We found this article on the internet and wanted to share it with you all. You will see how very important supplements are to your body. We truly want you all to consider eating the right food sources or taking an all natural vitamin supplement to help your body work at optimum efficiency. Our suggestion is to supplement your diet with an ALL NATURAL LIQUID VITAMIN/MINERAL/HERBAL supplement* so that you body can absorb the levels of nutrients it needs to repair itself and to allow it to work at its peak. We know first hand how effective taking a supplement can benefit your health and we would be more than happy to share our testimonials with you. Should you want any information regarding that – please contact us or you can visit us.
* You should always consult a physician before beginning any supplement regimen, especially if you are under a physicians care or taking any medications.
The science behind how nutrients repair and rejuvenate your body—and how long it takes to reap your healthy habit rewards.
By Veronika Ruff
Content provided by: PREVENTION
Science has confirmed that the nutrients in our food can slow down and even reverse aging. Here's exactly how and when you can expect the health payoff you want:
Beat Stress - Vitamin B6 deficiency has been linked to anxiety, stress, and depression, and women are more likely to become deficient in B6 as they age, according to researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. "When B6 makes its way to your brain, it facilitates synthesis of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, which makes you feel calm and happy," says Hanjo Hellmann, Ph.D., a plant biologist at Washington State University. "But if you have a B6 deficiency, your brain may not be able to make enough dopamine." The vitamin is found in a variety of foods, but it's especially high in potatoes, bananas, red meat, poultry, and chickpeas. Once eaten, B6 is quickly distributed throughout the body but isn't stored well, so we need a consistent daily supply. Hellmann recommends getting 1 to 2 mg of B6 every day—the amount in about one medium russet potato and a chicken breast—to help you produce enough stress-busting dopamine.
In Hours You Can ... Prevent Cell Damage That Causes Cancer
Antioxidants, especially abundant in fruits and vegetables, are powerful compounds that cancel out cancer-causing free radicals before they damage cells. "Antioxidants begin working almost immediately upon absorption—as soon as they find a free radical to interact with," Hellmann says. But don't think you're set for the week after eating a big salad. Antioxidants remain active for only a few hours and need to be continually replenished. "Plus, they are a diverse group and don't all have the same functions," says Hellmann. "The key is always having plenty in your body to take on anything that comes along." That means eating as much produce as possible and mixing up the types as often as you can.
In 1 Week You Can ... Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally
Potassium supplements are an effective treatment for hypertension, but they can be dangerous for you as you age, according to the American Heart Association. Scientists at St. George's Hospital Medical School in London found that food sources of potassium are as effective as supplements in fighting high blood pressure—without side effects. The mineral is found in clams and in almost every fruit and vegetable but especially in potatoes, dried peaches, avocados and bananas. Study participants with high blood pressure ate 3,754 mg of potassium per day and lowered their blood pressure to prehypertension levels after just 1 week. "If you have normal kidneys, you'll use and excrete potassium within hours, which is why getting plenty of fruits and vegetables a day is so important—a steady stream of potassium will control your blood pressure," says Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., R.D., of the American Dietetic Association. Just be sure to discuss dietary changes with your doctor if you're on blood pressure medications
In 5 Weeks You Can ...Boost Your Memory
An Australian study found that folate boosts memory in as little as 35 days. Women who participated in the study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, saw improved memory performance after taking 750 mcg of folate daily—that's about 1 cup of cooked spinach and 1 cup of cooked lentils. Though folate supplements (folic acid) are recommended during pregnancy to help prevent birth defects, you should otherwise get your folate from food, says Gerbstadt.
In 6 Weeks You Can ... Lower Dangerous Homocysteine Levels
An analysis of 25 studies on B vitamins and homocysteine in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that taking 800 mcg of folate supplements daily for 6 to 8 weeks reduces homocysteine concentrations up to 23 percent. Don't exceed 1,000 mcg per day, however, or you could trigger symptoms of a B12 deficiency. Good food sources of folate are meat, fish, eggs and dairy.
