Business Themes - Business Issues

You’ve Built Your List… Now What?

admin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:42:27 +0000

You’ve Built Your List… Now What?
by: Denise Hall

Anyone who makes money online will tell you that you need to

build an opt-in list. All you do is give away a free ebook,

report or other item of value to get people to subscribe to your

list. It sounds simple and it is.

But once you start building your list, what do you do with it?

Build a relationship with your list members! Tell them a little

about yourself. Send them free valuable content in the form of

articles, ebooks or reports. Let them get to know you, like you

and trust you. Become their friend, someone whose opinion they

value.

After you’ve built a relationship they’ll be ready to buy from

you because they’ll trust you to recommend quality products.

It’s OK to send them sales messages.

I can hear some of you objecting to that last part…

“I can’t do that to my list!”

Let me ask you this… Why do you think everyone says you need

your own list?

The answer… Because they know the meaning of the phrase “the

money is in the list” by seeing it first-hand.

It’s a fact that when list owners send out an endorsement email

to their lists, they bring in a tremendous amount of cash from

the mailing… and they create cash on demand any time they want

by sending out an email.

Many list owners sell solo ads, thus the advertisers are paying

to “borrow” the list to make sales. So if you allow others to

“borrow” your list for the purpose of making sales, why

shouldn’t you sell products to your list, too?

Which would you rather do - make $10 from selling a solo ad or

send your own endorsement and make hundreds of dollars or more?

I was speaking with a publisher friend recently and he mentioned

selling an occasional solo ad. I asked why he doesn’t send his

own sales messages to his list. (I’m on his list so I know he

doesn’t.)

His reply was “Not my list. They’re so unresponsive!”

“What have you offered?” I asked.

“I tried that software package one time, remember?”

As I recall, the software was offered over a year ago and he

hasn’t sent a sales message since then. It’s likely his list

wasn’t interested in that particular product, but that doesn’t

mean they won’t buy something else from him. He’s been leaving

money on the table all this time.

You must find out what your list members want, then offer it to

them. I guarantee they’re buying products from someone. Why not

get them to buy from you?

You can find out what they want by doing a simple survey every

once in awhile. Ask what would make their life easier or help

them get their business off the ground. Find out what they want

to know more about… Google AdSense income, how to create web

sites, etc.

Learn what they want to buy, then sell it to them. It’s that

simple and it applies to any niche market. You’ll be giving them

what they want, they’ll have products they need and everyone

will be happy.

The day of the week, and even the time of day, you send your

messages also affect responsiveness. Many studies have been done

that show the best times and days to send emails, but you should

test your list yourself. Once you discover when they’re the most

responsive, stick with that schedule for maximum results.

Your list is pure gold. The key to mining the gold requires some

trial and error, but it’s well worth the effort on your part.

And remember, these people joined your list to get quality

information and that includes product recommendations.

About The Author

Denise Hall is the owner of Home Business on a Budget which specializes in tools and resources for your home business needs. Visit http://www.home-business-on-a-budget.com today.

denise@home-business-on-a-budget.com

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How To Learn Great Management from Our Kids

admin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:42:27 +0000

Learning comes from many places. And one of the most wondrous opportunities is right in front of us. At dinner, at play and at bedtime, every evening. It is there on the sports field, on vacation and during homework. Our children have clues we can use in our business and organisation, right away..

Listen to ThemKids tell us a lot about themselves, if we are prepared to listen. Often, especially when they are quite young, they ask us unexpected questions, that, if we are prepared to hear what they are saying to us, can lead us to more questioning. We can sharpen our senses to what else is going on by listening to them, to give us clues as to what else might be going on. What Managers Can Learn HereUsing our senses means that we can understand people well. But how much, as managers, we can get from this depends on how we develop our more subtle senses of intuition and more particularly, our ‘hearing’ skills.

