The Success Center

Here we are again, you, me, and more questions to help you align your goals with your values for success. Did you answer any of the questions from the last post? If not, let me implore you to do it; even if fear has you gripped, face it, and walk in success!

In this post we are going to look at three questions not to ask yourself so that you succeed.  Asking the right questions is pertinent to success; but asking yourself the wrong questions can be detrimental to your moving forward.

Let’s take a mental walk through three questions you should NEVER ask yourself if you want to succeed.

What’s Wrong with Me?

The problem with some questions is that they’re just plain wrong, right off the bat. They are based on false assumptions, they lead the questioner in a faulty direction, and they end up taking you on a wild goose chase that can lead nowhere good.

One of the questions  that is by far the leader of  the pack when it comes to wrong questions is…

What’s wrong with me?

At some point in their lives, everyone, deep in their soul, has felt that they are “less than,” like they just don’t make the grade. They wonder what everyone else has that they don’t, why “they” have it so easy, and what they did wrong to cause so much misery in their lives.

Yep, everyone has those moments; some of us are just better at hiding it than others. Even the most successful people on the face of the earth, from Oprah Winfrey to Sidney Poitier to Richard Branson would likely admit that there were times when they just didn’t know if they could measure up.

While it’s natural to start falling down the well of self-doubt, it serves no purpose. Each time you give in to those demons, you allow yourself to fall away, little by little, from your true power. Pretty soon, all you’re doing is sitting on the couch with a bag of Doritos in one hand and the remote in the other; watching hours of “The New Jersey Housewives” rerun marathons and wondering how Teresa is able to live with herself day after day.

Don’t go there! Don’t even take one step in that direction!

As soon as you get the “woe is me’s,” freeze! Go do something productive. Try helping someone else out. Preferably someone whose position in life is so disadvantaged when compared to yours that you’d feel completely silly complaining about your life. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, read to kids on the critical care ward at the hospital, or take a load of old towels to the animal shelter. Get outside yourself and stop worrying about you. Worry about someone else for a change, and see what you can do to make their lot in life a little easier.

We’ve all got things wrong with us, whether it’s an extra-large nose, an extra-large chip on our shoulder, or an extra-large something else. The only difference between those who make it and those who don’t is that some of us stop thinking about their faults and do it – hit the homerun, write the best-seller, start a revolution – anyway.

Can I be honest with you? My forehead is not exactly small but until I laugh about it myself or tell people that a high forehead is a sign of royalty in Africa, they never notice. Why? My attitude about it is “So What? I know it  is  big and I wear it well!”

Am I making sense to you? It’s not about what’s wrong with you but rather what’s RIGHT with you. You are a creation of the most high God and He makes no mistakes.

How Can I Do This Faster?

Speed is good. Just ask Danica Patrick. But which is worse: Doing the right thing, too slowly, or doing the wrong thing really, really fast? My vote is for the latter. That’s why I believe you need to stop asking yourself this question:

How can I do this faster?

Efficiency in and of itself is not a bad thing.  It’s highly prized by manufacturing line engineers, train conductors, and Swiss bankers. But just doing something faster doesn’t earn you a gold star. In fact, spending resources, even in an efficient manner, is more wasteful than taking too long to do the right thing. Not only are you directing valuable money, time, and energy in the wrong direction; you’re also falling behind on the things you should be doing.

Think about it this way. You ask your teenage son to get his homework finished. Half an hour later, you check in on him and he says, “No, I didn’t do my homework, but I did a great job moving up to the next level in Just Dance! I was really efficient, too – I’ve learned every move”

Umm… no. Now, not only is it a half-hour later, the homework still isn’t done and your son has spent 30 minutes doing a wasteful task really, really, well.

Here’s when you know efficiency has become an enemy instead of a friend:

• You use efficiency as an avoidance technique to keep from handling the less enjoyable, but oh-so-much-more important, tasks. You revamp your website for the upteenth time, moving the sidebar a fraction of an inch to the right. You did it really, really, well… but you should have been working on lining up sales calls for next week.
• You fall into comfort zones of things you do very quickly and very well, failing to recognize that it’s the things outside your comfort zone that help move you closer to your goal.
• You keep doing tasks on automatic pilot, even though you could have outsourced them or automated them. After all, it’s a no-brainer to sit and feed the copy machine – and after all, you’re working, right?

