Tom Fuszard – Page 14 – Tom Fuszard's Business Builder

Sound advice from Jay Leno

December 11, 2015January 27, 2014 by Tom Fuszard

What can Jay Leno, one of the top comedians around, teach entrepreneurs and other business people? Quite a bit, if you read his book, “Leading With My Chin.” While chuckling through all 270-plus pages, I discovered some kernels of wisdom that everyone can benefit from. Jay is where he is today because he followed two important tenets. I review those, and add one of my own.

1. Determination to succeed. I wrote about work ethic in another column. Jay provides a pretty good picture of what’s necessary to establish yourself in comedy: Drive long distances, work in awful conditions for little or no pay, deal with heckling (including being struck by an unruly patron and having live cigarette butts thrown at him). Conditions may not be as bad today as they were in Jay’s early years. But there’s no mistaking the need for effort. You have to be willing to put in the time if you hope to succeed – in any endeavor.

“I’ve never been better at anything than anybody else,” Jay writes, “which meant that I would always just have to work a little harder to keep up or maybe even pull ahead.”

He put in the effort, and it paid off. Handsomely. (As you know, Jay is ending his nearly 22-year “Tonight Show” career in early February.)

Want to reduce stress? Take a walk!

December 11, 2015January 15, 2014 by Tom Fuszard

While office work isn’t as physically demanding as, say, hauling shingles or operating a jack hammer, it can be taxing in its own way. Office workers often look for ways to reduce stress. Adjusting the work load will help, of course. Can certain tasks be handled by others?

Consider, too, the layout of your office. Does it incorporate an ergonomic design? Furniture and lighting that are not conducive to efficient operations can seriously impair your abilities.

Another problem is that many office workers simply don’t get enough exercise. Their reasons are many, but often involve time and/or money. Consider this: What can you do that is free, really easy to do, doesn’t take much time, and pays big dividends long term? Talk a walk!

Important tips for building sales

December 11, 2015January 11, 2014 by Tom Fuszard

Professional development is important for any business person. But that’s especially true of sales people. I recently had the pleasure of sitting in on a very valuable presentation by Larry Cockerel. Here are some reflections of that seminar.

Larry, a veteran sales development and training specialist from the Milwaukee area, started off by reminding us that sales is all about attitude. “We have choices to make everyday,” Larry said. “We can choose to put on a positive attitude.”

Larry invited the audience to rate their levels of confidence, belief and courage. These were on a 1-5 scale. Larry pointed out the pitfalls of rating our confidence too high or too low. Too low and we don’t feel we’re able to accomplish anything. Too high, and you may fall into that trap of thinking you have it all.

What’s in your dream folder?

December 11, 2015January 3, 2014 by Tom Fuszard

If you’re like most successful business people, you regularly set goals and objectives. You post your list prominently and review your goals regularly. Doing so keeps you focused and motivated. Would you like to take your personal development further? Perhaps enhance your motivation and therefore the chances for success?

Create a dream file. That’s right, a dream file.

You see, one problem with a list of goals and objectives is that it’s just words and numbers on paper: There isn’t a visual aspect to your list. How, after all, do you visualize a new and higher annual income?

More great advice from Richard Branson

December 11, 2015January 2, 2014 by Tom Fuszard

Richard Branson’s book, “Losing My Virginity: How I’ve Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way” offers great insight into the man behind the Virgin Group. In an earlier post, I reviewed five great concepts I gleaned from his book. This passage offers two more nuggets of advice for entrepreneurs everywhere.

Richard is often asked why he participates in those dangerous activities (balloon rides around the world, driving a power about across the Atlantic). Here is how he responds:

“Part of me is driven to try new adventures, and I still find that I want to push myself to my limits. If I were to think about it more carefully, I would say that I love to experience as much of life as I can.”

Let’s review the important concepts here: