Day in the office

With the help of a special angel, I was able to spend my MPM time today organizing my office. I have not been as efficient as I would like to be in working with my current NPOs. The changes made today will enable me to not only be more efficient with my current NPOs but hep me to better serve the NPOs I will work with in the future.

bzm: Take heart, at a certain point in the now, a balance will come where life will not get in the way of the reality you were intended to live.

Tom

Monday, Monday,

I'm sure you all get tired of me talking about the weather here in Minnesota. The weather is very important to us. I understand that in some places the news at six and ten only give two minutes to the weather. Here in Minnesota we give at least ten minutes of every thirty to the weather. Often, we give fifteen to twenty minutes of thirty to the weather. Tonight is one of those nights where the weather is important. Upper Minnesota is looking for ten to fifteen inches of snow to night. That includes Mooerhead Minnesota--it is across the bridge from Fargo. You all hear about the flooding in Fargo, Moorehead is just across the river and experiencing the same flooding as Fargo. The same public employees who should be sand bagging and rescuing stranded residents have been pulled of f from those duties to plow the new snow so that emergency vehicles can get through the roads.

You are probably wondering, isn't MPM important to me? Yes it is. Yesterday I spent a great deal of time talking to some one about MPM. Some one not directly affiliated with any of the NPOs I am working with but some one who does have a great deal of influence over a number of NPOs including some I am working with. He is interested in helping me. Today I barely got to work on time and then I worked a nine hour shift. I had a really good day. I just didn't get much done on MPM. The weather is on my mind.

Tom

Where does reality come from?

The reality is...I had an "off" day at work today. I haven't been getting enough sleep, today was my long day ( in case you haven't detected, I'm not very happy about long days), the sales director for our chain was at our facility today--that puts every one on edge, I didn't get lunch until 3:20--late lunches up set my digestion, the assistant sales mgr. and one of my coworkers were angry all day--I don't like it when people are angry, it up sets me, the list goes on but to sum it up, my attitude was bad and consequently my sales showed it.

This is not a "woe is me" list even if it does bear some resemblance to one. We all have days like this so I know you can identify with the day that I had. I just wanted to set the stage for what I am about to say. when I got home and settled, I read a quick chapter in the book I am currently reading. At the end of the chapter I realized that all of these things that we shall for the moment call negative, are not part of my reality, I chose to believe they were a part of my reality, I accepted them as my reality. The truth is, I allowed myself to become a victim.

What does all this have to do with where reality comes from? Near the end of the chapter that I read this evening the author recounts how it took years to realize that 90 per cent of her ill fortune was between her ears. That really resonated with me. Now I know where my reality comes from and I'll bet I know where yours comes from.

Tom

More snow

It has been snowing most of the day to day but not much accumulation. What we do have is cold. The temp is in the low 20s but we have a strong Northwest wind that makes it seem cold.

I worked all day and went to a meeting right after work, a meeting where I thought I would meet up with a person who could potentially be a strong ally in working with a school. She failed to show up at the meeting and, the word at the meeting was that she is quiting her position at the school. Not much MPM progress today. My mommy said there would be days like this.

bzm: No need for apology, I read the post and came to that conclusion myself. I felt if I got that idea then maybe others would too. I knew that you did not think that, I just wanted to cover the bases for other people.

Tom

Thank You

Yesterday was an eye opener. It has been less than a week since I delivered the message, none of us is going to grow until we make ourselves ready. It appears that message has come home to roost with me.

In case anyone has gotten the idea that I am going to park my sales kit at the office door with a scribbled note, I would like to dispel that idea right now. I am in this for the long haul and one little set back is not going to change my mind.

bzm: A very special thanks for all the kind words. As I talked to the lady yesterday, I got the impression from her voice (or somewhere) that this was a no--for now. I sensed that she really wanted to go ahead but couldn't at this time. I will stay in touch with them and see what works out.

Tom

Sometimes they say no.

I have a long history in sales. During part of my career I trained new sales people. One of the most shocking discoveries new sales people make is that sometimes the prospect says no. I would prepare them for this before they hit the street but they left the office, invincible, no prospect would say no to them. In fact one new hire whom I had a lot of faith in, I thought he could become a good salesperson, left the office at 9:00 AM after a week of sales training and product preparation. He was full of enthusiasm and I could tell he was expecting to make a lot of sales today. I cautioned him, I told him on the first visit your goal is introduce yourself and your company. Put the customers at ease, tell them you are not there to sell, you only want to introduce yourself. I knew that he would be thrown out if he tried to sell on the first visit.

