leadership

The Fabulous Tax Babe is Here

I once spoke to a room of bright, professionals who all happened to be CPAs. Each was there, of course, to get a portion of their requisite CPE credits. About an hour into the class, these perfectly nice CPAs who ranged in age from 26 to 56 began to laugh more. Smiles circled the room. The discussion escalated around various business tax matters. An hour flew by, then another, and another.

Before we knew it. Eight hours were gone. CPE credits were earned. The energy in the room emanated out across the hall where the audit class wondered what ‘all the fun’ was about.

If only they knew.

With a handful of four and five star rating sheets, the class ended with one participant hissing, “I came here for CPE NOT to be entertained.” Clutching his one-star sheet, he sneered as he left the class.

The Fabulous Tax Babe is all about tax CPE that is fun, entertaining AND powerfully technical.

Not technical without fun.

Not entertaining without technical.

All three – fun, entertaining and technical.

If you are looking for a CPE instructor who helps CPAs remember a time when taxes were fun, and CPE that gives CPAs a reason to jump with anticipation, come back to work energized, and filled with relevant tax information, then give me a call.

The Fabulous Tax Babe Presents the Following Topic

• State and Local Tax
•  Federal Taxation
•  Tax Structuring for Profits

“Pam is an odd mix of accounting, business know-how, and Tony Robbins. I didn’t realize that CPE could actually be enjoyable. Not only do I look at taxes differently, I think about business altogether more creatively. It seems hokey to say this changed my life, but it certainly has shown me something I never knew was inside of me.”  - Mark Weber, Senior Accountant with Regional Accounting Firm

Fun…Entertaining

Powerfully Technical

The Rapid Success Experiment

Countdown to December 31, 2009

Most Challenging Economy in American History

What’s Possible for You?

You’ve found the Rapid Success Experiment – Welcome!

This experiment started June 15, 2009 with a question – What is really possible for people who decide to go big during the most challenging economy in American history?

With an email sent out to friends and colleagues, several joined us and the results already have surprised us.

• One person moved from a declining business of 1 client per week to adding 10 to 12  clients per week – within a week of joining the experiment!
• Another added $45K in new business.
• Yet another added three clients in two days.

The goal of this experiment is to bring people together to contribute to a bigger vision of what is possible both individually and together. Some of the results will focus on money, others may include achieving a lifetime dream, challenging yourself to pursue your truest desires.

While there are those who work personally with us as group coaching clients (during this experiment, we have a 100% money-back guarantee for our coaching fee), we believe the opportunity to unite as a group is available to anyone who is committed to his or her future. You are truly the only one who can decide what your future will be.

Join this experiment is 100% free as a participant by joining the forum and/or our Yahoo! group. Download the Create Your Own Group guidelines and invite others to have a bigger conversation with you.

The Experiment

Open your mind and life to what is truly available to you. Challenge yourself to go big – shoot for the moon! Throw yourself into an experiment with others who want to ‘see’ what’s really possible in a time that is like no other in the history of the planet. Be part of something bigger!

The Steps

STEP 1

Decide RIGHT NOW to end 2009 on your most successful note (remember, this might include money, a change in your life, a different way to work that brings you greater joy – create this experiment on your own terms). Take responsibility for your future now. Join the Rapid Success Experiment.

STEP 2

Sort fact from fiction. Take stock of what is in your reality right now. On one side of a piece of paper, write down the ‘facts.’ These are things that are in your experience right now. They do not have reasons or ideas or emotions tied to them. For example, my business has decreased 50%. That would be a fact. If you write, my business has decreased 50% and that means I have to sell my house and I’m going to lose everything I’ve worked for. This would include some fact (the decrease in business) and some fiction (we don’t know what is going to happen yet – the rest of that is fiction – unless you haven’t paid the bills, and in that case, you would list this in the fact list).

Once you know what is ‘fact’ then only deal with the facts. When you notice fiction coming to you, realize those are fears that want your attention. Look at the facts, and affirm that you are the only one that will decide what your future holds. Your actions today equate to your future.

STEP 3

Create a vision for your business based on what you really want to create, not on what you think is possible ‘in this economy.’ Based on fact, look at your business again. What do you really want here? Look at your business with fresh eyes. Create a vision that opens your heart with possibility. If it does not move you, it is unlikely to move others. Ensure your vision has a specific picture in your mind.

