Listening, often overlooked, is a vital aspect of the human communication process. While speaking is often practiced and emphasized by many, the art of listening isn't one on which we find people spending much effort. In actuality, listening is easy and can be improved by following just a few simple steps.
An important part of success in life is the ability to lead. It is important that we not only be able to lead others but be willing to lead ourselves. No one succeeds in life by simply following others. Sometimes we simply must strike a bold new path for ourselves.
It's such an easy question to ask: "Who's your ideal customer?" And it can be so challenging to answer! After a presentation I gave last night, one of the attendees approached me to say she had two ideal niches she loves to work in and yet because she wants both, she's struggling to reach either one. I'm not surprised.
Read MoreOne of the keys to being a successful Internet Entrepreneur is choosing a niche. One of the challenges of the World Wide Web is its expansive reach and versatile nature. As the old joke goes, the best thing about the Web is that you can do virtually anything, the worst thing about the Web is that you can do virtually anything.
Read MoreNo matter how big or small the project, the Lone Ranger handles 100% of it. Either because they're afraid to let go of control or because they feel they can't afford to hire help. Can you relate? I know I can!
Read MoreHere’s an interesting notion: Do you realize that there are mistakes you can make at various stages of your business’ growth that can be slowly killing it for months or even years if you don’t watch for them?
Read MoreFor most folks, owning your own business is a dream come true. The freedom of being your own boss and succeeding to the best of your ability are facts of life for the small business owner. Sure, there's more stress than what you probably imagined when you were creating your grand plans, but with a little strategy and planning you can overcome any tough spot you get in. There are 7 tactics developed by successful marketers that are sure to make your business as successful as theirs.
Read MoreWooing customers is a little bit like dating. No, you can't present the engagement ring on your first date! There's a two-way relationship that grows one step at a time before it leads to the church doors. You can't rush it... you can't skip it... if you're looking for the satisfaction of a life-long commitment.
Read MoreIt is no secret that “word of mouth” or referral business is one of the most effective ways to bring in new clients while simultaneously strengthening relationships with your existing customer base. But even though it is extremely powerful and virtually free (or at most costs very little), very few business owners use it anywhere near it’s potential!
Read MoreEveryone hates to fail but what most people don’t realize is that failing is part of success. Almost everyone who has ever succeeded in business has failed many times. So, how do you overcome that failure?
Read MoreIt seems paradoxical – the more you give away, the more people are willing to pay for your services – but it’s true. This exact approach has worked quickly and effectively for me for years. The key is that it’s got to be good and of high relevance to your target audience. This builds people’s confidence that you consistently know your stuff and that you can be counted on for long-term value. People soon realize that if you’re willing to give away such valuable expertise, think how great the solutions they pay for will be!
Read MoreWhat is Branding?
Branding is the process of creating distinctive and durable perceptions in the minds of consumers. A brand is a persistent, unique business identity intertwined with associations of personality, quality, origin, liking and more.
Read MoreBusiness is tough in today’s world! Most small businesses go bankrupt or are closed abruptly in the first five years. Over the course of the next five years many of the remainders also “pack up” shop and lock their doors. Why do so many businesses fail?
The reasons lie in three main spheres. Those spheres of influence can be labeled personal, customer, and operations.
Read MoreI’ll be honest, I didn’t know how to pronounce “niche” until just a few years ago. That being said, no matter how your pronounce it, it’s very important to the success of your business. Let’s say you are interested in starting a home-based business. You also want to use the Internet for your work-at-home idea. However, you are not sure if you can make money online. To make matters worse, you are confused about what home-based business opportunity to pursue.
Read MoreOnce you’ve got your business plan written it’s time to iron out some of the basics. This part is important because it’s something that I’ve seen business who are making 10+ million dollars a year skip out on, and it’s come to bite them in the rear when they least expected it.
Read MoreIt may seem boring or like a waste of time, but taking the time to write a clear comprehensive business plan for your business is very important. The reason reason is that it forces you to:
Create a vision
Define what success looks like
Identify what problem you’re solving
Know who you target audience/customer is
Decide how you will reach that market
I was asked the other day what personality traits I thought were important to business owner success. I immediately gave my preprogrammed reply about passion and dedication and hard work. After taking some time later to ponder the question a little deeper (I normally operate in shallow waters), I came up with a more detailed checklist for entrepreneurial success. This is by no means a definitive list, but I'd be willing to bet that if you don't have at least a majority of these traits, your chances of business success will be greatly diminished.
Read MoreAs an old teacher of mine used to say, “When you prepare for an emergency it ceases to exist.”
Read MoreWithout the right things in place you are setting you and your business up for failure.
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