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Gaining and Maintaining Healthy and Rewarding Relationships
Gaining and maintaining high integrity, healthy relationships and lasting friendships is a key to achieving a more balanced, bountiful and beneficial life. You will always become like the people you hang out with! Read on to discover some of the things you can do to build stellar relationships and friendships.
My 3 (+7) Traits of great Relationships
Relationships are life's greatest treasure. They are at the core of everything we are and do. Relationships can bring us much suffering and also much happiness. The choice is mainly ours. And to avoid suffering there are some special traits that we can develop and nourish.
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!
Good Peer Realtions Enable Leadership Transitions
Despite rigorous selection criteria and intense training, Michael, an employee reporting to you, is not working out. His attitude and personal habits are fine, but you have invested heavily in his development but have come to the realization he will be better off as an individual contributor rather than a leader.

The Systems View
Systems are all around us. We can view most common occurrences with a "systems" perspective. Here is a cute story to illustrate how systems operate.

3 Ways Women build great partnerships
There is something to be said for the way great friendships are formed, especially between women. The unique way women communicate and build relationships create the potential for strong business and lucrative partnerships when three simple guidelines are followed.
Your Circle of Influence: What is their impact on your life?
As human beings, our lives are shaped and influenced by a myriad of factors, and relationships is at the top of the list. Think about how much of "who you are today" was influenced by a specific parent, sibling, relative, teacher, coach, neighbor, author, speaker, boss, co-worker, spouse or friend. Values, habits, behavior, knowledge, skills, passions, hobbies, tastes and attitudes are typically learned through association with others. Yet, as influential as relationships are, most people haven't consciously chosen their greatest "circle of influence".
The Dance of Control
How many things in your life do you attempt to control? Schedules. Time. Relationships. Children. Money. Business transactions. Performance. People's opinions and beliefs about you. Your emotions. Others emotions. Your thoughts. Creating more fulfillment. Clutter. Reducing stress. Outcomes. Your health. Your environment. Your future. Some may argue about the value and necessity of control. If we aren't exerting our influence on others, taking decisive action and managing our time - wouldn't that lead to disaster? What would happen if you let go of control? Or loosened the grips of control?
HAI Principles
HAI - Human Awareness Institute - If you are intrigued with the idea of opening your heart more fully, moving past fears around intimacy, healing core relationships, getting beyond issues of body image or packaging, becoming more comfortable with both men and women, and/or would like to learn how to "love" people without necessarily "liking" their behavior, I highly recommend their program.
The 5 Love Languages
People express and receive love in different ways. Dr. Gary Chapman identifies these as the five languages of love.

"I Just Want to Explain" - Explaining as a Form of Control
What happens when you try to explain yourself to someone who is attacking and blaming? Does it EVER work? Discover how else to communicate.
Develop Alliances
The development of alliance can be one of the most successful ventures a company can make.
Creating Healthy Work Environments
We want security and we want it everywhere. As a nation, we’re focused on national security. We schlep to work everyday for financial security. Once we get there we work hard to prove ourselves hoping for job security. We have lifestyles we want to secure and we look for it in our relationships. We secure our buildings, our computers, our accounts and our valuables. But we never seem to notice that the security people feel inside is often the least secure thing of all. Instead we install more alarms, add to our nest eggs and write new laws to protect our assets, our futures and our loved ones, when what we really need to do to make better, healthier companies is exert as much energy securing ourselves internally as we do our external environments and circumstances.
The Art of Networking
Is networking an important part of your marketing plan? If not, it should be.
Good Public Relations is More Than A Good News Release
People too often believe that public relations is only for a mass audience. Not so. Good public relations starts with one-on-one relationships.
Passion First, Profits Second!
Time to wake up and realize that we have to develop trust and relationships if we are to be successful. Long term profit demands that you are genuine and passionate with your community.
What Have You Done To Earn A Place In My Inbox!
Email management has become a trap. It saps time and energy. It is effective as a delivery system, but it is used more as a free sales channel. Is it possible that senders of this "stuff" think they're the only ones sending information? What is their calculation that they'll end up in the junk folder? This is a commentary of my successful ability to build relationships using email and not abusing my contact's trust. Enjoy, and as always, your comments are invited. -mc
Down with Networking!
Networking is probably one of the toughest and most important aspects of the job search..not to mention our careers and overall professional development. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most hated, misunderstood and, consequently, poorly practiced areas in our careers, too, which is probably why many of us dread networking altogether. Still, like it or not, we simply must do it. It’s too difficult to land a job, an internship, or a new client today without networking.
Ready Or Not - Time Will Tell?
Network marketing is all about building relationships of trust followed by timing. People will follow someone they trust when they are ready to be led. Timing is the key.
Self Awareness and Interpersonal Competence
It is important to understand how to build solid relationships by taking the initiative, sharing information about yourself and being emotionally supportive. Also, it is important to share your feelings about behavior to which you have a negative reaction in order to resolve conflict positively. However, understanding yourself and how you are similar to, or different from others, is the foundation of interpersonal competence.
Trust: Walking the Talk
If attracting and keeping talented and qualified employees is a goal, how your organization exhibits trust and trustworthy behavior is critical. As a team core value, trust in self, team members, leaders and the organization is difficult to acquire, and if abused, harder to salvage. Learn what behaviors build trust and what behaviors predictably damage trust and all important relationships.
The Black Hole of the Workplace
How many times have you heard, “that meeting was a waste of my time”? To understand the dynamics of meetings, read on. It’s more than Roberts Rules, way more!! It’s about the relationships in the room and how we all struggle and want to be a part of the group, the ‘in crowd’ as we used to say. Maybe we still say that!! And it’s about how we learned to manage relationships and where we learned this. Explore how you feel about meetings and your role in creating meetings of collaboration and trust.
How to Succeed as a Recruiter
How to utilize Relationships and Timing to Grow your Business. This Article also speaks to individuals who are in search of a position and need coaching and guidance.

Self-Coaching Tip: Partner With Your Emotions
Did you know that emotions prioritize your thinking? For example, when I am depressed, my thoughts tend to focus on what I don’t have: enough energy, creativity, love, etc.

Balancing possessions and life harmony
There are no quick fixes in the World. It just does not work out that way. Unless we, that is us Human Beings, are ‘fixed’ we will be unable to fix anything else. I interpret being ‘fixed’ as being in harmony with ourselves, having some balance between the various aspects of our lives and with other sentient beings.

Complete not perfect
If we are not content within ourselves then nothing, repeat nothing, will make us happy. Winning the lottery will certainly give us pleasure – we will be able to satisfy our desires, but it will not bring us happiness. Pleasures are superficial and all external – such as buying new clothes, food, alcohol, drugs and engaging in extreme sports. They need to be repeated because desires can never be satisfied. Happiness comes from inner peace with a contented and tranquil mind and an understanding of who we are, which includes our ethics, morals values and virtues. This understanding allows an acceptance of what we perceive to be our current ‘drivers’ for whatever actions, thoughts or behaviour patterns that make up our lives.

Dont attack Life It is a process
Attacking Life as in a campaign is not a good idea. Accept that Life is a process from birth to death (and paying taxes!!). Learn to live with the ups and the downs. Anything else will be stressful and cause problems. This will not bring life harmony.

E + V + V + M = L
Ethics + Virtues + Values + Morals = Life (and well-being). Why? There seems to be some confusion about the terms Ethics, Values, Virtues and Morals. Certainly Ethics and Morals are used indiscriminately and are considered interchangeable as are Virtues and Values. Yet they each have a name and therefore a purpose.

Find your true nature and live harmoniously
Working from a firm base is essential, and this is not just a good business plan, or excellent marketing, or fantastic products, or exponential sale growth. It is about you!!

Inspiration for troubled times
In troubled times we all need some inspiration to lift us out of the hole we may find ourselves in and give us hope for the future. Words of inspiration shine a light in the dark corners of our mind and dissipate the fearsome shapes and shadows our imaginings have created.

Measure yourself as a manager Go for gold
Going for gold; what does it mean and what is your ‘gold’? You can never achieve anything lasting that is not in your nature. You cannot achieve anything that you have not a natural inclination for, with of course the appropriate mental and physical attributes. A gold medal is nothing without self worth – think of the Olympic athletes, or Tour de France cyclists who cheated, who took performance enhancing drugs, to achieve gold. Gold at any cost is not worth it. Such an attitude demeans the perpetrators and will not allow them to grow as human beings to reach their full natural potential – high, low or indifferent.

Part 3 - Relationships and service
It is absolutely essential for any manager to communicate with and to understand what motivates each individual staff member. This brings relationships to the fore as the most important factor for any manager in any business. We are not just caged canaries or a selection of laboratory rats. We are thinking, feeling human beings, trying to be just that – human beings - not just human doers. We live to express ourselves creatively and to grow and develop each in our own unique way.

Worklife harmony are you on the treadmill
Measure, harmony balance.. Simple to say but what does it mean? To achieve and maintain it is difficult today. How will lack of it affect you?
Is lack of commitment sabotaging your ability to attract clients?
Is there an area of your life where commitment makes you feel uneasy, perhaps even relationships with clients? Connecting with prospective and current clients is one thing. Commitment to them is another. Find out what may be lurking behind your potential lack of commitment issues, to help you rejuvenate and solidify your relationships with clients.
When Someone Rejects You, Who Are They Rejecting?
Discover the huge difference between being rejected for your wounded self or for your core Self, and begin to learn to manage rejection.
Intent and Impact
Intent and impact live in relationships everywhere we look. What I want to talk about in this entry is that they also live in relationship to each other and can not exist alone.
5 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Association's Membership
In many cases, education can be provided without a community setting. You have no control where members get their education, but you can control the dynamics of the community they belong to.
Success Comes When You Are Sold on You - the 3 Step Formula
Have you ever heard yourself say, “I hate sales” or “I am not very good at sales”? Are we not all in sales? Besides any product, what we are selling is ourselves: our personality, our skills and our knowledge. This article provides you with a simple 3-step formula you can apply, to increase your success... on the business and home fronts.
Who a“R”e Your Friends?
Most people don’t have problems making friends. The challenge we all have is finding friends that aren’t detrimental to our dreams and desires. We offer friendship to many people but may soon find the association isn’t healthy for our future or us.
Setting Boundaries
Good boundaries can help you strengthen your relationships with yourself and others and are essential to your wellbeing.
How much ACTION are you REALLY willing to take?
How happy are you with your life? Are you tired, wish you had a better job, relationship, more energy, a fitter body or improved relationships with friends and family? Do you want to feel more relaxed, happy and successful?

NLP isn't only for creating change & modeling excellence... often its for tolerance!
This article discusses how NLP & Life Coaching can be taken too far, into the realm of the "ALWAYS HAVE TO HELP PEOPLE IMPROVE NO MATTER WHAT" mindset -- which tends to poison relationships and make people feel inadequate all the time. Since for most people, family and friends are and will remain amongst our most important treasures, this article suggests ways of balancing a desire to help others with tolerance and acceptance.
YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE-Warren Buffet Business Principle # 10
Of all the business principles that are promulgated over at Berkshire Hathaway, this one can have the greatest appeal and application for business entrepreneurs, large and small corporation contemplating a public offering as well as the start up company developing its business principles. Business Principle # 10 invokes the golden rule of business and the bottom line that giving business value can be done in varying relationships to getting business value for exchanges and sales, stock offerings, stock options and public offerings.
Anchor Your Networking with Strong Relationships
Use strategic associations to keep your business afloat during economic storms.

The Drama of Assumptions
We all do it - without thinking. It’s one of the most dangerous things you can do in relationships - make assumptions. Assumptions can break up relationships, devastate your health, destroy your finances and wreak havoc in your life. Find out how you can break the cycle now to immediately improve every relationshipin your life.
In The Right
One of the things that deep down most of like is the experience of being right, in the right and in full contrast to being in the wrong.
What is More Important for Your Internet Based Business Building Lists or Relationships?
Anyone who has been involved in an internet based business for any length of time will have heard the statement “the money is in the list”. While this is true there is also another statement that one hears repeatedly and that is “the importance of automating your business”.
Networking and Joint Ventures-Why to Ignore Your Competition
Too many coaches, healers and consultants get caught up comparing themselves to everyone else and worrying about their "competition". In this article, I'll explain why that is a waste of time and outline a better approach to making connections and building your business authentically.
Managing Conflict Made Easier
The most difficult aspect of work is when employees don't get along. I decided to go over, under and around all the traditional issues that plague most workplace relationships.
Creating a Successful Internet Marketing Funnel
Content is king when it comes to the net. You can’t overestimate it. Once that most important element is in place, there are various ways to package and deliver your content. To be effective, you need to develop a consistent, cohesive message and offer relevant content, but you also have to build relationships. Once you have a comprehensive approach in place - now is the time to add the silver bullet and separate yourself from your competitors.

Build More Profitable Business Relationships
How can you build more profitable business relationships with your clients and prospects? Follow these examples. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results.

Build your network faster with smarter questions
Networking can be a waste of time or it can be very profitable. What determines the difference? You - and how you approach the science of networking. To build a more profitable network you need to understand and master the power of questioning. Networking without good questioning is doomed to failure.

Do you make your clients feel safe?
Do you make your clients feel safe? If your clients don't feel safe - they won't buy from you. And they won't tell you why. It's not enough to be safe. You must make them feel safe. When they don't feel safe fear kicks into gear. Fear is the biggest obstacle to buying.

Convicted Civility vs. Interpersonal Rancor
What does interpersonal rancor do to relationships, productivity and customer relations within your company? This article outlines a hopeful alternative to interpersonal rancor, convicted civility. Read on the understand the concept and alternative and how to begin integrating it into your company culture and operating norms.
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?
Key’s to Success – Relationships
In order to become successful in our life we should be open and willing to examine how we treat others and especially the people who are closest to us in our lives.
Earn Your Way
Throughout my life like many others, I have been blessed with some things and some people. On the other hand I have had to work very hard for something and some relationships in my life.

Why Social Networking Your Way Won't Build Your Business
In an era dominated by ever-expanding technology and social media pressures, always remember that personal connections, referrals, and earning trust count most...
Is a Fear of Phoning Killing Relationships?
It is surprising to note how many people have a fear of calling someone to avoid embarrassment. Too often, it is especially ESL (English as a Second Language) learners who really shy away from calling when they should. This article is about a lost opportunity due to such a situation.

