There’s so many principles of success in this interview and here are some of the notes I took while interviewing David:

- “Don’t give a damn what other people think about you, successful people don’t care”
- Become fiercely protective of your time
- Constantly ask questions on why things are the way they are

I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I do!

Let me know your thoughts on David’s insights on the topic of Success.

Listen in as Ethan shares:

- How to unleash the true Entrepreneur Lifestyle
- How Entrepreneurship is more about freedom then money
- How to stay “on course”

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on the interview in the comment section below!!

Ever had one of those days when you notice that the only thing stopping you is you?!

One of the biggest assets for entrepreneurs and business leaders is the ability to silence self doubt and globalising, test assumptions & the like

The biggest win is often between the ears.

As a dominant visually wired guy, I have found my “portfolio of evidence” to be helpful for these moments.

The portfolio documents photos of wins, when I overcame (predominantly mental) obstacles that were a stretch or a fear.

The photos could be compiled in an album, or a slideshow or they may be displayed on a pin board in your strategy room.

The evidence will shut up those doubtful questions with definite proof that you can because you have!

It may be a captured moment of a presentation where you nailed it or when you closed a deal. On a personal level, you may have built or cooked something for the first time.

What story do you need to remind yourself of?

How can you capture it for the future?

Let the memorials spur us on, but may they spur us on to even greater endeavours so we don’t rely on the old stories or trophies like Al

Four touchdowns in one game!

Keep writing stories.

Keep creating portfolio volumes.

This is just the latest example of why I get annoyed with public relations professionals. Yes, I am one, I understand that. But I just refuse to speak like this because I think people want to be shot straight, not “wowed” with a bunch of marketing speak.

This is important because you might find yourself interviewing PR agencies someday and if you are new to how my field works, it can be a difficult choice.

I just read where former CBS president Andrew Heyward asked the What’s Next for the Media roundtable at the PRWeek Next Conference what word or phrase best describes the next two years in the industry.

Among the answers: “transparency,” “speed and volume,” “implementation,” “keeping up,” “time management,” and “Twitter.”

With the exception of Twitter, this is just more PR speak. I can’t stand PR speak. These words mostly mean nothing and marketing folks just love to throw them out there.

You can tell this struck a nerve with me, huh? I get livid when I see PR agencies that say things on their website like “we’re results oriented.” What?! Who isn’t?! What business in the world can you say that you can get away with not being results oriented? Why does this even need to be said? As though other PR firms think, “oh…you wanted a results-oriented PR firm? Yeah, that’s just not us.”

This is just something that stands out to me when looking at other PR firms. If you are going to meet with a PR firm, look for a group of people that shoots you straight. Tell me what you are going to do. What media outlets can you get me coverage in? Stop talking about how your company “leverages synergies,” as though anyone knows what that nonsense means.

There certainly are different types of PR, but if you have an internet business, chances are you are just looking for someone to spread the word about your company in the media. This isn’t brain surgery. My job is not hard, and I don’t ever pretend that it is. Don’t let some PR company make getting your word out seem like some Herculean task that requires a “results-driven” team. Watch out for the marketing speak and look for the substance of what a PR firm can really do for you.

That’s all for now, I have to get back to leveraging synergies so that I can implement strategic solutions.

Many have foundTwitter to be a great place to get linked to many people, and many see it as a promotional wonderland. “WooHoo, look at all those people I can hit with my promotions”

Well, yes . . . and no. Let’s pull back on the reigns just a little ‘Roy Rogers’! Twitter is fast becoming a place where you can gain lots, read thousands, of people you can contact and to a good aggressive marketer, a virtual gold mine. However it doesn’t work that way, at least that’s how most Twitter users see it.

Now you can certainly jump in to Twitter and plaster your latest promotion all about with reckless abandon, but guess what? You will rapidly find a lot of ‘no follows’ – that’s unpopular in Twittereze. The reason for this is that nature of the community. Just like in ‘real life’ every community has a personality that basically dictates normal behavior. Now, like this or not, the Twitter community has sort of established itself already.

For most Twitterers, there is a balance, a fine line between promotion and socializing. Twitter has become a place to socialize and get to know people . . . and recommend. Just like any aspect of life, there is a fine line between the two major aspects of Twitter, socialization and promoting. Twitter is a place where you can get to know people of all sorts, even individual ‘big’ in an industry are there rubbing shoulders with everybody.

This is a place where you can Twit a business leader who would be otherwise difficult to contact, and where they are quite likely to respond. But . . . but as long as you are being social about it, not sales-ey! Here’s the thing, if you spend some time getting familiar with people and they you in a casual way, they will not see you as intimidating or risky to interact with. Realize that many top level people in any business get approached often by people who want something from them – don’t be that guy! Rather, have a simple question for them, or offer help or even just a comment on something that they posted.

