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Technology Builds A Fire Under Teamwork

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Technology Helps Teamwork Produce

Teamwork can supercharge productivity, when the team has the right tools and technology to work with.

Here’s a guy who found the existing tools inadequate. So he built his own, made it adaptable to other businesses, and sells it to them. Good teamwork requires good tools. Be sure to give them the right ones!

Read on for the whole story.

A group of worker with teamwork that uses technology and tools to build a house

Teamwork Requires Tools to Produce Results

How productive would the team in the picture be if they had no hammers, saws, drills or screwdrivers? Skills and ability are, of course, important. Only with the right tools though can the skills and ability be effectively applied. 

Teams can do more than the sum of what the individual members could do working solo…IF they have appropriate tools for the task at hand.

Collaboration is Vital in Business

Peter Coppinger is the CEO of a company aptly named Teamwork, He tells the story of how he came to realize they needed to develop a teamwork tool.

In a complex business environment, nobody has all the answers. Collaboration with others inside and outside the company is vital to obtaining optimum results. Here’s a reading recommendation that elaborates on this concept. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan wrote Who not How. They explain that striving to learn HOW to do things can limit your productivity when there’s a WHO to do it more expertly. Hire the WHO and concentrate on your areas of expertise.

The members of a team must communicate with each other to do their work effectively.

On a worksite like the one in the picture, communication is face-to-face.

In a business environment, team members may be separated by thousands of miles. 

Technology Assists Collaboration

As Peter’s company grew, teams expanded internationally. They found that a real-time document management system was needed to keep everyone up to date.

They sampled all the software available and found the one that showed the most promise. Even it turned out to be hard and confusing to use. When it’s hard and confusing to use something, people tend not to use it. That results in people not being “in the loop” on important information.

New Solution Required!

Teamwork learned that other companies were experiencing similar frustration with the available technology. So, they saw a business opportunity. They developed a clearly defined set of requirements for Teamwork Spaces. Once they had that they turned the project over to an Irish development team to build it.

Coppinger was initially reluctant to let the work out of his own shop. However, he realized that collaboration is at the center of everything the company does. So farming out the development of the technology was the right thing to do. They made sure that the app developed by the Irish team was easy to use for people at all levels in the company, and for outside collaborators.

With their old system, people didn’t always keep up with information they needed to know. Sometimes management couldn’t actually tell who was up to date on that information. So they put the Required Reading feature front and center on the new dashboard.

Teamwork, living up to their name, is all about helping every team member contribute to the work they’re responsible for. When they found nothing on the market to make that happen, they built it! Sometimes you need to make your own tools. If you can sell them to others, so much the better!

A few key points from the article:

  • Teamwork is key to productivity.
  • Teams need tools (in this case, technology) to maximize their productivity.
  • When the right technology is not available, build it!
  • If others are suffering the same woes, sell the technology to them!

Note: Archived issues of The Unity Community are available here. Search that page for keywords representing your particular interest. Most articles offer suggestions for ways of improving business and personal relationships. Keep in mind that business is done by…people. Every business concern is essentially an inter-personal concern. 

A “Shot in the Arm” Every Week!

Eric Lofholm is my friend, mentor and sales coach. He hosts a 30-minute motivational call every Thursday (recently changed from daily).  The call is at 7:30 AM Pacific time. Register for it here. You’ll find instructions on how to join the call on Facebook, Zoom, by phone, or in a recording you can access on your time. 

Let’s Talk!

How’s the teamwork in your organization? Do the teams have the tools they need? Want to talk about it? Reply to this message or click here if you’d like to chat by Zoom on the 

phone.

Do you like The Unity Community?

Do you find value in the articles?

What’s good about it?

What would make it even more valuable for you? 

Suggestions for topics in future issues? Do you have something you’d like to contribute? It can be your work…or someone else’s. I’ll give you and the author ample credit for your contribution if I use it.

Your thoughts, suggestions and comments are always welcome. Reply to this message, or go here if you’d like to chat on the phone or Zoom. 

Get too Much Email?

Today’s issue is going to all my subscribers. If you’re among my monthly subscribers, you’ll receive your next issue on October 4, 2021.

If the monthly schedule suits you better, just reply to this message with the word “MONTHLY” in the message or subject line. If you elect that option, you can still check out the weekly issues at your convenience here. Since your last monthly issue, we’ve discussed:

Collapse of Christianity? – Published 30 August 2021

Cannabis is Here to Stay – Published 24 August 2021

Make Your Brain Younger! – Published 16 August 2021

Find New |Joy in Relationships – Published 9 August 2021

 

Want to Do More Business?

Suppose you go to a networking event. You’re amazed to find all your ideal prospects waiting to talk with you.

Our Business Accelerator Platform gives you this kind of exposure to your market. These are the people you want to help!

We find your ideal client prospects and start conversations with them. Then we communicate your value. We get them to schedule appointments with you…all on autopilot. This can happen for you! Learn how here. 

When you join Smart Money Network’s Business Accelerator Platform, we:

  • Optimize your LinkedIn Profile Page so it better attracts people in your market.

(Hint: What painful issue do you resolve for your clients? If your LinkedIn profile describes how you make your clients’ lives better, it’s rare! Most describe the merchant’s qualifications and expertise. They say little about what he/she does to remove clients’ pain.)

  • LinkedIn has 740 million members. We find the few thousand who match your ideal client profile. You define your best prospect for us. Then we go find them.

(Even if you can find these people by yourself, it will take hours away from your work with your current clients.)

  • Invite about 100 of these best prospects every week to connect with you on LinkedIn.
  • Send a welcome message to those who accept your invitation and connect.

(Typically 15% or more. Currently, over 25% of those I invite are connecting!)

  • Deliver something of value to them from you, and then do it again!
  • Begin a “drip campaign” of carefully timed messages, providing more value. These messages give…give… give…and then ask. No pitches!

All these messages come from you personally. We want and expect your input in developing them…unless you want us to just do it. You can follow the threads and adjust your messages as you see better ways to engage your prospects. We’re always ready to talk with you about improving your messaging.

