I don't normally "do sales". I certainly don't broadcast them publicly very often.
I feel like I'm discounting the quality of my products when I "slash prices" and offer incredible savings on my products.
However, I have a very special circumstance that warrants doing something incredible.
My son turns 13 today. The BIG 1-3. But today's both his birthday party and his going away party.
See Forest has been struggling not only with teenage hormones, but also some emotional problems and mental health issues that have placed him and our family in harm's way more times than I care to count.
I can share this with you because he has consented to co-author a book with me about this ordeal. For the next couple of years, Forest will be in a camp program for boys with emotional problems. As a mom, this is the toughest thing I've ever done. It's
probably also the smartest thing I could ever do for my son.
You can read the details on my new website.
But here's the situation: the program costs nearly $24,000 a year - and we found out our insurance doesn't cover any of it. Big surprise, right?
And he starts December 31, so I have a lot of motvation to do something a little bit drastic.
Here's the link to get the print edition of Home Party Solution at more than 50% off.
If you want the 3.0 edition at the 1.0 price, you need to act fast. We can deliver as many copies as you can purchase, but the deadline for this "sale" is December 31 - the day Forest goes to camp.
I'm not one to ask for handouts. We don't have fifty grand just lying around, either. So here's the best of both worlds.
It may sound a little desperate, but hey, it's my kid. If it means looking a little foolish in order to save his life, that's a small price to pay. If it was your kid, what would you do?
If you've ever considered buying the book, now's the absolute best time to do it. You'll also get a special coupon you can use for a complimentary copy of our book when it's completed (but that won't be until after he graduates from the program).
It's the least I can do to say thanks.
Click here to purchase the book
There's no limited quantities on this. You can order as few or as many as you'd like. It's a great book to have in your leadership lending library for your consultants. The book offers step-by-step instruction on building your online presence quickly and effectively. Online marketing isn't just social media, folks, and this book covers all the basics in an easy to read, step-by-step approach.
So that's the reason I've been kind of incognito for the last month. We've been finalizing all the details on his enrollment, and that's kind of kept me out of the public eye for a bit.
And yes, that means next year will see some big changes for me and my family. I hope you'll stick around, because even with this ordeal, you're going to see some pretty incredible stuff coming out of our company!
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Why Blogging May NOT Be For You
When developing your online marketing stratey, ivariably, the questions of blogging come up.
"Should I or shouldn't I?"
"How often?"
"Is it profitable?"
"How do I monetize it?"
"Should I have more than one?"
And these are just a handful of questions I've been asked in the past.
I enjoy blogs and blogging. But blogging may not be for you.
Uh-oh, another rejection of online marketing strategies?
Naaahh... Just a reality check for people that suffer from shiny object syndrome.
In all seriousness, I think blogs are an important component in your online marketing arsenal - but only if you are ready for it.
Blogging takes time - believe it or not, blogging is one of the most mind-taxing social media strategies. There are ways to minimize the time investment, and we'll talk about that in my 12-week challenge program, but even so, there's a time committment involved to write/edit/review posts and respond to comments.
While I'm a big fan of blogs and encourage people to start with a blog instead of a website, there are times when this just doesn't make sense.
Blogging takes consistency - people that are following your blog will be looking for your posts on a regular basis. If you're unable to post consistently, people stop following your blog.
That doesn't mean you have to post every day - and you can win back some of your readership if you get back on the posting wagon. It means that whatever you choose to do, you need to be consistent about it. More frequent posters will have more frequent readers - and the faster you can build rapport with our readership, the sooner you can build the bridge from online acquaintance to business partnership - which is the whole point of doing this in the first place, right?
Well, not exactly, but I'll share about that in another post.
Blogging takes quality content - this is a non-negotiable. Regardless of the frequency or even the topic, there's got to be quality information in every post you make. You can post once a month with killer content and people will look forward to that post all month long. But if all you're posting is "my company's the best thing since sliced bread", you'll turn off readers faster than "The Clapper".
And no, it doesn't need to be perfect content - grammatically excellent, without a single spelling error - but you should strive for perfection.
When you see an error (or someone points it out to you), correct it. We all know nobody's perfect. It takes a level of integrity to acknowledge our mistakes, correct them and beome a better person in the process.
Blogging needs an "end game" - blogging for bloggin's sake isn't a bad thing - and it's done frequently. Blogging for business, however, needs to have a desired end result. It could be a call to action at teh end of the post, a newsletter opt-in on the blog itself, or links within the post copy. There's got to be a reason for all this blogging - and the more transparent you are, the less it looks like you have something to hide.
So when you're contemplating adding blogging to your online marketing strategy, consider the issues above. Not sure your'e ready for a full-blown blog? Try a micro-blogging platform like Twitter. It's a great place to get your feet wet in the meantime.
"Should I or shouldn't I?"
"How often?"
"Is it profitable?"
"How do I monetize it?"
"Should I have more than one?"
And these are just a handful of questions I've been asked in the past.
I enjoy blogs and blogging. But blogging may not be for you.
Uh-oh, another rejection of online marketing strategies?
Naaahh... Just a reality check for people that suffer from shiny object syndrome.
In all seriousness, I think blogs are an important component in your online marketing arsenal - but only if you are ready for it.
Blogging takes time - believe it or not, blogging is one of the most mind-taxing social media strategies. There are ways to minimize the time investment, and we'll talk about that in my 12-week challenge program, but even so, there's a time committment involved to write/edit/review posts and respond to comments.
While I'm a big fan of blogs and encourage people to start with a blog instead of a website, there are times when this just doesn't make sense.
Blogging takes consistency - people that are following your blog will be looking for your posts on a regular basis. If you're unable to post consistently, people stop following your blog.
That doesn't mean you have to post every day - and you can win back some of your readership if you get back on the posting wagon. It means that whatever you choose to do, you need to be consistent about it. More frequent posters will have more frequent readers - and the faster you can build rapport with our readership, the sooner you can build the bridge from online acquaintance to business partnership - which is the whole point of doing this in the first place, right?
Well, not exactly, but I'll share about that in another post.
Blogging takes quality content - this is a non-negotiable. Regardless of the frequency or even the topic, there's got to be quality information in every post you make. You can post once a month with killer content and people will look forward to that post all month long. But if all you're posting is "my company's the best thing since sliced bread", you'll turn off readers faster than "The Clapper".
And no, it doesn't need to be perfect content - grammatically excellent, without a single spelling error - but you should strive for perfection.
When you see an error (or someone points it out to you), correct it. We all know nobody's perfect. It takes a level of integrity to acknowledge our mistakes, correct them and beome a better person in the process.
Blogging needs an "end game" - blogging for bloggin's sake isn't a bad thing - and it's done frequently. Blogging for business, however, needs to have a desired end result. It could be a call to action at teh end of the post, a newsletter opt-in on the blog itself, or links within the post copy. There's got to be a reason for all this blogging - and the more transparent you are, the less it looks like you have something to hide.
So when you're contemplating adding blogging to your online marketing strategy, consider the issues above. Not sure your'e ready for a full-blown blog? Try a micro-blogging platform like Twitter. It's a great place to get your feet wet in the meantime.
No budget? No problem for real beginners
The tips I'm sharing in this post are not for people with an established web presence. This is purely for folks who have NOTHING online, and little to no cash to get started.
Boy does that sound hinky.
The purpose of the post is to answer a question posted on my 12 week challenge contest blog. Basically, how do I get SOMETHING going when I have no resources?
First think about the resources you DO have.
Sites like Office Live or Google sites will allow you to set up a basic bare bones website for free. It costs nothing.
Heck you can host your blog on blogger.com or wordpress.com - that's free too.
There are places like Morguefile.com where you cn get high-quality royalty-free images to use as well.
There's no excuse to NOT have soem kind of website.
What about an opt-in? even office live now has a makeshift otion to create a contact email management system. Not my favorite, but if you're totally broke, it's better than NO opt-in at all.
What about video? Windows moviemaker comes standard on most PC's now, and there are sites where you can create short videos for free. Just want to post informational videos? embed something from youtube.com
Seriously. You can create all of this from scratch for nothing. No hostng fees, nothing.
There's simply no excuse.
Now if you've got a budget (even a small one) there are other ideas - like a domain name that you OWN and can re-direct to your new site (that shouldn't cost more than $10 from godaddy.com). Or web hosting so you can have more specialized content on your site (or to host your own customized blog).
Obviously the more money you have, the more options you have. But there are great, simple ways to get yourself online in a professional manner for FREE.
Yes, there may be a gazillion other people out there using the same blog template as I do, but it's free, it works, and I get traffic. THAT'S what matters most. It prevents analysis paralysis because blogger only has a few dozen templates from which you can choose. And you don't need to obsess over how it looks - you need to obsess over getting things going!
I hope that clears up the "I can't afford it" issue. EVERYONE can afford (and should have) a website of some sort that markets THEM (not their product). The 12 week challenge will spend a whole session on building a website and step-by-step help on how to make it happen.
We start October 26. Are you signed up? There are only a handful of seats remaining!
http://www.homepartysolution.com/12weeks
Hope to see you there!
Boy does that sound hinky.
The purpose of the post is to answer a question posted on my 12 week challenge contest blog. Basically, how do I get SOMETHING going when I have no resources?
First think about the resources you DO have.
Sites like Office Live or Google sites will allow you to set up a basic bare bones website for free. It costs nothing.
Heck you can host your blog on blogger.com or wordpress.com - that's free too.
There are places like Morguefile.com where you cn get high-quality royalty-free images to use as well.
There's no excuse to NOT have soem kind of website.
What about an opt-in? even office live now has a makeshift otion to create a contact email management system. Not my favorite, but if you're totally broke, it's better than NO opt-in at all.
What about video? Windows moviemaker comes standard on most PC's now, and there are sites where you can create short videos for free. Just want to post informational videos? embed something from youtube.com
Seriously. You can create all of this from scratch for nothing. No hostng fees, nothing.
There's simply no excuse.
Now if you've got a budget (even a small one) there are other ideas - like a domain name that you OWN and can re-direct to your new site (that shouldn't cost more than $10 from godaddy.com). Or web hosting so you can have more specialized content on your site (or to host your own customized blog).
Obviously the more money you have, the more options you have. But there are great, simple ways to get yourself online in a professional manner for FREE.
Yes, there may be a gazillion other people out there using the same blog template as I do, but it's free, it works, and I get traffic. THAT'S what matters most. It prevents analysis paralysis because blogger only has a few dozen templates from which you can choose. And you don't need to obsess over how it looks - you need to obsess over getting things going!
I hope that clears up the "I can't afford it" issue. EVERYONE can afford (and should have) a website of some sort that markets THEM (not their product). The 12 week challenge will spend a whole session on building a website and step-by-step help on how to make it happen.
We start October 26. Are you signed up? There are only a handful of seats remaining!
http://www.homepartysolution.com/12weeks
Hope to see you there!
Online Marketing: 10 lessons from the James Ray incident
Many of you know I'm not a news watcher, so when my mastermind group shared the news about the James Ray 'death lodge' incident today, I was a bit taken aback, but not totally surprised.
I can't begin to comment on the tragedy that occurred, nor on anything that Ray represents. That's not what this post is about. Anytime someone dies unexpectedly - for any reason - there are questions, pain, and more suffering than anyone should ever have to endure.
I'll save that for others better qualified than I to investigate.
This is not to negate or downplay ANYTHING that happened in Arizona. On the contrary, these 10 lessons are important for everyone in business to learn - and fast, regardless of the outcome of the investigation:
First, at least one major media outlet was compelled to include James' twitter id in their article. James couldn't be reached for comment, so the outlet ripped quotes from his twitter page regarding the incident.
