Life of a Parent

After lunch with my oldest son today it got me thinking - when did you decide what you wanted to do with your life?  Or have you yet?  He is having second thoughts on what he wants to do when he grows up.  He is only 18 and so trying to help him understand that in life there is no ending to the questions, issues and fun - but it is a trip forever.  You need to make the whole ride fun (OK maybe not the whole ride, but there needs to be fun involved).  He looks at me (like I did with my dad) and you can figure out what you don't want to do (for me it was farming), but it doesn't make it any easier on what he wants to do.  As a parent how can we help?  I want him to be happy, but he needs to find it himself.  Hopefully the input I give him can help him along with way, along with a good ear, sometimes a strong word of encouragement and kick in the butt, and lots of love.

Now if I can just figure out what I want to do when I grow up...

Excitement

I writing this as my youngest two get ready to go trick or treating for Halloween. While annoyed with their  excitement I can't help but feel love to see the happiness in their eyes.  When was the last time you felt that?  Maybe when your children were born?  Or how about your wedding day? Why do we lose that when we get older?  I guess the best thing I can do is try to piggy back on my kids' feelings and make sure they stay as young as possible before "being an adult" robs it from them.

Deep Thoughts

Had one of those awesome days than then just kicks you in the butt when you aren't looking.  I hate those.  I don't like surprises.  Guess if I dug through the grey matter enough, most things really wouldn't surprise you, but you avoid the thought of it.  Guess maybe at the end of the day I was trying to trick myself.  So I guess I kicked myself in the butt.  How the heck does that happen...

What a Great Week!

Yes the weather is great, and it is a Friday, but I had a great week this whole week!
It was the IMOne event (Ingram) for all of their communities (we are part of the Venture Tech Network, or VTN).  Why do I love these events so much?  The information shared - not just by manufacturers (had great meetings with Buffalo, HP, Trend Micro and Pearson) and also by Ingram (great discussions about cloud and technology) but the best reason are the people.  It should come as no surprise that I love to talk to people.  The ones I told to all the time (John F, Bill, Dan, John E., Ted, Scott, Steve (ok there are about 5 Steve's and they are all from Dakotas) and many, many, many more, but also the great new people I get to talk to at the event.  From how the business is going, to how can I help, to how is the family - there is never enough time for all the discussions.

I truly do believe that the most important thing in life are the people you meet and make a difference with daily.  What have you done today?

Ah the most wonderful time of the year - FOOTBALL season!  Football is not only the greatest sport, ever, but it is also a great metaphor for sales.  In Football you have a quarterback that gets the credit for the win or the loss, but it really takes a team.  In Sales you have the sales person (insert new trendy name here, but in the end it is a sales person) and then you have the team (engineers, administration, management) that is necessary for the sales process.  Try doing without the team to back you up and you will realize that failure is inevitable.To win in football you need a touchdown, to win in sales you need a (wait for it) sale!  While they both look easy to accomplish no one can really understand until they are in the trenches, fighting it out play after play (or day after day).  So remember you might think you are a superstar, but without a great team to back you up winning will not happen (just ask Dan Marino).

Good Customer Service

I was thinking (and watching) while out in public lately.  What makes good customer service?  Is it always being there?  Is it answering all their questions?  Or is it something else?  I think at the heart of really good customer service is just listening to the client/customer.  Most people want to be listened to and then helped - but without good listening skills everything else just falls apart.
Are you and your team good listeners?  What can you do to improve listening?  Think I will dive into this topic more later but a starting point is this - start at home.  Who better to have help with listening than your family.  Trust me - my wife and kids tell me every time I'm not listening well to them.  My oldest son used to grab my head and make me look him in the eyes when he thought I wasn't listening well enough.  Good feedback for us all.

The client is always right - right?

