by Jim Cathcart, Motivation Expert
Rollis Fontenot interviews Jim Cathcart on how to stay motivated, get fit, deal with adversity, and succeed in your career. This special series of interviews brings you an up close and personal insight into the minds and lives of exceptional achievers.
Motivation expert Jim Cathcart shares his personal philosophy of success and self motivation.
by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart
The economy is in the doldrums because the people are depressed. Much like The Dark Ages when the prevailing mood was gloom and doom, we see very little optimism and hope today. The news is filled with discouraging information and reports that lead us to be more suspicious of each other and skeptical of everything we hear. Each day brings a new expose’ of some corrupt institution or a new regulation that carries with it a host of reporting requirements and restrictions on normal communication. But there is enormous opportunity behind this gloom.
What we need is a “Rennaissance,” a rebirth of the desire to grow and succeed.
When business is depressed it doesn’t go away, it just gets postponed. People still want a new car and many need one, but they’ve delayed their purchase due to economic fears. Couples still want to buy a new home or renovate the one they have but banking and mortgage regulations have caused them to delay.
But the need and desire to buy still exist. In many cases, the money is also available, but the commitments are inhibited by fears and uncertainty. It’s hard to exert initiative when you are confused. So what do we do?
Every great advancement begins in the mind of one individual who decides to take action on his or her dreams. They see the goal in their mind or feel the desire in their heart and then they act upon it. That is what we need MUCH more of today: goals and desires.
Step One is to Define What You Want. Until you have a clear target you will not take bold action.
Here’s an exercise to break the inertia:
“Without Reflection there is no true learning.” Kevin Buck
It is time for the dreamer in you to emerge once again. Re-ignite the caring genes in you. Start talking about what’s possible. Get others engaged in conversations about how good it could be if we all started contributing toward the growth of our company, community, family or country. The big questions are:
What do you really want?
What are you willing to do in order to achieve it?
How can you start working on it today?
I was born in 1946 and graduated high school in 1964. Those dates define “The Baby Boom”; 78 million people born during the 18 years after World War II. Our boom has driven a mega-market for everything from diapers to depends over the course of years.
Today 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day. Read that again…yes, “every day!”
But unlike Mom & Dad and our own grandparents, we aren’t retiring and fading away. We are still active. Socially, financially, professionally, physically and intellectually…we are vitally still engaged in the world.
This presents an interesting opportunity for the rest of the world. How do we cope with and profit from meeting the needs of this huge group? The answer will vary depending upon your field of involvement.
Here are just a few of the emerging needs and wants.
You might enjoy this brief video from my appearance before 1,500 professional speakers in Anaheim, CA recently. It adds a musical perspective to the message above.
by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart
How many of your customers have over 5000 followers on Linked-in, Facebook or Twitter? So, instead of telling five people about their service hiccup with you, they can now instantly tell a thousand times that number! It would not take many unhappy customers to cut a sizeable dent in your bottom line and brand reputation. With customer expectations up 33% over this time last year, you are very vulnerable to a today’s wired and potentially dangerous customers.
Wired and dangerous is the picture of today’s new normal customer. Customers are wired in two ways—they are edgy, impatient and quick to exit on the slightest hiccup, like they’ve had too much coffee. But, they are also wired in the sense they have the Internet-enabled capacity to communicate instantly with hundreds or thousands of other customers. Their influence-power also makes them dangerous. If they receive poor or impersonal service they talk back—with a single snarky video or damning review gone viral, they can bring down an entire company.
Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to do about it is a must-read for anyone with customers in this cyber age. Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh raved about this book; Lou Dobbs declared it “an irresistible page turnings look at today’s empowered customer.” I am happy to recommend this new book written by my friends Chip Bell and John Paterson. Count on it giving you a whole new look at how to serve today’s new normal customer in today’s not-so-normal world.
In this provocative book, they provide a tested formula for transforming today’s edgy customers into eager partners. Using real-world examples, they detail powerful ways to bring harmony to a relationship that was out of whack even before the Internet. I hope you will buy a copy and recommend it to your friends. Be forewarned: get ready for a wild ride!