Watch Them at PlayHave you ever been completely engrossed is what you are doing? So much so that anything could have been going on around you, yet you were so focused that you would not have noticed. My sister could do that - she could read and become so in tune with her book that nothing could disturb her. Kids do that all the time. They have the joy of being so focused when at play, that nothing else matters in that moment. What Managers Can Learn HereWhen we become oblivious in the workplace, it is because we are entirely at one with the activity. Noticing this gives us clues about what our strengths are. When working in an area of strength, we are more likely to be at our best. So are our people and utilising this knowledge can strongly leverage an individual’s performance.

Talk to ThemChildren love to listen to us. Telling them stories, explaining things to them and seeking information all prove they have a fascination with being spoken to. They hear what we say and interpret that. Sometimes it means that they come back to us with a clarifying question - sometimes embarrassingly direct!What Managers Can Learn HereWhen we talk to children, they are too innocent to hold back when something is unclear. When we talk to people we manage, they sometimes don’t and are left with wrong impressions, unclear instructions or, worse still, a poor impression of you and sometimes even themselves. We can encourage them to be honest and open with us and not be afraid to seek clarification.

What they SeeChildren are very observant and tell us so. Ever been in an enclosed space with a child who comments on the other lady’s ‘funny hat’? Children see many things because they are curious to learn and understand more about their world. They often comment on what they have noticed, which sometimes is something we have not noticed ourselves recently. We might have become too close to something and notice no longer.What Managers Can Learn HereWhen we become used to something; people; circumstances; environment; we fail to see things as they creep up on us. Time passes, the familiar becomes the norm, becomes poor standards. Standing back and being a child again and asking things like ‘Why?’ Walking into your office or your shop or your call-centre and viewing it from the eyes of someone new, just like a child might and notice things, will bring out comfort-zones and help you ask yourself and your team about substandard quality.

Their PassionChildren do get excited about things. (I remember when I was seven and I had my first pair of football boots, I slept with them!) Children love doing things, so much that they show how much they love it. Be it dancing, playing an instrument, writing stories, collecting special cards, they do it with a passion, a zest and much joy. What Managers Can Learn HereHow much passion do our teams show in what they do in the workplace. How much has the joy and fun of work been sterilised. How much could our people share laughter with each other and with our clients/customers? As managers, understanding that passion for their role is a strong quality and can be very valuable in the business.

How they LearnChildren love to learn. Give them a pastry roller and a bag of flour and water and they will be straight into jam tarts. Give them a rake after you’ve mown the lawn and they’ll love to help. And watch them - they really want to get it right. As you show them what to do, they will want to be left alone, to have a go themselves. They will glow as you praise them for a job well done and they will want to do more.What Managers Can Learn HereChallenge, show, try, review, show again, try again, receive praise, want to do more, to learn more. It’s a simple yet powerful model from showing a child how to learn something new to an opportunity every manager can use, day in, day out, and teach to others. The outcome is a learning organisation, with everyone just champing at the bit to learn more, because they have learnt well.

How they Dislike ThingsWhen a child does not like something, they usually tell you, from being a small baby to a late teenager. They are usually quite vociferous to parents about their likes and dislikes. If you’ve ever bought the wrong pair of jeans or tried them once again with brussels sprouts - you know about it! They are open and honest with their feedback!What Managers Can Learn HereHow honest is the feedback in the organisation - how easy is it for people to say what they feel and what they would like to say. Often in a grown-up world, we think it is ‘nicer’ to hold back and be reserved. But this doesn’t work well, does it? As managers, we can provide safe spaces for people to share their thoughts, ideas and opinions openly and safely. It might be uncomfortable at first, but it will be a lot more energising and healthy for the business in the future.

What Gives Them ConfidenceKids get confident when they get things right. They then want more. More of the same; more new things. As they get it right, they feel good about it - successful and they like that, so they want more. What Managers Can Learn HereCatching your people getting things right makes a lot of difference to them and they respond positively. They get motivated at the job they do well and want new challenges building on the confidence you give them.

