Did you catch Andrew Kap’s interview on Tuesday for “What Businesses Need to Know Right Now”? It was all about value and gratitude – and it had me reflecting on the summer. (Yes, I know that we have a couple of weeks until Labor Day rolls around and summer comes to its unofficial end – but reflection can be done at any time!)
Of course, I love summer. Fresh vegetables. Relaxed children. Time spent outdoors. An all-around slower pace to things. I’m looking forward to the end of summer. Are you sitting there saying, “WHAT?? Nettie…how can you be looking forward to the end of summer? Summer is FANTASTIC!” It is! I agree 100% and… Towards the end of summer, I start to get a little antsy – and I’m ready to get back to routine and make things happen. And I’m feeling that way now! How about you? Are you ready to put that slow summer pace aside and make some headway on those goals you’ve set for you and your business – or to create new goals to tackle? I grabbed my Momentum 90-Day Planner the other day and started to reconnect with my vision and think about what I need to do to take action. If you’re in need of a planner that allows you to create a vision, look back on past experiences, and move forward with your goals – then the Momentum Planner is for you! Amy Linder-Lesser said, “I love that the Momentum Planner is so different from other planners. There are no dates which for me is great. I can start and stop and resume where I left off. It makes me get specific with my 4 monthly goals and then, using the Rear View Mirror technique, break them down into smaller actionable steps to ensure that I will get something done toward their achievement and also that I will succeed. Before using the Planner, I had a hard time breaking my large goals into actionable steps; now it is so doable!” Are you ready to take some action? Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.
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What are you finding that businesses need to know right now about what you’ve learned?
There are two pieces. The first thing from the book is to understand that entrepreneurs know that there are certain things that they need to do in their business, but they don’t. And my fastest way to explain this, and this is how I put it in the book, is this happens for the same reason people struggle with lifting weights or going to the gym, or law of attraction methods, or whatever else. We’ve got three minds. We’ve got the conscious mind, the subconscious – and right smack dab in the middle we’ve got the ego. And the ego only has one job, and that’s to keep you alive, which means, for better or worse, your ego loves you. But whatever money problems you’re having, whatever relationship problems, or even whatever health problems, your ego knows you’re live right now. So, it will resist when you try to reach a better station of life. And the answer to that, at least from a law of attraction perspective, is going in and bypassing the ego to the subconscious mind, which is way stronger. You can do this through gratitude methods and literally thinking good thoughts and feeling good feelings – because that will make your ego feel safe. In turn, you will find yourself taking faster action. However, I snuck that in! What I really want people to know in terms of business is the understanding that even when you are doing good for your customers, you’re doing well for them – that there are endless deeper, more dynamic, more multi-level ways to provide value. And when you think about doing that, and you find ways of doing that, you will be rewarded in the best way. Because the more value you give, the more value you receive – so, it becomes this wonderful feedback system. For example, I’m trying not to humble-brag, but I’ve got many five-star rave reviews. That was not accidental in the sense that I didn’t want this just to be a book that I sold. I wanted it to be a book that’s read and used. So, therefore, I was very intentional about making this book from page one to page 208 a user-friendly, easy-to-read journey so that they can get through the content and they can experience a paradigm shift – and they can use it and be happy. And through that, I’ve given them the value, but they’re also way more excited about sharing it with their friends who might be interested in it also. On top of that, for stacking value, when they sign up for my bonuses, they get email after email, after email of just stuff that’s in support of that – designed to make them feel good and have an easier time using the content. And again, because of that, they review the book, tell their friends, buy extra copies, and all these other things. So, they’re winning, and I’m winning, everybody’s winning. “Many business owners are encouraged to write a book that acts as a business card. Often, in these books, page one acknowledges the fact that no one’s ever going to get through the book, and you quickly tell everything you know right up front and get them to buy into whatever you are offering in the book. But, designing a book such that people would want to continue reading and implement what you were saying – and they’d want to interact and engage with you is the way to go. It allows you and them to fully share your expertise with other people.” But just to speak to what you were saying here, you can do both; you can have a business card that draws people in and a book that they enjoy. If that book is going to be your business card, why not take them down the rabbit hole of your value? Why not get them here? They are in a place where they’re perfectly willing to sit down and read pages that hopefully are interesting and engaging enough – and useful enough – that they’ll keep going down. Give them the time to really sink in and learn more about you over the long haul through 100 or 200 pages, rather than having a so-so book, where the first ten pages, you throw everything you can at them without letting them go down that