How to Become a Successful Online Entrepreneur in 2010
There is no doubt that in these uncertain economic times MILLIONS of people would like to know exactly how to become a successful online entrepreneur without remortgaging their home or getting massive bank loans!
For a start let us take a look at the dictionary definition of the word entrepreneur. I think we need to be clear about what exactly an entrepreneur is before going any further, as the word get misused daily.
Cambridge dictionaries, define an entrepreneur as someone who starts their own business, especially when this involves risks!
Risks, I here you say... doesn’t that mean risking MONEY?
So, there is no confusion here. It is very clear.... If you start your own business you are an entrepreneur but it does seem to have to also include an element of risk. But the risk does not have to be massive financial risk.
You could argue that any new business involves risk and that is certainly true, but successful entrepreneurs are willing to take much greater risks than your average new business starter and why not they have experience and spare cash.
How exactly do you become a successful online entrepreneur?
Well that has to be the million dollar question. If there were a prescribed and reliable formula, we would all be multi millionaires. There would be no risk and so paradoxically, perhaps no more entrepreneurs!
There are certain characteristics that successful entrepreneurs seem to possess, such as:
1. Total dedication.
2. Goal Orientation.
3. Self Motivated.
So what drives an entrepreneur and what makes them different to most other people?
What is their vision compared to other people?
For certain there are a number of qualities they all share and without them, they would probably not be entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurial Qualities:
You could say that any person willing to work hard at their own business is an entrepreneur, but it has to be more than that. Many people try unsuccessfully to make it on their own, and many, in fact most fail, often just giving up because their efforts do not produce the hoped for results quickly enough.
The true entrepreneur is remorseless in the pursuit of their goal. For them it is as much about achievement as it is about money, but the money, as you might guess, is the real proof of success. Society no longer views anyone a success who does not make money in business.
Entrepreneurialism has making money at its heart but the means to achieving this is almost incidental.
You could sum up the major qualities of a successful entrepreneur as follows:
A successful entrepreneur thinks outside the box and is never satisfied with mediocrity in any part of their life.
A successful entrepreneur is not necessarily obsessive, but is extremely highly motivated and committed to achieving their goals.
All successful entrepreneurs leverage the efforts of others. This is a good and beneficial thing as long as it does not involve exploitation.
No obstacle, other than death maybe, is too difficult to overcome. Where there is a will, there is a way. It is all in the mindset! It’s not what happens to you on your journey – but how you react to what happens that matters.
There is no giving up, even when the road to success is full of potholes or in my case grand canyon’s!
The successful entrepreneur will do whatever it takes to reach the goal even if it means starting all over again.
The successful entrepreneur must be able to handle both risk and stress. If not, burn out is extremely likely in a short period of time.
So where does that leave you? Maybe you are put off already?
It seems clear that the online entrepreneur is a special breed – YES that’s true but they are created not born.
Is it your intention to become one or are you already an entrepreneur?
Do you think you have at least some of the above qualities? You will probably need them all unless you just happen to get lucky in some way. If you don’t have them all are you willing to be mentored into learning them along the way?
The new breed Online Entrepreneur!
I believe a new breed of online entrepreneur is emerging in 2010. They have all the necessary qualities of determination but are of a different mindset and they want success quickly... In our fast paced media driven, roast dinner on demand world, delayed gratification is becoming as exclusive as the DoDo.
These New Breed Entrepreneurs conduct most of their business online, often utilising powerful management software, automated CRM’s and virtual products and or services.
But it is not just about making money for many of them. Many of them want to help people SAVE money and some are also dedicated to helping others succeed in business and often set up and special ‘mentoring project’ to achieve this. This is not a show of wealth but a genuine act of benevolence with the belief that “You Can Get Everything You Want In Life As Long As you Just Help Enough Other People Get What They Want”. Quote Zig Ziglar.
With this in mind, perhaps there is a further quality we should be adding to our list of what it takes to become a successful online entrepreneur.
Sharing success with others and especially with those whose lives are deprived or impoverished in comparison to our own.
The new successful online entrepreneur is most likely an online operator because it is more than possible to have a great deal of success, even just working from home.
The risks are much smaller when working online and it is a relatively inexpensive start-up compared to most traditional businesses. In fact my own research has shown that the startup costs can be as little as 1% of traditional start up costs.
The secret of how to become a successful online entrepreneur is quite simple. You need a proven system that can easily and quickly be tapped into where all the hard work has already been done for you. You just buy into the ride.... so to speak.
There are many offers available but the best solution has to be a best of breed, online service, repeat order with a residual income component built in.
I would not involve myself in any other kind of business.... and believe me over the past 20 years I’ve seen them all.
Think about how many people you know with computers at home! Now think of how many times you have heard about someone losing their data, photos, music, movies and more due to fire, flood, virus, theft or hardware failure.
Now think about how many people you know that are worried about what their children are looking at on the internet and how many spam emails they get.
Now consider the risks with computers in the home:
• Fire – 3.7 homes catch on fire every second, that’s 117 Million a year.
• Flood – Depending where you live your chances of being flooded are either 1 in 75 or 1 in 200.
• Virus – A new virus is released every 30 seconds, that’s over 1.2 million a year.
• Theft – A laptop/computer is stolen every 30 seconds.
• Hardware Failure – 1 in 10 hard drives fail in the first year.
• Spam Emails – More than 1.4 Million Spam emails are sent every second, that’s 46.7 Trillion a year.
• Identity Theft – 1 out of 10 people will be a victim of identity theft a year.
• Cyber Crime – In 2009 Cyber Crime will cost consumers in excess of 3 Trillion US Dollars.
• Pornography – 90% of 8-16 year olds have viewed pornography whilst doing their home work.
The average age of the first internet experience exposure to pornography is 11 years old.
The risks have never been higher – computers have changed our lives forever, but have also exposed us to a level of risk, we have never experienced before.
It’s not a matter of if something will happen; it’s a matter of when.
Now think of a place on the internet where you can solve all of these problems in a few clicks of a mouse. The very latest, best of breed solutions to all of your IT Security needs at significant discounts - 50 – 82%
Now... Imagine this unique business belongs to you as you become an online Entrepreneur!
This is DaVaSec™: the only place on the internet that offers a total solution to all of your IT Security needs and offers you the opportunity to have your very own online business.
DaVaSec™ is an online IT Security shopping site featuring the very best, high demand; IT Security Solutions sold at incredibly low prices. DaVaSec™ is also the low-cost way to own your very own successful online business. No Stock, No Parties, No Hassle, No Risk.
DaVaSec™ is designed for you to generate a residual income in two ways.
• You become a VM Partner and sign up Direct Customers to use our exclusive products and services. All you do is direct them to your DaVaSec™ website and let the system do the selling.
• You build your DaVaSec™ Team by introducing other VM Partners. Now you are on your way to creating real residual income. Watch 'Whats In It For You' Video
The world of marketing has changed dramatically – some of the biggest names on the planet have turned their backs on advertising agencies, billboards and expensive TV commercials turning to Viral Marketing and Partnerships with Online Entrepreneurs.
DaVaSec™ is spreading like wildfire through the viral power of the internet and you can be a part of it. Join our winning team and build a long lasting, financially secure future.
DaVaSec™ is designed to help people ‘Secure Their Digital World’ with cutting edge hosted security software solutions and to encourage individuals around the world to become entrepreneurs and to take control of their financial future.
DaVaSec™ offers you an opportunity to be in business for yourself, but never by yourself... a unique way to finally earn what you think you are worth. You can work when you want, with who you want and have the freedom of time to enjoy life to the fullest. Our unique products / services which are needed by every computer user on the planet backed by our advanced support system ensures you have everything you need to succeed.
Why not capitalise on a 600 billion dollar market and cash in.
DaVaSec™ helps countless customers 'Secure Their Digital World' and can help you secure yours whilst at the same time building a long lasting, residual income and better life. How... Simply by offering consumers a better option for the services they already need and use every day. By helping consumers SECURE & SAVE with our innovative packages and services. People just like you are building a lucrative part-time and full-time DaVaSec™ business, while enjoying long term residual income. Real income for life not just this month. watch 'Welcome' video
Just imagine, more security, more time, more money, more fun - DaVaSec™ is the opportunity for you!
How To Join DaVaSec™ The Fast Way!
Register as a VM Partner with DaVaSec™ by enrolling online through this website. To join the ‘Fast Start’ way you will need to order both the VM Partner Package and The Fast Start Package when you reach the shopping cart section of the signup process.
Immediately, you'll be issued your own personalised replicated website and Fast Start Auto Pilot System for enrolling new VM Partners and VIP Customers. Plus you will be able to 'Secure Your Digital World' immediately by following the instructions in the Product Download Section in your VM Partner Virtual Office and stay secure with Autopay. watch 'Fast Start' video
The Fast Start Programme was developed to help you launch your business efficiently with a personalised website , online welcome video presentation, advanced training materials, contact and lead management system, advanced ‘Strategies For Success’ training from the worlds #1 Motivator, Trainer & Life Coach… Zig Ziglar and much, much more. Furthermore, when you introduce SIX other people in your DaVaSec™ Team who sign up to Fast Start, you will earn $600.00 in Bonuses and be on your way to Bronze, our first level of achievement. watch 'Whats In It For You' video
"I am thrilled that my program 'Strategies For Success' is part of the DaVaSec™ Fast Start Program. This is another clear sign that Data Vault Security is committed to your total balanced success, well being and safety."
Zig Ziglar - Best Selling Author, Speaker & Trainer.
Now... Imagine building a team!
By teaching others to do exactly the same thing, you get paid for their efforts as well. The more people you teach to be successful, the larger your team will grow and the more money you are able to make.
DaVaSec™ is also the low-cost way to own your very own successful online business. No Stock, No Parties, No Hassle, No Risk.
DaVaSec™ Income Potential
With DaVaSec™, you are in control of your own income. You can make as little or as much as you like. Our compensation plan is easy to understand and follow, you don't need a PhD to understand it. Combining immediate commissions with bonuses and lucrative incentives designed to fuel business for immediate and long term income. 'Whats In It For You' pdf
By helping people SECURE & SAVE with the very latest technology such as DaVaSec™ Online Backup, Sentry and Internet Security, you get paid on that customer every month for as long as they remain a DaVaSec™ customer. Now, that's what we call residual income. 'Fast Start' pdf
Join our winning team and build a long lasting, financially secure future.
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
"The best way for you to get what you want"
"The best way for you to get what you want," said Jim Rohn, the success guru "is to help other people get what they want."
If you can fully grasp this concept, then implement it, you will never lack for material abundance.
Would you need a striking example?
How about the one of the richest men in the world, Bill Gates? Chances are good that you are using some Microsoft products right now. Why? It is because you need them and they work. In fact, so many people needed what he provided that he became the richest man in the world at one point. True, there are other products out there that could do the same or even better and you may regard Bill Gates more as a ruthless capitalist than a humanitarian, but the point remains... he provided the software industry what it needed in its fledgling days and he never let up on the momentum. Thats his secret!
Similarly, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and John Rockefeller became extremely rich because of the same principle. Again, it doesn't really matter whether you like these people or not... that is not the point. The point is that they provided an essential service when people needed that service most.
They helped people get what they wanted and prospered enormously. Thats why my good friend Mr Zig Ziglar has always said: "You can have everything you want in life.... so long as you help enough other people get what they want!"
You can do the same... right now!
In any company, in any entrepreneurial venture, it is the service provider who takes home the money. The slackers, the cynics, and the rebels watch the prizes fly past their noses.
Although this principle is clear, very few people do it. They are too preoccupied with slandering those who implement it and too bitter and angry about their own struggles to credit the principle. Sometimes, in fact, they are so jaded that they don't even see the principle in action... All they se eis what they want to see.
When you can provide more quality of service, more quantity of service and more eagerness to provide the service, the world will beat a path to your door. Of course, you can choose what service you provide... But it has to be something that you love to do and know there is a need for. The words "Under-Sale" and "over-deliver" and "extra-mile" are used to describe this principle. You can start right where you stand and apply the habit of going the extra mile by rendering more service and better service than you are now being paid for.
Sometimes people are reluctant to give others what they want because they feel that they will have less for themselves. Sometimes they simply believe that they are compromising themselves when they do this and become ruthless. This is not true - ZIP!
When you do what you love, you express your own nobility by giving more of what you love to others. There is no question about diminishing yourself in any way. In fact, it is just the opposite... you expand yourself! Instead of being a taker, you become a giver... thus, your virtue, too, is improved.
Please note that it is not important whether or not you are the best. This comes through experience. And experence comes through ACTION!
A major success stopper blocker has to do with believing that you are not able to do this simple thing. Why? It is because you lack confidence in yourself. This is a major stumbling block... not only in making more money, but in living a full life. If you lack confidence, it is because you have had painful experiences in the past that have created a distorted sense of self-worth or someone in your past has been using negative talk to you (maybe your parents)which has crippled your own self belief.
The wrap up. If you want more money, you have to provide more people with what they want. If you provide a service in something you love, you expand your power to give and rather than diminishing your value, it expands it. If you dont have a clue as to which service to offer... why not consider joining one the best teams in the world! Visit www.davasec.com for more details.
Finally, you must have total self-confidence to implement this strategy... because it takes a sense of unwavering self-worth to stay the course.
In the game of life, it is the team players who make winning possible for everyone - so become a team player today.
Tremendously Yours
Andy
email: andy@datavaultsecurity.com
phone: 07921 157840
If you can fully grasp this concept, then implement it, you will never lack for material abundance.
Would you need a striking example?
How about the one of the richest men in the world, Bill Gates? Chances are good that you are using some Microsoft products right now. Why? It is because you need them and they work. In fact, so many people needed what he provided that he became the richest man in the world at one point. True, there are other products out there that could do the same or even better and you may regard Bill Gates more as a ruthless capitalist than a humanitarian, but the point remains... he provided the software industry what it needed in its fledgling days and he never let up on the momentum. Thats his secret!
Similarly, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and John Rockefeller became extremely rich because of the same principle. Again, it doesn't really matter whether you like these people or not... that is not the point. The point is that they provided an essential service when people needed that service most.
They helped people get what they wanted and prospered enormously. Thats why my good friend Mr Zig Ziglar has always said: "You can have everything you want in life.... so long as you help enough other people get what they want!"
You can do the same... right now!
In any company, in any entrepreneurial venture, it is the service provider who takes home the money. The slackers, the cynics, and the rebels watch the prizes fly past their noses.
Although this principle is clear, very few people do it. They are too preoccupied with slandering those who implement it and too bitter and angry about their own struggles to credit the principle. Sometimes, in fact, they are so jaded that they don't even see the principle in action... All they se eis what they want to see.
When you can provide more quality of service, more quantity of service and more eagerness to provide the service, the world will beat a path to your door. Of course, you can choose what service you provide... But it has to be something that you love to do and know there is a need for. The words "Under-Sale" and "over-deliver" and "extra-mile" are used to describe this principle. You can start right where you stand and apply the habit of going the extra mile by rendering more service and better service than you are now being paid for.
Sometimes people are reluctant to give others what they want because they feel that they will have less for themselves. Sometimes they simply believe that they are compromising themselves when they do this and become ruthless. This is not true - ZIP!
When you do what you love, you express your own nobility by giving more of what you love to others. There is no question about diminishing yourself in any way. In fact, it is just the opposite... you expand yourself! Instead of being a taker, you become a giver... thus, your virtue, too, is improved.
Please note that it is not important whether or not you are the best. This comes through experience. And experence comes through ACTION!
A major success stopper blocker has to do with believing that you are not able to do this simple thing. Why? It is because you lack confidence in yourself. This is a major stumbling block... not only in making more money, but in living a full life. If you lack confidence, it is because you have had painful experiences in the past that have created a distorted sense of self-worth or someone in your past has been using negative talk to you (maybe your parents)which has crippled your own self belief.
The wrap up. If you want more money, you have to provide more people with what they want. If you provide a service in something you love, you expand your power to give and rather than diminishing your value, it expands it. If you dont have a clue as to which service to offer... why not consider joining one the best teams in the world! Visit www.davasec.com for more details.
