June 14th, 2008
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Do you like what you have but don’t like your room? Here’s the solution: pull your rooms together so they look finished and professionally decorated by following these techniques to add the “wow” to your rooms! (I’ve used them in hundreds of homes!).
1. Paint the walls and ceiling a rich, warm neutral color or one of the colors in your
room’s fabrics. Your furnishings will immediately look more at home. I call it
“marrying your architecture to your furnishings”.
2. Next, move your seating away from the walls and group it around a fireplace, a
view window or any logical focal point.
3. Now, add a generous area rug to accent and unify your entire seating area.
4. Fill any empty looking corners with large plants and soft up-lights. Add a
decorative, folding screen for a fuller look.
5. Place your lamps to evenly and softly light your seating area. Use additional
lighting to accent your artwork, collections and accessories.
6. Create a focal point on the coffee table by elevating one of your favorite
accessories on a stack of several books (sans covers). This will give your treasure
more “presence”. Then add a low, full green plant or a blooming orchid and a
couple of large, glowing candles. If you like a fuller look, use a decorative tray or
runner underneath.
7. Lastly, be sure to decorate the top half of your room (from the furniture up), with
tall plants, window treatments, artwork and that wall color. The room will feel
considerably larger, more interesting and most importantly … finished!
These few changes will make all the difference so you can start enjoying living in a
beautiful home!
Mary L. Brown of One Day Design is an interior re-designer who specializes in quickly transforming rooms using the furniture, accessories, and artwork people already have to give them a professionally decorated look! She’s been featured on FOXTV, NBC and HGTV. Download Mary’s FREE “Top 10 Decorating Mistakes (and How to Avoid or Fix Them!)” and sign up for her FREE decorating eNewsletter at http://www/OneDayDesign.com
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June 14th, 2008
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Remember Steps 1 and 2?
If not here they are . . .
==========
1. The first thing is always work with a goal in mind.
I tell my team to focus on generating 100 leads a month as a
goal. (It’s important to set your goal as something that you
can easily measure, so keep this in mind when setting your
personal goals.)
2. Each day set a plan of action for yourself containing the
most important activities regarding your business based on
your GOAL.
Gauge the importance of each activity based on your
goal and you will easily see what is important and what is
not.
Now on to the rest . . .
3. Then as you carry out your daily tasks ask yourself this
question regularly.
“Does what I’m doing right now directly help me move me
towards my goal?”
Be honest with yourself and then have the displine to put
the less important stuff to the side. There is time for it,
but you have reward yourself with that time after the work
is done. (I’ll get to this in a second.)
This next point is very important!
4. Do ONE thing at a time.
Even if you have 20 things on your list of things to do for
the day focus on one at a time. It’s when you try to multi
task that you easily get swept way in distractions. Do one
thing at a time and make sure you give your full focus to
that one activity while you are doing it.
5. Keep track of your time.
On a notepad, as you’re carrying out your daily tasks keep
track of how much time you spend on what. This is a very
simple thing to do and could be easily be overlooked, but
don’t do it’s crucially important that you do carry out this
task for two reason:
**First, what you are able to track expands. If you
track your time you will see where you are spending it and you
soon very easily see there are periods where you have more
time than you think. Once you discover this you will be able
to find new and innovative ways to use this time towards the
success of your goal.
**Second, keeping track of your time will keep you focused on
the task at hand. By doing this, you will be able to
reward yourself with free time once you have successful
carried out your plan for your designated time period.
For instance,
I try to work in 1 hour blocks. I spend 45 minutes working
and then I give myself a 15 minute break as a reward.
I found that by doing this thatI can stay focused for the
designated length of time I need to get my task done because
I know that there is always the reward of free time at the
end of the hour.
6. Don’t worry!
If you don’t get everything done in a day you planned don’t
worry. If you’ve followed the plan above then you didn’t
have the time to do it. Just move it to the next day’s task
and continue.
That’s it!
Your time is your most valuable asset, so be sure to use it
to your advantage. Don’t let distractions kill your
business!