By the time I came back from lunch that day, the new salesman's sales kit was parked outside the office door. This message was scrawled on a piece of scratch paper in pencil and hastily taped to the sales kit, "I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE." I called the new salesman and asked what the problem was. "THEY ALL SAID NO!" I could not convince the new salesman to come back. He was totally unprepared. He simply did not believe that sometimes, they say no.

Today as I was doing follow ups with the NPOs that I have made presentations to, one of them let me know that they had come to the conclusion that MPM is not for them. They feel that they have too small of a constituency to make it work and that the concept its' self is just not a good fit for their organization. I have to admit, I felt a little like my new salesman, I was not expecting them to say no. It goes to show, no matter how seasoned you are, we all need to be aware, sometimes, they do say no.

bzm: Thanks for your welcome.

Tom

Rain, rain, rain

When I was in a polka band back in the 1960's we played a song called Rain, Rain Polka. It was a fun song and I enjoyed playing it. It has rained all day today and it is supposed to rain again tomorrow. Then it is going to get colder and the rain will change to snow on Wed., Thurs., Fri., Sat., and Sun. While we could use the moisture here (western MN and Eastern ND have flooding problems) I am not at all impressed with all this rain.

I would like to thank those of you who responded to last Thursday's blog. There were somethings that needed to be said and now they have been said. The offer is still open, if there is anything I can help anyone with, I would be glad to do it. Just let me know.

taff: Thank you for the kind words about my blog. I'm glad it helped you. I will try your suggestions for viewing other peoples blogs. Thank you.

bzm: I am certainly happy to share what ever I know with the whole family. I am here to help other people.As for lessons learned, I would like to start with something that people would most like to know about. I am looking for suggestions here. Thank you for the advice on how to get to other people's blogs.

Tom

Confession

I have a slight confession to make. When I sat down to write my blog last night I had blank mind other than to say Happy Birthday MPM. As I started writing the words kept coming as if someone else had a message they needed to get out and they were using my fingers to type it.

Having said that, I agree with everything that was said and I can give you my reflections on it and even tell you the lessons I have learned. This is something I would be happy to do,.but not in tonight's blog.

bzm: Thank you for the nice comments. No, I haven't read Eleanor's blog. I haven't read any one's blog. Not that I don't care, but because I don't know how to access any one's blog. I would like to know if someone could let me know how it is done. I don't know what you meant by Collective lessons,but if you mean something for everyone, I would be happy to do it. My intention, and remember I'm not so sure it was me doing the writing, was that the lessons refer to both the growth of self and the growth of skill sets needed for success.

Again, I would be happy to elaborate on any lessons that I have learned.

Tom

Happy Birthday!

I would like to take this time to wish MPM a happy 2nd birthday , and many, many more.A lot of things have happened in these last two years. We have learned a lot. We tried many things--some of them worked, some ofgthem didn't. We launched the first boot camp, some thing I am very proud to be a part of.

While we ARE growing, there seems to be a feeling that we are not growing fast enough. We are growing at exactly the right pace. I know this because there are lessons to be learned now. When the lessons are learned we will grow plenty fast enough. Just as fast as we want and may be even faster than we want. For now, we must ask "What lessons should we be learning?" I can assure you we are not going to grow any faster until we learn the lessons we are meant to learn. I can not learn the lessons for you. Each and every one of you must learn your own lessons and until you do, you will not move forward. You will keep repeating the same lessons over and over and over until you learn them.

Let's celebrate this 2nd birthday by asking what lessons should I be learning? When you can answer, make learning the lessons your highest priority and move on. I recognize that I have many lessons to learn. I am moving at a slow pace also but I know that when I take the time to learn my lessons, the pace will pick up.

bzm: Yes, the letter was important. The meeting was great--a men's prayer meeting.

Tom

Catch up

I had twelve things on my to do list for today. I got two of them done. The first one was to write a letter that I had been requested to write on Nov. 28Th 2008, the week I started boot camp. I have put that letter on my to do list every day since Nov. 28Th and every day it has come in second to something else with a higher priority. Today I drew a line and said nothing else on this to do list is getting done until this letter is written. I finished in time to deal with a small family emergency and make an unscheduled trip to the doctor (nothing serious). I got back from the doctor in time for part of my supper and off to a scheduled meeting, the second thing on the list to get completed. I had another meeting to attend scheduled at the same time but I could not be in two places at once so the second meeting got missed. Now I am back at home, I finished the rest of my supper and I am writing my blog, a third thing on my to do list that will be completed shortly.

bzm: Thanks!

Tom

St Paddie's Day

I didn't do anything for St. Paddie's Day today--nothing. I'm suprised at myself. Usually I do something, but this year nothing. I must be slipping.

