How many times have you been to the grocery store and when you get to the checkout line the person there is grimacing and unsociable? Or you are at a restaurant and your server only does the minimum checking up on you and when they are there, act as if your being there is an inconvenience? When you are going through this does it seriously make you want to be a repeat customer?
Sometimes it feels like customer service really is a lost art. If you are trying to build a successful business customer service is paramount. People have to want to come back to your establishment or have to want to work with you. The real secret when it comes to customer acquisition and retention is experience. Give the customer an experience they will never forget. Most marketers will agree that an interactive experience is what is trending these days. Take advantage of this strategy and use it. When I am touring a family through my preschool I am thinking about creating an experience in which the family will have no choice but to say, "Yes! This is where I want my child to get an education." As I am creating this experience I always make sure that I am providing the parents with the formal information that they need to make an informed decision while showcasing the warm, nurturing atmosphere where their child will feel safe and able to learn. And while I may be giving a lot of information and showing the various rooms of the building, it's done with a smile and a feeling of gratitude for them being there.I am grateful that they have chosen to come look at my school. Even though they might go tour another school, they didn't have to come to my school but they did and this is my chance to show them that enrolling in my school is the best decision that they can make. If the child is there I get down on their level and talk to them; I use their name; I ask them if they would like to play while I speak with mom and dad. My customer service MUST extend to everyone. In this particular business a good sign of hopeful intent is if the child does not want to leave when it is time to go. This makes mom and dad feel some comfort that the child feels at home. What if you are not a business owner but an employee who wants to move up or simply be better at their job? I think back to a phrase I heard in the past from a former employer of mine, "When the boss is happy then everyone is happy." Now that may be a little one sided but any good employer or manager, who is thoughtful about their business and their employees will "Get" that if their employees are happy and making the business successful, then they (the manager) will be successful and happy. So as someone who is desiring to do better in their job what should they do? Well first off, familiarize yourself with the mission and vision of the business. What is the goal of the business? If it is a retail based business then one of the goals is to move product. If it is a service based business then a goal is to market and sell the service. Regardless of the type of business one goal everyone shares is - repeat business. When engaging with customers always take the high road and interact with them with a smile on your face and a genuine interest in them being there. Remember that without their service and sales there are no funds in which to pay you. Even if you are having a bad day, do your best to check the attitude at the door. Your bad mood is not going to provide outstanding customer service, nor is telling everyone or complaining about it. Be the best at what you can do in your position and people will respond to it. This becomes extremely important if the customer is having a bad day. Yes, we have all been there. A customer comes in and they have had a bad day and they are going to let everyone know it. By providing outstanding customer service you have the opportunity to turn their day around for the better and make them a repeat customer. What a great compliment if someone walks into the business and requests YOU! This also shows your employer and the people around you that you are working for the success of EVERYONE and not just yourself. Sometimes you have to be the example for others to follow and not in a cocky way but just by doing the right thing. Now I did mention asking about mission and vision. Asking these questions to the boss will either impress or distress the employer. It will impress them to know that you have a genuine interest in the depth of the business outside of your designated responsibilities. The only time it is going to distress the employer is if they don't have a mission and vision. Now they might feel intimidated that they don't have all of their ducks in a row and here they have someone asking about them. What is mission and vision? Simply put, your mission is the goal of your business and the vision is what you are going to do to achieve your mission. Outstanding customer service should be in every mission and vision unless you are fortunate enough to operate a business that does not require customers. The mission statement is going to be a bold statement that portrays the outcome of what your business will ultimately achieve. The vision are the various steps and stages that you will use to meet the mission. The mission generally will not change over time unless there is a major paradigm shift in the whole business concept. It might get tweaked but nothing major. The vision or the steps to achieve the mission can change as the business continues to grow and evolve. You may realize that certain steps are no longer needed while other steps may need to be added. Either way, familiarizing yourself with your company's mission and vision gives you better insight so that you can provide better customer service. The duty of customer service is a duty that should be shared by everyone. It is not an archaic means of obtaining business rather it is a vital means to an end. If anything remember this - customers want an experience. So give them one; a great, positive one. Building Leaders for Success is a company dedicated to the training and education of people who want to grow as leaders and obtain success. For more information visit us at www.buildingleadersforsuccess.com and like us on Facebook at Building Leaders for Success.
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Any ambitious, motivated person who wants to experience success in leadership is going to want to have their hands in the leadership of an organization. But this begs the question, how do I know my place within said organization?
