Still chipping away

The thing about building a business is just that, you build. It doesn't happen over night. If you hear of big overnight success, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It doesn't happen overnight. But it will happen a little at a time.

If you are interested in getting things going for yourself go look at my turnkey business, turnkey meaning it is all set to go, you buy in as your investment and the group helps you get things going.

Simply fill out the online form or call the 800 number and you can get started. In today's economy you need to take things in your own hands and work to make things work, not wait for something to land in your lap. Go for it.

Dean

I don't believe that most people fail. They just give up.

Tuesday's Tip
October 28, 2008
Issue #437

What Dr. Alan Zimmerman Has To Say:

In the movie, "A League of Their Own," we're told the story of the first professional women's baseball league formed in World War Two. The outstanding athletes in this league endured hardships and even ridicule as they traveled across the country from one baseball field to the next.

At one point in the story, one of the league's star players is about to quit the team just before the big play-offs. Her coach, naturally upset, says, "But I thought you loved baseball!"

The player answered tearfully, "I do. But it just got too hard."

To which the coach responds, "Of course it's hard. If it wasn't hard, everybody would do it!"

Likewise, being successful is hard in many ways. If it wasn't hard, everybody would do it.

Unfortunately, when we look at successful people, we see the RESULTS of their blood, sweat, and tears. We don't see the EFFORT that comes before their results. And that's a downright shame ... because it leads to a skewed understanding of the success process.

Not so long ago, the dream for many people was to work hard and eventually become an athlete, a lawyer, a doctor, an artist, a business owner, or a craftsman. Now, the only dream some people have is to win the lottery. And that dream, my friends, will get you into a lot of trouble.

The odds of attaining success in the first dream is high; the odds for success in the second dream are about a hundred million to one. Yet too many people continue to play against the odds, hoping that luck, magic, or miracles will suddenly transform their lives, solve all their problems, and relieve them of all despair and depression.

Well, despite the fact that so many people do NOT understand how success is attained, there is some GOOD NEWS. Success has been studied ... and continues to be studied ... in thousands of research projects. We know ... we really know ... what kinds of things guarantee success.

If you obey the laws and principles of success, if you apply the skills and strategies associated with success, you will succeed. That's what my "Journey to the Extraordinary" is all about. You learn the 12 keys that will guarantee your own success ... on and off the job.

Of course, you're wondering what those 12 keys are. You can get them by going to http://www.Journey-To-The-Extraordinary.com/

But I find it somewhat amazing that historian William Gilmore Simms alluded to some of those keys ... or should I say "dirty little secrets" ... back in the 1800's. He said, "The conditions of conquest are always easy. We have but to toil awhile, endure awhile, believe always, and never turn back." Notice his 4 points. And let me expand on them so you can apply his 4 points to your success Journey.

=> 1. Toil awhile.

Basically Simms is saying there's no substitute for hard work. There are very few overnight successes. And there "ain't no free lunch."

Linda Armstrong Kelly, the mother of bicycle champion Lance Armstrong, talks about that in her book, "No Mountain Too High." Linda says, "I often get the question, 'How does Lance do it?' My first thought is, well he didn't get where he is by sitting on the couch eating potato chips, but people don't want to hear that! The truth is he made sacrifices and committed himself to a goal. Of course he trained and trained and trained... If you can, visualize Lance training 7 days a week, 5-6 hours a day, with weather conditions ranging from freezing rain to blistering heat."

Consultant and author Jim Rohn puts a business spin on this first step of "toil awhile." He says when you look at the highly successful individual in any field, you walk away saying to yourself: "It's no wonder he's doing so well. Look at everything he's doing."

And that, my friends, is a mighty good test of whether or not you're on the Journey to success. If I followed you around for a week and painstakingly recorded how you spent your time, what you did every day to advance your career or business, would I wind up saying, "It's no wonder he's doing so well. Look at everything he's doing."

Sometimes we fool ourselves and think we're putting in the effort, when we're really just going through the motions. Many people are out of work these days, and I've often heard them say, "I sent out 100 resumes and I didn't get any response. I did everything I could." And they think they've put in 100 percent effort!

One hundred percent effort means that you've exhausted every possible opportunity for reaching your goal. If you're looking for a job, 100 percent effort would include researching individual companies you want to work for, sending these companies personalized letters, calling to follow up, calling other people in the industry, and networking.

One hundred percent effort means telling a potential boss you really want to work for, "I'm sure you've got a lot of applicants here. But I believe so strongly in my ability to meet your needs, I'll work for you for 30 days with no pay. Let me prove to you my enthusiasm, my integrity, and my ability. In 30 days, evaluate my performance. If it's not up to par, let me go. But when I prove myself to you, I expect to be given the job and paid for the 30 days of work."

Now that's putting in 100 percent effort! And that's what you need to do to succeed in any area of life.

So what am I saying? Bottom line? SUCCESS IS MORE OFTEN THE RESULT OF HARD WORK THAN THE RESULT OF TALENT.

It's an absolutely critical point. You've got to "toil awhile." Don't ever forget it.

And then...

=> 2. Endure awhile.

What a nasty word ... "endure." Most of us ... maybe all of us ... would like to come by success the "easy" way. We want it to fall into our laps.

But that's an extremely rare occurrence. 99.99% of the time, success comes AFTER we "endure" awhile.

As someone once said, pain, sickness, disappointment, setbacks, tragedies, death, and other adversities are always chasing us. And at least three or four times a year, one or more of those things will catch up to us or someone we care about.

So we've got to learn to "endure." All the greats in every field of endeavor have learned how to "endure."

As professional tennis player Bjorn Borg noted, "My greatest point is my persistence. I never give up in a match. However down I am, I fight until the last ball. My list of matches shows that I have turned a great many so-called irretrievable defeats into victories."

Could the same be said of you? That you never give up? That you endure?

Or do people ... secretly behind your back ... say you bail out when things get a little tough? Do they say you give up way too easily or throw in the towel too quickly? Do they point out the fact that you seldom finish what you start?

If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, let me urge you to hang in there ... to "endure" a little longer. As John Quincy Adams noted, "Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." In other words, there's power in perseverance.

And if you're not convinced, try a little exercise. Write the name of your challenge at the top of a sheet of paper. Put a line down the middle.

At the top of the left-hand column, write down the words, "What I stand to gain by quitting or delaying." Jot down all the good things you get if you fail to persevere. Most likely it will be a short list.

As time management consultant Edwin C. Bliss advised, "Never let the difficulty of a task stand as an adequate reason for not acting; force yourself to identify precisely what is to be gained in the long run by delay. In most cases you'll find you can't."

At the top of the right-hand column, write down the words "What I stand to lose if I quit." Jot down those potential losses. Your list will probably be longer.

So there you have it ... 2 of the 4 points on your Journey to success: 1) toil awhile, and 2) endure awhile. In next week's "Tuesday Tip," I'll address the other two points.

Action:

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best on the Endurance Scale, how would you score yourself? 1 = wimping out and quickly giving up. 10= never, never giving up.


Make it a great week!
Dr. Alan Zimmerman

"Reprinted with permission from Dr. Alan Zimmerman's Internet newsletter, the 'Tuesday Tip.' For your own personal, free subscription to the 'Tuesday Tip' ... along with several other complimentary gifts, go to http://www.DrZimmerman.com"

Tuesday's Tip: "Wherever you are, BE THERE."

October 21, 2008
Issue #436



What Dr. Alan Zimmerman Has To Say:

I shouldn't have to write this article today. After all, no one needs to be reminded about living in the present. Or do they?

Apparently they do. As I watch people and the media go crazy with our tough economic times, I see them living everywhere except the PRESENT.

Some people are living in the PAST, filled with regret, as they incessantly talk about "the good old days ... how things used to be ... and ... what they should have done."

Other people are living in the FUTURE. They're overwhelmed with worry, wondering what tragedy will befall us "if a certain candidate is elected President ... if another terrorist attack should occur ... or ... if the economy doesn't bounce back soon."

Still other people are worshipping at the altar of "MULTI-TASKING." They talk about multi-tasking as though they're doing something noble and somehow being more productive. In reality, they're living their life somewhere else than where they're at ... at the moment.

And, in my opinion, when you live anywhere but the PRESENT ... when you live in the past, in the future, or in the land of multi-tasking ... the results range from sad to disgusting.

I think it's sad when I see a young couple out on a date, eating at a restaurant, while one of the youngsters spends most of his/her time on a cell phone talking to someone else. And I think it's disgusting to go into a men's room and see men lined up at the urinals as they talk to clients on their cell phones.

All these people are missing out on one of the surest keys to a peaceful life, a productive career, and a positive relationship ... and that is ... BEING THERE ... being totally present ... wherever they are. But lots of people never learn this key.

Jan Halper talked about that in her book, "Quiet Desperation: The Truth About Successful Men." She said 48% of all middle managers in her study described their lives as "empty and meaningless," despite the many, many years they spent striving to achieve their personal goals.

And 68% of the senior executives said they neglected their families to pursue their professional goals. Half of those executives said if they could start over again, they would spend less time working and more time with their wives and children.

DON'T make that same mistake. I urge you ... I challenge you to BE THERE ... to be totally present ... wherever you are. As author Dan Millman puts it, "In every moment, the quality of your life is on the line. In each, you are either fully alive or relatively dead."

So how can you learn to live in the present? I've found three things that work.

=> 1. Ruthlessly eliminate unnecessary hurry from your life.

In my "Journey To The Extraordinary" program, I remind people that speed and success are two different things. Sometimes the best results come from a slower, more thoughtful approach.

In fact, Todd Livingood from the Mayo Clinic, attended my "Journey" program and later sent me an example. He noted that Jesus was never in a hurry. Even though he was quite busy, he was never in a hurry. He always had time for another person and time to be with His Father.

Nonetheless, it's hard for some people to think of any other way to be successful than to hurry, hurry, hurry. For example, one wealthy businessman was horrified to see a fisherman lying lazily beside his boat, smoking a pipe.

"Why aren't you out fishing?" asked the businessman.

"Because I caught enough fish for one day," replied the fisherman.

"Why don't you catch some more?"

"What would I do with them?"

"You could earn more money," said the businessman. "Then with the extra money, you could buy a bigger boat, go into deeper waters, and catch more fish. Then you would make enough money to buy nylon nets. With the nets, you could catch even more fish and make more money. With that money you could own two boats, maybe three boats. Eventually you could have a whole fleet of boats and be rich like me."

"Then what would I do?" asked the fisherman.

"Then," said the business man, "you could really enjoy life."

The fisherman looked at the businessman quizzically and asked, "What do you think I am doing now?"

So it will be worth your while to eliminate some of the unnecessary hurry in your life. Instead of hurrying to work and arriving there a bit frazzled, get up ten minutes earlier, so you can allow a few minutes to read your morning devotions, take a walk around the block, and literally smell a rose along the way.

With all the turmoil in the marketplace these days, the last thing you should do is worry about the future and hurry through the present. That approach will steal your peace of mind and make things worse than they already are. Instead, notice the good, the kind, the beautiful little things along your daily path, at home and on the job, and BE THERE.

And then...

=> 2. Learn to focus on one person at a time.

Don't even try to have a nice dinner with your spouse if you're thinking about all the work you have to do ... back on the job ... tomorrow. Because even though your body is at the dinner party, you're not.

And don't even think you can have a decent conversation with a colleague in your office if you're glancing at your computer screen or Blackberry every few moments. Because once again, even though your body is at the meeting, you're not there.

No!!! Learn to focus on one person at a time. I saw a demonstration of how that could be done at a Northwest Airlines counter when several flights had to be rescheduled. People were clustered all around, each with a burning question that couldn't wait. As I waited for my turn, I became fascinated by the man behind the counter. There he was, pressured by all those people and yet perfectly calm and composed.

Finally when it became my turn, I said, "I've been admiring the way you handle the public."

He raised his head and looked at me squarely and said, "I don't deal with 'the public,' I deal with one person, and then another, and another and another. Now, what would you like to know?"

He knew how to live in the present by focusing on one person at a time. He didn't allow himself to become tense or anxious because of pressure. He simply took one person at a time. He knew how to BE THERE.

