Category — Performance Coaching

Most likely there are certain skill sets you lack which will hinder your progress. Discover what these are and start today in gaining the necessary insights you need to succeed. You might ask yourself, how is this not the same as the lack of knowledge?

There is similarity between the two. With knowledge, you can hire individuals that have it, as you can with skills and tools. On the other hand, with skills, to be able to have at least a meaningful appreciation, you need a basis for yourself. Most of the knowledge you can buy or hire someone for, you probably don’t need yourself. For the skills, it’s a little different. A skill and the tools used to exercise the skill can also be called a talent.

Perhaps you need to learn how to effectively use a computer and the Internet. Maybe you need to up-level your communication or time management proficiency. Even a good attitude is a skill. Enhancing your skills is a lifelong investment that will pay you big dividends. The aspect of a life-long investment is also the parameter you need to use to judge if and how much effort you want to invest into a new skill.

Perhaps you find that something you need as a skill seems to be a talent you hadn’t discovered yet. It may come easy to you and you actually enjoy it.  You will probably find that you want to move forward and keep developing this skill.

On the other hand, when you realize that the skill in need is not a passion, talent, or an easy thing for you, you may want to learn the basics and then hire more talented people to work for you where the skill is needed. Learning the basics is not so much a matter of trust, but rather a matter of appreciating the complexity of the skill.

Another minor but important difference between a skill and knowledge is that knowledge gets applied and can be, and often is, a solution that can be achieved quickly. It does not matter how complex it was or how much time it took to acquire the knowledge. On the other hand, with the skill, you actually have to use the tools, the talent, and all the experience to create a great result.

Having some appreciation of the complexity of the skill will help you determine if a proposal by someone you hire for a talent or skill you need, is reasonable or not. I don’t want to say that a basic understanding of knowledge wouldn’t help as well (often times it does), but it is more pronounced and important to have when we talk about skills.

For you to determine if it is worth spending a lot of time acquiring a skill yourself, independent of your natural talent, you should try to figure out if this will be a life-long skill you will use over and over, or just something you will need for a limited amount of time. Anything that isn’t for the long haul should be hired.

That also leads me to a distinction that you might be interested in:

Combining knowledge and experience leads to wisdom!

Combining skills and experience leads to mastery!

As in every business, passion, endeavor or approach, you can’t be an expert or a master in everything you need for success. That’s why you want to focus on your own existing strength and not your weaknesses. Areas that are not your strength can be supplemented by hiring skills and knowledge.

In applying this information it becomes obvious that one of the most important aspects of self improvement is self-esteem. It is pretty easy to know what you are good at. It is much harder to admit your weaknesses. It is equally difficult to be humble, learn the basics, and get more talented people to help you.
Confidence allows you to actually ask for help. People who aren’t confident and have a low level of self-esteem find it difficult to ask and therefore get stuck with the problems they face. When they try to learn all the skills they need, they will take a lot of time and often still fail because they don’t have the natural talent to become masters. It’s much better to be really good at a few things then mediocre at many things.

Here are the parameters you need to be aware of when addressing self-esteem and your success:

• You need to know what you are good at
• You need to know where you still require improvements
• You need to be willing to ask for help after you know about the basic skill required for part of your solution or service
• You need to know the basic complexities of the skill you attempt to hire someone for, so you don’t get fooled by offers

With these aspects in mind and your awareness for the roadblock clearly in view, you should have no problem overcoming any lack of skill or tools required to achieve your goals and vision.

Be aware that the skills, as defined, are not just physical skills but also mental skills. There is a difference between knowing about math and applying math. The same applies to knowing about creating things made out of wood and actually doing it, using all the fancy tools.

As always, we want to strive for balance in mind and body, and that also applies for skills, talent, and knowledge. The advanced reader can elect to differentiate between the level of mastery and wisdom in the areas of skill and knowledge.

