Focus on Your Highest and Best Use of Time
Published September 24, 2009 | 
By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”
Living life on purpose means making conscious choices about how to spend your time in business and in life – every hour of the day. These are lofty words but I felt it would be valuable to give our women business owner readers a sense of how to keep living on purpose when stuff happens. Because when you get rocked off your foundation and dragged off on a tangent it can shake your confidence. The opposite of feeling empowered.
About ten years ago I got a big “a-ha” when I was working with a mega-bestselling author. Someone wanted to do a certain business deal with him. He didn’t want to do it. He said to the person at the other end of the phone line, “I’m not going to do this deal with you. And it’s not because it’s not a good proposal – it is. I’m confident you’ll make a lot of money with it. But here’s why I’m bowing out: over the years I’ve discovered it only makes sense for me to get involved with projects and ideas I’m really passionate about. I can see you’re passionate about it – and that’s good. But I’m not. So I’m going to pass because I want to keep my energy, resources and everything else focused on the things I’m really good at. Those few things I have a deep passion about.”
Overhearing that conversation turned me around. I got clarity, focus and started thinking differently about all the business deals and opportunities pitched to me by other women. As if we all have unlimited time and can keep stuffing more and more into our already over-stressed, over-stuffed lives. We don’t. It’s a great example of making a conscious choice and living on purpose.
How many times have you been approached by someone abuzz with a network marketing company or direct selling. They say something like, “If you love the product you should consider becoming a distributor.” Or here’s a good one: “You can do the business in your spare time.”
My reply, “What spare time?” I’m already having a tough time fitting in an hour to go to the gym and maybe spend a little quality time with my husband now and then whom I love dearly. How am I supposed to fit in time for another business?”
It might make perfect sense to a lot of people, but now that I have the clarity from that experience – it’s about the dumbest stuff I’ve ever heard. After all, I might love Prego Spaghetti Sauce but that doesn’t mean I’m interested in selling it as a business. Please don’t take this as if I have something against networking businesses – I don’t. Many people enjoy satisfying and successful businesses in MLM and that’s fine. I’m only speaking from my experience.
For women who are promoting a business – if you can show your prospects how your product, service or business opportunity IS the highest and best use of time and is in alignment with their core values – you will build your organization much faster. I use this approach in my own sales and about 75-80 percent of the time they happily say “yes.”
So keep your eye and our focus on what really matters, we can more easily judge what we want to put our valuable time into. We can discern that which feeds our passions and provides us with satisfaction no matter how much money we’re making – and which detracts from our lives.
PS: Visit http://www.EmpowerUAcademy.com and get my free marketing and empowerment tips today. Fast, free and delivered to your inbox.
Posted in Confidence for U | 
business, Confidence for U, Denise Michaels, empowered, focus, owner, purpose, testosterone-free | 
Leave a commentBoomer Women: Great Target Market for Your Business
Published September 22, 2009 | DMM: Whose your target market? Are you marketing to one of the largest audiences in America with more disposable income than any other demographic group? It’s baby boomers. The people who are the best “fit” for my products and services are generally women business owners age 40-65. Much to the chagrin of some Gen Y and Gen X folks – we aren’t going away any time soon.
Okay, some of us wear mom jeans and still wear a wrist watch. We are still care about buying products and services. The short article below from Entrepreneur Magazine will give you a little more of an idea of the power of marketing to boomers
A baby boomer turns 50 every 7 seconds–joining a population segment that will grow by 25 percent in the next decade while other segments remain flat.
Matt Thornhill, founder of consulting firm The Boomer Project, which helps businesses reach adults born between 1946 and 1964, says it’s time for marketers to recalibrate their thinking about marketing to older adults. Boomers are a dynamic group that’s much more open to new experiences and brands than previous generations of older adults have been. Stephanie Lakhani found that to be true at her upscale Breathe Wellness Spasin Boise, Idaho. Catering primarily to boomers, the two spas bring in about $1.2 million per year. She says boomers are an excellent target, with disposable income and a tendency to refer business. “They expect perfect service,” says Lakhani, 35, who adds, “They tend to travel and buy in groups, so giving them an incentive to refer a friend in the form of an upgrade or a thank you [gesture] works very well. They are also very responsive to direct mail.”
Thornhill adds that marketers should target boomers by what they’re doing instead of how old they are. “Boomers are living such cyclical lives. In their 40s or 50s, they could be going back to college, be empty nesters or be married a second time and raising a young family,” he explains. “You wouldn’t sell the same vacation package to all these people. So pick the lifestyle segment you’re targeting, and focus on that.”
