Lawrence Fine

Email has made it very easy to send communications. Unfortunately, this has also made it very easy to send bad communications (I am intentionally not saying “to communicate” but rather to “send communications”)

Through a soccer web site I started 12 years ago or so, I write the content for newsletters that get sent out daily to over 120,000 subscribers over the course of a week (different newsletters get sent to different lists each day). Some of the emails I receive are fascinating for various reasons. I get a lot of “thank yous” and a lot of questions and each of these are appreciated and responded to (within reason). On the other hand, I also get a lot of emails that make me really wonder “did they really write that?”

Just as I do on the posts for this blog, I end every newsletter with my name (Lawrence). I’m not sure why I get so many emails that start with “To whom it may concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam”. These aren’t mass emails but rather specific emails asking questions about content written in the newsletters and sent to my email address.

One email I received recently complained about a guest written article I sent out. The emailer wrote “you are NOT to let this person guest write any more emails as this was complete garbage”. He then went on to explain how he enjoys what I write but this guest written article was terrible and he explained the section he disagreed with. Interestingly, if he had fully read the article, the section he was disagreeing with was a quote not from the guest writer but from me. That wasn’t the real issue. The real issue is he signed the email “Me”. Why would anyone take the time to write an email and sign it “Me”? It wasn’t written anonymously because his email address showed his name but what little credibility he had was removed by the name.

Many of the emails I received are signed “Coach John” or “Coach” or something similar. Is “Coach” really their name? Does the plumber sign his emails “Plumber”? Are they so insecure in their position that they have to make sure people know their “title”?

While I certainly understand the occasional spelling or grammar error (how could I not since I make so many myself?) but if you send an email that is completely incomprehensible, do you really expect a response? When someone sends an email using the same type of wording and spelling they might use in a text message to a friend, do they think they are going to be taken seriously?

When someone makes a demand, instead of a request, do they truly believe their demand will be honored? Just the other day, I received an email from someone saying their computer crashed so “you need to send me every newsletter you have sent out in the past 6 years”. Keep in mind, that would be around 1350 newsletters in that time period. If they had requested help there might be something I could do but to tell me what I need to do is a bit ridiculous.

It’s not unusual for someone to send a nice email, written politely with a simple question. I try to respond quickly and frequently I get another email back with a big request. For example, I might get an email asking for a recommendation for an activity to do with a team to work on team defending. I respond with a suggestion and next I’m being asked to design the teams entire training program for the year. One email exchange doesn’t make us friends. One email offering help doesn’t mean you are then entitled to unlimited support.

Another type of email I receive is the one that says something similar to “I am a long time subscriber to your newsletter so was wondering if you would be willing to donate…” They are really saying “I have been getting quality information for free for years so now feel you should be willing to give me something for my organization.

The purpose of this post isn’t to vent about what others write but rather to encourage you to think about what you might be writing to others. Keep in mind that communication is a two way street and if you write something that the other party doesn’t understand, there isn’t communication going on there. If you are polite and respectful, the chances are you will get a much better response than if you are rude and demanding.

If you send an email or letter, include your name. If you aren’t willing to include your name, why bother sending it in the first place? I can’t speak for others but I don’t take anonymous emails very seriously.

If you do have a preexisting relationship, mention it. If I get an email from a player who I coached on a team or at a camp, I will spend more time trying to be helpful than if I don’t know the person at all. However, because of the number of players I have worked with over the years, it truly helps if someone reminds m

If you can, turn it into a win/win situation. If you are asking for something, is there anyway you can make it appealing to the other side as well? If so, you will get a much better response.

My main point is, give some serious thought to your communications. Email (and other electronic means of communications) have made the process much easier but frequently the content of the communications just isn’t good enough.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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At what point do you achieve financial freedom?

For each person this answer will be different and for many people this answer will be constantly changing.

For some people, it might be a specific dollar amount. When they make $X a month, they will feel they have achieved financial freedom. For others, when they have accumulated a certain amount, they will feel they have achieved financial freedom. For others, when they are able to retire they will feel they have achieved financial freedom.

Sadly, most people will never get to the point of experiencing financial freedom because as their income increases, their wants will increase as well. As they are getting closer to paying off their mortgage, they will feel the need to buy a bigger house, a more powerful car etc.

While increasing your income might help you become further in your quest for financial freedom, the reality is that decreasing your expenses will help you get their even quicker.

Do you really need that Rolex watch? Do you really need those designer clothes? Do you really need the new BMW?

Figure out what you want/need to achieve financial freedom and then make a plan on how to accomplish it. Remember, happiness is MUCH more valuable than things.

Have a great day!

Lawrence
PS If you know others who might find these blog posts of interest, please encourage them to subscribe to receive them via email at http://www.lawrencefine.com/blog/subscribe/

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Many people seem to believe their responsibility to their employees ends when they hand over the check. In other words, the employee works a 40 hour week and in return, you pay them X amount of dollars (and other benefits)

Is that the only responsibility you have to your employees?

