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Archive for Leadership

5 Things You Should Never Do…here’s why…

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Do you remember that song “Signs” and the verse that says,

“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?”

Some signs are good and some are bad. Sometimes when people tell you something, you should take their advice and other times you need to walk away.

Over the years I have discovered 5 things you should never do, under any circumstance.

  1. Never let anyone convince you that your dream can’t happen
  2. Never over-promise and under-deliver
  3. Never under-estimate your ability to make a difference
  4. Never wait on an opportunity, go make one
  5. Never give up

What about you? Have you discovered some things you should never do? Leave a comment below

Me & Tom Ziglar with his new book, Born to Win http://www.borntowinbook.com

Just about everyone has heard the saying, “When opportunity knocks, answer!” but does opportunity really know or is it something that you can create? I believe opportunity exist for everyone regardless of your current circumstance; however most people have never been shown how to create opportunity from thin air.

It would have been incredibly easy for me to just accept that growing up poor and living in the project was just the cards I had been dealt, yet I simply refused to believe that is how my life would be played out. I wanted more. I wanted to make a difference, to do something meaningful and to have a life. Looking back it was the difficult times growing up that set the stage for my learning how to create opportunity. I want to share with you want I have learned and how you can create more opportunity in your life and your business.

  1. Realize that your current circumstances don’t dictate your future success. Regardless of what you may be going through, you have to believe with everything within you that you have a purpose and calling in life. Once that happens you must develop the courage to step out in faith and pursue your dreams.
  2. Fill your mind with the right information. What you read, what your watch and who you listen to, are so very important to feeding your mind and soul with the information you need to believe in yourself and how you can help others. A great resource is Born to Win by Tom and Zig Ziglar.
  3. Network with leaders. Attend seminars. You will find other like-minded people who will inspire and encourage you as well as share new opportunities with you. I could go on for days about the connections I have made by investing in myself and attending seminars. I would not take one penny or experience back for all the money in the world. In fact, I would like to see YOU at my seminar, Personal Branding Mastery on February 10th – here is the link.
  4. Recognize and own your gifts and talents. As you learn and grow, get a firm understand of your gifts and how you can bring value to others. Your gifts are meant to be used to leave a trail for others to follow!
  5. Identify ways that you can bring value to someone else. Listen to what others are doing and identify ways that you can bring more value to their efforts. Once you see a way for you to add value introduce the idea to them. Don’t wait or expect that they will approach you. You must make the first move! I have started businesses, received funding for my children’s book Squiggly’s Race to the Ark and created partnerships because I simply identified a need and presented an option that showed I could bring value.

Don’t wait for opportunity to knock – go out a create it today!

Are You Born to Win? Find Out Here

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

I recently had the pleasure of sitting with Tom Ziglar, the proud son of Zig Ziglar at their corporate offices in Plano, Texas. While I was there Tom shared with me some insight on their upcoming new book, Born to Win.

I have had the honor and privilege of meeting with and speaking to some of the best thought leaders in the world today and the Ziglar’s are examples for us all of practicing what they preach.

With Zig and Tom”s rich history of under-promising and over-delivering I can not wait to buy my copy of Born to Win. I first learned of Zig Ziglar in my early 20′s an I am proud to say that I have listened to, read, and applied his advice throughout my life.

As I was on my way home from church this evening the thought occurred to me that wisdom is all around, we just need to have the courage to take that wisdom and apply it to our lives. We truly will become a product of what we read, who we hang around and what we do.

For me, I am going to buy a copy of Born to Win and I hope you do as well!

10 Ways to Win Everyday

Saturday, January 14th, 2012

Everyone I meet wants something. They want to make a difference, they want to achieve a goal, they want to make a dream a reality, but whatever it may be, the starting point is in your daily agenda.

The road map to success is built on a street called perseverance and it is traveled only by those people who are dedicated to practicing winning habits each day in their life. I want to share with you what I have learned about winning every day.

