Have You Ever Kicked A Puppy?

This past week I became extremely aware of different communication styles, methods and words.

Now I haven't gone out and researched "The Art of Communication" or anything. Communication is actually something I am not very good at and have not spent very much time studying.

However, events of the week seem to have highlighted different communication methods and primarily my failure in this area.

During our weekly breakfast together, I was successful in communicating to my wife that she is a puppy who felt "kicked" by my words...OUCH!

I communicated my disapproval of my children's "bad attitude" in the morning...who really had the bad attitude?...OUCH!

But then, on Saturday, I attended, as an observer, the "Assistant Instructor Workshop" my boys were taking at our dojo. Our sensei has the gift of teaching and does an exceptional job of encouraging improvement and increased performance. I have observed other senseis who will instead use intimidation as an attempt to "force" increased performance.

One tip I received while watching the workshop was to encourage someone first and then ask for a little bit more.

For example: While a student performs a certain move, you tell them what was good about the move and then gently encourage an improvement they can make to the move..."that was a good lunge punch. Now to make it even better, try to keep your wrist straight instead of letting it fall limp at the end of the punch."

During the week I had been working on a project for work and I was receiving some feedback from some colleagues. I recieved some different communication styles, some of which were similar to the instruction my boys received at Karate..."this is good, now try this to make it even better".

Then I found some videos from Tom McCarthy with some insight into "Effective Communication". I don't necessarily agree with the entire "Power of Positive Thinking" and "Prosperity Gospel" message, but there is something to communicating effectively using positive encouragement.

Tom's tips are:

1. Our communication can increase performance or crush performance.
2. Start with an encouraging word...start with the positive.
   
3. Focus on the improvement, instead of the mistake they made.
4. Get them to commit and agree to make this improvement.
5. Keep you relationships strong with "capitalization".
   - Does your team (family) share good news with you?
   - How do you respond to their good news? Respond positively and actively.

All of this is to be wrapped in sincerity and a desire to build relationships with others.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Ephesians 4:29

But again, we can't allow our desire to always respond positively to develop into an artificial insincere relationship. We are sinful human beings and do make mistakes and do things wrong.

Brian








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Winter Unicycling

Went out today with my boys and some friends for a birthday party and sledding. A friend of mine brought his unicycle, so I shot some video:



Brian
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Keys to Building A Business

Stu McLaren http://wishlistproducts.com/blog/ does a great job of outlining the following keys to building a business:

1. Listen to your own frustrations (and then try to solve them);
2. Create great support materials (text, video, call, online, etc);
3. Create a marketing calendar (and then do something every month for your customers);
4. Have fun while building your business.
   

Lessons Learned After Year 1 of WishList Products from WishList Products on Vimeo.

Brian
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Transactional or Positional

Yesterday I had the privilege of participating in a coaching call with Paul Evans of Nicheology.

I asked the following question:

I am a newbie and this question has to do with any kind of sales (affiliate, plr, ebook, etc). Jimmy D Brown has said, quality content comes from experience rather than from research. If we are not "experts" or even "intermediates" in any field, then wouldn't the bulk of our "start-up" time on-line be consumed with building our professionalism? How do you build true professionalism in online marketing without ever selling anything? I am guessing that most people don't get started on-line because they don't have professionalism in any specific area. They don't come to the market as experts. They need to take the time (and money) to become
experts and even then, the majority of their time is spent in research and not experience. This is also probably why there is so much low quality content out there. The paralyzing question then becomes, which niche do I want to spend time in becoming a professional? How do I develop experience and build professionalism?

Paul gave an outstanding and extremely beneficial response:

This question is about positioning and not about transacting. It is about working professionally in a handful of niches verses working transactionally across many niches.

1. Choose something you are passionate about and want to learn about for the rest of your life.
2. Educate yourself in this area.
3. Experiment in this area. Put your education into action.
4. Record what you experienced. Give your strong opinion about what you experienced and what you learned from your experiment.

What have I experienced?

During the past 9 months I have been following, watching and learning from some of the top Internet Marketers in the industry. These are people who are making well into 7 figures annually from their online businesses. Generally, they are held up as "successful" within the industry. I cannot argue with that, they are successful. However, what I have found is that the majority of these people function from a "transactional" position rather than from a "professional" and/or "positioning" position.

What do I mean by this?

What I mean is, when you purchase some of the top Internet Marketing training materials; when you get on top mailing lists; when you join top continuity programs; the majority of the time you are treated and viewed as a transaction rather than as someone into whom the marketer is willing to invest value. (Note: There are definitely exceptions to this. Read on to see the exceptions I have encountered.)

How can I say this?

