Everyone's Blog Posts - No Limits

Is fear stoping you in your tracks? When was the last time you took a dream check?

2010-11-12T13:30:00.000Z

Last night, I had the pleasure of speaking to members of the National Association of Memoir Writers, an organization that supports memoir writers from all around the world. During the discussion, the topic of fear came up and both myself and the other guest, C. Hope Clark, noted how dangerous fear can be. It can stop people in their tracks and prevent them from taking any kind of chances in their lives.

This morning, I came across a post on Inspiration Today that I thought really addressed this topic well. The author, Michael Lineberger gives solid advice to anyone that needs to get beyond fear.

"My counsel is, do not trust the impulse to act when you feel driven by fear in moments of decision. Instead, notice that fear is there. Don't fight it; just become aware of its presence. Then, if you can take some time, don't act till the fear has passed. You know that old advice, "always sleep on a decision"? One reason that works so well is because it's hard to carry fear through a good night's sleep. "

Lineberger goes on to suggest that people periodically take a "dream check".He describes the dream check as this:

"Take a moment and ask yourself, "What would I do if I knew I could do anything and not fail?" You may have heard this before, but have you actually done it yet? Sit down and write a list. What would you do?
Think outside the box, listen to your heart while casting away all self-limiting doubts.

This simple exercise, if done with sincerity, openness—;and with fearlessness—;will show you amazing things. Do it now, and repeat it often. You'll love the results. On the other side of your fears, you'll find your dreams just waiting for you to claim them!"

I think Lineberger gives excellent advice and I encourage anyone reading this to do as he suggests and take a dream check. Do not let anything stand in your way (especially your own self).

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!

Are you or is someone you know associated with a promising Startup that is about to do something big next week?

2010-11-11T15:28:49.000Z

Are you or is someone you know associated with a Startup that is about to do something big next week, such as launch a product, open their doors, secure outside funding, etc? If so, than that Startup may be eligible to win a trip to Richard Branson's (founder of Venture Capital Giant Virgin) private island, Necker Island. What an opportunity!!!!

To enter the competition, which is sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation, go to The Startup Open website and get registered. But, hurry, because the event must occur next week during Global Entrepreneurship Week (Nov 15 - 21) and all entries must be received by November 17th.

If you know of anyone that this might apply to, forward them this post or e-mail IMMEDIATELY! t could be their golden opportunity.

Never Quit Club Member: Amy Gray, Celebrity Speaker Agent

2010-11-09T14:25:07.000Z

Amy Gray, Founder of New Leaf Speakers

I first ran across Amy when I featured a video she had done on the Building a Stronger America website. I was particularly impressed with how down to earth she was and when I checked out her story on her website, I was even more than impressed with her resiliency and ability to NEVER QUIT! I have to admit that I identified with her story very much and reading her answers has personally given me a lot of inspiration to continue (especially on the days when people tell me to get a "real job").

Amy started her business as a celebrity speaker agent in 2001, right after 9/11, and since then she has faced numerous challenges (all of which she has faced with grace and integrity). I hope you find my interview with her inspirational as well. Please take the time to leave a comment and I will make sure that Amy gets is.

1.) I know you struggled a lot in the beginning years of your company and at one point you had to take a part-time job as a barrista to pay the bills. What was the most difficult point for you and how did you overcome the temptation to do as your family and friends wanted, which was to find a "real job"?
I think the absolute most difficult point happened at the beginning of 2010 actually--- since in the very beginning it was just me and the dog, and heck, we can get by on very, very little. 2008 had been a BANNER year, the most profitable one yet, and CRAZY CRAZY busy. I also had a lot going on in my personal life (a wedding, trying to start a family, and then some major turbulence in both areas) and, finally, in late summer 2008, I decided I could take on a real honest-to-goodness employee. I needed to do it -- I was losing my mind, it was so busy. So, I hired Melissa, my employee, who started in mid-September 2008. We were flooded with work for the final few months of that year, so Melissa really got to see what it was like when things were really humming along. Then, 2009 was the complete OPPOSITE of 2008 in terms of workload. We saw a 70% drop in revenue from 2008 (!), and I was determined not to have to let Melissa go. For goodness sake, I had just hired her and trained her and I really, really enjoyed working with her. So, we hung on for dear life....and at the beginning of 2010, we were literally down to just another 60 days of cash flow.............. So, I let Melissa know exactly what to expect: If we didn't receive any bookings for February/March 2010 within those 60 days, I would have to lay her off. It was extremely disappointing and sobering to be in that position-- but it was the honest and ethical thing to do. I wanted her to know that we were in this fight together and I would do everything in my power to avoid that situation, but, that was the absolute worst thing that would happen. She could collect unemployment and I would give her absolutely glowing references, but I wouldn't be able to keep her on payroll beyond 60 days. By a fortunate stroke of new business, and a move for me into a significantly cheaper apartment (I like to call it my 'slum' apartment) which saved me a little over a thousand a month, Melissa's employment was preserved....and New Leaf hit breakeven for the year by early May 2010. The business is still recovering from 2009 now, but we are thankfully on an upward trend. And I moved into my dream home/office just last month, so the 'slum' is a thing of the past.

I think I never seriously considered going to find a 'real' job because I didn't have anyone depending on me-- I've been single and without a mortgage for most of my career as an entrepreneur, so I didn't have the same level of fiscal responsibility on me as some others do. I take my responsibility to Melissa very, very seriously, though, and now that I have her on-board (for a little over two years now), I think I'd consider taking on a part time job to cover her salary, if the going ever got that rough again. Hopefully that won't happen, but I would go to extraordinary lengths to honor my commitment to her and her family.

2.) I was very interested in what you said about how it is so easy to get distracted by new business opportunities that do not align with your business. What things do you do to help you stay on track? And what was the craziest, but most tempting thing you had to turn down?
This is a constant struggle, in terms of new opportunities coming my way and what I've come up with, to help me stay focused are:
1) a list of criteria that I filter all new prospective speakers through, that I have posted on my site, on the representation page-- so that everyone can go on there and look at that list and determine for themselves if they fit or not, or even if they need an agent or not. That 'self-serve' list of our screening criteria has helped.
2) for those who look at my list and don't meet the criteria but who are adamant (either tactfully or not) that they are a special case, I have them send me their information (video clips, bio, presentation descriptions, etc) and take a look. I figure it cannot hurt to look and, at most, it typically takes me about 15-30 min to review this information. If they look interesting, I have a 10-15 min conversation with them.
3) if I can't represent them (for whatever reason--- they don't need what I do, they overlap too closely with one of my existing speakers, they have a bad attitude, they don't enjoy speaking, etc), I am direct and kind, and try to provide a next step recommendation to them.

I am also approached quite frequently to do other things that don't align with my core mission of providing warm and effective celebrity speaker representation and, in those cases, I do three things:
1) I consider the opportunity carefully and ensure I understand exactly what is being asked--- to ensure that I don't mistakenly assume that it doesn't fit, before considering its merits
2) I pause. I don't make an immediate decision...I try to insert a reasonable amount of time between request and response, whether it is a day, a couple of weeks, or longer. And then I mull it over in my mind and explore it a bit in that time frame.
3) I ask myself: Am I thinking of doing this PRIMARILY because it feeds my ego? would earn me a lot of money? I feel guilted into doing it as a favor? What are my true motivations? If the answer is yes to the first question, I turn it down. If the answer to the second question is yes, but the opportunity doesn't align with my core values (honesty, warmth, tact, value-driven), I turn it down. If the answer to the third question is yes, I wait until I can either agree to do it without feeling pressured or guilted into doing so, OR I turn it down.

The most tempting thing I have been approached to do, but turned down, was representing a world-famous actor for all of his appearances. This actor is a household name, very beloved by the public and his current representation was considering retirement. The actor's current agent and I became friends and he asked me if I would want to represent his client. At first, I was excited by the idea, but I opted to do what I outlined in #2 above-- pause. In that pause, I was able to work at an event with this person and I was absolutely horrified by his treatment of me, my staff, and the audience. It was the worst event of my entire life....seriously...and I had to let his agent know that I couldn't, in good conscience, represent someone who treated people that way, and I passed the opportunity up. I would have earned a huge commission representing this person, but I would have been absolutely miserable. It just wasn't worth it to me.

3.) I really like your website, especially the personal bios you include on the AboutUs page. Have you always had it like that and do you find that including this information makes it easier to attract new clients?
Why thank you! I really liked writing it and I've always tried to inject a bit of personality and informality into this process. Being an agent is a very mysterious field to most people, and I think it could use a good dose of reality and transparency. To make our transparency obvious, I felt it was important to write from that very 'real' place when describing each of us. Plus, it is more fun to read! Interestingly, I don't think that the website is often read by our clients (the speakers), but our style in person is exactly the same, and I think that is what has won clients for our business. They see that we are real, genuine, honest and good at what we do-- and we can laugh at ourselves as needed. Which is often.

4.) In terms of attracting new clients, what has been your most successful means of doing that?
Oops.... inadvertently partially answered that one above. Our best way to attract new clients is to research the heck out of speakers we already know and love who already meet the criteria we have set up. Then, we begin the tactful stalking process. I'm only half-kidding there. Most famous speakers are already represented, so the only way they will take you seriously is if you take the time to do your homework on them, find out who already represents them, know what your skills and strengths are relative to their current provider, create a meaningful reason for them to talk to us or meet with us, and be very patient. Very patient. We only add, on average, one speaker a year and it is such a personal, deep relationship with each one, that we take our time and tactfully stalk just a handful at any one time. Only the tippy top of the speaking pyramid needs what we do.... perhaps only 1 speaker in 10,000...so we research like crazy, customize our approach, work at the relationship long-term, never ever bad-mouth the competition, and are very patient. Word of mouth from our current happy clients has also led to two of our speakers joining the roster. What they say about 'birds of a feather' flocking together is quite true.

5.) And finally, how close are you to your ultimate dream of running a spa/retreat for executive women?
I can honestly say that my dream has changed... I've realized that the economics and reality of running an actual location like that wouldn't appeal to me now. While I'd love to visit such a place, I would much rather continue in the business I have now--- it is so flexible and can literally be done at odd hours, from anywhere in the world that I can access the internet and get solid phone reception. There will always be a strong need in the marketplace for highly ethical, hard-working, kind-hearted and smart business people and in my little niche of representation, I've found my sweet spot: I can be true to my values and principles and earn a great living. Well, when the economy cooperates!

Are you a Fan of NBC's "The Apprentice"?

2010-11-05T17:00:00.000Z

If you are a fan of NBC's "The Apprentice", then you should check out the webisodes currently featured on BusinessonMain.com. Not only are they interesting, but our very own member, Steve Wasnick is being featured in Sprint's Second Chance Contest, in which real business owners get a second chance to rebuild their failed businesses.

The first webisode titled, "Thinking Three Moves Ahead" has Steve and the other three finalists competing in an over sized chess game, in which they try to guess what their next move should be. Ironically, all 4 contestants picked the same move, which was not always the correct decision according to the Angel investor David S. Rose.

I encourage all of you to watch the webisode and then take a few moments to send Steve a supportive message. It took a lot of courage for him to leave his business and family and fly to New York to take part in that challenge. We need to all keep our fingers crossed that he makes it to the end and is able to rebuild his business and get the success he deserves so much.

