Manage Your Energy – Eliminate Liabilities

You don’t want to “balance” your energy, you need to manage your energy. If you want to feel and perform your best ALL THE TIME, your goal should be to have all assets and NO liabilities.

When you live full of assets, it helps your tangible asset count go up as well. I explain this concept in my book, “Yes! Energy: The Equation to Do Less, Make More.”

There are many resources that can support, and impediments that can detract from, extreme optimism and energy. The resources that detract from it tend to drain you. You will literally FEEL tired, slow, worn down, unable to focus.

How many times have you actually been able to maintain your productivity like that?

Not many, I’m sure. Or, if you have, you become more mistake-prone, less detail oriented. You “are out of whack” as my friends from the South would say. Notice these in your life and don’t just decrease them, ELIMINATE them!

Energy & Attitude Liabilities

Fear
Hopelessness
Pessimism
Negativity
Isolation
Ignorance
Perfectionism
Comparing and despairing
Gossip
Judgment
Confused contexts
Hero complexes—“I can do it all . . .”
Rescue compulsions—“. . . and save you, too”

These energy and attitude liabilities have NO PLACE in your life. NONE! They won’t help your mindset. They won’t help you make money. So get rid of them!

Eliminating them from your life will bring about a new, more positive, you – filled with Yes! Energy and ready to jump on any money-making opportunity that comes your way. It’s time to be EXCITED about your business. So kick the crap to the curb.

You deserve it.

How Many Affiliates Do You Have?

Really. I mean it.

Answer out loud. How many affiliates do you have who are sending you business on a regular basis? If you don’t have at least several, you are leaving money on the table. It’s one of the reasons I have a full-time affiliate manager to handle affiliate relationships, motivate them, and get them the tools they need to plug into the Live Out Loud cash machine.

By allowing affiliates to plug into your cash machine, you give them something to sell that they don’t have to fulfill. Affiliates deliver results because they are motivated to do it. By making it easy and understanding how to incentivize them, most commonly by affiliate commissions or bonuses, you get new business that you didn’t personally have to go out and get.

This month, I am offering Internet Marketing 101 (a $5,000 value) to any affiliate who sends 10 people to the Millionaire Makeover Tour. It gets better. That affiliate is tagged to that new client for life. So commissions are earned with that person buys a ticket to 3 Days to Cash, decides to attend Loral’s Big Table, takes any Live Out Loud program or buys any product. The income is entirely passive.

So, are you going to plug into the Live Out Loud cash machine? You can by applying right here.

You can model your affiliate program after mine, once you are part of it. It’s important to give your affiliates the right tools to market your business, make sure they understand your talk track, and (most importantly) buy into what you are doing so they can enthusiastically talk about it.

Ready to make some money?

Let’s go!

Where to Find People

To find customers you must do one thing first. What’s that? Find people!

Today is my last day as a full-time writer with Live Out Loud. True to Loral working with a lot of companies (in addition to having employees), she’ll be working with me through my company. But I thought today might be a fitting day to talk to Loral’s blog-verse about something that is absolutely essential in business – and Loral taught me this. There are NO people in your home!

Yes, I have a home office now, bt I’ve already started to stake out places I can work that are away from home. Why? Because Loral taught me I need to meet people to make money. I don’t go out ill-equipped. I have my order form pad, Paypal credit card swiper, business cards, and some mini-flyers in hand. I’m working on my laptop, but I’m prepared to book appointments (and get the money for them) with my calendar nearby. In other words, I’m ready to ask for the cash.

You HAVE to find people if you are going to have customers. Real, flesh and blood people you can shake hands with.
So here are some of my favorite places to meet people. Feel free to share yours below.
1) Restaurants where the average entree is about $15. Why? Well, I like those places because a) I can get fed, but b) people who go there typically have a little money. When possible, I sit at the bar versus at my own table. Sitting at your own table sections you off a bit. It’s a “don’t bother me” sign. At the bar, it’s an equal playing field. This is similar to Loral meeting clients on airplanes. It’s a captive audience.
2) Business by referral meetings: I love these. Everyone’s clear intention is to meet as many people as possible, so you don’t have that awkward “geez, I want to talk to you” phase.
3) Charity events: Every community has them. Not only do you meet new people, you are doing something important for your community. Loral’s advice holds true for these: Create your charity rules for your business and STICK TO THEM. She explains charity rules at her 3 Days to Cash workshop.
4) Local organizations: Chamber meetings, Rotary, Optimist, Soroptimist – These organizations are the core of your community. Be part of them or assign someone to be part of them.
5) Entrepreneur MeetUps: I love MeetUp.com – met some great friends there. It’s a great place to network too. If there isn’t an entrepreneur meetup in your area with regular events, start one! If your group gets big enough and can pull together 100 people, Loral might even stop by and say hi when she is in town.
Notice the only ONLINE I mentioned was a Web site meant to encourage live interaction. If people meet you, you can serve them better because they will know you. Have a great week meeting new people!

