By Michael Masterson
It takes courage to turn away a paying customer. But sometimes that is what you should do.
Let's say you have a business that repairs car brakes. You have three mechanics who work for you. One of them is a master mechanic. He can do just about anything. Someone comes into your shop and asks you to repair his muffler. You could use the business, so you take the job.
Fast-forward one year and you have become a regular auto repair shop with no unique selling proposition. You are plenty busy, but you are not making nearly the profit you projected.
What happened?
By generalizing, you gave up three significant advantages:
* You lost the overhead savings that come from doing only one thing.
* You went from a business that had a memorable purpose to something very ordinary and forgettable.
* You gave up the high profit margins that come from specializing in one product or service.
MacDonald's sells several dozen products today. But when Roy Kroc took it over, he focused on hamburgers and fries. If he had succumbed to the temptation of turning his restaurant into a diner, he would have become just another diner owner instead of one of the most successful restaurateurs in American history.
---------------------------------------------- Highly Recommended ----------------------------------------------------
The Relaxation Technique That Eases Stress in Seconds
You're stuck in a boring meeting... a long line at the bank... or bumper-to-bumper traffic. Your blood pressure is rising.
But with one unconventional (and often misunderstood) technique, your frustration, anxiety, and stress simply slip away. You'll feel peaceful, in control, and happy within seconds. Any time. Anywhere.
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"People have moved beyond apathy, beyond skepticism into deep cynicism."
Elliot Richardson
Wednesday 21 October 2009
Thursday 15 October 2009
At last here is a good solution for all of us!
At last here is a good solution for all of us! I found this video. Actually it just came to me on it's own. Well almost. This is a proof for all of you, that things happen for a reason and when you attract the right things in your lives you just do the right things without even knowing it. I signed up for many mind training programms and it got me this video. To be honest I don't even know from which programm it came, but the point is, that this video is the last key ingredient to your success, if you have stidies all my posts in this blog. Here we come again with the part, that this blog is not like "Hi guys! Look what's new" kind of thing, but it's kind of a book you can learn from. Remember in this book you can read about my path to understanding and moving to progress, but you have got to do that on your own path learning from mine as I did from other paths... Study not just mine, but study others as well and understand and accept only the things you truly get and at least unintentionally have done on your own... If you start to believe in your selves, you will be able to do so.
Ok now the best part. The easy and simple key to the right path towards your business...
Ok now the best part. The easy and simple key to the right path towards your business...
Monday 5 October 2009
Earning money? No problem!
When I look for marketing ideas, I look in three directions: forward, backward, and sideways.
Looking Forward. By this I mean brainstorming about what the market will want in the future. Forward thinking may be the most enjoyable form of brainstorming. It is certainly the most common. Who doesn't enjoy a conversation about "the way things are heading"?
However, it is rarely productive. For many reasons (some of which are explained in Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point), speculating about future opportunities is a game for amateurs.
Prudent entrepreneurs do some forward planning. But they keep their projections to the near- and medium-term. They know from experience that the biggest moneymaking opportunities are those closest at hand.
I enjoy longer-term speculation as much as the next guy. But I save it for the golf course.
Looking Backward. By this I mean studying past marketing masters. Backward thinking is much more useful forward thinking. Yet it is often neglected by entrepreneurs. That so few marketers today know the "classics" is a pet peeve of Dan Kennedy. He sees it as a form of arrogance. He points out that the greatest marketing secrets are eternal.
The best stuff is buried in those great old ads. Read them. You'll be astonished at how much you learn.
Looking Sideways. By this I mean seeing what your competitors are doing -- and, maybe better, looking at industries outside your own. Sideways thinking is my preferred method for generating ideas. It is also the method most commonly used by successful entrepreneurs. Jay Abraham is a big proponent of this type of brainstorming. In Getting Everything You Can Out of All You've Got, he says:
"You probably spend too little time studying the most successful, innovative, and profitable ideas people in other industries use to grow and prosper.
"Yet, if you start focusing on other industries' success practices, you'll be amazed at how easily you can adapt these ideas to your own business situation. Suddenly, you'll see significantly better results from the same time, manpower, effort, activity, and capital."
There is a fourth direction that master marketers look in. And that is inward, to try to understand the core emotions of their prospects.
So I lied. There are four directions, not three. Sue me.
