Strategies to Thrive in Any Economy; Survive Recession; Peak Performance

Strategies to thrive in any economy

Peak performers excel in any economy because they make things happen and don’t watch things happening.  Peak performers whether in business, sports, ministry or any other field are committed to constant and never ending improvement.  In an environment that is changing constantly and rapidly, improvement is necessary to remain relevant.

 

So how does one thrive in any economy? The writer of Ecclesiastes recommends, sharpening the blade. In his own words “Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.”

 

Jim Rohn, a famous success expert says, “Formal education is good and will earn you a living but continuous personal development will earn you a fortune.”  This is not an attempt to discount formal education but an expression of the fact that personal development is a pre-requisite for lasting success. 3 out of the 10 ten richest people are college drop-outs, 5 inherited their riches and only two finished college. (Forbes 400 Magazine)How did they do it? Amongst other things they were committed to continuous personal development of their dream and vision.

The first step in mapping a personal development strategy is to take a personal inventory of your skills in relation to the goal/s you want to achieve.  This will enable you to map a strategy on books you need to read, seminars you need to attend and any coaching you may require.  Coaching is an easy and fast way to increase your knowledge from people who are experienced in the field you are looking to improve in.  I recommend you interview a couple of coaches for a good fit before settling for one.

 

Join an association related to your career or business.  In America, there is a trade association for every career/profession.  Find out if there is a local chapter near you and make time to attend the meetings.  The meetings are normally monthly with most having an annual convention.  I recently joined the National Speakers Association (NSA) to improve my speaking business/ministry and I can’t tell you how much it has helped me improve!  If you are a speaker you may want to consider visiting our website www.nsaspeaker.org to look for your local chapter and pay them a visit. The Georgia chapter is www.nsageorgia.com.

 

After you identify an association you wish to join, attend a couple of meetings as a guest and see if it will be relevant to your personal developmental goals.  After you decide to join, make sure you make time to attend the meetings! It is amazing how many people sign up at the gym and only attend a couple of times a year yet their bank/credit accounts are debited monthly and the weight continues to increase.  Who is to blame? I wonder! Making time to attend is an intentional adjustment you will need to make in order to grow and benefit from what the association has to offer.  You can’t afford not to show up after signing up!  Make the time.

 

Personal development requires a lot of discipline.  Not only will you have to make time to show up, you will need to start making changes.  I have a special notebook that I carry to my NSA meetings. I take notes at the meeting of the best practices, every good information that is shared that is relevant to what I am doing and of course everything the guest speaker shares.  I high light things I need to put into practice and I do so immediately. 

 

Finally, when you join an association, intentionally make new friends!  That was for me!  I am a super introvert but I am making the adjustment.  Thank God at NSA Georgia, we have a program that helps new comers to meet other members.  The program has different action steps on meeting the association members who have been there longer. And if one finishes the action steps s/he gets a microphone lapel pin.  That program has been tremendously helpful because now when I attend every month with a target of fulfilling two or three of the action steps! Please feel free to contact me if you need more information.

 

This weekend take an inventory of areas you need to grow and do something about it.  Remember the best plan will not work unless you do and with God on your side ALL things are possible!

 

To your success!

Recession Proof Your Life!

I was recently at a meeting where everyone was asked to share tips on recession proofing a business.  I was suddenly very glad that I had chosen to sit right at the back of the room because it dawned on me that I had not been participating in the bad economy and therefore had no tips to share!

I barely listened as people stood and proudly shared their tips.  I was having a serious debate with my Personal Coach, the Holy Spirit who always has an answer! Soon my turn came and I knew I had to speak the truth! It is that truth that I want to share with you today in the hope that it will set you free from any fear and alarm the media may have injected into you with their incessant talks on Issue #1 – the recession!

I told the people at the meeting that I did not have any tips because I was not participating in the recession and that I operated in Divine Wisdom and universal laws which states “Give freely and become wealthier; be stingy and lose everything”.  Prv 11: 24

 

I don’t suggest pretending that the gas prices are not rising.  I recommend that you give more freely and expect to receive more so that you can have more than enough to pay for gas at any price!

Apostle Paul gave the best advice on giving that still applies today and can help you in this regard.  He said,

“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, they share freely and give generously to the poor.  Their good deeds will be remembered forever. For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.” 2 Cor 9: 1-10

Operating in Divine Wisdom is a lifestyle.  And I can’t think of a better time to use the time tested wisdom from the bible in order to thrive.

How can you apply this wisdom to your business? Very easy, give away something of value with no strings attached to your clients.  This will help you retain current clients, attract new ones and you will begin to attract unexpected favors that you can’t explain. Let your “value offering” be something that will add value to your client and of reasonable cost to you.

Persistence – A Non-Negotiable for Winners

Issue #1 in “Dynamics of a Winning Buy-in” is persistence.  What is persistence

and why is it a non-negotiable for winners?  The dictionary defines it as to persist to continue steadfastly or fimraly in some state, purpose, course of actio or the like, especially in spite of oppostion. The emphasis is mine, so that I can draw your attention to why its a non-negotiable for a winner to be persistent.

 In the process of getting a buy-in for you GPSI, you will encounter oppositon, you will be tempted to quit, you will experience self-opposition when your tells you its not doable, but you have to determine to continue steadfastly. Believe that with God all things are possible and that your GPSI is of much value! Think of the value people will miss if you do not follow through on getting out your GPSI?

Napoleon Hill in his book, “Think and Grow Rich” has 4 steps which lead to the habit of persistence. They call for no great amount of intelligence, no particular amount of education and little time or effort.

