SALES SOURCE | by Geoffrey James
Mar 19, 2012
3 Words That Guarantee Failure
People who fail to achieve goals signal their intent to fail by using this common phrase. Make sure you aren't falling into the same trap.
People who fail to achieve goals almost always signal their intent to fail by using three little words:
"I will try..."
There are no three words in the English language that are more deceptive, both to the person who says them and the person who hears them.
People who say "I will try" have given themselves permission to fail. No matter what happens, they can always claim that they "tried."
People who hear "I will try" and don't realize what it really means are fooling themselves, by thinking there's a chance that the speaker will actually succeed.
People who really and truly achieve goals never say "I will try."
Instead, they always say "I will do" something–or, better yet, "I must do" whatever the task is.
As a wise (though fictional) guru once said: "Do, or do not. There is no 'try.'"
Monday, March 19, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Follow your Dream!
Successful entrepreneur Alan Hall listed his twelve traits to become an entrepreneur. The first trait he suggested and maybe the most important was to “follow your dream.” Over a few months Alan goes into more depth about each of those he listed his Deseret Newspaper articles. It would be worth getting on line and reading his comments as he wrote them starting in January of 2012 from the newspaper in Salt Lake City, Utah.
I am giving my own take on his 12 entrepreneur traits. First was to follow your dreams. Personally I do not think the dream has to be specific to any one idea. Dream about becoming an entrepreneur, owning your own business and controlling your own destiny is your first step. It is never too early to start.
Most of us were introduced to becoming a small business owner when we were young. I started about at the age of 6 when I learned collecting pop bottles was a real money maker. My parents encouraged me and by age eleven I had advanced into selling Christmas Cards door to door. Most little kids sell lemonade, candy or vegetables from the parent’s garden. We all have to start somewhere. Hopefully we can start early in life.
Usually pressure is put upon the children and they are told education is important for us to get a real job. If parents are smart they would teach the children to cultivate their entrepreneur talents as they get their education. I was once told by a very wealthy person, “the richest people in the world are entrepreneurs but with an education.” If we don’t develop both talents, we will just become educated persons working for entrepreneurs.
Don’t hold yourselves back and for sure don’t hold your children back from achieving everything that can be had. It is never too late or too early to start.
I am giving my own take on his 12 entrepreneur traits. First was to follow your dreams. Personally I do not think the dream has to be specific to any one idea. Dream about becoming an entrepreneur, owning your own business and controlling your own destiny is your first step. It is never too early to start.
Most of us were introduced to becoming a small business owner when we were young. I started about at the age of 6 when I learned collecting pop bottles was a real money maker. My parents encouraged me and by age eleven I had advanced into selling Christmas Cards door to door. Most little kids sell lemonade, candy or vegetables from the parent’s garden. We all have to start somewhere. Hopefully we can start early in life.
Usually pressure is put upon the children and they are told education is important for us to get a real job. If parents are smart they would teach the children to cultivate their entrepreneur talents as they get their education. I was once told by a very wealthy person, “the richest people in the world are entrepreneurs but with an education.” If we don’t develop both talents, we will just become educated persons working for entrepreneurs.
Don’t hold yourselves back and for sure don’t hold your children back from achieving everything that can be had. It is never too late or too early to start.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
One of my Entrepreneur Mentors
One of the most successful Entrepreneurs in Utah for the last 40 years has been a person by the name of Alan Hall. He has started small businesses and made them large. Besides being a guest writer for Salt Lake City’s Deseret News newspaper he has been a mentor for many people both young and old. He has been a venture capitalist, is the co-founder of an investment firm and was the founder of MarketStar Corp.
In his last article in the Deseret News on February 14th 2012 he gives 12 traits for being a successful entrepreneur. Below are the 12 traits, but to learn more, read the local newspaper as he writes about each of these traits in more detail.
1. Follow your dreams.
2. Take a risk.
3. Make a sacrifice.
4. Be persistent.
5. Know your customer.
6. Sell to survive and prosper.
7. Take care of your customers.
8. Hire the right employees.
9. Value your employees.
10. Establish a winning culture.
11. Call upon mentors.
12. Communicate constantly.
In his last article in the Deseret News on February 14th 2012 he gives 12 traits for being a successful entrepreneur. Below are the 12 traits, but to learn more, read the local newspaper as he writes about each of these traits in more detail.
1. Follow your dreams.
2. Take a risk.
3. Make a sacrifice.
4. Be persistent.
5. Know your customer.
6. Sell to survive and prosper.
7. Take care of your customers.
8. Hire the right employees.
9. Value your employees.
10. Establish a winning culture.
11. Call upon mentors.
12. Communicate constantly.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
What would be a Great Business to Start?
Here is something for us all to think about when considering what would be a good business to start.
The headline in the Wall Street Journal last week was written by Conor Dougherty. Conor wrote, “Americans are spending on home improvements.” The article reinforces what I have been seeing over the last couple of years: 1) “People are remodeling instead of moving” 2) Most of today’s renovations aren’t sweeping: They are more likely to feature new lighting or updated kitchen cupboards” -The kind of repair on the smaller scale many contracts do not like to touch because it is too small. 3) ”Individuals now spend more on home improvements than builders do on new home construction.” Dougherty even reported that families who are under water on their mortgages are investing in their homes “for reasons that are mostly emotional.”
Every repossessed home has dozens of things needing repair. Homeowners are spending on their most important asset their home, if they are staying in it, selling it or buying used, they are fixing and improving the special place they live.
If you want to start a business, consider the service industry. You could do well while serving people in some way, either working on their computers, repairing homes or helping the elderly be comfortable in their old age while living in their own house.
