By JP Maroney
I doubt any entrepreneur ever goes into business, “Expecting To Fail!” Yet, so many end up falling short of their ambitions and goals.
Virtually every week I receive emails and calls from “desperate business owners” looking for a “Magic Pill” that’ll get them out of hot water, and put their business on track for success.
I frequently see growth plans, strategies and tactics from across industries everyday – what’s working, what’s failing and why.
Entrepreneurs lay their problems, frustrations and puzzles at my feet looking for solutions to their most vexing business problems… looking for new avenues for explosive growth… and ways to dramatically increase existing revenue.
Nobody… I repeat NOBODY wants to be the creator of “Yet another failed business idea!”
My goal over the next few blog posts is to examine “The greatest challenges businesses — including yours — are facing today,” and offer you some ideas, strategies, tactics and solutions you can use in your own business to…
Insure Yourself Against Business Failure… and Practically Guarantee Your Success!
We’ll explore how you can create greater results, increase your sales, flood your business with red-hot leads and prospects, turn on your cashflow machine, and generate windfall profits for your enterprise.
But first… I want to know more about your “Greatest Business Challenge” — the thing that’s holding you back.
Use the form at the link below to share your “Greatest Challenge, Problem or Hurdle” in business. I’ll use the responses I receive to craft upcoming blog posts.
It’s like getting FREE consulting from me.
I look forward to where this can go from here…
Profitable Regards, JP
PS: OK… here’s the link. CLICK HERE to open the form and share your “challenge.”
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BY JP MARONEY
Those are BIG questions every marketer should be asking themselves. Here’s why…
If you’re a savvy marketer you know that you must “START WITH THE MARKET — NOT WITH THE PRODUCT!” Yet, many marketers fail in this fundamental first step.
They start with the product. Then, they go out and try to find a market who will buy it.
That’s backwards!
Starting with the market forces you to deal with their real wants, desires, needs, pains, pleasures, emotions, etc… BEFORE determining what you want to sell them.
So, let’s go back to my original question above…
If you had no product, no service, and no customer list, how would you go about getting your target market of prospects to sit up and take notice of you?
Here’s how…
By offering them information, ideas, solutions, thoughts, rants and observations that address THEIR wants, desires, needs, pains, pleasures, emotions, etc.
Example: RUNNERS
If I was starting with NO LIST… NO PRODUCT… NO SERVICE… what could I do to get “RUNNERS” to magnetically flock to me? How could I persuade them to give me their name and email address — their mailing address and phone number?
Ideas:
There’s 4 quick ideas.
And, topics?
(I’m not a runner, so those are quick “guesses” on topics)
Now remember, I have no product or service. So, I’ll have to focus on delivering content. Talking about what interests them.
If any marketer were to focus on doing this with one market for 90-days, they could build a massive list — and position themselves as THE expert for that market very quickly.
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End-Note: Once you start building the list, there are strategies and techniques for “getting inside the mind” of the target prospect and finding out EVEN MORE about THEIR wants, desires, needs, pains, pleasures, emotions, etc. I’ll deal with that in a future post.
Probably one of the greatest tragedies of life is that so many people underutilize their personal potential. I know people who can sing, I mean really sing, but they don’t do a single thing with it. I know people who could write masterpiece fiction novels, but never produce a single paragraph. I personally know a handful of people who have tremendous talent and ideas for starting their own business, but don’t step out.
Why?
I think that most of them don’t really understand the possibilities of their potential. They don’t see the value in what they have to offer society. They minimize their talents and abilities, and never achieve the goals or dreams planted within their hearts.
I wrote a poem sometime back for these kinds of people. It is called…
“Your Dreams…Your Destiny” ———————– You were given big dreams That You could fulfill, The faith and belief Upon which to build. You were given the eyes To observe the needs, And within your heart Faith planted a seed. Now regardless what force Might stand in your way, You now know the words In response you can say. “Oh be though removed and cast into the sea, for I’m destined to live these dreams given to me.” —————
“Your Dreams…Your Destiny”
———————– You were given big dreams That You could fulfill, The faith and belief Upon which to build.
You were given the eyes To observe the needs, And within your heart Faith planted a seed.
Now regardless what force Might stand in your way, You now know the words In response you can say.
“Oh be though removed and cast into the sea, for I’m destined to live these dreams given to me.”
