============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – March 3, 2007
============================================================
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
“If we don’t take care of our customers, someone else will.”
--UNKNOWN
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. The Customer is the Most Important – Linda Fayerweather
2. Facing the Facts New Media - Rebecca Booth
3. Enjoy the Journey – Pat Altvater
4. Good Listening - Good Networking – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
1. The Customer is the Most Important
============================================================
I’m going to take you on some shopping trips at local stores this month for some true stories. Feel free to send me your experiences – linda@changinglanes.biz.
Story 1 – Buying shoes. I wear comfortable shoes and my favorite brand is only available at one local store. The sales staff at this store receives commission and on the weekends, I dress garden-casual. So in my jeans, sweater and cowboy boots, I went to see if the storewide shoe sale included my brand. The shoe department was a mad house of bargain hunters and the sales staff was well . . . hard to find. Alas, my shoes were not on sale (they seldom are) so I picked up a sample and waited near some other customers hoping for some help. After being overlook several times by sales staff choosing to help other more stylishly attired customers, a young man from the “fragrance” department came over and asked if I needed help. I told him my size, he returned with the shoes, I tried them on, and was ready to buy. Instead of making me wait at the shoe cash register, he took me over to his department and rang up the $140 purchase. Now, he saw a customer in need, holding one of the most expensive shoes in the department and made the decision to aid that customer. He understood the first rule of customer service “The customer is the most important person”. Next time I shop there, I’ll stop at the fragrance department first to see if Brad is there to help me.
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather
“Did you thank a customer today?”
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
The Customer Service Rules
============================================================
2. Facing the Facts About Today’s Reliance on New Media.
============================================================
Facebook is here and it’s sticking around. What can a business owner do to embrace this new social networking media online? For those of you who are unfamiliar with the new medium, Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and other who work, study and live around them. Brand messages are spread virally (from person to person) on the web. Some people use Facebook to gather insights into the activities of other users. The smart marketer will embrace Facebook and will encourage visitors who visit your page to form groups in those areas related to your business. For an example, if you’re an online movie retailer, allow your Facebook friends to compare their favorite flicks on your site. Or if you’re a photographer, you might want to start a group that discusses photo tips and tricks. When you’re creating your Facebook page, make sure that you have a detailed (if not exhaustive) profile that distinguishes you as someone in the know. Also include links to landing pages on a website that you build especially for your Facebook friends so that you can target offers more effectively. And please, please, please, contribute to the conversations that people are having on your site. Soon, you’ll find yourself flooded with new friends and hopefully new customers!
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
===========================================================
3. Enjoy the Journey
===========================================================
You’ve got written goals, stated as intentions and also have the belief that you will achieve your goals. There’s one more important ingredient in getting to goal achievement and that’s your approach.
Forget about using willpower to force yourself to get up early or make phone calls. You'll need to work, sure. But you'll never make it if that's all you've got going for you – willpower is hard to sustain in the long run. Instead, take the time to embrace the process that's going to get you there.
How? By examining the essence of what you want to achieve. This means going deeper than the superficial reasons you want to achieve the goal – like to make more money or become thin. Instead, connect the intention to what it really means to you and what you might find is that the process is the JOY! Enjoy the journey to goal achievement!
Copyright 2008 Pat Altvater
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.thesecretofpermanentweightloss.com
www.permanentweightlossebook.com
www.transformationsinstitute.com
===========================================================
4. Good Listening - Good Networking
===========================================================
Good networking takes good listening. Unfortunately, most people spend their time talking! What good is word of mouth if nobody is listening?
Think about the last networking event that you attended. Was everyone quietly listening, maintaining eye contact, asking valuable questions, and responding to you with more than just “uh huh”?
Listening is one of the most important parts of effective networking. It allows you to learn what others are trying to accomplish, hear others express needs they may have, and strategically connect them to other people in your network.
Here are 5 tips to help you become a better listener at your next networking event:
1. Maintain active eye contact. Don't look over the persons shoulder as if there might be someone better coming into the room.
2. Ask open ended questions. Again, people love to talk about themselves! You can ask them about what they do, why they choose to do it and how they get into their business.
3. Take notes whenever possible. Jot them down on the back of their business card. Be sure to include how you intend to follow up. Meeting 10 new people can test your memory…now is not the time.
4. Honor the person by staying engaged in the conversation. Most people are busy thinking about what they are going to say and not hearing what is being said.
5. Let them know your were listening! At the end of the conversation give some feedback. Emphasize something you may have heard or learned from that person.