progression of value. Because in the end, I know a lot of people want long-term customers. Why not condition yourself or reinforce that by implementing that value and energy into the book you give them? And yes, I do admit that I’ve had experience as a copywriter that I intentionally infused in this, hopefully, a successful attempt, to make this unlike any other law of attraction book that anyone’s ever read before. A quick little note to speak to the value again. When people write to me, unlike most authors, readers will get a response directly from me that will address their questions about the content I publish. Can entrepreneurs benefit from the Law of Attraction even if they don’t believe in it? I liken it to lifting weights to get muscles. Everyone can relate to lifting weights to get muscles -even though it’s a very simplified term. And I’ll give you two possible explanations as to how this works. Either you lift weights, you go to sleep, and the muscle fairy comes at night and waves a magic wand. Poof, you’ve got muscles! Or when you’re lifting weights, you’re putting so much stress on your body that the muscles literally tear. And then what happens is your body responds by healing and by filling in those gaps with missing muscle – with more muscle fiber. Now most people say, Andrew, it’s the second explanation. And I’d say it doesn’t matter. What matters is you put in X; you get Y. You lift weights; you get muscles. And by that same token, whether or not you believe in the law of attraction, if you just engage in five minutes a day of gratitude, you may be pleasantly surprised. And if I’m wrong about that, you at least took five minutes out of the day where you’re thinking positive, rather than worrying about anything else in that moment. “I have the same belief. For example, when it comes to productivity, there are many different ways to create productivity in your business. And it really doesn’t matter which way you use to do it because the end result will be the same – whether you have a logical process, a spiritual process, or an intuitive process – it all ends up in the same place.” Can you share a gratitude practice that anyone could try? I do this every single day. I pull up my phone, and I leave a recorded message of all the things that I’m grateful for today. And I send it to my friend across the country. And he does the same thing for me. So we’ve installed a social pressure to keep ourselves accountable while simultaneously giving ourselves the opportunity to feel good every single day, expressing that gratitude. And we’ve been doing this for four years. He’s seen me become a best-seller in this time. I’ve seen him make tremendous leaps. It’s powerful. It’s worth it. Try it; you will not regret it. 3 Action Steps 1.Use gratitude to bypass the ego and go to your subconscious, which is infinitely stronger. 2.Recognize that the more value you give, the more value you will receive. 3.Engage in gratitude every day. Connect with Andrew Kap at LinkedIn or Youtube. Please comment below. I would love to hear from you. Raise your hand if you’ve attended Momentum Live.
Raise your hand if you’ve attended numerous Momentum Lives. Raise your hand if you’re thinking you’d like to attend Momentum Live. Yes! Raise those hands! Because whether you’ve been to Momentum Live previously or you’re considering attending your very first Momentum Live this October, you are going to get so much out of this signature event! Momentum Live happens twice per year, and this October 6-8, 2021, CEOs and executives will be gathering together in Havre de Grace, Maryland, for Momentum Live: The CEO Experience. (Don’t you love the new name?) It’s three days that will get you out of your business and working on the things that will move your business forward. You’ll experience: · Meaningful conversations and connections with other attendees · Focused activities that allow you to dive deep into your business · Time to take real action for your business · Guest speakers that are relevant to you as a CEO/Executive · Mastermind sessions – including the Hot Seat Mastermind · Implementation and collaboration with other Momentum Live attendees and guest speakers And let’s not forget about the abundance of laughter and celebrations as you and your fellow attendees make breakthroughs, get clear on your vision, and implement real strategies. I think the most important thing to remember about Momentum Live: The CEO Experience is that “you receive what you need at the current moment in your business.” And how does this happen? Momentum Live: The CEO Experience pulls from your innate abilities and reinforces and expands them with the help of EVERYONE in attendance – and that’s powerful. You may be asking yourself, “If I attended this event before, should I attend again?” And the answer is: MOST DEFINITELY! Each and every time we gather together for Momentum Live the experience is different. The needs of you and your business have most likely change – and the composition of those attending changes each time, too – giving you new experts and ideas to tap into. Now, priority for Momentum Live: The CEO Experience is given to Momentum Insiders. Once those spots are confirmed, applications will be available for a limited number of spots. (Feel free to hit “Reply” to this email if you’d like to get an application!) If you have additional questions about Momentum Live: The CEO Experience, or you want to know more about Momentum Insiders (so that you have a guaranteed seat at the table), let’s talk. You can reply to this email or set up a time to talk over the phone. Please comment below. I would love to hear from you. In Tuesday’s email, you had the pleasure of meeting Sherene Rapoport in the interview she did for “What Businesses Need to Know Right Now.” Sherene shared all about how she uses data-driven campaigns to help the non-profits she works with – and how you can use data to drive your own marketing campaigns.