The 11 Harsh Realities of Being an Entrepreneur

2010-11-02T13:00:00.000Z

My good friend Blase Ciabaton, sent me a link to a wonderful article on OnStartups.com titled, "The 11 Harsh Realities of Being an Entrepreneur". The realities listed (which I can say I have faced most of them) are:

1.) Your first iteration of an idea will be wrong
2.) Your friends and family won't understand what you are doing
3.) You will make less than normal wages for a while
4.) Everything takes twice as long...If it ever happens
5.) Titles mean nothing. You will be a janitor
6.) There is no silver bullet
7.) Customers will frustrate you
8.) You can't do it all yourself
9.) There is no such thing as an overnight success
10.) Building a team is hard
11.) There are forces outside your control

Like Mark Allen Roberts, "50 Ugly Truths" document, the authors intention is NOT to discourage anyone from being an Entrepreneur. Instead it is meant to set the record straight about the risks and challenges involved. Even though I have faced all of the realities listed, I would NEVER go back to the meaningless, corporate-driven existence I suffered through for so many years.

I would love to hear from you.

Which, if any of these realities have you faced?

Were you surprised about facing them and how did you handle it?

For me, number 1 about your first iteration of an idea being wrong was the hardest thing to accept. But, I have learned that even my mistakes are valuable, because they help me to learn what not to do and that is a good thing to know.

We really can learn from each other, so please take a moment to share your experiences with us.

Never Quit Club Member: Dr. Ira Williams, Tireless Advocate for Health Care Reform

2010-11-01T20:00:00.000Z

Dr. Ira Williams, http://askdrira.com

Dr. Ira Williams has never been one to bite his tongue or to ignore a challenge. Twenty years ago, he made a decision to go against several of his colleagues in an effort to put right the mistakes they had made. And, at an age when most doctors are living out their retirements, Dr. Williams is leading a noble effort to dramatically change the way this country handles health care. His latest book, Misdiagnosed highlights ways that health care can be made better, safer and more affordable.

1.) You told me that you were economically put out of business 20 years ago as an Oral surgeon when you testified against other surgeons. Have you ever regretted making the decision to testify and how difficult was it to stand by your convictions at that time?
No, I have never regretted what I did or the result because I felt then and now that what I did was my testimony to myself; of who I am. I realize now that if I had not done what I did, that far greater regret would have been with me for the rest of my life. I am at peace with who I am, where I am, and how I got here.

2.) Your latest book, Misdiagnosed was published by Tate Publishing in June of this year. What do you like best about working with this publisher and how did you first make contact with them?
I saw their ad on Fox News and called Dr. Richard Tate and discussed my book. I was concerned regarding my responsibility to edit and prepare my manuscript electronically and Tate Publishing staff and process went unbelievably smoothly. They have been super to work with.

3.) Can you briefly describe your position in Misdiagnosed and indicate why it is so important to you to get your message out there?
I know how to completely reorganize our current HC system, improve the quality of patient care and reduce cost (not an easy thing to say, but I can do all of that). Our nation has never even attempted to create a HC system that fits our culture and governmental system. I can provide a complete plan for how to restructure HC!

4.) How are sales of the new book going? Are you still actively promoting the book and what obstacles have you encountered so far?
Sales are pitifully slow due to numerous reasons, but primarily due to lack of exposure of who I am AND that is not due to lack of effort on my part. I have sent my book to numerous persons affiliated with trying to improve HC and none of them get back to me. I think my book may frighten the H our of them because I talk about things in HC no one else has been speaking to. You may draw your own conclusion regarding that. I need to get in front of live audiences and connect some dots on why our HC system is so flawed. I am chasing my dream and have NO plans to stop.

5.) In you first email to me, you said that you are 77 years old and feel like you have just begun. How far do you plan on taking this cause? Will there be more books, more publicity for this book, or do you have something else in mind for getting the word out?
My book has 2 purposes; it is a tool for readers to gain greater understanding of why our current HC system is far less than it should or could be and second, to hopefully get me on the speaker's circuit. In 1 1/2 hours I can connect many dots on why the Quality of Patient Care is so problematic and that would include a robust Q & A. I can teach people how to understand our HC system and how to demand and receive meaningful HC change. Problem is I need an audience(s).

MotherFund - Funding specifically for Small Business

2010-10-29T18:00:00.000Z

I saw a commercial for a new company called MotherFund, which offers loans for small businesses and decided to check them out.

Essentially, this Texas-based company can help out if you are a small business that meets the following criteria:

Been in business at least 2 months
Process at least $10,000/month in credit card sales
You lease or own a space
You are not in the bankruptcy process

Their primary offering is what is called a Merchant Cash Advance and it is basically an advance against your future credit card sales. It is free to apply and if you have been turned down by banks for other expansion loans and you need some extra money FAST, this could be a good thing for you. It is obviously not going to solve all problems for small businesses needing financial help, but it can help a select few who need an extra and quick boost.

If you or someone you know has used or applied for a loan with MotherFund, please let us know about your experience.

Check Out Some of the Most Famous ALMOST Failures

2010-10-28T23:44:29.000Z

My father, Bruce Morgan sent me a link to a wonderful pictorial by Newsweek that is titled, "From Thomas Edison to Henry Ford: Almost Failures". You really need to check this out - especially if you are felling a little down about the progress you are making towards your dream.

The following people were featured in the profile. You may be surprised to read how much these very well known people struggled to succeed. It is not true that successful people never fail, but it is true that successful people do not quit WHEN they fail.

Walt Disney - Founder of Disney Land
R.H. Macy - Founder of Macy's
Thomas Edison - Legendary Inventor and Creator of the Light bulb
J.K. Rowling - Author of the Harry Potter series
Akio Morita and Masura Ibuka - Co-Founders of Sony
Harland 'Colonel' Sanders - Founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken
Henry Ford - Founder of Ford Motor Co.
Evan Williams - Co-Founder of Blogger
Gary Heavin - Founder of Curves Fitness Chain
Charles Shultz - Creator of the 'Peanuts' Comic strip

Never Quit Club Member: Kristen Brown, Founder and President of the Stress Busting Supplement The Happy Hour Effect

2010-10-27T14:00:00.000Z

Kristen Brown, Entrepreneur, Author, and Speaker www.HappyHourEffect.com

Kristen Brown knows a thing or two about the effects of stress. Her child was only 10 months old when her young husband died suddenly of an undiagnosed heart condition. This was immediately followed by a crisis at work and the Recession. For most people, these events would have caused a complete mental breakdown. But Kristen would have none of that. She knew that the only way she could survive the unbelievable amounts of stress she was undergoing was to find the Up-Side and turn her tragedy into a triumph.

It was at that time that she started researching a non-stimulant supplement which she later called the Happy Hour Effect. Designed to combat the effects of stress, in a very short amount of time, Kristen has managed to get her product on the store shelves of the health giant, GNC.

Kristen has accomplished some amazing things since her tragedy. I know you will enjoy her interview and her obvious enthusiasm for what she does.

1.) I saw in your blog that your show idea recently made it to the second round of the Oprah Winfrey "Get Your OWN show contest" and that you were contacted by a producer. You also said that the idea did not make it to the top 40, but that you were encouraged by the fact that it made it as far as it did. What was the show idea and do you still plan on pursuing it? Perhaps through a local cable network?
My show is called "The Happy Hour Effect with Kristen Brown" and it is all about work/life balance and how we can stay positive even during challenge and stress. I am actually in the process of adapting it into a web-based show, but it may end up as a radio or podcast series because of the expense involved in video production. If anyone wants to see my video that talks about the show and how it can help people, you can see it here. Or you can go to www.HappyHourEffect.com to become a Facebook or Twitter follower for daily stress relief tips and/or sign up for the monthly newsletter or blog feed for articles and news on stress relief and work/life balance. They are all free resources that are so helpful for maintaining perspective on stress and reminding yourself to stay balanced.

2.) You said that you spent 15 years is Corporate America before launching out on your own. Big Congrats on that, by the way. I am curious about what did you do before launching the Happy Hour Effect and do you think your experience in that job helped you to start your own business?
I spent over 15 years either working for or with retailers doing product development, marketing, research and communications. It definitely helped me start my own business because I understand consumer habits, how to market and what steps I need to take to get into a retailer. And I learned what NOT to do and what I didn't want my company to be like. Of course starting something on your own involves so many more details like insurance, licensing, budgeting at a much high level, etc. so it didn't teach me everything - and I learn something new every single day.

3.) I have to ask, how were you able to get a product into a big retailer like GNC so quickly? I know what a big deal that is and I know my readers will be looking for any tips you may have.
Luckily, I have some diverse experience working with retailers so I know the ins and outs of working with them. In fact, I'm working on a new training series that will share specifically the steps and insights needed to take a product from an idea to a store shelf! The key to getting a product into a retailer is to have a product and plan that will drive sales and that consumers need. Even the best product idea will bomb if it's not executed properly. But I can help people get there with my Retailer Relationships Knowledge Base. Watch for it coming soon.
NOTE: I asked Kristen to let us know when her Retailer Relationship Knowledge Base becomes available and will pass that on to you all in a later post.

4.) In the future, do you see yourself being more of a writer or more of a business person?
I think I will be about 50/50 on that. I see my writing as really benefiting my businesses and vice versa. I think any business owner should consider writing to enhance their credibility whether it's on a blog, FB or Twitter posts, books or training series. And being a business expert on your topic will help drive sales of anything you write too. It's a win/win! :) I will say though that I am excited for the day when I have time to write the fiction young adult series I have floating around in my head and my daughter and I wrote a children's book together that I want to publish too!

5.) In addition to launching the Happy Hour Effect product line, The Up-Side Industries business, volunteering for the American Heart Association and taking care of your young daughter, you managed to find time to write a memoir about your recent loss. I am assuming you have a lot of help. As a successful, modern woman, was it hard for you to accept help from others at first? Has it become easier and what lessons have you learned regarding this?
I have always been very independent and don't like to ask for help. But after my husband died, I knew I would need to carve out me-time or I would go crazy with 24/7 childcare. Luckily, my parents, sister and brother live within ten minutes and my in-laws are nearby too. I have learned that I shouldn't feel guilty for needing time away from my daughter sometimes and that the time I'm away from her makes us both appreciate each other so much more. And I want her to understand that independence, self-worth and taking care of yourself are so very important to wellness, health and happiness and I can only instill that by showing her through my own actions. It makes me a better mom to have a lot of things I enjoy doing both with her, with others and on my own. And I love the fact that she is so close to all of our family members. Family is so important during happy and bad times and I want her to feel connected to others in a meaningful way throughout her life. As far as it getting easier to ask for help, yes, it has, but I'm still pretty independent and will drag a 250 lb television armoire across the living room myself before calling someone to come over and help! :)

Update on Member Steve Wasnick's Second Chance Experience

2010-10-22T21:00:00.000Z

As many of you know, member Steve Wasnick was selected as a finalist in Sprint's big Second Chance contest, in which the winner will receive $150,000. He spent much of last month in New York participating in challenges that will be aired in a series of webisodes starting next week.

I sent a message to Steve earlier this month asking him how filming went, and this is what he just sent me. I thought you all would like to hear his exciting news too:

Filming went great, though I was soooo nervous! I'm not used to being on camera - I'm sure that will show. To sum it up, the second to last day of filming, we were told that the next day would comprise "The Pitch". And that's it. We all assumed it would be an elevator pitch of sorts and figured we might have 5 minutes as we'd had 5 minutes for a previous challenge. WRONG!! We showed up for the last day of filming and found out that our host, David S. Rose, founder of Angelsoft (Angelsoft is basically the epicenter for all angel investing groups across the country and around the world) was himself going to be our guest host and that we were going to have to 'pitch' him in a New York Minute. That's right, 60 seconds to pitch to the king of Angel Investors... but it gets better. This was to be done while driving down the streets of NYC in a taxi-cab. The cab was a minivan with the driver, a sound tech, 2 camera guys, David Rose, me and the executive producer who was crammed behind the back seat - I had no idea he was even in the cab when I got in and he scared the heck out of me when he popped up to say something. We started driving and they told me to pitch. No pressure or anything. Just a casual, "go". I've never been so nervous in my life!