Lesson one: Make sure what you're sharing online is fit to print.
Lesson two: Even the media recognizes the marketing value of sites like twitter - and has no compunction about using it to THEIR advantage either!
At seeing his twitter id, I got curious - as I'm sure many others did. After a small amount of digging, I discovered that even after the news reports reaching national media, James' follower count continues to increase - by nearly a hundred a day!
Lesson three: Even bad press can bring you new followers
Lesson four: It doesn't mean those followers are quality - they could be waiting to watch you hang.
James has recently come under fire for his high-pressure sales tactics - in fact, many have alleged "brain washing" during this tragedy - to the extreme. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, our job is not to sell people stuff. Our job is to help people make informed decisions that will improve their lives.
Anything less than that, and we're doing a disservice to our clients and to ourselves.
James, one of the featured 'stars' of "The Secret" has been delivering a message of profound impact for years. Just because the messenger "falls from grace" doesn't make the message any less meaningful for the people it has impacted.
Often times we, as a society (even a global one) put a person on a pedestal that they do not rightly belong on. Remember, we are all fatally flawed. Again, this is not to downplay anything that happened in Arizona. But how often have we falling in love with the music of a singer, the athleticism of a pro ball player or the work of a master artist only to have our graven image of them dashed on the rocks when they inevitably mar our picture perfect image of them with some human error?
It doesn't negate the beauty of the work, only the character of the person. I know several people that have been positively impacted by Ray's message. The deep disappointment they are dealing with now, is difficult to navigate. AND there are fans of Ray's that are defending him to the end.
Lesson five: Never place yourself above anyone else. You are no more, and no less than any other human on the planet.
Lesson six: When you do your job well, you will have die hard fans that will follow you to the ends of the earth and defend your honor in any situation.
In reading the reports, I read the name "Howard Bragman" as Ray's Publicist. Bragman is considered one of the greatest PR guys in the industry. In fact, I just picked up his book "Where's My Fifteen Minutes?" at my local library last week, so I'm watching with interest to see how this shakes out. Jim Lampley said "When you're on the ropes, you want Howard Bragman in your corner." That's a quote from the back cover of Bragman's book.
No doubt, Bragman is keeping his client quiet until there's time to sort through everything - which is smart. While many people are railing agains Ray's silence, the WORST thing he could do is open his mouth and "insert his foot".
As a business owner, everything he has is at stake here - and he knows it (along with the rest of the world). He may be dying inside to offer apologies, or tell his side of everything (or not), but even a well-intended apology could come off as a makehift admission of guilt if the media has an opportunity to spin it.
I'm reminded of the fortune cookie where it's better to remain silent, than to open your mouth and "remove all doubt". Innocence (or guilt) should be determined by qualified authorities - and I ain't one of them.
Lesson seven: everything you say can be used against you in times of trouble. Make every word count
Lesson eight: even when you're trying to do right, it can be misconstrued, and you'll never make everyone happy.
We as a public, want answers. We as business owners need to look at this situation and learn.
Be proactive, remember we're dealing with people's lives - whether we sell shoes or inspiration. Whether we offer $.99 widgets or $10,000 week-long retreats. Whatever we're doing needs to be focused on serving others, providing value and reaping the benefits of the work we've done. That implies the work must be done before the reward is received.
Coaches, trainers and speakers need to be on the offensive here. In just a few short hours since I've learned of this tragedy, already the barrage of "snake oil", "shyster" and other epithets have already created a firestorm online. Let's be sure we're not slapping an unwarranted label on an entire industry just because things went awry. Should there be failsafes in place? Absolutely. Inasmuch as direct sellers have gotten a bum rap for the slimy, pushy salesmen that have weasled their way through our organizations, so too may we find the motivational industry likewise marred by this horriffic event.
Where's the justice in that?
Lesson nine: those who paint with broad brush strokes make great white washers
Lesson ten: It takes great effort and much patience to work with a detailed hand.
Probably not the lessons you were expecting, but I'm known for my irreverence.
When I originally created this blog - as "Real Life Marketing" - the objective was to show how we could learn significant lessons for marketing our business from the everyday things that go on around us. While this is one event I hope never becomes an every day occurence, you can certainly see the lessons we can all walk away with from this tragedy. There are others, to be sure. As business owners, we need to be mindful, and ever ready to protect ourselves, our investment and our business.
I can't begin to comment on the tragedy that occurred, nor on anything that Ray represents. That's not what this post is about. Anytime someone dies unexpectedly - for any reason - there are questions, pain, and more suffering than anyone should ever have to endure.
I'll save that for others better qualified than I to investigate.
This is not to negate or downplay ANYTHING that happened in Arizona. On the contrary, these 10 lessons are important for everyone in business to learn - and fast, regardless of the outcome of the investigation:
First, at least one major media outlet was compelled to include James' twitter id in their article. James couldn't be reached for comment, so the outlet ripped quotes from his twitter page regarding the incident.
Lesson one: Make sure what you're sharing online is fit to print.
Lesson two: Even the media recognizes the marketing value of sites like twitter - and has no compunction about using it to THEIR advantage either!
At seeing his twitter id, I got curious - as I'm sure many others did. After a small amount of digging, I discovered that even after the news reports reaching national media, James' follower count continues to increase - by nearly a hundred a day!
Lesson three: Even bad press can bring you new followers
Lesson four: It doesn't mean those followers are quality - they could be waiting to watch you hang.
James has recently come under fire for his high-pressure sales tactics - in fact, many have alleged "brain washing" during this tragedy - to the extreme. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, our job is not to sell people stuff. Our job is to help people make informed decisions that will improve their lives.
Anything less than that, and we're doing a disservice to our clients and to ourselves.
James, one of the featured 'stars' of "The Secret" has been delivering a message of profound impact for years. Just because the messenger "falls from grace" doesn't make the message any less meaningful for the people it has impacted.
Often times we, as a society (even a global one) put a person on a pedestal that they do not rightly belong on. Remember, we are all fatally flawed. Again, this is not to downplay anything that happened in Arizona. But how often have we falling in love with the music of a singer, the athleticism of a pro ball player or the work of a master artist only to have our graven image of them dashed on the rocks when they inevitably mar our picture perfect image of them with some human error?
It doesn't negate the beauty of the work, only the character of the person. I know several people that have been positively impacted by Ray's message. The deep disappointment they are dealing with now, is difficult to navigate. AND there are fans of Ray's that are defending him to the end.
Lesson five: Never place yourself above anyone else. You are no more, and no less than any other human on the planet.
Lesson six: When you do your job well, you will have die hard fans that will follow you to the ends of the earth and defend your honor in any situation.
In reading the reports, I read the name "Howard Bragman" as Ray's Publicist. Bragman is considered one of the greatest PR guys in the industry. In fact, I just picked up his book "Where's My Fifteen Minutes?" at my local library last week, so I'm watching with interest to see how this shakes out. Jim Lampley said "When you're on the ropes, you want Howard Bragman in your corner." That's a quote from the back cover of Bragman's book.
No doubt, Bragman is keeping his client quiet until there's time to sort through everything - which is smart. While many people are railing agains Ray's silence, the WORST thing he could do is open his mouth and "insert his foot".
As a business owner, everything he has is at stake here - and he knows it (along with the rest of the world). He may be dying inside to offer apologies, or tell his side of everything (or not), but even a well-intended apology could come off as a makehift admission of guilt if the media has an opportunity to spin it.
I'm reminded of the fortune cookie where it's better to remain silent, than to open your mouth and "remove all doubt". Innocence (or guilt) should be determined by qualified authorities - and I ain't one of them.
Lesson seven: everything you say can be used against you in times of trouble. Make every word count
Lesson eight: even when you're trying to do right, it can be misconstrued, and you'll never make everyone happy.
We as a public, want answers. We as business owners need to look at this situation and learn.
Be proactive, remember we're dealing with people's lives - whether we sell shoes or inspiration. Whether we offer $.99 widgets or $10,000 week-long retreats. Whatever we're doing needs to be focused on serving others, providing value and reaping the benefits of the work we've done. That implies the work must be done before the reward is received.
Coaches, trainers and speakers need to be on the offensive here. In just a few short hours since I've learned of this tragedy, already the barrage of "snake oil", "shyster" and other epithets have already created a firestorm online. Let's be sure we're not slapping an unwarranted label on an entire industry just because things went awry. Should there be failsafes in place? Absolutely. Inasmuch as direct sellers have gotten a bum rap for the slimy, pushy salesmen that have weasled their way through our organizations, so too may we find the motivational industry likewise marred by this horriffic event.
Where's the justice in that?
Lesson nine: those who paint with broad brush strokes make great white washers
Lesson ten: It takes great effort and much patience to work with a detailed hand.
Probably not the lessons you were expecting, but I'm known for my irreverence.
When I originally created this blog - as "Real Life Marketing" - the objective was to show how we could learn significant lessons for marketing our business from the everyday things that go on around us. While this is one event I hope never becomes an every day occurence, you can certainly see the lessons we can all walk away with from this tragedy. There are others, to be sure. As business owners, we need to be mindful, and ever ready to protect ourselves, our investment and our business.
Develop an Online Marketing Strategy FIRST
Online Marketing is more than Social Media.
There's products, services, websites, blogs, email, opt-ins, copy, autoresponders and so much more to the picture.
Here's one of the recent entries in my 12-Week Challenge Contest:
"My biggest challenge with marketing my business online is......taking all the info that I have learned from various sources and translating it into a workable, realistic plan that I can easily stick to. My weakness is jumping from great idea to excellent implementation" - Anna Marie
(If you haven't entered yet, there's still time to enter here.)
One of the big hurdles to navigating the web is what to do first - and how to make it effective. There are as many opinions as there are experts on the topic about what will work best - for small business or direct sellers. One thing most everyone seems to agree on, however, is the importance of developing a strategy FIRST.
When you approach building your business with a strategic plan - a roadmap if you will - it becomes much easier to determine where to invest your time, energy and monoey for maximum effectiveness.
The same holds true when creating an online presence. Create a roadmap that outlines exactly what your objectives are. Once you've developed that strategy, you can look to which elements of online marketing will best meet those objectives, and make an educated decision about the amount of time, entegy and money you'll invest in each.
At present, I maintain several blogs and websites - in addition to my multiple social media presences, newsletters, and offline media.
I STARTED with one thing.
This is the big "sticky wicket" that online marketing strategiest want to pose - set up multiple things, try to keep all the plates spinning and watch it all come crashing down in a huge time suck.
The reality of all this online marketing hoo-hah is that there's really only one place you need to start when it comes to growing your business online. It's something I call your Perfect Fit Customer.
Once you've identified your Perfect Fit Customer - which is not just a demographic, but a complete profile of the ideal client you want to serve - you can lay out an effective strategy to approach, attract and retain people with whom you enjoy working.
An effective strategy begins with clarity and focus. The first place to focus is on your passion. Assuming your business is a reflection of your passion, the next place to focus is your perfect fit customer. Once you're clear on who you want to serve, the next step is figuring out where to find them - and you may discover that it's NOT an online environment, after all.
*GASP!* Did I just recommend against an online strategy?
Well, if your perfect fit customer doesn't own a computer, online marketing is virtually pointless, isn't it?
Fortunately, that's not the case for the majority of purchasers in the US these days.
The point is that you need to know WHERE to find your perfect fit customer before you go off looking for them - otherwise you're just snipe hunting.
