The Fast Track of Technology: Stay on Top of It
The other day I met with the owner of a printing company, and when he shared his business card with me, I noticed the strange bar code like symbols on the back.
I have heard of QR codes (quick response) codes, but have not had the opportunity to put one into practice. I just recently purchased a new iPhone, and found that if I download a free QR application, I could hold my phone against his business card and have his website up for viewing in a second. How cool is that?
It seems that around every corner a new technology is available to us. It’s taken me awhile to embrace technology, but I have finally gotten to the point where I realize that it’s not slowing down. The more I stay on top of it and understand the use of new technology as a resource for my business, the less frustrated I am with it.
Take a look at this article here, http://linkd.in/qMAlIo that outlines more about QR codes and their purpose. Knowledge is power, and perhaps you can find a use for it in your business. Simple, easy to use, it’s another way to get in front of your clients and prospects.
Today I’m Celebrating my Birthday!
Today I’m celebrating my birthday! I love being born this time of year, because it’s my favorite season. The perennials are blooming, I’m able to go barefoot, and we have a couple of great week long motorcycle trips planned.
I’ll be out on the golf course with my son and husband and away from the office today, but I am writing to ask for a favor and because it’s my birthday, I’d like to give you a present.
First, my new Facebook fan page is up, and I would be so very grateful if you would visit me there and “LIKE” me. You’ll be able to get a couple of free offers I think you’ll enjoy. VISIT MY PAGE AND CONNECT WITH ME HERE
And, since it’s my birthday, I’m offering a gift of a free “Visioning Consultation” to the first five people who contact me. It’s a complimentary coaching session valued at $295 and f*ree to you!
If you’d like more clarity on where you’re going in life, more clarity on how to grow your business, then reply quickly be emailing me at jane@janemorrison.com to take me up on my offer of a visioning session that will get you crystal clear on your next steps down the path of happiness. Don’t stay stuck any longer!
Summer is a time we cram in all sorts of fun. We get out the summer drink recipes, invite friends over for barbecues and take long weekends. But remember to work on your dreams a little bit each and every day, because every great dream begins with a dreamer.
Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
All my best to you,
Say No to Unemployment & Yes to Starting a Business – May 2011
It makes me sick to my stomach…seeing the REAL unemployment rate being reported.
It’s much worse than the usual single digit status we hear about, because what’s NOT reported in those numbers are those under-employed (how many of you know people who have gone back to work at the local gas station, hardware store or retail store in the hope of insurance and pride? God Bless em!) and does not report those who have given up. ( How many of you have son/daughter, family members returning to live with you because of not being able to find work?)
Yes, the unemployment crisis is real and it’s going to stay real for a long long time.
What’s the answer? Stop counting on finding a job, and jump into the world of entrepreneurship with both feet by putting your gifts, passions and talents to work as a small business owner!
Everyone has a passion, purpose and gifts to offer that others will spend money on. Is it risky? It can be, and that’s why it’s important to spend time identifying your passions and doing it right. It’s why I do the work I do, so others succeed at their dreams.
I’ve helped so many people start their business and get off the merry-go-round of working for others.
Molly started her own vintage clothing boutique. Mary started her own pet grooming & doggie sitting daycare. Joe started his own home inspections business (way to go honey), and Jodi started her own massage and aromatherapy business – the list goes on and on.
How to get the courage to venture out on your own? You can do it while still working a day job, or if you have the time, do it with gusto full time.
I’ve got a special 50% off rate once again for my BOOK THAT WILL GIVE YOU ANSWERS TO YOUR FUTURE.
This E-book is full of exercises that teach you what your passion is, what your purpose in life is, and how to get going to follow that path. Just take a look at what some of the people say about the Discover Your Next Step journey.
Don’t hold yourself back any longer. You deserve to be happy and fulfilled.
All my best,
Mastering Your Motivation
“Get out of your Own Way”
Are You Hiding Who You Really Are?
We all want to fit in. We all want to be accepted, loved, and thought highly of.
Sometimes, we hide behind our true selves because of that need to be accepted. We’ve shut down our true authentic selves, and walk around smiling, pleasing people, not daring to say no when we need to, taking on too much, let people run over us, and not setting boundaries.
We aren’t assertive when we need to be, fearing that we might make someone mad. We don’t tell others how we really feel in a strategy meeting because our idea might not be a good one.
It’s time to love yourself, love your unique personalities, gifts and ideas, and let your light shine brightly. When my clients try to please everyone and provide service to a mixed target market, I work with them until they get clear on who “their people are.”
I tell them about the 1/3 rule: that a third of the people in the world will be your kind of people, you will connect with them right away, sharing a camaraderie and sense of shared values – you’re just like them and they are like you.
Then a third of the people and the world will feel neutral about you and you about them and that’s fine. And then there will be that last third of the people who rub you the wrong way, have different values, and don’t connect with you and you don’t feel a connection with them at all.
Once my clients understand the one third rule they take a big sigh of relief and give themselves permission to look for “their” kind of people. They begin to market to “their kind of people.” They feel more comfortable in being their authentic selves, speaking up when they need to, even firing clients who have been negligent in paying their bills or have been difficult to work with.
“Master your Motivation” ask yourself:
What unique and wonderful trait have you shut down in order to fit in; that you are NOW ready to let shine?
Please leave a comment below or on my Facebook or Twitter pages.
To Your Success!
P.S. To learn more about how you can achieve your dreams without fear read my other article Don’t Let Fear Get in the Way of Your Dreams.
Are You Standing In Your Own Way?
I know, I’ve been in your shoes. You have a dream, a grand vision of something that will happen “some day.” Maybe it is something that you’ve kept quietly to yourself, or that you journal about, or that you’ve incorporated into your dream board, or that you boast about.
But the sad truth of the matter is that your dream has not yet begun to take shape because you have not stepped in to your dream. It takes courage to step into your dream and make your dream come alive, but without beginning, you will never see it become reality.
Are you waiting until the time is right? Until you have more money, or until the kids are gone? Or have you discounted your dream and shut it down because you think you are too old, you don’t have that degree, you don’t look perfect…or maybe because you just might fail?
The truth of the matter is that there is no perfect time, no right time. Now! is the right time to step into your dream. Tell yourself no more excuses. The time is now. All the “what if’’s and “buts” are just fear disguising themselves as excuses.
Thought of the day:
“Master your Motivation” ask yourself: What is one small step I can take to step in to my dream?
Please leave a comment below or on my Facebook or Twitter pages.
To Your Success!
P.S. Be sure to watch for our special offer on Friday that will teach you how to achieve your dreams without fear!
How Do You Get Over Your Fear?
Have you ever walked into a room full of strangers, perhaps at a networking event, and swear they could see you shaking as the sweat trickled down your back?
Have you ever been nervous about standing up and introducing yourself in a meeting?
Believe or not, it’s not only you who has felt that way, we all have!
The truth is that we feel our anxiety and our discomfort in uncomfortable situations far more than other people see it. People want to see us succeed, and are rooting for us, and are quite forgiving even if your nervousness is apparent. Why? Because they’ve been in your shoes.
We all heard the saying “feel the fear and do it anyway.” I like to remember the wise saying “fake it till you make it!”
The discomfort of something becomes less uncomfortable the more you do it. How do you get over your fear of public speaking, the 2nd most prevalent fear after the fear of death?
You do what I did, and learn as much as you can about public speaking or whatever you are fearful about so you know the mechanics of it, then put yourself in situations time after time after time where you need to get up and face your fear. Was I a worried they would see me being nervous? Absolutely. But the more I faced my fear, the more comfortable I became speaking in public.
Thought of the day:
Today ask yourself, what have you been avoiding because you have been fearful? Once you know, then you can begin the practice of becoming more comfortable.
Please leave a comment below or on my Facebook or Twitter pages.
To Your Success!
P.S. Be sure to watch for our special offer on Friday that will teach you how to achieve your dreams without fear!
The Truth About Isolation for Small Business Owners
Being a work-at-home entrepreneur can be a very lonely experience, especially if you’re an outgoing kind of gal. We all need people, acknowledgement and support.
Whether it’s through an online community, a networking group, a mastermind program, we all need at least one “safe spot” where we feel welcome, can let it all hang out and not worry about being judged, criticized, or taken advantage of. Just by their very existence, supportive groups and friends like these help us deal with the stress in our lives.
If you’re not lucky enough to have that kind of relationship right now, don’t worry. There are places that offer support for you from people who know your struggles and want to relish in your successes. Here are six suggestions of where you might go to find what you need to prop you up when you need it:
Online forums or blogs
Find an online discussion forum or message board for work-at-home entrepreneurs. There are literally hundreds to choose from! While these groups often refer business to each other, their biggest benefit, in my opinion, is the support they provide. Working from home can be a lonely business, and networking with others who are in similar situations makes it less lonely. It’s impossible to feel left on your own when there are so many people on these forums to cheer you on.