I've got more to share but I'll have to do it later. You can view a trailer for the webisodes on BusinessonMain.com here: and you can read one of the many articles about the show, this one happens to be on Forbes.com here:

The first webisode airs this Tuesday, 10/26 and voting opens to the public 12/6 - 12/20. I'm flying out to NYC for the premiere party on Tuesday.

Before I sent this out, I checked in with Steve to make sure it was ok, and he sent me back a response with even more GREAT info to share. Make sure you read the part bolded below:

Here's another very cool thing... Before I go on with the story, bear in mind these points:

I am a social entrepreneur, helping non-profits raise more money than they could without our service and I do this without any cost to the non-profit.
My company is an internet startup based on an online auction company.

Though I haven't met with him yet, the sponsors of the contest set me up with a mentor by the name of Josh Kopelman. Josh is the founder of Half.com which he sold to eBay for $350 Million. He then stayed on with eBay to
run the Half.com division for 3 years. Josh is already an internet startup expert, parlaying his Half.com successes into other internet companies, including investing in LinkedIn, among others. He's also got intimate knowledge of the online auction industry, having worked with eBay for 3 years, the king of online auctions. Lastly, Josh and his
wife founded a non-profit of their own, the Kopelman Foundation, dedicated to providing grant money to... who other than... SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE STARTUPS. I don't think they could have found a better mentor for me and I'm both humbled and excited for the opportunity to meet him.

Being chosen to participate in this contest equates to a win in every sense of the word. Honestly, every day I wake up I feel like I just won the lottery! The best part about all of this is the exposure we'll get, resulting in new, non-profit clients across the country. It is through these non-profits that we'll truly be able to make a difference and touch countless lives. I absolutely love what I do and I'd choose to go through all the headache and heartache (and a myriad of failures) all over again if it meant I'd have the opportunity to make a difference like I can today.

For anyone else reading this who might be tired of hitting their head against a wall, find a way to become a social entrepreneur. Make a difference in your community. Pick up where government has to leave off. Be creative - there are ways to monetize any business without costing those who need it most and examples are all around you. Do well by doing good. You'll love it. I do.

The Art of Getting Your Small Business Product Into Stores

2010-10-21T13:30:00.000Z

For most small businesses (especially in today's economy), getting their product onto even one shelf of a major retailer is about as easy as climbing Mt. Everest is shorts and sandals. Most major retailers want to see that you have a sales and marketing staff to help drive sales. But what is a small business person with a great product to do?

Well, this incredibly useful guide I found on The New York Times article by Eilene Zimmerman may be your answer. Rather than just talk about all the problems involved for small businesses, it gives some really useful tips based on the stories of some very creative and determined small business owners who succeeded in getting their products to market.

Quick Tips and Resources:

Target small, local stores rather than big-box retailers. Many stores (even big ones such as Whole Foods have programs to promote local businesses).
Offer to sell to stores on consignment rather than asking for payment up front. Also go to small stores and offer to give away free samples in the store.
Find ways to drive demand and get buyers to call you. If you are looking for a great way to offer your products to bloggers, sign-up at The Reporter Connection to get leads. I use this myself and everyday, there are postings from bloggers looking for products to offer as giveaways. This is a great way to build buzz.
Prepare to hear "no" and then don't take it for an answer. There is a great story in the guide about a woman who did just this and ended up succeeding.
The Trade Show Network, which is a place to find trade shows. Even though they can be expensive, if you target ones specific to your type of product, you could do very well.
A nonprofit association, such as the Manufacturer's Rep Association, that represents manufacturers and offers a directory of sales agencies.
To search for names of buyers you want to contact, try searching on LinkedIn.

If you have a product you are trying to get in front of the public, you really should check it out. And, if you have any experience with doing this yourself (even if you were not successful), please share it with us in the comments of this post. We can all learn from each others wins and losses.

Never Quit Club Member: Bruce Boguski, Motivational Speaker and Peak Performance Coach

2010-10-18T20:00:00.000Z

Bruce Boguski, Peak Performance Coach, www.bruceboguski.com

Bruce's passion and enthusiasm for what he does is immediately obvious. Even before I had watched the video of him speak (which I encourage you to check out), I could tell from his messages to me that Bruce is one of those inspirational people we all hope to meet.

Bruce knows from direct experience what it is like to overcome an obstacle. At the age of eighteen, Bruce was involved in an auto accident that left him paralyzed. The doctors told him he would never walk again. Rather than accepting the diagnosis, Bruce challenged it and left the hospital, against his doctors advice. Within two years, he regained the ability to walk and his life has pretty much been uphill ever since.

I hope you get as much inspiration from Bruce's story as I did. He truly exemplifies the belief that anyone can do the impossible.

1.) I know that you were in a terrible auto accident when you were eighteen which left you paralyzed. And it was your own unwavering determination that made you reject the doctors warnings that you would never walk again. You proved them all wrong. Were you always that determined about what you wanted, even as a child?
I was not always determined and driven in my youth. In fact, I believe it was the accident that changed me forever--it could have been the best thing that ever happened to me! I realize that I can overcome any obstacle and achieve whatever I desire and that this force is within everyone and I really enjoy sharing that with my clients.
Did you have a parent or a sibling that inspired you and taught you to always think for yourself?
My parents and brother were everything but inspiring. Always complaining, making excuses about the bad deals they got in life and analyzing why nothing ever went their way. Wish I could have helped them more, but they refused to listen, even after I started my own business and became relatively successful. It turned out that the real inspiration came from my night nurse during my recovery---it was from her that I learned the true keys to success and I don't believe meeting her was a coincidence.

2.) One more thing regarding the accident. Your biography states that you left the hospital 6 months after the accident on your own power, but it took you another two years to regain the ability to walk. How bad off were you when you left the hospital and what gave you the strength to push past all the fear and pain?
After the accident, the first few months were the most depressing of my life. I did walk out of the hospital after 6 months, but the compete recovery took another 18 months and muscles along my back on the left side actually withered away, but others took over their functions. I have lower back pain today, but lift weights and walk daily. My mother did help me with my daily exercises but I really don't remember any fear after I developed the belief that my body was going to come back. And the pain was worth it!!

3.) On to a lighter subject, what got you started as a motivational speaker and what do you think has been the main reason behind the fact that you are so highly in demand?
I heard some speakers at a sports psychology conference in Miami, Florida and fell in love with it. The techniques I learned started working in my life and being an educator, I knew I could help others do the same. The reason I'm in demand is because I get results. The students, athletes and business professionals that I work with have all experienced improvement after being exposed to the benefits of handling pressure, building confidence, changing belief systems and visualizing success.

4.) You have been speaking for over ten years, but how long did it take before you really felt comfortable as a speaker? I know many speakers go through a period where they are speaking for free and almost begging people to get speaking jobs. Did you ever go through this kind of period and for how long?
Actually, I have been speaking for 20 years and honestly, from the very first presentation, I knew this was what I was meant to do. I still get nervous, and make mistakes, but the results wash those memories away. My very first speaking engagement was a high school graduation. Immediately afterward, two parents from the audience hired me to speak at their companies and I've never looked back. I did free presentations at the beginning only to introduce new material, keep my skills sharp or because it was for cause or non-profit that I wanted to help or believed in.

5.) I know you are an author and have written many motivational books, but have you considered or are you already writing a book about your own life and experiences? I know I for one, would be very interested in reading it.
Thank you for the encouragement, but my current products contain most of the lessons I have learned and want to share. Between you and I, I thought that writing the books was like work, and I don't want to do too much of that! Ha!!

NOTE: Bruce generously offered to send me one of his inspirational DVD's, which I fully intend to have him do. I will do a post reviewing it at a later date.

Never Quit Club Member, Bryan Au: Once ignored by the press, he is now a Celebrity Eco Chef and Best Selling Author

2010-10-13T17:30:00.000Z

Bryan Au, Eco Chef - http://www.EcoChefApp.com

It does not take long to figure out that Bryan Au is passionate about organic food. It was his passion and unwavering dedication that got him through the last ten years, as he faced one rejection after another. Things have been anything but easy for Bryan, as he has struggled to get his line of raw organic food line out in front of the world. Good thing he stuck it out, because he is now reaping the rewards for his dedication, with a TV show, best selling iPhone app and recipe book.

Note: Believe it or not, the following is a shortened version of the responses Bryan sent. If you want to get a feel for how truly passionate Bryan is, you need to read the full interview HERE.

1.) Congratulations on the success of your new Eco Chef iPhone app. What made you decide to go with an iPhone app and who did you get to help you develop it?

Thank you! Well first, I truly care about EVERYONE'S Health and Well Being and that of the Planet! It makes me so happy knowing that I have helped thousands of people and empowered them to save their health, save money, save the environment and prove that together we can save the World in the most fun, fashionable and delicious ways possible!

My main motivation these past 10 wonderful years was to promote and empower the power of Raw Organic Food, Snacks, Desserts and Cuisine for people to enjoy. I had to come up with a massive way to get the information out there. Previously, I had best the selling recipe book titled, RAW IN TEN MINUTES and my series of DVDs, available on Amazon.com. But these did not make the major breakthrough to the masses that I wanted. I want the WORLD to know about this and my recipes!

I decided that the $2 Eco Chef App was the best way to go to promote what I am doing and to empower people. It is truly eco too as no trees are cut down! And Apps for the iPhone are so super popular now. People enjoy getting them and using them and most are $1 to $2 so they are very affordable too. My Eco Chef App became #4 instantly on the iTunes App Store and it stayed in the TOP 5 List and TOP 10 LIST for many weeks. I am also on the entire BUS METRO System on the LCD TV Screens, so more than 2 Million people everyday will watch my recipe videos thanks to Transit TV. You can even watch my Eco Chef Videos LIVE in real time on your computer/laptop/cell phone/PC/MAC and actually see what the Bus Riders in Los Angeles are watching in REAL TIME and streaming when you go to this link: http://live.transit-tv.com

I actually contacted several popular iPhone APP Developers and companies. But, I found the BEST ONE was http://www.TheAppCompany.com. I chose them because they also happen to already enjoy and have my RAW IN TEN MINUTES recipe book so they already knew me and loved my recipes! But more than that, they had a #1 Buzz Aldrin App available and they were soon launching the Ron Artest APP

It took me 9 months to invent new recipes, do new photographs, film new videos and to come up with the best features possible.The response has been amazing! People absolutely love my Eco Chef App. You can read the reviews online by Google.com or by going to the Eco Chef App in the App Store or iTunes.com. Having an App for me was even better than having a recipe book!

2.) You told me that you met with a lot of resistance when you first started your business 10 years ago. Did you always handle your own publicity and do you still handle it all yourself now? Or do you get other people to help you and if so, how has that gone for you?
This is a great question. I actually self published my best selling raw organic recipe book titled RAW IN TEN MINUTES in 2005, because at the time RAW Organic Food was still "underground" and no where near as popular or famous as it is today. Instead of trying to go through major publishers and waiting for years for it to happen, I decided to take matters into my own hands. It was the best decision and it became an instant best seller and has the most 4 to 5 star reviews on Amazon.com today, out of any raw organic recipe book!

When the book first came out in 2005 I wondered and thought to myself "hmmmm what will it be like to be a author or famous chef?" Well, many years later I found out that it is very fun, rewarding but it was also a lot of hard work! I had to do EVERYTHING myself. I never hired an assistant or anyone to help me so EVERYTHING you see, I literally did it all myself. From the Website, logos, processing orders, photographs, videos, marketing, pr, interviews, answering e-mails, designing new recipes, phone calls, just about everything. I had to do it this way because I didn't want to have to train someone or have to do everything twice. I also felt the need to have full artistic control. There was no room for errors or mistakes. Food is a very serious matter and so was my mission is to promote it.

