Business Owners Rewarded for Value & Results vs.Time & Effort

Business owners recognize the two competing economies.  There is the "Time and Effort" economy which seeks security, predictability and stability.  A trade is made for an employees time and talent to be applied in a job.  This represents the preponderance of the workforce.  The other economy is defined by "Value and Results."  As an owner, your customers don't care how hard, long or stressed you work.  They expect the product or service promised on the other side of price.  Owners focus on the opportunity to delight customers as their reward.

What separates the two economies is the perception of "Risk & Reward."  The world rewards high risk and high reward.  Yet, business owners are some of the most cautious people I know.  They make a distinction between Risky and Risk.  Jumping out an airplane without a parachute is risky.  A trained jumper with equipment is less risky than driving.  Business owners assess risk - determine what they know and mitigate what they don't and prepare.

If you're a business owner preparing for new opportunities or reviewing your current direction, then let's talk.  We'll facilitate a brainstorm or strategy session to ensure you can make an informed decision and avoid risky.

4 Words Guaranteed to Make Your Team More Productive...

Ever leave a meeting with questions about who's doing what per issue?  You're not alone, this confusion often leads to enormous mis-communication and waste.  Here's how to bring clarity and higher productivity after each meeting by assigning names to these key words.  Who's Responsible, Accountable, Consulted and Informed...

Whether you’re participating in your business, charitable foundation or local tennis club, meetings are meant to lead to decisions, action plans and results.  So let’s place the name the person responsible, accountable, consulted and informed per ActionPLAN or Issue.  The chart's visual simplicity provides clarity, aligns interests and leads to higher productivity.

ActionPLAN / Issue	Responsible	Accountable	Consulted	Informed
Issue #1	(Put the names of individuals in these blocks)
Issue #2
Issue #3

These team building skills are what our ActionCOACH business coaches do daily with our clients.  If leading teams to higher performance is your responsibility, are you open to the idea of getting there faster?  Let's get started. 

The 11 Rules for Problem Solving & Brainstorming Success

Rarely is there a problem without a solution and often the solution is within your Team's capabilities to solve.  Here's how to facilitate your Team toward a solution.

The 11 Rules for Problem Solving and Brainstorming. 

1. Headline the Problem / Issue / Opportunity:  Newspaper headline terms
2. Provide Background: Current situation, Which are Symptoms and Causes, Give context in which a solution is sought, Define the ground rules for a successful solution
3. Re-define the Problem:  After discussions with the group working the Problem / Issue / Opportunity reframe the Problem.  Likely a new problem statement emerges
4. Define the Desired Outcome:  What is needed/wanted/must have?  How important and committed are the players to the solution? What does success look like? Begin with the end in mind. Work the outcome backwards – what do you have to believe to achieve the outcome, what are the assumptions?
5. Generate Ideas of Possible Solutions:  No idea is a bad idea, no critique of person with idea.  Look for relationships of ideas: Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive and Complete - MECEC
6. Select Ideas of Possible Solutions:  Prioritize selected ideas as compared to desired results
7. Get Benefits and Concerns:  What are the pluses of going forward?  Concerns – what I Wish I Knew – IWIK and How To – H2, Go through “what if” questions and scenarios - What if things go right? What if they go wrong?
8. Work the Critical Concerns:  What are the critical concerns that would impede success?
9. Define an Action Plan & Next Steps for Implementation – Rules of the Game, Urgency to act – why, who, what, when, where, how, mission – strategy/tactics
10. How to Sell / Persuade / Communicate in the other person’s interest – WIFME (What’s in It For Me) perspective, factor the people’s personalities involved and how best to communicate with them
11. Work Fast:  Keep the tempo up.  Go for the 80/20 solution.  Keep sessions short and flexible.  Focus on what you can do.  Identify issues that aren't important and urgent and assign a smaller group to work and report back.

This is one more area where our business coaches excel.  They know how to facilitate these important sessions so business owners and their teams are aligned. What would that do for your business productivity?

How Much More Business Would You be Doing with a New Playbook...?

Throughout baseball's history there's been a playbook to get the offense to score runs and defense to shut down hitting and base running. Your business playbook is no different. Time’s now to get your plays down on paper so your team can execute for more customers, revenues and profits.  Registration ends Friday, May 10, 2013, for this Massive Action Day - 90 Day Planning Session - "The Playbook for Your Profits and Productivity."

How much more business would you be doing with a new playbook?

Here's the workshop that gives you the confidence and conviction on how to rewrite your playbook to higher profits and productivity for the next 90 days and beyond.

The Ranger Ballpark venue was selected to see yourself in a championship environment, to step outside your day-to-day perspective and to surround yourself with like minded business owners and top business coaches focused on your growth.

Do you know of a single successful business owner who isn’t GOAL directed, persistently measuring, perfecting and re-directing their efforts?  When your GOALs remain in your heart and head, how much chance is there of achieving them in the shortest amount of time and energy?  And if you are one of the select few with written goals, are you holding yourself accountable to doing the small things today that get you to your BIG dreams of tomorrow?

So let’s get started...!

Yes!  I’m taking control of my business.  Sign me up for the Massive Action Day - 90 Day Planning Workshop – "The Playbook for My Profits and Productivity."  I’ll prioritize this time to step out of the business and get focused.  I’ll participate with a group of like-minded business owners and experienced business coach committed to moving my business forward.  No more procrastination, no more excuses, I’m ready to take ownership of the company’s performance and have an incredibly successful 2013.  After each 90 Day Planning Session, I’ll leave with the right specific actions in each of the following areas:

1. Mastery - Time, Delivery, Processes, Purpose and Money - Move from Choas to Control
2. Niche - Attracting and Keeping Customers, Easy to Buy from you with Iron Clad Guarantee - Not Competing on Price
3. Leverage - Systematize the Routine for Effiiciency - Humanize the Exception. Production On Time, Spec, Budget and Wow - Every Time
4. Team - From Employees to Team - Team Makes Decisions in Interest of Owner
5. Synergy - Well Oiled Machine - Sustainable Growing Cashflows. Owner Works "On" the Business. GM/Pres/COO is doing the Day-to-Day Operations
6. Results - Business Works "For" the Owner. Gains Freedom, Capability, Opportunity & Growth

There are various ticket options so you can bring your team and get results faster as well as invite others.  I know the investment amount is not an issue at $395…because as usual, I give you my Iron Clad Guarantee that if you participate - you'll leave energetic, passionate, enthusiastic, self-directed, prepared, focused, supported, systematic, timely and proactive. If you continue to feel drained, directionless, pessimistic, vague, reactive, impulsive, critical, haphazard, scattered and hesitant or just plane dissatisfied you can just stand up and walk out with a refund…

For every other business owner, vendor or client you refer, I'll refund you $100 off your ticket and they'll receive $100 refund off their ticket too.  There's no excuse to operate a business in Texas and not have plans to achieve your goals.

Once registered you'll receive a Prep Pack immediately there after that requires you to think about your business ahead of time so that you can get the most from this Massive Action Day. We're also going to remain there for lunch on us as we maximize our time.

Here's what other business owners have stated about their experience from the Massive Action Day...Click Here

Yes, taking massive action is optional but getting more productive and control of your business is not.  Investing in yourself and your team is a surefire way to get your business on the track to more productive time and personal gratification.

Register here and rewrite your playbook for more customers, revenues and profits! Playball!

How to get Your Plans, Goals & Actions Landing in Fair Territory

Every baseball season - owners, general managers and coaches are setting a vision, making plans, setting goals and implementing action. Few know this better than Ranger's GM - John Daniels, CEO - Nolan Ryan and Coach - Ron Washington. You can see their concern when they heard your business was not registered for this Massive Action Day, yet!

Here's the workshop that gives you the confidence and conviction on how you'll achieve your productivity and profit goals these next 90 days and beyond.

The Ranger Ballpark venue was selected to see yourself in a championship environment, to step outside your day-to-day perspective and to surround yourself with like minded business owners & top business coaches focused on your growth.

Do you know of a single successful business owner who isn’t GOAL directed, persistently measuring, perfecting and re-directing their efforts?  When your GOALs remain in your heart and head, how much chance is there of achieving them in the shortest amount of time and energy?  And if you are one of the select few with written goals, are you holding yourself accountable to doing the small things today that get you to your BIG dreams of tomorrow?

