Planning for Success

Planning saves time and money. Planning points us in the right direction, gives us a roadmap, and puts goals and dreams into a tangible framework of steps. Planning gives us an overall perspective of where we are, where we've been, and where we're going.

December is a great season for planning. Not only is it a time of celebration and reflection, but it is also the season for planning and preparing for the future. In January we turn over the calendar to a new year that stretches in front of us full of promise and potential. In all the busy parties and receptions, fundraisers and family dinners, gift-buying and gift-receiving, and the travails of winter storms, make time to sit down and re-evaluate. This year is drawing to a close - what will next year bring for you?

I extend a personal invitation to all of you to join me for our GrowthCLUB session on December 11. It's a unique session geared towards taking some time to evaluate the state of the union in your business. What is the current financial state of affairs? What will your goals be for next year? By this time next year, what would you like your business to look like? What changes would you like to make to your marketing campaigns and systems? How would you like to build your team toward better collaboration and communication? How would you like to improve your sales and bottom line? Join us for an opportunity to sit down with other business owners and discuss ideas, opportunities, and proven tactics that can change your business for the better.

"If I have an idea and give the idea away it is not gone, but I still have it! This experience does not conform to the arithmetic of things.
Let us examine this experience from the point of view of exchange. If I have an apple and you have an apple and we exchange apples -- then you have an apple and I have an apple. But if I have the idea that the apple is red and you have the idea that the apple is small and we exchange ideas, then you have two ideas and I have two ideas. It is quite obvious, therefore, that the laws governing thoughts or ideas are different from the laws governing things. If I have an idea and give it away, I still have it to give again, and if I give the idea away again and again, I still have the idea left."

--Nicolas T., 19 May 2011

Think in Colour

Science has shown that the left and right sides of our brain deal with different aspects of cognitive function. Our left side is our analytical side - we use this part of our brain in reasoning, rationalizing, and thinking objectively. Our right side is emotional, creative, and impulsive in nature.

As we problem-solve challenges in our lives, both sides of our brain work together to evaluate the situation and think through an appropriate solution. Both sides are also active as we learn - if we stimulate both sides of the brain we are better able to internalize concepts, remember them, and actively pursue appropriate practical implementation.

At my seminars, we dispose of traditional pens containing blue or black ink. Instead, participants are required to use coloured markers to take notes and complete worksheets. This simple modification to the learning process encourages the attentive left side and the visual right side of our minds to engage together and focus as much cognitive energy as possible on the concept being presented. The outcome is sometimes startling; participants have experienced an increased ability to comprehend, retain, and capitalize on the material being mastered. Creative thought combines with factual knowledge of business processes, and lively discussions on a variety of issues in the business world surface. Amazing value is added to these seminars as we apply key principles to real-life situations, and it never fails that every participant leaves with new ideas, new ways of considering challenges, and an increased desire to overcome the obstacles that keep them from achieving their goals in business and in life.

If you are unable to make time for my upcoming events, please take the time to change up your writing utensils. Put the plain pens aside and start thinking in colour. See for yourself how seemingly simple changes can bring about amazing results. 



With Just a 10% Increase ...

Did you know that for every $1 invested in working with an ActionCOACH in Alberta you will receive an average of $6 back in profit for your business? That's our current average, and that's our measurable success with business owners just like you.

Let's take a quick look at how manipulating your business processes can achieve measurable results:

With just a 10% increase ...

Number of Leads	4,000	4,400
x	x	x
Conversion Rate	25%	25%
=	=	=
Customers	1,000	1,210
x	x	x
Number of Transactions	2	2.2
x	x	x
Average $$$ Sale	$100	$110
=	=	=
Revenue	$200,000	$292,820
x	x	x
Profit Margins	25%	25%
=	=	=
PROFIT	$50,000	$80,525.50

Contact David Green with ActionCOACH Lethbridge and find out how you can start improving your bottom line today! For a limited time, Coach David is offering free 90-min strategy sessions - call 403.929.1380 and book your appointment now!

100 Businesses

2012 ...

It's already been an amazing year of change and revitalization!

That wave continues as I announce my goal to coach 100 businesses by the end of 2012. To achieve that end, I'm offering FREE 90-min strategy sessions to businesses in Lethbridge and the surrounding area.