Often times the reason why we are trying to do something faster is simply because we really don’t want to be doing them anyway. So why do it?

When you find yourself asking, “How can I do this faster?” stop and ask yourself if you should be doing that task at all. Many times, the answer will be no. Then you can let go and get on with your real work – the work that may not be as efficient, but makes a bigger difference in the long run.

Do I Really Have To

Inside of all of us is a three-year-old toddler who likes nothing better than to throw a screaming fit every time someone makes him do something he doesn’t want to. It could be skipping dessert, writing a sales presentation, getting to bed at a reasonable hour, or putting the credit card away before buying yet another Fred Hammond or Mandisa CD.

That three-year-old is sulky, whiny, and generally unpleasant, so much so that often we’ll give in just so we don’t have to listen to him whine anymore. While this technique works in the short run, in the long-term you end up suffering.

After all, vegetables are good for you while ice cream seven days a week is not; the sales presentation must get done, you do have to get up early for work, and someone’s going to have to pay that credit card bill.

You can tell when you’re giving in to this little tyrant when you start asking yourself:

Do I really have to ____?

When you catch yourself uttering this phrase, it’s time for a reality check. Your rebellious streak is rising faster than the National Debt, and if you don’t keep it in check you’re going to pay the price at some point. After all, the piper always wants to be paid – now or later.

It’s interesting that one part of our brain knows very well what needs to get done while the other part rejects the whole idea. Without diving too deeply into the psychology of it all, it’s easiest to just admit there’s part of us that really would prefer to sit on the couch and gain 150 pounds worth of cheese fries rather than head out for a nice jog around the lake. The duality exists, and one way to let your sane side win is by never letting the little kid have the microphone.

As soon as you start wondering if you really have to go to work, answer that email, create the new web form, it’s time for a smackdown…but try not to hit yourself too hard. Instead of giving in to the beast and beginning a cost-benefit analysis of letting your diet slide for another day, stop thinking about it.

Remember that you’re dealing with a 3-year-old, and you cannot reason, outwit, or outsmart him. All you can do is refuse to engage. Remind yourself the decision has already been made, and don’t revisit it. Pull the old, “Because I’m the parent, that’s why.” Then send him to bed without any supper and get on with your life.

Conclusion

As we’ve discussed, questions are powerful tools, but they can steer you off track. It is imperative that you examine the questions you ask to see if you’re helping yourself or knocking your ability to think innovatively.

Many of the internal discussions you have with yourself are so routine, we don’t even realize they’re going on. It is time, for the sake of success, for you to bring your internal dialogue to light. In doing so you can determine if what you are saying is beneficial to your success or causing you to fail!

Don’t fall into the trap of asking questions that will only harm you in the end. You can spend your life in a repetitive down spiral because you how you question yourself or you can turn it around so that you empower your very being with how you question yourself.

What are some power questions that you think we all need to ask? What are questions we all need to avoid asking ourselves? Share your thoughts below.

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LaTara Ham-Ying is a Biblical Lifestyle Coach, online marketing consultant, and successful blogger who enjoys helping others create a life and business that fits their style and shows them the power of living in the NOW! Learn more about LaTara at latarahamying.com

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Branding your business is one of the most important things that you can do to succeed. Your brand, which can essentially be known as your reputation, is the means by which consumers will get to know your business. If your brand is portrayed in a positive light, your business will reap the benefits.

Let’s take a look at some strategies to help you brand your business online!

Online Branding tip #1 – Research your Audience

When it comes to branding your business, one of the most important steps is researching your target audience. Your target audience will affect all of your branding efforts including who you market to, where you market, and how you market.

By doing your research, you can quickly learn what your target audience likes (to create interesting webpage content) and where they surf (to get noticed by them successfully).

Online Branding Tip #2 – Give Yourself A Voice

You have researched your target audience – now you need to put this information to use and find a way to connect with them. Know what it is that your audience wants to hear and find a way to get that message across to them. Once you tell your audience what they want to hear (and uphold your promises), you will attract a much larger interest in your business.

Online Branding Tip #3 – Brand your Business online

In relation to branding, the internet is one of the best ways to get your message across to your audience. In order to do so, however, you have to make yourself available on multiple web channels. There are many different ways that you can advertise your business online including the use of social media, paid advertisements, blogs, forums, email lists, and article directories (to name just a few).

For more tips and advice on building your brand online, check out: How to Use Social Media to Build Your Brand Locally

Online Branding Tip #4 – Integrate Social Media

When it comes to branding your business, social media is the internet hotspot. Determine where your target audience hangs out. Do they use Facebook? Or perhaps they are more likely to use Twitter? A little research should tell you exactly where you can find your target audience and how you can create a marketing campaign that will capture their interests. Once you have attracted a solid base, use social media to generate more personal connections with your audience – this what will keep them committed and loyal to you!

Online Branding Tip #5 – Build Your Reputation

It is not enough to get yourself noticed online, you must also have a good reputation. Once you begin attracting customers, do everything you can to keep them. Conducting follow-ups, providing high quality products, and offering great deals are just a few of the many things that you can do to create a positive reputation for your business.

Your Turn

Now that you know more about how to brand your business online, you can use this information for generating a solid and loyal customer base. What tools do you use in branding your business online? What other ways can you enhance your company’s brand online? Share your thoughts below.

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About the Author

Silvia Pencak, also known as Magnetic Silvia around the social web, is a Brand Strategist specializing in small business online branding. You can connect with her at her blog, Magnetic Look. com.

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To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science.  ~Albert Einstein

Questions, as Albert Einstein relates so eloquently in the statement above, help us frame our thinking and define our problems. We can rarely think of an answer outside of the way we’ve framed the question, so it stands that the questions we ask – particularly those we ask ourselves – will drive our thinking and our behavior.

In my last post I shared tips on aligning your goals with your values. This time around I want to focus on questions to consider as you move forward in 2012 aligning your goals so that they match what you value most.

These questions are designed to help you move beyond what you write on paper into a mode of daily success action. I am a huge believer in the fact that “success happens when you take actions”. There is so much to share and say on this topic that I am breaking it up into two posts so that you can digest the information easily.

It’s About How You Speak to Yourself

The purpose of this article is to help you take a look at the way you speak to yourself, and to make some changes along the way. In this article I have listed five questions you should be asking yourself to broaden your thinking and make you more successful.

Whatever it is that you are trying to attain in life, the encouragement and suggestions in this article will help you define your path and remove obstacles that may have been holding you back.

Question #1 – What Are My Highest Value Activities?

 Many people reach the end of their day, only to realize that they didn’t make any movement towards their main goals.

If this sounds like you, you’ve got an issue with the kind of tasks you’re undertaking. While it’s great to be busy and feel productive, it’s even more important to do the things that matter. The key to making this distinction in what your highest value activities are.

The answer to this question is going to be exclusive to you. No coach, no matter how skilled, can tell you what you receive the most value from. It stems from a blend of your unique gifts, talents, skills, and your overall goals and dreams. Join the two, and you’ve got a list of the things that only YOU can achieve – and these are the things that should get priority on your daily to-do list.

If you find yourself getting sidetracked by tasks that aren’t on your highest-value list, you need to find a way to remove yourself from them.

You can;

• Delegate them to someone else,
• Hire another person to do them, or
• just simply stop doing them.

Every minute you spend doing something that is outside of your highest-values is a minute you aren’t reaching your full potential. Concentrate on the tasks that you and only you are skilled at doing and leave the rest to someone else.

Think of it this way: If you call Apple, the CEO doesn’t answer the phone. He doesn’t respond to customer complaints. He doesn’t sweep the floors, order more paper for the copy machine, or make sure the cafeteria is fully stocked on coffee. He leaves those details to others, and he focuses on the projects and activities that only he can do: Visualizing the future path for Apple. Bottom line…Focus works.

Question #2 – What is the One Thing I Could Do Today to Move Forward?

 Sometimes we get stuck in the “overwhelm of life”. There are simply too many projects, too many things to do, too many people clamoring for our attention, and too much information.

We aren’t at all sure on what we should do next, and so we retreat to the relative peace and quiet of a game of Solitaire on our computer, or we check our email yet again, or we head to the refrigerator for food we likely do not need.

When we find ourselves taking the long way home to avoid dealing with the snarl that appears to be our life, we need to stop. Instead of avoiding the commotion, we need to dive in, looking for that one loose end that will unravel the mess and lead us to our goals. Sounds too easy, right? It actually is.

When you come to a spot and don’t know what to do next, or you are tempted to run away and hide in a pint of Hagen Das ice cream, ask yourself what is the one thing you could do today to move yourself forward?

Sometimes the answer is a big task but usually, it’s something very simple – Make the phone call, buy the book, or answer the email. Just like with a knot in a rope, sometimes it just takes a bit of wiggle room to make the whole thing loosen and come free.

Remember, you’re not looking for the grand gestures or huge movements (“I need to sell my house and move to Idaho”); you’re looking for one thing you can start and accomplish TODAY that will let you make progress. Here is an activity I do with some clients who have obstacles toward success :

• Choose 1 thing you can right now at this moment towards your bigger goal.
• Break that down into a small doable task for the day. Maybe that something is a newsletter that needs get out to your subscribers. It is ok to make it your ONE thing.
• Break it down with a to-do list of what is going to take to get it out at a reasonable time and in a practical manner.  No one said you had to write a magazine. Just do the newsletter in a simple yet effective way and you have succeeded at accomplishing your one thing that will help you connect with your market and increase your sales.

Make sense?

If all you did was ask yourself this question day after day, and then take action on the answers, you’d soon find yourself closer to your goals than you ever imagined.

Are you moving in your seat yet? Did I touch any nerves? Trust me when I say that I have not arrived and I struggle with some of these very issues (especially the second one). I think most entrepreneurs do! Don’t you?

Don’t get comfortable yet, there is one more post coming soon to help you. I have even more questions to help you succeed in 2012. If you aren’t moving on your goals for 2012, why aren’t you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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LaTara Ham-Ying is a Biblical Lifestyle Coach, online marketing consultant, and successful blogger who enjoys helping others create a life and business that fits their style and shows them the power of living in the NOW! Learn more about LaTara at latarahamying.com

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Small business blogging isn’t dead, but your blog can become “dead in the water” if your posts don’t deliver for your readers.  If your blog posts are too long, confusing, hard to follow, or not well thought-out, you can lose opportunities to convert readers into buyers.

What is a Killer Blog Post?

A killer blog post is one that gets shared across social networks, leads quality discussions in your comments section, and ultimately generates business leads.

It consists of;

• A Killer Idea which gets people interested in your post, captures the imagination, and solves a problem. Think of your business’s industry and help your customers solve their biggest challenges.
  Note: Need help organizing your blog post ideas? Start an editorial calendar. Here’s a video tutorial to help you get started!
• Killer Content brings the idea to life and holds your reader’s attention. Videos, pod-casts, and other media can be used to enhance your idea. You’ll find a couple of ideas on good content creation in this article.
• and Killer Copy-writing which moves the reader along and keeps them engaged until the very end. Copyblogger has an excellent tutorial on copywriting that I highly recommend if you want to learn how to write great copy like a pro!

If you want to write awesome blog posts that engage your readers, builds community, and generates leads, you’ll have to follow 12 easy steps. Go through each using the info-graphic below and bookmark this page to reference it whenever you need it.

Note: Want my best advice for writing killer blog posts and growing your blog? Sign up for my 2 for 1 Success Coaching special. If you want to get more blog traffic, create deeper connections with your readers, and generate more business sales then this deal is for you!

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Rod Kirby helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and organizations take advantage of social media marketing and new media through his company, Kirby Enterprises. Follow Rod on Twitter here.

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This guest post comes from Paul Wilson, Jr. of 3hrive.com.

One of my most memorable life experiences is having the chance to play college football, which is why I’m a huge fan of the game. Those who follow college football know that from mid-December to early January of every year is “bowl season.” Football enthusiasts around the country will probably over-indulge, having the chance to watch 35 bowl games starting December 17th and culminating with the championship game on January 9th.

One of the most well-known college football conferences is the Big 12. And although they don’t have a team playing in the championship game this year, they regularly have teams that are at or near the top of the national rankings. However, as accomplished as that conference is, I don’t want you to confuse that Big 12 with the “B.I.G. 12 for 2012”.

Top-tier college football teams set a goal to be the national champion, not just to win a bowl game. Well this blog is not about college football or New Year’s bowl games. You need to determine what a championship year looks like for you.

What does winning the “big one” look like in your business?

How will you know if you are on track to meet or exceed preseason expectations? How are you preparing to make mid-season adjustments based on fresh opportunities, unexpected events, or new challenges?

Most people want to build a big business, but that is often focused on temporal measures of success that won’t stand the tests of time. However, a “B.I.G.” (Bold, Innovative, God-Inspired) business is one that focuses on building significance, i.e. the ultimate legacy that you want to create based on how you and your business impacts people and communities.

Significance happens by helping others achieve success. If you focus your efforts on building a significant business, you will definitely reap success along the way.

Here are 12 B.I.G. ideas to propel you to have a significant championship season personally and professionally in 2012:

1. Write a life championship speech – your eulogy – as if you were going to die 50 years from now. Then write what would you need to start doing in 2012 to eventually live up to your future legacy.

2. Choose a daily reading plan to read through the entire Bible. This is your spiritual playbook. If you have already done this previously, choose a different version of the Bible than you normally read.

3. Pray constantly for your customers, competitors, strategic partners, and employees. The Holy Spirit is your competitive advantage, so ask God for the specific wisdom for how to most effectively deal with each of these groups. Also ask Him for divine alliances.

4. On a monthly basis study the business characteristics of Biblical leaders such as Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, Paul, and others.

5. Choose a community group or charity in which to invest a percentage of your company’s profits on a monthly basis.

6. Choose a community group or charity in which to volunteer your time serving on a monthly basis.

7. Choose a community or non-profit organization that needs your expertise and offer one of your products or services pro bono. Ask God for creative wisdom so that all parties involved will be able to benefit over a long period of time.

8. Join a business-focused Bible study group where you can get strengthened spiritually and naturally in living out your faith while growing a sustainable business. There is safety in wise council.

9. Facilitate 12 information interviews (one per month) with a successful expert in your industry and draw out the transferable principles that you can apply to your business and life.

10. Facilitate 12 information interview (one per month) with a successful expert in a different industry than yours and draw out the transferable principles that you can apply to your business and life.

11. Plan an international business missions trip to be completed in either 2012 or 2013. The purpose of this B.I.G. adventure is to have a three-cord impact on the foreign community you choose to engage: social, spiritual, and financial.

12. Rest, relax, and recreate regularly. Your health is your greatest wealth. Take care of your spirit, soul, and body so you can enjoy the fruit of your bountiful harvest.

Champions prepare with the expectation that they are going to win. You will have a Bold, Innovative, God-Inspired year personally and professionally in 2012 when you plan your work and then work your plan. The significance you achieve will be worth exponentially more than a trophy. And you will have a great cloud of witnesses who will be cheering on your victories.

What else can you do to have a B.I.G. year in 2012? Leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below.

About the Author

Paul Wilson, Jr. is a Marketplace Pastor and “Dream Catalyst” for leaders and entrepreneurs. He is an author, inspirational speaker, and business coach. Connect with him at his website, 3hrive.com

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Whether you own a small business or a large corporation, the key to success in business is branding. Branding sets you apart from your competitors and it helps your prospects and clients come to know your company. So it is very important that you put a great deal of effort into learning how to brand your business or company.

What exactly is  branding and how can you create a successful branding strategy? Let’s find out!

Definition of Branding

Branding is one of a company’s most valuable assets. Essentially, it is the company’s reputation. It is how your customers portray you and it is how you will become memorable; allowing loyal customers to refer you to other potential customers. When you look at the top brands out there, whether we talk about Coca Cola, Apple, Nike or Ikea, all of these companies use branding as a powerful tool to attract their clients and keep them asking for more.

There are many different parts to your brand, including;

• Your logo,
• The connections you make with customers,
• Your customer service,
• The affordability of your prices,
• The quality of your services/products,
• and any other aspect of your business that will affect how your customers portray your business.

How to brand Your Company

Now that we know the branding definition, we can discuss how to brand your business. Branding begins with understanding your core values. Do you want your business to be known for its honesty, client satisfaction, and integrity? Or perhaps you want it to be known for its high quality products at great prices? Whatever the case, you need to determine your core values before you can communicate them to your audience.

Speaking of your audience – do you know who your audience is? Your target audience will be the key to your success so it is important that you pinpoint who they are. Once you have determined who your target audience is, you can conduct research to learn what they like, where they shop, and what types of websites they use. It is only once you know this essential information that you can successfully market towards the customers who are going to make you the most money.

When learning how to brand a company, you not only need to know who your target audience is, but you must also know how to connect with them. In order to attract a following, you must appeal to your audience on an emotional level, develop a clear message that will become relevant to them, and set yourself apart from your competitors by offering something unique (low prices, high quality products, unique services, etc.).

In sum, we can state the branding definition as the reputation of your company. It is everything that your company does to create a name for itself.  If you offer excellent customer service, high quality products or services, and create strong connections with your customers, you will quickly establish a positive brand for your business.

If, on the other hand, you are dishonest, do not offer good service, and sell low quality products, your brand will be associated with a negative name and you will lose potential customers quickly. Develop a smart brand strategy for your business or company so that you can create a positive name for your business, gaining loyal customers each step of the way!

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Silvia Pencak, also known as Magnetic Silvia around the social web, is a Brand Strategist specializing in small business online branding. You can connect with her at her blog, Magnetic Look. com.

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Rod Kirby helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and organizations take advantage of social media marketing and new media through his company, Kirby Enterprises. Follow Rod on Twitter here.

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Thanksgiving is this week which marks the official beginning of the holiday season and signals the end of the year. This time of year, entrepreneurs try to capitalize on the holidays by offering promotional services and discounts to new customers. This is especially true with campaigns like Small Business Saturday that encourage consumer spending with local businesses the day after Black Friday.

But, while you focus on running special holiday promotions for new customers, don’t forget about your old ones. Take stock of the many blessings your past customers have given you. Now is the time to reach out and ensure their continued loyalty well into the new year.

Here are a couple of ideas to help you do it;

• Mail them a holiday thank you card. In a world of Facebook messages, Twitter Direct Messaging, and email a physical piece of mail is surprisingly valuable. Write a short note thanking them for supporting you this year and add a a print-out of your current holiday promotions. They’ll appreciate the gesture.
• Take 5 minutes to call and check-up on your past customers. If you provided excellent customer service to them before, they’ll be thrilled to hear from you. Don’t mention your holiday promotions unless they ask about them and keep the conversation short. They’ll appreciate the call and will keep you in mind when they need help again.
• Create an exclusive discount or promotional for past or longtime customers. This can be 20-30% off a new order but, make sure that they know it’s only for them and not new customers. They’ll feel really valued as a customer and continue to work with you.
• Send your customers a gift. I’m not talking about buying everyone one of your clients a new TV – let’s be realistic here. But, a $10 or $20 Walmart, Target, or Amazon gift card along with a holiday card would be nice. You’ll only make that $10 or $20 back when they put in their next order from you…
• Create a referral booklet featuring your current clients. This may take a little time to put together but the value you create for your clients is invaluable. Put all of your clients’ information (business name, number, website info, etc.) in booklet form and mail it to them.If you’re unsure about what to include and what not to include, ask your clients. They’ll let you know what information is OK to print and which isn’t. The idea of the booklet is to highlight your customers and offer the idea of a mini-referral network between them. This idea of connection is extremely valuable and they’ll love you for it!

Small businesses are powerful because of the special care and personal attention we give to our customers. It’s this personal touch that will keep them coming back to you and not going to “the big boys.” What ways will you create value for your current or past customers this holiday season? Did I miss anything in this short list? Add your thoughts and answers in the comment section below.

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Rod Kirby helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and organizations take advantage of social media marketing and new media through his company, Kirby Enterprises. Follow Rod on Twitter here.

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This guest post comes from LaTosha Johnson of targetstars.com,

Have you ever wondered why some people achieve success while others seem to hopelessly stay in mediocrity? Those who reside in the neighborhood of mediocrity often cite reasons such as lack of funds, education, etc. as to why they cannot excel.

By no means am I trivializing these reasons, but there are people who have been confronted with these exact same circumstances and somehow excel in life. Why?

They realize that success is contingent on the ability to create their own opportunity. Successful individuals acknowledge their obstacles. Then, they get to work removing or using the obstacles as a stepping stone to help them reach their destination. With careful preparation, everything in your path to success can be utilized for your benefit.

Case in point, obstacles keep us from rushing and making foolish decisions.  When we encounter an obstacle, we are forced to examine the situation and create plans that are sure to include the following steps:

Identify

(i.e. Travel the world, so you can learn more about other cultures, perhaps?)

Answering this question is easier said than done. Identifying your goal(s) is a major hurdle that you will need to clear. In some cases, it can change your focus as well as test your willingness to succeed.

Identifying your goal(s) is what separates the achievers from those who hopelessly stay in mediocrity. When the aforementioned questions have been answered, you need to investigate the situation.

Investigate

Once you have established your goal(s), you need to spend some time getting to know what talents you possess. Having this knowledge will make sure you’re headed in the right direction.  It will help you to identify your strengths as well as alert you to your limitations.

Taking time out to do this will enable you to avoid disappointment and unnecessarily losing money in the process. You can do this by simply asking yourself, “What activities am I most passionate about performing that will help me to achieve my goal?” Make sure that you don’t confine yourself to the “traditional” ways of achieving your goal.

For example, you want to travel the world so you can learn about other cultures. You don’t have to get a “corporate job”, be miserable until you have saved enough money to take your trip. Based on your talents you could look into teaching abroad, work in the airline industry, volunteer, sell your belongings, etc. Regardless of what conclusions you come to in your investigation, make sure to keep in mind that you need to make a living, so you might as well do something that you enjoy.

Implement

This step should be easy because it consists of bringing your plan to life.  If it’s difficult or stressful to implement what you discovered during your investigation, then something could be wrong with your plan or the people that are involved with your project. Be sure to take a step back and reevaluate your plan because you can’t succeed if you’re missing any of these “I’s”.

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This guest post is by Tai Goodwin of careermakeovercoach.com;

We get it – being a “hater” is not a good thing. How we handle other people’s success, especially when things may not be going so well for us, is an indicator of our faith and spiritual maturity.

So what do you do when someone in your circle is thriving with the opportunities, clients, and profits that you want for your business? The key is learning to rejoice in the good fortune of others.

Roman’s 12:15 encourages us to “rejoice with those that rejoice…”

In addition to being a cure for envy which can sabotage your relationships and your own success, there are additional benefits to sharing in the joy of others:

1. Frees you from frustration and worry: Viewing another person’s win as a loss for you is guaranteed to cause tension. Instead allow other people’s success to ignite hope for the success awaiting you in your time of harvest.

2. More opportunities to be happy! Rejoicing with others creates an opportunity to multiply those good times you get to celebrate. Seize every chance to sincerely congratulate other’s successes as well as the events in your own life.

3. Makes contentment a habit of mind: We influence the depth of our own happiness by the way we think. Focusing on the positive things around you with a grateful heart will increase your contentment. It will also make your good feelings more stable than the temporary pleasures of any single individual.

4. Improves your relationship with others: People are more likely to respond positively to you if they sense that you’re truly happy for them. Also, there’s a reason why marriage vows typically specify for better and for worse. Healthy relationships involve sharing both ups and downs.

5. You reap what you sow! The concept of giving and receiving endures because it works. Giving unselfishly creates a win-win situation for everybody.

That sounds good right? But how do you actually pull it off – and do it sincerely? Try these 7 suggestions:

• Give thanks for other people’s success. Hopefully it is a habit to give God thanks when he blesses you. How about giving him thanks when he blesses someone else. Add a spot on your daily prayer list for giving thanks for the wins and successes of others.
• Focus on others rather than yourself. It’s easy to get caught up in your own struggles. Be sure to keep in touch with what’s going on in the lives of the people around you. Others may be bashful about mentioning their own victories but still appreciate having their efforts recognized.
• Be mindful of the consequences of jealousy and envy. Be honest with yourself when you notice any jealous tendencies. The more clearly you see them, the more motivated you will be to put them aside.
• Create a daily gratitude list. It can be difficult to feel good for other people while you’re feeling deprived. Remind yourself of all the wonderful things you have to be grateful for. Go one step better and share one thing a day with someone.
• Fake it till you make it. It’s okay to use some artificial gestures to get started. Even if you’re not purely happy that your ex-husband got an award, you can say something gracious and imagine how good it would feel to have no reservations about congratulating him.
• Start with the people you love.Charity starts at home and so does the rejoicing. It might be difficult to get instantly excited about the lives of strangers. However, you can start by focusing on the people closest to you. For example, for most parents, it’s natural to feel great enthusiasm about every developmental milestone in their child’s life.
• Work your way up to dealing with things you wanted for yourself and people who you find difficult. With practice, you’ll be able to tackle the more sensitive issues. When you find the techniques that work with the people you love, you can use those same strategies during more challenging circumstances.

Not only is rejoicing in the good fortune of others a spiritual practice, it is an accurate and constructive way of looking at the world. Welcome more joy into your own life and sow seeds for your own success by taking learning to rejoice with others.

Let’s celebrate! Give us a chance to rejoice with you by sharing the latest success in your life or business.

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