I wouldn't necessarily call this a flaw but something I personally have to contend with; whatever organization or business that I am actively involved with, I almost feel compelled to be at the forefront of the leadership / decision making process. It is not a matter of ego as some might contend but more of a desire to use the skill set that I possess to help contribute to the overall success of the organization/business. My own reality drives me to believe that every business can be improved upon - mine to no exception. Take this reality combined with my self-prescribed attraction to leadership and I find myself being stretched in more ways than I can handle respectfully. It is not to say that I can't be a leader in any or all groups I associate with but I need to know my place. There have been numerous times where I was a more effective leader by being an excellent follower of someone else's leadership. The value of being a leader and having a supportive team is key to the health and success of your business. So is it necessary for me to be at that head table every single time? No. Maybe the most efficient place for me is to make myself accessible to those head leaders letting them know that I am here if I can be of service and then keep myself in the follower role. When those opportunities arise where I am asked to step up and take on a more involved leadership role, then of course I will do so and do so wholeheartedly. Once I have fulfilled those responsibilities then I move back to the following role. As more people utilize this approach it creates more opportunities for people to use their inherent value to strengthen the business as a whole. It also helps to efficiently distribute the workload so that the same tasks are not falling on the same people. As a managing leader for a few companies the toughest thing to do is manage those people whose ambitions and drive are similar to mine. Of course there are many people who share the same approach as I described above and are ok by leading through following but then there are others who have to be at the front. Again this is not always a product of egocentricity but then sometimes it is. Be smart and have those conversations to help find the right fit for all of those people in the grand puzzle of your company. As tough as it may seem sometimes, believe it or not, there is a place for everyone. The worst thing you can do is not take the time to find that spot and run the risk of losing someone who could add great value to what you are doing. As the individual trying to find their place, don't give up; realize that there is a place for you in any group. You have to be willing to be flexible until that right spot opens up for you. Maintain a sense of humility and keep a level of professional courtesy with the people around you. You wouldn't want to finally get to that right fit only to discover that the people you are working with don't respect you or worse yet, don't even want to be around you. Your role does not have to be a binary one - that is, you are either 100% in or not. Once you know how much time you can effectively dedicate to a task or project, have the conversation with the managing leader and be honest about what you can give and go from there. This approach will not work in every situation as sometimes job descriptions and what you have been hired for does not allow that flexibility. However if you are in a volunteer or somewhat volunteer environment then move ahead with that process. Or if you are in a corporate environment and have the opportunity to have the conversation, you can achieve your desired results through delegating aspects of the task or project. This will allow you to use the time you have available to ensure that the part you are responsible for is the best you can produce. No matter whether you are in the head leader position or in the following position, remember that you do have a place. Know it, respect it and make the best of it. Above all remember that you add value but it is up to you to share that value. Know your place…. as a valued leader who wants to make a positive difference towards your success and that of those around you. For more information on these topics and more visit us at www.buildingleadersforsuccess.com and like us on Facebook at Building Leaders for Success. Many people took Saturday to take their significant others out for dinner, dancing and maybe a show all in the name of LOVE. That same feeling of LOVE which makes relationships so successful also apply to the success we aim to achieve in our professional lives as well. Ok maybe not the smoochy smoochy type of love but a love and sense of self fulfillment for what we are doing.
I will admit that there are many days where I question myself on why do I continue to put up with what I have to put up with. The easy way out would be to sell a business or two and just live off of the earnings. But the main reason I don't do that is because I love what I do. If I did not keep myself in a state of learning through experiences, even if those experiences don't come in a positive light, then I would not be able to continue to love what I do. From every experience I always try to find something to learn; maybe I could have handled a situation differently, or maybe the approach another person used was more efficient; no matter what the lesson, anything I can pick up to better myself is a check in the win category. When you are having a bad day or something negative has happened, sometimes the simple act of saying what you love can bring you back to a positive place where you can resume working towards your goals. Here are some LOVE affirmations that I like to use when I am not feeling 100% positive or optimistic:
You can have as few or as many affirmations as you choose. Many of my success students use their family or their pets to bring them back to a positive place. It is also good to LOVE being in good health, having a vehicle that gets you where you need to go. The more LOVE we have in our lives, the better our chance for staying in a positive mindset. The more we stay in a positive mindset the better our chances for achieving meaningful success in our lives. So today go forth with feelings of LOVE of your job, your ambitions and yourself. If you are enjoying these blogs the best compliment you can give is a referral to utilize our services. Please continue to follow us here on www.buildingleadersforsuccess.com and like us on Facebook at Building Leaders for Success. As the title suggests, are the emotions and events of love, pain and death really factors for success? In a word - Yes!
