family | The Barefoot Spirit

5 People to Call Right Now!

Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 17:00:19 +0000

It’s easy to neglect some of our closest relationships. With the end of the year scramble, celebrating the Holidays, and then all that planning, energy, and the new initiatives we put out in the first quarter of the new year, it’s only natural to become preoccupied, focused, and concentrated on our goals.

But now, it’s Spring already, and before long, the year will be half over. Spring is nature’s “new year.” This is when it’s obvious to everyone that life is returning, and it’s time to grow again. Isn’t it time we renew some important relationships that might have fallen by the wayside in our struggle to grow our businesses? It is so important that we all stay connected, really connected, with our friends who mean the most to us. Let’s call them now!

Old Folks. When was the last time you spoke to the oldest living members of your family? A word from you can make their day! Many seniors feel alone and forgotten. Letting them know that they are important to you can actually improve their attitude, and their health. Sure, they’re unplugged, and technology has passed them by, but that’s all the more reason to reconnect with a personal phone call to make them feel like they’re still part of your life.

New Folks. What about those new folks you met that you liked so much – that you haven’t spoken to since? Take a look at your calendar. Identify the guests you have had, or visitors you have met on the trips you’ve taken in the past year. There is still time to cement those relationships with a friendly call or note reminding them of the good times you shared and that you are happy to have met them.

Old Customers. What about those former customers you are no longer doing business with? Take a look at your accounts over the past year or even two years. Look for clients and customers with whom you have already concluded business. Now is a great time to reach out and say hello. You want them to know that they were more than just a customer. Ask them how they’re doing and what their challenges are today. You may be surprised they can provide leads to even more business.

Foreigners. How about the friends that live in another part of the world you haven’t seen for a year or so? Think about the trips you’ve taken in the past few years to other countries. You met foreign nationals and American tourists. Whatever happened to them? You have that wonderful experience in common with them. They would love to hear from you again. We found that especially with foreign nationals, they can become friends for life if you just stay in touch.

Disabled. Who do you know who’s had an injury you can check up on? Who do you know who had a serious illness or underwent an operation requiring therapy and recovery? While you have been focused on your business, these people were taken out of the action in their businesses for a period of time. Some of them may still be recovering. They feel somewhat isolated themselves knowing that the world is spinning on without them. Spring is a great time to call these folks, wish them well, and tell them you are hoping for their speedy recovery.

As we come out of winter and into spring with the promise of new growth, new opportunities, and new friends, this is a great time to secure the important relationships we already have. Don’t let them drift away or become part of the past.

A simple telephone call or even a short note right now can keep those relationships alive and healthy. These folks will be so glad to hear from you and catch up. Don’t try to do it on Facebook or with a once a year summary letter. It’s too impersonal. Communicate just with them and just for them. Show them you care and still intend to include them in your life. It will mean the world to them!

Who We Are

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.

Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.

They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.

Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

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Millennials Want a Positive Company Culture

Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey — Thu, 14 May 2015 17:00:33 +0000

Seems like every week there’s a new report out on Millennials. The latest one from the management consulting firm Accenture is an eye opener. 60% of the 2015 grads in the survey said they would take a pay cut to work for a company that had a “positive social atmosphere.”

Sure, 70% of all those responding also said they were being subsidized by their parents, and perhaps that’s why they have the luxury of making such a choice. But we still find it interesting that what we call “positive company culture” is the deciding factor for so many young people today.

An analysis of the Census data by the Pew Research Center showed that Millennials now account for the largest share of the US work force. So, if you are an employer, you’d better take positive company culture seriously if you want to attract and keep the largest and fastest growing segment of potential employees.

So what does a positive company culture look like?

Fun. That’s right, just plain fun. Fun titles, fun events, and fun environment. The ability to laugh at yourself and not take yourself too seriously. Working in teams that are highly collaborative with clear goals and celebrations for accomplishing them. Colorful work spaces, with natural light, and playful graphics.

