"Questions: Cultivate the art of asking questions." quotes of the week #3. 3nd round

Sunday:

"Putting my ideas in the form of questions showed him how I felt about what he should do, but at the same time kept him in the buyer's seat. Each time he offered an objection or comment, I passed the ball right back to him with another question."

Frank Bettger

Monday:

"Never once I felt that I've 'sold' them anything. They've always 'bought'. Instead of trying to give them the impression that I knew all the answers - as was my habit before I heard J. Elliot Hall - I made them give the answers, largely by asking questions."

Frank Bettger

Tuesday:

"You can do two things with a question:

1. Let the other person know what you think.

2. You can at the same time pay him the compliment of asking his opinion."

Frank Betteger

Wednesday:

"One of the biggest thing you get out of a college is a questioning attitude, a habit of demanding and weighing evidence... a scientific approach."

A famous educator said.

Thursday:

"This habit, I believe has been a great advantage to me when I have had occassion to persuade men into measures that I have been from time to time engaged in promoting; and as the chief ends of conversation are to inform or to be informed, I wish well-meaning, sensible men would not lessen their power of doing good by a positive, assuming manner, then tends to create opposition and to defeat every one of those purposes for which speech was given us."

Benjamin Franklin

Friday:

"When another asserted something that I thought in error, I deny'd myself the pleasure of contradicting him abruptaly, and of showing inmmediately some absurdity in his propositions; and in aswering I began by observing the in certain cases or circumstances his opinion would be right, but in the present case there appear'd or seem'd to me some difference, etc. I soon found the advantage of this change in my manner; the conversation I engaged in went on more pleasantly. The modest way in which I propos'd my opinions procur'd them a readier reception and less contradiction; I had less mortification when I was found to be in the wrong and I more easily prevailed with others to give up their mistakes and join with me when I happened to be in the right."

Benjaming Franklin

Saturday:

"Questions, asked sincerely and tactfully, indicate to your partner that you are listening and seriously considering their ideas."

Robert

Give ideas

"The less you strive to control ideas and insist on credit for those that are yours, the more good ideas you are likely to have- and see implemented. It's why we believe in brainstorming. Good things happen when you willing take your best ideas and pour them into the mix."

The art of innovation by Tom Kelley with Jonathan Littman

"Think of other's interests " quotes of the week #2. 3rd round

Sunday:

"The most important thing of salesmanship is to find out what the other fellow wants, then help him find the best way to get it."."

Clayton M. Hunsicker

Monday:

"No wonder I had been missing the target so often. I didn't even know what the target was! In baseball they say: "You can't hit 'em if you don't see 'em." After Clayt Hunsicker showed me the target, I went home and really began shooting at the bull's-eye."."

Frank Bettger

Tuesday:

"There is only one way under high heaven to get anybody to do anything. Did you even stop to think of that? Yes, just one way. And that is by making the other person want to do it. Remember, there is no other way."

Dale Carnegie

Wednesday:

"Remember Jesus' parable about the three men who were given the talents? You men and women have been given many talents. I don't know of any better way you can improve and multiply your talents than through this work."

Frank Bettger

Tuesday:

"When you show a man what he wants, he will move heaven and earth to get it."

Frank Bettger

Friday:

"To help the other fellow recognize what he wants, and then help him decide how to get it."

Elliots Hall

Saturday:

"Never try to cover too many points; don't obscure the main issue. Find out what it is; then stay right on the beam."

Frank Bettger

The makings of a hot group

History demonstrates that great projects and products are often the result of great teams. Products and projects as diverse as the Macintosh, the new Volkswagen Bettle, and the Lockheed Shunkworks were all spawned by charismatic teams. How they do it? In a microcosm, the IDEO Nightline shopping cart team-though they were only together for a week- displayed many of the characterustics of hot groups. 

First, they were totally dedicated to achieving the end result. No one doubted that shopping carts could use some improvement, and everyone was enthusiastic.

Second, they faced down a slightly ridiculous deadline. When the hurdle is high, there's a tremendous sense of achievement in getting anything done by the deadline.

Third, the group was irreverent and nonhierarchical. Despite the deadline, they joked and played around-like brainstorming up a sports utility shopping cart-to let off steam.

Fourth, the team was well rounded and respectful of its diversity. Though the team was drawn from widely divergent disciplines, they had tremendous respect for their fellow members. You knew you were selected for your ability, not seniority or political skills.

Fifth, they worked in an open, eclectic space optima for flexibility, group work, and brainstorming. There were high ceilings with no internal walls, no sense that you often have in a typical corporate setting that "the company" wants it a certain way.

Finally, the group felt empowered to go get whatever else it needed. Hot teams connect to the outside world. They know that answers don't lie within. 

The art of innovation by Tom Kelley with Jonathan Littman

"Order: Self-organization " quotes of the week #2. 3rd round

Sunday:

"One of the things I learnt when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself I could not change others."

Nelson Mandela

Monday:

"I prefer to work on a tight schedule four and half days a week and get somewhere than to be working all the time and never get anywhere."

Frank Bettger

Tuesday:

"Set a side a day morning and called it "Self-organization day."

Frank Bettger

Wednesday:

" 'At the end of my first self-organization week', instead of feeling exhausted and discouraged, I actually felt exhilarated and on fire with the excitement that next week I could do even better."

Frank Bettger

Thursday:

"It is surprising how much I can get done when I take enough time for planning, and it is perfectly amazing how little I get done without it."

Frank Betteger

Friday:

"Many people would say: 'That's not for me! I can't do that sort of thing - live on a schedule. I wouldn't be happy.' Well, I've got good news for you. You are already living on a schedule. And, if it's not a planned one, it's probably a poor one."

Frank Betteger

Saturday:

"'Hey everybody', why don't you join to the 'Six-O'clok Club? The 'Six-O'clock Club'? You asked. What's that? A number of years ago. I explained that Ben Franklin said that only a few men live to old age, and fewer still ever become successful who are not early risers. So I set my alarm clock an hour and half earlier in the morning. An hour of that time I used for reading and studying, Of course, I soon found myself going to bed earlier, but I thrived on it."

Frank Betteger

"Enthusiasm " quotes of the week #1. 3rd round

Sunday:

"All we need to make us really happy is something to beenthusiastic about."

Charles Kingsley

Monday:

"Act enthusiastic and you will be enthusiastic."

Dale Carnegie

Tuesday:

"Be interesting, be enthusiastic... and don't talk to much."

Norman Vincent

Wednesday:

"A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm."

Charles Schwab

Thursday:

"Get excited and enthusiastic about your own dream. This excitemente is like a forest fire - you can smell it, taste it, and see it from a mile away."

Denis Waitley

Friday:

"Enthusiasm is contagious - and so is the lack of it."

Saturday:

"Today is life. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto."

Dale Carnegie

"Closing the sale: Action --Humility" quotes of the week #13. 2nd round

Sunday:

"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants."

Isaac Newton

Monday:

"Action conquers fear."

Peter Nivio Zarlenga

Tuesday:

"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."

Conrad Hilton

Wednesday:

"The more you are willing to accept responsability for your actions, the more credibility you will have."

Brian Koslow

Thursday:

"I never worry about action, but only about inaction."

Winston Churchill

Friday:

"It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Saturday:

"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do."

Epictetus