Motivation

What amazing weather. OK, it’s far from tropical or shorts and tee shirt outside but it’s definitely warm enough to sit and enjoy a few pages of a good book and a cup of coffee in the garden this morning.

That’s actually what I was doing when I came up with the subject of today’s blog so without further ado.

Motivation…

If you are anything like me you’ll have a selection of self help and/or personal development books helping to fill a shelf somewhere at home. You might even have read most of them and have book marks in the pages of those you never finished.

Something I noticed all have in common was that they never fully fulfilled the intent. What I mean by that is that although for the main part enjoyable to read and often somewhat motivational, each one I read left me actively prepared to purchase another. I'm not saying that each hasn't provided its own certain insight or instruction that allowed me to progress but nothing that by itself provided full detailed instruction.

If that is something you can also relate to you might like to check out a recently released book by well known mentor and marketer Brendon Burchard . His book, totally unrelated to any business we both share is called The Motivational Manifesto and takes you further into self realisation and development than any I have ever come across.

http://www.motivationmanifesto.com/ 

If you follow the link you will notice that he also provides a 12 week video series to accompany his book, you get free access along with the book that is also free but he does ask that you cover the postage. In my honest opinion I have never felt myself dig so deeply into my own thoughts and actions as this series has made me do and although I thought what I had learnt from everything else I had studied this covers brand new boundaries that I never considered existed. As an idea of how new his book is we’re only on week six of his series.

That’s it for today, it occurred to me that this could be the ideal share to help with those New Years Resolutions. It’s not something that I am affiliated to or anything, just another step in providing solutions for forward thinkers and those with desires of higher incomes.

Do something each day that will make a difference.

Motivational Manifesto could be just what you are looking for to help somebody you know, friend or family. Please feel free to share this post openly and unselfishly to help as many people as possible.

What is Networking?

Hi All,

No, I'm not asking. I'm actually going to try to set the record straight for a few of you.

It's a common understanding that things usually seem to happen in clusters, similar to where buses often don't come until two or three turn up at once. Not such a familiar sight now as it used to be but definitely a good example.

I'm not a prolific user of  social media for building my home based business and I'm not suggesting it doesn't work either. I know many successful people who do use and benefit from it but what I am suggesting though is that a lot of people don't understand  networking, how to benefit from it and what it entails.

Some might ask what there is to understand, I've had that come up quite a few times, others though are quite happy to have it explained to them.

I attend various networking meetings and it was at a breakfast one this morning  that one of our guests asked what the 5 key features of networking are?

Happily, I was able to sit back and enjoy Victors response. Victor is a man I respect highly, I've admired him right from my very first encounter. He's a jovial type of person, strong charactered, definitely confident in his abilities and always prepared to offer a helping hand or advice.. He went on to explain how a lot of people get networking wrong  and provided sensible steps to ensuring reaching ones target market.

It was strange, like the buses I mentioned earlier because it was only the night before that I had a very similar conversation with my own business partner. We had been discussing the struggles suffered by many working within the home based business industry and how so many of them don't network at all. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting they aren't using social media to project their opportunities, that I'm afraid is exactly what they are doing which is why they are suffering in the first place.

For those of you struggling with social media who were drawn to the heading 'What is Networking?', maybe you should take something from my mentioning projecting your opportunity.

Networking is about meeting, greeting and conversing with people. It's as much about the other person as it is about what you want out of it, even more so in fact.  Like me, you've probably lost count of the amount of people that message you online inviting you to join them in their opportunity only to disappear into the distance as soon as they know you are not interested. For me it's a wonder they ever expected any interest, how many of you take a wide birth from those obviously promoting something in the high street?

Networking done properly can produce results. Obviously its going to be product or service dependant, somebody offering equine services isn't likely to attract as many customers/clients in a built up city as a locksmith but then in a rural area results are likely to be reversed. That said though, the locksmith could well have family or friends who require specialised veterinary assistance and that is where networking properly begins to pay off.

Hopefully I've provided you something to think about, projecting your product or services into the private space of others uninvited isn't networking.  It is as more likely to produce resentment than anything else and for want of a less offensive name it can only describe it as spam.

I'd be great to hear your thoughts, especially your stories of humorous replies you've sent in response to spam.

To your success

Keith

Personal Stories, Dream Trippers #1

Hi all,

People love to hear stories, as a child I remember sitting transfixed on Jackanory, a story telling  TV programme from times gone past, today I find my pleasure in reading or listening to books both physical and audio.

Stories have captured our imaginations since childhood whether hearing them or creating our own and that's why I've decided to share with you some of the stories of our own Dream Trips members so that you may get lost for the moment as if they were your own.  They could well be one day.

Every single day there are Dream Trips members doing something somewhere that they most likely never imagined they would be doing. Whether swimming with dolphins, abseiling the rocky mountains or playing rounds of golf on the grandest courses on the planet.

Today you get to hear the story of John and Andrea Walen, DreamTrips members for around five years and coming up to their 70th trip made possible because of what DreamTrips has to offer.


Imagine having the freedom to pack your cases and just go to any place any time you please. What would that feel like?  Hard to imagine for many I bet.

It's not a fantasy though, the story of how to achieve it is as real as the stories it creates. You might think that to gain all of this is expensive but you would be wrong. Many of our DreamTrippers lifestyles started simply by changing where they book.  Just one trip as a member allowed them the peace of mind to invite others who in turn invite others who in turn invite others.

DreamTrips was literally created to change the lives of those that believed in it. Most people will go through their lives hoping and sometimes praying that things will turn around for them, others go ahead and turn things around for themselves.

Come and Join Us

Swimming With Great Whites

For some it might seem like the most frightening thing in the world suspended under the ocean surface by little more than a thread, treading water to keep your feet off the bottom of a cage we've all seen the likes of Jaws (great movie from days gone past for you younger readers) open like a tin of tuna.

For others it would be a dream come true. Adrenalin pumping, senses tingling and jaw dropping excitement hoping  with every drop of hope that wide open mouthed and at full throttle, great whitey will charge toward them whilst they ready to snap the perfect picture.

And for the rest, just to be travelling side by side with one of the most loved creatures that surfs the seas only feet away would be as magical an experience as any.

Just one of the hundreds of holiday experiences DreamTrips members get paid to enjoy.

What are your dreams made up of? Please feel free to share your travel for the future plans below

Keith

Rules of Engagement - The How Not To Approach

Rules of Engagement

Everybody wants to be the best marketer but nobody wants to listen.

There's actually two meanings in that sentence and I'm not sure many will get it right away.

A couple of days ago I accepted an invitation to connect on LinkedIn. I don't know about you but I'm at the stage where I won't connect with just anybody. Some of you might still be working toward what is believed to be the magic 500 and if so, fair game to you. One thing I will suggest though is that once you're there and the numbers continue increasing, counter measure for a bit by getting rid of some of the dead wood connections you made along the way.

Anyhow, this connection came via the standard unedited pre-written intro that LinkedIn uses. Not ideal, but something one has to get used to due to their mobile app not providing the editing of, and mobile often being the device of choice nowadays.

Before accepting I will generally head over to investigate the invitees LinkedIn profile and on this occasion there was a fairly well written list of services provided by Bob (just a sample name I chose to use instead) and his associates all working within the financial sector.

Looking all above board and genuine I wondered if this individual was actually showing an interest in my own offerings or simply wanted to exchange a few words where we may have been able to work out how best to support and benefit each other. That after-all is what networking is about is it not? I accepted and decided to wait for Bobs introduction.

It wasn't long before Bob got in touch and what a nice line he used:- "Hello Keith,
Good to connect with you as a local successful business person. " Nice don't you think?

Then the next line:- "If you could spare 5 minutes sometime I would love to introduce myself to you face to face and take control of your finances."  Rather a let down don't you agree?

His was not a lengthy message but apart from that single first sentence the whole message was based on him, what he does and wanting to meet up. No mention of his company name, no interest in anything me and no conversation what so ever.

My initial response was to point out the error of his ways as far as I was concerned, however,  I decided to play it differently. My reply was one stating that the services he offered were already being provided (truthfully) by a friend in the same industry so I thought it only polite to decline. Knowing my services are something that could definitely benefit him, I did finish my reply asking if he would like further details on what I do assuming he had viewed my profile.

Today I received his reply acknowledging and congratulating me on looking after my finances correctly and then going on to indicate how, for my own well-being, he and his partners should not fail to be considered. Oh, and also to keep his details safe for when needed????

Now back to those two meanings at the start of my post.

#1  I'm pretty sure you can recognise that there was no listening on Bobs part. If you want to find out if your product is a fit for your client, you have to listen for their needs or requirements. Constant reference to your own services simply provides your client with points to raise objection towards.

#2  Somebody may get your attention by shouting at you but does it make you inclined to listen? All Bob did was to push his services on me, I might well have heard his message but I can assure you that I was not listening.

That's probably not the most interesting example you've heard on how not to handle approaching new clients but it is a regular mistake I see network marketers making. If you are using similar tactics, maybe this will help you recognise why few are taking you up on your offer.

If you have received any level of value from this post  please feel free to comment or share, it could well help the next person equally.

Keith