Tag Archives: Success Institute

Make the Media Your Marketing Machine!

on May 15, 2012 in Marketing, Success Institute, Women & The Media

If you’ve wondered how some news stories ever got on the air, you’re not alone.  If you have, you’ve taken the first step toward doing something about it.

The minute you have a better idea, or think of something else you want to know about the story, you are thinking like a reporter.  And you’re on your way to becoming a source for a media professional, that is if you can explain it in a captivating way.

A credible news story must have an ‘official’ voice, an ‘expert’ opinion or refer to factual data.

Contrary to how it may look when you watch the news or read the headlines, there is a method to the madness. There are actual definitions of what makes ‘news’.  It’s not always about calamity and mayhem.

Believe it or not, reporters want to cover interesting stories.  Those story ideas have to come from somewhere and someone. What information or expertise do you have that reporters need? Are you or your ideas controversial?

The media, like anything else, can be handled IF you know how.  Until you do, you’re missing a golden opportunity to change lives, get exposure for your business and gain instant credibility.

Join marketing and media expert, Annetta Wilson, on the eWomenNetwork Success Institute Tuesday, 05.22.12 at 1:30 PM as she shows you how the media can become your marketing machine!

Do you have a story that reporters need?

Comments { 0 }

Self-Worth and Sales #1

on May 9, 2012 in Motivation & Inspiration, Success Institute

Picture this: you are standing right on the brink of stardom. You are one step away from closing your biggest client ever. Or you really want your teenager to clean his room without you getting laryngitis from screaming your head off. Then something happens. The director changes your blocking or the client begins to hem-and-ha or your kid gives you one of those looks and you choke. Or your blow-up. Or you back-off. You start talking to yourself about how they never listen to you or how you are afraid you would screw it up and now its happening or how dare he disrespect YOU! Sound familiar? Then you start taking actions to protect, defend, or explain why they should change. The next moment, the director has given your part to another actor; the client says he needs to ‘reconsider’ and your teen has put on his earphones to tune you out. Simply put: you just lost the sale.

Consider this: anytime you want to have someone do what you want them to do— that is a sell. I want to expand ‘sales’ to mean something more noble than pure manipulation. The way I am inviting you to re-imagine sales is to relate to it as providing the opportunity for others to take inspired action in their own self-interest. Force doesn’t work and bribery isn’t sustainable. But if you react, you loose the opportunity to influence. So first things first. Tend to your self-image so you don’t loose the shot.

Here is a Defy Impossible Insight to get you started:

  1. Tend to  your Self-Image: if you feel like a fraud (or stupid, or pushy, or too nice, etc.)  and someone says something or doesn’t say something that smells like they think you aren’t the real deal, you will knee-jerk react internally. Identify all the negative ways you see yourself and locate the gold in them. If you see yourself as a fraud, for example, acknowledge it and focus on what character value has been developed from avoiding being a fraud. I was always told I was stupid. So I went and earned four degrees to cover up that I am stupid–according to my inherited self-image.

The character value I developed from covering up my stupidity was attention to detail. I am really particular about understanding things and people. I notice everything.  So instead of talking to me like I really am stupid, I simply focus my attention on my attentiveness and understanding of others. That gives me different actions to take with clients. It cuts the reaction off in it’s tracks. When you take on the practice of locating the gold, in essence you are resetting your self-worth blueprint. Your self-worth blueprint is like your fingerprint: it is unique to you and it is inherited. Your self-worth blueprint determines what you will and won’t allow you to do, have, or be. It is the gate-keeper to success. It has all the keys and it controls the locks. But if you create new practices that formulate new brain patterns of recognition, you transform your self-worth blueprint.

When was the last time you focused on your self-worth?

Join Self-Worth expert, Dr. Venus Opal Reese, on the eWomenNetwork Success Institute Tuesday, 05.15.12 at 1:30 PM CST as she shows you how YOU can transform your self-worth so your sales skyrocket!

Comments { 0 }

Traps to Avoid When Taking Credit Cards

on May 1, 2012 in Success Institute

Do you use footers to help protect your business from a chargeback?  If you have a policy that all sales are final then it needs to be on the receipt.  Signs on the wall are not enough or the cardholder could successfully chargeback that sale.  Have you trained your employees to check the signature panel and verify the authorized signer?  These are a few practices  you can implement to help prevent a chargeback.

Most business owners have heard about fraud and about hackers breaching systems to steal credit card data.  You may have recently heard that one of the larger processors Global Payments was breached and they lost around 1.5 million credit cards.

Are you aware that every business that processes or stores any credit card data must by compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS)?

Any business who uses software needs to run a network security scan run at least quarterly.  You need to have policies in place regarding how you handle credit card data and track who has access to that data.  Make sure you understand these requirements for peace of mind and to keep your customers data safe.

Join risk awarness expert, Natalie Donahue, on the eWomenNetwork Success Institute Tuesday, 05.08.12 as she discusses what PCI DSS is, and what it means for your business.

 

Do you have policies in place regarding how you handle credit card data?

Comments { 0 }

Google+ Hangouts are to Social Media what Family Reunions are to Families

on April 25, 2012 in Marketing, Social Media, Success Institute

Google+ Hangouts are to Social Media what Family Reunions are to Families: a great place to share ideas, stories, and even the latest “recipe” for success. It’s like a mini-family reunion (without the mosquitoes).

Just like an actual family reunion, your Google+ Hangout can showcase your Business Family Tree. This is a great place for business coaches, recent graduates, and other client prospects to share and learn about the “family”. This willingness to share strengths, weaknesses, and lessons goes a long way with building trust and strengthening your client community.

What I love about the Hangout feature is that it is encourages brainstorming. You can walk away with a pseudo-MindMap and action items that will get you closer to your strategic goals.

