by Motivation Expert and Sales Consultant, Jim Cathcart

At a recent seminar in Santa Barbara we conducted a question and answer forum at the end.

There were some interesting questions posed. This video gives you an easy review of the answers by selecting each “Scene” and skipping ahead to the ones you want. Let us know if you’d like further information on these or any of our key topics in “Relationship Selling” or business growth.

Jim Cathcart, author, Relationship Selling
jim@cathcart.com
800-222-4883

TSTN Television Show featuring Jim Cathcart on Relationship Selling

We’ve discoverd Smile Box and created a photo “show” on it with our photos from 2010. It is our general Christmas Card and we hope you enjoy it. Though many of the photos are personal we think you’ll get a sense of our world and we hope you’ll feel a bit more connected with us.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours.

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by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart

What do you believe in? What is your “creed”? Do you live it? Really?

Below is a creed penned a generation ago by William Brownfield for the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce, the “Jaycees.” I learned, memorized and recited this creed at over 400 meetings in just a few years of intense involvement in the Jaycees. We started every meeting; national, state, district and local with the recitation of The Jaycee Creed followed by the pledge of allegiance to the American flag.

Corny? I don’t think so. But even if it seems that way to you, consider this; those who make these statements so often that they become a part of you, will also be more likely to live by them and remember them when faced with decisions and challenges. It’s like the Lord’s Prayer or the 23rd Psalm in some ways, it is the expression of not only what you believe in but also the affirmation of your desire to believe in it. We don’t ask kids to pledge the flag because they understand and mean it, we do it so that they will learn it and then later feel it. Indoctrination? Sure, but conscious, intentional, self-directed and purely voluntary self-indoctrination.

What is your personal creed? If you don’t have one, try this one on for size. I’ve never found a better one.

The Jaycee Creed

We believe:

That faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life;

That the brotherhood of Man transcends the sovereignty of nations;

That economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise;

That government should be of laws rather than of men;

That earth’s great treasure lies in human personality; and

That service to humanity is the best work of life.

In tough times it is vital that you:

1. Know what you believe. Write it down and edit it till it’s perfect.

2. Test what you believe. If it won’t stand up to challenge or examination then it’s not a belief.

3. Live what you believe. Your beliefs always show up in your actions. Make yours reflect your highest values.

Please read this article numerous times and give serious consideration to defining your own creed. It will give you more strength, peace of mind and confidence than you might imagine. And others will see it in you and admire you for it.

Be more American.

Note: Jim Cathcart was a charter member of the Pulaski Heights, Arkansas Jaycees. Served as Chapter President, District Director, State Individual Development Chairman, and won awards in each position. He went on to serve as Executive Director of David Hale’s successful campaign for U.S. Jaycees President. A few years later Jim was hired as the Senior Program Manager for Individual Development (Leadership Training) at the U.S. Jaycees National Headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In that position he won international awards for the programs he authored: Communication Dynamics, Leadership Dynamics, and Personal Financial Planning. As program manager Jim led a team of 5 state chairmen in each state (250 individuals) at the time when the U.S. Jaycees had a total membership of 356,000. The national staff totalled nearly 100. Jim is the one who developed the first internal training curriculum for the national staff. He taught and facilitated training in: Speaking skills, Travel strategies, Effective Reading, Listening skills, Strategic planning and more. He worked there from mid 1975 through mid 1977.

by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart

Be American!

What is it that distinguishes Americans from the rest of the world? Going back to the American Revolution you will find that Alexis de Tocqueville observed, even then, that:

• Americans have the unique ability to self-organize to solve problems.
• Americans rely upon themselves and admire self-reliance in others.
• Americans reach out spontaneuosly to help others who are in need.
• Americans respect their past but build toward their future.
• Americans have deep religious faith and yet don’t deny other faiths.
• Americans mostly just want to be left alone to pursue their dreams in peace.
• Americans want to continually become more “American”.

The above is a loose paraphrasing of Tocqueville’s observations but I have observed the same patterns over my 34 years as a professional speaker & author, and my 64 years as an American.