Emotions are powerful elements when it comes to motivational success. The difference between one who uses these elements for success and one who does not is the choice to utilize said elements. The value of choice is always a determining factor in our path towards success. Let's put this into context: In the recent past I lost an uncle to cancer. There was a time that we thought they had beaten the cancer or at least had it in a workable state of remission. Unfortunately in the months prior to christmas we discovered that the cancer had come back aggressively and was spreading. This was very devastating to our family. Despite this news, we were still hopeful that something could be done. Even once it was determined that it was beyond control and that the only goal was to keep him comfortable, as a family unit we were successful in making that happen. Even in his last days my uncle was surrounded by friends and family and the love that was present far surpassed any pain that could have existed. Where is the success in this sad story? Well it is not in the fact that we were able to make him comfortable in his last days. It was in the legacy that we all discovered. As a family we knew my uncle as the caring, giving, family man who was like a giant teddy bear. We also knew that he was liked and respected by his peers. However it wasn't until this last part of his life that we realized how successful he was. The legacy he created fast surpassed what we knew of him. All of the wonderful things we knew about him were being magnified ten fold. The impact that this man made in the lives of his family, his coworkers and his friends was incredibly profound. His presence in our lives saved so many people in spiritual and emotional ways. It wasn't just the hard work and his many years of service around the world in the Air Force, it was the character that he possessed and the effect it had on anyone who met him. He was a man that everyone adopted to be a part of their families. This is simply how special he was. Even in death, we as a family find ourselves motivated to be better people; do better in our jobs; give more to society and make the world a better place. These states of motivation are stimulated by the emotions we felt and continue to experience through the life and death of my wonderful uncle. Speaking from my own perspective I had a choice to make. During the mourning process I could let my uncle's death completely derail me emotionally and psychologically or I could use his example to modify my life. And while it is still recent and the pain is real, I know that I hope people will speak of me when my time has passed the way they have spoken about my uncle. If I can be a better person, employer, entrepreneur, teacher, motivator and god-fearing individual, then the lessons that my uncle has instilled in me are being fulfilled. In life and in death, emotion and the value of choice are powerful factors that can be used to make you more successful in your personal and professional lives. If these blogs are a source of help for you please like our Facebook page - Building Leaders for Success. Or better yet, utilize our services and let us present one of our programs to you and your team. The best compliment you can give us is a referral. Visit our contact page to speak with a representative. For the person who truly values the achievement of success, they will understand that you have to work everyday for it. While we can experience success on a daily basis the big successes that many of us work for take time. With this in mind we are constantly looking for the various formulas that will put us on the pathway to achieving the big success.
Working for success really is like working out at the gym. To achieve one's fitness goals one must work daily to achieve his or her goals. There is the constant monitoring of weight, fat percentage, body mass index, addition of weights in your routine, how much time is dedicated to cardio, etc. For the fitness enthusiast, monitoring these items as well as a slew of others, allow them to track how close they are to achieving a fitness goal. Once they have achieved that goal they will set another goal and work towards that goal. This process applies to anyone pursuing any success goal. You must identify the various steps needed to obtain the goal. How are these steps monitored? What can you do to improve on the steps? Once you have achieved your goal or met a success, what are the next steps to get you to your next goal or success? Here are some ideas for your general success goals that can be helpful by incorporating them into your daily success workout:
We will continue to add to your daily success workout but try these to get started. Let's look at some comparison's between gym observations and success observations.
So as you continue your day ask yourself, are you working daily for success? If not, why? We hope you are enjoying these blogs. The best compliment you can give us is your referral. Please contact us about utilizing our seminar services. For more information on our services and to receive our blogs, like us on Facebook at Building Leaders for Success. Who would think that a simple courtesy wave when you are driving in the car to another driver who lets you pull in front of them would be such a big deal? Maybe it is because so many people don't do these simple gestures. It's not because they are bad people but life gets in the way and people get their minds caught up with all of the complexities of it and they simply forget.