It’s so important to be looking at the data you have as you grow your business and make crucial decisions. (And BTW – if you didn’t get a chance to read your email on Tuesday, you can catch her 10-minute video interview on my YouTube channel.) Of course, if you work with non-profits, you know that you face unique challenges. With that in mind, Sherene founded and created Team 501c on the Mighty Network. It’s a community designed to provide emotional and professional support to those in the non-profit world. So often, we talk about finding your tribes – and if you are involved in the world of non-profits, this is another great place for you to connect with like-minded people. Additionally, if you have more questions about data-driven campaigns, you can reach out to Sherene on LinkedIn or go to her website. Please comment below. I would love to hear from you. How do I know what data to use for my campaigns?
The basic numbers that you want to look at year after year, fiscal year after fiscal year, are how many clients, members, or donors you’ve retained, and on average, how long you end up retaining that person for your organization – whether they’re a donor, member, or a customer. You’re really looking at their past transactions and how they interacted with the organization. We like to look at lapsed data as well – lapsed donors, ops members, clients – usually, these are what we call the lowest hanging fruit. Looking at your data and benchmarking where you are today, where you were the previous year, and then what kind of growth you want to see this year to achieve your goals will then help you drill down into how much outreach you need to do and how much money you need to spend. “You can be more focused on your efforts when you take a hard look at your data – and this goes for any business or organization.” How do I clean up my database? Cleanup is a big word. There are many different things that you have to do because you do want to start with clean data. If you’re not sure if you have the correct contact information or the right email addresses, or whatever the case might be – there are huge databases out there – national databases – that you can run your in-house list against. “Have you used available data to compare to the data you’re pulling from your lists?” The other advantage is that you also get additional data points. We learn in great detail what your ideal client, member, or donor actually looks like. And that takes you to the next step, which is creating your donor, member, or customer profile. Once you have your profile, then all of your communications target segments – target that profile – and then you can also go out and look for lookalikes to that profile. These are all just simple things you can do today. You don’t have to go out and get a 10,000-piece acquisition list, for instance, to make your numbers. You can do it the smart way. You already have campaigns that are going out, and you can always segment out within those campaigns to streamline costs. There are a lot of really cool things you can do now with data-driven campaigns. I’ve worked with several fundraising organizations, and we did a few simple things when we onboarded them. We implemented what we call an “upgrade dollar strength.” Once we did their analytics, we were able to identify donors that were ready to be upgraded to the next giving level. On their gift mechanism or their response mechanism, there is usually a dollar string on it. We built those dollar strings based on their last gift. But we used a more aggressive formula to upgrade them to the next giving levels. It was just a data programming thing rather than anything else. Within those same campaigns, we were also able to run a lapsed donor campaign saying, “Hey! We miss you. These are all the great things that our donors have allowed us to do this year. We miss you being part of our community.” So when you get that message out, you’re able to onboard or reinstate donors that way. And then, again, looking at your current donor base, why are these people giving? Everybody’s motivated for some reason or another to make that donation. If you can start drilling down as to what are the programs that you’re offering or that your nonprofit is running for the community that you can talk about to a specific donor, this will increase the likelihood of them engaging with you and responding in the future. “Are you thinking about how you could potentially