As we make our way through this holiday season, the traditional Christmas programs air several times on the television.  One of the old classics is Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.

Readers of this blog may recall last year – when each week I would take a Christmas carol and break it down as it applies to leadership and personal development.  If you are a new follower of this weekly blog – or you missed them last year – feel free to go to my web site www.ronorendi.com  click on blog – then go to archive on the left – on the drop down menu, go to December 2011.

This week, I want to shed some light on Rudolph.  Rudy and his bright nose truly did stick out among the reindeer community.

Rudolph took what some may have perceived as a negative and turned it in to a positive.  He used that odd blinking red nose to be the high beam on Santa’s sleigh.

So, let me ask “What negative quality about you, your business or product are you using to stand out from the crowd?”

Turning a negative into a positive requires a paradigm shift.  One must look at the quality, product or situation from a completely different perspective.

Now, let’s look back at Rudolph to see what other “bright light” his shining schnoz can teach us.  When I say red nose what do you think of?  When I say Rudolph what comes to mind?

You see, Rudolph’s branding was his nose.  That WAS his calling card.  That is how this reindeer was known.

Look at yourself for a moment.  What one or two words describes you?  THAT can be your branding.  Play to your strengths.  Play to what sets you apart.

Once again – back to Rudolph.  After some lecturing from his friends (like Yukon Cornelius) Rudolph learned to boost his self confidence and believe in himself.

I cannot tell you how many people I know spend years muddling around in mediocrity before they gain some belief in themselves.  Sadly, there are some who go to their grave never gaining that belief.

Men – if you don’t have belief in YOU – simply ask your spouse or girlfriend what she sees in you.   Ladies – if you don’t have belief in YOU – simply ask your spouse or boyfriend what he sees in you.  Spend some time in discussion on that.

Another great source is to go to your mom.  Ask her what hopes and dreams she had in you.  Ask her about the belief she has in you.

Now, look back at 2012 – yes, the last 11 months.  If nothing has changed – you probably need to start changing some things in your life.  If not, you’re about to get bowled over by father time. 

Continue that look back at 2012.  Did you fail at anything?  You did!  GREAT!!!!  If you did not fail at anything – then in all probability you did not try anything.  Or you did not try anything that was hard enough on you.

It’s not too late to adjust.

If you don’t change, adjust, evolve – you will end up on a new island.  The Island Of Mediocrity. 

Have a great week

Ron  

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I have always enjoyed people watching.  Just seeing them navigate through life is amusing.  Sometimes I question (in my mind) the logic for what they are doing.

I know I am not alone because Jeff Foxworthy has created a whole comedy routine and career around rednecks.

I have often joked, when I see people doing incredibly stupid or silly things – that THESE are voters.

Comedian Louis Anderson once commented that his dad would say stupid things while driving.  He would say, “I could be the last person on earth, and the guy in front of me would be making a left turn.”

I have watched people at the malls (especially during the crowded shopping season) circle the parking lot looking for a close parking space when gasoline is $3.50 a gallon.

I have driven past many high schools where the people who walk the track for exercise park right next to the entrance gate.

I have seen people at a store pull out a credit card (and pay 18% interest) on an impulse buy that is marked down 10%.

For some reason, people think, while sitting at a traffic light in their car with a clear window that we cannot see them picking their nose.

Daily I see people at fast food restaurants purchase a large drink – when the drink has unlimited refills.

The point here folks is that we ALL do silly stupid things. 

The people around us may find us amusing.  But, they too do silly dumb things.
Another point here is that we have to take a moment and laugh at ourselves – often we see life as way too serious.  
Take time each day to laugh at yourself.  It’s healthy.  It’s therapeutic.  It’s even a stress reliever. 

Have a great week

Ron  

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But it’s the holidays...........

Many people in business allow their minds to play games with them and their business.  They tend to try and make their business coast between mid November and early January. 

Often they use a mental con game like – it’s the holidays, no one will answer the phone.  Or, I don’t want to pester people this time of the year.  How about this one, people are using their money to Christmas shop – they won’t have money to buy my product.

This is a mental con game played with many brick and mortar businesses AND with many home-based or direct sales businesses.

In reality, this is when people are out and about.  This is one of those times when the reality of not having enough money hits them. 