Finally, you must have total self-confidence to implement this strategy... because it takes a sense of unwavering self-worth to stay the course.
In the game of life, it is the team players who make winning possible for everyone - so become a team player today.
Tremendously Yours
Andy
email: andy@datavaultsecurity.com
phone: 07921 157840
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Get Off Your Butt & Start Winning!
Get Off Your Butt & Start Winning!
16 Ways to Get Motivated When You’re in a Slump
But it’s not hopeless… with some small steps, baby ones in fact, you can get started down the road to positive change. As my good friend Morris Goodman says: Inch by Inch it’s a cinch…. “Yard by Yard it’s too hard”!
Yes, I know, it seems impossible at times. You don’t feel like doing anything. I’ve been there and in fact I still feel that way from time to time. So….you’re not alone. But I’ve learned a few ways to break out of a slump and we’ll take a look at those right now.
Being motivated is like fitness training. If you fall out of exercise, due to illness or injury or disruption from things going on in your life, it’s hard to get started again. Here are some simple steps that will help you shake out of it and get back on track!
(1) One Goal. Whenever I’ve been in a slump, I’ve discovered that it’s often because I have too much going on in my life. I’m trying to do too much, to fast. It saps my energy and motivation. It’s probably the most common mistake that people make. They spread themselves too thin, they try to take on too much, try to accomplish too many goals at once. You cannot maintain energy and focus (the two most important things in accomplishing any goal) if you are trying to do two or more goals at once. It’s not possible! I’ve tried it so many times. You have to choose one goal for now, and focus on it completely. You have to focus on it with white heat intensity! I know that’s hard to pick one and focus on, it but still, I speak from experience. You can always do your other goals when you’ve accomplished your current number One Goal.
(2) Find inspiration. Inspiration, for me, comes from others who have achieved what I want to achieve or who are currently doing it. I read other blogs, books, magazines. I ‘Google’ my goal and read success stories. I listen to Zig Ziglar, Morris Goodman or any of the motivational greats.
(3) Get excited. This sounds obvious but most people don’t think about it much. If you want to break out of a slump, get yourself excited about your goal. “But how can you do that when you don’t feel motivated”, I hear you ask? Well, it starts with inspiration from others (see above), but you have to take that excitement and build on it. For me, I’ve learned that by talking to my wife about it and to others, reading as much about it as possible and visualising what it would be like to be successful (seeing the benefits of the goal in my head), I get excited about a goal. Once I’ve done that… it’s just a matter of carrying that energy forward and keeping it going... whatever the world throws at me.
(4) Build anticipation. This will sound hard and many people will skip this tip... but you must not. If you find inspiration and want to achieve a goal, don’t start right away. Many of us will get excited and want to start today. That’s a big mistake. Set a date in the future, a week or two, or even a month and make that your Start Date. Mark it on the calendar-your new ‘One Goal Start Date’. Get excited about that date. Make it the most important date in your life. In the meantime, start writing out a plan and do some of the steps below. Because by delaying your start, you are building anticipation, thus increasing your focus and energy for your goal.
(5) Post your goal. Print out your goal in big words. Make your goal just a few words long, (“I Will Close A Sale Every Day”) and post it up on your wall, or refrigerator. Display it at home and at work. Make sure you put it on your computer desktop. You want to have big reminders about your goal, to keep your focus and keep your excitement going. A picture of your goal also helps.
(6) Commit publicly. None of us like to look bad in front of others. We will go the extra mile to do something we’ve said publicly. I call it ‘Get Hung By The Tongue’ For example, when I wanted to become a motivational speaker, I started writing about it and telling everyone I met that I was one. I couldn’t back down and even though my motivation came and went, I stuck with it and completed it. You must hold yourself accountable… don’t just commit once, but commit to giving progress updates to everyone every week or so.
(7) Think about it daily. If you think about your goal every day, it is much more likely to become true. To this end, posting the goal on your wall or computer desktop (as mentioned above) helps a lot. Sending yourself daily reminders also helps. And if you can commit to doing one small thing to further your goal (even just 5 minutes) every single day, your goal will almost certainly come true.
