Make MUCH More Money in MUCH Less Time with a Product and Service Funnel

If you are a coach, consultant, speaker, or another type of "expert" entrepreneur, and all you offer are big-ticket products and services, such as keynote speeches or large $1,000+ coaching and consulting packages, then you are missing out on a HUGE market of customers and clients and multiple income streams.  You also are working a lot harder for your money than you have to.

First you MUST MUST MUST have something of GREAT VALUE that is FREE in EXCHANGE for an email address.  Your email list is your pot of gold. Your give-away must be something that is so juicy and urgent for your target customers and clients, that it can't be passed up.  Sorry, a "newsletter" doesn't cut it anymore. Yawn. You have to be more creative.

Then, you want to have at least one product or service at each layer of the funnel, so that you can meet people at their respective price points and work them down your funnel into higher ticket items.

Some people may only ever buy the $25-$100 item, but if you didn't have one, you'd miss out on that revenue completely.  And the people who bought your lower-priced products and services are more likely to eventually buy the higher ticket ones, because they got to know, like, and trust you first.

It's much harder to sell a $5,000 product or service to a stranger than someone who has been a customer before.

So what kinds of things can you sell in your funnel?  Here are some examples.

Note: Product and service pricing is different for every business.  Some webinars might be $25 and others might be $100-$200 or more. It depends on your content, your customers, your brand and expert status, demonstrative results, and other factors. 

FREE

• e-Book
• short report
• audio or video series
• daily/weekly tips
• first chapter of a longer book 
  

$25-$100

• book or workbook
• a paid teleseminar or webinar
• a ticket to a live 1-2 hour presentation
• a subscription to a magazine or membership website

$100-$500

• a system or toolkit (a set of templates)
• a 4 to 6-week webinar/teleclass
• a consultation or coaching session
• a 1-2 day workshop

$500-$1,000

• a speaking fee
• a smaller coaching/consulting package
• an action plan
• a higher-level conference/workshop

$1,000-$5,000

• a speaking fee
• a retreat
• a "done for you" product/service (like a website) 

$5,000+ ($10K-$25K-$100K)

• a keynote address
• longer-term coaching program
• corporate/executive consulting

Again each business is different.  A health coach offering a nutrition plan may only charge $100.  While a corporate consultant may do a business plan for $50,000. So the price points of the funnel may be different too.

Ideally, you will be trying different things at different levels of your funnel and see what sells the best.  It's a process to get the right mix, but even while you test and refine, you'll be making much more money along the way and well into the future.

If you are a coach, consultant, speaker or other kind of "expert" service-driven entrepreneur, leveraging the power of groups is the key to growing a 6 and 7-figure business. To learn more, go to www.MoreClientsLessTime.com.

Michelle Demers
More Clients in Less Time

Michelle Demers has worked with hundreds of coaches, consultants, and speakers over the past 15 years on sales, branding, online and offline marketing, and product and service development. She is the Founder and Principal of “More Clients in Less Time” specifically helping coaches, consultants, and speakers to get out of the exhausting grind of one-on-one clients and into the limitless financial potential of group coaching and training programs.  

 Michelle lives and works just outside of Boston and can be reached at michelle (@) resonateinc.net and 203.623.1564. She works with clients anywhere and everywhere across the world.

Presentation Trumps Content...

Your actions speak so loudly,  I can not hear your words. The best presented ideas  get adopted  Not the best ideas There is no idea so good that it can't be killed by a bad presentation From Pet Rocks to Politics,  Accounting to Acupuncture, Meditation to Mediation we offer our ideas, product and services to the public.   Our initial success depends entirely on our presentation not our product. Advertisers' spend billions of dollars each year presenting their products in a way to attract, interest and entice us to buy.  They know and live by the secret that Presentation Trumps Content.  Just look at the example of;  the Pet Rock, The "Purple Pill"; Starbucks and Rolex.  all products presented incredibly well.  How Can you better you Presentation? First by believing that it really does matter more then your content. and then contacting a speech and presentation coach Like  Glenn Dulko at Glenn@SpeakNaked.com If you don't Believe that Presentation Trumps Content Did you read the very top paragraph in Red? it contained all of the content of this article.Do you Believe thatPresentationTrumps Content?Did you read the very top paragraph in Red? It contains the exact same content as this article. Which did you read? Which was presented better? Let me help you with your Presentation Today.

