List Building is Your Lifeline to Your Home Business

I recently wrote this article on BetterNetworker.com about building your list and wanted to share this with you. What you will learn in this little article is so VITAL to your business and your greatest earning potential, that you would be crazy not to follow this simple, but misunderstood technique for building your list.

You can visit the article here on BetterNetworker.com (the #1 Social Media website for networkers)

Enjoy!!!

Your thoughts

What are some techniques you have used in your business to build your list of serious prospects? 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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Turning Business Into Fun Times

Does the daunting tasks of running your home business sometimes take the fun out of running your business?

If you've ever experienced this, you're not alone. In fact, a lot of home business owners get so caught up in tasks that they completely forget to have fun. I'm here to show you how you can turn those daunting tasks into fun times. Would you like to learn how you can have fun again in your business? Below are five tips you can easily implement into your business.

Turning Business Into Fun Times

Tip #1 - Treat the tasks like a game
(We all like games, when you treat the tasks like a game, you will find more happiness in doing what you do. One game I incorporate into my business is, keeping score. Whenever I finish a task that I have the most difficulty with doing, I give myself a point on my scoreboard. Then at the end of the week, I count up all of my points on my scoreboard, then I celebrate using tip #2 to close out the game.)

Tip #2 - Reward yourself
(After you've finished one of the many tasks, give yourself a little reward. A reward can be taking an extra 10 minute break, buying a coffee, jumping up and throwing your arms into the air and yelling "YES!". Ok, the last one might not work for you, but it may for some. Just get creative here, you deserve to reward yourself.)

Tip #3 - Take frequent breaks
(When you take frequent breaks, you don't get caught up in thick of the task and instead by taking a break you allow for your creative mind to start working for you.)

Tip #4 - Don't take your tasks so seriously
(When you find you're taking your work too seriously, stop it. Instead, find some humor and joy in what you do. Whatever it is for you, just be sure you're having fun.)

Tip #5 - Laugh
(When you're having a hard time finishing or even doing for that matter, any of the business building tasks, try taking a break and laughing. This technique goes hand in hand with tip #4, but instead while taking a break ensuring that you laugh and have a good time. When you laugh, you shift your energy off the daunting tasks to having a fun time.)

The above tips are just a small example of what you can do to turn your business into fun times. Whatever methods work for you, just be sure you're having fun in the process of running your business. Business doesn't have to be boring, it should be fun.

Your thoughts

What are some methods you use to have fun in your business? Please feel free to share some of the techniques you incorporate into your business.

Dedicated to your Success,

Jerome Ratliff
JeromeRatliff.com


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You Are Responsible For What

Have you ever had a conversation with a child where you were encouraging them to do something like take out the garbage?

If you have, then you know their initial reaction was, "Huh!" What they are really thinking is, that's not their responsibility. So why do they need to worry about it.

Well, do you ever find yourself in your business saying same exact thing or least making an excuse why you shouldn't do something? I would bet you had, at least one time in your business or professional career. We all do! What it all comes done to is you are responsible for the results, no one else.

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You Are Responsible For What...

The results! To put this into perspective for you, let's say you're having difficulties generating quality leads for your home business and you find yourself worrying more so than actually taking action by solving the problem. What do you think your results are?

Worry! Stress! That's right.

But is that really helping you move you and your business forward? No. So, rather than having that end result, why not think in turns of results that grow and move your business forward like, purchasing leads, purchasing training material on how to generate leads, etc. Those are the kind of results we want. I call these, Results that Matter.

I recently took a training course on how to be effective. And, what I got the most out of that training course was if you aren't taking action to get you results that matter, whatever else you are doing instead is a Waste of Time.

You see, you are responsible for the outcome and it's directly related to what you are doing. So if you find yourself making excuses of why you shouldn't be purchasing leads, advertising, networking... basically you're saying that's not your responsibility. Well, you're mistaken! You are responsible for your results. After all, it's your business!

So what can you do to get yourself out of this situation...start acting like you're the CEO of your company. Whatever you decide today, either good or bad, you made that decision no one else. Accept the end result and keep, moving, forward.

If you would like to read more about how to Lead and Succeed Like a CEO, click here.

Your thoughts

Why do you think some people feel they aren't responsible for their results? Do you feel responsible for yours? Please feel free to share some of your experiences and opinions why you believe being responsible is the right thing to do for your home business.

Dedicated to your Success,

Jerome Ratliff
JeromeRatliff.com

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Marketing for Geniuses

After reading a recent post by Seth Godin, "Personal branding in the age of Google," a certain person came to mind, Albert Einstein. As you know Albert Einstein was a pure genius of science. And, when it comes to marketing geniuses, Seth Godin is one of those people. In Seth's article, he uncovers some of the not-so-obvious steps about marketing yourself and the things you should be thinking about when marketing.

