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

What Do You Need To Stop Doing To Get The Things You Want?

The majority of instruction I’ve read about how to be more successful and how to get more of what you want center around things you need to do. These are well intentioned and helpful to a selected few already inclined to take massive action. We love these people and want to be more like them. The reality is most people aren’t. If you’re in the group that won’t add something to your to-do list there may be a better way….

Take a minute and ask yourself what you need to stop doing in order to have the things you really want? Eliminating something is much easier for the human brain to understand. The brain provides less resistance to eliminating an action. If you feel sluggish in the morning try eliminating overeating and eliminating going to bed late. Eliminating just these two things will tend to help you lose weight and get sufficient sleep.

If you want to have a better frame of mind during the day eliminate watching the Evening News and instead turn on a mindless sit-com. My drug of choice is Two And-A-Half Men. I watch a few minutes every night. There is very little other than bad news on the Evening News and eliminating this has been a net positive for my clients and myself. The occasional person I work with who still watches the Evening News has yet to tell me what they get from the News that’s a net positive or instructional.

If you want to stop losing money or market share in your business eliminate complaining about how bad things are. Just eliminating complaining is a big win for your brain chemistry. When you replace complaining with Massive Imperfect Action you may become a force to be reckoned with. While complaining, overeating, being depressed from the News and not getting sufficient sleep may seem easier you need to know there is a better way. If you want my help just let me know!

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

“A” Players Hire “A” Players. Who Do “B” Player Hire?

       It’s a fact that “A” Players only hire “A” Players when they need something done.  Why work with someone who produces a result below your current skill set.  This is about who hires “B” Players and more importantly why they hire them.
I decided long ago it was easier and less expensive in the long run to work with “A” Players exclusively.  It seemed  expensive at first… turns out it was one of the least expensive things I ever did.  Working with “A” Players kept me off balance and uncomfortable and as a result I was productive instead of busy.  “A” Players demanded results from me I would have never demanded of myself.
  It turns out the “B” Players hire “C” Players!  Why have people around you who are constantly nagging you to do this or create that?  Seems like a lot of work.  Another good about hiring “C” Players is they aren’t invested in the result they help you create.  They are happy to cruise along, settle for less and pretend to smile.  Sure, low standards and a commitment void is a shitty way to live and unless you tell someone the secret is yours.  We make choices every day about working with “A” or “C” level people.  Whose on your team?

        My name is Steven Clauson and I coach “A” people to take “A” level actions, be their best and win more often.  I know the one taking action most often wins.  Taking action means you will hear the word “YES” more than ever.  Are you one of the few willing to take action, do what’s required to hear the word yes more often?  People accustomed to the word “YES” are winners on the field playing full out and dominating.  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

 

Participation Trophies In The News.

After everything that has been in the news recently about the idea and value of participation trophies I spent a few minutes looking around my children’s rooms.  My children were active in pursuits like Soccer, Football, Media, Track & Field,  Lacrosse, Cheerleading and Swimming.  I was looking for any remaining “awards” they are proud of for just showing up.  I found none!
Upon closer examination what I did find was a varsity letter my son earned as a Varsity Swimmer for Elk Grove High School, my daughters awards for Academic Excellence, Academic All American and a Cheerleading award she was given that was voted on by her Cheer team at Pleasant Grove High School and my Step Daughters awards from the Media Communications Academy at Center High School where she excelled and set the standard she would use as a Cast Member at Disney .  Not one of them kept awards for simply participating.  I don’t think this is a mistake.
My Son recently was awarded the title “Customer Experience Expert” from Mazda Corporation.  This is an award based on sales, experience and customer service ratings where Mazda calls the customer to drill down about their experience.  This award comes with a title and a monetary bonus.  In short, it matters and is earned.
My Daughter was recently placed into the management training program with Safeway Corporation based on effort, hard work, management approval and again the biggest factor is customer feedback.  Feedback matters.  I would add that my daughter will earn her certification as a welder in December and takes pride in maintaining the highest grade level and skill level in her class because this allows her to be the leader she knows she is.
My Step Daughter has recently been elevated at Disneyland from Cast Member to a manger based solely on Direct Customer feedback.  At Disney direct feedback means that a guest captures someone’s name and has to go to a specific office near the main gate and write out what the Cast Member did to make their day memorable.    Many Cast Members never have this happen and she has had it happen twice in the same week.  Her name is Sammy and she is in Disney California Adventure and I promise you that if you seek her out it will be an experience your children will not soon forget.  Disney expects that once you hit the stage you are all about the guest experience and this is difficult at best.
Each of these now adults were given participation trophies and each of them say that none of them mattered.  What matters to them are the results they produce because that is a life trophy and one that matters

My name is Steven Clauson and I coach people who want to come out of the stands and onto the field or are already on the field and demand to maximize their efforts.  Are you in the stands or on the field?  Winners are on the field playing full out. These are people for whom results matter.  Tired of results that are less than you know you can produce?  Call me at 916-230-0176 or visit www.stevenclauson.com

Who Creates Your Reality?

