Posts Tagged ‘business’

An Excellent Adventure can be all about simple but amazing things that alter our lives in amazing ways. Consider the:

• Simple elegance of Italian olive oil drizzled on asparagus
• Quiet beauty of people meditating at an Indian ashram
• Riotous colors and tropical heat of Bali

As Julia Roberts, in the role of writer Elizabeth Gilbert, experiences a year of personal growth in the movie “Eat Pray Love” away from the hustle-bustle of New York City a few thoughts kept rambling around in my mind.

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My husband Ernie and I rented the DVD of the Michael Jackson documentary “This is It” a couple nights ago. We watched in awe his amazing talent. His passing a year ago was like the passing of an era.

I was inspired by what Jackson was creating – by thinking it up and moving energy. You can argue Whacko Jacko was un-balanced. Watching this film you see his brilliance. He was in control of everything. He was energetic, engaged and happy.

I thought, “Who told Michael Jackson he could do this? Who gave him permission to become King of Pop?”

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It started like a whisper. Change.

Change means releasing the old and embracing the new. Crazy thing is, we don’t always know what to embrace.

For a few years I’ve felt change bubbling inside. The last decade I’ve helped over 1,500 mostly home-based business owners enjoy greater success. I’m a marketing mentor – and I’m good at what I do. When clients act on what I teach – and most do – I’m thrilled for them.

When “Testosterone-Free Marketing” was released I left the Robert Allen organization. Yep, author of mega-bestsellers like “Nothing Down,” “Multiple Streams of Income,” and “The Enlightened Millionaire.” I was his Executive Assistant for 18 months. Then I became the top Marketing Trainer and mentor for his Enlightened Millionaire program for six years.

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Last week I met a new friend for lunch. We’re the same age, both child-free, and entrepreneurial. I wanted to know more about her. She wanted to discover more about living an excellent adventure. Tracey’s a graphic designer.

“Do you design websites?” I asked. Many graphic designers do. I was thinking about a client who needs tweaking on his website. I thought I could refer business her way.

She caught me by surprise when she replied, “No, I don’t do web stuff. If you want an ad laid out for a print publication, brochure, a business card or anything in print – that’s what I do.”

It would’ve been easy to say, “Oh, okay,” and drop it. I couldn’t. This woman has big plans. She wants to go places and change the world. And, she needs cash flow to make it happen. Truth is, print to a large degree, is going the way of the dodo bird.

I asked why she didn’t expand her skills to where the greatest demand can be found. She looked at me with resignation in her eyes and said, “My brain is full.” We both laughed.

At 52, we’ve experienced so much technological change. We both remember dial phones and manual typewriters. It’s a struggle keeping up. I’ll stick knitting needles in my eyeballs before keeping up with it all. At least I try to keep growing and expanding my knowledge.

I have another friend, Harold. We’ve been good buddies for years. He’s steadfastly pooh-poohed the expanding role of the Internet, social media, blogs, etc. I don’t know if there’s a connection but his business has been through excruciatingly rough times the last two years. I’ve lent him my copies of “Tribes” by Seth Godin and “Crush it” by Gary Vaynerchuk. I’ve showed him how to set up a fan page on Facebook and a WordPress blog. He still doesn’t quite fathom its vast influence.

You could’ve plunged a dagger into my heart last week when he said he believes a huge movement will turn away from the Internet toward more personal, one-on-one connections. Oh, if it was only true.

Both Tracey and Harold want great things. Each is brilliant and has much to share with the world. Unfortunately, neither are willing to go through the learning curve and change required to make it happen.

If you want to re-design your lifestyle so you can live an excellent adventure and you know you need to create income as you go – the internet is key. Look for a business that’s less about passion and more about efficiency so you can have your excellent adventure while working far less hours. It’s doable and you can make it happen.

Are you champing at the bit when Friday rolls around? Excited to know for 48 hours you can give your crazy work pace a break and chill out?

The purpose of life is to be happy. To create the condition of happiness. It’s also to have an experience that satisfies our curiosity and longing to discover the world around us. First we must give to ourselves. Make ourselves happy. Then we can give to others and make their lives better.

Pretty tough struggle doing that from a cubicle.

Also, challenging with a business where you do the same thing over and over. Having Tupperware parties. Recruiting distributors. Or, selling houses. Over and over.

I get it. It costs money to live. Believe me, I’ve been working since I was 12 years old. I worked through college. I worked through divorce when I was heartbroken. I got to work two days after moving from Detroit to San Diego. I worked when I was married and when I was single. I’ve known disappointing struggle and dizzying success.