Just remember . . . God gave us 2 ears and one mouth. Use them proportionately. Listen twice as much as you speak. It’ll take you far in your referral marketing efforts and in life.
Paula Frazier and Hazel M Walker are Master Trainers for Referral Institute and Executive Directors for BNI, the world’s leading business marketing organization. To learn more about increasing your referral revenue visit http://www.bniswva.com or http://www.referralinstitutevirginia.com.
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
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Look for your Brilliant Idea!
Monday, March 03, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Why - 7 Sentences - Intentions - Helping Referrals
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – February 25, 2007
============================================================
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 illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read
and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
--Alvin Toffler
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? – Linda Fayerweather
2. 7-Sentence Marketing Plan - Rebecca Booth
3. You Deserve to Achieve your Intentions – Pat Altvater
4. Helping Your Referral Partners – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Lyrics
============================================================
1. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
============================================================
Think back to being a child and asking your Mom or Dad “why the sky is blue” and no matter what the answer, your follow up question was “why?” If you are a parent you know that this leads to one of the inevitable answers “because” or “go ask your Mom or Dad” or “that is just the way things are”.
Trying to find the root cause of any problem or dilemma requires digging and “Why” is a great tool. In fact, if managers used this more with their employees and peers, problems would get solved faster. True, when first using this process of asking “Why” 5 times, frustration may be present. The technique was originally developed by Sakichi Toyoda and was later by Toyota during the evolution of their manufacturing techniques. Sometimes, we don’t want to find the root cause as often it means someone or something failed. If we strive to solve and not blame, we will all be open to “WHY”.
Now, if you need some help remembering how persistent children can be, check out the lyrics to Woody Guthrie’s song “Why oh Why”, one my Mom would sing to me when my “whys” got excessive.
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather
“Why change?”, well “Why not?”
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. 7-Sentence Marketing Plan
============================================================
One of the nation’s greatest marketing guru’s is Jay Conrad Levinson – the creator of the highly successful “Guerilla” books - Guerilla Marketing; Guerilla Advertising; Guerilla Public Relations. In a recent article for Entrepreneur Levinson outlined his approach to building a top-notch marketing plan in order to get your business ready for success. Not only was the idea solid, it was simple too. The marketing plan consists only of 7 sentences:
1) The first sentence states the purpose of your marketing.
2) The second sentence explains your competitive advantage.
3) The third sentence describes your target market(s).
4) The fourth sentence details what marketing weapons you’ll use.
5) The fifth sentence documents your niche in the marketplace.
6) The sixth sentence explains your identity.
7) And the last sentence sets your marketing budget as a percentage of your projected gross sales.
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
===========================================================
3. You Deserve to Achieve your Intentions
===========================================================
Attention, energy and focus on your intentions, such as deciding you desire something and thinking about it, always sets energy in motion. For example, last week you converted goals to intentions, so that put energy in motion and activated the Law of Attraction.
However, you can stop the Law of Attraction in its tracks by failing to believe you deserve to receive your intention. So cultivate belief in yourself; anytime you hear negative self-talk, such as “that only happens to other people, not to me” stop that thought and replace it with “I deserve to receive this.”
Once you conceive of a goal or intention, then you deserve to achieve it. Ideas for intentions come from your consciousness, so if you couldn’t achieve it, you wouldn’t be even thinking about it. So believe and achieve!
Copyright 2008 Pat Altvater
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.thesecretofpermanentweightloss.com
www.permanentweightlossebook.com
www.transformationsinstitute.com
===========================================================
4. Helping Your Referral Partners
===========================================================
Written by Hazel Walker & Paula Frazier
Have you updated your referral partners GAINS Profile for 2008? You may want to set that as a top priority for the first quarter. The G in GAINS stands for Goals. By now most people have established their sales goals for the year. At the first of the year, I discussed setting goals for your own referral marketing plan. Now it's time to share those goals with your referral partners and make a plan to help each other.
Action steps:
1. Set up face to face meeting with each of your referral partners.
2. You and your partner should bring your goals and calendars to the meeting.
3. Share those goals.
4. Identify the strategic introductions you can make for one another.
5. Commit to a strategy and schedule appointments to make it happen.
6. As appropriate, communicate after each step to evaluate your progress.
7. Repeat process…
Really commit! Communicate! Follow up . . . follow up . . . follow up! The more you focus on helping others get what they want, the more likely you are to get what you want. It’s the current philosophy of BNI that’s based on an age old adage ~ Givers Gain.
