I’m constantly searching for new ways to be more efficient and effective with my time. Every once in a while, I’ll come across a technique that really catches my attention. I made one such discovery a few months ago. The concept was ridiculously simple and wildly effective, and it came in the form of a […]
In a recent interview at the Rio Olympics, Nellie Biles commented that when her famous daughter, Simone, first entered the elite ranks of women gymnastics in 2013, she felt like she didn’t belong. Simone’s father commented that Simone was struggling with her confidence. She didn’t believe that she belonged with the other elite gymnasts. Intimidated by […]
More times than not, our most promising referral opportunities send us on a Fool’s Errand and turn out to be a colossal waste of time. Countless emails and follow-up phone messages go unanswered. You even drop the names of highly respected sources who recommended you, and still—you get nowhere. There are two very simple reasons […]
A lot of people have already taken their big summer vacation, or are, at least, planning to do so. Most of my clients, however, have no such plans. These are “eat what you kill” hard workers who get paid by billable hours, commissions, or by selling their own wares—people for whom a vacation is a […]
“(You can) cooperate fully, humbly and joyfully with inspiration.” I love that line which I recently read in Elizabeth Gilbert’s new book, Big Magic, Creative Living Beyond Fear. I was listening to an NPR interview on Sunday morning in which Gilbert was sharing insights with On Being host, Krista Tippett. What captivated me was something […]
You just had a wonderful exploratory conversation with a prospective client. You did a brilliant job of listening and identifying a key operational challenge the company is facing—one they didn’t even know existed. Your solution could help them save thousands of dollars, and they’re chomping on the bit to hear your ideas explained in full […]
This week while I was doing a sales training session in Charlotte, I got a question that I’ve gotten dozens of times before. “When I’m meeting with a prospect, is it ok to take notes?” While the argument could be made that taking notes could be viewed as a way to show respect and attentiveness […]
Last week I met with a colleague for a brainstorming session regarding a new project. We were in the midst of kicking around a few ideas when our discussion took a weird turn, as it often does. We somehow found ourselves engrossed in strategies for ramping up productivity. All in all, it was a rather […]
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of speaking with a woman from New York City who interviews entrepreneurs around the nation. Our talk only lasted about 45 minutes, but we covered a lot of ground, ranging from my explaining what RefuseOrdinary is all about, to sharing the highlights of our last family vacation to […]
We all know that there are things we can do everyday to be performing better. Sometimes, however, it’s hard to do them. Here are five random thoughts and what you can do to make big changes this year. Thought #1 Modern-day distractions can keep us from really connecting with each other. We are losing the […]
