Now look at the other team: when the ball is hit, every player reacts in a disciplined manner and his teammates know what the other is going to do. Depending on the situation, the pitcher may cover home plate, infielders set up for a double play, and outfielders prepare to back up their teammates.

Which team is going to deliver the most wins?

In any kind of business, what keeps you in business is whether or not you deliver the goods to your clients. You need to deliver quality results in a consistent manner. The good news is that to deliver quality results, you do not need tons of people or the most expensive tools: it's all about the quality of your systems.

What is a "system"? It is a set of activities, methods, practices, tools and transformations that you use to create a specific deliverable result. An effective set of systems brings together people, tools and methods into an integrated whole. The quality of your end result is determined by the quality of the systems used to produce it. Systems provide a measurable way to improve your ability to execute.

As an engineer and project manager back in the 1990s, I had a lot of personal experience with project teams that had good systems and others that had poor ones, and it had nothing to do with how much money the team had to work with.

In the late 1990s, the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), located at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, studied hundreds of software companies and development teams of various sizes to understand what kinds of activities, processes and systems are needed to create good software. They grouped the teams into a Capability Maturity Model (CMM) with five levels of "maturity", or how the systems are defined, managed, measured, controlled and effective:

· Level 1 - The Initial Level. Systems are characterized as ad-hoc, and occasionally even chaotic. Few processes are defined, and success depends on individual effort and heroics.

· Level 2 - The Repeatable Level. Basic processes are established to track cost, schedule and functionality. The necessary discipline is in place to repeat earlier successes on projects with similar parameters.

· Level 3 - The Defined Level. Systems are documented, standardized, and integrated across the organization. Everyone accepts and uses the approved systems.

· Level 4 - The Managed Level. Detailed metrics are collected, measuring the effectiveness of internal systems and quality of the deliverables. Everything that is done is quantitatively understood and controlled.

· Level 5 - The Optimizing Level. Continuous process improvement is enabled by quantitative feedback from the process and from piloting innovative ideas and technologies.

There are very few Level 5 software development organizations, and these tend write code for the Space Shuttle, nuclear power plants and other high-reliability applications (one defect per million lines of code, and they know precisely what and where it is). Most companies are somewhere between level 1 and 2. When a company reaches between levels 2 and 3, it usually has the procedures in place to successfully apply for ISO 9000 certification.

Although this framework was initially developed for software teams, I find the CMM is a very effective way to measure and improve a team's ability to execute.

Any systems that you put in place should address four main aspects:

· Tasks: What you do. Tasks should be described at a "macro" level, with enough detail to determine what is the deliverable for the task, but with enough flexibility to give whoever is doing the task the autonomy necessary to get it done. A good rule of thumb is that a task should take at least one day and not more than four days (so that it can be accomplished in a normal work-week). If a task takes less or more than these guidelines, it is either too detailed or can be broken down further.

· People: Who does what. Responsibilities and authorities must be clearly defined and published, so that everyone has a clear stake in the success of the project. Everyone should "own" an aspect of the project, to create a sense of "craftsman’s pride". If something goes wrong, the responsibility to rectify the problem is clear, and if something goes right, the reward and recognition can be clearly determined.

· Technology/Tools: How you do it. The tools and technology used must be scaled to the task and the resources at hand. Manual methods can be just as effective as fancy online tools. The main requirement is to not let the tools get in the way of the job, in other words the KISS principle applies.

· Measurement: How you track what you do. As the old saying goes: "if you can’t measure it, it wasn’t done". Clear and simple measurement tools help you distinguish between fantasy (how you think you’re doing) versus reality (how you are really doing).

Your business also has to deliver dependable, consistent results. The maturity of your execution and management systems will determine to a large degree whether you can deliver these results. When the systems in your business are well defined and well implemented, people know what needs to be done and the right things get done.

If you want to play in the Majors, you must develop the maturity of your processes and systems. When you have a finely-tuned machine that is humming along, you get more done, have less stress, gain happier clients, and you make much more profit in the end.

For more information

The "Little League/Major League" analogy at the beginning of this article is from Watts Humphrey, a leader in the field of software development and founder of the Capability Maturity Model project, from his book "Managing The Software Process"
http://www.amazon.com/Managing-Software-Process-Watts-Humphrey/dp/0201180952
Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts_Humphrey

The Wikipedia entry for "Capability Maturity Model" gives a good overview of the process as applied to software development: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capability_maturity_model

ISO9000 sometimes is synonymous with excessive paperwork. But the principles of ISO9000 quality management can be applied to any kind of manufacturing, retail or service business. The Wikipedia entry for "ISO9000" gives a good overview
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iso_9000

Image credit: Ed Yourdon via Flickr
Direct link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yourdon/3583164483/
Used under a Creative Commons 2.0 Licence

Luckily for me I started one post at a time. Now, two blogs (this one in English and one in French) and a combined 558 posts later, I think I'm getting the hang of it.

I believe that every solopreneur needs to blog. The currency of the self-employed professional is ideas. Blogging is a powerful way to get ideas out of your head and into the world. Many of my thoughts are half-baked, sometimes the grammar is twisted or the post is not quite logical, that's okay. A blog is a workshop to prototype your ideas, to test them and see what sticks, both with you and with your readers. By demonstrating how you think and what you are thinking about, you help your prospects to build their trust in you.

My original intention with this post was to come up with my "Top Ten" favorites but as I went through my archives, there were just too many. Instead, here are ten posts (in no particular order) that I think represent my personality and my beliefs:  

• What Gives Me The Right To Interrupt?
  We have the right and the responsiblity to interrupt and influence people to help them become all they can be.
  http://blog.davender.com/2006/01/what-gives-me-the-right-to-interrupt
  
• When Is Spam Spam
  Every contact you have with a prospect should bring something of value to them.
  http://blog.davender.com/2010/03/when-is-spam-spam/
  
• What Comes First, IQ or LQ?
  Do we want a society led by clones of Mr Spock? Or do we want a future shaped by "ordinary people doing extraordinary things"?
  http://blog.davender.com/2007/01/what-comes-first-iq-or-lq/
• Self-Help's Big Lie?
  The Big Lie of the Self-Help/Law Of Attraction crowd is believing that entitlement comes before effort.
  http://blog.davender.com/2006/01/self-helps-big-lie/
• The High Cost Of Free Money
  The cheapest way to get the money you need is to go out and get clients.
  http://blog.davender.com/2007/09/the-high-cost-of-free-money/
• Nano-economics
  At the interpersonal level where solopreneurs operate, the laws of supply and demand of traditional microeconomics fall apart, because the relationship of trust between you and your client is much stronger.
  http://blog.davender.com/2008/08/nano-economics/
• Greatness is never a given - it must be earned
  If you spoke to inspire the people around you, how would your world change? Would others take you seriously? If not, why not?
  http://blog.davender.com/2009/01/greatness-is-never-a-given-it-must-be-earned/
• Are You A Rainmaker?
  A Rainmaker is someone who makes it rain opportunity for everyone around them.
  http://blog.davender.com/2009/02/are-you-a-rainmaker/
• To Win, Think Tactical
  Strategic thinking focuses on the "what", and tactical thinking focuses on the "how".
  http://blog.davender.com/2010/03/to-win-think-tactical/
• It's our duty to obsess about our own vision
  Life without passion is a life of mediocrity.
  http://blog.davender.com/2009/07/its-our-duty-to-obsess-about-our-own-vision/

I invite you to explore the archives of over 350 posts on this blog and 200 posts on my French blog. Found a post that you like? Please share it in the comments.

