John Andrew Ellis | Serial Entrepreneur & Business Consultant

There's (Really) an App for That!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 20:15:00 +0000

I discussed some starting points for branding in my last blog post, but neglected to include the true ease of managing all this beautiful new content that I'm sure you're in the process of creating. So simply put, here's my list of apps that make life a while lot easier... digitally. I can't help with the inlaws... unless you know of an app that I might be missing out on?

Here's a sneak peak into my digital toolbox. I am running an iPhone 5 with iOS 7 installed. I admit, I prefer iPhone, and recommend it for ease of use and stability. It should also be noted that you can get one from yourself, on SHOP.COM.

If you prefer, there is also a broad selection of items avaialable from Google's Android Market, also on SHOP.COM

Here are your preferred Android apps:

Twitter

Facebook Pages

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook Page Manager

PhotoRepost

Pinterest

Pic Collage

Google+

LinkedIn Contacts (No Android App)

CamCard Free

BitDroid

HelloSign

SHOP.COM

Here are your preferred iOS apps:

Twitter

Facebook Pages

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook Page Manager

PhotoRepost

Pinterest

Pic Stitch

Bitly

HelloSign

SHOP.COM

Setting Up Your Brand - A Few Step-By-Step Tutorials

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 23:21:00 +0000

So you've taken the plunge, and have set out to conquer the digital world by storm...! Now what?*

For some, this question may plague them, echoing in their head unanswered as they fade off into the "could have been great at blogging"distance. Never fear, this is post one of an interactive tutorial that will guide you in the messy world of branding yourself online. As you embark on this process it's important to remember: You can't break the internet! Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty.

The coolest thing about the internet is that it's always easy to find someone who has already done what you want to learn. There are thousands of tutorials, how to guides, and examples to learn from.

You might consider downloading Picasa in conjunction with your Google info. It's free, and great for editing any images you might want to prepare for use on your social media mediums.

Also consider that every single one of these mediums can easily be managed from a smartphone. It's also easy to manage your content using push notifications to stay current with followers / fans.

Here's where to start:

Ensure you're on Facebook.
Ensure you're on Twitter.
Ensure you're on Google+ (It's helpful to have a GMail Account).

Set up your Facebook Page.
Set up your Twitter (Do you want more than one?).
Set up your Google+ Page.
Set up your Instagram Account (Ideally using the app)

*A great resource is my own commercial page: http://blog.earnsocially.com . It is well linked, and you should find it helpful if you want to see optimized social media in action.

The Wolf Mentality: 7 Qualities A Young Entrepreneur Must Have In Today’s Business World

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 01:06:00 +0000

What makes the mind of an entrepreneur different from that of someone who prefers a simpler Countless studies and millions of dollars have gone into deciphering the contributing factors that make people the way they are and identify the traits that make someone successful.

The sheer numbers of factors are gargantuan; from genetics to upbringing and experiences, the possibilities are endless regarding the unique personalities of human beings. So, how do we level the playing field?

Habitual or consistent behavior.

From my travels, speaking engagements and meetings with people from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds, I’ve noticed certain similarities of every successful entrepreneur. If some of these resonate with you, maybe, just maybe, you should consider taking a step toward a new and fulfilling life path. Check out these seven traits that successful entrepreneurs likely embody.

1. They have no respect for the status quo:

This is a phrase that Steve Jobs often stated when inspiring others to pursue powerful and impactful work. I can now see why. There’s a reason entrepreneurs oftentimes have a slightly negative opinion of the corporate world, with the entitlement of knowing “this is how it’s done,” or “we have to do it this way.” This kind of mentality drains entrepreneurial individuals from creativity.

Genuine entrepreneurs look at the world differently and seek to improve it — they want to see the world around them grow and flourish. This is why most people find them to be inspiring, as they represent the few people who constantly see life through a lens of what things can BECOME rather than what they ARE.

Josh explains what sets entrepreneurs in Market America apart from other companies, especially those promoting "work from home"and "internet marketing" businesses. Message me using the info below or text 717-683-5343 to learn more.

2. They have something to prove:

They have high levels of self-confidence and it’s extremely important for them to believe they are special. They work and work to accomplish
and realize their dreams. In their heads and in their hearts, they take on superhero personas to venture on their quests — they have something to prove and may not even be aware of to whom they are seeking approval. But the force drives them, no matter how long it takes to achieve their dreams.

3. They think and act by themselves:

They are the free-spirited, free-flying birds amongst the uniform flock. They have a distinct way in which they do things; their own processes for working through predicaments, making decisions and not fearing the repercussions of the decisions. They are, in many ways, deviants, rebels and individualistic thinkers — characteristics that current education systems don’t necessarily reward or value.

4. They absorb information that matters to them:

Information is key. Entrepreneurs are quick to pick up on things and are confident about applying learned skills and knowledge. You’ll often notice that although many entrepreneurs weren’t tremendous students in school (averaging roughly a 2.8 grade point averages), they tend to all have a common an affinity for reading. With the Internet, access to information is so readily available that there’s almost no excuse to not be able to learn something. By sixth grade, Jay-Z had a college level aptitude for reading.

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, never studied astrophysics or aeronautical engineering in school and says he learned all of it from reading books independently. Mark Cuban shut himself in a room for years, working a day job then reading computer science books at night. Entrepreneurs put in the effort to learn by reading and by doing. Information is out there — it’s just a matter of you grabbing it.

5. They approach their work like an Olympic athlete:

Entrepreneurs have an obsessive, fiery passion and desire to accomplish what they do. How many stories have you heard about Olympic athletes who suffered from an injury and were told they would never walk again, yet the athletes defied those notions and got back into the grind? Entrepreneurs think and act the same way. It’s truly them against the world and the journey is never easy, with perpetual naysayers and critics present along the way.

A perfect example is when SnapChat Cofounder Evan Spiegel told Forbes about how most people originally hated the idea:

“Everyone said, ‘That is a terrible idea,’” Spiegel said. “‘Not only is nobody going to use it,’ they said, ‘but the only people who do will use it for sexting.’” A venture capitalist sitting in on the class said it could be interesting, if he made the photos permanent and partnered with Best Buy. Spiegel nearly gagged.”

Spiegel stuck to his guns and made it possible.

6. They love to solve problems:

Entrepreneurs are very logically driven. They approach problems like they approach games, strategizing about how to overcome them, learn from them and provide solutions. For most people, problems equal stress, fatigue and nervousness, whereas entrepreneurs are excited about the opportunity to problem solve. You will often notice that due to this mentality, entrepreneurs tend to be very emotionally stable and are able to deal with the blows and punches of the startup roller coaster ride.

7. They understand the world of business:

This trait, when not fully realized, can be a fatal flaw in the startup world. As an entrepreneur, you can’t afford to enter the battlefield without first understanding your business. Take the time to understand it. Read, pick up the phone and ask for help, get advice and put the time into learning the basic concepts of business, from accounting to finance to marketing.

Trust me, when you equip yourself with that knowledge, you will become a more effective leader. It hurts me to see bright engineers, who have an amazing product but have no idea how their business model works, how they will raise money and how will they market and position themselves in the competitive landscape to succeed. These are all significant factors that are imperative to the success of the company.

Now you’re probably thinking “wow, these sound amazing, but are these characteristics prerequisites for becoming a successful entrepreneur?” Not quite. Like your statistics professor told you, correlation does not equal causation.

Successful entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes, from different backgrounds, industry experiences and skill sets. They are all unique, and that’s what makes them great. But, if some of these characteristics describe you, maybe it’s time to explore the world of entrepreneurship. Dare yourself to take that first step. With hard work and dedication, who knows — you just might join the ranks of the most successful entrepreneurs in history, alongside our friends, Jack Dorsey, Mark Cuban and Nick Woodman.

The greatest energy we have is our potential. Don’t waste it.

Keep hustling, my friends.

Portions of this content originally appeared here, and were authored by Rayyan Islam.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Success Formula - Michael Jordan Style

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 06:18:00 +0000

Michael Jordan's early days in basketball were less than glorious. In fact most of us would never have expected him to ever accomplish even anything remotely close to the level of success he enjoys even to this day in terms of notoriety, and market value even after his final NBA game was on April 16, 2003 in Philadelphia.

Click The Image For Fifteen more Inspiring Stories of Failures that lead to Eventual Success.

Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team as a child, driven to the point of tears because of his intense desire to succeed in the midst of his early failure in a sport he would come to eventually dominate not just in the United States with the Chicago Bulls and several other teams - but as a global figure representing the essence of NBA success to people everywhere.

