The Most Important, and Overlooked, Marketing Tactic

Marketing includes every contact and aspect of the public
experiences such as, the way you answer their calls; how
you "make good" when something goes wrong; how well you
help them solve their most pressing problems and your
employees' attitudes, dress and demeanor.

It is about building sincere and profitable long-term
relationships with prospects and customers (as well as,
employees, suppliers and even competitors). Entrepreneurs
who focus on advertising, lead generation and sales often
overlook this and therefore, lose their credibility and
it's not long before people take their business elsewhere.

Remember, no amount of advertising – no matter how slick –
will make up for such things as shoddy workmanship, rude
employees or hucksterism. It's like building a house of
cards… it may hold up for a while, but will eventually come
tumbling down.

Want to get in on a really big secret? A hush-hush tactic
guaranteed to substantially increase your revenues and
dramatically decrease your advertising expenses?

An underground tip that will help catapult you into a very
small but elite group of like-minded – and extremely
successful – businesspeople?

Even better, what if you knew it wouldn't cost you a thing?

Well, you're in luck because I'm about to let the cat out
of the bag…

Drum roll please!

Ready?

Sure?

Okay, okay… enough fun.

The secret is…

Do what you say you're going to do when you say you're
going to do it.

I repeat…

Do what you say you're going to do when you say you're
going to do it.

Huh? Is that all? I must be kidding, right? Wrong.

Reflect back on your own experiences as a consumer and try
to remember what occurred right before you exclaimed, "I
will never do business with that company again, let alone
recommend them to anyone else!"

Was it the roofer who showed up three weeks late?

Or was it the real estate agent who has yet to return your
calls or emails?

Or was it the attorney who left you waiting for over an
hour?

Or was it the electrician who dropped out of your life
after promising to fix your ceiling fan?

Or was it online supplier who failed to mail your "next day
air" package?

Or was it the consignment store retailer who "forgot" to
pay commissions?

Or the thousands of others who have disappointed you?

Unfortunately, we've all been there. And sadly, these
behaviors have become the more the norm, than the exception.

So, when people or companies actually deliver what they've
promised, we are pleased and happy to spread the word to
our friends, family members, co-workers, and even complete
strangers! This type of positive word-of-mouth advertising
is one of the most effective and affordable (it's free!)
ways to end up with more business than you know what to do
with!

But remember, the reverse is also true… when you let people
down, they'll tell four people who will tell four more who
will tell four more…and pretty soon you're reputation – and
business – will be shot.

As the noted American author and motivational speaker, Jim
Rohn, said, "Time will either promote you or expose you."
I hope you choose the former.

----------------------------------------------------
Ms. Scarborough is the co-author of two books, ("The
Procrastinator's Guide to Marketing" and "Mastering Online
Marketing"), former mktg. executive, award-winner speaker,
and certified Guerrilla Marketing coach. She holds aBA in
English from the Univ. of MD and a MS in marketing from
Johns Hopkins University. Log onto her website:
http://www.StrategicMarketingAdvisors.com for free
articles, templates, tips, tools and more.

U-Tube Marketing

Marketing on U-Tube

U-Tube is quickly becoming THE way to market your product
your product or service. Videos on U-Tube are viewed by
millions. It is the easy way to gain an instant audience.
It's great because people would much rather watch a video
with information than read a long webpage. Below is some
great information on how to market using U-Tube.

You will need to keep your video under 3 minutes long. To
do this, write down a sort of script first. Read your
script out loud while timing yourself. This will help you
keep the video under 3 minutes, and help you determine
exactly what you want to say. While filming the video,
it's recommended that you don't actually read the script.
You want to sound natural.

Have fun relaying your message. Audiences will believe you
and relate to you better if you are having a bit of fun,
and if you're being yourself. This is an important reason
for acting natural. Audiences can smell a 'phony' a mile
away, and if they think that you're acting, they will be
less likely to believe you and trust you. Mention your
website at the end of the video so that potential customers
can reach you for follow ups.

U-Tube is an amazing way to gain an audience. It is easy,
and you're more likely to get a lot of views on your U-Tube
video than with a website. When you place yourself in
front of the camera, people realize that you are a real
person, not just the hands behind a bunch of convincing
words. Have you ever read a website and wished that you
could see the person who's writing you were reading?
U-Tube is a great way to accomplish showing people that you
really are a real person.

You will want to place your U-Tube video in the correct
category. This is so that when people are searching for a
particular thing, your matching video will come up for them
to view. You will want to place it in the correct category
for your niche. For example, if your video is about 'the
greatest hip hop songs of all time,' you will want to place
it under music. The correct category maximizes your
chances to gain customers. You will also develop a rapport
with others who have videos in that category. This is
great because it will increase your chances of marketing.
Good luck and market like crazy!

----------------------------------------------------
Teresa Bell
BTM Marketing
http://wealthymarketerteam.info

Top Five Tips Small Business Owners Can Learn from J. K. Rowling

J. K. Rowling is the English writer who has authored all
seven beloved and widely read Harry Potter novels. At age
41, her rise to fame and fortune is inspiring. She has sold
over 325 million books. The final book in the series, Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was the fastest-selling
book of all time.

Her fortune is estimated at $1 billion. She is ranked as
the 136th richest person in the world. In 2006, Forbes
named Rowling the second richest female entertainer in the
world and ranked her as 48th on the 100 most powerful
celebrities list of 2007.

When this all began in 1990, however, things were very
different for J. K. Rowling. She was not a published
author. She did not have a lot of money. She was living in
London, working as a researcher and bi-lingual secretary
for Amnesty International, and her mother had just died.
How she got from there to where she is today is a story
filled with invaluable tips for small business owners.

Tip # 1: Don't Rush to Roll Out Your Product.

Destiny is a name often given in retrospect to choices that
had dramatic consequences. - Rowling

Although J. K. Rowling had been a writer all her life, she
was slow to publish. "I had written two novels before I had
the idea for Harry, though I'd never tried to get them
published (and a good job too, I don't think they were very
good)."

All too often, as small business owners, we rush to get a
product out before its time, before it's been fully
considered or tested. Rowling sets a great example of
getting a product just right before presenting it to the
world.

Tip # 2: When a Great Idea Grabs You -- Grab Back.

You sort of start thinking anything's possible if you've
got enough nerve. - Rowling

Great ideas are unmistakably powerful in their announcement
and come when least expected. Rowling says:

Where the idea for Harry Potter actually came from, I
really couldn't tell you. I was traveling on a train
between Manchester and London and it just popped into my
head. I spent four hours thinking about what Hogwarts would
be like. By the time I got off at King's Cross, many of the
characters in the books had already been invented.

As small business owners, we know when a great idea is upon
us. The problem is, we often question it, second-guess it,
and rationalize it away. Not Rowling. She recognized the
mark of a powerful idea, seized upon it and went with it.

Tip # 3: Persevere, Persevere, and Persevere.

It is our choices . . . that show what we truly are, far
more than our abilities. - Rowling

Rowling moved to Portugal to teach English as a Second
Language in 1991 and married her first husband in 1992.
They divorced in 1993. The next year, she moved to
Scotland. At this point, she was an unemployed single
mother living on welfare. In 1995, she completed her
manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone,
typing it out on an old manual typewriter. She handed in
the book to twelve publishing houses. They all rejected it.

Rowling never gave up. She did not stop just because life
was hard. Despite all the changes and setbacks she was
experiencing, she carried on. She persevered. As small
business owners, we would do well to keep her example in
mind.

Tip # 4: Don't Let Anyone, Including Yourself, Sidetrack
You from Your Goal.

If you're holding out for universal popularity, I'm afraid
you will be in this cabin for a very long time. - Rowling

Finally, Bloomsbury, a small publisher, agreed to publish
the first book. Her editor, though, says that he "advised
Rowling to get a day job, since she had little chance of
making money in children's books."

It's a good thing she didn't listen. All seven volumes of
the Harry Potter series have broken sales records and have
been translated into 65 languages. What a shining role
model Rowling is for small business owners. She didn't let
anyone stand in the way of her goal-not even herself.

Tip # 5: Each of Us Has a Unique Contribution to Make to
the World.

I just write what I wanted to write. I write what amuses
me. It's totally for myself. - Rowling

J. K. Rowling never went searching for the kind of success
she's received. "I just wrote the sort of thing I liked
reading when I was younger (and still enjoy now!). I didn't
expect lots of people to like them, in fact, I never really
thought much past getting them published."

It wasn't fame or wealth that J. K. Rowling sought. No. She
simply wanted to contribute to the world in general, and to
children specifically. As small business owners, this is so
important to learn. Focus on the unique something we have
to offer to the world. The rest will surely come, in ways
we may not even be able to imagine.

----------------------------------------------------
Susan L Reid, MS, DMA, Small Business Start Up Coach,
Consultant & Accidental Pren-her™ is the soon-to-be
published author of The Entrepreneurial Woman. She
provides value, inspiration and direction for
entrepreneurial women starting up and launching small
businesses. For your free e-Zine full of ideas and start
up tips, visit http://SuccessfulSmallBizOwners.com .

