What Do You Do When You Hit The Wall When Looking For Great Things To Write About? Leadership Tries New Things.

Here’s a Fun Way to Break Writers Block

Do you write blog posts, articles, deliver speeches or even have to come up with content for a manual or book?  Well, if you do any of these on a consistent basis, I’ll bet like me, you get that annoying infection called “writers  block”?  So, I’ve got just the tip for you today.  If you can discover a few key words, with personality, for your target market,  scope out a noun or two, some verbs and a few creative adjectives that tickle your fancy.  However, what do you do when you don’t quite know how to put them together?  I’ve got just the tool, a free internet site for you!  It’s called http://www.rackandwrite.com .  All you need to do is plug these few choice words into the lines they provide, and magically it will pull out of the blue, as many as 200 titles from which to choose from.  Change around and add different words, and you’ll get another huge set of suggested titles.  Not only do you obtain great suggestions and ideas, it’s just plain fun to do.  And it will help you write great content, to build better influence as a leader in your industry!  There’s got to be a game in this, there’s just got to be.  I never thought that looking for subjects to be able to create great material, could be so much fun.  Try it out, then write a review of “rackandwrite” below in the comments suggestion.  I dare you to come up some fun, fabulous, outrageous title for your favorite genre!  You’ll never again be at a loss for what to write.

A Doodad, Or A Feeling? Knowing what Sells Your Product Or Service? pt.1

People Hate To Be Sold, But Love To Buy.  Word It Well, And You Will Draw Them To You With Magnetic, Or Pull Marketing!

When introducing yourself or your products and services, are you talking about all the features,  the bright and shiny aspects?  Or, are you doing what is called “magnetic“, or “pull” marketing, which draws them to you by asking questions that provide the mental image of the values and benefits of your service or product?  Will you intrigue them by highlighting the advantages or take-aways they will receive?  Or, are you droning on about all the little doodads they, quite honestly, could care less about?

When you’re writing about your products and/or services on your website, in a brochure, or on your business cards, ask yourself these questions:

1.    What do they want to know?
2.    What benefit will this bring them?
3.    Why would they want to use this/me?
4.    How will my product/service make them feel?

And then by all means, make absolutely sure you are:

• filling a gap
• meeting a need
• fulfilling their dream
• making them feel good when they use the product or service!

Ah, now we’re talking!  This is what they really want to know.  What they don’t want is to hear you drone on about the features. What are features?  Features tell or describe the details of your product, and what you do: “b o r i n g“.  You’ve got to spice it up.

For instance, if you’re selling ceiling fans, the features would include:

1. Five blades with light dimmers
2. In three colors
3. Four customizable lights which you can switch to whatever style you like
4. Three speeds, in any color you like

Now, at some point they will need the feature information, but this isn’t what will compel them to buy. Giving them the VALUE, will compel them to buy.  For example, some of the fan’s values are:

• Would you like to walk into your room and have it be five degrees cooler in the heat of summer, while keeping it warmer during the winter?
• Imagine capturing the ambiance of your room, as you sit by your fire, dimming the lights while you enjoy a glass of wine, or a cup of hot chocolate?

More in pt. 2 to help you write about the benefit and value of your products and/or services.  All of this is to assist you in being seen as a forerunner in your industry.  I know, you didn’t become a leader or business owner to have to worry about marketing.  But unless you hire this aspect out, you’ll have to spend a good 50% of your time marketing and promoting, or you won’t have clients!  Write this information in strategic places well, and you’ll expedite the process, and be able to spend more time doing what you got into business to do in the first place!

Can You Take Correction, or Are You in Love, Infatuated With Your Own Ideas About Your Product You’re Marketing?

Are You Skipping Marketing Steps, Thinking You’re Moving Forward When Actually You’re Shooting Yourself in the Foot?

