Action and Reaction: To React Is Human, to React Positively Is Divine

Action and Reaction: To React Is Human, to React Positively Is Divine
Irresistible forces drive enterprises in directions that
are usually unanticipated and unplanned for, which means
that the organization can become disoriented, as sometimes
happened to sailing ships rounding Cape Horn during monster
electrical storms with gale winds and towering seas.
Shock, amazement, curiosity, smugness, groundless optimism,
defensiveness, distrust, reckless risk-taking, and
confusion are among the reactions that can result in the
face of such forces.

However, positive reactions can turn the power of
irresistible forces to your advantage, like building a wind
farm with pivoting propellers to generate electricity in
unpredictably windy areas. Confronting your very human
(and usually inappropriate reactions) to irresistible
forces is the beginning of helping your enterprise to use
irresistible forces in a more deliberate way to create
beneficial results.

Dealing with irresistible forces can be very time consuming
and emotionally demanding. Those strong emotions can easily
distract you from acting in the necessary ways to turn the
irresistible forces into your favor. When the emotions
divert you from pursuing your own or your organization's
best interests, you have just experienced a stall (a bad
thinking habit that delays improvements).

Psychologically, irresistible forces tend to take us back
to our childhood, when almost every aspect of our lives
seemed to be controlled by someone or something other than
ourselves. Resisting that temptation to become an enraged
two-year-old shouting "No!" to a seemingly hostile universe
is important for organizational progress.

While unthinking habits of any kind can stall
organizational progress, these behaviors become much more
harmful when they arise because of strong emotions. The
magnitude of irresistible forces will often cloud clear
thinking with negative emotional reactions that are
experienced by those who have to lead and manage. And the
danger is increased by the tendency of the individual or
organization to be immobilized by the magnitude of the
power involved when first perceiving the irresistible
force, a little like the victim who stared entranced by a
cobra and failed to retreat to safety.

In addition, organizations often view irresistible forces
as temporary aberrations that must simply be "overcome" for
the time being. The usual approach is to work longer and
harder, and to cut costs to overcome the effects of the
trend on the business involved. This approach is like
trying to keep the Titanic afloat by bailing water by hand.

Understanding that irresistible forces must be dealt with
from a long-term viewpoint, being aware of the dangers, and
recognizing the stalls that are likely to result in
response to irresistible forces are the foundations for
irresistible growth breakthroughs.

Copyright 2008 Donald W. Mitchell, All Rights Reserved

----------------------------------------------------
Donald Mitchell is chairman of Mitchell and Company, a
strategy and financial consulting firm in Weston, MA. He is
coauthor of seven books including Adventures of an
Optimist, The Irresistible Growth Enterprise, and The
Ultimate Competitive Advantage. You can find free tips for
accomplishing 20 times more by registering at:
====> http://www.2000percentsolution.com .

The Magic Pill for Work from Home Business Success: Persistence

The Magic Pill for Work from Home Business Success: Persistence
If work from home business success was easy to accomplish,
everybody would be doing it. With so many folks pursuing
the same things since the dawn of intelligent life, you'd
think we'd have it figured out by now.

We do have it narrowed down - work from home business
success is a combination of several factors, not the least
of which sometimes includes being in the right place at the
right time. But no matter what combination of attributes
you favor, one thing is nearly always a part of the work
from home business success recipe: persistence.

Stories abound about famous books that were rejected
countless times before finding success (think Dr. Seuss and
Harry Potter). About actors and artists who labor in
anonymity for decades before being "discovered." About
businesses that barely survived the hard times until the
market discovered them.

While talent and quality and even a little luck may enter
the equation, pretty much each and every work from home
business success story falls back on persistence as the
catalyst that made it happen.

In his classic "Think and Grow Rich," Napoleon Hill devoted
an entire chapter to the subject. Says Hill, "There may be
no heroic connotation to the word persistence, but the
quality is to your character what carbon is to steel."

Hill researched the most successful entrepreneurs in modern
history, men such as Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, and
while many were brilliant, many others were unremarkable.
Hill found that the common ground among those who have
achieved great things in business is the attribute of
persistence.

The power of persistence is available to everyone. It's
easy to complain about our bad breaks, our lack of capital,
being late to market, tough competition, etc., but the
choice of whether to be persistent or not is immune to
becoming an excuse for failure.

The truth is clear: if we are to be successful, we must be
persistent. And if we fail, it is probably because we were
otherwise.

