Everyone's Blog Posts - 48Days.NET

Mid-Week Words of Wisdom

2016-08-17T17:00:00.000Z

Happy Hump Day :) Cheryl Lynne

Five - Fifty - Forever… An Invitation

2016-08-17T14:54:42.000Z

I'd like to spend about five hours with you. Now, you might think it's impossible because there are so many of you and just one of me. Just imagine, however, how that five hours might go. First, I'd want to know a little bit about you and what makes you tick. I'm sure coffee would make its way into the conversation, as well. I'd probably jump into basic coaching questions in order to learn something about your hopes and dreams for the future.

You would probably have some questions for me. You might ask me about some of the people for whom I've done work—Dan Miller, Michael Hyatt, Daniel Harkavy, Max Lucado, John Maxwell, and so forth. You might want to know more about how I got into coffee roasting and why I roast my own coffee. You'd hear about my amazing wife and my sons, daughters-in-law, and grandsons.

If you are an entrepreneur, you might ask me about how to use courses to reach more people and grow your business. We could spend the entire five hours talking about that alone! At the end of the conversation, I'd give you a 50-page workbook to guide you through every step of the course-creating process.

What would that conversation be worth? To me, it would be priceless because I'd have the privilege of meeting you. For you, I hope it would be valuable now and in the future. As a coach, I invest 30-minutes each week in one-on-one conversations with my clients. So, it would take almost three months for us to accumulate five hours of face-to-face time. Five hours of coaching would cost $1500. The fifty-page workbook represents more than twenty years of accumulated knowledge and experience. If I sold the workbook, it would be at least $100.

FIVE HOURS

Will you spend five hours with me? All seventeen lessons in The Course Course are now online. The video content alone totals five hours of direct guidance with me sharing with you how to create, publish, market, and manage your online courses. This virtual one-on-one training is worth thousands of dollars and is unique because it helps you create courses using tools you already know how to use. The five hours of video are broken into 15-20 minute segments, so you can move at your own speed.

FIFTY PAGES

Each module includes a downloadable multi-page worksheet that will help you apply the principles you learned in the video lessons. This isn't a fill-in-the-blank process; it's a learning experience designed to equip you to leverage your content through online courses. The workbook you accumulate will be a valuable tool you'll refer to in the months and years ahead.

FOREVER

Online learning is timeless. The course you create today can earn income for years. Rather than getting lost in the sea of similarity in collaborative learning sites, you will have a robust educational portal on your own website. You will get to keep the email addresses of your students, keep the profits from your course, and set your own prices. Rather than earning a tip for your knowledge, you can make a lot of money.

WHAT'S IT WORTH

Personal coaching would cost at least $1500. If you hired someone to create a course for you, you'd pay $25,000 or more.

You can enroll in other course-creating courses for $1000 and up. They have some awesome content. But I know what my course includes. One person said this was the most comprehensive course about creating courses on the market. I've been told I should charge $1500 for my course. But that's not how I work.

I know too many entrepreneurs who are looking for that one thing to put them over the top. They are so close to a breakthrough that they can taste it. I believe creating courses might be that thing that helps them achieve their goals and pursue their dreams. I know that a simple course selling for $297 can generate more than $77,000 annually by enrolling only five people per week.

My philosophy echoes the words of Zig Ziglar… "You will get everything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want." The Course Course is my way of helping you succeed. It's not $1500 or even $1000. In fact, it's not $500! For a limited time, you can have full access to The Course Course for $397… that's $100 off the regular price.

In addition to the course, the workbook, and the interaction with other learners on the same journey, you'll be invited to additional webinars, workshops, and boot camps designed to offer deeper insight and updated tips. These will be "members only" opportunities.

Your access to The Course Course never expires. You can revisit the lessons as often as you like. In addition, anyone enrolled in The Course Course will receive a 20% discount on personal coaching services (subject to scheduling availability).

Nutrition: 7 Signs You Need to Cut Back on Sugar

2016-08-17T13:00:00.000Z

Think you may be eating too much sugar? Ask yourself these questions:

Do you crave sugary, sweet foods all the time?

Do fresh fruits, which are naturally sweet, just not taste sweet enough for you?

Do you feel you need a high sugar snack as a pick-me-up during the day?

Do you also find yourself struggling to get through the day because you just don’t have sustained energy?

Do you find it difficult to think clearly?

Are you experiencing mood swings more than usual?

Are you gaining weight?

While there may be other reasons for some of these issues, if you answered “yes” to 4 or more, I recommend you seriously consider reducing your sugar intake. (Finish here)

Budgeting Made Simple for the Small Business Entrepreneur

2016-08-17T12:30:00.000Z

Budgeting is just as important to the small business owner as it is to major corporations. It helps control those ebbs and flows that most small businesses experience throughout the year.

By having a budget, the business owner can use the extra money gained to purchase needed products or supplies, to market and promote the business, hire needed employees, and when there is a decline in sales, the monthly budget will prevent the business from failing because the owner knew when to cut back on certain expenditures.

Creating a budget doesn’t have to be hard or complicated, to get started you can draft a budget based on your prior year’s profit & loss report. Once the budget is created, review your income and expenses and make any needed adjustments based on your business plan for the upcoming months. Now when you run your monthly financial reports, you will be able to monitor your monthly budget against your actual numbers allowing you to quickly analyze those items with large budget variations and make any needed adjustments.

Step 1: Tally Your Income Sources
The first element of a good business budget is figuring out how much money you bring in on a monthly basis.

Start with your sales figures first and then go further by adding other income sources you use to run your business.

Step 2: Determine Fixed Costs
Fixed costs are expenses that are charged the same price each month. As you can imagine, incorporating these is by far the easiest part of creating your business budget.

Step 3: Include Variable Expenses
Items that don’t have a fixed price tag each month are called variable costs. Many of these purchases can actually be scaled up or down depending on the state of your business, using your monthly profit. Your profit each month will be determined by the earnings you’re left with after paying all your costs.

So, if your business does better than you forecasted, you can use the extra funds to increase variable spending enabling you grow faster.

Step 4: Predict One-Time Spends
A great perk of creating a budget is now you will be able to factor in one-time purchases better than ever before. While some of these items may come up unexpectedly, like the purchase of a laptop to replace the one that crashed, others can be budgeted for months in advance, like that business retreat you’ve been eyeing, to protect your business from financial burden.

Step 5: Pull It All Together
The first four steps of this post detail the elements of a good business budget, so the last step is simply pulling it all together.

Remember, your budgeting is another way of goal setting. The budget should reflect the direction you envision for your company. By having a budget, it is just another tool in your toolbox that will help you in taking your business to the next level.

The Worst Advice That You Believe

2016-08-17T11:33:37.000Z

(Another post from my Good Men Project Column)

I am better at something than you.

Before you take offense, let me explain. My skill is in an area that you may not value. You probably think what I am good at is actually a downfall. In fact, my skill makes heaps of good, solid people think I am a loser. You might think that as well, but don’t worry, you will be in great company when you hear what my super power is,

Continue

Capturing Attention

2016-08-16T15:42:37.000Z

Speaking in public, whether making a public comment or speaking from a stage, can go south very quickly if you lose your audience’s attention. Unless you are speaking to a group that is hanging on your every word due to the importance of the issue, listeners often have a very short attention span and their minds wander and focus on other issues. Being an usher in church has allowed me to observe this phenomenon weekly for over 20 years. Also, being a public speaker for over 30 years has taught me many important things about the subject.