I’ve spent many years doing the “work as passion” thing. It feels less like work. Yes, it’s completely possible to love your work. However, no matter how you frame it, some things still feel like work. After all, helping people solve problems is why many businesses exist.

When you wake up if you can’t wait for it to be your day off, maybe you need an excellent adventure. Most home-based business owners never take a day off. We may lighten up on the weekend. But, if you’re truly dedicated and creating cash flow, true days off are far and few between.

Here’s a little homework assignment: go to http://www.bing.com It’s a search engine competing against the big boys: Google and Yahoo. Every day they display a beautiful picture. It might be the skyline of a European city. Fishermen off the coast of India. Or, a gorgeous shot of the Liberty Bell on the Fourth of July.

Mouse over the picture and you’ll see questions appear. Click to discover the answers. You’ll learn about an area of the world perhaps you never considered. There are people living, eating, working there every day. It’s a small, safe, free way to take a mini, five-minute excellent adventure.

Sure, an excellent adventure is far, far bigger. But it’s one tiny way to whet your appetite. Get started now.

Yesterday I mentioned I’m starting to realize what I don’t know, and, what I need to know to make a successful shift to living an excellent adventure. For me it’s a lot of tekky stuff. The minute I just THINK about doing tekky stuff I want to stick knitting needles in my eyeballs.

I tell myself – I’d rather write a few articles. Or, it’s easier to get a new client offline. Or, I’ll do both. Sure, I’ve blogged before. Heck, I’ve been doing online networking for seven years – but now my aim is to make it all an integral part of my business and make it work together. Totally different. And for me, not always fun. Not yet anyway.

Because when I click on a button and it doesn’t work or doesn’t hook together two things that are supposed to hook together – I just want to fall into a heap and cry. I really do.

There is this tendency (I wrote about this in my book) for home-based business owners – especially women, to think they have to research and know everything before they can actually launch and get out there. If they have a business selling lotions and potions they have to know absolutely everything about the product so they can answer any possible question. Right down to the mollecular structure. If a woman wants to start an internet business she wants to study every comparable website out there before making a move.

So, we tend to get understandably upset when we see a guy who doesn’t seem to know nearly as much as us – and they just jump in and scoop up the customers and the market we were researching, studying and planning to get into for so long.

The difference? He may not have the technical knowledge. But he has the confidence perhaps you lack and he took action. You may still be safely ensconced in your comfort zone.

Business is not a research project. It’s about taking action. In fact, life is about taking action, too. What action do you need to take that you’ve been holding off on?

NOTE: Tomorrow’s post will be about “The Paradox of Learning.” Come back for the rest of the story.

1. You think it looks good, but your website probably looks like your little brother designed it. And, don’t go to one of these template businesses. Most people can see them a mile away. You get what you pay for! Look professional!

2. Your business phone answering machine is your house phone and the message is: “Hi…You’ve reached the Smith clan…Mark, Mindy, Mary, and Michael value your call, so please leave message when you hear Ruffy, our dog, bark”! Change it and tell your Mom when she calls not to hang up…she has the right number.

3. Your business cards and stationary were produced with your inkjet printer or are from some spiffy, cut-rate printing service…Once again, you get what you pay for.

4. You only check email three times a week and are not prompt with replies…this goes for phone calls, too. People love to deal with someone who is professional…and, that means being prompt.

5. Not wanting to call anyone outside your area code. Hey, call that guy in Great Britain or on the other side of the country if you think it will benefit you.

6. Banner exchanges, reciprocal links, mail blasters, spamming, etc. The work is NOT worth the return. Nobody really cares about your banner, link, or email blast to 500,000 for $4.95……they only care about theirs!

7. Fearing failure and not having a “failure is not an option” mindset…Attitude is key!

8. Little passion for your business…just doing it to make money….forget success if this is the case and go get another job if you just want money.

9. Buying into the “something for nothing” pitfall on the net. Buying the “silver bullets” of self-proclaimed gurus who promise you something for nothing. Get a real, live Mentor who has “made it”… don’t try to reinvent the wheel!

10. Playing too safe and taking little risk….working hard and not smart.

To find out more about mentoring with me (I’ve mentored over 1,400 people to success the last decade – one at a time) click here now.

By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”

• Do you have a great idea for a business but haven’t launched it?
• Do you feel you don’t know enough about marketing?
• Have you started a business but it hasn’t grown as you hoped?

You’re in good company. Everywhere you turn women are starting businesses leaving behind the corporate world and affording them the opportunity to enjoy greater freedom and more time to share with the people they truly care about. In fact, women are starting businesses at double the rates of men.

