Zig Ziglar who many considered to be not only an expert salesperson, but an inspirational individual once remarked that "Every choice you make has an end result." With the year rapidly coming to a close, now might be the time to review the results from the choices you have made. Some of those choices may have resulted in exceptional accomplishments while others possibly failed to hit the mark. Additionally, this is the time of year to begin to set next year's Choice List and review your five or ten year plans as well.

Generating results that catapult you always forward is not an easy task. Yet, the rewards of personal achievement and self-satisfaction are indescribable. The emotional highs that we receive in many cases sustain us through those equally emotional lows. However, the question always seems to be "How can I do it?"

The doing begins by first thinking about and then defining some simple key words that everyone uses, but from my almost 30 years of experience few can define for themselves. HINT: When you use someone else's definition, you may possibly achieve their goals and not your own. This is much like if you don't have a plan, then you are on someone else's plan.

Some critical key words to define are:

• Purpose - Why am I here and what gift do I bring to the table of life?

• Values - What behaviors will I consistently demonstrate as I live my purpose to achieve success?

• Vision - What does the big picture of my life look like?

• Success - What does this mean for me both personally and professionally?

• Goal - What criteria constitutes a goal versus a dream?

2005 All Rights Reserved. Leanne Hoagland-Smith

Leanne Hoagland-Smith

Good Day. Thanks for visiting. I hope that you have enjoyed my articles. In 1999, I founded ADVANCED SYSTEMS because I saw that performance could and should be doubled in warp time. Individuals, small and large businesses could not afford expensive solutions that may or may not deliver improved results in 12 months.

From my corporate, small business and education experiences, I recognized the individuals must have opportunities for connecting their passion to their purpose to secure the desired performance results, but many lacked the necessary skills, strategies and tools.

With over 20 years in sales management and 10 years in education, I understand how to unite productivity with profitability by developing a proactive working culture. My previous experiences resulted in cost savings through one of the first implementations of a computer software in a wholesaler distributor to the creation of a vendor performance assessment.

Since facilitating over 500 sessions, developing and editing over 25 training programs and writing numerous articles focusing on performance improvement, I bring a results focused approach to my clients. Also, I am proud to be one of the first five nationally certified facilitators of America?s Rising Stars (a Student Leadership developmental curriculum).

My passion is to help others connect their passion to their purpose to double performance. As The small business coach in Chicago, my clients have easily doubled their performance. Since our greatest resource is our young people, I am now working with large urban schools to generate the same results.

Education Background

• Graduated with honors from Purdue University with a B.A. in Education
• Earned M.S. from Purdue University in Instructional Design and Curriculum
• Published in the national trade journal, The Supply House Times, and numerous national newsletters
• Developed seminars and training on diversity, communication, leadership, sales, effective trade show behavior, networking, knowledge management, goal setting and improved educational outcomes
• Co-authored M.A.G.I.C.A.L. Potential: 7 Capicities for Living an Amazing Life Beyond Purpose to Achievement, to be available in 2006
• Working a another book focusing on performance in public education
• Speaker in a national bureau - Resource Associates Corporation