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Monday Morning Motivators – January 14, 2007
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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
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
--T. S. Eliot
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Table of Contents
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1. Success Begins with You – Linda Fayerweather
2. “Dream Big Days” - Rebecca Booth
3. Law of Attraction – Step 4, Allow, Part 3 – Pat Altvater
4. Four Ways to Market Your Business – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
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1. Success Begins with You
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When thinking about being successful, a good way to start is by surrounding ourselves with things that will emulate what we believe is successful. Hang out with smart, talented and creative people. Check out and read some great books. No time for books, listen to audio books or programs. Eating lunch alone, find people you’d like to meet and interview them over lunch. By creating opportunity and optimism, we will be shaped by these things. So, get started with a few simple tricks:
1. Spend time with dynamic people that will help you move forward,
2. Build a plan for the next twelve months that stretches your outcomes,
3. Carve out several hours a week to work on the future, and
4. Finally, identify and stay away from dream dashers – if you need a reality check, hire a coach or counselor.
Mr. Masaaki Imai, with his book "KAIZEN, the Key to Japan's Competitive Success" Kaizen: The Key To Japan's Competitive Success
explained that about ninety-five percent of the people in this world have absolutely no interest in taking action to improve their lives – we have the choice to be the exception!
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
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2. “Dream Big Days”
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Jan Wallen, Visioneer, (JanWallen.com) is a firm believer in “Dream Big Days.” What the devil is a DBD? It’s simple: it’s a day where you escape from your office and you spend it dreaming about what you want your business to be. Dream about the future, where do you want your business to be in a year, 5 years, 10 years. Also figure out which client is the best fit, if you want to another product to your arsenal, and once built who you'd sell the business to. Jot all of your dreams down on paper. Once you have captured your dreams, back up and start looking for ways that you can work on the dream one day at a time. Jan believes (and I agree) that no dream is too big to be realized as long as you plan for that success.
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
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3. Law of Attraction – Step 4, Allow, Part 3 – Gratitude
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Gratitude is the single best thing that you can do for yourself in terms of keeping your attitude, energy and vibration positive. Let’s say you want to attract 5 new clients in January. Each day be grateful for those new clients as if they’ve already arrived.
Now fast forward to the week of January 28th and you have attracted 3 new clients. Don’t despair that you only have three new clients, instead continue to practice gratitude; celebrate and acknowledge what HAS happened and with 4 days remaining, you never know what might show up. Gratitude for all that has happened so far, will reset your vibration to the way you want things to be and as always, Law of Attraction responds and matches your vibration.
Copyright 2008 Patricia Altvater
Transformations Institute
Author, Journey to Health 12-Month Total Transformation Program
www.transformationsinstitute.com
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4. Four Ways to Market Your Business
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Marketing Reality Check – How many ways are there for you to increase your business? Hundreds? Thousands? Try…FOUR!
Advertising - Effective advertising (tv, radio, newspaper, websites, billboards, pens, balloons, etc.) can strengthen your image, create awareness and generate leads by sending your message to targeted, large audiences. It does require an investment of money…and even multi billion dollar businesses have budgets. Are your advertising efforts producing all the sales you need? If so, stick with it. If not, consider complimenting it with another form of marketing.
Public Relations – Much like advertising, public relations can strengthen your brand and name recognition (especially for larger companies). While successful PR campaigns can produce some sales, most companies are equally interested in increasing their credibility through these efforts. It too requires an investment of money. Though it typically won’t make a “quick” difference on your bottom line; you can realize results.
Cold Calling – I was in staffing for years and this was the way my mentors taught me to build the business. I knew that if I made 60 cold calls a week, I’d set 10 appointments, which would generate 5 proposals and produce 2 new clients…WEEKLY. I didn’t love it, but I got good at it. The cost – time, gas money, wear and tear on the car…not to mention my high heel shoes!!! Knowing your numbers and consistently working them are key.
Word of Mouth – “Relationship marketing” has long been proven to be the most cost effective form of marketing. The main investment…time! It’s about STRATEGICALLY doing the right things, with the right people at the right time to develop long term relationships that ultimately (and continually) produce SALES!
