Hitting and exceeding goals!

Do you know what it feels like to be the top performer in your company? Capstone Consultants, Inc. definitely knows what it feels like to have top performing sales representatives in the entire country. Anna Strole and Joe Outen were ranked top 50 in the country for the month of November. They were individual pacesetters and are continuing their success in the month of December.

Anna was ranked number 1 in sales the first week of December in the entire southeast region.  She is a great coach and mentor to her team.  She pushes herself and others to be the best at what they do. Not only does she push herself and others professionally, but personally as well. Anna is known for exceeding the standards that are set and going above and beyond.

Along with Anna and Joe, our team here at Capstone is always striving to be the best and work towards hitting and succeeding our goals. We are proud to be involved with such a growing organization, and are looking forward to what’s to come in 2013.

Something you can hang your hat on

I once read that an ordinance in one of America’s major cities forbids “walking about aimlessly, with no apparent purpose, lingering, hanging around, lagging behind, idly spending time, delaying, sauntering and moving slowly about.”

I can’t tell you how disturbed I felt. Some of my best days are spent like that.

But then, I don’t want my whole life to be basically described as having “no apparent purpose…lagging behind…idly spending time…delaying” and generally moving about aimlessly. On the other hand, neither do I want to take myself too seriously. An occasional day spent doing next to nothing sounds perfectly fine.

My problem is that I am usually busy. I schedule tightly and work long hours. I plan my time and make lists.

But it would be a mistake to believe that, just because I am doing many things, I am necessarily doing the right things. Or, perhaps, the BEST things. At least if I’m busy, I want to stay busy at things that matter.

News commentator Dan Rather asked himself a vital question several times a day. Largely because of this one question, he became one of America’s leading journalists. Rather wrote the question on three slips of paper. He kept one in his billfold, one in his pocket, and one on his desk. The all-important question he constantly asked himself was “Is what you are doing now helping the broadcast?”

If the answer was no, then he stopped what he was doing and put his efforts into something else. He discovered early on that if he did not focus his time, he would end up in a job where he was under-utilized and dissatisfied.

What if you were to ask yourself a focusing question several times a day? Your question might relate to work, or perhaps to another area of your life that is important to you – family, relationships, personal development, spirituality..

You might ask yourself if what you’re doing now is helping you succeed. Or if what you’re doing now is helping you to be a better parent or a better person. You decide. The point is this: one simple question can focus and transform your life.

Try writing the question you choose on small slips of paper or on the back of a business card. Carry it with you. Post it on your desk. You might even affix it to a conspicuous spot inside your car.

Then read it several times a day. That one question will help you choose activities that contribute toward your best self. And if you are busy, at least you will be busy doing the right things – things that matter.

Then, if you decide to spend an occasional day walking about aimlessly, with no apparent purpose, lingering, hanging around, lagging behind, idly spending time, delaying, sauntering and moving slowly about, why not? The down time will probably do you good.

And that’s something you can hang your hat on.

-Steve Goodier

Life = Taking Chances

Take a minute to watch this video. It will make you think about life and the different experiences that come your way!

Whatever you dwell in your mind, you give power to. So, of course it makes sense to focus on what you want rather than what you don't want. Yet there are many ways in which the things you don't want  can sneak into your thinking.

Worry and doubt focus your thinking on what you don't want. Rather than worrying about the bad things that might happen, direct you actions toward making positive things happen.

Complaining can also get your mind sidetracked into thinking about what  you don't want. What do you complain about? The things you don't like. Rather than complaining, take action. Action moves you towards what you do want.

Anger is one more way to get your thinking negatively directed. Rather than getting angry about what you don't like, use that energy to give you determination for what you want to achieve.

Keep your mind positively focused on the good things that life can offer. Those things will grow stronger and more abundant in your world.

Capstone Consultants has a few techniques you can use to motivate your employees:

There are different types of employee motivation techniques that are intended at helping employees to do their job proficiently and work better. The success of your company will depend on motivated employees. If they are motivated, they will do the work which leads into more productivity and more profits for your company. However, there are many different ways of motivating your employees. Therefore, choose the ones that go along with the culture of your company. Here are a few techniques that you can use to motivate your employees:

Employee of the Month: For employee of the month, each month an employee is selected. This specific employee will be demonstrated as the “top player”. This means that the employee has done an outstanding performance in the particular month. The employee that was selected could be rewarded a gift or any appropriate recognition. When this employee is recognize and seen by everyone, this will motivate other employees to work harder so they can be recognize as the employee of the month.

Team Performances: For team performances, employees can be organized in groups and compete against each other in various performances such as superior work or faster completion of projects.

Being interested in your Employees: For being interesting in your employee, if you are the manager or even part of the management team, be interested in your employees. Find out what they do in their spare time, what they like, what their plans are and the like. Don’t try to be in their business, but just get a feel on what they like to do. People like to talk about their selves and in the process will like you and be motivated.

Give Challenging and Exciting Projects: Give your employees a project that they are excited to do because that makes them more motivated. They would be interested in it. Acknowledge their accomplishments and praise them. People like it when their efforts are recognized. Do this both on one-to- one basis and as a group.

All Work and No Play: At certain times, reward your employees with an unexpected leisure. Take them out for that annual holiday. Have lunch with all employees. Do something nice to them!

If you apply the above employee motivation techniques, you will be amazed at the results that will follow!

Capstone Consultants wants to know: Why do you seek success?

“The word “success” seems to always be up in the air. Are you one of those who are trying to catch it? Grasp it? Breathe it?”

The modern man seems to want success more than ever. He has pursued it with much enthusiasm and passion. He has gone through a lot of sacrifice in the name of “success.” But only a few actually thought about the success they are pursuing. Most of us pursue success and not really have a clear end goal. Why I am doing this? Why am I searching for success?

In us, lies a natural longing for happiness and eventually eternal contentment. Look into yourself and you will see that most of your actions are fueled by the desire for joy.

When we look at it, we pursue success to be happy. Success is just the means to find joy.  Some say that they pursue success to be fulfilled, but even fulfillment is accompanied by joy. That is how you can say to yourself you are fulfilled, when you have a sense of joy in you.

Our problem today is that we have sought the means and not the end. We have pursued success for its own sake. We seem to be obsessed with the process and not the product. We sought wealth crazily only to find in the end that our possessions did not make us happy. At that point we are left with the question “What now?” It is a question that has driven many to despair.

To try to be successful for the sake of “being successful” is to have an unsubstantial goal. Success is the process of buying the food, not the food itself.

If you end up miserable in the process of pursuing success, then you just have defeated your purpose. All your accomplishments will mean nothing if you are not happy. You might have the resources to numb the pain, but it does not take it away.

Too many people think that success is wrapped up in things, but the truth is, success is wrapped up in how you see yourself and how you are able to enjoy life.

So what is your reason in pursuing success?

Capstone Consultants would like to say “Happy Administrative Professionals Day!!!!!”

Today marks the 60^th anniversary of Administrative Professionals Day!! The job of an administrative professional has changed radically thanks to new tools, techniques and shifts in the economy and culture itself. However, admins have remained the steady center of competence through it all, helping ensure that jobs get done right, on time and under budget. Admins are one of the instruments of business, particularly in a complex economy. In a world that demands the accurate and speedy movement of digital information, admins are masters of data. And they do this while maintaining their more traditional role as the doorkeepers for many customers, clients and employees. We extend a big “THANK YOU” to all of you who make our jobs easier and serve as leaders of business.