Some believe that persistence is the product of willpower.
But this is not true. More often a lack of persistence
connects to a weak goal rather than a weak will.

Goals are easily abandoned when price exceeds vision. Most
work from home entrepreneurs start strong with great will
power, but when the going gets tough they are discouraged
because their passion for the goal wasn't strong enough to
fuel their persistence.

It is the wise business person who understands the
difference between will power and the power of persistence,
and is able to apply both qualities when and where
required. Put this saying on your wall: "Find something
worth dying for, and then live for it." Persistence is the
very essence of this approach.

An example of putting this all together was the first two
men to climb Mt. Everest in 1953. Until then it had been an
elusive goal, despite the passion of those who had tried
and failed. But Sir Edmund Hillary and his guide, Tenzing
Norguary, achieved where others had failed - included two
failed attempts themselves - because of the combination of
persistence and passion.

Others failed not because they faced greater obstacles or
had lesser skills, but because their level of persistence
did not match their level of passion. Only until Hillary
and Norguary brought extraordinary levels of both to the
task was the mountain conquered.

Persistence is a key element of your business plan. These
four simple steps will help you make it a life skill:

1. Visualize your goal: Bring passion to the pursuit of
your dream, and then match that passion with an
intellectually-sound commitment that results in the level
of persistence required to get there.

2. Make a plan: Persistence and action are synonymous, so
get clear on the steps you must take to move forward.

3. Commit: Make an irrevocable contract with yourself to
reach your goal.

4. Form a mastermind group: Like-minded support is part of
an enlightened plan. Obstacles will come, and the power of
others who share your vision will give your level of
persistence a shot in the arm.

Make the choice to be persistent today. Commit to making
your own luck and surviving the toughest of obstacles. In
the end, the one standing will be the one with the highest
level of persistence. Be one of those people that work from
home business success story. Be persistent.

----------------------------------------------------
Chris Curwen has recently teamed with the direct marketing
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true financial freedom - AT LEAST 100 millionaires over the
next 3-5 years. What if YOU could be one of them?
Go to: http://www.FreedomThroughAction.com for more details
on this unique online business opportunity.

How to build trust to build oustanding results

How to build trust to build oustanding results
One of the key principles of successful coaching is to
create an atmosphere of trust between coach and coachee.
This is achieved (or not) by focusing on the way we
communicate. There is a well-known model called the Johari
window which we can use to improve the quality of
communication and thus trust in work teams.

The model suggests that there are two elements to our
behaviour. There are aspects of our behaviour of which we
are aware - 'known to self' and aspects of our behaviour of
which others are aware - 'known to others'. If we were to
plot these on a diagram we would come up with a classic
four box model with four behaviour combinations. The
originators of the model called each of these combinations
windows:

Open Window (Known to self AND known to others) Secret
Window (Known to self but NOT known to others) Blind (Known
to others but NOT known to self) Unknown (Not known to
others AND not known to self)

Adapted from J. Luft "The Johari Window" Human Relations
Training News, Vol 5 (1961)

The Johari window was conceived by Joe Luft and Harry
Ingram (hence the name) as a means of identifying
interpersonal communication style. It suggests there are
two sources from which we learn about our communication
style: ourselves and others.

The open area includes behaviour thoughts and feelings that
both we and others know. The underlying assumption of the
model is that the effectiveness of our personal
communication increases the larger this window becomes.

The secret area represents the thoughts and feelings we
keep to ourselves. The secret area represents a large part
of our behaviour when amongst strangers - where not a lot
is known about each other and trust is low.

The blind area represents aspects not known to ourselves
but readily apparent to others. The red faced, scowling
manager shouting, "I'm not angry!" and the customer saying,
"Yes, I understand" whilst frowning and looking puzzled are
classic examples.

The unknown area represents the most deeply rooted aspects
of our personality which are not apparent to ourselves or
others around us. It is really the realm of highly trained
psychologists and not something to get into here.

There are two ways to increase the size of the open area.
Firstly we can disclose; that is, tell others aspects about
ourselves, our values and our thoughts that they do not
currently know. Secondly we can be open to feedback so
that people can raise our awareness of things we do or say
without realizing the effect.

Open and honest communication featuring feedback and
disclosure is a feature of all effective teams and you can
start to harness these attributes right away.

Before today is out try disclosing one fact about yourself
and offering some constructive feedback to a colleague.
Once trust is building encourage your team to give you some
feedback too. The more you do this the quicker trust will
build in the team and the more enduring it will become.

