============================================================
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 18, 2008
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.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Super Bowl - Easy? - Networking
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – February 4, 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 good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."
-- Oscar Wilde
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Is it Ground Hog Day, Again? – Linda Fayerweather
2. Super Bowl Ads - Rebecca Booth
3. If It Were Easy. . . – Pat Altvater
4. Are you Being Consistent – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Is it Ground Hog Day, Again?
============================================================
Since last Monday the U.S. has been busy with the Dow Jones having its biggest one week gain in 5 years; Eli Payton following in his big brother's footsteps becoming the Super Bowl MVP and it WAS Ground Hog day which either means spring is a mere six weeks away or we have six weeks more of winter.
Last week was all about change and Change is Good. Even though most business owners know Albert Einstein's quote "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." is true, it is difficult to actually change. Start small by taking the short month of February to help your business have the "biggest gains in 5 years" or becoming the "MVP to your customers" with this Monday Morning process:
· List no more than 5 things that are undone, unacceptable or worrying you each Monday. I'm a fan of a 2"x5" index card as I can keep it handy.
· Give each a one word title.
· Beside each title, put a big world issue that might relate.
Here is an example:
1. Need a line of credit and overdraft protection --> Cash --> Economy
2. Drafty office needs plastic on windows --> Window --> Global warming
Now, with our list, notice how our solved problems my actually link to other problems and by changing ourselves we will cause change around us. This week when you find yourself worrying about something on your list, get busy and change just that worry. Repeat each Monday and you may be very surprised by the end of the month and spring will be even closer!
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather is Lean Certified
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Super Bowl Ads
============================================================
So, what did you think about the Super Bowl Ads last night? Not as exciting as the game, hands down. Actually, I watch the Super Bowl for the ads only as I live in a "Sports-Free Zone," but I found myself wanting to hurry up and get back to the game because I thought the majority of the ads were duds. What were the winners? According to the pros the standout ads were those that focused on the positive: Two giant balloons (Stewie & Underdog) battling it out over a Coca Cola, with Charlie Brown finally getting the football; and the Budweiser Clydesdale who got cut from the Budweiser carriage team only to train for a year with a Dalmatian and be picked in the first round. One of the many losers was the GoDaddy ad with Danika Patrick, which drove 1.5 million to their website, but that was a far cry from the 94.08 million viewers who actually watched the game. With all this said, what ads do you remember: Bud Light's Breath of Fire? Audi's take off on the Godfather? The Victoria Secret ad? Or Bud Light's the Wheel? You can relive them all if you simply sign on to Spike TV's website: www.spiketv.com/superbowl. Better yet, take the time to review years past ads, since this year's were stinkers. Yet, I do think I'll cancel my brow waxing appointment this week and stocking up on Planters Nuts. Did that chick have confidence or what?!
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
===========================================================
3. If It Were Easy. . .
===========================================================
T. Harv Eker, founder of Peak Potentials Training and author of The Millionaire Mind says “If you're only willing to do what's easy, life will be hard. But if you're willing to do what's hard, life will be easy."
This is so true! If you want something, like a healthy body or financial abundance, and commit to that goal, but then don’t take appropriate actions (do the hard things) to attain your goal, you create confusion and self-doubt in your unconscious mind. With the Law of Attraction, this confusion is projected outward and what you attract is obviously NOT what you want.
When you commit to a goal, take the daily actions, some of which may take you out of your comfort zone, necessary to achieve the goal. Then you’ll have congruence and your unconscious mind will go to work helping you to achieve your greatest desires!
Pat Altvater
Licensed and Certified Strategic Attraction Coach
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.TransformationsInstitute.com
===========================================================
4. Are you Being Consistent?
===========================================================
Are you being consistent with your network? Are you being consistent with your networking activities? The big question…are you consistently and purposefully GIVING to your three main networks – information, support and referral? If not, it will be impossible for you to keep your referral pipeline full.
Early last year I realized that my referral pipeline was nearly empty! Why wouldn't it be? I’d spent so much time speaking, training and investing in relationships outside of my region that I had neglected to nurture my local networks. No referral activities equals no referrals! Even scarier, no relationship building activities equals no relationships. I had to get back to practicing what I’d taught so many people to do – give proactively, purposefully, strategically and consistently to develop reciprocal referral relationships.
This week, take some time to plan your activities. Give some thought to the following:
• Who are you going to give a referral to this week?
• Who are you going to call this week?
• Who are you going to meet with face to face this week?
• Who are you going to connect with someone else in your network this week?
• Who are you going to send a note card this week?
• Who are you going to invite to an upcoming event?
With a little planning, you can consistently nurture your referral relationships. Don't get lazy with your network or you may find your pipeline has dried up at the time you need it most.
Copyright 2008 Paula Frazier and Hazel M. Walker are Master Trainers for Referral Institute and Executive Directors for BNI. To learn more about building your business network visit http://www.referralinstitutevirginia.com or http://www.bni.com.
