Internet – Good or Bad?

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The Internet (aka World Wide Web) has made an enormous impact on the daily lives of people worldwide. It has changed the way many people communicate, learn and play.

Of course, like so many other things in today’s chaotic world, the Internet can be extremely complex. So, is the Internet a good thing or a bad thing? The obvious answer is a resounding “YES!”

Positive aspects would include the immediate transfer of information, business or collaborative research across continents, a method for families to keep in touch, the transfer of text, sound and video transferred worldwide instantly as well as sharing images and other data, networking, advertising, marketing, and a research and learning tool offering a vast library of data.

Negative aspects would, of course, include spyware, adware, Internet cookies, identity theft, viruses, online scams, and pornography.

If you want to enjoy the many benefits of using the Internet, you obviously must be willing and able to cope with the negative consequences as well.

It’s often been said that life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it. The same holds true for the Internet. Use it to your advantage. Educate yourself. Learn the pros and cons. Protect yourself. Broaden your horizons.

The Internet will undoubtedly grow at an increasingly rapid rate. Will you? The choice is yours.

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.

Stop – Look – Listen – Learn

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We’ve heard that phrase all our lives, but few people ever heed the wisdom embedded within those four small words. I’m in New York City this week, winding down what has been a very intensive boot camp for leadership and frontline employees.

In this program we delve into a wide variety of subject matter as the demands of leadership at every level has radically evolved as a result of our ever-changing, chaotic, global environment.

One of the targets of our focus in this program is the need for creativity. To compete in any industry today, we must be constantly searching for new and unique ways to market our products and services … regardless of what they may be.

The best method to illustrate this critical aspect of leadership is to share examples of those who have successfully utilized their creative juices to produce positive results … and those examples can be found everywhere today.

We simply must pause long enough to examine them in preparation to adapt these valuable lessons to meet our own needs.

I’ve been coming to New York City for decades now. In fact, I lived here in Greenwich Village for a while in the days of starving artists and hippies. I’ve watched this metropolis continually evolve to meet the needs of millions who live here and the billions who visit. However, it never ceases to amaze me that those who live in the midst of creativity seldom recognize it.

For instance, both vehicle and pedestrian traffic has constantly increased over the years in the heart of New York City. There appears to be no end in sight. “Crowded” would be an understatement. The “Big Apple” boasts the largest subway systems in the world, more than 13,000 taxis, and a population of well over nine million! Add an average of 47 million tourists each year, and you’ve got a real party!

With all of those traffic figures in mind, NYC has attempted what many would consider to be impossible. They closed 42nd to 47th Streets to traffic! They’ve drastically altered the three-way intersection where Broadway meets Seventh Avenue … a popular destination for so many tourists every year. They’ve created a very unique Pedestrian Mall in New York’s Times Square! The heavy traffic has been replaced by hundreds of patio tables, chair and umbrellas where people can hang out, read a book, and have lunch while taking in the sights. It’s become the world’s largest open-air “hospitality” room and, thus far, has been a tremendous success enhancing safety conditions, offering a welcome oasis, and changing the overall “feel” of the city!

While many would invest time and energy explaining that such a project simply couldn’t possibly be accomplished … other creative minds have overcome the odds and DONE IT! Take the time to look around you, and you’ll discover new examples of creativity emerging on a regular basis, Stop, Look, Listen, and Learn! You’ll be glad you did!

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.

Let Students Run the Country

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If you’ve followed our blog content at all, you’re well aware of the fact that I don’t talk politics. It’s a lost cause which thrills half of our readers and alienates the other half … depending on the issue. However, I do enjoy challenging the status quo which leads to “breakthroughs” at any and every level.

My thoughts on this particular issue were, at first, totally humorous. However, the more I think about it, the more sense it makes!

As we approach a major political vote next week, I find myself bored and irritated at the same time. I’m tired of seeing politicians who avoid telling us what they’re going to do by telling us why we shouldn’t vote for their opponent. In short, from coast to coast, we see nothing but liars calling each other liars. In the meantime, nothing gets done anywhere.

I’m quickly arriving at the conclusion that high school students, using what little experience they have … coupled with common sense, enthusiasm, and creativity … could quickly solve the majority of the country’s current challenges. Of course, I’m talking about those major challenges that have our current political masterminds within the Washington, D.C., beltway totally stifled and gridlocked.

