All Posts Tagged Tag: ‘Productivity’
Cutting-edge technology to replace NLP?
Two good friends are about to stage a hands-on seminar that will set a new standard in the success science industry… and they promise to do something VERY unique and special for the participants…
These two international authors and transformational and turnaround experts will share their extensive research on mind-science technologies.
They will not only arm you with a unique skill-set that will allow you to finally cross the threshold of greatness but, more importantly, it could turn you into a sought-after expert simply because…
You’ll walk away with not one but TWO industry recognised accreditations that will enable you to turn this exciting newfound skill-set into a lucrative career!
Read MoreJust what the doctor ordered…
The reason you are not as successful in your business as you want to be is probably because you are a schizophrenic…
Whoa! What am I talking about?!
I know, this post may tick some people off… but, chances are, it’s exactly what you need to hear to make your business more successful.
So, am I suggesting that you are mentally imbalanced or even dangerous?
Of course not! But, if you’re a business owner who has several different personalities you will struggle in your business. In fact, this could be the reason why you’re still stuck in your business…
Read More3 Easy Tips To Help You Write More Effectively… And Persuasively!
Nothing is more difficult or frustrating than staring at a blank screen or a blank page without knowing where to start. It can be annoying, disappointing and time consuming!
How do you catch and hold the reader’s attention? How do you explore your topic or subject so it’s interesting and motivating for the reader? Where do you start?
Whether it’s writing a simple email, sales letter or an important memo, the quicker you finish the sooner you can move on to your other important tasks.
Today, I share a handful of simple yet effective ideas that help me write killer copy for my copywriting clients… It should help you write easier, faster and more persuasively!
Read MoreCareful… you may have missed your checkpoint!
One of the most common factors keeping people from really succeeding in business is setting UNmanageable goals.
How many times have you set a goal that was never achieved? Where would you be today had you achieved all your major and important goals in your business?
If the “smart” formula never quite produces the results you want…
…then the “NBA secret” you learn about in today’s post could give you just what you need to be able to achieve your wild and ambitious goals with less effort… and more certainty!
Read MoreNeed a quick work-life balance fix?
It’s hard to achieve work-life balance when your business requires you to do more, faster and with less help… Yet, if you want to be truly productive and effective in your business, you need to recharge your batteries and restore balance in your life. Here are some practical ideas:
- Always transition to a nonworking mindset. It’s important that you mentally “close the business door” at the end of the day. Don’t take your work home and don’t share your personal issues with clients.
- Go for a run… or simply take a walk. Taking a walk after work will help you to reset your mind and get ready to spend time with your family.
- Change your clothes. When you are with your family you need to stop thinking like a business owner and start thinking like a mum, dad or a partner. Changing your clothes can be an easy way of making the transition.
- Keep ‘work-talk’ short. Spend a few minutes of “how was your day” sharing with your spouse and kids, but don’t over do it. One way of having a successful business is to maintain a balanced life. Your work is important and so is your life.
- Use voicemail. When it’s ‘family time’ or ‘me time’ don’t answer the phone. Turn your voicemail on, and let it take your calls. For this to work you need to have a professionally recorded message. And, don’t forget to return customer calls promptly.
As Lao Tzu once said: “In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.”
New Year’s resolution to improve your results in 2010…
A New Year is the best time for breaking old habits and making a fresh start. Albert Einstein said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. So, if you were not happy with some of the results you produced in 2009 then it makes sense to change your approach for next year.
Peak performance experts agree that the way you move and use your body affects how you feel. And, as you know, your thoughts and feelings ultimately shape your actions/behaviour. Part of your New Year’s resolution could be for you to work on improving your PHYSIOLOGY in 2010. That’s especially important if you do a lot of sitting down at your desk or computer as maintaining a proper posture is critical to improving your productivity and results.
Setting income goals for a new year is obviously important but so are goals to improve your health/general well being. That’s why you need to maintain optimal physiology, since bad physiology will affect your performance and results in 2010.
Recently, I came across Cornell University Ergonomics Web website that deals with an interesting subject they call ‘ergotecture’ – it’s what you do to improve your productivity, comfort and health when sitting down…
Marianne Williamson or Nelson Mandella?
Aah… the power of words. Well chosen words have the magic power to induce someone to laugh, to cry, to be kind, to be loving, to be cooperative, or to BUY.
Words have the magic power to change thoughts, emotions, and experiences. They have the power to crush or to heal, to break bones, or to persuade. If your business communications ain’t motivating enough people to action – chances are that you’re not using words that sell.
That’s why quotations are so powerful. We call them quotes or words of wisdom simply because they are highly-concentrated insights that can instantly touch you on a deeper emotional level, stretch your thinking, explode your paradigm and charge you to action. Powerful.
Here’s one that should motivate you to set higher goals for yourself. Apparently it comes from Marianne Williamson’s book A Return to Love, though often quoted as part of Nelson Mandela’s moving and inspiring inaugural speech – “Our Deepest Fear” he delivered back in 1994…
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.We ask ourselves:Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won’t feel insecure around you.We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.It’s not just in some of us;
It’s in everyone.And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we’re liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
WOW! How powerful was that. If you’re like me it has probably touched you on so many levels.
Quotations can give you inspiration … motivation … or a fresh perspective – instantly.
If you’re looking to add some powerful quotations to your personal collection or want to start one from scratch, you should appreciate Words Of Wisdom. It’s a special collection of powerful quotations from the greats like World’s #1 Peak Performance Coach, Anthony Robbins, World’s TOP Sales Trainer, Brian Tracy and World’s Greatest Thinker, Albert Einstein and Australia’s #1 Exponential Growth Strategist, Dr Marc Dussault.
They are not just any quotations but some of their BIGGEST, MOST INSIGHTFUL lessons, breakthroughs and epiphanies they had during their lifetime – imagine what you could learn form these super-achievers!
You can learn more here – Words Of Wisdom.
Enjoy and profit!
Use procrastination to your advantage…
Procrastination is a good thing. You need to procrastinate to achieve your goals.
Of course, you have a problem when you start procrastinating on the things that could really make a difference in your life. The key is to understand what you should procrastinate on.
So, trying to cure yourself out of procrastination is not necessarily a good thing. You need to be a procrastinator to be successful. You just need to know WHAT you should AND shouldn’t procrastinate on.
My dog is the biggest procrastinator of all – but she is smart procrastinator. She will ignore me for hours, but she will bark, dance and start playing with me when she knows it’s her time to go for a walk. She knows when to procrastinate and when to stop. Perhaps a funny story but… do YOU know when to stop procrastinating?
Here’s a question…
What do you call a person who procrastinates with the things he must do? A DUMB procrastinator! Make sure that you are not a D-procrastinator.
Over the years I have learned some smart strategies that help me complete my copywriting projects on time and on budget for clients.
The first one is pretty obvious but perhaps your execution of it may need some work…
Chunk things down. Yes, you’ve probably heard this one a million times. But, stop and think about what it really means…
If you feel that your project is BIGGER than you then naturally procrastination will feel like your only ESCAPE from the big hairy monster! Solution? You need to increase your confidence levels by making your project/task MORE manageable (read: smaller). How? Simply divide your big scary task into five, ten or more MINI-tasks. Sounds easy.
Now here’s what you do next…
Pick the one you know will take you only 5 minutes to do. Then do it immediately. Once it’s complete put a big tick next to it. Notice how it makes you feel inside. It feels gooood, right? You’re kidding? It feels AWESOME because now your ‘to do’ list is getting a bit less intimidating.
I have a big chocolate box right next to my desk. And, when I complete a dreaded task – here comes my reward. Yum – works like magic!
What’s the lesson? If you are my client and want me to finish your copywriting projects on time and on budget, make sure you get me a nice box of chocolates. Swiss chocolate is my favourite! Just kidding.
The lesson is that as soon as you force yourself to do something you didn’t want to do at first, you need to reward yourself once it’s completed. OK, I don’t reward myself every time I complete a mini-task. Otherwise my blood sugar would shoot through the roof. But you need to understand how to pick up and maintain your momentum until the project is truly complete.
Here’s another useful tip…
Use reminders. Reminders will help you understand what necessary adjustments you need to make to stay on the right track and finish your project on time. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? It’s not. It requires persistence to one, develop a HABIT of using reminders and, two, you need discipline to keep using reminders strategically throughout the week.
It can be as simple as sending yourself an email or sticking a post-it note on your bathroom’s mirror reminding yourself of something you must do that day. Be creative. Use whatever works for you.
And, don’t forget this little secret all high-achievers use to produce jaw-dropping, extraordinary results…
Work during your peak-performance hours. You need to identify when you are MOST productive during a day. You know, the time of the day when you’re fully alert, focused and beaming with energy. Schedule your most important tasks for that time.
A tip… always allocate a specific amount of time to your tasks and STOP when that time is up. That will help you stay focused, motivated, and give you something to look forward to. You know what that “something” is right? A REWARD.
Keep in mind that the sooner you finish your task or project, the sooner you get to play. The sooner you finish, the sooner you can spend time with your family, go fishing, watch your favourite channel or just kick back.
You need to reward that kind of behaviour in yourself that you want to see more of in the future. Give it a go and have fun!
Work LESS and Earn MORE!
In his book, The Effective Executive, Peter Drucker argues that we should focus on what really makes a difference. Otherwise, you’ll fill your time with motion rather than proceeding towards results.
During a typical week, are you PRODUCTIVE or just ACTIVE? If it’s the latter, you need to identify and then focus on your KEY results areas. Simply ask yourself:
- What are the 3-5 KEY RESULTS AREAS I must focus on, on an ongoing basis to produce the success I want in my business?
- What 20 percent of my business activities yield 80 percent of the profits/results?
If you want to be effective, you need to free up as many hours each day as possible from your busy schedule, so you can focus on your high-value activities. Chances are that producing advertising copy or sales copy is not the best use of your time or energy. There are probably other, more important KEY RESULT AREAS you must focus on to have a successful business.
Goethe said, “The things that matter most, must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.” Interesting…
So, try to figure out what the key result areas in your business are and focus on them.
Speaking of productivity, and IF you’re a voracious reader, perhaps you should consider going on an information diet. It should help clear the massive overwhelm that you may be under right now.
I make it a habit of asking a very simple question BEFORE reading anything…
That question alone frees +/- 7 hours of my time per week, improves my results and gives me the ability to spend more time with my family. Would you like to know what it is? Simply this: “Will I definitely use this information to take immediate next steps towards the attainment of my goals?” Stop getting ready for success, start making things happen. If in doubt, this question should help.
Stop collecting and start producing!
Want to know the one powerful idea that could catapult your business to the next level almost immediately? You may be surprised, but it’s a no-brainer really…
It’s an idea that you take ACTION on. Of course, not every idea guarantees success, but here’s the thing…
If you’ve been in business for a while then you probably have one. We all do. It’s called an ‘ideas folder’ or a ‘swipe file’ or a ‘will take action on someday’ folder. No matter. What’s important is that (somehow) life always seems to get in the way… and all those golden ideas are soon forgotten.
Thing is that unless you develop a HABIT of taking immediate action, nothing will change in your business for the better. You’ll keep working the same amount of hours day after day and keep producing the same mediocre results. And, you know that that’s exactly what keeps you angry and frustrated in your business. So what can you do about that?
Try this for a change -
The next time you stumble across a cool idea, DO something with it. Here’s how:
1) Define the end goal. What are you trying to achieve with that idea? Be specific. Are you trying to drive more subscribers to your website? Do you want to lift the response rate? Do you want to increase your income by X percent?
2) Put a $ figure next to it. How much will that idea be worth to your business’ bottom line once it’s properly implemented. Whatever the figure, it needs to inspire and motivate you. If it doesn’t, then perhaps you need to set BIGGER goals that will.
3) Build momentum. Instead of planning every step of the way, simply decide what 3 critical steps you need to take to start moving in the right direction. Then take the first step immediately (meaning N-O-W), and schedule in the other two steps – one that you will do tomorrow, and the other you will do on the third day. That is important. You need to strike while the iron is hot – start taking action BEFORE life gets in your way again.
Keep in mind that ideas alone don’t produce results. Only ACTION can. Just a Fraction Of Action™ can get you almost anything you want as long as you keep doing it often enough.
You could read the best books, attend expensive seminars and listen to cutting-edge audio programs and still keep producing the same kind of results you’re producing right now unless you do one thing: TAKE ACTION. Take enough action to build momentum, and then watch what happens.