Copyright 2008 Paula Frazier and Hazel M. Walker
Master Trainers for Referral Institute and Executive Directors for BNI. To learn more about the GAINS profile and how to educate your referral sources visit http://www.referralinstitutevirginia.com or http://www.bniswva.com.
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Take inventory of your personal strengths.
===========================================================
7. Why, Oh Why Lyrics
===========================================================
Why, Oh Why by Woody Guthrie
Why, Oh Why
by Woody Guthrie
Why can't a dish break a hammer?
Why oh why oh why?!
'Cause a hammer's a hard head.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Why, oh why, oh why oh, why?
Why, oh why, oh why?
Because because because because
Goodbye goodbye goodbye
Why can't a bird eat an elephant?
Why, oh why, oh why?
'Cause an elephant's got a pretty hard skin.
Goodby goodbye goodbye.
Why can't a mouse eat a streetcar?
Why, oh why, oh why?
'Cause a mouse's stomach could never get big enough to hold a streetcar.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Why does a horn make music?
Why, oh why, oh why?
Because the horn-blower blows it.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye
Why does a cow drink water?
Tell me why n why?
Because the cow gets thirsty just like you or me or anybody else.
Goodye goodbye goodbye.
Why don't you answer my questions?
Why, oh why, oh why?
'Cause I don't know the answers.
Goodby goodbye goodbye.
What make the landlord take money?
Why, oh why, oh why?
I don't know that one myself.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Why's there no pennies for ice cream
Why, oh why, oh why?
You put all the pennies in the telephone.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Why can't a rabbit chase an eagle?
Tell me why, oh why?
'Cause the last rabbit that took out and chased after an eagle didn't come
out so good and that's why rabbits don't chase after eagles that's all I
know about rabbits and eagles?
Because because because.
Why ain't my grandpa my grandma?
Why, oh why, oh why?
Same reason your dad's not your mommy.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Why couldn't the wind blow backwards?
Why, oh why, oh why?
'Cause it might backfire and hurt somebody and if it
hurt somebody it'd keep on hurting them
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Available on: This Land Is Your Land: Asch Recordings Volume 1
Woody Guthrie
Songs To Grow On For Mother & Child
Woody Guthrie
Words and Music by Woody Guthrie
© Copyright 1960 (renewed), 1963 (renewed) and 1972 by TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc.
Monday Morning Motivators – February 25, 2007
============================================================
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 illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read
and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
--Alvin Toffler
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? – Linda Fayerweather
2. 7-Sentence Marketing Plan - Rebecca Booth
3. You Deserve to Achieve your Intentions – Pat Altvater
4. Helping Your Referral Partners – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Lyrics
============================================================
1. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
============================================================
Think back to being a child and asking your Mom or Dad “why the sky is blue” and no matter what the answer, your follow up question was “why?” If you are a parent you know that this leads to one of the inevitable answers “because” or “go ask your Mom or Dad” or “that is just the way things are”.
Trying to find the root cause of any problem or dilemma requires digging and “Why” is a great tool. In fact, if managers used this more with their employees and peers, problems would get solved faster. True, when first using this process of asking “Why” 5 times, frustration may be present. The technique was originally developed by Sakichi Toyoda and was later by Toyota during the evolution of their manufacturing techniques. Sometimes, we don’t want to find the root cause as often it means someone or something failed. If we strive to solve and not blame, we will all be open to “WHY”.
Now, if you need some help remembering how persistent children can be, check out the lyrics to Woody Guthrie’s song “Why oh Why”, one my Mom would sing to me when my “whys” got excessive.
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather
“Why change?”, well “Why not?”
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. 7-Sentence Marketing Plan
============================================================
One of the nation’s greatest marketing guru’s is Jay Conrad Levinson – the creator of the highly successful “Guerilla” books - Guerilla Marketing; Guerilla Advertising; Guerilla Public Relations. In a recent article for Entrepreneur Levinson outlined his approach to building a top-notch marketing plan in order to get your business ready for success. Not only was the idea solid, it was simple too. The marketing plan consists only of 7 sentences:
1) The first sentence states the purpose of your marketing.
2) The second sentence explains your competitive advantage.
3) The third sentence describes your target market(s).
4) The fourth sentence details what marketing weapons you’ll use.
5) The fifth sentence documents your niche in the marketplace.
6) The sixth sentence explains your identity.
7) And the last sentence sets your marketing budget as a percentage of your projected gross sales.
