Grow Abundant Life

2010-08-31T21:35:00.001-04:00

The three great essentials to achieving anything worthwhile are: first, hard work, second, stick-to-it-iveness, and third, common sense. Thomas Edison

2010-08-29T10:20:00.001-04:00

Action is the foundational key to all success. Pablo Picasso

2010-08-21T17:50:00.001-04:00

"We are Divine enough to ask and we are important enough to receive." Wayne Dyer

2010-08-14T18:50:00.001-04:00

"There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love; there's only scarcity of resolve to make it happen." Wayne Dyer

2010-07-27T15:43:00.001-04:00

Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success. Dale Carnegie

2010-07-21T16:57:00.001-04:00

One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been. Will Rogers

2010-06-16T16:36:00.001-04:00

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world. Buddha

2010-05-24T15:40:00.001-04:00

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” Martin Luther King Jr.

2010-05-19T15:56:00.001-04:00

Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.

- James B. Conant

2010-05-17T15:49:00.001-04:00

"Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are." Malcolm Forbes

2010-05-14T09:17:00.001-04:00

“To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.”
––Muhammad Ali

2010-05-12T15:13:00.001-04:00

"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." - Albert Einstein

2010-05-03T15:10:00.001-04:00

"Do not wait for leaders, do it alone, person to person." Mother Theresa

2010-04-22T14:38:00.001-04:00

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.” Gail Devers

2010-04-12T15:09:00.001-04:00

"True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose." Helen Keller

2010-03-29T16:03:00.001-04:00

Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. William Feather

2010-03-26T17:00:00.001-04:00

"It's been a great day for me. For I have embraced everything, in just the same way - I need to embrace life." - Eleesha

2010-03-24T15:18:00.001-04:00

If you did not care at all what anyone else thought about you, what would you do differently or change in your life? Brian Tracy

2010-03-23T15:09:00.001-04:00

Work is life, you know, and without it, there's nothing but fear and insecurity. John Lennon

2010-03-22T09:09:00.001-04:00

All big things in this world are done by people who are naive and have an idea that is obviously impossible. Dr. Frank Richards

2010-03-16T15:49:00.001-04:00

Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching? ~Dennis and Wendy Mannering

2010-03-15T15:43:00.001-04:00

To be what we are and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life. Robert Lois Stevenson

2010-03-02T15:05:00.001-05:00

"You can get anything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want." Zig Ziglar

2010-03-01T15:27:00.001-05:00

"A simple formula for success: Think things through then follow through." Edward Rickenback

2010-02-17T14:47:00.001-05:00

" Those who reach decisions promptly and definitely,
know what they want, and generally get it. The leaders
in every walk of life decide quickly, and firmly. That is the
major reason they are leaders. The world has the
habit of making room for the man whose words and
actions show that he knows where he is going ." Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich

2010-02-15T20:30:00.001-05:00

What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork.
- Pearl Bailey

2010-02-11T17:28:00.001-05:00

Passion is universal humanity. Without it religion, history, romance and art would be useless. Honor de Balzac

2010-02-03T16:42:00.001-05:00

Don't find fault. Find a remedy. ~Henry Ford

2010-02-02T14:19:00.001-05:00

Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night. ~Glade Byron Addams

2010-01-29T15:45:00.001-05:00

"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."

2010-01-26T14:59:00.001-05:00

Aerodynamically a bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway.

Mary Kay Ash

2010-01-24T20:51:00.001-05:00

A smile is the beginning of peace. - Mother Teresa

2010-01-22T15:36:00.001-05:00

"If you obey all the rules, you'll miss all the fun." - Katherine Hepburn

2010-01-20T16:10:00.001-05:00

"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another." Walter Elliott

2010-01-19T21:08:00.001-05:00

When I chased after money
, I never had enough. When I got my life on purpose and focused on giving of myself and everything that arrived into my life, then I was prosperous.
Wayne Dyer

2010-01-17T15:00:00.001-05:00

Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.
David Frost

2010-01-14T15:41:00.001-05:00

Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.
David Frost

2010-01-13T15:08:00.001-05:00

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~Abraham Lincoln

2010-01-12T16:12:00.001-05:00

When you finally allow yourself to trust joy and embrace it, you will find you dance with everything.
- Emanuel

2010-01-11T15:22:00.001-05:00

I can give you a six-word formula for success: Think things through - then follow through.
Edward V. Rickenbacker

Small Business Owners: 7 Tips for YOU

2010-01-10T16:29:00.000-05:00

No matter type of business you operate you've got to know how to
keep your business alive during economic recessions. Anytime the
cash flow in a business, large or small, starts to tighten up, the
money management of that business has to be run as a "tight ship."

