Commitment & Determination - What Makes You an Entrepreneur

What makes you an entrepreneur?; this question is simple but very difficult to answer. For a long time, people have studied the science behind entrepreneurial process, what drives a great entrepreneur, the things that make an ordinary person transforms into a job creator.

To answer this question, it's much better if we try to understand what's behind entrepreneurial process. At the heart of every entrepreneurial process is the founder, the opportunity seeker, the creator and initiator, the leader, problem solver, and motivator; the planner and the guardian of vision and mission. Without this human energy, behavior, drive, and vitality, the greatest ideas-even when they are backed by an overabundance of resources and people-will fail, grossly underperform, or simply never get off the ground. Brilliant athletic aptitude and potential is not equal with the great athlete. The difference is invisible and intangible: commitment, tenacity and determination.

Commitment and determination are seen as more important than any other factor that inspiring an entrepreneur. It makes an entrepreneur can overcome incredible obstacles and also compensate enormously for other weaknesses. Almost without any exception, entrepreneurs live under extreme, constant pressure (when they start their business, for them to stay alive, and for them to grow). A new business requires top priority of entrepreneur's time, emotion, patient, and loyalty. The level of entrepreneur's commitment can be measured in several ways: through a willingness to invest a substantial portion of his or her net worth in the venture, through a willingness to take a cut in pay because he or she will own a major piece of venture, and through the other big sacrifices in lifestyle and family circumstances. Clearly, commitment and determination usually demand personal sacrifice.

What you should keep in mind is that the desire to win never equal to the will to never give up. And this is actually a critical distinction. So many lead entrepreneurs say that they really want to win, but only few have the dogged tenacity and unflinching perseverance to make it happen. Just take an example of a young entrepreneur who made several phone call but none were returned. He made a few more calls but still, no response. Over the next week he made yet another series of calls that once again received no response. At that point, what would you do? Would you keep trying, or decide to move on and not waste any more time? Only you can answer this question, and the answer will gives a clear picture of your persistence's level.

Entrepreneurs who successfully build new business seek to overcome hurdles, solve problems, and complete the job. They are disciplined, tenacious, and persistent. They are able to commit and recommit quickly. They love to win and love to compete at anything. However, if tasks are unsolvable, an entrepreneur will be the first person to give up than the others. There is a fair opinion says that while entrepreneurs are extremely persistent, they are also realistic in recognizing what they can and can't. They know where they can get help to solve a very difficult but necessary task.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2076365

Self Gratitude and Personal Success

Self gratitude is the ability to appreciate self without the benefit of an outside influence and it is something that is very difficult for most people to do though without a doubt it is the most powerful thing any of us can learn to do.

There are so many different tools and systems to success that it could boggle the mind if one was to spend too much time looking around at all the options. There is, however, a single unifying thread that makes any or all tools and systems work - or not - the user. Each tool and system is powered by how the user feels about them selves. Gratitude in any form is a powerful attitude that will net results, however self gratitude is a power tool that can change all things. It is the key to personal success - whatever that means to you.

Many of us picked up where our parents left off with the practice of berating ourselves anytime our performance is less than what we perceive as our very best or beyond our capability. In many cases, we have set ourselves up by expecting the impossible which we can't live up to, and then beating on ourselves for not being able to live up to our expectations. For those of us who do that, we have left little or no room to let ourselves off the hook.

The interesting thing about that little game with ourselves is that like our parents, we would never reward ourselves for substandard performance. Having a successful business that offers freedom and flexibility is a very big reward - that would feel much like it would have felt if our parents actually did buy us that brand new Porche for our 18th birthday. The problem is, few of us actually feel deserving of rewarding ourselves with such a big prize.

There is hope in the power tool called self gratitude or self appreciation; it's just a matter of learning how to use it and applying it as consistently as possible. Here's the rub: Often, people will dive on this idea and try and perform it perfectly - which is nearly impossible at the best of times never mind just starting out - allowing their 'not good enough' thinking to propel them right back into the 'beat them selves up' game.

It's time to tell ourselves, 'enough already!!' It is time to break that self defeating heart breaking cycle that keeps us from grabbing the golden ring, that is - in every respect - our birthright. What that means is that learning to practice self appreciation requires that we begin to appreciate ourselves when we are less then satisfied with our accomplishments as well as when we are satisfied. It's time to get off our own backs!!

But how do you get there?

Most of us are used to making a to-do list so that might be the easiest place to start. How about starting a 'done' list? I have been using done lists for several years now and my experience is that a done list supports me in appreciating myself by giving me a visual way of acknowledging everything I get done. This will be particularly helpful to women who are taking care of a household while at the same time trying to build a business. 

Your done list should include everything on your to-do list, every house hold chore you do, every phone call you make, every errand you run and also everything you do for yourself. In fact, that last piece - what you have done for yourself - may be the most important part of the list. We will come back to that part in a minute but first let's look at house hold chores.

When I said EVERY house hold chore, I meant exactly that. If you pick up some clothes off the floor, let the dog in or grab the mail; all of this needs to be noted because every action requires time out of your day and if you just happen to have an entire day of handling little things that aren't listed, you run the risk of thinking you wasted your day. This done list is an important snap shot of what you accomplish that will help you recognize that you do a great deal and therefore there is much for you to appreciate about yourself.

There are a few reasons to list everything you do for yourself and the most important one is: You are the most important person in your life. If you don't recognize the things you do for yourself as important, you are discounting the value of yourself and definitely not in a position of self appreciation. If you find at the end of most days, there is nothing on your list to take care of self, then it is time to squeeze yourself into your day. That might seem hard at first but it is well worth the effort.

Always start by appreciating what is. If you took a shower, put it on your list and appreciate yourself for doing something for yourself. Did you read something you love? That also goes on your list and don't forget to appreciate yourself for doing something for you! The time involved in doing for self is the most important time in your day. Let's face it, if you aren't taking care of you, you have less energy to take care of others and your business. Take the time you need to recharge and let the gratitude you feel for yourself spread to the other things you do and the people you are doing for.