I’ve coached thousands of women entrepreneurs and many mistakenly believe if a product or service is of high quality it will sell itself. Not true. If you forget to focus on marketing and selling you don’t have a business – you have an expensive hobby.

There are many ways new business owners can spend money on marketing with no guarantee of results. There are so many choices. Expert guidance working with someone someone who has cracked the code can greatly improve your chances for success. Entrepreneurs want hands-on, step-by-step information that makes your life simple without putting demands on your time.

One of the many marketing ideas I help attendees discover in my workshops is “The Five C’s of Marketing”. They include:
• Love your Customer
• Be Clear
• Do marketing that’s emotionally Compelling
• Be Congruent
• Avoid Confusion

Love Your Customer
This means more than great customer service. Most people are so caught up in their product or service, they never determine who their ideal customer is. They waste time trying to attract everyone, educating skeptics who will never buy, rather than focus on individuals who are perfect for you.

When I ask, “What makes your customer or client tick?” they are at a loss for words. Their energy is going into learning about the product and not their customer.

It’s easy to get caught up in the passion of a product, process or idea. There is no risk or rejection. Determine what you do and who you do it for takes vision and love.

Be Clear
Create a succinct, passionate message. Many people call this “an elevator speech.” If you were on an elevator and noticed the one person who could boost your business, what would you say? If you can’t sum up who you are and what you do in thirty seconds, you’re unclear. Figure it out and offer it how they want to receive it. Clarity will help you attract more ideal customers.

Do Marketing That’s Emotionally Compelling
Your experience of how you overcame obstacles with your product of service can be compelling. People see themselves in your story and think, “Wow! If it worked for her it could work for me.” Marketing should make people say, “I gotta have that.” It tells a story of how you or others solved a problem in an emotionally compelling way.

Take a fresh, new look at your customers and the problems your product or service solves as well as the benefits you offer. Create an exciting marketing message that will build cash flow. This is what I help people do.

Be Congruent in Your Marketing
Being congruent means more than just walking your talk. People sense when the smallest nuance is out of place. You may not even be aware of it, but nothing flows because you’re trying to attract the wrong people. This creates a disconnect between you and potential customers. Get your marketing message flowing in a congruent, clear direction towards the people who are ideal and it will become easy.

Avoid Confusion That Results in a “No”

A confused mind always says, “no.” If your message is confusing people will say “no.” You could have exactly what they need but if they don’t understand how it solves their problem the answer will still be “no.” Read through every word. Look at every message you’re putting out whether it’s verbal or non-verbal and look for little things that might confuse your ideal customer and either change them or eliminate them.

Carpenters often say “measure twice and cut once.” In a way, marketing is like that. When you take time to figure out who your ideal customer is and how your product or service is right for them you will have cracked the code that will lead to greater success and more freedom and fun in your life.

By Denise Michaels

Years ago I worked for a millionaire who said, “Common sense is uncommon, Denise.”

I watch with amazement new women business owners and I see what they become. Sometimes the results are spectacular. Other times they’re not. I meet people in networking meetings, on my teleclasses, at workshops or through emails that lack so much basic common sense I wonder how successful they could ever possibly become.

Daily I get emails and phone messages with no name. How can you form a relationship with people you want to help you if you don’t tell them your name? Doesn’t it make sense a mentor would be more inclined to help people they know, like and appreciate – starting with their name? How will this person ever complete a business transaction?

When making calls to people a couple weeks ago regarding my workshop – even though I just left my name, number and where I met the person – fully two-thirds never called back. All of them say they want more business – so why wouldn’t they return a phone call?

People miss phone meetings because they get confused about which time zone they live in. How will these people ever complete business deals if they can’t keep their own time zone straight?

Make it easy for people to say “yes.” Keep your word and be a person people can count on. Learn how to count time zones. If you do business with people outside the USA, as I occasionally do, learn how to use one of the easy currency converter sites. If you have to miss an appointment, be gracious enough to let the person know. The more you make your request easy and idiot-proof, the more likely you are to get a “yes”. The more difficult you make it, the more likely you are to get a “no.”

A great example was a man who sent me a lengthy email stating he wanted my help with marketing but he was afraid to share his idea because he was ripped off by someone else. I replied, “If you want me to sign a Confidentiality Agreement or anything so you feel comfortable speaking with me, I’m happy to do so.”

His reply said, “Okay, write up a legal agreement, print it, sign it and mail it back to me.” He made it overly difficult to help him so I didn’t.

The piece de resistance was last week. A woman wrote asking if I knew anyone who could help her with her website issues. I contacted a web expert who’s a woman. I gave the web expert the name and contact info of the woman who needed help creating a website. She replied, “Tell her she can call me if she wants to.”