—————
Please, if you’re one of those people with a book, a business, a new career, a hobby, a poem, a song inside of you, take what you’ve got, and take it to the max. Use what you have. Don’t wait until you have everything you think you need to succeed. Just take what you’ve got, and take it to the max.
Here are my four steps to maximizing your unique personal potential…
Step One: Recognize it!
Take a look at yourself. What special talents do you have? What skills have you acquired? What interests you most? What are you good at? That is your unique personal potential.
It may take some time, but you were given special talents and abilities with which you can serve others. Look around you. What needs exist that you can service? Helping other people should be the foundation on which you build your future.
You might help other people by selling them a product that simplifies their life. Or you might provide a service that make their life easier. You might write a book that entertains or informs.
Look within yourself, and around you as well. You will discover, and recognize your unique personal potential.
Perhaps you are not maximizing your potential on your job. Take a look around. Is there room for improvement. Could you apply your skills to enhance a certain system or process at your place of employment. It is an exciting feeling to know you have personally made improvements that improve service or increase productivity.
Step Two: Energize it!
It is not enough to just have potential. You need a catalyst to set it in motion. Your dreams provide that motivation. Many people call what I do motivational speaking. But, motivation can’t come from a speaker, it must come from within you.
Find something that excites you, something that will keep you excited even when times are tough. That excitement can come a sense of accomplishment, or financial rewards. Develop a burning desire to fulfill your dream. That burning desire will energize your unique personal potential.
Step Three: Mobilize it!
Put your unique personal potential to work. It is like a parked car. If it does not take you somewhere it is useless. Put your potential into action. Many people avoid this step because they are afraid to take risks.
To paraphrase something Abraham Lincoln said… good things come to those who wait, but only what’s left over by those who didn’t. Get out of your comfort zone and take action. Read the chapter in this book called Get up, Get going, or Get out of the way.
Step Four: Maximize it!
Now you’ve put your unique personal potential to work, what next? Right? Keep adjusting and improving. The first time you write a book, it will not be your best. That’s OK. The first time you get on stage to sing, it will not be your best.
That’s OK.
The first time you make a sales presentation, it will not be your best. That’s OK. Take what you learn each time and improve. Maximize your unique personal potential by continually growing and developing yourself. You have unique personal potential…take it to the MAX!
BY JP Maroney
Just finished watching my DVR recording of the Dallas Cowboys / Arizona Cardinals game. Pretty good game.
Looking at the score, you’d think Dallas must have done something amazing. Not really…
OK… OK… Tony Romo is looking really good as the new starting quarterback. And the Dallas defense had some solid plays.
But, look at the game more closely and you’ll see a continuation of Dallas’ “penalty packed” season. Another reason why they’re leading the league in penalty yardage.
But… when the 4th quarter counted down — the COWBOYS came out on top. They won!
And guess what…
In this game, “Good Enough” was good enough.
They weren’t exceptional. They made tons of mistakes.
But they were still “good enough” to beat Arizona.
The challenge would be… what happens when they face a much tougher team? A team that (unlike Arizona) doesn’t come into the game with a straight losing season?
Then what?
They’ll have to bring their game up to an entirely different level. Or be destroyed.
They’ll have to “FOCUS” or “FIZZLE.”
Now, think about your business…
Are you Great? Are you Exceptional?
Or, are you just “good enough?”
When you come up against a strong competitor in your industry — will you prevail? Or will you fail?
Think about that…
Think about what it takes to be MORE THAN good enough! Think about what you can do to be EXCEPTIONAL!
Think about what you can do to be GREAT!
Because, good enough is good enough. But good enough will never be GREAT!!!
OK… it’s not Gallup. But, the results from my “GURU Poll” last week are interesting.
Here it is:
67.57% said: “I think the term GURU is positive!
32.43% said: “I think the term GURU is negative!
What do you think about those results? Feel free to leave a comment here on my blog. (hint: click on the number next to the title of this post to leave a comment)
Virtually every day we read how some upstart, “Hot” company has launched into the stratosphere and is creating huge sales and growth – practically overnight. They make big waves and attract lots of attention.
It’s a little sickening for the hardworking, everyday entrepreneur. Don’t you think?
Perhaps you’ve wondered if it’s possible to create the same kind of growth in your business. Maybe you’ve felt for a long time that your company is poised for explosive growth.
