We had a good laugh but Cary’s customer service was no laughing matter. I go there all the time and have bought hundreds of meals because I know when I go there I’ll get what I want. It’s no wonder that Aqua Grill has been open for 20 years while every week it seems another restaurant in my area has opened and closed.

I found the same service at Pappasito’s in the Houston airport while coming home this past Thursday from speaking at Texas Children’s Hospital. I was starving but not too hungry to walk to the other side of the airport to go to Pappasito’s. Javier is the manager there and when I asked him if I could get the Fish Tacos grilled instead of battered with egg he said, “It will take a little longer but if you have the time I’d be glad to do it.” Code words for “Whatever you want.” Javier and Pappasito’s believe in satisfying their customers and that’s why I eat there every time I’m in the Houston airport, which is often.

Success is simple, really. Give customers what they want and they’ll come back. You don’t have to give away the house. In fact Aqua Grill and Pappasito’s cost a little more than their nearby competition but they are busier and more successful.

Great service and getting things “your way” is something a lot of people, including me, will pay for in any economy. If you provide great service and make it the goal of everyone in your organization to satisfy your customers they will keep coming back and invite their friends and colleagues (who knows, they may even write newsletters and stories about you). Your job is to serve your customers and give them what they want. If you don’t, someone else will.

Do you have a great customer service story? Share it by clicking here.

Stay Positive!
-Jon

LISTEN to this weeks Positive Moment audio tip: Create a Positive Culture

www.JonGordon.com

Read this article by Jack Welch

-Jon
www.JonGordon.com

However, as someone who studies and teaches leadership I can’t help but analyze, from a leadership perspective, why America chose Barack Obama as our new President and leader. Why were so many people energized by his candidacy? Why were so many young and new voters engaged in his campaign? What was it about him that brought so many different people together?

Some argue that it was the unpopularity of President Bush, the financial crisis, and his campaign’s use of technology while others say it was because he was to be the first black President. Yet, these reasons don’t explain why people of all races celebrated his election victory in the streets. They don’t account for the hope and tears in people’s eyes. They don’t begin to describe the wave of powerful emotions felt around the world. And they don’t adequately express why a majority of voters chose to follow him.

While researching and reading an article the other day about Obama’s “Yes we can” speech the answer struck me like a bolt of lightning. The reasons why he was chosen to lead this county were big and profound, and yet they could be explained by three simple words. Yes. We. Can.

Yes. We. Can. I believe they are three words that elected the next President of the United States. They are three words that demonstrate the power of positive leadership. They are three words at the heart of any meaningful movement in society. And they are three words that every leader needs to know in order to lead their business, organization, school, church, and community more effectively. Let’s look at these words more closely.

YES.

Does any other word invoke more positive energy than “Yes”? It is the first word in the positive leader’s dictionary. “Yes” signifies optimism, hope and possibility. Despite what the critics say, Optimism is necessary to create success. Belief is fundamental. Hope is a strategy. All are essential to effectively lead and inspire others. Positive leaders don’t focus on how things are. They focus on how they should be. They share their vision for a brighter and better future and their optimism, hope and faith attract people to their positive vision and cause.

In the process of leading others it is their optimism that allows them and their team to overcome adversity, negativity and challenges. At the heart of any movement is a leader whose positive energy is greater than anyone’s negativity and whose certainty is greater than the cynics’ doubt. Ronald Reagan’s optimism energized people during the 80’s and Barack Obama’s optimism and message of hope and positive change clearly resonated with people today.

Question: As a leader are you sharing your vision, optimism, and positive energy with your organization/team?

WE.

Great leaders transform me into WE. They know that by themselves they can do nothing but together “We” can accomplish amazing results. Great leaders don’t just get people to believe in them. They inspire people to believe in themselves. If you listen to Obama’s speeches he repeatedly said, “I’m not asking you to just believe in my ability to change Washington. I’m asking you to believe in yours.” He inspired people to be part of something bigger than themselves and he encouraged them to be part of the process and solution.