In 2 Months You Can ... Improve Heart Health
Omega-3s, essential fatty acids in which Americans are known to be deficient, have a wide range of impressive health benefits—from smoothing your skin and aiding weight loss to boosting your mood and minimizing the effects of arthritis. However, the ability of omega-3s, found in oily fish (like salmon, mackerel, and anchovies) and in plant sources (flaxseed, walnuts, and spinach), to prevent heart disease is perhaps best understood. Although some of the heart-health benefits kick in shortly after you digest your salmon, the effects won't last unless you eat these essential fatty acids consistently so that your body reaches a healthy saturation level, says Susan Raatz, Ph.D., R.D., an associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota: "If you are deficient in omega-3s and begin eating at least two 3-ounce servings of fatty fish a week, your heart will see significant benefits in four to eight weeks."
In 3 Months You Can ...Fight Dementia
Omega-3s are also crucial to brain health and development, says Stephen Cunnane, Ph.D., an omega-3 expert at the University of Sherbrooke's Research Center for Aging in Quebec. Many studies have found that variations in Alzheimer's rates across countries can be predicted by the quantity of fish in the diet. A study published in Neuroscience Research found that patients with mild dementia improved their short-term memory after taking omega-3s daily for 3 months. Another recent study found that depressive feelings in suicidal patients diminished after taking 2.1 g of omega-3s daily for three months. A 3-ounce serving of wild salmon contains nearly 2 g of omega-3s.
In 1 Year You Can ... Improve Your Vision
Lutein, a natural plant pigment known as a carotenoid, concentrates in the retina and lens to protect and strengthen your eyes. "Lutein is important to eye health," says Elizabeth Johnson, Ph.D., a scientist who studies vision at Tufts University. In a study conducted at North Chicago VA Medical Center, researchers found that patients with age-related macular degeneration improved in multiple measures of vision after taking 12 mg of lutein daily for a year. You can easily get that dose from food, particularly green leafy vegetables such as a half cup of cooked spinach, Johnson says. Other top sources of this antioxidant are peas, broccoli and corn.
In 1 Year You Can ... Build Stronger Bones
Vitamin D allows your body to absorb the calcium needed to build stronger bones and reduce your risk of osteoporosis. An analysis of multiple vitamin D studies in JAMA found that a daily supplement of 700 to 800 IU of vitamin D combined with calcium reduces the risk of bone fractures by 26 percent after 2 years. D is found in fortified milk and cereals as well as in fish and eggs, yet supplements are generally accepted as safe.
This blog is to help others reach their potential. We will be posting information regarding Natural/Holistic Health; Laws of Attraction; Social Networking, Multi-level Marketing Tips; and a variety of information meant to help each of us reach our ultimate potential.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Visualization - imprinting patterns of success
Visualization is a fabulously powerful technique well known to top performing athletes and other professionals at the "top of their game". It is the process of visualizing in your mind what ever it is you want to achieve. So for example a sprint runner would visualize himself winning his race, he would view his success in his mind, he would experience in minute detail every aspect of the race, from a perfect start, to a perfectly timed finish. By the time he gets to the real race, he's already won it several times, in his mind he has already successfully executed every aspect of his race perfectly. The pattern of success is firmly imprinted in his mind. When the start gun fires, everything will run to his internal script automatically. This gives a powerful advantage.
I think anyone can see the power of this mental process. Visualization is all about achieving things. The interesting thing for us is that this technique works for anything that we want to do, visualizing yourself achieving success at whatever it is you want to achieve, dramatically improves your chances of achieving it. These benefits have been proven by many experiments.
Visualization techniques can be applied to almost every aspect of human endeavour, from goal setting, sports performance, self-healing and memory improvement, to problem-solving and decision-making.
You can visualize virtually anywhere but a quiet, safe place where you will not be disturbed is best. Simply focus your mind on what you want to do, keep replaying the internal film of yourself actually doing it. The amazing thing is that it has been proven that the benefit of visualizing the events is actually the same as if you had actually done it!
Think of something you might want to try this technique on, concentrate and imagine yourself in the situation, be realistic about the experience, keep it true to how you expect it to be, see yourself doing everything right, imagine yourself through others eyes, seeing yourself succeed.
If you have problems visualizing a successful outcome, run through your internal picture again, step into the bodies of others observing you, what do they see, what do they think. Visualization can not only super-charge success it can also give you insight into potential issues. Many of these can simply be overcome by repainting your inner picture others may simply highlight a basic reality that may help you realign your immediate goals or expectations.
