#1 Flaming enthusiasm, backed by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success. Dale Carnegie
#2 You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don't do too many things wrong. Warren Buffett
#3 A person is a success if they get up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do. Bob Dylan
#4 Actually, I'm an overnight success. But it took twenty years. Monty Hall
#5 Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. Sir Winston Churchill
#6 I don't measure a man's success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom. General George S. Patton
#7 Eighty percent of success is showing up. Woody Allen
#8 I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. Bill Cosby
#9 You will find the key to success under the alarm clock. Benjamin Franklin
#10 It is wise to keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final. Roger Babson
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
www.ValdostaMemorials.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Showing posts with label Monument Builders of North America. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monument Builders of North America. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Old Age Is A Gift
Old Age, I decided, is a gift.
I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.
I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.
Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)
MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART! MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!
FRIENDS FOREVER!
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
www.ValdostaMemorials.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.
I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.
Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)
MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART! MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!
FRIENDS FOREVER!
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
www.ValdostaMemorials.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Monday, April 23, 2007
Mental Feng Shui
I received the following message from a friend.
"This is without a doubt one of the nicest good luck forwards I have received. There's some mighty fine advice in these words.
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older,
their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all
you want.
FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN! .. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.
A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.
Burton Fletcher
http://www.usamonuments.com/
http://www.valdostamemorials.com/
Burton@USAMonuments.com
"This is without a doubt one of the nicest good luck forwards I have received. There's some mighty fine advice in these words.
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older,
their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all
you want.
FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN! .. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.
A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.
Burton Fletcher
http://www.usamonuments.com/
http://www.valdostamemorials.com/
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
We Need More Unity In Our Industry....
I read a post on another website, that read like this: "How many are attending the convention? I am not, and have heard attendance will be lower than usuall. I wonder why? We need more unity in our industry."
Yes, we do need more unity in our industry. I think it is worth analysis that the monument industry is seriously fragmented.
There are two major groups of monument builders: those who belong to the Monument Builders of North America, and those who do not belong to MBNA.
Of course there are those who are diehard members and another group who are only lukewarm members. The same is true for those who do not belong to MBNA. There is one group who are adamant they will never be members again, and many others who are not members but who may we willing to join if approached in the right way.
There is a significant group of monument builders who refuse to join MBNA and the organization has done an ineffective job at recruiting and managing relationships with monument builders. I hope this can someday change for the sake of both MBNA as an organization and for the industry as a whole.
What are your thoughts?
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Yes, we do need more unity in our industry. I think it is worth analysis that the monument industry is seriously fragmented.
There are two major groups of monument builders: those who belong to the Monument Builders of North America, and those who do not belong to MBNA.
Of course there are those who are diehard members and another group who are only lukewarm members. The same is true for those who do not belong to MBNA. There is one group who are adamant they will never be members again, and many others who are not members but who may we willing to join if approached in the right way.
There is a significant group of monument builders who refuse to join MBNA and the organization has done an ineffective job at recruiting and managing relationships with monument builders. I hope this can someday change for the sake of both MBNA as an organization and for the industry as a whole.
What are your thoughts?
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Thursday, January 11, 2007
MBNA, Consumer Advocacy & Carolyn Jacobi
Every month, the Monument Builders of North America publishes a glossy trade magazine with a "Consumer Advocacy Update" from Carolyn Jacobi.
Ms. Jacobi's writes in the conclusion of her column:
- "If this movement fails, it is because you elected to let it fail. Failure is an event and a person. There are many reasons for failures. Some of them are a lack of faith and motivation, limited self-image, complacency, insincerity, failure to plan and follow the plan, and trying to function as an individual rather than a part of a team."
With one pronouncement, Ms. Jacobi has expounded a lot of thoughts for MBNA's membership to reflect upon. MBNA, like most organizations, is often its own worst enemy, alienating now former members who decided to spend their money elsewhere.
Personally, I believe monument builders need an effective national trade association, and MBNA is, like-it-or-not, effectively that association.
MBNA needs to select folks as officers and district trustees who have a background of leadership and major accomplishments who actually know how to produce results if it wants to expand its membership and influence on a national scale.
Do I want to see the monument industry grow and prosper? Of course I do. MBNA has a lot of politics and it is ineffective in ways that it could be effective. For the sake of the industry, it needs to do more on the national and state levels to improve relationships with monument builders.
I invite you to reread Carolyn Jacobi's remarks and then think about your own contributions to the monument industry.
- "If this movement fails, it is because you elected to let it fail. Failure is an event and a person. There are many reasons for failures. Some of them are a lack of faith and motivation, limited self-image, complacency, insincerity, failure to plan and follow the plan, and trying to function as an individual rather than a part of a team."
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Do You Know How To Sell?
I received flattering feedback today from a person who I will not identify by name, lest he become a victim of my fan club.
"You certainly put ABC Corporation (name deleted) to shame (Kudos To You) - maybe they should take some lessons on website design and most importantly, how to run and manage their Retail Division.
Poor quality of workmanship, certain personnel in sales do not have a clue of product or how to sell. Worst run company I have dealt with and I would NEVER recommend them to families in need."
I hope my clients would talk better of me and my company and I believe most would recommend my company in a time of need.
Flattery, like criticism, should be accepted with caution, so I will not dwell on the kind remarks, except as a foundation to my point, do you and your employees know how to sell? Are you certain of this? Have you spent time educating yourself and your staff on how to sell your products?
I taught Salesmanship during the fall semester of 1980 for El Camino College in Torrance, California. Many years later, I would teach Marketing for one or more colleges and before my academic career was over, I had taught more than 10,000 people at 9 colleges and 4 universities. Though I have a degree in marketing and advanced coursework in the field, I would not claim to be an advanced expert in either subject.