You will find that as time passes, your done list will get longer and longer. There are a couple of magic things that happens with appreciating what you actually get done. First, you will find that you get better at the things you do which will make them quicker to perform and therefore less time consuming. Second, you will find you have more time in your day to do things. As to why that happens, well that is another several page article so I wont explain, however, it is my promise to you that if you are diligent over time, these things will happen.

Another useful tool is the self appreciation list. It's a simple thing to do and it may change your life faster then most other things. Take 5 minutes at the start and end of your day and write down 10 things you appreciate about yourself. It can be things that you are like 'I am brilliant,' 'I am an awesome parent,' 'I am love,' actions you've taken like, 'I helped an elderly lady with her groceries today,' 'I smiled at the cashier,' 'I assisted my child with their homework,' abilities you have such as 'I am a great cook,' 'I love to make bird houses,' 'I am a wonderful networker,' or anything else that you can think of that shows what a special and wonderful person you are - to yourself.

No one else will see your lists so go wild, get crazy and shine so that you can see your magnificence. I personally applied this method for almost 3 years and the transformation has been glorious, permanent and life changing. I became my own power tool.

Arrogance vs. Appreciation

Many clients who begin this journey are concerned they will seem arrogant or conceited as they move more fully into appreciating themselves. Nothing can be further from the truth. Folks who seem arrogant or conceited are not in a space of appreciating self; they are instead doing and saying things with the intention of getting others to appreciate them to fill the void they feel because they don't appreciate themselves.

Arrogance is an outward journey of someone who believes that what they need and want are outside of them selves. Self appreciation is an inward journey that will assist you to allow your light to shine outward to the world around making you more attractive, more magnetic, and more effective and most importantly - more of who you really are.

Ever know anyone whom everyone liked, who built massive down lines without hardly any effort and everything they touched seem to turn to gold? That someone that your kids can't wait to see, always has a smile for everyone, is helpful at every turn and always seems to make any gathering even better? Ever wish you were more like that person?

There is one common thread for every person who fits that description - they appreciate themselves, whether they know it or not. They are their own power tool!

The good news is, you too can be that, and it is just a habit of appreciating yourself until you are your own power tool!

Good job!!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/800893

Sometimes You Just Gotta Get Off It

Have you ever gotten a whirlwind of negative thoughts about something important to you? Yeah, me too. What's even more disheartening is when you know you're doing it and you can't get your mind in a good place about the topic.

You start trying every trick you know to think positive about the subject. For example, if you're stressed out about getting clients, you may say to yourself, "Don't worry. The money will come. I'm a millionaire. I appreciate money."

Nothing happens. You're still stressed about money.

Next you watch a Byron Katie or Michael Beckwith video about money. That doesn't help either.

In coaching lingo, we call this process "being hooked." It's like having a hook through your mouth and being reeled into more negative thoughts. I experience this feeling as temporary insanity. I pray, "Can someone just take my brain away from me so I can relax for a moment?!"

You're so emotionally charged about the topic, there is only one thing left to do. Get off it! The topic, that is. Stop trying to get to the positive feelings until you feel better in general.

This requires a whole switch in your focus. In these moments, I usually go for something that will capture my attention fully. For instance, a walk would give me more time to think... and that can be dangerous.

What works better for me is to go answer some emails, watch Netflix, listen to an Abraham-Hicks CD, make an entry in my appreciation journal, or go shopping. You have to go for full-on distraction. This will create a softer focus on the topic you were scaring yourself about.

I like to remind myself that everything always works out, and this, too, shall pass. By the way, it is sooooooo okay that you got tripped up... or should I say "tripped out"? Happens to all of us. I consider myself a conscious thinker, and I can go down the emotional sewer as fast as the best of them!

When you soften your focus on a highly charged subject, you can actually open to receive the solution... or inspiration will hit with the perfect action to take. This is better known as the "allowing" mode. You have to create some breathing room for the Universe to do what it does best.

Things will always work out in the end. So just get off it and enjoy!

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE?

You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Jeanna Gabellini is a Master Business Coach who makes it effortless and exciting for conscious entrepreneurs to attract all the clients they want without doing more, working more, or marketing more. Grab her FREE audio on dialing in your biz here: http://masterpeacecoaching.com/freecd2

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9805716

The Importance of Internal Motivation For Achieving Success

Most people want to achieve success in the areas of life that are important to them. Yet many never find the success that they seek, and spend their lives feeling unhappy and unfulfilled. Why is this?

One of the main reasons why some people succeed and so many don't, is that those who well do are internally motivated, whereas the others are motivated primarily by external rewards. While everybody is externally motivated to some extent, if this is your main source of motivation, you're probably setting yourself up for failure.

Internal Motivation

Internal (or intrinsic) motivation, as the name suggests, comes from within. An internally motivated person is inspired by staying true to their own core values, and doing the things which they love the most. When you're doing the things that you enjoy, for reasons which resonate with your authentic self, it's easy to remain motivated, and little willpower is needed to take the actions that are necessary to achieve your goals.

External Motivation

External motivation, on the other hand, comes from an outside the self. It includes things like money, recognition from other people, prizes, trophies and awards etc. While all of these things are nice, the problem with relying on them as your main source of motivation is that for the most part, the sense of fulfilment they provide is temporary. If you're going down a path that's not in alignment with your real goals, just because you want the rewards that you think it'll give you, you may find that these rewards aren't worth very much once you get them. At this point, your motivation to continue will suffer drastically, if the goal isn't something that you're also interested in for its own sake.

