In 1 week, you’ll have 340,666 minutes left in 2015!

FACE SMASH

STOP thinking for a minute! STOP analyzing. STOP worrying. STOP strategizing. STOP getting to the bottom of things! It’s ridiculously easy to trip over our own feet the minute we lose touch with where we are. As soon as we start focusing on anything other than what’s right in front of us– where we want to be, for example (or worse, where we’ve already been), we run the risk of face smash!

Every great management leader, expert, book, course, and guru — and, for those with religious leanings, even the Bible– urges us to stay focused on HERE AND NOW as much of the time as possible. The minute we divert attention from that power saw or computer app or steering wheel we’re using, CHOP, CRACKLE, BOOM! Am I just imagining this? No, of course not. It’s reality.

Common sense, huh? But how many of us have the ability to exercise common sense once we’re absorbed with past or future issues which are not here, now, and are therefore actually make-believe? And how much of our “life is short” time gets wasted fantasizing? I’m not talking about dreaming. Every great leader makes time to be a dreamer, but great leaders stay in control. They use dreams.

So how — what steps can we use to prevent many of those lost opportunities? How do great leaders keep from falling on their faces? There are as many answers to this as there are great leaders (and there are many!). But all the contortions aside, it seems to me that it all reduces itself to: What is your trigger p0int?

In other words, what happens to you physically when you spin off into the clouds or fly off the handle or back quietly out the side door? Your stomach growls, you get a stiff neck, feel edgy, jiggle a foot, play with a flash drive, get a headache, or backache, or crave something sweet? Each of us is different. But each of us has a trigger. Talk to yourself about it.

When each of us can identify our own individual, unique trigger point and become aware of it when it surfaces, we immediately put ourselves on the path toward advanced leadership driven by present moment happenings. That’s a GIANT step in the self-control arena. And, guess what? the more you tune in to your SELF and what makes you tick (especially if you’re in sales — and who isn’t?), the happier and healthier you can be — and you won’t need special vitamins or skin products or addictive behaviors to stoke your euphoric fires.

What’s to lose? Give it a try. Start here with this quick 4-STEP life-saver and then move ahead to taking SELF inventory. It’s not just about what’s good for what ails you. It’s about preventing ailments. It’s about doing a better job of being a leader. Oh, and it doesn’t even cost anything! Have a great awakening!

# # #

Hal@Businessworks.US

AS ZIG AND ZIGGY SAID . . .

“We should enjoy life while we’re here

’cause there’s no here, there!”

(Worldclass cartoon character Ziggy)

“You can have everything in life you want,

if you will just help other people

get what they want”

(Worldclass motivational sales guru Zig Ziglar who left us this past week,

to hopefully join Ziggy for some fun and enjoyment “there”!)

What’s the point? Entrepreneurs have a way of becoming so driven and preoccupied by the race to achieve their ideas, they rarely take enough time out to enjoy what they already have, like family and friends, and life itself. They can also become so readily entrenched in “doing” for themselves and the growth of their ideas, they can often forget about helping others.

If, like many entrepreneurs, you think you have been put on earth to better mankind by pursuing your great ideas to the exclusion of taking time outs for your self and your family and friends, or to the exclusion of taking time to help others in their moments of need, you might want to revisit your sense of reality and the purpose of your life and business leadership.

My recommendation for how to proceed with this thought for the next minute is to simply take one more step and have a little fun by entering “Ziggy” in the search window to the right, then scan the three blog posts that surface, then enter “Zig Ziglar” in the search window and scan the fifteen or so blog posts that mention or quote him.

I promise –that between the two quick searches– you’ll be amused or prompted to action, if not both. Most assuredly, you will be as I have been by re-skimming these posts, enlightened. I stand humbled by the inspiration I draw from each. You?

 # # #

Hal@Businessworks.US    931.854.0474

Boasting your way along 

“the humble leader” line______

Maybe it’s a paradox, but it’s really not always a contradiction.

Being both assertive AND humble can work when personal authenticity is in the driver’s seat.  There’s a terrific website www.BizBrag.com that encourages business boasting because there are times when everyone needs to toot her or his own respective horn, and posting news releases on BizBrag makes it easy.

Of course, any news release content you post or create must be newsworthy and not overtly self-serving if there’s any expectation of actually getting traditional or online media coverage. And it should probably go without saying that the better the writing quality, the more likely a release is to gain exposure. Think about being an editor bombarded with hundreds of PR stories!

But speaking up for yourself is not bragging. And assertiveness is not aggression! Effective leaders are almost universally assertive in their thinking and behavior, and their boasting is usually limited to praising others–the teams they lead, the customers they serve, the competitors they battle with. And, therein (AHA!) lies “leadership humility.”