I’m currently in a program that asks, “Where are you in your marketing cycle?” It shows the marketing funnel where you begin contact with a potential client/customer, moving them through the know, like, and trust factors, along with developing 7 to 10 contacts with them, until they, your prospect, finally make a purchase. Yet, before you can even begin to bring them into your funnel (with some kind of free offer to entice them) you have to know your target market! Once this is done, then you can draw them to you, sprinkling them with your valuable knowledge, heart, and a clear focus via a newsletter and/or blog. If you skip the step of understanding your target market, it will be like you’re taking a shot gun approach: You’re just pulling your marketing trigger and hoping someone you “hit” will then connect with you. NO, you need a magnet, something to pull them into your world, while utilizing the correct tools to connect and enrich your niche, your tribe, those that relate to you, so that they can receive from you. Once this is in place, you can then create products relevant to your target market, products that when these potential prospects read your promo, will allow them to feel your presence and special unique way of supporting and helping them. So, with this knowledge, I’m watching people in this product creation group be “stuck”. They’re stuck on the dream they had before they started the program, and can’t hear what the leaders are saying about changes they see are needed. Even though the two leaders provide the material and teleseminar to assist them, I still see some who are in love, no infatuated with their own ideas, and aren’t following the plan. So let me ask you, do you get stuck on your own ideas, your brilliant plans? Are people around you challenging you to re-think what or how you’re doing things? Listen and learn, and you’ll be able to tweak what and how you’re doing things, so they’ll work appropriately and be profitable for you. In fact, the people in this product creation group I’m in, who are receiving the correction and redirection, are the ones who will succeed, maybe even win the prize. The key is to listen to your target market, and those who have gone before you successfully. Check the validity of your ideas with a survey. Call your friends who are in your target market, and ask the right questions. Get the necessary information. Find out what your marketing tribe wants, needs, and will pay for, once you build the rapport. Then, never give up. I’ve had people on my list for years before they finally purchased something. It’s also about the right timing. Just make sure you’re the one who has your name in front of them when they are ready to buy, and you’ll get the business.

This is only a small aspect about your marketing funnel. There is so much more.  Stay tuned in the future and we’ll dive deeper!

Your “Emotional Fortitude” and “Set Back” Factor Determine Your Success or Failure as a Business Owner or Corporate Leader pt II

March is dedicated to “Overcomers!” Those who won’t be held down!

So, let me ask you, do you:

• Complain about your employees at least once a week?

• Freak out about customers, and how they treat you?

• Feel like you’re going to have a melt down, or are having regular melt downs?

• Have issues once or twice a week that throw you into emotional turmoil?

• Feel like everyone takes advantage of you at some point?

• Feel like your employees are lazy, unmotivated, getting away with things? Then as a result, come home to your family in knots a lot?

• Blow off steam at home regarding your business or work, once or twice a week?

• Have difficulty making decisions, or sticking to them?

• Hold back from making changes because of the possible consequences?

• Keep thinking things will change, but aren’t doing anything to create the change?

• Have customers or clients that are frustrating, demanding, and are holding you hostage because you allowed them get away with treating you a certain way once, and now they keep expecting it?

• Keep employees who shouldn’t be there? Won’t deal with their issues?

If you said yes to two or more of these, then you are a “VICTIM OF YOUR OWN CIRCUMSTANCES”. It’s your interpretation of the circumstance that is holding you hostage. And because of the interpretation, you haven’t been taking the responsibility necessary to “be” a confident leader that rises above his or her circumstances! Instead you need to:

· Communicate your feelings and standards of operation, then make it stick, along with consequences. Establish boundaries of behavior, for yourself and others. Clearly communicate what your expectations are. If you haven’t done this, then it’s not the fault of your employees or customers/clients. You are allowing yourself to be the “VICTIM”. In fact, if this has gone on for any length of time, then you are not only used to being the “victim”, but you probably continually put yourself in this position, because this is how life goes for you, and you expect it. It’s what you’re use to. If so, you need to get some coaching or counseling, depending upon how deep this trend goes. It is not a sign of failure to get help. Everyone, and I mean everyone, at one time or another, needs this kind of assessment and help!

