Category Archives: Information

Are You Living a Virtual Quest?

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Posted by Ed on August 4, 2008 – 9:26 am
Filed under Commentary, Information

Our dreams are what drive us to excel. Nothing makes us happier than thinking about our dreams and goals. I have spent a lot of time planning my future writing career. While doing this I have seen a lot of information on all the aspects of being a paid writer. I love reading about the art and business of writing. I’ll bet you feel the same about your quest too.

That’s a good thing. You need to learn a lot about your quest. Otherwise how are you going to get there? However I want to warn you about one of the dangers that I run into from time to time. Reading, researching, and learning are fun. Sometimes doing things physically is a little outside your comfort zone. It can be scary to talk to clients, or expose your efforts to outside review. You can be rejected or your work can be laughed at. Those are the hard aspects of following a quest. However, they are important ones to overcome.

If you are ever going to be successful at completing your quest, you are going to have to do the hard things. Challenges are a part of the journey. Overcoming them is what separates you from the pack of mere dreamers. Only reading about your quest makes you just a wanna be. Don’t become an expert on the idea of your quest. The goal is to achieve it. You need to start taking action to really make progress.

So, don’t stop reading, but start taking some actions to get you moving. You don’t have to start off attacking dragons. You can start off facing down some really angry squirrels or fat ground hogs. Chose actions that are challenging but achievable. It’s the cumulative effort that gets you there. You start off small and gradually build up. Persistence is the secret to a successful quest. Go out there and move your quest into the physical world.

Quest On…

 

 

Is the wall too high to climb? Is the river too wide?

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Posted by Ed on August 1, 2008 – 10:18 am
Filed under Commentary, Information

We all have our dreams. They are the things that keep us going during the tough times when work seems extra mindless and the to do list extra long. We need that bit of happiness to get us through. Wouldn’t it be great if that vision was your everyday reality. Too bad it can’t be.

 Yes, if we had that money to invest, no job to interfere, or the time to go to Paris or wherever. If those or any number of other obstacles weren’t in the way, we would be great. We would be the artist, writer, explorer, or business mastermind of our dreams.

 But, have you ever thought about it. Are those obstacles really holding you back. If you really looked at them maybe there are a few work-a- rounds that might at least get you started. Maybe you don’t need a studio in Paris to begin your art career. Perhaps a community college night class might get you started. Maybe just getting started doing something might get you started.

 Those obstacles are not so much out there as they are in here. Most of our limitations are of our own making. What we have is a set of beliefs that dictate our efforts. They may be true or they may not be. Unless you look at them you will never know which is which. So next time you think I’d be doing this if only life itself were different, try thinking a little outside of the box. You may not be as limited as you think.

 Quest On…

 P.S. I am currently working on a series of mini-reports on finding and resolving your limiting beliefs. They will be short explanations and exercises to work on getting past the obstacles that we place in front of ourselves. This should be out shortly. When it is releases I will also start my newsletter series. Quests can be scary at times but you are not alone in this. The rewards are great.

 

 

Referrals: Do you know anybody that needs this?

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Posted by Ed on April 20, 2008 – 4:12 pm
Filed under Business, Information

 Many peoples quest involves owning their own business. The life blood of a business is the customers. How successful a business is in getting customers will dictate how successful the business is. One very powerful method of getting customers is referrals.

 

This is the second article based on a conversation with Steve Willinger. Steve is a business consultant that specializes in marketing and small business start up. Yesterday we discussed finding clients. One way of finding them is using referrals.

 

A referral is simply someone that you are introduced to by a common friend of both of you. It can be a very powerful method of finding clients for your business. It is basically a two step process. First you define who you are looking for. We discussed this in yesterday’s article. Second you ask people if they know anyone like that. It sounds simple but that does not mean everyone does it. Most people don’t know who they are looking for. If you don’t you are most likely not going to find them. Since we talked about defining you search yesterday, let’s talk about the second step today.

