Daily Thoughts for Business

Insight

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:17:35 GMT

“Most of us don’t get epiphanies. We only get a whisper - a faint urge. That’s it. That’s the call. It’s up to you to do the work of discovery, to connect it to an answer.” - Author Po Bronson in Fast Company

Social Media

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:15:37 GMT

Make sure to visit Social Media Optimization because you will learn what they are receptive to and how to approach and reach the market. I learned a lot. Other resources include:

Emergence Media also has some great content in their best posts archive on social media optimization, social media marketing, and search marketing.
Pew Internet makes a number of reports available on their Reports: Technology & Media use page.
Dennis McDonnell has an interesting post about Social Media, Demographics, and Anti-War Demonstrations.
MarketingVox has a potpourri of demographics section and it covers a wide range of topics. ClickZ have their own archive of demographics and technology articles.

Reflect

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 19:45:28 GMT

“We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly… spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order.” - Susan Taylor http://blogs.bnet.com/leadershipnow/?p=384 http://quotations.about.com/cs/inspirationquotes/a/Reflection1.htm http://www.sideroad.com/Leadership/self-reflection.html

Diligence

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:33:35 GMT

Everyone enters into self employment for different reasons. It is a tough but rewarding road to travel. There are numerous challenges along the way. If you have ever written a business plan or run a business for a long time, you know there are days that are just plain depressing. Do not lose heart! There is light at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, you will need a full measure of entrepreneurial strength and diligence. The Merriam - Webster's Collegiate Dictionary states that diligence is: * the attention and care legally expected or required of a person (as a party to a contract) No doubt you will enter into a number of contracts over the life of your business, so this is an important concept. I have to admit that there are days when I do not 'feel diligent' and it is tempting to take a short cut. I have found that the shortcuts are really the longest trips, sometimes. The above definition states 'the attention and care legally expected or required' which infers compliance with a set of standards of corporate behavior. Here is a short list of areas that have an expectation of diligence from business owners: * accounting records. * paying your taxes. * paying your bills. * hiring and firing of staff. * partners or shareholders. I am sure that this list is actually much longer; however, the principle is the same. Owning and running a business is an endurance race not a sprint! You have to be in good shape and be willing to work hard. All of your customers and prospects have expectations of performance. At a minimum they have certain things they require in order to feel they are getting value and being well treated. In my opinion, diligence is always thinking and working in your customer's best interest. It is always easier to keep a customer's trust and confidence than it is to try to earn it back after you falter or disappoint. So how can an entrepreneur be diligent? * Avoid laziness and needless shortcuts. * Improve your skills: be willing to learn what you do not understand or know. * Be accountable: avoid blaming others. * Even when you feel tired or have conflicting priorities always do the right thing. * Invest in people, sow seeds of hard work and honesty. * Be a good manager: would you hire yourself to run your business? If not, shape up and hold yourself to the same standards as you expect of an employee. * Work hard. The reward is a good nights sleep, satisfaction, pride and the knowledge that you are making a difference by being diligent. You just might be a great mentor or coach for someone else; be open to it!

The Practice of Innovation

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 07:26:59 GMT

"...conflict is the primary engine of creativity and innovation. People don't learn by staring into a mirror; people learn by encountering difference." - Ronald Heifetz

Which is more important to start or finish?

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:18:51 GMT

“Starting is a strategic act because we can control starting but we cannot control finishing.” Michael Hewitt Gleeson

Richard St. John Speaks about Success at TED

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 18:13:40 GMT

Why do people succeed? Because they're smart? Or lucky? How about: Neither. Richard St. John compacts seven years of research on successful people into an unmissable 3-minute slideshow on the real secrets of success (Hint: passion, persistence, and pushy mothers help). Richard St. John is author of Stupid, Ugly, Unlucky and RICH: What really leads to success -- and it's not smarts, looks, or luck. He's also founder of the communications agency, The St John Group.

Writing an Effective Business Plan

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:55:57 GMT

"Writing a business plan is like giving the organization a “tune-up.” It’s important to do this periodically, because some components will need to be rebuilt to get the business back to optimal performance. " Greg Balanko-Dickson

Avoid the New Years Resolution Trap

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 20:53:54 GMT

"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments." - Jim Rohn "We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly... spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order." - Susan Taylor “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself on a worthy cause; who at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt "When was the last time your possibilities gave you goose bumps?" - Ben Feldman

Year End and Holiday Break

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:27:14 GMT

I will begin podcasting again January 8, 2007, stay subscribed, I have many things planned for the New Year that you will not want to miss. Five questions for your year end review: Where have I grown? What's wqorked for me this year and been something I need to continue to do? What do I need to stop doing because it is not working? What have I learned that I need to start doing? What do I want to focus on for 2007?