Axel Meierhoefer, AMC LLC

How often have we all been in situations where we spend a lot of time to find a solution and it later appears it has been right in front of us for some time.

Other times we hear or read about something a person discovered that appears amazingly simple but solves an age old question.

Then again a solution can look simple and elegant, even though the subject is not, like the theory of relativity. I still have an issue explaining it, but I can clearly see the simplicity and elegance of E=MC²

When it comes to building a successful business and keep it growing, marketing & sales are two of the most important ingredients to focus on. I have been studying these areas lately and like to bring you some of the results today and in the near future.

When it comes to marketing, I have developed an appreciation of the modern systems, especially in social networks like MySpace, Facebook, Linkedin, etc. There are many of these systems and I plan to create a course that will help people better understand how to use them for business. The best part is that most of what cost a huge amount of money in the past can now be had for free or very little cash.

The other aspect besides marketing is selling. The basic principle is pretty clear as we are all constantly exposed to offers of all kinds. What I find very intriguing is the complexity that has crept into all these messages. Sales copy on web pages gets longer and longer, people add videos, testimonials, etc. In some cases you get mail and have to dig to find out that it is actually a sales pitch in disguise.

A few days ago I received a message from Frank Kern (one of the guys who initially started StomperNet). He had a short video in which he spoke about a nugget of wisdom he had received from John Carlton, the copywriting guru. It mainly addressed the psychology of selling in our fast paced world, where nobody really has time to read or listen or watch anything longer than a few minutes.

When I first reviewed it I felt that it was so simple it would probably never work. The following few days I realized that I actually began applying it, and it seemed to resonate with me and the folks I was writing or talking to. Here are the three simple steps John Carlton told Frank Kern about successful selling:

1. Tell people in open, direct, simple terms: “Here is what I got!”
2. Keep going by providing a short, to the point, explanation under the heading (or a variation of): “Here is what it’ll do for you!”
3. Finish with a clear call to action that is easy to do under the headline: “Here is what I want you to do!” -   followed by a short explanation about the ”why”.

I am sure many of you will say: “Man, this is so simple and childish, it will never work.”  I challenge you to try and apply this approach. I have done it and it seems to work great, and saves a lot of time.

Next, I like to introduce one other aspect about selling and marketing. That’s the advantage of surveys to research your market. We all hear that we need to find out niche and then market to it. That is good advice.

When you have an idea of your niche, how do you know what the individuals living in this niche actually want? You can claim that you are the expert in this niche and offer them what you think they need. The better approach is to use surveys to find out before you loose a lot of time and money developing something your potential customers aren’t interested in or don’t understand.

I have been invited to participate in a new business opportunity. It is in the exploding health market, especially in specialty beverages. You know how many of those have shown up in our supermarkets. It feels like every day there is a new super-food, berry, or nut we are supposed to consume to improve our wellbeing.

I actually take my supplements and have a healthy drink every morning and it makes me feel good. That means I believe in the basic premise. What I don’t know is if I want to be in business in this field. That allows me to put my suggestion about selling and marketing to the test right here and now:

Here is what I got!

I am trying to find out if there really is a market for healthy juices and drinks, not just as a product on the supermarket shelf, but for a coach and leadership expert who loves to form teams. If I knew I could find enough people who join me in my team to benefit from the juice or drink, and make money marketing it, it could be the greatest business opportunity in our lifetime

Here is what’s in it for you!

You will take a few minutes to think about the topic. That will create clarity in your mind on two important subjects:

1. Should do more than you do know to improve your health?
2. Can you improve your health and your bank account at the same time?

Here is what I want you to do now!

I like to ask you to click on the link below and go through the survey I have created. You will see what I am talking about; think about the issue and the possible opportunity.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=EMqn_2fYkFtl6nsQQ9G_2f_2fB0Q_3d_3d

Why should you take the survey?