In our 12-Week Challenge, we'll begin with an in-depth look at your Perfect Fit Customer, help you determine your area of expertise, and lay out a customized online marketing strategy built around the way YOU do business. Designed for small business owners of all types - not just direct sellers - the 12-Week challenge is great for anyone looking for hand on help to grow their business using online marketing strategies.
Get the full details at homepartysolution.com/12weeks.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow!
There's products, services, websites, blogs, email, opt-ins, copy, autoresponders and so much more to the picture.
Here's one of the recent entries in my 12-Week Challenge Contest:
"My biggest challenge with marketing my business online is......taking all the info that I have learned from various sources and translating it into a workable, realistic plan that I can easily stick to. My weakness is jumping from great idea to excellent implementation" - Anna Marie
(If you haven't entered yet, there's still time to enter here.)
One of the big hurdles to navigating the web is what to do first - and how to make it effective. There are as many opinions as there are experts on the topic about what will work best - for small business or direct sellers. One thing most everyone seems to agree on, however, is the importance of developing a strategy FIRST.
When you approach building your business with a strategic plan - a roadmap if you will - it becomes much easier to determine where to invest your time, energy and monoey for maximum effectiveness.
The same holds true when creating an online presence. Create a roadmap that outlines exactly what your objectives are. Once you've developed that strategy, you can look to which elements of online marketing will best meet those objectives, and make an educated decision about the amount of time, entegy and money you'll invest in each.
At present, I maintain several blogs and websites - in addition to my multiple social media presences, newsletters, and offline media.
I STARTED with one thing.
This is the big "sticky wicket" that online marketing strategiest want to pose - set up multiple things, try to keep all the plates spinning and watch it all come crashing down in a huge time suck.
The reality of all this online marketing hoo-hah is that there's really only one place you need to start when it comes to growing your business online. It's something I call your Perfect Fit Customer.
Once you've identified your Perfect Fit Customer - which is not just a demographic, but a complete profile of the ideal client you want to serve - you can lay out an effective strategy to approach, attract and retain people with whom you enjoy working.
An effective strategy begins with clarity and focus. The first place to focus is on your passion. Assuming your business is a reflection of your passion, the next place to focus is your perfect fit customer. Once you're clear on who you want to serve, the next step is figuring out where to find them - and you may discover that it's NOT an online environment, after all.
*GASP!* Did I just recommend against an online strategy?
Well, if your perfect fit customer doesn't own a computer, online marketing is virtually pointless, isn't it?
Fortunately, that's not the case for the majority of purchasers in the US these days.
The point is that you need to know WHERE to find your perfect fit customer before you go off looking for them - otherwise you're just snipe hunting.
In our 12-Week Challenge, we'll begin with an in-depth look at your Perfect Fit Customer, help you determine your area of expertise, and lay out a customized online marketing strategy built around the way YOU do business. Designed for small business owners of all types - not just direct sellers - the 12-Week challenge is great for anyone looking for hand on help to grow their business using online marketing strategies.
Get the full details at homepartysolution.com/12weeks.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow!
FTC's new rules mean business for Direct Sellers
In a recent post by twitter pal and Direct Sales Social Media blogger, Jennifer Fong, she discusses the FTC's new rules about disclosure on blogs.
But there's another rule that appears to be slipping under the radar right now - how using testimonials to market your services has changed.
Here's a link to the full article from the FTC:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm
It's worth it to take the time to read this. It appears on the surface to be a messge aimed at the advertisers - and as a direct seller, you are "advertising" on behalf of your company each time you do a demonstration or recommend your products and services to a potential customer.
These guides haven't been updated since 1980, and in light of the recent rush to blogging for dollars, advertisers have capitalized on this "loose" method of endorsement, and the FTC is tightening up to cover this "new" media.
Most importantly, note the following paragraph:
"Under the revised Guides, advertisements that feature a consumer and convey his or her experience with a product or service as typical when that is not the case will be required to clearly disclose the results that consumers can generally expect. In contrast to the 1980 version of the Guides – which allowed advertisers to describe unusual results in a testimonial as long as they included a disclaimer such as “results not typical” – the revised Guides no longer contain this safe harbor."
So saying things like "this is an unusual case" or "results not typical" isn't gonna fly anymore.
So if you've got a weightloss product, and a customer lost 48 pounds in 2 weeks, that doesn't mean you can't share that testimonial. On the contrary, you SHOULD - particularly because a lot of people won't anymore. But when you share that, you ALSO have to share what the TYPICAL user experience will be.
For example, "most people lose about a half a pound a week, but Sally from Oregon lost an incredible 48 pounds in 2 weeks using our program."
It's in the wording - and advertisers will be held at their word. Just be sure you're clear on what the typical results are for people.
The other area (that Jen addressed in her blog post) is a little more tricky - particularly for direct sellers doing product reviews for their own company products. In a newsletter or "closed door" communication, where a person has opted in to receive your content, it is easy to tell your readers that you are a consultant for XYZ company. On a blog, website or other online, public, "open door" type communication, many of the long-standing direct sales companies still have rules that outright forbid you from revealing any affiliation to their company, because they consider it "online advertising".
There are a couple of ways to work this:
1. Don't do product reviews on your blog - save them for your newsletter. It sounds silly, but instead of making public recommendations about your company products, offer tips and strategies they can use with any product, and then encourage readers to opt in to your private list so you can give full disclosure. This is a grey area, and because you're not outright endorsing or recommending a particular product, you can safely get around this issue.
2. Brand yourself first. This really should be number one, since it's my mantra. You are the most important product your company has to offer - and it doesn't matter what company you represent. Your public presence should be used to further your OWN reputation, not that of your company or your products. Direct sellers that rely on product review type articles will never fully get their business off the ground. It's a great place to start, but there are a variety of topics that surround your product line to which you should familiarize yourself. Become an expert in a topic related to your product line. Then you become known as "the expert", not just the "xyz product expert".
3. Get permission from your home office. A lot of copanies that say "no online advertising" put those rules in place to keep the mass of consultants from doing "dumb stupids" and posting erroneous info online. If you present a clear, focused proposal to your home office (someone that has authority to approve, not just a help center rep), you might be surprised at what you can accomplish. I was able to get authorization from The Body Shop at Home to do an entire online television series - when national advertising and online advertising were strictly prohibited.
There are other ideas I have on this topic as well, and I would love to hear your thoughts - particularly if your company has the same strict rules as many of the pillars of the industry do.
But there's another rule that appears to be slipping under the radar right now - how using testimonials to market your services has changed.
Here's a link to the full article from the FTC:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm
It's worth it to take the time to read this. It appears on the surface to be a messge aimed at the advertisers - and as a direct seller, you are "advertising" on behalf of your company each time you do a demonstration or recommend your products and services to a potential customer.
These guides haven't been updated since 1980, and in light of the recent rush to blogging for dollars, advertisers have capitalized on this "loose" method of endorsement, and the FTC is tightening up to cover this "new" media.
Most importantly, note the following paragraph:
"Under the revised Guides, advertisements that feature a consumer and convey his or her experience with a product or service as typical when that is not the case will be required to clearly disclose the results that consumers can generally expect. In contrast to the 1980 version of the Guides – which allowed advertisers to describe unusual results in a testimonial as long as they included a disclaimer such as “results not typical” – the revised Guides no longer contain this safe harbor."
So saying things like "this is an unusual case" or "results not typical" isn't gonna fly anymore.
So if you've got a weightloss product, and a customer lost 48 pounds in 2 weeks, that doesn't mean you can't share that testimonial. On the contrary, you SHOULD - particularly because a lot of people won't anymore. But when you share that, you ALSO have to share what the TYPICAL user experience will be.
For example, "most people lose about a half a pound a week, but Sally from Oregon lost an incredible 48 pounds in 2 weeks using our program."
It's in the wording - and advertisers will be held at their word. Just be sure you're clear on what the typical results are for people.
The other area (that Jen addressed in her blog post) is a little more tricky - particularly for direct sellers doing product reviews for their own company products. In a newsletter or "closed door" communication, where a person has opted in to receive your content, it is easy to tell your readers that you are a consultant for XYZ company. On a blog, website or other online, public, "open door" type communication, many of the long-standing direct sales companies still have rules that outright forbid you from revealing any affiliation to their company, because they consider it "online advertising".
There are a couple of ways to work this:
1. Don't do product reviews on your blog - save them for your newsletter. It sounds silly, but instead of making public recommendations about your company products, offer tips and strategies they can use with any product, and then encourage readers to opt in to your private list so you can give full disclosure. This is a grey area, and because you're not outright endorsing or recommending a particular product, you can safely get around this issue.
2. Brand yourself first. This really should be number one, since it's my mantra. You are the most important product your company has to offer - and it doesn't matter what company you represent. Your public presence should be used to further your OWN reputation, not that of your company or your products. Direct sellers that rely on product review type articles will never fully get their business off the ground. It's a great place to start, but there are a variety of topics that surround your product line to which you should familiarize yourself. Become an expert in a topic related to your product line. Then you become known as "the expert", not just the "xyz product expert".
3. Get permission from your home office. A lot of copanies that say "no online advertising" put those rules in place to keep the mass of consultants from doing "dumb stupids" and posting erroneous info online. If you present a clear, focused proposal to your home office (someone that has authority to approve, not just a help center rep), you might be surprised at what you can accomplish. I was able to get authorization from The Body Shop at Home to do an entire online television series - when national advertising and online advertising were strictly prohibited.
There are other ideas I have on this topic as well, and I would love to hear your thoughts - particularly if your company has the same strict rules as many of the pillars of the industry do.
Inspiration & Business: A Lesson in Consistency
Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.
So have rumours of me being stranded and mugged in London - for those of you that haven't heard about my Facebook adventure. Someone hacked my Facebook page a couple of months ago, and fortunately, we caught it quickly, which meant little clean up on my end. YAY! The good news is that they didn't do a thing to my facebook fan page - and now we've got all kinds of people connecting with us on Facebook! Double YAY!
And so, between cleaning up all that hoo-hah, and the musical I directed this summer for a local theater company, the LIVE event in August, and the Direct Sales Super Summit that just ended... well, let's just say I've been busy.
Real busy.
And it begs the question - just how important is my blog in terms of traffic generation, lead generation and growing my business? I mean, this is part and parcel to what I teach my clients: build a website, create a brand, and market it like crazy so people will flock to you, rather than you having to chase after them.
I confess, my focus was elsewhere, and while I have some great news to share with you, I also want to be honest and tell you that yes, the number of people that read my blog went WAY down, as did the number of subscribers from my marketing actvities. In fact, there were a couple of weeks where I actually lost more subscribers than I added.
So the lesson in consistency was a hard one to learn - and if you've been following my ezine for any length of time, you'll know that it's not the only hard lesson I learned this month.
One of the things I toyed with was the idea of delegating my blog posts to "guest bloggers" or having my assistant post on my behalf, but I dismissed the idea almost as quickly. To me, my blog is my personal platform to cmmunicate with my readers. To have anyone else do it would take away some of that personalness. Maybe I'll change my mind later, but for now, if I can't post it myself, it won't get posted.
That said, watch what happens to my blog in the coming days - I'm implementing a new traffic strategy, beginning tomorrow, and running throughout the remainder of October. The challenge - a blog post every single day. EVERY day.
And tomorrow's will be a doozie.
You have been warned.
So have rumours of me being stranded and mugged in London - for those of you that haven't heard about my Facebook adventure. Someone hacked my Facebook page a couple of months ago, and fortunately, we caught it quickly, which meant little clean up on my end. YAY! The good news is that they didn't do a thing to my facebook fan page - and now we've got all kinds of people connecting with us on Facebook! Double YAY!