When you do post, Tweet, in a promotional manner, make it more suggestive or helpful, not – “Hey Buy My Stuff”. Yes, you will see some of this that doesn’t make it acceptable to most. Not sure, try this – ask other Twitterers what they think about it. Just as in any marketing efforts, it’s better to gain trust, familiarity and respect from people before asking them for money. It’s important to remember that business is about relationship building. This is important with both potential customers as well as partners or joint venture partners.

So, about the fine line, the balance, many are now automatically Tweeting their blog posts and articles, which is fine, but don’t let that be all that you do there. Have a social presence as well. Sure, recommend something, but offer to help, answer a question, and just be social. You will find that with the Twitter community you will be well accepted and welcomed, people will become more interested in you and what you do. Isn’t that better in the long run than just pimping a product?

Balance on the fine line – Twit away!

John Halderman

I love sushi!

I would be a richer sushi lover if I had a dollar for every time someone told me they didn’t like sushi AND when asked if they had tried it, responded with a definite NO!

What do you and I miss out on as individuals and in our businesses?

What could happen if we were willing to test assumptions?

Of course, we may not like the sushi but how will we know until we try some? We may just discover that we enjoy it.

What is the “sushi” in your business?

Is there something that you haven’t tried because you think it doesn’t “taste good” / isn’t effective?

Or maybe you are the one serving up the “sushi” to others?

Assumptions have the potential to be limiting.

Test assumptions. Take the sushi test.

1. Define your “sushi”

2. Taste/test the “sushi” (do this a few times) to determine if the assumption is fact.

3. Do not avoid other “Japanese foods” eg. Teppanyaki based on a negative test result as this would be another assumption.

4. Repeat process as you may discover a new interest, an asset for your business or throw off things that hinder progress.

Will you take the sushi test?

What is the cost to your business if you don’t take the test?

Several weeks ago we took the kids to a pond that had ducks. My son had a bag of breadcrumbs and began chasing after the ducks to feed them.

I said, “Stop. If you chase them they’ll just run away. You have to hold still. They’ll come to you and then you can throw the bread.”

Sure enough, he did what I told him and in no time, he had more ducks than he could feed.

Sometimes we do the same thing. I know I’ve done my fair share of duck chasing.

When you chase every possible option, every guru, every hot new course and product launch, you’re killing your chance of success because when you chase every possibility you can never stand still and follow through on any possibility. It just becomes a vicious cycle with nothing to show for it in return except a bunch of hungry ducks.

Here’s how to deal it with.

1. Have A Clear Target

You have to know what you want. If you don’t know what you want, and I mean specifically, how in the world do you expect to get it? You can’t. Imagine being in a restaurant and the server asks you what you want and you say “I don’t know.” They either won’t bring you anything or you’ll end up with something you don’t like and never really wanted in the first place.

What you want has to be specific. “I want to have an online business” doesn’t cut it. What type? What business model? Will it be blogging, consulting, affiliate marketing, etc? What niche or niches? How much revenue to you want to generate – long term and short?

This is probably the hardest part. But once the you are crystal clear about what you want, the rest can be put in place.
If you are confused, you wont’ take any action. So be crystal clear and write it out.

2. Follow a Proven Plan

I don’t remember who it is that said, “It doesn’t matter how positive you are, if you run East looking for a sunset you simply will not find it.”

That’s why it’s so important to follow a proven plan. And the fastest way to do that is to follow or model someone who has already achieved or gotten what you want. Do what they do.

There are lots of options and many times lots of great options. This is where the duck chasing usually starts and people get lost and start jumping from opportunity to opportunity. Ask yourself this question, “Which person, system, mastermind, or course is going to best teach me and help me get what I want?” If you were really clear and specific in #1, you’ll be able to simply narrow down your choices to just a few.

Now, lay them all out and make a decision. After you’ve made your decision, murder the other choices. That’s right – murder them! This brings us to the next step.

3. Focus!

In the podcast Manager Tools they call it “Murder The Unchosen Alternative”. Once you’ve made a decision about something, you murder or discard all the other options. Why? So you can focus. This takes commitment. There are lots of distractions. It’s tempting to start chasing those darn ducks again. Now, if you’re decision turns out to be the wrong one. It’s okay. Then, you can revive your other options and/or add new ones. But not until you have completely followed through and are ready to either take things to the next level or try a new alternative.

