Business Strategy Tip - Personal Branding for Success

One important part of branding is the image you yourself portray. Developing a likeable personal brand is essential for succeeding. If you want to rise to the top of your particular arena, you need to first be able to sell yourself to your potential customers.

Think about it. Would you rather do business with a person who smiles and comes across as friendly or with one who snarls and ignores you? The first impression a potential customer receives is from you. Make it a good one.

How can you accomplish this?

One: Become an expert source.


Two: Become a great communicator. Research shows communications skill is the top determinant for upward social and professional mobility.

Three: Draft a marketing plan for yourself annually, and review it quarterly. Include specific goals, strategies, action steps, and a timetable.

Four: Develop an 'elevator speech." Within the time that it takes an elevator to travel one floor - about 60-seconds - be able to deliver a succinct description of what you do, how you do it differently, and the benefit it provides.

Five: Build your Rolodex. Make new business contacts and stay in touch with them. Most people with powerful brands have powerful friends.

Six: Balance your individual style with clothing that will appeal to those you are trying to impress.

Seven: Learn good business and social etiquette. Buy elegant personal stationery and send hand-written notes.

Eight: Give something back. Giving your time, talent, and money to charitable causes is a brand-builder especially when it complements your brand strategy. Find a cause you are passionate about.

Your personal brand is one of your greatest business assets. Put as much time and effort into it as you do in branding your product. In the end, if you can't sell yourself, you'll find it nearly impossible to sell your product.

Social Media Strategy Tip: How to Monetize Your Business Using Facebook

Internet marketing is now considered to be essential in the business world. With it, you will be able to get more clients and significantly let your business grow without spending too much money. Internet marketing is a new breed of marketing. It is very different from marketing on the real world and for most people, internet marketing is quite complicated.

If you don’t know how to market on the internet, the best way to start is by marketing on one of the most popular social networking websites available today, which is Facebook.

First of all, Facebook is primarily a social networking website that is designed to let people communicate with their friends in a dynamic way. It also serves a way for people to meet new people and establish new relationships.

For internet marketers, Facebook is packed with features that can be used to market products and services as well as their business website. If you are a first time internet marketer who wants to start easy, you might want to start with Facebook. You will see that Facebook will provide you with a lot of marketing potential and also help you let your business grow.

The great thing about Facebook is that it is steadily growing. Today, it already has an estimated over 400 million active subscribers. With this number, you will definitely be able to find a lot of people who will be interested in what you have to sell.

Also, Facebook has all the tools you need to market your products or services. Even if the tools and applications here are designed for communication, you have to consider that the main point about internet marketing is communication. Facebook has all the communication tools that you will ever need.

Facebook also launched its Facebook Ads feature. Here, you will be able to officially advertise or market your brand, business or products. You can even market your website here at Facebook Ads.

At Facebook Ads, you will be able to take advantage of its great marketing tools, such as the Advanced Targeting feature. Here, you will be able to target your niche market by age, gender, interests, location and more. This will mean that you will be able to easily target the clients you want. By having this feature, you will be able to quickly find people that may be interested in purchasing the products or services that you are offering.

The Facebook Ads will also provide you with Trusted Referrals. With this feature, you will be able to attach friend to friend interactions about your business to your ads. Facebook encourages word of mouth marketing. This is a great feature as people are more likely to buy a particular product that is recommended by the person they know.

Starting in Facebook Ads is very easy. The first is by pasting the URL of your website. After that, you will choose the audience you want. You can choose the age range, the location, education status, political views and relationship status. You can also include some keywords that will normally show up on interests.

After that, you will create the advertising where you will insert a title and a body. You can also include a photo if you want. The last step is by setting up a budget.

These are some of the tips that you should try to remember when advertising in Facebook Ads. By properly using it, you will be able to get your money's worth and eventually let your business grow.

For a free Social Media Marketing Strategy Session contact me at rmajorswildman@allthewaysuccess.com

Small Business Strategy Tip - The Power of Buzz Marketing

Buzz Marketing is best defined as word of mouth. Much like Viral Marketing where the objective is to get people talking to other people about their experience you provided as a marketer, the big difference is the part where you get people talking is generally done off line. If you’re standing outside a movie theater and shouting about your product and maybe dressed up as your product guess what is going to happen? People are going to start talking to one another. Regardless if you tell another person there is some crazy man or woman outside shouting about something the goal has been met once one person tells another.

The best BM (Buzz Marketing) campaigns are those that do not come off as marketing campaigns. Ambient Marketing is loosely based on BM where you are simply there and making your presence known. Every Guerilla Marketing (GM) tactic contains elements of another GM tactic but each is different and used in a different way. If you’re thinking BM may not be the best approach to get traffic to your website or offline store then you are really underestimating the power of BM. By nature people are curious and gossipy. Why not let the most basic of human instincts do your marketing for you?

One of the draw backs to this particular GM tactic is that if you are a shy or quiet person then this may not be best for you as it generally involves making a mockery of yourself or at least being in a public place and doing something that will get people talking.

That is okay though. With the Internet you don’t have to be seen by anyone. You just have to do something to get people talking. Since VM (viral marketing) and BM are so close to each other on a principle level, you can start a VM campaign and reap the benefits of word of mouth. Refer to the VM section for a great way to get people talking about whatever it is you want them to.
Of course most BM campaigns don’t require you to make a mockery of yourself. A great BM tactic is to place fliers, business cards and or signs all around your town, city and or state. When one person sees the message you have 1% better chances of them telling another person.

When a hundred people see your message, grab your card or whatever you want them to do you have a 100% better chance of them telling just one other person which would be 100 people telling 100 people.

Are you starting to see how this could be great for your business? I thought so. Even if they don’t tell anyone, someone is still finding out about you. Buzz is best but just being is fine too.

Thus far, not one of these Guerilla Marketing tactics is going to cost you more than $20, often, it’ll be much less than that and the results will linger for a long while. The key to GM is to combine tactics since even when you combine five or ten GM tactics you’re still nowhere near the cost of say a TV or newspaper commercial that just blends the surroundings (not to be confused with Ambient Marketing although it contains AM elements).

People for the most part have grown to ignore commercials. How often do you actually leave the TV on the same channel when a commercial that doesn’t interest you comes on? Not very often. The people making the commercial you are ignoring could have just as easily and for less money (if any money) could have used a GM tactic that was sure to get your attention and at least get you to check out what they are promoting.

The next GM method I am going to speak about may require a little money and may be reserved for bigger companies or more established companies but it’s a great way to get people’s attention and works wonders for smaller or startup companies. Remember I said GM is not about money but time and effort but this particular tactic as I said may cost a little money but it’s well worth it compared to traditional marketing methods.

Business Strategy Coach -To Blog or Not To Blog...What is the Answer?

Many people are getting into blogging for several
reasons. You might have heard it somewhere recently
but it actually started more than a decade ago from
its mother, the online diary. Back then, these kinds
of diaries are used by people to record and share
accounts of their personal lives. Although blogging
still uses that same concept, it has now evolved into
several categories and usage.

Nowadays, blogging is synonymous to online marketing.
Bloggers not only publish contents reflecting their
moods for the day or sharing what they have done for
the past few weeks but also advertise and create a
sturdy communication with their audience. More so,
through the use of blogging, people are now able to
find an alternative in making money. Blogging is an
excellent opportunity for generating income.

The Blog

Before you even start to create you own blog. It is
necessary to know what blog really is. The term blog
is actually derived from the word Weblog or Web log.
Back in the days, around the late 1990’s, these Web
logs are utilized by users to track updates and
references to other resources online. They served as
journals, which made them useful as a publishing tool
for the user’s stream of consciousness. Of course, the
readers can still comment and share their thoughts on
just abut anything under the sun.

Technically, blogs are also known as CMS or Content
Management Systems. Being a CMS, blogs allow the
writers to easily publish to a specific Web site and
manage the content without the need of having to deal
with the program code. Publishing software also
provides users with a GUI or Graphical User Interface
for easy pointing and clicking of their articles.
Through the use of easy-to-do procedures, you can
perform configuration and set up, which can ease your
job as a blogger since the tool can automatically
organize your published articles the next time you
publish.

The Advantage of Blogging

The main question is; why should you start blogging?
The first thing you need to know is that blogging can
enhance and support your online communications.
However, you must first understand the outcome of your
blog that you desire in order to attain success. The
main reason why you should start blogging, is that it
can be both an excellent outlet for your frustrations
or excitement and profitable at the same time.

It does not mean that if you are not into blogging,
you should not blog. Being in a business, especially
those with dealings on the Internet, requires you to
establish a clientele that are actually interested
with your services. Blogs can do this easily due to
its accessibility and being an excellent medium for
marketing that it is, blogs are essential for
businesses.

More so, if you are handling a business, there is good
chance that your competition is blogging about their
products and services. This is an easy method for you
to examine the competition and what their clients’
preferences are. Additionally, blogs can create strong
customer relationships since your target market can
easily and directly communicate with the authority
within your business.

This kind of opportunity is hard to resist since a
strong customer relationship can eventually lead to
lasting trust to your product and services; hence,
eventual increase in your revenue.

Business Strategy Coach -Time Management and Managing your Energy: Myth or Not?

“What the mind has set to achieve, the body has yet to immortalize”. The body, mind and spirit has to be ready to take on daily activities such as work. There are many things we want to do and achieve in life. Everyday is considered another day of working hard to achieve something. It can get so overwhelming most of the times especially when we a have a lot of things going but it’s all a matter of how we will be able to cope up and work it out. Being able to manage yourself, play an important role behind getting things done as well as managing your energy in order to keep up.

We can get burned both mentally and physically. Working more hours than regular can drain you mentally thus consuming your energy to function more. Mentally draining yourself makes work even achievable in a more extended time frame because you just don’t have the energy to do it “now” anymore.

Literally, time management means managing time itself. Can you manage time? You can’t. You can’t stop the clock and resume it when you want to resume your work. In a literal point of view that remains a myth. What you can do though is manage yourself to keep up with time. The things you set out to do can be achieved in a timely manner if have a time frame to finish it and it is important that you have to energy to do so.

In order to manage your time and energy you have to do first things first. You must learn to prioritize what work needs to be done and do it without dilly-dallying. Doing so does not help in achieving work on time. It only extends it further more. Managing your time and energy work hand in hand.

Focus on your work and avoid distractions. If you focus on your work, chances are you will be able to finish ahead of schedule thus saving your energy for other activities that you might want to indulge in.

Keep your health up to speed at all times. The mind and body can only do as much when you are in good health and condition. Live healthy, eat healthy and exercise on your free time to keep your spirit on a higher level. Conditioning your mind, body and spirit and keeping a good balance on these aspects can definitely keep the ball rolling for you.

Time management would just remain a myth, a figure of your imagination if you don’t start and learn to manage yourself and your time. You have to put things in practice and in action. Prioritize, focus, and guard your health in order to manage your time and energy to get things done.

Business Strategy Coach - Maximize Your Time for Results

It's a busy world out there. We all have to keep up with the demands of daily living. Juggle everything here and there. Just like an executive running around keeping up with meetings and deadlines at work but can still spend quality time with the family or a college student keeping up with academics but still has to work after school to pay his tuition. Everybody seem to be busy with a lot of things and at the end of the day, a good rest is what we all need.

What is admirable though, is how each of us are able to keep up. At how an executive can still spend quality time with the family after a long day at work, or a working college student still having the time to do research after a long day in school and work. How are they able to do all these altogether, one after the other? This is where time management comes in. It's keeping the balance between work and life itself.

Time management is a matter of prioritizing what work needs to be done first and how you are able to finish it at a given time. Scheduling is very important. Let me share some time management tips that has worked for me:

1. Learn to Prioritize. It is important that you know which work has to be done first and what needs to be done. Learn to dissect and be able to point out what aspect needs urgent attention.

2. Set out a Plan. Having a plan pretty much gives you an idea of where you are going. It's like having a blueprint of your house. You see where everything is located so you know the directions on how to get there.

3. Organize. Schedule, and set a Time Frame. Some people work well with a print out itinerary in front of them and having a specified "begin" and "end" task guide makes it more easy and organized. It is important to keep track of your schedule in order to keep the balance.

4. Make valuable time out of Idle or free Time. This is bonus time that you can make use of. Sometimes we tend to finish ahead of schedule so, we get to have some more extra time. Make valuable use of it. Spend more time with family or maybe just have some time with yourself. After all, everybody needs a little bit of pampering after a hard day's work. It's not bad to reward yourself once in awhile, isn't it?

Time management means getting the work done and not anything else other than what needs to be done. Learn to balance your work and life. Managing your time wisely makes the workload uncomplicated. It only gets complicated and overwhelming when things pile up. And when this happens you loose track of managing your time. It's as easy as one, two and three. Priortize, set out a plan, schedule, and get it done. And you might just be amazed at how you will be able to get some more free time to do other things.

Business Strategy #7 - Discipline + Focus = Success

Focus and Discipline are two of the most important qualities an athlete has to have in order to be on top of the game. The Olympics was first established by the ancient Greeks with the idea of putting together a sporting event every four years to compete in various fields such as javelin, running, wrestling and boxing. It became a world sporting event in 1896. Since then, it has been celebrated every four years in different host countries.

The Olympics has become a venue for sportsmanship, comaraderie and goodwill among athletes and nations of the world. An athlete works hard on his training to be on the lead, with the common goal of winning the gold and gain recognition. With this in mind, athletes have remained focus and disciplined. This has become the driving forces that motivates them to go an extra mile at what they do.
An athlete’s discipline can be compared to a thriving business owner. They do not wait for things to happen; they thrive to make things happen. Success does not come to you….you go for it!

One does not become a good athlete overnight. It takes a lot of learning, training, practice, and most importantly discipline and focus. It would take years to master great athleticism not to mention going through a lot of competition in order the reach the ultimate dream of participating in the Olympics. If an athlete’s ultimate goal is the Olympics, an entrepreneur’s goal is to become profitable, add value and be successful.

The road that leads to the Olympics does not happen at a blink of an eye, so does your way to success. It’s a challenging road out there. It takes many years to become an overnight success. Just like the focused and disciplined Olympian, you have to set your mind on continuously improving your craft and continuously learn and find ways to be the expert in your field. Competition is tough out there and the way to stay on top of, is to remain focused at all times. Everything in life has to be worked on. It’s not a game of chance or pure luck. Remember, success does not come to you but work your way to success!

Business Success Strategy #10 - Hustle While You Wait

"Everything comes to those who hustle while they wait" -Thomas Edison

Thomas A. Edison was one of the most prolific inventors of all time. His inventions continue to shape our daily lives decades after his death in 1931. He fundamentally changed our lives by giving us indoor lighting, records, movies, batteries, and hundreds of other objects we have come to believe we can’t live without. He patented over 1,000 objects during his life. His advice to “hustle” while you wait gives us some insight into how he became a legend.

Many people who dream of changing their lives are in a “waiting” time in their lives. For financial or personal reasons they are not yet able to leave their current jobs, move to their preferred geographical area, or start that business they dream of. During these waiting times you can do much to lay the foundation for your dreams. Here are some ideas that can get you started as you begin to move towards a life you compose rather than one you fell into:

*Research your dream job or business. Learn all that you can about it. You can easily become an expert about any topic in 3-6 months. Read, search the web, interview people who already work in the field, and do all that you can to learn about the history, trends and topics that are important in your field. When the time comes to move forward, you will have a solid knowledge base.

*Develop your network. Meet others who are in your chosen field. Nothing leads to success faster than having a solid support network in place. Don’t fear competition; just meet as many people as you can in that field. This networking will help you understand what it takes to succeed and give you the support you need to make those first steps. Nothing increases learning faster than having a mentor who can show you the way. You will increase your confidence and your learning pace, and you may even get “lucky” and find a job or your first client.

*Lay the groundwork. Write your business plan. Draft a press release. Outline your book. Learn how to design web pages. Any progress is movement forward and that momentum can help propel you towards the life of your dreams. As you develop skills and create the platform for your new life, new ideas and opportunities will come your way.

No matter where you are in developing the life of your dreams, you can “hustle” while you wait. Even if you have no idea what you want yet, you can create a foundation that will support your new life. No effort is wasted. The skills and knowledge you gain will fit into your new life in some way.

As I searched for my dream and mission I researched dozens of topics. I am consistently amazed at how many of those “dead ends” have helped me to develop my current business. Learning how to edit, write copy, design web pages, develop content, create podcast, research, and even golf have all helped me to build a stronger foundation for my roles as a business coach and business growth strategist. Don’t wait for the perfect time to arrive, begin today to move forward and the universe will meet you with more opportunities than you can now imagine.

Business Strategy Coach - 5 Tips to Increase Your Chances of Actually Achieving Your New Year's Resolutions

Even in January, more and more people forget about the well-meaning resolutions they made on New Year's to improve their lives.

Here are five tips to turn resolution road kill into a thing of the past.

1. Stop being a commitment queen/king. Eliminate one or two items from your busy schedule to free up time to pursue your passionate interests. Which will they be?

2. Do something even if it's wrong. Ninety percent of success is showing up. Whether you're selling an idea, trying to land a new client or learning how to paint, the point is, you have to show up. What idea will you pursue this year?

