Jul28

Changing What We Believe

Posted at 7:50 PM • No Comments

I watched Breakthrough with Tony Robbins on fancast.com and once again was awed by the efforts of folks with greater challenges than I have at the moment.

Then I thought about the many business folks I know who go on about their lack of funds, money, time, education, other’s approval, blah blah blah. I started to wonder just what would happen if any one of us put 10% of the effort towards our business dreams that Frank and Kristen did in their challenge with Tony Robbins.

You know, you’ve heard it before… we all get the same 24 hours in a day – no more – no less. So what makes it work for some and not others. LUCK, you say! Hmmmm… Maybe.

But my experience with hundreds of small business folks is that the ‘lucky ones’ were ready! They knew where they were headed. They worked the plan. They learned or hired what they needed to accomplish their goals.

So the key? The key was knowing the “Opportunity” when it showed up. They weren’t so busy doing busyness…that they missed the business opportunity. THAT was their LUCK!

I encourage you to watch this show. Then think about the challenges in your life. Listen a moment to your self-talk. Then start the real challenge of changing your beliefs and challenging your preconceived notions.

Remember, YOU are really the pivotal point in your success. A plan, hard work, belief, willing to learn, willing to find people to help with those things you don’t know, know WHERE you want to go… and be ready when “Opportunity Knocks.”

That will be LUCK at your doorstep! Best to you! Ellie's signature

Jul15

WORK – and getting to YES!

Posted at 7:13 AM • 2 Comments

We all work. Some are lucky and talented enough to do what they love. Others have learned to love what they do. Some folks – both! But no matter your position, there are marvelous things to learn from the following 3 books. Enjoy!

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us… And it isn’t all about money. Like all things, once our basic shelter, food and safety is taken care of, there are other things that are often equal to or more important than money. They are Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose. I believe that budding entrepreneurs can learn a great deal about themselves by reading this book. Management definitely needs to read this if they want to keep great employees.

Author Daniel H. Pink is not just talking about the creative, highly skilled employees either. He gives perfect examples of the same drives in basic service jobs. A lesson to us all to see with new eyes the people who work all around us.

Right along with this book is Rework which is written by the founders of 37Signals, Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson. On the cover it reads: Ignore this book at your own peril!

Let me quote just one small part:

We’ve all seen job ads that say “Five years of experience required.” That may give you a number, but it tells you nothing.

….it requiring some baseline… It makes sense to go after candidates with six months to a year of experience. It takes that long to internalize the idoms, learn how things work, understand the relevant tools, etc.

But after that, the curve flattens out. There’s surprisingly little difference between a candidate with six months of experience and one with six years. The real difference comes from the individual’s dedication, personality and intelligence.

The bold is mine! WOW! There’s a thought provoker. This is an awesome book and speaks to anyone looking for the best employees today and in the future. The beautiful part is in the end when they talk about Inspiration.

Inspiration is perishable… a magical thing, a productivity multiplier, a motivator. But it won’t wait for you. Inspiration is a now thing. If it grabs you, grab it right back and put it to work.

The third book I just completed is by Robert B. Cialdini:Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive. This is a most interesting book. But more importantly, their continual reminder that ethical persuasion IS possible and is valuable to all involved in the transaction. The book is not anecdotal, but instead gives many examples from small business to corporations, to international situations.

This easy to read little book has something for every business/entrepreneur. Take time to read it. You won’t be disappointed. You may be very surprised at the small things that can make a BIG difference! But here is an intriguing example:

… trimeth labs are more commonly known as coffee shops…. we doubt Howard Schultz (Starbucks Corp.) ever dreamed that the beverages he’d made available on every street corner and in every shopping mall could be a potential tool of influence and persuasion.

…Shortly after drinking the juice (spiked with caffeine) all the participants read a series of messages containing very good arguments advocating a certain position on a controversial issue. Those who had consumed the caffeinated beverages before reading these arguments were 35 percent more favorably disposed toward that position that were those who drank the unadulterated drink.

…the results showed that caffeine has little persuasive power reading messages containing weak arguments!

…Given a choice, then, you should make your presentations when people are most alert – shortly after they’ve had their morning coffee fix, and never right after lunch.

There you are- although it’s been nearly 2 months since I’ve posted, in that time I’ve enjoyed these books. Let me know if any of them inspire you!
Ellie's signature

May21

Are you aware that people ARE listening?

Posted at 10:08 AM • One Comment

In our busy world where it seems everyone is talking (and causes me to often wonder if ANYone is listening), the book titled:  Listen proves to be quite thought-provoking.

