For those individuals who are constantly sick and forced to make that dreaded visit to your doctor in what seems like a regular basis, optimum health could come in the form or regular exercise and a change in eating habits. It may be vital to take a sort of survey on your health.
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Creating Optimum Health Through Regular Exercise
by · October 28, 2011 Leave a Comment
Help for Relationships
by · October 28, 2011 Leave a Comment
Many of us have heard the expression, “If you can’t get along with yourself, no one else will get along with you, either.” Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t understand what that means. To the average person, the concept of getting along with yourself seems almost foreign and they just don’t get the need for help for relationships.
Leadership Awards
by · October 27, 2011 Leave a Comment
Leadership awards for excellence is something every company should be using as a tool for better productivity and increase profitability of the company.
Many company leaders never think of using the award/reward system because they feel it may be too costly especially in today’s world of a stressed economy. However, it is my belief from past experience that this is something too vital in a company culture to dismiss. It may cost less to have an award/reward system that creates an atmosphere of eager employees vying for awards so they do all they can to out-perform one another than to make the decision not to put it in motion.
Employees who feel unappreciated and unrewarded for their excellent work soon join the ranks of those who just do enough to ‘get by’ and avoid being fired. Once that begins, it’s an insidious, unspoken mindset that says, “Don’t bother being great, no one will care anyway.”
This attitude can create a boring, uninspired team of slackers who only want a paycheck and could care less about great performance. Remember, the company culture and attitudes come directly from above.
There’s a large financial services company that was founded in the 70′s by an ex-high school football coach. He’s now retired to live in luxury but when he was at the helm of the company his team members would practically faint if they received a t-shirt from him during an award presentation at company conventions.
Imagine, a $10 t-shirt being more highly prized than thousands of dollars. Of course, it had to do with what he had created as a company culture but also the fact that he was motivating, uplifting and cared about his people and they knew it was from the heart.
He was no pushover by any means, but even when he was calling someone a “Dadgum Dead Butt,” people just accepted it, knew they had better shape up and it actually motivated them to perform better.
Giving Awards Can Go A Long Way
An award/reward signifies to the person receiving it that they are special and their hard work is being recognized. Naturally, if a company can afford cash rewards that is a huge motivator.
In this economy, imagine the excitement of receiving a few hundred extra dollars. Don’t you think when the other employees see the award presentation and know there is money to be made by improving and excelling at job performance more people will begin to shine?
Better job performance can bring in more money for the company and ensure longevity and improve the company “brand.”
New Hires
When people go to work for a new employer there is nothing worse than a low-level manager telling them, “Here’s your desk, here’s what you need to do so get busy.” No matter how many college degrees someone has earned and no matter how great a job they did at their previous company in the same position with a similar job description, each company has different rules and ways of doing different tasks.
Shoving a company handbook in a new employees hand and expecting them to be up to speed in the first week is not only a mistake, but unwise. Perhaps the new person is a self-starter and can figure out things on their own, but many aren’t so why start them off at a disadvantage?
If several new people have just been hired you could hold a few days of company orientation and they can support one another in getting up to speed. In the case of only one new hire, choose someone who has a similar job description, make sure they will be considerate, show an interest in the new hire and help them for a few days until they are familiar with the day to day tasks and projects.
Giving people a clear, concise pathway to success from the very beginning will make it easier for them to assimilate into the company and start off on the right foot. Giving them an overview of how competence and excellence will bring them rewards can have someone off and running, eager to please and the potential of becoming an employee most companies would love to have on the payroll.
By continually training your team, you will immediately give them the tools they will need for them to receive a leadership award.
Communicate What Is Expected
Make sure all employees are kept informed of the long-term plans of the company, the corporate vision, mission and any major developments that are in play. An open door policy does wonders for company participation and allowing workers to discuss issues or ideas with upper-management will help the team see the business and leaders as caring and compassionate.
Any new and innovative idea presented by an employee that could save the company money or increase productivity should be addressed immediately and if implemented, the employee with the suggestion or idea should be rewarded and done in a public setting during a company meeting or convention.
Higher levels of employee engagement and interest in helping the company move forward creates better productivity, better service and a lower attrition rate for workers. This can make the award/reward system even more important and worthy of some extra time and money.
