SelfHelpInfoNow.com


Miraculous Leadership


It was a time of turmoil. In November 1979, supporters of the Ayatollah Khomeini took 71 Americans hostage in Iran. On Christmas Eve that year, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Gasoline prices, inflation and interest rates were soaring as 1980 began. President Jimmy Carter said America was in a "crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will."

Then on February 22nd - 25 years ago - our American spirit received an unexpected boost. A group of U.S. amateur and college athletes took on the mightiest hockey team in the world in the Winter Olympics. Prior to the game against Russia, coach Herb Brooks told his team: "You were born to be hockey players. You were meant to be here. This moment is yours." Hand-picked by their coach and having survived a grueling seven-month training regimen, the youngsters absorbed his inspirational words, then went out and did the impossible. As the final seconds counted down, a then unknown Al Michaels made the famous call: "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"

Herb Brooks crafted what may be the greatest upset in American sports history. He was a visionary leader, and understood how to select players who fit his style and blend each one's unique skills into a high-performance team focused on winning. As a small business owner, one of your most important roles is to lead your team to achieve incredible results.

Success Handler Action: The first step to making your small business soar is to ensure your team understands their goals - the definition of winning your gold medal. For them to know their goals, you have to know yours. After you finish reading this E-Newsletter, spend some time thinking about two major goals you want to achieve in the next six months. Here are some questions to help you get started:

~ What are the biggest potential opportunities for your small business?

~ Where is your competition focusing its marketing and sales efforts?

~ Why are you better than your competition, and why do customers/clients choose you?

~ When you talk to customers/clients, what are they asking for that you don't provide, and which of these could you provide?

~ Who among your existing customers/clients could give you referrals and prospect leads?

Team USA beating the Soviet Union was like a bunch of college football players defeating the New England Patriots?and the celebration was incredible. Yet in the locker room after the game, Brooks immediately went to work focusing players on their next goal - the gold medal match-up with Finland. He told them lose and the world would quickly forget their victory over the Russians, and they would have to live with the disappointment the rest of their lives. Players said later he actually scared them into winning.

Success Handler Action: While it's not necessary to strike such fear into your team, it is important to keep them focused. Meet with them regularly to share information and discuss ways to better serve your customers/clients. Here are five ideas for inspiring the employees in your small business:

1. Ask for their input?and be sure to hear what they have to say.

2. Include them in your goal-setting?and engage them in executing your plan.

3. Lead by example?and help them grow as employees and individuals.

4. Teach them new skills?and encourage them to seek new challenges.

5. Involve them in the game?and reward them for completing key steps along the way.

We may never see another "Miracle on Ice." The Cold War ended, and the "evil empire" Soviet Union dismantled. Olympic athletes are now professionals. Tiny hamlets like Lake Placid, NY can no longer accommodate the rush of spectators, media and corporate sponsors. However, we may always hope.

In an interview shortly before his death in August 2003, Herb Brooks, referring to one of his favorite movies, is quoted as saying: "You know, Willie Wonka said it best: 'We are the makers of dreams, the dreamers of dreams.' We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we're too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams. I'm a dreamer."

Listen to the coach. Keep dreaming?and go for the gold!

Copyright © 2005 by Success Handler, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Coach, David Handler, is the founder of Success Handler, (http://www.successhandler.com), and specializes in helping small business leaders find clarity and take action. He understands the challenges of running a business, because he's been there - as a small business owner, franchisee, franchisor, corporate leader and trainer. Much like sports coaches, his coaching will show you how to compete on a level playing field in your industry.


MORE RESOURCES:

The Age

Steve Jobs Says Hormone Imbalance Caused Weight Loss
Bloomberg - 6 hours ago
5 (Bloomberg) -- Steve Jobs, after months of concern about his health and weight loss, said he is suffering from a nutritional ailment and that he plans to ...
Apple's Jobs Blames Weight Loss on Hormones PC Magazine
Apple's Steve Jobs blames 'hormone imbalance' for weight loss Computerworld
Jobs: Hormone imbalance causing weight loss CNNMoney.com
Reuters - Wall Street Journal Blogs
all 1,559 news articles


Dallas Morning News

Site shows how you'd look after weight loss
Dallas Morning News, TX - 6 hours ago
Upload a digital image, supply your target weight loss of up to 50 pounds, and Weightview.com will send an "after" photo. ...


Tips help refocus weight loss
Arizona Republic, AZ - 4 hours ago
If you need to find a weight-loss partner, visit www.weight lossbuddy.com. • Eat berries. Berries are low in calories and have disease-fighting antioxidants ...


FDA Warns Consumers About Tainted Weight Loss Pills
KSWT-TV, AZ - 7 hours ago
These weight loss products, some of which are marketed as "dietary supplements," are promoted and sold on various Web sites and in some retail stores. ...
FDA Says 28 Weight Loss Supplements To Be Avoided InjuryBoard.com
DR. CRAIG BOWRON Looking to downsize? FDA recommends avoiding ... MinnPost.com
all 3 news articles


Weight-loss promo picks up tolls
Topeka Capital Journal, KS - 7 hours ago
... Commuters arriving in Topeka between 7 and 9 am this morning were treated to free tolls thanks to an advertising campaign for a weight-loss book. ...


New York Post

Wired for Weight Loss Program Holds Solution to Oprah's - and ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 6 hours ago
Just in time to address America's number-one New Year's resolution, Mark Patrick Media has officially launched its Wired for Weight Loss program. ...
Oprah's Weight Loss Confession Oprah.com
Falling Off The Weight Loss Wagon KCAU
Fitness Expert Jennifer Nicole Lee Fixes Oprah’s Good Diet Gone Bad WebWire (press release)
Best Syndication - Lynchburg News and Advance
all 54 news articles


After a reality-show-induced weight loss, a Raleigh woman hits her ...
News & Observer, NC - 16 hours ago
One of Salama's weight-loss goals was to fit into size 10 designer jeans. After months of intense exercise and dedicated dieting to shed nearly half her ...


Business Wire (press release)

Structure House Weight Loss Program Named America’s Healthiest ...
Business Wire (press release), CA - 7 hours ago
The Structure House program was credited with its holistic approach to weight loss, an outstanding exercise component and tasty, low-fat recipes. ...


Weight loss program benefits
Winchester News Gazette, IN - 19 hours ago
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana recently announced a new program that encourges weight loss while helping to feed local people who have ...
General Mills, NBC's The Biggest Loser and Feeding America Partner ... PR Newswire (press release)
'Biggest Loser: Couples' Premieres Jan. 6 With Oldest, Youngest ... Starpulse.com
Reveille Pacts With General Mills For Cause Marketing Deal Broadcasting & Cable
First Coast News - Muncie Star Press
all 11 news articles


Weight loss and the three S's in Vail
Vail Daily News, CO - 6 hours ago
From a naturopathic perspective, an effective weight loss program should go beyond diet plans and exercise routines, which have failed so many people in the ...

Weight-Loss - Google News



Home | Blog | Improvement | Motivation | Health & Fitness | Relationships | Family | Parenting | Women Issues | Legal Matters
Leadership Home | Site Map
Copywrite © 2006     www.SelfHelpInfoNow.com     All rights reserved.