Dawn's Blog - Archives
October 26th, 2012
More secrets from Jim Rohn on how to lead a rich, wealthy and purposeful life!
1) Face Your Fears
Facing your fears is the only way to totally guarantee that you finally conquer them. A wise man once gave the instructions to “do the thing that you fear and death of that fear is certain”.
So stop running from the things that you are afraid of and take a stand and look them dead in the eyes. Once you do this, they won’t be that scary anymore.
2) Exercise Your Willpower
I’ve heard some people argue that willpower just doesn’t work. I highly disagree with this because willpower is absolutely essential for getting the ball rolling when you’re changing directions in life. As a matter fact, there really isn’t any other method that’s going to work in this scenario.
Think about it for a minute; there isn’t anyone who is going to physically move you and get you going in the right direction but you. And it’s going to take a load of effort too; conscious effort to be exact.
You must consciously think about the change that you want to make in regards to the new direction that you want to go in and then summon up all of the willpower that you can in order to start heading in that direction.
3) Refine Your Goals
Nine times out of ten you’ll find that you set goals that just aren’t high enough and don’t force you to stretch to new heights. So sometimes you need to take a step back and set higher goals that force you to get out of your comfort zone and achieve things that you really never thought were possible.
Refine and reset!
Shoot higher and higher and watch as you soar high above the clouds!
4) Conserve Your Time
One of the most precious valuables in the world is time. It’s something that’s indispensable because once it’s gone you can never get it back… EVER!
This is why you must make the most of every second of every day and never, ever, ever take one second for granted. When you make time to work, WORK! And when you make time to stop and smell the roses, savor every moment!
Productivity is essential for achievement so plan your work and work your plan swiftly and to the absolute best of your ability.
October 24th, 2012
3 ways to put fresh spins on old marketing concepts - By Michelle PW
Are you struggling to find a new twist for your advertising or marketing campaigns? Tired of sounding like everyone else and want something new and fresh? Never fear. Here are 3 ways to get those creative juices (and new ideas) flowing.
But before I get to those, there are a few things you should do to prime the pump, so to speak. What this does is clear your "conscious" mind so your muse will have an easier time sending messages to it.
First, review all the information about your product or service. Then, write down all the benefits (why customers would buy those products or services). Now write down all the concepts you have used before or you've seen other people use before. This is an important step. You need to move the old stuff out of the way to make room for the new. Writing those concepts down helps do this.
Okay, now you're ready to start generating some fresh ideas.
1. Take another look at testimonials. Testimonials are always great selling tools, but that's not why I want you to do this. Customers may come up with a key benefit you never thought about before, and that may become the foundation for a new campaign. Scour every testimonial you can get your hands on and see if you can find something new. You might want to even try calling a few customers for quick interviews. (Don't have testimonials? Now might be a good time to solicit some.)
2. Study other ads. Flip through a magazine or turn on the television -- except this time focus on the ads and not the content. (I know, I know, this is counter to what you usually do.) Which ads do you like? Why do you like them? Are those ads doing something you can modify for your own campaign?
The key word is modify, not copy. I don't want anyone committing copyright infringement. What I'm talking about is using an existing ad to jump-start your own ideas. Maybe you really like the use of an evocative photo with a single caption. Or the use of repetition in Mastercard's "Priceless" campaign. Or the idea of turning the "money can't buy everything" on its head (which is essence of that campaign). Can you use that concept in your campaign?
Another resource for great ads is Communication Arts Magazine. Each issue showcases some of the most creative and beautiful ads found anywhere.
3. Check out what a completely different industry is doing. For instance, let's say you sell software products to computer professionals. Techy market, right? So, pick up a yoga magazine. See how that industry communicates with its audience. Now try selling your product using the same language and concepts. Take it a step further and brainstorm ways your software product is similar to doing yoga.
Why this works: One definition of creativity is taking two everyday ideas and combing them so they become something original.
This is a very powerful way to jolt your own thinking and start your muse down a completely different path, one you might never have discovered before.
A variation on this idea is to force a connection with a random object rather than an entire industry. You ask yourself, how is your software program similar to a stuffed dog? Write down everything you can think of, no matter how silly or foolish. Sometimes the foolish ideas are the ones that lead to the great ones.
A final note: If at all possible, don't rush this process. Give your muse some time to ponder and play with these techniques. I know it often seems like ideas pop out into your head out of thin air, but usually that only happens because you've given your muse the necessary tools and "incubation time" to make it happen.
October 19th
The 10 Keys to Business Success – Brian Tracy
Did you know that there are ten critical areas where your ability to think largely determines the success or failure of your business? The greater clarity you have in each of these areas, the better decisions you will make and better results you will achieve.
Key Purpose
What is the purpose of a business? Many people think that the purpose of a business is to earn a profit, but they are wrong. The true purpose of a business is to create and keep a customer. Fully 50 percent of your time, efforts, and expenses should be focused on creating and keeping customers in some way.
Key Measure
The key measure of business success is customer satisfaction. Your ability to satisfy your customers to such a degree that they buy from you rather than from someone else, that they buy again, and that they bring their friends is the key determinant of growth and profitability.
Key Requirement
The key requirement for wealth building and business success is for you to add value in some way. All wealth comes from adding value. All business growth and profitability come from adding value. Every day, you must be looking for ways to add more and more value to the customer experience.
Key Focus
The most important person in the business is the customer. You must focus on the customer at all times. Customers are fickle, disloyal, changeable, impatient, and demanding--just like you. Nonetheless, the customer must be the central focus of everything you do in business.
Key Word
In life, work, and business, you will always be rewarded in direct proportion to the value of your contribution to others, as they see it. The focus on outward contribution, to your company, your customers, and your community, is the central requirement for you to become an ever more valuable person, in every area.
Key Question
The most important question you ask, to solve any problem, overcome any obstacle, or achieve any business goal is "How?" Top people always ask the question "How?" and then act on the answers that come to them.
Key Strategy
In a world of rapid change and continuing aggressive competition, you must practice continuous improvement in every area of your business and personal life. As Pat Riley, the basketball coach, said, "If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse."
Key Activity
The heartbeat of your business is sales. Dun & Bradstreet analyzed thousands of companies that had gone broke over the years and concluded that the number-one reason for business failure was "low sales". When they researched further, they found that the number-one reason for business success was "high sales." And all else was commentary.
Key Number
The most important number in business is cash flow. Cash flow is to the business as blood and oxygen are to the brain. You can have every activity working efficiently in your business, but if your cash flow is cut off for any reason, the business can die, sometimes overnight.
