Author Archives: Harry K. Jones

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.

Is Your Comfort Zone at Risk?

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An intricate segment of our Leadership Boot Camp focuses on the importance of risk-taking and the expansion of comfort zones. There was a time when inclusion of these topics may well have been debatable. However, today’s chaotic environment requires that we take calculated risks as we continually strive to expand our current comfort zones. Failure to do so will inevitably lead to catastrophe for both individuals as well as organizations.

Ironically, most of those in leadership roles today have received very little, if any, training, exposure or preparation concerning either of these crucial areas. Expertise in these areas is usually acquired “under fire” in “real time” situations.

That must change in the future if the U.S. is to return to its lofty station of world leadership.

An old poem by Richard Armour makes a good point:

The bride, white of hair, is stooped over her cane
Her faltering footsteps need guiding.
While down the church aisle, with a toothless smile,
The groom in a wheelchair comes riding.
And who is this elderly couple you ask?
You’ll find, when you’ve closely explored it,
That here is that rare, most conservative pair,
Who waited ’til they could afford it!

Sensible thinking? Maybe. However, how many wonderful experiences have you missed in your life because you were waiting until everything was perfect? General George Patton said, “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed some day.” This is excellent advice in this day of rapid changes and constantly changing scenarios. We no longer have the luxury of long-term planning.

Are you reluctant to take a risk? Maybe even afraid? Are you cautious to commit because of an uncertain future? Afraid of failing? You may not wait an entire lifetime before making a major decision, but do you tend to wait until all possible risks are minimized before setting out in a new direction?

Our life can be divided into three crucial areas in relation to our future success.

  1. Comfort Zone
  2. Learning Zone
  3. Panic Zone

Everything you do falls into one of these critical zones. Your acknowledgment, management and manipulation of these crucial areas can and will determine your future success.

The key lies in identifying and enhancing your current comfort zone, constantly utilizing and expanding your learning zone, and therefore diminishing your panic zone. This is a never-ending process which cannot be ignored if you seek continuous grow, contentment, and prosperity.

Consider the three zones … determine where you are in relation to various aspects of your life, and create an action plan to accommodate necessary changes.

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 Focus on Culture

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Take a quick glance at the organizations listed below. What do they have in common? You might struggle to arrive at an answer to that question as it’s obviously not a product, service, or even an industry they share.

However, each is very successful in what they do.

Let’s solve the mystery. Each of those listed here has been recognized for its unique culture. If you were exposed to the elements which make up a unique culture, you might be surprised at how basic, yet rare, they actually are. The names I’ve shared here are just a few of the many identified by Fortune Magazine year after year as the best companies to work for in the U.S.

They boast productivity, profitability, low turnover, high customer service satisfaction scores, longevity, and creativity to name a few of their commonalities. Most companies in any industry would be thrilled to boast such achievements. Yet few will benchmark those who do. If they did a little research, they would discover that they too could share this success by focusing on the need to place people before products, services, or profits. While all three are key to success, each can be and is achieved must sooner and to a greater degree through focus on your people.

Those listed above share critical elements which have certainly contributed to their success. Here are just a few of those elements.

  • Age diversity
  • Open communication
  • Employee involvement
  • Continuing education
  • Ethnically diverse
  • Recognition programs
  • Community involvement
  • Goal establishment
  • Expectation establishment
  • Accountability
  • Celebration of success

Think about your organization. Are these contributing factors present in your culture? If not, consider benchmarking those who have identified the importance of a strong culture and have benefited from a focus on their people.

Again, these are just a few of the factors which must exist to achieve the success you seek by attracting and keeping the people who will make it happen.

Check out this short video for further clarification of the importance of people.

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.

Did You Attend Elevator University?

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Yes, that’s a serious question. And there’s a good reason for asking it. Think about it. Consider your behavior every time you ride an elevator. I’ll bet you do the following just as I and millions of others do.

  1. Push the button even though it’s already lit, indicating that others have pushed it before you. Do you think it’s going to get there faster by doing that?
  2. When it arrives, you then enter the elevator and automatically turn and face the front.
  3. You push the button of the floor you want—even if it’s already lit.
  4. You avoid eye contact with any of the other passengers.
  5. You probably fold your hands in front of you or behind you.
  6. You focus on the small screen showing the passing floors.
  7. Or you look straight ahead or at the floor.
  8. You say nothing to anyone or, if you’re with a companion, you speak only in hushed tones.
  9. When you get to your floor, you quickly exit the elevator and resume acting like an earthling.