But now, I have reached the point where I can't do everything myself. I have been very busy filming videos, TV Shows, doing interviews and I have even been acting in movies and TV shows. So, I now have to hire professional PR people, publicist, employees and help. All of this is happening at one of the worst economies and times in our history. For me, I want to create new jobs, a new major Eco Green and RAW Industry. I want to help people and that is my #1 priority. You have to give what you want to receive.

3.) Did you experience a tipping point, in which it seemed that you struggled and struggled and then one day, boom, everything started to fall into place?
Yes, this is very true and my fantasy at first was that my book would sell millions of copies and become an international best seller! This is every author's hope and dream, but it does not happen to everyone. My book did very well, but it did not sell Millions of copies like I had fantasized about. It has sold 100,000 copies since 2005, which is pretty good. But, I want to sell Millions of copies because it means Millions of people will get my recipes and benefit from them.

I quickly learned what it truly takes to make it in this business and industry. First you should look at people who have already made it. Study what they do and did. Find out what made them so famous and successful, while others in the same business or industry are not. What is it that you can improve or learn about yourself everyday? What can you do everyday to achieve your goals and are you actually doing it? For me, I learned that you have to set a plan and goals and then everyday do something that gets you closer to achieving your goals.

Sometimes you might have to struggle for many years, people might cheat you, trick you and scam you, you may become very poor, homeless or struggle for many years. I know I did! But the thing is there are always signs that you are on the right path. You have to know in your heart, mind and spirit that you are following a higher purpose or calling and that this is your true destiny and purpose in life. Use failures or negative people to motivate you and don't let them get to you. Like all things, it takes time to be successful in any field!

4.) What are your long term plans for the Raw in Ten Minutes brand? Are you more interested in developing yourself as a celebrity chef, or do you plan on sticking with the raw organics line of products?
I planned everything 10 + years ago and I stuck to my plan, accomplishing each goal one by one. Only the Eco Chef App was unplanned because at the time that technology and product did not exist. But, I am so glad I did it because for me, it became my major success and breakthrough! I want to thank Scot and Jason from http://www.TheAppCompany.com, for taking a chance on me. They invested a lot of time and money on me when I was not really that famous and they helped me to become successful.

My goal now is to sell MILLIONS of Eco Chef Apps and I will not give up until I do. My original plan, 10 years ago was: self publish my recipe books, open a restaurant, film a national TV Infomerical then my own National TV SHOW, open a national Franchise and chain of restaurants, launch my raw organic products, kitchenware and products, get listed on the Stock Market, create new jobs and major new industry.

Most of these things have happened, are happening or will happen and I was able to accomplish most of my goals. To accomplish them all, I just have to keep at it, meet the right people and make the right connections. One person told me recently "It is not about selling products Bryan, you are out to help people. You are on an important mission, remember that and do what you can. The money and success will come with your good recipes and intentions..." they are so right!

5.) In those early years when you were ignored by the media, how did you keep your confidence up? What things did you do to keep yourself inspired?
I used any set backs or perceived "failures" as motivation! Instead of letting people "win" I would prove to them that I can "win", that I can do it. What I have learned from this is to always encourage the best in others! It does not cost anything to be nice, positive, polite or encouraging! Even if someone is your "competition or competitor" you should still be nice, polite and helpful. Always try to turn a "negative into a positive". You will be surprised at what you can achieve if you can do that! Try to learn from others that have made it and keep good positive friends. Always try to help others and give back what you want to receive.

I truly hope my story motivates your members! Can you imagine promoting something so new, so radical, something that is 99% percent against what the world is used to or the norm? I had to promote RAW FOOD to a cooked world and make it popular, mainstream and a new lifestyle. It was not easy, but it was worth it and now I know what it takes and what it is like to be a famous Author and Celebrity Chef. It was the best decision in my whole life!

Full, Unedited Transcript of the Bryan Au Interview

2010-10-13T16:00:00.000Z

Bryan Au, Eco Chef - http://www.EcoChefApp.com

Note: If you want to get a feel for how truly passionate Bryan is, you need to read the full interview below

1.) Congratulations on the success of your new Eco Chef iPhone app. What made you decide to go with an iPhone app and who did you get to help you develop it?

Thank you! Well first I truly care about EVERYONE'S Health and Well Being and that of the Planet! It makes me so happy knowing that I have helped thousands of people and empowered them to save their health, save money, save the environment and prove that together we can save the World in the most fun, fashionable and delicious ways possible! My new motto actually is "Save Everything!" and yes you can with my 200+ totally new raw organic recipes that I invented. They only take 5 to 10 minutes to make and are ready to serve, eat and enjoy. They are also everyone's favorite foods and with a international menu I even invented totally new fruit dessert recipes that no one has seen or heard of before because they are so new and innovative like my new Fruit "Sushi" or "Frushi" and new 5 Minute Mango "Cheesecake" or 5 Minute Chocolate Cake or Cupcakes there are 200 + recipes to choose from I have it all and it is RAW! But don't let the words raw organic scare you I know it is very new but believe me it is the MOST FUN AND DELICIOUS FOOD YOU WILL EVER EAT I GUARANTEE IT! I made sure each and every recipe is so easy, fast, fun and beyond delicious that everyone and the major media has been raving about it, giving it 5 stars, recommending it and can you believe it is all actually going to save you money, save your health, save your community, reverse Global Warming, save the environment and save the World? Just by your very food choices! This is FACT because it has been proven that our daily food choices has the greatest impact on our environment, health and on Global Warming. Finally I was able to solve these important modern day concerns and "problems" with a easy fun solution. RAW Organic Food has also been proven to prevent, reverse and improve many modern day conditions from cancer, asthma, cholesterol, obesity and a unlimited list of conditions please Google.com it and do research.

My main motivation these past 10 wonderful years was to promote and empower the power of Raw Organic Food, Snacks, Desserts and Cuisine for people to enjoy. Just lik me and millions of other people who love and enjoy all the benefits of Raw Organic Food from having more energy, joy, anti-aging naturally, feeling and look beyond great and so much more. RAW is the next big new Food Trend, Media Diet, and Eco Green Lifestyle but people just don't know about it yet! So I had to come up with a a major massive way to get the information out there and my recipes. Previously I had best selling recipe books titled RAW IN TEN MINUTES and my series of DVDs available on Amazon.com they all became best sellers but did not make the major breakthrough to the masses that I wanted. I want the WORLD to know about this and my recipes!

Luckily the iPhone APP become a instant hit and over night success. It was the perfect tool for me to get my message out there and to help people discover something that will truly work, that will improve their lives and something so easy and fun that anyone even a child can add to their daily routine and lifestyle. The great thing about RAW Organic Food is once you try just one recipe or even just one bite you INSTANTLY FEEL SO AMAZING and the taste is so gourmet and delicious you will instantly LOVE IT AND WANT MORE BELIEVE ME! The thing is people have to get over the "hurdle" and unfamiliar words: Raw, Vegan, Organic, Healthy. RAW just means all natural, not cooked, in its original state. The thing is through the media and adertising most people have been conditioned to become addicted to toxic foods, junk foods, fast foods and they don't even know that this happened to them! They just think "It is cheap, fast, filling, delicious, quick, etc..." although this might seem true at first the fact is after you eat it you will probably get "QUICK FAST Cancer, health problems, are destroying our Earth and Environment FASTER, modern health conditions FASTER!" That is truly the only "fast" thing you get from fast food! But the main reasons why people eat this way is it is quick and simple but why not choose something that is actually GOOD FOR YOU and the PLANET that saves and solves EVERYTHING while still looking and tasting like your favorite fast food, junk food, international menu? Well now you CAN thanks to my recipes I actually combined the best of the junk food fast food world with the ultimate in health food so you can still enjoy your favorite chocolate cookies, pies, cakes, lasagnas, pizzas, "Cheesecakes" and so much more but again is only 5 to 10 minutes to make with new techniques and recipes that I invented, it looks and tastes EVEN MORE AMAZING than anything and yet is the most healthy and good for you too! All I can say is please try it you will LOVE IT EVERYONE DOES! And all my recipes are soy free, wheat free, gluten free, nothing is processed no processed sugar, no flour, just all natural raw organic goodness. And you do not have to go 100% RAW either some people love it so much that they think they must go 100% RAW but nothing can be further from the truth I tell people to just enjoy as much RAW Organic Food as you like your body, mind and spirit will attract you to the right amount and naturally increase as you find that you are getting more benefits and joy from true amazing flavors and assortment of new recipes to sample! Everyone loves new foods, new cuisines and definitely desserts well now you get to have it all and have it RAW! BUT the thing is you have to TRY IT AND SAMPLE IT once you do, then you too will be among millions of new people who love it!

So I decided that the $2 Eco Chef App was the best way to go to promote what I am doing, my recipes and to empower people. It is truly eco too as no trees are cut down! And Apps for the iPhone are so super popular now. People enjoy getting them and using them and most are $1 to $2 so they are very affordable too. Everyone has a great APP available so I figured that Eco Chef Bryan Au should too and my idea worked. My Eco Chef App became #4 instantly on iTunes App Store when it became available on June 22, 2010 and it stayed in the TOP 5 List and TOP 10 LIST for many weeks. Now I am appearking on National TV Shows, in Los Angeles I am on the entire BUS METRO System on the LCD TV Screens so more than 2 Million people everyday will watch my recipe videos thanks to Transit TV who recognizes what I am doing and they are part of the healthy eco green movement as well riding a bus will ease stress, tickets, smog, road rage, it allows less traffic, for you to relax and is one of the most eco green ways to get around a city. You can even watch my Eco Chef Videos LIVE in real time on your computer/laptop/cell phone/PC/MAC and actually see what the Bus Riders in Los Angeles are watching in REAL TIME and streaming when you go to this link: http://live.transit-tv.com

So I actually contacted several popular iPhone APP Developers and companies they all wanted to do my Eco Chef App but I found the BEST ONE was http://www.TheAppCompany.com I chose them because they also happen to already enjoy and have my RAW IN TEN MINUTES recipe book so they already knew me and love my recipes! But more than that they had a #1 Buzz Aldrin App available and they are soon launching the Ron Artest APP who is part of the World Champion Lakers so the next App was to be my Eco Chef App! They are the best and so I chose to go with the #1 http://www.TheAppCompany.com. It was a easy choice really and they made it so much fun to make my Eco Chef App. It took me 9 months and everyday to invent new recipes, do new photographs, film new videos and to come up with the best features possible to make the best Recipe App possible too. We put as many cool and fun features as we could into the Eco Chef App because people expect each new App that comes out to be even more amazing than any others before it. We did just that and the response has been amazing! People absolutely love my Eco Chef App you can read the reviews online by Google.com or by going to the Eco Chef App in the App Store or iTunes.com. All major media is recommending it and I appear in the new Oct/Nov issue of Organic Spa Magazine as they are reviewing and recommending it too as well. Having an App for me was even better than having a recipe book!

