Thursday, September 6, 2007
Copyright 2006 Dr. Eileen Silva
"Conference calls are too expensive." "I don't have the money to attend the conference." "I can't afford to advertise." "I'm not making the money John (or whoever) is making, so I'm not able to do X, Y, Z."
I've heard a lot of these comments during my twenty plus years in the business. Interestingly, most of them have been second-hand reports from other distributors, not in-person comments from the speaker. There seems to be a poverty-consciousness in some circles that fosters poverty-thinking through language rather than reality.
We are all guilty of it occasionally, and it actually gives us an easy way to prevent excessive spending on frivolous things. I have routinely said I couldn't afford something that I simply did not want to spend the money on: a hotel suite, when a room would do, or another diamond necklace, when I already have several.
My understanding of poverty-consciousness goes back to my days as a high school teacher almost thirty years ago. I coined a phrase then, based on observation: "You show me a kid with a $100-a-day drug habit, and I'll show you a kid who learns how to make $100 a day."
Properly motivated people skip the limits on production. For example, mothers have been known to single-handedly lift cars when their child was pinned beneath the wheels.
After noticing that even kids could come up with cash for whatever they wanted, almost without fail, I concluded that when people in America say they can't afford something, what they really mean is that you have not yet convinced them that they should part with their money for the object in question.
You're probably wondering how there's a logical connection, and then a moral to the story, between a desperate rescuing mother or a teenager "needing" a fix, and you. Here it is! When you begin to focus on "why," you want to develop your business, and it becomes sufficiently compelling to get you past the normal objections of a skeptical distributor (like those three poverty mentality opening statements I quoted), then you will begin to creatively work around them. Then, you CAN and WILL succeed in this business!
Just use other resources to overcome your deficit. For example: PROBLEM: "I don't have money for conference calls." SOLUTION: 1) Use a free conference line or realize that the calls cost just a few dollars monthly, but they will generate sales. One sale will more than pay for the month's phone bill; 2) Have your sponsor conference you in; 3) Obtain a tape of the calls.
PROBLEM: "I don't have the money to attend the conference." SOLUTION: 1) Share a room to minimize expenses; 2) Earn extra money in advance by "thinking increase;" 3) Plan income-expanding business activities in conjunction with the conference.
PROBLEM: "I can't afford to advertise." SOLUTION: 1) Co-op with downline; 2) Use flyers and inexpensive mediums, like emails; 3) "Trade" advertising for product or services.
Remember: "Thoughts are things." When say you can't afford things, you are perpetuating your condition. Why not shift your perspective away from the poverty-mentality to a more empowering position? You will discover that you attract a lot more business. In this business, the law of attraction influences success. Become a confident businessperson, and great things will begin to happen.
Remember that old expression, "The best things in life are free," because it still has merit. I received an unexpected call last night for a $350 retail order from a friend of someone who had met me two years ago and had recently shared with the caller about a product I had. His kind words didn't cost me a dime, yet they generated me a 40% profit on the order.
Since you can do, be and have anything in life you really take a stand for, you are --- after all --- very rich in opportunity.
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Eileen Silva, Ph.D., N.D. is a metabolic health balancing expert, talk show guest, and lecturer. Dr. Silva is also an individual, group, and corporate weight management consultant. Contact Dr. Silva at http://www.easilymakingmoney.com
7 Steps to the perfect Media Interview
Copyright 2006 John Jantsch
So, what happens when all of your PR activity actually prompts a reporter to call for an interview? Getting the interview is only one-half of the deal. Follow the steps below, and you are more likely to turn your interview into a powerful marketing tool.
Set Goals for the Interview
When a reporter calls to schedule an interview, either by phone or in person, ask a couple of innocent questions. Find out the nature of the story, who is the audience, when it is expected to run. The answers to these questions will help you better prepare your responses.
Never Wing It
The primary point of almost any interview you will be asked to give is to get your company's core message communicated in a compelling manner.
To do this in the context of an interview, you should script very quotable core message sound bites, no more than 20 seconds or so in length, and be prepared to deliver them word for word at the appropriate time.
Break the Ice
When a reporter that you may not know calls to interview you, there is often a bit of a control issue. The reporter is asking all the questions, so he/she is in control. You actually want to wrestle some of this away right up front. Think about this like you would a sales call. In order for you to get your message told, you may need to interject it into the discussion.
I find that asking a couple of ice-breaking questions can be a great way to settle your nerves and open up the reporter. My favorite questions are to ask the reporter where they are from or what brought them to this specific publication. Establishing a little personal ground seems to make everyone a little more relaxed.
Redirect
Sometimes a reporter just won't get what you are trying to communicate. Or worse, he/she seems to want to talk about everything but the key points you are trying to communicate. It's not that the reporter is intentionally being difficult, most of the time it is because he/she may not really know much about your industry. In these cases you need to have a few redirecting phrases that allow you to answer his/her questions with your answers.
