by Rex Richard | May 22, 2012 | Business, Personal Development
This is just a quick list on things that you might be doing to sabotage yourself, either intentionally or unintentionally. Take a quick moment, read these tips and if you see yourself in any of them, take a step back and change your way of doing things.
- Don’t spend time with the “wrong” people. You know who they are. The people who always tell you how to do something better or faster or bottom line, that you’re simply doing it the wrong way. Look for someone who offers productive advice, not destructive criticism.
- Put yourself first. It’s easy as an entrepreneur to put your own needs on the backburner. You focus on growing your business, satisfying your clients, spending time with your family, but you do need to make time just for yourself.
- Take a leap. Don’t let fear of failure or fear of a mistake stop you from doing what you believe you might enjoy or what you may succeed at if only you tried!
- Savor small moments of happiness. Taking time to smell the roses and savor the successes is crucial to business success and overall happiness.
- Share your success. Don’t bury your light under a barrel. If you succeed, share the news. Build excitement. Your friends and followers will join you in the celebration.
What are you doing to get in your own way? What have you done to step aside so you can succeed?
by Rex Richard | May 15, 2012 | Business, Personal Development, Renewing The Mind
A Synthesis of the Russian Textbook on Psychopolitics…
I have always been fascinated by various mind control methods ranging from simple “self talk” all the way through to the real thing… “brainwashing”. In my research I found the following article which proved to be well researched and provides a deep insight into the “brainwashing” techniques developed by Russia, some of which you might recognize as being used by politicians today.
I hope you enjoy the read!
Introduction
The following treatise on communist brainwashing, which has been published and republished since the 1930s, is an edited version of an actual textbook on Russian “psychopolitics.” It was used as a primer, here in America, to teach communist agents how to brainwash people, and, in fact, how to subvert entire populations. While the wording of this particular treatise and there are any number of them may or may not be completely authentic, two things are historically certain: 1) Such brainwashing activities really occurred, and 2) this volume accurately conveys the principles and techniques employed.
Download the full article here: Brainwashing
by Rex Richard | May 15, 2012 | Business, Personal Development
So many entrepreneurs that I work with seem to think that being busy 24/7 means they are being productive 24/7. The fact is, you need to separate yourself from your business and strive for a balance of work and life in order to be truly productive. Consider too, that being constantly busy doesn’t mean you’re being constantly productive; in fact, being “on” all the time eventually leads to burnout. Being in business for yourself means you wear many hats: salesperson, accountant, receptionist, marketing… the list goes on.
Here are ways that you can take a step back, recharge your batteries, and then move forward with a more balanced life:
- Have clearly defined business goals. Without knowing where you want and need to be on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis, how will you know when you’ve arrived?
- Have clearly defined personal goals. Yes, your personal goals need to be part of your business plan. If you don’t have personal goals (ie, run a marathon, learn to crochet, walk every day, etc.) you need to get some. Having personal goals will help you balance your life and work.
- Lists are your friends. Make a list every morning or at the end of each business day for the next day. A list will keep you focused and the mere task of crossing an item off your To-do list is a mood booster!
- Are you always involved in income producing activities? If you find yourself spinning your wheels on tasks such as mailings, or your own bookkeeping you should find someone to do those tasks for you. As an entrepreneur you need to focus your time and talents on the tasks that make you money and show your expertise.
- Don’t forget to ask for referrals from current clients. The best way to garner new business is through word of mouth.
Prioritize your work and life and you will be more productive and happy in both.
by Rex Richard | May 7, 2012 | Business, Personal Development
As an entrepreneur, you’re likely committed to your company’s success, right? Of course you are. You remain successful and committed you here are a few strategies to help you realize success in both your personal and your business life:
- Grow both yourself and your business. If you don’t remain as committed to personal growth as you are to growing your business, both will stagnate. Working 16 hours a day won’t necessarily lead you to greater success, but it could certainly lead you to personal burnout and that will mean you won’t operate at your peak.
- Your business is about you. No matter the endeavor, your business is a direct reflection on you, your ethics and the beliefs you bring to the office every day.
- Don’t stand in the way of your own success. Don’t get so bogged down in the busy-ness of your tasks that you don’t get out of the office, network and nurture your existing clients while prospecting for new ones.
- Focus your energies on your core competencies. It may be tempting to “do it all” to save money, especially when you’re a start up, but this will lead to burnout and frustration. When you consider that it could take you hours to perform your own accounting, your time and money will be better spent hiring an accountant.
- Have a clear definition of what success means to you. If you don’t know what success means, how will you know once you’ve arrived? Will you measure success on the money in your bank account, the number of clients you have, or the amount of hours you work – or don’t work – per week.
Your business endeavor and its success rests on you and your efforts, put your best foot forward!
by Rex Richard | Apr 30, 2012 | Business
If you’re growing your small business there are several ways to push yourself toward success. For many entrepreneurs there comes a time when hiring personnel becomes a necessity and when you do, here are three tips to make certain your new hires are on the same page for success as you are:
- You need to define the roles for your new hires. Whether you’re hiring to fill an independent contractor role or a full or part time position at your growing business, you need to define the roles and tasks for the new person. Clearly defined – and written roles – complete with outcome metrics helps the new hire know what’s expected.
- You need to know what you need and why before you hire. Many entrepreneurs hire because they have an immediate need for help but aren’t certain for how long this need will last or what is crucial to the company’s overall growth. You need to have more of an idea than “I need to hire” to make it a successful fit for the both of you. Clearly delineate the key roles in the job ad you’re placing.
- Have a training and mentoring program in place. A training program could be an ongoing process, but you need to train a new employee so he or she fits into the corporate culture from day one. If the employee doesn’t have an outline or an understanding of what you want from them. A training program offers them support and provides development in the position and in the role you’ve created for him or her.
Employees can make or break your company on its path toward growth. Take time and hire with care.
by Rex Richard | Apr 23, 2012 | Business
Every year – usually around January 1 – individuals set goals for themselves for business and personal reasons. By mid-January many people find that they’ve abandoned those goals, and the reasons for this can usually be narrowed down to five reasons for failure. Here are some ways to help you achieve your goals, including:
- You must write them down. Once a goal is committed to writing, the permanence it creates helps bring it to fruition. A written goal provides clarity and detail.
- The goal must meet certain criteria. It should have a specific beginning and end time as well as measurable steps in between.
- Keep your goals positive. For example, don’t state, “I won’t lose any customers this quarter,” put it like this, “I will bring in X number of new customers and continue to serve my existing base.”
- Are you emotionally attached to your goals? Look for a specific “why” when making and setting your goals. Will it meet a need in your community, does it mesh with your business’s mission statement?
- You need to truly own your own goals. Even if you’re working for a company, the goals set – even if mandated by an employer – can still be made your own. The goals should advance your personal mission.
When is the last time you wrote down a goal? Did you see it through to the end?