Those who do not use this time to actively generate sales are tossing their money (and income) to the kiosk vendors at the mall. 

This is the time of year when people “impulse buy” more than ever.

Think of it this way – stores jam pack their aisles with items this time of year for 2 reasons.  First, they usually have so much stock that they have no where to put things. 

Secondly, they want you (the consumer) to bump into the counter, to have to navigate the aisles, and to weave around the store to get to where you want to go.

It’s called marketing…………..  

And, if you do not market this time of year – someone else will gladly woo your customer with the next widget, gadget or fad.

In many cases, the issue is either we are afraid of rejection or we do not have enough confidence / belief in our product or service.

If that resonates with you – call me and we can work through that.

Have a great week

Ron  

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Hurricane Sandy hit with a full force – causing flooding, downed trees, power outages and road closings.  We had been warned time and again to prepare.  Weather forecasters, government agency officials and those in the know had been saying for days that Sandy was coming.

Were you prepared?

Did you heed the warning signs?  Or did you ignore the warnings?  

More aptly put for this forum, are you prepared to weather storms of life?  Are you set to tackle the challenges that arise?

In life there will be storms.  But the real question is do you have flashlights, batteries, water, food and a dry place to hang your hat?

Are you heeding the advice of those with authority in your field?

Many years ago, a friend made a comment to me that has stuck with me.  It is so applicable to today as it was 15 or 20 years ago.  He said, “What you do today, will affect your business 6 months from now.”  He continued, “Look at where you are today with your business.  Now go back 6 months in your calendar and look at what you did that day, that week and that month.  What you did then to promote your business, to build your client base, to solidify accounts and to move your business forward – the fruits of that labor can be seen today.”

That was such great advice from that friend and colleague.

So, we can ask ourselves those questions:
• What am I doing today to promote my business or myself?
• What am I doing today to build my client base?
• What am I doing to solidify my customer base right now?
• Am I working at moving my business forward or am I just coasting along hoping someone will call my phone or show up at my door eager to want to hear about my product or service?

It’s been said that poor salesmen have skinny kids.

Get moving………………..before the storm hits and your business is a pile of rubble.

Have a great week

Ron  

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No doubt we live in a hectic day and age.  And information is flying at us at warp speed.  At one time there may be a dozen or so things fighting for our attention.

Just two days ago, I was at a sports bar to watch my favorite team on the big screen.  As I looked around I noticed that during the game, there were people watching the game, talking with friends at their table, eating, texting and talking on the phone all at the same time.

How can the mind grasp all that data and activity at one time?

The answer is simple – it can’t.

Sure the younger generation can handle more input at a time than us old folks.  But, the bottom line is no one can handle it all.

If you don’t believe me, go to a movie theatre and watch all the activity going on.  Add to that the folks that are like jack rabbits popping up and down to go get a drink, then it’s a trip to the bathroom, then it’s off to the concession stand for popcorn or candy.

Honestly, it drives me nuts.  I want to stand up and yell – S – T – O – P!

Even in church, people cannot sit through an entire service without having to get up and go pee or get a drink of water.

C’mon people – are you adults?  Or, are you 12 years old?

I understand there are people with incontinence issues.  But not everyone has a bladder problem.

In the radio business they have what is called “dead time”.  Dead time is when there is no talking, no music, nothing.  Dead time will drive a radio producer completely nuts.  And the radio personality will be unemployed if it happens to often.

But that is radio.  And, radio is NOT life.

For some reason today, people feel that every second of every day MUST be filled with something – noise – video games – texting – calling – e-mailing – or something.

Our kids need 24/7 entertainment.  We even have to play videos in the car so they do not “dead time” while traveling to school, soccer practice or grandma’s house.

No wonder there is so many people with issues that cannot focus on one thing.  We have created a society that is so technologically advanced that we spend little time communicating with one another.  And, we spend less and less time in quietness with ourselves.

People, dead time is okay in life.

This week – take ten or 15 minutes and stop by a pond – grab a seat and just sit.

Or, turn the lights and technology off in your room and just sit there alone with yourself.

Find a comfy chair and just relax with YOU.

I have found some of my most creative times are when I am alone with me.