One key component to his amazing success was that he kept showing up, and kept taking shots. In Jordan's own words:
"I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."So the question is this: What shots are you willing to continue taking until you reach success and how do you define that success? Is it a journey or a single event (earning X per year, or opening X amount of stores)? For Michael Jordan, success was and is his legacy not of just himself but the sport he loved and still loves so dearly. What is your love? What are you willing to sacrifice or overcome to reach that love in the ways you want most?

x

"It's A Business." What this common phrase means to hockey, the Philadelphia Flyers, and Your Own.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 18:54:00 +0000

There was just a major reshuffling with the Philadelphia Flyers. If you've been sleeping under a rock, that major move was the firing of former head coach Peter Laviolette.

The irony here is that everyone loved Peter when he first came on board, hailing his coaching style and abilities. That was then, this is now. Just like anywhere, NHL Hockey, life, or a business in your own hometown - sometimes tough decisions need to be made.

Ask yourself, what tough decisions are you putting off in business or life? Have you put it off because you lack direction or guidance? If so, what are you doing to seek out and obtain the guidance needed?

It seems thus far that the Flyers executive staff made the right call after their recent 2-1 win over Florida. Tonight they take on the Phoenix Coyotes, and I'll be there to watch the action.

That's right. I'm going to the game! Totally ready and stoked to snag some great shots and memories from about seven rows off the ice. Let's do this!

Oh, and back to business... Have you made some tough calls lately? How so? What did you learn from it? Leave a comment, and let's chat about it.

Are you Ready?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 04:56:00 +0000

If you don't yet have a "Plan B" you might be thinking it's already too late. Well you're right if you might ne thinking of relying on a retirement plan or traditional investments.

Fortunately there's an alternative. It's the 2-3 year plan with Market America!

Here's what you need to know:

Message me for more information. I am always looking for hungry entrepreneurs with an open mind about additional streams of income. Are you one of them? Don't tell me, show me.

Wise Words for ANYONE with a Goal!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:14:00 +0000

There is no secret to succeeding in this business but one! Never giving up until it happens for you! Its only a matter of time if you stay focused and stay the course! Simply putting in time, regularly, day after day, week after week, is the sure fire way to make this business hit momentum and your income will hit large levels.

So what do we do consistently? And when do we stop?

We show plans, sell product, and sell ticket, along with listening to audios daily!! Those who do the most of these 4 activities will ultimately win the biggest and fastest, period. Learn the techniques we and others use so we can fill the funnel with large numbers of people so it leads to incredible success. THERES NO SECRET! ACTION LEADS TO RESULTS AS LONG AS THE ACTION IS CONSISTENT AND YOU DONT STOP

--

Yours in success,

Don Martin

Look Out, Here We Come!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 12:46:00 +0000

Wow. Just back in PA after spending two weeks working with new friends and opportunities in the northwest, now off to work some magic in the northeast. And it all starts with "A New Company, A New Opportunity, A New You." And that is exactly what those attending the 2013 +Market America International Convention learned all about. Between +SHOP.COM , +Motives® Cosmetics , and the #shopping #annuity powered by consumer packaged goods and of course +JR Ridinger it was a blast. Let's take a look:

I received a personal challenge from +JR Ridinger during the event, and I am proud to be an emerging pioneer for not only the United Kingdom, but Germany as well. Very exciting stuff. Ae you in sync with where I'm going?

It's a changing economy, and for me it's changing for the better every day as I join thousands who are creating their own economy. You know, the prosperous kind.

So I'll be writing here more often. Really.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 08:51:00 +0000

This post will be short and sweet, in fact probably few at best will read it. That's because I have not written here, or on my other blogs nearly enough. This changes starting Monday, and really. I'll be writing about life as it happens (including my discoveries about the world wide web) Monday-Friday. Sometimes it'll be short, sometimes not. Guess you'll have to either subscribe or stop by and see which is the case.

Look for the same level of commitment at YAFCA and Earn Socially as well. Because I need to treat my passions in life like...well... passion.

Cheers.

