Chris Cicchinelli's Blog

This week, Pure Romance opened in Mexico. It was a soft opening with just friends and family. In less than 24 hours, we added 400 brand new Consultants. Immediately, I got texts from so many people crying and so excited to embark on this journey. It was a great time, celebrating the beauty of the present and the anticipation of the future.

Amongst the fun, one of our new Consultants came to me directly and asked me this: “What is the first thing I need to do?” I’ve heard it before, but it’s been 20+ years since I’ve had to ask myself that question. I vividly remember Pure Romance’s gradual growth. When I started, we were in Ohio and Michigan. I remember steadily branching out to Missouri, North Carolina, and the entire south. There was a lot of trial and error, but we’ve come a long way since then. We’ve since expanded to Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico.

So, what is the first thing you need to do? Clarify your mission. Why are you doing this and what do you want out of it. Through the highs and the lows of life, you need your why to anchor you. That’s the first and most important thing.

And the second thing you need is this: building momentum. It all starts with one victory that can take you to the next level. Our team took the ball, and we ran with it. Momentum truly is your greatest motivator. The second you get your first inspiring victory is the second the floodgates open. That’s why a soft opening is something to celebrate. It’s the beginning of Mexico’s forward momentum into widespread success.

I’ve mentioned “the snowball effect” on these blogs before, but I haven’t discussed how fun it is to thrive in that effect. My son Max’s fifth-grade basketball team is a great testament to this. After plenty of second place wins, they recently won their first tournament ever. How did they follow this up? By winning the very next tournament. Not only was the team motivated by their first win, but they were having a blast in the process. That can happen at Pure Romance too. In most workplaces, you’re working for someone else, so you’re in turn working for someone else’s dreams. That’s not the case for people I work with. They’re consistently inspired to build momentum toward their own goals.

As I’ve told our Consultants, motivation is either caused by inspiration or desperation. Desperation isn’t fun. You’re overwhelmed. You lose focus. You’re trying to find the easiest path to relief. When you’re inspired, you’re right where you need to be. You’re in the headspace to clearly establish your goals and form a game plan to reach them while motivation increases at an exponential rate. It could be booking your next small party. It could be welcoming 400 Consultants to the Pure Romance family. No matter how, inspiration for the future is a very exciting tool to have in the present.

Even with something as big as Mexico’s opening, we’re not celebrating with a breather. There are no signs of slowing down. We’re keeping up our momentum. Consultants are already booking parties and flash sales months in advance. Lucky for us, this isn’t out of a sense of urgency. We just happen to be on a roll and having a hell of a time doing it.

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A common misconception is that leadership and management are the same thing. Both imply that you’re the top of the food chain. In a technical sense, managers do lead, but at the end of the day, managing is still a synonym for dealing. Managers are dealing with the tasks that have been put upon them. Leaders, on the other hand, are actively looking to lead. Managing expectations isn’t a chore to them. Manager is a title. Leader is a mindset.

What separates these two terms? When you’re working with your team, it comes down to drive and tact. Your reputation and influence as a leader hinge on your ability to push your team onward and upward. This helps them exceed their own expectations and even become their own leader. Remember the old adage: “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” In other words, it’s one thing to show off your power. It’s another thing to use that power to empower. 

We take that step from manager to leader by taking action-steps that engage and encourage. People love weighing in, but hate following through, so encouraging your teammates to walk the talk is paramount to their success. This comes down to knowing them and knowing what individual buttons to push. For example, you can learn their love languages. That way, you can express your encouragement in a way that’s most accessible to them. When you highlight someone’s strengths, you inspire them. They’re more likely to access those strengths. 

This process will be different for everybody. Everyone starts somewhere, after all. From what I’ve seen amongst our Pure Romance Partners, good leaders exhibit consistency and communication. The same could be said for all businesses, in both a professional and a personal manner. 

The best leaders keep airtight meeting and party schedules. They engage across several formats (Facebook groups, events, lives, etc.). They regularly send reminders without overloading information.

Communication is also key during actual meetings and parties. Educate them on how they too can meet their leadership potential. Delegate tasks to certain teammates who have the skillset to stand out in that field. Form a game plan in person and have your team pumped to be part of something big.