Remember even seemingly impossible goals are achievable, thousands before us have reached for the impossible and achieved it; there is no reason why you can't. When you can visualize the path to what you want, you must of course be prepared to actually walk it in the real world.
I think anyone can see the power of this mental process. Visualization is all about achieving things. The interesting thing for us is that this technique works for anything that we want to do, visualizing yourself achieving success at whatever it is you want to achieve, dramatically improves your chances of achieving it. These benefits have been proven by many experiments.
Visualization techniques can be applied to almost every aspect of human endeavour, from goal setting, sports performance, self-healing and memory improvement, to problem-solving and decision-making.
You can visualize virtually anywhere but a quiet, safe place where you will not be disturbed is best. Simply focus your mind on what you want to do, keep replaying the internal film of yourself actually doing it. The amazing thing is that it has been proven that the benefit of visualizing the events is actually the same as if you had actually done it!
Think of something you might want to try this technique on, concentrate and imagine yourself in the situation, be realistic about the experience, keep it true to how you expect it to be, see yourself doing everything right, imagine yourself through others eyes, seeing yourself succeed.
If you have problems visualizing a successful outcome, run through your internal picture again, step into the bodies of others observing you, what do they see, what do they think. Visualization can not only super-charge success it can also give you insight into potential issues. Many of these can simply be overcome by repainting your inner picture others may simply highlight a basic reality that may help you realign your immediate goals or expectations.
Remember even seemingly impossible goals are achievable, thousands before us have reached for the impossible and achieved it; there is no reason why you can't. When you can visualize the path to what you want, you must of course be prepared to actually walk it in the real world.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Putting Yourself First - Daily Self-Care
August 26, 2009
We have all heard the instructions of an airline attendant reminding us to put on our own oxygen mask before we help anyone else with theirs. This advice is often cited as a metaphor for self-care because it so accurately expresses why it is important. It seems to say, ironically, that if you can’t take care of yourself for yourself, do it for others. Few situations in our daily lives mimic the wake-up call of an airplane emergency, so it’s easy to keep putting self-care off—easy, that is, until we get sick, overwhelmed, or exhausted, and suddenly don’t have the energy to care for the people who count on us. That’s when we realize we haven’t been getting the oxygen we need to sustain ourselves. We begin to understand that taking care of ourselves is neither selfish nor indulgent; it’s just plain practical.
Putting yourself first means that it may be necessary to say no to someone else in order to say yes to yourself. For many of us, there is always something we feel we could be doing for someone else, and it helps to remember the oxygen metaphor. You can even encourage yourself by saying "I am caring for myself so that I am better able to care for others" or some other mantra that will encourage you. It also helps to remember that self-care doesn’t have to be composed of massively time-consuming acts. In fact, the best prescription for taking care of yourself is probably small, daily rituals; for example, taking one half-hour for yourself at the beginning and end of the day to meditate, journal, or just be. You might also transform the occasional daily shower or bath into a half-hour self-pampering session.
Whatever you decide, making some small gesture where you put yourself first every day will pay off in spades for you and the ones you love. The oxygen you need is all around you; sometimes you just need to be reminded to breathe.
We have all heard the instructions of an airline attendant reminding us to put on our own oxygen mask before we help anyone else with theirs. This advice is often cited as a metaphor for self-care because it so accurately expresses why it is important. It seems to say, ironically, that if you can’t take care of yourself for yourself, do it for others. Few situations in our daily lives mimic the wake-up call of an airplane emergency, so it’s easy to keep putting self-care off—easy, that is, until we get sick, overwhelmed, or exhausted, and suddenly don’t have the energy to care for the people who count on us. That’s when we realize we haven’t been getting the oxygen we need to sustain ourselves. We begin to understand that taking care of ourselves is neither selfish nor indulgent; it’s just plain practical.
Putting yourself first means that it may be necessary to say no to someone else in order to say yes to yourself. For many of us, there is always something we feel we could be doing for someone else, and it helps to remember the oxygen metaphor. You can even encourage yourself by saying "I am caring for myself so that I am better able to care for others" or some other mantra that will encourage you. It also helps to remember that self-care doesn’t have to be composed of massively time-consuming acts. In fact, the best prescription for taking care of yourself is probably small, daily rituals; for example, taking one half-hour for yourself at the beginning and end of the day to meditate, journal, or just be. You might also transform the occasional daily shower or bath into a half-hour self-pampering session.