For more information

Image credit: Image by Timothy Tsui via Flickr.
Image link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/timothytsuihin/2911283014
Used under Creative Commons 2.0 license

As I transitioned to my new career, that hope was somewhat dashed, but it wasn't so bad. There were some tests, but nothing that really pushed me to my limits as did the exams I endured in college. And what tests I did have to take became fewer as I progressed in my career.

Our society is set up to minimize discomfort, but I'm not sure that it is necessarily a good thing. Without opportunities to measure our abilities, there is little incentive to further explore our potential. I'm grateful for not having to relive the pressure of test-taking like I had in college, but on the other hand, I miss the opportunity to measure my abilities and push myself to a new level of performance.

I believe it is important to proactively put challenges in front of oneself in order to provoke growth and development, before life imposes a test that one might not be ready to take.

I was fortunate in the early days of my career to surround myself with people who wanted to improve themselves on many levels. As the number of tests imposed on me by others declined, my friends encouraged me to start choosing other occasions to expand my experience of life. I took up running, which led me to start testing myself in 10km and marathon runs. Then I graduated to biathlons and triathlons. I didn't win, but that was not the point. It was about besting my previous performances and discovering my other strengths.

Then during my masters degree, I discovered long distance cycle-touring, and I tested myself on a Seattle to San Francisco ride which helped me to redefine how I saw myself.  Moving to Western Canada, I discovered backcountry hiking and skiing, and two significant tests I fondly remember are hiking the West Coast Trail and traversing the Wapta Icefields. When I left the military, the tests I set for myself shifted to more spiritual and emotional pursuits, by taking the Context Associated series of courses and embarking on the path to becoming an assistant facilitator. Then there was my career change to become a coach, and the courses and experiences that I chose to undertake to develop myself on that new path.

And all during this time there were other lesser challenges that I gave myself that allowed me to explore my creativity, my analytical skills and my physical fitness.

What I notice is that each of these tests helped me to define who I am and what I'm capable of. The tests I chose for myself helped me to build my confidence and especially to help build my capacity to overcome the obstacles of everyday life.

As I reflect back on the tests I've set for myself over the years, I notice some elements that helped to make them a success for me. Therefore, here are some guidelines to help you choose a test that will help you to succeed:

1. Make it something that you choose to accomplish. Tests imposed by others are not as meaningful as ones that you choose of your own free will. It should be something meaningful to you, in alignment with your values, your passions, your strengths and your goals.

2. It is focused on a particular date and time. Nothing focuses the mind like a deadline.

3. It sets a high-water mark of your capabilities. Choose or establish a test that causes you to stretch yourself in an area of your life that you want to improve.

4. It inspires confidence in yourself. Completing this test makes you proud, building your confidence in all areas of your life.

5. Preparing for it helps you establish positive rituals in your life. Select a test that requires discipline and endurance as you prepare for it. The longer you need to prepare (between three to twelve months), the better the positive changes you can create for yourself.

6. It is something special. Your test should be something out of the ordinary, which creates positive memories and from which you can extract valuable life experiences. By selecting a positive event, you can share it with others and even inspire other people to complete it.

7. It is something that you win just by participating. Avoid a pass/fail or win/lose test.

8. It tests one or more of the dimensions of living. A test does not only have to be a physical or a mental feat. Consider how it expands your emotional and spiritual ways of being.

During the last couple of years, my annual test was to complete a half-marathon (21km) race at the end of each summer. In 2006 and 2007 my focus was the Demi-marathon des Deux-Rives here in Quebec City, and in 2008 I completed the Toronto Half-Marathon. Various other tests I have given myself were to participate in a silent retreat, compete in Toastmasters public speaking contests and taking on leadership roles in community organizations.

But in 2009 life took over and I did not plan or prepare for a half-marathon, which caused me to set aside my personal fitness habits. I believe that by not testing myself, I allowed my physical and mental health to decline, and given the challenges I had to face in the following months, it was a contributing factor to my burnout experience this past spring.

By choosing tests that challenge us to stretch our abilities, we become better equipped to face the peak demands of everyday life. Well-chosen challenges help to develop the reserves and strengthen our confidence and our courage to transform the status-quo around us.

I strongly suggest that you take time right now to choose a test of your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual fitness, something that you will complete in the next twelve months. Use this opportunity to measure your mettle. Then when life decides to impose her trials upon you, you will be up to the challenge and pass with honors.

For more information

Image credit: Image by sashamd on Flickr.
Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sashamd/132071876/
Used under Creative Commons 2.0 license

The other day, out of curiosity, I watched BNN, the Canadian Business News Network. I usually avoid it because it gives me a headache, and this time was no different. It was a non-stop drone of talking heads recommending this stock or that stock on the flimsiest of cause-and-effect relationships. "I recommend you buy XYZ because it's summer and people like to eat ice cream." "Recent hail in Saskatchewan will depress demand for flivvers and sprockets so dump LMN." What bullcrap.

Take any financial guru (please!). I bet that if you tracked their stock picks on a year by year basis you would be a net loser. Because if they were winning they would not be shilling on TV, they would be sitting in front of their computer screens with a big grin while day-trading and making more money.

Actually, "making money" is a misnomer. None of the so-called analysts are real entrepreneurs. They're simply speculators. And that's why the health of the stock market means nothing except the appetite of speculators. No wealth is created in their universe, it is only moved or consumed.

Ignore the news. Disregard the stock market. Refuse the recession. The world needs more value creators, not more speculators.

The beauty of being a solopreneur is that I can create my own little economy around me, of happy clients who enthusiastically refer me to their friends, creating a prosperity stream that defies the predictions of any of those blowhard pundits.

The market has absolutely no relationship with what's happening in the world of business, especially the world of your business and my business.

For more information

Image credit: Image by mtsofan on Flickr.
Direct link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtsofan/2450496004/
Used under Creative Commons 2.0 licence

If there is one thing you can count on in these uncertain times is that you can count on nothing except yourself. I'm not saying to trust no one, what I mean is that we are living in a time of accelerating change. What you can count on is that the way things are now can change in an instant. I sensed this in my own life fifteen years ago when I stepped out of the career track and into self-employment, and I feel the pace of change accelerating exponentially from year to year. So how to move forward without losing your way?

Being self-employed means being able to let go of the orderliness of knowing what you are going to do today, this week, a month from now, five years from now. Because most likely something will pop up today that could have the ability to completely change your life: a new client, a new opportunity, or a new situation, bad or good, within your control or outside of it.

The responsible thing to do is to earn a living. There are far easier ways of doing so than being self-employed.

A couple of years ago I was attracted to an amazing woman who had a couple of university degrees and could speak at least four languages quite fluently. She had beauty and brains. (I love smart women!) But her problem is that she had a very difficult time finding a job, because she was frankly over-qualified for most of what is out there. When I met her, and as she got to know me, she decided to try the self-employed route and set herself up as a consultant in her field.

Unfortunately she did not get far, and I quickly realized why: she was looking for stability and certainty in a lifestyle where there is none.

As a solopreneur, we want to know that someone will buy what we offer, that all this effort and money and time that we devote to our business will transform itself into an income stream that provides some security. The insane part of this pipe dream is that we know that this is a fairy tale, that there is no security to be found in self-employment. Yet we persist as if it were true. Yes, that's insane.

The only certainty you can cling to is the belief in your personal vision, your own purpose, your drive to change the world and shape it in your own image. Without this missionary zeal for what you do, you can't move forward. You need to be an evangelist for your vision, to detach from reality and to create a Jobsian "Reality Distortion Field" where everything about what you do is incredible, awesome, great, cool, outstanding, world-changing, fantastic, amazing, beautiful, unbelievable…

Put two equally qualified service providers side by side, and I bet the one who succeeds is the one with that delightfully insane passion for what he does. A person I know loves his work and is good at it, but he has trouble getting and keeping clients. It's not his competence, it's that he doesn't fully believe in himself as a solopreneur. Every few months he starts asking around for job openings. He may be the greatest at what he does, but would I entrust an important project to him if I doubt that he may not be there in a couple of months because he has found a job?

To be a solopreneur, you can't keep a Plan B. You have to burn the boats and look only forward. Act as if success is inevitable and that it is your birthright. It's insane, but it works.

The only thing certain in this life is death. Between now and then, shouldn't you do everything you can to express your full potential to make a positive difference in the world?

For more information

Steve Jobs and his Reality Distortion Field:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx7v815bYUw

A moving commencement speech by Steve Jobs at Stanford, 2005: "How to live before you die"
http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html

Image Credit: Photo by Abby Chicken on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/redbettyblack/10241646/
Used under Creative Commons 2.0 licence

Set on the Gulf Shores of Alabama, Andrews tells the story of how he met his mentor, an old man that goes by the name of simply "Jones". Jones' ability to notice fine details and ask deep, thought-provoking questions becomes the catalyst for a big change in Andrews' life, one that brings him from a drifter's existence to become a successful public speaker and motivator.

The story continues, describing how Jones crosses paths with various other people who are experiencing their moments of crisis: a couple on the verge of divorce, a contractor who has compromised his principles too many times, a group of young people about to graduate, an elderly lady despairing that her life no longer has meaning…

Each story has a message that connects to a central theme: happiness is a matter of perspective. Perspective leads to wisdom, " the ability to see, into the future, the consequences of your choices in the present." By detaching oneself from fear and focusing more on gratitude, one's perspective starts to shift towards noticing opportunities, accepting encouragement, and gaining confidence.

The book as a whole is a relatively quick read. The beginning of the book held my attention because it had an autobiographical feel, which I like. Then as the story shifted to the third-person in order to share Jones' encounters with other people in crisis, the tone and narrative reminded me of a made-for-TV movie on the Hallmark channel: the dialogue is too stiff and the story feels artificial. However, I was willing to look past this and pick up some food for thought as shared by Jones:

• "Think with me here ... everybody wants to be on the mountaintop, but if you'll remember, mountaintops are rocky and cold. There is no growth on the top of a mountain. Sure, the view is great, but what's a view for? A view just gives us a glimpse of our next destination-our next target. But to hit that target, we must come off the mountain, go through the valley, and begin to climb the next slope. It is in the valley that we slog through the lush grass and rich soil, learning and becoming what enables us to summit life's next peak."
• "When you focus on the things you need, you'll find those needs increasing. If you concentrate your thoughts on what you don't have, you will soon be concentrating on other things that you had forgotten you don't have-and feel worse! If you set your mind on loss, you are more likely to lose ... But a grateful perspective brings happiness and abundance into a person's life."
• "A life filled with opportunities and encouragement finds more and more opportunities and encouragement, and success becomes inevitable."
• "When doubts and fears assail us, we subconsciously calculate the possibilities. `This might really happen!' we tell ourselves, or 'What will happen if... ?' And soon, we are so paralyzed by the idea that disaster is imminent that we cannot function in our work-and even our relationships dissolve. We have imagined our way to self-destruction. And that's what has happened to you, my friend. What you must do - to defeat bad logic with good - is to deflect your subconscious from calculating possibilities. Instead, direct your mind to calculate the odds. You can learn very quickly to calculate the odds of an event occurring and eliminate it as even a remote possibility in your life."
• "One way to define wisdom is the ability to see, into the future, the consequences of your choices in the present."
• "Your 'big picture' will never be a masterpiece if you ignore the tiny brushstrokes."
• "Trust and respect are about the future. Forgiveness will be in the hands of others and can be given to you, but trust and respect are in your own hands ... and must be earned."

The last part of the book offers a set of discussion questions that would be interesting to discuss in a book group over coffee and muffins.

Overall, it is a nice story but not necessarily life-changing for me. Many of the messages I have heard before. A major problem with this book is the editing, in that the author keeps switching from the first person (as he describes his own encounters with Jones) to the third person (describing other people's encounters with Jones, but as a narration). To me this keeps this book from being great.

If you like allegory stories such as "Who Stole My Cheese", "The One Minute Millionaire", or "The Greatest Networker In The World", or movies such as "What The Bleep Do We Know" and "The Secret", you will probably like this book. For this type of inspiration, I prefer books that are more grounded in reality, such as true autobiographies or memoirs. However, from watching videos of Andy Andrews, he seems to be an engaging storyteller in person. And this book (as well as others from this author) will surely be heavily marketed to the personal development/self-help/spirituality/Christianity crowd.

This book was offered to me as a gift to help in my recovery. One line in particular resonates with me at this time in my life, which I consider as the "return" on my time investment and why I give "The Noticer" three stars out of five.

