Yeah, But It Won't Last!

Today is a “weather perfect day” in Las Vegas.  This day followed a record breaking rainfall for any day since records have been kept for Las Vegas.  As I began my 7 a.m. walk, the air was crisp, the birds were singing, and the leaves on the trees gave enough cover to feel a bit cool. 

Then it happened.  The moment-by-moment beauty of the day was haltingly disrupted as a greeted a follow female walker, “This is a glorious reward for all that rain yesterday,” I cheerfully espoused.  Her response?  “Huh? Oh, yeah. But it’s not going to last.”

Lucky for me, I walk very fast and was able to escape the pending doom radiating from this woman.  I was smiling from ear-to-ear knowing that I had just experienced a real time example of how the mind – when untrained and unmonitored – can destroy the present moment’s glory by anticipating the natural evolution of life. 

Do things change?  Heck, yes!  Does knowing that mean you should not appreciate the good times.  Heck, no!  Beautiful flowers can grow through rocks.

Dr. Success Challenge:  How would you act (or what decision would you make today) if you believed good was going to last…at least for the moment?

Optimism and pessimism start in the mind.  Success and happiness start and end in the mind.  Period.  You choose.

Thank you, Andrea T. Goeglein
http://www.facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD
http://www.linkedin.com/in/drsuccessphd
http://twitter.com/DrSucces

 

 

Random Act of Kindle Kindness

As August, 2012 comes to a close with the light of a Blue Moon, I wanted to re-post this offer that expires this Monday.  Have a safe and wonderful Labor Day Weekend.  If your travels take you to Queens, NY Resorts World New York, Gary Russo will be performing free at the 360 Bar, Sunday and Monday 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.  You will have more fun that a person should outside of Las Vegas!

Growing up on the East Coast my Dad and Uncles had a fun habit.  When we were caravaning to some family outing, the lead car generally paid for the cars behind.  When I began to drive, I continued the practice with total strangers.  Well, maybe if truth be told, as a teenager if I spotted a car driven by a hot guy, I would pay his toll!  Never got a phone number, but did get lots of hot smiles.

Since smiling started the Don't Die with Your Song Unsung story, I decided to create a Random Act of Kindle Kindness.  First, I priced the Kindle edition of the book at a silly .99 cents for the month of August 2012.  Happy anniversary Gary Russo!  Then I started going through my address book and randomly sending a copy a day to someone in one of my many, many circles.  In the gift message box I put this message:

You have received this book as a random act of Kindle Kindness celebrating the anniversary of the events in the book.  If you can, please pay-it-forward by purchasing a Kindle edition for a silly .99 cents for someone.  If not, please remember to smile as you enjoy this gift.  Thank you.   

I just started yesterday...and it has been so much fun -- and cheaper than a toll costs today.  Disclaimer:  I developed this process to help drive the SEO on the book.  If you can, try it.  At a minimum you will see how little it takes to smile and elevate your mood. 

Here is the direct link to Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Your-Song-Unsung-ebook/dp/B006EJFM36/ref=tmm_kin_title_0 

I would love to know how this makes you feel.  Please drop me a note at DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com  Thank you, Andrea Goeglein

Action, Synchronicity and Freedom

Dr. Carlos Letelier did not wait for magic to happen to create his successful oral surgery practice.  He continually took action, so he was prepared when synchronistic opportunities presented themselves.  The result -- he created a life of freedom for, and with, his family. 

As a young man, Carlos traveled the world with a backpack and as little as $50 in his wallet.  He took action to follow his dream to travel, and believed, and did find, odd jobs everywhere he traveled to support his dream.  He continually sought opportunities to learn.  He used those opportunities to continue his education (where he meet his wife and business partner). As a young man, those opportunities looked like medical training.  As a young doctor, those opportunities looked like securing the assistance of a first rate consulting firm to build the foundation of his practice.  He is reserved, yet adventurous.  He is a risk taker, yet grounds his optimism with preparedness.  He feels fear, yet never allowed fear to stop him from taking a risk. 

By stepping out of his comfort zone – leaving his native country Chili, where his entire family of origin, including his identical twin remain today – he allowed unrelated events to come together to pave the stepping stones of his life.  He did not dream of being an oral surgeon as a little boy.  He did not dream of living in Las Vegas.  He is doing both very successfully.

What Carlos did was follow his heart, informed by his head.   That is synchronicity in action. That is how magic happens.  That is how miracles occur.  That is the energy your dreams need to become reality.  When grounded optimism meets prepardness, synchronicity is in action.

Dr. Success Challenge:  In the United States this is what I call Freedom Week.  What action are you willing to take to free yourself from your fear of clarifying your passion and living a life on purpose? 

Thank you Sarah Stuart https://www.facebook.com/magic.sarah.stuart for the graphic used on this blog.

And in the words of Dr. Hew Len, "Wishing you peace beyond all understanding."

Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD

http://www.FaceBook.com/DrSuccessPhD
http://www.linkedin.com/in/drsuccessphd
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

Meaningful Work

I invested several hours yesterday developing this Saturday's Don't Die workshop.  Part of that work was reviewing comments from people who have shared they have been touched by the work we have done together in the past.  I dug out a copy of Jana Ruth's book, P.L.A.Y.  Jana told me that because I had allowed her to be the closing session of my first women's conference -- she was able to return the following year with her book completed and ready for sale!

