creativity Tagged Articles

Stop Ignoring the Single Most Important Skill in Business

Every entrepreneur needs skill in selling, strategic planning, and creativity. More importantly, and often overlooked, is the skill of handling conflict during the process. It’s about how to handle relationships to get to the common goal-building your business. Learn more about the 13 common patterns in the workplace that disrupt the ability to work through conflict to innovation. Read on!

The Three Elements Of Home Business Success

There are three major aspects responsible for home business success. Each one is vital to the overall achievement of success. They are all closely knit and dependent upon each other. Without one, the others are irrelevant. If you can blend all three together, success will be achieved.

Be Open to New Ideas

It is easy to say "be open to new ideas" and most of us believe we have an open mind. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are all stuck with an enormous array of paradigms that limit our ability to see the possibiliies. To be really open minded is a skill that takes a lot of effort to develop. This article may help you see things from a different perspective.

10 Organisational predictions for 2010

Working with the trends we have observed in 2009 and the continuing harsh reality in the business world, we have predicted the top 10 key issues for organisations in 2010

Play with Your Dark Side

It is the unity of the light and the dark, the positive and the negative charges that underline the brilliant intelligence of the universe. This is true in our business life as well. How can we unify these apposing energies that hold our infinite capacity for creativity and joy? Reflecting on my own experience, I find it helpful to incorporate several paradoxical ideas into my life.

Successful People Know When and How to Break the Rules

Successful people create and nurture their unique personal brands. Good personal brands highlight focus on the uniqueness of the person who created them. One way of doing this is to break a few rules. By breaking the rules, I don't mean doing something illegal or unethical. I mean thinking outside of the box and not being constrained by conventional wisdom. As Kevin Coupe and Michael Sansolo point out in their great book The Big Picture, in the movie Babe, Babe the pig succeeds because he doesn't act like a pig. He is friendly and mannerly -- characteristics not usually associated with pigs. Tamba Mbawa broke the rules in building his personal training brand. He placed his business card inside all of the fitness books in a local Barnes and Noble. What rules are holding you back from building a great personal brand? How can you break them

Oh! What Possibilities!

Get your possibility juices flowing with this series of powerful self-coaching questions.

10 Steps for Developing Your INDIVIDUAL NETWORKING PLAN

10 Steps for Developing Your INDIVIDUAL NETWORKING PLAN

You Can Turn Information into Leadership and Career Success

During turbulent times, when seeking information on what to do next, the best answers for arriving at new possibilities require deeper questions. It is a time for reinventing the knowledge you have with creativity and vision.

Main Components of Creativity Management

Creativity management is not only a new way of solving problems and taking decisions, but is a new way of looking at the world and various aspect of life

Stakeholder Management - Get Ready To Get Creative!

Stakeholders are one of the most important elements of any project. By getting relationships with everyone affected right, any manager will have a big positive to work with...

Lean your Training, Don't start with a blank piece of paper

Never start with a BLANK PIECE OF PAPER, Never. I cannot think of a single thing that would hinder your training, creativity and more importantly results. I believe that is one of the reasons mindmaps work so well. You start at least with a way to make an outline.

Unplug Your Creative Thinking!

We’re all skilled at creative thinking. It is, after all, the predominant way we think as children. The reason we lose the skill as we grow up is because of the blocks we put in the way. And, that, as this article will show you, is the secret to unblocking your creativity and becoming the resourceful, inventive and imaginative person you were always meant to be.

The Power of A Peaceful Day

I would like to draw your attention to a simple yet highly powerful way to boost your creativity. It is extremely powerful.

Tips to Help Your Creativity

DO you sometimes get a block and cant seem to get down and be creative? Here are some simple tips that may help release that blockage from time to time.

Are You a Procrastinator

“Procrastination is like a disease. It develops slowly, often over a long period of time.” It can be like an anchor around your neck. We have to learn to deal with it if we are to become effective at whatever we choose to do. You see, procrastination is the breeding ground for incompetence. If we don’t learn to conquer it, we will not maximize our effectiveness and become everything we can be. Experts have written that only twenty percent of employees reach the level of effectiveness based on individual potential. I believe that procrastination contributes to that negative statistic. Procrastination can drain your energy, affect your attitude and suppress your creativity.

The Three C's of Leadership --- Curiosity, Creativity, commitment

Most of us are not born leaders. However, a good percentage of us long to become leaders of men and make deep connections in our careers seeking that ultimate leadership position. It may be Sales Manager, Warehouse Supervisor, Vice President, CFO or even CEO. People who get results are high impact leaders. They are consistent, explicit and concise and they command a presence when they walk into a room. They have enough charisma to turn the dullest moment into a high-energy event. When they move on, others want to go with them. Their openness and honesty creates a legacy which people admire and look up to. They gain commitment and foster trust.

Branding: Death Cigarettes

How can you create a powerful brand? Follow the advice of UK entrepreneur BJ Cunningham. This is so good. BJ created a company called The Enlightened Tobacco Company in 1991, selling a cigarette called “Death Cigarettes”. It was presented in a black package emblazoned with a white skull-and-crossbones logo. Just imagine how this might appeal to the rebels.

How Smart Women Stay Connected

Staying connected to those people in our lives is essential---both personally and professionally. Ask yourself this question: Are you truly connected to these people? Do you feel securely linked to those people in your life that make the most meaningful difference? I’m talking about the people who champion you, who think you have great ideas---people who make you laugh! It’s equally important to connect with yourself---yes YOU! Are you creating the space to connect and nurture your mind, body, relationships and your creativity?

Dumb is Smart and Smart is Dumb

Leaders have a propensity to share their thoughts too early in conversations, especially when there is a decision to be made. Being forthright and decisive are qualities that are generally thought to be advantageous. I think speaking too soon is often a mistake. In many situations, it is better to act a little dumb and let others voice their opinions before weighing in and cutting off creative discussion. Many leaders have a tough time doing this. This article describes the problem and gives an antidote.

Third Generation Leadership and Depression

A recent Scientific American article makes it clear that an early aspect of depression leads to creativity. A person feels “down” or suffers some disquiet about his or her situation and, under the right circumstances, can use this to develop new approaches – the experience is used to harness their creative ability. This is a “blue zone” activity and 3G Leaders are adept at helping people shift their brain’s locus of control into the “blue zone”. Such leadership can help many people avoid the debilitating illness of clinical depression.

Ensuring Success for Florist Business

If you have finalized your business plan for your florist business in this tough business environment, what strategies should you have in place to build the right workforce?

10 Reasons Everyone Needs a Vacation

Off and on over the years I have taken vacation time. It is only recently that I have been conscious of its value. There have been times when I felt too busy to leave work. Other times I thought my work was at a crucial juncture and it wouldn't get accomplished without me. All solo professionals know that the revenue generation stops while the owner is away. For me that is yet another reason not to vacation. I know I am not alone in making excuses not to take a vacation. According to the Take Back Your Time organization "43% of American workers didn't even take a solid week off." What are the benefits of taking a vacation?

Thought Leadership interview with Gary Bertwistle

Gary Bertwistle is one of Australia's foremost thought leaders on creativity. In 2001 Gary designed and built The Ideas Vault, Australia's first ever dedicated creative space, designed specifically for the generation of better ideas. In early 2007 Gary self-published his first book entitled 'The Keys to Creativity'. Gary's second book 'Who Stole my Mojo?', was released in June 2008. In June 2009, 'What Made You Think of That?' was published and Gary's latest book, 'The Vibe', has just been published. I interviewed him about his views on thought leadership. It is long but only because he has some great insights to share and has been abundant with his advice in this regard. This is what he had to say:

The Lattice Organization - Unleashing Individual Freedom and Creativity

Most or our organizations are built on the hierarchy principle which seems on the surface to be an efficient and effective way to set things up. Why, then, do we end up frequently going around the formal organizational structures and processes to get things done? Bill Gore, founder of the very successful Gortex Technologies organization recognized that the traditional hierarchical / authoritarian structure of organizations may not be the way to go, so he came up with the concept of “The Lattice Organization.”

Creativity - Of Course You Have it In You!

Creativity - Of Course You Have it In You! OK, you might call it problem solving, but it's also called creativity. Any time you start with nothing and create something, voila! Creativity at work! The idea applies to business building and marketing as much as it applies to making art. If you think about it, it can even be applied to marketing art.

Motivating Your Workers for Peak Perfomance

I was asked by a manager: How do I define my role? They were having trouble inspiring creativity, and wanted their staff to be innovative without their help.

How You Can Discover Your “Daily Creativity Window”

Do you often feel creatively frustrated? Do you have a passion you long to indulge but never seem to find the time? Do you know when you're at your most creative? Are you aware of how dramatically your life would change if you could fully commit to your most creative hours? Part 1 of this two-part series will help you pinpoint your unique "Daily Creativity Window." Everyone has one. When is yours and what should you do about it?

How You Can Expand and Exploit Your Daily Creativity Window

Do you often feel creatively frustrated? Do you have a passion you long to indulge but never seem to find the time? Do you know when you're at your most creative? Are you aware of how dramatically your life would change if you could fully commit to and exploit your most creative hours? Part 2 of this two-part series will help you learn how to keep common creativity blockers at bay while maximizing your unique daily creativity window for your benefit and the benefit of those you serve.

Leadership Strategies and NO to Burnout

Entrepreneurs are constantly reinventing themselves, often on a daily basis. As high energy business people it is often hard to keep up with you. And then the inevitable happens. One day, for no obvious reason brains stop working; not in the sense that you forget how to drive a car, more like creative ideas have flown the coop. When this happens to me I tend to freeze, worried that I'll never have another good, let alone great idea ever again. Did you ever stop to think about the best way to handle these moments of brain drain?

Time Management Strategies of Texas Millionaires

If you want to learn the most effective time management skills, ask a millionaire. Better yet, ask a multi-millionaire Texan. Millionaires create order in their lives. Order allows for better focus and creativity. Millionaires know the value of time and the best way to use it. They understand managing their time effectively is vital for creating the life they want.

Marketing Creativity vs. Analytics

It is only responsible for Fast Company to publish an article about a CMO's balancing of creativity and analytics in its most recent issue featuring the top 100 creative people in business. We've seen too many cool and creative ideas and approaches to marketing flounder when it comes to what matters most to business-driving bottom line results.

How to Use PR to Launch Your Independent Film

The film world has been going through seismic changes. The studios are creating urgency through marketing that all but forces the public to consume. So, why not take a page from their playbook? You can’t compete with them budget-wise, but you can jump into the game with creativity, savvy and some marketing know-how. PR can help build an audience, attract investors, interest distributors and position you and your film to succeed.

Lesson #3: Management Means To Inspire Creativity

“From a management standpoint, it is very important to know how to unleash people's inborn creativity,” said Morita. “My concept is that anybody has creative ability, but very few people know how to use it.” Morita created one of the world’s largest multinational corporations but he did not do it alone. Indeed, over his fifty-year career, Morita became one of the most outspoken businessmen for sound management principles, of which his were largely based on Japanese traditions.

Hip-Hopping to the Top: Simmons’ Rise to Success

“Everything you need to know about success is inside of you, because I believe it is inside of all of us,” says Simmons. “That is, all human beings have potential for infinite success.”

Lesson #2: Become An Expert

Whether it was sewing lessons from his grandmother, shopping trips with his mother or an apprenticeship with the esteemed coat manufacturer Dan Millstein in the New York fashion district, Klein knew that if he was going to succeed in the fashion business, he was going to have to take advantage of every single learning opportunity that presented itself. Known for his dedication to his craft, Klein often sacrificed much of his personal live to improve his skills and increase his chances of succeeding professionally.