Tips of the Day: Week Of 8/6/12 – Investing in Your Business

8/6/2012

Today’s Tip: Building Team

Last week, we talked about investing in yourself by maintaining your personal appearance at all times. This week, we’ll look into some business basics and why you need to invest in your business to create cash. The first investment you should make is TEAM. What kind of team you need to build is dependent on your answer to these questions. 1) What are you good at/love to do? 2) What can you do, but it takes up a lot of time in your business? 3) What do you hate to do or aren’t good at, but doing it is essential to your business? Your team should be comprised of people who do what takes up a lot of time for you and #3. Need help figuring out what team you need? Answer the questions above and share your results by reporting in on this thread on our forum.

8/7/2012

Today’s Tip: Bookkeeping

If you don’t have any money to count yet, you don’t need a bookkeeper – but you will need some software to keep the numbers in line, see where your revenue is coming from, and have your ducks in a row come tax time. Quickbooks is a great solution. Accountants can download reports so, come tax time, it’s easy. If bookkeeping is one of the things you aren’t good at, look into a part-time service. How to you handle the backend of your business? Report in on this thread on our forum.

8/8/2012

Today’s Tip: Contact Management

There are a number of free solutions for contact management you can use to keep tabs on your customers. But at a certain point, you will need some additional technology to keep up. Loral recommends Infusionsoft for CRM. It’s easy to manage contacts, email them, integrate with your shopping cart and have everything in one place. Echosign is a service for signing contract where you can get all of your agreements signed and stored electronically – cutting your paperwork time down significantly. What tools do you use for contact management? Report in on this thread on our forum.

8/9/2012

Today’s Tip: Organization

One visit you should make is to an office supply store so you can get yourself organized. When you are starting, think in terms of utility. File boxes instead of filing cabinets, dry erase boards, folders to keep your projects organized – what you will need to pick up will depend on your business. Organize your work environment to support the way you work best and go make that money! Looking for organization tips? Report in on this thread on our forum.

8/10/2012

Today’s Tip: Ongoing Education

In the end, it’s all about maintenance. In this case, maintaining your knowledge and making sure you are learning what you need to learn to create revenue. Ask your strategist about the 3 Days to Cash workshop. If you haven’t been, it’s indispensable in helping you set up your sales funnel, teaching you how to talk about your business, and how to sell (serve) anywhere and everywhere. Have questions about 3 Days to Cash? Ask us! Report in on this thread on our forum.

This weekend, look at your business to see where you need to invest in order to create the most revenue. Apply the daily tips above to make an impact on your bottom line. How will you use these tips to make a difference?

REMEMBER! Interact with the Fast Cash Coaching community. It’s the quickest way to find others who are passionate about business. Comments, forum posts – start a conversation!

Live Where You Work Best

Last week, USA Today voted Lake Tahoe the best lake in the United States. I couldn’t be more proud. I’ve always loved this area for it’s beauty, skiing, and moto-cross trails. Really, it’s a great place to play. This news about the lake prompted me to remind you to do something. Remember, you have one life – there is no business life and personal life. So doesn’t it make sense to live where you work best? Mark Twain once said, “to breathe the air the angels breathe, one must come to Tahoe.” It’s so true. I think so clearly here. It’s where I hold Loral’s Big Table, in my conference center, and my alumni swear that the area is a catalyst for inspiration.

Living where you work best isn’t a foreign concept. My mentor Dan Kennedy lives where he can ride his horses. Others choose to live next to the ocean. Others work best where life is simple: Idaho, Wisconsin. The point here is, you know where you have your best energy and you need to BE there. You can always hop on a plane or get your clients to come to you. Only YOU know where your energy is best. Live it!

The Art of Negotiation

The Art of Negotiation – Getting What You Want and Deserve from the Family Room to the Board Room

By: Eldonna Lewis Fernandez, LBT Alumni (Table 77)

Negotiation is basically discussions to agree on a deal. Someone makes an offer or submits a proposal and the other side either accepts the offer or enters into negotiation by submitting a counteroffer or having a discussion regarding the proposed offer or both. There are certain key factors that need to be put into place in order to have Win Win Negotiations. Consider these factors before you enter into any discussions or negotiations of any kind.

Everything is Negotiable – What people see as facts or rules are simply principles and guidelines. Getting in the mindset that everything is negotiable opens up so much for you and allows you to see that most things you thought were absolute are actually flexible. Shift to this mindset and your possibilities will expand.
Build Relationship First – Building relationships is so important in a negotiation setting. People do business with people they know, like and trust. Connecting with people and getting to know them is a better way to start and solidify a successful negotiation situation.
Get it in Writing – This can’t be stressed enough. You should start all discussions with each party signing a Non Disclosure Agreement to protect the discussions and the intellectual property. All discussions should be documented in minutes and signed by all parties. Written agreements should be put in place before any work begins. Even if it’s a simple email, it’s better to have something in writing then attempting to figure out what the terms were without a written agreement. Oral agreements leave a lot to interpretation are harder to enforce. Written agreements reduce the ambiguity and solidify terms.
Fair and Reasonable – A Fair and Reasonable price can be defined as the price a prudent businessperson would pay for an item or service under competitive market conditions, given a reasonable knowledge of the marketplace. Fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests. Reasonable means not extreme or excessive. So a fair and reasonable price is on that is balanced and somewhat moderate. Ensure your offer fits within the realm of fair and reasonable in order to promote a successful negotiation.
Use your Leverage/Influence – We all have our own experiences and knowledge to draw from or we know people with the experience to help us with areas we are not savvy in. What experiences will you draw on to bolster your position in a negotiation? Your outcome in a negotiation will be different than someone else’s because you have different experience to draw from. Neither result is wrong, the outcome is simply different based on experience. Recognize the influence you already have and bring it to the table when it’s time to negotiate.

These factors will build a firm foundation for your negotiation position both in business and in day-to-day life. When you think back over your life experience, you will realize you already have many negotiation skills. Use these tips to hone those skills you already have and you are well on your way to being a stronger more successful negotiator.

Eldonna Lewis Fernandez is a retired Air Force Master Sergeant who is a negotiation specialist and performance expert for women who want to develop more influence, discipline and negotiation skills, professionally and personally. Focusing on women’s topics, personal growth, adventure, self esteem, and inspiration she empowers women to take control of the handlebars of their lives through the Power of PINK: Power, Integrity, Negotiation & Knowledge.

Eldonna attended Table 77 and has immersed herself in the community. Her business has expanded both financially and conceptually. Her clothing line is expanding to include being carried in many Harley Davidson dealers across the country. She was a breakout session presenter at the Alumni 15 event on Negotiation.

Web site: www.PinkBikerChic.com

Negotiation Blog: www.ImagePower.WordPress.com

Finding Your Yes! = Cash

When I wrote “Yes! Energy: The Equation to Do Less, Make More” many people saw it as a departure from what I had been coaching. “Wait, aren’t you The Millionaire Maker?” “Do you still talk about wealth and finance?” Yes and yes! Reaching millionaire status, building wealth, and understanding finance has EVERYTHING to do with saying Yes! If you don’t say Yes!, you close the doors to opportunities before they are presented to you. Today is the final day of Alumni 15, Live Out Loud’s conference of the year where everyone who has been to Loral’s Big Table gathers to learn, mastermind, and say YES! to opportunity. More deals are made at Alumni each year than at any other single event in our community. LBT Alumni know the power of YES! In fact, that’s where the idea for “Yes! Energy” came from, the community.

See, Finding Your Yes! has a strong tie in with your ability to create cash. Every business owner has run into times where they are presented with challenges and opportunities. To REALLY be successful, you have to take action. No one got rich by just sitting on their butt. There was work behind it, and more than a few Yes! answers to get that cash machine pumping out cash.