In the middle of my preparation, I received a message from Steve Purdon, President of the EnneagramLas Vegas.com   Steve shared with me an email he had received from a participant in one of the many Enneagram Master Lecturers Series he hosts.  The participant shared how markedly life had changed since learning the Enneagram and thanked Steve for supporting his personal development.

I mention these two instances because I made no profit from 6 months of work on the women's conference, and Steve hosts the lecture series for only a good will donation.  With that in mind, I suggest you read Ariel Schwartz's article in Fast Company, How to Find Meaningful Work. 

As always, do not misunderstand -- I like money, I always expect to make lots of money, and yet I have experienced some of my greatest gratification in my work at times when I made no money at all! I can't wait to have both gratification and high compensation!

Happy Monday. And it is done, Andrea Goeglein
P.S. If you would like information about this Saturday's Don't Die workshop, write me at DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

The Wisdom of Self Help Quotes

At last night’s Las Vegas Library event using Don’t Die With Vacation Time, I facilitated one simple, yet powerful, exercise.


The book is printed in a way that quotes relating to a particular lesson are paired with the story. In the back of the book all of the quotes used are repeated. The intent is to have the reader think of their own life, and tell a story of overcoming adversity using the quotes as guiding lessons.

I took all the quotes, put them in a bag, and had the seminar participants choose just one. They then had to think of a life challenge in any area they were attempting to heal or recover from. They then discussed the challenge from the perspective of the quote’s wisdom.

Some of the randomly quotes chosen:

“A promise made is a debt unpaid.” Robert Service
“Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.” Confucius

Participants who chose these quotes were initially confused and rejected that these quotes had any wisdom that applied to their particular challenge. Be the end of the evening, as they told their story – or challenge – they began to see what they could learn for themselves.

Here is what I know: What those participants learned from those quotes would not be the same thing you would learn if you applied those quotes to your situation.

That is the beauty of ‘words of wisdom’ – the words are spoken or written, and you create the wisdom.

Happy Spring,
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/

Success Not By The Book

I have had an interesting start to the day.  The messages I am receiving from unrelated sources are giving me a lot to work with, especially as I prepare for Thursday's final free library event on Don't Die With Vacation Time on the Books.  I have been cleaning house literally and figuratively.  During the literal cleaning I came across a DVD of the first Prescott Professional Women's Conference.  I have been looking for the Closing session for over a week -- I found the opening session! 

Change Your Awareness and Your Perspective Changes...I open Don't Die with a quote from Michael Bernard Beckwith, "Remember to remember", and let's just say I forgot a few things. 

In a few days I will upload that video for you all to see.  For today I would just like you to think about some issue in your life you have created a challenge around.  What awareness do you need to examine?  What perspective change can you experience from that shift in your awareness?

If you are in Las Vegas, join me Thursday evening for the one hour workshop where you can explore and share with others awareness, perspectives and how to move forward with renewed energy.  Thank you.

Andrea Goeglein, PhD
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
www.ServingSuccess.com

Success by the books

During a discussion with a colleague this morning, I found myself asking the question:

Do you measure your self-worth by your net worth?  I noticed I have asked this question of several people this week.  That pattern in my work usually means I need to stop and ask myself that same question. 

I did not create that question.  It came into my preview most likely thought a book like Eric Butterworth's Spiritual Economics

Join me this Thursday for the last of the free Las Vegas Library hosted events for Don't Die With Vacation Time.  Come see what questions you need to ask yourself. 

Thank you, Andrea
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/

Success Event Last Chance

Thank you, Andrea

www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD

http://www.dontdiebooks.com/

http://www.lvccld.org/



One Door Closes - Another Door Opens

Dr. Success Challenge: Do you have a dream of a product or service you want to get to market? Have you made a list of the reasons you think you have not succeed yet in achieving that dream?

In November 2009 I featured the success story of Sherry Campa (pillowholder@gmail.com), a 62 year old, disabled grandmother, whose economic situation required she ride the bus as her main means of transportation. Her regular trips on the bus allowed her to observe passengers who were confined to wheelchairs. She noticed their heads rested on uncomfortable and ill fitting pads. That gave her an idea. From that idea, with no money, no talent for sewing or design, she created the Dreamy Comfort Pillow which is now featured on Nissan’s website, used by law enforcement agencies and in medical supply houses. A dream was allowed to grow because a dreamer took action regardless of the apparent lack of resources.

Everyone has heard of or experienced the economic devastation of the last 18 months. Living in Las Vegas I know that devastation is wider and deeper than many other parts of the country. Yet, in the mist of such a situation, I serendipitously encounter a young man who managed to dream of a product and get it to market. The young man’s name is Brian Agster. His company is Vegas Doorstops and the product is Door-Pro(tm).

The encounter was serendipitous because I met Brian while dining with my husband at one of our favorite after shopping haunts. Unfortunately, we were informed upon our arrival that the restaurant would be closing and reopening in several months as a new and different restaurant. Not exactly good news, since that means many people would be losing their jobs in a market that already sits at the top of the unemployment scale nationally.