Well, this is it!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 01:35:00 +0000

I remember sitting across from my father and telling him that I was taking a break from classes at Lancaster Bible College. We were at Round the Clock Diner and it was in the morning, if my memory serves me correctly. I had just finished my second school year with LBC, and experienced trouble balancing two part time jobs, building my UnFranchise, and keeping life "normal" all at once. There were definitely plenty of signs that something needed to change in order to do well with my life goals. So I had planned to stop classes at LBC in order to focus more wholeheartedly on my life as a shop consultant, and return to LBC once I was financially stable. I have been tremendously blessed with a family that has always (to my own amazement at times) supported my every move... so despite my major decision, my father, and mother stood behind it 100%.

Eventually, it became evident that I needed more stability than my efforts as an UnFranchise owner could provide. I was working very hard, but lacked the ability to convince others that my efforts were worth it at the time. I had struggled with the idea of joining the military, as I wanted to return to school as soon as possible, and was not aware of all the military education benefits available at the time.
I eventually learned through family friend Ron Gilbert that joining the military was actually one of the best ways to finish school! I learned about tuition assistance, and how I could complete classes while I was serving on active duty.... so this is exactly what I set out to do.
So I called my Air Force Recruiter in York, and eight months of waiting for a slot to open in my chosen career field. On December first, 2008, I took the oath of enlistment, and signed up for four years of service as a Structural Journeyman in the Civil Engineering Squadron of the USAF.

Eight weeks of Basic Military Training, and sixteen weeks of tech school later, I was then off to Misawa Air Base, in Japan, where I met my wife Sarah, and learned the ropes of my job, and how to work with many different levels of rank and personality. Wow, was that ever a growing experience!
Following that tour, Sarah and I were sent to Spangdahlem Air Base, in Germany. Sarah is now a Staff Sergeant in the Immunology section, and I am about to quit! WOW!
OK, So I am not exactly quitting, but we are definitely in the middle of a transition. I am leaving the Active Duty sector of the Air Force to allow myself time to do
the exact same things I left LBC for...

This time, it's different though. I now have the added stability of the Post 9-11 GI Bill, and the financial support of Sarah as I embark on our goals (I'm now just ten classes away from a Bachelors Degree, and have plans to get a master's degree in Social Entrepreneurship). Sarah has 1.5 years left on Active Duty, and I will remain in the Reserves while she completes her tour. We've had to go through a lot of changes, the biggest of which will by my separation from Active Duty on May 3rd, and a forced move due to less of a housing benefit than we had as a "mil to mil" couple.
As I sit and write this, it's almost 3AM Germany time. Sarah and I have been at moving for almost two weeks, moving what we could when we could, as I struggled to keep pace with managing YAFCA and Earn Socially in the midst of the transition. Well....IT'S ALMOST HERE!!! I would be remiss if I did not at least include a blog post to commemorate this intense and life altering event. So there you have it... ta daaaa! Sarah and I are going through a change. It's a big one, and we are going to emerge better for it in the end. I am confident of this, because God has directed our steps both as a couple, and as individuals. I will be home focusing on my efforts to become a life coach, and personal trainer while we grow our now aptly named "Earn Socially" internet franchise, and begin to take on full time management and growth options for YAFCA.org. I am excited for what comes next!

Two years of growth, and joy to go with it!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:56:00 +0000

Two years ago today, I officially took the hand of my bride publicly for the first time. We said vows, exchanged a kiss, and walked out of Greater Love, our church in Japan. Then we headed to Sendai Japan, for our honeymoon, less than a week before a huge earthquake and tsunami would totally change the landscape of the very city we celebrated our new marriage in. Then we spent four weeks recovering, half of which was without hot water or electric. We made it through that. And we've made it through the first two years, with no plans to look back ever! Sarah and I are blessed, and we hope you are too!

Happy Anniversary Sarah.
I love you, now, always, and forever!

Cheers.

Improvement: What does it mean to you?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:34:00 +0000