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
===========================================================
3. You Deserve to Achieve your Intentions
===========================================================
Attention, energy and focus on your intentions, such as deciding you desire something and thinking about it, always sets energy in motion. For example, last week you converted goals to intentions, so that put energy in motion and activated the Law of Attraction.
However, you can stop the Law of Attraction in its tracks by failing to believe you deserve to receive your intention. So cultivate belief in yourself; anytime you hear negative self-talk, such as “that only happens to other people, not to me” stop that thought and replace it with “I deserve to receive this.”
Once you conceive of a goal or intention, then you deserve to achieve it. Ideas for intentions come from your consciousness, so if you couldn’t achieve it, you wouldn’t be even thinking about it. So believe and achieve!
Copyright 2008 Pat Altvater
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.thesecretofpermanentweightloss.com
www.permanentweightlossebook.com
www.transformationsinstitute.com
===========================================================
4. Helping Your Referral Partners
===========================================================
Written by Hazel Walker & Paula Frazier
Have you updated your referral partners GAINS Profile for 2008? You may want to set that as a top priority for the first quarter. The G in GAINS stands for Goals. By now most people have established their sales goals for the year. At the first of the year, I discussed setting goals for your own referral marketing plan. Now it's time to share those goals with your referral partners and make a plan to help each other.
Action steps:
1. Set up face to face meeting with each of your referral partners.
2. You and your partner should bring your goals and calendars to the meeting.
3. Share those goals.
4. Identify the strategic introductions you can make for one another.
5. Commit to a strategy and schedule appointments to make it happen.
6. As appropriate, communicate after each step to evaluate your progress.
7. Repeat process…
Really commit! Communicate! Follow up . . . follow up . . . follow up! The more you focus on helping others get what they want, the more likely you are to get what you want. It’s the current philosophy of BNI that’s based on an age old adage ~ Givers Gain.
Copyright 2008 Paula Frazier and Hazel M. Walker
Master Trainers for Referral Institute and Executive Directors for BNI. To learn more about the GAINS profile and how to educate your referral sources visit http://www.referralinstitutevirginia.com or http://www.bniswva.com.
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Take inventory of your personal strengths.
===========================================================
7. Why, Oh Why Lyrics
===========================================================
Why, Oh Why by Woody Guthrie
Why, Oh Why
by Woody Guthrie
Why can't a dish break a hammer?
Why oh why oh why?!
'Cause a hammer's a hard head.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Why, oh why, oh why oh, why?
Why, oh why, oh why?
Because because because because
Goodbye goodbye goodbye
Why can't a bird eat an elephant?
Why, oh why, oh why?
'Cause an elephant's got a pretty hard skin.
Goodby goodbye goodbye.
Why can't a mouse eat a streetcar?
Why, oh why, oh why?
'Cause a mouse's stomach could never get big enough to hold a streetcar.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Why does a horn make music?
Why, oh why, oh why?
Because the horn-blower blows it.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye
Why does a cow drink water?
Tell me why n why?
Because the cow gets thirsty just like you or me or anybody else.
Goodye goodbye goodbye.
Why don't you answer my questions?
Why, oh why, oh why?
'Cause I don't know the answers.
Goodby goodbye goodbye.
What make the landlord take money?
Why, oh why, oh why?
I don't know that one myself.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Why's there no pennies for ice cream
Why, oh why, oh why?
You put all the pennies in the telephone.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Why can't a rabbit chase an eagle?
Tell me why, oh why?
'Cause the last rabbit that took out and chased after an eagle didn't come
out so good and that's why rabbits don't chase after eagles that's all I
know about rabbits and eagles?
Because because because.
Why ain't my grandpa my grandma?
Why, oh why, oh why?
Same reason your dad's not your mommy.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Why couldn't the wind blow backwards?
Why, oh why, oh why?
'Cause it might backfire and hurt somebody and if it
hurt somebody it'd keep on hurting them
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Available on: This Land Is Your Land: Asch Recordings Volume 1
Woody Guthrie
Songs To Grow On For Mother & Child
Woody Guthrie
Words and Music by Woody Guthrie
© Copyright 1960 (renewed), 1963 (renewed) and 1972 by TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Starting - Shining - Intentions - Community
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – February 18, 2007
============================================================
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 http://www.mondaymorningmotivators.com/
"What's terrible is to pretend that the second-rate is first-rate.
