INVESTING IN HUMAN CAPITAL – Meaningful Communication

INVESTING IN HUMAN CAPITAL – Meaningful Communication

by | Jul 20, 2018 | Illens on the Road - Speaking, Reviews

“I never ask a question that I am not willing to take the time to hear the answer to.” Illens Dort

 Few weeks ago, my good friend Shauna Brown – Director of Project Read  in Provo – emailed me and asked if I would come and present to his staff and students on the subject of communication. She told me they hold a monthly Launch and Learn. The date for this month was July 20. This was also my birthday. I did not tell that this would be on my birthday.

I thought what a great blessing and opportunity to be able to go and support her and her staff in this wonderful work they are doing with this great Project Read. The announcement of this topic Everyone Communicate, Few Connect appealed also to audience outside of the project. In addition to the staff and students of the Project Read, there were store managers and college students. A young man who recently graduated from high school was also in attendance. It was a delight for me to be with them and spend a portion of birthday with this wonderful group. 

Here is a brief summary of the impact of the presentation that Lesli Mortensen who is over Communication shared: “So happy to have Illens Dort present at our Lunch and Learn activity today! So many great takeaways about how meaningful connection with others always builds your influence to do good. Our favorite quote from the day: “I never ask a question that I am not willing to take the time to hear the answer to. Great advice for being genuine communicators and people.”

Illens Dort is a Certified Speaker, Coach, and Trainer with The John Maxwell Team. Thank you for your time!!!  Illens Dort – author of Thinking and Acting with a Compassionate Heart. To buy a copy go to https://www.amazon.com/author/Illensdort.

INVESTING IN HUMAN CAPITAL – The Transformation Challenge

INVESTING IN HUMAN CAPITAL – The Transformation Challenge

by | Jul 19, 2018 | Daily Dose, Past Events, Reviews

 I taught a workshop yesterday, July 18, 2018,  in Provo at Corporate Alliance. The topic was The Transformation Challenge – The Six Steps to Planning and Execution. The next one is scheduled for August 22 at Corporate Alliance in Midvale. Here is what the participants have to say about it.

“The Six Steps to Planning and Execution process discussed in this training was great. I appreciated that it all goes back and starts with your “why” and understanding what that is. I think often times as a business owner we can get caught up in the shinny-object syndrome and wanting to do the next “big” thing without considering if it is aligned with our vision. The training takes you through a step by step process to help you understand and consider what is really important and the best way to get the desired result. The best part is this process can be applied to any decision or task. Illens is a great instructor and I recommend this training to all.” —-Dustin Barnhurst, CPA, MAcc, MBA – Audit Partner/Start-up Expert DAVIES+ALLEN, P.C. 

”The “Six Steps to Planning and Execution” as presented by Illens Dort this month was a very practical workshop.  All attendees were guided through the process of tackling a sizeable goal or problem they were facing.  Then by using a proven framework, they made progress in manageable increments. 

The real-life story used to show the method was of a family-owned chain of gas stations suddenly facing the threat of bankruptcy and needing to raise millions in a short time.  Because they were able to do this, it was inspiring to us as class participants to face up to our individually chosen projects. Heart-felt desires were shared about recruiting for a humanitarian trip, bringing family together for a cruise, finding new clients online and dealing with stolen money. As you can see this process can be applied to many situations. 

The purpose of the seminar went beyond reaching goals, valuable as that is.  It was also about building people, forging happy relationships and finding hope in a troubled world.  There was good camaraderie among the small group, fostered in great part by Illens.  Bringing sound principles to bear in your personal life works so well in this type of a setting.” —Brett Littke – RN

The Transformation Challenge training led by Illens Dort is a great training to attend. It takes everything you have learned about SMART goals and helps you look at goals on a higher level. It also helps you to develop a better system for accountability and holding yourself responsible to those goals. This training is great for those who are looking to take their life to the next level. —Kara Jenkins – Director of Events – Provo Beach

“Both Shane and I enjoyed the course and training because it forces you to refocus and reevaluate where you are spending your time as a leader, and where your most effective influences could have the best impact in the organization.  Also, as a leader, one of the most effective resources are the people within an organization, and Illens was able to reveal how to tap into your organization to become the best by using these resources to become more effective.” —Catherine Hoover – Managing Director – Express Employment Professionals

“Hi Illens – I loved the workshop.  Thanks again!  I am very interested in “becoming my best” and this workshop really helped me to take a BIG goal through a process to more clearly visualize it and to ultimately accomplish it.  Illens inspires people to work together and to ask the right questions.  I think this process could help business leaders find clarity with their company goals as well.  I have full confidence that Illens is an expert and would be able to help you execute your vision and goals masterfully.” —TRISH BYINGTON, PHR/SHRM-CP – Payroll/HR Specialist – BBSI

“Had a great time yesterday with my new friend Illens Dort while he shared about processing through decision making, goal setting, and leadership. I highly value him as a person and business contact here in Provo, UT. #leadership #business I would recommend his book on how to lead and act with compassion.” —Adam Peek 

Illens Dort is a Certified Speaker, Coach, and Trainer with The John Maxwell Team. Thank you for your time!!!  Illens Dort – author of Thinking and Acting with a Compassionate Heart. To buy a copy go to https://www.amazon.com/author/Illensdort.

Thinking and Acting with a Compassionate Heart – Your Good Name – Your Brand

Thinking and Acting with a Compassionate Heart – Your Good Name – Your Brand

by | Jul 18, 2018 | Daily Dose

 “Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of — for credit is like fire: when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguished it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again.” —Anon

“The way to gain reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.” — Socrates

The outer vessel is a reflection of the inner vessel. The best way to manage your representation is to protect and preserve your good name. For your good name is your brand.

Illens Dort is a Certified Speaker, Coach, and Trainer with The John Maxwell Team. Thank you for your time!!!  Illens Dort – author of Thinking and Acting with a Compassionate Heart. To buy a copy go to https://www.amazon.com/author/Illensdort.

Thinking and Acting with a Compassionate Heart – Gifts (That all May Be Profited Thereby)

Thinking and Acting with a Compassionate Heart – Gifts (That all May Be Profited Thereby)

by | Jul 17, 2018 | Daily Dose

 Every human being has been given a specific gift. No one individual has been given every gift. “To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.” (D&C 46:12). The wisdom of the Giver of all gifts is found in these words “that all may be profited thereby”.

To say it simply, we don’t receive all the gifts or talents so we can work in harmony with the other members of our community. We need one another. If we had received all the gifts and if they were given to you to benefit you, what need would we have of the other members of our family, our coworkers, and our community? In that same vein, whatsoever gift we may have been blessed with, it was given to us to serve others, not to serve us. The gifts that your brothers and sisters (family), coworkers (business), and your neighbors (community) received are given to them so they can serve you.

Once we understand why our talents are given to us, it is imperative that we spend more times identifying our naturel talents and work on cultivate them. We will make a greater contribution to society by working on improving our natural talents instead of dreaming of the ones we wish we had.

I would love to hear from you about the talents you have been given and what you are doing with them to lift the lives of people around you. 

Illens Dort is a Certified Speaker, Coach, and Trainer with The John Maxwell Team. Thank you for your time!!!  Illens Dort – author of Thinking and Acting with a Compassionate Heart. To buy a copy go to https://www.amazon.com/author/Illensdort.

Thinking and Acting with a Compassionate Heart – Have I Done Any Good?

Thinking and Acting with a Compassionate Heart – Have I Done Any Good?

by | Jul 16, 2018 | Daily Dose

“Have I done any good in the world today?” Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed in deed. Has anyone’s burden been lighter today because I was willing to share? Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? When they needed my help was I there?” Will L. Thompson invites us to contemplate these questions and to use them as guidelines to evaluate our performance day by day.  He wrote these lines as text for a beautiful hymn “Have I Done Any Good?”.  He wrote them over 100 years ago. They are still good today, even more so today.

What is your world? It starts with you, members of your family, members of your community, coworkers etc. When you take time to contemplate the gifts you have been given, these questions should be used to help reflect daily on how you are using these gifts and for what purpose they were given to you. As I began the third quarter in the game of life, I have decided to make every day count.  Here is how I do it.

I made a decision that every day I will do something that adds value to myself and I will do something that adds value to at least one human being. At the end of the day, I ask myself these 2 simple questions. Did I help someone in need? Did I do something that lifted someone spirit? If I can’t answer YES to one or both of these questions, I just say to myself that I wasted a day.

Too often we worry about how long we will live. Our focus should be on how well we are using these precious days and hours that we have before us.

Recently I shared this goal with a friend.

He told me this is a tall order, Illens.

I responded, yes you are correct. But it is very much doable. I don’t wait until I can do big things that will help a lot of people. I focus on simple things that I can do that make a difference in the lives of a few. I can share a smile. I can offer a genuine compliment. I can do simple acts of service for others – just be kind to others.

About service, let me share a simple principle. When you offer someone something that they don’t need, you seek to serve yourself. When you help someone with something they need, you serve them.

The other question is that how do we do that in the workplace? The answer is also simple. We can start with ourselves. Every day we can start the day with an attitude of gratitude. You can tell yourself you are grateful that you have a job. You are grateful that you can help someone. You can also use the Maxwell’s Rule of Five; Every day I: 1) Value people, 2) Think of ways to add value to people, 3) Look for ways to add value to people, 4) Add value to people, 5) Encourage others to add value to people.

I am sure you have done some good in the world today. I invite you to continue to live a life of abundance and make your world a better place for you and others.

Illens Dort is a Certified Speaker, Coach, and Trainer with The John Maxwell Team. Thank you for your time!!!  Illens Dort – author of Thinking and Acting with a Compassionate Heart. To buy a copy go to https://www.amazon.com/author/Illensdort.