So many books. So little time.

Sitting here reflecting on a year gone by and remembering I have a ‘jar of thanks’ to look forward to on New Year’s Day. So glad I started putting things to be thankful for in a mason jar this time last year!

In what spare time I have, I truly enjoy reading for spiritual, personal and professional development. I simply cannot read enough and almost wish I didn’t have to sleep so I could fill my brain with more and more.

I’m taking a moment now to capture what’s at the top of my list – number one, so I can remember and keep track, but number two to share with others who are looking for a dose of something new in 2015.

Expect To Win – Carla Harris

Start With Why – Simon Sinek

What Would A Wise Woman Do? – Laura Steward Atchison

Actionable Book Summaries – 652 of them

Thrive – Ariana Huffington

Get Off Your ‘But’ – Sean Stephenson

Kill The Company – Lisa Bodell

Take a minute to share what’s on your list! Happy holidays one and all.

Don’t Wait, Create!

It was 12:58pm on Wednesday, January 25th. I had just resigned a mere 3.5 hours ago and was celebrating what’s next over a beer with my husband of 17 years. As we were planning and discovering things for me to do in the next 28 days before starting work again, I somehow had the common sense to remember I had bought a ticket to a Dale Carnegie Institute/Jeffrey Gitomer Reslilient Leadership session…which was going to start at 3pm that afternoon. How coincidental??

So, we finished plotting out a grand plan for the next month and beyond, and I rushed home to brush my teeth and head over to the Embassy Suites in Greenville, SC. I’m a fan of Gitomer already – I subscribe to his sales/marketing e-zine and have dabbled in his Ace of Sales email program. What I wasn’t prepared for a was a solid 2.5 hours of atta-girl, motivational inspiration to go conquer my new opportunity. Yes, I had pretty high expectations given my familiarity with his content, but I got totally immersed into his direct Jersey boy why-haven’t-you-bought-an-iPad-yet performance that hit a nerve with me every time he opened his mouth.

So, here are the big idea take-aways from Gitomer’s session. Some are quite practical and simple, a few are merely thought-provoking, while others require action or change. I personally walked away with a rekindled confidence to move on to what’s next – smothered in a notion of Hell Yes!

JEFFREY GITOMER: Resilient Leadership Principles

• open a biz opportunity with ‘before we get started…’ – sets a relaxed, informal, truthful tone from the outset
• laugh or think in the first minute of new biz opportunity, otherwise you’ll spend the rest of the meeting recovering
• show pix of your kids whenever you can – create the emotional appeal
• sales are made emotionally, justified logically
• substitute television for writing/reading and you win
• loosen up – today’s Presidential candidates don’t even wear ties
• always train new employees for attitude first – start with yourself
• coach the player; lead the team
• stay coach-able yourself
• the more you study it, the better you are at teaching it
• people need to see your believe to become believers themselves
• don’t lead by example, set the standard
• react, respond, recover – how you do these as a leader determines your success
• if you ever SAY you are the boss, you’re probably not
• if you hire an eagle, they will fly
• make your social media policy focus on what you CAN do, not what you can’t
• if your people are better at things, you will win
• have a bad minute, not a bad day
• replace the word change with opportunity to get a different reaction
• set earnings expectations & minimums, not quotas
• strive for loyalty, not satisfaction
• teach how to earn referrals, not make cold calls
• teach testimonials, not a sales pitch
• teach buying motives, not sales skills
• if someone on your team leaves for a competitor, it’s YOUR fault
• treat everyone like a one year old – without the baby talk!