A key way to capture attention is to tell a story. Studying this from afar has been quite enlightening. Several years ago I focused on observing how speakers captured attention. One of those times was when I was ushering at church. I was the lead Usher and was positioned at the back of the church, overseeing the approximately 1200 attendees. My job was to observe for any needs that might arise during the service. I noticed that the speaker had lost the attention of many of the attendees, especially toward the back of the church. As I was taking all this in, I heard the Pastor say “Last Tuesday I…” and he started to tell a story. It was amazing to see so many heads snap to attention with the start of his story. He had captured their attention.

This concept works in most public settings. Whether you’re in a small meeting or speaking from the stage, a story can capture attention and deliver important information in an interesting way. A story (word picture) has a powerful influence on a listener’s memory. We think in pictures and word pictures help us to better remember concepts, ideas and important information. Even personality types who are detail and data oriented and often say they do not like stories, are impacted by stories. I’ve attended countless scientific symposia where the room was filled with those personality types. It has always amused me that at breaks, so many of the discussions were centered on the stories told by the last speaker.

I encourage you to think about how you might relay important information through stories. Whether it’s a family meeting, a business meeting, or center stage, try something like “Last Tuesday…” You will see heads snap to attention or eyes become more focused on what you’re going to say next. You are always prepared with a story. You have millions of examples stored in that wonderful grey matter of yours. Just open up that mental file and see which stories are appropriate for the important information you wish to relay. Have fun with this. It could be a whole new world of enjoyable impact.

Help with the process available at www.habit-builder.com and www.youhavethemic.com

Is Your Content Under-Performing?

2016-08-15T17:24:41.000Z

A few years ago, I attended a conference designed to help me monetize my self-published books. Though the tips were great, the end results were dismal. My book sales didn't skyrocket. Having my book available on Amazon didn't catapult it to a best sellers list. In short, it didn't work. My content didn't perform as I expected.

I've had conversations with other entrepreneurs who have had similar experiences. Their books—though well done—never sold. What they hoped would be a steady source of income barely bought them a cup of coffee. Great ideas went unnoticed. Great potential went unmet. Great enthusiasm was vaporized.

Is Your Content Under-Performing?

The entrepreneurial journey is more multifaceted than most people realize. In the past, people focused on one delivery method and achieved considerable success. Today, however, a singular approach to content delivery doesn't work. Why? People consume content in a variety of ways.

An article in Business Insider said, "Data shows that online media consumption is becoming increasingly segmented. People expect different content experiences based not only on personal preferences, but also how they discovered that content in the first place. Publishers of the future will no longer view audiences as one cohesive whole, but instead as many distinct individuals, each warranting a personalized experience."

In short, your content will under-perform if you rely on only one delivery mechanism.

What's the solution? Successful entrepreneurs are discovering the need to diversify their content delivery. They understand that more than half of the content consumption today is through mobile devices. They recognize the need for blog posts, white papers, free resources, video, audio, and courses. They are strategic in developing strategies to help the maximize their messages by expanding their delivery methods.

What was my mistake?

I thought everyone would read my books. I know, that's an arrogant assumption. I expected people to be as excited about my content as I was. I later discovered the issue—I was solving a problem people didn't know they had. It was a valid solution, but it was delivered and marketed ineffectively. The more I understood about human behavior and what makes people tick, the better I was able to adjust my delivery mechanisms.

What is the solution?

You need to step away from your content and look for creative ways to deliver it to different people. At a minimum, you need to include:

Short narratives: this might be blog posts or other short writings you can deliver directly to your audience.

Expanded features: consider downloadable guides or tip sheets people can use immediately.

Courses: this is the fastest growing segment of the online economy. If you aren't creating courses, you are losing money.

Long-form narratives: books (both electronic and physical) are an important part of the content delivery process.

Videos: short videos on your site will attract people to your email list much faster than a long sales page.

Audio content: if you don't have a podcast or plan to start one, look for opportunities to be a guest on other podcasts.

As a coach and consultant, I work with clients to help them create effective content delivery strategies. I've invested a huge portion of my career creating educational resources from traditional trade books. As an instructional designer, I help people leverage their content through effective online courses.

What can you do to get more from your content?

Learn to create courses. The Course Course is on sale for $100 off the regular price. A simple course priced at $297 can easily earn more than $77,000 in one year. Are you ready to learn how to create courses using tools you already know how to use? If so, click here to save $100…but, don't delay. The discount is only valid for a limited number of people. CLICK HERE.
Check out my coaching availability. If you need individualized attention, I can walk you through a process designed to help you gain some clarity about the best ways to deliver your content. CLICK HERE.
Attend Coaching With Excellence August 25-26. This two-day workshop in Franklin, Tennessee will help you learn how to leverage your content as a professional coach. Dan Miller, author of 48 Days to the Work You Love, will be the host for this life-changing event. I'll be speaking about how to bring your products to life. Dr. Brian Dixon will introduce you to a his Online Sale Formula. Aaron Walker will tell you about his experience becoming a coach. Kent Julian, Ashley Logsdon, and more will be there to inspire and challenge you. CLICK HERE.

If your content is under-performing, it's time for you to do something. Don't waste more time doing what doesn't work; change your strategy and change your life.

Creating Positive Action through Positive Vision

2016-08-15T15:13:39.000Z

I have learned working as a life/health coach that no matter what it is we are trying achieve; better relationships, a career we enjoy, better eating habits, incorporating physical activity into our life or finding spiritual peace is we must first make a decision to dedicate our thoughts to making change. If we want things to be different we must think and act differently, we cannot expect different results when we continue to do the same things.

I have also found during this time that there are as many or more people that desire to make a change in their life but because they struggle with making change, they cannot. It’s for them that I am now focusing my energies on helping people to make change so they can begin their way forward be it in relationships, career, nutrition, physical activity or spirituality. It ALL must begin with change and that can be done by “creating positive action through positive vision”.

The concept of “Total Wellness” – when mind, body and spirit are all in good health will continue to stand as the foundation of my coaching. A mind that is in good health is a mind that can withstand, embrace and accept change, without this it is difficult to achieve the other two.

The concept of “creating positive action through positive vision” is actually fairly simple. You take the positive action you would like to perform and envision what the result will look like when it has been completed. For instance, the positive action you want to create is to lose weight, then using positive vision imagine in your mind what you will look like after losing those extra pounds, or you want to have a job you enjoy working at, again use positive vision to envision yourself in a new job, doing the work you enjoy, with the type people you like working with. If we can see it, we can achieve it.

When we use positive vision to create positive action we envision the result we are trying to achieve, and for many that is all they need, a picture in their mind of things to come. That mental image will give them the added incentive to work at trying to make the desired action happen.

Positive vision can take place in either a conscious state or unconscious state (while sleeping), it’s possible we may wake-up one morning after having a dream of what it is we wanted to do or look like, either way it’s the same, both are a vision.

Another way we can create a positive vision is to take a picture out of a magazine of what it is we are looking to do or become and post it somewhere you’ll see it each day as a reminder. Say for instance you want to learn to snow ski, cut a picture out of a magazine of someone snow skiing, you only need to have the visual reminder. Visual reminders keep us focused and on track, and us to complete the positive action we desired to make.