During dinner we started asking Brian general questions about the restaurant concept switch, how long we had respectively lived in Las Vegas, the sorry state of the education system, etc. We asked what he would do for work during the restaurant closure. He said he was fortunate because he had a business based on a product he had created. The business was Vegas Doorstops, and they made – yes, you guessed it – doorstops. Now doorstops are not original, not exciting, and older than almost any product sold that I can imagine. Yet Brian found a way to improve upon them while addressing a market need that is huge – and growing. How Brian told us about his product is a sign of great salesmanship. He did not start telling us about the product. What he did was ASK us a question. He asked, “how do you hold the door open to your house when you enter from the garage?” (For those of you on the East coast who may not have garages attached to your home, the doors usually are spring loaded.) I responded that I use one of the bags to prop the door open. He then went on to explain how his product worked.

Instead of needing to be put at the bottom of the door – requiring bending – his product slips easily on the hinge of the door, thus allow it to prop open. Now bending down may not seem like a big deal to you, yet I am here to tell you people hate to bend down. And housekeepers in hotels really hate to bend down because they have to do a minimum of 15 rooms per day. That’s a lot of added bending to a given day. Also, as the population ages, bending is not something people can do easily whether they like to do it or not.

A simple product, a new design, and a new global market is born.

Brian highlights several outstanding qualities of a successful entrepreneur. He kept his day job while creating, patenting, copyrighting, manufacturing, selling and distributing his dream product. His dream product was simple and needed. His sales pitch focused me on how I live and why his product would make my life better!

Down economy? Who cares! Have to work to feed my family? Who cares! Already been invented? Who cares!

Brian and Door-Pro(tm) is a true example of: You can make excuses or you can get your dream product to market, but you can’t do both.

With appreciation for the greatness our country allows, Andrea
Dr. Success (tm)
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
866 975 3777

Positively Moving Forward

I enjoy the last week of each year. I enjoy seeing all the year in review articles and shows on TV. Granted, not all of the review is good stuff, yet seeing it all together allows me to appreciate why I might be feeling a bit like my get-up-and-go has gotten-up-and-went. As I reflect on all that has occurred I am amazed how much I have traveled through. Yes, the road is crooked, with lots of bumps and really big potholes. And, yes, at the end of it all I am amazed with how much life is squeezed into 365 days.

Dr. Success Challenge: Throughout the day think of the sentence, “My life is amazing because…”. Notice what thoughts come to mind. If any are negative – or as I like to say, “less than productive” – re-craft the sentence from a positive perspective. Example: “I am amazed I lost my best friend this year” can be re-crafted to: “I am amazed I was so fortunate to have Susie in my life for so many years.”

One of the things I did this week was review the twelve months’ of AM AZ segments. I was amazed the territory we covered in less than 15 minutes a month.

I will start and finish this blog with the thought that came to mind. The year ends as it began: No matter how many books are written, television shows are aired, or conversations you have, we all have the same gift and it is the gift of moment-by-moment choice. My 2010 motto will be Vicktor Frankl’s now infamous observation:

“Everything can be taken from a man [or a woman] but one thing; the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

You can view any of the segments on my YouTube station. Here is a recap of suggested actions from the shows to positively move 2010 forward:

December: Whale Done Parenting. Ignore undesirable behavior and redirect the attention. All people appreciate: Attention, Approval and Acceptance.

November: Entrepreneur Sherry Campa and her Dreamy Comfort Pillowholder. You are never too old, too disabled, to economically challenged to create and bring to market a great product – especially when it helps those with a disability. Sherry is an example of what it looks like when the things in the books we talk about become the things that create our livelihood.

October: You Unstuck. To get yourself unstuck you need to clarify, simplify, and execute.

September: When God Winks. Notice all the coincidences, synchronicities and serendipities in your life. Really make note of them by writing them down. Helps build your storeroom of memories so you never think you are alone.

August: Be The Hero. Change how you speak of your life and your life changes. And a book that told us that story will go on changing lives for years to come. The author is donating 10% of his royalties into perpetuity to the Miami Children’s Hospital. That is what it looks like when your life work helps others. You do what you want and it benefits others.

July: Happier.com Stop and check yourself daily. Am I sticking to my resolution to re-craft life situations so they work for me and not against me? Could I use a daily reminder like those offered on Happier.com?

June: The 5 A’s of Achieving Successful Relationships – always. Learn how optimistic you naturally are, what your natural strengths are, and how to take responsibility for all the relationships in your life. Love yourself and you will learn to love others.

May: Happy Up Any Conversation. Notice how you describe the daily occurrence in your life and re-craft how you say it.

April: If you don’t like the news, change it! Play a game of changing the headlines to a more neutral or positive phrase. Helps you do it in your daily life. If that is too difficult, take an action like writing a note of support to those whose misfortune is reported.

March: Positivity. Resilience is not something you are born with – it is something you do not something you have. Positivity is nothing but a group of positive emotions we can all work to grow. Love is the one emotion that includes all the other positive emotions. Invest your life growing love.

February: The How Of Happiness. 50% of how happy you tend to be you were born with and you can’t do anything about that, 10% of how happy you are or are not is life circumstances you can’t do anything about, 40% of how happy you are is in your control. It’s what you do, what you say, and what you are willing to practice every day.