2.) You told me that you met with a lot of resistance when you first started your business 6 years ago. Did you always handle your own publicity and do you still handle it all yourself now? Or do you get other people to help you and if so, how has that gone for you?
This is a great question. I actually self published my best selling raw organic recipe book titled RAW IN TEN MINUTES in 2005 because at the time RAW Organic Food was still "underground" and no where near as popular or famous as it is today. So instead of trying to go through major publishers and waiting for years for it to happen if it would at all I decided to take matters into my own hands by self publishing the book myself and having it become available instantly. It was the best decision I ever did because people finally responded and loved it. It became an instant best seller and it in fact has the most 4 to 5 star reviews on Amazon.com today out of any raw organic recipe book! Yes at first no one paid me any attention they didn't even e-mail me back! I was frustrated here I was with the BEST new amazing recipes, flavors, desserts and it solved everything and can save the World and reverse many modern day health conditions and no one was even e-mailing me back? For most people they probably would have been discouraged and gave up but for me it actually fuels my movtivation and whenever I encounter ANY set backs it actually makes me work even harder and to get more success! That has always been my work ethic and how I got this far so quickly. So for all the people who ignored me years ago, who didn't pay me any attention or who did not even e-mail me back, I can now look back and laugh and say HA HA I MADE IT! What they actually did was movtivate me even more and made me work harder so that I would make it! Once I decided on something nothing will stop me from accomplishing my goals, hopes and dreams! Besides that I felt that I had such a incredible thing to share and offer to the World that I had to do all that I can to promote it and make it MAINSTREAM. I saw other diets that came and went but I knew in my heart and soul that my RAW Organic Recipes, Snacks and Desserts works and I have seen miracles, I have helped so many people and I wanted the World to know about it and to enjoy it as much as we did. I am just so happy that big successful things are finally happening for me and these past years I was scared because although the book became a best seller along with my DVDs on Amazon.com the down turn of the Economy affected sales and I struggled like everyone else to keep things going. The APP at only $2 was one of the best things that helped to save me, my business and at the same time increased marketing and promotions too.

The true story is in 2004 I had my own Raw Organic Cuisine Home and Office Catering Food Delivery Business. For $100 a week people can get a week's supply of my special Raw Organic Food. It became so popular that people were asking me for my recipes, even their kids were eating it all and the parents and adults had to order 2 orders but they were so happy to share this story with me because they knew their kids were eating the most healthy all natural raw organic food possible which proved to me that my recipes are the best because kids are brutally honest if they like something you will know about it and if they don't like something you will be the 1st one to know too! (laughs) But the kids LOVED IT and soon they were asking me directly for my recipes too! I didn't want to give away my company secret recipes but both the parents and kids got so aggressive and demanding I actually decided to self publish my RAW IN TEN MINUTES recipe book so that they can buy the book and that I would go down in history for inventing these recipes! Previously other chefs and people that I taught or shared my recipes would just use them at their restaurant or website and they didn't even credit me for inventing them which was not nice. Inventing a all new never before seen amazing Raw Organic Recipe that looks and tastes even BETTER than the cooked, deep fried or baked version is very hard to do it is not easy! So I wanted to get credit for it and to have people have access to them, I wanted to improve and change the World.

At the time I was also scared because it was my first self published book ever! I had no idea if anyone would even buy the book or like it. It is like exposing your heart and soul to the World and having the public critique it for everyone to see. Most people's jobs are not like this where everything is exposed for the entire world and public to critique or comment about so it can be very scary but luckily for me everyone loved it and I actually chose the Kid's favorite most requested recipes! I did this because I knew if they loved it then it truly is the best, kids are a lot smarter than people know or give credit to. I have found that children are really attracted to healthy all natural foods they want it and crave it but it is us adults that feed them the bad junk or processed foods! Many adults admit to me "Bryan I know I am feeding them the worst junk foods it is just that I don't have the time...." that is why I made sure ALL of my recipes are 5 or 10 minutes to make and are ready to serve, eat and enjoy. Now there are no more excuses and it is easy, fast and fun many people enjoy making the recipes with their kids too so they can "play" with their food and enjoy it together.

So when the book first came out in 2005 I wondered and thought to myself "hmmmm what will it be like to be a author or famous chef?" well many years later I found out that it is very fun, rewarding but it was a lot of hard work too! I had to do EVERYTHING myself. I never hired a assistant or anyone to help me so EVERYTHING you see I literally did it all myself a one man band and show! From the Website, logos, processing orders, photographs, videos, marketing, pr, interviews, answering e-mails, designing new recipes, phone calls, just about everything I have been doing it myself and learning something new each day. I had to do it this way because I didn't want to have to train someone or watch them and have to do everything twice. I also felt the need to control everything and have full artistic control there was no room for errors or mistakes food is a very serious matter and so was my mission to promote it. This was my passion, my dream and I was living it so I enjoyed each minute. Previously I did try to hire people or work with interns but I found that I was doing the same work twice so I ended up doing everything myself but I think looking back, that this is what got me more success and in the fastest ways possible.

But now I have reached the point 5 years later where I can't do everything myself and I am about to become very FAMOUS, Mainstream, the next Celebrity Chef, next Major Diet, Food Trend, Eco Green Lifestyle so I am now able to and have to hire professional PR people, publicist, employees and help. I have been very busy filming videos, TV Shows, doing interviews I have even been acting in movies and TV SHOWS but I try to include my RAW Organic recipes and lifestyle in everything I do even TV or Movie roles in any way that I can. My main goal is to help people to become happy, healthy and to help save the environment too. For me the best part of everything are the people and friends that I make along the way. I am a real people person so the reward for me is the friendships and relationships, the connection I have with people.
That is what keeps me going and movtivated all these years and that is why I never ever gave up. There were times when I was homeless, broke, broken hearted, I had extreme success and triumphs as well as extreme poverty and struggles but I never ever gave up I knew that my intentions were pure and my mission was a positive healthy one and that if I just kept at it that I would someday "make it" and now that day has come and bigger better things are finally opening up for me.

All of this is happening at one of the worst economies and times in our history which proves to me that people need and want my recipes, information and help. The Truth is we all depend on each other and support each other already so now during these challenging times what is truly needed is successful and being promoted and what is not working or needed is falling by the way side but we also have to think of new and better ways to work, earn a living one that is healthy, supportive, that creates a community and is eco green as well these are the important shifts that are happening and I view the tough times and economy as a "transition" as we all figure these things out. So for me I want to create new jobs, a new major Eco Green and RAW Industry, I want to help people that is my #1 priority. You have to give what you want to receive.

3.) Did you experience a tipping point, in which it seemed that you struggled and struggled and then one day, boom, everything started to fall into place?
Yes this is very true and my fantasy at first was that my book would sell millions of copies and become a international best seller! This is every author's hope and dream
but it does not happen to everyone. I thought it would for me because what I wrote and invented was so special, new and unique. It did very well but it did not sell Millions of copies instantly like I had fantasized or dreamt about. It has sold 100,000 copies since 2005 which is pretty good but I want to sell Millions of copies because it means Millions of people got my recipes and benefited. So for me success is different in that I want to reach out and improve the World. Also since it was my first time publishing a book and becoming an author and Celebrity Chef everything was new to me. I had to learn everything and I still learn something new everyday. It took a while but after making so many mistakes, encountering different people and situations I quickly learned what it truly takes to make it in this business and industry. First you should look at people who have already made it. Study what they do and did, what made them so famous and successful while others in the same business or industry are not. What is it that you can improve or learn about yourself everyday? What can you do everyday to achieve your goals and are you actually doing it? For me I learned that you have to set a plan and goals then everyday, every minute, every second you have to do something that gets you closer to achieving your goals and making them happen. Sometimes you might have to struggle for many years, people might cheat you, trick you and scam you, you may become very poor, homeless or struggle for many years, I know I did! But the thing is there are always signs that you are on the right path, you have to know in your heart, mind and spirit that you are following a higher purpose or calling that this is your true destiny and purpose in life. For me I knew this instantly because so many things happened to me to confirm it and that is another book entirely because there is so much information and interesting stories that I actually already wrote my autobiography which I will release in a few years in a new book. And people ask me all the time how or why did you become a RAW ORGANIC CHEF? When it is something so new, underground, not even known or popular in the mainstream. It was a good question, most people follow the crowd they follow what is safe and popular already this is the quick way to the big money. But for me it is not about the money I can and have live a simple life I don't need the Millions to be happy I don't need much really but I decided 10+ years ago when I first encountered RAW FOOD and saw what it can do for people, the miracles, the healings, the stories I knew it was something I had to promote and make it popular in the mainstream it was my destiny and purpose in life. Unfortunately that does not mean it is a piece of cake! There are many pitfalls, tests, struggles, trials and tribulations along with the blood sweat and tears still! Sure there were moments of success, triumph and victories but there are also failures, dissapointments, delays and problems too. But after a while you get more success and less problems, more joy and less stress things finally do go your way but you have to build up a body of work, you have to have your own Book, APP, you have to prove yourself, you have to do free jobs and events, you have to pay your dues big time then yes eventually if you do not give up and never let people bring you down then one day you should make it if everything is meant to be. You do have control, you are very powerful, I actually used every "failure" or "problem" to motivate me to work harder to prove that I would be succesful. So many friends, family, people all told me I would never make it, even my Ex-girlfriend (laughs) people can be extremely negative or crticical but instead of letting them get me down I worked harder, I never gave up I would come back stronger and with better recipes, more new recipes, better products and new ideas or new projects. I knew that someday I would make it and after 5 years of never giving up and not letting people bring me down I proved that I was right!

A few real life examples was before I decided to self publish my first book I actually tried to go through book agents and publishers but after doing everything they asked of me they still did not give me my book deal! One even tried to get all of my recipes and not even have a contract to protect me like they can use all my recipes for free so I saw ways that people try to trick me or use me and I had to learn fast how to read people, contracts and business deals. But when I saw what they were trying to do and it is not all of them just a few people at the time there are great book agents and publishers too out there! But when I saw this I decided I would self publish and do everything myself which proves that every problem has a solution it is up to you to find it! And you can over come everything, you can succeed but you can't give up once you do then it will NEVER EVER HAPPEN FOR YOU! But you need to believe in yourself you need to know this is meant to be because there are people who have dreams but not everyone can make it happen exactly they way they planned. Some people are meant to make it and there are those that are not and I had to witness and see this too but I still believe that we have to go for our dreams and give it our best effort. I don't want to tell people go for your dreams no matter what and don't give up even if you are failing and nothing is working because that can be a sign that it is not meant for you and that something else is. I can only talk about myself because in life I never knew what I was supposed to do I tried every job out there and nothng worked or fit for me. Looking back all the different jobs I tried was actually training for me to become a Famous Celebrity RAW Organic Chef! It is totally true, I did freelance photography work to get through college and that later helped me to do amazing food photos of my own and EVERY FOOD Photo you see from my books, website, Eco Chef App I did it all myself and the food styling too! There are many other examples but I had to try a lot of things before discovering that being a Celebrity Raw Organic Chef was my calling in life. When you discover your mission or destiny you will know what it is because certain things will indicate and prove to you that is your life's purpose. You will get hints, success but failures, betrayals, scams and other challenges will still happen to see if you are really dedicated and really want the success too. But there are times and instances when you may want to change careers or jobs because it was not meant for you or is no longer working so I don't want to give the impression that you should continue to do something that is harmful, not healthy, not eco green, not happening or not successful for you but believe me you will know what it is that you should do if you have good, loving, healing intentions.

I do want to share one more example too. A few years ago there was a company in Venice Beach, CA and website I won't mention who it was but they kept featuring many upcoming RAW Chefs on their website and videos. I contacted them and for some reason they would not film with me or interview with me even after the success of my books! I did one DVD of my own previously so I did have experience filming but was still new and wanted to film and get more experience. But because they did not accept me I decided to film more DVDs and videos on my own! This was the best thing that happened to me because later on nothing happened with that website, those chefs or videos! While I was able to do my own videos, TV Shows, filming and I learned more and became more successful so they actually did me a favor by turning me down but at the time I was so heart broken I could not figure out why they would not film or interview with me it really hurt me at the time. But looking back it was the BEST thing that happened because I learned on my own and made it happen on my own too and got a lot more success than if I did film with them. They acted like their videos would be on TV and be very successful but nothing happened with them while I was able to get farther ahead on my own. So again any failures or dissapointments I encountered it only made me stronger better, it made me not give up so people who don't work with me they are only hurting themselves and not me. If they did film with me they could have enjoyed all the connections, National and Interanational success that I have now. I am only using this as an example and not to rub it in or to be spiteful but to illustrate that if you know what your goals are, if you have a solid good plan and you know this is your destiny then do it and never give up. Use failures or negative people to motivate you don't let them get to you, like all things it takes time to be successful in any field! Believe me I have people telling me all the time I am dreaming, it is a fantasy, "never going to happen for you" and even if I am on National TV, in Magazines, Newspapers these same people keep telling me this so nothing will make them happy or change their minds!