Sometimes a simple courteous gesture such as opening the door for someone, saying please and thank you, god bless you, helping an elderly person cross the street or with their groceries, can be the ray of sunshine on a gloomy day. We never know what another person is feeling and thinking. Maybe they are having a bad day and are simply seeking some kind attention. That act of saying hello as you walked passed them may be that turning point for them. Courtesy as a concept is almost a lost art is the world of business. The businesses that utilize good customer service and incorporate courtesy generally experience more success. Customers want to have an experience whether it is going to the grocery store or going to the bank. The reason I am a return customer for the businesses I subscribe to is because the people have been courteous and created an atmosphere where I feel comfortable. No matter what you do and whether you are in a good mood or a bad mood, check the drama at the front door and remember to be courteous. It might not only mean the difference between a good day and a bad day but between a frequent and one time customer. If you enjoy these tips for success, the best compliment you can give us is a like and / or share on social media or better yet, utilize our live services. Check us out on the web at www.buildingleadersforsuccess.com or on Facebook at Building Leaders for Success or email us at buildingleadersforsuccess@gmail.com This month's feature story is about a former student of mine who was very inspirational to her peers as well as her teachers. It was a pleasure to work with her. For a high school student she was very balanced and a drive that pushed her to success. My name is Bridget Rickard and I am a college-bound eighteen-year-old from sunny South Florida. While still very young, I feel that I have “found” myself in the arts – particularly in instrumental music- and have learned many of life’s great lessons through my experiences in music. I am a big believer in the power of the arts and its effect on one’s innermost humanity. I have been very blessed to have had wonderful parents and mentors in my life and I accredit my growth as an individual to them. From each mentor, I have learned invaluable life lessons and become one step closer to reaching my full human potential. In first grade, at the age of six, I began piano lessons. I was blessed with a wonderful teacher who, for eight years, encouraged me to think far past the notes on a musical staff, instilling in me a limitless creativity. While she shared many pearls of wisdom, I carry two particular pearls very close to my heart. My piano teacher believed that there is more to music than, “black notes on a white canvas,” and encouraged me to think in color. She also used her philosophy as a simile for life: “like music, there is more to life than black and white, but it is up to you to see the gray.” This philosophy has helped me to not only accept, but also appreciate the nuances of life. Often times in a lesson I would play a bad note and immediately apologize. One day she turned to me and said, “There is no such thing as bad notes, only notes played without conviction.” She then told me to look at each day as a musical note and said, “We can use almost any experience as an opportunity to grow in hope or hopeless. We get to choose.” So, thanks to my piano teacher, I often remind myself that attitude is everything, so I better pick a good one! Soon after picking up the piano, I wanted to join band. My grade school did not have enough funding for a full-fledged Fine Arts program, so band was after school once a week for half an hour. When I told my music teacher I wanted to play the flute in band she scoffed at me and said that I wasn’t capable of playing an instrument. It was at that moment that I realized I loved a challenge and set out to prove my music teacher wrong. While my music teacher was not a mentor, she did teach me a very important lesson early on: not everyone wants you to succeed. The more success I experience, the more this becomes apparent. So, each day, in addition to reminding myself to pick a good attitude, I tell myself that within each human interaction is an opportunity to build someone up. In eighth grade, I moved to a more Fine Arts focused school. As the consummate band geek, with three music classes a day, it was if I died and went to heaven. Little did I know at the time that being in band and the relationships that would stem from it would have such a profound effect on me as a human being. In eighth grade I took a piano lab class, a scheduled fifty-five minute practice period. Ironically, the teacher did not know how to play the piano, but she did know the power of compassion. At the time, she was battling cancer, often too weak to walk. However, she always greeted her students with an infectious smile and I almost never left without a hug. Her perseverance taught me that genuine toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles. Whether it was by leaving a little note in your piano binder or giving you your favorite candy bar, she made each student feel special. So, in the same spirit, I try to make those around me feel special; everyone deserves to know the power of compassion. In that same year, I met three of the most pivotal mentors in my life. Without their guidance and support I would not have grown into who I am. In their own way, each mentor has taught me many priceless lessons, some of which I am still “chewing” on. The first of the aforementioned three, I met halfway through my eighth grade year. Throughout the years she has become more like a second mother and in that vein has taught me much more about life than music: 1.) Openness is just as important as honesty. 2.) Change is what you make of it. 3.) Live in the moment because in the end, we only regret the chances we did not take, the relationship we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited to long to make. The second of the aforementioned three mentors I met in the later half of my eighth grade year. Through his actions he has taught me that leadership is a lifestyle. By living this lifestyle of leadership he has taught me: 1.) People, especially those who you lead, do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. 