Buzz2Bucks: Master The Mundane

I recently spoke to a group of entrepreneur’s with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in the first part of a MARKETING SERIES. Often, people are seeking a SILVER BULLET to marketing. The key to MARKETING SUCCESS is to master being consistent. Be consistent at eight to ten things and you’ll see great marketing success. The hardest challenge will be in controlling our urges to “create something new or exciting” or “writing that perfect ad” or people who inundate us with more ways to spend our marketing dollars.

Here’s some practical action tools:

1. DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT CLIENT

ACTION: Describe your perfect client in three to four words - ONLY! We all love our businesses however, the challenge is to speak our needs in BULLET POINTS. People will hear us better if we’re specific. That doesn’t mean we cannot service other clients - however, our marketing plan needs to target ONLY ONE - the client that gives us the most pleasure and profit. Write down three to four words RIGHT NOW on who you PERFECT client is.

2. DESCRIBE WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE

ACTION: If we were in college, this is called MARKETING 101. It is answering the WIIFM (what’s in it for me) that everyone has stamped on their forehead. However, here’s the KEY - describe this in one sentence. If you LINGER LONGER here you’ll LOSE them. Nobody thinks you’re that interesting to allow you to go on, and on, and on. While they might grin courteously at you, they have already checked out and are wishing you’ll just HUSH. Speak in sound bites and be heard!

3. MASTER THE 60 SECOND.

This is NOT a “sales manager minute” this is about engaging others in a ways that moves, touches and inspires them to speak positively on your behalf. This is activating a volunteer force which is much more attractive than demanding sales quotas. So, here’s the formula: Your Name; Your USP; Your Story; Your Action Item. All in that order. If you know that and KNOW IT WELL you can craft a quick 10 second; 30 second or 60 second that engages to the point of ACTION.

May you MARKET to ATTRACT and enjoy the ABUNDANCE!

With Excitement & Joy - Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections

*Are you a SMALL BUSINESS OWNER or SOLOPRENEUR? Would you like to be a part of a SUCCESS CIRCLE focused on getting more business and setting up successful offices? Contact coach@buzz2bucks.com

Mastermind Moment: Decide To Deal

A key question a leader can ask at any given moment is, “Do I Have To Deal With This?”

-Jose “ism”

Many times we’re presented with “opportunities” that are often misnamed as “challenges” and there is a CHOICE we are called to make at that time - “Do I Have To Deal With This?”.

As a leader, it is important for us to “slow down” to make that choice instead of whizzing by it and choosing by DEFAULT.

Is this something YOU need to deal with? Are you dealing with it because of HABIT; SOMEONE ELSE’S EXPECTATIONS or CONTROL? Why are you dealing with this?

ACTION: This week SLOW DOWN and make the CHOICE. Do I have to deal with this?

Enjoy Your Week With Excitement & Joy!

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections

“Coaching Leaders To Profit From Their Networks!”

Did you miss what TOP WOMEN IN BUSINESS leaders in the Basin are reading? If you did, go to BECOME A GREAT LEARNER and see what’s ON THEIR NIGHTSTANDS.

Become A Great Learner

Rich people constantly learn and grow.  Poor people think they already know.  You can learn to be great at anything!

Here’s what successful Women In Business have “on their nightstand”!

An Educational Leader:  “You’ve Got To Read This Book” - Jack Canfield

A Business Opportunity Leader:  “Women Who Run With Wolves” -Claria Pinkola

An Association Leader: “Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff” - by Richard & Kristin Carlson

A Team Leader:  “The 21 Most Important Minutes In A Leader’s Day” - John Maxwell

A Publishing Leader:  “Your Best Life Ever” - Joel Olsteen

A Human Resource Leader:  “Maximum Achievement” - Brian Tracy

A Community Leader: “How To Win Friends & Influence People” - Dale Carnegie

A Business Consultant: “The Right Questions” - Debbie Ford

A Network Marketing Leader: “High Trust Selling” - Todd Duncan

A Women’s Group Leader: “The Power of Your Subconcious Mind” -Joseph Murphy

Charlie “Tremendous” Jones said “You become the 5 people you associate with the most and the books you read.”

Happy becoming!

With excitement & joy,

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections

As a thanks for reading this article,  click here and use the password “busy” to get more great info!

Buzz2Bucks: Winning At Words

Words are only 7% of your communication.  The bulk of communication is in body language (38%) and the remaining majority in “tone”.  How are you communicating? In a recent presentation to a Women’s Network, we spoke of the importance of your image and the passion behind your communication.  In a recent meeting of CEO’s that I facilitated, we heard that even your “face” and “hand gestures” communicate volumes!