4.) What are your long term plans for the Raw in Ten Minutes brand? Are you more interested in developing yourself as a celebrity chef, or do you plan on sticking with the raw organics line of products?
I planned everything 10 + years ago and I stuck to my plan accomplishing each goal one by one. Only the Eco Chef App was unplanned because at the time that technology and product did not exist but I am so glad it did because for me it became my major success and breakthrough! People and the major media love it, we worked so hard on it and I want to thank http://www.TheAppCompany.com I want to thank Scot and Jason for taking a chance on me they invested a lot of time and money on me when I was not really that famous yet they helped me to become famous and to be successful. They took a risk and chance on me so for that I will always be grateful always show people who do help you and support you that you are very thankful and that you will do everything in your power to show your gratitude and that you will work even harder to prove to them that you are very thankful and that you will make it. Because people that DO HELP YOU that do support you along the way are Angels and so important they are the ones that will help you "make it" and at times before you are famous or known and that is very special and important to meet people that believe in you. My goal now is to sell MILLIONS of Eco Chef Apps that has been my promise to Scot and Jason from The APP Company and everyday I do what it takes to reach that goal and I will not give up until I do. That is what it takes to make it and I also watch VH1's Real Life of a Celebrity TV SHOW because I learned that other Celebrities and Stars they also never gave up, they went through even worse things than I did and they face heart breaking rejections, dissapointments, we never have a stable check or income and hope that one day we make it just to get stability and a normal life well at least I did! But for me and many other celebrities that is what it takes to "make it" and that is the price to pay to become a Celebrity or Star. But again for me I have a different intention other than fame and money for me it was about and still is about helping and empowering people to become happy, healthy and to help save the environment and to show people we can all save the World together!

My original plan 10 years ago: self publish my recipe books, open a restaurant, film a national TV Infomerical then my own National TV SHOW, open a national Franchise and chain of restaurants, launch my raw organic products, kitchenware and products, get listed on the Stock Market, create new jobs and major new industry.

Most of these things have happened, are happening or will happen and I was able to accomplish most of my goals and I know I will be able to with all of them. I just have to keep at it, meet the right people and make the right connections. One person told me recently "It is not about selling products Bryan, you are out to help people you are on a important mission remember that and do what you can the money and success will come with your good recipes and intentions..." they are so right! But to share one more story I had a friend from High School he did not really know what he wanted to do in life he only knew he wanted to be rich and make millions. He tried everything but after a few failures or hurdles he completely gave up! Instead he just works with his Dad in a small family business so he will never make the Millions or make his dream come true, there is nothing wrong with that but he simply "gave up" after just a few set backs or challenges! Now he still lives at home and I learned from his story that if you don't try then it will never happen for you, if you give up on yourself then you give up on the Dream. Find out what it is that you are good at, what you are an expert on, what really motivates you, gets you up in the morning, what excites you, what people compliment you on, what it is that you do that is very healing, loving, caring and positive then formulate a plan then go for it and don't give up if it is meant to be for you give it your best effort. It also helps to write a book because then you become a author and expert I always tell people to start with your book and finish it too I meet so many people that say they will but they never finish their book!

5.) In those early years when you were ignored by the media, how did you keep your confidence up? What things did you do to keep yourself inspired?
I used any set backs or perceived "failures" as motivation! Instead of letting people "win" I would prove to them that I can "win" that I can do it. What I have learned from this is always encourage the best in others! It does not cost anything to be nice, positive, polite or encouraging! Even if someone is your "competition or competitor" you should still be nice, polite and helpful. Because when you try to knock someone down, or are negative towards someone chances are they will use that to motivate themselves and they will end up being more successful than you and it was your own doing! So now with all my success I can look back to when people ignored me or didn't even respond to my e-mails and I can laugh because I knew that if I didn't give up and worked hard that I would someday make it and that day has come and let me tell you it is the most fun, exciting, sweetest thing to wake up everyday and know that I am living my Dreams and that no one and nothing stopped me if anything they motivated me to go further! So always try to turn a "negative into a positive" you will be surprised at what you can achieve if you can do that! Try to learn from others that have made it and keep good positive friends, always try to help others and give what you want to receive, make a good solid realistic plan and then go for it and don't give up that is my best advice!

I truly hope my story motivated you! Can you imagine promoting something so new, so radical, something that is 99% percent againt what the world is used to or the norm? I had to promote RAW FOOD to a cooked world and make it popular, mainstream and a new lifestyle, it was not easy it never is but it was worth it and now I know what it takes and what it is like to be a famous Author and Celebrity Chef, it was the best decision in my whole life!

Member Spotlight: Mark Allen Roberts, Founder of Out of the Box Solutions

2010-10-11T15:30:00.000Z

Mark Allen Roberts

I first came upon Mark Roberts when I read his "The 50 Ugly Truths to Owning Your Own Business and 5 Reasons to do it Anyway". I include a link to that document on this site and if you have not had a chance to look it over, I strongly encourage you to do so. I only wish I had found it a few years back, since it *might* have saved me the headache of making so many mistakes. Of course, I think mistakes are ok, as long as you learn from them. But, it sure would have been nice to have known all those truths up front (especially 1 - 10). I sure found out about them all the hard way.

Don't forget that Mark is a member of our site, so be sure and leave him a comment if what he said really resonates with you.

1.) On your website at http://www.outbsolutions.com, you say that you started the company in 2002 after several companies kept asking your advice about marketing and sales. Can you tell us more about that and what prompted you to make the leap into starting your own company?
We just sold a company that we grew from $4 million to $350 million then we sold it. The way we grew was new products and current products in new markets. I had a number of people asking me for advice so I decided to launch OTB Solutions so I could monetize my coaching , fine tuning those with sales problems. As I was out networking , looking for a new team to serve I kept running to companies with “sales problems” but they
could not afford to hire me full time. So I started doing project work.

2.) What has been your most effective way of finding new clients? How much time a week do you estimate you spend marketing your business and how has that changed over the past 8 years?
At first, business owners contacted me via word of mouth after reading about the recent sale of the business, our growth. I also enjoy public speaking and a number of trade groups asked I share how to fix sales problems. So I started speaking at various events. This would always result in someone attending wanting to bring me in to help their team. Over the last 8 years, the web has brought most of the inquires for help. They now are driven from my blog www.nosmokeandmirrors.com.

3.) You coined a phrase called the "Art of thought" to describe how you help clients grow their businesses and enrich their personal lives. Can you explain more about how that process works?
I spent some time reflecting on how we consistently grew our business profitably year over year. What I found was a repeatable 10 step model. The beginning of the model is the step called “truth”. In this phase we connect to the market, customers, and identify their real issues and problems they want to pay to solve. Art of thoughts starts with no limits. Far too often clients would say ...that is not how we do things, or we have never done that...we did not plan for our customers to use our product that way. They have unintentional blinders on. I come in and have no blinders, limits, and thought becomes an art. One of my most popular blog posts was; want to add value...hire a heretic. The heretic role is one clients often hire me for to challenge their sales process, assumptions, and help them tun in to the way their buyers buy.

4.) I can see that you read a lot and take lessons from many great people in history. Which of these people do you think has influenced you the most?
That’s an easy one; the Bible, Jesus. The service model he walked is exactly how we must all desire to serve our clients. For years I secretly referred to is as “loving on “ our clients. Other words I teach teams not to “sell” their customers but “serve” them. In a recent Keynote speech I asked the audience; How many people like to buy stuff? ....all hands went up. Then I asked “ how many people like to be sold” almost all hands went down. I teach my clients how to help their buyers buy. A recent book I really enjoyed was delivering happiness, a must
read for those wishing to be the dominant leader in their market.

5.) By the way, I love how you give away an online version of your book to anyone that gives you feedback. I am thinking of doing the same with my No Limits book. I am curious how long you have been doing that and how has it been working for you?
It breaks my heart when I meet with struggling entrepreneurs who have run out of friends and family money, they borrowed from their kids college fund, home equity, and they come to me frustrated and in a panic. The two leading issues I consistently found were a lack of clear understanding of how to intentionally brand/ position your business in the market , and a false expectation of what it means to launch and own your own business. So I wrote two ebooks. If it helps one family I am thrilled. Business people challenged me that I need to charge for my
content; they said it was stupid to offer it for free. I have had over 5,000 downloads of Branding Backwards and 6,000 downloads of : 50 ugly truths about starting your own business. This gives entrepreneurs help. Some contact me, ask questions, some hire me. For those who can not afford my fees, they read my blog, follow my advice until they can afford me.

Get all the logo file formats

2010-10-08T05:45:48.000Z

A logo is mostly designed or drawn in a drawing tool like Adobe Illustrator or Creative Suite. It has to be created in high resolution logo format such that it can be converted to other formats too and used elsewhere also. Usually the standard of resolution is 300 dots per inch.

If your logo is not in such a format which can’t be converted into other formats and broken up or enlarged for other purposes too then it’s just an image you can display on your website not what you call a branding tool. Ideally you should get all logo file formats from the designer which can help you better recognize and check the visibility of your logo in all formats.

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet....

2010-10-07T22:57:58.000Z

Very soon I will be restarting my well received "I'll Never Quit Club" with a whole new series of VERY inspiring interviews. I posted a query for the series on a popular reporter connection and have gotten back a ton of responses. The hardest part will be deciding who to profile first. I have been blown away by some of the responses and I need to wait a few days in order to read all the ones that have come in.

This is just a teaser. I will send out a broadcast message to our group once the new series officially kicks off, but in the mean time I wanted to give you all the same reminder I received from a friend:

"keep your head up, breathe the fresh cool air, know you are loved and be positive!"

The Pros and Cons of Do-It-Yourself Printing

2010-10-06T17:00:00.000Z

Over the last few years, there have been several times where I needed to produce marketing and advertising materials for my business ventures. As a struggling business owner, I have often opted for the do-it-yourself variety and can say that I have tried just about every one of the do it yourself printing kits that Office Depot offers. I have also tried using local printing services, as well as those on the Internet, so I do have perspective regarding this.

So, which method is better?

Ah, if only it were that simple. As with most things in life, the answer depends on your circumstances and needs. Rather than tell you which one is best, I will list what I consider to be the Pros and Cons of Do-It-Yourself printing, since this is the option most small business owners are drawn towards.

The Pro's:

Try Before You Buy - This is the number one greatest benefit to Do-It-Yourself printing. If you happen to be a bit impulsive, as I admit to be, then this trying out a design before committing to an expensive printer is good for you. This is especially true in the case of business cards. On more than one occasion, I have purchased 250 printed business cards online, only to discover that I hated them or a piece of information on them changed once they arrived. My daughter now plays with them and I tell her to pretend they are some kind of foreign currency. I just wish I had waited a little longer before placing those orders, or tried out my design and text on one of the Office Depot business card templates first.

Faster and cheaper - Even if you find a local printer who is both cheap and fast (usually a combo that does not go together), then you will either have to wait a while to get your nice printed material, or you will have to pay a fortune for overnight shipping or rushing the order. Do-It-Yourself printing can be done instantly and even if you are not a graphic designer, there are tons of templates available online for just about all of the Do-It-Yourself kits that make designing a business card or a flyer as easy as putting together a word document.

