Coaching for amazing results

Success requires balanced positivity

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What do you think?

One business man wanted a divorce. Why? His wife asked good business questions about a new venture he wanted to try. But, she wouldn’t agree because he was unable to answer the financial questions in a way that worked for her. He accused her of being negative and unsupportive.

What do you think? Was she negative and unsupportive? Or, being realistic looking for answers?

Being positive has its value. Being a Pollyanna (believing everything is great, even when it isn’t) and not realistically addressing the details can decimate a business, an idea or partnership. It’s important to understand success requires balanced positivity.

Many business leaders have had similar challenges with their executive teams and Board of Directors.

These (overly) enthusiastic leaders were:

  • – Thinking something will work out simply because they said so — not a viable business strategy.
  • – Believing a client, business partner or investor should readily want to provide time and/or money without a viable plan, sound financial projections and the right people — not good business acumen.
  • – Visualizing only a great outcome, forgetting the success or failure is in the details – not good business management.

Many skeptics have saved companies millions of dollars by asking financial, sales, operational, and people related questions about their projects or programs. These questions include the how, what, when, where and why of releasing new technology, launching new vehicles, issuing new procedures or publishing new works of art.  While cynics are not always right, there are lessons to be learned from them.  And, if you’re unable or unwilling to address these questions realistically, you better proceed with extreme caution.

Profitable outcomes require balanced positivity:

  • – Positive vision of what you (or your team) would like the end result to look like.
  • – Declaration of the intended result, in writing (aka goal).
  • – Written focused action plan.
  • – Ensure others’ concerns are addressed and appropriate actions taken.
  • – Value other’s contributions.
  • – Stay unattached to how the process should look.

It takes a strong leader to encourage these types of inquiries and a well-rounded team of committed people to work together to answer them. These questions can make a significant difference in balancing positivity with an intended outcome, saving you innumerable dollars, time and energy.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

©Jeannette L. Seibly, 2015

Are Your Superstars Getting You Down?

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As a boss, it’s challenging to manage high performers. Most of these superstars know they know their stuff and can produce more than 3x that of other employees. Since they believe others are less knowledgeable and less capable than they are, it sometimes taxes them to listen to others. Even their boss!

If they’re causing you sleepless nights, most likely you aren’t the only one. As their boss, it’s up to you to manage them and their egos, to keep them engaged and growing with your company.

Depth and breadth of experience. We falsely believe that if a top producer does well in one area, s/he will do superbly in other areas, too. Provide them with challenges — not to be confused with busy work, which they are quick to spot and resent. Assign them as a team member in different groups to develop new systems and products. Also, encourage their membership in trade and other professional groups to expand their awareness of industry challenges.

Fail forward. Superstars hate failure and need to learn these inevitable and invaluable lessons. Start by having them assess what worked and didn’t work on a project. This will build insights for future ventures.

Expect good people skills. We often overlook our superstars’ interpersonal skills, even when we see others running from them. When we step into a dispute to resolve it for them, it creates more animosity between the superstar and their co-workers (or clients). Instead, expect them to work it out themselves and learn how to work with and through others to get the job done.

Coaching is essential. Every successful star, in every professional pursuit, has a coach.Provide your top talent an internal mentor and external coach to help them develop their business acumen. Use qualified assessments to help them broaden their skills, particularly in people and project management by including a 360-degree feedback system.

Money is NOT a motivator. While your top producers may demand more and more money, higher salaries will not provide the incentives necessary for them to continue to excel, or stay. Find other ways of compensating them based upon results (e.g., perks, vacations, gift certificates, etc.).

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

©Jeannette Seibly, 2010-2015

Are You Ready for New Business?

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Many small business owners focus on making money and paying bills. But, they fail to plan for and build systems to take on new clients. Then, to compound matters, they typically fail to hire the right people to manage all the new business.

What is your capacity to handle new clients without reducing the quality, price and service you deliver?

Start now for tomorrow’s success. As entrepreneurs, we believe we can automatically handle an increase in sales volume. It’s what we and our investors want! However, unplanned, rapid growth can send any business into financial ruin. Remember, customers have little patience for your trial and error. Start now to create effective systems to handle new business.

Hire the right people. As one client said, “The most expensive cost is the interval between when I realize an employee needs to go, and when I actually make it happen.” Hire slowly and fire quickly. Why? People who fit their job responsibilities are more productive, build sustainable work processes, and enjoy job satisfaction. They keep your clients coming back. Research confirms it — companies and employees and clients all benefit! (Develop your strategic hiring system today: BizSavvyHire.com)

Work smarter, not harder.  Are your systems set-up for the convenience of your employees? Or, for the convenience of your customers? Win-win outcomes require both! Working smarter requires asking both before making changes!

