Fourth Quarter

At football games, you often see players (and fans) holding up four fingers to signify that the fourth quarter has started and it’s time to seriously take control of the game and its outcome. As you approach the beginning of your own fourth quarter at work, take time...

What Do Fishing & Selling Have In Common?

Last time, we discussed the conflict that often occurs between salespeople and sales managers in regard to activity. Managers want more and will say so; salespeople view this unsolicited advice about more activity as criticism. Further, a demand for more activity...

taming the tension in sales

There’s probably always been tension between sales managers and their salespeople. I know I’ve felt that friction with my manager when I worked as a salesperson. I also felt it from the other side of the desk when I was a sales manager myself. I’ve sometimes even...

What Happens During a Coaching Session?

What Happens During a Coaching Session? I always end my first coaching session with someone new to the program by asking this question:  “Was this session what you thought a business-coaching session would be?” The answer is almost universal.  They tell me they were...

business tips I learned from Dad

Business Tips I Learned from Dad   Twenty years ago, I wrote an article titled “Business Tips I Learned from Dad.” At the time, my daddy was turning 71, and I wrote the piece in honor of him. Henry will be 91 years old on August 22. He still practices...

serious summer fun

This summer, I had the opportunity to go on two different parent-child trips that were coordinated by the same organization. One was a weeklong educational sailing trip with five boys, two dads and a boat captain. The other was a trip to Camp Sequoyah near Anniston....