“You must take personal responsibility.  You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself” – Jim Ron

“All blame is a waste of time.  No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you.” – Wayne Dyer

“The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it.”  – Lou Holtz

“Decide upon your major definite purpose in life and then organize all your activities around it.—Brian Tracy

“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this:  decide what you want.” – Ben Stein

“If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise.” – Robert Fritz

“The number one problem that keeps people from winning in the United States today is lack of belief in themselves.—Arthur L. Williams

“The difference between success and failure is simple.  Success is getting up one more time than you are knocked down” – Brock Henderson

“You can be anything you want to be, if only you believe with sufficient conviction and act in accordance with your faith; for whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” – Napoleon Hill

 That’s my 2 cents.

This came to me today in an e-mail, and while I can not attest to the authorship, or even if it actually happened, I do feel that the lesson it gives is a very sound one.  In God we trust.

(begin sermon)                               

Good morning, brothers and sisters; it’s
always a delight to see the pews crowded
on Sunday morning, and so eager to get
into God’s Word.  Turn with me in your
Bibles, if you will to the 47th chapter
of Genesis, we’ll begin our reading at
verse 13, and go through verse 27.

The article reprinted below is from The Washington Times, and it’s the press being critical of President Obama, which is something you don’t see too often.  However, in all fairness to the press they are starting to raise objections to some White House practices — such as the recent “enemies list” issue.

What with unemployment at 10%, (nearer 15% if you include those who have given up on looking for work); out of control spending, even for Democrats; a dollar that is falling faster than ever; and the “ram it down their throats” attitude towards health care reform . . . well, a lot of people are starting to think that maybe, just maybe, the Emperor has no clothes.

(begin article)

By Wesley Pruden

Throwing rotten eggs at “them lyin’ newspapers” has always been great sport in America, and sometimes even effective politics. But it has to be done with wit and humor, which may be above Barack Obama’s pay grade.

Thomas Jefferson despised newspapers, with considerable justification. They printed libels and slanders about him that persist to the present day. Yet he famously said that if he had to choose between government without newspapers and newspapers without government, he would cheerfully choose to live in a land with newspapers (even not very good ones) and no government.

Harry Truman threatened to demolish the manhood of a newspaper music critic who criticized his daughter’s singing. Richard Nixon compiled an enemies list, prominently including newspapermen. I made Bill Clinton’s enemies list and dined out on it for weeks. George W. Bush confessed, no doubt accurately, that he never read newspapers.

The president’s media environment is “target rich,” but as any bombardier could tell you, there’s more to scoring a bull’s-eye than opening the bomb-bay doors. In a fit of pique, John F. Kennedy canceled the White House subscription to the New York Herald-Tribune (may it R.I.P.) because he thought it relished stories about Democratic zits and covered up Republican pimples. The ban didn’t last; the White House soon subscribed again, and JFK poked a little fun at his over-the-top pique.

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Politicians who actually get their revenge on press tormentors do so with rapier thrusts of whimsy and clever insult. An early 20th-century governor and U.S. senator from Arkansas (from whom Mr. Clinton took pointers) delighted in sharp thrust-and-parry with the Arkansas Gazette (may it R.I.P.), the state’s leading newspaper.

“My wife and I have a little boy, and we have great ambitions for him,” he would tell audiences gathered on courthouse lawns at the foot of the monument to the Confederate soldier. “If it turns out that he’s as intelligent as we think he is, we hope to make a Baptist preacher of him. If he has just average intelligence, that’s all right, we’ll send him to law school. But if it turns out he’s the village idiot, we’ll just send him down to Little Rock to edit the morning newspaper.”

Good fun. But something more sinister is afoot in Mr. Obama’s carefully plotted campaign to destroy his perceived enemies in the press, television and even business. Rush Limbaugh is only the face of the opposition, and the ultimate target of the White House scheme is to marginalize and destroy the Republican Party first, and then everyone else unwilling to get in the lockstep parade toward the hazy dream of Utopia.

Mr. Obama and his White House can’t seem to get their brains around the fact that the election of ‘08 is over, and he won. A candidate feeds on red meat, but a president is the president of everyone, and must set a different table. Mr. Obama campaigned with promises of a post-racial, post-partisan, post-rancor administration, and millions of Americans responded with enthusiasm. The candidate who said he took inspiration from Abraham Lincoln of Illinois now acts as if he takes inspiration from the distinguished statesmen of the Third World, where press opposition to the leader is usually a bloody no-no.

The remarkable White House attempt to define which news organization is legitimate and which is not began in August, as Mr. Obama’s poll numbers began a dramatic slide. Suddenly the man who yearns to be the permanent president of the Student Body, loved by all and adored by the co-eds and their mamas, is rendered human after all. Anita Dunn, the director of White House communications, says that when the administration began planning for autumn (with important gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia), the president “needed to be more aggressive in defining what the choices are, and in protecting and pushing forward our agenda.”

Rush Limbaugh, Matt Drudge and Fox News are big enough to take care of themselves, but the implications of what the Obamanauts are trying to do are scary, indeed. Brisk and even brutal opposition is something every president must endure; it’s a pity that Mr. Obama skipped school the day the class studied American history. The candidate insists that the critics who scoff that he isn’t really the messiah, but another Chicago politician, are just being cynical. This week Ms. Dunn insisted that the Obama image is intact. “He’s who he has always been.” So we are learning, to widespread sorrow.

• Wesley Pruden is editor emeritus of The Washington Times.

(end article)

That’s my 2 cents

In a Wall Street Journal article, it was announced that the FCC was going to institute policies that would give more benefit to consumers. In a nutshell, the FCC is proposing that you the consumer can not have your bandwidth throttled by the provider.

Currently, ISP’s and cell phone providers, will throttle, (slow), your access to the web. With web sites such as YouTube and others providing downloadable content that uses a large amount of bandwidth, ISP’s and cellular providers have restricted the download speed in order to maintain useable bandwidth.

The providers argue that they need to be able to control bandwidth usage in order to provide the best level of service to all customers. However, such throttling means for slower downloading for the consumer. This becomes even more frustrating for cell phone users who are also using up their minutes as they wait for the hottest YouTube video to download.

Cell phone companies have complained that there simply are not enough available frequencies to handle the growing demand that customers are requiring. Recently the FCC announced that more frequencies would become available, and while this was applauded by the cell phone carriers, they also say that this offering by the FCC will still not be enough to meet future demand.

Here are three articles on this subject that I hope you find useful: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125329467451823485.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2009/09/fcc_to_introduce_rules_that_pr.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE58H59A20090918

That’s my 2 cents.

Finding qualified good employees can be difficult, frustrating, time consuming, expensive, and a real pain in the back side.

Some prospects might over-state their qualifications, and a few flat out falsify information on their resume.

One way to help determine if a candidate is right for your organization is to have them submit a handwriting sample, and let an expert in handwriting analysis take a look at it.

Lahna Harris is a highly qualified expert in handwriting analysis, and her fees are manageable for any size business.

Her web site is:  www.holisticwellnesstherapies.net

Try handwriting analysis the next time you need to hire someone and see how it helps you.

I personally know Lahna and will gladly attest to her competence.

That’s my 2 cents.

The question I pose here is quite simple.

Should student interns be paid or not?

I have always been of the opinion that they should be paid, but there are respected consultants who strongly advise their clients NOT to pay student interns.

His thinking is that their “pay” is the work experience you are providing and that should be enough.  Monetary compensation is not required.

It is true that you are not required to pay student interns, so you can have a potentially unlimited supply of “free” labor to perform menial tasks.

However, (you knew that was coming didn’t you), after a good deal of thought I disagree with those who encourage the use of non-paid student interns.

Yes, they are presumably learning valuable work and social skills under your tutelage. 

And while unpaid student interns may be legal, is it ethical?  Is it morally right?

No, I don’t think it is.

My belief is that if an individual is helping you with your business—even in a small way—that person should receive some sort of financial compensation.

It just isn’t right to have someone provide you with their time and all they get is some work experience they can put on a resume.

To a lot of students that might be enough, but as a business owner it is your duty to lead by example.  And the example you are showing student interns when you don’t pay them is that you can use people.

Is that really the example you want to show them?

Do you want their weeks with you to include the fact that it’s OK to take from someone without giving fair and equal compensation?

Presumably they have rendered good service to you through their duties of filing, answering the phone, running errands, and whatever else you have asked them to do.

Doesn’t that deserve some sort of consideration?

I would suggest that the only real difference between an employee and a student intern is the length of employment, and little (if anything) else.

Would you even dream of telling a traditional job applicant that you will allow them to work for you, but you aren’t going to pay them?

No.  And the applicant would look at you like you’re a loon if you did.

But the desperate student looking for some sort of experience will jump at the chance to be so rudely abused.  And taking advantage of their willingness is wrong.  It is unethical, unprofessional, immoral, and teaches the wrong lesson to future business owners.

Pay your student interns.  It doesn’t have to be a lot, but they are providing you with loyal, honest service and are entitled to fair compensation for that service.

They are being fair and honest in their work with you and they are entitled to equally fair treatment.

UPDATE:  I was reminded by a friend that college interns are paying tuition for that time they are with you.   One more reason they should be paid.

That’s my 2 cents.

 Sign up for my FREE newsletters.  Click on the link below.

Failing is a fundamental part of sales, you simply will not close every sale.  It isn’t humanly possible.  So don’t let it get you down.

 You’ve given a wonderful presentation, but the prospect said “No”.  That isn’t saying you’re a lousy human being, it is simply saying that, as presented, they aren’t interested in your product or service.

