Monday, May 30, 2011

There is only one thing worse than not achieving a goal and that is achieving it.

by Dr. Jeffrey Lant

Are you a goal-driven individual?

First, do you regularly set goals for yourself?

Do you then plan just how you'll achieve them... and once having planned your work you work your plan?

If this is you, congratulate yourself. You are literally one in a million and the world is your oyster.

In theory.

People who set goals... people who achieve goals are a precious minority of any community, for-profit, or not-for- profit organization.

They are the people who live the celebrated epigram, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way." When they lead, they perform the leader's task with efficiency, organization, and, yes, joy.

When they follow, they listen to the designated leaders, making sure they know their task, then doing it.

It is a thrill and a privilege to know such people, not least because they create an environment conducive to success.

Why then have I said that there is only one thing worse than not achieving a goal... and that is achieving it?

In this article I shall make clear the problems that afflict the special people, the performance oriented people, the movers and shakers. Keeping successes coming, greater successes, important successes, more magnificent successes is never inevitable. And here's the rub, just because you were successful today, by no means ensures you will be successful tomorrow.

Indeed, the world is awash in one-time successes who once were the center of attention, the golden boy or girl. They had what everyone else wanted... but having didn't mean keeping. That proved to be not only elusive... but, after a time, impossible.

There is nothing sadder than listening to an individual once undeniably successful... now talk and live exclusively in that past; the success they had was fleeting and its continuing absence noticeable and glaring.

I am here to ensure that you do not become that sad individual, the person for whom the calendar always says yesterday.

1) Successful people aim for a sequence of successes, not just successful episodes and incidents.

Review the history of the prevalent "once-upon-a-time" successes and you will see that their success was limited to a particular time, place, and thing. It was isolated, unique in their experience, non-recurring. The situations of successful people are radically different.

They do not succeed one or twice and live off their decaying laurels forever; instead, they aim to have success after success after success, until the very idea of failure is unthinkable.

2) Successful people see life as a gigantic planning opportunity; an unequalled opportunity to bring home the bacon time after time after time.

The successful lead lives where what they do and how they do it is always linked to the master plan that they have worked on for their entire lives. No incident can be viewed in isolation, because every incident is a step towards larger goals and greater successes. For such people any success is nothing more than a step to ever greater success.

3) Successful people analyze what went right and what went wrong in each success they attain. Every success is not a conclusion, but a necessary learning opportunity.

By definition successful people place each and every success under a microscope giving it a full and complete scrutiny. Successful people study success; it is in fact their constant endeavor to turn each success into a learning laboratory.

4) Successful people have a succession of goals. Moreover these sequential goals are written down, regularly reviewed and updated... and always represent more challenge and responsibility. For the successful, life is a step ladder, never a sofa and easy chair.

Do you have such goals? Are they written down? Do you constantly consider just what goals achieved today mean in terms of more substantial goals and achievements tomorrow? As successful people grow and mature they become masters of such questions and answers.

More things successful people do.

5) Successful people are all about the future. They focus is on now, of course, because it is in this now they must learn the essentials of success and achieve each individual success.

But successful people always keep an eye on the future. They focus on what they want in that future, vividly aware that what they do today and how well they do guarantees the future of their desire.

6) Successful people make mistakes.

There isn't a person alive who doesn't make errors of commission and omission. Successful people know that reviewing today's errors ensures tomorrow's victories. And as it is victory they want and insist upon above all, each error is analyzed, understood, turned into part of the primer on success.

7) Successful people are not defensive.

The characteristic response of the unsuccessful to areas where they have erred and need a different, improved response is defensive. Such responses will be of the "no one told me. I'm innocent. It's her fault, it's her fault" variety. These responses are a clear indication that the person in question has little or no idea what successful people say in such circumstances.

"Thank you for pointing this out to me. I have made written notation of what you want."

Bingo, with such a response you are no longer defending the indefensible, you are instead turning an error, a misunderstanding, a questionable act into a valuable learning experience. 8) Successful people keep journals, diaries, etc.

So long as you live you can become a success story all your own. One thing you need is the most detailed and thorough notes about yourself. Remember, every single thing you do either assists success... or retards, even destroys it. That is where detailed personal journals are mandatory.

In such documents, you put yourself under a keen scrutiny which never ends and which must be both complete and honest.

The extent to which you fail to have and keep such personal information is the extent to which you are prepared to jettison intensely valuable information... and all the successes which might have hinged on their existence and use.

9) Successful people thank the people who helped them.

Successful people are people who are beneficiaries of constant assistance from parents, other family members, teachers, clergy, coaches, etc., a process that only ends with death.

Successful people feel privileged to acknowledge and recognize the hard work and sincere assistance provided by many, many others. Unsuccessful people feel diminished by such help; not enhanced by it.

