We have all heard the expression: Readers are leaders. Some folks might say it the other way around, Leaders are readers. Regardless of the order of the words the wisdom of its meaning remains apparent. People who read, grow personally and intellectually, and eventually develop the characteristics of a leader. Of course, this is only the case when WHAT is being read is of high quality and leadership material.

       I recently attended a meeting with other entrepreneurs who were interested in growing their businesses. Everyone shared great insight to their business success. Many of these entrepreneurs had been business owners for decades. Some were “newbies” and others were mid -stream start ups. The common thread I noted as I sat and listened to the discussions, was that everyone present believed in learning..always..everyday. The means by which they learned varied. I heard some talk about books they were reading, others talked about seminars and conferences they attended. Regardless of their age, they all strived to gather more “nuggets” of information, “gems” of wisdom, and “golden” strategies and tips of significance and most importantly, IT SHOWED in their character.

       I have not stopped thinking about what I saw in those entrepreneurs since that meeting. I loved seeing it, being a part of it, and I loved those people for having the spirit to share with everyone. What beautiful people; what admirable learners!

       What are you learning today, this year, and during this time you are alive; called life?  Are you reading, taking classes, studying, attending seminars? are you striving to stretch yourself and your brain? As you stretch your brain..YOU yourself grow.  WOW! now that’s a thought isn’t it?

       Go learn something new today! You have everything to gain…including a “few inches of personal growth”….Be a learner and lead strong!

Blessings of great life discoveries,

Jennifer

       Treasure hunts are great fun and can produce amazing finds! I am never sure if the fun originates from the hunt or from what is found. Regardless of which is which, the results are great! A great find of some value is the end result of the time and effort spent.

       It surprises me to think that in many businesses practicing the death producing feats that create mediocrity and stagnation,  there are “golden nuggets of GREAT value”  buried beneath the blanket of “usuality”( a term I have made up to describe that which never changes even when it would be in the best interest of all, if things would only change).

Gold nuggets that produce financial increase. Gold nuggets that create more clients. Gold nuggets that make business productive and more lucrative. Gold nuggets that create a “buzz” of excitement that ignites the flame of desire to have that which your business offers. Yes, those are the gold nuggets that every business owner hopes to find. The funny thing about many business owners though is that they “think” they are too old, too tired, too sophisticated, and just too business serious to be a Treasure hunter. In fact, many people will not even read this post because to them it is not related to owning a business or making money….If this is you, I ask you to think again. There IS buried treaure in EVERY business. The gold or hidden treaure of your business can ONLY be found if you participate on the HUNT.

      What hidden treaure do you have buried in your business?

* Your business has a product/service available that you never promote because you THINK it will not be a BIG seller, yet when you offer it to the next three customers, ALL THREE buy it! 

*Your business is founded on a tangible product, but when your fifth grader films a short clip of YOU actually MAKING your product (the process) to show as a science project, EVERY attending adult at the science fair asks you,  ”WHERE CAN I  BUY that. I want to learn to do that”, you discover that people are wanting to pay for that which you do everyday.

* Your business makes money selling cardboard boxes. Your customers think of you everytime they want or need a box. PERIOD. You are content with this “branding” But the first time your sister works the desk in your business when you have to leave for the day, she does not know that ALL you sell is boxes. She offers the customer things to PUT IN the BOX and WOW!! … Hidden Treaure is found!

Be a pirate on the seas of sales. Get your map out to track the journey. Gather the materials to “pick” the cliffs you must climb. Put on your brightest “head lamp” to light the way as you DISCOVER th HIDDEN treaures your busienss has available to he who takes on a good hunt.

Happy hunting!

Blessings for the greatest business that you desire!

Jennifer

” Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can never hurt you”. Do remember that little diddy from childhood days? I sure do and I remember thinking that I do not know who said that names would not hurt me, but I believe they were mistaken. Name calling hurts; especially when the name you are called is not a “nice” name. In business I have found that there is truly one name that I do not want to be called. That name is a “Perpetual Wanna Be”. It’s meaning is bound to one who continually says they “want to do, be, have” and yet they never do anything to make it happen.

It is absolutely grand to have a vision of one day reaching business sales in the six and seven figure numbers. Those who have that dream and are working a plan to manifest that dream can rightfully  be called a “Six Figure Wanna Be”. The difference in the “Perpetual Wanna Be” and the “Six figure Wanna Be” is that the first one has no plan to take action other than lip service and the latter is working on their plan to make it happen.

The development of a six figure business is definitely within your reach. It is actually in the reach of everyone who lives, but for some reasons we may never know, many deserving people will never experience the thrill of owning their own business nor will they experience the financial freedom that can be created by their business success. They doubt opportunity and walk away from its potential. They make excuses why they can not do what they so want to do instead of searching to discover how to make it happen.

Their family and friends hear them say they want to change their life, start a business, move to a new location, but these things are only words and are not followed by performance. When this “words without performance” continues for months and even years, this “wanting something different in life, yet doing nothing to create a different outcome” the results produce what I call a “Perpetual Wanna Be”.

Remember, it is healthy and good to want to change your life, your life work, and your dreams and goals, but only when action is applied to get a new and different result.  This year when you go to your networking events and you fill out your name tag….be sure to write the name you want to be called and that is a “Six Figure Business Owner”.

Blessings to YOU, this year’s six figure business owner!…I love calling you that!!!

Jennifer

I met with a business friend last week . She too is a coach and marketing strategist. We laughed and talked for hours sharing our many successes and challenges that have transpired throughout the past year. It is always heart warming to have someone in a similar field to share with. Our talk did navigate toward the “new and upcoming” year, 2009. We both have “Big Goals, Big Dreams, and Big Plans”.  Our outlook is positive and our hopes set high. Such is the view of the optimist, but it too is the view of the realist. I say realist because it is VERY real to wake up each day and have an abundance of opportunity before you. Opportunity for business start up, growth, happiness, health, wealth, and all good things. It begins in the mind and it starts with a plan.

There was one common denominator in our “2009 Plans” and that was our vision for “New Income Opportunities”. You see, even though we both have experienced effects of the economic roller coaster this past year, we both feel that there are great and New Income Opportunities on the horizon of 2009. I am very excited and so is my friend.

Today, I want to leave you thinking about your “2009″ new income opportunities.

1.  How are you generating your income?

2   Are you happy with what you make?

3.  What would you rather be doing to generate your income or are you satisfied with what you are doing?

4.  If you are wanting change, what interests you and what are you skilled at?

5.  Write down three ways you could get your boss or company to “pay you more” for what you have to offer.

6.  If you own your own business, what is your best money making product and service?

7. List three ways you have not tried to market this “best seller”.

8.  List two new products or services that you have been thinking about creating for your business but have not taken action in getting it up and going.

I hope these questions give you some direction and thought toward your income for 2009. The great thing about life is that each day that you wake up is another twenty four hour opportunity to plan, see, do, feel, and create what you desire.

Start thinking about your new income opportunities and make a plan to take action. Be sure to write down your thoughts and re read them over the next couple weeks. I would love to hear from you about your new ideas that spring forth from this posting.

Blessings for many, many new income ideas!

Jennifer

Today, more than ever, your business needs to operate in what I would call “the ROVING EYE” mode where you are constantly observing your customers, your competition, and your offerings.

A “roving eye” on your customers will allow you to see:

1. What they are interested in.

2. What they are willing to pay for.

3. What they are begging for.

A “roving eye” on your competition will allow you to see:

1.  What they are selling.

2. What they are doing to sell.

3. What the customers like and dislike about their offerings.

A “roving eye” on your offerings will allow you to see:

1. What the customers are flocking to.

2. What the customers are running from.

3. What product and services you should be offering that you are not.

In a Great Business the “roving eye” is the only eye that is seen and that “sees”. One eyed as a cyclops; one eyed and ALL seeing. Do not be blinded by useless marketing. Use your “Cyclops eye” to see how to grow a great business that has customers running to you. Look, listen, and SEE with your “roving eye”.

Your vision is your future. Your eye is the gateway. Your roving Cyclops eye is that which allows you to see the truth. Use it.

and

Speaking of sight….

Helen Keller, author and educator who was born blind and deaf said it most magnificently when she said,

“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight and not seeing.”

Do be a “roving eye” business. Do use your Cyclops eye. Do become a GREAT and prosperous business.

Blessings of great sight to you and you business!

Jennifer