  • Listen to their opinions: What works for them? What doesn’t work for them?
  • Allow them to clarify before asking: What else can we do to help you grow?

Your attitude makes a difference. A wise entrepreneur once said, “When you think you have it all handled, you’ve set yourself up for failure.” Denial may work temporarily; however, when you’ve lost a large customer, it’s time to face facts. You have a learning opportunity to keep the ones you have. Ongoing training is critical for your employees in product, technology, sales, pricing and operations. It builds cohesive, knowledgeable teams – and keeps customers coming back. Don’t forget management coaching for you and your executive team. Ongoing training and coaching should be the last areas you slash as cost-saving measures!

Company growth requires keeping your eye on managing the metrics and empowering employees to manage the details successfully.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

©Jeannette L. Seibly, 2015

Do you want positive results? Delegate!

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Do you talk to yourself saying over and over, “I shouldn’t have to do this!”

There will always be job duties or activities that must be accomplished to run your business successfully. If these hated tasks constitute more than 20% of your job, you need to learn the art of delegation.

Truly successful people learn how to get the detested job activities over and done with minimal stress. They are good at delegating to others who are competent to do them. (Yes, there are people who actually enjoy doing the work you despise doing!)

Whether you like it or not, there are certain business practices and standards that must be adhered to, no excuses. Failure to follow your own business policies and practices can provide irreversible consequences, both personally and professionally. Customers, employees, the IRS, a judge or plaintiff attorney are not interested in excuses; they do not care “why.”

Reframe. When there is something you hate doing, create a new attitude or visual picture. For example, if you work in retail and hate it when people walk in the door, reframe it and see people walking in the door as “new money.” Or, if you hate working with accounting details, see QuickBooks as your pathway to a million-dollar success.

Be selective when saying “Yes.” Freeing up your time to say “yes” to legitimate requests from your customers, vendors, Board of Directors, or business partners will bring more job satisfaction when you know the hated, yet necessary, details are being taken care of.

For example:

  • If there is a legal issue, give it to the attorney.
  • If you have an accounts issue, delegate it to your customer service rep.
  • If you have a sales person who won’t return calls, replace them!

Create your future. As the business owner or executive, you built the current business model, consciously and unconsciously. Even though it may have worked well at one time, if it no longer meets your business goals, it’s time to strategically create a new future. Hire a strategic business coach to breakthrough to a new level of satisfaction and success.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

©Jeannette L. Seibly, 2010-2015

Are You a FaultFinder?

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5 ways to transform your leadership

  • Do you normally find fault with what other people do?
  • Do you believe your way is the only right way?
  • Do you fail to praise and rebuke openly?
  • Do you lose more employees than you are able to attract?
  • Do you have a difficult time leading high functioning teams?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be a faultfinder; and, be seen as an ineffective leader others do not want to follow. Your attitude and behavior can make it difficult for others to work with you and nearly impossible to learn from you.

It’s 2015 and time to transform into being an inspiring leader.

Look for opportunities to praise. When we acknowledge others for a job well done, even if it’s a small step or contribution, we will attract more of the same.

Be open to hearing others’ ideas. Your success, and your team’s success, is dependent upon generating innovative ideas and executing them. Remember, not all ideas will provide a profitable return on investment. It’s important to consider ideas that may initially seem off-the-wall, or even inappropriate; and acknowledge those contributions in a positive manner. Your openness will encourage everyone to stretch their thinking and improve their skills. It allows everyone to feel safe expressing themselves.

Learn from mistakes. You and your employees will inevitably make mistakes when learning a new task, taking on a new project, or working with new clients. Keep in mind, every mistake can be turned into a learning opportunity.

Make 2-2-2 your paradigm. Acknowledge two positive things they have done well. Then, share very specific areas for improvement, but, no more than two. Then, wrap-up with two more positives they have done well. This makes feedback easier to give and receive!

Hire a coach. It’s important for your own career and business development that you learn how-to effectively work with and through people to get the job done. Faultfinding is not an effective management style, transforming it produces win/win results on a regular basis.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

©Jeannette Seibly, 2010-2015

Why are some people lucky?

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“Most people live and die with their music still unplayed. They never dare to try.” Mary Kay Ash

You have goals, dreams, desires and wishes. People who write these down, create action plans and execute their plans are the ones more likely to achieve the results. It’s not luck – it’s not trying; it’s creating, taking focused action and enjoying the results.

