Message #48 - 2009

Dear Total Success Achievement Member,

Holidays, happiness, and goals. It is that time of year again. Thanksgiving is past, Christmas and New Year's await us all.

Yesterday I received several party invitations for the upcoming holiday season. I am confident that, as in year's past, there will be several more coming across my e-mail inbox or via "snail" mail.

December is always a challenging month for me. By nature I am gregarious and love to go to holiday functions. But I have learned from years past that I have to be selective in the time I allocate for enjoying this wonderful time of year.

There are invitations that arrive for the same evening, and I have to choose which party to attend. After all, I cannot be in both places at one time. In addition, I really can't go out every evening (no matter how much I'd like to) and still wake up refreshed and ready to work on my goals for the remainder of the year (and plan those for the coming year). 

It is very tempting to get caught up in the holiday party spirit, live for the moment, and enjoy all the good times. Free food, adult beverages, fun conversations...

But what about my goals for December and beyond?

That's when I take into consideration the unique opportunity presented by the holiday season, when people are generous and open to new opportunities. Instead of trying to cram in as many parties as I can, I focus on how I can attend a holiday event where I haven't been invited. You read right. I'll explain what I mean in a moment... and how you can do the same.

Think about it... isn't there someone you have been trying to connect with all year or someone YOU have been wanting to network with to advance your goals... but you just haven't had the chance?

This is the perfect time to rev up your goal engine and use the following technique to make it happen. I call it the:

No Invitation - No Problem Success Technique

This is the ONE time of the year where YOU can have an opportunity to meet people and network even if you have not received a direct invitation. I'm not kidding. I have been using this Success Technique for years to keep my personal and business goals on track.

For instance, several years ago an associate of mine, Bill, proudly announced he had received an invitation to Kevin's Christmas party. 

Kevin's parties were famous throughout Orlando for several reasons.

• Kevin was the owner and founder of the largest timeshare company in the United States.

• His home was a palace that I had seen many times in local magazines. It was situated in the exclusive community of Isleworth, a wealthy suburb.

• Kevin would invite all of his key executives and their wives, as well as selected vendors and business associates whom he valued and wanted to impress.

• Kevin always had top-flight entertainment, exquisite food, a few celebrity guests, and, of course, that fabulous home.

I was very happy for my friend and shared with him that Karin and I had always hoped to attend one of Kevin's extravagant holiday parties one day. 

Maintaining my philosophy of "if you never ask YOU will never know what is possible," I asked Bill if Karin and I could join him and his wife Nancy.

I told Bill there would be hundreds of people attending this festive, holiday event. I said, "As long as Karin and I arrive with you and Nancy, your invitation would surely be accepted for both of us. What do you think?"

Bill replied, "What a great idea! With you and Karin joining us we will have someone we know. Bob, you and I can network with others while Nancy and Karin enjoy the evening. Then we can compare notes on who we meet and next week we can follow up making contact with individuals who will benefit us for the coming year."

Bill was developing a whole scenario... and I liked it. Besides I knew Karin would be excited to go, so I could have the added goal benefit of gifting her with a wonderful evening out at the most exclusive holiday event of the year.

We would network more comfortably with people we knew in the room. And our spouses would have a great time. We couldn't lose.

The evening was a huge success. Everything went as planned. Limousines, catered food, professional entertainment, key executives in a relaxed atmosphere and... that fabulous home.

We were greeted at the door by our host, Kevin, and his wife. They acknowledged Bill and Nancy as he handed them his invitation. Bill then said, "Kevin, I would like to introduce you to Bob and Karin. They asked to join us this evening."

Karin and I held our breath...

Kevin replied, "Very nice to meet you Bob and Karin. Thanks for coming. Have a great evening. Be sure to take a tour of the house... it is beautiful down by the lake where we just renovated the guest house."

We were whisked into the party and received well by one and all. Talk about networking! Among the many powerful and well-connected folks I met was the timeshare company's Chief Financial Officer, Ron. A few days later I called him to set a meeting to further discuss my consulting services. We met and that company became a three-year client. Bill did well too. He secured an extension of his contract to provide IT services for the organization.

Our wives had a fabulous time. Bill and I accomplished our goals. And, as I said earlier, I am gregarious by nature and can be lots of fun at parties. Bill later commented that he wanted me to go with him to other networking events.

You can do the same. And I encourage YOU to get out there. So I hereby grant you...

It Always Works!

Here is something YOU may not know: The "No Invitation - No Problem" Success Technique can be implemented all year. I often use it and it always works.

In an upcoming Power Surge I'll reveal some important success techniques for making your participation in any event a "win-win" for all. But for now here's story illustrating the power of attending social functions.

A couple of weeks ago SheltAir, who owns property at the Orlando Executive Airport where I keep my airplane (known as Sunshine), was having a grand opening event for their newly-built 20,000-square-foot hangar.

The "Hangar Party" was being co-sponsored by Cirrus Aviation, who was bringing in their newest jet being rolled out in the next year. My friend, John, who operates the on-field FBO (Flight Base Operations) told me about the event. When he did, I promptly asked, "Hey John, that sounds fantastic. May I come with you?" He said, "Sure, the party starts at 7 p.m. this Friday. Bob, they are going to do a fly over to demonstrate the Cirrus jet and let us all sit in the plane and check out the avionics. You should definitely be there."

Although attending this event was not part of my business goals, it was in line with my personal aviation goals (what's new, how does it all work, who are the players, etc.). And the opportunity to witness a pre-launch of a new jet aircraft held particular interest for me as a general aviation pilot.

To illustrate how "you never know who you meet" factors in... Charlie Hood, the Cirrus representative for Central Florida, brought his wife, Glenda Hood, who is a former mayor of Orlando. I also met the Vice President of Darden Restaurants. They operate several national chains - including The Olive Garden and Red Lobster - from a new corporate headquarters here in Orlando.

I opened up dialogue with both and can reference the event should I pursue further contact relating to consulting opportunities (business goal).

Holidays, Happiness, and Goals

This holiday season is a unique time to go places and meet people who you could never have met before. Any other time of year it truly is more likely to be - but not always - "invitation only."

There is just something wonderfully unique and advantageous about the holidays. The "open house" spirit of the holiday season fills the air. YOU can experience this opportunity where others tend to be gracious and extend their hospitality to all who come to their door.

Make a goal to incorporate the "No Invitation - No Problem" Success Technique THIS YEAR.

• Think of events you would like to go to and how you may know someone already invited.

• Think of people you want to connect with and pursue a way to get into their party, whether it's being held at the office or in their residence.

• Ask your friends, family, and associates if you can join them.

• Share with the official invitee the benefits of having you going with them.

Have a plan, implement your plan, and start getting goal results. YOU can take advantage of this relaxed, joyful, holiday time of year to continue your networking goals.  

In an upcoming Power Surge I'm going to talk about how to interact with impact and share guest behavior techniques to maximize your success. YOU can include happiness, holidays, and goals during this unique and wonderful season of the year.

Until then it is time to wrap up this week with your First Wednesday of the month recurring goal exercise. It will take you less than two minutes and save you time in the coming weeks as you work on your goals:

• WRITE down in your Daily Planner or on that monthly calendar you have tacked up on your wall - "Password for December"

Where's the password? See my postscript below to link the Total Success Achievement website at www.etrsuccess.com. You see, we have created a special Members Only section that requires a password. Thing is... we change the password each month. When? That's right - the First Wednesday of the month (as in TODAY).

Writing down the password in a handy location is a good habit to embrace so you don't have to waste your precious time searching for it or even worse... thinking you'll remember it and get down on yourself because you didn't. Besides, easy access allows YOU to download the teleseminars or read archived Power Surge messages.

What Does the Total Success Achievement Program Mean to You?

What goals have you achieved this year thanks to the goal setting techniques you've learned in TSA? Have you learned a new skill that has advanced your career? Got your weight under control? Started a business? Got out of debt?

In short, we want to know how the goals program has changed your life!

Send your stories to PowerSurge@ETRFeedback.com as soon as possible. And please be as detailed as you can. Your feedback will help us make the Total Achievement Program better than ever. And one lucky goals member who writes in will win a personal coaching call with me and Karin!

The Early to Rise 2010 Daily Planner is ready for YOU. Order now and receive your goal member discount.

To your success,

Robert L. Cox
Your Personal Success Mentor