Seriously, if you want a recipe for generating ideas, I'd suggest the following:
* One cup of forward-looking brainstorming
* Three cups of backward research
* Five cups of looking sideways
* One cup of looking inward
That's the recipe. Use it and prosper.
Looking Forward. By this I mean brainstorming about what the market will want in the future. Forward thinking may be the most enjoyable form of brainstorming. It is certainly the most common. Who doesn't enjoy a conversation about "the way things are heading"?
However, it is rarely productive. For many reasons (some of which are explained in Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point), speculating about future opportunities is a game for amateurs.
Prudent entrepreneurs do some forward planning. But they keep their projections to the near- and medium-term. They know from experience that the biggest moneymaking opportunities are those closest at hand.
I enjoy longer-term speculation as much as the next guy. But I save it for the golf course.
Looking Backward. By this I mean studying past marketing masters. Backward thinking is much more useful forward thinking. Yet it is often neglected by entrepreneurs. That so few marketers today know the "classics" is a pet peeve of Dan Kennedy. He sees it as a form of arrogance. He points out that the greatest marketing secrets are eternal.
The best stuff is buried in those great old ads. Read them. You'll be astonished at how much you learn.
Looking Sideways. By this I mean seeing what your competitors are doing -- and, maybe better, looking at industries outside your own. Sideways thinking is my preferred method for generating ideas. It is also the method most commonly used by successful entrepreneurs. Jay Abraham is a big proponent of this type of brainstorming. In Getting Everything You Can Out of All You've Got, he says:
"You probably spend too little time studying the most successful, innovative, and profitable ideas people in other industries use to grow and prosper.
"Yet, if you start focusing on other industries' success practices, you'll be amazed at how easily you can adapt these ideas to your own business situation. Suddenly, you'll see significantly better results from the same time, manpower, effort, activity, and capital."
There is a fourth direction that master marketers look in. And that is inward, to try to understand the core emotions of their prospects.
So I lied. There are four directions, not three. Sue me.
Seriously, if you want a recipe for generating ideas, I'd suggest the following:
* One cup of forward-looking brainstorming
* Three cups of backward research
* Five cups of looking sideways
* One cup of looking inward
That's the recipe. Use it and prosper.
Sunday 4 October 2009
The Butterfly Effect
When I was in my thirties, I was urged to run for political office. I put together a campaign committee of about 12 enthusiastic supporters. And I started to get carried away with the idea of making a difference in my state.
Then I called a politician I had worked with. I asked him if he had any advice. I still remember his words: "Are you financially independent?"
When I told him that I was a long way from financial independence, he said that if I ran for office in my thirties (successfully), I would never be financially independent. I would have a much lower income than I could earn in the private sector. And I would probably worry about money all my life.
That slammed the brakes on my political ambitions. I folded my campaign and went back to work as a business consultant and real estate developer. Eventually, I became a professional speaker.
It has been said, "A butterfly flapping its wings in Peru can start a change in the weather that leads to a typhoon in China." The application of this idea is that even a casual meeting with an acquaintance can have major long-term effects.
At every stage of your life, there will be someone giving you insights and guidance that can point you in a better direction. At the same time, you can be the person giving insights and guidance that will help others.
How many times has your direction changed because you interacted with another person? Sometimes an observation from someone with more experience can change your destiny.
The Secret has been a bestseller for years. According to the book, "If you visualize and think positive thoughts, you will attract all good things into your life."
Unfortunately, this idea is misleading. Of course, it is important to think positive thoughts. But that is not enough. You must also take continuous action in the direction of your goals, overcoming resistance, adversity, and temporary failures.
Success is not based on the Law of Attraction. It is based on the Law of Probabilities. This law says that there is a probability that everything can happen. And that you can influence those probabilities by doing more of the things that are likely to lead to your success.
Interacting with others is one of those things.
The salesperson who sees more prospects is going to make more sales than the one who stays in the office and shuffles business cards. The professional who networks with other professionals is going to dramatically increase the probability that he will meet the right person, at the right time, with the right insight or guidance that will lead to a career breakthrough.
Networking is one of the surest ways to improve your chances of meeting the right people.
How do you network? Go to industry events. Join a local entrepreneurs' group. Attend continuing education workshops in your field. Interview successful people. However you network, you'll meet people who can help you succeed... faster than you could do it on your own.