The Path To Success

For this reason, it's important to set goals that are fully aligned with your real, inner motivations. If you should happen to receive external rewards for doing well in your chosen field, then that's a bonus, but really it's just the icing on the cake. Remember that life isn't meant to be a struggle, and success doesn't have to be difficult to achieve. In fact, the path to success is much easier when it's a path that you're motivated to travel for its own sake, as you don't have to constantly force yourself to keep going by focusing on the end result, and you'll enjoy the journey as well is the destination. And that's not to be underestimated, since the majority of our lives are spent in the 'journey' phase, and it'd be a shame if you spent most of your time focusing on being somewhere else.

What If Your Motivation Is Blocked?

 As we noted, internal motivation springs from within. Sometimes however, people have picked up negative beliefs that lead to self-sabotaging behaviours which stop them from taking the path they really want to take. This can lead to feelings of 'blockage' and procrastinating over even the things you want to do. Feeling a strong desire to do something, yet not allowing yourself to go there is an unpleasant experience, to say the least. In this case, using a brainwave entrainment recording can be of value, as such a recording makes it much easier to achieve a profound sense of relaxation, and to access the subconscious mind, where such self-limiting beliefs are stored.

By taking some time each day to listen to your recording, and to focus on how you'd like your life to be, it becomes easier to allow these old blocks to dissolve, and to let your natural sense of internal motivation to flow freely once again.

If you decide to use a brainwave entrainment technologies such as isochronic tones to boost your internal motivation, I suggest checking out the excellent 'Motivation' track that's available from The Unexplainable Store. This is a great quality site, and all products are fully guaranteed. There are also some great free downloads available, so be sure to check those out while you're over there. 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4660748

When I was reading the recent Startup Genome Report, I saw that Silicon Valley has again come out on top as the best startup eco-system in the world. When I was going through the parameters that made Silicon Valley the best, I noticed an important fact. Silicon Valley has the largest number of mentors and serial entrepreneurs as opposed to other startup eco-systems globally.

Which brings me to the discussion of the need for mentors for an entrepreneur.

The word "Mentor" is misunderstood phrase in the context of our lives. Who is a mentor and what does a mentor do? Why do we need a mentor? Can we do without a mentor? Is it a must-have?

Oxford Dictionary defines mentor as "An Experienced and Trusted Adviser".

Since times immemorial, every successful leader had a mentor. In family owned business, mentors were usually one's father or uncle or some trusted person associated with the well-being of the family. Famous politicians had mentors. Emperors had mentors.

The term "Mentor" has been age-old.

In today's context of entrepreneurship, the term mentor has taken are more holistic meaning but its ethos still remain the same.

So why should an Entrepreneur have a mentor:

1. Entrepreneurship is a lonely journey - Whether you have friends, you have a life partner, your girlfriend/boyfriend, the path of entrepreneurship still seems very lonely. And none of your "social" and "personal" circle can understand this loneliness that you have. Having a mentor makes it easier to talk to someone and ease your path a little bit more

2. Have someone to report to - In entrepreneurship, you are your own boss. You have to define your own metrics and stick to them.You have only yourself to answer to. Yes, customer is the ultimate person to whom you are answerable, but unless you stick to the metrics you have defined for yourself, there will be no customers. Having a mentor helps you to be more accountable

3. You fight numerous personal battles - Entrepreneurship is as much about external situations, as much as it is internal. In fact I would say, entrepreneurship is more an internal battle than an external. You will be going through wide range of emotions which none can understand. Having a mentor makes it easier to win those personal battles

4. You are often clueless - There will be times, when you will be clueless as to what you should be doing next. Whether you should build "this" feature or "that" feature, whether you should change your marketing strategy or whether you should target a different customer segment. An experienced mentor can help you and guide you into the right direction.

5. Contacts - An experienced mentor brings with him/her a wealth of contacts. These contacts are what is needed often to give you the break that you need to grow.

How should you select a mentor?

You should take your time to select a mentor. Some of the things you should look for are:

1. Do you share a good camaraderie with the mentor

2. Are you comfortable being yourself with the mentor

3. Is the mentor reputed in his/her field

4. Whether the mentor is giving you advice that you feel are valuable to your growth

5. Is the mentor very honest in his association

6. Whether the mentor has any conflicting interest working with you.

7. What does the mentor bring to the table which you can never do it by yourself

How should you engage with a mentor?

Take time to find the right mentor. Mentorship is not a "profession". It is about someone giving his/her time for you because he/she genuinely believes in you and your vision. When you talk to people, you will know who are genuinely interested in you and who are not. Have multiple conversations. Meet with them, take them out for drinks, discuss about your business. Listen to what they have to say. The more you listen, the better will be your understanding of a mentor.

Never work on retainer fee model upfront. Gauge each other's qualities before getting into formal business agreement. When you see value in someone, you will want to retain that person. So wait till you get that value.

Is your mentor your saviour?

No, never. And don't expect him/her to be your saviour. You are responsible for your own business. So man up and take responsibility for your actions. A Mentor is someone who brings in his/her experience to help you. But he/she is not god. To Err is human.

How do you find such mentors?

You can find the best mentor in someone from your family. But chances are lesser that your mother or father will always give you a neutral view-point of you and your business. So usually someone who is not related to you works better, unless of course you own a family business.

Find people in the same industry as yours, who have been successful. Attend and network at events. Get connected to the best and the most hard-working people in the business world. The best mentors are often the quietest and the most low profile ones. So take time to find them.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8015122

Take Your Career to the Next Level - Five Steps to Find and Use a Mentor

A mentor is a personal, portable, no-cost resource to help you set and meet your unique goals. Mentoring is an explicit one-to-one learning relationship between a person who wants to improve job or career skills and a person who can help him or her do that. Mentors are much more than "go-to" people. Mentors are champions of learning. Mentors take a position of high interest and investment in another's development. They want to mentor. They share knowledge, encouragement, guidance and feedback about job content and organizational culture. They advocate for their mentees' successes. Mentoring provides encouragement and structure to support the mentee. In the ideal, mentoring and being mentored is business as usual.

