A New Business Requires Vision and Action

A thousand mile journey begins with one step.  Many people shuffle left and right and more backwards then forward as their heart gauges the direction of the wind.  Criticism, condemnation and complaint are creatures of the wind.  The power to control your direction belongs to you.  You must have a decided heart before any journey begins.  If you want to drive to California from New York you don’t just get in your car and drive you have a road map.  You need to know your destination before you begin.  You must be passionate about your vision for the future.

            You have to wake up with excitement about each new day and the opportunity for growth and change.  You have to focus on constantly moving in a forward direction and steer clear of doubt and self pity.  Share your vision of the future with others and let them see the belief in your eyes and they will follow you.

            You should be able to go to bed at night exhausted being happy knowing you tried to move mountains in your path.  The same dream that drives you in the day should possess you in your sleep.  You need never apologize for that dream or let it go.  That dream and desire is your life blood and to relinquish it is to perish.

            The purpose of analysis is to come to a conclusion.  You need to test the angles and measure the probabilities and then make a decision with your heart.  You cannot be timid you now move forward and not look back.  Procrastination has no place in your heart or your business it is an attribute of the slothful. All problems become smaller when you confront them.

            Do not wait to start.  Be passionate about your vision for the future.  Your course has been charted and your destiny is assured with a decided heart.  Take that first step of a thousand miles just remember to keep walking forward and your rewards will be immense.

It is a Game of Inches

When I was a bit younger I used to play handball at a club I was a personal trainer at.  Never having played before I not only had to learn the rules and strategies but I had to condition my hands for the beating they took smacking that little ball around.  As in many court sports you play against a multitude of skilled players ranging from young to old.  It was the old guys you had to look out for they were crafty.  Their returns were effortless.  They always seemed to be right where the ball was going while I was running from one end of the court to the other working up a sweat while these guys never ran out of gas.  One of these old pros would always say to me (after I missed a shot) “It’s a game of inches”  Meaning that you’ve only got the palm of your hand and a ball half the size of that to hit square and send that ball back to where you wanted it to go.  Not that easy of a task.

I was reminded of this as I began a new online marketing venture.  From outside the court it looked simple but once you step in the subtle nuances of the game become apparent.  This is where you realize that extensive training and support in this field is critical to survival.  I  now see why 97% of all new online businesses fail.  You will use every last dollar and ounce of energy floundering through the maze that is internet marketing from pay per click to building websites.  You definately want to do your due diligence when investigating a potential investment in an online business venture.  The most critical element is the training and support available to you.  There is nothing wrong with being a noob to internet marketing as long as you can minimize the lumps you’ll take during the learning curve.  Check out the community itself within the company.  Make sure they have a good forum where you can see all the good and bad as well as the hurdles and how people overcame them.  Make sure there is an extensive training and support platform that covers every aspect of online marketing.  Of course let’s not forget the product and its commissions.  I would make sure there is at least a 50% commission and that the product is a minimum of $1,000.00 otherwise you are chasing pennies while doing the same amount of work that it would take to make substantial commissions.

Remember it is a game of inches and those subtleties can make or break your new online business.  If you want to know the system I found that answered all the questions I had visit  my website at www.mygainforyou.com

How to overcome the Fears of a First Time Entrepreneur

I was speaking with a friend today regarding launching a new business and for the first time becoming an entrepreneur.  Of course the first big step had not been taken yet and that was quitting her job.  All the standard fears were suggested such as decreased income, will I actually make money and the learning curve aspects. 

            All common fears to be sure but the problem is the view point.  Anything worth having is worth sacrifice.  Also what are the risks compared to the rewards?  That is the one calculation that every entrepreneur has to make.  There are a lot of variables in that calculation as well.  Rewards can vary from individual to individual.  For some it’s financial reward for others it’s a different lifestyle such as more time with the family or more travel (or less if you commute a long distance)  some just want the freedom of being self employed and answering to no one but themselves. 