If you have an assistant who is doing an excellent job (and seems happy) are you content with keeping them in their current position or, do you feel an obligation to help them achieve a higher level? This higher level might be in your own organization but it also might result in you losing this employee.

As an example, if you are a college coach and have a very good assistant coach, do you keep them doing what they do best or do you also give them the exposure to other responsibilities so that you help them prepare to possibly become a head coach in the future?

The disadvantage of you exposing them to other responsibilities is it might take them away from what they do best and these other responsibilities might be something you, or someone else can do better (at first). Also, once they get a well rounded education, they might be more marketable for a new job. So, in helping the employee, you might be hurting you and your organization (short term).

The advantage of you exposing them to other responsibilities is they become a better overall employee and if something happens to another employee (or to you) they will be better equipped to step in and help.

Also, it’s easier to recruit high level employees if they see you are going to be preparing them for career advancement.

I have seen organizations intentionally limit their employees and do whatever they could to prevent their advancement in order to allow them to maintain a more stable workforce. However, those organizations frequently end up failing.

If you have an employee who is capable of advancing to a higher level and is content with their current level (and is doing an excellent job at that level) that is great. However, with most people, they want the opportunity to advance professionally, give them that opportunity and good things will happen with your organization.

One other factor to consider is that if one person is in a given position for an extended period of time and others aren’t exposed to what that one person is doing there are some risks involved. The obvious risk is if something happens to this one person, you most likely don’t have anyone trained or with the exposure to step in and assume the responsibilities. The less obvious risk is when one person has complete control over a certain area, there frequently aren’t checks and balances in place to protect the organization. If this one person is over the accounting department and no one else has access to this department, you are setting up the opportunity for this one person to take liberties with what that department is doing and no one will be in a position to realize this. As an example, if one person is in charge of purchasing, and no one is overseeing this person, it puts that person in a position to accept kick backs, to give contracts to friends and family etc. By exposing multiple people to the various divisions, it lessens the likelihood of this happening.

Look to help your employees advance, whether within your organization or outside and they will reciprocate in kind

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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If there were only 10 potential customers for your product or service how would you treat them?

My guess is you would go out of your way to provide what they were looking for. You would take customer service to the highest possible level and do everything you could to keep them satisfied.

What would happen if you treated all of your customers this way?

If you run a store and treated each of the people who walked in your door as truly special, how much more effective would that be?

If all of your potential customers were treated as true VIP’s it might increase your expenses some but chances are, your revenues would go up exponentially!

Have a great day!

Lawrence
PS Read what Randy Hanson has to say about the book 11+10=1 “I am a voracious reader consuming books of all kinds to help with my own and my teams education.  I have also always been a big believer in the life lessons that are learned through athletics that help players develop life skills for the future.  The interesting distinction in the book 11+10=1, by Lawrence Fine, is the idea that teaching life lessons to your players will make them more successful and have a better experience NOW.  A quick, interesting read that just might help my teams be more successful?  I can’t think of a better combination of benefits for both coaches and teams.
 
Randy Hanson
Head Women’s Soccer Coach, University of Puget Sound
Founder:  www.soundsoccer.com 

To learn more please go to http://lawrencefine.com/sales.php

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One of the things football coaches test for their potential players is their 40 yard sprint time. I have no idea why it’s 40 yards and not 30 or 50 but for some reason, they have chosen to test their players over 40 yards.

If you watch a lot of inexperienced runners you will see them start to slow down near the finish line which results in them getting a slower time than they could/should have

More experienced runners know to sprint through the finish line and only then start to slow down. So instead of sprinting 39 yards and getting a slower time, they sprint 42 yards and get a better time in the 40.

Sadly, many businesses do the same thing. Right before the finish line, they start to slow down. This might be a case of not following up with proper paper work after an intense period of negotiations. It might mean skipping minor details because you are tired right before an event is scheduled to start.

An example would be the Realtor who spends months showing a client various houses and when the client finally finds the house they want to purchase, the Realtor starts concentrating on the NEXT client and doesn’t submit the offer to the seller on time.

Another example would be the athletic coach who spends months recruiting an athlete and when they verbally commit, they ignore that player and concentrate on others. By ending the recruiting process before it’s finalized (signed), they are stopping short of the finish line.

Rather than sprinting up toward the finish line and slowing down right before you reach it, sprint all the way through the finish line and you will be much more successful.

It’s easier to only sprint 39 yards of a 40 yard race but the person who sprints 42 yards will be the one more successful in the long run

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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In today’s uncertain business culture, there are a few ways to guarantee your business.

You can increase profitability by lowering expenses.

Cut back on marketing.
Reduce overheard.
Significantly reduce customer support.
Lessen the quality of the product or service you are offering
Increase the price

If you do some, or all, of the things listed above, you will most likely increase profitability short term. Most people might read this list and realize that long term, the only thing that will be guaranteed by these actions is long term failure of the organization.

Sadly, many companies are taking this approach.