A coach or mentor
Finding a coach or mentor who is several steps ahead of you on the journey to business success can be one of the best moves you ever make. Though their main goal is to provide business guidance, the good ones are also a great source of support and motivation. They know the ups and downs of the work-at-home entrepreneur, and can tell you if what you’re experiencing are just normal growing pains, or something else. Best of all, they can help you devise a plan to deal with the stress you’re feeling.
Family
Don’t overlook your family as a source of support. They may have no idea what you do all day – particularly if it involves internet marketing – but they love you and want the best for you. If you tell your spouse or loved one you just need a non-judgmental ear to hear you work through some issues out loud, you’ll likely find that he is more than willing to listen. Give your family a chance to learn as you learn. You didn’t know what to expect when you started down this venture, and neither did they. Include them in your learning curve. Then you’ll have a family that feels a part of your process and will be more than willing to support you.
Real face-to-face friends
When you work from home, you can get locked to your desk and find that most of your closest friends live inside your computer! That’s just fine, as these relationships are fulfilling, supportive, and “real” all on their own. But there’s also something to be said for meeting a friend for a cup of coffee and some real live conversation. We need interpersonal interaction of the face-to-face kind, with the give-and-take conversation patterns that we humans are familiar with; the start-and-stop, ebb-and-flow, of our thoughts and opinions in a real live conversation. Don’t limit your contact with the world to Facebook, Twitter, and email. Connect with your “real-world” friends regularly.
A therapist or counselor
Trained mental health professionals are wonderful resources for objective, sound advice in dealing with stress. While they probably won’t be able to help you figure out the product launch strategy for your latest interactive course, they can help you find ways to deal with relationships, stress, and other negative mental emotions. Often, when voiced out loud to a trained professional as an outside party, a thought that’s been stressing you will all of a sudden make sense. Get a good recommendation from a friend, colleague, or your doctor and schedule an appointment if you feel that a professional therapist can help you deal with negative mental emotions.
A Mastermind Group
Mastermind Group is a small group of people who come together for a common purpose to share challenges and solutions. Generally, each person in the group gets their own designated time to talk about their current status and challenges, while the other group members give feedback, suggestions and solutions. This group can be over the telephone or in person.
For more information about Mastermind Groups, contact Jane at jane@janemorrison.com
WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS TO KEEP ISOLATION AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AT BAY????
3 Reasons People Don’t Buy from You
Recently, I was coaching a client about his sales strategy. He was doing so many things well, yet he wasn’t getting people to actually become clients. He was credible, he had good products, and he was in a business that people needed his services. So what was he missing?
Here’s 3 things he needed to know:
1) DON’T PUSH YOUR PRODUCTS: He was so nervous about making sure he covered all his product line, he came off pushy and salesy. He was not clear about how his products could help his clients. Just because he thought they needed what he was selling, he was not answering the “what’s in it for me” question people have when considering a purchase. They were overwhelmed with the product line, and could not see the forest for the trees, nor differentiate how the products could help them with their issues.
Once I worked with him to outline specific benefits that his customers would receive if they worked with him (less worry about the future, better relationship with their partners, a handle on their finances) then he was able to put into words HOW his products helped his customers, and his sales climbed.
2) KNOW YOUR CLIENTS’ NEEDS: He was not learning what his clients’ problems were, and suggesting a solution to their situation. Again, he was giving them the rundown of his multiple product line but not taking the time to get to know his clients. We created an assessment sheet that asked questions so he could understand his clients’ ultimate goals, along with the barriers or gaps in achieving those goals, which led him to be able to share specifically how he could help them get to where they wanted to be. He became the answer to their prayers!
3) LEAD THE CONVERSATION: He was not in charge of the sales conversation. Yes, he was setting up “coffee dates” as advised by his networking group, but once at that coffee date, he lacked focus and did not take the lead on the conversation. Because he was not in charge or had a plan, the conversation would stray to the person’s family or vacation and insignificant chit-chat. While it is necessary to get to know your clients on a personal basis, you must take control of the sales conversation or you are wasting a huge opportunity. Once we created a system of points that told his clients the “what’s in it for them” highlights, and most importantly, once he mastered “asking for the sale,” he was able to engage the clients in the sales process, and even answer questions that overcame their objections.
With these 3 strategies, don’t be pushy, know your clients’ needs and lead the sales conversation, you’ll find that you connect with your customers in an authentic way that offers them a product or service that can truly make a huge impact in their lives.
I’d love to hear your comments. What do you do to connect with your clients so they understand how what you have to sell can solve their problems?
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