Key Goal
Every business must have a growth plan. Growth must be the goal of all your business activities. You should have a goal to grow 10 percent, 20 percent, or even 30 percent each year. Some companies grow 50 percent and 100 percent per year, and not by accident. The only real growth is profit growth. Profit growth is always measurable in what is called "free cash flow." This is the actual amount of money that the business throws off each month, each quarter, and each year, above and beyond the total cost and expense of running a business.
There you have it! What key does your business need to focus on for more success?
October 17th
Find Time to Learn that 24 Hours Really Can Be Enough: 7 Time Management Tips!
Finding time to get everything done that you need to do AND still have time for the things that matter most can be a difficult path to negotiate.
But it’s absolutely doable … because you know what?
There’s a different way to arrange your day … and I’d like to share it with you!
Time is concrete and finite … but it really is true that 24 hours can be enough. It requires that you learn and practice some skills. And most importantly, it requires that you keep in mind that this is a perpetual process of learning, as you hone and adapt these skill sets to your individual situation and needs.
Here are Seven Timely Tips to help you along your path to time success!
1. The “X 2″ Rule. Always plan for things taking more time than you think. Estimate how much time a project or task will take, and double it!
2. Develop a system of organization. Take the time to organize your space and your time. If you have a system, you can do anything.
3. “Done is better than Perfect.” If you find yourself consistently repeating tasks, or editing your writing, to get even insignificant details to be absolutely perfect, reconsider your priorities. Fix what is important, but keep the achievement of your desired outcome as your highest priority.
4. Write down or record your ideas immediately when they come to you … otherwise, you may forget them. Carry a small notebook or a small digital recorder with you at all times. This will save you hours of frustration trying to recapture a valuable idea.
5. The way you use your time is the way you live your life. Remember that each of us only has 24 hours in each day. Each choice about how to use your time “in the moment” matters! This isn’t meant to increase urgency or add panic to your challenges, but to add a fundamental sense of the very real importance of these time decisions.
6. Set aside one day a month as a “vacation” day. Decide ahead of time what day it will be and note it on your calendar. Then, when that day arrives, use it to do whatever you choose. This habit is guaranteed to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.
7. You will not have more time tomorrow. If you do have more unscheduled time tomorrow, other activities will expand to fill it. (See number 1.) Therefore, resolve to use your time creatively and effectively each day.
October 15th
One Last Key to Respect AND Attention... By Rich Schefren
Time for one more tip on commanding attention and respect. So far we've talked about stepping outside your comfort zone. We've talked about curiosity and the benefits of picking people's brains.
The last technique I want to tell you about is a simple change of perspective in the way you look at relationships.
It really doesn't matter what type of relationship it is. It could be a relationship with an outsourcer. It could be a relationship with an employee. It could be a relationship with your spouse or children. It could be a relationship with your marketplace.
But what I strongly suggest you do, is start looking at relationships as learning experiences.
Because in any relationship, if you're attentive and willing to look, you're constantly being taught by the other side. About how to respond to them to get them to do what you want. About how to get them to do what's best for them. And to learn what motivates them.
In any individual relationship, there is an opportunity to learn about the other side.
For example, with your employees, the more you learn about how they respond to different motivation tactics, different requests, etc. the more they're effectively teaching you about how to get the best out of them. The same goes for your marketplace. Looking at what they respond to and what they don't respond to in terms of your offers teaches you how to best approach them.
In other words, every experience you have in a relationship is an opportunity for you to learn something that will help you perform better in whatever area you're working in. I believe that that's a very powerful shift in perspective that when fully embraced, will allow you to consistently improve.
So these three techniques I've shared with you are not "go out and study or think about them for a while" techniques. Embrace these mindsets, embrace these ways of being, and by doing so, you will be more successful, more influential, more respected because of their impact on you over time.
I know "over time" is not the most sexy phrase because we tend to want things immediately. We live in the "now culture" so to speak, but the more you can embrace them, the better off you'll be.
October 9th, 2012
Respect AND Attention - Step 2... By Rich Schefren
We're on the subject of tactics that will help you both get attention as well as respect. Last Friday, I talked about your comfort zone and showed you how to get out of it. Today I want to talk about another one...
Picking people's brains.
I tend to pick everybody's brain that I can. Ultimately I make my own final decisions on anything that's important to me. But I love to get other people's opinions on things. Because I feel it expands my opinion. I'll ask anyone anything. I'll always ask my friends and peers. But when I'm in a cab, I'll talk to the cab driver. I'll ask him about business, which days are the busiest, etc.
I do it because I'm just a naturally curious person. But what I've noticed is that the entrepreneurs who do this consistently, who are consistently picking other people's brains, have two distinct advantages over those who don't.
First, they tend to be better marketers. I'll talk about that in a second. But second, they also tend to develop better solutions.
They develop better solutions because they've got more input. They've got more perspectives. They've got the ability to see their issue, their challenge, their problem from different perspectives. Obviously over time, that is a huge advantage.
And if that was the only advantage you got from picking other peoples brains, it would be plenty. But you also become a better marketer. Because you're consistently getting exposed to other people's viewpoints.
It goes back to that every time I talk to a client or a marketer who's struggling - they're not meeting their prospect where their prospect's mind is.
Let me tell you what I mean.
A while back, I was doing a small consult with a client. They had a product that I thought was a good product. They were explaining to me all the great things their product could do. But they were still frustrated by the fact that they couldn't get their prospects to understand it. So I asked them an important question - why does the prospect, your prospect right now, believe that they're not getting the results that they desire?
They didn't have an answer to that question.
I explained to them that all the wonderful things that their product does are somewhat worthless if the prospect doesn't believe those things will solve a problem they are struggling with. That doesn't mean the person that I was talking to can't be successful. They can, in fact, if they bridge the gap between the prospects' pain points and their product.
But in order to bridge that gap, they have to know what the prospect feels they need. They have to start there. There's a famous saying in marketing that says you have to enter the conversation that the prospect is already having in their mind. And you can only do that if you know what they're thinking. And you improve your ability to do that by picking people's brains.
So, this is an incredibly important skill set to develop if you want to get both attention and respect. Understanding what your prospect really wants. And from my perspective I believe all it takes is just being curious.
Now I've got one more tip that I want to share with you. We'll cover that on Friday.
October 8th, 2012
Respect AND Attention - Step 1...By Rich Schefren
Today, and in the next couple of posts, I want to stay on that track. I want to share three really quick tips that will help you both get attention and earn your market's respect. Ready? Let's go...
The first thing you need to be able to do is step outside your comfort zone.
Now I know that that can sound very "self-helpy" but let's drill down on that concept just a little bit.
Wherever you are right now - in terms of your business getting your market's attention or respect - is a function of your comfort zone. All growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone.
