10 Ways To Get Your Message In Front Of Your Customers

Here is a checklist of 10 ways to get your message in front of your customers. 

1) Get New Business From Existing Customers. Ask existing clients for more biz before you try warming up a stone cold lead.  Ask the happy clients for referrals to people they know that you don’t – and be sure to keep track of who referred whom.

2) Pitch a Stranger. It’s like bad advertising when you blow hot air when pitching to a new prospect.  In face-to-face mediating you’ve got to know what to say, and say it with conviction.

3) Give It To Me Straight.  No one has time for the “warm-up”. Prepare well honed phrases and practice them in front of a mirror.  People like it when you can get to the point rapidly and intelligently.  If it’s by email, make sure they don’t have to scroll down to read it all.

4) Talk About Your Failures.  Seriously! It builds credibility.  Everyone can’t be perfect all the time, and when you can tell a prospect why you lost a client and what you’ve learned it’s a welcome change.  They appreciate not getting the usual hot air & razzle-dazzle.Then...tell them about a success.

5) Offer a “Loss-Leader”.  People are less and less apt to buy impulsively from a person if they don’t have a good feeling about them.  Offering a loss-leader allows the relationship to mature over time.  This is very important in B2B clients. (Loss-leader is the practice of offering a product or service at a considerable discount and loss of profit to attract future business.)

6) Get Sold Yourself.  Pick the most successful competitors in your area and let them sell you.  Play customer and be aware of how you feel during each step, and see why their approach works so well.  Auto-makers buy each others cars and break them down to nuts and bolts.  You can do the same thing in your space.

7) Start an E-mail Newsletter.  This is much like #5.  Give them useful information week in and week out, or month in and month out.  Make them happy to see your name in the “from” field.  If they only hear from you when you want something, they’ll turn you off when they hear from you.

8) Develop How-To video tips. If you don’t have a You Tube channel...create one. You Tube is the second largest search engine behind Google.

9) Offer Testimonials.  Satisfied clients or customers can say things about you that you can never believable say about yourself.  Use the person’s full name if possible when doing this.  “KM from Buffalo” isn’t nearly as strong as “Kenneth Moore from Buffalo”.

10) Ask Questions.  I can’t emphasize enough how important and how underused this tip is in business.  Simply allowing people to verbalize their needs makes them happy and tells them you listen.  It also allows you to hone in on the points to make when it’s your turn to talk.

It’s strange, but we become so busy doing business that we have a tendency to overlook what’s in front of our noses.  Most of the tips listed, would come about if we ever had the time to visit with our customers while doing business.

Change your Mindset and Change your Results,

Rich

Why We Need Mentors

As Gandhi once said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Mentors can be a force of change and they can influence many people, including you.

"Mentoring", this Greek term has been used in countless ways but it all refers to the same idea, giving guidance and advice to another person. 

Let’s take a quick look at where and what it means to be a mentor. 

It comes from the story of Homer and when he left on his journey, he asked his friend “Mentor” to look after his son. 

It means that this is a committed relationship between a young person and an adult. The adult has the patience to teach the young person whatever he knows from life and about life. 

It is the adult's responsibility to provide support, assistance, and guidance as the younger one faces new challenges and problems everyday. 

Mentors usually take the role of the parents when the parent is busy or unavailable during the critical stages of a person's life. 

Mentors are needed because they can be a positive influence on the mentee who is learning from them. 

There are two types of mentoring; the first is natural mentoring and the second is planned mentoring. 

Natural mentoring can come from everyday situations where anyone can be your mentor. You can learn through friendship, through teaching, or through counseling. 

Planned mentoring comes from a structured program where the mentor and the mentee are matched through a formal procedure. 

Mentoring is becoming increasingly popular in the workforce as well as for personal development. 

This is partly due to various testimonials among people who have tried it and found it has many advantages they both got out of the mentoring program. 

Mentors give back to society and make career growth, personal development, or intellectual achievement possible for the person they are mentoring. 

Mentoring is very helpful in the workplace because mentors can provide the necessary insights and perspectives on what a person should do to achieve his goals. 

A mentor is also a very helpful option in your personal development because the mentor can help you during tough personal and social stress and offer guidance just when you need it the most.

Why become a Mentor?

Ralph Waldo Emerson stated that, "You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." 

Mentors are doing kindness when they take on the responsibility of helping other people learn from their experiences. 