Daegan Smith is an Expert Internet Network Marketer. “Learn
How To Make $10,717 In Less Than a Week While Quickly And
Easily EXPLODING Your Network Marketing Organization Without
EVER Buying a Single Lead?”
==> http://www.internetmlmsuccess.com
==> mailto:netmlmsuccess@aweber.com
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June 14th, 2008
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To read this you have to plant your tongue firmly in your left cheek, open your lips a bit, and read out loud. (Tip: don’t move your tongue.)
Occasionally, I do a beta search of the – uh, search engines – to find out where my work ends up, since I provide a lot of FREE content for the internet. Today, I was doing one such search and started counting the typos.
Needless to say, I’m not a perfectionist, I often publish work with a typo or two (sometimes three or four) but my writing is interesting, people read it, and I’ve noticed the typos don’t usually matter a whole lot. People read right over them, and judging from where the articles are placed, a few well-educated folks either missed the typos or didn’t care enough to correct them. The other side of that is, I’ve noticed a few corrections on my articles that should have been left alone, because the correction made a bigger wrong than the original.
So, what’s a girl to do?
The internet is a big hairy place to live, and a few writes don’t make a wrong so long as your topic is clear, your content valuable, and your heart is in the right place. My heart is right there in my chest beating merrily along, my content has merit (or you wouldn’t be reading this – even with your tongue planted firmly in your cheek), and my topic is clear – LIFE is dysfunctional, enjoy it as it comes.
I’ve learned in my short 46 years of pumping blood on this planet that there’s far more to living than being perfect, and life without errors would be – pretty boring. So, I continue typing out my thoughts on paper, publishing them where ever folks read, and attempting to just live and enjoy the life I’ve been given.
Don’t you just love it when the sun comes up in the morning, after the weatherman predicted rain? I find those moments incredibly valuable! Definitely worthy of a smile, some laughter and one more write.
For all you folks who go through life looking for the errors – I just want to say, “Get a life! Enjoy the deeds you do, live for the purpose God gave you, and make a difference. Write a Wong!”
Jan Verhoeff is a fun loving single mom of four children. She’s energetic and focused with optimism and enthusiasm on creating a better world. She often spreads sunshine and smiles with her writing. Her hope is that God will send her a bit of Joy and a bit of Grace everyday to share with others. See her at http://janverhoeff.blogspot.com
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June 14th, 2008
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Chess is a fascinating board game that was invented thousands of years ago. Throughout its long history, it has earned acclaim and is considered to be the ‘king’ of board games. Several famous personalities were known for their chess skills. Napoleon, Nikola Tesla, Charlie Chaplin and Einstein were among them.
Chess can provide many hours of pleasure, not to mention intellectual exercise, since the game is known to improve analytical thinking, creativity and judgment.
In the past chess was mainly played by courtiers. Now everyone may enjoy this privilege. Chess attracts people of all ages from all over the world. Chess is intriguing, for it allows players to pit their wits, experience and inspiration against a competitor.
All you need to start playing chess is a chessboard and chess pieces — or if you wish to play online, you need nothing more than your computer. The chessboard is an 8″x 8″ board with alternating black and white squares; nearly everyone is sure to have seen one.
There are 32 chess pieces in total; 16 white pieces and their 16 black counterparts. One player owns the white pieces (we call this player WHITE) and the opponent (the BLACK) gets the black ones. The 16 pieces are: the King, the Queen, two Rooks, two Bishops, two Knights and eight Pawns.
When the game starts these pieces are placed in their initial, predefined positions. The arrangement is as follows: each player has his own pieces positioned along the two rows of the board (called ranks) that are closest to him. All 8 pawns are placed on the innermost rank of the 2. The rest of the pieces are placed closest to the player in the following order: Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen, King, Bishop, Knight, and Rook. This order is from left to right for WHITE and from right to left for BLACK, so that the same pieces are opposed on each column (called a file) of the board.
