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Monday Morning Motivators – October 6, 2008
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Enjoy your java with an eclectic collection of tips and ideas to use today and to get energized for the week ahead. Subscribing and unsubscribing at www.mondaymorningmotivators.com
“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
–Vidal Sassoon
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Table of Contents
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1. Productively Speaking - Linda Fayerweather
2. Picking the Right Words - Rebecca Booth
3. Stay Calm Regardless - Pat Altvater
4. Network Strength = Net Worth - Paula Frazier
5. Fine Print
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1. Productively Speaking
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LeadershipIQ.com reports that employees are 44% less productive this year than last year! This recession rumination shows employees are spending their time:
1. Surfing the Internet for career improvement (21%)
2. Surfing the Internet for personal finance (17%)
3. Daydreaming about negative topics (12%)
4. Chatting with co-workers (9%)
5. Surfing the Internet for entertainment (7%)
What of course is interesting to me is that the solution is the same whether we are in a recession or not.
Good managers are willing to set clear expectations by helping employees identify desired outcomes that benefit the firm and stimulate people to grow and stretch. Engagement in the job, recognition for accomplishments and pushing, yes, pushing are principles that great managers us to keep staff working at optimal levels for challenge and profit. When people have more than enough to do, they have less time to fret and worry.
Two questions?
1. If you are the owner, do you know what your own desired outcomes are for 2009?
2. If you are an employee, what do you plan to achieve in 2009 beyond showing up to work?
You might want a plan! See below for a coupon that will help you get one.
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather
Storm the Barn with New Ideas
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
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2. Picking the Right Words
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We’re taught to keep things simple in marketing. Choose small words, stick to one clear concise message and white space is your friend are some of the sage advice we live by. However, there are exceptions to every rule (except for the rule about white space)! In copywriting there are times when a bigger or fancier word can command a reader’s attention and persuade him more effectively than simple prose. Take for instance Montblanc pens. They choose to sell “writing instruments” instead of “pens.” Why does Montblanc do this? It’s simple: people will pay $150 for a writing instrument, because they know they can get any old pen for a buck almost anywhere else. According to Target Marketing, one direct marketer changed the name of its main product from “fruitcake” to “native Texas pecan cake” and mail-order sales zoomed 60 percent. Be picky about the words you use in your marketing efforts. Smaller isn’t necessarily better in all cases.
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
Celebrating 10 years of delivering results for our clients.
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
www.marketinginabox.biz
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3. Stay Calm Regardless of What the Media Wants You to Do!
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Everyone is wondering what news will be next regarding the economy. It’s so easy to get caught up in worry and anxiety over whether our business will do well or not, given the current conditions.
Don’t go there.
It may only take the slightest hint of a suggestion to trigger an old belief in our subconscious, a belief that says for example, “money is tight – people won’t want to buy from me.” Often we don't even know the little seed of doubt has slipped in, but it gets in our mind and grows slowly, yet persistently. We actually give way to lack, limitation and failure a little at a time and before we know it, we’ve become one with the problem.
Instead, stay conscious to this by adopting a new belief that states “my business expands every year.” Succeed and grow, regardless of what "they say." Just keep moving forward, by putting yourself out there more and more each day and you’ll attract the customers you need to grow your business this year.
Set your intention, then put attention on it by taking the necessary actions and you will achieve the results you desire.
Pat Altvater
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.ignitethepowerwithinbook.com
www.permanentweightlossebook.com
www.transformationsinstitute.com
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4. Your Network Will Impact Your Net Worth! Part II
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This week, I’d like to share some of Queen Elizabeth I’s life lessons that you can apply to your referral marketing efforts to inspire the people in your networks to intentionally act on your behalf:
1. Control the message, not the messenger. When you’re building your business by word of mouth you don’t have the luxury of allowing each person within your network to send YOUR message their way. You are responsible for educating them to consistently send one message that you’ve carefully crafted to strengthen your brand.
2. Knowledge really is power. Leaders are lifelong learners and your depth of knowledge will absolutely affect your ability to successfully educate your referral sources. Identify the places you can go to surround yourself with others who do what you do and teach/learn from one another.
3. When it comes to people, collect the best – “No one could escape her network”. Elizabeth was a lady after my own heart. To be effective in her role as the Queen it was critical to have all the right people in all the right places and be in the right place in each relationship to ask for their help. It is no less critical for you and your role within your business. She would have told you to get out among the people (your people) on a regular basis to make it happen.
Elizabeth was great at rewarding people for their confidence and loyalty. Be sure to properly thank the people that are contributing to your success. Get to know what your committed referral partners need and give it to them! In order for high level relationships like this to endure, they must be reciprocal.
Special Note: This article was inspired by Alan Axelrod, author of Elizabeth I, CEO.
Copyright 2008 Paula Frazier is a referral marketing trainer, coach, consultant and keynote speaker. She is an Executive Director for BNI and part of a select team of Master Trainers for Referral Institute. You can connect with Paula at paula@referralinstitute-va.com or paula@bniswva.com.