Your actions speak so loudly,

           I can not hear your words.

The best presented ideas
                 get adopted
                          Not the best ideas

There is no idea so good that
 it can't be killed by a bad presentation



From Pet Rocks to Politics,  Accounting to Acupuncture, Meditation to Mediation we offer our ideas, product and services to the public.   Our initial success depends entirely on our presentation... not our product.

Advertisers' know this and spend billions of dollars each year presenting their products in a way to attract, interest and entice us to buy.  They live by the secret that Presentation Trumps Content.

  Just look at the example of;  the Pet Rock, The "Purple Pill"; Starbucks and Rolex,  all products presented incredibly well.

How can you better your Presentation?
First by believing that your Presentation really does matter more then your content.

and then contacting a speech and presentation coach
Like
 Glenn Dulko at Glenn@SpeakNaked.com

Glenn Dulko www.SpeakNaked.com

Do you really Believe that
Presentation Trumps Content?

Here is a Test.
Did you read the very top paragraph in Red?
It contains the exact same content in this article.
Which did you read?
Which was presented better?

Let me help you Present better Today.
Glenn@speaknaked.com

How to Achieve Real, Lasting Change

Achieving real change is no small feat, as most of us know. What do I do first? How do I decide between various options? Where do I get the resources? What if other people object? How do I overcome my doubt? What if I fail?

Having worked as a life coach for over a decade ~ helping people achieve real change in their personal and professional lives ~ I have identified the five key steps that must be taken (and, if put into action, will absolutely work!) to successfully create real and lasting change in your own life.

The entire five step process will be shared with you throughout the coming months. My hope and request is that you use it to intentionally improve any and all aspects of your life that you would like to change: find a better career and be well paid for doing what you love, deepen your relationships or find a relationship that brings you joy, improve your physical health and well-being, laugh more often, make a bigger difference in the world, connect with family and friends, pursue new interests, and genuinely love your life. You deserve nothing less!

Here is the five step process you will learn:

Define the Gap - Learn to identify exactly what you would like to change across all aspects of your life. And don't worry, it will be a fun and easy process, not a grind and definitely not depressing!

Finding Resources - What do you need to help you create the change? Time? Money? Partners? Courage? Discover an abundance of resources when you know how to access them.

Overcoming Obstacles - Every journey has its twists and turns, obstacles and setbacks. Learn the mindset to overcome them all.

The Action/Inspiration Cycle - There is nothing like a little taste of success to make you want more. Learn how to take inspired action and gain sustainable momentum that continually propels you forward toward your goals.

Making Change Last - Discover the secret to lasting change via one of two ways: Passion or Decision. And if you have both, become unstoppable!

Stay tuned, the path to real change is coming your way!

Linda Spevacek is an innovative speaker, author and coach who can help you create prosperity across all aspects of your life. For speaking topics and programs, visit www.ExpertProsperity.com

What we really want from you is...

By Jenny Drescher

I'm an Improviser, but I don't study or follow comedy.
I study people being vulnerable, celebrating failure, taking risks, championing one another, and falling on the sword for the group whenever it's needed. 
More than anything, I practice and teach being your real self. 
Most people have something about themselves that they're suppressing because they're afraid the world will judge and reject them or it will lead to pain, failure, or worse. Maybe somewhere along their journey someone told them they couldn't be that way or do that thing because it was the wrong way or wasn't by the rules. I say to hell with that, show us what that hidden magnificence is. That's the real you and we want to see and know that person.

Jenny Drescher is a coach, speaker, and improviser specializing in getting people out of their own way while making them laugh. Meet Jenny at www.bridgetochoice.com

Step 5: Bringing it all Together

Now that the major steps are done, and from the outside it looks as if the launch of your dream is ready to go, I have found that many dreamers reach this point and the next anxiety, if not panic, appears.

I commonly hear, “I found one more book I need to read to be ready to go.”  “There is an expert coming into town that I need to hear before I am ready.” I just want to review everything again for the fiftieth time to know I really have it down, that I haven’t forgotten anything, that all the bases are covered, etc. etc. etc.”  Believe me, you will never have all the bases covered.

