Picture by mc_strobe

“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”

-Buddha
How do you know when you have a great idea or you are just kidding yourself? In the competitive business world today, great ideas are the foundation of success. If you are inspired enough to have a truly great one, act on it, and act on it quickly. But if you are the only one on the planet that can see the greatness in what you have, it is destined to fail.

So, in an effort to save you time and money here are some tips to help you figure out if you should run with your “baby”:

1. Follow your gut. Your intuition is the closest thing to inspired guidance there is. If you hear [feel] that undeniable nudge once, listen. If it keeps popping up again and again, act on it. This will separate you from the majority of people who ignore signs and choose to escape, instead of taking a risk.

Read more…

photo by photosecosse

So, what’s the deal with the power of persuasion? Is it just a good business skill or is it manipulation?

Let’s talk about manipulation first. A typical sales pitch involves the motive to manipulate. It will look like a set up, and the one being set up will feel like a caged animal. The seller begins zeroing in on the potential customer’s pain. It starts as an introduction and a handshake. Then you pick up an on accent as your target begins speaking, or a ring he is sporting on his right pinkie – something that moves the conversation to a more personal nature.

This probing leads to what city the target is from, what he likes to do for fun, and what he wishes he had more time to do…until before you know it, the poor slob is bearing his vulnerabilities to the vulture. And then of course, the manipulator goes in for the kill.

Read more…

photo by Matt?!
Cyberspace is filled with millions of blogs. And a steady current of these informational pages feed into the mainstream everyday with the potential to connect with millions of readers. So, why do some blogs generate electricity and create a receptive audience while others barely ignite a spark of interest?
I searched out some of the more popular blogs, and found what they had in common. Here are 3 things I came up with to help you make your blog shine:
1. Make it personal. That doesn’t mean to share the details of your trip to the dentist. (unless maybe your blog is on personal hygiene). What I mean by personal is to have your personality stamped on your blog. If readers saw 25 different posts from 25 different bloggers, they should easily be able to pick yours out.
Whether you have the sense of humor of an 8-year old boy, or you are an intellectual snob, or you are a tell-it-like-it-is Right Wing Redneck, let that come out each and every time. Just as people like a certain tv show because of the characters they can count on to behave and talk and act a certain way, the dedicated blog reader will come to expect your personality to be consistent. Do not disappoint them.
2. Be generous. Many “famous” bloggers share their platform from time to time. They put a guest blogger’s post on their blog, by introducing them to their audience, and provide a short bio with their website or blog at the end of the post.
This is wonderful for the featured blogger, who gets instant respect and recognition. But, it also good for the established blogger who introduced the guest. It gives the host blogger the opportunity to provide fresh, related material to his loyal audience. This type of arrangement also gives the busy blogger a needed break every now and then. Lastly, it is just makes sense to connect with fellow bloggers who produce posts you love. Networking by acknowledging a fellow blogger is powerful, and whatever you give, you will get back a hundred times over.
3. Tell Stories. Again, people may not want the details of your colonoscopy, but readers like to be entertained. And there is nothing quite so entertaining (or enlightening) as real life experiences.
Use your imagination to take you there. Depending on your topic of the day, go back to when you were a kid, and retell an encounter you had with your soccer coach. Or fast forward to present time when you unexpectedly ran into an old friend at Starbucks. Learn to pick out the details that are pertinent to your point and embellish. Your readers will keep coming back for more.
Once you get in the habit of practicing these three tips, you will already be one step ahead of the competition. Blogs are definitely the current venue to shine. They are provide a great creative outlet for the blogger, and they provide a causal and informative arena for the reader.
Readers are also attracted to the interactive nature of blogs. Imagine what it would be like to have a dialogue between you and your favorite character on tv. My conversation would probably be with Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, Kyra Sedgewick’s character on The Closer. As a woman entrepreneur, I really appreciate confident, sexy, and professional women. However, I just might suggest to Brenda that she ease up on her FBI husband. I wonder how she would respond.
Till next time…happy blogging.
P.S. If you like this blog, please click the icons below (i.e. Stumble it!). And please subscribe – I am deeply and sincerely appreciative of your support.
Kim McGinnis, Bring You Success