Overcoming Business Stagnation and Economic Malaise

To have success in any business today, you must overcome what we refer to as our current Economic Malaise:

Wikipedia defines malaise as:
Malaise is a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness, an “out of sorts” feeling,

Malaise is the illness – the actual business symptoms are:

• Fewer qualified buyers with increasingly lower budgets
• Ever-growing choices for buyers, with more aggressive competition both in price and product comparison
• Less buyer attention driven by less time and more available choices.

Today’s environment requires every business even home-based business entrepreneurs to accomplish significantly more from their marketing and sales efforts with less.

So the common dilemma we ALL face is:

How Do You Accelerate Growth and Profits In A Tighter More Competitive Market?

The answer is pretty simplistic – no real rocket science here – you don’t have to hire NASA to solve your problem.

You look for the root cause and we all know that elephant in the room – it is the internet – the most wonderful tool and at the same time a business’s biggest curse to deal with.  The symptoms above all have in their root cause the internet… it is the world of infinite choice!

You either choose to play in the new world order of online business or go home.  How do you play?  Obviously we will not solve individually your problem – we are identifying the tool you must learn to master to survive and thrive.

If the internet brings literally infinite choice the flip-side to that is that you also now have a tool that can bring you infinite prospects regardless of your geographic location.  Over 1.6 Billion people use the internet and you can now access literally every single one of them – with the tools available to you!  Location is no longer a barrier and neither is language.

We believe there are three key stepping off points to accelerate your growth and profitability and they begin with:

• Lead & Prospect Generation – Using that access to 1.6 Billion customers to increase awareness of your product, you and your business value proposition.
• Lead Development – Engaging your prospects in a relationship that determines their needs and qualifications while positioning your proposition as the ideal fit.
• Sales conversion and Continuity  – The Internet has not eliminated the need for you to sell – despite what many internet marketers have been telling you.  It is up to you to continue to increase the number of qualified prospects who enter your sales channel that already have a high pre-disposition to purchase from you and because of your superior value – purchase at premium margins.

Most “cast your net wide” lead generation tactics aren’t just ineffective, but they encourage the very behavior/symptoms we are trying to eliminate – price shopping and price sensitivity.

Keep your eyes on the idea of value creation and unique value to your prospect rather than one-size-fits-all and you will separate yourself from your competitors.  This will give you the opening you need to sell and close in.  That’s all every company needs really – the right environment to ask for the sale with someone who is already pre-disposed to buy from you.

Fast Growth Home Business Marketing Secrets

We are beginning a new category called Marketing Secrets with a number of articles on Marketing Hot Buttons.

The first one we like to refer to as the Me Too Hot Button!

Simply put it is the tendency we all have that when we see someone else with whom we identify DO something — whatever that thing might be – like BUYING something (like even your product or service) — we all tend to have what many successful marketers call the “Me Too” response some use a more disrespectful description of Monkey See – Monkey Do

It is the reason behind why sitcom TV shows have a laugh track after a joke — or after what the writer’s thought was a joke — is delivered during a show.  The audience at home knows that the laugh track is just a recording, but that doesn’t stop them from chuckling along when the recorded laughter “cues” them.   It triggers that emotional button we all have deep down that going along with others is more comfortable than disagreeing.

Slightly more powerful Me Too Hot Button of  – Someone Just Like Me
Even more magnetic than simply “someone” doing “it” is seeing “someone like me” doing “it.” This well-tested marketing secret has been responsible for the recent proliferation on the internet of the replicated websites we all are suspicious of that have that magical phrase of  “12 months ago I was doing exactly what you are doing… looking on the internet….  or some slight variation of that.  It then goes on to describe themself as an average Joe or Sally or even a below average version of Joe.  People do love to hear about and do what other people just like them are doing. Websites plastered with testimonials (despite recent FTC crackdowns) are Social proof.   They have proven to be especially effective when it comes from people we identify with or want to be like. These hot buttons are all designed to get the buyer emotionally involved as say  “If it worked for so and so, it will work for me.”  The social proof testimonials are trying to pull the old teenage heartstrings of peer pressure.  People are deeply affected by what others think whether they’re young, old, rich, poor, male, or female.

People will visit websites that are on “most-visited” lists, that are on social bookmarking sites, Google Page 1  because social proof is also related to people’s desire to be in agreement with “everyone else,” and not have a mistaken belief about what is true and what is not.  Not just internet marketers use Testimonials and Seeding.  How many times have you looked in  the tip jar that has lots of dollars and felt guilty if you didn’t leave a tip?

If done with integrity – it is a long-lasting powerful way to create real hot buttons — based upon real science, real psychology at work that can transform your prospects into button-pushers.  Use it when you understand the science behind it and do it the right way for the right reason!