I have purchased everything from home study courses to continuity programs to PLRs. After the purchase, the continued communication from the marketer turns transactional. They move on to the next product they have to sell. The vast majority of continued emails become a sales pitch for the next product, the next affiliate promotion, the next "get rich" scheme, or even the next more expensive level of "personal attention".

Even when I pay month after month for an "extremely valuable" continuity program after the initial purchase, the continuity program becomes a smattering of low value disjointed content. It is kind of like receiving leftovers from the banquet going on in the grand ballroom next door.

Who are the exceptions?

As of right now, I have found only 2 exceptions that stand out as different. The first is Paul Evans of Nicheology. The other is Eric Holmlund of Eric's Tips. Both of these marketers continue to give and give and give after the initial sale. And I am not talking about giving more free junk to fill up your hard drive. I am talking about valuable communication and professionalism poured into the readers who are smart enough to remain on their mailing list.

So, while many marketers are "successful", how many will receive the admonition "well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord"?

I hope to find more marketers who are faithful and I hope to join the ranks of them myself some day.

Brian
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Successful or Faithful

Each and every day we must decide whether we will be faithful.

Some days we have to decide if we will be Successful or Faithful...

HomeWord - Nov. 17, 2006
Successful or Faithful?
This devotional was written by Leslie Snyder

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."— Matthew 25:21

Success. It’s what most people strive for. Products promise instant success in everything from weight loss to financial freedom. Schools promise success in producing well-educated students who will succeed in college and the working world. In fact, there is a promise that if you are successful in work, business, education, sports or the arts, you will have lived a successful life.

Great! Sign me up!

Unfortunately, this idea of success has infiltrated the church in almost all aspects. A successful church is often measured by the number of members, Sunday morning attendees, number of staff members or by the number of people who prayed at the altar on a given Sunday. I would like to offer the idea that the church is not called to be “successful” in the way success is measured today.

Instead, we are called to be faithful.

In the above parable, Jesus tells the story of three servants who have been given responsibility over differing amounts of money or “talents.” Two of the servants used what they were given by the Master and in the end had a greater return; however, one servant, out of fear of the Master,

buried his talent in the ground, returning only what he was given when the Master returned.

The servants who invested their talents and brought a greater return were described as “good and faithful,” while the one who hid his talent was described as “wicked and slothful.”

Some would describe the first two as “successful.” Jesus, however, described them as “faithful.”

Are the two completely separate? Not necessarily.

Faithfulness sometimes brings earthly success, but more importantly, faithfulness brings eternal reward. Does that mean we should not strive to be successful in our ministries? Perhaps the better goal is to strive to be faithful. Jesus calls us to excellence, and to invest whatever we have been given, as a church and personally, for His kingdom. When we are faithful, He can bring about whatever type of success He desires.

HomeWord - Nov. 17, 2006
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Don't Waste Your Life

http://dontwasteyourlife.com/



Brian
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I Hate Get Rich Quick Hype

For the past several months, I have been learning how Internet Marketing works. I have followed many product launches; subscribed to lots of lists; participated in dozens of webinars and bought my fair share of training courses and memberships. I have literally gone back to school and am completely reinventing my business model. I am learning how to work in a different way.

The number of tools being created for the Internet is overwhelming. The innovations seems endless. Just when you think someone has figured it out, someone else comes up with something bigger, better and faster.

However, one thing I have run into over and over again are programs and websites some people would call "scams". I find it hard to actually call them scams because most sites do offer a product of some sort or another. The problem with some of the products, however, is WHAT they "sell".

Many sites make "getting rich quick" look easy. Is this good "sales and marketing"? Or is this hype and false representations, i.e. scams? Most often I find that there is a need for "buyer beware". When browsing and getting caught up in the latest product offers, you really need to be on your guard and know when to say "Yes" and when to say "No". The sales and marketing techniques are good. Many of the products are good. But buyers must beware of hyped up claims.

I have heard stories of people making money in less than 48 hours, or offers to sign-up, sit back and watch the money roll in, because..."we've done all the work for you". I don't doubt that someone has actually made money in 48 hours, or that turnkey programs can produce some income. But, this isn't what creates and builds a business. A bit more planning and diligence is needed rather than just 48 hours or some cool plug-n-play software program.

Some things to keep in mind when beginning an Internet based business:

1. Building a business is like building anything else, it takes time and effort.
2. Beware of what you are buying and/or listening to.
3. Be patient and listen to common sense. Don't listen to hyped up limited time offers.
4. Get rich quick schemes are just that, "schemes". Businesses are not built on schemes, they are built on plans and hard work.
5. If you don't have the time, nor money to invest in proper training, then maybe the Internet is not the place for you. Having an urgent condition and a tendency toward greed are a dangerous combination when browsing the Internet.

Brian
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