Whatever you decide, making some small gesture where you put yourself first every day will pay off in spades for you and the ones you love. The oxygen you need is all around you; sometimes you just need to be reminded to breathe.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Network Marketing Techniques……
By: Linda Z. Parker (August 23, 2009)
Well you have finally decided to start a networking business – or maybe you are considering getting involved in a Multi-Level Marketing Business. There are definitely some tips that I would like to share with you regarding effective networking. This list is by no means complete it just gives you some of the basic elements that I feel as though are important and effective in networking. You must first realize that to be successful in the networking business you must build relationships with individuals through trust and I believe that you must have a passion for what it is you are doing. You must build a relationship in which you become friends, wherein you both help each other as well as become referral base for one another.
First of all you need to realize that networking is a matter of building both personal and trusting relationships – and by helping each other when the need arises.
You need to become involved in networking groups where you can meet other individuals that are interested in growing their business as well as looking to develop a solid networking base and friendships. I have found that one great resource readily available to any area are the ‘meet-up’ groups. You can also find a number of groups on Facebook and Linkedin. You might want to join individual organizations that are of interest to you or possibly become involved in volunteering. Volunteering is a great way to give back to groups and people that have helped you. All of these suggestions, and there are so many more, will assist you along the way in developing meaningful and trusting relationships leading to a networking base.
When you meet someone make the conversation about them. You want them to realize that you ARE interested in them and that you are genuinely interested in who they are and what they do. Try to ask them open-ended questions instead of asking them straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. This allows you to really get to know the person. Remember that people will remember how you make them “feel” and not necessarily what you said to them. It is important that they go away with the feeling that you ‘care’.
Offer to help them in anyway that you can – your goal is to be a powerful resource for them. Someone they can turn to for ideas, names of other people, suggestions, ideas, etc. This will keep you in their mind.
You might also want to send them an occasional e-mail just to say hi -- or better yet a card or the like (for that we can provide you with a powerful resource). Let them know that they are important to you.
Try to make others understand exactly what it is you offer and how it makes you special or different from the rest of the people doing the same thing. In order to get referrals – you must have a clear definitive message that is easily understood by not only yourself but to others.
Don’t be afraid to ask others to help you or to offer them help. We all have needs and if someone asks you if they can help you – make sure you have a definite answer to give them. Maybe they could help you with an idea, maybe you could ask them for referrals, etc. It is important that you have an answer when you are asked that question.
If someone sends you a referral – make sure you immediately follow up with that person – by doing so you are sending and creating a reflection of you and how you do business. You will find that it also send a message and creates an image to the person that sent you the referral. You want to earn respect and loyalty from people.
Should you meet someone new - call them and ask them if you can meet for a one on one meeting. You can share ideas, brainstorm and develop one more meaningful relationship. We can all learn from each other and benefit from each other. So take advantage – people are willing to share with you when they feel as though you care.
I hope that these ideas were beneficial to you and that you will continue to develop and grow your business. Eric and I are always here and available to help you by answering any questions you might have. Thank you for reading!
Well you have finally decided to start a networking business – or maybe you are considering getting involved in a Multi-Level Marketing Business. There are definitely some tips that I would like to share with you regarding effective networking. This list is by no means complete it just gives you some of the basic elements that I feel as though are important and effective in networking. You must first realize that to be successful in the networking business you must build relationships with individuals through trust and I believe that you must have a passion for what it is you are doing. You must build a relationship in which you become friends, wherein you both help each other as well as become referral base for one another.
First of all you need to realize that networking is a matter of building both personal and trusting relationships – and by helping each other when the need arises.
You need to become involved in networking groups where you can meet other individuals that are interested in growing their business as well as looking to develop a solid networking base and friendships. I have found that one great resource readily available to any area are the ‘meet-up’ groups. You can also find a number of groups on Facebook and Linkedin. You might want to join individual organizations that are of interest to you or possibly become involved in volunteering. Volunteering is a great way to give back to groups and people that have helped you. All of these suggestions, and there are so many more, will assist you along the way in developing meaningful and trusting relationships leading to a networking base.
When you meet someone make the conversation about them. You want them to realize that you ARE interested in them and that you are genuinely interested in who they are and what they do. Try to ask them open-ended questions instead of asking them straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. This allows you to really get to know the person. Remember that people will remember how you make them “feel” and not necessarily what you said to them. It is important that they go away with the feeling that you ‘care’.