For more information

"The Noticer" on Amazon.com (Kindle edition):
http://www.amazon.com/Noticer-Sometimes-person-perspective-ebook/dp/B0024NLMFI

Andy Andrews' web site: http://www.andyandrews.com/

Andy Andrews on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andy-Andrews-Fan-Page/53371254473

See the Kindle Review page which displays highlights noted by myself and others who have read the Amazon Kindle edition of the book (no login required):
http://kindle.amazon.com/work/noticer-sometimes-person-perspective-ebook/B001O5OVNM/B0024NLMFI

Andy Andrews on YouTube, includes lots of videos providing background and atmosphere for "The Noticer"
http://www.youtube.com/user/AndyAndrewsdotcom

Video trailer for "The Noticer" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49iGwJv8a6Y

Certain things have happened in the last few days which have led me to realize that I'm living the nasty side-effects of being constantly connected: a hypersensitivity to my thoughts and to my external environment. I have two emotions, either neutral/don't care, or five-alarm fear. My internal drive to perform no matter what has me cutting so many corners with my self-care, that there is very little me left to give to others.

A shock that happened to me just this morning has convinced me that trying to overhaul my engines in mid-flight is just plain stupid. Therefore I'm landing this baby so I can make the proper repairs and recharge my fuel cells.

What this means in real terms is that my program offers for June/July/August are currently on hold. I have also withdrawn my participation in all external activities "for an indefinite time", meaning I am making no commitments. Not making commitments is something that I'm committing to learn (tee hee)

My challenge during this time is to really unplug, literally and figuratively. No more Facebook, Twitter, blogging, e-mails, phone. To preserve what's left of my sanity, I must get out of the mental mode and rediscover my physical self. Good thing that it is the perfect time of year here to do just that.

During the next few days I am wrapping up what needs to be wrapped up. My phone will go to voice-mail, my e-mail will accumulate. I may or may not respond.

Yes, it's real scary stuff. I can fell the tingle of fear in every part of my being, my flight response is hyperactivated. If I don't hit the SCRAM button now, a meltdown would be just around the corner.

On a positive note, I know that what is happening to me right now is doing so for a reason, that there is an important message that I can communicate to you when I return.

I'll be back when I'll be back.

Salut. Peace be with you.

-davender

For more information

Direct link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc

This talk was based on Dan Pink's new book "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us"
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Surprising-Truth-About-Motivates/dp/1594488843
Harvard Business Review: http://blogs.hbr.org/recommended/2010/01/drive-the-surprising-truth-abo.html

Dan Pink's blog: http://www.danpink.com/

Check out other illustrated lectures by the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce)
RSA website: http://www.theRSA.org
RSA YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/theRSAorg
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg

Vision is ever shifting, ever changing. It is a work in progress. Vision is rooted in purpose, and it evolves as one progresses forward on the journey of life. Vision puts our day-to-day activities in a context that inspires and motivates, but must evolve as we evolve through our experiences.

A vision is like holding the box of the jigsaw puzzle of life. At the everyday level, we can relate our daily experience to the big picture and see where it fits. And what's interesting is that the act of fitting a small piece to the puzzle also changes the picture on the top of the box, As we discover more of who we are, the context of our vision becomes bigger and deeper.

For a vision to work, it has to connect directly to a personal mission. There is no use working on a vision if you don't know who you are: that's like trying to navigate to Omaha but not knowing where you are. Do you travel north? south? east? west? Your Vision becomes your GPS, guiding you through the maze of everyday life so you always move forward.

Vision fuels passion. Passion is the tension between where you want to be and where you are now. If the vision is too close to the present situation, there is no tension, no passion, no motivation to move into action. If the vision is too far removed from the present situation, it becomes to far to reach, the tension breaks and likewise there is no energy towards action. You need to find the right distance between where you are and where you want to be. And as your "now" shifts forward, your vision has to also evolve in order to maintain the tension.

This is why working on your Vision is a continuous, lifelong endeavor. You can start with a first, intense session to sketch out the whole canvas. Then, each month, as you move forward in your journey, revisit your vision and ask yourself: do you still really want to go there? Is your vision still relevant, given the results in your life right now?

Incorporating a "moving vision" in your routine will get you into a way of being that will shorten the time between idea and action. A continuous visioning process also creates visions that are natural extensions of who you are at the moment, instead of being an artificial goal influenced by fashion or peer pressure.

You have it within you to envision a masterpiece. Never settle, never compromise. Aim to transform your life into a work of art.

For more information

See the original on EzineArticles.com http://ezinearticles.com/4361779

Image Credit: Mikkashar via Flickr. Used under Creative Commons licence.
Original image link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikkashar/4519356753/

I will be updating older blog posts and articles to submit in this challenge, as well as produce lots of new material based on my coaching as well as personal experience.

You can follow my progress on my wiki at https://visinst-hahd4.pbworks.com or directly on the site at http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Davender_Gupta

It's still a good time to join me on this challenge. Whether you produce 2, 20 or 120 articles, you will be ahead of everyone else. After all, your certifications don't mean much to your prospects. It's only when you become an author that you become an authority!

For more information

The EzineArticles HAHD Challenge: http://blog.ezinearticles.com/2010/04/hahd-4-starts-may1.html

My HAHD wiki site (track my progress): https://visinst-hahd4.pbworks.com/

My EzineArticles page: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Davender_Gupta

The EzineArticles blog by Christopher Knight and the EA team is a valuable source of information and ideas about article marketing. Highly recommended: http://blog.ezinearticles.com/

Follow EzineArticles on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EZINEARTICLES

Note that each entry you make on Facebook is a web page that can be linked to and indexed (depending on your your privacy settings). Instead of worrying about FB privacy, post good stuff on your wall that you're proud to share with the world!

Let's connect and exchange ideas, tips and resources on Facebook!

(May 22): Checklists help you keep on track as you develop new daily practices. I like online trackers because it allows me to detect trends. A simple checklist system I recommend is 42goals. Found through Lifehacker

• Resource link: http://www.42goals.com
• Wall link: http://www.facebook.com/coachdavender?story_fbid=128066557206235

(May 21): The other day a client was bugging me about why I spend so much time on clarifying your "why". As Simon Sinek says "People don't buy what you do, they buy WHY YOU DO IT".

• Resource link: http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html
• Wall link: http://www.facebook.com/coachdavender?story_fbid=101291343251294

(May 15): Reading this made me go "hmmmm": Does having more stuff mean you're more successful? (Found via Seth Godin)

• Resource link: http://www.aldha.org/ltweight.htm
• Wall link: http://www.facebook.com/coachdavender?story_fbid=122572531104866

(May 11): Listened to this on my morning jog - a TEDTalk by Tom Wujec about team problem solving (and a reminder about the power of prototyping)

• Resource link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0_yKBitO8M
• Wall link: http://www.facebook.com/coachdavender?story_fbid=125531834128782

(May 10): If you want to add a Facebook "Like" button to your WordPress Blog, I recommend the one by "Bottomless" http://bit.ly/9rVLlm (I lost track of where I got this tip from - so to whomever, thank you!)