(1) Pause Before Paying

Some of the things you can and should do include protecting
yourself from impulse expenditures. We've all bought merchandise or
services we really didn't need simply because we were in the mood,
then we sort of "wake up" a couple of days later and find that
we've committed hundreds of dollars of business funds for an item
or service that's not essential to the success of our own business,
when really pressing items had been waiting for those dollars.

(2) Using Professionals

While you may think you cannot afford it, be sure that you don't
"short-change" your self on professional services. This would apply
especially during a time of emergency. Anytime you commit yourself
and move ahead without completely investigating all the angles, and
preparing yourself for all the contingencies that may arise, you're
skating on thin ice. Regardless of the costs involved, it always
pays off in the long run to seek out the advice of experienced
professionals before embarking on a plan that could ruin you.

(3) Your Financials

Your company's books should reflect your way of thinking, and
whoever maintains them should generate information according to
your policies. Thus, you should hire an outside accountant or
accounting firm to figure your return on your investment, as well
as the turnover on your accounts receivable and inventory. Such an
audit or survey should focus in depth on any or every item within
your financial statement that merits special attention. In this
way, you'll probably uncover any potential financial problems
before they become readily apparent, and certainly before they
could get out of hand.

(4) Advisory Boards

Many smaller companies set up advisory boards of outside
professional people. These are sometimes known as Power Circles and
once in place, the business always benefits, especially in times of
short operating capital. Such an advisory board or power circle
should include a lawyer, a certified public accountant, civic club
leaders, owners or managers of businesses similar to yours, and
retired executives. Setting up such an advisory board of directors
is really quite easy, because most people you ask will be honoured
to serve.

Once your board is set up, you should meet about once a month and
present material for review. Each meeting should be a discussion of
your business problems and an input from your advisors relative to
possible solutions. These members of your board of advisors should
offer you advice as well as alternatives, and provide you with
objectivity. No formal decisions need to be made either at your
board meeting, or as a result of them, but you should be able to
gain a great deal from the suggestions you hear.

(5) Joining Associations

By all means, join your industry's local and national trade
associations. Most of these organizations have a wealth of
information available on everything from details on your
competitors to average industry sales figures, new products,
services, and trends. If you are given a membership certificate or
wall plaque, you should display these conspicuously on you office
wall. Customers like to see such "seals of approval" and feel
additional confidence in your business when they see them.

(6) Free Advice

Whenever you can, and as often as you need it, take advantage of
whatever free business counseling is available. Your local chamber
of commerce or small business advisory will likely have numerous
free publications. Most local universities, and many private
organizations hold seminars at minimal cost, and often without
charge. Take advantage of the service s offered by your bank and
local library.

(7) Direction Is Everything

The important thing about running a small business is to know the
direction in which you're heading; to know on a day-to-day basis
your progress in that very direction; to be aware of what your
competitors are doing and to practice good money management at all
times. All this will prepare you to recognize potential problems
before they arise.

In order to survive with a small business, regardless of the
economic climate, it is essential to surround yourself with smart
people, and practice sound business management at all times.

2010-01-07T14:59:00.001-05:00

'Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what is still possible for you to do' - Pope John XXIII

Check out Tony Robbins tells you how to take control of your finances

2010-01-06T15:49:00.001-05:00

Hi,

I want you to take a look at: Tony Robbins tells you how to take control of your finances

It's some really cool stuff from Tony Robbins.

I found out about it on CNN last week.

2010-01-06T15:37:00.001-05:00

The way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear. - Socrates

2010-01-05T21:16:00.001-05:00

For Success, attitude is equally as important as ability.
Harry F. Banks

Important Online Trends for 2010

2010-01-04T16:19:00.001-05:00

If you've been paying attention to the various breaking trends for 2010 you'd have noted most of the "new trends" are not new at all! In fact, if you've been reading my blog, emails and other materials for the last year or so you'll be wondering what all the fuss is about - perhaps I should explain.

Here are the various trends that have 'just caught on' for 2010:

* Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn etc. Naysayers have been bashing this for ages. EVen "colleagues" made fun of me and my wish to spread the news in various public forums. The best part now is the strongest opponents have finally converted to SM! Ironic really, they wasted so much time 'bad mouthing' SM and it basic human nature. We're all social - this is just the next evolution. Get with the program or get left behind.

