What Are Your Goals?

Did you know that less than 3% of people have written goals? Why? Studies have shown that the most successful people are the ones who have specific, written goals.  This is true in both your personal and your business life.  Perhaps most people don't have written goals because they don't understand how to set and use them. Since setting goals is one of the most important keys to achieving business success, let's learn how to use them wisely.

Setting a goal is not like a New Year's resolution. That is just a wish, an annual ritual we use to lull ourselves into thinking next year will be different. But just wishing and hoping for something isn't going to make it happen. You need to have a target to shoot for and a plan to get there. That's where goal setting comes in. 

When planning your goals, first establish the time frame. They could be lifetime goals, 10 year, 5 year, 1 year, 6 month, 3 month, 1 month or weekly goals. I have a 5 year plan and a yearly plan that I use to set up monthly goals. I also have ongoing goals, such as exercising 3 - 5 times a week.

Be specific when you write your goals. Don't just write down "I want to lose weight" or "I want to increase my client base." Write "I will lose 60 pounds by December 2013" or "I will have my new Training for Trainers website online by August 1, 2013" (which is actually MY newest goal!).   Make sure your goal statement is positive. Don't say, "I don't want to be fat." Say "I will be a healthy weight by July 2013."  Instead of saying "I don't want a job" say "I will start a home business by January 1, 2014."

The achievement of a worthwhile goal can seem overwhelming at first. The easiest way to proceed is to break your goal down into smaller steps. Start with the first step then move onto the next. When making your plans, a good way is to start is from the end part and work your way to the present.

Measure your progress. After you complete a step, check it off. Watching steady progress is a good motivator. For example, while working towards my weight loss goal, I can mark off milestones of 10 pounds or 20, 40, and finally 60!  Each day, as I build a page of my new website, I know I am one page closer to reaching my goal.

Don't be discouraged by setbacks. All successful people experience setbacks, disappointments, and failure along the way. That's just part of the process. That's part of learning. Many times these act as course corrections to get you back on target.

There are several success principles used in goal achievement. One is properly programming your mind. You need to review your goal morning and at night before you go to bed. Have your goal written on a 3 x 5 card so you can review during the day. At night, ask your subconscious mind for solutions to problems, and methods or tools for helping you achieve your goal.

Another important principle is that of persistence. No one has enjoyed great achievement without persistence. Do something everyday towards your goal. A day's action puts you one step closer to your objective. Doing something everyday creates a momentum that is hard to stop.

When it comes to achieving your goals, you need to think of yourself as an unstoppable force moving relentlessly toward your objective. Keep moving forward, one step at a time, and before you realize it, you will be marking another goal as "Accomplished!".

21 Ways to Make Money Speaking

When I heard that my friend Felicia Slattery had a new book out, I knew I had to have it. Everything she offers is of such immense value, I was sure that this would be no different. And I was right. The book is everything I expected.

I have been speaking as a trainer and coach for several years and I must admit I even discovered some exciting new ideas in this book. If you are a new speaker, this book will be an invaluable tool in helping you learn to build an income as a speaker.

The book is amazingly easy to read in spite of being packed full of information. I read it through the first day. Now, I am going back through it and picking out the ideas that I want to incorporate into my own business. I suggest you take the time to read it thoroughly the first time. Have a highlighter with you so you can highlight the ideas you want to use. One of the fabulous things about this book is that it is filled with ideas you can use now. Today. So you will want to take note of them so you can put them into practice. 

Not only does she give you ideas for making money as a speaker, but most of the chapters provide a list of resources to help you get started. No searching for the information or tools necessary. Felicia leads you right to them.

21 ways to make money speaking. Each one described so you know exactly how to do it. With resources to help you get started. And guidance from one of the best professional speakers and coaches in the business - Felicia Slattery. If you have ever dreamed of making money as a speaker, this book will give you everything you need to succeed. Pick up your copy and get started speaking. Now! Today! 

7 Reasons to Start a Business

If you don't have a business yet, there has never been a better time to start one. Thanks to the internet it is now cheaper and easier to get up and running than ever before. And thanks to all of those who have gone before you, there is more help than ever before.

There are plenty of reasons to start your own business.  So if you are still unsure, see if you fit any of these scenarios.

