Shotcallers #40 - November 2022

1st

2nd - All Souls’ Day

3rd - International Stout Day

4th - Candy Day

5th - American Football Day

6th - Nachos Day

6th - Daylight Saving Time Ends

10th - Marine Corps Birthday 11th - Sundae Day 13th - World Kindness Day 14th - Pickle Day 14th - World Diabetes Day 15th - Recycling Day 15th - Entrepreneur’s Day 16th - Fast Food Day 17th - Hiking Day 18th - Apple Cider Day 18th - Mickey Mouse’s Birthday 19th - Women’s Entrepreneurship Day 19th - National Adoption Day 26th - Cake Day 28th - French Toast Day

10th

15th - National Re-Gifting Day

17th - Maple Syrup Day

17th - Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

18th - Answer The Phone Like Buddy The Elf Day

19th - Hard Candy Day

21st - Crossword Puzzle Day

21st - Humbug Day

21st - Winter Solstice

23rd - Christmas Movie Marathon Day

25th - Pumpkin Pie Day

26th - Day of Goodwill

27th - Fruitcake Day

28th - Chocolate Candy Day

31st - New Year’s Eve

5 Ways to Make Your Photos Stand Out on Social Media

Great photos catch the eye, engage, and sell products. Whether you’re promoting travel or selling clothes, you need beautiful imagery that makes people want to click on your photos and share them with their friends.

Standout photography helps establish brand identity and makes it easier for consumers to understand what your products are about. Are your images up to par? Here are some tips for taking professional-looking photos that will make your images stand out.

No matter where you get your photos, they should have a similar look and feel for consistency. Use the same editing style for all your images to make it easier for people to recognize and appreciate your brand identity. If you use bright colors in one photo but a more muted palette in another, it may confuse viewers who are trying to get a sense of what kind of business you are.

Think about what your brand represents. Are warm colors and temperatures more appropriate, or would cooler tones better convey the mood you’re trying to create for your brand?

When deciding on an editing style, it should make sense for the image itself and should fit with the rest of your content. For example, if someone sees a photo professionally edited on Instagram and then sees an unedited version elsewhere (like when they check your website), it could confuse them.

2. Don’t over-edit your photographs.

One of the most common mistakes social media posters make is overediting their photos. The result can be a photo that looks too fake or unnatural. It’s easy to overdo the filters and make your photos look “otherworldly,” and that’s unlikely to engage people unless it fits with your brand.

If you want to add color or lighten up your photo without making it look like a caricature, use selective editing tools instead of an entire filter or effect. For example, if you took pictures at night with only candlelight as your source of light, don’t use the “dark room” option on Instagram when posting those pictures. Instead, use their “color toning” tool, which allows you to choose between warmer tones (yellow) or cooler ones (blue). Err on the side of under-editing to keep the look more realistic.

You can add text to an image to convey a point. The text can be in words, phrases, or even just a single word but be judicious. If you have too much text in your image, it will distract from the main point of the photo. Keep it short and simple, so people can easily read what you are trying to say.

A good rule of thumb is no more than four lines of copy per image (one line for each letter). This works because most mobile devices don’t show more than two lines at a time before automatically scrolling down for more content. Try using contrasting fonts within an image. This will help draw attention toward them, as well as provide some visual interest for viewers.

4. Your image choices should reflect your brand

Your photography should reflect what a consumer can expect from your brand. It should have the same look and feel as the rest of your content

1. Be consistent with your editing approach.

3. Incorporate text into your images, but don’t go overboard.

and be consistent with the design elements of your brand. For example, if you’re a fashion brand, bright colors are probably more appropriate than dark tones.

Your photography should also appeal to your audience and stand out from other images in the feed. Think about how you would like to see an image on social media before posting it. You don’t want to end up with boring or low-quality pictures that don’t grab anyone’s attention!

Finally, make sure each image is unique and interesting, so people will want to click through (and possibly share them).

5. If possible, take your own photos

There are many stock photo sites, both free and paid, where you can get images, but they’re often overused. If possible, snap your own photos so you have unique images to display. If you don’t use your own photography, edit stock photos to make them more unique, but keep the editing consistent from photo to photo.

Also, when you take a photo, you have control over what’s in it. You can be sure there aren’t logos on the wall or people in the background who shouldn’t be there. You can also ensure the focus is right and your pictures are well lit.

If you use a stock image, you lose this control. It might be impossible to find an image that doesn’t have something wrong with it -- whether it’s a logo or a person who shouldn’t be in the shot.

Even if you can find one, there’s no guarantee it won’t get taken down by the owner of the photo because they don’t want their images used by others without their permission. You also avoid copyright issues by taking your own images.

If you want to stand out on social media, ensure your brand’s visual identity aligns with how consumers see it. It’s also important not to get too caught up in any one trend or perspective. It’s important that your photography reflects your brand. Keep an eye out for what works best for your company and use those guidelines as your guide.

7 Smart Practices for Building a High-Performance Team

Building a team is hard work, but the payoff of doing so is immense. When you build a high-performance team, you have a group of people invested in the success of your business and who you can rely on for advice or assistance when needed. This kind of synergy leads to better results, greater satisfaction at work, and a more enjoyable experience.

Managers know that teams are more productive, innovative, and creative than individuals, but building a high-performance team is challenging. So how can you build a team that will drive your business forward? Let’s look at some effective strategies for doing so.

1. Identify your team’s key needs and goals

First things first. When building a highperformance team, identify the key needs and goals for your team. A goal should be specific, so you know what you and your team are working toward. It should also be measurable so that your team knows when they’ve reached their target.

A good goal is also achievable. If it seems too easy or too hard to achieve with the resources available, there will be no reason for your team members to believe they’ll succeed. Goals should also be realistic. If it seems impossible from where you sit today, ask how much work needs to be done to get there. Finally, a smart goal has an end date -- you need something tangible for

people on your team to focus on reaching this point within a reasonable amount of time.

Keep these things in mind when determining goals for your organization and ensure those goals are well-defined. Skills and experience are one consideration but not the only ones. Consider other factors when selecting team members: motivation, personality traits (such as optimism), willingness to work together and learn new things -- even curiosity or interest in trying new things.

2. Make sure you have all the skills your team needs

As the leader of a team, you are responsible for hiring the best people. This means not only finding individuals who have the skills to do the job, but also ensuring there are diverse perspectives and opinions. One way to accomplish this is to hire people from an underrepresented group (e.g., women, minorities) or someone with a different background than your other employees (e.g., if most of your leadership team went to Harvard

Business School but one person didn’t). Diversity is important for teams because it introduces new ideas.

Training is also important so that new members feel comfortable in their roles and know how to contribute. That said, it’s important not to micromanage every employee. Give your staff room to grow into their roles as they learn more about what they need to do at each stage. Don’t expect them to hit targets immediately.

3. Commit to and foster teamwork

Commit to teamwork. A team is not a group of people who just happen to work together. It is a group of unique people who are committed to working together toward a common goal, a shared vision. When everyone on your team has this same goal and works together to achieve it, the result will be success. If one person isn’t pulling their weight or working toward the same goal as everyone else, the entire team suffers.

This kind of commitment and willingness to work together doesn’t happen

overnight. You’ll need to establish trust with your colleagues, so they know you are someone they can count on when things get tough or when there’s an emergency.

4. Listen, listen, and listen some more

Listening is an essential skill for leaders. To build a strong team, you need to learn how to be a better listener. To truly listen, you must understand the meaning behind what someone is saying and their underlying emotions. When someone speaks to you about a problem or concern, pay attention not only to what they say but also to how they say it. What words do they emphasize? What emotion do the inflections in their voice imply? Understand the context behind others’ words, so you can understand potential problems early and keep the team on track.

5. Use positive reinforcement to build confidence

When someone on the team does something well, recognize it. A simple “thank you” or “good job” goes a long way toward motivating team members

to repeat the behavior. Use positive reinforcement sparingly, though -- you don’t want it to seem like you’re handing out candy whenever someone sneezes in the office. You also don’t want people to expect praise every time they do something right.

If you overdo the compliments or praise, people will feel like they need constant validation before they can do anything. This makes them less capable of working independently without positive reinforcement.

6. Encourage everyone to try new things, even if they fail

The more a person tries new approaches and explores new ideas, the more valuable their contributions become. The only way to get better at something is to do it often and fail along the way. That’s why it’s important not to discourage team members from trying new things or failing early in their careers. It can still lead to success later. Encouraging people to try new things also helps foster an environment where learning can happen organically without fear or judgment.

7. Ask for feedback and find ways to incorporate what you learn into your leadership style

Asking for feedback from the team is always a good idea, but it’s especially important when building a high-performance team. Ask for feedback regularly, such as once a month. And don’t be afraid to change your leadership style when people give you constructive criticism. If someone says, “You are hard on us sometimes” or “Your standards are too high,” take that comment seriously and adjust appropriately. Be open to and ready to learn from feedback.

When you put in the hard work of building a team, everyone benefits. Employees are happier and more productive. Customers are satisfied because they get better service, and your company is more profitable. It all starts with finding people who share your vision and values. When the right people come together with common goals in mind, they can accomplish far more than any individual could on his or her own. That’s the power of teams. Are you ready to build one?

Finding Inner Peace: Cold, Hard Truths

from Sean Crane

This month, we spoke with Sean Crane about pulling back the social media curtain and asking ourselves some of life’s most crucial questions. Sean is a coach, speaker, author of the bestselling book, “Prison of Your Own,” and soon-to-be podcaster.

Dennis Postema: What projects are you working on and what’s coming up?

Sean Crane: It’s been a crazy year. I have dealt with a lot of adversity this year, but I have also accomplished many great things.

Right now, I have a coaching program called Unstoppable 365 MFR. It’s an elite self-mastery program for men who want to level up in all aspects of life, from business, finance, fitness, all the way to health.

Since I got out of prison five years ago, I have coached men all over the world. I wrote the bestselling book “Prison of Your Own” in 2021.

Moving into 2023, I’m focusing on speaking and sharing my message on big stages.

At the end of February, I’ll be at Ken Joslin’s “Create” event in Atlanta. Ed Mylett and John Maxwell are going to speak, among many other inspiring people that are doing amazing things in this world, and I’m really grateful to be there speaking on stage in front of all those incredible people.

I’m also starting a podcast called “Unstoppable Mindset,” which will be available on all podcast platforms and on my YouTube channel. Through the podcast, I will share what I learned during my time in prison, and how I turned those blessings into successes as an entrepreneur, speaker, coach and family man. I’m so grateful. I just want to share this with the world, because I know it will help people.

Dennis: How did your speaking engagements get rolling?

Sean: I had a few speaking engagements here and there in 2021. I was able to do a TEDx talk, and that was really cool.

Social media is such a powerful tool when we use it to our advantage.

When you have an authentic, real message, a good story, and we refine that message over time, and you get in front of the right people, it’s amazing what opportunities you can receive.

I leveraged my story and used my adversity to become an asset that now serves me. I talk about things that other people have never gone through. I can share a perspective and a message from my life experience that resonates with people, even if they haven’t gone through those same trials. They want to hear it, they’re intrigued, and it opens them up to the deeper lessons and teaching points that I love to facilitate.

Dennis: What are some adversities you have faced?

Sean: Many people go through tough times. I know I’m not the only one. Still, I truly believe these things happen in my life for a reason.

While I was growing up, my parents battled drug and alcohol addiction. It was tough. I didn’t have the parents I needed. I lacked consistent love

and good examples. That led to a lot of trauma and pain that I internalized.

During my adolescence, I turned to drugs and alcohol to cope. I wasn’t the person I wanted to be. I hated my life. I had no direction. I didn’t play sports. I didn’t hang out with kids at school. I didn’t do any of the things that I wanted to do. I wasted those years.

At the age of twenty-three, I went to prison. It was an intense and serious situation that changed my life.

I watched a fight break out at a party. Someone tackled me from the side. I wound up wrestling around on the floor with these guys that I thought were attacking me. It turned out that a few people had been stabbed. One of them nearly died.

During this fight, I got blood on me and people saw me wrestling, getting on my feet, and running away. People said they saw me fighting, and the cops arrested me for attempted murder.

I was looking at life in

prison. It’s a situation one never expects to be in. It’s something that most people cannot even fathom. You see it in movies, read about it in books, hear about it on the news, but you never think, “This could actually happen to me.”

There I was, at twentythree years old, sitting in a jail cell for twentyfour hours a day with absolutely nothing to do. I adapted, learned to survive. It gave me an opportunity to learn more about myself and discover this truth and depth within me that I never knew existed.

Many people knew I was innocent. One other man was arrested, and he had actually committed the stabbing that I went to prison for. They arrested

him for the other stabbing incident that night.

He went to court with me, he sat in the same county jail, and everyone knew he had committed both stabbings, but there wasn’t anything to clear my name.

My shirt had been covered in blood and witnesses watched me wrestle with the guy on the floor.

We both took a plea deal where we admitted guilt to the crimes and got lesser sentences. I was sentenced to seven years, and he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

About eight months ago, he reached out to me and said, “Hey, man, I just got out of prison. I want to help you clear your name. I want to go down to the police station and tell them I committed the crime you went to prison for.”

I couldn’t believe it. I never thought someone would do that. He did end up going to the police station and recorded a statement, but the police never did anything with the information. It’s been so

long, and they don’t like to go back unless someone is still in prison for life. From their perspective, there is no point in going back and exonerating me.

I took his admittance of the truth as a sign that I’m on the right track in life.

Recently, I learned that he committed suicide.

Everyone that was tied to my case is all currently in prison, dead, or addicted to drugs and alcohol. They’re living miserable lives. I feel like I was spared. I did five years in prison, and it changed the rest of my life.

I had this intuition that I was going to sacrifice five years of freedom, of life with my family, and that it would give me the rest of my life to live the right way. That’s the belief I went into prison with.

Dennis: How does that perspective affect your coaching?

Sean: I am so blessed. I get to help people for a living. It’s my purpose. I live my purpose every day, and it’s truly incredible to watch these men change their lives and to know that I impacted and influenced

them to make that positive shift.

People message me all the time saying, “You helped me find purpose in life. You helped me understand what was at stake. Your story opened my eyes to the fact that this life is precious and we have to make it count.”

I use my incarceration story to reach people who are going through the motions or who don’t understand that this is it. You’re not going to get a do-over. This isn’t a rehearsal.

You’re going through the motions and you’re making excuses. Why? So you can get to the end of your life and die wishing you had a second chance?

A lot of people get stuck in this place in life where they’re settling, where they feel like, “Oh, it’s too late to make a change,” or, “Who am I to make this change, to leave this job, to go after that career, to be somebody? Who am I to do that now?”

They have this limiting belief, this fear, inside of them, so I help them break these fears and start to build confidence in who

they are so they can attack these bigger goals and do something meaningful in life.

Sean: First of all, take a look at how you appear on social media. Too many people make their lives out to be perfect online. They want the perfect content and the perfect message. While you should show your followers results so people know you can help them, you also need to show that you’re human. Being vulnerable and opening up about your struggles and mistakes you have made makes you more relatable to your audience. It lowers others’ guards.

When people come into a sales call or see you on social media, you don’t want them to have their guard up. You don’t want them to think, “Oh, this guy wants my money. This guy’s trying to sell me on something.”

Over time, if you can relate to them and show them that you’re a real person, that you’ve been

Dennis: What advice do you have for people balancing entrepreneurship with family?

through shit, then they’re going to think, “Man, how can I learn from this guy? How can I be like Dennis or Sean? Sean fought through addiction, depression, and now he has a wife and kids and a business. I want that. Maybe he could show me. Let me see what he’s doing. Does he have a coaching program?”

That’s when they reach out and you can change their lives. That’s what I’ve been doing since I came home from prison. I have found success as a coach because I use social media to my advantage. Many people do it wrong, because they copy everyone else and they’re scared of showing their true selves because they don’t want to be judged. But when you show your true self, others will see how you’re different and you really stand out.

Raising a family while growing a business is probably the biggest struggle that successful men deal with. How do I be present with my family so they can feel my love? How do I avoid using my phone and be in the moment during family time? Is there a way to balance family while having a successful business, or living a purpose-driven life where I feel like I am achieving at a high level and pushing myself to be my best?

It’s definitely possible, but most men don’t figure it out. A lot of people we see on social media showing off private jets and expensive watches aren’t actually happy with their lives. They have success, clout, status, and money, but there is a big difference between success as the world defines it and what we all actually want, which is inner peace and fulfillment.

Everyone wants to know in their heart that they are their best self, living

their best life. Everyone thinks you have to have a certain amount of money or luxurious stuff to be happy. It’s OK to have those things, but if you lose sight of what’s important, and what’s at stake in life, then you’re going to reach the end of your life and realize you don’t have what you wanted deep down.

Happiness is an internal state of being that you have to cultivate. My definition of success is having inner peace at all times. If I’m chasing money or success too much and I’m not spending enough time with my family, I do not feel that inner peace. I feel discord and tension, and those lead to stress and overwhelm.

This year, I spent two weeks in the hospital because my daughter caught a cold that progressed to complicated pneumonia. Fluid build-up outside her lung caused it to collapse. We were in the pediatric intensive care unit. She couldn’t breathe. She had oxygen tubes in her nose and IVs in her arms. She got poked and had blood taken and medicine given to her every day. It was horrible to see my daughter in

that pain and to think she could die in that hospital room. Her condition was worsening.

It was the worst pain I had ever known, and I had done two thousand days in prison. This was by far the worst experience of my life. It made prison look like nothing.

I reflected on my journey to that point and started questioning what it had all been for. We chase success and status. People on social media try to put out this image. Why? I realized none of that shit matters. Nothing we are striving for as a society is that important.

It’s great to push yourself. It’s OK to want nice things. It’s good to do fun things with others and travel the world. But when it comes to it, what really matters the most, for me, is my wife and kids, and knowing I gave them my all—not a lavish life or money, but time, energy and love. There’s a big difference. Many men miss the mark, and they will regret it one day. Those are the men that I have been able to reach more recently, and it’s my goal to help them find the ability to be in the

moment, develop that level of self-control, to shift their perspectives and mindsets so they can create what they want in business while making their families the number one priority in their lives.

Everyone shows off material things because they get attention from it. They think it’s cool. If I’m coaching someone who is super successful and I see him on social media, for example, posting pictures of him in his jet, I will get really honest behind closed doors.

I had a conversation recently. I said, “Look, I don’t give a fuck about your jet or your $10,000 jacket. It doesn’t impress me at all. I want to see how you are when you’re at home with your wife and kids. I want to see how you are when no one’s watching you. Are you happy? Are you fulfilled?”

He paused, then said, “No, I’m not.”

I said, “Then what the fuck is it all for? You’re making all this money. I see you on social media all the time.”

You’ve seen someone like him. Everyone sees people like him. If you’re not even happy, what’s it all for?

Challenging their beliefs and perspectives to make them realize that just because other people are doing something or you think it’s cool, if you’re not happy and living in a purpose-driven way, then you’re doing it wrong. Money and success are never going to lead to the way you want to feel.

After going through that wrenching experience with my daughter in the hospital, I learned the truth. It’s my mission and responsibility to share it with other men. God put me in that hospital room to teach me this lesson so I can help save other men from making the same mistakes I was making, or that I see them making. I won’t hold back. I think when a lot of people reach a high status, they don’t have anybody in their lives willing to call them out.

I’m here to tell you that materialism and doing what others are doing isn’t that cool. It’s not what matters most in life.

Dennis: What is your daily routine?

Sean: Routine allows me to build momentum and maintain a constant flow state while making sure

each part of my life is taken care of.

I wake up at 4:00 a.m. every morning, reflect in my journal and be there in the moment for a while. No phone. No email. I’m not racing out the door.

When I’m ready, I go for a run or workout.

My morning routine sets the tone for the day. I get up early, before I want to, because it’s challenging. I want to make sure the first thing I do is difficult, because that builds discipline.

If you aren’t waking up early in the morning, what message are you sending to your subconscious? You’re telling it that you can sleep in, that you can hit snooze because you don’t have anything important going on, that you can just do it tomorrow, like your life isn’t important. You’re saying you would rather sleep than chase your goals.

Maybe you don’t have a big enough vision. Maybe you’re not inspired. That’s a problem.

Waking up early tells my subconscious mind a

message that I want to reach these goals, that I’m hungry for the next level. I’m motivated. I’m not going to let sleep be the thing that pulls me away from my greatest self. I’ll sacrifice sleep for the life that I want.

I don’t think many people give themselves enough time throughout the day, the week, the year, to really stop and be honest with themselves about what they’re doing in life and make sure that it’s what they want to be doing.

When you wake up, for the first fifteen or twenty minutes of the day, sip some coffee, be present in the moment, and ask yourself, “Am I as happy as I want to be in life right now? What do I need to do today to start making positive changes or cultivate the life I want? Who do I need to become to create that life, that vision, that my heart is calling me to create?”

You have to find the answers within yourself, and then you’ll realize that you have a depth within you that most people never tap into. That’s what prison allowed me to do. I found this inner dialogue, and I learned

more about myself in that cell than I ever had before. It changed everything for me.

Working out is crucial. You have to push through something difficult. You have to push through another challenge, because every time you make it through a difficult workout, it’s an act of self-love. You’re pushing yourself, you’re developing willpower, you’re instilling that discipline, even when you don’t want to, and it gives you an edge in life. You develop that warrior mindset, so that when you’re in the hospital, like I was, with your daughter, you’re not breaking and going back for a drink, telling your wife, “I can’t deal with this. I’ve got to go.”