· Learn to take charge of your emotions. YOU CAN dictate your emotions and circumstance, and how they affect you, rather than allowing your emotions and circumstances to dictate and run your life. Refuse to allow them to throw you into the whirlwind ever again. Say “no” to being a victim – take charge – and accept responsibility from this day on. Here are some great resources for you:

o “Maximum Achievement: Strategies and Skills That Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed by Brian Tracy

o No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline by Brian Tracy

o Great Little Book on the Gift of Self-Confidence by Brian Tracy

o Awaken the Giant Within : How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! by Anthony Robbins

o Developing the Leader Within You / Developing the Leaders Around You (Signature Edition, 2 Best-selling Books in 1 Volume) by John C. Maxwell

o The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

And these are just a few to get you started. Don’t wait. If you’re not a reader, get them on CD and listen to them in the car or when you’re getting ready in the morning. The key is to get started and do something to change your thinking to change your life!

Five Steps to Help Keep You Going as a Leader When Circumstances Are Challenging!

March is Dedicated to “Overcomers!” Those Who Won’t be Held Down!

The reason this month is dedicated to all you “Overcomers” is because I know what it’s like to live with challenges. I needed ways to engender encouragement and motivation to keep myself strengthened and filled with faith and hope. You see, thirty five years ago I was in a serious head-on car accident in which I broke my back and tore up most of my insides. I know what it’s like to have to work on not only my attitude, but requiring my body cooperate. I also was the main caretaker of my parents while they were in assisted living for 5 yrs, slowly, painfully declining, while keeping my business going.  You may not relate exactly to these, but I bet you face challenges of your own? If so, here are some of tricks and strategies you too can implement for encouragement and help:

1. First of all, the worse I feel – the better I look! Pull it together and make yourself look good! Your outfit, and if you’re a woman, your hair and makeup. Trick yourself, and everyone else by “cleaning up well”

2. Next, find others worse off than yourself. Then pray for them and their needs, taking the focus off yourself

3. Still in bad shape? Then go the extra mile and call to check in with them. Yep, don’t wallow in how you feel, mentally or physically. Just get off you duff, think of others, and take action by showing and really caring. Believe me, when you get off the phone, there’s no way you’ll be caught whining or complaining to yourself (or anyone else, for that matter)! What some live with is insurmountable, unbelievable circumstances. In fact, I have one friend that the only way she gets relief from pain is to go into the hospital where they put her out for a couple days, so she can get some sleep and relief. Bless her heart! Still praying for you Andrea!

4. Finally, and most importantly, fill your mind with positive, life giving stories, testimonials, and clips of others who are “overcomers”, who have succeeded despite horrible, challenging, unbelievable circumstances! Read about those not much different than you, but who stuck it out until they made it

5. Find some heroes.

* Research and study great leaders and business owners, and you’ll discover you will find heroes in your midst.

* You’ll find ones that have preceded you, and made it possible for you to believe, “Well, if they can do it, surely I can as well!”

* Then keep mementoes of them around your office. Something that serves to remind you, or warn you, a souvenir of some sort. It will lift your “I can do it!” belief, especially when you’re down. And believe me, we all fall into the “doom and gloom” pit or despair or worry, and need encouragement along the way! I know I sure do.

Honestly, I believe that massive success is first and foremost one huge game, “MIND GAME” that is. Success is a mind game that you have to learn, and then strategically win through intentional purpose, plans and diligence. And there is so much help and assistance out there for this. The amount of books, CD’s, videos, blogs, and articles on this topic will keep you well equipped for generations to come. Here are a few:

Books:

• Unstoppable: 45 Powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph from People Just Like You by Cynthia Kersey

• Talking With Giants! Powerful Leaders Share Life Lessons by Scott Schilling

• http://www.tremendouslifebooks.com/ a slew of motivational leadership books

• Attitude 101 by Dr. John C. Maxwell

• My Dream Map by Dr. John C. Maxwell

Great Blogs:

• http://www.villagehero.com/resources.htm

• http://www.persistenceunlimited.com/2007/07/the-top-50-blogs-that-will-unleash-your-motivation/ Top 50 motivational blogs!

Are You a Business Owner or Leader with Struggles, Challenges, or Hardships?