Are We Getting Intention – The Way It Is Intended?

Yesterday I posted on the Power Of Intention.  I was not looking to copy or piggyback the title of the Wayne Dyer book.  I am seeking to add to the clarity of what intention is about.  I spent time sorting through the tweets on Twitter the last couple of days looking at the keyword intention.   I observed that many people use the word and even attempt to use intention as an attraction concept.  More specifically use it as a goal… “it is my intention to clean my office today” said in a genuine way. It was clear from looking at this particular person’s tweets that their view was very – Law of Attraction oriented.

Having spent the better part of 3 decades involved in spiritual learning and living – I observe the many attempts to use powerful wonderful forces to better people’s lives.  Sometimes the aim is just off the mark though and sometimes is so off it can serve to hinder people.

The person using intent as a “verb” is confusing their spirit with an ego focused attempt at accomplishing a task.  Think of it in the use of the sentence “I intend to…”  almost as if this is statement of – regardless of what blocks ME I will get XXX done.  A more practical alternative might be to identify the action one is taking and attach to it the spirit – the intention you bring/allow to your actions and even a final result.  Example:  I will work diligently and in a focused manner today – to clean my workspace to allow clarity and more focus into my business and ultimately more abundance.

One of my favorite quotes about actions, intention and results is:  Things done with intent, produce intended results and things done without specific intent produce unintended results.

Which brings about intended results?

“It is my intention to clean my office today”  OR

“I will work diligently and in a focused manner today – to clean my workspace to allow clarity and more focus into my business and ultimately more abundance”

Carlos Castenada really expresses the power of intention in the energy manner that is so clear for me.  He says:

In the universe there is an unmeasurable and indescribable force which those who live “of the source” call intention and that absolutely everything that exists in the entire cosmos is attached to intention by a connecting link…  he goes on to say basically our work is to clear the connection to that force and act in harmony with it.  That we do not create intention or results… we allow them to come to us by getting aligned…

OK So right about now you might be asking – Is this blog a personal development blog or a business development blog?  My feedback to you would be we are focused on helping others develop businesses that serve their lives… a business that grows fast with high margins creates a huge energy of abundance and cash flow that allows one to focus on whatever has meaning in their life.  The personal concepts we share here are intertwined with personal development and part of your business success.

To You Being the Best You Can Be And Allowing All That Is Into Your Life.

Visit Us at www.TheAreteGuy.com or www.FastGrowthHomeBusiness.com

The Power Of Working With Vision and Intention

Do you often find yourself asking the question “Why did that happen?” or “Why did that happen to me?”  As a general rule, things done with intent, produce intended results and things done without specific intent produce unintended results. It is my observation that most people asking those questions are thinking and acting without any conscious and specific intent.

Watch my Video On Intention!

No Question – Intention is a mighty powerful force..  It comes from a latin word meaning “to stretch toward”
Intention is the big picture glue that holds your productive actions together and headed in the right direction.  One might characterize intention as the energy that exists between potential and action that organizes potential and focuses it with action to bring results. It has a similar ring to it as Vision, even goals but is more of an “in-the-moment” glue.

There is an age old parable that explains intent well.  A traveler happened upon a worksite and saw two men carrying bricks.  One was working diligently but listlessly, without energy, looking tired with a sullen expression on his face, while the other man who had been working as long as the first and appeared similar in physique was cheerfully singing as he energetically carried brick after brick.  “What are you doing” the traveler asked the first -sullen worker.  “Laying Bricks” was his reply.  When he asked the same question of the smiling worker his reply was “Building a cathedral” This is intention at work – Obviously both workers knew what thyey were building but the second worler brought the energy of intention to his carrying of each brick and it energized him.

Do your daily activities and projects have an intent…. if they don’t they won’t move you toward your goal and vision in a meaningful way.  In the moment you will constantly be striving … not enjoying! My guess would be you are so focused on the outcome you are not enjoying the process.

For an aligned blog post see The Power of Process Over The Reward Of Results

Making your intentions crystal clear – creates an energy field of possibility that brings out your creativity and the creativity of those around you.  The energy of intention has a magnetism – an attraction that draws to you the resources you need to complete your vision

Wayne Dyer recognizes the energy in intention with his comment “Intention is a field of energy that flows invisibly beyond the reach of our normal, everyday, habitual patterns.”  yet despite all the power of and energy evident in having intention in our actions and patterns – many people flounder aimlessly wondering why they get the results they don’t want

I think Seth Godin coins the concept of working with intention and vision in a fantastic way
In the long run, though, it’s those with right intention, a long term view and consistent persistence that manage to win.

Really Nice Article by Jeanie Marshall
On The power of intention and how to craft your intentions

Key To Success – Attitude #1

I am building a series of videos on Youtube The videos will lay out my top ten list of key attributes for success.  I have a series of questions for each attribute that I can tell with better than 90% effectiveness whether someone has been successful in their business and whether they will be successful in a new venture or not.