Why should you have one? You're good at what you do. You are the one who helps customers solve their problems. You help your customers thrive. You are totally focused on their success. Who does that for you? Are you so busy meeting other people's needs that you neglect yours? How will you:

• Build your career?
• Expand your expertise?
• Develop your talents?
• Gain skills?
• Overcome your weaknesses?
• Maneuver the culture in your organization?

Your manager could be a logical choice to mentor you, but chances are that person is as busy as you are. You are booked solid with work, but you have aspirations that call for individual attention. A mentor is probably not going to volunteer without being invited. You have to find your own.

Here is a simple five-step process to find the help you want and use the help you find. Nothing here will surprise you. The process is intuitive, but working it requires discipline, and that's the big challenge. This structure is designed to keep you on track, yet with flexibility to serve you throughout your career. Without structure, mentoring tends to become spotty and loses effectiveness.

1. Define what you want to accomplish and what help you need. Are you looking for technical expansion, career growth, objectivity, creativity, connections, etc.?

Examine yourself and be honest about what you need to keep doing, stop doing, and start doing to get there. Professionals like you cultivate confidence, thus others may not notice where you are lacking. You can be completely candid with a mentor, which is part of the purpose of having one. The more clearly you can see your strengths and weaknesses, the more willing you are to lay those out to someone you trust, the more successfully you will work with a mentor.

2. Find people who can offer you what you want, whom you admire, and who will feel honored at your request. One fundamental characteristic that any mentor must have is a passion for helping others succeed. Don't be shy. Ask your colleagues to help you conduct your search. It's similar to a job search - you want the best match possible. You define what "best match" looks like. Think about trust, communication styles and differences in perspective, in addition to career-related qualities. You may find your mentor at the desk next to yours, or online in a different geographic location. You may find more than one mentor at a time, depending on your goals.

3. Contract for the mentoring relationship. The Number One reason mentoring works is because the learning experience is shaped exactly to you and what you need. You and your mentor together define that shape.

There are two parts to the learning contract: role definition, and the specific learning goals. Sometimes the learning contract is written, sometimes verbal. Always, it is explicit. Because the mentoring process is a work in progress, clarity and structure keep it moving ahead. It is a framework within which you and your mentor can be creative and forward-thinking. It gives enough structure to keep the process focused and moving, with built-in flexibility to continuously assess and improve. Without such structure, the mentoring process can get off track and become less than optimally effective.

Here is a simple beginning "contract" for the mentoring process. You will probably want to add to it to meet your own expectations.

I, the mentee, need from you, the mentor, your individual attention, expertise, support, encouragement, open and honest feedback, and trust. 

You, the mentor, can expect from me, the mentee, my eagerness to learn, willingness to ask for help, willingness to take risks, open and honest feedback, and trust.

Refine your goals with your mentor's help. Determine how to interact, and with what frequency. Find the best ways for you to exchange feedback. Virtual mentoring is increasingly popular, and provides the ultimate mentoring portability. E-mail, telephone, texting, social media, Skype..... pathways for staying in touch are nearly endless and increasing every day. Talk about ending the mentoring relationship, right at the beginning. Step 5 should not come as a surprise. What will indicate that it's time for a change, from both perspectives? Also talk about how you will communicate if the mentoring is not working out, for any reason.

4. Contact your mentor as planned. One of the greatest challenges for professionals is asking for specific help. We earn our living sharing our expertise, and it is difficult to tap someone else's. The best advice is to "just do it." Having a mentor does no good if you don't use that person. Your mentor cannot guess at how to help you. These contacts should be high priorities for both of you.

5. Examine or end the formal mentoring when you achieve your goals, or when new needs arise that change your direction. This may mean you re-contract around new goals, move into a less formal relationship, or find a new mentor. Mentoring is a long-term relationship, but it need not be for life. You are smart, ambitious, and creative. You learn quickly, and move on to new goals. Mentoring should be totally relevant to what is going on for you at any given time. When the relevancy lessens, that's a clue it's time to change. Ending the formal mentoring is not an insult to the mentor, rather a tribute to how helpful that person was. Very often, mentors and mentees remain close friends, and mentoring continues informally, as needed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5808144

How a Mentor Can Help You With Growing Your Business

Research in both educational settings and in the world of business indicates that students, employees, and CEOs are more likely to succeed if they had a mentor. Fortune 500 CEOs were asked what contributed most to their success. Many listed an effective mentor as one of the key factors. As a result, more and more entrepreneurs and business owners are following the lead of their corporate counterparts by engaging the services of professional business mentors.

Mentoring is most often defined as a professional relationship in which a more experienced person, referred to as the mentor, assists another person less experienced, referred to as the mentee, in developing specific skills and knowledge that will enhance the less experienced person's professional and personal growth. Successful mentoring programs do not just happen; they are the result of careful planning and implementation.

Working with your own mentor can have a tremendous positive impact on your business. Whether you are an established company or just starting up, your mentor can teach you how to increase your confidence, develop vital business skills, and implement effective strategies to transition your business to the next level.

Even if you consider yourself to be an expert in your field, a recognizable knowledge or experience gap may still exist or be present. You may have a great idea for a new business, but you feel like you need to verify the feasibility of your new venture or to confirm the strategies that you are considering using. Seeking the guidance of an experienced mentor who has had similar experiences is the best way to get your question answered with valuable professional advice.

What does a professional business mentor do?

Your mentor serves as a trusted counselor, a guide, a source of information, a provider of perspective, and the voice of experience in addition to performing a number of different functions:

• Teaching you about specific business practices and functions.

• Coaching you on specific business skills.

• Facilitating your growth by providing resources and contacts.

• Challenging you to move beyond your comfort zone.

• Creating a safe learning environment for expanding your horizons.

• Focusing on your total development, both professional and personal.