* Local Search - Local content to feed the new 'Google' spiders, global is not relevant when searching local. The implications are profound. What happens if you're an international business? What happens if you need a presence in many countries - are you looking at multiple websites ... *tip* You should be.

* Mobile Internet - Got a smart mobile phone? Then you need to know about this. New frontiers ... it's all I'm going to say at the moment *wink*

* Blogging - it's baaaack. Never went away, and now it's do or die. But how to blog, what to say? Remember good writers make writing look easy - and lets not forget writing is the end result or output of thinking (strategy). Think of writing as the tip of the iceberg - what lies beneath is larger and more imposing than you might imagine Don't let it sink you too.

* Email marketing - Not dead, very much alive and still #1 (even SM uses Email to power the framework.) Are you doing it right? Most businesses are not. If you're sending more than a handful of emails from your computer then you run the very real risk of getting slammed for various email "infractions." Use a reputable 3rd party email delivery service for your email marketing like Aweber or Infusionsoft.

* Automation - "Manual" is no fun (never was) and now automation is the key to autopilot profits. Machines make life easier, let's not forget computers are machines and built for the simple purpose of making us 'redundant' so we can do the things we love to do. Most people don't use computers/machines properly and simply make more work for themselves! There is a process, I've been helping companies define and apply it for over 20 years.

* Reputation Management - Online is forever... think immortal. Do you command and control your presence? Are your main profiles set up, locked down and so on. Don't wait until the proverbial horse has bolted. You'll look silly and sloppy and anything you say will be too late, and discounted anyway. Pre-emptive management is only the way to go.

2010-01-02T15:18:00.001-05:00

"Not what we have But what we
enjoy, constitutes our abundance."
- John Petit-Senn

2009-12-23T16:06:00.001-05:00

I believe in angels,
The kind that heaven sends,
I am surrounded by angels,
But I call them friends.
- Anonymous -

2009-12-22T15:51:00.001-05:00

"This one step - choosing a goal and sticking to it - changes everything." Scott Reed

2009-12-21T16:23:00.001-05:00

See first that the design is wise and just; that ascertained, pursue it resolutely.
William Shakespeare

2009-12-18T17:16:00.001-05:00

Sometimes, even when you do everything right...you don't see results. Do Not Quit. Your temptation to quit is greatest right before success.

2009-12-17T15:47:00.001-05:00

Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.
Dale Carnegie

2009-12-15T15:23:00.001-05:00

"The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore."
–Dale Carnegie

2009-12-11T14:42:00.001-05:00

"There are those who work all day. Those who dream all day. And those who spend an hour dreaming before setting to work to fulfill those dreams. Go into the third category because there's virtually no competition." -- Steven J Ross

CMA Report Uncovers Disturbing Email Trends

2009-12-11T07:48:00.001-05:00

A report from the Canadian Marketing Association uncovered some
very disturbing data regarding peoples opinions and thoughts about
email marketing.

-------------
Did you know:
-------------

1. 97% of people say email that tricks them into opening it is
spam...

2. 93% of people say email from unknown senders is spam...

3. 93% say email with offensive subject matter is spam...

4. 58% say spam includes permitted email that is now arriving too
often!

5. 57% say spam includes permitted email that they now no longer
wish to receive!

6. 38% say anything that tries to sell them something is spam,
regardless who sent it.

--------------------------------
So, what can we learn from this?
--------------------------------

* #1 teaches us NOT to use 'bait and switch' tactics.

* #2 is pretty obvious - build a relationship BEFORE you pitch
someone.

* #3 Says use good taste - I know, subjective, but hey... you have
been warned.

* #4 and #5 deserve special attention. #4 suggests people who are
happy getting your email have a 'frequency' threshold. Send too
much and people respond negatively - again, highly subjective and
depends greatly on the list, the timing, the offer and other social
issues of the time.

* #5 is similar to #4 in that this is a not a question of sending
email to an unwanted recipient, this is now a function of the
recipient changing their mind and not telling you! You end up being
tagged a spammer because they changed their mind - not fair, but
nothing every is... except maybe the Lottery ;)

* And finally, #6 - nearly 4 out of 10 people don't like the idea
of you trying to sell them something - period. Until of course... the
moment they want it. But hey, who said business was easy?

Email may still be the 'killer app' when it comes to on-line
marketing, but these are some very important issues to consider and
I hope you heed the advice above.