Let me shared a simple example. Illegal immigration to the United States is currently a major issue which is quickly leading to disastrous consequences. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants, settlement patterns, impact on upward social mobility, crime, and voting behavior.

There are currently 15 to 20 million illegal aliens in this country by many estimates, but the real numbers could be much higher and the numbers increase every day because our borders are not secure. Washington claims it cannot find these illegal aliens.

Consider this approach. Have you ever sent a package by way of FedEx or UPS? If you have, you know that private enterprise has mastered, using easily accessible technical advances, the fine art of tracking that package from one side of our country to the next. They can pinpoint the location of that package at any given time during its journey. Private enterprise can track each and every one of millions of moving packages while the federal government can’t locate a single illegal alien who has been living in the same location for years!

Solution: Let’s have FedEx and UPS locate the illegal aliens … then send every one of them a package … then track the package using their technology placed inside police cars.

Package delivered …. alien apprehended … problem solved! Politicians will never learn!

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.

Be Aware of Your Dominant Thought!

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How would you like to find a book that could truly change your life? Well, I’m sorry to report that there is no such thing. However, there is a small book which has been around since the turn of the century that can and will inspire YOU to change your life. It’s less than 70 pages and can be read in about an hour.

This “classic,” written by James Allen, seems to be even more relevant in today’s stressful and competitive society than it was when the author originally shared his wisdom. As a Man Thinketh is partly responsible for the creation of the entire personal development industry. In fact, it has greatly influenced many contemporary writers including Norman Vincent Peale, Earl Nightingale, Denis Waitley and Tony Robbins, among others.

The premise is simple but can truly be life-changing: “We become what we think about.” It’s been translated into five major languages, inspiring millions of readers to recognize that man’s visions can become reality, simply through the power of thought.

In both keynote presentations and seminars, we share irrefutable examples that “each of us constantly move toward our most dominant thought”! Therefore, YOU CHOOSE to move in a positive or negative direction. Obviously, your daily thoughts determine your destiny. Are you prepared to harness this powerful energy on your journey to success?

This book has changed lives all over the world and has been an inspiration to great leaders in every field. It should be required reading in every classroom on earth but is seldom recognized by the majority of our population.

Watch this short but compelling video, find a copy of As a Man Thinketh, and start changing your life TODAY!

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.

Change – Change – Change

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We’ve heard it for what seems to be forever, and the message will live on for decades. CHANGE! We don’t like it in most cases, and many simply struggle in dealing with it. However, it’s inevitable so you might want to focus on coping strategies to help you deal with it.

One simple strategy is to observe what’s going on around you. You’ll soon discover that successful organizations are constantly changing in an effort to become more productive and profitable. Many fail but continue their efforts. Others have enjoyed tremendous growth and success.

For instance, have you noticed the change in McDonalds across the nation? It has moved from tile floors and rickety plastic chairs to comfortable sofas, fireplaces, wide-screen TVs, WI-FI and speciality coffees and desserts in order to meet the needs of its ever-changing customers.

This past week Starbucks revealed that it is currently trying to reinvent itself as a place to hang out in the evenings. It is now serving regional wine and beer as well as an expansive plate of locally made cheeses served on china. The barista bars have been rebuilt to seat customers closer to the coffee. This 40-year-old, 16,000 unit, $15-billion coffee business fully understands that its future lies in changing to meet the ever-changing demands of those it serves, utilizes the latest technology, and out-performs its rapidly growing competitors.

The same holds true for you in your business—regardless of the products or services you may offer. Pause in your busy day to take note of how others are dealing with the challenge of constant change. You might even consider the consequences which may well result if you decide to play it safe and change only after everyone does so. That could easily spell disaster!

Read, research, benchmark and educate your staff on the many benefits of successfully dealing with CHANGE. Our change, creativity and innovation seminars are receiving more interest than ever before, suggesting that those seeking success know where they must focus.

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 We Ever Going to Learn?

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I’ve been presenting keynotes and seminars on the subject of CHANGE for as long as I remember. This is NOT a new subject to anyone … or at least it shouldn’t be. This subject has been addressed in the business world for decades before I was born. Why does everyone have such a hard time adjusting to change?

CHANGE is the one constant that has never changed!