What benefits will you realize from working with a professional business mentor?

• You will gain from your mentor's expertise.

• You will receive critical feedback in key skill and knowledge areas.

• You will develop a sharper focus on what steps are needed to develop professionally.

• You will learn specific skills and knowledge that are relevant to your personal goals.

• You will gain knowledge about business tactics that are critical for success.

• You will adapt more quickly to changes in the marketplace.

• You will have a 'friendly ear' to share your frustrations, as well as, successes.

Professional business mentors are a valuable asset to any business organization.

When you struggle all alone in your business, it can lead to costly and demoralizing mistakes. Having an experienced mentor spares you the trouble of having to crack the business success code on your own. A seasoned, professional mentor is the perfect person to offer help and advice, especially if you are just starting out or facing difficult challenges. An experienced mentor has been there and done that! He/she knows what works and what doesn't work.

By tapping into the wealth of knowledge and experience of a mentor, you can fast-track your business success by minimizing the mistakes most entrepreneurs make... Why try to re-invent the proverbial wheel, when you can engage the services of a seasoned, professional mentor to help you navigate the minefields associated with growing your business.

Don't be trapped into thinking you don't need a business mentor simply because you think know your business. Just like sports, running a business is highly competitive. So, if top athletes employ coaches/mentors, then it makes perfect sense to follow in the footsteps of these top athletes and employ your very own mentor!

Just like a good sports coach, the right professional business mentor will not play the game for you. They will simply assist you in determining the most effectively strategies in order to maximize your rewards and minimize your risks!

How to find a professional business mentor

Choosing a mentor is a serious decision. It is important that you select a business mentor who is competent, experienced, and has both integrity and expertise---an individual that you can trust in this newly formed fiduciary relationship.

There are a couple of avenues you can use to find a good professional business mentor... First, you can reach out to your local sphere of contacts. Talk to your existing advisors -- your CPA, your attorney, your banker, and your insurance agent. Second, you can use the Internet. Fortunately, with the Internet you are not just limited to your local geographic area when seeking a business mentor. Many professional mentors provide their mentoring services via the telephone or Skype. This is often more convenient and more flexible than having to personally meet with a business mentor.

When evaluating your business mentor candidates it's important to consider

· Confidentiality: Sensitivity to the importance of confidentiality is critical. Since a business mentor will be privy to highly confidential information about you and your business, it is very important for you to discuss bonds of confidentiality with him. A signed confidentiality agreement is recommended.

· Non-compete: Make sure that the business mentor candidate is willing to sign a non-compete agreement and to refrain them from advising/mentoring any of your direct competitors, not only during the course of the engagement, but also for a certain period of time thereafter.

· Chemistry: It's not just for romantic relationships! There has to be certain chemistry with your business mentor. This is someone you are going to work closely to grow your business. You have to feel a connection and a sense of trust with this person. To gauge your level of comfort with your prospective business mentor, arrange to have a couple of pre-engagement discussions with him/her.

· Learning: Some experts believe that what you will learn from a particular mentor is far more important than the chemistry you have with that particular mentor. The critical question you must answer is, "exactly what I'm I going to learn from this particular business mentor that I can apply to overcoming my current issues and challenges."

· Confidence: Make sure that you have the level of confidence that you need in order to move forward, and that the person-the business mentor -- is as passionate about their business as you are about your business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7485522

Keys To A Successful Online Business Opportunity - Do You Know These Important Keys?

When it comes to online businesses and home business opportunities, they are key skills required to ensure success. You have to be a person that is determined, Patient, and consistent if you want to see a quick return on investment. However, in my humble opinion, I believe that the most important key to a successful and long-lasting brand is the key to establish trust amongst the masses.

Think about it for a second!

When you go to your local supermarket, you buy items such as; meat, fish, bread and other types of food. I would assume that you do not know the owner of the supermarket or the workers there. Although you do not know that many people from the supermarket, you trust the overall brand. Because you trust the brand, you pay for items that you will put in your body.

Unfortunately, building trust is a very difficult thing to do. Without trust, no business will last. Luckily for you, I am happy to share some practical tips that can make your brand successful.

First Key - Keep It Clean And Professional!

You are an extension of your brand so make sure you represent it well. You can do this by uploading a picture of yourself in business attire. Make sure that any inappropriate pictures of yourself are taken off the web. People are more likely to trust you with their money if you look the part. In addition, make sure that you stay organized and clean. If you are interested in starting an online business, you must keep a space in your home that is only dedicated to your company.

Second Key - Keep Promises Made With Clients!

Make sure your clients are happy with the products or services being offered by your company. If a client buys your product and feels that he or she has been misled or has been a victim of false advertisement, they will never trust you again. In most cases, you only get one chance to make a strong impression. Make sure you understand your products and services correctly and clearly, so you can communicate the benefits of what you have to offer in a correct fashion.

Bonus Key - Gain More Trust By Becoming More Educated!

You must challenge yourself every month to learn more things about your brand. The reason for this is because the business world is extremely competitive. One advantage you can have over your opponents is to know more about what you have to offer than them.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9727320

What Is Personal Development?

Here's a Brief Overview

Personal Development, means different things to different people. Ultimately personal development is about focusing your attention on developing or refining your skills, abilities, attitude, and awareness for personal goal. As a category Personal development covers various areas of human activity and can be applied to business and financial growth. Socially Personal development can be applied to improving social relationship, with friend's family or colleagues, partners, employees.

Personal Development in a Nut shell

If you wish to achieve worthwhile things in your personal and career life, you must become a worthwhile person in your own personal development.

Brian Tracy

To sum up personal development in a sentence, you can say personal development is about identifying challenges, finding solutions and integrating the answers or right course of action or behaviour into your daily life or business. Personal development is about making effective change in yourself or company procedures to better deal with the environment.