Offer to help them in anyway that you can – your goal is to be a powerful resource for them. Someone they can turn to for ideas, names of other people, suggestions, ideas, etc. This will keep you in their mind.
You might also want to send them an occasional e-mail just to say hi -- or better yet a card or the like (for that we can provide you with a powerful resource). Let them know that they are important to you.
Try to make others understand exactly what it is you offer and how it makes you special or different from the rest of the people doing the same thing. In order to get referrals – you must have a clear definitive message that is easily understood by not only yourself but to others.
Don’t be afraid to ask others to help you or to offer them help. We all have needs and if someone asks you if they can help you – make sure you have a definite answer to give them. Maybe they could help you with an idea, maybe you could ask them for referrals, etc. It is important that you have an answer when you are asked that question.
If someone sends you a referral – make sure you immediately follow up with that person – by doing so you are sending and creating a reflection of you and how you do business. You will find that it also send a message and creates an image to the person that sent you the referral. You want to earn respect and loyalty from people.
Should you meet someone new - call them and ask them if you can meet for a one on one meeting. You can share ideas, brainstorm and develop one more meaningful relationship. We can all learn from each other and benefit from each other. So take advantage – people are willing to share with you when they feel as though you care.
I hope that these ideas were beneficial to you and that you will continue to develop and grow your business. Eric and I are always here and available to help you by answering any questions you might have. Thank you for reading!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thought for the Day.....
Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success.--David Joseph Schwartz
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Testimonial page for LivetheSource/DailySource
Because I feel as though this is such a great product I would like to invite you to follow the above link to read 'some' of the testimonials regarding this natural supplement. Please let us know your thoughts!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Thought for the day - How to Stay Young
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them!'
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle.' An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's
4. Enjoy the simple things
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help
9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity
Sunday, August 9, 2009
VIDEO - PAY IT FORWARD
I had to share this video with you. What if we all could do this? Would the world be a better place? I believe so. I would love to hear your comments - please share them.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Relationship Management
By: Eric W. Shultz 8/4/2009
Achieve-Ur-Dreams.com
To some of you this term may not be totally familiar. In business you can survive or not, based upon this concept. Actually the “business speak” term/ acronym is Customer Relationship Management or CRM. In fact there are some major companies out there that have made their whole business about helping other businesses with their CRM systems. What is Customer Relationship Management” and why is it different then just “Relationship Management”?
Being the analyst that I am, I always like to start with dictionary definitions and work my way from there. After all it is always best to quote an expert or non-refutable source. In this case it is www.dictionary.com.
Relationship: (noun); a connection, association, or involvement; connection between persons by blood or marriage; an emotional or other connection between people: e.g. the relationship between teachers and students; a particular type of connection existing between people related to or having dealings with each other: e.g. has a close relationship with his siblings; an existing connection; a significant association between people or among things.
Synonyms: interconnection, interdependence, interrelationship, link
Bare with me as I go a bit deeper.
Relations: (noun); the various connections between peoples, countries; the various connections in which persons are brought together: business and social relations; a meaningful connection or association between two or more people or things, e.g. one based on the similarity, relevance or dependence of one person/ thing to another; The mutual dealings or connections of persons, groups, or nations in social, business, or diplomatic matters. From the Latin; relationem (nom. relatio) meaning; "a bringing back, restoring”.
Management: (verb/ noun); the act or manner of managing; handling, direction, or control; skill in managing; to bring about or succeed in accomplishing, (sometimes despite difficulty or hardship); to dominate or influence (a person) by tact, flattery, or artifice; to handle, direct, govern, or control in action or use; to direct or conduct business affairs.
Synonyms: direction; supervision; preservation
You are probably thinking, “Wow! I am impressed, he can quote the dictionary.” Actually the definitions lead to interpretations which are the whole premise of this article. In the aforementioned definitions please note that I have brought to your attention various terms by boldly highlighting them. These terms, as I look at them, are deeply meaningful and personal in nature and talk about people, human beings, not a generic entity/ thing known as “a” or “the” customer. That’s right readers we are talking about people and getting personal. Maybe the better phrase is “Personal Relationship Management”. I hope you are ready for more, cuz here it comes!
