Posts Tagged ‘business’

Putting Your Best Foot Forward

Friday, October 21st, 2011

Recently, my husband and I were treated to a private tour of the Perot Museum of Nature & Science in Dallas (currently under construction) and had a training course of how building cranes are put together and torn down. It was far from surprising that they both start with an incredibly strong foundation based on what they would be expected to support.

That’s a great principle for construction, and it also works just as well for any organization, as large as a government or corporation to as small as a family unit. The leaders of the organization must remember that it takes a strong foundation to stand, and that the quality of the foundation is instrumental in any organization’s success.

Uncover and dust off that Strategic Plan developed long ago. Is it still strong enough to sustain the load it’s carrying? Reanalyze the objectives one by one. Prioritize whatever needs shoring up, and implement those improvements in stages. Change can be overwhelming, or it can be invigorating as you work toward the future you want to have.

Don’t forget your personal foundation. Never has it been more important to be standing on firm ground. Ask yourself, “Do I have the right supports in place to carry my goals?”

The greater responsibilities and desires for the future, the stronger your supports need to be.

Leadership is never complacent, and never loses sight of the prize.
If you see a crack in your foundation, or you want to add more stories to your building, what are you going to do to make it happen?

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What the Oscars Taught Me About Business

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010


About the only time losing is more fun than winning is when you’re fighting temptation. ~Tom Wilson

The 2010 awards season has just ended – and the campaigning for the 2011 season has just begun! I believe you can learn business tips from just about anything. Here’s a few thoughts on this year’s Academy Awards© program:

  • Enjoy your blessings! This year’s running gag was a glum George Clooney, seated next to his gorgeous Italian girlfriend, surrounded by his adoring peers. The joke of course, was that if you’re blessed with looks and talent like Clooney, every day should be a picnic. There’s always something to be happy about!
  • Looks can be deceiving. Best Actress Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe, who played the title role of an overweight, depressed teen mom in the movie Precious, was said to be pigeonholed by her looks and thus unlikely to work in Hollywood again.  At this writing, she has now signed for both her next movie and a TV role. In business, things are not always a difficult as they seem – or as others make them out to be.
  • An “ugly” win is still a win. Mo’Nique snagged the Best Supporting Oscar© for her star turn as monster mom Mary Jones in the movie Precious. Sometimes you have to plow your way through ugly seasons to secure success.
  • It’s always good to have some “angels” looking out for you. Precious benefitted from a major PR bump when executive producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry joining their considerable forces to promote the film. While “swimming with the sharks,” be sure to reach for every life jacket you’re offered.
  • Everyone deserves a chance to shine! This year’s “Kanye” moment occurred when one director bum-rushed the stage and interrupted her former partner’s acceptance speech. Never forget – there’s enough abundance for everyone.  
  • Nice guys do finish first sometimes. After assuming the “America’s Sweetheart” mantle from Julia Roberts, romantic comedy queen Sandra Bullock switched genres to star in the football movie with a message, The Blind Side. She was rewarded with the Best Actress Oscar© as a result. Don’t be afraid to change things up. You may be pleasantly surprised.
  • Everybody loves a good “David vs. Goliath” story. Kathryn Bigelow won over several relative newcomers and veteran director James Cameron of Avatar and Titanic fame to become the first woman to win Best Director in Oscar© history. The fact that Cameron is her ex-husband just *might* make her win that much sweeter.

Thoughts? What else can you learn from watching awards shows? What’s your favorite?

To order Petey’s book, Blueprint for Success, click here:

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These heels are in the middle of Nowhere..Where are YOU?

Saturday, March 13th, 2010


Don’t wait for something big to occur.  Start where you are, with what you have, and that will always lead you into something greater. – Mary Manin Morrissey

These Heels that I’m wearing are in the middle of nowhere.  Everyone is somewhere (as the saying goes). And, if that is true – where are YOU?

Are you sane?  Psychologists tell us that to be sane – we should know who we are, where we are, and why at any given time!  Assuming you normally know who you are and where you happen to be; the operative word here is WHY?

Why and how are you spending your time, talent and finances in your personal and business life?  What are your goals?  What are your priorities?  Where is your passion? What are you thinking??  Maybe it’s time to give some thought to what is important in your life.

Prioritize the words  health, wealth, ego, spiritual, family/friends, business and any other category you deem as an important part of your world.  Once prioritized – ask yourself, “How much time, talent, effort, money, and energy do I spend on those listed as my top three?”

Make a commitment to yourself?  Develop a one sentence affirmation: “I promise to spend at least three hours a week on (fill in the blank with at least one of your top priorities).”  Outline in your calendar what that time bloc looks like — exercising, reading, communicating with the folks you love, attending a seminar etc. MAKE A DATE WITH YOURSELF – PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR.  Keep a record of how you are doing.

One thing is for sure, no matter who you are and where you go, you take yourself with you.  You’d better like your own company!

In the play Give It Up! one of the title songs says it all: “Where Am I Now, Now That I’m Here?”  (Book by Douglas Carter Bean – lyrics by Lewis Flinn) 

Who are you?  Where are you? Why?