3. Plan for growth. In life, as in business, when you neglect growth, the passion inside you cools. Plan not only for a bigger house or an updated vehicle, but for inner growth. Try to reinvent yourself on a regular basis. You don't want to wake up five years from now and greet the same woman in the mirror. You want to see a new person who has transcended former boundaries.

4. Challenge your obstacles. Let go of the notion that you don't have enough time, energy, money or discipline to do what it takes to succeed. When you challenge that thought you will magically make more things happen.

5. Stick with it and endure. Many people who fail in reaching their goals simply turn back too soon. The path is long and the terrain is tough. When your endurance is tested and you're tempted to give up, remember this: You will miss not only the gold at the end of the rainbow, but also a wealth of other treats along the way.
Here's wishing you a Happy New You. And remember: We are amazing and we can do anything!

Business Strategy Coach - How to Achieve Your Desires With a Goal Achievement System - Part 2

In part 1 of this article, I showed you how to properly set goals by being specific, giving yourself a deadline and making your goals positively oriented. I also showed you a technique where you actually visualize yourself after you've hit that goal and you imagine what it actually feels like. In part 2 of this article, I'm going to show you a step by step process to take that goal, and create a plan of action for achieving that goal. When you are creating this plan, remember this:

"You can't reach the top of the mountain in a giant leap-but b
So in essence, what we are about to do is take your mountain of a goal, and break it down into individual obtainable steps. For the sake of this exercise, we are going to continue with the example we used in part 1, which involved losing 30 pounds in 10 weeks. Remember the goal that you wrote down? This is our end all final achievement. We will call this our mission statement. Here is what we came up with last time, and the one that you wrote should be posted in plain view.

"Today is December 5, and I am 30 pounds lighter. I look a lot better, and I feel great. People have complimented me on how I look healthier and am a more enjoyable person to be around. I can now participate in activities I've always wanted to do but felt limited by my weight."

So how can we break this down? Well since we gave ourselves 10 weeks, the best way to me sounds like breaking this up into 10 obtainable milestones that we need to complete along the way. Hitting the 10th and final milestone would complete the mission. Now we need to set up each milestone accordingly. Please note, 30 pounds in 10 weeks can be a big stretch if losing those 30 pounds would mean giving you six-pack abs. I don't personally believe that this is obtainable to do so in a healthy manner. But for an individual who is much more overweight, it is very possible. I am using weight loss for the sake of this exercise. If your goal is weight loss, I recommend speaking to your physician about what is realistically possible for you (and then try to outdo what they say of course).

Since we are using weight loss as our mission, it is ok that we don't set our milestones equally because it is much easier to lose those first 10 pounds then it is the last 10 pounds. I would recommend this schedule. Weeks 1 & 2 lose 4 pounds a week. Weeks 3 - 8, lose 3 pounds a week. Weeks 9 & 10 lose 2 pounds a week.

Now did you notice something about these milestones? Pounds don't just disappear in chunks just because you made the number smaller. Completing a milestone may not be the same as leaping to the top of a mountain, but it is like leaping to the top of a hill. So, like what we did with our mission statement, we will continue to chunk down on our milestones until we can break them down into smaller more obtainable goals. I would recommend writing each milestone down on an index card on the top line (sticky notes work well too). On each index card, further break down your milestone into individually achievable goal. For example, on one card, you may list:

Week 1 Milestone: lose 4 pounds

Monday: run 1 mile

Tuesday: lift weights for half an hour

Wednesday: run 1 mile

Thursday: lift weights for half an hour

Friday: run 1.25 miles

Saturday: lift weights for half an hour

Sunday: day off (eat healthy!)

If you are really feeling diligent, you can break this down even further! You may want to list exactly what you eat on Monday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You may want to plan out a healthy sleeping schedule. Remember, the more specific and detailed you are, the more likely you are to achieve your desired outcome.

Do you remember hearing about the straight A high school students who flunked out of college? Do you know why? In high school, everything was planned out for them. They had English first period, Math second period, Chemistry third period and so forth. They followed a schedule that was strictly enforced, and they were able to thrive in that situation, even if it was to avoid the negative consequences of things like cutting class (this is away from motivation and we want to use towards motivation - we want to look great and feel healthy). However, once they got to college, they were given a lot more freedom, such as optional lectures and readings, and eventually they couldn't keep up because they lost that feeling of an automatic schedule, where everything is laid out for them. We can argue about there being many other reasons, but I'm not going to go there right now.

You may think that this involves a lot of work. But in reality, the amount of time spent on this activity is only a fraction of the amount of time spent on achieving your mission. If you spent 5 hours a week working on your mission, what's an extra half hour the first week? I'll give you a little hint to help start you off so write this down. Goal #1: write down your milestone schedule!

Remember, in order to have success, you must first plan to have success.

Business Strategy Coach - How To Achieve Your Desires With A Goal Achievement System - Part 1

Have you ever gotten really excited about that million dollar idea only to end up going nowhere? Often times, the idea itself was not what had resulted in failure, but a lack of a systematic process to take that idea and turn it into a reality. This is like driving your car across the country, and never filling up your tank with gas. You will only make it a certain distance, and you will never reach your final destination. What I am about to teach you is a way to create "mental gas stations," with the Goal Achievement System (GAS). The GAS will allow you to refuel your motivation and allow you to achieve extraordinary results that you did not know were possible.

The great thing about this process is that you can use it anywhere in your life that you choose. You don't need a million dollar idea, and you might have a different desired outcome, like losing weight. For the purpose of this blog, we will use weight loss as an example, but you can apply this same process for any type of goal.

The first part of the system is creating a well defined goal. A problem well stated is a problem half solved. We are going to take a simple ambiguous goal, the type that we are used to setting, and turn it into a clearly defined problem.

1. Set a specific goal. You cannot be ambiguous. If you tell yourself, "I am going to lose weight," does that mean you lose 5 pounds, or do you lose 30 pounds? Your mind will probably end up giving you that satisfied feeling if you only lose 2 pounds, because that means you lost weight. Be specific. "I am going to lose 30 pounds or better yet I am going to weigh 125lbs."

