life Archives • Living to Lead

The Tripod of Success

June 18, 2019 By Dave Ferguson Leave a Comment

Featured article by Dave Ferguson in CEOWORLD magazine. Reprinted by permission.

Several years ago, a movie called “The Pursuit of Happyness” debuted. It was based on the real-life story of Chris Gardner, a highly successful businessman who was once homeless.

It compellingly shows how one man and his young son went from sleeping on the floor in a public restroom to living a life of greater comfort, security, and success.

How does someone go from such dire straits to high levels of success?

It boils down to the tripod of success.

Attitude
Motivation
Willingness to learn and do the work

Chris had the tripod.

Was life hard? Harder than most can imagine.

Were the odds against him? Indeed, they were.

Was his dream nearly impossible, given his situation? Most people would say, “Yes.”

But Chris was incessantly driven to get back up every time life knocked him down.

Driven from within by a “never-give-up” attitude; and motivated from without by the desire to give his son a better life, Chris walked up to a highly successful businessman and point-blank asked him how he got there.

The man was taken aback. No one had the nerve to ask him that question before. But it got his attention, and in a good way.

One thing led to another, and Chris worked his way into becoming a highly successful businessman, too. There were nights he and his son slept in homeless shelters or on a public restroom floor, but he showed up for work each day, nonetheless.

His is one powerful story of how attitude, motivation, and a willingness to learn and work can change a life trajectory; and, what’s more, a family’s legacy.

People often say they want a better life for themselves and their families.

They are tired of just getting by in their career or business. Unlike Chris, they may live in nice houses and drive expensive cars; but underneath it all, they know they are just a few paychecks from homeless. Or maybe they are doing well, but dependent on one company or one client for the support of their family.

Think about that.

Does the thought concern you?

It should.

It is wise to diversify – not just your stock portfolio, but your income streams. This doesn’t mean you have to work 80 hours a week, either.

What would it mean to you to have the security of an additional income stream?

What would several income streams provide in terms of freedom and opportunity?

Conversations reveal that most people are concerned about the limits on their income from a job that may or may not exist for them tomorrow – and the limits on their freedom if it does.

There’s a better way.

Those same conversations also reveal key indicators for whether or not they will succeed. This is where the attitude surfaces, and attitude is a key indicator.

“Teach me how, and I will do this!”

“I will do whatever it takes because this is important to me and my family.”

“I need more income, but…”

“I want more freedom, but…”

These are clear indicators.

Surprisingly, many argue against the advice they have requested, saying it won’t work for them or they are too busy (or any number of other excuses). It would be like Chris Gardner asking the stockbroker how he got to where he was and then…walking away.

In two words, that is MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

There is a tripod of success, and it is this.

Armed with these three powerful tools, Chris Gardner created a brand-new life.

And, by the way, so can you!

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Dave Ferguson is “The Leaders’ Coach”, an internationally recognized executive leadership coach, speaker, facilitator, and author. Are you interested in talking to Dave about coaching or having Dave speak to inspire and motivate your team? “ASK COACH DAVE” at 704-907-0171 or at Dave@AskCoachDave.com.

Six Elements of Growth

April 24, 2019 By Dave Ferguson Leave a Comment

Featured article by Dave Ferguson in CEOWORLD magazine. Reprinted by permission.

Whether you’re growing plants, people, business – or all three – you know that growth takes certain elements.

In recent months, I have learned how important the growth hormone is for humans, for example. It is active at relatively high levels for most people until about the age of 25.

Then, quietly, it slows, with gradual but little noticeable effect until one day, you realize you’re not as limber as you used to be or your muscles are not as strong as they once were, even though you are working harder than ever on strength training. Maybe you forget a few words here and there, or you just don’t have the stamina to do all that you want to do.

The point is this: when the elements that promote growth are diminished, we start to decline.

When a business stops doing what made it grow or loses focus on its core branding, it starts to decline.
When relationships are not continually nourished, they decline.
When you stop learning new things and keeping your mind engaged, your brain’s ability to function optimally will be impacted.
When you stop investing in your team, their engagement will lessen.

Six Elements Required for Growth

Whether you are seeking to grow your influence, your business, or to help those around you grow, you will need these elements.

Grounding

Growth begins with grounding. You plant a seed in the ground. You set something in a place where it can get the nourishment and support it needs to grow. The same holds true for people and businesses. They must be grounded in a place where they get the nourishment and support needed to grow.

For individuals, this involves being grounded on core values – things like faith, health, and relationships nourish body and soul. They give you strength and endurance.