Finally use the positive vision to create the positive action. As a coach that is what I help people to do.

“Vision without action is daydream. Action without vision is nightmare”.

~Japanese Proverb

Coffee Ramblings

2016-08-15T13:59:37.000Z

Here's a couple of great pop culture coffee references for you...

My wife and I devoured the entire run of How I Met Your Mother that was available on Netflix's instant play. There were a couple of really good coffee references over the course of the series.

There was episode 2:7 Swarley, which featured a coffeeshop romance of sorts and a spoof on the Central Perk coffeeshop from Friends, The coffee shop layout is an obvious reference to Friends. Barney also mentions, "Hanging out at a coffee place, not nearly as much fun as hanging out at a bar". In an episode of Friends, it is shown that a bar had once occupied the space that later became Central Perk.

In episode 1:8 The Duel we're really introduced to Shocky, Ted's old coffeepot that always gives him an electric jolt when he uses it. Sometimes a unique coffee experience needs to be created and an electric jolt should do the trick. Coffee with a kick.

There was a great old school coffee reference in the book The Legend of Grizzly Adams by Richard Dillon- "He pounded grass seeds into meal or flour; he roasted acorns to make a passable kind of coffee." p17. "He even tried strewing a trail of sugar into the pen, knowing the love felt by grizzlies for the sweet granules. But this sacrifice of his coffee sweetening failed, too." It's on page 119.

Fringe is doing a really neat thing with coffee in the dual universes. On the recent episode 4:18 The Consultant, Alter-Astrid is given a can of crappy coffee by normal Astrid. Even though it's crappy coffee, it's a pretty awesome gift because coffee is a marvelous delicacy in the alternate universe. Alter-Astrid is super happy in her OCD way, saying, "I never thought that I was going to taste this again."

And the last one I'll leave you with today is supermutant Cyclops from the X-Men enjoying a mug of brew on the cartoon series Wolverine and the X-Men. It's episode 1:12 eXcessive force.

This message was written by Dr. David Powers and his highly caffeinated team of coffee addicts. You can always find us at www.drdavidpowers.com. Thanks for reading!

In the words of Starship Troopers, "Would you like to know more?"

Healthy Lifestyle: Primary Reason for the Rise in the Death Rate

2016-08-15T13:00:00.000Z

“That means not only are middle-aged white people drinking more, using more opioids, and killing themselves at higher rates, more of them are getting sick with the diseases that usually kill older people. And when they do get sick, they don’t get better.”

From this quotation from the referenced article you may think that drinking and drugs are the reason for this uptick in the death rate but upon closer investigation, it seems there is a basic, underlying cause that is affecting us all.

Lifestyle.

We’ve reached the point when technology and treatments cannot overcome the effects of poor lifestyle choices in the United States. For the first time in 10 years the death rate has risen. While cancer and heart disease have long been the primary causes of death, heart disease death rate had been steadily declining. It is believed that this offset deaths due to drug overdoses and suicide. However, this year the number of deaths due to cardiovascular disease has increased.

Yes, the increase in opioid drug use is definitely a serious problem and factor. Often those drugs lead to depression and suicide. While fewer people are dying from the leading causes of death - heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory disease – than 50 years ago, that is changing. The rate of decline of these diseases has slowed.

Lifestyle is the factor every one of us can control. (Finish here)

3 Magic Questions to Find Career Clarity

2016-08-15T11:30:00.000Z

In my coaching business, I talk with lots of people who are searching for career clarity. I have a clarity tool that I begin my initial coaching sessions with and here are a few sample answers to the question: What are the top challenges that you face in your business or career?

Direction & getting started on “Act 2” of my life.
I don’t have the same clarity in my business as I did when I started it because things changed dramatically in my life and this necessitates refocusing my business for me to be happy.
Knowing 100% that I’m making the right choice to transition careers
Figuring out what certification program to start, figuring out what I want it to look like as well as how to incorporate public speaking with whatever I end up doing.
Finding something enjoyable that pays well. All my jobs pay just enough to survive, but nothing above that.
I don’t know where to start my new career search because I’m still struggling with what to do next. I’m so sure that retail is what I do not want to do but I have so many things that interest me.

Clarity is important. When we don’t have career clarity, we have a decision that is an open loop. It’s energy draining. It’s asking the same question over and over but never getting an answer. It’s the hamster on the wheel with no end. How do you develop career clarity?

The three magic questions

To determine clarity in your career direction there are three basic questions to ask yourself…

What is my skill set?

While you can certainly learn a lot of different skills, careers are definitely easier if you pick something that you have at least an inclination or ability to do. It’s hard to be a great counselor or coach is you aren’t a good listener and aren’t interested in people and their stories. It’s hard to be the next Michael Phelps if you’ve tried swimming and it’s not your thing. Becoming an accountant when working with numbers feels like a foreign language is going to be difficult. I’m not saying it can’t be done. If for some reason you are passionate about swimming but not very good at it, you can definitely develop the necessary skill. However, too many people venture into a career because they read somewhere that there are a lot of job openings in the field or you can make a lot of money doing it, only to find that they don’t have the necessary skill set.

What is my passion or area of interest?

A good career match is something that answers the why question in a meaningful way. Why are you a coach? Because you are passionate about helping people change their lives in a positive way. Why are you an accountant? Because you love helping people take control of their money and develop systems for maximizing their income. Can you do a job that you aren’t passionate about? Of course. But you will probably eventually burnout. Passion helps overcome the inevitable hurdles, bumps and even setbacks found in any career.

Is it profitable?

We all have things we are passionate about and good at that aren’t ever going to make us any money. I love hiking and paddle boarding but turning those hobbies into a profitable business is probably not going to happen for me. Again, I’m not saying it’s not possible. I could start selling paddle boards or giving lessons. I could become a hiking guide (if only I had a better sense of direction…) but I think you can see what I mean. There are some things that are better to remain hobbies. You have to realistically decide if the skill and passion you have is something that others would be willing to invest in.

To move forward on a career path, it’s essential that we get clear on what we’re all about. It’s the first step to setting a goal, creating an action plan and moving forward. Lack of clarity results in confusion and overwhelm. Clarity creates focus and renewed energy.

Download a copy of my newest ebook: Dream Achieving: Learning to Fly. It is packed with encouraging and inspiring ways to follow your calling and live it out with passion and purpose. You can find here.

From Dream to Reality
A 7 week intensive program to create clarity and renewed energy in your life

Doors are open to my Dream to Reality program and because the year is half over…I’m offering it at half off.

So, check it out. From Dream to Reality

Got questions?

You can always email me at [email protected].

Want to talk? Set up a complimentary Dream Clarity Call here.

DISCover Your Team/Family or Your Own Strengths and How to Get Motivated

2016-08-15T07:36:47.000Z

Everyone is uniquely wired and has a gift they bring to the team. While no two people are alike, there are common behaviors that motivate people to act the way they do. There are a variety of personality profiles out there. Many of them have found that there are 4 distinct personality types or styles that people may operate in.

The DISC behavioral assessment, which I am a certified behavioral consultant in is one the most widely used assessments available and easiest to understand.

Here is a basic overview of what each style is…

D style stands for Dominant

A “D” style personality greatest fear is being taken advantage of. Their strengths are being decisive, a great leader, driven, they move things forward and are good in a crisis.Their weaknesses are that they are perceived as impatient and can hurt other’s feelings due to being intently focused on the end result. They may walk over people who get in their way because of their laser focus on the end result.