1.  You are currently unemployed.  Let's face it.  Yes, the economy is improving.  But companies are still hesitant to hire new staff.  Add to that the fact that as boomers, many of us face age discrimination.  They don't call it that, since it's illegal, but that's what it is nonetheless.  Instead, we find we are "overqualified" for many jobs.  Or that we just don't fit the "company vibe."  (Seriously.  That was the term they used - company vibe).  Or they just don't call at all.  If you are currently unemployed, you certainly have the time to start a business.  We can help you find the idea.  All you need is a space to work and the motivation.  If this sounds like you, now might just be the time to start a business.

2.  Tax advantages.  There are plenty of tax advantages for entrepreneurs - even home based business owners and network marketers.  I deduct portions of my internet bill, my cell phone, travel, and much more.  I am not a tax expert so I won't tell you what is legal and what isn't.  But the tax breaks for a business may just make it worthwhile for you to start one of your own.  Contact a tax professional for advice.

3.  To boost your finances.  If you currently are employed and have no desire to leave, but could use a bit more money each month, then starting a business may be the answer.  Many businesses can be run part time from your home.  I should know.  That's how I started.  You may even be able to one day make enough to replace your job.  Which brings us to reason number 4...

4.  Freedom.  I missed many of my children's special moments growing up because I was at work.  Birthdays, holidays, vacations, concerts, sporting events, field trips.  I left them with strangers when they were sick because I had to go to work.  I've gone to work when I was sick myself, because I couldn't afford to take the time off.  The freedom of being my own boss is worth more than I can describe.  It's too late for my children, but I have all the time I want for my grandchildren.  If you long for the freedom to set your own schedule and call your own shots, then it may be time to start a business of your own.

5.  Financial independence.  I can't guarantee you will become wealthy by starting a business.  I'll be honest - many businesses fail.  But when you work for someone else you know you will always make a certain amount of money and nothing you do can change that unless you work more hours or manage to get a raise or promotion.  When you own your own business, there is no limit to what you can make if you learn how to build a successful enterprise and are willing to do the work necessary to get there.

6.  You can leave it to your children.  I admit it.  I look at the state of our country and the world today and I sometimes wonder what type of life my children and grandchildren will live when I am gone.  Will they have good jobs?  Will they be able to afford a decent home?  By teaching them how to run my businesses, I can leave them a legacy that may not guarantee their future success, but could provide them with everything they need in the future.

7.  Pad your resume.  In a recent survey, 28% of future employers said they preferred seeing starting a business as a way to fill in any gaps in employment.

Do any of these sound like you?  Then join the "boomerpreneur" revolution.  Let's do this! 

 

Network Marketing Tip - Always Tell The Truth!

Network marketing has a bad reputation in some circles. It's been called a pyramid, illegal, a scam, a ripoff - and these are some of the nicer things said about it. And because if this reputation, it can be difficult to present your opportunity to others. You might be embarrassed or afraid because you think you know what your prospect is going to say. And indeed, they might reject you, laugh at you, and ask you questions you'd rather not deal with. How do you overcome this. I have only one suggestion - Always Tell The Truth!

There are pyramids and scams aplenty out there masquerading as legitimate business opportunities. And there are dishonest people who are so focused on making a fast dollar that they lie about the business they are in just to sponsor one more person. These are the things that have given network marketing it's bad name. The only way we will overcome it is if all true network marketers promote their businesses with integrity.

What can we do? First, always answer questions honestly. "How much are you making?" Don't lie and say you're making a fortune if you aren't. Tell the truth. If you aren't making any money yet and don't want to admit it, then turn the question back with a simple response that I was taught to use. "It doesn't matter what I'm making. What matters is how much you want to make."

"How much does it cost?" Again, tell the truth. I joined a company a few years ago when my sponsor told me it was completely free to join. What he neglected to tell me was that in order to get paid by the company I had to have a certain number of points which I would receive by ordering the product. The cost of the product was $145 and I was supposed to order every month. So in reality, it isn't free to join this business. It's $145 per month. Does that mean it's a bad company? Not at all. But I sure felt cheated for a while. I always tell my prospects that exactly what it costs to join and exactly what they have to do to make any money.

"How long have you been doing this?" Don't lie! If you've been doing it for years say so, even if you aren't making money. You can always explain that. When my husband and I first started network marketing, we signed up, paid our fee - and then did absolutely nothing for almost two months. Therefore we made absolutely no money. Then I quit my job to take care of my father and we decided we had better get serious about this. So I told my prospects, when they asked, the truth. I've been doing it for almost three months. If they didn't say anything, then I didn't say anything more. If they did ask what I was making, I used the response given in the example above. And if they knew I wasn't making much yet and wanted to know why I told them the truth. I hadn't been working my business. Sometimes they believed me and sometimes they didn't.