Negotiations: Some Advanced Techniques

The following techniques are used by serious and expert
negotiators. Watch for them when negotiating. When they
appear, know immediately that you are negotiating with an
expert. Over time, you will find them becoming more and
more a part of your negotiating style.

• When you have gotten most of what you wanted while
remaining within your negotiating limits, stop negotiating.

You will almost always get about 80 percent of what you
want; and trying to get the other 20 percent frequently
jeopardizes the 80 percent you have already gotten. It may
not be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but it is
more than adequate for the good life.

• Never argue.

Remember, you are a negotiator and arguing only lets the
other person know that you are not a first-class
negotiator. Argue if you must; but understand that arguing
is never an appropriate substitute for negotiating.

• If you can avoid it, never let the negotiations reduce to
a single issue.

Avoid letting negotiations reduce to a single condition
either on your list or mine. If necessary, reintroduce a
condition that seems to have already been resolved. Why? If
there is only one issue, then it quickly becomes a simple
yes or no decision. In this case, there is no further room
for negotiating; and a box has been created. One of us has
to decide yes or no. It becomes a 'take it or leave it'
proposition. If things get to this point, we are no longer
negotiating. Keep enough issues 'on the table' to assure
that there is always negotiating content or 'grist for the
mill,' as they say.

• Remember that people do not want the same things.

You know someone is running a game on you if he/she says,
'After all, we want the same thing.' This is virtually
never true. You want to actualize your interest and I want
to actualize mine. We may have some shared or common
interest; but we will also have some interest that are not
shared. As a skilled negotiator, you will recognize and
acknowledge both our shared interests and those interests
we hold as individuals.

• Understand and mention my needs, problems, and interests.

When you do this, though, do not state them as facts. Say
instead, 'If I understand, you have a problem
(need/interest) that I understand in this way…' Once you
have mentioned the problem as you understand it, ask me,
'Does it seem to you like I understand or do we need to
talk about this some more so I better understand?' Always
convey a sense to me that I, my problems, my needs, and my
interests are important to you and are being taken
seriously by you.

• Always keep your focus on task - on the negotiations.

Never shift focus to me or to personalities. Even when you
are talking with me about your perceptions of my problems,
needs, and interests, do so in ways that are related to our
negotiations - to the transfer conditions.

•Focus on-task with flexibility.

If my style is to let the conversation drift, socialize,
talk about other things, or to move away from task, 'go
with the flow.' Always be personable, friendly, and
interested. At the same time, though, look for
opportunities to return to task gently, tactfully, and
without becoming forceful or pushy.

• Be willing to walk.

Never get into a position where you are not willing to
walk, terminate the negotiations. If I ever get the
impression that you will hang in there no matter what, you
are totally at my mercy. At a minimum, I will probably be
able to get you to give me more than you really wanted to
give. Also, I will simply 'dig in' and give no more than I
have already offered. In fact, if I really believe that you
will not walk, you may find me actually reducing my offer.
Simply remember that, if you ever reach a point where you
are unwilling to walk, the negotiations are over. The
outcome is totally under my control.

•You are horse trading.

Remember that 80 percent of the movement will occur during
the final 20 percent of the process. Here we are talking
about an old horse trading principle. Always save a little
of your consideration for the final moments of the
negotiating process. Do not run out of negotiating room
until you get to the end of the negotiating process. Always
have a couple of options left for horse trading. Another
benefit is that I will leave the negotiation feeling that I
got the last concession. That will make me feel a little
smug and feel as if I am the superior negotiator. Among
other things, this will probably lead to my underestimating
you the next time we negotiate.

• Don't become impatient.

The person with whom you are negotiating will gradually get
a little frustrated and will want to move the process
along. He/she will probably be impatient with only 20
percent of the progress being made during the first 80
percent of the available time. Here, the key is to relax,
be patient, and simply out wait the other person. There is
a strong likelihood that he/she will make an additional
offer, increase his/her consideration, or do something else
to move the process along. Just by being more patient and
waiting, you have gotten more of what you wanted.

So far, I have tried to maintain a proper level of
objectivity and style. Since we have come to the end of
this article, though, I thought that you might like to know
about one additional game that may not quite maintain the
professional demeanor that has been present to this point.
This has been designated as 'The Call Girl Principle.' The
principle says that the value of a service declines in
direct proportion to the amount of time it has been since
you have received the service. Of course, this is why the
call girl always wants to be paid in advance. Good
negotiators always make sure that there are definite
arrangements made for how much they are going to receive
and when they are going to receive it. Whenever possible,
they receive it in advance. 'You do what you are going to
do for me and then I will do what I am going to do for
you.' By this point, though, you will undoubtedly be able
to go the call girl principle one better. Try it when you
and your spouse are in the lover's dimension of your
marriage. What is this advanced principle called? You
guessed it - simultaneous sex. As with many things in life,
it is usually better to do it together than to take turns.

----------------------------------------------------
This article is excerpted from The Frustration Factor from
Glenbridge Publishing. For more Articles and other
information from Gary Crow, visit
http://www.LeadershipVillage.com
or http://www.LeadershipVillage.org

Overcoming Fear of Startup

Think about this famous quote by Franklin Roosevelt after
Pearl Harbor: "The only thing we have to fear is fear
itself." I never really understood this quote until I
started working with people who wanted to start their own
practices, and until I started my own businesses. I have
thought a lot about fear and the way it can paralyze us and
I have seen this paralysis first-hand.

For example, I spent a lot of time, and many phone calls
and emails, helping a grad with the startup process. He
would go only so far, only to stop. He would find a
practice to buy, and then he would back out of the deal
because it wasn't quite right. Or he would find a
location, but never actually sign a lease, convinced that
this location wasn't perfect. He couldn't find a loan, but
he only tried a couple of banks then gave up. After months
he finally decided to stay as an associate, where he was
unhappy; for all I know, he's still there.

Why does fear paralyze us?

1. Old voices. We all have voices in our heads, from times
when someone (parent, friend, spouse) told us, "You can't
do this," or "This is stupid. You'll fail," or "Don't risk
failure." "If you fail, it will be terrible." As long as
we listen to those voices, we don't move ahead.

2. Perfectionism. It's great to want to do things well,
but we often are way too picky about how things must be.
For example, the guy who wanted the perfect location. A
friend of mine gave me some advice about writing: "My
rotten published book is better than your perfect
unpublished one." So I'm sending it off to be printed.

3. "Don't just do it." We figure we have to start at the
beginning and work toward the end, in some kind of specific
sequence. Then when we get stumped at a certain point, we
figure there's no way around. Not necessarily. Sure you
will have to get a loan before you can start buying
equipment, but there are lots of things you can do to get
started with little money, and there are lots of paths, not
just one.

Timothy Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek (Crown,
2007), has some suggestions for overcoming the paralysis of
fear:

1. First, define your nightmare. What is the worst thing
that could happen if you fail in your new practice? Spend
some time thinking about this. Create a worst case
scenario. Then consider two factors: Probability and
Severity. These are insurance terms, but they apply.
First, what's the probability (on a scale of 0% - never
happen, to 100% - guaranteed to happen) of failure? Then
look at the severity – the cost – of failure. While I'm
not a fan of dwelling on the negative, I do believe you
need to look under the bed to convince yourself there
really are no monsters under there (like Grover.)

2. Then look at the steps you could take to repair the
damage. How could you get your life back on track if you
fail in practice? Spend some time thinking about
alternatives, like starting again elsewhere, or working for
someone else. Think about what's really important, and
"don't sweat the small stuff."

3. Consider the outcomes and benefits of more probable
scenarios. Think about what your life would look like in a
"best case" scenario. Then set yourself to thinking that
this is the more probable outcome of starting your own
business.

4. Prepare to succeed. Start taking baby steps to overcome
your fears by working on the positive steps to success.
Resolve to do one thing every day that you fear. Do one
small task every day that will move you toward your start
date. It might be as simple as calling the Yellow Pages
and ordering an ad in the next book. Work on your business
plan. Focus your energy on positive action. By the time
you are done writing the business plan, I think you'll find
you will see that startup success is not only possible, but
you'll feel more confident about starting your practice.

Remember, as Henry Ford said, "If you think you can or you
think you can't, you're right."

----------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2007 Jean Wilson Murray, MBA, PhD.
Dr. Jean Murray has been advising small business owners
since 1974. As the founder of Planning for Practice
Success, she specializes in assisting health care
professionals with business plan construction and startup
details. She can help you gain the knowledge to act and the
confidence to begin. Learn more at

http://www.professionalpracticesuccess.com

Harness the Unconscious Marketing Power of Stories

If you want people to pay attention to what you say, you
have to communicate with them at an unconscious level.

In order to do that successfully, it's useful to know that
the unconscious mind loves symbols. One of the most
powerful ways of using symbols is through metaphor or
stories.

As the unconscious mind also takes everything it hears
personally, people will automatically relate to the people
they hear about in the metaphor.

So a great way of getting your message across is using
stories in your marketing. Good communicators do this all
the time without realizing it.