  1. Get up when you wake up
  2. Believe that today is your day
  3. Read scripture
  4. Listen to a motivating message
  5. Great your family with a smile and a positive word
  6. Have an agenda that you will accomplish
  7. Send out 3 note cards to people you know
  8. Look for 1 way to give something to someone – a smile or encourage word
  9. Expect favor in your activities
  10. Come home with a positive, supportive and grateful attitude

What are some more ways they you have discovered to win every day? Comment below and lets talk :)

 

Information Products Make YOU the EXPERT!

Are you addicted to information products? Many people around the world are. They’re quick and easy, they help us solve problems in our life and they’re a great way to gain education and knowledge without having to leave our homes.

Additionally, they’re instantly accessible. We can download a workshop, book or expert interview and read it or watch it on our mobile devices, from our couch or while sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office.

Information products have become immensely popular and are one of the best ways to build your Personal Brand!

Because of their popularity information products also have the ability to serve a number of business building functions.

Information products can:

Just looking at what an information product or products can do for your personal branding is enough to make you want to get creating, right? Before you begin creating an information product, however, it’s important to determine your ultimate goal.
What Do You Want Your Information Product to Accomplish?

This is the first question to answer. Once you have the answer to this question, then you can move onto the actual product creation process.

So…what’s your product’s goal?

Take some time to contemplate the answer. Look at where your business currently stands. Are you looking for more traffic? Do you want an introductory product in your sales funnel? Do you need to add a top level product to your sales funnel? Do you need to build an opt-in list?

Action Step – Start with your goal first. Write down what you want to accomplish with your information product.

Want to know more? Join me February 10th, 2012 in Nashville for the Personal Branding Mastery Conference! I will show you the exact blueprint to make YOU the Go-To Expert in your business!

3 Questions to Ask Before the Year is Over

Monday, November 28th, 2011

As we approach the end of the year, we tend to rush forward full speed ahead.  With holiday madness and other tasks that need to be done by the end of the year, who has time to neatly tie a ribbon around the last 12 months and call it a wrap?  However, finishing strong may be just the thing you need to do to create a strong start for the new year.

What if bringing completion to what has past is as important if not more so than planning for the future?  What if you knew that you are essentially sabotaging your future success by not stopping and taking stock of what you have accomplished this year and where you are at present?

In sports, there are many examples of where a strong finish is the difference between success and second best.  For example, that last thrust forward of the wheel in a bike sprint to win by an inch or the running back who reaches out his hand with the ball to barely cross the goal line with seconds remaining on the clock.

How can you make the next few weeks a strong finish for your year?  What can you do to bring completion to this chapter of your life?  Completion is what allows you to leave the past in the past.  Otherwise, it is like dragging a wagon of unfinished business along with you every day.  Not only is it exhausting but it also prevents you from achieving your dreams in the future.  After all, you can’t climb a mountain with a wagon in tow.

“There is no room in the future for your past.”

As you bring this year to a close, take an hour and consider the following 3 questions:

  1. What did I accomplish this year?  Make a list of all your accomplishments, big and small from the last 12 months and celebrate!
  2. What did I hope to accomplish but didn’t?
  3. Is this something I still really want?  (You are not allowed to beat yourself up on this step.)

Once you have the questions answered, take a quick inventory of the following bullet  points.

  • Make a list of all the people in your life for which you are grateful.  Contact at least 5 of these people and thank them for what they bring to your life.
  • Is there anyone I need to forgive or make amends with?  If so, lighten your load and do what you feel is necessary to forgive, repair, or let go of this burden.
  • Do at least one thing each day that allows you to simply enjoy today.  There is no better step for honoring the past and creating an inspiring future than being fully present and enjoying where you are right now.

Regardless of your business, there are some standard rules, that when applied correctly, produce amazing results, loyal customers and piles of profits. Some of these rules may come easy, while others you may need to work for some time to completely master, but when I look back over my business career, I wish I had someone shake me hard enough to get these through my thick skull.