translate this for the work that you’re doing? You should be! Perhaps somebody signed on for a program with you at $1,000/month, and you offer them the next level, which is $1500/month – you’ve already increased your income substantially. And it’s really just the next level up.” Why should I be looking at using data-driven strategies? Typically, we see a minimum of a 2% increase in overall fundraising, retention, upgrading, or reinstatement. That’s what we target as our minimum goal for the year – 2%. I’ve seen up to 6% or 7% in a year – especially if we’re constantly monitoring the analytics, and we know there’s a core group of donors that are at risk for not giving to us this year. We can get on the phone and call them. There are a lot of things you can do in real-time when you’re actually working with your analytics. We’re able to sort of stem those leads, or those drop-offs, that would ordinarily just get dropped off if nobody’s monitoring those closely. So, ordinarily, we see at least a minimum of 2-7% increase. “So, you have a list, but the more you can insert into that list about your customer, member, or potential donor, the better you can serve them.” You want to know where they are in life. For many membership organizations, it’s important to know where my professional member is at this point in his life? Is he starting a family? Is he buying a house? And how am I going to support him through this transition? It allows you to relate to them – to meet them where they are – and to show them how your product, your service, or how their donation impacts what they are finding of interest at that current moment. 3 Action Steps 1. Utilize data to tailor campaigns that target your ideal client or customer. 2. Clean up your database so that your efforts are streamlined and targeted. 3. Set goals for your campaigns to help you track your progress. Connect with Sherene Rapoport at LinkedIn. Please comment below. I would love to hear from you. mo·men·tum | \ mō-ˈmen-təm , mə- \
plural momenta\ mō-ˈmen-tə , mə- \ or momentums Definition of momentum 1: a property (see PROPERTY SENSE 1A) of a moving body that the body has by virtue of its mass (see MASS ENTRY 2 SENSE 1C) and motion and that is equal to the product of the body’s mass and velocity broadly : a property of a moving body that determines the length of time required to bring it to rest when under the action of a constant force or moment 2: strength or force gained by motion or by a series of events The wagon gained momentum as it rolled down the hill. This definition of “Momentum” comes directly from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary – and no one can argue with this definition – that’s for sure! And yes, when I started my business and brought “Momentum Activators” and “Momentum Live” to you, that definition was undoubtedly at the forefront of my mind. But the word has come to mean more to me – and I hope it has to you, too. Because Momentum shifts and changes. · Depending on your business, where you’re currently at, and what goals you’ve set. · Depending on what’s happening in your personal life – because you can’t separate business and personal. · Depending on the tribe that is currently surrounding you and supporting you. And it’s these shifts and changes that make Momentum so powerful – both the dictionary definition and the programs I’ve created. At the last “Momentum Live,” I asked the participants: “What does it mean to be a part of Momentum?” To say the very least, the responses were fantastic – and here are just a few of them: · Safe, supportive environment · Pushed further · Variety of outside views · Big thinking and support · Place to start · Activator/accelerator of something already going on · A place to be pushed gently · Growth · Think outside the box Don’t you love it? They’re all so varied yet connected. And one of my favorites was: What you need, as you need it – because YES – that’s truly what my intentions are with Momentum Live and all of the programs that I bring to you. Momentum Live will be back this October…once again bringing YOU what YOU need when YOU need it – no matter where you are in your business. Who’s coming? Please comment below. I would love to hear from you. On Tuesday, you had the chance to meet Sonya Bethea in her interview for “What Businesses Need to Know Right Now.” She shared all about real estate investing and how it’s a fantastic strategy for expanding your income options.
