ABCs of 2014: Day 7: Always Be Giving

Today's ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE GIVING. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Giving (the C is silent).

With the holiday season freshly behind us, reminder what was all around during that wonderful time of the year: "it's better to give than to receive."

GIVING does not only apply from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve then tossed aside a little after the Tournament of Roses Parade comes to an end.

Try doing this "Giving is Better Than Receiving" -thing all year long. Seriously, why not turn the Twitter based "30 days of Giving" into a LIFE based 365 DAYS OF GIVING?

GIVE EVERYDAY! It is that simple




If you are short on ideas of what to give, how about just giving some LOVE! After all, Love is All You Need, at least that's what the song says. When it comes to songs, I give John, Paul, George, and Ringo top priority.

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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ABCs of 2014: Day 6: Always Be Foraging

Today's ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE FORAGING. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Foraging (the C is silent).

Never stop having the hunger. Never stop the hunger, the longing, the yearning. No matter what that hunger or yearning is, you cannot stop. Keep searching for the next meal, keep your stockpile of provisions or supplies overflowing. Keep your well full at all times.

I am not just talking about food. I am talking about everything you are working for and doing. By this I mean, if you are in school then keep learning because you can never learn enough. The moment, you stop is the moment you show not only everyone that you know nothing but you show yourself.

Seriously, you can have a Ph.D. and still be the dumbest guy in the room. However, I am hard pressed to find anyone with a Ph.D. who has stopped learning. Why is this? The Ph.D.s that I do know know that to stay at the top of their game they have to keep learning. So why not you? You should always be learning so you can be at the top of your game.

So what, if you don't have a Ph.D.? Just keep learning. Keep having the hunger.

So long as you have the hunger never settle for just getting by and NEVER for one second think you made it. There are so many examples out there of people that thought they made it only to find themselves foraging for food in real life. Do not become one of those people.

Keep Foraging!!!

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra or visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

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ABCs of 2014: Day 5: Always Be Expecting

Today's ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE EXPECTING. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Expecting (the C is silent).

Just like demanding, expecting is something that you should be doing everyday. I am NOT talking about that you should be expecting a handout nor expecting something done for you. That is the wrong side of expecting (and demanding).

What I am talking about is for your to always expect to step up. Expect to be a leader. Expect to Take Control. By the same token, expect to be let down. Expect to struggle as a leader. Worst of all or the best of all: EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.

There is NOTHING that is expected to be given to you unless you expect to give it first. Remember, 'tis better to give than to receive? That applies right here, right now and always.

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
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ABCs of 2014: Day 4: Always Be Demanding

Today's ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE DEMANDING. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Demanding (the C is silent).

Every day you are meeting the demands of others. Demanding some of your time, demanding an answer, demanding you pay the bills, demanding you to pay retail, and so on.

What about excellence? Does anyone really demand excellence from you?

NO! They do not. Most people, retailers, large corporations want you to follow the status quo. Unfortunately, 99 times out of 100 the status quo vaguely resembles the status quo. It resembles less, it resembles something close to complacency.  Wait a second, the status quo is complacency! Being complacent is being just another face in the crowd. They don't want your excellence because that means they will be held to a high standard and all they want is to hold themselves to their standard. Their standard is typically far below anything resembling excellence so why would they want your excellence when all they want is for you to pay the bill on time and they will give you service or a product that you will accept (again, far below top-tier excellence).

So how does this change? How does one expect these individuals and organizations to start delivering excellence?

Try this on for size:

How about starting to Demand & Deliver Excellence from yourself? Is it difficult? Probably, not! I may be wrong but I doubt it. Demanding Excellence is EASY! Delivering EXCELLENCE is the hard part, the very hardest part of it all.

Now, ask yourself this: Are those that demand excellence from you delivering excellence to you?

You and I both know the answer. So let this serve as a warning, before you demand Excellence you must start Demanding and Delivering Excellence from yourself.



Until next time, I Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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ABCs of 2014: Day 3: Always Be Changing

Today's ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE CHANGING. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Changing.

If you want to succeed in 2014 or anytime you have to be constantly changing. Stay flexible, Stay Dynamic and do all that you can to avoid becoming static.

The thing to remember is that when you start to become static you also become just another face in the crowd. You fail to change means that you will fail to succeed.

The world is littered with examples of people that fail to change. Don't become a cautionary tale for someone else. Change! Change Now! Change Often! Change Always!

