Arizona Team  – 6 Steps To Turn Your Dreams Into Reality

- The School Teacher Who Quit His Job To Become A Ninja

By: Izzie Arkin

Izmael Arkin, a middle school teacher quit his job to follow his childhood dream: To become a Ninja. Read on to see how Izmael went from a struggling life as a middle school teacher in california to becoming a Ninja in Japan.

Enjoy his 6 Steps to Turn Your Dreams Into a Reality.

 

October 2009

I looked at my hands.

They were shaking.

I pulled over to the side of the road. The questions ran through my mind:

What did you do wrong?

How did you get here?

What are you going to do with your life?

Then the tears started to fall…

 

The Depression

I was in my 4th year as a middle school science teacher in Los Angeles, California.

26 years old, getting a masters degree in education. I was moving up the ladder fast,  soon to be running my own school.

I was making more money every year. I drove a nice car. My resume looked fantastic. Everyone was impressed.

But there was a problem.

I hated my life.

I’d lie awake at 2am unable to fall asleep. Anxiety, fear,  and stress  overtook my thoughts.

Night after night the questions, voices, and thoughts kept coming.

 

What Are You Going To Do With Your Life? (The Million Dollar Question)

I thought I wanted to give my life to education. I thought this is what I was supposed to do.

I tried to use logic.

You have a good job.

You should be happy.

You’ve done everything you were told to do.

Logic is stupid… when it leads to depression, anxiety, and stress.

I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.

For months on end I battled with the million dollar question.

What are you going do with your life?

I made it my purpose to discover my purpose.

I talked with friends and family. I read books. I took personality tests. I tried new activities. I volunteered in my community.

Friends would ask “Izzy, if you aren’t going to be a teacher, what are you going to do with your life?”

I’d smile and give a little laugh.

“I want to be a ninja.”

It was meant to lighten the mood, to bring some humor, to such a serious question.

But one day it clicked… I’m not kidding.

 

 

What is a Ninja?

About 4 months after that fateful October day, I wrote my dream on paper.

“I want to be a ninja… But what is a ninja?”

It’s a good question, right?

As I explored this question I realized something. I didn’t want to be a traditional ninja. I wanted to be the ninja from my childhood imagination. It’s a childhood dream.

So then I asked the question: According to my 8 year old brain, what is a ninja?

The answer became very clear. A ninja does 3 things.

1. Moves to a far away land


2. Trains extensively in martial arts


3. Challenges the traditional rules of work and life as we know it

As I wrote these down I sat back in my chair with a surge of emotion. It clicked.

This…is…possible…

 

I Quit My Job, I live In Japan, I Train 4 hours a Day in Martial Arts

Over the course of 4 years I would quit my career in education, save money, find work in Japan, and eventually train extensively in martial arts.

I now live in the historical capital of Kyoto in Japan. I train in Aikido (a martial art) 4 to 6 hours a day 5 days a week.

Am I a ninja? By technical definition, no… But that was never what I wanted to be. I wanted to be the ninja from my childhood dreams.

I have now lived in Japan for 2 years. I have given my life to Aikido.

4 years ago, I was a depressed, stressed, overwhelmed 26 year old middle school teacher. Now, I wake up with joy, purpose and meaning.

I share my story for one reason. I’m not magical nor special. My life is evidence that you can follow your dreams no matter how absurd they may initially seem.

 

 

6 Steps to Identify and Live Your Dream

Below I break down the process to 6 specific practical steps to turn your dream into a reality. I know this stuff works because my life is the evidence.

 

Step 1: Answer The Million Dollar Question

I believe there is nothing more important than to identify your purpose.

The million dollar question is as follows:

If you had a million dollars, what would you do with your life?

Many of us allow money to be our excuse.

We use it as a crutch to slow us from moving towards our dreams. In some cases we even use the money excuse as a dagger that rips right through the heart of our dreams.

Your job above all else, is to identify what you want to do. After that, then you can figure out how to make money doing it.

 

Step 2: Define Your Dream

Once you know what you want to do, create a clear succinct definition for your dream.

Take my dream for example: to become a ninja.

That sounds totally absurd, unrealistic, and crazy. But when I give you the definition (according to my 8 year old brain)

1) Moves to a far away land
2) Trains extensively in martial arts
3) Challenges the traditional rules of work and life as we know it

It all of a sudden becomes possible.

Defining your dream makes the ‘impossible’, possible.