----------------------------------------------------
Matt Somers is a coaching practitioner of many years'
experience. He works with a host of clients in North East
England where his firm is based and throughout the UK and
Europe. Matt understands that people are working with their
true potential locked away. He shows how coaching provides
a simple yet elegant key to this lock. For a bumper load of
coaching tips and tricks - including FREE resources - visit
http://www.mattsomers.com

Selecting the Best Career For You

Selecting the Best Career For You
Do you feel like your job is a good match for you—for
your interests, your skills, your personal goals? Many of
us are dissatisfied with our current job roles, or are not
sure what we should be doing in our professional lives.
This article is intended to help you focus in on what
career is ideal for you.

What do you love doing? What is your hobby, or hobbies?
What do you enjoy doing in your free time, when you're off
the clock and not getting paid? If you can find a job that
fits or is related to these interests, you're in
luck—that's the career for you.

For example, if you love shopping and clothes, then why not
look at a career in the fashion industry? There are job
roles that cater to every personality type and skill set. A
bubbly individual who loves meeting new people, talking and
being social might make for a great PR person for a
designer or clothing store. A person who is very
artistically inclined could work in the design studio. A
person with great business savvy and a nose for trends
might make a great fashion analyst or retail consultant.

If you match your personal passions with your skills and
qualities, you will actually enjoy going to work every
day—imagine that!

What are your goals? Do you want to build up your bank
account so you can buy a house, or do you just want enough
money to be able to rent and travel at your leisure? What's
your personality type—do you crave stability, or do
you thrive on excitement? These types of considerations are
essential in finding the correct career for you. If you are
someone who has visions of a white picket fence and a
family in your near future, then perhaps a job with a
steady, high paycheck is critical to your happiness in
life. Your ideal job will be one that gives you security,
stability, a pension plan, insurance, and so on.

Also think about the type of environment you hope to work
in. Are you happiest behind a desk, or do you feel empty
unless you're outdoors? Pick a job that allows you to spend
time in the places that make you feel at home. For example,
a person with a strong connection to the outdoors might
consider becoming a forest ranger, a ski instructor, a
landscape architect, etc.

Your ideal job should allow you to do the things you love
and that are important. If you enjoy traveling, then a
career that enables you to visit foreign countries
frequently is going to make you happy. But if you hate
leaving home, then that same career could be torture. Think
about the career's requirements and how they would impact
you down the road.

----------------------------------------------------
Ken Anczerewicz is an author and publisher devoted to
providing time & money saving resources designed to help
career & job seekers of all ages achieve their financial
goals. You can check out his best recommendations for
creating your own income stream by clicking here now:
http://www.resourceriver.com

Projectors - What 4 Things To Look For Before Buying One.

Projectors - What 4 Things To Look For Before Buying One.
Of the many pieces of technology that exist to make today's
office more effective and efficient, perhaps none is more
important than a digital projector. A digital projector
represents a solid investment that every business, big or
small, should consider making.

Today's fast-changing technology makes it important for
consumers to consider several factors when purchasing a
digital projector in order to ensure that they receive
maximum returns on their investment, as well as to avoid
being stuck with a piece of technology that will be useless
and obsolete in a matter of months.

As far as price is concerned, when it comes to technology,
you do often get what you pay for. Though it isn't
necessary to spend several thousand dollars on a projector,
businesses need to consider the amount and type of use they
expect from their projector and make their decision
accordingly.

Besides price, the other important factors to consider when
investing in a projector are brightness, resolution,
contrast, and lamp life.

Typically, the level of brightness in today's projectors
ranges from 1000 to as high as 10,000 lumens. When
selecting a projector, consider where it will be used. If
the projector is meant for use in a small, dark room and
for a small audience, less lumens (1000-1500) will usually
suffice. However, a projector that will be used in a
larger, brighter area such as a hall or auditorium will
require more lumens (2000-3000).

Choosing the resolution for your projector is based mainly
on the type of presentations it will be used for.
Resolution is divided into four categories, including SVGA,
XGA, SXGA, and UXGA. SVGA represents the most affordable
option, and is the resolution typically needed for
projecting simple graphics, as in those found in Power
Point presentations. XGA is a resolution typically used to
project video images, as well as small-type spreadsheets.
SXGA is also known as high resolution, as is intended for
use with presentations that require presentation of very
small details, as in some CAD applications. UXGA
represents the highest resolution, and in intended to
presentations of applications that are high in both detail
and information.