No matter how well you have prepared something shows up. As a speaker I have had the building literally lose all power just before my PowerPoint was to start. I have found that a new rule was instituted that morning that Thumb Drives could not be used due to a fear of viruses and thus I should have brought my laptop. I have had the conference itself running very late and so I was asked to make my 60 minute talk a 30 minute talk to help them get back on track.

The unexpected can always happen. Expect it. You breathe, step back a moment, go to Plan B, and then adjust. If you have truly done everything you could, you will learn far more from the experience. You will also learn that no matter what happens chances are high you will be fine. This is where humor, faith, and a good sense of self come into play.

You have dreamed it. You have claimed it. And you have focused on it, almost exclusively.  Now it is time to simply jump!!!!!! 

Dorothy A. Martin-Neville, PhD, is a motivational speaker, author, coach, and psychotherapist who has spent her career helping others, through humor and faith, claim their dreams, eliminate self-sabotage, and become everything they were meant to be.

She can be reached at: drdorothyct.com    dorothy@drdorothyct.com   860-543-5629   

Forget Positive Thinking and Try Power Thinking Instead!

When Jerry first lost his job, he was angry. It wasn't fair! He had seniority and better sales figures than at least three other division heads who still had their jobs. Then he got depressed and down on himself. His confidence slumped and he began to believe he wasn't as good as the others after all.

As time went on, his outlook mellowed a bit as he began to assess his skills and talents against the requirements of various positions he applied for. Finally, after a number of interviews and a couple of times getting into the final running for a job but losing out, he said, "Yes, it's tough to keep slogging away day after day, but I'm just trying to stay positive."

Has Jerry has turned the corner so that his emotions no longer negatively interfere with his job search? After all, isn't positive thinking supposed to be one of the secrets to success?

Not so fast... While positive thinking is certainly better for Jerry than being stonewalled by anger, dragged down by depression, and even getting "realistic" about his prospects (a terrible trap - don't do it!), positive thinking is nowhere near as effective as Powerful Thinking. And Jerry is nowhere near mastering that yet.

Powerful Thinking generates thoughts that propel you forward and eliminates thoughts that hold you back. Positive thinking is like staying in "park." Powerful Thinking actually shifts you into a forward gear.

Here's how you can generate Powerful Thinking for yourself:

1. Inventory those recurring, doubtful beliefs you have about yourself. You know, the ones that hold you back, like "I'm too old to start a new career" or "I'm deathly afraid of public speaking" or "My boss [husband, child, parent, co-worker] just doesn't value me [and since I respect their opinion, I doubt my own value]."

2. Craft an opposing true, factual statement, just like in debate class. "I have experience on the job that is unparalleled in the industry." "I am completely comfortable talking about my opinions and knowledge with people who I know and trust." "I really deliver for my boss/husband/child/parent/co-worker when they need me." Notice that these are not made-up 'positive' thoughts - they are true, factual thoughts.

3. Consider whether the opposing statement has the possibility of being at least equally true as the corresponding doubtful belief. If not, keep crafting opposing statements until you have one that could at least be equally true. All we're going for here is 50/50.

4. Here's the Power. Your brain finds it impossible to carry two opposing thoughts of equal weight. It demands that one dominate the other. So when you have two equally weighted but opposing thoughts, you can now choose which one to carry. Choose the Powerful thought!

It is a mindset: Every time the doubtful thought pops up, simply replace it with the equally true, opposing one. After awhile, your brain will be trained to carry that new thought as the primary one. This takes some practice, but learning how to generate and then choose Powerful Thinking means that you can redirect your thoughts literally in a nano-second! 

When you catch yourself doubting, immediately craft an opposing statement and override the doubt, even if the big, scary doubt has some element of truth to it. Remember the opposing statement is also true, so choose it instead. Get out of "park," develop Powerful Thinking, and get in gear!

Linda Spevacek is an innovative speaker, author and coach who can help you create prosperity across all aspects of your life. For speaking topics and programs, visit www.ExpertProsperity.com

Step 4: Set Goals Outside Your Comfort Zone

These 5 Steps to Claiming Your Dreams are truly strategic. You have first off, given yourself permission to dream, taken the leap to make that happen, and then:

1.    Eliminated the negative messages from others and yourself.
2. Reassessed your values to see if they fit your next dream
3. Created the new identity that embodied your dream – making it yours.
4.  And now, setting goals outside of your comfort zone.