Lesson #2: Be Relentless

“I am a hedonist at heart,” says Cowell. “I love the uncertainty and the challenge. I’m also exceptionally competitive and ambitious. It is relentless, relentless, relentless. I can’t help it. Sometimes I’m glad, sometimes I wish I wasn’t like that all the time. I can never switch off.”

Bill Gates Quotes

Bill Gates Quotes

Made in Japan: How Morita Became an International Success

“There is no secret ingredient or hidden formula responsible for the success of the best Japanese companies,” said Morita. “We all learn by imitating, as children, as students, as novices in the world of business. And then we grow up and learn to blend our innate abilities with the rules or principles we have learned.”

Akio Morita Quotes

Akio Morita Quotes

Lesson #2: Make Creativity the Centre of Your Company

“It is a critical job of any entrepreneur to maximize creativity, and to build the kind of atmosphere around you that encourages people to have ideas,” says Roddick. “That means open structures, so that accepted thinking can be challenged.”

Lesson #3: Your Work Ethic Is Your Most Important Asset

“I'm not too good at lying still in the sun,” says McMahon. “I have to do something with my mind, or I'll get in trouble.” By all accounts, McMahon was obsessed with wrestling since he was a little boy, and he continues to be just as devoted a fan today. It is his passion for his work that allows him to maintain the strong work ethic that he has, working long after his competitors have already gone to sleep.

Lesson #1: Creative Brilliance is the Bridge to Success

“It takes a big idea to attract the attention of consumers and get them to buy your product,” wrote Ogilvy. “Unless your advertising contains a big idea, it will pass like a ship in the night. I doubt if more than one campaign in a hundred contains a big idea.” Ogilvy was an advertising executive who praised the virtues of creativity; if an ad didn’t sell, it was because it wasn’t creative. His years of experience taught him that people were not going to buy a product if the ad was boring; only interest and curiosity would entice people to buy.

Lesson #2: Rewards Are In the Results for Clients

“In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create,” said Ogilvy. “We sell – or else.”

The Message Behind the Man: How Ogilvy Achieved Success

Thirty-three years after he first began his own advertising agency, Ogilvy wrote a memo to his staff entitled “Will Any Agency Hire This Man?” In it, he wrote, “He is 38, and unemployed. He dropped out of college. He has been a cook, a salesman, a diplomatist and a farmer. He knows nothing about marketing and has never written any copy. He professes to be interested in advertising as a career (at the age of 38!) and is ready to go to work for $5,000 a year.” Fortunately, a London firm did hire him, and there was no looking back for Ogilvy. How he did someone with no advertising experience end up shaping the entire industry?

Lesson #4: Discipline Yourself So Your Customers Do Not Have To

“Discipline yourself, become hard on yourself,” says Ramsay. “I’ve never had dinner in my own restaurant. I’ve never sat and had a glass of champagne with customers. Don’t indulge yourself in your business – treat it as a business.”

Lesson #1: You Are Only As Good As Where You Work

“Business is difficult,” says Laliberté. “But it could be approached two ways: Seriously, or with the same way you're doing your job, with entertainment aspect, with pleasure, with fun. And we decided to try to make it as fun that we do our creativity.”

From Busker To Billionaire: How Guy Laliberté Achieved Success

Until 2010, Laliberté will have his hands full with the opening of three new shows and a special Christmas production. “Our biggest goal is to continue to force ourselves to always start our creative work on a white page and not take advantage of past successes and challenging ourselves,” he says. Just how did this one time street performer turn a group of young buskers into a performing troupe that has become a global phenomenon and a billion-dollar enterprise?

Guy Laliberté Quotes

Guy Laliberté Quotes

Lesson #2: Put a Little Magic into Your Thinking

When Rowling first approached publishers with her manuscript about a boy wizard, she was welcomed with a barrage of criticism. Many of those criticisms she could do little about. For instance, how could she make her story less fantastical when the very concept behind it was all about magic and wizardry? But there were other criticisms that Rowling took to heart and tried to fix. After all, she knew success was often times much like a game; if you wanted to reach the end, you had to play by the rules.

Searching for the Stars: How Yang and Filo Took Their Business to New Heights

“I think that it's always possible to have a great company if you have great ideas,” says Yang. “I will say that since the web has become more commercialized, it also takes some good financial resources to build a great business, but as I always say, you have to have the idea first.”

Sustainability Driven Innovation

Sustainable innovations are creating new business models, opening up new markets and providing competitive advantages. Sustainable innovation is also improving profitability. Companies around the world are demonstrating how innovative sustainable practices are bettering their bottom line. A focus on sustainability is enabling organisations to innovate, differentiate themselves and succeed. Although sustainable practices were once dismissed for being too costly, increasing numbers of companies are coming to the realization that sustainable innovations are a gateway to growth. Visionary business leaders who anticipate the winds of change and creatively develop sustainable products and processes will thrive in the rapidly changing economic landscape.

10 Ways to Guerrilla Creativity

When it comes to marketing, guerrillas become creative in very special ways and they're not the ways that are demonstrated by most marketing.

The Top Ten Lies of Entrepreneurs

I get pitched dozens of times every year, and every pitch contains at least three or four of these lies. I provide them not because I believe I can increase the level of honesty of entrepreneurs as much as to help entrepreneurs come up with new lies. At least new lies indicate a modicum of creativity!

The two things that kill marketing creativity

The first is fear. The fear that you'll have to implement whatever you dream up. The fear that you will fail. The fear that you will do something stupid and be ridiculed by your peers for decades.

"How to Be Creative" by Hugh Macleod

My favorite book about creativity is If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Fred Karl, designer of the Viking range and owner of that company said, "I was a weird kid—I began designing towns when I was 12." We all know that "weird" can be good, if we don't judge others through our lens ... Being weird increases creativity if we allow it to flourish. Fred Karl, founder of Viking Range, let his weirdness flourish abundantly.

When to Listen

I always ask other people what they think. Whether it’s in my real-life boardroom when I’m making a multi-million dollar business decision or whether it’s on the set of The Apprentice in my famous boardroom, I like to know what people think. After all, I surround myself with talented advisors for that very reason. I value their opinions and want to hear them. But that doesn’t mean I always do what they say.

Most of the Time Talent's Not Enough

You're a talented writer, designer, speaker, consultant, coach, salesperson, but doors aren't flying open for you. Why not? Talent, I'm afraid, is assumed - a lot of people have talent. It's the price to get into the game. Talent, married with creativity, however, is how you get out of the cheap seats. (In fact, creativity will allow you to get places with lesser talent than others - oops, potential self indictment)

The Exhilaration of Intention

I just had an amazing realization during a keynote address I gave to the Chabad of California annual rabbis’ conference.

The Decent Thing to Do Is the Smart Thing to Do

Going back 25 years to 1982 and In Search of Excellence, Bob Waterman and I were simply interested in what made for excellent corporate performance.

Lack of Seriousness - The Last Interview with Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut is one of my few idols, an elegantly simple poet-philosopher of the first class. I grew up near where he lived in Sag Harbor, and I’ve enjoyed his writing since I was in junior high, where I silently hoped to one day have the courage to visit him.

Perspective

Quit your griping - use what you've got! In 1993 the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce recognized John Foppe as one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans. John worked as a speaker while in college and graduated cum laude in just three and a half years. He's also a gifted artist and an inspiration to all who know him.

Entrepreneur Things

Entrepreneurs ( I need to share this with you) do the most ridiculous things. (I’m not going to name any of those things here because I don’t want to hurt the feelings of the dumb entrepreneurs who thought them up) But, I’m sure you know what I mean. I’m sure you’ve asked yourself the question from time to time, “What in the world was he thinking?” Well, that’s the subject of this morning’s blog. (It’s morning where I am, and I woke up with the thought that I needed to get this out of my system, off my chest, out of my mind, so here goes.)

What’s In a Name These Days?

The name of a business is an essential marketing decision and certainly should be considered in that vein.

Exercise in Freedom

The highest form of that creativity is displayed when they give for free what they ordinarily sell. HotMail attracted more than ten million customers for its free email service. Now, that service is supported by advertising. By ending each free email from the sender with an offer for free email for the recipient, HotMail used word-of-mouse to the ultimate.

Are You Right Brain Dead?

A ton of research suggests that the right half of our brain supplies the more creative aspects of our thinking. So it goes that more creative people use that side of their brain more predominately.

The Power of Solitude

It's extremely rare to hear someone say, "I get my best ideas at work." You cannot hope to experience the quiet needed to unearth your greatest ideas if you are running 100 miles an hour and have seventy things on your to-do list.

How Does Blowing Stuff Up and Crashing Things Change Your Philosophy?

Great discussion of science, creativity, and error with the Mythbusters’ duo in the latest issue of Forbes’s Emerging Tech report (paid subs only). Here is an excerpt on how, after years of blowing stuff up and crashing things, they’ve changed. Answer: Cars and gases.

It all begins with an Idea; How to Develop a Business Plan

This is an article on how to develop a business plan. If your dream is to own a successful business, take the time to read this article and put these words into action and design your blueprint for success. I do not take credit for these action steps, as a video producer, I have learned them from great people who I have had the privilege to work with over my near 30 years as president and CEO of Primeau Productions Inc. I want this article to be like a paper coach, one that helps you succeed in business. As President and CEO of Primeau Productions, Inc. and Our AfterCare, LLC.I have learned about business success from many mentors I have had as friends throughout the years. Some of the world’s greatest contributors like Floyd Wickman who taught me how to sell. Terry Brock who taught me how to use technology to build relationships;

Third Generation Leadership = Increased Profit

Improved profitability can be obtained through a very simple – yet very comprehensive 9 step process that is capable of harnessing the energies of everyone in the organisation.

The Power of Your Child’s Imagination by Charlotte Reznick PhD

I'm a firm believer that we need to encourage creativity in children. There are many businesses where creativity is crucial - how many successful entrepreneurs do you know that have limited creativity? The ones I know - are very creative in many areas of their business. We all know that children are the entrepreneurs of the future and it seems the creativity many of us take for granted isn't encouraged in children in the 21st century. So - this review is about a book that I hope parents and other people who work with children will take a close look at. Dr Reznick gives us wonderful tools to help develop a child's imagination and creativity, but also to help children be happier. For all the parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, mentors etc - this is a book you need to read.

Timeless Wisdom For Modern Leaders - Lead With an Inspiring Vision For the Future

King Solomon, universally acknowledged as one of the world's wisest leaders, applied leadership principles that are as relevant and powerful today as they were in biblical times. This article examines the importance of creating an inspiring vision for the development of his or her organization. In doing so, human energy and creativity are coordinated and channeled toward common projects.

Creativity is just for those Agency types, right? Wrong! (Although they are quite good being creative!)

Creativity IS your competitiveness. If you are doing exactly the same as everyone else, then why would anyone use your company? You need to get the most out of your people. How do organisations release the creativity of their people? As sure as eggs is eggs business leaders don’t have all the answers, and the best businesses manage and lead their people in a way that empowers them to want to come up with the ideas, develop plans and own their implementation. This article gives you 10 steps to release the creativity in your people.

How Much Noise Is In Your Head?

Do you find sometimes you have too much going on in your head? The noise can get quite deafening. Many a times it leads to illness, lack of sleep, short temper, inertia and so one. Inevitably you end up simply not doing anything.

Swimming in a Sea of Ideas

Creativity can be one of the best strengths to have. It helps you to solve problems, makes you versatile and able to roll with change, which in this world is a real plus. Typically my creative clients tell me that they usually do well at anything they put their hand to. For all its merits, creativity can be one of the most incapacitating strengths because sometimes there are just too many ideas to follow. Having choice is a good thing but having too much choice can be debilitating. Being focused, having choices, and not too many of them, helps creativity work for you.