2009-12-08T15:44:00.001-05:00

'It's always better to light a candle than curse the darkness' - Eleanor Roosevelt

2009-12-07T16:13:00.001-05:00

Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th. J. Andrews

2009-12-02T16:22:00.001-05:00

What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve ~ Napoleon Hill

2009-12-01T15:35:00.001-05:00

"Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." Luke 6:27, 28.

2009-11-30T15:05:00.001-05:00

Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.
Elizabeth Bibesco

2009-11-25T15:42:00.001-05:00

"If it's never our fault, we can't take responsibility for it."

2009-11-23T15:29:00.001-05:00

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs--Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Harold Thurman Whitman

2009-11-20T15:33:00.001-05:00

The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. ~Benjamin Franklin

2009-11-19T16:54:00.001-05:00

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that’s all”
- Oscar Wilde

2009-11-18T14:36:00.001-05:00

Never mind what others do; do better than yourself, beat your own record from day to day, and you are a success.

-- William J. H. Boetcker

2009-11-17T15:07:00.001-05:00

imitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless. - Jamie Paolinetti

2009-11-16T15:08:00.001-05:00

The first recipe of happiness - avoid too lengthy meditations on the past. - Andre Maurois

2009-11-13T14:51:00.001-05:00

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well neither does bathing - That's why I recommend it daily."
Zig Ziglar

2009-11-12T14:30:00.001-05:00

"Abundance consists not alone in material possession,
but in an uncovetous spirit."
- John Selden

2009-11-09T15:14:00.001-05:00

"...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5

2009-11-06T15:04:00.001-05:00

"When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance."
- Joel Osteen

How to Use Facebook Correctly to Build Your Business

2009-10-30T14:55:00.001-04:00

by Aaron Rashkin

With the sudden rise in Social Media in the past 12 months, Facebook has become one of the most visited websites online.

it’s now been reported that Facebook gets more visitors every day than even Yahoo.

So with all these people to be-friend on Facebook, the question is, “how do you use Facebook to build your Home Based Business?”

The answer is quite simple.

You make friends first.

Then, you attract followers by providing them good value in the form of thought provoking questions, comments, quotes and dialogue.

You’ll know who your followers are because they will read your status updates and comment on them or let you know that they like what you have to say.

Then, those followers will become a fan of yours, meaning that not only are they your friend and follower, but they will reach out to you and thank you for your contributions to your community and perhaps might even ask you what you do or how they might be able to work with you.

This might even result in a new customer, business partner or both.

This is called Permission Based Marketing and it makes for the best transaction between a seller and a buyer online.

Now, the worst thing you can do on Facebook, is pitch your deal.

Not only will people ignore you, but many will remove you as their friend if they feel that the only reason you are on Facebook is to sell your product or service.

Imagine going to a doctor and before they even ask you any questions, they are writing you a prescription.

Not only didn’t they ask you anything about yourself, but they didn’t even find out if you even have a need for one.

To suggest to someone on Facebook that they should look at your company, product or service is considered rude, pushy, even annoying. This is otherwise known as spam.

Nobody likes to be sold, but everybody loves to buy.

So, brand yourself as a leader first – someone that people will come to know, like and trust.

Then, if people ask you about your business, that’s great. Let them engage you and then you can provide them with more information.

Now, if you contribute to your community on Facebook often, with great value, it’s fine to include a link to your personal blog or hub page or any other Social Media that you’ve created or that has been written or spoken about you.

Just don’t keep posting the same status that reads, “Make a Jilion in a Jiffy” with a link to your website.

Nobody cares about your business opportunity until they see that you are someone they’d even want to work with.

If all you post is business information, your intentions speak loudly on their own and you will alienate yourself.

If you treat your Facebook friends with respect and courtesy and contribute often, chances are that you will attract great people who ask what you do and how they can get more information.

2009-10-28T14:35:00.001-04:00

"That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well."
- Abraham Lincoln

2009-10-27T15:00:00.001-04:00

Human history begins with man's act of disobedience which is at the very same time the beginning of his freedom and development of his reason. Erich Fromm

2009-10-26T07:25:00.001-04:00

"When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance."
- Joel Osteen

2009-10-23T15:36:00.001-04:00

"If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else."
- Yogi Berra

The Reverse-Marketing Twitter Checklist: 8 Steps to Marketing Success on Twitter

2009-10-22T15:30:00.003-04:00

This article was written by Jeff Machado, an Inbound Marketing Implementation Specialist with Modern Marketing Support, an Internet Marketing Virtual Assistant company.