The biggest risk in life you can take is to take NO risks at all. I felt Yes! Energy was necessary because there were too many people who were starting to develop a negative mindset, a wait and see attitude that was literally KILLING their businesses. I couldn’t stand by and let it happen. I won’t let you NO yourself into closing the doors of your business.

So do yourself a favor. Say yes to something big. Say yes to a new partnership, a client, an educational opportunity. Give yourself the freedom to move forward. Really, it just takes one word. All you have to do is open your mouth and say it.

Find Your Shining Example

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it’s also the best way to discover best practices for your industry and get your business off to a strong start. One way you can do this is through modeling. When you model a business, you find a business that is similar yours and look at what they are doing from an operational, financial, and marketing perspective. You then take what you learned from that and develop your own version. Modeling isn’t copying, far from it. It’s taking what is proven to deliver results and making it your own.

To find a business to model, start with the companies you know and admire. Become an avid consumer of their communications. Go to their Web sites. Subscribe to their newsletters. Add their company names to your Google Reader and Google search function. What you are doing is paying attention to how they do business. What is their voice? What products and services do they offer? What promotions do they run? Pay attention and pick up the parts that will work for you. Don’t just pick one. Choose several and watch them closely. Make it part of your daily education and inspiration.

Modeling works to your advantage because you aren’t reinventing the wheel with your business. You are allowing yourself to become more aware of the competition you have, understand what companies you want to be like, and fill the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. Finding a business to model that inspires you is a good way to get there. Then YOU become the owner of a business that inspires someone else!

Freedom Day: When Do You Know?

I get asked all the time, “Loral – you talk about reaching my Freedom Day, but when do I know it’s time to pull the trigger and work for myself?”

My answer is always the same. Do 12, 4, 5 (how much you need to make in 12 months, divided by 4 weeks divided by 5 days a week) and determine how much money you need to bring in each month to make it. Then, develop a sales funnel that will achieve your goal and do it.

It’s the “doing it” part where people get stuck. They plan. They work out their funnels. They educate themselves. So, instead of me repeating myself, I’m going to inspire you in another way. I went to my Facebook communities and asked THEM the question. Here are some of the best answers. (It was hard to pick JUST FOUR!)
“I made the jump from 1099 income to full time entrepreneur when the R.E. market took a crash here in CA. But I was pretty much on my way and really had already made up my mind it was the next journey in my life I wanted to take. If people ‘jump’ just to jump… they won’t make it. The jump has to have meaning, passion and the desire behind it to make the leap and keep moving forward! ” – Lynn B.”I had been hearing Loral share about the power of being control of my own finances. That only brave are entrepreneurs. I lost my W2 job May 2011. I was completing my MBA in Entrepreneurship at the time. I was not being successful in getting hired anywhere. I had an ah ha moment. Shouldn’t I manifest in my life what I’m getting my MBA in? I took control of my life. Instead of sitting around waiting for someone to GIVE me a job I took action, quit filling out applications (a full-time job in itself), and used that energy to grow my business. It’s been a year now. It hasn’t been all roses. However, I love the freedom that I have. I own myself and no one is going to limit my worth or give me pennies for work or results that are making them thousands. NOT!” – James R.

“For me it was when my employers decided to open a second business and offered me 20% stock in the company and double my salary. Sounds great right? I am the marketing, recruiting, IT, accountant and maid already. They want me to continue this and do the same for a new company. Me and another person had the knowledge and skills for the new company – all other stock owners were not even investing money. They started asking friends to join in stock till I had none and the other man has 10% – they were going to make millions a year off our skills and knowledge. Why would I do this for a wage that I would only get as long as I was working? We are going to start our own company. I would not have decided to do this with out the past 6 months at Big Table.” – Debbie Y.

“Oh Loral! I’ve told you this story – the week after I read Millionaire Maker, I quit my job. I knew when I read that book I had everything I needed to make the jump and that it was all going to work out great! In the five years since we did that – wow have things changed!!! Can’t imagine ever going back.” – Lisa L.

Become part of the conversation. You can like my two Facebook pages, Live Out Loud and Loral Langemeier. I’ll be asking a question like this every week.

How many times have you actually been able to maintain your productivity like that?

Energy & Attitude Liabilities

You deserve it.

Ready to make some money?

What's the #1 Obstacle Holding You Back from Ultimate Wealth?