Yearly Archives: 2016

What’s the Difference Between Stress & Fear?

Today I want to talk about fear; the kind of fear that threatens to shut down your business or your career. I’ve talked to you about my being a serial entrepreneur and how some of my ventures failed miserably while others turned out to be very successful. My friends tell me I’m a guy who is fearless about making decisions. That may be what it looks like but I have a system for squashing fear and I’ll describe how you can make that system work for you too!

How to Stop Driving Customer Away

This week I want to talk about how easy it is to disconnect from the people who keep your company alive. Look, I know you have demands coming at you from all sides because, as leaders, we’re expected to drive growth, manage people, and cut costs. If revenue is lagging or costs are escalating, we call a meeting and strategize, we buy industry research, and we hire third-party companies to compile Big Data.

How to Motivate Yourself Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

Today, I want to talk about how to motivate your team…even when you don’t feel like it. You’ve heard the cliché “it’s lonely it is at The Top.” It’s true. Until you are sitting in the leader’s chair you never realize how isolated it can feel. Truth is though, even top tier leaders need a little motivation and validation – at the same exact time you’re supposed to be leading the troops. So how do you pull that off?

How to Sell More (Of Anything)

Today I want to talk to you about how to sell more…of anything. As you can guess, I have been a part of a lot of sales meetings and the number one question I get is this, “How can we boost our sales?” I have a very simple answer. If you want to sell more, you have to tell a better story. It doesn’t matter if you’re selling automobiles, financial services, or B2B software programs, the top salespeople always have the best value proposition.

How to Pitch Ideas to The Boss

Today’s lesson is this. You have an idea you think will revolutionize your division or propel your company into the Fortune 100. How do you pitch THAT IDEA to the boss? Step 1: Take the time to put your proposal in writing. And be organized. State the problem. State how that problem is currently being solved (or not) and finally, explain why your idea makes sense.

How Can CFP’s Beat the Big Guys?

Today, I want to talk to those of you Certified Financial Planners about what you can do to differentiate yourself from the so-called bigger firms. First of all, it may shock you to know that in most industries, BIG fears SMALL. It’s sounds counter-intuitive but if you operate a smaller office, in a local community, you have an enormous advantage. You are a name, and a face, and have a place of business in your community.

Do You Want to Be a Relevant Leader?

I created the Relevant Leader’s Club is to keep you relevant, as a leader. Being relevant is very different from just being current. Current is being aware that your business is changing…but being relevant is making sure that you matter to your team and your customers. If you don’t matter they will leave you and nobody will care. Staying relevant (as a leader) is where I know we can have some fun.

Behave Like a Startup

Behave Like a Startup By leadership author and keynote speaker Ross Shafer Has Your Company Felt Complacency Creeping in? When your company first launched, did you shake the world with something new and groundbreaking? Were you the unlikely underdog that unseated the industry leaders? Over time, have you had so much success that you’ve slowly…