 

Step 3: Determine The First Step

Once you know exactly where you want to go (your purpose) and you have a clear definition then you need to identify the first step.

Do not be concerned with step 9, step 29, or step 109. All you need to do is focus on the next step in the process.

 

Step 4: Take The First Step

Action is the great differentiator. This world rewards people that ‘do’, not people who ‘think about doing’.

Everything comes down to execution. You can have the greatest idea in the world, but it don’t mean a darn thing if you don’t take action on it.

 

Step 5: Start Saving Money

Yes, I mentioned above that you cannot use money as an excuse. And that is correct. But here is the other reality.

Money matters.

As soon as I identified my dream, I started saving money every month. I called it “my dream fund”.

By doing this I was gaining momentum on my dream. Every month it felt like I was getting closer.

How much you save isn’t near as important as saving. Choose an amount and start saving today.

 

Step 6: Reflect, Adjust, Act

As you take action, you’re going to learn incredible things about yourself. But here’s the simple reality: you’re going to make mistakes.

It’s critical that you learn from these mistakes. After you take action it’s important to set time aside at minimum weekly to reflect. There are 3 specific questions I always ask myself:

1)  What actions did you take in the last week that are moving you towards your dream? (keep doing those)

2)  What actions did you take in the last week that are preventing you from moving towards your dream? (stop doing those)

3)  What actions do you need to start doing to accelerate your progress towards your dream? (Choose one of these and do it).

 

Then based on your answers to these questions, adjust your plan and take action.

Repeat this “reflect, adjust, act” approach every week and you will be amazed by the impact it has on your life.

 

 

 

Identify Your Dream, Then Take The First Step

At the core of all of this are two very simple concepts.

To turn your dream into a reality all you need to do is know exactly where you want to go and then continuously take the next step.

This sounds simple because it is simple. But simple does not mean easy.

If some former middle school teacher can quit his job to become a ninja, you can follow your dream.

What actions are you going to take today to start turning your dream into a reality?

 

Arizona Team – 6 Steps To Turn Your Dreams Into Reality

Arizona Team Reviews 15 Ways to Wake Up with Motivation

Arizona Team reviews how to wake up with motivation. This article shares 15 ways to do that.

Through all of the stories of great successes, it’s the men and women who found their motivation and consistently used it as their main drive to reach success.

Motivation and excitement about your vision, your ambition, your goal, give you energy and an ability to do what others can, but won’t do. If you’re motivated, you work longer hours, but are also more productive and focused in those hours you work. But what if you’re not internally motivated day after day to hustle, work, and trudge through the daily tasks that make-up the path to your end goal?

15 Ways To Wake Up With Motivation

 

 

1. Have your biggest dreams written on a massive white board

Your dreams and audacious goals should be written where you can consistently see them. I use a big white board next to my desk. On the white board are my big goals, my weekly goals, and motivational quotes. This helps me keep the eye on the prize, maintain focus, and ward of the distractions that make their way into my day.

 

2. Focus only on TODAY

We can get lost in thinking about the future or regretting the past. What’s terrible about this is that while you’re worrying and wishing you were in a different position in life, someone else is working.

Worry does no good. If you truly want to succeed you need to learn how to focus your mind only on the present. Do what you can do in the moment, work on the project at hand, accomplish your daily goals and tasks, and you’ll do the same with your bigger, lifelong goals and dreams.

 

3. Have only 3 things on your to do list that MUST BE accomplished

Don’t try and fill your day with too much. Sure, you’d like to get a lot accomplished, but there should be 3 (only 3) important tasks that NEED to be accomplished. Focus on these first. When they’re completed, and only when they’re completed, are you allowed to move on to other things.

Too many people spread themselves thin. What ends up happening is they get overwhelmed, which crushes their motivation, and nothing gets done.

If you’re focused, you’ll stay motivated, you’ll get more done, and you’ll be where you want to be a lot faster.

 

4. Practice discipline

Discipline isn’t sexy, but it’s necessary. It’s in discipline that we gain freedom. We gain freedom to get more done, to improve, and to remove regret from our lives.

When you’re focused only on today, doing only what needs to be done in the now, nothing else matters. But discipline needs to be practiced everyday.

When a reporter asked two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash, how often he trained growing up, he said (and I paraphrase) Everyday. I never missed a workout, because I knew that if I missed one, I’d give myself a reason to miss another.

