Are You Listening?

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Harry K. Jones

Isn’t it interesting that we hear so much about the key role of “listening” in successful marriages, business mergers, negotiations, etc.? And yet, ironically, how many of us have had the opportunity to receive any kind of formal training in the fine art of “listening”?

In high school, we were offered the chance to learn to debate but that focused on speaking to present your position on any given subject. Most schools also offered speech classes which taught us the fine art of verbal delivery.

Throughout its history, Toastmasters has served more than four million people, and today the organization serves more than 250,000 members in 106 countries through its more than 12,500 member clubs. Its purpose: “helping members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills.”

Across this country, there are many Associations for Professional Speakers who boast membership in the tens of thousands of those who have made speaking a career.

However, I have yet to see an “HearMasters” Association, an Association of Professional Listeners, or any organized group which professed to enhance our ability to be better listeners.

This is certainly an area in which most everyone would benefit from being able to master this delicate and much-needed skill. We see examples almost every single day in all walks of life. Here’s a prime example:

Pause – Listen – Understand!

A man walked into a doctor’s office. “What do you have?” the receptionist asked him.

“Shingles,” he replied.

She told him to sit down.

Soon a nurse called him and asked, “What do you have?”

“Shingles,” he replied.

She took his blood pressure, weight, and complete medical history. Then she took him to a room, told him to remove all of his clothes, and left.

After a few minutes the doctor came in and asked, “What do you have?”

“Shingles,” the man told him.

The doctor looked him up and down and asked, “Where? I don’t see them.”

“Out on the truck. Where do you want me to unload them?”

Sometimes, a simple pause, good listening skills, and a few well-thought questions can solve a lot of problems which would otherwise easily escalate to a critical state. Why do you think the Good Lord gave us two ears and just one mouth? Maybe we should be listening twice as much as we’re talking!

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.

Wanna Know a Secret?

Posted on October 21, 2009 by Harry K. Jones

It’s that time of night once again when I find my mind wandering in various directions. It’s just a little after midnight, and I’m sitting on my deck watching the reflection of a bright moon on a very calm lake. A view like this certainly enhances concentration even though the temperature is a little lower than I like.

Tonight I’m thinking about something I read on the plane coming home from Florida last weekend. I have a couple of close friends who are currently dealing with some personal challenges. While they don’t know one another, I see several commonalities in their dilemmas. They both want something very badly, but both are uncertain as to how to achieve it. Both involve major life changes, I think we all have to face this situation at one time or another in our lives.

In Robert Collier’s book, The Secret of the Ages, the author states:

“You can have anything you want in life provided that you …

know exactly what you want
want it badly enough
confidently expect to attain it
persistently determine to obtain it, and
are willing to pay the price of its attainment.”

I wonder, as I look back at his words, if this is really a secret. Sounds pretty much like common knowledge to me. However, maybe we treat it as a secret, because those steps are spoken only in whispers … maybe out of fear to attempt any one or all of them. If nothing else, it’s a fine checklist that may do nothing more than make us acknowledge the fact that maybe what we thought was a major desire, really isn’t. On the other hand, it’s certainly a great blueprint revealing what it’s going to take to achieve anything that may appear unattainable.

If it’s something you truly desire, scan the list, be honest with yourself, and set your course to achieve it. People do it everyday. Will you?

About Harry K. Jones

What Is an American-made Car?

Posted on August 17, 2009 by Harry K. Jones

Remember those thrilling days of yesteryear when we used to pop the hood and, within minutes, locate and solve whatever problem we might be having? Try that today!

Remember when we used to adjust our carburetors? Now you can’t even find your carburetor because they’ve been extinct on new cars since the early 1990s.

Remember when an American-made car was easy to identify because you could pronounce the name of the manufacturer? (GM, Ford, Chrysler, American Motors Corp.)

Well, things are certainly different today. In today’s global economy, there’s no easy way to determine just how “American” a car is. The “Buy American” crowd may think the simple fact that a car or truck comes from a Detroit automaker means it’s American. Maybe once. That’s no longer necessarily so.