Great Referrals Aren't Accidents
Make networking part of your relationship-building strategy, and you'll see real results.

The Best Questions to ASK Customers, Employees, Coworkers and Kids!
One of the most important communication skills to master is asking questions. Without a doubt, it is the most effective way to build relationships, improve your ability to close sales, and uncover the wants, needs, opinions, ideas, problems, and concerns of others. Most important, it demonstrates that you genuinely care about people and helps to create a bond.

18 STRATEGIES TO AVOID CHANGE
Change is not simple. Why do we repeat behavior that doesn't work? Especially those actions that lead to stifling debt, disappointing careers, or stuck relationships? Then do it harder, yet expect a different result? This article presents the major barriers to change, and in the process, their solutions.
10 Tips To Make Your Networking More Rewarding
Good relationships are essential to any career. It doesn’t matter if you have your own business or work for someone else that network is critical. Lawyers, solo professionals freelancers, and sales professionals must constantly network and generate new business. Your network will be invaluable when you want to find a new job.
5 Ways to Manage Employees with Success
Are you, as an entrepreneur out of touch with your employees? Did you ever note that they come first, even before customers? You can only keep customers if you manage your employees with the right tools. Research on human development shows that throwing money at people is not enough. Here are some universal rules to guide you to being an outstanding employer.
Product Floggers Inflict Pain on Customers
Companies that continue to push products and services at people rather than engage them in a conversation about their needs, wants and desires may think they are adding value. The reality is that this approach turns people off and they exite seeking a relationship-building organization...

Getting Angry Doesn’t Benefit Anyone
Everybody gets angry sometimes. Most people are not “likable” when they are upset, because anger is a strong and defensive emotion, one that is defined as a “an aroused state toward someone or something perceived to be the source of an aversive event.” When we sense that someone else is angry this immediately creates uneasy feelings, since we do not wish to be the source of that agitation.

Lean, Green Sales with the S.H.A.R.P. Sales TrainingTM System - Part II
The acronym S.H.A.R.P. provides a comprehensive and definitive starting point for developing both organizational and personal goals. The philosophy is customer-centric with a goal to increase customer loyalty. S = Strategize, Solve, Support, Serve H = Honesty, Humor, Humility, Help A = Assess, Alleviate, Accountable, Achieve R = Relationships, Respect, Respond, Results P = Prepare, Prioritize, Perform, Produce

Align Sales & Marketing with Lead Nurturing
Lead nurturing is all about having consistent and meaningful communication with viable prospects regardless of their timing to buy. It's not calling up every few months to find out if a prospect is 'ready to buy yet?' Lead nurturing is about building solid relationships with the right people. Read our Lead Nurturing Guide to learn how to qualify, score, and nurture leads that aren't quite ready to be handed off to sales.

NDAs Reduce Business Development Risk
Business Development is an equally exciting and risky endeavor. Protect your organization by executing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to establishing relationships with unfamiliar vendors, potential partners, prospects, or investors. Use Demand Metric’s downloadable Non-Disclosure Agreement template as a starting point when drafting your various NDA documents.
Am I in a Healthy Relationship?
Are you wondering if you are in a healthy relationship or even what constitutes a healthy relationship for you?
How to Build It Before You Need It, Every Day
“Build it before you need it.” That was one of the most important operating principles in Never Eat Alone – the idea that building your network and deepening relationships shouldn’t – in fact, CAN’T – be a machine that you fire up when you suddenly need a new job. Putting time and energy into relationship building should be a lifestyle constant.
The Challenge of Accepting Our Helplessness Over Others
What do you do when you feel helpless over another's choices? What is the result? Are you happy with how you manage this feeling?
Career Advice: Less Computer, More Face Time
The importance of meeting with people face-to-face in order to develop and nurture strong relationships
When Offers for Career Help Don’t Pan Out
Understanding that some offers of help do not always happen as you might expect
Why Your Job Search May Be Taking Forever
Important strategies to implement to improve your job search results
You’re Not An Employee – You’re a Guest
Viewing your employment as a guest to your employer
How Can I Help?
This article presents a different way to look at your customers and all people in your life. By asking the question "How Can I Help?", you invite new opportunities to serve the greater good in business and otherwise.
3 Tips for Healthy Change at Work
The only constant at work is change. So why do we spend so much energy clinging to doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. Below you will find 3 tips for healthy change in the workplace.
Women and Relationships
Historical and psychological study of women and relationships
YOUR TURN DUDES
Suggestions to men regarding pleasing their women and the secret to making them happy.
From Basics to Mastery
Mastery of all the basics does not occur overnight. But with practice it comes very quickly - just like learning to ride a bicycle. Once you experience how it's 'supposed to work', how energy efficiency is 'supposed to feel', it's easier and easier to reestablish in a variety of circumstances. That's where mastery is achieved. That's where you and everyone in your business benefit from your mastery

Manufacturing Loyal Employees: Is it Possible?
How do you create loyal, motivated employees if you can't make them stand and cheer? I have observed many firms attempt to create loyalty and an inspiration for hard work amongst their staff. One financial planning firm has actually gone to the extreme in attempting to create a staff of loyal, committed staff people. But what has transpired, instead, is more of an episode of The Office than a truly inspired workforce. The reason: loyalty is not something you can force upon people or manufacture; it is earned through the relationships you establish with your employees.

How to Identify Your Personality, Strengths & Weaknesses in 15 Seconds and Make It Work For You
Learning how to analyze the different personalities you associate with everyday will help you connect with others and build a deeper, more meaningful and profitable relationship...
The ABCs of Raising Kid “Connectors”: Five Lessons in Connecting That Will Set Your Kids Up for Success Now and in the Future
There is a very important skill that your kids probably aren’t being taught in school. In fact, it’s probably not even on your Parenting 101 radar. That skill is the ability to truly connect with others. It's a skill you must address, and one that will play a huge role in a child’s long-term success in life.
Computing Success: How Dell Came Out On Top
To become a success, Dell says, “You just need a framework and a dream.”

Lesson #3: Question Convention
“The most important aspect of my personality, as far as determining my success goes, has been my questioning conventional wisdom, doubting the experts and questioning authority,” says Ellison. “While that can be very painful in relationships with your parents and teachers, it's enormously useful in life.”
The Message Man From Mississippi: Fred Smith is Born
“I think the American Dream is freedom,” says Fred Smith. “It's the ability to do what you want to do. It's the freedom to succeed; it's the freedom to fail. And the freedom to live your lifestyle the way you want to live it…Very few people in the history of the world have ever had that enormous opportunity.”
Lesson #1: Psych Yourself Up Not Out
“I was raised with the notion that you can do pretty much anything you want,” says Omidyar. “I always kind of just went ahead and tried things.”
Lesson #4: The ‘Golden Rule’ Is Your Golden Ticket To Success
There are some who would argue that there is no such thing as ‘business ethics’. Sharp is not one of those people. In outlining the credo with which he wanted to run his company, Sharp declared that the ‘Golden Rule’ was going to be one of the cornerstones of the corporate culture that he was trying to create. “We aimed to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves,” says Sharp. “Enforcing our credo was the hardest part, and senior managers who couldn’t or wouldn’t live by it were weeded out within a few years.” It was a painful process, says Sharp, but one that had to be done.

Lesson #4: Tailor Your Product For The Time
“I think Batman has been out now four times, but I think they’ve lost sight of the fact that the first movie came up over ten years ago,” says McFarlane. “And the one thing that they’ve lost sight of is that we are all ten years older. So the audience that brought you in $300 million in that first movie, even if we were 12, we’re now 22. We’re now out of high school, we now have jobs, we now go to college, we’ve now been through three different relationships, we pay taxes, we know what the words ‘cancer’ and ‘death’ mean, so the world is a different place.”

Fast Food Fury: How DeLuca Created a Franchising Phenomenon
“What's happening to us is beyond whatever I imagined,” says DeLuca, looking back on his career. “If you told me 30 years ago that one day I'd be sitting in a Subway store in Russia, I'd have said you were crazy.” DeLuca went from being just another kid in Brooklyn to being at the top of an international fast food phenomenon. How did he do it?

Copying Success: How Orfalea Turned Paper into Power
“Keep your nose in the window long enough, and they are going to let you in.” That is Orfalea’s advice to up and coming entrepreneurs; he got in and he has not looked back since. But how did his hyperactive dyslexic who flunked two grades in school turn his condition into a recipe for success?

Lesson #5: “It's who you are as an organization that makes everything possible.”
If it is who you are as an organization that makes everything possible, then it is who you are as a leader that makes the organization what it is. Wrigley Jr.’s organization was a strong one because he was an even stronger leader. It was several of his key personal characteristics that made the organization reach the heights it did under his leadership.

Brett Wilson Quotes
Brett Wilson Quotes
Twitter for Business Building and Lead Generation (or as I prefer to call it, relationship building) - Part 1 of 2, Follow and Be Followed
In response to requests from readers on how to use Twitter to market their businesses, large and small, a few thoughts on the matter, over the course of two articles. The first will be how to build and manage your following/followers lists. The second will be how to interact with that group to build the relationships that will benefit you and your business by focusing on what your followers are interested in.
Are You Caring or Caretaking?
Do you sometimes give to another and then wonder why your giving is so unappreciated? Discover how much your intent affects the interaction.
"I Want to Love But I Can't Give Up Control"
Are there fears in the way of keeping your heart open to loving? You CAN learn how to feel safe enough to open your heart and share your love.
Saying Thank You
Tami L. Conner, one of my senior trainers at Ferrazzi Greenlight who recently presented a course at ASTD called "Building Deeper Relationships" wanted to share this with you....
Instant Intimacy
Whether your goal is to sell more widgets or make more friends, you'll be more successful the quicker you can connect with people. And of course, the more intimate the connection, the better. So let's discuss how you can capitalize on the many brief interactions at your next conference or social gathering.
Eleven Sales Success Secrets
Use these ideas to increase your sales productivity:
Inspirational Email
I'd like to share an inspiring email I received from Zameer, whom I recently met....
Follow-Up or Fall on Your Face
Guerrilla marketing preaches to the skies the importance of customer follow-up and prospect follow-up if you have even the vaguest notion of succeeding in business. Why do most businesses lose customers? Poor service? Nope. Poor quality? Nope. Well, then why? Apathy after the sale. Most businesses lose customers by ignoring them to death. A numbing 68% of all business lost in America is lost due to apathy after the sale.

You Cant Get There Alone
It's About Results!
From Tupperware to Bookkeeping
On a flight to Florida this week I sat next to an incredible woman who runs a conservancy for primates - chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, etc. -- who told me the most amazing story about her mother, a story that would have been in Never Eat Alone's chapter 4, "Build it before you need it," if I had heard it sooner.

Moments with an Artist
I really do feel that the world conspires to bring you amazing things if you are open to them.
A good father
From leadership expert Jim Citrin's new column at Yahoo! Finance... "Just about everything we do in both our personal and professional lives is dependent on other people. And how you interact with those people has a direct effect. Even such seemingly "non-relationship" things as learning from a teacher in school or getting a ticket from a police officer are directly affected by your relationship skills."
About time we heard what the aging population can DO together
Seems like everyone's always talking about the market opportunities emerging because of America's aging population. It's about time someone stopped talking about their buying power and more about their DOING power!

When women leave the workplace
Many women who leave the workplace to raise children become isolated and depressed. As you might have read in my article in Reader's Digest, my friend Jennifer is different. She realized that having a community, preserving her relationships, and making new friends was going to be as important to her happiness at home as it was to her success at work. And she is rocking!

Decide What You Want
In order to get what you want, you must first decide what you want. Most people really foul up at this crucial first step because they simply can’t see how it’s possible to get what they want — so they don’t even let themselves want it.

Create Your Own Referral Sales Force
Joining referral networks like BNI or local chamber groups can be a great way to help you network and generate referrals. The most powerful way to use this strategy, however, is to grow your own.
Caution to the winds?
Yes, let’s throw caution to the winds and throw out our old habits with it. I just listened for the first time to my introduction to the Vancouver Dreaming Room recently past, and was I surprised!
Surface chats at B-school
Dawn Morrow, an MBA candidate at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, wrote this to me after I spoke there recently. Great observations about the surface chats that happen at B-school and everywhere else.

Investing Yourself
One of the most fascinating stories I’ve ever heard comes out of Holland. The citizens in the little village of Ida in Holland were astonished when Hans Bergen died because he left an estate of $40,000 to a young girl named Anne Martin. She, of all people, was the most surprised villager of all, for she had never spoken to Hans Bergen. How could such a thing happen to her?
A lesson from fanmail
I get all types of messages from people who've read and enjoyed NEVER EAT ALONE.
We need more Antonio Lucios in this world
Antonio Lucio, PepsiCo's Senior Vice President of Insights and Innovation, sent me this brief list of beliefs after reading Never Eat Alone.

Managing Difficult People
One of the biggest challenges candidates face on The Apprentice is managing difficult teammates. Even the most talented of project managers often struggles when he or she has to lead individuals who are disliked or disruptive. It drains energy from the rest of the group and it can make the work environment a divisive one.
The Less I Do, the More I Make
The trap of the small business owner is, that in many cases, to grow a business to some level of success means putting your head down and working real hard doing the making it, fixing it, shipping it of the business.
No Fear of Referrals
People are often worried about being put in an uncomfortable situation in which someone they just met is asking them for a business referral -- particularly if their new acquaintance is a salesman asking for a referral to one of their friends who could be a potential client.

Gossip
We frequently hear little jokes about gossip, like the two people who were talking and one said, "I can't tell you any more. I've already told you more than I heard." In that line is much of the tragedy about gossip, which can and often has destroyed a person's reputation. Gossip always damages relationships and specifically with the person you are gossiping about. For example, once you have said something unkind about a person, you will feel uncomfortable around him or her and your relationship will suffer.

