Isn’t it great to feel passionate about what you do? Most days, I feel my work is just a hobby. I love it! I firmly believe that when you love what you do, you are on a constant break. Let me know if you love what you do by posting your passion here.
Archive for the ‘Communication’ Category
Passion Needs No Break
Monday, November 14th, 2011Robert Van Arlen Expands…
Friday, November 11th, 2011Robert Van Arlen Expands with RVA Global Coaching and Training
Robert Van Arlen officially introduces RVA Global Coaching and Training. RVA Global Coaching and Training will focus on industry-specific training programs. For the past year, hundreds of financial advisors have been implementing Robert Van Arlen’s strategies to develop a successful practice. RVA Global’s emphasis is on a strategic view for both short- and long-term growth. In addition to the financial community, RVA Global is providing development programs for the legal communities. His Taste of Rain Program for Law Firms continues to help lawyers learn how to align growth with the culture of their firm.
Your Vendors Are Your Allies
Monday, October 31st, 2011Recently, I started my Taste of Rain Series, and one of the concepts I’m teaching is Your Vendors are Your Allies. Most organizations look at vendors as sales people who only care about selling them something. Vendors have market intelligence that goes beyond the competitive landscape. They know who is going, who is coming and who can help your organization grow. If you ask, they will help. If you need clients, in many cases they will make referrals. One quick point is to treat your vendors like you want to be treated. Show them the utmost respect and let them know what your company desires to achieve. For more on Your Vendor are Your Allies, send an email to info@robertvanarlen.com.
The Power of Your Posse-A Message for our Pro-Athletes
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011I think we can all agree there is one thing that successful people have in common, and that is a team that makes them better. Over the years, we continue to watch individuals win and lose everything and, in many cases, it can partially be blamed on the people behind them. Corporate leaders often hire coaches, and professional athletes often hire their friends, who are inexperienced in dealing with the plethora of opportunities that arise. Some of these opportunities are good and some, not so much. An average athlete with a great posse will extend their career opportunity long after their playing years. A great athlete with an incompetent posse is mostly headed down a rocky road.
As a corporate business speaker and a business coach to athletes and entertainers, I share the same message that I share with corporate professionals. You never know who you’re talking to. All of our careers come with one guarantee—it will end. What’s important is making sure you have people in your life whom you trust to give you good advice. As individuals, we hire professionals to handle our more technical issues, but when it comes to common sense decisions, we typically rely on family or friends. So, when does a team become ineffective for their leader?
When:
- their personal interest is put in front of the personality, leader or team goals
- they get caught up in the euphoria of celebrity, and
- they stop learning how to improve themselves.
Don’t let your posse take you down. Everyone should have a role and responsibility. If their role is indefinable, then there is no position for them. On the other hand, a great team can bring about more opportunity than you can imagine.
The winning equation is focus + initiative + autonomy + accountability = optimal performance.
How Do You Sell You?
Thursday, September 29th, 2011You have about 15 seconds to make a compelling impression, and it has to rock the world of your potential audience. You might be selling yourself for a job, your company, your products, services or ideas. Recently, I asked 10 teachers what they did, and they all responded that they are teachers. That was an answer, but what does it really tell you? Absolutely nothing! Marketing experts learned long ago that, to get our attention, the advertisement must be compelling.
What is compelling about you?
In today’s environment, we’ve all become brands. Social media has pushed us to a state where getting the opportunity to stand out is easy based on available platforms, but getting noticed is much harder. To make your message compelling, you should first examine the outcomes of what you do. Who benefits and how do they benefit? What are the outcomes for students, families and the communities if you are a teacher? The outcomes from your work are what’s compelling, not your position or title. The same thing applies to companies. What are the outcomes of the services or products your company provides? The benefit of this approach is replication. Once you understand it, others will also.
How should you build your brand?
First things first–and that is to develop a compelling introduction. It will only be a maximum of 5-15 seconds. Secondly, write it out and update everything. All of your social media site presence should incorporate your compelling introduction. This is the process of making your recognizable differences, recognizable. Thirdly, practice on everyone. This means your family, friends and associates. There are often diamonds in your backyard. The purpose of practice is to develop your own authenticity.
What should you expect?
Some say expect the unexpected, I say expect a great deal of new opportunity. I’m currently coaching a business owner in Little Rock, Arkansas, named Scott M. Scott and I rehearsed his compelling intro and the important things in his life. He began using it immediately over the phone, in person and as an opening for a marketing event to clients. All I can say is that he is now considered a rock star. Everyone knew he was a financial planner in his community, but the passion was not present. His new compelling opening has led to a flood of new business and opportunities that doesn’t appear to be ending any time soon.
Every Day You Must Sell YOU
Monday, July 18th, 2011I’m convinced that successful individuals have many things in common, but one of the most important is their ability to share what they do in a compelling manner. Recently I asked someone what they did as a profession, and the guy was so interesting, that I wanted to help him. He was already a successful architect specializing in homes that begin at 10 million dollars. His passionate response to my question was “I help people create a harmonious lifestyle in their personal environment.” Of course, I wanted to know more, and he begin to show me pictures of his work. My take-away was that passion, preparation, and confidence, combined with a compelling intro, will win every time.
Robert Van Arlen is a renowned motivational keynote speaker, strategic business coach and author of Focused Synergy. He uses music to inspire and engage audiences during keynote speeches. Robert also provides strategic transitional coaching to individuals and businesses worldwide. Visit his website at: www.robertvanarlen.com.
Getting Maximum ROI Out of Your Sales Conference
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011I can say it’s the little things that make a great conference. Companies find budgets of a few thousand to several million dollars for conferences in the hopes of getting an ROI. As a conference keynote speaker who gets to participate in conferences weekly, I’m beginning to notice a few important things, which can make or break the success of the conference. I always say, begin with the end in mind. What is your revenue ROI and what are your outcomes?
A number of conference planners are focused on all of the non-outcomes of the meeting. These outcomes are important and do link directly to an ROI. The question I always ask as a keynote speaker is, what percent of increase in revenue or even more specifically, what is the amount of increase you would like to achieve by investing in this meeting? This is a different conversation that should sync with an overall plan or objective. Understanding the answer to this question takes the pressure away from the budget question. It is an investment, not an expense.
I recently completed a conference as the keynote speaker where the client invested several thousands of dollars per person. The conservative percent of increase desired was 15 percent over prior year. The client understands, by achieving this objective, it will allow them the opportunity to move forward on other initiatives that can bring additional growth to the company. Once they determine what they felt they could get as a return, they comfortably move forward in establishing a budget for everything. Everything selected, including the content, was based upon the achievement of the ROI.