Add Extras for Excitement: Five proven ways to add verve to your verbiage

Business writing today is often technical, flat and boring. Learn to tell better stories by adding techniques borrowed from professional writers. Your readers will appreciate the extra effort. They're more likely to finish reading what you wrote--which will help you get the results you want.

Executive Coaching for Emotionally Intelligent Leadership - 3 Steps to Positive Leadership

Are you feeling fully appreciated at work? Do you have the chance to do what you do best every day? Do you know what is expected of you at work? Does your manager know you and focus you? Fully engaged people at work can answer these questions with a resounding yes! Most of us start a job motivated to perform our best, but sometimes working for a poor manager can be de-motivating or worse. Positive leaders provide leadership to help people unleash their creativity, improve performance and fully engage. Optimistic leaders rally people to a better future. They have a strong sense of significance. Who do you serve?

Balance Self-Confidence and Uncertainty

Researchers have revealed yet another key to flow.

Problem Solving: Don't Ignore the Nudges

You will encounter two types of problems, acute and chronic. They have two distinct warnings signs and different methods of solving them. You need to be aware of both types of problems and how to solve them. You may already know about the first type. But knowing how to identify and solve the second type will provide greater benefit for you and your organization.

Leading Change - Engaging in Fierce Conversations

Business is fundamentally an extended conversation. Whether you're speaking with your boss, team members, colleagues or direct reports, conversations shape what gets done. As a leader, you must engineer conversations to foster clarity, cooperation, creativity and a connection to company values.

Getting Your Groove Back

Everything has been cooking along nicely. You're delivering projects to your clients, your next batch of work is cued up. You've worked very hard delivering everything required to create your masterpieces and grow your business. You're a bit tired, but your enthusiasm is still mostly intact. But at the moment, you couldn't put together a coherent thought in any medium; text, verbal, video, sketching, or pre-school finger painting, if your life depended on it.

Trainers Can Use Creativity Skills Training Materials to Help Others Become More Creative

It is well known that we are extremely creative when we are children, but only a few people manage to remain creative when they reach adulthood. What goes wrong? This article explores the root of creativity and provides guidelines on how to become more creative. Our relative lack of creativity is perhaps best explained by the way we are brought up and also it is to do with our education system. The education system is geared towards guiding us to provide a perfect answer for every question. We are precisely measured and learn how to rigidly follow a set plan. Of course this leads to becoming qualified employees who can get a specific job done, but unfortunately does little to help us remain create let alone make us more creative than we were when we were a child.

But We've Always Done it This Way: Top Ten List

What does that really mean? Perhaps you just asked a question at a committee meeting. The room went silent and at least one person pointedly explained to you that "We've always done it this way". The rest of the group either chimed in or nodded their heads in arrogant approval. Some might even have glanced at you with that dismissive look of lost causes.

Advertising Keeps Commerce Alive

A first-hand look at the inner workings of an advertising agency.

Supervisor Training

The time has come within your organization to elect a new leader for a project, or to supervise a new expansion. What recognizable marks are there to help identify a potential supervisor amongst the organization? How do you train this new leader to effectively guide in such a way that proves successful? In this issue of Astronology we list some helpful tips in identifying and properly training potential and expectant supervisors.

Publicity...Everything Changes But the Tool

As the world turns so does the hot and not communications tools. We jump from print, online news; websites, blogs, microblogs. Proponents of each will swear that "this is the source, the tool that will rise to the top and become the news source of choice." But when you want to be informed (or better yet when YOU want to inform) you think of the lowly, maligned press release. It's not dead. It's just that so few can do the darn thing right. Let's look at the facts and do it right...

Example needed: How companies celebrate success

Looking for unusual and cool ways that companies celebrate success.

Does Social Media Effect your Brand Value?

Social media inundates people with so many brands, the playing field is diluted and consumers are much harder to impress. Thus, creating a huge difference between the way consumers and financial markets value brands. Plus, the landscape and the rules of PR and marketing have changed to the point that, it’s been said, ‘you no longer own your brand’. So many people are participating in public dialogues about brands creating this split in valuing. Advertisers used to tell us what to buy. Now we use the internet to research before we buy and find thousands of real people’s opinions and feedback. Regarding the discrepancy – perhaps the people behind ‘financial market valuing’ aren’t paying enough attention to the public or simply using outmoded metrics.

There are always options ...

If you have ever been caught in a situation where it seems like there are no options the reality is that there are always options!

One of Silicon Valley’s Founding Fathers: How Wozniak Became a Household Name

“Now computers are a big business,” says Wozniak. “Sometimes I wonder, ‘Am I the master of the computer?’ When we talked in our club, computers were going to be so simple to use that everyone was going to be a master and be able to create whatever they wanted to. Now I feel like a slave sometimes. I have to do it their way. It wasn’t the feeling we were after in the first days.”

Jack Dosey, Biz Stone and Evan Williams' Quotes

Jack Dosey, Biz Stone and Evan Williams' Quotes

Making Your Event Count!

Throwing an Event!

Social Networking Marketing Tools, Tips and Techniques to Keep You Alive in the Social Sphere

What is the most important social networking marketing tool? That is a tough question to answer because in this new day and age of social networking, many aspects are important. The basics of a computer, internet access and the capacity to communicate are understood, but to be able to market a product or service requires creativity, good use of words and imagination, but are any of these actually considered a social networking marketing tool?

Home based business Opportunity Required Advice For A Home Business

Typically, work at home business does not involve having your own website, dealing with customers, refunds, product development and maintenance. In home business, there are many guidelines in which you can increase your earnings and maintain the account that you have worked so hard to create success. Home based business opportunity is one of the easiest ways of launching an affiliate business cost effectively. The growing number of successful online business builders is confirmation that there are lucrative home based business opportunities out there.

"Do You Have the X Factor?"

Many of us watch talent shows on TV like the X Factor and feel that, while we admire those who are talented, we are not in the same class. Well, you are. You just need to get a few things right.

Four Business Partnering Ideas for Colossal Expansion

A partnership is a way to balance your strengths with someone else's in order to get more done - without losing your mind! Entrepreneurs as a whole tend to thrive in their creativity but don't enjoy managing their business. That's where a partner can come in handy. A partnership is often the leverage strategy a CEO chooses when its time to expand. There are some real tricks to having a partnership that works. I've seen many situations blow up because the keys to having a profitable partnership aren't in place.

Self-Editing Success; How to Edit Your Own Writing

Writing and editing are two different processes. Writing requires creativity; editing requires analysis. The writing process should be free and experimental; the editing process should be systematic and critical.

Creative Intelligence - Exploring Your Own Creative Genius

Believe it or not, there is creativity lurking within all of us. Creativity is not only the ability to draw a picture or write a poem - creativity is simply thinking in a unique way. When you approach a situation, as long as you keep thinking of new ways to solve problems, you're thinking creatively.

Making the EXCEPTIONAL Normal Part 2 - More Benefits

Six more benefits from this powerful leadership system including shared vision, better coordination, more effective workload allocation, cross training, creativity and team spirit.

Hurt Feelings vs. Hurt Heart

Discover the vast difference between hurt feelings and hurt heart, and how embracing our heart hurt moves us into personal power and emotional freedom.

8 Best Practices for Online Learning

Many organizations are using online learning instead of classroom based training because they believe it is more cost effective, convenient, and less time consuming. For those of us that have sat through poorly designed online learning programs, however, it can be experienced as a form of torture.

TurboCharge Your Goals in 2009

Write It Down, Make It Happen!

Use Your Journal To Record Your Experience.

As you grow and expand yourself or your business, it is important to record your experience. If you do not journal already, please start right away. It is critical to understanding yourself.

The Chakra System Extends Beyond Your Body.

As you desire to create a business that is tailor made for you, understand that the Chakra system speaks to seven values that are critical for success in life and business. If you study many businesses, you will see that these values show up consciously or unconsciously.

Home Stagers, It’s Not All About Price

Expert home stager, Staging Diva, discusses why there’s more to marketing a staging business than offering cheap rates.

Are You in or Out for Change? Building Team Spirit In a Nutshell

The inception of a team is as indispensable as creating a work of art. It needs careful planning and a lot of preparation. Here are 5 fundamental ways to build team spirit.

Innovation minus Support = Zero Creation

There is an abundance of creativity in our world. Humanity is replete with inspirational people who have enormous value to contribute in their own ways - yet most are never seen or heard. As a collective society, we seldom encourage others to take a path of innovation because it's untested, risky, and breaks convention and related reputations.

The Role of Creative Advertising Techniques

Even the advertising industry is very competitive. To entice more clients, advertising companies are using many advertising techniques. Each advertising company seeks to outperform and outthink the others. The more competitive innovative the advertising is, the more clients it can draw.

Characteristics of the entrepreneurs

Dream a big dream, big dreams attract a lot of people!

Creativity: The Successful Entrepreneur’s Secret Weapon

You are absolutely unique. There is no one quite like you. So the way you look at the world, through your eyes, your mind is different than any one else’s. Successful entrepreneurs embrace this uniqueness.

10 Ways to Keep and Attract Clients

New and not so new methods of retaining and/or gaining new clients for your business. These 10 ways will give you some ideas about how to enhance your marketing efforts and profit from the results. No matter how the economy looks like, you can always perfect your approach towards your existing client base and attracting new ones.

A Test of Sales Character

I can honestly say I did not enjoy the early years of my sales career. I initially found it hard, relentless and sometimes really distressing. I was asked to do things I didn't always understand that significance of. I often felt overly scrutinised by the constant monitoring of activity and performance by my managers. I worked in tough markets in tough times and sometimes wondered if it was worth it. I felt under pressure and sometimes wished I didn't have to sell at all, however I came to realise that this tough introduction to selling was what I really needed to prepare me for the future. In the words of Robert Louis Stevenson "Everyone lives by selling something'. Over the years as my sales career evolved, I began to learn a lot more about myself.

Could Life be AWEsome?

Tap into your limitless power and creativity and discover your divine purpose and truth.

How to Prepare For The Job Hunting Process?

This question is frequently been asked by many people who are looking to pursue a career change. I would say that there is no scientific approach wherein you follow steps from 1-2-3 and bang you have the perfect job in your hands.

Looking For Home Business Opportunities - Where To Find Them

Many people have always dreamed of being able to escape from the 9 to 5 world and get started on founding their own business. For these people who are looking for home business opportunities, they need look no further than the exciting world of internet marketing, which can lead to a host of wider opportunities. This also leads to lifestyle changes that come along with a greater income and more financial freedom, including more time with friends and family, and more money and time to invest in personal hobbies and activities.

Self-Coaching Tip: Focus on the Energy of Your Intentions

Years ago, in a staff meeting, Martha described all the obstacles and setbacks her team had encountered while starting a new project. She was frustrated and tired. Her energy was low. Soon, everyone in the room was tense, shooting down ideas and suggestions, frustrated by our own inability to find a creative solution to the stalled project.

Article Writing Secrets & Strategies - 5 Ways to Never Run Out of Stuff to Say in Your Articles

No matter what your expertise lies in, you can always generate new and interesting ideas for articles IF you follow these guidelines...

ADHD Study Tips

Studying when you have ADHD can be a frustrating experience. You try really hard, but you don't seem to get the results that reflect the amount of effort you put in. Even if you write a great paper, you might forget the deadline and lose marks because of that rather than the content of your work. You might find it difficult to pay attention during a lecture, or procrastinate over preparing for your exam and then study all night in order to know the information you need.

