You Can't Force Inspiration! It Will Strike When You Least Expect It!

What Innovation Can Do to Your Life

It's a talent that everyone has, yet they think they don't. The power of innovation. If you've ever marvelled at somebody's creative prowess, guess what, you can create and innovate too. It just takes time. Everyone is born creative. The box of crayons in kindergarten were not limited to those who possessed potential; because the truth is, everybody has potential.

You know how long it took to learn to ride a bike or drive or to never commit the same mistake again? It's the same with innovation. It takes a bit of practice and a lot of time before this mind function comes easily when called. This article will teach you a few tips on how to bring innovation into your life.



Don't listen to what other people say. Follow the beat of your own drum. Allowing for the input of other people will only bring cacophony to the music you are trying to make. If you have an original idea, don't waste your time and effort trying to make people understand. They won't. And the help you will probably get comes in the form of negative feedback. If all those geniuses listened to their peers, we would probably still be living in the middle ages.

Spend time on it. I cannot stress that enough, although, please do not mistake this tip to tell you to quit your day job entirely. Do not. This involves some tricky time management but with a little discipline you'll be able to squeeze both in.

Exercise. Take a walk. Run a mile or two. Send all those endorphins coursing through your veins. Exercising certainly clears and relaxes your mind and allows for anything to pop up.

Record your dreams. Aren't some of them just the craziest things that your conscious mind would never have thought of? If you've had these dreams before, and I'm sure have, this only shows you the untapped innovative power you have lying within. So jot down those notes. Those dreams may just create an innovative spark in you.

Find your own style. You can always tell a Van Gogh from a Matisse. You'll know Hemingway wrote something by the choice of words on the paper. So it is the same with you. People will appreciate your innovation more because it is uniquely yours and that no one else would have thought of what you were thinking. That will let people see how valuable an asset you are.

Don't hide behind nifty gadgets or tools. You don't need the most expensive set of paints to produce a masterpiece. The same way with writing. You don't need some expensive fountain pen and really smooth paper for a bestseller. In fact, J.K. Rowling wrote the first book of the Harry Potter Series on bits of tissue. So what if you've got an expensive SLR camera if you're a crappy photographer? Who cares if you've got a blinging laptop if you can't write at all? The artist actually reduces the number of tools he has as he gets better at his craft: he knows what works and what doesn't.

Nothing will work without passion. What wakes you up in the mornings? What keeps the flame burning? What is the one thing that you'll die if you don't do? Sometimes people with talent are overtaken by the people who want it more. Think the hare and the tortoise. Ellen Degeneres once said that if you're not doing something that you want to do, then you don't really want to do it. And that's true. Sometimes you just want something so bad you become a virtual unstoppable. And that is passion. Passion will keep you going.

Don't worry about inspiration. You can't force it; inspiration hits when you least expect it to, for those unpredictable yet inevitable moments you should prepare. An idea could strike you on the subway, yet alas, you poor unfortunate soul; you have no sheet of paper to scribble down a thought that could change the world. Avoid these disasters. Have a pen and paper within your arm's reach at all times.

I hope this article has helped you bring more innovation into your life. Keep in mind that you're doing these things for your own satisfaction and not anybody else's. But soon enough they will notice, and everything should snowball from there.

Self Confidence - A Key to Personal and Business Sucess

Self Confidence is a key part of success in business. It is the difference between having faith in yourself and feeling scared out of your wits. It is about having trust in what you know and your abilities to handle the unexpected events that life puts in your path. It is also a belief that you are the one in control of your life and your goals. It is that unexplainable and untouchable attribute that allows you get in touch with that inner self that allows you to express yourself fully.

The good news is that it is a trait that is strengthened so do not give up if you do not feel you have it at this time. In addition, self confidence varies depending on whether you are doing something for the first time or it is something you know well. It can vary due to environment as well. For example, some people are very confident in one on one presentation while others are confident in front of large groups of people. It won't increase overnight but you can work to build it up to the level of your aspiration.

The first step in building self confidence is giving you permission to not give up no matter what the outcome. The key is, to do your best in any given situation regardless of your knowledge or the end result. When this happens, then each small step of progress increases confidence.

The second key ingredient is to set achievable goals. If you are doing something for the first time, give yourself goals to learn each small step. Do not expect perfection in your first attempt. Progress and not perfection is the attitude that builds confidence. If you must be perfect in your own mind, then even the smallest error becomes disastrous to confidence.

The smallest things can improve confidence. Add a smile when you make a phone call and it will show in your voice, increasing a positive response. Straightening posture when meeting someone or giving a warm and confident handshake even if you are trembling inside returns a positive response. When another person responds in a positive manner, you comfort level increases.

The third ingredient to building up your confidence is based on your physical well being. When we eat right, sleep well and get exercise we then feel better. That sense of physical well being comes out in our work, our voices and even our presentations and productivity. These are all factors to building up a sense of worth. Making eye contact, a simple physical event, will actually convey confidence. So no matter how you feel inside, get those eyes up to those who you are speaking too!

The fourth ingredient is to watch your own self talk. Many individuals erode their own self confidence by the negative self talk and the downplaying of recognition or compliments. Monitor how you talk to yourself. If you find yourself discounting your work, your abilities or any other aspect of yourself, tell yourself "Stop." This word is so ingrained into our psyche that it will momentarily freeze thought. Then replace the thought with something that is positive and opposite of the interrupted thought.

The fifth ingredient to building confidence is to make an achievement list. Make yourself a list of everything you have accomplished no matter how small. We do not give ourselves enough credit for all the things we do right. We could in any given day, do ten things right and still focus on the one thing we have done wrong. Do not let yourself get caught in this trap. It is a self-confidence killer. When you find yourself fixating on an error, review you accomplishments. Then fix the error and move one. Life is too short to spend it beating yourself up for the thing you didn't do right. Pick yourself up... and get going!

Lastly, if you find a subject you need to know but have no confidence in then take a class, read a book or just find a forum and listen to those chatting about it. Knowledge is power! There is no doubt that just knowing what others are speaking of will increase your confidence and social presence. When you don't feel left out, you again, increase your confidence levels. In addition, when you pursue knowledge on a subject to which you have a need or a passion, you gain the experience of uniqueness which will also increase worth.

Making the decision to work on building self confidence could actually affect the success you find and achieve in life. It is an important decision. It is important to be you. Whenever we are put in positions to pretend to be what we are not, we risk our confidence levels. While there is some truth to the 'fake it till you make it' mentality, Life is a much happier journey when you can be who you are and when you can be proud of the skills you have. It is about recognizing your strengths and being able to truly understand that we all have areas of weakness.

If you are an employer or a team leader, remember to recognize the smallest gains from those you supervise. A first sale, a new technique, a first presentation, these critical moments can make or break those you work with. Recognize the strengths of an individual before you point out areas they may want to focus on next. When your team feels confidence, then everyone wins. That is the cool thing about self-confidence. The more it is felt the more there is... it just keeps growing till you have a powerful team that is unstoppable. As a leader, you have nothing to lose in these little recognizable moments and everything to gain. Success and Self-Confidence are intricately twisted about one another, never lose sight of it.

Emotional Management a Must in Business!

Managing emotions is an arduous task for some but a skill that is essential to success in business and personal relationships. We all have and experience emotions whether we like it or not. Managing emotions mainly deals with unpleasant emotions: anger, fear, frustration, depression, despair. Emotions are the feelings we experience day to day, such as happiness, pride, boredom, sadness, anger and frustration. Emotions are a part of our everyday existence as they move through the body, affecting our state-of-mind, performance, health and energy. Emotions cannot be helped. Emotions we don't even realize we are feeling can influence our thoughts and behaviors; they can also travel from person to person like a virus. Due to this virus like state, it is of the most upmost importance for those in positions of influence not only their own emotions but understand the need to monitor and perhaps influence the moods of others.

Management is in a unique position to dictate the pulse and rhythm in their workplace. "We engage in emotional contagion," says Sigal Barsade, a Wharton management professor who studies the influence of emotions on the workplace. Broken promises, laying the blame on others, dishonest communications, and ignoring employee suggestions are all unfortunately very commonplace in real world management. So how does management expect their employees to manage their emotions in the workplace if the tone that is being set is negative or one of disregard? Without that emotional-management component, a work environment can become toxic.

Those in leadership positions are often not really good at working with people and so spend a lot of their time avoiding and/or strategizing how to deal with, avoid, or get rid of those who are troubling. In fact a great deal of leadership is actually about emotion management. Emotions are also essential to inspirational leadership. These managers often lack the necessary people skills, communication skills and leadership skills to influence the emotional tone of the workplace. This is a critical oversight by those in upper management who do not get or provide the training to create a positive emotional tone. So in turn, employees’ moods, emotions, and overall dispositions impact job performance, decision making, creativity, turnover, teamwork, negotiations and leadership.