All of us who peruse the internet can learn from this book. The things we say on FB and Twitter and many other social sites should possibly be considered a tad more carefully. I leave that decision to each of you.

But the compelling novel, Listen by Renee Gutteridge talks of the value of words in all aspects of our lives, not just what we may read on the internet social networks. It reminds me that “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but names will never hurt you,” is far from true. Yes, we can survive. But words do hurt.

Each of us know situations that ring true to the novel. Whether our own experience or someone we love, we know that words can damage and hurt. Words are not without power. Quite often, the burden is carried silently while eroding one’s self-confidence.

Remember “the pen IS mightier than the sword.” There is a reason that reading has often been kept from various classes of peoples throughout history. Words – words are powerful. Within words are knowledge. But also within words are the ability to cripple.

Don’t get me wrong. I firmly believe in speaking up regarding our values, etc. But here we’re talking about the little things – the whispers, the side comments, the politician who thinks his microphone is turned off. These small uses of words quite often can create ever growing ripples of hurt, like throwing a stone into a calm pond and watching the ripple effect.

Why should it matter? Because it speaks to our integrity. Damaging, off the cuff comments can totally ruin our business as well as our personal image. We all know that the ugly and bad will whisk around the globe at cyberspeed compared to the good.

So, grab the book. Take a day to read Listen. I’d love to hear your comments, not only in direct reference to the book, but in reference to how connected your personal words are with your business image when it meets in cyberspace. What do you think?

Does your business image support your personal integrity? Should it? Can you have integrity while having two different codes of ethics – business and personal? As the world grows more connected, the line will grow thinner. Where do you stand?

Would love to hear from you.

Warmly,

Ellie's signature

May17

Annoying autosound on websites and blogs

Posted at 1:19 PM • No Comments

In updating my local site, havre de grace – the meeting place, I was double checking links when I discovered a number of local businesses using sound on their websites and blogs. Now, I don’t really mind that at all. In fact a lot of it I truly enjoy!

But let me ask you this: Do you get annoyed when watching tv and the commercials come on blaring? Do you listen to your computer via headphones so that you’re not bothering anyone else in the family?

Well, then. Maybe all those folks creating sound that starts automatically upon bringing up a website might want to think again. It may seem innocuous. But, believe me, if I have headphones on (or it’s late in the evening), a jarring audio on a website will have me growling phrases that should not be repeated in public!

Plus, if there is lots to read – and I am one of those that loves to read, it is most annoying to hear the music repeat over and over and over ad nauseum. Interestingly, some sites don’t even have a way to quickly turn it off. You can’t even find the little audio skin with controls to turn it on or off.

It’s the same problem as those flash entry pages that say you can “CLICK HERE” if you want to move on to the actual site! Why wouldn’t I want to get to the actual site. That’s most likely what I searched for, maybe even directly typed in the URL. Yep, it’s all cute and flashy, but is it what your visitor wants?

Here are my suggestions if you want your site to be visitor-friendly:

  1. If your site is promoting your business and you want folks to linger and learn more about you, do NOT have your audio automatically play. Place an audio bar and highlight that they can turn it on and listen.
  2. Do NOT have audio on every page, especially if it’s repeating automatically. (I may love your restaurant but hate the site’s Italian Opera, Hungarian, Greek, whatever!)
  3. Have you created an audio-message for your visitor? Again, make it one that they click to listen to it. After all, you want them to return again and again. They’ll get sick of hearing the auto-repeated message if they’re frequent visitors. Note: If you change it regularly, find a way to let them know that by a title frame, date, etc.

Okay, there are always exceptions. But I can’t think of a reason to have sound come blaring on without being polite enough to ask my permission to listen. This means placing a comment, title frame, etc. on the skin that says “Listen here”

Think about the last time you were annoyed by a loud ad, or a change in the volume on the tv. Now ask yourself if you want that same reaction from the visitors to your website. Remember, it’s not cute if I just growled at you. And it often will cause a visitor to decide to not return.

If you place audio (or audio in your slideshow or video) on your site, be user-friendly. Invite them to turn on the audio. That way, if you’re leaving relevant information for your visitors, they’ll be more apt to return to listen to what you have to offer. Your concern for their comfort (and eardrums) will go a long way towards creating a positive relationship via your website and blog.

Success to you… warmly,

Ellie's signature

May12

Entrepreneurial Dreaming

Posted at 9:50 AM • No Comments

Just finished reading (for the third time) The Big Idea: How to Make Your Entrepreneurial Dreams Come True, From the Aha Moment to Your First Million by Donny Deutsch. Yes, the same guy who hosted a CNBC show by the same name a few years back.