(8) Get support. It’s hard to accomplish something alone. When I decided to become a motivational speaker, I had the help of friends, family and associates, I had a great ‘Motivational Speaker Community’ who encouraged me. And of course, my wife Wendy helped every step of the way. I couldn’t have achieved this goal without her, or without the others who supported me. Find your support team, either in the real world or online, or even better….both.
(9) Realise that there’s an ebb and flow. Motivation is not a constant thing that is always there for you. It comes and goes… comes and goes again, like the tide. But realise that while it may go away, it doesn’t do so permanently. It will come back. Just stick it out and wait for that motivation to come back. In the meantime, read about your goal (see below), ask for help (see below), and do some of the other things listed here until your motivation comes back.
(10) Stick with it. Whatever you do, don’t give up. Even if you aren’t feeling any motivation today or this week, don’t give up. Again, that motivation will come back. Think of your goal as a long journey and your slump is just a little bump in the road. You can’t give up with every little bump. The road to the top or your goal is full of potholes. In my case, there were some Grand Canyons! Stay with it for the long term, ride out the ebbs and surf on the flows and you’ll get there.
(11) Start small. Really small. If you are having a hard time getting started, it may be because you’re thinking too big. If you want to exercise, for example, you may be thinking that you have to do these intense workouts 5 days a week. No you don’t… instead, do small, tiny, baby steps. Just do 2 minutes of exercise. I know, that sounds wimpy. But it works. Commit to 2 minutes of exercise for one week. You may want to do more, but just stick to 2 minutes. It’s so easy, you can’t fail. Do it at the same time, every day. Once you’ve done 2 minutes a day for a week, increase it to 5, and stick with that for a week. In a month, you’ll be doing 15-20. Want to wake up early? Don’t think about waking at 5 a.m. Instead, think about waking 10 minutes earlier for a week. That’s all…. Once you’ve done that, wake 10 minutes earlier than that. Baby steps…. remember, ‘Inch by Inch it’s a cinch’!
(12) Build on small successes. Again, if you start small for a week, you’re going to be successful. You can’t fail if you start with something ridiculously easy. Who can’t exercise for 2 minutes? (If that’s you, I apologise,). And you’ll feel successful, and good about yourself. Take that successful feeling and build on it, with another baby step. Add 2-3 minutes to your exercise routine, for example. With each step (and each step should last about a week), you will feel even more successful. If you want to build a strong business, commit to close one more sale this week, then 2 next week, then 3, then 4 and so on. Make each step really, really small and you won’t fail. After a couple of months, your tiny steps will add up to a lot of progress and a lot of success.
(13) Read about it daily. When I lose motivation, I just read a book or blog about my goal. It inspires me and reinvigorates me. For some reason, reading helps motivate and focus you on whatever you’re reading about. So read about your goal every day, if you can, especially when you’re not feeling motivated.
(14) Call for help when your motivation ebbs. Having trouble? Ask for help. Email me: andy@davasec.com or get a partner to join you. Call your business partner or your life partner. It doesn’t matter who, just tell them how you feel as talking about it will help. Don’t dump on them or end up in a ‘thumb sucking’ session, be objective and ask for help. Ask them to help you overcome your slump… if they are on your team they will. It works.
(15) Think about the benefits, not the difficulties. One common problem is that we think about how hard something is. Exercise sounds so hard! Closing a sale sounds so hard! Making more money sounds so hard! Finding new customers is so hard! Just thinking about it makes you tired and makes everyone around you tired. Instead of thinking about how hard something is, think about what you will get out of it. For example, instead of thinking about how tiring exercise can be, focus on how good you’ll feel when you’re done and how you’ll be healthier and slimmer over the long run. The benefits of something will help energise you... Fact!
(16) Squash negative thoughts; replace them with positive ones. Along those lines, it’s important to start monitoring your thoughts. Recognise negative self-talk, which is really what’s causing your slump. Just spend a few days becoming aware of every negative thought you have. Then, after a few days, try squashing those negative thoughts like a bug, stamp on them like an ant. Then replace them with a corresponding positive thought. Squash, “This is too hard”! and replace it with, “I can do this”! If that wimp ROGER can do it, so can I… It sounds corny, but it works. I promise you it really does.