I spent many years in corporate America and personally was involved in not less than 5 different implementations of Sales/ Contact/ CRM software packages. Every one of them had a common thread of being information managers/ databases. They were great for tracking details about customers. You know the usual information, name, company, phone, address, etc. There was a place for notes as well and a listing of all the “touches”. Management could look at the data and see who the salespersons had contacted, when and why. They even had e-mail blast capabilities. Not one of them had a personal touch or related to data entries as people. Let’s face it; there was nothing about maintaining a relationship with the person attached to the name. To me it was a database of information designed so that if a Salesperson left the company, the data remained so that the next rep in that territory had names and numbers to call. More of a CYA tool than a CRM tool. I am not saying there is anything wrong with that, every company has to know who the customers or potential customers are and what their status is in the sales cycle, I just think it should be a bit more sincere and personal. After all we are talking about relationships, says so right in the software description, Customer Relationship Manager”.
The thing is that a company, seller or buyer, is made up of people. No people no company, no salespeople no sales, no persons as a buyer no buying and so on. Transactions, information exchange, etc. does not occur between two buildings or two computers. Computers keep records but they don’t really make a buying or selling decision; that takes people. Many companies have great products or services to offer and on that alone you would think their success will be automatic. The reality is unless someone knows what you have to offer or the kind of company you are, they can’t or won’t do business with you. To quote a favorite movie of mine; “If you build it, they will come” is not necessarily true. The word has to get out about you, your product, your company, etc. The most effective marketing tool is word of mouth or referrals from those who know you and are satisfied with doing business with you. You know that old adage about everyone knows 10 people and will tell those 10 people who in turn will tell 10 people… But beware word of mouth is also the fastest way dissatisfaction or poor quality (we will talk about quality in a different article) is shared, so treat them right the first time, all the time. Some businesses simply cannot grow without that referral or proclamation of satisfaction from others. Those “others” are people who are actually reacting with some sort of emotion or feeling about who (that is a people reference folks) they are doing business with. This is particularly true of small businesses, Real Estate, Car Sales, Home Services, etc. The bottom line is; that it is more so the relationships created than the product itself that really grows your business and that other bottom line, the financial bottom line.
A great way to create and preserve the relationship is through personal correspondence. Not an e-mail but a card or a note in your own handwriting. Not really a unique concept since handwriting notes is probably the second oldest form of communication. The first being grunting if you were a caveman or of course as we evolved grunts were turned into the spoken word. The top form of communication with your relations is the face to face conversation where it is not only the spoken word but the body language that conveys your message (that is a different article as well). But I digress, back to the written communication method of relationship management. How do you feel when you get a card in the mail with a personal message? I dare say not one of us doesn’t like that. In fact the only thing better is that same card with a check, cash or gift card in it. Generally those cards only come from family on special occasions. Actually those sorts of cards can also be a key ingredient of building that relationship with clients or customers, at least the gift card part.
Okay so overall the handwritten note sounds like a relatively good and simple plan, right? So why don’t we do it? Time is probably the biggest issue. It takes time to find a suitable card or buy printed note cards in bulk, it takes time to actually write the note, put it in the envelope, seal it, stamp it and get it into the mail. Not only that but when you add it all up it could cost you upwards of $5.00 per note including your time. Heck even with my slow keyboard capabilities I can send an e-mail in much less time and it is basically free. Does a personal note really make that big a difference? I am not going to answer that question instead I will let Tom Hopkins, America’s foremost sales trainer, answer that.
Tom Hopkins built a very profitable real estate business in three years. He reveals his secret; developing the Thank You Note Habit. Tom says, “Because I understood building relationships is what selling is all about, I began early in my career to send thank you notes to people. I set a goal to send ten thank you notes every day. That goal meant that I had to meet and get the names of at least ten people every day. I sent thank you notes to people I met briefly, people I showed properties to, people I talked with over the phone, and people I actually helped to own new homes. I became a thank you note fool! Guess what happened? By the end of my third year in sales, my business was 100% referrals! The people I had expressed gratitude to were happy to send me new clients as a reward for making them feel appreciated and important.” For more on Tom Hopkins go to:
www.tomhopkins.com or www.tomhopkins.com/pdf/ThankYouNotesforRealEstate.pdf
In today’s technology enabled society, this same practice can take about the same time as sending an e-mail but can be very personal. From the way the card is designed so that your message can look like what you want it to be (not how the mass merchandising card companies want it to look) and be in your own handwriting with your own signature. All you have to do is sit down at your keyboard and make the card that is then printed, stuffed into an envelope and mailed with a real stamp. Wait it gets even better! This can all be done for less than a dollar. Not only can you thank people but you can use it to meet people, promote a special event and so much more. Use this philosophy for a direct mail campaign if you like; you will be thrilled by the ROI (return on investment).