Who’s responsible for creating your reality?  The word reality is defined as the way things actually are.  With that being said the News people insist on watching is supposed to contain reality and what it really contains is grey areas of opinion and spin.  Our lives happen just like this.  Most of what happens comes down to opinion and spin.
Someone’s reality often comes down to their Response Ability in every given situation.  Losing a parent, winning a football game, going through a divorce, filing bankruptcy and even getting an inheritance are examples of things that show your response ability.  How will you respond in any given situation is what reality is all about.  I know people dealing with each of these situations right now and the differences are stark and not what I would have predicted.
What I know to be true and a fact is that success is our duty, obligation and responsibility.  We need to take it seriously.  It matters!  The last few days with a sick parent matters.  Winning a football game matters.  Divorce and the destruction of a family matters.  Filing bankruptcy and having the chance to start over matters.  Getting an inheritance and becoming the steward of someone’s financial lifes work matters.
Each of us holds the final definition of what reality means.  When you choose to be part of the solution your ability to respond rises.  What’s your current Response Ability?      
My name is Steven Clauson and I coach people who want to come out of the stands and onto the field or are already on the field and demand to maximize their efforts.  Are you in the stands or on the field?  Winners are on the field playing full out. These are people for whom results matter.  Tired of results that are less than you know you can produce?  Call me at 916-230-0176 or visit www.stevenclauson.com

Your Mom Was Wrong… Start Talking To Strangers

  

Many of us were told by our Mom and Dad to not talk to strangers.  This is very good advice when you are growing up and it becomes very bad advice around the age of 14 or the day you start playing team sports for many reasons.  It is also around this age that many of us start to show a sincere interest in the opposite sex and if you aren’t willing to talk to strangers you are bound to remain lonely and confused.  When you enter the world of being employed the problems multiply!

Zig Ziglar once said that timid salespeople have skinny kids and experience has shown he’s right.  Whenever you miss the chance to meet someone for the first time, otherwise known as talking to a stranger, your world has the chance to expand dramatically.  There are degrees of separation and meeting new people changes those degrees and that separation.  We know that statistically each of us knows 200 people +/-.  If you were to meet 1 new person per day and took weekends off at the end of a year you would know 450 people +/-.  If you sell anything you are going to make a lot more money and impact a lot more people.  Stay in touch with these people and remind them how you met, who you are and what you do.  Do this frequently and with a purpose.

I know that as I have aged I need to make it a point to stay in touch with people more often.  To start with I don’t know when they won’t be around anymore and most people are like me in that they get busy and prioritize in different ways… ways that don’t always work.  These people you know matter and make life richer in more ways than one!

If you don’t have a plan to meet these 5 new people per week call me.  We will design a plan and I will show you how to stay on top of that plan and what you can make out of it.  My name is Steven Clauson and I coach people who either want to come out of the stands and onto the field or are there and want to maximize their efforts.  Are you in the stands or on the field of play?  Winners have to get out of the stands.  Tired of getting your ass kicked?  Call me at 916-230-0176 or visit www.stevenclauson.com

 

 

What Failing To Hit The Target Looks Like

 

A compelling article came across my desk today and I want to condense it and share what I see.  Did you know…

  • 68% of Americans say they receive too many brand e-mails.  You are reading one now.
  • 48% of Americans consider personalized e-mails from companies they do business with helpful.
  • 17% of Americans cannot handle the current volume of brand e-mails
  • 56% of Americans willingly share personal information to receive relevant offers.

Americans say they receive very relevant information from;

  • 33% Credit Card Companies.
  • 29% Supermarkets
  • 29% Banks
  • 18% Fuel Companies.
Americans do the following with poorly targeted communications;
  • 70% close accounts or unsubscribe
  • 60% un follow on social media
  • 59% opt out of future e-mails
  • 57% block phone numbers
  • 54% delete apps.
       Irrelevant communications cause consumer loyalty to waiver and that’s something we can ill afford.  The days of Facebook postings simply for the sake of content are over.  People are getting over run with electronic communication.  They are tired of it and fighting back.  We must be more relevant today than ever.  When we send an e-mail or post a blog it has to be thought out and has to matter.  To do anything less is electronic suicide.

This research was completed by the AIMIA Institute and they are a data-driven marketing and loyalty analytics company.         