See a “hot” prospect you want to engage with your unique message? Take over the exchange manually!

Click here to learn how you can put this program to work for YOU!

Would You Like to Publish a Blog Like This One?

Want new ways to engage your prospects and clients? Unity Copywriting writes the materials that help you stay top of their minds.  Let’s discuss how these materials can help you with your marketing!

Opioid Addiction Leads to Cannabis

by

Cannabis (marijuana) is becoming a mainstream industry. Entrepreneurs are finding new wrinkles in the business.

My grandson is pursuing a career in medical marijuana, so. stories like this fascinate me.

Read about the wrinkles Ryan Ansin, Keith Cooper and Jayne Vining are bringing to the marijuana business.

two persons surrounded by cannabis that may leads to Opioid Addiction

Here’s a company that capitalized on space made available by the closing of a shoe factory. They turned it into an indoor cannabis lab. The company produces 50+ varieties of marijuana. More than 200 market-ready products are manufactured from that marijuana. These products meet the wants and needs of a wide range of recreational and medical users.

The saga of how they developed this business is fascinating. Massachusetts approved marijuana for medical purposes in 2012 and for recreational use in 2016. Nonetheless, the hoops G. Ryan Ansin and CEO Keith Cooper had to jump through were many and complicated.

Jayne Vining founded a not-for-profit organization in 2010. After her daughter died of an opioid addiction she redirected the foundation’s purpose to medical marijuana. Her thought was that cannabis could be a non-addictive replacement to aid in addiction recovery.

Ansin convinced Vining to join him in his venture to not only sell marijuana but to grow it as well. He raised $50 million from angel investors. Then he spent 3 years renovating the old shoe factory to grow cannabis. A side benefit is that it became a center for the post-industrial revival of Fitchburg, the Boston suburb where the old factory is located. In 2017 Ansin brought in Keith Cooper as CEO. Cooper is a veteran CEO from many start-ups.

Revolutionary Labs is positioning itself to expand to other states as regulations change. They also hope to provide the pattern for others to grow marijuana efficiently.

This is a very complex story with many moving parts. Ansin says, “We’re building the plane while flying it.” I encourage you to read the details here.

Note: Archived issues of The Unity Community are available here. Search that page for keywords representing your particular interest. Most articles offer suggestions for ways of improving business and personal relationships. Keep in mind that business is done by…people. Every business concern is essentially an inter-personal concern. 

A “Shot in the Arm” Every Week!

Eric Lofholm is my friend, mentor and sales coach. He hosts a 30-minute motivational call every Thursday (recently changed from daily).  The call is at 7:30 AM Pacific time. Register for it here. You’ll find instructions on how to join the call on Facebook, Zoom, by phone, or later in a recording. 

Let’s Talk!

What do you think of the concept of making marijuana generally available – for medical, and/or recreational use? Let’s talk about that!  Reply to this message or click here if you’d like to chat on the phone.

Do you like The Unity Community?

Do you find value in the articles?

What’s good about it?

What would make it even more valuable for you? 

Suggestions for topics in future issues? Do you have something you’d like to contribute? It can be your work…or someone else’s. I’ll give you and the author ample credit for your contribution if I use it.

Your thoughts, suggestions and comments are always welcome. Reply to this message, or go here if you’d like to chat on the phone or Zoom. 

Do You Know Someone Who’d Like This?

Forward it to them with the FORWARD feature in your email program. 

Did someone forward this to you? Would you like to subscribe (free)? Send me your email address and tell me you’d like to subscribe.

Want to Do More Business?

Suppose you go to a networking event. You’re amazed to find all your ideal prospects waiting to talk with you.

Our Business Accelerator Platform gives you this kind of exposure to your market. These are the people you want to help!

We find your ideal client prospects and start conversations with them. Then we communicate your value. We get them to schedule appointments with you…all on autopilot. This can happen for you! Learn how here. 

When you join Smart Money Network’s Business Accelerator Platform, we:

  • Optimize your LinkedIn Profile Page so it better attracts people in your market.

(Hint: What painful issue do you resolve for your clients? If your LinkedIn profile describes how you make your clients’ lives better, it’s rare! Most describe the merchant’s qualifications and expertise. They say little about what he/she does to remove clients’ pain.)

  • LinkedIn has 740 million members. We find the few thousand who match your ideal client profile. You define your best prospect for us. Then we go find them.

(Even if you can find these people by yourself, it will take hours away from your work with your current clients.)

  • Invite about 100 of these best prospects every week to connect with you on LinkedIn.
  • Send a welcome message to those who accept your invitation and connect.

(Typically 15% or more. Currently, over 25% of those I invite are connecting!)

  • Deliver something of value to them from you, and then do it again!
  • Begin a “drip campaign” of carefully timed messages, providing more value. These messages give…give… give…and then ask. No pitches!

All these messages come from you personally. We want and expect your input in developing them…unless you want us to just do it. You can follow the threads and adjust your messages as you see better ways to engage your prospects. We’re always ready to talk with you about improving your messaging.

See a “hot” prospect you want to engage with your unique message? Take over the exchange manually!

Click here to learn how you can put this program to work for YOU!

Would You Like to Publish a Newsletter Like This One?

Want new ways to engage your prospects and clients? Unity Copywriting writes the materials that help you stay top of their minds.  Let’s discuss how these materials can help you with your marketing!

Making Your Brain Younger!

by

Think the brain damage from a serious drug addiction is permanent? 

Here’s a guy who not only kicked the addiction. He became a neuroscientist. He has some valuable advice for us to help us improve our brain health, as he did.

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1559757148-5c350d0d3c56?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8OXx8YnJhaW4lMjBhZ2UlMjBpbmRpY2F0b3JzfGVufDB8fDB8fA%3D%3D&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&auto=format&fit=crop&w=500&q=60

Brian Pennie kicked a heroin addiction and made his brain 10 years younger!

From Age 20 to age 35, Brian was consumed with a heroin addiction. His brain had developed into an anxiety machine. He points out that whatever we focus our minds on shapes our brains.