January: You Are Not Who You Think You Are. Always, always, always take responsibility for your life and your life will be filled with the joys of responsible outcomes. And a great piece of news, this book just came out in paperback.

So the year ends as it began: No matter how many books are written, television shows are aired, or conversations you have, we all have the same gift and it is the gift a moment-by-moment choice. My 2010 motto will be Vicktor Frankl’s now infamous observation:

“Everything can be taken from a man [or a woman] but one thing; the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Here’s to choosing your way 2010 on The Crooked Road of Success™.

Andrea T. Goeglein, Ph.D.
Dr. Success™
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
866 975 3777 Toll-free
702 869 3729
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

Whale Done Parenting

Dr. Success Challenge: Pick one positive habit you would like to develop and set a plan to develop it. Easy for me to type, difficult for us all to do. So here is the real challenge. Invest some time thinking back on occasions when you developed a new positive habit in your life. Think about the specifics of what you did and how you felt. Learning for yourself how you develop positive habits is as important as attempting to develop one. Once you know your system, it circumvents some of the time needed to develop new habits because you just replicate the system for the next habit change. If you want a head start on how you first learned to develop positive habits, read Whale Done Parenting.

Remember these three little words: Attention – Approval – Acceptance

When I was given a copy of Whale Done Parenting I was at a loss. I knew the work of the lead author, Ken Blanchard, and had used a number of his books in my early business career. However, I was at a loss because I did not understand why he had co-authored a book on parenting, and most of all, I was at a loss because I was unsure what I was supposed to learn from this book at this point in my life. Within a short time of receiving the book, I also had the opportunity to be vetted for a segment of the Rachael Ray Show. The producers were vetting me for a segment offering Happiness Tips to start 2010. The two instances may not immediately seem related, yet once again I was shown how pervasive coincidence, synchronicity, and serendipity really are.

One of the main challenges I had during the segment vetting was succinctly articulating why the happiness tips I was suggesting really worked. That is where Whale Done Parenting came in. From a quick read I realized that it was describing exactly how to instill and repeat positive habits in our lives. However, it was instructing how a parent should productively work with a child. What I took away was how, as an adult, I had forgotten what it really takes to build a positive habit. The skills and techniques offered in Whale Done Parenting are actually the same skills adults need to create new habits in our adult lives.

So that you are not thrown completely off guard let me explain a little bit about Whale Done Parenting. Its intended audience of readers is parents with children under 5 years of age. It is the story of how techniques used to train killer whales at Busch Entertainment Corporation’s SeaWorld could be used effectively by parents to instill good, positive habits in their children. It is crafted using the same process suggested in an adult workplace training program entitled Whale Done. Here is my suspicion, however. Whale Done Parenting may do more to help adults learn how they, the adults, develop positive habits than the Whale Done program might have taught them in itself.

The reason I have this suspicion is twofold. First, by reading the stories of a parent’s day-to-day challenges with guiding a child, I was reminded of my own young-life learning experiences around those same day-to-day habits. That created a mental anchor to the story which helped me see how the story and its tips could apply to my life. Second, we will change for those we love long before we will change something just to benefit ourselves. By learning what it takes to instill good habits in your children, you are indirectly relearning what it takes to learn good habits for yourself.

What I took away from the book was how I had forgotten how easy it is to teach a positive habit verses break a negative habit. What I forgot was all of us are, regardless of age, motivated by attention, approval and acceptance. When the attention is positive, the approval is positive, and the acceptance is positive, the desire to repeat the habit or behavior increases.

What I liked the most was the use of the term “redirect”. At every key note, the authors suggest ignoring the undesirable behavior, yet they invest most of the time instructing you how to redirect your attention away from what you don’t want to happen, and focus your energy on what you do want to have happen.

I suggest this book for anyone who enjoys being entertained with a story while learning a lesson. If you have any adults on your holiday gift lift who might not have gotten the message on how easy it is to learn positive behaviors, this may be the book for them.

Think of it this way, if the suggested techniques work with killer whales to the degree that a trainer is willing to get into a tank of water with them, don’t you think the suggestions might work for your spouse or coworker?

With appreciation,
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
Dr. Success™
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
1 866 975 3777 toll free
http://twitter.com/DrSuccess

Asking Part I - HOW

On a glorious early September day, I decided to explore one of the many hiking trails at Mt. Charleston, Nevada. The hiking trails at Mt. Charleston are one of the many geological anomalies of the Las Vegas desert. When one thinks of a desert they generally do not think of mountain hiking trails starting at the 6,000 ft elevation and towering as high as 11,000 ft. Trees blanket the rugged terrain and often temperatures are 15 – 20 degrees cooler than the desert floor – all this just 30 minutes from the famous neon studded strip.

No matter how much I love nature and hiking, I have never mastered the art of using the great outdoors as my personal outhouse. Knowing my self-imposed limitation, I habitually use the park provided outhouses before starting out on a trail. Now technologically, outhouse sanitation has come a very long way. In many modern facilities in national parks you might not be totally aware that they really are outhouses the outhouse sanitation technology is so good. However, Mt. Charleston is not one of those places. The facilities there are every bit as bad as what I imagined the first constructed outhouses to be like – a gloried hole in the ground enclosed in a closet – oh, but with something that resembles a place to sit. Oozing from this structural temple of modesty you can usually assume an indescribably unpleasant odor that requires anyone choosing to enter to question why they would not just use some tree in the forest to relieve themselves. Okay, I am one of those people who should be questioning their choice.