If you practice laziness and distraction, that is what you’ll be, and you’ll be left with nothing but regret and failure. Practice being successful by doing what successful people do everyday: they remain disciplined.

Remember, take it one day at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed with eternity when the present should be your only concern.

 

5. Create an inspiring environment

Your environment HAS TO inspire you. Surround yourself with images that motivate you, but also in a clean, clear space. Clutter truly does clutter the mind, but it can also be depressing to be in a messy area.

Pattern your work environment as you’d love it to be. Spend a little money on a nice desk if that’s your thing, but make sure your work space inspires you and motivates you. This is where the magic happens. This is where you should be spending most of your time. So make sure it affects you positively.

 

6. Have a quotes list near your desk, and your bed

It’s not the critic who counts… The famous quote by Theodore Roosevelt is always close. Be it in my notebook (one of the two), or handing from my bathroom mirror, or next to my bed, I always have inspirational quotes that keep me focused, upbeat, and aware that success isn’t immediate. That success takes hard work, dedication and much sacrifice.

If “making it” was easy, everyone would have made it. That’s why I respect all entrepreneurs, it takes guts to be in the arena.

 

7. Workout everyday

Part of staying motivated is warding off depressive thoughts. Being physically fit helps with that not only from an image and an energy aspect, but hormonally as well.

For men, being physically fit will help raise your natural levels of testosterone, which leads to diminished likelihood of depression. So get in the gym at least 4 times a week, and get outside and get active.

 

8. Set mini, measurable goals

You’ll have your big goals – and make sure they’re as clear as possible – but they need to be broken into smaller goals as well. Make these goals measurable and attainable in the near future (like “to-do’s”).

Everything should be measurable so you know where you are in relation to where you want to be (EVERYTHING).

 

9. Work in 90-120 minute intervals, interspersed with active breaks

Your work should be intense, purposeful, and focused. Studies have shown that we can do so for a 90-minute period, but tend to lose focus once that 90-minute period is finished.

One of the best ways to regain focus is to do something active. The endorphins release by a quick jog or set of sprints will help you not only gain energy, but regain focus.

 

10. Don’t work on small projects

That is, don’t set small goals that don’t excite you. You NEED TO BE excited about what you’re trying to accomplish. If it doesn’t excite you, how are you going to be motivated?

 

11. Clean once a week

Clean your house and work space once a week. Keep clutter and mess out of your life if you want to keep consistently motivated.

 

12. Take mini-vacations monthly

While the hustle and grind of creating something – i.e. the life of an entrepreneur – can be arduous and necessary, it needs “mini jolts”. Nature, for myself, is the best way to give me the jolts I need to stay focused, hustle daily, and accomplish big things.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but you should unplug once a month. Go local, but do what you gotta do to get out of your routine. You’ll not only be re-energized, but you’ll find that nature can enhance your creativity.

Bring a notebook and a book to accompany you on your adventure.

 

13. Read voraciously

Great people read. Books are their companions. Check out The Gates Notes - it’s Bill Gates personal website, filled with his personal notes on whatever he’s reading.

In all of my study of great people, be they politicians, entrepreneurs, or conquerors, knowledge was something they all craved. If you want greatness in your future, read in your present.

 

14. Journal daily

Spend one week making notes about when your energy levels – and motivation levels – are at their highest. There should be patterns. Use these patterns to your advantage.

Put your most important tasks in the times when your energy levels are at their height (I do all of my writing in the wee hours of the morning, or late at night, when no one is awake to bother me, and I can focus on one thing).

A journal will also help with clarity. It’s far easier to be motivated when your mind is clear, and the road to your goal is as well.

 

15. Win your mental battles

In his book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill consistently refers to the battles we have in our minds. The rich think a certain way, and it isn’t necessarily a greedy way, but a positive one.

The thoughts that fill your mind should only aid you in your journey, they should detract from it. Now, you may think, How can I control all of the thoughts that come in to my head. You may not be able to control what comes in, but you do have the power to control which ones you pay attention to.

Fill your mind with creative, positive, and ambitious thoughts. Don’t give energy to your fears and worries. They do nothing but move you further away from your goals.

Author: Chad Howse

Arizona Team Reviews 15 Ways to Wake Up with Motivation

10 Power Tips for Dancing with Elephants

Just like you, Arizona Team can agree that calling out the big “elephant” in the room can be terrifying.