-- Doris Lessing
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Top 10 Reasons to Start Your Own Business – Linda Fayerweather
2. Let Yourself Shine! - Rebecca Booth
3. Turn your Goals into Intentions. – Pat Altvater
4. Giving Back to the People & the Community – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Top 10 Reasons to Start Your Own Business
============================================================
Many of you reading this weekly ezine have already started your own business and are well aware of the trials, tribulations and bliss of being in business. Since the media has become purveyors of negativity, I thought a little levity on a Monday was in order.
Top 10 Reasons to Start a Business:
10. You have more money than you need.
9. You have more time than you need.
8. You have no social life.
7. You sleep only 5 hours per day.
6. You plan to retire after you die.
5. You hate to vacation.
4. You love having multiple deadlines.
3. Your investment portfolio is too large.
2. Your significant other has a great job.
1. You are better looking than Bill Gates and will look great on the cover of News Magazines.
Truth be told, most of us who start a business love it and are looking for ways to make more than a living while creating raving fans of customers.
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather
Helping businesses find the profitable route to success
Changing Lanes LLC
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
============================================================
2. Let Yourself Shine!
============================================================
People like to do business with people they know and trust. But people LOVE to do business with someone who is passionate about what they do for a living. Not only do they listen to you more closely; your ability to verbalize the benefit of what you do helps you to establish important relationships. Here are some ways you can make sure that you shine:
1) Be genuine – allow your true self to come through in business conversations. Present your knowledge and expertise without boasting.
2) Redefine rejection as a learning process. Pat Altvater and I had the privilege of seeing Jack Canfield a few weeks ago. While I walked away with a million new ideas, it was this one that has changed my thinking forever: SW, SW, SW & SW = Some Will; Some Won’t; So What? & Someone’s Waiting.
3) Demonstrate an understanding of others’ problems. While you may be talking to the head honcho of a Fortune 100 firm, don’t let that intimidate you – recognize that you do indeed have the experience and know-how to contribute to their success.
Ask about the obstacles they face and provide solutions.
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
http://www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com/
===========================================================
3. Turn your Goals into Intentions.
===========================================================
The quickest way to achieve your goals is to turn them into intentions. An intention is a goal that you are 100% sure with every fiber of your being that you will achieve. This gives you an additional boost to attract solutions and opportunities into your business and life without having to know the HOW!
Take a goal you’ve already set for 2008 (you have written goals, right?), declare your intention, and expect the unexpected. Here’s how. If your goal is to increase your sales by 50% in 2008, restate your goal as “I intend on increasing sales by 50% in 2008.” Write this intention down, reread it every day and keep your belief level at 100%. You have just opened yourself up to receive new ideas, opportunities, connections, customers, referral sources, and anything else that can help you move closer to your goal from unexpected sources.
Pat Altvater
Licensed and Certified Strategic Attraction Coach
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
http://www.transformationsinstitute.com/
===========================================================
4. Giving Back to the People & the Community That Give to You
===========================================================
Business professionals that are highly successful in their referral marketing efforts are very deliberate about doing the right things at the right time with the right people. We are acutely aware of one of our most limited resources – time. Volunteering is one of the tactics we can make use of that allows us to “give and gain” at the same time.
This week I had the opportunity to volunteer for an organization that helps introduce the importance of workplace ethics to high school students throughout southwestern Virginia. Local business leaders spent half a day with juniors and seniors discussing a variety of difficult workplace scenarios and the importance of employing six pillars of character to help make moral and ethical choices in each situation:
Trustworthiness
Respect
Responsibility
Fairness
Caring
Citizenship
BNI is an international organization with well over 100,000 members. We are able to provide a safe haven that helps our members develop long term referral relationships through a Code of Ethics that include six similar agreements. It wasn’t an accident that Valley Character was an ideal fit for me. It took effort to find the perfect place to volunteer my time that actually complimented my area of expertise and my businesses’ mission.
You can also increase your networking opportunities by inviting other people in your networks to volunteer with you. Remember, your first priority is to honor the event! Simply agree that you’ll actively listen for one another. When you find yourself standing in the middle of a referral, make an introduction…at the appropriate time in the appropriate way.
Here are some things to keep in mind to help you strategically give back to the people in your networks and to the community that gives to you through volunteering:
1. Be sure that you support the organization’s mission.
2. Look for ways that you can help that are within your area of expertise.
3. Investigate the assignment and establish limitations before you commit.
4. Make sure you know your contact’s level of participation.
5. Invite others to take part and make purposeful introductions for each other.
Paula Frazier is a Master Trainer for Referral Institute and an Executive Director for BNI, the world’s leading business networking organization. To learn more about referral marketing tactics visit http://www.referralinstitutevirginia.com/ and http://www.bniswva.com/ .
