Friday, June 27, 2014

Face Down to Fantastic!

Successful people celebrate their lives today, only because they have journeyed down a road rife with struggles, failures, and sacrifice. Realizing that the current challenges you are dealing with today are not just propelling you toward the goals that you desire; they are helping to shape you in the person you must become to sustain your goal.

“I just read a very motivating story about someone who has never encountered adversity!”said no one…ever!

Molly Cain Book Signing
Molly Cain Signing Books

Molly Cain just published her first book, Just Love Me

Molly is my step-daughter, and on March 30, 2012 she fell down the stairs at her home in Fort Collins Colorado and landed on her face, sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and was in a coma for 17 days. The next 2 years were filled with struggle, victory, and a crazy amount of effort.

Molly was basically a baby in an adult body, tasked with relearning virtually every function in her life. Her path of recovery involved learning to walk, talk, care for herself, write, and navigate this bumpy minefield of returning to an “normal” life. A little more than two years ago did not know if Molly would be able to walk, let alone publish a book and inspire audiences wherever she speaks. Check out her blog at www.MollyCain.com
She did her first book signing in Moline, Illinois and completely sold out of books (and is fulfilling orders as we speak).
While most of you will not suffer a severe injury to the extent that Molly did, here are three strategies that will help you bounce back and recover, helping you harness this awesome gift of life that we all enjoy:

1. Get pissed off.

Sometimes the greatest fuel for improvement is ignited by an intense desire to change. Speaker and author, Mel Robbins, tells us that the word “fine” robs more people of their dreams and their potential then any other word.
If something is “fine”, that means you have absolutely no desire to change or improvement. Make a list of things that you merely tolerate… But would love to celebrate.

2. Be vulnerable

Confidence is an essential trait for anyone who desires success in life; so is humility. You do not know everything that you need to know to achieve the level of success that you desire. This does not mean that you need to become an expert at things that you truly dislike or are untalented at, but it does mean that you should solicit competent advice from people who love doing what you detest.

3. Become an activity grenade

Nothing happens without action. Little action will not create the amazing results that you truly desire. I understand that if you are 50 pounds heavier than your ideal weight, you will not drop 50 pounds and be in great shape within three days. You will begin taking progressive steps forward toward realizing your goals.
 
If you want to massively increase your income, you can’t just call a few additional prospects, you need to blow up your prospect’s phones and follow up so much that they think you are a freak! 
What are you doing to create your ideal life?

For more information about booking The Shef for your next event, visit http://www.theshef.com or call our offices at 1-563-343-5412

Monday, June 2, 2014

Boring Marketing Is Costing Real Estate Agents Big Bucks!

Most of us don't wake up hoping that we are relentlessly pounded with unsolicited marketing messages; yet the average North American consumer receives between 4,000 and 10,000 marketing messages every day. 

Our mailboxes are filled with letters from real estate agents, insurance agents, and other small businesses. We all know  people who won't shut up about their business on Facebook and other social media channels; thinking that they all have the solution to all of my problems.

One small problem...how do you know what I want or need if you don't take the time to ask?

I recently received a direct mail piece from a very nice woman working in real estate who attended one of my speaking events. She means well and is a competent professional, but she committed a common marketing sin:

Boring Marketing

Here are 3 top tips for any direct mail letter


Today's consumers demand a relationship with the people whom they do business with. You must employ multiple channels of marketing, and become the trusted source for information in your customer's eyes.

If you are in sales or marketing, you should check out an article written by Crystal Milburn from Terrostar Interactive Media wrote a fantastic piece titled, The Top 4 Marketing Practices to Continue In 2014 (and beyond!).

Whether you are marketing to your prospects on their phone, computer screen, mailbox, or over breakfast; invest in the relationship and the value that you can bring to the table. If you are a consultant or professional speaker, read my previous post on costly speaker marketing mistakes here.

What types of marketing work best for your business?

Please share this post and/or comment below!

For more information about booking The Shef for your next event, visit http://www.theshef.com or call our offices at 1-563-343-5412