However this great article recognizes the positive in dealing with those elephants.

The more uncomfortable the conversation the more important it is. The more it matters, the tougher it is.

Weak leaders choose manipulation over honest exchange. Wise leaders choose tough conversation over mediocrity.

Successful leaders address issues others avoid.

Mediocrity is the result of avoidance.  Excellence is a function of confrontation.

Ten power tips for dancing with elephants:

• Describe the consequences of ignoring the issue.  The danger of tough conversations is making matters worse. The bigger danger is avoiding them.


• Solve the right problem. It’s deeper than the symptom. By ask stupid questions and make obvious statements.


• Serve both their best interests


• “Be tough on issues and kind with people”  Respect, kindness, and courtesy say more about you than they say about others.


• Determine what you won’t say.


• Focus on best solutions. Winning and losing does not work.


• Define preferred outcomes by answering six questions.
  
  
  
  • What do I really want?
  
  
  • What’s in the way?
  
  
  • How do I want them to feel?
  
  
  • What are my hopes for the relationship?
  
  
  • How long before things must improve?
  
  
  

Arizona Team invites you to challenge yourself next time you are faced with a difficult situation and follow these ten tips. Let us know here at Arizona Team how it goes!


10 Power Tips for Dancing with Elephants

Arizona Team selected as one of the inaugural 2013 Careerbuilders Top Companies to Work for in Arizona

CareerBuilder and Republic Media (The Arizona Republic, azcentral.com, La Voz) announced today that Arizona Team earns a spot on the inaugural Careerbuilders Top Companies to Work for in Arizona list.



Companies were evaluated and selected based on a combination of overall satisfaction scores from an Employee Engagement Survey and evaluation from an Employer Questionnaire covering topics related to HR programs, benefits and workplace culture.

We are proud to be recognized as one of Arizona’s “Top Companies to Work for” this inaugural year, Matthew, CEO.  The ability to attract and retain top talent directly contributes to Arizona Team’s consistent growth, profitability and industry-leading products and solutions. Arizona Team has the opportunity to focus on each and every one of their employees. They take careful steps to ensure their staff members do not get lost in the crowd and have the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally. Employees are treated to fun travel opportunities to Hollywood, Miami, PGA tournaments and various other sports games; inducing a fun, team-oriented atmosphere.


Winners were announced at a “Top Companies” breakfast reception June 20 and the full list and related stories appeared in a special supplement inserted in the June 23 edition of The Arizona Republic, and online at TopCompaniesAZ.azcentral.com. For complete details visit www.www.arizona-team.com.



About COMPANY:

Arizona Team is a leading outsourced sales and marketing company in the Phoenix market. Arizona Team is a company focused on entrepreneurship, community involvement and personal development. This year alone, Arizona Team intends on exceeding its goal of over 1000 man hours of work raising money as well as awareness to local and national causes. For more information about Arizona Team, visit arizona-team.com.


About Republic Media

Republic Media is a consultative media company that provides you with the means to deliver your message to the right audience in the most effective way. From online to print to direct mail, Republic Media encompasses an array of products including The Arizona Republic, azcentral.com, 12 News, and La Voz.  Since 1890, The Arizona Republic continues to be Arizona’s most trusted and most read newspaper. www.RepublicMedia.com

About CareerBuilder®

CareerBuilder is the global leader in human capital solutions, helping companies target and attract their most important asset – their people. Its online career site, CareerBuilder.com®, is the largest in the United States with more than 24 million unique visitors, 1 million jobs and 49 million resumes. CareerBuilder works with the world’s top employers, providing resources for everything from employment branding and talent intelligence to recruitment support. More than 10,000 websites, including 140 newspapers and broadband portals such as MSN and AOL, feature CareerBuilder’s proprietary job search technology on their career sites. Owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), Tribune Company and The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI), CareerBuilder and its subsidiaries operate in the United States, Europe, South America, Canada and Asia. For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.com.




Arizona Team selected as one of the inaugural 2013 Careerbuilders Top Companies to Work for in Arizona

Arizona Team - Top 10 Principles of Business Momentum

Here at Arizona Team we are able to provide momentum for our clients with profitable behavior. Our mission is to always come through for our people and clients.

These principles, by Paul Cooperstein, are a great reminder to keep the momentum up!

