Barry Maher's
Filling the Glass Newsletter Speaking of Real World Tactics, Reality-Based Motivation December, 2004 Vol. 4 Issue 12
In
this Issue
Feature article, "The Road to Ballyglunnin Can Be
the Route to Success in Your Business"
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The Road to Ballyglunnin Can Be the Route to
Success in Your Business
By Barry Maher
"So what's the best strategy for promoting
a business?" people frequently ask me.
Let me tell you why I can't wait to
book my next vacation in Ireland.
Many of my father's fondest memories
were of his early childhood in Ballyglunnin in County Galway, Ireland. He lived
in a castle, he told us, and learned to love learning in a tiny, one room
school. Castle or no castle, once in the states, his mother cleaned houses; his
father was a laborer. Through their efforts, my father became the first Maher to
complete high school and then college, at Notre Dame. I still have the letter he
wrote his parents when he was accepted at Harvard Law School.
"From housecleaning to Harvard in a
single generation," he'd say later. He loved America for that. Still, his life
was hardly easy. He nearly died during WWII, and lost a wife and two children
within a year. Later, three other children would die. Those of us that reached
adulthood did so with the best educations money could buy; and he raised a
company president, two corporate vice presidents, a doctor, a telecommunications
executive, and myself. He always dreamed of returning to visit Ballyglunnin, but
with all that educating to do, there was never the time, never the money.
The only time I ever saw my father
cry was when we, his children, bought him that trip to Ireland for his 80th
birthday. One of my sisters and I were looking forward to traveling with him,
but unfortunately—though
he'd been practicing law up to a few months before—his
health deteriorated rapidly and senile dementia set in. Soon he didn't even
recognize us. The trip never happened.
Then a couple of years, for no
discernible reason my book, Filling the Glass, took off in Ireland,
and I was booked on a speaking tour there. I was determined to visit
Ballyglunnin, the castle and the one room school, but my schedule was tight.
Ireland has become one of the true
economic success stories of our young century. The leading industry is of course
tourism. The entire country has embraced the industry. The Irish have developed
a reputation as the world's greatest hosts, a reputation that turned out to be
actually true rather than just marketing hype. Even though I wasn't really a
tourist, I was immersed in that hospitality. At engagements I was treated more
like a guest rather than someone they were paying to speak. There were dinners
and receptions and "must see" sights to be seen. All of which left me only one
day for Ballyglunnin.
I set off for the tiny hamlet with
several sets of complex directions and three conflicting maps. Every time I
stopped and asked for directions I was embraced like a long lost relative, but,
though a few people had heard of Ballyglunnin, no one was quite sure where it was.
I must have bounced along every back road in County Galway, but none of them led
to Ballyglunnin.
The next morning, in Galway City, I
spoke of my father during my final presentation, and I mentioned in passing what
had happened the day before. At the luncheon afterwards, I was finishing up my
lasagna—which
seems to be a particular Irish favorite—and
thinking about heading upstairs to my room to pack. That's when the CEO
announced, "Mr. Maher, your car has arrived, complete with the savviest driver
in all of Ireland." Less than two hours later, the limo, myself, the CEO. and a
local Member of Parliament pulled into Ballyglunnin. The locals decided I was a
returning hero, and took us on a tour of the village, the old one-room
schoolhouse, and the "castle," an aging, rather modest resort hotel where my
grandfather had run a small shop. But a castle indeed to any seven year old.
The real highlight of the trip came
upon my return. Though my father hadn't recognized me in over a year, when I
showed him my photos of the school and the "castle," his cloudy eyes slowly
cleared. Then those eyes met mine.
"Ireland," he said softly. "Thanks,
Barry, for Ireland."
Thank the Irish for Ireland. That's
feeling you get when you travel through Ireland. It's not just customer service;
it's that any number of people you meet seem to enjoy nothing more than going
out of their way to make certain that you enjoy every moment of your trip and
get the most out of the country they seem to love so much. It took me fifty
years to get to Ireland the first time. And it took a business trip to get me
there. Now I can't wait to become a repeat customer on my own dime. The name of my last business book is Truth Is the Ultimate Sales Tool
but come to think of it, truth isn't really the ultimate sales tool.
Reality is.
If the actual experience of doing
business with you is everything you claim it will be and perhaps even more—and
you insist on making sure that it is—the
next sale will be the easiest job you'll ever have.
Thanks for another great newsletter. And yes, we Red Sox fans are still going
around going, "Really? Are you SURE?" (Maybe we should pen an article, "Red Sox
Nation: Now That We Won, Now What?")
Thanks a million Barry - hope we get to meet in person soon!
Warmly,
Noah St. John
________________
Hi Barry,
Thanks again for a great program for the folks at our annual convention. Your no
nonsense real life examples of principles to follow to be more effective
managers were a hit. In subsequent discussions, we are using your "why not now"
approach to problem solving. Our corporate staff has been energized and the
attendees are still buzzing about your comments. You reminded everyone of proven
strategies to get more out of their teams. Thanks for a great job!
Dennis Laventure
Country Kitchen International
______________
Dear Barry:
I want to thank you for telling the truth [in your article "Positive Thinking:
Limits and Possibilities"]. I am sickened by the useless rhetoric on Oprah and
varied other talk shows where they claim individuals can do and create success,
they continue, however that is their negative state of mind which prevents them
from achieving financial success. What about Intelligence? Talent?
Opportunities? Chance? All of those factors are essential in any kind of
success.
Sincerely yours,
Paula L. Reilly
President/ Reilly Communication
Event Planner/Market Research
____________
Hi Barry,
I attended your Communications Seminar at ECVA Tuesday, November 2, 2004. This
is my 3rd. in-service with ECVA, and I thought you were the best speaker thus
far. I only checked my watch once and it was just because my stomach was
growling. (It was 12 noon). You really held everyone's interest and provided us
with useful information with great examples.
Thank you!
Colleen M. Hils
Human Resource Coordinator
Eye Care & Vision Associates, Inc.
Thank you, Colleen. I'm still trying to work out a way to
compete with a hungry stomach. The prospects aren't good.
Best,
Barry
Barry
Maher speaks, consults and writes on increasing productivity AND job
satisfaction, as well as motivation, management and sales. His book, Filling
the Glass: The Skeptic's Guide to Positive Thinking in Business was cited by Today's Librarian magazine as "[One of] The Seven Essential Popular
Business Books."
Book
Barry Maher to speak at your next event.
"Innovative,
informative, entertaining and inspiring" says MeetingsWest magazine.
Topics Include:
Filling
the Glass: Real World Tactics for Increasing Productivity AND Job
Satisfaction
Effective
Communication
Advanced
Techniques and Motivation for Sales Pros
Speaking
of Motivation
Selling
Yourself, Your Ideas, Your Vision, Even Your Products: Even for Those Who
Hate to Sell
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if the link doesn't work, please cut and paste the URL into your browser
For smaller meeting
budgets, Steve Wilson also delivers most of Barry Maher's presentations and
trainings. Call toll free 1-866-243-8062 for information.