            There is always the failure factor too.  Not only not getting your new venture off the ground but actually launching it and then accumulating massive debt that ends in failure.  That can be pretty paralyzing if over analyzed.  These thoughts and concerns have squandered many great ideas.  That inability to act, to pull the trigger so to speak is what keeps the wannabe entrepreneurs on the sidelines.  Those people will never know the rich rewards of entrepreneurship.  Not just the financial rewards but that sense of victory to control your own destiny.  The world is full of timid, faint of heart, lemmings that shuffle off to that same old grind every day only to return and complain about their situation day in and day out.

The best example of how to overcome these fears is to use a war analogy.  “When all the troops are ashore burn and sink the ships.  You either win or die, there is no going home.”  That is how you win with motivation. (though I don’t recommend killing yourself if you fail.)  There will be mistakes along the way, everyone makes them, but it’s what you do with those mistakes that will change the tide of battle.  If you approach them as learning experiences they are put in the plus column.  If you beat yourself up over them they go in the minus column.  It is all about choices.  For me I choose victory.  That was probably why I joined the Marine Corps I was offense only.  In business you do the same thing. You must advance constantly, looking to the future and preparing for those battles.  They will come and defeat is not an option.

            Take this attitude and wade into the thick of it with one eye constantly on the end result, victory, and the other eye on crushing all obstacles in your path.  Vulnerability is in others, invincibility is in oneself.

How to achieve your dream lifestyle

What’s your lifestyle desire?  This is a question bandied about quite often but what does it really mean?  Everyone’s lifestyle dream is different.  For some it’s economic freedom to do as they please when they please.  Some want the time to give to others, spend with family, travel and the like.

            Lifestyle to me has a greater and deeper meaning.  It is the time to educate myself and my children.  I focus on character and living life as an example not a warning.  I make health and fitness a priority.  There is no point working your life to gain a fortune only to spend it all to regain your health.  Also having the time and means to lift others to true prosperity.  After twenty years of working hard I finally learned to work smart, leverage myself and increase my income and self worth beyond what I ever thought possible.

            It’s been said there is a million ways to make a million dollars so that gives a lot of options.  Creating a lifestyle that you truly love would probably not include working 12 to 15 hours a day making just enough to get by and pay the bills.  The internet is a powerful income generator for those who know how to tap its resources.  It really is not that complicated but as in anything it takes action to achieve results.  Start one thing, see it through then begin another.  Soon you will have mastered multiple methods of marketing and grow your chosen business to whatever level you desire.

            Can you see your lifestyle?  Have you put real thought into it not just “I want to make lots of money”?  Money is not a lifestyle and will never create happiness.  There are plenty of miserable millionaires.  Take the time to write down your actual lifestyle dreams and goals.  Repeat them daily both morning and night.  Let them become part of the unconscious mind to aid you in achieving these goals.  To achieve massive results take massive action.  Begin today and stay consistent time waits for no man and certainly not you.  When you look back and see what could have been accomplished in the same time you accomplished nothing it should be clear.  It’s only time and we all have the same amount it’s just how you use it.

The Fear of Success

It’s all there.  It just takes determination and work ethic right?  I have those yet I freeze and create self destruct mechanisms as I ascend.  Is it inability?  Is it a lack of knowledge, security and self confidence?

            I have been down this road so many times I should know every twist, turn and crack and yet I still veer off.  My ability to separate myself from a reality of failure has either protected me from it or prolonged the inevitable.  I know what to do, how to do it and yet I don’t.  I don’t act soon enough or not at all.  Nothing becomes a priority or the priorities are misplaced. When the undesirable yet expected effect happens I am very angry at myself but not surprised.  It is the same as knowing the answers to the test but purposely choosing the wrong ones.

            I feel even the writing of this is an evasion of responsibility and action.  So many “talk” and so few “do.”  When I engross myself in a project the results are outstanding.  I find that outside distractions are incredibly harmful to my work at hand. Yet I let them occur almost gratefully.