I don't know exactly what your life is like, but I know this Northwest Airline agent has a lesson for all of us in these scary times ... and that is ... don't get over stimulated. Don't try to listen to three TV channels and two radio stations a the same time. Don't try to answer the demands of two customers, one boss, one spouse, and four kids all at once.

You'll be a lot more calm, a lot more clear headed, and a great deal more pleasant ... if you focus on one person ... or one input ... at a time ... whenever possible. That way you can truly BE THERE.

Finally,

=> 3. Practice detachment.

If you really struggle with living in the present, keeping your focus, and putting first things first, remove yourself from all the things that distract you. Detach ... occasionally. It's great practice for a more positive life ... and a great deal more comforting than watching the latest news from the stock market.

Toni Newman learned to do that ... or should I say ... was forced to learn that. On a recent vacation, she left the following message on her voice mail, "If you get this message, please be aware that I am being held hostage by two wonderful children under the age of 6. They have hidden my Blackberry and my cell phone. They have locked me out of my office and away from my computer. The red light on my phone blinks helplessly but alas, I am forbidden to check my messages. Their demands are simple: two weeks of my undivided attention. If I obey, I will be allowed to return to my office on Monday, August 1st. I look forward to reconnecting with you then."

Strangely enough, Toni actually left that message on her home as well as her work voice mail. And that takes guts. Most of us wouldn't want our clients and coworkers to know that we are so detached from business that we couldn't be reached. It might be interpreted as a career-limiting move.

But Toni did it. And the result? When she got back to work, her clients were so impressed with her candor ... and her willingness to stick to her values ... that her sales actually shot up

What about you? Are you living in panic mode? Are you checking your Blackberry or your wireless connection to the Internet every chance you get? Maybe it's time to realize that everyone needs some time to detach from the hustle and bustle. Even you.

And how are you doing when it comes to scheduling time with your family and friends? As Dr. Terry Paulson states, "If your calendar truly is your creed, it's time to put your calendar where your mouth is."

And once you schedule the time, how well do you honor that time by truly BEING THERE? It's time to put your mind where your body is.

Action:

Where are you living your life? In the past ... filled with regrets ... about what you should have done? In the future ... with all its worries about our economic uncertainties? Or in the present ... where calmness reigns and creativity flourishes?

Make it a great week!
Dr. Alan Zimmerman

Dr. Zimmerman's Tuesday's Tip

October 14, 2008
Issue #435

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."
The Bible



What Dr. Alan Zimmerman Has To Say:

Yes, that's what the Bible said hundreds ... even thousands ... of years ago. It said your "name" or your reputation was one of the most important, most powerful assets you could ever possess.

But if the Biblical wording sounds too stuffy or old-fashioned for you, try this: "Trust is a must or the relationship will bust." In other words, if you have a "good name," if you are "esteemed" by others, if you are trusted by others, you have one of the most powerful leadership tools you could ever possess.

One successful business person made that quite clear. He was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you."

The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named Jim was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost, and he planted the seed.

Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.

By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by - still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil ... in hopes the seed would grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach. It was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right.

He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful - in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed. A few felt sorry for him.

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back.

"My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed, and Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!"

Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. "How could he be the new CEO?" the others asked.

Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds. They were dead. It was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you."

"Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"

And I, Dr. Alan Zimmerman, might add ... Jim was the only one who could be trusted. And that's critical -- because trust is one of the indispensable keys to successful leadership.

But trust cannot be mandated. It MUST BE be earned and CAN BE earned if you consistently employ four qualities. According to leadership guru Warren Bennis, those four qualities are constancy, congruity, reliability, and integrity. He explains them in his book, "On Becoming A Leader." Here's my take on the four qualities.

=> 1. Constancy

We all know that leadership requires vision ... a vision that looks beyond the current reality. And great leaders dream that the impossible can become possible.

But a vision ... in and of itself ... does not breed trust. There has to be a CONSTANCY ... which means you stay the course. You stick with the vision.

And that takes guts -- especially when you're surrounded by nay-sayers. Nonetheless, as publisher Henry George Bohn wrote in the 1800's, "Boldness in business is the first, second, and third thing."

Eventually, your CONSTANCY to vision will earn the trust of others ... as well as their motivation. As President John Quincy Adams said, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

True. And with Constancy in place, the second ingredient in trust building is ...

=> 2. Congruity

In other words, as the leader, your values and beliefs should be obvious and congruent in everything you say and do. You walk your talk ... all the time ... no matter what. And it's that kind of congruity that earns the trust of others.

Michael Volkeman, the chairman of The Herman Miller Furniture Company, preaches that. He says, "Leadership is about doing the right thing, not the easy thing." And the right thing is standing up for what you believe.

Senator Barbara Boxer echoes a similar sentiment. She says, "If all you do is take the path of least resistance, because you're afraid of not being loved, then you don't really stand for much." And you can't expect much in the way of other people's trust.

Put another way, if you ever expect to be an effective leader, you simply CANNOT say one thing and do another. Your words and your actions have got to be consistently congruent. Anything less than total congruity raises doubts and lowers trust.

Beyond that, trust is further built with ...

=> 3. Reliability

In other words, you build trust when your coworkers know you're THERE FOR THEM. You support them in the moments that matter. You're a reliable source, guide, mentor, and teammate ... not a fair-weather friend who sells you out if a better opportunity comes along.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill knew about that. Even though his persona was bigger than life, and even though his presence was felt around the world, he knew the value of reliability in the smaller moments. He said, "Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones."

When there's any question about someone's reliability, it always lowers the trust level. That became obvious when a customer wrote to an equipment mail-order company and, in a very literal way, requested an engine. What he actually said was, "Please send me the A-1 outboard motor shown on page 200 of your June 2007 catalogue. If the engine is any good, I'll send you a check."

The company obviously turned the request over to a customer service rep with a sense of humor, because that service rep wrote back, "Please send us a check. If it's any good, we'll send you the engine."

Finally, trust is built when there's ...

=> 4. Integrity

Simply put, you keep your promises. Or as people used to say, "Your word is your bond. You can take it to the bank. It's as good as gold."

