Achieving Extraordinary Business Results

Achieving extraordinary business results in today’s lightening fast world requires some radical shifts in thinking and acting. Business is more than the bottom line and a balance sheet. People make business happen. To achieve extraordinary business results, cultivate deep and agile relationships with your colleagues, clients, customers, suppliers and competitors. Here are some valuable tips to help you achieve extraordinary business results: (more…)

Creative Lead Generation Strategies to Grow Your Business

As an entrepreneur , it’s vitally important to continually generate high quality leads for your business. Here are low cost, highly effective lead generation strategies. (more…)

Increase Advocates

In most businesses it is said that 80% of your business comes from 20% of your clients. The challenge is getting that 20% to bring on more clients just like them for your business. The concept of the loyalty ladder is one that will help you identify the people who you are currently doing business with and those that can potentially do business with you. By spending most of your time with the right group of people, you will generate more business and increased your valued clients beyond that 20%. (more…)

What would you do in these situations….?

Mick Mickler is disabled. He’s dependent on his wheelchair.

He was forced to retire from his previous career. He has to
find a job he can do from his home, that is easy, that lets him
use his mind rather than his body, and that pays well.

What would you suggest?

Cheryl Sinclair worked for 20 years in the corporate world.

When she decided to go out on her own, she struggled with
what to do, what to call herself, and how to profit from her
past experiences.

What do you think she did?

Monty Sharp wrote, “I was employed as a Rehabilitation
Program Manager for a large health care company.
While I was still at the “top of my game”, there was
something profoundly wrong inside. I felt lost and almost
hopeless. On my precarious climb up the “enchanted”
corporate ladder, I found instead with each rung only more
disillusionment. I began to question why I had worked so
hard and long for this.”

What would you advise Monty to do?

Finally, Laura Terrebonne was laid off as a speech-language
pathologist. She didn’t know what to do to survive. She wrote,
“After spending over 10 years in the rehab field, I found myself
with a masters degree in one hand and a pink slip in the other.
I was embarrassed, humiliated and lost.”

What is she doing today?

What would *you* be doing in each of the above cases?

Each of the above people are real.

They are like you.

Or me.

They reached a point where they wanted—or needed—a
new career. And they each found it in the same place.

What did they do? (more…)

HOW FULFILLED ARE YOU… REALLY?

Are you fulfilled in your life? How about in your work? Many clients we work with tell us they have a wonderful lifestyle, but as we start to dig deeper, we see that they are missing a great life. What is the difference?

Simple. A lifestyle is the external things which you gather, but a life is something fulfilling and sustaining. Let’s look at some of the ways to be more fulfilled.

1. Stop focusing on earning more and buying more. Stop funding a lifestyle, and start creating a better life for you and those around you.
2. Stop looking for more gratification, and start being very grateful for all you do have.
3. Stop measuring your success in money terms, and start measuring emotional costs. If you work day and night to keep up with your lifestyle, you are giving up your life. Start enjoying your life and making it simple.
4. Ask yourself if you are working for a living or doing the work you love for life? (I do what I love and love what I do … shouldn’t you?)
5. Focus on your energy, feeling joy, love, and having the time to enjoy the special people in your life – this is how to be fulfilled.
6. If your work drains you or doesn’t fulfill your intellectual, social, and emotional needs, make a change.

Can’t seem to make a change and blaming everyone else? Stop whining … don’t be a wimp … take back the power of your life … go for fulfillment … and get back in control!