 My fitness physically is distracted constantly by a guilt even a desire to be distracted and again a “freeze” toward a workout.  It is that fear of success again, if I workout I will lose weight and get fit, feel better, look better, be happier and possibly live longer.  Why am I afraid of that?  During the workout I feel great.  The next day I come to work out and I sit and look at the equipment. 

            I have work to do and I will come to the office and just sit at my desk and accomplish nothing. I don’t make simple phone calls or get started in the shop cutting or welding.  I can’t even do a sculpture that has no ties to any business at all which would simply give me pleasure because of the guilt of not doing priority work.  Hence, nothing gets completed.

            It is the “big picture” complex.  Seeing all of the demands and needs to be accomplished thereby being overwhelmed and unable to focus on a simple single task.  This concept has merit.

            With six children four years old and younger, a wife, mortgage, a struggling business, taxes and poor physical fitness you might call that a “big picture” complex.  That was me only one year ago.  There comes a time when all things come together and either explodes into a million pieces or that explosion creates the new beautiful reality that spawns a new direction and focus that turns your life around. Fortunately for me it was the latter.  I realized that it all begins with one simple task at a time.  Complete this task then move on to the next one.  Some call it a “To Do” list I call it “saving my mind from implosion”.  It is more then just writing a to do list it is about completing that list. 

     It begins with goals even the smallest of goals are very important at this stage.  My first goal was completing my to do list.  Sounds funny but the most well intentioned to do list means nothing if not completed.  I made the list obtainable for starters.  These lists are your super short term goals that will build your confidence for larger tasks.  For me I locked out all distractions, I locked my home office door and left strict instructions not to disturb me when the door is closed.  I instituted a two card system, yellow and red.  When a yellow card was slid under the door it meant that my wife needed to talk to me when convenient and a red card meant emergency or “blood is flowing” which with six little kids in the house can be often.  It just better be a major incident.  A simple distraction can set you back thirty minutes throwing off your train of thought and momentum.  I also instituted a desk timer and set particular time periods for each task and stuck to them.  I take a ten minute break after every fifty minutes of work and go for a walk outside or do some physical exercise. This keeps the mind fresh and alert and helps me stay fit.  I do a 30 to 60 minute body weight workout in my office after working three or four hours.  I keep my workout clothes in my office so I don’t have to leave to change, avoiding another possible distraction.

     This method enabled me to develop real priorities and stop running around putting out fires all the time.  In one years time I’ve lost 45 pounds, sold my previous business of 20 years, relocated my family and started a new business that is flourishing.  That “Big Picture” is still on the wall but now I have a realistic path to follow and achieve my own greatness.

Seven crucial things to consider before starting an online business part 2

Continuing through our seven crucial things to consider before starting an online business we have number three.  Does the product have a quality marketing system?  Can it be duplicated?  No matter how wonderful the product is it means nothing if no one knows it’s there.   Currently there are 1.4 billion people using the internet.  If this company is not utilizing this tool to its maximum capacity for marketing then they are probably behind the times. 

            Fourth is company management.  There is nothing worse then spending two years building a business and creating a residual income only to see it evaporate overnight because the owners took the profits and retired to the Florida Keys.  There are a lot of those stories out there.  Research the credentials of the company management.  How long have they been in this industry?  How is their track record?  Do they have an extensive business education?  What are their long term goals?  If they seem like they are more hype then substance then you should be very weary.  Look at company management as your business partners, if you get a good gut feeling that these are good people then you are probably right.

            The fifth thing is global expansion.  Make sure that whatever company you partner with has room to expand.  If it does not then eventually your competition will become too fierce.  With consumable products such as health foods the legalities required for expansion can be enormous.  One of the better products is information.  These products require less red tape for expansion and in general they are more accessible in international markets.  Look at your product, can it be used internationally and does the company have plans to market it internationally.  If it does then you probably have a good product and company.