People love to hear a story. When you give them information
in the context of "this is what happened with so and so,"
they will take the message on board much more convincingly.

While most people will resist an obvious sales pitch, they
will respond much more happily to the same information
presented in the form of a story. For example, try telling
a story about how someone's life has changed as a result of
using your product or about the success they have had after
following your advice.

Compare the following sentences and consider which one is
more likely to leave the biggest impact.

'We provide great training to many leading companies'.

or

'Bill White at Marriott was telling me how their sales
people had seen appointments double as a result of
attending our course.'

Turning the same information into a story about someone
else not only makes it more interesting, it makes it much
more likely that the listener will respond positively.

You can also learn a lesson from Hollywood and fill your
stories with interesting characters and dialog plus a
dramatic benefit. However take care to keep your stories
factual and don't stray into the world of fiction.

Another benefit of stories or metaphors is that they can
create feelings in the listener. If you tell a story about
someone having a good time, being successful and enjoying
things, it will make the listener feel good too.

If your story is full of negative information, it will make
them feel bad and less likely to do business with you –
unless you are offering a solution to that bad feeling!

To put stories to work in your business, you should build a
fund of examples of people you have worked with in the past
or people who have benefited from using your product.

----------------------------------------------------
Robert Greenshields is a marketing success coach who helps
entrepreneurs and independent professionals develop the
success mindset and marketing strategies for a better
lifestyle. For more info visit
http://www.mindpowermarketing.com

What Business Owners Need to Know to Achieve Extraordinary Business Success

If you are a business owner with employees, you need to
promote the most effective workplace interaction. Unless
you do, you will have needless struggles within your
organization. Your bottom line will suffer.

Last issue discussed how achieving extraordinary business
results involves understanding the key distinctions between
three types of workplace interaction, competition,
operation, and collaboration.

The Benefits of Collaboration. If you have highly
collaborative interactions in your workplace, you will
enjoy the following benefits:

Your people have more positive productive relationships and
make more effective decisions. Successful outcomes are
more likely because accountability is shared. Work
satisfaction increases because people feel more involved
and included. Workers are willing to give more because
they trust their colleagues. Better communication results
from information being shared more freely. Workers remain
motivated and progress continues in the leader's absence.
The whole environment is more energized.

Guiding Principles. Embrace these guiding principles to
create a collaborative mindset in your organization:

• Open and honest relationships, where everyone can be a
winner.

• Everyone is a valued contributor.

• Everyone owns the results generated in the business.

• Everyone is encouraged to contribute their viewpoint --
numerous perspectives are better than one.

• Constructive conflict is embraced as an opportunity to
expand the possibilities.

• The group can produce outcomes superior to individual
efforts.

• Difference of opinion is welcomed. It increases
creativity.

• A safe atmosphere that encourages trust where people will
contribute fully.

How Collaborative Is Your Workplace? One of the ways to
tell whether your workplace is collaborative is by
listening to the language your people use and the stories
they tell.

Quiz. Identify whether each of these phrases are examples
of competition, cooperation, or collaboration (answers are
at the end of this article)

1) "My opinion has to be heard."

2) "Let's hear everybody's ideas on this and use the best
ones."

3) "You owe me one."

4) "I'll support you on this if you do this for me."

5) "It's not what I can do, is what we can do."

6) "Remember to CYA (cover your a...)."

UnCollaborative Workplace Characteristics:
• People work in closed, separated spaces.

• People tell stories about their personal accomplishments.

• Rewards are given for individual contributions, made from
the top.

• Mistakes are handled by blaming and punishment.

• People handle problems in a reactive manner.

• People try to hide mistakes.

• Conflicts are either avoided or handled aggressively.

• There is a subtle "caste system" where certain groups are
undervalued.

• Business goals are short-term.

• There are no clear guidelines for workplace interactions.

• Getting things done quickly is highly important.

• Being right is very important.

Collaborative Workplace Characteristics:

• People work in open spaces that invite informal
interaction.

• People tell stories about group accomplishments.

• Rewards are given for group achievements.

• Decisions are made on the basis of group or shared
leadership.

• Mistakes are handled as a learning opportunity.

• People handle problems thoughtfully.

• Mistakes are evaluated and may be celebrated for the
daring and courage involved.

• Conflicts are handled in an open, respectful way.

• Everyone is included and valued.

• Business goals are long term.

• There are clear guidelines for workplace interactions.

• Getting things done well is highly important.

• Workplace relationships are very important.

Use these suggestions and guidelines to make your workplace
environment more collaborative and you will enjoy a less
stressful and more productive workplace.

Best wishes, ~Stan

Answers to the quiz given above: Competitive remarks are
numbers 1, 6. Cooperative remarks are numbers 3, 4.
Collaborative remarks are numbers 2, 5.

----------------------------------------------------
Stan Mann, C.P.C. supports business owners, top executives
and commission salespeople to substantially grow their
business and have a balanced life. He is a Certified
Professional Coach. For additional articles and resources
please visit http://www.stanmann.com

Single Moms Making Money OnLine

As a single mom, you have more to do than most other
people. It's enough that you have the responsibility of
being a mother, but you also have the responsibility of
being the only person in the house that will bring home
income. The good news is that you can have the best of both
worlds by finding a way to work from home online; there are
several possibilities that allow you to make that decision.

When considering the move to work at home online, one
important consideration is scheduling. It's important to
create a "work" space in your home. This is somewhere you
should "go" as if you were going to work out of the home.
Your children should be aware of this as your work space
and when you go there, they should know that you're there
to do work. If your children are very small, you may need
to work this around naptime. Older children can look at
this as indoor independent play time.

You will have the opportunity to set your own profit goals
and meet them as an independent business owner. This will
afford you the opportunity to make much more than you'd be
able to make as an employee for someone else. A business is
there to make money. They will pay their employees fairly
because they have to, but they will take every option they
can to keep their profits. In essence, you are making them
money by doing your job. Instead of that, you can make
yourself money by starting your own online business.

Whatever your choice as an independent business owner,
you'll need a website. Since your website is your business
location, you'll need advertising to draw customers to your
website. An email blast is one way in which you can begin
this advertising. This will allow you to advertise to
several people all at once. Each prospective client will
get you advertisement in their email box. This will expand
your visibility which will allow you to get more clients.

An ezine ad is a way of advertising in an internet
magazine. This will allow readers to be exposed to your
services, which will spur further interest in your business.

A pay per click is also an option that has its pluses and
minuses. This is an option that allows you to only pay for
the times that someone clicks on your advertisement. While
this can save money if there are fewer clicks, the fewer
clicks mean that not that many people have seen your
advertisement. This can be good for a start, but as soon as
you start seeing more interest it would be better to switch
to other forms of advertising.

Finally, a press release is also a good way to get noticed.
This will allow the readers to have confidence in what
you're selling. The press release will tell the readers all
the reasons why your service or products are the best. They
often will include testimonials which support the idea that
your product or service is the best.

Staying at home to work and raise a family may be difficult
in the beginning. With hard work and dedication, that
beginning will turn into a real career that you can manage
from home. This is the best working situation for those
that are staying at home while working.

----------------------------------------------------
Teresa Bell
BTM Marketing
http://wealthymarketerteam.info

10 Steps to Coach Yourself to Success Without a Coach

Does it surprise you to learn that many of today's top
executives, professionals and entrepreneurs have personal
coaches? But this coaching has nothing to do with physical
fitness.

This type of personal coaching is about being and doing
your best-about time and goal management-about peak
performance-about achieving higher levels of business or
professional success.

This is where we also talk about accountability. To whom or
what are you held accountable ? Do you have a coach or
mentor that will listen to you without judging you or
laughing about you idea to walk on water? Does your coach
hold your feet to the fire and show you where you missed
the mark even when you can't see it because you are
standing on it? This is what I am talking about.

Regardless of the focus for each person, however, in the
end it's about living life the way they really want to
live. And this is a goal most of us have!

Some people just are not ready to get a coach or mentor. So
I have given you these ten steps.

But if you aren't ready for your own personal coach, here
are ten steps to coach yourself along the path to your
preferred lifestyle:

Step 1. Get Clear Pick one major goal you feel ready to
commit to, write it down, including all the steps that it
will take to reach this goal and be sure you have a clear
picture of exactly what your goal is. This may sound like
old advice-and it is. This advice has survived over time
for a good reason-it works! It's far more powerful to write
your goals down than just hold them in your mind. A goal
not written down is just a suggestion or an opinion and we
all know about those. You must read it out loud to
yourself once a day and if you'll review them at least once
a week, your rate of success will double.

Step 2. Get Committed If you want something more than you
have today, you'll have to do something more. ( How big is
your WHY?) (read "The Power Of WHY") This does not
necessarily mean that you have to work harder or longer,
although many super-successful people do just that. What it
does mean is that you should commit to do your best! Peak
performance is not something you achieve in the future-it's
doing a superior job right now-on whatever task or
challenge before you. Do it right the first time and you do
not have to repeat yourself. For successful people this is
a habit and springs from a superior attitude. Remember
affirmations are the self speak that will help.