The secret for helping you achieve your goals is to write down three must-have’s. For example, if you want a new job, what must the job offer? It could be an increase in pay, certain benefits, job responsibilities, etc. If you want a new home, what must the home possess? Does it need to be located in a certain school district, have hardwood floors, or be a ranch-style home?  These must-have’s will clarify and support your goals.

Next, share your goals with others and refine them as appropriate (for example, the right home may not have hardwood floors and you can have them installed after you buy the home). Don’t be concerned if others don’t readily jump on board to support you. Watching you achieve your goals may cause them to remember their own and realize how far away they are from achieving them. Luck is creating and fulfilling your own opportunities and is available for everyone who gets in action.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

Are You A “Pre-Millionaire”?

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By Russell Riendeau, PhD and Jeannette Seibly

If you have no interest in becoming a millionaire, you can stop reading now. Continuing to read will make you uncomfortable. This is for business owners, executives, entrepreneurs and all people that want to influence change and secure a more vibrant financial life.

Have you been thinking about money lately? Do you talk about this topic with friends or family? How old are you? When were you planning to start preparing to become a millionaire? Do you have plans in place? Is your work and other life desires in alignment with who you are?

To qualify as a millionaire, means you have a net worth of at least a million dollars. Add up all the cash on hand, 401(K), Swiss bank accounts, mattress money, value of paid off cars, boats, planes, Harleys, big toys, equity in your home, resort property, cash value life insurance—the whole enchilada. Now, minus all your mortgages, car payments, credit card debit, school loans, loans to your brother-in-law, loans from your parents, bookies, timeshares at Disney, etc. If you are in the black by a million dollars—welcome to the Millionaires Club!

Every year, there are more millionaires being created than ever before. And not from inherited, “old money” or “East Coast Money” but money from smart work, patient investing, and pursuit of work that aligns with their real skills and goals in life. “Pursuit of a worthy goal,” Earl Nightingale once said, “was the most critical part of setting life goals.” You can dream or pursue a big goal, but if it’s not a worthy goal, if it doesn’t get you excited each day, the efforts required to support this financial objective will leave you exhausted.

Research shows:

  • Pre-millionaires are the kind of professionals that are aware of how to leverage money, how to protect themselves against excess debt for too long of a period of time. They learn and practice this art at age 19 and keep learning. (Remember, it’s never too late to get started, if the time is now!)
  • Pre-millionaires work smart, then hard. Simply working hard is not going to cut it today. We all know hard workers with no money in the bank. The smart ones hire coaches for themselves and don’t rely upon their employers to get ahead.
  • Pre-millionaires study and understand “delayed gratification” and why the pursuit of a goal carries simple and complex sacrifices that some people are not courageous or confident enough to stay true to. They have guts to do the right things now.
  • Pre-millionaires are fully aware of what kind of person they can and will become by devoting themselves to a worthy goal. These goals often include helping and supporting a worthy cause that is of service to others.
  • Pre-millionaires understand the time-value of money, compound averaging and disciplined savings. They understand it takes time for money to expand and for skills and patience to be learned. It can take 10, 20, 40 years to become a millionaire. It all depends on their work ethic, honesty with themselves, ability to be coach-able and the willingness to do it now.

What does a million of dollars of net worth create for you? A freedom to pursue other life interests, build a business, launch a special project, or simply become a beach bum – along with leverage, confidence and time to consider other life options. Money in the bank gives you choices that others don’t have. It takes courage to save money in a world that seduces you to spend, spend, and spend more than you have.

As you move forward in your career, in your business, in your on-going personal and professional development, here are a few things to constantly keep in mind if you want to accelerate yourself from Pre to Post-Millionaire status:

What’s your net worth today? Be honest with yourself and your analysis of your equity and savings to give you an accurate starting point.

  1. What day will you become a millionaire? Given your current income levels and your net worth, how many years will it take? Do the math now on your phone. Don’t despair if you’re over 45, you will simply need to accelerate the effort.
  2. What is your reason to become a millionaire? Do you have specific, worthy goals and motives to work smart and hard to achieve this status? Or, is it an inner desire and dream to live the “good life?”
  3. What will the money provide you? What will you do with the money? Are these in alignment with your inner values? If not, the conflict will win.
  4. What steps are required in your life starting now? Education? Self-awareness? Better job? Better vocabulary? Do you need to associate yourself with a different crowd of professionals you can learn from?
  5. Is your close circle of friends helping or hindering your goals of achieving wealth? Do they mock or ridicule you for setting high goals? Do they support you during failures as well as successes?
  6. Is your spouse or significant other in accord with your goals? If not, there will be trouble from day one.
  7. What skills will you need to acquire to earn the money you need to become a millionaire? What are the common traits you see in other wealthy people you know that you can emulate and transform to support you? Mimicking others will not get you ahead without clarity of who you are.
  8. What will you do if you don’t achieve your millionaire status in the time frame you set for yourself?
  9. What structures have you setup for yourself? Discipline is key. So is setting goals, saving money and learning how to be resourceful to get what you need and want.