No. You’re the rock, you’re ready for anything— anything—that life throws at you.

When you develop that mindset, you’re able to go after opportunities with more initiative. My morning routine and my workouts drive me to go out and chase goals financially, in my business, anything that I want in my life, and I feel more capable of achieving.

If you’re not working out, you’re missing out on a massive component of self-mastery. I start off my day doing that, and it sets the tone, and revs up this internal engine.

I come back home at 6:00 a.m. and my kids are getting up. I’m able to be there, present with them, energetic, loving. I got my stuff done, I’m not waking up late, irritable, anxious for the day. It’s already done. Now I can serve them and be there.

We have breakfast, my wife gets ready for the day, and she’ll usually take the kids out to do something fun. One of my kids is twelve and the other two are both under five years old, so my wife will take them to the zoo or to the park to meet with family, and that’s when I get into my workflow. I do my coaching calls, my social media content, interviews like this, anything I need to do for the day.

After 4:00 p.m., it’s family time. I want to be done with all my stuff by four o’clock, I want to be able to leave my phone in another room and not think about work stuff, go to dinner, and have fun.

For me, that’s a perfect day, and that’s what I strive to do every day. I call it a ten-out-of-ten day. I know if I do that stuff every day, it’s aligning with my vision of the man I want to be, and I know all the results and goals that I have will take care of themselves if I’m showing up and executing each part of the day that way.

Consistency is key. That’s the thing most people have the hardest time with, because they go into it thinking they only have to work out or stick with the routine for a short period of time. When I said I was going to quit drinking and doing drugs for the rest of my life, I fucking meant it. I haven’t touched drugs or alcohol for over ten years. I made that promise to myself.

It’s the same thing. You have to commit to who you want to be, that person who you know you’re being called to become. You have to commit to being that person every day, from this moment forward, for the rest of your life.

If you don’t, you will always backslide. If you don’t, you will always

start and then stop. You’re never going to be that person or feel the way you want if you don’t commit for the rest of your life.

It’s a mindset. Go into it like, “I’m going to work out every day for the rest of my life. I’m going to eat clean every day for the rest of my life. I’m never going to drink. I’m going to show up every day for my family, present, without my phone, for the rest of my life.”

Make these commitments. Too many people don’t want to commit. They don’t want to sacrifice certain parts of themselves, the things that they do, to create a better person, but it’ll never happen if you don’t.

If you still haven’t committed and you’re not willing to sacrifice, don’t expect to get amazing results. You’re going to get subpar results that you will regret one day because you were unwilling to go all in on yourself.

Find out more about Sean Crane on Instagram or Facebook: @ sean_michael_crane. Check out his website, prisonofyourown.com, to learn more about his book.

Sean gives us powerful insight on living life without regret and leaving a beautiful legacy.

Sean: Why is it that all older people share the same thing? They tell you about their regrets to make sure that it doesn’t happen to you, and they tell you to spend more time with the people you love. They always say, “I wish I worked less and cared less about money.”

Nobody on their deathbed ever says, “Damn, I wish I’d made another million dollars. Can I go back and try to make more money?”

No. They’re saying, “Why did I spend so much time worrying about this paper and these digits on my phone instead of spending time with the people I love and want to be around?”

Most people are fooled right now. Social media exacerbates it. No one talks about it because it’s not sexy or appealing, but I’m going to talk about it.

The majority of people who think they’re dope with money and expensive stuff aren’t happy. Show me how you’re working out, show me what you’re doing in the morning, show me how you are when your daughter’s sick. Are you compassionate? Are you patient? Like, who are you, really, as a man?

I think we need to redefine what a real man is. I want to be the most attentive, loving husband my wife has ever had. I want to be the most present, fun, joyful father my children have ever had. The best example. Consistent. Living in integrity with my words and actions every day. I also want to be the biggest savage and beast you’ve ever seen in the gym. I want to be the best coach and speaker in the world with the most impactful message, where you can feel my energy through this Zoom call. I want to give it all to the best of my ability. I want to make millions and billions of dollars so I can give it away, so I can open a children’s hospital, so I can really do some tangible good in my community, not so I can buy more stuff and say, “Look at me!”

It’s so much deeper, and people that haven’t been through it don’t understand what’s at stake. They’re just conditioned to think, “Oh, this is what I need to do. This is what everyone else is doing, so this is what I’ll do.”

I’ve been through situations where I felt and saw the truth. It’s undeniable. Prison for two thousand days and then being in the hospital with my daughter, and I feel like I learned these lessons that God bestowed upon me that changed my life

and I have to share them with people because I see a lot of people doing it the wrong way.

Who is reading this?

Entrepreneurs. People who focus on generating revenue and growing their business. There is nothing wrong with that, it’s not a bad thing, but when you lose sight of why you started it, or you forget the deeper purpose and meaning behind acquiring wealth, success and status, that’s when you’re going to lose that joy or that purpose inside you. That’s when the stress and overwhelm deteriorates you. Are you as happy as you want to be?

Why are you going to keep doing things that aren’t fulfilling you? If you’re not as happy as you want to be, it’s because you’re doing it wrong, and it goes back to what I just shared: You lost sight of why you started. Your priorities are not in order, and you have to fix that if you want to go back to being fulfilled and really enjoy this journey of life that you have.

If you’re unfulfilled, symptoms will crop up. You might drink more or eat more. Your relationships won’t be as harmonious. Those symptoms will make your life worse, and the problem will never go away until you address the root cause of it.