NOW is the time to sit back, take a long look at your business, and figure out what your most pressing issues and concerns are. Think about the challenges you're currently facing, the recurring issues that never seem to be resolved, or the difficulties you will encounter with greater growth and diversification. Write them down, give me a call, and we'll take a good look at where you're at together. I promise you will come away from our session with at least 5 solid strategies to improve and/or grow your business.

Coaching - it's not just for sports! Call me today 403-929-1380 and book your FREE 90-min strategy session. And let's make it the best 90 min you ever spent on your business!

Stop Looking for the Magic Bullet

Stop looking for the magic bullet. While they exist, the odds of you obtaining one are about as good as you winning the lottery. Many people are looking for the same get-rich-quick rocket, and someone will get it just like someone will buy the winning ticket. But there is an easier way to become a millionaire - and it has a much higher success rate. It's the path of daily discipline and consistent effort - just like your grandfather said.

Business owners occasionally come to me with the expectation that I will present to them something resembling a magic bullet - a mysterious strategy that will miraculously turn their business from a downhill-sliding money hole to a mammoth, profit-generating giant. Desperation sometimes causes us to put faith in strange places; but hoping for an instant solution to deep business problems can be as fruitless as seeking your fortune for a $10 sitting fee with a would-be psychic. It may offer some hope in the short-term, but will the long-term effects reflect value in your investment? Even if it was only $10? Was that lottery ticket worth its price?

I sincerely believe that you get what you pay for. In business, that means you will see the fruits of your daily discipline and consistent effort when you ensure that this energy is strategically placed, concisely focussed, and continually reinforced. It's my job as a Business Coach to offer professional advice on how your company can better manipulate the chassis of business to increase profits, improve marketability, strengthen teams, and make the most of your time. I'm here to help you adjust the strategies and practices of your organization, to broaden the mindset of you and your team, and engage in a partnership that will bring success and satisfaction to us both. Your success is my success - and I guarantee results. You will get what you pay for.

Lessons in Leadership from the Military

Are you a risk taker?


Are you a leader?

Can you be one without the other?

Today I read a great article on this topic - I highly recommend you read it too. Generally, society recognizes that when the chips are down, soldiers in the military shoulder an amazing responsibility to stand on the front lines of our country and our freedom. They have, are, and will take risks that most of us will never fully appreciate. But what we can grasp is some insight from their example on how to realize success by facing inherent risk.

Col. Eric G. Kail suggests that there are some lessons from military life that can be carried over to any profession; he outlines them as follows:

First, not everyone is prepared to lead in risky environments. Second, as leaders who are assessing risks, we need to have skin in the game; otherwise we are only pretending to lead. Third, character matters just as much as any knowledge or skills acquired from training and education. 



Flickr photo by abdallah



I couldn't agree more. In my line of work I engage with business owners and teams that are striving to set the standard of excellence in their industry. These are amazing people who are prepared to take risks, who have their hearts set on success, and who have characters that are not only beyond reproach, but set a standard for others to aspire to. They are truly great leaders.

I am grateful every day for the men and women who selflessly built the nation in which I live, and for the those who continue to lead. I will proudly celebrate the national holiday that pays tribute to the greatness of our country - built by the greatness of our people.

Start at the End

Always know the end of a business venture before you begin. Plan for it and don't lose sight of it. While it may seem paradoxical, the end will one day come and you need to know your exit strategy before you step through the door.

Are you planning to build a business that will give you a good living until retirement? Are you planning to build an international enterprise that will not only support your lifestyle, but effectively financially position your children's children? Are you intending to build the business to a certain point, sell it, and move on? How does your venture contribute to your vision of life in ten years, and when will the time come for you to part ways? What will be the key indicators that will signal that the end is near? Knowing how the story ends is key to determining how it will begin and how decisions will be made as the business grows.

If you're thinking about starting a new venture, or diversifying your corporation in new directions, or buying a new enterprise to complement the holdings you already have, take a long look at how you picture the end of the road. I recommend reading Start With Why by Simon Sinek, or Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur by Richard Branson. Make sure you know where you're going, why you're going there, and how you will know when you have arrived. And when the time comes, execute the exit strategy you have always planned.

Something Worth Reading

I think the most important thing I can post this week is a link to something well worth your time to read. This link will take you to another blog that discusses issues surrounding some of my favorite topics, including post-secondary education and employee qualification:

http://blogmaverick.com/2012/05/13/the-coming-meltdown-in-college-education-why-the-economy-wont-get-better-any-time-soon/

If we are looking strategically into the future of our workforce, our children, and our success as businesses and a society, there are some important changes coming that we should be ready to respond to. How will you take action to navigate this wave of fundamental change?

