Wizard of Ads Clay Campbell

"Let's Lead the Recovery!"

"Let's Lead the Recovery!"
by Clay Campbell

I have said, and have heard other business owners say "We're Not Participating in the Recession" and I understand what we all mean by that. But this past week at Toastmasters, our “Table Topics” discussion was “being positive” when you are surrounded with negative. This morning I received an email from a client with an attached newsletter from a guy named Doug Fleenor. He said that using that phrase "We're Not Participating in the Recession" could do harm instead of good. I agree.

He said:
“Late last fall I used the same line in a presentation. Afterwards, a woman came up to me and reminded me that a lot of people don't want to participate in the recession but that hasn't kept them from losing their jobs. While she didn't say so directly I could sense that maybe the recession was hitting home for her whether she wanted it to or not.”
A better way to state that would be: "Let's Lead the Recovery!" That is so much better! That’s much more Positive!

10 Ways to Lead the Recovery.

1. Read an inspiring motivational book. Take a look at my list
2. Listen to some positive, CD’s ( Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, and my favorite Jim Rohn)
3. Hang around with positive people; avoid the negative ones.
4. Pray (statistics show people who pray are happier and more positive than those who don’t)
5. Do something for someone who can’t do anything back for you in return.
6. Write out your goals on a piece of paper and stick it on the fridge. Have some goals that are short term, (this month) mid range, (6 months) and long term (2-3 years)
7. Tithe. Give some money away to Scouts, the Red Cross, missionaries, etc. It always makes feel you better to give than to receive. Clean out the stuff from your closets you don’t use, and take it to the Salvation Army.
8. No matter how hard it is to do it, you must save some money; even if it’s only $5 a week. Having a little stash of cash makes you more optimistic that you could make it through a difficult time. Strive for a goal of saving $1000 in cash.
9. Plan to go to either a motivational, or fun/educational, or inspirational seminar in the next six months. It would be great to go to find one that would have all three in one meeting; but that may be difficult to find. But go find a seminar that inspires and motivates you.
10. Start a “thank you file”. I have a sizable thank you file now, that I started a few years ago. You should start one that has thank you notes from people who appreciate you, like you, and love you. (If you don’t get notes like that refer to item #5)

So I say let’s lead the recovery; let’s stay positive; let’s stay at it and persist. This famous quote of President Calvin Coolidge, “press on” is the attitude for us to adopt.

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

Calvin Coolidge

The Missing Bowl

My wife Barbie, came to me this week and said, “Honey, have you seen my crystal bowl; the one that was my Mother’s ?” I said that I had not seen that bowl. Well my sweet wife went a bit frantic looking for it. She called our children. She looked all over for it at our place of business. She asked her Dad about it. No Bowl. She was frustrated.

The next day she took everything out of every cupboard where she thought it could be. No luck. She called the housekeeper; and she had not seen the elusive crystal bowl. She said that it was her favorite bowl and was so distraught that it was gone.

After several days of searching, we got up and were getting ready for the day and we “discovered” the lost bowl sitting right there in the middle of the kitchen table with plastic fruit in it. It was right there in front of us all week long and we didn’t even see it. She said, “Don’t tell anyone about this, they will think I’ve really lost it” But we both have been telling our friends and laughing about it. The same kind of thing has probably happened to everyone at some time or another.

Business Owners are you searching and looking everywhere for some way you can advertise or promote your business that will bring people through your doors in this troubled economy? It’s could be right there in front of you! An idea that you have over looked. A virtue or core value that you could “find” that could mean the difference between success and failure this year.

If you can’t find it by yourself I have some brilliant Partners that specialize in finding that thing, or idea that will help you. Each one has a different specialty. I offer a free complimentary meeting or phone call to help you get pointed in the right direction. We'll ask questions and listen before we make recommendations. We will never try to sell you.