Great Life Lessons as Taught by My Dog Jax

Great Life Lessons as Taught by My Dog Jax

by | Jul 15, 2013 | Success

As an observer and listener of life lessons I’ve been ‘trained’ to see the world differently.

I recently realized that one can learn a lot about human behavior by one’s dog.  Jax, our 95lb Rhodesian Ridgeback has taught us many things. The ones that resonate the most and have had the most impact on my life include the following:

 

1. Every dog  is different

2. Touching is key in every relationship

3. Body language  and using your voice is very effective in getting what you want

3a. Loud whining also works

4, Your dog learns faster than you do

5. Stay focused and don’t overreact — like when your dog chews your glasses

6. Be grateful of his presence everyday even when all 95lbs are on your foot

7. Humility — thinking you know everything about something and you know “jax” s—t

8. Being loved by your best friend even when he tries your patience

9. Praise and rewards, even small ones, go a long way

10. No matter how difficult the situation, he will always find a way to melt your heart!

11. Change is not easy – take a different path home and all hell breaks loose
Bonus: Life is a training session!

 

Let’s take a closer look at some of these life lessons —

 

Every dog is different: Jax is our third Ridgeback. We thought we knew how he would be and that we could easily train him ourselves.

After all, Remy, our first one was so laid back that he was affectionately known as The Big Easy.

Our second one, Ben, was a Momma’s boy and also easy to train.

Yet, even though Jax is a Ridgeback, he marches to his own drummer.

Life Lesson Learned: If you think you know someone (including your customers or clients) the truth may surprise you.

Be grateful of his presence everyday: Life is short, especially in dog years. Be grateful for the people in your life (especially the furry ones). 

Life Lesson Learned: Your customers and clients (whether furry or not) are what get you up in the morning. Respect and cherish them!

Praise and rewards, even small ones, go a long way: This is true for four legged friends as well as human ones. By the way, a small reward such as a blueberry works really well in training Jax.

Life Lesson Learned: Praise and small tokens of recognition help to motivate us and keep us coming back. It’s amazing how this works in creating loyal employees and customers!

Change is not easy, take a different path home and all hell breaks loose: Change is the only thing we can count on (in addition to taxes and death).

Life Lesson Learned: Change is the most important thing to keep us going, especially when things are going along fine. Change provides opportunities which provide solutions. If you create change and better outcomes, everyone around you will benefit!

About the Author

Debbie Silverman is a Human Behavior Specialist and President of a consumer research company called Consumer Perspective LLC. She is also a two-time Effie Award winner for Marketing Excellence, NLP Practitioner and creator and co-author of the Amazon #1 Best Seller, “It’s Just a Conversation.”

With 30+ years’ experience, Debbie uses her unique strategic engagement techniques to raise the bar on how businesses communicate with their customers to create RAVING FANS! Debbie gets a thrill when she can reveal ways companies can delight their customers and initiate long-term and PROFITABLE conversations.

Contact Debbie Silverman today for ways to delight your customers; speaking engagements and corporate workshops. Debbie may be reached at Debbie@Consumer-Perspective.com. You can find Debbie on LinkedIn and Facebook. For more information about Consumer Perspective LLC, please go to www.Consumer-Perspective.com

Is the Secret to Success – ADD?

Is the Secret to Success – ADD?

by | Jun 18, 2013 | Success

A couple of months ago I attended a global business conference in LA called Mega Partnering VII (The World’s #1 Wealth Networking Conference).

Six years ago, J.T. Foxx, the brainchild of this incredible breakthrough business idea started out with nothing more than a rusted out Ford pick-up truck, $974, one cheap suit and ADD (ADHD). (Attention deficit disorder (ADD) which is sometimes known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that occurs in early childhood during which responses are inhibited. The child has poor attention as well as impulsivity and hyperactivity.)

According to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association approximately 7% of children and 5% of adults have ADD/ADHD.

Now J.T. is a successful and highly sought after motivational speaker, real estate investor and brilliant entrepreneur. He proudly announces that he is ADD and uses it every chance he gets to explain why he can’t sit still; can’t focus and is constantly fidgeting. Even when interviewing some of his renowned guests like Donna Karan, Arnold Schwarzenegger and numerous others, J.T. Foxx acted and looked like a child that couldn’t wait to get out of class. Donna even asked him what he was doing when he took the remote away from her during her presentation.

J.T. Foxx is in great company. He shares his ADD (ADHD) qualities with the likes of Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, President Kennedy, Michael Jordan, Walt Disney, David Neeleman (Founder, CEO of Jet Blue) Richard Branson (founder of Virgin Airlines), and Michael Phelps (the most decorated Olympian of all time), to mention some very talented, successful and accomplished people.

ADD: Einstein Had It

Would A E be good in a Focus Group?

Can you imagine a focus group or brain storming session with Albert Einstein? It would be a very interesting and creative to say the least.

According to Shane Perrault, PHD, “Entrepreneurs with ADHD can harness their creativity to increase profitability.” (As reported in Psychology Today, Sept 16,2009).

J.T. Foxx has figured out how to use his disorder to make millions! To see him in action is quite magical. He is creative, innovative, disruptive, thinks way outside the box, is a maverick and plays by his own rules, is intuitive and resilient. All amazing trademarks of successful people with ADD.

 What was also fun to watch during the 5-day conference was that various speakers admitted to having ADD – whether they had it or not. It seemed to be “the in thing” for explaining hiccups in their presentations.

Perhaps that’s something I should consider when things don’t go as planned in business and in life!

Do you know any insanely successful people? Do they have ADD? How do they use this special disorder to get ahead? I’d love to hear your comments regarding successful people and ADD. Please post your comments below.

About the Author

Debbie Silverman is a Human Behavior Specialist and President of a consumer research company called Consumer Perspective LLC. She is also a two-time Effie Award winner for Marketing Excellence, NLP Practitioner and creator and co-author of the Amazon #1 Best Seller, “It’s Just a Conversation.”

With 30+ years’ experience, Debbie uses her unique strategic engagement techniques to raise the bar on how businesses communicate with their customers to create RAVING FANS! Debbie gets a thrill when she can reveal ways companies can delight their customers and initiate long-term and PROFITABLE conversations.

Contact Debbie Silverman today for ways to delight your customers; speaking engagements and corporate workshops. Debbie may be reached at Debbie@Consumer-Perspective.com. You can find Debbie on LinkedIn and Facebook. For more information about Consumer Perspective LLC, please go to www.Consumer-Perspective.com

What Is Today’s American Dream?

What Is Today’s American Dream?

by | May 22, 2013 | Finance

 

Yesterday’s American Dream was to own your own home.

 

In today’s ever changing economy that dream is becoming a nightmare. Don’t get me wrong many Americans still want to own instead of rent and many already own a home – or let’s say the bank is letting them live there . The difference today is that adults want more – a lot more!

According to a recent survey conducted by Consumer Perspective, there is more than one American Dream. One biggie is to have piece of mind that their family and friends are safe. Another is to have the resources to get out of the corporate jungle and start their own business (as evidenced by the incredible growth of business coaches, life coaches, and even dream coaches).; and another popular dream is to have enough money to do whatever they want to do.

Would love to hear what your American Dream is and what you are doing to make it a Dream Come True.

About the Author

Debbie Silverman is a Human Behavior Specialist and President of a consumer research company called Consumer Perspective LLC. She is also a two-time Effie Award winner for Marketing Excellence, NLP Practitioner and creator and co-author of the Amazon #1 Best Seller, “It’s Just a Conversation.”

With 30+ years’ experience, Debbie uses her unique strategic engagement techniques to raise the bar on how businesses communicate with their customers to create RAVING FANS! Debbie gets a thrill when she can reveal ways companies can delight their customers and initiate long-term and PROFITABLE conversations.

Contact Debbie Silverman today for ways to delight your customers; speaking engagements and corporate workshops. Debbie may be reached at Debbie@Consumer-Perspective.com. You can find Debbie on LinkedIn and Facebook. For more information about Consumer Perspective LLC, please go to www.Consumer-Perspective.com