Now my question is simple. Where did you learn to do that? Was it covered in grade school, middle school, or maybe high school? I don’t think it’s taught in college. Did, at some point in your young life, one or both of your parents sit you down for “THE” talk … you know, the “how to behave in an elevator talk”! Is it something you learned in the military or maybe a “job training program” at some point during your career? Or maybe it was much more simple than that.

Maybe there was a sign on the wall listing those behaviors. No, we know there’s never been a sign.

Obviously not. Our behavior is under the control of unwritten social rules, implicit norms, which govern appropriate elevator demeanor. Social norms are expectations shared by the members of a group about appropriate ways to behave in given situations.

And it’s not formal training by any stretch of the imagination. It’s not even openly acknowledged. Yet we’re manipulated like puppets on invisible strings and this unusual experience isn’t limited to an elevator. Consider how we act in a court room, in a hospital waiting room, in a library, attempting to board an airplane at the airport, in a laundromat, or in a restaurant. In each situation we mindlessly follow the dictates of group norms and situational forces.

Years ago there was a very popular family TV program called “Allen Funt’s Candid Camera.” In what might be his most ingenious stunt, “Face the Rear,” his staff rigged an elevator so that after an unsuspecting person enters, four Candid Camera staff members enter, and one by one they all face the rear. The doors close and then reopen; now revealing that the passenger had conformed and is now also facing the rear. Doors close and reopen, and everyone is facing sideways, and then face the other way. I’m sure you can guess the outcome.

Watch this short, but hilarious, video but pause before laughing too loud. Think about how many times, in each of the scenarios mentioned above, YOU have been manipulated like a puppet on a string!

Well, times are changing and norms are being replaced by new strategies in hopes that we can survive and thrive in today’s challenging and chaotic environment. It’s time to challenge norms, rethink current strategies, try different approaches, consider calculated risks, and expand comfort zones!

Why not start with the ELEVATOR? The next time you enter that “sacred square” consider one of the following behaviors to liven up the existence of those still connected to those invisible strings.

  1. Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral.
  2. Say “Ding!” at each floor.
  3. Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.
  4. Stand silent and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.
  5. Whistle the first seven notes of “It’s a Small World” incessantly.
  6. Crouch in one corner and growl menacingly at everyone who gets on.
  7. Stare, grinning, at another passenger for a while, and then announce: “I’ve got new socks on!”
  8. Read Green Eggs and Ham as though it were Shakespeare. Sound out every word!
  9. When there is only one other person in the elevator, tap them on the shoulder and then pretend it wasn’t you.
  10. As the elevator is going up, jump violently up and down, shouting, “Down! I said down, darn it!”
  11. Announce in a demonic voice: “I must find a more suitable host body.”
  12. Upon entering a full elevator, face the entire group and say: “I’ll bet you’re wondering why I called this meeting.”

Now that you’ve had some fun, focus on other situations in your life where you’ve been a victim of unwritten social rules or implicit norms. Re-frame, leave the path, make a difference, strive and thrive … and keep me posted!

Now excuse me as I gather my pogo stick, tripod, and snare drum … I have an elevator to catch!

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 Thank-You Note to SpongeBob SquarePants

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No, this isn’t a joke. As a parent of three adult children and a grandparent of nine cherished grandchildren, I’d like to publicly offer a deep-felt note of appreciation to one of our country’s most beloved cartoon characters. And for good reason.

Prior to condemning me as having finally lost “it”… consider this true news report. A young five-year-old boy, Andrew Gentile, stepped into a New Jersey lake that his mom thought was shallow. Actually, it was over six-feet deep, and Andrew couldn’t swim. His neighbor, boy hero Reese Ronceray, 8, jumped into the water, swam out to Andrew, latched onto him, situated him in the crook of his arm and quickly swam them both to safety.

Reese said he had simply imitated something he had seen on the popular cartoon show, SpongeBob Squarepants. He remembered the lifesaving strokes he had seen on the episode “SpongeGuard on Duty.”

I often read and hear comments about the evils of television and the horrendous impact it has on today’s younger generation. I’m afraid I have to agree. However, there’s always an exception to the rule, and this certainly appears to qualify as one of those wonderful exceptions. I’m sure you’d agree if either of these young men were beloved members of your Circle of Life.