The avoidable tragedy of The Void where there are no new goals to take the place of old goals achieved.

The worst thing that can happen to a person who wants true, continual success is to finish a goal... and not know what he/she should be doing next. As indicated above you must always have goals that go beyond even the most major goals you are working on now. There must never, ever be a gap... for that is an opportunity for losing track of your objectives and becoming directionless.

Now that you have read this article with its admonitions and recommendations, you will never have this problem. With clockwork regularity you will always conclude a goal, knowing just what major goal follows.

Your job is to turn the achievement of success into an unrelenting, never ending system. And now you know how to do it.

About the Author

Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., providing a wide range of online services for small and-home based businesses. Dr. Lant is also the author of 18 best-selling business books.
Republished with author's permission by Rahimah Sultan
http://SureFireSuccessNow.com
Marketing StrategiesAnyone?
Check out Rapid Mass Traffic
If you really want a work-at-home opportunity that’s worthwhile visit: http://www.surefiresuccessnow.com/?rd=fk4if8jz

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Top 25 Search Engine Optimization Companies

The Internet is filled with so-called marketing experts and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) agencies. It's a speeding train in a changing marketplace. Some agencies have kept up to the times by integrating social media strategies, others haven't.

The SEO world has evolved rapidly in recent years with social media quickly gaining a much stronger foothold than most experts originally thought. . Social media was once believed to be a waste of time by many, SEO experts now realize the power of social media to reach new markets and generate new revenue opportunities. Paid search and mobile applications cannot be ignored and have changed the SEO landscape. It's a relatively new field of expertise constantly in flux. As experts learn more clever ways to improve site ranking, the major search engines react by updating their indexing procedures. Just recently Google announced major changes to how they index sites in direct response to what they call content-farms that create skewed search results.

Here is a compiled list of 25 Search Engine Optimization Agencies who will create and manage your SEO campaigns.

Spend some time at these sites, you will learn a lot and can make a comparative analysis.

1. WeBuildPages.com
2. SEO.com
3. bluegrass.com
4. fathomseo.com
5. OrangeSoda.com
6. icrossing.com
7. 360i.com
8. SEOLogic.com
9. Blurbpoint.com
10. SEOInc.com
11. MainStreetHost.com
12. crexendo.com
13. bestrank.com
14. vastvision.com
15. iProspect.com
16. ThinkBigSites.com
17. ThesearchAgency.com
18 BigMouthMedia.com
19 7Strategy.com
20. evisibility.com
21. 97thfloor.com
22. FreshRank.com
23. PrimeVisibility.com
24. 1stonthelist.ca
25. slingshotseo.com

SEO is not a task for the faint of heart. It takes time, money and a lot of patience to build a successful SEO campaign. Large companies hire staff just to create online content for social media sites.

For those of you without deep pockets, there are a number of do-it yourself software programs many of which are used by professional SEO companies. If you have the desire and time to learn, you can create and manage your own SEO campaigns. Training companies like Worldprofit Inc., offer software, guided instruction with live and video training on SEO and other online business strategies. With access to the best resources, you can get really good at it for your business purposes, then offer these services as a consultant. SEO experts and Social Media Content Managers are and will continue to be a highly paid profession.

About the Author:

Sandi Hunter is the Director of Website Development at Worldprofit Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. The company offers a free Associate membership.

Republished with author's permission by Rahimah Sultan
http://SureFireSuccessNow.com
Check out Rapid Mass Traffic
Grow Your Business Worldwide
Need Marketing Strategies?
If you really want a work-at-home opportunity that’s worthwhile visit: http://www.surefiresuccessnow.com/?rd=fk4if8jz

Saturday, May 14, 2011

What to do when your computer crashes. It will you know!

by Dr. Jeffrey Lant

It happened yesterday... "it" being the most frustrating thing that can happen nowadays...

"it" being the one eventuality absolutely certain to throw off your day and ensure you fall behind...

"it" being the event guaranteed to change you from someone calm, reasonable, the nicest of people, to a mad person whose blue words could make a sailor blush.

Your computer crashed... and you wondered what in God's green acre you had done to warrant such a malady and imprecation. It just wasn't fair...

That's what the computer crash does... and certain too. One of these days you are going to have "the crash"... the only real question is: will you be ready for it?

What every boy scout knows... be prepared.

Cambridge, Massachusetts satirist Tom Lehrer wrote a song (1953) when I was in first grade, a million years ago. It was called "Be Prepared!". I thought of it for the first time in years yesterday as I surveyed the most important machine in my life just sitting there, non functional, turning me from an acutely productive member of society to drone, in an instant.

"Be prepared! as through life you march along. Be prepared to hold your liquor pretty well, Don't write naughty words on walls if you can't spell".