And so, between cleaning up all that hoo-hah, and the musical I directed this summer for a local theater company, the LIVE event in August, and the Direct Sales Super Summit that just ended... well, let's just say I've been busy.
Real busy.
And it begs the question - just how important is my blog in terms of traffic generation, lead generation and growing my business? I mean, this is part and parcel to what I teach my clients: build a website, create a brand, and market it like crazy so people will flock to you, rather than you having to chase after them.
I confess, my focus was elsewhere, and while I have some great news to share with you, I also want to be honest and tell you that yes, the number of people that read my blog went WAY down, as did the number of subscribers from my marketing actvities. In fact, there were a couple of weeks where I actually lost more subscribers than I added.
So the lesson in consistency was a hard one to learn - and if you've been following my ezine for any length of time, you'll know that it's not the only hard lesson I learned this month.
One of the things I toyed with was the idea of delegating my blog posts to "guest bloggers" or having my assistant post on my behalf, but I dismissed the idea almost as quickly. To me, my blog is my personal platform to cmmunicate with my readers. To have anyone else do it would take away some of that personalness. Maybe I'll change my mind later, but for now, if I can't post it myself, it won't get posted.
That said, watch what happens to my blog in the coming days - I'm implementing a new traffic strategy, beginning tomorrow, and running throughout the remainder of October. The challenge - a blog post every single day. EVERY day.
And tomorrow's will be a doozie.
You have been warned.
Direct Sales Reps Need a Blog
Blogs are a critical component to your online marketing strategy.
Many direct sellers, however are reluctant to get started for a variety of reasons:
* Lack of technical savvy
Direct Sales in general has been slow to embrace technology of any kind, and many long-term consultants are still faxin or calling in orders to their home office. The idea of having complete control over webspace can feel intimidating to someone who may only use their computer for checking email - or may not even OWN a computer at all.
* Lack of confidence
In a sea of home-party presenters, you might be surprised to know how many don't have the confidence to speak in public, and worse yet, don't believe they have the skillset to manage a blog of their own.
* Lack of funds
Many consultants believe that setting up a website or a blog can be costly and even more expensive for ongoing maintenance.
* Lack of time
Direct Sellers are notorous for spinning many platesand keeping many balls in the air. I frequently hear the "I don't have time for that" excuse.
In reality, there are simple, easy solutions to all of these issues. Blogs, like this one, are free to set up, use templates, and are quick to get up and runnig - often in less than 10-15 minutes. In fact, at my upcoming Home Party Solution LIVE Workshop, we'll be holding a race to see who can set up a blog the fastest. The point-and-click techology of Blogger and Wordpress make setting everything up a breeze.
The more important concern is one of content. "I'm not sure what to write about!" I often hear direct sales consultants exclaim.
This isn't a challenge either. Here are four tips to make blog posting a snap:
1. Write about who you are. This does not mean to post incessantly about how you're a consultant with XYZ company. What we DO is not the same as who we ARE. Maybe you're a mom, or a dog-lover, or a baseball fanatic, or a lipstick fiend. Find an uplifting passion - something that brings you joy, and you're sure to build a following of people that also share that joy, that passion, that resonate with you and want to hear more from you regularly.
2. Write about topics related to your product line. This can be a product review, but more importantly, it should reflect an area of expertise that's related to your product line. For example, one of my blogs is about skin care, and while I rarely post directly about my skin care company, I often post articles related to skin care. This is a topic we will cover in greater depth at my live workshop. In fact, we'll actually HELP YOU determine your area of expertise and get your first posts written at the event.
3. Get someone else to write for you. There are tons of online writers willing to share their content with you at no charge. This is content you can freely post on your blog or anywhere else online for that matter. By sharing guest content, you build even more credibility in the eyes of your customers, which can only help your business in the long run. Home Party Solution lists many reliable sources for free content to share on your blog or even in your newsletters!
4. Let someone else pick the topic. From reader surveys to paid endorsements for your blog posts, there are ways to post content related to what other people WANT to have you post. In fact, monetizing your blog is a great way to make it pay you for the time you spend posting.
In all, there are tons of ways to make building your online presence quick and painless. Fear is quite possibly the only thing holding you back at this point. As a Direct Seller, it is imperative that you take advantage of every possible marketing opportunity - including online tools like blogs. With over 15 million consultants in the US alone, online marketing is fast becoming the tool that distinuishes the leaders from the rest of the pack.
Blogs, like Social Media, are only ONE piece of the online marketing puzzle. You need a comprehensive marketing strategy that includes these elements to effectively dominate your marketplace. Blogs, are quick and easy, and no direct seller should be without one.
==========
Have more questions about marketing yourself online? Blogging is just one piece of the online marketing puzzle. Without an online marketing strategy (social media, etc), you may find yourself pulling your hair out and calling it quits before any real progress is made. Lisa Robbin Young is the only Certified Direct Sales Marketing Coach in the WORLD, and can take the guesswork out of using the Internet to promote your direct sales business. Visit the free online community for direct sellers today at http://www.homepartysolution.com
Many direct sellers, however are reluctant to get started for a variety of reasons:
* Lack of technical savvy
Direct Sales in general has been slow to embrace technology of any kind, and many long-term consultants are still faxin or calling in orders to their home office. The idea of having complete control over webspace can feel intimidating to someone who may only use their computer for checking email - or may not even OWN a computer at all.
* Lack of confidence
In a sea of home-party presenters, you might be surprised to know how many don't have the confidence to speak in public, and worse yet, don't believe they have the skillset to manage a blog of their own.
* Lack of funds
Many consultants believe that setting up a website or a blog can be costly and even more expensive for ongoing maintenance.
* Lack of time
Direct Sellers are notorous for spinning many platesand keeping many balls in the air. I frequently hear the "I don't have time for that" excuse.
In reality, there are simple, easy solutions to all of these issues. Blogs, like this one, are free to set up, use templates, and are quick to get up and runnig - often in less than 10-15 minutes. In fact, at my upcoming Home Party Solution LIVE Workshop, we'll be holding a race to see who can set up a blog the fastest. The point-and-click techology of Blogger and Wordpress make setting everything up a breeze.
The more important concern is one of content. "I'm not sure what to write about!" I often hear direct sales consultants exclaim.
This isn't a challenge either. Here are four tips to make blog posting a snap:
1. Write about who you are. This does not mean to post incessantly about how you're a consultant with XYZ company. What we DO is not the same as who we ARE. Maybe you're a mom, or a dog-lover, or a baseball fanatic, or a lipstick fiend. Find an uplifting passion - something that brings you joy, and you're sure to build a following of people that also share that joy, that passion, that resonate with you and want to hear more from you regularly.
2. Write about topics related to your product line. This can be a product review, but more importantly, it should reflect an area of expertise that's related to your product line. For example, one of my blogs is about skin care, and while I rarely post directly about my skin care company, I often post articles related to skin care. This is a topic we will cover in greater depth at my live workshop. In fact, we'll actually HELP YOU determine your area of expertise and get your first posts written at the event.
3. Get someone else to write for you. There are tons of online writers willing to share their content with you at no charge. This is content you can freely post on your blog or anywhere else online for that matter. By sharing guest content, you build even more credibility in the eyes of your customers, which can only help your business in the long run. Home Party Solution lists many reliable sources for free content to share on your blog or even in your newsletters!
4. Let someone else pick the topic. From reader surveys to paid endorsements for your blog posts, there are ways to post content related to what other people WANT to have you post. In fact, monetizing your blog is a great way to make it pay you for the time you spend posting.
In all, there are tons of ways to make building your online presence quick and painless. Fear is quite possibly the only thing holding you back at this point. As a Direct Seller, it is imperative that you take advantage of every possible marketing opportunity - including online tools like blogs. With over 15 million consultants in the US alone, online marketing is fast becoming the tool that distinuishes the leaders from the rest of the pack.
Blogs, like Social Media, are only ONE piece of the online marketing puzzle. You need a comprehensive marketing strategy that includes these elements to effectively dominate your marketplace. Blogs, are quick and easy, and no direct seller should be without one.
==========
Have more questions about marketing yourself online? Blogging is just one piece of the online marketing puzzle. Without an online marketing strategy (social media, etc), you may find yourself pulling your hair out and calling it quits before any real progress is made. Lisa Robbin Young is the only Certified Direct Sales Marketing Coach in the WORLD, and can take the guesswork out of using the Internet to promote your direct sales business. Visit the free online community for direct sellers today at http://www.homepartysolution.com
Building the Cocoon
It's been just over a month since my last blog post for several reasons:
1. I was up to my ears in the Direct Sales SUPER Summit, which was an amazing success in more ways than I think I will realize for months or years to come.
2. I was BOMBARDED by bizops from well-meaning, yet opportunistic consultants (more on that in a minute).
3. I've been building a cocoon, I think, and I'm nearly finished.
If you followed my last post, you know that my career with The Body Shop at Home is officially ending this month. To that end, I have been humbled (and sometimes annoyed) by consultants approaching me with their opportunities - some of them right here on this blog. The comments in my last post that I DIDN'T delete were the posts done right.
Take a look and learn. These people offered quality comments that added value to the discussion BEFORE they shared their business opportunity. So many of the posts to my blog looked somethng like this:
"I'm so sorry to hear about TBSAH closing. It's such a shame, but we have the best products in the world and we'll give you a bunch of free stuff for joining our team becaue you can really make a lot of money with us, and please join my company because we're the best."
Bleh.
Without incriminating anyone, let me just say that this is NOT the way to approach someone with your business opportunity. You come off like a vulture circling prey.
There are right and wrong ways to make a connection. If you want to recieve something (like a new team member), you want to GIVE first. Give content, give advice, give connections, give love, but GIVE.
And shame on you if you didn't give first and have been following my blog for any length of time! You should know better.
If you really want to approach a potential business partner with an opportunity, it's much better to:
a) approach them privately, or if that's not possible
b) approach them discreetly, by first providing value and setting yourself up as an expert that can help their situation.
For example, when I approached a handful of Sarah Coventry Reps last fall, I didn't start with how great I or my company was, but offered to help them in their search. Now it HELPS that I have some authority in my market - but many of the women didn't know who I was.
In fact, some of them didn't even know Sarah Coventry was closing when I approached them. I also talked to them about why I thought THEY would be a great addition to any team - and never mentioned my company.
Of the 5 I approached, 2 joined my business - and neither one of them had ever heard of me. They appreciated that I focused on THEM and not on trying to get them on my team.
That's one of the reasons I ultimately went with the new company I'm with, Sensaria. So please don't approach me about joining your "hot business opp", because I'm all set, thanks. They approached me, and shared how I could be valuable with any company - and then asked to get on my schedule to share more about the product BEFORE we talked about the opporunity.
I'm now in the process of migrating clients, systems and marketing to my new company - which because of the summit has been stalled until this week.
So that's part of the reason for the month-long absence. Transitions like this have usually been more difficult - this one wasn't difficult, just lengthy.
The other reason - the cocoon reason - is really just getting going. And it hit me HARD today.
I'm calling it a cocoon because it doesn't feel like a wall, but there's definitely some kind of barrier around me right now. I can sense that I'm insulated from a lot of people I used to have regular contact with. And it feels like it's leading to a major transformation that will require a bit of struggle to make it work fully.
I talked with a new friend today that cleared up a few things for me, and it's been an amazing couple of hours since then. It's almost time to wriggle out of the cocoon, and get ready for what's next.