            Number six is does the company give back?  Or is it just about money?  Do they understand the universal principal of what goes around comes around or are they in it for a quick buck?  If the company “feels” good to you then you probably have a winner it’s that gut feeling thing again.

            Number seven is extremely important.  When beginning a new and unfamiliar business you will need a well developed support and training network.  Does this company have staff in place to assist you or do they rely solely on their consultants?  Is there someone you can access with questions?  Is there someone who can explain the product to you or assist you in using it yourself?  Is there a place like a forum where you can plug into to see all the hurdles involved and the way others have overcome them?  Is there a family type atmosphere within the business with people you can lean on for assistance in developing your business?  There will be obstacles, all businesses have them but being able to have access to others who have cleared these obstacles and that will help you is a huge benefit to your success.

            These seven points should greatly assist you in your search for the right online business. 99% of people starting online businesses go through seven different ventures before they reach any success.  That is extremely expensive and stressful for you and your family.  By meeting these criteria you will save yourself time, money and disenchantment and move into a successful online business career.

Seven crucial things to consider before starting an online business

Many of us have considered a career change.  Some perhaps not voluntarily these days but the fact remains that you must now seriously consider it.  One of the first mistakes many make is they think they must stay in their current field of expertise.  That is what is known as the comfort zone.  This is a euphemism for “afraid to learn new things.”  Change does not come easy for most.  Just the daunting task of learning and readjusting to all things new can be quite stressful.  All the considerations like uprooting the family, schooling, friends and every other aspect a career change brings.  The majority of people out there utilize the internet for one thing or another some even to search for a new job.  How many think about making the internet their new place of business?

            In this series of articles We’re going to discuss the seven crucial things to starting a home based business online.  These seven things will enable you to look at opportunities with discretion and confidence so you don’t begin that vicious cycle of invests, fails and repeats. 

            The first thing is you must find a business with a unique product and high demand for that product.  Is this product in demand in the marketplace?  Would this product be a value to you without the business opportunity?  Let’s use health food for example.  The market is flooded with nutritional supplements.  How many more juices or fat burning pills are really needed in the market place?  When considering any venture you want to look at return on investment (ROI).  At what price are you going to sell a product that there are a million different varieties of?  Not much I can assure you.  This means your commissions will be equally small and that is no way to gain financial freedom.

            The second thing is it must have a lucrative compensation plan.  You are looking for high upfront pay as well as high residuals on the back end.  You cannot make a career change if you are making $50.00 commissions not to mention the extreme burnout you will experience in the process.  You are looking for a product that sells for $1,000.00 and up with a 50% commission.  This way you are earning $500.00 to $1,000.00 per sale with the high residual income on the back end.  The reason for this is after a year or two of building this business you will deserve a vacation and will need to know you can take a month off and head to the Caribbean and not worry all your gains will be lost.  This back end residual enables you to create true financial freedom and a lifestyle you can thrive in.

            These are the first two of seven things to look for when considering an online business.  My next entry will cover the remaining five crucial things.  If you have at all considered a home based business these seven things will help guide you to making an informed and confident decision to take your life in a new direction.

 

Prosperity rankings are an eye opener

I want it all; health, wealth, freedom of expression and prosperity.  I, as an American, always thought I lived in the greatest place for those things.  Recently I read a report in the Legatum Prosperity Index compiled by none other then the Legatum Institute, an independent policy, advocacy and advisory organization that ranked 104 countries that are home to 90% of the worlds population.  Much to my surprise the US was ranked ninth in this study!  Finland takes the number one spot followed by Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.  There must be something good in the water in those Nordic countries.

            In the top ten were also Western nations Australia (6) Canada (7).  It’s an eye opener to be sure.  In this authors observation what I see happening is these countries have taken the US model and ran with it while the US has not realized someone has switched play books and we are going backwards.  Instituting higher taxes (the highest corporate tax in the world) increased regulations and no desperately needed tort reform just to name a few.