Consider the opportunities that are available now to you in your business. For example, if your business has decreased, ask yourself what opportunity is available in the change? Is it time to move location? Implement changes you’ve wanted to make? If you’ve lost contracts, ask yourself which companies would want to know you?

STEP 4

Stay positive. Each day, think about your vision, and work with the new ideas that come to you. Challenge yourself on what you think you know. Today, our world’s economy is so different than it was even two years ago. Challenge yourself to consider the ideas that come to mind. When you find yourself saying, “That won’t work.” Or “This isn’t working.” Shift to, “What could I do?” Or “What is next?” If you have an idea that seems “ridiculous” shift to “what would happen if this worked” or “what could make this possible?”

STEP 5

Get Into Action. When fear creeps in, action is a powerful antidote. This experiment is not about taking unnecessary risks, yet it is an opportunity for you to challenge yourself to do things you might not have done before. Most of what is available to you does not have to cost anything. Talk to people. Ask for help. Accept help from others who are offering it. Open yourself to all that is coming to you already. Follow your actions, and as you do, new actions will come to you. Take a step knowing that you will soon know what the next step is.

STEP 6

Celebrate. Each moment of every day is a moment to celebrate. In every moment something is growing and something is dying. Focus on what is growing. Celebrate small victories, and large ones too. Love each moment as a gift and love every opportunity in each moment. Each challenge is taking you to a new person, to a new experience, and it is a great adventure for you to get to know what gifts are in store for you.

Daily

Visit your vision daily. Think about it in your mind, and notice any ideas that come along with it. These might include people to call, ideas to share, changes to make. Ensure that you consider each idea on its own. As you look at each idea, you might have other ideas. Simply ensure that each idea your pursue is based on your decision that it is a ‘yes’ for you.

Get Connected

This experiment will create a conversation that will connect many people together in a short period of time. By coming together with a powerful intention for this year, you can tap into others and celebrate with them and share your own celebrations. In this way, you will enjoy a new experience in your life of ‘what is possible’ based on many people who are experiencing what is ‘possible.’ You get to choose what you believe is possible.

If you want, join our forum or Yahoo! group to share what you are doing and hear what others are doing.

Join our Group (Dallas only right now)

Our Small Business :: Big Success (SBBS) group coaching is one-of-a-kind. We are a group of conscious business owners who believe the world can be a better place if we all work together.

Our 12-month group coaching is the location for our part of this experiment. Smaller groups meet to go through a proven, rapid success practice builder system. These groups offer support and intention as members go through their goals. With SBBS coaching, you have access to a coach for challenges, and can access a buddy coach for weekly accountability.

During this experiment phase, our SBBS coaching is $397 per month and the commitment is through the end of the year. Our guarantee is that you will make a MINIMUM of 100% increase on your investment. So, for example, by joining in August, the fee is a total of $1,985. We guarantee that you will earn at least $3,970 as a result of your efforts after joining the program. Most earn this within a month, depending on the cost of the services or products they provide.

Why Join the Rapid Success Experiment?

• Generate positivity in the world of business.
• Show yourself what really is possible for you when you ‘go for it.’
• Improve your current business or start a new one.
• Be a positive example to others around you to be about ‘can do’ instead of ‘can’t do.’
• Be part of the solution for this challenging economy.
• By focusing on what is possible, your mind will be tuned in to more possibilities.
• You can tell others it works!
• Why not?

Tell Others – Invite Them to the Experiment

The more the merrier! As we invite people from America (those around the world are invited too!), we begin to create an energy that says, YES! This experiment is more about focus and action than it is about talking. However, talking stimulates ideas between people. We encourage you to connect with people and have a greater conversation about what is possible. Move from rehashing what doesn’t work or what is awful and move to what could we do together?

And, when you give a gift to others, don’t forget that you are the recipient of the gratitude that comes with it!

Be a gift to others. Share a new idea. Invite others to be part of the experiment.

Visit Rapid Success Experiment

How to Make Client Servicing Your Differentiating Factor?

By Manish Chauhan

“Being on par in terms of price and quality only gets you into the game, client service wins the game.” Lately, I have been thinking about aspects that differentiate one vendor from another. While expertise, experience, affordability, and ease of communication featured high on the list, client servicing made a distinct appearance.