Posted in Uncategorized | boomer, business, Denise Michaels, home-based, marketing, targeting, testosterone-free, woman | 4 CommentsBe the Change You want to See in Your Business
Published September 20, 2009 | By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”
After years of mentoring clients and leading teleclasses and workshops I’ve encountered many personalities among women business owners. Frequently I meet people excited, optimistic and confident about the possibilities to market and grow their business. But every time I talk with them they don’t seem like they’re moving forward. They smile and say all right things – but something holds them back from getting the good they say they want.
So it’s with apologies that you see above in the headline I’ve butchered Ghandi’s famous quote, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
If I had a nickel for every aspiring business owner who said, “Denise, I’ve read books, listened to audios and spent thousands on seminars. I should be a millionaire by now.” The missing link between buying knowledge and achieving confidence, abundance, health and anything else is taking action.
If you start an exercise program and go for a fifteen minute walk four times a week, you will get one result. Let’s say you start a different fitness program. You start eating healthier and gradually work up to running thirty minutes every day. And, you train with weights. The second fitness program will give you a different result. It’s about “cause and effect” again.
Let’s say you apply your energy to solving a specific problem. How you implement solutions impacts your results. One choice is to do nothing, toss up your hands and say, “I don’t know where to start,” Doing is key. Another choice is to say, “I can’t wait to see what good will come of this” and take proactive steps forward. You’ll get a different result. It’s all about cause and effect.
Yes, sometimes taking action is a little scary. I understand. It’s easier to spend time wandering aimlessly – considering different possibilities and ideas. After all, you never have to face rejection or failure that way. I say these people are spinning in the world of ideas. The ideas all look enticing – but you never enjoy the benefits until you pick a direction and take decisive action.
Most people who become wealthy do so because they take the same ideas (cause) and move energy, creating an effect. Some are motivated and go for it on their own. Others are smart enough to realize they needed help and mentorship to help them develop their strategy and ideas, support them when blocks come up and hold them accountable.
When you listen actively do you consider:
• How can I take this idea and use it to work for me?
• What would happen if I just went ahead and did it?
• How can I take this idea and push it even further to the next level?
• How can I customize this idea to my business and my needs?
• What obstacles are in my way? How can I remove them?
• How can I create a system that doesn’t require hands-on involvement?
• Will this idea help me create more of what I want?
What effects are you creating? Do you communicate clearly? Are you building positive relationships in business so you get the results you want and the cash flow, too? Are you looking for ways to put knowledge into action?
One of my favorite quotes by Albert Einstein is, “Insanity means doing things the way you’ve always done them and expecting a different result.” Your willingness to put cause and effect into action will help you take action and get the results you deserve.
Get my free mentoring and empowerment tips at http://www.EmpowerUAcademy.com Great information, very helpful right at your fingertips.
Posted in Personal Growth | abundance, business, change, confident, Denise Michaels, result, testosterone-free | 4 CommentsNo-fluff Marketing Magic for Women Workshop
Published September 12, 2009 | By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”
I’m really excited. This has all just started coming together in the last few days – but I’m thrilled to share with you that I’m going to be conducting a really great workshop on Monday November 2nd, her in Las Vegas.
I’m 100 percent confident when you walk away you’ll see your business and your role in it in a totally different way. You’ll get insights and ahas – that will blow you away and you’ll finally say, “Wow! I can really DO this!!”
It’s not just because I give you step-by-step instructions. It’s also because my aim is to open you up to understand why marketing must be a testosterone-free endeavor for most women. And chances are so far you’ve only been bombarded by testosterone-heavy marketing. It was designed by and for men.
Let’s be honest – marketing and selling is all about:
* Good communication skills
* Good relationship building skills
* Good problem-solving skills
… and men and women do these things in totally different ways.
You never have to put up with feeling like you’re pushy, manipulative or too forward to be successful anymore. Yes, you absolutely can do it – starting now…
Go to http://denisemichaels.com/events/ or click on the little, tiny link at the top of this page that says “Events” for more information, the workshop fee and how to register.
I’d love to have you there so you benefit from what I know.
Offline Marketing Today – Out and About
Published September 11, 2009 | By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”
I’m always bouncing back and forth between working online and offline to bring attention to my message and gain more people interested in my message and what I do.
Today is an offline day – It’s 6:53 am and in five minutes I need to jump in the shower and get ready to drive across town for a networking breakfast. It’s a long way to go -but it’s a really great meeting and a lot of people have purchased my book and taken an interest in my Testosterone-Free Marketing message. It’s with a group I joined a few months ago called Defining Women Network*. Empowering, fun and they really do business with each other.
