Scattered Efforts Create Mixed Results

Motivational Power Quote

Scattered Efforts Create Mixed Results

“Few people take objectives really seriously. They

put average effort into too many things, rather than

superior thought and effort into a few important

things. People who achieve the most are selective

as well as determined.”

Richard Koch, former management consultant,

entrepreneur

 

As I see it . . . . . . .

Scattered efforts create mixed results

Purpose gives you direction . . . .

Scattered efforts . . . . lacks a sense of direction and will cause your career to drift in many different directions without any clear purpose

. . . . or positive progress.

Focus your energy and efforts on a clear set of goals . . . . and go after them with the determination to achieve them and the enthusiasm that will keep your fired up, to stay the course to create a successful outcome.

Scattered efforts create mixed results . . . . focused efforts creates a big target and a purpose in your  efforts.

Focus your efforts . . . . on high value targets and high return activities that will move forward and that will help you . . . . to make steady progress in the direction of your goals.

Scattered efforts create mixed results . . .  focused efforts will move you in the direction of achieving your goals.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Motivational Power Quote

When Everyone Thinks Alike Nothing is Learned  

“I have never in my life learned anything from any man

who agreed with me.”

Dudley Field Malone 1882 – 1950, American Attorney,

Politician, Actor

 

As I see it . . . . . . .

When everyone thinks alike nothing is learned . . . .

When you’re sitting in a meeting and everyone in the room is agreeing with what’s being said, without asking questions or challenges any portion of the  the conversation . . . . something is being missed.

One . . . . the person that’s leading the meeting is leading the meeting from the prospective of dictating the message and doesn’t want to be questioned or challenged regarding the content of the message.

Or the group of people goes along with group think  . . . . and blindly follows what’s being.

In the above environments information is being transferred . . . . but nothing is being learned.

Knowledge comes in challenging the status quo and in thinking out of the box . . . . Learning occurs when your stretching your thinking asking questions and in trying new things.

When everyone thinks alike nothing is learned . . . . and someone is not contributing to the conversation and not needed to be in the conversation.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

The Value of Self-Development

Motivational Power Quote

The Value of Self-Development

“If You wish to achieve worthwhile things in your personal and

career life, you must become a worthwhile person in your

own self-development.”

Brian Tracy, Self-Help Author and Motivational Speaker

 

As I see it . . . . . . .

The value of self-development

The business environment continues to change and evolve . . . . for those that don’t change and evolve will find themselves being left behind.

Yesterday skills worked yesterday . . . . success in a new business environment requires changing and adapting to stay in front of the business curve.

Investing in your self-development is no longer optional . . . . It’s imperative to remain competitive. Don’t allow yourself to fall behind the business curve . . . . Continue to invest in yourself to keep you on the leading edge of your profession and to remind relevant and competitive.

The value of self-development . . . . returns to you on a daily basis through your skills and actions.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Set Higher Standards For Your Performance

Motivational Power Quote

Set Higher Standards For Your Performance

“Set higher standard for your own performance than anyone

around you, and it won’t matter whether you have a tough boss

or an easy one. It won’t matter whether the competition is

pushing you hard, because you’ll be competing with yourself.”

Rick Pitino, Basketball Coach

As I see it . . . . . . .

Set higher standards for your performance

The toughest competition that you will ever face is yourself . . . .

You can become better then you were yesterday . . . . or your performance could have peaked in your yesterday.

When you compete with yourself the objective to get a little bit better each day . . . . And when you measure your performance against your yesterdays you will continuous see improvement in yourself.

Compete against yourself and your will stretch your abilities to new heights and you will become far more competitive in the things you do.

Set higher standards for your performance . . . . and continue to stretch them  and you will find that the only real competition you have is yourself.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

The Winner Takes Responsibility. . . .

Motivational Power Quote

The Winner Takes Responsibility. . . .

“The superior man blames himself.

The inferior man blames other.”

Don Shula, Football Coach  

As I see it. . . . . . . .

The winner takes responsibility . . . .

The winner knows with certainty that they are responsible . . . . for their results and their lives. They will take the responsibility to do the things that are required to move them to the next level . . . . and they will do them with passion.

When thing don’t turn out the way they would like them to. . . . . they won’t whine or complain.  They take responsibility for their life, thier conditions . . . . and find the best way to successfully work through them.  

Winners are not in the blame game . . . . they are in the game to win and they take the responsibility to ensure that it happens.   

The winner takes responsibility . . . . for their life and their results.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

 

Take the Long View

Your success journey . . . . is a  journey of a life time.

During your success journey you will experience . . . . the lowest of lows and the highest of highs.

Success will not be in a day or by one isolated event . . . . it will be achieved by consistently moving in the right direction.

Take the long view of your goals . . . . and continue to move in that direction. Don’t be sidetracked by the changing conditions in your life or the by the obstacles you encounter.

Remain focused on your long term objectives . . . . and take the long view on your success journey.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Your Greatest Strength is Trying One More Time

Motivational Power Quote

Your Greatest Strength is Trying One More Time

“Our Greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way

to succeed is always to try just more time.”

Thomas A. Edison 1847 - 1933, American Inventor and Businessman

As I see it . . . . . . .

Your greatest strength is trying one more time

You will never know what effort will become the one that will be the one to create the breakthrough . . . . or how many times you will have to try until you open the door to the opportunity.

It’s always too early to quit . . . . and there’s always time to make the extra effort.

When it’s worthwhile it worth going for it and to keep trying . . . . and when things look the darkest . . . . try one more time.

Success will to achieved . . . .  by those who are persistent in their efforts and pursues their vision with the passion . . . . and keeps on trying.

Keep your eyes focused forward and on your objectives . . . . and you will find that your greatest strength is trying one more time.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Blaming and Complaining is a Complete Waste of Time

Motivational Power Quote

Blaming and Complaining is a Complete Waste of Time

“Anytime you blame others and complain about your situation,

you are choosing to be a victim. By playing the victim role

you are putting yourself in and ineffective and weak position.

it is virtually impossible to allow incredible miracles to enter

your life when you choose to remain in negative mental state.”

Sonia Ricotti, Best Selling Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

Blaming and complaining is a complete waste of time

Nothing positive results from blaming and complaining . . . . It’s a fast tract to a downhill spiral that doesn’t end well for the participants.  

When you’re in a situation where the conditions are less then desirable . . . . Don’t allow the condition to take over your life and don’t become a victim of the conditions.

Blaming and complaining about your conditions is a complete waste of your time . . . . and nothing productive will come from it.

You may not have been able to control the condition from coming into your life . . .  But you can control your attitude about the condition and what you do about the condition.

Blaming and complaining is a complete waste of time . . . . step into the condition and take control of it . . . . By doing the best you can with the condition to unitize it, remove it and deal with it.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

The More You’re Willing To Share

Motivational Power Quote

The More You’re Willing To Share

“The miracle is this – the more we share, the more we have.”

Leonard Ninoy, Actor  

As I see it . . . . . . .

The more you’re willing to share

When you’re focused on the having or the accumulation . . . . you are focused on a narrow view of your able to achieve.

When you focus on sharing, you shift your thinking away from the having . . . . and in sharing what you have with others.

Shift may sound minor . . . . but it can play an important factor in your life and the lives of the people that you come in contact with.

The next time you go grocery shopping and buy a 2 for 1 deal, put one item aside and when there’s a little extra in your pantry take it to an organization that’s helping the needy.

Or make a donation to a shelter for the homeless, abused woman, a veterans group . . . . or your favorite organization.

Sharing will make you feel good about helping someone less fortune and it doesn’t have to be much . . . . it’s the thought and the giving that warms your heart.

The more you’re willing to share . . . . the more that will be there for you to share.     

