Leadership Tips & Teamwork

List Building

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

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

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

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

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

Get a Shopping Cart

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

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

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

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

Book Review: Book Yourself Solid

Book Yourself Solid
by Michael Port

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

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

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

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

Click here to order this book

Quote: Michael Port

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

-- by Michael Port

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

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

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

Choice Theory and Righteousness

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

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

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

Information Management

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

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

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

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Book Review: Power vs. Force

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

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

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

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

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

Click here to order this book.

Quote: David Hawkins

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

—Dr. David Hawkins

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

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

De-Escalation Skills Tip Sheet

Are you someone who is confronted with angry people in the course of your job? Angry co-workers, angry managers, angry customers, angry clients, angry suppliers, angry subordinates? Want to learn ways to take the wind out their sails and have them communicating more cooperatively?

In this special tip sheet, gain some insight into your own anger and methods for getting it under control before attempting to intervene with someone else expressing anger. Also, learn the five proven techniques to de-escalate an angry person that greatly increase your odds for success.

Your staff will be more confident--they will know how to handle difficult situations. Problems will be solved on the front line without the need to pass “situations” on to supervisors. These skills will help you and your employees handle customers and clients with ease. Customer satisfaction will improve, thus helping you increase sales or referrals. You will stand out above your competition.

If you work with residential clients, you can significantly decrease any physical restraints. Don’t let this information pass you by! There is nothing to lose. If you are not satisfied with the information presented, just send me an email and I’ll return the money you paid and you can keep the report.

Business Q & A

Question: On my website, how important is it to keep updating the information?

Answer: This question enters into the world of search engines. While I don’t completely understand how they work and what they are looking for (mostly because it is constantly changing), I do know that they like new and recent content. A website that is updated on a regular basis will receive a higher search engine ranking than one that stays static. The more you update and change your information, the better it will be.

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