For Management to be in complete control of emotions of the workplace, they need to be a master of themselves, both theirs and their employees'. It is essential for employees to positive at work -- but this has to be supported by upper management. Employees need positive feedback, and if they do not see that coming, or do not even get acknowledged for their work, they will look elsewhere. This creates turnover and increased costs and lowered performance. Many employers in the current economy are quick to just higher someone else rather than address this aspect. They fail to look at the long term costs of losing an employee in downtime and in the retraining of a new employee.

One of the most fundamental things necessary to improve employees' attitude and to create a “culture of love,” is to adopt systems that recognize and reward those positive attitudes and behaviors. When managers are manipulative and treat employees just as "equipment" rather than humans beings, poor attitudes follow. And a workplace where emotions run rampant can turn off employees, vendors and customers alike. Similarly, it is the duty of the manager to ensure that he manages the negative emotional attitudes of his team in such a way that such attitudes are not reflected in their performance. Managers also need to learn how to lead by the example they set -how to deal with their own pain in positive ways that can inspire others to deal differently with their own difficult situations. Barsade gave the example of a manager who was dragged down at the start of every day when passing by the desk of an employee who either grunted or gave no acknowledgement. The manager took control and simply started following a different route through the office. If the company is losing money and experiencing the effects of downsizing, should the manager, feeling stressed and overwhelmed, convey his despair to his workers. Or should the manager try to appear cheerful and act as if nothing is wrong. Barsade says it's possible for the manager to convey emotions that are both authentic and positive, saying something like, "I know you're worried. The ability to summon positive emotions during trying times of stress is the key to being a successful manager.

Most organizations have traditionally focused on teaching logical and rational thinking and have neglected emotional learning in their development programs. The main implication is that organizations should focus on hiring managers with high emotional and social competence and also provide EI training and development opportunities to managers to enable them create a positive organizational climate. Effective listening is an important aspect of learning to do that as well.

Listening effectively is difficult because people vary in their communication skills and in how clearly they express themselves, and often has different needs, wants and purposes for interacting. Still, listening is an important skill and needs to be taught. The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and to be understood. Feedback must take into account the needs of both the giver and the receiver. Otherwise, it can be destructive when it fails to consider the needs and feelings of everyone involved. Listen to words, body language and emotions to understand the player's both conscious and unconscious needs. By feeling heard, many negative consequences of a disgruntled or upset employee can be lowered if not stopped all together.

Managing emotions does not mean denying their existence or ignoring them. Never tell an employee he should not feel that way. Feelings are a biological reaction a circumstance, event or stressor and cannot be helped. How one can help is to acknowledge the feelings and help the employee consider positive possible choices they have to resolve their current feelings. Take a minute to consider the importance of active listening by thinking about how you can be a good active listener in terms of body language--or what you do during communication, voice--how you respond to the speaker, and content --what you say when you respond to the speaker. Active listening is an effective tool to reduce the emotionality of a situation. Every manager or sales team leader that can learn these skills will find that their team will overall increase in company loyalty and performance. Managing emotions is something that must be addressed, not avoided for success.

Effective Leadership in Business

When speaking on leadership, so many typical conversations occur such as being responsible or educated, but the fact is that there are many people out there that are highly skilled and educated, responsible to the core and possess a high ethical and moral value system that cannot lead. It happens time and time again, a person of great skill in a company is promoted due to their exceptional results, only to fail as a manager or team leader. So there has to be more to leadership then these elements. After doing some research, these qualities are what I found often are common amongst leaders: Inspirational, good listening skills, ability to forecast, and courage to act.

Leadership is lifting a person's vision to higher sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations. It is not magnetic personality, that can just as well be a glib tongue. Leadership is getting someone to do what they don't want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve. It is about making other leaders and not followers. To do that, one must recognize the strengths in others and then nourish them. In projects that can allow for a little time and guidance, do not put your best man on the job. Put your second best man on the job and guide him to a number one performance. When you take others under your wing and nourish them to become leaders, you grow a team you can count on to make decision in your absence. This inspiration to be more then what one currently is not only builds self confidence in the individual, it builds investment in the company providing that leadership. An employee vested in the success of your company for personal reasons will perform at a much higher level then the one strictly motivated by the dollar amounts in his paycheck.