• Resource link: http://blog.bottomlessinc.com/2010/04/creating-a-wordpress-plugin-add-the-new-facebook-like-button-to-your-posts/
• Wall link: http://www.facebook.com/coachdavender?story_fbid=120218184675011

(May 7): Seth Godin's post this morning has me reflecting on my profession, my vision and myself. Many of my coaching clients make incremental changes, but few make the quantum leap they say they really want. And I include myself in the incremental group. I'm thinking about how to design and build a system that provides the "winning conditions" that empower more people to make the leap... to turn dreamers into artists...

• Resource link: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/05/mentoring-platforms-and-taking-a-leap.html
• Wall link: http://www.facebook.com/coachdavender?story_fbid=115167961854647

(May 4): Recommended: The Facebook "Like" button is popping up everywhere. What are the implications for how we use the Web? Solopreneurs pay attention - this is important stuff. I think this has a big impact (good and not so good) on how you build your site, your blogs, your positioning and marketing.

• Resource link: http://www.themarknews.com/articles/1429-the-facebook-takeover
• Wall link: http://www.facebook.com/coachdavender?story_fbid=107900992585943

For more information

Join my Facebook Professional ("Fan") Page: http://www.facebook.com/FromPassionToProfit

My personal Facebook profile (where I post in English and in French): http://www.facebook.com/CoachDavender

In his book “Linchpin”, Seth Godin posits that people who are remarkable are those who are totally dedicated to their “art”, exhibiting a willingness to plunge forward despite the fear and the risks, and deliver results that change the world around them.

In one of his blog posts, he asks the further question: How much support does someone need before they create remarkable results?

His observation:

“(…)Most mentors and coaches and teachers will tell you that few of their students ever do, not in comparison with their potential. A few break through and change everything, and we celebrate them, but what about everyone else?
The artists are different. They took a leap.
They weren't pushed. They jumped.”

What is the difference between jumping and being pushed?

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this, and what comes to mind is the idea that maybe the difference between jumping and being pushed is about expectations. And specifically, expectations about “winning conditions” that guarantee success.

As I look at the opportunities before me, there is a part of me that wants to leap, but another part of me that is holding me back, waiting for the right conditions that can maximize a successful outcome:

- If only I had more money in the bank
- if only I had more time
- if only I had more help
- if only I had more support
- if only I had more accountability
- if only I had more recognition
- if only I had more energy
- if only I had more resources
- if only I had more knowledge
- if only I had more structure
- if only I had more encouragement…

...then I could feel better about making the leap.

Deep down I want assurance that everything will turn out okay before I take the risk. I also want insurance that will compensate me if the result doesn’t turn out as expected.

But this is a lie.“Winning conditions” will never show up by themselves. And if they do appear before I make my move, it’s too late.

This is the conundrum: If I wait for the winning conditions, they can’t happen, because winning conditions are only created once I make an irrevocable commitment. It is the energy of my commitment that creates the winning conditions.

And that’s why being pushed is not the same as jumping.

If I wait for someone to push me, the winning conditions can’t happen, because the commitment is not fully mine. So I need to fully commit to jumping now, in the absence of winning conditions, knitting my parachute as I plummet to the earth, hoping I can make it work before I become a stain on some farmer’s field.

This is the problem with the coaching, personal development and self-help industry. We want to provide winning conditions for the client to make the leap. But if we provide the client with the parachute, and push him out the door, the winning conditions can’t appear. The client has to make the decision to leap on his own. As I look back on the success stories with my clients, it is those who decided themselves to take that leap, who succeeded.

If success were guaranteed, there would be no reward, because success would be so ordinary. The reward of success comes by pushing through the fear and the odds to create remarkable results that express my full potential.

Pain, disappointment, stress and fatigue are guaranteed. I chuckle to myself as I think about this… if it’s guaranteed to hurt, why am I afraid of the pain? Wouldn’t it be better to focus on the reward and aim for that? To have the unshakable belief in success carry me through the pain…

In my own life, right now as I write these lines, there are several amazing opportunities that are opening up for me. These opportunities challenge me to take my game to a whole new level, but also trigger my lizard brain to shift into overdrive, causing me to hesitate when I should be going full throttle. Seth’s post reminds me that maybe I’m waiting to be pushed, instead of leaping of my own accord.

Thus the real question I must answer for myself: Am I waiting to be pushed, or will I jump towards my potential on my own?

For more information

Amazon.com link for Linchpin:
http://www.amazon.com/Linchpin-Are-Indispensable-Seth-Godin/dp/1591843162

A very good overview and interview on Mashable:
http://mashable.com/2010/02/14/seth-godin-linchpin/

Seth’s blog post that triggered this thought process:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/05/mentoring-platforms-and-taking-a-leap.html

Related posts on this blog:

• This is Think Big Week!
  http://blog.davender.com/2009/04/this-is-think-big-week/
• Yes You Deserve It: Five Tips To Strengthen Your Deservability Muscle
  http://blog.davender.com/2008/11/yes-you-deserve-it-five-tips-to-strengthen-your-deservability-muscle/
• A Thought About Making Decisions
  http://blog.davender.com/2008/04/a-thought-about-making-decisions/

Image credit: Josephine Dorado via Flickr. Direct link to image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/funksoup/66512710
Permission via Creative Commons http://www.flickr.com/photos/funksoup/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Work It. Make It. Do It. Makes Us
Harder. Better. Faster. Stronger.
Work it harder, make it better,
Do it faster, makes us stronger
More than ever hour after
Our work is never over

But what if this belief is false? What if working harder, instead of making my results happen faster, just contributes to burn out?

Does turning the thermostat all the way up make the room heat up faster? So why would just "working harder" accelerate success?

My realization is that I should "work smarter": find the right level of effort that yields the best results. And take care of myself better so I can build a stronger personal foundation to support results that last longer.

For more information

Video Credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2cYWfq--Nw

Official video (non-embeddable): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgBgnoEY4iM

Daft Punk: http://www.daftpunk.com

Daft Punk on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daft_Punk

A professional driver checks his car's tire pressure, fluid levels, belts, hoses and lights before he sets out for a day of driving. You can also take control of these confidence leaks and restore your mental and emotional energy by performing this ten-point inspection on a daily basis.

1. Check your clarity

The main cause for worrying about success is not being clear on what success looks, sounds, tastes, smells and feels like. What do you really want? Is your desired outcome defined using the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Audacious, Real, Time-bound)? The more clarity you have about what you want, the more likely you will get it, since every interim result gives you information you need to adjust your course and steer towards success.

2. Check your environment

Does your environment support the results that you want? Are you letting the media's negative messages distract you (advertising, news, junk entertainment)? Are you surrounding yourself with positive reminders of the future that you want? Do you have systems in place to take care of the niggly details ("date it, delegate it, dump it or do it")?

3. Check your boundaries

Are you clear about what you will and will not accept from others? Are you letting other people's priorities, anxieties and dramas influence your well-being?