When I’m watching the news and feeling as though the economy is totally out of control (or at the very least I feel I have no control), I like to read books like The BIG IDEA. The entreprenuerial spirit needs to be re-fueled every now and then. This book definitely adds to that fire.

I find this book encouraging, thought-provoking, and full of resources. Of course, there is no get-rich-quick scheme here. There are no guarantees – merely the freedom to pursue our dream. But like a number of the other books I’ve reviewed on this blog, The BIG IDEA encourages you to run with your idea.

Are you one of those folks who has said, “Golly, I had that idea years ago but didn’t do anything with it.” Or maybe you commented that you didn’t have the money to follow it through, so you did nothing.

Well, that’s a major difference between the successful and the wannabe successful. You can’t be successful, if you don’t act on your ideas. I know, I know. That’s a pretty obvious statement to make.

But so often we forget the old saying, “Luck (success) is when hard work meets opportunity.” Without taking action on an idea, the rest just never happens.

Throughout the book there are stories of moms, dads, teens, grandmas and grandpas who ran with their ideas. In the majority of cases, they were either prodded by their economic situation, a need to care for family, or a desire to not be lost to a sense of boredom.

That’s the reason there are so many rags to riches stories. But what if it was an idea that merely added $1,000 to your monthly budget. No, that won’t get you to the Fortune 100 list. But would it add to your quality of life? Without a doubt!

In reading The Big Idea: How to Make Your Entrepreneurial Dreams Come True, From the Aha Moment to Your First Million I find myself thinking of my ideas and how I might use them to add to my quality of life. Surely I would love to be a millionaire. I admit there are days when I dream about what I would do with a million dollars. How I’d help my family. My friends. Start a foundation.

But I wonder how many great ideas actually made it to the ‘million dollar category’ by first being done to add to an individual’s quality of life?

Grab this book and give it a read. Then rather than “not starting anything,” consider one of your ideas and how it might be developed to add to your quality of life. Then just let it grow!

Keep your eye on the dream – the big idea. But by focusing on adding to your immediate quality of life, you’ll get started. Isn’t that often our biggest fear! Continue working the idea. Who knows… luck (success) may be just around the corner.

If you are successful in any way-  quality of life or millionaire status, please send me an email and share your story.

Here’s to your …. next step!

Warmly,

Ellie's signature

May6

The only purpose of starting is to finish…

Posted at 9:57 AM • One Comment

I’m still trying to take in all the wisdoms of the book, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

Seth Godin speaks to my entrepreneurial soul. I’m guessing he’ll speak to yours… or at the very least, ruffle some feathers. That, too, is good.

I’m most inspired by his statement from the title of this post: The only purpose of starting is to finish…

The artist, creator, inventor, out-of-the-box thinker tends to want to tweak something one more time. Wait, just let me ‘touch up the painting.’ Oh no, my proposal must be reviewed one more time. Please, let me get all my facts and designs all lined up. Stop, I have to organize my thoughts before I say anything. Wait, that label just isn’t the perfect shade of color. And the tweaking goes on and on and on.

But that’s also how the gifts of the entrepreneur, artist, creative person never make it to light. So an invention that might change humanity, a creative piece that could brighten the world, or the unique idea that could set your business above your competition, they never get shipped.

When your resistance gives you all the reasons for not shipping, the idea begins to die. Soon it becomes a pattern. We suffer silently and become part of the I coulda, shoulda, woulda crowd.

Seth writes:

I think the discipline of shipping is essential in the long-term path to becoming indispensable. … over time-rather quickly, actually-you’ll see that shipping becomes part of the art and shipping makes it work.

I can tell dozens of stories of business people and artists that I know who just haven’t shipped. They have the goods, idea, unique product, paintings, but never finish. They tweak. They talk about soon. They say tomorrow. But it’s never shipped.

All the stories we read of success in any area of life requires shipping! In other words, the Olympic Gold Medalist had to enter the first contest. The artist had to paint lots of paintings and sell them. The writer must send the manuscript to the editor or self-publish. But if it lays on her desk, it’s never shipped!

We wait for perfect. But the road to success is created by shipping the imperfect! Then we can tweak it. Ship again. Soon something quite wonderful can often happen. Something changes in our world. We have the possiblity of getting better at our art and our shipping.

But if it’s never shipped, it can’t be improved upon. It can’t be gifted to the world. Genius and creativity and out-of-the box thinking cannot be released to be savored by our world.