Chip R. Bell
214-522-5777
by Motivation & Sales Expert, Jim Cathcart
Yesterday I joined Ninety Thousand of my friends in Anaheim at THE event in the music business: NAMM. Check below for photos and videos of interviews I did at the event. Even if you’re not in the music business, you can learn a lot from them for growing your own business, as I did. Read on for more ideas.
The National Association of Music Merchants is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry.
Founded in 1901, NAMM has been the engine driving the music products industry, enabling both large and small businesses to maximize productivity and reduce the costs of doing business. With more than 9,000 Members in the United States and 100+ other countries, NAMM is ultimately dedicated to expanding the market and giving people of all ages the opportunity to experience the proven benefits of making music.
NAMM Headquarters
5790 Armada Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 438-8001
info@namm.org
This photo from the Fender “room” (it was much much larger than an exhibit or a booth) is 1/100,000th of what was on display at NAMM this year. I wandered the miles of floor space on three levels and in multiple buildings plus the surrounding hotels. I met celebrities, corporate executives, like Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars, and scores of technicians, artists, craftsmen, retailers, distributors and more.
I attended NAMM for the 2nd time this year. My host was Jason Vanderpal of Guitar Center HQ. Jason is the former General Manager of the Hollywood Guitar Center, the largest music store of its type in the world. He seemed to know half the crowd as we wandered the floor together. Here’s a link to his comments about the show.
If you are wondering how this relates to you, here it is: NAMM had a record large attendance this year. Note: that is THIS year 2011 in this chaotic economy! The people were buying, selling, dealing and shopping like crazy. Folks, there is no shortage of business to be had out there. No matter what you are selling there is still enough money in people’s pockets for you to have a very good year.
I asked the participants what they were doing that was new and successful. Their answers were many and varied, but they had one thing in common; none of the ideas were “business as usual.” Everyone was being creative and looking for better ways to connect with their customers and prospects. As the Relationship Selling Author I was right at home.
Here’s one idea I liked: KMC Music, the distributors of Takamine Guitars, Gretch Drums, Ovation Guitars, Genz-Benz amps and much more were there with a massive exhibit. Two stories tall and as big as a house. They told me how they had taken their products on the road this past year and set up a combination of product demos, artist appearances and… a new twist, customer performances. The prospective customers were encouraged to sample their products and then actually perform on stage with them.
Customers loved this! It was more appealing to them than any other part of the experience, so KMC Music took note and boosted that part of the events, which produced even greater results. For my interview with Rick Hall and Danny Guion, KMC Music Marketing, click here.
Here’s the question for you: How can you involve your customers and prospects more in doing what they want and love to do, without putting the main focus on your products? Let them take the spotlight and do what they wish to do. Make heroes out of them and they will love being connected with you!
Let me help if you are looking for more ways to connect with your customers. Let’s schedule a brainstorming session right away. http://Cathcart.com
by Motivation & Sales Expert Jim Cathcart
See the invisible and Do the impossible
I would like to recommend an amazing new book: Flash Foresight: How to See the Invisible and Do the Impossible Seven Radical Principles That Will Transform Your Business by Daniel Burrus. It will totally change the way you think about your business as he teaches you to solve “impossible” problems, unearth “invisible” opportunities, and create must-have products and high-demand services that will drive growth for your business now and into the future.
Daniel has an extraordinary limited time opportunity for anyone who purchases a book from his website, see link below. With each book purchased, you will have access to a premium package of bonus gift offerings from 40 top business, sales and marketing gurus, which are valued at over $20,000.00! Time is limited, take a look now http://www.flashforesight.com/buy-book
I’ve known Dan Burrus for more than 20 years. We’ve ridden motorcycles together, played Rock & Roll music and participated in Business Meetings, Strategic Planning discussions and more. He’s a man I consider not only a friend but also a Mentor.
I’ve added some free books to the bonus package for those who buy his book. You’ll love this book and the bonus items will take your breath away. Check it out today!
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