Obama often made statements such as, “We can do this, We are the change we have been waiting for, Yes we can create positive change.” In essence, he invited people on the bus to be part of his team and then he empowered them to drive their own bus. In doing this he created a fleet of buses all working together with a shared vision, focus and direction. Supporters organized thousands of meetings around the country. Volunteers knocked on doors. Millions of people donated to the campaign. Artists created viral songs and videos such as “Yes we can.”

WE eventually became millions of people who enthusiastically accepted his invitation to become a part of the team. On one level McCain and Obama competed for the Presidency while on another level Obama mobilized “WE” into a powerful movement…and that made all the difference.

Questions: As a leader have you invited your team on the bus? Have you empowered them to be part of the solution? Are you a me team or a we team?

CAN.

CAN says that if you share your positive vision, stay positive, bring people together and empower them to take action then together you CAN accomplish what you set out to do. Great leaders inspire faith and confidence in people that their hope, optimism and actions will make a difference and have a positive outcome. CAN creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because you and your team believe that they can succeed, you do.

While some people say that hope and positive energy are nothing but pollyana, CAN is the fuel that turns optimism and hope into action and results. Most people don’t want to sit on the sidelines. Most people have a desire to accomplish something meaningful. In many cases they just don’t know where to start and what to do. CAN shows people what’s possible when WE come together with a positive vision and together WE take action.

CAN is the difference between talking about change and creating it. Great leaders don’t just talk about hope. They talk about action. They talk about collective teamwork and individual responsibility. They inspire hope and they encourage people to act on this hope. At the heart of this hope and action is CAN which acts as the bridge between a positive vision and real positive change.

Question: Have you inspired confidence in your team that together you can accomplish what you set out to do?

WORDS matter. When we hear “I love you” it matters. When we hear “You’re not good enough” it matters. When we hear “Yes we can” it matters. And it’s not just the words that matter but the energy, meaning and belief behind the words that matters. The words “Yes we can” were not invented by President-elect Obama. In fact there’s even a wonderful children’s book titled “Yes we can.” These words are not owned by any political party or country. They are available to any leader, in any profession, with a vision and a desire to unite others and generate positive change. And as America faces one of the biggest challenges of our time we don’t just need to hear these words from our President but from each other. Now is a time to come together as one nation under God to overcome our adversity and challenges with positive beliefs and positive actions.

YES. WE. CAN.

Join the conversation. Share your thoughts on “Yes. We. Can.” by clicking here.

Stay Positive!

-Jon

www.JonGordon.com

Staying positive doesn’t mean you ignore this reality. Rather it means you stay positive and take positive action in spite of this reality - regardless of how bleak the situation may seem. Now is not a time to close your eyes and go to sleep hoping that when you wake up it was all just a nightmare.

Now is a time to get back to basics, zoom focus on the fundamentals, grow your business, gain market share and seize the opportunity. Yes, opportunity. Despite what you have been hearing now is a great opportunity for you and your organization to create lasting success.

Study history and you’ll find that a lot of people and organizations made a name for themselves and grew their businesses during recessions and downturns. These successful people and organizations all shared similar characteristics and took similar actions to thrive while others merely tried to survive. These success stories offer a blue print we can follow to thrive during tough times. They show us what is possible if we are willing to stay positive, repel fear, and take initiative.

In this spirit, here are five characteristics and actions you can take to thrive right now.

1. Refuse to Participate in the Recession - Businesses and people that thrived during past recessions continued to go about their business as usual regardless of the market conditions. They stayed positive, worked hard and focused on taking actions to grow their business. Focus on business as usual and while others allow fear to paralyze them you will charge forward and move ahead of your competition.

2. Increase Marketing and Advertising - It may seem counterintuitive to spend more money on advertising and marketing but with so many people and organizations cutting back on these expenses this is a great opportunity to build your brand, expand your presence and gain market share. People will still be buying goods and services and they will buy from those who they trust and see in the marketplace. This is a great time to win new customers and stand out.

3. Innovate - Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes, great ideas and new business ventures are born during economic hardships. GE, Disney, and Microsoft were all born during recessions. I believe when times are tough we are more open to new ideas, new products and new ways of doing things. For example, smart political and business leaders should be working on alternative energy and green technologies that would lead to great progress and profits.