You’ve known you need to “take it to the next level.” But, you’re unsure just how to get there.
So, what’s the first step to the next level in business growth?
First, change your mindset. Rid yourself of any preconceived notions you have about business growth.
Cleanse your mind of everything you thought you knew about building a business. Sure, that information will come in handy down the road.
But today you should open your mind to new possibilities. In other words…
“Take the caps off!!!”
Remove any limitations or boundaries you may have placed on what you think your business can do. Then, you can begin the process of growing your business.
Stop for just a minute and let your imagination run wild. Envision your business and what you think it can become.
Where do you see yourself – and your business in 90 days, 6 months, and in 3 to 5 years?
What does it look like? What kind of clientele is it serving?
What are your sales numbers? How about your profits – the money you get to take home or reinvest in your business.
Do you have a number in your mind? Can you imagine it being even bigger than that?
Perhaps 20%, 30% or 50% higher than that? How about double, triple or quadruple that amount?
I hope you can see the possibilities. And not limit yourself.
Now, ask yourself the following questions. Spend significant time answering them.
Write down your answers and study them. This IS the first step to the next level in business growth.
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JP Maroney a.k.a. “The Pitbull of Business”â„¢ is a business growth strategist, best-selling author and award-winning speaker. Receive his FREE book, “5 Ways to Double or Triple Your Business” visiting www.JPMaroney.com
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Imagine what a day would be like and how few people you could deal with if there were no phones.
    Perhaps you like that idea?
Nevertheless, telephones have made it possible to stay in one place and do business in different cities, states, and even countries. They also have made us more accessible to others.
We are rarely out of touch… especially now that cellular phones go with us everywhere.
Today, even with the growth of email and internet technology, the telephone is still a very relevant and highly vital tool in business today. In fact, it is in many ways more powerful than ever.
Here are 5 telephone tips for answering the call:
First, when you answer the telephone, identify yourself and your company, and offer to help. Some companies find it useful to create a script and instructions for answering the telephone. This provides uniformity for the organization, and familiarity for callers.
Second, speak clearly so the caller can easily understand you.
Third, project a positive image with your voice and attitude. To help you accomplish this, smile when you answer the phone and while you’re assisting the caller.
Even though the caller can’t see you, they will be able to “hear” your smile. Some people even keep a mirror near their telephone to remind them to smile while on the telephone.
Third, if you have to put someone on hold, first ask their permission, and then honor their response.
Fourth, if the caller is trying to reach someone who is either out of the office or busy with another client, do what you can to help them. At minimum capture as much information as possible so that your team member can effectively return the call and satisfy the caller’s needs.
Finally, block out distractions that might prevent you from giving total attention to the caller. These potential distractions can include co-workers, customers who are talking nearby, or the arrival of new email.
It’s important to remember that when you’re on the telephone, the caller on the other end of the line is the most important person at that very moment, and they should be treated with utmost respect and attention.
If you’re truly interested in improving customer service at your business — especially in the area of telephone skills — then you should get a copy of, “Service By Phone,” the complete learning system from my People Builders series.
This program teaches you and your staff:
* How to answer the telephone effectively and    efficiently * How to put people one hold * How to take a message * How to leave effective voice mail messages that    produce results * How to deal with angry callers * How to “Serve By Selling” * How to safely use your cell phone * How to reduce neck and shoulder strain while using    the telephone * And much, much more
It’s available in two formats…
1) Video DVD for group staff training 2) Audio CD for personal learning
The video program includes everything you need to conduct a 45 to 60 minute employee development session on this topic.
It’s a complete, turnkey system that includes:
* Professionally produced 20-min video * Leader’s guide with facilitation instructions * Master copies of employee handouts (for unlimited    reproduction) * Employee feedback forms * 3 motivational posters to reinforce topic * Topic-specific newsletter
Claim your copy of the video system here: http://www.goldbar.net/sc/ap.php?m=7982&i=1244
Claim your copy of the audio system here: http://www.goldbar.net/sc/ap.php?m=7982&i=1245
If you have any questions or need more details, call 1-800-304-5758.