One of the hardest things about marketing on Twitter is that it doesn't even look like marketing.

In fact, the closer you watch those who have made a success using inbound marketing techniques, you'll see that it seems that they're not doing much of anything at all. Sure, they're talking to people and sharing some great resources, but that can't be marketing ...

But it is marketing - and it's a powerful kind of reverse-marketing. It's relatively easy, it's fun, and it's really effective.

Looking for ways to tap into this almost effortless style of business promotion? Here are eight easy steps you can follow:

1. Choose Topics Outside Your Niche
As hard as it may be to swallow, you are not your niche. A niche is something you have. But it is not who you are. Choose 5 other things you could possibly Tweet about. On my list are cooking, origami, personality tests, colors, and office supplies. Find more opportunities to Tweet and talk about other things than what your business is. Getting people to like you first is a great place to start on Twitter.

2. Define the Personality You Want To Reach
Thanks to David Meerman Scott, we have the concept of buyer persona and a method for applying it to marketing. Thanks to the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, we have a tool for getting inside that buyer persona's mind. It was easy for me to choose ENFPs (Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving) as my target market. They're the types who get lots of ideas and are natural entrepreneurs but struggle with things like internet marketing implementation. 4 little letters can give you a lot of potential Tweet ideas.

3. Use the Search Button at Least 3 Times Per Day + Tweet at Least 15 New People
Lots of Twitter help articles will say "Join the conversation!" but if the people you're following don't seem to engage in conversation and only promote themselves or send out quotes for Re-Tweet bait, what are you supposed to do? That's where the search button comes in. Search for something you're interested in. Find someone you'd like to talk to. Then repeat as much as possible. Use your @ function more than anything else. Engage, don't broadcast.

4. Ask 5 Questions on a Daily Basis
Once you start to find more followers, just ask questions. Will they always get answered? No. But did it cost you a ton of money to ask? Absolutely not. You can't take it personally if no one answers the first time around. But if you're focusing on your buyer persona, you get closer to getting inside their mind. You'll know you're asking the right questions when you start to get responses. Easy to do, easy to measure.

5. Answer at Least 3 Questions Daily
The fewer questions someone has on their mind, the more at peace they are. Questions, especially ones that don't get answered, are the things that keep us up at night. Though it might seem extreme to say, it's very likely that anytime you answer someone's question via a Tweet, you're helping them sleep better at night.

6. Send Out 10 Useful or Entertaining Links (But Be Sure To Track!) Every Day
While desktop applications like TweetDeck or Twhirl offer convenient URL shortening, they are not necessarily the best. You're missing out on one of the best features of Bit.ly and other URL shortening tools like it: click tracking. This is the simplest way to find out if you're Tweeting things that your Followers actually want to know about. Just sign up for Bit.ly's service and Tweet from there when sharing articles and blog posts.

7. Share at Least One Blog Post, Article, or Video Per Week
There are so many options for connecting your blog posts, articles, videos, and all your content to your social media venues. But self serving promotional content just doesn't cut it. Remember the question theory? Use it to your advantage. Think of the questions your target market (or even better, your buyer persona) has and make sure your content answers those questions. Provide content that makes it easier for that person to sleep at night.

8. Test a Different Landing Page from Your Twitter Profile Weekly
If you're doing everything above, you're getting closer to people being more interested in what you have to offer. What will they find when they visit you? Are they going to know exactly how you're going to help them sleep better at night? If not, you need to create landing pages that express just this. As with all good landing page practices, keep on testing.

So what do you think? Is Twitter about as reverse-marketing as it gets? And what other ways are there to measure your success on Twitter? Let's get the conversation rolling in the comments.

2009-10-22T15:20:00.001-04:00

"Expect your every need to be met. Expect the answer to every problem, expect abundance on every level."
- Eileen Caddy

2009-10-21T07:26:00.001-04:00

"A man's life consisteth not in the abundance
of the things which he possesseth."
- Luke 12:15

2009-10-19T16:08:00.001-04:00

"When you are grateful fear disappears
and abundance appears."
- Anthony Robbins

Sales and Marketing - Different and Powerful

2009-10-16T16:18:00.002-04:00

People often confuse the two or assume they are one and the same. They are different and powerful.

You use marketing to bring you qualified prospects and use sales to close the deal and build relationships with people. In other words, the definition of marketing is everything you do to reach and persuade prospects to give you a chance to sell them. Sales is what you do to close the sale and get a signed agreement or contract.