But then I would have missed an opportunity to learn a good life lesson! On this day, I arrived at the outhouse in time to see a common family dynamic unfold. A mother in her thirties, dressed as though she has hiked many times before, stood with her two young sons as her daughter solemnly entered the outhouse. The mother greeted me apologetically for my needing to wait for yet one more child to use the facilities. In as long as it took for her to share her apology, her daughter exited with a pained, grimmest look on her face. Her mother cut her conversation with me short and snapped her attention to her child.

“Susie, you could not have done anything in that amount of time!” the visibly annoyed mom observed. With a squint of her eyes and finally releasing her breath which she had been holding, the little girl commanded, “You told me I had to ‘get in there’. You did not say I had to do anything.” The mother was not pleased, but I could not contain my laughter.

How many times had I done that in my life? How many times had I directed someone to do something they clearly did not want to or care to do, only to have them find a way not to comply? Demand compliance and you will get complacency or worse – contempt. Or, how many times had I made a request to God and not been clear? That will actually be the subject of my next blog. We do get what we ask for, so I suggest we choose our words very carefully.

With appreciation, Andrea
Andrea T. Goeglein, Ph.D.
Dr. Success™
http://twitter.com/DrSuccess
702 869 3729
866 975 3777 Toll-Free

The M Resort -- The Meaning of Service

The M Resort is the newest contribution to the casino resort scene in Las Vegas. I make it a rule to stay away from newly opened properties until things have settled down. I had been intrigued by an article written by In Business Tourism Insider Benjamin Spillman soon after the property opened extolling the exceptional customer service he had received from a call-center employee in the form of a self-initiating discount offer. That article stuck in my mind and I looked forward to the time I would make the 25 mile trip to see the property.

So let’s start with the basics. What does good customer service mean? In my personal and professional experience it is an attitude of action that never shames, blames or rationalizes. It is a willingness to serve based in a desire to create a relationship with others.

You may notice I write often of positive customer service experiences. The reason I do this is simple. Our global economy is based on the continual creation and consumption of goods and services by each of us. What I have found is that there is no single greater opportunity to experience gratitude in the present time than to seek out and be part of an exceptional customer service experience whether you are making money in the transaction or investing money in the transaction. It is the ultimate win-win life experience for all parties’ involved leave feeling good.

Dr. Success Challenge: Set the intention to encounter great customer service. There are lots of opportunities to encounter exceptional customer service in your daily life from the toll taker on your daily drive to the grocery store checkout person. Note how it makes you feel when you attract great customer service. My bet is that you feel better, and there is no more positive an encounter than one that makes you feel good, costs nothing, and can be repeated again and again.

Here is a snippet of our M experience. Like kids in an adult only buffet, we decided to walk the entire property (this actually happened as much because of my husband’s 30 years in the business and his need to see everything) before making a choice of where to enjoy our cocktails and dinner. We are fond of dinning in high activity bars with good food. It allows us to feel a part of a larger group, see a lot of what is going on, all the while dining alone and enjoying our own company and conversation.

Although we could have picked any number of beautifully appointed bar environments we chose Terzetto because it had a big glass window to the outside allowing in a lot of natural light. We were greeted by our server, Jon, and given menus and exchanged the normal pleasantries. Jon delivered our drinks, took our food order but before our first items arrived he let us know he was going off shift. He informed us his co-worker Sebastian would be taking care of us for the remainder of the evening. What happened next is what made the evening special.

Within a few minutes Sebastian headed in our direction with what appeared to be the food we had ordered. To our surprise he went to the table next to us. Overhearing some confusion we interjected that we believed the food he had was our order. Retrieving the dishes, he arrived at our table, smiling, apologizing and instantly offering that desert “was on him”.

As Sebastian walked away Richard and I knew we had experienced outstanding customer service in a way that allows you to remember the connection and not the reason the correction was necessary.

So many companies have given lip service to the term “empowerment” it is a word I avoid at all cost. Yet, when you see an authentic execution of human empowerment there is no other word that works as well. You know when you have experienced someone who trusts they have the power (not the permission) to impact the outcome of a situation.

Our meal ended with Sebastian delivering a warm decadent chocolate soufflé – not one we had picked after looking at a dessert menu – but one he had chosen for us because it was his favorite. The perfect ending to a perfect customer service experience – someone made a misstep, they acknowledged responsibility, they made a correction and sealed it with a human connection.

When you think about the economic climate in which this hotel casino opened, and the fact it is located in Las Vegas, The M Resort’s success must hold particular pride for its owners and employees. Our experience highlighted for us one of the reasons – its employees.

Wishing The M Resort continued success, Andrea

Working on the Weekend in Las Vegas

This last weekend -- on July 4th to be exact -- I had the opportunity to enjoy the Las Vegas Philharmonic against the greatest community asset Las Vegas has -- the Springs Preserve. On of the architects of this ecologically perfect environment is Craig Galati, President of Lucchesi Galati Archetects.