You and I both know that the client isn't always right.  There are times when they are wrong - maybe the misunderstood, didn't hear correctly, or just are being difficult.  The problem is - if you want them to stay your client how are you going to convince them they are wrong?  My thought - your aren't.  That's not to say you tell them they are ignorant, difficult and you would be better off without them (OK sometimes that is the truth, but be prepared for them to become a lost client at that point).  You need to help them understand what happened.  Here are some steps to try:
1. Listen to them.  A high percentage of time they just want to be heard.
2. Ask them what they want.  What they want is usually a lot less than what you think.
3. Do what you can to make them happy.  Help them to understand that you can't give everything away for free - but you value them and want to help make them happy.
Usually you can avoid these issues by listening to what they want before hand, tell them what you heard, write it down, and then have them sign it. It slows things down (something I hate to do) but can save you a bunch of pain later.

Meetings

It is amazing to me how valuable in person meetings are, and how much sales people avoid them.  Sure phone calls, text messages, emails, tweets, etc, etc etc are good, but nothing in better than an eye to eye meeting.  Shaking hands, having small talk, and just getting to know each other.  I really don't see myself in sales, I build relationships that hopefully last a long time.  Along the way, if there is something I can sell that person that might make their life easier, well that's great!

Good Guys

Why is it that good guys seem to finish last?  What is it that people want to take advantage of our good will and our nice ways?  It seems that certain people like to try to beat us up and ruin our day...
At the end of the day guess I don't care.
If you think that I am weak because I am nice - well screw you.  I like people and love to help, but I do have a point where enough is enough.
I will be the bigger person at this point, but just know that karma can be a bear.
You have been warned.
Good guys don't have to finish last - we just usually don't care.  We just want to have fun.

Remember

Technology is a great tool, and a big time waster.  Trust me I know - it is both for me.  I am getting better at it.  I can actually shut it down now and play with my kids and talk to my wife, but it is always trying to draw me in (think of the Ring for Frodo...).  It is a constant battle (maybe I should start a 12 step process) but I think I am winning it 1 minute at a time.
The biggest problem is that I see my kids having the same issue.  I don't want to be one of those people that its do as I say and not as I do, but it is a little that way (but my kids keep busting me - good kids!).
Remember - with great technology comes great responsibility (or something like that from Uncle Ben).
Remember what is truly important and why we do what we do.
Oh well - back to my phone now.

Slow Down

I'm sitting here listening to some great Jazz, working on some quotes, and enjoying some office time.
How often are we so busy that we don't just enjoy the now?
Too often I am worried about the next meeting, the next day, the next (insert item here).  Why can't we just enjoy?
I am working on it - but it will be a long process.

Amazing

Well it was dance recital weekend.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday were spent in a great auditorium watching my amazingly talented daughter (there might have been other great dancers there too, but I was a little focused) dance her ballet, tap and hip hop heart out.  I love going to these events.  Not only are they entertaining but it gives my children such a boost to their ego to help them later in life.  To see life from their eyes (I have an 17, 7 & 6 year old) that they could do anything they want when they grow up (of course I am still trying to figure out what I'm going to do when I grow up, but that's a different discussion).  To see the innocents and hope in their eyes - whatever I can do to kindle that fire and help keep it going.  I am truly excited about the future.

Vacation

What do you do on vacation?  Sometimes I like to travel with family, but usually I like to just stay at home.  That is what I am doing this week - just staying at home.  Oh it is not a relaxing week - but exciting.  My son graduates this weekend and we are having the big party at the house.  Surrounded by family and friends - sounds awesome to me.  Well I have to get back to painting.

IMOne / VTN Meeting

The important things in my life are my relationships.  Whether that is with my wife, my kids, my family or my friends - there are few things more important to me.  That is why weeks like last week are such rockstar events to me.  I was able to see people that are not only very intelligent people in the technology industry, but they are also people that I consider my friends.  It is awesome that I can work in an industry where I also have so many friends.  Really I can't consider it work at that point.

Complaining

I noticed this weekend that usually when I complain (and I try not to do it often but that is a constant struggle) it is more about ourselves than those we are complaining about in the first place.  Maybe they aren't doing it the way WE wanted or the way WE would have done it.  What is wrong with their way?  Oh yeah, it isn't our way.  Take a week and sit back and see how much complaining you do, and if it really a problem or just a grip that it isn't done your way...

When

When is it that your kids actually realize and understand that you know more then they think?  That you are not trying to destroy their lives, but help them make educated decisions...
Is it when they move out?
Is it when they get married?
Is it when they have their first kid?
At this point I would really like to know...