2. Give your goal a deadline. Human beings are procrastinators! If you say "I am going to lose 30 pounds" you can easily tell yourself that you are on the right track a year later and 10 pounds lighter, because you don't have a finish line. At the same time, if you GAIN 10 pounds, you still have not technically missed your goal, because it will never come due. Imagine if your boss said: "I'd like you to hand in that report sometime before you die." Would you do it? Probably not. If you tell yourself "I am going to weigh 125 pounds in 10 weeks" you add a bit more pressure on yourself and you force yourself into taking action.

3. Use Towards Motivation. There are two types of motivation. Towards Motivation, and Away From Motivation. Away From Motivation is the act of doing something for the sake of NOT doing, being, or feeling something else. For example, If you tell yourself "I want to lose weight because I DON'T want to be fat," your mind focuses on what you don't want, because the human nervous system cannot process a negative though without first focusing on what it is you don't want. For example, "Don't think about Benjamin Franklin's face on the $100 bill." Did an image briefly flashed through your head before you forced it out? Away From Motivation usually ends up in us doing just enough to not have that feeling. You might lose 15 pounds and feel 'not fat,' and that will end up keeping you satisfied enough, but not completely satisfied. Instead, use Toward Motivation, as that will allow you to set a positive standard that you are continually trying to seek out and make better. "I am going to weigh 125 pounds in 10 weeks so I can look great, be healthy, and feel more energetic." Which sounds better to you?

4. Put yourself in the future, when you've achieved your goal. This is an exercise that you can use every day to help motivate you towards achieving your goal. Look at your calendar, and find out the exact date 10 weeks later. Close your eyes and tell yourself "Today is December 5, and I am 30 pounds lighter. I look a lot better, and I feel great. People have complimented me on how I look healthier and am a more enjoyable person to be around. I can now participate in activities I've always wanted to do but felt limited by my weight." Imagine that picture in your head of that skinnier you, and associate yourself with that image as if you are seeing the world through your own eyes as people are complimenting you on the 'new you.' Take a moment to feel that excitement and energy. Smile. You will get there.

5. Write down your new goal from step 4 and display it where you can see it. Personally, I like sticky notes. I like to write my goals down and place them on my computer screen, so I end up looking at them many times a day. So write down your goal, and make sure you place it somewhere it can be easily viewed at least once a day. "Today is December 5, and I am 30 pounds lighter. I look a lot better, and I feel great. People have complimented me on how I look healthier and am a more enjoyable person to be around. I can now participate in activities I've always wanted to do but felt limited by my weight." Now, whenever you see your goal, you will be able to revision your experience from part 4 and it will help energize and excite you.

Congratulations! You have just concluded part I of the Goal Achievement System. Remember, 'a problem well stated is a problem half solved.' You might not have lost any weight yet (or whatever it is that you are trying to achieve) but you are already half way there. Trust me. An NFL coach who goes into a game without a game plan will have lost the game before the opening kickoff. In part II, I will show you how to pick all the right plays from your play book so that you can take your newly defined goal and make it into a reality.

Business Strategy Coach - Now is the Time to Plan for 2010!

I am totally blown away by the many business owners who do not actually have a business plan. We know the quote "Those who fail to plan, plan to fail." However, with every client that I coach and consult with one of the first things I ask them is what goals do they have for their business. The business strategy plan is the tool that will help you stay on tasks. It is basically your compass to make sure that you are reaching your goals.

Many people I speak to become overwhelmed by the process of creating a plan. There are many great softwares that you can use for example BizPlan Builder is an amazing tool to use to help you through the process.

So let's get started. These are the 3 major components your plan must have:
(1) Income Goals - How much money do you want to make for 2010? What is the total gross revenue? What increase do you want for your business? Begin with knowing what type of lifestyle you wish to live.This will help you in planning your income goals.
(2) Budget - What are your planned expenses for 2010? How much are you allocating for advertising/marketing? Do you have a budget for education/training for yourself and your staff? Are there some expenses that you need to cut for 2010?
(3) Marketing Strategy- Do you have a 6 month marketing strategy in writing? Do you know who your ideal client is and how to reach them? Are you planning on using social media, print, direct mail? Do you have a referral program or affiliate program? What is your expected return on investment (ROI) for the marketing you plan to do? Do you have a tracking mechanisms to gauge your results?

It may seem challenging and daunting but with the right support and a well thought out strategy you will create a "working" plan to accelerate your business.

Coaches Tip: Start NOW and work on one section at a time. By December 31st, you will be ready to take your business all the way and please know we will love to help you on your journey.

Business Strategy Coach - Driving to Your Goals..3 Steps to Get You Where You Want...

Every time you get in your car to go anywhere, you are working on achieving a goal. There is somewhere you want to be, so you take action to get there. The three major things that get you where you want to go when driving are a specific destination, directions for getting there, and a way to track your progress. You must also have these three things to achieve any goal.

1. Specific Destination

Before even getting into your car, you must know where you are going. Unless you have a specific destination, you're just moving the car and wasting gas. There isn't anything particularly wrong with this; some people enjoy just driving around and looking at the scenery. But if you want to get somewhere, you must know where you are going.

When setting your goals, you must know exactly what it is that you want. Get a clear picture of it in your mind. If it's a new job, picture yourself in that job. If it's more money, visualize that monthly bank statement. Imagine what you will feel like when you reach whatever it is you are striving for. Write it down, like you would write down the address of a house you are visiting for the first time.

2. Directions

If this is a destination you've been to before, you don't need directions. It's automatic, like tying your shoes or chewing your food. But what if it's somewhere you've never been before? How do you get there?

You ask. You ask someone who's been there before. You pull out a map. You check the Internet. The directions may not be perfect, and often they aren't. "It's either the second or third light, I can't remember which," is something often heard when getting driving directions. But you get the best directions you can.