Q&A: Dealing with an anti-NeverEatAlone workplace
A great question from a Never Eat Alone reader:
The Power of Integrity
The definition of integrity has two parts, both equally important.
Q&A - Problem with a mentor
Here's a tough situation a NeverEatAlone reader is having with his mentor (and that's the first problem -- only having 1 mentor!). My quick two cents follows. Also check out Chapter 29 in Never Eat Alone, "Find Mentors, Find Mentees, Repeat."
Tip of the week - Great recruiting takes great relationships
When people are considering new job opportunities, I always tell them "Make sure you consider who you'll be working with, who will be mentoring you, and who you can get access to because of this job. Usually that's more important than the money or even the work you'll be doing because it's the PEOPLE that will make the biggest impact in your career and your life."

Lighten Up / Tighten Up
As I was writing my previous post about The Constipation of Scale I got an email from a co-investor talking about a CEO / CTO conflict. It had an interesting phrase in it that I realized applies to many CEO / CTO relationships – “CEO needs to lighten up and CTO needs to tighten up.”

The Person Responsible for Your Success
It's time to meet the person who has been responsible for the life you live right now.

Build Your Foundation
My biggest issue has always been my lack of focus, so one of my New Year's resolutions is to step back in so many places, particularly my businesses, to assure I have the solid footing and grounding I need.

What To Do When You Feel Insecure
All great people have some level of insecurity that drives us to be successful.
Get Strong by Getting Vulnerable
Recently I wrote about how trusted advisors can - should, must! - be on hand if you want to achieve your wildest dreams. But how do you take friends and relationships that may have so far been superficial - "my work's great, just great, but more importantly, how's that new skinny latte?" - and turn them into true compatriots who will not just support you but help you course-correct when you need it?

How to Stay Energized in Your Job Search
Several people have written me recently asking the same question: How do I stay energized and keep my confidence up while I'm looking for work? I know it can be hard, but try to focus on the idea that a period out of work is an opportunity - a time to home in on what's important, both personally and in your career journey. To help you (or someone you know) with that, I've put together some relationship-centric tips to help job hunters stay proactive.

Make Change Stick with the Dial Up/Dial Down Game
At my company we have an exercise we call "Dial Up/Dial Down." We use it to push each other to constantly develop our strengths and improve on our weaknesses. We introduce it to clients too. You can use in your own office, in your family, with a buddy, or in any kind of group that cares about each other's success. You can do it alone, of course, but it's not nearly as effective when there's no one to hold you accountable.
Relationships Matter – A Lot
It blows my mind how many people think they can treat entrepreneurs and other investors poorly and think that it won’t come around to negatively impact them some time in the future.
Creative Recruiting and Other Social Media Ideas
Who else has been following the Murphy-Goode Winery contest? Today they’re announcing the winner of their six-month “Wine Country Lifestyle Correspondent” dream job. The campaign is a terrific example of how social media marketing can generate tremendous buzz, brand loyalty, and publicity – and even some controversy. (Let me know on the blog if you’re a fan of the campaign – or the wine.)
Don’t Just Spend Time; Take Time
There’s always something to do, right? Somewhere to be. Someone to meet. Commitments to fulfill. We all have our reasons, but the one thing we need to ask ourselves is this: is this really taking me toward my idea of success?
What a Pole Vaulter Can Teach You About Professional Networking
Here’s an insight about building intimacy that I shared on yesterday’s Relationship Masters Academy coaching call.
Thought dedication. You decide what to think, and how to react.
What is the importance of attitude? Every person, you included, wants to achieve more, earn more, find happiness, be successful, and be fulfilled. At the root of all these elements is attitude. Positive attitude. Your positive attitude.
Challenge or Opportunity: How to Communicate for Optimum Outcomes
Constructive communication doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. It also rubs off on the people around you. When you can see each obstacle as an opportunity and focus on identifying and delivering the best solution, you build a habit of win-win for everyone.
What’s channel stuffing and why is it problematic?
How much do you actually sell? How profitable are your sales? How accurately can you forecast your sales results? How many ‘returns’ do you receive? How often do you need to discount? How often are you left with old stock? What are your sales cycles? Are your sales people rewarded on volume only or on margin, account growth, account retention, and customer satisfaction? The answers to these and other key questions will tell you just how effective a sales force is functioning, how they measure their effectiveness, how they think about their business, their customers, their careers, and how likely they are to deliver profitable, sustainable sales results.
The ONE Major Cause of Relationship Problems!
What if you could discover the ONE major cause of your relationship problems and it was something that you could do something about? Would you do it?
How's Your Communication?
In order to be as successful as you want to be, you must have greatcommunication skills.
The Horrors of HR - Part One: Hiring, Teasing, Checking In
Can your employees' work environment become "too friendly - too comfortable"? If so, how do you address this issue? Betsey has some advice.
The 6 Perceptual Styles, What We Value and How We See the World: The Activity Style
In the first of a series of articles detailing the 6 innate Perceptual Styles of the Vega Role Facilities Theory, the authors detail the style known as Activity: an active, inquisitive person for whom life is a constantly shifting panorama of opportunities and connections.
Become One Of Those People - Go For the Gusto!
How are you doing at life? Do you ever notice that some people just seem to have life figured out?

Stop Being So Defensive!
If this article’s headline caught your eye - yes, it was meant to be provocative and somewhat ironic. Check out the full article below for tips on how to be less defensive and more powerful in your personal and professional communication.

The 6 Perceptual Styles, What We Value and How We See the World: The Flow Person
In the third of a series of articles detailing the 6 innate Perceptual Styles of the Vega Role Facilities Theory, the authors detail the style known as Flow: a person who perceives a world of unity and relationships, who trusts in the flow of experience and believes what is important and necessary will naturally emerge in life.
Why Don't "They" See Things the Way I Do? How Perceptual Style Theory Helps Us Understand Social Differences
What accounts for the extreme differences in the way that different people view the same things? According to Lynda-Ross Vega and Gary Jordan, PhD., it’s the 6 different Perceptual Styles innate to different human beings that determine the ways we see the world and what our values are.
Top Ten Ways to Market Your Business By Doing What You Love To Do
Most business owners get so involved in the work of the business that there never seems to be enough time to do the necessary marketing. Even when business is good the owner must continue marketing because if he/she stops, the business eventually will stop too. Marketing your business simply means to nurture good relationships with your customers and potential customers so that they will buy from you again or they will refer you to others. Think about the kinds of things you enjoy doing and then use those activities in your marketing efforts. It is a great way to leverage your time.

The 6 Perceptual Styles, What We Value and How We See the World: The Adjustment Style
In the second of a series of articles detailing the 6 innate Perceptual Styles of the Perceptual Style Theory, the authors detail the style known as Adjustments: a keen and thoughtful observer of the world for whom life offers a complexity that can only be known by gathering knowledge and the understanding that comes with it.

The 6 Perceptual Styles, What We Value and How We See the World: The Goals Style
In the fourth of a series of articles detailing the 6 innate Perceptual Styles of the Perceptual Style Theory, the authors detail the style known as Goals: a person who perceives the world as a series of tasks that must be completed at all costs, who thrives on challenges and opportunities posed by life’s immediate problems.
7 Relationship Building Strategies for your Business
Building a relationship requires time, effort and personal investment of a non-monetary kind as well. There are some tried and tested strategies to relationship building that go a long way in cementing said relationships that translate into a lot of positives for both, the business and the client.
How Facility Managers Can Influence Employees, Vendors & Contractors and Improve Performance
Learn how to influence without authority... positively impact the morale of your employees or tenants of the facility and have a positive impact on your vendors, subcontractors and others who provide services to your facility.

Speaking Your Truth When it's Hard
How often to you withhold your truth from someone important to you because you are afraid of their anger? Discover what caring about yourself looks like in this situation.
The 6 Perceptual Styles, What We Value and How We See the World: The Methods Style
In the fifth of a series of articles detailing the 6 innate Perceptual Styles of the Perceptual Style Theory, the authors detail the style known as Methods: a person who sees the world in a rational, matter-of-fact manner, who excels at breaking complex tasks down into a simple, ordered sequence that inevitably achieves his/her goals.
Examples of Good Positive Affirmations
Sometimes it may be difficult to create your first affirmation. If you do not know what an affirmation is or how to use them, feel free to read my other articles on the topic. Here are some good examples to get you started:
How to Influence without Positional Authority and Improve Employee Morale Using 3 Simple Strategies
If you want to achieve anything meaningful in your organization... motivate others to higher levels of performance and also impact positively not only the morale of your employees, but also the morale of your peers...

Utilizing The Power Of Strategic Business Partnerships
In tough economic times businesses need to effectively utilize their marketing dollars. Using strategic business partnerships can save you hundreds of dollars a year, and help you find new customers in new places. These relationships can be created in a short time and can span years or just for a single event.

Leading from Authenticity is a Beautiful Thing
The past holds us back when we use the same tools and skills that got us to where we are. If we keep doing what we have been doing, even though relationships and events may change, we get the same results with an only slightly new picture, still encased in the old frame.
Smart Women Practice Quality Not Quantity
This article is about realizing that quality time is much better than the quantity of time we spend in all areas of our lives. Give yourself permission to schedule quality time and really “be” with your family and in your business rather than being there physically but not present. In this case, more is not always better. I find scheduling this “special” time with my family and in my business makes a big difference in the quality of my relationships.

Needs vs. Neediness
Have you wondered about the difference between legitimate needs and neediness?
The 6 Perceptual Styles, What We Value and How We See the World: The Vision Style
In the final installment of a series of articles detailing the 6 innate Perceptual Styles of the Perceptual Style Theory, the authors detail the style known as Vision: a person who sees the world as a place of infinite possibilities, who excels in using improvised communications to persuade and convince others of the same.

How To change Your Life To Create Success
Are you sick of your life, yourself, your job, your nagging boss. Do you feel unloved and you're living day by day without any direction? It's time to change your life and all it takes is a decision to do so. Don't rely on anyone else to do this for you, it's not up to anyone else and you must make the commitment from deep within your soul and be honest with yourself and truthful with yourself. change takes time and it's hard work but the fulfillment you will experience is worth it. Lets go...
Building Relationship Capital - Sustainable Sales Success
The most recent global recession has reminded businesses all over the world of some simple truths: - Customers have more choice than ever. - Customers will not continue to work with people they do not trust. - Customers can not be easily won back when they are lost (if at all). And yet, many sales organizations are still hiring people with the wrong skillset, and even worse, the wrong mindset! So, what factors are the most important in winning and retaining new business in the 21st Century?
Relationships and the N-Word
I’m feeling a bit sorry for Dr. Laura Schlessinger right now as I gaze at the wreckage left behind after an indulgent and misguided five minutes of spraying the N-Word across the airwaves.
Do People Enjoy You?
Article of 996 words explaining the techniques to use in order to ensure you are creating a positive, memorable experience for others when they are with you
Unsurpassed Existing Mortgage Rates- Key points on Understanding How to Get the Best Current Mortgage Rates
Don't be an uninformed Canadian who simply takes whatever mortgage rate is offered. At the very least, make sure you have contracted a broker or financial service that has your best interest at heart. You want to also make sure that broker has the expertise and relationships in place to get you the best current mortgage rates possible as soon as possible. Depending what kind of mortgage you get, fixed or variable, can affect your bottom line significantly during your typically one to five year mortgage term. So ask questions and don't be shy. It's not a crime if you don't understand the mortgage industry. That is why there are experts in the mortgage field or in any other field for that matter. Let qualified, reputable professionals get you best deal for your cash.
Hey Where Did My Favorite Employee Go?
If you have loyal customers than thank your employees. It is the relationships that we build with them that keeps us coming back. Remember that, the next time a favorite employee gets ready to move on and leave your company. We customers will wonder where they've gone, we'll wonder why they are not there, and with no explanation a piece of our emotional connection to your company will go with them.

Relationships:
Are you in a relationship where you believe that you are open and your partner is closed? Read on!
Relationships and Communication: Sender vs. Receiver
In relationships and communication, who’s more responsible for avoiding misinterpretation, the person speaking or the person listening? The answer depends on which of the 6 innate Perceptual Styles describe the person speaking-and which one describes the person being spoken to.

Can This Networking Group Help Me Build My Business?
So many of my clients tell me they go to a networking meeting or two but give up because nothing happens. My response is usually that you must give the group a fair trial. Building relationships takes time so you will need to attend a few meetings of one organization to see any progress. That said however some organizations may just be wrong for you and the sooner you decide that the less time you will waste and the faster you can move on to a group that will work for you. Here are some questions to ask yourself in order to evaluate the group.

Can’t Get the Meetings You Want? 10 Tips to Give Your Admin
When you take on a new administrative assistant, you train them to use your computer and phone system. To understand the intricacies of your schedule. To handle paperwork. But do you train them to help you manage your relationships?
Book Review: A Master Class in Gremlin Taming: The Absolutely Indispensable Next Step for Freeing Yourself from the Monster of the Mind
Rick Carson’s Taming your Gremlin is a classic book of self-development, written over 25 years ago. It has helped hundreds of thousands quiet negative voices in their heads that hold them back. Although Rick has revised the original work, his Master Class goes deeper with new techniques for freeing yourself from the “Monster of the Mind”. Rather than focusing on what’s going on in our heads, the Master Class is more focused on being genuine with ourselves and responsible in our relationships. His writing couldn’t be more clear, his techniques more elegant, practical and effective for achieving intimacy with yourself and others in your life. Time and time he reminds us to focus our awareness and being aware of our breath. So let’s take this one breath at a time.
Build Rapport and Build Great Relationships
All of us rely on our ability to communicate effectively with our colleagues and clients. To be the best you can be you need to discover the magic of rapport.
5 Tips for Introducing Yourself at Your Networking Meeting
Before you say, "Hello my name is..." read these tips to make a better impact at your next networking meeting. Networking is a process. It is a sequence of events and touch points with your contacts.
7 Steps to Effective Communication that Gets Results
Communication is everything in business and in all of our relationships. In order to enjoy an agreeable business and personal discussion, the communication level has to be excellent. Review these seven steps to effective communication so you can achieve the results you want.
The Art of Relationships within Organisations
Building relatinships with the [right] people in organisations is vital to success. Leadership and friendship do indeed go hand in hand.