So let’s get started...! Register Here

Yes!  I’m taking control of my business.  Sign me up for the Massive Action Day - 90 Day Planning Workshop – Playbook for My Business. I’ll prioritize this time to step out of the business and get focused.  I’ll participate with a group of like-minded business owners and experienced business coach committed to moving my business forward.  No more procrastination, no more excuses, I’m ready to take ownership of the company’s performance and have an incredibly successful 2013.  

After each 90 Day Planning Session I’ll leave with the right specific actions in each of the following areas:
 

Level 1: Mastery - Time, Delivery, Processes, Purpose and Money - Move from Choas to Control

Level 2: Niche - Attracting and Keeping Customers, Easy to Buy from you with Iron Clad Guarantee - Not Competing on Price

Level 3: Leverage - Systematize the Routine for Effiiciency - Humanize the Exception. Production On Time, Spec, Budget and Wow - Every Time

Level 4: Team - From Employees to Team - Team Makes Decisions in Interest of Owner

Level 5: Synergy - Well Oiled Machine - Sustainable Growing Cashflows. Owner Works "On" the Business. GM/Pres/COO is doing the Day-to-Day Operations

Level 6: Results - Business Works "For" the Owner. Gains Freedom, Capability, Opportunity & Growth

There are various ticket options so you can bring your team and get results faster as well as invite others.  I know the investment amount is not an issue at $395…because as usual, I give you my Iron Clad Guarantee that if you participate - you'll leave energetic, passionate, enthusiastic, self-directed, prepared, focused, supported, systematic, timely and proactive. If you continue to feel drained, directionless, pessimistic, vague, reactive, impulsive, critical, haphazard, scattered and hesitant or just plain dissatisfied - you can just stand up and walk out with a refund…

For every business owner, vendor or client you refer, I'll refund you $100 off your ticket and they'll receive $100 refund off their ticket too. There's no excuse to operate a business in Texas and not have plans to achieve your goals.

There is a Prep Pack that requires you to think about your business ahead of time so that you can get the most from this Massive Action Day. We're also going to remain there for lunch on us as we maximize our time.

Here's what other business owners have stated about their experience from the Massive Action Day...Click Here

Yes, taking massive action is optional but getting more productive and control of your business is not.  Investing in yourself and your team is a surefire way to get your business on the track to more productive time and personal gratification.

 

Click here and start hitting, scoring and playing solid defense for more customers, revenues & profits - Fair Ball!

How to Avoid the 7 Habits of Hightly "Ineffective" Business Owners...

Business Owners, GM's, Entrepreneurs, Sales Teams...

1. Having BIG plans…taking little action
2. Reacting constantly to urgent unimportant tasks…allowing the momentum of the day to consume your attention and money
3. Being too busy to plan…no appreciation of the value of your time
4. Believing everything is important…being drained emotionally & physically going nowhere
5. Having fuzzy goals…and getting fuzzy results
6. Getting snarled in the detail and complexity…so nothing gets started  
7. Having no accountability to your dreams…delaying dreams often denies them

You have the best intentions of avoiding these 7 habits but...how often have you fallen victim to them and failed to convert your goals into an implementable plan.  We all have.  That’s why I'm inviting you to our personal Massive Action Day (MAD 90) so that you can get Massive Results in the next 90 days. 

Imagine converting all the things you know you should be doing and prioritizing them so you can actually do them?  You’ll gain control of your time and convert your aspirations for more time and money the next 90 days into the present.  In this one MAD 90 day you’ll stop procrastinating and begin implementing.    

This is a full day intensive workshop to get your best plans documented so you can achieve more in 90 days than most business teams do in a year.  We’re confident of that because we’re coaching you all along the way.  It’s only a month away at:

The Ranger Ballpark in Arlington - May 14th, 2013

Registration Information Here

You’ll meet other business owners that are working or have worked though similar challenges that you’re facing and/or you may be able to help them overcome challenges with your solutions. 

Yes - this MAD 90 day is optional but getting control of your business is not.  Missing this one day is simply a bad idea. 

As usual, I give you my Iron Clad Guarantee if you are not satisfied with the content by noon you can just walk out with a refund.  You keep the "Preparation Pack" and MAD 90 Playbook materials and even stay for lunch.    