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Declutter your entrance to your business or office.
Monday Morning Motivators – February 4, 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 good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."
-- Oscar Wilde
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Is it Ground Hog Day, Again? – Linda Fayerweather
2. Super Bowl Ads - Rebecca Booth
3. If It Were Easy. . . – Pat Altvater
4. Are you Being Consistent – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Is it Ground Hog Day, Again?
============================================================
Since last Monday the U.S. has been busy with the Dow Jones having its biggest one week gain in 5 years; Eli Payton following in his big brother's footsteps becoming the Super Bowl MVP and it WAS Ground Hog day which either means spring is a mere six weeks away or we have six weeks more of winter.
Last week was all about change and Change is Good. Even though most business owners know Albert Einstein's quote "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." is true, it is difficult to actually change. Start small by taking the short month of February to help your business have the "biggest gains in 5 years" or becoming the "MVP to your customers" with this Monday Morning process:
· List no more than 5 things that are undone, unacceptable or worrying you each Monday. I'm a fan of a 2"x5" index card as I can keep it handy.
· Give each a one word title.
· Beside each title, put a big world issue that might relate.
Here is an example:
1. Need a line of credit and overdraft protection --> Cash --> Economy
2. Drafty office needs plastic on windows --> Window --> Global warming
Now, with our list, notice how our solved problems my actually link to other problems and by changing ourselves we will cause change around us. This week when you find yourself worrying about something on your list, get busy and change just that worry. Repeat each Monday and you may be very surprised by the end of the month and spring will be even closer!
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather is Lean Certified
Changing Lanes LLC
www.ChangingLanes.biz
============================================================
2. Super Bowl Ads
============================================================
So, what did you think about the Super Bowl Ads last night? Not as exciting as the game, hands down. Actually, I watch the Super Bowl for the ads only as I live in a "Sports-Free Zone," but I found myself wanting to hurry up and get back to the game because I thought the majority of the ads were duds. What were the winners? According to the pros the standout ads were those that focused on the positive: Two giant balloons (Stewie & Underdog) battling it out over a Coca Cola, with Charlie Brown finally getting the football; and the Budweiser Clydesdale who got cut from the Budweiser carriage team only to train for a year with a Dalmatian and be picked in the first round. One of the many losers was the GoDaddy ad with Danika Patrick, which drove 1.5 million to their website, but that was a far cry from the 94.08 million viewers who actually watched the game. With all this said, what ads do you remember: Bud Light's Breath of Fire? Audi's take off on the Godfather? The Victoria Secret ad? Or Bud Light's the Wheel? You can relive them all if you simply sign on to Spike TV's website: www.spiketv.com/superbowl. Better yet, take the time to review years past ads, since this year's were stinkers. Yet, I do think I'll cancel my brow waxing appointment this week and stocking up on Planters Nuts. Did that chick have confidence or what?!
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
===========================================================
3. If It Were Easy. . .
===========================================================
T. Harv Eker, founder of Peak Potentials Training and author of The Millionaire Mind says “If you're only willing to do what's easy, life will be hard. But if you're willing to do what's hard, life will be easy."
This is so true! If you want something, like a healthy body or financial abundance, and commit to that goal, but then don’t take appropriate actions (do the hard things) to attain your goal, you create confusion and self-doubt in your unconscious mind. With the Law of Attraction, this confusion is projected outward and what you attract is obviously NOT what you want.
When you commit to a goal, take the daily actions, some of which may take you out of your comfort zone, necessary to achieve the goal. Then you’ll have congruence and your unconscious mind will go to work helping you to achieve your greatest desires!
Pat Altvater
Licensed and Certified Strategic Attraction Coach
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.TransformationsInstitute.com
===========================================================
4. Are you Being Consistent?
===========================================================
Are you being consistent with your network? Are you being consistent with your networking activities? The big question…are you consistently and purposefully GIVING to your three main networks – information, support and referral? If not, it will be impossible for you to keep your referral pipeline full.
Early last year I realized that my referral pipeline was nearly empty! Why wouldn't it be? I’d spent so much time speaking, training and investing in relationships outside of my region that I had neglected to nurture my local networks. No referral activities equals no referrals! Even scarier, no relationship building activities equals no relationships. I had to get back to practicing what I’d taught so many people to do – give proactively, purposefully, strategically and consistently to develop reciprocal referral relationships.
This week, take some time to plan your activities. Give some thought to the following:
• Who are you going to give a referral to this week?
• Who are you going to call this week?
• Who are you going to meet with face to face this week?
• Who are you going to connect with someone else in your network this week?
• Who are you going to send a note card this week?
• Who are you going to invite to an upcoming event?
With a little planning, you can consistently nurture your referral relationships. Don't get lazy with your network or you may find your pipeline has dried up at the time you need it most.
Copyright 2008 Paula Frazier and Hazel M. Walker are Master Trainers for Referral Institute and Executive Directors for BNI. To learn more about building your business network visit http://www.referralinstitutevirginia.com or http://www.bni.com.
