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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Category Archives: Tips for Improving Interactions

September 16, 2015 Lessons from my Mom’s Birthday Party

With my mom on the train

With my mom on the train

This past summer was my mom’s 85th birthday. It was a special day—full of sunshine, smiles, and delicious food—but the most amazing thing of all is that a whopping 100 people showed up, only a handful of whom were family members. That’s pretty incredible for anyone, let alone an 85 year old, but it makes perfect sense for my mom. She’s an amazing person and I’ve learned many valuable life lessons from her. As I sat back and enjoyed the birthday party, I thought about the qualities my mom has that encouraged 100 friends to get together to celebrate in her honor:

  1. She is an optimist

I know plenty of people my mom’s age who like to complain or gripe about their ailments. Not my mom. She’d rather talk about the sunny weather or family or the latest party she attended. That kind of optimism also leads her to try new things (new foods, new experiences, etc.). She believes that the outcome will be good, no matter the situation.

  1. She is a problem solver

After my Dad passed away my Mom did not want to stay in Florida for Thanksgiving and my other siblings (all in PA) had traditions established.  So, since then she has made the trip to MN to share this holiday with us. This year, however, our son and his wife wanted us all to come out to Montana to spend Thanksgiving there. When I told my mom the news, she didn’t skip a beat…”Great, when do we leave,” is usually the response I can count on.  This year we are going to Oregon to spend the holiday with our youngest son–another adventure she did not flinch at.

  1. She’s active

Even though she’s not as young as she used to be, my mom still keeps active and energized. She often hosts dinner parties (something even young people can find exhausting!) and loves to go out and socialize with friends. She’s great at keeping in touch with people and enjoys going out and about with her many acquaintances.

  1. She cares about others

My mom still volunteers in her community. She finds it important to lend a helping hand to others. And she’s not afraid to reach out and ask if someone needs something. That kind of generosity has led her to be well-respected and loved in her community.

We can all learn a lot from the optimistic, big-hearted way my mom leads her life. Do you want 100 friends to show up at your 85th birthday party? If so, start making positive changes in your life today. If you need some guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact me today.

With my mom and sister

With my mom and sister

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, LICENSED INSIGHTS DISCOVERY PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM

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August 26, 2015 The Road Trip (Stretching Outside Your Box)

I am very fortunate to have a family beach house in Delaware and try to spend some time there each summer.  This year I was able to navigate three weeks at the beach, which has never happened before.  That was my stretch…both managing before I left to have everything in order and then slowing down while I was there to really appreciate the ocean, the smells, the sounds, the food, and sand in my shoes.
This year my husband found it necessary to fly back to Minnesota early and I was facing the long drive back alone. While in a conversation with a college friend, we both expressed disappointment that we were not going to see each other this summer. I mentioned the long drive back and then, it struck me! Her company on this trip would be awesome and a great way to catch up.  I posed the question, “Want to go on a road trip?”  Her response, “I’ve never been on a road trip but it sounds like a great adventure. I’m in!”
The trip went faster than it ever had, 1,100 miles of talking, laughing, sharing, questioning and comparing.  It was great.  She had never been to Minnesota, (good thing this trip was in August!) so it was fun to show her the place I call home. She stayed one additional day and then flew home.  I received a text from her when she landed in Baltimore: “That was fun, where are we going next?!”

The moral of the story: It’s healthy and beneficial to stretch outside your comfort zone, whether that means talking to a stranger on the sidewalk, applying for your dream job, or writing a book. Look for opportunities to learn, grow, and reach for those stars. You’ll be happy you did.

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August 19, 2015 The Elevator Pitch is Out!

For years, we’ve been taught to hone our elevator pitches—those thirty-second sound bites about ourselves that are theoretically meant to engage a complete stranger. The problem? The typical elevator pitch usually comes across as canned and overly-salesy. The eyes glaze over, the listener makes any excuse they can to get away. You might manage to shove a business card into your listener’s hand before they dash away…

It’s not surprising that this kind of approach doesn’t work. But, what does?

According to international sales speaker Kim Duke, you should ditch the traditional elevator pitch in favor of storytelling. Tell a little something about yourself in story form. Make it interesting and unique.

What should your story involve? According to Kim Duke:

  • PEOPLE. You’re not talking about gadgets and services – you’re talking about people. It is conversational, interesting to listen to.
  • CURIOSITY. You lead with something that captures their attention – something that they are struggling with.
  • DON’T SOUND CANNED. There’s a difference between being passionate or being an actress. If you’re too dramatic, or too flat – people TUNE YOU OUT both ways! Practice your introduction but don’t sound like a robot.
  • GET TO THE POINT. What is your claim to fame? This is where you can include a little Zip (e.g. My clients on average increase their sales by 50% or more.)
  • CALL TO ACTION. People should feel inspired to want more, learn more, go to your website, ask for your card…make them think!

And don’t forget to LISTEN to what others have to say. A good listening ear can go a long way.

Remember to always be your authentic self when telling your story. Don’t stretch the truth or just “tell ’em what they want to hear.” Lay out your story and practice it in the mirror or with a friend. That way, you’ll feel more natural when the time comes to actually talk to a potential client. Above all, be yourself!

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