The Top 10 Principles of Business Momentum, by Paul Cooperstein

1. One’s ability to accomplish one’s goals has to do more with inner resources and obstacles than with external events, people and circumstances. Markets may turn against us and customers may leave for reasons out of our control. However, the greatest obstacles to success have more to do with our ability to stay focused on our goals and communicate those goals to others in a way that brings them along.

2. Our goals and values provide guiding direction in everything we do. When we lose that sense of direction, we lose our momentum and are reduced to living at the mercy of reaction and fatigue. What we see is a product of what we believe. If you don’t like what you see, change what you believe.

3. To travel down the path of excellence is to commit oneself to life-long learning. There is no single answer, except that commitment itself.

4. The biggest cost of business does not show up on the P&L. It is the cost of wasted time, lost productivity and low morale. It is the 30% of managers’ time spent dealing with employee conflict and dissatisfaction.

5. A company’s most important asset is trust. Lack of trust imposes a kind of tax-an overhead-on all transactions and interactions. Trust is what enables us to work together for each others’s benefit and toward a common goal. Our people are our next-most important asset and that we should listen to them.

6. Appreciated people = appreciated profits. Recognition, acknowledgment and appreciation are needs as basic to a human being as is love. Without appreciation, employees are individuals working for a paycheck. With appreciation, we each become partners with one another. We see that we matter and have something of value to give. This is the greatest motivator of all.

7. Growth and development often starts with disruption. This is a natural result of being in unfamiliar territory. In fact, it is in recognizing this state and seizing the opportunity to learn that we move ourselves forward.

8. Companies live and die by their culture. A sign of a healthy culture is that everyone in the company, from the CEO to the janitor understands what business they are in. In this state, everyone can see what his or her contribution is and everyone moves in the same direction.

9. A leader’s job is to make individuals feel that opportunities exist for them. It is not about issuing orders or setting the rules. It is about creating a vision that everyone wants to contribute to.

10. Chaos, change, complexity and ambiguity are par for the course. Don’t try to eliminate them. You won’t succeed. Instead, learn to thrive in chaos, change, complexity and ambiguity with commitment, purpose and ambition.



http://businessmomentum.org/principles.html


Arizona Team - Top 10 Principles of Business Momentum

Arizona Team - Six Secrets to Success

Arizona Team – Six Secrets to Success

To go along with our theme of "6 Steps", Arnold answers his frequent question of “What is your secret to success?”.  In this clip he shares his six secrets to what can lead someone to be successful. How does it compare with our 6 ways to achieve goals?

Do you have what it takes?

6 Tips to Help You Achieve Your Goals

Arizona Team believes that in order to succeed, one must have something to work towards in order to gain a sense of accomplishment.

Here at Arizona Team, we have goals for our company, our employees and our clients. Our mission is built around helping others hit their goals both personally and professionally. Putting people together with a plan to achieve our goals is what we do.

In order to hit goals we must have focus.

Here is how you can strengthen your focus and in turn, help you achieve your goals.

1. Set a Schedule

When you have vague goals and plans, it is not easy to work towards achieving them.

So, the first step in improving your focus is to make sure your goals are clear and your plans are well thought out and most importantly, that you have a schedule for every step of the way.

For example, saying you want to spend more time with your parents is vague – write it down as “I will call my parents every Wednesday and Friday and meet them on Sunday.”

A schedule ensures you have a clear picture of what you need to do and this makes it easier to focus and actually perform the necessary actions. Some people even find that using their Smartphone to set reminders or alarms for a particular task work out very well.

2. Stop Procrastinating

 

When there is something you need to do to achieve a goal, do it at once. Stop procrastinating.

Doing something right away is beneficial in two ways – for one, it allows you to get the task done and more importantly, you do not block valuable mind space with thoughts of having to do the task you postponed doing.

Often, it is the starting that is difficult; once you begin, the actions just flow and before you know it, the job will be completed.

If you have decided to write a few lines in your diary every evening, don’t postpone it until after you watch your favorite late-night show; take a few minutes before the show and get it done and over with.

3. Focus on Less

Having too many things to do is a sure fire recipe for a lack of focus – no sooner do you start one task than your mind starts thinking of another. This eats away at your time as well as your concentration.

If you face this problem, make it a habit to jot down the tasks that come into your mind and pick three or four that are the most important right now.

Of these, take up one at a time and focus on accomplishing the goals related to the task; once that is over, move to the next item on your list.

4. Get Back on Track When You Slip

You wake up early and exercise for about a week. Then, because you work a lot, you "forget" to exercise for three days.