Attitude

Do you reallize what warm weather and sun can do to an attitude?  I know that usually it is really each and every one of us that can determine how we feel, but sometimes outside influences can help - so let them.  Feeling the sun on one's face after a long summer, watching your kids play, or even having a great discussion with your spouse (at least these work for me) can help get me out of a bad mood.  Don't always feel like you have to go it alone - it is a long and lonely road.

Legos

When is the last time you sat down and played (OK I have kids so I have an excuse) with out technology being involved.  It was frustrating (being truthful) but awesome at the same time.  My son (6) got Legos (it was 16+ on the age scale) so this weekend we sat down and put it together.  Even my daughter (7) got into the action.  It was great just talking (no TV but we did listen to music) and see their minds work - it was actually pretty impressive.  They usually could figure out what to do without the directions, but if they needed help they could look at it and figure it out.  I was really proud of them for their thinking skills, and we got a very cool start on the Lego city (I'm guessing there will be more in our future).
I guess maybe there is something to turning off the technology and doing some good old fashion work (just don't expect me to do it often).

Get Out of Your Own Way

Do you ever feel like sometimes you could be much more successful if you just got out of your own way.  Why do we get that way sometimes?  Life could / would be much easier if a light or a flag would signify when it was time to just shut up?
Maybe that comes with age...

When...

When will my kids realize I know more than they think I do.
When will I be able to relax with out feeling guilty.
When will it stop snowing.
OK - just venting a little.

Family

Another full weekend of family.  Aren't they really what life is about.  Not just your immediate family - but all of them :)  They are there to make the highs even higher and help the lows not feel so low.  Make sure you take time for them - all of them.  Understand that is what riches are really about.

Life...

Sometimes bad things happen to good people.  No more or less than that.  Try not to over think it.  Sometimes good things happen to bad people too.  Doesn't make sense, it is not fair, it is life.
Sorry rough week...

Silence

Sitting here, by myself, at my kitchen table listening to nothing.  It has been too long.  I love my kids, and my wife, but sometimes a person needs silence.  It allows your mind to wander, and to dream.  When was the last time you allowed yourself to dream?  What keeps you going?  Kids grow up and move away (hopefully :)) and then it is just you and maybe your spouse.  What will keep you going then?  Hopefully you don't think dreaming is just for kids.  It is a skill that needs to be practiced.  It may not come easily, but it is still there.
When you dream - what is it of?
Hopefully it is something that will keep you going because sometime you will need it.

Days Off

Does your company still run even if you aren't in every detail of it?  Do you need to make every decision, no matter how big or small?  Do your employees need your OK for everything they do?  Why???  You may think that the company can't function without you, but every one can be replaced.  Who is running whom?  Is it fun?
Maybe a little self evaluation is necessary.
1. Can you take a day off without the company closing?
2. Are you having fun at work?
If the answers are no - why are you doing it?
Life is way to short to regret what you do for most of your day.
Just a little thought for the morning.

Selling

Do you want the secret sauce for selling?

Are you ready?

Process, persistence and relationships 

Are you ready to do the work for 2014 to make it happen?

It sure isn't rocket science

It's just hard work

Limits

Do you know your limits?  Not about drinking but for life.  Do you know what you are capable of today?  Are you pushing yourself to grow and do more?  You either are green and growing or red and rotting.  I don't know about you but I'm not ready to start slowing down yet!

Wimps

When did we become a bunch of wimps?  OK maybe that is a little general approach, but it does seem like we have lost a lot of our motivation to be great.
Today is -14 outside (-35 with windchill) and the world seems to think everything should stop.  Is this the first time the temp has been reached - don't think so.  Did our fathers stop when it got too cold?  Nope.  My dad still went outside and had to do the chores and make sure the farm was ok - it was cold, but his job never stopped.  Sometimes it is hard, heck sometimes it just plain sucks, but life goes on.
Same with sales - sometimes it is awesome (when you close a big sale) and sometimes it sucks (getting thrown out of a company while cold calling) but it's my job.
Time to put on the big boy pants - or stay on the porch and let the big dogs run :)