The first in the series of 10 videos  I am doing is about attitude. Some might call it “mindset” in this day and age – same concept.  This is not however another one of those “get the mindset right and success is assured” BS claims.  Attitude is important and is a great foundation and like the foundation metaphor you cannot build success for the long haul with a flawed foundation!  If they are all in peak performance (9 or 10 out of 10 scale) – you will be successful.  Of course it is extremely important you are honest with yourself when you self evaluate.  The real beauty to this video series and the 10 key attributes is you have control over them all – if it’s not a 9 or 10 you can get it there.

See My Video on Attitude:

Some of what I have to say about attitude might offend you – it’s OK you will get over it.  There is absolutely no doubt there is a winner’s attitude and there is a loser’s attitude.  Our observations over time are that most people have a mix of the two.   We see that a winner’s attitude is characterized by:

• high self-esteem,
• a positive outlook on life,
• a general feeling of gratitude,
• a sense of great personal destiny,
• a willingness to learn and
• the will to do what is necessary.

Losers have as one might guess the opposite views on the world and their life.  They typically have poor self-esteem, a negative (they might even call it a realistic) outlook on life, a general feeling of resentment about the trials and tribulations of life Look at what life has dealt me), a sense of impending negative fate (they have no control over their future – tend to rarely own responsibility for where they are in life), a stubbornness about what they ‘know’, and lousy will-power or self-discipline.

Looking for Winners to chime in!  Make it a great day!

The Power Of Process And Nick Sabin

 As a veteran and firm-believer of the power of process in business performance – you will notice that I have numerous blogs here dedicated to business process.  My unique business proposition is – how to bring the best of the corporate business world to the internet business world and home based businesses and the home based business opportunity – business owner.

Earlier this week I posted a video on my YouTube channel called “The Power Of Process Over The Reward Of Results”.   The phrase itself - I have to give credit to ESPN and the Alabama Head Football coach Nick Sabin.  But the concept is definitely a time-tested and proven business principle. It is so refreshing in this day and age! It seems like every success guru in the world has a program or ebook for sale that includes things like Vision Boards, Dream Journals and focus on the daily activity of goal visualization.

Don’t get me wrong – I believe whole-heartedly in goals and visualization.  It is that I also believe the priority has gotten out-of-whack!  What has happened over time is this “instant gratification” mentality of if “I dream it I will have it” .  In this day and age of “get rich quick”, “make money easily” and extraordinary incredible lifestyles  – it seems like order and priorities have gotten mixed up!

Nick Sabin is referred to as a grinder – that he set goals along the way – but his focus has been “on the process” and has made certain his team – coaches and players alike – had an eye towards victory – yet kept their attention on doing the things necessary to get there.  Staying focused on the daily work, the what at times certainly seems mundane – but the sum total of those activities and getting better at each of your processes is what determines whether you achieve the goal you have.  It isn’t all about dreaming and visualizing every night having your goal, those dreams and feeling motivate you to do the tough stuff every day!

Check out my video for more!

The World’s Best Award For Home Businesses

I can no longer hold back my gratitude and appreciation – I must speak out loudly on what I consider to be the World’s Best Home Based Business!  I will list below just a few of the reasons I see this business as the World’s Best!

The World's Best Award ~ Home Based Business

As I mentioned in my last post I have so much to be grateful for over the last year!  I am eternally grateful for  the safety, health and well-being of my entire family that continued through 2009!

A major component of what I have to feel grateful for is the continued success of my business!  I am constantly blessed that I am able to generate an income that supports a wonderful lifestyle and allows me to spend so much time with my family and loved ones!

I no longer have to suffer the unprofessional management and leadership attempts of many of my bosses over the last 25 years in the corporate business world.   Gone are the days of suffering the ego-based attacks of entrepreneurs I worked for that could not personally handle their companies growing beyond them and requiring a culture that welcomed and supported highly talented employees to get to the next level of success.  Ahh but I digress…

Why is it that the business I have been so blessed to associate myself with the last 2 years deserves the World’s Best Home Based Business Award.  These are the reasons CarbonCopyPRO wins the award:

