The <strong>Calvert</strong> GazetteThursday, March 15, 2012 8STORYLife Change Coach Practices What He PreachesBy Corrin M. HoweStaff WriterMike Benton figures he couldn’t getmuch lower than the day he sold his refrigeratorfor money to buy groceries. Duringthe lean times, he had the support of friends.One let him live in a 10-foot by 10-foot extraroom. Male ego kept him from getting anyother help.“I was losing everything. My housewas in foreclosure. I was hiding my carfrom repo. I sold a refrigerator to buy food. Ihit rock bottom for me. The only thing I hadleft was the six inches between my ears.”On the Mike Benton Enterprises websitehe writes how he realized that the samething that made him a successful entrepreneurin the past would help him out of hissituation.“Thinking.”He began to read every book he couldabout changing the way he thought.Then he made the decision to change.“I know it is cliché. But it was a lifechanging decision.”The experience not onlychanged his life, it changed hiscareer. In September 2008 hestarted Mike Benton Enterpriseswhich provides lifechange coaching and motivationalspeaking.“However you definesuccess, you know that ithas little to do with luck,and practically everythingto do with learninga set of principles and followingthem.”This is somethinghe learned from Bob Burg, author andspeaker behind the international bestsellersThe Go-Giver, Go-Givers Sell More, EndlessReferrals and It's Not About You.Now Benton is a certified Bob Burgand Bob Proctor consultant.He loves “helping people go fromwhere they are to where they want to go”– especially in the “current economy andcurrent state of mind. It’s needed more thanever.”One of the things he really enjoys is togive back to people like him – “individualswho never saw it coming – with all theirtraining, degrees and experience, they neverimagined they would wind up unemployedat this stage of their life. It’s devastating andit’s my job to help them realize we are not inKansas anymore.”He works with a community outreachprogram in <strong>Southern</strong> <strong>Maryland</strong> called theJob Match Re-Employment Program. Bentonhas been a change coach with the programsince June 2010 and hosts a two-hourdiscussion called “Monday’s with Mike.”In these types of sessions it is importantfor him to help peopleunderstand that “whatyou know and what youdo doesn’t define whoyou are.”Benton is accessible.You can find himon Facebook, Twitter,Linkedin, at PaneraBread, Starbucks,Dunkin Donuts andhe’ll return emailswithin hours.Practicing what hecoaches, he credits thegrowth of his business Home Towne RealEstate to what he learned and practicesfrom Bob Burg’s Endless Referrals. He putsup visuals to make his visions concrete.For example, he said he cut out a picture ofhimself and taped it on a flyer for motivationalspeaker Zig Ziglar announcing a conferenceand speakers. He spends one hourper day learning something new about hisprofession.Everyone has 168 hours in a week.The key is managing the time, accordingto Benton. He said he often has people whosay they don’t have the time. He counterstheir argument with proof that they willmake time for something they see as valuableby offering them Redskin tickets. Mostof the time, people suddenly find time to seeWhat some of Mike Benton’s clientsand acquaintances say about him:• “I know Mike through posts on Facebook really. Hehad always been inspiring when our school went through itsstruggle. He gave me a pep talk online and motivated me to keepdoing what I was doing as the co chair of the Marketing TaskForce, to move forward and to keep up the positive energy. I'llbet he has many followers and friends!” Suzanne Pucciarella,with Our Lady Star of the Sea school.• “He did run for Mardi Gras King and he has been agood friend to us. He is also my life coach. I think very highly ofMike.” Kelly Chambers, CEO of United Way of <strong>Calvert</strong> <strong>County</strong>.• “I’ve known Mike for almost 10 years. We both joinedthe Economical Development Commission at the same time.I’ve done some things with him through his real estate. He soldmy sister her home. And he’s an avid Dunkin Donuts customer,”said Nance Pretto Simmons, owner of Dunkin Donuts in Lusby,and president of the Lusby Business Association.• “When you hire a coach you want a game changer.Someone who will tell you the truth and make you want tochange … Mike is that game changer to anyone willing to listenand take the needed steps,” Brian Mayer, owner of <strong>Online</strong> 4 ADime.• “Mike Benton is one of the career counselors I metthrough the Job Match Re-Employment Program. He's one ofthe most inspirational figures I've had the pleasure of meeting,and I'm proud to call him my friend. He is an example what'spossible when one combines the power of positive thinking withdecisive goal setting and dedication. We can all take charge ofour lives and move in a new, positive direction. Mike Bentonshows us how it's done.” Preston Ford, writer.a Redskin’s game.“I’ve had a number of people ‘quit me’based on using this model,” said Benton,who said everyone should be able to find anextra 20-30 hours a week to spend on meetingtheir goals – doing simple things likelistening to an educational CD rather thanwatching TV.“A plan helps ordinary people achieveextraordinary results,” he said.In his coaching business he works withattorneys, doctors, clerks, stay-at-homemoms and more.“I’m a blessing or a curse to those whocome to me for coaching. It is a process. Ittakes time to germinate. It doesn’t matter –the steps you have to take are different butstill have short, mid and long term [goals].Everything has a start anda finish. Start gettingexcited.”He cautions peoplethat believe falsely theycan do everything theyneed to reach their goalsand to just stop. Just likedieting, it doesn’t work,he said. “Coaching isdaily.”Benton is a graduateof Northern HighSchool and University of<strong>Maryland</strong> College Park.He is current member ofthe North Beach TownCouncil.He and his wife,Tina Patriarca Benton,are agents with HomeTowne Real Estate. Heis a father of four with adaughter in college downto a one-year-old son. Hebought and renovated theNorth Beach home hegrew up in.“This is my life. Ididn’t learn it in collegeor last week. It is a verysimple process but noteasy.”