Developing High Potential Employees

Every company has rising stars - the select groups of employees with the potential to one day lead the company - and most realize that these "high-potential employees" are critical to their future success. The challenge for managers lies in motivating, retaining and ultimately developing these high potentials into leadership positions. Here are some ways for you to address this challenge.

Time-Out

When young children misbehave, many parents, teachers and caregivers insist on a time-out. Think how much better your workplace would be if you initiated the same approach. No, not for your boss or coworkers, but for yourself.

The Missing Keys to Great Negotiation Skills

Improve your negotiation skills and drive more dollars to your bottom line. Enhance your ability to achieve your desired outcome by understanding these basic negotiating skills.

7 Key Qualities Of Successful Entrepreneurs

Do you have what it takes to become a highly successful entrepreneur? Many folks want to own and build their own business-and it is a great thing for those willing to work at it and make things happen. The thing is, sometimes it's also pretty easy to overlook all of the hard work that goes into earning success. In this article, I reveal what I consider to be the 7 key qualities that a person must possess and demonstrate to become a successful entrepreneur.

7 Best Practices for Developing E-Learning Content

Despite the current tough economy, forward looking organizations continue to invest in developing their human capital. In the past, employees were trained in the skills needed for a specific job, however in this rapidly changing business environment, cross-training can help employees to be more versatile.

DO SOMETHING!

Lack of confidence throughout an organization immobilizes and discourages, diverting energy from important tasks and wasting time and resources. To create the burning desire to win leaders must mobilize and engage the organization.

DON’T WORRY – BE HAPPY. Entrepreneurs must ENJOY

Did you know that somewhere in the back of your mind - beneath a pile of thoughts - there is a “Happiness Contract” with a lot of small print, i.e. rules, conditions, laws, and beliefs that dictate what it will take before you'll feel happy? On closer inspection, you will also find other contracts buried in your mind like “The Success Contract” and “The Abundance Contract” and the “Love Contract.” These contracts are statements of belief which influence how much joy you think is possible and how much is just too good to be true.

5 Reasons Why You Need To Take Daily Breaks While Working At Home

When you are working at home, one thing that you often forget to do is to take a break on a regular basis. Most on site jobs provide breaks to their employees, and when you are working at home, you need to take breaks as well. It's easy to think that you'll get more done if you just stay at your desk, but this is rarely the case. If you are not convinced that you really need these breaks, here are five different reasons that you need to take daily breaks while working at home.

Struggle If You Must During Career Transition, But Why Should You?

To advance forward is to advance to new perspectives by developing new competencies in both soft and hard skills. What is meant by soft and hard skills? I see the hard skills as those that are produced. They are measurable, quantifiable and can be observed outside of self. They have empirical evidence. For example, when a client of mine has a goal to make a career transition into another field of interest and she/he has succeeded, it is obvious to everyone who is familiar with him/her. It is measurable in that the client did break away from one profession and moved into another, which could be seen by others.

Gartner: New technology jobs will be filled by social scientists

One of the fastest-rising technology trends seen over the past few years is the use of social networking by consumers and businesses alike.

The Two-Word Secret Weapon to Effective Leadership

“Performance Management” is a term coined by Dr. Aubrey Daniels in the late 1970s to describe a technology for managing, both behavior, and results, the two critical elements of what is known as performance. As an entrepreneur and a leader it is critical in your business.

ITV…Does Art Imitate Life or Life Imitate Art?

Tellywood and manufacturers have picked the team they want to be on and have started the game to determine who will be the league winners in the next generation DVD series. Problem is there is no one in the stands. Consumers seem happy to watch the game they know. After all, current DVD recorders, players, media is very economic. Millions of viewing options are available. No one has done a good job of showing them why the new game is better -- unless you call the news releases and press conferences proof. Boy looks like it is going to be a long season.

The Key To Your Success Is In Your Mind

Having a successful mindset is the most important tool someone wishing to be successful can have.

Pros and Cons of Starting your own Business

An increasing number of professionals from graduate to senior management level consider setting up an own business. There is a large variety of factors underlying these thoughts and tendencies. What are the pros and cons when considering a change from a "secure" employment to running your own business?

11 Leadership Resolutions for 2011

11 New Year's Resolutions for 2011 to help Leaders Keep your Main Thing, your Main Thing, discover What is your Joy, take a Ruthless New Year's Personal Inventory, and Get Perspective among other top 11 thought-provoking touchstones to take you from Now to Wow! in the New Year.

Are You a

Here's how to stop being a sales gamble and start serving as a "five-star" vending machine.

Sales - A test of character

I can honestly say I did not enjoy the early years of my sales career. I initially found it hard, relentless and sometimes really distressing. I was asked to do things I didn't always understand that significance of. I often felt overly scrutinised by the constant monitoring of activity and performance by my managers. I worked in tough markets in tough times and sometimes wondered if it was worth it. I felt under pressure and sometimes wished I didn't have to sell at all, however I came to realise that this tough introduction to selling was what I really needed to prepare me for the future. In the words of Robert Louis Stevenson "Everyone lives by selling something'.

Create your own opportunities

Just one idea can positively transform your life, career, income and wealth. As I have written before, in uncertain times, we can let the negativity of current events and others consume us or we can continue to look for opportunity. Excessive worry, however, can often cause us to lose sight of our goals and can limit our creativity and problems solving capabilities just when we really need them.

Zoar in Your Zone

us...we too need to find our "zone". All of us have zones of energy, creativity, sleepiness. Does it make sense to work creatively in your sleepiness zone? Of course not...yet we will schedule appointments and take on projects when we are disconnected from our own energy. So take a week and make a note in your calendar of the times you feel E for energized, S for sleepy and C for creativity. Then schedule your appointments around your own zone. When you're working in your zone, you never look at a clock! Read this for tips to zoar in your zone!

What Can a Drag Queen Teach Sales Professionals?

So what can a sales professional learn from RuPaul? No one—not even prospects, customers or managers--no one can make you not fabulous.

How to Share Power in a Relationship: The Five Cs of Co-Creation

As a species, we are gradually moving from self-centered, adversarial uses of power to collectively sharing power for the mutual benefit of everyone. We are shifting from a paradigm characterized by "me or them" to "me and them." We are lifting ourselves into the realm of co-creation. It's going to take more than good intentions for us to pull this one off. We're all going to have to learn to think and behave differently in our business-as-usual routines.

What Creates Confidence?

Do you lack personal or professional confidence? Do you often wonder at how others can appear to feel so confident? Discover the path to both personal and professional confidence.

Business and Creativity: It’s Not Just for Artists!

Most people think of creativity as the realm of artists, musicians and other creative professionals. But everyone has a unique type of creativity, based on their unique Perceptual Style. Understanding your own creative style is one of the keys to capitalizing on what you do best, and putting it to work in your business.

2 Things Race Car Driving Has in Common with Selling

Karl said that for him, the single biggest commonality between racing and selling is the ability to be in control of his emotions, a strength which, in selling, not too many salespeople have mastered. It was as a professional race car driver when Subaru, his first real employer, would send Karl to struggling car dealers to help them push cars - despite the fact that Karl didn't view himself as a salesperson. However, if you listen to his very entertaining stories about growing up, you realize that he was always selling - because he had to.

The perfect business opportunity for "introverts" - People that hate selling

Now there is hope for people that hate to do sales.There are millions of people that would like to get involved in the most lucrative business available today - network marketing. The only thing that keep them from getting involved is the sales aspect.Business "introverts" don't like to pick up a phone and phone people to try and sell something.

Got Creativity or Hot Air?

We live in the Knowledge Economy, and without Creativity, you got nothing. Are there secrets to discovering how-to- be seen as a creative hot-shot?

Dangerous Knowledge

How secret information leads to personal success. Secret stuff connects the dots to give you a competitive advantage over your peers.

From Go Fast Kids to Calm Kids

Making that transition from holiday mode to classroom. How excited do kids get with the start of school approaching? Getting kids to go from the freedom of school holidays to move to that place of being settled and ready for school can be a challenge for some parents. Many children now days are identified as being ADD and ADHD I call these kids “go fasts� and the transition from holidays to school can be a bit more of a challenge for these kids. Being a “go fast� kid is fine, they are full of excitement and life, but it does not always suite the classroom environment. So how do you handle the transition time as they move into the structures of a new school year and a classroom environment?

Celebrate Your Talents

As an adult with ADHD, it is very easy to focus on your weaknesses and areas “to be worked on.” So much thought can be given to these areas that it’s easy to forget about your talents. Many adults with ADHD are humble to a fault and dismiss their talents because they come so easily. Naturally, they don’t feel they can be proud of these traits, or that they aren’t valuable. Nothing could be further from the truth. When you notice what you are good at, you can spend more time utilizing your strengths and less time worrying about your weaknesses.

How To Write Articles - For Fun

Article writing is not a fun activity for most people, especially those who have to write every day for a living. In fact it can be a hard job. For people who have no confidence in their writing skills it seems impossible to have fun at this particular activity. Learning how to write articles for fun needs to be a fun activity in itself. That doesn’t mean that all writing will go smoothly and effortless. Putting effort into something can be fun too. In fact most people have the greatest amount of fun when they have to work really hard.

Your Hero’s Journey: A metaphor for life and business coaching

Did you know you are on a Hero’s Journey? If you are undergoing significant change in your life, you have been called to embark on a journey of transformation, which Joseph Campbell identified as The Hero’s Journey. No hero undergoes transformation alone, and this article describes how coaching can help you navigate the future with more ease, confidence and resilience.

How to recreate yourself by identifying, packaging, and marketing transferable skills to a different industry and guarantee steady employment.

In the business world we have a short list of traditional sources of interdepartmental friction. One of these "hot zones" is the intersection of HR and managers, who can easily find themselves at odds.

Success Strategies for Tough Times

There’s just no getting around it. Times are tough. Yet there is opportunity for growth in the midst of these economic hard times. While it might go against intuition, success in difficult times calls for holding true to basic tenets of effective behavior. With the proper attitude and approach, you can indeed thrive in the midst of uncertainty. Here's how...

How To Take Inspired Action

Inspired action comes from the higher level of creativity, trust and wisdom that you arrive at when you take the time to focus and vision.

Making Money vs. Earning Money

There has never been a money shortage. There is, from time to time, an idea, inspiration, motivation, or creativity shortage. This shortage may manifest itself in the lack of money. It's important to realize that the only people who make money work at the mint. Everyone else earns money. There is a fair exchange between what an individual does and what he is paid for completing that task. The pay for a task increases as its degree of difficulty, danger, expertise, or the amount of training required increases. There are many jobs that you could be trained to do and be in a position to accomplish the required task by the end of the first day. In most cases, these jobs do not pay particularly well. On the other hand, if you wish to be a neurosurgeon-while you will not be performing the task by the end of the first day-at the point you ha

Good Employees for your Franchise Company

The employees that you hire can, to a large degree, make or break your business. Here are some characteristics to look for when hiring employees. Does the perfect employee exist? Yes, but you have to look for them, and then develop them.

Planning past the crisis

We need to give people a reason to get back on board. This article talks about using our current negative economic experience as a means to greater clarity and then developing strategies to move toward the results we desire in a careful, measured way. Success doesn't usually happen in giant leaps. Success is a process of small, intentional steps. The first step is gaining clarity.

Compromising Situations

Learn how an experience in Corporate Japan led to a life long lesson in problem solving in the business world.

The End of Casual Friday

Would the business world function better if people dressed more formally? And has the current financial crisis spelled the end of casual Friday? In time of trouble should people be more intent and serious about their decorum and demeanor on the job?