So, how are your communication skills?  Not sure?  Ask 3 people that you are close to and the BE QUIET and listen.  Too many times, we ask a question and then “fill in the silence” with all the reasons why we’re asking the question and why the answer is important to us.

Now, regarding winning at words - there’s so much to talk about!  Here’s a few ACTION POINTS you can work on now.

1.  So, what are you working on lately?

ACTION:  This is a revealing question and much more conversational then “how ya been?” or “what’s up?”  I can almost continue a conversation that starts that way on my own, “nothing much; been busy; working - what about you?”, “busy too; same old”.  Engage people in conversation by asking a great question and then LISTENING.  Use this statement for a week and see how it fits!

2.  Invite, suggest, recommend

ACTION:  Remove these words from your vocabulary for a week.  No matter how you “disguise” them, these words speak loudly “I know better than you!”.  Who wants to be left feeling like that?!  Try this on for size- “have you ever thought about?” or “I’ve often thought that this might work” or “I was imagining this could be helpful to you, what do you think?”  Phrased in this manner, it leaves them with RESPECT, HONOR and DIGNITY.  Remember, people remember how you make them feel.  They may never remember what you said exactly that “pushed” them away or made them feel “intimidated” but they’ll know that AFTER TASTE of that and will steer clear.  Try this on for one week.

3.  Thanks in advance.

ACTION:  PLEASE get rid of this one permanently!  Or, try for one week and see what you think and then give me some feedback.  This speaks volumes that you don’t care what they think because you’re pretty sure they’ll do it anyway (or your demanding it).  How do you feel when someone removes your power of choice?  Try: If this works for you or is do-able, I would be appreciative.  If you want to know how to engage someone, you make sure they feel valued in the relationship.  When a relationship ceases to be MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL to both people involved, somebody leaves.  Happens in marriages, businesses and friendships!

With excitement & joy!

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections

“Coaching Leaders to Profit From Their Networks!”

Mastermind Moment: Vision

“Our Vision Controls What We See and Don’t See.”

-Bobby”ism”

Our Vision Controls What We See and Don’t See.

This is a quote from executive Charles Koch, but Bobby thought it would be wonderful to share with you today…

“Our vision controls the way we think and, therefore, the way we act . .
The vision we have of our jobs determines what we do and the opportunities we see or don’t see.“ 

 

How we see thing is how they are.  Perception becomes reality.  FEAR becomes REAL.  Did you know that FEAR is an acronym for FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL?   

 

Shift your VISION, by: 

1.  AWARENESS:  Be aware of what is REAL and what is NOT.  Here’s  a  great test for that - ask yourself:  What evidence do I have that this is real?  Write it down and examine the evidence.  Is it FACT or FICTION?

2.  ACCEPTANCE:  Accept and take responsibility for your part in the VISION.

3.  CONSISTENT ACTION:  It takes more than just awareness and acceptance - it is now time to move into action!

 

With Excitement and Joy,

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections

 

Telling Taking Teaching Giving

Telling Taking Teaching Giving

Networking Know How

Your first impression is lasting. People will formulate many ideas about who you are and no matter how hard we fight it - perception is reality. Once a first impression is formulated, it takes 56 other contact times to CHANGE that first impression! It’s a time management nightmare in our time deprived world.

Attending numerous networking events, I witness people who are out there seeking common ground and who have “hit the sales floor.” HOW you network will have a great or grave impact on your first impression. There are some who think networking is about “telling and taking”. “This is what I do blah, blah, blah” or “What I need you to do - blah, blah, blah”. That’s what a TELLER and TAKER sounds like and they have left a BAD first impression even though they are totally clueless to that. True networking is “teaching and giving”.

The newest Coffee House Coach CD - “The 3 P’s of Communication” is NOW available. Click here for the CD version! Or, click here for the MP3 download.

How do you get better at TEACHING AND GIVING?

1. Know The Rules of Engagement

ACTION: Right now, either click here or go to a bookstore or borrow it from the library, read Dale Carnegie’s “How To Win Friends and Influence People.” Read 10 pages every day and you will ground yourself on the rules of engagement. Number ONE of that is knowing there name. If you’re interested in learning how to remember someone’s name, especially at a networking event, where it’s crowded you can find out easily and inexpensively over lunch on Wednesday, November 1st, at the NETWORKING SEMINAR LUNCH & LEARN. For more info, email info@circleofconnections.com or call 978-2009 or if you’re a Midland Chamber of Commerce member, come to the next CHAMBER CONNEXIONS meeting on Tuesday, November 7th (978-2009) for info.

2. Know Your Unique Selling Proposition

What makes you unique? Why do people do business with you? Who is your ideal client?

