Faves!!

         

 

 

                                                                                       Edition 290 Monday July 13th 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,as you all know,for me,being well behaved for at least 110kms too and from work everyday has its challenges.I have had the odd complaint from my fellow motorists however I am pleased to report driving a marked car continues to make me a better driver!I was however, alarmed to read some negative comments recently about the ‘Green Gorilla’ on our community facebook page!!Clearly there is more improving to be done and I am determined to clear my name which can only be a good thing!

Wait till they get a load of my new UPBE4T plate about to hit the road (nice and politely of course!!).

Fletcher says; Being the tallest nearly three year old kid at his mates four year old birthday party on the weekend was pretty cool….clearly his Mums genes kicking in early,enjoy it while it lasts mate!!

Funny file……saw a guy waiting to turn on to the highway last week who had obviously forgotten to take his wheelie bin off his towbar at the top of his drive!!!Also, thought I had lost my wallet while parked in Onehunga the other day….after abusing everyone who had ever lived in the area since it was settled and cancelling all my credit cards etc I noticed the wallet nestled in the gap between the bonnet and the windscreen!!My sincere apologies to the honest citizens of Onehunga for ever doubting you….yes I felt terrible and more stupid than normal!

Clear,crisp,sunny winter days as good as any in summer combined with a birthday party,a visit from Nana and Poppa and fish and chips amongst the vines at Matua Vineyard were some of our favourite things this weekend!No matter what you have to do around the house and property it is important to work in some faves,weekends are for living too,make sure you plan to get out and have some fun!!

Loving the school holiday traffic flow, hope you are cool too, have a great week…….Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon dogs should have birthday parties as well(see photo)!

 

 

 

“If you want to stand out from the crowd, give people a reason not to forget you.”

Richard Branson

 

Auto messages can bring out the best and worst in people!

Take phone voicemails for example,some messages go on forever and don’t do a lot to inspire people to want to leave a message or even worse want us to call them back at all!

A voice mail or email/text/foot note are all excellent opportunities to add value to our contact with friends, family or business associates.

I have tried to do something a little bit different on my voicemail message. Firstly I have attempted to keep it as brief as possible(hard for me) and to try to relate it to what it is I do (save the planet!!:)

You know if you are on to something when people A)leave a message and B)comment on your message on theirs! I get a least a comment a day from people re my message which I believe makes me stand out from the mediocrity of most voice mails people encounter.

For me its about being different and getting that difference across to callers withourt being too smart!

I also customize the footnote on my phone email message regularly and receive positive comments daily to my advantage as a result of making the effort to do so.

Recently the CEO of a large organization was so impressed with my simple message that she adopted it herself!

This message and the discussion about it between us did more for our business relationship than a couple of meetings had previously.

Small stuff like this can make a noticeable difference,its about having the courage to give it a crack!

Being a bit different can be scary but its worth it if it makes you stand out from the crowd!! Go On !!

 

“Stop trying to fit in when you were born to stand out.” Jon Bon Jovi

Auckland STAR !!!!

                                                                                       Edition 289 Monday July 6th 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,on the back of my challenge to you last week to do something spontaneous and randomly kind for someone else we came home to discover a container full of kindling and pinecones! We can only assume it was one of our ‘Upbeat’ readers taking up the challenge.Thankyou whoever you are for your kind thoughts and generosity,it was just as big a thrill to be on the receiving end this time!

Fletcher says; he has never seen such big pinecones it seemed a shame to burn them so he built a ‘sky tower’ out of them instead!Budding Conservationist or Engineer or normal almost three year old!

I managed to get my ears sorted and like my knees it was quite simple.Once I could hear I decided to heed the advice of others this time and have a couple of weeks away from the pool!

Yes it is doing my head in however as a highly tuned athlete I have decided it is for the best!I have also heard I will have to acquire a blow dryer to dry my ears after each swim in future.This could be difficult to explain away to the boys at the pool??Hair dryers not normal blokes gym bag kit!!

I went to a funeral last week and couldn’t help reflecting on my own life as you do.I even thought about what my own funeral would be like,is that wrong?...crikey I wasn’t hanging round to find out!!

So…after promising ourselves some timeout for far too long we finally got round to using Mum and Dads Christmas voucher at a local winery estate!Fletcher had a blast with his babysitter and we savoured the time to just be together as a couple without child!We have promised each other to date more often!!One of my favourite moments was opening the car door for my wife like the old days!

What about the footy final!! Crikey it was a cracker!!….go the Landers!!!Be sure to keep an eye or ear out for the All Blacks versus Samoa live from sunny Apia Wednesday 2pm!!

I hope you are having a good time being ‘Upbeat’,keep up the good work…….Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon being overlooked as Fletchers babysitters was ruff!

 

 

Some ex paper delivery boys include,Walt Disney,Bob Hope,Bing Crosby,John Wayne!