Your mind will tell you that you have ruined your wonderful routine and trick you into pushing off getting back to your routine until the next week, or until this important project is over or….you get the idea; before you can realize it, your focus is gone.

The best way to avoid being trapped like this is to tell yourself it was a busy three days, but now, you have to start exercising again.

5. Learn to Delegate

If there is an event and the organizer tries to do everything himself, do you think he can really focus on all the tasks?

Definitely not – that is the reason why there are committees and sub-committees to whom the organizer can delegate tasks while he focuses on the larger picture. Doing something well does not mean you have to do it on your own. In fact, this approach is often counterproductive because of your inability to pay attention to so many jobs simultaneously.

Instead, identify the jobs you are good at doing and focus on them. For all other areas – delegate.

6. Team Up

Sometimes, it can be helpful to work with a friend or a relative who is also trying to build focus. Tell each other about your goals and plans and set up a system of catching up a few times a week to see how well each one is sticking to their decisions.

Often, this external motivation will help you develop focus faster than working on your own.

As most of us realize in hindsight, it is not important to merely have goals – you have to actually take action.

Think well and think hard about why you have something on your goal list. Write down these reasons.

POST Tips for Life

BY:

Three Pillars for Arizona Team Success

With Arizona Team consistently growing, we credit three of our main pillars for the level of success our employees are personally and professional achieving. In sales and marketing, as in life, consistent actions will yield consistent results. Arizona Team hires every team member at an Entry Level position and the system in place has allowed us to develop a very strong individual inside and outside of our office.  Our full mentoring program revolves around building genuine relationships, personal and professional development and the ability to increase productivity.

Authentic relationships are the bread and butter of success for business. The most effective coaching is only given when the teacher knows how to approach the student. In order for Arizona Team mentors to provide the best training possible, we choose to really get to know our teammates.

Parents and loved ones tend to give a ton of advice because they have already experienced certain life situations. Where that advice is not always taken, the overall premise is that advice is coming from a good place because it is evident how much they care. Most people don't care how much someone knows, until they know how much that person cares. At Arizona Team, we pride ourselves on truly caring about helping our team see progression.  

Arizona Team invests an immense amount of time and energy in thoroughly getting to know each and every employee. The investment of time can appear in many forms. It's very common to see our team grabbing coffee before work or hanging out together during happy hour. Scottsdale offers a plethora of activities to accommodate our energetic lifestyles complete with Spring Training baseball games, Waste Management Phoenix Open, obstacle runs and a laundry list of restaurants and bars.      

A solid relationship with our entire team provides a comfortable setting for someone to progress and have fun. Arizona Team realizes that different people learn in different manners. The only way to figure this out, is by getting to know them. Once Arizona Team mentors know the best way to interact with one another, the growth potential is limitless. 

Relationships amongst team members also create an enjoyable environment to be a part of. A vast majority of that atmosphere stems from the people who create it and the relationships built amongst our team members. Seventy percent of life is spent at the workplace. Why would someone want to spend that time surrounded by people or be part of something they don't consistently look forward to?

Creating genuine relationships allows Arizona Team to offer the best training possible in a manner where each team member can individually grow at their own speed. Our goal is to learn something new every day and be able to apply it in every facet of life. A level of trust is given to someone when a relationship blossoms. When we trust someone, we typically listen to what they have to say and take their advice to heart. Arizona Team mentors have a tenacious focus on providing this coaching and helping others achieve goals that have been set. This, in turn, evolves into many nuggets of knowledge over the course of a week.

Arizona Team is not in search of perfection from our employees. However, we do insist they do well here. We insist that they see personal and professional development, they learn how to build relationships with teammates and priority customers and they use the highest level of integrity while doing so. Progression, not perfection, leads to development. 

Because we hire at an Entry Level position, it is imperative for us to provide a proper training program. We work on an individual basis to allow each team member the ability to see their growth, which can rapidly occur. Arizona Team believes this is a direct reflection of their policy of only promoting from within.

Coaching given is based off of experience and leadership given is by example. Arizona Team follows a simple system that has worked, and continues to provide effective results, for every client we have ever worked with. Mentors and Managers give feedback and training on skills they themselves have already performed and mastered. We support the concept of "monkey see, monkey do" as opposed to "monkey hear, monkey do," because each team member has either already demonstrated required tasks, or they are willing to. Arizona Team is able to throw seniority out the window by promoting based off of performance and merit. There is plenty of opportunity to progress and we have the resources in place to get anyone who is willing to their goals. It all starts with the willingness to progress.