1. You can tell me what you think and thereby help me make a decision to jump on this opportunity — or not. That is a huge service to me that I am grateful for and I hope it will make you feel good to have helped a fellow human being. As a gift I offer you my free report at http://www.meierhoefer.net/special
2. You will think about your own future and what you might be interested in doing or not doing, thereby creating new clarity about your goals, intentions, and dreams.

Finally, be aware that you will provide a wonderful service in about 5 minutes of your time and help develop statistical research data for eternity.

So, that’s it. Just about the quickest and shortest way to offer something, explain what it is, and what to do about it.

I hope you will do me the favor and take the survey. Then you should try the selling & marketing process yourself and let me know how it worked for you.

Axel Meierhoefer, AMC LLC

During my last coaching session call (yes, coaches need coaching too), my coach Christian Mickelsen provided direct help to a few members of our group and made some recommendations about books to read and concepts to familiarize ourselves with.

One of the topics of the group discussion was the issue of marketing. I admit that I am still not sure if internet marketing and internet sales will become a significant portion of my business. So far I have produced and posted a lot of content (I hope with lots of value), but I am not really making money from online activities.

One of the participants on the call wondered if the issue with marketing success could be the state of the economy. Christian went on to tell all of us about an article he had recently read. I wanted to make this information available to you, my readers. You find it below with Christian’s and Ken’s approval.

It makes some great points about the economy and its impact on an individual – or lack thereof. Here is what Ken McCarthy wrote:

I’m sure you’ve noticed that everyone today is talking about “the economy” in worried tones.

“Where is the economy headed?” “The economy is up.”
“The economy is down.” And on and on and on.

Commentators look for “signs” about where things are headed. Politicians beat their chests and present bogus solutions. 

Here’s the deal for entrepreneurs:

There is no such thing as “the economy.”

There’s only your market and your customers…and the whole game of entrepreneurship - the whole game - is adapting successfully to circumstances whatever they may be. 

So let’s face the Big Fear and get it out of the way right now:

A deep recession, or even worse a full-fledged Depression.

*** Can the worst happen?

Sure it can and all the “rah rah” guys who are telling you it can’t are doing you a grave disservice.

This is reality and in reality ANYTHING can happen and not all of it’s nice. 

Frankly, given the insane misbehavior in the credit and banking industries in recent years, “the economy”
is probably due for more pain.

But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you are a real entrepreneur…and I’ll PROVE it to you right now: 

Let’s look at a really hard case…

The Great Depression of the 1930s.

Over 25% of Americans were out of work. Bread lines.
The Grapes of Wrath.

Total disaster, right?

Traumatic for many to be sure, but 75% were employed. These folks continued to buy goods and services without so much as a hiccup.

Because costs were so low - rents were cheap, salaries were low, material costs were low - it was a great time to start a business.
In fact many of today’s most successful businesses had their roots in those “bad” days.

Just Google “founded in 1930″ and check it for every year of the 1930s. *Millions* of results come up.

For 1937, in two seconds I came up with Krispy Kreme; Kaplan, the test preparation company; Saab, the auto maker; and T. Rowe Price, the stock broker. 

*** The so-called Depression was boom times for many   

During the Depression entire industries experienced explosive growth. “Little” ones like broadcasting.

Now, if you depend on a J-O-B and you have a limited skill set that ties you into one industry, like selling sub-prime mortgages or making gas-guzzling SUVs, you may be in trouble.

But the issue is not “the economy.” It’s never “the economy.”

It’s where YOU are and what you are doing.

Here’s the reality:

No matter how bad things get, they never go to zero everywhere.
There are always big winners in every “economy.”

The entrepreneur’s job is to go where the action is. 

Let’s take an Internet example…

In 2002, you could see the tumbleweeds rolling down the streets of the Internet marketing world.

Practically everyone had bet it all on the banner ad and then suddenly banner ad prices crashed. It was a definite Depression in the Internet advertising world… and many were caught like deer in the headlights.