===========================================================
5. To Do This Week
===========================================================
Declutter your entrance to your business or office.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Procrastination - Reviews - Patience - Beyond Referrals
============================================================
Monday Morning Motivators – January 28, 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
Profit in business comes from repeat customers, customers that boast about your project or service, and that bring friends with them.
--W. Edwards Deming
============================================================
Table of Contents
============================================================
1. Entrepreneurial Procrastination – Linda Fayerweather
2. Product Reviews: Can you pass the test? - Rebecca Booth
3. Patience means Patience! – Pat Altvater
4. Networking is More than Referrals – Paula Frazier
5. To Do This Week
6. Fine Print
============================================================
1. Entrepreneurial Procrastination ============================================================
Procrastination is a lot like playing Trivial Pursuit®, you spend time, have some fun but when you are done; the dishes are still in the sink to wash! Well, entrepreneurs are famous for finding ways to start the next adventure before making sure the last one is complete. And often it doesn’t mean you, the entrepreneur need to do the work, it just needs to find a way to get done. If you don’t like the work, delegate it to an employee or outsource it. If it is yours to do, here are some simple tips to help you get the work.
1) Identify some rewards you will get when a project is completed – the bigger the project completed the bigger and better the reward;
2) Break big projects into smaller steps, this is a simple process that lean manufacturing does to keep quality high;
3) Get an accountability buddy or support group or challenge team and connect at least weekly;
4) Clean up the clutter in your workspace – clutter serves as reminders of other projects.
Know that you will not kick the procrastination habit quickly, but each step will get you closer to your goal and don’t forget – DELEGATE and OUTSOURCE are great tricks!
Copyright 2008 Linda Fayerweather is Lean Certified and details about getting your business lean are at: Changing Lanes LLC
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2. Product Reviews: Can you pass the test?
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What role do product reviews play in consumers' decisions on what to buy? According to the February 2008 issue of Entrepreneur magazine, they play an important role. Here's what they found:
-62% of shoppers read consumer-written product reviews online.
-80%+ say their purchase decisions have been directly influenced by reviews.
-70% of shoppers share product reviews with their friends, family or colleagues.
-18% of consumers say they will look for more product information than what's on the product's packaging. They are turning to online sources and other locations to find out more about the product they've just purchased.
Interesting stuff. How would consumers rank your products? Check FaceBook and other social networking sites to see if people are talking about your products or services. Better yet, see what they're saying about your competitors' products/services as well. Who knows, you might find another void to fill; thereby, giving you a competitive advantage. Rock on!
Copyright 2008 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419-855-3399
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
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3. Patience means Patience!
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A few weeks ago, I discussed setting a goal for attracting 5 new clients for January. What happens if you get to today and only have 3? Impatience and comments like “I tried making an attraction plan for my perfect customer and this doesn’t work!”
Yes, it does! The Law of Attraction always works, just not on our time table. So if you haven’t achieved your goals for January, examine what you have achieved, what worked, what you could maybe tweak to have better results and keep moving yourself towards your goals. Who knows what may be going on behind the scenes that won’t be revealed to you for another month or two! So focus on enjoying the NOW moment and express gratitude for everything you attracted this month.
Pat Altvater
Licensed and Certified Strategic Attraction Coach
Certified Law of Attraction Practitioner
www.TransformationsInstitute.com
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4. Networking is More than Referrals
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One of my long time clients asked me for someone to one time this week. I’m always glad to spend quality time with my customers, but I wasn’t quite sure what they wanted to accomplish. When I asked about the nature of the meeting so I could prepare, they didn’t have a clear answer. Business or personal? She said it was both, but more personal. Clear as mud!?!
We finally met today and it was one of the most rewarding conversations I’ve had in a long time. We’re wired for referrals in BNI and Referral Institute, though we’re also acutely aware of the importance of building two other main networks – information and support. That’s exactly what she wanted!
She’d attended one of our workshops and we posed plenty of questions, questions that typically fall on deaf ears. This one really made her think – “Why do you do what you do?” It isn’t about products and services or features versus functions. It’s about YOU and what keeps you excited about the business you’re building. It’s your story . . . your most unique selling position. They’re like snowflakes. Each one is different and beautiful in its own way. Each one is unique.
Here are a few questions to help you begin to discover your unique selling position:
-What is your company mission? Your personal mission? How are they in alignment?
-What segment of your business gives you the most pleasure and the most profit?
-Are you seen as the vendor of choice? Why should people seek you out?
-How did you get started in your industry?
Of all the people who do what you do . . . why you? Your story is one of the very few things that can truly separate you from your competition. What’s your story?
Copyright 2008 Paula Frazier is a Master Trainer for Referral Institute and an Executive Director for BNI, the world’s leading referral organization. To learn more about marketing your business by relationship visit http://www.referralinstitute.com or http://www.bni.com .
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5. To Do This Week
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Enjoy today for just what the are.
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