Do Your Goals Stretch You?
March 12, 2010
I was listening to Matt Morris of the Unemployed Millionaire Blog talk about goals. He was talking about big goals and how our goals should scare us a little. He says we should set what he calls BHAG (big, hairy audacious goals) that stretch our thinking and our ability to achieve them.
I do have agree, that some of our goals should really stretch us. So what what does that actually mean “stretch us”. Let’s examine that word for a minute, if you think of an elastic band stretching, think about how we can stretch and stretch and stretch it, and it won’t break. It just gets longer and bigger. Now sometimes we can stretch them so far that they will break, so we want to make sure those goals don’t break us. Another principle to keep in mind, is that we should not had a lot of “stretch goals”, just one or maybe two at a time. That elastic band breaks under too much pressure, and you don’t want to break under the pressure of too many stretch goals.
So my challenge to everyone today is to pick a goal for yourself that will stretch you. Something that you can hardly dare to think about, let alone attempt doing. Something you don’t even want to talk about because it is that big. Set a reasonable time frame for achievement and watch what happens.
The next principle that is important with the BHAG is to keep that goal in front of you all the time. Read it over every single day, several times a day. Put it on the mirror, the dashboard of the car, on your computer, anywhere you are for any period of time. Make it front and center.
And one final thing about your BHAG, what if you don’t quite make it? Well think about this. Before it was a goal, it was a doubt or a dream you only dreamed in silent moments. When you turned it into a goal you got closer to achieving it than ever before, so if you don’t quite make it, try again. Make it next month’s BHAG and get a little further with it. You will get there, trust me.
Business Opportunities!?
March 8, 2010
I don’t know if you are like me or not, but I get about half a dozen offers in my email everyday of someone wanting me to join their business or look at their latest online marketing plan. Fortunately, I have waded through a lot of these offers and I can tell you that most of them offer very little in the way of “help” in getting anything going online. Beware of the guys who tell you that they have a way for you to build your own list and use it to work your business.
Today, I wanted to outline a few good things to think about when you are considering adding an “at home” type business to your business endeavors. The people most attracted to online businesses usually fall into one of two categories. They are either, entrepreneurs who see opportunity in everything (I can suffer from this) or people who are in a desperate situation financially. Either one of them is vulnerable to scams.
Before I make my comments, in the interest of full disclosure, I work one online business and I take advantage of many products from network marketing companies, so I am very pro MLM or network marketing. I know many people who are very successful at it and they are because they have treat like any other business and work it hard. One is NEVER going to break the high income barriers in network marketing unless they work the business like a business. That said, here are some guidelines to picking your opportunity.
1. Never go into any business, MLM or not, believing that it will cost you little or nothing to build the business. All businesses, have risk and investment involved. With MLMs there will be a “sign up” fee and costs associated with marketing your business. With another business model the costs can be significantly more because there will usually be nothing in place for you. In light of the high cost of marketing a start-up, if money is an issue, then a network marketing business is going to be relatively inexpensive by comparison. I have one of each and I can assure I spend more on my start up than I do on my MLM.
2. Never go into any business believing that it will be easy. Owning a business, if you are serious is not easy. Most businesses will not pay you immediately, so understand that you may have to work your business part time at first, especially if you have no start up capital.
3. If you decide to choose a MLM, choose a product or service you just love. Enthusiasm sells, and people will immediately pick up on the fact that you are not excited.
4. Choose a MLM that has a proven system in place for how you want to market your business. If the system in place for the business is what we call “belly-to-belly” marketing to your family and friends and you can’t see yourself doing that, then don’t do it. If you can see yourself going to networking groups and starting there, perhaps that will work, but there are better choices out there and you need to capitalize on the companies that had a system you can see yourself doing. I believe that businesses can be built online and I finally found one that has a model I can use and has put a lot of time and effort into creating a usable system for an online business. Not many out there do.
5. Determine the kind of support and training you will get before you begin the program. Although most of these companies are really about sponsoring, you will need training in approaching people with the business or the product and if you have to teach yourself, unless you are a great self-starter, don’t waste your money.
