NO! You Are Not Entitled

I love business and I love what I do. What I don't love, and truthfully, don't even like, are the people who really don't get what running a successful business is all about.

Sure, they may think they do, but when they are asked to do something that is inconvenient, they throw up their arms and say, "This isn't fair. It shouldn't be this hard."

The fact is, business is hard. And sometimes downright difficult.

We applaud those who are succeeding, often saying how lucky they are. Others go on to say, "I would do anything to have what you have."

I'm not sure when I first heard a very successful person say, "No you wouldn't, because if what you say is true, you would be doing it."

There are so many people who are not willing to put in the time, money or effort to create a successful business, but continue to flounder around with a sense of entitlement that often gets them nowhere but broke.

Recently, I hosted a colleague of mine on a complimentary webinar where she shared a ton of great information on automated sales funnels.

My featured expert, who happens to make over a million and a half dollars a year in her business, went above and beyond giving idea after idea, sharing formulas and showing exactly what needed to be done to have a profitable funnel.

People loved it. That is until a few of them found out the replay would only be available for a short period of time.

    "How rude."
    "That's unprofessional."
    "What poor customer care."

These came from a handful of people, some who were on the call and wanted to watch the replay at their convenience and those who didn't show up and "assumed" the replay would be available for a longer period of time.

Granted, the majority were very appreciative of what they did receive, but the few who complained left me scratching my head saying, "Really?!?!

Actually, I was flabbergasted. Rather than saying, "Thanks for your incredible information. I will do what it takes to watch the replay before it comes down," there were those who preferred to blame my featured expert for the fact they couldn't get the information.

This is not an isolated incident. Not long ago I had an open Q&A call on a Saturday. When I announced the open call I made it clear it would not be recorded and the only way to get questions answer was to be on the call. I assured everyone I would be available for a couple hours to answer as many questions as possible.

The majority of people were very appreciative, but like Susan, I got slammed by those who felt I was not being reasonable by providing a replay.

One woman went as far as to bitch me out for having the audacity to offer this on "her" Saturday!

Really?!?! It was my Saturday too.

Here's a reality check. You have to show up to your success. If something doesn't fit in your schedule, so be it. You either adjust your schedule or you don't. It's really that simple.

Mind you. I'm definitely a believer in customer care. I'm also a believer in being honest about the fact that building a successful business does require sacrifices.

In years past when someone offered a free training the majority of people who registered showed up. Now, well now, there are so many people who just assume that they can show up when they want.

If you want success you best be willing to show up at a higher level.

For those who are showing up and reaping the benefits, congratulations! For those who blame everything and everyone but themselves, it's time to put your big girl/boy pants on and buck up. Game on.


Source: http://www.powerupforprofits.com

The Power of Intent - The Most Powerful Business Influencer

The Power of Intent

Intent forms the basis of any relationship. If I am unsure of your intent in dealing with me, then it is impossible to really trust you. In personal relationships, wealthy individuals often doubt the intent of those being nice to them - even their partners. In business relationships, it is the primary factor in determining others impression of you.

Research has shown that first impressions are made by an assessment of two factors: (1) your intent (2) your competence; but these are done in order and it is always intent that is assessed first. The power of intent is evident in networking, negotiating, sales and customer service.

Networking

In this hyper-connected world, your ability to be successful long-term is largely dependent on the strength of your network. Smart people are always building their network - not, necessarily by attending formal functions - but by continuously making sure that those around them know what they do and are keen to refer business on to them. And whether this happens or not will all depend on your intent. If people sense that your intent is to simply get what business you can for yourself, they will promptly forget about you. If they sense that your intent is to be of genuine service - without looking for a return - they will willingly refer business your way.

Negotiation

Old-style negotiators had the intent of getting the best deal for themselves. New-style negotiators have the intent of finding a deal that is just as good for the other side as t is for them. This is the style of negotiation that creates real value for both sides.