When a relationship is in place and someone wants to consistently learn and grow, there is no glass ceiling on the level of productivity we can personally provide for ourselves and our clients. The system that Arizona Team has in place proves that with consistent and sustained efforts, consistent and sustainable results follow. 

Teaching someone to have the ability to consistently increase productivity pertains to life aspects outside of Arizona Team walls and is taught on a daily basis. We focus on teaching, rather than motivating. Arizona Team teaches our team members to make decisions that will yield positive consequences regarding their professional growth as well as personal, physical and financial facets.

These four quadrants are interdependent and cannot provide complete peace of mind in isolation. When one is neglected for an extended period of time, the others eventually suffer as well. Arizona Team demonstrates and teaches our team members how to positively influence each quadrant to obtain their desired results.

Arizona Team has, and will continue, to raise our bar when it comes to building great relationships, empowering team members with the ability to consistently progress and providing limitless opportunities to achieve the highest level of productivity and results. Skill has little to do with our system. Those willing to display great people skills, a tremendous work ethic and a positive attitude have the potential to shine at Arizona Team.  

Arizona Team Participates in 9th Annual Pat's Run

Arizona Team participated in the 9th Annual Pat’s Run on Saturday. Pat’s Run is organized by the Pat Tillman Foundation and is a 4.2 mile walk/run around Tempe and Arizona State University. Arizona Team chose the Pat Tillman Foundation and the Pat’s Run event because they believe in the power of a positive environment and the mission that Pat’s Run instills on the community.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/arizona-team/9thAnnualPatsRun/prweb10664930.htm

As a leader in direct sales and entrepreneurship, we believe that the human spirit and a drive for success is a natural compliment to giving back to the community. Pat’s Run was filled with inspiration and hope. Here at Arizona Team, we are proud to be a part of such a fantastic event.
The Pat Tillman Foundation is an organization that provides support and invests time and resources to military veterans and their spouse through educational scholarships. The Pat Tillman Foundation’s mission: building a diverse community of leaders committed to service to others, is a true example of inspiration and hope for those going through the hardships associated with the military. The Pat Tillman Foundation is an honorary name for the athlete and hero–Pat Tillman.

The 9th Annual Pat’s Run was held on 4.20.13. It is 4.2 miles in distance and will end on the 42 yard line inside of the Sun Devil’s Stadium. This was an opportunity for over 28,000 individuals to come together in support of one cause and one person’s decision to fight for his country. In fact, many other cities have taken on “shadow runs” in order to keep the awareness and support going nation-wide. Last year alone 25 U.S. cities held shadow runs. In addition, the ASU Alumni Association along with deployed service members hosted two Troop runs on foreign-soil military bases and in Texas. This year the ASU Alumni Association will be holding twenty-nine informal Shadow Runs around the nation along with two Troop Runs will be taking place in Afghanistan.

In addition to supporting the Pat Tillman Foundation and Pat’s legacy, Pat’s Run encourages many people over the world to create their own legacy through the Tillman Military Scholars program. This program motivates active and veteran servicemen and servicewomen to create a career for themselves by covering the funds and expenses such as housing and child care associated with obtaining a degree. To read more about the Pat Tillman Foundation see their website: www.pattillmanfoundation.org

This race is supported by the Arizona Cardinals, local 12 News KPNX and many Phoenix Businesses including our very own company, Arizona Team. This is especially important to our Scottsdale based company, as many staff members and employees have been personally affected by the attack on September 11, 2001. Since opening our doors in 2010, we here at Arizona Team have made it a priority to join forces with the Pat Tillman Foundation, raising money and participating in the Pat’s Run annually.

Due to the recent tragic event in Boston, Mass. on Monday, April 15th at the finish line of the popular Boston Marathon, Pat’s run had added security, pulling in police forces from surrounding areas such as Scottsdale, Mesa and Chandler. They asked that participants not bring backpacks and/or bags to the race. They also made sure that if anyone saw or heard suspicious activity that it was reported right away to an authority. Pat’s Run officials are committed to the safety for all of the runners and walkers.