The Con's:

Quality is typically not as good - The quality of the paper and printing used by professional printers is generally of a higher quality than what you can achieve using a home laser printer. Professional printers have the advantage of using large, high-quality printers and can afford to buy large reams of paper at bulk prices. This means they can afford to offer you high quality paper at reasonable prices, which does look more professional to the trained observer (which we are assuming is your client).

Overall Cost is not always lower -The Do-It-Yourself kits offered by Office Depot or Staples are not cheap. They typically cost anywhere from $20 - $50 and remember you still need to factor in the cost of your printers ink and the fact that you will more than likely mess up the first few printings (it happens even to the most careful of us all). Depending on what the job is, do not assume than the do-it-yourself kit is cheaper. In some cases, it is not (especially if you are willing to wait a little longer for an online service to mail you the results).

Which printing choice you use depends a lot on what you need to accomplish, when you need it done, and how much you can pay for it. Fortunately, the low cost of home printers and do-it-yourself printing kits have made it more affordable for small business owners to do their own printing, but there are times when a professional touch is worth more than the extra cost.

I would suggest that individuals and small business owners consider using both professional printers and do-it-yourself kits for their marketing and advertising needs. Start with the do-it-yourself kits to get your feet wet and then once you have nailed down what text and designs you want, you can go to a professional printer to get a more polished and high-end look.

For anyone not using Mozilla as their Web Browser, two words...Spell Checking

2010-10-04T20:03:23.000Z

Hey, I admit it. For many years I was what they call a "Microsoftie". I loved Microsoft and pushed every single product they had. I still love them and think most of their products are outstanding. But, I have to admit that not all of them are the best.

In the case of your web browser, if you are still using Internet Explorer, I would strongly urge you to reconsider. Google's Chrome is nice, but if you are using a PC, you should download and install the latest version of Mozilla Firefox.

I rarely have problems with it and the best feature it has is the automatic spell checking. I have been using it exclusively for the past year and I cannot imagine how I went so many years without it now. I think back in horror on all the times that I pasted text into Word in order to do spell checking before posting on some forum. With Mozilla, it is all built in. No matter what website you are on, it will automatically underline your misspelled words and allow you to right-click for suggestions. It is all just built-in.

Sometimes it is the littlest things that matter the most and this is certainly one of those things. Have fun.

You never really lose your Value!

2010-10-01T13:17:34.000Z

I first ran across this message 5 years back. It was at a time when I had first become self-employed and was struggling to find my footing. A series of disappointments had caused me to have serious doubts about myself and my decisions. For a moment, I considered staying in a situation that was really anything but tolerable. That was, until I happened across the message below. I hope this message finds you and convinces you that despite hardships, you never lose your Value.

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "What is this piece of paper & is it worth any
thing ?"

"It is a $20 bill, encashable in international & national markets for it's quoted value ?" replied one of the many participants who raised their
hands.

He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up using both his hands till it became a bundle of wrinkled paper.

He then unfolded it again and making an unsuccessful attempt to keep it
straight he asked, "Would you still be able to negotiate it for it's
quoted value?"

" Yes !!" was the echoing reply from the participants.

"Well," he said, "Looks like I haven't done enough ! What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor
with his shoe. He picked it up, which was now all crumpled, dirty, defaced
& not easy to recognize from a distance.

"Now will some one like to trade it for its quoted value?" Many hands went in the air.

"I think this piece of currency is still holding its quoted value" replied a participant in a slightly unsure voice.

"This bill can still fetch goods worth 20 Dollars" said the other participants. Every one agreed.

"My friends, there is a very valuable lesson in this exercise that we are just through with. It may have appeared to some of you, that I was able to deface, mutilate & alter the $20 bill during the process as the
effects were quite visible".

"However, No matter what I did to this piece of paper, you still upheld its negotiability because you were sure in your mind that my actions did
not actually decrease its value. It was still a currency note worth $20".

"Many times in our lives, we feel like as if we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and/or the circumstances
that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. It may also appear
to onlookers as if it has really happened to certain extent. But no matter
what has happened or what will happen, please remember you never lose your 'Value'."

Values that you cherish are indeed devoid of worldly disturbance & always are your Savior.

–Author Unknown

The Fear of Change

2010-09-29T20:02:49.000Z

One great fear that we all possess

Is that change will knock on our door

And force us to go to an unfamiliar place

And leave behind a life we think we adore

There are those who hide when change calls

They lock the windows and pull the shade

They cower in a corner hoping it will go away

They pray that the need for change will fade

How sad it is to be so afraid of change

For hope and opportunity follow closely behind

Passion returns with a change in heart

And new ideas take root with a change of mind

When change calls, there is a reason

Embrace the moment and the new road ahead

Change is not an omen of your destruction

It is the beginning of the promise that lies just ahead

Donna Cavanagh- MyVeryOwnFan.com

Thriving or Surviving? It really is your choice

2010-09-29T16:17:40.000Z

The Great Recession is tough...I know. I am suffering, right along with everyone else. As an independent contractor who once had her pick of interesting and unsolicited jobs, I have found myself now considering jobs I never would have before. In today's economy, change is inevitable and in many cases it is very good.

The last two years are eerily similar to the beginning years of the Great Depression and although no one has officially declared this time a depression, I would not be shocked if it is labeled that in a few years. Ok, so times are tough. No doubt about it.

But look, that is NOT a bad thing entirely. The good news is that America has been through this before and has emerged stronger and better than ever - and so can you!

The trick to it all is staying positive and optimistic. That is why I have focused more of my posts recently on inspiring and motivating everyone, as opposed to teaching you about technology. But, I promise that more technology-based posts are coming. In fact, I have a great one scheduled for tomorrow, so be sure and tune in.

I would like for everyone reading this to make a promise to yourself. Promise yourself that the next time you are felling discouraged and overwhelmed, you tell yourself the following (out loud preferably):

"I have the choice whether I will survive or thrive and I choose to thrive."

They are simple words, but they can make a HUGE impact if you let them.

The Power of Not Giving Up – One Blogger’s Story

2010-09-24T14:47:42.000Z

My good friend Blase Ciabaton (who I featured here as part of our I'll Never Quit Club), sent me an incredibly wonderful and inspiring link yesterday that I wanted to share with you all. It is a post written by successful problogger, Naomi Dunford.

Naomi wrote the post to commemorate the 6th birthday of the ProBlogger website (where she got her start three years ago). Naomi offers a brutally honest review of how she got her start blogging. Even though her journey has been anything but easy, her powerful advice at the end of the post is this:

"Please don’t give up. I know it’s terrifying. I know you are under indescribable pressure to do something serious with your life and grow up and forget your crazy blogging dreams. I know that some
days, this is the hardest thing you’ve ever done.

I know your family thinks you’re crazy. I know you feel completely alone. I know you feel like it’s never, ever going to work.

But what you’re reading here? It works. I promise. Please don’t lose heart."

I think Naomi's advice is as just applicable to those small business owners of physical companies as it is to those bloggers, desperately trying to stand out in an over saturated market.

Just remember this, It is not true that successful people never fail, but it is true that they never quit when they do. I know I am not quitting and I hope you won't either. Hang in there everyone and have a GREAT weekend.

The Power of Being Wrong and a Lesson in Playing it Safe

2010-09-22T15:18:52.000Z

I ran across a great podcast of an interview done with Kathryn Schultz, author of the Wrong Stuff Blog and the book, Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error. Kathryn believes that most of us are wrong all the time, but we are terrified to admit this - and that is where we really go wrong.

I think Kathryn makes some terrific points in the interview that we all should consider. I was particularly struck by something she said about an interview she did with Victor Niederhoffer, a hedge fund manager and 5 time US Nationals Squash Champion. Victor told Kathryn that despite the fact that he appeared to be doing everything right, he wished he had been a riskier squash player and had not made so many conservative choices. Victor recognized that he was able to make risky choices as a Hedge Fund Manager, but was unable to do the same in his career as a squash player. Kathryn thought:

"I had tended to think that someone who is going to be risk averse is going to be risk averse across most
domains of their life and someone who is super aggressive is going to be
aggressive across most domains. And he essentially said, “No, you
know, I got it backwards. I should have played a more conservative game
as a hedge fund manager and a riskier game as a squash player.”

How many times have you played it safe, only to regret that you had?

Is there some aspect of your life that you feel you take too many risks with, but then there is another part of you that is too conservative? Where do you think that comes from?

We can never grow and succeed until we are able to honestly examine ourselves and admit to the mistakes we have made. I know I have made many mistakes in my life. I firmly believe that being wrong is not always bad. I think being wrong, recognizing your errors and then making adjustments is what life is all about.

What do you think?

For a few days, I seriously considered shutting this site down....

2010-09-21T15:10:53.000Z

Hi folks,

I have to be honest with you all. Last week I seriously considered shutting this site down and getting a "real job" (as everyone has advised me to do). I thought, "very few people are participating and I am not making any money and everyone hates me, blah, blah, blah".

How ridiculous is all that?

VERY RIDICULOUS!!!

To address my own complaints, let me start with the most serious - my lack of money. This one is entirely my own fault and a direct result of the fact that up until this week, I had no burning desire for money and so I did not have any. Everything that is in or not in my life is due to my own thoughts. I have never been more sure of this in all my life.

Don't believe me? Ok, that's fair, but I am willing to prove it.

Starting today, I have changed everything about my thoughts and desires. I now am firmly entrenched in my faith of myself and my financial goals. I have written down a clear goal which I intend to achieve by the end of this year and I am willing to share it with you all. I am also 100% convinced that I will achieve this goal in the time frame that I have stated below and for the next 3 months I am willing to go on record to prove it.

Ok, so here it is:

By the end of this year, I will have in my possession $25,000, which will come to me in various amounts over the next 3 months. In return for this money, I will give the most efficient service of which I am capable, rendering the best quality and quantity of service as a private computer instructor, author, salesman, and independent contractor.

By the way, all this conviction comes from a repeated reading of the book I have told you about previously, Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill. I plan on revisiting portions of this book a lot over the next few months, so get ready. If you have not already purchased a copy yourself, I highly encourage you to do so now.

Heck, go ahead and join me. Create your own goal statement and post it here. We can all watch it come true. Just make sure you have ultimate faith that you will and can attain it and I can ensure you that it WILL happen...almost like a miracle.

Here's to miracles folks....

Do one thing everyday that makes someone else happy

2010-09-17T15:30:00.000Z

Do one thing everyday that makes someone else happy. ~ Lexxi Saal

You may be surprised to learn that the person who wrote that quote is an 11 year old girl. I know I was surprised. I was also surprised to learn that that same 11 year old kid is a talented singer and the founder of a foundation called Lexxi Loves, which is dedicated to supporting foster care families. And no, she was not a foster kid herself - her mother was.

Lexxi is obviously a very smart little girl, and not typical for her age. But, I think what makes her so amazing it that even with all that brilliance, she is still able to recognize what is most important in life. She is still able to move past all the limitations and do what she thinks is right. She does not think, "Gee, I'm just a kid. What do I know. I can't start a foundation. I can't make a recording."

If Lexxi can do all that she has done, what can you do? Think about it and watch the video of Lexxi below.

Lexxi Loves Fios Video

Lexxi Saal | MySpace Music Videos

The fine art of communication...Part 2

2010-09-15T15:13:57.000Z

Part 2: Floors are not just for standing on!

Resources abound that teach us effective ways to speak. Seminars, books, and online study groups thrive, with the objective of helping entrepreneurs to effectively convey information, whether to a large audience or to an individual. These resources are immensely helpful, enabling us to effectively transfer ideas, dreams, and the passion that drives us, in the hopes of enriching and empowering others in their own pursuits. Effective speaking is indeed a valuable skill, but so is its reciprocal: skilled listening. Either one without the other is about as useful as a glove with no hand inside.

