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Note: This is the 3rd post in our Change is Good series

If you don't change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever. Is that good news? -Douglas Adams

All too often, we cling to policy like it's a life vest. Sometimes we forget that the policies are in place to keep business running smoothly, and not just to get every last penny out of customers. Old habits die hard. Sure we might have good intentions, but you know what they say about good intentions.

Take a look at your policies, your beliefs, the fundamentals that cause you to act the way you do. Take a page out of the book of George Costanza, and think about how it would affect the situation if you did the opposite of what you would normally do. Weigh your options by the consequences of your actions, rather than your policies.

Look at things from the customer's perspective. How would you feel getting hit with the old standby, "I'm sorry, but it's our policy," or the ever popular, "I don't make the rules, I just follow them."

The road to success is paved by those who don't mind breaking the rules from time to time.

Note: This is the 2nd post in our Change is Good series

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone
-Bill Cosby

Think about your employees in the various departments of your company. I bet there's at least one leader in each department. Not necessarily the manager (actually, probably not), but everyone knows that this person is experienced, and knows what they're talking about.

Don't worry about trying to motivate every single one of your employees. Focus on the leaders. Convince them of what an asset they are to your organization. Tell them that everyone respects their opinion, and you'd love it if they took charge and tried to set an example. Who wouldn't love hearing that?

Forget lighting a fire under them. Light a fire inside them. You'll be amazed how fast the rest of the crew falls in line, and then you'll have a well-oiled machine on your hands.

Think about this. Is your company as a whole greater than the sum of its parts? Or is there a lose cog, or squeaky hinge somewhere?

Note: This is the first post in our "Change is Good" series.

"It doesn't work to leap a twenty-foot chasm in two ten-foot jumps." -American Proverb

Have you ever had a bad experience at a restaurant? The coffee was cold. The soda was warm. The salad had a hair in it. The waiter came by a total of two times the entire meal. It wouldn't matter if they had the best, juiciest steak in the world, you probably wouldn't go back.

It's the same thing in business. You can spend $100 million dollars on marketing and advertising, but if your customer service leaves something to be desired you're going to lose customers. You can have all the meetings you want. Create another focus group. Whatever. What you really should be focusing on is your direct contact with the consumer.

Are you a manager? Take some time today to talk to your people. Remind them how you couldn't run the company without them; that they are the backbone that keeps the company from falling over. Be available to help them with their issues. It's amazing what a little positive reinforcement can do for their attitudes, and it will most definitely come through in their contact with customers.

You've all heard how you can hear a smile on the other end of the phone, so the trick is to make your employees genuinely happy to work for you.

Not in a management position? This philosophy applies to life in general, too. Your kids, your spouse, your friends- they'll all be easier to deal with if you're not fighting them every step of the way. Take a look at things from their perspective and try to understand where they are coming from. You'll be surprised what you might learn.

Stay tuned. There are 20 more ways to inspire change coming. If you can't wait to hear them all, check out the book, Change is Good...You Go First.

"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -Andy Warhol

We're all creatures of habit. Everyone is. It's hard to make a major change, whether it's in your life, your relationships, your business. Anything. Nothing is easy about change. But it is simple. Change happens all around us, and many times we have no control over it, but we do have control over how we react to change. To a certain extent we can create and inspire change in those around us. It's all about the attitude.

Today marks the release of our latest gift book, Change is Good...You Go First. This book is a road map for bringing about change in your life and in your work, especially as it applies to managers trying to motivate and inspire their employees. It outlines 21 different ways to move forward and help you to achieve your goals in business and in life.

For the next month, each post on the blog will cover one of these methods. I hope that each of you will use at least one of these techniques to make your life better, and enrich your relationships. Rather than posting direct excerpts from the book, these posts will be my take on the methods outlined in each chapter of the book.

Our goal is simple...to help you reach yours.

Motivation is a funny thing. It comes in small spurts. If you're anything like me, you'll be ultra-motivated when you have a new idea, or when you come up with a solution to a problem. The difference between normal people and ultra-successful people is that the most successful people find ways to stay motivated all the time.

Sometime we hit brick walls. Impediments to progress. Sometimes the world is out to get us. So what do you do to stay motivated? Here are a few tips from John over at Pickthebrain.

• Set fantastic longterm goals: How are you going to make $10 million dollars by the time you're 60 if you don't set your sights even higher? Don't be afraid to shoot for the stars. Even if you only get 10% of the way there, $1 million is still a lot more than most people ever make. Set your goals high, and the creative juices start flowing. Your mind will come up with some way to get there.
• Go easy on yourself: Don't beat yourself up for failing. Each failure is one step closer to success.
• Find friends along the way: If you've read Napoleon Hill, you know about the Mastermind. No one is perfect at everything. Surround yourself with the smartest people you know, and the sum becomes greater than its parts.
• Create self-reinforcing habits: Every success makes the next one a little easier.

Read the whole article here.