If you’ve never heard of SpongeBob Squarepants, you might be interested in revisiting a blog article I wrote last year about this loveable character, explaining how his vast empire was created and how it was impacting children worldwide.

SpongeBob is currently Nickelodeon’s highest-rated show, the most distributed property of MTV Networks, and among Nicktoons Network’s most-watched shows. SpongeBob is now broadcast around the world and millions of fans know him as a sea sponge, but in shape and color his body more closely resembles a kitchen sponge and, of course, he lives in a pineapple under the sea!

Laugh if you will, ignore if you must, but realize that this cherished cartoon character changed the lives of these two young men and those who love them.

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.

The Seasons of Life

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These are trying times for everyone. We all have our ups and downs and neither appear to be consistent. To succeed today, we must all resign ourselves to hang in there for the long haul. Easily said … a little more difficult to accomplish. Maybe this classic parable written by my all-time favorite author, Anonymous, will better explain the big picture.

By the way, this is a great story to share with your children or grandchildren the next time things aren’t going just the way they’d like them to.

SEASONS

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn to not judge things too quickly … so he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and returned, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The father then explained to his sons that they were all correct, because they had each seen only one season in the tree’s life. He told them they could not judge a tree, or a person, by only one season. That the essence of who they are, and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life, can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons have passed.

If you give up when it’s winter, you’ll miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and the fulfillment of your fall. Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don’t judge life by one difficult season.

Persevere through difficult times, and better times are sure to come.

Aspire to inspire … before you expire!

Happiness keeps you sweet,
Trials keep you strong,
Sorrows keep you human,
Failures keep you humble, and
Success keep you growing!

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.

Lighthouse Legacy

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I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for lighthouses. I have a large, personal collection of lighthouse replicas in my nautically-themed home. I’ve had the opportunity to visit a great number of lighthouses all over the U.S. and Canada, and my home state of Michigan is the proud home of 247 beautiful structures.

I have several coffee table books providing beautiful photos and interesting data about these unique creations which offer an isolated and mysterious lure to so many. I have a number of large paintings and photographs of lighthouses standing proud as they protect. I’ve even had the unusual pleasure of spending a weekend in a lighthouse.

It’s been my experience that a lighthouse can provide a soothing calm which allows us to focus on some of the oft-forgotten, time-tested truths which surround us in today’s chaotic world. These truths differ from person to person but certainly assist us as we attempt to navigate our lives.

If we observe them, we tend to enjoy secure passage. Ignore them and we face the danger of crashing against the ragged rocks of reality.

The wise captain shifts the direction of his craft according to the signal of the lighthouse. A wise person does the same.

Here are just a few of the numerous lights I look for and the signals I heed. Obviously, you may not agree but I certainly urge you to seek out and acknowledge your own.

  • Once a week, let a child take you on a walk.
  • When no one is watching, live as if someone is.
  • Don’t spend tomorrow’s money today.
  • Pray twice as much as you fret.
  • Listen twice as much as you speak.
  • Never outgrow your love of sunsets, moonlit evenings, lakes, rivers, and oceans.
  • Seek out your Acres of Diamonds where you might least expect to find them … in your own backyard!
  • Treat people like angels; you will meet some and help make some.
  • ‘Tis wiser to err on the side of generosity than on the side of scrutiny.
  • The book of life is lived in chapters, so know your page number.
  • Never let the important be the victim of the trivial.
  • Mentor at every opportunity.

To sum it all up:

Approach life like a voyage on a schooner. Enjoy the view. Explore the vessel. Make friends with the Captain. Fish a little. And only get off the boat when you are safely home!

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.

Young Boy Redefines Customer Service

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Yesterday was “National Get to Know Your Customer Day.” Prior to this special day each year, I usually write an article reminding everyone that it’s coming up and suggesting a number of things you can do to prepare for it and hopefully take advantage of it.

This year’s a little different. I wanted to try an experiment. I’ve been in Las Vegas all week affording me the opportunity to observe a great number of various organizations that depend greatly on customer loyalty and satisfaction. In fact, even more so in these times of poor economy, global competition, and financial chaos for most everyone.

I thought this year I would simply observe and see if anyone demonstrated an effort, more than usual, to get to know their customers. I observed casinos, theaters, restaurants, gift shops, limo services, several airports, several airlines, cab drivers, clothing stores, dry cleaners, drug stores, grocery stores, a barber shop, and a dozen other establishments that could certainly benefit from customer loyalty.