In the world of internet marketing, the marketer drives people to the website, and the sales person is the one who forms a relationship with the prospects and closes the deal.

Good marketers and sales people have one thing in common: they both begin by putting their customers first and developing strong customer relationships.

To be effective at both marketing and sales, you need to identify your target market and understand their needs.

What are their hot buttons and core emotional desires? People buy with their emotions and justify with logic. So before you start rattling off a bunch of features, ask yourself, ""what does it mean to them specifically and how will it benefit them?"

Seven Reasons People Buy
Good marketing and sales start with understanding what your customer wants.
If you know what people want, then you're 90 percent of the way there.
So how do you find out what people want?
Talk to people one-on-one. Listen to the requests they make, the questions they ask and their complaints. Also, look at the information they make public on forums, blogs and other social media. These are a goldmine of information about what people want.

Supplement your research with an understanding of the 7 reasons people buy:
1. Make money
2. Save money
3. Save time
4. Save effort
5. Improve health
6. Increase pleasure
7. Elminate pain

Why Don't People Buy from You?
In most cases, negative emotions are a lot more powerful than positive emotions. Too often, sales focuses on why people should buy from you vs. why people don't buy from you.

There are typically four reasons people won't buy from you.
1. They don't know you
2. They don't want what you're selling
3. They don't want what you're selling more than what they would have to give up to get it
4. They don't believe you

Make their concerns and doubts the focus of your attention first.

This is especially important in network marketing, given how skeptical most people are about this industry.Its funny that most network marketing companies say "we don't sell products we just share information". That helps people who are afraid of sales feel less intimidated by the process. But the truth is that network marketing does involve sales. It also requires marketing.
Be honest, upfront and straightforward with people. Not only will this earn trust, but it will allow you to differentiate yourself. The bigger you make your claims (about your business or product), the more you blend in with everyone else. Tone down your claims and show genuine concern for people's interests. Its a win-win solution.

2009-10-15T15:47:00.001-04:00

Expect your every need to be met. Expect the answer to every problem, expect abundance on every level.
Eileen Caddy

2009-10-14T16:53:00.001-04:00

Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into. Wayne Dyer

2009-10-13T14:37:00.001-04:00

What was hard to bear is sweet to remember.

Portuguese proverb

2009-10-09T21:47:00.001-04:00

"Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown."

Ten Keys to Success in Network Marketing

2009-10-07T14:59:00.004-04:00

A high percentage of people fail to make a full-time income in network marketing, because they either don't know what to do or aren't willing to do what is necessary to achieve success. In this article, I'm going to eliminate the excuse of not knowing.

Here are ten keys to achieving high success in network marketing:

1. Purpose - you must have a strong "why" for this business, otherwise the negativity from the dreamstealers (those people in your life who will try to save you from the pyramid scam). Are you interested in more time freedom? Extra money every month? Helping other people improve their lives? Financial freedom? A strong purpose will keep you focused and ensure your success in network marketing and all aspects of your life.

2. Goals - you must have written steps that will help you achieve your purpose. Set written goals for the next 5 years, 1 year, monthly, daily. Set goals for # of new contacts, # of retail customers, # of distributors, income, pin levels, etc. Make sure these goals are written. Read them daily.

3. Plan - you must have a written plan for achieving your goals. The great eastern philosopher, Yogi Berra, once said, "if you don't know where you're going, you'll probably end up some place else." In other words, if you don't have a written plan to achieve your goals, you won't!

4. Belief - you must believe in network marketing, your company, the products, the compensation plan, the leadership, the marketing programs, your upline, and yourself. The stronger your belief, the greater your commitment.

5. Commitment - you must be committed to your company for life! Not, "I'll give this a try for 6 months and see how it works." I can guarantee you will fail! You must know that this is the best company, with the best products. You must believe that this opportunity is perfect for yourself and for others. If this is not the case, find another company where it is.

6. Positive Attitude - bad things will happen. The media will cover our industry, and your company negatively at times. Prospects will tell you you're crazy for being a part of one of those pyramid schemes. Even your family will think your nuts! Keep in mind that they are ignorant of the facts. You have the facts! This is a great industry.
It will revolutionize the way products and services are distributed throughout the world. You are a part of the greatest industry in the world and the greatest company in that industry. Be positive about the company, industry, products, upline, downline, etc. It's up to you to spread positive and hope everywhere you go.