While you’re at it, capitalize on your team’s presence with a personal touch. This is the fun part. Make these interactions worth everybody’s time with additional social gatherings. These can be leadership dinners, nights out, and more. Just last month, we had our annual World Conference. While a lot of good work got done, we still made sure to sing a karaoke song or two. Events like these are essential for team building. Rewarding your colleagues communicates your pride in them and boosts morale.

Big changes are happening in the coming months. One of those is the debut of our website’s Leadership tab. Before you click on it, you may ask yourself, “Am I leadership material?” Hopefully after reading this, you know that you are and you can always take steps to improve your leadership and help develop your team!

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If you’re on the court shooting hoops, trying to make a connection with a potential customer, or closing a sale, you have to be all in.

Let me tell you, you can learn a lot about going all in by watching a group of fifth grade boys get together and play basketball. I’m lucky enough to help coach my son Max’s basketball team and I’ll admit that these guys are a pretty great group of players. I’ve had fun watching them when they score big, do small celebration dances, or when they introduce me to a trending song during practice. That’s where I get some of my Rise & Grind songs. They’re a bunch of 11 year old’s who still have a lot to learn, but they’re already practicing an all-in mindset. They stay focused, are dedicated, and cheer each other on during high and low moments on the court.

But on the bench, I’ve noticed Max and some of the other players don’t always have the same mindset. Maxman messes around more with his teammates and I can tell he’s not as focused. I’m glad Max doesn’t take things too seriously all the time, but the team got me thinking about what being all in means on a larger scale…

Try setting these guidelines and see if you’re able to achieve the all-in mindset.

Be positive & smile! A friend and fellow business owner sent me this article from the Harvard Business Review called “The Best Leaders Have a Contagious Positive Energy.” WOW. Every day, I try to get this message across to people, whether I’m going live on Facebook, in a meeting, or giving a speech. Hopefully I’ve harped on this enough that whenever you’re not feeling your best, you imagine a little me in your head saying, “remember to practice positivity and challenge people’s negative mindset!”

It can be hard to put on a positive face when sales are down, you haven’t made any recent business connections, or, in Maxman’s case, the team is down by 2 points and there’s ten seconds left in the game. The great thing in life… the TIDE CAN ALWAYS CHANGE if you dedicate yourself to being all in. Everyone loves an underdog story. Just look at Rocky, Remember the Titans or a personal favorite at my house right now…Legally Blonde! So, what if you get knocked down? Be like Max’s basketball team and continue to cheer yourself and others on, do a little dance, and you’ll eventually get to where you need to be.

Find a mentor, two, or three. I have a few mentors in my life, like my mom Patty Brisben, great businessman Warren Buffet, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I also have a soft spot for professor Brenè Brown. The reason why everyone needs a mentor is because they exemplify what being all in looks like. Currently, Maxman looks up to Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (Who Dey!). Like a lot of kids practicing their basketball skills, he thinks Michael Jordan is a basketball god. By this age, Max knows he won’t be exactly “like Mike ,” but he continues to model himself after someone great because it gives him inspiration on the court.

A mentor will help remind you of what’s possible in a lifetime. While you may experience ups and downs in your business, I can promise you, they’ve experienced hard things too – it’s how they handled past situations that make them who they are today.

Look successful, act successful, and you will BE successful. Have you ever watched a TV show or movie where the main character doesn’t dress well but they have to wear a suit for a work event or first date? Next is the makeover montage, the character puts on a suit, and BOOM, he’s transformed with a newfound confidence. Dress for the job you want, not the one you have. Max will tell me that when he puts on a pair of basketball shoes he feels more like a professional. I put on a suit jacket over a pair of jeans, and I’m suddenly in the zone.

If you don’t feel like you can mentally be all in on certain days, the right outfit can help carry the weight for a while. Remember, this stuff doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to make you feel confident.

You can’t be all in if you’re not motivated, focused, or lack a positive mindset. Just like Max, you may be down by two points in the last 10 seconds of a game, but a lot can happen when your team has the ball, and your friends cheer you on. Take the risk, summon your confidence, and SHOOT! There are two outcomes in this scenario, and a lot of it depends on your mindset. Just like Max, Michael Jordan, or Brenè Brown, you decide… are you going to be all in?