How they Take to New ThingsWith curiosity! They get nosy and like to fiddle around with things to try them out. They inspect and work things out. In fact, they often like to do it alone.What Managers Can Learn HereIt’s about letting your people familiarise themselves with new stuff. Let them be inquisitive and don’t get into showing them at first. Let them find their curiosity and play with it. And remember that often, people take to things at different speeds. Just like children do, so let that be OK

What Damages Them?At first, when very young, children are not damaged by the things they investigate. OK, they put their finger on something hot and they cry. Harsh though it might seem, that’s all learning is about. As parents, in a modern dangerous world, it is about ourselves that we worry and it translates itself into defending our children. As they are ‘protected’, they lose their inquisitiveness and their confidence and they end up as grown ups, without the skills and qualities that as children they held so cutely.What Managers Can Learn HereWhen we take on the responsibility of managing our people, we have to accept them as they come to us. And their life experiences will have placed them in that place. When you manage others, you have the responsibility not just to deliver your results, but to do it in a way that you enable, encourage and realise the potential of your people. Whilst this is a big weight to carry, the results are fabulous for everyone - and your business.We can learn much from observing our children. the biggest lesson of all is that in everyone, there is a latent talent which it is beholden on us to uncover and release. And create new lives for every single one of our people.

Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com (Note to editors. This article may be edited for use in your publication or newsletter as long as a live link to the website is included)…helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow…

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Effective Marketing

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:42:27 +0000

For any business to be successful whether on or offline it has to be marketing effectively. You are going to need more than a great looking site with fabulous products or services to obtain success. You will need to run an effective marketing campaign and for this you will need a marketing plan.

To obtain online success you will have to be involved in planning from day 1 and you will have to work seriously if you intend to earn a decent living.

You will need an action plan and this should start with targeting your market. Doing business without knowing who your customers are will prevent you from reaching your objectives. EG:Increased sales, Market share, and Brand awareness.

Learn who your customers are and find out their real needs then you can offer tailored products and services and real solutions that will work for them.

Your first step is to find and sell to your targeted market. Customers buy for three reasons

To satisfy basic needs. To solve problems To make themselves feel good

Know your product or services strengths and weaknesses. Don’t overestimate and disappoint your customers with a lower quality product than expected. To decide which of the customers needs or wants your product or service will satisfy you need to obtain the following information to get acquainted with your customer.

Demographic information

Age and gender Ethnic Origin Family status Income Location Education level Occupation

Psychographics information

Lifestyles, hobbies, interest and opinions Personal behavior Buying style

One of the ways to find the answers to these questions is to conduct a survey. You could place a simple Multi Choose survey onto your website and offer a free gift to anyone filling it out. It’s a way of gathering information. Analyze your findings and find out what is like or dislike about your product or service. Make adjustments if necessary

Once you have define your market group you must decide how much information you want your customer to know about your product or service in order to convince them to do business with you. If you give out to much information they may switch off and not pay attention to the message. Once you have your message stick with it and keep it focused.

KNOW YOUR COMPETITION

Make a list of your competitors and take note of their strengths and weaknesses. Are they successful, if so study what them are doing and which of their ads work and what promotions they offer? Can you improve on their product or offer a better incentive for customers to purchase from you

KEY YOUR ADS

Ensure all your ads are key (A key lets you know where the customer saw your ad) so you can track which ads are successful. Run with the successful ads and delete any, which are not working. Record all of your results

BUILD YOUR RELATIONSHIP

Remember once you have your customers to build a relationship with them. You want them to return and buy again. Keep in contact with them.

All the best Sue

Transform your life,start and build a home business. For ideas and opportunities http://www.princehomebiz.com

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The Ten Commandments of Leadership

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:42:27 +0000

A poem hangs on the wall at Mother Theresa’s orphanage in India. For all who are called to lead, it is a great reminder of what we should do:

1. People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered (including me). Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the littlest people with the littlest ideas. Think big anyway.

7. People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

9. People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them. Help them anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you will get kicked in the teeth. Give the best you have anyway.

About The Author:

Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.

To see Chris “live” at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.

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5 Ways to Profit From No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:42:27 +0000

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (No Child Left Behind) is designed to reform and improve student achievement and change the culture of America’s schools. According to this reform act each state must measure every public school student’s progress in reading and math in each of grades 3 through 8 and at least once during grades 10 through 12. By school year 2007-2008, assessments (or testing) in science will be underway. These assessments must be aligned with state academic content and achievement standards. They will provide parents with objective data on where their child stands academically.

