Go in The Direction You Set Forth

Why can’t I reach those goals? 

Have you ever gotten really inspired to accomplish something, ventured out to get it and came up short? Maybe you set some goals and spent every waking moment trying to accomplish them all, but then after a few days of not reaching some parts of that goal you got discouraged and let go of the possibilities to achieve it?

There could be a flaw within the process of you achieving those goals. Maybe you've set an unattainable high expectation or the goals you've set don’t inspire your drive? You've got to set S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Realistic. Time-bound.) Focus on what you do well and continue to improve on that. Get real about where your weaknesses are and how they can affect the foundations of your strengths. If you spotlight those things that you may not be good at you can find out how you can address those weaknesses so you’ll be on the look out when those things come up during you achieving your goals. Here are three online goal planners that can help you fix those flaws that may be blocking you from achieving your goals:

Goalmigo
Goalmigo helps you set short- and long-term goals, share them with friends, family with the Goalmigo community and track your progress along the way.

Joe’s Goals 
Joe's Goals is a simple yet powerful tool to make tracking your goals the easiest part of accomplishing them. Use the simple single page interface to setup daily goals and track them with just a click.

Disciplanner
Disciplanner.com is a web site for tracking long term personal goals and bad habits. No hourly schedules, just commit to weekly goals and record time, that's it.

There should be a balanced mix of personal and professional goals. Get a clear picture of what you want to accomplish and the time it will take to get there. 

Low Valley. High Valley. Are You Prepared? 

Change is inevitable. What would you do if you've consistently made $4500 in your business every month and now your business is only bringing in inconsistent revenue? How will you recover from the loss? Are you prepared with a backup plan? Well this scenario should definitely be addressed within your goal setting plan. Those “What-if’s” are a part of everyday living so you should prepare for them at every milestone of your goal setting planner so your backup plan will already be in place in case something does go awry.

Mindful Magic Meditation

Okay! So I’m going to get a bit deep on you but I think it’s important to address how we think and perceive what we are experiencing on a daily basis because it could have a direct effect on how we conquer the low and high valleys of accomplishing goals. There are two things I want you to remember when preparing for those Low Valley moments to get you into a High Valley Experience:

I am not in control of my life or those in it. The mindful magic meditation happens when I relax and just show up in every moment of my life as authentically, honestly, and as lovingly as I can be.

I trust in the perfection of the unfolding of my life. The mindful magic moment is that everything is already perfect because I show up trusting in everything, everyone, and every moment. When I notice the beauty, all things are perfect. I can do what I can to change things around me even those things deemed bad. But when I focus on the perfect unfolding of my life, my outlook thrives on the happiness that’s there because I show up everyday trusting. 

What do you think? Did this help you? I hope you’ll give those goals you let go another chance and if you got stumped by a low valley moment, breathe! Take a deep breathe and take a mindful magic meditation break. Dust yourself off and write, write, again!

Onward and Upward!

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Write It Down and Make It Plain

Goal Setting 

Your plan for achieving these goals should be focused on what you want to achieve during a certain time period, it should help you organize your thoughts, setting goals creates a timeline for milestones, and helps you see a clear plan for where you are at and get you where you want to be.

CHANGE isn't CHANGE until you CHANGE 

Where do we start? 

We can talk all day on the importance of setting goals but the only way goals will be effective is to get going on activating those strategies to accomplish those goals. I find it best to brainstorm first on a blank piece of paper. Allow yourself to jot down anything that comes to mind. Be free with your thought process so that you uncover everything that could be included to help you achieve those goals. Some of us like lists so create one if you’re the neat-and-tidy type. Whatever your approach is, make sure you write it all down. Break It Down Writing your goals down incrementally with short term plans that take steps toward larger things you want to achieve. Start with the end result you’d like to achieve and work your way through to the beginning of how you’ll take steps toward this goal. Ask yourself these questions as you go from end to beginning: 

• What do you need to do within that month to realize the goal? 
• What do you need to do within that week to move closer to your monthly goal? 
• What can you do today? 

Don’t wait until things happen to you, go out and make them happen for you! 

You can create more structure for your goals by adding in a timeline that includes a yearly milestone like, “where do you see yourself and your business in 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years?” Once you’re happy with the organization of your goals, post them in a place or places that you frequent like your bathroom mirror or above your desk. There was a time when I traveled a lot in my car so I had mini timeline posted on the dashboard with a couple of affirmations taped to the visor. This helped me stay focused and mindful of what I needed to accomplish during the time I spent going from meeting to meeting. If you have a timeline that is set up for weekly milestones, make sure you are actively checking your progress and write down what worked and what didn't work. The more data you accumulate the better you’ll get at achieving those goals as well as accomplish those goals in a shorter amount of time.

Shake The Dust 

However you break those goals down and track your progress remember to never give up. The journey may be long but it can be more joyful if you take in all the journey has to offer. The word FEAR is really an acronym that means: False, Evidence, Appearing, Real. What may seem to appear as real may not be. You can stumble and fall flat on your face but it doesn't mean you should give up. If you have it in you to stand up and dust yourself off, you have it in you to achieve whatever goals you set out to achieve.... I DARE YOU! 

Onward and Upward!

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I see CHANGE in your future!

Setting Business Goals...Why?

When you are ready to set some goals in your business or your personal life, it’s a clear sign that you are ready to experience something new. You are ready for change and what change has to offer you is growth you probably never allowed yourself to undergo. Most of us equate setting goals to the 1st of the new year like a new years resolution. Why wait to set goals at the 1st of the year, anytime is a good time to set goals. 

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” ― Yogi Berra 

What Are You Trying To Achieve?

Okay! What I’m talking about here is a simple yet well thought out approach to achieving what you want. We’re not going after perfection because let’s face it, we are human and the only living being that sees us as perfection is God! We can create a strategic approach to what we are trying to achieve and hope for a perfect ending. Within our day-to-day planning we can plan out what we’d like to experience, set a course to achieve it, and maybe share with others how we did it so they too can do the same. Setting goals is a sign of maturity. It’s like we are being mindful of those everyday tasks that help us accomplish all our heart’s desire making us more confident beings strengthening us for those times when we may need to deal with unexpected challenges. What can we expect out of goal setting:

• Business Growth 
• Planning for obstacles 
• Preparing for change 
• Setting a more clear and defined purpose 

This week I hope you’ll join in on the discussion of goal setting and learn some of the top ways to plan precision goal setting for your business as well as your personal life. We’ll take on those systems you may or may not have in place to keep you on track to meet those goals and uncover those things that may be keeping you from reaching those goals.

Onward and Upward!

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U - Don’t Be Afraid to Be Unique! How to build a successful business brand

Business? Why Y.O.U.

This week we touched on understanding the Y.O.U. in business ownership. There is so much to overcome when you first venture out with a business so why did YOU consider business ownership? Some of us built our business from scratch, some are managing someone else's dream making sure its producing to the best of its abilities, there are those who were given an opportunity packed with the vision, products, and services which they apply their marketing skills to, and there are some who inherited a business. Starting and sustaining a business requires that we show up and blow up fully with our ideas, commitment, and determination to make it a success.

Y - Why did “Y”OU become a business owner? 
O - Own It! Become known as an expert in your field 
U - Don’t Be Afraid to Be Unique! How to build a successful business brand

Be Unique: Build a Successful Business

Brand Branding is defined as having a strong consistent identity. A brand is can be many things like a name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller’s good or service as distinct from those of other sellers. Defining a recognizable image helps your customers remember you and distinguishes you from your competitors. Your brand can bring value to your products and services, create customer loyalty and build business recognition.

Perspective 

You as a business can’t be everything to everyone that is why it so important to focus in on what your business can deliver and deliver well. Developing a USP can help you identify the main reason why a customer may continue to get your products and services. Your marketing message must be believable, clear, inflict an emotion (positive I hope), and relevant to your audience. In life perception is everything. How someone perceives another person can make or break a career. There are 3 perspectives to consider when building a successful business brand:

1. Customers - What do your customers value the most and does that correlate with your products and services. How can you really be of service to them? 
2. Internal - As the founder of your business, what’s your vision? If you have employees, what do they truly think about what the business has to offer and can it do more? 
3. Marketplace - To be a successful brand, you have to position the business to be the only one out there in the marketplace that can do what it claims to do. For example, Ivory soap. For years this brand of soap became famous for its pure content and for floating in water. Although it has evolved into other forms of household products, the soap still floats! 

Unmarket your Marketing

   

As Scott Stratten may rant and rave about how businesses engage or not engage with their customers, I do like what he has to say about utilizing all these marketing tools that are available to us especially online. Although there are many strategies out there that will help you build a successful business brand, focusing in on what you have to offer, looking at your competitions marketing message, and considering the three perspectives will definitely get you started on your branding journey. Branding your business involves a lot of trial and error as well as evolution. Remember your brand will live in everyday interactions with your customers so be mindful of the images you use as well as the message you are trying to send. Simplicity is key!

Onward and Upward!

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O - Own It! Become known as an expert in your field

Confident in what you do? 

Competition is stronger than ever no matter what industry you are in. Are you a person who lives, eat, and sleeps your industry? Then you are a brand! Yes! That’s right...You are the face of what you know and people are clamoring to get to know you and how you can help them with your products and services. Value the years of experience you have under your belt. Look back on the triumphs and struggles to build your professional brand on. For the most part you will focus on a specific industry, one in which you want to be known as the go to person, but the beauty of the business industry is that although there are so many niche markets and industry platforms we all have something to teach and learn from each other to grow our businesses.

The Benefits of Being Mr. & Ms. Know It All 

In today’s socially connected world reputations have gone global thanks to the world wide web. Making your professional brand imprint is now more important than ever. The benefits in being the expert in your field can make you the go-to person for your industry. When you know your stuff and as they say, “walk the walk and talk the talk”, people will trust you more, be open to listen to what you have to say and base decisions on your knowledge and expertise. Although the ultimate goal is to sell your products and services your lead-in doesn't have to be just sales. Being known as “helpful” makes you a sought after commodity. 

Don’t use the term “expert” lightly. Be confident in what you do and don’t be afraid to try new things. 

15 Ways to instant Fame

1. Join a Mastermind Group 
2. Write a whitepaper 
3. Start a blog and share your knowledge 
4. Have an online webinar 
5. Sign up with a Linkedin Group 
6. Make video tutorials 
7. Swap and share content on social media 
8. Distribute a Press Release online 
9. Stay on top of your industry and let others know what you think 
10. Teach a class or create an online course 
11. Pitch yourself on the speaking circuit 
12. Network (Purposely attend networking socials) 
13. Fine tune your elevator pitch and make it buzz worthy 
14. Create an online persona for your professional brand (For example: Ivanka Trump is “an American wife, mother, and entrepreneur.”) 
15. Offer consulting services 

Specialized Knowledge is Key to Becoming an Expert 

When you've targeted in on who & what you’re an expert of, credibility, trust, and of course sales follow. It’s important to feel confident about the things you know and use that as a platform to market your products and services. Once you've got an idea for what you have to offer the world, OWN IT and watch opportunities open up for you like speaking engagements, guest articles, seminars, etc. The possibilities are endless but you've got to know what you know and be the expert at it. It's not a stretch to become an expert or to be perceived as one. Go ahead and throw your hat into the arena and become the expert in your field! 

Onward and Upward!

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Y - Why did “Y”OU become a business owner? You Had Me At “Hello I Am A Business Owner”

Y - Why did “Y”OU become a business owner?

So now that we’ve addressed some reasons why one starts a business, let’s explore why YOU became a business owner. Did you get a chance to look over the 6 steps to a successful small business link from yesterday? I thought the article was a great introduction to walking out the beginnings of business ownership but it didn’t get to the root of why a particular business would be suited for you. Again, we are all individually designed. You could say when the almighty made you he broke the mold! There is no one with the same drive and ambition that you have on this planet so the only person that could answer “why did YOU become a business owner” is YOU!

For the most part, starting and sustaining a business is real personal to the one who created it. Some of us built our business from scratch, meaning that we came up with an idea and implemented the creation of it solely from our imaginations. There are some who are managing someone else's dream making sure its producing to the best of its abilities, then there are those who are given an opportunity packed with the vision, products, and services and all they need to do is add their marketing skills to it, and there are some who inherited a business and are taking it to the next level by staying current with customers needs and wants. However you are running a business, there was a reason why you said YES to it.

Dream and Dream BIG 

I learned about business at a very early age. I watched my father run a successful fishing business on the weekends, teach upholstery classes and sew at the local hobby shop on the Navy base after he retired 24 years from the Navy as Chief of Submarines. Although he didn’t stay retired long, he worked for Honeywell as a project manager for many more years while he kept his side hustle going. I watched him manage his weekend deep sea fishing excursions with ease and pattern boat tops while he worked 40 hour weeks with a sheer smile on his face. He never appeared burden by what he was doing as a matter of fact he took great pride in it. It was clear his drive wasn’t money driven even though the money flowed greatly in all income generating activities. He was doing what he loved.

So I caught the business bug because of the example I saw. I had no fear about owning a business and still have high aspirations to one day own a large design firm. I became a business owner because I love to create. Being able to take an idea from a thought in my head and bringing it into a real form is amazing to me. I have to be honest though the older I get, the more I don’t take risks with my business but I’ve become smarter with what I want to accomplish in business and I recognize that running a business is a part of my DNA.

It’ All On You 

One thing's for sure, you are responsible for your own well being and success. Once you make the decision to venture out and run a business I hope you’ll take the time to ask yourself “Why” and be prepared to answer “How” you’ll handle yourself when business may be slow. Will you worry about where you will get money from and how you will pay your bills? Let me tell you, it’s more than a notion and it takes passion, guts, and real determination to persevere and move forward with your business ideas. With all that being said, I hope this only fuels your fire to get out there and get started. Write down why you became a business owner and post it somewhere you’ll see it everyday. Better yet, make a vision board with your statement and add pictures that signify where you see yourself succeeding in your business. This will only empower you to stay focused during those low moments.

The best advice I could leave you with about the YOU in your business is to take what you are truly passionate about, discover how your passion can help people, create a vision for it, make a plan (business plan), and GO FOR IT!

Why did YOU become a business owner?  We’d love to hear from you so leave a comment on our facebook page! 

Onward and Upward!

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Show Up and Blow Up

Why Start A Business? 

There is so much to overcome when you first venture out with a business. No matter what level of business you start, we all experience some type of barrier like not having enough money, wondering if your idea is good enough, not sure about business experience (not enough or haven’t changed with the times), or if this business is best suited for you. 

Growing up in America, you are told to go to school, get your education, so that you can get a good paying job. There was a time when that was all you needed to do, but times are changing and there is little to no guarantee that your education will get you the job of your dreams. CNBC reported this year that A survey released from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reported that businesses plan to hire only 2.1 percent more college graduates from the class of 2013 than they did from the class of 2012. This is way down from an earlier NACE projection of a 13 percent hiring rate for 2013 grads. I wonder if colleges were to add a degree on Business Ownership would this help us as a people to stay current with the times? It seems to me we need to do more than hold onto this way of thinking that getting a job is the only solution to our financial issues.

So why not consider owning your own business? Well it is known that over 80% of all businesses fail within the first five years, the odds are against you before you even begin. The internet makes it a lot easier to take a good idea, determination, and a good business mind to change this business failure fate. More and more individuals are leaving the traditional desk job and venturing out to work for themselves and there have been a lot of successful Internet companies getting respect from corporate America. So if you're that type of person who wishes to be their own boss, punch the “I’m In” button and make it happen!

What’s the Main Motivator(s)? 

When you allowed yourself to dream about owning a business, what compelled you to write it down and try to make it happen? Was it the desire to create jobs for others, build a legacy for your family, set your own schedule, work from anywhere, or make some extra money to go into your vacation fund? Maybe you've been prompted to bring to life an idea that know one could live without. Madam C.J. Walker was one of those individuals who tapped into her main motivator. She not only built a multi-million dollar empire but her business ownership prompting is still changing lives in America and all over the world. The first of her family to be born into freedom, was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, regarded as the first female self made millionaire in America making her fortune by developing and marketing a successful line of beauty and hair products for black women. Her motivation was that she experienced hair loss and needed to do something about it. She then noticed that she wasn't the only black woman experiencing damaged hair and hair loss so she began to manufacture products, developed a tool called a straightening comb, created a distribution network (network marketing) which created jobs for women whose only job option at the time were to be washerwomen and nannies.

Get Inspired! 

Here is an extreme yet funny take on encouraging you to go out and try out your dreams and ambitions! The world is waiting on you!!

 

If You Can Think It Up, Can You Think It Down?

Most people around you will talk you in or out of your dreams. We are all designed to create but it is up to us if we complete the creation or not. Execution can be tough especially if you have a lot of naysayers knocking at your door. First thing about being a business owner that you must embrace is not relying on what everyone thinks about what you are doing. You won’t make any money that way. Yes, there should be mentors and those from your village (people who are like-minded) who are there to bounce ideas off of and keep you on target but ultimately you are the one pressing the “GO” button on your dreams and ambitions. If you truly believe in your idea, take the first step, and move quickly on an idea. Everything in life can be risky but how will you know if you don’t try it out!

This week we are going to break down “Understanding the Y.O.U. in Business Ownership” so it can forever be consistently broke (famous line from movie, Love Jones):

Y - Why did “Y”OU become a business owner? 
O - Own It! Become known as an expert in your field 
U - Don’t Be Afraid to Be Unique! How to build a successful business brandOnward and Upward!

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Be Conscious of Gratitude

What A Week! 

Wow! This week we explored how direct mail marketing campaigns can influence your customers and potential clients to learn more about your products and services as well as influence your business revenue. It’s so important to be mindful about how you market. It’s not enough to just say it with a card, you’ve got to be consistent with your marketing efforts; stay in touch! And do your best to brand your correspondence so your audience will remember you and tell others about your business.

Send Out to Give Instead of Send Out to Get

Express Heart-Felt Appreciation In Business

Personalize Your Gratitude

Recapture The Lost Art of Communication

Now that you get that marketing is really about building relationships, I encourage you to take the 30 Day Gratitude Challenge personally and for your business. But don’t send a postcard, send an actual greeting card of thanks for 30 days to your existing customers and potential clients. Be mindful to test your efforts, measure what worked and what didn’t work, and then refine how you’ll continue to use the challenge in your business marketing.

"Appreciation can make a day, even change a life.  Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary."  - Margaret Cousins

Let’s Get Started! 

1. Watch the Gratitude Video and get the right attitude for gratitude. 
2. Click here to setup your direct mail marketing account. 
3. Print the 30 Day Gratitude Challenge form and organize who you’ll be sending gratitude to for the next 30 days. 
4. Select and customize the cards you’d like to send out. Send at least one gratitude card every day and record when you sent it, when they received it, and if you had any immediate feedback. 
5. Share this challenge with those you care about and other business colleagues. Encourage them to join you! 

I hope you’ll have fun with this experience and remember help is just around the corner so be sure to contact me to help you setup your account, customize a card, or answer questions.

Onward and Upward!

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Brand your Correspondence

6 Ways to Accomplish A Successful Direct Mail Campaign 

According to Exact Target, “65% of people who receive direct mail have made a purchase or engage in a different marketing channel as instigated by the sender, placing in at second behind e-mail (66%).” 

1. Get Goals - What do you hope to achieve with a direct mailing campaign? 
2. Create A Plan and Budget - How much do you want to spend? 
3. Develop the List - Use your current mailing list or buy a targeted mailing list. 
4. Send the Right Message - Compose a tagline that says everything your business has to offer. Right and Tight! 
5. Create a Unique Design - Create an eye-catching visual that can tell a story without words. 
6. Test, Measure, and Refine - The first campaign may not always be a success. Test your efforts, measure the response, and refine what worked for you. 

Tip #1 
Create a Direct Mail Campaign with Send Out Cards (It's Easy!)

   

Be Smart, Cost Effective, and Lucrative 

How do you want your customer to feel about you, I mean every time they think about you when they get a correspondence from you? Direct marketing is effective and can set you apart from email spam and banner ads so how are you going to approach this lucrative opportunity and make the most of it? With any marketing platform you should always come up with interesting ways to promote your products and services that are smart, cost effective, and generate income. Consider 6 tactics to Brand Your Correspondence: 

1.  QR Codes - Use QR codes for your customer to scan to take them to a mobile coupon, your website, a landing page, etc. 
2. Include a Coupon - Place a coupon on your postcards or note cards encouraging customers to keep them in hopes of applying the coupon to a purchase. 
3. Use and Update your Mailing List (Often) - The more often you mail to your mailing list, the more you’re at the front of those customer’s minds when it comes time to buy and the more you shake away those not interested in your products and services. 
4. Use Testimonials - Ask your customers to write a review of your business or product. 
5. Create a Loyalty Program - Reward your customers for continuing to do business with you by setting up a way to gift your customers once they reach a certain purchase level. 
6. Reward Referrals - Ask your best customers to provide you with names and addresses of friends and colleagues whom they think would benefit from your products and services and gift your customers when the referral buys in to your products and services. 

Tip #2 

Bulk Up

 

Remember.... 

Be sure that your direct marketing campaign stands out from the rest by making your mail intriguing and interactive. The more time the customer spends handling your flyer, postcard, or note card, the more likely he or she is to use your products or services. 

Onward and Upward!

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Be Consistent: Stay In Touch

Create a Marketing Campaign 

Personalizing a direct mail communication to potential clients and customers can be more expensive and time consuming to execute, so direct marketing experts suggest using this method of marketing strategically. What I mean by this is when you are creating personalized or customized notes for clients, you must execute with a plan as well as a goal so you can measure the outcome which can gain a higher response rate to your marketing efforts.

Deploying a “thank-you note program” weekly is called a Marketing Campaign. When you purposely send out a communication to your customers and potential clients, the return on your investment can result in a greater percentage of repeat business, your products and services stay top-of-mind to those receiving your correspondence, and faster payments from those who have received notes.

Personalizing direct mail communication can go far beyond a handwritten note. Here are some creative ways to use a direct mail marketing campaign.

Use technology to streamline efforts 

Use an online design tool to personalize the communication like a greeting card, postcard, or note by adding your company logo, maybe your photo, contact info, personal note, a scanned signature, or details of a new promotion or service best suited for the receiver.

Target outside of the box 

Just because your business may cater to a special niche, it doesn't mean your marketing only speaks to that niche. That’s what marketing is all about... Being creative! For example, let’s say you have a successful after school tutoring business where you help students get a “leg-up” on their homework and general lessons. You could partner up with another business in your area that is of like-business (children), a dentist or drug store selling school supplies, and run a direct mail campaign that features your businesses with a “Back to School” theme that reminds your receivers about getting ready for back to school. The mailer is mailed to families within your target area and you can make this marketing effort an annual event.

Have fun with it 

Create cards and mailers imprinted with a funny but personalized message that relates to your business and how your business can be of service to your receivers. Although this example has nothing to do with direct mail, the television commercial for Kmart where the kids in the schoolyard say positive “you’re mama” jokes to each other to describe Kmarts layaway program is not only ingenious but hilariously funny. This could be the basis of a great funny campaign that your business could compose to describe how your products and services could be used, get your audience laughing, and getting your receivers to remember who you are and what your business is about. A campaign featuring cartoon greeting cards for a company can generate a 100% response rate of potential clients and customers who follow-up and purchase your products and services.

Send Out Cards can help your company send out direct mail marketing campaigns with a “click” of a button!

 

SendOutCards Products from SendOutCards on Vimeo.

Onward and Upward!

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