The alternative is to do the opposite.

Increase marketing since there are great opportunities with others decreasing
Rather than reduce overhead, make your overhead more efficient
Increase the quality of customer support with better training.
Improve the quality of the product or service.
Maintain the current price or even possibly reduce the price.

The first option will increase profits short term and then most likely result in the failure of your entire operation.

The second option will possibly reduce profits short term (very short term) but long term allow you to grow your organization so that you have profitability and have a long term.

Those that are operating out of fear will sadly achieve their expectations. Those that are being proactive and believe they will be successful by taking educated chances, most likely will.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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Whether in a group meeting or a one on one discussion, are you listening when others are talking?

Are you checking your watch to see when you can get away?

Are you checking your cell phone for email and text messages?

Are you looking beyond the speaker to see if there might be someone more interesting to speak with?

Are you working on unrelated work while they are talking about something else?

Have you ever considered how much important information you have missed over the years because you haven’t been paying attention?

Do something truly radical and the next time you are in a meeting, turn off your cell phone, close your work, look the speaker in the eyes and you just might learn something….it can’t hurt!

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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As managers, whether of a business, sports team, family or of life, we have to make decisions regarding out management style.

Some people choose the militaristic style “it’s my way or the highway”, “just do what I say” etc.

Others choose a more democratic style, “let’s talk about it and come to a consensus).

Others choose to allow their underlings to make mistakes and to learn from these mistakes.

The problem many managers run into is to think they have to choose one style or the other. An alternative is to utilize a combined style that encompasses the best of each style.

As an example, recently I was working at a soccer camp and wanted the goalkeepers I was training to know how to warm up properly. I could have ran them through a warm up each day to make sure they did it the right way. I could have allowed them to get together and allow them to meet to create a consensus of the best way to warm up. I could have let them warm up on their own and allowed them to learn from their own mistakes.

Instead, I created a warm up program for the group, showed them step by step how to use the program the first session. The second session, when they got to the field, I told them start warming up using the system I had shown them previously. One person usually assumed the leadership role and when that person had a question, others would chime in, The next session, I didn’t say anything at all and let them initiate their own warm up. They were a bit slow to get started but that was part of the learning process.

By the end of the week, they would get to the field, warm up on their own (still using the same program I showed them earlier on) and were warmed up (both better and earlier then the other groups).

The key was to combine the best of all worlds. I show them how to do it, then allow them to do it as a group and then allow them to do it on their own.

They get the opportunity to learn, to be leaders and to be independent,

Look to utilize a combination of all three techniques when coaching and good things will happen.

If you haven’t done so yet, please take a moment to check out the new book 11+10=1 at http://lawrencefine.com/sales.php

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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Too often, people don’t do anything because they don’t believe they can get the support of many others. They spend a great deal of time, energy, thought and planning trying to figure out how to get support but when they realize there isn’t as much support as they would like, they stop and go on to something else.

The great leaders realize that one person can make a difference.

Martin Luther King Jr didn’t wait till he had a lot of support before he became involved in the civil rights movement.

Mother Teresa didn’t politic for supporters before she decided to help others.

Rosa Parks didn’t try to organize thousands to not give up their seat.

While it’s nice to have the support of many, the reality is, if you start on a good cause, others will follow. If you try to get the followers first, you will most likely fail.

You don’t need to do something big. Rather than trying to change the world, change one small part.

If you are walking down the street and see a piece of garbage on the ground, pick it up and throw it out. Do it enough times and others will start to follow.

Rather than trying to get everyone else to use recycled products, start doing it yourself. Once others see that it doesn’t have a negative impact on them and does have a positive impact on others, they will start to follow.

You don’t need to feed all of the hungry, start with one.

Many of the people who ended up truly making a difference in the world, started small and then others followed. The dreamers who want to start big…never start at all!

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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One of the mistakes businesses make is not asking for more business when the time is right,

An example would be someone running a once a year event. Let’s use a camp as an example. If it’s a week long camp, at the end of the camp, if it’s well run, the kids will most likely be tired and happy. They are thinking about going home but also what a great time they have had.

Most camps, will then follow up in 6 months with information about when and how to sign up for the next year. Sadly, this is frequently too late. The excitement is gone, the memories have faded.

Instead, the camp could/should have sign up for the following summer at the end of the current session. This would allow them to take advantage of the excitement, the parents are there (most likely with their checkbooks) and when the kids and their parents see others signing up for next year, the “herd mentality” takes over. It does require some additional planning.

You could even go so far as to give an incentive for early signs up. First, it would guarantee their acceptance. Second, you could offer a small discount (as an example, if you sign up before the end of check out, this years price will be guaranteed for next year). Having the money 12 months in advance should more than make up for the loss from any potential increases. You could even offer to guarantee a spot for a small deposit. While the deposit might not be legally binding, it’s is somewhat emotionally binding.

This would also apply to yearly conventions, conferences etc.

Plan ahead, get your numbers early and see how much easier it makes your preparations!

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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