It's Not an Excuse; It's a Flat Out LIE!

Over the past week or so, I have encountered countless excuses from several people on why they either were not, could not, or had not done something or other!  Let us examine what an excuse really is….it is a reason…justification….explanation…..a defensive mechanism……for NOT doing something.  But the truth be told, an excuse is basically a flat out LIE!  As Steve Pavlina put it, "Excuses are lies we tell ourselves to avoid dealing with unpleasant truths."  In Steve's article "Feeble Excuses," he makes some very valid points about excuses.  Read the article below.

Feeble Excuses

February 10th, 2006 by Steve Pavlina

Excuses are lies we tell ourselves to avoid dealing with unpleasant truths.  But as long as we buy into those excuses, we can never move past them.  Instead of addressing the underlying problem, we merely hide the symptoms.  One of the most important steps in personal growth is to uproot excuse-making and confront the real issues behind the excuses with consciousness and courage.

Here are some of the most common excuses and their underlying truths:
I don’t have enough time.
Whenever you hear yourself making this statement, you know deep down it isn’t the truth.  The real truth is that you haven’t made that which you supposedly lack time for important enough.  You’re really saying, “That just isn’t important enough to me.”  I don’t have time to exercise.  I don’t have time for a relationship.  I don’t have time to start my own business.  Of course you have time.  You have as much time as anyone else does, and other people are already doing these same things.  The difference is that they make it more of a priority in their lives than you do.  You aren’t a victim of circumstances.  If you don’t like your circumstances, change them. It’s amazing that people who say they don’t have time somehow find plenty of time for marginal activities like watching TV.  If you don’t have time to exercise, then surely you don’t have time to watch any TV at all.  Such people are really saying that exercise simply isn’t important enough to them. It’s easier to blame the problem on a lack of time, but the real problem is a lack of will.

I don’t know how.
This is one of the feeblest excuses of all.  I don’t know how to make a web site.  I don’t know how to write well.  I don’t know how to get a better job.  Are you capable of learning?  Did you stop after learning to crawl, complaining, “I don’t know how to walk?”  The truth behind “I don’t know how” is “I’m unwilling to learn.”  In other words, you have to admit that you’re lazy.

I don’t have the money.
If there’s something you want, “I don’t have the money” is no excuse for not getting it.  You can always earn the money or find a way to get the item at reduced cost.  The truth behind “I don’t have the money” is “I don’t want it badly enough.”  Earning the money you need is only a matter of time, and we already know that not having enough time is no valid reason for giving up, nor is not knowing how to earn the money.  If you want to buy something out of your price range, you’re fully capable of setting it as a top priority and then putting in the time to learn how to earn enough to acquire the item.

Don’t let excuses run your life.  If you catch yourself using one of these lines, immediately replace it with a statement of the real truth.  At first that truth may seem uncomfortable.  It’s easier to say, “I don’t know how” than it is to say, “I’m unwilling to learn.”  But when you admit your unwillingness, laziness, or lack of motivation, then you’re finally facing the truth, and from that point you’ll have the opportunity to grow.  For example, if you face your unwillingness to learn, you may decide that even though it would be a lot of work to learn a new skill, you could do it if you wanted it badly enough and really applied yourself.

It’s easier on our egos to blame failure on external, uncontrollable factors such as lack of time, information, or resources.  But as long as we use such excuses, we can never solve the underlying problems because those factors aren’t under our direct control.  We need to invert our excuses and look beneath them to find the internal causes that we can control.  What we can control, we can improve.
We can’t control time, but we can control how we prioritize the actions that fill that time.  We can’t control information, but we can control what we choose to learn as well as how much effort we devote to learning.  We can’t control money, but we can choose to undertake more effective income-producing activities.  So by controlling the factors that are within our control, we can create as much time, information, and resources as we desire.
Don’t let your ego get in the way of your growth.  Muster the courage to face the truth instead of making excuses.  Only when you admit the truth do you gain the power to do something about it.  If you admit your laziness, you can work on that.  If you admit your lack of motivation or skill, you can work on those too.  But you’re powerless to work on time, information, or money directly.  Don’t give away this power and doom yourself to perpetual mediocrity.  Shoot down your excuses, face the bitter truth, and start taking the steps necessary to change in the direction you want to go.

