Evergreen Success» successful home business

Affirmations, Visualizations and Other Kooky Stuff

Jennifer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:39:46 +0000

My 3-year-old is trying to learn how to button his shirt. When he’s having “one of those days,” he’ll whine “I can’t do it,” as he half-heartedly fumbles with the buttons. To encourage him, the rest of us will start chanting “I think I can” a la The Little Engine That Could ~ one of our favorite books.

His success rate when we can get him to join in with “I think I can,” is – not surprisingly – much higher.

In my experience, this simple example with my son has a lot to do with success in your online business.

I know a lot of people disagree with this notion. Certainly I’m not suggesting that sitting on your couch chanting “I think I can” will make your online business successful?

Well, no. But I am saying that using positive affirmations throughout your day, and taking quiet moments to visualize your life as if it were exactly the way you want it to be, are crucial components to your success.

These “new age,” eyebrow-raising techniques got a bad name around the time the book/movie The Secret was such a popular phenomenon. Many people thought The Secret suggested that you could get anything you wanted in life by laying on the couch and wishing that it would come to you.

Obviously, closing your eyes and seeing yourself as a millionaire while you repeat over and over “I own a successful online business,” is not going to do anything to grow your email list or your bank balance.

Or is it?

I just told you that affirmations and visualizations are a critical part of building a successful online business. Here’s how.

It’s not that the affirmations and visualizations themselves change your life. It’s the behaviors – the actions – that result from dumping all this good stuff into your brain that change your life.

If you keep telling yourself positive things, and seeing yourself living the success you strive for, it’s going to motivate you to act in accordance with your thoughts and your vision.

If you don’t believe me, try it. You don’t have to admit to anyone that you’ve resorted to such silliness in your pursuit of success. Until it works.

Jim Rohn espoused an accurate, although somewhat pessimistic, view on affirmations when he said –

“Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion.”

While I agree 100% with my favorite mentor, I would say –

“Affirmation plus action equals accomplishment.”

I get Mr. Rohn’s point ~ if you sit around saying you’re great, yet you don’t have the discipline to do great things, you’re merely deluding yourself with your positive talk.

But my point is ~ if you fill your mind with positive affirmations and visualizations, this practice gives you the discipline you need to take the action that will turn what’s in your mind into your reality.

Affirmations and visualizations aren’t a replacement for action. But they are a valuable back-drop that will motivate you to work on your online business when you really want to watch tv. To write just one more article when you really want to go to bed. And to step out of your comfort zone and put that “buy” button underneath your ebook when you hate the idea of sounding “salesy.”

My favorite example of visualization at work comes from Denis Waitley’s stories about working with Olympic athletes. When they asked the athletes to visualize running a race, Mr. Waitley reports they found the same muscles measured a reaction as when the athlete was actually running the race. Pretty powerful.

I have my own personal stories about how my online business growth has benefited from these techniques that some find controversial or just plain weird. I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below. Or maybe you’re in the camp that thinks this is a bunch of hogwash. I’d love to hear your thoughts too!

JENNIFER HERNDON is a work at home mom with three fabulous kids, ages 3, 5 and 7. She has been enjoying the time freedom and financial benefits of working at home for over 13 years. Jennifer’s passion is empowering others to personal and business success through a positive mindset and consistent action.

Jennifer credits the turn-around in her online business to Jim Rohn’s One Year Success Plan, the perfect tool for planning a successful life. Here’s your chance to be inspired and guided daily by the world’s greatest business philosopher. Create your future with Jim Rohn’s One Year Success Plan and start improving your life and your business today!

What’s in Your Online Business Policy Manual?

Jennifer — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:59:06 +0000

Let’s talk about how much fun it is to be an online business owner.

You get to work when you want. You wear whatever you want. You decide what has to be done each day. You take breaks when you want.

You’re the boss. There are no “rules.” Seriously, it’s just you. What possible rules could you need?

Well . . . I hate to burst your bubble.

I know your boss’s references to the “policy manual,” and the squelching of your entrepreneurial spirit that comes with being made to follow the company’s “rules,” are exactly what you’re running away from when you start an online business.

But if you dive into your online business without having any rules, you are going to fail. Really. I see it every day.

Take comfort, however. At least you get to make the rules.

And while this gives you a great deal of flexibility, I’m completely serious in insisting that your online business have a policy manual. That is – a written document that details how you handle certain aspects of your business.

