Jibber Jabber & Facts That Tell

Jibber jabber & facts that tell...versus stories with passion that sell.

How do you know you’ve chosen the right path? When you talk about what you do, it should be like telling a love story.

I just met with a small group of people who are…”the future top leaders of this company” We were all in Dallas on other business matters and we decided to take advantage of the time. We bonded like brothers and sisters who had been separated at birth. There is nothing like the intense energy and emotions when you are like minded…and on a mission together.
 

There is difference in “a huge meeting” and “huge mentoring” So what’s the difference? A huge meeting wears off in a week or two. Most who attend will be in another meeting just like that in 24 months. Their business will not change… because they have not changed. It’s not their fault…unless…they read this and decide to stay where they are.

Huge mentoring not only creates a successful person, but something money can’t buy…a priceless lifelong relationship.

So who wants to get out of the never ending “big meetings” and get on the inside of…”true high level mentoring?” I just opened the door for you….will you walk through…or close the door?

The Exchange of Good Energy

Every business relationship should be about connecting and the "exchange of good energy" How you feel around the people you are with should tell you if this connection is valuable and should continue, or if it drains you and needs to stop. Make sure you are being fed…not used or fed upon.  To build this kind of relationship you need to ensure that you likewise are feeding your network...not using them and feeding upon them solely to get ahead.

There's a lot of competition when starting a business.  Everyone
 seems to be out for themselves and it seems like you have to cheat and scam and "exaggerate" (okay - lie!) to get ahead.  But that is exactly the opposite of what you should be doing.  Building strong, mutually supportive and beneficial relationships is the key to business success.

Notice I said strong, mutually supportive and beneficial.  You cannot build relationships by going to every networking event in town and handing out your business card to 100 people whose name you won't remember 10 minutes from now. Nor is it joining every online networking site and blasting all of your friends with SPAM.
 

It’s no secret that there’s a lot of competition in the professional world. Sometimes, it seems as if everyone is out for themselves, and that you’ve got to be cutthroat in order to get anywhere in a career. The fact is, however, this is the exact opposite of what one should do when trying to take a career to the next level.
Read more at http://www.careerealism.com/building-strong-business-relationships-tips/#p6hyxe7ptfMX7fqQ.99

It’s no secret that there’s a lot of competition in the professional world. Sometimes, it seems as if everyone is out for themselves, and that you’ve got to be cutthroat in order to get anywhere in a career. The fact is, however, this is the exact opposite of what one should do when trying to take a career to the next level.
Read more at http://www.careerealism.com/building-strong-business-relationships-tips/#p6hyxe7ptfMX7fqQ.99

It’s no secret that there’s a lot of competition in the professional world. Sometimes, it seems as if everyone is out for themselves, and that you’ve got to be cutthroat in order to get anywhere in a career. The fact is, however, this is the exact opposite of what one should do when trying to take a career to the next level.
Read more at http://www.careerealism.com/building-strong-business-relationships-tips/#p6hyxe7ptfMX7fqQ.99

It’s no secret that there’s a lot of competition in the professional world. Sometimes, it seems as if everyone is out for themselves, and that you’ve got to be cutthroat in order to get anywhere in a career. The fact is, however, this is the exact opposite of what one should do when trying to take a career to the next level.
Read more at http://www.careerealism.com/building-strong-business-relationships-tips/#p6hyxe7ptfMX7fqQ.99

How do you build strong business relationships?  Follow these steps:

1.  Show interest in others.  Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations to get discussions started. This means questions that ask who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no.  Being genuinely interested in others will earn you respect and attention in return.

2.  Share what you know.  When you become known as an expert and one who is willing to share that knowledge, people will turn to you for information and they will tell others about you.  This keeps you visible to them.

3.  Follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals. When people give you referrals, your actions are a reflection on them. Respect and honor that.

4.  Don't join groups or social networking sites solely to get referrals/followers.  If you do not have an genuine interest in the group or it's members, you will find it difficult to establish relationships with others. 

5.  Keep in touch. Do favors for your contacts whenever possible. Be genuinely grateful for any assistance they provide and be sure to acknowledge it with a card, a call, or even a gift.

6.  Make sure you understand what your contacts do for a living - and yes, make sure they understand your business. Otherwise, how will you send each other referrals?