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/02/feeble-excuses/

Successful People DUPLICATE!

You've probably noticed that I haven't posted in over a week or so right?  We'll, I took somewhat of a vacation, though that isn't an excuse to not post…..I simply didn't post because I didn't want to….I'm practicing "doing absolutely nothing unless I want to do it" because frankly, I am blessed to have that freedom!  This month anyway that is!!!

In all seriousness now, while I was vacationing I thought a lot about DUPLICATION and the power and importance of it and how it really works!  It also became apparent to me that most people seem to have a problem with duplication.  Why is this?  I would say that most people have a problem with duplication because 1) they are poor listeners 2) they believe that they have all of the answers and 3) they think it is bad to "copy" because they are "creative." 

The fact of the matter is that while creativity is great and is definitely a requirement in some areas, when it comes down business and business success, there is absolutely no need to reinvent the wheel.  We rely on methods and systems because they work!  Things will always need to be refined and enhanced but typically never recreated! 

Tips of the Day to Help you Become a Better Duplicator & a Successful Business Person:

1. "Find out what successful people are doing and start doing it" - go out and do it, study it, learn it, become it. Duplicate it.
2. Become a better listener and observer.  The odds are, you are looking for a better way and hoping to one day become financially free, successful, powerful.  Change your mindset.  Get rid of the "know-it-all" mentality.  Start listening. Start Duplicating.
3. Open up your mind.  You may need to change your mindset - become open and realize your possibilities.  Rich, successful people admire other rich, successful people!  Be jealous and envious of NO ONE.  Be inspired!
4. Change the way you think and live.  There is a strong possibility that you are stuck and that you are where you are because you need to flat out make some changes.  You may need to change your circle of friends, change your lifestyle, etc.  Add some successful people to your circle.  Enrich your surroundings and the places that you frequent.

Are You a Facebook Mass Adder?

Are you a Facebook Mass Adder or Do You Only Add Those that Add Value?  Do you have a few hundred Facebook friends? Are you hitting a thousand, or several thousand? 

What does your level of social media friendship mean to you and to your business and what if anything is it doing or has it done for your business?  Are you just adding people because it is the thing to do and everyone is your "potential" customer or do you actually have a rhyme and reason behind your adds and requests? 

3 Things to Remember About Your Facebook Friendships:

1. People Don't Want to Be Overloaded with Your Sales Pitches. Sometimes less is   more, especially if you don't want to be blocked or better yet deleted!
2. Don't Spam Strangers & Flood In-Boxes. Sometimes it is better to be selective in who you message on Facebook.  Do you know the person directly?  Do they know of you?  The "Send to All" feature isn't always a good one.  Use it wisely!
3. Contrary to Popular Belief; Just Because They Friended You Doesn't Mean They Want to Patronize You.  As I always say and though many disagree with me; you cannot look at everyone as a customer or potential.  Plain and simply put, there are some people who are not and will never be interested in what you have to say or sell, unfortunately!

Ultimately, when it comes to your business, you should seek to add value to your Facebook friends lives and you should seek friendships that add value.  Practice good Facebook Etiquette.  Don't befriend people and immediately start spamming them with your sales pitch.  Don't be the pushy, obnoxious, used-car salesman!

Connect with Me on Facebook!

Release Your Inner Loser!

I'm still on one of my reading rants as learning something new each and every day and reading is simply a part of my everyday life and a natural habit!  Not to mention that there are a lot of people in the world who have great, insightful things to say that can be applied to anyone's business or life in general.  I was reading a post by Chris Owen today who went from a farm boy, to a soldier, to a business man!  I don't personally know him, nor am I able to endorse him, but he did write a great inspirational article called "Release Your Inner Loser" which I think is a must read for everyone.  For whatever reasons, we have all given excuses at some point in time; some people are full of excuses everyday, all day.  The article is cute yet motivational so I'm posting it!

Release Your Inner Loser

by Chris Owen on September 20, 2010

Excuses…Excuses…Excuses

We all have ‘em. The loser in us just trying to break free to the surface.

• I just don’t have the time to work a business…
• I don’t know enough about computers to be successful online…
• I’m not good at talking to people…
• I don’t think I can learn this stuff…

This list can go on for miles. These are just a few of the excuses people use to justify not being successful with online business.
Robert Kiyosaki said it best…

“Excuses are the words coming from the loser in you”

Problem is, excuses are a part of all our lives. I’d be willing to bet, if I counted, I’d use at least 30 excuses throughout my day to justify my inner loser.
Today, I say let’s kick our inner loser in the pants and drop the excuses.
I have a friend that was telling me one day he wished he could make the money I do online. Obviously my response was “Why don’t you?” His reply was one that I’ve heard too many times. “I just don’t have the time”.
I dropped the subject and took a look around. His yard was a masterpiece. It’s like a freak’n 3 acre golf course manicured piece of art. From the tree’s that I don’t know the name of, to the custom landscaped goldfish ponds, it is immaculate.
I asked him how long it takes him to keep this thing up. “Oh about an hour or two a day, and then 4 hours every Saturday”.
“Really” I said. “How much money does it make you?”

How much money you make is more about priority than anything else

If you truly desire to make more money you will. If you just “wish you could” the loser in you is holding you down. Now I’m not saying you should lose your car in the grass, but really, if your spending more than 10 hours a week making your yard immaculate but you can barely afford the fertilizer, your priorities are out of whack.

Put that time and focus into making a better, stronger income stream and when you quit your day job spend all the time you want turning your front yard into a golf course.
It really is that simple. I know plenty of people come online and join a sponsor that is totally useless, leaving them to fend for themselves and try and learn everything on their own. Even with that, you can find enough info digging through my old blog posts to get off to a great start.

The Point Is, Do Something!

There simply is too much information out there to not be successful. My first online marketing sponsor forgot my name the second I payed my sign-up fee. I still went on to make thousands with that company before moving on to something that fit me better. I did so by not quitting, taking a few risks and stepping out of my comfort zone.
Think about this…
This was my pastors message Sunday: Imagine you are driving down the highway in the pouring rain. You pass by a woman trying to change a flat tire. You feel a concern for her, but you are already running late and can’t show up for your meeting soaked from the storm.
Now, what if you feel more than concern for this woman. What if you feel a burden to help her. Do you know the difference? If you feel a burden you will stop, change the tire and hope they understand at the meeting.
That is the mindset you need to be successful with your business. If you are just concerned about making more money, the loser in you will most likely prevail and you’ll never take action. But if you set your mindset to be burdened by your lack of security, uncertain retirement or whatever your money troubles or desires may be… You will take action.
If you don’t believe something is possible, you’ll never take action. Only make excuses. You’ll bask in the light of the dream while you live in the misery of the moment.
Believe in yourself, take action and work today for a better tomorrow.
Chris Owen

How To Ask For Referrals

Do you have a strategy in place for asking for business referrals, or do you just ask anyone, at any time no matter what?  I came across a really great article by Louis Yates that provides keen insight for going about asking for referrals for your business:

How To Ask For Referrals

Author: Louise Yates

To make the most of business networking as a marketing strategy for your business it's important to master the art of generating referrals. Before I go further into picking the right time to ask for referrals let me make one thing clear; referrals do not come on a plate and do not come immediately. It's important when thinking about networking and as part of your referral marketing strategy to be patient, get to know like and trust your fellow networking colleagues, they will do the same about you and then the referrals will start to flow naturally and sometimes you'll wonder where they're all coming from.

Having said that there's still a right time and a wrong time to ask for sales referrals and get it wrong at your peril. Get it right and you'll be wondering why more people don't network, a wealth of free sales leads already warmed up and all for the relatively small cost of joining a business networking group.

So how do you know when it's the right time to ask? Read on and all will be revealed and for the sake of repetition, the first point is when you feel you trust your contact because it's most likely that when you arrive at this point, so have they.

Another good time is when someone has just experienced excellent service from you. They will thank you and praise your service, you've helped them so what better time is there to ask them to help you?

Another variation on this point is when you've helped someone. For sure they may ask how they can help you in return – do not waste this opportunity! To hammer the nail home make sure that you have your patter short, sharp and to the point.

A third variation on this same point is when you know someone is about to ask for help from you – how relieved they will be if you ask for help from them first knowing they then can freely ask you for help.