A lot of people closed shop and left the industry for good.

Then what happened?

At the very bottom of it all, Google came out with AdWords in the spring of 2002 and the rest is history.

As a result, Google, which in 2001 had less net income than I did, is now one of the richest businesses on the planet and they’ve made it possible for countless entrepreneurs to build multi-million dollar businesses.

So for heaven’s sake, stop listening to all the drivel about “the economy” and start paying attention to the Google-sized opportunities that are laying around untouched in every economy.

That’s what being an entrepreneur is all about.

*** Learn how Google does it

Speaking of Google, did you know that Google sent one of its key executives to teach at the System Seminar this year?

Google has a very successful three-legged system to help entrepreneurs make m’oney online:

AdWords (traffic), Google Analytics (tracking) and Google Website Optimizer (testing.)

The System Seminar was one of the very first places on earth you could go to learn the Google AdWords system long before anyone else “got” it. (System grad Perry Marshall who gave that early course went on to become of the top world’s top AdWords
experts.)

Tracking traffic has been a System Seminar topic literally since Day One. In fact, one of the students from our early trainings way back in 1994 was the first online ad rep to provide “clickthrough rate” data to his advertisers.

This year we completed the loop.

Tom Leung, Google’s testing whiz, came to Chicago to show System attendees how to get maximum profits from every advertising dime they spend…using the very same techniques that Google uses when they test.

Do you think Google has a little traffic to analyze?

Do you think they might have a few real world case studies you can learn from?

Tom surprised us several times, especially when he pointed out that some of the things taught by the gurus as “traffic secrets” don’t in fact work at all.

The phrase he used over and over was “I’d like to see their data because our data says…”

I wonder who knows more about traffic and conversion, Google or the latest overnight Internet Wunderkind?

Gotta be the wunderkind, right? After all, look at all the cool cars he poses in front in his ads

Seriously…

If you like to learn more about Ken’s programs or contact him, here is the link:

Ken McCarthy
The System Seminar
www.theSystemSeminar.com

Let’s all look for the opportunities around us, keep an optimistic outlook, a positive attitude, and go forward finding success.

In case you like my help for overcoming obstacles, adjusting your psychology, and developing a plan for your future growth and success, never hesitate to contact me and setup a free introductory coaching session. You can reach me at AM@Meierheofer.net or contact my VA Donna at d.swingley@meierhoefer.net

Axel Meierhoefer, AMC LLC

PS: Download our free report at http://www.meiehroefer.net/special 

PPS: Get your success package at http://www.myperformanceiq.com/secretstruthperformance.html

As a long time member of ‘Live out Loud’ I receive frequent updates from the organization. Many of the things Laural Langemeier teaches and promotes are very true and have shown significant success at AMC LLC.  In one of her recent articles, Laural again touches on 7 steps it takes to create a successful business.

We all know that a credible approach doesn’t work in weeks or months, as some of the MLM folks want you to believe. A consistent approach for 3-5 years is the way to go. If you make it to that point, you have succeeded over 95% of all start-ups.  Laural calls herself a wealth coach. For AMC I prefer the name Performance Coach.

Here is what Laural wrote: As a wealth coach, my favorite definition of wealth is “the act of profuse abundance through the actualization of one’s skills and gifts.” If you think this way, not only are you able to create wealth with the skills you already have, but it’s something that grows and lasts when you do it with a team.Creating new money is a huge component in the Wealth Cycle.