4. Measure

That which is measured can be improved. If you want to lose weight, what is the first thing you usually do? That’s right. Weigh yourself so you can see where you are at and be able to measure your results. Same applies here, you need to assess where you are at. What you measure will depend on your situation but mostly it will be financial and metrics like traffic, conversion, etc.

I think time is another important measurement. For example, how much time do you spend on certain tasks? What are the things that are distracting you?

5. Take Consistent Action

If you are going to start running for exercise, you don’t run a marathon you’re first day of training. But you do run. You at the very least get up and start walking. You don’t wait to have the perfect shoe, or the perfect weather, or the designer work-out clothes. You get up and go.

Don’t wait for things to be perfect. They never will be. Remember, the ducks don’t have to be all in a row.
Get going!

Keith Cunningham said, “Ordinary actions, consistently done, create extraordinary results”.

6. Tweak

Continue to measure your results and make adjustments. Things seldom happen in a straight line. Did you know an airplane is off course most of the time? It’s the tiny little adjustments in direction that make it possible for a plane to land on target.

7. Keep On

Once you have momentum, don’t quit. Keep going. Put yourself in an environment that supports you. The fastest way that someone learns a new language is by immersing themselves in an environment where people only speak that language.

Image source: sxc.hu

Most of us start out alone in this online business endeavor. We spend hours studying and learning what to do – internet marketing, web page building, copy writing, advertising, business systems, SEO, article marketing, e-books, newsletters and more. Everyone we buy information from tells us that, “this is it” – this is how you do it, but it’s not – is it!

How true, if you haven’t figured it out yet, you soon will, there is more than one magic bullet that will launch you into instant success. Of course it takes information, methods, tools, effort, time and . . . good friends and associates. Yes, friends and associates. Second only to persistence this is how people become successful in this internet marketing game.

Let me explain a bit. If you study successful online marketers, you will discover that they don’t do it alone, not even the so-called ‘gurus’. They have found and associated with others who help with idea exchanging, tech support, mentoring, business association and masterminding. Successful people realize the power of associating with others. When you collaborate with others, everyone wins. Even if you are the one helping someone, you are building a relationship, which will become beneficial to you.

People can inspire, motivate and assist in ways you can not know until you are interacting. When going it all alone you can easily get stuck on something you don’t understand for a long time. This can stymie your motivation and progress. Having no where to turn for assistance and motivation. is one of the biggest reasons many people give up on their business development dreams.

So how do you locate other people to associate with? Well, this is just like creating any other friendship or relationship, you need to take an action first. Potential collaborators and partners are all around, you just need to let them know that you are. Now don’t run out there, find a well-known top marketer, walk up and ask them to do a deal with you.

Of course we all want to get hooked up with people who are already very successful to do business with, but stand back and take it from their perspective. They have probably been approached by many seeking to do a deal which is usually more one sided favoring the requestor. They are like most in business, they are already very busy with what they are already doing. And why would they drop everything for a project or joint venture with someone they don’t even know?

Now I’m not saying that you can’t make a business like request to someone to do a joint venture with, because you can, I’ve done it However, you need to make sure that you are offering the right kind of benefit to the people you are approaching. And, if doing business together works out and provides the other party with what they expected, you may have begun a good business relationship or even a friendship.

Many times though the people you want to associate with are real busy and hard to get in touch with so meeting them socially first may be the way to go. With all the social networking and blogging going on there are plenty of ways to begin interacting with many people. People will tend to do business more readily with people they know. You’ve heard the term, “old boys club”, well that’s friends doing business with friends and acquaintances.

So, how best to find people to interact with? Seek them out and let them know you are around.

Some ideas;
* Interact on blogs, leave comments,
* Interact on forums, make comments, ask questions, etc.,
* Operate your own blog and encourage interaction,
* Join social networking sites and interact,
* Join a coaching group and interact with everyone,
* Go to live training events and seminars and interact with people,
* Be helpful to others as often as you can,
* Offer bonus products that enhance what someone else is selling,
* Find out how you can assist with someone else’s promotion

. . . And more.

I’m sure you have some additional ways to find people and build relationships.

One important thing, don’t always be pimping your stuff all over the social networks, rather, first be social and helpful. The trick is to get to know people first. Sure, let them know what you are doing, but don’t push it on them. When you are building relationships is not the time for the big sales presentation, trying to get the other person to but into what you want.

Yes, relationship building can take time but this is how you really find people to associate with. And there are so many ways to do it, just choose the ones that you can fit into what you are doing. Set them up, set up a schedule for yourself to participate, and go!

So, how do you build relationships?
How do you give to others and provide value?

Together we can build up a nice resource list here.

. . . Add yours below.

