What is Your Brand

I'm not talking about what product you sell or your business opportunity. What I am talking about is, what is it that you do and live by to grow your business?

In other words... Your Brand!


What is Your Brand!!!

Note: For every person their brand will be different in some fashion or another.

For your MLM business, your brand is...

• What makes your business unique.
• All about putting your twist on the way you do business.
• What people want and need.
  

Think about how you can create your brand. Throw some ideas out on a paper and ask yourself two questions.

1. Does it exemplify ME?
2. Will it help people with their primary problems?

If you can answer "Yes", you've got your brand for your network marketing business. Next step is to take action and carry out Your Brand.

Your thoughts

What's your brand like? How did you determine what your brand was? Please feel free to share your take on this topic by replying to this blog post here.

Dedicated to your Success,


Jerome Ratliff
JeromeRatliff.com



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Nip Distraction in the Butt

How many times do you find yourself getting distracted from what you are trying to accomplish?

How do you not let interruptions affect you?

With today's working mentality of multitasking, let's face it, multitasking is a distraction. It distracts us from thoroughly, and effectively completing one task.

So that I don't upset our pro-multitaskers, this doesn't mean multitasking is bad or doesn't work, it just means we need to master how to effectively manage multiple tasks at once.

One way to nip distraction in the butt is to learn how to say 'no' to people. However, if you find that you have a lull in between your work and nothing to go onto, then feel free to multitask. Otherwise, put your time and effort to completing one task at a time.

Another way to nip distraction in the butt is to learn how to prioritize. If you find yourself being interrupted and it has nothing to do with what you are presently working on, then once again, say 'no'. Politely tell that person that you are busy working on something very important and as soon as you are done, you will give them your undivided attention. But, for now, your primary goal is to complete one task at a time.

Let's get back to prioritizing...If you are given or have come up with 10 tasks, figure out which of the 10 are the most important to do first. Then, take the top of 5 of the 10, and prioritize which of the 5 is the most important.

Work on your list by starting at #1 . Once again, only allow yourself to multitask if it pertains to what you are trying to accomplish or if you are dependent on someone else completing a portion of the overall task. Some may beg to differ and say that's not mutlitasking if it has something to do with what you are trying to accomplish.

I disagree!

If you are interrupted and asked to do something else, regardless if it is related, that's multitasking.

So, if you find yourself constantly being distracted, nip distraction in the butt by saying 'no' and learning how to prioritize. This may not seem like an effective way, but there have been studies done that says ineffective multitasking contributes to being counterproductive.

According to a CNN.com article it states...

"Multitasking is a managerial buzz-concept these days, a post-layoff corporate assumption that the few can be made to do the work of many. But newly released results of scientific studies in multitasking indicate that carrying on several duties at once may, in fact, reduce productivity, not increase it."

So, there you have it, stay your ground and nip distraction in the butt and become a master in managing your tasks.

Dedicated to your success,

Jerome Ratliff
Independent Associate

You've Got Time On Your Hands

Most people admit that they would love to have more time in the day in order to get things done. But, we all know that is impossible. No matter who we are, we all have the same amount of time as everyone else, 24 hours in one day. No more and no less.

But, why is that some people are able to get more things done?

Is one person better than another person?

No!

Or, does one person understand time management by using a priority system?

Yes!!!!

Managing your time the right way is nothing more than getting the important things done first.

Rather than being overwhelmed with all of the things you have to get done and getting frustrated, take control of your time by wisely making out a list of the tasks you need to complete.

Once you have all of your tasks, prioritize them into a top 5 list. When considering which ones should take priority over the other, consider which one will give you the biggest bang for your buck. So, now you have the priority list from #1 task to get done all the way through #5. When you have finished the top 5 on your list then you can tackle the other outstanding tasks.

Do this for each and every day. Once you become a master at prioritizing, then you won't have to write it out, as it will become automatic for you. However, even the most successful people still need to write it out. They feel just by writing it out, it makes the tasks feel real, and is holding them accountable to completing them. This is my approach, writing them out helps out big time.

So by taking control of your day, you'll see that you've got time on your hands. By the end of your day, you'll feel that you finished the things you needed to get done and have more time to do other things. You'll also feel a sense of accomplishment as your mark each one complete.

Oh yeah, before I forget, if you find yourself unable to complete the tasks you assigned for the one day, continue on the same list the next day until you are done. Then start your new list.

Give it a try, what do you have to lose other than time.


Jerome Ratliff
Independent Associate

Promote Your Business

How do we promote our business? Do we pay for advertising? Do we tell friends? How about the old word-of-mouth philosophy?


Well, all of them are very successful techniques. As a business owner, your best bet is to start off with free advertising. Some examples of free advertising are:

• PR in magazines, e-zines, or newspaper articles by working with the editor to post your unique story
• Word-of-mouth by telling everyone about your business and what you sell
• Free online advertising (careful on this one, sometimes not always the best sites)
• Create online profiles on forums that pertain to your industry
• Join free online clubs with similar interests to share your business
• Join affiliate programs

As you master the technique of free advertising and as money begins to flow into your business, then that is when it's time to promote your business via paid advertising. Some examples of paid advertising are:

• Newspaper classified ads
• Online paid classified ads
• Pay per click ads via Google or goClick (you will have to test this out or learn more about how to effectively use pay per click advertising)
• Sponsor organizations to promote your business

Bottom line, when promoting your business you start with the cheapest and easiest (unless you have some funds set aside as a start-up business). This is where you will learn a lot about advertising. Then, afterwards promote your business via paid advertising.

Sooner or later you may get to the point where you may need to reach out to Advertisement companies to help promote your business.

In addition to the examples listed above, you must become the brand of your company. Believe in it! Love it! Share it! Promote your business!

Jerome Ratliff

Independent Associate

Discover your way to riches

Keys to Networking

Networking! This term is often used as an ice breaker to business conferences to get everyone to meet each other and feel comfortable with one another.

So, what is networking after all? Networking is an art of building and maintaining relationships. Mastering the art of networking can usually have a great impact on your success. The complete opposite can happen by not properly networking.

Let's discuss some key ways how NOT to network at a business conference.

1. Don't get involved by introducing yourself to others.
2. Don't participate in discussions, or the meeting topic.
3. Choose not to display your name tag so others can see who you are.
4. Select a seat in the conference where others aren't.

These may seem not all that bad, but they could impact your success.
Now, let's discuss the keys to networking the right way and why they work.

1. Get involved by introducing yourself to others. - This will allow you to learn about others and potentially lead to doing business together.
2. Participate in discussions, or the meeting topic. - Not only is this good practice, but it shows how engaged you can be and how you do business.
3. Display your name tag so others can see who you are. - This a perfect ice breaker for those that are new and are searching for someone to talk to. By displaying your name, you invite others to come and talk to you.
4. Choose a seat in the conference near the front and by others. - By choosing to seat in an area where you can be recognized, you therefore become approachable. You are saying to everyone, I'm ready to participate and learn.
   

As you can see, networking can be so vital to your success. Keep enhancing your networking skills everyday by practicing and trying them out. I recommend the following book:
Little Black Book of Connections: 6.5 Assets for Networking Your Way to Rich Relationships by Jeffrey Gitomer.

Jerome Ratliff
Independent Associate
Discover your way to riches

Customer Service of Excellence

How to deliver quality customer service?

Customer Service - the quality of service that is provided to a customer.

When quality of service is provided to a customer, the customer is more likely then not to return for the same service. The major reason for this is making the customer feel just right. You've heard the phrase, the customer is always right. Well, what that really means is listen to your customer and find out what their true wants are. Either there is an interest in a product, issue with a product, or question about a product, listen to the customer and give them the guidance they are needing.

Below are five different ways that will help illustrate customer service of excellence:

1. Teach your customers about your products and/or services. You can keep customers coming back by providing them the necessary information about the product or service.
2. Ensure the product or service received met their expectations. Follow-up with the customer after their purchase to determine how satisfied they were.
3. Give your customers the personal attention they need, regardless if they intend to purchase something or not. Communicate with them, making them feel comfortable. If they do not purchase anything, politely ask them why they’re not buying. This will help you become a better customer service representative and they will very much appreciate your straight-forwardness.
4. Go out of your way to meet your customer's needs. If your customer's needs seem to be extreme, don't just answer no, provide them superior service by making it happen. Sometimes it may mean you working with someone else in order to assist the customer.
5. Show them appreciation. Let your customer know that you appreciate them by thanking them for their business.
   

Customer service is an unique on-going learning experience and is not intended to master after a handful of times. The more you deal with people/customers, the better you will become. Then you can say, I'm providing customer service of excellence.

Jerome Ratliff
Independent Associate
My Business

Selecting a business

Choosing the right company to start with is not easy.

Follow the 6 steps below when selecting the right company:

1. Follow your passion: The best option is always to make or sell a product or service that you know about and love. If you're looking to start a business for the long haul that suits your best than you must choose a business that you love.
   
   
2. Keep it real: Take a good look at the relevant marketplace. Is there a trend for the product, a real need or even a collective desire for the business that you want to start?
   
   
3. Review your competition: Survey the landscape for established competition. You really need to know if someone has beaten you to your brilliant idea or not.
   
   But if you find that some one else has already started the same business, don't be discouraged. This could be a good indicator of a business opportunity that makes sense. Also, if others are already doing well at it, that could be a good sign for you too.
   
   
4. Does it fit your lifestyle: If you love the service and products, make sure it would not require 24x7 commitment. But, do acknowledge that it will take your time and effort to turn it into something wonderful. Don't let your business become a job you despise. If you make it a fun and joyful experience, then you will never think of your business as a job.
   
   
5. Consider your risk: With great risks, come great rewards. Just be sure the one you do select meets your other criteria, demonstrated here in the other 5 examples.
   
   
6. Use the Internet: Will you be able to run your business via the internet? This is a powerful resource for running and promoting your business. It can help you turn a small business into something bigger before you know it.
   

Note: Always consult with an attorney and a CPA before selecting a business.

Jerome Ratliff
To find out what business I am in, click here
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