Sonya was kind enough to share a few of her favorite resources when it comes to real estate investing – in case you’re thinking of making the leap! · Podcast: BiggerPockets – This podcast is released weekly (Thursdays) and is hosted by Brandon Turner and David Greene. It’s geared towards investors of all levels. · Books: If You Can’t Wholesale After This: I’ve Got Nothing For You – Todd M. Fleming – This is a step-by-step guide to closing your first real estate deal without needing any of your own money or credit. If You Can’t Cashflow After This: I’ve Got Nothing For You – Todd M. Fleming – This is the second book in the series and deals with building passive income also without needing your own money or credit. The Millionaire Real Estate Investor – Gary Keller – A book full of wisdom and strategies from successful real estate investors. · YouTube Channel: Dan Zitofsky – Zitofsky Capital Management – Great tips and tricks for real estate and not investing. And let’s not forget Sonya herself! She’s a great resource, and there are a few ways to connect with her: Sonya Bethea on LinkedIn We’ve all heard the old saying, “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket…” – and if you’re considering using real estate as a means of diversifying – then be sure to check out the resources that Sonya has shared or get in touch with her directly. Please comment below. I would love to hear from you. Why should they be paying attention to real estate investing?
First of all, statistics show that this is a good place to invest. For example, on the Forbes billionaire list – and if you haven’t taken a look at that list, please take a look at it. I counted, every 10th billionaire on that list became a billionaire by having real estate. I have 15 years in the real estate industry, and I used to run from it. I still assist other professionals within their real estate business. But I knew that I could close deals in heels. I can sell. That’s something that I do very, very well. In my first year, we closed almost 30 deals. So, I knew I needed to get out from behind the scenes, and let my light shine bright, and go into these homes and solve these problems. “Transitions happen. When did you realize that you didn’t have to be the one just making the sales for somebody else – that you could be doing it for yourself?” Is there a particular strategy that you’ve utilized that’s been effective for your success? I got my start as a wholesaler. I’m now looking into becoming the bank because, having a wholesaling business, I can’t leave that to my son. But I can build a portfolio that’s cash flowing. And that’s breaking the generational curse and providing generational wealth for my family. His kids will be okay by building a portfolio that is diverse. You want to start letting your money work for you. And I say this, if you’re looking to receive upwards to 18% return on your investment, you should be investing in real estate. So you want to use your money that’s sitting in your IRA, money that’s just sitting there. Most people don’t know that they can take that money, and they can purchase real estate with it. Let your money work. Start purchasing notes. Start purchasing non-performing notes to become the debt holder, therefore making you the bank. Why is this a good time to be in the real estate investment industry? COVID. I’m just being honest – it is COVID. People haven’t had the money to pay their bills. They have problems. There are people that are sitting in forbearance. After the six months up, they need to have a plan. What plan? Sonyea is their plan. I’m going to help you get from under that loan that might be upside down. You might be facing pre-foreclosure. You might be facing foreclosure. Those are all problems that real estate investors can solve. And I’ve been getting really good houses, really good properties that need minimal work. So, I’m getting decent property that can cash flow good rents. But, I’m also finding properties in good school zones, and I’m finding properties that are somewhat dilapidated. They have problems. They need a new roof or something like that, and you solve that problem. “This is about being a problem solver. This is about coming in and finding solutions where it feels like there are none. It’s about finding a solution that works well for everyone to get everyone into a better place – and isn’t that what business is about?” What else should we know about real estate investment? The first thing you want to do is build your network. Then, you want to see if you want to start by wholesaling. I can show you how to make five to $10,000 in 90 days by wholesaling real estate. If you have a little bit of time, or you have a little bit of money that you can leverage to create a team around that – I can tell you how to do it. You can go and put somebody’s house under contract with zero EMD – earnest money deposit. So this is where you’re taking that contract, and you’re telling them, “Hey, I am getting equitable interest in your home, and I’m going to put this amount down. We’re going to hold it in escrow at an attorney’s office.” And I do it for $0. Why? Because I’m transparent. I build relationships. Sales are built on relationships. If you are a great listener and people gravitate towards you, you’ll be surprised at what you can do in real estate investing. I like to work with wealth builders, people who are wanting to leverage their money. So you can take that, and you can build a small team to do the dirty work – the cold calls and text messaging blasts. Then you can focus on the five to $10,000/hour efforts in your homes and looking for problems to solve. 3 Action Steps 1. Consider real estate investing to let your money work for you. For example, you can use IRA money to invest in real estate. 2. Think of real estate investing as a means to help people who are currently facing problems. 3. Build your network if you want to get started in real estate investing. Connect with Sonya Bethea at LinkedIn. Please comment below. I would love to hear from you. The weekend is here!
