Sunday, October 31, 2010

A Halloween "Business" Tip

Happy Halloween! What did you go as?

Earlier this morning I read this little article that J Gitomer forwarded along...

It was emailed to him yesterday and he compared it to Sales People.

In my mind, this could easily be added to what we do for a living...

Here’s why Halloween should be a national network marketing holiday:

On Halloween Trick or Treaters are really "sorters" in disguise!

1. Trick or treaters dress for success.
2. The most effective trick or treaters plan their routes/day wisely to maximize their time in the field.
3. The most successful trick or treaters start early and work late.
4. The most successful trick or treaters ask for the order! (Trick or Treat?)
5. The most successful trick or treaters network to find out where the best treats are to be found.
6. It’s a night filled with cold calling/sorting.
7. Savvy treaters have been known to try to ask for their fair share, wait a while, and return for an up sell.
8. If you want to make more treats, you have to make more calls.
9. Smart treaters always say thank you.
10. At the end of the day, if you didn’t get all the treats you wanted, you only have yourself to blame.


Good Point...Well Presented...

~b2

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Getting Knocked Down...

As you may have noticed lately, I have moved away from the "video" type blogs to more written. Not sure why exactly, other than the fact I've been reading more, and I think the written word, is a little more appealling than the video.

But hey, who knows, I might just make a cameo video appreance one day soon...

Today, while going through the various mentoring posts/blogs I read, I came across this one, which made me think about how it equates to what I do for a living - well, not exactly, but if you think about it, it's really about all of us....


Getting Knocked Down
We all get knocked down from time to time—it’s part of what makes life interesting… always keeping us alert and on our toes.

I recently shared a perspective in a keynote presentation I did that helped reshape my view of obstacles and life’s difficulties; this might help you too…

A friend of a friend's husband, I am embarrassed to say, I envied. He had the life I wanted. We are close in age. He came from the Bay Area of San Francisco.

After several failed businesses, he started an electronics store called “Jacks.” The stores were relatively successful and were bought out for a good sum. He then invested that money into commercial real estate in the San Diego Valley, before the boom. He ended up owning several buildings that made him tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions.

We would go to his parties at the home he custom built in Rancho Santa Fe (one of the richest ZIP codes in the county). The home, estate really, was more than 10,000 square feet on an amazing piece of sprawling land and it was designed in just the style I love.

His cars were amazing and he also had a yacht in the harbor and a private plane. He was also a good-looking guy and had a beautiful family he adored and who adored him. He was warm, friendly and always the life of the party. I wanted his life. In my head (privately, of course) I would wish I was Gary Boyd.

A year and a half ago he had a cough that became increasingly worse. When he went to the doctor he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He never smoked, lived relatively healthy—it was completely unexpected. He had finally arrived, was living the life he never could have imagined, and then this.

His family had to watch him slowly and painfully wither away until he finally died seven months ago.

Now, every day I say, thank God I am not Gary Boyd.

Here is the point: No matter what obstacle I encounter now, no matter what setback I experience, I have a whole new perspective on just how “catastrophic” the situation really is. If I take a risk and am embarrassed, if I call someone and they reject me, if I lose a bunch of money in an investment, if I wreck my car, lose my house, no matter what obstacle comes my way, I say, “At least I am not Gary Boyd.”

Point is, as long as you are on the right side of the dirt, no obstacle really matters.

We all experience failure, setbacks, disappointments and obstacles. And yes it hurts, and that is okay. We are human. Rejection, failure and letdowns hurt humans. It’s part of the deal.

Now the difference is how long you let it keep you down.


Here is the evolution I have gone through and recommend for you. What used to bum me out for 2 weeks I eventually whittled down to 2 days. Then I got it down to 2 hours and then 20 minutes. Now when I am knocked down, I give myself about 2 minutes to sulk and then I brush myself off and get back on the horse. I also look to replace the experience with something positive. I never allow myself to end the session or day with a defeat. I will keep working until I can gain some kind of victory.

So it’s okay to get knocked down; its even good for you—it’s the beginning of growth. And it’s okay that it smarts a bit. And it’s okay to give yourself some recovery time. Now just try and reduce the time it knocks you out. And get over the idea that life sucks for you. Remember, you are not Gary Boyd.


~b2

Friday, October 22, 2010

What Will You Say "No" To?

I was scouring through some of my mentor's personal development pieces and came across this one...A True classic when you think about "why" most people don't succeed in the things they "prioritize" or "set out to do".

I found it pretty compelling, since the entrepreneur detailed in the article was/is and will (probably) always be, my biggest/favourite mentor/boss/friend...

Feel free to check it out..


Success is Not About What You DO
by Darren Hardy


When it comes to comparing superachievers and everyone else, it has less to do with what they do and more to do with what they don’t do.

Saying “yes” is easy; saying “no” is much harder, but it is the master skill of success.

In a world where we are constantly being tugged on from a thousand different directions, your ability to be productive and ultimately achieve your big hairy audacious goals has more to do with all the things you DON’T do versus the things you do.

Put it this way: For everything you say “yes” to you are saying “no” to something else… and you only have so much time. For most people, the ability to do MORE is impossible; you are already overwhelmed and working yourself to exhaustion 24/7.

Doing MORE is not the answer. Doing less is. Saying “no” to more things so you can say “yes” to the right things is the key to taking you more efficiently and expeditiously toward your goals.

And that is the other part of the equation for superachiever high-performance. What they decide to do, say “yes” to, they do with unrelenting laser-like focus, tolerating no distractions of anything that would get in the way of their persisting on their goals.

A while back, after our SUCCESS cover feature with the knighted Sir Richard Branson, we had a client contact us to inquire about hiring Richard Branson to speak at their conference. So, we had someone inquire and Sir Richard declined. The client then offered $250,000 for an hour talk; Sir Richard declined. They then raised it to $500,000. Sir Richard declined. Then we asked how much it WOULD take to get Sir Richard to attend. The response from his people was, “no amount of money would matter.” They said, “Right now Richard has three main priorities he is focused on and he will only allocate his time to those three priorities, and speaking for a fee is not one of them.”

I thought, “Wow, THAT is the type of unshakable and unapologetic focus that has allowed him to accomplish more than what 100 high-producing guys could—combined.” Amazing, really.

Now, when I told a friend of mine this story he said, “Well, it’s easy for Branson to say no to an easy half million dollars, but I certainly couldn’t.” I promptly replied with, “That’s why you are not achieving like Richard Branson.” Hey, he started out with nothing like the rest of us. He’s gotten to where he is BECAUSE of this dedication to focus.

It doesn’t have to be the temptation of a half million dollars; it could be saying “no” to a new TV program that will suck several dozen hours out of your life and creative potential; saying “no” to a meaningless and unproductive meeting, saying “no” to invitations, projects, emails, phone calls and visitors that aren’t ON PURPOSE to the accomplishment of your high priority goals.

Next week I will share with you the most disruptive, derailing and productivity-killing force in our lives. Uproot this destructive force and you, too, could learn to have the laser-like focus of Sir Richard Branson… but more on that next week.



back to me...

You know, it's written pieces like these that open my eyes up even wider...We as human being do try to say yes when we should probably say no.

Imagine, if for one week we all independently decided to say "no" to distractive things and just put forth "laser-like" focus on our "real" priorities - imagine what we'd accomplish.

Next week I am going for it.

Laser like focus on "my" priorities !!!

What are those priorities you ask? Helping people...

Who needs help?

~b2

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Facing Your Enemies...

I have been noticing over the last couple of weeks that a few enemies have decided to reappear for a few friends of mine, and to be honest, myself too...It reminded me that it's time to fight back...


We are not born with courage, but neither are we born with fear. Maybe some fears are brought on by your own experiences, by what someone has told you, by what you've read in the papers. Some fears are valid, like walking alone in a bad part of town at two o'clock in the morning. But once you learn to avoid that situation, you won't need to live in fear of it.

Fears, even the most basic ones, can totally destroy our ambitions. Fear can destroy fortunes. Fear can destroy relationships. Fear, if left unchecked, can destroy our lives. Fear is one of the many enemies lurking inside us.

Let me tell you about five of the other enemies we face from within. The first enemy that you've got to destroy before it destroys you is indifference. What a tragic disease this is. "Ho-hum, let it slide. I'll just drift along." Here's one problem with drifting: you can't drift your way to the top of the mountain.

The second enemy we face is indecision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity and enterprise. It will steal your chances for a better future. Take a sword to this enemy.

The third enemy inside is doubt. Sure, there's room for healthy skepticism. You can't believe everything. But you also can't let doubt take over. Many people doubt the past, doubt the future, doubt each other, doubt the government, doubt the possibilities and doubt the opportunities. Worst of all, they doubt themselves. I'm telling you, doubt will destroy your life and your chances of success. It will empty both your bank account and your heart. Doubt is an enemy. Go after it. Get rid of it.

The fourth enemy within is worry. We've all got to worry some. Just don't let it conquer you. Instead, let it alarm you. Worry can be useful. If you step off the curb in New York City and a taxi is coming, you've got to worry. But you can't let worry loose like a mad dog that drives you into a small corner. Here's what you've got to do with your worries: drive them into a small corner. Whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it. Whatever is pushing on you, you've got to push back.

The fifth interior enemy is over-caution. It is the timid approach to life. Timidity is not a virtue; it's an illness. If you let it go, it'll conquer you. Timid people don't get promoted. They don't advance and grow and become powerful in the marketplace. You've got to avoid over-caution.

Do battle with the enemy. Do battle with your fears. Build your courage to fight what's holding you back, what's keeping you from your goals and dreams. Be courageous in your life and in your pursuit of the things you want and the person you want to become.

F alse
E vidence
A ppearing
R eal

~b2

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Procrastination vs Proactivation ?!?

Ok, so I know, or at least believe that there's no such word as "Proactivation" - at least I think it's not a word.

But it lead me to a point that details how we "all" lead our life. At times we procrastinate, and at other times we try to be proactive...

It remind's me of an incredible piece written by the late, great, Mr. Jim Rohn, called Today Is Yesterday's Tomorrow.

I hope you internalize it the way I did...


Today is Yesterday's Tomorrow

The problem with waiting until tomorrow is that when it finally arrives, it is called today. Today is yesterday's tomorrow. The question is what did we do with its opportunity? All too often we will waste tomorrow as we wasted yesterday, and as we are wasting today. All that could have been accomplished can easily elude us, despite our intentions, until we inevitably discover that the things that might have been have slipped from our embrace a single, unused day at a time.

Each of us must pause frequently to remind ourselves that the clock is ticking. The same clock that began to tick from the moment we drew our first breath will also someday cease.

Time is the great equalizer of all mankind. It has taken away the best and the worst of us without regard for either. Time offers opportunity but demands a sense of urgency.

When the game of life is finally over, there is no second chance to correct our errors. The clock that is ticking away the moments of our lives does not care about winners and losers. It does not care about who succeeds or who fails. It does not care about excuses, fairness or equality. The only essential issue is how we played the game.

Regardless of a person's current age, there is a sense of urgency that should drive them into action now—this very moment. We should be constantly aware of the value of each and every moment of our lives—moments that seem so insignificant that their loss often goes unnoticed.

We still have all the time we need. We still have lots of chances, lots of opportunities, lots of years to show what we can do. For most of us, there will be a tomorrow, a next week, a next month, and a next year. But unless we develop a sense of urgency, those brief windows of time will be sadly wasted, as were the weeks and months and years before them. There isn't an endless supply!

So, as you think of your dreams and goals of your future tomorrow, begin today to take those very important first steps to making them all come to life.



Till next time...Hmmmm, or should that be "till tomorrow"?

~b2

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Acquiring Customers - The Pizza Philosophy

Hello Folks,

I must first apologize for not blogging as of late.
The was a move, some business travel and as of late, working with the team to continue the momentum we built in July & August.

The reason I began blogging in the first place was to simply record my experiences in this business, so that others could see what I've had to deal with - to recognize that they're not alone, and pass along some of the things that have helped me think and act better in this business - and in life.