Respect. Staff is recognized for outstanding performance with public acknowledgement. New team members receive mentoring to help them achieve their goals. Staff is viewed as an asset, not as a cost. The company practices know-the-need instead of need-to-know so challenges are shared and everyone brainstorms solutions.

Philanthropy. A company that stands for more than the mercantile value of its goods and services. A company to be proud of, to tweet about, and to share its good deeds with a social network of friends. A company that is making a difference in the environment, society, health and education. A company that is committed to a better world, not just a better product. A company that matches employees’ charitable donations.

Flex-hours. A company that allows more time to live life outside of work. Deadline-based timetables rather than strict work schedules. Financial rewards for performance rather than attendance. Allowing for working at home as much as possible. Minimizing commute hours and maximizing remote production.

Family. Smaller companies over larger ones. Knowing the owners. Integrity and stability. A feeling of kinship. A tribe, a team, a support group that has your back and your best interests at heart. Basically, a friendly group you look forward to working with during the majority of your waking hours.

Success in business requires personnel management with a positive company culture, and this is essential if you intend to build a team of Millennials to power your company.

And what happens when their parents can’t subsidize them anymore? Think they’ll settle for less in the workplace – just to make a few more bucks? Soon enough your competition will woo them with higher salaries and a positive company culture. So now is the time to get in front of the curve and attract the folks you need to build your company and more importantly, keep them.

After all, shouldn’t work be fun? Isn’t that when we all do our best anyway? Isn’t that the fertile ground for the best solutions and disruptive ideas? And aren’t challenges and respect the basis of company loyalty? With the right people in the right environment your company will be more likely to hit its numbers and be able provide those increased salaries when mom and dad pull the plug.

Who We Are

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

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Happy Holidays!

Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 19:30:48 +0000

Well it’s that time of year again when we reach out to friends and family to let them know that they are important to us. It’s even better when we can spend some time with them. We love this time of year because it reminds us that family and friendship is what it’s all about.

During the year, it’s easy to get wrapped up in work, carried away by “making progress,” and becoming so focused that we forget to say, “Hey, you’re important to me” to the people that matter most. But no matter what your faith, the holidays force us to put on the brakes and spend special time with those we love. In fact it’s an institution that is hard to ignore. If it’s not the familiar holiday music, it’s the decorations everywhere. They’re all signaling us that it’s time to get back to basics, it’s time to touch base, and it’s time to be a real human being again. And do it quickly before this year is history!

Thank goodness for this annual reminder! Sure, it always seems like it arrives way too fast and we’re always unprepared. As the clock counts down, we may even feel pressured to visit friends, buy presents for family, and call everyone we can’t see. But wait! Let’s get back to what’s really going on here. We’re being reminded by these holidays to show appreciation for who’s really important to us in our lives.

And if we haven’t connected as much as we would like to during the year, we are reminded that this is our last chance before the year is over. In the process, we are also reminded how busy we have become that we may have inadvertently relegated some important relationships to a lower priority than our work, career or projects. In fact, if it wasn’t for the holidays we may even lose track of some of those important relationships. We ourselves certainly fit into that profile more than we would like to.

But this is what we are all working for; this is what we all have at the end of the day and the end of the year, family and friends. So try not to see it as a chore and don’t feel under pressure. Be grateful that you have some folks that you care for and who care for you. Be grateful that you can spend some time and show them that you truly appreciate the relationship you have with them, even if you don’t express that during the year. As far as business is concerned, it’s OK to hang it up for a while. You have permission to take some time to give and receive appreciation!

We want to take this opportunity to give appreciation to each and every one of our readers, all of the students of entrepreneurship who have listened to us, all of the professors and academicians who have hosted us, and all the organizations that have brought us in to keynote their events over the past year. We wish you all the happiest of holidays and the very best for you and yours for the New Year. And yes, you are important to us!

Happy Holidays!

Michael and Bonnie

Who We Are

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

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