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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ABCs of 2014: Day 2: Always Be Believing

Today's ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE BELIEVING. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Believing

(the C is silent).

You can go through life not believing in yourself. Not believing you can make a difference. Not believing will only get you so far. Actually, not believing will get your NO WHERE! Trust me on this one I have known so many people that don't believe in themselves. What they do believe in is a lot of blame. Blaming others for not getting a fair shot at something. Let me tell you it is a sad situation they find themselves in. However, it is a needless situation to be in in the first place.

Seriously, all it takes is to look in the mirror and say to yourself at least once day that you believe in yourself. Before you know it you will always be believing in yourself. Then you will always believe that what you are doing will make all the difference. Then somewhere along the way you will start to always believe that Others believe in you. All it takes is to believe in yourself! You can do it.

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
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ABCs of 2014: Day 1: Always Be Asking

Today, I am starting something new.

Once a day, for the next 26 days, I will post what I call the ABCs of 2014. The purpose of them is provide a little motivation on how to succeed in 2014 and be better than last year.

The first ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE ASKING. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Asking (the C is silent).

Always ask for something! Ask for an answer! Ask for Help! Ask for someone else! This means that you have to always keep asking otherwise how will you learn something? How will you learn anything? If you are asking for someone else then do so only with the intent to empower them to start asking for themselves. Remember, you won't always be around and who will ask for them? They will have to learn to step up and ask for themselves.

Now, as for you, well you will just have to just continue asking for yourself.

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
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Happy New Year!

To All Readers of my blog,

First, I want to Thank You for all your support by reading and following my blog. I do hope you find the value that I am trying to convey in my posts. I also hope those posts gets you thinking. I hope that thinking gets you acting. Acting on making a positive change to your personal and professional life.

I wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year! Much Success and Let's Work Together to Make 2014 a better year than last year.

Thank you,
David Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
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visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

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BE BETTER THAN LAST YEAR!

WOW! Another year is done. Another year is starting. An end and a beginning all in a matter of seconds. That’s it. As everyone knows but no one wants to accept “we can’t change time”, we cannot speed it up and most certainly, we cannot slow it down. All that we can do is accept that time is change and change is time, it is always happening it is all around us.

The past is written never to be re-written. The future is a blank slate that we, in the present, get to write on. However, there is no going forward to write it we can only move in time towards it. We can plan things out but even then, no plan is foolproof. As General Dwight D. Eisenhower is credited as saying, “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." Obviously, 2014 is not going to be a battle but yet we often set ourselves up for a situation in which we are destined to fail. It is because we fail to plan.

This leads me to the hottest topic this time every year: RESOLUTIONS.

Many of us (myself included) have been guilty of proclaiming resolutions for the New Year only to have them fail or forgotten a few weeks into that New Year.

There are many tips, tools, and ideas (mine included) there flying around right about now.  There is nothing wrong with that!  Actually, I look forward to them every year because it shows that we need help.  We need plenty of help!

However, just before I finished writing my book “The Walking Leader" I stumbled across something and it became my mantra, my catchphrase, my daily mission, my motto: "Be Better Than Yesterday."

Now with a minor change I make my new year's resolution and I invite you to make it yours:
"BE BETTER THAN LAST YEAR!"

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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Falling off the same mountain?

Why do we keep falling off the same mountain?

It's that time of year again. Time to make those dreaded New Year's Resolutions.  For many of us, the top resolution was and will be: LOSE WEIGHT/GET IN SHAPE

For others it is get a better job.

And for some it will be finish/accomplish this or that project (something that's been on the back burner for a long time)

Of course, you are different and your resolution will be something else.

Well no matter what it is, for many of us we will start 2014 fast and furious then by 25 or so of January the resolution becomes an old memory only to be dusted off sometime around the first bite of pumpkin pie next Thanksgiving.

Then the old "I will feast during the holidays and come New Year's I will do better." Only to repeat the process all over again. Thus we fall off the same mountain, again.

So how do we keep from falling off the same mountain?

More aptly, what should we do to not keep falling off the same mountain?

Find a different mountain to fall off of? No! That's not the answer.

What is the answer is to pace yourself. Remember, there are approximately 330 days till the start of the Holiday 2014 Season.

Create a goal. Break that goal down into smaller manageable and scalable sub-goals. Then work on those sub-goals.