Tips for Dynamic Recognition of Peak Performance
An established outline for what performance or projects completed would bring about an award or reward should be readily available so employees understand what it will take to receive the perks of a job well-done.
- Each employee must be eligible and qualify equally for the awards.
- Those who perform at a level above the others will be rewarded according to what they have done.
- Make sure the reward/award is given soon after the performance or action was taken that met the criteria for excellence.
- Never allow favoritism or let managers pick and choose from their “favorites” who receives the kudos and/or award. It should never be an “it’s my turn to be rewarded” scenario. When that happens, it smacks of favoritism and loses the power of something special.
The old “Employee of the Month” is so overused and rather meaningless in corporate cultures today.
Make it a surprise if possible unless it’s a contest. Of course, it never hurts to have an occasional company contest if possible, especially when sales is involved.
“Top Salesperson of the Week,” month or year can be exciting, especially when there is a money prize at the other end.
Going to lunch with the boss should be a special event to be valued. Sometimes, a boss has been kind enough to take all their employees, if it’s a small company, on a monthly basis.
Eventually, it becomes just one more thing to do and no one really appreciates it. Some may even begin to think of it as an entitlement and if and when the boss changes the routine there may be lots of resentment in the ranks.
In other words, think of something important like recognizing an employee who closes the most sales on the phone without having to go to a one-on-one meeting with the prospect. Or someone who comes up with an idea that saves the company thousands of dollars. Don’t announce a contest or let anyone know you’re even noticing, then check the records and call a company meeting in the boardroom and honor the employee with a few minutes of kudos then present them with an award/reward of some kind.
Be creative and always let them know you care.
Your employees will not only realize you’re very aware of who is performing well but additionally whose performance is average and ordinary because they didn’t get recognition.
Leadership awards could be enough to get their attention and even create an improved work ethic.
Personal Development Focusing on Stress Management
by · October 26, 2011 Leave a Comment
The absence of stress management using personal development may well be the biggest roadblock that causes people to live a chaotic, disorganized life full of regret and lack of performance. They may be educated, intelligent and capable yet be disordered, anxious and live a life of scarcity and lack in their finances and relationships.
The impact of stress can hinder growth in every part and dimension of your life. It all begins between the ears in your mind. Your mind is the CEO and controller of every, single action you take, for the good or bad. If your mind is in chaos your body, spirit and everything around you is a result of your anxiety and disorder.
Stressed out people are difficult to be around. They react instantly to some perceived verbal attack or what would otherwise be considered a benign comment made by a friend, associate or relative. They fight with everyone including family, colleagues and sometimes the wrong person like their bosses, eventually finding themselves unemployed.
Unfortunately, they have no idea what they did and usually perceive themselves as a victim of someone out to get them.
Workplace stress is something everyone lives with on a daily if not hourly basis. There’s no way to get around the fact that we are human beings and humans are often difficult to get along with. Perhaps you are not up to the task of what your job entails. You may need more training but are too afraid to ask for help.
There may be deadlines you must make but have a problem with procrastination. You may put things off until the last moment, do a shoddy job and turn in your work only to be called to your manager’s office the next day.
In this economy, you could be one of the 56% of Americans who is virtually ‘under-employed.’ You’re working your butt off for pay you wouldn’t have accepted ten years ago, but now you’re at the mercy of the economy so you can’t afford to quit. So you’re stuck and resentful. More stress to pile on to the heap you’re already sitting on.
Managing Work-Related Stress
If someone had a pill that instantly removed stress they’d be a “gazillionaire.” Yes, there are medications one can take that take the edge off, but occasionally you can end up in a stupor and that’s not conducive to a productive day at work. Walking around like a zombie isn’t the answer to stress.
Stress is simply part of our lives that cannot be removed but we can learn how and acquire tools to help ourselves lower and get to a position where we don’t allow stress to impact our lives.
Managing stress can help us lead happy and productive lives. Having the discipline to know what your “stressors” are and how to alleviate them is something you can learn and put in practice immediately.
Living a life where you’ve created ‘systems,’ time management plans and the resources you need to put a solid plan together will remove stress from your life and keep you on track emotionally and physically.
Manage Yourself Effectively
This is exactly what ‘stress management’ is all about. Analyze your lifestyle, set your goals and priorities, and concentrate on the things in that give you the most reward. Those priorities are where you need to spend your times.