To facilitate descriptions of chess positions the ‘algebraic chess notation’ was invented. It is easy to learn and helps to identify squares and pieces on the board. It works like this: viewing from WHITE’s perspective, the leftmost file is designated ‘a’, the next one ‘b’ and so on until we reach the rightmost file, which is file ‘h’. The rank that is closest to WHITE is ‘rank 1′, or the first rank. Next comes ‘rank 2′ (the second rank) and so on until we get to the eighth rank, which is the rank closest to BLACK.
Now that we have appropriately designated the ranks and files we may identify a square by looking up the rank and the file to which it belongs. Thus, still viewing from WHITE’s side, the bottom left square is the square ‘a1′, since it belongs to file ‘a’ and to the first rank. Its adjacent squares are ‘b1′ on the right and ‘a2′ just above it.
Your goal is to trap the enemy King — it’s that simple. But that is a story for another day.
Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Visit Learn-Chess-Now to learn more about this fascinating game.
Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.
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June 12th, 2008
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Whether you’re buying or selling, reading real estate ads can be confusing. Here are explanations of more style terms used in real estate ads.
“Split Foyer” style
A home entered by a foyer with a half flight of stairs up to the upper level (where the living spaces and one or more bedrooms are usually located) and a half flight of stairs to the lower level (typically housing the family room and additional bedrooms).
“Tri-Level” style
A home with three levels. It is typically entered on the middle level and has half flights of stairs to the highest and lowest levels. The living room, dining room, and kitchen are usually on the middle level. The bedrooms are usually on the highest level. The lowest level may be unfinished or have family room, laundry, and perhaps a garage located there.
“Contemporary” style
These vary greatly, but none looks as if it could have been built prior to 1900. Some are almost entirely of glass. Some are almost entirely under ground. Roofs can be gable (slants down on each side of a ridge line creating triangles of space at each end), shed (slants in one direction only from high on one side to low on the other), flat, or sod (grass covered) for that matter. Often several roof styles are incorporated in one home. Energy saving or indoor-outdoor connectedness tend to be designing motives. Simplicity, straight lines, and open spaces are hallmarks. Decks, patios, and terraces are frequently featured and are often constructed of the same materials used indoors.
“Victorian” style
This style is based on houses built during Queen Victoria’s reign and for a while afterwards. They are usually at least two stories tall and maybe more. They are embellished with a variety of things including porches, turrets, towers with conical roofs, pediments with fanciful shapes over doors and windows, windows to the floor with perhaps only one sheet of glass per sash. And do think “gingerbread” or wood fashioned into intricate shapes for gable ends, places where porch posts reach the ceiling, at stair landings, and so on. Modern builders usually pare this style down because of the expense, but even the most recently built examples can be rather fanciful.
Summary
When looking at homes, you’ll find particular styles appeal to you. Once you identify the styles, you can narrow your search for the perfect home.
Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org – FSBO homes for sale by owner.
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June 11th, 2008
How much financing do you need for your company? What is the repayment period that you intend to work with? These questions need to be answered in order to determine the amount of financing to be obtained. In order to do this, you will need to know the costs incurred and the estimated revenue as well as your cash flow circumstances at least for the first few months of operations. Apart from that, you will also need to determine the amount that is needed to start your business. You will probably need to purchase assets such as equipment, furniture and remodeling costs, pay for your starting inventory, and have enough for rental and utility deposits. Furthermore, you will also need to pay for incorporation fees, insurance and licenses.
The best way to determine your start-up costs would be to obtain an estimation of these costs from vendors providing that will be selling the equipment to you. This can be done by requesting for a list of quotations and specifications to get a good gauge on the amount that you will be spending for this. The same process goes in obtaining prices for your inventory supplies. As for rental and utility deposits, you can get the help of a realtor to advise you on the amount that is required for your new premises.
It is good to know that the start-up costs for each business varies according to the nature of the business. A service-type business will naturally incur less or no inventory costs as opposed to a products-based business. Also, the business owner may decide to start on a shoestring budget and thus will just work on a low-cost basis, requiring only bare essentials during the first few months of operations.
Apart from looking at the start-up costs, operating costs at least for the first 90 days should also be budgeted. This would include variable expenditure such as rentals, salaries, commissions, utilities and inventory replenishment. It would be good as well to make an estimate on the expected revenue and collections within this period of time, and develop a 90-day budget on the cash in-flow and out-flow. It is also best to keep the estimates conservative, just in case things do not happen as planned. With a keen eye on the cash-flow, any shortfall can be detected which will determine the amount of cash financing that is required.
It is often a good idea to allow some buffer during the forecast and budgeting process for contingency purposes in case calculations were incorrect. On a personal basis, it would also be a good idea for you to estimate your personal expenses up to a period of 90 days as well, so that you’ll know the costs that you need to bear during the start-up phase. This way, you will be prepared with adequate savings to support you and your family during this critical phase.
It may also be a good idea to develop a professionally-looking table or spreadsheet to highlight the details of your cost estimation. This document can then be used to accompany your proposal to lenders or venture capitalists for the purpose of obtaining financing for the business. This way, it will be easier on the decision maker to consider your application and make a decision on the approval.
Other than that, you can also make utilize the table for your own business planning purposes, or evaluation purposes after the initial 90 days of operations. This way, you will be able to make better plans for the next operating period of the business, and thus be also able to plan for the future with greater precision.
Matt Bacak became “#1 Best Selling Author” in just a few short hours.
Recent Entrepreneur Magazine’s e-Biz radio show host is
turning Authors, Speakers, and Experts into Overnight Success Stories.
Discover The Secrets To Unleash The Powerful Promoter In You! Sign up
for Matt Bacak’s Promoting Tips Ezine ($100 value) just visit his
website at http://www.powerfulpromoter.com or http://promotingtips.com
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June 8th, 2008
Many Buyers Never Consult the Yellow Pages Before They Buy
Customers purchase most goods and services from local merchants. In the past, they relied on the Yellow Page directory to research their choices when they were ready to buy.
The Yellow Pages connected them to providers at the perfect moment in the sales process. They were referred to as “now” buyers, because they were motivated to buy right away. Although most people still spend their money close to home, more and more of them ignore the Yellow Pages. They acquire desired information elsewhere.
Computer-savvy customers go online to find what they need to know about where to do business. A large percentage of young adults or business buyers never consult the directory at all. And they control an expanding chunk of dollars spent.
The Internet Changed the Way People Locate Products and Services
Many buyers find it faster and easier to enter a query into a search engine than to dig through out-of-date phone books. If your primary or sole exposure to buyers is through your Yellow Page ad, you won’t even be in the running when online searchers decide where to buy. It’s time to get your Yellow Page directory exposure to mesh with your Internet visibility.
Places Where Customers Look for Online Information
1. Websites, Portals and Directories
Even a simple site can provide the information that customers want to find about you: location (including maps or directions to find it), hours, products and brands carried, specialties, payment methods, staff, services, prices, credentials, or special sales. Add to it to suit your customer’s desires.
But if you’re not inclined to take the plunge to its own site, your business can still be found through listings in a local portal (a site maintained to showcase community businesses) or in professional membership directories. The search engines can still locate you when queried.
2. Local Search
Local Search combines a search engine query word or phrase with a specific geographic term, like city or zip code. Such search results only include enterprises in that local area. Instead of information about a small enterprise being lost among millions of pages of search results, it shows up in a small pool of local providers. That works for the merchant as well as the person looking for what they provide.
Over 36% of all search-engine queries request Local Search results; and that percentage is growing quickly. Last year, both Google and Yahoo committed to expanding the value of Local Search results they deliver. People want them and are driving the trend. Small businesses that don’t get aboard risk being left behind (and unfound).
3. Local Search on Cell Phones
Google recently offered the local search option on cell phones. Given the widespread use of cell phones, that new feature will create an immediate impact. People on the go (and who isn’t, anymore?) will have less reason than ever to look in the printed Yellow Page directory. They can conduct Internet searches from their car.
Picture this. A person enters their desired business destination (Thai restaurant) plus their town into their cell phone as a search query. Within seconds, the options appear, and the customer can select the best or most convenient choice. They can even click on their preference to dial for any questions.