 

You mainly have three types of people who can help you with this. First, you have the people you haven’t done business with. These are people you just run into. You just ask them. They may know someone. Second, you have the people you do business with. They have seen your services. They were people who fit your customer profile. They very likely know someone like themselves. You may want to include the giving of referrals as part of your contract with them. Third, you have people who you know that are in similar businesses to yours. Business is not really war no matter what you see on TV. You can be friendly with people in your business category. Everyone can benefit by a little cooperation. Most likely you have a little different skill set and orientation than they do. If you send them a few customers along they will feel obligated to do the same.

 

You may have to prompt people a little to get good information. Rather than ask if they know anyone like you want at all, ask if anyone at their church or gym is like that. That makes it easier and easier makes getting good results more likely.

 

People in your field may be a good source of customers. You have a unique skill and interest set. People in the same industry have different specialties. If a customer needs something that’s a little stretch for you, but a match for someone you know, send him over. By helping the other person they will be likely to send over someone who matches your requirements more than theirs. But, you have to do your part about referring people back. If someone just sends and never gets anybody back, they will eventually stop sending people over. Be a team player. Be helpful and everyone will benefit.

 

This is the rest of the discussion with Steve on this topic. In the mean time you should check out Steve’s web site. It shows the areas that Steve is involved in and is a good resource for information on marketing small business.

 

Quest On….

 

Steve’s Web Site: http://www.amarketingguy.com

 

 

Finding Clients that are looking for you

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Posted by Ed on March 29, 2008 – 7:24 am
Filed under Business, Information

 Many people’s quest involves running their own businesses. Whether your dream is a single person operation or a string of franchised shops, you are going to need clients. It’s their money that makes your dream a stand alone lifestyle. To be blunt, it’s hard to consider yourself truly successful at your dream occupation if you still have to wait tables in the evenings to survive. It’s just a fact of life. Getting enough clients is the difference between a full and part time dream. It’s the biggest hurdle that most quest seekers face.

 

I recently had a good conversation with Steve Willinger about locating clients. Steve is a business coach who specializes in marketing and helping people start businesses. One of his focuses is assisting technical professionals move from being employees to being self employed. We were discussing how one finds clients that need your services.

 

Steve started out by explaining that before you can start getting customers you need to figure out a few facts about your business. A common myth of new business owners is that the entire world is their client base. What happens is by searching for everyone you find no one. Everyone does not want your services. Not everybody can be sold on your product or service. You need to figure out who needs your service and sell to them. That makes it easier because they want what you are selling.

 

The first step to finding those people is to determine what service you really provide and who would be your perfect customer for that service. This is the self analyst part. You must decide what you are doing for money. Since you are the boss here, you only have to provide the services you like to do. Look at the perfect type of job for you. Decide what facets of your business are your specialty. You can have more than one but you do need to define them.

 

Once you have the list of things you want to specialize in you can decide who would need that service. Knowing who they are gives you an idea where they are. You can look there and find them. This allows you to maximize your advertising efforts as well.

 

This discussion with Steve covered several facets of this topic. I will continue it tomorrow. In the mean time you should check out Steve’s web site. It shows the areas that Steve is involved in and is a good resource for information on marketing small business.

 

See you tomorrow with part two.

 

Quest On….

 

Steve’s Web Site: http://www.amarketingguy.com

 

A contest for those who’s quest is fame in print

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Posted by Ed on February 20, 2008 – 11:28 pm
Filed under Information

Mark Joyner (famous Internet Marketer) is at it again. He has put together a contest with a prize that many would die for. The three winners will each be given a custom plan on how to market their book into a best seller. Mark has done this multiple times with his own books. There’s no one better to get advice from on this topic. If you have a book to sell don’t miss this opportunity. Even if you don’t win, the runner up prize for all the other contestants is great too. It is a web cast with Mark and Richard Webster discussing speed writing. That will also be a great aid to those of us who write.

 

To win this contest you have to supply a video with you talking about a moment in your life that was either funny or life changing. Work fast however the deadline is February 26

 

Enter at: www.simpleology.com/training/bestseller/index_contest.php

 

Good Luck and Quest On…