Many of you probably have jobs working for others to earn most of your money. For now,  you should keep your job and start your business on the side. For today’s entrepreneurs who are ready to live the life they want, you can actually make more money with your own businesses if you know what they’re doing. You’ve got to get out there and start exercising your business leadership muscles as soon as possible! Once you get going on the Wealth Cycle, there’s no turning back. Here are some of the key elements that make new business owners successful:

1.  Secret = Seek out mentors.  There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Whatever your business, there’s someone out there who’s done it – or something very similar – successfully who will be willing to guide you on your path. 
2. Secret = Delegate. To best manage your time, eventually you will need to hand over work to others. Many business owners resist this, and as a result their businesses fail to expand. Since I don’t believe in ‘self-made’ millionaires, using the team approach to accomplish many tasks will accelerate your successes. 
3.  Secret = Market like crazy.  This where I see most entrepreneurs fail. Getting the word out about your business is the only way others will know it’s there. Marketing is a big commitment and needs to be done consistently and on a large scale to really be successful.
4.  Secret = Learn how to sell. This doesn’t mean you need to be overbearing and cheesy, but you do need to know how to sell the benefits of your product to a potential buyer. This could be as simple as just understanding how your product or service outshines your competitors. You’ll also need how to successfully negotiate a sales contract and close the deal.  
5.  Secret = Learn how to lead. As an entrepreneur, you are always managing others and leading them to success. Even if you are a one-man operation, you still need to know how to lead your clients and associates.
6.  Secret = Become an effective self-manager. Successful entrepreneurs know what to do and when to do it. They know how to plan and execute goals, and they make the best use of their time.
7. Secret = Be patient. Lasting success rarely comes over night. Most likely you’ll have to continue working your old job for awhile before you can quit it for your new business.  

There’s a lot of responsibility that comes with running a business, and although anyone can do it, most people are just too afraid. They’re afraid of failure and ultimately don’t want to take on all the responsibility that comes with a new business venture. Knowledge is power. Entrepreneurs take risks—calculated and informed ones that get them the results they want.

Though I agree with these last lines, I want to caution you not to forget to first find out what you are passionate about. Yes, you can find something you think will make you money. During the days when things don’t go the way you were hoping or the expected results escape you, you need to be sure that you absolutely want to do what the business is about. If it is just something you started to make money, you will fin yourself starting over and over.   

There is actually a significant group of people on the internet, some in money markets and investment advice, others in the home business market, who want to tell you that they have been in the dumpster, down to their last few pennies and then the great revelation hit them. They started their business, made millions, and now they work a few hours a week and bring in huge paychecks. Well, I am not saying it never happens, but it is very rare, and those of you who really want to become successful better realize that you need to have a passion, follow it, and stay consistent.  

The 7 Secrects above will help you. I also recommend a good performance coach, as we have them at AMC. Some people say they can’t afford coaching when their business is new. I understand that perspective and know how things are when money is tight. You want to be able to use your maximum performance and realize how to react to all the situations in business you are normally unfamiliar with. With that knowledge you have a much better chance to succeed. Don’t be one of the 95% of businesses that fail in the first few years. Pick your passion, apply your knowledge and believe in yourself and what your coach is helping you to develop. 

Axel Meierhoefer, AMC LLC

Dear Readers

Today a radio interview I was priviledged to be part of got published. It will make you aware of some of our upcoming services in teleseminars and books and tell you about some of the thigns we are preparing for you.

My friend Judy Piazza from SOP.org invited me to her radio show and I hope you enjoy our conversation and the information presented in it.

One little thing I like to make you aware of is the fact that I no longer work under any contract for GPT3. At one point in the interview I mention the PerformanceIQ® system, developed by GPT3 and Gary Morais. I am a big fan of this system and had great success using it for some of my coaching. This relationship has ended as of today. The planned tele-seminar series and the books I mention in the  interview will move foreward as described but will not be about the PerformanceIQ® or GPT3 systems.

We will fully concentrate on bringing you content that you can immediately use to improve yourself, you performance, you leadership ability and your management. We want to stay true to the motto: “Success Delivered” and focus all our energies on serving you.

With that being said, please enjoy the interview and let me know if you have any questions. Don’t hesitate to get your copy of the package shown on Judy’s site! 

Here is the link: http://thesop.org/index.php?article=12922

Axel Meierhoefer, AMC LLC