To best utilize this article, write out your answers to every question in this piece. (Studies have shown that writing engages the brain, which engages the rest of you!) Make a copy and keep it where you will see it every day. If you do this, you will be in the top 1% of people who will commit to achieving their goals. Very likely, your first million dollars! Without a written goal and a good reason, you will be tempted and your energy will become scattered chasing shiny distractions that promise value, but don’t deliver on their promise.

About the authors:

Dr. Russ Riendeau is senior partner of East Wing Group, Inc. – a search firm specializing in management, marketing and sales executives. He’s a psychologist and author of 7 books on talent management and success in business. Dr. Riendeau has also taught at Northwestern University’s School of Continuing Studies and speaks nationally on peak performance. He can be reached at 847-381-0977 or russriendeau@gmail.com.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years, and is a published author. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? She can be reached at http://SeibCo.com/contact to talk about what it will take for you to become a successful business owner, executive or entrepreneur.

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What does it take to become a courageous leader?

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    1. Break outside the constraints of how it’s been traditionally done – required to achieve amazing results.
    2. Build on everyone’s ideas — listen and listen some more.
    3. Provide unbeatable service to internal and external customers — each time.
    4. Express your thoughts and feelings responsibly — apologies work wonders.
    5. Manage your ethics and integrity – the impact can last forever.
    6. Oversee your projects for the human experience — not just the product creation and execution.
    7. Enjoy gratitude for everything and everyone – regardless of the circumstances.
    8. Being respected usually outlasts likeability — people’s feelings can be fickle.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

What Do You Allow to Stop You?

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You have goals, dreams, desires and wishes. Too often, you allow fears, doubts, lack of self-worth, and other circumstances to stop you! They get in the way of your commitments. You find excuses for not moving forward. Some people create black and white expectations of what must happen first. There are times these demands work, but usually they get in the way of seeing new ways to pursue your future. As a result, you are usually left feeling limited and your real potential is not fully realized.

What is stopping you from taking action? Take a few minutes. Create a list of your top five fears and write down the reasons why they are fears.

You could have the:

  • Desire for a promotion and your fear is leaving your current employer.
  • Goal to earn more money and you doubt your ability to find a better job.
  • Dream to live in a particular geographical area and you’ve never been there for fear of moving.

The challenge for many of you is that you are waiting until your children get older, or you no longer have to be a caregiver for others. So you use them as the excuse to not take action.

Regardless of the seemingly valid reason, create your list. Now, turn it around! What are the top five reasons it could work! Then, list ideas to bridge the gaps between now and achieving your results. Talk them over with a committed coach, friend or acquaintance to see where you are making it harder than it needs to be.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

Why wait? Do It Now!

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Goals, dreams, desires and wishes. We all have them. They could be related to business, professional, personal, financial, spiritual, etc. Yet, we love to wait, talk about it and think some more before we do anything. Many times, after years of contemplating, we talk ourselves out of it!

Recently a friend let me know she had bought a RV. She’s in her 50’s and has wanted to travel for many years – however, her husband doesn’t like leaving home. Then, she shared with me her progress: the places she had scheduled to visit, notification to her employer of her last day and letting her husband know of her plans. She was excited and nervous. She would be travelling solo; however, she would continue the part-time retail business she had created during the past couple of years to earn money while on the road!

It reminded me of a time when my mother wanted to go to Hawaii. My dad didn’t. So, my mother finally purchased tickets for herself and a good friend. They went and had a great time. My dad never let my mother travel again without him!

We all have dreams that have been percolating for a long time. It took me years before I finally decided to move to Colorado from Michigan – I had been talking about it for years – I had setup my business so I could live anywhere – yet, it took time before I finally said, “yes.” I remember driving down Highway 69 and still contemplating turning around!  However, after I arrived, I noticed an inner confidence that naturally developed after making the move – it boded well for achieving my next set of goals.

So, whatever it is you’re thinking about doing … do it now!

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact