ASP Retreat I

Thank you seems to be such an inadequate statement for the time we spent with you (during the New Patient Experience Practicum). For me it personally answered a lot of questions, but created even more - as any good paradigm shift does. We can all look back at "watershed" experiences in our careers; this has been one for me. It's more than just the practical application of Bob Barkley, it's the philosophy alive! For that I am eternally grateful.

The overall Applied Strategic Planning Series was very positive and stimulating. Previous goal-setting seminars did not provide the tools to fully develop and implement a strategic plan. This process provided a new sense of excitement and clarity about where we are. It gave the team a sense of purpose about what we're trying to achieve. As a result of this process, our 21-year-old practice grew 25% in both gross and net the year after completing ASP.

Bob, you are a rare individual with a wide array of talents that will prove invaluable to any organization that is fortunate enough to choose to work with you. Although, you knew very little about the laser industry, you quickly came up to speed through your exceptional listening and synthesizing capabilities.

Your passion for the critical importance of vision and strategic planning just radiates from you and is highly contagious. You can certainly prove that by seeing the folks here at Incisive. We always feel better about who we are and what it is we're doing, especially after spending time with you. Simply put, you resonate beautifully.

I wish you continued success as you grow your true calling of Applied Strategic Planning and as you transform organizations and their people into the best they can become. To say you're a dentist who is trained in strategic planning may be the understatement of the decade! You may be a dentist who has and is helping others have an exemplary practice, but you are a born visionary! I firmly believe that any entrepreneurial organization that wants to thrive in today's turbulent times would benefit from Applied Strategic Planning under your capable leadership. Thank you, Bob!

Since Retreat I, we have had four staff meetings and the word dentistry has yet to be mentioned! Very powerful meetings! Tears, hugs, the whole nine yards. This Wednesday, I hope to progress to writing our personal mission statements. I can tell that when dentistry is approached by the team, it will have a different angle. They have already, almost unconsciously, begun to see answers to questions through the prism of their closely held values. This path is more difficult than I had imagined. And, I'm not referring to how we practice dentistry. I feel like an ancient sailor who has sailed from port not really understanding what will happen, but sure of our direction!

Written the first year after taking the Applied Strategic Planning Series: Bob, the changes here are truly phenomenal! We are now in our beautiful new office, production and collection has risen over 50% and I swear we are not working as hard. I just stopped to listen the other day, and it is simply wonderful to hear and feel this new energy. People should be standing in line for this experience. Thank you my friend!

I wanted to thank you for such an enlightening weekend. I’ve been using the Awareness Wheel (positive conflict resolution tool) often and its working! My husband is learning to use it in his business w/employees with great success. The ‘dance’ you and bill do in the workshop is very comfortable and you compliment each other well.

I wish we had been doing co-diagnosis 100 years sooner. I think what you've developed is a very powerful yet comfortable process. It really fits people into the practice where they want to be without violating their integrity. I am very grateful for the work you've done!

Dr. Bob Frazer was outstanding. I announced during his introduction that, in an effort to get more members to stay through Friday, I had saved the "keynote" for Friday. I could only hope that his presentation would provide the "Wow!" factor I needed to finish out the meeting. Everyone was tired, low on energy, and ready to go home, and then Bob started speaking. Within the first 30 minutes of his three-hour presentation, Bob had our energy levels back up, we were re-energized, and everyone was on the edge of their chair and participating. After another 15-20 minutes I left briefly to go to the restroom, where another Schulman Group member commented, "Have you noticed how the energy level in the room has spiked?" We both laughed and rushed back to the room so we wouldn't miss too much of the presentation. I can't tell you how pleased everyone was with Dr. Frazer's presentation; they were overwhelmed. Please accept my sincere gratitude for recommending Bob!

On behalf of myself and the Surlean Foods family of team members, I wanted to thank you for your assistance with the development of our 5 year Applied Strategic Plan. Without your leadership and coaching I do not believe we would have produced such an impactful result.  The inclusive team building approach and collaborative way the material was presented not only allowed us to adequately assess our current state, but put us in a position to envision our desired future.

The Shadow Teams were so insightful and did provide those precious "nuggets" you said they would and continue to provide the checks and balances that we needed to ensure our progress is sound.

You are surrounded by an outstanding team of professionals and we are very appreciative of Bill, Carole and Angela's passion and talents.  Our team is better because we were able to work with your team.

Our team has a common goal and a unified strategy to reach that goal. I am confident that Surlean is on pace to become "the preferred customized food manufacturer passionately serving the food service industry" as our new Mission Statement reads.

We grew as a company, a team, and individuals through the ASP process and I know I speak for the Surlean Family when I say thank you for being an instrumental part of our future of choice.

Very Truly,