The presenter was giving very helpful information on the proper nutrition, diet and mindset needed to lose weight. It was very motivating, uplifting and moving. But…

I thought to myself, I bet only 20 people in that audience are going to make meaningful changes that will move them towards their desired weight loss goals once they leave the seminar.

Knowledge without action is worthless.

Don’t just read a book or an article, listen to an mp3 or watch a video about taking your marketing or sales to the next level. Make a plan on how you will put that info into ACTION today to grow your business.

Here are several quick and easy tips you can use to get into action – one for each day – to grow your business. If you have taken action on one of the Small Business Tips of the Day, then go ahead and “Like” our Fan Page, and post your success to the Wall!

http://facebook.com/GrowYourBiz

By posting your own successes, you can help many others with their action as well as have a place to introduce yourself to hundreds of other small business owners at the same time.

It’s a win-win!

Now… What action are you taking today to increase your clients, serve more people and explode your income?
(Hint: click here -> http://facebook.com/GrowYourBiz)

To your success!
Jason

Feel free to comment with your thoughts, experiences, and share your insights with the other members. The more you share and post, the more exposure you get for your business…

* FRIDAY Tip of the Day: Prioritizing and efficiency -> When making your To-Do list at night, place the thing that… http://bit.ly/b8HJZU

* THURSDAY Tip of the Day: Getting More Yes’s to Your Networking and Sales Meeting Requests – Have you demonstrated… http://bit.ly/bkjSur

* WEDNESDAY Tip of the Day: When writing an online profile, bio or description of your business, be sure to relate… http://bit.ly/bg4lLN

* TUESDAY Tip of the Day: Use the “Solution, problem, solution” format in your speaking engagements and sales… http://bit.ly/aOS2Qj

* MONDAY Tip of the Day: The biggest sales mistake that most people make is not asking enough questions. You need to… http://bit.ly/9o1L9K

Have a great week!
BizCoachJason
http://facebook.com/BizCoachJason

Every busy small business owner can take the time right now to work on “The One-Minute Marketing Plan”:

-> Write down three different ways to get the word out about your business.
-> Circle the one that resonates the most for you.
-> What’s the first step you’re doing today to make it happen?

Reply at http://facebook.com/GrowYourBiz

Here’s to your success!
BizCoachJason

And I want to share something very interesting from our session today… 

We are working together to build his business to increase his customers, increase his staff, increase his sales, increase his own take-home pay, and generally build up his business, just as all my clients generally want for their own businesses.

At the moment, he has some things that are getting in the way. He is:
- Not sleeping
- Not eating properly
- Not taking personal time to relax
- Not exercising
- Has relationship issues occupying his thoughts
- Feels hyper and stressed out
- Letting all these things circle around into an almost unbreakable cycle. 

So… what’s the answer?

COFFEE.

Yep – We figured out that he is drinking too much coffee as a way to keep his energy up and get through his busy, sometimes stressful workdays.

So his plan to fix all this over the next week?

Drinking less coffee.

A lot less.

He is going to only drink 2 cups of coffee per day, and none after 12pm.

How does that fix all the other problems?

Well, by drinking less coffee and not having it later in the day, he should be able to get home at night and feel like getting some exercise in to get the heart moving, instead of needing to sit down and relax because the heart is already racing.

If he gets 30 minutes of exercise in after work, he is probably going to “sleep like a baby,” in his words.

If he gets more and better sleep, he is going to be less stressed at work and feel better when working with his clients. If he has more energy, more focus and a better mind-set, he will be more productive. When he is more productive, he will be able to get more done and therefore have more time to spend away from work….

And the cycle starts to spin the other way. Instead of all the bad things spiraling out of control, all the good things are going to do the same thing with much more favorable results.

And he started the “good spiral” today by pouring out the rest of the coffee that was sitting in front of him as we talked.

So….

What one little action step are YOU going to take today that will help everything fall into place?

Where do you break the cycle and take action?

I’ve seen many people go crazy (and I’ve done this myself) with procrastination. Trying to figure out: if A leads to B and B leads to C and C leads back to A, where should I start?

In the end, it probably doesn’t really matter. Just take action. Choose the easiest, smallest task so you are highly likely to do it. Or pick the biggest, scariest one, so you build up the motivation and conviction to see it through and can move on to the next one. Either way, just pick one and do it.

Don’t let procrastination or fear of choosing the wrong one get in the way of you changing your situation now and for the better.

Now go ahead and write down your one little action that you are going to take today, and make it count!

You can also share it with us below to help you keep accountability and help inspire others.

And here’s to your success!

Does this invitation sound familiar?

“Hi Jason,

I’d like to get together for lunch or a cup of coffee. I had some thoughts that I wanted to share with you. If you have time in the next week let me know. Thanks talk with you soon.”

Sometimes I get quite a few invitations to meet for lunch or coffee in any given week. The invitations are usually from people I have met at a networking event or they were in the audience of a presentation I gave. Often they cite “networking” as the reason for the meeting. Sometimes they state a vague reason such as “to share ideas,” or don’t offer any reason at all.

I especially love those – no reason given at all.  I’m glad that people think I have really great ideas for nice restaurants and coffee shops. And I must be the best company and offer the most interesting conversation, because all these people want to sit, chat and sip coffee with me. I’m glad I have unlimited time. That helps a lot, too.

But here’s the real situation.

I’m a busy guy running my business, serving my clients and trying to provide help to the public in general when I can – through articles like this one, offering free teleclasses, free networking events and providing workshops, speaking engagements and other various events. I have a wife, and my family is in the area. I go to networking events, meet people at social events (I love to play volleyball), work with organizations that are dear to my heart, go out to eat, go for an occasional movie, and did I mention serving my clients? I really do take a lot of time to make sure they are a top priority and receive lots of attention.

