So That Great Contact Didn't Call You Back ! Here's What You Do..

So you took the initiative and bravely spoke to someone you didn't know. Maybe you had lunch with them or a great conference call. The vibes were right. You saw an opening, and made a pitch to offer your services to them. Using your great planning skills and initiative you closed the loop by locking on a follow up meeting with them to make the next step.


Another spot has been filled on your calendar with this prospect, and you move on to other tasks. The appointment date nears and you cannot get in touch with the person. They either don't answer your text or calls, reschedule, come up with excuses, appear indecisive or postpone for another date they won't commit to at this time. You are puzzled, and may feel a bit defeated if this is one of your first leads.


This happen quite often.  Do not spend an extensive length of time on these type of people. They have shown that they are not committed, and are not fully interested. You will spend a great deal of time trying to convince these type of people to take action on something they say they want.  Overtime you may find yourself spending valuable time coaxing them, emotionally dragging them, talking to them about pros and cons, and the value of your services. Frustration may set in. In the end you may began to question your skills and techniques. ( Don't be afraid or to big to brush up on your networking or selling skills if you need to.)


There is a better option !! Focus on those people that want to really take action, and are truly dedicated to their goal. These people will work with you towards their goals. They will use their resources to obtain your services to make themselves better. Those other individuals will waste your time, lead you to lower your service prices, and occupy valuable space on your calendar that could be used for other eventful engagements. Go out and find people that are honestly interested in winning, not procrastinating, progress, not excuses, stepping out of their comfort zone, and not trickery or shortcuts that will magically make things happen. Don't be afraid to reach up and reach out to wealthy and experienced people, or to people you don't know. Stop reaching down to those who refuse to get up, or to people you know just because you know them.

There are people who desire your services out there. They are waiting for what you have to offer. They want and need your help. They are committed, have the resources, and are willing to get up and show up.


Spend your time with those who want it. Those who don't will let you know with there actions. Believe them when they show you.

Be confident. Believe in yourself. Don't allow anyone's short comings to turn you in to a desperate sales person. You are valuable and so is what you have to offer.


Luke Wright

John Maxwell And Who You See in the Mirror

        Today I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a L2 (Learn and Lead) event featuring the famous Motivational Teacher and author John Maxwell. It was a great experience packed with great information that will surely benefit me...only if I use it. During the presentation John Maxwell said on many occasions people have asked him to invest in them. He then said he doesn't invest in people who do not invest in themselves.


Look in the mirror. If the person you see is not someone you love, who inspires you, you see as valuable, or is pleasurable to you, then you will be less likely to invest in them. You will convince yourself not to give them tasks of importance, because you do not trust them to carry it out to the finish. You will doubt that person in the mirror if you don't believe in them, and won't trust them with long term goals or dreams. You may even convince yourself that they are not the kind of person you want to struggle through tough times with, because they aren't strong enough, smart enough, or courageous enough.


In the long run you will entrust others with your goals, dreams and even your happiness. You may hold them responsible for those things you don't trust the person in the mirror to carry out.  As a result many people will let you down... friends, family, co-workers, associates and strangers. Lastly you'll blame them for letting you down and then bitterness, hatred, and anger will creep in to accompany your every thought when you think of these people. Over time you will build up a great distrust for many people.


When we don't value things we don't invest in them. We allow them to deteriorate or we just maintain them enough to use them as we slowly allow them to die. Just think about a used car or appliance you have had for many years. Watch how its stored and kept.


You MUST BELIEVE in the person you see in the mirror. That person HAS VALUE beyond measure. No matter the race, sex, weight, color, financial status, past, or mistakes made, that person HAS VALUE !!  Even if you can't see it, the value is there.  You can't see oxygen ,but you know you can breathe...Right ?!!  Surely you don't question that oxygen exists. SO don't question if you have value.


Believe in the person in the mirror. Invest in them WISELY because you want them to be happy and to win ! Don't let what anyone said in the past or will say in the future convince you that the person you see in the mirror is anything but priceless.

Who is Scott Nichols and Why Does He Matter ?

                                                  

This past weekend me and a fellow Toastmaster Scott Nichols competed in separate speaking competitions. As usual Scott rose to the occasion. During his brief speech Scott spoke about how he sought out finding the woman of his dreams..his wife, the love of his life who he is celebrating 13 years of marriage with.  His speech resonated w/ the audience and painted a picture of his undying desire for his wife.  On numerous occasions in different speeches Scott has spoken about his family, their vacations, time together, funny moments and challenging times.

Like an employee dedicated to his job, Scott wakes up each day to put in dedicated hours with his wife and daughters. He spends countless hours watching Disney movies, priceless moments spent camping, and irreplaceable moments spent learning valuable lessons about being a husband and father.

He is passionate and dedicated to the billet of husband and father. He doesn't complain about the hours, he reaps the benefits of his labor, and constantly invests his time, energy and focus with his wife and daughters like co-workers, or employees he values and really wants to stay with the company.

We work so hard to reach the top of the ladder in a company or industry to have a nice home and pay for the nice things we want for ourselves and our family.  Too often we start sacrificing our time with the family we say we're dedicated to in order to be more successful at work. Over time many of us become successful at work and unsuccessful at home.  It's requires strategic balance, and a strict management of priorities to be and remain successful at home ...and at work.

If we don't respond with dedication and respect the discipline it takes to maintain both a family and career we will soon find ourselves fighting to prove how much we really love the position we failed to show up for.

Be dedicated to the ones you love, the ones no job, promotion, or seasonal overtime can replace. We all can't be a Scott Nichols, but we certainly can improve on what we did yesterday as a husband, wife , father or mother.

What are you willing to do to be better to those that count the most?

Success comes from finding a way, not an excuse.

I would love to hear what you think. Please share your thoughts by using the comment block.

YOU HAVE TO RISK IT TO GET IT !

I have been in the military for over 20 years. The comfort of knowing you will always get paid on the 1st and 15th of month no matter what is a great security blanket. To know that no matter what you can walk into a military hospital and get taken care of contributes to ones' peace of mind in a way that no tool can measure. Who would want to leave that type of security and comfort?


Many of us have great jobs or are in great relationships that provide security and comfort. However they do not satisfy the hunger or desire we have deep within our hearts and minds. Maybe your job pays well but is terribly boring and is far from mentally satisfying. Maybe you're in a relationship with someone where your basic needs are taken care of, but the deep love and passion is not there.


I want the same passion I have in my relationship in my career. That's why I'm pursuing my goals as a Motivational Speaker. Why not? I'm going to be challenged no matter what. Why not be challenged while going for my dream? We only live once. So I'm going to risk what is comfortable and predictable to have a chance at living life to the fullest.


I'm not going to wait for cancer or old age to have a bucket list. I'm going to live this life like it was meant to be lived.


What is it that one thing you want to do ?


Where do want to go?


What would make you feel like you are living life?


Your job can not give you what you are not willing to give yourself. Just because things are predicable doesn't mean they're fulfilling.  The choice to have a life that will fulfill that desire in your heart and mind requires you to risk the predicable, or dependable and step out of your comfort zone.

Transitioning To a New Career Can be Scary !!

 After 20 plus years in the military I am transitioning to the civilian sector. The military has been enjoyable, but now its time to follow my dreams and pursue my passion. In addition, how can I be a motivational speaker who niche is following your purpose and disabling your excuses if I'm not doing the same for myself? I have to push forward !


Take action despite the obstacles that are seen, unseen or created by your fears.




I have to be honest the transition I'm going through is challenging. Building different resumes, getting prepared for interviews, waiting for call backs, networking and creating leads can be very time consuming and overwhelming. You are constantly thinking about maintaining your lifestyle and getting a job that pays more or at least as much as you earn now. If you have a family you're constantly thinking about everyone depending on you and all the obligations you have. The list goes on and on.


Please keep in mind that when you do not get the job it is not always because you're not qualified or wouldn't be a great fit with the company and personnel. Have you every thought that you represented yourself so well at an interview that you were seen as a threat ?  Many times people on interview boards will not recommend hiring someone they believe is a threat to their position, or would take away the limelight they currently have in the office.


Think about it....


I want to hear your thoughts.



Don't stop going after your goals. It's going to be challenging along the way. I'm going through it right now. Many of you are going through it too. We WILL make it, and be VICTORIOUS. Let's get through this together. Feel free to share your thoughts.






Luke Wright

GETTING THE CHANGE YOU WANT IN LIFE

What have you done lately to improve yourself?  Have you taken a class? Changed your mindset?  Changed your circle of friends ? Improved your diet ? Changed your spending habits? Have you changed your routine or habits in anyway?


Too many people want their environment and life to change, but aren't doing anything to change themselves. If you want things to change in life the change starts with you. Right now you are probably blaming your job, blaming your spouse or family for something. No matter who created the problem you have the potential to change the situation, and create an opportunity for yourself.


How much longer will stay bitter, constantly talking about what's going wrong, who is to blame and how bad things are?
Free yourself and change your situation. I challenge you to focus on a solution that you can take to positively change your situation. It won't be easy. It won't be comfortable, but it will be EMPOWERING !!!


Make a move today to make your life better. You possess everything that it takes to achieve and live the life you truly want for yourself !!


Luke Wright


Coaching for the life you want, not the one your excuses have elected.

THEIR OPINION VS YOUR HAPPINESS

Too often in life we switch from trying to make ourselves happy to trying to please others and satisfying their opinion of us. Sometimes it’s our parents, employers, religious leaders or the "Jone's". It doesn't matter if you are keeping up with the Jone's, or you are trying to impress strangers. When your aim is to satisfy the opinion of others you will often miss hitting the target of your happiness. So many of us focus so much on what others think of us, that we end up spending our time trying to satisfy someone else's opinion of us. In turn we end up learning to be satisfied with something less than happy in order to receive the praises, accolades, thumbs up, or perceived approval from someone.

What pleases someone changes from moment to moment. What pleased them last week, doesn't please them this week. What pleased them yesterday, doesn't please them today, and what pleased just a moment ago doesn't please them now. If the mind of the individual is so fickle, then it is even more difficult to please them than ourselves. Sometimes it’s even difficult to please ourselves, and we know ourselves best. Think how much more challenging it is to do the investigative, guessing and analytical work to find out what pleases someone else. Someone else's opinion, perspective, and/or thought is a moving target. When you are chasing that target you have no time to aim for your happiness. You are less likely to hit the target if you aren't aiming for it. Aim for your happiness, and improve your chases of being happy.

You were born to pursue your happiness, experience joy, smile, face challenges, difficulties, and overcome obstacles on the way to your goal that will build your character. Your emotions weren't built to dodge in and out of the traffic of insults, put downs, criticisms and let downs in order to please the opinion waiting on the other side of the road. Although your emotions can sustain such punishment that's not their purpose.

Do yourself a favor and give yourself the freedom you have been longing for. Detach yourself from having to please so many people's opinion. People will talk about you now, later, to your face, behind your back, in a text, in a verbal conversation, to your friends, with your enemy, when you are alive, and certainly when you're dead. You can’t stop people from talking.

Aim for your happiness, and you're more likely to hit it. There are people that you have to or end up pleasing in life for valid reasons. However you should not let what others think of you rule your world. Don't be so disappointed that everyone or most people aren't satisfied with your decisions. You can never please everybody, even if you are making peace and spreading love.

If seeing you happy pursuing and achieving your goal based on integrity, self -improvement, and raising the quality of your life doesn't bring joy to them then they aren't really concerned about your happiness. They are more concerned about making what they want happen….and this may not include your happiness.

Stand tall, be brave and aim for your happiness, even when it doesn’t come with the approval and welcoming opinions of everyone you would like to please.