Why and Why Not?

I am reminded of a quote that became famous at Robert Kennedy's memorial service. "Some men see things as they are and say ‘Why?' I dream of things that never were and say, ‘Why not?'" In our society, we have become so risk-averse that we often endanger creativity. We hire consultants to tell us what is possible, but they define "possible" by determining what has already been done. It is important to realize that prior to every great advancement of humankind, the experts of the day would have assured you that it was impossible.

Life Coaching | Business Coaching: How To Clarify Your Values

As people get busier and busier with their lives, career and work, often the things most important to them, get neglected. The path to a more fulfilling life is to honor your values on a daily basis. But how can you honor your values if they are not crystal clear to you, or if you have not even thought about them in a long time?

How To Stay Positive in Business and Sales

Many studies, such as Amen Clinics Research, illustrate the importance of a positive mind for physical health, mental health, creativity, productivity, focus, discipline, fulfillment, imagination, and dedication. All of these benefits have a direct impact on living more fulfilling lives and experiencing better results in business.

The Entrepreneurial Author: Surviving Tough Economic Times By Jay Conrad Levinson and David L Hancock Foreward by Rick Frishman

When I started doing promotional work, I was always given a limited budget. This meant that I had to get creative and that was one of the things that really appealed to me about promotional work. So, for a long time I was doing “guerilla� marketing – without knowing it. When I was asked to do a review for the new Jay Conrad Levinson book I was very pleased. Since David Hancock is a co-author, that made me even more interested in this book because I’ve enjoyed his entrepreneur author blog. David and I share many thoughts about how authors, especially business book authors, should approach their promotion. Many of these thoughts are included in the pages of The Entrepreneurial Author. Let me say in the beginning that this book is good for many entrepreneurs – not just authors.

Creative People Make Great Business Owners

Have you always wanted to work from the privacy and comfort of your home? Do you see others owning their dream business and wonder how you can become a successful business owner too? Do you already own a business, but find it's not generating the volume of business that you had hoped?

ILLUSION AND THE DEATH OF QUALITY

Illusion--the belief that things are different than they really are--may be the biggest of all barriers to organizational success, high productivity, and ever-increasing levels of excellence. They may be the most devastating of all organizational enemies, but they seldom get addressed in a meaningful way. This article discusses how to identify, expose and shred illusions that keep your organization from flourishing.

Coaching Tip - Top 3 Ways Introverts Increase Power by Being True to Their Nature

When we feel positive and confident about our lives we’re like a beaker totally filled with clear fluid. Why would an introvert want to become more like an extrovert when all the power is already within their beaker?

Worry vs. Concern

I believe that concern is worry with action. Worry in and of itself does nothing other than diminish focus. Concern has the potential to release creative solutions to the obstacle that one is facing. I heard a story about an elderly monk who was training a number of younger monks learning to live their dedicated lives of service. One of his pupils came to him and told him that he was so weighted down with all of his worries that he could not perform his tasks. The old, wise monk said, "I have a gift for you. It was given to me by an old and wise monk when I was your age. This gift has allowed me a life of grace, peace, and focus."

Searching for Wholeness and Balance As An Entrepreneur

Balance and Wholeness are two sides of a coin for the living entrepreneurs.

Thinking In and Out of the Box

The current buzz phrase among business and creative types is, "Thinking out of the box." This means that you think in non-orthodox, non-traditional ways that lead you to new and creative conclusions. This is a powerful tool, as far as it goes, because it allows you to use your entire creative mind without limiting yourself to the way things have always been done. However, while you're thinking in the new "out of the box" way, don't forget that there are some pretty great concepts in that old box. Traditional thinking at one time was someone's creative "out of the box" thinking. Because it was successful, that thought became traditional or "in the box."

A Hobby To Stay Sane for Entrepreneurs

Thys van der Merwe in Richards Bay, South Africa, told me how his hobby of taking pictures of wildlife and landscape helps him become a better software programmer, and perhaps a more successful entrepreneur to boot.

Your First Client Is Yourself

Finding new customers is like kissing thousands of frogs. Doing all that kissing is a royal pain in the behind but no entrepreneur can afford to stop doing it.

I Know What the Media Wants

No one knows what the media wants because what they want is constantly changing. Don't take for granted you are some kind of media maven. Remember, you're going to succeed by learning how the media thinks, not by assuming you think they know what they want.

Dorm Room Decorating on a Dime

You are now in college and living in student housing. You have a dorm room of your own and excited to be part of the college life. You look around your empty dorm room and wish you had some fantastic ideas for decorating. After all, it is your new home and you desperately want to add some style to your new scene.

What Your Customers Want

Don't assume all of your customers are trying to grind you down to your last nickel. Some of them will do that...and you're going to have to ask yourself if that is a customer you need to keep. Many customers, many, many more than you can imagine would willingly walk with you to the "World of Oops. " They are looking for freshness, pilot projects, new ways to distribute and create new products and services. Yes - they want to be strategic. Yes - they want it to be measurable. And yes - they are still willing to try something new.

How To Find The Fortune That Lies Hidden In Your Head

How do you begin to change your life for the better? Do you want a greater life, a better job, healthier lifestyle and a more loving relationship? Why is that many people today seem lost, confused and unsure of their life purpose. Could it be that the spark has faded from feeling overworked, under paid and stress is accumulating? What ever happened to your bright ideas? There is more to you than meets the eye, so how do you find this inner fortune that lies hidden when all you feel is confusion. Have you ever seen dust collect on furniture that over time begins to hide the real texture of the fabric? The piece of furniture hasn't changed, just the outer appearance has altered, so too your limiting thoughts can cover your truth and change your outlook on life. If your inner soul stays true then how can you discover the saboteur?

Coaching: 6 Steps to Amazing Success

Coaching is a brain thing. Once you master how to talk with others you can master getting them to take action. This gives you mega tons of power. So, use the following advice carefully; you can use to manipulate or you can use to help others become the best they can be.

The Four Agreements at Work: An Inside Job

In his book The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz distills the essence of Toltec wisdom into four principles for living a life of value: 1. Be impeccable with your word. 2. Don’t take anything personally. 3. Don’t make assumptions. 4. Always do your best. How elegantly simple and, as some might say, a “no brainer!” But simple wisdom isn’t common practice. While most of us believe we are impeccable with our word, we know others who are not. And most likely, others, from time to time, consider us far less than impeccable.

7 “Bees” for Successful Networking

During an economic downturn, while people really want more business, they can also be far more cautious. So what can you see yourself doing today, using the very best techniques that cost you nothing, to survive and even prosper? If you don't have the time to spend 3 minutes reading this, you might find that your prospects or customers feel the same way about you!

Empower Yourself for Success Today

Do you know that you have the power to succeed at everything you do right now, this minute? Are you surprised? Your thoughts control the actions that create your successes or failures. So if your thoughts are the foundation for success, if we spend some time focusing on the type of thoughts that are typically manifested and the ones that create success, you'll have the tools necessary for self-empowerment.

Keys To Success: Four Step Plan To Move From Employee To Business Owner

A lot of people start out as employees and hope that one day they would be able to gain financial success and control of their lives by owning there own business. But unfortunately, they never do. I'm sharing with you in this article success keys that will enable you to transcend from an employee to a successful business owner.

The Art of Book Branding

You wrote your book for others to read. True? You wrote it to offer others enjoyment, excitement, help and/or training. Don’t you owe it to your prospective readers to put the book share the book in a really big way? Don’t you owe it to yourself? To get started I’ve created a short checklist for branding YOU and your book.

Superior Content: Guarantee You Always Have Something More Valuable To Offer Than Your Competition

Content rules when talking about quality and standing out among hundreds of thousands of active websites out there. It is a merciless competition to offer updated, relevant, interesting and practical topics, services or products every week, month and year. Creativity and intelligence play a significant role when you are in charge of providing substance to satisfy demanding clients and visitors in general.

There is No Such Thing as Work Life Balance…

People often complain that their balance is out of whack. When asked to paint a picture of what balance actually looks like, they're often stumped.

Foundations for Marketing Strategy

It is not easy for someone who does not like to understand how marketing works and that this area is quite complex, and each day it is and more, as this depends all businesses, so if you're wanting to start a home based business .. it is necessary to open their eyes and know that we spend some cash hiring someone to do the marketing or we got interested in this area of knowledge. Nobody wants you be an expert in all the tasks, in everything, and it's quite difficult, but we must to know at list the foundation this is necessary because is our business, and nobody will care as much as us for it so that we understand this will be enough information but always if you need something else you know where to find me

Building A Firm Foundation For A Strategic Plan

Executives almost always overlook the fact that a strong organizational foundation must first be laid within the company in order for a strategic plan to be effectively implemented. Otherwise, the process of strategic change is like a skyscraper built over a swamp - it won’t take long to sink under its own weight.

A TIME FOR LEADERSHIP, A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR THE 21st CENTURY

Unfortunately, most businesses leaders are preparing for the years ahead in the same way they prepared for the eighties and nineties, and these formerly successful strategies are destined to fail. In these difficult economic times, new approaches are required to succeed and prosper. Now more than ever, what it is going to take to survive is leadership.

Top 10 Ways to Build Creativity in the Workplace

Without creativity in the workplace, there would be no innovation. Without innovation, there would be no world-changing products, or business-building ideas. But have you ever wondered how to become a more creative company? This article will give you the 10 things a company needs to do in order to build creativity in the workplace...and start building a business legacy.

Step Up to Staff Training – A Simple 4-Step Model

Staff training is important and yet oft forgotten in small and growing businesses - here is a simple 4 step model on how to make sure your staff get the training they need (and you profit from).

Sales Tip – Sales Grow When Fear Drops and Creativity Rules

Salespeople can get a selling edge, even during an economic down turn, by dropping their fear and kicking creativity into action.

The Source of Motivation and Determination

When a person persists at a task, we say that person has determination or motivation. But where does that determination come from? Some would say it comes from dedication, commitment, or sense of duty. But I believe that Core Desires are the sole source of both the determination and the motivation that are critical for success. If you are not pursuing a Core Desire, you won't be very motivated or dedicated. You won't pursue something relentlessly unless it is a Core Desire.

How to Know You’ve Got It

How can you know when you are-or are not-tapping into the Conquering Force in your life? When You Don't Have It When you are not tapping into the Conquering Force, you'll feel as if you're drifting like a stick in a river. Life will take you wherever it wants instead of you controlling where your life goes. You will set goals but never reach them, and you'll feel that life is ruling you. Maybe you'll even decide to accept the status quo, thinking you can't do anything about it. You may believe that you don't have any choices and end up accepting that you'll never achieve what you want in your life.

Discover How to Follow Your Heart

When you become aware of the root of achievement, every door you wish to go through will open wide. It truly is the key to success. Whether you use it to open the door or not is your choice, something you have total control over. Whether you choose to open the door or not depends solely on your heart-set, not your mind-set. A mind-set is a fixed mental attitude formed by experience, education, and tradition. A mind-set is not the reason you succeed. In fact, it is often the reason you fail. The things you have your mind set on are often either expediencies and emergencies or idle reveries, so your prevailing mind-set lacks the power to sustain effort over time toward the kinds of lifetime achievements that bring real fulfillment.

Focus On the Basics for Survival

When a company is facing challenges, the key to survival is a focus on a few key areas. The two most important areas for success are your staff and your performance against pre-determined key performance indicators.

What Great Questions Can You Ask?

Ingenuity and thinking are driven by questions. The better the questions you ask the more insight and ideas you get. Here are just a few of the over 150 questions I like to ask.

How can you think inside the box?