Parents may not be aware that their school is required by law to offer school sponsored activities to promote parent involvement, and there are special funds allocated for these activities. The funds are used to pay trainers, facilitators, and instructors, along with the materials used in these trainings, food and child care services so parents can focus on the information being delivered.

The seminars, workshops, and trainings are designed to assist parents in helping their student’s academic achievement and performance.

Teachers, parents, business professionals, and all others who may be interested in helping parents help their children learn may be interested in creating a workshop, seminar and/or training for parents. Below are five suggestions for offering activities that will benefit parents and their children.

1. If education is your background, and you are a displaced teacher, become a Supplemental Educational Services Provider. Contact your State Department of Education to get more information on how you can qualify to become a Supplemental Educational Services Provider offering tutorial services to children who meet the criteria for those services. You will be paid through Title I funding received by the school district where you apply to service.

2. There is always a need for Parent Educators. Parent Educators teach parents how to "be better parents." They focus on parenting skills, disciplinary skills, learning how to help with homework, help with standardized test taking and more. Contact your local school district to get more information on how you can become a Parent Educator offering workshops or seminars to parents in your school district. You will be paid through Title I funding received by the school district where you apply to serve. Visit www.detroitk12.org to see a sample of the seminars offered to parents.

3. Educational professionals with a Science background should gear up to prepare for the 2007-2008 science assessment that will be required by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. Do you have a gift for gabbing about science? Do you know how to write educational materials for children centered on science? There will be a need for such items in the not too distant future and now is the time to prepare your goods. Summer time science packets that children can work on and workshops for parents, again all paid for by Title I funding will be needed. Contact your local school district with a proposal; they will be glad you did.

4. It is no secret that if your child goes to a public school, private school, religious school, or if they are home schooled, at some point in their life they will have to deal with standardized test. Are you a wiz at taking this type test? Are you a wiz at doing research to understand how to take this type test? Provide a workshop for parents so they can understand how to help their children. Every parent wants their child to have an upper hand when it comes to test taking skills. Contact your local school district and local library with a proposal, this service may even warrant a website.

5. Title I will pay for child care services for parents participating in parent involvement seminars/workshops. The child care service provider must be licensed and insured and willing to provide activities for a wide range of ages. According to the NCLB Title I requirements, child care services should be offered where schools offer parent workshops so parents can focus on the content being offered. If you operate a daycare center you may want to check with your local school district, or a local school in your area to see if your services are needed. The funding for payment is through the Title I (1%+ Parent Involvement Funding). For more information contact your school district or state No Child Left Behind Title I Office.

Detra D. Davis is a technical writer with over 20 years of experience. She writes technical and operational manuals, and works for a large school district in the Midwest.. Detra may be reached at 313-446-0896, at http://www.supportingourchildren.com or by mail at J. Davis & Associates Publishing, P. O. Box 44782, Detroit, MI 48244-0782, Attention: Detra D. Davis.

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Seven Tips for Starting Your Home Based Business

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:42:27 +0000

Seven Tips for Starting Your Home Based Business
by: Trent Brownrigg

Now that you have decided to start a home based business, I want to start off by saying, �congratulations� and welcome to the wonderful world of being your own boss. While there is a lot to learn, your effort will be well worth it. The freedom and flexibility to set your own hours, the possibilities of ever-increasing financial security, the wonderful feeling of self accomplishment, and many more great rewards are all super reasons to start your home based business.

Those are just a few of the many thrills of owning your own home based business!

Now that you have decided to start your home based business, you might be wondering “How can I get it off to the strongest possible start?”

These seven tips will help you on your journey…

1) Set up a separate working space in your home. It doesn’t matter if this is a spare bedroom, a part of the garage, a corner of the living room, or some other area away from the rest of the household activities. The important thing is to have some space that you can designate as your own working area. This will give you the space and room you need to craft your dream.