Step 3. Get Focused Life is packed full of distractions.
Successful people take the time to solve distracting
problems, or give them no attention at all. Learn to focus
on what you want, not what you don't want. What you focus
on will grow. Pick a time and remember that business is
business time and play is play time and self improvement is
always important.

Step 4. Get Organized Successful people know that space
management is just as important as time management. They
have organized desks and files and organized day timers. If
you want a higher level of success, spend some time getting
your workspace organized, and make it a priority to keep it
that way. It's difficult to have an orderly and efficient
mind in a cluttered and disorganized space. Also time
management and sticking to it is just as important as space
management.

Step 5. Get Motivated Read or listen to something
motivating every day. Even 20 minutes everyday is your goal
that can make a big difference. Listen to educational and
motivational tapes, CDs, MP3s while you drive. Turn your
car into a university for self improvement. This is
important "mind food." See my article posting on this blog
about what we spend on the inside of our heads verus the
outside of our heads.

Step 6. Get Educated If you're committed to superior
performance, part of that requires keeping your mind open
and stimulated. Read both within and outside your field of
focus. See my link at the bottom to better reading and the
list of books no matter what your business or products.

Step 7. Get Connected Become part of a Master Mind group-a
group of people committed to helping each other become
successful. Meet once a week (even on the telephone) to
brainstorm ideas and advise and support each other. Place
like BNI and Chambers of Commerence within your city will
help.

Step 8. Get De-stressed It's important to take a personal
evaluation of your stress level. Daily stress management is
not just important-it's essential! Stress has very negative
impacts on your brain: (1) It is proven to actually kill
brain cells, and (2) It focuses your mental activity in
older portions of the brain that do not support higher
creative thinking. It is not your friend! The more active
the brain without stress the younger you feel. The more
active the body without stress the younger you will feel.

Step 9. Get Balanced Super successful people know how
important it is to have a balance in their life. Bill Gates
takes an entire week off each month and seeks solitude so
he can clear his mind. I take at least one day a week and
withdraw to my hobbies and time to just do no business at
all. But just as important as personal retreats is some
play time with your family and friends. Get balanced, and
you'll be far more productive and creative.

Step 10. Get Confident Successful people have strong self
images. They have a sense of their own self worth and are
confident they can handle whatever life tosses in their
path. If you have personal doubts-that's the first place to
start on your desired pathway to success. This must be
dealt with, or you'll just continue to have the same
problems holding you back! That's why you need to visit my
blog or email me to get a free self confidence course.
Build yourself up and then you can help build others.
Remember you are never to big to bend over and help someone
else up. If you think you are TOO big to do this you are
really just the smallest person in the world.

----------------------------------------------------
This type of personal coaching is about being and doing
your best—about time and goal management—about peak
performance—about achieving higher levels of business or
professional success.
blindguy55@msn.com
http://www.readingblind55.com

Bringing in Inspiration through a Career/Motivational Speaker

If you have noticed the moral at your office isn't what is
used to be, you may want to consider hiring a
career/motivational speaker that will talk about career and
life goals. Motivational speakers can give insight on
issues that are important within the office and allow
employees to generate new ideas and help them learn to work
together as a team. Most offices go through times of
transition and need advice and counseling in order to get
through it.

After scheduling a speaker and sending on the information
to everyone in your office, you should prepare them for
what will happen next. If there are internal issues that
are disruptive to productivity, then they should be
addressed prior to the speaker's visit or let those in the
office know they will be addresses during the presentation.
Motivational speakers can help employees by giving them the
tools needed to be successful. This can include adopting a
new attitude, becoming a better salesperson, staying
organized, and learning how to earn promotions.

With these tools, employees should be able to interact more
professionally in the office. Speakers can also address
office politics, how to remain professional during certain
situations, and how to better communicate with others. Even
though many companies have HR departments that are supposed
to help, a speaker from the outside may be more influential
because they are a third party and are not familiar with
employees and how they usually act.

When choosing a motivational speaker, you should find one
that is energetic and who understands your business. This
will make relating to employees much easier. Most speakers
have exercises that they give to the group during the
presentation to see if employees are learning from it. If
you have a large group, you may want to ask the speaker to
refrain from doing any exercises because it will take too
long. Most presentations last an hour or two.

If your office is a happy one, you can still bring in a
motivational speaker who can talk about personal finances,
investing, or taking better care of one's health. There are
many topics that speakers can talk about that will inspire
and change the lives of employees. Many employees don't
know how to invest properly or they haven't taken the time
to learn how. A motivational speaker can give tips and
advice that they can begin using right away.

Inspiration can come from many sources. Sometimes it can
come from total strangers. If your office needs a boost or
wants to learn about a topic that is important, then hiring
a motivational speaker is one way to help your employees in
their careers and in their personal lives by following some
of the advice they receive.

----------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2007 Vadim Kirienko owns the Home Business
Resource Directory where you can find everything you need
to start, run and grow a home based business. For further
information, go to
=> http://www.NewAutomaticBuilder.com

Mobile Phone Contract Plans with VOIP

Introduction

The revolution of internet communication is here to stay
for a very long time and this is primarily because it has
done so much to help people by its mere presence alone. The
voice over IP (VOIP for short) technology that has hit the
market by storm over the last couple of years has now
expanded to be a major competing technology in nearly every
major branch of communications.

The VOIP revolution has been so fast and so fierce that
even the most established conventional telephone companies
are now rushing to create VOIP infrastructure that they can
provide to their customers so that they don't end up losing
them to other companies that are on the cutting edge. To
that end, even mobile phones have been created that have
the ability to use VOIP or a similar piece of technology in
order to accomplish the same task.

The Mobile Phones

A question that very many people have when they initially
here about the recent expansion into the mobile phone
market has to do with the technology itself. While it is
easy to understand how VOIP technology works on a
conceptual level (i.e. the internet connection being used
in conjunction with specialty software to facilitate
communication in a manner similar to that of a telephone)
for normal, land-based systems it is a lot more difficult
to understand exactly how it works in the sense of a mobile
phone solution.

If you have ever traveled on a plane before, you have more
than likely seen a business person utilizing their internet
through the use of mobile internet technology. This type of
technology has been around for a very long time and all of
the major businesses make sure that their correspondents
have access to that kind of technology when they are on the
move.

Wherever you have the ability to connect to the internet
and therefore generate an internet protocol address, you
have the ability to use the VOIP technology. This is
ultimately how mobile VOIP services are utilized and
because of the boom in the market many of these
technologies are available for personal use at very
reasonable prices.

Advantages

There are many advantages to using a VOIP mobile phone
contract and the one that is largest in the eyes of many
people is the price. The reason that conventional VOIP
became such a popular service was that it was quite a bit
cheaper than conventional telephone plans when it came onto
the market. In similar fashion, a VOIP mobile phone
contract is going to be quite a bit cheaper than the
conventional mobile phone contract you have right now.

This decrease in the price has allowed many people the
chance to save some money each month and when a person is
able to save money without a reduction in quality, they
quite obviously are going to become a very loyal customer.
The ability of VOIP services to generate a large number of
very loyal customers in a very short time is ultimately
what has made many companies move a large part of their
communication operations towards developing and promoting
VOIP technologies.

----------------------------------------------------
Lee Smith writes about VoIP Mobile Phones and Mobile Phone
Contract Plans
http://www.networklondon.co.uk/communications/voip.html

The Reason Persistence Pays Off In Your Marketing

One of the secrets of getting your message across to
prospects and customers is to communicate with them at an
unconscious level.

In order to do that successfully, you need to repeat the
same message consistently.

In marketing terms, that means if you want to get a
positive reaction from your customers, you have to be
consistent and persistent with your marketing.

Businesses can easily present too many different faces to
their customers and prospects. But, if you want success,
you need consistency in your message, in your appearance,
in your language and in your timing.

Sometimes people give up too easily. They'll say, "Oh, I
tried that. It didn't work." But you've got to keep going.

Or what happens is that they get bored with their own
message so they think other people are getting bored, too.
So they change what they're doing, or they change their
message.

The reality is that if you are utterly sick and bored with
your marketing message and what you've got to say, then
chances are that it's just starting to register on your
customers' radar screens.

You have to repeat it over and over again.

Some research says that you have to present your sales
message an average of seven times before somebody will
respond to it. Other research suggests even more contact is
required.

If you try once and it doesn't work, don't be surprised.
You've got to keep going back in order to get that message
across.

The scientific term for something that consistently
triggers a specific reaction is known as 'anchoring'.

For example, some people may associate the smell of freshly
baked cookies with their childhood or the taste of food
with a memorable vacation. These events become anchors as
they always trigger the same reaction.

Similarly in marketing, if you immediately associate a
piece of music with a company's name (perhaps because it's
from their television advertising) that's a very successful
marketing use of anchoring – provided your feeling about it
is positive of course.

The principle of anchoring is about consistently triggering
the same positive response in people and you don't need a
multi-million dollar advertising budget to create it.