2.) It is lonely at the top. If you want to be the crème of the crop, get used to it. 3.) Next time you’re tempted to say you ‘can’t,’ remember that what you’re really saying is, ‘I don’t want to. 4.) You are not supposed to accomplish all of your goals. In fact, failure is often the biggest springboard for growth. 5.) Goals are dreams with deadlines. The third mentor in the aforementioned group of three, I met my freshmen year of high school. Albeit complete opposites, I could not imagine my life today without his guidance and support – he has become and always will be like family. On the day of my graduation he left me with one last homework assignment – do not be afraid. He told me to not be afraid to get back up– to try again, to live again, to love again, and to dream again. He said not to let hard lessons harden my heart. He warned me that life’s best lesson are often learned at the worst times and from the worst mistakes. However, he quickly reassured me that when everything seems to be going wrong, when you feel like you will be stuck in a rut forever, or when you just feel like quitting, sometimes things have to go wrong before they can be right. Of all the lessons he taught me, one in particular has stood out for me: take time to live life. As I have watched people dear to me become engulfed by their jobs at the expense of their families and their relationship with others, I have come to understand why it is crucial to take time to live life. As I enter into the next stage of my life, I take with me a blueprint, drafted by all of my mentors throughout the years, for less turbulent passage in the waters to come. It is my hope that some day I may be able to positively affect the lives of others in the fashion that my mentors have affected me. You know these two talented artists as the hit group - In Sterio or maybe you know them as two professional orchestral flautists. Either way their individual stories and their In Sterio story is fascinating and inspiring. This quote says it all, "In Sterio is a genre-shattering, pop-fusion flute duo that has been described as “two flutes-one brain”, “spell-binding” and “awe-inspiring” Erica Peel (pictured right) My name is Erica Peel and I’m a musician. I am the piccoloist with Omaha Symphony and a cofounding member of the internationally recognized fusion flute duo, In Sterio. I feel honored to have been asked to share my story in this blog, as the topics discussed are the very things I aspire to achieve. Looking back on my 30+ years of life, I can point to a number of moments that have lead to where I am today. At the time, however, I never would have guessed that those moments were molding both me as a person and the direction my career was taking. I grew up in a musical family. My father was a musician (French Horn) on Broadway and played in the Les Miserables pit for a number of years. He also played for Celine Dion, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Chuck Mangione, Vanessa Williams, Wynton Marsalis and many more. It might seem obvious that he was a main source of inspiration and motivation for me. And while that is most certainly true, it came in a less than obvious form. My dad was very clear about what it takes to “make it” as a musician. It would probably seem, to an outsider, that he was actually discouraging me from going into that field. The competition is fierce. The sheer number of flutists fighting for a job is staggering. There are countless situations that are out of your control, but that also directly affect whether certain opportunities are afforded to you. And if you are lucky enough to get a performing job, it likely would be a struggle to raise a family on that income. Phew... would *you* still want to do this? As an ornery child, I thought it better to face those challenges head on instead of allowing them to keep me from pursuing my dream. So began my career as a flutist... I attended a high school with a wonderful music program in New Jersey, and studied privately with a flute teacher from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. I earned a Bachelor of Music degree on a full tuition scholarship from the University of Miami in Florida. At a competition, I was approached by a renowned flute teacher in California who asked if I would like to take part in a new program she was designing. Simply put, it was a year of intensive study catered to reach my specific goals, whatever they may be. At that time, my ultimate goal was to win an orchestral position. Since the degrees you have obtained mean nothing during an orchestral audition, I thought this program was perfect for me. Turned out it was. I won the Assistant Principal Flute position with the Honolulu Symphony in Hawaii after that one year of study. I spent three years experiencing true “on the job” training, while soaking up the sun and beautiful Hawaiian lifestyle before I began to understand the dire state classical music and the symphony, specifically, are in these days. In hindsight, I think there was always something brewing within me... a part of me that wasn’t satisfied with my only performance outlet being on a stage where one must look, behave and play a certain way. When the realization came that not only was I not satisfied with orchestral performing alone, but that the face of classical music needed to change to last, my outlook on life and success changed. I met another wonderful flutist, and we became friends and sort of musical soul mates. We both craved an atmosphere where we could be virtuosic musicians while making creative yet accessible music. Essentially, we wanted to redefine “flute” music... we wanted to break through all the molds we were told to fit into and be our unique selves. Thus, In Sterio was born. From that point to where we are today has been a wild ride. We never imagined that we’d be playing *our* music for thousands of people. I can’t even say we had a “plan”. What we did have, however, were the cajones to get up and DO it. When asked what our key to success is (which is interesting, because we’re still on the road!), only one tried and true thing comes to mind. And thats the Nike slogan, Just. Do. It., but slightly more emphatic. We’ve met so many people along the way who had brilliant ideas... innovative, creative, even genius ideas. But they ended there. The people whose brain those ideas were in didn’t DO it. Perhaps taking the steps necessary to get it done were overwhelming. Perhaps they didn’t know where to start. Perhaps they didn’t want it badly enough. But... we did. So, we started. We researched our butts off. We learned how to write our own music, we learned how to make our own CD, we figured out how to make live shows work, we learned how to market ourselves, we did (and still do) educational programs in schools... the list goes on and on. We are still learning and doing and growing. But, I am incredibly fulfilled performing *flute* music that I love and the general public loves. I get a thrill out of changing people’s perception of my instrument. The most rewarding comment we hear is “I never knew the flute could sound like THAT!”