I admire Craig not only for his architectural talent, but for how he has merged and expanded his life by observing and discussing how we work, why we work, and how to work better, smarter and happier. The post below is Craig's online blog in the Las Vegas Sun, The Heart of Business. Craig gives us all much to think about and specific ways to make our business lives better. Read, learn and use. You will be Serving Your Own Success if you do.

By Craig Galati · June 29, 2009 · 11:02 AM

Remember the 1981 song by Loverboy, “Working for the Weekend?” You know the song and now you probably will be singing it in your head for the rest of the day. You’re welcome! “Working for the Weekend” was the anthem of working stiffs everywhere, and back in the ‘80s it was played every Friday at my office.

Fast forward to today. Everywhere I go, I see professionals working on the weekend. What happened to working for the weekend? Even though our country is in an economic slowdown, the business owners I know haven’t slowed down a bit. It takes a lot of work to find work, especially if your company is short-staffed.

I took time out the other day to have coffee with a couple of friends. All three of us remarked about how tired we each looked. I guess we are. My friends and I lamented about how we were working harder than we had in years, but this time with less tangible results. After leaving the coffeehouse (“It’s a Grind,” no less) I started thinking of some old, tried and true sayings, time management techniques, thoughts and quotes.

Don’t confuse effort with results. It has been reported that 80 percent of one’s efforts yield 20 percent of the results. Conversely, this means that 20 percent of our efforts are achieving most of our results. This principle, called the Pareto Principle after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, is widely accepted in business and has been used to describe marketing and sales efforts, time management and financial strategies.

Here is my take. Most people focus too much on doing. They feel productive if they are working on something, doing something. It does not always matter if what they are doing is productively achieving results or, more importantly, the results that are wanted. This comes down to a lack of vision, goals and strategy. Remember Stephen Covey’s habit, Begin with the End in Mind? Too often the end (result) is not clearly thought through or not communicated at all. Therefore, the plan of doing (strategy) and milestones (goals) are not geared toward achieving the result.
One way of helping people within your organization is not to reward effort for effort’s sake. Reward the results and I assure you that people will think differently and “Begin with the End in Mind.”

Focus on slaying the elephants first, before tackling the ants. If you believe, as I do, that 80 percent of your results come from 20 percent of your effort, then tackle the projects and sales efforts that will yield those results first before spending time on those that will not. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Then why do some people spend as much time on a proposal for a $2M engagement as they do on a $10M one? Or, worse yet, why do some professionals spend time fine-tuning their product library instead of the financial management and invoicing systems? I once heard from a colleague who complained to me that he was too busy working on a new logo for his firm to find time to invoice. I was dumbfounded. Secretly, though, I was happy he was my competitor.

Schedule your day purposely. Begin each day with a goal. What do you want to accomplish today? How does this goal fit into your long-term strategy? This goes well beyond making the traditional to-do list. I’ve found that most to-do lists are mostly busywork. It’s better to prioritize your to-do list using your vision or strategic plan as the filter. I break down my to-do list in three categories: 1) things I need to do to stay in business; 2) things I need to do to better my business; and 3) things that will move my business to its future. Obviously, the most important list is category 3, yet the most urgent is category 1. Make sure you do the things in category 1 but also make sure you spend time working on category 3 each day. I try to shift category 2 tasks into category 3 to make them more effective.

Work smarter, not harder. For many professionals, there is no other solution than to work harder. That is because they haven’t put the time into developing a strategic vision and plan. Once you develop your vision for the future, it becomes quite clear how to work smarter. That doesn’t mean you won’t work hard, but that you will be working on things that truly matter to your business.

I’d like to hear from you:
• Would you share your tips to managing time effectively?
• Have you ever analyzed how you spend your daily work time?
• Are you working on important or urgent tasks?
Until next time …
Craig

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is officially designated as a day to honor those in the military, especially those who gave their lives during their service to our country. Although focused on those in the military, it is really about honoring and remembering those who have served.

I have decided to use this day to honor and remember one special friend who served my life through the last 30 years of my journey on the crooked road of success. I suggest you stop and bring to mind someone who has done the same for you during your journey.

On Wednesday, May 13, 2009, I and countless others lost my business and life mentor, Claudine Williams, a gaming industry icon, banker and renowned philanthropist. Even though her passing is a major life loss for me, I have been uplifted by the untold times during any given day that I am reminded of the part she played in my life. Whether I am thinking of our daughter, Dana, to whom Claudine was godmother; speaking to my husband Richard, for whom Claudine befriended during his early years in gaming and with whom she drove a tough bargain when he acquired her Holiday Casino for his employer, Holiday Inns; or, my looking in my closet and experiencing a flash of cosmic guidance knowing Claudine shaped the size of the diamonds I own, the clothes I wear and the eyeglasses I choose.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude to know that one person could have affected my life so positively. And, of course, me being me, a question came to me during all this reflecting. I want to offer this question to you to replace with the name of your special person and not for an immediate answer, but as a seed to be planted to observe what kind of tree you will grow.

“How would I have to live my life to have the impact on another’s heart the way Claudine had an impact on mine?”

With appreciation for all who have touched my life, Andrea

 

 

Practice, Practice, Practice

If you want to build muscle, you must do physical exercise.
If you want to be healthy, you must eat a balanced diet.
If you want to enjoy your retirement, you must save so your money will be there when you retire. Okay, scratch that one, some facts are momentary fictions!

