Little Things Matter
By Todd Smith
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Podcast Description
Todd has been a successful entrepreneur for the past 30 years. He has averaged more than a million dollars a year in earnings for over the last 20 years. He believes anyone can be successful at anything important to them, if they will FOCUS on the little things that matter. This podcast is dedicated to teaching others the little things he has learned to create his success.
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The Secret to Becoming an Effective Leader | (http://littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/05/iStock_000019481918XSmall.jpg)After taking the last year off from my writing, I’m back! I am going to commit to writing at least one new article a month sharing some of the most important lessons I am learning on my journey! One of the things I enjoyed this past year was observing the attributes of men and women who are admired leaders—at home, in the work place, and in the community. I have also watched the wannabe leaders and have seen quite a contrast between the two groups. John C. Maxwell, arguably the No. 1 leadership trainer in the United States, defines leadership in one word: Influence. Ten years ago when I first heard him share his definition of leadership, I questioned whether a topic as broad, significant, and important as leadership could be defined by one word. With the passing of years, I have come to believe that Maxwell was exactly right. Leadership is all about influence—the capacity to be a compelling force to produce effects on the actions, behavior, or opinions of others, usually in intangible or indirect ways. When you have influence, doors open, people listen, and life’s winds blow at your back. Assuming that’s true, how do you gain influence? The answer is also one word: Respect. When people respect you, you have influence. When people don’t respect you, you don’t have influence. Value of Respect In your personal life, doing the little things to earn people’s respect affects how your family, friends, and folks in the community perceive you. Do people listen closely to what you say, or do they immediately discount it? Are you included in social events or excluded? When you call, is the phone answered or ignored? In the workplace, being a person who is respected is the single most important element in advancing your career. It impacts everything from how people in the organization view you personally to the quality of work produced by your team. In his book 360°Leader (https://www.johnmaxwell.com/store/products.php?product=The-360-Degree-Leader), John C. Maxwell points out that leadership is not just leading those who are subordinate to you; it’s leading everyone around you. This includes those senior to you, your co-workers in other departments, and those who work under your direction. When people respect you, regardless of where they serve within an organization, you will have influence with them. Power of Influence It’s critical to recognize that becoming a respected person is not about doing one or two sizeable jobs exceptionally well or becoming a top producer within your company. It’s about becoming a person who is respected for the way you manage your life and relate to people. Respect is something you earn as a result of your actions and attitude. It comes by making the right decisions consistently, over a period of time. Here’s a way to get an idea of the level of influence you likely have with people. What would your family, friends and co-workers say if they were asked the following questions? (Insert your name in the spaces) * Does ________show respect to others at all times? * Is ________ someone who is intentional about returning calls, emails and text messages in a timely manner? * Does ________ value people’s time by making it a point of always trying to be on time for his/her appointments. * How does ________ handle himself/herself when under pressure? * Is ________someone you view as financially responsible? * Does ________ do what he/she says he/she is going to do? * Does ________show a genuine interest in what people are saying and seldom interrupts? * Has there ever been a time when you questioned _______ integrity? * Does ________ exercise, eat right, and take care of his/her health? These characteristics and the hundreds of little things I’ve highlighted in my previous 200 blog articles as well as in my book (http://littlethingsmatterbook. | 4 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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10 Life Guiding Decisions | (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/03/iStock_000002176354Life-decisions-201x300.jpg)There’s no denying the fact that our lives are a mirror image of the decisions we make (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/01... | 10 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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15 Ways to Increase Your Value and Influence at Work | (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/03/iStock_000009451992Workplacetips-300x227.jpg)Put yourself in the position of the owner of your business or the leader of your organization. What qualities would you look for in the employee whom you would advance within your management structure? If you had to lay people off, what type of person would you release? What type would you keep? Now put yourself in the position of the employee. How would your employer rate your services? The fact is it’s the “little things” you do and don’t do that have a direct impact on your raises, promotions, and influence within an organization. The way you are viewed will not only impact your success at your current place of employment, but it will also affect the recommendations and references that follow you if you leave. Here are 15 “little things” that will increase your value to your employer and make you stand out as a person who takes pride in your job. Become an Employee of Influence 1. Arrive Early and Stay Late. Arriving promptly at your designated start time and then hurrying out the door the moment your workday ends tells management your job is not your priority. You’ll make a positive impression if you arrive early and don’t rush out the door at the end of the day. 2. Skip occasional breaks. As a business owner, I was always impressed with employees who would work through their breaks when we had deadlines to meet. Their actions told me they realized the urgency and importance of completing the task and were willing to voluntarily forgo their break to get the work done. 3. Take pride in how you dress and groom yourself. If you want to be taken seriously at work, start with your appearance. This applies to Fridays, too. If management is not dressing down on Fridays, follow their lead and remain in professional dress on Fridays. 