Monthly Archives: April 2010

Change = Chaos … Is Your Chaos Productive?

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Sometimes I’m baffled by some of the most elementary trends I observe from day to day. It’s almost as though the more basic they become, the more difficult they are to understand. Ironically, some things seldom CHANGE.

For as long as I’ve been professionally keynoting and facilitating seminars, there has always been a demand for tips, tools, and strategies designed to assist both individuals and organizations to better adapt to the constant challenge of CHANGE.

As a result of that constant request, I created a seminar and keynote program that we’ve been sharing with clients all over North America, in a wide variety of industries, for the past 18 years now … “Productive Chaos: Riding the Wave of Change.”

Throughout those years, we have never delivered that program content twice in the same way. The reason for that fact is simple. We update the content every single time we deliver the program, utilizing research from radio, television, books, magazines, the Internet, and personal interviews and experiences. We do that, in short, to insure that we walk the talk of constant change.

What mystifies me is why most everyone finds it so difficult and challenging to deal with change when we’ve been doing exactly that all our lives! We’ve known nothing but CHANGE and yet continue to struggle with coping with its consequences.

Take a look at this short video, “Change Is Good—You Go First” to enjoy 21 tips for dealing with this on-going challenge and its many implications!

If that’s not enough to do the job, give me a call. I’d be happy to spend an hour, a day, or a week with you and your staff discussing Productive Chaos!

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

Are You Focusing on Your Coffee or the Cup?

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Some of life’s most powerful messages can be found in analogies which surround us as we go about our daily routines. Sadly, far too many people are focused elsewhere and therefore fail to learn a valuable lesson. Others simply prefer to avoid these lessons and are then destined to suffer the consequences time and time again.

Check out this short video for an interesting adage concerning the true meaning of life. A wise university professor serves coffee to a visiting group of successful alumni as he shares an obvious analogy comparing a cup of coffee to life itself. His point is obvious indeed and very difficult to challenge. And yet few will alter their actions or outlook after hearing it. Life would be so much more rewarding if only we would sometimes pause to recognize the obvious and act accordingly.

Take a moment to share this video with someone you truly care for. You’ll both benefit from the wisdom and appreciate the consequences of your effort.

Are YOU focusing on your coffee or the cup?

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

They Say You Can’t Go Back …

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As a young soldier early in my military career, I was accepted into the U.S. Army Signal School Photo Lab Course conducted at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. I was enthralled with this particular post as we shared quarters and classrooms with members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, foreign services and the Military Intelligence community. I learned a great deal, accumulated a vast array of memories, and left there after graduating, assuming I would never return.

It’s sometimes funny how things work out because, decades later, I did return. I’ve been back twice to facilitate seminars for the staff of Fort Monmouth. In fact, Fort Monmouth contacted AchieveMax® for me to present a third seminar this week at Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

However, things have certainly changed over the years. Fort Monmouth was recommended for closure by the Pentagon as part of its base reduction campaign. That decision was upheld by President George W. Bush and Congress. An appeal was made to save the base but it was rejected.

However, a decision was made to salvage a good portion of the operation by relocating much of the facility and staff to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. As they make this transition, I find myself this week in Aberdeen, conducting a “Productive Chaos: Personal Accountability in the Workplace” presentation as they actually strive to accomplish productivity amidst chaos. And I’m certain they’ll do just that.

Amidst “chaos” around the world, our military community continues to do whatever necessary to preserve and protect the liberties we have grown to cherish. Little did I know at the time of my first visit decades ago, that I would return in the future at such a decisive point in the history of such a renowned military establishment.

Life is like that so often for so many. We never know what the future may hold for us but we must prepare for any eventuality. The “chaos” may always be there, but it’s our challenge and duty to strive to make it productive.

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

A Frog to the Rescue

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I find it truly amazing that some of life’s best lessons … most powerful anecdotes … and most rewarding parables are the most simplistic. Ironically, perhaps that isn’t necessarily a good thing. Some lessons are so elementary that many don’t take them seriously.

There’s a fantastic metaphor that’s been passed on for generations that has always been one of my favorites. It’s indeed simple but shares a hard-hitting philosophy that will benefit anyone who applies its principles.

Brian Tracy, one of America’s leading authorities on human potential and personal effectiveness, transformed this magical metaphor into a book (Eat that Frog! See our book review.) offering tips and tools to support this valuable strategy. If you’ll follow the advice offered in this short and simple story, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE in so many ways!

This strategy has become an intricate part of our much-requested “Productive Chaos” program, which has been presented to thousands of clients all over North America. While millions have heard it over the years, I have to wonder how many have truly applied it at a personal level. I fear far too few.

Take a look at this short video clip. Listen closely. Apply the advice. Note what an immediate difference it can make in your life. After you see the video, finish this article for two more critical pieces of advice that will add to your experience!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03DAyY6KP_c

Now that you have been exposed to the theory, the question is: “Will you apply it to your personal life starting tomorrow morning?” If you decide to take advantage of this powerful strategy, here are two more bonus thoughts which will secure your success in overcoming procrastination and enhancing your productivity.

  1. If you must eat two frogs … eat the ugliest one first!
  2. If you have to eat a live frog … it doesn’t pay to sit and look at it for very long!

Now go out there and close your Knowing-Doing Gap!

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

More Thought-Provoking Questions

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Over the past month, I’ve provided two dozen questions that hopefully cause you to think in a refreshing exercise of truth and revelation.

The response has been very positive so here’s another dozen questions I hope you enjoy answering. I think you’ll discover some personal insight you might find not only revealing but, in some cases, even surprising.

  1. If you had to develop a brand-new course to be taught in colleges, what would it be?
  2. If you could erect a lighthouse that would guide all human beings toward one particular virtue, which virtue would it be?
  3. When you were a child, what job did you most want to have when you grew up?
  4. Which of the seven dwarfs personifies you best—Dopey, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Grumpy, Happy, or Doc?
  5. If you could bring back any tradition that seems to have faded into the past, what tradition would you bring back?
  6. In hindsight, what particular class in school, at any level, above all others do you wish you had paid more attention to or taken more seriously and why?
  7. What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned in life thus far?
  8. What fear do you most want to be rid of forever?
  9. You are offered an envelope that you know contains $50. You are then told that you may either keep it or exchange it for another envelope that may contain $500 or may be empty. Do you keep the first envelope or do you take your chances with the second?
  10. Where do you turn for tough decisions?
  11. If you could eliminate one month on the calendar, going directly from the month preceding it to the month following it, which month would it be?
  12. If you could wake up tomorrow morning fluent in any language, which language would you choose?

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.