We celebrated my birthday this week. Yep. 39 again.
Our friend Joe Tingen offers this reminder. We were all young once. Remember your "salad days"? Remember those times of "youthful indiscretion"? "The good old days" or our "heydays"? Joe says youth, like a good salad, is fresh and green.
I certainly was fresh. Got me in a lot of trouble. It also made life more interesting.
As spring heads to summer, here's a salad for you. Fresh and green, like our misspent youth.
Tri-Color Rotini Salad (for 4)
1 pkg tri-color rotini pasta
6 oz feta cheese crumbled
8 cherry tomatoes halved
1 red pepper seeded & chopped
1 green pepper seeded & chopped
3 large cloves garlic crushed
8 sliced stuffed olives
8 sliced ripe olives
4 cups mixed salad greens
1 loaf hot, sliced Italian bread
1 bottle of your favorite white wine
Dressing
3 tbs balsamic vinegar
6 tbs olive oil
2 tsp dried Italian herbs
1/4 tsp each salt & pepper
Chill white wine. Cook pasta by package directions and drain. Mix dressing thoroughly and in a large bowl toss all ingredients with dressing except salad greens. Cover and refrigerate two hours.
To serve, nest greens on serving platters and top with marinated ingredients. Serve with hot bread. Open chilled white wine. Enjoy.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
The language of leadership
Ever tried to learn to speak another language?
How difficult was it to pronounce those foreign words?
Leadership has its own language, too.
Here’s a lesson in the language of leadership:
"Lead people — manage things."
Four simple words. Powerful message.
Leaders concentrate on doing the "right" things.
Managers work on doing things the "right" way.
Both skills are necessary for success.
Years ago, a talented sales manager worked with us.
Once, I marked ads in a competitor’s newspaper with a note:
"Why didn’t we get these ads, Bert?"
Bert didn’t get angry or defensive.
All he said was, "I feel like you’re trying to manage me."
It wasn’t a compliment.
Bert taught me an important lesson that day.
Leaders say, "Let’s do it together".
Not "You go do it and report back to me."
It’s powerful when a leader says "Let’s do it together".
Similar lessons are in my book:
"Lead People, Manage Things".
It’s at http://www.jerrybellune.com/books.htm
How difficult was it to pronounce those foreign words?
Leadership has its own language, too.
Here’s a lesson in the language of leadership:
"Lead people — manage things."
Four simple words. Powerful message.
Leaders concentrate on doing the "right" things.
Managers work on doing things the "right" way.
Both skills are necessary for success.
Years ago, a talented sales manager worked with us.
Once, I marked ads in a competitor’s newspaper with a note:
"Why didn’t we get these ads, Bert?"
Bert didn’t get angry or defensive.
All he said was, "I feel like you’re trying to manage me."
It wasn’t a compliment.
Bert taught me an important lesson that day.
Leaders say, "Let’s do it together".
Not "You go do it and report back to me."
It’s powerful when a leader says "Let’s do it together".
Similar lessons are in my book:
"Lead People, Manage Things".
It’s at http://www.jerrybellune.com/books.htm
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sales & Marketing: Sell the dream
What do stylists, fashion retailers and dentists sell?
Self confidence. Self esteem. An improved "you".
What do realtors, builders and developers sell?
Your family sanctuary. The home of your dreams.
What do lawyers, cops and insurance agents sell?
Safety. Security. Protection for your family.
What do ad agencies, marketers and the media sell?
More business. Expanded sales. Revenue growth.
Living a comfortable and secure life.
Dream vacations. A house at the beach.
The best camps and schools for your kids.
Not having to ask the price of anything ever again.
Congratulations on choosing your career.
You help people realize their dreams.
Remember that as you craft your sales messages.
Sell the dream. And feel good about it.
Want a copy of my daily sales worksheet?
Write me at Jerry@JerryBellune.com
Please put "Sales worksheet" in the subject line.
You'll quickly see a difference in your sales.
Self confidence. Self esteem. An improved "you".
What do realtors, builders and developers sell?
Your family sanctuary. The home of your dreams.
What do lawyers, cops and insurance agents sell?
Safety. Security. Protection for your family.
What do ad agencies, marketers and the media sell?
More business. Expanded sales. Revenue growth.
Living a comfortable and secure life.
Dream vacations. A house at the beach.
The best camps and schools for your kids.
Not having to ask the price of anything ever again.
Congratulations on choosing your career.
You help people realize their dreams.
Remember that as you craft your sales messages.
Sell the dream. And feel good about it.
Want a copy of my daily sales worksheet?
Write me at Jerry@JerryBellune.com
Please put "Sales worksheet" in the subject line.
You'll quickly see a difference in your sales.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Success Strategy: Play to win
You can’t improve what you don’t measure.
How else do you know if you achieved your goals?
Would you play a game whose rules are unclear?
You can’t win unless you know how points are scored.
Are you playing to win this year?
You say you are. Then try this.
1. List four major objectives to achieve this year.
That’s only one per quarter. You can do that.
2. Break the first quarter objective into action steps.
3. Assign a deadline to each action step.
4. Do the same with your other three objectives.
5. Post a copy of this list where you’ll see it every day.
6. Check off the steps as you accomplish them.
For more Playing to Win strategies, go to
http://www.jerrybellune.com/success-strategies.htm
Scroll down to #46, "Playing to Win".
For questions, write me at Jerry@JerryBellune.com
How else do you know if you achieved your goals?
Would you play a game whose rules are unclear?
You can’t win unless you know how points are scored.
Are you playing to win this year?
You say you are. Then try this.
1. List four major objectives to achieve this year.
That’s only one per quarter. You can do that.
2. Break the first quarter objective into action steps.
3. Assign a deadline to each action step.
4. Do the same with your other three objectives.
5. Post a copy of this list where you’ll see it every day.
6. Check off the steps as you accomplish them.
For more Playing to Win strategies, go to
http://www.jerrybellune.com/success-strategies.htm
Scroll down to #46, "Playing to Win".
For questions, write me at Jerry@JerryBellune.com
Monday, April 28, 2008
Tip of the Week: Track Customer Loyalty
Every business needs loyal customers.
Even funeral home directors.
Technology makes it possible to track customer loyalty.
Restaurant owners provide loyalty punch cards.
Retailers provide computer swipe cards.
Or they use software to track credit card buyers.
Check your professional association.
How do others in your industry track customer loyalty.
There's no need to reinvent the ax.
You must know where your business comes from.
Who your customers are. What they are buying.
All this will influence your marketing decisions.
How, what and to whom you market.
For questions, contact me at Jerry@JerryBellune.com
For more, see our “Doing More With Less” workbook.
It's at http://www.jerrybellune.com/books.htm
Tomorrow: Play to win.
Even funeral home directors.
Technology makes it possible to track customer loyalty.
Restaurant owners provide loyalty punch cards.
Retailers provide computer swipe cards.
Or they use software to track credit card buyers.
Check your professional association.
How do others in your industry track customer loyalty.
There's no need to reinvent the ax.
You must know where your business comes from.
Who your customers are. What they are buying.
All this will influence your marketing decisions.
How, what and to whom you market.
For questions, contact me at Jerry@JerryBellune.com
For more, see our “Doing More With Less” workbook.
It's at http://www.jerrybellune.com/books.htm
Tomorrow: Play to win.
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