6. Remember that the MLM model is a legitimate business model. And today, many companies are choosing to market their products and services through a network of distributors rather than let the products lounge on the shelves of retailers for years and spend millions on marketing to get them noticed. The reason that companies choose to market this way is purely economic, it is just much more cost friendly. Better to pay the high sales producers when they produce high sales in an distributor network than to pay a marketing firm millions upfront for sales they may never see. Makes perfect sense to me.
7. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help, either from your sponsor or hire someone who can keep you honest. Owning your own business is hard work, you need support from someone in your corner.
Whatever you are looking for there are plenty of opportunities, don’t be afraid to explore them. Just don’t jump on the first wagon that drives by, take your time and figure out what you would like to represent and then find the company that can help you meet your goals. You are in the driver’s seat, don’t forget that.
Are We Really All the Same?
March 3, 2010
A couple weeks ago a reporter on the CBS Sunday Morning Show did a story on how people are pretty much all the same all over the globe. He picked a couple of places in the world and visited them. Then out of the local phone book he picked one person to profile. It was very touching and interesting.
The one that most impressed me was about an old man who had gone blind and made his living grinding grain. What made this story so cool was that when he peeled back the layers of this guys life, he had this amazing story. Although he was blind, and one would think that he would have a sad life in poverty, what the reporter discovered, was this amazing happy guy who felt his life had been blessed. He had a lovely wife and many children and grand children. They ran a family business in which all of the money went into one bank account which every member of the family used to take care of their families. No one was complaining about their share and no law suits were pending over the family business. Everyone pulled together and look care of each other.
He also pointed out that, in spite of the fact that this blind man seemed to be alone all day, there was always someone in the family that “watched” him. They didn’t hover over him, they just made sure he was okay, 24/7. No one complained and everyone just took their turn caring for the father.
What I find compelling about that is that story is that in spite of a tragic beginning to his life, he not only managed to raise a family, but he also instilled in them a good work ethic, the importance of family and an understanding of what it means to share. It was a great story.
It really inspired me to consider that perhaps I need to be a little more open to the needs of others around me. Perhaps my perspective on my world needs to enlarge a little to let more people into my view.
So how do you live each day? Do you concern yourself at all with the people you meet each day. Do you barely have time to look up and see your own children let alone the rest of the world? Perhaps it is time for all of us to take a break and enlarge our view of life a little.
MLM’s Jump Into the Online Marketing Age
March 2, 2010
If you are like me you are very diversified in your approach to business. Although I help people work on improving the business that is their brain child, I also help multi-level marketers grow and achieve success in their respective businesses. I am a big fan of MLMs because I believe they level the business opportunity playing field for people who are entrepreneurial but are financially challenged in getting a business going. That is not to say that one can start a business with no money at all, but most people can be up an running with advertising, networking and other options for a relatively small amount of money.
I was excited when the company that I actively build, World Ventures, has recently jumped into the age of the online marketer. Since World Ventures is truly an online discount travel business, it makes sense, but many MLMs are afraid of their reps getting clients online, but World Ventures has leaned into it and actually created some great opportunities for their reps. They have now created classy looking landing pages, complete with a back office system of auto responders to collect leads. It is amazing. Here is my site, please visit it I need the traffic! http://SharonSchierling.newplana.com
They also have aligned themselves with a company who sells quality leads. This is revolutionary for the MLM industry. Want to know why? Well here it is. Most MLMs want us to contact our friends and family to build business. And, although I believe it is a good idea to talk to family and friends I also believe that there is a better market out there of people looking for new opportunities. WV does still encourage us to share with family and friends and to do some physical networking but I am here to tell you, the road can get long and dreary that way. I always encourage my clients to learn the best telephone skills possible (I help them of course) and start dialing. I am so excited that World Ventures has stepped up and leaned into technology and is providing a way for reps to use online marketing tools without violating any online or company rules. It is a real class act.
To that end I am trying to get some hits to my new landing page and determine the best pay per click marketing system out there, so please visit and let me know what you think. Have a great day!
Off to hear my friend Donna speak at The Londoner Addison about HR issues business owners face.
Hard Work and Dedication
February 15, 2010
I have spent the last several days watching the Olympics. Of course being a transplanted Canadian living in Texas, with an American citizenship, it is just a little difficult to figure out who to cheer for at times, but I have my favorites on both teams. I was excited to see Bilodeau win the first gold medal on Canadian soil and equally excited to see Apollo Ono win silver. I love the Olympics because it brings out the best and the brightest in all the world to compete for gold and make their dreams come true.