So let’s wrap this up by quoting Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” If you want to succeed in business be sure to make “Relationship Management” the cornerstone of your business plan. Simply put; “Make it Personal”! It is with us here at Achieve-Ur-Dreams. We have the tools and technology for this information e-mail us at: info@achieve-ur-dreams.com or call 614-352-3288 to learn more. Or you could send me a note but until you talk to us that will take longer than the e-mail or phone call.
Eric Shultz
Relationship Management Pundit
Achieve-Ur-Dreams.com
To some of you this term may not be totally familiar. In business you can survive or not, based upon this concept. Actually the “business speak” term/ acronym is Customer Relationship Management or CRM. In fact there are some major companies out there that have made their whole business about helping other businesses with their CRM systems. What is Customer Relationship Management” and why is it different then just “Relationship Management”?
Being the analyst that I am, I always like to start with dictionary definitions and work my way from there. After all it is always best to quote an expert or non-refutable source. In this case it is www.dictionary.com.
Relationship: (noun); a connection, association, or involvement; connection between persons by blood or marriage; an emotional or other connection between people: e.g. the relationship between teachers and students; a particular type of connection existing between people related to or having dealings with each other: e.g. has a close relationship with his siblings; an existing connection; a significant association between people or among things.
Synonyms: interconnection, interdependence, interrelationship, link
Bare with me as I go a bit deeper.
Relations: (noun); the various connections between peoples, countries; the various connections in which persons are brought together: business and social relations; a meaningful connection or association between two or more people or things, e.g. one based on the similarity, relevance or dependence of one person/ thing to another; The mutual dealings or connections of persons, groups, or nations in social, business, or diplomatic matters. From the Latin; relationem (nom. relatio) meaning; "a bringing back, restoring”.
Management: (verb/ noun); the act or manner of managing; handling, direction, or control; skill in managing; to bring about or succeed in accomplishing, (sometimes despite difficulty or hardship); to dominate or influence (a person) by tact, flattery, or artifice; to handle, direct, govern, or control in action or use; to direct or conduct business affairs.
Synonyms: direction; supervision; preservation
You are probably thinking, “Wow! I am impressed, he can quote the dictionary.” Actually the definitions lead to interpretations which are the whole premise of this article. In the aforementioned definitions please note that I have brought to your attention various terms by boldly highlighting them. These terms, as I look at them, are deeply meaningful and personal in nature and talk about people, human beings, not a generic entity/ thing known as “a” or “the” customer. That’s right readers we are talking about people and getting personal. Maybe the better phrase is “Personal Relationship Management”. I hope you are ready for more, cuz here it comes!
I spent many years in corporate America and personally was involved in not less than 5 different implementations of Sales/ Contact/ CRM software packages. Every one of them had a common thread of being information managers/ databases. They were great for tracking details about customers. You know the usual information, name, company, phone, address, etc. There was a place for notes as well and a listing of all the “touches”. Management could look at the data and see who the salespersons had contacted, when and why. They even had e-mail blast capabilities. Not one of them had a personal touch or related to data entries as people. Let’s face it; there was nothing about maintaining a relationship with the person attached to the name. To me it was a database of information designed so that if a Salesperson left the company, the data remained so that the next rep in that territory had names and numbers to call. More of a CYA tool than a CRM tool. I am not saying there is anything wrong with that, every company has to know who the customers or potential customers are and what their status is in the sales cycle, I just think it should be a bit more sincere and personal. After all we are talking about relationships, says so right in the software description, Customer Relationship Manager”.