I don’t care what you call it. If you need some creative, anti-corporate title for it, I give you license to put any name on it you want.

Having the document, and actually using it, are the crucial points for today. Because if you’ll do this, you’ll be able to build a more successful online business in less time and with less effort. Who can argue with that?

Your policy manual will be a living document, which means you will always be adding to it. And changing it as your business grows.

Your manual will undoubtedly be different than mine. But, there are many policies that need to be part of every online business owner’s manual. I’ll give you 2 to get you started.

1. The Hours You Will Work in Your Online Business

It’s not enough to say, “I’ll work 10 – 15 hours a week, depending on how much time I have.” Is that something you could ever say to your boss at your job? No. It’s not anything that you can let yourself get away with either.

Your online business is not something you do in your spare time. That’s called a hobby. It generally costs you money, rather than making you any money.

Don’t schedule your online business around your life. Schedule your life around your business. You’re in the process of building a fortune here. Act like it.

Write down a schedule of when you will work in your policy manual. And then do it. Schedule times when you’ll take and return phone calls. Outside of that, the phone goes to voice mail unless you have scheduled a call with someone.

2. Problem-Solving in Your Online Business

Ever schedule a productive day and have it go completely south within the first hour because of a problem you encounter?

A lot of this will be eliminated by not taking phone calls. But in every online business, technical problems will arise. And they can eat up your day if you don’t have a policy in place for dealing with them.

I put this policy in place one day after spending 2 hours trying to get my scanner to work. That was a ridiculous amount of time. But, when I have a problem, I don’t like to be defeated. So my “stubborn will” had overtaken my common sense.

Now, if I come upon a problem, the policy is to immediately determine how much time – from 15 to 60 minutes – I can justify devoting to solving the problem. If it isn’t solved when the timer rings, it’s passed on to someone else. And my policy manual includes the names of appropriate problem-solving experts.

The Magic of Discipline

Don’t be tempted to say you can do it without a policy manual. Writing down how you are going to run your online business will go far towards seeing that you actually do run it that way.

One of the biggest reasons online businesses fail is because their owners simply lack the discipline to get it done. Your policy manual will provide the structure you need to increase productivity, make quicker decisions, and consistently spend your time on the “money-making” activities.

Get started today and see the difference today.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Online Business Lessons For Today

Jennifer — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:52:51 +0000

Martin Luther King Day became a federal holiday in 2000.

I have always loved this holiday. I can’t really articulate a specific reason for it.

Dr. King has long been one of my greatest inspirations. His picture and quotes grace the walls of many of my rooms.

His message likely became even more special to me as children with African heritage became part of my family.

All very nice, you’re probably thinking, but what does Martin Luther King have to do with my online business?

Two things.

First, Dr. King Exemplifies What it Takes to be Successful

He had a passion, he had an unwavering belief in his mission, his success would solve a huge problem for many, and he worked tirelessly to get his message out to as many people as he could.

Sound a little like you? If you are passionate about your business, believe without a doubt in what you are doing, are solving a huge problem for your market, and work tirelessly to do so ~ you will come out a personal and business success.

Excuse me if I sound a little melodramatic, comparing your business to the civil rights movement. But, don’t underestimate the importance of what you are doing.

Many of you have businesses that provide life-changing services to people. All of you have businesses that are solving problems for people. You are important. If you don’t get that, you should either start taking your business more seriously, or get a job.

Your online business is also of huge significance to your life. Your success may enable you (or your partner) to stay home with your kids. Or to relieve the constant stress of debt. Or the life-sucking responsibility of two jobs. Or a hundred other things.

The reason many people fail in their online business is because they treat it like a hobby. And hope that it will someday become their business.

Start thinking of yourself as the Dr. King of your market. Go forward with the conviction and passion he had, and see what it does for you.

And, do it now. I love Dr. King’s thoughts on urgency in his “I Have a Dream” speech.

“We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquillizing drug of gradualism.”

Whatever you’ve been waiting for, in honor of Martin Luther King Day, take that first step now.

2. Dr. King’s Efforts Make Your Success Possible

Yes, there are still civil rights issues today. People are discriminated against based on their race, color, gender, and religion.

But we’ve come a long way. Because of the work carried out by Dr. King and those he inspired, there is no excuse for not being successful in your online business.

Dr. King said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.”