You can go with advertising alone if your budget produces all the results you need. PR is typically best used in conjunction with other forms of marketing. Cold calling…not for me thank you. All things considered, WORD OF MOUTH can be a great method of choice!
Paula Frazier is a Master Trainer for Referral Institute and an Executive Director for BNI, the world’s leading referral organization. To learn more visit http://www.referralinstitutevirginia.com or reference The World’s Best Known Marketing Secret by Dr. Ivan Misner.
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5. To Do This Week
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Change your email signature or voice mail if you haven’t in 6 months!
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Monday Morning Motivators – January 7, 2007
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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
"I don't worry about the storms, I am learning to sail my own ship."
-- Louisa May Alcott
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Table of Contents
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1. Are You Being? – Linda Fayerweather
2. Putting Your 2008 Calendar into Action - Rebecca Booth
3. Law of Attraction – Step 4, Allow, Part II– Pat Altvater
4. What are your Referral Goals for 2008?– Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
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1. Are You a Human Being or a Human Doing?
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If you're like me, you were raised on the Do-Have-Be process which simply means “If you DO study hard at school, you will HAVE a good job and then you will BE successful. When it comes to business, I often see businesses working very hard at doing all the things that need to be done to have payroll, have bills, keep having customers, and hopefully becoming profitable.
Fortunately, over the last several years, I’ve had the privilege of working with clients that demonstrate BE-DO-HAVE, a philosophy that I’ve traced back to Napoleon Hill and the French Philosopher Descartes and it is really very simple. The first step is to BE what you are pursuing. This means learning, practicing, absorbing everything you can about your business and internalizing the related core values. Eventually, you will be DOing what the business requires and finally you will HAVE the things needed to make the business succeed.
If you are looking to make 2008 the year of your dreams and your business the success you want, start this January with really knowing who you will be and then act the part. “To be or not to be, that is the question” William Shakespeare, Hamlet.
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
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2. Putting Your 2008 Calendar into Action
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Last week, you made decisions on how you were going to market your business. You decided whom you were going to network with, where you were placing your ads and when you were sending out mailings. This week, it’s time to put your plans into action! Here’s what you’ll need to do it:
• 2008 calendar
• 4-5 colored pens/markers
• 4-5 colored highlighters
• Pencil.
First step: use your pens to color code the different networking events that you attend each month. Next: use the highlighters to mark impending deadlines or special events such as vacations, “dream big” days, and seminars you’re going to. Once again, color-code these by the different types of action. Last: pencil in your appointments.
By mapping out your entire year in color, you can actually “see” the marketing/networking that you’re doing! Isn’t that fantastic?!
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
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3. Law of Attraction – Step 4, Allow, Part 2 - Detachment
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Another part of the Allow step is to detach from the outcome. Detaching means to not focus on the HOW and WHEN of your dreams. Once you commit to your intentions, New Year’s resolutions, or goals and dreams, your subconscious mind and the Universe go to work on figuring out the HOW for you. Too many of us get caught up in thinking we can’t achieve something really, really big because we can’t see the HOW we are going to make it happen. Detach from that; don’t even think about it. Just commit to your dream, take inspired actions every day and your dream will unfold in the most amazing ways.
Copyright 2008 Patricia Altvater
Transformations Institute
Author, Journey to Health 12-Month Total Transformation Program
www.transformationsinstitute.com
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4. What are your Referral Goals for 2008?
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It's a New Year, the time of year when everyone makes New Year’s resolutions. This year throw out the New Year’s resolutions and set your 2008 Goals. Don't let your referral business happen by accident; focus on your business referral goals. Here are some simple questions to help you get started.
How much money do you want to make by referral in 2008?
You are going to make money in many different ways. How much money do you want to make by referral.
How many referrals will you need to close, to make that much money?
You will need to know the average value of a sale as well as your closing ratio to determine how many referrals you will need. Visit http://www.referralinstitute.com to use their proven referral Pipeline calculation.
How many Referral Partners will you develop to help you this year?
Training Referral Partners is a true case of "Givers Gain". You cannot make withdrawals from an account if you have not made deposits.
How many hours will you spend networking?
Remember, time is money. Make sure that you are at the right networking events with the right people. Networking for the sake of networking is not a good use of your referral development time. Have a plan and work your plan.