I'd imagine that you, and everyone reading this for that matter, have had experiences where you procrastinated over doing something because you didn't feel comfortable doing it.
But when you finally did take that action, when you finally did step outside the comfort zone and do the thing that you really didn't want to do, oftentimes you found that it wasn't as bad as you thought it was. And that you actually wished you would have done it sooner.
That's a pretty common experience. I would imagine that you've had similar ones. And if you have, how do you break out of and expand your comfort zone?
First, just do it. Do something you find uncomfortable.
Pick up the phone and ask someone to promote for you. Make a video if you don't feel necessarily comfortable in front of the camera. Do something that you know should be done, but ultimately you're not doing just because it feels a little uncomfortable.
Then make it a habit.
Either the day before or in the morning, get into the practice of thinking about what's on your list that you would tend to put off because it's outside your comfort zone. And then make up your mind that it's going to be the first thing that you actually take action on. Doing this, you start developing the habit of moving outside your comfort zone - and actually expanding it.
If you do that, you'll experience not only great personal growth, but you'll also develop greater confidence and make more progress in your business.
Let me repeat what I said at the beginning of this issue:
Wherever you are right now - in terms of your business getting your market's attention or respect - is a function of your comfort zone. All growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone.
To get more attention and gain more respect, you have to get out of your comfort zone.
October 6th, 2012
Is Your Vision Blurry or Focused? - By Traci Vincent
Most people have a dream or vision of what they want their life or business to look like or feel like. I’ve heard people say things like they want a big house, a fancy car, growth in their business, two kids and a spouse, or to change the world with their product. I wonder however, just how many people actually achieve their vision? What is it that stops the vision from coming to fruition?
Based on what I have observed in myself and people I know closely, I would have to say that there are many reasons why some visions don’t materialize and others do. Here are a few ideas to take a blurry vision and make it clear and attainable.
1) Contemplate whether your vision is in alignment with your core values or with society’s conditioning. Striving for something that doesn’t match your values will be easily derailed. If your vision is true to your core, the setbacks and diversions that are part of life’s experience can be overcome with persistence and determination.
2) Have written goals that you look at regularly. When you look at your goals consistently, it sets an intention in your thoughts and beliefs that will impact your actions. It is easy to get stuck on auto-pilot and spend weeks or years just going through the motions of life and not achieving the dreams and visions you once had. Reading your goals regularly helps steer your actions in the right direction and fuel your faith to achieve them.
3) Have a can-do attitude. By approaching your vision with the right mindset, you will be able to achieve it. Instead of seeing things that can’t be done, look instead at what can be done to help you attain it. It goes back to what you focus on expands. Road blocks are inevitable, but by having a creative, can-do mindset, you will be able to accomplish much more than you ever will by saying, “I can’t”.
4) Be accountable for your results. If it is truly your vision or dream, then you have to take responsibility for it. Blaming others, the economy, the government or whatever, will simply blur your focus and ultimately the attainability of your dream.
5) Have an attitude of gratitude. Be thankful for the little things and little victories along the way. Some dreams and visions involve money as a bi-product. When you focus only on the money, greed can skew the meaning of your vision and stifle your creativity to keep it growing and sustainable.
I suppose having focus and clarity in your dreams and vision for your life is like when you go to the eye doctor. You may arrive thinking your vision is okay because that is what you are accustomed to, but when the doctor adjusts the lens, even a little, you begin to see new details and clarity that were not possible before. In life, it works the same way. Little adjustments in perspective, attitude, persistence and gratitude will go a long way in helping you achieve the dreams and visions you have for your life.
October 3rd, 2012
The 5 Things You MUST Do To Create Positive Change in Your Life - By Larry Winget
1. Decide to change. Most people say they want to change without making the real decision to change. A true decision is based in commitment. You have given your word to yourself. It's a decision that says regardless of what you run up against, you are going to change. It's a deal you have struck with yourself and there is no going back!
2. Know WHY you want to change. Too many people get caught up in HOW they are going to change. That comes later. There are lots of ways to change. How is the easy part. Why is much tougher. Let's say you have decided to lose weight. Good for you. Why? To be healthier? To live longer? All great answers. Go deeper. Why do you want to be healthier? Why is it important to live longer? I did this exercise with a woman who after asking WHY several times, it came out that she just wanted to look good in a swimsuit this summer so she wouldn't be embarrassed. Embarrassment was the answer. This is just an example, but you get it. Dig deep for the WHY you want to change.
3. Be willing to do whatever it takes to change. It's a rule: Life doesn't always ask you to DO whatever it takes, but you had better be WILLING to do whatever it takes. If you aren't willing, save yourself the time and don't even start the process as you will end up quitting soon anyway.
4. Do whatever it takes to change. Yeah, this is the work part. No change is going to happen without work and action. There's no way around it so roll up your sleeves, get off your behind and do the work.
5. When you fail, dust yourself off and start again. You will fail. Success is about moving past failure. Don't cry, don't whine, don't get stuck. Just play through the pain and keep going no matter what. No excuses are acceptable.
Short list but big work. Get started right now on the changes you want to create in your life. By the way, when you get to where you want to be, celebrate. That's the pay off. Celebrate your victory, set a new target and get back to work.
October 1st, 2012
The #1 Way to Take Back Your Time!
Quit doing everything yourself inside your business and personal life.
This means that you are willing to dig around in your psyche and figure out why you think you must attempt to control every single thing in and around you. It also means you must disabuse yourself of the idea that no one else can do it sufficiently. (Notice I did not say perfectly.) If you are a business owner who still does your own bookkeeping, this might be where you are creating suffering about time and the lack thereof. If you won't let go of ordering supplies or other simple tasks you could be delegating the same thing applies.
Sit yourself down and give yourself a talk that includes this sentence. "I cannot do everything myself and I am being too controlling, unwilling to let go and delegate to others. I do this out of fear of failure, fear of not being perfect, and fear of feeling out of control." Start believing in yourself and your business so that you come to understand that your time is valuable, and you are wasting it when you do tasks that don't directly contribute to the growth of your business.
September 27th, 2012
Secrets to Happiness I learned from Andrew Matthews
In case you don’t know who Andrew Matthews is, let me give you a little introduction. He is an international speaker on “attitude“, “being happy“, “success” and “prosperity” and the best-selling author of motivation and personal development classics like “Being Happy!” and “Follow your heart“.
Andrew is an extraordinary man and I would like to share with you what I learned about happiness from him. Are you ready to know the 10 secrets to happiness? Listen up!
1) Be happy where you are now.
Right now! Be thankful for what you have, instead of moaning about what you lack. Be satisfied with what you have when you are in pursuit of what you want.
2) Happiness, more than anything, is a choice we make every day.
