Making The Team

Being better than the competition and earning that reputation is a great way to survive and thrive in the marketplace. There are many ways we can do this, but we have to focus on it for it to happen.

The NFL tryouts are a great example of what it takes to make the team when there are so many others wanting the same thing. The same is true with us making the team in front our potential clients and customers, associates, or managers.

Some of us are self-employed, some are part or a company or team. The same principles apply. We have to show the world as well as those around us why we should be starters.

In my podcast message today "Making The Team" I talk about excelling in what we do so there is no question about being on the team.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Apparently Not Very Great Advice

Did you know that we had a Council of Economic Advisors that is supposed to tell the President what can be done to encourage business growth in thios country? I can understand why they are keeping a low profile with the successes of expanding the economy and creating jobs.

Today President Obama nominated Alan Krueger to head the Council of Economic Advisors. It would be nice to think that he could make a difference, but that's asking too much.

Either the Council is totally inept, or the President is deisregarding everything they say. Either way, we can do without it and save some money.

The Senate, instead of confirming Krueger's nomination should mothball the whole agency.

According to a White House press release, the Council is charged with delivering economic advice to the President on formulation of domestic and international economic policy. The releases goes on to say that Council bases its recommendations about what will do the most good for the country on economic research and empirical evidence and not what's best for a political party or special interest.

That's good. Certainly wouldn't want the oil industry to take credit for creating hundreds of thousands of jobs by an aggressive oil and natural gas exploration and refining strategy.

Obviously the Council has recommmended to the President that he scrap the EPA regulations on small businesses, that the ban on incadescent bulbs is a mistake, that real teeth should be put into the existing legislation that bans hiring of illegals, that the corporate income tax be drastically reduced, that card check should be shelved and never mentioned again, that cap and trade is horrible for business and should be withdrawn, and that the new health care program is already stiffling business growth and expansion - among other equally astute observations.

What's that? That's not what they do? Then, like I said at the beginning, scrap the Council.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

The Unexpected

Things sometimes happen that we didn't plan on or foresee, but we are able to deal with them anyway because of our strategic planning and preparation. We know that wild things - even out-of-the-ordinary things can happen so we prepare ourselves to respond to them constructively when they do.

Sometimes we don't even factor them in or consider that they are a possibility because there is such a remote chance of them occurring, but still we have a plan for dealing with them when they do. This is the difference between a response and a reaction.

By anticipating or having an optimistic, "can-do" attitude, we are able to respond to situations rather than just react and let the situation rule us.

In my podcast message today "The Unexpected" I talk about our ability to respond to what happens and being ready for the unexpected.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

How To Support Youth Activities

The "Keystone" Pennsylvania Little League brought some real excitement into the Little League World Series this past week. It became an event for the whole town. Playing in front of a worldwide TV audience, the team from just 28½ miles west of Williamsport where the tournament is being played set attendance records that would make many major league teams take notice.

Their impressive run ended in the semi-finals last night, but they set a one day attendance record of over 41,000 and averaged in the 30,000s over 4 games.

We're talking little league here. Outstanding support!

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Tweaking Our Product

Steve notes that one of the ways we compete effectively is by examining our product (physical product, service, solution, concept, or opportunity) and making changes warranted by the market.


Some of the steps we can take to make our product, service, solution, or opportunity more competitive and more attractive to the marketplace are examining size, color, style, features, market segment, and anticipated benefits. Then there's pricing, marketing, and distribution of it also.

In my podcast message today "Tweaking Our Product" I talk about the response and doing what is necessary to accomplish the most.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Needed - A Ride To The ISS

Did you hear the one about the failed Russian space launch to take 2½ tons of supplies like oxygen and food to the International Space Station? No, there's no punchline. It actually happened today.

Now that we have bailed on our Space Program and pinned all our hopes on Russia to supply the International Space Station, is this what we can expect? There are 3 Russians, 2 Americans, and 1 Japanese on the ISS currently. They are in good supply at the moment - fortunately. This was to add to the pantry.

Question, if a shipment of supplies can't leave the earth's atmosphere and go into orbit, are we supposed to feel comfortable that a space shuttle can be launched safely and accurately?

Apparently an earlier supply ship had trouble docking with the ISS for 2 days.

Congress needs to get on this. Fire Bolden and get us back into the space business. Yet another way to create jobs.



For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Doing What You Can

We may want to do more in certain situations than we really can so we need to make sure that we do all that is allowable or possible. Other times we can exceed what we were prepared to do.

Sometimes we are limited in what we can do or how we can respond because of physical constraints, uncertainties, or developing conditions. Sometimes we must perform at a maximum level or even beyond what we think we are capable of.

We do always get to choose the circumstances, be we can choose our response.

In my podcast message today "Doing What You Can" I talk about the response and doing what is necessary to accomplish the most.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

How Much Do We Save Now?