This morning I had a chat with an MPM member who wanted some advice on working with NPOs. I'm afraid I wasn't very encouraging. She has been given a list of NPO's none of which is in her state. Secondly, every NPO on the list was an organization for men only, women are not allowed. I explained to her that working with NPOs long distance is difficult and in the past has not proven to be very successful. I also explained that the best results can be gotten when people have a passion to work with the NPO even if they do not have an interest in MPM. This woman did not have a passion to drive to another state, or states, to attend meetings for "men only".

I try to be diplomatic with my words but in this case I don't have a diplomatic way of saying how I fell about this so I will just say, in my opinion, the situation could, and should, be handled in such a way as to make the best use of the woman's time.

bzm: I'm happy to say my personal taxes are done and turned in to the accountant. Yes, it is a good feeling.

Tom

Monday

Long day today, not much accomplished on MPM. Worked on my taxes before going in to work.

bzm: Well said. I like the fact that we can help other people. That is my reason for being here.

Tom

Friday the 13th

Today was my long day--nine hour shift. Before leaving this morning I checked with the person who wanted help with NPOs. We are going to continue the conversation next week. I did not accomplish much today with my NPOs.

bzm: Yes, someone from MPM.

Tom

No Change

Today being Thursday, I went to work early and had to work late. Not much was accomplished on MPM, although I did get a request for help with NPOs which I will address tomorrow.

bzm: I can not thank you enough for all those kind words and for the encouragement that you provide. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Tom

Good Show!!

All went well with the NPO. In spite of my doubts, I was well prepared. I thank all of you for your prayers. The initial presentation is done, there is interest, and now there will be a several week interval before we get the go ahead for the next round.

bzm: Again, thank you for your kind words and for your prayers. They are most inspiring and they provide well needed encouragement.

Tom

Big Snow

We are having another snow storm here. It is not that we are having so much accumulation where I live, actually compared to the rest of the state, we don't have much. What we do have here is a small accumulation accompanied by a lot of high wind.

Fortunately for me, I have been able to spend the entire afternoon and evening inside preparing for my NPO visit tomorrow. As unusual, I have read everything I can find on them, I have prepared my numbers, and I have rehearsed my presentation. I have even planned for unusual questions that I think might get asked. I am as ready as I am going to be but I still need your prayers. I know that I can not do this alone, I need all of you there in spirit. Thank you.

bzm: You have always been there, it means a lot to know that you are there. Thank you so much.

Tom

Monday

Except for a few calls this morning not much got done today another long shift.

bzm: Thanks for the kind words.

Tom

Late entry

I make it a point not blog on Saturday or Sunday but since I missed my regular Friday night blog I am making an exception. I came home from work so tired on Friday night that I ate my supper and immediately fell asleep on the sofa and didn't wake up until 1:00 AM. I did not do the blog then, I went right to bed since I had to be at work early this morning.

For those of you who have an interest in Edy's team call, I talked to her yesterday morning and she said the call was not recorded.

Tom ~{}~

Eve Mtng

I worked all day and went to a meeting this evening. An official from the church school that I would like to work with was supposed to be at the meeting but she did not show up. I have heard of these things happening so I know it is a possibility--in fact it may have happened to me a time or two. Any way, I will have to try again.

bzm: Thanks for the prayers for T. She is doing better this evening. I don't know if the call was recorded but I can certainly find out.

Tom ~{}~

Happiness is...

I am pleased to announce an appointment for next week with a new NPO. Again, I attribute this success to my research, lots of it, my sincere desire to help this specific NPO. I had decided to do volunteer work for this NPO even if they decide not to become a MPM member and I believe my passion for their organization showed.

For those of you who were on Edy's call this evening, the confusion over the dog is this: There is only one dog. Earlier on this blog I had mentioned that I had a sick dog. The dog had a back problem. Tonight on the call, my wife mentioned she had to take care of a sick dog. It's the same dog, different sickness. The back problem is clearing its self up thanks to all of your prayers, tonight this same dog has a tummy ache.

bzm: Crow followed me around today, once a flock of 13, later a flock of 22. I think he was bringing me hugs.

Update

I have been doing research on new NPOs that I will be contacting. I have also been studying our NPO guide. I want to be on top of what we have to offer and be ready for those questions i know will come up. The ones that I don't know what they are now but I know they are going to be asked so I am trying to be prepared. I have been asked to be on Edies call tomorrow and I am preparing for that.

There hasn't been much change with my NPOs. Everyone seems to be out of town or just "not in."

bzm: Thanks for the encouraging words. Ginny is right, if I can't get to the NPOs, the Universe brings them to me. Now that is the way to do it. I am certain it will continue.

Tom ~{}~