The post Being ALL IN ON and OFF the Court appeared first on Chris Cicchinelli.

When you’re spending 30 hours on a plane flying back from an amazing birthday week in Australia, you can catch up on a lot of TV. I, myself, got really into USA’s “Queen of The South.” It’s the story of one woman’s rise to power in America’s narcotics empire. In the age of way too many cartel shows, this one really stood out to me.

The drive and grit displayed by the main character, Teresa, honestly reminds me of countless Pure Romance Partners. I know hundreds of “Teresas” who have started small and climbed great heights, thanks to endless determination and the ability to adapt over time. Our most successful partners operate with a mindset that can be best summed up with this quote from the show: “Everyone has a right to the throne, if they can take it.”

Your throne is always available to you. Whether or not you claim it depends on whether you’re willing to take those bigger steps. Not only that, but you need to be willing to make the changes necessary to take those steps.

In life, the opportunity for change is inevitable. Growth is the decision you make when presented with that opportunity. If you don’t take advantage of those, you’ll either get left in the dust or always live life wondering what if. If you’re willing to make those changes, the results and rewards will snowball, presenting you with more opportunities and gradually bigger chances at success.

That was one of my big takeaways from my trip down under. Those Aussies tell it like it is and they are chomping at the bit for the next steps and newest opportunities. The tried and true is tried and true for a reason, but the returns diminish as the times change.

Don’t get me wrong. Change can be scary. When change happens, personal growth happens and that can be intimidating on paper. It takes a lot of guts. As Teresa says, “no one gives you a manual on how to be the boss, so every difficult decision falls on you.”

That sounds overwhelming. Luckily, not every change has to be life changing. You can make a bunch of small changes. Up your monthly sales goal by a couple thousand dollars. Reach out to more potential clients than usual. Schedule more social media posts. In the long run, that snowball effect will happen naturally. It’s the little things that lead to big results.

I’ve come to notice three types of Pure Romance Partners. There are the social Partners, who keep it cozy. They host parties for family and friends and bring in a couple thousand dollars a year. Then there are business Partners, who stray from home base to widen their influence and make more money. Finally, there are the entrepreneurs, who have made their own empire.

These three types exist on a spectrum of ambition and approach. Your position on that spectrum depends on your level of complacency. Is this your hobby? There’s nothing wrong with that. Is this your empire? Then it’s time to assess your approach to your business and the changes you need to make moving forward. Are there things you’re not doing? Are there new ways to do business that you haven’t tried yet? It’s time to ask and answer those questions.

Obviously, I don’t condone the lifestyle of a cartel kingpin. That said, there are some things to take from Teresa Mendoza’s trajectory in “Queen of The South.” Change on a personal and professional level can embolden you and open your eyes to your true capabilities. Once you know your truest potential and what it takes to achieve it, the throne is yours.

 

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I’ve been saying it since the start of 2022 and it’s time people take my word for it… you don’t create a habit overnight. Making habits takes action, endurance, and, sometimes, a hell of a lot of brain power, which can take a lot out of a person. When I was in my early twenties, I was cold calling and showing up at businesses to sell carpeting, it was my first job after college. It didn’t take long for me to experience some of the extreme highs and lows that happen when you put yourself in the center of the sales world. I lived and breathed the challenge of scoring the next big lead of the win of a new customer. 

With my days of selling flooring behind me, I’ve had some time to learn and experience – 25+ years to be specific. Pure Romance helped me cultivate and build healthy sales habits and it has also taught me the importance of being creative and flexible when working in sales. Now, as a leader of an entire salesforce across the U.S. and beyond, it’s only fair that I share my knowledge so you can be an expert in business and sales.

Habits to Build a Better YOU

       Be PreparedIf you’re the person who’s always running late to events, PLEASE:

(a)   pre-pack your car with any inventory, decorations, etc.

(b)  fill up the tank the night before

(c)   layout what you’re planning on wearing and double check that it’s business appropriate

(d)  pack any snacks or meals you’ll need for the next day

If you’re late to something, appear flustered, or interrupt an event, people will remember you for that and over time it will have a negative impact on your sales.