Politician John Foster Dulles knew that. He admonished, "A capacity to change is indispensable. Equally indispensable is the capacity to hold fast to that which is good." And I would add, hold fast to doing what you said you were going to do.

The latest research on emotional intelligence affirms it. As Dan Hill reports, "A CEO must protect his or her credibility above all else." And nothing builds up or shoots down credibility quicker than keeping or not keeping your promises.

So how do YOU stack up on integrity? Do your people trust you to follow through ... to keep your promises?

And taking it a step further, do you say what you mean and mean what you say? No double talk? And no fast talk?

You'd better hope so. As educator Alfred Kahn pointed out, "If you can't explain what you're doing in simple English, you are probably doing something wrong." And that, in turn, will lower the trust in your relationships.

Action:

Write down the 4 qualities of effective, trusted leadership: Constancy, Congruity, Reliability, and Integrity.

Then grade yourself on each quality from an A (excellent) to an F (failing). And get to work on those qualities where you receive a B or lower grade.

Make it a great week!
Dr. Alan Zimmerman

Tuesday's Tip If it is to be, it is up to me.

October 7th 2008
Issue #434



What Dr. Alan Zimmerman Has To Say:

Those are ten of the most powerful two-letter words ever uttered. And I'm sure you've heard them before. But what do they REALLY MEAN ... "If it is to be, it's up to me?" And HOW DO YOU APPLY THESE WORDS to your life?

I'm glad you asked. So let me answer your questions ... because they're critical questions that many people never even think about.

They never think about the fact that IT'S UP TO ME. That may be one reason why 95% of the people reaching retirement age lack the financial resources to take care of their basic needs ... without some form of government help. They never fully understood the fact ... that IT'S UP TO ME.

Strangely enough, some immigrants groups ... not all ... REALLY UNDERSTAND this basic truth. In fact, a person who immigrates to the United States is 4 times more likely to become a millionaire than a person who is born here. Is that because the immigrant is 4 times luckier? No. Is it because the immigrant is 4 times smarter? No. Is it because the immigrant works 4 times harder? No. It's because the immigrant is 4 times more likely to spot opportunities than problems. He knows, "IF IT IS TO BE, IT'S UP TO ME."

Despite this basic truth, I come across a lot of people in my speaking and travels who do little or nothing in the way of spotting opportunities. And they do very little to increase their value. They don't buy or read educational books, and they don't invest their own time and money into motivational CD's, DVD's, or seminars. And they wonder why they aren't better off today than they were last year.

So I want to let you in on a little secret. If you want to double your paycheck, all you have to do is take action to triple your value.

One of three things will absolutely happen. One, your present employer will respond with raises, bonuses, and promotions. Two, a new employer will find and grab you. Or three, you'll discover some entrepreneurial opportunity and move on to writing your own paycheck.

And if you already own a business, simply take action to triple the value you offer to your customers. As entrepreneur Dan Kennedy says, "Your compensation will always catch up to your value."

But my clients say, "Dr. Zimmerman, that's all fine and dandy. But how do I keep myself motivated enough to do all those things?"

Well there's two things you've got to do ...



=> 1. Step out with courage.

Success seldom falls upon the faint-of-heart or the lily-livered cowards. It comes to those who are not afraid to try ... and try .. and try ... and try.

And yet the losers in life don't see all the trying behind the scenes. They look at a successful doctor and don't think about the many years of schooling, internship and residency he endured before he even started to practice medicine. They read about the successful businesswoman and never realize the huge amount of work she put into the process of earning her position. They see the Olympic athletes get their bronze, silver, and gold medals but forget about the hundreds of hours of training that preceded those few winning moments.

That's why the losers give up when they hit rocky patches on their road to success. They think, "It looked so easy when they did it. I must be doing something wrong." And they give up. They don't understand how the success process works, and they lack the courage to keep on trying.

But one young man understood the courage part. It was his last chance. He was a senior and his goal was to make it to the state wrestling championships. He had to win this match to get a fifth-place medal and get into the championship rounds.

Unfortunately, when the match was over, he stood with his head down as the referee raised his opponent's arm in victory. It was not even close. He had lost 14-0. His high school wrestling career was over. There would be no state tournament for him. Not now ... not ever. It was his last chance and he blew it.

Walking off the mat, he heard the applause and cheers for his opponent. But the applause kept growing louder and louder. Then he looked up. All eyes were on him. The 800 fans who packed the small high school gym were standing and cheering him. They were giving him a standing ovation. He was overwhelmed. The emotions of the moment because too much for him to handle. He went down on one knee and cried.

You see, wrestling is a difficult sport for anyone. But it is even more difficult when you are born without a left arm. And his right arm, if you could call it that, was really just half an arm. He had two fingers growing out of an elbow-length stump.

He remembered that when he first went out for the team in the ninth grade, the kids on his own team made fun of him.

His sophomore year was not much better. More comments behind his back. More hurtful statements to his face. Nicknames from the stands that no one should ever hear.

By his junior year, he had developed his own one-armed style. And what a leg wrestler he became. He had won almost as many matches as he had lost.

And his senior year ... the greatest moment of his life came when his coach told him the team had picked him to be one their captains. He ended the season with 11 wins and eight losses. And even though he wasn't the greatest wrestler, he was a great competitor. He earned the right to represent his school on the mat.

And now his wrestling career was over. His opponent was hugging him. His coach and teammates were picking him up and putting him on their shoulders. He saw Mom in the stands crying. And Dad was filming the whole thing with his new video camera. The crowd was still on its feet cheering.

They were giving this "losing" wrestler a standing ovation because the one-armed kid had taught everyone a lesson. He taught them WINNING IS NOT THE ONLY THING ... COURAGE IS.

Yes, you've got to step out with courage ... whether or not you feel courageous. Just do it.

And then, to keep yourself motivated ... to keep on getting better and better ... and doing better and better ...



=> 2. Perfect your climbing skills.

In other words, success is seldom just around the corner. It's almost always found over the hill.

You will encounter put downs as you pursue success. Fred Astaire knew that. Over his fireplace in Beverly Hills hung a yellowed MGM inter-office memo, a souvenir of the dancing film star's first screen test. Dated 1933 and sent by the testing director to his superior, it read, "Fred Astaire. Can't act. Slightly bald. Can dance a little."

You've got to climb over the put downs. Fred Astaire did.

And you will encounter rejection as you pursue success. Randy Pausch wrote about that in his book, "The Last Lecture." He talked about applying for a job as a Disney imagineer and receiving "The nicest go-to-h_ _ _ letters I've ever gotten." But the rejection didn't discourage him and eventually wound up doing work for Disney.

In the process, Randy learned a KEY lesson in the process of winning. He said, "The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something." In other words, the brick walls of rejection help you figure out who you really are and what you really want.

Randy went on to say, "The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They're there to stop the OTHER people."

So I ask you, "How good are your climbing skills? Are you climbing up, over, and around the brick walls to your success? Or do you figure success is 'too hard' to achieve, so you just give up?"

The great educator Booker T. Washington knew about climbing. He told his students back in the 1800's, "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles that one has overcome while trying to succeed."

I don't know what obstacles you're facing. Maybe it's the economy, your company, your finances, or your relationships. I don't know the answer to every one of your difficulties. But I do know this ... you're bound to have a lot more success by keeping on than giving up.

You've got to follow the advice of Bill Clements, the former governor of Texas. He says, "Energy is the secret to this whole situation. You can be a person of great integrity, character, and all these other wonderful things, but if you don't have the energy, and if you don't really put your shoulder to the wheel, so to speak, and start pushin', you're not going to get to first base."

These are tough times. No one would deny that. So I entreat you to step out with courage ... even if you don't feel that way. And climb over the obstacles ... that will inevitably get in your way ... as that is the only way you'll ever get the success you want.



Action:

Where in your life do you lack courage? When do you look scared, feel scared, and act scared?

And what could you do ... starting now to ACT more courageously?




Make it a great week!
Dr. Alan Zimmerman

A lesson from failure

The old saying, “I learn more from failure than I do from success.” Can be applied to one of my business ventures. Fortunately I only lost $500.00 dollars, but to me that was still a lot of money.

I found the job on Monster, or Career Builder, I don’t remember which. Being that I found it on one of the job boards made me feel secure about the job. I’ve since learned that just because it is on a job board does not make it 100% “legit”. The idea behind the this business was an online networking system for models and actors. They could set up a page on the site and put their head shot and other data. Ad agencies could go to the web site and look for models or actors for promotions. Contact them via the network and set up arrangements. Potential clients would see the site and if interested fill out an online form. This would then be sent to me and I would have their contact info. They would set an appointment and I would call them at the hour and day they indicated they wanted to talk. I would then run them through the advantages of the modeling network and get them to sign up. I would be paid per sign up. I also had to buy my leads to call. I also had to pay $500.00 to get set up.

Start up costs are normal. I did get training I did get leads. I did make a sell. It was working, until one day I logged on and the site was down with a note saying it was out of business. The fellow running it took all the money and ran. There wasn’t much I could do.

So now I check things out more carefully. That is one of the many failures I had. However I still want to make things successful so I keep at it. But things that sound too good to be true probably are.

Dean

Dr. Zimmerman's Tuesday's Tip "Leadership is the desire to promote growth in others in spite of one's own insecurities." B. Gavrailoff

"Leadership is the desire to promote growth in others in spite of one's own insecurities." B. Gavrailoff

What Dr Alan Zimmerman Has To Say:

As a professional speaker and consultant, I see a lot of people in my practice who've got the TITLE, but they don't have the TALENT. In other words, they may be called team coordinators, supervisors, managers, directors, or vice presidents on the job. And they may be called parents at home. But that doesn't mean they're leaders. Some are and some aren't.

So let me give you a little quiz -- my modified version of Frank Pacetta's quiz found in "Don't Fire Them, Fire Them Up." If you can say "yes" to all of these statements, you're on the right path to effective leadership.


* I recognized someone in my group today with a sincere "thank-you" or some other form
of recognition.
(If you're not doing that, you're not bringing out the best in others.)

* I taught, coached, or motivated someone in my group today.
(If you're not sure, you need to be asking the people in your group how they feel
about it.)

* I listened to one or more people in my group today.
(Note: If you answered "yes," write down what you learned. If you can't remember, you
didn't really listen.)

* I can name three leadership techniques I used with members of my group today.
(Okay then, name them. Write them down.)

* I can see that every member of my group is meeting my expectations.
(If you say "no," outline on paper what you will do to improve their performance.)


How did you do on the quiz? Could you say "yes" to all 5 statements? If not, you've got some room for improvement.

Whatever your score, I'm going to presume that you're either a highly effective leader ... or you want to be a more effective leader ... in some aspect of your professional or personal life. That's why one of my most-requested programs is "Peak Performance: Motivating The Best In Others." So I'm giving you an outline of the program at the end of today's Tip ... in case you want to bring this program into your next meeting.

But for today's purposes, here are three ways you can improve your leadership ability ... starting today.

=> 1. Exhibit a strong BELIEF in the people you are leading.

The playwright John Galsworthy knew that. He said, "I think the greatest thing in the world is to believe in people."

Unfortunately, some leaders really struggle with this simple concept. They're convinced that some people on their team will never amount to anything. So instead of believing IN their people, they believe something bad ABOUT their people.

Take, for example, these excerpts from actual performance reviews. It's quite obvious from the comments that these bosses did not believe IN their employees.


* "Since my last report, this employee has reached rock bottom ... and has started to
dig."

* "His men would follow him anywhere, but only out of morbid curiosity."

* "This employee is really not so much a 'has-been,' but more of a definite 'won't-be'."

* "When she opens her mouth, it seems that it is only to change feet."

* "He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle."

* "This young lady has delusions of adequacy."

* "He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them."

* "This employee should go far ... and the sooner he starts, the better."

* "Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thingie to hold it all together."

* "He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room."

* "Some drink from the fountain of knowledge; he only gargled."

* "The wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead."


By contrast, strong leaders exhibit a strong belief IN their people. Strong leaders know that each one of their people has a vast reservoir of untapped potential. And using the RIGHT approach, strong leaders believe they can help their people release and use their untapped potential.

And a part of that approach comes from your EXPECTATIONS. As writer Merry Browne says, "Expect people to be better than they are; it helps them to become better. But don't be disappointed when they are not; it helps them to keep trying."

What do you expect of your people ... deep down? Do you expect them to perform well? Or do you expect them to goof up, slide by, and slack off without your constant supervision? I can tell you from experience that your people probably know how you feel and what you expect of them. And to a great extent they will live up or down to your expectations. So you're much better off having high expectations.

And then...



=> 2. Show your UNDERSTANDING of the people you are leading.

Plato talked about that hundreds of years ago. He understood the importance of understanding. He said, "Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how small."

And he was right. You wouldn't criticize your one-year old child who kept falling down when he was learning to walk. You wouldn't say, "You look really stupid stumbling around .. or ... What's wrong with you anyway? ... or ... I can't wait all day for you to learn what you should have learned last week."

No, you would show a patient understanding of your child's learning process. You would encourage him every little step of the way. And we should lead our employees pretty much the same way.

I like the way author Thich Nhat Hanh puts it. He tells us to treat our employees like lemon trees -- with understanding. In his book called "Interbeing," Thich says, "When we grow a lemon tree, we want it to be vigorous and beautiful. But, if it isn't vigorous and beautiful, we don't blame the tree. We observe it in order to understand why it isn't growing well. Perhaps we have not taken good care of it."

"We know it is funny to blame a lemon tree, but we do blame human beings when they are not growing well. But human beings are not very different from lemon trees. If we take good care of them, they will grow properly. Blaming never helps. Only love and understanding can help people change."

"If we take good care of people, we will be rewarded by their pleasantness. Is this much different from the rewards we receive from our lemon tree?"

He's right. Effective leaders BELIEVE in their people as well as UNDERSTAND their people. But they also ...



=> 3. Intentionally TRAIN their people to become their best.

Dr. Susan Levering conducted a study for the National Association of Wholesalers entitled "Smart Investments." However, her conclusion, I think, applies to all people who aspire to roles of strong leadership. She says, "Training and development actually matters." In fact, she says, "Today's workforce is eager to affiliate with companies that provide them opportunity for career growth and professional advancement."

Of course, some of the less enlightened companies will challenge me when I push them to invest more of their resources in training. They think I'm self-serving, just pushing training so I can get hired. They'll say, "What if I train my people and they leave?"

My response is always, "So what? How much worse would it be if you DON'T train your people and they stay? How awful would that be?"

And that's exactly what you see in many organizations today. Just look at the quality of the customer service you receive in some places. and you'll know what I mean. The employees weren't trained, but they stayed on, turning off customers ... rather than serving them in a way that builds the company's business.

As Dr. Levering went on to say, "No one can guarantee that training and development activities will make you more profitable or even more competitive. One thing, however, is certainly true: The absence of Training and Development activity is a deterrent to building strong companies with loyal employees and strong productivity."



Action:

Would the people in your organization SAY that you believe in them? If so, what evidence would they cite that shows you BELIEVE in them? If not, what do you need to do differently?

Web Sites

I sent out the grand opening e-mail to a bunch of my friends. One sent me a return e-mail and said he was confused. Where was my stuff? I looked again and made a discovery. My web page is sponsored by my sponsor! The only thing I can do on my site is make links on the right hand side of the page. The fonts are smaller than their fonts.

Don't get me wrong I think the sponsor is great. What I've got to do is build my own site where I can control it. Drive traffic to that site with links back to my sponsor's site. I do want people to go look at the turn key business opportunity. The whole point of this is to build an online business. So my next step is to build new pages and advertise and do the PR to promote the new pages.

Much to do. Yet I enjoy working with the computer and programs. So it should be fun.

Enjoy the Tuesday's tip. I've been reading and sending them to friends for the last two years.

Dean Rich

Dr. Zimmerman's Tuesday's Tip "A leader is never Energy-Neutral."

Dr. Zimmerman’s TUESDAY TIP
September 23, 2008 Issue #432

Tip: “A leader is never 'energy-neutral.' You are either giving people energy or you are sapping it from them.” Noel M. Tichy

What Dr. Alan Zimmerman Has To Say:

Since 1997, the Gallup organization has studied the responses of more than 3 million employees who have participated in their 12-question survey. Based on this enormous amount of data, Gallup concluded ... that while people JOIN companies ... they LEAVE managers.

In their best-selling book, "First, Break All The Rules," Buckingham and Coffman took it one step further. They said, "We have discovered the manager -- not pay, benefits, perks, or a charismatic corporate leader -- was the critical player in building a strong work force."

Bottom line ... supervisors, managers, leaders ... whatever you call them ... are not "energy-neutral." And Richard H. Lenny, the Chairman and CEO of Hershey Foods, affirms that. Lenny says, "We can create energy, or we can sap energy out of our people and out of our organization."

That being the case, how exactly does a leader sap his people's energy? I find that just about all of the energy sappers fall into one of two categories: They're ignorant or they're arrogant.

Jack Stack, one of the more insightful, revolutionary leaders of the last 20 years, the CEO of Springfield Remanufacturing, points that out. In fact, when I was conducting my 5-day Executive Leadership Forums for CEO's, I often hired Jack to address the other CEO's. Jack says, "Two things will kill a company, ignorance or arrogance. You can live with one, but if you have both, get your resume out."

Let's examine those two key energy sappers.

1. THE LEADER WHO IS IGNORANT.

Educator Dan B. Alexander says, "A leader's first calling is to grow, knowing that he is the one who has the furthest distance to mature."

He's right. A leader can't expect her people to grow if she isn't growing. After all, she sets the tone. She leads by example.

And yet, I can't tell you how many times I've spoken in an organization where the leader comes in for the first few minutes of my program ... and then leaves. Whether she knows it or not, she sends the message that she doesn't need to know what is being taught ... or has more important things to do.

And does her leaving make a difference? You bet. It mystifies, confuses, or even angers the program attendees.

One of the most frequent comments on my program evaluation form is something along the lines of ... "This was a great seminar, but WHO REALLY NEEDS to hear this stuff is my boss ... or our managers ... or our entire leadership team."