Actually, if you’re like me, you probably think about your weekend starting when you shut down your computer on Friday afternoon. You might even think to yourself, “Yes! Work is over, and the fun can begin!” Perhaps, you even do a little happy dance! But I want you to take a minute and think about why we equate the weekends with fun. Now, there’s no doubt that the weekends are fun – they certainly are! But shouldn’t work be fun, too? The answer is: YES! Now, I’m not going to say that work should be hours upon hours of fun and frivolity – because that’s just not realistic. But there should be fun moments. Moments that bring you happiness. Moments that make you smile. Unfortunately, if you’re finding the joy and fun and excitement of your work is slowly disappearing – or maybe it’s disappeared altogether – and that you’re “living for the weekend” – then it’s time to bring it back! So, how do you do that? Because so many of you are just like me, I know that one of the things that I find “fun” and take great pleasure in is in recognizing what I’ve accomplished each week. (I know this may not be what you stereotypically think of as “fun,” – but hear me out.) Celebrating what you’ve accomplished is vital to you and your business – and yes, it’s fun! And you should do it on a regular basis – so why not on Fridays? Think about how your Monday started and where your Friday ended – and everything that happened in between. I guarantee there’s something to celebrate in there – even if it’s just been a week of working in your business. Often, we want to celebrate the big moments like signing new clients or hitting revenue goals – when, in reality, all of those little steps you’re taking throughout the week are truly working to move your business forward – and should be celebrated. From now on, when Friday rolls around, I want you to spend 2 minutes having fun by celebrating what you accomplished during the week – and go into your weekend with a smile on your face! Please comment below. I would love to hear from you. What’s On My Bookshelf – Scale for Success: Expert Insights Into Growing Your Business – Jan Cavelle8/5/2021 Didn’t you love Tuesday’s interview with Jan Cavelle? She’s such an advocate for entrepreneurs, and as an entrepreneur herself, she knows exactly what so many of us face as we strive to grow and scale our business.
In fact, Jan has poured her heart and soul into helping entrepreneurs scale their business – and with that in mind, she has written a book called “Scale for Success: Expert Insights Into Growing Your Business.” And YES, it’s on my bookshelf! Amazon says: All it takes to start a business is a great idea and initial funding. But when it comes to growing and scaling a business – turning it into an enduring success – it becomes much more difficult to manage and sustain the various elements that are involved. You need to set out a clear plan, sustain funding, optimize marketing opportunities and develop an effective team. There are many opportunities to fail but, with Scale for Success, readers will gain valuable insights and practical advice from a global array of entrepreneurs and business leaders who have paved the way to their own versions of commercial success. Scale for Success features 30 entrepreneurs and CEOs, including Dame Shellie Hunt, Jeremy Harbour, David Meerman Scott, and Paris Cutler. These inspiring figures share their stories of successful growth and scaling and, most importantly, the practical and adaptable advice and guidance that led to their businesses moving effectively on to the next stage of growth. With insights from world-renowned figures in tech, real estate, marketing, and fashion, this book provides an eclectic array of original ideas and approaches that have been proven to be effective. Narrated and curated by writer and former entrepreneur Jan Cavelle, this book provides an engaging and enlightening pathway to scaling success. This is another must-have resource as you work to take your business to the next level in a way that’s not only successful but sustainable. You’ll love how the experts in her book share the answers to so many questions that arise when it comes to scaling – and the “key takeaways” provide you with advice that hits the mark! Be sure to check it out! Please comment below. I would love to hear from you. |
AuthorBeing an entrepreneur and business owner is hard! Once you have your business up and running it's not uncommon to hit a few snags: scalability, staff retention, launching growth projects, getting enough sleep! Archives
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