Sales and Customer Service

People always remember their worst sales person, which is why they are hyper-sensitive to those whose only intent is to sell them something. Nowadays, customers want salespeople to play a different role. Rather than be a source of information, they want them to be a sorter of information - helping them make sense of the myriad of claims, counter-claims, specifications and special offers. If a customer perceives that the salesperson's intent is to help them make a confident buying decision, they are more likely to trust them and, eventually, buy from them. It is disappointing how often in customer service we receive the message from the customer service staff that their main intent is to get rid of us. If the customer perceives that your intent is to help them, they will become loyal for life and perhaps even become raving fans.

A great example of this happened recently for a friend who needed to purchase a hospital bed for his elderly mother who lived at home with him. After receiving some excellent advice from the staff member in one of the specialty shops where these types of beds are sold, he made his choice. Now, because he is a businessman, and because these beds are very expensive, he naturally asked if there was a better price possible. Her answer surprised him, "You know, I am sure there would be a government subsidy for your situation." She then gave him the contact details of where he could find out more. When he did he discovered that he was eligible for a 90% subsidy; but this was only possible if he purchased the bed from a particular outlet - not the one he had visited. Feeling guilty, he returned to the store. To his amazement, she said she knew that the subsidised bed would not be sold by her store. "But I wanted for you to get the best deal," she said. Now some might say that she should have kept quiet and made the sale and he probably would never have known about the subsidy. But, he is a very well connected businessman with wide community contacts who she has turned into an advocate for her store. What they receive in referral business - not to mention how their brand is enhanced every time he talks about them and the story is repeated - will repay them many times over whatever profit they may have lost on the sale of one bed. All because of the power of intent.

If your intent is always to be of service, to help other make good decisions and to help them get the best deal, then your success is assured.


Source: http://www.ryanandassociates.com.au

What's Your Professional Title?

So what's your title? Does it truly present who you are and what you do professionally? I happen to believe that an over stated title can do you more harm than good. It might get you noticed but once discovered can sink you if it's deemed as fluff. The first thought that comes to mind is if they over state who they are what else are they over stating? The term "Blow Hard" comes to mind.

For those of us who remember 30 years ago, a CEO was the head of a large corporation. How did CEO creep it's way to a solopreneur? A General Manager is now possibly a COO. A CFO used to be called an Accountant or Treasurer. "C" stands for chief. My suggestion is if your going to use it, make sure it represents just that.

Perhaps all this title up-sizing began with the boom in the internet. A well done website can make a small company look like they are captains of industry. The truth of the matter may show they have two or three employees who go to work in their pajamas. This does not mean they are not good at what they do. I believe the deception lies in what isn't said. This leads me to think they are a small company masquerading as a big business. The same I believe can be said for your business title.

I want to bring to point the best LinkedIn profiles are those that do not use your actual business title. These LinkedIn job titles speak to what they do. Mine happens to say, " Customer Experience Expert." That's not what on my business card but it does speak to what I do. Be clear about who you are and want you want to project.

For all you folks trying to be unique "Founder" does not do it for me either. If your business is a one person show that has brought nothing new to the business community drop it. Perhaps you can use " CEO and Founder" once you have a track record of success and your have been really innovative in delivering new concepts to the business community.

Over stated business titles are just fluff. Be honest with yourself first. Reality finds it way to the front no matter what you do. I personally don't have a lot of time for folks who don't understand the power of humility. Big titles lead to big expectations. You better be able to deliver.

Source: http://www.toyourfuturesuccess.ca/

Lets Keep Things Simple

I've been reading quite a few different marketing articles today, and all I have to say is "wow".

The Internet marketing craze is in full swing and I'm starting to think were getting a little too technical. You hear all about the different methods of marketing which is good. However once people start to rely on Technology for results they go from being a Marketer to being a Spam Bot.

This morning I read one article that was so simple a beginner would completely understand it. Yet I find the things in that article more helpful than all the articles going into anal detail about data and collecting this, or automating that. How many times did you yourself see an article bringing up something like this? And I notice that when I read these articles it's always the same, non helpful technical talk.

Look folks, I'll tell you right now I've done marketing for a few years, I started by having an online shop then after some success I decided to open others. I've found that so many things you don't hear about like message forums, Facebook stores, auction sites, etc. A lot of this is way more simple and ten times more effective then just repeating yourself in different ways.

