Be Hungry or Starve as an Entrepreneur.

Here is a great article I came across by Grant Cardone on Entrepreneur.com. Always remember if you help enough other people get what they want, you eventually get what you want.  Have a servant attitude and go after it. You have a product or a service that people want, they just don’t know they want to get it from you. Be bold, be daring and remember that your a champion that is unstoppable. 2016 is the year everything changed. Believe it, Conceive it and go Achieve it.

All the Best in LIFE,
Alex Nickerson

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When you win the Super Bowl, in life or in business, you cannot ever win again if you do not immediately go back to training — you must stay hungry, win or lose, success or failure. Whether the Panthers or the Broncos win the Super Bowl this year if they stop training they will never win another Super Bowl. Success requires constant attention and the moment you stop hunting for it, it will escape you. You must approach the creation of success as a must-have obligation, do-or-die mission, gotta-have-it, hungry-dog-on-the-back-of-a-meat-truck mentality.

Let your customers know you are hungry. Don’t act like you don’t need their business. There is an old saying that tells people to “fake it ’til you make it.” Well, this doesn’t apply here! Instead, you want to “act hungry to make sure you don’t end up hungry.”

I challenge you today to do two things:

1. You must change your mindset.

No one likes people who act like they are better than others and never act so important you don’t need people’s business. If you didn’t need their business you wouldn’t be in business. Everyone appreciates someone who goes the extra mile and really shows others that he or she wants, needs, and values others’ business. You will never create a powerful, solvent, prosperous, and abundant economy with an attitude of arrogance.

In almost every seminar I conduct, someone will say to me, “I’m afraid I might seem weak if I act like I want the business too much.” My response is always the same: “The biggest mistake you can make is not to act like you’re hungry for the business!” Let’s face it: You need clients more than they need you in any economy. An attitude of, “they need me more than I need them” always fails; treat your customers as though they’re more valuable than you and your company—because they are.

Every moment of every day act like your life depends on every transaction. And if you have to tell someone that you really want his or her business, well then, you probably aren’t acting hungry enough!  Acting hungry means that you’re aggressively ambitious or competitive. Perhaps it stems from a need to overcome poverty or past defeats or it is because your desire to succeed is so great. Regardless of your position in life, if you want to stay on top, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to earn more business—during good times and bad.

2. Take massive action.

What you did last year means nothing in the market today. History is laden with companies that were number one in their field but who only exist nowadays between the pages of books. Sears and Kmart are two perfect examples of these. Both dominated their fields at one time, but their arrogance cost them their positions—and now they’re struggling in the market.

Spend all your time, energy, creativity, and resources in advancing your goals and getting so far ahead of the pack that you seize your competitors’ business along the way. The real world of business is the most brutal battlefield in the world; it will not tolerate conceit or people who are living in the past. Customers don’t value excuses, timing, reasons, ratings, yesterday, position; they only value results. If you want to create your own economy, you have to know what you are dealing with. You must be willing to do what others won’t do—and even take actions that you might deem “unreasonable” at activity levels that seem “obsessive”.

Any absence of effort is likely due to a lack of awareness, an abundance of arrogance, or a combination of the two. Be useful, courteous, accessible, humble, and now more than ever, willing to go the extra mile.

Surpass any and all expectations, act like you really want someone’s business—and do whatever you can to earn it. If you give your clients genuine reasons to like you, demonstrate an authentic willingness to do anything for them, are consistently helpful, and never quit, they will want to do business with you, whatever your business is. Remember that the only way to increase appointments is to increase the number of people to whom you speak—and then amplify the reasons why they should make time for you.

Personally, any time someone who serves me continues to exhibit that hungry desire to do anything humanly possible to earn my business, I find every reason possible to support him or her. I stick with that person as long as he or she keeps exhibiting that kind of hungry attitude, and I don’t think I am unique this way. Most people want to be taken care of and paid attention to, and they crave this type of service from people because it is lacking in our culture.

You must show great appreciation and gratitude for every opportunity you get. Be willing to bend over backward, sideways—even do handstands, if necessary—to let people know that you’ll do whatever it takes to earn their business. Don’t let yesterday’s successes give you a false sense of security and make you feel like you don’t need success today and tomorrow. You must have your attention on the future to create one.

Always, always, always demonstrate your hunger and desire to grow your business by displaying how service-oriented and interested you are in your clients on a daily basis. Follow up relentlessly and do anything you can (ethically and professionally, of course) in order to obtain someone’s business. Be hungry!

1st Annual Kaizen Round Table House Boating Trip

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to give a few details on our first ever Kaizen Round Table House boating trip. Leighann and I flew out to Toronto on July 22nd and were picked up by our great friends Paul and Tara Ferrusi.  We than drove up to Bobcaygeon and the Kawartha Lakes.  After getting to Bobcaygeon we headed to the grocery store and loaded up on food.  We than got dropped off at Happy Days Houseboats on Piggott Lake and began to unload our stuff into the kitchen and bedroom of our luxury house boat.  Captains were chosen for each one of the house boats, Wayne MacNamara was to captain his boat and Terry Franks for ours.  We then met Frank (Owner of Happy Days) and he gave us the run down of everything we needed to know about our boat.  Then came the practicing of docking the boats and getting use to the controls, Wayne and Terry were naturals from the get go.  We stayed at the dock the first night as the rest of our party came throughout the night. IMG_1720

The next morning we set sail for Wolf Island, which is a 3 hour steam from the dock.  We got to go through the Locks systems in the Trent waterways. Trent Waterways was founded in 1833 and today have 44 Locks and 39 Swing Bridges.  It was really cool going through the Locks as we watched the water lower and rise depending on the lake we were entering.Image 2

As we entered Lower Buckhorn Lake we decided to head for Deer Bay and try out the Blob. This is where things became interesting. As we blew it up, all we really could go by was the video from my last post on how to use it.  So Claude jumped in the water and tied it to the boat.  All we could do next was use trial and error method to launch people off the blob.  The first day we set it up it was in the middle of the boat and we tried to jump from the top of the boat and catch our balance on the blob, then crawl out the end. Vary few made this happen, but the one that did make it out got launched at 14 – 16 feet high. That was just enough to entice us to try again in Day 2.IMG_1723

We then docked on Wolf Island for the night were a had an amazing supper.  After we got everything cleaned up after supper we all went out by the fire and got to share in the vision of our Life businesses. It was an amazing night that we got to share with the top Leaders in Kaizen.IMG_1737

Each boat had a designated couple that would cook breakfast and supper for the boat.  These were also a highlight of our trip, the food was incredible and we definitely were never left hungry.  Scott Staley went fishing and even landed a great size pike for supper, even thou there wasn’t any takers.

We talked all night and PDCA our lack of progress with the blob and day 2 was better. On this day we tied the blob to the side but now it was at the back of the boat and we could hop on from the lower level and crawl out to the end.  Their was a few small injuries on day 1 that limited the number of people willing to give it an attempt.  The best for me from the day was this video of Denis Leger doing a complete flip in the air. Enjoy.

Day three’s plan was for us to steam over to Big Island to camp for the night.  This would take a big chunk of our day, so we got up at the crack of 8am started breakfast and wanted to be on the water by 9 at the latest.  As we pushed our boat off the island and started to set sail, we noticed our second boat was floating towards the shallow rocks.  At that very moment we heard the sound of metal grinding against rocks.  Come to find out they had hit the rock pretty hard while backing up.  Claude got them to shut their engine off, we then used our boat to pull them to the middle of the lake to assess the damages.  As you can see by the picture they broke the propeller pretty good.  Happy Days come to our rescue with a new propeller that arrived by speed boat a few hours later. ImageWe had a few hours to kill waiting for the propeller so we decided to throw the anchors down and play a few games.  The ladies on one boat and the men on the other.    Once we installed the new propeller we decided to get our last day of blobing in.  This was by far the best day.  It was like we were dialed in.  A little less air in the blob,  and we were hitting new heights.  A couple of high lights from the blob was watching Terry Franks jump on the blob and fight his way out to the end (which was the toughest part) then get launched.  Another impressive moment was watching my wife Leighann attempt 2 times to make it out to the end without success and getting catch in the rope both times, then attempting a third time with success.  This is a picture of Leighann above the tree line, one of the highest launches of the weekend.

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As we finally got under way to Big Island we were told that the Locks close at 4:30pm.  This meant that we wouldn’t make it thru Lock 31 in time to get to Big Island for the night.  We then found a marina while looking for a few supplies and fireworks.  They didn’t have a lot to choose from and didn’t have any fireworks.  They told us about this amazing location where we could dock close by for the night and even had two guys come out on a zodiac to make sure we found the right spot.  It was the best location by far, our own private island on a quiet lagoon. IMG_1746They then took Joce into town by zodiac and picked up some fireworks and came back.  We started a fire and ate supper.  As it got dark we began setting up for the fireworks.  Claude cleared the ground for the set up of the fire works and he got me to light them off.   We had the ladies stay on the top of the boat while us men set up a truly awesome firework display.  Here is a short video of the fireworks.

The end of the night concluded with all of us gathered around the camp fire talking about the next 12 – 24 months and the strategy we are going to use.

The last day we got up bright and early at 9am and steam back to the Happy Days dock.   As an added bonus Claude decided to meet all of us at The Keg for a closing out supper which is one of my favorite places to eat.  Thanks for an awesome meal pal.

I want to say a special thanks to Claude and Lana Hamilton for helping set this week up and for supper at The Keg, also to Wayne and Raylene MacNamara for finding the house boats and organizing the costs.  Also thanks to Terry and Anne Franks and Jean and Tammie Belenger for being amazing  boat mates. Also like to say congratulations to Joce and Cynthia Dionne, Denis and Lisa Leger, Scott Staley, and Stuart & Carrianne Hall for all being part of the first official Kaizen house boating trip.  What ever you do run hard and be at next years trip, this was an unforgettable 5 days.  If you were part of this round table trip or someone who would like to comment feel free at the bottom of the page.

All the Best in LIFE,

Alex Nickerson
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Wayne & Raylene MacNamara: New Life PC Members!!!

Hello everyone, here is a fanastic article written by Orrin Woodward about the newest PC members Wayne and Raylene MacNamara.If you were Ottawa, Louisville, or Visalia let us know what your favorite part was from your weekend at the Winter Leadership Convention.

All the Best in LIFE,

Alex Nickerson

Wayne and Raylene MacNamara were recognized as new LIFE PC members at the LIFE Business Leadership Conventions. These two were Turbo 10 when they joined the Team community in late 2007, and now six years later, have over a thousand people at events! Leadership matters, and Claude & Lana Hamilton are building a leadership community that loves and serves one another. In fact, the Hamilton’s business is nearly six times bigger today than the day they joined the Team community back in late 2007. The dream is alive and well within the LIFE community.

533572_524724174225430_1190994941_nLaurie and I are so proud of the Hamiltons and MacNamaras for dreaming, struggling, persisting, and ultimately achieving this Olympic Gold level award. The MacNamaras were factory workers with no avenue to move up when they were introduced to Claude and Lana Hamilton. Despite lacking funds, opens, and seminars (the MacNamaras were a distance group and therefore had to build all of this), Wayne and Raylene refused to make excuses and built the system from scratch to not only go PC, but also help so many others accomplish their goals and dreams. The MacNamaras have a contagious enthusiasm for life that attracts so many winners to them. I LOVE spending time with this couple, and I believe this is just the beginning of the impact this couple will have in the world! Today they are debt free, job optional, and enjoying their freedom lifestyle in Ontario, Canada.

This is just the first of a wave of PC who will be breaking in the LIFE community, as the system and products are dialed in for growth. Numbers are up, belief is up, and the speed of growth is up! I love what I am seeing across North America. Thank you to all who attended the Leadership Conventions and celebrated the MacNamara’s victory. 2013 is the year of breakthroughs within LIFE. Is 2013 a breakthrough year in your life? Who was there live for this recognition? Please share how it impacted you.

Sincerely,

Orrin Woodward

Winter Leadership Convention is around the corner!!

Hey Everyone, It’s that time a year again. The Winter Leadership Convention is almost here. This is guaranteed to be one of the most memorable conventions in history.  I will be attending the Ottawa, Ontario convention that takes place on the weekend of Jan 25-27, 2013. The Ottawa convention is 1 of three regional going on in January.  We are so pleased to have Orrin and Laurie WoodwardClaude and Lana Hamilton and Dan and Lisa Hawkins all in Ottawa.  These weekends are designed to help people see the big picture in what the LIFE Community is all about.  I started going to these conventions over 4 years ago and havent missed one since.  Here is a short video to see a small climes into what a convention weekend looks like.

What are some of your favorite moments from conventions past?

Hope to see ya in Ottawa 😉

All the Best in LIFE,

Alex Nickerson

 

 

 

Life Founders and All Grace Outreach Program

Here is an amazing article by a great friend of mine, Wayne MacNamara.  This article shows the life founders giving back to abused, abandoned and distressed Children and widows.  Claude Hamilton has shown me first hand what this program has done and it is truly a blessing in many peoples lives.  Enjoy.

All the best in LIFE,

Alex Nickerson

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The founders of LIFE support this amazing cause of helping children. Their support and generosity is incredible. Check it out.

All Grace Outreach originally began in 1993 in Maine as “Christian Mission Services”. In March of 2007, the charity organization was transferred to Michigan and the name was changed to All Grace Outreach. All Grace Outreach is committed to providing assistance to those in need. Our main focus is spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world and helping abused, abandoned and distressed children and widows.

Mission and Vision – To impact and improve the lives of children both locally and globally and to fund Christian outreach efforts throughout the world.

AGO Board of Directors

Orrin Woodward serves as the President of All Grace Outreach (AGO). Orrin is a Top Ten Leadership Guru and New York Times best-selling author, husband to wife Laurie, and father to four wonderful children. He is the founder of Signature Management Team and a co-founder of LIFE. His professional history has focused on engineering, international business consulting and public speaking, community building, authoring several books on leadership and self-development, and last, but not least, serving as a wrestling coach. Orrin is committed to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, to instilling biblical values in homes around the globe, and to assisting less fortunate youth, and he is involved in efforts to build churches and orphanages in India. Orrin possesses a selfless, heartfelt desire to improve and enhance the lives of others, and AGO is blessed to operate under his wise yet humble guidance as President.

Chris Brady serves as the Vice President of AGO. Chris is a co-founder of LIFE and a New York Times best-selling author who has spoken all over the world teaching success principles to hundreds of thousands. He pursues excellence in being a husband, father, and follower of Jesus Christ and is an avid motorized adventurer, world traveller  humorist, community builder, business owner, reader, and lifetime student. The biggest joy for Chris comes in spending time with his wife Terri and their four children, attending soccer games, and dancing with his daughter. Chris is deeply committed to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and is a strong supporter of charitable donations for mission trips and assistance for less fortunate children and widows. In keeping with this passion and purpose, Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward donate 100% of the advances and royalties they receive for the first edition of their best seller Launching a Leadership Revolution to All Grace Outreach. AGO is honoured to have Chris serving as its Vice-President.

Rob Hallstrand serves as the Treasurer of AGO. Rob is the Chief Operating Officer of Signature Management Team and a co-founder of the LIFE business. He is a devoted husband to Susie Hallstrand and the proud father of three children. Despite the demands of his work schedule, Rob shares the duties of soccer and gymnastics dad and can be found most weekends cheering on his children. A long-term friend and trusted business partner to the Woodward family, Rob works hard to support and advance the mission and vision of AGO to impact and improve the lives of children both locally and globally and to fund Christian outreach efforts throughout the world, and he is a welcome addition to the AGO Board of Directors.

Tim Marks serves as the Secretary of AGO. Tim is a co-founder of the LIFE business and the author of the book Voyage of a Viking. He studied engineering for three and a half years at Mott Community College and completed an Electrical Apprenticeship Program. Tim speaks on stages across North America to tens of thousands of people every year. He is a recognized expert in building successful leadership communities and a sought-after business mentor and life coach. A consummate overcomer, Tim fought against dyslexia and major challenges in school to become a voracious reader who today personally oversees a Christian book-of-the-month program for leaders across North America. Tim encourages others to challenge their beliefs and seek the truth about why they are here and what their greater purpose in life could be with his cherished mantra: “Know why you believe what you believe.” AGO is proud to have such a strong business leader and dedicated Christian, husband, and father serving as its Secretary.

Claude Hamilton serves as a Director of AGO. Claude grew up in a small town in northern Ontario, Canada, and served eight years in the Canadian Armed Forces, travelling and spending time overseas. Afterwards he changed his focus, realizing that the life of an entrepreneur was the only life for him. He became a dedicated student of leadership principles and went on to build a highly successful leadership business with thousands of followers. Then, with his devoted friends, he co-founded the company LIFE. He is a passionate promoter of the principles of success and has helped many business partners duplicate his results. Claude is a dedicated husband, and he and his wife Lana welcomed a son into their family in 2011. Known for his adventurous spirit and exceptional gift for bringing lasting personal change to the lives of others, Claude works hard to be the best example he can be to his business partners, friends, and loved ones and benefits AGO in many ways with his service on the Board of Directors.

George Guzzardo serves as a Director of AGO. Before building his own prosperous leadership company and co-founding the company LIFE, George completed eight years toward a pre-med degree and then joined a physical therapy practice in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He also pioneered a state-of-the-art industrial wellness program for the mining and forestry industries. George’s leadership skills and love for helping others are evidenced by his enormous and faithful following. As a highly successful entrepreneur and leader, George has become a nationally acclaimed speaker and life mentor to thousands. He has spent the last decade living his passion for helping families across North America to achieve healthier lifestyles and financial freedom while enjoying his love for travelling  meeting new people, and being outdoors. AGO is appreciative of the blessings George brings through his service on the Board of Directors.

Dan Hawkins serves as a Director of AGO. As a devoted husband and father of four girls, Dan offers an inspiring story of a humble auto mechanic who, through the application of Christ-centered principles, established his own business and grew to become an incredible leader to thousands. His leadership proficiency is so readily recognizable that he has been asked to speak across North America to groups ranging in size from 25 to over 15,000 people, and he also speaks on live webcasts shown around the world to share practical knowledge in all areas of leadership. He is a co-founder of LIFE and authors multiple blogs on leadership and life. Dan is dedicated to bringing out the best in everyone he meets and is always ready to motivate, encourage, and guide others to develop their leadership principles and then “pay it forward.” His gentle and insightful qualities bring a valuable contribution to the AGO Board of Directors.

Bill Lewis serves as a Director of AGO. He studied mechanical engineering for three years and was working as an engineer, as well as pursuing ventures in real estate investing and the vending machine industry, when he was first introduced to and became an avid student of leadership principles. Through the application of the principles he learned, his relationships have flourished and his various entrepreneurial endeavors have prospered. He has built a thriving leadership business with a vast following and is also a co-founder of the LIFE business. He is driven by his desire to help other people enjoy increased success in their personal and professional relationships and works perpetually toward that end. Bill is an inspiration to all those he meets, and his service on the AGO Board of Directors is greatly appreciated

Thank you to the Life founders and your servant leadership.

God Bless, Wayne