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Stay in The Game – Hire a Business Coach

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Football Coach

Football season is well underway. But sports teams aren’t the only ones hiring coaches. Many executives are proactively participating in their own recession recovery by hiring a business coach to sharpen their vision. It’s not just CEOs; small business owners also realize that they should use every weapon in their arsenal to their business advantage. A recent study showed that life, executive and career coaches are a multi-billion-dollar industry.

Business coaches are nothing new; they came to popularity in the early 90s. The resurgence is both a reflection of the individualization of the marketplace as well as a reflection of the collaborative, global focus of the times. A business coach’s job is to ensure that their client’s values and skills are identified, highlighted and used to their highest and best use.

How do you decide whether you need a business coach?

Are you ready for change? In other words, are you willing to quickly implement the coach’s suggestions, at least give them an opportunity to succeed?

What are your knowledge gaps? Do you understand all the aspects of your business? Are you willing to make honest assessments and adjustments?

Would you prefer someone local or remote? With our wireless world, your business coach could reside anywhere. One company, The Coach Connection, is entirely telephone-based.

Are you and your coach a good fit? This is essential. Some coaches specialize in a specific business or industry. Others take a more holistic approach, integrating the leader’s life and work goals. Some coaches ask a series of questions to help a client arrive at a conclusion. Some coaches are business experts, others are not. Find a coach that works for you.

Leading and executing a vision can be a lonely quest, but you don’t have to go it alone. My consulting company brings perspective, insight and clarity to executive coaching services. Contact me for more information.

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Seven Steps to Great Customer Service

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

The perfect salmon filet at a local café. A product packaged in the perfect shade of blue. People have positive buying experiences every day. Customer service, in a nutshell, is influence translated into delivery and execution. I know everyone’s company is fantastic and everyone customer loves them. But does your customer agree? Here’s seven ways to make sure:

Make customer service a priority. Sounds simple, but it’s a rare find. Making exceptional customer service the backbone of your company’s vision is the key to repeat business. The goal is to “wow” your customer’s expectations.

Know your stuff. Generation Y’s usually scope out your company thoroughly before they ever contact you for a sale. Your Web site should detail your company’s products, services and return policies, if applicable. Customer trust and confidence depend on your ability to know AND show your stuff. Try to anticipate the types of questions that customers will ask. Update and amend your FAQ page frequently.

Smile when you say that. There’s a reason Chick-Fil-A employees present your food with a smile and a “My pleasure.” Not only is it courteous, it creates a positive customer experience. Smiles release endorphins, the “happy hormone,” which makes for a repeat customer.

It’s about the people. Henry Ford famously said, “You can have our cars in any color as long as it’s black.” Today’s customer wants it the Burger King – i.e. their – way. The more you can customize your product or service, the more inroads you’ll make in the marketplace.

Never argue with a customer. You know very well that the customer isn’t always right. However, it is important that you do not focus on the missteps of a particular situation; instead, concentrate on how to fix it. Research shows that 7 out of 10 customers will do business with a company again if that business resolves a complaint in their favor. Research also shows that the instance of repeat business goes up to 95 percent when complaints are resolved on the spot.

Underpromise and overdeliver. Everyone knows this cliché; few actually act on it. It’s much better to do what you can rather than make promises you can’t follow up on. When you deliver your products or services, be sure to check back to ensure that the customer is happy.

When you make a mistake (and eventually, everyone does), say you’re sorry. (See my Truth or Consequences post for more details.)

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Hello World and Welcome to My Blog!

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Petey Parker

I’ve been in the business world as a keynote speaker and consultant for a long time. I’ve learned what to do and what not to do from my experience as a corporate executive for 30 plus years as well as a speaker and consultant. It’s time to share my perspective with you, as well as offer my comments on today’s issues and headlines. I carefully curate topics from a variety of sources, inside and outside the news media. I’m bringing perspective on what’s important to you and your company. We’ll cover interests as varied as leadership, bridging the generational divide, changes in the way we communicate and tech trends. I understand all of us are busy; you can expect short updates and even video posts about twice a week.

I’m opening our conversation this quarter with the topic, ETC: Expectations, Training and Consequences. With all the public mea culpas flying around in recent weeks, I think we should talk about how to apologize and the consequences of a bad apology. Let me know what you think. My blog won’t be all business, either. (Neither are you!) I’m going to South Africa in a few weeks with my wonderful hubby, Jim Fite. I’ll be sharing words and pictures of the beauty in other parts of the world.

By the way, this is not a monologue. I want to hear from you as well. I know that you have a lot to say and I want to hear your voice. So…let’s talk.

Timing is everything. I’ve been asked for some time to share my thoughts and experiences with you in blog form, but was puzzled on how to go about it. Then I walked into Jeff Crilley’s monthly PR Meetup (fabulous! You should go). I had no idea that one of the pieces of the puzzle would be waiting for me. I met Charlotte Ann Moore, an amazing creative writer, speaker and soon-to-be author. I became her client and she became a trusted friend. Charlotte Ann, along with her business partner, graphic/Web whiz Chaney Credeur, and my my Marketing Manager, Elise De Cleva, put together the wonderful site you see here. If you’re interested in creative design and content for your company, I highly recommend Charlotte Ann and Chaney. You can reach them at www.CharlotteAnnMoore.com and/or www.ChaneyCredeur.com.

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