So to all of those folks out their with an idea: start shipping!

You’re right! It may not bring you success. It may not change the world. It may not be the right solution. But the certainty is that if it’s never put out there, nothing will happen.

Here’s to those who start shipping!

May5

Are YOU indispensable?

Posted at 10:19 AM • No Comments

WOW… all of my life I’ve been saying to folks who are trying to be perfectionists or working way too many hours thinking “no one else will/can do it like THEY do”, to remember that no one is indispensable, even presidents die and the country continues. hmmmm

Seth Godin’s book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?
 has me reconsidering this response. But more importantly, he’s given me a new look at the character of “indispensable.” This oft repeated quote from Seth Godin’s book says it all:

Every day I meet people who have so much to give but have been bullied enough or frightened enough to hold it back. It’s time to stop complying with the system, and draw your own map. You have brilliance in you, your contribution is essential, and the art you must create is precious. Only you can do it, and you must.

At first reading you might be thinking, “Well, I’m no Einstein, Mother Teresa, Ghandi, Mandela or even a Steve Jobs or a Bill Gates.” If you just did that, then you absolutely must read this book.

Seth Godin is not talking about the reported brilliance we read about  or see in movies or television. He’s not saying we should go for the Pulitzer Prize or Olympic Gold. Nor is he  saying you should do all the ‘busywork’ that prevents us from being our best selves.

He’s talking about the gift each of us has. Yours may be a better system for the production plant where you work. Possibly it’s a vision you have for reworking the displays in your employer’s store. Or maybe you’re sitting on a business idea that you’re just too afraid to move forward on. So you don’t invest time in creating a plan.

What he’s not talking about is ego, making millions, or even being noticed. Instead, if I can even come close to digesting this wonderful book, he is asking each of us to discover our ‘art.’ That’s right: our art! Yours – and – mine!

Art isn’t only a painting; it’s anything that changes someone for the better, any nonanonymous interaction that leads to a human (not simply a commercial) conclusion.

He goes on to discuss the ‘gift’ in art. Then takes that concept and moves through various paths to our economy, our work, our community, our sense of satisfaction.

The result of this art, these risks, the gifts, and the humanity coming together is both wonderful and ironic.

Now read the book. Tilt your head slightly and consider a different perspective. Discover your art and choose to make a difference. Hold fast to your vision and no longer wait for something to change. As Capt. Picard says in Star Trek: The Next Generation,

“Engage.”

There is no map because it is your vision. No one knows the gift you can give better than you know. So step into the universe and “Make it so.” (Picard on Start Trek: The Next Generation.)

Apr30

5 Ways Non-Profits Need to Listen

Posted at 9:46 AM • 4 Comments

I’ve been thinking about Non-Profits as they, too, struggle with budget cuts, decreased grants, and less donations. As I looked over the book reviews, I realized that Non-Profits need to get their head out of the sand as well as small business.

Holding out your hand, passing the plate, and talking the ’cause’ is no longer enough to survive. The fact is that most of the folks you’re talking to have the same problems – less income or having to scatter it to more places – and the always just-under-the-surface fear of what tomorrow may bring.

Okay, I’m not particularly pessimistic. But I am realistic. Non-profits are now able to bombard us with ‘calls to action’ just as profitable businesses can. So, how do you stand out from the crowd?

I have a couple thoughts:

  1. First, is your website updated?
  2. Does your website have ‘stories’? In other words, are you sharing the human interest stories that might move another human being to become interested in your organization.
  3. Are you getting your contact info out to everyone – or do you assume they know? Remember: Who – What – When – Where – Why and How.
  4. Are you presenting yourself hat-in-hand? Or are you being pro-active. Be creative and present it in a way that someone gets excited about promoting you.
  5. Are you expecting that folks will just promote you because you’re a non-profit? Or are you figuring out how to fit your story into the media that you want to promote you?

Sound difficult? Well, actually, I can think of several examples.