For companies, this is all about values, vision, and mission. It is the foundation from which you grow as a company, and the foundation on which you rely for support as you grow. A company without core values, vision, and mission will wither when the tough times come; but one that is rooted and grounded firmly will be able to stand the test of time.

Regulators

Hormones are essentially human regulators. These ingenious little elements influence everything we do, how we move, and even how we think and feel. Regulators on an engine control its speed and intensity, keeping it well-paced somewhere between stalled and explosive.

As a leader, you must have and provide regulators in order to be at your most effective level. As an executive coach, I have seen first hand what can happen to a person whose regulators are not in good working order. Their priorities get out of sync. They start to neglect the things that are most integral to their survival – health, relationships, and faith, for example. They power up, full throttle, but without regulatory balance, they end up in my office or on the phone with me talking about their losses and what they can do to regain control of their unregulated life or business.

Businesses need regulators, too, in order to grow. Most call these policies and procedures. Leaders may tend to underplay their importance, but they do so at their peril. These regulators allow the business to grow and remain viable.

Financials are a big area where regulators are a critical factor. It is especially important for individuals and companies to recognize that unregulated spending has its consequences. So does the lack of spending on things like maintenance, operations, and compliance.

Creating and managing revenue is key. The importance of this is underscored in a Federal Reserve Report noting that “44 percent of all respondents could not cover an unexpected $400 emergency expense.” (By the way, if you are one of these people, talk to me. I can help you.)

This is not just a personal problem. Businesses can be operating on dangerous margins as well. Closely regulate your income and expenses and keep your debt to equity ratio in check.

Oxygen

Three Minutes. That’s how long the average person can live without oxygen. Without this critical life element, your heart stops beating, and your brain cells begin to die. Within six minutes, your brain will cease to function.

Quite the thought, isn’t it?

Without this one single element, you’re three minutes from a point of no return.

Let me ask you this as it relates to life and growth in other areas besides physical.

How long can you as an individual survive in other areas without fresh air?

How long can a business survive without fresh, new ideas?

It may not be three minutes, but without freshness and newness of ideas, innovation, and experiences, you will reach a point of no return. To grow yourself or your business, take time to recharge and refresh. Go on a vacation. Do a team retreat. Take a walk outside. Brainstorm with those who think outside your normal box.

Water

Humans are composed of up to 60% water. Your heart, lungs, brain, and liver have even higher percentages. It would follow, then, that water is important to life. Dehydration can result in dizziness, fainting, and loss of functionality.

In life and business, energy is expended. Yet, energy is needed to function in life and business. This means there must be regular cycle of energy expenditure and replacement. Without times of renewal, your life or business can suffer loss of functionality.

The speed of business being what it is today, many leaders expect their employees to be on call, essentially, 24/7. While it may seem to be a way to increase productivity and responsiveness, very often the effect is the opposite. It depletes the energy of the team.

The cure? Take a break. Celebrate wins before moving on to the next big thing. Determine boundaries and set the example for following them. Take time every so often for a “digital detox” and encourage your team members to do the same. Do something different, or do something you must do…differently.

These types of activities help refill the tank of energy that is critical to your team’s performance.

Tending

Tending is an interesting word. It is essentially the work of paying attention to needs.

People and results thrive with proper attention.

This means if you delegate something, trust your team to do their job, but continue to give it and them the attention needed to grow. Delegate, don’t abdicate. If you have a responsibility, give it attention. If you have a bank account, give it attention. If you own a home, well, you know what happens if you don’t give it attention.

Tending applies to everything you own, everything you do, and every area of your life. If, at this point, you are thinking this is an overwhelming responsibility, then it might be time to simplify some things and to evaluate your priorities. If you have more than you can give attention to, it’s time to start saying, “No” to some commitments that no longer fit your vision, goals, and values.

Harvesting

Growth is intended for harvesting. In fact, harvesting allows for new growth, in addition to supplying the needs of others.

Growing must have purpose.

Do you have a business? How will your growth impact you and your employees, customers, vendors, and community?

Do you want to improve your health? What is the purpose? How will your good health impact your life and the lives of others?

Do you want to grow your bank account? Focus on your “why.”

Growth alone is not enough. Growth with a harvest is a necessary and welcome cycle of life and business.

And now for the tough questions…

Do you have these growth factors in your life?
Do you have them in your business?
Do you have them in your relationships?

In each area of life, in order for you to grow, you must have these six elements. Check in regularly to ensure you and your team are well-equipped for growth!

Are YOU Ready to Work with a Leadership Coach?

May 2, 2018 By Dave Ferguson Leave a Comment

As a coach, I ask a lot of questions. As a coach, I also get asked a lot of questions.

