Did you know that diversity is the foundation of synergy?  I have often used the example of a 10 foot long 2″ X 4″ stretched out across two saw horses.  If I pile enough weight in the middle the 2″ X 4″ will eventually break, generally somewhere near the middle.  However, if there is a weakness in the board, such a knot, then it will tend to break right there at the point of the weakness.  Now, if I have two identical boards, with identical knots in exactly the same place, and I stack them one on top of the other, together the boards will hold more weight, even to the point of synergy (meaning the two together will hold more than double what one alone could hold).  However, with the knots in the same place, when the breaking point is reached they will both break in exactly the same place.  But if we change the scenario, and the two boards are different, both with knots, but in different places, then where the one board is weak, the other is strong and vice-versa.  Because of the differences these two boards can hold more weight than the two boards that were identical.

People are the same.  I am pretty proficient and effective in a lot of areas of business.  I have stood out as a leader on almost every team I have ever been on, to the point that if given the choice of a team of 10 clones of myself, or 10 people who are totally different than me, I would be tempted (only briefly mind you) to choose the clones.  I know what I’m capable of and there would certainly be some advantages in having clone team of Super Kips, but not enough advantages to actually make that choice.  I have also learned from experience that as good as I am in some areas, I still have my weaknesses in others.  If I chose the clones, and then the project suffered a hit in an area where I am weak, then the whole project would fail because all my clones would share the same weakness.  With 10 diverse, unique individuals, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, when we encounter a problem where I am weak, then I have several others in the team who are strong in exactly the place where I am weak.  Our knots are in different places, therefor we’re stronger together, and those are differences worth celebrating.  The whole really is greater than the sum of the parts, and diversity is the very foundation of synergy.

To Your Success!

Kip Kint
Success Coach

Step One: Flint & Steel (Network)

To ignite anything you must first have a spark, and to create a spark (in the more literal sense) you must have flint & steel.  In the world of business, flint & steel are you, and those you network with.  It doesn’t really matter who the flint is, and who the steel is.  What matters is that you come together, and together you can create a spark that neither one of you could have created on your own.  It’s all about relationships, and in business that means networking.

Step Two: The Spark (Learn)

To create a spark with another person (a business spark that is) you must have some knowledge of business, marketing, sales, relationships, communication, etc.  Networking with others without the knowledge you require is like having the flint & steel, but not knowing you need to strike the steel against the flint, or how to direct the spark so that a fire can result.  Take the time to educate yourself in critical areas of business, such as the ones mentioned above.  That way when you bring the flint & steel together (you and someone else) you will have the knowledge you need to create the spark and hopefully ignite a fire.

Step Three: The Bonfire (Synergize)

There are fires, and then there are Bonfires.  Bonfires are typically much larger, and they are usually associated with celebration.  There is, indeed, much to celebrate when two people come together and as a result they create something that neither of them could have achieved on their own.  Something more that just 1 + 1 = 2, but rather 1 + 1 = 10, or 100, or more.  To synergize means that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.  It’s all about the bonfires we can create as we synergize with others.

So, go get started!  Gather your flint & steel (network with others), create the spark (learn what you need to learn about business), and build a bonfire of success (synergize with others for maximum results).

To Your Success!

Kip Kint, Success Coach & President, Mission Ignition

It is time for the final installment in our series on S.T.O.R.M. - a method of building your own personal Storm of Success by doing the following:

Stop
Take Inventory
Organize
Reflect
Move It

In last week’s post I wrote about the fourth step of S.T.O.R.M. which is to REFLECT.  Today I will address the final step which is to…

MOVE IT!

In the words of the great King Julian from the movie Madagascar, “I LIKE TO MOVE IT, MOVE IT!  I LIKE TO MOVE IT, MOVE IT!”  Excellent advice.  In fact, all storms move!  In order for your STORM to be successful you’ve got take action and Move It!

Ashleigh Brilliant said, “Unless you move, the place where you are is the place where you will always be”.  According to Wayne Gretzky “we miss 100% of the shots we don’t take”.  That is equally true of plans and goals.  We fail on 100% of the goals we don’t take action on.  In other words, we fail when we don’t MOVE IT!

Remember this formula:

Action X Time = Success

Lack of Action X Time = Fossils

To Your Success!

Kip Kint, Success Coach & President, Mission Ignition

Once again we continue our series on S.T.O.R.M. - a method of building your own personal Storm of Success by doing the following:

Stop
Take Inventory
Organize
Reflect
Move It

In last week’s post I wrote about the third step of S.T.O.R.M. which is to ORGANIZE.  Today I will address the next step which is to…

REFLECT!

It’s important to reflect on what matters most to you.  What’s your mission in life, and business?  What are your values?  What’s your vision for fulfilling important roles.  Who do you want to be?  It really does matter how you see yourself.