Do you always have product and a business card on you? Your purse, pockets, and trunk should be your new best friend! Instant gratification is what people crave in today’s world. You’re more likely to make a sale if you get product in people’s hands ASAP! Dress for the part. I’ve met thousands of people who are amazing at running a business, but when it comes to looking put together, it’s not business appropriate to wear joggers and a tank top. Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube are great platforms that can help you find inspiration on what you should and shouldn’t wear to a professional event.         Connect Regularly

Did you know that 44% of salespeople give up on a potential customer after one follow-up? If you want to up your sales game and close the deal, remember that 80% of sales are made between the fifth and 12th time you connect with a person.

Forget what the word “no,” means. Dust yourself off and try and try again. What makes a connection truly successful is making it personal. Remember the name of a potential customer’s significant other, where they’re from, if they have kids, and, always, keep a birthday list handy. The more information you know about a person, the more you can make an informative sale by personalizing  products that will help them in their own life.

        Find Time

Year after year, people are always telling me that they don’t have large chunks of time to devote to their business or side hustle. Reframe your mindset. How much of your life is spent waiting? You wait in a grocery store line, at school pickup, for the laundry to finish, and some of us still sit through commercials waiting for our favorite show to come back on. These small quantities of time spent waiting add up. Challenge yourself to spend time differently, whether that means responding to emails, checking your social media for new leads, responding to texts, or developing creative, shareable content about your products. And it’s all about scheduling your day. Get up early, make a plan, and rock it.

        Know Your Product

People who KNOW their product, are users of their product. When you become a product user, you develop a relationship with it and become a better marketer when trying to sell it to others. People who can tell a meaningful, personal story are the ones who will find themselves with lifelong customers ready to support them in business. The key to product marketing is to explain to the customer how this will solve a problem or enhance an area of their lives.

        Keep Promises

Remember when I said people will notice you if you’re late to something? they’ll also remember you if you break a promise. Unexpected things happen in business and it’s impossible to live up to everyone’s expectations, even if you try your hardest. If you find you can’t keep a promise, as hard as it is, you have to be completely upfront with that person. Honesty may be uncomfortable but, in the end, it will create a baseline of trust between you and a customer. 

        Expand Your Network

You’re always a seller and you never know who you’ll meet around the next corner. My mom, Patty Brisben, is the perfect example of someone who was always ready to make a sale, whether she was in the grocery store parking lot or at one of my football games. Her secret: she carried a yellow notepad everywhere she went. She’d be out somewhere, spark up a conversation, and if she thought she had a potential lead or someone interested in her products, she’d write down the person’s name/contact information and reach out to them later.

I’ll be completely honest. You can’t conquer all these habits at once. I suggest starting with one that you see as your largest weakness and building your strengths from there. Selling is a whole process with highs and lows. Find your highs with these 6 habits and challenge your lows. Everything is a process – commit, stay focused, set goals, and you’ll be as good as gold.

 

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Let’s get one thing straight… we are all searching for success, whether that’s in our relationships, business, and overall wellness. What success looks like is different for different people. I’ve been teaching about the Ultimate Success Formula for years around the country, perfecting what success means for you and your business and how you can achieve it by following a few key steps. One thing I’ve learned on the road is people want success because they fear failure, so they make quick and irrational decisions that eventually come back to bite them. 

Success is about an outcome you desire. If you make quick/irrational decisions, you’re going to steer your car in the wrong direction, end up in a ditch somewhere, and AAA will have to come to your rescue.

Follow these tips to success so you can drive through life with your windows down, listening to your favorite song on the radio, enjoying the view along the way.

 

        Know Your Outcome: Clarity = Power

How many times have you made decisions in your business because that’s what you thought other people expected of you or everyone else was doing it too? Your business is just that… YOURS! You can follow the mainstream or you can imagine your own outcome and what you want for yourself. This will give you the clarity and power you need to be your own boss.

When I think of the pressure of expectations with personal success, I think of my mom. When she first started, Patty Brisben had a vision that wasn’t supported by a lot of people, but her goals made her into the powerful and independent woman she is today. Compare yourself to others and you’ll never find the outcome that works for you. Find your own path, channel your inner Patty, and become a force to be reckoned with.

 

        Know Why Your Outcome Is a Must: Purpose = Power

Why is your outcome a must? Are you trying to put food on the table? Are you helping a community in need? Or, is it just the right next step for your business?