Look at your home, your car, your technology, travel … what would those areas look like if there had been no changes over the last century? Would you be willing to go back to the way we used to do things? Doubtful.

I find it so interesting to look at the companies and organizations that have resisted change over the years … and those that are still doing so today. How many major names have disappeared from every industry because they resisted change? And yet we see it still in so many areas.

Here’s another major change you may have noticed. Years ago, creative employees were stifled and discouraged when they came up with new ideas or creative suggestions for enhancing performance, saving time and money, using new technology, etc. As a result, those employees simply retreated to the “old” way of doing things and contributed nothing to the growth or prosperity of the organization. I’m sure they felt very much like “Peacocks in the Land of Penguins.”

Today, that happens much less as a result of the evolvement of today’s creative minds. If a workplace culture doesn’t nurture these creative minds today, they simply move on to more receptive cultures. In many instances, these valuable employees move on to the competition where they are welcomed and supported. It happens every day!

Does your culture recruit, welcome, support and encourage those who are open to change, creativity and innovation? Does your culture demonstrate openness to new ideas, a willingness to learn, a desire to grow, and flexibility for change? Regardless of your answer, you may want to take a moment to ponder the consequences, both pro and con, of your current path.

Watch this short video to see how “Perry the Peacock” handles the penguins in his world. It’s certainly revealing and maybe even uncomfortably realistic!

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.

Would You Pass the Test?

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This is Customer Appreciation Month in the U.S., and it shouldn’t be!

I say that because I’ll never understand why EVERY month shouldn’t be Customer Appreciation Month! Sadly, I see more and more evidence to the contrary every day! I can’t remember a time when service levels were as low as they are right now—in every industry. Ironically, the opposite should be true.

Oddly enough, today’s economically challenged environment has created somewhat of a level playing field. Think about it. Regardless of the product or service offered, most everyone has been forced to provide the lowest of prices, a variety of choices, constant sales, discounts, and promotions and the highest quality available. To do anything otherwise could lead to disaster. I don’t recall ever seeing so much price-matching in the marketplace as we see today.

While everyone seems willing to execute all of the above strategies in hopes of surviving and maybe even thriving, why does everyone seem to avoid the obvious strategy of providing that rare missing element in the marketplace today—good service? It’s so obvious, so inexpensive, so desired, and so game-breaking. And yet so difficult to find!

Let me challenge you to a simple exercise that will shock you upon completion.

For one week, pay close attention to how you’re treated as a customer. You might be surprised at the number of times you play that role in a single day. Consider the grocery store, restaurant, retail store, barber or beauty shop, taxi cab, airport, hotel, theater, and the list goes on and on. Keep track of the number of times you were treated as though you were appreciated versus the number of times you were taken for granted or even mistreated. You will certainly be disappointed as we have become immune to poor service and have even grown to expect it.

It takes so little to make a BIG difference in the eyes of those you serve. Watch the following video and then discuss it with your staff. Tap the creative juices within your organization to create strategies that will WOW your customers as the young man in this video did for his. You’ll reap fantastic benefits and feel better while doing it! And you’ll be unbelievably unique in today’s service-less culture!

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.

Simplicity at Its Best

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Life seems so complicated sometimes. At the moment, I have a million things running through my mind. They all need to be done yesterday, and I know there are a million other things waiting for me today and tomorrow—it never seems to stop.

However, I wonder how many of those million things are truly that urgent. As I grow older, each of those priorities seem a little less important to me. Not all of them, of course. Some things must be dealt with and within a certain time frame … but certainly not all of them.

And, in striving to accomplish them all, I have to wonder how many simple pleasures I’ve missed over the years … things that seem so important to me today.

  • Making a phone call to someone special.
  • Spending more time with children and grandchildren.
  • Observing so many aspects of nature.
  • Enjoying a book.
  • Pausing to smile at someone who may need it.
  • And the list goes on and on.

One of the most powerful messages we share in several of our keynotes and seminars is very simplistic but also very true. “You constantly move toward your most dominant thought!” It’s proven every day in every way.

I guess a key question arises from that statement that we should really give some thought to. Today—what is YOUR most dominant thought? … because that’s where you’re going to focus your time and energy. Is it worth it? The choice is yours. Make it wisely!

Pause for a moment right now and enjoy this short video which shares some simple secrets for finding true joy… and have a nice day!