The following ques may indicate that this person has a Dominant or D style personality:

Having a louder voice; talks over you; makes decisions quickly; takes the lead. They typically dress in power suits or other ways that express authority.

The gift this personality brings is direction and order.

I style which stands for Influencing

The “I” styles greatest fear is rejection/ being rejected. Their strengths are that they are creative problem solvers, fun and energetic, persuasive, very inspirational and motivating.

Their weaknesses are that they are not good with detail or organization, they are not the greatest listeners, they interrupt often.

You can identify the I style because they are very expressive. The talk with their hands, are very animated and have a voice inflection. Also, they typically dress with bright colors, cute patterns, and are very trendy. And lastly, they typically use the word “fun” often in their vocabulary.

The gift this personality brings is fun and celebration.

S style stands for Steady

The greatest fear of this kind of personality is losing their security/safety.Their strengths are that they are stable, loyal, excellent listeners, great team players, comforters.Their weaknesses are that they resist change, can be stubborn, avoids confrontation,and can be a push-over.

You can identify the S style when a person is a great listener, softer spoken, soft, subtle, but kind expression and they dress in soft, subtle colors (unless they bought something someone else told them to buy).

The gift they bring is comfort.

C style which stands for Conscientious

A “C” style personality has a greatest fear in criticism.Their strengths are that they are detail oriented, able to foresee problems and come up with solutions, highly organized, thorough, accurate.

Their weaknesses is that they can become depressed if they feel they did not deliver perfection, they are slow to pull the trigger, and they do not like risk.

You can identify the C style person because they are quiet and reserved. They work independently. They often use the word “exactly” in their vocabulary.

They bring the gift of organization.

Now that we have a basic overview of what each style stands for, now I will teach you how to use it and apply it when it comes to leading your team, family, or working with others.

How to Motivate your team using the DISC

The D style is motivated by success and achievement. If your company or organization gives monetary rewards, prizes, trips, etc. to help people meet their goals, then this style will be the most motivated by those rewards. This style is also highly motivated to be in charge. If a promotion, or advancement of some form is an outcome of a certain benchmark goal, than this style will be all over it. They enjoy being at the top and to be the leader.

To motivate the I style use social activities. Anything that is celebratory, fun, social and gives public recognition for their achievements will satisfy and motivate this style. The reason public recognition is important to the I-style is because they will have the ability to inspire and influence others to achieve greatness. This style is most fulfilled by fun, social events where they can inspire and influence.

The S style can be motivated in two ways. First is by security and safety because when change is perceived it is important to prepare this team member in as much advance as possible to make them feel comfortable, prepared, and secure.

Second, is by close relationships. Their loyalty and desire to do things as a team in peace will drive them to support their leader or team members. Also, they can be motivated by appreciation for their support and loyalty.

Motivate the C style by information and logic. To do this, make sure you are prepared with details and can support ideas or statements with data, facts, or examples. If a C style is given procedure and routine this gives them reassurance that they are doing the task correctly. Lastly, C style’s can be motivated by exact job descriptions, expectations and rules. Hype, recognition, trips, etc. don’t necessarily motivate a C style to action. Stick to proven methods, exact procedures, and clear expectations and they will carry it out and follow through.

For further training on the DISC, view the hour long training that Stephanie provides to churches, corporations, organizations and independent contractors to help motivate your team to get what they want the most!

View Mindset Mastery: 4 Mindsets that Keep People Stuck and How to Overcome Come Them

To hire Stephanie to train your leadership team on how to meet their biggest goals, click here.

Property Rights Are Human Rights!

2016-08-15T01:42:52.000Z

There are underlying laws in the physical world, such as gravity, and these are discovered and mastered by objective methods. Despite gravity the eighty or so hot air balloons at the National Balloon Classic in Indianola, Iowa took flight and bedazzled the onlookers and spectators, not because they know how to stop gravity but because they had the materials and the skills to use other physical laws within the confines of the atmosphere to offset the force of gravity.

Likewise, there are laws that operate in the human sphere that pertain to the intellectual and to the spiritual processes and these are discovered by the methodology of subjectivism. For example, the idea that there are human rights is subjectively derived and confirmed yet perfectly valid.

I have never encountered any person who did not know that life is a creative enterprise involving mind over matter, with energy directed towards finding ways to increase happiness and satisfaction. It is understood that this is the human condition. This is not doubted although it is not always achievable. If there are obstacles imposed these are viewed as attacks against human rights.

It turns out that the mirror images of human rights are property rights. The satisfaction and happiness striven after are step by step increases in ownership of those things that are viewed as valuable even including ideal things like peace of mind. In this instance a person attains a degree of contentment and does not want that possession attacked or taken away.

The very foundation of the divine economy model is anchored in these subjective laws that are part of the human operating system. Imagine anchoring the ship of human endeavor with human rights and property rights. That is a strong mooring that will withstand the storms of life!

Contact me if you are interested in the art and science of economics.

Job Satisfaction – It’s Important to Your Health

2016-08-14T13:22:13.000Z

You may be surprised, but job satisfaction plays an important role in improving your mental outlook and physical health.

So why wouldn’t we seek a fulfilling job? Is there anything to gain by enduring a working life of discontent, just waiting for the weekend?

If you work a 40 hour week, and many of you work way beyond that…you will invest 62,400 hours into work over a 30 year period. That time could be either enhancing or detracting from your health.

The work environment is changing

Finish reading & get a list of job satisfaction factors to look for when considering your next job

Keith Urban "GETS To"

2016-08-12T16:47:27.000Z

I wrote this post a few months ago and in light of Dan's recent blog about Keith Urban's new car I decided to make a few edits and publish it here.

I've never really been much of a Keith Urban fan. No offense to Keith Urban, but I grew up listening to old school country music like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Hank Williams Jr. To me the newer country music is missing something.

However, my wife is an American Idol fan and over the past few seasons I've caught a few episodes and have new and great respect for Keith Urban. He seems to be a great person who cares about people and wants to see them succeed. So when CBS News Sunday Morning interviewed Keith Urban I tuned in.

The interview was great and included parts with Keith’s wife Nicole Kidman and their children, but one exchange in the interview really got my attention. The interviewer was asking Keith about his recent tour and when referencing the songs that 16 years ago made Urban a superstar he said something to the effect of "there are certain songs that you HAVE to play". Urban quickly and emphatically corrected the reporter responding, "NO, there are certain songs we GET to play". WOW!! When I heard that I hit rewind on my DVR and listened again.

You would think that playing those songs show after show, tour after tour, year after year would be a chore and a burden. But that's not how Keith Urban sees it. He GETS to play those songs; the ones that made him famous; the ones his fans want to hear; the ones that helped him buy a $3 million dollar car!

It's made me think about things that I do and don't always appreciate! For example, I GET to get up early; I GET to make my kids lunch and breakfast; I GET to work; I GET to exercise and eat healthy; I GET to drive a 2004 Jeep that is paid for and runs great!

A lot of us take things for granted but if you sat back and thought about the things that you HAVE to do they may be things that others can't do or don't have the opportunity to do!

Shifting our mindset can make a HUGE difference in our lives! So what about you? What are some things that you HAVE to do that could be things you GET to do with a fresh mindset?

**Image author Craig ONeal via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

Delta Airlines Should Switch Over to a 550 Team Setup

2016-08-12T15:28:56.000Z

I'm sure by now most of you have heard of the monstrous computer FUBAR that Delta Airlines faced this week. If you were trying to fly Delta and you're reading this, I'm very sorry. I've slept in airports on several occasions, and it is not fun.

Delta's computer shutdown and subsequent loss of service for virtually everyone in their system is common. Not the specifics but the idea that a small issue cripples an entire operation. Delta is experiencing a problem very common to large, established, or older businesses. They lack resiliency and mobility as a company. When things run perfect, it's golden, but if something goes wrong, all is off. Imagine Delta as a mammoth with a hangnail. The whole beast stops because of a tiny problem.

The opposite of this is what I preach in my 550 Team approach. It's based on utilizing small teams capable of adaptability and quick change rather than one huge team focused solely on seeking efficiency and never finding it.

You see, if a small team hits a snag or runs into a problem, they can change up fast and respond in a different way. If they flame out completely, then there are other small teams to step in without ever slowing down the larger machine.

Delta is already in the middle of this huge problem. Let's hope their leadership decides to change things once the fires settle down Let's hope they break down the behemoth into batches of small teams so we can all get flying faster.

Hey, at least it's not a worst case scenario. Could you imagine if this happened over the holidays?

If you want a rundown of the problem at Delta, click HERE.

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at www.drdavidpowers.com. Thanks for reading!

In the words of Starship Troopers, "Would you like to know more?"

Healthy Weight Loss: All or Nothing?

2016-08-12T13:30:00.000Z

Anyone who has worked with me knows one of the fundamental principles of the Today’s the Day plan is taking what I refer to as “baby steps.” That’s just making one small change consistently over time. I’ve talked about one of my earliest clients who only agreed to gradually increase her water intake and add in the appropriate amount of natural salt. She was thrilled to find that by just making that one small change over time she lost 7 pounds!

So many people think you have to change everything immediately in order to see any improvement but as my client proved, that’s just not so. Small steps, baby steps feel doable and help you reach new threshholds of health. They also serve as motivation. When you make one healthy change it naturally leads to the next and the next and before you know it you really have made big changes. But you’ve done it in a way that allows you to settle into the changes gradually so you are much more apt to continue.

I heard a doctor tell a story about an obese patient and how he prescribed 4 jumping jacks a day. He asked the patient if he thought he could do 4 jumping jacks a day and he said yes. When the patient returned 3 weeks later the doctor asked how he did and he said he did 50 jumping jacks a day because he thought 4 a day was ridiculous! The doctor would’ve been happy if he just followed through with 4 a day but it inspired him to go further! (Finish here)

To Move Forward, Please Take One Step Back

2016-08-12T01:29:11.000Z

Have you ever heard the expression, "two steps forward and one step back is still one step forward"? Setbacks are frustrating, difficult, and can even be paralyzing if not viewed in the correct way. Today, let's look at 3 different ways that taking a step back can actually help us move forward.

1. Stepping back encourages REFLECTION.

When we choose to or are forced to take a step back, we automatically have a choice to reflect on what just occurred. In my day job, I spend a lot of time using formulas and macros in Microsoft Excel to format files in a way that they can be uploaded into a financial system correctly. Whenever I just cannot seem to get the file to look right and "balance", I am forced to take a step back and evaluate my process. During these "look-back" periods I often find a simple step that I missed and am then able to move forward and complete the task.

In life, there will be times when we just seem to get stuck or cannot figure out how to "get it right." Take a deep breath, stop, and reflect on your process. What is preventing you from moving forward? Is it something you can control? If so, then determine what you need to do to get moving again, and do it!

2. Stepping back brings CLARITY.

Imagine you are hiking on a clear blue day when a thick fog rolls in and drastically reduces visibility. Well, if you just blindly keep going you may very well hike right off a cliff! The situation calls for a mandatory stepping back and sometimes even stopping until the fog clears. If you must continue forward, you can get out your safety equipment and maybe even a light that cuts through the fog to do so.

Have you experienced life's fogs? They could be financial debt, a family crisis, a natural disaster, an unfavorable situation at work, etc. What should you do when these happen? Step back and let it pass if you can, but if you cannot get out your equipment and move forward anyway. This could mean creating a financial budget so you know where your money is going or spending time with your family and sharing your honest and open feelings.

3. Stepping back brings REFRESHMENT.

Have you ever been in the middle of a workout and felt that you could continue no longer? What did you do? Most of the time we stop and just say, "Well, I guess that's all I've got in me today." What if all you needed was a small break, a glass of water, a snack, and a few stretches? Personally, doing that exact thing has allowed me to continue physically when I probably would have normally quit going.

Are you missing refreshment in your life because you are just pushing so hard forward that you are forgetting to check your gas tank and see if you are running on empty? Take a step back and refresh yourself! My dad always says that if you want to have a life that is overflowing and positively impacting others, you yourself have to be full and refreshed.

Take some time this week to step back and reflect, clarify, and most importantly refresh your life. What if that propels you forward farther than you even planned to go?

Stay encouraged, my friends!

Mom's Donuts

2016-08-11T17:47:56.000Z

My Mom made the best donuts in the world. They were cake donuts that looked like those above. She would make dozens when she made them. They would go into one gallon glass jars and then into the freezer. When we came to visit, we would go to the freezer and pull out as many as we wanted. We could eat them frozen or warm them up and toss them in a baggie with sugar and chow down. They were magnificent. All of us kids have tried to reproduce Mom’s donuts. None of us have quite accomplished it. My sister-in-law, Jean, came close once. Her donuts tasted like moms, but they turned rock hard after they cooled off. It was amusing to watch us tossing those hot donuts back and forth in our hands while taking bites. We wanted to finish them off before they cooled.

Of course, Mom never had a written recipe for her donuts. We could never match the taste and consistency of her donuts. My brother often commented that her donuts even tasted different when you took her donuts home and ate them there rather than at Mom’s. I have come to believe it was her loving presence that was the secret ingredient. I believe all of our immediate family, with all of their diverse opinions that never agreed fully on anything, would fully agree that Mom’s presence was the secret ingredient.

Recently, a young lady from the Republic of Congo, brought in some donut holes that her grandmother made. To my surprise, they tasted very much like my Mom’s donuts. I told her the story that I just told you. She fully agreed. She said that none of her family has been able to reproduce “Grandma’s” donuts.

I encourage you to consider if you are “adding to” or “leaving out” the secret ingredient of your loving presence with those you care most about. Just loving or just being present is not enough. Both of those ingredients, together, need to dominate the recipe for the best outcome. We have all experienced how today’s mechanization of food prep has changed the flavor of original recipes. Be careful not to let today’s life mechanisms (busy schedules, selfish desires, recreational escapes) interfere with the original recipe. It’s not a recipe that needs to be written; it’s a recipe that needs to be consciously lived.

Need help? My loving presence available at www.youhavethemic.com and www.habit-builder.com

13 Awesome Tricks for Negotiating Credit Card Debt

2016-08-11T17:34:37.000Z

Negotiating credit card debt is an incredibly valuable strategy to help you get out of debt faster. Not only does negotiating debt help lower your payments, it also helps you take control of your finances where before you may have felt powerless.

When you have a ton of credit card debt, it can feel like you have no power against a large credit card company. The debt weighs on you tremendously to the point you're not sure what to do.

But you DO have some power you can use to better your situation, no matter how much you owe. Negotiating credit card debt might sound a little difficult and intimidating. But once you know how to do it, it's a great way to take away some of the financial pressure and speed up getting out of debt for good!

Below I'll show you the most important steps to negotiate credit card debt and free yourself from the demon plastic forever!

Credit Card Debt Stinks!

Of course, I always recommend getting rid of credit cards completely and using cash only to finance your life. Angie and I haven't used credit cards for over 10 years now. I can tell you from personal experience, it's an awesome thing to not have to deal with managing credit card debt every month! We've seen great life changing benefits from this, such as:

We don't have to worry about paying (and stressing over) another bill every month.

Money doesn't get wasted paying interest on a credit card balance.

We don't have to worry about overspending- EVER!

Peace of mind- no debt causing us daily stress.

I know there are people who will tell you credit cards are fine as long as you use them responsibly. But the statistics show that most people don't do that. I haven't found any good reason to use a credit card for anything, and I doubt I ever will. Cash is king at our house!

13 Tips for Negotiating Credit Card Debt

So if you've decided it's time to get out of debt and you want get rid of your credit cards for good, here are some excellent tips on how to negotiate credit card debt and get it to a more manageable level. Not every tip will work every single time, but the more you use them the more likely they are to be successful!

Collect Credit Card Offers

We all get credit card offers in the mail. Instead of chucking them in the trash, you should hang on to these for a while. In fact, save as many of them as you can get your hands on, they will come in handy later.

Many of them offer a zero interest rate if you will transfer your balances to their card. Otherwise they will offer a low interest rate for a certain time period. Obviously, these offers are designed to get your business.

The great thing is you can make this work to your advantage when negotiating credit card debt. I'll show you how to take advantage of that later in this post.

Get Organized

Next on the list is to get organized. Gather all your credit card bills together in one place. That way you can understand just how much debt you have. Write down each account on a sheet of paper with all the appropriate info for each account. Make a list with the following info for each credit account you want to negotiate. Here's the info you'll want on your list:

Name of the credit card company

The amount you owe on the account

The current interest rate you're being charged

Customer service phone number for the account

Notes- Here you can write who you spoke to, what new terms you negotiated, etc.

Check to See if Any of Your Debt is Zombie Debt

According to Forbes, zombie debt is years old, and is entirely owned by a debt collection agency. Many times this zombie debt is past the statute of limitations, and you may not be held legally responsible for it.

One way to find out whether you're past the statute of limitations is to request a Debt Verification letter from your creditor. You can ask for one over the phone or by fax. If you want to request a debt verification letter by fax, here is a template you can use for that.

If you don't know what the statute of limitations is for zombie credit card debt in your state, you can go here to find out the details.

Try to Settle Before Your Account Goes to Collections

If you're having trouble paying down your debt, it's best to be proactive. You'll likely have more success with debt negotiation if you try to settle your debt before it goes to collections. However, there is no way to know how a creditor will react once you make the call. Some will be willing to work with you, and some will not make any effort at all.

You should be careful about how much you tell them when negotiating your debt. If you lost your job or have had a family emergency, they may be more willing to work with you for a while. But if you tell them you just can't afford to pay because you have too much debt, they may be less likely to help out.

Forbearance

If you have a job loss, illness, or family emergency, you may be able to negotiate a forbearance. Forbearance simply means the credit card company will allow you to stop paying for a limited amount of time until you can get back on your feet. Be careful though, your balance may still accrue interest during that time, increasing your debt further.

If Your Debt Has Gone to Collections

If your debt has been turned over to collections you may have a little more bargaining power working in your favor. By the time a debt gets to collections, they realize they're not likely to get much (if any) of that money back. If this is the case, you can offer them much less than what you actually owe, and they make take you up on the offer.

This can work especially well if your bad debt has been sold to an outside collections company. These companies typically buy bad debt for pennies on the dollar. You could start your negotiations by offering them 25-30 cents on the dollar and work up from there. However, you should be willing to pay the negotiated amount as a lump sum. Most will not let you work out a payment plan.

Call the Credit Card Company With the Lowest Balance First

I believe it's a good idea to start negotiating your debt by attacking the smallest balance first. This is because if you have never negotiated debt before, it's good to get your feet wet where the stakes are smaller. Once you get to the larger debts you'll have more negotiating experience and (hopefully) more chance for success!

Negotiate a Lower Interest Rate

Here's how:

Place a call to the customer service number for your credit card.

Tell them you'd like to get a lower interest rate and your annual fee eliminated if you have one.

If they ask why, tell them it will better help you meet your financial obligations to them without any interruptions.

If they hesitate to offer you a deal, tell them you're considering other cards with no annual fee and lower interest rates. Tell them you'll transfer your balance to one of those cards if they can't negotiate a better deal with you.

If they still refuse, ask if you can talk to a supervisor. Sometimes the first person that answers the phone may not have the power to get you a lower interest rate. Someone higher up usually has the authority to negotiate better terms with no problem.

If they refuse to help, then don't hesitate to transfer your balance to a card at another company with a lower interest rate and no annual fee.

Don't Take "No" For an Answer

When you make the call, don't take no for an answer. If you're easily discouraged by their "no", then it saves them money. Be pleasant, but firm. Don't talk from a position of weakness.

For example: If you say "I was wondering if maybe you could give me a lower interest rate?", that sounds wimpy and probably won't work. Speak from a position of strength: "I want you to give me a lower interest rate on my credit card and eliminate the annual fee. If you can't help me out, I'll be floating my balance to another credit card that has offered me a lower interest rate." You might even mention specifically some of the offers you received in the mail from other companies.

If you sound passive and unconfident, they will roll right over you.

The Phone Call Might Take Awhile

You might even want to practice the call beforehand, rehearsing what you'll say and how you'll say it. Of course, this technique may not work every single time, depending on your payment history and other factors. but if you're firm and insist upon getting what you called for, you'll find that it works quite often. You should understand this phone call might be a long one because they will put you on hold multiple times and even try to sell you alternate products.

Resist their sales pitches.

Be Patient- Remember the Ultimate Goal

Remember to be patient, nicely insisting on getting what you came for. You'll find that negotiating a lower interest rate with this technique works more often than not. This kind of call (as with any call to a credit card company's customer service department) may last as long as 30 minutes to an hour. But it's a call that can literally save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars depending on your balance. That, my friends will help you pay off your debt that much quicker and get you further down that road to financial freedom.

Remember, the ultimate goal is debt freedom and a life free from credit cards!

Get it in Writing

Any time you negotiate a deal for a lower interest rate or to pay off debt, get the details in writing. A verbal agreement over the phone means absolutely nothing. Once you get it in writing, keep that piece of paper and refer back to it as needed to make sure they're living up to the agreement.

Be Willing to Transfer Your Balance

If you tell them you'll transfer your balance if they don't help you out, you should be willing to live up to your word. Don't be afraid to do business with someone else if you don't get what you want. You can almost always get a better deal when you float your balance to another card at another company. This is where those credit card offers you got in the mail come in handy.

Don't Give Them Access to Your Bank Account

If you negotiate a plan for paying off the debt, whether it's a lump sum or a payment plan, NEVER give them access to your bank account! This is a recipe for disaster!

Some collection companies will monitor that account and make a huge withdrawal at the worst possible time. Some will "accidentally" take out more than you agreed to. Getting that straightened out and getting your money back will be an exercise in futility. Avoid giving them access at all costs!

Close Your Accounts

As you pay off each debt, call the credit card company and close the account. This may be a long phone call, but it's worth it to have the credit cards out of your life. They will do everything they can to keep you as a customer, offering incentives and other goodies. You will probably spend 30 minutes or more on the phone and end up talking to 2-3 people, but they will eventually close the account once they know you mean business.

Have them send confirmation in writing that the account is paid in full and closed. Keep that document forever so they can't contact you later saying you owe more money on that account.

You May Have to Pay Taxes on any Forgiven Debt

Anytime a debt is forgiven, anything over $600 must be reported by the creditor to the IRS. According to tax laws, debt forgiven is classified as income so you will have to pay taxes on that at tax time. Be sure to take that into consideration whenever you're negotiating your debt. There will be consequences on April 15.

Debt Negotiation is Just a Start

I believe the best thing you can do with any credit card is to cut it up and never use it again. They are just not necessary. Just because everybody tells you you need one doesn't make it true.

Angie and I haven't had a credit card in over 10 years and I can tell you from personal experience it's one of the best financial decisions we every made!

So if you want to do better financially and eventually get out of debt, it starts with taking action. It starts with thinking and doing things differently than all the other broke people out there. Negotiating your credit card debt is just one tool you can use to start the process.

Question: Have you ever successfully negotiated a debt? How easy/hard was it? Leave a comment on our Facebook page or below and tell me about your experience!

What Happens When Cops Get Fired?

2016-08-11T16:53:29.000Z

The coaching side of my business focuses on helping people in high stress/high risk occupations establish successful careers once they leave the uniform behind. Much of the time this is law enforcement. Most of the time they're leaving because they retired or suffered a career ending injury.

But not always.

Sometimes my job deals with helping officers who get fired.

You see, just because an agent, cop, or detective gets fired doesn't change their motivations for wearing the uniform in the first place. It also doesn't change how they feel when they can no longer wear that uniform. As a matter of fact, they often feel their motivations, desires, and needs even more strongly because the situation now limits their options.

That's where I come in. It's important that law enforcement officers who are fired still get the same career transition assistance as retiring or injured ones. They are at a higher capacity to suffer from bad effects because of the situation and this puts them at risk for trouble, from psychological issues to breakdowns to worse.

If you know a law enforcement officer that's been fired, put on permanent leave, or let go then put them in touch.

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at www.drdavidpowers.com. Thanks for reading!

In the words of Starship Troopers, "Would you like to know more?"

7 People With Incredible Stories You've Never Heard

2016-08-11T03:56:12.000Z

(Hello again everyone. This is my latest installment in my weekly column on The Good Men Project. It is a collection of some of the awesome stories I have dug up. Hope you enjoy!)

All my life, I always wanted to be somebody. Now I see that I should have been more specific. – Jane Wagner

Continue

Proven Advice to Help You Manage Conflict

2016-08-10T20:51:40.000Z

Conflict naturally arises within families and organizations, but the question is: How should we respond? In this episode of The Life Coaching Show, I interview Ron Price, a conflict management expert.

Discover how his PLAY NICE approach can help you manage conflict in your own life.

Click Here to Listen

Nutrition: Is Chronic Fatigue All in Your Head?

2016-08-10T13:00:00.000Z

I have several friends who are suffering from this debilitating condition and without exception, it took all of them years of wrong diagnoses before they were properly diagnosed and they were also told at one time or another that it was “all in their heads” and offered antidepressant meds.

I have found that often if a doctor cannot get to a specific diagnosis, especially for women, the assumption is that they are depressed or somehow imagining the problem. You can definitely talk yourself into being sick – your mind is powerful beyond belief. And of course the opposite holds true as well. Healing from any disorder or disease includes how you think about it and yourself.

That being said, for all those who are suffering with or have suffered from this disorder, you can see here that there are various symptoms which can be different in each person and those symptoms can mimic numerous other conditions, making it difficult to pinpoint.

I write often about the importance of probiotics, both from supplements and foods, in order to keep your gut microbiome balanced with good bacteria. Well new research has identified “biological markers of the disease in gut bacteria and inflammatory microbial agents in the blood.”

That is really good news because now there is no room for blaming your symptoms on psychological issues – the problem is not in your head, it is in your gut!

And that’s not all you can do to help yourself if you are dealing with CFS. Inflammation has also been found to be a factor, so along with rebuilding your gut bacteria, it is recommended...(Finish here)

6 Laws Anyone Working on Pricing Should Know

2016-08-10T12:00:00.000Z

Pricing your products or services in a way that keeps you competitive while turning a profit can be an ongoing challenge for the small business owner. While your underlying costs always have to be taken into account, strategic pricing practices go well beyond the numbers to include proven buying behaviors.

The psychology behind successful pricing is full of weird and wonderful surprises. As you continue to hone your pricing skills, and measure your profitability through trial and error, consider these six fascinating insights to gain inspiration for setting the most appealing price points for your product or service.

1. It’s important to evaluate whether what you’re selling would be more effectively promoted in terms of cost savings, or experiential value. Depending on the product or service, customers may be far more influenced by what they’re gaining in buying from you, than by what they’re saving.

2. Quite often, when faced with too many choices or too many comparisons, consumers become overwhelmed and simply opt for no choice at all. Research indicates that consumers are far more likely to make a buying decision when presented with two items at two different price points.

3. Potential customers don’t like to feel they’re being talked down to, or worse, that they’re being fooled in some way. If you simply boast about lower prices without explaining how it is that you’re able to beat the competition, your would-be customers will be tempted to think you’re either hiding something that’s going to come back and bite them later, or that there’s simply something inferior about your product or service.

4. A decision-making behavior known as “anchoring” can come in handy any time you need to price a product or service a little higher than you’d like in order to make a reasonable profit. When you offer a higher-priced, premium item alongside the less expensive option you want to sell, consumers will tend to look more favorably on the pricing and value of the cheaper service simply by virtue of comparison.

5. The concept of keeping it simple applies just as much to pricing as it does to many other things in life. Believe it or not, research indicates that the more syllables a price contains, the higher it’s perceived to be by your customer. So leave the proper expression of numbers to your outsourced bookkeeper, and forego a printed price of $2,500.00 in favor of the less expensive sounding $2500.

6. Perception can be everything when it comes to impressing potential clients. Studies show that the average consumer is willing to pay more for the same product or service if it’s offered in just the right way – in an upscale environment, or with a certain level of prestige attached to it.

As a final thought, here are three of the easiest ways to help take the sting out of any pricing strategy:
• Avoid nickel-and-diming your customers by tacking on extra or hidden fees.
• Describe your rate as an hourly, daily, or monthly fee instead of an annual charge.
• Make savings obvious to your customers, by always choosing words that emphasize just how attractive your pricing really is.

For more helpful tips for managing your bookkeeping visit: www.DonnaReade.com

Have a Bookkeeping Question

Feel Free to schedule a Time to Get an Answer at www.DonnaReade.com

Let me know you saw my post on 48 days.

Grace, Grapes, and Glory

2016-08-09T18:53:50.000Z

I’m delighted to introduce you to Lisa Worthy Smith. The analogy she drew from making grape jelly is a wonderful reminder for us when we feel crushed.

Now here’s Lisa…

After collecting the pods of juiciness, their first stop is the sink for a washing. They appeared pretty clean so, when a large hairy spider ran for his life, (over my finger) I almost did too. Two more crawlies were discovered and removed, along with those grapes that had not matured.

Their next stop was the cook pot. Now grapes have a tough skin, so it is necessary to crush them to reveal the succulent insides that ultimately provide the flavor for the jelly. The skin and seeds and insides are boiled all together for a good ten minutes. As the heat rises, the aroma of each grape is released leaving no doubt of what is happening.Continue Reading

4 Tips to Solving Personality Conflicts

2016-08-09T14:26:33.000Z

In a recent blog post, I mentioned how understanding personality style can improve relationships. This is especially true if you are trying to relate to someone who has the opposite personality style to yours.

Lets say that you are a D and you have to supervise someone who is an S. What are the things about the way they approach their job that are most likely to annoy and frustrate you? For starters, I bet you are very impatient with the speed with which S workers move..and I don’t mean around the building. While D’s are quick and decisive, S’s take much longer to process things and like to consider all sides of a decision before they commit. I can hear all the D’s tapping your foot and muttering “Hurry UP!” right now.

On the other hand, what if you are a C personality and you are supervising an I personality style? There is a lot of room for problems here. C’s like to follow the rules and procedures. They like to have structure and are hard conscientious workers. You can bet that they have dotted their i’s and crossed their t’s when a job is done. It’s…well like the Cyndi Lauper song “Just wanna have fun” which doesn’t mean they won’t get the job done. It does mean that they will probably take longer than you would like and will have a party along the way. I can just hear all the C personalities rolling their eyes and muttering, “Just what does he DO all day anyway?”

What if you are an S personality supervising a D personality? This is a tricky situation because S’s are sensitive and tend to wear their feelings on their sleeve. I’m guessing you are a little intimidated by the D who is so bossy and domineering. Meanwhile you wonder how you can best rescue all the co-workers who come to you with complaints about how unfeeling the D is and ask that they be given work that doesn’t involve having to deal with her.

Finally, what if you are an I personality who is supervising a C personality? Just as he was frustrated with your lack of structure and attention, I bet you are annoyed with the C worker’s over attention to detail and following the rules and procedures. You think you could get the job done much faster, more creatively and with less stress if they would just lighten up a bit and relax already.

Is there an answer to these dilemmas? Yes actually there is…Here are some guidelines to get you started:

Recognize the personality style for what it is. So often we attribute unnecessary and incorrect labels to others because we don’t recognize how they are wired: D’s are bossy and insensitive, I’s are unfocused and silly, S’s are emotional and people pleasers and C’s are strict and uptight. These are negative labels that don’t serve anyone. Instead…
Recognize and encourage each personality style to work in their strengths: D’s make great leaders and love challenge and competition. Use those qualities to motivate them. I’s bring fun and energy to everything they do. Use them as cheerleaders to motivate and grow your team. S’s bring a a sensitive, intuitive spirit and a concern for others to the group. Use them to encourage and support the team. C’s bring structure and focus. Use them to keep your team on track and aware of deadlines.
Recognize each personality style’s ability to lead in their own way: D’s lead from the front with vision and direction. I’s lead from within with enthusiasm and energy. S’s lead from behind with encouragement and support. And C’s lead from the side by providing structure and guardrails.
Recognize each personality style’s contribution to their opposite’s work ability. D’s help S’s move forward and make decisions while S’s help D’s recognize feelings and empathize with others. C’s help I’s with structure and accountability while I’s help C’s have a life with with fun and playfulness.

What is stealing your time away?

2016-08-09T13:40:40.000Z

I know I’ve spoken before about how time is your most valuable asset. And even though I’ve made some compelling points about that previously, here’s a new way to think about it.

Many people think their most valuable asset is money. But that’s wrong. You can always use your time to make more money, but having more money can never purchase you more time. This makes time inherently more valuable than money, and therefore the most valuable asset you have.

So why let people steal your time?

You would never let someone steal your money. So why let them steal your time?

How does someone steal your time? By...

(Continue reading here)

Kronos and Kairos

2016-08-09T10:00:00.000Z

We don't schedule a kiss (unless we are a weirdo). We can feel the moment if it’s right. It happens when two people build enough emotion between them they can no longer hold back. It is raw emotion, timing and magic.

It is not in a planner.

Continue

How to Make $77,000 Extra Doing What You Love

2016-08-08T14:02:45.000Z

In 2015, John Lee Dumas made $2.1 million doing this. At age 72, Len Smith makes $120,000 per year. Rob Percival—a former high school teacher—made over $1 million in nine months. Though their backgrounds have little in common, their profitable activity is the same. All of these people (and too many more to mention) made a lot of money by creating and selling online courses.

A great course can sell for $1000 or more, however, most courses are much less expensive than that. The average cost is around $400. In my example, I use $297 as the course price with only five sales per week for one year. That single course will generate $77,220 in twelve months! Toss in additional courses, and the profits will skyrocket.

Online courses are a big business. According to Forbes Magazine, the 2015 online learning market generated an amazing $107 billion. That number is expected to increase steadily over the next ten to fifteen years. Many corporations are replacing live training with online modules. Entrepreneurs have discovered a virtual gold mine in online learning. People like you and me are leveraging their experience and knowledge to generate unprecedented profits.

Not everyone can create online courses!

You are right…only those who try can create online courses. The obstacles to entry into the online course market have been removed. Sure, you can spend $40,000 or more to have a course created for you. Or you can learn how to create courses and start earning money while you sleep or do other things (like create more courses).

Common Objections to Creating Online Courses

I don't know how to use the technology. If you can manage your Wordpress site, you can manage your online learning environment. I teach people how to create courses using tools they already know how to use—PowerPoint, Keynote, iPhone, etc. Creating courses can be complicated, but it doesn't have to be.

I don't know if people will buy my course. They will if you narrow your niche, focus your objectives, deliver high quality micro-lessons, and engage your students. I work with my students and clients to do all of these things.

I don't have time to create a course. I don't know you, but I disagree. You have time to do anything that is important to you. Americans spend an average of more than 5 hours per day watching or engaging in leisure activities. Much of that time is spent watching sports on television. Are you willing to reallocate a few of your leisure hours so you can change your life? If your answer is no, then keep your day job!

I need someone to walk me through the process. Getting professional guidance isn't as difficult as you might think it is. I coach people through a proven process that teaches them how to turn their intellectual property into state-of-the-art courses using free or very inexpensive tools. I have a limited number of hours dedicated to coaching. You can click here and fill out the form at the bottom of the page. I'll reply and let you know if I'm accepting new clients or not.

People want to know how to do what you do. They will pay you to teach them. You can create courses, host them on your website, and keep all of the profits. You don't have to "rent" space on a collaborative site and give them a majority of what you earn. It's your knowledge, your course, and your future!

Someone will become the go-to person for your niche. He or she will add courses to their existing business and reach more people while making more money. You can be that person. Or you can watch someone else become that person. It's your choice, your decision, and your future. Think about it.

If you are a business leader, check out my Virtual Chief Learning Officer program. I can work with your company to leverage your content and engage your clients more effectively.

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