4. Leave your personal life at home. You may have a close work friend in whom you confide when you're having personal difficulties, but don’t let the word spread about your personal problems. Also avoid communicating with your family and friends during the times you are being paid to do your job. 5. Be upbeat and friendly. For most of us our workplace is our home-away- from-home. As you go through your workday make it a point to keep your energy levels high, acknowledge people, and be friendly. Be known as the person who always has a positive attitude. It will make for a better work environment for everyone. 6. Cut the constant chit chat and do your work. Maybe it’s just me, but I have a hard time with people who can’t keep their mouths shut when they should be focusing on their work. I have an even harder time when I am the one paying them. 7. Avoid speaking poorly of your co-workers. If your workplace really is your home-away-from-home, then why speak inappropriately of your co-workers? Speaking negatively of your co-workers will not only damage your relationships, but it will undermine your credibility. Instead, be the voice of encouragement, praise, and support. 8. Take pride in your written communications. Everything you type or write as an employee of a company is not only a reflection on your personal brand, but it’s also a reflection on the company’s brand. 9. Strive for excellence in your work. Be responsible and make sure you complete your responsibilities on time with excellence, even if it requires that you take some projects home. 10. Keep your workplace clean. No matter how much stuff seems to keep piling up on your desk, do your best to keep it organized. If someone’s workplace is messy and disorganized, why would they be any different? 11. Respond to emails after business hours. I am always impressed with people who check and respond to their business emails during non-business hours. It tells me they take their work seriously. | 8 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Take Control of Your Life by Setting Boundaries | (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/03/iStock_000015509165.STOP_-300x265.jpg)Do you keep agreeing to do tasks you don’t have time to do? Do you allow people to interrupt you at their whim? Do you allow your children to ... | 3 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Ultimate Rapport Accelerator | (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/02/iStock_000012435514I-Care-about-you-look-copy.jpg)Rapport is the process of building an amicable relationship—an emotional bond—between people based on trust, understanding, and a ... | 1 3 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Power of Non-Verbal Communication | (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/02/iStock_000002904548non-verbal-200x300.jpg)You have no doubt heard the proverb—Actions speak louder than words. It’s true. Your body is a crucial part of communicating your inner feelings. Of course, we can’t communicate ideas, thoughts, and plans without words. However, the way people interpret those words is tremendously influenced by our non-verbal communication. In her research, Dr. Isa Engleberg (Professor of Speech at Prince George College) has suggested that between 60 and 70 percent of all meaning—understanding—is derived from our body language. What is body language? It’s a form of non-verbal communication consisting of facial expressions, eye movements, gestures, and posture. Here are a few examples: * Face: smiling shows happiness; frowning shows disapproval. * Eyes: attentive gaze shows interest; rolling the eyes shows disgust. * Gestures: nodding the head shows agreement; tapping fingers on table shows boredom or impatience. * Posture: leaning forward shows eagerness, acceptance, or interest; slumped over shows discouragement. The messages we send through these expressions and gestures play a key role in people’s interpretation of the words we speak, strongly influencing how we are viewed. John Locke, a British philosopher of the 1600s, said, “I have always thought the actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts.” In today’s lesson I want to focus on the destructive consequences of unattractive body language and the negative messages we send based on our uncontrolled feelings and emotions. If you wish to communicate well, then it makes sense to understand how you can (and cannot) use your body to say what you mean. What we see consciously To quickly grasp the importance of this subject, consider these comments that co-workers have said. What body language signaled this response? What inner emotion was each person experiencing? 1. “He certainly got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” 2. “I guess she didn’t get the sale yesterday.” 3. “He must have stayed out partying last night.” 4. “What’s she in such a huff about?” 5. “Wow! He looks like he’s just been run over by a truck.” All of these attention grabbers had a negative impact on how co-workers viewed them. What we register sub-consciously The intriguing side of body language is that what we see affects us at the subconscious level as well—meaning that we notice things intuitively without stopping to consciously think about them. What makes this disturbing is the fact that the signal we give off through our body language creates lasting images of who we are and it influences people’s opinions of us without a conscious thought. If you harbor hard feelings or have a bad attitude, you don’t need to wonder if people know. They do and it never reflects well on you. If you are pouting because your idea wasn’t accepted, you can be assured that everyone in the office knows and it’s impacting their judgment of you. The messages you allow your body to give off not only influence how you are viewed at that very moment but, when repeated over time, play a significant role in the way your brand is etched in their minds. As an example, if something doesn’t go your way and your body language tells everyone you’re upset, people quickly detect that you’re displeased. If you appear this way every time something doesn’t go your way, then you will likely be viewed as a “big baby,” “a spoiled person,” or “Mama’s boy.” On a positive side, if you handle a