9 BEST GOOGLE TRICKS TO TRY

Many people believe that Google is just a popular search engine that helps them find a useful and necessary information. However, there are a few tricks you may want to try and to use every time you need to find something important. These tricks can make your search easier and you will find what you need faster. Change the way you use Google with these simple tips:

1. University researches

Whether you are a student or a writer, this Google trick is a must-try. I’m a huge fan of learning something new each day and when I want to find something true and useful, I just type ‘site:edu’ first and then what I need to find. This option helps limit the number of educational institutions. Sometimes I also type ‘site:edu intitle’ and then what I need to find. For instance, type ‘harvard:edu diet’ to find the best results from Harvard University.

2. Use double quotation marks

Looking for something specific? Try using double quotation marks. I often look for song lyrics (I’m sure I’m not alone) and this Google trick makes my search a bit easier and faster. I put double quotation marks around my search and Google finds me everything containing all words I typed in. I also use double quotation marks to find quotes. This one of the most useful Google tricks you can use daily.

3. Specific websites

When you need to find some information on a specific website, use this sneaky Google trick. Just type in the word ‘site,’ a colon, the website and the key words of the information you are looking for. For instance, if you want to find something about healthy lifestyle here on Womanitely, type ‘site:womanitely.com healthy lifestyle’, and enjoy reading!

4. The power of asterisk

I’ve been looking for this Google trick for months since I have trouble remembering lyrics of the songs. If you like a song but you don’t remember all of the words, try using asterisks as place fillers. For instance, type in ‘all I want*life*good time,’ and you will find that it’s Three Days of Grace The Good Life! You can use the power of asterisk with quotes or anything you want to find too.

5. The power of tilde

Usually, we don’t use the tilde key and many people think that this key is unnecessary. However, it’s actually useful! If you search something important and you want Google to show you results with its synonyms, type in a tilde before a word. For instance, if you’re looking for Spanish salads only, type in ‘spanish~salads’ to find Spanish salad recipes and omit other recipes you don’t need.

6. Dots

Use this trick when looking for dates, statistics, or measurements, add two dots to your search between two numbers, and Google will show you the information you need. For instance, if you’re looking for some important historic facts of 50s, type in ‘historic facts 1950..1959,’ and hopefully it will help you to find what you’re looking for.

7. New websites

If you want to find a few new websites related to your favorite ones, you don’t have to spend hours searching for them. Just specify your favorite website in your search, add the word ‘related’ and a colon and see the results. For instance, if you are looking for the website related to Amazon, type in ‘related:amazon.com.’ Sure, you won’t use this Google trick daily, but it’s worth remembering.

8. The power of hyphen

If you Google something regularly, you know how it’s hard to find what you need when you have two meanings. To make your search easier and quicker, type in a hyphen between those two meanings. This will help you to avoid unnecessary information and get what you’re searching for.

9. Do a barrel roll

While this Google trick won’t help you in your searching, it’s still interesting to try. Have you ever tried to type in ‘do a barrel roll’? Give it a try! Google will do a 360-degree spin. I think there’s no point in describing this trick, just try it and see what you think.
Whether you work or study, these Google tricks can come in handy. Learn to use them and enjoy a quick and easy search every time you need to find some specific information. Have you ever heard of any of these Google tricks? Did you know any other tricks? Let me know!

THE SALES PROFESSIONAL'S GUIDE FOR ENGAGING WITH CUSTOMERS

Selling has changed. Today’s complex B2B selling environment presents salespeople with many challenges: Buyers have more sources of information, there are more people involved, and there is a more structured process—all of which make buying a complex, often chaotic, even political endeavor. Customers used to value salespeople for their availability, as well as for their ability to provide product specs and pricing, but customers now are looking for something they can’t get online, from automated systems, or from uninformed salespeople. A sales professional’s ability to provide perspective—the polar opposite of a scripted, canned pitch—is a differentiator. Salespeople with perspective make sure the person they are working with has thought through all of the dependencies that will give the initiative a greater chance of success. When you sell with perspective, you are bringing your expertise in the field to bear on every opportunity.
Three keys to unlocking your ability to provide perspective:
Understand the customer/stakeholder: This means understanding the client’s concept of what they want to fix, accomplish or avoid. Sales professionals need to target messages to the customer’s concept and stage in the buying cycle. Savvy customers have probably already visited your website and armed themselves with the basics of your value proposition. Consequently, the static marketing/sales messages fall flat when the salesperson does no more than rehash what the buyer already knows.
Deliver a clear, meaningful analysis of situation: The salesperson must be able to articulate what success looks like based on the customer’s unique situation. Providing perspective requires mastery of your products and capabilities but, more importantly, the ability to apply them in context of the customer’s world. Buyers will be receptive to listening to your point of view when you proceed from a fact-based standpoint. Providing them with data not only proves the case you are proposing but allows them to predict their results going forward.
Provide valuable advice and new ways of thinking that lead to solutions: Simply put, the sales professional must make whatever the client wants to happen—to fix, accomplish, or avoid—well, happen. Customers want to deal with a salesperson who focuses beyond the sale and all the way to the results the customer is out to achieve. Be prepared to provide specific research that backs up your position and shows the customer the direction that others have already taken and used to achieve predictable success. It’s not just research that is needed; sales professionals need to bring the lessons learned and experiences from other clients so that they can help new customers avoid unintended consequences
Make no mistake: While perspective selling sounds basic to all of us, it is a big differentiator in the marketplace. The discerning sales professional would do well to put it into practice.