In October 2013, he experienced a horrible night and woke up to the fact that his brain could be re-shaped in a direction he chose. He doesn’t describe the “horrible night” in detail.

At that time he connected with the Whelan Lab at Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience in Dublin, Ireland. They calculate brain-predicted age (brainPAD scores) by analyzing the grey matter density of the brain. Brian’s article has some convincing images illustrating this.

From 2013, when he stopped using hard drugs, to 2018, Brian’s predicted brain age decreased to where it was 10 years below his chronological age. Brain age is a predictor of mortality risk, cognitive decline, increased risk of dementia, and quality of physical function.

How did he do this? Therein lies our story.

12 practices Brian used to reshape his brain and its focus:

  • Self-observation is a form of meditation that allows us to thoughtfully observe our thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without engaging with them. An example could be a lump in your throat or a tight chest. If you see these sensations as clouds in the sky that you observe from the blue sky around the clouds, you observe them without engaging. 

Brian reports that he still has anxiety feelings. Yet he’s able to observe them without engaging, through self-observation.

  • Seek questions, rather than answers; Brian has a list of 7 questions he asks himself in challenging situations:
  1. What part of this situation is under my control?
  2. What am I constantly avoiding? 
  3. What would my mentors think about this? 
  4. What would tomorrow-me think? 
  5. If I am saying yes to this, what am I saying no to?.
  6. Does this align with my values? 
  7. What’s the worst that’ll happen if I attempt this? 

He says these questions help him sort out his life when he feels stuck.

  • Remove (or reduce) “emotional hijackings”. Daniel Goleman defines these as the situation where your amygdala – the fear center of your brain – screams like a siren.
  • Focus on the present moment.
  • Tighten up sleep routines. He has several specific recommendations in this area.
  • Limit alcohol consumption.
  • Feed your brain with good quality brain food. Become a student of life and develop a growth mindset.
  • Use challenges as fuel for growth.
  • Lean toward your fears.
  • Life it up – bring joy, energy, and present moment awareness into encounters with others.
  • Listen to your heart.
  • Write a new story.

Some things he learned to avoid:

  • Difficult people.
  • Negative news.
  • Social media.

Brian discusses several of these points in significant detail. I recommend you read his article to get the full benefit;

Brian’s Takeaway from His Experience

What we repeatedly do defines our lives. These habitual behaviors determine how we think and feel, as well as affecting our outside world. Neuroscience shows these actions also change the shape of our brains.

When we bring positive habits into our lives, we change the age of our brains. We live longer, reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline, and we have superior physical function over those with an “older brain.”

When we change our habits, we change our brains. When we change our brains, we change our lives.

What would you do if you had a second chance at life? Having escaped from the depths of heroin addiction, Brian decided to design a program to show people how he did it. His FREE program is available here.

Note: Archived issues of The Unity Community are available here. Search that page for keywords representing your particular interest. Most articles offer suggestions for ways of improving business and personal relationships. Keep in mind that business is done by…people. Every business concern is essentially an inter-personal concern. 

A “Shot in the Arm” Every Week!

Eric Lofholm is my friend, mentor and sales coach. He hosts a 30-minute motivational call every Thursday (recently changed from daily).  The call is at 7:30 AM Pacific time. Register for it here. You’ll find instructions on how to join the call on Facebook, Zoom, by phone, or later in a recording. 

Let’s Talk!

Want to talk about Brian Pennie’s experience and what it might mean for you or someone in your life? Reply to this message or click here if you’d like to chat on the phone.

Do you like The Unity Community?

Do you find value in the articles?

What’s good about it?

What would make it even more valuable for you? 

Suggestions for topics in future issues? Do you have something you’d like to contribute? It can be your work…or someone else’s. I’ll give you and the author ample credit for your contribution if I use it.

Your thoughts, suggestions and comments are always welcome. Reply to this message, or go here if you’d like to chat on the phone or Zoom. 

Do You Know Someone Who’d Like This?

Forward it to them with the FORWARD feature in your email program. 

Did someone forward this to you? Would you like to subscribe (free)? Send me your email address and tell me you’d like to subscribe.

Want to Do More Business?

Suppose you go to a networking event. You’re amazed to find all your ideal prospects waiting to talk with you.

Our Business Accelerator Platform gives you this kind of exposure to your market. These are the people you want to help!

We find your ideal client prospects and start conversations with them. Then we communicate your value. We get them to schedule appointments with you…all on autopilot. This can happen for you! Learn how here. 

When you join Smart Money Network’s Business Accelerator Platform, we:

  • Optimize your LinkedIn Profile Page so it better attracts people in your market.

(Hint: What painful issue do you resolve for your clients? If your LinkedIn profile describes how you make your clients’ lives better, it’s rare! Most describe the merchant’s qualifications and expertise. They say little about what he/she does to remove clients’ pain.)

  • LinkedIn has 740 million members. We find the few thousand who match your ideal client profile. You define your best prospect for us. Then we go find them.

(Even if you can find these people by yourself, it will take hours away from your work with your current clients.)

  • Invite about 100 of these best prospects every week to connect with you on LinkedIn.
  • Send a welcome message to those who accept your invitation and connect.

(Typically 15% or more. Currently, over 25% of those I invite are connecting!)

  • Deliver something of value to them from you, and then do it again!
  • Begin a “drip campaign” of carefully timed messages, providing more value. These messages give…give… give…and then ask. No pitches!

All these messages come from you personally. We want and expect your input in developing them…unless you want us to just do it. You can follow the threads and adjust your messages as you see better ways to engage your prospects. We’re always ready to talk with you about improving your messaging.

See a “hot” prospect you want to engage with your unique message? Take over the exchange manually!

Click here to learn how you can put this program to work for YOU!

Would You Like to Publish a Newsletter Like This One?

Want new ways to engage your prospects and clients? Unity Copywriting writes the materials that help you stay top of their minds.  Let’s discuss how these materials can help you with your marketing!

Find New Joy in Relationships!

by

In this issue, we return to one of my favorite themes…

Relationships.

Why do I keep doing that? I believe relationships define our lives. There is no more important ingredient in life than joy in relationships.

Here are some ideas for improving this important aspect of your life.

Sean Kernan describes three key ways of improving your relationships.

Lunchtime at the clubhouse in the development where I live affords great people-watching opportunities. A friend and I often have lunch together a few times a week.

One of our regular observations is the rudeness we see at tables of several people. These people apparently choose to be in each other’s company. Yet they spend a majority of their time together paying no attention to each other as they poke away at their electronic devices. 

To me, this says, “I’d rather chat with my friend across town than converse with you, sitting next to me.” If that really is your preference, why not depart the group you’re in and go spend the time with the other friend?

Want to improve your relationships? Here’s a fertile opportunity. Turn off the notifications on your phone, put it in your pocket or purse, and pay rapt attention to the people you’re in physical company with. Save the electronic chatting for later.

As Sean points out we send a steady stream of signals to those around us. If we think carefully about the signals we send, and send better ones, the quality of our relationships will improve.

To me, the cell phone offenses I described are the most common and the most blatant indicators of disrespect.

With that said, here are some other ways you can show respect for those around you. These are the ones Sean focuses on; I’ll bet you and I could sit down for 15 minutes and easily add 100/+ items to the list.

  • Be present! Stand or sit up straight, look the other person in the eye, and pay attention to what they’re saying. Then respond thoughtfully. This says, “I honor and respect you and your ideas.”
  • Put your phone away. I’ve already said more than enough about this.
  • Make space in the world for others. Share space! Take turns! Invite others to save time and steps, especially when it’s no inconvenience to you. Have a basketful in a grocery checkout line, and someone comes along behind you with one loaf of bread? Your delay by inviting them to go ahead will be unnoticeable. If they have to wait for you to check out, they’ll be delayed by several minutes or more. And they’ll be at least a little annoyed by your insensitivity.

If you want a pleasanter, more productive life, it goes without saying that you want better relationships. Here are some excellent ways to accomplish that.

Note: Archived issues of The Unity Community are available here. Search that page for keywords representing your particular interest. Most articles offer suggestions for ways of improving business and personal relationships. Keep in mind that business is done by…people. Every business concern is essentially an inter-personal concern. 

A “Shot in the Arm” Every Week!

Eric Lofholm is my friend, mentor and sales coach. He hosts a 30-minute motivational call every Thursday (recently changed from daily).  The call is at 8:30 AM Pacific time. Register for it here. You’ll find instructions on how to join the call on Facebook, Zoom, by phone, or later in a recording. 

Let’s Talk!

I challenge you to make a list of 100 or more ways you can send signals of respect to those you interact with. Let’s talk about that – it’s one of my favorite topics. Reply to this message or click here if you’d like to chat on the phone.

Do you like The Unity Community?

Do you find value in the articles?

What’s good about it?

What would make it even more valuable for you? 

Suggestions for topics in future issues? Do you have something you’d like to contribute? It can be your work…or someone else’s. I’ll give you and the author ample credit for your contribution if I use it.

Your thoughts, suggestions and comments are always welcome. Reply to this message, or go here if you’d like to chat on the phone or Zoom. 

Do You Know Someone Who’d Like This?

Forward it to them with the FORWARD feature in your email program. 

Did someone forward this to you? Would you like to subscribe (free)? Send me your email address and tell me you’d like to subscribe.

Want to Do More Business?

Suppose you go to a networking event. You’re amazed to find all your ideal prospects waiting to talk with you.

Our Business Accelerator Platform gives you this kind of exposure to your market. These are the people you want to help!

We find your ideal client prospects and start conversations with them. Then we communicate your value. We get them to schedule appointments with you…all on autopilot. This can happen for you! Learn how here. 

When you join Smart Money Network’s Business Accelerator Platform, we:

  • Optimize your LinkedIn Profile Page so it better attracts people in your market.

(Hint: What painful issue do you resolve for your clients? If your LinkedIn profile describes how you make your clients’ lives better, it’s rare! Most describe the merchant’s qualifications and expertise. They say little about what he/she does to remove clients’ pain.)

  • LinkedIn has 740 million members. We find the few thousand who match your ideal client profile. You define your best prospect for us. Then we go find them.

(Even if you can find these people by yourself, it will take hours away from your work with your current clients.)

  • Invite about 100 of these best prospects every week to connect with you on LinkedIn.
  • Send a welcome message to those who accept your invitation and connect.

(Typically 15% or more. Currently, over 25% of those I invite are connecting!)

  • Deliver something of value to them from you, and then do it again!
  • Begin a “drip campaign” of carefully timed messages, providing more value. These messages give…give… give…and then ask. No pitches!

All these messages come from you personally. We want and expect your input in developing them…unless you want us to just do it. You can follow the threads and adjust your messages as you see better ways to engage your prospects. We’re always ready to talk with you about improving your messaging.

See a “hot” prospect you want to engage with your unique message? Take over the exchange manually!

Click here to learn how you can put this program to work for YOU!

Would You Like to Publish a Newsletter Like This One?

Want new ways to engage your prospects and clients? Unity Copywriting writes the materials that help you stay top of their minds.  Let’s discuss how these materials can help you with your marketing!

Is That Guy Complaining? What’s Your Reaction?

by

Suppose you’re the agent on an airline ticket counter. 

A flight is delayed. It’ll cause some passengers to miss connections. Get ready! You know you’ll soon be faced with at least a few irate passengers. How to handle them?

HINT: Being defensive just to win the argument is probably not the best response!

Read on for some better ideas, and examples of how to apply them.

Ziglar – How to Have a Better Life

Several years ago, I connected with Sam Horn on LinkedIn. Recently I subscribed to her newsletter and received this tidbit. In it, I find great advice for how to get along in the world. Following it, you’ll find more joy in life. Your relationships will improve with those close to you and every casual encounter you have with a human. 

With a customer, your spouse, your child, or the waiter serving you in a restaurant, be conscious of how they feel. What do they want in their interaction with you? Honor those feelings and desires.