challenging disagreement without appearing rattled, then people will think, “I’m impressed by the way she handled that situation.” If you continue to control your emotions and body language, then you will become known as someone who’s in control of your actions and behavior. Recognizing destructive body signals | 24 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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15 Ways to Increase Your Influence in Meetings | (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/02/iStock_000003733681Meeting-etiquette-300x199.jpg)Meeting with groups of people is something we all experience. Whether it’s board meetings, business meetings, office meetings, chur... | 22 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Don’t Worry About What You Can’t Control | (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/02/iStock_00000226277worry2-300x199.jpg)This is lesson #48 from my book Little Things Matter (http://www.littlethingsmatterbook.com/), 100 Ways to Improve Your Life Today. If you are like most people you probably spend more time worrying than you should. Worrying about job security, project deadlines, health, shrinking budgets, rising taxes, the housing market, world poverty, our children’s safety, even the weather. Some things we can control, others we clearly cannot. The key to maintaining a positive attitude in life is to know the difference. I heard years ago that 92 percent of the things people worry about are beyond their control. If you are troubled about something you can control, like whether you are going to lose your job, then step up your game. Come in early, stay late, offer to work on a weekend, or volunteer to take on additional responsibilities; do anything you can think of to increase your value. If you end up losing your job, you can bet you’ll get a better reference. If you are concerned about your health, exercise regularly, eat a well-balanced diet, and refrain from smoking. On the other hand, if you find yourself worrying about something like the safety of your son or daughter serving in the military, whether the government is going to raise taxes, or whether the coming storm will deluge you with rain, understand that there’s no action you can take to make any impact on these events or circumstances. You cannot control these things; worrying about them will just cause stress and affect your overall attitude. In the long term, worrying about what you can’t control puts your health, happiness, and longevity at risk. LTM Challenge Make a list of the things you worry about. Divide that list into two categories: 1. Concerns you can do something about 2. Concerns beyond your control Beside each of the items you can control, include an action item. For instance, if you worry about the ten pounds you’ve recently gained, put together a plan to do something about it. If you’re concerned about an impending deadline, make a list of all the things required to get the project completed. Make a commitment to attack everything within your control and be intentional about not worrying about the things you can’t. At first, you’ll find it hard not to worry about the things you can’t control, but if you use self-discipline and refuse to worry about them, it will become easier. One of the traits of positive people is that they don’t worry about things they can’t control. Click here to visit the site and/or comment on this post. (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2011/02/17/dont-worry-about-what-you-cant-control/) About the Author: Todd Smith (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/about/) is a successful entrepreneur of 30 years and founder of Little Things Matter. (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/) To receive Todd’s lessons, subscribe here (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/referral-subscription/). All Todd’s lessons are also available on iTunes as downloadable podcasts. (http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/little-things-matter/id349111555) (Todd’s podcasts are ranked #22 in America’s top 100 podcasts (http://www.podfeed.net/feedburner_rankings.asp) and #1 in the personal and development field.) Related Posts: It’s A New Day! (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/01/11/its-a-new-day-2/) How to Quickly Deal With Discouragement (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/09/07/how-to-quickly-deal-with-discouragement/) Our Lives are a Mirror Image of the Little Decisions we Make (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/01/18/our-lives-are-a-mirror-image-of-the-little-decisions-we-make/) How Likable are You? (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/01/25/how-likable-are-you/) Count Your Blessings (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/02/22/count-your-blessings/) | 17 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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10 Key Elements of a Persuasive Presentation | (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/02/iStock_000012505328presentations.XSmall.jpg)If you are growing and advancing your life, there will be times when you need to give a presentation. A presentation is not limited to the times you stand in front of a group of people. It also includes conference call presentations, conference room presentations, one-on-one presentations, and even written presentations. One of the ways to stand out among your peers and competitors and increase your value to the market is to learn how to prepare and deliver effective presentations. Years ago I took a class on public speaking by Bert Decker Communication (http://www.decker.com/). It was an exceptional experience that is still vivid in my mind today. During this training, the key elements of effective presentations were discussed. Since then I have added a few more points to my checklist that I review before EVERY blog post I write and every presentation I give. I open this document and answer these 10 questions. Once these questions are answered, I piece together my presentation. Ten questions to answer as you prepare each presentation 1. Who’s my audience? When communicating with a new audience, identify them. Who are they? What’s their profile? Why should they care about what you have to say? The more you learn about your audience, the more you can connect with them. 2. What’s my goal? Write ONE sentence describing the goal of your presentation. Make sure you are crystal clear on what you want the audience to take-a-way from your comments. 