WHO'S ON YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS?

The poet observed that "no man is an island" and none of us
can achieve success by ourselves. Success requires
teamwork, cooperation and the support of the best people we
can find.
I'm always amused when I hear that Sir Edmund Hillary was
the first to scale Mt Everest, or that Neil Armstrong was
the first to walk on the moon. Yes, they were the
individuals who raised the flag, but those achievements
were not accomplished alone. Both Charles Lindbergh, the
first to fly solo from New York to Paris, and Steve Fawcett
who flew solo around the world before his untimely death,
did it in planes they did not build and with the support of
thousands of people who made their flights possible.
Every successful entrepreneur has dozens of people cheering
them on. Every successful endeavor is the result of many
people working in concert, giving advice, sharing a vision
and offering encouragement. We need our partners in
success.
Who sits on your "board of directors?" Who advises you and
tells you the truth? Who opens doors, makes introductions
and expands your network? Who gives you ideas and helps you
solve the challenges? Who is your coach?
If you don’t have a "board," get one! Ask friends and
colleagues to meet with you at least once a month as your
sounding board. If you don’t have a coach, get one!
Remember the poet--"no man (or woman) is an island." Or, as
the Beatles put it even more memorably, "We get by with a
little help from our friends."

UNFORGETTABLE LEADERSHIP IS LIKE A SONG ON THE RADIO

Your tone of voice can have a greater impact on your powers of persuasion than the words you use. There’s no doubt that your voice is a powerful instrument.But what are you doing to control it? There are distinct methods to make your message as haunting or as catchy as a song on the radio so that people are singing your praises.
Think of a really memorable talk or presentation you attended recently – one that moved you or changed the way you view the world.
What was it that stayed with you? Was it the speaker’s words, or was it the tone of voice that moved you? The odds are high that the speaker’s passion came through – broke through the barriers of your mind so the words could captivate your heart.
Maybe you felt it in the quiver of their voice as they told an emotional story. Perhaps it was a sudden change in their volume – a whisper or a shout that rattled you in your boots.
You might have been influenced by their tone of voice when they asked a thought-provoking key question. Perhaps it was the sheer pace of the words – staccato as a machine gun – that tumbled out of a mouth straining to keep up with inspiration.
The fact that you’re thinking about it now is a testament to the power of the human voice.

How To Become Impossible To Forget

All of these elements tap the rich array of capabilities of the voice, making it possible to influence others and communicate with passion.
It’s the sad truth that too many discussions, speeches and presentations are easy to forget. And that’s a problem because the reason anyone would want to talk with you or listen to you is to engage in memorable, meaningful communication. One of the most potent yet often overlooked facets of vocal communication is the instrument itself – the voice.
Whether you’re addressing an audience of one or one thousand, you’re engaged in public speaking each time you open your mouth to speak in a public place.
So how are you coming across? When you speak, are people reminded of the dulcet tones of a rippling brook… or are they shrinking, as if from the shrill sound of fingernails slowly raked across a blackboard?
No matter where you find yourself today, as a novice or a master, you can learn to use your voice for a more lasting effect and become unforgettable.

Speaking of Dynamics…

The dynamics of your message will come through much more clearly when you color your message with a range of volume, tone and rhythm that conveys your emotional intensity. Your voice and intonation make all the difference in how you come across.
There are three basic elements that you can tap to ensure your verbal messages are understood – and remembered – time and again.

Volume:

Before you can communicate effectively, it’s essential that you really connect what you want to say, who you’re talking to, and why they might want to listen. Match the purpose of your words with your volume.
The human voice has a dramatic dynamic range, from the intensity of a whisper to the full, rich command of a shout. If your voice is too soft, you risk coming across as mousy. Too loud, and your audience will tune out. Make sure your message is fully heard so that people catch the full meaning of the important words you want to convey.

Tone:

Adjust your vocal quality to match your audience. Support your tone with a breath that stems from deep in your body cavity. Relax your tongue and throat, and allow your words to flow from a mouth that seems to savor them.
Your vocal quality or timbre, the way you articulate, and the rise and fall of your voice all contribute to your tone. Like the melody line of a song, you’re composing and singing your message all day long.