4. Internet Yellow Pages (IYP)
These are kept up to date (unlike print directories) and can be searched from anywhere. There are a variety of suppliers, so some checking around is required. Some are free or provide a link to your Website. Their usage is growing 25% a year.
Rethink how much you can realistically rely on your Yellow Page listing to provide a steady flow of new business. Merchants who don’t want their enterprise to lose ground also need to provide a combination of web-based promotion methods that potential customers can use to find them. If you want to be considered, you need to appear in the places where customers visit when they’re making buying decisions.
Copyright 2005 Off the Page
- Dr. Lynella Grant Author, Yellow Page Smarts: Make more money from your directory ad in tandem with your website http://www.yellowpagesage.com – Smarter ways to attract more YP customers. Local Search resources Off the Page Press (719) 395-9450
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June 8th, 2008
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“Most great plans aren’t. They are just nice, high-level ideas.”
That’s how one of our survey respondents answered our question, “What are the top three obstacles that prevent great plans from reaching effective implementation?” Despite the universal chatter around the need to be “strategic”, and the untold hours spent developing strategic plans, it appears that they don’t work nearly often enough. And based on the spirited responses we got from the generous folks who answered our survey, it seems that many have been involved in a strategic plan that failed. Of course, we all know it’s not YOUR fault!
If it’s any consolation, even the big boys can’t seem to get it right. Many more than Ted Turner are disappointed in the results from the AOL/Time Warner merger strategy. Arthur Andersen had a great strategy, except for the one little loose thread that allowed the entire company to unravel. And what happened at Kmart, Xerox, and Polaroid? These are organizations that all had the wind at their backs at one time or another, and now you have to wonder if their management could lead a dogsled team to a meatpacking plant.
OK, so no need to affix blame; let’s focus on fixing the problem! The purpose of the survey was to identify key contributors to strategy failure so raised awareness could guide our clients to proactively avoid them. What follows is a recap of the responses from the top five categories (in no predictable order, I’ll warn you!), along with excerpts of quotations that help clarify the points speedier than a bullet on amphetamines. These five categories reflect the most popular — although not necessarily the most significant — responses we received, out of approximately 25 categories. Their pervasiveness certainly warrants our attention. By addressing these five obstacles, you can expect to more successfully implement the plans you devise and participate in, even if a past experience felt more like a do-it-yourself mugging.
Communications
The number two response to our question about strategy failure should be familiar to all: Communications. Since we can’t get it right at home — with one in two U.S. marriages ending in divorce — what makes us think we’re going to get it right at work?
Poor communications seems to take many forms. Apparently, some groups like to develop strategic plans, and then hide them under a rock. But they don’t do it on purpose. “The failure to communicate the vision and strategic objectives to stakeholders” may mean that the developers of the strategy aren’t getting out enough information for folks to understand what they’re supposed to do with it. “New initiatives or objectives are outlined but not communicated throughout the organization as to how the new objectives should look and feel, what steps to take, time-frame, etc.” “Poor communications among team members responsible for decisions in implementation. Expectations and opinions are not shared openly, thoroughly, and effectively.”
“Every tactical action supporting the strategic objectives needs to be included in an overall communication plan so that the strategy is reinforced.” There’s an interesting idea: an overall communication plan. Other responses also indicate that lack of communications routinely allows plans to die out after their launch. “No regular internal press to generate momentum.” “Lack of better marketing efforts.” Apparently all goes quiet, kind of like a mausoleum after the entertainment goes home. This contributor didn’t hold anything back: “The communication sucks! Organizations become introverted in their communication strategies, whether the group is a large company or a small team.”
Communication is also much more than words and pictures. Communication is also delivered through demonstration. “The management team does not follow the strategy themselves.” We all know about the hypocritical “do as I say, not as I do” admonition. What does that scream about the value of the strategy? That behavior will raise eyebrows faster than a cook who won’t eat his own cooking!