ALREADY LOST CONTROL?
Most people are so unbalanced today that they aren’t even aware of it. Are you one of them? The answers you provide to the following questions will measure the degree of balance you have between the demands of work, family responsibilities, and personal time. Become aware of what and where your “gaps” are (gap – coach “talk” for the difference between what you want and what you currently have).
Answer each question with a number, with 5 being “always” and 1 being “never.”
AT HOME:
Does your family complain that you don’t spend enough time with them?
Do you often feel anxious about the demands of your family?
Do responsibilities at home make you resentful?
Do you expect your family to adapt to your career needs?
SUBTOTAL:
AT WORK:
Do you feel frustrated because your income is not enough?
Do you feel guilty about the time you spend on your career?
Do you resent having to bring work home?
Do you worry that your work interferes with family needs?
SUBTOTAL:
PERSONAL:
Do you feel there’s never enough time for yourself?
Do you feel guilty about taking a vacation?
Do you wish you got more exercise?
Do you feel you never get to do what you like to do?
SUBTOTAL:
TOTAL:
A total score of less than 20 indicates you’ve learned to balance family, career and personal needs successfully.
21-30 indicates a good balance with some need for improvement.
31-40 indicates a fair balance.
41-50 shows that you’re barely managing the juggling act of home, career and personal needs.
BALANCING ACT
Want to get into balance fast? Begin by keeping a journal for 3-5 days of your current time allocation. Notice where you are spending most of your time. Is your time being spent on your life values/priorities?
When you compare where you want to spend your time and where you are spending your time, don’t get discouraged. By learning and knowing this information you can then begin to make changes. This awareness has created for you what coaches call a “gap” – the difference between what you want and what you currently have.
Having identified what you want and knowing your current situation, you can now begin to change your everyday actions to move you closer to what you desire.
If you want some help on your journey, a professional coach can assist you to build a balance between work and play and to create more joy in your life. Don’t live your life out of balance. Don’t let your life slip by with you saying “if only…”. Make a decision today to move you closer to what you want.
IS TIME A PROBLEM?

Do you feel frustrated with the lack of time you have? Feel anxious that you just can’t get everything done, no matter how hard you work or how much time you spend?

Today’s society brings with it many things to juggle: career, family, home, shopping, activities, appointments, events and on and on. This leads us to feel we have no time and creates stress which can cause a variety of illnesses.

If you are serious about turning this around, or want to avoid this situation, here are some pointers for you:

1. Slow down – take many breaks during the day and keep telling yourself to breathe and relax.

2. Track one full day of your week by 15-minute increments – evaluate where all your time goes and ask yourself this question, “Is this how I choose to be experiencing my life?” – be honest with yourself.

3. Create delight breaks in your day – time to take a walk, call a friend, stretch, look outside, read a magazine, take a bath, etc.

You’d be surprised how much time you actually do ‘waste’ during a busy day. Keeping a journal will identify times in which you really CAN take a walk, sit and enjoy a cappuccino, call a friend, etc.

ENJOYING THE MOMENT

It is all too easy to become so swept up in your work that not only do you not stop to smell the roses, you’ve ceased to even notice them. One secret to living life to the fullest is simply to enjoy today… enjoy the moment.

Until technology perfects time travel, it is impossible to relive the past or live in the future. You CAN only experience “now”, so it is important not to waste it.

Ensure that the things you do and experience in your Present, are things that really matter to you. Don’t waste these precious present moments doing things that other people think you should do. Their perspective is only appropriate to themselves. Set the goals that are best for you.

Don’t be hard on yourself. You are human. Humans, by their very nature, are imperfect creatures. Don’t condemn yourself over your weaknesses. These things can be worked on if they are a real problem, and that’s why you are given a lifetime – for you to experience one day at a time.

Don’t compare yourself to others. Instead, appreciate the very things which make you different; which make you special. We will always find those who are worse off, or better off, and every single one lives in circumstances totally different from ourselves. It’s like comparing a blade of grass with an iron bar.

Spontaneity is good – when it is appropriate, but bear in mind that your time, your actions, and your words can never be taken back. Make each one count.

Finally, look upon each day as a precious gift. You are not here to race through the days as quickly as possible, skimming over the details. You are here to experience each step of your life’s journey, to learn from it, to savor it, to enjoy it. Yesterday is too late; tomorrow isn’t here yet… you only have today.

