Refuse to Participate in a Recession Part 2: Who Moved My Cheese?

From a speech given 1/6/2009

I'm Ray Macon, and I Refuse to Participate in a Recession!

Those aren't just words falling off my lips that's a sure sign I'm on the Defensive bench against the Incoming Economy.

Over the next several weeks we will be pulling segments from a speech given by Dr. Ivan Misner on May 15, 2008 "Beating the Recession: Thriving in Times of Economic Uncertainty"

Today: Dr. Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese?

Did anyone read the book Who Moved My Cheese by Dr. Johnson? Can I see a show of hands?

Now how many people were required to read it?

I knew we would have one person. Some companies insisted their employees read this short book.

I checked last night and you can get it on Ebay for $1.24 or pay about $14.00 for it brand new.

I won't go into much of the story, but it is about 4 characters who rely on a stash of cheese, 2 mice and 2 small people. Life is Content and Good for the Four friends; but when the cheese is all gone, the two mice move ahead and look for more cheese. The little folks took this news hard, and one wanders ahead to look for more cheese. The other stays behind scratching his head and wondering why things had changed.

You might remember another book by Dr. Spencer Johnson called The One Minute Manager? I was required to read The One Minute Salesman, a close relative.

In 1982 and for years, little tidbits of Dr. Johnson's book was taught all over the Business World. This included Asia.

In the late 90s while Dr. Johnson was going through a divorce and he learned about a scientific theory: In a Maze, a mouse will never return to the same place twice to look for cheese. Johnson wondered how this theory could be applied to Humans VS Change; especially interested on Change Affect VS the business formula.

So he wrote the story Who Moved My Cheese as a parable of how to deal with change.

In the book, one mouse is determined to forge ahead; and in turn, the other follows. Eventually they find more cheese. Should they go back and tell the others? "No. Let them find it themselves." (the world does work this way)

In December of 2007, my business was very slow. I was determined that this last season, 2008, was not going to be slow. I worked harder, I forged ahead with a different attitude.

Are you on the hunt today? It's easy to get complacent---it's easy to complain about our situations. It's harder to look for cheese.

In fact, like today, I got up early and started business early so I could get to the cheese before all the other printers. I'll find cheese. I always do.

Did someone move your cheese? If so---make it part of your everyday language and say to yourself: I Refuse to Participate in a Recession!

Refusing to Participate in a Recession pts 3 & 4

from speech given on 1/13/2009

"How to Motivate Referral Sources"

from speech given 1/20/2009

"Visibility---Your Key to Success"

These will be recorded soon.

Happy 2009 & Thanks

Thanks to everyone who has supported me as I finish my first entire year on concentrated writing.

This year I was able to complete a Blog, Manley with Horns! Networking-the play! and Extravagance-the musical!

I also have completed outlines for The Garden Party and Raise My Town My Love. In the wings I am already working on Sure is Handsome, a thriller.

Thanks to Jennifer and the Atlanta Writers Group, for their encouragement in the Spring of 2008, when I began writing Manley.

Thanks to Judy Bozarth, who encouraged me to "...write about your unique story."

Thanks to Phillip King, who has offered to edit the first book, and shop for potential buyers of Applause for Anger.

Thanks to Kim Davis and Martha Macon, (who are afraid to read my writing at times) for their ardent support.

Thanks to Ron Leathers, who has always supported my creative yearnings.

Refuse to Participate in a Recession Lesson 1: Two "In" Words for You

I'm RM and I Refuse To Participate In A Recession!

That is, the new BNI lesson "Withstanding Economic Difficulty"

There are even buttons with this saying, and when we were going over the materials for this Seminar I suddenly grew very sad. I know you're working professionals and don't have an hour and a half for an extended lesson.

So over the next few weeks I will be going over some of the principles so that when January comes, you can continue with your success.

I want to say that one more time: ...You will continue your success.

I liked the title of the lesson, refusing to participate in a recession. I felt, even at 43 years old, I was familiar with the topic.

I remember in 1975 & 1976, I was 11 years old. I knew something wasn't right.

My parents were P.O.'ed---angry and afraid of the economy, the post Vietnam world was a scary place, and still the Sandinista War droned in the background of TVs. Things seemed hopeless.

"Moneybags, moneybags, you think I'm made of moneybags!" my Mother would say in frustration. That's when I asked the neighbor to let me sweep his basement. Another lady up the street let me cut her grass, then another. I was being industrious.

Soon I wasn't so quick to ask Mom when I needed a loan, I had the money.

My partner and I have thought about this a lot lately, and recently brought a couple more streams of income into our house by way of renters.

Just like many people, those industrious ones, are working right now to prepare. Do you have more than one stream of income? How can you bring another 2-3 streams of income into your home?

Today as you drive home I hope you think of ways you can put your unique spin on this...the first "In"---Industrious!

The second is something exciting to me. I met with a couple clients on Saturday who have come up with a great idea. Well---realistically it wasn't their idea but they are doing it...a 4" x 5" travel guide that can fit in your back pocket. In fact, they are calling it "The Pocket Rocket".

This excites me because I was able to say "...I wish I thought of that". But we have to recognize the Ingenuity around us. And these two men, with their moving forward with a new idea in this time, have used Ingenuity.

I ask that you also become aware that there are some people in this economy who will profit. These are the ones who will show Ingenuity during a time when others are showing despair. What new ideas are just waiting around you today? Recognize Ingenuity.

I'm RM and I Refuse To Participate In a Recession.

Speech I Wrote in 5 Minutes for a Ray Stand-In

"To your advantage---Remember it's a Small World."

Hello, I'm_____________.

Have you ever had an experience like this? You randomly get in the car and go somewhere and when arriving at this place see your next door neighbor?

Or better yet, you check into a hotel next to a person from your same hometown?

Disney had it right to create "It's a Small World". More and more, we are connected as a race. Television is everywhere. Cell phones are the new police officers. People in the city are especially connected because the room to move around is smaller.

How can we use this to our advantage?

You've been a fair business person, and have a great product. But do your neighbors know you?

The creators of BNI knew that it was good to be known. If your name is tossed around by people, that's extra advertising for you, right? And FREE advertising, at that!

What's the harm in saying "hello" to the person in the office across the hall, maybe they don't need your services, but they know people.

Harry Page, CEO for Lincoln Associates for more than 30 years says this "...we don't have competitors, WE ONLY HAVE FRIENDS."

Isn't this a great philosophy? when we look at the world like this, adopting an attitude of "enough business to go around" VS "Fear the competition" it opens our eyes to neighbors.

And neighbors will always point the way to a friend's house.

I'm _____________ and LUCKILY---It's a Small World!

Holiday Sales Promotion

David Page & I have started our Holiday Sale promotion, and this project is keeping us very busy.

We are trying to hand-out 1,000 cards in 30 days, in hopes people will utilize the automated features.

Web Site: Has been improved and deserves a check: http://www.page-enterprises.net/

In the Meantime: Finishing touches on M w/H and the new play I've written called NETWORKING.

Ray Macon
Page Printing
404-643-8215

Great Wacky Photos

I was researching some stuff this weekend and came across a photostream for Photographer Mattijn:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattijn/with/251462807/