The headline in the Wall Street Journal last week was written by Conor Dougherty. Conor wrote, “Americans are spending on home improvements.” The article reinforces what I have been seeing over the last couple of years: 1) “People are remodeling instead of moving” 2) Most of today’s renovations aren’t sweeping: They are more likely to feature new lighting or updated kitchen cupboards” -The kind of repair on the smaller scale many contracts do not like to touch because it is too small. 3) ”Individuals now spend more on home improvements than builders do on new home construction.” Dougherty even reported that families who are under water on their mortgages are investing in their homes “for reasons that are mostly emotional.”
Every repossessed home has dozens of things needing repair. Homeowners are spending on their most important asset their home, if they are staying in it, selling it or buying used, they are fixing and improving the special place they live.
If you want to start a business, consider the service industry. You could do well while serving people in some way, either working on their computers, repairing homes or helping the elderly be comfortable in their old age while living in their own house.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Mediocrity?
How satisfied are you with your job? It was reported that in 1987 sixty one percent of those working were satisfied with their jobs. Recently, the last study showed only 45% was satisfied with their jobs. I suggest to those not satisfied, do something about it.
Walter Russell said, “Mediocrity is self-inflicted. Genius is self-bestowed.”
If you and I are content with mediocrity, then we get what we deserve. If we want to be happy with our job or profession then we need to strive for our dreams. Only you can self-bestow happiness on yourself. No matter where you find yourself in life, you control your own destiny.
If you decide being an entrepreneur is something you want to be, do your homework, but not give up until you are successful. I do not have any studies on business ownership, but I would venture to guess that the percentage satisfied owners are over 90%. That is the reason once you have become one, you will never go back to working for others.
Walter Russell said, “Mediocrity is self-inflicted. Genius is self-bestowed.”
If you and I are content with mediocrity, then we get what we deserve. If we want to be happy with our job or profession then we need to strive for our dreams. Only you can self-bestow happiness on yourself. No matter where you find yourself in life, you control your own destiny.
If you decide being an entrepreneur is something you want to be, do your homework, but not give up until you are successful. I do not have any studies on business ownership, but I would venture to guess that the percentage satisfied owners are over 90%. That is the reason once you have become one, you will never go back to working for others.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Too young to be a Millionaire?
When is it too young to start becoming a millionaire?
Here is a link from Forbes talking about 7 different young men who have become millionaires before the age of 22. All of them did it will little money and all within the last year or two.
You don't need a lot of money. Check this out.
http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/112341/how-to-make-1-million-before-you-graduate
If these young people can come up with an idea, so can you. Don't talk about it, DO IT! It might be your first step into becoming a millionaire.
Here is a link from Forbes talking about 7 different young men who have become millionaires before the age of 22. All of them did it will little money and all within the last year or two.
You don't need a lot of money. Check this out.
http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/112341/how-to-make-1-million-before-you-graduate
If these young people can come up with an idea, so can you. Don't talk about it, DO IT! It might be your first step into becoming a millionaire.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Hate being interviewed for a job?
Don’t you hate being interviewed for a job? What is worse is doing it when you know more than the young person interviewing you.
A few years ago I had a break in between businesses I had help create. My wife asked me, “What are you planning on doing?” I had no idea! Usually I have had a number of businesses ideas I had been working on, but at this time there was nothing. My wife suggested I should work for someone else and get a pay check like everyone else. I thought, why not? I would have a pretty good resume and some great company would be lucky to have me, right?
I filled out a resume and I have to say, it looked pretty good, especially for a college drop-out. I had started a number of successful companies and knew the inside workings of a business. I had hired, fired, met payrolls, raised money, sold products, marketed and was great a giving customer service. My next step was to send my resume to those businesses who could use someone with my skills.
I wasn’t expecting what followed next. I realized that I would be sending my resume to HR departments and that younger people with little experience in life was going to interview me. I realized that young people would end up being my boss. I would be reporting to a boss! The thought hit me like a ton of bricks. A wave of emotion swept over me. It was a feeling I hated and knew could never happen. I hadn’t had a boss for over 25 years and I knew it was something I hated.
No interviews for me! I decided to use my knowledge to start a business and franchise consulting business. After all, who know more about franchising than me? Well, I guess there might be some and maybe a lot, but I just don’t know of many.
If you hate the thought of being interviewed, start a business and be the boss. Most will never regret the decision of being the owner. Once you have been one, you’ll never want to go back.
A few years ago I had a break in between businesses I had help create. My wife asked me, “What are you planning on doing?” I had no idea! Usually I have had a number of businesses ideas I had been working on, but at this time there was nothing. My wife suggested I should work for someone else and get a pay check like everyone else. I thought, why not? I would have a pretty good resume and some great company would be lucky to have me, right?
I filled out a resume and I have to say, it looked pretty good, especially for a college drop-out. I had started a number of successful companies and knew the inside workings of a business. I had hired, fired, met payrolls, raised money, sold products, marketed and was great a giving customer service. My next step was to send my resume to those businesses who could use someone with my skills.
I wasn’t expecting what followed next. I realized that I would be sending my resume to HR departments and that younger people with little experience in life was going to interview me. I realized that young people would end up being my boss. I would be reporting to a boss! The thought hit me like a ton of bricks. A wave of emotion swept over me. It was a feeling I hated and knew could never happen. I hadn’t had a boss for over 25 years and I knew it was something I hated.
No interviews for me! I decided to use my knowledge to start a business and franchise consulting business. After all, who know more about franchising than me? Well, I guess there might be some and maybe a lot, but I just don’t know of many.
If you hate the thought of being interviewed, start a business and be the boss. Most will never regret the decision of being the owner. Once you have been one, you’ll never want to go back.
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