For example, you say you want to lose 30lbs in 2014. Well, 2014 is 365 days long that means that on average you can lose 2.5lbs a month to reach that goal. It is that simple.

Have you ever seen a crop of corn or cotton grow? It does not grow overnight. I grows over the course of several months. First, the sprout then the stalk, lastly an ear of corn. Nothing overnight, nothing instant, everything in its time.

Trust on this one, if you stumble and fall trying to reach the sub-goal the distance your fall won't be as far as if you fell off the entire mountain.

Do what you can to reach the top of the mountain.

One step at a time and before you know it you will never fall of the mountain, again!


As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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Introducing DOUGHBOY CITY

Please allow me to introduce you to my first work of FICTION: DOUGHBOY CITY

DOUGHBOY CITY is something that I have been working on since 2011 when I was a participant in NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month). Then I put the core of this book on the shelf for about a year and a half. After the publication of THE WALKING LEADER, I decide to dust off the file that was DOUGHBOY CITY and I hit the keyboard running.

Then before I knew it, the book that was to become the final product was complete.

I had a lot of fun writing DOUGHBOY CITY as I did writing THE WALKING LEADER. If I can do it, I will continue to have this kind of fun for a very long time. Writing FICTION was a very nice departure from the NON-FICTION. Personally, I believe that I have stumbled on to something in alternating between FICTION and NON-FICTION means I can decompress from one while working on the other. I like the idea of breaking it up. It reminds me of the author DAVID BALDACCI who wrote a long line of serious thriller novels before taking a different path in The Christmas Train. FYI, The Christmas Train happens to rank in the top 100 of my all-time favorite Christmas stories.

About DOUGHBOY CITY.

The story takes place in the two months before the fall of the Berlin Wall. A terrible training “accident” takes the life of a young US Soldier. Another Soldier who is friends with the victim starts to put two and two together and figures out that it is no accident. However, he cannot prove it, especially, when the person he suspects is the killer all but confesses. He cannot prove it until one night as the world was changing an unlikely duo changes everything for everyone.

You can order your copy for the KINDLE DEVICE or APP: DOUGHBOY CITY (Occupied Berlin: Tales from Freedom's Outpost)

Don't worry the paperback version of DOUGHBOY CITY will be available on 7 JANUARY 2014.

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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Turn Down The Background Noise

The Christmas season is well underway and every merchant and retailer is gunning for your hard-earned money. I am all for that! However, what I am not all for is the commercials that just do not get it. That is OK, there will always be commercials that will either talk down to the consumer or provide so much noise that the true message will never be heard.

Case in point, TJ Maxx has a series of commercials running under the title of "The Gifter". The series focus on a woman who is considered The Gifter, the one individual that knows exactly what everyone wants and knows that the retailer is the only place to get those gifts. In one of the series of commercials, the background audio was so overpowering that properly understanding the voice-over (narrator) was next to impossible.

The music was just too loud that trying to listen to the message was quickly becoming very frustrating.

This got me thinking about what about everyone else that is trying to get their message out there. How are they going about it? Are they putting STYLE over Substance because people want the pretty girls and the loud music? Are they forgetting Substance because Style has to rule the day?

In most cases, the answer is YES and in most of those cases, that is the wrong answer.

It is the WRONG answer!

No matter what, no matter when, and most definitely no matter who, the content will always be King. While you can put loud, colorful clothes on the King and fire up a row of trumpeters but if people do not see the content for themselves, they will see a King that’s just a flash in the pan and that my friends is not a good thing. That’s not a good thing for your message no matter what it is.

So turn down the background noise and turn up the message!


Thank you,
David G. Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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Never Short-change Your Customers

On Friday, October 24, 2013 I stopped off at a locally owned business (a mom and pop restaurant) and ordered some lunch to go. My order was filled relatively quickly (there was NO ONE else in the restaurant during the lunch hour on a Friday (now why didn't I see that red flag)). I paid for my order with a $20 bill, which I handed over to the guy taking my order. My change from the $20 was supposed to be $14.28, at least that's what the little display window on top of the cash register said.

The guy behind the counter plopped on the counter one $10 bill, four $1 bills, and one $0.25 coin (a quarter). I looked at the guy, he looked at me, pointed to the money on the counter and said, "There's your change."

I just looked at him and slid my change off the counter. As I was making my way out of the restaurant I found out that the guy that shortchanged me was the owner for this "fine" dining establishment.