Effective client servicing is very often what differentiates the winner from the plodders, in today’s highly competitive business landscape. Exemplary client service practices can give your product/service the extra impetus it needs to outshine rival product/service. And since finding new clients is much more expensive than retaining existing ones, the need for superior client servicing gets amplified. Also, a lost customer would mean lost revenue and an unhappy customer can damage your reputation.

With so much at stake, I don’t believe any organization would not want to service their clients well. In view of this, I would like to share some quintessential aspects of effective client servicing.

Honesty is the best policy

Honesty and sincerity go a long way with clients. Do not pretend that you have answers to every problem they have, if you don’t. Admitting a weakness in your knowledge or process is better than outright lies. The genuineness of your concern to formulate an effective solution to your client requirements will win you their loyalty and long term partnership.

Foresee you clients’ needs

Your business plan should be built around understanding and anticipating your clients’ needs and aspirations. Make sure you offerings are in sync with your clients’ expectations and delivers on those expectations satisfactorily. A mismatch would lead to unpleasant experience.

Listen to your clients

Effective listening entails truly making an effort to absorb and comprehend what is being said and acknowledge that understanding. Learning to listen is a key skill that will serve you well in all aspects of your business. Attend to even the smallest details. Try putting yourself in the client’s shoe and endeavor to understand their point of view.

Resolve conflicts in time

Don’t allow issues to remain unaddressed and mould and fester. Prompt and timely resolution holds the key to good client servicing. Don’t shy away from tendering an apology even if you are not necessarily in the wrong. Intervention by a senior member to placate an important client and seek effective solution can be effective at times.

Communicate and follow-up periodically

Your client service initiative should not stop with completion of sales process. The endeavor should be to maintain a free flow of information between you and your clients. The communication should be designed to educate clients about your product/service and organization. Newsletters, interactive forums, and other forms of social media are effective tools to communicate key messages.

Seek to build long lasting relationship

It is imperative to build long lasting relationship with your clients and not just perfecting a singular non-repetitive client. Building an effective relationship involves being responsive to client requests. Every effort should be made to accommodate client requests or to explain options that are available. A client, who feels appreciated, cared for and understood is less likely to leave in pursuit of better service and/or price. Effective relationship can compensate for poor performance, but it cannot be used or rather abused to justify low grade performance.

In short, superior client servicing is critical to your survival in the market place. It should be the cornerstone of your business and will help you retain a loyal client base.

Kneoteric is a leading online marketing company providing PPC Management Services, online marketing consultancy, SEO services and link building services.

Selling Consulting – Highly Successful System to Enroll Clients

By Paul Godines

When selling consulting, you will need some highly successful methods to get clients. Because one of the most difficult issues that every business owner has, especially during a recession is getting clients. This might make you wonder if there are even enough clients to make it worth staying in business for.

When in fact that’s not the case, especially during a recession, business consultants are HIGHLY needed. Whatever you service or product you are likely the answer to someone’s problem. Even if your product is an audio made with your kids digital recorder, you can make an impact on the world.

More importantly its not how much you give but the value you offer that will earn you tens of thousands of dollars of income. So, lets start with creating a simple method you can use to sell your consulting.

Begin by realizing your not a business consultant, or a transcriptionist, or a virtual assistant you’re a teacher. That’s your job, whose primary role is to discover your prospects needs and than if applicable educate your client about exactly how you can bring value to them with your services and or products.

With that in mind, lets move on. All you need to do is create a comfortable conversation which helps you discover their needs. I suggest you do that by using just a few well placed words.

Here’s a simple dialogue you can use to uncover opportunities and enroll clients;

• So tell me what’s going on – use this to discover opportunities.
• What result do you want – find out exactly what they want.
• What’s the evidence you will use to know you have achieved your goals – determine if you can deliver those results.
• What’s that worth to you – find out to what degree they value those results. I use a scale of 1 – 5 for example.
• It sounds like – here you help them see the possibility of reaching those results.
• We can help you achieve those results – here you actually make a statement with confidence that you can achieve the results they want.
• Is this something you would like to move forward with – here you are asking them if they would like to actually achieve those results.
• Ok here’s the next step – here you take the time to take them to the very next step, usually the procedure involved with enrolling.
• Confirm – get them to confirm to you the nest step, make sure they know exactly what to do next, and when to do it.