What I’ve lived, learned and deduced from all of my studies and experiences is this:

• What makes us unique is that, unlike other countries and cultures, we put self-reliance first. We make it clear from birth that the “American Dream” is to make your own way, own your own home, choose and master your own craft, and become a source of strength for others in need. We don’t want our government to take care of us, we’ll do that ourselves. Just protect our Freedom from agressors who would take it away.
• We believe in the goodness of mankind. We assume that you are “innocent until proven guilty”, and that you, you personally, are endowed by our Creator with certain rights that cannot be taken from you and you cannot even give them away: your right to Life, Freedom and to Choose and Pursue your own dreams. In America you do not have the freedom to sell yourself into slavery or take your own life. These rights come from God and it is wrong for us to give them away.
• Americans are the most generous people in the history of the world. We give money, support and supplies even to our enemies in times of war if they are stricken by a natural disaster or deeply weakened. Look at our outpouring of support to Iran when the earthquake hurt them a few years ago, the tsunami relief we provided in Indonesia, and our support of Africa. Nobody anywhere has ever equaled the personal generosity of Americans.
• We honor our ancestors but move on. Our focus is building a better tomorrow while learning from and respecting our past. Where some cultures assume that the best was behind them, we assume that the best is yet to be.
• We believe in God. Check the numbers. In excess of 90% of Americans believe in God. But, unlike other cultures, we let you choose how to express your faith. Jewish, Muslim and Christian practices are allowed side by side without any feeling that one faith threatens the others. Even Christianity has many branches and variations, all of which are accepted by the others. In America it is even OK to be an Atheist without persecution. The Church is separate from the State but most all of us have a church. It is just that our churches in America have no say in how we run our state. (Contrast that with Iran or other countries where their leaders are deified and have god-like power over others.)
• Americans have no interest in dominating the world. What we want most for others is what we want for ourselves: the freedom to do as we wish. In Iraq we helped them recapture their freedom and determine how to run their country, we didn’t try to run it for them. After World War II we helped Europe and Japan rebuild their countries and run them their own way (as long as they stopped interfering with others’ freedom.) We just want people to leave each other alone except when help is needed.
• Americans learn and speak English, at least American English. We want to be Americans, not hypenated-americans. Our country allows the Polish, Irish, Italian, African, English, Chinese, Japanese, Native American, Latino and all other groups who have been oppressed over the years to become fully American and accepted as equals, without having to deny or denounce their heritage. In fact, we celebrate each heritage nationwide. But first and foremost, we are Americans.

What is the mountain you want to climb? What skills, knowledge, attitudes and relationships will you need in order to achieve it? I encourage you to pursue YOUR dreams and to make the most of yourself. BE all that you can be! Become worth more to the world by developing your talents and sharing your skills with others. Most of all become self-reliant. Take care of yourself and your family. Not through government support or union entitlements, but through planning, working, learning and sharing so that you have more to give.

I admire people who struggle to make their own way. I love being American and I want you to achieve the American Dream. Be More American!

by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart

Volkswagen’s famous Car Towers in Wolfsburg, Germany.

So, what do you do when you have very little real estate and a very large need to park cars? Well, most people would look for more real estate but Volkswagen took a different approach.

They constructed two of the most unique parking structures ever built. Each holds around 400 cars, is 20 stories tall and requires no parking attendants. The cars are parked automatically!

You drive onto the platform at ground level and then your car is sent up the tower and inserted mechanically into an open spot. When you need it back, just reverse the process: select your slot and the car is returned to you by a machine. No driving required.

Imagine being the person who had to sell this idea the management!

I can picture the meeting now: “Hey Boss, er I mean, Herr Boss, I have an idea. How about creating a parking garage with no attendants required? I figure we can put 800 cars into two 20-story cylinders with a server unit in the core. What do you think?”

Whoever did that was indeed a genius. Not because it took brain power to think it up; the technology already existed. It’s just that nobody else had thought to solve the problem that way. (Though others have followed VW’s example since then.)

The next time you are trying to solve a problem, remember this example. Then ask yourself; what is the silliest simple solution I could imagine? Next, ask, “What if that were really possible?”

You may become the next Genius we brag about. Let me know if I can help. Info@Cathcart.com.