4. Check your commitment

How strongly aligned is the outcome you want with your personal values and priorities? Do you want this because of you, or because of pressure from someone else? Can you clearly answer the questions "Why this? Why now? Why me?"

5. Check your reserves

Do you have the resources, knowledge, time and money to make this happen? If not, what do you need to do right now to build up your reserves?

6. Check your results

Where are you at right now? Get real. Tell the truth. Create numerical indicators for your progress. Imagine driving a car without a working fuel gauge - how would you know when you would be running out of gas? I find that the principal source of money anxiety is not having a clear idea of your current financial status - simply updating your Quicken files on a daily basis provides a significant calming effect, even if the current financial picture is bad. Create a "dashboard" of indicators to monitor your current situation.

7. Check your support

Do you have a support network in place to guide you? A strong coach, friends, colleagues, a sympathetic ear, an accountability Power Circle, a mentor, an advisory board? Are you using them?

8. Check your self-care

Confidence is your ability to feel good about yourself in any situation. Are you taking care of yourself? Are you physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually active? Are you feeding your body high-grade fuel instead of junk food?

9. Check your actions

Are you stuck in analysis paralysis, or are you taking action? What one heartbeat ("baby-step") will you take today that will successful bring you one small step closer to the result that you want?

10. Check your clarity, again

If the answers to all of the above are positive, and you still feel anxious, check again: WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT?

For more information

This is an updated version of an article I originally wrote back in 2004

Image Credit: Nacmias Auto on Flickr. Direct link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nacmiasmobil/3660893908 Used under Creative Commons Licence http://www.flickr.com/photos/nacmiasmobil/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

On my end, the FREE SoloSuccess Webinars and my Blog are two big projects that are establishing a good momentum.

Here are some updates I've made recently to these two projects, to help you Power your Vision from Passion To Profit!

FREE SoloSuccess Webinars

The SoloSuccess Webinar series is an interactive audio and video session where together we explore various ideas, topics and tools to help you power your business or your practice to new heights of success!

(April 22, 2PM East) SoloSuccess: Get Paid A Lot For What You Got
How to set your fees so you earn more, get better clients, and increase your happiness
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=354420417911

(May 6, 2PM East) SoloSuccess: Cracking The Success Code
Discover the three keys to unlocking your own personal Success Code, so you can quickly recognize successful opportunities and seize the initiative
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114119568617990

(May 20, 2PM East) SoloSuccess: Is Your Vision Big Enough? How To Define A Winnable Game
How you define your vision determines what kind of game you are playing...and how you will succeed. Discover the four dimensions of a winnable vision, so you can aim for the stars while keeping your feet on the ground.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114660745228312

No registration is required, however signaling your participation via the Facebook event page is appreciated.

For each event, I will be posting links, resources, comments and the recordings (depending on availability).
Even if you are not on Facebook, you can still access the event page:
http://www.coachdavender.com/events

Keep informed of my upcoming activities by joining my Facebook Fan Page
http://www.facebook.com/FromPassionToProfit
and my personal profile
http://www.facebook.com/CoachDavender

My upcoming events are also listed on my blog
http://www.frompassiontoprofit.com

Recent Essays and Blog Posts

Can A Target Market Be Too Targeted?
Three questions to ask yourself so you can laser-focus your Target Market
http://blog.davender.com/2010/04/can-a-target-market-be-too-targeted/

For The Love Of Social Media
A list of articles and resources on how to use Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to get more and better clients
http://blog.davender.com/2010/04/for-the-love-of-social-media/

What Keeps Me (And Probably You) Awake At Night
Is your money mindset helping you or hindering you?
http://blog.davender.com/2010/04/what-keeps-me-and-probably-you-awake-at-night

Follow my blog for ideas to help you Power Your Vision From Passion To Profit

Main Blog: http://www.frompassiontoprofit.com
RSS Feed: http://blog.davender.com/feed/
NetworkedBlogs: http://networkedblogs.com/blog/from_passion_to_profit/

Plug Into The Passion!

Are you looking for ideas, inspiration and insight to help you make a quantum jump in your business results?

I have a very active presence on Social Media. Join the conversation and share in the many resources that I freely provide for you there...

Connect with me on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CoachDavender
and Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/CoachDavender

Also visit my Blog - your comments are welcome!
http://www.FromPassionToProfit.com

My Landing Page lists many of my websites, Social Media portals and my contact info
http://www.CoachDavender.com

I am available for individual consults - the first session is always free of charge...
you will get results from the first time we talk, guaranteed.

You can contact me directly at anytime for anything... I look forward to hearing from you!

success
-davender

Coach Davender Gupta

Visioneer, Venture Catalyst
Business Leadership Coach, Certified Book Yourself Solid Coach
The Visioneering Institute

I guide People with Big Dreams to Power their Vision from Passion to Profit.

(Quebec) 418-948-1553 (Montreal) 514-667-5877
(Toll-free US/Canada) 1-888-788-8844

coach@davender.com

One link connects you to me!
http://www.coachdavender.com

(Si vous preferez la communication en francais, svp me contacter directement)

20100419

In this webinar, you will understand the anatomy of your positioning, and discover a simple process to ignite a powerful word-of-mouth buzz about who you are, what you offer and what kinds of clients you really want.

(Notes, mp3 and other resources below the fold)

For more information

PDF Handout:
http://audio.davender.com/solosuccess/20100415/20100415WordOfMouth.pdf

Audio mp3:

Direct link to audio:
http://audio.davender.com/solosuccess/20100415/20100415_SoloSuccess_WordOfMouth.mp3

Video (under construction)

Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=362753037364

Some thoughts to help you figure out your positioning message and community of interest:

• What Is Your One Big Thing?
  http://blog.davender.com/2009/02/what-is-your-one-big-thing/
• Can A Target Market Be Too Targeted?
  http://blog.davender.com/2010/04/can-a-target-market-be-too-targeted/

"I have a client who is a Web developer.  His real love is working with arts organizations, and nonprofits in general.  However, he's concerned that that arts organizations are not a viable target market.  Arts organizations tend to be small and strapped for cash, though there are large arts organizations such as the art museums, symphony, ballet company, larger theaters.  His question - and mine - is whether the larger market of nonprofit organizations of any kind is narrow enough, or is it too diffuse?"

Since this question is common to many people, I decided to respond via a blog post in order to share my view on this with you.

Let's parse this idea down to three questions:

1. How to properly define your target market?
2. When is a target market too narrow or too broad?
3. Should "ability to pay" be a criteria in defining a target market?

How to properly define your target market?

I define "target market" as a community of people who share interests, values and qualities, to whom I want to be the preferred provider.

An important distinction in defining your target market, that I learned from Michael Port ("Book Yourself Solid"), is focus on their qualities (who the person is) rather than their circumstances (demographics).