Anyway, after many years of networking, I know that an offer to meet one-on-one for a ”networking” lunch or coffee is often code for ”let’s meet so I can spend 45 minutes telling you exactly what I do, how I do it, and why people want to buy from me. Then you, Jason, can give me the names, phone numbers and email addresses of people that you know that I should call and sell to.” Or plainly, “I think you should hire me, so let’s meet and I can tell you why. But I’m not going to give you an inkling now, because you might catch on and foil this little brilliant plan of mine.” (Insert evil, fiendish laugh here.)

Now, why wouldn’t I just jump at the chance for something like this? I mean, this does sound like a lot of fun, after all! I haven’t got else much going on; I’m waiting by the phone to get these invitations, and I am really looking forward to these “secretive” visits.

Ok… So am I really that unfriendly, mean-spirited and unwilling to assist people that meet me and want help? Am I trying to tell everyone who reads this never to ask me to meet for lunch?

No, I’m not. Of course not.

I highly believe in helping others. I also believe in trying to uncover and leverage mutually beneficial relationships, objectives and strategies. And I want for my networking partners to also have this as a priority.

After all…

Two people are better than one.

A group is more than the sum of its parts.

Teamwork rules!

But I am busy, as I mentioned before. I have professional, personal and self-care obligations. Yep – volleyball and getting to the pool fall in there! And I do like to know that a meeting isn’t solely for the purpose of me having the honor to provide free coaching, consulting or prospecting or getting pitched to when I haven’t been asked for that privilege, which based on past experience is my assumption if there is only a vague reason given. 

I’m sure you have felt the same way.

Here’s the deal, fellow networkers:

If you are going to ask someone for a meeting, please let the other person know WHY you want to meet. And be honest.

If it’s because you are just starting out and you would like to find prospects, tell me that. I’ll appreciate it, and I’ll be able to better serve you by having time to come up with some ideas prior to sitting down. I’ll also, honestly, be able to prioritize the meeting and make it work better in my schedule. (I’m so selfish!)

If it’s because you are looking for “free” coaching or consulting, let me know that too. I don’t mind helping people, especially after they have been to one of my seminars and have already become a bit familiar with my philosophies and strategies, or are even thinking of hiring me.

And if it’s because you want me to speak at your function, event or organization, tell me that too. I can properly prepare and make the best and most efficient use of our time together to make sure we both get a lot of value from our meeting.

Do we see a pattern here?

Yes! Tell me WHY you want to meet with me, WHAT you hope to gain from it, and importantly – WHY I WOULD WANT to meet with you. 

And if the reason is for free ideas, coaching, consulting, or prospecting, think ahead of time how this meeting can be valuable for the me as well – what can you bring of value to the meeting? - and please state that clearly and simply.

Ok, I know what you might be thinking:

“But if I tell you honestly, directly and exactly what’s on my mind, I would lose my ‘tactical advantage,’ and even worse, you might say ‘no.’”

True. The other person might not see the meeting as valuable and perhaps might not even accept.

But that’s OK! They probably wouldn’t have been a good networking, referral or mentor partner for you anyway. And now you have saved lots of time and effort, and can find someone else to ask.

Do you really want to drive an hour, or ask them to drive to you, sit down with them, annoy them with a long-winded pitch or plea for help, and because you were subversive, you end up with no help, ruin a potentially good relationship and harm your reputation?

And by not being straightforward from the beginning, you are placing the other person in the awkward position of trying to be polite but maybe not wanting to give you full attention, because they don’t know or are worried about your agenda and goals for the meeting. So they put off answering, and can eventually end up unintentionally ignoring you all together.

I’ve been there. And I don’t like that feeling at all.

Lastly, after hearing what you want to accomplish from the meeting, I might be able to offer a better or more attractive option. Many such meetings can easily be done over the phone, or I might be able to invite you to a group that is meeting for the very same reason. And get this – you can MULTIPLY YOUR RESULTS that you would have gotten from meeting with me alone!

But hey, that’s only for those people that really want to increase their results and decrease their time, money and energy in getting them. 

So here are the easy two steps to get more sales, prospecting and networking meetings:

1.) Tell the other person “What’s in it for them!”

You’ll be more focused, willing and able to bring even more great value to your new business relationship. And they will be more motivated and likely to accept your invitation!

2.) Be upfront and honest about your agenda and motives.

If you are upfront and honest about your meeting goals, you will get more appointments, foster better relationships, create more good will and synergy with others, and improve your sales, reputation and “brand.” Then there’s no stopping you!

Now, anyone up for coffee? Or how about some NETWORKING VOLLEYBALL?

1.) Create your vision fully – List all the details, all the motivators and consequences of not attaining the vision

2.) Strategize your actions and make sure they are inspired actions – Productivity steps that energize and excite you. Don’t get bogged down with the little things that you don’t really enjoy. There is no one way to accomplish something; there are usually MANY ways. Work with someone to find out what those are, and how to get them done.

3.) Surround yourself with positive people and minimize time with energy draining people.

4.) Take time for yourself everyday, or in crunch time, at the very least every week. Do those things that relax you – read the morning paper in peace, have a cup of tea on the patio, walk, jog or bike for 30 minutes. Take a little time out of your day to refresh your mind and body. For me, bike riding on long trails is when I get the most relaxation, a good workout and fantastic business brainstorming, energy and motivation!

5.) And lastly, don’t go it alone. Work with others and get outside support. You’re not in it alone, and everyone benefits when we work together. 

Excerpt of a “TwitInterview” on entrepreneurial Marketing, Networking, Sales and Productivity, posted at: http://twitinterviews.com/tag/jason-rosado/