"Isn't everyone doing this already?" Be honest. When I signed up to sell Amway (yes I admit it!), it seemed like there was an Amway rep on every corner. It was sort of discouraging. Same with Melaleuca and Mary Kay. And it wouldn't have been a problem except that I had been assured by my sponsor that the area was still wide open. So if someone asks me this question, I tell them the company has been around for quite a while. The Arkansas team is huge. You don't have to market and recruit locally. I have teams in Dallas, Florida, Las Vegas, Canada, and Missouri and who knows where else. I have customers all over the country. So now my prospects know that they can do the same.

"How long will it take to make any money?" and "How much time will it take?" These two go hand in hand. If I hear one more person tell me I can be making thousands in a few months with no effort, I think I'll scream. Can you make thousands in a few months? Yes. Will most people do so? No. Will they do it without any effort? Absolutely not. It's a business. Not all businesses are created equal. However all businesses take effort. In my town there is a small bookstore and coffee shop run by a friend of mine. On the other side of town there is a Barnes and Noble with a Starbucks. Two "identical" businesses. Does my friend make as much money as B&N? Of course not! Does that mean all bookstores are scams? Do both stores have to work to make their money? Let's see - someone has to order the books, put them on the shelves, interact with the customers, advertise the business, do the bookkeeping, keep the store clean - and probably many more things I'm not even aware of. Sounds like work to me! The same is true with network marketing. I don't know how long it will take you to make any money. I'm not you. But I can promise you, you will have to work. Because if you don't I can make you one more promise - you won't make a dime no matter how long you wait.

These are just some of the questions that can easily lead to misrepresentations and lies. If you have to lie to bring a prospect onto your team, you probably don't want them anyway because they aren't going to help you grow. They don't get it now or you wouldn't have to lie and they certainly won't get it later on because they bought into something that didn't exist. What they will do is go out and tell everyone they come into contact with that your business is a pyramid, illegal, a scam, and a ripoff.

Your Business Concept

If you were going on vacation, before you pulled out of the driveway or boarded a plane, you would know where you were going.  You would know if you were going to stay in this country or travel abroad.  You would know if you were visiting a city or getting back to nature at the beach or in the mountains.  You may leave a few details open to be decided on the spur of the moment, but you would have a basic idea of what your vacation was going to be.

The same is true when starting a business.  Before you do anything else, you need a basic idea of what your business is going to be.  Why do you want your own business?  To have more money?  More time?  More flexibility?  How much money do you want to make?  Enough to retire from your current job?  Enough to have a financial cushion?  Are you unemployed and looking for a way to make a living?  Do you want to work from home or do you hope to have an office or shop one day?  Do you want to work alone or do you want partners or employees?  Is your business going to be strictly online? 

Before you start your business it's critical that you have a clear concept of your business.  This will help you as you write your business and marketing plans. 

If you follow my step-by-step guide to starting your business, then you will answer these questions as part of the process.  The first step is to examine your goals, your values, your strengths and weaknesses, your passions and interests and put these together to help you determine your business concept. 

You wouldn't get on a plane to go on vacation without knowing where the final destination was, would you?  Neither should you start out on a business venture without a clear idea of where you are heading.  Having a clear concept of your business will get you started in the right direction as you start building your business.  Use our guide to help you find yours.  

8 Surprising Ways to Boost Your Business

We've all been told that raising prices, cutting costs, upselling, and bundling are all great ways to boost our bottom line.  But there are other ways to boost your business as well.  These ideas may surprise you!

1.  Build a team of experts.  If you are lying awake at night struggling with the answers to business questions, it's time to build yourself a team of personal friends and professional acquaintances whose advice you trust.

2.  Overcome the technology hurdles.  Are you sitting in front of your computer with a dream, a great idea, and no clue how to get started because you don't understand the technical stuff?  Are you on the verge of quitting because you don't know where to learn?  The answer is simple. Just like everything else, you take it one step at a time.

3.  Invest in your business.  If you want your business to continue to grow you must invest in it.

4.  Network, network, network.  Networking is all about building relationships. Anyone who can understand that concept can network their way to more business.

