In The Jungle, Tigers Starve Last!

When the sun comes up in the jungle, you’ll never find a Tiger sleeping. Tigers have a strict regimen of daily hunting. If a tiger hasn’t started by sunrise they are missing out. Tigers hunt every day. A tiger doesn’t distinguish hunting days and it makes no difference how hungry they are. Full stomach… hunt to keep their hunting skills active.

Tigers have a system for hunting. Their system for hunting is why you rarely see a hungry tiger. They were taught a system of hunting when they were a cub and it’s a system they can repeat and a system that works. No other animal in the jungle wonders what the tiger is up to. When another animal sees a tiger they know they are hunting. They expect it. In the front cover of my book The Hungry Business Owners Guide To Creating Customers For Life I ask the question “do sharks need motivation? No! They get up early, bite things, chase things, be scary while constantly reminding everyone they’re a FREAKING shark.”  

What’s your system for selling? Did you know that the average first sales call of the day happens at 10:20 am? Who would voluntarily use a system like that? Part of my system includes a calendar. I don’t violate what’s in the calendar. I schedule time to read, time for client service, time to prospect and time to write. I created this calendar in late December. My calendar has had slight modifications and for the most part is the same today as it was in late December. My calendar is a tool. Any tool not used at all or used incorrectly tends to produce poor results.

With the economic forecasts we hear it’s clear that some of us need to get reacquainted with what hunting looks like and create a plan to get better at it. No one wants to starve.  No one gets to starve on my watch! When is your next hunting trip scheduled for? If it isn’t set up in your calendar in ink we need to talk. I’m looking for both Tigers and Sharks!  

‘My name is Steven Clauson.  I coach people who want help getting where they want to be.  The people I coach are typically already taking action, getting results and ask what’s next and what actions to take to make an even greater impact.  They aren’t afraid to ask for help.  How can I help you?  What actions are you taking?  Those who have a plan and implement that plan lead the pack.  Planning, preparing to win and taking appropriate action means you hear the word “YES” more than ever. Only if you are one of the few willing to take action, do what’s required and play full out are you likely to hear the word yes more often.  People hearing the word “YES” are winners on the playing field because they play full out and dominate.  For these people results matter.  Tired of results less than you know you can produce?  Call me at 916-230-0176 or visit www.assaultmarketing.com

Did You Know That 6 Of The 8 Female NFL Coaches Are Working Sunday?

Many purists are borderline apoplectic due so many new coaches in the NFL being women. To be clear, these are women who have likely never played a down of high level tackle football in their life. What could they possibly bring to the table? I’ve been asked that question a lot during my own career about how I can help my potential client and my ability to learn and solve problems has taken me to a lot of unexpected places. From what I’ve read it’s taking many female coaches to places they may never have expected.

When the only tool someone knows how to operate is a hammer everything needs to be a nail. The NFL has always been a game reliant on size, strength and power and these attributes will always matter. In 2021 the NFL has evolved to the point where finesse and problem solving skills are more important than ever. Defeating a complex offensive scheme demands different thinking. Complex game plans on either side of the ball demand thinking in a very different way. Imagine how differently a 5’ 6” police officer must think when they work to enforce the law in any gang infested neighborhood just so they can go home after their shift is over? The thinking that got her the job won’t get her home!

People from all walks of life, all ages, all colors, all sexual orientations and all backgrounds learn to be great lawyers, skilled surgeons, accounting geniuses, and anything else you can think of. Others who have the talent to excel at these professions are complete failures for many different reasons. Some of the common traits of anyone who excels at anything comes down to hard work, the willingness to learn something new and someone who said “What the hell do we have to lose?” From my side of the desk I know more about how to successfully market a business than my potential client does and when they let go they see the results. There are 8 female coaches in the NFL and six of them work for the Tampa Bay Bucs and the Kansas City Chiefs. Coincidence? Finding and retaining world class talent matters now more than ever! I Guarantee I Can Help You!      

My name is Steven Clauson.  I coach people who want help getting where they want to be.  The people I coach are typically already taking action, getting results and ask what’s next and what actions to take to make an even greater impact.  They aren’t afraid to ask for help.  How can I help you?  What actions are you taking?  Those who have a plan and implement that plan lead the pack.  Planning, preparing to win and taking appropriate action means you hear the word “YES” more than ever. Only if you are one of the few willing to take action, do what’s required and play full out are you likely to hear the word yes more often.  People hearing the word “YES” are winners on the playing field because they play full out and dominate.  For these people results matter.  Tired of results less than you know you can produce?  Call me at 916-230-0176 or visit www.stevenclauson.com

Most People Work On The Symptom Not The Problem…

I spoke to a business group recently and ended by taking questions. This was a group of legal and accounting professionals and their questions were many of the same questions general contractors ask. All questions were symptom related and avoided the actual problem. A symptom question would be “How do we get busier?” and a problem question would be “Our director of outreach is getting more potential customers in the door and I want to know how to change the demographic they are reaching?” Symptom as opposed to problem.