If you’ve attended my trainings, you’ve probably heard me ask, “what is your why?” I’ve gotten some pretty entertaining answers in my 20+ years of business, but you’d be shocked if I told you how many people don’t have a clear answer.

If you lack a why, you’ll lack success, and passion will fade. Ever feel burnt out? Maybe you need to reassess your why, so you can channel your power and achieve something great.

 

        Know What You Are Getting Into

Communication. Is. Everything. Sometimes people make decisions because they think there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Have you ever seen an episode of “Law and Order” or listened to a true crime podcast? The storyline is usually about the main suspect who did something because they thought they were going to get a large reward. In the end, the suspect is cheated out of that reward or isn’t given the agreed upon sum. That’s when it all spins out of control.

“Law and Order” or not, know what kind of business deal you’re getting yourself into, because nothing’s worse than an unexpected outcome and a failing to succeed because of an irrational decision.

 

        Change Your Approach UNTIL You Get Your Outcome

Remember, the first way of doing things isn’t always the right way. If you find you’re stuck and don’t have any forward momentum to reach your ultimate goals, try something new. It’s ok if your original plan didn’t work out as expected. Sometimes finding success can be about trial and error and you learn and move on. My approach: always try to look at things from different perspectives. Some great ideas have come from it. Be patient but be creative in your process too.  

Remember, change can be automatic, but progress is NOT. Success can be an intimidating idea, but it is possible if you follow these steps and surround yourself with the right people. Apply these four steps to your own life. See the change for the better.

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It blows my mind that I’m only a few days away from reaching day 21 of my Pure 21 journey! These past few weeks have been a little crazy due to insane sugar cravings and trying to meal prep and plan on the go…(did you see me purchase hard-boiled eggs from a gas station in the middle of nowhere?!). That was a low point. I knew from the start that this journey was never supposed to be easy and I wouldn’t have learned much if I wasn’t challenged both physically and mentally. My 21 days aren’t over yet, but I thought I’d share with you some of my key takeaways as I come to the end of my journey stronger than ever.

 

Getting Over the Hump

I started this wellness program off with a high dose of ambition and positivity. I even placed a few bets with my friends to see who would last the full 21 days, but the cravings set in. Not being able to relax at the end of a long day with a vodka soda or something sweet was a life adjustment I wasn’t eager to make.

The cravings really set in when I was out of town one weekend for the Live Alive training sessions and I hit a rough spot once again. During dinner, the event staff carted around trays of freshly baked, WARM chocolate chip cookies. My inner thoughts at that exact moment sounded a bit like, “you’ve GOT to be kidding me! I want one. No, stay strong.  I can’t eat a cookie in a room where other people are doing Pure 21…maybe I’ll just smell it as it goes by.”

And BOOM, out of nowhere I’d taken the first bite of a cookie, chewed up all it’s delicious flavor, and immediately regretted my decision . 

I haven’t looked back since. Learning how to say “no” to this tempting snack was the moment I knew I was in this challenge for the long run. Plus, once you hit a low point like that, there’s nowhere to go but up. Right?

 

Stronger Relationships

As always, wife Jessica is my partner in crime whether that means helping take the kids to practice, going to parent teacher conferences, and being by my side during all my big work events. We’re doing Pure 21 together and, I promise you, having someone do the program with is huge because they can also hold you accountable. Even though we’ve always leaned on each other for support, we’ve bonded during this journey in an entirely new way. We started cooking healthier meals at home and stopped ordering out. We talked about new recipes we wanted to try, things that needed to be added to the grocery list, and what workout we were planning to do each day.

These past weeks have been great for our family and relationship because we became a team in a new way with a clear end goal. My biggest recommendation to anyone who is looking to start The Pure 21 Wellness Challenge is you should find someone to be your accountability partner. Ask a neighbor, spouse, friend or colleague. The worst thing they can say is no. With a partner, you can share the low moments and celebrate the high moments together and there’s something awesome about that.