As I was heading home to enjoy my lunch I got to thinking about what happened. As I replayed it in my head I started feeling bothered and a little upset about the whole situation.

It is not the fact that I was shorted $0.03 that bothered me.

What bothered me the most is the business owner saw absolutely NOTHING WRONG with shorting me.

He offered no apology nor explanation as to why he was not giving me exact change. Heck, I could understand running out of pennies but I got nothing.

This really got me thinking:

1. Has he done this before? Yes, as he did to me with such impunity.
2. Is he doing it to others, now? More than likely yes, as he doesn't know me from the next guy.

Then I started to peel back the layers on the situation and asked myself:

3. What else is he short changing his customers on? (food quality, cleanliness (on the surface it looked clean), or something that is not visible to us?)
4. What about his employees, is he short-changing them?
5. Are his employees in on the short-changing of the customers (or stakeholders)?
6. Is this his standard business practice? (affecting internal and external stakeholders)
7. What other "questionable" business practices is he getting away with or being allowed to get away with?
8. Why is he a "cash only" business? That's right this long time business takes cash only and the note on the front door lets everyone know.


I have said it before and I will say it again: This is not the right economy to be playing games with customers. Short-changing a customer $0.03 or $300.00 it does not matter, what matters is that when push comes to shove people will remember when they get short-changed and who did it to them. They will remember, the next time they want what you sell. They won't think twice going someplace else. Personally, I already found their replacement.

Such a shame that this Mom and Pop operation chose to give up quality and service all in the name of whatever the owner is doing.

A word or two of advice: I refer to you to my May 7, 2012 posting "About Mom and Pop Stores (small business) vs. Big Box Stores" and the last paragraph:
"Remember, people are not going to give you their hard earned money just because you are a Mom and Pop operation. You are going to have to take it from them in exchange for a quality product, a quality service, and above all a quality attitude."


Thank you and Good Luck,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
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"Everybody's Gunning For The VIP Section"

Thanks to Simon, John, Roger, and Nick for reminding me about this one.

We've all heard of the VIP section. That's where the all the "very important people" go. Just who are those VIPs? Are they actors, actresses, politicians, or just rich people with nothing else better to do with their money? They would like to think so.

However, the identity of a VIP is very subjective. To any organization or establishment a VIP is someone who can bring recognition or prestige to the organization. To an establishment (bar or restaurant) a VIP will give valuable exposure. However, is it right for everyone to want in to the VIP section?

Right and Wrong! The VIP section, wherever it may be, is a contradiction.People want in and those that are in want nothing more than to get out. So what's the big deal?

The big deal is that people want to be where the action is. People like living vicariously through others. Remember how cool you thought H.P. Lovecraft and Jack Kerouac were?

You read their books and thought to yourself "Wow, these guys are living an awesome life" and you probably thought about living that kind of life because these guys had it all, they can do what they wanted, not have to answer to anybody and people liked them.

Then when you got to college or started working you realized that was not what life was about.

While that is the same for the VIP section in anything and anywhere. Once you get there what is next?  Where is the next VIP section and how do you get to it?

The thing is that eventually one of two things will happen; you will get tired of trying to get into the VIP section that you just completely give up or you will become irrelevant and people will not want you in the VIP section any longer.  What then?

Here are five things you can do if you find yourself unable to get into any VIP section:

     1. The stop been envious of other people. Envy is a surefire way to keep you out of any VIP section including your own.

     2.  The same goes for jealousy.  Jealousy is not self-inspiring nor self-serving.  Jealousy has always been and always will be self-destructing.

     3.  Recognize that others want their own VIP section.  You are not alone in this endeavor. However, when you realize that everyone's vision is unique and your vision of what the VIP section is almost certainly differs from the person next you.

     4.  Help others make their own VIP section.  That old adage of "it takes a village" is still very true.  Help them make their own and they will most certainly help you make yours.

     5.  MAKE YOUR OWN VIP SECTION.  There is no need to worry if you are on the list because it is your list and you are always on top of that list.

So what if you do not own a nightclub or restaurant or bar?  You have where you are and that is all that matters.  Make where you are the hottest, most sought after spot on the planet.  Make where you are the only VIP section that matters.

If it is your home then you are all set! Your friends and family will always be at the coolest place in the world.

If it is where you work, even better because not only can you make the employees members of the VIP section but that every single customer that walks in through your door is automatically in the VIP section.

