Bill Gluth's Creative Business Strategy Blog

Meditate Your Way to Business Success

Meditation is all about calming the mind to allow for greater inner perspective.

Contrary to the popular view meditation does not have to be a "silent sport." It can be dynamic, moving, energetic and calming, all at the same time.

Try these ideas

1. Take a walk of about 1 to 2 miles. Notice your surroundings. Think about how you feel as you walk. Focus on how you are breathing. Take a moment to appreciate anything beautiful you pass by.

2. Go play a round of golf. But instead of worrying about how you’re going to play, notice your surroundings instead. Focus on the experience of playing in this beautiful garden right NOW.

Enjoy every moment and remember, every hole (just like every day in your life) holds the potential of a fresh new start.

3. Go out and take a few pictures. When you see something (anything) that catches your attention, go over to it for a closer look.

Notice how light and shadows interplay. Focus on what you notice when you look at an object.

4. Begin your day by looking at your true goal in life. Write them down and read then aloud.

Then write down ACTION steps you can accomplish today, which will take you one step closer to that goal.

Meditation can be much more than a quiet activity. It is focused contemplation that teaches us all how to focus on this moment to get more things accomplished.

As you notice your experience of right NOW, the answer that solves challenges or provides new inspiration will surface, seemingly out of nowhere, giving you a distinct competitive edge in both business and life.

Even Watching Star Wars Takes Time

Patrick Douglas has an interesting observation on how he controlled his personal time to accomplish an important (to him) goal.

Check out Patrick's experince

Make Your Business FUN Once Again

A businesses you own becomes a job you hate when day-to-day activities no longer support the vision of the business owner, merely the revenue aspects.

Making money is never enough

Businesses can only be exhilarating when the business owner is promoting a passion; an idea they feel so good about that it has to be shouted from roof tops, not just “sold” in the marketplace.

To Get That Passion Back

1 Complete this sentence – “My true and authentic talent in business is _____________.”

2. Which of your ideas (relating to your talent in business) has the greatest value to the people you enjoy working with the most?

3. Identify your favorite clients. Take note of who they are and what industry they are in.

4. List 3-ways you can communicate your talent and idea to your favorite clients.

5. Go to your time planner and schedule the exact time and date you will accomplish this task.

6. Contact people who are just like your favorite clients and show them the talent, passion and value you provide.

7. Repeat continuously. When you get off track, go back and review step 1 again.

Your business will be much more FUN when it is a direct expression of the talent and value you provide to other people.

Don’t Set Goals, Make Decisions Instead

Time to Read: 90 Seconds

Most of us are so used to not accomplishing our goals, that they have become more like dreams instead of reality.

We DO however, make decisions and accomplish them consistently.

Starting today, STOP setting goals.

Make decisions to accomplish the things that are most important to you in your business and personal life.

It all starts with awareness.

How are you “spending” your time now?

What would you rather do instead?

Make the decision to accomplish your greatest dreams, one small step at a time.

Before you know it, the dreams that you used to call goals will quickly become accomplishments

Don’t Listen to Your Critics. Remember Hines Ward

I don’t watch Monday Night Football very often. In fact, this past Monday was the first time all year.

There was a great story about a player with uncommon determination. His name is Hines Ward. He is a Wide Receiver for the Pittsburg Steelers.

If you don’t know, the Steelers are considered one of the “great” teams in the history of professional football

Hines was a third round draft pick. That means he was considered an OK player but not superstar quality.

Hines was told he would NEVER be a starter in the NFL.

Hines didn’t care what people had to say about his talent. He believed in it with a passion. After eight years in the league, he went out last Monday night and broke the all time Pittsburg Steelers record for most receptions in a career (538).

Hines beat Hall of Fame Players like John Stallworth and Lynn Swan. They are icons in the game of football. Now Hines is an icon too.

No matter what anyone tells you, remember the determination of Hines Ward. Believe in your talent and you may just create a miracle too; no matter what anyone tells you.

Focus and Refine Your Business

To focus and refine your business start by understanding your business model.

A very simple, yet highly effective plan template is offered by Genius Thinker, Seth Godin, in his e- book “The Boot Strappers Bible,” available on Amazon.

After you have a clear picture of your business model, create a marketing plan that is easy to follow.

The easiest way to create a marketing plan is to answer the following questions:

1. What is the greatest value you provide to buyers? This is your prime benefit.
2. Who do you most enjoy providing this value to? This is your ideal target market.
3. How are you different than your competitors? This is your niche.
4. What are your personal core values in business? This is your identity.

Now all you have to do is create a statement that incorporates the four points above into a paragraph and you have your basic marketing story.

Next consider details like budget and effort

1. What are you are willing to do on a consistent basis to build your business? These are the tactic and tools you can use.

2. What percentage of gross sales can you realistically set aside each month for marketing related activities? This is your monthly marketing budget.

3. What do you want to have happen when someone hears your story? This is the purpose of marketing.

Now you know your willingness to act, budget and purpose of marketing. Combine that with your story and you have a complete marketing plan.

Follow it consistently and your sales will never sag again.

The Need for Humility

Seth Godin points us to a very interesting article by Ira Williams. Take a look at http://www.changethis.com/19.SpeakSoftly  and download the manifesto. Interesting reading for sure.

The Difference Between Marketing and Sales

Michael Stein of Members Only Software shares an interesting observation from a point I made in last weeks Creative Business Strategy.

Michael notes, "I found a statement that I think really clarifies the distinction between Marketing and Sales: Marketing turns strangers into friends; sales turns friends into clients. Very nice statement."

Of course the idea of turning strangers into friends comes to us from Genius Thinker Seth Godin in classic book Permission Marketing.

Thank you Michael and Seth for great food for thought.

Learn From Professional Ice Breaker, Dave Sherman

Connection Pro, Dave Sherman is offering excellent webinars in the upcoming weeks that I know you'll enjoy.

The best part is, they offer great information at no cost.

Dave's topics include:

• Monday Morning Motivator
• Developing an amazing answer to the question, “What do you do?”
• Avoiding the FIVE biggest networking blunders of all time

Registration and complete information is at the Connection Pros Website. Take advantage of Dave's generosity today. It will be time well spent.

Simple Processes Keep You on Track

The 3-Steps of the Sales Process Are:

Step 1. Customer identification, outreach and attraction (Marketing)

Step 2. Converting marketing attraction into money (the Sales System)

Step 3. Customer retention, backend selling and referrals (Where sales and marketing meet)

To develop winning sales process, just follow these 5-steps

1. What is the value other people receive from doing business with you? What is the primary idea you offer? What are the benefits of engaging in that offer? List them as bullet points. Prime Benefit

2. How do you find strangers that you can turn into friends? Who are the people you enjoy working with the most? How do you communicate with them so they can become aware of your business? Marketing

3. How do you turn friends into clients? How do you explain the value you provide to other people who are interested in that value? Sales System

4. What do you do after the sale to ensure satisfaction? What happens when a project is completed? Do you check back one week and thirty days after the sale to ensure your client is overjoyed with your service?
Client Relationship Management Program

5. How frequently do you reconnect to see how things are going? Remember, friends care about friends and stay in touch.