. Or even better, “I didn’t even realize it was two flutes rocking my world!”. So, I guess the long and short of it is, JUST DO IT. Knowing that there might be someone out there working harder than you can be an amazing motivator. Someone else IS doing it. Why aren’t you??? Success, for me anyway, has come by paving my own road... by digging out the dirt, laying a foundation and working tirelessly to continue building that road. We’re also planting flowers along the side of it, because, you know... it can’t hurt to stop and smell the roses every once in awhile! Shivhan Dohse (pictured left) My name is Shivhan Dohse and I am a professional flutist. Although I began playing the flute when I was 10 years old, music has been an integral part of my life as long as I can remember. My earliest memory as a child was learning a song by ear with my dad while he played guitar, which not only sparked my interest in singing and love of the guitar but also a deep love of music. I was actually very shy growing up, but I found that music was the one outlet that I really connected with and felt comfortable expressing myself. I grew up on a farm in a very small, rural community of about 750 people. There were 23 people in my graduating class and I went to pre-school with all 22 of them. To give you a bit more perspective, the closest mall was about an hour drive away. Our small school had limited resources, so we did not have an orchestra, band trips or even a football team! It’s also important to note that I grew up in a time when it was not very common for households to have their own computer let alone the internet or a cell phone. Because of this, I didn’t have a lot of exposure to live music until I went to college. Masterclasses, competitions and solo recitals were things I had never even heard of. Hearing live music, however, was a very special occasion and I took it very seriously. Every time I heard a fabulous musician it went straight to my heart and made me feel deeply connected to the moment I was experiencing. The music, the phrasing & the emotion, in a sense, made me come alive. When I was a freshman in high school, we had an opportunity to go see a live band play at Luther College. Which I, of course, took! Although I was very shy, after the show I really wanted to talk to the band and tell them how much I enjoyed the concert. I was so excited about it and wanted them to know that I loved every minute of it. I asked them if they’d ever consider playing for my school since we rarely had concerts in town. They said if I helped coordinate the connection they’d love to do it. Little ‘ol me preceded to take their phone number and I presented the idea to the principal of our school. Because of that small interaction, they came to my school the following spring for a school assembly. You never know the possibilities of what can happen if you only have the courage to take a chance! It’s pretty amazing when I look back to see all of those instances when I was no longer shy were directly related to music. I always just really wanted to share so that other people could experience the same reactions I had to music. Whether it is performing or teaching, that desire to share is still as strong today. I do believe that there are advantages and disadvantages to every situation and that there is always something to learn from every situation. In a way, the advantage to my situation growing up in that I did not have a lot of exposure or competition was that I was only ever comparing myself to… myself. I didn’t know where I stood in relation to other dedicated flute players my age and their level of playing. All I kept focusing on was improving and simply trying to be better than the person I was yesterday. It definitely has more meaning long term to strive to be the best that you can be rather than just being better than someone else. In my opinion, you have to be doing it for yourself to achieve that higher purpose and greater sense of achievement. One of the interesting things about going to a small school is the fact that there weren’t very many kids in each class, meaning everyone was pretty much involved in everything there was otherwise there wouldn’t have been a team! Because of this, I was involved in almost everything our school had to offer, which included cross country, track, band, choir, speech/drama, spanish, art, as well as fulfilling the role of softball and basketball manager. Although I think it is important to figure out what your passion is and pursue that wholeheartedly, I also think it’s beneficial to be very well-rounded. The experiences and lifelong lessons I learned while, for example, standing up and giving a speech in front of 400 people, or pushing myself as a runner to benefit the team or learning about cultures in art history cannot be underestimated. All of these outlets taught me leadership, dedication, discipline, structure, communication, how to set and achieve goals, how to work individually in addition to working as a team, how to uphold standards… the list could go on and on! All of these tools and skills were used to benefit my career in music. Throughout college, I took advantage of every possible opportunity. As always, I wanted to experience anything and everything I could! I was really interested in traveling the world and hearing/learning about music in other countries. I had always loved music of all styles, but Irish music in particular had a special place in my heart. I decided I was going to study abroad in Ireland, studying Irish music as well as study classical music in Russia. I had unforgettable experiences both times studying abroad and cannot recommend it enough to students. I not only learned so much about music but also about their culture, about people, and most