Sam’s advice is a wonderful application of Zig Ziglar’s principle in the pictured quote.

Remember this: Are you the direct or indirect cause of a situation that troubles you or someone else? It doesn’t matter – your reaction to it is your responsibility. When someone is inconvenienced by an occurrence and is railing at you, listen! No doubt the substance of their complaint has some merit. All the innuendo they attach to it may not.

Regardless of all that, hear them out. When they’ve vented, take Sam Horn’s AAA train:

  • Agree. The other person’s complaint is probably legitimate. Even if it isn’t, they’re sure it is.
  • Apologize. It doesn’t matter whether you have any cause in what they’re complaining about. It’ll get you on their side.
  • Act. Do whatever is available to you to make things as near right for them as possible.

Here’s a hallmark of the best public-facing companies (hotels, car rental agencies, airlines, etc.). The agents who work directly with customers have a carte blanche to do what’s necessary. To take the action to right a wrong for a customer. This has way more impact than fixing it after their complaint goes to a higher level in the company.

A slip-up that fails a customer’s needs can be a positive in the company’s image – IF it’s handled quickly and effectively. Leave it to fester and watch your Yelp ratings go south.

In this advice, there are some important DON’Ts, or NEVERs:  

  • NEVER raise your voice or show anger or annoyance. Stay calm!
  • NEVER defend your, or the company’s, role in the occurrence.
  • NEVER explain why it’s not your fault.

In every interaction, strive to find a way to defuse anger and help the other person get what they want. Print Zig Ziglar’s principle – “You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” – and post it in places where you’ll be reminded of it at critical times. As with any other habit, this may take a lot of effort at first. It can become second nature for you.

Note: Archived issues of The Unity Community are available here. Search that page for keywords representing your particular interest. Most articles offer suggestions for ways of improving business and personal relationships. Keep in mind that business is done by…people. Every business concern is essentially an inter-personal concern. 

A “Shot in the Arm” Every Day!

Eric Lofholm is my friend, mentor and sales coach. He hosts a 15-minute motivational call every business day and a few holidays.  The call is at 7:45 AM Pacific time. Register for it here. You’ll find instructions on how to join the call on Facebook, Zoom, by phone, or later in a recording. 

Let’s Talk!

How do you react in the face of someone’s complaint? Think Sam Horn’s suggestions might improve your life experience? Want to talk about it? Reply to this message or click here if you’d like to chat on the phone.

Do you like The Unity Community?

Do you find value in the articles?

What’s good about it?

What would make it even more valuable for you? 

Suggestions for topics in future issues? Do you have something you’d like to contribute? It can be your work…or someone else’s. I’ll give you and the author ample credit for your contribution if I use it.

Your thoughts, suggestions and comments are always welcome. Reply to this message, or go here if you’d like to chat on the phone or Zoom. 

Do You Know Someone Who’d Like This?

Forward it to them with the FORWARD feature in your email program. 

Did someone forward this to you? Would you like to subscribe (free)? Send me your email address and tell me you’d like to subscribe.

Want to Do More Business?

Suppose you go to a networking event. You’re amazed to find all your ideal prospects waiting to talk with you.

Our Business Accelerator Platform gives you this kind of exposure to your market. These are the people you want to help!

We find your ideal client prospects and start conversations with them. Then we communicate your value. We get them to schedule appointments with you…all on autopilot. This can happen for you! Learn how here. 

When you join Smart Money Network’s Business Accelerator Platform, we:

  • Optimize your LinkedIn Profile Page so it better attracts people in your market.

(Hint: What painful issue do you resolve for your clients? If your LinkedIn profile describes how you make your clients’ lives better, it’s rare! Most describe the merchant’s qualifications and expertise. They say little about what he/she does to remove clients’ pain.)

  • LinkedIn has 740 million members. We find the few thousand who match your ideal client profile. You define your best prospect for us. Then we go find them.

(Even if you can find these people by yourself, it will take hours away from your work with your current clients.)

  • Invite about 100 of these best prospects every week to connect with you on LinkedIn.
  • Send a welcome message to those who accept your invitation and connect.

(Typically 15% or more. Currently, over 25% of those I invite are connecting!)

  • Deliver something of value to them from you, and then do it again!
  • Begin a “drip campaign” of carefully timed messages, providing more value. These messages give…give… give…and then ask. No pitches!

All these messages come from you personally. We want and expect your input in developing them…unless you want us to just do it. You can follow the threads and adjust your messages as you see better ways to engage your prospects. We’re always ready to talk with you about improving your messaging.

See a “hot” prospect you want to engage with your unique message? Take over the exchange manually!

Click here to learn how you can put this program to work for YOU!

Would You Like to Publish a Newsletter Like This One?

Want new ways to engage your prospects and clients? Unity Copywriting writes the materials that help you stay top of their minds.  Let’s discuss how these materials can help you with your marketing!

How Do You Start Your Day?

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If you follow any self-help advice, you’ve surely found lots of suggestions for morning routines. How you start your day has a huge effect on how you feel for the entire day. And how productive you are. 

Ideally for most people, preparation for this morning began last night!

Much of what’s been said about morning routines would have you believe everyone should follow a fixed set of rules. I may have even been a little guilty of that myself.

As with most things in life, one size doesn’t fit all. Read on for some unique approaches to starting one’s day. Maybe one of them resonates with you. I think the most important thing is that you have a morning routine. Waking up wondering what you should do first seldom works out well.

Read on for some unique morning routines.

an image of lemon tea as way on how you start your day

Katie E. Lawrence owns Masterpieces in Progress and is studying Human Sciences at Auburn University. She’s identified six unique morning routines that fly in the face of conventional wisdom from many coaches.

Ed Catmull reads the news over breakfast. I do too, but my breakfast is after 2-3 hours of work and an exercise routine. In his case it’s first thing in the morning. Most coaches recommend no early morning input other than pure inspirational stuff. Apparently it works for him.