What Customers Really Want & Why Finding the RIGHT Copywriter Matters
Putting your marketing message in the wrong hands can be hazardous to the health of your business. Take precautions to ensure that your copywriting is being handled by the right person for the job.
Are You Connecting With Your Customers With Consistent Communication They Can Relate To?
Because copy is one of the key elements of your marketing materials, it’s important to keep up with what’s working and what’s not.
Fear of Anger - Yours and Others
Does your own and others' anger terrify you? Discover how to move beyond your fear of anger.
Why the Relationship is So Important to the Sales Outcome
Many people have written extensively on the topic of relationships and selling. One common topic is that people only buy from people they like and the other is how to develop strong relationships. There is nothing wrong with either of those topics but they surely miss the mark in two important areas.
Anger Rising
Anger is a feeling that is or has been a challenge for most of us to accept and express in healthy ways. Collectively, we receive a multitude of messages about anger being ‘bad’ or ‘negative’ or ‘wrong’.
Trade Show Selling
Trade shows provide a unique but different type of opportunity to sell your products and services. Here are some tips to help you maximize your time and effectivness.
A New Wave In Network Marketing Techniques
With the advent of the internet the old methods of marketing in the network marketing world has been replaced with automation. You still need to build relationships so that has changed but social media is the new method. Attraction marketing is still the key and building trust with the prospect is still the cornerstone to building a big business.
How a Low Cost Lead Generation Program Jump-Started My Business
I knew that online marketing was an effective method to expand my network beyond what traditional or old school methods could accomplish. I researched a few low cost lead generation programs, and I managed to find an effective one through a referral. Through this program, I learned the value of attraction marketing. Within a few days, I learned so many ways on how to market myself, from content/article marketing, social media, blogging and video marketing.

PR for the Promotional DIY'ers!
Promotional DIY'ers Need Help Too!
The Seventh Commandment of Leadership-Self Management and Relationship Power
The most difficult person that you will manage in your leadership career is you. That is a very hard statement to get your hands around and grasp but managing yourself is a very challenging task. Without good self-management, the delicate balance between leader and follower is jeopardized. You can loose credibility. You can damage relationships. You can completely become irrelevant. First, a little background on self management. Self management is half of the science of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence tells us that eighty percent of our reactions, responses and projections are driven by emotion and not by logic or processed thought.
Does a Network Marketing Home Based Business Work?
There are a few main points to consider here: Follow-through, relationships, systems, and serving others. The opportunity you choose will of course will play its part, but it is not the main player that will contribute to making network marketing work.

Self-Coaching Tip: Measure Your Self-Coaching Abilities
Most people measure their success by externals: their job, income, number of cars, size of their home, etc. There is nothing wrong with this. In fact, in this country, it is encouraged.

Management Development - About Experiencing the Sharp End
As managers, it's easy to get busy doing the managing, quite understandably. Yet there's a lot to be gained from taking a little time where the real work gets done, where you team members are active - at the sharp end, where the action is.
The Honeymoon Hangover - why the ideal hire can fail
We often find the ideal candidate and think that he or she will take us where we need to go. Unfortunately the reality of team dynamics can mean the positive, focussed "new" team can start off well - then all of a sudden the team falters and begins to fail. I call this predictable process the honeymoon hangover. In this article I relate how it happened to a client and what we did (three easy steps) to resolve the issues that almost destroyed the team.

6th of the Top 10 Kurlan Sales Management Functions
This is the 6th in my series of the 10 Kurlan Sales Management Functions. #6 - LEADERSHIP Sales Leadership includes but is not limited to:
Four Recommended Social Media Sites and Social Media Strategy For Internet Marketers
What are the top four recommended social media sites and what is the best strategy for using web 2.0 for Internet marketers?
Six Ways to Increase Your Social Media Marketing Traffic Starting Yesterday
Every article you will find about using social media making to promote your product, business or opportunity successfully will always include the importance of traffic generation. This means getting lots of people to your door. Lots and lots of people, yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Five Simple Steps to Network Marketing Success That Are Essential to Your Business Plan
If you've just recently started a network marketing business or perhaps you're an old hand looking for a little bit of guidance here's my quick list of five simple steps to network marketing success. Apply these steps as part of your business plan and you will begin to see results in a matter of weeks.
Utilize Social Bookmarking And Create More Online Income
Are you a member of the best online business available today? Many people feel that they are, but they have a hard time getting their point across to potential business partners.
The Plain Honest Truth About Social Networking For Socially Challenged Entrepreneurs
Conversation is natural, for some at least, and social networking should be just as natural but it seems as though we've lost the art of conversation somehow.
Culture and Communication
Selling and servicing across cultures is more common now than it has ever been. And as more and more of us come across international sales opportunities I thought it would be worth while looking at some of the challenges we may come across when trying to communicate effectively cross culturally in sales or other business areas. In many of the articles I have written I advocate for open, honest, trust based relationships. And I still do, however being a direct, no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is person that is what I value most. Therefore, by contrast, I can often find indirect, seemingly non-committal, indecisive communication a real chore. ‘Just get to the point’ I hear myself say. Or ‘are you just saying “yes” to just be nice or do you really want to go ahead?” Aaggh.

Be Consistent & Keep Your Customers Happy
One of the things that frustrate me the most as a customer is inconsistent service standards, inconsistent procedures and people’s inability to deal effectively and honourably with different types of people. If left unchecked this leads to confusion, frustration, wasted time, wasted effort, impaired brands and reputations, lost revenue and lost customers. These issues don’t seem to be as much of an issue when you deal with very small companies because usually everyone knows what everyone else is doing and how it should be done even if it is only via word of mouth. However as businesses expand and get on board more people to work in the front line you, as the customer can’t always expect to get the same person to deal with then the challenges begin.
Start Bidding Farewell to Excuses
Even the best of intentions will prevent us from achieving goals, achieving success, eliminate procrastination, and much more, because we often weave excuses into the framework of our daily lives. Well, the time has come to learn to alter our behaviors and take control of our lives. Take a peek inside to learn how.

Four Key Areas To Master In Internet Marketing
What should beginning Internet marketers focus on when they first start out. What should they do and not do? It is so easy to be overwhelmed when getting started. Learn one area at a time and then go to the next while continuing with what you've learned.
Time to Retire Retirement?
Ten-years from now 80% of the native born American workforce will be over 50! When these workers start to retire there will not be nearly enough young people in the workforce to take their place.
How to Grow Your Following of Ideal Clients and Readers
Imagine having a following of people anticipating the release of your book, awaiting your next seminar, or planning on working with you in the future. And imagine these people are your ideal clients, having self-selected themselves to receive your marketing messages. These are the people you write for, the people you want to build relationships with, and the people who your information can help.
LinkedIn Marketing Debate - Should You Think of Your LinkedIn Profile as a Resume
As a small business owner or a business development executive, you have to start thinking of your profile as a marketing tool... here are six distinct reasons why your profile should not look like a resume.

THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP BANK
Relationships with customers are based on a series of interactions and you must strive to make each interaction with that customer, exceed that customer's expectations.
When, if ever, is it time to quit building a relationship with a potential referral source?
I was recently asked this question on Twitter. It's a very interesting question. Referrals come from people with whom you have built relationships over a period of time. In some cases the relationships may take years to develop. So how do you know when to focus your efforts elsewhere?
CONNECTING IS NOT ENOUGH: Busting the Myth
This article originally appeared in The National Networker It’s time to shatter a few illusions now. I’m sorry but networking groups do not produce referrals. That may disappoint a few people who have spent a lot of time and money joining groups in the hope of generating new business. Hours spent at breakfast meetings, lunches and chatting over canapés when you could have been watching The Apprentice…..all wasted.
A Life of Choice
The empowerment of a life with choice
Discovering A Leader's Defining Moment
Defining transitions are the greatest opportunities to live life doing what you are meant to do. Unfortunately for most of us, it takes a boulder to get our attention to move on and follow our destiny. The boulder usually is a loss of some kind or someone. Even though a relationship or event may not be a pleasant one, we know what to expect from it. What lies ahead during change is uncertain and scarier than the present experience. But when our thoughts are focusing on what's making us unhappy we actually attract more unhappiness. It is hard to believe that we would attract what we don't want, but our thoughts are energy in motion attracting more of the same.

The essential meaning of trackbacks
As a professional blogging company based in the UK, we felt obliged to start a mini-series identifying important aspects of the blogging structure. With millions of bloggers already online and many more set to blog, there are plenty of methods available to help everyone share and promote their content.

Sneaking Up On Commitment
Forever can be a long time. For many of us the idea of committing to something forever can be very intimidating and bring us a lot of fear in recognition of our past failures. This was certainly the case when my wife and I first met. One of my fondest early recollections of Ann was during a workshop on Prosperity Money when we first met. One of our assignments was to list 100 things we wanted to do, be or have. Ann was sharing with one of the participants in the hallway prior to our workshop. I overheard her say that on her list were two items: a committed relationship and a romantic relationship. As a way to enter into the conversation I asked her why those were 2 separate items. Wasn't it possible to have a committed and a romantic relationship as one?
Procrastination - The Symptom not the Cause
Procrastination is one of those buzz phrases that people use often, sometimes with a negative connotation, other times with a shrug and a laugh like it’s just the way it is and they are powerless to change it. Procrastination, itself, is never the issue though. It’s just the symptom. So, I always help my clients figure out what’s underneath the procrastinating behavior. This is where the real opportunity for change exists. Here are some of the main causes of procrastination along with some steps you can take to eliminate the behavior – if you choose!

Get Your Article Written Today To Build Your List of Raving Fans
Writing articles is one of the top 5 marketing tools I used when I first started my business 10 years ago and it’s one I continue to use today. Why do I love it so much? It’s free, I can leverage the information and use it in several places, it allows me to give something of value to my readers and I build relationships. When I say “article” many of my clients freak out. Here’s what I mean – 500-800 words (that’s a page to a page and a half) on a topic related to your products or services. Once you do a few, you can crank one out in an hour or less. Here’s four tips to help you become a successful article marketer.
What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Now, let’s clarify what I mean by “love.” That little four letter word has tons of different meanings in the English language. For the purpose of today’s article, let’s go with “affectionate concern for the well-being of others” and “strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything.” If you want to be successful, you have to genuinely care about others. When I was a teen, I read the famous 1936 book by Dale Carnegie -“How to Win Friends and Influence People.” When you’re a teen, you REALLY want to win friends. It resonated with me and I immediately began to implement the principles he outlined.

The Philosophy of Fear and Confrontation
Is there now, or has there been, a person or two in your life that you have difficulty in maintaining a civil relationship with at times? It may be your spouse or lover; it may be a friend or a superior at work. We usually say "I have a love-hate relationship with this person."
8 Ways to Make More Money by Writing and Publishing
Writing for print and online publication can generate new business leads, drive traffic to your site, build relationships with your clients and prospects, and attract an audience. If you need to grow your business, consider the following ways to get your byline out there.
What are the benefits of a CRM system in your business? Part 2
Sales reps often represent the "face" of your company. In order for them to do their part in driving outstanding sales results, they should be empowered to put their best foot forward when representing their company. To do this, a Sales Automation or CRM needs to be in tune with their needs. Putting their best foot forward is going to mean many things. Further to this I would like to add that a CRM should also be in tune with your customers needs helping them have the best experience they can have with you.
Manifesting – One Day at a Time
Create for yourself the life you desire. Manifestation is the ability to make the unseen, visible.
'Tis the Season for Holiday Networking - And Here's Your Guide
Today’s tip is a holiday resource guide – links to my favorite content on the web (some mine, some from other great experts) to help you get primed and ready to navigate this time of year. No month is as rich with opportunities and permission to deepen the relationships around you – hope these links help you take advantage of it.

C-level Selling Tip 7 – Leveraging Your Golden Network
Leverage your golden network - those that like you, work with you and those who have bought and benefited from you - to find a wealth of high quality leads and beat out competition.
Who Do You Think You Are?
The more you understand your authentic vision for yourself, the more successful you will be and the more effortless it will feel. Ask yourself these 10 questions to get started crafting your perfect vision.

6 Most Common Car Insurance Misconceptions
Most people take advice from their families, friends, and coworkers on everything from relationships to finances. Unfortunately, with every good bit of advice, there is usually a few bad tips thrown into the mix. This is why it is important to get the facts, instead of becoming a believer of one or more of these six common car insurance misconceptions: 1. Many people believe that if they allow a friend or family member drive their vehicle, that he or she will be held responsible for any damages that may occur if they get into an accident. However, this is not the case. Even if another individual is driving a car, the owner of the vehicle is responsible for any damages that occur. This means that the owner of the car will have to go through their insurance company to have the car fixed, which may increase their monthly premiums. 2. W
Are you ready for Sustainable Selling?
With the green agenda comes Sustainable Selling. More and more questions are being asked by many about how we can best manage this relationship now and for future generations? I recently attended and spoke at the 6th CIPS Australasia Annual Conference (peak industry body for the Procurement Profession) where Sustainability was well and truly on the agenda.
Business Intelligence Gives Retailers Insight Into The Future
Wouldn't it be grand if retailers could have a way to predict the future of their business? Well, many retailers are doing just that.
Using Social Media to Build Your Brand
This article is about the different types of social media and how to easily and effectively use them to promote your product or service.
Sales Coaching – The Free Consultation is Dead as a Sales Prospecting Introduction
If you’re a professional service provider one of the things you’ve been told you should do to get clients is offer a free consultation, review, or session of some sort. Once upon a time when this was a new idea it was very effective. It no longer works...
How to use articles to promote your business
Have you ever longed for people to knock on your door wanting to do business with you? Um – doesn’t often happen does it? Actually that’s not quite true. There is a way to get people knocking at your door, but it doesn’t just happen by itself. You need to influence this. And how you do that is to build relationships with people so that they perceive you as an expert and know, like and trust your approach.

Six Keys to Achieving Success
I feel there are certain things you can do to help propel you forward in achieving your life's desires. None of them are particularly earth shattering. You have probably heard of all of them. But do you use them? Listed below are some things that have helped me over the years:

Top 10 Qualifying Fact Finding Questions That Will Earn You the Sale for Consultative Selling
Qualifying fact finding questions are directly connected to your industry, your products, your services and most importantly your customers. In consultative selling, I find that asking these 10 insightful qualifying questions early in the selling phase of the sales process saves me time.