 

In the last week I have heard on three separate occasions how important people I have been talking to considered having a paper run was as a kid!

It was an interesting coincidence and one I could totally relate to having been both an ‘Auckland Star’ and a ‘Royal New Zealand Herald’ delivery boy. At one stage I did both at once and like my colleagues believe it was the best possible start one could want to a working career.

For me it an early introduction to the disciplines and responsibilities required as an employee in the real world.As a paper boy or girl you needed to be on time and accurate or you would be responsible for letting your employer and customers down.

For me it was much more than that,I got to read the news before anyone else ,I was so up to date with current affairs it was unbelieveable.I also met a lot of local people and earned extra money doing other jobs around the neigbourhood that came as a result of being a reliable and ‘Upbeat’ paper boy.I did extra paper runs when kids were away and was able to associate that the harder I was prepared to work the more I could earn!I was also promoted for the first time in my work career and learned that whilst hard work earns more money it also earns promotion and recognition.I remember this being a good feeling and one I decided I wanted to pursue more of in my work career.

So it was with fondness that interest that I recounted with others this week past experiences as  paper boys and the positive effect we felt that had on our work ethics and careers.Its not a bad thing to be reminded of your ‘grass roots’ as an employee or employer!It is easy to lose sight of the basic principles that make us the person we are.Reflecting on these from time to time is useful and enlightening…I recommend it!!

 

And some more…Dr Norman Vincent Peale,Harry S Truman,Dwight Eisenhower,

Ed Sullivan, Dr Martin Luther King, Herbert Hoover.

Lend me your ears!!!

         

 

 

                                                                                       Edition 288 Monday June 29th 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,there are times when I admit to being selectively deaf because I have never liked to be told!

Most times when I am told I ignore it because I know it is right but don’t want to admit it.In yet another recent example my wife suggested I have a break from swimming to allow an acute case of ‘swimmers ear’ to settle down and heal,but,I knew best and now I am not selectively deaf I am almost stone deaf ,some jokers wont be told,pity, as it would save a lot of pain,time,money and grief. 

Fletcher says; wearing his new All Black jersey with the white collar standing up rather than folded down is the only way he will ever be seen wearing it,(see attached attempting a kitchen field goal).

The coming week is “Volunteer week’ so we got it off to a cracking start by assisting an elderly friend shift house this weekend.Zita is a local icon often seen walking in all weathers and always stopping to have a chat or feed dogs and cats along her way.She is 89 and taught for over 30 years at local primary schools and has always given generously of her time. So who better for us to give something back to but this wonderfully grand and gracious lady.With any voluntary or random acts of kindness I always feel totally satisfied through the happiness, pleasure and gratitude it brings to those who receive it.Making the effort was a simple little thing that made our day and a huge difference to hers!

My challenge to you for the coming week is to make a special effort to assist someone in need without being asked.I guarantee it will be one of the most fulfilling things you can ever do…good luck!

To the Hurricanes and the Highlanders(after my late Saturday night vigil of support) congratulations on making the footy final, may the best team win next week,tune in for a thriller from the Cake tin!!

A final word of support to our ‘Upbeat’ readers from the Ministry of Health Whanganui I hope you are safe and well and  hanging in there after the recent floods…….Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon we don’t need to buy a zoo we already own one!!!

 

“There are worse things in life than death. Have you ever spent an evening with an insurance salesperson?” ~ Woody Allen

 

I am aware life is about more than the razzle dazzle of sales and that as sales professionals we are responsible for ensuring the sales we make are under promised so our teams can over deliver.

Often this is not the case because in our haste to make the sale we tend to do the opposite and over promise which places our support and delivery teams in a position where they under deliver.

This is not their choice but they find themselves in a position where they couldn’t possibly deliver what the sales department have promised because it is simply not achievable.

Is it any wonder then why sales people can and do develop a poor reputation in their own companies to the point of being despised and criticised by other departments or divisions of their organisation.

This unfortunately is all too common and it is something not enough sales people work hard enough at eliminating or minimising.

It is a widely known and obvious fact that no business exists without sales and to make those sales businesses must have people who are solely responsible for beating the competition to the $$$$.

What is not appreciated enough is the fact that those sales must be ‘win/win and profitable for both companies in the deal. The only way that can be achieved is if sales people negotiating those deals are acting equally as diligently for their companies as they are for their customers. This will ensure deals are profitable and fit the strengths and capabilities of the service and delivery teams who will in turn appreciate and thrive on the opportunity to exceed the expectations of new customers.

This will establish the sales team as an effective and integral part of any business rather than would be rock star/show ponies creating non stop headaches for the rest of the business!!!There I said it!

 

“If a salesperson smiles all the time they’re probably selling something that doesn't work.”

~ George Carlin