They all have one thing in common. They worked extraordinarily hard to get to the games. Whether they win a medal or not, they spent the last four years perfecting, planning, practicing, dreaming, doing, sacrificing and rehearsing until they are at the top of their sport. They are the best they can be at this point. They are ready to compete. We all understand that. We are astounded at the dedication these people have to their dream. We hang on, and cry over, every personal story of the athletes as they tell us what it took to get to these Olympics. And what it took was lots and lots of hard work and dedication. The kind of hard work and dedication that many of us will never have to put forth in our lives. The kind of hard work and dedication that it takes to be extraordinary.
So why is it that, while we fully acknowledge that hard work and dedication bring about great reward, most of us still think that there is a quick and easy way to get to the top and make lots of money. Why do so many of us think that some internet scheme or affiliate program is going to make us millions. Why, because most of us want to take a short cut to success. We don’t want to believe that the people that make the money and have successful businesses, had to work hard at all. We don’t want to believe that we have to sacrifice and work hard, we want it to be easy.
We all need to take a page out of the Olympian play book and realize that whatever we chose to do in this life will have its obstacles. There will be days when we soar and other days when we are sore! But through it all, if we keep our goals in front of us and keep working our plan, we will make it to whatever podium we are dreaming about. The trick is to stay focused and not get distracted by all those people who want us to take an easier road. Because in the end, all of life requires hard work and dedication to finish well. Do you want to finish well? Don’t be afraid of the work, it will make the podium seem even sweeter!
So What is a Squeeze Page
February 10, 2010
If you’ve been around the IM (internet marketing) scene for awhile, you’ve most likely heard the term “squeeze page” before, right? At least that’s what I thought.
One of the questions was “Do you know what a “Squeeze Page” is?” 68.05% answered yes and 31.95% answered NO.
What about you?
A squeeze page which is also known as a “lead capture page” or “name squeeze page” is a simple web page with one purpose; to get your visitor to give you their name and email address so you can follow-up with them. That’s it.
One of the best ways to get someone to opt-in to your squeeze page is by offering something of high perceived value such as a mini ecourse or a highly targeted eBook.
For example, let’s say you are promoting a multi-level marketing business opportunity. The products are great and you are a raving fan.
Most people would just start promoting the website the company supplies. I say no. This is a perfect opportunity to implement the use of a squeeze page and offer something of value first.
That way, you collect the leads, you follow-up with an introduction of yourself and begin building a long lasting business relationship.
In sales, what we are really selling is “us” first, then the product.
You always want to provide value first. Once your prospects warm up to you, then it’s time to ask the right questions to determine if your product or business opportunity can help solve their needs.
This is a good way to get free leads, but I will tell you that it is just as much work as anything else you do online. You have to drive traffic to the site and that can get costly, in time, money or both. There are great ways out there to capture leads that may or may not cost as much as just purchasing the leads and making the calls. Be careful to weigh and measure the value of this option, including how much it will cost to get traffic to your squeeze page.
Another thing to be aware of is to make sure you don’t get trapped in a “surefire system to get leads”. I have signed up for a few of these, mostly to research how they work, and I find that they are way more work than they have ever yielded leads. It is easy to lose your focus on your own business while getting caught up with these programs. They are usually pretty legitimate but require much time to make work.
Hopefully that gives you a little insight into squeeze pages.
What Would You Change?
February 2, 2010
Let me ask you one question? If money were no object and you knew you could not fail, what one thing would you change about your life?
I am really not trying to stir up discontent, but I have found that this question often gets people thinking about how comfortable they are, and about what they could do to make their lives just a little more fulfilling. You see I think that left to our own devices we like to be complacent. We like to live our quiet routines without having to move to far to the left or right of our comfort zones. We don’t like the inconvenience of having to make adjustments for others or giving up time or treasure to altruism. In short, most of us are a little selfish.
Most of us tend to be consumed with making our lives work out for the best. Few of us ever challenge ourselves in a way that might jeopardize our comfort. Yes we all need to make a living and support our families, but there are hours in the day that we use solely to recover from the mind-numbing boredom of keeping the machine that is our lives, moving forward.