And so it is. Black, brown, white, red or yellow. Old or young. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist . . . Your online business will be judged by the content of your character. Go out and serve people well, and you will be well served.

Your only limitations are your own. I can’t wait to hear how you are changing the world!

JENNIFER HERNDON is a work at home mom with three fabulous kids, ages 3, 4 and 7. She has been enjoying the time freedom and financial benefits of working at home for over 13 years. Jennifer’s passion is empowering others to personal and business success through a positive mindset and consistent action.

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The 3 Cs of Twitter for Your Online Business

Jennifer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:51:03 +0000

Twitter sounds really easy. It takes about 30 seconds to set up an account. And, you only have 140 characters, so it certainly can’t be “time consuming.” Or something only a good writer could master. Right?

And certainly, if you’re just tweeting with your friends, it is easy.

Then good news is ~ when it comes to using Twitter for your online business ~ it also can be easy. IF you do it right.

I don’t count myself as a Twitter expert, but there are some guidelines I can give you for developing real relationships with people in 140 characters or less.

I call these guidelines the 3 Cs of effective Twitter use in your online business. They are the things I have done to develop relationships with people on Twitter.

1. Content

Create quality content.

It amazes me how many people use Twitter to spam their online business. A look at their stream shows nothing but links and hyped up claims about “best systems” and “quick money.”

Yes, I know you’ve decided to use Twitter to help grow your online business. That doesn’t mean you should use it like a drive-by billboard to advertise your business.

Twitter is first and always a tool to build relationships. It is not about selling. That occurs, when appropriate, somewhere else at some other time.

Give your followers things they want to read. Things that will help them. Motivational quotes. Quick tips. Valuable links. Share a personal joy or picture.

2. Consistency

Tweet consistently. Which means every day, every 1-3 hours.

This is especially important in the beginning, when you are working for every follower.

If you’ve been on Twitter for even a minute, you know things move very quickly. You are lucky if your tweet stays in your follower’s stream for 60 seconds.

But, if your followers start to see you consistently giving quality content, they will seek out your tweets. They will add you to their Twitter “lists.” They will begin to engage with you. This is the beginning of your opportunity to get to know each other.

3. Communication

Communicate with your followers. Ever heard that “communication is a two-way street?”

Twitter is not your own personal TV station where you broadcast your online business to your followers. It’s a phone line where a conversation occurs.

You pick up the phone when you tweet. Your desired result is to have as many followers as possible pick up the other end of the line.

In Twitter language, someone picks up the line when they send you an @ reply, retweet your content, mention you in their stream, or send you a direct message.

So, how do you get them to do that? If you follow the first two Cs and consistently create quality content, it will start to happen naturally.

But the quickest way to make it happen is to step out and do it first. For every piece of content you post, either retweet or reply to 4 pieces of your followers’ content.

Another good way to start your Twitter phone conversation is to just reach out to one or two followers a day by tweeting: “@JenniferHerndon Good morning! How are you?” You will be surprised how many people will respond. And, will remember you.

Happy Tweeting!

Let me know how the 3 Cs work to help you grow your Twitter following and develop relationships with your followers.

If you want to jump start your growth, my number one recommendation is to use Twellow. This is a free resource. Just enter keywords that are relevant to your online business and it will recommend targeted followers for you. Many will follow you back ~ especially if you use the 3 Cs!

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A Personal Note to the Non-Believers

Jennifer — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:29:05 +0000

Many of us are beautifully optimistic in our New Year expressions.

I can’t count how many Facebook posts I “liked,” tweets I “re-tweeted,” and Google+ status’s I “1+’d” over the last week. They all spoke, in various verse, of how many great changes the New Year was going to bring into each person’s life.

And while I want everyone whose path I cross to be wildly successful in 2012, we all know that the odds are against most.

Once you have signed off social media, and set down to make the real work happen, do doubts start to creep in? Does “reality” hit when you look at what’s got to be done to meet your online business goals? By the end of January, are you back in the frustration of not making it happen?

Obviously, there’s a huge difference in saying you’re going to make it happen in the New Year, and actually making it happen.

Unfortunately, I think the reason most people don’t find the success they are looking for is that they don’t take the time to really believe they can do it.

Today, I’m going to share with you 3 examples from my life that you can use to push yourself past your doubts and back into belief.

1. You Decide What’s Possible

Most of your doubts are the result of what society ~ including your friends and family ~ defines as possible and proper. But you do not have to believe in “impossible.”

When I decided to have children, my doctor told me there was only a 2% chance that I would ever get pregnant.

I played his game for several months. Then I decided that if I was going to find success here, I would have to ignore his statistics, tests, and expertise. They didn’t fit into my world.

I got a new doctor and conceived my first beautiful baby girl 2 months later.

Close your eyes to those who don’t believe in you. Believe in yourself and your ability to make things happen. Surround yourself with others who will support you 100% (even if they think you’re crazy, as I’m sure my doctor did!).

2. Have Confidence in the Road Less Taken

As an entrepreneur, you are probably used to being a little different.

You’ve probably heard, “why don’t you just get a job?” before. And maybe even thought it yourself.

Several years ago, I was fired from a job that I never contemplated leaving. Apparently, I wasn’t very manageable . . .

Everyone encouraged me to get a new job. I even had a really good offer, working with good people for good money. But, it wasn’t what I wanted to do.

So I moved 4 hours away and started my own business. I won’t lie, there were times when I struggled to pay the $450 a month rent for my tiny apartment.

But, within a year, I had more than tripled the salary that my job had paid.

And, best of all, I was the boss.

Starting your own online business may not be popular with your friends and family. It’s scary. What if . . . (insert all bad things that could happen). Yes, but, what if you are wildly successful and get to live the life of your dreams?! Don’t let anyone convince you that the less-traveled road is the less-desirable road.

3. Cash In on Your Strengths

We all have strengths and weaknesses. For some reason, it’s human nature to focus on our weaknesses. You’ve probably been told (or even thought to yourself) that you can’t build a successful business because you’re too old, too young, too inexperienced, too poor . . .

Don’t buy it. I almost gave up when I first started.

I began my career as an entrepreneur in the network marketing industry. I was trained in the “old style” way – sign up all of your friends and family, talk to every person you can when you wait in line at the grocery store, buy leads and spend hours a day calling strangers.

Super yuck. I had no desire to do that. But I really wanted my own business, so I tried. And I was really bad at it.

So, I kept looking until I found a way to do business that concentrated on my strengths, which include developing relationships with people, not selling to strangers.

Don’t let anyone convince you that you lack what it takes to have a successful business. If you believe in yourself, are willing to take the time to develop a plan for your business, and then take massive action to implement that plan ~ you can do it!

I look forward to hearing your stories.

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3 Things Your Online Business Needs in 2012

Jennifer — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:58:45 +0000

You may recall that back in September I told you it was time to start planning your 2012 online business strategy NOW. While it is possible to instantly change your mindset, putting the new you into action – and seeing results – takes time.

Which means that if you wait until December 31 and come up with a list of “New Year Resolutions,” 2012 isn’t going to start off for you much different that 2011 was. And that can be kind of depressing. And it can make you give up on your resolutions before all the streamers have been cleaned up off the streets in Times Square.

So, if you listened to me, and began to plan your 2012 online business strategy months ago – good for you! January is going to be a great month for you.

But, if you never quite found the time for that, I understand. Sometimes it’s hard to get your head around today. Thinking about next year is out of the question.

Which is why I am going to share with you three things I’ve put into practice to make 2012 my best year yet.

When I look at all of the planning I’ve been doing to take my online business to the next level in 2012, these things are the early winners in the category of what’s really making a difference.

1. Hire a Coach

I mean pay someone every month to personally coach you. I don’t mean choose a mentor and read their blog every day and purchase every course they’ve ever put out. While that’s certainly a way to find a coach, it’s no substitute for having a coach.

You must have direct phone and email access to your coach. She must be available to answer your specific questions, to hold your hand through your challenges, and to hold you accountable in your online business.

And you should be paying her just a little more than you’re really comfortable with. Just to make sure that you take it seriously.

Every successful person I know has a coach. The millionaires I know pay their coach six figures a year. The rest of us pay five figures a year so we can learn how to get in a position to lay out six figures a year.

2. Learn How to Outsource

No matter how dedicated you are, there’s a limit to how many hours a week you can work on your online business.

If you have a job, or kids, or both, then that limit may be 10-15 hours a week.

No matter what you have been told in the past, I want to bring you into reality here. It’s hard to build a 6 or 7-figure online business working just a few hours a week.

Imagine if you could work 40, 80, 100 hours a week – and beyond! Now we’re talking.

Fortunately, you can. And the best news is, you don’t have to increase the number of hours you put it.

Find the things that you aren’t good at, that you don’t like to do, or that you simply aren’t getting done and outsource them. The world is full of virtual assistants, online business managers, and freelancers who would love to take on your project.

Don’t tell me it costs money, because it doesn’t. Outsourcing makes your online business money, a fact you will quickly discover once you start doing it.

3. Offer Something New

If you continue to do the same things you’ve done in 2011 ~ while I will applaud your persistence ~ I won’t expect to hear that you are getting any different results.

An excellent way to breathe some life into your online business is to offer your clients something new. It might be a new ebook, video course, or home study program. It might be a new coaching program (you may be the personal coach someone needs!).

Or it might be a new website, a forum, a Facebook page. It could be any new way for your clients to contact you and interact with you.

Take the one online business strategy that you’ve been most wanting to implement “someday” and make that someday “now.”

I can’t wait to hear how you’ve used these three things to explode your online business in 2012. I’d also love to know other ways you plan to grow your online business in the coming year. Please share with me in the comments below!

Online Branding: What’s the Right Facebook Timeline Cover?

Jennifer — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:05:43 +0000

The new Facebook timeline has me thinking about branding strategies today. The timeline is rolling out to everyone tomorrow, so like it or not, it’s time to think about how the changes are going to effect your online branding.

Your new Facebook timeline is important to your branding strategies because of the huge space your cover photo occupies. The cover photo is the first thing people see when they visit your timeline.

Basically, its a person’s first impression of you. So, if you use social media to grow your business, you really should make it a good one.

But what makes a good first impression? Is it a picture from your family vacation? After all, marketing is all about relationships these days. And people relate to people, not business logos.

Or is it a professionally done graphic that incorporates your business brand? People who are just on Facebook for “fun” will be showing their family pictures. As a business professional, isn’t this a great way to show off your online branding? An opportunity to convince people they should do business with you?

The answer is, “it depends.” It depends on who your market is. And it depends on what your branding strategies are.

If you are a social media manager, and people are looking at whether to hire you to manage their social media campaigns, the professional graphic is probably right for you. My friend Kim Garst has one of the best looking professional covers I’ve seen.

And remember, your personal profile picture is inserted at the bottom left side of your cover, so your visitors can still see a picture of you even if you go with a professional graphic for your cover.

If you brand your business name or logo, rather than yourself and your own face, a professional cover consistent with your online branding seems obvious.

But what about the rest of us solo entrepreneurs? When you’re looking for just the right combination of personal and professional, what are the right branding strategies for you?

Will a picture of your kids on your Facebook cover (a la my timeline) cause people not to take you seriously? To think your business isn’t making enough money to have a “real” cover?

Will an impersonal graphic keep people from relating to you and feeling that they know, like and can trust you?

Again, this is where you have to look at your market and your own branding strategies. It’s not as easy as, “this is what I want people to see.” You need to ask “what does my market want to see?”

One way to figure this out is to look at what the leaders in your market are doing. Look at your competitors’ timeline covers. And experiment with it. Changing your cover is simple. Rotate various covers for a few weeks and see what kind of feedback you’re getting.

Here are a few good “do it yourself” sites that will allow you to experiment with trying different covers without spending a fortune for custom designs:

NewFacebookBanners.com

FaceitPages.com

Myfbcovers.com

CoverPhotoMagic.com — this one makes your cover using selected photos from your Facebook albums.

The other thing you’ll want to ask yourself when considering what type of cover to use is “who am I to my market?” In other words, what are you telling your market on Facebook?

Do you share a lot about what you do in your personal life with your business contacts? Does your market know how many kids you have and where you went on vacation this year? If so, you may want to go more personal with your cover.

I’m thinking that a mix of personal and professional might best fit my online branding. There’s so much room on your cover, a good designer could blend the two.

I like what Mari Smith has done with hers. Obviously it will be changed soon, so I’ll tell you that right now it has a very cute holiday graphic as the main cover, and then a graphic showing off her new book that takes up a narrow strip on the right side of the cover. A nice blend between personal and professional.

Whatever you decide, share your link in the comments. I’d love to check it out and get some ideas from you!