I've just launched a 12-month coaching program for direct sellers and am planning for my first ever LIVE event in August, and that's just the beginning of te transformational shift I'm feeling.
It's overwhelming right now. I'm still processing, but I think God's tapping me to take the next big step, and as my friend indicated today, to jump head first into the pool.
But first, I've got to wriggle out of this Cocoon...
1. I was up to my ears in the Direct Sales SUPER Summit, which was an amazing success in more ways than I think I will realize for months or years to come.
2. I was BOMBARDED by bizops from well-meaning, yet opportunistic consultants (more on that in a minute).
3. I've been building a cocoon, I think, and I'm nearly finished.
If you followed my last post, you know that my career with The Body Shop at Home is officially ending this month. To that end, I have been humbled (and sometimes annoyed) by consultants approaching me with their opportunities - some of them right here on this blog. The comments in my last post that I DIDN'T delete were the posts done right.
Take a look and learn. These people offered quality comments that added value to the discussion BEFORE they shared their business opportunity. So many of the posts to my blog looked somethng like this:
"I'm so sorry to hear about TBSAH closing. It's such a shame, but we have the best products in the world and we'll give you a bunch of free stuff for joining our team becaue you can really make a lot of money with us, and please join my company because we're the best."
Bleh.
Without incriminating anyone, let me just say that this is NOT the way to approach someone with your business opportunity. You come off like a vulture circling prey.
There are right and wrong ways to make a connection. If you want to recieve something (like a new team member), you want to GIVE first. Give content, give advice, give connections, give love, but GIVE.
And shame on you if you didn't give first and have been following my blog for any length of time! You should know better.
If you really want to approach a potential business partner with an opportunity, it's much better to:
a) approach them privately, or if that's not possible
b) approach them discreetly, by first providing value and setting yourself up as an expert that can help their situation.
For example, when I approached a handful of Sarah Coventry Reps last fall, I didn't start with how great I or my company was, but offered to help them in their search. Now it HELPS that I have some authority in my market - but many of the women didn't know who I was.
In fact, some of them didn't even know Sarah Coventry was closing when I approached them. I also talked to them about why I thought THEY would be a great addition to any team - and never mentioned my company.
Of the 5 I approached, 2 joined my business - and neither one of them had ever heard of me. They appreciated that I focused on THEM and not on trying to get them on my team.
That's one of the reasons I ultimately went with the new company I'm with, Sensaria. So please don't approach me about joining your "hot business opp", because I'm all set, thanks. They approached me, and shared how I could be valuable with any company - and then asked to get on my schedule to share more about the product BEFORE we talked about the opporunity.
I'm now in the process of migrating clients, systems and marketing to my new company - which because of the summit has been stalled until this week.
So that's part of the reason for the month-long absence. Transitions like this have usually been more difficult - this one wasn't difficult, just lengthy.
The other reason - the cocoon reason - is really just getting going. And it hit me HARD today.
I'm calling it a cocoon because it doesn't feel like a wall, but there's definitely some kind of barrier around me right now. I can sense that I'm insulated from a lot of people I used to have regular contact with. And it feels like it's leading to a major transformation that will require a bit of struggle to make it work fully.
I talked with a new friend today that cleared up a few things for me, and it's been an amazing couple of hours since then. It's almost time to wriggle out of the cocoon, and get ready for what's next.
I've just launched a 12-month coaching program for direct sellers and am planning for my first ever LIVE event in August, and that's just the beginning of te transformational shift I'm feeling.
It's overwhelming right now. I'm still processing, but I think God's tapping me to take the next big step, and as my friend indicated today, to jump head first into the pool.
But first, I've got to wriggle out of this Cocoon...
First Annual Backwards Gratitude List
Every year, millions of Americans take this time to sit down and think about the things for which they're truly grateful.
I'm not to be left in the dust here. But I didn't want to be like everyone else.
God says that we are to praise hime and be grateful for even our troubles. So I'm starting my own tradtion - things that wouldn't appear on a "normal" gratitude list. can you think of a few to add?
This year, I am grateful for:
Having to yell at my oldest to stop playing around every time he takes a shower - because it means he can hear me, we have running water, and the time in which to enjoy it - maybe even a little more than he should.
Burning the macaroni and cheese - because it means we can cook our dinner in the comfort of our home and not over a campfire - although my oldest would think that's cool.
For having no door on my office - because it means when my baby wants to come bug - I mean visit - me while I'm working, he can just climb up in my lap and say "come on, Mommy!"
For having a quiet, shy husband - because it means I can do all the talking sometimes - okay, most of the time.
For the check engine light that keeps coming on in my car - because that means there's still hope for this one!
For my teeny weeny itty bitty office - because it means I get to work from home every day, and enjoy the perks of being a mom and a business owner.
For the deaths of my Mom and Grandfather in the same week - because all my family was able to be there, and I know that Grandpa didn't have to wait long for a Euchre partner up in Heaven that can keep up with him.
For having serious issues with the leadership team of one of my party plan companies - because it gave methe gumption to find a new home party company.
Honestly this list could go on for a while. What are YOU grateful for this year?
I'm not to be left in the dust here. But I didn't want to be like everyone else.
God says that we are to praise hime and be grateful for even our troubles. So I'm starting my own tradtion - things that wouldn't appear on a "normal" gratitude list. can you think of a few to add?
This year, I am grateful for:
Having to yell at my oldest to stop playing around every time he takes a shower - because it means he can hear me, we have running water, and the time in which to enjoy it - maybe even a little more than he should.
Burning the macaroni and cheese - because it means we can cook our dinner in the comfort of our home and not over a campfire - although my oldest would think that's cool.
For having no door on my office - because it means when my baby wants to come bug - I mean visit - me while I'm working, he can just climb up in my lap and say "come on, Mommy!"
For having a quiet, shy husband - because it means I can do all the talking sometimes - okay, most of the time.
For the check engine light that keeps coming on in my car - because that means there's still hope for this one!
For my teeny weeny itty bitty office - because it means I get to work from home every day, and enjoy the perks of being a mom and a business owner.
For the deaths of my Mom and Grandfather in the same week - because all my family was able to be there, and I know that Grandpa didn't have to wait long for a Euchre partner up in Heaven that can keep up with him.
For having serious issues with the leadership team of one of my party plan companies - because it gave methe gumption to find a new home party company.
Honestly this list could go on for a while. What are YOU grateful for this year?
Dave Lakhani, Small Business, The BIG "R"
It must be that time of year, where I have time to read ther's blogs and think hard about them. Here's another post, this time, in respnse to Dave Lakhani's post regarding the current economic trends - you know, the recession - and how it affects small business.
This is the revised, expanded edition:
Bravo Dave!
It is true that you can set yourself up for failure by creating a failure oriented mindset - that is, believing that you're doomed to fail just because the economy sucks.
But you are essentially sticking your head in the sand - leaving your butt ripe for kickin' - if you put all your eggs in the "mindset" basket.
And I teach on mindset, so this is critical.
Whether you think you can or can't is only part of the equation. If you think you can't, you've given up before you've even seen the equation. Thinking you can, is the first step - but not the only step.
The Little Engine that Could (i.e. small business) can't just say "I Think I Can". You have to keep moving down the track. Heck, you have to be ON the track in the first place. You also have to know where that track is heading, or you could end up on a one-way path to nowhere fast.
You can't just think positive thoughts, or wish something away. YOU MUST TAKE ACTION, PLAN AND PREPARE for success.
To do otherwise is what got us in this mess in the first place.
The people that are taking action now are the Carnegies and Rockefellers of this century. Thse are people that saw the recession of their day for what it was, and capitalized on it, by making a plan and taking action - when others around them were wallowing in self-defeatism and failure oriented mindset. But these movers and shakers aren't ignoring the fact that there's a recession going on in full swing - they're taking advantage of it, and making swift plans for massive action NOW.
So yeah, you can do something about the recession by looking forward, and even by creating a positive oriented mindset - but mindset alone doesn't change what's REALLY happening in the world around us.
The Physics scholars of yore got it right: and object at rest tends to stay at rest, and object in motion tends to stay in motion, unless acted upon by an outside force.
It's action that makes all the difference - regardless of your mindset.
This is the revised, expanded edition:
Bravo Dave!
It is true that you can set yourself up for failure by creating a failure oriented mindset - that is, believing that you're doomed to fail just because the economy sucks.
But you are essentially sticking your head in the sand - leaving your butt ripe for kickin' - if you put all your eggs in the "mindset" basket.
And I teach on mindset, so this is critical.
Whether you think you can or can't is only part of the equation. If you think you can't, you've given up before you've even seen the equation. Thinking you can, is the first step - but not the only step.
The Little Engine that Could (i.e. small business) can't just say "I Think I Can". You have to keep moving down the track. Heck, you have to be ON the track in the first place. You also have to know where that track is heading, or you could end up on a one-way path to nowhere fast.
You can't just think positive thoughts, or wish something away. YOU MUST TAKE ACTION, PLAN AND PREPARE for success.
To do otherwise is what got us in this mess in the first place.
The people that are taking action now are the Carnegies and Rockefellers of this century. Thse are people that saw the recession of their day for what it was, and capitalized on it, by making a plan and taking action - when others around them were wallowing in self-defeatism and failure oriented mindset. But these movers and shakers aren't ignoring the fact that there's a recession going on in full swing - they're taking advantage of it, and making swift plans for massive action NOW.
So yeah, you can do something about the recession by looking forward, and even by creating a positive oriented mindset - but mindset alone doesn't change what's REALLY happening in the world around us.
The Physics scholars of yore got it right: and object at rest tends to stay at rest, and object in motion tends to stay in motion, unless acted upon by an outside force.
It's action that makes all the difference - regardless of your mindset.
Direct Sales Recruiting: Tips from Trick Or Treaters
New twitter bud, Ann Vertel, made a blog post today that I had to comment back on.
As I thought more and more about it. I figured I could blow this bad boy up into a full blown post of my own. So here it is:
Ann writes that if you look at kids that trick or treat, they don't get all worked up about which houses don't have their lights on. The direct sales correlation is that we as direct selling consultants shouldn't get worked up over the people that don't want to participate in or business - either by booking buying or recruiting. In essence, they've "turned off their house lights" and we shouldn't take it personally - just move on to the next house and collect our goodies elsewhere.
But as I thought more about the correlation to Halloween, there's even more you can cull from this:
1. Those parents at the curb.
On your first Halloween, a trusted adult probably walked the whole neighborhood with you, holding your hand, walking you right up to the door and showing you exactly how to say the magic words that opened the door to candy paradise. As we mature in our business and "get better at trick or treating", these parents and adults stand at the curb, so we don't look "uncool".
You've either been one or had one - a leader that guides you down the path, watches your actions, and helps you be the best you can be. On your first few attempts at working your business, they might have even held your hand and walked you straight up to the door - even did the knocking for you. They're not doing the work for us. But they've got their watchful eye on us, helping us along the path to the next door, giving us tips on how to make the next house even better than the last. Don't be ungrateful, but don't expect them to do the work for you. If you want the goodies - you've got to get the training (from your leaders) - then you've got to say the words to get them!
2. Those "Candy Grabbers"
Every Halloween has it's share of killjoys that run around the 'hood snatching the bags of little kids. Those bullies get their kicks takin' candy from babies and making mischief on Hallow's Eve. Do the other kids stop going from house to house? Naah. Do the homeowners stop passing out the goodies? Of course not!
Whether we want to admit it or not, there's a crowd of people in direct sales that gives the industry a bad name - but it doesn't mean that everyone is going to give up and go home. On the contrary. I know for myself that when I was confronted with a bully on Halloween night, I just went back and tried double hard to recover my losses. Now that I'm older and wiser, I know there are plenty more neighborhood to visit when searching for direct sales gold.