4. Become a Talent Magnet - If you are a leader or manager there is no better time to find, attract and hire the best talent. Focus on strengthening your business now and you’ll be in a great position to capitalize when the market rebounds.

5. Think Big, Take Action - Consider that both the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge were built during the Great Depression. Now is a time to think big, create your vision and take action. With more people living in fear and fewer people taking initiative the rewards and recognition will be greater for those willing to work hard and dedicate themselves to building a great business, product, service, and vision. As we know, there is no substitute for hard work and now is a time where those with a positive attitude and great work ethic will shine.

How will you and your organization thrive during tough times? Join the conversation on our blog by posting your comments here.

Download these “5 Ways to Thrive During Tough Times” as a poster that you can print, display and share. (PDF document)

Listen to this weeks Positive Moment Audio Tip.

Stay Positive!

-Jon

I thought it was an important question because we don’t live our lives based on reality but rather by our perception of reality. And this perception is influenced by the story we tell ourselves and the story that defines our life.

Every one of us is playing a part in a story. What role are you playing? Victim? Hero? Fighter? Lover? Soap Opera Star? Underdog? Overcomer?

Do you want to change your life? Change your story. Just as a director of a movie utilizes different perspectives and camera angles and colors to create a look and feel of a movie, you can redefine your life with a new perspective, new thoughts, new beliefs, and new actions that will change everything.

Right now there are a lot of people believing in a story of fear and destruction. They are broadcasting a horror story over the airwaves directly to you in the comfort of your own home. Others are sharing the horror story at work, at conferences, meetings, in the grocery story, at school and at community events. Believe this story and soon enough you will be playing the lead role in the horror film.

I want to encourage you make a different choice. Don’t believe this story. Stop tuning in. Change the dial. Hit the pause button. Then tune into a different story. Tune into a story of hope, faith, optimism, and trust. The world is filled with books (including the best selling book of all time) and stories of people that have overcome hardships, adversity negativity, and challenging times. Choose to believe in these positive stories. Choose to see yourself as a modern day “Lion Chaser” as my friend Mark Batterson writes in In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day. Mark says that Lion Chasers don’t run from fear. They face it. They don’t hide from their challenges. Rather they realize that within these challenges are some of life’s greatest opportunities.

Every great story, whether fiction or non-fiction, is filled with conflict and adversity. And every hero must overcome this conflict and adversity to define themselves and their success. Heroes can’t control what the bad guys do or the bad events that they create but they can control how they respond to these events. Sure heroes get down. They get beat up. They lose hope at times. But ultimately heroes believe that good news is coming. From the jaws of defeat and despair they come back stronger and more positive than ever. They believe in themselves and in something bigger than themselves. And most of all they inspire others to believe in themselves and a positive outcome. This doesn’t just happen in the movies. It happens in the real world every day - in businesses, in schools, in hospitals, in churches, in homes, and in our communities.

Life is a story. What role will you play?

Stay Positive!

-Jon | www.JonGordon.com

Positive Strategies = Positive Results

Discover the principles and strategies to thrive in any economy. Attend Jon’s LIVE event in Orlando, FL on Friday, December 5, 2008. Invest in your team… in their positive energy and they will deliver positive results! www.JonGordonLIVE.com

A Positive Moment: Audio Tip

This week’s audio message:

Staying Positive in a Negative Economy | Listen Online Now

1. People follow the leader first and the leader’s vision second - It doesn’t matter if the leader shares a powerful vision, if the leader is not someone who people will follow the vision will never be realized. As a leader, who you are makes a difference. The most important message you can share is yourself.

2. Trust is the force that connects people to the leader and his/her vision - Without trust there is a huge gap between the leader and the vision. Without trust people will stay off the bus. However if people trust the leader they will hop on the bus with the leader and help move the bus forward towards the vision.

3. Leadership is not just about what you do but what you can inspire, encourage and empower others to do.

4. A leader brings out the best within others by sharing the best within themselves.

5. Just because you’re driving the bus doesn’t mean you have the right to run people over - Abraham Lincoln said “Most anyone can stand adversity, but to test a man’s character give him power.” The more power you are granted the more it is your responsibility to serve, develop and empower others. When you help them grow they’ll help you grow.