 

Clarity for the Better

Removing alcohol, processed sugar, certain carbs, and dairy has given me more energy and clarity. I’ve noticed that my attention span is better than ever because I’m fueling my body with the nutrients it needs, not the food it thinks it wants. Every January I go on the road and train our salesforce and this year I have really noticed a change. These are long workdays where I don’t step out of “boss” mode for 12 to 14 hours, but this time around I was able to keep up and get ahead of my demanding work schedule. Because I wasn’t as tired; I could focus on the needs of each Partner and answer questions in more detail. This clarity opened up my world and business in a whole new way.

 

To Sum It Up

I knew that improving my health and wellness would affect me, but I didn’t know the results would be so gratifying. It’s also nice to be reminded that my body is capable of more than I imagined. This 21-day reset really allowed me to improve myself for the better and I’m excited to implement these healthy habits into my daily life when the official 21 days are complete.

If you’re interested in learning about the Pure 21 Wellness Challenge, the guidelines I followed, or to see if it is right for you, go check it out.

The post My Pure 21 Experience appeared first on Chris Cicchinelli.

Putting yourself first. It’s a scary thought, right? No one wants to be the person who comes across as a narcissist or a complete you know what… but brace yourself for the truth. Becoming your healthiest and “most balanced” self in 2022 means you have to learn to take care of your own needs before you can effectively help others. Emphasis on the word “effectively.”

In reality, putting yourself before others is the exact opposite of selfishness. Here’s why…

A lot of us are in the business of helping others and becoming a problem solver in other people’s lives. Maybe you’re the person who helps a friend in struggling relationships, gives great business advice to someone ready to learn, or listens to people and tells it like it is.

BUT, have you noticed that whenever people need you, you can only think of your mental to-do list, how crappy you feel about your physical health, and your own life or relationship problems? If this rings a bell, it’s time to check yourself before you go out of your way to help others. My point here is that if you don’t organize your life, you can’t clear your head. Realistically, you aren’t giving people your full self when they need you with all that clutter from your personal life looming over you. If you ignore your own problems and push them aside, they’ll eventually bite you in the back as the foundations of your business or personal life start to crumble.

 There’s still hope! Here’s what I recommend when putting yourself first:

Create a daily routine devoted to you that can be achieved each day. It doesn’t matter when you plan this time, it’s just important that you actually DO IT! Some things that you could include in the routine are…Adding in a daily skincare regimenJournaling for 15 minutes before bedCooking breakfast for you or the familyReading/meditatingKeep a list of goals to hold yourself accountable. This list should remind you of the specific path YOU want to take.  Work out at least 3 times a week! Just watch, your physical and mental wellbeing will change for the better.Say no when you really mean it. Stop trying to people-please because you’re spreading yourself too thin. Save your time and energy, you need it!

Bandwidth + Energy = Better YOU!

How many times have you heard someone say they wish they had more hours in the day? Make sure you have the proper bandwidth so your needs are met. If you put your needs aside, your bandwidth shrinks. You can finally address the needs of others when you take care of yourself first! Also, you can’t bring the energy that you need to your business if you feel defeated. Plant the seeds, create a self-care routine, and watch as you grow and change for the better!

In reality, a lot of us are called to be problem-solvers in business. If you aren’t sure how you want to improve your routine, join me on my Pure 21 journey. This is a program that puts your mental health and wellness above everything else, while creating important “you time.” I started off 2022 with the decision to dedicate myself to something that will improve both me and my business. I haven’t finished my 21 days yet, but I feel like my bandwidth and energy have changed for the better! On top of it all, I am a better problem solver for others because I put myself first and cleared my mind.  

 

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The beginning of a new year is just around the corner and I have one question I need to ask… “Are you and your team ready for what’s ahead?” This question opens the door for uncertainty, anxiety, and a huge heaping of the unknown for a lot of people in the world. Don’t get overwhelmed. If you take things step by step and are sure to learn from your past, everything will be fine!

Truth is, none of us can plan for what 2022 will bring. For example, how many times have you heard about your friend who plans on rejoining a gym and getting back in shape in the new year? Three months go by, it’s April, and suddenly, your “gym rat” friend is back to their old habits. They nixed the protein shakes and free weight routine to become a reborn couch potato. Others swear they’ll stop drinking as much or plan to take less trips to Chipotle or the McDonald’s drive thru (that’s my personal guilty pleasure). Plan all you want. Plan five years from now or even five days from now. Either way, you’ll most likely have an unplanned bump in the road.

