I received this question from one of my new clients. He's been struggling with moving forward after a difficult period in his business. If he's having this experience, you might be, too, or know someone who is, so use, enjoy and pass it on.
Dear Coach Honoree:
I've just come through one of the toughest periods in the history of my business. While I'm ready and willing to move forward, I'm a little unsure of exactly how to do that. Can you help?
Ready To Rock, Cincinnati, Ohio
Dear Rock,
Here are some tips for moving forward.
*Get organized. Sometimes to move forward, you've got to take a step or two back. Clean up and clean out: your desk, your office, your car, your drawers and closets. Cleanliness allows for effortless movement.
*Take action. Get moving. Motion begets motion begets motion. Sitting down and expecting to get optimum results won't work. Go for a walk. Get out and court the muse. Look up, listen up and talk up for inspiration.
*Slow down. Don't try to make all of your progress in the same day. Take deliberate, intentional action each and every day.
*Don't sweat the small stuff. Enough said.
*Get help. Call you spouse, coach, best friend ... whoever you know that will give you a few key words and feelings of inspiration to get you moving. (Hint: don't call the person who will listen to your story (again) and sympathize with you. Call the person who most encourages you and makes you feel unstoppable. That just might be me.)
*Say no. No is a complete sentence. You don't have to answer "yes" to anyone or everyone. Say no when you need to in order to protect your precious revenue-generating time.
Stay focused. Keep moving. Belief in yourself. When you don't, call your coach.
~Coach Honoree
Secret #5 to Super Success
Secret #5: Capture your BIG IDEAS on a digital recorder so you can later transcribe them into your Master BIG IDEA File.
* You can use http://www.Copytalknow.com (less than 4 min) for a small per-month fee
* iPhone users have the app "VoiceMemos" which will record short messages and email them to anyone, anywhere. Brilliant!
Remember: The richest, most product people are focused on their BIG outcomes, and let nothing distract them from their focus.
* You can use http://www.Copytalknow.com (less than 4 min) for a small per-month fee
* iPhone users have the app "VoiceMemos" which will record short messages and email them to anyone, anywhere. Brilliant!
Remember: The richest, most product people are focused on their BIG outcomes, and let nothing distract them from their focus.
Secret #4 to Super Success
Secret #4: Use a countdown timer to put psychic pressure on you to get more done, faster, better and with less human effort! Use the countdown timer in conjunction with the 50-minute hour and watch your productivity rival your most recent "day-before-vacation."
On a PC, go to www.timeleft.info. MAC users can find widgets to use on their Dashboards.
On a PC, go to www.timeleft.info. MAC users can find widgets to use on their Dashboards.
Secret #3 to Super Success
Secret #3: Block out your prime-time revenue generating hours to help generate revenue more consistently, day after day, week after week, month after month! Use 50-minute hours to focus on action items that generate cash, develop and deepen relationships, and close the deal.
Remember: You can go broke allowing interruptions.
Remember: You can go broke allowing interruptions.
Secret #2 to Super Success
Secret #2 to Super Success: Write your to do list the night before every workday. Spend 15-20 minutes intentionally creating your schedule for the following day.
Master strategy: Spend one hour each Friday before leaving work to fill in the "holes" in your schedule for the following week. Don't leave a minute to chance, because what will likely happen is you will "get caught up" in doing activities that don't matter.
Master strategy: Spend one hour each Friday before leaving work to fill in the "holes" in your schedule for the following week. Don't leave a minute to chance, because what will likely happen is you will "get caught up" in doing activities that don't matter.
Secret #1 to Super Success
Secret #1 to Super Success: Identify the daily interruptions that are robbing you of the lifestyle and income you know you deserve - and are increasing your stress.
Are they: people (family, staff, clients), distractor activities (facebook, twitter, email, television, phone chats), or other things (pets, delivery people, even new ideas)?
Should they be instead: follow-up calls, excellent customer service, writing new business, making the ask, closing the deal?
Once identified, you can schedule time for them -- all of them! Its certainly ok to update your facebook status ... after business hours (unless you use facebook as a business tool). Be intentional with every moment of your time. Figure out what each minute is worth when you reach your income goal (hint: $250,000 in income = $2.08 per minute) and make sure you're spending your minutes where it matters most.
Are they: people (family, staff, clients), distractor activities (facebook, twitter, email, television, phone chats), or other things (pets, delivery people, even new ideas)?
Should they be instead: follow-up calls, excellent customer service, writing new business, making the ask, closing the deal?
Once identified, you can schedule time for them -- all of them! Its certainly ok to update your facebook status ... after business hours (unless you use facebook as a business tool). Be intentional with every moment of your time. Figure out what each minute is worth when you reach your income goal (hint: $250,000 in income = $2.08 per minute) and make sure you're spending your minutes where it matters most.
Are You Practicing Exceptional Business Courtesy?
I really wanted to buy something yesterday ~ I had cash in hand and a willingness to buy (note: this is the easiest kind of new customer to get). I made a call to inquire, based upon my particular needs, with pre-determined questions so I'd know quickly if it would be a good fit. I've known the salesperson for quite some time, so I had his cell number handy. I called him and what happened next, hopefully, will help you in the near future. First, he tried to sell me what he thought I wanted to buy. Not to be deterred, I waited until he finished his pitch and then told him what I was looking for in detail. Second, he didn't know cost of services, nor did he say he'd find out and get back to me. Instead of helping me, he offered up a number for me to call (at his office) to get the information I was looking for ~ then he told me to call back if I wanted to go ahead with my purchase.
In a word: yikes.
Needless to say, I'm taking my business elsewhere. Here are some distinctions for you, as I know you're looking for new levels of success right now:
(1) Know your business inside and out. That includes costs of products and/or services and be able to quote them off the top of your head. If this is impossible, then tell them how long it will take for you to find out and get back to them. Remember to under-promise and over-deliver.
(2) If you don't know something, don't put the responsibility on your client or potential client to find out: tell them you'll find out and get back to them. Then do it. In the shortest amount of time possible.
(3) Go above and beyond. If you hear any kind of need, do what you can to fill it or find someone who can. This puts you in the great position of being someone who will be called for all kinds of reasons. When someone calls you for something other than your products or services, they are beginning to consider you a friend. In a perfect or imperfect world, we want to do business with our friends.
There is plenty of opportunity and business out there for you - go get it!
In a word: yikes.
Needless to say, I'm taking my business elsewhere. Here are some distinctions for you, as I know you're looking for new levels of success right now:
(1) Know your business inside and out. That includes costs of products and/or services and be able to quote them off the top of your head. If this is impossible, then tell them how long it will take for you to find out and get back to them. Remember to under-promise and over-deliver.
(2) If you don't know something, don't put the responsibility on your client or potential client to find out: tell them you'll find out and get back to them. Then do it. In the shortest amount of time possible.
(3) Go above and beyond. If you hear any kind of need, do what you can to fill it or find someone who can. This puts you in the great position of being someone who will be called for all kinds of reasons. When someone calls you for something other than your products or services, they are beginning to consider you a friend. In a perfect or imperfect world, we want to do business with our friends.
There is plenty of opportunity and business out there for you - go get it!
What Economy are You Choosing?
You might have noticed there are some who believe we are experiencing a down economy right about now. Are you? Have you chosen to participate in a down economy or are you choosing to trend up? Perhaps you've chosen by default: by not choosing, and just allowing your situation to happen. Do you believe there are no opportunities right now, or there are plenty of opportunities? If you want better results, here are a three ways, right now, to create them:
*Read, listen to or watch something positive or uplifting every day. I just got ten of the most inspiring and uplifting movies of all time (think "Miracle," "Rudy," "Rocky," and "Hoosiers") for under $100 from here. Visit Nightingale Conant for thousands of audios to inspire you in all different facets of your life and career. No need to watch CNN (trust me, if something horrific happens, you'll hear about it with very little time delay).
*Get moving! Go for a walk, a run, a bike ride. Get your blood moving and circulating. This will raise your personal vibration (your "vibes"). While you're at it, mentally review your goals and visualize them as achieved!
*Ask better questions. Instead of saying, "Why does this always happen to me?" ask yourself "What's great about this?" "Where is the gift?" "What is the lesson?" Wake up every morning and ask yourself "Who do I love? Who loves me?" and "What am I committed to achieving today?" Design a few questions that inspire and move you to action and ask them before you even get out of bed.
Your results are ultimately up to you. They are not dependent upon the government, your boss, employees or any other external circumstances. Take control and design the life you want to life, starting right now.
*Read, listen to or watch something positive or uplifting every day. I just got ten of the most inspiring and uplifting movies of all time (think "Miracle," "Rudy," "Rocky," and "Hoosiers") for under $100 from here. Visit Nightingale Conant for thousands of audios to inspire you in all different facets of your life and career. No need to watch CNN (trust me, if something horrific happens, you'll hear about it with very little time delay).
*Get moving! Go for a walk, a run, a bike ride. Get your blood moving and circulating. This will raise your personal vibration (your "vibes"). While you're at it, mentally review your goals and visualize them as achieved!
*Ask better questions. Instead of saying, "Why does this always happen to me?" ask yourself "What's great about this?" "Where is the gift?" "What is the lesson?" Wake up every morning and ask yourself "Who do I love? Who loves me?" and "What am I committed to achieving today?" Design a few questions that inspire and move you to action and ask them before you even get out of bed.
Your results are ultimately up to you. They are not dependent upon the government, your boss, employees or any other external circumstances. Take control and design the life you want to life, starting right now.
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