importantly, about myself. Having that time in another country is so invaluable in a multitude of ways. With a strong quest for knowledge, I went on to receive my Master’s degree in music after graduating with my undergraduate degree. From the first instance I met this particular teacher in California (Jill Felber) I knew I wanted to study with her. I was fortunate to have three top-notch teachers from the start. Sue Kuenzel, who built a strong foundation in my playing from day one and instilled a strong sense of musicality; Angeleita Floyd who built upon that foundation and opened my eyes to what was possible; and Jill, who inspired the artistry that makes me who I am today. Having supportive, knowledgeable, patient yet engaging and inspiring teachers was key in my progress as a musician. While in California, I began playing with an Irish band, Dannsair, who performed in two different Irish pubs every week. While in the band, we recorded the CD, ‘Rias Medias’ and traveled to Spain in 2008 and Ireland in 2009 to promote the CD. During this time was also when I met flutist Erica Peel, forming the genre-shattering pop-fusion flute duo, In Sterio. Although we both had had completely different backgrounds growing up, we both shared the same passion for all genres of music. With what began as a friendship, unknowingly grew into one of the most innovative music experiences I’ve shared to date. As a groundbreaking duo, crossing boundaries no duo had crossed before, together we have composed and performed concerts of all original music written for two flutes and electronic backtrack (comprised of live musicians such as drums, guitar, piano, and trumpet to name a few). With this duo, we have released two CDs, the latter being a CD/DVD combo which combines art and music to create an experience; performed concerts for 3,000-4,000 people; performed concerts and taught classes at numerous universities, festivals, conventions and schools across the United States; published our original compositions and had a blast doing it! Again, since we were the first duo of its kind, we did not have another duo to compare ourselves to. We just kept improving ourselves as a duo and pushing ourselves to new limits, to new goals. The climb to success was because we constantly pushed ourselves and each other to be the very best we could possibly be, at all times and in all ways, sometimes not knowing what was possible but striving anyway. There was never an end goal, and there still isn’t… In addition to performing with my flute duo, In Sterio, I also am Principal Flute of the Ottumwa Symphony, Adjunct Instructor of Flute at Clarke University, perform regularly with Orchestra Iowa, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony and Jim McDonough’s 14-piece orchestra, assist with Marketing & Sales for Miyazawa (USA) and maintain a full private studio. I have performed concerts in Ireland, Spain, Italy, England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Russia and Brazil. I guess the ‘being involved in everything’ from growing up idea kind of stuck. ;) But, I couldn’t be happier! I highly recommend it. Just remember, sometimes it’s less important where you came from, but more important where you want to go. Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself. Please check In Sterio out on the web and social media at: www.insterio.com and facebook.com/insterio If you enjoy these tips for success, the best compliment you can give us is a like and / or share on social media or better yet, utilize our live services. Check us out on the web at www.buildingleadersforsuccess.com or on Facebook at Building Leaders for Success and email us at buildingleadersforsuccess@gmail.com Or maybe it should be, How were you thinking? Or why were you thinking that? I constantly have to remind myself that people do not all think the way I do. I am not saying that my mindset and way of thinking is better or worse than anyone else, it is unique to me. It is amazing and sometimes entertaining and sad to see how people's mindsets affect their decisions and lives. It is always in my best interest to try and look into their decision and understand why they may have made it. What factors let to this decision? What was going on in their lives to affect this decision? What were they trying to achieve? What was the perceived result?
The way we think is a deciding factor in our ability to achieve success. When I have worked in group situations, whether they are arts related or business related, I have found that if I am with like minded people, we achieve our desired results much quicker. This type of group thinking applies to many people that share similar mindsets. The way we think is determined by many factors but we will touch on a few big ones. The first big one that comes to mind is the way in which you were raised. As children we observe and learn from those around us. That home environment really helps to guide and shape our way of thinking especially in our formative years. However as a teacher for many years working with students from all types of family situations I have also learned that it is not always the students who came from nurturing, academically supportive and enriching environments, that only experienced success. I have had students from home environments that were not as they would have liked them to be, turn their mindset into one of success. They didn't let anything hold them back. They understood that mom, dad or whoever was in charge of them was working multiple jobs to put food on the table and take care of them but they had decided that they wanted to create a better life for themselves. This determination almost always proved successful. The situations pertinent to our immediate everyday life plays a considerable role in our decision making process. Maybe we woke up on the wrong side of the bed or received a negative phone call in the morning. Maybe we woke up feeling like a million bucks and everything seemed to be going our way. This type of positive/negative influence has an effect on our decision making process. Negativity can cause decisions that are hasty, not well thought out and selfish in nature. Positivity can promote thoughtful decisions that have depth, a plan for execution, and can benefit many. Our mindset also dictates whether we are going to let limitations prevent us from reaching our desired goals. Even in the face