Before you imagine and prepare for what the future holds, you and your team have to learn to appreciate the past and what it has given you. That means doing two things: 

One: Assess your business in 2021. This assessment can be both positive and negative but, overall, it should go something like this:

“Did you accomplish everything you planned in 2021?” If the answer is yes (in most cases it won’t be), congrats! If the answer is no, or somewhere in-between, why is that? Reviewing the past gives you time to acknowledge what has worked and what led you in the wrong direction.“Do you have a team member that’s an obvious weak link?”“Were you unorganized or bad at communicating, leading to mistakes at work?”

 

Take a few minutes to make a bulleted list of your achievements and your weaknesses. Hang the list somewhere in your office or workplace as a reminder to embrace your past, instead of straying away from it. Follow this and your team will be stronger and better in 2022.

Two: Reflect on your passion and what fueled you throughout 2021. Passion kick-starts creativity. Without it, work becomes slow and effort from your teammates reaches an all-time low. I challenge you to find something that motivates you and gets you out of bed each morning. Passion and energy are contagious, so when you have it, it spreads to your teammates and creates an overall healthier and happier environment. Finding passion at work is easier said than done. If you’re unhappy with your current situation, steer your career in a new direction in 2022.

You owe it to your team to be the best version of yourself every day, but they also owe that to you. The start of a new year means you can start over again remembering your past successes and failures. Always keep your why in mind.

 Best of luck in 2022.

 Cheers!

 -CLC

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Last week, I was lucky to get to hear from a rugby coach who has won the most national championships, 29 to be exact. Jack Clark has coached many people and he shared a few key stories that support the idea of Living Alive, either in your business or personal life. He focused on one important story, the success of the New Zealand All Blacks Rugby team. If you haven’t heard of the team, look them up because their stats are incredible! The team started playing in 1903 and, since then, they have an all-time winning percentage of 77.41%… that’s unheard of in the sports world! After listening to Clark’s story, I asked myself, “what makes this team stand out from the rest of their competitors?”

Answer: They have an “all for one” mindset

The All Blacks are winners because they demand a level of energy and dedication throughout their entire team. This energy is Living Alive because people or, in this case, teammates want to be around others who give off contagious energy. Aside from that, the All Blacks have a not-so-secret locker room practice that bonds their team together and leads them to victory. After games and practices, both the team Captain and vice-captain follow a “sweep the shed” tradition. This means they stay behind, clean up the locker room or “shed” and do some laundry.

Sweep the shed sounded like a crazy idea to me when I first heard about it last week. In my mind, when you’ve worked to be a high-ranking player that means others are assigned to do your chores. Look at college football or even the NBA, there’s no way the star quarterback OR LeBron James are ever going to pick up after their sweaty teammates in the locker room. After I sat with the idea for a bit, I realized that the All Blacks are onto something and I came up with three key takeaways:

 –   Be Humble: To serve others, no matter what your rank, is a privilege. Practicing humility creates a culture of openness where trust can be established on a deeper level either on or off the field. You don’t have to be on a rugby team to practice humility. Stay late in the office to help your team finish a project with a tight deadline or offer to clean up after a company meal. Even reaching out to someone and telling them they did a good job can mean a lot.

–   Lead By Example: When you’re picking up sweaty uniforms or cleaning the floors after a muddy practice, you’re not putting yourself on a pedestal. In the end, you put energy into something to inevitably get that energy back. It’s important to create an environment where people are supported, instead of pitted against each other.

–   Respect: I learned what respect was while listening to Aretha Franklin as my mom drove and I sat in the back of her car. The All Blacks understand that different players have different skill sets. Instead of competing with those skill sets, they embrace each individual strength so they can get ahead and score big.

I’m not saying you have to clean the toilets in the office or vacuum the floors covered in crumbs, but you can find a way to give back to your own team, whether that’s at the office or in your home. Like the All Blacks in New Zealand, you can Live Alive by giving your energy back to your team and going the extra mile to be humble and show your appreciation.

 

 

 

 

 

The post The All For One Mindset- A Lesson from One of the Winningest Rugby Teams in History appeared first on Chris Cicchinelli.