Why Albert Pujols Would Fail at Online Business

Jennifer — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:53:18 +0000

Being a sports fan is in my blood. My dad used to take me to Kansas City Royals baseball games and Chiefs football games on a regular basis. It’s one of my favorite childhood memories.

I know more “sophisticated” people find professional sports “silly” or a waste of time. But for me, watching sports is a stress reliever. A good way to “check out” for awhile. Kind of like watching a soap opera.

And the big news yesterday that my St. Louis Cardinals had lost their star, Albert Pujols, to the Los Angeles Angels is proof that the business of professional baseball is about as far from the reality of most business as a soap opera is from real life.

Albert Pujols signed a 10-year, $250 million dollar contract with the Angels, after snubbing the Cardinals’ offer of a mere $200 million for the same time period.

In the world of online business, where “relationship marketing” rules, Pujols’ move was a major fail.

When it comes to baseball at least, St. Louisans understand relationship marketing. Business isn’t really about clever advertising and price wars.

It’s about developing positive relationships with people. In the appropriate moment then, people will do business with you because they know, like and trust you.

It appeared that the people of St. Louis had such a relationship with Albert Pujols. We sat through cold and rain, biting wind and blistering heat. Cheering loudly at his each “at bat.” We spent hours fashioning handmade signs bearing Pujols’ name and number 5, and effort dragging them into the stadium and positioning them in already-too-small seats.

We paid hundreds of dollars for our kids to have “Pujols 5″ jerseys. A couple of months ago we even unveiled a bronze statue of him that sits just outside the stadium. We supported the Pujols 5 restaurant, and Pujols’ Down’s Syndrome charity inspired by his own child who carries the diagnosis.

And it appeared that this relationship wasn’t one-sided. During his 10-plus years in St. Louis, Albert Pujols professed a desire to be a St. Louis Cardinal for life. He talked about how baseball to him was about the championships – the rings – not the money.

But when it came time to do business with St. Louis again, he turned his back on the relationship and bought based on price alone. Or maybe not. Moving to the American League means that when the inevitable day comes that Pujols is no longer the superstar, he can still hang on to his career by a thread and become the illustrious “designated hitter.”

It’s all about the money. And what’s in it for him.

And I suggest that is a lesson for you in how not to do business.

If you have an online business, or really any small business, you will find that people don’t buy based solely on price and what they get in exchange for their money.

I have paid more at a local store than I could get things for at Amazon. I have paid more for an information product from an online business (and gotten fewer “bonuses”) because I wanted to buy from a certain affiliate over another.

I have had people ask me if I was an affiliate for a certain product because they wanted to buy from me if I was. I have had people request my affiliate link when setting up services for their online business. Not because they could get it cheaper from me. But because we had a relationship.

More and more in the real world, that’s how business is done. Based on relationships. Based on value and service to others.

Maybe Albert Pujols doesn’t understand relationship marketing. Or maybe in the business of baseball he doesn’t have to care.

Maybe his decision will be good for him and his career. Maybe not.

In the end, if he decides to go the popular route of becoming an entrepreneur upon his retirement, he better look me up for some coaching if wants to have any hope of running a successful business. . .

Online Branding and Standing Out: How to Grow Your Home Business

Jennifer — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:32:14 +0000

I stopped at a small, off-the-path restaurant and got a wrap for lunch the other day. The server handed it to me in a somewhat typical clear plastic container. Except that the top of the container was covered with the name and logo of the restaurant.

“That’s cool,” I thought, “but I bet they paid quite a bit extra for that branding.”

I hadn’t finished my lunch, so I brought it into a meeting I had. After the meeting, someone noticed my leftovers and said, “oh, is that the place over on . . .” “Yes,” I responded. We discussed the place (she’d never been there), I gave it a good recommendation, and she plans to check it out.

Had the restaurant chosen the cheap Styrofoam containers, and not put their name and logo on their take-out food, that conversation never would have occurred.

Who knows how many new customers their branding brings in. Or how many people see the containers and are reminded of the out-of-the-way eatery. Or how many people stop in after driving by because they remember that a friend had take-out food from there once.

This small out-of-the way sandwich place (I’ve often wondered how they stay in business), has good food, and good branding. And it works.

So much for my theory that their branding costs them money . . .

There’s a crucial lesson here for your home business.

It feels like everyone is online these days. Your home business has lots of competition.

Chances are, you are not the McDonald’s of your niche. So you need good products/services and good online branding.

