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One Minute Motivators

One-Minute MotivatorsThese short weekly messages from our company president, Bill Mansell, are filled with timely principles of success and motivation. (We call this our company blog.) They are designed to help you and your team stay motivated and to sharpen your success skills and attitudes. Each takes only one minute to read, but the profound principles could fill an entire seminar. Why not take a weekly one-minute break from your hectic schedule to read and internalize each message.

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The Value of Underselling

by Bill Mansell on May 22, 2013 | One Minute Motivators
The Value of Underselling

Today, with desperate retailers and sensationalistic advertising, too many companies promise more than they can deliver, with disastrous results.

Give Encouragement!

by Bill Mansell on April 22, 2013 | One Minute Motivators
Give Encouragement!

Our world is starving for something of which you have a potentially unlimited supply. You can get it by simply deciding to have it. You can give it away freely to thousands of people and still have plenty to give yourself. In fact, the more you give away, the more you will be surrounded with it. This illusive, yet potentially unlimited substance is simply “an encouraging word.”

A Strong Foundation

by Bill Mansell on April 18, 2013 | One Minute Motivators
A Strong Foundation

When I was a teenager, I visited the Sears Tower (now known as the Willis tower) in Chicago, Illinois. At that time, it was the tallest building in the world. In some ways, we are like a skyscraper. We work every day to achieve higher and higher levels of achievement. At the same time, we are susceptible to conditions that surround us. The foundation for the Sears tower is a massive cement structure that is 100 feet deep. If we are to stand strong, we too must have a solid foundation.

What Today’s Customers Want

by Bill Mansell on March 26, 2013 | One Minute Motivators
What Today's Customers Want

Today’s customers crave to be treated like people and to get real value. The more you can provide a personal touch, and the more value you offer in the form of exceptional service, selection, convenience, price, and integrity, the more customers you will have. These efforts may seem like backwards steps in a world of increasingly impersonal technology. But, they will win today’s customer–and tomorrow’s.

Think About Breathing

by Bill Mansell on March 14, 2013 | One Minute Motivators
Think About Breathing

There is immense value in taking a few minutes a day to just be alive and pay attention. It fosters clarity, perspective, and awareness. A great way to do this is to stop whatever you’re doing and focus on your breathing. Every day, take a few minutes to just focus on your breathing. Be totally aware and alive in this moment. Suddenly, the cares of the day will be swept away and you will wake up and notice your surroundings. Make this a daily habit for greater clarity, perspective, and confidence in your life.

Get Crystal Clear

by Bill Mansell on February 27, 2013 | One Minute Motivators
Get Crystal Clear

Before you can reach your goals, they have to become crystal clear in your mind. Ask yourself: What, How, Who, Where, When, and Why. The more clearly you define your objectives and the more frequently and intensely you review them, the faster they will be yours.

Be a Leader, Not a Boss

by Bill Mansell on February 19, 2013 | Articles
Be a Leader, Not a Boss

What is the difference between a leader and a boss? It boils down to the person’s attitude. Whether you are the company president or working in the mail room, adopt the attitudes of mutual respect, teamwork, and commitment to the company vision. As you do, you will become a true leader.

Add Variety to Your Presentations

by Bill Mansell on February 12, 2013 | One Minute Motivators
Add Variety to Your Presentations

Do you tend to lull your listeners to sleep when you stand before a group? Make your presentations more engaging and captivating by adding variety to your speech. Loud, soft, fast, slow, humorous, serious, tone, and stress—all these add interest and impact.

Doing Your Best

by Bill Mansell on January 27, 2013 | One Minute Motivators
Doing Your Best

Years ago as a teenager, I learned a lesson about doing my best. You don’t have to do everything by yourself. Take advantage of every available resource for outside learning, encouragement, and help.

Jump In!

by Bill Mansell on January 22, 2013 | Articles
Jump In! - Success Comes When You Overcome Your Fear

I’ll never forget the day our swim instructor said it was time to do the high dive. I immediately got at the back of the line, where I watched all of my class mates climb the stairs and jump off the high dive. Fear is a thief that robs us of enjoyable experiences and future success. Take a lesson from my swimming instructor and “Just jump in!” Do the thing you fear.

Take a Personal Inventory

by Bill Mansell on January 2, 2013 | One Minute Motivators
Take a Personal Inventory

Regularly schedule quiet time for a personal inventory where you can reflect on the highest priorities in your life and evaluate how well you are allocating your time and energy toward accomplishing them. Worthwhile goals will naturally flow from this type of introspection.

Has Civil Society Come to an End?

by Bill Mansell on December 18, 2012 | One Minute Motivators
Has Civil Society Come to an End?

While it’s true that civility is decreasing, while violence and degeneracy are increasing, we have by no means lost our society. Yet. Let us choose to promote positive virtues in your personal actions and to focus on the good in others. It will improve your attitude, your happiness, and ultimately improve our world.

Are You In the Garage?

by Bill Mansell on December 11, 2012 | Articles
Are You In the Garage?

