Questions People Ask.

Number and age of children in family:

Natalie, 11 years
Sam, 9 years
Elaina, 6 years
Caden, 3 years
Aubrey coming soon!!!

Relationship Status:

Forever and ever married to Robin Suslick

What extracurricular activities is your family involved in?

We would like to find activities that are low cost without having to be exposed to a ‘Disney World’ style of commercialism as we stay active as a family.

Meaning, if you spend a day at Disney World or the Kalahari or even McDonalds to a lesser degree, you find the ‘entry fee’ is within the budget yet it’s the constant being sold and fighting off every other lie in the book about buying things from the gift store and vending carts that kills you. This makes the time with the children less fun and stressful.

Compare this to going to a good city park. You just run around and leave when you are done. Maybe bring a brown bag lunch. PRICELESS!!!

Children just need your T-I-M-E. Not stuff. I understand business needs to sell stuff to be in business. We want to not participate though : ).

Tell me a story about balance in your life.

Finally after 13 years of marriage and my oldest being 11, we realized that structure and order (along with a dose of flexibility) is important to a growing and healthy household.

This past year we established goals for our faith life, our family, $$$$, our business and work life, fitness, personal development and our social life. This along with having some structured time in our day, for example a set time for dinner has led to an ongoing better balance.

That said you have to realize that true balance will only last 3 seconds. Then something will need a little extra attention. Maybe it’s your marriage. Maybe you get thrown off of balance to deal with a work issue or fix your monthly budget. The thing that needs extra attention will take you down a path of a little or maybe way off balance.

Knowing this allows you to focus on what is A1 Steak sauce in your life. Having the written goals allows you to go back to the list once the crisis is over. And then you have another 3 seconds of balance.

What things make you really happy?   What gets you stressed out?

Happy: Order in the house. Time to focus on each family member one on one while with all of us together …with a family of 7 this normally requires a ‘helper’ to assist with one of the other children.

When multiple family members come to me with issues or things they need. When the family members come one at a time, parenting is so easy. I get stressed when I fail as a parent to keep the family members coming to me one at a time. We are working on this and it gets better each day.

That said, it’s easier said than done to be patient and listen well to all the family members which is why it’s actually worth doing!!!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Listening-hearing-story collecting is Tool #1.

Tom Peters said “I have no tricks, except to say tune deliberately into the process.” To me this means to listen. REALLY listen.

Listen very carefully like you are hard of hearing and must read lips in order to understand. That means if my child walks into the room asking for yada this and yada that I must stay focused on my wife’s lips.

I love people and I love friends. Dale Carnegie told me “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”

I have to admit I accidentally tried using the phone with a couple of my ‘Who’ friends of late and both my friends and I feel great about what happened after I called.

Tom Peters was right when he wrote ‘Call (C-A-L-L!) (NOT E-MAIL!) 25-50 (NO LESS THAN 25) people … TODAY … to thank them for their support this year … and wish them and their families and colleagues a successful future!’

You will hear what I hear and it’s good.

Filter Madison VitaminD Style.

Will it be fun, for you and our team?

Who is the competition and what are they doing?

Does it compliment our mission of helping our clients look and feel good while giving education on moderate VitaminD? What are your thoughts on our mission?

Is it simple enough to write down on a napkin and clearly explain the idea to someone that has never heard of it?

Will it educate and empower you, our team or clients?

Do the math, i.e. best case and worst case scenario …What would be your exit strategy if it doesn’t work?

What are the resources required?

3:45am Happenings.

Pumping gas at 2702 East Washington Ave.

Lady approaches me.

“Looking for a girl?”

Me, as I was not expecting that, “what?”

Her:  “Are you looking for a girl?”

Me thinking no, silly lady, I am pumping gas, trying to get to work to feed my family although now slowly realizing she is a ‘working girl’.

A firm “no” and shocked look on my face sends her on her way.

You grieve for this ladies soul.  What could you do to help?  How did she need help?  Dad’s have a awesome burden and blessing on a young girls future.  Read HERE Dad.

Pray for the lost today.  And for our blessings.  And Dad’s, lean into your daughter’s life …be a strong Dad.