Have a great week

Ron  

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Okay, I admit it.  I love trivia.  Ever since I can remember, I was obsessed with gathering tidbits of knowledge.  No, I do not play trivial pursuit.  But I have been known to “run” several categories while watching Jeopardy.

I recently ran across a fact that has stuck in my head.  Why? 
Maybe it got lodged in my noggin because it was so “counter” to what I believed and / or thought.

A bug does not die when it hits the car windshield until the car is traveling at speeds of excess of 37mph.  Up until that point, bugs simply bounce off the windshield.

I am not going to go into the how and why of this fact.  And, I am not going to question the 37mph.

What I would like to focus on in this week’s blog is that bug hitting the windshield.

Such a tiny creature going along about its day and boing – it bounces off the car windshield.

So the question here is – “At what speed is it that each one of us stops bouncing off life’s windshield and we simply splatter?”

What is it that makes you crumble?

Is it a combination of things?  Is it a conglomerate of work stress, deadlines, family issues and life casualties that flattens you against life’s windshield?

What is your limit?  What’s your breaking point?

Do you even know your breaking point?

If we know – at what point we splatter – then it seems to me that we can work on raising that bar to enable us to cope with life at a higher level.

Often times it IS a mixture of tragedies, catastrophes, and happenstances that push us to our brink.  Or better put, “we allow ourselves to reach THAT point.” 

We must first and foremost recognize that issues happen on the road of life.  From there, we must realize that it is our reaction or our response that trigger a series of other reactions and responses.  i.e. touch a hot stove, burn your hand, maybe yell out a scream of pain, and possibly cuss.

So, if we can deal with the first issue (such as the stove being hot) then we can choose whether to react or respond.
BUT if we do not acknowledge the burner on the stove as being hot – we subject ourselves to getting burnt.

So, getting back to the bugs – if we train ourselves to bounce off more and more issues, bumps and hiccups in the road of life – then we can focus more on progress, forging forward in a positive manner – spending less and less time being stymied by episodes in life.

Try it.  Figure out your 37mph – then get to work on you. 

Can you raise your breaking point to 40mph?  How about 50mph?

The higher your breaking point, the more people will come to know you as the “steady Eddie” that nothing rattles.

It’s your choice………..bounce or splatter……………37mph or 50mph…….react or respond…………panic or rationally deal…………….   

Have a great week

Ron  

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Have you ever taken the time to read the instructions on a bottle of shampoo? 

You probably are thinking I need to get a life or more books to read.

Seriously, there are REALLY instruction on how to use shampoo.  Why?  Well, the first thought is – are we as a society THAT dumb that we cannot even figure out how to use a hair care product?  Or could it be that we have become such a “sue happy” society that we must take extra precaution lest someone think a bottle of tangerine flavored VO5 is for human consumption.

I tend to see this as an opportunity to write a blog – using it as a teaching tool.

Now, there’s a shocker, huh?

Wash, rinse and repeat is so simple.  It is so easy.  It is so obvious.  THAT is my point.

The process of washing one’s hair has become so mundane that we rarely screw it up.  We have spent countless hours working on this basic technique.  So many, that it has now reached to point we can do it flawlessly without even giving it a second thought. 
What if we were that good at some of the other basics in life?  What if were to take that much time working at certain skills in our own industries that we could do that “thing” without giving it a second thought?

The answer is simple?  We would become an expert.  We would become the best in our field at that skill or trade.
And, then what if…………..  What if we kept working on other areas of our field so that execution of that task or process could be done without consciously thinking about it?  Again, we would stand out in the crowd of our peers. 

We would be the one who people would seek out when wanting an answer or a solution to a concern in that area.

Try it.  Test the waters.  Focus on that one thing.

Once you become good at the basics, you can move on to bigger and greater challenges.

The late John Wooden used work with his team at the beginning of the season on very basic things.   His team would work on things such as pulling their socks up and tying their sneakers correctly. 

You see John Wooden knew that socks shifting inside a sneaker during a game would be a distraction.  That distraction could mean a loss of focus or a blister on the feet – which could lead a player to spending time on the bench.

So, the challenge to my blog readers now is to go out and execute – wash – rinse and repeat.