INCREASE YOUR ADVOCATES

In most businesses, it is said that 80% of your business comes
from 20% of your clients. The challenge is getting that 20% to
bring on more clients just like them for your business. The
concept of the loyalty ladder is one that will help you identify
the people who you are currently doing business with and those
that can potentially do business with you. By spending most of
your time with the right group of people, you will generate more
business and increase your valued clients beyond that 20%.

The top of the loyalty ladder consists of advocates. These are
people who refer people to you, use your products or services
consistently, and can be viewed as ambassadors for your business.

The next lower level on the ladder is called clients. Clients are
people who use your products and services but may be willing to
use competitors’ services, as they are not loyal to you.

Then come customers. Customers are people who use your services and
are also using the services of others in your profession. On
the next rung are prospects. These are people that aren’t using
your services and that you would like to reach. They are people
who may be shopping for your services.

On the last rung of the ladder are suspects. Suspects are people who are breathing.
You have no idea if they are your target market.

Your job is to find ways to move people up the loyalty ladder
and primarily to move clients up to advocates. Think about
boosting your business by increasing the number of advocates
you now have. When clients become advocates, they aren’t
vulnerable to competitors and will send you all the referrals that
they can. Consider the rule of 52. This says that each of your
clients has an inner circle of family, friends, and associates
that consists of about 52 people. Often, the people within the
closest rung of the circle are the ones most like your clients.
As you bring each client to an advocate level, they can influence
52 more people for you.

Is Education needed to be an Entrepreneur?

Is there really an education needed to be an entrepreneur? This is a question often asked by aspiring entrepreneurs.

Well, it all depends on the individual. There are times even when those that have no educational business background are still able to make it big in the business world. Some say that they owe it all to patience, hard work, and dedication. Most of the successful entrepreneurs on the other hand claim that it would take good education to become an entrepreneur.

So what will it be? Well, if you can afford to study a business degree, then don’t let that chance pass you by. You’re quite lucky if you can attend college especially for a business degree. You have to dedicate your time studying all your lessons because in due time, you will be able to use such information to the advantage of your business.

You can choose to study in a local university or college or those individuals with more money to spend can study abroad if they want to. The important thing is to take your education seriously because you can use them when the right time comes. And while you’re studying, you have to develop all the needed skills and characteristics of being an entrepreneur.

You have to participate actively in all school activities especially those that require you to exercise your skills in business planning, controlling, directing, etc.

There are many business degrees that you can choose from like commerce, business administration, economics, and many others. Make sure that you choose a course that you like and one that you can afford so that you can finish your way to college. Remember, passing alone is not important. You have to learn every step of the way and don’t forget the things that you’ve learned.

Some entrepreneurs didn’t have the proper educational background and yet they’ve become successful in their chosen field. The fact is, there are many successful entrepreneurs without the proper business education. How many times have you heard of an entrepreneur who started from scratch and yet ended up having a high-profit earning business? Perhaps there’s more to just education.

You see, aside from education, you have to possess the right qualities and characteristics of being an entrepreneur like leadership, innovativeness, creativeness, risk taker, and many others. Even if you have the proper educational background, you can’t become a successful entrepreneur if you don’t have these qualities and characteristics.

It seems that education and the right characteristics go hand in hand in producing an effective and successful entrepreneur. If you can have them both, take advantage of it right away. Education is something that money can’t buy in an instant and besides, you can use your knowledge for the best interests of your business.

This is not to discourage those that can’t afford to earn a business degree in college. If you want, you can use the resources available on the internet and learn everything you can about being an entrepreneur. You must also develop the right attitude and characteristics as early as possible. If you can pull it off, then no one can stop you from entering the business world.

Is there an education needed to be an entrepreneur? This question can only be answered by you. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, try to assess your qualities, skills, and educational background. After that, you can already determine if you’re fit to become an entrepreneur.

The Ten Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs

The saying goes, “Be the change you want to see occur in the world around you.” I agree! In fact, if everyone knew and embraced some of the basic coaching skills utilized by life and business coaches, our world would be a much better place. Sadly, however, these abilities aren’t being taught in our schools. You have to learn them for yourself. When I first learned these skills over a decade ago, my life changed drastically. I learned how to enjoy my life more, be less stressed and have much more fulfilling relationships. I also gained more self-confidence and added value to everyone I met. For entrepreneurs, these skills can help create the lasting impressions and profitable relationships that help build successful businesses and, ultimately, successful people.

Don’t be judgmental – Remember to look for and recognize the good both in yourself and in others. We all have our “good” and our “off” days. We’re all unique in our appearance, our thoughts, our opinions and our likes and dislikes. These differences are not threatening or “bad”, just “different.” Embrace the differences and be happy for the variety. Likewise, forget the concepts of “right” and “wrong.” People are not good or bad or right or wrong; they just are. Being judgmental wastes time and cuts you off from opportunities and meaningful relationships. Remember, you aren’t perfect either!

Respect – Don’t make the mistake of thinking your rights are the only ones that count. Everyone deserves the same basic rights, and our fundamental right is to be respected. Respect is acknowledging another human being’s dignity and treating them how you wish to be treated yourself. We all came on to this earth equal and we’re all checking out as equals. What happens in between is just a series of different life experiences.

Be a good listener – How often do you really listen to other people? How often do you drift off when others or speaking, or plan what you’re going to say next instead of listening to them? It takes practice to be a good listener, but in being one, you put yourself in a position to better comprehend the real message being given to you.

Be interested, not interesting – People love to talk about themselves and will delight in the opportunity to do so, so ensure you ask questions and take an interest in what they are telling you. Don’t worry about them hogging the limelight – you can have your turn during the conversation

Respond from your heart – We tend to respond to others using our head, not our heart. We formulate stories about us, we defend our ego or we judge other people or what they have said. If we respond from our heart, we can respond with understanding and a sense of connection. Find something good to say about people and to people, the response you see will amaze you.

Be truthful – There is good reason for the saying “honesty is the best policy.” Nothing good ever comes from lies, but there is a difference between telling an outright lie and being diplomatic. If you’ve made a mistake, then welcome to the human race! You don’t have to lie to cover it up, but you also don’t have to blunt or “brutally” honest. There are gentle and tactful ways of delivering truths. Think carefully before you speak.

Be helpful – When you need a helping hand, don’t you just love the person who comes up and offers it to you? Wouldn’t you love the opportunity to repay them? If you can be that person that people look to with gratitude, you never know how or when they will repay you.

Maintain your integrity and your dignity – People with their integrity intact are easier to deal with in both business and personal situations. They know where they stand and you know where you stand with them. You will feel better about yourself when you set your standards and stand by them, and you will attract those who respect your standards and who have standards of their own.

Go the Extra Mile – I mean this in a couple of ways. First, whether you are being asked to do something or you are offering to do something, remember that if something is worth doing in the first place, then it is worth doing well. And while you are at it, what little touches can you offer to improve it? Whether your offering a business service or merely a friendly ear, going the extra mile helps you stand out as a person, which is the first step to creating relationships.

Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say. This is one of the oldest business principles around. Neither beat around the bush nor make promises you can’t keep. If you say you are going to do something, do it. Be known as a reliable person. Honor your promises and agreements wherever possible – this is the basis of integrity. When you are perceived as a person with integrity, your new opportunities as an entrepreneur and a person will constantly surprise you.

Winning New Clients

Today getting new clients in any business is getting more and more difficult. Many business owners are frustrated by the lack of leads and ineffective sales conversion systems. In fact many businesses are spending a ton of money trying to acquire new clients but are failing.