The necessary steps are:

1. A definite purpose backed by burning desire for its fulfilment.
2. A definite plan, expressed in continuous action.
3. A mind closed tightly against all negative and discouraging influences, including  negative suggestions of relatives, friends and acquaintances.
4. A friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage one to follow through with both plan and purpose.

These steps are essential for success in all walks of life. (Excerpt from Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill)

When you realize that your GPSI is valuable, your persistence genes will kick in.  Resist the temptation of seeing yourself as a bug and consider the value you will be adding to your prospect.

So how do you persist in getting a buy-in without being a bug? Discover your prospects need, match it with the value you are bringing and you will begin to experience greater wins.

Happy 4th of July! Enjoy the gift of Liberty, Love, Joy and Peace!

 

 

 

For previous issues of Excellent Edge please visit www.excellentimage.org or enjoy a cup of coffee and share your thoughts with us today.

 

Persuasion – the Secret to Winning Consistently

When was the last time you tried to persuade someone about an issue or persuade them to do something for you? Nobody’s listening, so take your time and be totally honest.  What was your thought process before the persuasion, during the persuasion and after the persuasion? Were you thinking of what you would gain if they agreed or were you thinking of what they would gain?  Remember we agreed on 100 honesty ok! Those of you who answered truthfully probably said your focus was on the benefit you would gain, and that’s ok because honesty is the best policy.  To the rest of you, I need to sign up to your school of persuasion because you have it made! LOL!

 

 

The dictionary defines “persuade” as to cause somebody to adopt a certain position belief or course of action.  That’s powerful!  To get people to buy your GPSI (Goods, Products, Services or Ideas) will involve you getting them to change their belief or position.  And normally it’s a position in their mind, commonly known as a paradigm.  If you can get them to shift their paradigm, the deal is closed, you have won!

 

Persuasion is a skill.  I call it a skill because it can be learned. When you are persuading someone, you are selling them the value of your GPSI.  It is getting them to exchange what they believe about their problem or situation for the hope that your GPSI offers. It’s an exchange where BOTH parties should benefit. If you look at winning from this perspective, your winning rate will increase tremendously. Jesus Christ was a great persuader and He used questions and parables to persuade people.  Study the letters in red in your bible and see for yourself. The good news is that you can apply His style today and still win. To be an effective persuader you will need to be clear on at least 3 facts:

 

1.  What problem do you solve?  This will form the basis of your parable or should I say story since we are not living in bible days.  Form a parable based on the reality of your audience. Drive the point home by using language and symbols they can relate to. Focus more on your audience than on getting your way, and you will still get you way! Sounds like a parable doesn’t it?

 

2. Believe in your GPSI and the value it adds to your audience. Most of my coaching clients are entrepreneurs seeking to go to the next level. During our sessions one of their assignments is to describe the value they offer. More often than not, they look at their GPSI as something that comes easily to them and they tend to unconsciously devalue it. So my job then becomes to help them realize that what may come easily to them, doesn’t come as easily to their clients and that is why their client is hiring them! You will be amazed at the revolution this simple discovery brings to our sessions! Devaluing your GPSI consciously or unconsciously will weaken your persuasion and when your persuasion is weak you are likely going to lose the deal.  See the spiral effect? This misconception tends to be one of the major self sabotaging behaviors that hinder people from breaking through to the next level.  Do you believe in the value of your GPSI? Think of all the things that you do easily and often for free and you could be on the path to discovering your GPSI.

 

3. Ask “Aha” questions. An “Aha” question is a question that leaves your audience going, “I see”. Your GPSI solves a problem or meets a need and your “aha” question unveils that need to your audience.  Effective persuaders do not pre-judge or assume, they ask questions.  Jesus was good at asking “aha” questions.  Remember when He met the lame man at the pool of Bethesda?  The Bible says,

“When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, He asked     him,

“Would you like to get well?”

“I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

            Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!”

 

That was an “aha” question which normally requires a “yes” or “no” answer. However, the man started stories like some people you know do and almost missed his moment.  Has it ever occurred to you that the man was made without even stepping into the pool where he had sat after 38 years!  Jesus must have been trying to get him to see, your problem is not getting into the pool, it’s getting up and walking.  Just have faith!

 

Asking your audience questions will help you identify their unique needs so that you can position them to buy your GPSI.  It will also help your audience make the appropriate shift in order to buy without the feeling of manipulation.

 

For free “aha” questions, send an email to subscriptions@excellentimage.org briefly stating your GPSI and I will send them out to you.

 

You can read previous series at www.excellentimage.org in the Excellent Edge page.

 

Next week we will look at Issue # 1 and what it means to the faith community.  Feel free to post your questions.  Till then remember your GPSI is valuable and the world is waiting for you to deliver it!

 

Blessings!

 

Clear the Clutter and Get Ready to Attract Big Profits!

If an angel appeared to grant you one wish what would it be?  Remember just one? You will be amazed how many people do not have a clear cut answer to that question. The clearer you are about what you want the sooner you will attract it!  Ok wait a minute, you will need to invest some sweat equity, like zeroing in on what exactly it is that you want. If you are not happy of the results you are getting you, can’t afford to continue doing the same thing because you will continue getting results that you don’t want! It has also been proven over the years that complaining and blaming others will not change your results. The first step to changing your results is changing your actions steps. Take a break and check in: Are you happy or unhappy about your current results? What has been your responsibility, the action steps you have taken to allow these results to come to you? What action steps can you exchange in order to change you results?

If people are always asking you to do things you don’t like, instead of complaining about them, come up with clever polite ways of saying “no” and see the result of “people taking advantage of me” walk away from you!  Let me hear your examples and for clever polite ways of saying “no”  email subscriptions@excellentimage.org  with the results you are getting and I will send you tips on “Clever Polite No’s”

Make it a great day.