I used to think that the more skills I had, the more successful I would be. As I discovered, that’s not necessarily the case.
Each of us only has a limited number of hours in the day. We can’t do everything. What’s most important is not how hard we work, but how smart we work.
Are you with me?
Question #1: What’s the #1 priority every visionary business leader needs to focus on? (Hint: It’s not just what you do…)
Answer: Marketing. (We all need to be doing marketing consistently. If people don’t know what benefits you offer, how can they buy from you or support your cause?)
How you do your marketing makes all the difference…
Most of us are so busy working IN our business that we don’t spend enough time working ON our business. So, how can we get more time? Read on….
QUESTIONS #2: What’s more valuable than your skills?
ANSWER:SYSTEMS are more valuable than your SKILLS!
The facts are – it takes an average of eight touches before prospects convert into clients. That takes time. In order to keep in touch without getting exhausted, we all need systems in place to grow our business.
An important system is right before you. It’s the reason why we’re able to communicate now. It’s the hidden tool behind this email marketing message.
It’s called an auto-responder — a software program that automatically reaches out and responds to people on my behalf.
This system got activated when you chose to “opt-in” for my free story strategy guide. You gave me your name and email with permission to keep in touch, in exchange for something of value. (Of course, you can unsubscribe at any
time… and I’d be sorry to see you go!)
An opt in can be anything that’s relevant to what you do, and helpful for your audience — from a checklist, a guide, or a training video to ten free blue ribbons that honor people! (See: http://www.blueribbons.org)
Having a system in place cultivates relationships, saves you time, and grows your business.
If you’d like to learn more about creating an engaging landing page to get you more results, let me know. Our team is happy to give you more details.
Also, if you know youth who’d like to get involved, feel free to reach out to him!
You’ll learn from an amazing leader, my talented friend Charmaine Hammond, about creating your own Virtual Book Tour. There’s nothing like it. You’ll get insider tips to generate media exposure, build marketing strategies and sell more books. This half-day workshop happens on October 28th. Very affordable too!I signed up right away because Charmaine is incredibly smart, insightful and delivers tremendous value. Her tips helped me attract sponsors for my children’s book. She has many years of expertise in building impact for corporate clients, nonprofits and entrepreneurs, and can help you too. Want to join me?
Please know that I only promote people who I know personally, and who have proven expertise in making a big difference to others.
It’s never too late to go after your dreams too. I urge you to keep learning. Go outside your comfort zone. And step into your greatness. The world needs you.
Thanks for your positivity. Keep your light shining!
P.S. You can learn more about Charmaine at: www.RaiseADream.com.
Beyond being a sponsorship expert, Charmaine just completed producing an animated children’s film, “Back Home Again,” paid for by sponsors with many celebrity voices. Here’s the trailer: https://youtu.be/Gz-QJhm5uKI ENJOY!
They affect our present and future. They leave an impact on others. And their energy imprints Into our subconscious.
Let’s be conscious of not only what others say, but what we say to ourselves.
Believe it or not, 80% of our subconscious thoughts are negative. That’s why we need to take control of our thoughts. Our mind and heart are connected. The heart knows it needs to feel loved. To be inspired. To recognize that we DO make a difference.
So be good to yourself. To make a change in your life, watch your words. You can start by making daily affirmations a part of your early morning and bedtime ritual.
First thing in the morning and at bedtime, consider saying affirmations. Positive words spoken with emotion create a shift in your brain, and it’s transformative.
Best-selling author and speaker, Jack Canfield offers these tips on affirmations:
1. Start the “I CAN” statements.
2. Use the present tense.
3. State it in the positive.
4. Keep it brief.
5. Make it specific.
6. Include an action word, ending with ‘ing.’
7. Include one dynamic feeling word.
8. Make affirmations for yourself, not for others.
EXAMPLE: I am so happy and grateful that I am now _______ (Fill in the blank).