Why Do Kids Sell Better Than Adults?
How come as a kid you could sell your parents on almost anything? Now you are having trouble selling potential customers (a.k.a. prospects) on your products and services even though you know they need them. So what gives?
Is your website offering a wet and limp handshake?
Don't make the mistake of creating a website that is purely designed to lead people through a preconceived process. Having a process is essential, but not before your customers have 'buy-in'. To extract customer information before there is an established relationships or some form of emotive connection is only going to put people off. Sure, the internet is vast source of information and contains unlimited realms off opportunity. But don't abuse it simply because can or just because others are - you're better than that!
What Parenting Can Teach Us About Marketing
Build a relationship with your prospects first, or expect "rebellion" when you try to get them to listen to you or buy your product or service.
Does article marketing really work?
Many individuals spend their time on several different mediums for their online marketing efforts and one of these is article marketing. It’s really common to hear friends ask – so does article marketing really work? Does it bring in the leads? Should I put in effort to create these articles? And my answer to that is always a definite YES…
Team Effort
Because many sales people are hired for their independent skills, some of them have no interest in the concept of team selling. But little do these people know that a team effort can help sustain relationships, especially with customers who are willing to commit themselves to one supplier, in exchange for a team of experts ready to meet their needs. By having a selling team, you can bring high ticket sales into the organization. If you are considering the team selling approach, you can begin by following these guidelines:
Are You a Lazy Networker?
Why did you decide to join online social networking sites? If you do not have an answer to that question why are you even bothering? Is your information online up to date? If not why not?
Incorporating Outsource Staff into the Routine of your Office
Incorporating Outsource Staff into the Routine of your Office Business owners who grow their businesses with outsource staff (including freelancers, consultants, and virtual assistants) enjoy many benefits to this arrangement but face one critical challenge: Businesses run better when everyone gets along and collaborates with good rapport. So, how do you build that among virtual staff when they are separated by many miles?

4 Tips for Managing a Mid-Life Career Change
From personal experience I have found that there are only two types of people who change careers in mid life: those who want to and those who have to. And it seems that the “have to” group is in the majority these days. With this in mind, here are four-tips for people who "have to" change their career.
Smart Women and The Way Things Are
This article is about how having a positive perception on life can truly make the difference between success and survival. Your life unfolds according to how you feel about the future. It offers 3 easy to follow tips that you can use right away to change or enhance your views.

Software developers can start earning from Palm Pre apps in September
This week, Palm announced the latest phase of its strategy to take on Apple’s iPhone and Research in Motion’s Blackberry by offering a range of innovative applications for users to purchase for the Palm Pre. According to the company, software developers will be able to begin charging customers for downloading their applications from an ecommerce beta program in September. The move follows last month’s release of the Mojo Software Development Kit, which was viewed as a step forward in Palm’s efforts to strengthen relationships with developers.

'Why it pays to reward your customers'
Over the last 10 years, I have learned many lessons managing my own companies and consulting to my clients and by far the single most vital lesson is ensuring that customers stay happy. In this article I share my thoughts about this essential topic.

Shame is the Secret Saboteur of Success
Shame is the painful belief that a person is defective by their very existence, and is the secret weapon of sabotage against personal success. Essentially, shamed is a response that results from our parents and teachers helping us learn how to be a part of society, which we very early on tend to absorb into our energy bodies at a core level. Over time, people affected by shame make compromised decisions from a diminished view of themselves which affects their productivity, relationships and overall life wealth.

Extroverts excel at working from home, research says
Working from home or in a freelance career is an attractive prospect for many employees – but is this arrangement suited for everyone? An article in Business Week explores the personality traits that successful home-based workers typically possess.

How to Select Innovative Supplier Partners Using a 5-Step Project Management Approach
Using the right supplier selection tools can play a critical role in building value-based relationships...
Profitable Online Business Ideas and the Recession; Building Relationships
In the online internet based industry it is very easy to forget that we are still in the people business. People by the millions from all over the world want to create their own profitable online business. They all have fears and concerns. Which system do I choose? Which MLM is more reputable? The list goes on and on. But the biggest fear or concern that they all have in common is; the need to be associated with caring and honest people.

Smart Women Plan Ahead
This article is about being more aware of how we spend our time. It’s essential that you schedule time for the things you love most and want in your life. Otherwise, life happens and time is wasted on those things which do not hold a high value for you.

Succeed With Social Media
The key to success with social media–and I’ve built my business on it since 1995–is to interact with others the way you’d like to be interacted with. Call it the Golden Rule of Cyberspace–it’s not so different from the Golden Rule of every major religion.
Ten Rules for Great PR in the 21st Century
Ten Rule for Great PR in the 21st Century
How hiring a PR firm can produce business for franchises
Just as you, as a franchise professional, know how to set people up with their own business, public relations professionals know how to drive customers to your business. PR professionals know how to gain publicity, utilize social media, plan campaigns and much more and if you have the financial ability to do so, you should let them do it. No sense in using all of your time to try to write and distribute a press release when a PR firm could do that in a much better fashion. Here I discuss why I believe it is beneficial to people in the franchise industry to hire a PR firm if they have the financial ability to do so.
How to Blog Your Way to a Successful Home Business
Andrea Scott, a home business expert, explains how to effectively use a blog to build a successful home business. She provides valuable blog promotion tips that lead to a profitable online business.
How To Guarantee Success In A Internet Marketing Opportunity! ~3 SIMPLE STEPS
How do you guarantee your success in a Internet marketing opportunity? Plenty of failing marketers are still looking for that answer. Well that's exactly what I am going to share with you in this article. Enjoy this article by Omari Taylor and learn exactly how to guarantee your success in a Internet marketing opportunity.

Unlock Your Potential By Using Energy
Your potential is all that is possible for you, and, unfortunately, many people don't know how to tap into it effectively to live their most amazing life. We are generally trained to use our intellect, reasoning and linear mind rather than tapping into, following and optimizing the power of our energetic body.

Keys for Success and Wealth (part 5) Giving
Focus on selling and you will do well, but it is easier to become wealthy than to do well and you can do that by giving much more than you expect to receive.
When Should You Take It Personally?
There are times when it is very important to not take another's behavior personally, and times when it is personal. Learn the difference in this article.
Fasting and Feasting
Your Classroom Exercise to Creating a Business and Life Mentality that Keeps You On Top.

How A Blog Can Help Your Home Based Business Flourish
Thinking about setting up a blog for your home based business but not sure it really will help? Well, you definitely should consider starting up your own blog. There are a variety of different ways that blogging can enhance and improve your business and many small businesses are jumping on the bandwagon. Here are a few of the great benefits you'll enjoy when you start a blog and how blogging can help your home based business flourish.
The Ghost and Our Integrity
Audiences view social media as the safe ground for truth and integrity. It's the place where they can share and obtain real information in honest and meaningful ways. The place they can learn about prospective or current partners, get a feel for their thoughts and perspectives.
The Love Index
Why You Can’t Sell Anybody Unless You Love Everybody.
Exactly How to Be Successful With Any Business, Product Or Compensation Plan! ~FINALLY EXPOSED!
Everyone wants to be successful. Unfortunately many people think they will become successful because of there company, products or compensation plan. Now that does help but even with that you are not guaranteed success. There is only one way to do that. An just like an elite group of online entrepreneurs that shared that secrets with me, I'm going to share them with you. Read these article by Omari Taylor and learn the secrets to guarantee your success in any business.

Blogging Your Way to a Successful Home Business
Andrea Scott, a home business expert, explains how to effectively use a blog to build a successful home business. She provides valuable blog promotion tips that lead to a profitable online business.
Persistence and the Honourable Retreat
Did you know: Over 50% of sales people give up at 1st contact if they get a ‘NO' from the prospect never to go back to that prospect again. At the 5th contact 7% of sales people are left to speak with the prospect to see if they can do business together. At the 8th contact there is only one sales person left to work with the prospect. Hopefully it is you. Many sales people, especially those new to sales, often take it personally when a prospect says ‘NO'. Many fail to persist and often fail to favourably position themselves to ‘leave the door open' for future contact thus limiting their sales opportunities even further.
Taking the Risk of Loving
If you feel some emptiness in your life, it is likely because you are allowing fear of loss to stop you from loving fully.
If You Walk For Exercise Then You're Probably Wasting Your Time
Time is important for any entrepreneur wanting a healthy work life balance. So you do not want to waste your time on time-consuming exercise programs that produce very little in terms of results. Many activities promoted by companies as part of their corporate health and wellness programs like encouraging employees to walk for exercise produce little health benefits to their employees. Quite simply, if you are not huffing and puffing, then it's not exercise...
Top 10 Ways to Increasing Productivity & Better Time Management
If you feel like you are working harder but still don’t see the results you want or you need to take your business to the next level of success, increasing productivity.

Are good sales people born or made?
This age old question is being pondered by many business owners and managers as they strive to increase their turnover and profitability.

Networking is a Contact Sport
As with so many aspects of life, networking requires action and effort if you’re going to reap its benefits. You can attend countless in-person and online events and register for every networking group under the sun, but you’ll get nowhere if you’re not actively taking the time to connect with the people you are meeting.

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.

Keeping the Love Alive: Selfing, the Cure for Resentment (Part 2 of 2)
When your world is filled with many wonderful opportunities, it can feel difficult if you feel you must choose between them, and it's equally rough if you have a hard time saying no to people. Yet saying yes to everything can lead to both over-commitment and resentment, which can erode your relationships, whether at work or home or in your community.

The Five Stages of Partnership
All partnerships, and all relationships for that matter, go through five predictable stages. Knowing these stages is like having a map that will help you to accurately assess where you are in your partnerships, see where you have been and where you can go. This will also allow you to deal effectively with the particular concerns of the stage you are in.

Successful Relationships: Creating Agreements That Work
People yearn for relationships they can trust. They want to be able to depend on people. They want relationships characterized by ease, clarity and harmonious cooperation. But, is there any adult who hasn't felt let down or betrayed by someone who didn’t live up to his or her agreements?
What is Basket Analysis ?
Basket Analysis is a modelling technique based upon the theory that if you buy a certain group of items, you are more (or less) likely to buy another group of items.

Do You Feel Loved or Unloved?
We all need to feel loved, but often we don't - both within ourselves and with others. Discover what you need to feel loved.
Real estate marketing strategies: The Top 10 Self Limiting Beliefs
Do you ever wonder what is holding you back? Here are the top 10 self limiting beliefs that stop most people from success.
How long does it take to make money on the internet ?
That is arguably the most asked question to me as a professional internet marketer.The answer is easy. The same amount of time that it takes to build any other business.Some people might get lucky and make it faster BUT you should prepare yourself for at least a few months or even years.
How Not to Lead
There are things you may be doing every day that undermine your ability to lead, if not -- eventually -- your position in your workplace. There are big differences between managing and leading. You can manage to hold back a flood but doing so doesn't mean you can lead the water to where it needs to go.
Keeping the "Human" In Human Resources
How to remain grounded and recognize that human resources is not about numbers, it's about people.
Michael Jackson Death - How to leave your own legacy behind
Michael Jackson's life was cut short at the age of 50.Many thought(hoped) that he would live forever. Michael Jackson was a big part of many lives and it really is a big loss to thousands of people.Michael Jackson death taught us two things.One,that life is short and two,that we have the ability to make our dreams come true.

Leadership Tips to Manage, Resolve and Prevent Conflict
Conflict causes a lot of stress and yet conflict is essential for effective organizations and relationships. Instead of simply managing conflict, we recommend the managers lead conflict and enjoy the tremendous gains that come from constructive conflict techniques.
Maximizing Results with Reward and Recognition
Does reward and recognition work? Want to learn how to squeeze that little bit extra out of people? Improve performance and increase results, read on to learn how...
Risky Business: Put Your Own Needs First
"Realize you do not exist in this world primarily to serve others, but to serve yourself and make the most out of your life".

The Fruits of Fulfillment Aren’t Grown Outside
People spend a lot of time seeking their life treasure by changing jobs, getting into new relationships, going on vacations, and other activities focused "out there". There's an expectation that once they finally find "it" - their next big 'click', more money, better toys - that they will finally feel fulfilled. So if they just keep going after achieving a new goal, a new prize, a new something, they believe they will experience the treasures of their life.

Be Your Most Unstoppable Self
When was the last time you really, really wanted ice cream at some crazy hour of the day - and actually went to go get it? Or maybe you had an urge to call someone right NOW - so you did it right that second? Or someone stood in the way of you doing something you really wanted to do, so you figured out how to do it anyway? In case you haven't seen the pattern yet, these are all examples of you being unstoppable because the thing you wanted was greater than the thing that could have stopped you.

What do clients want?
Clients don't expect to be coerced, bullied, tricked or intimidated into buying. They don't expect to be treated like an idiot by sales people who just talk at them and flash brochures or product sheets. Relationships do not work effectively if they are forced!
When You Feel Hurt By Your Partner
This article explores two kinds of relationship hurt - hurt that comes from another's uncaring behavior, and hurt that comes from the lies we may tell ourselves about the other person.
Stop Tolerating Things that Drain away Your Time and Energy
Tolerations are like a dull headache or stiff neck that never quite goes away. You learn to live with it and each day you climb over the annoyance and get your work done anyway. It is not until something happens to remove the headache or stiff neck that you realize how much energy and pleasure has been sapped from your daily life. The sad thing is that, removing these tolerations is not all that hard or expensive, it just requires awareness and a decision to be done with “it” or “them” and taking action. So TODAY is the day and NOW is the time to uncover your tolerations and start reducing and eventually eliminating them from your life!

What’s the Difference Between Coaching And Mentoring?
The people doing the guiding are generally called coaches and mentors. The two roles are similar in some ways but in fact are very different. Before attempting this role laden with responsibility it is important to understand the difference between coaching and mentoring and to find out what is best for your relationship with your potential followers.
Communication Saboteurs: Egos
Misti Burmeister helps three women remember their experiences as young professionals, offering three suggestions on dealing with these new employees.
Teamwork and Leadership
Individually we can make a difference, together we can change the world. Sadly many of us find true collaboration and team work difficult. The need for personal recognition of ‘our’ idea or ‘our’ work gets in the way.
Why Only 3% of Internet Marketers Who Use Twitter, Myspace and Facebook get Results! -100% Profit
Are you an Internet Marketer who uses twitter, myspace or facebook to produce traffic to your website and sales? Are you getting the results you want? Well 97% of people who use these social media websites aren't seeing results. they aren't getting traffic or leads which equals no money. There are a few simple rules you should be following, but if you're not you will most likely fall into that percentage of people who are just wasting their time. Find out in Omari's short article why only 3% of Internet Marketers who use twitter, myspace and facebook get results.
Top 10 Tips For Managing Up in a Top Down World
To be successful in business, here are 10 tips for managing those relationships above you...
Social Media EXPOSED: How YOU Can Use Social Media To Get More New Customers NOW
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past five years, you’ve no doubt heard the term “social media.” At its core social media is a platform for creating relationships.