John

Pictures ref:
upload.wikimedia.org
www.kids4peaceatlanta.org

The other night I was watching the T.V. show Conversations With Michael Eisner where he was interviewing Suzanne Somers, the former “Threes Company” star who now runs a multi-million dollar empire. I thought she said something brilliant about how she entered the markets she’s so successful in.

She said that she had gotten an award for her entrepreneurial achievements and was to give the keynote address. A couple of weeks previous to that her husband asked her if she knew what she was going to talk about.

She said, “Oh, I dunno, it will come to me.” Well, it was the night of the event, she was to speak for 90 minutes and had no clue what she was going to say.

While she was listening to her introduction, the speaker said “She’s an entrepreneur”.

She thought to herself, “That’s right. I’m an entrepreneur. What is it that I sell?”

Then it occurred to her, “Why, I sell my problems. Everything bad that’s ever happened to me, I’ve turned into a business.”

You get that? She sells her problems. And people buy, not the product, nor the book, nor the pills and potions, nor the downloadable ebook, or the membership site. They buy the solution they want.

But what’s more profound is that those solutions came because of negative things that happened to her. She grew up with an alcoholic abusive father and wrote a best-selling book which became a movie. When she gained weight, she went on to sell millions of wellness and weight loss books around the globe. When here thighs were sagging…that’s right, you guessed it. Who hasn’t heard of the Thigh Master?

The lessons?

1. Everything negative that’s happened to you is an opportunity. Recognize it or it will pass you by, or worse you’ll use it as an excuse not to succeed.

2. The answers to what you want, always start with you.

So, what problems do YOU seek solutions for?  Who knows, you might find your next hot niche in them.

So you have set up a blog or website and are saying to yourself, “I just need to get people here so they can give me what I want.” You’ve tried that right. If you straight out ask them for money in exchange for something, how many take it? Most will likely be reluctant because they don’t know you, they are unsure if the quality of what they are offered is worth your price? No trust has been developed. So how do you get around this reluctance? Well, if you have been around online marketing very long you probably have seen many internet marketers giving something of value first.

What are you doing when you are giving people something first without requiring the normal exchange. First, in an unspoken way you are finding out what they want. Only the people that want what you are giving will do something to get it. And second, in the receivers mind, now you have given them something that they want, you have helped them. And if what you gave has value to them, a level of acceptance and trust will be built.

When you are on social sites such as Twitter, what do yo do? Do you Twit about yourself, your blog posts, your products and your offers? What about what the other people want? Yes, we all are out for ourselves, but helping others in some way is the best way to succeed. Do you take the time to respond to what others are saying when it’s not directly related to your latest offer? Do you offer assistance to someone asking around for help with something? Or, just add in a comment acknowledging their post or situation. People all want to feel cared about and appreciated. A lot can be gained by helping others feel this way with your actions. Most people on the receiving end will appreciate your efforts towards supporting them.

One of the key points taught in any sales training is building a relationship. People buy from people. We all want to interact with people we feel comfortable with. Even in a sales ‘pitch’ format, a well trained salesperson spends time developing a relationship before going into the product presentation. Doing business online is basically no different. It’s still all about people forming relationships or at least positive impressions, before the business action takes place. Yes, you can make sales by just placing a provocative ad in front of the right person, and this is fine for the one off sale. What I am talking about here is developing a customer, not just a buyer. A customer is the one who will get on your list, stay there and purchase some of what you suggest.

This is why the effective sales and marketing models for online business usually include some sort of free item or information at the beginning of the sales process. It can start with articles and blog posts that anyone can find. And if with these you have provided some sort of real value, the reader will follow the links to your pages and sign on to your list.

This concept also shows up in the MLM business, even as it’s done online. MLM has always been based on relationship building. And online, the most successful business builders don’t recruit from the company website, rather they use their own personal sites where they are able to start building that personal relationship before sending the person to the company site to get the facts. Their relationship with you becomes the basis of the emotional reason they buy or sign on.

These sales situations show how setting aside your personal big agenda for a while, to find out about the other person and what they are looking for, is really the only way to get to the final result you are looking for. Basically have the mind set of ‘give before you receive’. Successful marketer Andrew Fox recently said, “You gotta program your mind to GIVE! Help people get more out of life, and trust me, it will come back 100 times over.”

By looking at things with a different perspective your mindset on selling and building an online business can change, and your actions will then be in alignment with this mindset. Wayne Dyer said, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

So help others get what they want and provide value to them, and you will realize what you want. Wouldn’t it would be a shame to see something like impatience knock you off from what you know is right. Yes, this approach take some time, but so does all that one shot sale marketing. The big payoff is in the long run, when you have a whole bunch of loyal followers that are repeat customers . . . and friends.