Let’s have a SELLabration!

You read that right. Yes, I’ve made up another word-just like TrainerTainment! I’m such a horrible speller I’m thinking this is the best course of action if I want to keep writing.  Thank you all for muddling through.

I’m really excited about next week. I have 7 people coming to our first TrainerTainment training bootcamp. Everyone works with our company now and does some training or coaching with us currently. Next week is an opportunity to expand our training base so that when you want us to come, we have the people who can do the job!

It’s an amazing process to put everything together in order to train your staff! DUH-That’s the work we do on a daily basis with you. It’s our goal, our mission, and at the heart of our values that we help others!

OK so let me ask you, are as guilty as I am as a business owner trying to put the best (you fill in the blank) system in place for your own team. You know, does a painter ever paint their own house?  It seems easier to do for others the things that are hard to do for yourself!  Raise your hand if you agree.

So with that in mind, I’ve worked on creating a GREAT platform for internal training. Guess what, it has cost quite a bit of time, money, and internal and external resources AND I couldn’t be more excited.  It’s a training bootcamp.  The attendees have been preparing for weeks.  We have been working very hard here in the Ft. Worth office to put everything together. When you read this note we’ll be into day 2 of the camp. Our people will be training from the Fun Training Serious Results book.  The great thing is that once they’ve delivered their presentations, we’ll have created added value for you!

I guess that’s where the SELLabration comes in.  I expect that you are going to want to have Brooke Ballard, Dave Patton, Amanda Standlee, Carla Bishop, or Thad Crouch at your center very SOON.  I can’t wait for you to see what they can do!

As a final word I want to encourage you to SELLabrate on a daily basis because you’ve made selling a priority.  The only real way for you to grow is to book more groups, parties, and host more events!  When you SELL you can SELLebrate.  One of our favorite customers has a bell in their sales office and every time someone closes the deal they ring the BELL!  I love that….Why don’t you go get your “Sells-Bell” today and you can begin Sellebrating all the way to the bank!

The Invitation

Hello and good Wednesday.

I believe that the BEST message I can pass along this week is a sincere invitation to participate in our upcoming Leadership Summit, September 27th, 28th, & 29th.

Leadership is an area that I continue to seek guidance on a daily basis. If you are reading this newsletter and you are a business owner, manager, supervisor, parent, or responsible to anyone in a leader or mentor role, then I want to make a commitment to you. Learning to lead well is a daily discovery; and if you’ll come spend 2.5 days with us in OKC, I promise you’ll walk away with strategies that will make a difference in your ability to help others as you live the leadership role in their lives.

I once heard someone say that you know you are the leader if you look around and people are following you.

Is your team following you? Do you understand how to best handle the 4 generations of people that probably work in your center? Could you use help with communication or resolving the drama or conflict that can be part of daily life when a group of people work together? Do you know how to best create and share your vision, backed up by a plan to execute so that your team is able to deliver those great guests experiences? Finally, would you like to have the very best system of training others? If you answered yes to any of these questions please know that you must sign up for this event today!

It’s inexpensive to spend the night in OKC. We’ll feed you while you are at the Summit and best of all you are going to receive ALL training materials, powerpoint presentations, and the wealth of knowledge that the attendees and the TrainerTainment team bring to this event.

It is impossible for a group of leaders to get together and not walk away with value beyond measure! I sincerely invite you click this link and sign up today.

If you don’t think you need help with your leadership style or effort, think about someone who works for you. We have so many young people in supervisory roles and I promise, they’ve not been exposed to the same books, seminars, or other leadership opportunities that you’ve had. Let us help you develop your staff. Use the coupon code SAVE50 and you’ll save $50 on your sign up fees!

If you have a question or a comment about this program please feel free to post those comments on our Facebook page. We are very interested in why people do and don’t sign up for our regional seminars. We receive a lot of requests to do regional events.

Our final program this year is a Party Summit in Davie Florida and by the end of the month we’ll confirm our 2012 schedule.

Please take a minute to tell us what you would like to see in terms of a regional training (a link to this survey will be on our TrainerTainment Fan Page). And as always, we really appreciate the time you take to check out our weekly newsletter.

Have a great week.

 

 

Coach or First Class – Is There a Difference in Service?

Lately we’ve been talking a lot about attitude, so I thought it might be a good idea to revisit a reprint from a newsletter in 2009. It’s worth a reread!