Happiness is a conscious decision. You choose to be happy today or you choose to be miserable. Your action/reaction is determined by how you choose to perceive a situation. In his book, Happiness Now, Andrew gives an amusing illustration of a couple surrounded by a pack of crocodiles. The man thought “OMG Crocodiles!” while his wife thought “OMG Handbags!”
3) Happiness is understanding the things we can’t change yet and working on those we can.
Some things are hard to change overnight. It’s unusual to change from a pauper into a millionaire in a day. Happiness is knowing that some things take more time. We can start by working on what we can change immediately.
4) Whatever you get, accept it and deal with it.
All too often, when something bad happens, we are too quick to point fingers and start placing blame on everyone else. Happiness is about accepting responsibility and dealing with what comes your way. Blaming the whole world is not going to solve anything.
5) Problems = Catalyst to take Action
Andrew advises to see problems as a catalyst for us to take action. Problems are good teachers, so learn to love them. Next time, when you face a problem at work/in business, remember to run up to your boss/partner and say, “We have a huge opportunity!”
6) Learn from the elephants!
How do you eat an elephant?
Answer: One bite at a time.
What did the elephant say to the naked man?
Answer: How do you breathe through that thing?
7 ) Put everything you have into whatever you are doing now.
Do your best (100%) and life will support you!
8) It’s not what you get. It’s what you become that matters. Know what to expect – Expect a better you.
9) No one else is going to make you happier. Work on yourself.
A lot of people get things mixed up. A wife thinks about all the bad things her husband does while a widow remembers all the good stuff. That is the ultimate recipe for misery! Isn’t it better to switch the lists around?
September 26th, 2012
Steve Jobs and the Seven Rules of Success
Whether you liked or agreed with how Steve Jobs did everything his impact on our lives cannot be denied. His innovations in computers, movies, music and mobile technology are legendary. For entrepreneurs, Jobs' greatest legacy is the set of principles that drove his success.
I recently heard a close friend of Steve Jobs talk about what he learned from him and the values underpinning Jobs’ success. Any of us can adopt them to unleash our "inner Steve Jobs."
1. Do what you love. Jobs once said, "People with passion can change the world for the better." Asked about the advice he would offer would-be entrepreneurs, he said, "I'd get a job as a busboy or something until I figured out what I was really passionate about." That's how much it meant to him. Passion is everything.
2. Put a dent in the universe. Jobs believed in the power of vision. He once asked then-Pepsi President, John Sculley, "Do you want to spend your life selling sugar water or do you want to change the world?" Don't lose sight of the big vision.
3. Make connections. Jobs once said creativity is connecting things. He meant that people with a broad set of life experiences can often see things that others miss. He took calligraphy classes that didn't have any practical use in his life -- until he built the Macintosh. Jobs traveled to India and Asia. He studied design and hospitality. Don't live in a bubble. Connect ideas from different fields.
4. Say no to 1,000 things. Jobs was as proud of what Apple chose not to do as he was of what Apple did. When he returned to Apple in 1997, he took a company with 350 products and reduced them to 10 products in a two-year period. Why? So he could put the "A-Team" on each product. What are you saying "no" to?
5. Create insanely different experiences. Jobs also sought innovation in the customer-service experience. When he first came up with the concept for the Apple Stores, he said they would be different because instead of just moving boxes, the stores would enrich lives. Everything about the experience you have when you walk into an Apple store is intended to enrich your life and to create an emotional connection between you and the Apple brand. What are you doing to enrich the lives of your customers?
6. Master the message. You can have the greatest idea in the world, but if you can't communicate your ideas, it doesn't matter. Jobs was the world's greatest corporate storyteller. Instead of simply delivering a presentation like most people do, he informed, he educated, he inspired and he entertained, all in one presentation.
7. Sell dreams, not products. Jobs captured our imagination because he really understood his customer. He knew that tablets would not capture our imaginations if they were too complicated. The result? One button on the front of an iPad. It's so simple, a 2-year-old can use it. Your customers don't care about your product. They care about themselves, their hopes, their ambitions. Jobs taught us that if you help your customers reach their dreams, you'll win them over.
There's one story that I think sums up Jobs' career at Apple. An executive who had the job of reinventing the Disney Store once called up Jobs and asked for advice. His counsel? Dream bigger. I think that's the best advice he could leave us with. See genius in your craziness, believe in yourself, believe in your vision, and be constantly prepared to defend those ideas.
September 25th, 2012
5 Strategies for Making Better Decisions
How do you usually make a decision? Do you act impulsively, or overcomplicate? Knowing our personal quirks and decision drivers can help control irrationality and impulsiveness, which can then lead to better decisions in tough situations.
Let’s take a look at 5 strategies for making better decisions in crucial moments.
1. Weigh the consequences
If you start at the end first, it can help simplify a decision. For instance, think about what you CAN and CANNOT live with. This can help eliminate options and keep things in an appropriate perspective.
2. Think first
This one is for the impulsive decision makers out there. When you’re caught up in the momentum of something, try to take a deep breath. Give yourself a few seconds to re-evaluate the choice.
3. Do What’s Right
As they say, “You can do what’s right or you can do what’s easy.” The whistleblowers at Enron, WorldCom, and Madoff had to choose. While their lives became tough for a while, they could look at themselves in the mirror and sleep at night knowing they’d done the right thing. We all deserve the same peace of mind. Choose right over easy.
4. Listen to your Gut
Malcolm Gladwell’s bestselling book Blink publicized what most of us already knew—sometimes that gut feeling is the right feeling, even if we don’t know why. If perfectly logical choices—to take a job, date someone, or purchase something—have our stomachs in knots, we need to examine that red flag. Many times what we can’t consciously explain can be the difference between a good choice and something we’ll regret.
5. Understand Emotions
Understanding our feelings and how they motivate our behaviors can be the key to changing personal patterns. We may be surprised by how much of what we do is based on irrational emotions. Think about that intelligent girlfriend you know who always dates the wrong men.
September 24th, 2012
What does it mean to you to be daring, take a risk and make it an adventure?
To me it means doing something that’s out of my comfort zone and that in and of itself becomes an adventure.
I’ve learned over the years that it’s exciting to take a risk, to do something I’ve never done before! That whatever happens, whether the outcome is what I wanted or not, I succeeded just because I was willing to overcome any fear I might have had and I took the risk anyway.
When was the last time you did something that you perceived as a risk? Whether in business or your personal life, what is it that you would love to do but haven’t because you are afraid in some way?
I’ve learned that if I get stuck in fear, that’s where I just might stay and the question I ask myself is, “What’s scarier, the risk or staying where I currently am?” For me what’s often scarier is the “staying where I am.” If you do something you’re afraid of, what’s the worst that can happen? Once you get that question out of the way go full steam ahead!