6. “Rules without Relationship Leads to Rebellion” - Andy Stanley said this and it’s one of my favorite quotes. As a leader you can have all the rules you want but if you don’t invest in your people and develop a relationship with them they will rebel. This applies amazingly to children as well. It’s all about relationships.

7. Lead with optimism, enthusiasm and positive energy, guard against pessimism and weed out negativity.

8. Great Leaders know they don’t have all the answers. Rather they build a team of people who either know the answers or will find them.

9. Leaders inspire and teach their people to focus on solutions, not complaints. (The No Complaining Rule)

10. Great leaders know that success is a process not a destination - One of my heroes John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, never focused on winning. He knew that winning was the by product of great leadership, teamwork, focus, commitment and execution of the fundamentals. As a leader focus on your people and process, not the outcome.

Download, print and share these 10 Thoughts about Leadership as a PDF poster, click here.

Leaders also need to have a good sense of humor. If you haven’t seen them, below are YouTube links to the humorous keynotes from last week’s Al Smith Dinner, to raise money for underprivileged youth. Senators McCain and Obama make fun of themselves and each other. Humor goes a long way to ease tension and unite people.

John McCain | Video Part 1 | Video Part 2

Barack Obama | Main Video

What does leadership mean to you? Join the conversation and post your comments on our blog.

Stay Positive!

-Jon

www.jongordon.com/newsletter-102008-10thoughts.html

Fast forward to today, it’s no wonder the financial markets continue to spiral downward. The 24/7 media is creating a frenzy of panic and fear that is negatively impacting the collective psychology of the country. I have heard from many people who are more stressed and fearful than they have ever been in their life. And like a horror movie where the things you fear start to appear, our collective fear is making our worst nightmare come true.

We need to realize that the economy is not some abstract entity separate from us. The economy is us. YOU and I are the economy. Our thoughts, behaviors, actions and mood collectively create the economy. Government can try to manipulate our actions through tax plans, regulations, incentives, etc. but in a nutshell WE are the economy. Our collective mood, productivity, innovation, positive energy and execution determines whether the economy is thriving or in a recession. Paying our mortgage helps the economy. Working hard helps the economy. Starting a business helps the economy. Making a product the world needs helps the economy. Replacing our psychology of fear with a psychology of trust helps the economy.

But how can I trust anything, you might ask, when everything I’ve trusted in is falling apart. My answer is that we’ve put our trust and faith in the wrong things. Our government, media, financial institutions and our own actions have shown us that a house built on a foundation of greed cannot stand. The cracks have been exposed and it’s a wake up call to all of us. As Charles West said, “We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God who is shaking them.” Our foundations are shaking for a reason. We are meant to realize that security is an illusion. There’s no power in having a big bank account. You can’t find peace in your investment portfolio and you’ll never find your true purpose in your 401k plan.

We are meant to stop listening to the media, aka, Chicken Little and have faith in something bigger than ourselves. We are meant to trust in God, not in our balance sheets. We are meant to realize that true power exists not in what seems big and strong and secure but in what is silent and unseen. This is where faith lives.

So instead of starting your morning by turning on the news, consider taking a walk of prayer. Instead of looking down at the paper, look up to the heavens. And instead of listening to the fear mongers, walk outside, close your eyes, smell the fresh autumn air, take a few deep breaths and discover the real peace you seek. Every day, stay positive, do your best to succeed and have faith in a brighter and better future. I believe this is the antidote to fear and it is the true kind of trust that you, me and the economy need right now.

Are you going to live in fear or trust? Share your feedback here.

Stay Positive!
-Jon

Share this Newsletter with a Friend / CoWorker
:: Click Here to send a link via Email.
:: www.jongordon.com/newsletter-101308-fearortrust.html
:: Share via social media outlets below:

Facebook   StumbleUpon

I believe every one of us has a desire to accomplish great things, to do something meaningful, to have an impact. Yet, so many of us don’t take the actions necessary to create the success we desire. Then there are others who are very busy taking actions but the actions have nothing to do with their vision and goals. They’ve become lost in the busyness of life.