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Since it is President’s day in the USA, thank a President! Maybe your own company’s.
Monday Morning Motivators – February 18, 2007
============================================================
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 http://www.mondaymorningmotivators.com/
"What's terrible is to pretend that the second-rate is first-rate.
-- Doris Lessing
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Top 10 Reasons to Start Your Own Business – Linda Fayerweather
2. Let Yourself Shine! - Rebecca Booth
3. Turn your Goals into Intentions. – Pat Altvater
4. Giving Back to the People & the Community – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Top 10 Reasons to Start Your Own Business
============================================================
Many of you reading this weekly ezine have already started your own business and are well aware of the trials, tribulations and bliss of being in business. Since the media has become purveyors of negativity, I thought a little levity on a Monday was in order.
Top 10 Reasons to Start a Business:
10. You have more money than you need.
9. You have more time than you need.
8. You have no social life.
7. You sleep only 5 hours per day.
6. You plan to retire after you die.
5. You hate to vacation.
4. You love having multiple deadlines.
3. Your investment portfolio is too large.
2. Your significant other has a great job.
1. You are better looking than Bill Gates and will look great on the cover of News Magazines.
Truth be told, most of us who start a business love it and are looking for ways to make more than a living while creating raving fans of customers.
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather
Helping businesses find the profitable route to success
Changing Lanes LLC
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
============================================================
2. Let Yourself Shine!
============================================================
People like to do business with people they know and trust. But people LOVE to do business with someone who is passionate about what they do for a living. Not only do they listen to you more closely; your ability to verbalize the benefit of what you do helps you to establish important relationships. Here are some ways you can make sure that you shine:
1) Be genuine – allow your true self to come through in business conversations. Present your knowledge and expertise without boasting.
2) Redefine rejection as a learning process. Pat Altvater and I had the privilege of seeing Jack Canfield a few weeks ago. While I walked away with a million new ideas, it was this one that has changed my thinking forever: SW, SW, SW & SW = Some Will; Some Won’t; So What? & Someone’s Waiting.
3) Demonstrate an understanding of others’ problems. While you may be talking to the head honcho of a Fortune 100 firm, don’t let that intimidate you – recognize that you do indeed have the experience and know-how to contribute to their success.
Ask about the obstacles they face and provide solutions.
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
http://www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com/
===========================================================
3. Turn your Goals into Intentions.
===========================================================
The quickest way to achieve your goals is to turn them into intentions. An intention is a goal that you are 100% sure with every fiber of your being that you will achieve. This gives you an additional boost to attract solutions and opportunities into your business and life without having to know the HOW!
Take a goal you’ve already set for 2008 (you have written goals, right?), declare your intention, and expect the unexpected. Here’s how. If your goal is to increase your sales by 50% in 2008, restate your goal as “I intend on increasing sales by 50% in 2008.” Write this intention down, reread it every day and keep your belief level at 100%. You have just opened yourself up to receive new ideas, opportunities, connections, customers, referral sources, and anything else that can help you move closer to your goal from unexpected sources.
Pat Altvater
Licensed and Certified Strategic Attraction Coach
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
http://www.transformationsinstitute.com/
===========================================================
4. Giving Back to the People & the Community That Give to You
===========================================================
Business professionals that are highly successful in their referral marketing efforts are very deliberate about doing the right things at the right time with the right people. We are acutely aware of one of our most limited resources – time. Volunteering is one of the tactics we can make use of that allows us to “give and gain” at the same time.
This week I had the opportunity to volunteer for an organization that helps introduce the importance of workplace ethics to high school students throughout southwestern Virginia. Local business leaders spent half a day with juniors and seniors discussing a variety of difficult workplace scenarios and the importance of employing six pillars of character to help make moral and ethical choices in each situation:
Trustworthiness
Respect
Responsibility
Fairness
Caring
Citizenship
BNI is an international organization with well over 100,000 members. We are able to provide a safe haven that helps our members develop long term referral relationships through a Code of Ethics that include six similar agreements. It wasn’t an accident that Valley Character was an ideal fit for me. It took effort to find the perfect place to volunteer my time that actually complimented my area of expertise and my businesses’ mission.
You can also increase your networking opportunities by inviting other people in your networks to volunteer with you. Remember, your first priority is to honor the event! Simply agree that you’ll actively listen for one another. When you find yourself standing in the middle of a referral, make an introduction…at the appropriate time in the appropriate way.