The ‘You Suck At …’ Talk.

 

If a team member is not doing

what they are supposed to be

doing it is your job as a leader

to correct their course.

 

Take time management and

written goal setting where a

team member is struggling to

get done what needs to be done.

You need to sit down with your

team member and begin

VERY BLUNTLY …

 

Say something like “You’re a

valuable team member but you

suck at managing your time and

setting written goals (insert issue

here) which makes you about half

as valuable as you should be 

and somewhat aggravating.

 

You really need to focus on your

time management and written

goal (insert issue here) skills

and stay on task.

 

I am going to help you.  We are

going to do (in-person, via phone

or email) a ‘to grow’, ‘to do’ and

review your written goal list every

morning for the next two months

together.

 

We are going to lay out that list in

priority and you’ll learn how to

prioritize your time for the day the

way I want it done.

 

This is going to be a training period

on your time management and

goal setting.

 

Then, once we have done it together

for 2 to 3 months if you cannot do it

on your own we are going to have

to talk about you being somewhere

else.  Either a different seat on the

bus or off the bus all together

(make sure they know the bus

means where they work!).

 

You are a valuable team member. 

That is why I am willing to invest

my time into your life to see you

succeed not only for this team but

for your career ahead of you elsewhere. 

This is why I am talking to you very

bluntly because if I were you I would

want to know what winning looks like

so my boss is smiling.

 

This is a skill you are going to develop

for as long as you remain on our team. 

I believe in you and know you can do

this when you are trained and set your

mind to it.”

 

Via

Pink French Speaking Rabbits

If you speak French and that person over there speaks English, what language do you use to talk to them?

If you’re speaking French to the English speaking person you could be a pink speaking French bunny and they still would not understand you. Your cute. Just not understandable.

You would use English to speak to a English person, wouldn’t you?

Communicate with your team and co-team in our DISC style that they are. …one of the mistakes made is almost always communicating as you would like to be communicated to.

One of the many lessons from being a EntreLeader is remembering that if you’re talking to a D, communicate like a D.

Same as with S, C and every mix of D, I, S and C under the sun.

As for me, please remind me with a pink 2×4, throw a pink bunny at me or just let me know when I fail you in this manner.

Bass, Eeyore and The Quaker Oats Girl.

Don’t you love bass fishing?  You throw something shiny into the water.  The shiny thing swims by a 18” bass.  The bass sees the little shiny thing and WHAM.  Within seconds you have yourself a big bass.

Are you a bass?  Do you see something shiny and within seconds decide to chop on it?

You need to take some time to make good choices in life

Take 2 weeks Maximum to decide.  Leave yourself a Minimum of 24 hours on any non-911 (almost nothing is 911) issue.

Before you make your choice have a good night’s rest, written ideas in your journal AND a workout, long walk or exercise session to clear your mind.

State the problem.

Get the advice and opinions of others.

List the alternatives.

Choose the best alternatives.

Act within the appropriate level of your authority.  IF your outside your authority then make a recommendation.  Your leader will love that.

Eeyore is a plodding little donkey.  You’re taking too much time making a choice if you feel like Eeyore.

What is that child’s fable where that girl tries 3 bowls of Quaker oatmeal?  Be her.  Follow the guidelines above and be just right in your timing.

Turn Your Bad into Good.

You know that friend of yours that is always having too many unhealthy relationships with bad boys?

Then you remember that guy freshman year that cannot seem to shake his binge drinking?

You know people having issues with drugs, porn, working too much, sleeping too much and other bad habits.  You can help them kill the nasty habits.

While mentally tough the formula is simple.

Help your friend replace the bad habit with a good one.

People in control of their life do not have any magic formulas.  Those with a mastery over their bad habits switch energy being used on bad habits into a new positive habit.  Since you’re human this cycle never ends.  Your success in life will depend partly on you continually switching bad habits for good habits.

Then you take your good habits and switch them for great habits.

Great habits for excellent habits.

The successful people in life have addictions just like your friends do. You will destroy harmful addictions when the bad habit is replaced with the good using the same focus and intensity you spend on your bad habits.