Oprah Winfrey spends much more time and energy on spiritual input than many. For her that’s extremely important and beneficial. I too find a spiritual connection very important, though I’m not religious, and have a little more varied approach to mornings.

Mark Cuban reads email as part of his jumping right into business when he wakes up. Very unusual, and again quite different from most recommendations. Works for him!

Mark Sisson reads and works crossword puzzles! Crossword puzzles and reading are very important for me too. I do most of that sort of thing in the evening. Crossword puzzles are pure recreation for me, though I’m sure there’s some value in the mental exercise.

Most of these routines are quite different from what most coaches would prescribe as ideal. Perhaps one of these ideas resonates with you. Or perhaps you follow convention more. Whatever gives you an energy boost so you can start work with enthusiasm, intention and commitment is what you should do.

The only advice I’ve never heard of is to get up and wonder “What should I do first?”

Note: Archived issues of The Unity Community are available here. Search that page for keywords representing your particular interest. Most of the articles offer suggestions for ways of improving business and personal relationships. Keep in mind that business is done by…people. Every business concern is essentially an inter-personal concern. 

A “Shot in the Arm” Every Day!

My friend, mentor and sales coach, Eric Lofholm, hosts a 15-minute motivational call every business day and a few holidays. The call is at 7:45 AM Pacific time. Register for the call here. You’ll find instructions on how to join the call on Facebook, Zoom, by phone, or later in a recording. 

Let’s Talk!

What’s your scheme for getting started in the morning? Conventional, or not so much? Want to talk about it? Reply to this message or click here if you’d like to chat on the phone.

Do you like The Unity Community?

Do you find value in the articles?

What’s good about it?

What would make it even more valuable for you? 

Suggestions for topics in future issues? Do you have something you’d like to contribute? It can be your work…or someone else’s. I’ll give you and the author ample credit for your contribution if I use it.

Your thoughts, suggestions and comments are always welcome. Reply to this message, or go here if you’d like to chat on the phone or Zoom. 

Do You Know Someone Who’d Like This?

Forward it to them with the FORWARD feature in your email program. 

Did someone forward this to you? Would you like to subscribe (free)? Send me your email address and tell me you’d like to subscribe.

Want to Do More Business?

Suppose you went to a networking event and were amazed to find all your ideal prospects waiting to talk with you.

Our Business Accelerator Platform can give you this kind of exposure to your market – the people you want to help!

We find your ideal client prospects and start conversations with them. Then we communicate your value and get them to schedule appointments with you…all on autopilot. This can happen for you! Learn how here.  

When you join Smart Money Network’s Business Accelerator Platform, we:

  • Optimize your LinkedIn Profile Page so it better attracts people in your market. 

(Hint: What painful issue do you resolve for your clients? If your LinkedIn profile describes how you make your clients’ lives better, it’s rare! Most describe the merchant’s qualifications and expertise. They say little about what he/she does to eliminate clients’ pain.)

  • Search LinkedIn’s 740 million members for the few thousand who match your ideal client profile. You define your best prospect for us. Then we go find them.

(Even if you can find these people manually, it will take hours away from your work with your current clients.)

  • Invite about 100 of these best prospects every week to connect with you on LinkedIn.
  • Send a welcome message to those who accept your invitation and connect.

(Typically 15% or more. Currently, over 25% of those I invite are connecting!)

  • Deliver something of value to them from you, and then do it again! 
  • Begin a “drip campaign” of carefully timed messages, providing more value. These messages give…give… give…and then ask. No pitches!

All of these messages come from you personally. We want and expect your input in developing them…unless you want us to just do it. You can follow the threads and adjust your messages as you see better ways to engage your prospects. We’re always ready to talk with you about improving your messaging.

See a “hot” prospect you want to engage with your unique message? Take over the exchange manually!

Click here to learn how you can put this program to work for YOU!

Would You Like to Publish a Newsletter Like This One?

Unity Copywriting can help you with newsletters or other materials to engage your prospects and clients. We help you stay top of their minds.  Let’s discuss how these materials can help you with your marketing!

Are You Poisoning Your Brain?

by

Think your IQ is a number you’re born with and that stays with you?

In fact, there are many ways you can improve your brain health, or damage or destroy it. And your IQ increases or decreases with the health of your brain. We’ve often talked about ways you can improve your intelligence, such as positive thinking, positive communication, letting your brain rest. etc.

In this issue, we look at some things many people do that can damage their brains. That lowers their IQs and makes them less effective in life and business.

Are You Poisoning Your Brain?

Shivendra Misra is a dedicated practitioner of Kriya Yoga, and a constant student of the ways people can improve their mindsets and outlooks on life

In this article, he identifies 6 things many people do (or fail to do) that can damage their brains.

Here’s his list:  

  • Sit inactive for too long a period. Get up and move around!
  • Listen to loud music or other loud noise
  • Read unimportant, and/or negative, messages and information on social media, email, etc.
  • Watch “reality” TV – it’s not very real, just empty drama
  • Multi-task – do twice as much as you should, half as well as you should
  • Eat too much sugar

For each of these damaging behaviors, he explains how it damages the brain. He also suggests some ways to avoid the behavior or improve the habit.

In Shivendra’s article, he also offers several links to work done by various researchers to support his suggestions and provide other helpful advice for improving your brain health. If this topic hits home with you, check out Shivendra’s suggestions. Follow some of his links to enhance your understanding of brain health and the impact it can have on your life and business.

Note: Archived issues of The Unity Community are available here. Search that page for keywords representing your particular interest. Most of the articles offer suggestions for ways of improving business and personal relationships. Keep in mind that business is done by…people. Every business concern is essentially an inter-personal concern.

A “Shot in the Arm” Every Day!

My friend, mentor and sales coach, Eric Lofholm, hosts a 15-minute motivational call every business day and a few holidays. The call is at 7:45 AM Pacific time. Register for the call here. You’ll find instructions on how to join the call on Facebook, Zoom, by phone, or later in a recording. 

Let’s Talk!

