1/9/10

How About These Resolutions?

January 10, 2010

This week as I traveled this great country, the talk around the water
cooler was all about New Year’s Resolutions. They of course ranged from
diet, weight loss and exercise, time at the gym, smoking & drinking issues,
cleaning the garage, remodeling and/or work in the yard to name a few subjects.
But as I was driving back to Iowa, I began to think of different resolutions that might affect our very way of life with family, friends and our inner self. So I came up with the following list and would welcome your thoughts.

1. While watching TV with your spouse and your spouse speaks to you, demonstrate how important he/she is by turning and looking at them while they talk, and listen to the content as well. (You might just be amazed at the results)
2. Make a decision to not listen to or read any negative national news for one month. It might just change your mind set. (Reducing negativity, might even improve your health)
3. Stop the parking lot rage and let someone else have the closest parking spot. (Not only will you do a kind favor but think of the exercise value)
4. Pay more attention to the elderly, the disabled and yes especially the female gender and hold open a door for someone. (Prove that chivalry and/or compassion isn’t dead).
5. Make absolutely certain that you’ve taught your kids that good manners like holding open doors and helping others is truly the AMERICAN WAY! (It might just help all the foreigners to see the real US)
6. Make a contribution to a charity organization for merchandise, clothes or even better a small cash donation and don’t get a receipt. (Then enjoy the intrinsic feeling of the value of sharing)
7. If you typically schedule a vacation, this year do it within 500 miles of home. The United States of America is filled with great historical and enjoyable places to visit. (Foreigners come here to visit OUR country)
8. Forego your Canada fishing trip and trade that time in for something very special with your family that you willingly choose and that THEY will love. (Make it a surprise and the value multiplies)
9. And finally, instead of asking God for favors, try thanking God for what you are, what you have and the receipt of the love of the people around you. (True rewards come at times when you least expect them and for reasons you least know the answers)

As always, please accept my wish for a tremendous week. 2010 is yours for the taking. Go forth and make it happen.

Regards,

George F. Mancuso, CPC
Gman Business Resources, Inc.
Grinnell, Iowa

1/3/10

What is YOUR Intrinsic Mindset?

January 3, 2010

Q: What is your intrinsic mindset? Are you a beginner, a novice, an expert?

A: The frustration in finding any answer is that it often demonstrates the death of the question. If you believe that you are the utmost master within the sales or management arenas, please forget it as this mindset can lead to your ultimate demise.

Don’t allow your routine to become a routine. Don’t accept that its business as usual. Don’t become predictable to a fault. If you do fall into this trap, your competitors, your peers, your customers and your employees will know what you will do or say to any given situation. And in most cases, that is not a good scenario.

Now with that said, please don’t misinterpret my meaning. It is imperative that you remain defined and disciplined and that you must keep your “tools” sharp and polished but not to the point of becoming a slave to these things.

Whether you are in a sales, administrative or management career, it’s continues to be all about people and people issues. And with all people comes one constant and that is change. You cannot react to change if you don’t keep an open mind. You must think like a beginner and act or react like an expert. To stay on top of your game, you must maintain a high level of alertness that will allow your mind to receive new and more effective techniques to incorporate into your bag of tools. And this, is what I define as a beginners mind.

Picture this…. We are sitting at the kitchen table and I put a cup of coffee in front of you that is almost full. I start pouring coffee slowly into your cup and soon it reaches the brim and starts to overflow with hot coffee splashing on you, the kitchen table and onto the floor. When will you jump up and tell me to stop?

In this analogy, the cup of coffee represents your mindset. You came to the table with an almost full cup and little room for anything new. You may think you know it all but the mind of a consummate professional is never full. In fact it’s really always empty and ready to receive something new without warning. My example uses the coffee in the coffee pot to represent knowledge, ideas, techniques and a new prospective. A proven prospective that you can put into motion within your life with little effort.

As a final thought, remember this, “If you open your hand, you can take hold of anything. If you close your hand, nothing can enter it.”

2009 is in my rear view mirror and 2010 is happily glaring into my windshield. I am determined that this year is MINE for the taking. Is your mind open enough for 2010 to be YOURS’ as well? If not, I promise to offer my hand to you as I go by and hopefully we can proceed down Highway 2010 together.

You do make a difference and I do care. Call or write if you have a need and I will respond immediately!

Regards,

George F. Mancuso, CPC
Gman Business Resources, Inc.
Grinnell, Iowa