The thing is that a company, seller or buyer, is made up of people. No people no company, no salespeople no sales, no persons as a buyer no buying and so on. Transactions, information exchange, etc. does not occur between two buildings or two computers. Computers keep records but they don’t really make a buying or selling decision; that takes people. Many companies have great products or services to offer and on that alone you would think their success will be automatic. The reality is unless someone knows what you have to offer or the kind of company you are, they can’t or won’t do business with you. To quote a favorite movie of mine; “If you build it, they will come” is not necessarily true. The word has to get out about you, your product, your company, etc. The most effective marketing tool is word of mouth or referrals from those who know you and are satisfied with doing business with you. You know that old adage about everyone knows 10 people and will tell those 10 people who in turn will tell 10 people… But beware word of mouth is also the fastest way dissatisfaction or poor quality (we will talk about quality in a different article) is shared, so treat them right the first time, all the time. Some businesses simply cannot grow without that referral or proclamation of satisfaction from others. Those “others” are people who are actually reacting with some sort of emotion or feeling about who (that is a people reference folks) they are doing business with. This is particularly true of small businesses, Real Estate, Car Sales, Home Services, etc. The bottom line is; that it is more so the relationships created than the product itself that really grows your business and that other bottom line, the financial bottom line.
A great way to create and preserve the relationship is through personal correspondence. Not an e-mail but a card or a note in your own handwriting. Not really a unique concept since handwriting notes is probably the second oldest form of communication. The first being grunting if you were a caveman or of course as we evolved grunts were turned into the spoken word. The top form of communication with your relations is the face to face conversation where it is not only the spoken word but the body language that conveys your message (that is a different article as well). But I digress, back to the written communication method of relationship management. How do you feel when you get a card in the mail with a personal message? I dare say not one of us doesn’t like that. In fact the only thing better is that same card with a check, cash or gift card in it. Generally those cards only come from family on special occasions. Actually those sorts of cards can also be a key ingredient of building that relationship with clients or customers, at least the gift card part.
Okay so overall the handwritten note sounds like a relatively good and simple plan, right? So why don’t we do it? Time is probably the biggest issue. It takes time to find a suitable card or buy printed note cards in bulk, it takes time to actually write the note, put it in the envelope, seal it, stamp it and get it into the mail. Not only that but when you add it all up it could cost you upwards of $5.00 per note including your time. Heck even with my slow keyboard capabilities I can send an e-mail in much less time and it is basically free. Does a personal note really make that big a difference? I am not going to answer that question instead I will let Tom Hopkins, America’s foremost sales trainer, answer that.
Tom Hopkins built a very profitable real estate business in three years. He reveals his secret; developing the Thank You Note Habit. Tom says, “Because I understood building relationships is what selling is all about, I began early in my career to send thank you notes to people. I set a goal to send ten thank you notes every day. That goal meant that I had to meet and get the names of at least ten people every day. I sent thank you notes to people I met briefly, people I showed properties to, people I talked with over the phone, and people I actually helped to own new homes. I became a thank you note fool! Guess what happened? By the end of my third year in sales, my business was 100% referrals! The people I had expressed gratitude to were happy to send me new clients as a reward for making them feel appreciated and important.” For more on Tom Hopkins go to:
www.tomhopkins.com or www.tomhopkins.com/pdf/ThankYouNotesforRealEstate.pdf
In today’s technology enabled society, this same practice can take about the same time as sending an e-mail but can be very personal. From the way the card is designed so that your message can look like what you want it to be (not how the mass merchandising card companies want it to look) and be in your own handwriting with your own signature. All you have to do is sit down at your keyboard and make the card that is then printed, stuffed into an envelope and mailed with a real stamp. Wait it gets even better! This can all be done for less than a dollar. Not only can you thank people but you can use it to meet people, promote a special event and so much more. Use this philosophy for a direct mail campaign if you like; you will be thrilled by the ROI (return on investment).
So let’s wrap this up by quoting Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” If you want to succeed in business be sure to make “Relationship Management” the cornerstone of your business plan. Simply put; “Make it Personal”! It is with us here at Achieve-Ur-Dreams. We have the tools and technology for this information e-mail us at: info@achieve-ur-dreams.com or call 614-352-3288 to learn more. Or you could send me a note but until you talk to us that will take longer than the e-mail or phone call.
Eric Shultz
Relationship Management Pundit
Monday, August 3, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
DailySource (LiveTheSource) Vitamin Video
I wanted to post this link from Dr. Norm Raymond regarding LiveTheSource. A great testimonial. Won't you listen in?