Accountability is the key to staying on task and achieving your goals. Find someone or something that will help you be accountable to your goals!
Copyright 2008 Co-Written by Paula Frazier and Hazel Walker who are Master Trainers for Referral Institute and Executive Directors for BNI.
Paula Frazier, Executive Director
BNI – Southwestern Virginia http://bniswva.com
Referral Institute http://www.referralinstitute.com
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5. To Do This Week
=========================================================== Each morning, list the three things you must get done that day.
Resolve those Resolutions
There is a great lean term "heijunka" which refers to level loading. Level loading implies that you will even out the simple cycles in your business so work flows smoothly. The opposite of heijunka is having everyone eat lunch at the same time, or having all the movies at the movie house start at the same time. Well, resolutions, too, need to be "heijunka".
Most of us make New Year's resolutions because we do strive to improve. If you are tempted to start the New Year with a list, be gentle and maybe use these guidelines:
Start small and add resolutions all year,
Leave resolutions that you have "tried" year after year off this year's list,
Visualize how your business will be upon achievement.
Have a start date and an end date for each resolution.
Having fewer resolutions that are achievable will help you level the load of your 2008 plan. Now, go out and have a great 2008.
Copyright 2007 Linda Fayerweather Changing Lanes LLCwww.ChangingLanes.biz
You HAVE to have a Marketing Budget
And then you have to have a Marketing Plan! Tis the time of year when we start planning our marketing efforts for 2008. Oh joy! The number one thing you need to remember is this: You have to have a marketing budget. Typical budgets are set at 2-6% of net sales. So if you're a financial planner who's making $50,000 a year, set aside $3,000 for marketing/advertising. If you're a bigger player, you know the drill - set aside 2-6% for marketing/advertising.
Did you know that when Coca-Cola launched its infamous product in 1886 that their marketing budget was $11,624? Amazing! Especially when fishermen were lucky to pull in $3/week, a ton of grapes would cost a vintner $5 and a loaf of bread cost a nickel.
Now your budget's set, it's time to start divvying up how you're going to spend the money. Don't forget to add your networking efforts to your marketing efforts. Lunches, direct mail campaigns, newspaper ads and any other marketing efforts need to be worked into your marketing plan for 2008.
If you'd like a free sample of what a marketing calendar should look like, simply send me an email at: rbooth@marketingsolutioneers.com. Put "Marketing Calendar" in the subject line and I'll flip a copy to you.
Copyright 2007 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
www.marketingsolutioneers.com
Law of Attraction - Step 4, Allow, Part 1
The final step in the Law of Attraction Conscious Transformation Process™ is ALLOW! One component of allowing is to believe that you will attract whatever it is you want; a new job, prosperity and abundance, fulfilling relationships etc. Believing is difficult for many people, because we're conditioned to block our positive intentions with negative limiting beliefs and thoughts. "That won't happen to me." "I am not worthy of that." "I'm not good enough to get that."
Have faith that if others have what you want, there's no reason why you can't have it too.
Don't let dream stealers take your belief away. Occasionally, those people are your family members that tell you your idea is crazy, you can't do that, just look at who you are, etc. So during this holiday season, keep your belief level up and protect your intentions from others that may be jealous of your dreams.
Copyright 2007 Patricia Altvater
Transformations Institute
Author, Journey to Health 12-Month Total Transformation Program
www.transformationsinstitute.com
Attention Networker Education Coordinators
BNI chapters have an Education Coordinator that weekly helps members identify and improve their networking skills. In the Monday Morning Readership, there are also Chamber members, other networking groups and informal business groups that could all benefit from learning new networking techniques. During 2008, look here for more tips on networking, but more importantly, tips you can share at your groups to help everyone have the best networking year ever.
Happy New Year! Paula Frazier
BNI & Master Trainers for Referral Institute
Executive Director
BNI - Southwestern Virginia
http://bniswva.com
To Do This Week
Happy New Year to all our readers.
Thanks for reading.
Pat - Paula - Rebecca and Linda
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Monday Morning Motivators – December 24, 2007
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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
“Christmas is the time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell government what they want and their kids pay for it.”