I coach people and help them determine what action to take, what to do more of and what to eliminate and help them to effectively demonstrate what makes them special and why their customer should be using them over any and all other options they might have.  I show them how to produce results that are uncommon for most.  Call me at 916-230-0176 or e-mail me at steve@assaultmarketing.com

Problems Don’t Age Well

 

       Like many people who read this newsletter I enjoy wine.  The wine I enjoy has aged for a while and that time spent aging adds to the bouquet of the wine and enhances the taste.  While I don’t pretend to understand the mechanism I can tell you that I like the result and encourage winemakers when I have the chance.  Problems are different in that they don’t age well.
When I had my private practice I knew that certain people had certain problems that defined them as a person.  Removal of the problem meant nothing more than they had to go find or invent another problem to further define them.  The Entrepreneurs I work with are quite different in that they don’t need to find issues, rather the issues find them.  While this is not helpful it is the nature of the beast.  The entrepreneurs that rise to the top deal with these problems in an on point manner as soon as they arise.
There are 2 ways to deal with a problem and only you get to decide which route you take.  If you can declare that a problem is a non-issue and walk away from it you are doing well.  If you have a problem that you cannot walk away from your best response is to overwhelm the issue and go at the problem from several different angles at the same time.  The longer a problem is allowed to exist the harder it is to solve.
In cage fighting the goal is to get the opponent on the ground as rapidly as possible and go for the submission.  In football you want to strike for the end zone as fast as possible and then score and score often.  In business you must figure out what the actual problem is, confront it and put it to rest.  Move fast, be focused, get help, don’t change the subject and act like you are killing an ant with an assault rifle.  Solve your problem with everything you have and then move on.
What is the problem you have to solve today?  You have to solve it for either you or someone else and leaving it unsolved brings an unacceptable cost and angst.  Overwhelm the issue and get to the other side.
I coach people and help them determine what action to take, what to do more of and what to eliminate and help them to effectively demonstrate what makes them special and why their customer should be using them over any and all other options they might have.  I show them how to produce results that are uncommon for most.  Call me at 916-230-0176 or e-mail me at steve@assaultmarketing.com

Now/Today Is The Right Time!

 

Now is the only time you have and urgency matters.  Now is the only time that is and now matters.  The perfect time to do anything will never come along and waiting for that moment is a fools game.   In fact, when is the perfect time to:

  • Get married
  • Have a child
  • Have another child
  • Go to school
  • Quit a job
  • Buy a house
  • Retire
  • Un-Retire
       There’s no perfect time to do any of these and there’s nothing other than a perfect time to do these.  The time you do it is the perfect time because that is when you did it.  No other reason need exist.  This time is the time.  Acting now is at the very least the most powerful and self affirming thing that you can do.  Investing in you and your success is the best decision you can make now.  Most everyone waits for the right moment to do something and then never bother to define what the right moment looks like in detail.  Nursing homes are full of people waiting for the exact right moment to do something.  What do you need to solve today?  You have to solve it for either you or someone else and leaving it unsolved brings an unacceptable cost and angst.  Overwhelm the issue and get to the other side.
In the words of Werner Erhard “Most people wait for
the decisive moment, whereas people of power are
decisive in the moment!”
     I coach people and help them determine what action to take, what to do more of and what to eliminate and help them to effectively demonstrate what makes them special and why their customer should be using them over any and all other options they might have.  I show them how to produce results that are uncommon for most.  Call me at 916-230-0176 or e-mail me at steve@assaultmarketing.com

I Recently Met One Tough Mudder…

 

I was having lunch Thursday with a new client who related a story to me I have shared several times over the last couple of days.  This is s story about something called a “Tough Mudder”.  For those that aren’t in the know it’s a race where the runners spend the day up to their eyeballs in mud and assorted obstacles and there aren’t really winners, just survivors.  While I might have tried this 20 years ago, not now.
He was sharing about one of the obstacles that had been altered from the previous year from a half pipe to a modified quarter pipe.  This change required that most participants needed help getting over the edge and continue on.  A few could do it on their own and most were sunk without additional help.  This is a lot like life.  Most of us need help from time and time. Precious few admit they need help so they don’t look weak.  I’d invite you to quit being so concerned about how you look and ask for the help.
When I was taking Graduate Level Anatomy and Physiology there were aspects I was not getting no matter how hard I tried or studied.  We had a Graduate Assistant for just this reason and I fought asking for help.  When I finally got rid of my ego and asked for help the material  became simple and in fact I ended up teaching Anatomy & Physiology at the College Level the following semester in large part due to the help I got from him.
It matters little if you are running a Tough Mudder, taking a class or trying to build a business… we all need help.  Some repair cars, some do estate plans, some do cosmetic surgery and I coach.  We all help in our own way and when you consider for just a second that 100% of the participants on American Idol have coaches as do 100% of the players in every professional sport you’ll see that you’re not alone.  I have 2 coaches named Martin and Crystal.  Both Marines and both scary in their own way.
I coach people and help them determine what action to take, what to do more of, what to eliminate and then help them to effectively demonstrate what makes them special and why their customer should be using them over any and all other options they might have.  I show them how to produce results that are uncommon for most.  Call me at 916-230-0176 or e-mail me at steve@assaultmarketing.com