Travel Needs a Makeover!

Whatever happened to the days of getting excited about traveling to faraway places and lands of the un-discovered? Even if you are only traveling within the US, there are cities to be visited, museums to see and in my case fabulous new restaurants to discover. But this part of life has lost its luster and shine, and personally I intend to bring it back.
A travel consultant used to be able to make things happen, but the airlines, hotels and even the destination is making it more difficult for a travel “agent” to make a difference. Don’t get me wrong, there will always be the need for the travel consultant who is a specialist in certain cities, countries, cruises and faraway destinations. But confirming a coach seat is not what I need a travel consultant for – that is what an agent does and I can do that myself. So where does that leave the industry?
If you are a travel agent you should get ready for a major shakeup. Do you deliver exceptional service everyday in every way, or are you just in the business so that you can personally make connections and travel the world? Do you put yourself in the shoes of your corporate traveler or are you only concerned with their holiday plans? Travel search is getting easier and cooler by the minute and to survive and thrive an agent needs to become a consultant who can deliver results.
Look at the sites out there that travel consumers are using every day:
• Tripit.com
• Flymuch.com
• Nileguide.com
• Seatguru by Tripadvisor.com
The OTA’s (on line travel agents) are fighting with airlines, airlines are trying to make customers go direct, and in the meantime, the real road warrior like me is stuck in the middle seat – COACH! I have had it and I will figure out how to beat them at their own game. I currently sat next to a guy on a flight to Sydney who used “HIPMUNK” to book his ticket – great price and a better seat than me. Then of course there is Kayak which also searches for the best deals. Now I have never been a fan of the D.I.Y. world but if my travel agent is not being empowered to help me get better flights than what am I to do?
So here is my idea – if I were a travel agent – I would immediately become a true “travel consultant” and I would use all tools and resources available so that I could provide my customers with the most up to the minute information (not just what the major airlines feed me) but what millions of D.I.Y. “ers” are using and searching with to find a better deal, better seat and a better route. When a person like me who has over 4 million miles on United Airlines and over 3 million miles on American Airlines is seated for a 14 hour flight in coach, in a middle seat and the guy next to her paid half of what I paid there is something wrong.
Listen up everyone – start using all the resources available to you to travel the globe. Don’t let all the negative press about the airlines and travel stop you from seeing the world. It is amazing where we live and how sad not to explore it. I am truly an explorer – I love to see new horizons, try new food, visit ruins of faraway lands and I won’t let my middle seat to Sydney from St. Petersburg ruin it for me.

My Love for Russia!

Oh Dr. Zhivago!

Let me just tell you that I have traveled around this world, many, many times and I finally landed in an unknown place - St. Petersberg, Russia. Just as I pictured it and breathtaking. Let me share!

Russian Cuisine – let’s have a party and celebrate this great history of food and “vodka!” So I arrive in St. Petersburg to work and knowing that this was my first trip to Russia I was so excited to see what I have only read about in books or watched in movies. I was thrilled to find the hidden gems that make up this vibrant city. For those that know me, I have always been a big fan of “vodka.” Dirty martinis have been among my favorite – but now – I am all about the chilled shot glass with the Russian Standard Vodka with eggs and caviar.

Let's talk about the beautiful architecture: The Church of Our Savior on The Spilled Blood is just magnificent Walking through the city on a cold, snowy day just conjures up images in your mind of years gone by. This marvelous Russian-style church was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in March 1881. After assuming power in 1855 in the wake of Russia’s disastrous defeat in the Crimean war against Britain, France and Turkey, Alexander II initiated a number of reforms. In 1861 he freed the Russian serfs (peasants, who were almost enslaved to their owners) from their ties to their masters and undertook a rigorous program of military, judicial and urban reforms, never before attempted in Russia.

However, during the second half of his reign Alexander II grew wary of the dangers of his system of reforms, having only barely survived a series of attempts on his life, including an explosion in the Winter Palace and the derailment of a train. Alexander II was finally assassinated in 1881 by a group of revolutionaries, who threw a bomb at his royal carriage. The decision was taken to build a church on the spot where the Emperor was mortally wounded. The church was built between 1883 and 1907 and was officially called the Resurrection of Christ Church (a.k.a. The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood ). The construction of the church was almost entirely funded by the Imperial family and thousands of private donators. The church was closed for services in the 1930s, when the Bolsheviks went on an offensive against religion and destroyed churches all over the country. It remained closed and under restoration for over 30 years and was finally re-opened in 1997 in all its dazzling former glory. The view of the church from Nevsky Prospekt (the main street in St. Petersburg) is absolutely breathtaking.

Needless to say, I am ready for my return!

Customers Wanting More!

Service is about attention to detail. Whether it is Five Star Dining or a hotel – it doesn’t matter how much you pay if you do not get the small attention to detail. The amount of travelers out there today is amazing – the crunch is coming to an end and people are paying to fly business or first class, stay in luxury hotels and wait in line at luxury boutiques. I am not talking about millionaires, I am talking about everyday people that are back to enjoying life – BUT ….. with that said – you better be prepared to treat them so well they will return for more. Does every employee on your team know how important the guest is – does everyone smile, call people by names or….do they treat their customer as a nuisance? I am beginning to find nicer people out there traveling – not necessarily working in the service business but the travelers – they have made a conscious choice to get out, get on a plane and travel. They want to be treated well.

Just watch this latest video on some of the guests that are traveling but not necessarily in the luxury world – remember we have to know our customers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os5SZ0F88i0

Tiger vs. Cindy

My husband and daughter are really into golf and over the past year, I myself have become a pretty big fan. As I was watching a tournament on my ONE "off day" in the month of March with Lefty a few weekends ago and I started thinking about some things. I began to relay the actions of certain golfers to the hospitality industry.

I will tell you this: I am not a fan of Tiger Woods, for numerous reasons (email me if you want to know why) and I started watching his swagger. That swagger that has recently started coming back now that his melancholy, "I'm Sorry" stunt is over. Before Tiger got caught, he was on the top of his game, living the life. Yet, not a gentleman on the course or off the course and became too big for his britches. He never appreciated one fan, signed an autograph, smiled for a picture with a 7 year old aspiring golfer. Tiger began to falter on the basics in life - having that integrity and demeanor of a true athlete. Spitting on the course, swearing when hits a bad shot on live TV, throwing clubs, or having his caddie, "Stevie" call a class act golfer like Phil Mickelson, some obscene names is not going to get you very far and for the remainder of 2010 and now into 2011, he is winless and it will stay that way. Karma is a funny thing.

I began to think that Tiger is like one of those sales people that makes their sales goal one time and thinks they're senior. Or that speaker that gives one speech and gets a standing ovation and thinks, "That's it, I've made it - I am the best." Every single time I go on stage I am nervous, but humble and sincere enough to say my piece and move on to the next one. You are never bigger than you think you are. Remember that - and call Tiger and let him know too.

Take some time to think!

I recently read the book "The Way We are Working, Isn't Working! by Tony Schwartz and it reconfirmed my whole theory about living without balance and loving it. Although Tony goes into much more detail about health, exercise and diet, he does say that the most productive people work in high energy bursts of time for shorter periods and then step away to think, relax and re-charge.

Every time I am speaking to sales professionals and their leaders I always emphasize how critical it is to jump on the phone for one hour of prospecting and then off again to return calls, check email and even take a quick walk outside to get a breath of fresh air. It is not about locking yourself in a room and pounding out hours of prospecting calls.

This also relates to the theory "work hard, play hard." I have often been critized that I am a work alcoholic because of my tough travel schedule. Again, I would argue that I have more balance in my life than the executives that are sitting in their offices for hours upon hours getting home after their family has had dinner and there is no time left except to fall asleep and start all over again.

