{"id":9041,"date":"2012-09-24T05:28:59","date_gmt":"2012-09-24T12:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mynotetakingnerd.com\/blog\/?p=9041"},"modified":"2012-09-25T19:41:29","modified_gmt":"2012-09-26T02:41:29","slug":"3-lessons-business-life-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mynotetakingnerd.com\/blog\/3-lessons-business-life-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Lessons On Business and Life From 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three Business Lessons I Wish I’d Learned Earlier In Business and Life<\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

For years I had this hanging on the wall next to me. <\/span>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I “Thought” i had the perfect answers but I realized I had been missing the “11th Question”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Below is the story of how I came to realize this. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here Are The Questions:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

**Original Inspiration for these cam from Dean Jackson<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Can I wake up everyday and ask; “What would I like to do today?”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

2. Does my passive Income meet my Lifestyle needs?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

3. Can I live anywhere in the world I choose?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

4. Am I working on projects that excite me and allow me to do my best work?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

5. Can I dissapear for Month’s with little to no affect on my income?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

6. Do I have any Whiny passive people in my life?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

7. Do I wear my watch because I “HAVE TO” or out of curiosity only?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

8. Do I have time, commitment, or deadline obligations enforced my others or are they all my choice?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

9. Can I wear whatever I want, anytime I want?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

10. Can i quit anytime and life will still be o.k.?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

——————————<\/span><\/p>\n

If you would have asked me the answer to these questions just 6 – 12 month’s ago I would have said I had a resounding YES to each and everyone. <\/span><\/p>\n

Guess what?<\/span><\/p>\n

I was in a state of denial. I was doing exactly what I tell my clients, friends, and family members not to do. <\/span>
\nI was living in Delusion. <\/span><\/p>\n

That gap between what I wanted to believe and that of reality. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

What Brought Me To This Incredible Conclusion?<\/span><\/p>\n

I’ll spare you the details. Let’s just say life dealt me some unfortunate circumstances in which I was required to make quick and decisive decisions and raise big sums of money quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

In doing so I emotionally made some decsions that has caused me temporary uncomfort. <\/span><\/p>\n

BUT…<\/span><\/p>\n

…that isn’t what I want to share with you today nor is it why I’m writing this.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most important thing is what I’ve learned and I hopy it can save you time, money, and the discomfort I’ve experienced. <\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s get back to those questions above.<\/span><\/p>\n

My life was built on a very shaky foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meaning, I was producing much in terms of money, content, results…etc…<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

However, It was dependent on me. <\/span><\/p>\n

Virtually everything I was doing was “One Off” processes that produced great results but required ME to repeat again to product the same result. <\/span><\/p>\n

Example: I “consult” and I make lots of money.<\/span><\/p>\n

But what happens when “I” can’t be there?<\/span><\/p>\n

What happens when “I” can’t write the email?<\/span><\/p>\n

What happens when my voice isn’t available to connect with the customer?<\/span><\/p>\n

I think you know that answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Less results, less money, declining business. <\/span><\/p>\n

I’m doing myself an injustice and being a bit dramatic for YOUR benefit here. <\/span><\/p>\n

Frankly, i did have good systems, great people, great relationships, etc…<\/span><\/p>\n

However I wasn’t focused enough on the “11th Question”.<\/span><\/p>\n

“If My Business Had NO Access To Me Or I Could NO Longer Work How Valuable Would My Company Be and How Scalable Were The Processes and Procedures We Had In Place”<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is very important. <\/span><\/p>\n

So for me going forward I’ve made some very certain decisions as to how I want to do business.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

NO MORE one off business ventures.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If I’m going to spend any amount of time helping someone or business grow then I will have an ownership\/vested interest. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

NOTHING will be done inside of my business that isn’t scalable.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Recognizing my weaknesses I will partner with someone who has the strength’s I lack. (I’ve already done this)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Anything the company or I do must be recognized as a procedure, process, strategy, tactic, etc.. that can be implemented and “done’ by the company and not the individual. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

All activities must be done in a way that can be leveraged as an evergreen system long term. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Example: “Live” Webinar becomes evergreen webinar. <\/span><\/p>\n

Time must be scripted both in company and life. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All of my successes in life and business have been centered around the concept of scripting the process of time. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Time will be controlled by company or myself. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Example: We do not fit opportunity into time. The opportunity must fit into our already “scripted” next 90 days. <\/span><\/p>\n

This way I am always proactive and never reactive whether it be challenges or opportunity. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In closing for this segment I want to say this;<\/span><\/p>\n

In the future I want my answer of YES to the 11 Questions to be 100% dependent on systems, processes, proceedures, and other people. All independent of me. <\/span><\/p>\n

======================<\/span><\/p>\n

Next I want to share with you something in relation to a conversation I recently had with a friend and business partner. <\/span><\/p>\n

It has direct implications on my thoughts above. <\/span><\/p>\n

In todays business world more then ever before our customers are begging to be a part of something.<\/span><\/p>\n

They want someone or something to hang their hat on. <\/span><\/p>\n

A place they look to for authority.<\/span><\/p>\n

This puts (IMO) a new factor or step in the way we do business. <\/span><\/p>\n

My friend was curious as to why a recent offer he did was so successful.<\/span><\/p>\n

I’m talking about an almost 4 times result above normal. <\/span><\/p>\n

And his business isn’t exactly small. (quite the contrary)<\/span><\/p>\n

I asked him some piercing questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who did it go to? What it the same list? Anything significant or unique about the product? Did you hire a new copywriter? etc. etc. <\/span><\/p>\n

We found ONE stand out difference. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

He was sending a JV Product to his list from a publisher he partners with. <\/span><\/p>\n

He did this all the time. <\/span><\/p>\n

BUT in this particular offer he sent a bonus from him and most importantly by him that directly complimented the product he was selling.<\/span><\/p>\n

So let’s dissect this from the customers side. <\/span><\/p>\n

“O.K. MR. X is selling me a product again”<\/span><\/p>\n

Big deal…<\/span><\/p>\n

“Wait…he’s going to give me access to a personal product of his that strengthens, the offer and product he’s selling?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I can essentially get 2 for 1 here?”<\/span><\/p>\n

This is new and exciting to our prospect and customer. <\/span><\/p>\n

So here is what we learn from this. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Our customers are on our list because they like us. <\/span><\/p>\n

They have an interest in what we do and our product. <\/span><\/p>\n

They want a relationship with us.<\/span><\/p>\n

We are an authority figure to them no matter how big or small. <\/span><\/p>\n

So in my friend\/business partners case I’d do the following;<\/span><\/p>\n

1. I would add a complimentary product to each offer I sent out.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

2. I would vary the delivery and process for what this “bonus” is. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n