 Don’t walk out dejected, (yes, I know that’s hard not to do), but review every inch of your presentation.  What did the prospect seem to react favorably to, and what did they react unfavorably to?  What questions did they ask?  Was there any one point where you seemed to lose them?  Did you ask the right qualifying questions?  Did you establish a need for your products or services?  Did you find out who they are currently utilizing and what they liked and didn’t like about them?  Did you research the company and their industry sufficiently to really understand what their problems and needs are?

 Identify every instance where you could have done something different and ask yourself what could I have done?  How might they have reacted if I had said this over that?

 Put yourself in the prospects shoes and try to see your questions from their perspective.  The better you can understand why people react the way they do, the better you will be in sales.

 “No” doesn’t always mean no, sometimes it means you didn’t do your job properly, and you didn’t solve the real issues perceived by the prospect.

 And sometimes, it simply means no.

 The critical element is that you review each sales presentation, both successful and unsuccessful, to identify what you did right and what you might have done wrong.

The important thing is that when you fail, you should learn from the experience.  You now have one more way not to do it.

Thats my 2 cents.

For all my marketing insights sign up for my FREE newsletters by clicking on the link below.

Why should I visit your web site?  Why should anyone visit your web site?  And once they have visited, why should any of us return?

So they come once and that’s it.

But you want people to come back multiple times; you want to keep your name and your products and services at the forefront of their mind.  To do that you must be doing things that entice people to return.

What’s so new, so hot, or so great that would entice anyone to return time and again to visit your web site?

Probably nothing.  In which case you need to fix it.

Jeffrey Gitomer has published five small books, (about $20 each), and throughout his books you are directed to his web site for an additional “Gitbit” of information.

The same for his weekly newsletter, there is always some morsel that directs you to his web site for further learning.

If you publish a newsletter or a blog it is an excellent way of driving customers and prospects to your site, and remind them of your expertise.  You are absolutely correct, I have been missing out on that very important marketing technique.

That’s going to change!

Starting immediately each monthly edition of my monthly Business & Marketing Newsletter will direct you to my web site for additional marketing, business, or motivational insights and information. 

It may be to finish an article, or it may an entire new article, but it will be a link to a special page on my web site. 

While this is just for subscribers of my newsletter, I’m letting you get a taste of what my bonus page offers.  Just click on the word “Bonus” below and you’ll see what kind of additional information I include.  And if you like what you see, then click on the banner and sign up for my FREE newsletters.

Bonus

 That’s my 2 cents.

(You may have seen this e-mail already, but the points bear repeating.)

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, in the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.

“To celebrate growing older I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.  It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written.  My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:”

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick.  Your friends and parents will.  Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone.  It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God.  He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past, so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others.  You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.  But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath.  It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.  But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.  Don’t save it for a special occasion.  Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now.  Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness, but you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words  “In five years, will this matter?”

26. Always choose life.

27. Forgive everyone everything.

28. What other people think of you is none of your business.

29. Time heals almost everything.  Give time, time.

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31. Don’t take yourself so seriously.  No one else does.

32. Believe in miracles.

33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

34. Don’t audit life.  Show up and make the most of it now.

35. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

36. Your children get only one childhood.

37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

38. Get outside every day.  Miracles are waiting everywhere.

39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab our back.

40. Envy is a waste of time.  You already have all you need.

41. The best is yet to come.

42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

43. Yield.

44. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

45. Remember that I will always share my spoon with you!  Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.

That’s my 2 cents.

 To get all my thoughts on business and marketing sign up for my FREE newsletters by clicking on the banner below.

We all know that body language gives clues to the prospects attitude towards our sales presentation, but remember that we give off clues as well.

As a child I was often reminded by my Mother to “sit up straight”, and “don’t slouch”; in the military it was “chin up”, “shoulders back”, and “pull that stomach in”.  All of it was excellent advice.  Our posture tells the world a lot about how we are feeling, our attitude, and outlook on life.

When you don’t have good posture you look beaten down, discouraged, without hope, and alone.  People will give you more space because you look worn out and would rather take a nap than be where ever you are.  When selling with poor posture the sale is much more difficult because you simply aren’t selling yourself, and if you can’t sell yourself, you can’t sell the product.

Walk into a prospects office with your shoulders back and level, and your head up and you convey a positive image.  One of confidence and self-assurance; but enter with your shoulders forward and you immediately signal that you are unsure and wary.

When in a clients office or even out in public stand tall and erect, don’t slouch, and keep your head up so you can make eye contact with those around you.  Having a positive posture at all times invites people to make contact, and possibly become customers, or offer great referrals.

Good posture will cause you to walk more confidently and give off the aura of success, and everyone wants to associate with a successful individual . . . even customers.

That’s my 2 cents

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