I was reading a Facebook post this morning from someone trashing Glenn Beck and his rally today at the Lincoln Memorial.  He started his long list of reasons why Beck is so aweful and a danger to our society by pointing how his (Beck’s) net worth compares with that of Dr. Martin Luther King who also delivered his famous speech on this day 47 years ago from the same steps.  He went on to point out those supporting Beck and financing his campaign to “Restore Honor”.

I guess my first question is, What does Glenn Beck’s net worth have anything to do with his right as an American to voice his opinion.  I guess when you’re wealthy or have succeeded in our free enterprise system, you achieve the “American Dream” and suddenly you just need to shut up, pay more than your fair share of taxes,  just be grateful for what you have and did I say pay more taxes.  As far as those supporting Beck, why don’t we ever want to talk about the George Soros’s of the world, his funding of their socialistic, European style, anti-capitolism push on the American people.

It’s pretty obvious that the American people aren’t buying the “hope and change” promised by this Administration.  Maybe that’s what’s ticking off the left.  It’s not so much Glenn Beck, it’s that as each day passes more Americans are seeing through the facade and empty promises and realizing that it just doesn’t work.  It further iritates them that all the new government programs they dream of implementing, the socialized medicine they want to force on “the people” and the mountains of new debt they want to rack up isn’t cutting it either.

So, when they see the writing on the wall, they fall back to the same old play book.  They question the sanity of those who oppose them, they pull the race card and the ultimate card is pulled, the class envy card. They say things like: “Look how much money he makes….he, uhh is rich, uhh…. he’s got a lot of …. money.  uhhh… he’s wealthy so uhhh, uhh… SHUT UP!”

I say keep speaking up America.  You’re getting under the thin skin of the left and they are beside themselves.  And it’s not even November.

Reagan speechwriter James Humes shares what made President Ronald Reagan the “Great Communicator” of our time and how you can tap into those skills to communicate more effectively at home and on the job.

A therapist and counselor who attended one of my seminars shared the following story with me. She said she left the seminar, went home and tried to digest all of the information I shared. She decided she would try and implement just one idea I gave her and the others in attendance (one way to get someone in the media to write about you and refer to you as an expert in your field.) She used the technique I taught and lo and behold to her amazement it worked.

With so much information in the form of articles, research and expert analysis at our fingertips, it’s imperative that you do something to stand out from others in your field or line of work. Being known locally or otherwise as “the expert” in your field can go a long way to take your career to higher heights.

It may sound simplistic, but it really does come down to one word and that word is communication.  You see, we are all communicating something.  It’s just that some are better “communicators” than others.  You know what I mean.  How many times have you been frustrated in your own line of work knowing that it’s not the best, (you fill in the blank) who got the job, it was the one who sold themselves best to the client or customer.  It’s not always the best man or woman elected to office, often it’s the person who spins the best story or crafts the most creative message.

If you are to Take The Next Step in this competitive economy we live in, here’s the question I ask.  What one step are you willing to take to better communicate who you are and what you have to offer your employer, your customer or your client?

With so many people fighting over the same dollar, it pays to have “your story” in front of those you need to impress.  And don’t tell me you don’t have a story worth telling.  We all have a story.  I’ll talk more about that next time.

Go Out And Make A Difference.

I hope you like the new easy to navigate look to my site.  There is so much media from which to communicate a message these days, but if you don’t use it, it does no good.  If you notice, I’ve adopted a new header to my site. That is really what my radio show, blog, seminars, video production and other venues is really all about. By starting a conversation whether it be over the radio, the internet (blog posts and such) or engaging each other through seminars, speaking, training and such, once the back and forth begins, we can connect on one level or another and once the connection is made that is when we are really communicating.  We communicate ideas, strategies, solutions and more.  Let me hear what you think from time to time.  Look for more frequent content coming to this site in the form of blog posts both written and video, audio from my radio show and more.  Hope you enjoy it and spread the word.

Example:  Last week, an AirTran Flight I was scheduled to fly on was delayed for 5 hours.  Not only did a representative call personally to inform, they offered a free round trip ticket good for one year any place AirTran goes.  Didn’t ask for it.  They just did it.

Contrast this to tonight where I’m writing this from Orlando as I sit and await Spirit Air.  This flight has been delayed twice. They knew it at some point and didn’t call, no contact until we checked our bags.  To make matters worse, it’s very late at night.  So far, no offer of a free ticket, refund, hotel accomidation, no coffee, meal voucher …. NOTHING!

So, in a world where Facebook, Twitter and a blog can spread the word as fast as you can hit “publish”, a company should realize now more than ever the importance of excellent customer service.  I just don’t get it.  Having taught courses in marketing, media and public relations for years, I can tell you that poor customer service is like a wildfire and as such is very hard to contain once it spreads.   You can spend millions of dollars telling everyone how “good you are”, but it means nothing if you can’t back up the claims when it really counts.

Oh, and I have a radio talk show I can also use as a forum. Hummmm.  Wonder what my topic will be on the next show?

2.  When you get the chance, grab the ball and run!

3.  The pundits are often wrong.

Love the real life stories that teach us never to give up or give in.  I’m blown away by the fact that we have a God who every day gives us a chance to start fresh and live a life full of His presence and peace if we only turn our lives over to Him.  In life, God is on the sidelines of whatever you are facing.  He is cheering you on and wants only the best for you with the ultimate goal of conforming you to be more like His Son Jesus.  He tell us in the book of Jeremiah 29, verse 11, “For I know the plans I have for you … To prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.”