7.  Participate - whether in person or by posting on the online networks.  As I said when I started this post, it's all about building trust and good energy.  Do that and the rest will fall into place.

Do You Need Repotting?

As a gardener, one of my annual rituals is the repotting of all my plants that have outgrown their pots during the past year. This can be a time-consuming and messy chore, but it's absolutely necessary or the plants would eventually die. And I am always rewarded with renewed growth and beauty in my container garden.

Just as plants can outgrow their pots, people can outgrow their current situations. The job, hobbies, relationships, and even the area you live in that were so comfortable previously may actually be killing you now - literally! Stress is a leading contributor to many health problems. And while repotting ourselves can be as time-consuming, challenging, and messy as repotting my plants, it is just as vital - and just as rewarding!

One of the main reasons many people become entrepreneurs is because their current careers just aren't fulfilling their needs. A few years ago I read a great article on Beliefnet called "10 Ways to Bring More Growth Into Your Life". It gave some great tips on finding your passion in life. And it gave some wonderful examples of how the wrong profession can drain you - physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Fortunately, it is still available online for those who are looking for renewed growth and vigor in their lives.

How do you know if you need repotting? Take the quiz below. If your score indicates you are ready to repot, then perhaps a career change is in order - and becoming an entrepreneur just might be the change you need.

I've included the web address of the quiz below. Let me know how you score.
http://www.BeliefNet.com/section/quiz/index.asp?sectionID=&surveyID=395

If you want to read the Beliefnet article "10 Ways to Bring More Growth Into Your Life", here's the link: http://www.beliefnet.com/features/repotting.html

When Fantasy Becomes Reality

Fact: Almost anyone can become a millionaire.
Fact: Almost anyone can become a successful entrepreneur.
Fact: It is possible to wake up excited about life every day.
Fact: You can turn your passion into your work - and make the first three facts part of your reality!

What if you start tomorrow believing that these facts are true for you? What if you make them part of your reality. It has been proven many times that when you change your perception of reality, you change your behavior accordingly.

Most people go through life thinking this is all there is. I was as guilty of this as anyone. I knew I'd never be rich. I came from a poor family. We couldn't afford the "fancy" degree from the "right" college. And then later, when I was making a decent living, perhaps I could have gone back to school. But I was on active duty, a young mom with two small daughters and an active duty husband as well. I didn't have the time to go to back to school. And while I had ideas for businesses of my own - well, I had children and financial responsibilities. What if my ideas didn't work? How would I take care of my family?

Fast forward 20 years. My life today is so different. I'm not rich - yet - but I'm on the way to being totally financially independent. I make a good living doing something I love. I am a successful entrepreneur. What happened to make it all possible? Granted, I am no longer on active duty. But I still worked a job for a very long time. The jobs I had demanded long hours and lots of travel so I still had no time for school. I still had two daughters - only now I also had a step-daughter. And I took on the care of my father who suffered from Alzheimer's. I still had financial responsibilities and obligations. If you think three children are expensive, try spoiling seven grandchildren! So what changed? My perception. I had a dad who needed full time care and no money for a decent nursing home. I had daughters with children of their own that couldn't find decent, affordable childcare. I NEEDED to be able to stay home. I also NEEDED to be able to earn a living.

Then I was given a book as a gift. And in that book was a quote by George Bernard Shaw. "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world, The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." That's when I realized that instead of trying to adapt myself to the reality of my present life, I had to adapt reality to the life I needed. And when you change your perception of reality, you change your behavior accordingly.

Let's do a little exercise. Answer these questions. Do you believe you can be financially independent? Do you believe you can find a life's work that you are passionate about and that excites you every day? Not everyone wants the responsibility of their own business, but do you believe that you can earn a living doing something you love? If you answered truthfully - from your heart - yes! then you are ready to move forward. But if there was even the slightest hesitation or doubt before you said yes - then you are ready to move forward. It might just take a little longer to get there!

Open your mind to the possibilities of what could be if you accept it. Put away the "buts" and "what ifs" and "maybes" and just believe that you can have everything you need. Dream of your perfect life. What do you do? Where do you live? Write it down so you can look at it everyday as you learn the skills and techniques necessary to help you enjoy the life you dream of. Look at your 'fantasy' life regularly and begin to accept the idea that it isn't a fantasy at all but your new reality.

Books You Should Read

Today is World Book Day! To celebrate, here's my list of the must-read business books! How many of them are on your bookshelf??

Basic Business Books:?

The Impact Factor (Ken McArthur) -Ken's book is loaded with advice on how to get your message heard. Step-by-step plans, lists, and bullet points are provided to help you put his advice into action. He illustrates everything with personal examples from his own experience and the experiences of others. A must read for anyone trying to stand out in the online business crowd.

Conversations with Millionaires (Mike Litman) - The first business book I ever read. It is filled with secrets from successful millionaires that will help you skip lots of struggle and wasted time and help you get started making money.

The E-Myth (Michael Gerber) - Just because you have a skill or knowledge or a great business idea, doesn't mean it will be a success. If your business is totally dependent on you being there to make money, it's not much better than a normal job. This book will show you how to turn your business into a system, like Starbucks or McDonalds, which anyone can run.

Take Action! Revise Later: A Simple Guide to Success in Business (Bob Jenkins) - I bought this only because I met Bob at a jvAlert event. I saw the book and since I learned quite a bit from him at the event, decided it might be a worthwhile read. And it was. Not only did he show me I didn't have to get it exactly right the first time because I could always change it later, it is filled with tips to help you take the action necessary to get your business going. I even have TARL posted on the wall in my office as a reminder to Take Action! Revise Later.

Marketing Books:

Guerilla Marketing (Jay Abraham) - My business bible-every small-business owner should have it on their bookshelf.

Duct Tape Marketing (John Jantsch) - Practical advice on creating a marketing system that won't cost you a fortune to implement.

Testosterone Free Marketing (Denise Michaels) - One of the best business books I have ever read. If you have ever dreaded having to get out there and ask for the sale, this is the book for you.

It's Not About You, It's About Bacon: Relationship Marketing in a Social Media World (Brian Basilico) - If you are looking for a “How-to” social networking book, then this is not for you. This is a “Why-to” book. If you have been overwhelmed and confused by all the conflicting examples and theories about why social networking works for some and not for others, this book will be an eye-opening breath of fresh air.

31 Days to Millionaire Marketing Miracles (Tracy Repchuk) - I love books that give tell you why and how something works. I also love books that give you definite steps to follow to make that something work for you. This book does both!

PR:

How to Get On The News Without Committing Murder (Beverly Mahone) -This book is simply brilliant. Bev tells you exactly what you need to know and shares her personal secrets on getting media attention. With all of the information she provides, she makes it easy to gain the publicity you need to shine the spotlight on yourself and your business.

Customer Service:

The Celebrity Experience (Donna Cutting) - Customer service should be a red carpet experience. At least that's what author Donna Cutting believes.

Absolute Must Reads:

21 Ways to Make Money Speaking (Felicia Slattery) - No matter what business you start, you can expand it and promote it through public speaking. And Felicia will show you 21 different ways to do it!

The Money Book for Freelancers, Part-Timers, and the Self-Employed: The Only Personal Finance System for People with Not-So-Regular Jobs (Joseph D’Agnese and Denise Kiernan) - The title says it all. If you are self-employed, you need to read this book!

The AdSense Code: What Google Never Told You About Making Money With AdSense (Joel Comm) - Google AdSense was one of the first ways I tried to make money online. Emphasis on the "tried." Because I failed miserably. Then I heard about this book. Now, while I'm not in the ranks of the six-figure earners - yet - Google does pay me regularly. This book will show you how you can do it to!

Do you have a book to add to the list? Please share!

How To Build A Sustainable Competitive Advantage for Your Business

Sustainable Competitive Advantage.  Sounds important.  And it is.  But most entrepreneurs aren't exactly sure what it is - or if they have it.

According to wordiQ,  a sustainable competitive advantage is "an advantage that one firm has relative to competing firms."  Put more simply, it is the long-term (sustainable) superior (competitive) thing about your business that makes you better than your competition (advantage).  It's important because if you have one, it will set you apart from others in your market.  So, how do you know if you have one?

To have a sustainable competitive advantage, you must have an edge over your competition - something that sets you apart, that makes you unique.  And it must be something that you can sustain long term.  That's why things like being first in a particular market or pricing are not always considered to be competitive advantages.  Your competitors can often catch up and even surpass you in these areas.  What sort of things ARE considered competitive advantages?  Intellectual property (patents, copyrights, trademarks, even unique domain names); a unique product or service with a plan for additional follow-up products/services that will keep you ahead of your competitors; innovative technology; or a large pre-existing customer base.  What if you don't have any of these?  Don't worry.  It is still possible to build your advantage.  Here's how:

1.  Know your customers.  And I mean KNOW your customers.  It's not enough to say "my target market is individuals 45+ who want to become entrepreneurs."  I need to know why they want to.  What they expect to gain from doing so.  In fact, I need to know every who, what, where, when, why, and how that I can possibly learn about them.  This means research. (No one said this was going to be quick and easy).

2.  Know your competitors.  Who are they?  Where are they?  What do they offer that is similar to you?  What do they offer that you don't?  What do they do better than you?  What are their weaknesses?  A great way to obtain an advantage is to offer things your competitors don't.  Don't try to compete in areas where they are better than you.  Take advantage of their weaknesses.  Uh-oh!  More research!

3.  Analyze your own business.  What are your strengths?  What are your weaknesses?  What can you improve upon and surpass your competition?  Are there areas in your business where you just can't compete?  We call these distractions.  Let them go.

4.  Create your strategic marketing plan.  Using all of the information you gained through your research, decide where you are going to focus your efforts.  You want to put your time, energy, and money into the things that will bring value to your target market, and that you do better than your competition, or that your competition doesn't offer.  Outsource or discard everything else.

5.  Never stop learning - about your customers, your competition, or yourself.  The way to keep your advantage is keep one step ahead of your competition by knowing what your customers want, and finding ways to provide value to them better and faster than anyone else.

Network Marketing Tip - Don't Look At It As An Expense. It's An Investment In Your Future!

Yay! I just added another person to my network marketing team! For a minute or two, I wasn't sure it was going to happen. He got a little excited when I told him what it was going to cost him to get started. Yes, cost is important, but my first question was "How much can I make?" not "How much is it going to cost?" If you really want to start a business, you will find a way to cover the cost. And joining a network marketing team is one of the least expensive ways to get started in a business of your own.

Let's look at this realistically. You are investing in your future. For the cost of your membership fee, you receive the right to do business as a representative of our company. You receive all of your marketing materials, order forms and enrollment forms. You receive weekly rep support emails, access to tons of conference and training calls, and the ability to represent a fabulous company with terrific products. You get the combined experience of some of the top moneymakers in network marketing. You don't have to stock any inventory. You don't have to worry about billing and collections. You don't have to repeatedly make sales calls and take orders and then make deliveries. And most importantly, you get me and my team. Let's be blunt. If you make money, we all make money, so you can be assured we will do all we can to teach you how to be successful in this business.

I asked some friends of mine who are all business owners what it cost them to start their ventures. Are you ready?

The Business Broker: $16,000
The Event Planner: $7,000
The Day Care Center Owner: $33,000
The Computer Expert: $550
The Caterer: $1,100
The Pizzeria Owner: $65,000
The Personal Trainer: $2,700
The Organizer: $25,000
The Personal Shopper: $2,500
The Landscaper: $5,000
The Housekeeper: $500

Most of these women started their businesses a few years ago. I'm sure the costs would be higher today. And they don't receive the added benefit of having everything provided for them. Nor do they have a team dedicated to helping them succeed.

What it costs to start a business is one of the things you need to think about when considering stepping out on your own. The cost of starting a business can be quite a bit of money. But it's not just about the cost of the business. It's about the value of the investment. I guarantee if anyone reading this who thinks the cost of joining my team is too much will just take a look at what they spend each month, they will discover they spend that and more on things that do nothing to improve their future. How do I know? One $4 latte everyday, rain or shine, at Starbucks, adds up to $120 a month. Add the $2.50 muffin to that and it's $195 a month. And 360 cable channels, over half of which we never watched, added up to $70 a month. That's $265 a month! Get rid of this stuff! That's how I paid for my enrollment!

So how is my latest team member going to pay for his? Well, first there's that newspaper subscription he never reads. And there's the health club membership he has which he never uses. And then there's....