Anyone who tries to prompt business leaders to associate humility with milquetoast, hat-in-hand, apologetic, goody-two-shoes behavior is missing a lightbulb or two in the world of reality. No, this is not to suggest that those in leadership positions run around patting themselves on the back while giving themselves high-fives (making themselves likely candidates for chiropractic treatment), but it IS to say that taking a strong stand–internally and externally–is both healthy and necessary.

Here’s the bottom line: No one wants to hear about how great you think you are. No one cares. Get rid of the words that haunt braggadocio-minded grandstanders: Stop talking in terms of “I” “Me” “My” “We” “Our” and start addressing what customers and investors want to hear (The answer to “What’s in it for me?”) by talking in “You” and “Your” terms. “You get” beats “We are.”

A smile, a nod, a thank you are more than sufficient responses to a compliment or praise. Leave the leaping chest bumps and running wildly around the arena up to the Olympiads. Business people do not like business people who “talk themselves up.” Should customers and prospects know if you’ve won an award or recognition? Certainly, but don’t wear your medal to work or beat them over the head with your Oscar.

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302.933.0911                      Hal@TheWriterWorks.com

Make today a GREAT day for someone!

Open Minds Open Doors

How I Am, Who I Appreciate, and

What I Need Your Help With . . .

Everyone, it seems, asks how I am. The bottom line? My Brain and Body are Back, but my Soul and Spirit have been forever altered. I’m working through it, but I know I will never get past it. I can only trust the pain will be less severe over time.

But not to worry. You won’t read post after post here dwelling on what’s over that I can’t change. Regrouping with myself to gain that perspective is the reason I took so long to attempt this get-new-writing-business/blog post/Twitter comeback.

For some, I’m sure I’ve already said it all. I know. I do have a tendency that way. But I would be terribly remiss to not address some critical business issues that Kathy’s death brought suddenly to the surface.

FIRST among these, is my business with YOU . . . to say how deeply appreciative I am for the outpouring of prayers and good wishes from so many. A hundred and fifty people at her service last weekend. Two hundred cards in the mail. Three hundred emails. And surely over a thousand phone calls and personal visits in the months 0f her illness and the weeks since her passing.

I stand humbled and astonished by it all. Maybe I shouldn’t be. Maybe I should have expected it. Kathy, after all, was an exceptional person to so many. She changed my life for the better in every way imaginable. She gave me so much love that my actions and my whole way of thinking moved in new directions. She made me a better person. She took my breath away and turned it into the wind that filled my sails and lifted my wings.

SECOND, on the business-related lineup of things I must mention: Kathy’s absence as my daily work and marriage partner for over 25 years created a chasm the likes of which I never even imagined having to face — and cross. And there you all were again — so many friends and neighbors and family members, so many business associates and clients, even total strangers, coming to my rescue, stepping up. Telling you I’m grateful doesn’t even come close.

I have had to reassess my life and begin to think of business transitions and new business directions and so, I’m turning to you, my 3,000+ long-term, loyal friends and supporters, to ask for help in stirring up marketing assignments, and business and personal development writing and consulting assignments for me.

If you can find it, I can do it. Email me Hal@BUSINESSWORKS.US or just pick up the phone: 302.933.0116.

THIRD, is this blog and Twitter. I will be back into the full swing of business and personal development issues beginning Monday, April 23 . . . the blog, probably on a twice or three times-a-week basis to start, and Twitter?: most nights.

It feels nervous to be writing this, and re-emerging from the shadows, but somebody’s gotta do it, right? Thank you for re-joining me and for referring and recommending visitors to this site. God Bless You!

# # #

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Hal@Businessworks.US   302.933.0116

R.I.P.  KATHY ALPIAR

10/8/56 — 3/9/12

Puppy dogs, teddy bears,

flashy socks, zany pj’s,

and authenticity

earned her

endless friendships

A Millsboro, Delaware, resident, she attended Trenton State College after graduating from E. Brunswick (NJ) High School, and later completed a signing program to work with deaf and hearing impaired children. She was particularly proud of her Big Brothers and Big Sisters counseling experience, her guitar playing, needlecraft creations, her nine-years as a bank branch manager and loan officer, and nine years as a wholesale food distributor general manager and company purchasing agent.

But Kathleen Alpiar’s greatest career accomplishments came in her work with her husband, Hal. They were partners in Businessworks, a professional management and marketing solutions firm in NJ, and then TheWriterWorks.com, LLC. professional writing and marketing services (in DE).

With her business functions, Kathy specialized in proofing, and in coordinating and contracting freelance providers –designers, printers, photographers, illustrators, and promotional suppliers– in facilitating client communications and project scheduling, and in financial management.