In my work with sports teams, businesses and organizations I have found that the key to individual and team success is to Zoom Focus. Zoom Focus helps you turn ideas and goals into reality and results. Zoom Focus helps you focus on your priorities, execute, and create success. Zoom Focus helps you take daily steps towards your big picture vision.

Now more than ever it is a time for action. It is a time for getting things done. It is a time to tune out the distractions and the noise from the doomsdayers and the naysayers and focus on what truly matters and what truly will help us create success. In this spirit here are a few ways to put Zoom Focus to work for you and your team.

Create your Big Picture Vision - This might be a goal or a dream. It might be a project that needs to be completed or a sale you are trying to close. It might be a company objective or a team mission. It might be a book you want to write, an initiative to improve your community, or a championship you want to win. Identify your vision and then you’ll be ready to Zoom Focus and take the necessary actions to get you there.

Ask One Question - Each day when you wake up in the morning ask the question, “What are the three most important things I need to do today that will help me create the success I desire?” Then each day take action on those three things.

Tune out the Distractions - Turn off the television. Stop answering the phone. Don’t answer the email right now. Talk to your friend later. First, get things done. Execute, accomplish and then feel free to embrace the distractions.

Say No and Yes - My friend once told me, “If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” He reminded me that we need to stop scattering our energy and wasting our time on trivial things that have nothing to do with our vision and goals and start saying yes to our priorities and to what truly matters. Each day we must make choices and those choices including saying “no” to people and opportunities so we can say “yes” to the work we are meant to do and the success we are meant to create.

Focus on Daily Improvement - I see it in sports all the time. Teams focus too much on winning the championship and forget to Zoom Focus each day in practice. They are outcome focused not process focused. The key is to focus on improving each day and take the necessary action steps. If you incrementally improve each day, each week, each month, each quarter by the end of the year you’ll see remarkable results and growth. When you Zoom Focus on the process the outcome takes care of itself.

How do you Zoom Focus? Share your feedback here.

Stay Positive!

-Jon | www.JonGordon.com

Attend a LIVE seminar event with Jon in Orlando, FL on Friday, December 5.
Visit www.JonGordonLIVE.com for details.

Share this with a Friend / CoWorker
:: Click Here to send a link via Email.
:: Share archive URL: www.jongordon.com/newsletter-100608-zoomfocus.html
:: Share via social media outlets below:
Facebook
StumbleUpon
or the “Share This” link below.

In my work with people and organizations I’ve found that when there is a void of clear and positive communication people start to assume the worst and act accordingly. Employees not only want to be seen and heard but they also want to see and hear. The same goes for bank customers, citizens of countries, professional athletes, teachers and parents, students and everyone.

At the root, it’s all about fear. When we are uncertain, fear and negativity creep in and dominate our thoughts, behavior and actions. This leads to a lack of trust, productivity, focus, teamwork and success. Instead of taking positive actions to thrive we go into survival mode and just try to survive.

Recently I received a letter from my insurance company that shared their financial strength and vision for the future. They explained with a detailed analysis how this mortgage crisis has minimally impacted them and my policy. They filled the void with positive communication and positive energy.

You and I must do the same. Regardless of market conditions we must consistently fill the void with positive communication. Leaders, get on the phone or personally meet with your company and share your vision for the future and your fiscal status - WEEKLY. Managers, communicate to your people. Give them feedback. Let each person know where they stand. Talk about their fears. Explain your plan of action. Tell them how you plan to win in the marketplace. Sales people, talk to your customers. Call them up. Meet with them. Ask about their fears and needs. Show them a positive vision for the future and explain how you are positioned to help them get there. If you always fill the void with positive energy then negativity and fear can’t breed and grow.

Now more than ever, communicate with your organization, communicate with your team, and communicate with your customers. Positive communication helps develop trust. Trust leads to successful relationships. Successful relationships grow your business in any economy.

Join the conversation here on our blog by posting your comments about this post and how you and/or your organization are taking steps to stay positive during uncertain times.

Stay Positive!
-Jon | www.JonGordon.com

Share this with a Friend / CoWorker
:: Click Here to send a link via Email.
:: Share archive URL: www.jongordon.com/newsletter-092908.html
:: Share via social media outlets below:
Facebook  
StumbleUpon
or the “Share This” link below.