When creating you're marketing efforts, are your efforts in-line with who you are stating to be? For example, you're marketing your business opportunity out to serious entrepreneurs, the last thing you want out on the internet (A.K.A. dirt on you) is you blabbing about how you hate the industry which you are advertising on. Talking about setting yourself up for failure. Duh!!

That's one thing you do NOT want to do.

I know that may sound ridiculous, but just as Seth Godin discovered, sometimes people don't realize the obvious and how what they are doing today may affect where they want to be tomorrow.

So, how do you avoid this? F.I.V.E. words...

"Live Up to Your Name"

Since we are all serious entrepreneurs, the next time your blogging, submitting articles, hanging out in forums, be ABSOLUTELY certain you aren't contradicting who you are intending to be. Otherwise, it's instant disaster.

Your thoughts

What marketing geniuses do you know that you can share with us? Please only provide information that can truly help someone grow their business.

Dedicated to your Success,

Jerome Ratliff
JeromeRatliff.com

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10 Ways to Make Your Home Business Easy

The following article was something I recently read about regarding 10 ways to make your home business easy. And, it got me thinking. How many business owners ever intend to make their business easy and FUN? I would say not many and it's probably one of the major reasons why most do not make it.

I hope you enjoy this article from Laura West from Center for Joyful Business and take her advice. After all, if we don't make it fun and easy, then why are we really doing it anyway.


10 Ways to Make Your Home Business Easy

1. Have a Vision. Start where you are, and then determine where you want to go. Be patient with yourself and accept whatever phase of your business you're at. Whether you're starting out, bouncing back, having some growing pains, floundering or flourishing. At the same time, have a crystal clear image of where you're headed - always have a vision! The only way to get out of where you are is to have a vision so you can have somewhere to go. Without a vision, it's like being in a boat and having no idea where you are rowing to. With a vision, you can make a plan, gather supplies, and set direction and sail.
2. Get a partner. Don't try to do it alone. I've partnered with a very cool & knowledgeable tech person, a writing coach and my own coach to hold me accountable for continuing to produce high quality products and content for my clients and customers.
3. Create systems for easy structure to be successful. The partnerships I've created form a system that my marketing tasks fit in - something bigger than me that provides structure and accountability. For instance, I now have a timeline set-up for getting my newsletter published on a specific day each month. It sounds really basic. And, it's amazing how many people have an idea but no plan as to when, how, what it will look like.
4. Get out of your home office. Find inspiration and creativity in places outside the norm. I start each day with "Creative Bagel Time", where I go to a fun cafe and spend some time creating a vision about my business. I also spend one day a week working out of a friends' office suite. The first coaching session I hold with many clients will be at a location that is beautiful or somehow stimulating, such as the park or gardens. It boosts creativity ten times!!!
5. Connect with people on a similar path. Look around and see what other people are up to. When you come upon someone doing something similar, see what synergy you can create together! Instead of slipping into the mindset of competition or comparison, find encouragement that others are making it work! Energy, inspiration and ideas from two passionate people will always be like 1+1 = 10!
6. Take mircro-movements. This suggestion comes from SARK, one of my favorite creative gurus and authors. For me, saying I wanted to publish my first ezine after a year-long break was too big of a step. I had to break the task down into simple small baby steps that feel easy. For me, a good place to start was writing my list of events. That got my pen flowing, set me in motion, and built up a sense of momentum, energy and success.
7. Let go of trying to make it perfect! You can't possibly control or predict the results of your actions, so let go of that and try to stay unattached. Though you have a clear vision and you're committed to making it happen, be willing to accept whatever results come your way -- they might just be better than anything you've imagined! Just let it fly with the intention that "Of course, it will evolve" It always does!
8. Face your obstacles. What's getting in your way? Not enough time, fear of failure, scared of success? We all have them. Partner with your coach or a coach-like friend who can help you through this. One way that I help my clients identify their obstacles and unhelpful beliefs is through a process called the "Heart of the Beast". It helps to neutralize the constrictive energy around your fears. I also use it myself, so I can tell you that it's as powerful as it sounds!
9. Nurture yourself. When we're fatigued, tapped out physically, emotionally and spiritually, and stressed to the max, NOTHING seems easy. Make self-care rituals for your mind, body and soul as important on your to-do list as checking your email.
10. Celebrate! Don't wait until the whole project is completed or until you've seen what the results are -- celebrate each completed micro-movement or baby step. Find fun and joyful rewards that will motivate you to keep going so you can get more of them.

Which of these tips can you apply to a project that's challenging you right now? Here's to making it easy!

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Laura, you couldn't be more right. When we focus our attention towards the things that can make our home business easy, it makes for one happy person. There is a sense of balance!

Your thoughts

What are some ways you've discovered to make your home business easy for you? Which of these 10 ways do you feel you will benefit from the most?

Dedicated to your success,

Jerome Ratliff

photo supplied from IdeaMarketers.com.

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