Do you believe you can improve your brain health and IQ? Do you engage in any of the harmful habits Shivendra mentions? Do you find the potential gains worth forgoing some of the short-term pleasure you may get if you do the harmful behaviors? Reply to this message or click here if you’d like to chat on the phone.

Do you like The Unity Community?

Do you find value in the articles?

What’s good about it?

What would make it even more valuable for you? 

Suggestions for topics in future issues? Do you have something you’d like to contribute? It can be your work…or someone else’s. I’ll give you and the author ample credit for your contribution if I use it.

Your thoughts, suggestions and comments are always welcome. Reply to this message, or go here if you’d like to chat on the phone or Zoom. 

Do You Know Someone Who’d Like This?

Forward it to them with the FORWARD feature in your email program. 

Did someone forward this to you? Would you like to subscribe (free)? Send me your email address and tell me you’d like to subscribe.

Want to Do More Business?

Suppose you went to a networking event and were amazed to find all your ideal prospects waiting to talk with you.

Our Business Accelerator Platform can give you this kind of exposure to your market – the people you want to help!

We find your ideal client prospects and start conversations with them. Then we communicate your value and get them to schedule appointments with you…all on autopilot. This can happen for you! Learn how here.  

When you join Smart Money Network’s Business Accelerator Platform, we:

  • Optimize your LinkedIn Profile Page so it better attracts people in your market. 

(Hint: What painful issue do you resolve for your clients? If your LinkedIn profile describes how you make your clients’ lives better, it’s rare! Most describe the merchant’s qualifications and expertise. They say little about what he/she does to eliminate clients’ pain.)

  • Search LinkedIn’s 740 million members for the few thousand who match your ideal client profile. You define your best prospect for us. Then we go find them.

(Even if you can find these people manually, it will take hours away from your work with your current clients.)

  • Invite about 100 of these best prospects every week to connect with you on LinkedIn.
  • Send a welcome message to those who accept your invitation and connect.

(Typically 15% or more. Currently, over 25% of those I invite are connecting!)

  • Deliver something of value to them from you, and then do it again! 
  • Begin a “drip campaign” of carefully timed messages, providing more value. These messages give…give… give…and then ask. No pitches!

All of these messages come from you personally. We want and expect your input in developing them…unless you want us to just do it. You can follow the threads and adjust your messages as you see better ways to engage your prospects. We’re always ready to talk with you about improving your messaging.

See a “hot” prospect you want to engage with your unique message? Take over the exchange manually!

Click here to learn how you can put this program to work for YOU!

Would You Like to Publish a Newsletter Like This One?

Unity Copywriting can help you with newsletters or other materials to engage your prospects and clients. We help you stay top of their minds.  Let’s discuss how these materials can help you with your marketing!

Should You Tell People About Your Goals?

by

This week we again visit Dr. Benjamin Hardy, discussing how to make your goals more compelling for you.

Tell people about them! Not to encourage their comments, but to inspire you to strive harder to achieve them.

In keeping with his advice, mine are listed in this article.

Should You Tell People About Your Goals?

Benjamin Hardy holds a Ph.D. in organizational psychology. He’s also the author of Personality Isn’t Permanent and several other books exploring personality evolution. He knows what he’s talking about!

Ben makes a strong case for advertising your goals to your network for your own encouragement. It’ll make their pursuit more compelling for you, since it’s human nature to want our actions to align with our words. 

Always remember that others’ opinions of your goals are unimportant to you. That is, unless they come from a coach whose help you’re seeking.

Recently, as I’ve become a little more forthcoming with my goals, I’ve shared some of them with people close to me. 

After listening to Ben Hardy’s exhortation, I believe sharing my goals with all of you could be life-changing for me. I beg your indulgence while I devote this issue to my own self-improvement.

Here are my goals. I read them aloud every night before I go to bed, and rewrite first thing every morning. (Actually, the fourth thing, after a cold shower, 20 oz. water for dehydration, and some wake-up stretches.) The point is I do this before starting the day’s business activities. 

You may find this list interesting, or not. Perhaps the list can offer you a useful pattern, if you haven’t been habitually listing your goals.

My guiding mission: 

To contribute positively to every transaction and relationship I participate in. 

My keystone goal (the one that enables most of the others): 

I earn/receive $20,000/+/month and, by the end of 2021, I accumulate 100 oz. gold/+, with ease. In my life, I accumulate net worth of $5MM/+ w/ease.

In addition, by the end of 2021:

  1. I establish a positive, loving relationship with my daughter Tara, with ease.
  2. I pay off CC debt, with ease.
  3. I write regularly for 3/+ clients, with ease.
  4. I weigh 190#/-, with ease.
  5. I play golf to a  handicap of 15/-, with ease.
  6. I support the LEC* HOA Board in reducing dues to $150/-/month, with ease.
  7. I entertain 1/+ groups of family and friends in LEC*, with ease.

LEC*: La Estancia de Cafayate. The lovely community in northwest Argentina where I make my home.

My 3-year vivid vision:

I’m debt-free!

I live comfortably in my own home, where I easily entertain my family and friends, including my visitors who come to check out my delightful life in Argentina.

When the mood strikes, I explore the local area in my truck. When I want to travel further, I fly to the destination I choose, often with family and friends.

My writing is more enjoyable than ever, since I’m fulfilling the needs of my clients and partners, who pay me well.

I invest a portion of my wealth in assets which offer me security against a financial collapse, additional income, and value to pass along to my heirs.

It’s my hope that this message inspires you to be more intentional about your goal setting and achievement efforts.

Note: Archived issues of The Unity Community are available here. You can search that page for keywords representing your particular interest. Most of the articles offer suggestions for ways of improving business and personal relationships. Keep in mind that business is done by…people. Every business concern is essentially an inter-personal concern. 

A “Shot in the Arm” Every Day!

My friend, mentor and sales coach, Eric Lofholm, hosts a 15-minute motivational call every business day and a few holidays. The call is at 7:45 AM Pacific time. Register for the call here. You’ll find instructions on how to join the call on Facebook, Zoom, by phone, or later in a recording. 

Let’s Talk!

