Leadership Tips & Teamwork

Quote: Success

2009-12-18T07:13:00-08:00

"No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourselves."

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

When you look back on the unaccomplished goals of 2009, can you see where you could have acted differently to achieve the success you desired? As you are setting your goals for 2010, do you want to do it differently? There are ways to decrease your tendency for self-sabotage.

Join us for our free teleconference on “Goal Setting & Attainment” and you will learn the methods that will make you a success this year. Take charge of your life!

Goal Attainment

2009-12-16T11:29:00-08:00

I am sure that many of you are deep into the drama and excitement of the holiday season. There is so much to be done and so much to think about and consider that many can hardly think of anything else. However, when the excitement is over, our attention typically turns to the closing of one year and the beginning of a new one.

This is a time typically reserved for reflection. We think back on the previous year, sometimes with a strong sense of accomplishment and sometimes with regrets for the things we didn’t do that we wanted to and the goals we set but didn’t accomplish. Sometimes we get so disgusted with ourselves for our lack of goal-directed behavior that we actually stop setting goals altogether.

Sometimes we are waiting for something to happen first. We wait to retire, for our children to leave home, or for there to be enough money in the savings account. While we are waiting, time is whizzing past us at an alarming rate. Before we know it, we end up at a place where we say, “Now I’m too old to do ________________ .” While we are waiting for certain life events to manifest, there are things we can still do to move ourselves forward toward our goals. Waiting is not the only option.

There are known techniques that will help you improve the odds of accomplishing your goals. What’s the difference between those who seem to breeze through their day accomplishing everything they set out to do and those who seem to wonder where the time went at the end of the day. We all have the same amount of time each day. What’s the secret?

First of all, you need to decide what it is you want to accomplish--the more specific you can be the better. We generally do not get too excited about the vague thought of losing weight but if we can say instead, I will lose 10 pounds by March 1, 2010 so I can fit back into a size 10 dress then there is more energy and impetus around that particular goal.

Next, you must decide, as Napoleon Hill says, “Do you have a burning desire to accomplish this goal?” Without truly possessing a burning desire, without passion to make it happen, we will often drift back into old behaviors that keep us plateaued at the same place we were the beginning of last year.

Once you’ve determined you have the burning desire, next you must ask if you have a good plan. Does your plan have a reasonable chance for success? Do you have deadlines for accomplishment? When you are trying to stop a certain behavior, do you spell out what you are going to do instead? Are the goals realistic? Are they measurable? Do you have the determination and unwavering resolve to follow through on your plan?

Sometimes there are things that sabotage our efforts. Typically, the things we do throughout our day are things that meet our needs. If we are trying to lose weight but continue to eat instead, we need to look at what benefits we gain from overeating. Often these are unconscious benefits that we really need to do some serious scrutiny to uncover. If the benefits we receive from our current behavior outweigh the benefits of making the change we desire, we will have a difficult time making the change without building in additional features to our plan that will make up for the benefits of the behavior we are giving up.

You need to develop systems to track and measure your progress. Many people require a visual representation of their progress to provide incentive to continue moving forward. You must develop a single-minded focus. You must avoid anything that threatens to pull you off your straight ahead direction toward your goals. You must prioritize and protect your time everyday.

The final thing that will be instrumental in achieving your goals in 2010 is to reprogram your nonconscious mind. There is a great deal of evidence that shows the neural programming of our nonconscious mind often gets in the way of us accomplishing our goals. These are the early messages that we picked up from those who were close to us when we were younger. We received messages that money was the root of all evil, that we didn’t deserve to be loved, that we were chubby and will stay that way, and that there is never enough time in a day. All those messages have formed neural pathways in our brain.

This means that when certain neurons fire, they trigger the firing of other neurons in the same pathway, which makes it extremely difficult to consciously change our behavior. The good news is that there is a way to reprogram the neural pathways so they will work for us instead of against us to accomplish our goals.

