Three weeks ago I was awakened out of my sleep by my phone alarm, telling me that I had an email message. Half-awake, I opened the message to find a flight confirmation email from Southwest Airlines. This must have been a mistake because I certainly did not book a round-trip flight to Florida. After sitting up, turning on the lamp on my bedside table, I noticed there is a message attached from my boss:

“Pack your bags, you are going to Florida. Hope you can find a babysitter. – Gene”

Was this a new employee appreciation program where people are randomly awarded with a vacation package? Nope. It was one better! I was getting the opportunity to attend the @IncEvents conference #GrowCo, in Orlando, Florida!

Perfect! Except, I have never networked for my company before, and certainly not at an Inc Magazine event. Before departing, my boss gave me a few pointers to lead me in the right direction. Below are the 5 things to know when being a beginner networker. (more…)

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Sparking Creativity in the Workplace

Officer Chief Star Pop

It starts off with a slow annoyed tap of the foot. A few seconds later, your receptionist has locked herself in the storage closet, your accountant is missing in action, 2 of your project coordinators are missing limbs and stumbling around like zombies, all the while you are struggling to put your intestines back into the gaping hole in your stomach. Mediocrity is a merciless monster that will ravage your office and leave nothing but destruction in its path. Luckily, you have been blessed with the gift of reading and this isn’t your everyday typical “how do I get my employees to be more creative” half assed, cookie cutter, bullshit article. This my friends, is pure gold. If you were to print this out and take it to the bank, the teller would hand you a check with more zeroes than a Google, I mean googol. (more…)

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Chapter 4

Live to Sell vs. Sell to Live

Excerpt from Chapter 2 “Manage Your Environment – Go First Class”
Right then, I made a decision – I vowed I would never allow myself to get caught up amongst individuals who represented mediocrity.

My plan was to always be better today than I was yesterday.

In order to dramatically increase my knowledge, I knew I must only learn from successful individuals – nothing less.

“Manage your environment. Learn from the best. ALWAYS GO FIRST CLASS!”

The vast majority of people I associate with in the business world, both past present, all tend to possess the same philosophy.

Money is not ultimately what motivates us – Winning is!

A favorite read of mine ‘Psycho-Cybernetics’ by Maxwell Maltz MD, conveys this message unequivocally;

”What you succeed in is not as important as the feeling of success which attended it”

Ding! Personally, the money has always been an afterthought, an added bonus. The gravy on top of the accomplishment of success! It’s that winning feeling that contributes to the driving force required in life’s challenges. And oh boy – it’s worth the battle! (more…)

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