I recommend that you take the time on a weekly basis (at least) to sit down and reflect on your life and your purpose.  If you want to be “on purpose” you have to have a purpose.  Create your vision for who you want to be and how you want to be.  Reflect on the vision often.  Decide just how you want to “see” yourself.  First you have to conceive your vision, then believe your vision, then ultimately you can achieve your vision.  Just like the kitten in the picture, there is a lion inside of you waiting to come out, if you will just let it.

Once again, check in with us next week for the final step of S.T.O.R.M - MOVE IT!

To Your Success!

Kip Kint, Success Coach & President, Mission Ignition

This week we continue our series on S.T.O.R.M. - a method of building your own personal Storm of Success by doing the following:

Stop
Take Inventory
Organize
Reflect
Move It

In last week’s post I wrote about the second step of S.T.O.R.M. which is to TAKE INVENTORY.  Today I will address the next step which is to…

ORGANIZE!

First, I’d like to share one of my favorite poems on the subject:

If I Could Get Organized by Baidurya Mukherjee

The morning goes, noon is here,
Before I know the night is near,
and all around me, I regret,
are things I haven’t finished yet.

If I could just get organized!
I often times have realized,
not all that matters is the man,
The man must also have a plan.

I do this, I do that,
But never finish what I’m at,
I work as hard as anyone,
And yet, I get so little done,

I’d do so much you’d be surprised,
If I could just get organized!

Being Organized is critical.  An organized environment is the number one catalyst to enhance productivity and creativity, two key components to being personally effective and successful.

Allow me to recommend my favorite book on the topic.  It addresses both Physical, as well as Procedural Organization.  It’s called, “To Do, Doing, Done!” by G. Lynne Snead.  If you’re like our friend in the picture above you may want to jump straight to Chapter 5.  The title of that chapter?  “It’s Hard to Manage Your Project If You Can’t Find Your Desk.”

Once again, check in with us next week for the next step of S.T.O.R.M - REFLECT!

To Your Success!

Kip Kint
Success Coach & President
Mission Ignition

As I said last week, few things in this world have the raw power & energy of a storm.  You can create your own personal S.T.O.R.M. of Success by doing the following:

Stop
Take Inventory
Organize
Reflect
Move It

In last week’s post I wrote about the first step of S.T.O.R.M. which is to STOP.  Today I will address the next step which is to…

TAKE INVENTORY!

Take Inventory of where you have been, where you are, and where you want to be - Take Inventory of your resources, talents, abilities, relationships, and all that you have to help you reach your goals.  Know that your ultimate Success Story starts with a Personal Inventory.

You must know yourself and what matters most to you, and it is crucial to Take Inventory of all your resources that can help you get what you want.

I suggest you make it a somewhat formal Inventory, meaning don’t just think about your Inventory, but rather WRITE your Inventory down.  It’s makes the process far more powerful.  If you want to be even more creative with the way you Take Inventory try creating a Mind Map instead of just writing it down in a linear fashion (although this works fine, too).  Mind Maps look kind of like this:

This particular Mind Map was created using Mind Manager 8 from mindjet.com.  They happen to offer a 30-day free trial if you want to give it a go.

So, remember, to build your S.T.O.R.M. of Success, first STOP, then TAKE INVENTORY.  Be sure to tune in next week when I will be writing about the next step of  S.T.O.R.M. - Organize!

To Your Success!

Kip Kint
Success Coach & President
Mission Ignition

Few things in this world have the raw power & energy of a storm.  You can take the world by storm if you will focus your power and energy in the direction of your goals and dreams.  For you to take the world, and your goals, by S.T.O.R.M. may I suggest you follow these five simple steps… Stop Take Inventory Organize Reflect Move It In today’s post I will address the first step of S.T.O.R.M., which is to STOP.  I will write about the remaining four steps over the course of the next few weeks. STOP! We are in such a hurry.  It’s easy to miss things; easy to get stuck in the rut of reactivity, repeating the same old ineffective behaviors over and over again.  So often we confuse activity with accomplishment.  So, the first thing we need to do in creating our own personal and powerful S.T.O.R.M. is to STOP! Stop what you’re doing.  Stop where you are.  In fact, stop right now (well, not until you finish reading this blog of course).  Stop and be silent for a few moments.  Stop and think.  Listen to your thoughts, without the noise and the clutter created by the world around you.  They say it is quiet and calm in the eye of the storm.  You need to stop and create you own personal “eye of the storm” long enough that you can gain some focus and clarity. Once you have made this initial STOP, I suggest you schedule other “stops” in the near future.  What are you going to do during these “stops“?  Well, continue to build your S.T.O.R.M., of course.  Tune in next week to learn more about the next step of S.T.O.R.M. - Take Inventory! To Your Success! Kip Kint Success Coach & President Mission Ignition

We all know the saying that begins, “When you assume…” so I won’t finish it in this post.  Let me just say that when it comes to marketing and sales it is most often true.  I am confident you have a valuable product or service.  If you didn’t you wouldn’t put your heart and soul into what you do in your business.  So, why is it that so many Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, and Sales Executives sometimes make assumptions about who will or will not purchase their product or service?