Goal setting is the same. You get in touch with others who already have what you want. You read books, you listen to tapes, you attend seminars, or you hire a “results coach”. You get as much information as possible that will assist you in reaching your goal.

3. Tracking Your Progress

You know where you are going and you've got your directions, so now it's time to take some action! You hop in the car and you're off!

But wait! It wasn't the second or third light, it was the fourth! So what do you do when you realize you are off course? You check your map, you pull into the nearest gas station, or you make a phone call. You try to get back on track. But you don't give up! You don't turn around at the first closed road and go back home, saying "I didn't really want to get there anyway." If this were to happen, you'd never get anywhere you hadn't been before, and your life would be pretty limited. Even if you have to head all the way back home, you start again. Eventually, you get to that destination, and isn't it even more exciting when you get there after a difficult journey!

You may get sidetracked on your journey. If you get hungry, you stop for a bite. If you need to use the restroom, you stop to take care of that. But do you stay stopped? Do you sit in the restroom all day, wondering why you aren't where you want to be? No, you do what you need to do and continue on.

Don't quit on your goals, either. There may be setbacks, dead ends, even car accidents. But don't forget that you'll never get there if you don't keep taking action and moving towards your destination. When that prospect says no, it's not a failure; it's another mile under your belt. When nothing seems to happen for a long period of time, you're just getting closer to that next landmark. If you're not sure what to do next, don't be too embarrassed to stop and ask for those directions!

Business Strategy Coach - Eight Steps to Take Control of Every Situation in Your Life

Like it or not, we are all gladiators. We go to sleep and wake up in a social arena from which there is no escape. Challenge upon challenge confronts us, walls restrain us, and a mob of spectators mocks, sneers, or cheers us. Each and every day brings new battles whether we want them or not and whether we're up to them or not. Life forces us to face one skirmish after another - no choice in the matter.

What we can choose, though, is which kind of gladiator to be, victor or victim.

Being a victim in this social arena translates into having bad relationships.

Most people are victims - victims of their own perceptions.

That's because people don't develop and listen to their own unique, authentic self. Rather they allow their mental spectators - those little tyrants rattling around in their heads - to tell them second by second how to fight their battles, what they can and cannot do. These tyrants applaud and they hiss, they encourage and they discourage.

These mental spectators are the memories of the judgments of real-life people. For example, it's the memory of your aunt saying, "I hope you marry someone rich, because you're not going far on brains." It's the echo of your father growling, "You've got a back problem - no spine."

And their influence over your relationships can't be overestimated.

Millions of people accept the judgments of their mental spectators as the truth and, therefore, the mediocre results that come from believing those judgments.

With so many people living this way, the question becomes, is this the way I have to live? Fortunately, the answer is not unless you want to.

Once you identify your mental spectators - and your interactions with them - you can move beyond victim and assume the role of victor.

What it takes are eight steps for getting command, eight steps you can apply to most any situation you want altered. You can positively influence your relationships, your employment options, any aspect of your life.

Let's look at the steps.

1. Define What Ails You.
Ask, what's my problem? Am I a jealous weasel, troubled that others have what I want? Am I ticked off most of the time? Am I sad and whiney? Anxiety ridden? Moody? All of the above? Without this step, you're doomed. It will take personal courage, but you won't get results without identifying what ails you.

2. Discover the Effects.
Ask, how are my problems affecting my life? Am I a lousy parent, a friendless dork, a backstabber, a liar, a drunk, a junkie? Am I none of the above, but someone who is less than I could be? This step requires absolute self-honesty, but the truth will help set you free.

3. Seek the Source.
Ask, from where are my problems coming? Who are my real and my mental spectators? What do my mental spectators look like, say, and do? Exactly who or what is keeping me from taking command of my life? This could be one of the most incredible experiences of your life. You will look into the abyss and see who is looking back.

4. Identify Your Role.
Ask, how am I contributing to my problems? What is my responsibility in all this? Did I decide to be a garbage disposal? Do I beat myself to death trying to please others? Do I expect things of myself that are unfair? Do I treat myself as a friend or an enemy? Do I allow my mental spectators to drive me to distraction, depression, anger, anxiety? Recognizing your role in your own problems is a positive - but scary - step toward knowing yourself and gaining personal command.

5. State Your Desires.
Ask, what do I specifically want to do about my problems? Do I want to be a doormat, a liar, a drunk, a friendless geek? Or do I want to rule my mental spectators? Do I want to stand up to a spectator, real or imagined, who puts me down? Do I want to take command of my education, my bank account, my relationships? Until you can actually list your desires in the order of their importance, you will be a victim. However, once you do this, you are on your way to being a victor.

6. Seek Options.
Ask, what are my options, and in what order should I place them? What is the first option I should concentrate on? The second one? The third? If you have a soul-sucking hangover most mornings, you might opt to give up your booze buddies for some real friends. Secondly, take the money you normally spend at bars and deposit it in a college fund for yourself or your kids. If, instead, you're a workaholic and you want to spend more time with your kids, then DO IT. Very few people on their deathbed have said, "If I could live life all over again, I'd spend more of it at work and less with people I love." Choices are involved here, but by weighing options and alternatives, and then making personal choices, you are taking command. Do this and you'll begin to gain real power.

7. Learn Winning Techniques.
Ask, how do I rule my real and my mental spectators? Must I collapse in a heap when they point thumbs down? How can I learn to take charge on every level and get a grip on my life? There is no "magic" involved, but you might feel as if there is. Unlike a vanquished gladiator falling at the whim of spectators, you decide your own course.

8. Master Your Relationships.
Ask, what more can I do to master my relationships by strengthening myself and my perceptions? How do I take command right now in developing my own identification and self-worth? Congratulations! You're working on the one person in the entire world you can work on - YOU! And any improvements in yourself can't help but enrich your relationships with other people and the world around you.