Nine Email Marketing Strategies to Increase

Whatever industry you’re in, a loyal customer is a huge asset to your business. As well as being more likely to keep buying your products or services, they’re also more likely to spread the word about your company. With the right approach to email marketing, you can build a more loyal customer base and also consistently attract new customers.

According to a report from the Customer Service Institute on customer retention, 65 percent of a company’s business comes from existing customers (1). This is why it’s crucial to focus on the needs of your existing email subscribers when crafting email content. Here are nine email marketing strategies to strengthen customer loyalty and keep subscribers engaged with your brand.

Reward Loyalty Over Time

One of the most effective ways to increase customer loyalty is to deliver special offers that increase in value over time. Whether it’s through discounts or points-based rewards,

loyalty programs that reward customers for repeat purchases can be highly effective.

According to the 2019 iVend Retail “Global Shopper Trends Report,” 58.7 percent of consumers said that earning rewards or loyalty points was the shopping experience they valued the most (2). Consider setting up a loyalty program for email subscribers, giving them

as promoting your social media pages, remember to provide links to your website and blog.

Giving subscribers more opportunities to connect with your brand is a simple way to keep customers in the loop and also build brand awareness. To strengthen your credibility, remember to keep your branding and messaging consistent across all channels.

Listen and React to Feedback

access to special discounts, coupon codes, and other exclusive offers.

Promote Other Online Channels

With an increasing number of consumers interacting with brands via social media, it’s important to use email messages to promote your other online channels. As well

Unfortunately, some businesses fall short when it comes to delivering content and experiences that customers actually want. This is why it’s essential to constantly listen to customers -- not only to learn why loyal customers remain loyal, but also to learn what people don’t like about your brand. When people know you’re listening to their concerns, they’re more likely to stick around.

However, it’s not enough to show that you’re listening. When you gather feedback through email surveys, let people know what you’ve learned and what

you’re going to do to make things better. This will show that you value customer feedback and help you create more powerful email copy.

Build Trust by Sharing Your Values

More than ever before, consumers care about where they spend their money. In such a competitive marketplace, being clear about where your company stands on social issues is a powerful way to attract and retain customers. A study by consultancy firm Wunderman revealed that 89 percent of consumers stay loyal to brands that share their values (3).

To build trust and help your business stand out, use email messages to reinforce your brand’s values. What’s important to you and your employees? You should start highlighting your brand’s values in welcome emails, but don’t forget to communicate these values in subsequent email campaigns.

Plan Regular Promotions

While it’s important to use major holidays to offer sales and discounts, using

lesser-known holidays throughout the year can help your business stand out in email inboxes.

According to one source, 75 percent of consumers said that they search their inboxes just to look for discounts (4). To make sure you take advantage of key dates and holidays throughout the year, set up a content calendar to organize and track your email promotions.

Send More Personalized Emails

According to Google, 61 percent of people expect brands to deliver personalized experiences based on their preferences (5). With this in mind, email is one of the most effective marketing channels to deliver personalized messages. By including recipients’ names in emails and segmenting your email list into groups based on specific criteria, you can deliver more relevant and personalized content that is more likely to resonate with subscribers.

Most email marketing tools allow you to segment your list based on demographics, purchase behavior, interests, and more. If you haven’t collected

enough information about subscribers from email signup forms, you can send out additional forms to collect extra information. Alternatively, use email surveys, or direct subscribers to an email preference center page. Collecting the right data allows you to send highly personalized emails, such as signup anniversary or birthday emails.

Give Subscribers More Control

Even if you haven’t worked out the best send times and email send frequencies from analyzing data, you can still turn to your audience for answers. Simply send an email asking users to update their email preferences, either by including a form in the email or inserting a link to an email preference center page.

When you give people more control over the quantity, type, and frequency of emails they receive, they’re more likely to remain on your list and engage with your brand for longer.

Regularly Provide Helpful Information

While sales emails are important for growing

your business, product guides, how-to content, expert advice, and other educational content should play a key part in any email marketing strategy. If you just bombard subscribers with irrelevant messages or constant sales emails, they’ll soon get annoyed, which will only damage your credibility and increase unsubscribe rates. Customers are more likely to stick with your brand if you regularly provide helpful, interesting, and inspiring content.

Send Email Reminders

If customers have discount codes or gift vouchers that haven’t been redeemed, they’ll usually appreciate a gentle reminder, especially if the expiration date is near. As well as showing customers you value them, these types of email also

remind customers about your business. Most email marketing platforms allow you to set up automated email reminders that can be sent at predetermined times.

It’s also a good idea to occasionally remind subscribers why they joined your list in the first place. This is especially important when it comes to re-engaging inactive subscribers. Using tools offered by your email service provider, you can identify inactive subscribers and create an email campaign targeting this specific segment of your audience.

Remind them of your business, highlight the value of your products and services, and include a special offer to boost engagement.

Grow Your Business by Building Customer Loyalty

With so many businesses competing for attention, consumers have more choices than ever before. As a result, they will only stay loyal to brands that provide great customer experiences. While building customer loyalty is an ongoing challenge, email marketing continues to be one of the most effective ways to engage prospects and reward existing customers.

By using the above email marketing techniques alongside other digital marketing strategies, you can build your brand’s reputation, ensure more customers continue to engage with your business, and hopefully stay one step ahead of your competitors.

If you’ve been in business for a while, you’ve probably dealt with more than a few rude customers. For many people, dealing with rude customers is one of the most stressful parts of their job.