3. What’s my Point of View (POV) on the subject? Write ONE sentence clearly describing your point of view on the subject. This is your position on the topic. 4. What are the benefits to my audience? Make a list of all the benefits your audience will enjoy if they act upon your message. People need to understand the positive results they will experience if they do what you propose. 5. What’s the downside if people don’t act? Some points can be made more effectively if you point out the downside risks of not heeding your advice. As an example, people know the benefits of being on time, but pointing out that being late is considered as being rude, irresponsible and disrespectful, may be more effective. 6. What are my main body points? Prepare an outline of the major points of your speech or document. Drain your brain and list everything that comes to your mind. After you have everything listed, organize it. 7. Can I find appropriate quotes and supportive information? If there are sources that can be used to add credibility to your presentation, include or list them. 8. Is there a story that I can use to communicate my point(s)? If there is a relevant illustration or anecdote that can be told to make your point memorable, include it. 9. What’s my call to action? What action do you want your audience to take? Have you noticed my call to action at the end of all my lessons, both on my blog and in my book (http://www.littlethingsmatterbook.com/)? 10. What would be an encouraging statement? Is there a positive and encouraging statement that would be appropriate to use in the conclusion of your presentation? I always like to end on a high point. If your presentation is in a written format, have it edited. No matter how good of a writer you are, having someone you respect edit your work will likely improve it. When you are invited to make a presentation, accept the challenge. The times in your life when you grow the most are when you push yourself outside your comfort zone to do what you’ve never done before. I can still recall my first group presentation 21 years ago. I scripted out what I wanted to share word for word and practiced it in front of a video camera. Even though I was so nervous my underwear stuck to my butt, my preparation and practice allowed me to give the best presentation I was capable of giving at that time. | 15 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Improving Your Written Communication Skills | (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/02/iStock_000005835075writing-skills-300x199.jpg)Do you form opinions about people based upon their written communications with you? Can you distinguish between the people who take pride in their communications and those who don’t? In today’s electronic age, one of the primary ways we are branding ourselves is through our typed words. Our emails, text messages, and posts on social media sites reveal much about who we are. How you are viewed impacts the respect people have for you, the influence you have with others, and the people you attract into your life. These things play an important role in your personal and professional relationships, in the value you bring to the market, and how you feel about yourself. It really boils down to this: do you care about how you are viewed? Do you want to create a positive brand for yourself? If you do, it’s important that you start taking pride in everything you type and write. Begin today to put an emphasis on developing your written communication skills. Of all the written communication skills on my list, here are my top 14 tips to consider with every message you type. 1. Write short sentences. Short sentences are easier to read than long sentences. If a sentence feels like it’s getting long, break it into two. 2. Write short paragraphs. Limit your paragraphs to three sentences. This allows for white space and improves readability. If a paragraph looks like a big block of text, consider how you can divide it into two or three smaller paragraphs. 3. Capitalize the first letter of each sentence. Not hitting the shift key is a surefire way to tell people you don’t care about how you are viewed. 4. Use people’s names. Just as people notice when you speak their names, they are also aware when they read their names. Writing “Hi Joe,” or “Hey Sue,” lets them know the message is for them and makes the person feel valued. 5. Be clear. With every message you type, ask yourself, “Is this message clear and to the point?” No one likes having to read a message more than once to figure out what the other person is trying to say. 6. Be concise. Learn to communicate your messages in the fewest number of words possible. This is my goal with every sentence I write. 7. Look for potential misunderstandings. As you proof your messages ask, “How could this be misunderstood?” Go the extra mile to avoid potential misunderstandings. 8. Provide a complete response. When you receive a message that asks multiple questions, be sure to address each subject or question asked. Don’t make people send another message repeating the overlooked question because you didn’t take the time to provide a complete response. 9. Number multiple topics. If you are covering more than one point, break out each point using numbers. I have yet to see a better way to communicate multiple topics than by numbering them. 10. Use a friendly tone. Do you notice the tone people convey in their written communications? Can you tell when they are aggravated, overly firm, curt, or offended? Communicating with a friendly tone will make you more attractive and your recipient more receptive. 11. Know when to pick up the phone. If there is something upsetting to you, pick up the phone and call the other person. Don’t allow yourself to send emotional messages that have the potential to scar a relationship and cause you regret. 12. Proof everything. Don’t ever hit the send, submit, or comment button on anything you have not proofed. Your time management is never more important than your personal brand. 13. Have it edited. If your document is important, go one step beyond your own proofing. Consider having someone edit it. I have every important document I create edited. 14. Take pride. Be proud of every message you send, including those going to your friends and f | 10 2 11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 10 Episodes |
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I really enjoy listening to this podast in the morning to put me in a positive frame of mind for the rest of the day.
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