My travel schedule has allowed me to spend more time with my family. Even when my daughter was young I took her out of school and allowed her to travel for a week with me. She had my full attention and we saw the world together. Now that she is out of college and working for me, she still gets to spend time on the road with me. My husband, Lefty has been traveling with me extensively for many years, thus giving us more time to talk about both work and our lives.

Even the most successful musicians, artists, and athletes practice in short bursts of time, giving them the ability to keep going and practice more than the ones who take hours upon hours of practice but don't step away to clear their minds and re-energize.

I am currently spending a week in Breckenridge skiing and clearing my mind. I do this every February for that same reason. The rush of the holidays are over, January is always a busy kick off month with a lot of travel and prep meetings for the year. It can seem overwhelming unless you take time to step out of the race and focus on what is important and what isn't.

I challenge you to step out of the race for at least a few hours - put that Blackberry or iPhone down and really think - think about your goals, what is important to you that you have ignored, your diet, your health and your future.

Sine Metu ~ Without Fear!

The history of John Jameson and Irish whiskey is a great story as it relates to tough times today! If you have never traveled to Dublin that is ok, as I will take you on a journey of what it takes to succeed during tough times and what you can learn from this historic entrepreneur. So relax with a shot of Jameson (neat –no ice or mix) and relate my thoughts to the future of your business.
October 5, 1740 on a bright sunny day, a legend was born and the history of whiskey making began. Many people think that John was born in Ireland (after all it is Irish Whiskey), but he was born in Scotland and became more Irish than the locals in his quest to make the best whiskey in the world.
Although Jack Daniels is the most sold whiskey in the world, Jameson Irish whiskey is by far some of the best whiskey in the world.
Sine Metu – Without Fear is the family motto and the crest of John Jameson Irish Whiskey. His bravery of battling pirates on the high seas as he sailed to Ireland in search of his quest to make his mark on Irish Whiskey was a test of strength. Remember the Irish already had become known as the leaders in Whiskey making before John Jameson ever was heard of. Then he comes with a vision to make it better – Sine Metu!
Just like business today, the most important part of building and leading a successful business is about quality, best ingredients, best people and commitment. He worked with farmers to grow the finest barley and bought the finest wood barrels to mature his whiskey. He was competing with Guinness who also was buying up all the barley, so John gave farmers the best seeds to grow the finest barley for him and purchased it in advance to beat Guinness to the harvest so he wouldn’t lose out to the big beer maker.
Keep in mind that he went against the norm, fought the average and challenged status quo ~ not very popular with the competition. – Sine Metu!
Again, if you are not familiar with whiskey making, it is fun to know that in the late 18th century, whiskey was distilled twice like it was in Scotland. That is ok, if you are fine with just a double distilled whiskey, but John Jameson was not happy with that. He decided to go for a third distillation, as he found it made the whiskey that much smoother. He even kept trying, four and five times but could never perfect the taste past 3 times.
He created all this in a single distillery on Bow Street in Dublin. Stored all the barley, triple distilled and hosted all the best parties in Dublin at the distillery. Today, even in Cork The Irish Distillers Group (Jameson joined forces with rivals Powers to distill the best whiskey in the world) work this same way. Although there is much more technology, much of how the original whiskey was made is still the foundation of today’s whiskey making is the same.
It was great to work for John Jameson. He paid the best wage for the best talent, gave them great working conditions and even sat down for a nice drink of whiskey at the end of the day with the employees. If you think about our world today, we have to watch reality television about under cover bosses, read books about employee engagement and if you treat your employees right, they will treat your customers and business better. John Jameson was way ahead of his time. I am a firm believer that we can learn so much from history on how to create our future. To this day you will notice on a bottle of Jameson next to John Jameson’s signature 2 men balancing a barrel, just another tribute to his employees, symbolizing the passionate and committed ladies and gentlemen that made Jameson Whiskey the best! The men that worked on the barrels were called Coopers and each of them were given nicknames that have gone down in history. It is said that John Jameson’s nickname was “Glorious John” because he threw such great parties that when he would walk into the room, he would ask his guests how they were enjoying their evening and the response was always “Glorious John Glorious!”
My visit to the Brazen Head in Dublin (the oldest pub in Dublin) gave me another look at how smart John was. He would take his whiskey to the Brazen Head and ask customers to try it (market research of yesterday). He would get feedback and continued to perfect his whiskey – everyone would know to ask for a “jimmie” because it was Irish and the best.
Success does not come easily, and John and his sons kept the tradition of quality, commitment and loyalty alive just as “Glorious John Jameson” envisioned his future.
What are you doing to drive success in your business? How do you engage with your employees and customers? Yes, it has been a tough 18 months, but history has shown us that if you work hard (really work), strive to be the best and take a risk – you will not only survive but thrive ~ – Sine Metu!

A True Gem of The South - Van Michael Salons

It all started 27 years ago with 2 brothers in Georgia trying to make it out in the big city. Through hard work, perseverance, and a dynamic goal setting ability, Van & Michael successfully opened their first hair salon with only 7 chairs and now, have made a name for themselves – one that will go down in history. With locations from Tokyo to Miami, they have a simple philosophy – no matter how much you pay for a service there, VMS gives their clients a $500 experience. They value customer service and want every single one of their employees to take ownership of the salon. Their training is a key part of the company and investing in your best is a strong mentality of theirs. Being a client of Master Connection Associates, we take pride in knowing they strive on creating such a valuable experience. These salons are of a different caliber. World class salons should equal world class service, and that is what they strive for. Like Michael has always said, “To keep the doors open, we would cater to the client.” This hasn’t changed. Maybe it was the 70’s flick, ‘Shampoo’ that motivated Van to set a goal and drive for his dream; whatever is was, I can say that they’re doing something right!

i call heathrow my second home!

Life on the road is not too bad at Heathrow when you get bacon rolls in the BA Lounge! MMMMM

Savoy London re-opens after all this time and guess what, they still don't get guest service. What a shame.

My Survival Kit

Aveda Hand Cream, Eye Snuggies! & Black Licorice (has to be the wheels!)

"Functional" Design

As much as I travel, I see a wide variety of design in hotels, restaurants – you name it. I think the word innovation has been taken to another level. Believe me, I love new & cool design in the right kind of hotel, with vibrant colors and the latest gadgets – but sometimes having the neon yellow blinding you when you wake up for your business meeting is just not that appealing. Design for your customer. Everyone is trying to be “cool” today and when thinking about these shops, websites, hotels & restaurants, the word “cool” or innovative, still needs to be functional. Bottom line. I can’t tell you how many times I go into a hotel, and I take my cosmetic bag out and there isn’t even a ledge for you to put it on. It is so sleek with touch screens and a TV built in the mirror, but no place to lay your mascara or cologne. Another thing – hey, I’m 5 feet tall, and when the sink juts out a good 3 ½ feet, I can’t even lean that far into the mirror to my put my makeup, NOT functional. So the next time you are deciding on the new, cool, and innovative design for whatever the case may be, remember if the lighting in the room is too dim, your customers won’t know whether they’re dressed for the disco or a board meeting…

Enjoy Travel!

Who said that just because travel is a big part of life in business today, it has to be so … painful? Why can't we enjoy our business trips, make the most of our time away, and still stay connected to the ones we love? These were some of the questions posed by road warrior and speaker Cindy Novotny of Master Connection Associates, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., during a recent speech on how to balance it all and be happy.

Cindy's thoughts on this:

Not only am I passionate about loving life on the road, I actually have alot of fun laughing about the trials and tribulations on the road. Just yesterday I was scheduled to be on a noon flight from LAX to NYC, and if you watch the news at all you know that the snow never stopped in New York City. We had several trainers from my team hopping on Amtrack to get into the city - 4-5 hours to still make a "gig." That's what I mean when I say we are serious about getting the job done. Two weeks ago I drove 9 hours from Atlanta to Orlando due to a snow storm with Gina from our team to make sure we didn't miss another program. Ironically the theme of that meeting in Orlando was "We Mean It." We proved we meant it when we pulled in at 2:00am.

The real message is that we made the best of our road trip. Stopping with all the truckers (I followed the Target truck) to get snacks at the Cracker Barrel and even bought a rocking chair along the way!

As we ring in 2011, it seems the perfect time to examine life on the road. I'm sure some of my ideas will inspire you, to not panic during these tough travel days, but to think of it as an adventure.

Home is where you plug in your phone at the end of the day. No matter how short your stay, unpack everything, bring some items to make your hotel room cozy, and always check in with the people you love.

Look for the humor in travel delays. Last night at LAX the Red Carpet Club was full with all the New Yorkers waiting to get home. We were like a group of school kids hanging out. People were sleeping on chairs, the floor, sharing their candy and magazines and actually feeling "ok" about the delays.

Check it Out. Always see the sights when you visit a city, even if it's just a short cab ride. Taking the opportunity to check out a different place will keep your excitement about travel alive. My last trip to Vegas, just 3 weeks ago the cabbie said to me what is your favorite breakfast food? Pancakes or Steak and Eggs. I wanted to say granola, but I was honest and said steak and eggs. Just then he pointed out Bills - a joint all the cabbies go to for $5.99 steak and eggs. Although I didn't take him up on his offer to meet him there at 3am, I did go the next day with an associate for breakfast and it was the best! How would I ever get that tip from the five star concierge.

Bring your kids when you can. Traveling offers life lessons richer than any textbook. Many of you that follow me know I raised my daughter on the road, but now at 22 years old she has graduated from college and is back on the road with me working for our firm.

Find a way to unload the household tasks you dislike so that when you are home, you can relax. You don't necessarily need money for that, I once bartered with a neighbor to clean my house, and in return I cooked that neighbor a meal each weekend.

Every once in a while, try to picture your life without your work. Do you really want that? And if you are unhappy, stop complaining and find another job!

What will always resonate with me is that we only have one life, and the time to live it to the utmost is now!

I wish you a truly fulfilling 2011. Things are getting better so don't miss the party by being in a pity pool!

Cindy's book, Living Without Balance and Loving It, can be ordered online at www.amazon.com

January Bliss

Everyone always thinks that Cindy Novotny never slows down – and in reality, this statement is true. I am a constant road warrior who works very hard and travels for most of the year. Despite popular belief, I actually do take some time to myself throughout the year, but for the first time in a long time, I was able to do that in January. A fresh start – a recharge of my battery, and now I’m ready to roll.

This past weekend, Lefty & I went to our cottage in Northern Michigan. And although we had 15 inches of snow – it was beautiful, relaxing, and gave me a couple days to really recharge and relax. Even my daughter, Jessica said, “Gosh, Mom I haven’t really heard from you guys in days!” (That is very rare!) I was able to semi plan out my year, decide when I’m taking time off, get to some personal and professional to-do’s that I’ve been putting off a long time. And on top of that, I was able to decorate and enjoy our serene, wintery cottage with a roaring fire and glass of wine – ah!

So, even if you feel like you don’t have enough time – deep down, if I can find some time, so can you. Take a step back and look at the year ahead. Start planning, re-focusing and prepare to take 2011 by full force. It is important to re-connect with yourself – do what you need to do, go where you need to go – all of us have families, companies, and jobs but amazingly enough they know when you need that time and they will end up giving you that gift, I promise.

Pay More Attention To Your Attitude!

Everyone always says they have such a great attitude and positive outlook on life, and some of them do; but the truth is, is that people need to pay more attention to their attitude and recognize how it comes across. If we videotaped them, without them knowing, some would be pretty shocked at what they saw…

For me, in my career, I have to be “ON” and have a positive attitude all the time. And ladies and gentleman, I’m okay with being a positive and happy person. The line I love to use is, “This is the life I’ve chose, therefore we must accept it!” Now I know there are days where everyone has a moment, but let’s get real and focus on changing for the better.

This brings me to a story…Yes, you know I have a lot of stories because I love getting involved with people – whether they like it or not! I was in Cairo, Egypt and a few of my trainers and I went on a Nile Dinner Cruise. Now I have done this before, but one of my trainers hadn’t and we really wanted to get a feel of the culture and take a trip down the Nile! What could be better?! This cruise is such a vivid experience, filled with delicious food, cultural singing and dancing, and everyone in the room here for one reason – to have a good time. All cultures merged together, no matter where they’re from, and what else is going on in the world – only there to eat good food, listen to music and have a great time. It was when we were getting seated that I noticed the couple that was sitting at the two-top almost touching our table. Because we were seated so close, this obviously gives me that right to be involved  This woman was SO in a mood that it was beaming from her chair! She was an American and her husband (I think it may have been their Honeymoon – and UH OH to that!) was British. He was having the time of his life, taking pictures, doting over her, making sure she had everything she needed and this woman would NOT crack a smile, say thank you or exude any amount of positivity. Look lady, we’re on a dinner cruise on the NILE RIVER and you look like you’re about to kill somebody! Now, ok maybe she was having a bad day – but look at what other people perceived from her attitude. Her snappy attitude, glare, and miserable look on her face made her stand out in the room of happy tourists and Egyptian dancers that were there to entertain us. Needless to say, I kept smiling at her and got involved with the husband and let him join in on our fun table! Yes, you all would say…Cindy you would do that! And I did!

This brings me back to one thing – put a smile on your face. Remember: we’re not here for a long time; we’re here for a good time. Live by that for once.

The Real Story Behind American Airlines

Many of you heard from me on Twitter and Facebook regarding my "awful" flight on American from Miami to Los Angeles. Well here is the story and I am taking to the top with American - I am sick of just complaining and then getting 5,000 miles added to my account. Who needs 5,000 miles when you have flown over 180,000 miles year to date?

The story starts on a very organized day - I got to the airport at 2:00pm for a 3:50pm flight - plenty of time, organized and happy. Got my ticket (was upgraded) - surprised and delighted and not expecting it. My gate was E9 and I took my time getting a coffee, buying some magazines, calling the office and just wandering around the E Terminal while I waited to board my flight at 3:20pm. At 3:00pm I checked the monitors and the gate showed on time and still at E9. At 3:00pm I walked over to the gate and noticed there were no people milling around to board the flight. I asked the gate agent what was going on with the LA flight and she said, "oh, we changed gates to D23." Now if you know this airport at all you know that the distance between these gates is far. Trains, walkways and a lot of hustling to get there. I asked her why the monitor still said E9 and she said very matter of fact - "we didn't have time to change it." Oh - ok, I will run my tail to the next gate.

I get to D23 and it is utter chaos. The gate agents (who by the way were the meanest women on this planet) were screaming at people to turn in their boarding cards because the airplane was "down graded" and we had to get new seats. Now when I say screaming I mean it. An elderly couple who had first class seats as well were told they were not going to be getting seats in first class. Their daughter had used her miles 6 months ago to get their tickets and now because it was a smaller first class they were being bumped to coach. Well that is when I lost it. Yes, I had already lost my seat in first class but I didn't care - it was this wonderful couple with canes that sent me over the edge.

The business traveler today has a heart - we get it. In fact two business men gave up their seats for this couple. American Airlines and their rude gate agents could have cared less. I was the last person given a ticket and therefore had a middle seat with no room for my luggage - again I lost it. I finally managed to get my computer bag in the overhead and a seat on the aisle opened up and I grabbed it. What happened next sent me not only over the edge but into a total fit. I had a connection in LA to Monterey and had one hour to make the connection. We were already late and the pilot came on and said how sorry he was for the inconvenience but the plane had come in from St. Thomas and they didn't unload their luggage and all of our luggage was on the tarmac - are you kidding? Now he said it would be another 45 minutes - we would miss our connections and "oh sorry there was nothing they could do about it."

We finally took off and I bought my dinner - sandwich, drink and chips - bought a pillow and blanket and watched as the flight attendants tried to make it a nice flight for us. It was a miserable flight and yes, I missed my connection as did everyone else. They didn't do anything for us - I booked myself on Alaska and finally made it to San Jose by midnight.

Moral of this story - we have no choices in air travel today - they don't care about us, they don't value all of our miles and with out a doubt if I could figure out a way to do it better I would be in the aviation business now. I will continue to complain and I will not stop until finally they get it. The times will change, and there will be choices again. When there is choices I will fly with the company that finally says thank you.

Do You Really Want Success? Then Fight For It!

Watch This Inspiring Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAJPPjGrU7g

Success has nothing to do with luck. Success to me is when opportunity meets hard work. For years I have been a big believer in working harder than everyone around me. Some my competitors (even peers) used to believe I worked so hard to make “Brownie Points.” Nothing could be further from the truth. I have always worked harder than others around me so that I could produce more than they did. Now if you don’t have that competitive spirit – then you will never be as successful as you claim you want to be.

Setting back in your easy chair and watching life pass you by will get you nowhere. Jump in with both feet and make a difference in everything you do – both personally and professionally. You have to want it more than others want it. You have to fight for it more than others fight for it and you must believe in it more than others believe in it.

How many people get up every day and just go through the motions and ponder why they are not more successful than they currently are? What have you done today to get better? What have you done this week to make more money? What have you done this month to live a fuller life?

Just like the video clip we shared with you today – you have to want to be as successful as you want to breathe fresh air!

Stay Committed to Your Goals!

Through the every day daily tasks and hurried lifestyles, we easily forget about goals we have in place and stray from them quite often.

LET'S GET BACK ON TRACK!
What are your goals? Whether work related or personal related, we all must get back on the same page and get committed again to our goals. We are getting into the autumn season, which means we are rounding to the end of the year. If your goals have kind of gone to the way side - then think realistically and stick to one goal that you can complete and achieve by the end of the year.

Here are some ways to stay fully committed to our goals:

-Take Pride in the Small Steps: The little accomplishments towards your goals are just as important, remember that and be proud of them...

-Persistence is Key: Nothing will happen if you don't take a jab at it, so small or large, stay committed and focused and even write your goals/thoughts down in a journal.

-You were made to achieve things!: Believe in yourself and make it happen! It feels so good when you're finished.

-Surround yourself with good, encouraging people: By doing this, you will remain positive, happy, and determined to stay committed to these goals.

-Put an encouraging quote up on your wall: "I Got This!"

-Have fun! and remember nothing with value comes easy...

If you haven't set any goals in a long time, because you "don't even have time to say the word goal" - I challenge you to break out of your paradigm and set a goal for yourself - the results are invigorating.

“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.”
-Peter Drucker

"What Goes Around, Comes Around"

Can everyone believe it's almost September?! Time is flying and as usual there are changes going on all around us...

With almost everything nowadays, what we are seeing, we have seen before. In fashion, you walk into the hottest stores and the jacket hanging in the store window looks like the jacket you wore when you were in high school - what goes around comes around. For the most part, this is happening in the business world as well. During Richard Branson's NBTA Speech in Houston a few weeks ago, he mentioned that face to face meetings are coming back into the realm. In the recent years, we have become very accustomed to emails, text messages, quick voicemails, and conference calls. All of these are great ways to stay connected to people, but the time has come to go back to the "old fashioned" face to face meetings with your team. Although, there may be times where the face to face meetings can't happen, but the efficiency and profitability of these meetings are astounding!