Get in there, roll up the sleeves and lead by example if deadlines are difficult or staff is short. There is nothing more inspiring to have your boss at your side sweating out the details rather then just expecting the results on his/her desk the next morning. This is not a new concept in the world of business and politics. Even John Quincy Adams stated, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." However to do this, to help others be even more then what they realize they are capable of you must have the second skill, good listening.

Active listening is one of those skills that's both surprisingly simple as well as surprisingly effective. It should include allowing others to make a point before interrupting, and valuing the opinions of others. In addition to improving your personal and professional relationships, listening also helps to prevent misunderstandings and facilitates cooperation. A great listening technique involves rephrasing the speaker's words and repeating them back to them. This shows that you are listening and are following them. Pay attention to what they are not saying as well as what they are. Sometimes a leader can pick up things to guide with by what the person is avoiding bringing up due to a lack of comfort in that particular subject area. Pay attention to the body language of the speaker. Does their posture show true intent or are they just speaking to hear themselves talk. When you respond, are their arms folded across their chest? This is a common defensive posture. There are many good books and seminars out there on communication skills, make sure to use one that includes active listening. One I recommend is Active Listening: Improve Your Ability to Listen and Lead (J-B CCL (Center for Creative Leadership)) Without this skill, you are not truly hearing the needs of important people in your life or business team and therefore, cannot take appropriate action.

Again, this not a new idea or a new revelation to business and relationships. Epictetus from 55 - 135 AD is quoted as saying. "We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak." Unfortunately, the competitive nature often jumps into conversations and we become focused on winning a point or making ourselves heard and we lose the concept of open-minded and receptive. An important aspect of good communication as well as personal growth.

Another important aspect of leadership is the ability to forecast. On a larger scale, businesses are forced to look well ahead in order to plan their investments, launch new products, decide when to close or withdraw products and so on. Often, the financial well-being of the entire operation rely on the accuracy of the forecast since such information will likely be used to make interrelated budgetary and operative decisions in areas of personnel management, purchasing, marketing and advertising, capital financing, etc. What often gets overlooked is what will the employees need to meet the ever changing needs of the company. Is there training on new concepts that are needed. Is the time taken to educate the employees on the reasons for the change and the positive end results. One mistake often made in business is to throw change at employees with a 'just do it' mindset. However, if employees or even children for that matter, understand what is to be gained in the change and what the impact to them personally will be; they will be better able to manage the change and move forward in a positive manner.

One of the most important skills is the ability to make a decision, to take action. Often in today's world, untrained leaders are put into positions to make decisions they do not feel empowered to make. A leader forecasts the end results of a decision and makes it. It is often heard by frustrated employees, "will someone just make a decision." Leaders maked decisions and stand by them. If they make a mistake, they own them and learn from them then move on. By rolemodeling decision making, you teach others to do the same. Whereever possible, give people the power to make decisions and learn. Face it, most of us got our best learning experiences when we fell flat on our faces. By listening to what is going on and monitoring our teams, we can intervene before such mistakes our disasterous to the company over all. A mentor of mine is always saying - "trust but inspect." That is our role as a leader, to teach and inspire others to reach for the stars. As they reach, we guide their progress and help them analyze their results.

People do not have to be born leaders. They can learn to lead. Take the time to listen to those that are where you want to be. Forecast your decisions and possible end results before making decisions then look at who you need to achieve that path. Inspire others by being the person, the team player, that you want them to be. In other words, don't sit back and tell what is to be done, show what needs to be done. Roll up your sleeves and be willing to stand side by side on the sales floor, the copy room or even the mail room if there is a need and a shortage. Not only will it show your leadership skills and that you care for the team you lead, it will allow you to hear new ideas and spot problems quicker, it will allow you to find your future leaders as they step up beside you.

Cheryl Matthynssens
Wealth Masters International

World Vision - My Charity of Choice

I have been a sponser of a World Vision child for Two years now. I want to help do more. Clean water, schools and a chance at a future are so important. Join me and help me raise $1,000000.00 for this vital organization.

Here is some information from them and please go look at their page worldvision.org if you are unfamiliar.

The Need
Today, more than 26,000 children under age 5 will die from preventable or treatable causes — that means an estimated 9.7 million children in this age group will die this year. And the vast majority of all child deaths occur in developing countries.