A very nice quote from an unknown author read, "A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could." 

The mentor does just that, they believe that their mentees can do it. This, in itself, is usually encouragement enough for the mentee to do their best to succeed in life.

Change your Mindset and Change your Results,

Rich

5 Simple Steps To Boost Your Business With Positive Thinking

We all know how powerful our mind is. By being pessimistic, you attract negative things into your life. But by being optimistic, you are opening up your life to positive opportunities. 

I was leading a workshop with entrepreneurs and business owners and asked; “what are the 10 qualities of a great customers?” After they shared with the group, I asked them to circle the traits they themselves were doing. Guess how many they were doing? Not many, But 

"if you do what you value...then you will attract them."

Sounds like a great business strategy doesn’t it? But how does positive thinking work exactly? How can you boost your business with positive thinking?

There are a number of different ways you can utilize your positive mind for your business. However, don’t make the assumption that your mind will do all the work for you. You will also have to do something yourself to boost your business. Why don’t you try out some of these suggestions now and see where they take you? 

1) Be generous with praises.

Your business is not just a one-man team. It may consist of two to even a hundred members, depending on how large your company is. It is because of this that you have to learn how to give praises. 

Studies have shown that employees work better with positive reinforcement rather than harsh criticism. Not to say that you’re no longer allowed to give out constructive criticism. You’ll just have to be more careful with your words and even your timing. 

Some companies actually make a conscious effort to start and end their days with praise. You might be surprised at how a simple, “good job, Eric” can boost employee performance. 

2) Look at the brighter side.

Sometimes, things don’t go the way you expect them to. Perhaps this month’s sales have dropped 10% or maybe you’ve had a string of bad luck when it comes to your customers. But these are not reasons to give up and let depression take over. 

Look at the brighter side. You can put a positive spin on things if you simply look at the situation in a different light. Take the time to assess what has been happening in your company lately and make the necessary steps to fix the gaps. 

Perhaps this is life’s way of saying that you are now ready for bigger challenges or innovative solutions, and thus, ready for bigger percentage growth. As you overcome each situation, your business becomes stronger and more dependable. 

3) Put up positive posters.

Another way to boost your business with positive thinking is by putting up motivational posters in your office. You don’t have to cover every inch of your wall with them. Just a few copies in strategic locations would do. 

Maybe you can put one up by the lounge or one by the rest room. There are a lot of fun designs and fun words to choose from. Motivational posters are even considered art by some people. If you don’t have the budget to look for those framed posters, you can always just print a positive statement on a piece of bond paper and post it on the bulletin board. 

4) Sponsor positive thinking seminars.

Companies often send their employees out for business seminars. However, only a few actually expose their staff to positive thinking or motivational seminars. You can put up as many posters as you want or be so positive yourself, but it might be difficult for the others to grasp the concept. 

So why not give them the opportunity to soak it all up from the people who know the positive thinking strategy very well? After the seminar, you can ask those who attended to create reports. You can see for yourself just how much of their perspective will have changed. 

Lightbulb moment: You can ask those same people to lead positive thinking seminars in your own company in the future!

5) Encourage positive values in the office.

While it is not your duty to instill positive values in your employees, it will probably help your business grow if you do. It’s always better to work with people who are on the same page as you. 

So how do you encourage positive values in the office? Well, a lot of people like to have an employee of the month system. However, you can take the idea one step further and perhaps add a few more to the roster. 

How about giving rewards to the person who has the best customer relations or the person who is the most determined. You don’t have to give out huge prizes, but you can at least acknowledge that these values are highly recognized in your company.  

These are just the various ways you can boost your business with positive thinking. Ultimately, it starts with you. It is then adopted by the people you meet and work with. 

That’s the beauty of positive thinking. You can pass what you know to other people and they in turn will pass it to others. Your business, being a hub for positive thinking, will definitely draw in more customers. There’s something different about a business that is filled with positive aura. You can easily make your own business a positive haven just by following the suggestions mentioned above. 

When you Change Your Mindset…You Will Change Your Results,

Rich

Leadership Is Not Motivation by Intimidation

I have been around CEO’s who believe, leadership is all about power. In fact, in speaking to people in D.C. they have something they call “Potomac Fever”. What is it?…Power.

Taken to the extreme, I have seen leaders and CEO’s use their power as a club. Leadership is not about getting what you want using fear. Leadership is not “Motivation by Intimidation.”