  1. The #1 Rule: Be willing to walk away. You really don’t “need” every deal. Have the confidence to walk away from customers and deals that just don’t feel right or fit your business plan.
  2. If you have to drag them in, you have to drag them through. Customers that want to dictate terms and tell you how to run your business are neither profitable, nor do they send referrals (and if they do send you a referral, they are just like them) Don’t spend time trying to sell someone. Give them the features and benefits and let them make a choice.
  3. Confidence is everything. Without confidence, there is not a plan, checklist, or strategy in the world that will work. When it comes to gaining confidence the rules is – “Do whatever it takes to build your confidence”
  4. Get momentum FAST. My business coach, friend and mentor, John Maxwell calls this the BIG MO. It can be hard to get and even harder to keep. Momentum can change the outcome of a ball game and can change your business, so do whatever you can to get momentum FAST!
  5. Become a master marketer. You can be the best at your business, but being the best does not mean you will create customers or profits. Make sure you learn all you can about marketing, because the best marketer will outperform the best in your business everyday and twice on Sunday’s.

Have you given any thought to developing your legacy? What will you be known for? What will they say at your funeral? What are you doing now that will impact future generations?

When I was in my 20′s I didn’t give any thought to these questions whatsoever, but I shared with my church class recently that building a legacy is easier now than ever before. Many of you know that my good friend, Denai Vaughn, The Networking Queen, recently passed away and a fatal car accident on I-40 in Amarillo, TX.

But even though Denai Vaughn is no longer with us on this planet, her legacy lives on. She started early and worked often to build and leave a legacy.We live in a world that the barriers that once blocked many people no longer exist. You don’t need a publicist to write and publish a book. You don’t need a radio station to make you an “on the air” talent and you don’t need a TV crew to create your own TV show. You just need a few tools and the desire to make a difference.

Here are 4 easy ways to start building your legacy now.

  1. Start a blog
  2. Start a podcast
  3. Do video marketing
  4. Write a book, I did and you can see it here

Don’t let excuses stop you from sharing your message. These are just four ways that anyone can share their gifts and talents with the world! I want to challenge you to start sharing, future generations (and us now) are counting on you!

Leave a comment below and let me know what way you are going to start leaving your legacy.

5 Questions we all need to answer

Sunday, October 30th, 2011

Do you ever wonder about success? How do some people appear to find success so easy, yet others struggle. Over the years I have studied success and I have come up with 5 questions that I ask myself on a regular basis.

I challenge my coaching clients to do the same and I would encourage you to, not just look at these questions, but also ask yourself…what are your answers?

  1. What books are you currently reading?
  2. What information are you listening to?
  3. Who are your 5 closest advisers?
  4. Where are you spending your money?
  5. Where, what & who is on your calendar for the next 30 days?

Leave me a comment below and let’s talk about success!

 

3 Warning Signs Your Business is in Trouble

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Small business owners, Solopreneurs, and professional service providers such as coaches, speakers, loan officers, real estate agents etc often get stuck in their business. There are so many “shiny new objects” that we can feel overwhelmed by what we should do and when we should do it.

At times I feel the same way. Like you, I can get involved in way too many project that cause me to lose sight of the main goal. When I am speaking to business owners, I know their business is in trouble based on these three warning signs:

  • They don’t have a clear vision of what they want their business to be
  • They are caught up in “busy” task and not “productive” task
  • They can’t clearly explain the main goal they must accomplish everyday

But there is some really GOOD NEWS on how they can fix these problems FAST! It all starts with asking the right questions. The 3 questions I ask myself are listed below. Give it a shot because you may just get the clarity that you are looking for!

“We will get better answers, when we ask better questions” – Tony Robbins

  1. What do you want?
  2. How bad do you want it?
  3. What do you need to invest in to make it happen?