Doug's Blog Archives – Page 13 of 58

21 May 2013

Embrace Optimistic Pessimism for Business Greatness

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-04T15:50:50-06:00May 21st, 2013|Categories: Books and Courses, Doug's Blog, Leadership, Mindset and Motivation|

For a while I thought I was a bit of a pessimist. When I am
presented with new things or risk I immediately think of all the things that can
go wrong.

But then I realized that I also dream fairly big. I always have.

And continue to do things despite the fear or risk. Try to figure
out how to get past all the things that can go wrong. Rewrite the rules if required.

Because I understand the risk, and choose to do it anyways,
I don’t tend to quit when things go a bit sideways. I knew what I was getting
into.

[…]

16 May 2013

Don’t Grow, Only to Pop Your Business

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-17T13:16:49-06:00May 16th, 2013|Categories: Books and Courses, Business Strategy, Doug's Blog, Mindset and Motivation|

I recently heard about yet another local business that seemed to be doing really well a few years ago but recently shut its doors.

It wasn’t the economy. It wasn’t incompetence in their craft.

The service they offered is still in demand. In fact, they were riding a big wave created by other big fish.

They didn’t have to invent a market.

What Happened?

Balloon popping growing too fast in business Ultimately, the owner could not figure out how to successfully grow or scale their business.

Burn out.

Or the realization they could make […]

7 May 2013

Hats Off To Randy Gage And Mystique

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:29:11-06:00May 7th, 2013|Categories: Books and Courses, Doug's Blog, Marketing, Sales|

Randy Gage recently announced he is disappearing from public life.

"Effective today, I’ll stop posting to my Facebook page, Twitter feed, YouTube channel and blog, and am going to disappear from the public stage."

I have recently been thinking about Sally Hogshead's book "Fascinate" and how I could apply it to my message.

My primary trigger happens to be Mystique. So the rest of his message was fascinating to read.

Now back to Randy…

Chinese pagoda thinking learning growing success mystique He […]

2 May 2013

I Think You Have An Attitude Problem

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:29:23-06:00May 2nd, 2013|Categories: Doug's Blog, Leadership, Mindset and Motivation|

Your attitude is the most powerful force in your arsenal to give you the life you want. The good news is that for most people, attitude can be influenced and even controlled by… you.

"Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude." Zig Ziglar

Chances Are

Bad Attitude Construction Worker Attitude is your Choice If you are not happy in your job or role chances are your attitude is the cause.

If you are waiting around for someone to motivate you, chances are your […]

23 Apr 2013

PhD Essential for Business Success

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:29:35-06:00April 23rd, 2013|Categories: Business Strategy, Doug's Blog, Leadership|

After well over 12 years in business I have noticed that one key ingredient is absolutely essential to business success.

In fact, every single time we've run into problems (and I assure you we are not perfect either) I can trace it back to this cause.

Focusing your business on the things that matter most does not happen by accident.

Ensuring that your company stays on course to execute on its vision is not a once a year event.

Ensuring adherence to your core values and culture is not a part-time job.

Delivering your value promise to your customers each and every time is not […]

18 Apr 2013

Hatching Dragons (and Businesses)

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:29:45-06:00April 18th, 2013|Categories: Business Strategy, Doug's Blog|

What if you could figure out how to hatch a dragon?

It would be a cool and magical moment.

As soon as you create, the real challenges begin.

How do you feed a dragon?
How big will it get?
Where do you keep it?
What about the breathing fire part?

Dragons are dragons by nature. They are notoriously independent. And hungry.

The Strategic View

So the most important questions?

How do you ensure it doesn't cook or eat you?
Or your friends?
Or other people?

Why did you hatch a dragon?

Might be good to have a plan for this BEFORE you […]

16 Apr 2013

Trust is the Real Success Accelerator

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-17T13:42:22-06:00April 16th, 2013|Categories: Business Strategy, Doug's Blog, Go-Giver Coach|

“All things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those people they know like and trust.” Bob Burg and John David Mann – The Go-Giver

The Go-Giver

At first glance the Go-Giver is a book about sales.

I agree. Following The 5 Laws will help you sell more.

The Laws apply to life and business as well.

Because they are largely about being human, building relationships and putting the interests of others first while being open to receiving.

We are focused on Joe and how […]

12 Apr 2013

Focus on What Matters Most

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:30:28-06:00April 12th, 2013|Categories: Books and Courses, Business Strategy, Doug's Blog|

Too many businesses get distracted and lose focus from what is important.

I am currently reading "Be The Best At What Matters Most" by Joe Calloway.

Great book. Well worth the read. Buy it.

But reading the book won't help you.

Applying the ideas to your business will help you immensely.

Manifast Your Dream Business

I started by asking two questions about our own Manifast brand:

What matters most to our customers […]

8 Apr 2013

Forget What You Know: It Is Really All about the Client

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:30:37-06:00April 8th, 2013|Categories: Doug's Blog, Marketing, Sales|

What if we take this literally?

After thinking about “Endless Referrals” by Bob Burg a
couple of thoughts popped into my head.

Could I train an effective marketing and sales team
to generate leads and conduct initial sales calls with just a vague sense of
what our products and services do?

Would this be effective at breaking the “it’s all about us”
cycle of client abuse?

I was actually surprised by the answer.

Yes, I could.

And it just might be.
Man putting business card in pocket networking […]

4 Apr 2013

Be Different, But Not Too Much!

By Doug Wagner|2017-04-03T11:30:49-06:00April 4th, 2013|Categories: Business Strategy, Doug's Blog|

Sometimes even the experts have a hard time with embracing good business wisdom and instead go with the herd by default.

Be Different Stand Out

Be Different, But Not Too Much

We are told to differentiate ourselves from our competitors. Be different from them in some discernible way.

Yet when you are too different some interesting things start to happen.

The experts tell you to be more like your competitors. And "everyone" becomes an expert.

See the problem is that our brains want to match new patterns with what […]

Doug’s Blog

What Happened?

Chances Are

The Strategic View

Manifast Your Dream Business

Be Different, But Not Too Much