Leadership
Which brings us to leadership, which was the fifth most popular category. From these responses we can learn that leadership is much like fly-fishing — when you’re up to your waist in it, it’s suddenly much harder than it looks! “Most leaders grossly underestimate what it takes to lead effectively.” “Failing of leadership starting and ending at the top.” “Lack of a true motivating leader.” This contributor offered some specificity: “Weak leadership. This results in improper resource allocation, lack of buy-in, poor follow-through, inadequate checks, misaligned goals/ strategies/ actions, inefficient rewards and punishments, cover-ups, etc.”
This respondent noted that there was enough blame to go around: “Not a lack of leadership from the main person in charge but from either a lack of ability or the lack of ‘willingness’ from other personnel who are needed to step up and truly lead the effort to bring the strategies from paper to production.” The message here is that we are all called to lead from wherever we are, even if we’re not at the top.
Not all management teams are blessed with skilled leaders. “Management team and/or owner not experienced/skilled enough to carry out the strategy.” Some have titles associated with leadership, but not the authority: “No assigned champion/true owner of each project who has the authority to implement.” I was taught that you must delegate authority at the same time you delegate responsibility. Lastly, we have leaders who are just plain stubborn, kind of like a mule with a good parking space at the mall: “…’rogue’ links in the management chain that distort the plan to suit their OWN vision, thus subverting the directive from the top without authorization.” Now I’m thinking fly-fishing is actually easier.
No Plan Behind the Idea
The third most popular category is named, “No Plan Behind the Idea,” captured in this summary: “Most great plans aren’t. They are just nice, high-level ideas.” Those of you that have attempted to execute plans that were as thin as the soles on Newman’s shoes may easily relate to this: “‘Strategic initiative?’ No, it wasn’t ’strategic’ and it wasn’t an ‘initiative’. Calling something a strategic initiative doesn’t make it one.”
It seems that many of our strategic planning sessions stop halfway, before there is a plan. “Very little planning, if any, goes into the implementation process.” “Undeveloped intentions.” Maybe you know some of these people: “Frequently the person with the great idea is not an execution giant.” While no one is advocating using masking tape on a paint-by-numbers picture, how about this example of how to do it right: “the Microsoft of today NEVER rushes in … they wait to see how things shake out, steal some early ideas, perfect them, then smash everybody they can and conquer the world.”
Inquiring minds want to know what a strategy document is really for. “A strategy document almost NEVER actually states what is to be done from day to day and a way for employees to track their actual progress. Most strategies stop at the ‘conceptual stage’ rather than actually give very SPECIFIC tasks to be done.” “Concept not cascaded throughout the organization so that individuals know how it applies to them and their job.” “Unable to break the project down into doable actions.” If all this sounds like a lot of work, perhaps this says it all: “Ideas are easier to talk about than do.”
Passive Management
In fourth place is a category I call “Passive Management.” This is characterized by assuming that things will run themselves after we get them started, which is about as likely as being hit by lightning while being eaten by a shark. Instead, I suggest that implementing strategic plans is more like keeping plates spinning atop a number of pointed sticks. If we don’t put forth a regular effort to keep them spinning, the plates will fall down and the sticks will end up in uncomfortable places. “When the implementation phase begins there is not enough follow-through — or follow-up for that matter — from senior management.” “Poor and inexperienced management to execute the plan.”
Notice the subtle difference here from leadership. While leadership is expected to communicate the vision and support it with demonstrable actions, management is expected to know how to execute the individual tactics. “All talk and no action, failure to assign and hold individuals accountable for delivering on the assignments.” “No one takes total charge and follows up when someone doesn’t meet commitment dates.” “The objective … is written down on paper … and nicely filed away.” Here is what seems to be missing: “… this is the objective, this is how we’re going to get there, here is your part in the plan and you will be held accountable.”
Like leadership, management is not easy either: “It takes a special person to be able to define strategies and to plot out and manage others in how to achieve those strategies. Most fail because they assume their team has the wherewithal to pull it off and they therefore do not manage the process.” I must say, I was surprised to learn that people want more management — at least where implementing strategic plans is concerned!
Motivation and Personal Ownership
Our last category is actually our first category. This most popular category of Motivation and Personal Ownership contains responses focused on the question, “What’s in it for me?” This is not to imply that we’re all a bunch of selfish, greedy, self-serving individuals — although recent headlines could certainly make that case successfully! — it’s really that people are looking for the meaning in what they do. In other words, they want to show up for more than just a paycheck. People want to build something, make a difference. “Don’t understand the purpose, goal is minimized, vision disappears. No enthusiasm to make it happen. The bottom line, how will it affect ME?”
More effort is needed to help people understand how getting behind the company’s goals can support their personal goals. “The I/me mentality that is so prevalent today. If it works for me — it works for me! Let everyone else deal with it.” “You must have some kind of desire or necessary will to implement the plan. You must have some kind of image of the outcome.” The message here is that you — personally — must desire the outcome. Perhaps that lack is what causes, “lack of buy-in from the entire group.” “Typically the initiative fails because the people responsible for implementing it are not convinced of its value.”
What are the symptoms when there is no motivation/personal ownership? “Employee resistance.” “Lack or no sense of urgency.” “Inability of individuals to view strategic planning an important and exciting part of their job.” “Lack of employees’ support.” “Lack of better sales efforts.” “Lack of initiative at the lower levels of implementation, the ‘front lines’.” “Lack of ability to arouse enthusiasm.” In summary is this prediction: “The project will never succeed if there is no emotion or passion involved.”
Conclusion
Pay attention to Motivation and Personal Ownership, Communications, No Plan Behind the Idea, Passive Management, and Leadership, and you’ll be ahead of the strategic planning game. These observations and insights can help you improve your success rate with implementing strategic plans, so it doesn’t feel like doing the splits over a case of dynamite.
If you have had “great plans” fail — I’ve lost personal count! — take what we have learned here and embrace a new plan for those “high-level ideas.” Let’s also learn from Napoleon Hill: “The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail.” Braced with this knowledge, you’ll do clearly better this time, and without need of bullets or amphetamines!
© 2002 Paul Johnson. All rights reserved.
The survey referenced above was conducted by e-mail between July 15th and August 1, 2002. Ninety-four respondents from a variety of business environments and roles contributed 321 individual responses. Those responses have been categorized and form the basis of our observations and analysis.
Note: This article is available for reprint at no charge. We only ask that you include our copyright notice in your reprint, along with the About the Author (byline) information we provide at the end of the article.
Paul Johnson of Panache and Systems LLC consults and speaks on business strategy for systematically boosting sales performance using Shortcuts to Yes. Check out more salesforce development tips at http://panache-yes.com/tips.html. Call Paul direct in Atlanta, Georgia, USA at (770) 271-7719.
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June 8th, 2008
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His first found him within 221 metres of the peak when his team stopped to help a fellow mountaineer who was left for dead. One year later, Andrew Brash, a University of Calgary alumni, returned to the Mount Everest to finish what he had started.
Bahadur Sherchan returned this week from Nepal after successfully climbing to the summit of Chomolungma. Hall was frostbitten and severely disoriented due to altitude sickness. Min Bahadur Sherchan returned a hero to Calgarians. They flexed their muscles this year all the in name of the Olympic spirit, but it was hardly spirited at all.”
He was reported in good health as he began making his descent. Andrew Brash and four climbing guides reached the 29,035-foot (8,850-meters) summit of the world’s highest mountain early Sunday, said Ramesh Chretri, an official with Nepal’s ministry of tourism. Nevertheless, he was all too aware of the potential dangers the mountain could bring. Certain parts of the climb are more dangerous than others and it is important for climbers to remain focused More than 3218 people have climbed to the summit since it was first conquered in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary, who died in January, and Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay.
As he planned for the climb, Sherchan told reporters he wanted to inspire fellow senior citizens. He also said many Nepalese have established records on Mt Everest, so it was only fitting that the record for the oldest climber to reach the summit should also belong to a Nepali. They basically coerced the Nepali government to not allow any climbers past camp two on the Nepali side. “The Chinese weren’t allowing anybody on the mountain. They ended up commandeering it for themselves, even though the mountain is shared by two countries. Now that Min Bahadur Sherchan has successfully scaled the tallest mountain in the world, he is once again ready to focus on his family. “Mount Everest this year became a political pawn,” he said with some frustration.
The Chinese were flying their airplanes over the mountain and had Chinese officials in Kathmandu. Sherchan just 7 days away from his 77th birthday beat the age record set last year by 71-year-old Japanese teacher Katsusuke Yanagisawa.
With the Chinese preparing for the impending summer Olympic Games, Bahadur Sherchan noted that the government’s actions hardly reflected the Olympic spirit. The 75-year-old man from Nepal is now the oldest person to have reached the top of Everest. This season climber Anthony Loeff is reporting the scales for Chomolungma or Mount Everest after he reached the peak of Kilimanjaro earlier this year.
Indeed, the decision to actualize a long-time personal goal left Andrew Brash with some internal uncertainties, he cited the political actions of China and Nepal as providing the greatest adversity he faced on his journey. Andrew Brash last attempt resulted in the rescue of Lincoln Hall, an Australian climber who was left by his team in the “death zone.”
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June 8th, 2008
The week in review.
This has been a very enlightening and challenging week. My daily routine is starting to form a pattern and pretty soon this network marketing thing is going to become second nature. I know there are certain things that have to be done in order to be successful and they must be carried out each and every day. How they get carried out and in what priority is a personal decision but they must get carried out.
Visiting forums, reviewing business offers, managing links and advertising, tracking campaigns, article writing and submission. Let’s not forget website management, search engine submissions, prospecting and list building. What about product reviews and development. We found a new product, we review it, get it into our sites, and begin marketing of said product. This in itself is a time consuming process but is definitely required if we are going to move forward with our business.
We must continually build our list, list. List! No matter what organization you are affiliated with you must have customers! One time visits are not going to sustain you very long so we must continually massage and build our client data base and try to achieve loyal and happy customers. With out a customer base that is continually growing and expanding we are dead in the water. There is no real secret to building a client base we just have to remember that it takes time. It will not happen over night but instead is a living, breathing organism that must be fed and nourished. In time we will have a huge data base of leads that will help us create a good income. Lets face reality- we are in sales even though we call it network marketing. It might be affiliate programs, digital products or hard consumables. It may simply be information we are selling but we have to market and sell our selves don’t we? No matter what we are doing on the internet we are all in sales one way or another and therefore must have a LIST. I think we have beat this one to death
Moving forward lets discuss a simple thing like visiting forums. We visit forums in order to share information and experiences both positive and negative. I am not talking about chat rooms. I am discussing business related forums like the Warrior forum. This is the place I go to get free helpful information to run my business. I might even find a business partner or new product. The possibilities are endless! I try to visit each and every day to see what is going on and to assist my fellow marketers if I can. I do not go there just to submit responses that are worthless in order to let my signature file, small ad, be seen. That is not the purpose of business forums. Submit responses only if it you have a valid and meaningful response. This is not the place to air out your laundry or mass market your business.
Working from home has its benefits but it also has its requirements just like any other business. It requires your time and commitments each and every business day!
Good luck with your home based business. Let us all have a great and prosperous week.
I enlisted in the Navy in 1976 and served honorably for 21 years. In that time I advanced from E-1 to E-9, made 7 deployments to the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Greater Caribbean and Western Pacific. My ships of choice were Destroyers and Frigates. On shore duty assignments I served as an Instructor for Air control and basic Operations Specialist “A” School (radar & communication operators). The USN sent me to Leadership, Management, Instructor and Technical schools and an assortment of Team Trainers. Team Work being an essential part of any organization especially during combat operations. I joined the Fleet Reserve in June of 1996.
My second career involved home study for My Merchant Mariners Document. I studied hard and in 1997 received My Unlimited Third Mates license, Able Seaman Unlimited and all endorsements. I went to work for a Supply boat company in Louisiana as a Mate. I worked hard, studied, tested for and achieved My 1600 Ton Masters license and I was promoted to Captain.
I am currently attempting to master Network Marketing. I am still sailing but hope to become successful and use my anchor for a decoration in my front Yard!
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