Here are some statistics from Harvard Business Review, NBTA, Oxford Economics, and The U.S. Travel Association:

• Every dollar invested in business travel generates $12.50 in incremental value
• 17% of US business profits would be lost if all business travel cancelled and it would more than 3 years to recover
• 40% of prospects became new customers as a result of face-to-face
• 28% of current business would be lost without a face-to-face meeting
• 95% of survey respondents said face-to-face meetings are essential for long-term business relationships
• The average business would have to increase an employee’s base pay by 8.5% to achieve the same impact of incentive travel trip
• 1.5% minimum amount of economic growth that would result from a 10% increase in business travel spending

Get out there and see your customers and talk to your colleagues - the results will likely show in your favor!

Summer is Almost Over!

It doesn't seem that summer should be coming to an end. Didn't it just seem like yesterday that the kids got out of school, the flowers began to bloom and everyone planned their vacations.

This year has flown by and there is so much buzz in the air. Business is getting better, people have a better outlook on life and without a doubt there is money to made and deals to close.

But it is still hard work - I am writing this from my farm in Iowa where I grow soybeans and corn and raise cattle. I was talking with the gentlemen that farm my land for me and they agreed that they are working harder to make the same amount of money. The only difference with the farm is that the weather does effect our business. We had a lot of rain this year in Iowa, and that helped the crops of soybeans. I have never seen more lush, full crops. But on the other hand all of my heirloom tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers and squash did poorly due to the heavy rain.

It doesn't matter whether you are selling hotel rooms, seats in a restaurant, financial planning or insurance - everyday is a new day and someday a little rain might hurt your sales or help them grow! In sales we can't blame the weather.

What this week on the farm made me realize though is that there is really no need to worry - the sun rises and sets everyday around the world. The cattle wake me up mooing every morning and as I sit on my front porch of my 100 year old farmhouse sipping my coffee, I ponder the real meaning of work. Hard work comes in different ways and the only difference between me and the gentlemen farmer is that my nails look better than theirs.

Successfully Living Your Dreams

As a child I never required much sleep, and when I did sleep I had vivid dreams. I remembered a lot and learned that my biggest problems in life were solved while I slept.

Fast forward many years full of multi-tasking, playing many roles and wearing many hats.

Although we know sleep is a major part of our lives, researchers and doctors understand little about sleep and what it does for us. Of course we do know that sleep has many health benefits and getting a good night’s sleep is the key to feeling energized every day.

But to me sleep is much more than that – it is more effective than brainstorming, meeting with others to solve problems ~ it is the vehicle I use to make it all work.

• Keep a note pad by your bed to write notes down in the night
• Take time every night to think about your problems before you go to bed, as you will be amazed at how you will find solutions
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated as this helps your thoughts

For those of you that travel, don’t let jet lag become an excuse ~ when you log over 150,000 miles a year like me, I can’t afford to “take take time to acclimate” myself ~ I get about 10 minutes.

Doctors say the body takes about 1 day per hour of change to adjust. There are no techniques to speed up that process, but that doesn’t work when you fly all the way to Dubai from LA and need to go to work the next day. My tips:

• Get plenty of sleep on the plane (helps if you get upgraded)
• Take some sort of sleep aid during those long flights – even Sleepy Time works
• Set your watch to your new time zone the minute you get on board
• Drink lots of water
• Get as much sunlight as you can when you arrive
• Try Melatonin which helps you adjust
• Establishing good sleep habits will really pay off when you travel. If you have trained your body to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep, you will have a much easier adjustment to the new time zone
Just remember to keep a journal next to you to note your dreams. Some of my dreams have really come true and there is nothing better than living your dream!