Massive Action Day - 90 Day Planning Workshop - Playbook for Your Business - Testimonials

Massive Action Day - 90 Day Planning Workshop Testimonials - "The Playbook for Your Business"

These Business Owners converted their intentions and aspirations into Massive Results ... more Profitability and Productivity!

“ When I went to work on my goals go to work for me. The more frequently I read them, the faster they happen. Get some help with them.  When I achieve them – I set new ones.  Life is hard by the yard … but a cinch by the inch.” WB Real Estate Broker 

 "When it was all said and done....more was said than done...in my business, so I enrolled in MAD 90 to move forward and I’m pleased I did.  I’ll see you in 90 days with MASSIVE results.”  Paul Avins – Professional Services Firm

“MAD 90 workshop is mandatory for any serious business owners. These SMART goals will help me budget my time and energy more effectively.” Jim Goon – Geeks on Call, Frisco

“Really helped us put the vision for our business on paper. Before MAD90 our vision was not tangible because we had not taken the time to get it out of our heads and into an action plan. Thanks Action for helping us move our business forward!!” T.S. & S.B. - Splish Interactive

“Planning is a must for any business owner who really wants to achieve their goal.  It also helps moving forward in a clear direction, and to a place we choose to be.” George Daves & Steve Ayles – Calidad Industries

“It’s taking a big Picture look at how the last period has gone and how to use those experiences, success and failure to spring board into the next 3 months.” David & Kelly Parnham – The Vege Man

“MAD90 set and clarified my direction.  I have new possibilities. I was limited by my past. MAD90 gives me a new beginning.” Harriett K. Gibbe – HKG Productions & Entertainment – Dallas

Warning:  "This message is to those that think you have goals and plans but don't have them written down.  You are deluding yourself.  You're robbing yourself of your future.  You can't efficiently make your business dreams real until you have a written ActionPLAN.  I believe this so fervently that I'll give you may IRON Clad Guarantee that if you don't see the value, I'll refund your tuition!"  Your Coach - Stephen D. Marino

Join us for the next Massive Action Day from The Ranger Ballpark in Arlington - Tue, May 14, 2013

Details here

Coaching You to be TexasRICH - Think Bigger, Insist on Win/Win, Be First to Inspire!

10 Rules for Problem Solving and Higher Productivity...

Rarely is there a problem without a solution.  Yet, there is plenty of contention on how to positively address the problem without unnecessary confrontation.  Here's a methodology to foster the group or team communication and achieve more faster, effectively.

10 Rules for Problem Solving, Brainstorming and Team Building

1. Headline the Problem / Issue / Opportunity    (Simple newspaper headline terms)
2. Provide Background - Current situation, Which are Symptoms and Causes, Give context to the problem and implications to business.  Define what the ground rules are for a solution?
3. Re-define the Problem - Based on what you've learned from the group what does the problem look like now?  Often what you thought was the problem is not the real problem.
4. Define the Desired Outcome – what is needed/wanted and how committed are the players to the solution?  What does success look like?  Begin with the end in mind.  Work the outcome backwards – what do you have to believe to achieve the outcome, what are the assumptions?
5. Generate Ideas of Possible Solutions – no idea is a bad idea, no critique of person with idea.  Look for relationships of ideas:  Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive and Complete - MECEC
6. Select Ideas of Possible Solutions – prioritize selected ideas as compared to desired results
7. Get Benefits and Concerns (I wish I knew – IWIK; How to – H2), Go through “what if” questions and scenarios - What if things go right?  What if they go wrong?
8. Work the Critical Concerns - Understand why these are concerns.  What can be done to mitigate or eliminate them?
9. Define an Action Plan and Implementation Next Steps – Define Who, What, When, Where, How, How Much for each strategy, tactic or activity.  
10. How to Sell / Persuade / Communicate to the other people impacted? – Answer WIFME (What’s in It For Me), factor the other people's personalities involved and how best to communicate with them.
    Still having challenges getting everyone aligned on seeking solutions, then let's talk.
    
    I'll offer a complementary 60 to 90 min session to understand your situation and guarantee you'll gain at least a half dozen ideas to engage your team, improve communication and implement more effectively.  

Call me at ph:  972 740 3575 or eM:  StephenMarino@ActionCOACH.com

Let's get started facilitating these important problem solving sessions.  You'll work less and make more.