I emailed a friend the other day that works on Wall Street and asked him his thoughts. He said, “This week the future was changed forever. How, nobody knows yet.”

I was looking for a little more clarity but in reality he couldn’t offer any. The future is uncertain and these are crazy times. So what do we do? Do we get angry? After all, we have a lot to be angry about. Do we seek out people to blame? This wouldn’t be difficult and the list would be a mile long. Do we complain? It’s a justified complaint after all, to complain about a system that rewarded “bad business” and failed us.

We can do all these things but before we do anything we should ask one question, “Will it benefit my life, my career, my team, my organization, and my family going forward?”

I’m reminded of the time, years ago, when I lost my job. It was during the dot.com bubble burst. I was called by the president of the company and in 5 minutes I had no job, no insurance for my wife and children, only two weeks of severance, a mortgage payment and a little bit of savings. At first I was devastated. Then I was fearful. Then I got angry. Then I started blaming others. Then after a few days I realized none of these negative responses would help me get a job, provide for my family, pay the bills and move from where I was to where I wanted to be. I knew that I couldn’t create a positive future by focusing on the negativity of the past. So I made a conscious decision to stay positive, roll up my sleeves and turn my fear into faith, faith into resolve, and resolve into action. This led me to open a restaurant and to the work I do now.

I share this story with you because I believe the choices you and I make now during these challenging times will define us, our team and our organizations success. Unfortunately, there is a lot about this financial hurricane that we can’t control but we can control how we face our own set of challenges.

Regardless of the job you have and the industry you are in, there are principles, strategies and actions you and your team can take to succeed and it all starts with staying positive. Here are a few suggestions from The Energy Bus:

1. Let the Bags off the Bus - We can’t create our future by focusing on the events of the past. We need to let the events of the past off the bus. A confluence of events created this financial fiasco and while our government should make corrections and hold certain people responsible for their part in, for most of us, fretting about all the people who wronged us will not do us any good. Like a hurricane we must acknowledge that we are in the middle of a crisis, we must deal with it and we must focus on the things we can control to improve our situation.

2. Be a Positive Leader - Now more than ever is a time for positive leadership. Now is the time to uplift, encourage and inspire your teams. When your folks talk about the challenges you talk about the opportunities. When others talk about why they can’t succeed you give them every reason why they can. So often the difference between success and failure is belief and as a positive leader you need to inspire this belief and optimism in your team members and teams.

3. Create a Positive Vision - Instead of being disappointed about where you are decide to be optimistic about where you are going. Create a positive vision for your future and the future of your team. Vision helps you see the road ahead and it gives you something meaningful and valuable to strive towards.

4. Invite others on your Bus - Don’t buy into the pessimism of others. Instead invite them on your bus for a positive ride. Send them an e-bus ticket at www.TheEnergyBus.com. Share your vision with your team members and ask them join you in making this vision a reality. Be a positive influence.

5. Focus on the Fundamentals - Everything happens in cycles. Right now we are in a downward cycle. In a few years we’ll be enjoying an upward cycle. Realize that successful organizations focus on the fundamentals regardless of the cycle they are in. Each business has its own set of fundamentals. The key is to decide what those fundamentals are, create an action plan, and focus on them. Focusing on the fundamentals will not only help you succeed during a negative economy but it will allow you thrive when it turns around.

6. Fill the Void - Where there is a void negativity will fill it. That’s why I’d love to hear more from the Presidential candidates about their plans for the economy and our country. Instead of blaming each other I’d love to hear their vision. I’d love to hear their plans. I’d love to hear their solutions. The same goes for us. We must remember to communicate, communicate, communicate. Keep sharing the vision. Keep inviting people on the bus. Keep talking about the fundamentals. Keep focusing on solutions. The void is big and it’s negative. It’s up to you and me to fill it with positive energy.

As part of filling the void, if you are facing a challenge during this economy and you have a question simply ask your question here on our blog and I’ll do my best to answer them this week.

Stay Positive!

-Jon | www.JonGordon.com