Well it's been another week and with winter coming on, thought it would be a good time to share some thoughts on change.
In the past month I've been given the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with aging. I've listened to stories from people facing their own end of youth, and it makes me want to focus on those things that mean something.
For instance, why is it that one person as they grow old accept it with awe, as a new adventure and someone sitting right next to them is angry, bitter and full of hate?
I've met people on both sides of this argument but from listening, I think it comes down to how you lived your life. Tomorrow I might change my mind, but it appears from the outside looking in:
If you were a manipulative, co-dependent, selfish whiny bastard in your youth, you're not going to change much when you get old. You'll just be that same manipulative, co-dependent, selfish, whiny bastard that everyone can justify not visiting.
Am I being sentimental again? No, I'm simply stating what I observed over a one month period.
Ready for business? Let's get to it -
First up, Rich Schefren has a new report out (before he launches something related) titled The Uncertainty Syndrome.
It's supposed to be an internet business report for those not getting anywhere online. I did download it and haven't gotten around to reading as yet. Most of Rich's reports and videos are right on the mark, and I don't expect this report to be any different. But, with that said - you pays your nickel and takes your chances on this one:)
Clayton Makepeace I've mentioned in past posts about direct mail copywriting. His guest authors also provide business building tips and techniques that to tell the truth, I haven't seen anywhere else but are tight and very useful. My hard-drive is full of these articles and you might want to create a folder just for them.
The article this week is on Becoming an Authority. If you've been online over a week, you know just about every Bucket Head out there is using the term "authority" as if it's some kind of secret conspiracy. Most of them have no idea what they're talking about, but it sounds good!
This article has meat and teeth in it. Not written by a Bucket Head either! Anyway, here's a snippet and you can go read the full article yourself:
You instantly gain authority in the wired world when you
make it your mission to take the gobbledygook of regular
experts and make sense of it all. Yes! There is tremendous
power waiting for those who can translate arcane mumbo
jumbo into common sense language even a cave man can
understand.
I read other blogs and post comments when I find something good worth commenting on (don't you?!), and this next excerpt comes from Laura Young, on becoming a commodity (what I call Bucket Heads).
This snippet comes from her article Solopreneur or Small Business Owner.
Trap #1: Becoming a Commodity
Not uncommonly, new businesses suffer from a lack of
definition. To niche or not to niche? It’s a scary
proposition to enter in to a new field, or to opt for self-
employment and we often want to keep our options (for
revenue) open. It is natural when one enters new territory
to search for any measuring stick one can find to learn how
to succeed in one’s chosen field.
Unfortunately, this often means discernment gets tossed
out and you can start to read every industry directive on
what it takes to succeed as relevant to your business. It
may not be.
In fact, some of what you read may go so
against your inherent strengths that you will risk being
trapped in inefficiency and find yourself stalled and
overwhelmed at every turn should you try to follow their
recommendations.
It’s important to understand that what is common to all
distinguishes none.
As solo entrepreneurs we're more likely to allow this more than small business owners because we work alone. When you find yourself about to change anything in your business, take the next step and simply STOP!
Give a cold, calculated look into how it will work for you or how it will wreck everything you've built so far before you make changes that work for someone else.
That's it for today and I leave you with this -
"Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got." ~Janis Joplin
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