Make a PLAN

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Study the word PLAN.  Prepare Logically — Adapt Needfully. In other words, make thoughtful, definite plans. Then, adapt and modify those plans as the situation might require. Great salespeople, like effective performers in all walks of life, are those who are organized, flexible, and adaptable. They size up situations and, when the occasion demands, they quickly, effectively and confidently alter their original course and go to “Plan B.”

In the Navy, this kind of adaptability is referred to as “changing the course.” In the Boy Scout training, it’s called “improvising.” In football, it’s “calling an audible.” In selling, it’s adapting the prepared agenda to meet the need. In other words, the situation is the boss. In every sales encounter, you must learn to adjust and adapt. When the prospect starts making objections and offering resistance, “call an audible” — adjust and adapt.

Display flexibility. Move ahead to achieve your goal – another satisfied customer. Remember that in order to be able to adapt needfully, you must be prepared. Ad-libs are for amateurs. Preparation will give you the confidence to adapt, should the situation require it.  

This is an excerpt from the new book I wrote with my dad, Garry Kinder. It’s more than just a business book, it is an “inspiration for life” book. Click Here to order your copy of Positive Connectivity.

Construction Photo by Shivendu Shukla on Unsplash

Positive Connectivity

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We live in a society that is attached to our mobile devices. In fact, psychologists recently coined the term nomophobic (no-mobile phone phobia) for those who have a fear of being without their phones. Honestly, who doesn’t have a bit of a sinking feeling when their phone is nowhere to be found? Perhaps we all are a little nomophobic now and then. Yet, despite the fact that we are constantly electronically connected, most people feel disconnected when it comes to human relationships.

A recent Harvard study found that 36% of Americans are experiencing “serious loneliness.” Whether we are engaging with friends, family, clients or business relationships, we must go beyond merely messaging or emailing to experience a true sense of understanding and connection.

One thing we have learned through the recent global pandemic is that people are not created to  be completely isolated from one another. On the contrary, humans need authentic interaction. In fact, most people thrive through healthy connectedness – feeling heard, seen, and valued by another person. In the next few weeks on this blog, I want to help you spark that kind of positive and lasting connection. I want to encourage you to relate in a deeper and richer way with the people in your life, both family and friends.

How does that kind of connection happen? We will explore areas such as perception, presence, the power of words, perspective, potential and purpose. Bottom line, when we think about satisfaction in life, it begins with the satisfaction of experiencing lasting and meaningful relationships. Let’s never stop learning to build deeper and stronger connections with the people God puts in our lives.

Check out my new book, Positive Connectivity.

Blog photo of man with phone by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

The Price of Leadership

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“Cultivate in yourself the qualities you admire most in others.” – Arnold Glasow

After my dad passed away, I began working through some of the boxes of memorabilia from his business and life. Among the treasures I found old tattered pictures of my great grandparents and yellowed letters of gratitude written to my Dad from friends and associates. I discovered information about my ancestors and numerous awards dad had received. One was a leadership award from “The Price of Leadership Hall of Fame.” On it were printed these words:

Leadership is bought with a price that can be paid by anyone, anytime, anywhere, and a person is as much a leader today as they ever will be because the price they are paying today is determining the kind of leader they will be tomorrow. The price: loneliness, weariness, abandonment, vision.

Stop and ponder this bold statement. As much as we would like the role of leadership to be easy and fun, it rarely is. Leadership is hard work. It takes courage and vision for sure. But it also takes walking the lonely road of integrity and being willing to stand for what is right and true. Yes, leadership is costly. Loneliness, weariness, abandonment and vision are traits of a long and challenging journey – a path few are willing to take.

Positive and lasting leaders lovingly lay down their own self-interests and press on with a vision for the future. Are you willing to pay the price?

Check out the new book I wrote with my dad. Click here to order.

Staying Steady Through the Rocky Roads of Life

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How do you handle the tough stuff in your life? We all face obstacles, difficulties, and even tragedies at times, but the question is how will we respond to these challenges. Personally, I’ve weathered through my own fair share of sad circumstances. I’ve learned to grieve the loss and grow in strength through each.

This past week, I shared a bit of my story on a podcast with my friend Tasha Calvert. Listen in by clicking the link. I hope it will give you encouragement and strength in the difficulties you face.  

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digging-in-with-tasha-calvert/id1623106116?i=1000614127246

Photo by Julian Hochgesang on Unsplash

The Toughest Job You Ever Loved

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The process of shaping the child, shapes also the mother herself. – Elisabeth Elliot

Motherhood made me a better person. I must admit, before having children I was a fairly self-focused young adult doing whatever I pleased, whenever I pleased. But when that first little bundle of Grace arrived, I grew to understand a depth of love and selflessness that I had never experienced before.

Caring for someone else’s needs above our own changes us. It stretches us, grows us and creates a hidden beauty just waiting to be uncovered. It seems a bit counterintuitive, and yet it’s true – the more we give from the heart, the more our heart is filled.

Whether you’re a mother or you have people in your life whom you pour into, may we continually find joy in the giving and not the taking, the stretching and not the hoarding, the sacrifice and not the self-centeredness. We are put here in this world for a purpose, and it is not for self-promotion, rather it is to give our lives away in loving and serving others. That’s the joy of motherhood! It’s the toughest job you ever loved.

Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash

For more of my thoughts on Motherhood, check out The Power of a Positive Mom