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Personal Development

Miscellaneous Thoughts, Personal Development, Self Development

Listening to This Turned My Rant to a Laugh

There is so much negativity and I’m part of it.  When I saw this ad, I had some really critical, snarky thoughts about it, as well as about other ridiculous ads that I feel are disingenuous and insulting.  I started to write a blasting commentary about the responsibility of businesses to uphold the Colorado brand of collaboration and integrity.

After writing my first draft of this post, I listened to the Brian Buffini podcast episode “You Are a Diamond,” and it put me in a positive frame of mind.  I started thinking of this post and decided I was being too negative and critical.  With a lightened attitude I saw this ad as funny – the silliness of a ONCE in a LIFETIME EVENT has been HELD OVER! by the same company whose last ad was a “Private Sale” advertised in the Denver Post.  The more I think about it, the more humorous it all is.  So?

So that brings me to the NEW point of this post: listening to something positive turned me from having a critical and negative outlook, to feeling upbeat and acting positively.  This silly ad reminded me of what so many have taught: my attitude shapes the lens of my entire perspective.    

Miscellaneous Thoughts, Personal Development

What if I fall to my death? Part 2 – Trusting Strangers

I discussed my last blog with my most recent podcast guest, Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Oilfield Services – an avid outdoorsman and climber.  He suggested that there’s more at play when I said I decided to “ignore risk” of using rock climbing anchors placed by strangers, simply because I wanted to climb.  He suggested that I felt, while perhaps not 100% certain, confident and secure based on the sense of a “trusted community” – the idea that while strangers installed the anchors that secured my life, these are strangers that I inherently trust.  Why?  Because there is a BRAND associated with rock climbers who install anchors for use by brethren rock climbers.  This is a brand I trust – and with my life, it turns out because I did fall several times, caught by anchors secured by people I’ve never met, and probably never will (thanks!).

Thanks to expert anchor installers, nearing the top. Ouray, CO

We’ve all talked about a continuum of brands we do and don’t trust.  It makes me think, “What more can I do, personally, to be a brand that others would trust?  With their lives?”  In business, is my brand, your brand, one that customers would risk their lives on?  Even short of life and death, is it a brand about which people feel 100% confident?

Miscellaneous Thoughts, Personal Development, Sales

How to Blow Your Brand with One Email – example

Subject Line: “Can you Help me?”

I received an email from a good friend.  Of course, I opened it.

My friend is a real estate agent I know to be huge-hearted, lovable, good natured and trustworthy.  This email, I sadly admit, really disappointed me.  Here’s the text:

  Do you have two minutes to help me with a problem???

I’m taking a great class right now and we’re having a competition. I need to get at least ten referrals in the next month in order to win!!!  I was just curious, who do you know from church, work, who wants to buy a home, sell a home, or invest in Real Estate that I could call today?

Thanks for taking the time to think about it!

I get it.  He’s trying something new, maybe stretching his comfort zone.  But dang it, I used to be absolutely certain that he was 100% focused on serving others.  Now he’s asking for something that’s completely about HIM.  Here’s what I wrote back to him:

  (Name), you know me well enough to know I refer when it makes sense – and I have! The (his firstname) I’m used to is all about helping others, not making an ask as part of a competition.  Sorry buddy, this makes me uncomfortable.  Stay you – that’s who people love.

We sometimes make mistakes when trying something new – successful people all make mistakes along the way.

Here’s the lesson: even when trying something new, we must be very careful to protect who we are and the reputation we’ve built in how others see us.

Miscellaneous Thoughts, Personal Development, Self Development

Do you know how your gatekeeper makes you look?

Recently I received a response from a communications director that felt like this photo.

I had invited his CEO to be a guest of the PROCO360 podcast and the snooty gist of the response was that the CEO is a very important and busy man.  His time cannot be wasted, so I must first convince the gatekeeper of the merit of my invitation.  Only then might my request be added to many from the throngs of admirers.

PROCO360 is a labor of love.  I take satisfaction in NOT interviewing jerks which this CEO must be, so I sent a reply to the communications director that his CEO would not be a fit.

I later met the CEO who is a lover of Colorado and Colorado business, and he’s a nice guy.  We were having a great conversation and the PROCO360 show came up.  He said he loves the mission and he’d like to be a guest on the show.  I said, “that’s interesting – I’d ruled you OUT.”  As you’d expect, that made him curious, then profoundly apologetic.  We worked things out and he’ll be on the podcast.

Do you know how your gatekeeper is making you look?

Miscellaneous Thoughts, Personal Development

Meet Pat.

Meet Pat.  He is braver than I am, and he’s having more fun.

We all know we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously and I think most of us dream of being less inhibited.

I met Pat at Hopp’s Auto Body and when I did, I asked him, “tell me about your hair.”  As it turns out, his mother-in-law said he’d never have a mohawk, so just to be a sport, he did, and he changes the paint color for variety.  Why?  “It’s just for fun.”

As a long-ago mascot for the Denver Broncos, I felt comfortable acting crazy because I was anonymous.  It was a blast!  In person I’m way more inhibited.  I wish I were as brave as Pat when it comes to living large by having fun and laughing at myself.  Pat’s a great reminder to work on that.  How about you?

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