It is important that you let them decide for themselves, at every phase of the sales cycle, beginning with whether or not to even hear more about what you have to offer.  Remember, IF YOU DON’T ASK, YOU WON’T KNOW!  If you look at a person and say to yourself, “Nah, she wouldn’t be interested” how can you be completely sure that’s true?

I recently purchased a new 58″ plasma TV from Matt Anderson at Wholesale Works.  Honestly, it was the deal of a lifetime in my opinion.  However, I didn’t go to Matt and say, “Hey, I’m looking for a TV!” because I wasn’t at the time.  But I am very glad that he didn’t assume that I wouldn’t be interested.  He approached me and told me about his special offer, and now his offer is mounted on my wall for my viewing pleasure.

I’m not suggesting your product/service is for everyone in the world, and that you should offer to everyone.  However, I am talking about those people who otherwise fit your target demographic, but for whatever reason you find yourself choosing for them by never approaching them at all.

So, be bold!  If you think someone will tell you no, then prove it.  Ask them and see if you were right.  If you hear the word “No” you won’t melt, and if they say “Yes” then you will simply have to admit to yourself that your initial assumption was wrong.  Don’t worry though, the additional revenue will make that pill easier to swallow.

To Your Success!

Kip Kint, Success Coach & President, Mission Ignition

Well, my friends at Simple Truths have put out yet another inspirational video.  This one, entitled “Eat That Frog,” is so closely aligned with what I share with my own clients on the topic of procrastination I had to post it up here for all of you to enjoy.  As I stated in a presentation I gave just the other day, procrastination opens the door to self-sabotage.  Identify your “frog” and eat it first every day.  To enjoy the video simply click on the frog below.

To Your Success!

Kip Kint
Success Coach & President
Mission Ignition

The other day I was at a networking event where I had a small sponsorship.  When thinking of what to do or say with the couple minutes alloted to me I decided to step outside the proverbial box and offer a glimpse into coaching from a more humorous perspective.  Well, below is the result of my whim.  Just a little coaching humor all laced in truth, of course.  Enjoy!

That Kip-the-Coach, that Kip-the-Coach, I do not like that Kip-the-Coach!

Do you like a fresh approach?

I do not like a fresh approach; I do not like it, Kip-the-Coach!

Would you like it on the phone, to do your coaching from work or home?

I would not like it on the phone, to do the coaching from work OR home.
I do not like a fresh approach.  I do not like it, Kip-the-Coach.

Would you like to make more dough, and make your business really go?

I do not want to make more dough, or make my business really go.
I would not like it on the phone, to do my coaching from work or home.
You say it is a fresh approach, but I do not like it, Kip-the-Coach.

Would you like to balance your life, spend more time with your kids and wife?
I do not need to balance my life, nor spend more time with my kids and wife.
I don’t need any more dough; my business doesn’t need any more go.
I would not like it on the phone.  I don’t want coaching from work or home.
And I do not need a fresh approach.  I would not like it, Kip-the-Coach.

Would you like to account, for the things you do, and the amount?

I certainly DON’T want to account for the things I do, NOR the amount!

Would you like one you can trust to help you reach your goals or bust?

I do not think that I can trust, that I will reach my goals or bust.

Would you like it every week, stretching for the success you seek?

I would not like it every week, stretching for the success I seek.
I do not think that I can trust, that I will reach my goals or bust.
I refuse to account, for the things I do, and the amount.
I do not need to balance my life, to spend more time with kids and wife.
I don’t think I’ll make more dough, and see my business really go.
I would not like it on the phone, being coached at work or home.
I can’t stand a fresh approach.  I do not like it, Kip-the-Coach.

You would not like it, so you say.  Try it and you may.
Try it, try it, and you may.
Try it and you may I say.

Kip, if you will let me be, I will try it and you will see.

Say, I like this fresh approach!
I do!  I like it Kip-the-Coach!
And I would like it every week; stretching for the success I seek.
And I’m so glad that I can trust, and I know I’ll reach my goals or bust.
And I am happy to account, for the things I do, AND the amount.
It feels so great to balance my life, spending quality time with kids AND wife.
And I am making serious dough; Man!  Look at my business go.
And I really like it on the phone, coaching with you from work AND home.
And I do so like this fresh approach.
Thank you! Thank you, Kip-the-Coach!

To Your Success!

Kip Kint, Success Coach & President, Mission Ignition