Through the processes of affirmations and visualization we have the ability to change this nonconscious programming. We must develop a mental movie of what life will look like once our goals are accomplished. Then, we must write out present tense affirmations of the belief systems we must have in place in order to accomplish our goals. If weight loss is your goal, for example, then your affirmations would sound like this: “I weigh 130 pounds and look and feel terrific. I eat only healthy food that nourishes my body. I enjoy exercising and the way my body feels while doing it and afterwards. I drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water each day.”

Reprogramming requires repetition of the affirmations and visualization daily and more often if you can make the time. With this added to all of the above goal setting steps, you will be well on your way to accomplishing your goals in 2010.

Please check out our complete time-tested Goal Attainment System.

List Building

2009-06-19T09:07:00-07:00

Question: What is the best way to build my subscriber list?

Answer: This is a great question and one I recently found the answer to. I was at a weekend workshop with Matt Bacak last month and he taught me so much I didn’t know about Internet marketing.

The item he shared that is most pertinent to your question is that of a “squeeze page.” What Matt recommends is that you don’t need the big fancy website. If you already have one, that’s OK–it makes a great branding site but if you are trying to make money from your website, then you need a squeeze page.

What is a squeeze page? A squeeze page is a short sales letter outlining the benefits of signing up for your free product offering–whether that’s your monthly or weekly newsletter, a coupon for your products, a special report, an e-course, or any other free offer you make. On this page, you get very focused and clear about what you want the visitor to do. All you want is to capture his or her name and email address, which gives you further permission to market to them over and over again.

When you have a highly targeted squeeze page, the quality of your list will be excellent, thus increasing the odds of conversion when you do start your marketing sales cycle.

Get a Shopping Cart

2009-06-17T08:59:00-07:00

If you are serious about creating an effective online presence, then you will have to have a shopping cart. This is a software program that basically automates your business. It will keep the email addresses of your potential and current clients organized, provide autoresponders, send out targeted email broadcasts and allow your products to be bought and sold online.

I highly recommend 1shoppingcart as an excellent shopping cart program for the money. I attend many conferences on building your web-based business and I have heard 1shoppingcart recommended more frequently than any other program out there by far.

When it comes to a shopping cart, you want one with a proven track record. I benefit in no way from you choosing them. Go ahead and check it out.

If you are thinking about choice training, then please check out our Choice Coaching Institute. We provide comprehensive training and coaching for coaches. or those thinking of a coaching career. We have a week of training scheduled to begin August 10, 2009. Don't detail. Spaces are limited.

Book Review: Book Yourself Solid

2009-06-15T07:39:00-07:00

Book Yourself Solid
by Michael Port

If I had to recommend one book to help you get started in your online business, this would be the one. The first thing I love about the book is the author himself. He comes across as a genuine, caring and competent individual who loves what he does and who is serious about your success. He writes in a conversational style and explains all the technical information of web design, search engines and internet marketing in easy to understand terms.

Michael’s book is organized into three parts–the foundation, building trust and credibility, and core self-promotion strategies. He holds nothing back. Thorough out the pages of the book, Michael’s genuineness shines through. He is truly committed to the success of YOUR business. He covers it all from start to finish.

One of the unique characteristics of this book is the way he blends print with online resources. He begins his book by offering a 92-page action workbook completely free! He is a generous man who really understand the world of online marketing.

If you are considering beginning an online business or are thinking of taking your currently existing business to the next level, this is one book that will take you there. Buy it now.

Click here to order this book

Quote: Michael Port

2009-06-12T07:35:00-07:00

“Your likeability factor can have enormous impact on your perceived value. Develop your credibility, establish yourself as an expert, strive to be your best, most likeable self, and you’ll quickly become the best and most obvious choice for your potential client.”

-- by Michael Port

Doesn’t that sound easy? It really is one of the easiest/hardest things you’ll ever do. It will be easy because you’ll be doing what you love, fulfilling your life’s purpose. You’ll know you’re doing this when you can honestly say, “I love what I do–I would do it for free! Aren’t I fortunate that people are willing to pay me to do what I love?”

It will be hard because you may need to do some things that will take you out of your comfort zone–maybe marketing, maybe public speaking, maybe research, maybe time management, maybe organization. Whatever your challenge, you MUST find a way to conquer it so you can go on to be the person you were meant to be, serving the people you were meant to serve.

If you feel a passion for becoming a coach, then check out our brand new Choice Coaching Institute. Our classes begin in August, 2009.

Choice Theory and Righteousness

2009-06-10T07:29:00-07:00

Question: Now that I have been learning CT/RT and have bought into the theory, I find myself being very judgmental of others who use external control. I find it difficult because I always feel the need to interject my thoughts onto others who are using external control. Do you find this difficult? How do you deal with other using external control?

Answer:Yes, it is difficult not to be judgmental of those using external control. I find the best way for me is to remind myself that not everyone thinks like I do and they certainly have a right to do it their way. I just remind myself to stay true to my course and at every opportunity, I try to ask questions of the external control people about how what they do is working for them. I am also prepared to take it further if they say it works, great! For example, do you think that person will now do what you are asking when you aren’t around? What do you think he is thinking? What do you think he will do when you are out of sight? Do you think you are strengthening or weakening your relationship? Do you think relationships are important? Do you find him responding to anyone else better than he responds to you? What do you think the difference is?

Remember, we know learning is best done inside out. You need to function as a self-evaluation facilitator instead of giving your unsolicited opinion. Eventually, many of those you are attempting to influence will “get it.” The other thing you need to remember is your relationship with them. You will lose your ability to influence them without a positive relationship. You can’t get them to give up their external control if you are attempting to externally control them. Remember, they are doing the best they know how at this point in time to get something they want. They need to be invited to try an potentially better way.

Information Management

2009-06-08T07:23:00-07:00

In this information age, it is easy to become overwhelmed with all the information that bombards us every day. In the past, we talked about the concept of time management but today, I believe the critical piece to time management is information management.

It is NOT possible for us to know everything we need to know about every aspect of our business. Even if we tried, there are not enough hours in the day to learn all we need to know on every subject. It would be wise to hire those people who know more about a subject that doesn’t particularly interest us and delegate tasks to them in that area.

According to IBM, information on the Internet will double every 11 hours by 2010. Doesn't that just boggle your mind? How can we possibly learn all there is to know? And in the process of attempting to, we often are distracted and go off on many tangents which in effect, wastes our valuable time. In many instances, it is wisest to “Just say no” to information overload so you can function at peak level for top performance.

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Book Review: Power vs. Force

2009-06-05T05:44:00-07:00

Power versus Force:
The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior
by David Hawkins

This is an excellent book that speaks of the difference between power and force. Power is quiet and requires no explanation. Force is coercive and creates an automatic counter force.

This has great applicability for the workplace. Dr. Hawkins has sections in his book devoted to Human Attitudes, Politics, the Marketplace, Sports, the Human Spirit, the Arts, Creativity, Success, Physical Health and Wellness. Standing on the side of truth, justice and all that sustains life is power. This is strength of its own merit. Force represents all that is negative and life destructive.

Whenever you attempt to make someone do something that they don't want to do, you are applying force. We do this through any number of behaviors such as manipulating, blaming, guilting, bribing, complaining, criticizing and coercing. This always creates a counter force. Whenever you attempt to coerce or mislead someone else, you create a measure of resistance. This resistance may not show itself in your presence but it will manifest in the world in some way.

People will undermine your authority, talk behind your back, rally other's support or confront you to your face. You cannot win with force. If you think you have, know that it is only temporary. What goes around comes around. Read the book. Its message is powerful!

Click here to order this book.

Quote: David Hawkins

2009-06-03T05:37:00-07:00

“To be a success, it’s necessary to embrace and operate from the principles that produce success, not just imitate the actions of success full people.”

—Dr. David Hawkins

Dr. Hawkins makes this point in his book, Power vs. Force. He is saying that it isn’t enough to copy what successful people do. You really have to become like they are in full integration. Your acting, thinking, emotions and spirituality must be aligned in order for you to enjoy the same level of success. Studying successful people is a great way to get started but understand that there is much more to a person than the simple tasks you can see him or her perform. Get the big picture and go about beginning the transformation.

If you'd like to begin your own transformation, our Goal Attainment Tip Sheet can help.