One that I get often is, “What exactly is leadership coaching?”

While I can’t speak for other coaches, I can surely answer that question based on how I work with clients.

If you are considering whether or not to hire a coach, you are actually deciding if you are ready to embark on a grand adventure.

Coaching is not for everyone, and even highly coachable people have times in their lives when coaching may not be what they really want or need.

Here are a few important questions to ask yourself before making your decision.

Is it the right time for me to hire a coach?

If you feel like you are ready to make some important changes, the time is right for you. If you are extremely busy and cannot imagine taking on another thing, then the time is definitely right for you. The first thing we will want to explore is what we can remove from your busy schedule to make your life feel simpler, more balanced, and manageable.

Can I afford to pay for a coach?

If you hire me, you will be making an important INVESTMENT in your life – equivalent in its overall impact to an advanced college degree, or possibly more. You’re not paying me, you’re investing in yourself! At the end of the day, ask yourself, can you afford not to move forward?

Am I willing to try new things?

During your coaching, you will be invited to look at old situations in new ways. You will be offered new concepts and different ways to approach things. If you are willing to try out new possibilities and stretch your creative side, you will get a large return for your investment.

Do you normally give up on goals and personal aspirations?

If every year, you create a list of resolutions or goals of things you should do, but never seem to quite stick with them, then you need me as your coach. Usually, the problem is these things are “should’s” rather than “musts,” and we will change that quickly.

Am I ready to truly define success for myself?

If you are eager to fulfill your current dreams, discover new ones, and truly define what success is for you, then you are ready for coaching. If you want to separate yourself from the rest of the pack, then let’s get started!

If most of the above speaks to you, then I will make it my responsibility to get you committed to starting ASAP. Procrastination limits, if not blocks, us from attaining our goals and dreams.

If something in this article is resonating with you, don’t hesitate to contact me. Let’s discuss your needs and possibilities.

In a future article, we will take a deep dive into the leadership coaching process itself. Are you ready?

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3 Main Roadblocks to Success

July 26, 2017 By Dave Ferguson Leave a Comment

“Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” ~ Calvin Coolidge

Perseverance is a key component of leadership, and while I believe it isn’t something you can teach, it is a characteristic you can learn. And it is essential to success.

That said, the desire to persevere isn’t enough. Perseverance also requires application, dedication, and a heavy dose of tenacity.

What is Perseverance?

It is persistent progress in a course of action despite difficulties, roadblocks, or discouragement. As a leader, you cannot give in when met with unexpected difficulty. If you do, there will be collateral damage. You know this.

And yet…you are human. You will face these times and, truthfully, want to give up.

The fact is, the road to success requires the vehicle of perseverance. And you will face roadblocks along the way that will try to stop your vehicle.

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What are these roadblocks? And, more importantly, how do you navigate beyond each one?

Roadblock #1: The Propensity to Give Up

The easiest way out of a difficult situation, at least in the short term, is to simply give up – to retreat to our comfort zone. As humans, we are predisposed to avoid pain. Unfortunately, in avoiding the pain of growing, we also avoid the pleasure of success. The number one reason leaders are not successful is simply because they give up too soon.

How to Break Through Roadblock #1:

Motivate Yourself – Watch someone accomplish something impossible
Push Yourself – Get up to work out—push yourself physically
Inspire Yourself – Listen to music that inspires, motivates, and pumps you up
Challenge Yourself – Go do something hard, like climb a mountain
Encourage Yourself – Find a friend, mentor, or coach who will both encourage you and call you out where accountability is needed
Support Yourself – Stay strong by re-energizing your mind, body, and spirit; and keep your head up

Roadblock #2: The Belief that Success Comes Easily

Another major roadblock is entitlement; the belief that you are deserving of the good life without having to work for it. My friend, Larry Winget pays his respects to this idea in many of his books. He has a point.

As with everything in life, there is a spectrum for entitlement. You may not expect to have success handed to you on a silver platter, but you might be thinking it shouldn’t be this hard, either. Either way, it is entitlement.

The fact is, success doesn’t land on our doorsteps. It is earned through perseverance and good old-fashioned hard work.

How to Break Through Roadblock #2:

Dig in and use struggles as a reason to recommit to your goals. Commitment will drive you through the roadblock of entitlement and on to the good life you have worked to achieve.

Roadblock #3: A Lack of Vision

When it comes to goals, individuals who persevere always keep the big picture in mind. They see it, and know what to do or create to keep working towards it.

What is your vision?

Is it to earn money?

This may seem to be the vision. But in reality, money is not the vision, but its predicator.