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JP Maroney a.k.a. “The Pitbull of Business” is a business growth strategist, best-selling author and award-winning speaker. Receive his FREE book, “5 Ways to Double or Triple Your Business” by visiting www.JPMaroney.com
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Interested in publishing this article in your magazine, newsletter, blog, website or article directory? Send an email to info at jpmaroney dot com or call 1-800-304-5758.
As I see it, the best way to develop a profitable business is to build a massive money funnel. In other words, set up multiple income streams that consistently pour profits into your bank account.
There are 6 “income streams” available when you build your business around the “speaking model” — plus 3 bonuses “benefit streams” you’ll love.
1) Speaking Fees
As a paid speaker, you get paid a fee each time you speak. Simple enough.
But few people realize how much money is avialable to speakers. For example, speakers frequently earn $2,000 to $7,000 for a 45 to 90 minute speech.
Today, my fees are even higher than that.
2) Sponsorships
Did you realize you can actually have companies sponsor your presentations? It’s not much different than an athlete who’s being paid to endorse a product or service.
I’ve had multiple companies sponsor my sessions — my seminars. It’s a great way to add-on to your income.
Your sponsor wins by associating with a solid information provider. You win by getting additional money for your time.
3) Product Sales
This is a biggie. The income potential is endless.
Even though I receive $10,000.00 for a full-day seminar, that’s a drop in the bucket compared to what I earn selling products.
Items like books, videos, audio programs, learning systems, etc.
And, it doesn’t have to be limited to information products. If you have an existing business or professional practice, you can use speaking to quickly ramp-up your marketing, attract more customers and sell more products and services..
I’ve found that audiences trust speakers. And buy what speakers recommend to them.
It’s a fantastic way to explode your income potential for your existing products and services.
4) Consulting and Coaching Fees
When you stand on a stage in front of an audience, there will be people out there who want you to come into their business and help them. It’s a natural response.
If you speak on personal development topics, you can sell personal coaching services. People will trust you — and want you to help them.
This reaction from audiences will only increase your income and build your massive money funnel.
5) Membership Sites and Other Services
As you speak, you’ll build a huge list to market back to. One of the best things to market is an ongoing membership program.
It’s a way for you to share with and help your “list” month after month. Even after you’ve left the stage.
And, it’ll provide you with ongoing, residual income that’s fantastic.
6) Joint Venture Income
As I’ve already said, people will buy what a speaker recommends.
This leaves you in a powerful position to recommend other people’s products and services that you believe in — and hopefully use personaly.
What a way to integrate other promotions and products into your message. And earn an additional income stream as well.
OK… I promised you…
3 Bonus Benefits…
Here they are:
1) Free food
Whenever I speak, my clients pay for all my food. I eat in the best restaurants, resorts and clubs.
And my clients cover it all…
2) Free travel, cars, and hotel
Again, when I’m out of town speaking at a meeting, all my expenses are covered. This includes hotel, rental cars, limos, airfare, etc.
Everything…
My speaking fee and product sales are completely on top of this. I have virtually NO expenses whatsoever attached to my speaking fees.
3) Celebrity status
OK, this last one may not interest you. Celebrity Status!
Who needs it?
Well, I can tell you this — people pay celebrities more than they do everybody else.
They also believe them faster, and buy more from them.
So, by establishing your “celebrity status” as a speaker — you’re really enhancing your ability to make more money.
Finally…
Truly, the speaking business offers you the fastest way anywhere to build a profitable business and develop multiple income streams.
What I call your “Massive Money Funnel.”
You can learn how to develop your own high-profit speaking business by listening to the FREEÂ recording of my recent teleseminar, “The Pitfalls & Profit Potential of Public Speaking.
Go to http://www.speakerformula.com/replay to get immediate, online access to the recording.
—————————— Interested in publishing this article in your magazine, newsletter, blog, website or article directory? Send an email to info at jpmaroney dot com or call 1-800-304-5758.
There are two major reasons why people choose to do business with an organization again and again.
Number one, they have been made to feel good, and number two their problems have been solved. How you fulfill those two objectives is up to you and your organization, but understanding these two simple principles helps us simply and demystify the whole issue of customer retention.
First, the customer needs to feel good. That can mean making sure they receive value for their money. It can mean making them feel so incredibly special that they can’t wait come back and see you.
Second, the customer wants their problems solved. Here is where real opportunity exists. If you can discover what your customers problems are, in other words, what they want, and then solve those problems, you’ll win them for life.
