Excerpts
#1 You Have to Love What You Do
I’m extremely grateful that I happen to love what I do because I know if I didn’t I would have given up a long, long, long time ago. When I incorporated my business Dynamic Destinies, Inc., I was driven by passion. It was my desire to make a positive contribution in the lives of millions of others. Even though that may have seemed like a bold statement, and I had no idea how I would achieve this lofty goal, I set the intention anyway.
My own journey of self–discovery took me from a very insecure, frightened young woman to a confident and successful businesswoman, and it was fueled by a passionate study of personal development. I was 19 years old when I was introduced to the world of self-help by a wonderful speaker by the name of Bob Proctor. Bob Proctor opened my eyes to what was possible and at a young age I began to study personal development with as much intensity and devotion it was as if I were going for an honors level degree in the most difficult university program. I began to experience positive change in my life, and before too long, I firmly declared “one day I will work in the field of personal development!” I loved how the books, speakers, workshops, and audiotapes had changed my life and I wanted to help other people experience a positive change in their lives, too.
Your passion might be something entirely different. It might even be a passion for making money, but in the end, you know that money is only a tool for achieving what else you desire. What good would it do to generate enough wealth to buy the boat of your dreams only to be working so many hours that you never had a chance to enjoy it?
If you have heard there’s plenty of money to be made marketing on the Internet, know that it’s true, but don’t feel you must sell the “hottest” type of product or service that’s out there regardless of whether it ignites your own passion. Trust that you can make money marketing something that truly ignites your passion. It is much easier to sell what you think is of great value than to sell what someone else thinks is of great value but which leaves you feeling lukewarm or empty. The one time in my life I was let go from a job, I had been trying to sell a product that was pretty good but not great, and I just hadn’t been able to muster the kind of infectious enthusiasm needed to make others sit up and take notice of the product. You can sell just about anything on the Internet. Don’t settle for something that you’re not excited about.
#35: Be Attentive to your On-line Image
Whether you are posting articles, sharing quotations or videos, developing a presence on social media or on a blog, sending out a regular newsletter, or offering information on a Web site, everything you put on line is a representation of you and your brand or business! If you want people to think of you as a professional, be professional. If you want people to think of you as someone having integrity, demonstrate integrity. If you want people to believe you have something of value, share content that is valuable. Be true to your vision of your brand and business and make sure it is reflected in your copy and any visual images you use to represent your business.
You can use privacy settings on social media to limit the personal information clients and potential clients can access, but do share something of yourself in order to make a personal connection. I’ve noticed that when I post a photo about my son or my family, or something about my doggies, the people I’m connected with on the social media sites respond favorably. As a matter of fact, some folks have said that it helps show that I’m “real” and it seems to create a greater bond with them. You might post a link to a dog rescue site you support, a funny but noncontroversial video that reflects your sense of humor, or your reaction to a wonderful concert that you enjoyed over the weekend. Definitely keep personal information such as your full date of birth, your mother’s maiden name, and so on, off any of your social media sites. (Think about the security questions sites ask for these days; do you really want people knowing the city you were born in or your high school mascot?)
Make sure your graphics on your Web site and your products are appropriate for your business and your brand. One client of mine had a site that featured a lot of pink, a color she liked but which didn’t convey “business professional” to her clients. Another client needed to add more images to his site to convey that he offered “friendly” and “personal” service. Pay attention to the feel of the graphics and the tone of the text when you visit others’ sites or look at their product packaging.
If you use a photo or image of yourself in marketing, such as a video welcoming visitors to your site, be sure that it conveys your professionalism as well as the feel of your brand. If you are selling something that is “natural” and “simple,” you might use an image of yourself outdoors. Make sure that the experience your customer has when he goes to your Web sites, looks at your product packages, and reads your blog and social media posts is consistent.
Want more?...Get your copy today.