Contrast refers to the difference between the light and
dark colors of a projected image. When choosing a
projector, choose one with a high contrast ratio, typically
400:1 or higher. If a projector is meant for use in a room
with high levels of light (or even with the lights on),
choose one with the highest possible contrast ratio.

The life of a projector lamp typically ranges from 40-80
hours on the lower-end lamps, to as high as 4,000-4,500
hours for the more expensive xenon lamps. On average,
today's projector lamps usually last about 1,000 hours.
When making a purchase, take into consideration the amount
of use you expect to get from your projector, and the fact
that replacement lamps typically cost $200-$500.

----------------------------------------------------
Learn even more about the wide selection of projectors
available online and make a shortlist of the machines that
best suit your needs and budget. An easy to use list can be
found at:
http://www.av-audio-visual-projectors.co.uk/projectors.htm

How To Be Your Own Best Advertisement (Without Being Client Repulsive)

How To Be Your Own Best Advertisement (Without Being Client Repulsive)
Entrepreneur Magazine called yesterday to get my take on
how to be your own best walking advertisement without
becoming offensive, off-putting or in people's faces.
There's definitely a fine line between authentic
self-promotion and being pushy. Today, I'll share with you
one of the tips I shared with the editor for making people
aware of your problem-solving resources, without becoming
'Client Repulsive'. The tip? GIVE GENEROUSLY.

It's easier to promote when you are GIVING something of
high-value to a prospect. It's an approach of SERVICE
rather than 'selling something' or trying to 'get
something' from your prospect. GIVING is much more Client
Attractive and takes the pressure off of the person (and
yourself). Let's face it; people love to buy, but they
don't like to be sold. So, make it easy on them by giving
them something.

When working with private clients who want to quickly build
a database of prospects and fill their pipeline
consistently, we almost always create something called an
"Irresistible Offer", something that has a high perception
of value, offered at no charge. Something that will create
the WOW factor and naturally PULL them in. For example, my
website offers an audio CD at no charge on the home page.
This is my version of the Irresistible Offer.

Instead of trying to explain my work at length to a
prospect, which would turn someone off immediately, it's
much easier to say something like, "Go to my website to
order the audio CD at no charge and you'll also get a
subscription to weekly marketing articles. My treat."

When you do that, two things happen. 1) There's a WOW
factor that gets them excited. 2) They're often impressed
that you would give something of such value at no charge,
which makes you look even better in their eyes. And, 3) you
let the high-content of your 'Irresistible Offer'
demonstrate the value of what you offer, so there doesn't
need to be any selling.

When you give good content at no charge, people
automatically realize that this is just the tip of your
iceberg and they'll get that your paid stuff will be even
more valuable. It doesn't have to be a CD. It can be a
special report, an audio download, a seminar or teleclass.
Anything that has a high perceived value will work, as long
as the content is very good. That way, marketing feels
authentic to you AND to the person you're talking to.

Best of all, if the information on your giveaways is of
high-content and high-value, word will spread quickly.
They'll tell their colleagues, their friends, anyone who
will listen, but only if you've given them something of
value. And then it's just a question of providing more high
content on a regular basis through easy stay-in-touch
marketing vehicles, until the trust and credibility has
been established and the prospect raises their hand when
they're ready for your service or product. You'll be
shocked at how quickly your pipeline will fill when you
have the right 'Irresistible Offer'.

The key is, when you give generously, both in a giveaway
and in content, you make it OK to offer other resources
that will help that prospect. It's like reading your
favorite magazine. When you love every article, chances are
the ads in the magazine will also appeal to you. Same thing
here.

Your Client Attraction Assignment:

So, start thinking about how you can give more generously:

A special report? An audio download? A CD? A live seminar?
A teleclass?

Once you put it together, make sure it's high-content
(without giving away the farm) and that you have a way of
continuing to speak to them regularly with more high-value
stay-in-touch marketing vehicles. Then, you avoid being
Client Repulsive and instead, you become extremely Client
Attractive.

----------------------------------------------------
If you're looking for more ways to create a compelling
marketing message and PULL clients toward you, I recommend
the Client Attraction Home Study System™. It's all
step-by-step, not a big mishmash of things. So, you do step
one of the system, and when you're done with that, you move
on to step two, and so on. You can get it at
http://www.TheClientAttractionSystem.com .