Ever notice that Congress and the President present grandious proposals to save us money over 5 or 10 years - but never today? Why is that? Could it be because the savings are insignificant and that it takes pennies a day multiplied over a few years to make anything worth remarking on? Could it be that there is no immediate savings and only a possible one after we wait several years? Could it be it's all for show?

The recent debt limit debate ended with a savings that we would realize over 10 years. Fine, how much right now?

Yesterday, in addition to dumping the Fairness Doctrine permanently, the President announced that his agencies would be scrapping hundreds of outmoded regulations and making some 500 reforms. This is purported to save us $10 billion over 5 years. But how much do we save today? By the end of the year?

Better start coming up with some real savings to report and forget this futuristic doublespeak. We all know that a lot can happen over 5 or 10 years and that any projected savings may be totally eliminated before a year or two even passes.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Government Regulation Axing More Jobs

We need companies that are proud to be operating in America and will do all they can to to figure out a way to keep that happening. Unfortunately, General Electric - GE - is not such a company.

In the past 12 months GE closed their last incandescent light bulb factory in the US to make sure that they were ready for the ban is scheduled for next year. Congress must rescind this ban, but the damage by GE is done.

Today, GE announced that they are partnering with China to provide airline engines and help China build their aviation business to cpompete eventually with Boeing and Airbus. No US jobs in this deal.

The trifecta in US job loss by GE is the closing their X-ray equipment manufacturing plant in Wisconsin and sending 120 jobs to China.

With companies like GE it's no wonder we are losing jobs.

Of course with the EPA, DOE, NLRB, IRS, and other regulatory agencies, it easy to see why companies are having trouble competing with cheaper labor, parts, materials, and processes in other countries. While those products are much less regulated, we buy them just the same. Should be a real strong message to ease up on the regulation. The net result is that the safeguards enacted to protect us don't. We just have to pay the price of Americans being unemployed, millions of square feet of factory buildings lying fallow, and owing China more money by the minute.

GE's CEO Jeff Immelt (also President Obama's Jobs Chairman) said he is going to add 15,00 jobs in the next 3 years. He sure has a funny way of kicking off his campaign.

If there's an alternative to a GE product that's made in America, I'm going to use it.

Meanwhile, let's get these onerous job-killing rules and regulations off the books.


For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

A New Year Begins

We think of January 1st as the day a new year begins, and we plan for that accordingly. However, we get another chance this time of the year.

The launch of the new school year - taking place all over the country now or within the next 2 weeks - can coincides with the last push for us of a measured amount of time to finish the year 2011 with accomplishments.

We can use this occasion as a benchmark to begin the last semester of 2011 and make it count. We began the year in January, but now we have a mini-year in which to focus on accomplishments and get them done.

In my podcast message today "A New Year Begins" I talk about the timing of back to school as far as giving us an incentive to complete 2011 with power.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Washington Can't Create Jobs

The President is toying with proposing a Department of Jobs? We have at least 6 cabinet departments too many already. We don't need another.

This one is supposed to combine Commerce with some other trade and international functions. Commerce is one of the departments I support if done correctly.

When George Bush proposed Homeland Security, it met with a lot of approval and was passed. Look at the boondoggle it's become. Just a money pit with no increase in efficiency or communication over what already existed.

Since the federal government has nothing to do with creating private sector jobs, the whole idea is ludicrous. Some say that the President should be allowed to run with it to prove how ridiculous an idea it is. Unfortunately, that's how many unworkable and unnecessary programs get enacted in Washington.

Washington can't create jobs - not the private sector ones that matter to our economy.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Making Adjustments

With the winding down of August, this might be the perfect time to make and changes or adjustments to the product or service we offer as we prepare for the fall and the balance of the year.

Our product or service is one of the key things that we can modify to gain more market acceptance, visibility, and sales.  We want to create momentum that can carry us on into the fall and winter as we finish out 2011 on a strong note.


In my podcast message today "Making Adjustments" I talk about fine-tuning our product or service to compete more effectively.


For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

The Potomac Makes A Nice Moat

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website atstevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Returning To Routine

It's nearly back-to-school time across the country and all of us - even those without kids in school - will be returning to that fall routine very soon.

As we soon bid farewell to the summertime with it's extended daylight hours and outdoor activities and welcome the fall, we will be facing more traffic with back to school and shorter daylight hours in which to get everything done.

Even if we don't have kids in school, something inside us seems to acknowledge the coming school year as we prepare for more of a routine than what  we have been enjoying during the summer months.

In my podcast message today "Returning To Routine" I talk about the change in the seasons and the calendar and how that's going to impact us.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Cause And Effect

Sometimes events have a relationship - a casual one that says that they didn't happen independently. There may be a definite cause and effect where one causes or produces the other, but sometimes it's only coincidental.

Sometimes our actions lead to certain results and can predict what will happen based on similar experiences or the laws of physics. Sometimes not. We need to be aware that what we do can have certain consequences depending on when and when they are done and who is around. There may or may not be an impact to what we do, but we need to weigh the risks associated with what we do.