Great opportunities come at funny moments and one to be ready for is when someone is really happy or has just had some good news. Sometimes good news doesn't come often and here's the rub about being patient again so be prepared to wait for the right moment. Conversely, the absolute worst time to ask for a referral is when someone has just had bad news, clearly they are going to be focused on themselves and certainly not you.

Furthering this point about ensuring that someone is in the right frame of mind to be receptive to your needs think about this when making phone calls. Have you ever received a phone call from someone when you're in the middle of something urgent or when you are just clearing the desk for the weekend? How receptive are your to someone asking you for a favor?...exactly. I know that when it happens to me I'm really short with the caller and will focus on getting rid of them rather than understanding why they've called. If you're going to ask for something over the phone, take the time to find out a convenient time when you can have a good conversation.

Special offers are always a good one. It doesn't have to be much and if you're well established in a network then this is a great way to make it easy for people to refer you and your services.

 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/networking-articles/how-to-ask-for-referrals-3564700.html

About the AuthorLouise Yates shares business networking advice and business networking tips and tricks for generating referrals and sales leads. Louise runs a life coaching information website and values based coaching business.

PART 2 - Killer Profit Mistakes - What You Don't Know Will Hurt You!

Earlier in the month I posted the "What You Don't Know Will Hurt You" article and after an interesting interaction with an individual, now just happened to be the time to follow up with a Part 2 Post!  

Yes, what you don't know will hurt you and can kill your business, but at the same time, it's alright to not know as long as you take constant action to get in the know and stay there! In a nutshell, you have got to maintain your relevancy - especially in your industry!  You don't have to know about the latest fashions, video games and i-Phone applications, if that isn't your "business" but whatever "your business" is, it is your business to know about it!  Customers are really smart these days, they do their research, they comparison shop and it has become increasingly difficult to B.S. today's consumer.

Today's Top 3 Tips for Staying in the Know:

1. Maintain Your Relevancy - you have to have social significance if you want to compete.  Think about it this way….there was BETA, then VHS, then DVD, now BluRay….constantly evolving…socially significant…relevant to today….or you'll get left behind - put out of business.
2. If You Don't Know Be Honest About It - If you don't have the answer to something, don't make up an answer or give incorrect information.  Simply say, you are not exactly sure, you cannot recall, or better yet, you don't know and then go promptly figure out the answer.  As I said before, customers are intelligent these days.  The last thing that you want to do is insult someone's intelligence by not communicating the truth.
3. Shoot to Become an Expert - ultimately I suggest that everyone be on a mission to learn everything under the sun about a given area.  Be on a constant quest for information and in turn educate others on what you know.  When you become an expert, the net worth of your business/your brand increases.  You become a magnet and your profit potential is properly positioned for growth.  Get in the know and stay there!

Connect with me on Facebook!

Remember to Return the Favor!

It is an everyday practice for pretty much everyone in social networking to request new friends, request that someone "like" your page, suggest you befriend someone else, suggest that you "like" someone else's page, follow a blog, etc.  What happens after you do these things?

The odds are, if you are an entrepreneur, you are not requesting Facebook friends and requesting and suggesting that people Like your page just for old time sake right?  When it comes down to business, understand that these things are done for a reason that typically goes beyond you, Facebook marketing, networking, and making friends!

If you are an entrepreneur and you rely on social media to build your business and communicate with your customers and prospects remember today's key Social Media Etiquette Tips!

1. Remember to Return the Favor: Do not request that someone become a fan of your business and when they do, you don't return the favor to them in some form or fashion.  Even if you are not yet a customer of theirs, or perhaps you feel that you never will be, unless they are pushing something that goes against your values, why not?  Don't take every request personally because the odds are it isn't about you!  Like I always say, you never know who your future customers, clients and/or business partners may be.  So as long as it's tasteful, why not Like it!  The odds are, no one will judge you for doing so.
2. Remember it is Done for a Reason: In many cases, people have a need to have their page liked and their blog followed because they are "building a business."  They are building credibility.  They are building a base….a brand…just as a brick-and-mortar business would do to get to the next phase of growth and development.

Remember….if it's tasteful, professional and doesn't go against your grain…Like it!  It's about building business and building relationships!  Liking a page and/or following a blog can be a stepping stone to great things that will increase your power, potential and ultimately your profit!  Connect with me on Facebook!