Business is not a complicated thing. You know your business is doing well when 2 things occur, 1.) sales and 2.) customers being referred to you. It's that simple. It's not about getting thousands of spammed hits a day, yet I see people arguing that traffic = growth. Unless your content is better than millions of others, you need to give the customer more reasons to come back to you rather then good content.

I urge people all the time, take a few dollars less and always offer a customer a deal when starting. While doing this take care of this customer like you would a family member. That's how you're going to get your "growth" and sales to rise.

I remember long ago paying a company close to $1000 over 3 months. After 3 months of no sales, they'd argue that at least I was getting "hits". Yes, hits that cost me $300 a month and not a penny made off of it. It's funny because this same thing is done by other marketer's time and time again and it's something very much against.

The funny thing is, after firing the company I remember opening a Facebook page on my own and giving this big scary marketing thing a go. In my first month from simple paid advertising I had hundreds of dollars in sales. Not big time at all, but growth had finally begun and for much less than what you usually need to spend. You would be amazed at what $100 can do when correctly used on social media.

So remember folks, don't let things get too out there when it comes to doing business. Keep it simple, and treat your customers right. As long as they want what you have, they'll be back.

Minneapolis Locals Slam Bar Louie Dress Code as Covertly Racist

Bar Louie, located in uptown Minneapolis, has been accused of implementing a dress code that has drawn the ire of some local residents who say it indirectly targets black people, reports Fox 9.

The bar’s new policy prohibits attire such as fitted caps, athletic apparel like sports jerseys, ostentatious chains, oversized white T-shirts and other baggy clothing from being worn on weekend nights, explains Fox 9.

Michelle Horowitz, a Minneapolis local, said of the bar’s dress code “might as well just say, ‘No black people allowed.’ It’s ridiculous.”

According to Fox 9, the manager of the Minneapolis location has said that the dress code is a directive from the corporate office; however, the Bar Louie location in suburban Minnetonka, Minn., allegedly hasn’t followed suit.

Imani Vincent, another resident, isn’t so convinced by the manger’s explanation for the controversial rules and proposed that the best way to signal disapproval is by boycotting the establishment.

“Hurt ’em in the pockets,” Vincent suggested, according to Fox 9. “That’s where it would hurt them the most. If they don’t want us there, then we don’t have to be there—and that’s their loss.”

Horowitz added that the policy is indicative of a larger problem of discrimination in the state. “Minnesota might be the nicest, healthiest, cleanest state in America, but we have huge issues as far as segregation, racism, systematic oppression—and people want to look the other way,” Horovitz said, reports Fox 9. “This is not OK, and we’re not going to patronize you if you don’t change your policy.”

Bar Louie’s corporate office had yet to respond to Fox 9’s requests for comment.

Source: http://www.theroot.com

The Pursuit of Happiness - A Vital Skill

'Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' is, perhaps, the best known phrase from the United States declaration of independence adopted by Congress on July the 4th 1776. The pursuit of happiness is not simply a desirable state of mind but vital to each and everyone of us.

In Maxwell Maltz's wonderful book 'The New Psycho Cybernetics' he has a chapter entitled 'You Can Acquire the Habit of Happiness' on which I have drawn heavily in this article.

Happiness is a powerful weapon in the battle against physical and psychological ailments. There are endless examples of patients who, because of a positive and happy approach to life, either became well again sooner than expected or recovered from serious diseases that they were not expected to survive. This is not some abstract notion but, as been proven again and again, a process that can lead to dramatic physical changes in all organs of the body.

It is wrong to think that by being happy that you are somehow being selfish and insensitive. Being happy while surrounded by unhappy folk is a virtue. It is rather like the problem of poverty, by making yourself penniless is not going to help the plight of the poor. Your happiness can only be of benefit to those who are unhappy or depressed even though that might not be immediately apparent.

Happiness lives in the present and comes about by your approach to life. Assuming that happiness lies somewhere in the future is a big mistake, if you cannot be happy now it is very unlikely that there will be some miraculous change when some event in your life comes around.

I'm not suggesting that it is possible to be happy every second of every day but it is possible, using some simple techniques, to be cheerful most of the time. Here are some tips...