Although this is only a brief overview of each of the eight steps for jump-starting your relationships and taking control of your life, you'd be amazed at how significant the effects of a few minor adjustments in perception can be.

Business Strategy Coach - Leadership is Action...Not Position!

People respond to good leadership! Period! It is in all aspects of our lives, not just business. A mother is a leader in her home; a son may be leader of a team sport or a daughter the leader of the debate team. A group relies on the person in charge to actually lead them to success. A true leader is highly ethical, honest and respected.

In our society we have leaders and followers. Are we born to one or the other? No! Can you hone your leadership skills? Absolutely!

The leaders that I admire seem to have all of these in place:

a) They think BIG! They don’t put a ceiling in place. Instead, no limit is set as to how big or how much better something can be.

b) The goals are firmly set in place and the eye does not come off of it.

c) They make known to all involved the final product that they are all going for, example, if you sell widgets, it takes x number of widgets to be affluent, or you want to win that football game and ultimately the title. Know what you’re going for.

d) They can get compliance to orders.

e) When goals are met they set new goals or raise the bar.

People will follow your lead willingly if you are honest, ethical, if you are consistent and treat them with respect. Rewarding someone when a job is well done is always appreciated. A good leader will also off load someone who consistently hinders the group who is just not a team player.

You can improve your own self- respect and become an inspiration to others. How great is that!

Business Strategy Coach - How to Find Out the Key Challenges You Face as a Business Owner

There are a lot of obstacles and challenges that you are going to have to face as a business owner. You will need to make sure that you think about some of the goals that you have for yourself and the goals that you have as the business owner. You will need to keep your personal and business goals in mind through the challenges so that you don't lose sight of the ideas that you once had.

As an entrepreneur you will need to overcome some of the obstacles in order to find success for your business. These roadblocks exist for everyone who is a business owner and there are by no fault of your own. You will need to keep yourself in check every now and then so that you can track your personal gain from the goals that you have, but also so that you can keep yourself moving forward.

The most common obstacle that you will run into is the fact of funding. When you start a business you may not realize that it is going to take a lot of capital to get the business going, even if you are buying a business. You will need to take inconsideration that you are going to have to have good credit and also good credit options. You will find that this obstacle is so easy to overcome, but it does take a little bit of planning. If you want to overcome this, you will need to have a good business plan to present to the bank so that you can the most funding that you can get as a start up capital. You will also need to use the plan in order to get investors (silent or just a business partner) so that you can keep the funds rolling in. It will take at least two years for a business to start generating money. If you honestly would like to start a business you will need to have enough funds to cover the general bills for at least two years. This will keep the financial issues at bay.

Secondly, you have to consider the fact that you have many responsibilities. You will need to make sure that you can give the business the proper amount of time, but also not neglect your school or family responsibilities. You will need to make sure that the drawers are counted at the end of the night, but you also need to be home to tuck your kids into bed. It is very important that you mate understands how important it is for you to have business success and also how important it is for you to have the success at home. They will need to give you some slack and support when it comes to the family roles.

Finally, you are going to have to overcome your own feelings. You may find yourself feeling insecure about your age or even the business. As long as you know that this is what you want and you know that this is something that you would like to pursue, then you need to gain the confidence to support your business. You will find that confidence through the planning of the business, by having a good start up fund, and also by having the support of your family.

Keep in mind that it is hard to run a business and it takes a lot of time, money, and energy to make a successful business. Do you have what it takes, right now, to focus on other areas of your life and the business? You will need to have the support of your family and loved ones to really make the business work. To find out if you have a sound business strategy, please contact us at www.allthewaysuccess.com for a complimentary business strategy session.

Business Strategy Coach - Plug In...With a Purpose

Imagine that each person on this planet carried with them a teaspoon of soil or rock from Mt. Everest. Certainly Mt. Everest would shrink! Those individual teaspoons of material from the tallest mountain on Earth now in the pockets of billions of people also wouldn't mean much. Well I suppose each of us could put that small amount of mineral material into a bottle and keep it as a souvenir. But like most souvenirs we collect, we get tired of dusting them and they become added to the already crowded drawer or box of meaningless, useless items. A teaspoon of dirt, in a jar, in a drawer, that by itself, means little.

But, wait a minute…. What about it's P-0-T-E-N-T-I-A-L?

From Webster's Dictionary:

"Contribute": to give or supply in common with others

What if each person on this planet brought their teaspoon of Mt. Everest to the site where it used to stand and contributed it? What would happen? Why, we would build the highest, mightiest mountain on Earth…TOGETHER.

Good thought! Doubtful it would happen. Why not? Let's explore that. We can start by applying this Mt. Everest metaphor to our own lives.

Modern times finds we human beings have, at least in the developed world, become rather insular (just think of the word "insulate"). We cocoon in our homes. We don't have time, we don't have enough money, we are tired. We don't have any time to ourselves, we go to work and slave for someone else's goals and often receive a pay check for much less than we feel we are worth. We provide for our families, do the myriad of tasks and chores in and for the home. Sacrifice for and fearfully protect our children. We amass debt to do many of these things. We feel trapped in a vortex of stress. And yet, with all this striving for what we think we want, if we are honest, we still feel unfulfilled and probably guilty for feeling that way!

Something elusive is still missing.

We are living our "separateness". We are not acknowledging our "interconnectedness".

We avoid asking ourselves "Who am I, why am I really here?" because we already know that we don't know or are afraid the answers will jolt us out of what we think is our comfort zone. Finding out may take more of that precious time we don't' have or take more of that effort we are too tired to perform! It's one of those conundrums: we want to know, but we don't want to know because it may shake up our lives, it may cause our lives to….here it comes…..CHANGE! Human beings don't like change, yet it is the one thing we can all count on. So there we are, unfulfilled vs. having to change. Yup, it's scary. But so worth it!