When all of those creativity people are screaming, "You gotta think outside the box" I tell people to start by thinking inside the box. Inside the box means doing something with what you already have.

Home Business Expert: 3 Simple Principles To Build Your Business Faster & Easier

These principles will tell you how you can build your business faster and easier.

Innovating by Breaking the Rules

Innovators are rule breakers. We often see how new entrants to a market break the rules. The low cost airlines did this when they challenged the ways in which the major airlines did business. The new players used e-tickets, did away with allocated seating, bypassed travel agents, flew to new, smaller airports, etc. So, if you want to be innovative, you have to work out how to at least challenge the rules to if they can be effectively broken. How? Read on ... and find out.

Small Business Owners: Where Is the Source for Your Success?

Success for the small business owner in many cases comes from outside resources. Read about how one small business owner has transformed himself through 11 simple words.

THE CONSCIOUS ENTREPREUNER

Millions of entrepreneurs around the world are awakening to the new approach to business... a “conscious” or “spiritual” approach to business! But, here’s the problem, it’s nearly impossible to find books on this topic. Because it’s so new, there isn’t a lot of information available that INTEGRATES consciousness/spirituality and business specifically for entrepreneurs

Is Your Brand ‘APP’-licable?

The evolution of brand engagement is mobile! How can your brand reach your customers 24/7? How can your brand engage your customers beyond their belief? This article exposes the creativity of how some brands are leveraging mobile apps to keep top-of-mind with their customers, enlist them, and engage them in powerful ways.

Ready to Snap Crazy Busy and the Lure of Modern Life

We expect our brains to keep track of more than they can handle and then find ourselves losing and forgetting things — impatient, anxious, worried and plagued by short attention spans. Modern life, for all of its timesaving conveniences, is sapping our creativity, humanity, joy and, occasionally, our sense of humor.

What does it take to lead?

Successful business owners have some key characteristics that set them apart from the crowd.

A Cost You Cannot Afford to Cut

With fuel costs causing another rapid increase in our daily living costs, its odd that one of the first cuts we make is the cost of maintaining good health - physical and emotional.

Just Be Yourself

You find yourself playing different roles according to what you are doing or who you're with. You try to be one type of person at work, another type of person with friends, another person at home, when you're driving a car,or perhaps when you stand up in public to speak. All these hats we wear every day. The big question is when are you really you? What would happen if you allowed the real you to stand up in every situation you faced? There is a person you were born with all the abilities, talents and skills you need to be that person. This article suggests some ways in which you can learn to enjoy just being yourself.

Sales Training – Salespeople Get Uplifted With Jukebox Music!

Salespeople can find comfort in music. Actually, studies prove that listening to music has positive effects from reducing stress to making you smarter. Sellers, put some money in the Jukebox!

WHY AND HOW TO MAKE MAKING CHOICES THAT ARE IN YOUR BEST INTEREST A DAILY OCCURRENCE

The dictionary defines choice as “the act of choosing; selection; the power, right, or liberty to choose; option; an alternative”. We sometimes hear ourselves or others say, “I have no choice,” when really what we mean is “I feel obligated.” There is always a choice. Sometimes one must choose between two unattractive alternatives and often times making the choice that is best for you carries with it repercussions from friends or coworkers, but that isn’t the same as actually having no choice at all. I encourage and challenge you not to confuse hard choices with no choices.

Authentic Capitalism

There is a lot right with business as well as a lot wrong. Lets focus on expanding the good stuff and learning from the rest.

HR Consulting: Taking The Plunge

So you want to be a Human Resource consultant. And why not? You’ve paid your dues in corporate life. You’ve risen to the top of your profession. It’s time for a new challenge. HR consulting is a great career for the right individual—but the wrong profession for many. If you like predictability, the amenities of corporate life, a steady flow of people to your office, and a regular paycheck with benefits—then keep your day job. But if you’re comfortable with ambiguity, you thrive on change and uncertainty, and juggling multiple projects is what gets you out of bed every morning, then consulting may be for you.

Commitment

All or nothing!

Hidden Secrets to Crack the Voicemail Gatekeeper

Voicemail is perhaps the hardest gatekeeper to get past in the SMB market space. Executives play many roles and have little time for sellers. They use voicemail as their screening tool and you need not only a great message, but perseverance and creativity to crack through.

Start them Young to Help them Succeed in the Workplace

Work ethic and leadership skills are best cultivated in early childhood, reinforced through life's experiences and detectable through carefully crafted assessment center exercises. Those too coddled and those without proper role models are likely to suffer adverse impact to workplace success. This article provides analysis and blueprint to both grooming and recognizing future career achievers.

Strategic Thinking Tactics - Time To Be A Visionary Leader

Strategic thinking is an approach or a perspective that any manager needs to adopt while thinking about their business organization into the future. It is an indispensable method to learn how to convert long-terms aspirations and goals into reality.

Real Work at Home Jobs - Are There Any Good Ones Left?

Heres the scary truth about real work at home jobs, they are few and far apart. Yes, you can find them; yes there are many legitimate work at home companies out there, but many of them have hundreds of candidates banging on their door. Its not that scams override real work at home jobs; its that the competition for every single one of these jobs is staggering.

Asia Rise in Global Crisis - Managing post-crisis and Trends to watch

The sub-prime scheme conceived in the 1990s to make homes more affordable was filled with potential pitfalls. Socialistic measures simply could not fit into the capitalistic system. Furthermore, eager homebuyers were fooled by Wall Street sophistication who expounded the false assumption that home prices would keep on rising at an average 8% per year in the United States. Expectations were boosted by easy loans with cheap interest.

Franchise and the Risk of Failure

Failure is definitely a real possibility in franchising no matter how skilled a person is, especially since failure rates for small businesses are rather high, particularly in the United States.

What is Personal Coaching

The coach's job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already possesses. Professional coaches provide an ongoing partnership designed to help clients produce fulfilling results in their personal and professional lives.

Move from Mild Success to Wild Success

Referrals, Repeat and Reactive new business is the revenue base that funds your current company. With that being the case, what is the funding mechanism that fuels your future growth potential?

Eliminate the Negatives

Ever notice that all the folks with negative, small-minded attitudes always hang out together and all the successful, big-minded people hang out together as well? Coincidence? NO! Remove yourself from the negative crowd. Avoid negative people as much as possible.

Changed Your Oil Lately

Is your business purring along like a Ferrari..... or limping along like an old clunker?

Is Your Leadership Characteristics Limiting Your Business Success?

I have worked with stacks of businesses over the years. Often I am asked to name the most important indicator of whether or not a business will succeed or fail – my answer is always “Look at the CEO”. CEO’s and their personal leadership characteristics can make or break a business. A good CEO sets clear direction and boundaries, provides assistance and support to the team and then gets out of the way to let them accomplish what needs to be done. They help unblock roads if needed and provide guideposts along the way – but their management style is such that they do it in a way that creates independence of action rather than dependence.

Work to the Beat!

A while ago I asked you if you preferred to work in your office or at your house. In that posting, I talked about how it is important to understand what works for you. What makes you focus? What makes you want to get up and move? What helps you with creativity? For me, it is frequently music! You see, I grew up in a very music filled family.

Dont Let Stress Run You Out Of Business

Stress is business is a common phenomenon and every entrepreneur must know how to handle it and grow with it.

Protect Your Attitude

An important key to high productivity and effective leadership, not to mention sales and marketing success, is to have and maintain a positive attitude. Nothing else will have a greater effect on you than your attitude. Remember the saying, “Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude”? It’s true.

Can You Read Me?

This article explains how e-mail marketing campaigns can have a seriously positive impact on your business.

Stillness for mastering modern day living

If you are looking for a powerful tool to stay calm and focused under pressure and to increase your creativity then a daily dose of silence and stillness is what you need.

Got Tall Poppy Courage?

To be outstanding in life, you must be willing to stand out. When all you do is try to fit in, you negate the difference your difference makes. Tall Poppy Courage is not about being better than anyone else, just the best possible version of yourself.

How to Pick Article Topics

I’ve already written about why it’s important to write articles, and it seems a lot of you agree because I keep getting emails saying that you want to write articles but don’t know what to write about.

To MBA or not to MBA, is that the Question?

Simon is a very entertaining speaker and touched on an interesting idea... That idea was central to those people who consider that to be a true entrepreneur you need the prerequisite of a selection of qualifications... While I do advocate that you should attain to be an expert in your field, let’s consider the qualifications that you need to be a lifetime member of the ‘University of Life’...

12 Solutions for Being a Better Leader

Manage things and lead people. Processes should be defined and managed daily.

Executive Leadership Strategies For The Imagination Age

Executives, managers and entrepreneurs must use Imagination Age leadership strategies to achieve significant, sustainable, strategic advantages through intelligent, instructive & innovative applications of their leadership power, practices and policies.

How to start a craft business

Turning your hobby into a craft business offers you the opportunity to do what you love to do and make some money in the process.

Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur

What struck me about Stuart Skorman’s book (subtitled, "Why I Can’t Stop Starting Over") is his creative need to start new businesses and his (growing) wisdom about business. Stuart’s better-known accomplishments are launching Reel.com (sold for $100M) and Elephant Pharmacy.

Building Sales Creatively

When you don't feel like you "Have to" make the sale, the sales process is much more enjoyable. When you are confident and relaxed you can be more creative, which makes the sales process more enjoyable for your customer, which makes it easier for them to buy and not be sold.

Money Is Your Servant

Money issues seem to be an ongoing challenge for many of us. We tend to try to control it, as if it were a beast. We put boundaries, rules, limitations, and goals in place to make us feel like we're being "good" and doing it "right."

6 Steps To Ignite Your Money Making

Learn how to increase your income and be savvy with managing money!

How to Creatively Increase Your Sales

You probably think creativity is something those artsy aesthetics types have. You may be surprised to know that creativity is a learned skill.

Three Ways to Reduce Stress and Enlighten Up

When all is said and done, everyone wants the same thing: to be happy. The demands of work and life often make it difficult to reach that ultimate goal. Here are three simple but powerful ways to reduce the stress in your life and enlighten up.

Multitasking is Out, Pinpointed FOCUS is IN!

It has been proven in scientific studies that toggling between tasks slows the brain down. Here are five daily practices to attain pinpointed focus and stop multitasking.

Smart Women Create

Whether you have a book inside of you, a new program you want to create for your business or maybe you have an idea for a new business you want to start, here are 3 solutions that are guaranteed to work every time.

Getting To Your Personal and Professional Best

"Living your best personal and professional life" is a goal means different things to different people. On your journey to "living your best," you have a powerful choice of three levels of commitment and engagement in your personal and professional life.

Recession Proof Your Interior Design or Decorating Business

Maybe you’re one of the many trained interior decorators who have ended up working in retail for a 100% commission. If the economy gets worse and you’re working purely on commission, where does that leave you? Even in good times, if you work for 100% commission you might as well be your own boss and have the freedom to market yourself to new clients rather than being tied to any one store.

The ONLY Way to Wealth-How to FEEL Abundant

Instead of being reactive you can become proactive. It seems simple, doesn't it? When you feel poor, like you're struggling to make money, frustrated that things aren't going as quickly as you like-you create a red light that blocks you wealth. So how do you switch from STOP to GO? Read on...

Whats Your Life Purpose

Many of us find ourselves meandering through life, taking each day as it comes, without specific purpose or direction and then wander why life is so monotonous and dull. If you can relate to this then why not from today take control and start to build the foundations of a challenging, exciting and rewarding life. A life that you deserve…….