3. Sorting the Goodies from the Maple Buns
Oh how I hated the Maple Bun as a kid. We'd trade those things away as fast as we got them - if we could. We took notes each year about which houses had the best candy, and which ones weren't worth the trek up the long driveway for the tiny little maple bun they'd drop in your bag with a toothy grin. Mom would, of course, check out each wrapper to ensure safety and collect her obligatory fee for so doing.
As network marketers, we have to do our own sorting. Some "goodies" will be great additions to our team, and others will start out looking good, but you'll find the wrapper's not all there. And of course, you'll end up with a Maple Bun or two, but realize that the better you get at identifying the King Size candy from the Maple Buns, the easier the sorting becomes. The only way to get good is to keep practicing.
So this festive holiday, as you're standing at the curb with the little tykes, perhaps do some trick or treating of your own. I frequently pass out free samples to the moms as we're trekking the 'hood together. It allows us to strike up conversations while we shiver in the cold with our little trolls, princesses, and ninjas. Do they all book a party or join my team? Nope. And we all just keep moving on to the next house.
As I thought more and more about it. I figured I could blow this bad boy up into a full blown post of my own. So here it is:
Ann writes that if you look at kids that trick or treat, they don't get all worked up about which houses don't have their lights on. The direct sales correlation is that we as direct selling consultants shouldn't get worked up over the people that don't want to participate in or business - either by booking buying or recruiting. In essence, they've "turned off their house lights" and we shouldn't take it personally - just move on to the next house and collect our goodies elsewhere.
But as I thought more about the correlation to Halloween, there's even more you can cull from this:
1. Those parents at the curb.
On your first Halloween, a trusted adult probably walked the whole neighborhood with you, holding your hand, walking you right up to the door and showing you exactly how to say the magic words that opened the door to candy paradise. As we mature in our business and "get better at trick or treating", these parents and adults stand at the curb, so we don't look "uncool".
You've either been one or had one - a leader that guides you down the path, watches your actions, and helps you be the best you can be. On your first few attempts at working your business, they might have even held your hand and walked you straight up to the door - even did the knocking for you. They're not doing the work for us. But they've got their watchful eye on us, helping us along the path to the next door, giving us tips on how to make the next house even better than the last. Don't be ungrateful, but don't expect them to do the work for you. If you want the goodies - you've got to get the training (from your leaders) - then you've got to say the words to get them!
2. Those "Candy Grabbers"
Every Halloween has it's share of killjoys that run around the 'hood snatching the bags of little kids. Those bullies get their kicks takin' candy from babies and making mischief on Hallow's Eve. Do the other kids stop going from house to house? Naah. Do the homeowners stop passing out the goodies? Of course not!
Whether we want to admit it or not, there's a crowd of people in direct sales that gives the industry a bad name - but it doesn't mean that everyone is going to give up and go home. On the contrary. I know for myself that when I was confronted with a bully on Halloween night, I just went back and tried double hard to recover my losses. Now that I'm older and wiser, I know there are plenty more neighborhood to visit when searching for direct sales gold.
3. Sorting the Goodies from the Maple Buns
Oh how I hated the Maple Bun as a kid. We'd trade those things away as fast as we got them - if we could. We took notes each year about which houses had the best candy, and which ones weren't worth the trek up the long driveway for the tiny little maple bun they'd drop in your bag with a toothy grin. Mom would, of course, check out each wrapper to ensure safety and collect her obligatory fee for so doing.
As network marketers, we have to do our own sorting. Some "goodies" will be great additions to our team, and others will start out looking good, but you'll find the wrapper's not all there. And of course, you'll end up with a Maple Bun or two, but realize that the better you get at identifying the King Size candy from the Maple Buns, the easier the sorting becomes. The only way to get good is to keep practicing.
So this festive holiday, as you're standing at the curb with the little tykes, perhaps do some trick or treating of your own. I frequently pass out free samples to the moms as we're trekking the 'hood together. It allows us to strike up conversations while we shiver in the cold with our little trolls, princesses, and ninjas. Do they all book a party or join my team? Nope. And we all just keep moving on to the next house.
Overture... Curtain lights... Chicago!
So in my mad ramblings, I don't talk too much about my personal life. I figure there's more important stuff going on in the world besides me.But today, I'm sharing pictures from a recent birthday party.
What makes this party so unique is that the attendees were, for the most part, cast member from a local production of the musical, Chicago.
One cast member, Aaron, celebrated his 20th birthday and invited all of us cast folk to join in the soiree. He's the Blonde in that first picture, standing next to Anthony.
It was such a blast to see the cast reunite for something like this. We spent a few months together working our BUTTS off for this production. Choreography was tough - at least for locals that haven't had a dance class in eons. Music was challenging, but we were blessed with some very talented cast members that could out-sing some of the greats on the karaoke stage - and some of us really tried, believe me. So we ate, drank and had pickles - it's a tradition, the pickles. You'll have to ask me about it sometime.
But why is this in a Marketing Blog, you ask? Well, a couple of reasons. This blog also doubles as an occasionally personal blog (deal with it), and because it emphasizes what a good story (Chicago), a loyal customer base (the cast and crew), and a powerful product (Vertigo Theatrics) can bring about.
Ted, the guy that runs the show over there, is really a humble giant of a guy. In our many conversations, one of the things that he's touched on is the fear that he's not making a difference in the lives of people in our area. Now I've worked with Ted on several other productions where the cast and crew become close in an almost magical way, but he always wrote it off as a fluke. Well, I think the third time's not a coincidence: it's what makes a good theater company GREAT:
Jen and Steve, to my knowledge, have never done a show together before. This show stretched Steve in a leading role. Jen had to dig deep for some amazing choreography. This show really brought them together and gave them a new "thing to do" as husband and wife.
New friendships were forged - some of which transformed lives. People came to this show with broken pieces, and somehow, through the power of theater, shared trials and a good belly laugh, they found themselves on the mend.
Super HEROES came to the rescue. Anthony's folks gave us an amazing set, and raised the bar for all of Ted's future productions. And don't get me started on the amazing job Barb did on the costumes. Selfless giving. Yeah, they'll say it was because they wanted Anthony's first production to be spectacular, but few people give of themselves that way for total strangers - even if their kid is involved. And the tireless day-in, day-out work of Ted's "better half", Jacque is a testament to the passion they both have for this community.
And me? I just took it all in. Making notes so that Ted couldn't backpedal on this one. There was so much joy in a room that never would have been there if it weren't for companies like this, productions like this, and people like Ted and Jacque who found a passion and nurtured it with "Class".There were others in this cast of characters that didn't hang around long enough to pose, and others still that couldn't make it to this seemingly simple birthday party.
But this was a party unlike most. This was a cast of strangers that became friends for a time, who reunited for one of their own to celebrate, remember, and be grateful. These people have their own paths in life and will take new directions now that the show is over.
But I think it's safe to say we were ALL transformed by what a little passion can do.
THANKS, TED! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY AARON!
Lex Requests More Accountability
So an "ex" of mine up in Idaho has a blog. I only discovered it today. Hey, I told you he was an "ex"!
I use quotes because our "relationship" defies accurate description. He wasn't really an ex in the traditional sense of the word, and I don't consider him a FORMER friend, although I don't think we've had contact in a few years. Since the last time I recall making contact, I have another kid, and so does he. And both are oldests are old since the last time I actually SAW him in the flesh.
But I digress. In catching up on his posts (yes, I started at the beginning for better contextual understanding), I found a very timely post he calls Great Technical People.
I believe that this doesn't just apply to techs, but the greater world in general. and it all comes down to ACCOUNTABILITY, folks. It should be a required course - along with the 3 R's and whatnot. If we all understood and used accountability in our daily lives, gosh, this planet would totally rock.
Problem is, tehre are too many people trying to live up to some false expectation in the world. Trying to be more than tehy are, or less than they could be because it's too hard to do what's right.
The Marketing lesson? Jeepers, if you haven't figured it out, go read his post again.
I use quotes because our "relationship" defies accurate description. He wasn't really an ex in the traditional sense of the word, and I don't consider him a FORMER friend, although I don't think we've had contact in a few years. Since the last time I recall making contact, I have another kid, and so does he. And both are oldests are old since the last time I actually SAW him in the flesh.
But I digress. In catching up on his posts (yes, I started at the beginning for better contextual understanding), I found a very timely post he calls Great Technical People.
I believe that this doesn't just apply to techs, but the greater world in general. and it all comes down to ACCOUNTABILITY, folks. It should be a required course - along with the 3 R's and whatnot. If we all understood and used accountability in our daily lives, gosh, this planet would totally rock.
Problem is, tehre are too many people trying to live up to some false expectation in the world. Trying to be more than tehy are, or less than they could be because it's too hard to do what's right.
The Marketing lesson? Jeepers, if you haven't figured it out, go read his post again.
Cackling Babies Tell it like it is
When you get a chance, do a search on YouTube for "why buy expensive toys" The little boy in the video is delirious about ripping out pages in a magazine.
This video is hilarious, but please don't patronize the links in the video. I learned the hard way that it's connected to a very UN-family-friendly website, if you understand what I mean.
I seriously thought about not posting this video referral at all, but then I got it in an email last week, and I knew God was telling me to share some details.
It's real life, after all!
In essence, the kid gets so slap happy from helping his father tear up the magazine pages that he starts busting out into raucous laughter - even before he tears the sheet.
And here's the marketing lesson: Sometimes simple is best.
Seriously. Sometimes we fret about how to make things so "perfect" for our end user, that we forget about the simplicity of things that already work.
Dan Kennedy says that sometimes "'good' is good enough" I take it one step further and say that sometimes "easy is hard enough"
Sure, there are people in the world that want a Porsche for the price of a moped. But that's not realistic.
Of course there are people that will pay $100 for a plastic toilet seat from Home Depot. But that's exploitative.
When you look at your customer, your product base, and your message - are you making it too hard for people to digest?
Keep it simple. Keep it real. Keep it on the level.
Chris Haddad wrote a post a while back about writing at the 4th or 5th grade level. That's the God's Honest Truth, folks. Even in a technical industry, the more simplified the marketing, the easier it is for people to grasp it.
Sure, your average Chemical Engineer should be able to read at a 12th grade level - but why would he want to? Higher-level thinking takes a lot out of you - especially when the same thing can be said in 150 words (or less) with one and two syllable words.
Take it from someone that loves to use big words:
Not everyone loves big words.
So if a cackling baby can find pleasure and delight in the daily tabloid rag, why can't we, as marketers, take a cue "from the mouths of babes" as it were?
Sometimes the easiest, and simplest messages are the best.
Here's one of my favorites:
"Dear Mom,
I love you.
Can I have a Nintendo DS?"
It doesn't get much clearer than that. I know right away who's being addressed, the message is loud and clear and there's no subterfuge.
Ya gotta love kids!
This video is hilarious, but please don't patronize the links in the video. I learned the hard way that it's connected to a very UN-family-friendly website, if you understand what I mean.
I seriously thought about not posting this video referral at all, but then I got it in an email last week, and I knew God was telling me to share some details.
It's real life, after all!
In essence, the kid gets so slap happy from helping his father tear up the magazine pages that he starts busting out into raucous laughter - even before he tears the sheet.
And here's the marketing lesson: Sometimes simple is best.
Seriously. Sometimes we fret about how to make things so "perfect" for our end user, that we forget about the simplicity of things that already work.
Dan Kennedy says that sometimes "'good' is good enough" I take it one step further and say that sometimes "easy is hard enough"
Sure, there are people in the world that want a Porsche for the price of a moped. But that's not realistic.
Of course there are people that will pay $100 for a plastic toilet seat from Home Depot. But that's exploitative.
When you look at your customer, your product base, and your message - are you making it too hard for people to digest?
Keep it simple. Keep it real. Keep it on the level.
Chris Haddad wrote a post a while back about writing at the 4th or 5th grade level. That's the God's Honest Truth, folks. Even in a technical industry, the more simplified the marketing, the easier it is for people to grasp it.
Sure, your average Chemical Engineer should be able to read at a 12th grade level - but why would he want to? Higher-level thinking takes a lot out of you - especially when the same thing can be said in 150 words (or less) with one and two syllable words.
Take it from someone that loves to use big words:
Not everyone loves big words.
So if a cackling baby can find pleasure and delight in the daily tabloid rag, why can't we, as marketers, take a cue "from the mouths of babes" as it were?
Sometimes the easiest, and simplest messages are the best.
Here's one of my favorites:
"Dear Mom,
I love you.
Can I have a Nintendo DS?"
It doesn't get much clearer than that. I know right away who's being addressed, the message is loud and clear and there's no subterfuge.
Ya gotta love kids!
I am The Coolest Girl on The Planet
It's official. You can call all the kids from my high school days and tell them that I'm cooler than they are. And Google will back me up on it!
I checked Google today, and I am officially the Coolest Girl on the Planet. This is a title I've been striving for on and off for a few months.
I'm not gloating or braggin' here. This is all about using Google's own search algorithms to help you attain the top spot with your chosen keyword phrase.
In this case, I've done a little "web site optimizing" to help Google figure out just how cool I am.
All this started with a male ego contest a few years back. Dozens of Internet Marketers took up the challenge to become "the coolest guy on the planet" and well, I'm not a guy.
But I thought the phrase "coolest woman on the planet" didn't roll of the tongue as nicely, so I went with "girl" instead. Besides, I can think of many women far cooler than I am, and this was just an experiment anyway. Plus, I figured, "guy" and "girl" were more equivalent than "guy" and "woman". Although I suppose I could have gone with "gal".
But I digress.
So when you do a Google search, you'll find me. It's kind of nifty. Almost cool.
And I really didn't do that much work. Here are the things I did to boost my name into the top slot on Google:
I started using the keyword phrase as my name in all my blog posts.
I positioned a link at the bottom of the home page of my site for my 30-day guide to direct sales success, as well as my hand made candle company. I also changed my byline credit on the website design for Flint's only Downtown Dinner Theater website to read: "This site designed and maintained by the coolest girl in the world".
All those text links pointed right back to my lisamrobbin.com home page.
I didn't work on this non-stop for days, weeks, or even months. Basically, just when I remembered to do it.
And now, I can actually brag about being the coolest girl in the world.
I think Mom would be proud - or at least shaking her head in disbelief.
I checked Google today, and I am officially the Coolest Girl on the Planet. This is a title I've been striving for on and off for a few months.
I'm not gloating or braggin' here. This is all about using Google's own search algorithms to help you attain the top spot with your chosen keyword phrase.
In this case, I've done a little "web site optimizing" to help Google figure out just how cool I am.
All this started with a male ego contest a few years back. Dozens of Internet Marketers took up the challenge to become "the coolest guy on the planet" and well, I'm not a guy.
But I thought the phrase "coolest woman on the planet" didn't roll of the tongue as nicely, so I went with "girl" instead. Besides, I can think of many women far cooler than I am, and this was just an experiment anyway. Plus, I figured, "guy" and "girl" were more equivalent than "guy" and "woman". Although I suppose I could have gone with "gal".
But I digress.
So when you do a Google search, you'll find me. It's kind of nifty. Almost cool.
And I really didn't do that much work. Here are the things I did to boost my name into the top slot on Google:
I started using the keyword phrase as my name in all my blog posts.
I positioned a link at the bottom of the home page of my site for my 30-day guide to direct sales success, as well as my hand made candle company. I also changed my byline credit on the website design for Flint's only Downtown Dinner Theater website to read: "This site designed and maintained by the coolest girl in the world".
All those text links pointed right back to my lisamrobbin.com home page.
I didn't work on this non-stop for days, weeks, or even months. Basically, just when I remembered to do it.
And now, I can actually brag about being the coolest girl in the world.
I think Mom would be proud - or at least shaking her head in disbelief.
"Swordfish!" - Expectations, Critics and Movies
My friend, Mark, has a daily humor blog and email post, and at the bottom of his credits, he usually has some sort of clever "ism" that goes unnoticed by the majority of the public - after all, it's in the credits.
Well this morning, his ism was "SWORDFISH" and I didn't get it, so I emailed him back.
He told me to go watch "Get Smart" - and then it made perfect sense to me, as I hope it now does to you.
We conversed a bit about the film, and he had this to say:
"despite what *all* the critics said, it was a 90-minute laugh-a-scene hoot! I haven't laughed so hard at a movie in years. Bonnie could hardly catch her breath at times!!
Which put me in mind of this almost blog-worthy thought:
Why are critics' opinions often so different than my own experience? Then I realized that a critic goes into a movie theatre and says, 'entertain me.' It's almost a dare. I go into a movie theatre and say, 'I want to be entertained.' It's my fondest hope.
So it's the expectation level that makes all the difference. I'm expecting good things, the critic challenges everything he/she sees.
I bet that happens in church on Sunday morning a lot, too.
It was so deeply profound, and yet so simple. I HAD to share it with you.
From a marketing perspective, many times our critics (or we as critics) will challenge everything and expect nothing. Very often we get just that - nothing - in return. We feel deflated, disappointed, and our perspective is one that's just plain poopy.
But when we modify our outlook, change our mindset, and expect greatness - in whatever we are pursuing - very often we are pleasantly surprised, or at least pleased with the outcome.
Does that mean we lowered our standards? Not necessarily. It means we held a different kind of expectation.
What about YOUR expectations? What about YOUR perspective and mindset? Are you looking at your business, shaking your head as you meet all your negative expectations? Or are you setting your business into motion each day with the "fondest hope" of a positive outcome?
Do you dare yourself to succeed, or are you pushing forward with the expectant end result in mind - regardless of the swordfish in your way?
Ben Stein and High Heels: Evolution's Intelligent Design
First, on the surface, this may not appear to be a marketing related post. Sue me. IF you dig a little deeper, you might just change your mind.
Second, this is a LONG post, because it deals with evolution, Ben Stein, and me, learning how to walk in high heels. All of those are complex issues, and take more than a few words to illustrate.
Here we go...
This past Saturday, I was treated to a Division sales rally for one of the direct sales companies I work with. I gave a short talk on the importance of your 60 second commercial (aka your elevator speech) and received positive comments all around. I'm preparing for my first ever training "tour" and this was a small practice step for me.
At the end of the afternoon, I was to go shoe-shopping for a nice, "power shoe" as my friend Ruth calls them.
I ended up learning how to walk.
I know, I'm 33 and walking should have been one of those early mastery lessons, but I've never in my life worn a show that stands higher than 2 inches. Ruth and her daughter put me in 4 inch heels. We must have tried on 20 pairs of shoes by the end of the day. I settled on a nice pair of patent leather shoes and a fun pair of wedges. Before Saturday, I wouldn't have known a wedge from a slingback or a mule, so this was my first lesson in being "more girly" in a businesslike way.
The second, was learning to walk. My normal gate is wide, manly, and I lead from my shoulders, giving me an almost slouchy appearance. And I walk FAST.
Not in 4 inch heels, that's for sure.
I was tripping over my own two feet, falling out of shoes, feeling pinched, poked and clutzy in more ways than I can count. I was so afraid of how ridiculous I must have looked, but my friends were very supportive.
And I evolved. By the end of the evening, I was walking with my head more upright, more slowly, with more purpose and power in my step.
I was even kind of graceful by the time it was all said and done. It was humbling to think that as a grown adult, I needed to re-learn what seemed to me to be a basic skill. In heels, walking is not just a skill, it's an art. It takes balance, timing, and poise. Something I very much lacked before Saturday.
On Sunday, my husband and I took our "Date Night" out to see Ben Stein's new documentary movie, Expelled. In classic Ben Stein style, he explores the neo-Darwinist movement, and all the possible implications of suppressed freedom in the US.
It was very much a thinking film - and entirely entertaining the whole way through.
The film hinges on how great intellects of our time are being ex-communicated from the scientific community - some for just mentioning the concept of intelligent design.
I'm no scientist, and don't pretend to be, but the way I understand it, Intelligent Design suggests that Darwin's theory of evolution is flawed and is missing the definition of the exact Origin of life. Because of this, there exists a thought concept that somehow, someway, there is an intelligent designer - an intentional creation of this existence on this rock hurtling through space.
Stein interviewed names and faces on both sides of the debtate, and near the end of the film, one of the biggest proponents of Darwinism and anti-creationist activists speaks of the possibility that life was "seeded" here on Earth by some other highly evolved life form - but that they MUST have evolved from some primordial oooze somewhere.
At this point, Stein makes a narrative comment about how this guy really does believe in Intelligent Design, it just depends on who "the designer" might be.
And that, my friends, is where the REAL friction on ID begins.
FEAR.
Fear of being wrong and having to give up their position.
Atheists in the Science realm are scared that if the designer really IS God, then they've been wrong - so they don't want to do the work to disprove the theory and instead just shoot it down as "a bunch of crazy creationists" trying to put God in the classroom again.
Heaven forbid.
But just as distressing is the fear that Christian supporters of Intelligent Design face whenever the potential of losing their job, their livelihoods or their credibility just for mentioning the possible existence of a grand designer in the scheme of the world. As a result, they're being labeled as crazies or ignoring the calling that could bring the truth to light.
What if the missing link IS God? Is that so bad? Why does science and God (not church or "religion", but the existence of another intelligent creator) have to be mutually exclusive?
Instead of pursuing science for the sake of discovering truth, people on both sides are afraid - paralyzed by what the "real truth" might be.
As a card carrying Christian, I'll get hate mail. I'm sure. As a lover of research and the desire to learn, I hope that people take this for what it's for - an honest expression of frustration at the FEAR that pervades an organization designed to pursue truth.
To me, that's what science is. Learning what's true. I intentionally didn't include theorems, postulates or other "data and errata" to cloud what I see as a clear cut case of fear in action.
Let's stop being afraid.
In science, we create a hypothesis, we test it, and explore it until we either prove it or disprove it based on experiential data.
My personal hypothesis is that God created the heavens and the earth and all the good things we get to experience around here. And until I'm proven wrong, that's how I'm living my life.
If you have a different personal hypothesis, that's your choice, and I respect it, even if I don't agree. It's in the testing of those hypotheses that we discover the truth - both our personal truth and the truth of our world.
Will I be a fool because I believed in God? To me, it's not about being foolish. That's not my place to make that judgment call.
Look at it this way, if the ultimate truth is that we DID evolve from some primordial ooze on some planet somewhere, am I worse off for having had a hope in a divine creator? Will they string me up for believing in God?
Heaven forbid.
On the other hand, if God DOES exist, and He DOES have final judgment, what will HE say to all those that were afraid to test the personal hypothesis? What will He DO to all those that rallied around Neo-Darwinism?
This is not to say that we DIDN'T evolve in some manner. As one scientist pointed out, variations occur in nature over time. That is, in the roughest sense, what evolution is about.
