"Communicating with IMPACT" - Patrick Donadio, MBA

Excerpt from Donadio’s most requested keynote, “ Belief-Driven Success” So far we have talked about (see previous postings): 1. Start at the END! 2. Write down your goals. 3. Set realistic yet challenging goals. 4. Anticipate obstacles and plan how to overcome them. 5. Get Mentally Prepared "You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." - Martin Luther King, Jr Action is the key! The last three steps are all about action... 6. Implement the plan forwards. Now take action! Break action steps into weekly or daily activities. Keep a "TO DO" list! Prioritize it and refer to it often. Help others do the same. Remember - focus on results not activities. Periodically evaluate and adjust your plan. Keep your obstacles in mind (Step 4) and be prepared to either go through them or around them. Stay the course but adjust your sails. *7. Build in Rewards. Throughout the process, build in rewards for yourself and/or the staff. Break down an annual g...

Excerpt from Donadio’s most requested keynote, “ Belief-Driven Success” So far we have talked about (see previous postings): 1. Start at the END! 2. Write down your goals. 3. Set realistic yet challenging goals. The next two steps are steps most likely skipped when people set goals: *4. Anticipate obstacles and plan how to overcome them . Be proactive, anticipate obstacles. Ask yourself "What is going to stop me from achieving this goal?" Then ask, "How can I overcome these obstacles?" One of the biggest obstacles to success is YOU! *5. Get Mentally Prepared . Mental preparation is an important part of overcoming obstacles and taking action. Use techniques like visualization, quiet time and self-talk. Prepare for the worst and expect the best! Remember... “If you’re not mentally prepared, you’re not prepared.” --Patrick Donadio, MBA Come back... next time I am going to talk about the key step...Taking Action!

Excerpt from Donadio’s most requested keynote, “ Belief-Driven Success” So far we have talked about (see previous postings): 1. Start at the END! 2. Write down your goals. Here is the next step: 3. Set realistic yet challenging goals . Set yourself up to succeed. This builds your confidence. To say you want to triple your income in the first quarter might be an unrealistic goal. Unrealistic goals can cause you to lose motivation. Be challenging yet kind to yourself. Come back... next time I am going to talk about a step most people forget!

Excerpt from Donadio’s most requested keynote and new educational DVD, “ Belief-Driven Success ” Step one was to 1. Start at the END! (see previous postings) Here is the next step in the process.... 2. Write down your goals . Writing down your goals makes them real. Be specific. "I am going to increase revenues this year." This is too general. "I am going to increase revenues 5 percent by June 31st”. Now you can measure your progress and see results. Set deadlines and develop action steps for each goal. This will be your "success plan". Refer to it often and it will keep you focused. Come back to learn step three … make your goals challenging.

Excerpt from Donadio’s most requested keynote and new educational DVD, “ Belief-Driven Success ” Whether setting personal, professional or organizational goals, now is a good time to compare where you are with where you would like to be in the future. I usually set/revisit my goals quarterly but since many people set goals in January I thought would share my eight step process. It is a simple process, yet still do many people do not spend the time to do it... Here is step one: 1. Start at the END! Work backwards from the goal. Ask yourself, "Where would I (my company) like to be a year from now?” The sky is the limit! Visualize in your mind that it is December 31st and you just achieved your goal. Ask yourself, "How did I do it?" Now speculate all the steps you would have had to take to achieve this goal. Then write down all these activities. Come back to read the other seven steps…

I was asked recently to help stuff envelopes at church for a special mailing we were doing for our "Media Council". Well my first thought was, "Who me stuff envelopes? I have a list of To-Do's on my ACT© program that I have been snoozing...." I hadn't stuffed envelopes in 30 years (except when I was broke in my first year of business when I tried a direct mail campaign to try to get some clients and some cash!) Well I went down to the church and spent two hours “stuffing envelopes”. It really wasn't that bad. I had a chance to talk with committees members I had been too busy talk to and found the work rather relaxing. When I returned to my office I had many phone message and e-mails (more “To-Do’s" for my ACT© program). However, I had a few surprises: a message from a national client who said they were considering me for a slot at their next conference in New Orleans; an e-mail from a former, very satisfied, coaching client who was recently promo...