So it's up to you, you can even choose to try to get into the latest and greatest VIP section as determined by somebody else or you can just make your own with your own set of rules and access list.

Personally, I recommend making your own. It was a lot of fun making my own VIP Section.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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Blah, Blah, Blah + Static = Lack of Urgency

There comes a time in our lives when we see that not everything that others want us to see or wish for us to see is substantive but just a smoke screen.

It happens. 

In my opinion, this has been happening quite a bit lately. What I have seen is the continuing saga and drama of individuals that would rather deliver the same old song and dance instead of evolving to the next level, their next level of professionalism.

What I mean is they create the sense of urgency the same way they always have and fail to recognize that at some point there " urgency" becomes routine. It is that same sense of routine that others eventually stop giving any credibility to the individual. Think "The Boy Who Cried Wolf".

Then anything in the future becomes nothing but "blah, blah, blah" and that turns into STATIC.

It is that static that people eventually begin to ignore.  Then just like the boy, the person creating the "sense of urgency" no longer has any credibility nor is urgency applied when something real happens.

What then?

This is when those individuals that deliver that same "song and dance" must evolve and get away from that way of behaving.  Unfortunately, this will only happen when they have their back up against a wall and wolf is nipping at their heels. Is it too late?

Yes, when that time comes it is way too late! However, all is NOT lost.

Those individuals have to see the light before it becomes TOO LATE again.

If you are one of those individuals, please take this as a warning and not as static that you ignore now and later say to yourself, "If only I listened, then?"

Only you can save yourself.

Until Next Time,
David Guerra


 

Attention Business Owners: About Your Company Vehicles (again)

Attention Business Owners

I said it before and I will say it again: Do you know what happens when your employees take your company vehicle home?

Sure it might be after hours but they are still advertising your company name, phone number, website, and they are most certainly advertising your company's reputation. 

The situation is do you really know what your employees are doing with your company name on the weekends and after hours?  Better still, what are they doing with your company name when they are driving home after work or when they are driving to work first thing in the morning?

Are they really promoting the professional reputation that you worked long and hard to develop, cultivate, and maintain?

Are your employees working hard to maintain that professional reputation? Most of them are.  However, just like at a restaurant all it takes is one bad meal or a rude waiter and that restaurant's reputation goes down the kitchen sink and so will your organization's reputation.

All it takes is for one employee that is in a hurry to start the weekend and run a red light or do rolling stop at a stop sign or worst still shows signs of road rage in your company's van or truck and come Monday morning and almost as if by magic you sit there wondering how your company's reputation just disappeared.

Now, I know there's a need for employees to take company vehicles home after hours and weekends, especially if they are on-call.  However, those employees need to fully understand the severity of how quickly things could escalate and the importance of them to remain highly professional from the moment they drive the company vehicle off the company parking lot to the moment they return the company vehicle to the company parking lot.

So long as they have control of a company vehicle they have control of your company's reputation and fate.  Now, you need to ask yourself: Are you prepared to turn over total and complete control of your company to someone who you know is not prepared?

Of course, you send out your service vehicles and service people. Your employees have to get from point A to point B.  Obviously, you trust them enough to get from one point to another to do the job that they were hired to do.  That’s fine, however, it is their attitude and behavior while they're traveling that is the biggest indicator of how long your business will last.

If you have in the past or if you haven't, get those drivers together and lay down, in no uncertain terms, your exact expectations of those driving the vehicles no matter when they're driving the vehicles.  Also, don't forget to stress the repercussions of violating the expectations that you have just finished giving them.  I understand that there will be people who will push you, that will not take you serious as to what your expectations are and what will happen if they do not follow through.

Therefore, it behooves you, your employees, your company, and your insurance company that every driver signs a form that acknowledges their understanding and expected compliance of the vehicle use policy as you have explained to them.  Don't forget to ask if there any questions.  If there are no questions then verbally acknowledge that no questions were asked otherwise answer the question(s).

Something to remember; when you are talking to your staff please do not pull any punches, do not joke around, or they will most certainly take with them the impression that all of this is just a joke and you were not serious! This impression will be difficult to shake when it comes to following through when someone breaks the driving policy.

Remember, whether you want to admit it or not your customers and potential customers are ALWAYS watching you, your company, your employees and what they do with your reputation. So take my warning or not, that is up to you.