Sadly, but predictably, I observed not a single example of anyone even being aware of this week’s special day. I personally don’t believe we should even have a special day to focus on good customer service. We should do that every day. I simply can’t understand why more emphasis isn’t placed on service in these challenging times.

I also struggle to understand why so many companies are willing to spend money on radio, TV, magazines, newspapers, and billboards while, at the same time, ignore the proper training of their employees. In doing so, they may, in fact, be ignoring one of the most creative and productive methods to insure customer loyalty and support.

With that thought I’m reminded of the true story of a 19-year-old grocery bagger named Johnny. This young man had Down Syndrome, but he also possessed a heart of gold and a very creative mind. As a result, he positively impacted an entire culture and a large number of very satisfied customers. This short video may cause you to re-examine the potential of those currently in your employ. It’ll also provide you with a smile.

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.

Some Things Never Change!

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Over the 4th of July holiday, I did something totally unexpected … something I haven’t done in decades. I attended a 4th of July parade. I took one of my grandsons in hopes of exposing him to an exciting age-old tradition that’s been part of our American culture forever. I thought it would be a real education. And it was. For me.

This parade was supposed to be a major event as it was held downtown in our Capital City, just a few miles from a major Big Ten University, in a long-time home of General Motors. One might assume that the combination of those three elements would result in a well-produced, highly attended spectacle! One should never assume—for all the obvious reasons.

Lesson #1 …

Parades have gone the way of the circus, magicians, and clowns. No more mystery, no more allure, no more excitement! There are far too many other things to distract us today and far too much technology to compete with a costumed character on a unicycle or a high school marching band. Parades have become a political stage for hopeful candidates to ride in fancy cars while handing out fliers. The once colorful, disciplined, enthusiastic marching band has been relegated to 15 senior citizens riding on the back of a flatbed truck trying to stay on key. No animated floats, no costumed characters mingling with the children in the crowd, and no striking military units proudly marching behind the flag of our country as they are cheered and respected by the crowd.

Lesson #2 …

Some things change … some never will. As a group of eight obviously senior war veterans marched by hoisting a single, very large American Flag, a scratchy recording of the National Anthem blasted over the loudspeakers lining the parade route. My grandson had been sitting on the curb taking in the lack of action at that point. When the music started, he immediately stood up, removed his baseball hat, and put his hand on his heart. He stood proud and sang along with the words of the recording. He knew them. He knew them!

The profound enormity of that moment brought a tear to my eye, produced a lump in my throat, and caused my heart to swell with pride. This very special moment easily made the entire day worthwhile. At the end of the recording, my grandson replaced his baseball cap, put his hand in mind, and stood there watching a group of approaching karate students jumping all over the street.

Three or four minutes passed, and he turned to me and asked, “Grandpa, why did so many of the kids on both sides of the street not stand up for the National Anthem?” Very few removed their hats, and you had to strain to find anyone with their hand on their hearts. I was so proud of his question and even more proud of his observation. At that point, I asked him if he was ready to leave and he said, “Sure.” It was obvious that he had once again tolerated another of “Grandpa’s feeble attempts to return to the thrilling days of yesteryear.” He’s used to them by now and never complains.

As we walked back to the car, I explained that so many other kids had not been taught the importance of our flag, our military, and the National Anthem. His parents loved him enough to share that respect from an early age. I told him how proud I was of how he responded and how I hoped he would always do so and teach his children to do the same. He responded simply, “I will!” I know he meant it. I know he will.

We survived the parade fiasco and spent the rest of the day at a giant pet store, bought some delicious peanuts and licorice at the Peanut Castle and walked the boardwalk along the river front discussing the many mysteries of life. Oh, to be 10 years again!

I made a mental note to hug his Mom and Dad when I took him home!

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.

Welcome to the World of Socialnomics!

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Anyone who knows me well is very much aware of the fact that I’m known as “Mr. Technology”! NOT! I’m still learning how to use all of the features on my cell phone. I flush my toilet and the garage door opens! However, I strive to keep up as much as I can with my limited capabilities.

Ironically, I have been encouraging a number of our clients to take advantage of the many technical options available to them today as they strive to compete in a very chaotic and competitive business environment.

I’m also very much a rookie when it comes to social media, although I have recognized its phenomenal growth and the impact it’s having on the business world.

