Archive for November, 2009

What Am I All About and Who Cares Anyway

Monday, November 30th, 2009

No one cares about you or your business. I know that may seem shocking for many of you, but it is none the less true.

People only care about themselves. They care about the results they gain from using your services or buying your products.

They only care about their growth and success. They care about the short and long term value they gain from working with you.

Here’s where your communication breaks down.

You are probably communicating as if your target market cared about your business instead of their personal interests.

“I’m a __________ (fill in the blank with your profession) and I help people (offering something you sell) with my services (or product).”

The first problem are the words “I and me”. The word “people” is the other challenge.

What people? Who do you help? How do you help them exactly? What is the result of that assistance?

Instead of thinking “I and me” when you’re communicating start thinking “you and your”.

“If you are a (niche target market) who suffers from (the challenge your niche target market wants to overcome) and would like to (result they gain from working with you) I am offering (your sales attraction soft step; e.g. free white paper, eBook, special report, audio or consultation).”

In communicating you need to have one I or me and two or more you and your statements when you communicate to your target market.

Most people see their business from their personal point of view; they cannot express the value they provide to other people.

What can you do if you’re “I and me” challenged?

First understand what the value is you provide other people? If you don’t know ask.

Then understand the Return on Investment (ROI) people typically gain from working with you?

Finally realize the niche target market you most effectively serve.

When people ask you what you do stop telling them your job title or category of business. Start telling them the problem you solve, niche market your serve and ROI you provide.

It’s hypnotic. People suddenly respond to your communications because they suddenly understand “What’s in it for me.”

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The Creative Mind at Work

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

When you go to work every day, what do you take with you?

Money for lunch, papers, files, folders, your computer, PDA, cell phone and myriad of other items that will help you to get through each and every day.

The one thing that is often missing is the realization of your personal genius, the creative mind at work.

The creative mind can see things the finite mind cannot. It can explore new realms of possibilities so that you can consciously select one option that creates a result you desire.

Notice I said a result you desire. Too often you may settle

Settle for a result because it was “the path of least resistance.”

Settle for less than you want because the path to achieve your true goal seems too difficult.

Settle to keep things status quo even though that bores you and makes you unhappy.

Settling is what keeps you stuck in a rut, wondering what to do next.

Here’s how to easily break the “settle” habit and create a new direction

First, realize you’re settling. This is an awareness building exercise. When you consciously admit that you are settling your creative mind looks for a new direction.

Focus on the direction you would really like to head.

Just saying, “This is not what I want” will not work.

Focusing on a target, an exact place you would like to go, will give your creative mind a target to hit. Without a target, you will flounder and remain lost.

Create a strategy to hit the target you’re aiming at. Defining your direction will allow you to create a plan to reach any goal.

Follow the plan and don’t allow distractions to derail you. Take action every day to reach your new, desired direction.

Combine creativity with your conscious mind and you’ll soon find that achievement will happen all around you, consistently.

What will you do with this information today? As a subscriber to this list, you have a distinct advantage over everyone else in business. Take advantage of it now.

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Work is Great But Balance is More Important

Monday, November 16th, 2009

I have been fortunate enough to have worked with a large number of creative small business owners and entrepreneurs over the years. In all those engagements I’ve learned something very important.

Beneath all the goals and desire for achievement, everyone is really seeking the same three things.

They are:

  1. Balance
  2. Satisfaction
  3. And profit with freedom

The challenge is many small business owners and entrepreneurs suffer from the terrible too’s:

  1. They work too many hours
  2. Make too little money for their efforts
  3. Have too little time to enjoy the richness that life offers.

I was thinking back on a segment of my life this morning before I wrote this post.

The motivation to do that came because I just started looking into adopting a dog (thinking about a little Westie) and was emailing the breeder.

That got me thinking back on the dogs I owned who passed away over the past few years.

How much more could I have enjoyed Sierra, Archie and Sedona? How much more could I have played with them or groomed them or petted them. Over the past 9 years I’ve had my business how much more time could I have taken to smell the roses that were abundantly around me?

Because of these life lessons peace of mind and balance have become very important to me over the past few years. I hope it is for you as well.

In fact in 2010 my mission will be to help people like you achieve balance, satisfaction and profit with freedom. I will be assisting small business owners and entrepreneurs one-to-one.

When you use your talents, knowledge and passion to create value that enhances the lives of others you will feel more joyful about your work and life. You can even do this with your existing business right now.

When you do, you will also realize the importance of balance time.

Balance starts with awareness. Ask yourself:

Do I take time each day, week and month to enjoy my life as it is right now?

Focus on right here and right now. They call this moment the “present” because it is truly a gift to enjoy.

Don’t worry about the past that has already happened. There’s nothing you can do to change it.

Don’t be concerned about a future that has yet to occur. Your focus, awareness and actions in this moment right now will create your future.

Build the future you dream of with small actions today. And if you cannot envision an ideal life, call on me. I’ll be here to help.

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The Quick and Easy Twitter Guide

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Twitter Logo

I’ve really grown to like Twitter. All you have to do is tell the story of your life in just 144 characters at a time. Well, it’s not really quite like that.

If you’re a regular reader of the Creative Life and Business Blog you’ll know that no one cares about your life, they care most about theirs.

So they really will not care very much about your story if that’s all you ever talk about.

But they DO care about your knowledge, information and people/things you find interesting.

Twitter is a perfect way to share all that you know, create and observe with a very large group of people.

Start by setting up your Twitter account. Use a real picture of yourself and make your brief bio interesting enough for people to want to learn more about you.

Then start using Twitter for just 14 minutes a day.

Be interested in others. When someone ‘Tweets’ and you find that post interesting give them a quick comment on it.

3-minutes to find the post and add your comment.

When you find an interesting Tweet with helpful information “Retweet” (RT) it and share it with the people who follow you.

3-minutes to find a Tweet that is RT-able and 1 minute to RT it.

When you are on the Web and find an article that you think is particularly helpful, share it on Twitter.

2-minutes; 1-minute to make the link a Tiny URL and post the article you enjoyed on Twitter.

Write a blog post that you share with your opt-in list regularly and add it to Twitter.

Assuming you’re marketing a business or promoting a product or service, after writing a blog post, save the  link as a Tiny URL and post it on Twitter.

2-minutes or less. We don’t count writing the blog post because you would do that anyway to promote your business.

Find an interesting person who provided great information and let others know about them. #followfriday is one way to do that.

Do this as you find interesting people. Then take 1-minute to let others know about them

When you run across interesting information that relates to your market make a Tiny URL and share it on Twitter

1-minute or less to post the information link on Twitter.

Twitter is a community of people who are passionate about the things that interest them.

But don’t get lost in the tool. Follow a plan (there are many great plans out there) and spend a consistent amount of time each day to build awareness for the personal brand called YOU.

Take a minute right now and follow me @billgluth on Twitter. I’ll return your follow and look forward to sharing great information with you.

One resource I’ve enjoyed is @GuyKawasaki. Check out his words of wisdom on Twitter at http://tinyurl.com/6fxmj9

Another tool I find helpful is TweetDeck. It’s free so give it a try.

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