Be the Powerhouse

Monday was a day of anticipation; countless people had spent weeks fretting over whether the 41-year hold of the Progressive Conservative Party over the government of the province of Alberta, Canada would finally be broken. The Wildrose Party had put up an immense battle, and everyone wondered if it would be enough. The pollsters said it was. But in the end, it wasn't - Premier Alison Redford kept her place.

In an interesting editorial in The Montreal Gazette, the following statement appears:

Redford’s victory signals a potential new era in provincial-federal relations. Alberta is the country’s economic powerhouse. Its petro wealth is the motor driving a westward shift in Canada’s population and economic centre of gravity. What happens in Alberta today matters to the rest of the country in a way that wasn’t the case a couple of decades ago.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Editorial+Alberta+election+result+good+news+Canada/6511335/story.html#ixzz1szeWnis5

Is your company a powerhouse within your industry? Do you have the mindset to lead your business as it becomes an "economic centre of gravity?" Have you ever been described as a "moving force?"

Alberta is moving toward a bright future. Hundreds of business owners comprise the economic force that is driving our province and our nation towards sustainable success. Join the many that have taken every advantage to step above the rest - talk to an ActionCOACH Business Coach today.

The Right Tools



Flickr CC image by skistz

No job is going to be easy without the right tools to complete it. In this way, running a business is no different than building a deck. Having all the right pieces is just the first step - being able to strategically place them, have them fit together, and get the most out of them is where a system of business tools comes into play.

The Measuring Tape - Initial Assessments

Some business tools provide initial evaluations and generalizations. For example, are you even ready to become an entrepreneur? A simple test will help you find out. We encourage other assessment mechanisms, such as using our Business Calculators. Initial assessments are key to moving a business forward - if you don't know where you're at, how will you ever know where you're headed?

The Instructions - Educational Resources

Every great business owner has a collection of educational tools that help keep them at the top of their game. It may be a collection of videos, a series of e-books (or a tangible library), membership in a seminar group, or a routine including mental positive reinforcement or consistent reading of newsletters. Whatever the means or the source, every business owner should seek a constant stream of inspiration. Continual growth on the part of the owner means consistent growth on the part of the business. A collection of educational tools is essential.

The Hammer - The Numbers

No matter what industry you're involved in, the numbers for your business provide the most valuable tool of all. Without a bottom line there is nothing to build, improve, adapt or manipulate. If you don't know your numbers and use them to your advantage, you don't know anything at all about your business.

Endless are the tools used by business owners worldwide. Luckily ActionCOACH also spans the globe. ActionCOACH offers the best line of business tools and strategies of any Business Coaching company in the world - the proof is in the results. The strategies that business owners take away from their relationship with ActionCOACH are invaluable. With hundreds of strategies focusing on every aspect of business, from marketing to pricing, from team building to profit margins, ActionCOACH Business Coaches are skilled and experienced in finding the best method for any company to build their bottom line.

Coach David with ActionCOACH Lethbridge brings an amazing background of franchise knowledge and experience to the home playing field of Southern Alberta. Isn't it time that you took advantage of a wealth of proven business systems and strategies?

Don't Accept Mediocrity

“I believe we’re born into greatness, but we’re conditioned into mediocrity.”

            --James Ray

Check out the pic on this page; does it make you think again about accepting something a little less than ideal? Especially of yourself?

If you knew you were born to be something great, why are you choosing to maintain a standard that won't allow you to realize that potential?

As a Business Coach, I inspire my clients to see a grander vision of what their life can be. We work together to ensure that their business is systemized to run without them; they are then free to accomplish all that they want to in life. Their business is no longer their focus; it is the means by which they are able to fulfill their goals and live their dreams.

At ActionCOACH Lethbridge, we believe excellence is the minimum standard. It's the starting point for pushing your business above the crowd and becoming leaders in your chosen industry or field. As we work with you to maximize your business potential, we also work to accomplish our own ActionCOACH vision: world abundance through business re-education. And we mean to achieve just that - not just a living for everyone, but abundance. The world over.

Join the wave of business owners across the world who are transitioning to the bigger picture and a broader vision. Take action by contacting Coach David Green now.