Handling rude customers is not just a problem for customer service reps. It’s also a major issue for managers and business owners who want to maintain good customer relationships.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to deal effectively with rude customers and even turn them into happy customers in the process.

Be friendly and professional.

No matter how rude a customer is, avoid being rude back. Instead, demonstrate good listening skills and willingness to help resolve the problem. Those who can’t do this will have a hard time working with the public. Be patient, kind, and calm. You may be dealing with a customer who is tired from their journey, frustrated by having their expectations unmet,

or just feeling negative because they have their own issues unrelated to anything you’ve done or said. Remember that customers have bad days, just like we all do. Don’t take it personally when someone is rude to you.

Rather than becoming angry in response, try showing kindness and compassion toward that person without compromising your ability to be professional.

Don’t let their rudeness get to you.

In the face of a rude customer, you can choose to look at the situation in one of two ways. You could see it as a personal attack on your character or treat it like what it is: just another case of someone needing help. If you take the former approach, you’ll be aggravated and angry every time this happens to you, but if you take the latter approach, your day will go much smoother.

Remind yourself that you are the professional and they are not. In other words, they aren’t qualified to critique how you do your job. When someone has a bad day and takes it out on others around them (and let’s face it:

when people are irate with others at work, it’s usually because something bad happened in their personal life), don’t let them make their problems yours.

Instead of letting their rudeness get to you personally, turn things around by seeing how far your positivity can stretch!

Set boundaries for yourself.

When choosing to set boundaries with a rude customer, it’s important that you stick to your decision. That doesn’t mean being rude back, just clear and firm.

It’s also helpful not to feel responsible for the customer’s behavior. You are not a mind reader and cannot predict or control their behavior. Sometimes customers don’t even know they’re being rude, or they’re just having a bad day. It’s up to them to manage their stress level appropriately and focus on what is essential for the situation at hand, which is resolving whatever issue brought them into contact with you in the first place. Everyone should be aware that managing interactions with

others in a professional environment is part of having a job.

Check with coworkers about handling rude customers.

When you’re dealing with a rude customer, always remember: You are not alone. You can ask for help from other coworkers in your department, especially if they have more experience. If you don’t know how to handle a situation, it helps to get advice and tips from people who’ve dealt with a similar situation before. Just be sure not to give away too much

information about the customer if you’re going to talk to other people about it--or avoid gossip altogether by asking them for advice on how to approach the specific interaction in question.

Don’t talk about the customer with other customers.

There is usually a company policy against badmouthing customers. In practice, however, it’s a slippery slope when one customer is rude to you or others in the workplace. It can be cathartic to vent and get things off your chest. If anything, it’s a

time-honored tradition in the service industry to talk badly about people who have been disrespectful or unpleasant. The problem? What if those customers come back?

This is the reason employees should never discuss customers among themselves with other customers within earshot-and why retail settings are usually designed with designated break areas for precisely this purpose, so that employees can let off steam away from their workstations without worrying about being overheard by customers.

Likewise, when checking out clients at the front end of a store and disposing of their receipts (which may contain personal information), make sure sensitive data is immediately discarded into secure garbage cans or shredded on-site and not left lying around for anyone else to see.

Remind yourself that you’re doing your job to the best of your ability.

It’s easy to take a rude customer’s comments personally, especially if they’re saying something deeply offensive. But remember, you are doing your job as best you can, and the customer is being unreasonable. If you are particularly upset about the customer’s comments, it might help to take a short break so that you can cool down before talking to them again. Return to the situation when you feel calmer and in control.

If you’re having trouble dealing with a rude customer and need a break, try this three-step plan:

Step 1: Remove yourself from the situation until your emotions settle. Take

a minute in a back room or bathroom, if necessary, but take time to calm down before returning to the customer. Avoid taking their comments personally. Remember, they are trying to be difficult because something has upset them (or because they are just rude).

Step 2: Return when you’re ready (try not to take too long--waiting will likely make the customer angrier). Approach the situation with renewed energy and focus on resolving whatever issue is at hand for this person as quickly as possible, so that you can move on from it. While remaining firm in your boundaries, attempt to find out what has upset this person so much and what would help remedy the situation for them.

Step 3: If there’s nothing more you can do than apologize (if appropriate), then don’t worry about it! Apologize and move on, referring the customer to someone who is able to help them if possible. Sometimes all you can do is your best.

When you’re working closely with people, customer service or

otherwise, it’s inevitable that someone will be rude to you, and the things they say may hurt. The stress of running into such a customer and dealing with them can cause your whole day to feel ruined. However, keeping a cool head and keeping the interaction brief and under control is key to maintaining professional relationships with customers. If you still need more motivation, remember that by keeping your cool and remaining calm, you can stay positive and help ensure everyone else around you has a better experience at work too.

Also remember that if you are a store owner or manager, there is an additional responsibility on your shoulders: dealing with rude customers is often harder when you have employees who look to you for guidance. Your actions set an example for others. Letting customers get under your skin makes it harder for other employees to stand up for themselves when they encounter rudeness from customers.

How to Grow Your Email List

Businesses have been using email lists since the time of the dinosaurs. Perhaps not for that long, but email marketing is a tried-and-true method of increasing revenue by providing your customers with valuable information that helps them meet their goals. The key is to get your new customers to subscribe, sign up, and join your mailing list -which is easier said than done.

New trends in digital marketing

Because of recent social media developments,

creating your own list is more important than ever. For digital marketers, the decreasing effectiveness of organic reach on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is especially concerning. The number of people who see and interact with a company’s content without the use of paid distribution is referred to as organic reach. Paid reach is the use of advertisements and promotions to increase traffic to your website.