This race might have been especially significant due to the devastation at the Boston Marathon finish line bombing. The social media is flooded with support and comments asking the runners and walkers to wear red socks or yellow shoelaces in honor of those that lost their lives or were injured on Monday. So we took it upon ourselves to wear red socks in honor of the Boston bombing victims.
At the beginning of the race this Saturday in Tempe, there was a moment of silence for the victims of the Boston Marathon finish line bombing. With all of the participants, upwards to 35,000 men, women, and children on the 4.2 mile course, this race was much denser than the Boston Marathon. The police corresponded to the concerns about a similar event and took every precaution necessary to ensure the patron’s safety including bomb-sniffing dogs.

Our staff that participated from Arizona Team was confident that this event was a successful one. We believe in the organization and were excited to participate. They did not let the situation from Boston steer them away from supporting the Pat Tillman Foundation. Leaders from Arizona Team are looking forward to this race and each one year after year.

Arizona Team Visits Las Vegas

This week, some of our top Account Executives at Arizona Team are headed to Las Vegas, NV. Given that our clients specialize in the southwest market, we are able to provide training in one of their newer markets–Las Vegas. This is an exciting opportunity to learn more about the client, their expectations, and overall increase their market share.

Arizona Team was awarded this business venture simply because of their track record. Our company has a constant endeavor to drive results for our clients. Due to our system of customer target goals, proper action plans and measurable results we are able to bring our clients the results they need. In addition, this system allows us to focus in on our employees and provide a positive, fun and results-driven work environment. This includes daily encouragement, coaching, development, training programs, and added incentives.

We are excited to provide the same results in their newest market and help them expand. A select few employees from our marketing team were chosen to travel based on merit. Although it was a tough decision, we feel it was a fair decision to send top performers. Arizona Team has a culture built around merit with a philosophy of “work hard, play hard”. This is exactly what this business venture will bring and we are excited to hear all about it.
We hope our Vegas travelers have fun!
See you all in one week!

Arizona Team Runs Neon Run for Charity

On March 23rd, Arizona Team participated as a team in the Phoenix Neon Run. We chose to participate in this event because we knew it would be something fun and different for our staff to look forward to outside of the office. This was a great chance for our staff to run and/or walk alongside one another to continue building relationships and promote a fun and healthy workplace.

Our employees participate in many events together throughout the year to continue an enjoyable work life balance. Arizona Team was built on the principle of diversity and core values. Our core value is our people.  Because we investment in our staff we are able to create a successful atmosphere. We believe that the glue to our successful atmosphere is the personal and professional relationships that are created inside and outside the office.

In addition, Arizona Team believes in giving back to the community. Although the Neon Run did not offer organizations to donate to, we decided to raise money for an International organization. The staff was asked to fundraise in order to participate in the run. Whether they donated personally or got their friends and family involved, we were able to raise over $600!

The Neon Run is a 5k run that promises to provide a fun glowing experience. While running through the race there are color stations that spray safe, fun, neon colors which glow under special lighting and fun upbeat music to trot along to. This is all done in the evening to enhance the glowing experience. Our team had a great time glowing in the dark and we look forward to participating in events similar to this in the future.

Here at Arizona Team, we put a focus on bridging charity events with fun outings for all of our employees to participate in if they choose. Within the first quarter of 2013, we have participated in 5 events all giving back to several charitable organizations. We thank these organizations and our staff for their time and donations.

Arizona Team Hosts March Madness Competition

At Arizona Team, our company is very dynamic. We attract a lot of different personalities, including athletes and winning spirits. With the mentality of “work hard, play hard”, we indulge in healthy competitions. At Arizona Team, we believe that fun and healthy competitions foster innovation, productivity and growth.

Our most recent competition was built around the infamous NCAA basketball tournament often referred to as “March Madness”. In basketball, the month of March marks the end of regular season and the start of a 64 game post season tournament.  The term “madness” refers to the rapid pace of tournaments in which a single elimination competition gets down to the final four teams. In addition, the abundance of teams competing over a three-week period creates madness for the viewers, fans and even players.

Arizona Team has created a similar healthy competition called “March Madness”. Each player competes with another player in their respected brackets with double elimination. The competition was based upon office performance, regarding productivity and leadership responsibilities. After a couple of weeks of fun, we ended up with a winner that was presented with a one-night stay at the Five Diamond Phoenician Luxury Resort and dinner at one of their four top-rated restaurants.
As we continue to grow, we anticipate more fun and friendly competitions with plenty of exciting awards.