P.S. Jobs, referrals, discounts, and deals will flow to you when you know how to make powerful and lasting connections with every person you meet. Learn how to capitalize on your network. There's no limit to the benefits you'll experience when you master this invaluable skill!
From Early to rise.
Then I called a politician I had worked with. I asked him if he had any advice. I still remember his words: "Are you financially independent?"
When I told him that I was a long way from financial independence, he said that if I ran for office in my thirties (successfully), I would never be financially independent. I would have a much lower income than I could earn in the private sector. And I would probably worry about money all my life.
That slammed the brakes on my political ambitions. I folded my campaign and went back to work as a business consultant and real estate developer. Eventually, I became a professional speaker.
It has been said, "A butterfly flapping its wings in Peru can start a change in the weather that leads to a typhoon in China." The application of this idea is that even a casual meeting with an acquaintance can have major long-term effects.
At every stage of your life, there will be someone giving you insights and guidance that can point you in a better direction. At the same time, you can be the person giving insights and guidance that will help others.
How many times has your direction changed because you interacted with another person? Sometimes an observation from someone with more experience can change your destiny.
The Secret has been a bestseller for years. According to the book, "If you visualize and think positive thoughts, you will attract all good things into your life."
Unfortunately, this idea is misleading. Of course, it is important to think positive thoughts. But that is not enough. You must also take continuous action in the direction of your goals, overcoming resistance, adversity, and temporary failures.
Success is not based on the Law of Attraction. It is based on the Law of Probabilities. This law says that there is a probability that everything can happen. And that you can influence those probabilities by doing more of the things that are likely to lead to your success.
Interacting with others is one of those things.
The salesperson who sees more prospects is going to make more sales than the one who stays in the office and shuffles business cards. The professional who networks with other professionals is going to dramatically increase the probability that he will meet the right person, at the right time, with the right insight or guidance that will lead to a career breakthrough.
Networking is one of the surest ways to improve your chances of meeting the right people.
How do you network? Go to industry events. Join a local entrepreneurs' group. Attend continuing education workshops in your field. Interview successful people. However you network, you'll meet people who can help you succeed... faster than you could do it on your own.
P.S. Jobs, referrals, discounts, and deals will flow to you when you know how to make powerful and lasting connections with every person you meet. Learn how to capitalize on your network. There's no limit to the benefits you'll experience when you master this invaluable skill!
From Early to rise.
How to Make Sure Only Your Good Ideas Are Acted On
There are many benefits to being the boss, but one of the major drawbacks is that your subordinates may not always be honest with you. In an effort to seem agreeable, they may say "yes" when they are thinking "no." Or they may naively assume that since you are smart enough to be the boss, your ideas are always going to be good ones.
Sure, your ideas were important in starting your business. But it was your tenacity that made it happen. Trust your experience, but acknowledge that some of the ideas you get now may need a little fine-tuning.
Don't let anyone tell you how smart you are. Surround yourself with the best people and encourage them to treat your ideas as you treat theirs -- with enough respect to CHALLENGE them.
If your key people are not regularly challenging your ideas -- if they tend to defer to you -- take responsibility for having turned them into cheerleaders. Sit them down. Apologize, and ask for their support in the future. Then discuss how the group could best evaluate new ideas.
Your business will prosper. And you won't have to worry about wasting time, resources, and possibly big money pursuing bad ideas -- even if they are yours.
In today's issue, Brian Tracy reminds us that every encounter has the potential to change our lives forever. And I talk about something you're doing that could be slowly killing your business... and why you should never say ASAP.
Sure, your ideas were important in starting your business. But it was your tenacity that made it happen. Trust your experience, but acknowledge that some of the ideas you get now may need a little fine-tuning.
Don't let anyone tell you how smart you are. Surround yourself with the best people and encourage them to treat your ideas as you treat theirs -- with enough respect to CHALLENGE them.
If your key people are not regularly challenging your ideas -- if they tend to defer to you -- take responsibility for having turned them into cheerleaders. Sit them down. Apologize, and ask for their support in the future. Then discuss how the group could best evaluate new ideas.
Your business will prosper. And you won't have to worry about wasting time, resources, and possibly big money pursuing bad ideas -- even if they are yours.
In today's issue, Brian Tracy reminds us that every encounter has the potential to change our lives forever. And I talk about something you're doing that could be slowly killing your business... and why you should never say ASAP.
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