Here are some things to keep in mind to help you strategically give back to the people in your networks and to the community that gives to you through volunteering:
1. Be sure that you support the organization’s mission.
2. Look for ways that you can help that are within your area of expertise.
3. Investigate the assignment and establish limitations before you commit.
4. Make sure you know your contact’s level of participation.
5. Invite others to take part and make purposeful introductions for each other.
Paula Frazier is a Master Trainer for Referral Institute and an Executive Director for BNI, the world’s leading business networking organization. To learn more about referral marketing tactics visit http://www.referralinstitutevirginia.com/ and http://www.bniswva.com/ .
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Since it is President’s day in the USA, thank a President! Maybe your own company’s.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Success - Buts - Congruently - Getting the Word Out
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – February 11, 2007
============================================================
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
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the
things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So
throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch
the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
-- Mark Twain
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. What do all Businesses Need to Succeed? – Linda Fayerweather
2. No More “buts” About It! - Rebecca Booth
3. Act Congruently – Pat Altvater
4. Getting the Word Out . . . FAST! – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
1. What do all Businesses Need to Succeed?
============================================================
Sure you need capital, great employees, a dynamite location, and a plan to make it happen. The one thing you must have to survive is CUSTOMERS – and more than one or two! Providing magnificent service is the key to keeping and attracting customers. Even in slow economic times, knowing your key customers, keeping them informed of your business and asking “how you can help them succeed” will keep your business flourishing. Have you thanked your customers today?
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather is Lean Certified
Helping Businesses change lanes to a brighter route
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. No More “buts” About It!
============================================================
Here’s your challenge for this week: push yourself to replace the word “but” with “and” instead. This bolsters your ability to be persuasive. “But” generally conveys disagreement. For example, saying “I agree with you, but . . .” is actually contradictory. The simple solution is to replace “but” with “and” to avoid the contradiction and show your support. ? This shows your listeners that you are actively listening, trying to offer suggestions and provide a give and take with the conversation. Who wouldn’t love to hear “I agree with you, and . . .”?
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
===========================================================
3. Act Congruently
===========================================================
Psychologists report that people who satisfy their needs and wants by delaying gratification are much more successful in life, because they focus on long-term results desired and make decisions today that help them achieve their future goals. In fact, each time you keep a commitment to yourself, regarding a future goal, you strengthen your level of self discipline and over time it strengthens your character, confidence and self-esteem.
If you have chosen to BE healthy or wealthy and commit to acting congruently, but then choose instant gratification by having the $3+ Café Mocha (instead of saving the money or calories), you’ve broken the commitment you made to yourself. This incongruency affects your unconscious mind because it doesn’t know what you really want – to be healthy or wealthy or satisfy an immediate urge.
So, if you aren’t attracting what you want in your life, look for any incongruencies between what you say you desire and how you act.
Pat Altvater
Licensed and Certified Strategic Attraction Coach
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.TransformationsInstitute.com
===========================================================
4. Getting the Word Out . . . FAST!
===========================================================
Congratulations, you’ve decided to start your own business. It’s critical to get the word out as soon as possible. Right?!?
You’ll need business cards, stationery and envelopes. You may choose to budget for print, TV and radio advertising. How about some billboards? Technology is also on our side. You could have a website developed and take advantage of some additional on-line advertising. You’d better get plenty of promotional items like coffee mugs and pens. Customers and prospects LOVE that stuff. Don’t forget to plug into some local networks like BNI, the chamber and even a service organization.
WHOA!!! I meet business people every day that get so excited about building their business vision and getting the word out that they send their message before they’ve developed their message.
Whether you’re thinking about starting a new business or you have an established business, I encourage you to consider taking the following steps to build or strengthen your businesses’ brand and image:
1. Collaborate with Referral Institute to identify a target market, develop your message and design an annual referral marketing plan.
2. Get referred to a top notch web designer. Please know that graphics and colors could and should stay consistent and be integrated throughout all of your marketing efforts.
3. Get referred to a quality printer for business cards, stationary, envelopes, invoices, etc.
4. Get referred, as you’re interested and willing to budget, to advertising specialists in the following areas – print, TV, radio, on-line, billboard . . . even fax advertising is available. Don’t forget the promo items.
5. Bring them all together at the same place/time to communicate and collaborate BEFORE any serious action is taken.
It’s critical to get the word out as soon as possible. Right? Wrong! It’s critical to get the RIGHT word out in the RIGHT way at the RIGHT time . . . as soon as possible.