The skill of listening intently has become something of a lost art, which is accounted for by several factors. This list is by no means exhaustive, but provides definite food for thought:

· The bombardment of our senses by a plethora of modern inventions, interruptions, and inbound information can easily put us into “overload”, making it difficult to focus our attention.

· A general sense of “being behind”, which causes us to feel stress over the amount of time specific tasks or situations demand, elicits pressure to accomplish more in less time, with fewer resources.

· Basic human pride enters the picture at times when we assume that what someone else has to say is just not important enough for us to take the time to hear. This is a sad commentary on our view of humanity in general.

· The very real demands of daily life do take a great deal of time, stretching our energy and patience, sometimes to the breaking point.

· Simple things such as a high intake of caffeine and/or insufficient sleep can make it difficult to pay attention when someone else is speaking. Adrenaline overload and fatigue are enemies to effective entrepreneurship.

· “Multi-tasking”, though considered by many to be an enviable skill that enables an individual to perform several tasks simultaneously, may actually result in very few of those tasks being accomplished well…especially if one of those tasks is to listen attentively to someone who is speaking.

Clearly, there are numerous obstacles to effective listening already arrayed against us in the form of ordinary distractions inherent to our modern lives. An activity that should come naturally instead requires a concerted effort. This might be a simple task if two people are standing alone in the deep woods with no telephones, computers, doorbells, or car alarms to intrude with jarring distractions. But the fact is, we function in a society where such intrusions exist, so we must learn to be proficient listeners even in the midst of chaos. Offering a speaker our full attention and intently absorbing their words, whether in a large conference setting or in a one-on-one conversation, affirms the value of what they share and allows us to participate in their experience. How can we do this more successfully?

First, a bit of humility is in order. Standing back and taking a realistic view of ourselves should help remove any pedestal upon which we may have unrealistically placed ourselves, and allow us a minute or two to brush off the dirt resulting from our tumble. In short, we need to realize that though we may be highly educated and experienced in our field, we can still learn much from an encounter with another person. The most learned scholar might never have memorized the exact same line in a classic poem as one of his own students, and even the most highly skilled surgeon may benefit from the intuitive insight of a medical intern half his age. We are all life’s pupils on this big blue ball, and it would be to our credit to remember that not one of us has the corner on the market where knowledge and understanding are concerned.

Second, we must realize that someone “has the floor”…and it’s the other guy! That seems simple enough, right? It’s just not our turn to speak! The phrase “having the floor” is addressed in Robert’s Rules of Order, which were formalized in 1915 and govern parliamentary procedure in the U.S. to this day. The phrase is summarized: “Obtain the floor (the right to speak) by being the first to stand when the person speaking has finished; state Mr./Madam Chairman. Raising your hand means nothing, and standing while another has the floor is out of order!” So, “having the floor” means that the speaker has the right to speak without interruption from persons listening, and that said speaker retains that right until purposely relinquishing it or until the designated time limit for speaking has been reached. A popular tool used by family counselors is that of the “speaker/listener” method, wherein a couple or a family chooses an object to represent “having the floor”, and as long as the person doing the speaking holds that item, they are not to be interrupted. This method is very useful when individuals are having difficulty communicating effectively, or when arguments are common. The basic practice goes something like this:

1. One person “has the floor”, and thus holds in their hand the designated object signifying that they are the speaker.

2. The speaker shares in short portions what they would like to communicate.

3. The listener(s) repeat back what the speaker said, in their own words but adhering as closely to the speaker’s intent as they are able to understand, in order to be certain that they heard the speaker correctly.

4. If the listener(s) heard the speaker correctly, the speaker goes on with the next small portion of their sharing, but if the listener(s) did not accurately perceive the speaker’s previous point, the speaker should re-phrase what they said so that the listener(s) come to grasp their meaning.

5. This goes on until the speaker is finished, at which time he/she hands the object to the listener who then “has the floor” to share what they want to say.

6. At any point, a listener may respectfully ask for clarification, or simply say “I don’t understand, could you re-phrase that?”, but they must save any of their own statements or comments for the time when they “have the floor”.

7. This process goes back and forth with each individual having opportunity to share, without interruption, and with relative certainty that the other individual(s) involved will gain a firm understanding of the point(s) they meant to convey.

You might be thinking this is an extreme length to go to for a conversation. But in situations where perhaps communication has broken down or disagreements are frequent, it is a valuable tool for opening lines of dialogue and encouraging active listening. In this setting, passively allowing what a speaker says to travel into one ear, through the grey matter, and out the other side of the skull will not suffice because the listener has to actually re-iterate what the speaker said in order to ensure understanding. The listener must engage their brain and focus on not only the words the speaker utters, but must assimilate the speaker’s intent.

One of the most common pitfalls in communication is that of racing ahead in our minds. We might be intently watching the person speaking, occasionally even nodding our head in assent to an idea, all the while we are already plunging ahead to organize what we will say in rebuttal to, or even in agreement with their statements. Guess what folks; the human brain just doesn’t work that way. When our brain is occupied with planning a response, we are no longer taking in information but have ceased listening altogether. It is crucial that we focus our energy when it is time to listen, remembering that at such times someone else “has the floor”… and it is not us.

Lastly, we must recognize the importance of effective listening. American culture typically does not hold in high regard the qualities of meekness or quiet observance to the same degree that we honor eloquent speech and confidence before an audience. Consider the way doctors honor the work of nurses, builders respect the talent of interior designers, and astronauts recognize that part of their own safety stems from the skill of technicians who construct the space shuttle. They are all parts of a successful venture, each doing their part. As business people, we must assume the responsibilities not only to communicate clearly to others, but to willingly assume the role of listener not only because it is unavoidable at times, but because listening well is a vital skill that honors the individual who is speaking and allows for a valuable exchange of ideas.

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”
~Winston Churchill

Small Business Essentials: Passion

2010-09-14T20:32:57.000Z

(The following is an excerpt from The 7 Essentials of Small Business Success by Stuart Preston, available for free at MyBusiness Advisors)

Successful companies are lead by owners who are driven by a clear passion. This passion comes in many forms.

A Passion for their Products or Services. This is clear immediately when you have a conversation with any of these folks. They love their products and will tell you all about them – the history, the technical details, testimonials of others who have used them, etc.
A Passion for their Market. This is really a passion for the people in their market. These business owners care deeply about helping their customers get some advantage in life or ease some kind of pain. Their entire focus is in satisfying the customer.
A Passion for the Business itself. These are the entrepreneurs who come in early, leave late, and talk shop 24/7. They can tell you all about the operations, timing, profits, employees, etc. of their business at any moment. The business to them is almost a recreation, and they treat it like a game that has to be won.
A Passion for Life! You have seen these folks. They are constantly smiling, seeing the half-full glass, and running through life like it’s a carnival. Their passion is not business-centered, but it absolutely contributes to their success

This Passion is a fuel. It fuels the company’s vision which in turn helps to create leadership. This leadership helps to inspire the entire team, from the employees to suppliers to bankers to vendors. Additionally, this Passion helps the entrepreneur get through the tough days. You know, the days that are damaged by a bad customer or a slow-paying customer or any other number of things that challenge the business owner at any given moment. When these moments occur, it is the Passion that helps to pull ourselves out of it and get back on track.

If Passion is missing in your business, there are few things you can do to rediscover it:

Think about the early days when you were starting your business. Do you remember how excited and Passionate you were? Maybe it was when you chose the name for your business. Maybe it was when you served your very first customer. It could have been when your first purchased your business cards or opened them when they arrived. Remember that? I know you do! You are probably feeling very passionate right now – I know I am just writing this!
Think about the one product that you love most. If you could sell just one product or service over and over again, knowing it would be very fulfilling, what would it be? This is a product or service that would pull you out of bed each morning screaming, “I get to sell those again today!”
Now think about your favorite customer. This is the person who just loves you and your business and your products. You wish every person who rang your number or entered your front door was just like this person. Why? What about this person really gets you going? The answer to that question is a key to rediscovering the passion.

Now, you have a method for rediscovering that Passion. Use it, and use it often. It is very important to make Passion a part of everything you do, every day. It is a tough exercise, but it can be done.

CASE STUDY

A while back, I met with a client of mine and a couple of guys who were interested in investing in my client’s business. We did the typical business plan dance, going over what a great guy this client is, what a great opportunity for investment his business is, and how good the financials looked. At the end of the meeting, they offered him $250,000. I was thrilled. My client, however, looked as if he’d just gotten peas and carrots for dessert! I asked him, “John, aren’t you happy? They just offered you a quarter-million dollars?” “Sure, I’m happy.” I didn’t believe him. I asked how he’d feel if they offered $10 MILLION dollars. His eyes lit up, his faced beamed, and he said, “I’d open up an amusement park!” He proceeded to reach into his bag and pull out pro forma Income Statements for this part idea of his. He started talking a million miles an hour: the land would cost this much…lifetime profitability…my own designs…oh man! He was full of Passion. It became clear to me that we had to take the money from these investors, create a profitable business with it, and make a ton of money for John in selling the business so that he could start the company of his dreams, where his heart really resided.

Check out this short and honest video by celebrity speaker agent, Amy Gray

2010-09-10T18:26:58.000Z

Take a moment to watch this interesting video of small business owner Amy Gray. Amy is the owner of New Leaf Speakers, which is a celebrity speakers agency. Even though she started out as a poor kid in rural Maine, she acknowledges that she always had the entrepreneurial bug. After realizing she had nothing to lose, she took a chance and used her keen interpersonal skills as a way to launch a new personalized and very effective small business.

Amy has faced many challenges since leaving Corporate America and launching her new business September 10, 2001 (that's right, the day before 9/11). For starters, on her second day in business, she lost all her clients and revenue in one fatal moment.

Amy did not let that stop her and she re-focused her efforts, dug in and rode out the storm, doing whatever she could to make ends meet. Eight years later, Amy cannot imagine doing anything else with her life and she is grateful that she hung in there. Her story is truly inspirational and I encourage you to read more about it here, as well as watch the video below.

Would you like to be as great a tennis champion as Roger Federer?

2010-09-09T19:30:00.000Z

One thing I learned a while back is that you are who you know and who you associate with. For that very reason, I have made a conscious effort to only accept advice from people I know are positive and optimistic people. I consider them guides. One of my favorite guides is a Steve Harrison and I wanted to share with you something he included in a very recent posting:

"Last night, there were 30 mph gusts of wind on the main tennis court at the U.S. Open. It was so bad, I thought they should just cancel play,
but they didn't. Right before the match, they interviewed the
challenger who said he was just going to do the best he could. Then they
interviewed Roger Federer, whom many people consider the greatest
tennis champion ever. He said he thought he could use the wind to his
advantage. See the difference?

Right now I want you to take five minutes and write down
your biggest problem or frustration in one sentence. Now ask yourself,
"How can I use this problem or frustration to my advantage?" Send me a
reply email and let me know what this simple exercise showed you. Most
people who read this won't do it. That's why most people don't become
champions. Do it now!"

Steve predicts that most people will not do the exercise he suggests. Please do not let this opportunity for growth pass you by. Take the few minutes it will take to do as Steve suggests and then if it has a positive impact on you, take another moment to tell us about it in the comments of this post.

Oh, and here is my biggest challenge:
I need to get more people participating on and joining this network.

How can I use this problem to my advantage?
I am going to start owning up to the fact that people are not participating as much as I would like and I am going to start writing articles about it, which are designed to draw in new members and get them participating.

Ok, now it is your turn. As Steve said, "Do it now!"