Yes, I thought of Lehrer and his rollicking, rather sophomoric, school boy humor yesterday... as my world came to a screeching halt. Lehrer at least made me smile... Lehrer, that is, and the knowledge that I was prepared for The Crash. Here's how you can be prepared too and actually smile as you resolve one of life's most aggravating and irritating problems.

1) Make sure you copy your files.

The most avoidable problem when you work with computers is to lose files because you have not copied them in an organized, consistent fashion. This must be done completely, regularly -- not intermittently, casually, whenever you get around to it. That's the wrong way for sure, completely unsystematic.

Instead, as I write articles like these, I make a copy of each paragraph as I write it; to do less would be to turn me from copywriter into gambler. And there is absolutely no need for that. To write is silver; but to copy is gold.

2) Print out details of key data you will need when (not if) your computer crashes. For instance, I have in my computer a list of vital telephone numbers. That's just the thing you'll need when your computer crashes. Make sure to print out a copy (from time to time, too, so that you have readily available the most current details) and have it easily accessible.

3) Get an external hard drive. You just plug it in, back up your data, and then continue with the work at hand. It's affordable. Most people and businesses can get by for one in the $100 price range. That's peanuts compared to the actual and psychic costs of replacing data lost because of inadequate protection and preservation. Oh, yes, it's light weight and portable, too; easily connected to any computer where you have data to be copied.

4) Peruse notes of previous computer crises. You do have them, don't you?

Problems occur; the same problems may recur. Are you ready to solve them? You are if you wrote down the problem last time and clearly indicated what you did to solve it. These notes are vital, given the fact that the problem you have today may not recur for months, even years. Your notes, therefore, are necessary. Never assume you will remember the problem and what you did to solve it. As soon as you have a free minute after your computer is up and running, record the solution. This solution should not be left in the computer alone where some future crisis renders it inaccessible; you must print this and keep it in an off-computer file.

5) Don't sit in front of your computer and fret. That won't help.

One of my father's favorite expressions was "a watch pot never boils". Now I know what he meant... to sit in front of a non-functioning computer will only increase your unhappiness and discontent. Instead, if your computer remains on the fritz, turn your attention to other useful things you could be doing whilst you're waiting for help (see below).

If you spend as much time as I do on your computer (easily a consistent 12 hours a day), some other things in your life are bound to be neglected. Make "crash day" productive in other ways. I used the extra time to research a future article and while the computer on which I planned to write it was down, I made considerable progress, thereby infusing some necessary uplift into this "what a revolting development this is" situation. 6) Have a trusted computer consultant at the ready.

As soon as I knew yesterday's computer crisis was beyond my admittedly limited technical skills, I placed the necessary call to my computer consultant Justin Lyttle of Help Desk Services, Hanover, Massachusetts. I received what I have always received from Justin for many years: his prompt, full attention and (despite the fact it was Friday afternoon) the promise he would solve my problem promptly. This he did... arriving at about 6:00 p.m., getting down to business at once, solving my multi-part problem. Within an hour the problem was solved, I was back online, and Justin was on his way.

People like Justin Lyttle are a find. A critical component of what makes you and your business (including your computer operations) successful is ensuring you have just the right competent and sympathetic people like Justin on your team. Never wait to find them until you are frantic. Remember your Tom Lehrer and be prepared; ask business people from your neighborhood who they use... then call up to introduce yourself. Do ALL this before the pressing need arrives.

Last words.

Days of computer crisis are never pleasant, especially if you are technically challenged like I am. Still, if you follow these recommendations you'll get through them as comfortably as possible. Oh yes, just one more suggestion: keep ice cream in the refrigerator. It helps while away the time and makes you feel better until reinforcements arrive. Ice cream is like that.

About the Author

Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., providing a wide range of online services for small and-home based businesses. Dr. Lant is also the author of 18 best-selling business books.

Republished with author's permission by Rahimah Sultan
http://SureFireSuccessNow.com
Marketing Strategies Anyone?
Check out Traffic Travis
Need Traffic?

If you really want a work-at-home opportunity that’s worthwhile visit: http://www.surefiresuccessnow.com/?rd=fk4if8jz

Saturday, May 07, 2011

What you need to know and do to be a GREAT blog publisher!

by Dr. Jeffrey Lant

Have you noticed that blogs are popping up online everywhere? Yes, blogging is the phenomenon of the age. You just need to know how to profit from it. These suggestions will help.

1) Be clear on your objective.

The people who are successful with blogging, that is the people who are making money from it, all are very clear on what they are writing their blog to accomplish. If you're writing a business blog your objective is crystal clear: you blog to profit and for no other reason.

Too many (particularly new) blogsters have mixed objectives. Sure, they want to make money but, perhaps even more (and dangerously) they write to get their share of the limelight.