I don't think that evolution and creation need to be mutually exclusive. In fact, I assert that they're not. Further, I think that my Creator gave us free will so we COULD evolve and improve, grow and expand our horizons, to overcome our fears, face our obstacles and learn new truths daily.
And I have the high heels to prove it.
Second, this is a LONG post, because it deals with evolution, Ben Stein, and me, learning how to walk in high heels. All of those are complex issues, and take more than a few words to illustrate.
Here we go...
This past Saturday, I was treated to a Division sales rally for one of the direct sales companies I work with. I gave a short talk on the importance of your 60 second commercial (aka your elevator speech) and received positive comments all around. I'm preparing for my first ever training "tour" and this was a small practice step for me.
At the end of the afternoon, I was to go shoe-shopping for a nice, "power shoe" as my friend Ruth calls them.
I ended up learning how to walk.
I know, I'm 33 and walking should have been one of those early mastery lessons, but I've never in my life worn a show that stands higher than 2 inches. Ruth and her daughter put me in 4 inch heels. We must have tried on 20 pairs of shoes by the end of the day. I settled on a nice pair of patent leather shoes and a fun pair of wedges. Before Saturday, I wouldn't have known a wedge from a slingback or a mule, so this was my first lesson in being "more girly" in a businesslike way.
The second, was learning to walk. My normal gate is wide, manly, and I lead from my shoulders, giving me an almost slouchy appearance. And I walk FAST.
Not in 4 inch heels, that's for sure.
I was tripping over my own two feet, falling out of shoes, feeling pinched, poked and clutzy in more ways than I can count. I was so afraid of how ridiculous I must have looked, but my friends were very supportive.
And I evolved. By the end of the evening, I was walking with my head more upright, more slowly, with more purpose and power in my step.
I was even kind of graceful by the time it was all said and done. It was humbling to think that as a grown adult, I needed to re-learn what seemed to me to be a basic skill. In heels, walking is not just a skill, it's an art. It takes balance, timing, and poise. Something I very much lacked before Saturday.
On Sunday, my husband and I took our "Date Night" out to see Ben Stein's new documentary movie, Expelled. In classic Ben Stein style, he explores the neo-Darwinist movement, and all the possible implications of suppressed freedom in the US.
It was very much a thinking film - and entirely entertaining the whole way through.
The film hinges on how great intellects of our time are being ex-communicated from the scientific community - some for just mentioning the concept of intelligent design.
I'm no scientist, and don't pretend to be, but the way I understand it, Intelligent Design suggests that Darwin's theory of evolution is flawed and is missing the definition of the exact Origin of life. Because of this, there exists a thought concept that somehow, someway, there is an intelligent designer - an intentional creation of this existence on this rock hurtling through space.
Stein interviewed names and faces on both sides of the debtate, and near the end of the film, one of the biggest proponents of Darwinism and anti-creationist activists speaks of the possibility that life was "seeded" here on Earth by some other highly evolved life form - but that they MUST have evolved from some primordial oooze somewhere.
At this point, Stein makes a narrative comment about how this guy really does believe in Intelligent Design, it just depends on who "the designer" might be.
And that, my friends, is where the REAL friction on ID begins.
FEAR.
Fear of being wrong and having to give up their position.
Atheists in the Science realm are scared that if the designer really IS God, then they've been wrong - so they don't want to do the work to disprove the theory and instead just shoot it down as "a bunch of crazy creationists" trying to put God in the classroom again.
Heaven forbid.
But just as distressing is the fear that Christian supporters of Intelligent Design face whenever the potential of losing their job, their livelihoods or their credibility just for mentioning the possible existence of a grand designer in the scheme of the world. As a result, they're being labeled as crazies or ignoring the calling that could bring the truth to light.
What if the missing link IS God? Is that so bad? Why does science and God (not church or "religion", but the existence of another intelligent creator) have to be mutually exclusive?
Instead of pursuing science for the sake of discovering truth, people on both sides are afraid - paralyzed by what the "real truth" might be.
As a card carrying Christian, I'll get hate mail. I'm sure. As a lover of research and the desire to learn, I hope that people take this for what it's for - an honest expression of frustration at the FEAR that pervades an organization designed to pursue truth.
To me, that's what science is. Learning what's true. I intentionally didn't include theorems, postulates or other "data and errata" to cloud what I see as a clear cut case of fear in action.
Let's stop being afraid.
In science, we create a hypothesis, we test it, and explore it until we either prove it or disprove it based on experiential data.
My personal hypothesis is that God created the heavens and the earth and all the good things we get to experience around here. And until I'm proven wrong, that's how I'm living my life.
If you have a different personal hypothesis, that's your choice, and I respect it, even if I don't agree. It's in the testing of those hypotheses that we discover the truth - both our personal truth and the truth of our world.
Will I be a fool because I believed in God? To me, it's not about being foolish. That's not my place to make that judgment call.
Look at it this way, if the ultimate truth is that we DID evolve from some primordial ooze on some planet somewhere, am I worse off for having had a hope in a divine creator? Will they string me up for believing in God?
Heaven forbid.
On the other hand, if God DOES exist, and He DOES have final judgment, what will HE say to all those that were afraid to test the personal hypothesis? What will He DO to all those that rallied around Neo-Darwinism?
This is not to say that we DIDN'T evolve in some manner. As one scientist pointed out, variations occur in nature over time. That is, in the roughest sense, what evolution is about.
I don't think that evolution and creation need to be mutually exclusive. In fact, I assert that they're not. Further, I think that my Creator gave us free will so we COULD evolve and improve, grow and expand our horizons, to overcome our fears, face our obstacles and learn new truths daily.
And I have the high heels to prove it.
Where's Your Oxygen Mask?
In response to Holly's blog post, I thought it fitting to post this reply, which is more of an agreement than a dissent.
When you board a plane, as the attendants prepare for departure, everyone is walked through the safety features of the plane. Where the exit aisles and lighting strips are for your safety and convenience. The attendants carefully walk you through how to navigate the seat as a floatation device, along with a myriad of other helpful tips should you find your life in peril at 30,000 feet.
But the one demonstration I wish everyone paid more attention to is the oxygen mask. This is one of those life lessons that people miss out on because they don't think it will ever happen to them - yet it does every day.
This is especially true for moms, so listen up!
This is one of those real life lessons that people don't always catch. Put your oxygen mask on first.
Note, this does not say that you can't help others, or that you should apply your mask and make a beeline for salvation with no regard to others. It simply says, take care of your own NEEDS first. THEN assist others so we can all make it out of this mess in one piece.
Translate that to real life, and it means simply this: Look after your own NEEDS (not wants, desires, agendas, etc) FIRST. Then, by helping the others around you, we can all make it out of this mess (LIFE) in one piece.
Okay moms, how many of you take time on a regular basis to take care of yourself?
You in the back, put your hand down. The last time you took care of your own needs was before you had kids.
You in the pink, put your hand down. Ever since you got married, you put all your focus on pleasing your husband.
There may only be a handful of you with your hand still raised. Good for you!
What's wrong with the rest of us?
Holly said we often take better care of our pets than we do ourselves. Heck, I'll up the ante and say we often take better care of a lot of things than we do ourselves (car? home? family? friends? get the picture?).
I'm not talking about spoiling ourselves - although that's nice every once in a while. But when you're taking care of your customers, running a business, building an organization, keeping the house, the kids and the hubby in line, tending to your ailing Aunt Matilda, and everything else that comes to mind, you might as well be throwing your oxygen mask in the cargo hold.
Two things are required before you assist the other passengers in life. First, secure your own mask. Make sure your needs are taken care of first.
I said needs. Not wants, not thrills, not desires and cravings. NEEDS. My Daddy used to say that you've got to worry about yourself before you start worrying about everyone else. Jeffrey Gitomer says to resign your position as Ruler of the Universe.
The second thing you need to do is breathe deeply. Make sure things are working properly before you jump in to lend a hand. Take some time to evaluate - but don't stand idly by while everyone else is falling apart at the seams. Once you've addressed your needs, pitch in - without guilt or remorse - and do the best you can.
Where's your oxygen mask? Are you turning blue from all the demands on your time, talent, energy, and money? I hear ya. I've been there.
Grab your oxygen mask and take a breath.
When you board a plane, as the attendants prepare for departure, everyone is walked through the safety features of the plane. Where the exit aisles and lighting strips are for your safety and convenience. The attendants carefully walk you through how to navigate the seat as a floatation device, along with a myriad of other helpful tips should you find your life in peril at 30,000 feet.
But the one demonstration I wish everyone paid more attention to is the oxygen mask. This is one of those life lessons that people miss out on because they don't think it will ever happen to them - yet it does every day.
This is especially true for moms, so listen up!
"When the oxygen masks deploy, please place the elastic band around your head and pull securely to ensure proper fit. Tug firmly on the end of the bag to begin the air flow. Please ensure that your mask is securely fastened BEFORE trying to assist other passengers, including small children."
This is one of those real life lessons that people don't always catch. Put your oxygen mask on first.
Note, this does not say that you can't help others, or that you should apply your mask and make a beeline for salvation with no regard to others. It simply says, take care of your own NEEDS first. THEN assist others so we can all make it out of this mess in one piece.
Translate that to real life, and it means simply this: Look after your own NEEDS (not wants, desires, agendas, etc) FIRST. Then, by helping the others around you, we can all make it out of this mess (LIFE) in one piece.
Okay moms, how many of you take time on a regular basis to take care of yourself?
You in the back, put your hand down. The last time you took care of your own needs was before you had kids.
You in the pink, put your hand down. Ever since you got married, you put all your focus on pleasing your husband.
There may only be a handful of you with your hand still raised. Good for you!
What's wrong with the rest of us?
Holly said we often take better care of our pets than we do ourselves. Heck, I'll up the ante and say we often take better care of a lot of things than we do ourselves (car? home? family? friends? get the picture?).
I'm not talking about spoiling ourselves - although that's nice every once in a while. But when you're taking care of your customers, running a business, building an organization, keeping the house, the kids and the hubby in line, tending to your ailing Aunt Matilda, and everything else that comes to mind, you might as well be throwing your oxygen mask in the cargo hold.
Two things are required before you assist the other passengers in life. First, secure your own mask. Make sure your needs are taken care of first.
I said needs. Not wants, not thrills, not desires and cravings. NEEDS. My Daddy used to say that you've got to worry about yourself before you start worrying about everyone else. Jeffrey Gitomer says to resign your position as Ruler of the Universe.
The second thing you need to do is breathe deeply. Make sure things are working properly before you jump in to lend a hand. Take some time to evaluate - but don't stand idly by while everyone else is falling apart at the seams. Once you've addressed your needs, pitch in - without guilt or remorse - and do the best you can.
Where's your oxygen mask? Are you turning blue from all the demands on your time, talent, energy, and money? I hear ya. I've been there.
Grab your oxygen mask and take a breath.
Follow me.. Where I Go....
...Who I am, and What I know...
Sorry, I couldn't resist singing for a minute.
Just wanted to post a quick note that thanks to a really loud set of instructions, I have finally managed to remove the no-follow code from my blog.
That means that your comment links will be googled and they will count for page rank.
Don't say I never gave ya nothin'!
But I will be vigilant on comments, so please be relevant or don't post. Thanks!
Sorry, I couldn't resist singing for a minute.
Just wanted to post a quick note that thanks to a really loud set of instructions, I have finally managed to remove the no-follow code from my blog.
That means that your comment links will be googled and they will count for page rank.
Don't say I never gave ya nothin'!
But I will be vigilant on comments, so please be relevant or don't post. Thanks!
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