Hellen Keller said it best…Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
September 8th, 2012
Don't let procrastination steal YOUR life!
Procrastinating simply means putting off big happiness in favor of the short term relief of not having to do something important but possibly unappealing right now. We all do it from time to time because in the moment it just seems easier.
But in the long run, it costs far more in terms of your life and your ultimate happiness.
Here's a little exercise that will help you get things going. Take a piece of paper and draw lines to form three columns.
OK. First, you have to acknowledge the costs of your procrastination. Think about the things that cause you to procrastinate. Write them down into a short list in the first column.
Next, think for a bit on how that lack of action has negatively affected your life. Where has it taken its toll? In your financial situation? Your stress levels? Your health? Your relationships? List them in the second column next to each item.
It's not a particularly pleasant task, but you have have a clear, precise picture of what your procrastination is costing you before you can move on.
But don't stop yet. This exercise gets better.
In order to motivate action, you have to recognize the benefits of acting now rather than later. You see, knowing the costs of something has little positive effect unless you know the benefits of doing the opposite.
So next to each item you wrote down, take a few minutes to think about how much better your life would be if you took action right away.
When you review your list, you'll not only recognize what your procrastinating tendencies are costing you, but you'll also see all the things you'll be able to enjoy when you get going on that next project you're thinking off.
September 4th, 2012
Confucius wrote, “A journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step.”
The great difference between high achievement and failure in life is contained in your willingness to launch in the direction of your goal, even when your information is incomplete.
Read that last line again... 'even when your information is incomplete.'
A thousand dreams die unborn every day because the dreamer lacks the courage to take the FIRST STEP, in faith, with no guarantees of success.
There are no guarantees in life, and we know that if every question must be answered, if every obstacle must first be overcome—then NOTHING will ever get done.
Decide what you want, write it down, make a plan, and then—take action.
“Leap and the net will appear!”
August 31st, 2012
Are You Guarding A Concrete Slab? By Sandras Phiri
There was an army barracks that had on its duty roster 4 soldiers to guard at all times a concrete slab in front of the barracks. The soldiers changed shifts guarding the slabs for many years. Different commanders came and went and the tradition continued.
After many years, a new commander was assigned to the barracks. Amongst the things he did was asking why things were done the way they were. When he asked why soldiers were guarding the slab, he was told, "We've always done it this way. It's our tradition. Our former commanders instructed us to do that."
The commander was adamant on finding out why. He went to the archives to look for answers and he came across a document that had the explanation. The document was very old. It had instructions written by one of the retired commanders who had even passed away.
The new commander learned that over 80 years ago, the barracks wanted to build a platform where events could be performed. When the concrete slab was laid, wild animals walked over it at night before the slab would dry. The soldiers would fix it the next morning but when evening came the same thing would happen. So the commander ordered that 4 soldiers should guard the concrete slab for 3 weeks to allow it to dry.
The following week the commander was transferred to another post and a new commander was brought in. The new commander found the routine and enforced it and every commander that came did the same. Eighty years later the barracks continued guarding a concrete slab.
What beliefs, attitudes, traditions have you carried on that were relevant to certain people or a certain time and they are still being carried out by you? Is it time to question your status quo?
August 27th, 2012
Need a Breakthrough?
Breakthroughs do not happen when we are stressed. They happen when we finally let go and stop struggling. Resisting is at the heart of struggle. Although what we are resisting feels like it is "out there" the resistance is really inside of us. Simply said, if you are resisting anything you are really resisting yourself.
When we resist something we increase the amount of struggle in our lives and this in turn increases how much scarcity we experience.
When we resist, we make things harder than they have to be. By making things difficult we create struggle and prolong getting where we want to be.
We make things complicated because we are afraid to decide. It is partly our fear of the unknown - what will happen if - and partly our fear of making a mistake. The excuse I hear most from my clients is that they are afraid they may make the "wrong" decision. There is the fear that somehow they will permanently be locked into the consequences of their choices.
But consider this for a moment. What if there are no "wrong" choices, only choices. Even if we don't make the best choice, we will learn from the choice we did make and the beauty is that we can then make a new one!
All great athletes understand this concept. They know they can only anticipate so much, but have to make constant instantaneous decisions IN THE MOMENT as each new situation arises.
When you give up struggle, it involves letting go of both the past and the future so you can see what is needed right now to put you on the path to the results you are after.
August 23rd, 2012
Life is like taking a trip on the river and reacting to the FLOW. By Robert Anthony
It is always about the FLOW. The problem is most people take their boat down to the river, put it in the river and then they invariably turn it UPSTREAM and start paddling hard against the current. It never occurs to them to go downstream because they think they have to struggle to have what they want.
Here i s a simple idea. Why not go WITH the current instead of fighting AGAINST the current? But you may say, "Struggle and hard work is the only way to get what you want." That's crazy! Here is the important point - NOTHING YOU WANT IS UPSTREAM. Ever!
Every bit of struggle and determination, all that "I am going to fix this", "I am going to make this better", all of that has you focused UPSTREAM. What I want is for you to feel the ease of letting go of struggle. You don't even have to turn your boat around in the stream and begin paddling downstream - just let go of the oars (struggle) and the current will turn you automatically!
This is not about teaching you to go with the stream because you have no choice. This is about asking the question and helping you answer it. Are you going willingly? Are you going toward your natural unfolding willingly, or are you going to continue to paddle upstream? In every moment the choice of which way you are going to go is yours.
August 21st, 2012
Do You Understand Your Market and Competition?
A big mistake that I've noticed some of my clients making and that other small business owners make is to latch on to a cool product or service and begn marketing like crazy without first understanding the market and what it wants (not what it needs). If you try to sell something that people don’t want, they won’t buy it. It’s that simple.
A profitable market consists of people who have wants that are being unmet, so much so that they will jump to buy your solution (product or service). A profitable market can be compared to a lake with thousands of starving fish. All you need to do is throw in the bait and it turns into a feeding frenzy.
To get an understanding of your market you should ask yourself questions like:
• Are there segments in my market that are being underserved?
• Are the segments of my market for my product or service big enough to make money?
• How much of a share of that market do I need to capture, to just break even? To be profitable?
• What are the weaknesses in my competition’s offering that I can capitalize on?
• Does my market want or value my unique competitive offering?
Whether you are just beginning a business or growing an exisitng one, take the time to do your marketing homework...make sure your products and/or services meet those unmet "wants." Then, market like crazy!
August 18th
The Great Challenge of Life by Jim Rohn
Here's the great challenge of life - You can have more than you've got because you can become more than you are.
I have found that income seldom will exceed your own personal development. Once in a while income takes a lucky jump, but unless you grow out to where it is, it will go back to where you are.
Somebody once said if you took all the money in the world and divided it among everyone equally; it would soon be back in the same pockets. However, you can have more because you can become more. You see, here is how the other side of the coin reads - unless you change how you are, you will always have what you've got.
The marketing plan won't do it. It's a good plan but it won't work without you. You've got to work it. It is the human effort that counts. If you could send a sales manual out to recruit - wouldn't that be lovely? The major thing that makes the difference is what YOU do.
In order to have more, you need to become more. The guy says "If I had a good job I would really pour it on, but I have this lousy job so I just goof off." If that is your philosophy, you are destined to stay there.
Some people say if I had a lot of money I would be really generous, but I don't have much so I'm not generous. See, you've got to change that philosophy or you will never have "the lots of money." Unless YOU change, IT won't change.
Amazingly, however, when we throw out our blame list and start becoming more ourselves - the difference is everything else will begin to change around us.
August 15th, 2012
Do You Know the Best Day of the Week to Send Emails?
Emails sent on a Friday results in at least 23% more sales than emails that are sent out on any other day; Friday emails out-pull the worst day (Wednesday!) by 89%. Emails sent out on a Tuesday get the worst percentage of clicks (or views). Wednesday emails get the worst sales. Thursday is the best day to send emails to get raw clicks.
You could earn 89% more money on a direct-response offer by simply changing when you send your emails. Imagine the cumulative earnings you will generate by applying this information to your online business. Combine this with the fact that many still believe the myth that Wednesday is the best day of the week to send email, and this information alone will give you a tremendous competitive edge.
August 9th, 2012
Are You "Takin" Care of Business?
People go into business for all sorts of reasons. Perhaps you have a strong mission to change the world. Perhaps you want more freedom and flexibility, so that you have time for your family and other priorities. Perhaps you love a challenge and are excited to finally be your own boss.
But the primary intention of any business is to make money and profit in that business. If your business never makes money, then it's a hobby (and usually a pretty expensive one at that!).
Now, there's nothing wrong with starting a business for deep and meaningful reasons. In fact, you should! If you don't know the "Big Why" behind why you're in business - how it's going to fulfill on your greatest priorities - then it will be too easy to quit when the going gets tough.
But it's incredibly important to focus on one crucial fact: if your business does not make money, you won't be able to do any of those things that are important to you. (Remember, freedom and time and impact cost money).
The first thing you have to do is recognize that you do own a real business. I'm always surprised by how many entrepreneurs and small business owners don't look at their work this way. Yes, you got into your business because you enjoy it...it's your gift but, you MUST view it and treat it like a full fledged business.
Make sure that you are increasing your skills, getting training, and taking actions that produce revenue in your business every day.
So... what are you going to do today to generate some income?
August 7th, 2012
Do you have a persuasive web presence for your business? You need to if you want to close the sale!
- People buy to increase pleasure or decrease pain.
- Other reasons they buy are to increase or improve their condition, seize an opportunity, and make life better. They buy to preserve what they've got, avoid risk, and keep themselves from becoming worse off.
The Internet is the best way for advertisers to market to business decision-makers, according to a poll. A survey of nearly 1,000 people by Minnesota Opinion Research found 60% agreeing the Web was persuasive. Fifty percent said it influenced them to make a purchase. "Business decision-makers have told us that the Web is the best place to reach them," said Chris Schroeder, CEO of Washington Post/Newsweek Interactive. "Most importantly, they've made it clear that what they're seeing on the Web is leading directly to purchases."
August 6th, 2012
Guerilla Marketing Tip:
A USP is a unique selling proposition, first popularized in 1961 by advertising legend Rosser Reeves in his book, "Reality in Advertising." Your USP is your proprietary competitive edge stated in clear, concise terms. Every business must have one to succeed. But most businesses don't. Not surprisingly, most businesses fail. Your USP needs three traits to be effective:
1. It should make a specific promise to customers. Example: "Buy this product and you will get this clear benefit."
2. It should be one your competitors cannot or will not match. It must be unique. Your customers should not be able to get the benefit anywhere else.
3. It should be so strong that it can create a crowd of eager buyers. Ideally, only a lunatic would refuse to buy from you.
Reeves goes on to say that 80% of all ads do not have a USP. If you look through your local paper or Yellow Pages, I think you'll find this percentage may be even higher. Keep your ideal prospect in mind when creating your USP. There's a big difference between affluent customers and bargain hunters who look only at price. Which group do you want buying from you?
August 2nd, 2012
The Seven C's Of Success By Brian Tracy
After having studied top achievers and peak performers over the past 35 years, I've concluded that these unique men and women have, in most cases, mastered what I call the Seven C's of Success.
1. Clarity - Eighty percent of success comes from being clear on who you are, what you believe in and what you don't.
2. Competence - You can't climb to the next rung on the ladder until you are excellent at what you do now.
3. Constraints - Eighty percent of all obstacles to success come from within. Find out what is constraining you or your company and deal with it.
4. Concentration - The ability to focus on one thing single- mindedly and see it through until it's done takes more character than anything else.
5. Creativity - Flood your life with ideas from many sources. Creativity needs to be exercised like a muscle, if you don't use it you'll lose it.
6. Courage - Most in demand and least in supply, courage is the willingness to do the things you know are right.
7. Continuous learning - Read, at the very least, one book a week on business to keep you miles ahead of the competition. And just as you eat and bathe, organize your time so you spend 30 minutes a day exploring e-mail, sending messages, going through websites, because like exercise, it's the only way you can keep on top of technology. If you get away from it, you'll lose your edge.
July 29th, 2012
Life Lessons from the Dalai Lama Source: The Enlightened Mind
Even with all of the accomplishments the Dalai Lama has under his belt, he still doesn’t see himself as anything but a member of humanity in general. We would certainly hold that the Dalai Lama is a great example of humanity at its finest, and believe that his philosophies have much to teach on how to go about living one’s life. Here are just a few of the best life lessons that we can take from the philosophies of the Dalai Lama.:
1) Everything happens for a reason.
“Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.” – Dalai Lama
As much as everyone wants to get everything they desire out of life, sometimes things just don’t work out how you wanted them to. In these cases you should understand that everything happens for a reason. Like the Dalai Lama said, not getting what you want can turn out to be a wonderful stroke of luck. Think about how heartbroken someone might have been when they broke up with their high school sweetheart. Even though their first love didn’t end in marriage, they wound up meeting a wonderful person to settle down with. They had beautiful children and lived a wonderful life. It may not have been what the person initially wanted, but when one door closes, another will open.
2) Change is good, but your values need to remain.
“Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.” – Dalai Lama
Change is a constant thing in the universe. In our world much will change from the time a person is born to the day of their death. You need to be able to embrace change and evolve with the world around you. To do so makes you better equipped to stay relevant and live a good life. Even though you need to be able to change with the times, some things should remain the same. The core values that have helped define who you are can act as your anchor in life. Whether those values have a lot to do with religious teachings, or simply things that you hold high above all others, hang onto them and let them be your guide. Never let the world change your core of being a good human being.
3) Learn from your failures.
“When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” Dalai Lama
Learning from failures is an important aspect of becoming successful in life. If you can learn from the mistakes you have made, then you will be better equipped to succeed the next time. Often when people fail at something they feel a lot of self-pity. This is counter-productive and will cause you to be unable to learn the proper lesson about why it is you failed. Failures can teach someone far more things than successes can.
July 12th, 2012
7 Easy Ways to Improve a Bad Day!
Had a lousy morning? Things looking grim?
Not to worry. The rest of your day need not be a disaster. It can in fact become one of your best, providing you take these simple steps:
1. Remember that the past does not equal the future.
There is no such thing as a "run of bad luck." The reason people believe such nonsense is that the human brain creates pattern s out of random events and remembers the events that fit the pattern.
2. Refuse to make self-fulfilling prophesies.
If you believe the rest of your day will be as challenging as what's already happened, then rest assured: You'll end up doing something (or saying) something that will make sure that your prediction comes true.
3. Get a sense of proportion.
Think about the big picture: Unless something life-changing has happened (like the death of a loved one), chances are that in two weeks, you'll have forgotten completely about whatever it was that has you in a nasty mood.
4. Change your threshold for "good" and "bad."
Decide that a good day is any day that you're above ground. Similarly, decide that a bad day is when somebody steals your car. Those types of definitions make it easy to be happy–and difficult to be sad.
5. Improve your body chemistry.
Your body and brain are in a feedback loop: A bad mood makes you tired, which makes your mood worse, and so forth. Interrupt the pattern by getting up and moving around. Take a walk or eat something healthy.
6. Focus on what's going well.
The primary reason you're convinced it's a bad day is that you're focusing on whatever went wrong. However, for everything going badly, there are probably dozens of things going well. Make a list, and post it where it's visible.
7. Expect something wondrous.
Just as an attitude of doom and gloom makes you see more problems, facing the future with a sense of wonder makes you alive to all sorts of wonderful things that are going on, right now, everywhere around you.
June 28th, 2012
Time to get out of your comfort zone? The answer is Yes!
Time to get out of your comfort zone? The answer is Yes! It’s easy and convenient to stay in the status quo, especially in business. It is very tempting to just stick with doing things that we have always done and doing them in the same way. After all, things are going okay.
Staying in your comfort zone and not expanding your mind and your horizons can cause you and your business to struggle and worst case, fail.
There is an old saying that says, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” And although it is true in some cases, it's rarely true in business. Candle light wasn’t broken but we are all glad that electricity was invented. I think we can all agree that it is a big improvement over candle light, right?
New ideas come along every day in the world of business. But they only happen when we learn to stretch a little and get out of our comfort zone. As I tell my clients...you have to be willing to do the uncomfortable and inconvenient if you want to grow.
My mentor, Loral Langemeier puts is simply and pretty directly when she says, "If you risk nothing, you risk everything!"
Decide to step outside your comfort zone with (1) small action. Try a new approach. Experiment a little. Just because something is still working doesn't mean that there is not a better, easier or more efficient way of doing it. After all, you don’t know what you don’t know :-)
June 21st, 2012
Need to keep yourself inspired to reach your goals? Write a "Future Letter."
Imagine it is one year from now. You are writing a letter to someone who cares about your well being and success, and sharing with them all the GREAT things that have happened this past year. Your business has taken off, you are out of debt and making more money than ever, the kids are thriving, your marriage is stronger than ever, and your health is at an all time high. These are just a few of the things you can share that have happened throughout the year. Think about the goals you have in the key areas of your life.
Take time to reflect on how you would like your life to transpire over this next year, thinking about all the key areas of your life and business. Then write a letter to someone - not to send, but to keep for yourself - telling them about it as if it has already come about.
Be detailed and specific. Talk about everything you want to have happen and are working toward this year and write the letter as if it's already happened. I did this several months ago and I read it everyday.
The amazing thing is that it not only inspires me, but it keeps me on track, taking action, moving forward and seeing progress!
June 14th, 2012
Are You 'Just 3 Feet from Gold?'
In the classic success book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill shares the true story of R.U. Darby and his uncle. Caught up with "gold fever" they headed west to seek their fortune.
After weeks of labor they were rewarded with an inkling of what they felt might very well turn out to be one of the richest mines in Colorado.
But despite countless days of digging and drilling, the profitable vein of gold ore they expected to find never appeared. Frustrated and discouraged, they sold all their equipment to a junk dealer for a few hundred dollars and headed home.
The wise junk dealer called in a mining engineer who advised that the project had failed because the Darby family wasn't familiar with "fault lines."
His calculations showed that the vein of gold would be found... JUST THREE (3) FEET FROM WHERE THE DARBY'S HAD STOPPED DRILLING.
And that's exactly where the junk dealer discovered one of the largest deposits of gold up to that time that had EVER been discovered.
Napoleon Hill writes, "It rewarded him with millions of dollars because he knew enough to seek expert counsel before giving up."
Let me ask you something... If you were just "three feet" away from reaching your goal through the business you've put so much effort into, would you seek expert counsel?
How do you know, right now, that you're not?
What a shame it would be to stop making the effort, when just a little bit more would make it all worthwhile.
No one creates massive success alone! And that's what you are going for right? Massive success! Not mediocre success or so-so success...massive success. Get a team together, hire a coach or mentor and make sure you aren't just 3 feet from your gold!
June 7th, 2012
Living Your Life by Design
I wanted to share an insight into the importance of living your life by design.
Just like any house or building needs a solid architectural design, every highly successful life must be purposely designed and built to achieve a specific set of appropriate objectives.
I'm referring to the goals and accomplishments that will drive you to the success you desire.
So what specifically is your life designed to accomplish?
Brace yourself... Right now, your life is perfectly designed to achieve the results you are CURRENTLY GETTING!
That's worth repeating, your life is perfectly designed to achieve the results you are CURRENTLY GETTING!
And, if you aren't getting the results you want, that simply means you HAVE NOT designed a life strategy that will get them for you.
Think seriously about that idea!
When you set the right objectives (the ones that get you to your goals the fastest), you focus your activities like a laser.