16 Ways to Get Motivated When You’re in a Slump
By: Andy T. Hansen
But it’s not hopeless… with some small steps, baby ones in fact, you can get started down the road to positive change. As my good friend Morris Goodman says: Inch by Inch it’s a cinch…. “Yard by Yard it’s too hard”!
Yes, I know, it seems impossible at times. You don’t feel like doing anything. I’ve been there and in fact I still feel that way from time to time. So….you’re not alone. But I’ve learned a few ways to break out of a slump and we’ll take a look at those right now.
Being motivated is like fitness training. If you fall out of exercise, due to illness or injury or disruption from things going on in your life, it’s hard to get started again. Here are some simple steps that will help you shake out of it and get back on track!
(1) One Goal. Whenever I’ve been in a slump, I’ve discovered that it’s often because I have too much going on in my life. I’m trying to do too much, to fast. It saps my energy and motivation. It’s probably the most common mistake that people make. They spread themselves too thin, they try to take on too much, try to accomplish too many goals at once. You cannot maintain energy and focus (the two most important things in accomplishing any goal) if you are trying to do two or more goals at once. It’s not possible! I’ve tried it so many times. You have to choose one goal for now, and focus on it completely. You have to focus on it with white heat intensity! I know that’s hard to pick one and focus on, it but still, I speak from experience. You can always do your other goals when you’ve accomplished your current number One Goal.
(2) Find inspiration. Inspiration, for me, comes from others who have achieved what I want to achieve or who are currently doing it. I read other blogs, books, magazines. I ‘Google’ my goal and read success stories. I listen to Zig Ziglar, Morris Goodman or any of the motivational greats.
(3) Get excited. This sounds obvious but most people don’t think about it much. If you want to break out of a slump, get yourself excited about your goal. “But how can you do that when you don’t feel motivated”, I hear you ask? Well, it starts with inspiration from others (see above), but you have to take that excitement and build on it. For me, I’ve learned that by talking to my wife about it and to others, reading as much about it as possible and visualising what it would be like to be successful (seeing the benefits of the goal in my head), I get excited about a goal. Once I’ve done that… it’s just a matter of carrying that energy forward and keeping it going... whatever the world throws at me.
(4) Build anticipation. This will sound hard and many people will skip this tip... but you must not. If you find inspiration and want to achieve a goal, don’t start right away. Many of us will get excited and want to start today. That’s a big mistake. Set a date in the future, a week or two, or even a month and make that your Start Date. Mark it on the calendar-your new ‘One Goal Start Date’. Get excited about that date. Make it the most important date in your life. In the meantime, start writing out a plan and do some of the steps below. Because by delaying your start, you are building anticipation, thus increasing your focus and energy for your goal.
(5) Post your goal. Print out your goal in big words. Make your goal just a few words long, (“I Will Close A Sale Every Day”) and post it up on your wall, or refrigerator. Display it at home and at work. Make sure you put it on your computer desktop. You want to have big reminders about your goal, to keep your focus and keep your excitement going. A picture of your goal also helps.
(6) Commit publicly. None of us like to look bad in front of others. We will go the extra mile to do something we’ve said publicly. I call it ‘Get Hung By The Tongue’ For example, when I wanted to become a motivational speaker, I started writing about it and telling everyone I met that I was one. I couldn’t back down and even though my motivation came and went, I stuck with it and completed it. You must hold yourself accountable… don’t just commit once, but commit to giving progress updates to everyone every week or so.
(7) Think about it daily. If you think about your goal every day, it is much more likely to become true. To this end, posting the goal on your wall or computer desktop (as mentioned above) helps a lot. Sending yourself daily reminders also helps. And if you can commit to doing one small thing to further your goal (even just 5 minutes) every single day, your goal will almost certainly come true.
(8) Get support. It’s hard to accomplish something alone. When I decided to become a motivational speaker, I had the help of friends, family and associates, I had a great ‘Motivational Speaker Community’ who encouraged me. And of course, my wife Wendy helped every step of the way. I couldn’t have achieved this goal without her, or without the others who supported me. Find your support team, either in the real world or online, or even better….both.
(9) Realise that there’s an ebb and flow. Motivation is not a constant thing that is always there for you. It comes and goes… comes and goes again, like the tide. But realise that while it may go away, it doesn’t do so permanently. It will come back. Just stick it out and wait for that motivation to come back. In the meantime, read about your goal (see below), ask for help (see below), and do some of the other things listed here until your motivation comes back.
(10) Stick with it. Whatever you do, don’t give up. Even if you aren’t feeling any motivation today or this week, don’t give up. Again, that motivation will come back. Think of your goal as a long journey and your slump is just a little bump in the road. You can’t give up with every little bump. The road to the top or your goal is full of potholes. In my case, there were some Grand Canyons! Stay with it for the long term, ride out the ebbs and surf on the flows and you’ll get there.
(11) Start small. Really small. If you are having a hard time getting started, it may be because you’re thinking too big. If you want to exercise, for example, you may be thinking that you have to do these intense workouts 5 days a week. No you don’t… instead, do small, tiny, baby steps. Just do 2 minutes of exercise. I know, that sounds wimpy. But it works. Commit to 2 minutes of exercise for one week. You may want to do more, but just stick to 2 minutes. It’s so easy, you can’t fail. Do it at the same time, every day. Once you’ve done 2 minutes a day for a week, increase it to 5, and stick with that for a week. In a month, you’ll be doing 15-20. Want to wake up early? Don’t think about waking at 5 a.m. Instead, think about waking 10 minutes earlier for a week. That’s all…. Once you’ve done that, wake 10 minutes earlier than that. Baby steps…. remember, ‘Inch by Inch it’s a cinch’!
(12) Build on small successes. Again, if you start small for a week, you’re going to be successful. You can’t fail if you start with something ridiculously easy. Who can’t exercise for 2 minutes? (If that’s you, I apologise,). And you’ll feel successful, and good about yourself. Take that successful feeling and build on it, with another baby step. Add 2-3 minutes to your exercise routine, for example. With each step (and each step should last about a week), you will feel even more successful. If you want to build a strong business, commit to close one more sale this week, then 2 next week, then 3, then 4 and so on. Make each step really, really small and you won’t fail. After a couple of months, your tiny steps will add up to a lot of progress and a lot of success.
(13) Read about it daily. When I lose motivation, I just read a book or blog about my goal. It inspires me and reinvigorates me. For some reason, reading helps motivate and focus you on whatever you’re reading about. So read about your goal every day, if you can, especially when you’re not feeling motivated.
(14) Call for help when your motivation ebbs. Having trouble? Ask for help. Email me: andy@davasec.com or get a partner to join you. Call your business partner or your life partner. It doesn’t matter who, just tell them how you feel as talking about it will help. Don’t dump on them or end up in a ‘thumb sucking’ session, be objective and ask for help. Ask them to help you overcome your slump… if they are on your team they will. It works.
(15) Think about the benefits, not the difficulties. One common problem is that we think about how hard something is. Exercise sounds so hard! Closing a sale sounds so hard! Making more money sounds so hard! Finding new customers is so hard! Just thinking about it makes you tired and makes everyone around you tired. Instead of thinking about how hard something is, think about what you will get out of it. For example, instead of thinking about how tiring exercise can be, focus on how good you’ll feel when you’re done and how you’ll be healthier and slimmer over the long run. The benefits of something will help energise you... Fact!
(16) Squash negative thoughts; replace them with positive ones. Along those lines, it’s important to start monitoring your thoughts. Recognise negative self-talk, which is really what’s causing your slump. Just spend a few days becoming aware of every negative thought you have. Then, after a few days, try squashing those negative thoughts like a bug, stamp on them like an ant. Then replace them with a corresponding positive thought. Squash, “This is too hard”! and replace it with, “I can do this”! If that wimp ROGER can do it, so can I… It sounds corny, but it works. I promise you it really does.
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