Positive Power of Principled Profit
Volume 4, Number 2—October, 2006

Positive Power Spotlight: Dr. Mark McMahon

Because my book review/work plan takes way more space than usual, I'll keep this brief. Dr. Mark McMahon is a well-known cosmetic dentist who truly believes in making the world a better place. And that commitment has driven tons of publicity, which in turn has helped his practice flourish. He partnered with a local homeless shelter and a battered women's shelter to provide no-cost dental treatment for some of the "patrons." And invited local media to come a long, with their cameras and microphones.

He also did pro bono makeovers, complete with before-and-after pictures, for recovering drug addicts and ex-cons. Not only did he fix their smiles, but he put them in nice suits. All of a sudden, they were a lot more employable. And McMahon got more press, some of which led to very steady streams of referrals.

In fact, he was successful enough to sell his practice and go off to be an adventure traveler, photographer, and writer. His website about this new phase of life is http://www.filmtrips.com/

Following your dream even if it takes you to the far corners of the earth is certainly an important part of the PrinProfit philosophy--but I think Mark is the first Positive Power spotlight business owner to have followed his passion right out of the business I'm profiling.

My thanks to my colleague Steven Van Yoder of http://www.getslightlyfamous.com for alerting me to this story.

Another Recommended Book: The Success Principles, by Jack Canfield with Janet Switzer

Following up on last month's review of Tim Sanders' latest, it seems logical to segue into a book with a message that's similar in some ways and covers a bit of the same ground--but goes much, much farther. And then next month, I promise to get back to reviewing the usual types of books specifically on business ethics, business sustainability, and customer service. Jack Canfield's "The Success Principles," co-authored with infoproduct marketer extraordinaire Janet Switzer, may just be the one self-improvement book I would take with me on the proverbial desert island. It actually got me to set myself an action-steps workplan, which I will share with you at the end of my review.

This book has many, many gems. Among my takeaways:
* Goals are specific: quantifiable and date-targeted
* Review goals at least twice a day (no, I haven't put that one into practice, yet)
* Move goals forward with small, steady action steps--write them and do them.
* Negative feedback is a chance for "improvement opportunities"
* If you're serious about eliciting honest feedback, ask, "On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the quality of our (relationship, service, product), over the last (specified time period)?--and what would it take to make it a 10?"
* Do five things toward your goal every day--success is assured, though not necessarily rapidly
* Do more than you're paid to do; you'll eventually be paid to do more than you do.
* Build your "appreciation muscle": spend 7 minutes at start of each day listing things you appreciate

And then there are the stories. One that struck me is that of the scientist whose mother made the milk he spilled (as a child) into a delightful play and learn experience before getting him to clean it up.

Canfield and Switzer also sprinkle the book liberally with relevant cartoons and also quotes from many successful people are quoted throughout the book: Buckminster Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Rebecca West, Robert Kiyosaki, Dolly Parton... As a writer, one that struck me was this from novelist and essayist Barbara Kingsolver, discussing rejected manuscripts:

Don't consider it rejected. Consider that you've addressed it "to the editor who can appreciate my work" and it has simply come back stamped "not at this address." Just keep looking for the right address.

As I mentioned, I made myself a goal plan after reading the book. It's ambitious enough that after re-reading the first few goals, I changed the effective date from 2010 to 2012. Back in 1998, I set myself a goal of making at least one 4-figure speech a month by 2000; I did a number of things to move that goal forward, and did secure two high-profile but unpaid speeches a couple of years ago--credentials that I expected to leverage into paid gigs. However, I found that my two-year goal was not even close to achieved after five years. Of course, I hadn't read this book. Perhaps the universe is ready to help me with this far more ambitious set of goals. My feeling is that success in any of these areas will feed success in the others--but I have noticed the world prefers people who specialize in one thing. For every Nat Hentoff who transitions successfully from writing about jazz to writing about civil liberties, there are many other writers who find themselves boxed in to one category. I'm very much what my friend Margaret Lobenstine calls a "Renaissance Soul" (a book I highly recommend).

You may notice that my financial and material goals are very modest, and you may feel like you want to tell me to aim higher. However, being super-rich simply isn't a driving force in my life; improving the world has always been a much higher priority (and I can point to some real accomplishments in that arena). We bring in a comfortable but not extravagant household income, and we lead a rich and meaningful life. We love our modest home on the mountain, we've been out of the country with our two kids every year since 2002, and if I achieve $100K through the two "floor" activities I mention, plus another $50K or so from client work, Dina would be able to afford to quit her job and write full time. She has published two books with major NY publishers this year, after (two years ago) changing her UMass email password to "publish04!!"

My Canfield Workplan
Goals:

It is January 1, 2012. I am known around the world as a writer and speaker and radio personality. My weekly newspaper column is in 30 or more well-known papers and provides me a floor income of at least $50,000 per year. I write about whatever I feel like: politics, ethics, happiness--and have not only a loyal following but competent, well-compensated staff to process inbound communications.

My weekly one-hour radio show is syndicated to 30 or more stations and also generates at least $50,000 per year for me.

Once a month, I travel to locations such as Thailand, South Africa, Morocco, or Hawaii to deliver a talk, and then Dina and I stay a week and explore. I am a recognized expert on business ethics, marketing, self-publishing, and happiness; my book 10 Keys [still at the proposal stage] is receiving major promotion from its megapublisher.

I continue to write copy for my appreciative individual clients, especially in the book industry, where my book Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers has made me a household name. My publishing company has also done three more Grassroots books, only one of which I wrote myself.

I weigh 165 pounds, am fit and trim, with full range of pain-free motion in all my joints, dermatological health, and eyes that are refreshed and invigorated even after computing. I enjoy bicycling, aerobics, hiking, free-form dancing, yoga--and practice them regularly. I also get massage at least twice a month. I continue to enjoy a healthy and interesting vegetarian diet, partaking of the world's cuisines.

The Business Ethics Pledge has reached or surpassed its goal 2-1/2 years ahead of schedule, and has not only opened many doors for me personally, but is reshaping the way business is taught in school, and the way consumers interact with business.

Jack Canfield asks me for an endorsement of his latest book, and his publisher puts it on the cover.

Order from Amazon: http://snipurl.com/wf30

Order from a BookSense independent bookseller:
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