So, if you could, what would you change? If you changed that one thing, would it benefit you or someone else? If you could do anything you wanted to do, what would it be? Would you change the choices that you have made to reflect a different life for yourself and for others. Would you change careers, move to a new town, get a degree, take up running, what would you do?
Whatever that one thing is, take some steps toward it. Think about ways to make it part of your daily routine. Shake up your life a little. Maybe you can’t afford to change your entire life, and maybe you can’t trade in your desk job for a park ranger’s job, but maybe there are ways to just shift your existence a little.
Why am I talking about change? Because even though we don’t like to change our routine, many of us live our entire lives in quiet desperation, feeling trapped, alone and powerless to make the necessary changes to move toward hope and happiness. I believe that within each of us is the power to change and since we do control our thinking and our actions, are the only things we can change.
Now, I ask, not what would you change, but what can you change? Do you have the courage to change what you can? Step out and change one thing you can, and then another and another…
What Are You Hoping For?
February 1, 2010
Hope is a word that holds much promise. We hope for the best, hope for a better job, hope our children will turn out okay, hope that the car will start in sub zero weather, hope for a promotion, hope for change. In fact. our president ran on a platform of “hope”. As humans we want to always believe that things will turn out in the end. We want things to change for us, so we hope for change.
The problem in life is that we often need to do more than just hope. Hoping is not alway enough to create change. Now certainly there are times when all we can do is hope. If your child is sick in the hospital, you must trust the doctors to do their job and then hope is all that is left. If your son or daughter is in a foreign land fighting to maintain freedom, you must trust God and hope she will be fine. However, in much of life we can do more than hope.
If you are looking for a better job, hoping is not enough. You may need to improve your skills, or advance your education. Perhaps you are like a lot of parents and you “hope” your kids will stay away from drugs and out of trouble. Hope is not enough, you must spend time with them, cultivate relationships that make them “think” before they take wrong actions.
The best thing about hope is that it can sustain us during hard times, but the bad thing about hope is that it is not enough to effect change on its own. Hoping for something better is only the first step to getting something better. After hope must come planning and designing that “something better”, then comes the action of making hope a reality. What are you hoping for today, and what are you doing to make your hope real?
Be Still
January 20, 2010
We all have our own way of handling uncertainty, indecision and even crisis. There is, built into all of us, a method by which we cope with all the things that life throws at us. I remember when my mother passed away, well before her age indicated that it was her time, I just kept busy. I needed to move and do things, because I have a “doing personality”. For others, there is the need to contemplate, to remember and still others seemingly fall apart, but even that is a way of coping. Rarely, do people ever deal with problems and questions or even crisis, by becoming still. Most of us feel the need to react, to grow, to change to do something. However, doing something is not always the answer.
I find that, particularly when decisions and choices weigh heavily on my mind, being still and silent are far more valuable then any of my “doing and trying”. There is something powerful, even profound, in the act of stillness. The acknowledgment that I am not in control, frees my mind and makes me let go of the temporal that I think I control. It reminds me that in spite of the value that I often place on my own resources, in the end the outcomes are in the hands of one greater and wiser. I need to lean into that more often.
That stillness awakens other possibilities. By letting go and being still, the ideas and options that the hurried, busy mind have no time for, slowly emerge to help solve problems. When we let go of our own will, we are free to be inspired by others.
The stillness also brings peace. In stillness we are open to the voice that we cannot hear when we are rushing around trying to order our world our way. Because God rarely speaks in loud places and does not appear on prime time, we never get to hear Him except when we are still. His voice brings peace and assurance of the best outcome for our problems.
In my mind’s eye, I see my stillness as sitting alone in a green pasture, by calm, still waters, with animals and flowers all around me. For you it may be in a dark corner of a library with a good book, or a quiet coffee shop or even a mountain top. But whatever your stillness is in your mind, go there often. Be still and wait for answers and inspiration. Don’t be afraid that your absence will cause the world to stop, it won’t. I have found that even if, in my stillness I find no answers, the problems I come back to are never as large as I thought.
Whatever your problems are, being still will bring them into clear focus and help you to find the answers you seek. Be still…