5.  Practice the 5 "Be's". Be persistent, be of value, be credible, be patient, and be yourself.

6.  Read a book.  You can learn a great deal from the right book.

7.  Look the part.  While superior graphics and web design may not boost your bottom line, it is a fact that messy, badly designed, amateur "shabby" work will leave your clients with a negative impression of your business.

8.  Create and follow a marketing game plan.  When building your online business, it is essential that you have a marketing plan.  You wouldn't start on a trip without a map, would you?  Not sure how to create one?  Use our checklist!
 

Coaching Can Be the Key

I have been writing a book for approximately two years now.  Or maybe I should say I have been thinking about writing a book.  That is until March 7, 2013.  That date changed everything because that is the the date I joined Denise Michael's Book Writer's Mentoring Program.  I have accomplished more since that date then I ever did in the past two years.  It's the perfect reminder of the impact the right coach can have on you and your business.

Starting your own business comes with its share of challenges. You will make plenty of mistakes along the way. One way to minimize the number of missteps is to find a good mentor or coach to help you. But every time I open my email, I have a message from some new "expert" ready to share his wisdom - and latest product - with me, for a price. They offer group coaching, individual coaching, special one-on-one coaching, exclusive coaching, private mentoring - every type of coaching imaginable.  I can be coached in person, online, by phone, or by email.  How do you know which to choose? 
When hiring a coach or mentor, there are certain things to look for to help you make the right choice. Following these steps will help you succeed faster, and keep you from spending money on books and seminars you won't ever use or having an inbox full of newsletters you never read.

1. Does the information offered fill your needs? When I started, I needed to know how to build a website, where to find products, and how to get online. A course on teleseminars or posting videos, while good information, was not what I needed at the moment. Your guru should be an expert in the area you need at the time. Example - Ken Evoy (SiteBuildIt!) for web design or Darren Rowse (ProBlogger) for creating an online presence through blogging.

2. Do they actually provide good information? As I stated earlier, I recently joined Denise Michael's mentoring program.  And I walked away from the first session with answers to several of the questions that had kept me from actually starting on my book.  This has continued throughout the program.  At times, she will provide information I didn't even know I needed (interview release forms - who knew?). 

3. Do they tell the truth? If you are being promised riches overnight (or in a week or even a month) with no effort, no investment, no skills, and no knowledge. you are being lied to. There are many ways to make money online. But they all require work or the money to hire someone to do it for you. They require the skill and knowledge to create a business plan - or the money to hire someone to do it for you. You will need to build websites, market your products or services, deliver your goods to your customers - or find someone to do it for you. And beware the gurus who spend all their time "proving" how much money they made. Anyone can photoshop bank statements or checks showing millions in income - even me (and I'm technologically challenged!). The real experts don't have to convince you they make money. They are too busy running their businesses and showing others how to build theirs.

4. Can you do what they do? A multi-level marketing expert I used to follow suggested the way to build my network marketing business was by purchasing leads and then calling these people every day and making my pitch. She sure was successful, but I hate cold-calling with a passion! Although these were "qualified" leads, the thought of calling someone I didn't know and trying to interest them in my business made me absolutely nauseous. Needless to say, we soon parted professional company.

5. Can they teach? Just because someone is an expert in their field does not mean they know how to share that knowledge with others in a way that is understandable to you.

6. Do they run in the right circles? And by that I don't necessarily mean the "in" crowd. I mean do they know other experts they can introduce you to. The best example I can give of this is Ken McArthur and his jvAlert events. I've had the pleasure of attending a couple of these and it's a veritable "who's who" of internet marketing experts. Ken knows his stuff, and what he doesn't know - well he knows the people who do.

7. Are you comfortable with them? This is an important consideration. Recently, I was going to start working with a new coach. I liked his program. He was recommended by many of my friends. But after talking to him on the phone, I realized I didn't like him! He had a way of speaking that made me feel like I was just the latest check mark towards his quota of new clients for the week. Perhaps it would have changed if I had actually started working with him. But I just couldn't get past that first impression. You must be comfortable with your coach or mentor or you will just be wasting your time.  Many coaches will offer a free session so you can see if you are a good fit.

A coach or mentor can be an invaluable resource for you business.  Finding the right one can take some time and effort, but it is worth it. Do your homework. Ask for recommendations. Check them out. Choose the one that's right for you.