Not GREASE yet Influence is the Word.

Ask why it is as it is. Do not tell a person why it is as it is.

Instead of talking ask some questions. Then listen. Take notes as you listen. Then ask more questions.

Influence is an art that demands control of your emotions as you seek to have others clarify what you want in their mind.

The fine line is developing powerful questions that enable you to show, rather than tell, someone your point.

For example, don’t tell your partner why not coming home until 1am without calling shows they are an uncaring jerk. Start by asking them “what made you get home so late?”

As you ask good questions the other person will “see” your point as their own. You’re asking questions that Jeffrey Gitomer would say leads to harmony if you add in a little give and take.

Take time before you head home tonight or before your next meeting to write out a few questions that might need to be asked. Preparation takes time yet is work worth doing to impact others in a positive manner.

Grease was the word back when you were a youth. Today your word is influence.

MadisonVitaminD Team Only.

Hello MadisonVitaminD Team!

A mission began in September of 1997 as my wife Robin and I opened East Wash Laundry and Tanning with her father Yogi.

Our team at that time was the 3 of us. Yogi’s vision is to provide a wonderful laundry experience.

The looking good and feeling good part is where tanning and VitaminD vision came in.

Robin and I had a vision of helping people look good and feel good as a part of having clean clothes. We always have provided more than just a great look.

In 2001 Robin and I took Madison Tanning Company on our own.

Tens of thousands of clients later along with hundreds of team members have made this vision a reality.

Our passion has always been to serve people by making them look good and feel good while bronzing in moderation. Providing VitaminD and self worth has been an amazing benefit.

Since 1997, no two days have ever been the same and that is just the way we love it.

As we close out 2009 and move into 2010 the zooming continues.

Our leadership team is strong and includes many of you. Tami, Becky & Sarah are serving you daily to help you make your clients day with giving you the tools you need while you’re serving your fans. These three ladies share a deep passion for MadisonVitaminD. Like an amazing set of parents, they are all about making the day of our fans and our tribe.

Tami, Becky & Sarah allow me freedom to work on our business model. While I will always be available to you, the time is now for Tami, Becky & Sarah to expand their roles.

Tami is our COO (Chief Operating Officer). She does what she & Sarah have been doing thus far! She is your main point person for all thing operations. Tami would love to pour her workday into your life to help develop all the skills you need to be a part or full time leader of MadisonVitaminD.

Tami’s leadership over the years gives her a mind reading ability of where we need to go next. Tami has the passion, patience, skill level and experience of the best leaders.

Becky serves in the CFO role (Chief Financial Officer). Becky makes sure the bills get paid and that we have a name for every dollar before the month begins. Then she makes sure this envelope budget system is maintained day by day.

Sarah is our Chief Executive Officer and Acting Owner. Sarah will be doing everything you have seen me do over the years …only better.

9 years inside our team along with a skill set that continues to blow my mind shows me that Sarah is ready to be part of the ownership of your company.

What are the exact & immediate zooms you’re going to see?

I believe you’ll hear and see more of:

“…Wonderful …what was Sarah’s thought process when you and she discussed heading in that direction?”

You will get … “What did Becky say about that expense when you asked her about spending money on that?”

And of course … “I am sure Tami would have insights on that idea. Would you contact Tami asap on that question?”

After you have discussed you thoughts, ideas, or questions with Tami, Becky & Sarah please feel free to contact me with any ideas or issues you feel might not be getting heard.

Tami, Becky & Sarah are wonderful leaders with great strength. We’re all people and need others to help at times.

Robin and I appreciate each time you’re making the day of your fans. You’re doing more than helping people look good and feel good on the outside. You’re part of this tribe because we believe in you to make your clients day and let people feel great on the inside as well …where it truly matters.

Contact me via any method you are comfortable with:

Dale Suslick 608-575-5511

dalesuslick@madisonvitamind.com

Snail Mail: PO Box #8864 Madison, WI 53708

Twitter: @77dale
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dalesuslick
Blog: http://bronzedolphin77.wordpress.com/