Even if you have thousands of “likes” and “followers” on these platforms, your new

posts will only reach a small proportion of them. Big Tech’s tentacle-like algorithms are constantly groping for more and more money, which means you’ll soon be paying for every eyeball that sees your posts.

In contrast, emailing your own list puts you in command. Instead of being content with the crumbs Big Tech throws at you, your post will reach the intended audience. This audience is familiar with you and is interested in what you have to say. A typical email campaign has a click-through rate of

40%, which is a lot of bang for your buck.

Another critical point:

You own your contact list. What do you have with a big tech platform? You’re just a meager tenant working from a rented space on their property. What if the site goes dim? What if you’re kicked off the site? What if they decide to raise the rent? Say sayonara to all the hard work and community you’ve built with your blood, sweat, and yearsyou’ve got nothing.

Some ideas on how to grow your list

With that said, building a great email list is critical for your business. It’s so important, in fact, that when you get a new shiny customer, your first thought should be, “How do I get this guy on my

list?” Here are a few ideas for how to do it without being too pushy.

Email magnets

No, we’re not talking about the cute little deals that cling to your refrigerator, but rather videos and eBooks written with your knowledge of how to help your customers succeed. You have the knowledge and understand the issues that your customers face, so with a little time, you can create one of these packets and give the video or eBook to those who sign up for your list for free.

Writing an e-book or video script can be very rewarding for a business owner. The process simplifies your information (selling points) and is an excellent way to identify potential problems and

opportunities.

Online contests

Who doesn’t like the chance to win free stuff? A contest in which clients can win prizes through a random drawing in exchange for joining your email list is an excellent way to increase your contact base. Make sure the prize is appealing enough to attract a large crowd. Perhaps your company’s products and services would be appreciated as a free prize, or maybe a seasonal themed giveaway (free smoked turkey for Thanksgiving or chocolates for Valentine’s Day) would work well, too.

Complimentary advice (consultation) or followup service

Giving new customers free advice or consultation is a great way to get them to sign up for your email list. Most people are hungry for sound advice and having someone check in to ensure that the product or service sold is working properly is always appreciated. Offering a free consultation or checkup a few months after a sale is usually a good time frame, and this

extra service is free with your email sign-up.

Special Savings

A promise to provide exclusive savings, coupons, and sales via email campaigns is a good way to entice customers to join your mailing list. Saving money and the exclusivity of the list are powerful inducements for people to join, and it’s also a good way to segment the list by asking people what kinds of offers they are most interested in. A segmented list allows you to tailor your offers and receive a much higher response rate from contacts.

Program for Referral

Provide a referral bonus to clients who provide contact information when signing up for email. This is not only a good way to get people on your list, but it also helps with marketing.

Free clipping service

If your customers sign up for email, you can give them a free clipping service. Joining a clipping service is simple, and for a small fee, they will send you stories and articles

relevant to your (and your client’s) interest. Your clients will look forward to your emails because they will have interesting things happening in the industry. This demonstrates your dedication to your clients’ goals and your awareness of trends and events that may have an impact on their businesses.

Give back to the community

Pick a popular charity to fund with dollars from sales, and then keep your clients updated on new developments with the campaign. Even better is to have a specific person or family you are helping in the community to give the campaign a real human dimension. Perhaps select a family in the community who is struggling and needs help or a local kid who needs help with funding for college. Tell your clients you want to keep them updated on the progress with emails so they will sign up.

Feature your employees

Start a series of monthly email articles to get to your employees. Tell about their backgrounds, hometowns, hobbies,

interests, and dreams. Get clients to sign up for our email list to get this feature.

Adopt an office dog or cat

Adopt a dog or cat for the office and keep clients updated on what’s going on with the office pet. Have people sign up to get email updates on the new office pet.

Fiver Fridays

Every Friday, choose one of your clients to win a special benefit from a unique service on Fiver. com. Fiver has an unusual section where freelancers will do unusual things for $5. An example: For $5, one guy will go to the Grand Canyon and video himself shouting your name or your company name and slogan into the canyon. Clients have to get on the list to get this opportunity.

If you haven’t considered building an email list, now is a great time to start. Using the strategies outlined above, you can easily sign up both current and new clients. Email marketing adds significant value to your company, so start building your list today.

The name ‘November’ is believed to derive from ‘novem’ which is the Latin for the number ‘nine’. In the ancient Roman calendar November was the ninth month after March.

Unlike today’s feast consisting of turkey, stuffing, cranberry, etc; the original Thanksgiving menu probably consisited of the following items: Seethed [boiled] Lobster. Roasted Goose, Boiled Turkey, Fricase of Coney, Pudding of Indian Corn Meal with dried Whortleberries, Seethed Cod, Roasted Duck, Stewed Pumpkin, Roasted Venison with Mustard Sauce, and Savory Pudding of Hominy.

November Milestones:

• Nov. 7th, 1972 - Home Box Office (HBO) was launched, in WilkesBarre, PA.

• Nov. 18th, 1928 - Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse first appeared in NY in “Steamboat Willie.

• Nov. 25, 1920 - The Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade is the oldest in the US, starting on this date.

• Nov. 27, 1924 - Macy’s department store held its first Thanksgiving Day parade.

• Nov. 28, 1895 - America’s first auto race started: 6 cars, 55 miles, the winner averaged 7 MPH

• Nov. 30, 1979 - Pink Floyd released “The Wall” double album.