You Get What You Accept

What are you accepting into your life, business or career that is unacceptable?

Is it … your financial situation? Not having enough time to do what’s important to you? A stalled business or career?

Recognizing that these matters are unacceptable is the first step in changing that situation.

The second step is defining what it is you do want that’s non-negotiable. Not what your life should look like, but what it must look like.

The third step is to understand WHY your life must look that way. The key to accomplishing your goals is not in having a fool proof plan. It’s in having a WHY big enough so the plan doesn’t matter.

So … here’s what I’d suggest you to do RIGHT NOW.

Identify the situation(s) in your life that is NOT acceptable.

Create a vision of what your life MUST look like in the areas of money, career, family, social, mental, physical, spiritual, etc.

Not only document why that vision for your life is a MUST but commit yourself to achieving that vision.

Re-read your life’s vision and the “WHY” at every opportunity that you get.

Go ahead and take action to achieve that vision NOW!!!

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Surya M Ganduri, PhD. PMP. is the Chairman and CEO of eMBC, Inc., a national firm specializes in strategic and executive leadership development processes that Help People Succeed in an Evolving World. Surya has over 26 years of business experience in management consulting, leadership development, executive coaching, process improvements, organizational development and youth leadership. For more information visit www.eMBCinc.com or contact eMBC, Inc., directly at (630) 445-1321.

Coaching

Business coaches can help small-business owners establish processes, set priorities and develop strategies to help take their business to the next level. They can help vet ideas, test assumptions and try new approaches. To find that perfect match, consider the following steps.

Assess your needs
Be clear about what you are trying to achieve in your business and how a coach can help you succeed. 'You are looking for someone who understands your industry, your discipline and the challenges of a small-business owner,' for example. There are also different types of coaches and styles, such as one-on-one executive leadership training or team coaching, where an entire business group works with a coach.

Seek referrals
The best way to find a coach is to ask other entrepreneurs who have hired one and had a positive experience. There is nothing better than positive feedback from a satisfied customer.

Do your due diligence
Request a complimentary coaching session - to know whether or not we can work together, don't be shy about asking questions when interviewing coaches, such as, "I'm facing this challenge. How have you helped other small-business owners with the same type of challenge?" Choose someone who listens well and challenges you and the way you think and operate.

Create a contract
Once you select your coach, request a written plan that outlines the terms of the relationship: how often you'll meet, how long each meeting will last, the length of the coaching assignment, and the fees. Expect to meet at least every two to three weeks and pay anywhere from $150 to $1000 per hour. Some coaches may propose a flat rate ($2000 to $12000) for a specific period of time (6 months to a year). You should also confirm whether you have access to the coach between sessions by phone or e-mail and ask how canceled sessions are handled. Finally, build in some sort of target goals to reach so you can measure and assess progress.
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Surya M Ganduri, PhD. PMP. is the Chairman and CEO of eMBC, Inc., a national firm specializes in strategic and executive leadership development processes that Help People Succeed in an Evolving World. Surya has over 26 years of business experience in management consulting, leadership development, executive coaching, process improvements, organizational development and youth leadership. For more information visit www.eMBCinc.com or contact eMBC, Inc., directly at (630) 445-1321.

Listening with more than 2 ears

The Greek philosopher Epictetus [55 - 135 AD] said "We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak."

In this Internet era of 21st century, the sentiment still holds true.

In business communications, we need to listen to hear if our customers or our market is speaking to us.
Many businesses are oblivious to this. Listening is (or should be) the first part of your marketing or sales cycle.

When it comes to online interactions for businesses, we have more than two ears - search engines and other tools can help you listen more effectively for markets or potential customers.

Fear or Hope?

What do you sell? I mean, what do you really sell? Do you sell stuff? Things? Products? Gizmos? Do you talk a lot about the little details of your stuff?

People don't buy the details about our stuff. In fact people aren't really buying our stuff, when they buy our stuff.

People buy hope.

Hope that you can make their business or their life better.

Hope that you can solve a problem.

Hope that you can get rid their pain.

Hope and fear are a big part of selling.

People will buy hope from you if you wrap it up in the right package.

Fear is also a necessary part of selling.

Without fear, there is no need for hope.

Fear is what people hope you will rescue them from.

Fear and hope go together.

To sell hope people need to have their fears uncovered, disturbed, and activated.

Selling is all about fear and hope.

Everything else is just details. And be sure you're not solving those problems for your PROSPECTS! Solve problems for your CLIENTS! (for a small fee, of course ... )

(Adapted from Shamus Brown & RAC)

3 Reasons Why Businesses Fail

The difference between being an S (Self Employed) versus being a B (Business Owner) on the same quadrant is that the B can leave the business and it will still run without him. People who are in the S quadrant cannot do so without ruining their business. The S people are the people who run the business. Without them, their business fails.

Most people who are super super S are the smartest folks in their business. But it also means the business runs them, they can’t take a day off, they’re NEEDED desperately to run the business or it all collapses.

Here’s where things are different in the B side of the quadrant. The B (Business Owner) should not be the smartest guy in his business. His goal is to work with smarter people and run the business on systems. This means he’s not chained to his business. He can leave for a while and the business still runs as efficiently as ever.

The top 3 reasons are simply about failure to sell.
If you cannot sell, your business is doomed.

#1: Selling yourself.
The first thing you sell is yourself. That means how you look, what you wear, how you speak. It’s the visual appearance that helps you sell yourself to your potential customer. It’s called respect for yourself and the people you meet. At least look presentable and neat if you can’t be fashionable. Nobody really wants to look at your torn jeans and scruffy I-fell-outta-bed hair.

#2: Selling the relationship.
The next thing you need to sell is the relationship. You need to know what the relationship is between you and the prospect. If you don’t know what it is, then how are you to sell what they need? What is the connection between you and the other person? What are you tryng to do? Get this right first.

#3: Selling the product.
Only if you have managed to convince others of YOU and the relationship, can you sell your product. First step is that you have to believe in your product. If you don’t, you ain’t gonna sell anything. If you don’t have enthusiasm for the product, how about faking the enthusiasm? Fake it till you make it.