Now what makes this system so successful is in how you use this list. Start using it with friends, clients, prospects and family, force yourself to ask them what’s going on. What they would like to see happen, ask them how they would know they achieved their goal.

Than ask them what its worth to them to achieve their goal, tell them what it sound like to you. What’s most important is to be casual and very relaxed. Once you have some practice – you should do this at least 50 times – you will find enrolling clients extremely easy.

If you’re ready to go to the next step, and become a High Priced Expert than go to Adapt on a Dime.com http://www.adaptonadime.com Get your FREE “Quick Start Guide To Become A High Priced Expert.”

Paul Godines Coaches Professionals to become High Priced Experts using Joint Ventures. Leveraging and Multiplying your Skills, Knowledge and Experience into a High Priced Consulting Practice.

Leading in a Time of Disaster

By Dave Guerra

Disasters can occur at anytime and anywhere. When they occur they are usually unplanned or when notice is given it is usually not much. You can prepare for just about any disaster by having a Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity plan in place and ready to roll at sign of the first raindrop. What people usually do not prepare for is how to act the moment a crisis begins be it natural or man-made.

The old Rudyard Kipling quote, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs…yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, and — which is more — you’ll be a Man, my son!” should serve as a prime example of why remaining calm will lead you to a place that other men and women can only imagine.

Remaining calm during chaos will work in your favor when you need things to get done. Not only will your ability to remain calm serve to calm others but will also make you the person that people will turn to because of that ability. It may be difficult at times, especially when the severity of the situation may be more than you have ever faced. You will have to reach deep inside yourself and find the strength to get past the surreal situation you find yourself in and put on a brave face.

The first thing you will need to do, as part of a leading in a time of disaster is to get information. The task at hand will be to determine what the exact situation is, not what someone thinks it is, and especially, not what someone else heard it might be. Therefore, it is imperative to gather all the information that is available and the information that is secondhand should be confirmed as quickly as possible. Provided that no one is sick or injured as a result of the initial onset of the situation then it is imperative to get people focused on what needs to be done and get their minds off the initial shock of the situation. You will need to assign specific tasks. Initially, this will focus on the people around you being the ones that will provide you with the information you need. Assigning such tasks should be based on their ability to gather and deliver the necessary information. If you are looking for an update on the status of supplies available then someone working in the warehouse or storeroom should be tasked to provide that information, if you’re not sure on whom to call upon, ask for volunteers.

Keeping everyone focused gives everyone an opportunity to alleviate some of the stress and anxiety they may have, as it will help them voice their concerns along with critical information about the situation. Keep in mind that collecting information initially should come from direct observance of the unfolding situation, outside sources such as television and radio, feedback from individuals that are present and any historical data available about the present situation. Thus, it is important to get as much firsthand information as possible and limit the amount of second- and third-hand information you are willing to accept, as second- and third-hand information will take time to verify. As a rule of thumb, if it takes more than 5 minutes to confirm then don’t use it, as it may be information that is wrong or already out-of-date.

Having collected your data now you will have to act fast in processing information and developing the plan by which to act on. Depending on the severity of your situation you will need to determine what you will be able to do what you will definitely not be able to do, what can possibly be done, and what you would like to do. As the situation may be continuing to unfold, the development of any plan should definitely take into consideration the current situation and possible outcomes that are both short- and long-term and in some cases post-disaster considerations should be included.

During this time information could still be coming in and will continue to impact your ability to make a plan. At some point you will have to draw a line and say to yourself no more new information will be accepted and the plan will be made based on the information available. When putting the plan together, you will not have the luxury of time, as in most cases things are happening fast and changing constantly. However, just as it is essential to make a decision as fast as possible it is equally important to not make hasty decisions.

Making hasty decisions will lead to outcomes that might have been avoided provided there was a bit more time to process the information that was available. Therefore, avoid making any decisions or plans until you have enough information and can no longer wait for any more information to come in. While there never is really a good time to make a decision and you will never have all the information you need, a decision still has to be made. At this point, you must now make a decision that will affect everyone involved. Be sure to include everyone that is available and able to do something in the plan.

The plan should be designed to keep everyone focused and centered on what needs to be done and hopefully, not on what has happened. If everyone can participate and contribute then all the better, however, be careful when there are not enough tasks to go around. Those without something to do should be monitored to ensure that they do not create a negative atmosphere that can demoralize the rest of the group.

