Finding Solutions Outside of the Office

Talk with a trusted friend to find business solutionsYesterday, I took the advice from chapter two (Network Marketing, Solo Style) of my book.

I’m facing a business dilemma and left the office to discuss it at a tea room with a good friend.

We ordered tea, chose a table, and immediately began discussing my problem. Within five minutes she presented a solution. It’s one that was in front of me all along but needed to be revealed by her.

Why didn’t I meet with my friend before the problem overwhelmed me instead of stay in my office cocoon? There’s a simple answer to this: I thought I could handle it on my own. Isn’t that what you think, too?

Family members and corporate employees rarely understand our unique problems. Talking to them can be frustrating. That’s why it’s best to turn to a like-minded person.

I invested two hours of time and $11.99 for tea and cookies to remove the problem, and even if there was no solution found during that time, getting out of the office invigorated my day.

What dilemma are you facing? I bet that help from a trust source will end your madness.

Technorati Tags: , , ,

If the information shared here benefits your success, please subscribe to my RSS feed!

April 3, 2008 | Filed Under Networking, Problems & Solutions, Solo Housekeeping | Leave a Comment 

Five Ways to Know You’re a Teleseminar Junkie Instead of a Successful Marketer

Teleseminars are beneficial; too many waste timeDuring my first ten years of marketing presentations, I’d see some of the same people in the audience. And guess what? Those people asked me the same questions after every event.

I thought I was in a time warp until some friends, also in the audience to support me, noticed the same behavior from these attendees.

The next time I spoke, I offered the group new advice.

Don’t become a professional seminar attendee. Take parts of what you learn here to create a more-successful business in the coming year.

These events occurred before the Internet became popular, and now that many experts make their messages available by telephone, you may find yourself in a similar, yet virtual, situation.

Have you noticed how much teleseminars (seminars delivered by telephone) have grown in quantity? I seem to receive an invitation to one by Email every day. How about you?

In January I promised myself to only attend teleseminars that elevated my knowledge about an area of business I knew nothing or little about but required for growth. To date I’m on track.

I’m sure the same is true for you, but in case you’re in need of a detox, I’ve created a list of five ways to tell if you’ve become a teleseminar junkie and easy solutions to get back on track. Read more

If the information shared here benefits your success, please subscribe to my RSS feed!

March 25, 2008 | Filed Under Conferences, Offline Ideas, Problems & Solutions | Leave a Comment 

Try the Side Door if the Front Door is Closed

Let nothing stop your marketing opportunitiesHave you read about Wal-Mart’s attempt to open a bank in the U.S.? I heard about it a few years ago and recently learned the outcome in Fortune’s February 4th issue.

According to the update, the retail giant ended its bid to start a U.S.-based bank, but that didn’t stop them from opening banks elsewhere. They scored a win in Mexico.

“In November, Wal-Mart de Mexico opened its first consumer bank, Banco Wal-Mart, in Toloca; the company plans to launch 80 more by the end of the year.”

One of their plans is to make it more convenient for Mexicans working in the U.S. to send money to relatives living in Mexico. The article estimates this remittance market at $23 billion.

Wal-Mart was determined to provide banking services somewhere on the planet, and since U.S. banks blocked them, they took this service elsewhere. Would you do the same if denied access to a particular niche?

I’m facing a similar dilemma as I try to secure a speaking engagement in Texas. The situation isn’t exactly the same, but it does illustrate that the road isn’t always straight when moving forward to the goal line.

I’ve done everything possible to get a meeting planner’s attention, and there’s another wrinkle. The planner is newly hired, so she may not be the right person to contact. Simply put, I’ve hit a wall.

This week, I’ll try another approach. I’m working with two other planners who may know how best to get this group’s attention so that I can speak in their facility this summer. In most industries it’s too late to book an assignment, but not in this one, which is why I’m still pursuing it. I should know by week’s end if I’m successful or not.

Wal-Mart is a huge corporation, but their example of going outside of your first preference to get what you want is a wise lesson for us. You don’t end your mission if someone erects a wall. You:

  • Scale it
  • Walk, jog, or run around it
  • Tunnel through it
  • Dig under it

    • There’s a way to overcome marketing challenges. Make sure you have plenty of alternative plans ready to successfully complete the project.

    Follow Up: Visibility Magazine, mentioned in one of last week’s posts, is not a free magazine. My apology for not checking on this before including it with the other publications.

    Technorati Tags: , , , , ,

    If the information shared here benefits your success, please subscribe to my RSS feed!

    March 24, 2008 | Filed Under Offline Ideas, Problems & Solutions | Leave a Comment 

    Is It Time for Virtual Assistance?

    Finding help is good for your businessI’m understanding more each day that in order to move forward as a successful solo business owner, I’ll need some type of on-site or virtual support staff to assist me.

    Doing everything, controlling everything, and thinking that no one else could possibly complete tasks to my specifications will burn me out of business, whether it’s this year or next.

    If you’re at the same crossroads, perhaps finding assistance is a goal you’ve set for yourself. Even if it’s on a back burner, that’s a good start to locating support rather than not considering it at all.

    This article on hiring a virtual assistant will begin shaping your ideas. Friends and colleagues may also provide insight if they’re currently outsourcing tasks and/or projects.

    I have one friend who’s mentoring me. She tells me how she locates assistants, what she does before hiring them, and how she monitors their progress. Her support is invaluable and much better than winging it on my own, which is the situation I’m attempting to change.

    Is outsourcing support part of your solo business plan?

    Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

    If the information shared here benefits your success, please subscribe to my RSS feed!

    February 26, 2008 | Filed Under Problems & Solutions, Solo Housekeeping | Leave a Comment 

    ← Previous Page — Next Page →