Have you ever listened to Nelson Mandela, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Mother Theresa, the Dali Lama or so many other highly spiritually evolved human beings? And I mean really listened to them? Would you say all of them know "who" they are? And are they living their purpose, their passion? Of course. We can 'feel' that they are. All of them have their roots in different countries, all of them teach the same message, which is, we are all interconnected. We were not put on this earth to be separate, we are all teaspoons of the Whole. And the way we can come together and build a "Mt. Everest" world of harmony is through contribution.

We likely think of ways in which to contribute as the usual volunteering our time or donating our money. Heck, we receive unsolicited begging for money via telemarketing phone calls and the postal system on an endless basis! Of course charitable organizations do need our donations of time and money, but there is another, more intangible way to "add your teaspoon". It is through fulfilling your life's Purpose. This means:

Living life intentionally, not by accident

Capturing the essence of what it means to be fully alive

You have a powerful direction in your life

You make choices that increase the value of life to yourself and others

Being fulfilled today and every day

Living your life based on your values

Due to our spiritual interconnectedness, there is no true life Purpose that does not include contribution. There is no contribution that does not include reward for you, tangible or intangible. You are here to make a difference on this planet. Wouldn't you like to know what you will leave behind, the difference you will make in the lives of those you touch?

Your life Purpose is an underlying theme to your life, not a specific job, parenting or partnering. Your Purpose can be fulfilled through these, but it is not these. Your life Purpose is not to be a title, it is to do something, something that contributes. Never underestimate your power, your "teaspoon" has the potential to become Mt. Everest! You can be fulfilling your life Purpose with as little as an acknowledgment, a warm touch, a phone call, a letter, a kind smile or word, lending an ear, anything that contributes to the mental, physical or emotional well being of another living soul. Or conversely, refraining from judgment, harsh words within or without the presence of the target, anything that you know, deep in your heart, would be hurtful to another.

The special wording of your purpose is uniquely yours. Certain words have specific meaning to each of us. When you speak your purpose, something physical happens to you, you know this is you. Others hearing it may not feel that power, because it is not theirs, but it is not meant to impress anyone else, it is the Universe speaking to your heart and that is all that matters.

Who Rae is and what I am here to do is the following:

"I am a strong and courageous woman, leading and inspiring people to overcome their limiting beliefs and step into their God-given destiny."

When I say this I feel an angel kiss my forehead, my heart is full and I have such a peace and understanding. And even better, I know I am contributing to the lives of others.

Up to now, I have been fulfilling my life Purpose to about 80% potential in the career aspect of my life. It is through Business and Personal Life Coaching that I know I am fulfilling my life's Purpose 100%. I know the potential of my 'teaspoon' and through my Purpose I hope to touch as many lives as I can reach to enable them to know their potential as well.

You are not separate, you are connected, just Plug in with a Purpose!

Business Strategy Coach - A Secret Technique that Entrepreneurs Can Use to Almost Guarantee Success!

If you were to walk up and ask successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurs what they did to succeed or fail, most of them would cite some mentor or lack of trait... Blame genetics or outside influence. But if you were to ask the exact same group if they used this secret, 99% of successful entrepreneurs would say yes - and almost all of the unsuccessful entrepreneurs would ask what you were talking about...

The secret to being a successful entrepreneur is very, very simple. It is called "Quantifiable Goals". It might sound complicated, but when you have finished reading this article you will completely understand what it means - and why it is so important.
Let’s say, for example, that you walk into a room full of entrepreneurs, and ask them to state their goals. To state why they are ultimately in business for themselves. Most of them will respond something along the lines of time or money. But watch them puzzle when you ask them WHY they want to earn money or have that extra time. This is the most essential part of Quantifiable Goals. Any John Doe can say he wants to make money, but why? Is there something in particular he wants to buy? Something he wants to do with that time?
Once you establish WHY you want that extra time or money, you have just taken a big step towards success. You now have a goal. For example, you want that extra money to buy a house. Buying a house is your goal. Now comes the Quantifiable part.
How much are you going to spend on this house? $250,000? $1 million? You need to come up with a dollar amount or time amount, something of quantity, to properly set your goals. That way, once you earn that $250,000 or gain those 3 hours, you have essentially attained your goal.
But waking up one morning and deciding to earn $250,000 doesn't make it happen. So how do you achieve your long-term Quantifiable Goal? By breaking it up into smaller, medium term quantifiable goals.

For the example we have been using, buying a house for $250,000, your medium-term goals would most likely be monetary. You could set goals to complete two projects that would each bring you $125,000, or even 10 projects that would bring you $25,000, or break it down even further.

But what good are these goals anyway? They are still difficult to achieve, and how do you know what to do to achieve these goals?
Well, you break each of your medium-term quantifiable goals into short term goals. For example, if you chose to get two projects with a price tag of $125,000 each, your first goal might be to think of what kinds of projects you can do that would bring that kind of money in for you. Your next goal would be to close the sale on such a project, and then to complete the project, and finally to collect payment. That way, each medium-term goal is broken down into manageable tasks.

At this point, you want to break everything down into a flow chart to help establish your goals. Put your life quantifiable goal at the top on its own piece of paper. Then, put each of your medium-term goals on their own paper in a horizontal line directly beneath your life goal. Then directly below each medium goal, fill a sheet with the short term goals that it will take to achieve each medium term goal.

This method will help you visualize what you are working towards, and how each step is necessary to achieve your dream.

Now you'll want to check off each short term goal as you complete it, completing one sheet at a time. By doing this, you will be able to visually SEE your results progress quickly. Each time you complete a short-term goal, you are one step closer to completing a medium-term goal, which brings you one step closer to completing your life goal.

Now that you know the secret, what are you going to do about it? I suggest following the visualization techniques given, and build yourself a "life pyramid" on a wall that is visible while you are working. Glance at it every so often, and it will keep you on track. Reward yourself when you complete your goals - from the smallest achievement to completing the entire pyramid. It will most likely be the most positive experience in your life to see that pyramid completed - and the construction process of the pyramid itself will set you on the right path.