What Obama Did Right: Apply that to Your Business
November 5, 2008
Forget for a moment, your political POV, let’s look at Obama’s success and learn from it.
The questions I’d like to explore are:
- What did Obama do right?
- How does that contrast with what the Republicans did?
- Are there lessons to learn for growing a successful business?
Obama reached out to new voters.
McCain did not.
In your business, are you constantly expanding the reach, getting out of your comfort zone to meet and attract new people or are you trying to build your business with the same group of clients?
When Obama reached out to the new voters, he actually spoke directly to the new people and talked to them about how his policies could impact them. He talked about how taxing high income earners would help the middle class by “spreading the wealth” around and he gave specific examples of this by letting people calculate their tax bill on his web site.
Obama Made Benefits Tangible
McCain Made Benefits Abstract
McCain did a lousy of explaining that while an individual’s tax rate may be less under Obama one reason that your tax rates may be lower is that you will have a much higher chance of being unemployed. Examples of this abound under both democrat and republican presidents. Then put a face on it. Explain that a government job is an expense that does not create wealth, but expends it. Put a face on it. Show what welfare did to people under Johnson and his “Great Society.” Put a face on it. They could have gone to the coal mines and asked people how they felt about Obama wanting to bankrupt the companies they work for. They could have gone to PA and asked they felt about their Democratic Congressman Murtha call them racist rednecks. When we talk about offshore drilling, interview employment specialist to talk about how many those workers would make and how many new jobs there would be and what that would do in the specific states for their economy. Interview people that would apply for those jobs.
So, when you have a competitor in your business who does things differently and in a way, that on the surface looks better, but creates long term harm, are you assertive in getting your message across?
When it comes to reaching out for new supporters, Republicans have a ready made base of parents of children in the inner city schools. The schools are horrible in many of these districts and the Democrats consistently stand in the way of Vouchers that would allow any kid to go to any school. But, republicans have not gone into the neighborhoods where the issues are there and speak out.
In your business, are there people that really need your services but to whom you have not taken the time to meet them on their terms?
Obama Saw Himself as a Winner
McCain Saw Himself as an Underdog
The next thing that Obama did really well is that he visualized success. Sometimes his vision bordered on arrogance, but the foundation that visualization (such as the presidential seal on his plane) gave him, far outweighed the perception of arrogance. This centeredness gave him the courage to say, “Yes, I want to spread the wealth!” And that confidence gave his supporters confidence. If McCain had half the confidence that Joe the Plumber had in the American Dream and capitalism, then his message of freedom would have resonated more. However, when he kept pounding away at the “greed on Wall Street,” instead of focusing on the Government regulation that created the problems generated by FNMA and Freddie Mac, that were completely Democrat creations, then by default, he gave away his power to Obama. McCain did not LIVE confidence in his own message.
As a business owner, do you have a product that you believe in? If you do, then visualize success with it – the success of your clients as well as your own success for making it available to them. If you don’t believe in it, then get the hell out of the way.
In summary, reach out to new clients, be specific about how you can benefit them and offer a product or service that you believe in to the core of your being. When you reach out to them, reach out to them on their terms. Reach out to them with something that they want. And finally, reach out to them in confidence.
Coach Chuck
A P.S. to this is in the following link: http://biznik.com/articles/how-email-marketing-just-changed-the-world?utm_source=article_reviews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=article_review_49
about his internet marketing campaign.
Business Coach Chuck @ 973-670-7215
Attention Deficit Disorder Re-defined for the Business Owner
December 18, 2007
(Don’t worry this is a short article)
Move Over Attention Deficit Disorder -
Here comes the The Multi-stimuli Reactor/processor Business Owner!
(Okay, so sometimes it does get disordered, but we can deal with that – That’s why we have employees!)
As a Business Coach of Small and family businesses I’ve found a disproportionate percentage of clients that, were they in school today, would be labeled ADD. Maybe they were labeled that in school. Maybe you were too. If so, doesn’t it just piss you off that other people don’t think as fast as you do, and then they can’t keep up with you and then they come up with labels to call you because you don’t do things like them.
On the other side, it is also true that this kind of thinking often leaves many things undone, plans with loose ends and a frustration of incompleteness. As with most things, there is a multitude of ways to deal with this. Seldom, however, is the best way to try to stuff yourself into everybody else’s box. Let’s be real. That’s why you are in business for yourself in the first place … there is not a box big enough for you. When some one suggests thinking out of the box, you may very well reply, “What box?”
If this is the case, then building on your strength of being a (let’s ditch the A.D.D. label shall we?) Multi-stimuli Reactor/processor Business Owner, usually requires:
- an acceptance of one’s self, and
- a recognition that we need to hire someone who tilts toward the organizational end,
- but that person also needs the people skills to interpret your vision, and delegate while you are off making tracks in still new directions. [This obviously requires tremendously careful selection in hiring for that particular position as well as absolute mutual respect for differences. This person may have a label or two of his/her own!]
Ok. That’s it. I’m done. Bye … I see you’re off already. Gimme me a call, I can help.
Coach Chuck
Business Coach Chuck @ 973-670-7215
Business, Golf and Bagger Vance
December 5, 2007
What do God, Golf and Bagger Vance have in common. First of all, Everything. But now, let me break it down a little bit. In Both Golf and Business, people on the outside don’t get it. They don’t get that in each of these endeavors we are constantly called upon to reach deep inside ourselves - usually when no body is looking, like when the ball is in the rough or the woods or on the other side of the fairway – and asks, “whach-ya-gonna-do-now, huh?” and then we can do the right thing or the wrong thing. The thing about golf, and the thing about business, is that when we do the right thing – regardless of outcome – the result is joy. It just feels so good to do it Right – oh yeah!! Joy, joy, joy is the spirit of God. God could give a rat’s a…, err uh, God could care less about Business or Golf. But God – and just for the record, I don’t care who or what your God is – God cares ALOT about reaching deep, doing the right thing and feeling it, feeling that joy. Am I ready for Sunday morning TV or what! at Coach Chuck’s Church of the 1st Tee … I’ll see you at the clubhouse.
There is no book that captures the spirit of golf like The Legend of Bagger Vance. Golf is a game of mind, it is a game of our integrity, of our past, of what everyone thinks of us. And ultimately, is a game that asks, “can we just let go of everything, everything that is, or ever was, and hit the damn ball the way it needs to be hit?” And its not about thinking it. Its just about doing it. The caveat is you go through all the other stuff first, until you find yourself alone with the ball. Its you, yourself and doing the right thing – with nobody looking. What are you going to do? Bagger Vance: the book, the real deal, about the game of golf.
Coach Chuck973-670-7215
Networking – Meeting People With a Purpose
August 5, 2007
How do you meet people and what do you do at an event where business people are gathered? The following is something that is very natural and works for me. It might work for you too.
- Walk up, confidently, but in an unthreatening manner and say, “Hi, I’m _____,” and then be quiet.
- They will almost always say their name; sometimes they will say their name and whom they are with. Let them say as much as they want to say.
- Make an authentic, positive comment about the event. If the speaker was terrible say – “it feels great to get up and walk around.” If the speaker was great say, “That speaker really made a good point about such and such.” Whatever: make it positive. Life is good in your world. That’s why other people are going to want to be in your world!
- Pretty early on, ask, “So what do you do?” Again, let them tell you as much as they want to tell you. Spend your time listening.
- Decide if you think the relationship might be one that you might want to develop. If not, say, “great to meet you, “ and move on. If yes: ask one or two questions that invite brief clarity on the issue that you think might be of mutual benefit. If, upon asking those one or two brief questions you still think that there might be a mutual benefit follow that up with something like
- “That’s interesting, my focus is _________ and it seems like you and I might have something worth following up on in more detail, what do you think?
- If they say yes, ask for their card, and ask if you could give them a call this ____ or ____.
- Regardless of the answer, thank them and move on.
Coach Chuck
973-670-7215
Learn more from the coach that defines business success by the happiness of the owner!
Take the Next Step to Your Picture of Success
Go To – www.businesscoachchuck.com. – for details of Coach Chuck’s business coaching services.
Not This Again
May 8, 2006
Yes, that is where we often find ourselves – back in the same place again after having said again and again, “never again!”
And then the committees form in the head:
“We told you so.”
“Back again, huh.”
“Loser.”
And then there is the thought that if people really knew the real you they wouldn’t like, do business with, hire, love or whatever it is you’d like them to do with and for you.
How do we get in these positions? Sometimes that is an important question and sometimes it is not. Sometimes trying to figure it all out is just our ego trying to rationalize something that we know is wrong. One day in New York, I got out of the Subway on 57TH Street. I needed to go to some street in the Mid-sixties. It was a stop I’d been in before so I really wasn’t paying attention, with my mind more on some project. So as I’m walking along in my own world, at some point I looked up to see what street I was on and I was on 49TH. Obviously, you say, I’d gone the wrong way. I found myself standing, looking at that sign, mentally telling myself I knew I’d gone the right way and giving myself reasons for why I came out of the subway the way that I did. Then I Just cracked up laughing at myself. “Hey brainiac – the sign says 49. You are going the wrong way. Turn around.” I became very amused at myself for the way that I tried to rationalize something that was so obviously wrong. Why I went the wrong way is not important.
On the other hand, if I find myself, for instance, always scrambling to get my bills paid regardless of whether I make a lot of money or a little – that is something that is a bigger problem, over and above simply not having enough money. Were it a simple problem, more money would solve the problem. In order to have a better life with more money requires a change in life-long ways of doing things.
How great would it be to say – “never again!” And be confident that that were true.
Cw Markham
4/28/06
Coach Chuck
973-670-7215
Take the Next Step to Your Picture of Success
Go To – www.businesscoachchuck.com. – for details of Coach Chuck’s business coaching services and fees.
Take a Test Drive – Call now for your FREE 30-minute exploratory consultation – Call 973-670-7215 and set up an appointment. There is never any pressure.
Or e-mail me – chuck@businesscoachchuck.com. Please provide three dates and times that would be a good time to call you. I will return the e-mail with a confirmed appointment time.
©2007 Charles W. Markham MA. You may not copy, reproduce, post or forward this document in any format. For permission or joint venture opportunities contact Chuck Markham at chuck@businesscoachchuck.com.
What is the GPS and Why is it Important
May 8, 2006
The GPS goes to the very heart of the coaching experience. Like the any Global Positioning System, it establishes where we are. Like the GPS in your car, it is also where we set our destination. Where do we want to go? Like the GPS, when we set it, it is set without judgment. We don’t care. As an Author of the Law of Attraction says, the GPS does not make fun of you for having tried to get there before, or remind you what you mother thinks of you wanting to go there or that your neighbors would or would not approve. We are simply setting the GPS for a particular destination.
When we know where we want to go, most of us know generally what we need to do to get there. By the time we’ve sought help, we’ve tried to get there already and for one reason or another have not been successful. As a coach our goal is to help you to stay the course, make adjustments to the planned route where needed and to keep moving. Along the way, we may run into obstacles that are very old which may require counseling. That is a great opportunity. Our Challenges are our greatest opportunity. If counseling is needed we will recommend that it happen parallel, but different than coaching. When all of this works together, we learn that our challenges, our difficulties are, in fact, our greatest assets, because once they are overcome, the experience of that success can be leveraged in ways that are incalculable from the position before the experience. RD Lang referred to experience as something that changes us. Coaching is an experience. Coaching attempts to move us to places we have sensed but been unable to reach. The GPS is set, regardless of obstacles, we keep moving in that direction
Coach Chuck
Coach Chuck
973-670-7215
Take the Next Step to Your Picture of Success
Go To – www.businesscoachchuck.com. – for details of Coach Chuck’s business coaching services and fees.
Take a Test Drive – Call now for your FREE 30-minute exploratory consultation – Call 973-670-7215 and set up an appointment. There is never any pressure.
Or e-mail me – chuck@businesscoachchuck.com. Please provide three dates and times that would be a good time to call you. I will return the e-mail with a confirmed appointment time.
©2007 Charles W. Markham MA. You may not copy, reproduce, post or forward this document in any format. For permission or joint venture opportunities contact Chuck Markham at chuck@businesscoachchuck.com.
Coaching is about keeping your eye on the prize. Counseling and Therapy is about untangling the mess. They are very important. Each are has inherent strength and inherent weakness. If you tell a coach that you just found out you have to go in for heart surgery they are likely to begin developing a plan to keep progress toward the goal in motion, or at least on the tracks while this procedure and the ensuing recovery takes place. A therapist may explore the feelings that arise because you are going in for heart surgery at the same age that your father died from a heart attack.
The strength in the coaching approach is that regardless of your heart condition, assuming the experience does not change your goals, you are going to want that process to be as far along as possible so that you can just get back on for the ride when you recover. The strength of the counseling approach is that our feelings produce results in the real world. The power of our belief is probably one of the most important distinguishing characteristics that separate us from other life forms. We are able to believe that which is not in our present experience and act on it. By acting on that believed reality we make it true. So, it is very important sometimes to come to terms with what it is we believe and why we believe it and decide if that is something we want to believe. As with anything else, the line between coaching and counseling is not set in stone. But, in general terms, what was just described falls into the area of counseling.
The weakness of the coaching model is that one can be so focused on a future goal that one neglects health, relationships and other aspects of the moment. When we achieve our dreams and ambitions, they are empty without those with whom we love. Counseling and Therapy, on the other hand can get so enmeshed in the past and with feelings that it becomes a tangle with no outcome. We can get lost in there.
It’s easy to see how these two areas can work together. While most excellent counselors and therapists have a little bit of the coach in them it is not their primary job. Coaching is not therapy. When coaches and counselors can work together, the therapist can help untangle the obstacles that prevent us from being the best we can be while the coach helps you devise a road map, vision a goal and achieve it.
From a practical application, this approach can end up being very economical. This is because issues that come out in counseling are often worked through quicker. Coaching is often done over the phone. The phone call might be a fifteen-minute call. When its all working together, it can be faster, better and more effective. That is the goal. And achieving that goal makes us feel good!
Cw Markham
Coach Chuck: chuck@businesscoachchuck.com
973-670-7215
Take the Next Step to Your Picture of Success
Go To – www.businesscoachchuck.com. – for details of Coach Chuck’s business coaching services and fees.
Take a Test Drive – Call now for your FREE 30-minute exploratory consultation – Call 973-670-7215 and set up an appointment. There is never any pressure.
Or e-mail me – chuck@businesscoachchuck.com. Please provide three dates and times that would be a good time to call you. I will return the e-mail with a confirmed appointment time.
©2007 Charles W. Markham MA. You may not copy, reproduce, post or forward this document in any format. For permission or joint venture opportunities contact Chuck Markham at chuck@businesscoachchuck.com.