The secret is to have something that people will easily
identify with. Keep on repeating it. Make sure that it gets
anchored in people's minds as having a specific meaning.

Make sure that when you're talking about your business to
other people, you're describing it in the same way all the
time. If you continually talk about it differently, people
will get confused.

When you find a message that works, keep repeating it over
and over again, so it becomes anchored with people and
creates a consistent positive effect.

In marketing terms, this is what branding is about – it's
having a consistent approach so that people recognize
something distinctive about you, or the way you do
business, that they will remember.

To make a message stick, you need to create processes and
mechanisms that keep you in regular contact with prospects
and customers, such as newsletters, regular mailings and
scheduled meetings.

So, if you want to communicate successfully at an
unconscious level, consider what you need to change so that
your customers see a consistent view of all your activities.

----------------------------------------------------
Robert Greenshields is a marketing success coach who helps
entrepreneurs and independent professionals develop the
success mindset and marketing strategies for a better
lifestyle. For more info visit
http://www.mindpowermarketing.com

Understanding Flexographic Printing

Flexographic printing is defined as a method of direct
rotary printing that uses special rubber or photopolymer
material. The printing plates are affixed to plate
cylinders of various repeat lengths, which are inked by a
cell structure (anolox roll) which is used to meter the
flow of the ink on roll. It carries a fast drying fluid ink
to the plates that print on a variety of substrates (paper
/ plastic / nylon / polypropylene / cellophane / LDPE /
LLDPE / etc.).

Flexographic printing is a rotating method for every
revolution of the printing plate cylinder an image is
produced. If the image is stepped several times around a
cylinder several images may be produced in one revolution.
The plate cylinder will determine the size or sizes of the
bag or pouch you are trying to produce.

Due to the nature of the printing process there are factors
that don't exist with other print methods such as offset
and gravure. Because flexographic employs a flat but
flexible printing plate that is stretched around a curved
cylinder and the image on the plate distorts when the plate
is mounted on the printing cylinder. A circle shape for
example distorts into an egg shape. The amount of
distortion depends on many factors including cylinder size,
plate size, and the amount of distortion depends on a
number of factors, including cylinder size, plate size, and
the amount of adhesive mounting tape used to attach the
plate cylinder.

Another aspect of flexographic printing is the solids (line
art) print differently than screens (dot patterns). That is
because the printing plate is relatively soft and the ink
on its surface must be pressed against the substrate to
print. Thus the amount of pressure applied to the printing
plate is critical For example more pressure that is needed
to print a dense and heavy solid than to print a screen
tint. The best of all worlds is to be able to have your
screen printing plate and your solid printing plate on a
different cylinder which in turns means another printing
station.

Whichever method used to set up the printing press, one
design implication must remain clear is that you may not be
able to successfully print one color screens and solids on
the same printing plate or printing station. This is very
different from offset printing where the solids and screens
of a given color can be printed with a single printing
plate.

----------------------------------------------------
David Banig has been in the Flexographic printing industry
for 32 years and has had various patents along with hands
on experience. If you are looking for someone to improve
your packaging P&R Fleible is the inovator of todays
packaging world. produced in one revolution.
http://www.prflexbag.com

Strategy Before Tactics

The title of today's article captures the single greatest
small business marketing mistake I encounter - and I
encounter it every single day.

Small business owners often fall prey to the marketing whim
of the week, chasing every new way to do direct mail or
draw web site visitors they encounter, because they have no
real marketing strategy to help them drive marketing
decisions. If I could change anything about the way small
business owners view marketing - that would be it.

Without a strategy firmly in place to use as a filter for
where the business is headed, it's far to difficult to
really analyze whether any particular tactic or marketing
initiative makes sense for a business or not.

By strategy I mean your marketing reason for being, the
position you want to hold in the mind of your customer and,
no, "I want to exchange money for something with anyone we
can," is not a strategy, it's a disaster plan. Far too many
people think "we want to sell lots of stuff to lots of
people" is a strategy.

The world doesn't really need another accountant,
electrician, real estate agent, or small business of most
any kind, so if that's what you are, then you better get a
way to stand out that's based on a sound strategy. The
world, or at least a market segment, will always need the
accountant, electrician or real estate agent that does
business in new and different ways, ways that matter to a
specific market.

To develop an effective marketing strategy you must spend
some energy determining two crucial factors: who makes an
ideal client for your firm and how your firm is indeed
different than everyone else that claims to be in your same
business.

If is, in fact, quite possible that there are entire
subsets of what you might call a target market that are not
at all a fit for your business. You've got to get very
clear, and often narrow, about the characteristics of a
client your firm is best suited to serve. If you have
clients already, the best place to look to identify your
ideal clients is the subset of clients that is most
profitable and has a tendency to refer business to you.
These folks likely love what you do, are emotionally
attached enough to tell friends, and value the relationship
they have to your company. If you can come up with a
crystal clear image of what these folks look like, part of
your marketing strategy should focus on finding more of
these and saying no to the rest

The second half of your marketing strategy involves
discovering your firm's best chance to stand out and
differentiate. You may already do something that truly is
unique and need only communicate it as your strategy. Or,
you may need to find one something that you can do
famously, such as dominating a narrow niche market or
packaging your services like no one else in your industry
dreamed of doing.

Once you create a powerful strategy for your business all
of focus can turn to creating and implementing tactics that
can bring your strategy to life.

----------------------------------------------------
John Jantsch is a veteran marketing coach, award winning
blogger and author of Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most
Practical Small Business Marketing Guide. You can find more
information by visiting http://www.ducttapemarketing.com .

How a Blog Can Help Your Business

If you have a business, a blog (short for web log) is a
marketing tool that can further position you as the expert
in your industry. Your prospects and clients want
information about your products and services. They are
hungry for it! And a blog gives you the opportunity to
share your expertise with people across the globe.

Once they are set up, blogs are easy to update. The typical
blog entry is short and informal, making it easy for you to
write - and easy for your customers to read. Because blogs
are filled with a bunch of little blurbs, your readers are
more likely to visit on a regular basis to read your latest
commentaries. They also feature a search function, which
your readers can use to find blog entries on a specific
topic.

But like every form of marketing, a blog requires you to
lead it in a strategic direction. Before you start your
blog, make a decision about the blog's theme and "voice."
Once you determine your goals, stick to the topic. You can
weave your personality and stories into the blog, but
always keep these relevant to your target audience. Make
your blog a tool that provides helpful advice, tips, and
musings to your readers. A blog that is really a sales
pitch or advertisement will NOT garner a wide audience.

Here are some examples of the types of business blogs and
the various types companies that might benefit from them:

1) Consultant Blog: This type of blog is widely used by a
variety of service-based companies including marketers,
interior designers, event planners, financial advisors, and
so on. In fact, this is the type of blog that I write. The
Consultant Blog primarily features a single person writing
about their advice and observations. It is a way of
highlighting your expertise in an area and building an
active readership who trust your opinion to guide them.

2) Tourist Blog: Every Bed and Breakfast can benefit from
this type of blog. It features the local area with pictures
of surrounding vistas and updates about upcoming events. It
can feature links to local weather and favorite places to
visit. The Tourist Blog can help sway people to use your
business services over that of a competitor, as well as
keep in touch with them until they visit your city again.
It can also save your business time by providing people the
answers to frequent questions. Other businesses that
benefit from this style include rafting companies, ski
areas, fishing guides, festivals, and so on.

3) Industry Blog: There are a number of companies that
specialize in a very narrow area of their industry. For
example, many manufacturers are highly specialized in what
their company produces. These companies often sell to other
businesses. In this case, it is often helpful to blog about
new products lines, materials, trade shows, equipment
innovations, industry news, and shipping news. Examples of
industries that would benefit from these blogs include
fabrication, machining, printing, engineering, insurance,
and stamping.

4) Specialty Blog: Many businesses, associations, and
hobbyists enjoy this type of blog. It focuses on a specific
subject. Examples include golf, sailing, stamp collecting,
dog breeds, wedding planning, weight loss, and so on. The
Specialty Blog can be written by one or multiple
contributors. It is a wonderful way to build an online
community and encourage comments because the readers share
a common interest.

5) Feature Blog: I primarily see this type of blog being
used by people who are in a creative type of business. It
incorporates lots of pictures of recent projects and how-to
entries. Sometimes there are video posts or audio
recordings. It often has links to an online store where a
visitor can purchase the project or sign up for an event. A
Feature Blog is very useful for artists, designers.
musicians, performers, illustrators, quilters, and writers.
Another type of business that could benefit is one that
produces custom products such as a furniture maker or a
bike builder.

When you are writing a blog, don't be bland. The key is to
be yourself and to reflect the core personality of your
company. If there are things that make you mad or get you
excited, your blog can be a place to post these things. If
you don't keep your blog on topic, lively, and engaging,
your readers will quickly get bored. Write in your blog
regularly - I recommend at least once a week or more.

To drive traffic to your blog, list it in blog directories
such as Technorati. You should also incorporate keywords in
your entries to help people find you via search engines.
For example, an insurance company in San Francisco should
incorporate the terms "San Francisco insurance" into their
posts with a link back to their website. In this way people
can easily get more information. Be sure to set up an About
page with your contact information so people can get in
touch.