When your dream is locked into the need to play it safe you set yourself up to be limited in success, growth, and joy. Rather, it is imperative to set your goals well out of your comfort zone. In doing that, because it seems so outrageous, you are forced to clarify your wants and needs, you are required to have clear intention focused on exactly where you want to go, and being thrilled with the adventure of it all, you end up devoting yourself to making it all happen.

Clarity, intention, and devotion are the necessities of a successful company, a successful dream, and a successful life that is far beyond what you ever could have imagined. Safe results in stagnation whereas the risk of going outside your comfort zone brings up your fears, your passion, and amazingly the wondrous feeling of having been able to do it. Think of that saying “reach for the moon even if fail you will be among the stars.” It will be so worth the trip! 

Dorothy A. Martin-Neville, PhD, is a motivational speaker, author, coach, and psychotherapist who has spent her career helping others, through humor and faith, claim their dreams, eliminate self-sabotage, and become everything they were meant to be.

She can be reached at: drdorothyct.com    dorothy@drdorothyct.com   860-543-5629   

Fifty Shades of Succcess

Last summer I quickly read "50 Shades of Grey" so I could be in-the-know and find out what all the fuss was about. The book isn't great literature by any stretch, but it did highlight one primordial fact of life: "to each his own."

Our own individual tastes, desires and ways of doing things run so strongly through us that, when we try to adapt to what others dictate, we lose something of ourselves.

I'm not saying everyone should run rampant doing whatever you want, driving whatever speed you want, disregarding the needs of others. But I am saying that every time you have to give in to something that's just not "you," a little piece of "you" gets compromised. Over time, lots of little pieces of us have gotten compromised; sometimes so much is lost that we may not even know our true selves anymore.

Understanding your core values, your core instincts, your core needs - are all essential to your success. Find work that is in alliance with these. Find partners who are in alliance with these. Find friends who are in alliance with these.

Find yourself, and you will find success. 

Linda Spevacek is a coach, author and speaker who teaches professionals how to shine! Find out more about her speaking topics and training programs at www.ExpertProsperity.com

SpeakNaked and be Remembered...Maybe

Of the 107 billion who have ever lived on earth

99.9999% of people

 have been totally forgotten.

 

 If we are remembered at all.

We are remembered for what we do,

not for what we don't do,

 

 You will be forgotten too.

So do something.

Something "Crazy"

 

 

You have full permission to do something... Crazy

 

Smile & say hello to people on the street

Create a Meetup

Make that phone call

Start that business

Say I love you

 Tell that pain in the ass client "No"

Wear purple

Sing  

Ask for the outrageous

 SpeakNaked 

 Dance

 

You know that one thing that you would love to do but always say
 "I could never do that"

 do it

For you will too soon be forgotten... 

 





From The Invitation

by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

 

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.

 

I want to know what you ache for

and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

 

It doesn't interest me how old you are.

 

I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool

for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

 

Glenn (with 2 nn's) Dulko who does SpeakNaked speaker training and Presentation Doctoring

would love to do something Crazy with you... 

Email Glenn@SpeakNaked.com

Love ya

Love It Or Leave It! How to Fall Back in Love With Your Job (or Get Outta There)

Want to rekindle your interest in your job? Try one of these tips:

1. Reconnect with why you started this job in the first place.
2. Recall the company’s values and in what ways you align.
3. Think of at least 5 ways the job supports and improves your strengths.
4. Think of 5 ways to demonstrate your strengths at work more often.
5. Think of 3 ways to have more fun at work every single day.
6. Let go of any personal grudges.
7. Make new friends.
8. Find a mentor or create a mastermind group.
9. Volunteer for a project or committee, increasing visibility and leadership profile.
10. Quit a committee you've lost interest in (preferably by grooming someone else for the role).
11. Form a professional or leadership association in your profession but outside your company.
12. Form a mastermind or dreamers group inside your company.
13. Ask for a personal development or a non-work-related workshop for yourself and a group of co-workers.
14. Expand your network – attend talks, workshops, conferences, professional association meetings.
15. Each morning, think of one thing you're looking forward to, rather than dwell on the drudgery of going to work.
16. Place something in your workspace that makes you smile (or even better, that makes you laugh!)
17. Decide what you would do differently if you were the boss, and see if you can influence any changes.
18. Avoid water cooler gossip and start a different kind of conversation.
19. Broaden your skills – get the training you need to move up.
20. Revisit your accomplishments by updating your resume (just in case!)