Here are a few phrases that work wonders: What's important to consider in this case, though . . . Let me make that more relevant for your readers . . . What we can take from that point is . . . That's a good example, but I think you'd also be interested in knowing . . .
The key to redirecting a question from a journalist, of course, is to have a plan and preset answers. Then all you have to do is be alert for the proper way to direct the journalist to your message.
Don't Panic
Sometimes you will get a question for which you don't have an answer. Don't panic and don't make up an answer. Simply tell the journalist that you don't know the answer, but promise to get it. This can give you a great excuse to follow up with a reporter. Oftentimes you remember some other point you wished you had made and you can add during a follow-up call.
One Last Thing
I find that it's good to get the last word. Many journalists have been schooled to finish an interview with an open-ended question like, "is there anything else you'd like our readers to know about . . ."
This is a great sound bite opportunity, and you should always have a prepared comment that is very powerful.
Even if the reporter doesn't ask, you should interject your last statement, "You know, there's one more thing I'd like to point out."
Prepare a Takeaway
Make it as easy as you can for the journalist to get the facts and figures right. Prepare some sort of takeaway that will help your story and make sure that all your contact information, including web sites and other places to find more information, is included. If the interview is via phone, you can email or fax the takeaway.
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John Jantsch is a marketing coach, author and creator of the Duct Tape Marketing System. You can get more information about the Duct Tape System and download your free copy of "How To Grow Your Small Business Like Crazy by visiting http://www.ducttapemarketing.com
Small Business Startup Loans - Transforms Dream of Owning a Business into Reality
Nobody loves being ruled by someone else. Each one of us wishes to rule others and become a boss. But, it is not easy. Entrepreneurial skills matched with adequate capital works towards the success of the business.
Lack of adequate capital is what stops most of us from realizing our dreams. There is good news for all those who want to start up their own business; now they can borrow small business start up loans to meet their funds need.
Desire to win is what makes the difference. Opportunities are unlimited; what you need is to find one. There is never lack of opportunity, but lack of information about the opportunities available is what becomes a hurdle in the path of success.
Small business start up loan opens up opportunities for the UK residents to translate dreams into actuality.
Starting a business even at small scale requires huge sum of money. Usually, a person relies on his savings to meet cash requirements, which is not advisable. Savings should not be put at stake. One can use them to meet some future contingency. Some people prefer to borrow money from friends or family members, which may be an embarrassing phase for them. Small business start up loan can give you the funds you need and that too at low cost.
Amount you can borrow through small business loan will depend on the lender you decide to borrow from and your credit rating. Usually, small business startup loan provider offers loan for any amount ranging from £10,000 to £500,000. Small business startup loans are offered for 1 to 25 years. The loans are available in two forms - secured and unsecured small business start loan. To borrow a secured business loan a borrower has to put his collateral as a security against the loan. While, opposite is the case for unsecured loans, a borrower is not required to put any security against the loan and thus carry a higher rate of interest.
There are various lenders who can offer small business start up loan. Traditional lenders can offer you this loan, but it involves a lengthy process. A borrower has to personally approach these lenders and submit their loan application form by standing in the long queues. The whole loan process involves a lot of paper work and stress. However, there is one alternative option available to borrow money which makes the whole loan borrowing process fast and simple. Yes, I am talking about online lenders. Now, you can apply for an online loan which just involves filling up of online application form and that's it. It gives you freedom from all the paper work and tensions involved in borrowing from traditional lenders. Collect loan quotes from all the lenders and compare them on the basis of loan term and fees charged by the lender. It will help you find the best and cheap small business startup loan.
Lenders while lending small business startup loan keep few points in consideration. Foremost thing, they check the credit rating of the borrower. In case, you don't know what your credit score is, you can get it evaluated by any of the recognized credit rating agencies. If your credit score is above 650, then relax, you will get over flooded by best loan offers from several lenders. But, if your credit score is below 620 then there can be trouble for you, you may have problem in borrowing the small business loan. The best way is to work on your credit score, try to improve it by paying the old debts and due payments. Better the credit score higher is the possibility of getting a small business start up loan at cheap rates and that too very quickly.
One more aspect lenders keep into consideration is a borrower's business plan and its feasibility. A business plan must be formed by doing thorough market research, ensure that all the key areas are covered in the business plan, focus on the opportunity and make sure to give description about the risk involved in the business such as competitors. A comprehensive business plan made with thorough research will make it easier for you to borrow a small business startup loan at better rates.
Starting up a new business is not an easy task. An individual needs to have the passion to achieve success, dedication and adequate finance to prove his capability. Small business start up loan can work as an important source of finance for people who desire to win and want to make a mark in the world of business.
Michael T. Brian is the author of this article. He is Masters in Business Administration and expert in finance.
He writes about various finance related topics. To find Business loan bad credit , small business loans UK,
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http://www.find-business-loans.co.uk