March is Dedicated to “Over-comers!” Those Who Won’t Be Held Down!  (It’s Been 35 Years Since My Head On Car Accident) If I Can Do the Things That I Do, Then I’m Here to Say, You Can Reach Your Goals and Not Be Held Back Either!

I don’t know a business owner that doesn’t have their fair share of difficulties, whether it’s keeping good employees, paying the bills, or finding and keeping faithful, hardworking leadership, or struggles at home. And yet, there are some challenges that over the years escalate into mountains you either have to bore a tunnel through, or you need to be massively equipped to go over. The difference between those that “make it” and those that allow their mountains of challenge to over-take them is what I call “Emotional Fortitude”. Emotional fortitude is the ability to handle anything emotionally, good or bad, and not let it uncap an explosion of emotions, and/or high blood pressure. Everyone also has a “Set Back Factor”, your “SBF”. This is the point in any challenge where you start to allow the challenges to dictate your day, good or bad. If your “SBF” is low, everything that happens to you, creates you. If your “SBF” is high, then no matter what happens you stay in control of your emotions, not allowing them to dictate your feelings or your emotions. You dictate them instead, by a strategic plan. This plan may now need re-engineering, but you still stick to the plan. Now, if you have a low “Emotional Fortitude”, then everything that happens to you and/or your business elicits strong emotions which you therefore react. Instead, the goal is that you learn to dictate and stay in control of your emotions, and feelings. And because your faith vision is not dictated by these unruly characters, emotions and feelings, you can ride the tide of events without flipping out over them. However, when you have a low “Emotional Fortitude”, you become a victim of your circumstances. However, if during your trials, struggles and challenges you keep a positive attitude/faith, not allowing yourself to go on a roller coaster of emotions, then you are now living by your “faith index”. And this is the goal: to be a healthy, well adjusted, positive adult business owner or leader who can bend and sway with the currents of trials that appear as tornados but are reduced by your healthy perspective and emotions, into a little bitty wind that everyone learns to live with. Someone with a high “faith index”, has learned to turn their “problems” into opportunities, and turn their challenging opportunities into personal and professional growth. These are the people that do things differently. They’ve learned they can rearrange, change, or engineer their circumstances in a way that works for them, even if at first it doesn’t appear to look like this. They have learned, through experience, that they can amalgamate anything into something that works for them, given enough time, and the right attitude and perspective. If your Emotional Fortitude is low, this means that when things go awry, so does the way you treat people, your employees and your family. If your “Setback Factor” is low then everything that happens to you either holds you captive or sets you back from forward progress. You can tell if you’re working with someone with a high “Emotional Fortitude” . . . and a high “Setback Factor” they exude confidence, confidence in themselves, their business, and their employees. They are someone you like being around because they are always positive, don’t whine, and give you the feeling you can make it as well. And, you can learn to be this kind of leader, or business owner. We will continue this topic on the next article.

Today’s Small Business Leaders Ask, Newsletter or Blog?

But What’s the Difference between a Newsletter and Blog?

MULTIPLE VEHICLES, SIMILAR PURPOSES:

Which do you do, blog or send a newsletters? Which one is best? My answer: YES. Some of your tribe read newsletters, others blogs. Better yet, some read both, and the choices are a cornucopia so diverse it rivals the unique drinks specifically created and optimized by the customers of Starbucks. Just listen to mine: Grande l/2 caf vanilla latte with 2 pumps sugar free, 2 pumps regular half whole mile half 2% no foam latte. Got that? Yes I’m a spoiled barista mom, and I love it. Denise Wakeman says it’s 50/50.

According to Wikipedia: “Most blogs are interactive, allowing visitors to leave comments and even message each other via widgets on the blogs and it is this interactivity that distinguishes them from other static websites.^[2]”

Knowing “what to blog” takes knowing your tribe. This is your specific niche -target market. They are those who relate to you, your leadership, and what you have to offer, and this subject is for a different post! Only be sure to not skip this part of the process.