I teach my clients that education based relationship marketing based on the idea of adding value to your prospects is how to attract a ton of leads and easily convert the right leads into paying clients. Without relationships built on trust people are not going to move into action to buy your products or services. It’s that simple.

I am a huge fan of client testimonials because people live vicariously through the success of others and this enhances my credibility vs. me telling potential clients how great I am… they see and hear it from other business owners just like them.

The other goal is to get in front of prospects regularly so that they get to know who you are because people buy from people.

Let’s break this into steps:

The first step is getting in front of prospects:

You must be seen as an authority in your niche area you gradually start to build trust with your prospect. Begin by producing “solution based” educational material either by video, CD, DVD or in writing that you get to your audience. PR and articles and radio interviews also work for credibility.

Step Two: Convert the warm lead

Now you have the warm leads but you still have to convert them to a converted sale. You do this by continuing to create value for your leads and pointing out their problem areas and then matching their problems with your solutions.

Problem!
Many businesses don’t really understand their prospects. They are spending money trying to attract clients without being crystal clear who their clients are. If you don’t know exactly who you want to attract then you don’t understand how your prospect thinks and you don’t fully know their problems or how you can help them.

Get your message out:

The best way to get your message to your prospects is by giving them materials of value: teleclasses, seminars, webinars, written training materials, cds, dvds, etc. Direct mail with a valuable newsletter or emails with content are great as well.

What actions you need to take right now in your business!

I am an expert at showing clients how to do attract and convert on a shoe string budget. Here are the actions you need to take right now:

1. Offer prospects valuable information in exchange for their email or snail mail so you can keep in contact with them – NOT to sell them, to give them value, value, value.

2. Do NOT sell to prospects. Give them gifts and show them you are an expert, you care and build a relationship with them.

OK, there you have it… start taking action and let me know how I can help you.

All Systems GO!

Growing a business and increasing market share in tough economic times can be a daunting task, and sometimes very frustrating.

But it doesn’t have to be. Not if you have a well thought-out plan… a step-by-step system that has been time-proven to produce measurable, quantifiable and predictable results.

But true “systems” are not often found in most businesses. Most small and medium-size business owners or managers operate their businesses on a whim or by the seat of their pants, and then wonder why they’re not getting the return on the investments of their time, effort and money that they think they should.

A real “system” is something that you do 10 times, and 4, 5, 6, or 7 of those times, you get a result that you can count on. That’s why it’s called a “system.” When your business operates by such systems, life is so much easier, business is fun once again, and worries can become a thing of the past.

That’s what you’ll learn in the Overnight Cash Surge seminar. You’re going to leave with plans, structures, and systems ready to implement as soon as you get back to your business.

The title, “Overnight Cash Surge” was created on purpose. Because that’s exactly what can happen in your business when you implement what you’ll be learning from this fast-paced, information-packed seminar.

And on top of it, you’ll be helping fund the dream of our young Make-A-Wish candidate. When you can spend one day, a handful of dollars, and leave with more ideas than you can implement in a
month… PLUS help a child live their life’s dream… it doesn’t get much better.

I sincerely hope you’ll be joining us. It’s going to be a great time and I’d love your participation!

To register for one of our space-available seats, click here.

To download your Business Doubler Fast Start Guide, Growing a business and increasing market share in tough economic times can be a daunting task, and sometimes very frustrating.

But it doesn’t have to be. Not if you have a well thought-out plan… a step-by-step system that has been time-proven to produce measurable, quantifiable and predictable results.

That’s what you’ll learn in the Overnight Cash Surge seminar. You’re going to leave with plans, structures, and systems ready to implement as soon as you get back to your business.

I sincerely hope you’ll be joining us. It’s going to be a great time and I’d love your participation!

To register for one of our space-available seats, www.overnightcashsurge.com

To download your Business Doubler Fast Start Guide, http://overnightcashsurge.com/businessdoubler.htm

I hope to be seeing you at the event!

Terri Levine