Procrastination is a huge stress related challenge many people face. Those who put everything off until the last minute seem to almost get a thrill from going to the edge of the cliff then at the last minute, finish the task at hand and once more they are saved from falling off the proverbial cliff.
Once you overcome procrastination you can be more in control of your life and have a much greater ability to perform daily tasks and complete short-term and long-term projects in record time without waiting until the last minute.
There are great books, CD courses and even live webinars given by experts on time management that would be of great help to the tried and true procrastinator. Even if you don’t have that particular challenge, you may find resources and ideas through these courses that can make you even more productive.
Attitude is Everything
A positive and dedicated attitude could be the major key to your success. If you live a life with a “can do” attitude instead of allowing yourself to wallow in stress and self-pity you will be able to deal with anything that gets in your way, handle it instantly and move on.
Nothing can hold you back if you keep a clear head and the mental attitude that you are a winner and life’s little ups and downs is not going to keep you from reaching your goals.
You’re not a one man or woman Army. Learn the fine art of delegation. There are tons of ‘little things’ that get in your way that one must handle each and every day. Turning over some lesser things to your subordinates will not make you a poor leader. In fact, it will make you a better one because they can take over small stuff that keeps you from attending to the ‘bigger stuff.’
They will be happy to lend a helping hand, thus you can be free to keep up with all your commitments, making each day better than the last in relieving your personal stress.
When You’re Not Happy, Nobody’s Happy
A tired, stressed out person who stays in a constant state of stress and frustration can be affected and feel the impact of anything and everything. You’ll become sleep-deprived, you may turn to food in order to fill the void and for many, eating is an emotional crutch. You can end up overweight and your health can and will begin to decline.
When you’re unhappy because of stress you may begin a negative spiral downward by putting all your attention on what isn’t done instead of figuring out how to get them done by asking for help. You end up losing sleep, time, energy and focus.
Your life is at a point where it pretty much sucks. But only you can turn it around.
Your mind and the way you view your outer and inner world affect not only your attitude but the negative things you may be giving your energy to that are not serving you well.
Being stuck in a negative rut will force you to keep looking at the same unimportant things that are holding you back rather than helping you move forward. Your mind is not your friend in many ways because when you’re in ‘negative mode’ you keep looking for reasons that support your idea that you’re stressed and have no way of getting out of it.
Again, some classes, books or CDs on time and/or stress management can be huge tools for you to get out of your rut and stay out. Keep a journal of everything that goes right each day. Even if it’s something you consider unimportant or inane, make a note of it.
Read it over several times during the day and try to come up with more positive things that have happened. Did you go to a mall full of cars but magically you pull right into a space right in front of the main entrance? Think of anything and everything that will pull your thoughts from negativity to something positive.
The more you keep up with this practice the sooner you’ll realize that nothing that formerly caused you stress was all that important. It’s the little things that can mean the most. Dwell on the good and the bad will disappear.
Pretty soon you’ll be in a continual state of a higher and better mood, you’re brain will begin sending out those endorphins that make you feel great and each day will be a wonderful adventure you’ll look forward to instead of dreading.
By using personal development techniques for stress management, you will soon take both your personal and business life to a whole new level.
Marketing Techniques
by · October 25, 2011 Leave a Comment
In the world of marketing techniques, whether online or offline, the business owner can make many mistakes and lose huge amounts of money that could be spent on hiring another employee, purchasing more products or simply keeping it safely in the bank. Profits can be reduced and what may follow could be stress and a lack of productivity.
The most important thing to understand is without a clear and concise marketing plan you’re out there floundering around throwing marketing ideas against the proverbial wall, “hoping something sticks.” No successful business person begins a marketing campaign without a plan.
It’s vital to do small marketing trials to using several techniques until you find one or more that is the most effective. Below are some tips for discovering what works and what doesn’t so you keep your losses to a minimum.
Define Your Market and Demographic
Who are the people most likely to purchase your product or service? What is the average age of your past client base or in general, the age of clients you are targeting? With laser-like accuracy you need to determine what works and hone in on that specific market.
When business owners or marketers use the “shotgun” method of marketing you will waste time and money contacting non-target market people who won’t even consider what you are offering.
Professional Marketing Materials
If you don’t have the software or programs to create business cards, flyers, tri-fold marketing pieces and other information you can physically place in the hands of potential customers you are making yourself and your business look cheap and cheesy.