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

In Negotiations Focus on the Outcome

Motivational Power Quote

In Negotiations Focus on the Outcome

“In negotiation, “yes’ is the worst word. It just betrays fear of

failure and fear of losing the deal, and it primes you to please

the other side, to rush ahead, to compromise early and often,

to come to a deal any deal.”

Jim Camp, Author and Renowned Negotiations, Trainer

and Coach  

As I see it . . . . . . .

In negotiations focus on the outcome

As you prepare yourself to negotiate . . . . ask yourself:

• What is the desired outcome of the negotiations – your plan A?

• What is your plan B in the event that your plan A is not achievable?

• What concessions are you willing to make in order to complete the

  negotiations successfully?

• What are your limits in the negotiations – your maximum concessions?

• What’s your bottom line?

• What will you not negotiate?

• What is your walk away point?

• What can you offer (concession) the other party in order to help you to   

  get what you want out of the negotiations?

All negotiations are a series of give and take in order to reach a meeting of the minds.

If you attempt to back the other party into a corner it will result in resistance and very likely a breakdown in the negotiations. When you help to guide the other person they are far more likely to cooperate to find a common ground and to successfully negotiate.    

In negotiations focus on the outcome . . . . and you won’t have to yes yourself into a less then desirable outcome.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Focused Questions

Motivational Power Quote

Focused Questions

“A major stimulant to creative thinking is focused question.

There is something about a well – worded question that

often penetrates to the heart of the matter and triggers

new ideas and insights .”

Brian Tracy, Motivational Author and Speaker

 

As I see it . . . . . . .

Focused questions

A focused question . . . . draws the person into the conversation . . . .

By asking focused questions you . . . . will receive useful information  to reach a successful outcome . . . .

When you ask focused questions . . . . you will be in control of the direction of the conversation . . . .

When you ask focused questions in negotiations . . . . You will undercover the persons real motivations and unlock the key to completing a successful negotiations.

By asking focused questions . . . . you will be able to make far better decisions.

Asking focused questions is not about controlling the conversation . . . . It’s about controlling the direction of the conversation and the flow of useful information.

It not about speaking it about the strategy . . . . knowing when to speak and when to listen . . . . and when to ask  focused questions.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Other People’s Opinions

Motivational Power Quote

Other People’s Opinions

“When someone tells you that you can’t do something,

perhaps you should consider that they are only telling

you what they can’t do.”

Sheldon Cahoon  

As I see it . . . . . . .

Other people’s opinions

Everyone has them . . . . There will be the opinions coming from a manager, a coach, a mentor or someone who cares about you and your welfare. That opinion comes from their heart and they want you to succeed and the best for you.

There opinions count and can be of great value to you . . . .

And there are the opinions that come to you from out of left field  . . . . they will freely tell you what you can’t do . . . . and what you shouldn’t try or do . . . .

They live for telling people their negative opinions and thrive when someone takes their bad advice. They enjoy it when they see some failing and instead of offering and help hand . . . . they will try to sink the person.

Other people’s opinions . . . . you have to know who’s opinions will help you . . . . and who’s opinions you should avoid.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

A Valuable Lesson From Nature

Motivational Power Quote

A Valuable Lesson From Nature

“Nature always takes her time. Great oaks don’t become

great overnight, they also lose a lot of leaves, branches and

bark in the process of becoming great.”

Andrew Matthews, Best Selling International Author

and Speaker  

As I see it . . . . . . .

A valuable lesson from nature

A great oak doesn’t grow to its full spender in a day . . . . what start out as tiny acorn grows inch by inch, day by day . . . . and takes many years to mature.

The great oak to grow to its full maturity has to put down deep roots in order to weather the storms of life and the winds of adversity. Without deep roots the tree will fall under the pressures it encounters.

Our careers start out the same way as the as a great oak tree . . . . they both start as a tiny acorn. Our acorn is in the vision that we have for our life. Our vision has to be deeply rooted in our values . . . .to withstand the pressures from our business.

Over time you will encounter many storms that can threaten your business . . . . and having your values deeply rooted will give satiability. It will also give you the strength . . . . to remain standing in adversity and keep you moving forward.

