January 6, 2009

How to Spot Success Instantly... Solving Problems to Get
Results and Attention... Why Resolutions Fail... Web Site Dos
and Don'ts for Info Marketers... and More.

Over the years, I've met too many entrepreneurs to count. I've crossed paths with hundreds, if not more. Many had found small successes, some were still struggling and a few had become multi-millionaires.

I really enjoy hearing their stories. I want to know how they got where they are today and I always take the time to get the full story.

Now, I can't claim to be able to always spot successful people right away, but I'm getting pretty good at it.

You see, I've met entrepreneurs in expensive suits who are struggling to get by day after day. And I've met those business experts who look like they just rolled out of bed, but who are worth millions of dollars.

So, it's not looks or clothing that signifies successful people. It's not their car, or anything you can buy actually.

I've also learned that it's not how they talk. Some of the most successful people I've met are completely introverted. They are quiet and you could even call them "shy."

To spot successful people, it takes a keen eye for something you may not notice now. But, once you start to see it, you can almost spot a successful person as soon as they start talking.

Like I said, it isn't a tone of voice or boastful presence. It's more of an outlook on life. It's a sense of experience that you can hear. It's like every word they speak tells you of their successes, their failures, and their courage to face challenges.

Successful people never talk about what they can't do, because they believe -- truly believe -- that they can do just about anything.

While many factors can affect your success or failure in a business venture, your outlook on life is one factor you can control. You can look at the possibility of failure as a deterrent. You can see the reasons why you shouldn't leap into a new opportunity. But, until you learn to identify these negative views and turn them into positives, you're only holding yourself back.

A new year is often considered a new start for many people. Before you do anything big in 2010, I suggest learning how to always have a positive outlook on opportunities. Whether they are a success or failure is something you can't predict. But you can face every challenge like you're already a winner. Try it today.

Being able to solve a problem effectively is important in your career and is especially significant for someone who runs their own business. A sole proprietor can only rely on themselves, so if you are running the show on your own, you need to be able to face problems and get results on your own. Problem-solvers are also highly sought after by companies because they can make a difference to the bottom line.

If you can't deal with problems effectively, you're not going to have much success in life, and it all starts with your ability to deal with pressure and stress.

This is the first step of problem-solving; accepting that there will be problems here and there and remaining calm in the face of adversity. If you crumble under pressure, then you're not going to see the results you want. But if you are able to make decisions calmly and create a plan of attack, you will find that problem-solving is a lot easier than you think.

Remaining calm is of the utmost importance in this process. You're going to hit bumps in the road in business, no matter what it is that you do. Accept it, and get down to dealing with the problem.

Don't allow yourself to get overwhelmed and overly stressed. You might find yourself in a pressure-filled situation from time to time, but know that you are in the position you are for a reason; because you deserve it and are qualified and skilled. Move past the stress and pressure and begin to think clearly.

If you're going to solve a problem, you need to know exactly what the problem is. It sounds silly to say so, but if you rush decisions and don't approach a situation calmly, you may not realize what the actual problem is.

It's more complicated than just seeing a problem. There are many types of problems that you will encounter, so you have to know how to separate the serious ones from those that are easily fixed. This goes back to keeping calm and making a clear assessment.

Is this a creative problem? A managerial problem? A human resources problem? Is it a problem with a particular employee? A strategic problem? Is it the way you are running your business or how a department within the company you work for is being run? An organizational problem? A financial problem? The list goes on.

Getting to the source of the issue is half the battle. You might find that something really isn't a problem after all -- maybe an idea or a strategy just needs time to work itself out.

Start the problem-solving process by brainstorming ideas and evaluating each potential solution, and then formulate your plan of attack. Decide what resources you need and where you must put together steps to execute this idea and solve your problem.

Every problem has a solution and, with a plan of attack, you can solve your problem quickly, efficiently and with as little stress as possible.

Well, it's the sixth day of the New Year. Some of us have been trying hard to keep up with the resolutions we've made, some are moving forward without problems and some of us have likely already thrown in the towel. If you've kept up with your resolution so far this year, good for you. Keep at it. If you've had trouble, there's still time to get back on track.

The reason why we fail to stick to our resolutions so often is because we approach them with a negative attitude. We focus more on what we don't want to do, instead of focusing on what we do want. We deny ourselves things we don't want instead of embracing things we do.

Many people have resolutions about making more money in the upcoming year. That is quite positive. However, the methods in which they try to attain it may be negative. For example, they will say they will stop spending so much at restaurants, they won't make as many impulse buys or they'll refuse more invitations to go out. As you can see, the key words in their actions are all negative: stop, won't and refuse. They've set themselves up for failure right off the bat. By focusing your energy on doing something rather than not doing something, it's much easier to stay positive and achieve your resolutions.

Here are a few positive ways you can grow your money and improve your financial situation in 2010 and beyond.

One of the best ways to get started in your quest for financial improvement in 2010 is to take control of your finances. Realize that you have the power to achieve your financial goals, and come up with the best ways to achieve them. Contact a financial advisor or credit counselor and come up with a workable plan that lets you set and achieve your various financial goals. Don't be ashamed of asking for help from a qualified planner. They can help you put together a realistic budget and put together a great picture of your financial situation and the possibilities that exist.

Once you've taken stock of your financial situation, start working on attaining your goals. If you are carrying debt, make it a top priority to pay it off as fervently as possible. Set up
monthly goals and take the initiative to pay off your most expensive (highest interest) debt first, thus saving you more money in the long run. You can also look at options such as debt consolidation that will make keeping track of debts easier, and possibly offering a lower overall interest rate.

Also, talk to your bank about making automated payments towards your debt, so you don't miss payments or spend somewhere else. Doing this can help substantially with debt reduction.

If you want to improve your financial situation in 2010, keep a positive attitude and work for it. Know that things may get a bit tight for a while, but by keeping at it and staying confident, your situation will improve in time. After all, sometimes it takes a little pain to make big gains!

** Web Site Dos and Don'ts for Info Marketers
By James Burt, Online Marketing Expert

Web site creation is essential for most any business today. The good news is that it can be pretty exciting. There's a good chance you've already made one or had one made for you. If you are creatively minded, building a web site, especially for your own business, can be a great outlet to really show the online audience what you have to offer in a fun, visual medium.

In info marketing, creating a web site doesn't require as much as you may think. You don't need a lot of flashy videos or detailed graphics. You just need a nice layout that is easy to navigate, some excellent content, and pitches for your products. That's it. Keeping things simple in almost all areas of your business is how you could make money and keep your sanity at the same time.

Creating a web site is one thing, but maintaining it is quite another. A lot of people don't realize how important it is to have strong web site presence and to continually update your content. I have seen a few entrepreneurs get pretty zealous when it came to creating their web sites without having any control of what material or when they post it online.

Web site updates are something you can often handle on your own for your information marketing business. Once you get a little discipline, find out what is necessary to post, and, above all, when to post it, you will never have problems doing proper updates for your web site.

Here are some of the best things I have learned about updating your web site for info marketing businesses:

--- Watch what you post: I learned a lot of from this kind of publishing, both from my former employers and my experience at e-Wealth Daily. In each case, the boss was always particular to what went online. At first, I thought they were being far too reserved about their choices. But later I realized their methodology: if you post everything you have, there will be no demand for anyone to pay for your information. In the end, it's best to just update your web site with select, current information or news. Don't post any of your prize info content or things that would be the most valuable to your clients. Save that for the sales portion!

--- Follow a schedule: An old colleague commented that he hated seeing people who create blogs and do not update them on any sort of set schedule. He was right. If you're going to create a blog or web site in which there are things that change or there are new developments related to your business -- e.g. new information about your info subject -- you keep it updated on a regular basis. It's best to create a schedule of when you are going to update your web site. Stick to it religiously, even if you are unsure of what news to post on your homepage or there isn't a lot of action going on in your info marketing subject. An update, no matter how brief, will show people that you are still operating and still working to provide your service with maximum interest.

--- Know what must be regularly updated: If you've been to the e-Wealth Daily web site or any other business in operation these days, you will see that the homepage changes almost daily. There is news right on the homepage, plus new product info, and all of the articles are archived chronologically. This is something I feel is key and something worth doing yourself. Regularly update the thing people will see when they first go to your site -- your homepage -- and archive everything in an organized fashion. Again, stick to this updating process religiously. It will make life easy for your clients and they will develop a good professional relationship through what they come to expect from you.

--- Don't fear change: I am not big on this, as I think a good web site layout is like a company logo; it can last a long time. But every once in a blue moon, a big company like PepsiCo or Marvel Comics changes their logo/image ever so slightly. If it works for them, it might work for you, too. I would suggest keeping an eye out for online trends to see what new layouts exist and make visual changes to your site accordingly. A lot of brands and publishers update their web site to whatever current online trends exist, but that is the nature of their business. They have to be fashionable all the time. You don't. Treat your web site like your home and only change its appearance when you think it's time for a change and have the cash to do so.

The Internet is still exciting with new technological changes happening all of the time. But some people forget that the 'Net is not necessary a flavor-of-the month arena where people create a web site, have some fun with it, and then let it die out. It's a lot like a main street in a town or city where businesses want to establish themselves for a long time. Treat your web site like your own info marketing online shop. Keep it thriving and always make the necessary, scheduled changes to show the world the best you have to offer time and again.