If none of these will do the trick and you really need a bigger change, perhaps it is time to get outta there. In that case, start working your professional networks to find out where the grass may be greener. Remember, your success and happiness is your responsibility. Do something about it!

Linda Spevacek is an innovative speaker, author and coach who can help you create prosperity across all aspects of your life. For speaking topics and programs, visit www.ExpertProsperity.com

3 Ways to Connect With Thought Leaders Through Podcasting

One of the big advantages of podcasting is that it allows you to connect with leaders in your field. As a podcasting producer and host I've been able to connect with the top authors, bloggers and speakers in my field. Below are 5 of the best strategies that I've found for connecting with thought leaders and increasing your credibility and visibility with a podcast:

1. Interview thought leaders
One of the most effective ways to connect with the top people in your industry is to interview them. You'd be surprised at the number of people who will say yes if you ask them to appear on your podcast. You are providing exposure and credibility for them. Interviewing authors and speakers in your field is a great way to start a relationship with them which can lead to additional opportunities and exposure.


2. Comment on thought leaders work in your podcast
If you are doing a solo podcast, where you are not interviewing guests but speaking directly to listeners, you can still connect with thought leaders in your field. Read their blogs, watch their videos and listen to their podcasts and then do a podcast episode about your reaction and reflection to their work. Encourage your listeners to visit the thought leaders blog and give the url for their website on your podcast. Then you can send your podcast episode directly to the thought leader and start a conversation with them.

3. Share your podcast in social media groups
Find social media groups that contain influencers and connectors in your field and join the conversation. As people share their struggles and challenges, you can do a podcast episode that answers their questions. You can then share your podcast episode and ask for feedback. Sharing your podcast episode as part of the conversation will allow you avoid being "spammy" and will make you a resource for solving the problems and challenges that the thought leaders in your field are facing.

Podcasting is a powerful platform to connect with the top people in your field and demonstrate your own thought leadership. As you share your thoughts and reflections on challenges in your niche, people will start to look to you as a thought leader. Using the above strategies will help you rise to the top in your field, increase your credibility and visibility and grow your business.


About Doug:

Doug Foresta is a veteran podcaster who helps coaches, authors and speakers to start podcasts that help them expand their reach. He is the founder of the 30 Day Podcasting Challenge and host of the popular Coachzing Show on iTunes and Stitcher Radio. For a free 30 minute consultation, contact Doug at 413-883-5518 or dougforesta@gmail.com 

Step 3: Create a Personal identity

Once your dream has been discovered, and the next stage of your life is defined, it must move from a concept, a dream, into a very present day reality. To begin that, you need to first truly own it, long before you even begin the process of making it a reality. “I would like to be a speaker.” feels dramatically different in your body that “I am a speaker.”

I worked with a woman who presented as wanting to become a teacher. She felt it was what she was called to do yet she had no idea where to even begin. Her approach was longing, hopeful, and fearful that it wouldn't happen.  I had her, each day, spend 5 minutes in meditation or reflection, in owning that she was a teacher, it was in her blood, she now simply needed the training and qualifications to do what she came here to do. More than once she told me that this attitude caused her to see the obstacles that arose as inconveniences rather than as stopping blocks that would prove she was on the wrong track.

Research has shown us that between 60 – 90 days is what it takes to shift a habit or a belief. Owning that new reality, “I am retiring”, “I am moving”, “I am a speaker” causes all the existing fears to come up in order to be dealt with rather than having them unconsciously sabotage your dreams. This clears the way.  

Form that new identity and you will begin to experience the freedom, expansion, and unlimited possibility it provides. 