Then, I have two meetings at the brand new “M” resort – a gorgeous place. They have a huge lobby area that overlooks the pool and a few miles away you can see the legendary Las Vegas strip. It’s far enough away from the ubiquitious casinos we have out here that you don’t hear the clanging bells that are part of the casino scene.
It’s elegant and lovely in a clean, modern, zen kind of way – I’m going to wrap up my laptop and take it with me and work there for awhile. My guess is they won’t have wifi access – but I have a writing project I need to complete for a client – so I can do that offline. I crave opportunities to work in lovely, elegant settings. I like my office at home – just painted it and redecorated a few weeks ago. But in comparison this space is opulent. It inspires me and encourages me to think abundant thoughts and ideas. I encourage you to find ways to work in lovely settings outside of your office to inspire you. Then, I’ll bounce back home before the rush hour starts.
The meetings are sort of “getting to know you” kind of meetings – but I’m hoping one of the two will become a marketing mentoring client.
Have a great day yourself – whatever you’re doing. Holy cow – I’ve got 15 minutes to shower, get dressed, put on makeup and get out the door. Gotta fly!
To find out about my exciting workshop coming up Monday November 2nd click here. Also, make sure you sign up for my free marketing and empowerment tips by clicking here.
PS: Defining Women has seven groups in the Las Vegas area and one in Salem OR – if you’d like more info go to http://www.DefiningWomenNetwork.com
Posted in Uncategorized | Adventurous Women, book, business, Denise Michaels, empowering, marketing, mentoring, offline, online, testosterone-free | 1 CommentAsk Your Customers about Why they Buy
Published September 9, 2009 | “I’ve learned that you’ll never be disappointed if you always keep an eye on uncharted territory, where you’ll be challenged and growing and having fun.”
~ Kirstie Alley
By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”
As a home-based business owner you can learn so much by going back and talking with your current customers and people who haven’t bought from you yet. The information you gather from these people can be hugely helpful to you when you develop new marketing appeals. Here are a several thoughts to guide you:
- Have you surveyed your current and previous customers to find out who they are and how to reach more of them?
- Have you asked your current and past customers why they bought from you – from their point of view? You can use those buying reasons in future marketing efforts.
- Have you asked the people who didn’t buy from you to learn who they are? What they have in common? And, why they didn’t buy? Some simply may not be ideal customers – but with others you can eliminate those reasons in future marketing efforts.
- Feel a little bit queasy about asking someone why they didn’t buy? Don’t be. In 99.4 percent of cases it’s not personal. It’s usually because they didn’t understand something (which often can give you a chance to sell again) or because there’s something about what you offered which didn’t quite fit what they need.
- Simply say, “I just want to ask you a couple questions because I’m learning and I sincerely want to do better.” I’ve never had anyone say no when I’ve said it in a real spirit of wanting to improve myself and my business.
Want to learn step-by-step ways to convert more traffic and sell more online? Get your copy of my amazing e-book, “Secrets of Money-Marking Sales Letters” at http://www.SalesLetterEbook.com If you’re willing to do what it takes to sell more products and services with integrity discover the right business model to convert traffic that many advertising “experts,” web designers and marketing “experts” will never tell you.
To find out about my exciting workshop coming up Monday November 2nd click here. Also, make sure you sign up for my free marketing and empowerment tips by clicking here.
Health, Happiness and Abundance
Published September 5, 2009 | “Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”
- Buddha
Denise Michaels, Author, ‘Testosterone-Free Marketing”
Health, wealth and happiness. That’s what living a successful life is all about.
The quote by Buddha is about that elusive word: “balance.” I believe we can have it all but not necessarily all at the same time. If you’re busy being a great parent you probably don’t have the time to start a Fortune 500 company – but it doesn’t mean you can’t have a successful, home-based enterprise.
Notice the first word in this quote is “health.” As a woman, it’s easy to get so busy with your life and your business that taking care of your health goes to the bottom of the list. When I take an hour a day to exercise I actually accomplish more all day long. So, exercise isn’t just a way of taking care of my body. It also seems to help me take care of my mind.
Posted in Health for U | busy, Denise Michaels, exercise, Health for U, successful, testosterone-free, woman | 1 CommentWelcome!
Dedicated to every 40+ person still kickin' it. If you have dreams and adventures you refuse to abandon - follow me on the journey. Life is one big adventure! Make yours excellent.
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