ACTION: Craft an ideal client description - ONLY 3 to 4 words, MAX! Couple it together with why people do business with you. Remember, you’re not TELLING the whole story here - you’re going for TEACHING not TELLING. Then one sentence on you winning moments. This whole USP and WINNING MOMENT needs to be only 2 sentences in length. If you find a networker who wants to teach you this and takes FORE-V-E-R to get there message out (repeating it over, and over, and over, and over - you get the picture!) then steer clear - they can only teach you what they actually APPLY. For a fast way to learn this, contact coach@buzz2bucks.com or become involved with the Circle of Connections!

3. Know How To Introduce People

Linger longer on how to introduce someone.

ACTION: Become a giver and help make connections for someone. It will help you remember them and it will really help them remember you. Maya Angelou said, “People won’t remember what you did; They won’t remember what you said; But, they will always remember the way you made them feel!”

Go forth and connect!

With Excitement & Joy,

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a The Champion of Connections

Buzz2Bucks: Manage You

To Receive More You Have To Seem Ready For More!

If you appear “too busy” to take on more, someone might REGULATE what you get only because they think they’re helping you or helping their friend from having to wait on you. Clear out your “time clutter” and your “mind clutter” in order to receive more.

How do you create the environment that you are ready to receive more?

ACTION: Create an environment that says to you (your mind) and everyone else that you’re ready to take on more. Utilize thebusyperson 5 action system. For more info on how that works, email coach@buzz2bucks.com and I’ll send you the password to the protected area of this blog and there’ll be some great resources there.

ACTION: Dump the mind clutter and the statement “I’m so busy” out of your conversations. If you’re too busy now, why would anyone send you more?

ACTION: Use other resources to help you organize and de-clutter. Do all this and you’ll be TUNED IN, TAPPED IN and TURNED ON! And, you will be ready to receive more.

With Excitement & Joy,

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections

Mastermind Moment: Time Tells All

Often we hear people say, I value FAMILY, GOD, GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, MY CHILDREN and while those are wonderful “words”, how you SPEND your time reveals what is TRULY important to you. So, do a quick check today. Look at your calendar, daytimer, outlook, PDA, on-line calendar and where are you spending you time? If 80% is spent on work, 10% watching TV, 5% volunteering, 3% on your family, 1% on your health and 1% on God - then THAT is what you REALLY value. Your schedule reveals that you really value: WORK, TELEVISION, VOLUNTEERING, FAMILY a little bit, your health and God even less. The TRUTH is in your calendar.

Pretty heavy conversation to have on a “Monday morning”? However, if you look at your calendar it will reveal all. And, the important note here is that if it is not mirroring the picture YOU want of your life and you continue along this path….then you are in danger of wasting your time and NEVER getting to those things that you SAY matter most.

So, TODAY (why wait for tomorrow? What is more important than those things and people that you SAY matter most??) look at your schedule. Spend 30 minutes jotting down what YOU directly need to be involved in. It’s amazing how we like to CONTROL many things and yet they have literally nothing to do with what we SAY is important. Then schedule those most important things first and delegate, adjust or just plain “get rid of” those things that have nothing to do with the overall picture of YOU.  You can rationalize spending your time on ANYTHING - the key thing to know is that those are “rational LIES”.

Today is NOT a dress rehearsal - it’s life. You’re either wasting it or you’re living it…the choice is yours.

With Excitement & Joy,

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections

Remember Everyone

With The Attitude of Gratitude

Oh no! Someone made a list and didn’t check it twice. A THANK YOU letter in “Letters To the Editor” showed up in Sunday’s paper and this FUNDRAISING organization forgot to thank a sponsor and a fundraising team. Not only did they FORGET that company, they RECOGNIZED their competitor. Sadly, I witnessed as “their cause” was wiped off next year’s budget. Making a list and checking it twice, is sound advice, not just for Santa.
Here’s more FAUX PAS that can literally make you or break you!

1. Not RSVPing. RSVP means “response please” which means YOU must answer (at least if you are wanting to be perceived as professional and/or courteous!). It means you are compelled to respond either YES or NO. Keep mindful of the “date” to RSVP, too. It is usually associated with the need to order food, plan chairs, or to make major SPACE decisions.
2. Referring to a group as ‘BUSINESSMEN’ when clearly there are some BUSINESS WOMEN in the room. Wow! Talk about looking dated, callus, uncaring, chauvinistic, rude basically nothing good! Change your words and you’ll change your life.
3. Saying immediately “this is what you SHOULD do”. Never, never, never “should” on anyone. Better yet, ask questions to what have they considered? What have they tried? Be perceived as professional by being generously valuing someone else.
4. Tone up on your eating manners -they speak volumes without you even saying a word. Chewing loudly, talking with your mouth full, stabbing your food so hard that everyone can hear the fork hit the plate, not using a napkin, pushing your plate away, piling your plates on top of each other, not knowing to place your utensils at 4 o’clock, blowing your nose at the table…all take away from people’s perception of you. And, no matter how much cussing and discussing that’s done on this subject one truth rings clear… perception IS reality.
5. Not being thankful. Expecting that people “should” help you, that you “deserve” it, that you are “owed” it. Like that non-profit….people like to be appreciated and now they’ll seek appreciation elsewhere.