Thank you,
David G. Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join this conversation. I want to know what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra
visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

To order your copy of "The Walking Leader"  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

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Always Carry A Pen and Paper / Always have something to write with and on!

Retro 51 Tornado Red Rollerball Pen

In Rule #3 (Go By Yourself) of the Walking Leader, I mention the need to ALWAYS have Pen and Paper with you especially when you go for a walk or leave your office for any reason.

Having something to document any action, idea, suggestion or recording a meeting on or with is something that makes you as someone who is prepared for any situation. Whether you have a folded piece of paper and an old chewed up pencil or a Moleskine pocket journal and a Mont Blanc fountain pen, it really does not matter so long as you have something.  Now what does matter, is that you have something that will work for you every time you need it.

Personally, I prefer using a pocket journal from Field Notes (R) and a pen that fits my taste and style, as well as, my budget. Personally, I used one of the following three pens: 5280 Summit carbon Fiber Fountain Pen, Padrino Aero Silver Ball Point Pen, and Retro 51 Tornado Red Roller Ball Pen.

Each one of these pens works well with the paper in the Field Notes Pocket Journal.  The paper quickly absorbs the ink from the rollerball pen as it does with the fountain pen and the ballpoint pen.

The beauty of the Field Notes Pocket Journal is not only its compact size but the pages can be torn out and attached to any other piece of paper either by a staple, paperclip, bulldog clip, or dog-ear.

There is absolutely no excuse for anyone to get out from behind a desk and the office or cubicle or whenever you have without something to write on and something to write with.  You are a professional and you need to start acting like it. People see you as a professional the moment you start acting like a professional.  There are many things people can do but being recognized as a Professional in your field is something you can not fool all the people with.

People will immediately recognize when you're not telling them the truth, when you are just playing the part, and they will certainly recognize that you are not genuine when it comes to using the tools of the trade.

If you are constantly arriving at a meeting, gathering, or anyplace without at least a piece of paper and pen but instead are always asking to " borrow a paper and a pen" people will see right through you and know that you are not the genuine article.

Don't take your selections for granted. Never, ever do that. This is one of those thing that will help define you as a leader among men and women. This will help start to set you apart from those that are never prepared but somehow seem to skate on by.

Whether you are a "Newbie" or a "Veteran" it is never too late or too early to start increasing your professional skills of which having the right tools for the right job is the key to the increasing skill set thus increasing success.

The Professional is always prepared!  The Professional is prepared to deal with any contingency and is ALWAYS prepared to make a decision.

A Professional should also be prepared to take notes. Therefore, as a Professional you should always have something to write on and with otherwise why bother considering yourself a professional?


Thank you,
David G. Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra
visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

To order your copy of The Walking Leader:  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble


Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Rule #3 • Go by yourself • Always carry • Paper and Pen • Right tools for the right job • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

About Giving 110%

Obviously, the Internet has become the great equalizer in that not only can small businesses now compete against the big conglomerates but you are competing with the world for the same business.

This most certainly means you have to be on top of your game 100%.

Notice I didn't write 110% because there is NO 110%.

Kid yourself all you want there is just no giving it your all plus 10% more. If you have 10% more to give then originally you were only giving 90% and NOT 100%.

Aren't they cheating the people or the organizations that they say they are giving 110% to? Worst of all they are really just cheating themselves.

Don't Cheat Yourself and Others!




Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Giving it your all • Don' give less than your potential • Don't sell yourself short • • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

There Is No Longer Such A Thing As "Too Early"

In today's 24/7/365, always on, I want it now, instant world there is no longer such a thing as "too early"

Really, you can NEVER be too early for anything. Teenage girls line up for a week to get a glimpse of their favorite boy band du'jour. Heck, even the Tuesday before Thanksgiving is the new Black Friday.  Being too early is no longer an exception. Being Early is EXPECTED!

As for not being early, well now all you can be is LATE, TOO LATE, or WAY TOO LATE!


No longer can anyone get away with being late for anything. Whether it be for work, school, a date, a dinner, or a party.

Think about this: Would you approve of anyone arriving late? Short of a car accident or their clothes completely catching on fires, is there really any valid excuse any more?

NO! There is absolutely no valid excuse. A line from the 1994 song "Come Out and Play (Keep'm Separated)" by the Offspring gives the most appropriate warning: "...By the time you hear the siren, It's already too late..."


Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra

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