Blogs are archived into categories where as in a library, clients and prospects are given the opportunity search and find specific topics and subjects of interest. This tool, your blog, allows you to collect statistics on what your tribe gravitates to, giving you the edge as to what more to offer them. Adding value is why they read. In a blog you can provide a synopsis of important to do’s or 10 best . . . 15 most useful . . whatever you write, video, or podcast, it’s called a post. It can be a pertinent industry trend, a snippet of information currently in the news, and statistics of interest. It is estimated that people read blogs more than newspapers. Other common content is information taken from trade publications, links to other blogs where a post is worth highlighting and linking your information to. It can even be a way to point to a free downloadable white paper, or give you a quick observation regarding a specific industry trend. Getting the idea?  The best way to get to know blogs is to first subscribe to ones of interest, and being just reading them.  Once you’re comfortable with this, begin responding, adding your two cents.  This is a great way to become familiar with this mode of delivery.  After a while, it will be second nature.  To learn more, check  out Denise Wakeman .

NEWSLETTERS or EZINES:

In an online newsletter, referred by some as an ezine, you can send it in html form allowing it to be colorful and fully branded, eye catching throughout. The other version filling our inbox, is simple broadcasts packed with pertinent information promoting all kinds of offerings from teleseminars to products, but without the fluff and stuff. Newsletters tend, for small businesses, to add the personal touch – where the sender gives “hooks” bits of personal information to build their “know, like and trust”, through personalization, talking about their family, pictures etc. Broadcasts on the other hand are sent to promote products, share invitations and events, give updates and promotions relevant to their business and your life. Since these are permission based emails that you must join, it can make people feel as though they are part of something, a sense of belonging to some group!

LINKING THESE VEHICLES:

You might take a few paragraphs from your newsletter and invite them to read more by clicking away to the full-length article you’ve written in the current post of your blog. (This way they are linked and work together.)

OVERLAPPING OBJECTIVES:

Both the newsletter, ezine and the blog create the:

• “know, like, and trust” factor with your customers and niche.
• They both help build your brand through creating a place to establish your credibility and expertise.
  
• Give you credibility, if done right with your tribe, those people who follow you by:
  
• Subscribing to receive your pertinent information.
• Hopefully will turn fans into raving customers.
• Both need a way for: “email bait” to get you on their customer list.  This is THE most important tool in your business arsenal!

Now here’s an interesting fact, you can choose how you want to receive the delivery of either:

• Reader on a feed, in an email, AND NOW on their iphone

In this information age where marketing is as much about giving away valuable content as it is about selling your products, some are still learning what the balance of this equation is. The new vehicle of information has married both.

Ultimately, You Have Multiple Tools with Unique Vehicles to Give Your Tribe:

• What they want
• How they want it
• Delivered in their preferred manner
• In ways they can participate and interact
• Providing them with fun, interesting, applicable ways to MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS!

All of this to meet their interests, inclinations, learning styles, preferences and needs. Build together, with a strategically thought out plan to turn prospects into clients and clients into raving fans.

Now, if I haven’t confused you more, if the only thing you take away is BUILD YOUR TRIBE, your list, and get connected with them, however you do this, just DO IT.  Build your list, your tribe, your niche who connect with you, and want to receive from you.  Cheers!

WHY YOU HAVEN’T PICKED YOUR NICHE MARKET MAY REVEAL HOW YOU ARE SABOTAGING YOURSELF IN OTHER AREAS OF YOUR BUSINESS pt. II

“Why” as a business leader you are finding it difficult to choose your niche, your target market is a concern.

Where I am going now may be a challenge for some to hear, even harder to receive, but the very reason you haven’t, or can’t seem to narrow down your niche is more than likely the same reason you are sabotaging yourself in other areas of your business and life. Why you won’t pick a niche, whether it’s:

• fear

or whether it’s due to a

• state of being unfocused
• distracted
• unorganized and without a plan
• lacking decisive, timely decision making skills

May very well be the same quality, or lack thereof, that is sabotaging you throughout other areas of your business and life. For instance, if it’s “fear” that is keeping you from picking your niche because deep inside you have a:

• Fear of limiting yourself because somehow you’re afraid others won’t find you, or take you seriously, or

• Fear of losing a client outside of this niche, because you think they’ll overlook you, or
  