Many cars built in the U.S., for example, are assembled using parts that come from somewhere else. Some cars assembled in the U.S. from strictly American-made parts don’t sell very well, meaning that fewer Americans are buying those models.

Cars.com is the most comprehensive car information web site today. It provides users with complete local and national inventories of new and used vehicles; tools such as automotive reviews, model reports, advice and dealer location; and financing information to make the car researching and buying process easy.

Cars.com is a web site which launched in June 1998 … a division of Classified Ventures, which is in turn a joint venture by major media companies including the Gannett Company, the McClatchy Company, the Washington Post, the Tribune Company, and Belo. It claims that two thirds of U.S. car buyers use its service in some way.

Cars.com developed an “American-made Index” which rates vehicles built and bought in the U.S. Factors include sales, where the car’s parts are made, and whether the car is assembled in the U.S. Models that have been discontinued are disqualified, as are those with a domestic-parts content rating below 75 percent.

Based on the above criteria, the most current ratings of American-made cars is as follows.

Toyota Camry assembled in Kentucky and Indiana.
Ford F-150 assembled in Michigan and Missouri.
Chevrolet Malibu assembled in Kansas.
Honda Odyssey assembled in Alabama.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 assembled in Indiana.
Toyota Sienna assembled in Indiana.
Toyota Tundra assembled in Texas.
GMC Sierra 1500 assembled in Indiana.
Ford Taurus assembled in Illinois.
Toyota Venza assembled in Kentucky.

How ironic that five of the companies in the top 10 list of American-made cars were once considered “foreign manufacturers”! How ironic that the #1 spot is held by Toyota! Things have certainly changed and will obviously continue to do so … faster and more radically than ever before.

The point here … recognize that major changes have occurred in most every aspect of our lives. Accept that fact and prepare for the changes coming to your organization, industry, state, and home town. Prepare to adjust, focus on life-long learning, and make the very best of the inevitable. Fail to do so and you will suffer the consequences. Prepare to do so and you will ride the wave of change to greater success and satisfaction. The choice is yours!

About Harry K. Jones

Thomas Jefferson Foresaw Saw It All

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Harry K. Jones

Many of today’s politicians from both sides of the aisle truly respect and often speak highly of our third President for many reasons. However, the average American has little or no knowledge of Jefferson’s true wisdom or many accomplishments. Let’s change that.

One of the most influential Founding Fathers
Principal author of the Declaration of Independence, 1776
Second Governor of Virginia, 1779-1781
U.S. Ambassador to France, 1785-1789
First U.S. Secretary of State, 1789-1793
Second Vice President of the U.S., 1797-1801
Third President of the U.S., 1801-1809
Founder of the University of Virginia
The Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition took place during his presidency.
As public official, historian, philosopher, famed inventor, plantation owner, accomplished surveyor, author, architect, and agriculturalist, he served his country for more than five decades.
He died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Coincidentally, John Adams died the same day.

Jefferson distrusted cities and financiers, and favored states’ rights and a strictly limited federal government. He supported the separation of church and state and was the co-founder and leader of the Democratic-Republican Party, which dominated American politics for a quarter century.

Thomas Jefferson is remembered as one of the most brilliant men to ever inhabit the White House, whose views on individual freedom, religion, and education still influence today.

President John F. Kennedy once said to a assembled group of scholars in the White House, “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House—with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”

To read Thomas Jefferson’s words today calls for us to pause at the thought that he knew exactly what we would be facing 183 years after his death. Here are a few of his observations:

“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”

“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.”

“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”

“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”

“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.”

“When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.”

This one may produce a few chills. Considering our present financial crisis, it’s interesting to read what Jefferson said in the year 1802:

“Banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”

Rather prophetic wouldn’t you say?

About Harry K. Jones

Stark Reality Returns

Posted on May 25, 2009 by Harry K. Jones

Just got in from a long flight cross country and a tedious drive home from the airport. It’s after midnight which is my most productive time of the day. Therefore, after grabbing a late snack, I tackled my phone messages and e-mails which have accumulated in my absence. I had an e-mail from a colleague updating me on his recent success in utilizing a Tom Peters strategy I wrote about a few months ago. He admitted he initially had little faith in the simplistic approach but was amazed in his final results.

If you’d like to learn more about Tom, his unique strategy, his web site, and a quick review of the first 14 challenges, go to A Taste of Stark Reality. You, too, will discover the powerful results of a simple approach overlooked by the majority of your competition.

In his article, “TOP 50 HAVE YOUS,” he challenges readers to attempt some very basic actions which, if done, will absolutely improve your “competitive position” in today’s challenging environment.

I’ve added a number of challenges to the original 14 I shared in the previous article. Tom’s TOP 50 suggestions can and will make a difference if properly applied. Read them over. Share them with your staff. Discuss them in depth. Determine what it would take to execute each. Speculate as to what benefits might evolve. Identify and eliminate any barriers to execution. Take action. It all comes down to the closure of that ever-present “knowing-doing gap.”

HAVE YOU thanked a frontline employee for a small act of helpfulness … in the last three hours?
HAVE YOU thanked a frontline employee for carrying around a great attitude … today?
HAVE YOU, in the last week, recognized—publicly—one of your folks for a small act of cross-functional cooperation?
HAVE YOU personally, in the last week-month, called-visited an internal or external customer to sort out, inquire, or apologize for some little or big thing that went awry? (No reason for doing so? If true—in your mind—then you’re more out of touch than I dared imagine.)
HAVE YOU, in the last two days, had a chat with someone (a couple of levels down?) about specific deadlines concerning a project’s next steps … and what specifically you can do to remove a hurdle? (“Ninety percent of what we call management consists of making it difficult for people to get things done.” —Peter “His eminence” Drucker)
HAVE YOU, in the last six months, had a week-long, visible, very intensive visit “tour” of external customers?
HAVE YOU, in the last two hours, … stopped by someone’s (two-levels “down”) office-workspace for 5 minutes to ask “What do you think?” about an issue that arose at a more or less just completed meeting? (And then stuck around for 10 or so minutes to listen—and visibly taken notes.)
HAVE YOU, in the last two weeks, had an informal meeting at least an hour long-with a frontline employee to discuss things we do right, things we do wrong, what it would take to meet your mid- to long-term aspirations?
HAVE YOU had, in the last year, a one-day, intense off-site with each (?) of your internal customers, followed by a big celebration of “things gone right”?
HAVE YOU, in the last week, pushed someone to do some family thing that you fear might be overwhelmed by deadline pressure?
HAVE YOU, in the last 4 hours, injected into a meeting “I ran across this interesting idea in [strange place]”?
HAVE YOU examined in detail (hour by hour) your calendar to evaluate the degree “time actually spent” mirrors your “espoused priorities”? (And repeated this exercise with everyone on the team.)
HAVE YOU, in the last two months, had a presentation to the group of a cool, beyond-our-industry ideas by two of your folks?
HAVE YOU, at every meeting today (and forevermore), had an end-of-meeting discussion on “action items to be dealt with in the next 4 or 48 hours? (And then made this list public and followed up in 48 hours.) And made sure everyone has at least one such item.)

Don’t try to do all of the above at once. Pick one of these items that you do by yourself in the next 4-48 hours.

Upon successful completion, revisit the list and choose a few more strategies.

Use the list as the trigger for an ongoing discussion.

As a team, pick two long-term and three short-term ideas.

Even more importantly, visit Tom’s website and take advantage of the remaining 22 actions for continued success and achievement.

While these “HAVE YOUS” appear to be simple and basic … the STARK REALITY is that few of them are utilized to their fullest potential.

We KNOW these things … We seldom DO these things. Close the knowing-doing gap!

About Harry K. Jones

Stop Talking – Take Action!

Posted on December 8, 2008 by Harry K. Jones

Would you like some cheese with that whine?

I’m going to get some flak for this article, but that’s okay. That’s one of the great things about living in this country—we can say what we feel, regardless of what others may think.

Thirty presidential candidates spent months running for office. While telling everyone what they would do if elected President, they were doing absolutely nothing to deal with the many critical challenges facing this country at the moment. While that is indeed sad, there are others, on both sides of the aisle, that could have been addressing some of these issues but have obviously chosen not to.

In the spirit of an old-fashioned high school civics class … were you aware of the fact that we, you and I, elected a total of 535 politicians to go to Washington D.C. for the sole purpose of R-E-P-R-E-S-E-N-T-I-N-G our best interests? That’s right … 100 Senators (2 from each state) in Congress and 435 voting Representatives in the House. They work for us! What have they been doing for the past year? By the way, this is NOT a Republican or Democrat issue. They have proven to be equally worthless. This is a leadership issue … one that had better be dealt with in the near future!

Take a look at the following list. Don’t let me influence you in any way. Browse the list of current issues and see how many have been solved or even improved upon in the past year … keeping in mind that this is what those politicians were sent to Washington to accomplish.

Oil prices
Food prices
Current National Debt
Immigration issue
Mortgage crisis
Military costs
Healthcare crisis
Civil rights
Homeland security
Tax credits
Crime
Drugs
Education
Environment
Trade balance
Pork barrel spending
Foreign policy
Gun control
Jobs
Social Security
Welfare and poverty
Tax reform

Happy with the results? Thought not. However, anyone can complain about these things like I’m doing. In fact, everyone does. All of those politicians complain when giving their speeches. They simply do nothing about it. Television commentators from both liberal and conservative stations make a fortune complaining about these issues while pointing out who’s to blame … but they speak little or nothing about what to do about it.

Let me ask you this. If you owned your own business and these non-performing politicians were on your payroll, would you continue to increase their pay? Would you even keep them on your payroll? Well, these politicians DO work for you. They DO continue to vote themselves raises. And you haven’t fired them. But you can! And you should, if things don’t change. Let’s STOP talking about these things and DEMAND the LEADERSHIP this country deserves.

It’s actually very simple.

Go to Congress.org, and you’ll see a box which reads:

My Elected Officials
Find and contact your federal, state, and local officials.
Enter Zip Code _______

Enter your zip code, click on GO and you’ll be taken to a page listing your Senators and Representatives.
Under each name, click on Send them a Message.

You’ll be taken to a page that gives you a list of issues. You can click on any one of them OR click on Compose Your Own Message.

You’ll be taken to a page where you can compose your letter and send it to whomever you choose. Don’t let me influence you as to your area of displeasure. Browse that list above again and speak your own mind.

Do us all a major favor. Send your message informing him/her that if you don’t start seeing action from them in YOUR area of concern that you will definitely vote against them in the next election and urge everyone you know to do the same.

Then actually walk the talk by encouraging others to do the same. Hold these politicians (Republicans, Democrats and Independents) to their many promises while demanding the leadership we deserve. If we don’t demand it, we’ll regret it later. Let us, as voters, demonstrate the leadership we seek by exhibiting leadership ourselves. Make a difference today!

About Harry K. Jones

Cautiously Weigh Your Presidential Choices

Posted on October 27, 2008 by Harry K. Jones

As a frustrated nation, we’ve managed to survive a seemingly never-ending number of brain-numbing political debates as both major parties searched for their Presidential candidates. That behind us, we’ve weathered both party conventions as well. As the world watches, we approach the November finale as more crucial debates dominate the media.

As candidates finesse their final messages to secure our votes, we face the difficult challenge of attempting to decipher truth from empty promise, honest intentions from talking points, and authenticity from prevarication.

Candidates have had years of preparation in conveying a message they feel we want and need to hear before offering our support and, more importantly, our vote of confidence. While I have yet to make that crucial decision myself, I encourage you to join me in doing the necessary homework and research in search of the wisdom necessary to make such a momentous decision—choosing the leader of the most powerful nation on earth. Our future hangs in the balance.

To underscore the importance of intense preparation for this consequential decision, consider the following scenario and the consequences of a poor choice.

It’s time to elect a world leader from three leading candidates, and your vote counts. You see three commercials on television, each prepared by very talented, but questionable, professional campaign agencies. Based on the promotional content, for whom do you vote?

Candidate A:
He associates with corrupt political bosses and consults with astrologists. He’s had two mistresses. He chain smokes and drinks 8 to10 martinis a day.

Candidate B:
He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon most days, used opium in college and drinks a quart of brandy every evening before bed.

Candidate C:
He is a decorated war hero. He’s a vegetarian, doesn’t smoke, drinks an occasional beer and has never had an illicit affair.

Again, who gets your vote?

Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Candidate B is Winston Churchill.
Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.

Be careful. Do your homework. Research thoroughly. Then vote wisely and hope for the best.

About Harry K. Jones

“Walk the Talk” Loses Credibility

Posted on September 22, 2008 by Harry K. Jones

There’s been a tremendous information infusion by the media on the subject of the current financial crisis facing our country at the moment. It’s all over the radio, television, magazines, newspapers, and Internet. However, I think it’s quite obvious that they’ve missed the boat … as usual. We’re not facing a financial crisis—we’re facing an obvious leadership crisis.

Morgan Stanley, AIG, Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, Fannie Mae, and Freddie
Mac have dominated headlines for weeks now as they’ve lost billions of
dollars while providing golden parachutes worth millions to their leadership.
That’s a pretty nice reward for destroying a company and putting thousands of
employees out of work. CNN and Fox News both reported that President Bush’s most recent decision to assist these financial giants in their effort to stay afloat could very easily reach the trillion dollar mark!

What’s happened to the one time belief, respect, and practice of such things as a mission statement, vision statement, code of ethics, beliefs and values, code of conduct, and integrity? For instance, I did a little research and discovered the following information:

Lehman Brothers Mission Statement
“We are One Firm … defined by our unwavering commitment to our clients, our shareholders, and each other. Our mission is to build unwavering partnerships with and value for our clients, through the knowledge, creativity, and dedication of our people, leading to superior returns for our shareholders.”

Ouch!

AIG Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
It consists of 20 paragraphs for its executive staff. Its six corporate values include respect, integrity and customer focus.

Merrill Lynch Code of Ethics
It consists of 12 long paragraphs.

Fannie Mae Code of Conduct
It consists of 26 long paragraphs.

Freddie Mac Mission Statement
It consists of six long paragraphs.

Morgan Stanley Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
It consists of 50 long paragraphs.

Now think about the concepts of walking the talk, closing the knowing-doing gap, and practicing what you preach the next time your organization discusses the need to conduct business in an ethical manner. It may sound like propaganda to some, and it may be ignored by others … like those once respectable, once successful organizations listed above. To avoid those deadly consequences, rethink the importance of walking the talk.

About Harry K. Jones

A Taste of Stark Reality

Posted on May 14, 2008 by Harry K. Jones

I find myself once again in the silent peace of my office a few hours after midnight on a beautiful spring evening. I can see soft lights from homes across the lake reflecting on the still surface of the water as my office fills with soft music. This is the most productive time of my day (or night).

With no phone calls or interruptions to disrupt my focus, I can reflect on the day’s activities and prepare for my upcoming schedule. In doing so, I sometimes come across interesting tidbits worth sharing.

Today I was reviewing some material on the ever-informative website of Tom Peters. If you’re not familiar with Tom’s work, he’s an American writer, management consultant, and professional speaker best known for his best-selling In Search of Excellence, which he co-authored with Robert H. Waterman, Jr. in 1982.

Since that time, he’s authored a number of best-selling books and videos, consulted for many Fortune 500 companies, and spoken to audiences all over the world sharing his many provocative ideas. Tom is a passionate communicator and doesn’t hesitate to share his insights with clients, fans, and readers through his many books, magazine articles, personal appearances and a very unique web-site.

I just finished an article on that website that I felt was a real eye-opener for any leader striving to guide his/her organization to success in a very competitive, challenging global environment. I’d like to share a portion of that composition in hopes of enticing you to visit Tom’s website, read the entire article and take advantage of the great wealth of additional information you’ll find there.

It’s interesting to note that Tom is more concerned about getting his message out to those who can benefit from it than he is from protecting his copyrighted and licensed products from those who might use them for personal purposes in hopes of gaining financially.

You’ll find a paragraph on his website telling you what you can do with any articles and PowerPoint slides you may find of interest there. He urges you to: “disseminate it, print it, dissect it, ruminate on, use pieces of it or the whole thing.” All he asks is that you don’t alter it, claim it as your own, or charge others for its use. Above all, he wants you to learn from it and enjoy it. That paragraph speaks volumes about this unique individual. I think you’ll find your visit to Tom’s website very beneficial and will more than likely return often.

I’ve chosen a few of Tom’s TOP 50 for your consideration. Read them over. Share them with your staff. Discuss them in depth. Determine what it would take to execute each. Speculate as to what benefits might evolve. Identify and eliminate any barriers to execution. Take action.

If you’ll follow the simple steps above, you’ll definitely experience success and benefits greatly surpassing your expectations. You’ll also wonder why you didn’t attempt these basic strategies long ago and will, more than likely, visit Tom’s website for even more productive insights. Here we go …

HAVE YOU, in the last 10 days, … visited a customer?
HAVE YOU called a customer … TODAY?
HAVE YOU, in the last 60 – 90 days … had a seminar in which several folks from the customer’s operation (different levels, different functions, different divisions) interacted, via facilitator, with various of your folks?
HAVE YOU thanked a frontline employee for a small act of helpfulness … in the last three days?
HAVE YOU, in the last week, recognized — publicly — one of “their” folks (another function) for a small act of cross-functional cooperation?
HAVE YOU invited, in the last month, a leader of another function to your weekly team priorities meeting?
HAVE YOU, in the last 60 days, had a general meeting to discuss “things we do wrong”… that we can fix in the next fourteen days?
HAVE YOU, in the last three days, discussed something interesting, beyond your industry, that you ran across in a meeting, reading, etc.?
HAVE YOU, in the last two weeks, asked someone to report on something, anything, that constitutes an act of brilliant service rendered in a “trivial” situation — restaurant, car wash, etc. (and then discussed the relevance to your work.)
HAVE YOU, in the last week, discussed the idea of Excellence? (What it means, how to get there.)
HAVE YOU, in the last two months, had a presentation to the group by a “weird” outsider?
HAVE YOU, in the last 45 days, assessed some major process in terms of the details of the “experience,” as well as results it provides to its external or internal customers?
HAVE YOU, in the last 60 (30?) days sat with a trusted friend or “coach” to discuss your “management style” — and its long-and short-term impact on the group?
HAVE YOU, in the last three days, considered a professional relationship that was a little rocky and made a call to the person involved to discuss issues and smooth the waters? (Taking the “blame”, fully deserved or not, for letting the thing-issue fester.)

Don’t try to do all of the above at once.

Invest a little time and energy and enjoy the tremendous results.

Upon successful completion, revisit the list and choose a few more strategies.

Even more importantly, visit Tom’s website and take advantage of the remaining 36 actions for continued success and achievement.

While these “HAVE YOUS” appear to be simple and basic … the STARK REALITY is that few of them are utilized to their fullest potential.

We KNOW these things … We seldom DO these things. Close the Knowing-Doing Gap!

About Harry K. Jones

President Oprah?

Posted on March 28, 2008 by Harry K. Jones

As you may or may not know, Midnight Muses focuses on a variety of subject matter which evolves from the innermost recesses of my mind during the most productive time of my day.
It’s going on 1 a.m., and my mind is in full gear pondering much of the political news with which I’ve been recently inundated.

Wait — don’t jump ship. I’m as fed up with politics 24/7 as much as you are, and I’m certainly not looking forward to seven more months of the same before election day. However, I can’t help but recognize the many correlations between politics and business as well as a unique opportunity to gain some very valuable insight.

One of the most obvious similarities lies in the importance of customer service and satisfaction — a concept I seldom, if ever, have heard mentioned in the political arena. Yet both parties are currently running on the premise that customers (voters) from coast to coast are overwhelmingly dissatisfied with their current level of service. Neither party seems to be able to conceptualize that simple reality.