    Don't get upset by minor annoyances. The car that cuts you up in traffic, the golf shot that goes out of bounds or bad weather. The anger that can be generated is, in fact, unhappiness, in other words self generated.
    Don't get angry or resentful just because you feel you should. It is a habit to react negatively to a given event simply because that's how you have always reacted, you can change.
    Life can, of course, throw things at us all that makes being cheerful very difficult. Don't get facts and opinions confused. For example it is a fact that you have just written you car off but it is your opinion that you are a dreadful driver. Negative opinions of yourself serve no useful purpose.
    Opinions of others are just that and should never stop you achieving your goals. Working towards a clear goal is a great generator of happiness.
    You can do nothing about the past. Never dwell on your bad experiences, instead make a metal, or physical, list of happy, joyful or funny incidents and recall them whenever the blues threaten.
    In short you must accept that happiness and unhappiness are your responsibility. You have created them so why not decide that happiness is the best option and practice smiling and laughing more often as well as helping and praising others.

The pursuit of happiness is a worthy cause. Remember that it is not given to you or somehow just appears it takes real work and dedication on your part. Like many things in life it is a skill and possible the most important of all to acquire.

Get ready for the Fourth

Jonathan’s annual Fourth of July festivities are just around the corner.

The Friday, July 4 events begin with an 8:30 a.m. Fun Run. The 5K course winds through the trails of Jonathan and is open to all to run/walk/or stroll. Meet at the Kindergarten Center/Jonathan General Store parking lot on Village Road to register from 8 a.m.-8:15 a.m. Free T-shirts for all participants.

The Kiddie Parade is at 11 a.m. This is the 36th year of Jonathan’s Kiddie Parade, a two block long parade for the whole family. Dress up and/or decorate bikes, trikes, wagons and pets. A fire truck and police escort will lead the group safely from Jonathan General Store to the Jonathan Association office (Karen House) at 111000 Bavaria Road.

Karen House activities begin at 11:15 a.m., at the end of the parade, where refreshments include free orange drink and ice cream for the kids, and popcorn for everyone. There will be pony rides, petting zoo, a giant slide, bouncy house, magician/balloon artist, face painting, temporary tattoos and a watermelon eating contest. The Jonathan Association will provide hot dogs, chips, and beverages.

The city of Chaska fireworks begin at dusk. The best viewing is from McKnight Park/Jonathan Elementary/Jonathan Square/Home Depot parking lots.

To volunteer for the activities, contact the Karen House at (952) 448-4700.

Source: http://www.chaskaherald.com

How To Attract High-End Clients

If you know that your products/services are worth more but are worried that your existing clients can't or won't pay a higher price. Or you are wasting time and resources trying to convince your target audience to 'sign up', when in reality they just don't have the money to invest (even though they love what you do). Then, there may be scope to refocus and elevate all or some of what you offer to higher paying clients.

It doesn't necessarily take a lot more work to attract high end clients but it does require a shift in a few areas to make it happen...

Design an exclusive product or signature service to offer in addition to your existing range. Some clients are willing to pay more for extra value, speed of delivery, personal time and attention, as it means faster results, higher quality and individual service. This could range from one off VIP/ consulting days to longer term contracts, services and programmes.

Work on your wealth consciousness. When you have a handle on your OWN relationship with money you'll have much more confidence in dealing with the expectations of your clients. You'll also be comfortable charging what you're worth and not undervaluing your services.

Attend new higher level networking events, conferences and social activities that attract your ideal client. Some of these events may charge more but are worth the investment for the connections you'll make. The quality of your network of contacts and referrals is essential for attracting high end clients.

Dress the part. There is a saying that you should dress for the job you want not the job you have. This could be a good reason (or excuse) to invest in an outfit or two and upgrade your accessories!

Be seen and known as the expert and leader in your field. Speaking in public, hosting your own events, publishing books/articles or getting media coverage will help to raise your credibility and profile.

Upgrade your image and brand. Everything you do and say in your business needs to reflect a certain quality and style. Take an objective look at all your marketing materials, your photos and social media sites - what needs to be changed, up-dated or amped up?

Working with high end clients can be fun and productive. Your income will improve and by working together at this level you'll feel that you are having a greater impact and adding more value.