Page 6 - NBIZ December 2023

my interpersonal skills as well different than a business plan. A
as specific knowledge and sales
skills. This bending back is time
consuming. Sometimes I must
admit to myself that I was not as
kind or thoughtful as I should have
been with an interaction. Part of
reflection returns to one’s own moral
code or ethics.
Responsive is a word I hear
quite often from clients as well as
colleagues and friends. Usually, this
term is connected to poor customer
service. How often does one hear,
“I left a message and no one called
me back.” Then sometimes one
speaks to an actual customer service
provider, a salesperson, a real estate
agent, a technology technician, and
the individual promises to get back
to caller with an answer but all one
does is wait.
This word responsive also shares
Old French and Latin roots. In
the early 15th century, responsive
meant “making an answer”. Later
in the 18th century, the definition
expanded to mean “readily to
influence, able or inclined to
respond.” The word “readily” does
appear to imply quickness of action. believe this agent does not have an
“No one cares how much you
know until they know how much
you care.”
-Roosevelt
To be or not to be in today’s
business world are six words that
should be embraced especially
moving forward to 2024 which is a
national presidential election year.
What will happen? Since very few
folks have accurate crystal balls,
who knows.
What savvy businesspeople who
have ridden the highs and the lows
of the economy do know is now not
later is the time to be aware, to be
on guard, and to undertake specific
actions to ensure one’s business’s
economic survival.
These actions begin with a
strategic thinking plan which is
6 NBIZ ■ December 2023
or losing hope. What frequently
strategic plan delves into how a happens is a lack of balance in
leader defeats his or her enemies. Of one’s personal and professional
JOIN THE HEA SUCCESS.
course, the business leaders must lives. When we believe in ourselves,
have crystal clear clarity as to who have a solid moral code, and JOIN THE HEA SUCCESS.
or what are the enemies. Usually, the continue to do what we need to
enemies are not the competition but do, thoughts of desperation are
instead are the attitudes, the internal reduced. And yes, sometimes
thoughts, or the “whats.” desperation fuels creativity,
The attitude of complacency such inspiration, that “Ah Ha” moment.
as being content with the status Finally, the lack of gratitude
quo or thinking about a previous is another enemy. Gratitude is a
success in a downturn. Thinking habit of thought. How that habit
about previous success and thinking is expressed is different for each
it will always be the same is a very person. What I know to be true
dangerous enemy. Each downturn is by investing the time to send a
is unique although the end results written thank you or just to make
may be similar or the same. For a telephone call to a past client, a
example, the technology of artificial current client, a friend, or a family
intelligence (AI) continues to grow. member is truly appreciated by the
The long-term impact on small receiving individual.
businesses is a total unknown. This year I special ordered one
Entrepreneurs create a business hundred note cards with matching
with a purpose in mind. Sometimes envelopes. The front of the card has
that purpose is lost in the day-to-day the word “thankful” and below that
routines of being in the business. in smaller print is “For Knowing
Recently I heard from another You”. I designed these cards with the
agent that this agent sells real goal of sending approximately one-
estate as it is just a job. This person third for Thanksgiving, one-third
rarely smiles, and I sincerely for Christmas and one-third for the
New Year. Each card will have a brief
handwritten note as well.
gratitude works for me because I am
Making that extra effort of
truly grateful for current clients,
past clients, as well as friends and
colleagues, that I have met through
all my journeys. President Theodore
(Teddy) Roosevelt is quoted as
saying, “No one cares how much
attitude of fun or enthusiasm. For you know until they know how
me, sales are the transference of much you care.”
feelings (Zig Ziglar). As I have been contributing
Having fun and being enthusias- articles to NBIZ Magazine since
tic about what one does is essential 2007, I wish to express my gratitude
for long-term growth. Yes, most to those who continue to read them.
of us have “bad days” when our Finally, may 2024 bring you, your
enthusiasm is low. Yet when one business, your family and friends
reflects, he/she realizes this bad day incredible peace and abundance. N
will eventually turn around. As the
expression states, “When one door Leanne Hoagland-Smith is a clarity
closes, another door opens.” Having strategist, solving people and
enthusiasm allows us to open that process problems. As a thought
next door. leader who challenges the status
Desperation is another enemy quo, she turns tomorrow’s goals
and is often the result of not into today’s results. Follow her on
planning, not having clarity, and/ Twitter @CoachLee.