To make the shift from symptom to problem requires better questions. Great questions define the actual problem. Poorly framed questions produce only tactics. Tactical answers don’t have the ability to change the result but make you feel like progress is being made toward a worthwhile goal.

Here’s cheat sheet on asking better questions. Start with a question that outlines the actual thing you need to repair. Once you have a clear and true understanding of the actual thing work on simplifying the thing to the greatest extent possible. The last action is to expand the different ways you can get there. In 1958 Dr. Robert Schuller needed to raise $1 million dollars to build his church and that was a lot of money in 1958. If he could find 1 person with $1 million it would be easy… Finding that 1 person would be very difficult. Then he looked at 2 people at $500,000 which was still hard and he finally settled at $100 from 10,000 people. He outlined what he needed, simplified what was needed and expanded the possibilities until he got the right answer.

What is your right answer and how much more time will you spend asking the wrong question?  

My name is Steven Clauson.  I coach people who want help getting where they want to be.  The people I coach are typically already taking action, getting results and ask what’s next and what actions to take to make an even greater impact.  They aren’t afraid to ask for help.  How can I help you?  What actions are you taking?  Those who have a plan and implement that plan lead the pack.  Planning, preparing to win and taking appropriate action means you hear the word “YES” more than ever. Only if you are  one of the few willing to take action, do what’s required and play full out are you likely to hear the word yes more often.  People hearing the word “YES” are winners on the playing field because they play full out and dominate.  For these people results matter.  Tired of results less than you know you can produce?  Call me at 916-230-0176 or visit www.stevenclauson.com

How Accurate Are You Thinking?

I asked a client why they hired me to drive their company’s revenue. They gave me the most terrifying answer I’ve ever heard. They hired me because I’m a positive thinker. He went on to tell me I was a positive thinker about everything and he liked being around that. I felt sick to my stomach for the rest of the day. I am not a positive thinker… I’m an accurate thinker. Give me accurate any day of the week.

Positive thinking destroys businesses and families. Think positive all you want and unless you’re accurate about what’s going on it won’t end well. Think positive about having a few hundred dollars in the bank and you’ll eventually get very hungry.

When you read the book “Think And Grow Rich” you learn there was a lot of action happening within that thinking. Hill was a very accurate man and took a lot of action. The book he wrote next was “Grow Rich With Peace Of Mind.” Even Hill thought it was a better book. Most readers of the first book have never heard of the second book.

How accurate are you thinking right now? Are you thinking you need to lower your expectations for the second half of the year? Is that accurate? They’re now telling us we’re officially in a recession. Are You? I’m not and I’m not planning to be. I’m thinking and acting my way through this and so are my clients. In fact one of my clients has created an income with a minimum of 200% over the first half of 2019 in what he was told was a “non-essential business.” He thought he was essential. His bank account certainly agrees with that. Think about calling me… Here’s a link to my calendar. My name is Steven Clauson.  I coach people who want help getting where they want to be.  The people I coach are typically already taking action, getting results and ask what’s next and what actions to take to make an even greater impact.  They aren’t afraid to ask for help.  How can I help you?  What actions are you taking?  Those who have a plan and implement that plan lead the pack.  Planning, preparing to win and taking appropriate action means you hear the word “YES” more than ever. Only if you one of the few willing to take action, do what’s required and play full out and you likely to hear the word yes more often.  People hearing the word “YES” are winners on the field playing because they play full out and dominate.  For these people results matter.  Tired of results less than you know you can produce?  Call me at 916-230-0176 or visit www.stevenclauson.com

Are You Tough Enough?

If you’re reading this you’ve been here or someplace like this before. You went through 911… Still Standing. You survived the Dot Com meltdown… Still Standing. You outlasted the 2008 mortgage melt down and lived to tell… Still Standing! While you’ve been wobbled more than once you made it through. You paid attention and as a result each one of these made you smarter, wiser and stronger. I’ve had the same experience as many of you. If you haven’t given yourself credit for surviving the time is now! You’re overdue.

Pastor Robert Schuller used to say “Tough Times Don’t Last But Tough People Do!” I suspect the last few weeks have measured your toughness. Still Standing? You’re certifiably tough. What’s your plan to remain tough? Mike Tyson was the first to say “Everyone has a plan until they get hit in the mouth.” We’ve all been hit… response means everything and determines what’s next.

A client from about 10 years ago called to tell me how bad things were. He’d been knocked down. I told him to Get Up! He misunderstood me so I said it again… Get The Hell Up! His words and actions during what may well be the fight of his life were crippling him and I heard that in his voice. When I asked what he’s done since the shelter in place order he said “everything’s shut down… What can I do?” I gave him a list of 10 things to do that day before he went to bed. I then got his wife on the phone to keep him accountable. I got off the phone with him 9 days later and things are much better while still under the shelter in place order. He has a new plan now.  

This will eventually end. Many businesses, even some of your competition, will simply wait this out. That’s never the way to respond to any threat. If you’ve read the “Art Of War” you know to attack when the enemy is weak. There’s more weakness than I’ve ever seen. I promise I will survive this Pandemic both personally and professionally… I will emerge stronger. You will as well. Those who don’t take and maintain decisive action are bound to suffer the consequences. That result is sad and predictable. We’re in this together. We’re going to thrive together!     

My name is Steven Clauson.  I coach people who want help getting where they want to be.  The people I coach are typically already taking action, getting results and ask what’s next and what actions to take to make an even greater impact.  They aren’t afraid to ask for help.  How can I help you?  What actions are you taking?  Those who have a plan and implement that plan lead the pack.  Planning, preparing to win and taking appropriate action means you hear the word “YES” more than ever. Only if you one of the few willing to take action, do what’s required and play full out and you likely to hear the word yes more often.  People hearing the word “YES” are winners on the field playing because they play full out and dominate.  For these people results matter.  Tired of results less than you know you can produce?  Call me at 916-230-0176 or visit www.stevenclausoncom

Optimism Or Reasoned Optimism?

In the current climate we’re living in, being optimistic may be a good thing. In the current climate we’re living in creating multiple reasons to be optimistic is an unstoppable force. Personally, I prefer reasoned optimism.

One of my favorite quotes is “Dig your well before you get thirsty.” For most this is easy to understand and the actual doing can be very different. I dig my well daily and the results speak for themselves. I understand that intelligent outflow creates meaningful inflow. I’m shocked at how many people wake up each day and play at a level 1 or 2 on a scale of 10. What do they think is going to happen?

I’m reminded of a short story I heard from Robert Ringer who wrote the book Maximum Achievement… Every day in in Africa a Lion wakes up and already knows they must run faster than the slowest Gazelle or they won’t eat. Every day in Africa a Gazelle wakes up and already knows they must run faster than the fastest Lion or they will be eaten. Each knows when they wake up they must start running to survive!  Have you started running yet?

My name is Steven Clauson.  I coach people who want help getting where they want to be.  The people I coach are typically already taking action, getting results and ask what’s next and what actions to take to make an even greater impact.  They aren’t afraid to ask for help.  How can I help you?  What actions are you taking?  Those who have a plan and implement that plan lead the pack.  Planning, preparing to win and taking appropriate action means you hear the word “YES” more than ever. Only if you one of the few willing to take action, do what’s required and play full out and you likely to hear the word yes more often.  People hearing the word “YES” are winners on the field playing because they play full out and dominate.  For these people results matter.  Tired of results less than you know you can produce?  Call me at 916-230-0176 or visit www.stevenclauson.com

What’s Left Over When Your Time Is Up?

This isn’t a highly motivational picture. It was placed to get your attention. All of us will have this day. I’m not looking forward. I know it’s gonna get here. Elon Musk is working on a go around but I’m not optimistic.

Most of the people I meet are incredibly protective with their money while paying minimal attention to their time. This is ass backwards. My wife told me to eliminate the words ass but PFUI… sometimes I need to be blunt.

When your coffin lid starts to close or they place the lid on the urn what you will have left over is money… what you will have no more is time. The last thing I’m worried about is someone who wants to steal my money. No worries… I know how to make more money with incredible reliability. The most non-renewable resource I have is my time. Your most non-renewable resource is your time. When you run out of time you can’t fix it. You’re done! Many years ago I filed bankruptcy… isn’t that proof I was out of money? I got more money and you will too. Why do most people feel the opposite?

If you want to steal my time we’re going to have an issue. I have literally refused to work with people simply because they have no respect for my time or theirs. If you are constantly running behind you must not respect someone and it better not be me. The worst person to disrespect on the subject of time is yourself. The value you put on your time determines your income. Be On Time!    

My name is Steven Clauson.  I coach people who want help getting where they want to be.  The people I coach are typically already taking action, getting results and ask what’s next and what actions to take to make an even greater impact.  They aren’t afraid to ask for help.  How can I help you?  What actions are you taking?  Those who have a plan and implement that plan lead the pack.  Planning, preparing to win and taking appropriate action means you hear the word “YES” more than ever. Only if you one of the few willing to take action, do what’s required and play full out and you likely to hear the word yes more often.  People hearing the word “YES” are winners on the field playing because they play full out and dominate.  For these people results matter.  Tired of results less than you know you can produce?  Call me at 916-230-0176 or visit www.stevenclauson.com