Have a great week

Ron  

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This popular song was recorded by Pat Benetar in 1979. 

The song reached #9 on the top 100.  It was, in many ways, sultry, yet up beat and gutsy.

I always found the song to be motivational.  The beat as well as the words hyped me up before a performance.

Yes, I have listened to the lyrics and know what the song is about.  However, I want to focus on the chorus of the song.

My question is…..are you hitting them with your best shot?  Are you giving your all.  Are you leaving it all on the field (as they say).

If you are in sales, are you hitting them with your best shot?

If you are self employed are you hitting your customers with your best shot?

If you are employed by someone else are you giving them your “all” while you are on the clock?

Hitting them with your best shot is, quite simply, giving your all.  Doing 100% of your of very best.  Are you striving to be the best you that you can possibly be?

One good way to answer that question, if you are in sales, is to honestly ask yourself  - would I buy from me.

If you are self employed, you may want to tweak that question and ask yourself – would I not only buy that from me, but would I become a long term customer AND refer other customers to me?

If you are employed by someone, you may want to adjust the question a little, asking – would I buy that product or service if I knew the work ethic of the employees?

Imagine what this world would be like, if everyone “hit them with their best shot.”  The U.S. would be the leader in many fields and industries.  Foreign countries would have to peddle fast to keep pace with American technology, creativity, work ethic and products.

Go ahead, try it – “Hit ‘em with your best shot and fire away.” 

Have a great week

Ron  

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Sympathy and compassion are two words that can be similar but are truly not.  The Wikipedia and Bing Dictionaries state that they are synonyms.

Sympathy, a word quite often associated with the passing of a friend or a loved one.  Many people express their sympathy with a hug, a card, sending flowers, or cooking a meal.  Their act of kindness shows a genuine concern for the bereaving person or family.

Sympathy, when used around an office or in a business setting is quite different.  Often it lets a person know that you can relate to his or her situation or predicament.

Compassion seems to me to go well beyond the verbal gesture.   Compassion involves action.  It also involves emotion.  It is that emotion that allows one individual to (in a sense) take on some of the burden of the other person. 

That taking on of the burden can be financial, physical, emotional or spiritual.

To me, showing compassion or having compassion means you are seeing yourself walking in that other person’s shoes. 
Thus they are enduring some of the hardship, pain and struggle that a friend or coworker may be going through.

In my mind, it’s a formula.  Sympathy + empathy = compassion.

Compassion is sympathy with a heart.

There are times in a relationship when one party wants sympathy.  A simple acknowledgement of understand what they are going through is usually enough to meet that need.

This is NOT to be confused with a “pity party”. 

The individual simply wants their mate or close friend to let them know that they understand.

And, there are times in a relationship when an individual yearns for compassion.  They actually want their partner to share in their pain or suffering – thus enabling the two to work together to overcome the challenge or hurdle.

I am not saying this is a “dumping on” of problems.  The individual simply is seeking a team mate to draw strength from to overcome their battle.

By the way, both sympathy and compassion are not male or female – they simply are.

Please – tell me your thoughts on the comparison of sympathy and compassion.  Feel free to post on this page’s blog, e-mail me or shoot me a Facebook , message.

Have a great week

Ron  

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So, let me ask a question.  What motivates you?  What drives you to stretch higher, go further, push yourself beyond what you thought you could do?

For athletes, it is listening to certain music that hypes them up.  Walking along the sidelines an NFL player will have his ear buds in listening to a series of songs. 

For writers, it is going to a serene place, working in a room that is colorful, or watching people while sitting in a park or at a mall.

For sales people, it may be listening to motivational cd’s.

For many of us, it is being around people who build us up.  Often they associate with people who are positive and exude a positive energy.

For some, it is constantly revisiting that goal or dream that they are working towards.

For some, it’s the hunt, the competitiveness the drive to be better than average.

Quite often, that “thing” that drives us touches one or more of our senses:  sight; smell, touch, taste; hear.

The key is to fins what cranks you up.  Once you find that – you can build on it and develop more and more motivation.

Now all these suggestions on motivators are fine – but standing alone – do nothing. 

So, go, my friend.  Put some action to it.

YOU CAN DO IT!

Have a great week

Ron  

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