Using only demographics to define a target market is a mistake in my opinion because in doing so you can make too many assumptions and overlook a valuable opportunity. An extreme example that comes to mind is mobile phones. In North America we assume that people need certain financial resources to buy or rent a cell phone. But it has become a key tool in transforming the poor classes of the developing nations. (see "The Dirt Road To The Information Superhighway", Der Spiegel 06/01/2006). And closer to home, look at other situations where a service/product provider successful went into an underserved demographic that everyone else thought not to be lucrative enough.

When I work with my clients in defining their target market, we first do the demographic thing to get it out of the system. Then we look at some other dimensions:

- their qualities and values: To create loyalty and commitment, your target market has to have something in common with you. By describing the qualities and values you are looking for in great clients, you can also see if you also have those same qualities and values. The better the match, the better you will resonate with your target market.

- a shared story: One of my mentors, Coach Dave Buck, says "You can best coach the games you have played". Do you have experience or an affinity with the target market you wish to serve? For example, it is difficult for me, a life-long childless bachelor, to offer my services to new and expectant mothers. But if I can show that I have lots of experience with children (by being an active uncle, for example), this improves my credibility in the area of children. (In reality, this is not a target market for me because I have no story to share.)  You don't necessarily need to have been in the specific situation of your target  market or have a long list of accomplishments in the field (although this helps a lot to build credibility). Empathy, an important element of building trust, can also be developed by sharing stories that communicate your passion for your target market and your understanding of their situation.

- their compelling desires: Go beyond just their "needs", or the things they are lacking. Focus even more on where your target market wants to go, what they want to move forward towards. When people have to satisfy needs, they look for the least cost alternative. But when they want to fulfill desires, they will select the best option, and cost takes a back seat.

- the deep-rooted benefits your clients will experience as a result of working with you: Go beyond just their products that you deliver, and identify what your clients will experience, in four dimensions:

• financial: how will their financial situation change for the better? (this applies no matter what you offer)
• emotional: what positive emotions will they experience because of you?
• physical: how will their environment change because of you (how they work, how they live, how they play, how they create)
• spiritual: how you help them experience their core values, their mission, their vision, at a deeper level?

- their trigger point: What is the specific situation, circumstance or question they are asking themselves that will cause them to look for you as the answer? The more precisely you can zero in to the situation which is triggering their search for help, the quicker you can position yourself to be the answer. In my case, my target market is not just self-employed professionals, but specifically self-employed professionals who are already in business, have clients, and now who want to become the "go-to" resource with their target market.

Going deep in describing these dimensions of your target market will help you to discover their true motivations seek you out and work with you - and why they will make the effort to find lots of money to pay you.

When is a target market too narrow or too broad?

I think the target market is well defined when you are recognized as the sole preferred provider for that market. The market is too broad if there are others who can "compete" with you.

When starting out, your target market is very small because your reputation is small. This is where you need to invest in building trust and credibility with your market. Your target market needs to look at you as the answer to their questions. They also need to know that you are empathetic to their needs, desires, values and situation, and are fully committed to serving them. As the trust builds, then others with similar needs, desires, values and situation will gravitate towards you.

The big mistake I see is people casting too wide a net, fearful of losing out on opportunities, This forces the client to make a choice, because you are no longer recognized as the sole preferred provider. Then you have to compete for the business, compromise your fees, and waste time and money. And if you don't resonate strongly with the client, then you will lose out.

The more you can laser-focus on a target market using the descriptors above, the more you can stand out from the noise of all the other options and "dominate" that market. You want to create a situation where people talk about you and come to you, rather than you having to spend time prospecting.

As I like to say, "Create a dynamic where the client needs you more than you need them."

Should "ability to pay" be a criteria in defining a target market?

My opinion? No. For two reasons:

1. People will find a way to pay if they want you enough.

The objection "We don't have the money" rarely means they don't have the money, it means the level of trust is not yet high enough for them to make the commitment to work with you.

In my essay "How Do You Stash Your Cash", I discuss the psychology of money management. Economists teach us that a dollar is a dollar is a dollar. But in real life, we assign different emotional weights to money. Money is a measure of commitment. The key is to build your trust and credibility to such a high level that they will dig into their reserves to commit to your solution.

On a practical level, especially with non-profits, help the client find a way to pay. Become an expert in understanding how arts organizations are funded, and a guide to helping the client find the funds to pay. Understand their funding cycle and time when to offer your solution (before they make the budget for the next year or apply for grants).  Sometimes the payor is a third-party, independent of the client with whom you will be working. I'm on the board of our Local Economic Development Centre (Centre local de développement de Québec) and part of our mandate is funding the business development activities of arts organizations.

2. Define your tribe by how they energize you, not by ability to pay.

As Michael Port says, "Find the people you are meant to serve, who energize and inspire you and allow you to do your best work".  I believe when you focus on doing your best work with people who appreciate it, then ways to monetize your work will appear. Because when you are doing your best work, you shine, and people talk about you. The level of trust people have in you goes up, people's willingness to commit to you goes up, and opportunities come your way.

When I started to focus on self-employed entrepreneurs/solopreneurs who want to make the shift "from good to great", and purposely turning my back on the government/corporate market (which is big here where I live), people said I was nuts. "Solos don't have the money!" they said.  As I develop my business by focusing on building trust and credibility with my target market, so many amazing opportunities are popping up that I have to start saying "no" more often to not get overwhelmed!

Become the "Linchpin", a term described in Seth Godin's new book, by being the indispensable go-to resource for your clients. In this specific case, look beyond being just the "web developer" for arts organizations and become their preferred partner. Coach and teach these organizations how to unlock the power of the web to get their message out and get more ticket sales and community support. Help your target market create successful experiences and they will become loyal to you. From loyalty comes commitment, and from commitment comes their willingness to pay whatever it takes... because they know they will get so much more in return.

To sum up my answer, I believe it is important to laser-focus your target market as tightly as possible. I believe that for every combination of skills, talents, passions and values that you offer, there is someone out their waiting for you to appear. By building trust and credibility with the community you most wish to serve, you can create an environment where they win, which in turn will ensure that you win now, tomorrow and in the long term.

For more information

For a deeper discussion of how people budget their money, and why if they really want what you offer, they will find a way to pay, see my post "How Do You Stash Your Cash"
http://blog.davender.com/2006/02/how-do-you-stash-your-cash/

See the article "Six Things They Mean When They Say They Have No Money" by Naomi Dunford
http://ittybiz.com/customers-cant-afford-it/

This discussion directly relates to Seth Godin's book Linchpin:
Summary and interview on Mashable.com: http://mashable.com/2010/02/14/seth-godin-linchpin/
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.ca/Linchpin-Seth-Godin/dp/1591843162

and Michael Port's "Book Yourself Solid"
http://www.bookyourselfsolid.com

Sort of related to this topic is the question of bartering your services. See my essay on this:
http://blog.davender.com/2008/12/article-how-to-barter-your-services-profitably/

Image Credit: Photo by Gisela Giardino. Original link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gi/6933867/ Use under Creative Commons 2.0 license

Subscribe to my mailing list and receive a FREE 6-part e-course called "Get More And Better Clients". The registration link is on my blog in the upper part of the right-hand column.

