Newsletter for June 2009: 21st Century Skills: Positive Self-Projection
21st Century Skills: Positive Self-Projection
Strictly Business: Replicate Yourself
Humor: The Rules to Enter Texas
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In the 21st century, top performers will use the power of Positive Self-Projection. They will know how to make a positive impression and how to influence people. They will be leaders and people of substance. They may or may not be "extroverts" (every personality can be a winner!) but they know how to influence others, build teams and make a difference in the global village.
21st Century Skills: Positive Self-Projection
In this series of essential skills for the road ahead, last month I wrote about the necessity to understand and practice "extreme selfishness." I emphasized that this is NOT about pettiness, greed or meanness, but about knowing who you are, what you believe, and where you are going in life. (You can read that issue in my archive at: http://www.rodgerblaker.com/business-life-coach-newsletters.htm
This month I want to talk about the mirror image of selfishness, "Positive Self-Projection." You cannot get there by yourself!
This has come home to me this year while I have been working on creating a new web site to elevate my presence in the market place. I'm the developer and provider of the written material and products and in the ordinary sense of the word, it's "my" web site. But in reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
In providing all the written material, I have needed the assistance with creating the site and editing the material. Then, I had my marketing team video me at speaking engagements and video client testimonials, then edit that material. After all that work is complete there is still the task of creating the web presentation that is the end delivery to the public. Next comes the testing to assure that the site is up and running correctly. All this work will take 100 of hours to complete.
I no more created "my" web site than someone on an assembly line "builds cars" or an astronaut goes into space alone.
Positive Self-Projection is the ability to find, recruit and lead teams of talented people to help you create, produce, and distribute something "real."
Whether it's creating music, providing dental services, or manufacturing computers, we ALL work in teams. Even coaches, who think of ourselves as "solopreneurs" require elaborate teams. We need websites and phone systems, we need colleagues who refer to us and networks who serve as resources and trusted friends.
As the Beatles said, we "get by with a little help from our friends." And, the poet John Donne observed that "no [person] is an island." We are in this together.
High achievers in the 21st century will have at least the following abilities:
1. They communicate exquisitely well. They have rich, well-developed vocabularies. They are clear and direct. They ask for what they want. They state their intentions honestly and without hesitation.
2. They get along with people. They are trustworthy, respected and well-liked. They appreciate diversity and respect others. They know when to speak up and can stand alone, but they also know when to be quiet and let others have the stage.
3. They are strong leaders. They can see the "road ahead" and know where they are going. They invite others to join them and they enjoy the dynamics of effective teams.
4. They are confident and flamboyant. They do not have to be the center of attention, but they understand the power of showmanship, drama, excitement and surprise to make a powerful impact.
5. They use technology in the service of their goals. They may not own every new toy, but they use email effectively. They use online (and off-line) systems to distribute information. They have great phone skills and "show up" attractively in all their communications.
In the 21st century, top performers will use the power of Positive Self-Projection. They will know how to make a positive impression and how to influence people. They will be leaders and people of substance. They may or may not be "extroverts" (every personality can be a winner!) but they know how to influence others, build teams and make a difference in the global village.
Quotes of the Month
"Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?" -- Ben Franklin
"We have much to do together. Let us do it in wisdom and love and joy. Let us make this the human experience." -- Gary Zukav
"The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams." -- Eleanor Roosevelt
"Each of us was born with wings... (and) has the ability to go farther than we ever thought possible, to do things beyond our wildest imaginings." -- Barbara Stanny
Strictly Business: Replicate Yourself
One of the key distinctions between creating your own job and building a business, is the ability to have other people do your work for you. This isn't about "cloning" but about building a team to run your business, serve your customers and help you (and them) make money.
Most professionals run their "practice" as a small business for tax and accounting reasons, but in fact they have a job they created for themselves. They may enjoy not working for a corporation, but they still have to show up and do the work in order to get paid. If they take a week off, the income stops.
Fortunately, more and more professionals are training others to do much of what they used to do themselves. Attorneys use legal assistants, and physicians and dentists use more (and more highly trained) assistants all the time. The most successful sales professional I've coached is a financial planner with a personal staff of 3 people who work for HIM, not for his employer. In many cases, his staff can perform much of the follow up work, even when he is on vacation. His revenue continues while he is on the beach!
Successful business people learn to delegate. They hire experts who can strengthen and diversify the office. They understand that training and leading a team will always be more profitable than doing it alone.
Learn to delegate. The key to building your business is almost never "doing" more; it's hiring and supporting great people. Sometimes the key is working with a great coach who can help you see the road ahead and smooth out the "bumpy sections." If you would like to talk about coaching, please contact me via email at: rodger@rodgerblaker.com
Humor: The Rules to Enter Texas
I love Texans, after all, I am one! I love their pride, their sense of feet-on-the-ground practicality, and I love their humor. These were sent to me by a very good Texas friend. He's not from Texas, but he's been “cowboying up” to get ready!
The Rules to Enter Texas apply to each person as they enter Texas. Learn & remember! (East Coast and California-types pay particular attention!)
1. Pull up your droopy pants. You look like an idiot.
2. Let's get this straight; it's called a "gravel road." No matter how slow you drive, you're going to get dust on your Lexus. Drive it or get out of the way.
3. They are cattle & oil wells. That's what they smell like to you. They smell like money to us. Get over it.
4. So you have a $60,000 car. We're impressed. We have $250,000 cotton strippers that are driven only 3 weeks a year.
5. So every person in every pickup waves. It's called being friendly. Try to understand the concept.
6. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of doves are coming in, we WILL shoot it out of your hand.
7. Yeah, we eat catfish & crawfish. You want sushi & caviar? It's available at the corner bait shop.
8. The "Opener" refers to the first day of deer season. It's a religious holiday held the closest Saturday to the first of November.
9. We open doors for women. That is applied to all women, regardless of age.
10. No, there's no "vegetarian special" on the menu. Order steak. Or you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the 2 pounds of ham & turkey.
11. When we fill out a table, there are three main dishes: meat, potatoes, and bread. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and chili peppers. And we don't care what you folks call that stuff you eat. It AIN'T REAL CHILI! Chili was born and bred in San Antonio, and real chili never met a tomato!
12. You bring "coke" into my house, it better be brown, wet, and served over ice.
13.College and High School Football is as important here as the Lakers and the Knicks, and a dang site more fun to watch.
14. Colleges? Try University of Texas, Texas A&M or Texas Tech. They come outta there with an education plus a love for God and country, and they still wave at passing pickups when they come home for the holidays.
15. We have more folks in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines than any other state, so "Don't Mess with Texas." If you do, you'll get whipped by the best.
16. Always remember what our great governor Sam Houston once said, "Texas can make it without the United States, but the United States can't make it without Texas."
Rodger Blaker works with executives, small business owners and professionals who want to grow in their business and create an extraordinary life!
For info on resources for your success, visit: http://www.rodgerblaker.com or call me at 214-485-2238.
Please forward this copy to your friends and colleagues! That's how I grow!