2) Stock your working space with proper materials. This may sound basic but one underlying element of success is that you have easy access to the tools, materials, and other resources you need. Gathering everything close by keeps you from wasting time searching for it, so this step can also be considered a time management strategy as well.

3) Speaking of time management, your third step is to define the parameters of your home based business. What days and hours will you work? When and where will you market? How will you provide services or products to clients? How will you keep all of this in order?

4) Balance action with planning. One of the most common pitfalls to a successful home based business is getting caught up in action without enough planning. Stated another way, this means that you confuse “being busy” with “working on important projects.” The best approach is to plan your next couple of goals and then work backwards to create step-by-step action plans to reach them. Once you have the plan, it is now time to take the action.

5) Network like crazy. One of the fastest ways to grow any home business is to make connections with other people. Be sure to share your passion and enthusiasm with others at every opportunity you get. Let people know who you are and what you offer. Remember, people can’t buy if they don’t know you’re selling.

6) Present a professional image. If you want to be treated professionally, present a professional image at all times. Set up a separate bank account for your home based business. Install a separate telephone and fax line. Create professional marketing materials. Be courteous and pleasant in all your customer interactions. Basically, just be someone people want to do business with.

7) Automate your business as much as you possibly can. I know you are just one person (right now) and might have a lot of extra time to take care of all the details. This might work for now, but it won’t work into the future as your home business gets bigger and much busier. It’s best to set up automatic systems and processes right from the start to help free up your valuable time in order to concentrate on the most profitable activities.

Following these seven tips will work wonders in getting your home based business started (and growing) in the right direction.

Now get out there and start building your home based business!

About The Author

Trent Brownrigg is a successful internet marketer and home business mentor. Find your home based business at http://www.work-at-home-jobs-iowa.com and he will personally help you succeed. Get your FREE �Biz Tips Newsletter� by sending a blank email to: workathomebiz@aweber.com

http://www.home-business-team.com

Permission is granted to publish this article, electronically or in print, as long as the bylines are included, with a live link, and the article is not changed in any way (grammatical corrections accepted).

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Time Management Mastery

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:42:27 +0000

From Potential to Performance

One of the great things about life is that we can realistically be or do anything we choose to. This includes being a good time manager! We must believe that we can be a good time manager - that we have the potential. Unfortunately, many people say, “Well, I am just a poor time manager,” as if it was ingrained in their DNA. The truth is that anyone can be a great time manager, if they choose to go from potential to performance.

So, how do we do this? Here is a simple 7 part process:

1. Believe that you can become a good time manager

2. Inventory where your time is currently being spent

3. Determine what your life values are - what do you view as important, what do you want to accomplish?

4. Set time priorities that will move you toward living out your values

5. Develop a system of scheduling that works best for you, not a time management conglomerate

6. Learn to say “no” to things that are not part of your priorities moving you toward your values - exercise your power to choose

7. Do what is in your new schedule

These simple steps, if you apply them, will take you from having the potential to be a good time manager to true time management mastery and performance!

About The Author:

To see Chris “live” at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.

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How to Take Your Law Firm to the Next Level

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:42:27 +0000

How to Take Your Law Firm to the Next Level Third in a series of three articles

SO you’ve done such a good job at bringing in new clients to your firm that you’re swamped with business, your firm is large and growing, and all parts of your marketing system are in place and running smoothly? Congratulations!

If you can confidently answer “yes!” to the following metrics, then you’re ready to take your practice to the next level:

? Is your firm’s mission perfectly aligned with your market?

? Do your marketing efforts create exactly the relationship your customers most want and need?

? Are your services well packaged, presented with a What’s In It For Me? punch, and priced at various levels?

? Do you know exactly where and how to promote your firm’s services?

? Does your marketing system routinely and predictably create the kinds of new customers your business requires?

What happens next in many successful firms, however, is not good news. Instead of sticking with what’s created success in the first place, the focus shifts away from a marketing mindset. Instead of being an essential lens through which people in your firm view their role, marketing as an every-day focus fades from importance. After all, why continue to invest the time and resources on marketing when you’ve got more business than you can handle now anyway? And shouldn’t you spend time on what’s now important, like internal operations, serving current clients, and other more urgent priorities?

The answer is an emphatic NO! Not only will you erode all the hard work you’ve invested get to where you are, but it will be much harder (and expensive!) to turn your now larger and more complex ship around, once you lose that marketing mindset.

The truth is, that once your firm gets more successful and, by definition, more complex, your energy and focus turn naturally more inward. As your business grows, it takes on a life of its own in the form of meetings, policies, training, politics, and reports. The larger your firm gets, the more energy is directed inward ? it simply takes more planning, management, and systems to keep things running smoothly.

So how do you keep your firm from being consumed with internally focused activities? By developing and executing a strategy to?

Keep your firm’s mission alive, real, and relevant in the marketplace. Think of your firm’s mission as the "magnetic north" in your compass. For everything you do, constantly ask, "what difference does this make in the lives of our customers?" If it makes no difference (or the wrong difference), then why are you putting resources into it? Build this line of questioning into decisions you make and resources you allocate.

Create and maintain laser-like internal alignment with your external mission in the marketplace. Everyone’s job should have a direct connection to serving the customer. That means tying rewards and consequences to how everyone at your firm contributes to building client relationships. Even if someone has no direct client contact, they’re supporting someone who does. Connect the dots between what they do and what it means to the client.

Create new customers for old packages. Chances are, you haven’t saturated your current target market. Don’t let the basics that got you to your current level of success fade away. And what about new target markets? What successful services do you have that you could offer to another segment?

Create new services for old customers. Do a little research?ask people on your "front line" what they think your customers need. Ask your customers directly or hire an outside firm to ask for you. Find out why you won and lost business. You’ll be surprised, inspired, and motivated by what you learn.

Create new packages for old services. Take what you know or do and put it into a new format or offering. You can create workshops, CDs, e-books, mini-books, on-line content, workbooks, checklists, and more out of just about any professional content you know or work with. Think beyond just charging an hourly fee for your services. "Productize" what you know by offering people helpful tools they can use.

Ensure you and your leadership team are role models for the rest of your firm on how to create lasting relationships. What behaviors, words, standards, and approaches create lasting relationships with both clients and employees? Make sure your senior team walks the talk and, if they don’t, fix the problem. If you can’t model how to create lasting relationships at the top, others are less inclined to do it well.

Deliver on your firm’s brand promise through solid practice management. The mark of a true professional is when your firm’s own act is together. It’s not enough to be experts in your field, backed by the credentials and experience that are important to your target clients. You must also engage in continuous learning about your profession, your clients’ industries, and how to professionally manage your firm. Your firm’s leadership must act as a role model for how you want to be perceived in the marketplace. Are these high standards to set for your firm? Absolutely. But then again, you’ve already proven you do the basics well.

Resting on your laurels will only go so far.

Sooner than you think, loosing your focus on marketing will put you back to square one, scrambling for clients and worried about cash flow.

Except this time, the stakes are higher, your profile in the marketplace is higher, and you have a lot more to lose. So why go there? Take your firm to the next level, and be confident you won’t have to look back!

References

Putman, A. Marketing Your Services. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1990.

(c) 2004 TurningPointe Marketing, Inc. All rights reserved. Marketing educator, Kelly O’Brien, is creator of the “Create a TurningPointe!” Marketing Bootcamp. To learn more about this step-by-step program, and to sign up for FREE how-to articles and 20-page marketing guide, visit http://www.turningpointemarketing.com

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Top 10 Tips to Create A Business Plan! (For People Who Hate Business Plans)

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:42:27 +0000

One of the key challenges for any business is to remain focused and invest resources for maximum pay-off. It’s said that 80% of a business’s activity accounts for only 20% of total profits. In plain language, most of the work we do is unfocused, poorly designed and ineffective. In today’s competitive world, no business, whether it’s an individual professional or a large manufacturing operation, can survive with that much lost time and wasted effort. A business plan can help, but most small business owners (and some managers/supervisors) hate doing them! In the spirit that any map is better than no map, here are my top ten keys to creating your own map to success:

1. Have a dream. This sounds simple and obvious, but answering the questions: “Why am I doing this? What’s the big picture?” can lead to profound changes in many organizations. Too often in the daily grind, we forget to think about where we want to go, or why we started the business or took the job in the first place.