"Believe that you possess a basic goodness, which is the foundation for the greatness you can ultimately achieve." Les Brown

Value oriented aspects

Many of the value oriented aspects of personal development boarders the realm's of spirituality were the individuals attention maybe focused on developing better social and environmentally relationships, achieving personal self mastery's over ones actions, as in behavioural changes or over coming limitations, at this level, persistence, inquisitiveness, study and self discipline are common themes. Professionally personal development may include such themes as personal mastery and communication, developing leadership skills etc.

In general personal development is about a cultivating a progressive attitude, studying/learning and applying appropriate success formulas or principles, whether as companies or individual. Much of the study of person development comes from the researching of people who have made significant growth, personally or in business.

Success leaves clues.

The early founders of the modern day form of personal development have studied and catalogued the process of success and achievement. They have made considerable progress in documenting the process of personal success as a science. Napoleon Hill is arguably the forefather of modern day personal development. He laid the foundations for our current generation of researchers, practitioner and coaches, such as the superstar Anthony Robbins

The following are some of the general themes in Personal Development

• Developing or renewing identity 
• Fulfilling aspirations/Realizing dreams 
• Behavioural change/conditioning 
• Developing motivation - inspiration 
• Improving self-awareness 
• Enhancing lifestyle or the quality of life 
• Improving your employability 
• Identifying and investing in ones potential 
• Financial development 
• Developing strengths or talents 
• Personal and professional mastery - Learning techniques or methods to gain 
• Control of one's life 
• Entrepreneurial 
• Improving self-knowledge 
• Developing personal development plans 
• Increasing awareness or defining of one's chosen lifestyle 
• Integrating social identity with self-identification 
• Increasing awareness or defining of one's priorities 
• Developing purpose 
• Increasing awareness or defining of one's values 
• Developing purpose 
• Love 
• Increasing awareness or defining of one's ethics 
• Strategies and realizing dreams, aspirations, career and lifestyle priorities 
• Developing personal discipline 
• Personal development goal/ material attainment 
• Developing professional potential 
• Developing talents 
• Developing integrity 
• Goal setting 
• Developing individual competencies 
• Becoming more caring 
• How to learn from experience 
• Time management 
• Developing mature interpersonal relationships 
• Establishing identity 
• Improving the quality of lifestyle (in such areas as health, wealth, culture, 
• family, friends and communities) 
• Learning techniques or methods to expand awareness 
• Developing competence 
• Achieving autonomy and interdependence 
• Self mastery 
• Managing emotions 
• Learning techniques or methods to achieve wisdom 
• Communication skills

Personal development philosophically practice

Personal development may also be applied to the following disciplines, either in practice metaphorically or philosophically

• Yoga 
• Meditation 
• Qi gong 
• Juggling 
• Martial arts 

The altruistic aspects of personal development

Some of the more altruistic elements of personal development have Parallels with some of the world's spiritual tradition. A good example would be, The Eightfold Path of Buddhism which focus on the development of skills such as:

• Right View 
• Right Intention 
• Right Speech 
• Right Action 
• Right Livelihood 
• Right Effort 
• Right Mindfulness 
• Right Concentration 
• Check out the Parallels

Right View this can be a likened to, open mindedness, beliefs, continual learning of techniques or methods to expand awareness, thoughtfulness.

Right Intention this can be a likened to defining of one's values or the effort to develop mutually beneficial relationships for the general and greater good.

Right Intentions form a personal development point of view this can be seen as increasing your awareness of your actions and adjusting them for the greater good.

Right Speech, from a personal development view this would be Communication skills. Communications skills may also include your internal dialogue as in positive speech.

Right Action, this can be seen as exercising consideration, personal integrity, exercising wisdom.

Right Livelihood, this would have a relation to lifestyle as I'm enhancing one's quality of life, career, and working in an ethical line of employment etc.

Right Effort, this would relate to discipline commitment
determination persistence.

Right Mindfulness, can be a likened to thoughtfulness consideration...

... And finally

Right Concentration, can be a likened to clarity, focus, exercising discipline of thoughts.

So where do you start? And what does it take?

Define an area of life you would like to work on...

1 create a vision
2 make a plan
3 action your plan

Commit to daily actions targeted towards change

Find a system or programme to facilitate your growth, in some cases this may mean reading the related material, books, websites blogs, in other cases this my mean joining the related clubs or taking courses etc. The main point is to develop a self image complementary to your goal/vision.

Their are no instant solutions, quick fixes or magic formulas to personal development - personal growth other then an awareness for the need for personal growth and the desire to grow. Granted that the two above conditions are meet - an awareness of the need for personal growth - and the desire to grow, you will be able to find success with the following tools:

• Commitment, 
• Discipline, 
• persistence 
• inquisitiveness 

These tools will make a nice starter in your chosen area of personal development/growth.

"The Creative Power within us makes us into the image of that to which we give our attention."

Wallace Delois Wattles

Here are two typical examples of a personal development exercise:
Example one

Renewing self images

First in order to realise success in you chosen area of personal development / growth. You need to do two things invest some time to identify and define an area you would like to develop ie you want a promotion

Developing an image of yourself in your finish or ideal state/position -

What you're going to look like

How are you going to feel?

How will you be acting?
Develop you're new self image daily
Example two

The following is an extract from Napoleon hill think and grow rich, Hill is describing the six steps needed to develop what he calls the burning desire needed to drive a person to the accomplishment of their goals. In this example the steps relate to money but with creative editing this formula can be applied to any area of goal attainment.

"First. Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire. It is not sufficient merely to say, "I want plenty of money." Be definite as to the amount. (There is a psychological reason for definiteness, which will be described in a subsequent chapter). See book Think and grow rich napoleon Hill

Second. Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire. (There is no such reality as "something for nothing.)

Third. Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire.

Fourth. Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not to put this plan into action.

Fifth. Write out a clear, concise statement of the amount of money you intend to acquire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for the money, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.