Action Tip: So, ready to start blogging? You can set up a
blog easily with Blogger, Typepad, and Wordpress depending
on your marketing goals and level of technical knowledge.
This week, sit down and decide on your Blog Type, who in
your company will write it, and how you will schedule
regular blog updates. When you are ready, contact a
designer to create a blog header and set up your blog.
Then...Blog Away!!!

----------------------------------------------------
Wendy Maynard of GoMarketingMaven.com created the Maven
Marketing System specifically for small business owners,
coaches, consultants, and solo-preneurs. She also publishes
a free weekly marketing ezine. Subscribe at
http://www.gomarketingmaven.com/ezine_3.html

How to Deliver Technical Support that Delights the End User, Part Two

In part two of my series on delighting the end user, we'll
talk about how to provide dependable and reliable service.

Users say they want dependable and reliable service when
they contact the help desk. How can you ensure they say
you do that? In this article, I'll show you several simple
and practical techniques for providing dependable and
reliable service to your end users.

Dependable and reliable service means providing
consistently accurate answers and follow-through on your
promises. Your end users should consistently get the
courteous, pleasant and knowledgeable service every time
they contact the Help Desk. Under Promise and Over
Deliver-To accomplish dependable and reliable service,
consider adopting the motto "Under-promise; over-deliver."
This familiar guideline reminds you to set expectations
with your users at a reasonable level, but one at which you
can consistently exceed their expectations. That means
giving yourself and your co-workers a cushion when
fulfilling promises to users. For example, if you need to
research a problem for a user, and you think you can call
them back in two hours, discipline yourself to tell the
user that you will get back to them in, for example, four
hours. This helps you account for those unexpected
emergencies that might come up, yet still meet your user's
expectations. Some of the airlines are using this technique
in establishing their schedules. They know, for example,
that under ideal conditions, a particular flight will take
two hours. They schedule the flight, however, for two
hours and fifteen minutes. That allows them to arrive on
time, even when they leave a few minutes late. It's about
planning for the unplanned. Using this technique, your
users will be wowed, and you will maintain your sanity (and
build a great reputation!).

Keep Your Emotions under Control-This means that you don't
let things get to you. Your users know that whenever they
call, you'll always be level-headed and ready to help solve
their problem. Sure, life has its ups and downs, but your
users don't need to know about your life's ups and downs.
Keep it professional and stay level-headed; let your users
grow to expect consistency every time they call. The same
concept applies when you're not feeling well or in pain.
No one wants to hear about someone else's aches and pains,
especially not your users. Put on your game face and wow
them with your service. If you're too sick or in too much
pain to put on your game face, why are you at work? (And,
while we're on the subject, when you're sick with something
contagious, stay home. Your colleagues at the office will
appreciate you for helping keep the work area healthy and
disease free.)

Always Do What You Say You'll Do-When you tell a user that
you'll get back to her in 24 hours, get back to her in 24
hours (or less). Sometimes, things don't happen the way
you expect: Shipments don't arrive, your sources of
information don't get back to you, an office is closed, and
so forth. Most people understand that things like that
happen; they don't, however, understand that you didn't
call them back when you said you would. Even when you
don't have new information, call the user back when you say
you will or stop by his office when you say you will. The
fact that you uphold your word, even on the most seemingly
inconsequential things, will speak volumes to your
colleagues about your character and the kind of person you
are. How you handle the little things tells your bosses,
customers, and colleagues how you'll handle the big things.
Similar to the concept of under-promise and over-deliver,
this is the concept of "promise little; do much".

Dependable and reliable service is about consistency; it's
letting your users grow to expect outstanding service every
time they request help. Day-in and day-out, you
consistently deliver service that delights. If fact,
you're so consistent in delighting your users that they
take you for granted. And that's a good thing!

In part three of this series, I'll give you several ways to
ensure that your end users say you're responsive to their
needs.

----------------------------------------------------
Don R. Crawley is president/chief technologist at
soundtraining.net (http://www.soundtraining.net), the
Seattle firm specializing in business skills and technical
training for IT professionals. He works with I.T. pros to
enhance their work, lives, and careers. For Don's article,
"Ten Ways to Delight Your End-User", visit
http://www.soundtraining.net/onlinestore/items/item241.html

5 Tips to Help You Find a Healthy Balance Between Your Business and Your Family Life

As an entrepreneur, your life can be hectic at best. Your
business is the realization of a dream. Your hard work and
persistence have come to life in the form of your business.
Working for yourself is many people's fantasy and it
should bring you great satisfaction to know that you now
only answer to you. This is all you've ever wanted, so you
must be happy.

Ask yourself this: what was your ultimate goal in starting
your business? You may respond that you wanted to achieve
independence from bosses, to have unlimited income
potential or to set your own hours. All of these answers
basically mean one thing; you went into business for
yourself with the ultimate goal of being happy. But,
spending hour upon hour on your business is not going to
make for a happy family life. Finding a healthy balance
between your business and your family life can be extremely
challenging, but it is essential in order to realize your
ultimate goal of happiness. How do you find time for
family when your business occupies so much of your day.
The following are some tips to help you to achieve the ever
elusive goal of achieving a healthy balance:

1. Create a schedule. Schedule your work time as well as
your family time. Keep a calendar or agenda with this
schedule and stick to it. If you are feeling overwhelmed
and think that just a bit more work time will help, think
again. At the end of a long work day, you are in all
probability feeling tired and frustrated. Taking a look at
things with fresh eyes the next morning will help you to
complete the job properly. Time away from the task will
help to rejuvenate you.

2. Prioritize. Your family is your number one priority,
and don't forget it. When making your schedule, always
plan family time first and include some fun ideas in the
schedule. After a long workday, you may be too tired to
think of fun things to do, and might just end up in front
of the T.V. This is not quality family time. Adding fun
items to your schedule in advance will help you to follow
through with your plans. Schedule a trip to the park, an
evening at the kid's favorite restaurant, or just playing
ball in the backyard. Don't forget to schedule some time
alone with your spouse. A weekly date night will do
wonders for your relationship. Even if it's just enjoying
a rented movie and popcorn after the kids are in bed.
Anything will do as long as it's not already a part of your
normal routine.

3. Be sure to have some time left for yourself. This is
often the most difficult time to schedule. How could you
possibly find time for you with all that you have already
done in the day? On work days, this could be as simple as
a 15 minute bubble bath or curling up with a good book
before bed. On your days off, take a walk for an hour, or
go on a bike ride. Be sure to allow your spouse the same.
He or she needs time alone time as well.

4. Make to-do lists. In order to make the most of your
workday, make lists and cross things off as you accomplish
them. Being a busy entrepreneur, it may sometimes seem as
though you don't have enough time in a day to allocate to
all the jobs you have to do. You will be amazed at how
such a simple thing as making a to-do list will keep you on
track. Once you have crossed off most of the tasks on your
list you will feel proud of all that you have accomplished
in the day. Remember though, if you are not finished your
list at the end of your scheduled workday, those leftover
tasks will have to go on tomorrow's list.

5. Learn to delegate. You may find it difficult to let go
of even some of the smallest tasks. Your business is the
realization of your dream. How could you possibly leave
any part of it in someone else's hands? If you don't want
your business to run your life, you will have to learn to
let go of some duties. Start with delegating little tasks
and build from there. Once you have built up enough trust
in the person you are delegating to, you can start
delegating a little more. If you have employees, use them,
that is what they are there for. If you don't have the
resources to hire an employee, you can still delegate by
using contractors, such as Accountants, Bookkeepers and/or
Virtual Assistants. All of these will cost you less than
an employee and will work from their own offices, so you
don't have to provide them with a work space. Delegating
will go a long way in allowing you to work more
efficiently. It can also give you more time for family.
In fact, delegating chores in your house-hold will
accomplish the same. Hire a house-keeper to come in once
every few weeks, or hire someone to mow your lawn or plow
your driveway in the winter. If these are not viable
options, get your family to help. The more helping hands,
the faster the chores get done, the more time you will have
for the fun stuff.

Remember you need to work on your family in order to make
it a success just as you do your business. Achieving a
healthy balance is not easy, but once you do, the rewards
will out-weigh any of the hard work you put into it.

----------------------------------------------------
Kelly Sims is a Virtual Assistant and President of
Virtually There VA Services. She is dedicated to making
the lives of small business entrepreneurs easier. For more
information, visit her website at =>

http://www.virtuallythereva.com .

How to Be a Marketing Warrior, Not a Marketing Wimp

Last summer, I attended a remarkable five-day training
known as the Enlightened Warrior Training Camp at which I
learned eight essential attitudes of warriors-those who
will stop at nothing to achieve the cherished, fulfilling
life they want for themselves.

These warrior attitudes are adaptable to almost anything:
finances, relationships, depression and much more. I find
them particularly useful when applied to marketing for
solo-entrepreneurs, professionals in private practice and
small business owners.