ACTION: How about you? Is there something you need to RSVP for. Are you up to date on how to ENGAGE a crowd as opposed to ENRAGE a crowd? Are you “shoulding” all over the place? Or, are your behaviors distracting everyone from seeing YOU. Take some time to write a note of gratitude to someone who made a difference in your life today. Just one note. If you are being prompted to write to this person, take heed, those promptings mean something.

For more on the attitude of gratitude, visit www.thesecret.tv …it will change your life!

Coaching Leaders To Capitalize on the Profits of Their Connections….

Excitement & Joy,

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections

Buzz2Bucks: Microwaved Relationships

Microwaved Relationships - Instant Gratification

Today our lives are fast paced: instant messages; instant oatmeal; instant connections (through a variety of mediums). As INSTANT as we are, there is still one area that cannot be instant and that’s relationships. Instant is TOO predatory leaving someone feeling used. Are you microwaving your relationships? Let’s find out with 3 key questions!

1. Do you ask for FAVORS before you really know someone?

You may be good at doing the “chit-chat” and giving the customary “tell me more about your business” and then all of the sudden you launch out with something major like “I’m looking for a job and wanting to see if you’ll pass my resume along to your best contacts?” What is that? Go from “hello”; “how are you”; “let’s chat” and then straight to GIVE ME YOUR REPUTATION AND CREDIBILITY?!

Action: Write down the names of people you’ve asked favors from and under their name write down ALL the things that you know about them like: what are their dreams? aspirations? names of their children? biggest challenges? If you don’t know the answers to those, and have asked them a major favor then you’re “on of THOSE instant gratification people!. Stop it! Learn to value people and to do that - you MUST know them!

2. Do you only THINK about people when you need them?

When you need a favor, an item, an introduction, a loan - is that when someone “pops” into your mind? Is the only time they come into your conscious being, when YOU need something? Are the conversations all “me,me,me” or “I,I,I”? Granted there are some EGOcentric people out there however, if that really isn’t your NATURE and you find yourself becoming more and more focused on the end justifying YOUR means - then your endanger of being a “microwaver”!

Action: Think of your last three conversations. Who were they all about? You MIGHT of asked questions however, did you REALLY LISTEN for the answer or did you just throw them out there with the hopes that the other person would “hurry” up and answer and then you could get to the most important stuff - YOUR STUFF. Or maybe, you didn’t even notice that you did that; maybe there wasn’t even malicious thought to “hurry the other person” up; just maybe you’re oblivious to the fact that you are immersed in INSTANT GRATIFICATION. Evaluate your last three conversations and find out!

3. Do you REALLY KNOW people?

How much do you really know the people that you refer to as “close”? Let’s find out.

Action: How many people do you know the following about:

q What do you do when you are not working?

q Where did you go to school? How did you choose that school?

q Where did you grow up and what was it like growing up there?

q What was your high school like?

q What do you enjoy reading when you have time?

q How did you decide to do what you do for a living?

q Tell me something about your family.

q Where is your favorite place to vacation?

q What kind of vacation would you like to take that you have not taken yet?

q What community associations, if any, do you have time to be involved with?

q What sports, if any, do you enjoy participating in?

q What sports do you enjoy watching?

q If you could have tickets for any event, what would it be?

q How did you decide to settle in this area?

q Tell me something about yourself that would surprise me?

q What things would you really want to do more of, but don’t have time for?

q What challenges/issues in your work might I, or my company, be able to help you with?

q What is the most frustrating thing about being in business these days?

q In your opinion, what two or three qualities make a top-notch ..(fill in YOUR profession)?

q If all work paid the same and you could go around again, what would you do?

If you don’t know all these things about at least ONE PERSON, chances are that you are MICROWAVING your relationships and you’re fixin’ to get burned!

Remember, when a relationship ceases to be mutually beneficial to BOTH people involved somebody leaves! If you want credibility, then you won’t MICROWAVE relationships.

Like attracts like…what are you attracting?

Coach Maria Elena a/k/a THE Champion of Connections