Don't make that mistake.

When you're in business your blog exists for one reason and one reason only: to put money in your pocket, as quickly and substantially as possible.

2) Never forget the deal you have with your readers.

People who run successful (that is to say money-making) blogs never lose sight of the implicit deal they have with their readers, viz.

Publisher: I will email you information of value and consequence. I shall also send you (in the same issue) ad copy for your earnest and honest consideration.

Reader: So long as you email me superior copy, I shall do two important things: I will read this copy, and I shall also (at least) glance at your ads.

This is the basis for a mutually satisfactory relationship.

3) Understand your role as a publisher.

Publishers become publishers for two major reasons: because they have something important to say and want to influence the world AND to make money. Thus in every issue you must offer superior content...and prospect-centered ad copy. The key here is keeping this equation balanced.

If you run nothing but superior content, your readers may be delighted... but you'll make no money and, in short order, give up the enterprise.

If you run nothing but (or even too many) ads, your reader will immediately get bored...and punish you not just by trashing your current issue but trashing all future issues without even a glance.

Publishing, then, is all about balance.

4) Study the great publishers and their empire-building methods and procedures.

The minute you have a blog, you have become a publisher... and the minute you become a publisher you become a card-carrying member of the greatest professional association on earth: publishering. Now you are part of a grand tradition. Make it a point to understand what that means by studying the great practitioners of your business. This includes people like Gutenberg and his Bible (1455)... Canadian Lord Beaverbrook who seized English newspapers the better to manipulate ministries and imperial politics and his tenacious rival Viscount Rothermere... and the great publishing families of America whose names alone remind us of what publishers can do to generate wealth for themselves while shaping the course of a great nation starting with William Randolph Hearst...

The Taylors of Boston... the McCormicks of Chicago... the Chandlers of Los Angeles.... and their counterparts in every significant city on earth.

You, you!, are now one of their number, and I can tell you this about such people, they were all, to a person,

* big thinkers

* people who meant to shape events, not just witness them

* determined to have their point of view not just seen but dominant.

The small, the trivial, the inconsequential and insignificant had absolutely no place in their publications or their lives. These are the people, your professional ancestors, it behooves us all to study and emulate.

These were people of amazing, irrepressible energies and imaginations. They didn't moan and groan about their "work", the time it took, the sacrifices they had to make to do it. They were grateful for the opportunity to create vehicles of wealth and influence, thrilled to get up each and every day and set about their work, stamping the world with their mark... and eager, too.

Is this how you approach the business of your blog? If it isn't, re-examine your reasons for creating and publishing a blog and once you have done so absorb these home truths about the business:

* Say something significant in every issue. We all want to "make a difference" with our lives. When you're a with-it publisher, this is easy to do. Make it clear that yours is a blog designed to make this a better world; there is no higher calling than that.

* Always ask your readers to respond. "Bribe" them, if necessary, to do so... offer them something of value that induces them to respond quickly and meaningfully. Such people become your best customers.

* Publish to a schedule. The best way to blog is daily. If you aspire to significance and substantial rewards no other schedule should even be considered.

* Talk directly, frankly to your readers. Be for them what every great publisher must be: a candid, direct, honest to a fault advocate of humane and progressive change. Publishing, you see, is never merely about transmitting information; it is about seizing minds and changing lives... about throwing down gauntlets and taking up causes... and always informing, motivating, energizing, enthusing and transforming.

Make today the day you rethink and recreate your blog.

The most stimulating game on earth is influencing others and so shaping the world you want. This is the gift all (good) blog publishers get... but you get it if and only if you focus on providing people with blog posts of interest, significance, and value. Nothing less can or should be set before the most important people in your business life: your blog readers.

From now on, focus each day on what you want to share with them; what you know that can change and improve their lives... and how you will present it to them for maximum impact and long-lasting effect. They must see you for what you are: their great and valued friend and counselor, operating through and touching their lives in your blog.

When you are producing a blog of value and influence, your entire outlook on life shifts; no problem is too big, too oppressive, over powering: problems are merely challenges which you can help your readers surmount and conquer, one step at a time.

You see, publishing, all publishing, is about the business of improving lives. That is what publishers do; that is what you as a publisher must do... with your ever-improving and life-transforming blog the vehicle to hand. Do this and the golden benefits of blogging, not least the systematic and continuing improvement of lives, will all be yours.

About the Author

Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., providing a wide range of online services for small and-home based businesses. Dr. Lant is also the author of 18 best-selling business books.

Republished with author's permission by Rahimah Sultan
http://SureFireSuccessNow.com
Check out Rapid Mass Traffic
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If you really want a work-at-home opportunity that’s worthwhile visit: http://www.surefiresuccessnow.com/?rd=fk4if8jz