Dorothy A. Martin-Neville, PhD, is a motivational speaker, author, coach, and psychotherapist who has spent her career helping others, through humor and faith, claim their dreams, eliminate self-sabotage, and become everything they were meant to be.

She can be reached at: drdorothyct.com    dorothy@drdorothyct.com   860-543-5629   

#1 Resolution in America? Have More FUN!

You'd think in this downtrodden economy that the top 10 New Year's Resolutions of Americans would be focused toward generating more business, finding a job (or better job), setting higher bonus goals, and the like.

But NO! America's top 3 resolutions are all aimed at personal happiness:

#1 - Have more fun

#2 - Find time for myself

#3 - Be happy

As a prosperity coach who constantly reminds clients that "Success without happiness, just isn't success," I am heartened and indeed excited about these top resolutions! The truth is - making more money is the easy part. Creating a happier life - now that takes internal focus and commitment.

Congratulations to Americans for making FUN a top priority!

Linda Spevacek is an innovative speaker, author and coach who can help you create prosperity across all aspects of your life. For speaking topics and programs, visit www.ExpertProsperity.com

Step 2: Discovering Your True Values

Once you have put the fears and negative messaging in place it’s time to really look within as you define your dream and where it is your heart and soul are calling you to go. 

What is it that feeds you? What is it that makes you feel alive, powerful, and lets you know that you are truly doing what you came here to do? So many have said to me “I don’t know how to find my dream or my purpose.” In truth, after talking with them, what was happening was that they were in conflict with what they felt called to do and with what their values were. Never question or challenge your integrity yet realize that your values will be changing throughout your life.

At one point in your life, being close to family may have been the greatest value you possessed yet as you grew moving to another town or a big city may have been the calling. You may have thought that being an at-home mom was what you wanted, or you may have thought that climbing the tallest corporate latter was what your life was about. Each of those dreams may or may not have been achieved yet do they really define who you are now? Have your values changed in spite of you? Are you feeling pulled so that no matter which decision you make it feels wrong?  In this case you will never be at peace.

Having permission to realign your values, to catch up with who you are and where you’re going is imperative if you are to truly become who you are meant to be. This takes time, clear thinking, and perhaps someone to discuss this with. Find a solution you can live with, that encompasses all of who you have become. If it’s your dream it is always possible.  

Dorothy A. Martin-Neville, PhD, is a motivational speaker, author, coach, and psychotherapist who has spent her career helping others, through humor and faith, claim their dreams, eliminate self-sabotage, and become everything they were meant to be.

She can be reached at: drdorothyct.com    dorothy@drdorothyct.com   860-543-5629   

There's Still Time To Finish Strong!

Muscle Memory Needs a Workout, too!

How's your year shaping up? The last week of the year may seem too late to salvage it, especially if your results have been less than you had hoped for. But how harmful is that mentality - the one that lets you just give up, that lets you off the hook, that accepts defeat even though the race is not yet over?

The problem is this: once you take the easy exit, it becomes easier and easier to continually excuse yourself, until you stop really trying to achieve anything! Remember, mental habits are like muscles -  you must exercise them in order for them to perform well. So, let's set up your mindset to achieve a strong finish, no matter how short the time is.

1. Think of at least 10 positive things you have accomplished this year. Big or small, it doesn't matter.

2. Think of at least 5 things that you have done for others this year.

3. Think of at least 3 things that others have done for you this year.

4. Think of ONE thing that you could knock off and get done if you gave it 30 minutes.

5. Do it, or think of something else and do that.  Just ONE thing!

Whether you consciously realize it or not, this simple set of exercises just shifted your mental muscle memory from slack-off mode to action mode. By acknowledging your accomplishments, your brain recognizes achievement as a normal part of its routine. By recalling what you have done for others, your mind becomes laser-focused on producing value. By appreciating what others have done for you, gratitude moves in and greases the mental gears. By actually taking action and doing something, anything, your mind holds success in its most recent memory and remains poised and ready to perform again and again.

A success-oriented mental mindset can be built in a day, or even an hour.  There's plenty of time to finish strong. Wishing you a Happy, Healthy and STRONG Year, both now and in the New Year!

Linda

Linda Spevacek is an innovative speaker, author and coach who can help you create prosperity across all aspects of your life. For speaking topics and programs, visit www.ExpertProsperity.com

Isn't It About Time You Get More Out Of Your Business?