Here is an idea that will save you a lot of time and frustration in anything you do. Learn from other people who have already done what you are attempting.
When I started my first business, all I had was an idea and a lot of enthusiasm. I was nineteen years old. I had no prior business experience, no business mentors, and I had never read any business or personal development books.
It didn’t take me very long to learn that I didn’t know what I was doing. And it didn’t take very long for that business to go out of business. But, I did learn from my mistakes and experiences.
By the time I started my second business, I had read a few books, and begun to seek out other people who could share their experiences about starting and building a business. I still didn’t have all of the information I needed, but I did much better this time.
My biggest mistake, and ultimately the reason for failure was my lack of focus.
The third time I started a company, rather than simply rely on my own experiences, I devoted my energy to finding out what other people had done to succeed.
I read hundreds of books. I think this is a real key to success. Not only do you gain information about how to accomplish your goal, you also receive inspiration because you realize that anyone who has ever achieved something great has also endured many setbacks and failures. So, reading builds your belief.
And, there are no good excuses for not reading. If money is your excuse, go to the library and pull all of the books on the subject you are interested in. That will be several dozen, perhaps, several hundred books.
Another thing I like to do is go to used book stores. Books are so cheap there. It amazes me that people actually get rid of their books. I don’t. I keep every book I buy.
You can also buy books very inexpensively at garage sales. Again, stupid people get rid of good books, and they sell them very cheaply. You might get an idea out of a book that cost you a quarter, which could produce a quarter of a million dollars in income for you. Now, is that value or what?
If time is your excuse, let me blow that one real quick. Turn off the TV, and get off of the internet. Now, you’ve probably picked up at least two hours a day for reading.
Also, start taking books with you everywhere you go. When you have a few minutes, pull out a book, and read a few pages. I even keep a stack of books in the rest room. OK, don’t laugh, but that’s what I do. I keep books in my truck. Sometimes I have to wait for other people to arrive, giving me time to read.
Here’s how to read a lot in a little amount of time. Scan the pages, looking for key words and headlines. Underline information that’s meaningful to you. That way, you can go back and refer to the book later, and quickly find the portions of the book that relate to what you are trying to accomplish.
You don’t even have to read the books. That right! There are hundreds of books available on audio format, as well as speakers like me who have audio programs based on their seminars and speeches. You can listen to those in your vehicle.
Most people spend at least an hour a day in their automobile. Many people spend much more. Make that time work for you. Instead of listening to the latest, greatest songs (all of the time), use some of that time to educate yourself.
You can even listen to audio cassettes while dressing in the morning, and before you go to sleep at night. Just find some time to fill your mind with positive thoughts and good information.
I also talked to dozens of other business people in a similar industry. I wanted to know what they were doing to succeed. Now, not everything they said applied to me. But, at least I had the option of using the information they shared.
I tapped into resources like the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). Once a week, for months, I went to the SBDC offices and spent time with the executive director, going over my numbers, and working on my business plan. He became an excellent sounding board for my ideas.
The guys at SCORE were invaluable. They held decades of experience between them, and provided me with great wisdom in relation to building my company. Hey, the resources are out there, you just have to tap into them. I did everything I could to learn from the experiences of other people.
In my experiences, I have learned that there are three kinds of people in this world.
 1) Stupid  2) Smart  3) Successful
Which are you? Here are the details.
Stupid people never learn from their own mistakes. Smart people do. But, successful people learn from the mistakes of others. Let me tell you a true story.
In 1999, when I sold my magazine publishing company, the two individuals who bought the company never, ever asked to meet with me to discuss why I did things the way I did them. They never asked what mistakes I had made (and I’ve made a ton), or what I had learned from those mistakes. They never, not one time, asked for ANY of my experiences from the four years since I had started the company.
Now, that’s simply stupid. Why would you pay good money to buy an existing business, and then not take time to find out what had been done in the past, and why, so you could avoid making some of the same mistakes that had already been made?
Duh!
Listen, to survive, you just can’t afford to not learn from your own mistakes…that’s a given. But, to really succeed, you need to learn from the mistakes of other people.
Because if you rely completely on your own experiences, you limit your knowledge, but if you rely on the experiences (mistakes and successes) of others, you multiply your knowledge, and greatly reduce your possibility for failure. Can it get any simpler than that? I don’t think so.