--Richard Lamm
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Table of Contents
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1. What’s In – Linda Fayerweather
2. Kicking Bad Habits - Week 3 - Rebecca Booth
3. Law of Attraction – Pat Altvater
4. Refuse to Participate in a Recession – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
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1. What’s In?
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2008 is on the horizon and as we have thoughts about family and the holidays, you may want to start thinking about what trends are on deck. There are many great places to look and at the bottom of this article, I’ve listed my favorites. Yearly, Entrepreneur Magazine December issue has its predictions. This year’s list is extensive and my favorites are the food trends! Dig in to these sizzling food concepts and you're sure to taste success.
Superfruits: Pomegranates and blueberries are superfruits meaning they contain enormous amounts of antioxidants and health benefits. Look for them everywhere!
Selling food online: Forrester Research estimates that U.S. online food and beverage sales will reach $7.2 billion in 2007.
Comfort food/one-item restaurants: Simple is sometimes better. Numerous one-item restaurants are pulling customers in by specializing in food that's comforting to adults and adored by kids. The Cereal Bowl http://www.thecerealbowl.com/ announced a nationwide rollout of 16 stores under development and plans to launch a kiosk design for airports, malls and college campuses in 2008.
Culinary tourism: A new type of traveler is hitting the road. Called "culinary tourists," these on-the-go consumers are making food a deciding factor in their travel destinations.
That is just a start and to see what trends may mesh with your business, check out the Entrepreneur Magazine (http://www.entrepreneur.com/partners/msnbc) for the complete listing of “What’s Hot in 2008”. Other sites to check out on 2008 trends are: http://www.trendhunter.com/, http://coolbusinessideas.com/ and http://www.trendwatching.com
Copyright 2007 Linda Fayerweather
Changing Lanes LLC
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
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2. Kicking Bad Habits: 3 – Focus on the Benefits of Changing a Bad Habit
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You need to be motivated in order to change a bad habit. During Week 1 you looked at that habits you have. During Week 2 you assessed the consequences of continuing with your bad habit. This week, you have one last chore: find out what motivates you for correcting a bad habit. Is money your motivator? Having more free time? What is the consequence to you when you come in late even though you’ve promised yourself you’d make up the time later? Discover your motivation, then make the change. Reward yourself along the way for jobs well done. If you feel resistant to the change, focus on the long-term payoff for shifting your routine. You’ll be glad you did!
Copyright 2007 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
http://www.marketingsolutioneers.com/
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3. Law of Attraction
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Happy Holidays and surprise someone each day with a thank you for something nice they’ve done for you.
www.transformationsinstitute.com/heartsong.html
Copyright 2007 Patricia Altvater
Transformations Institute
Author, Journey to Health 12-Month Total Transformation Program
http://www.transformationsinstitute.com/
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4. I Absolutely Refuse to Participate in a Recession
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Don’t let a bad economy be your excuse for failure. Instead, make it your opportunity to succeed. It’s not “what you know,” or “who you know,” it’s “how well you know people” that counts. In a tough economy, it’s your social capital that has value. Make good use of it and you will thrive while others struggle.
Here are a few techniques to practice in times of “feast” or “famine”:
1. Diversifying your networks. Participate in different kinds of groups.
2. Don’t be a “cave-dweller”. Get out and meet people at business events.
3. Develop your Contact Spheres. These are a groups of business professionals who have a symbiotic or compatible, non-competitive relationship with you.
4. Learn effective techniques to ask for referrals from your clients and people you know.
5. Offer incentives for people to refer you (it may be as simple as recognition).
Ultimately, it’s about nurturing the relationships you already have through giving!
To learn more about specific weekly giving activities, contact your local Referral Institute representative at http://referralinstitute.com/ and ask about their Networking Scorecard.
Copyright 2007 Co-Written by Paula Frazier and Dr. Ivan Misner
BNI & Master Trainers for Referral Institute
Executive Director
BNI – Southwestern Virginia http://bniswva.com/
Referral Institute http://www.referralinstitute.com/
Dr. Ivan Misner is a New York Times bestselling author. He is also Sr. Partner for the Referral Institute, an international referral training company (http://www.referralinstitute.com/ . Dr. Misner is also the Founder & Chairman of BNI (http://www.bni.com/ , the world’s leading referral organization.
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5. To Do This Week
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Celebrate the Winter Solstice!