            In Asia, Japan ranked the highest at number 16 then there was Hong Kong (18) Singapore (23) and Taiwan (24).  The senior vice president of the Legatum Institute said “lower rankings for these Asian Nations were because of weak democracy and personal freedom scores.  They have good economic fundamentals but true prosperity takes more then just money.”  China for example came in 75^th due to its tight political controls.

            There is a great lesson to be learned here for all and that is without freedom there is no prosperity.  I personally am a competitive individual.  To borrow a quote from General George S. Patton in his D-Day speech “The thought of loosing is hateful to Americans” and I must concur.  People scoff when others suggest that our freedoms are being eroded little by little and they ask for proof, well here it is.  I haven’t packed my bags just yet but it is definitely time to get to work on these issues.

How to manage the stress of being self employed

 

 

            Have you experienced that wonderful sensation of being overwhelmed?  You know the one where you own one business while starting a new one.  Have a wife and six small kids to feed and shelter.  Keeping the silent partnership with Uncle Sam satisfied (good times or bad he gets his share), maintaining vehicles and checking on employees.  Collecting money from delinquent customers or any customer for that matter, and of course the best part making payroll every week. All of this while trying to deliver the best product or service possible in one business while developing the start up in another.

            Sound familiar?  Just insert your circumstances and I’m sure we are pretty close.  Dealing with this sense of overwhelm can be tricky.  The number one problem is getting mired down in “EVERYTHING.”   This feeling can paralyze you and make you so unproductive it will cost you everything.  Priorities are the first order of business.  List them on paper.  The next step is to assign a time limit to each one.  This is a critical step without this all is lost.  The next step is to stick to the time limit!  Use an actual timer when performing tasks.  You will find that you will adjust time limits quickly and actually have a handle on how long these tasks take.  You want to make use of any key employees and delegate duties to those individuals.  Just remember that the only effective delegation is the one followed up on.  You must be the task master and hold the individuals accountable.  People respond well to this type of leadership and yes they actually want to be told what to do and accomplish it.

            PERFORM INCOME PRODUCING ACTIVITIES!  This can not be overstated.  You must determine what your income producing activities are.  Education, training, purchasing, etc. are NOT income producing activities.  Placing ads, meeting with prospects, closing sales and following up with leads, those are income producing activities.  You want to have 80% of your time on those income producing activities.  By prioritizing your day, instituting time limits and delegating NON income producing activities you will find yourself no longer overwhelmed and you will be in control and increasing revenues which is why you got in this business in the first place.

 

How to sell yourself to others

 

You’ve heard there is a ton of money to be made in the sales arena.  But what if you don’t have sales experience?  Well, we all have sales experience to be sure.  We’ve all sold ourselves to others.  It started when you were a kid.  Remember when you wanted that cookie or that new toy?  How did you work mom or dad to get that?  You sold yourself.  The begging, the pleading, the pouty face, eventually the crying and screaming with a little foot stomping.  Did it work?  Probably not, but there you learned the elements that did work.  The give and take, I’ll do this if I get that, Billy got one why can’t I?  As you got older it was the dating scene, now if that isn’t selling I don’t know what is. 

            Now it is for the big stuff; Money.  Some believe it is the pitch that matters, some say the product but I believe it is neither of these.  You need to understand your customer and be able to skillfully respond to them.  It is about your social awareness and social savvy not how many closing tactics you have.  Connecting with your customer is not an innate trait it can be learned you can work on them to achieve outstanding performance. 

            You want to increase your empathy when entering into the realm of your customers feelings.  This will create the bond that will sell.  Show your customer you care about them not the product you are selling.  Work on your self presentation.  Foster credibility and trust and your customer will have confidence in you and your product.

            Don’t sweat over sales strategies just work on being you because in the end that is what sells and that is what you are best at.  I mean who knows you better then you?