I vividly remember several major clients laughing aloud at the suggestion of investigating the impact and possibilities of utilizing social media. That was two years ago. Today, they are aggressively pursuing the benefits of this new revolution. Sadly, some of them are doing so as a result of watching their competition beat them to the punch.

If you are one of those many who thinks social media is a passing fad and has no place in your life or that of your business or organization, you might be interested in the following information. In fact, you’d BETTER be!

Social media is the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution!

By the end of 2010, Generation Y will outnumber Baby Boomers!

96% of Generation Y have joined a social network!

Social media has overtaken porn as the #1 activity on the web!

1 out of every 8 couples married in the U.S. last year met via social media!

It took radio 38 years to reach 50 million users.

It took TV 13 years to reach 50 million users.

It took the Internet 4 years to reach 50 million users.

It took the iPod 3 years to reach 50 million users.

Facebook added 100 million users in less than 9 months!

iPod application downloads hit 1 billion in 9 months!

If Facebook were a country, it would be the world’s 4th largest! …

Yet, China’s QZone is even larger with well over 300 million users!

A 2009 U.S. Department of Education study revealed that on average online students outperformed those receiving face-to-face instruction.

1 in 6 higher education students are enrolled in online cirriculum.

80% of companies are using LinkedIn as their primary tool to find employees.

The fastest growing segment on Facebook is 55- to 65-year-old females.

80% of Twitter usage is on mobile devices—people update anywhere, anytime—imagine what that means for bad customer experiences?

Generation Y & Z consider e-mail passe.

In 2009 Boston College stopped distributing e-mail addresses to incoming freshmen.

YouTube is the 2nd largest search engine in the world!

YouTube currently boasts 100,000,000 videos!

WIKI is an Hawaiian term meaning: QUICK.

Wikipedia has more than 13 million articles. Recent studies show it’s more accurate than the Encyclopedia Britannica! 75% of these articles are non-English.

There are more than 200,000,000 blogs. 54% of bloggers post content or tweet daily.

78% of consumers trust peer recommendations … only 14% trust advertisements!

hulu has grown from 63 million total streams in April 2008 to 375 million in April of 2009!

Only 70% of 18- to 34-year-olds have watched TV on the Web and only 33% have ever viewed a show on DVR/TiVo.

25% of Americans in the past month said they watched a short video … on their phone!

35% of book sales on Amazon are for the Kindle!

24 of the 25 largest newspapers in the U.S. are experiencing record declines in circulation.

More than 1.5 million pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photos, etc.) are shared on Facebook—daily!

SOCIAL MEDIA ISN’T A FAD, IT’S A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE. LEARN ABOUT IT, MASTER IT, USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE!

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.

Hot Dogs Make Waves!

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The ingenuity of the American entrepreneur never ceases to amaze me! The tougher times get for our country financially, the more creativity and innovation surface to cope with it. The tenacity of our great people is unequaled anywhere in the world.

John Deere is credited with the phrase, “Find a Need and Fill It” … but two men from the Holland, Michigan, area are credited with taking it to heart in a way which satisfies a lot of boaters and just may prove to be very profitable for themselves.

The two friends have created a very simple Hot Dog Stand on Pontoons. They bought a 1976 25-foot pontoon boat and 50-horse Johnson outboard last winter and have been busy rigging it with a stainless steel grill, steam tables, and a full-sized refrigerator and freezer—and the generator to run them.

They painted the pontoon and fitted it with 15-foot flags from the stern shouting “ice cream” and “hot dogs.” They recently hit the waters of Lake Macatawa, not far from Lake Michigan. They sell hot dogs, bratwurst, chips, ice cream, pop and water to boaters who pull up to order or call ahead. They’ll be able to pull up to people’s docks, as well, although Coast Guard regulations won’t allow any customers onboard.

They said they ran the gamut of official OKs, from Coast Guard to sheriff’s department to health department to townships.

Meanwhile, the two are keeping their day jobs. They plan to be open for drive-through, weather permitting, 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, likely with extended days and hours on holiday weeks.

Personally, this venture makes so much sense that I struggle to understand why it hasn’t been attempted on every lake in the U.S. to some degree. It’s a great money-maker for those who initiate such a venture but also great for all of those who are served! Good luck, gentlemen and congratulations for thinking “out-on-the-lake”!

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.