  1. Tell your story. Not all the typical press release ‘stuff’. If your organization offers money for historic preservation, for example, then tell the story of a building kept in the family, the renovations completed, the new business that opened there, and the apartments now rented. Tell the story. The amount of money, the who’s who of departments and organizations, etc are small parts to the general public. The story matters to a greater audience. Tell your story.
  2. EVENTS HAVE A STORY, TOO. Don’t just give the standard description that you use year after year. Find one or two items to highlight and use them to attract your audience. If you have unqiue talent or a great background story, share it. Make the event personal – not about donating money… but why it would be of interest to attend.
  3. GIVE THE SCHEDULE DETAILS. This seems obvious. But if you have a variety of activities occurring, there’s nothing worse than a family showing up for something to find that it already happened or it’ll be 4 hours later. This simple item can make it easier for people to visit the activity within your event that they’ll enjoy.
  4. NETWORK. In business, networking the right way means to look for ways to help another business. Build a relationship. Not just what works for you. People will spot you right away as more of a user and less a networker, if it’s always about you. It’s no different for a Non-Profit organization. Are you remembering to say ‘thanks’ to the folks who give you press. Do you even notice? Or do you just notice when you;re left out of something? Do you link the ‘freebies’ to your website? All of this builds relationships. And there are lots of other ways, as well.
  5. IF YOU THINK IT’S UNFAIR THAT A FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS IS BENEFITTING FROM YOUR ACTIVITY, GET OVER IT! That’s right. Keep reminding yourself that without profitable businesses, you would not have individuals able to donate time, money or gifts. If I have no job, I can’t do much for you. If my business isn’t successful, I can’t bid on your big auction items. So find better ways to work WITH your business community. Non-Profit and Businesses are not opposite entities. The Non-Profit can’t survive without profitable business. After all, without profitable business, no one pays taxes. Thus even your grants, low-interest loans, and such won’t be available without a thriving economy, which is profitable business. When you change your attitude, you’ll discover new ways to work with businesses and individuals so that the effort works for everyone.

I know. You already do this.

Do you? I don’t see it a lot. Yes, it IS work. But businesses don’t survive and grow without building relationships with customers, vendors, etc. A Non-Profit that is successful requires the same attention to developing relationships.

Get past the cause and start thinking about the benefits to someone else in supporting your organization. You can definitely stand-out in the crowd that’s presently holding their hats out. But it takes thought, a plan, and then serious action.

Have a brainstorming session with your organization and create your plans for listening, building relationships, and creating a better public image. If no one knows what your organization really does except when attend your annual meeting, then you’re not building relationships. Don’t assume anything. Start telling your story. Listen to those folks who don’t get your organization, or aren’t interested, etc. Create ways to reach them. Find a way to give the family member who loves your organization a way to entice the rest of his family.

One last example: I’m reminded of my friend, Capt. Karl, who realized quickly that having the havredegrace Magazine as part of his promotion for his fishing charters actually brought him more business. WHY? Because the fishing person said, “wow, now I can bring the family because there’s lots they can do here. They won’t be so upset when I’m out fishing!”

Much success to those of you who work on your organization just as a successful business must do.

Warmly,

Ellie's signature

Apr29

Do you think Facebook is enough?

Posted at 10:26 AM • 2 Comments

As a small business that loves the opportunities presented by the ‘reach’ of the internet, I am continually dismayed by the lack of thought – and later commitment – businesses make to their use of this wonderful tool.

Mitch Joel in his exciting and very readable book, Six Pixels of Separation, takes on all these attitudes, fads, trends and puts them together for you. Yes, it’s chock-full of possibilities, but it’s the attitude and commitment that he insists is necessary.

In a matter of hours you can have a FB account, be on Twitter, and have your own blog. And in seconds – yes, seconds – someone can be doing a search and find you.

If you fear your privacy, Mitch Joel explains that it’s probably already too late. But you CAN take charge of much that’s out there. This book shows you how.

You’re probably thinking that with all that ‘chatter’ on the internet, who is listening? And with all the ‘drivel’, who really cares? Those questions have merit. But, if you’re a small business owner, you’ll realize that all of this chatter, when used for your business, is not about selling, but about creating relationships. It’s about being transparent. It’s about listening to your customers. It’s about conversation!

Not many small businesses get it yet. They think posting activities on FB while letting their website become outdated is okay. Then they wonder why they’re not getting the response they want from the social media. Bottom line, your website is where you send your new customers and friends who are having conversations with you. You build relationships, THEN you share your business.

These are challenging times. These are exciting times. If you want to get a better idea of what can really happen – and IS happening – in the digital world, read this book.

Consider this: we’ve all heard of Six Degrees of Separation…. it’s now Six Pixels!! So hop on the train and find your little niche in the digital world!

Warmly, Ellie's signature

Apr28

Book Review first thing tomorrow

Posted at 10:49 AM • No Comments

Hi all! Sorry I’m running late. I’ll have my book review for you tomorrow (Thurs). Please check back then for Six Pixels of Separation by Mitch Joel.

In the meantime, visit my city site and see all the fun things happening for our big SPRING weekend. See you ’round town.

Warmly, Ellie's signature