One of my “go-to” affirmations: “Every day in every way, I am making a positive difference.” From my dear friend, Sparky Bridges: “I am uniting humanity through the power of love.”
HOMEWORK: Write down three affirmations for yourself that affirm you’ve already accomplished your goals and dreams.
One of my friends advised me to make my emails shorter.
“No one wants to read a long email…. people have a short attention span!” She is undoubtedly right.
Yet as a writer, I LOVE filling a page with words…. It feels so good…like finger painting! You can play with word choices, word sounds, word lengths…even how words make you feel. (And you know that words carry energy!)
In almost every other written piece I’ve done — (except 30 or :60 commercials) –from articles, newsletters and press releases to books, videos, and website content, I’ve never had to be so careful about keeping my writing brief.
I’ll do my best to be succinct. (If you want longer emails, let me know. Ha!)
Back to my point. How do we make a difference in this rush-rush world of short attention spans?
I suggest we focus on sending positive messages to our brain. The brain doesn’t know good vs. bad, right vs. wrong. It accepts whatever we tell it.
We can choose to think positive thoughts — that become positive feelings… that evolve into positive actions.. with positive results.
Besides that, we get to choose our response to other people’s words. We don’t have to react. We can take a deep breath, think about it, and respond in a way that makes us feel good.
For instance, as a young child, I once got a checkmark on my report card. The teacher wrote on the side of the card, “Lynn likes to socialize too much.” Who would have thought I’d remember it now – over 50 years later?
At the time, I didn’t even understand what the word, “socialize” meant!
When my mom read the teacher’s message, it didn’t bother her. “That’s fine,” she said. “You’re not supposed to talk in class, but
being able to socialize is a good thing.”
Lesson: While we can’t control events or other people’s words, we CAN control our thoughts.
As an exercise today, I invite you to give yourself a positive affirmation as your “go to” words when you need a mental boost.
Here’s one, “Who I Am Makes A Difference.” (Thanks to my buddy, Sparky Bridges for that!)
Short enough?
With love,
Lynn
P.S. November 7th-14th is Blue Ribbon Week. Let’s honor people who make a difference in our lives — from the clerk at a store to a waiter, healthcare worker or even a friend or relative. Over 40 million people have been honored with a blue ribbon and the goal is one BILLION by the end of the year. Let’s do it! Go ahead and get ten free blue ribbons at: http://www.blueribbons.org.
Over fifteen years ago, my mom casually said, “You don’t have to be doing all the time. How are you ‘being?’
Her words stopped me in my tracks. My mom’s innate wisdom often got me pondering over what was really important. I tend to measure myself by my actions, as most of us do.
But what’s really important? Yes – how are we being on the inside?
We get to choose that inner state, so I’m asking you right now to consider taking a few minutes to pause. Think of how your thoughts affect you. Thoughts turn into feelings, which then become our words and actions.
At this time of our country’s upheaval, I see a great deal of angry and hurt messages.
Many of us act without thinking. And some of us think a great deal on the inside without acting.
Where’s that gentle balance? How do we turn to the abundant love and peace that’s inside each of us?
I ask you to consider taking a few minutes today, perhaps everyday, to hit the “pause” button and take a few deep breaths. Breathing deeply actually resets the chemistry in our brain.
Here’s the scientific reason behind deep breathing:
When you become stressed or anxious, your brain releases cortisol, the “stress hormone.” By taking deep breaths, your heart rate slows, more oxygen enters our blood stream and ultimately communicates with the brain to relax. Deep breathing also ups your endorphins, the “feel good” chemical.
So, let’s do this together – both for your own well-BEING and for the well-BEING of our planet. Breathe deeply, hold it for a count of three, and then exhale. Feel your shoulders relax as your mind settles into a peaceful state. Let’s do it at least two more times.
Now – how are you being? Our breath is the one thing we have from the moment of birth, and the last thing to leave us.
As we choose the story of our life, let’s make our stories good ones.
