by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 21, 2009 | Communication, Empowerment, Success
IT’S TIME FOR A MID-WEEK CHECKUP…
So far you’ve learned:
- KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH
- WRITE A PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT
- RESEARCH WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE
- CREATED SHORT & LONG-TERM GOALS
TODAY:
5. MAKE YOUR GOALS MEASURABLE
Loose goals such as “I want to be happy” are immeasurable and therefor frustrating because they are not specific. When creating your goals, articulate measurable ones that can be clearly reached. For example, if you want to save more money this year, write “I want to save $3,000 by Decembers 31.”
Then, make a list of the amount you plan to deposit each month. After each transaction, put a check mark next to the month and amount. As you mark off the months, be sure to add up the sum of your deposits so you can track how close you are to your goal.
6. CREATE A TIME-LINE FOR ACTION
Time-lines are a must when outlining a plan of action. Without deadlines and time frames, even the best plans tend to drag on indefinitely. Designating specific time frames is universally recommended by experts in every field. For instance, if you plan to invest (not a bad idea since prices are down), write, “I will invest $500 in Company A by May 1.” Do this for each of your goals. Next, create a “goal calendar” where you write down these dates. Hang it in a prominent place; this will keep your deadlines at the forefront of your mind.
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 19, 2009 | Empowerment, Leadership, Success, Vision
As you continue on your path of success, creating a plan of action focuses your efforts and yields immediate results.
Though you may be tempted to feel overwhelmed by the task, keep in mind that planning starts with a good outline.
Simply detail the steps you must take to achieve your goals. Following a plan allows you to keep track of your accomplishments which helps motivation levels remain high.
It also allows you to articulate what you want to achieve and how to achieve it. The saying is true: "Those who fail to plan, plan to fail."
This week I will share two principles each day that will help you create a success plan for your life. If you will dedicate one week to both principles, in 5-6 weeks you'll be a different & successful person.
1. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH
When creating a plan of action, clearly state your goals. First, have a brainstorming session. Let the ideas flow without interruption or judgment. Be sure to write down whatever comes to mind. Next, tighten up the looser ideas. For instance, a more specific version of "I want to start my own business" would be "I want to own my own Cyber Cafe within 5 years." Making goals specific helps you to zero in on what you want to accomplish. Finally, start thinking about how to achieve them.
2. WRITE A PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT
Crafting a plan for success involves generating an idea of who you are and what you intend to do with your life.
Writing a mission statement will help pinpoint where you should focus your efforts. Your mission statement should clearly state the things in life that are most important to you – things that motivate you to go from one step to the next. It should also reflect goals based on these values. Your mission statement should be motivational, easy to understand, and action-oriented. It should appeal to you personally and emotionally.
So, roll up your sleeves & let the work begin!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 14, 2009 | Communication, Empowerment, Leadership, Networking, Relationships, Success
Build Bridges – Not Walls
When you leave a job, church, organization, for whatever reason, be sure to leave on good terms; you never know when you will need to contact or utilize former employers or co-workers for recommendations or networking purposes.
If you leave with an attitude of "good riddance," others will not be inclined to maintain a relationship with you. Wishing other well, providing your personal contact information, and making every effort to stay in touch are great ways to leave lines of communication open.
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 13, 2009 | Communication, Current Affairs, Empowerment, Leadership, Networking, Relationships, Success
Anthropologists have found that for one person, a genuine social network – one in which you know the members and they know you is limited to about 150 people. In fact, Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point found there is a "'cognitive limit to the number of individuals with whom any one person can maintain stable relationships."
So what does all of this mean to you: DON'T NETWORK JUST TO NETWORK! Whittle down your contacts to the most fruitful ones. Then rank them according to their importance until you've created 1st, 2nd, & 3rd tier networks.
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 7, 2009 | Communication, Empowerment, Leadership, Networking, Relationships
While attending grad school @ The University of Missouri I joined
Toastmasters (great networking opportunity & our church has a
chapter). While there, I ran across fellow
Toastmaster Jim Nudelman’s 4-step process for writing an Elevator Pitch.
The Pitch is a 10-15 second focused introduction of your “value proposition” that
can be given in an elevator when someone asks, “tell me about yourself.”
Here’s his process:
Step 1 — Begin with an ACTION PHRASE that is NOT a noun. (”I am a
__________” but don’t use a “label” in the blank. You don’t want
people to put you in a box.)
Step 2 — Add a one sentence statement about what you DO. (”I do _____________” What do you help people or businesses do?)
Step 3 — Give a statement of the SPECIFIC IMPACT. (”People who utilize my
process find _________” list one or two things from the perspective of your
potential employer.)
Step 4 — End with a CALL TO ACTION. (”I am looking to be introduced to
_______________” be specific! If you ask for something non-specific you
are likely to get it. What good it that?)
Here’s my pitch:
“My name is Clarence Stowers. I am a master of empowering people &
growing leaders. I teach people how to how to trust God and believe in themselves to accomplish great things. People who attend our church live empowered
lives and pursue excellence in every area of their lives. Please introduce me to people who you believe
are living beneath their potential.”
Thanks!
Let me hear your pitch…
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 6, 2009 | Empowerment, Leadership, Networking, Relationships, Success
Think of your goal to become successful as a house you plan to build. You know that you cannot build an entire house by yourself, so you will need to enlist the help of others. This is where networking comes in. If you are the architect of your house, then the people with whom you network are the electricians, plumbers, decorators, and painters. In order to accomplish something as grand as being successful in all areas of life, going at it alone is not only difficult and unnecessary – IT'S FOOLISH!
1ST STEP:
TAP YOUR CURRENT NETWORK
Without even realizing it, it is likely that you already know many people who can help you reach your goals. Make a list of your contacts. First, list personal contacts and divide this list into family, friends, & neighbors.
Next, list other personal contacts – include your doctor, dentist, lawyer, accountant, fraternities, sororities, & other social clubs.
Then, list professional contacts such as people you have worked with, worked through, worked for, or given work to. List customers, clients, consultants, and even competitors. Tally up the names of the people in all the different categories. You will likely be surprised by the extent of your network.
For the record: I have 3256 contacts in my network…how many do you have?