As a result of Kathy’s organizational efforts to support her husband’s creative skills, the two won a national book award for Doctor Shopping…How to Choose the Right Doctor for You and Your Family, plus numerous other book awards and national marketing awards for client projects.

She contributed to hundreds of healthcare development projects, and spearheaded managerial coordination for the successful plan and launch of the Pennsylvania Heart Institute; BioMotion of America (3-D motion analysis for physical therapy); Rubberecycle (recycled tire rubber particles for play, sports, and horse training surfaces); Orthopedic Patient Partnerships and Backpackers Spine Health & Strength Training programs (and others) for NJ medical centers.

Her business and personal travels took her to over twenty-five states with numerous visits to Ireland, England, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Dominican Republic, Canada, Curacao, Bonaire, Antigua, St. Bart’s, St. Thomas, and St. Maartin. She liked the West Coast of Ireland best.

Kathy’s favorite pastimes though, featured day trips from home –in both Delaware and New Jersey—to take bayfront and oceanfront beach walks with Hal and her pets. They lived in Brick and Little Egg Harbor, NJ, prior to relocating to Delaware. Kathy collected teddy bears, and small gifts to bring to every host home she visited. She particularly liked doing
word puzzles, and believe it or not, enjoyed cleaning; she was very proud of her home and her housekeeping.

She made frequent appearances at Southern Delaware Olde Tymers Softball League games to cheer on her husband and his teammates (as well as the opposing teams), and enjoyed monthly gatherings of her mother’s active adult community neighbors.

Kathy had a magic way with all animals, but especially dogs, the truest loves of her life  –any and all dogs— especially her childhood family pet, a wire-haired terrier named Thumper, and her own cocker spaniels Rusty, Maddigan, Sam, and Tuckerton… and golden retriever, Barnegat…. all of whom her family believes she is now happily reunited with.

Kathy (or “Kath” as those closest called her) passed away quickly and quietly at 2:58am on March 9, 2012, at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, after a year-long illness and two-month-long health struggle.

Born October 8, 1956 in Pittsburgh, she was the daughter of E. Timothy Marshall, deceased, and Marian Marshall, 89, of East Brunswick, NJ. She is also survived by her husband-business partner  of 25 years, Hal Alpiar, Millsboro, DE; her brother Timothy Marshall and his two sons Tim and Chris, and Timothy’s wife Victoria, Metuchen, NJ; her sister Lynne Polodna and husband David and their two daughters Emy and Leigh, La Crosse, WI; her brother Bob Marshall and wife Lynne and their two children Matthew and Megara, East Brunswick, NJ; her brother Peter Marshall and wife Claire and their two sons Garrett and Connor, Englishtown, NJ.

Kathy is survived also by her step-children Christopher Alpiar (and his partner Tina Stafford), Atlanta, GA; Melissa Alpiar, Yonkers, NY; and Haley Murphy and Haley’s husband Harrison, and their three children – Kathy’s grandchildren: Talley, Dylan, and Gwyn, Great Falls, VA; her brother-n-law Rick Alpiar and wife Ann Papa Alpiar, and their son Christopher and daughter Casey, New Rochelle, NY; her favorite cousins Danielle Dixon-Moyle and husband Bill, Lake Hopatcong, NJ; and Alex Dixon, Durham, NC; and Danielle and Alex’s mother, Claire, Lake Hopatcong, NJ, and Betty DeGroat, Tampa, FL, and Betty’s son Tad and daughter Stacey; and –last but not least— Kathy’s three dearest friends Melanie Adair, North Plainfield, NJ, Beverly Marsh, Sommerville, NJ, and “Breezy,” her 1½-year-old Cavachon puppy, Millsboro, DE.

A special memorial service led by family friend, Pastor Gary Hayden of the Midway Baptist Church on Rt. 24 in Lewes, DE, is scheduled to take place at 3pm on Saturday, April 14, 2012, at the Wharton’s Bluff Gazebo (pool and dock area) on the Indian River, adjacent to Kathy’s townhome in Millsboro. An open house reception will follow. Those interested in attending the service are asked to please bring a folding chair, and plan to park in the less-trafficked areas of the development and walk to the Gazebo.

In the event of inclement weather, the service will be moved to Midway Baptist Church, 21265 John Williams Way (Rt. 24) in Lewes, DE, halfway between downtown Millsboro and Route 1.

Kathy requested that instead of flowers, donations in any amount affordable be made to her favorite charity: the Popcorn Park Zoo, One Humane Way, Forked River, NJ 08731. Please note on the envelope: Attention Renee. And please note inside, that the tax-deductible contribution is for Kathy Alpiar. The Popcorn Park Zoo is a sanctuary for abandoned and handicapped wildlife.  Kathy visited there often and contributed regularly to this nonprofit’s efforts.  # # #

There comes a time.