Sixth. Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning.

Napoleon Hill's 13 Success Principles are;

Desire, Faith, Auto-Suggestion, Specialized Knowledge, Imagination, Organised Planning, Decision, Persistence, the Master Mind, Transmutation, the Subconscious Mind, the Brain and the Sixth Sense

Think and grow rich by Napoleon Hill is a must have work -Think and grow rich is over flowing with valuable knowledge

"All that man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thougths."


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6491322

4 Ways to Build An Attractive Character in Your Blogging Niche

Have you ever noticed that most of the successful bloggers have some sort of attraction element at play in their blogging efforts? Some might be good looking sure, but beyond that, most of the good ones have some sort of redeeming quality that has people thinking - "damn, I wish I was like that!"

Today, we're going to talk about how you can do the same thing, and create a level of attraction that has readers pouring in wishing they could be like you. Here's how:

1. Pull Out Some Attractive Things in Your Life

We all have something neat, cool, or attractive in our lives. For John Chow, it was pictures of cars and houses. For Shoemoney, it was an AdWords check. For Frank Kern, it's the beach bum lifestyle.

The point is that it doesn't matter what you don't have, you need to find something cool for people to associate with you. Find a symbol of awesomeness, and share it with your readers. Make it a part of your image - this is very important.

2. Set Yourself up As an Authority

Nobody likes to listen to a joker, which is why you need to become an authority in your niche. Now, I'm not recommending that you pretend to be an authority, because people will see through that.

I'm suggesting you become an authority. Learn, study, and practice until you become a master of your niche. Then, when you're ready, showcase your skills to the world.

Obviously this means when you're new, it might take some time before you become profitable, and that's OK. The average business takes 2-3 years to become successful, and if you aren't ready for that grind, then you probably shouldn't be in business anyway.

3. Don't Be Neutral When You Talk

It doesn't matter what side you're on, but you need to pick one and embrace it. Being neutral is boring, and nobody likes to read boring blogs. It's OK to be wrong from time to time, that's how people learn, but being boring is a recipe for doom.

The point is that you shouldn't say anything unless you can improve the silence. If you're not sure whether you should be writing something, then you probably shouldn't be writing it. Write with your heart, and the rest will follow.

4. Take Strong Stand and Don't Be Afraid to be Controversial

If you aren't pissing someone off, then you aren't doing it right. Try to find one successful person that isn't polarizing. Steve Jobs is a great example - to his dying day he was loved and hated by many. There were very few that stood in the middle.

When you say something, say it boldly, and say it with confidence. Confidence is magnetic.

This, in a nutshell, is my four step recipe for becoming an attractive and magnetic blogger. Take a look at your favorite blogger and compare these four traits with their own. Do you see any resemblances?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9779667

Viral Marketing - Get Your Customers to Do the Marketing for You

Viral marketing involves the process of spreading a message from person to person. The same way the seasonal flu is passed around, hence how it got its name, but with the obvious difference is that it's your marketing message that is being circulated.

When you have a new product or service that you want to promote, the fastest way to do so is by creating some buzz about the new product. Viral marketing has a long history of being used to promote products such as movies as well as books. Relying mainly on the buzz generated before the release, a successful campaign will have its audience ready and waiting to buy right up to the release date.

In order for viral marketing to work effectively there are some simple elements that you must consider. Such elements are vital for the proper working of the strategy. Many people begin implementing a viral marketing campaign without understanding the basic fundamentals.

To begin with, nothing sells better than providing a free sample of your product or service. A free offer ensures the message that you are sending is likely to move much faster and travel further. The idea that one can enjoy free products and especially if they have to make little or no effort is something people are more likely to share with friends and family than an advertised low price.

Whatever method you use to send your message, especially when working with emails and social media, you must ensure that it is easy to spread and develop to a wider audience. Remember that viral marketing only works if more and more people get your message. The method to pass along the message should be as simple as possible, like clicking forward on an email. On the other hand if you have a complicated long process to forward the message, then few people will make the effort and hinder your attempt at the message going viral.

The success of viral marketing also relies heavily on understanding your target audience. Who exactly are you targeting with your message? What do these people have in common in terms of habits and interests? Armed with this information, you can generate a message that calls to such interests and hobbies. Such a message is not only relatable but also gives a common base upon which one can generate the viral marketing campaign.

Before embarking on your viral marketing campaign, take the time to understand your target audience, and how you can easily reach them. Design a message that is attractive and draws immediate attention to your audience. The message should also be simple, so that it does not take much time and effort to understand.

Armed with these techniques it's time to embark on your viral marketing journey and find new markets for your products and/or service.

What if you just can't make sense of it all?

I know how confusing it may appear, with all the information available on back links, SEO, Social Media, but if you really want to succeed with Internet Marketing you will need to learn the single method that governs them all.

This method is simple to pick up and it doesn't take much once you see the bigger picture.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6646124

Ticket to Success and Sales - Online Marketing

"Ignoring online marketing is like opening a business but not telling anyone." - Anonymous

Nothing sums up the brilliance of online marketing in today's scenario quite like this quote. Online marketing is all about being at the right place at the right time. With the virtual space invading every nook and corner of our lives, this is where you'll find your audience.

Online is the place to be

From social media to e-commerce portals, our present generations wake up to their handset screens, emote only through in beeps and blocks. No one physically meets or greets anymore, instead we only 'like' and 'comment'. So, like any good marketing strategy that starts with going where the customer goes, the time now is to go digital. Online marketing has become the latest fad, a definite marketing must-do all the multi- national companies. Online marketing companies and services are the most sought after by major corporations. The benefits of online marketing when compared to its counterparts - the traditional/offline marketing, is so shiny and bright, that it has become impossible to turn a blind eye. Let's review the prime benefits:

'The World is your Stage': With online marketing services, your reach is truly magnanimous. It expands in terms of demographic as well as relevance. Deep pockets and hefty bank account are no longer the requisites to get noticed and sell products. For example, A local farmer from one side of the world, can now take his produce and showcase it online to reach a potential customer living on the other side. All he'll need to do is to use the internet to market this product, alongside some smart SEO strategies to place it amidst the right crowd.