In my podcast message today "Cause And Effect" I discuss the false studies that attempt to draw conclusions or tie two events together when no such relationship exists.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Warren Buffet To Do His Part To Reduce The Debt

Warren Buffet, one of the wealthiest men in America, is complaining that the rich (presumably people like George Soros, Nancy Pelosi, and John Kerry, along with himself) aren't doing enough financially for this country. He says they should be asked to pay more taxes.

Warren, we are so glad that you volunteered to step up to the plate.

We'll be expecting a substantial 8 or 9 figure check - more if you feel so inclined. Then you won't have to feel that you are letting us down or not pulling your fair share of the load.

Thanks again for gesture, Warren.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Keep It Simple

Often what should be simple is unnecessarily made complicated - frustrating us when we are the consumer and both us and the public we work with when we are doing the selling.

Whether it's a presentation, a purchase agreement, an appointment, a light bulb, a plug, or anything we use in our daily lives, they should be simple and intuitive to use.

Making a sale can be stressful for both parties, so the simpler it is for the consumer to buy from us and get started enjoying the product or service we offer, the better it is for all concerned.

In my podcast message today "Keep It Simple" I discuss the need to keep things simple and enjoyable in the selling process.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Slippery When Wet

When we think of road signs (such as "slippery When Wet"), we are reminded that there are many different types of warnings and safeguards that we have available to help us adjust our behavior and performance for maximum results and safety.

We have body language, spoken and unspoken messages, outward conditions, and other messages that we can observe and interpret to help guide us to perform in certain ways. By paying attention to the signs that are around us, we are able to govern our behavior so that we stay save and have the opportunity to be successful.

In my podcast message today "Slippery When Wet" I discuss how we can take visual clues to remain safe and in control.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Who's Watching?

Now that the NFL preseason is underway with the first game tomorrow, the players and hopefuls trying to make the NFL rosters for the 32 teams and knows that they are playing not just for their current teams but for scouts from other teams. Some will see their careers end prematurely, and others may end up landing a job on a different team.

Maximum effort is called for because they don't know who they will impress the most = their current team or another one.Similarly, we never know whose eyes and eyes might observe something we do or say and find that attractive for what they did. We might be noticed by someone that we aren't even aware of or appealing to. Therefore we have to be vigilant at all times.


In my podcast message today "Who's Watching?" I suggest that we give it our all at all times.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

The Spider's Work Ethic

Watch a spiders and note the tremendous work ethic that spiders have. Night and day they seem to work on their web. Whenever part of their web is destroyed, they repair it or start a new one. Very committed and dedicated.

It's part of their survival code.

The spider goes about its business with persistence, tenacity, and perseverance. There's no stopping a determined spider. Destroy their web because you walk into it or it's attached to something you need to use or open, and that spider is right back at it repairing and rebuilding its web. The spider has tremendous survival skills and that drives its work ethic.

A lesson for all of us. Imagine what we could do with such dedication.

In my podcast message today "The Spider's Work Ethic" I observe how the spider applies itself with single-mindedness and desire.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Don't Be Afraid To Notice

Sometimes we notice something that's out of place or in need of adjustment or correction, yet we just keep on our way without doing anything about it - such as calling it to the attention of someone who should care how it looks. We notice, but do not act.

When we note things that don't seem quite right, we need to have the courage to bring those to the attention of someone else who can resolve it. It not so much that we don't notice - though not all of us do - it's that we don't follow-through to see the matter taken care of in an appropriate way.

In my podcast message today "Don't Be Afraid To Notice" I ask us to summon our courage to get things done.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

A Professional Is Ready

When the NFL lockout ended last week, the professional football players came into camp in good shape. Most looked ready to play. They had been doing their own conditioning - hard to keep motivated to do without coaches.

They took the responsibility of being a professional seriously.

While the players were being locked out of their training facilities by the owners, they could not practice with the coaches' help, use the weight rooms, review playbooks, or have anything else that they might normally avail themselves of to get ready for the season. They got ready on their own, and we can learn from this.

We may not have the resources available to us that we need or want to get ready for a presentation, to understand the market, or to stay abreast of our market area. When that happens, we get the job done anyway. We are professionals, too.

In my podcast message today "A Professional Is Ready" I discuss how being a professional means doing what needs to be done whether everything works out or there are obstacles in the way.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

August Means Transition

As July has given way to August, we note the days growing a little shorter, the return of football around the corner, the coming school season in a few weeks, and the fall foliage to anticipate.

Unlike any other month, August signifies transition. While March or April might signal spring, and May or June summer, August definitely points us toward fall. When we have finished August we will have forgotten about summer (even if it's still hot) and be squarely focused on the fall.

In my podcast message today "August Means Transition" I discuss how August prepares us for a fun time of year.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC Florida SMC. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.