Sometimes life hands us difficult challenges. There are times when we are figuratively in a cold, dark, lonely place–like my garage. As unpleasant as these times are, they are necessary for us to learn and grow and bloom into the person we are meant to become. The truth is, everyone has their times in the garage as well as their moments to bloom in the sunshine.

Challenges Build Strength

by Bill Mansell on December 3, 2012 | One Minute Motivators
Challenges Build Strength

The woman or man who overcomes the most strife is also often the one who makes the greatest contribution to this world. The poem “Of Trees and Men” clearly articulates this principle of the power of overcoming adversity.

Cultivate Charisma

by Bill Mansell on November 28, 2012 | Articles
Cultivate Charisma

People with charisma have amazing influence over others. They pass through life inspiring greatness, uplifting spirits, and planting seeds of excellence. They are a valuable part of any team and command higher salaries. The truth is, whether you are in management or not, you need to cultivate charisma. It will help you at work, in your family, and your social life.

Disadvantaged Childhood? Succeed Anyway!

by Bill Mansell on August 29, 2012 | One Minute Motivators
Disadvantaged Childhood? Succeed Anyway!

If you think that you had a disadvantaged childhood, listen to the story of Mario Andretti. Mario was born in Northern Italy the same year that World War II broke out.  When the war finally ended, borders had shifted and his family found themselves in communist-controlled Yugoslavia.  They decided to leave their homeland as refugees [...]

Give Yourself a Second Chance

by Bill Mansell on June 6, 2012 | One Minute Motivators
Give Yourself a Second Chance

As much as we strive for perfection, we all fall short. The truth is that making mistakes is the very way that we learn and grow. We strive, we fall down, we get up again

Choose to Be Happy Anyway

by Bill Mansell on May 10, 2012 | One Minute Motivators
Choose to Be Happy Anyway

Has something happened to you that wasn’t your fault? Is there some unfairness in your situation in life? Take a lesson from Jason and just “let it go.” Choose to be happy anyway. Choose to be grateful for what your challenges have taught you. Choose the abundant life.

The Vanishing Art of Casual Conversation

by Bill Mansell on March 13, 2012 | One Minute Motivators
The Vanishing Art of Casual Conversation

Make it a point to develop the art of casual conversation. You’ll begin to enjoy social situations, expand your business opportunities at networking events, and improve your personal charisma.

Just One Little Thing

by Bill Mansell on January 25, 2012 | One Minute Motivators
Just One Little Thing

You never know when changing one little thing can make a major difference in your life. Identify one little thing that you can do to improve right now. Then do it.

The Customer Signs Your Paycheck

by Bill Mansell on January 18, 2012 | One Minute Motivators
The Customer Signs Your Paycheck

One of the benefits of the economic downturn from which we are emerging is a revitalized emphasis on customer service

Pluck, Not Luck!

by Bill Mansell on January 10, 2012 | One Minute Motivators
Pluck, Not Luck!

Next time you feel that adversity has beaten you down, think of James Cash Penney. Don’t worry about luck, just put a P in front of it and forge ahead.

Take Action to Overcome FEAR

by Bill Mansell on November 4, 2011 | One Minute Motivators
Take Action to Overcome FEAR

Fear is the greatest enemy of any professional. Fear of looking silly prevents many from giving enthusiastic effort.

Give Yourself a Pep-Talk

by Bill Mansell on September 27, 2011 | One Minute Motivators
Give Yourself a Pep-Talk

When we are discouraged and down, nothing helps more than a pep talk from someone you love and respect.

What is Your Excuse, Today?

by Bill Mansell on September 7, 2011 | One Minute Motivators
What is Your Excuse, Today?

My son and I are going on a backpacking trip with his scout troop. Yesterday, a backpacking expert came and spoke to our troop and their parents about how to prepare for this trip.

Plan to Succeed

by Bill Mansell on August 23, 2011 | One Minute Motivators
Plan to Succeed

My children went back to school yesterday. I learned something profound from them over the summer. Here it is: The more time you have to do something, the longer it takes. It’s true. Yesterday, on the first day of school, my children got more done than any single day of summer. Not just school work, [...]

Start Boldly and Finish Strong

by Bill Mansell on July 26, 2011 | One Minute Motivators
Start Boldly and Finish Strong

Years ago, as a member of a cross country track team, I learned a concept that has helped me in life. Coach taught us, “The important thing is to start boldly and finish strong. What happens in between isn’t nearly as important as how we begin and end the race.”

Moving from Why and Who to How

by Bill Mansell on July 12, 2011 | One Minute Motivators
Moving from Why and Who to How

When something unpleasant happens to us, we go through a series of questions as we attempt to mentally process the event. Often our first response is “Why did this happen to me?”

How Happy are You?

by Bill Mansell on June 14, 2011 | One Minute Motivators
How Happy are You?

Recently, I had dinner with an old friend who I’ve known for 28 years. Pat Hill is a world-class artist, illustrator, painter, and commercial designer–with talent up to his eyeballs.

Failure is Not Failure

by Bill Mansell on May 18, 2011 | One Minute Motivators
Failure is Not Failure

How do you feel when you gave something your best shot and it didn’t work out as planned. It’s easy to name a project “dead” or “a failure!” But is it really?

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