There may be cures for their conditions, but they don't have access to the necessary medication, treatment, or immunizations.

Their parents may lack basic knowledge of nutrition, hygiene, and health care. And their governments don’t have the resources to provide adequate health programs. When parents aren't healthy, they can’t provide for their families’ needs. And when children aren’t healthy, they can't attend school or focus on their future.

Fast Facts
Every day, more than 26,000 children under the age of five die, mostly from preventable causes.

More than 25 percent of the world’s infants are not immunized with critical vaccines that cost about $1.



World Vision’s Response
World Vision helps bring medical care and increased knowledge of health, nutrition, and hygiene to children and families in need through these interventions:

Emergency medical care
Health clinics and therapeutic feeding centers | Last year, World Vision teams helped 9.7 million victims of disasters and humanitarian crises in more than 50 countries. Emergency clinics enable staff to care for critical medical needs.
Medical supplies | World Vision helps facilitate emergency care by providing hospitals and clinics with top-quality medicines, equipment, and supplies.
Training
Health care | World Vision trains birth attendants and health workers in places like Ghana where people might not otherwise have access to health care.
Hygiene | Community programs teach the importance of personal hygiene in preventing disease.
Nutrition | World Vision volunteers and staff train parents in the critical role of healthy foods and nutrients in the diets of growing children.
Access to health resources
Immunization and early childhood care | World Vision provides children around the world with vaccines, vitamin A, and nutritional supplements, and supports mothers through pregnancy and childbirth.
Health clinics | World Vision works to ensure access to health care for people in impoverished countries like Romania, where years of oppressive leadership drained the country of medical professionals.
Preventative care | World Vision focuses on the prevention of childhood diseases through prenatal care and well-child care programs in countries worldwide.
Hygiene supplies | Families in need are given essential supplies like soap, shampoo, and toothpaste to help stave off serious diseases.
Advocacy | World Vision seeks to play a leadership role in advocacy and policy improvements for health reform at global and national levels.
Through all of its health and hygiene interventions, World Vision works to enhance the quality of life for children and their families in order to help them reach their God-given potential.


Your Opportunity to Help
You can help children survive and thrive by providing access to vaccinations, medical care, and health training for their communities.

Your gift will make an impact. For example:
$25 sends lifesaving immunizations and healthcare for needy children and families.
$80 ships vital medicines and healthcare supplies to help save the lives of children in 36 countries.
A gift of any amount will enable response to the most urgent health needs of the communities we serve.

Motivating the Diverse Sales Team

One of the mistakes that managers often make when working to build motivation for their teams is that they deliver information or create incentives that they would be motivated by themselves. In any office, there are four basic types of workers. What one type will need for motivation or before they feel comfortable taking on a project will often be different then their peers. There are many companies out there that will type employees with proficiency. This allows the manager to tailor make information, training and incentives to the employee's personality type. However, if that is not an option or if the team is very large, the information included in this article should help build motivation and incentive strategies that appeal to the bulk of most team members.

The four types are critical to any team. No one individual will be all one type so for the purpose of discussion, this article will address the extremes but keep in mind that everyone is a blend of these at some minor level, which is why there are companies to individualize these profiles. The four types for the purpose of information needs are: relational, informational, structured, and the energizer.

Relational-
Needs: Those in this type are a vital member of any team. They are the glue that hold teams together. They need to know how information given affects their team, the company and/or, if pertinent, their family. When given the right information, they will keep the value of achieving the project or reaching a goal in sight for the whole team.

Motivation: They often are attracted to incentive strategies that reward their team or office. If the incentive is competition based, then it needs to reward the team or be an incentive they can share with someone else in their life. This type in its truest form does not like to be put above their peers and will often defer any success to the team as a whole. They will often do well at team retreats and other gatherings which require the team to communicate and relate to one another.

Informational-
Needs: These team members need to know when given projects, the objectives needing to be met. What are the benefits and features? Why is the assigment important to the company? They are the ones on a team always asking questions. They are detailed and will often press deadlines trying to make sure their work is perfect. They are an important component to any team as they make sure objectives are met, policies are followed and will go the extra mile to get the information needed whether to make a sale or complete a project. They are really great on a sales team because they are the best at discerning what a customer is looking for and then meeting that need with the right product.

Motivation: These team members are often motivated by material or monetary compensations. If incentives are not in this category, then it must be something that clearly meets a need or has value to them. They are the ones that will often try to avoid company gatherings as they often do not feel the need to connect to large social groups preferring small groups of intimate friends and/or family. So recognition in front of the whole company will often be avoided.


Structured:
Needs: This group is often self motivated. They need to know what needs done, when it needs done by and are there specific instructions or requirements that must be followed. Once they have this information, just step out of their way and let them go. They will achieve a great deal just because it is their job and they value themselves as an employee. They are a valuable component on any team as they keep everyone one track for deadlines and will monitor how the team is doing as a whole if there are team incentives. Their weakness is that they are so direct and goal oriented that they often do not realize when they step on someone else's feelings because their intent is the job and they do not notice nor intend to cause harm.

Motivation: This group will go a long way just by continue small atta boys but they will also thrive on any incentive where they can win some form of recognition for the team or the company. They are also motivated in incentives that require them to beat their own numbers.

Energizer-
Needs: They need tasks that are not too routine. They often become easily distracted by mundane and routine activities and if there is an option will put these off til last. They are a necessary part of any team because they are literally the energy of any group. They do well if given multiple tasks that they can switch between to keep boredom at bay or in positions of constant motion. On sales teams, they are often that high energy guy on the floor. Their weakness is that they can be so end result focused that they run over the client or prospect's needs. They need to be reminded to slow down and listen.

Motivation: Anything they can win! These types of people are often highly competitive. Whether it be as a team or as an individual, they will go for the gold every time. They love any kind of recognition that puts them up front. They are the easiest to motivate. Strangely, what they win does not necessarily need to be financial or material. Recognition can put them on track just as fast as a prize at the end of the day.

As you can see, the extremes of each type have unique needs. If giving a project or goal to such a blended team, you need to answer the following questions to hit all the needs. What needs done? When does it need to be done by? Who will it benefit? What is the reasoning behind the goal/project? If successfully completed, what is the payoff? By hitting these basic questions, you will at the very least prompt additional questions to make sure every team member is invested.

When setting up incentives, there needs to be a combination package. For a sales team an example would be: Recognition for the best performing team, an overall sales winner with preferably a financial bonus, and recognition for those who beat last years numbers during the same similar sales frame. For even more investment, a bonus for everyone that beats last years numbers with a minimum base for new team members would insure that every single team member has something to gain. Your relational team members won't feel guilty because they are competing primarily against themselves and everyone has a chance to win.

As you can see, a diverse team requires a little more thought in presenting information, projects and goals. A diverse team requires a blended method of incentives. A cookie cutter method of information or incentives will not work except for a select few. The benefits of a blended type team is ten fold in output if the informational and motivational strategies are in line. So take the time to consider your audience, look at your team like you would your customers. What do they want and need.

Cheryl Matthynssens
Working to achieve Life Balance in others.
www.balancedfreedom.com

Ten Famous Quotes - How can they be applied today?

We all love quotes. Whether they be light and funny such as the many Homer Simpson faux pas or whether they are time honored and serious, they add meaning to our writing, our conversations and even our attitude for the day. But what about your business? How are some of the most famous quotes relevant to you and your entrepreneural spirit today?

1. America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. Abraham Lincoln

Many businesses today stand resolute to outside forces. They are quick to harvest new ideas and will expand to new markets. However, if they lose that since of personal investment - that sense of team - it can destroy the very fabric of a company. It doesn't matter if you have four employees or 400, the people in your business need to feel valued and a part of the success. A business that values its people and keeps them as a team can surpass seemingly impossible challenges. But if that sense of team, sense of belonging to something bigger then self, is lost; the company will slowly implode from the inside out. More then once, teams have fallen apart and departments have quit communicating. When this happens, the company is not destroyed by economic trends, it is destroyed from the inside out. Always look inward when your company is struggling. Does your team feel valued? Are they communicating? Does the right hand truly know what the left is doing?

2. Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. George S. Patton, Jr.

Do not micro manage your business. Let your employees know what you want to accomplish and when you need to accomplish it by and then ask them for ideas or just let them go with it. Trust but inspect. You want to give them a chance to use their own creativity and bring to the table the ideas that you would have never considered. Keep a basic idea of what is going on, but do not dictate every little step on every project. It kills moral. It kills creativity and in turn, can kill growth and expansion of your business. My Direct Marketing Mentor points me to a new tool, a new idea or venue but then he lets me run with it in the way that best fits who I am and what I stand for.


3. Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness.
Thomas Carlyle

This one rather speaks for its self. Find a business that you truly enjoy. If you do not have a passion for it, how will you maintain it for years to come? However, if you sit down at your desk, step into your studio or open your store with a sense of pleasure - prosperity will follow you. Wouldn't you rather do business with someone with a genuine pleasure at their task or in the making of their product then one who clearly is there for the money and naught else?

4. It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. Aristotle

Openmindedness is essential in today's constantly changing markets. Business can not continue to be done as it has always been done or it will be left in the dust. New inovations, new ways of marketing, new everything continues to evolve in our fast past world. Think back, it was not that long ago when almost everyone was like, what is a twitter? Listen to new ideas, read new ideas, analyze whether or not they are fruitful or possible for your business. If you do not know, check out if a small test run is possible without a great expense. Do not fear putting a toe in the water, after all, it might just be warm and soothing.

5. Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
Hans Christian Anderson

Do not forget what your are living for, what you are striving to have. Most people will talk of happiness, success and freedom. Ask any man who has ever gone to prison what he misses most and the answer will almost always be the same; "people that love me and freedom of choice." Yet so many people, in the persuit of those words success and happiness, lose the very thing they seek. They turn around and their children are grown and they have missed it. They suddenly find they are to old to (fill in the blank) now that they can really afford to without any sacrifice or cost to their business. Have balance in life and live it. Do not fret and worry the hours away till there is no sense or purpose to the money in your bank account. It is fruitless if you never live to enjoy it.

6. Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision. Muhammad Ali

You have to have dreams, goals and a vision for you business and your life. They also need to match up. Even better, put them in visual form so you see them every day. Let that vision remind you of why you are taking on that task you don't always enjoy. Why you will NOT give up.

7. Champions keep playing until they get it right. Billy Jean King

In other words, if you don't succeed at something, analyze it. Get more education on what ever it is to make sure you are truly prepared. Make sure you aren't riding an old horse in a new race. Once you have a new game plan, jump back in and try again. Take marketing, you can't just do one thing. You can just place ads in newspapers these days. That will hit some of your market, but take me for an example. I can't remember when I last read my news from print and not online.

8. The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable receiving. -Albert Einstein

Make sure that in this life, you give. One of the first things that I have found is that it doesn't matter if you are religious, believe in Karma or philosophy; one universal principle holds true. People remember those who gave them something. It might have been time, an idea, a kind word or a multitude of other things that do not cost money. In time, those gifts come flowing back into our lives, often when we need them most. When chosing between two people, often people will choose the one that has brought them value. It is not always the lowest bid that wins but the one that comes with reputation, integrity and value. What do you stand for? Do those who work for you know what you stand for? Do your clients/customers know what you stand for. Most importantly, is what you stand for of value to your dreams, visions and goals; are they in alignment?

9. He that lives upon hope will die fasting. -Benjamin Franklin
In today's business world, you cannot just open your door and hope for the money to pour in. You must take action. You must get involved. Market, volunteer, get involved in your community and become known for who you are and not just where you are located. Do your homework. Get an education on your competition, product line and marketing options. The modern meaning of this quote - TAKE ACTION!

10. Do not wait; the time will never be ''just right.'' Start where you stand,
and work with whatever tools you may have at your command,
and better tools will be found as you go along.
--Napoleon Hill

The time is right now. Learn what you need as you go. Make every day a learning experience. You have tools, utilize the ones you have as you move forward. Mr. Hill is right, the time will never be "just right." The goal is to make it right.

So to sum these up:
1. Make sure your team/employees know they are valued and communicating well.
2. Harvest the creativity of those around you; don't micro manage for it is the death of creativity.
3. Find a business you can love and be passionate about.
4. Be openminded to new ideas, technology and techniques.
5. Enjoy life today before you are to old to do so.
6. Make sure you have dreams, goals and visions for your future.
7. Don't Quit!
8. Give of yourself, it will come back to you ten fold if not more.
9. Take Action!
10. Start Today

These quotes are not in order of any importance. Each of us have strengths and weakness that will change that order. Regardless of where you are today, do not forget the most important of all quotes to Business. Carpe diem - Seize the Day!
Make it a prosperous one emotionally, mentally, spiritually and financially!