'Laugh all the way to the bank'- It's no surprise rappers worldwide dish out such catch-phrases, ever so often. After all, how can anyone run from the fact that every business and corporation is the world works towards - 'profit' aka revenue, return, moolah? So, when the outcomes are so luring, who wouldn't jump? With the chance to reach the target audience directly and personally, the sales are bound to go up, by default.

'Straight from the horse's mouth' - With digital marketing you can document every move of your consumer. In the virtual space, everything becomes transparent - the good, bad and the ugly is out in the open for every to judge. No beating around the bush, you will get immediate feedback and instant report of your product's performance. You can directly reach out to your customer and build a personal bond. Services can be customized. Also, since everyone is online all the time, being in this place will make you more visible.

'Marking your territory' - Digital marketing promises to cut marketing costs drastically. Over and above all other benefits, the Passover from traditional or offline marketing to online is bound to be tremendously economical. Your online marketing agency will help you pick your audience and invest in reaching out only to them. It will also reduce your cost per unique user. For example: while a 5000 AED investment on a hoarding or event sponsorship reach about 5000 prospective customers, an online campaign through a viral video on social media will keep 10 times fold more.

'Something for everyone' - Online marketing space isn't reserved for the who's who of the business world. Even a small business or a start- up can reap benefits in all the entirety. That's the beauty of this medium. Such opportunity presents a fair chance to businesses to prove their mettle purely based on the quality of services/product. For the first time, a small enterprise can give the market's big fish a run for its money. Making it an all-inclusive environment to run business in.

'Survival of the fittest' - The business world is booming, everyone wants a piece of it. So, in order to survive this mad rush, you have to a step ahead, always. Being in the digital gives you direct insights in your markets and demography. It gives you the opportunity to gauge your competitors move and plan a rebuttal. Online marketing companies help in giving your brand the edge and new-age glow. Hence, assuring the consumer's that the product/services that you offer are state-of-the-art and cutting edge in all its entirety.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9658950

Make Money From Your Blog - With Two Simple Tweaks

Are you still trying to make money from your blog? You'll know exactly how to make this happen quickly when you read and use the information in this article.

I can remember when I first heard that one of the easy ways to make money on line was to start a blog. I'm sure you've heard the same thing. Trouble is it's not uncommon to get a blog up and running and then wait... and wait... and wait...

Weeks, months and sometimes years go by and you're still waiting to see any money from your blog.

Does that sound familiar?

It's frustrating to do a search on Google and see your competitors' sites in the top search results. You can have great content or fantastic products on your site, but if you don't show up in those first search results, driving traffic to your site can be as difficult as searching for a needle in a hay stack. And if you are not getting traffic to your site, then there is no way you can make the money from your blog that is truly possible.

Driving Traffic To Your Blog

The first step to getting noticed and driving traffic to your blog is to make certain every piece of content on your site is optimized for search. This means your posts should be relevant to both your readers and to the search engines. Your long term goal is to be ranked on the first page of the major search engine results. This will give you visibility and brings traffic to your site.

It helps if you understand the search process a little bit. Firstly you must be clear on what it is you have to offer, and who your target market is. When people are looking for something on the internet, they will type one or several words into the search field. Knowing what these words are is the first secret to ensure you make money from your blog. When you have this answer, you can then use tools such as Google Keyword Tool and find even more keywords and keyword phrases that your target market may be searching for.

Use these keywords and phrases as the focus for all content within your site. Write your posts to rank highly by selecting just one keyword or phrase for each separate post.

Quality Links

The second secret to make money from your blog is to sprinkle links to other highly ranking sites throughout your content. Sometimes these can be links to affiliate offers where you will get paid a commission if a purchase is made, or it could be to another post where the reader can learn more about a topic and this next post can also include links.

If you want to get started quickly you can join me in using a blogging platform which is my favourite. It's already optimized and linked to highly ranked authority sites. I love the fact that you can gain instant access and have a blog that is all set up and ready to go within minutes. All you need to do is to select the topic, product or service that you are going to start blogging about, and before you now it, you will see how easy it can be to make money from your blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Fay_McLean/526559

7 Steps For Results In Your Business - #7

So, here are the 7 daily action steps you must adopt to guarantee success in your business.

1. Personal Development,
2. Content Creation,
3. Posting and Sharing Content,
4. Developing New Relationships,
5. Fostering Existing Relationships,
6. Following Up With Current Prospects,
7. and Daily Gratitude.

Step #7 Daily Gratitude

Daily Gratitude is the last step. Simply show some appreciation. Send SMS message or make phone calls to people that you are grateful for. Do this every day. Determine that you are going to make a number of calls, send out text messages and personal messages to people, however you want to go about it, just make sure you do it. What this does is it connects us with others, you recognize how many people have helped you along the way. It actually gives you a feeling of wanting to give back. When you recognize it, it really feels so powerful. You cannot help but want to serve, to go out and produce that material and provide value. It definitely gives you an amazing sense of power and abundance.

In all, do what you do with love. Do what you do with a heart of service, and don't quit on your dreams because your dreams can come true. Now, possibly you are still unsure. Guess what, I was just like you. I had those uncertainties as well as those concerns. I didn't quit on my dreams. Even though there were times when I didn't know if I could do it. I knew there were other individuals just like me making it, leaders that built their business from nothing and accomplished things that were absolutely incredible.

Everyone has a different time frame and the only means to quicken your time frame is to actually take action.

If you've got some value from this piece begin to execute what you have learnt. Put your spin on it and create content you can share. And see some magic happen.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9684417