of stress and negativity, keeping our mind focused on the goal and trying to stay positive is always a better factor for achieving success. When you are planning your goals and working to reach your goals, consider the question, What are you thinking? If you enjoyed this blog please share it with your friends and colleagues through social media. The best compliment you can give us is a referral or better yet, utilize our live services. Visit us on the web at www.buildingleadersforsuccess.com or on Facebook at Building Leaders for Success. Each month we at Building Leaders for Success are proud to share the story of someone or an organization that is making difference in their lives through success as well as helping others to find their own success. This month we are pleased to feature Joshua Vickery, Founder and Executive Director of Central Florida Community Arts. I graduated with a degree in music and was involved in church music for 10 years. I then started career with Walt Disney World in 2010 as a Casting Director and a Vocal Coach. 2010 was also the year that we began CFCArts - after years of making music, we realized that Central Florida did not offer many cultural platforms for EVERY performance artist to use his or her talent, so we began the journey of creating an incredible community arts program. Over the course of my entire career I have been a vocalist, producer, conductor and a workshop facilitator. I also traveled on road for 2 years in a professional singing group. What actions have you taken to create and achieve success? Surrounding myself with other strong leaders, casting a vision that people can follow, being honest and doing my best to follow through, fulfilling promises, having a hard work ethic, and finally, encouraging and treating other people as I would want to be treated. Who have been influences in your life to push you to success and achieving your goals? My parents and the Disney leadership team, My musical influences have been Dr. Reith, Dr. Robinson and Gary Miller. What are your tips for success that you would like to share for aspiring success builders? Surround yourself with other strong leaders, cast a vision that people can follow, be honest and do your best to follow through, fulfill promises, have a hard work ethic, and finally, encourage and treat other people as you would want to be treated. What are your tips for success as well as being the leader of a large organization? Don't sweat the small stuff, try to focus on the positive and create a healthy culture for people, the environment and the community. Make sure that people are more important than programs and money. Finally, don't stray from your mission, regardless of what organization you're leading. What is Central Florida Community Arts? CFCArts prides on three key terms - Connect. Serve. Perform We strive to tie everything we do into one or more of our three main purposes: connecting, serving, and performing. Connect - Connecting is about building relationships. We aim to create a family that allows people to use their talents and abilities – to be able to sing, play instruments and perform together, all while building lasting connections. Serve - Our heartbeat is serve and to give back to the community. To do this, we partner with local non profits and charities and perform at their fundraisers or for the clients they serve, at no cost. Perform - Members of our Choir, Orchestra and Children & Youth Arts programs all have the opportunity to perform in seasonal productions. We also offer music lessons, workshops and classes at our School of Performing Arts, and thereby equip local artists to do what they do, even better! Take a look at the history of CFCArts: After years of music making, the founders of Central Florida Community Arts (CFCArts), Joshua Vickery and Jonathan Cole, came to the realization that Central Florida does not offer many cultural platforms for EVERY musician to use his or her talent. Therefore, in September of 2010, they decided to begin the journey of creating an incredible community arts program. They began reaching out to influential people in the Central Florida area and every one of them responded with overwhelming support – thus, Central Florida Community Arts was born. Since then, many people have been working hard to make this dream become a reality – the organization was molded into a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity and a Board of Directors and a team of staff members were both developed. Success in the new venture came early – after a successful kick off in February 2011, CFCArts performed their inaugural concert to over 1,200 people in May of 2011, with a choir of over 130 singers and an orchestra of over 35 players. That choir has since grown into 3 separately-themed choirs with over 400 members total and their last concert reached over 5,300 patrons. CFCArts now also has a 130-piece community orchestra, 100 children and youth registered in their program for school-age performers, and a top notch vocal ensemble called Legacy!, that acts as the organization’s vocal ambassadors to the community. CFCarts gives back to the community by performing for other non-profit organizations for free, as well as hosts an annual performance summer camp program, at which underprivileged youths are enrolled for free, in order to introduce them to the arts. Most recently, CFCArts has opened a School for Performing Arts in order to offer affordable lessons and workshops in applied arts to Central Floridians of all ages. CFCArts’ success continues, they are confident about their vision and look forward to the future. For more information on Central Florida Community Arts or if you would like to get involved please visit them on the web at www.cfcarts.com. If you enjoy these tips for success, the best compliment you can give us is a like and / or share on social media or better yet, utilize our live services. Check us out on the web at www.buildingleadersforsuccess.com or on Facebook at Building Leaders for Success or email us at buildingleadersforsuccess@gmail.com |
AuthorFrank Taylor is founder and CEO of Building Leaders for Success, Inc. A musician of 25 years, educator of 15 years and a motivational speaker of 16 years, Mr. Taylor brings a wealth of knowledge that will promote success and fundamentals of leadership. Archives
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