7. Lead by Example - people will do what you do, not what you say to do. They will look to you to lead by example.
If things aren't going well, ask yourself this question, "how happy would I be if all my downline worked like me?"
Are you doing what's necessary to be successful? If you aren't, you can't expect your downline to. Keep prospecting and recruiting people. Give your downline leads and placements. Use the company training system and promote it's use to your downline. If you do the right things every day, your downline will do the right things every day, and good things will result.

8. Love People - in our harried world we forget to love people. I'm not talking about romantic love, but rather caring love. Love your sponsor for introducing you to this great company. Love your upline for helping you. Love your downline for committing to you. Love the company for providing these fantastic products and incredible financial opportunity.
Love your prospects, even those who are mean and nasty. In fact love them even more, because they probably need it more.
If you love people, they will love you back. Wow! What a feeling. It turns this from a business into a big loving family full of members who are willing to do anything for you.

9. Daily Action - this is a business, not a hobby. If you invested a half million dollars in a McDonalds franchise would you work it in your spare time - when you didn't have anything else to do - when there weren't any good T.V. shows on? Of course not. You'd be working 15 hours a day to get your money back. You probably didn't invest much to get into your business, but the commitment level should be the same, because the long-term benefits are much greater in network marketing than with McDonalds.
Work your business every day. Plan time into your daily schedule to prospect, contact, follow-up, work with your downline, conduct training meetings for your downline, conduct business briefings, work online, and study. Daily activity will produce daily results, which build into monthly results, which build into yearly results.
Do you know that if you made up a list of everyone you have ever known and started to contact them, you would recruit at least 10% of them without trying very hard. If you become proficient, you would probably close 30% or better. Just think, if you contacted one person every day, 7 days a week, you would contact 365 people each year. At a 10% close ratio you would have 36 new distributors every year. If they also duplicated, you would add another 1296 the second year, 46,656 the third year and so on. That is the power of 1 contact each day.
Plan it into your schedule to call or see one new prospect every day (and I mean every day, not just when you have a spare moment!) and commit to doing that for the next month. You'll be amazed at the results! Then teach your downline to do the same thing.

10. Cultivate leaders - find natural leaders in the warm and cold markets. Find leaders in your current networks. You will need to find and cultivate at least 3 leaders in each leg in order to secure them. A group of strong leaders under each leg will enable you to have more independence and eventually result in true walk-away income.

Network marketing is a great business. You have chosen a great company. You are a great person. Follow these 10 steps to further greatness!
Post inspired by Rod Nichols.

2009-10-07T14:53:00.001-04:00

There is only one real failure in life that is possible, and that is, not to be true to the best one knows.
John Farrar

2009-10-06T15:43:00.001-04:00

He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions.
Louisa May Alcott

2009-10-05T16:09:00.001-04:00

"Do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of."
-Benjamin Franklin

2009-10-01T15:48:00.001-04:00

“Being rich is having money; being wealthy is having time” Margaret Bonnano

2009-09-30T15:39:00.001-04:00

Whatever may be said in praise of poverty, the fact remains that it is not possible to live a really complete or successful life unless one is rich. Wallace D. Wattles

2009-09-28T15:06:00.001-04:00

You can win more friends with your ears than with your mouth.

Successful People Deserve It...

2009-09-25T16:40:00.003-04:00

We are all successful. We all deserve what we set out to have in our lives.

But... What do you really want? Do you believe that you deserve it?

1. What do you really want? Clearly define what you want in your life that you don't already have. Maybe you want more time with your family, but what specifically does that mean? It may mean enjoying dinner every night with your family or enjoying weekends together. Clearly define it, so you can aim for your goal.

Time costs money. Therefore, any goal with time in it will cost you money to have it. Be clear on how much money days off with your family will cost you. You will then be able to put a dollar figure on your time and set a real goal.

2. Do you believe you deserve it? This is the point where many people might say, "of course, I deserve it." But without truly believing that more money or more time or whatever can really be yours, you will not get it. In a way, you are striving for a goal that will never be yours because you feel deep inside that you don't deserve it.

Start today with feeling that you deserve it. You can have as much as the next very successfully wealthy person. You are just as deserving to have a life by design, just believe it!

To your success and abundance!

2009-09-24T15:43:00.001-04:00

Satisfaction comes from enough action. Jack Canfield

Salespeople Who Engage Customers

2009-09-23T15:31:00.002-04:00

by Benson Smith and Tony Rutigliano
Excerpted from Discover Your Sales Strengths (Warner Books, 2003)

How do great sales reps create customer engagement? Gallup’s researchers have identified four emotional dimensions that comprise customer engagement. These dimensions begin with Confidence and move on in order to Integrity, Pride, and Passion. Together, these are the building blocks of customer engagement. Without question, high levels of customer engagement represent a tough benchmark to meet. In the various industries we studied, the number of “fully engaged” customers has ranged from the single digits (around 6% to 8%) to as high as 35% to 40%. Contrast that with the 80% of customers reportedly “satisfied” in these same industries.

In order to assess the level of customer engagement, our researchers first undertook a comprehensive research and development effort in which they tested a series of statements that had been used at various times to indicate the emotional “attachment” felt by a customer. The following eight statements turned out to be the best indicators of the important emotional connection between the customer and a company. Take a moment and imagine that you are one of your company’s customers. Fill in your company’s name in the blank and read each statement.

1. [ _________ ] is a name I can always trust.

2. [ _________ ] always delivers on what it promises.

3. [ _________ ] always treats me fairly.

4. If a problem arises, I can always count on [ _________ ] to reach a fair and satisfactory resolution.

5. I feel proud to be a [ _________ ] customer.

6. [ _________ ] always treats me with respect.

7. [ _________ ] is the perfect company for people like me.

8. I can’t imagine a world without [ _________ ].

How many of your customers would strongly agree to all eight statements? You can see why high levels of customer engagement represent a very tough standard to meet, and why it’s much easier to “satisfy” customers than it is to “fully engage” them.

Customers respond to these statements based on their experiences -- experiences with the product (service) and experiences with people. In some businesses, such as the airline industry, customers may deal with many different people every time they purchase a ticket or fly on a plane. Every time there is contact, engagement can be affected for better or worse. In businesses in which customers deal principally with a single salesperson, however, those salespeople have enormous impact on customer engagement. So, in many industries, customers are really saying, “My salesperson is someone I can always trust,” or “My salesperson always delivers on what he or she promises.”

Building customer engagement is not a “sometimes” thing. Notice that the word “always” appears in five of the eight statements. That’s intentional. Our research has shown that trust has to be there all the time or there is no trust. The same is true of respect, confidence, fair treatment, and the other practices implied by these important statements.

Consistency is clearly important in building customer engagement. Every time we have an interaction with a customer, we are either building engagement or eroding it.

Is this simply a matter of liking the salesperson?

Don’t customers really buy, as the old saying goes, from people they like? The answer to that question is a straightforward yes and no! Having your customers like you is a big advantage, but lots of customers are not looking to become best friends with salespeople. Customer engagement relates to the company and its products and services, and not only to the salesperson. Even if your customers “love” you, they still have to feel strongly engaged in what you’re providing if you want some assurance that they will continue to buy.

Sometimes salespeople make the mistake of trying to be too “friendly” with their customers. Chuck told us, “Customers are different from friends. A friendship is a give-and-take relationship. There is no saying that goes ‘Your friend is always right,’ but every customer is all too familiar with the expression ‘The customer is always right.’”

We don’t mean to say that you can’t be friends with your customers -- you certainly can be. You might even be best friends with them, but customer engagement is different from friendship. Customers can be friendly, but they have a whole different set of expectations compared to people who are your friends just for the sake of friendship. Gallup’s research into this area brings some clarity as to how these very special and unique relationships with customers are built.

2009-09-23T15:18:00.001-04:00

Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. Will Rogers

2009-09-22T15:40:00.001-04:00

Plan for the best, expect it, and it will come. Me.

Just One Sale Away from Life Changing Success

2009-09-21T16:39:00.003-04:00

Some days, you might wonder, when will success happen? When will I receive this or that? Believe and it will happen. And it will happen very quickly!

Think about all those who have gone before you, all the other entrepreneurs and marketers and sales people. Did they make their first million in one year? No. Did they have to deal with failure upon failure? Yes, they learned from their failures and moved forward, closer and closer to success.

Then, one day, after working hard attracting sales, prospects, new clients, customers, everything clicked. The sales became consistent. They went from trickling in to 2 a week to 5 a week and then so much more.

All that hard work finally paid off. All because you BELIEVED in yourself and your abilities to attract success.

You are just one sale away from Success. Be Success. Attract Success minded people like you!
Go marketers, sales people, and entrepreneurs - Keep believing!

2009-09-21T15:36:00.001-04:00

The life of man is like a game with dice; if you don't get the throw you want, you must show your skill in making the best of the throw you get.
Terence

2009-09-18T16:21:00.001-04:00

"Become known as a class act." Jack Canfield, The Success Principles