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.

Audio Smarts

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As many of you may know, I’ve reviewed 200+ books in a variety of subject categories. I’ve always been an avid reader, but my increased travel schedule has made it more and more difficult during the past few years.

However, due to the wonders of technology, we now have choices in which we can deal with chaotic schedules and time restraints. Audio tapes, CDs, and electronic book readers such as the Kindle have been a tremendous asset for those who realize the importance of continuous learning and the key role that books play in doing so.

I can remember a time when book stores offered a foot or two of shelf space to display a very limited selection of audio books. Today, there are entire audio book stores and an unlimited number of books can be downloaded from the Internet. This technology now permits us to gather information through a variety of books while driving every day, flying for business or pleasure, or spending time in airports waiting to do so.

If you put only 12,000 miles per year on your car, you have the same time invested as one full college semester. That 12,000 miles is the equivalent of ten 40-hour work weeks, assuming an overall speed of 30 mph which is certainly more than attainable when you consider stopping, starting, traffic and speed limits. Can you imagine what you could learn by reading solidly for ten 40-hour weeks!

One university study says that the average American will spend 19,000 hours in a car during his/her lifetime. That’s the equivalent of FOUR Ph.D programs!

There is, of course, a catch. You must skip the typical music, negative news reports, or talk radio that the average driver automatically tunes into upon entering the car. Discipline yourself to listen to audio books and you’ll easily complete one full book per week! That’s 52 books per year or more than 500 books over the next 10 years!

Ask around and see how many people you can find that are reading a book a week? I think you know what you’ll find. Want an edge in today’s very competitive, chaotic, and ever-changing environment? This is certainly one way of getting and maintaining that edge. NOW DO IT!

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.

Know – Show – Grow

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Everyone is aware of the fact that today’s economy is challenging in ways many have never experienced. From this chaos emerge two approaches in dealing with these growing challenges:

  1. Lie down and die. Blame circumstances. Make excuses. Wait for things to change. Hope for the best. See what happens.
  2. Decide to make a difference. Research. Network. Try new strategies. Try again. Make some changes. Try again.

If the best approach isn’t obvious to you at this point … stop reading.

However, if you’re interested in a new strategy that can enhance your results, try this one. It requires very little, if any, investment other than your time and creativity. Make it a team project to garner even more creative ideas!

Take a look below at the weekly and monthly celebrations that October offers for various promotions. Consider customer incentives, discounts, promotions, employee competition, signage, brochures, ads, etc. Get creative! What do you have to lose? In fact, you might be surprised at what you may have to gain!

Look over the list and make something happen this month!

Week #1

  • No Salt Week
  • World Space Week
  • Fire Prevention Week
  • Customer Service Week
  • Universal Children’s Week
  • National Work from Home Week

Week #2

  • Teen Read Week
  • Great Books Week
  • Kids’ Goal Setting Week
  • Emergency Nurses Week
  • National School Lunch Week

Week #3

  • National Food Bank Week
  • Freedom of Speech Week
  • Freedom from Bullies Week
  • International Credit Union Week
  • National Character Counts Week

Week #4

  • Halloween
  • National Magic Week
  • International Magic Week
  • National Businesswomen’s Week
  • Peace, Friendship & Goodwill Week

Monthly Considerations

  • Fire Safety Month
  • National Chili Month
  • National Book Month
  • Family History Month
  • National Apple Month
  • National Pasta Month
  • National Clock Month
  • Class Reunion Month
  • Church Library Month
  • Self-Promotion Month
  • National Carmel Month
  • Positive Attitude Month
  • National Dessert Month
  • National Seafood Month
  • Halloween Safety Month
  • American History Month
  • Computer Learning Month
  • Children’s Magazine Month
  • National Chiropractic Month
  • Head Start Awareness Month
  • National Pizza Festival Month
  • National Roller Skating Month
  • National Dental Hygiene Month
  • Eat Better, Eat Together Month
  • Adopt -a-Shelter-Animal Month
  • Women’s Small Business Month
  • National Down Syndrome Month
  • National Stamp Collecting Month
  • National Popcorn Popping Month
  • National Crime Prevention Month
  • National Hispanic Heritage Month
  • National Bake and Decorate Month
  • Domestic Violence Awareness Month
  • Organize Your Medical Information Month

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.