Be sure to check out the great book recommendation at the end of the article.

A commitment to a great attitude helps you do the right thing every time.  I fly American Airlines almost exclusively.  I have a commitment to them because I have Platinum status which means I’m treated very well most of the time.  There seems to be a big difference with the attitude of service that comes with that frequent flyer status.  Often I’m upgraded to first class, flying standby is a non-issue because I’m at the top of the list and typically get a seat,  and overall there is simply an attitude of automatic respect and willingness to do whatever it takes to make my flying experience as good as it can be.  I like the AA attitude that comes with Platinum and Executive Platinum status.  Of course I’m spoiled and have grown to expect that each of their employees has a commitment to that attitude of service all the time.  I want to go on record to say that I love American Airlines.  I don’t like it when I have to fly anyone else.

However…last Friday I spent the day working in San Angelo, TX.  It just so happened that I finished up earlier than I thought.  I checked flights and although I felt like it might be a long shot, I went on to the airport to see if I could catch the 2:55 back to Dallas rather than the 5:55 that I had originally scheduled.

I arrived only 10-15 minutes before the flight was to depart.  The San Angelo airport has exactly 2 gates.  I had a boarding pass and TSA moved me through quickly and even indicated that the flight was still on the ground and I could probably get on.

I was delighted to see that the jet way door was open-YES they have jet ways in San Angelo, TX.  I was surprised as well!  Anyway, I asked the gate agent if I could get on.  He was busy clicking his computer and said, “No, it’s too late and we are at our limit.”  He did not say they were full.  My gut was that he was already into his final paperwork and he did not want to start over.  Normally, I would have been more assertive but honestly I was stunned.  I did not flash my status and I should have I guess.  I did finally find some words and challenged him a bit and said, “Sir, I just flew over here this morning and there were exactly 5 people on the flight, are you sure there’s not room for one more this afternoon?”  He grunted which I interpreted as sit down, you aint’ going!  Then the guy from the bridge came up and said, “Is that everyone?”  I knew then that his commitment to whatever he was doing to finish up his paperwork was a lot more important to him then service to his customers.  Things went from bad to worse.  The 5:55 was delayed until 6:20.  I did not waste my time.   I can work anywhere.  I was able to return a few phone calls and had a really good dinner at the airport.

This employee may have a great attitude most of the time.  However, he does not have a commitment to an attitude of service.  I do think if I had waved my status under his nose he may have been more willing to help me but is that really necessary or fair?

The thing that American is so great at is recognition of our men and women in the military.  I flew the next day and rode in coach.  It showed first class and N/A for my outbound trip.  No big deal, I had the first class seat in coach (the exit row).  As it turned out there were lots of first class seats.  The captain personally came through the cabin and grabbed military personnel that were in uniform and brought them to the front.  I was more than happy to bypass first class so that those service men and women could catch a more comfortable ride home or to the field in service to us.

You know it’s not just what you do for an individual but it is the attitude of consistency and commitment to do for others.  People watch and make decisions about your attitude and who you are every day.  I love acronyms and put this one together for attitude.  If it helps, I hope you’ll post it on your board to help your staff stay motivated and committed to having a great attitude.  Winston Churchill said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference”.  I happen to agree with him!

Affirmation-Affirm everyday that you are a positive person willing to make a difference

Talk-To others and let them know your commitment to them and spread your GREAT attitude to others.

Trust-That although things can get you down, you have the opportunity to choose how you react to all things.

Insist-That every day is a new day!  My friend Mary teaches special needs children-and gives each child a blank slate at the beginning of each day so that they can start fresh!  We should follow that model for ourselves and others.

Thanks-Be thankful that you have your life and your attitude-look around, there are plenty of others that you would not want to trade their circumstances for your own!

Understanding-It helps your attitude to “seek first to understand” – (Steven Covey-7 Habits of Highly Effective People)

Devotion-To others and to having a great attitude.  It is surprising how much can happen when you make up your mind that this is the way it’s going to be.  Get devoted to your GREAT attitude.

Enthusiasm-Stay alert and excited for the BEST thing that can happen to you today…and to the best thing you can make happen for another.  This kind of attitude makes each day fun.  Cool stuff happens every day and you can miss it because you weren’t looking.

Finally, if you just can’t muster a great attitude then do what Alex Grevin, who wrote, How to Talk to Girls, find a cool boy in class and copy him!

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