But….

I don’t mean, nor want to, sound like your Mother, yet there is a human development fact of life I want to share. You must, not maybe should, or would be nice to, but MUST, develop a daily practice. I will explain more in a moment.

Dr. Success™ Challenge: Do you have a daily practice? A given time and/or activity that allows you to reflect and contemplate where you are, where you want to go, and who you have for support? It can look like writing in a journal each day at a specific time, reading spiritually uplifting material, walking in silence, prayer and/or meditation (or any one of a host of other activities). So here is the challenge: For one week – 7 days – pick a reflective activity and do it at the same time each day. Let me know your thoughts after you have completed the experiment DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

There is no getting around this growth activity. It has been recommended by sages throughout the millenniums. I will narrow my focus to one of the ways being reflective made its way into Positive Psychology. Long before the umbrella field of Positive Psychology was established, a behavioral researcher by the name of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi focused his life work on studying and understanding what allows humans to enter a state of “flow” or optimal experience. “Flow” is that place where you are enjoying something so much you lose track of the amount of time you are engaged in the activity.

One of Csikszentmihalyi findings was to get into a state of flow and creativity, you must devote time to some form of reflection.

This weekend I – and a group of about 20 – did just that. Members of the Stillpoint Center for Spiritual Development went on their annual retreat to Zion National Park. We met as a group and shared prayers about nature, what it means to be in the wilderness of life, how many have had a tough “winter” and the recognition that “spring” follows winter. (By the way, for those lucky enough to live in Las Vegas, Stillpoint has a class on Journaling coming up.)

From that retreat I came away with a renewed sense of where I am for now, and what I might want to commit to – for now. For me that looks like knowing I want to commit one hour a day to reading and researching in my field of expertise, Positive Psychology AND writing about resilience in business and in life.

Do you feel like you are in the wilderness of your life? Do you feel like you are on a journey with no compass? Start a daily practice. If you want some specific ideas drop me a note at DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

With appreciation for the Zion flow of life,

 

 

Self-Declared Spring Break

Being an entrepreneur during a recession has many negative implications. And being true to my title of Dr. Success, there is always a benefit to be found in every less than desirable life situation. A moment ago I posted the following away message on my business email:

"I have decided to use the week of April 6 - 12 as a self-declared Spring Break. I will honor all confirmed appointments and look forward to doing so. However, if you are not on my calendar and you are not contacting me about a minimum 5-digit check you would like to hand me at this moment just because I have done such wonderful work in the past...I'll get back to you next week. As always, love, learn and prosper. Andrea"

You see, I could look at my calendar and wonder where has all the business gone...or I could look at my calendar and declare a spring break. I have made my choice. I encourage you to do the same.

Remember to remember...You are as happy at any moment as you allow yourself to think you are.

With much appreciation, Andrea

http://twitter.com/DrSuccess
www.ServingSuccess.com
866 975 3777
702 869 3729

Does the word "spiritual" make you uptight?

Would you be willing to explore spirituality if I told you it would make you more resilient?

There is one question that I have been asked more in the last several months than at any other time in my business career. The question is: “How do you survive this economy?”

I know at some level I am being asked the question because those asking know we have forfeited ownership of one of our beloved hotels. Our ownership fell due to the convergence of economic factors. We had gone as far as we could personally to financially sustain the business. That answer is actually too obvious so, I could tell that was not the real question.

My best professional guess is the question they wanted to answer was this: “How do you remain so happy even though you lost one of your beloved hotels and all you had financially invested?”

That answer is actually easy: “When the going gets tough, I rely on my spiritual beliefs and practices twice as much as when things are going well.”

Not the normal business answer, I know. Yet it is my answer and I am sticking to it. Here specifically is what I mean.

Spiritual beliefs are those things I believe in relative to the question of “is there a God” and practices are those things I do to connect with my God in order to bring my own spirit alive.

Here is what I actually do. I sit first thing in the morning and just be still for about 20 minutes. For an extravert who values action, this is no small task. Or I should say, 20 years ago when I began, it was no small task. Today, that one task defines the tone of my day and I look forward to it with the same anticipation as I do my warm cup of coffee. After the stillness, I pray (prayer is my preferred spiritual practice. I also appreciate meditation). And I always write. I write about my dreams -- if there are any from the night before that I can remember. I write about people, places and things I appreciated about the day before. And I usually write about what I intent to create for my day going forward.

· Stillness
· Prayer and/or meditation
· Writing

Three small steps you can take to…Only you will know how far on the crooked road of success these steps will take you.

With appreciation,
Andrea T. Goeglein, Ph.D.
866 975 3777
www.ServingSuccess.com

Stay On The Right Side

I would not be Dr. Success if I did not support and spread the work of others. That is what I do, in part, in sharing the work of great authors. Well, today's entry is two for the price of one. The review that follows was written by Craig Galati, President of Lucchesi Galati Architects, the premiere "green" architectural firm based in Las Vegas. Few have built as many, or have been designing "green" as long, as Lucchesi Galati. When in Las Vegas, visit the Springs Preserve to see an incredible example of their work.

When I come across a business creator who walks his talk, I like to acknowledge and support his work. As you can see from the kind of book Craig recommends, he is such a person. Those in business can learn a lot -- not just from reading A Whole New Mind -- but from how a business owner like Craig applies the thinking to achieving success in business. As always, read and learn -- then apply!