9 Thursday, March 15, 2012The <strong>Calvert</strong> GazetteThe <strong>Calvert</strong> Gazette & These Fine MerchantsWould Like to Join Our Readers in CelebratingST. PATRICK’S DAYwww.carrollsequipment.com 301-872-5553www.dean-lumber.com301-373-2111www.dbmcmillans.com301-866-0777www.patriotmedicaltransport.com301-290-0502Charles Memorial Gardenswww.charlesmemorialgardens.com301-475-8060Big Larry'sComic Book Cafewww.biglarryscomics.com301-475-1860Heating & Air Conditioningwww.Snheatingac.com301-884-5011Fenwick StreetUsed Books and Musicwww.fenwickbooks.com301-475-2859John F Wood Jr<strong>Maryland</strong> StateDelegate, District 29A301-884-2345301 475 5775www.brandywineparts.com301-863-6433www.mikescustompainting.net301-373-7855240-237-8228ardinerMATTINGLEYFUNERAL HOME, P.A.www.mgfh.com301-475-8500www.ricksjewelers.com301-737-4241www.threemules.com301-863-8803www.pnc.com • 301-737-3700aprilspool.com301-885-9145&ASSOCIATESINSURANCE410-586-2381301-373-3400www.gofirsthome.com301-373-6640301-475-2811rusticriver.net301-997-170022680 Cedar Lane CourtLeonardtown, MD 20650301-475-8966www.cedarlaneapts.comlennys.net301-737-0777cafedesartistes.ws301-997-0500Thompsons SeafoodCorner MarketMechanicsville, MD301-884-5251301-475-8040Fax: 301-475-865841658 Fenwick St. Leonardtown, MD 20650www.thegreenerynursery.net301-373-2573ERIECEDAR POINTFEDERALINSURANCECREDIT UNIONMembership is opento the Community!*301-863-7071 • www.cpfcu.comGROUP*Membership is open to those who live, work,worship, go to school, or regularly conductbusiness in St. Mary’s, Charles, or <strong>Calvert</strong><strong>County</strong> and their immediate family.Federally Insured by NCUAFarm Market 11/2/2011 4:24 PM Page 1ERIEINSURANCEGROUPwww.brinsfieldfuneral.com301-472-4400 • 301-475-5588ERIEINSURANCEGROUPBURRIS’ OLDE TOWNE INSURANCEDANIEL W. BURRIS, CIC, PROPRIETORAuto • Home • Business • LifeERIEINSURANCEBURRIS’ OLDE TOWNE INSURANCEDANIEL W. W. BURRIS, CIC, PROPRIETORAuto • • Home • • Business • • Life22720 WASHINGTON STREET • • P.O. P.O. BOX 707 707LEONARDTOWN, MD MD 20650(301) (301) 475-3151 • Toll • Toll Free: Free: (800) (800) 872-8010 • Fax: • Fax: (301) (301) 475-9029danburris@danburris.com • • danburris.com
- Page 1 and 2: March 15, 2012PricelessGazetteCalve
- Page 3 and 4: 3 Thursday, March 15, 2012The Calve
- Page 5 and 6: 5 Thursday, March 15, 2012The Calve
- Page 7: 7 Thursday, March 15, 2012The Calve
- Page 11 and 12: 11 Thursday, March 15, 2012The Calv
- Page 13 and 14: 13 Thursday, March 15, 2012The Calv
- Page 15 and 16: 15 Thursday, March 15, 2012The Calv
Change language