A few years back I spoke for the National Association of Home Builders and made some great connections.  One of those connections was  the executive President the Oklahoma State Home Builders Association,  Mike Means.  Last summer, Mike brought me in to talk to the members about Branding and the Generations.  Mike has become a friend and a somewhat follower.  He reads my stuff and  he read my post on Your 3Words for 2010 last week and wrote this article for the Association’s publication.  Mike Rocks!!!

By all Means  –
Here we are starting a New Year and all the talking heads are telling us that it is going to get a little tougher before it gets better.  Some of the reports I read think that it will be the last quarter of 2010 before we really start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  My hope is that it will a profitable year for each of us in our association as we find new ways to develop business and either maintain or cut costs.  So while we think of business, let’s think internally as well.

I start by sharing with you something I read on Karen McCullough’s blog.  Some of you are thinking, why do I know that name?  She was one of our summer convention speakers last year!  Anyway, Karen was sharing what 3 words will you live by for 2010.  Last year it was Quality, Energy and Fun.  This year her 3 words are Process, Deliver and Authenticity. ,

Thinking about her challenge to name my 3 words made me think of the work I do and the person I am.  I think that is what her challenge was supposed to do.  Well I am up to the challenge and perhaps it will help us each think about this when it comes to our businesses.  Here are my 3 words.
Integrity. I heard it described once that integrity is the way you act when nobody is watching.  I like to think it is a little more than that.  I like to think that integrity means you can be depended upon to do the right thing no matter the obstacles.  Even in tough situations, a person of integrity will go the extra mile to fulfill a promise.  To a person with integrity words mean something.

Innovative. It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing expecting a different result.  That more or less describes my golf game.  However, an innovative person is going to explore new ways and new ideas in all areas of their life.  It may mean a smart phone to keep better connected and stay a little more organized.  It may mean finally getting a website to tell more of your business’ story.  It may mean finally getting email AND actually using it.  In fact, if you are not connected electronically you will significantly miss the next generation of customers.

INthusiastic. Ok, it is not spelled correctly, I know.  I did this for two reasons.  One, I wanted to alliterate so I could maybe remember these at the end of 2010, not just as I am writing this.  But secondly, I wanted to put the “I” in enthusiasm.  It is too easy to sit back and let someone else take the lead.  It is too easy to sit on the sidelines.  It is too easy to buy into the gloom and doom.  Instead, if we are going to approach this year with the energy and expectancy it will take, we will need enthusiasm. (Oops, there I go again with that alliteration thing.)  As I travelled across our great state attending the local installation ceremonies I realized something.  In the oath of office that each President took, there was a challenge.  That challenge was as the leader they needed to be enthusiastic; because nothing will really get accomplished without enthusiasm.
So it is with those thoughts that I want to wish you all a belated Happy New Year and to hope that your 2010 is as successful as you want it to be.

As for me, I think I will try something new and innovative and see if it helps my golf game!
Until next time,
Mike Means

Hey share your 3 words… added by Karen