• Fear of being seen in a particular way, thinking others will then limit their view of you, and what you can provide

Then it’s probably this same fear that is keeping you from:

• Setting boundaries with clients

• Confronting your staff with their issues immediately or

• Changing vendors when they aren’t meeting your needs

Here’s your opportunity. Your opportunity to truly ask the hard questions that will unveil your hidden, limited thinking that is holding you hostage with a lie, as described above in the examples of fear. Recognizing the lie or lies you believe, replace them with the truth, ultimately leading you to choose a powerful niche which will opening new horizons to become successful in the rest of your business dealings. Find out what’s keeping you from making a clear definitive choice regarding your niche, and ask yourself if you’re operating with this same limiting belief in other areas of your business and life. Go straight to the heart of this issue, make a shift internally in the way you operate, and you will be able to move your business forward. You’ll finally get off the treadmill of life where you’re genuinely working hard at getting nowhere, and be able to transform the impotent practices that have been draining you. Don’t feel bad if you can’t do this alone, this is why there are Executive Coaches. It’s called a blind-spot, and we all have them. Call today, and if it’s because of this post, I’ll give you not only one free session, but four to six assessments that will reveal what is, and what isn’t working in your business, so you can make the necessary changes to optimize your activities and your time.

GOALS MONTH: The Secret to Leadership Success Begins with This Key Foundation!

John Maxwell – The Secret to Success
Dr. John C Maxwell has been my virtual mentor for over 30 years. I have read most, if not all his books, and appreciate his leadership integrity, character, morals, and inspiration. Before you can set goals you must know this first. Watch now:

It’s a compass that will align and keep you on track. Each goal you make must link to this, or you will be off track and out of focus. Here’s to you!

ARE YOU SCATTERED, UNFOCUSSED, DIRECTIONLESS, THIS POWERFUL ACTIVITY IS A CATALYST TO YOUR SUCCESS.

• What gives you long term vision and short term motivation?

• What causes you to avoid living life aimlessly?

• What gives you tracks to run on, while providing focused direction for your life?

• What is the activity which most successful athletes and business people do fanatically, that gives them fuel in the furnace of their life to ultimately reach success?

If you’ve said “GOALS” is the answer to each one of these questions, you are correct. I’ve been studying what goals can do for a person and a leader, and have concluded that no matter how you go about setting them, they are by far the one exercise that are worthy of your time, every time. If you will focus them like a laser and chunk them down with bite sized doable actions, you can do, be, or accomplish almost anything you put your little mind to. That is, if it doesn’t take a particular skill, like say . . . staying on key or being able to see colors. Goals provide for your life pure:

• Direction

• Purpose

• Enthusiasm

• Meaning

• Motivation

• Mission

If this is the case, then why in the world don’t they teach this powerful tool, GOAL SETTING, in college? When you study profoundly accomplished people, you will discover unequivocally that, they were goal setters. A world renowned fanatical goal setter, Brian Tracy discovered it is the catalyst which will engage the mental acuity to then process which action is needed when, to reach your destiny. He also learned that by writing them down, you raise the likelihood of reaching them. He then took it to the extreme and wrote 10 to 15 goals daily. By doing this, you can pretty much be assured of your chances of accomplishing them, because they’ll be planted in your minds-eye. A very powerful tool! As a result, I’ve joined him, and are journaling my goals daily. Want to join me? Go to any upscale discount store such as: TJ Max or Ross, Dress for Less and find yourself an inexpensive, but sharp looking journal for yourself, one you’re not ashamed to be seen with, and begin fanatically goal setting today. Join me in becoming a goal setting fanatic and write them without reviewing what you previously wrote the day before. To further the likelihood you’ll reach them sooner, then write one to three things next to each goal that you can take action and do immediately.

Now, stay tuned. I’m in the process of developing a fun program called “I’m Becoming a Goal Fanatic!” which will encourage these efforts as we join with others who want to be fanatical about accomplishing great things, and making their mark in this world! I’d love to hear how it’s going with you as well. Comment any time on your goals, after any post, and let us know your progress! I invite you to be the encouragement to others.

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