Discipline: The Lesser Known Business Skill

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:00:10 GMT

"The great end of education is to discipline rather than to furnish the mind; to train it to the use of its own powers, rather than fill it with the accumulation of others." - Tyron Edwards Make It Great! Book: http://www.makeitgreat.org/ Business Pundit: http://www.businesspundit.com/50226711/selfdiscipline_matters_more_than_iq.php

Software for Your Brain

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 19:16:45 GMT

"You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you." - James Allen

How to Overcome the Firefighter Syndrome

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 01:00:22 GMT

"If we allow our emotions to deplete our energy, we have no energy to change our life or to give to others." Don Miguel Ruiz

Are you dreaming?

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 19:09:58 GMT

"Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning." - Gloria Steinem “People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don’t know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to.” — George Herbert Allen

The Discipline of Quiet Reflection

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:27:42 GMT

"We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly... spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order." - Susan Taylor

Humor In Business

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:32:50 GMT

"Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place." - Mark Twain

Freedom in Business

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 17:17:20 GMT

"Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire." - Epictetus "Freedom and power come from knowing what you want without being a prisoner to what you want." - Joe Vitale in Spiritual Marketing

Like what you do?

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 22:03:20 GMT

"Life is to be lived. If you have to support yourself, you had bloody well better find some way that is going to be interesting." - Katherine Hepburn

Impact of Your Environment

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 20:46:46 GMT

I have been working from home since 1991. At first I worked out of a large closet, then a bedroom, and sometimes a kitchen and occasionally the dining room table. It wasn’t until 10 years ago that I actually had my own dedicated office - in the home. I highly recommend doing renovations to brighten up your office space whether at home or the office because it will brighten up your mood, at least that has been my experience. What I discovered was that how you envision yourself and your lifestyle is greatly dependent on your environment. Your environment and how you feel about it not only impacts hyour mood but also your self-image and self-esteem. In a conventional business it is common to pay special to your surroundings and environment - to create a certain ambience. we do that in the style of furniture, finishes, and decorations we choose. It is important because we want to make a good first impression on your customers. For some reason, when it comes to a home business we let ourselves ‘off the hook’ and we ‘settle’ for what is available or what we can afford - that is a major mistake. Even though your customers may never see your ‘office’ it does make an impression - on you. Unknowingly, you mat be projecting or telegraphing a lack of confidence or dissatisfaction with your business environment. Your customers may or may not pick up on it or even be able to explain why they do not want to buy but how you ‘feel’ about your business and your environment could be impacting your business more than you think. My working environment and my home are becoming increasingly important as they are a reflection of me and my style. Now that I have discovered the impact that my environment has on me and my feelings - I am paying special attention to it and have invested heavily in ‘feathering the nest’. Could your environment be negatively impacting your self-image and self-confidence? Do your office surroundings make you feel proud? What could you do to improve your environment? How can you help your staff feel better about their space? A little goes a long way, it does not have to cost you an arm and a leg. Simple things can go a long way to improving your mood and help to boost your self image.

Role of Love and Joy In Business

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 17:15:16 GMT

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful”.- Albert Schweitzer

Finishing Well: Avoid A Big Mistake

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 17:13:38 GMT

"To finish the moment, to find the journey's end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

If Business is 90% Mental Game

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 20:57:34 GMT

No quote today, just my thoughts. I was reading in profit magazine how 90% of baseball mental, the same is true in business and on that Profit magazine and I agree...

Embracing Innovation: Harvest Ideas Encourage Creativity

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 22:57:03 GMT

"Creative ideas reside in people's minds but are trapped by fear or rejection. Create a judgement-free environment anfd you'll unleash a torrent of creativity." - Alex Osborn

Acceptance, Poeple Pleasing and Simplifying Life

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 22:05:41 GMT

"Accept everything about yourself - I mean everything. You are you and that is the beginning and end. No apologies, no regrets." Clark Moustakas

An Overcomers Attitude

gregbd@sbishere.com (Greg Balanko-Dickson) — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 16:37:08 GMT

"Think 'impossible' and dreams get discarded, projects get abandoned, and hope for wellness is torpedoed. But let someone yell the words 'It's possible,' and resources we hadn't been aware of come rushing in to assist us in our quest. I believe we are all potentially brilliant and creative--but only if we believe it, only if we have an attitude of positive expectancy toward our ideas, and only if we act on them." - Greg Anderson, The 22 Non-Negotiable Laws of Wellness http://www.chalkmedia.com/ http://canentrepreneur.blogspot.com/2006/10/three-keys-to-business-suc cess.html