Ready to get started with your first Google+ Hangout? Keep these tips in mind: Continue Reading →

Comments { 0 }

The POWER of the UNSPOKEN

on April 19, 2012 in Success Institute

To an actor or director, subtext is a word for all the unspoken thoughts, feelings and motivations a performer brings to her role. Subtext is always unspoken, yet it is the most eloquent aspect of an actor’s performance coloring every speech and action. But subtext is not to be found in the script. It comes from the actor’s unique interpretation of the story, mined from personal memory, life experience, and imagination. That is why the same script or play can be performed again and again by different actors and still remain fresh.

A business person calls her fiance from her hotel room out of town. “I miss you,” she tells him. Does she say it with her full attention, or with one eye on cable news? Is she thinking about a potential client in the bar? Is she flirting, sleepy, or rushing him off the line? The same words can be delivered from an infinite range of intentions.

Continue Reading →

Comments { 0 }

Shortcut Out of Overwhelm

on April 17, 2012 in Success Institute

We’re into the second quarter of the year, off and running with resolve to make this a better year, a better month, a better week, a better day than the last. What gets in our way? Often it is Overwhelm: the feeling that there is too much to do, not enough time, not enough energy, etc. We get discouraged and give up or lower our standards, and then feel bad about it. So what’s the way out so you can make good on your good intentions?

Two things:

  1. The 80-20 Rule, which says that we get 80% of results from 20% of activities. So review the clamoring to-do list as well as your mind, and focus only on the top 20% that are most important to generate the results you need. Delete as many of the remainder as you can, and park the rest elsewhere on a master task list.
  2. Think of the Outcome/Result you want, then focus only on the next action that will take you that way. Remember you cannot “do” a project. You can only do each step until you complete it.

So don’t overwhelm yourself with more than you can do. Just focus on one thing at a time, make sure it’s a high payoff activity, enjoy your progress and your results!



Join Productivity Specialist, Nancy Hagan, on the eWomenNetwork Success Institute Tuesday, 04.17.12 at 1:30 PM CST as she shows you the keys to “Focus” and how to navigate through distractions that are zapping your greatness!

 

How do you organize your day effectively?

Comments { 0 }

Access Free Money for College

on April 3, 2012 in Success Institute

The cost of a college education is skyrocketing.  Other than the purchase of your home, a college education will be a families largest expense in their lifetime.  Is your family prepared to spend in excess of $100,000.00 for your kid’s college education?

Here are a few tips that will help ease the pain if you become proactive in the process:

Tip #1. Start the search for schools that are a good fit for your child.

Find schools that offer maximum financial aid.  Some are more generous based on their endowments.  Start with a list of 20 to 30 schools  and begin to research their aid history.  Some schools will help more than others.  A good place to start is with College Board’s website(www.collegeboard.com).

Tip #2.  Apply to schools that your student has a good chance to be admitted to.

Continue Reading →

Comments { 0 }

Maximizing Social Media Internships for Your Business

on March 28, 2012 in Social Media, Success Institute, Uncategorized

Of the infinite benefits of social media, another has been the introduction of new jobs and opportunity into the economy at a time when it is critically needed.  The other side of this coin is that many people believe that because they spent years using Facebook, they automatically qualify as a “Social Media Expert”.  Businesses often fail to look beyond the lack of business world application due to their urgency to get online, and resist making the financial investment to do it strategically.

Enter the social media internship.   The internship is an incredible way to benefit both the applicant and the business.  But it can also be a recipe for disaster if not managed appropriately.

When hiring an intern to manage your social media, ask yourself a few questions:

  • Would I want this person on the phone with that huge deal I’m about to close, while the world listens?
  • Would I want this person to immediately react and speak on my behalf when my business, products or services are highly criticized in the public eye?
  • Is this person a savvy communicator, strategic thinker, and comfortable with a public presence?

Let’s also consider your responsibility as a business owner, and grooming young professionals to be masters of their craft and helping to launch them into a successful career.

Continue Reading →

Comments { 0 }

Be a Master Communicator

on March 21, 2012 in Success Institute

A couple years ago, I volunteered my time directing traffic in and out of the ATP Tennis Tournament. When the tournament ended, thousands of cars wanted to leave the massive parking lot at the very same time. An accident occurred on the road facing the field, which meant that everyone’s access to leaving the lot was blocked.

There was one older woman that was screaming at a man who was volunteering his time. I could see that he was talking to her, and the more he talked, the more she screamed and cried. After 10 minutes of witnessing how things were spiraling down for her, I walked over to try to help.

I put my hand on her shoulder and asked her what was wrong. She screamed, cried, and explained her frustration and I replied that I totally understood it. Basically, I validated her- I agreed with everything she said. Then softly I explained to her why our hands were tied.

Continue Reading →

Comments { 1 }

You’ve Got Less Than 15 Seconds. Impress Me! How to Give the Perfect ‘Elevator’ Speech

on March 15, 2012 in Success Institute

How do you make your initial ’15 seconds of fame’ count? (Sorry Andy Warhol, the 15-minute window has compressed).

You must know how to ace the communication ‘equation’: 55% non-verbal (body language), 38% tone of voice and your speaking pace, 7% data.

Temporary employment company, Kelly Services, says you can ace an interview in the first 15 seconds by showing up on early, smiling, being impeccably groomed and projecting confidence with your body language.

Let people know up front about the problems you solve and your first 15 seconds could lead to long-term business.

Join Elevator Speech Coach, Presentation Skills Coach, and Media Trainer, Annetta Wilson, on the eWomenNetwork Success Institute Tuesday, 03.20.12 at 1:30 PM CST, as she shows you how to talk about your expertise in ways that attract your ideal clients and get you paid.

We want to know your thoughts! How do you get people interested in your message?

Comments { 0 }