As with the great oak tree . . . . you have to give your business the time to grow and mature . . . .

A valuable lesson from nature . . . . is to put down deep roots and give your business the time to grow to its full potential. 

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Speak to be Understood

Motivational Power Quote

Speak to be Understood

“The basic rule of human nature is that powerful people speak

slowly and subservient people quickly - - because if they don’t

 speak fast nobody will listen to them.”

Michael Caine, English Actor

As I see it . . . . . . .

Speak to be understood

Speak at a pace so that the person that you’re communication with . . . . will listen to you and understand what your saying.

People have difference speech patterns . . . . and when you can identify the persons patterns you can match and mirror them to help you to communicate with at an affective level.

A good rule of thumb for this is to match and mirror . . . . the speech patterns of the person that you’re communicating with.

By matching and mirroring their speech patterns, their tone of voice, the pace that the person is speaking at for a few minutes.  You will build rapport with the person that your speaking with and a comfort level in the conversation. You will be building a bridge to better understanding in the communications.

By matching and mirroring the other party communication style you will have to engage the person by active listening . . . .to hear and understand what you’re saying.

After a few minutes you will be able to adjust you pattern of speaking back to your normal communication style  . . . . and the person that your speaking with will start match and mirror your communication style without give it much through.

Speak to be understood . . . .  when you match and mirror the person that your communication with, your speech patterns and communication they will active listen to you and understand what your saying.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Someone Has to Get It Done

Motivational Power Quote

Someone Has to Get It Done

“The body of every organization is structured from four kinds

of bones. There are the wishbones, who spend all their time

wishing someone would do all the work. Then there are the

jawbones, who do all the talking, but very little else. The

knucklebones knock everything anything anyone else tries

to do. Fortunately, in every organization there are also

the backbones, who get under the load and

do most of the work.”

Leo Aikman, Columnist

As I see it . . . . . . .

Someone has to get it done

When it comes right down to getting it done there are different groups of people that will do what has to be done . . . . with their point of view of what to do.

There are those who wish someone else will do it and they take a low profile. They try to fade into the background . . . . so no one will notice them or ask to pitch in . . . . they are a non-player.

And there are the talkers . . . . They talk a good game but when it comes right down to it  . . . . they don’t have game and just keep on talking. They are a bag a wind with no substance.

Your will also meet the hammer . . . . they live their life to intimidate and complain about others and  in what they do or don’t do . . . . when all is said and done all they do is complain. They are a negative asset at best and a distracting element in any business.

When the group of negative influences are spinning their negative web .

. . .  of BS. The doers quietly put their backbone into the heavy lifting that has to be done. They quietly correct the condition without any fanfare and they successfully get the job done while the BS is running in the background.

When someone has to get it done . . . . Look to the doers to do it.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Don’t Allow Your Thinking to Make You a Victim

Motivational Power Quote

Don’t Allow Your Thinking to Make You a Victim

“We focus on the negative, losing ourselves in the problem. We

point to our unhappy circumstances to rationalize our negative

feelings. This is the easy way out. It takes, after all, very little

effort to feel victimized.”

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

 

As I see it . . . . . . .

Don’t allow your thinking to make you a victim

What you focus you thinking on you will actualize through your actions.

Focusing on your accomplishment and the positives in your life will create a pathway to positive thinking and positive forward progress.

On the other hand focusing on the negatives in your life will create a downward spiral in your thinking and in many cases will bring on a mindset of depression.

The person that spirals downward in their thinking . . . . will become a victim of their circumstances.

In truth be said . . . . you will all experience up and downs in your life. You will also encounter your share of challenges, setbacks and failures in your life as well. You are not the first person to experience them and you won’t be the last.

Don’t allow your thinking to make you a victim . . . . Reach deep down to your inner self and draw on the faith you have in yourself to work through the conditions and your will find a way to get through the conditions.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Great Leaders Have to Pay Attention to the Details

Motivational Power Quote

Great Leaders Have to Pay Attention to the Details

“Now there are five matters to which a general must pay strict

heed. The first of these is administration; the second,

preparedness; the third, determination; the fourth is prudence;

and the fifth, economy.”