2. Make the dream bigger. What if the whole world bought your products or loved your service? What would it mean if your profits, or your personal income were 10 times greater? How about 100, or 1000 times greater? What shifts in focus would that require? Would your daily routine change? Would you spend your time and energy on different problems, attend to different priorities? Why wait?

3. Make the dream clearer. Have a precise description of exactly what you want and hang it in your office, in the employee lunch room, in the restrooms, and on the dash of your car. Use key words, phrases, a photograph of your future office building or whatever symbol will crystallize the dream and make it real for you and for every member of your team

4. List 100 obstacles that will get in your way. Enlist staff, friends, competitors to help. Ask your customers to join with you in looking for the roadblocks, blindspots and bottlenecks that prevent you from growing. Make it a matter of personal pride to never have a problem pop up that you haven’t already considered.

5. List 1000 solutions, 10 for each potential problem. The key here is creativity, flexibility, and responding instantly when the unexpected happens. Expect the unexpected, and have a file of alternative solutions at your finger tips. It’s called contingency planning. Do it!

6. Get tons of advice. Have your accountant, your attorney, your insurance agent, your spouse and your cousin take a look at this. If you can’t explain it to them, will you be able to explain it to your staff? If these people don’t understand and support your plan, will you be able to maintain your own enthusiasm over the long haul?

7. Get GOOD advice. After explaining your dream and your plan to lots of people, sit down with a handful of those you trust the most, and pay them to give you their best feedback. Lots of people can give you technical advice, expert advice, and even friendly advice. Wisdom is more important, and harder to find.

8. Create the path of least resistance. Using the dream as your goal, and knowing the obstacles that could get in your way, begin mapping your way through the wilderness to your destination. What’s the easiest, most direct, route? What’s the safest route? Which combination of activities and priorities makes the most sense?

9. Take action. Once you know where you want to go and have a path to get there, start walking! Too many managers put their business plan into a nice file folder that is never looked at because they are too busy working “hard.” Instead, use your efforts and your plan together so that your effort is focused, productive and smart!

10. Re-assess often. Just as someone hiking across barren territory needs to periodically stop and check their map and compass to avoid walking in circles, business owners and managers need to check their direction and their priorities. Conditions change. Opportunities pop up or disappear, new problems arrive or the nature of the dream changes. All of these things will happen. Plan for it! Regularly step outside your business to re-assess and redefine your most important tasks. You can’t afford to spend 80% of your effort in busywork and unprofitable distractions. Re-assess and stay on course.

� Copyright 2003 by Philip E. Humbert. All Rights Reserved. This article may be copied and used in your own newsletter or on your website as long as you include the following information: “Written by Dr. Philip E. Humbert, writer, speaker and success coach. Dr. Humbert has over 300 free articles, tools and resources for your success, including a great newsletter! It’s all on his website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com

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Building Shareholder Value Through Your People

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:42:27 +0000

Increasing shareholder value is the most important driver for organisations in the modern business world. Shareholder value is built through growing profit and building confidence in the organisation, which moves share prices upwards. Shareholders like this!And the employees of an organisation have a crucial part to play in both elements of this.

They contribute to sales by selling more, both to new and old customers. They build the customer base by word of mouth from existing customers. New customers are pre-filtered because your existing customers tell them exactly what you do, so more customer interactions are converted, with less wasted time. This means that your costs are kept down.

Your people buy better because they build great relationships with suppliers - so they get the best deals. Both sides win, so the relationship blossoms.

Great people in your organisation work hard to keep costs low, because they are enabled to do so. They have freedom to be creative. They get very focused on the ‘Does it create value?’ question and work together, with the best results as their only goal.

With all this positive activity, the organisation looks and feels strong to it’s customers, suppliers and shareholders. With this and a great profit performance, confidence grows.

Shareholders enjoy great improvements in the value of the growth in the price of the shares they hold and the dividends they receive.

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