Paula Frazier is one of five Master Trainers throughout the world for Referral Institute and an Executive Director for BNI, the world’s leading referral organization. To contact Referral Institute or BNI in your area, visit http://www.referralinstitute.com or http://www.bni.com .
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Check out your Businesses “first impression” with a critical drive by.
Monday Morning Motivators – February 11, 2007
============================================================
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
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the
things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So
throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch
the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
-- Mark Twain
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. What do all Businesses Need to Succeed? – Linda Fayerweather
2. No More “buts” About It! - Rebecca Booth
3. Act Congruently – Pat Altvater
4. Getting the Word Out . . . FAST! – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
1. What do all Businesses Need to Succeed?
============================================================
Sure you need capital, great employees, a dynamite location, and a plan to make it happen. The one thing you must have to survive is CUSTOMERS – and more than one or two! Providing magnificent service is the key to keeping and attracting customers. Even in slow economic times, knowing your key customers, keeping them informed of your business and asking “how you can help them succeed” will keep your business flourishing. Have you thanked your customers today?
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather is Lean Certified
Helping Businesses change lanes to a brighter route
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. No More “buts” About It!
============================================================
Here’s your challenge for this week: push yourself to replace the word “but” with “and” instead. This bolsters your ability to be persuasive. “But” generally conveys disagreement. For example, saying “I agree with you, but . . .” is actually contradictory. The simple solution is to replace “but” with “and” to avoid the contradiction and show your support. ? This shows your listeners that you are actively listening, trying to offer suggestions and provide a give and take with the conversation. Who wouldn’t love to hear “I agree with you, and . . .”?
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
===========================================================
3. Act Congruently
===========================================================
Psychologists report that people who satisfy their needs and wants by delaying gratification are much more successful in life, because they focus on long-term results desired and make decisions today that help them achieve their future goals. In fact, each time you keep a commitment to yourself, regarding a future goal, you strengthen your level of self discipline and over time it strengthens your character, confidence and self-esteem.
If you have chosen to BE healthy or wealthy and commit to acting congruently, but then choose instant gratification by having the $3+ Café Mocha (instead of saving the money or calories), you’ve broken the commitment you made to yourself. This incongruency affects your unconscious mind because it doesn’t know what you really want – to be healthy or wealthy or satisfy an immediate urge.
So, if you aren’t attracting what you want in your life, look for any incongruencies between what you say you desire and how you act.
Pat Altvater
Licensed and Certified Strategic Attraction Coach
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.TransformationsInstitute.com
===========================================================
4. Getting the Word Out . . . FAST!
===========================================================
Congratulations, you’ve decided to start your own business. It’s critical to get the word out as soon as possible. Right?!?
You’ll need business cards, stationery and envelopes. You may choose to budget for print, TV and radio advertising. How about some billboards? Technology is also on our side. You could have a website developed and take advantage of some additional on-line advertising. You’d better get plenty of promotional items like coffee mugs and pens. Customers and prospects LOVE that stuff. Don’t forget to plug into some local networks like BNI, the chamber and even a service organization.
WHOA!!! I meet business people every day that get so excited about building their business vision and getting the word out that they send their message before they’ve developed their message.
Whether you’re thinking about starting a new business or you have an established business, I encourage you to consider taking the following steps to build or strengthen your businesses’ brand and image:
1. Collaborate with Referral Institute to identify a target market, develop your message and design an annual referral marketing plan.
2. Get referred to a top notch web designer. Please know that graphics and colors could and should stay consistent and be integrated throughout all of your marketing efforts.
3. Get referred to a quality printer for business cards, stationary, envelopes, invoices, etc.
4. Get referred, as you’re interested and willing to budget, to advertising specialists in the following areas – print, TV, radio, on-line, billboard . . . even fax advertising is available. Don’t forget the promo items.
5. Bring them all together at the same place/time to communicate and collaborate BEFORE any serious action is taken.
It’s critical to get the word out as soon as possible. Right? Wrong! It’s critical to get the RIGHT word out in the RIGHT way at the RIGHT time . . . as soon as possible.
Paula Frazier is one of five Master Trainers throughout the world for Referral Institute and an Executive Director for BNI, the world’s leading referral organization. To contact Referral Institute or BNI in your area, visit http://www.referralinstitute.com or http://www.bni.com .
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Check out your Businesses “first impression” with a critical drive by.
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