Lessons from Geese

Notice the behavior of geese described by each bullet point. The lesson we can apply to Leads Club is shown below each bullet.

• As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an 'uplift' for the birds that follow. By flying in a 'V' formation, the whole flock adds 71% extra flying range.
  

The V formation represents the Leads Club program format. Ali Lassen's research proved that "timed, spaced repetition of information creates the best opportunity to develop trust."

• When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It moves quickly back to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds in front.
  

This represents the Leads Club attendance policy. When you miss a meeting you miss out on the power of your Chapter's support in business and generating Leads for you.

• The geese have the sense to stay in formation in order to reach their destination. Participating in the formation is mutually beneficial.
  

This represents the Membership application, where Members agree to stay within the Leads Club formation/format and agree to help others, i.e., Pass quality Leads!

• When the lead goose tires, it drops back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.

This represents our Leadership Teams. We change after just six months so that no one tires and then a new team of Members step up to the plate.

• The geese take turns being the lead, utilizing each goose's skill, talent and resources and allowing the previous leader to reenergize himself.
  

This represents the eight Chair Positions that we encourage each Chapter to appoint to assist the team with their tasks.

• The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up with their speed.

This represents Leads Club's philosophy of rewarding and celebrating (versus fining) our Members' success!

• When a goose gets sick, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it.

This represents the basic Leads Club creed, as follows:

As a Leads Club Member,
I speak honestly and use good business ethics.
I am strong, courteous and resourceful.
I know conscious cooperation produces results.
I make a commitment to the success and prosperity
of myself and Leads Club Members!

Here's a 10-point plan to increase your business!

1. Clearly understand your needs. Define them as to family and personal goals, career goals and self-improvement goals. If you have any personal questions, evaluate how your goals can help yourself and others.
2. What are the five things most important to you in life? What is it that you value the most?
3. In 30 seconds write down three things you want to achieve today.
4. If money were no issue, what would you change in your life? Write down three items.
5. If you had one week to live, what would you do? Write down three items.
6. What three great things would you dare to do if you had no inhibitions at all?
7. What three life experiences have given you the most satisfaction?
8. Next year at this time, what do you want to have achieved, accomplished and/or produced?
9. If you had all the spare time in the world, what would you be doing right now
10. Review the list. Take stock of what you wrote down.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Getting the most out of any professional association
is like anything else in life - you're going to get out
of it as much as you put into it. Here are four easy
steps that you can use as guidelines to ensure that
your membership is a success.

Step 1
Establish Objectives

Really think about what you are trying to accomplish
by being a member. Is this about growing your
business and truly a professional objective? Read
the member handbook and then outline a plan.
Ask yourself how you are going to spend your 10
minute promotional and identify the objectives you
want to achieve during that time. Each time you
attend a meeting, have those objectives in the back
of your mind.

Step 2
Analyze What Other Opportunities Leads
Club has to offer in getting the most out of your
relationships with other businesses in your chapter

Do you read the newsletters, listen to Chapter
Consultant talks, visit the websites, attend tele-classes,
attend workshops or visit one-on-one with other
members?

Step 3
Make a commitment

Get involved; don't simply attend meetings. Become
more active by moving forward and personally helping
the organization achieve its mission. This way you
will work with others and be on track to achieving
those initial objectives.

Step 4
Continually evaluate

Take the time to review your objectives every six
months. You may want to re-evaluate your outline
and determine where your focus is. How much time
do you have, and where should you be focusing that time
in order to accomplish your objectives.

What Are Your Carrot Words?

In our chapter we are teaching carrot words, listening for carrot words and even passing on carrot-word leads.

What are carrot words, you ask? Well, you probably have heard these kinds of words yourself but didn't think of them in that way.

Picture, if you will, the produce section of your local supermarket where the carrots are. You are standing there and suddenly your hearing picks up on a conversation going on across the store. Your head snaps around (maybe a lead for the chiropractor) and your ears perk up looking for that person who uttered those magic words. You know instantly that one of the people involved in that conversation could use your product or service. Now the question is, "How do I introduce myself?" But beyond that. . .

More importantly, you have now learned your own carrot word. Now you have to discover and teach all of your carrot words to your fellow Leads Club Members so they can listen for them too. Of course, they won't be across the produce section but, when they hear some key words like "Buy", "Sell", "Transfer", "Relocation" or "Househunting" in a conversation with a friend, they will know that is a lead and that they can go ahead and qualify that lead for the Realtor in their chapter.

So carrot words are simply those key words that identify a need. You pick up on those words by being conscious of maximizing every contact and opportunity that arises in your daily round of activities to identify a possible lead, whether at the grocery store, while waiting for a medical appointment, getting food at a fast food restaurant, etc.

So, what are your carrot words?

(Article by Pete Doty, Southglenn CD, Colorado)