First take this little quiz:

T/F 1. Marketing is hard, and I don't really know what
works best for me, so I tend not to do much.

T/F 2. I know what I should be doing, from a marketing
perspective (I've got a list a mile long!), but I just
can't find the time to do it.

T/F 3. I don't feel comfortable doing marketing tasks
(it always feels a little slimy), so I put off marketing
for as long as I can.

T/F 4. I tend to neglect follow-up calls, figuring that
people will call back when they're ready.

T/F 5. I resist doing a blog or writing articles on the
grounds that I don't have enough to say, or that I'm not a
good writer. (The old "not enough" belief that keeps many
of us from marketing ourselves.)

T/F 6. I'm too busy working IN my business to get around
to writing a newsletter (one of the all-time best ways to
market yourself), so I don't send one.

T/F 7. None of the marketing things I've tried have
worked, so I wonder why I should bother.

T/F 8. I'm not very technical. Consequently, I don't
have a well-functioning website that generates me regular
leads; it also keeps me from creating e-products that my
clients would find useful.

If you answered true to even three of the above statements,
I'm sorry to say it, but you are a marketing wimp.

Don't worry...you're in there with the best of us. We can
all find ways that we're being wimpy about our marketing.

So what does it take to go from marketing wimp to marketing
warrior? Here is my improvisation on the eight warrior
attitudes learned at Enlightened Warrior Camp (with credit
given to T. Harv Eker and Peak Potentials Training, who
developed them).

1. A marketing warrior acts in spite of fear. Marketing
warriors are not fearless, but they don't let fear stop
them. In the past, I've let "What if it doesn't work?" stop
me from trying new marketing strategies. Another common
fear among professionals with a private practice is: "What
will others think of me when I put myself out there?" What
are you afraid of when it comes to marketing? What's the
worst that could happen if it were true? What action can
you take in spite of those fears?

2. A marketing warrior is willing to do whatever it takes.
First, you have to ask yourself what that "whatever" is.
What will it take to market your business? What will it
take to learn what it will take to market your business?
What will it take to get a newsletter out to your
constituency every month? What will it take to make
follow-up calls to every single qualified lead within two
weeks? When you break it down, you can tackle it in smaller
pieces. And then just frickin' do it!

3. A marketing warrior does everything at 100%. How often
do we get distracted by little things or meander through a
morning without the 100% laser focus that's essential to
hot results? I know when I'm on a tight deadline, I can go
like the wind through tasks that might take four times as
long any other time. I've begun giving myself mini
deadlines to complete tasks (and celebrating when I
complete them on time!). What percentage of "full-on" do
you typically do your marketing tasks? How can you bring
that number up?

4. A marketing warrior is willing to do what's "hard." The
definition of "hard" differs from person to person. For
one, asking for referrals is unbearable; for another,
networking lunches are of the devil. Sometimes what's
"hard" is easily handled by someone else (as in our
newsletter and article services for therapists and
coaches); other times you have to tackle the hard stuff
yourself-or live with mediocre results.

5. A marketing warrior acts in spite of his/her mood. My
best trick to get to my marketing when I don't feel like it
is this: I repeat to myself, in a dramatic whine: "I don't
want to do marketing today. I don't feel like it. Today's
not the right day for this. It's too hard. I just don't
feel like it." And as I repeat this whiny "mantra," I'm
sitting down to my desk. I'm turning on the computer and
opening the file I need. I'm gathering the numbers to call,
etc. Pretty soon, I'm into the marketing project I need to
be doing. It works like a charm!

6. A marketing warrior is bigger than any obstacle. What is
your biggest obstacle? Is it that you don't know how to
market your practice? Is it money? Time? I guarantee you
that whatever the obstacle is, others have faced the same
obstacle and gotten around it somehow. Usually the obstacle
is mental chatter that says, "I can't" or "It's beyond me"
or "I'll fail."

7. A marketing warrior succeeds in spite of anything. If
you're determined to succeed in your marketing,
nothing-NOTHING-can stop you.

8. A marketing warrior never gives up. It's not that
deciding to be a marketing warrior means everything you
touch will instantly become gold. Marketing is all about
trial and error. If you stop at error, you'll never find
the gold.

These warrior attitudes are good to keep nearby, like taped
to your computer, for regular viewing. When put into
practice on a regular basis, they begin to form a
rock-solid foundation for your business.

----------------------------------------------------
Linda Puig is a newsletter marketing expert, a writer with
nearly 30 years' professional experience and president of
Claire Communications, which provides high-quality,
low-cost articles to busy professionals who don't have the
time or inclination to write articles.
http://www.articlesforsale.net

Negotiations: Increasing Your Effectiveness

Always start with a consideration for consideration offer:
a presentation of the minimum transfer conditions well
within your negotiating limits. Declare yourself up front.
'You have something I want and I have something you want. I
am a negotiator. Let's negotiate about the transfer
conditions.' For example, 'I would like for you to…. I
understand that it would be something that would change
things a little for you. I think that I have an offer that
will make it a comfortable thing for you, though. In
consideration of your…, I will….' Simply fill in your
consideration and my consideration: the minimum transfer
conditions. You have made me a consideration for
consideration offer and have done so in a way that lets me
know that you are a serious negotiator.

If I begin negotiating, all is well. I might say, 'I might
think about what you want from me; but what you're offering
is not enough for me to give you what you want, you will
need to….' I have made a counter offer and we are 'horse
trading' as the negotiators say. Suppose I say, 'No.' Are
the negotiations over? Being a good negotiator you
understand my saying 'No' as simply my first negotiation
offer. You say, 'That really surprises me. Under what
conditions would you…?' I will then probably make an
opening offer - present an initial set of transfer
conditions to you. If not, you simply learned that what you
want is - from my point of view - simply not negotiable.

The following tips have been found by good negotiators to
increase their negotiating effectiveness and increase the
extent to which they are respected as effective negotiators.

Stay relaxed and friendly.

Remember the 80-20 rule. Eighty percent of the movement -
progress - will be made in the last 20 percent of the time
available for negotiating. Knowing this makes it easier to
stay relaxed and much easier to be patient.

Keep your focus on the negotiations - the transfer
conditions. Skilled negotiators will try to distract you,
will talk about things unrelated to the negotiations, and
try to diffuse your focus. Through this process, keep your
internal focus, your mind's eye on the negotiations.

Ask for and suggest options. When suggesting options, raise
- only as possibilities - different mixes or combinations
of consideration. Here, it is important to take care to
always stay within your negotiating limits.

Always remember that you are negotiating and never simply
trying to get your own way. Your focus is on the transfer
conditions and includes your giving me something in
exchange for what you hope to get.

The following negotiating strategies appear subtle and not
easily seen from the point of view of the negotiation
novice. For a skilled negotiator like the one you are
becoming, though, they are easy to spot and are an
important part of your negotiating repertoire.

Use the first third of the available negotiating time
simply to get a feel for my interest. Importantly, you will
also determine what I want; but my interest represents how
I think I will be better off if we are able to successfully
complete our negotiations. 'Interest' is not what I want
but rather 'Why' I want it.

Once you have a feel for my interest, develop a priority
listing of that interest as you understand it. Put my most
important interest - my most important 'Why' at the top of
the list and then continue listing my interest in terms of
descending priority for me.

Acknowledge and facilitate my interest in the priority
order you have developed.

Based on your understanding of my interest, take time to
show me how I am going to be better off.

As you talk about the transfer conditions, be very clear.
Show me who, what, when, where, why, and - most importantly
- how.

Within any exchange - meeting transfer conditions - there
are some risks. If there were no risks to me including no
possibility of being less well off after I give you what
you want, I would probably simply give it to you. I would
understand that as doing you a favor and, if nothing else,
would expect that you might reciprocate at some point in
the future. When negotiating, there are always some risks.
Be up front with me and very specific about the risks. Show
me all of the risks. This will require that you think about
the situation from my point of view, from my perspective.
Good negotiators are superbly skilled with this aspect of
the process. From my point of view, what are the risks? It
is always better if you bring them up and define them
clearly for me than if I bring them up in the process.

As you interact with me, limit the amount of detail you
bring into the process, be very accurate, and always have
more detail available to expand on or back up anything you
say. Wait for me to request the additional detail, though.
If I do not request it, it is appropriate for you to
indicate that more detail is available if I would like to
have it. Let it go at this, though. (From a strategic point
of view, this puts you in the position of being the expert
who is teaching me.)

Show me how we will share the risks and responsibilities.
Remember that the person with whom you are negotiating will
be more comfortable if the risks and responsibilities are
shared as opposed to either you accepting all of the risk
or responsibility or the other person accepting all of the
risk or responsibility. From this perspective, the key is
to maintain each of us as equal participants in the process.

Always let me be the one to make the final decision. Even
if I may have made the last offer and you are prepared to
accept it say, 'I think you have made an offer I can
accept. I think we are about to a point where we can agree
to agree. What do you think?' Whenever possible, let me
make the final decision. Why? Because I will feel better,
feel more in control, and feel more comfortable with the
position into which you have gotten me.

