Zappos.com Las Vegas Tour

Zappos' Content Team

Joel Comm shares video of his tour at Zappos.com headquarters. This place is unbelievable! CEO's take note: Here is a positive work environment if there ever was one! Fun, happy people smiling and doing above grade work! Zappos is doing well in this financial market because of the wonderful leadership of Tony Hsieh and the awesome team at Zappos. Just from a few minutes in the world of this company you can really tell they care about the company's success, care about each other, and have plenty of respect for themselves as well. I am not much of a shoe person, but find myself wanting to buy from them just because of their wonderful atmosphere! That is what I call persuasion!

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New Forum: Give Your Team a Boost!

LifeTeamBuilders has created a brand new forum for leaders, teambuilders,
and those who wish to be!

Please take a second to stop by and introduce yourselves!

All are welcome.... and there is no charge to join.

Let's talk about it!

http://lifeteambuilders.serenityday.com

Posting in forums is a great way to build up
your name on the internet,
learn from fellow entrepreneurs and team leaders,
and create "trackback" links to your own site.

Have fun everybody!

And have an awesome week!

KK

Championing Courage

Championing Courage

Whom do you know who exudes courage? Think quickly of one or two before you read the rest of this article. What actions do they take that make you think of them as courageous? Have they always seemed this way to you or have they recently done something to make you view them in a more courageous light?

A week ago, I took on a challenge: I decided that LifeTeamBuilders would adopt a few contestants in the race for the “Next Internet Millionaire” contest. After choosing some I liked, I posted a message in the forum offering to help promote them. The response was phenomenal and for the next 5 days, I did everything I could to build them up. I sent emails to my lists and blogs encouraging votes. I set up Squidoo pages for each of them. I even ran a small google adwords campaign offering free advertisements to my list for those who would send positive comments.

What was interesting in this process was the fact that most of the contestants who wanted my help were not the ones I originally picked. They asked me to add them in, make room for another one, gave me good reasons why they were worthy of my help, and for the most part, I agreed. Why? Because they had the courage to ask. I could have spent a lot less time on the whole project if I only promoted the original favorites who responded. Instead, I took on most of those who asked because I felt the act of asking in and of itself showed their strength as a leader.

Think now of the person or people you thought of at the beginning of this article. Have they ever asked for your help? When someone asks you for help, how does it make you feel? For me it is validating. Someone thinks enough of me that my actions will, in some way, improve their situation. I know for sure that at least some of those who asked did not in any way, shape, or form need my help. They were extending a hand to me as a way of validating me, lifting me up. Being a leader.

Asking for help is not an easy thing for many of us to do. I know I struggle with it all the time. Pride, fear, or for whatever reason, many of us simply do not like to ask for help. This has to change if we are to make it, especially if we are to lead a team. Showing vulnerability is an attractive quality. Why is that? Because people are innately, I believe, born to give. Helpful women, problem-solving men, all want to give. Ask someone for help; give them something of value in return, and you are well on your way to fostering a nice relationship. The leader in you is borne.

In Your Name

Have you ever known someone whose circumstances fit perfectly with their name?Back in my hometown there was a foot doctor named Dr. Azarch.
One of my favorite internet marketing gurus is Joel Comm….of joelcomm.com.
Guy at my office, Mr. Poole, frequently wins the office pool.
My wealthiest relative married John Luck.
Famous professional poker player: Chris Moneymaker. I kid you not, look it up!

I even used to be called “Caring Karen” by a co-worker when I was a mental health counselor years ago.
I bet you know someone too who fits their name in some way.
Maybe it’s more like they “live up to their name”.

“What does this have to do with me?” You may ask, since many of you likely have everyday names….

Well, it’s not the name that led these people to success, necessarily. More likely it was the edge the name gave them. You just need to find your edge.

Make up a name: something that suits your goals. Then insert it in-between your first and last name, only known to you if you want, but every time you think, write, speak your name, or even answer to it, imagine your “new” name in there. Joe “man of wealth” smith, Cindy “hard body” Jones, etc.

Mentally say your new name over and over until it truly becomes part of your identity. At the least it could be a fun experiment, why not try it?

Where does this fit into building teams? Well, one of the quickest and best ways to build rapport is to assign someone a special “nickname”. Something that suits their unique personality, yet is bold enough to give them strength. When getting to know your team, think about how to name them. Sally the master list maker, or John the graphics guru.

Tell them you know they will be successful. When they ask why, say “it’s in your name”.