Wu Ch’l 438 BC – 381 BC

 

As I see it . . . . . . .

Great leaders have to pay attention to the details

Throughout the annuals of history great leaders have a common trait . . . .  they pay close attention to details.

They become great because they manage the details to create successful results.

They’re organized thinkers and strategize their next move . . . . before they act.

Many leaders have a short bust recognition of leadership success. . . .

But their leadership success falls by the wayside as a result of their lack of discipline and their leadership style of leading by the seat of their pants.

No matter type of business that you’re in . . . . Your in business for yourself and your attention to details will impact the level of success that you achieve.

Great leaders have to pay attention to the details . . . . Manage the details and you take control of your business.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Technology Will Enhance Your Business

Motivational Power Quote

Technology Will Enhance Your Business

“During my 87 years, I have witnessed a whole succession

of technological revolutions. But none of them has done away

need for character in the individual or the ability to think.”

Bernard Baruch 1870 - 1965, American Financier, Statesman,

Political Consultant

 

As I see it . . . . . . .

Technology will enhance your business

Technology can move your business to the forefront of your market niche and keep you on the cutting edge of your industry.

Technological will not replace your ability to think . . . . communicate  . . . .  build personal relationships . . . . make decisions . . . . . your integrity . . . . or your character.

Technology will enhance your business . . . . and open the doors to many business opportunities . . . . You customers will also be judging on your personal skills and how you will interact with them one on one.

But it’s your interpersonal skills and in your ability to relate and build rapport with your customer that will separate you from your competitors . . . . and have you stand out in their minds.

Technology will enhance your business . . . . but it will be up to you to pull it all together to create a successful business relationship with your customers.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Leadership is Earned Through Your Actions

Motivational Power Quote

Leadership is Earned Through Your Actions

“Leadership is getting players to believe in you. If you tell a

teammate you’re ready to play tough as you’re able to, you

better go out there and do it. Players will see right through

a phony. And they can tell when you’re not giving it

all you’ve got.”

Larry Bird, Professional Basketball Player and Coach

 

As I see it . . . . . . .

Leadership is earned through your actions

As a consultant you can see this leadership scenario repeating itself . . . . over and over again.

It happens with a new manager, a new owner of a business, new team leader, in a promotion and as well as in many other areas of leadership and in life.

The person steps into a new position that has a title or leadership responsibility . . . . having the title doesn’t make the person the leader. Leadership is earned through . . . . your personal actions.

The person with the title has the authority . . . . but earns the right to be called a leader. 

The number reason a leader fails in their position is not in knowledge or expertise . . . . It’s in their lack of ability to earn the title of leader in the eyes of the people that work with the leader and as a result there is a less respect for the person in the position.

Leadership is earned through your actions . . . . and can lose it very quickly the same way.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Mentors Are Worth Their Weight in Gold

Motivational Power Quote

Mentors Are Worth Their Weight in Gold

“No one lives long enough to learn everything they need to

learn starting from scratch. To be successful, we absolutely,

positively have to find people who have already paid the price

to learn the things that we need to learn to achieve our goals.”

Brian Tracy, Self-Help Author and Speaker

As I see it . . . . . . .

Mentors are worth their weight in gold

A mentor will guide you on your success journey . . . . and become a vast resource for you to achieve your goals.

The mentor can be a wealth of knowledge and information that they learned in the school of hard knocks . . . .

When they share what they have learned with you it translates in valuable resource knowledge and information that has the capacity . . . . to create positive forward momentum in your career.

The mentor has learned their lessons the hard way . . . . under fire. By sharing their experiences with you it will put you into a position to learn from their mistakes . . . . and to adapt their success strategies to your personally.

Mentors are worth their weight in gold . . . . and bring enormous value into your life and career.

©2013 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author