Always credit me with having made a good decision. Say, 'I
feel like you have made a really good decision. I
appreciate the time you have spent talking with me about
this.' What if my decision was to simply stop negotiating
and not do what you wanted me to do? The response is the
same. 'I appreciate the time you have taken to talk with me
about this. All things considered, I think you have made a
good decision from your point of view. It did not turn out
quite the way I wanted it to turn out; but I respect the
decision you have made.' Why do this? You never know; you
may want to negotiate with me again. You have left our
relationship at a point where I feel good about you and
about negotiating with you again. Save your negative
feelings or reactions for a later time when you are by
yourself and can say anything you want to say. At the point
our negotiations stop, though, take care not to 'burn your
bridges behind you,' as they say.

----------------------------------------------------
This article is excerpted from The Frustration Factor from
Glenbridge Publishing. For more from Gary Crow, visit
http://www.LeadershipVillage.com
or http://www.LeadershipVillage.org

The Warning Signs of Career Disaster

Many of us have recurring dreams. Mine is that I'm driving
down the freeway and can't read the road signs until I've
missed an important exit. Fortunately, it's just a dream.
But many people have trouble reading signs-not road signs,
but career warning signs.

A career warning sign is any change that indicates possible
career disaster. While warning signs may vary according to
employment situations, there are four basic warning signs
to look for.

Warning Sign #1: Your industry is experiencing a downturn.

Telecommunications is a perfect example. A few years ago,
telecom was one of the fastest growing industries, with
positions available at all levels. The first negative
indicator was unmet earnings expectations. Those who paid
attention left the industry.

People who practice career management watch the growth
trends within their industry and know to leave ahead of the
crowd.

Warning Sign #2: Sales are down in your company.

While not everyone in an organization is involved with
sales, all jobs are affected by sales levels. When
revenues decrease, profits are held steady by cutting
costs, which often means cutting jobs. Protect yourself by
paying attention to your company's sales.

While not all employees are privy to sales numbers, there
are ways of finding pertinent financial information.
Public companies must publish financial statements. And
employees of non-public companies can also read the signs
of declining sales, like:

* Work load decline

* Boss suddenly concerned about small costs, like pens and
copy paper

* Sales manager was fired or sales department reorganized

Alert employees are sensitive to such indicators. They
keep their resume updated at all times and cultivate a
growing professional network for potential future job leads.

Warning Sign #3: Management changes.

Any management change has the potential to damage your
corporate position. Be watchful during:

* Mergers and acquisitions

* Successive short-term management (e.g., three bosses in
two years)

* Retirement or replacement of senior management

Wise employees listen closely to new-management rhetoric.
Is he making dramatic promises? Does he have a reputation
as a job cutter? The first announcement of new management
is the time to prepare your resume and cautiously explore
outside options.

Warning Sign #4: You've lost favor with your boss.

This is the sign that, for many, hits home first. If you
once held the enviable role as "company wonder boy," but
now your gut feelings are warning you that you could be
easily replaced, check for some of these objective
indicators:

* A less-than-exemplary performance review

* No performance-based salary increase

* Smaller than expected year-end bonus

* Your input is not requested at planning meetings

* Your suggestions are ignored

If you sense your position on the corporate totem pole is
falling, trust your gut. When jobs are at stake, yours
will be one of the first sacrificed. Prepare your new
career action plan.

These warning signs may seem obvious, but they are often
ignored by those who fear change. Rather than take action,
they lean on false hope that loyalty to the employer will
pay off in the end.

Those who practice career management never confuse company
loyalty with aversion to change. When career warning signs
appear on the horizon, read the signs clearly so that
you're ready for the next exit with a strong resume, career
action plan, and interview skills.

----------------------------------------------------
Deborah Walker, Certified Career Management Coach helps
job-seekers nationwide make critical career transitions
that allow continued upward career and income growth.
Visit Deb and find more career articles and sample resumes
at
http://www.AlphaAdvantage.com

How to Prevent Embezzlement in Your Practice

Recently, I had to fire an employee who had stolen money
from our office. She wasn't caught in the act, and I
wouldn't have missed the money. I only found out because
she had a guilty conscience. She had overspent her bank
account during Christmas, and had some personal financial
problems. When I found out and offered to advance her a
small loan on her salary-a bad idea which I rarely do-she
broke down and admitted to the theft. I appreciated her
honesty, but had to fire her immediately.

According to an article in the American Academy of Family
Physicians newsletter, "a recent study of community health
clinics found that more than 40 percent had experienced
some type of financial crime during the previous five
years." Not only that, this was supposedly underestimating
the problem, as it is frequently an unreported crime.
Fortunately, the article had six clear steps to help
prevent embezzlement:

1. Check candidates' references and job histories –
Supposedly, many embezzlers are repeat offenders, so a
thorough vetting of all applicants is suggested; if you
haven't got the HR department, you can always outsource
this step.

2. Review individual expenses – It's smart to have one
person order supplies, another to verify receipt, and a
third to sign the checks for payment; also occasionally
spot-check expenses to be certain they are legitimate; for
a larger practice it even makes sense to have two people
required for check signatures.

3. Prohibit pre-signed checks and signature stamps – At the
very least, every time you write a check, know exactly what
you are paying for.

4. Enforce job rotation and vacation policies – It is
suggested that employees take at least five consecutive
days off for vacation; having someone else who can step in
to do their job is good in case of emergencies, and a fresh
pair of eyes can usually spot any wrongdoing during
someone's absence.

5. Bonding employees – Employee bonds are insurance
policies that reimburse you for your loss if the employee
commits fraud or embezzlement. Bonding also serves as a
deterrent to financial crime because bonding companies
prosecute perpetrators.

6. Issue receipts for cash collected – In this era of
frequent co-pays, cash can accumulate quickly at a
practice. Whether you use an automated receipt system or an
old fashioned booklet with carbon copies, make sure
receipts noting the date, amount received and the patient's
name are scrupulously kept.

I found these steps both easy to implement, and very
effective. Making each employee involved in the process
accountable for their co-workers, as well as for
themselves, left me feeling more confident that this
problem won't occur in the future.

----------------------------------------------------
VIVA Transcription provides medical transcription services
to hospitals and clinics across the United States and
Canada. Visit us at http://www.vivatranscription.com

Have You Ever Been Fired From a Job?

If you've ever been fired, this question is probably the
one interview question you dread the most. Not only have
you had a bad experience, but you have to talk about it –
again and again. How you deal with this question in your
interviews will depend a lot on how you have resolved the
issue with yourself. In order to answer the question
effectively it will be important to deal with it ahead of
time by scripting an answer.

Here are examples of how two candidates answer the question:

Candidate #1
"I had a great boss, but he left. From the very beginning
it was clear that my new boss and I were going to be at
odds. We just had different types of personalities. She
kept changing the rules. One day she would want it this
way, and the next day another way," rambled Karen. "I don't
usually have problems with bosses but this woman was really
overbearing in her management approach."

This is not the best way to present the situation. This
candidate could be classified as a "whiner." Badmouthing
former employers during the interview is a bad idea. No one
wants to hear about someone else's shortcomings,
particularly someone they don't even know.

Candidate #2
"I was fired after a major reorganization. The merging of
different cultures had caused a major change in the way
things were done. There were some differences of opinion
between my boss and myself and, in the end, I was fired. I
take responsibility for my part in the way things turned
out. I learned a lot from the experience, and in
retrospect, I would have handled it differently. But, that
is behind me now, and I am ready to move on with a new
perspective."

This is a much better answer because it demonstrates
strength and self-confidence. Candidate #2 takes
responsibility and deals with the question honestly.

Scripting
Whether you were fired under unfair circumstances, or for
something you did that you regret, write down your
thoughts, and how you would answer this question. Read your
script aloud, or use a tape recorder, and practice until
you like what you hear. Better yet, answer the question for
someone else in a mock interview. Have him or her observe
your interview technique - body language, eye contact,
comfort-level while answering this question. Feedback from
someone else will help you improve your presentation.

References
It is very important to find out what your former
boss/company will say, or not say, about you if called for
a reference. Whatever they say it should be in sync with
the answer you give. Despite the firing, if, you left under
terms that were agreeable, check with your former employer
to find out what you can expect.

Lying
Probably the worst way to handle this question is by lying.
One lie usually leads to another, and before you know it
you are in over your head. You always take a chance
whenever you put a lie on an application. The application
usually has a signature line on the back where you sign,
stating that the above is true, and that any false
statements could be grounds for termination.

Perspective
It is a fact that "people get fired everyday." They move on
and get new job. And, you will too. No matter what the
circumstances, put it behind you and move on. Deal with
your feelings about the firing, and prepare your answer to
the question before it is asked. Being prepared will make
you feel more confident and less emotional about the
situation.

----------------------------------------------------
Carole Martin, America's #1 Interview Coach, is a
celebrated author, trainer, and mentor. Carole can give you
interviewing tips like no one else can. Get a copy of her
FREE 9-part "Interview Success Tips" report by visiting
Carole on the web at The Interview Coach
http://www.interviewcoach.com