I know more people today than ever before that are looking for that special someone. Well if you want to meet the man or woman of your dreams then you need to put yourself out there. You need to take that NO FEAR approach to dating.
No fear rule #1. Dont take anything personally! Dating is a numbers game, just like sales. I get excited every time I have a bad date because I believe dates are like sales calls… it takes 10 no’s to get a yes. It takes 10 bad, to get a good.
No fear rule #2- Have no fear. Who cares if you get rejected?!? I believe there are two types of fear. Real fear and fake fear. Real fear can cause you physical harm or death. Fake fear doesnt, it only exists in your head. I once approached a man and said, "Excuse me, but I couldnt help but over hear your conversation and I find you intriguing. You seem like someone I would like to get to know better." I reached out to give him my business card and he looked me up and down and said "Sorry I only date beautiful women." I turned and went back to my girlfriend and said "YES! One more down, only 3 more to go!"
I have these and many other philosophies in my book, The 7 Secrets to Create Your Fate. I give you the tools, tips and strategies to create the life you want.
Social media seems to be all around us. No matter where you turn you hear about Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and the like. Connecting with others had never been so easy. However, have you noticed that we aren’t connecting with those we know? I think all the social media sites have made it so easy to connect with others in far away lands that we have forgotten about those in our own backyard.
When was the last time you called your friend instead of just texted or emailed? When was the last time you got together in person instead of talked on the phone? Has social media made us lose our social skills?
When it comes to people you have to connect, in more ways than one. Sometimes text and email or a Facebook update isn’t enough. As nice as a Twitter what I’m doing is, isn’t picking up the phone and actually talking to someone an extra something special? I think we have gotten so comfortable behind our computers that we have forgotten to have that human touch.
Whether it’s personal or business, go that extra step and reach out to your friends, family and customers beyond that of just an email or social media update. That little extra personal touch can really change the lives of those around you. If you are in business it can really make a difference when you connect with your customers in the good ole fashion human way not just the electronic way.
No matter what product or service is, if you are not staying in touch with your past clients someone else is. I’m amazed at the number of people who don’t make contact with their past clients. It happens at just about every company I’ve ever known or worked with.
The people you are selling to are relationships and like all relationships they need attention. How many times have you been disappointed to have lost a new sale to an old customer because you didn’t stay in touch? Maybe you don’t know because you have never made contact with a past client before. You already have a relationship, they’ve purchased from you before. If you don’t stay in touch with your past clients you are missing many sales opportunities.
There is at least one reason every month to stay in touch with past clients.
For example:
January- New Years and Martin Luther King Day
February- Valentine’s Day and President’s Day
March- St. Patrick’s Day, Daylight Savings begins
April- First day of spring, Easter, Passover
May- Memorial Day and Mother’s Day
June- Father’s Day and the first day of summer
July- Independence Day
August- End of summer, back to school
September- Labor Day, first day of autumn
October- Halloween and Columbus Day
November- Daylight Savings Ends and Thanksgiving
December- Christmas, Hanukah, First day of winter
Every month you have at least one reason to drop a note in the mail or send an email to say hello to your past clients. Make it a point to stay in touch with your past clients and you will grow your business.
Why reinvent the wheel? Chances are you are involved in a
business where someone else has been before. You can
significantly shorten your learning curve by learning from those
who have been where you are. You should find people who have
done what you are looking to do and ask them to mentor you. Now,
it may take a little time to find someone to say yes, but I am
confident you will find someone willing to help you. There will
be people who believe that there is not enough to go around and
they will not want to share in the abundance. Therefore, it may
take a little time to find one that believes in abundance and
that there is more than enough to go around.
Sometimes you may find someone who you admire or respect who
is willing to teach you the things they wish someone taught them
when they were where you are. Just ask. What do you have to
lose? If they are not mentoring you now all they can say is no
and if they do you are no worse off than you already are.
Finding a mentor or going through a mentoring program can really
give you the edge and help you shorten the learning curve with a
lot less time, money and pain.
Is a recession a good time to start a business? That seems to be the big question of late. Isn’t the rule to win in the stock market buy low, sell high? It would seem that the best time to buy is when prices are low. Therefore, the best time to start a business is when you can start it for less. Besides, most of the time when a business is created it takes a couple of years to get in the black, so you may as well start when you will spend less in the red.
Here are ten reasons to start a business during a "recession".
1. Better deals are available. The same product that was available last year is on sale now. You may as well buy the same thing for less.
2. You can hire people for less. Many people who are "over qualified" are willing to take a job for less because they have been laid off and need the work no matter what it pays.
3. Service. More than ever companies are offering better or longer service plans for their products. No better time than the present to negotiate. You are more likely to get better service or more "perceived" value now than in a strong economy.
4. Tax benefits. You are able to get many more tax breaks when you own your own business. No better time than the present to maximize your tax deductions.
5. Investors. There are lots of angel investors, venture capitalists and private investment companies and individuals looking for the next big deal.
6. Zero interest. Low interest or no interest loans and credit cards are easier to get and more vastly available then ever.
7. Great PR opportunity. When most places are cutting back and closing down, you are starting up and moving up. The media loves things that go against the grain.
8. On sale. With so many companies going out of business their furniture and equipment are for sale at far less than usual. You can get more for your money if you shop around and look at auctions and going out of business sales.
9. Lease or rent to own. Many companies are just looking to get out with no cost so taking over leases is more available than ever.
10. Sometimes life chooses for you. If you have been laid off and can’t find another job and have been thinking of starting something on your own, maybe this is just the shot you were looking for. You aren’t working anyway so why not step out and do what you have been wanting to do and haven’t had the guts to? Sometimes life has a way of making the tough choices for you.
There are a fair amount of reasons and resources to start your own business the question is will you… that choice is up to you…