Today's blog is written, as I have yet to get the video room finished at the house - stay tuned for that.

Today, you will find an excerpt from a fantastic gentleman I've been following for a while now. He's a "sales" teacher and motivator if you will, with an incredible track record.

Now, while we do not really "sell" in our business - instead we refer same products and service but for a wholesale price, what he has to say resonated with me and I thought I'd pass it on...

He calls it The Pizza Philosophy...

When I say “pizza” what words come to mind? What images come to mind? What tastes come to mind? What restaurants come to mind? What delivery service comes to mind? What toppings come to mind?

Pretty interesting questions. And you have immediate answers.

In fact, this might be making you hungry and you may be actually reaching for the phone right now.

Pizza is universally loved UNLESS you get a pizza and you don’t like the toppings or, worse, it has an anchovy on it!

Pizza offers choices that match your craving or desire. AKA: Pizza offers exactly what you hunger for. You get to CHOOSE how you want your pizza to be prepared. Everyone does. Can you imagine it any other way? If you call a pizza place and they say, “We ONLY have sausage,” you will hang up and call someone else.

Not only do pizza places give you exactly what you want, they’ll even deliver it to your door in less than an hour.

COOL NOTE: When you order a pizza from Domino’s Pizza online, you can actually track it being made and being put into the oven. And you’ll know when the delivery person is on his or her way to your door. It’s worth the price of the pizza just to see the technology.

How is the pizza philosophy working in your business?

Are your products and people ready to serve exactly what your customer wants?
Do you give the customer the toppings they want?
What kind of pizza do you sell?
How e-commerce friendly are you?
How easy is it to do business with you?
Are customers raving about the quality of your pizza?
And most importantly, do you offer your toppings a la carte, or are like Bell & Rogers, where u can only get a feature in a bundle at……x dollars per month?

THINK ABOUT THIS: Would you rather place a special order at Harvey’s or McDonald’s?
Harvey’s made a living off of McDonald’s customers with the slogan, “Have it your way!” Thirty years later, McDonalds still doesn’t get it – but all of their competitors do.

IN TODAY’S SOCIETY CUSTOMERS SCREAM: Give me what I want, When I want - I want it MY WAY!

Back to our business. Do you give your customers what THEY want? Do you even know what THEY want?

If ALL businesses gave customers what they really want, there would be more market demand for their product or services, and they wouldn’t be switching customers every couple of months.

For example: Why aren’t all banks open Saturday’s AND Sunday? Why don’t customer service centers move back to North America? Why doesn’t every customer service center answer their phone with a live human being saying “hello, how can I help you?" Instead of hearing Emily the computer at Bell, & her sister Melanie at Rogers, and then being forwarded on to some other country to speak to their call centre.

While some people know the answers to all of these questions, it’s more important to note that right now you’re listening & nodding your head in approval.

What is it that your customers really want? Need? Are hoping for? And how are you delivering those needs, wants, and hopes?

I wonder if you’ve EVER had a meeting that included the customer, where YOU asked THEM “what’s missing?” or “what ingredients” THEY want. It’s important to “understand” what it is they don’t like or want with their current provider.

In our business, we are very, very lucky. We offer every service in every home & business – everything except water and air - but at wholesale prices.

It ultimately comes down to sitting with the customer, showing them who our Blue Chip, multi-million, billion dollar partners are – the same companies they have heard of and/or been using for years !!! Show them the wholesale savings. Explain how we get to sell it at wholesale etc.

Then…we must ask with the customer what it is that we could do to make their services better…

Is it price – for most it is.
Is it convenience?
Is it better value for the price?
What is it?

This is NOT about “just” asking someone to switch their provider “for you” - while we do rely on our relationships.

This is about explaining how we offer exactly what they are already using, but at better pricing and/or value options for them.

Who wouldn’t want to support you when you explain it THAT way?

Are you asking your customer’s what they want?


Here's a promise to get the home office and video station set up as soon as possible so as to get back on track with video instead of written...cool?

~b2