As a leader, your responsibility is not only to ensure that what needs to be done gets done but also to keep everyone motivated, as having a negative atmosphere will defeat any morale building activity. Therefore, ensure that a negative or a defeatist attitude is addressed as quickly as possible. By having everyone on the same page and working towards a common goal will ensure that whatever you are trying to accomplish will get done.

After making your decision, it is time to put the plan into action. Assigning specific tasks ensures that everyone understands what needs to be done. It is also important that everyone understand what is being asked of them. It is imperative that everyone is fully aware of your intent, if they do not than it is up to you to explain it to them quickly, concisely, and that they can say what it is back to you. As with any assignments, it is important to have measures in place that will notify everyone as to whether the tasks are on track to be accomplished properly or are they creating more trouble than what they are trying to accomplish.

By monitoring the activities of everyone as well as getting feedback from the participants themselves you are then able to adjust the assignments as necessary. Additionally, you should be able to fine-tune the plan so that it conforms to any changes in the situation. The trick here is to find the point by which you not only stay up to date with the evolving situation but you can even forecast actions to be taken.

At some point, you will be able to relax and have the time to reassess the situation as the initial crisis state has passed. In the event of a natural disaster, this means that the initial shock has passed and while destruction may still be occurring, time has elapsed which will enable you and your team to reshape the plan to gain greater ground on what needs to be done. In the case of a man-made disaster, short of a nuclear accident or event, the initial chaos may have subsided. You and your team definitely can proceed in a slower and more deliberate pace, that way what was initially missed or overlooked can now be addressed.

Leading in a time of disaster is not something that can be practiced; it can be simulated. Simulation will only go so far because once it hits the fan all bets are off. As part of any disaster recovery or business continuity plan be certain to include time to go over any possible scenarios and what your reaction will be. No matter how horrific or surreal things may be you will need to remain calm, stay focused, and above all be the leader. You may be called upon to do things you would never do in everyday life but then again natural or man-made disasters are not an everyday occurrence. This is where planning and preparing now comes into play, so always remember and never forget what someone once said: “Sweat more today and bleed less tomorrow.”

Dave Guerra
Owner The Dave Guerra Company (http://www.daveguerra.com)

Dave Guerra invites you to find out how providing Information Technology Leadership and Management greatly enhance return on your technology investment. The Dave Guerra Company helps small to medium sized organizations get their message out via the use of Internet Technologies utilizing new media tools such as Web2.0 and the emerging Web 3.0 technologies. Find out what The Dave Guerra Company can do for you, your organization, and your Information Technology investment.

(c) Copyright – David G. Guerra. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Visioning – Create a Powerful Vision That Leads You Or Your Team Far Ahead

By Jan Richards

Your vision of the future – whether it’s positive or negative – is a much more powerful factor than you might ever guess in helping the shape your future success.

A vision that works motivates the person or group who hold it to take action to make the vision come true, no matter what obstacles they find ahead.

Effective visions are ones that appeal powerfully to both emotions and logic.

Discover, express and focus on a vision of the future that’s clear, positive, compelling. Think of creating your vision as a way to “pre-experience” success, in detail. Think of the vision, itself, as a snapshot or preview of the future you are creating.

Here are tips about how you can create your team or individual vision:

1. Create the time and space for it.

You need time to relax and let ideas flow. That requires time and space away from the pressures of the regular workday. Schedule the time in advance.

Create an environment for the visioning work that’s free of interruptions and enables you or you and your team to think expansively, clearly, honestly, creatively.

If you’re working with a group, engage a good facilitator if there’s no one in your group, presently, who has those skills.

2. Envision a compelling future.

Start by setting a target date by which you hope your vision will be real. Perhaps that’s 5, 10 or more years away. Whatever it is, make it a specific date.

Next, imagine what you will have achieved by this time. Imagine in detail. “Be there now.”

If it is a business vision you are creating imagine what your customers, collaborators, and competitors are saying at this future time about you or your group, your results and how you created them:

- When you see and hear their reactions, what do you like?

- What do you want to change, about what they are saying about you, in that future state?

Now, as you imagine being in this future, imagine how you feel about what you have achieved by this time:

- What do you like best?

- What do you want to add or change?

3. Capture and sort the input to create the vision.

Capture the ideas you’re generating in writing or graphics, whether you’re creating your own vision, or working with a group.