Have you defined goals for your life and business? Are they written? Do you revisit them, write them and recite them every day? What do you think of Ben Hardy’s “future self” ideas? This is one of my favorite topics. Reply to this message or click here if you’d like to chat on the phone.

Do you like The Unity Community?

Do you find value in the articles?

What’s good about it?

What would make it even more valuable for you? 

Suggestions for topics in future issues? Do you have something you’d like to contribute? It can be your work…or someone else’s. I’ll give you and the author ample credit for your contribution if I use it.

Your thoughts, suggestions and comments are always welcome. Reply to this message, or go here if you’d like to chat on the phone or Zoom. 

Get too Much Email?

Today’s issue is going to all my subscribers. If you’re among my monthly subscribers, you’ll receive your next issue on August 2, 2021.

If the monthly schedule suits you better, just reply to this message with the word “MONTHLY” in the message or subject line. If you elect that option, you can still check out the weekly issues at your convenience here. Since your last monthly issue, we’ve discussed:

What’s the Best Investment You Can Make? – Published 28 June 2021.
Do Less To Accomplish More! – Published 21 June 2021
Vulnerability = The Greatest Courage! – Published 14 June 2021

Want to Do More Business?

Suppose you went to a networking event and were amazed to find all your ideal prospects waiting to talk with you.

Our Business Accelerator Platform can give you this kind of exposure to your market – the people you want to help!

We find your ideal client prospects and start conversations with them. Then we communicate your value and get them to schedule appointments with you…all on autopilot. This can happen for you! Learn how here.  

When you join Smart Money Network’s Business Accelerator Platform, we:

  • Optimize your LinkedIn Profile Page so it better attracts people in your market. 

(Hint: What painful issue do you resolve for your clients? If your LinkedIn profile describes how you make your clients’ lives better, it’s rare! Most describe the merchant’s qualifications and expertise. They say little about what he/she does to eliminate clients’ pain.)

  • Search LinkedIn’s 740 million members for the few thousand who match your ideal client profile. You define your best prospect for us. Then we go find them.

(Even if you can find these people manually, it will take hours away from your work with your current clients.)

  • Invite about 100 of these best prospects every week to connect with you on LinkedIn.
  • Send a welcome message to those who accept your invitation and connect.

(Typically 15% or more. Currently, over 25% of those I invite are connecting!)

  • Deliver something of value to them from you, and then do it again! 
  • Begin a “drip campaign” of carefully timed messages, providing more value. These messages give…give… give…and then ask. No pitches!

All of these messages come from you personally. We want and expect your input in developing them…unless you want us to just do it. You can follow the threads and adjust your messages as you see better ways to engage your prospects. We’re always ready to talk with you about improving your messaging.

See a “hot” prospect you want to engage with your unique message? Take over the exchange manually!

Click here to learn how you can put this program to work for YOU!

Would You Like to Publish a Newsletter 

Like This One?

Unity Copywriting can help you with newsletters or other materials to engage your prospects and clients. We help you stay top of their minds.  Let’s discuss how these materials can help you with your marketing!

What’s the Best Investment You Can Make?

by

Want to have a better life? Who doesn’t? Maybe a masochist, but most of us strive to improve our lives. I hope you’re among those who do.

The pastimes that occupy many people’s leisure time, and probably some of their ideally productive time, produce nothing more than momentary highs or, when the communication is negative, lows. Unfortunately, the lows probably last longer than the highs! Most of the “relationships” people pursue on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are fleeting and meaningless.

Read on to discover a better way, and the best investment you can make in your future!

the Best Investment You Can Make like a white flower

Jason Gutierrez has some great ideas for making life better. They all have elements of doing enjoyable things. However, none of them are about spending time doing the things many people do for “enjoyment.”

What’s the most important relationship you can build? The relationship with yourself! When you’ve accomplished that, pursue relationships with those you can collaborate with to mutual benefit.

Searching for the latter of these without the intimate knowledge of who you are will almost surely be futile. Even if you stumble on the right collaborations, you’re likely not to recognize them.Enough words from me! I suggest you check out Jason’s article, where he laments reaching his thirties before discovering the truths he reveals. Many of us can rejoice in learning them much later in life. They have great value whenever you discover them. I hope you find them when you’re 18 years old, or even younger. If you discover them when you’re 70, 80, 90, or 100, great – they’ll improve the rest of your life!

Do Less To Accomplish More!

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Want to improve your self-esteem? What better way to do that than to feel productive?

When you feel like you’re accomplishing something valuable, you feel worthy. When you feel worthy, you’re inspired to create more worth.

A true sense of self-worth comes from how valuable you feel. Not what someone else thinks of you. Not how cool or stylish you look. Solely by your own judgment, you must believe you’re adding value. It could be to your own life. Perhaps to a friend’s or a client’s life. Or maybe in a worthy cause. The key is: It must be your personal judgment, unclouded by someone else’s opinion of you.

Read on for a good recipe to generate that feeling of accomplishment.

Hint: It’s not about doing more. Do less!

Photo by STIL on Unsplash

Here’s Anthony Yeung with some excellent tips on how to accomplish more in a few hours than most people do in several days.

A quick summary of Anthony’s recommendations:

  • Skip the time-wasters, especially first thing in the morning. Incoming messages are just allowing someone else to control your time. Also, eliminate notifications.
  • Stay focused on important tasks early in the day. He quotes Abraham Lincoln: “If I had 8 hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first 6 of them sharpening my axe.”
  • Create bite-sized tasks. Break down big projects into small steps.
  • Prioritize! Then prioritize the priorities!
  • Set time limits to give yourself a sense of urgency.
  • Set a timer. When if rings take a short break, then repeat this process.
  • Batch your tasks to work most efficiently,
  • If you listen to music while you work, keep replaying one song. Anthony explains why.
  • If you like what you’re doing, you’ll be much more productive. “Farm out,” or otherwise eliminate the things you don’t enjoy doing.

This is a quick summary of a long-ish article. It’s worth reading. Or at least skimming for the ideas that resonate with you. Anthony “fleshes them out.”