Paying someone to create professional looking marketing pieces and having them printed at Kinko’s or other places (check around for the most inexpensive) will serve you well and even if you’re a one-person business you can look as up-scale as one with hundreds of employees.
Remember that a first impression is the most important impression. When a potential customer sees a simple, cheap looking flyer they know you made on your computer using the most rudimentary of software programs they have an immediate, visceral feeling of believing you’re “small potatoes.”
Obviously, a professional designed website is now a necessity in today’s online environment to conduct business.
However, the flashiest and most fancy marketing pieces can be useless if you don’t get your message across. Your prospect must be able to read it and within minutes completely understand what you are offering or selling.
I’ve seen marketing pieces that someone who didn’t quite ‘get it’ actually left off the phone number and/or the website. If a potential customer has no idea how to take your materials, go to the phone and pick it up and call you they will NOT bother trying to find you.
Your Marketing Plan
Sit down and create a marketing plan that has a purpose, a time frame and set your goals for how many sales or customers you would like to acquire in a certain period of time. Do your homework. It may take doing research online or by purchasing books, CDs or DVDs on how to set up a good marketing plan.
Ask people you know who are successful how to put a good marketing campaign in motion. Of course, your competition may not be on board with giving you advice on how to take away some of their business, but you will find lots of mentors in other fields who will be glad to help.
There are so many online “gurus” who do teleseminars and webinars on the subject you’ll have no problem finding someone who can give you some tips and ideas.
Whatever marketing tools and plan you use, make sure to follow through. The follow through is the big secret most people skip. You can’t just do one marketing campaign and expect success. Your first few may be dismal failures so don’t quit before you find the sweet spot that begins to bring you those valuable customers and clients you need.
Romance Your Prospects
This may sound strange but you need to ‘court’ potential clients, customers or business associates. The whole idea is to win the hearts and minds of those you have targeted as your perfect demographic.
In some business models there is no age group but instead, as in the case of those looking for people to join them in a home-based business, you’re looking for someone who wants and needs to make more money. That is a huge demographic, especially in this chaotic economy.
On the other hand, this group of people is continually hammered by your competition so you are in essence marketing ‘yourself’ to them.
They must like you, trust you and feel like you are someone they’d love to build a business together.
They cannot be pushed, rushed or feel pressured or they will turn the other way and run.
They won’t return your calls and you may as well lose their contact information.
Take your time (we’re not talking months or years here) but give them a chance to look over everything and come back to you, ready to get started. Of course, a small ‘nudge’ if they seem on the verge of a decision but don’t quite commit won’t hurt.
Your Target Market
Perhaps you’ve been chasing shadows or people who are more of a fantasy market. A friend of mine says, “Start collecting minnows before you go for the whales.” That means you may want to sell to or approach a high-powered business person who owns a huge company or at least has a high position within the organization.
You imagine bringing them on board as a client and with one fell swoop you’ve hit the Mother Lode.
Many people have chased and chased the big dream only to be bitterly disappointed when the deal falls through. Instead, go for the little fish and sell to them until you have built a quality and large client base until one day that big whale comes back around and agrees to do business with you.
All it takes is one and if you make them happy they will recommend you to their big-time associates.
Know Your Market
Don’t be so self-absorbed or blinded you don’t pay attention to a prime and potential client when one is staring you in the face. Become a student of human nature.
Turn yourself into an expert in your target market so you can recognize opportunity the moment it walks into your field of vision. Be ready to respond and engage them in conversation.
Do not ‘pitch’ them after the first “hello.” It is also a very bad idea to put the sales moves on someone you just met in front of a group of people.
You can develop a reputation as someone who will pitch anyone, anywhere at the most awkward moments in the absolute wrong settings. Trying to sell someone on your services at cousin Sue’s wedding is really a very bad idea.
Buying Signals
When someone begins asking you questions about what you do or what your products or services are for Pete’s sake tell them.
Be prepared to have professional and clear answers to their questions so you don’t stumble over your words. Be short, concise and get your message across in thirty seconds or less.
Pay attention to what they ask and be prepared to tell them what they need to know. If they are interested you will know it and then be ready to ‘let them off the hook’ and suggest you get together for lunch at their convenience.
By following these marketing techniques, you will respond professionally and your prospects will not only appreciate it but will probably become a client.