More and more, I see an inferior product outdoing its competition simply because it has superior online branding.

Yet, the number one concern of most home business owners I work with is that they create and provide the best product out there.

While this is a noble goal, you can’t spend 90% of your time on product creation and 10% on your online branding. Reversing those numbers would serve you better.

“So,” you may be thinking, “sounds great, but I don’t know how to effectively do online branding in my home business.”

Let me share another story with you about online branding.

I’ve worked out with the same aerobics teacher for at least 12 years. New people often follow my feet because I know what I’m doing.

But it’s hard for me to keep track of these people. They’re looking at me, but I’m not looking at them.

I hate to be rude and not speak to people I should know. But I admit that often one of them will strike up a conversation with me about our class and I’ll swear I’ve never seen them before.

The exception is one girl. I can always identify her. And I always remember her. Because she wears colorful knee-high socks to class every day.

Everyone else is in their cute little aerobic-wear, but she looks different. She stands out. And I notice.

There’s a lot to be learned from this when it comes to your online branding.

Think about how you stand out in your home business. How are you different from the competition? What makes you unique?

And don’t say you’re not. You are. Only you are you (obviously, huh?), which means you have a unique hook that no one else has.

It may be a story, a look, a tagline, a product or service.

Stop trying to be like everyone else in your market. Figure out how you’re different. Embrace it. Put it out there. Use it to make a million dollars.

And let me know how it goes for you!

Will Your Entrepreneur Gene Determine Your Success?

Jennifer — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:52:59 +0000

I’ve been studying financial success for over 14 years. Yet I remain fascinated by who succeeds and who doesn’t.

Convention teaches us that those who have money have some common denominators. Things like a good education, a good job, a prosperous upbringing.

But reality teaches us something far different.

Some of the wealthiest people I know grew up dirt poor, with little formal education, and with nothing more than a $10-an-hour fast food job on their resume. It seems that people with such credentials can be either welfare recipients who barely scrape by, or wealthy entrepreneurs who absolutely prosper.

One of my missions in life is to help people prosper. So I spend a lot of time figuring out the difference in the “haves” and the “have nots.”

And I have to say, there don’t appear to be any accurate predictors of whether someone will be financially successful, or will struggle paycheck-to-paycheck.

Simply put, financially secure people don’t appear to be any different from those who financially struggle. I had a couple of experiences last week that reinforced this lack of predictability.

I was in the grocery store at the customer service counter. One service the store provides is the ability to pay your utility bills there. I watched as two people handed the clerk electricity bills that said “Final Notice Before Disconnection” across them. The clerk placed the bills in what was certainly a 1 inch- high stack of other “Final Notice Before Disconnection” bills that were behind the counter.

The people that were paying these bills didn’t look like they were down to their last few dollars. But I was amazed at the sheer number of such bills that were being paid by people right here in my community – so that they could do something so seemingly basic as keep their lights on.

Later in the week I was at the gas station. I went inside to make a purchase. The man in front of me was an average looking guy in his 50′s, I’d say. He handed the clerk $3 to put in his gas tank. Now I suppose, like me, he could have left his debit card at home and just been using the cash he had to get him home.

But, in light of my earlier experience at the grocery store, the man at the gas station got me thinking even more about what separates those who drive Mercedes, from those who can only afford to put $3 in their gas tank.

Could it be that some of us have the “entrepreneur gene” and are just destined to succeed?

Could success be as random as brown eyes?

Why does Mary lose her job and spiral into bankruptcy, while Susan loses her job and uses her entrepreneur spirit to triple her income and go on to build her dream home?

I know in my life, I have friends who I have advised to give up the job hunt and go the road of the entrepreneur. And I have other friends who I would never suggest that to. I realize, somehow, that they just don’t have that in them.

What I’m unable to completely put my finger on is why some people have it in them to be entrepreneurs, and some don’t. Which is what led me to develop my only partially facetious “entrepreneur gene” theory.

Even if you are inclined to try entrepreneurship, roughly 97% of people who start their own business, fail at it. Is the entrepreneur gene really that rare? And are those who try and fail destined to do so?

Ultimately, I think not. I think you have complete control over your destiny. And over your personal and financial success.

I’ll share with you what I believe makes a successful entrepreneur next time. In the meantime, I’d love to hear what you think about the entrepreneur gene theory!