3 Simple Steps To Become An Internet Marketing Specialist! ~MILLIONAIRE SECRET EXPOSED
Do you want to be an Internet marketing specialist earning six or seven figures a year? A lot of people do, but because they don't kow these simple steps to becoming an Internet marekting specialist, those thoughts will always be a dream. Find out the 3 simple steps that has created millionaires in this short article by Omari.
How to Get Tons of Cash With Video Marketing! Cash Secret Revealed
There are a lot of marketers with questions about video marketing. Why is video marketing so effective? How do I actually use video marketing to get tons on cash in my pocket? Well find the answers here in this short article.
Are You 'Offering' Your Customers REAL Value?
Here are some of the basic elements to keep in mind when you begin to write your copy.
Relationships & Stress
Here David Oliver shows how relationships can both cause and heal stress and defines the difference between load and burden. READ ON
Good Intentions Are Never Enough
In this sobering short Oliver describes the danger of beliving 'Love in your heart' is enough to give your family the best.
The Pressures On
International presenter david Oliver gives a unique stress tactic called the Stones Throw. hear how it has worked for thousands of years and learn how it can work for you. Best of all? No cost. READ MORE ....
Relationships and Emotional Connection
Do you want emotional connection but can't seem to create it in your relationships? Learn how in this article!
How to Grow Your Business by Writing and Publishing
Writing for print and online publication can generate new business leads, drive traffic to your site, build relationships with your clients and prospects, and attract an audience. If you need to grow your business, consider the following ways to get your byline out there.
Could the future be virtual working?
New technology allows an increasing number of people to set up virtual businesses from their homes. Lilach Bullock set her own company offering virtual office administration and is going from strength to strength, often supporting other virtual businesses. She spoke to Mandy Garner.
How to Feel Happy at Work--7 Secrets of a "Thank God It's Monday" Workplace
You can love your job and feel happy at work...habits that can change everything about the culture of your workplace.

Saying Yes Always Means Saying No
In this short look at family work tension, David Oliver helps us look at the implication of saying yes too often and provides practical kesy to saying 'No'
Why Did You Lose Your Last Ten Clients?
Why ask this a client why s/he no longer buys from your company? Because...
Twitter - How to Write Tweets That Get Peeps to Take Action
Probably the biggest question I get asked is if social networking is worth it or a big waste of time. Well, if you're doing social networking to make money, and you aren't making money, then it most certainly is a waste of time. If youąre on Twitter then here are 3 more tips to make those tweets as compelling and persuasive as possible.

Go ahead. Ask for help.
This article shares the results of a study on the theme of asking for help. This is designed for facilitator's use in a staff meeting.
Read On Book Review ~ twitter Revolution
If you don't have tweeps, aren't familiar with the twitterverse or haven't started tweeting, it's time to get on board with the twitter Revolution.
Does your heart feel Heavy?
Often, we all have one or two areas in our life where our hearts feel heavy. This could be any area which is important to you. Your heart could feel heavy with regards to relationships, finances, career or perhaps family issues.

Let your mouth say what your heart wants to without your brain getting in the way
We waste so much time in business and in life because we aren’t straight with each other. We don’t say what we mean or ask for what we need for fear of being judged, ridiculed or even fired. It takes courage to speak from your heart and to speak your truth.

3 Key Secrets to Help You Break Through Any Mental Barrier
Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you try and break old patterns and beliefs, something gets in the way? Have you tried certain programs, techniques or exercises only to fall back to you old ways? If you have, it’s not your fault. Find out three key strategies you can use to break through old beliefs and patterns and achieve business and life success immediately.
DO YOU NEED A RELATIONSHIP TO BE HAPPY?
Regardless of if you are single out of choice or if you are in between relationships, you can create and enjoy a fulfilling life on your own.
But They're Our BEST Customer!
A strong relationship with a customer is the Holy Grail we all seek. After all, once you have a Win/Win relationship, both businesses profit, right? Sometimes, but not always.
How to REALLY Connect With Your Customers on Their Terms to Build Relationships and Generate More Sales
Knowing how to engage your readers with attention grabbing headlines is important and at the same time, it's not enough to really create a relationship, build trust and eventually win a customer or client.
Taking the first step – “Connecting business with Social Media”
Here is a brief update as to what I have been up to over the last few weeks. I have just received formal approval to proceed with a Social Media program for one of our products. The program is centered around developing a presence on Facebook through the creation of a product page and an application. Twitter will also be used to stream updates between Facebook news feeds and Twitter.
Five Reasons Why Nothing Has Changed in Your Organization
Here are five reasons why nothing seems to have changed in your organizations, despite your best efforts to make things happen.

Lessons from a Funeral
Sometimes, in the midst of grief and despair, we can learn lessons that help us to emerge as better people. Recently, I had the difficult task of speaking at a funeral for someone I really cared about. This experience caused a flood of emotions. Inevitably, on such occasions you reflect upon the brevity of life and the misguided priorities that we all pursue on a daily basis. After the funeral, I had the opportunity to meet and greet a number of people. I was struck by the number of individuals who told me, "I really hadn't talked with her or seen her in over a year." And similar comments.

Are you living to work?
Do you feel like all you do is work? Are you noticing dissatisfaction in your personal life? Here are some tips from a life coach that can help you evaluate your quality of life. A happy person is a productive person.

Qualities of Peak Performers
For more than 25 years I have worked with people in various stages of achieving their success. I have studied their behaviors and actions, the choices they made and which of them succeeded to become Peak Performers in their lives.
The Danger of Life Patterns
What are your life patterns? Why would you want to know? The importance of this article is in the explanation of how our life patterns determine our success or failure. If you want more prosperity in life and business, make sure you start with changes your life patterns to match those desires.
Think Big, Start Small! – Take Your First Step Towards Achieving Your Goals Today
Do you have a goal you want to achieve but are feeling overwhelmed or stuck, and not sure how to proceed? If so, this article provides the basic steps you can take to break your goal down into easy, manageable steps, making goal achievement possible and easier.
How to Enhance Relationships, Increase Fulfillment & Empower Yourself by Being Authentic
To utilize the power of authenticity in your life as a way to enhance your relationships, increase your fulfillment, and empower yourself, here are five key principles...

Are your people providing STAR service?
Here are the 5 points of ALL STAR customer service.
How to Overcome Fears and Obstacles
While everyone has fears and obstacles, some people have a harder time overcoming their fears compared to others. This can prevent a great deal of personal growth, including job and career possibilities, finding more satisfying relationships, and even a better quality of life. Living with too much fear is bound to give you less energy and more frustration. After awhile, fears can even feel bigger than life, leaving you little room to grow. Fear can cause you to fear paralyzed, incapable, and constantly frustrated.
The Dance of Mind: The Key to Superior Performance
If you've ever tried to kick a habit or change self-defeating behaviours, you know that there is nothing more challenging that changing human behaviour. But behaviours are the effect of some cause. If we change the cause, what is behind the scenes leading to certain behaviours, the behaviours change naturally. The key to superior performance is behind the scenes in the mind. Learn about how your mind works as a system and how you can change that system to achieve happiness and success.
Just Say Yes
For the past ten years, I have had the privilege of speaking with thousands of elementary and middle school students. The media would tell us that the state of our youth is alarming. While I would be the first to agree that we have some unique challenges facing us, this generation of young people is very impressive. When I visit with them, I try to focus on the critical issues they are facing, including drugs, alcohol, destructive relationships, and negative peer pressure. These young people have been pounded with the message "Just Say No." That message was brought to the forefront by former First Lady Nancy Reagan.

Ten Networking Tips For The Job Seeker
Networking has become an important part of the job search. It can be a great way to hear about job possibilities and companies that are hiring. If you are not sure how or where to network this list of ten tips will help you.

Meeting with people- What are the next steps?
Today, I will talk about the Next Steps. This is usually the part that gets missed and is most important!

Out of Work, Business Slow? Don't Despair Promote Yourself!
This article deals with promoting yourself or your business during tough times using the tools PR firms use.
Don't Just Think PR, Do PR
It’s hard to make the decision about HOW to promote your business. With so many options, it’s easy to revert back to the classic advertising, sales promotions or direct sales. To really connect with your customers, however, you need to take that next step. That is, don’t just think PR, do it!
What's Your Excuse For Not Following Up?
What’s your excuse for not following up with new contacts after networking events? It doesn’t really matter what your answer is because I’m here to tell you that the correct answer to the above question from this point on is: There is no excuse for not following up, so I don’t have one.

How To Integrate Your Online Networking with In-Person Events for Best Results
Many entrepreneurs who network with other business professionals should consider an integrated approach to networking. For best results, make sure your online presence matches your in-person efforts.
Seven Reasons Why Ethics Helps Your Business Succeed-And Five Easy Action Steps
Top 7 reasons that ethics will help your business succeed.
Why Affirmations Are Pathetic
Affirmations are like putting pretty make-up on a canker sore: it doesn’t cover the problem. There’s a big difference between “I want to believe this” and “I DO believe this!” You have to do the real work.

Build A Healthy Corporate Culture
Building a healthy corporate culture is key to the success of your business. In today's society, everyone wants their work environment and employees to be like family. While this is a great idea, your business should be careful with approaching this concept. You want to build a happy and successful family, not a dysfunctional one. "How do I go about doing this," you ask? Well read on!
Follow Up is Free and Profitable
Looking for ways to increase sales without increasing expenses? Follow up with the people and prospects you know. Now is the time to be persistent, systematic, and supportive of those who have an interest in your product and service.
How to Write A Compelling Marketing Letter That Actually Gets Read.
Getting your marketing letter read hinges on the ability of the very first sentence to intrigue your reader and make them want to learn more.
Identify the Key Decision Makers
Small business owners and sales executives sometimes have difficulty identifying the decision-maker or may be blocked from getting in contact with them. Sometimes you may feel anxious or uncomfortable when you're actually in front of a senior level decision-maker. We'll discuss strategies to help you in all three of these areas.

Keys to Effective Office Communication
Building and maintaining strong relationships on the job can be a challenge. These tips are intended to help you make wise decisions when communicating with your co-workers.
Connecting with your employees through Social Media
Today was an awesome day! It started off with my VP greeting me at the door and showing his appreciation for my efforts in 2008. Next, it was my Director pointing out the main successes that were achieved and finally I had the opportunity to show my gratitude to my staff. What a great way to connect with your employees and build sincere relationships by recognizing them for their contribution to the overall success of the corporation. Thanks to the organizing committee for pulling off a great “Employee Appreciation” day.
Facebook skeptics…
Just wanted to post something short and sweet today. I’m still a little perturbed about my meeting at work on Tuesday, so I decided to post some opportunities the new Facebook layout proposes for businesses. My theory is that if I can potentially present sound principles that shift traditional thinking it may become easier to sway the skeptics.
How to Use Twitter for Business
These days, marketing your business means thinking outside of the box. Just thinking that you are going to get the same results by doing the same things you’ve always done is going to allow your competitors to get ahead.

How to Choose Business Success Instead of Failure
Anyone who has ever started a business knows there is work involved. It takes a clear vision, strategic planning, marketing and more to be successful. The two traits of successful businesses that I see most often (regardless of the type of business) are consistency and communication. To truly choose success, you must incorporate both into your overall strategy.
What should my sales team expect from a successful Sales Coach?
Successful sales coaching requires patience, a good ear, curiosity and of course the ability to provide individual sales people or sales teams with the right information at the right time. These relationships empower the recipients with knowledge and the confidence to maneuver themselves toward the right outcomes. Wisdom is knowledge applied. Therefore the sales coach prefers not to impart his wisdom directly, instead coaching the sales people or sales team to find their wisdom through their own questioning, answering and experiences.
When First Starting out with Blogging Begin with the Basics
Almost every internet marketer or business owner today has a blog. With the advent of internet marketing a lot of business people, particularly those who were technologically savvy, realized the advantage they could gain with regards to building credibility and good relationships with their customers. Blogging has given them the perfect vehicle for just this purpose.
The Money Rules
There's probably nothing more misunderstood in our society than the acquisition and use of money. Nothing can take the place of money in the things that money does, but outside of the small scope where money is useful, it has little or no value. When it comes to your health, family relationships, or personal well-being, money is of little importance.

Relationships and Marriage: A Perceptual Styles Perspective
There are six distinct Perceptual Styles that determine the ways that different people see the world, what they value, and how they communicate. This article describes how the Perceptual Styles Theory applies to love and marriage.
Celebrate Your Friends
What is your perception of your friendships? Who do you call when you break up with a boy/girlfriend, get a new job, announce an impending birth, or just need to vent?
What to Do When You Lose a Bid
It happens to the best of us. You think you have done everything right. You have built the relationships, correctly identified the prospects’ needs, assessed your competitors, written a responsive and persuasive proposal and made a dynamite presentation. You knew it was not exactly a slam dunk but you had reason to feel very confident that you would win the business from this key prospect.
Developing an Outside Sales Force
By developing and managing your sales process you can more accurately forecast sales, pinpoint problems in the sales process and fix them, gain a better understanding of how your customers use your products, what changes they would like to see and how they perceive quality service and price. Your sales force is more likely to build stronger relationships with your customers when they are face to face with the customer, when they are well-trained and supported by targeted marketing.