Why? Because every decision you make will be judged by its ability to move you closer to your stated objectives.
So how do you determine and set the right objectives for your life?
Honestly, the right objectives will vary from person to person, and business to business. But as you plan and strategize your life, there is one overriding definition you must use as a yard stick to engage in this behavior properly.
The RIGHT OBJECTIVES are the fewest number of accomplishments, and the LEAST number of objectives you can determine that will allow you to reach your goals.
This is really at the heart of what it means to be a strategic thinker. It's the core idea that makes your life efficient and profitable.
Consider this question; "what sense does it make to take fifteen steps, when only five will get you where you want to go?"
May 30th, 2012
Give Your Best To The Task At Hand
"Starting today commit to giving your absolute best to every assignment which comes your way. Rather than seeing things as a burden or some menial task remind yourself that each is preparing you for the eventual larger opportunities which lay in store for you." - Josh Hinds
To paraphrase business philosopher, author, and lecturer Jim Rohn, you can't just start at the top, it's as though life is making sure you can handle the smaller tasks that are required of you, before you’re given the responsibility of having to deal with the bigger ones.
Friend, if you can prove you can work through the smaller things that are asked of you, before you know it, you'll attract greater opportunity, along with the greater rewards that life affords those which go along with being able to do so.
Make no mistake, those seemingly small inconsequential challenges that vie for your attention are there to prepare you for future opportunities -- provided you're willing to see them as such. That's a choice I hope you'll make every day.
May 15th, 2012
Need to attract new clients? Try one of these bonuses!
Studies have shown that most potential clients don't make a purchase until you reach out to them between 7 -11 times. They need you to reach out to them again and again, warming them slowly until they're finally ready to make a purchase. The best way to do this is to use a newsletter to reach out to them repeatedly. However, given the fact that many people today are worried about spam in their inboxes, it's becoming harder and harder to get people to share their email addresses.
That's why it helps to give your target market an extra incentive to sign up for your newsletter. This is often called an ethical bribe. The idea is that you are trading valuable, relevant information in exchange for the potential clients contact information. In other words, in order to bring the potential client in to your sales and marketing funnel, you offer something of value in exchange for the privilege of keeping in touch with them and building a relationship.
Your valuable giveaway should be easily accessible, and provide an instant benefit. Try to make it so that it solves a problem or provides an immediate solution. Your potential clients should be able to quickly and easily consume it.
Your valuable giveaway needs to follow the 80/20 rule. 80 percent of the information should be valuable, relevant content (what your giving) and 20 percent should be your call to action (what you are wanting them to do next). Your call to action should be just that, calling to their pain or problem and then asking them to take action on the results they want to achieve.
It can be tough to come up with a valuable giveaway that inspires your potential clients to sign up for your ezine or newsletter, but to help you get started, here's a list of 15 types of giveaways you may want to consider:
1. A report relating to an important issue your target market struggles with
2. A to-do list that people can put into action
3. A checklist
4. A task list
5. A template for documents
6. A video
7. A "10 Best" list relevant to your products or services
8. A tip sheet
9. An audio recording
10. A workbook
11. A quiz
12. A teleseminar
13. An e-course
14. An assessment
15. A special insider's discount on a soon-to-be-released product or service
May 3rd, 2012
Is your comfort zone keeping you from playing full out?
“A step in the wrong direction is better than staying on the spot all your life. Once you’re moving forward you can correct your course as you go. Your automatic guidance system cannot guide you when you’re standing still.” Maxwell Maltz
Sometimes in working with clients, I come across someone who just can't seem to take the next step forward. I'll hear things like, "even though I REALLY want this to happen, I don't have the time" or "my product or service offering isn't quite right yet."
These are simply excuses! Excuses are convenient ways that we mask our fear of failure. I have said it before and I'll say it again, "If there is no room for failure, there is no room for success." If you try "something" and it doesn't work out, that isn't the real problem. The real problem is your interpretation of that "something" not working out. We beat ourselves up, we tell ourselves we shouldn't have tried it and worst of all, we give up!
To get something you've never had, you have to be willing to do something you've never done. No one reaches their dreams by standing still and staying in their comfort zone.
Here's a question to ask yourself next time you find yourself making excuses for not moving forward or going for what you really want....Am I more committed to my comfort/avoiding the potential for failure or am I more committed to playing full out for something worthwhile?
Remember, if you risk nothing, you risk everything!
April 2nd, 2012
Monday morning motivation!
"Start before you're ready. Do the work! A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable, nor does the genius or the madman. It's only you and I, with our big brains and our tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate." – Steven Pressfield
What doubts or fears do you have or what are you overthinking? Ask yourself these questions:
1) What will happen if I take this action?
2) What will happen if I don't take this action?
What's the bigger risk?
March 28th, 2012
What fills your day?
I was in the airport in Dallas waiting for my flight to Atlanta and was sitting next to a man and a woman who were really complaining about how busy their lives were, how much they had to do and how frustrating and time consuming everything was. They kept using the same words..."I have to do this and I have to do that." I started thinking about how we spend our time and the rules we make up about our lives and how they serve us. So I pose these questions for you to think about:
1) What activities do you engage in or processes do you follow that actually no longer make sense? Maybe they did at one time but in thinking about it, you realize they don't anymore. They are time and energy drainers.
2) What "absolute" rules do you live by that you've been living by since you were younger maybe when you were a kid or young adult? Do these rules still serve you or do you need to re-write some of them or toss some away all together?
Just thought I'd share...see what happens when you let a coach loose in an airport with thousands of people :-)
Oh, you may be wondering if I offered any coaching or posed these questions to the man and woman next to me. The answer is "no." Why? Because what I gathered from the conversation was that they "were in the rat race", "living in a chaotic world" and "that's just the way it was." Until they are ready to see how they may actually contributing to their problems...no coaching in the world was going to make any difference. 1st rule of coaching...coach only those who are ready and willing to make changes.
March 27th, 2012
Need a few social media marketing tips?
Clients often ask me what they should be talking about on social media to build relationships. Here are my top 6 favorite topics.
1. A link to one of your blogs or an article post.
2. An easy to understand (straight forward) tip.
3. Ask for support or ask a question to your community. (Be sure to respond to those that answer.)
4. ReTweet someone else's tweet.
5. Answer a question
6. Thank those who have ReTweeted your content. A thank you and acknowledgement goes a LONG way!
Consider a customized Facebook page, offering a give away, a free download or add audio or video for maximum impact to attract more fans & likes...watch for Synergy Coaching & Consulting's new Facebook page coming in the next few weeks!
Start NOW! Contact me at
dawn@synergycoach.net or by phone at (512) 264-2443