Sort the information in some easy way as you move through the process. You can use mindmaps, clustering techniques, or structured brainstorming exercises.

You can also create a graphic template ahead of time of a metaphor you want to use to catch and organize the ideas that lead to your ultimate vision. For example, some people use a metaphor of taking a journey, mountain climbing, surfing, or building a city. There are many other metaphors you can also use.

4. Refine and post the vision. Then follow up.

Take the visioning work you’ve done, and distill it, whether you’re working on your own, or in a group.

Produce a simple final vision statement or graphic.

Post the vision in a prominent place where you or your team will see it regularly. That may be a physical space, or if you’re working as part of a virtual or dispersed team, post it on an online space you share.

And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to “Firewalking: Leading Teams Successfully Through Uncertain Times” when you visit http://www.jgrichardsresults.com from Jan Richards, J.G. Richards Consulting – Turning Business Goals Into Great Results.

Five Key Skills to Develop For Decision Making

By Michael McCann

There are five key factors that are essential to today’s decision making:

•Intuition – concerning the direction events may follow.

•Flexibility – concerning a willingness to accept foreign information.

•Initiative – in problem solving, decision making, and creativity.

•Creativity – in opening wider ranges of alternative ideas.

•Adaptability – to new conditions not anticipated earlier.

Intuition: Our expanding technology is daily making available a wide range of new potential products and services on one hand. On the other hand, our expanding and mobile population is daily creating demand for new types of products, thanks to new needs and desires. To decide what your company wants, and to blend it with what the customers want, requires value judgments.

Key executives know that in choosing between broadly separated alternatives, they must often rely on intuition in blending the insufficient information available for decision making. How, for example, can a hosiery manufacturer be sure the trend is to longer or shorter skirts? No decision-maker can ever be sure!

As the output of technology advances and as the interactions of communications are speeded up, permitting reports on mass tastes and trends at an overnight pace, the level of intuition required in these areas to make future value judgments must rise. This is an apparent contradiction with the widely held image that new management skills in the information-gathering area are dramatically reinforcing decision making as a science.

The fact is that the new tools of specialized knowledge in such areas as technology and market research, when compiled with the emerging computer technology, are broadening the known choices for a decision-making executive. An executive must be prepared to work to develop intuition and must not be afraid to act intuitively as information streams around him or her.

Flexibility: In the use of one’s executive intuition (in solving a problem or in reaching a decision), when “all the information is in that we have time to
gather,” we do well to remind ourselves of the need for flexible thinking. We can dam up our intuitive capacities if we become rigid concerning areas we are willing to include in the search of alternatives in the problem solving and the decision-making processes.

This flexibility is close to creative thinking – but not quite the same: the creative process applies largely to the creation of alternatives to our decision making process, while flexibility applies more to the problem solving area.

As we attempt to define the cause or causes of our problems, we benefit by staying flexible. If we prejudge a cause of a problem – or restrict our search for causes – we cut the ground out from underneath the subsequent decision making process.

Initiative: In both problem solving and decision making, a high level of personal executive initiative needs to be exhibited.

• A desire to look for solutions to problems.
• A desire to examine alternative actions.
• A spirit of discontent to fuel creative wonderings.

The subject of initiative is subjective. It is one thing to know the techniques involved in executive decisions – it is quite another to want to enter these processes with both feet.

“Initiative,” “verve,” “drive,” motivation,” or whatever you wish to call it, continues to be the prime variable in the competitive arena – between companies and between executives (assuming all other factors to be relatively even: i.e., personality conflicts, no nepotism, no great educational variables, no great intellectual variables, etc.).

Creativity is a key that can in degree be learned and cultivated as a habit. A person with initiative can become a more creative person by initiating a feeling of discontent with things as they are. Also, a naturally creative mind can prod its “body” to take more initiative in order to see fulfillment of its creative impulses.

Analyze your strengths in both areas – and use one strength to help you raise your sights in the corresponding area.

Adaptability: Behavioral scientists tell us that the true measurement of intelligence is the ability to adjust or adapt quickly to a changing situation. To this extent, adaptability to a changing situation is different from flexibility of thought; it can be said that we should be flexible in our adaptability.

A rapidly changing marketplace may require an executive to adapt to conditions created by his or her competitors. In the process, he or she is hopefully:
• flexible in examining his or her alternate methods of adapting to conditions, and
• flexible in determining what the real cause of his or her problems may be.