CHAMPIONING CREATIVITY: HOW TO GET UNSTUCK & GAIN A HEALTHY PACE

At times you might find yourself bound by mental clutter or overwhelmed with many roles and decisions that need to be made. Clarity, creativity and peace are not as elusive as you might think if you are willing to make time to do a little mind-work and to be accountable to others who are wise. Here are a few proven REALinTouch Coaching tips supported by scientific and biblical wisdom that can help you overcome obstacles or challenges you might face in business or life.

5 Easy Ideas How to Work From Home When School Is Out

It's the last day of school. Buses are lined up to make the last trip from the school for the academic year. Your children are absolutely ecstatic. However, if you are a parent that chooses to work from home, or are considering working from home this summer to eliminate having to pay for child care, you may be a little less than excited.

No More Stagefright = Have Fun Speaking!

Remember, the presentation is not about you. People have come into the room needing to hear the information you have for them. What you need to think about is them and how much they need to hear the information! It helps them and takes your mind off YOU!

Film Production: Copyright

In order to secure meaningful distribution for a film, a producer must be able to prove that he or she owns, or has a license to use, EVERY piece of intellectual property in the film. “Intellectual property” includes many things, such as the right to use the screenplay, the right to use the music in the soundtrack, the right to use the title of the film, the right to use any brand names that appear in the film, ownership of the actors’ performances and many other issues. It is critical that a producer be very conscious and organized with regard to intellectual property.

Ready, Fire, Aim To Improve Your Sales Strategies and Selling Techniques

If you are not talking about sales and revenues 80% of the time, you are not doing your job as an entrepreneur. Sales and growth are the ultimate measurement. You cannot build your company or your business without achieving those goals. Focusing on sales is not bad; it is not evil – it is almost required. Michael Masterson says it very clearly: if you’re not even selling it yet – don’t think about making it better! Think about how to sell more of it. As a perfectionist, I know how it feels to have 10 ideas to make something better even before it’s released to the market, but sometimes you have to realize that it’s the last thing you should be doing. It’s not about making something better, but about selling something, selling a lot more of it, making the sales process better, and then improving it based on what your customers say

Creative Techniques that Make Business Writing Stand Out

When most writers think about marketing materials, press releases, and how-to writing projects, they assume creativity is a waste of time and energy. Why not give it to them straight—right? But business writing doesn’t have to all business. Business writers can borrow several techniques from their creative writing counterparts to make their marketing materials fresh and unique.

Hey Attorneys! Let Your Funky Side Fly!

We all know that attorneys don’t always have the best reputation, dare I say branding, in the market. But I argue that attorneys are some of the most creative people around, so embrace your inner right-brained self and let your funky side fly!

Reinventing Yourself In Sales

Reinventing yourself as a salesperson is serious business. It's not easy and it's also not impossible - that's the good news. Discover the 4-step plan.

8 Things To Be Creative and Generate Twice Profit For Your Business

Creativity is important tool to use to any business

How To Keep & Empower Employees

Smart entrepeneurs have one thing in common: they realize that every night at closing time their best asset walks right out the door. Of course, we are talking about people.

How Magnetic Are Your Goals?

Having a strong vision for your personal and business life is crucial in attaining your goals. But before setting that vision, I’m here to challenge you to first identify your values and then set goals in alignment with those values AND your vision. Goals that honor our values get results!

WOW Them With Your Speech

Entrepreneurs are called upon almost daily to deliver informative, as well as enthusiastic speeches. Learn how even the shyest of entrepreneurs can motivate the troops.

Attract the Business Relationships You Desire

Do you seem to attract business with people who don’t have a clear vision of what they want, or who are negative in their approach? Some examples might be: We need sales, we’ve got to make our numbers this quarter. Or, the market right now is so bad, it’s really affecting our business. Or clients who say, “I’d love to, but I really can’t afford your services.” Let’s stop a minute. Are you attracting people and business that you want, or connecting with what you don’t want? Let’s see how you can enable situations, people and events that bring you the joy, success and the wealth that you deserve.

Buy A Business That You Will Love

It is possible to buy a company that will provide you not only income, but also satisfaction and purpose in life. Here are some of the keys to buying a business that you will love!

How Your Thinking Can Hurt Your Small Business and Your Life

At one time I thought that how I spent my time was the essential ingredient in determining how well I succeeded. That's so true but I now also realize that how I think determines how I spend my time, so I go a bit deeper.

Is Your Creativity Supported or Stifled at Work?

Creative expression should be honored and valued in the workplace.

THOUGHT SHOWERING (BRAINSTORMING)

After having defined the problem, the precise aspect which is making you feel bad, you go to the second stage which is brainstorming. Brain storm is defined as a violent or excited outburst as a result of a sudden mental disturbance so many people consider the term ‘Thought Showering’ to be politically correct. Therefore, this process is an intellectual treatment of a problem by discussing spontaneous ideas about it.

Are You Franchise Material?

To become a franchisee, you need to be a leader with good communication skills. Moreover, you should be a hard-working individual who is open to learning new ideas. Besides, you will also need the required money to become a franchisee.

Why Play Isn’t Just For Children

Do you like to play? Do you even remember the last time you really played? For many of us, we're just too busy in the whirlwind of working, buying, raising a family, traveling, running errands and other busy tasks that adults do. We often see playing as something that only children do. However, if you study the most successful people on the planet, you see that they include a healthy dose of play into their lives. Play acts as a stress release, helps people be creative, learn to work together and much more. Just like children, adults need to play. Find out the benefits of play and how to incorporate more fun into your days.

Cut Energy – Cut Costs

With energy costs rising cutting energy use is one way to save money. Although it may be good for the environment, sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is not.

Intuition As a Sustainable Business Advantage - 8 Ways to Make it Work

Ting! Author Arupa Tesolin talks about the core ways to start developing intuition as a sustainable business and innovation advantage. Our future may depend on starting to develop intuition as a Smart Skill so we can create more innovators.

Are You Maximizing Your Genius?

Most people go to bed thinking about the things they could improve or do better in and very few think about the things that they did well that day. Living your natural genius is all about capitalizing on your strengths and exceptional talents and delegating your areas of weaknesses. Ask yourself: How much more could you accomplish in your business if you were an expert in your strengths and knew how to delegate your weaknesses effectively?

Pose and Smile – You Are On The Apprentice

Be warned – this posting reveals who has been ‘fired’ from the forth episode and the rest of the post is only my observation and opinion based upon 60 minutes of edited TV, nothing more.

Solving ‘Too Many Clients – Not Enough Profit'

Steve Leach teaches us how 20% of clients provide 80% of your profits and how to solve the challenge.

The Best Businesses Opportunities For Entrepreneurs

In this article we will be looking at some of the business sectors that make the best entrepreneur business opportunities.

5 Remarkable Benefits to Having a Business Plan

Have you ever started out on a road trip across town to suddenly realize that you have no idea where you’re going? Running your business without a Business Plan is much like the same. In this article we will look at 5 remarkable benefits to having a Business Plan. How having Direction, Motivation, Creativity, a Cohesive Strategy, and getting Results can help you can create amazing success in your business.

Sorry No More

Do you find yourself saying “I’m sorry” too often at work? Have you noticed a pattern of prefacing feedback or sharing of your ideas with an “I’m sorry, but?” Clients often come to me noticing their overuse of this phrase and the negative impact it has on their professional stature. What place does saying “I’m sorry” have in the workplace?

Doing What's Comfortable vs Doing What's Successful

To become more successful you must learn to step outside your comfort zone. The plan below offers step-by-step guidance for achieving great success by tackling those things that make you squirm.

Tax Cheats Ultimately Cheat Themselves

For many, tax time is an exercise in creativity. How much can I get away with before the Uncle Sam catches on. A few years back we needed a new accountant for our air tour business. One we talked to, a former I.R.S. agent, said to us, ““Some business owners want to sleep well, others want to eat well.” Which are you?””

Where Has All the Originality Gone?

As time goes on, the internet seems to be turning into a large field of "sameness". Fresh, new ideas and concepts are quickly snapped up by competitors who want to ride on the coattails of success of similar companies. These actions of copy cat behavior are not limited only to the internet, but the internet has made it very easy for individuals to take advantage of someone's hard work in order to create a business for themselves. I know a large number of small business owners who spent years perfecting a business, creating a unique company after much planning and research, only to have someone come by and take all they have created and put up their own "shop" sign without any of the hard work.

Five Simple Work at Home Tips

Working at home is both rewarding and challenging at the same time. Running a business out of your home takes dedication, discipline, creativity, and being able to make tough decisions. You need to learn how to treat your business like a business as opposed to just a hobby, or you won’t be able to be as successful as you hope to be. We have five simple tips that will help you see more success on your endeavor in being a home based business owner.

How to Boost Your Bottom Line by Strengthening Your Power Factor

Your Power Factor is a combination of your energy, your bandwidth and your support systems. As entrepreneur's, our greatest asset is our creativity and ambition. But if our Power Factor is being compromised, then your bottom line can take the hit.

Ladies, Are You Hitting An Entrepreneurial Wall?

It doesn’t take much to figure out that something is limiting what you want to happen in your business. However, it may come as a surprise to learn that it just might be your own limiting belief that’s keeping the wall in front of you. Let me clarify that you are not the problem! It’s what you believe that could be to blame.

Creativity is a Powerful Way of Thinking and Being

I often hear people say, "I’m not a creative person!" In truth, as humans each of us is inherently creative by virtue of being part of Nature - the essence of creativity itself. I believe to be creative means to use what comes naturally to you with the responsibility to share that gift with the world. Uncovering your unique gift and learning how to tap into your creative energy are defining steps that allow for the release of ideas and desires that further enhance your ability to create, resulting in the potential of living a fulfilling and meaningful life. Understanding the potential of your unique creativity, and then actively and consciously creating leads to greater success in manifesting the results you want for your life. If we are all naturally creative as human beings, what holds us back?

Lesson #3: “You must get the old furniture of what you know, think, and believe out before anything new can get in”

“The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts into your mind, but how to get old ones out,” Hock once said. “Every mind is a room packed with archaic furniture. You must get the old furniture of what you know, think, and believe out before anything new can get in. Make an empty space in any corner of your mind, and creativity will instantly fill it.”

Reexamine Your Productivity Habits

Can you improve? Make this a productive day!

Is Creativity an airy fairy notion or an absolute requirement for the small businessperson

I admire artists and poets. But I say to you that a peak creative effort is to envision something in business, to say it's going to happen when no-one else can see it, and then make it happen according to your vision. You may not get mentioned in the same breath as Rembrandt or Mozart. Your friends or your spouse may take your creativity for granted. But you can't make a small business work without it. This note is to ask you to examine your own creative force, and give you some tips on calling on it when you need it.

Status Quo is the Bottom Line

In previous newsletters, I've extolled the creativity of the solo-preneur or small-businessperson. But often I hear just the opposite.

Community precedes culture change

The cultural change talk inside organisations is again alive and well. I have observed this happens in tough times and leaders are searching for ways to gain competitive advantage or strategic positioning. Most of the talk never leads anywhere. When good times return it mostly disappears from the boardrooms and corridors of most organisations. If you are or want to be on the leading edge, change must always be top of mind, regardless of situation or circumstance. Change is both evolution and revolution and usually at the same time. In addition to all change being personal first, followed by change in relationships, there are three critical factors we must embrace to ensure that we thrive on the challenges of change. These are community, culture, and creativity.

Writing and sharing what we write is great for business

Do you write your feelings and thoughts down and share them with others? I would highly recommend that you do so frequently. Writing is a valuable action for leaders for five key reasons. Writing can lead us to clarity, content, communication, community, and creativity:

Engage my emotions and I'll follow your lead

Creating engagement and change in people requires the ability to tap into their emotions, rather than presenting facts and figures. This article explains why this is an essential skill for todays leaders and how they can go about it.

Creativity---the Most Crucial Factor for Leadership Success

Executives report that creativity is the number one leadership competency.

Business Killer Mistakes You Cannot Afford

One advantage to thousands of years of history to look at, is there are things that work in business, and things that don't. This is not a history lesson though, it really a look business killer mistakes you don't want to make, and solid principles that will guide you to success in any economy. With the serious threat of recession looming, this is even more important.

Strategic Actions For Learning How To Think Strategically, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach

What is strategic thinking? What does that term mean? My research into definitions brought me to the following thoughts. Strategic thinking is a process that defines the manner in which people think about, assess, view, and create the future for themselves and others. It is more about creating tomorrow than responding to both day-to-day as well as long-term problems, opportunities, and new realities. It is proactive rather than reactive. Fortunately, it also can be applied on any day at any time and is responsive to the new realities and the accelerated rate of change of today and tomorrow’s world. Strategic thinking always involves change, and many times that means profound personal change. Here are nine actions to learn how to think strategically.

Building a Leadership Team - Part 1

Talent is necessary for building a winning leadership team, but talent is not sufficient. You can recruit the very best in every functional area of responsibility in your organization, but unless they work well together, you will fail to create sustainable value. And in a competitive environment, you will lose to teams with far less talent if they work well together but you don’t. There is a tongue in cheek axiom that comes as a corollary to this – “I’d rather be lucky than good.” If you believe in blind luck, go with God and stop reading. If you believe we make our own luck, I’d like to share three principles for creating a great leadership team and some practical insights into each: agreement on the mission, clear communication, and balance. Pat1 = Agreement on the mission.

Broaden your marketing efforts

This is another important concept. If you currently run one radio commercial or use only your business cards to market your business, you’ll have limited the number of customers you can reach.

Balancing SEO and Website Design Creativity

Search engine optimizers and web designers always argue the use of Flash and graphics on website. Can SEO and web design exists at the same time?

Send Your Videos Viral With Effective Seeding

Video marketing stands virtually alone as being one of the more popular of recent marketing trends. Yet, to many, there is little science behind the act. Some webmasters create a video ad or viral video feed, submit it to a few video submission sites, and then hope it proves popular enough to go viral.

The Success Formula, continued. Step 1: Building Your Ideal Future State

Richard’s last article, The Success Formula (Success = Results Delivered x Fulfillment Lived), generated a lot of interest, especially around the suggestion that to achieve true success, it is necessary to “make the abstract components of success tangible and definable.” Many readers asked how to achieve this task. To respond, Richard’s next few articles will address four steps to overcoming the challenges of understanding both variables in the Success Formula. In the present article, he explains how to build a solid “Ideal Future State” – a reliable frame of reference that will act as a powerful beacon, guiding the ongoing decision-making process involved in achieving success.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Franchise

Choosing the right franchising category is of utmost importance. You have to make sure that there’s enough demand for the service/product. Also, try to learn about the level of competition in that category.

Those With the Best Talent Win

In a talent war there’s only one way win. And that is to hire and retain the best talent! Can you imagine a sports coach hiring average talent! As a manager you need to develop a real distaste for average.

Aligning With Your Prosperity

I have been asked numerous times, if there are practices that can be done on a daily basis to increase the flow of prosperity. The answer is absolutely! Now, that said, each one of you is unique. Therefore, I believe, that along the way you personally will find that some practices and guidelines will work better for you than others. For example, some people are more visual while others are more auditory. That is why I often suggest a combination of tools, such as using verbal affirmations, visualizing and bringing in high attractor feelings. Together they are highly effective. Let’s begin with several daily keys that I have found work well for most Law of Attraction students and for those who have been on the path for awhile.

Stuck for an idea?

Truly creative ideas often seem very simple - once somebody has thought of them. But how do you get a truly creative idea? Here are some ways to generate your creativity.

How Leaders Improve Performance

To improve business performance, leaders need to pay attention to both developing their leadership skills and developing the organisation. This article explores how these are inter-related and provides an integral understanding of what affects the performance of an organisation. Questions are provided to help illuminate the readers capability as they explore the 4 quadrants of the leadership and organisational development landscape, together with an excerise to help develop their awareness and skill.

Uncertainty the Unknown As the Doorway To Possibilities

Does uncertainty stir your excitement and positive anticipation or fill you with a sense of dread and foreboding? Learn how to think about uncertainty in a new way.

How To Set Your Business Goals for the Year Ahead

As you begin a new year with a clean slate to design and plan your life and business, do you struggle to get started? Creating a plan for the year ahead doesn’t have to be a challenge when you follow this simple, 20-minute process.

Having The Best Rest Of Your Life

Questions and Actions when life and work are out of balance.

Is the Home Staging Business Right for You

Do you have a talent for decorating? Have you considered home staging as a great home-based business? If you haven't, then check out the information below and you'll be surprised how easy starting and growing your own home staging business can be.

Future Business Success - What Does Good Look Like?

You know things aren't working out right just now, yet you can't put your finger on quite why. You know that your business could be performing better, but it isn't. It's easy to realise when things aren't going to plan and a great first step is to get really descriptive about the future.

Ten Top Ways for Managers to Motivate Their People

Motivating people is a sure way to get the best from them - yet it is not something for a to-do list. Motivation comes from consistent cultural shifts from within. Managers are the ones who can show behaviours which will make the difference and lead to a team of highly motivated individuals developing your business forward.

Lead by Example - 11 Benefits to your Business

Leaders in businesses set the standards and the pace for their people. And sometimes it is surprising how much their people look to them to show the way. So if you are the boss, take it for granted that your behaviours are being seen, and you can use this emphatically to be a model for the character of your business. Read on to find out how...

Management Success - Your Quick and Easy Guide

Ever wondered what was wrong with your business and how you can sort it out. It's great to have a second pair of eyes run over it and tell you what needs to change. Here's a guy who does just that...

How Pablo Picasso Dealt With The Price Objection

Everyone in sales fears hearing the price objection, yet very few salespeople prepare how to deal with it.

Do you mind being beaten on price?

Price is a call to action. It says to us: If you have got the money, you can have it -- do you want it or not? So what’s wrong with ‘We won’t be beaten on price’?

Ten Common Conflict Resolution Mistakes – and How to Avoid Them

Many of us struggle with finding the right approach to handling disputes and disagreements. We don’t always get it right. Sometimes our efforts at dealing with conflict only make matters worse. Whether you’re engaged in a heated debate, a stubborn disagreement, or an outright feud, you’ll need to take a strategic approach to resolving the problem. You’ll be most effective if you avoid making these common mistakes.

Women in Business – Breaking “The Manly Myth”

So often, we women get tripped up by the way men have run our world. This isn’t surprising considering we’ve been taught by men that we must be aggressive and tough “go-getters” to be successful. We’re supposed to prove we can do business as good as a man, but it's time to show the world a woman has her own powerful ways.

Question Your Franchise Decision Making

Deciding on a franchise may be one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. Before rushing right into it out of sheer excitement, please take some time and ask yourself the basics.

Dreams Come True Series I: Passion Ignites Your Higher Purpose

Many of us had inspiring dreams as we were growing up. Often we abandoned these precious dreams, leaving them sadly behind. Some of us are living those dreams, yet still desire to accomplish special goals that express our unique talents. As years go by, we know that our skills can be used for benefiting others, and for creating a world filled with art, beauty, love, inspiration, passion and compassion.

Delivering Difficult Messages at Work

Whether the information needs to be shared with an individual, a group or an entire organization, these instances can truly become an opportunity for all parties involved. Opportunity arises when the outcome of the interaction leads to greater awareness, learning, motivation, support and creativity as well as a call to action. In this article you will learn how to deliver difficult messages while at work.

Bouncing Back from "Bad" Feedback

Feedback is someone's perception of you, it is not you. You get to evaluate its accuracy and meaningfulness. What you do with the feedback is up to you. You can evaluate it, act on it or ignore it. If it comes from a supervisor or employer, you may be required to make changes, but you can choose how to approach it.

Time Off - A Sound Business Investment

To have a successful business you must be smart. That is not stating the obvious because you have to be smart with regards to your personal effectiveness. Put simply you need to take the time off to recharge your self employed batteries!!!

How to Build Your Own Business

Every day, millions of Americans think about the “American Dream” and roll their eyes in disdain. Where is this American dream, and why don’t I have a piece of that glorious pie? You may have an Ivy League education, or you may be a high school dropout. Either way, the path to true, independent success, is dependent upon the same things...

Power of Stories - How Great Companies Win Customers & Ignite Performance - In Less Than 5 Minutes

"Story-telling" is one of the most under-utilized strategic "weapons" in business. Great companies know that stories can wow customers, ignite employees and make them the envy of their competitors. Read this article and find out why and stories are so powerful in leadership, marketing and customer service. A "must read" for any business that wants to stand out from the crowd!

Life Transitions

End of a relationship Loss of a loved one Being downsized An empty nest Career change Generalized angst Not living your passion

6 Step Formula to Creating Your Own Coaching Sales Copy

Creating copy for your website, blog and marketing materials does not need to be hard! Even a 12 year old can do it! These six steps can take you from "clueless" to a writing/copy machine. Don't wait - get started now!

Get Your Creative Juices Flowing When You\'re Up Against a Wall

Every writer experiences writer's block from time to time. However, writers aren't the only creative professionals that encounter mental blocks. Graphic designers, artists, and chefs also suffer from creative mental blocks occasionally. The good news is that you don't have to lose an entire day's work due to a pesky creativity block. By implementing the tips below, you'll be able to tear down the dam and allow your creative juices to flow freely...

How to Increase Innovation & Creativity

We all want to increase the levels of innovation in our organisations – don’t we? Well, it won't just happen. you have to make it happen. Here are some simple tips.

Ideas and Innovation-The Engine and the Fuel of Entrepreneurship

Ideas and innovation are essential building blocks for a successful entrepreneurial or business start-up. Ideas are the engins and innovation the fuel. Capture seven ways you and your organization can encourage more and better ideas and innovation.

How to Increase Your Creativity and Innovation - 10 Creativity Observations

In this article, I want to share with you how you can increase your innovation, enhance your creativity and tap into brand new ideas where you are the originator.

Live the Question

We have a culture of impatience and a need for answers and complete certainty. If we aren't satisfied with the response we get when we ask the question, we tend to seek out other experts to provide us with an answer which is more acceptable. Why are we so uncomfortable with just staying with the question? Often, living the question has more value than rushing to answers.

The Power of Creativity

Yes you are creative. Check out these ideas and discover how easy it is to add more creativity to your life.

4.3 Informal labour markets: Working Out of Poverty

A strategy for improving governance

Expressing Your Creativity

You are not creative you say! Of course you are. HAve you ever cooked a meal or written a story, or told a big fat lie for taht matter. We are all creators in our own way. Find out how expressing your own creativity contributes to peace, harmony and good health.

Making Time for Your Creative Self

"I'm not creative." "I don't have a creative bone in my body." "As creative as you are, that's how uncreative I am." These are all real comments from real people who don't believe they're creative.

Creative Conflict

One of the biggest challenges in a formal education is the struggle between creativity and conformity. Classroom educational experiences, by design, breed conformity. We are all taught to write, think, and process information the same way. While it is good to learn basic skills, conformity kills creativity.

Getting Outside Your Box

We are all familiar with the overused phrase, "thinking outside the box." This article discusses ways we can break out of our constraints in order to get more out of life.

Writing Your Own Script

How does your imagination create your life? How do you make important decisions?

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