By Craig S. Galati
According to author Daniel H. Pink, “The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a different kind of mind — creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers and meaning makers. These people — artists, inventors, designers, story-tellers, caregivers, consolers, big picture thinkers — will reap society’s richest rewards and share its greatest joys.”

In his book, “A Whole New Mind,” Pink eloquently makes the argument that linear thinking, left-brain businesses are in for a rude awakening in the new economy. Not that they won’t still hold some relevance, but these businesses won’t lead a society that is quickly changing from task-based to systems-based, from narrow scope to big picture, from facts to stories, and from expertise to empathy and collaboration.

I have felt this change for years, but because I am in the design profession, I thought that I was just seeing the world through my right-brain, rose-colored glasses. But Pink’s data supports what I have been seeing in my business relationships for the past several years.
Pink suggests that a business’s future is dependent upon its answers to three fundamental questions:

1. Can someone overseas do it cheaper?
2. Can a computer do it faster?
3. Is the business offering something that satisfies the non-material transcendent desires of an abundant age?

I’ve answered these questions for my business and I suggest that you answer it for yours. Here are my thoughts on how to prepare for the new economy:

Focus on systems and connections. Tasks are always important to getting things done. But perhaps the systems and processes in which business is conducted are more important. Focus on these systems and the connections between the systems. Break-through ideas lie in studying these connections. For instance, how one connects marketing and work processes could lead to better ways of doing things and more successful positioning for future work. Connecting market data to the value proposition that your firm offers not only supports your business’ ability to get work, but also your ability to deliver work that is valuable. Design your work processes around delivering this market value and you have a recipe for success. Process improvements or innovations also will affect the other systems in your firm. Paying attention to these connections will yield dividends to your firm and your clients.

Sell empathy, not just services. Clients get offers for services every day. However, businesses do not often enough take the time to understand what the client needs and if the firm can meet those needs. Developing empathy takes time, but is essential to making the right offer to your clients.

Leverage technology for the routine tasks. If one is able to leverage technology to deliver routine tasks, he will free up valuable time to work closer with his team to understand the needs of his clients. Time is precious. Use it for high-level activities such as collaboration, reflection, idea generation and innovation.

Engage your clients in the solutions. Today’s clients want to be a part of the process of diagnosing and solving their problems. If a client wanted a stock solution to an issue, he could purchase it from many varied sources. Attorneys, think LegalZoom.com. Graphic designers, think StockLayout.com. Accountants, think TurboTax. Clients come to firms to get personal service and they want to be part of the process.

Technically correct is only half way there. There are many ways that clients can get technically correct solutions. In fact, isn’t that what you are being paid for? Technically correct is expected. But a technically correct solution with lousy customer service or follow-through isn’t going to cut it. I’ve found in my career that I’ve rarely failed in the technical delivery, but I’ve made mistakes in communication or misunderstanding. As Stephen Covey says in his book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” it doesn’t matter how precisely one can climb the ladder, if the ladder is placed on the wrong wall.

I’d like to hear from you:

• How do you answer Daniel Pink’s questions?
• Are you poised for leadership in the new economy?
• Is your ladder on the right wall?

Until next time …
Craig
Authors Note: Thanks to my friend Frank Beck who told me about Pink’s book. It is truly a must read.

Craig, Thank you...and may the force be with you, Andrea

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702 869 3729 Office
866 975 3777 Toll-Free
702 682 4759 Cell

Las Vegas Encore to Success

Even Dr. Success™ needs a boost and is in the process of creating her next great Encore to Success. Lucky for me, no place personifies the concept “fake it till you make it”, like Las Vegas. Las Vegas is famous for holding out the promise of a better day and that anything good is possible.

Thanks to a very stalled economy, Las Vegas is allowing you to create your own Encore http://www.encorelasvegas.com/ to Success. For an unbelievably low investment, you can get a room at the spectacular new Steve Wynn resort, Encore http://www.encorelasvegas.com/ and engage your dreams for what is possible in your future.

Surrounded by the finest interior design elements, fabrics you can only wish to afford someday and impeccable service, you have the opportunity to hold on to your goals and remind yourself that change is good and is an indicator we are still growing. Thanks to a reasonably priced salon/spa menu, I was able to luxuriate in a manicure by nail technician extraordinaire, Lydia Gutierrez.

What treating yourself to a night at a resort like Encore allows is for you to remember what it feels like to be surrounded by wealth, luxury, and safety. Retaining those feelings during challenging times is, well, a challenge. Being able to recreate those feelings is, well, necessary for you to continue to strive toward your personal life success. Remember, if you allow yourself to forget what it feels like to have dreams, to experience luxury, and to be pampered, you are actually causing your own mental recession. You may not feel like you control much these days, but you still control how you feel.

So here is today’s Success Challenge: Find a place close to home (for those of you lucky enough to be in or near Las Vegas, you must experience Encore and its majestic spa) and create a one-day, affordable escape. Use to time away to remind yourself of your dreams – not focus on reality!

Wishing you a happy Encore to your success,

Andrea T. Goeglein, Ph.D.
Dr. Success™
http://www.servingsuccess.com/