It is about encouraging and coaching others towards the goal of the organization and themselves. It is about getting everyone on the same page and helping him or her see the big picture of the organization. You must be a leader not a boss.

People follow others when they see a clear sense of purpose. People will only follow you if they see that you know where you are going.

If you do not know where you're headed, why would people follow you? Imagine having a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Imagine the box does not have a picture of what the completed puzzle looks like. Leaders must have a vision of what the future looks like and communicate it.

Being a leader is not about what you make others do. It's about who you are, what you know, and what you do. You are a reflection of what you're subordinates must be.

Studies have shown that one trait of good leadership is the trust and confidence your subordinates have in you. Trust and confidence is built on good relationships, trustworthiness, and high ethics.

Once you have their trust and confidence, you may now continue to communicate the goals and objectives you are to undertake.

Communication is a very important key to good leadership. The knowledge and technical expertise you have must be clearly communicated to other people. You must be able to assess situations, weigh the pros and cons of any decision, and actively seek out an answer.

Leaders are not do-it-all heroes. You should not claim to know everything, and you should not rely upon your skills alone. You should recognize the skills and talents your subordinates have. Only when you come to this realization will you be able to work as one cohesive unit.

The bottom line is this…"Leadership is Not Motivation by Intimidation...It is Through Inspiration.”

Change your Mindset and Change your Results,

Rich

Are You Stuck In The Comfort Zone?

Have you ever been stuck in the comfort zone? We all have at one or another in our life. One of the people I coach as part of my mastermind group asked me; " How can I get out of my comfort zone?" I told him to answer these seven questions.

1) What do I really want?

Interesting, to know we rarely take time to figure this out. What do you really want to do with your life.  Figure out what you enjoy doing and be the you that you want to be.

2) Do I really want to change?

Asking yourself this question will help you decide if you are already doing something that you do well and enjoy.  Maybe you just aren't focused on a part of your life that you'd like to see grow.

3) What's the positive intent?

With so much happening around us we think there is no room for even considering  there might be light at the end of the tunnel. Look for the positive intent and by the way there is always one...if you allow yourself to find it. 

4) Am I OK with what I'm doing?

Sometimes we end doing something for someone else and not for ourselves. Are you trying to please them or yourself?  

5) Am I happy where I am right now?

If the answer is yes, then grab onto this and be the best you can be.  

6) How much could I have?

Here is what I want to say to you...Be a pig! Because in this case there is no such thing as having too much or too little, but it's more about on how much you want it. 

7) What motivates me?

What motivates you? I cannot nor can anyone else motivate you. It's an answer you have to discover for yourself. 

Seek and you will find the answer in you...it has always been there...waiting for the opportunity to answer...when asked. 

Go ahead...ask.

 Remember When You Change Your Mindset...You Change Your Results!

Rich

Stop Making The Same Mistakes...Make New Ones

A friend of mine said to me the other day.  “I wish we would make new mistakes...instead of making the same mistakes.” I started to think about what he said and realized the lesson we could all learn from this statement.

Have you ever held back on doing something because you were afraid of failure?  Most people have!  Lets face it; no one likes to fail.  None of us likes to feel like were ineffective, weak or lacking in any way, and that ís exactly how failure makes us feel.

However, you may be surprised to know that failure doesn't exist until YOU say it does. In the dictionary, failure has several definitions:  

•  Failing to do or perform  
•  A state of inability to perform a normal function adequately 
•  Giving way under stress  
•  A lack of success.

Look carefully at those definitions and you'll probably realize they have one thing in common when it comes to goal achievement:  Failure is a PERCEPTION.

Think about this... we were not born with this perception. If we were...all of us would still be crawling because learning to walk means failing before we succeed.

The moment you decide to give up or stop working toward your goals, failure is born.

But what if you never do that?  What if you continue working toward your goals, one step at a time for as long as it takes?  There ís no failure then, is there?

This insight should be very encouraging if you’ve been working toward goals and not yet seeing positive results.  Simply keep going and you cannot fail!

Here are three tips to help you stay strong and focused on your goals:

1) Never give yourself an out.  

Most people do this without even realizing it.  They are willing to work hard on achieving their goals, until the going gets too rough or their motivation dwindles.  Don’t do that!  Commit to making your goals happen, no matter what!  Never quit, never contemplate admitting failure, and never lose your inner determination.

2) Don’t get hooked on a specific timeframe for completion.  

It ís okay to set a general timeline, but be aware that some circumstances will be beyond your control, so you can’t say for sure when your goal will be achieved.  If you do that, you are just setting yourself up for failure!  Instead, get a general idea of when you would like your goal to be completed, but then take it a day at a time and focus on making progress, not reaching the finish line in as little time as possible.

3) Finally, be sure that you don’t view obstacles and setbacks as failures.  

The two are completely different.  An obstacle, setback or delay means only one thing:  it ís not time for your goal to be completed yet.  That ís it!  It doesn’t mean you failed; it doesn’t mean you are weak; it does not mean you will never achieve your goals.  It simply means you are not done yet.  You have got to keep moving forward and find a way around or through the obstacle.

Failing happens when we fall into this trap:

• If you believe you have failed...then you have.  
• If you believe you do not have the ability to succeed...then you don’t.  
• If you believe you cant handle the pressure of achieving your goals...you cant.  
• If you believe you are not successful... you are not.  

Failure only exists in your own mind!  

“Do and Do Not”...”Can and Cannot” are choices...which one will you choose?

Change Your Mindset and Change Your Results,

Rich

How To Master 6 Areas of Personal Time Management

Personal time management is a major step you can take to improving your life. There are six areas of personal time management that can improve anyone's life.

The six areas are physical, intellectual, social, career, emotional and spiritual.

1. The physical part involves having a healthy body, less stress and more energy
2. The intellectual part involves learning and other mental growth actions.
3. The social part involves developing personal relations and being an active contributor to society.
4. The career part involves school and work.
5. The emotional part involves feelings and desires and manifesting them.
6. The spiritual part involves a personal search for meaning in your life.

Each area contributes to create the whole you. If you are ignoring one area then you are ignoring an essential piece of yourself.

Here are a few easy steps to take in learning time management and improving your personal life.

• Always decide which task is essential and which one’s are not necessary in achieving your goals and which activities are helping you to have a balanced life style.
• Learn to say..."No"
• Celebrate and recognize yourself when you get an effective time management result.
• Respect other people by practicing to “Treat others the way you want to be treated.”
• Use the 80/20 rule. Find 2 hours a day. Close your door and turn off all the electronics. You will be amazed at how productive you will be.
• Have a positive attitude and set yourself up for success. But be realistic in your approach in achieving your goals.
• Find time in your day to be grateful and meditate.

Change your Mindset and Change your Results,

Rich

How To See The Sunrise and Sunset Differntly

I have a friend out in San Diego that has a home in the mountains...his place is called “Sunrise Ranch.” As you would suspect, there is a reason this awesome place has this name. Every time I have been there, I grab a cup of coffee early in the morning and sit outside facing “east” waiting for the sun to rise over the mountains. 

In this moment of silence...I think of the possibilities. From a Native American perspective the “east” represents “new beginnings” the past is gone...tomorrow is not here but this moment brings..whatever I decide to do with it.

What are your thoughts for the new day? Do you tend to let your outer circumstances set the tone for each day?  Do you allow other people and events to trigger feelings of anger, frustration, impatience and more?  

When you do this, you are not using the power you have available to you!  By using the power of the “east”, you can turn every day into a great day.  One way to do that is by using intentions and visualization to create your day.

When you first wake up in the morning, spend 10 minutes or so thinking about the things you are grateful for having. Think about the types of things you would like to experience that day.  

• How would you like your workday to go? 
• What kind of people would you like to meet?  
• Would you like to receive some great opportunities to advance your career or financial situation? 
• How would you like to feel for the majority of your day?

Grab a blank journal or notebook and jot these details down!  Once you have gotten all the details written down, spend a few minutes vividly imagining each scenario in your mind, exactly as you would like it to happen.  Pretend you are watching a movie in your mind, play it in color, make it big, seeing it all play out exactly as you would like it to.

Most importantly, allow yourself to feel as if they were actually happening now.  Immerse yourself in feelings of excitement, joy, happiness and gratitude as you enjoy one great experience after another.  Use this same process for every experience you would like to have that day.

By the time you have finished you should be feeling fantastic; buzzing with good spirits and high expectations!

Then continue with your normal routine, taking special care not to be attached to any specific events or experiences, just simply staying open to whatever comes.  Keep affirming that great things are going to happen to you that day, and you feel great about all of the blessings and abundance in your life.

