small business success Archives - Page 14 of 22

The 5 Dumbest Things Leaders Say

“Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom” – Gen. George S. Patton.

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe” – Abraham Lincoln.

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people” – Eleanor Roosevelt.

Great leaders have said some great things. But not everything that comes out of a leader’s mouth is pure gold. Sometimes leaders say things that are—let’s be honest here—pretty dumb. Unfortunately, ...

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18
NOV
2015

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Communication, Leadership, Producing Results

attitude, Bill Stainton, business speaker, communication, communication skills, creative ideas, creativity, keynote speaker, leadership, leadership speaker, leadership training, motivational speaker, producing results, professional speaker, small business success, success

3 Things High Achievers Listen To

Posted by: Bill Stainton

Elite athletes will tell you that much of their physical performance is driven by what they put in their bodies. Elite leaders will tell you that much of their mental performance is driven by what they put in their brains — both through their eyes and their ears. So what do you think they listen to?

I once had dinner ...

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6
NOV
2015

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Creativity, Leadership, Producing Results

Bill Stainton, creative ideas, creativity, exceeding expectations, leadership, music, producing results, productivity, small business success, success

Try This Simple Trick to Solve Your Next Problem

Posted by: Bill Stainton

How often have you gotten stuck while looking for a new idea, or seeking the solution to a problem? Want to know a cool way to get unstuck?

When I was writing television sketch comedy, I used to have a lot of trouble coming up with endings to my sketches (endings are notoriously difficult). I’d work out a nice premise, ...

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8
JUL
2015

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Creativity, Producing Results

Beatles, Bill Stainton, competition, creative ideas, creativity, innovation, innovative thinking, keynote speaker, leadership, leadership training, leading through change, professional speaker, running a business, running your business, small business, small business success, teamwork

How to Find Great Ideas Today

Posted by: Bill Stainton

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (now, for example): good ideas are everywhere. The problem is that most of us don’t know how to look for them. We don’t see them, because many times good ideas come disguised as something else. Sometimes we have to work a little to see the application to our own lives and ...

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1
MAY
2015

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Creativity, Producing Results

Beatles, Bill Stainton, creative ideas, creativity, innovation, innovative thinking, keynote speaker, leadership, leadership training, professional speaker, running a business, running your business, small business, small business success

Bigger vs. Better: A Case Study

Posted by: Bill Stainton

“You guys should go national!”

I used to hear that all the time.

When I was the Executive Producer of Seattle’s hit comedy TV show Almost Live!, I used to hear that on almost a daily basis. Eventually, I started to believe it. I mean, why not? We were a hit in Seattle. We had some of the best comedy writers in the business. We already had a TV studio. Why shouldn’t we go national?

And then, one day, we got our chance. ...

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3
SEP
2014

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Change, Leadership, Producing Results

award winning performance, Bill Stainton, business speaker, keynote speaker, leadership, leadership speaker, motivational speaker, professional speaker, running a business, small business, small business success

Are You Really Focusing on Your “A” Clients?

Posted by: Bill Stainton

I was talking to my friend and colleague Lewin Williams yesterday. Lewin is a financial services consultant who helps other financial services consultants improve their business. Lewin’s philosophy—the one that has made a big difference for his clients—is simply this:

Focus on your “A” clients.

Now that sounds simple and obvious, doesn’t it? Focus on the 20% of your clients who bring in 80% of the results. Obvious, right?

Except that it isn’t.

If it were really that obvious, everyone would be doing it, ...

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23
JUL
2014

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Customer Service, Producing Results

award winning performance, Bill Stainton, business speaker, customer service, keynote speaker, leadership, leadership speaker, leadership training, motivational speaker, professional speaker, running a business, running your business, small business, small business success

You Are NOT Your Customer’s Responsibility

Posted by: Bill Stainton

You do a great job for a customer, and you’re set! That customer will never forget you! Right? Wrong! As it turns out, it is NOT your customer’s job to remember you!

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1
JUN
2014

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Customer Service, Producing Results

award winning performance, Bill Stainton, business speaker, competition, customer service, keynote speaker, leadership, leadership speaker, motivational speaker, professional speaker, running a business, running your business, small business, small business success

You Can’t Please Everyone…Nor Should You!

Posted by: Bill Stainton

Are you feeling unloved and underappreciated? That’s okay! You can’t please everyone…nor SHOULD you!

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26
MAY
2014

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Leadership, Producing Results

Bill Stainton, branding, business integrity, business speaker, customer service, exceeding expectations, keynote speaker, leadership, motivational speaker, professional speaker, running a business, running your business, small business, small business success

Are You an Amateur or a Professional?

Posted by: Bill Stainton

What can a concert pianist teach us about business? Nothing much…just the difference between being an amateur and being a professional.

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11
MAY
2014

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Leadership, Producing Results

award winning performance, Bill Stainton, business speaker, business success, keynote speaker, leadership, leadership speaker, motivational speaker, professional speaker, running a business, running your business, small business success, work ethic

A Tale of Two Restaurants…and You

Posted by: Bill Stainton

Today we’re going to talk about two fast-food restaurant chains. They both serve similar products, but one makes way more money than the other. Let’s see if you can guess which one is the big winner:

Restaurant Chain #1:

[unordered_list style=”tick”]

Virtually synonymous with its product
Thousands and thousands of locations throughout the entire country
Open 7 days a week, 365 days a year

[/unordered_list]

Restaurant Chain #2:[unordered_list style=”red-x”]

Virtually unknown in half the country
Fewer than half the number of restaurants as Restaurant Chain #1
Every location closed nearly ...

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2
APR
2014

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Producing Results, Sales, Work Ethic

attitude, award winning performance, Bill Stainton, competition, keynote speaker, leadership, leadership speaker, leadership training, motivational speaker, professional speaker, running a business, running your business, seattle motivational speaker, small business, small business success