Sales Tip – Top 3 Selling Crimes: Bring in the Sales Crime Stoppers!
Salespeople need an edge in a down economy. You can get some edge from being a sales crime stopper and here are some sales crime stopping tips.
Sales Tip - Stupendous Sales Results Accent Tremendous Value and Avoid Horrendous and Hazardous Actions
Salespeople get more sales with a focus on the only four words in the English language, which end in 'dous': tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

How to Think Your Way to Success: The Science of Results Oriented Thinking
Learning to think “to be successful,” means learning to think in a different way. In the science of results oriented thinking we learn that thinking is the most powerful tool available to you to help you succeed and create your life with. It is the inventor of all ideas, all riches, all wealth and can even turn a Doctors death sentence into a miraculous recovery.
Confusing Who You are with What You Have Been Through: Learning Self-Command
Untangling your past so that you can move forward and experience new success in your life is an important part of having success. Self-command teaches you how to take action and become your dreams and fulfill your life with more joy, success and happiness. Learn how you can take life to a whole new level. Go on, take command of your dreams.
6 Ways to Help Build Relationships using your Web site
Why talk about "relationships" and the Web? The answer is simple. One of the most powerful objectives you can keep in mind as you build and enhance your Web site is with relationship building in mind. Here are 6 ways

Creating Effective and Efficient Relationships
Relationships of all kinds are often perceived as very delicate things, that require extra effort to maintain. However, a relationship can also be something that can provide security and can also be long lasting despite many trials.
Impossible is Just a Word
Everyone, at some point of his or her life, has dreamed of being somebody special, somebody big. Who hasn't fantasized about being the one who hits the game-winning homer? Who hasn't dreamed of being the homecoming queen? And how many times have we dreamed of being rich, or successful, or happy with our relationships?
Power Through the People
Have you come across a person who is so naturally friendly that when you put him inside a room of strangers, he'll be friends with almost everyone in no time? We call such a people-person, someone unbelievably nice and charismatic that he can charm anyone into doing anything.

Retirement - How to make the most of it
Retirement is a time of huge change. It pays to plan for it in advance to gain the most from this new phase in our life. For some it can be a stressful time, and we might struggle with the lack of structure and changed pace of life. Being at home for longer periods, can create tensions in our relationships too. To avoid the retirement blues and look after your relationship as you transition to retirement, read and put into practice some of the 6 practical tips in this article.
Improving Our Relationships
As we delve further into the realm of relationship it is apparent we can have wonderful intentions and clarity of how we prefer to be in relationship and still be challenged by situations that come up with our partner. When things are going well it’s much easier to express yourself in a loving way and be appreciative of your partner, however when conflict arises it’s challenging to love without conditions. Culturally, often by parents, we have been conditioned to withhold love toward someone who is exhibiting behaviors we don’t like. Often when someone does something we don’t like we let them know about it in the form of a verbal reprimand, nagging, or silent withdrawal of affection.

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!

Mars and Venus Part I. Sales people are from Mars, Buyers are from Venus - Introduction
Many of you are probably familiar with John Gray's famous relationship book, "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus". In his book, he talks about how to overcome the different way men and women think and indeed often act. Buyers and sellers also have different viewpoints, and not knowing how your audience makes decisions can be disastrous. This series of articles, will take you inside the mind of buyers, to help you fulfil their needs, to create successful commercial relationships. Buyers, like sales people, are also focused on WIIFM, What's in it for me.

How to handle the top 10 SME Sales Objections - Part I
A Sale is considered closed when the buyer and seller reach agreement on terms for the buyer to take ownership of a product or service. To get to this stage, the seller normally has to “close” the sale, by asking the buyer for their business. This is where the buyer raises “objections”. Objections generally fall into three main types. This article will explore the types of objection, how they arise and how to overcome and avoid them. Part II will then discuss the 10 most common objections, and how to handle them to close the sale. You must get the customer to reiterate the value that they are getting first and foremost.
Is Your Marketing Missing Purpose?
What do you stand for in your business? Tough question or easy to answer? When you are clear about the purpose of your business, marketing is so much easier and can actually be exciting.
What You Think is What You Do (and Who You Are)
Most people when they want to figure things out or change what is going on in their lives tend to focus on the external…the doing. They say to themselves, “What do I need to be doing differently?” When the question should be, “How am I thinking about this situation?” Anything we do in the ‘external’ has its genesis in our brains…the internal. Whatever is happening outside of us in our lives is a reflection of what is going on inside of us…specifically, inside our brains. So if we want to change, we need to focus first on how we think about it…whatever it is. How are we connecting the dots and how can we build new hardwiring so that we can travel a different road to where we actually want to go instead of the old road that keeps dumping us off in the same place that isn’t working for us.

Homeostasis: The Thermostat Within Us
What makes us dig our mental heels in when change is looming in front of us and may even make tings better? What is it that kicks in that drives us to keep change from making things better or worse?
You Never Know Whom They Know
Don't think a gardener can be a referral source to the rich? Think again. Discounting even one potential networking opportunity can be disastrous.

Develop a Magnetic Personality
Every person has a little magnetism already inside him. Learn how to leverage it to draw in more business.

Desperation Isn't Referable
Nurture an abundance mentality instead of a scarcity mentality and you can have an unlimited supply of referrals.

Are You and Your Partner Hurting Each Other?
You and your partner might be hurting each other without realizing how and why you are doing this.
How To Destroy The Bridge Between Generations - Scoop 44
Creating effective communication within organization
The Power of an Emotionally Intelligent Leader
Understand and utilize the interconnectedness between emotions, muscles, movement, motivation and performance to your advantage as a Leader.
Build Prosperity and Strong Relationships With L.O.V.E
I had the honour recently of interviewing Evelyn Tian. Evelyn is a Singaporean woman living in Australia. She shared a story that started with volunteering to pack and send envelopes for the 2000 Olympics Committee here in Australia 10 years ago. That simple act of giving lead to an amazing trail of events that lead to her becoming the African Attache for the Olympics and Para-Olympics. This started Evelyn on an incredible journey to Africa for 6 months where she worked with disabled women and children, introducing wheelchair sports and fund raising for home made wheelchairs. She is now working toward helping disabled orphans in Africa.
Copywriting For the Female Market
Did you know that women make over 80% of the buying decisions (even of products we think of as male) yet the sales copy techniques commonly used were developed in the 1920's when women weren't the buyers? Lorrie Morgan Ferrero has rewritten the recipe and she shared this with me on a recent interview. Here is Lorrie's recipe for adapting your sales letters to appeal to the female buyer: The important thing to know is that the way sales letters are traditionally written works.
5 Rules for Student Leaders
The rules of leadership have changes. These 5 Rules will allow you to create relationships, trust and change on campus. Put these into practice and allow your vision to shine.
How to Connect With People
A leader's effectiveness is entirely dependent upon their ability to connect with people. This is a skill that either makes or breaks a leader and must be mastered.
Becoming a Travel Agent from Home is Easy when Working with a Host Travel Agency
With more and more individuals looking for venues to make extra money, many are researching home-based opportunities. With the current travel industry booming, coupled with more individuals turning to actual travel agents rather than online travel booking websites, becoming a travel agent from home has never been more lucrative. With its host of opportunities, many seasoned home-based travel agency vets recommend aligning your travel agency with a host travel agency. Although working on your own will provide you with 100 percent of the commission for booking travel arrangements, it can be daunting to handle numerous accounts, track money, and establish relationships with various travel suppliers. Only practiced travel agents should start an independent travel agency. For others interested in becoming a travel agent from home, working with
Leverage Your Business Lunches To Maximize Your Sales Results
Do you need to meet potential customers (a.k.a. prospects), potential qualified clients, colleagues, current customers, vendors, or strategic partners for lunch? Is your goal to get in and out? As a sales professional, do you arrive a little earlier or a little late to avoid the noon hour rush? Have you ever considered that this might be negatively affecting your sales results?
Business Relationships- Power Partners
Matching Ideas With Resources
Leadership Development: Lemons to Lemonades or Margaritas
Are you a lemonade kind of person? Is your glass more full than empty? Do you see blue sky through the rain clouds? Look, we know that accentuating the positive is good for us. And there are lots of studies that show those who have a positive outlook have better health, happier relationships, and more success.

Relationships and Marriage: Finding Your True Love A Perceptual Styles Perspective
There are six distinct Perceptual Styles that determine the ways that different people see the world, what they value, and how they communicate. This article addresses the question: How does the Perceptual Styles Theory apply to romantic partnerships?
Ad battling in a crisis
It's a financial crisis, and it's tempting to sacrifice ads when you don't have the cash. Here's a few pointers on how you can get the most for your money.
This Could Be Your Way To Affiliate Marketing Online Business Success
It is now been over 10 years since Amazon.com created one of the first affiliate marketing online business opportunities. During that time millions of people have started and failed in affiliate marketing. One of the primary reasons for their failure has to do with the topic of this article.
On Being Present
As I sit and reflect about what that means, it occurs to me that I have different levels of “understanding” at any given time. Sometimes I “get it” and other times it seems that I know the concept and have yet to ever apply it.
Leadership Lessons: How Much Is Enough
If people are given the opportunity to find their own set point and are neither forced nor excluded from bringing the best of who they are, "the whole person", to work, real progress can be made for healthy team connections to occur. The big question concerns what we need and want to know about each other to make relationships move along in a smooth and collaborative manner. And, it is vital to consider an important caution: work is not a rehab facility!
Conversations for Effective Action
In your work, and in your life away from work, you participate in conversations. People speak, and people listen. And more is happening - promises are made, requests are made, invitations are issued, proposals for new projects are presented. Things happen in conversations. In fact, it is in conversations that people make things happen. Only four things can happen in a conversation. We call these Basic Linguistic Commitments. The four linguistic commitments for action are requests, promises, assertions and declarations, and they happen in conversation, and this is all that’s happening.

5 Must Dos To Grow Your Business Using Email
Few mediums come close to matching email marketing's ability to grow sales and customer relationships. However, doing effective email marketing is hard - VERY hard. If you're a small business using or looking to use email marketing, here are 5 key things you should know.

What Changes Are You Avoiding In Your Life?
Change is a constant in our lives and yet so often we resist it. As human beings, we are wired to avoid change because any type of change, even change for the better, involves a level of discomfort in some shape or form. Find out what comfort zones are and why it's good to step out of those zones and meet those changes head on.
How to Get More Referrals, More Prospects & More NEW Clients During a Recession
It's hard enough to get more prospects and new clients during a booming economy when people have money to spend. When the global economy takes a nosedive and freefalls fast, it's 100 times harder to get prospect to talk to us.
”I’m sorry” just isn’t good enough - the new science of apology
Ever wonder why apologizing can sometimes make matters worse? There is a secret to apologizing better than everyone can learn - essential for dealing with customers, AND loved ones.
It's Official - Your Sales Pity Party Is Now Over
Your Pity Party Is Now Officially Over The business environment is always in a state of flux. So it is up to you to decide the pro-active directions, activities and attitudes that are best for your business. And being flustered stops you from being focused on what is really important. This is the year for you to get your act together and create strong relationships with your customers and potential customers. It's the year for invention, re-invention, moving forward, carving away what doesn't fit and adding what does.
The Seven Keys To Successfully Achieve Your Goals In The New Year
Would you want to be able to accomplish your goals this year and achieve the success you deserve? If you do, then you must find out the steps you need to take to get there. That is exactly what this article will guide you to achieve.
Leadership Tips - Leaders Make Use of Mess to Germinate New Solutions
Life is full of messiness - We can either clean up the mess or sit and stew in it!
Bloggers Checklist
Below are some of the crucial items you should have on your Blog. Take a look at this list and your Blog and see how you measure up. I can tell you that I did it myself and I had to create an action plan to fix my own Blog.
Does Your Resume Have That Extra Zing?
What are your dreams, goals, resolutions and commitments for the months ahead? For many it will be to get a new job. Maybe you have been made redundant or just left college or simply fancy a change of role. To make this goal of getting a new job reality, however, you’ll need to create a resume or brush up your existing one.
Top 3 Ways to Influence Your Bottom Line
Go out and sell something! Way too many companies adhere to this line of thinking and sell the wrong prospect at the wrong margins. Before you get ready to “sell something,” put some thought into who you should sell to, how to create the opportunity to sell, and what it takes to gain a competitive advantage resulting in a profitable win.
Is Your Fear of "Stuffing Up" Stifling You?
Are you afraid of making a mistake or taking a chance at doing something new? Are you being stifled by your fear of "stuffing up?" Learn what stuffing up is and how to conquer its stranglehold.
You Talk Too Much!
When on a sales call, do you hear your voice more than the prospect’s? Do you find yourself explaining and educating to establish your credibility and expertise? Are you displaying your knowledge in the hope of generating interest and enthusiasm? Are you discussing the features and benefits of your company and your product or service? If you answer "yes," you talk too much!

DON'T LET THE RECESSION SCARE YOU.
Don't be scared of the business downturn. Focus. Stay positive and optimistic even if and when things look like they are falling apart. Things will get better.

Who Is Your Customer?
Getting Preferential Treatment and standing out in your customer's mind today is much more complex than it was just ten years ago. Learn how to position yourself so you are the one they want to do business with because they "trust" you at all levels of an organizations.
The Marketing MYTH Of Modularity
The division of business software into separate "modules" is an arbitrary concept designed to create a false impression. It allows software suppliers to charge us different fees based on the features we want even though all the features are normally present and just the ones we haven't paid for are disabled. It also leads us to the mistaken belief that software is more robust and flexible when it's developed in a "modular" fashion.
Before You Jump Ship: Four Responsibilities to Consider Before Starting Your Own Business
You've heard it before: starting a business can be one of the most difficult yet rewarding things you will ever do. Considering these four responsibilities before you start a company will help minimize the difficulty and enhance the rewards.
Your Character on Steroids
How to build resilience: 10 Steps
Life’s Highway
Continuing along life’s highway, we come into contact with many obstacles, all of which are said to enhance us a people. I have had some very “enhancing” people in my life so far. Just when I was starting to think that I was learning from all my previous lessons, yet another new “enhancement” comes along!!! I know – it is just to keep me on my toes, not to get bored or complacent, maybe “quiet” for a while would be a nice option, but clearly not yet….
Home Business Expert: Importance of a Personal Note
You might be offering the best product or the service and might have the most effective business plan, but your business venture can still fail if you are not maintaining a great relationship with your customers.
Are You Making These 4 Mistakes?
Discover the 4 mistakes you might be making that are causing your life and relationships to not work in the way you want.
3 Obstacles to Producing High Talent Teams
Success is a team sport. In this era of connectedness the lone hero is a thing of the past. And yet, one person can make a difference in the success of a project, a division, a company. There are three major obstacles that must be considered when you lead a team or coordinate projects. They all are a combination of individual behaviors and how these behaviors react in a system of relationships.
Spring into Happily Ever After: Debunking Olds Myths About Love and Marriage
Living happily ever after in marriage passively, or with little effort, is a myth passed down to us from old stories from past generations. There is much more to creating lasting relationships than there was in times gone by. Today's modern marriage needs to be a conscious one, where we actively communicate and listen to our partners with an open mind and an open heart. Spring is a great time for new beginnings, so start living your fairly tale relationship now!
Failure to Communicate
How many business problems could be solved by simply communicating more effectively? This article explores the possibilities.
Are You Ready to Meet the CEO?
The degree to which you prepare will directly impact the success of your meeting. Here are 6 key things you need to do before your all-important meeting with a CEO.
Media survival tactics in an economic downturn
When trouble strikes and your business is hurting, it is tempting to retreat from the public eye and refuse all media interviews. But sometimes there are good reasons to speak out.

