – Mar 15th – 21st
American Chocolate Week – Mar 15th – 21st   
Companies that Care Day – Mar 18th
National Chocolate Caramel Day – Mar 19th
National Quilting Day – Mar 20th
World Folk Tales & Fables Week – Mar 22nd – 28th
National Mom & Pop Business Owner’s Day – Mar 29th

April
Car Care Month
Frog Month  (There are several sites for this one.  Just search for Frog Month.)
Home Improvement Time (April – September 30)
National Card and Letter Writing Month
National Garden Month 
Stress Awareness Month
International Children’s Book Day – Apr 2nd
National Networking Week – Apr 5th – 11th
Baby Massage Day – Apr 10th
National Library Week – April 11th – 17th
D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) – Apr 12th 
Get to Know Your Customers Day – Apr 15th
National Stress Awareness Day – Apr 16th
Administrative Professionals Week – Apr 18th – 24th
National Inspirational News Week – Apr 19th – 25th
Admin. Professionals Day or Secretary’s Day – Apr 21st
Earth Day – Apr 22nd  
National Jelly Bean Day – Apr 22nd
Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day – Apr 22nd  
National Teach Your Children to Save Day – Apr 27th
Arbor Day – Apr 30th  
Hairstylists Appreciation Day – Apr 30th

May
Creative Beginnings Month
Get Caught Reading Month
Go Fetch!  Food Drive for Homeless Animals Month - How about setting up a drop-off site for    
      food?  Pet food collected could be dropped of at Animal Shelters or Pounds.
International Business Image Improvement Month
National Good Car Keeping Month
National Photo Month
National Scrapbooking Day – May 1st
Cinco de Mayo – May 5th
Nurses Day – May 6th
National Pet Week – May 2nd – 8th
Work at Home Moms Week – May 3rd – 9th
National Nursing Home Week – May 9th – 15th
National Police Week – May 9th – 15th
Donate a Day’s Wages to Charity – May 12th
Peace Officer Memorial Day – May 15th
Children’s Book Week – May 10th – 16th
International Virtual Assistants Day – May 21st
What You Think about Grows Day – May 31st

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