If I were a political consultant today, I think I’d feel obligated to recommend that my candidate take a short time out to analyze the life and philosophy of the woman many leading publications and media notables have recognized as “one of the most influential people of the 20th century,” Oprah Winfrey! She’s the multiple-Emmy-Award-winning host of the highest rated talk show in television history, an influential book critic, an Academy-Award winning actress, a magazine publisher, a book club creator, the creator of a new radio channel on XM Satellite Radio, a spiritual icon, a philanthropist, a TV and movie producer, and an online guru. She has been ranked the richest African American of the 20th century, the most philanthropic African American of all time and the world’s only black billionaire for three straight years. Oprah co-founded the women’s cable television network, Oxygen, and is also the President of Harpo Productions (Oprah spelled backwards).

While all of this is indeed very admirable, why should a politician have the slightest interest in Oprah? Well, they shouldn’t … unless or until they realize the fact that this woman came from tremendously humble beginnings and reached heights of unequaled accomplishments in a wide variety of endeavors.

Her secrets are many but a few of the most critical are somewhat obvious and should be replicated by anyone with aspirations of attaining the presidency.

She has the uncanny ability to know what her customers (readers, viewers, listeners, etc.) want, and she strives to surround herself with the expertise to produce what they want. She listens and responds appropriately. Kind of unique in political circles, wouldn’t you say?
She makes as many, if not more, mistakes than most in her efforts to attain success and growth. Those many mistakes, while debatable by many, have been documented and analyzed ad naseum.

Some of the more prominent miscalculations might include:

The support and promotion of Dr. Phil.
The promotion of many Scientology celebs.
The support and promotion of several dishonest authors.
Rachael Ray overkill.
Support of a children’s book written by a white supremacist.
Allegations against a staff member of her South African all-girl academy.
Her You Tube Channel.
Her strong endorsement of the controversial self-help program, “The Secret.”
Hip-Hop Town Hall Meeting.
And the list goes on …

The key factor here, that often goes unnoticed, lies in her strategy and willingness to put herself “out there” in order to make a difference. She makes choices. She takes calculated chances. She believes in the importance and benefits of action. A quick glance at her track record would lead one to believe that she’s a firm believer in the age-old adage that “It’s not what happens to you in life — it’s how you react to it that matters!”

While many would disagree that everything listed above was a miscalculation, most everyone admires Oprah’s choice of response to such situations. She faces the facts, evaluates the circumstances and consequences, takes the appropriate action to rectify the problems, learns from the experience and moves on better equipped for her next task. What a concept! Wouldn’t that be a fantastic strategy for each and every politician vacillating within the beltway in Washington, D.C.?

Last month Barack Obama appeared live on the David Letterman Show to deliver Dave’s Top Ten. The category was “Top Ten Barack Obama Campaign Promises.” The 10th Promise got the most laughs as he smiled into the camera and said: “#10. “Three Words. Vice President Oprah!” It received a tremendous response from the audience and was obviously a stroke of comedic genius. However, I wouldn’t be afraid to bet just about anything that if Oprah were to join Obama, or just about any other candidate on a ticket, they would win by a landslide! And it wouldn’t be because she’s politically astute. It’s because she can assess needs, create excitement, encourage involvement, creatively visualize, and make things happen … indeed a successful combination which voters are hungry to experience.

Laugh and scoff if you will, but think about it for a minute. Oprah has no experience whatsoever in politics. There’s no question there. Where she excels, and has proven it many times in the past, is in the areas of leadership, gaining commitment, earning respect, developing productive teams of loyal devotees, demonstrating creativity, taking action, and accomplishing feats that others only dream of. Can she rally the masses, be they military, allies, citizens, or politicians? As reported on the front page of USA Today, Oprah conducted session #1 of a ten week web seminar based on the best selling book A New Earth. Co-hosting this ambitious undertaking with the book’s author, Eckhart Tolle, Oprah has thus far registered over 700,000 for this ground-breaking event!

Now quickly take a roll call of every politician you can think of, past or present, from either side of the aisle. Name one that has demonstrated the attributes, strengths, capabilities, and potential listed above. Go ahead, take a minute.

Any politician at any level would benefit greatly from simply observing and then emulating this classic leader. Maybe she should consider running alone.

AchieveMax® Blog

Business articles on change, creativity, customer service, leadership, motivation, teamwork, and time management, written by AchieveMax® professional speakers.

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