So much is happening lately that I've been wanting to share with you! Here are some highlights, and previews of upcoming events (April 8 Newsletter):

Recent Essays

For The Love Of Social Media
A comprehensive list of articles, podcasts and videos to help you use Social Media (Facebook, Twitter) effectively and get More and Better Clients
http://blog.davender.com/2010/04/for-the-love-of-social-media

What Keeps Me (And Probably You) Awake At Night
As a solopreneur, money is a constant obsession. Some nights I can't get to sleep, with all the what-if's and how-can-I's running around in my head.How are the money worries of an employee different than that of an entrepreneur? And, even more importantly, will my money worries ever stop?
http://blog.davender.com/2010/04/what-keeps-me-and-probably-you-awake-at-night/

When Is Spam, Spam?
I agree that it's important to reach out and let people know what you offer. How you do it, though, is the difference between generating indifference or interest. So what is the difference between a message that captures a prospect's interest and one that turns them off?  When is spam, spam?
http://blog.davender.com/2010/03/when-is-spam-spam/

To Win, Think Tactical
Planning requires two levels of thinking: strategic and tactical. Strategic planning is vision-focused, the "who am I", "what do I want to create" and "why is this important to me".  Strategic is longer term, one, three, five, ten years out. Strategic planning is important, because it gives a context and a purpose for action. Are you thinking tactically enough to win?
http://blog.davender.com/2010/03/to-win-think-tactical/

Explore over 330 other essays, ideas information and resources, visit my blog - it's where I keep you up-to-date with what's going on to help you succeed:
http://www.frompassiontoprofit.com

FREE Weekly SoloSuccess Webinars

"SoloSuccess" is a series of free weekly series of audio/video seminars on various ideas to help you improve your business results. These normally take place on Thursdays at 2PM Eastern. You can connect free via computer (Mac, PC or Linux). No registration needed. Most sessions are recorded however free access to recordings will depend on the event.

Here are some upcoming discussion topics:

(April 8) How To Give (And Receive) Great Referrals
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103989772969157

(April 15) How To Ignite Word Of Mouth
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=362753037364

(April 22) Get Paid A Lot For What You Got
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=354420417911

You can always see the latest upcoming events by visiting my Facebook Fan Page (no sign-in needed) at
http://www.facebook.com/FromPassionToProfit
and click on the "Events" tab<

"From Passion To Profit" Success Experience

Are you tired of your income being limited by "billable hours"? Do you want to be rewarded for your talents and for the benefits you bring to your clients? Do you want to be recognized as THE go-to expert for what you offer and who you offer it to? Do you want to attract clients who inspire you to do your best work, and who really appreciate what you can do for them? Do you yearn to play a bigger game than simply survival?

The "From Passion To Profit" Success Experience is an integrated system, intended to guide solopreneurs, self-employed professionals and big-thinking people like you to develop the entrepreneurial mindset. When you learn to think like an entrepreneur (instead of an "employee"), you can quickly spot opportunities in alignment with your Passion, and deploy the discipline to transform those opportunities into Profit.

The first 5-week module in this powerful learning experience starts Wednesday May 5.

Check out the Facebook event page at
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=106664406028583
and the full project web site at
http://www.GetMoreAndBetterClients.com

Plug Into The Passion!

Are you looking for ideas, inspiration and insight to help you succeed as a Solopreneur?

I have a very active presence on Social Media. Join the conversation and share in the many resources that I freely provide for you there...

Connect with me on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CoachDavender
and Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/CoachDavender
Also visit my Blog - your comments are welcome
http://www.FromPassionToProfit.com
My Landing Page lists many of my websites, Social Media portals and my contact info
http://www.CoachDavender.com

You can also contact me directly at anytime for anything... I look forward to it!

success
-davender

====================
Coach Davender Gupta
Visioneer, Venture Catalyst
Business Leadership Coach, Certified Book Yourself Solid Coach
The Visioneering Institute

I guide People with Big Dreams to Power their Vision from Passion to Profit.
(Quebec) 418-948-1553 (Montreal) 514-667-5877
(Toll-free US/Canada) 1-888-788-8844
coach@davender.com
One link connects you to me!
http://www.coachdavender.com

(Si vous preferez la communication en francais, svp me contacter directement)
20100408

It doesn't matter how pretty, easy-to-navigate or flashy your site, people will spend far more time on and interacting with Facebook and Twitter (20 minutes a day and more, according to recent Nielson studies), vs seconds visiting your site just once.

You gotta be where the people are: instead of staking out a homestead in the wilds of GoogleLand hoping people come to you, move to FacebookCity and mingle with the vibrant community that is already there.

Recently, the networking group I belong to held a "Social Media 101" workshop, after which some participants asked me what resources I have to help them get started. Here is a list of posts, articles and other tools to guide you to use the Web 2.0 in a way that helps you attract More and Better Clients:

The Essentials

For more information

Here's how the South Park gang uses Facebook...

(Direct link on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYkjaZCL0OE )

Referrals are a very important part of your marketing strategy. Too many solos advertise, hoping people will respond, but rarely do they "prime the pump" by giving referrals first. When I had to restart my business in a new city and a new language, my first step was to make sure I gave out lots of referrals, even though I did not know anyone...and that soon changed - because I demonstrated my credibility through my skill at giving great referrals. People saw that because I was comfortable giving quality referrals, and so they became comfortable sending referrals to me.

In this FREE webinar you will discover what referrals are and learn a powerful technique to give them and receive them, making your prospecting much more effective.

Specifically, you will discover:

- The anatomy of the referral
- Picturing the perfect referral
- The Referral Cycle
- Giving Great Referrals
- Kickstarting Your Referral Stream

Connection info, recordings and other resources after the fold:
(I will be updating this post during the week as I add more resources...)

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This interactive session will take place by webinar (accessible by PC, Mac or Linux).
You can speak directly on the webinar, like a teleconference, if your have a microphone and HEADPHONES (Please do not use speakers, because of feedback).

No registration is required, simply connect using the instructions below.

Thursday 8 April 2010
Event 2PM-3PM EASTERN

FREE WEBINAR LINK (using Adobe Connect Pro - works on Mac, PC, Linux)

http://connectpro16008135.na5.acrobat.com/ss20100408/

Questions? Comments? Contact me via Facebook mail, or e-mail at coach@davender.com, or by phone at 418-948-1553

Looking forward to having you join me on this fun and interactive workshop!

For more information

Facebook Event Page and Wall:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103989772969157

Image Credit: James Roach (jcroach) on Flickr. Used with Creative Commons licence. Direct link:http://www.flickr.com/photos/roach-family/182395939/