I told her Lesson Numero Uno when someone gives you a referral is to be pro-active and follow up yourself. If you don’t, your referrals will dry up.

Lesson Number Two: go back to the person who referred you, thank them again and share with them what transpired. People who refer you want to see you succeed. They want to know what happened. If anyone helps you, go back and tell them how things turned out when you used their suggestions.

If you want to be successful you must take on success habits. That means not only visionary thinking and the right attitude, but also doing the little things right like returning phone calles. Make it easy for people to say “yes” to doing business with you.

Think about “cause” and “effect”. Think about what you want the experience of doing business with you to be like. What steps can you take to make it easier for prospective customeers to say “yes”? How can you think from their point of view and make it a slam dunk?

When people help you out, do you get back to them, thank them and let them know how their advice turned out? Or, do you act as if you’re somehow entitled and never say a word? Life is easier when you treat others as you want to be treated. It boils down to The Golden Rule.

Do you have a story from your business of someone who didn’t mean to do the wrong thing – but just plain didn’t have any common sense at all?

Take an extra moment to think things through in a way that makes people want to say “yes”. Use that uncommon common sense that’s so rare. Just by doing the right thing – you’ll have a huge advantage over others in your industry.

Denise Michaels is author of the business bestseller, “Testosterone-Free Marketing.” Get your copy by clicking here. And, get Denise’s weekly empowerment and marketing tips by clicking here. Come join Denise Michaels in a movement to empower women business owners like you to be all you can be and to have more joy, more fun and more success in your life.

By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”

Are you willing to admit you’re a cupcake marketer? C’mon, fess up. Confession is good for the soul. After all, admitting you have a problem is the first big step to solving the problem, right?

If you answer yes to any of the questions below – chances are extremely good you’re a cupcake marketer. Here are the telltale signs. Do you:

* Undercharge for your products and services compared to the going market rates? Yes No
(Millions of women do because they don’t trust in themselves, their ability to market and sell or both.)

* You say you do it “to be nice” or “to give back or “to pay it forward?” Yes No
(Your business is not a philanthropy – it’s a business. The purpose of a business is to make money – including a fair profit. Then once you make it if you want to give it to charity – that’s your business. But a business isn’t a charity.)

* Secretly wish you could hire someone to take care of the marketing and selling? Yes No
(You do this because you don’t know testosterone-free ways to market and sell. The highest and best use of time for any home-based business owner is to be selling.)

* Say, “I don’t do my business for the money – I do it for fun?” Yes No
(Which tells the world you’re probably not making much money. There are so many things you can do in the world for fun – travel, spending time with kids or grandkids, sports, hobbies, gourmet cooking, sex – the list goes on and on. Even though business can be a lot of fun – the primary reason is to make money – not fun.)

* Say, “I started my business because I love the product?” Yes No
(I love “Prego Spaghetti Sauce” and “L’Oreal Feria” hair color too but it doesn’t mean I’m going to start a business around it.)

* Try to get other women business owners to give you freebies to help you out? Yes No
(Just curious – how often do you actually BUY products and services from other women business owners? If you’re not buying regularly – you’re contributing to the pink collar ghetto and are a serial cupcake marketer.)

* Secretly (or not so secretly) you get upset if another women business owner refuses to give you freebies? Yes No
(Damn! Your plan to create money without spending any isn’t working. She’s not making it fun for you! If you feel you can’t control the situation – it happens because you don’t know testosterone-free ways to market or sell.)

* If they say “no” to giving you freebies do you run around and tell others online? Yes No
(Okay, you’re a cupcake marketer and a backstabber when you don’t get your way.)

* Are your finances tight yet you keep telling yourself if you give things away (or undercharge) it’ll all work out and come back to you eventually? Yes No
(Karma does come back around – but not always the way we want it.)

* Are you an MLMer, DMer or party plan gal signed up for more than one business opportunity, yet you aren’t making real money you can actually live on at any of ‘em? Yes No
(My marketing rule number one is “a confused mind says no.” When people see you’re home-based, with no staff and in more than one business they’re less likely to buy anything from you.)

* Do you see dollar signs when someone says, “You don’t have to sell the product – you just have to share the product?” Yes No
(You should run the other direction. It’s a lie.)

Here’s how to score your results:

1-3 YES Answers: Admit it, you’re a cupcake marketer. You’re learning a lot about your business, having a great time and you just know that things will come around and the dollars will start rolling in soon. But even if they don’t – you’re having fun and that’s what’s most important, right?

4-6 YES Answers: You got it bad girrrrrl. You keep a happy smile on your face and you still LOVE the product(s) or services you offer. But there are time when you’re a little discouraged. You believe if you keep doing what you’re doing it’ll all work out and come back to you. After all, isn’t that what “attracting” is about? Thank God your (pick one) husband, savings, 401k are there to keep the bills paid. For awhile anyway.

7-9 YES Answers: You’re a lifer. You’ve been doing serial businesses for years now. You haven’t quite found one where you don’t have to SELL the product or service you just SHARE it. However, you keep looking and hoping and telling others everything is “Fabulous!” with your current business.

10 or more YES Answers: You’re either homeless, couch-surfing or you have a very patient husband, boyfriend or partner picking up the tab. You don’t make enough money to even pay for groceries. No biggie, if you made a bunch of money either you wouldn’t be happy or you’d leave the jerk, anyway.

Denise Michaels is author of the business bestseller, “Testosterone-Free Marketing.” Get your copy by clicking here. And, get Denise’s weekly empowerment and marketing tips by clicking here. Come join Denise Michaels in a movement to empower women business owners like you to be all you can be and to have more joy, more fun and more success in your life.

In tomorrow’s post I’ll break cupcake marketing down into smaller crumbs so you can understand why you do it a little better and help you get on the road to recovery.

By Denise Michaels

A couple days ago I wrote about something I dubbed, “cupcake marketing.” Women business owners who tend to expect everything free because they’re not so good at making decisions about their own business and hence they never have any money. So, they give everything away free – and then, they expect you to do the same because you’re a woman. They wouldn’t dare ask a man to do the same – but they expect you, a woman business owner to jump at the chance.

One woman commented in a Facebook message that she had three people today who EXPECTED her to give away her products for free. Can you imagine the gall? Expected her. Not even very polite. More threatening than anything else.

I told this woman if so many people are asking her for freebies that there’s gotta be something about her demeanor, her message or something that people seem to expect it. She needs to check in with what she’s doing first to see what it is about the impression or perception she’s giving off that’s creating that result. She can’t control others but she can certainly control what she does.

In my business, I don’t get a lot of this. But I hear it happening with other women a great deal.

I recently had someone start up a chat with me on Facebook. She was singing the blues about her financial situation – most of which I know is a result of not this recession but very poor decision making. She has a husband and two kids from a previous husband that are in her parents custody. She wanted money from me. She wasn’t even trying to sell me something just wanted a donation as if I’m some kind of patsy or something. I said, “Please, don’t ask me.”

She shot back, “Okay, I’ll just tell others you don’t care about mothers with children.”

Wow!

We need to learn what it truly means to support other women business owners. It means BUYING their product/service and paying for it. Not expecting freebies all the time That’s one way we can really step toward getting out of the pink collar ghetto of struggle and financial dependence.

Here’s the deal: you aren’t a charity. The women you know who are business owners – they’re not a charity either. No matter how much you may be struggling at the moment and would like someone to just write you a check. It’s not going to happen because you’re not a charity and you’re not a victim. Stop expecting others to treat you like one. Start learning how to market and sell effectively. Treat your business like a business and set the intention that others do the same.

I give money to charitable programs all the time. I give a monthly donation to public radio. I give money to efforts that help the homeless. I gave ten percent of the proceeds from my workshop last week to the charity Dress for Success helps women entering or re-entering the work force with training and a business-appropriate wardrobe. Occasionally, I’ll give money or help to someone who doesn’t ask for it but I can tell really could use it.

Last week I had someone offer to do a professional makeover on me: she’s a makeup artist. It was fun, I learned some great new tips and tricks that made my face look better. When it was done I purchased $100 worth of her cosmetics from her. They’re pretty high end so $100 didn’t buy everything but it’s a good start and an empowering way I could show support for her business. Click here to see Lisa Monette’s line of amazing OLA products. I supported her by buying her product – and when I’m ready I’ll buy more.

Many women have the mistaken notion supporting other women means offering a hug and a listening ear. Well, it does. But if you do only that – and then stop at the Estee Lauder counter to buy cosmetics – it’s not enough. Buy products and services from other women business owners. Tell other women to buy their products, too. When you do you’re setting up the Universal flow of prosperity and abundance so people are more likely to buy from you. If you’re a cupcake marketer and always expect freebies – the Universe gets that your mindset is in lack. And you get to have more lack. Don’t let it happen. Don’t be a cupcake marketer. Or, do things that attracts other cupcakes, too.

Denise Michaels is author of the business bestseller, “Testosterone-Free Marketing.” Get your copy by clicking here. And, get Denise’s weekly empowerment and marketing tips by clicking here. Come join Denise Michaels in a movement to empower women business owners like you to be all you can be and to have more joy, more fun and more success in your life.