All strategic decisions in the executive arena require a degree of adaptability to changing events both inside and outside the company. The complexities of today’s marketplace dictate that rapid adaptability must be a characteristic of the contemporary businessperson.

Make more money faster by easily connecting with hard-to-reach decision makers who can buy your products and services…NOW! Get started free by getting Michael McCann’s new Special Report excerpted from his newest edition of his popular business development book, Connecting with Key Decision Makers (How to Reach Hard-to-Reach Businesspeople Who Can Say “Yes”)…just for asking at http:/www.GlobalBusinessCafe.com/ – http://Twitter.com/MikeHMcCann Go now!

Michael McCann is a 25-year veteran of developing unique and professional business development programs that create tangible results for individuals and companies. Let him help you instantly…free!

What is Your Marketing Personality?

By Kevin Dervin

How would your clients and prospects describe your marketing personality?

Every small business person has a number of qualities and characteristics that make up their unique marketing personality. Are you conscious of what kind of marketing identity you’re projecting… in other words, how people see you?

This really came to my attention in observing behaviors at a recent Home, Lawn & Garden Show in Kansas City. I spent some time supporting my friend and business partner’s booth at the trade show.

Now trade shows are a little bit of a different animal, but it was unmistakable observing the various marketing personalities. For several of the small business owners displaying, trade show marketing is no doubt an important piece of their overall marketing efforts.

Before I cover some of the marketing personalities that were observed, let’s discuss why this is even important.

One of the ways I’ve always encouraged small business clients to think about marketing is to picture a wall. There is the side that you see because you’re inside your business. But, there’s also another side to the wall that your clients, prospects, and potential referral partners see.

Are your marketing efforts designed from the outside in, or from the inside out? If you only focus on what you see and what you like (i.e., your side of the wall) in your marketing efforts, there’s a decent chance you won’t connect with all the prospects that are possible. Because they’re looking for what’s important to them, and not what’s important to you.

I’m not saying to try and be something that you’re not. It’s more a matter of being conscious of your marketing personality so you can set your marketing processes & systems up to best leverage it.

OK, here are some of the marketing personalities that I observed at the Home, Lawn & Garden Show:

* Extreme Introvert – One individual sat in his booth and I never saw him engage a single person unless he was spoken to or asked a question first. It appeared to be a “Field of Dreams” approach. “Well my display is beautiful. If people want what I have, they’ll come and ask me for it.” It was as if he didn’t want to impose on anyone, not even the people who clearly stopped to learn more about his service.

* Look at ME! Look at ME! – OK, I didn’t see the rainbow colored afro wig. But, you do see some things that are clearly set up to try and draw as much attention as possible. What strikes me is the lack of focus on a clearly defined target market. It didn’t seem to matter whether people needed the product/service or not.

* Extreme Extrovert – Everyone was a friend. Smiles and, “Hello, how are you?” were plentiful. This was different from the Look at ME type. I suspect some these folks did well assuming they focused on engaging in conversations with visitors that fell within their target market.

* Oblivious – Ever been involved in a one-way conversation? It was wild. Questions were not answered and a dialogue was clearly not engaged. He had the things on his mind he wanted to communicate and that was that.

* Attentive – This was my favorite to observe. This person was clearly mindful of the traffic. Smiles, nods and hello’s were given, but not necessarily with the intent to stop anyone. When someone stopped at the booth, if the hesitation was appropriate then he engaged. The conversation was polite, but focused with a clear call to action at the end of the discussion.

There is no scientific conclusion here to say who did better than anybody else at the trade show. It was just observation of the various marketing personalities I noticed.

The things is how does this marketing personality carry over to other marketing tactics like networking, direct mail or social networking? Something to think about.

And now I’d like to invite you find more FREE articles and resources to increase your own small business marketing effectiveness at http://www.MarketingActionClub.com Just come have a look around to see what all is available.

Kevin Dervin is co-founder of the Marketing Action Club and creator the the Get More Great Clients marketing system.

Why Managers and IT Professionals Need to Practice Attraction Marketing Principles

By Daniel L. James

There is no such thing as job security, especially in the IT industry. It matters not whether – like me – you have thirty-plus years of experience, an MBA, are a Certified IT Project Manager, have published a book, or any other past accomplishment. Potential clients or employers only care about the value you can bring to their organization today. It was this way in 2001 when the tech industry tanked, and is again in this economy, forcing us to continuously adapt, retool, rethink and re-behave.

No longer is it “safe” to rely on a single source of income. No longer is it a “sure thing” that our 401-Ks will even retain their values, let alone provide gains over time. According to IRS statistics, 93% of public stock market traders lose money each year. According to the Social Security Administration, over half of Americans must continue working at age 65 or later to supplement their retirement.

In an environment where our “superior” resumes are thrown in a stack of thousands for consideration, we must change our approach. Recruiters are overwhelmed with sellers and a tiny fraction of buyers.

The solution is to think strategically, but from from new angles; to find new ways of attracting customers or clients; to become the hunted rather than the hunter.

We do this by becoming mentors, experts in our field, leaders willing to educate and train our prospects without expecting anything in return. Only by first earning trust and respect will our prospects be willing to do business with us, hire us, or invest their precious capital. This concept is called Attraction Marketing, and it’s no longer the exclusive domain of network marketing plans and affiliate programs. It is based on a long-held principle that, helping others achieve their financial (or life) goals automatically helps you achieve yours.

In years past, relying on a single employer to provide for our families was a point of honor and virtue. Today, it’s a case of “what have you done for me lately.” In today’s economy, we need a second source of income just to cover our teenagers’ text-messaging bills, let alone to stock up a lagging retirement fund.

It is time for managers and professionals — technical or administrative — to become entrepreneurs, to find one or more alternative source of income, and to automate that source so that it consumes a minimum amount of bandwidth. Can Attraction Marketing do all that? It certainly can!

For example, you can have a full-time job while mentoring others online in your spare time, building your expertise and followings on various Social Networks. It may not provide instant cash, but the lifetime dividends this “investment” returns can be enormous.

So, what is your passion? What is your favorite hobby? Do others think you’re already an expert in something? Are any ideas coming into your head as you’re reading this that you believe others would find interesting? Are you willing to share your expertise for free in order to attract a loyal following on the Internet? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you qualify to build an Attraction Marketing business. If built correctly, it will take little of your daily time — in fact, much of it can work on auto-pilot — allowing you to continue with your job and life.

The bottom line is this: In this economic climate, how are you going to retire at any age without multiple streams of income? Your job consumes forty-plus hours per week. If you could invest one hour per day to build a lifetime of revenue, would it be worth it?

Something to think about.

Dan James is Senior VP at LarkinSoft (http://www.LarkinSoft.com), a consulting firm specializing in systems that help businesses thrive on the Internet. See Dan’s blog, and more information on Attraction Marketing, at his website, http://www.DLJames.com

3 Steps to Making Managers Into Leaders

By Jason Wilton

When hiring and promoting people into manager roles, many times those who get the positions are those who work the hardest at their current jobs. Rewarding hard work is always an intelligent choice for those in upper management, but in some cases, the hardest workers do not have outstanding leadership qualities. When this happens, some effort must be expended in making managers into leaders.

First, you must teach your management candidates how to think outside the role of an employee. While they may have worked for a long period of time beside the people they will be leading, they must learn how to step out of the co-worker role and into their position of leadership. Watch for employees who may think they can take advantage of their friends, and nip this problem in the bud.

Second, evaluate their personal and business traits to see which leadership qualities need the most work. Place them in situations where they must work on these issues and hone their weaknesses. Even when someone does not naturally have a particular leadership quality, most of these traits can be learned with practice and reinforcement.

Finally, build up their confidence so that they can step into their new role and perform their duties as a manager without any hesitation. For many people, the most difficult part of assuming a leadership role is their confidence in their abilities to lead others. Once they have conquered their own insecurities, taking responsibility for others will become easier and those who work under them will be able to treat them with the respect that they deserve.

In some cases, making managers into leaders simply does not work. There are some people whose personalities are just not cut out for a leadership role and that is perfectly acceptable. In such cases, the best move is to find a position within the company where their strengths can be used to further their own career, as well as to create a stronger organization. Not everyone is a born leader, but nearly anyone can be trained to be a very effective manager with decent leadership qualities.

Making managers into leaders is one of many topics you can learn about at Leadership Made Simple. This periodic journal of practical leadership and management tips provides great material about leadership development. Right now, you can subscribe to this free journal to receive four great videos that can teach you to become a better leader or manager: