March 1, 2010

When to Hire an Expert... How to Regain the Energy That Got
You Started... Trying to Spend Our Way Out of a Mess?... Get
Excited About These Active Info Marketing Products... and More.

During the infancy of a new business, you are a jack of all trades.

You will be doing the sales, marketing, operations, ordering, accounting, billing, human resources, IT, and a host of other duties that you will have to get a handle on to make sure your business gets off on the right foot with the limited financial resources you have.

The great thing is that you learn a lot about all aspects of running a business, especially if you're taking a passionate hobby and going full throttle towards a viable, profitable business.

And, hopefully, after a lot of blood, sweat and tears, you finally start to see some returns for your efforts in the form of profits. And it's at this point in the business cycle that you should think of hiring some experts to help you out.

Now, the one obstacle that most hard working entrepreneurs who single-handedly build a business need to overcome is the "I-can-do-this-myself" obstacle. It's a tough one, because you feel that you've gotten to this point all by yourself, so you don't need anyone to help you get to the next level.

But the fact is that there are people out there who have the expertise and experience to not only take over some of the day- to-day that you've been doing to free up more of your time, but also provide a different perspective that will hopefully grow your business.

Some experts, like lawyers, have to be hired, because the law states that some parts of your business need to go through a licensed legal professional. But there aren't any regulations stating you have to hire a marketing person or an experienced salesperson.

But, by surrounding yourself with people who know more about specific aspects of your business will not only add another dimension to your business, but also free up your time to focus on your strengths within your business.

So where do you find experts to help you? And how do you convince these people to work for you? I'll address these challenges in my next message to you.

The cold weather and shorter days of winter can sure suck the energy right out of you. We've all been there. Some days you feel your energy start to fade and the motivation to keep working towards your goals gets harder to sustain. Maybe this happens after a few too many challenges spring up in your way. Or maybe you just aren't that excited about achieving your goals anymore. Or maybe it's just the weather.

Now, this isn't the time to throw in the towel. There are plenty of reasons why you don't feel as energetic as you once did. There are numerous distractions when it comes to running your own business or reaching a personal goal. And these distractions can all take away from the energy and zeal you once had.

The good news is: getting back this energy is very possible and not very hard to do.

All it can take is just a few simple steps that can help you identify your strongest motivators and integrate them into your daily routine:

1) Know your motivations. What is it that first brought out energy bursts every time you did that action or had that thought? Is it your friends and family? Is it a singular personal or financial goal? Whatever it may be, you should identify your motivating thought and clearly define it.

2) Identify major distractions. With bills to pay, sales to make, people to contact and everything else that goes into making more money, you're going to have countless distractions at all times. Some of these are bigger than others and your goal here isn't to list what stands in your way; it is to understand how these distractions take away from your motivation. Some can bring on thoughts of self-doubt and concern, while others are simply speed bumps that can't be avoided.

3) Focus on your motivation. Now that you've identified both your motivations and your distractions, it's time to put them together. Focus on the motivations that bring out your energy in times of stress. Even something as simple as developing a personal mantra such as, "I'm doing this for..." can help you see beyond the doubt and focus on your goals.

Let me ask you a couple of questions: are people who only buy items at sale prices smart with their money? Are people who generally avoid shopping really that good with their money?

Of course, the less often you are in a shopping mall or the more items you buy in sale, the less susceptible you are to spend. After all, you're either eliminating the temptation to buy or you're spending less when you do buy.

With regards to question number one, I have another question: how the heck can you save money by spending it? Even if you're able to pick up a new TV for $800 when it usually goes for $1,500, you're still spending $800. Sure, you may be paying $700 less than you would've a week or two earlier, but you're not actually saving; you're just spending less. To me, saving means saving, as in the money is sitting in the bank, a shoebox or the safe, doing nothing at all.

I think part of our country's debt issues are tied to the fact that we view spending on sale items as saving. In times like this, we need to change our mentality when it comes to saving. Basically, we have to embrace saving for what it really is: not spending. These days, we're being bombarded with "deals," as businesses do their best to get us to buy their new spring fashion line, fuel-efficient vehicle, or HDTV. Try to keep in mind that, at the end of the day, no matter how much less you may be spending, you'll still be setting yourself back in a time when cash is in short supply and any expense is magnified drastically.

Many people pride themselves on avoiding regular trips to the shopping mall and limiting their regular spending. However, just because they are not spending regularly on new items, doesn't mean they aren't likely to splurge from time to time, taking a trip to the mall and blowing a large amount of cash at once. They are able to justify it to themselves because they may not be regular shoppers; but, in the end, they are spending the same amount of cash as someone who is.

The best way to remedy this situation is to take stock of your needs and wants. People who splurge usually spend on things they want, rather than what they need. Sure, they may have all the toys, but they may be behind on bills or can't put food on the table. If you're one of these people, start asking yourself if you really need the things you're buying, and how your money can be better spent.

** Get Excited About These Active Info Marketing Products
By James Burt, Online Marketing Expert

If you've worked at the desk all day, I am sure you know the feeling: you've been sitting too long, probably eating while you work, and your fingers have been the only things that have been active for hours. You've done good work, but you don't feel quite right.

In plain English, you feel unhealthy. It's one of the only drawbacks of doing this job -- you have to sit a lot and aren't allowed a lot of time to be active. It does add up later. Literally. And you can notice the change if you have neglected it.

A guy I knew who was a truck driver would often go for runs when he took breaks at rest stops. Another copywriter friend of mine bikes to appointments with his clients. These kinds of lessons teach you to keep active if you're someone who works from a fixed position day in and day out.

All of this leads me to an important point: health information is a great source for information marketing. A lot of people think you have to be a fitness expert or have a degree in nutrition to provide this sort of information. But it's not true. Like the pointers I took from my associates above, good tips and information can help your clients stay in good shape while at work or at play.

The world of health and fitness information marketing is vast. But if you're looking to get started, I would suggest the following topics to help you get started:

--- Exercise: Like I said above, sitting at your desk really helps you pack on the weight. Some people spend so much time working that they not only get bigger, but they also do not come into contact with information they could use to help them improve their regular fitness routines. This is something you can provide people, well, like me. Starting a good exercise info web site or newsletter is helpful to all of the general public. I'm talking everything from running and weight-lifting info to other physical activities like power-walking, swimming, and rock climbing. You can include info on exercise techniques, routines, and good places for readers to seek out their favorite activities.

--- Exercise products: I kept this topic separate from the above as it deserves some special consideration. I learned about this after years of running. I love running long distance, but now my left knee is starting to give me trouble. I know why, too -- not using the correct footwear, running on harsh surfaces, not warming up. Now I have a brace and correct footwear. Aside from my usual stubbornness in not dealing with the problem sooner, I attribute some of this problem to not having good access to exercise product info. Now I have it. But I could use more. Know about good sneakers? Protective gear for hockey or football? Where the best shops are to buy new and improved sports equipment? I'd be interested to know and so would a lot of others.

--- Health products: If you walk into a modern health food store or even to your local pharmacy, there is probably a good chunk or more of aisle space of herbal supplements, weight- loss drinks, and other health products that are supposed to help keep you trim. Sometimes this stuff can be helpful for the right people; sometimes it cannot. If you're someone who keeps abreast of this kind of information or can relate some personal experience to health products, your info could be very valuable to those seeking some consumptive health products to help them lose weight, supplement their nutrition, or improve their diet. Make sure you get all the info from the company and see what products are designed for what purpose.

--- Sports medicine: A lot of people want to get out and be more active, but cannot due to a health ailment. They have an old injury or defect that prevents them from having both the good health and physical life they crave. But it doesn't have to be this way. Sports medicine and the world health community in general have devoted extensive studies/treatments to assist people who are limited in their own physical activity. Foot doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors...the list goes on and on of people who can help those who need it get active. Are you one of these people? Did you suffer an injury and still manage to get back outside? Know of some medical info that could help others? Get going on some info products...some people really need to know and are willing to compensate you for that info.

Obviously, there are more topics in the world of health info marketing: specialty diets, allergy treatment, activities in specific global locations, etc. But this should be enough to get you going. Health information affects us all and it can be your ticket to another level of information marketing success!