The real question is, “What is the WHY beyond the money?” That is the vision.

How to Break Through Roadblock #3:

Get to your “why”.

WHY do you want to succeed in your business and career?
WHY do you want to lose weight?
WHY do you want to reach your goals

Pushing through these roadblocks engages and strengthens perseverance. And perseverance, as we’ve noted, is the vehicle to success.

Click here for free chapter on perseverance.

Are you driving the vehicle of perseverance through the roadblocks to your success?

Are you helping and encouraging your team to learn perseverance as well?

Dave Ferguson is “The Leaders’ Coach”, an internationally recognized executive leadership coach, speaker, facilitator, and author. Are you interested in having Dave speak to inspire and motivate your team? “ASK COACH DAVE” at 704-907-0171 or at Dave@AskCoachDave.com.

9 Ways to Deliver Customer Service Fireworks

July 5, 2017 By Dave Ferguson Leave a Comment

Think back over the last few days. Do you recall receiving great customer service from anyone?

Did you receive a prompt, friendly greeting by someone who showed they cared about your needs? Did someone deliver what they said they would deliver? Was there a cashier who thanked you for your business? Did a contractor show up on time and finish on schedule?

Leaders often fail to realize the impact of customer service on their business. Done well, it creates an outstanding company. Done poorly, it can be detrimental.

The often-heard statement, “We provide customer service excellence,” sounds great, doesn’t it?

We hear it all the time from companies and people. It’s in their promotional materials, their mission statements, and on their websites. They say it, and often advertise it right behind their so-called “service” counters.

But as the saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.”

Outside a few rare exceptions, the best customer service we get these days is a flickering sizzler. It is time for some fireworks!

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Here are 9 tips on how you as a leader can put the fireworks back into your company’s customer service.

These tips apply to anyone at any level who deals with the customers and clients of your business – either directly or indirectly. In fact, they apply to everyone.

The right customer service attitude is critical.

As the leader, you have to set a great example when it comes to attitude. Choose to be positive all the time, and decide that you and your team will deliver customer service passionately. Ensure that everyone at your company is doing the same…not just when they feel like it, but with every single customer interaction.

Don’t try to seduce prospects by over-promising goods or services to them.

When you do this, you open yourself up for failure. You should set realistic expectations, and give yourself some freedom to adjust where necessary. Deliver what you say you will…or more. But never less.

We’ve all heard the old cliché, “Under-promise and over-deliver.”

We tend to want to promise prospective customers more, so they feel the value. We also enjoy over-promising to make ourselves feel more valued. When you under-promise, you have the opportunity to continuously impress your client.

When you over-promise, you can potentially stress yourself out and look desperate. Even worse, you could appear to be a liar.

The great Henry Ford once said, “You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.”

If you agree he was right, let’s agree we should build our reputations and relationships by what we actually do and how we deliver.

Keep your word, but don’t make it your motivation to deliver.

Deliver because you should! If you are one of those people who is always in “promise mode,” slow down, and consider some other options.

Don’t let “busyness” drive your work style.

Put nothing in front of providing the best service possible. Many people try to show people how important they are by how busy they are. Manage your workload, and use effective time management practices, but don’t be an expert in “busyness.”

Deliver to your customers because you have the passion to do so.

Don’t do it just because you said you would. It’s very easy to spot someone who is just going through the motions. Today, people want to work with people they feel are truly engaged in the service or product. If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, find something to do that you can enjoy.

Be creative and grow with the client.

Go in with the attitude that what the customer or client asked for is just the beginning of the relationship. This creates an opportunity for both of you to evolve. At the least, you will have a loyal client; but likely you will get additional business by their referrals.

Keep your customers informed.

If you are running behind schedule because you see something you can do for them of added value and you need more time, let them know. They will both understand and appreciate your efforts.

Deliver something extra.

Without asking if they need it, deliver an extra WOW! What happens beyond the agreed-upon deliverable is what makes the real customer service difference.

Create your own style and deliver your product and/or services uniquely.

Wrap your services in nice packaging and top if off with a bow! The extra touches distinguish your company from the myriad of others out there who do what you do.

Today, there are many leaders trying to grow their business through desperate measures. They will put down the competitors, over-promise, cut their prices to the slimmest margins, and quite frankly, lead prospective customers on. It’s a race to the bottom of the barrel.

If you stay clear of these mistakes and move forward with the techniques described above, your business will stand out from the crowd, not only today but for the long run.

After all, customer service is about building customer relationships, and a good relationship builds a loyalty that keeps the customer coming back.

As a leader, you must set the standard and keep your finger on the pulse of customer service. It is the lifeline of your business.