Hi.  Thom Fox here.  Blending science and experience, I work with businesses and entrepreneurs to strategize, connect with resources, and launch ideas.  With encouragement from community leaders and friends, I founded my independent consultancy focused on helping entrepreneurs gain control of their businesses.  As a coach, mentor, and consultant with two-decades experience in the fields of economic development and individual empowerment, I understand the necessity of driving results. Even when confronted with the most modest of circumstances, I’ve designed and implemented marketing and growth strategies generating tens of millions of dollars in revenue.

On a personal level, I believe it takes a community to build an economy.  I’m always happy to introduce good people to explore mutually beneficial opportunities, council young entrepreneurs, and give back to society.  Currently, I serve on the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (Fmr. Chairman), Suit Up Springfield, and as a Facilitator and Mentor for Valley Venture Mentors.

I also Host The Engine: Entrepreneur Radio and The Engine: Sunday Edition airing on Clear Channel (WHYN-AM, WHYN-FM and WRNX-FM). Acknowledged as an expert resource, I’ve has been interviewed by Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Consumers Digest, The Huffington Post, Reuters, Fox Business, and SmartMoney.com.

On the Movers and Shakers blog I’ll be discussing some of the most common challenges businesses face when scaling their services.  In particular, I’ll focus on employee engagement, increasing revenue and profitability, and how to infuse innovation into your business. 

Learn more about me at ThomFox.com. 

Decisions, Decisions: How to Make Choices in Uncertain Times

Is a looming decision driving you nuts because making difficult choices seems too overwhelming?    

It happens to me, too! And I’m no stranger to making big changes. After an exciting, demanding and lucrative deal-making career I switched to a coaching career – teaching people how to master their own thinking in order to generate more success in their lives. Then I expanded into speaking, writing and teaching. Some days, I have so many irons in the fire and ideas swirl so fast that they actually clog my thinking and hold me back. Not helpful, brain!

In order to clear my own muddled mind, I like to use this framework to “test” each new idea that pops into my head and either pursue it, or trash it, quickly and without regret.

Here are the "Five P's" to help you choose what to pursue:

1. People - It is usually true that if you enjoy the people, you'll enjoy what you are doing. I seek out people who are thoughtful, creative, kind, prepared to take action, emotionally stable, interested in changing something, take responsibility, have a forward outlook, share truthfully, and want to make a difference in someone else’s life besides their own. What kind of people are your favorites? Focus on directions that place you amongst them.

2. Personal Power – Certain activities feed my creativity and ingenuity, two primary sources of my personal power. Where does your personal power come from? This is not about your power or authority over others, but your inner drive and fire. Pursue directions that provide energy, not those that sap it.

3. Profit - Profit takes many forms. Pursue directions that are lucrative, yes. But also those that bring you the profits of pleasure, intellectual stimulation, and outright joy. Jettison any thinking about directions that do not deliver an ample return on your investment – they are literally not worth it.

4. Passion – Following your passion is perhaps an overused phrase, but it does not necessarily mean drop everything and pursue your dreams of becoming an actress. In my former career, I used to love creating deal spreadsheets – not because of the mental gyrations necessary to put the monster together, in fact I disliked that part! What I loved was using a tool to help solve a problem, to test and maneuver and reveal different angles and results. I love figuring out a solution that no one else has thought of – that’s a passion! And I still do that today – create new ways of thinking that help people find solutions to their own roadblocks, take charge of their future and learn to generate amazing new outcomes for themselves. What’s your passion? Pursue opportunities that allow you to experience it often.

5. Peace – Let’s face it: Everything involves some angst from time to time. But if something is troubling enough to keep you up at night however, you have two choices – either get more involved and fix it, or move away from it. Pursue directions that bring you peace, at least most of the time.

There you have it – 5 simple tests to guide your choices and clear a muddled mind about what directions to pursue. Try them for yourself!

Linda

Linda Spevacek is a coach, speaker and author who helps you create prosperity from your expertise. Learn more at www.ExpertProsperity.com

Done.Right.Now!

I know what you want. My aim in the coming months is to give you what you want.