Look up the word "improvement"on Google, and this is what you'll get: A definition, and over five million search results. For my own search, I also had ten "personal" results. One of them was an improvement post put out by YAFCA, and the others were either from friends in the online and local community, or from various products and services I use or care about.
The reason I was curious about the topic of improvement is because lately I feel like I have been doing a lot of this in my own life.
The funny thing is that nothing at all has changed yet in my life. Things are by in large identical now to the way they were a few months ago - business as usual. So what, then has improved?
Well I'm glad you asked. It's my attitude. Although all my life I have been taught, and generally have had a good attitude... that was all I strove to have. Sure, a good attitude is what they tell you to have in school, and on the sports teams most of us grew up playing on. And a good attitude about things goes well with others. Having a good attitude will set you apart from those who are negative or pessimistic about the situations they encounter as they navigate life.
But what about having the best possible attitude about life that you possibly can? I mean really, would you rather have good grades, or great ones?
I'd rather have great ones. Funny thing is, when it comes to academics, I am open to admitting that it's honestly not my strong suit. I am admittedly averse to structured learning, especially in a classroom environment. I am much more inclined to soaking up a new topic I stumbled upon myself, and decided to learn through online research, usually with something like Wikipedia,
or Khan Academy walking me through what I need to know. This is all fine and well, expect the glaring fact that so far, I have never seen Wikipedia creator Jimmy Wales give out diplomas.
That being said, I typically find myself earning a "C"or a low "B" in college classes. Some of you would consider that academic suicide, but I have instead chosen to instead see these results as great! You might wonder how this could be. Well for me, the grade is irrelevant as long as I accomplished my main objectives for the class. Heck, I'll even settle for learning that my style of learning was incompatible in a class I failed and had to pay for. Why...? Because I LEARNED more about my learning style in the process. It wad not the class that was great - it was the process of self discovery that happened during it. I grew in a way I might not have if I had not gotten that grade, or struggled on that exam. The price of experience and attitude is not something you can pull out of a wallet or savings account. The price instead stems from your own soul, and the reactions you choose (wether consciously or subconsciously) based on your surrounding events, actions, and their causes.
My own attitude about my life experiences cannot be based on if the results I get make me happy, successful in a way I deem appropriate, or if I'm better off than when I started. Improvement should rather be based on if the journey to the result was a great one. Did I strive for the best? What about the moments when I did not do so, and instead went for the mediocre? Even these aspects of the journey are valuable if we take away a lesson that improves our approach for the future.

Cheers.

It's Later Than You Think!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:15:00 +0000

I recently posted on my Facebook about how sobering it was that within the last few years, all of the friends I have lost went far too early. In the last five years I have lost a cousin, two of my close friends have lost either a father or mother, both passing away well before old age. Then there was a friend of mine who passed away less than a year ago, not even yet 45 years old.

About a year ago, my friend's (the one who lost his mother) father shared about the preview for "The Way" on his own Facebook wall - And I decided to give it a preview. It was certainly intriguing, but I did not watch it until tonight - February 18th, 2013. And how timely it was.

And today another friend seems to be losing the fight for life as she struggles to overcome major lung problems, and also another is living life with a malignant brain tumor inside of his head - a young husband and father, with a bright smile and so much life ahead.

So what can I make of this? What can you? Do we grieve and let the horror of death grip our spirit, or do we rejoice in Hope, and press on through the trials that life brings?

Definitely the later.

Fellow colleague, and author Frank Keefer writes in his book, Reflections of A Master:

"It’s Later Than You Think!

At Some Point You Will be the Other Guy!

News of John Kalench’s death hit me like a bullet between the eyes! No, more like a lance through the heart. He was not only a good friend, but also an industry giant. I have no doubt that in the short time that he was with us he accomplished his life’s goal of creating a million friends. At a minimum, he changed the lives of tens of thousands through his seminars and books. I know. I was one of them. I celebrated his knowledge and experience by giving away his books by the case to both distributors and prospects as well.

Although we talked occasionally on the phone, the last time that I saw John was at a Master’s Seminar we did in the Northwest a while back. John and I shared a common bond. The medical community had written us

both off.

At the time, I was barely holding my own but miraculously John was in remission from a cancer that is fatal in nearly 100% of the cases. I was ecstatic for him. John’s passing, along with the deaths of two other friends in the same week, all three younger than me, brings to the fore front my own mortality and an adage that my uncle has drilled into my head for decades: “It’s later than you think!”

So why do I write this? Well that's simple, really. I hope to remind myself, and hopefully you also that it is indeed later than you think!

I do not write to scare you into pursuit of your goals, but rather instead to compel you towards reaching them. Each of life's challenges are nothing but doorways to opportunities that we have yet to see until gazing upon the light of sorrow with proper perspective and attitude.

Cheers.

Hello everybody!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 18:46:00 +0000

Well, here's my first post! Hope you enjoy what's coming. I look forward to looking back on this first post many years from now, and being nostalgic about where I was in time when writing this! I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride. Cheers!