In essence, the program attendees are saying, "My boss ... or our leaders ... are ignorant. They're not as good as they think they are. They still have a lot to learn." And as one person noted, "Foolish are the generals who ignore the daily intelligence from the trenches."

The sad truth is ... too many leaders stop learning. And that's even true of some educational leaders ... who should know better. After all, they're in the learning business. But as noted scholar Dr. Roland Barth notes, "We routinely ask our children, 'What did you learn at school today?' I think it every bit as important to ask ourselves, 'What did I learn in school today?'"

So go ahead and do it right now. If you're a leader of any sort, ask yourself what YOU learned today. If you're not sure, or if you're teammates don't see much evidence of your learning, your sapping the energy out of them. They see ignorance, and ignorance is never a very inspiring example to follow.

And the second energy sapper comes from...

2. THE LEADER WHO IS ARROGANT.

Scott Lutz, now CEO and President of 8th Continent in the soy milk market business, has won many confrontations in his corporate marketing career. However, the battle he most remembers is the one in which he learned that leaders need to think about more than defeating their opponents.

Long ago in eighth grade, Lutz had a teacher he respected and wanted to impress. In a classroom debate monitored by this teacher, Lutz defeated and humiliated his opponent and expected praise from his mentor.

However, the teacher took him aside and taught him something else. He told Lutz he was disappointed in him. He said how you win means as much as the fact you did win.

Furthermore, his teacher went on to say, your intellect and verbal skill can propel you to the front of the line. But the only way you'll persuade people to follow you is to use your talents with compassion.

It may sound corny, but as the old saying goes, "If you lack tact, no one buys your act." There's a lot more to being a boss than being bossy.

Of course, no "leader" would ever admit to being arrogant. They may emphatically deny their arrogance or may even be unaware of it. But everyone else sees it.

So what are some of the tell-tale signs of arrogant leadership?

* A love of power.

Of course, it feels good to be in control. It helps you get things done, but power can be a destructive force if you're not careful. As business broker Marshall G. Bryant puts it, "When your love of authority exceeds your sense of responsibility, your leadership is in jeopardy -- and so is the organization you lead."

By contrast, effective leaders go beyond their love of power. They do more than tell other people what to do. They pitch in. As telecommunications executive Harold Geneen points out, "I don't believe in just ordering people to do things. You have to sort of grab an oar and row with them."

Another sign of arrogant leadership is ...

* Taking too much of the credit.

Boy is that ever common. Go back and watch the old Melanie Griffith movie called "Working Girl" and see how her boss took too much of the credit. Or take a look at a lot of the "research" coming out of the universities these days. Quite often the students do the research, but the professor publishes the results under his name.

By contrast, effective, non-arrogant leaders take more than their share of the blame and less than their share of the credit.

Other energy-sapping leaders are known by ...

* An overwhelming need to be right, all the time.

Arrogant leaders find it almost impossible to admit their mistakes, apologize, and ask for forgiveness. They've got to be right ... or at least look like they're right ... no matter what. And that ultimately destroys their effectiveness.

After all, if the boss is always right, the team could get to feel like they're always wrong. And that doesn't feel good. It's disrespectful and demotivating.

By contrast, effective leaders are learning leaders. They can say, "I was wrong. I've learned to see things differently. I've learned a better way."

So as Margaret A Neale, a business school professor says, "You need to constantly ask yourself: Do I want to be right or do I want to be effective?" I encourage you to ask yourself the same question.

Finally, arrogant leaders are known by their ...

* Double talk.

Instead of telling the straight-out, old fashioned, unvarnished truth, they say whatever they think will ensure their power. And when they are caught in double talk, they try to weasel their way out with more double talk.

Take a look at the world of leadership, and you'll see what I mean. Many politicians will say just about anything to get elected. I've even had preachers tell me they don't dare preach what they really believe on Sunday morning for fear of losing their jobs.

But I happen to subscribe to Albert Robens' advice. He was a politician in the 1900's. Robens said, "Leadership, above all, consists of telling the truth, unpalatable though it may be. It is better to go down with the truth on one's lips than to rise high by innuendo and double talk."

So we're back to square one. It's time to look at your leadership. Are you an energy producer or an energy sapper in your organization? Are you guilty of ignorance or arrogance?

ACTION:

List three things you are doing on a regular basis to keep on learning as a leader. And if you can't list three things you ARE doing, list three things you're GOING to do in the next three months.


Make it a great week!
Dr. Alan Zimmerman


©Dr. Alan R. Zimmerman, 20550 Lake Ridge Drive, Prior Lake, MN 55372. Reprinted with permission from Dr. Zimmerman's "Tuesday Tip," a weekly Internet newsletter. For your own personal subscription, go to http://www.drzimmerman.com/
Contact: Alan@DrZimmerman.com
Telephone: (800) 621-7881
web site: www.DrZimmerman.com

Welcome to My Blog

Getting started with my own business has been fun as well as frustrating.

On this blog I'll be posting about my own successes and failures with home based business. Business ideas and Dr. Zimmerman's Tuesday's tips. I'll be sharing some of the businesses I had tried in the past and their failures and why I think they failed. My current online business venture and what I'm doing to make this one a success! My current online business is not my first try at getting my own business running.

Some of my past ventures have been; multi-level marketing runs. I've tried some telemarketing jobs. I've gotten into businesses that took my money and ran. I've even gone into insurance sales! So I've been extra cautious of anything that sounds too good to be true.

Check out my online store. This store is a part of my online work from home business that I'm starting. The other part is learning how to do this. It isn't that difficult and the way to get I started is easy. Check out the business opportunity here. There are also 800 numbered phone numbers on both those sites that you can call and talk to someone. I am very optimistic that this time things will be different. So join me in my journey. I'll share with you nuggets I glean along the way and I'll put tips and articles I find interesting and may prove useful to you in your business endeavors. To yours and my success!

Dean Rich

Start Earning More Money With an Internet Based Business

Today it seems almost impossible to make enough money with a regular job. All the time and daily effort put in to not even be able to pay the bills. All of the money wasted on gas, all of the stress your boss and co-workers cause you, your consistent and never-ending struggle with traffic in the mornings. Is it even worth it? You go through all of that trouble and still have to worry about bills. With technology you do not have to be a prisoner anymore. An internet business allows you to break free and take back control of your life.