I do know a few things about sales and marketing however that I have learned over a long career in business and education.
One thing is to listen to your customer or client. Really listen to your customer with the goal that you will understand the needs of your customer.
I also believe it is important to educate your customer as to a range of options that are available. If you are not an expert yourself on the options available, how will you ever educate your client?
The industry has been too focused on carving granite and inadequately focused on tell the life story. My opinion is based upon my observations in numerous cemeteries and conversations I have had with monument builders.
Price your products and sell the value, not the price.
Talk about the value and you will be engaged in non-price competition.
Focus on the price and you will be engaged in price competition.
Don't be afraid to ask for the order either!
Though I sometimes criticize monument builders as a group, I believe they are mostly decent, honorable and well-intentioned people. Sure, there are jerks in the lot, but that is just typical human behavior for every group of individuals. Basically, most monument builders desire to serve honorably, feed their families, help others and provide a quality service for their customers or clients.
If you are a monument builder, learn how to sell, and teach your employees too, and you will go farther!
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
"You certainly put ABC Corporation (name deleted) to shame (Kudos To You) - maybe they should take some lessons on website design and most importantly, how to run and manage their Retail Division.
Poor quality of workmanship, certain personnel in sales do not have a clue of product or how to sell. Worst run company I have dealt with and I would NEVER recommend them to families in need."
I hope my clients would talk better of me and my company and I believe most would recommend my company in a time of need.
Flattery, like criticism, should be accepted with caution, so I will not dwell on the kind remarks, except as a foundation to my point, do you and your employees know how to sell? Are you certain of this? Have you spent time educating yourself and your staff on how to sell your products?
I taught Salesmanship during the fall semester of 1980 for El Camino College in Torrance, California. Many years later, I would teach Marketing for one or more colleges and before my academic career was over, I had taught more than 10,000 people at 9 colleges and 4 universities. Though I have a degree in marketing and advanced coursework in the field, I would not claim to be an advanced expert in either subject.
I do know a few things about sales and marketing however that I have learned over a long career in business and education.
One thing is to listen to your customer or client. Really listen to your customer with the goal that you will understand the needs of your customer.
I also believe it is important to educate your customer as to a range of options that are available. If you are not an expert yourself on the options available, how will you ever educate your client?
The industry has been too focused on carving granite and inadequately focused on tell the life story. My opinion is based upon my observations in numerous cemeteries and conversations I have had with monument builders.
Price your products and sell the value, not the price.
Talk about the value and you will be engaged in non-price competition.
Focus on the price and you will be engaged in price competition.
Don't be afraid to ask for the order either!
Though I sometimes criticize monument builders as a group, I believe they are mostly decent, honorable and well-intentioned people. Sure, there are jerks in the lot, but that is just typical human behavior for every group of individuals. Basically, most monument builders desire to serve honorably, feed their families, help others and provide a quality service for their customers or clients.
If you are a monument builder, learn how to sell, and teach your employees too, and you will go farther!
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
PS: An excellent article on salesmanship was brought to my attention by a Yahoo member who uses the moniker "elberreton." Thank you Mr. Elberreton. http://www.coldspringgranite.com/pr/YBNews21.html
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Emotional Quotient: Are Funeral Homes Naturally More Effective At Monument Sales?
I have been trying to compare the emotional quotient of monument builders, compared to that of funeral directors, and whether these differences are having a negative impact on the effectiveness of the monument industry as a whole?
Are monument builders generally less educated, and consequently, less effective at oral and written communication skills compared to their colleagues in funeral homes?
Is this a good thing, or a bad thing for the death-care industry, or for the consumer?
If consumers had confidence in monument builders, as an industry, wouldn't they be the first point of contact for a monument?
Perhaps it is because of these superior communication skills that funeral homes sell more monuments than monument dealers, except for those monument dealers paying kickbacks and working hand in glove with the funeral homes.
It is pervasive across the death-care industry that monument builders feel they must pay kickbacks to obtain business. The opposite is seemingly less true.
Even the Monument Builders of North America recognize this scheme but seems to justify the practice by stating that the kickback should be disclosed to the consumer to be ethical. Okay? I would like to see the statistics on disclosure. How about you?
Are kickbacks the vehicle by which monument builders with inferior communication skills are achieving their success?
Are funeral homes naturally more effective at monument sales because of their superior communication skills? And, can the monument industry become more effective by requiring a higher level of education to enter the field?
What are your thoughts?
Burton@USAMonuments.com
www.USAMonuments.com
Are monument builders generally less educated, and consequently, less effective at oral and written communication skills compared to their colleagues in funeral homes?
Is this a good thing, or a bad thing for the death-care industry, or for the consumer?
If consumers had confidence in monument builders, as an industry, wouldn't they be the first point of contact for a monument?
Perhaps it is because of these superior communication skills that funeral homes sell more monuments than monument dealers, except for those monument dealers paying kickbacks and working hand in glove with the funeral homes.
It is pervasive across the death-care industry that monument builders feel they must pay kickbacks to obtain business. The opposite is seemingly less true.
Even the Monument Builders of North America recognize this scheme but seems to justify the practice by stating that the kickback should be disclosed to the consumer to be ethical. Okay? I would like to see the statistics on disclosure. How about you?
Are kickbacks the vehicle by which monument builders with inferior communication skills are achieving their success?
Are funeral homes naturally more effective at monument sales because of their superior communication skills? And, can the monument industry become more effective by requiring a higher level of education to enter the field?
What are your thoughts?
Burton@USAMonuments.com
www.USAMonuments.com
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