There comes a time when –at the expense of all else in life– one must sometimes stop the merry-go-round to be with family.

This is one of those times.

We had the equivalent of a false alarm when Kathy miraculously survived her two week-long medical ordeal.

We all wished so hard for it to be done and over and to have her back home, but it was not to be… not just yet, anyway.

She’s a fighter, and to the amazement of all her healthcare providers and family and friends, has continued to make herself get better every day.

Better. Not good enough to wave flags about, or to rush her back home where she and everyone wants to see her be, but good enough to raise eyebrows, turn heads, attract smiles, encourage support and inspire others.

… Good enough to have genuine hope, if even for the day or the hour. Fragile territory this place, this space she occupies… dangerous one moment and bursting with relief the next.

We sit on edge, trapped somewhere between present reality and the fantasyland of past and future. We sift through the details, trying to make sense of it all, while knowing deep inside that God somehow has a purpose beyond what we can comprehend.

All I know for sure is what fills every passing moment — joyful remembrances of the 25 years we’ve been blessed to share in marriage, and prayers for the chance to have more.

It’s hard to say much more right now, except to thank you all for such an outpouring of love and kindness and good wishes for Kathy’s recovery. Thank you.

Hal@Businessworks.US 302.933.0116

Thank you for stopping by.

I am truly grateful for your visit.

I am presently giving my full and complete attention to a major family medical emergency, and have no way of knowing as of today (1/15/12) when I will resume my daily posts.

Please, however, DO check back, and please feel free to use the Search window (to the right) for insights and ideas on most business development and personal development topics.

Until I return here (Watch for Twitter announcements), God Bless You.

Hal

Not all work is labor.

My Special Message is

that YOU are Special!

First of all, thank you! Thank you dear Twitterers for all your Tweets, RTs, shout-outs, and endorsements, but most of all– for your visits to this blog and expressions of personal and professional support.

I have had the good fortune to hear from so many of you who’ve gotten over the Twitter Jitters by Tweet and email and phone, and blog comment boxes, and even some: in person. Thank you. 

No, I am not retiring. I’ve always believed that when you retire, you die. So many people I grew up with have, sadly, done both. No, I still choose to work fulltime and continue to maintain a schedule I am told would embarrass many people half my age.  No chest-thumping here; just a lot of long hours.

But, ah, I love what I do (mostly, write and consult on business and professional practice growth and development, and –because they need to work in tandem– on personal growth and development).

For whatever it may be worth, here –in more than 140 characters (whew!)– are some answers to some of the questions I have been asked alongside the road on my Twitter Journey:

I believe wholeheartedly that God intends us all to live life to the fullest and to help others to do the same thing. But I am not an evangelist.

If I were to quit now, I’d be wasting time and opportunities to contribute and exchange life values, motivating ideas, creative energy, and good cheer with others.

And that’s unthinkable. 

I believe in your freedom and your right to pursue your legal and moral life interests as you choose, whatever they may be, and as long as they don’t bring harm to others.

For the same reasons, I try not to bug any of you with sales pitches; in fact, since it’s April 2008 birth, I’ve never hosted a site banner, sales spiel or advertisement on this blog.

                  

And the proof that people seek unadulterated, commercial-free blog content is in the numbers. When I started, I had 100 visitors a week. By last measure, this blog now averages closer to 100 visitors an hour. Much if not most of that increase is from Twitter – from you and the praises you sing to your friends and followers.

I am deeply appreciative for that support.

As for my follow and follower numbers: they’re low (compared to Tweet numbers) because I hand-pick each Twitter account I want to follow. Automated programs may deliver quantity; but I care about quality. I seek Twitterers with shared interests. I read each Twitter profile, visit available websites, and a check recent Tweets to see if they have topical substance that interests me.

Topical substance topics that interest me include (in no particular order):

          business, marketing, small business, dogs, writing, leadership, branding, other authors, entrepreneurship, goals, economic impact,  teaching, sales, communication, books, other bloggers, personal development, self-help, sushi, goals, motivation, stress management, productivity, baseball/softball, action attitude, health, grandchildren, patriotism…and of course, God.                                           

The Twitter Journey continues to be one of great fun, enlightenment, opportunity, and growing friendships. Thank you all for indulging me this pause during my blog post march forward as an advocate of small business. And, [P.S. I have no ties to Twitter, nor do I even know anyone associated with Twitter; it just works, that’s all.]

Your visits here are always welcome and secure from Internet invaders, lists, pop-ups, hysteria, and exaggeration. 

Have a GR8 day and week ahead!

Warmest regards – Hal     

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  Open Minds Open Doors 

   Thanks for your visit and God Bless You.

  Make today a GREAT day for someone!