So many people are turning to the internet today to solve their money issues. An internet based business may seem like a strange and unusual concept to a lot of people, but there are so many different systems to follow. As long as you can follow directions and apply yourself you can make this work. There are not as many scam artists out today as there were a few years ago.

That is because the government is placing harsh penalties on companies who try to scam people on the internet. Also, the home based business community will not allow for people to get away with it. If someone gets a bad product the word will spread so fast that the scam artists will be out of business before they even get started. How long have you been tired of your job? Do you feel that life is supposed to be agonizing? You should be able to enjoy life, you only get to live once. Why are you living it for someone else? Get rich and you can help all of the people you want. Life is not about making your boss rich while you suffer day to day. Your boss does not care about you. You are just an asset to your boss, and your boss knows that you can be replaced. So why don't you reverse the roles a bit? Start an internet based business and fire your boss. You will make a better boss anyway right?

Looking for the Internet's top work from home systems? Click Here to check them out before you waste another second!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicholas_Breen

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Home Business Wanted, But Not Network Marketing

People who want to start a Home Business are looking for more control of their life, and to achieve financial freedom, as millions people are doing. There is too much uncertainty in our lives today, and the only way to change this is to become our own boss. It's never too late!!

There are many ways to make money from home. However, they are not all equal. Depending on your background, and skill level, picking the right home business for you will determine how successful you'll be. Success comes from learning and sharing. There are several successful business people who are willing to help you, like Mike Klingler, Julie Salgado, Debra Morrison, Lisa Diane, and me. You just need to learn how to find them.

So you want to make money from home, but Network Marketing doesn't appeal to you. You're not interested in talking to a lot of people, and going to meetings. You don't want to learn how to become a great Leader, and recruit people into your business. So what can you do to make money from home?

There are several ways to build a Home Business, but it all takes some form of marketing, except the type where you are handling rebates for a company, processing insurance, or other forms of clerical work. But these are more like a job, since you don't build any residual income, and when you don't work there is no income.

There are Affiliate Programs where you promote other peoples products through your website, which requires you to advertise on the internet, and other media. Even though an Affiliate Program is the easiest to get into, with no risk, you still need to learn how to market, and draw people to your website. You don't need to recruit others, but you'll want to have others join your program, so you earn a referral fee. You can get marketing training from Mike Klingler's Renegade University program.

So how can a person make money from Home, if they don't want to be a Network Marketer? The Internet offers great opportunities...

1) You can write a book about a subject you have some knowledge of, and a passion for, such as Landscaping, Cooking, Pet Care, and other topics. But you need to be sure you are writing about a subject people need, not want. You need to research the Internet to see what's being promoted, so you'll be able to sell your eBook. That takes time, so you won't be generating any income for awhile.

So while you are working on your book, you'll want to join an Affiliate Program to generate an income, and gain experience.

2) Look for an Affiliate program that has a step by step training program, where you are promoting eBooks, and CDs that Network Marketers, and other Home business owners need. I think Michael Cheney's Affiliate Millions has one of the better programs. He takes you step by step, so you can make money right away. And has a great support program to help you if you have any problems. You can also use ClickBank. Below you'll find the link to the site.

3) If you want to work towards becoming a millionaire you want a program offered by a multimillionaire who knows how, and will show you how to become a millionaire, such as Lisa Diane's Millionaires Training Course. The website link is available at the bottom of this article.

You have read and heard the HYPE on becoming a millionaire, with this program, or that one, and want to know the TRUE STORY...

Well the story is there are a lot of people making one million dollars a year, or more on the Internet, and in Network Marketing. But there are more making less than $500 per month, which is fine if you just want some extra money each month. That would call it a hobby, not a serious business.

What's the difference? Well it starts with selecting the opportunity that's right for you, not just the right opportunity. There are a lot of opportunities, but which one is right for you is an important question. It starts with what you want to accomplish, and then understanding the business you select. You should join one that will be there all the way to help you reach your goal.

People who make one million a year or more, within two years are not new to Internet or Network Marketing. They have a track record of success, and have been big money earners in their current or past business. They know what to do to duplicate their success.

So whether you are a seasoned Internet or Network Marketer, you need to learn the method that will bring you the same result as the millionaires.

I'll be posting additional information on my blog MillionDollarsDesired.com/blog designed to help you be successful in whatever business you are in or select to join. So bookmark the website below. If you would like to receive my Free Monthly Newsletter, email me at successcoach@rallierallis.com with MTC in the subject.

Meanwhile, don't forget to get your free CD "Million Dollars Desire" from Lisa Diane.

If you wish a free 20 minute consultation, email me and we'll arrange a time to talk.

Until next time... "Dream Big & Do"

Rallie Rallis is a home business coach assisting Internet & Network Marketers in using the latest attraction marketing methods to generate endless supply of leads on the internet. He coaches on Affiliate Millions, and Training to become a Millionaire

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rallie_Rallis

How to Identify Real Home Based Business Opportunities

There are more people looking for home based business opportunities now, then ever before. After all we are in the entrepreneur era.

Whether you want to believe it or not people need an extra income or a bigger income to survive today. Ok, well most people know that already, But what you might not know is where to begin looking for a legit home based business opportunity.

There are so many sites out there promising you a huge fortune over night. The truth of the matter is that making money on-line isn't the easiest thing to do when you are first getting started.

So how do you know which opportunities are legit, and which ones are scams? A really simple solution is to just do a Google search on the different programs, or just hang out in the home business forums and see what others are saying.

There will always be honest reviews and comments from people who have actually invested their time and money to try it. You will also be able to find a site that will make a list of all the scams to watch out for. You should never rush into any business opportunity, until you have done all of your research.

When you do determine which opportunities are legit, and you do decide which home based business opportunity is right for you. Just go for it. I don't think you want to go through your life wondering "what If"?

When you have done your research, and picked a legit system you will be on the right track to your on-line success.

Looking for the Internet's top work from home systems? Click Here to check them out before you waste another second!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicholas_Breen