Start-up Financing & Equity: What is Dilution?
Equity dilution reapportions a stockholder’s percentage of equity (stock) in a company. Here’s a scenario to demonstrate how equity dilution works.
Questions On Guest Loyalty
A readers question about guest loyalty. Is it really an effort to encourage guest loyalty or just a frequency scheme disguised as a loyalty program?
5 Ways to Energize Your Business for 2009
Here are 5 ideas that will allow you to leave 2008 in a great space and focus into 2009 ready to get your small business or venture going with full power!
The Definitive Guide to GROWING Your Business During the Economic Crisis
You might be wondering why I wrote the word “GROWING” in all caps. Because that is exactly what you need to be doing right now. Many business owners freak out and they hide in their caves waiting for the bad times to pass by. That doesn’t make any sense. If you are just waiting until you see the light at the end of the tunnel, your ship will most likely sink. I would like to share with you some ideas to grow your business during the economic crisis. Profit from your current customers As obvious as this idea may be, you will be surprised with the number of business owners that sell a customer just once. Call your previous customers and find out how you can help them. According to statistics, someone who bought from you in the past is five times more likely to buy from you again than a new prospect.
Relationships are a Brilliant Place to Learn
Relationships are a Brilliant Place to Learn Ever notice how it’s the people we’re closest to who push our buttons. What if we considered them a mirror for our own growth and learning? What usually happens is we look at the other and judge: we don’t like what they’re doing. We think ‘They hurt me,’ or ‘I’m jealous’. We have judgments about how they handle money, or parenting. We don’t like how they deal with children, extended family, how they approach sexual intimacy, their work focus (or lack thereof).

It’s Time For The Small Business Owner To Get Back In The Game
There is no doubt that market conditions have deteriorated over the past few months regardless of the industry. Business leaders and owners have acted quickly to cut unnecessary personnel and expenses to protect the bottom line. That’s a good thing for the survival of the company even though it doesn’t do much for the overall economy. There is an important bi-product of this activity. It forces the owner or executive to get more involved in the day to day activities of the business and in the case of a small company, forces them to “go back to work”.

Too Persistent?
Persistence is a good thing...until it becomes annoying.
How Networking Can Transform Your Home Business
To be successful in your home business, you need to build effective relationships- get out of your comfort zone and connect with other people. Business today involves having great people skills. This is because, people do business with people. It is for this reason, that face to face contact can never be replaced with technology. Does this mean technology is bad? Certainly not. However, I'd rather speak to a live person than a machine offering me lots of options. Networking is about making a connection with someone. It is about rapport-building. It is not about trying to get as many people as possible to listen to your 30 second elevator speech, although you do need to have one.
Five Link Building Sins To Avoid
One of the most important keys to getting good placement in search engines is to get other websites to link to your site. To acquire relevant, high-quality inbound links and avoid being pegged as a spammer, steer clear of these five deadly link-building sins.
The Art of Email Marketing Campaigns Wealth Creation via Email Connection
Email marketing isn't about purchase this from me - today - now. It’s about writing, sharing and giving information to real people. It's about cultivating real relationships and providing incredible services to them. If you can offer authenticity, personality, humor and valuable information, subscribers will become eager to read your information and purchase products from you.

A Bad Economy Doesn't Mean Stick Your Head In The Sand
Focus more on what you can do to take control of your own destiny and leave the things you can’t control out of your head.
The What and Why of Executive Coaching
Driving the trend for executive coaching is the business reality that good people are hard to find and harder to keep. With a constant need to stay competitive, companies are seeing coaching as a way to help valued employees develop swiftly in a rapidly changing business environment.
Whos in YOUR wallet A Power Networking Strategy and Year End Inventory
Do you know who the key people are in your network? Do you take them for granted? Make time to identify your highly effective connections, create strategies to strengthen those ties, and ultimately increase your bottom line!

Successful ways of Effective Business Networking
In the business world networking is crucial. It is a means of gaining clients and referrals. Read this article for more information.
Effective Workplace Communication
Communication is an extremely powerful tool for success which, when effectively engaged in, creates strong relationships, harmonious working conditions and allows us to share the best of ourselves with students and colleagues.
WHAT TO DO AT A NETWORKING EVENT
Step by step how-to for your next networking event.
What Are The Basics You Need To Do Brilliantly?
A simple lesson in doing the best things brilliantly.
"You don't know what you've got till it’s gone"
In times like these it becomes even more important than ever to hold on to our existing clients. Everybody knows the costs of customer acquisition. Here are some helpful hints

Stress-Free Selling® - Go After the Easy Sales First
If you are like most people I know, you sell half or more of the referrals you get. One of my coaches claims 100% sales of his referrals! Let's first clarify what referrals are. When someone says "SoAndSo should do business with you," and they don't know SoAndSo, this is not a referral. This is the same brilliant idea you probably already had. Ok, back to prospecting referrals. . . There is a good way and a better way to ask for referrals...
Make Big Money The Real Story
This article address a question posed to me by one of my candidates - Hi Rick....quick question.....in talking with a friend this weekend......wondering: is there an opportunity to earn a six figure income with a franchise that is strictly home office-based?...all communication done by phone, email, fax, UPS etc.......
9 Vital Principles of Communication
Communication is an extremely powerful tool for success which, when effectively engaged in, creates strong relationships, harmonious working conditions and allows us to share the best of ourselves with others.
RELATIONSHIP SELLING – PART II (TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS)
Do not sell products, services or commodities. Just establish strong relationships with clients and achieve the coveted status of a trusted advisor. Then, your clients will elect to buy services and/or products from you. Never try to sell them. I know that this sounds deceptively simple. Almost as if one could just sit around and wait for things to happen. Establishing and maintaining trusted client relationships without trying to sell them anything, requires a lot of patience and a constant struggle against the temptation to start selling.
Why Salespeople Fail and How You Could Have Predicted It
The companies at which this salesperson had prior success were with brands you know well, that everyone in the world already carried, with established distribution. All he had to do was grow what had already been established by others before him. After all, how much new distribution had to be created for Oscar-Mayer Wieners?
Strategic Planning for Contractors and Developers in Difficult Times
Advice to construction and development businesses: Prepare a strategic business plan showing a 30% or more decrease in revenue. Preparing this version will force you to conserve cash by cutting all the fat and some bone from your operations.
Accepting and Embracing All of Yourself
Close your eyes and become aware of your breath as you inhale and exhale. Allow your breath to take you to a silent place in the core of your being where you feel centered and present-focused. When you’re ready, say out loud: “I am okay accepting and embracing all of myself unconditionally”. Notice. Does it feel that every part of you - every cell - knows that this is true about you? If your answer is no, continue to read. This is a signal that there is room for you to step further into your own power and light.

Get Leads Coming to You and Get Them to Act Now
Rather than dialing for dollars and getting your name out there what you need is a steady stream of highly qualified prospects reaching out to you. This is especially true now when business owners and consumers are guarding their wallets like Fort Knox. You aren’t going to get those wallets open doing what you’re doing now.
How Many Relationships Are You Building?
When you close a deal, what’s your next step? When you sign the contract, shake the hand and file the paperwork – what comes next? Is there a next? Or simply a next customer?
How Not Having a Marketing Funnel Hurts Your Practice Without You Knowing It
Not having a marketing funnel in place is hurting your business in several ways – whether you are aware of it or not.
The Sales Number Game Continues
Sales is about numbers. How many people you touch, how much you sell and how many dollars you make are just a few of the critical numbers that sales professionals need to know. No matter what is said about numbers they remain part of what is, is. So the question is “How well do you understand the numbers game?”
POSTIVE CONFLICT
Conflict is not bad. Its value lies in harnessing it to generate energy for powerful solutions
THE SIX PILLARS OF SELF DISCOVERY
The six pillars of self discovery speak about what drives us, who supports us, what we want to have out of life, the resources we have to hand, the need to look for good and the need to appreciate who we are.

Handling Challenges Productively
General guidelines for handling difficulties, challenges, or problems. 1) Maintain a positive attitude 2) Use productive communication skills 3) Deal with causes, not symptoms 4) Avoid arguments 5) Accept responsibility 6) Focus on behavior or results
Smart Women are 40, 50, 60 and Beyond!
This article is about women realizing that it’s sometimes in our 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and Beyond when we realize some of our biggest life passions. Not so long ago, women felt that they had reached their prime after 50. Not so any longer! We’ve come a long way baby! Women today have Big Ideas, passion and energy. They are taking these ideas and turning them into big profits. Women beyond 40 begin to cultivate the wise wisdom they have learned in their 20’s and 30’s and use this to move their lives forward.

Don't Hide Behind Your Blog! How To Stop Being Invisible and Really Connect With Your Readers.
How many times have you been to a blog or website and seen some interesting info and spent 10 minutes searching for the contact info for the web/blog owner to contact? Then when you get frustrated and give up you move on.... It shouldn't be this hard and if we were smart you'll find ways to be available (without being TOO available!) and then connecting and communicating with the readers and visitors in unique ways!

Top 5 Reasons Why the OMG Sales Assessment is More Predictive
I was asked why Objective Management Group's (OMG) assessments are so much more predictive of sales success and future performance than behavioral styles assessments and personality assessments. There is more than one answer to this question and I'll try to explain the top 5 answers...[read more]

Overcoming Self-Sabotage
Overcoming self-sabotaging behaviors is critical if you want to start creating the relationship of your dreams…

Recession Proof Networking
As we face economic unease, a sure fire way to prepare yourself for potential opportunities is simple: Network, Network and oh yeah, Network some more!
Sales Coaching Tip: Change Your Role to Increase Sales
Is your role as seller keeping you from increasing sales?
Are You Serving Your Customers Well?
Are you serving your customers well? This is a question that you should be asking yourself on a regular basis. You see, there are many business owners that end up ignoring the signs that their customer service is not what it should be. Unfortunately, this leads to problems in sales and can hurt the entire company.
Relationships Are Money
What's your excuse for not following up with new contacts at networking events? I'm going to be straight with you now - coming from a loving place of course. I don't think it really matters what your answer is to that question because the correct answer is there is no excuse for not following up.
Referral Based Selling
Did you know that: • 40% of sales people are failing in their sales careers? • 45% of all sales people earn the average income for their industry? • A typical sales person devotes only 10-20% of their time to actual selling because a large proportion of their available time is devoted to cold calling? • 85% of all sales people do not generate enough quality referrals? • Sales people who actively seek and exploit referrals earn 4 to 5 times more than sales people who don’t? • Referral business closes and converts more than 70 percent of the time?

Understanding Social Styles
Every individual is totally unique and the best sales people are able to adapt their approach to enhance their communication and consequently their leverage based on the prospect or the customer they are interacting with. Sometimes, it can take several visits to really appreciate and recognise what makes a person ‘tick’ yet there is a Behavioural Styles Model that can circumnavigate this lengthy process making it easy to identify the ideal behaviours to adopt in the face of a variety of different people.

Unleashing Your Motivation
Motivation is a dynamic state that results in the desire, directional intensity and persistence of behaviour to achieve a long or short- term goal. Without motivation our sales performance and consequently our results can be severely impaired. When we are feeling motivated, we light up our performance like a Christmas Tree and equally when we feel de-motivated, everything seems to be much harder work.
All Managers Are Customers Too
Whatever business you are in, you will find that there is one key cause of your success. How your customers experience your business and service.

101 Tasks Helping New Managers to Survive
People often ask me for my thoughts on becoming a new Manager. My immediate reaction is ‘great, fantastic, go for it, it can be a great and diverse career move’, quickly followed by ‘Do you know what you are letting yourself in for?’
PEOPLE LIKE TO BUY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE THEM - Part 2
WE CAN'T SELL TO ALL PROSPECTS THE SAME WAY Today we have access to innovative tools such as the Internet, cell phones, faxes and voice mail all designed to enhance our communications and support us in selling more effectively. Nevertheless, even with all of these technological tools at our disposal, the alarming number of failed relationships, dissatisfied employees and lost sales all reflect the fact that none of us are as effective at understanding others as we would like to believe.

CLOSING - IT WILL MAKE OR BREAK YOU!
Over the last 29 years I've trained tens of thousands of sales people across more 14 countries and I am convinced that more than 80% of sales people "blow it" and lose the sale at this vital point in the sales process. Why? Well there are many reasons...
Tricks of the Trade Show
18 "tricks of the trade show" to help you capitalize on the best sales contact opportunity and the most fun time that a salesperson can have in growing their business.

Starting a new business is not about you
Business is not about you. It never will be. So how come people haven't learned the lesson? How come 95% of all new businesses fail in the 1st year?
10 Reasons To Partner Up In Business
Build your business by creating strategic partnerships and alliances
Top 10 Tips To Having A Successful Joint Venture
A joint venture is usually a business partnership that is between at least two parties in order to achieve profit and merit working together. These parties share in the risks, help to compliment each other, and even help make up for the other's weaknesses.
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?

Smart Women Create the Right Internal Environment
Creating the “right internal” environment is essential if we are to truly live a life on purpose. Your internal environment is your self-talk, the internal conversations you have with yourself. Stop and think for a moment about the conversations you have with yourself: Do you send positive messages or negative messages? Is your internal voice filled with possibility or doom and gloom? It’s really important to take some time to evaluate yourself in this area and change your thinking.

Delegate! Do you know how?
Delegating is a skill that is very difficult for many professionals to master. Either they do not give enough responsibility