• CarbonCopyPRO although clearly one of the most successful Internet Marketing Companies is committed to the idea of constant improvement .  Having had the long view now – joining the community in December of 2007 about 60 days after their founding – I have seen and experienced this commitment and realize it is not just another corporate attempt at being world-class – they really are world-class – having expanded to over 160 countries now.
• The founders of CarbonCopyPRO are truly committed to developing a community of leaders who are focused on being and becoming successful entrepreneurs and then giving back – to the community by sharing their techniques and the world through charitable efforts.
• At a time when the FTC is coming down on home business and work-at-home scams this company has been in front of FTC changes and requirements, CarbonCopyPRO began enforcing “No Income Claim” rules early in 2009 and building transparency into all they do.  Although having very tight verification and legal affidavit requirements for members to use that type of advertising in the past – the new “No Income Claim” requirement was installed before the FTC released its recent rules and guidelines.  This definitely impacted some top producers in the short-run – but ensures the future safety for the whole community not just the top few.
• In anticipation of this huge change and the huge growth coming in this industry they have transformed themselves into a community committed to being the best entrepreneur incubator community in the world - they have brought the best trainers in the world to our community – recognized experts in internet marketing and provided the most relevent and timely top-drawer training in marketing and leadership development.
• The community is based upon the concept of learning how to “Market Anything, To Anyone,  Anywhere In The World. Personally having customers in over a dozen countries – I am living testament to – This Really Works!

I invite you to visit the website and discover more about CarbonCopyPRO and why we believe they deserve the 2010 FGHB Award For the World’s Best Home Based Business!

Gratitude For An Incredible 2009

To my readers, friends, family and business associates – I want you all to know how much I appreciate you in my life!

2009 has been incredible – challenges, rewards, blessings! I am extremely thankful for all that has come into my life this year!  I look forward with anticipation to the most amazing year of my life – 2010!  Thanks for joining us on this amazing journey!

We Are Grateful For You Being In Our Lives!

Have a safe year end celebration – Looking forward to being all we can be together in 2010!

Leadership Is The Path To Mastery

Think of the key capability areas that define your work.  In other words, your role in your business may require planning, marketing, sales, or client/customer service.  If requested to evaluate your skill level how would you rate yourself in the key areas?

Mastery Is Your Life's Work

1. I am new to this area – I’m just a novice. 
2. I am fully competent and have achieved the highest levels of knowledge and expertise – people think of me as an expert and leader in my field of endeavor.
3. I have achieved mastery – my tacit knowledge and love for my work goes way beyond that of the expert.

In reality, most of us bounce between the novice stage and the expert stage – lacking the time, focus and discipline maybe even the desire to achieve the status of a true master.
 
That’s too bad – because the path toward mastery is not only critical to achieving a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in our lives – it is essential to creating meaningful change as a leader.  Moments of ordinary make up our daily lives – serving as a huge barrier to cultivating our true potential.    It only takes a few moments to look around and see how much of what we do is “average” in nature – drawing down our energy and our personal vision of what’s possible in our lives.

The most powerful path that allows us to neutralize and move beyond being ordinary is the process of creating meaningful change.  Change is inevitable.  Meaningful change is not.  When we are in the pursuit of meaning – everything changes.
 
The true leader creates a special relationship with their work.  The “relationship” metaphor is critical to note – because their work speaks to them in ways that most will never experience.   Many times we can actually see this more clearly with the artist or the master chef.  Their expertise and creativity flows in ways that is hard for us to comprehend.
 
As we hear them talk, we are mystified at the language they use.  It is a language that reveals the intimacy of their work – and their love for it.  As we all know, when we do something out of love, there is no need for acceptance or recognition by others.

Mastery is also not the acquisition of new and improved skills. But rather, we gain a depth of understanding that changes how we see our life’s work. 
 
Here is a key insight about mastery.  We tend to think of the process of achieving mastery in terms of a “huge” time commitment. Malcolm Gladwell proposes the 10,000 hour rule is the key to mastery.  It may apply and may be a commonality – but I would propose it isn’t a driver to mastery, rather a by-product.  Mastery is not something to be achieved – like a degree or a destination.  It is an on-going process – a love affair — a relationship – that plays out every day.  It requires the intent and discipline of identifying, developing and protecting moments of mastery in each day.  Like the artist or chef, it is who we are and what we do – not something we schedule in as a task on our to-do list.
 
Pablo Picasso probably said it best:

    “Always you put more of yourself into your work, until one day, you never know exactly which day, it happens, you are your work.”

Stressful Jobs That Pay Badly

Wow read an article on cnnmoney.com about the top stressful jobs that pay badly! Why in the world in this day and age would someone stay in a poor paying job that they acknowledge is so stressful they want to quit but do nothing about it.  Is it the aconomy? Belief thay have no alternatives? Aversion to change? Fear? Lack of knowledge of alternatives?

Had to even do a video on this sad state of affairs these days!

If you find your self in one of these jobs – maybe it’s time for an alternative!

1. Social Worker
2. Special Events Coordinator
3. Probation/Parole Officer
4. News Reporter
5. Music Ministry Director

Others in the top 10

• Teachers
• Film Tv Producer
• Therapist

 

Find Out More About A Legitimate Alternative!