• You want to get it Done.
• You want to get it Done, Right.
• You want to get it Done, Right, Now!

My name is Tony Sherman, and I'm The Implementation Rabbi. I help professional services teams and small businesses to get more done with less. You've already met Rick who helps you make room for clarity. One of the keys to clarity is to drive out a solid definition of DONE. Not your personal definition of done but the customers’. The “DONE” that drives the highest value. The problem with done is, in most of our lives the old adage holds true “it takes 90% of the time to get 90% of the job done, and the other 90% of the time to get the rest of the 10% of the job done”.

Once you've got DONE defined and under control, we need to make sure that we’re doing it right for everybody. Everybody understands the same goal and is working at their highest and best selves. Over the next few months, I'll introduce some of the basic tenets of agile methodologies. These will help you and your teams to communicate quickly and clearly. These are simple and powerful communication techniques, and along with a no fail innovation approach that makes sure that when you hit challenges, as you always will in high-value work, you, your team, and your client can work to rapid breakthroughs.

The “NOW”, in “Done.Right.Now!” is a powerful set of team tools most of which are free. These tools help small businesses to accelerate the collaboration and to drive very quickly to delivering high-value. And then using this high-value to leverage themselves to become their client’s trusted partner.

My name is Tony Sherman, The Implementation Rabbi at ImpactTeams.com. I'm excited as we start this journey of delivering high-value to customers, quickly, with no rework, and with highly energized teams.

See you next month.

Success and Happiness? Yes, You Can!

Linda Spevacek - Coach, Speaker, Author

Hello Readers,
My name is Linda Spevacek and I have the pleasure of sharing success tips with you on the 20th of each month. I am a speaker, coach, and author with a background in the high-intensity world of investments and dealmaking. My specialty is teaching entrepreneurs, as well as leaders seeking to move up within a company, how to achieve prosperity in every sense of the word: business success, joy in your relationships, personal fulfillment and peace of mind.

If there is one thing I've learned along this journey of striving to achieve and be the best at what you do, it is that our business lives and our personal lives are inseparably intertwined. The good news is that you need never sacrifice one over the other: having success and happiness together is not only possible, it is essential! [That is your tip for today ;-)]

I loved every minute of my high-powered corporate career, until meetings and policies and reporting took all the fun out of actually doing business! And with two young children, a husband, a house, and a desire to have more time for community activities, friends and yes, I'll say it - tennis and skiing - I hired a personal coach to help me set up a business lifestyle that worked for me. I received my own coaching certification, hung out a shingle, and never looked back.

Speaking topics include Become the CEO of Your Life, Get Your S.P.A.R.K, and Life Balance for the Real World: "How I Managed to Run a Business, Celebrate 30 Years of Wedded Bliss, Serve as an Elected Official, Get My College Kid Out of the House for the 5th Time, and Write a Book With 7 Other Women, Without Losing My Mind!" Individual and corporate trainings focus on leadership development, business building based on your expertise, and strengthening your success mindset, to name a few. Please visit www.ExpertProsperity.com for more information and many more success tips. See you next month!

Grow Your Business!

Ann Meacham

Hello Small Business Owners and Leaders,

I am your blogger for the 15^th of each month.  It is exciting to be a member of this cutting edge group and to be able to share a few insights that you can use to grow your business.

Leadership is a fundamental component of success regardless of the size of the business. And, in today’s competitive business environment, people who aren’t sure of how to confidently lead employees, co-workers, clients—or even themselves towards their goals will struggle with the negative effect it can have on both economic and individual results.

I have been working with business owners and executives for over 16 years, helping them develop and deploy their leadership skills to strategically grow their businesses. I focus on developing powerful leaders, building high-performance teams, managing organizations, and increasing profits.

Throughout my career I have worked with privately held companies, nonprofits, and government agencies. Through my coaching and guidance, many of my clients have experienced a 20% growth in revenues in the short term; and as high as 200% over 3-4 years.

 

Setting a vision and Success Indicators

“Business owners and Executives are key because they influence the well-being of an organization more than anyone else. If a company is making or losing money, it can usually be traced back to the quality of leadership utilized by the people in charge.”      

Are you making or losing money for your company?

Find out more about me at: http://www.leadyourteams.com