At the same time, avoid getting entangled in feelings of worry, anxiety, frustration, and anger as much as possible throughout the day because those feelings will interfere with the positive energy you have already put out.

As often as you can remember, call to mind images of the things you visualized earlier and allow good feelings to flow over you again.  Affirm and know that wonderful things are happening, even if you don not see them quite yet.

By using this process on a daily basis, you will eventually start to notice that good things are starting to happen.  You will find yourself being in the right place at the right time and generally enjoying greater opportunities and abundance.

Each evening sit facing the sunset and this is looking to the “west.” In a Native American way this is where it is time for introspection. Think about your day. If it did not turn out the way you wanted...replay the way you would have wanted. Do this and your life will never be the same.

Be the Difference!

Rich

The Best Plan is...Todays

Today...this moment...the now...is your only concern. You have no control over tomorrow or yesterday. Today you are going to get the most of your working day while working to improve your personal life. 

To do this you will need to set time plans and you must spend your time wisely. Learn to live for NOW, instead of tomorrow or yesterday. 

In your time management plans, make sure to include your daily activities, work, entertainment, relax time, family time and so on. 

As you write your plans, consider how you will deal with the world around you. 

If you are sweating the worlds every move, you see on the T.V. news, you are wasting time. Instead, focus on your world, where you can make a difference. 

At work, practice dealing with your fellow employees respectively and do the same with your personal life. When you learn to respect...it makes everyone’s life better. 

Each day you want to choose a 2 or 3 new strategies that helps you to improve your personal life. 

The more effort you put into building a positive you, the more you will get from your works. 

If you are working long hours, learn to manage your time.Overworking yourself is leading you nowhere but to poor health, poor relationships and in the end, you do not produce your best work. You need to take time out for you. 

At work, learn to deal with the complex problems first this will help to eliminate stressing your day. Once you get past the tough problems, you will get moving toward the simple tasks.  

Don’t put off what you can do today. Do it now, get it over with and you will feel better having accomplished the task. 

As you plan, set a time that works best for you. For instance, if you do your best job in the early morning, work hard then and relax throughout the day. 

Highly Successful and Highly Unsuccessful people have one thing in common...How they spend their time. Which group to you choose to be in?

Change your Mindset and Change your Results,

Rich

The 5 Things You Should Know About Leadership

There has been a lot written about leadership: rules, pointers, styles, and biographies of inspiring leaders. But there are five leadership ideas that we need to recognize and realize.

Here are the five things you should know about leadership.

1. Leaders are formal and informal.

There are many different types of leaders and you will probably come across more than one type in your lifetime.

Formal leaders are those we elect into positions or offices such as the senators, members of Congress, and presidents of the local clubs.

Informal leaders or those we look up to because of their wisdom and experience such as in the case of the elders of a tribe, or our grandparents; or by their expertise and contribution like Albert Einstein in the field of Theoretical Physics and Leonardo da Vinci in the field of the Arts.

Both formal and informal leaders practice a combination of leadership styles.

Here are the leadership styles as described by some of the experts:

Kurt Lewin describes three basic leadership styles authoritative, participative, and delegative.

Renis Likert believes in the leadership styles are; exploitive, authoritative, benevolent authoritative, consultative, and participative

Dr. Daniel Goleman talks about the six emotional leadership styles - visionary, coaching, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, and commanding.

2. Leadership is life long learning.

Sometimes, it appears some people seem to be born with many of these leadership traits, but without the right environment and education, they will fail to develop their full potential.

So like learning how to ride a bicycle, you can also learn how to become a leader and develop your leadership abilities.

Knowledge on leadership and the skills you need can be learned by enrolling in leadership seminars, workshops, and conferences.

Daily interactions with people provide the opportunity to observe and practice leadership theories. Together, formal and informal learning will help you gain leadership attitudes, gain leadership insights, and thus furthering the cycle of learning.

You do not become a leader in one day and just stop.

Life-long learning is important in becoming a good leader for each day brings new experiences that put your knowledge, skills, and attitude to a test.

3. Leadership begins and ends with you.

The best way to develop leadership qualities is to apply it to your own life...Action speaks louder than words.

Leaders are always in the spotlight. Keep in mind that your credibility as a leader depends on your actions: your interaction with your family, friends, and coworkers; your way of managing your personal and organizational responsibilities; and even the way you talk with the waitstaff on your local restaurant.

Repeated actions become habits...Habits in turn form a persons character.

Steven Coveys book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People provides great insights on how you can achieve personal leadership.

4. Leadership is not about you...it is shared.

Leadership is not the sole responsibility of one person, but it is a shared responsibility among members of a team.

Each member has responsibilities to do. Formal leadership positions are just added responsibilities as a member of the team.

Effective leadership requires members to do their share of work. Starting as a group of individuals, members and leaders work towards the formation of an effective team.

Thinking this way means, social interaction plays a major role in leadership. To learn how to work together requires a great deal of trust between and among leaders and members of the team.

Trust is built on actions and not by words. When mutual respect exists, trust is developed and confidence is built.

5. Leadership styles must be flexible depending on the situation.

When the staffs are highly motivated and competent, a combination of high delegative and moderate participative styles of leadership works. But, if the staff has a low competence in one area or they have low commitment, then a combination of high coaching, high supporting, and high directing behavior from organizational leaders is what works best.

The best thing you can do as a leader is to have someone who you trust to give you honest feedback. Many of the coaching clients I work with find this is the first time they were told something about themselves that needed to change.

Change your Mindset and Change your Results,

Rich

Are You Committed to Your Goals?

Dr. Peter Senge author of “The Fifth Discipline” describes the difference between “commitment” and “compliance.” To illustrate his point he uses the late President John Kennedy’s quote that the United States should set as a goal "landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth" by the end of the decade.

We during that time as a nation, as businesses, as people were committed to meeting this goal. Okay I will date myself but I still remember watching “live” on TV, the first moon landing and retuning the astronauts safely to the earth.

Often when I work with organizations they falsely believe that their employees are committed to the company’s goals but in reality..they are just “compliant.” They are not “committed.” 

This is the same for individuals.We set our own personal goals but...are we committed?”...or...are we “compliant.”

Have you ever set a goal and not achieved it?  Most people have.  In fact, it is quite common for people to get stuck in an endless cycle of setting goals and then quitting them shortly afterwards and accomplishing nothing at all.

Why do people do this? 

One of the biggest reasons is a lack of commitment to their goal.  Without commitment a goal will gradually lose importance, and the temptation to quit will seem much more attractive, especially when obstacles cause setbacks and delays.

On the other hand, if you make a serious commitment and continually remind yourself of it, you are much more likely to stick with it and achieve the goal.

Here is how to commit to your goals:

1- First, you have to make sure that every goal you set is important to you.  

This can be tricky because we so often fool ourselves into thinking we want one thing when we want something entirely different.  Take some time with this part of the process, and be sure that you get to the heart of what you really want.  

• Why do you want it?  
• What will it do for you?  
• What positive things will it bring to your life?  
• How will it help you?  
• How will it make you feel when it is accomplished?

Write all of this down and keep it handy so you can refer to it, if you feel your commitment beginning to slip.  

Also ask yourself if your goal is worth the effort and sacrifice that will be needed to achieve it.  If you can honestly answer yes, you are on the way! If not and go back and make adjustments and then ask yourself again.

2- Think about what will happen if you do not follow through. 

Would nothing much happen if you do not achieve your goal? If not, then you need to raise the stakes!  You have to make your goal the most important thing in the world, and if you do not do it, you will deal with negative consequences.

3- Then, each and every day, renew your commitment.  

It is easy to be committed if your goal is new and your motivation is high, but you need to be able to STAY committed no matter what!  

Each morning, read through the goal you wrote down on the first day, and stress again how vitally important it is to you.  Promise yourself that you are going to do as much as you can to work on your goal that day, and every day until you achieve it.

When it comes right down to it, no one can achieve your goals for you.  

If you want to achieve them, you will have to find the determination necessary to keep going.  Inactivity and procrastination are usually nothing more than bad habits.  Turning those habits into something more positive and productive is as simple as taking it a day at a time and working your hardest to change your life.  The more committed and determined you are to making your goal happen, the more likely you will do just that.

Bottom Line: You have the information but it is up to you to take action..those that do will succeed.

Remember “When you change your mindset…You will change your results.”

Rich

Do You See a Half Full Glass or a Half Empty Glass?

"Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one sees the stars."- Frederick Langbridge, A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts 

In life, you are always filled with choices. You may choose to have a pessimists view and live a self-defeated life or you may decide to take the optimists route and take a challenging and fulfilling life.

Optimism has been linked to positive mood and good morale. It shows up in academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success; even in popularity, good health and helps to live a long life.

On the other hand, the rates of depression and pessimism have never been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits younger people. The mean age has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer a middle-aged disorder but also a teen-ager’s disorder as well.

Optimists expect the best and Pessimists do not.

The pessimists believe bad events, will last a long time and have an impact on everything they do and it is their own fault. The truth is optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks and the same events. 

What is different is the way they explain their misfortune...to themselves. 

It is the opposite way of a pessimist. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are not long term, it a single event. 

Optimists will focus on and plan for the “problem” they are facing now. They use positive interpretation. They most likely look at a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow. They know how to deal with a bad situation, they see it is a challenge and try harder.

The positive attitude of optimists also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles. 

People respond positively to optimists

Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are with. 

Those who share optimism are embraced instead of those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria who are treated unfavorably. 

In life, optimist often are sought out for advice. When the going gets tough, optimists get tougher 

Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that they exist or by avoiding dealing with problems. 

Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties arise.

Optimists persevere. They just don’t give up easily, they are also known for their patience. Inching their way a step closer to that goal or elusive dream.

Optimists are healthier and live longer

Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body's ability to fight disease.

Optimists health is unusually good. They age well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they get to outlive those prone to negative thoughts. 

So why not be an optimist today? And think positively towards a more fulfilled life.

So here is my question; Why not look forward to success in everything you do? 

We all are bound to hit lows sometimes but don’t just stay there. Don’t look at the mud, look to the stars. As Les Brown says “If you can see up ...You can get up”

Change your Mindset and Change your Results,

Rich 

6 Questions a Presentation Must Answer

Your success will reflect your ability to speak to a group of people and motivate them to action. The one skill that all sales professionals, executives, small business owners, experts and entrepreneurs must have is the ability to effectively present their message. 

They must be able present their message to their prospects, customers, employees, associations, boards, meetings are just a few of the places where you will present. 

In any presentation, there are basic pieces of information that an audience should receive from their presenter.  You are the problem solver presenting a solution that will benefit your audience.  The presentation should answer who, what, when, where, why and how regarding your topic.  In giving that information, your presentation will have clarity and will be on track to give the detail necessary to your audience.

1) Who is your target audience?  

What would they like to know about regarding your presentation?  Do they have any preconceived notions about your material?  What are their concerns?  Are you addressing the "who" you targeted in your research?  When you address the "who" of your message, you are better able to relate with your audience.  They will feel like you are speaking directly to them.  They will give you their attention because they feel like their needs are being addressed.

2) What is the message you want to communicate?  

What are the issues?  What are the solutions?  The "what" in your message is the backbone of your presentation.  It is your purpose of your message and the reason you are speaking.  It is also the reason why people come to hear you.

3) When is the recommended time to take action? 

Is there a sense of urgency in your presentation?  Stressing the "when" aspect of your message is especially important when you want your audience to take action immediately following the presentation - i.e. - sign up for a class, sell promotional materials, implement what was learned)

4) Where is the problem located?  

Where can your audience find the help they need?  "Where" signifies direction.  This leads your audience somewhere in your presentation.  Where would you like to take them?  Common "where" statements include "across America today", "in college campuses nationwide", "in the construction industry", and "in families in California".

5) Why should they take action?  

What are the motivating factors in prompting your audience to take action?  The main focus here is inspiration and motivation to take action.  Not only do you want them to listen to you, but you want your audience to take action on what you've said.  You want to somehow improve their lives and honing your message on the "why" is a critical necessity.

6) How can they respond to your message?  

How can they take action based on what they've heard?  This is the learning and teaching portion of your message.  This can be the "how-to" section telling them how they can easily improve their lives.  This section often incorporates steps to follow.  

There are still many more questions that your presentation should answer.  As you piece all of these bits of information together, you'll be giving your audience the detailed answers they are looking for.  You also present yourself as the credible source of information you want to present yourself to be!

Change your Mindset and Change your Results,

Rich

Attitude Matters

For over twenty years I have been leading personal transformation workshops,mastermind groups,consultative selling, leadership and change management workshops. I noticed that to be successful in business and life...The top 1 percent have something in common...

“A Positive Attitude”

It does not matter about how old you are, where you live, your occupation, or the ways you choose to spend time, I can guarantee that your attitude is one of the most significant things that determines your happiness and contentment in life.

Attitude is so powerful because it is one of the few things that every person has the ability to be in control of regardless of any other factors in life. 

When life is going well and we have no complaints we can choose what kind of attitude to face each day with. When our lives seem like it couldn't get any worse we can also choose what kind of attitude we will have each day.

Think about a time in your life when your attitude made all the difference? Or, think of an example from the life of someone you know. 

Can you think of a situation when all things looked bad and yet you or someone else's attitude made that situation better just by being positive?

You may be wondering why it is important to keep a good attitude despite all the other factors in your life. Good question. 

One thing I've learned about life is...it will not always go my way. It is highly unlikely that everyday for the rest of my life will be filled with joy, friendships, and peace. It is possible, but highly unlikely. 

It is much more likely that life will throw me things I wasn't expecting. Work issues, tragedies, sicknesses, and relationship problems will come my way and it will be my attitude that determines how those events affect me.

Keeping a good attitude in life allows us to remember that even in tough times we have much to be thankful for. 

If you let your attitude reflect this perspective instead of reflecting the fact that you are not getting exactly what you want at a this moment. 

Let your attitude reflect all the ways your life has been blessed and all the good things that has happened to you.

We have all heard it said "attitude is a little thing that can make a big difference." I agree with whoever said those words wholeheartedly, but I'll even take it a step further and simply say that attitude is a big thing. 

Attitude is perhaps one of the biggest factors that determines the path and results we see in life. When we can look at the worst situations with hope and a right perspective, nothing will be too hard to overcome.

Be the Difference,

Rich

Reducing Stress to Improve your Personal Life

When you are feeling under the whether all the time perhaps it is because you are stressed. Stress alone can cause major psychological and mental problems. In fact, stress can cause self-induced exaggerated problems. Stress causes confusion, since it targets your physical, emotional responses, and psychological aspects while causing you pain. Stress is the leading problem that everyone in the world faces at one time or another. 

What causes stress:

Bills cause stress, especially if you do not have cash flow to pay the bills. Jobs will cause stress, since you battle to make sure your duties are correctly handled. Children cause stress. Especially nowadays, since the media, television, etc has polluted and corrupted the minds of our children by offering them nudity, violence, and other harmful actions on air. A bad relationship can cause stress. If you are in a bad relationship, it only affects your mind and physical well-being, causing you stress. There are many reasons a person can feel stressed. The upside is, you have the choice to make stress your best friend or worst enemy. 

What are the different kinds of stress?

There are many kinds of stress that can cause you problems like the acute stress this is a short term stress problem normally, which may last shortly or could carry forward. You want to avoid overstressing self. One of the common reasons someone develops acute stress is because they are thinking of how to change things they cannot change. Only change the things you can change and learn to accept. We all deal with everyday challenges. Take each challenge as a learning experience. We all have to pay bills, work, and so on. It's a part of life. We all have to face it. Sometimes we do not have the money to pay bills. Learn to set a budget that relieves you of stress. You may loose your job. Instead of sweating the problem, do something about it. 

Children these days are increasing stress for parents. Many teenagers these days are difficult to manage. Today our children are plagued with mental illnesses, far more so than at one time in history. When you feel chronic stress, burned out and do not see hope, it is time to seek help. Your doctor or mental health expert can help you manage stress emerging from difficulty teenagers. 

How to reduce stress:

You can reduce stress by managing, planning and setting goals. When you have something to look forward to, it improves your personal life. The first thing you want to consider while planning and setting goals is truth. The truth is what sets you free. Everything you do in life should uphold the truth. If you are not sure, research to learn the truth. You can take many steps to reduce stress. 

To improve your life and reduce stress you may want to consider education. If you lack skills, experience or education you will benefit from returning to school. 

You want to avoid setting traps for your memory and intelligence, since the emotions play unhealthy games if you allow it. What I mean is you want to avoid telling yourself I cannot do it. Life is too hard. Life is easier if you learn to think positive. 

How you can improve, your personal life is up to you. You will need to consult with your inner counselor to learn what you need, what you are lacking and the steps you can take to improve your personal life. If you are unsure, seek feedback. Feedback is the key that leads you to success. 

Be the Difference!

Rich