Rhythm:

Who are you speaking to? How much time do they have? How long is their attention span? What are their interests, beliefs and values? What do they share in common with others? How are they unique?
Each of these factors will influence the rhythm of your speech.
If you’ve been asked to give a eulogy at a good friend’s funeral, by all means, take your time. The dearly departed has probably earned it. There’s no shortcut here, and the members of the congregation are sure to appreciate the display of respect demonstrated in your slow, measured speech, savoring every last detail you painstakingly convey in your somber pace.
Slow thoughtful speech is the hallmark of a eulogy. If that’s your venue, take your time. Otherwise, cut to the chase.
Brevity is the soul of wisdom, and the rhythm of your speech has the power to convey a world of urgency or a casual note of nonchalance. Match your pace to the audience before you.
What do you want your audience to do as a result of your communication? What’s really at the heart of your message? By effectively using your voice in a measured, deliberate way, you can pack a powerful punch that drives your message home.
Communication is at the heart of all relationships and business dealings. Whether you’re connecting with an audience of one or a thousand, your experience can be a rich and rewarding one. Using your voice to full effect will mean the all the difference in creating a lasting impression.
 

THE FOUR PATHS TO WEALTH

I've concluded there are only four ways to make money and
accumulate significant wealth in this world.
1.  Make an unusually valuable contribution. This is the
easiest and most successful path wealth, but since it
usually comes disguised as hard work, it's also the path
most resisted. The world pays for our expertise, our
effort, our ideas and our inventions, and it pays extremely
well if make unusually valuable contributions. 
2.  Save and invest. This, too, is a reliable and nearly
fool-proof road to wealth, but since it takes time,
personal discipline and has absolutely no sex appeal, it is
largely ignored. Spend less than you make, save the
difference, let time and compound interest make you rich.
3.  Inherit money. I've read that in the next few years
twenty trillion dollars of accumulated wealth will be
transferred from the older generation to the younger one.
Nothing like that has ever happened before! It pays to
select the right parents!
4.  Be lucky. Be in the right place at the right time. Know
the right people or win the lottery. While this one is
unpredictable and fickle (and gives rise to a sense that
life isn't "fair"), it happens often enough to give us
hope. Unfortunately, the statistics are against you. But
who knows? Luck happens.
Unfortunately, I didn't know these rules before I was born
and so chose wonderful but poor parents, and the statistics
have proven entirely reliable--I've won no lotteries. So,
from personal experience I can only recommend paths one and
two. 
Get good at what you do. Love it enough to get VERY good at
it, and the world will pay accordingly. Then, save and
invest, and let time be your friend. 

STACKING THE ODDS FOR SUCCESS IN 2015

There are two ideas that have made an enormous difference
in my life. I've talked about them before, and want to
explore them with you again.
The first is that success is almost never a matter of
unusual talent or luck. There are very few geniuses and few
people get rich by stumbling across a pile of gold. Rather,
as Jim Rohn said, success is "the predictable result of
doing the right things, in the right way, at the right
time."
The second concept that changed my life is that success
comes from "ordinary people doing ordinary things,
extraordinarily well."
Those two ideas changed my own life, and they have
transformed life for thousands of other people, as well.
Society encourages us to look for "instant cures" or
special "secrets" for success. The clich�is that we want
to take a pill, meet the right person or attend the right
school and suddenly life gets better.
But it doesn't work that way. Successful people do ordinary
things, but they do them in smart, disciplined and timely
ways. They take thoughtful risks. They take action, create
value and show up on time. They learn skills that open
doors and make them just slightly more productive, more
attractive, more valuable than their competitors.
In almost every case, success is a long-term growth
process. It requires hard work, focus and organization.
That's the bad news.
But there is good news--almost anyone can do these things!
There is no mystery and there are no limits. You can join
the elite at the top, no matter what your goals or dreams.
You can accumulate great wealth. This week, I read that
America's youngest self-made billionaire is a woman, age
24. You can create music, build a business, have a loving,
happy family. It has never been easier to travel or have
your own television show. But, there are specific steps
that will increase your chances for major success.
If you want to increase your chances for remarkable success
in 2015, I have some suggestions. They are not dramatic and
they won't necessarily impress you. They are not unique or
original or risky. They are the ordinary things that
ordinary people do to become extraordinarily successful.
1.  Use a Calendar. I strongly prefer the year-at-a-glance
wall calendars, especially the plastic ones that use the
write-on and wipe-off  markers. Begin by marking important
birthdays, anniversaries and family celebrations. I
recommend marking them in red. Then, in my case, we mark
conferences and speaking trips in blue, with vacations in
green. The objective is to see your priorities and your
plans at a glance. You want to see your future!
2.  Specific, written Goals. I've written much about this.
Now is the time to create your objectives for 2015. Do not
wait until you're distracted in December! Good goals take
time. They require thought, discussion, agreement with
family and business partners. You'll need to sleep on them,
change your mind, find the perfect wording. This takes
time. Do the work!
3.  Action-based Plans. This brings us back to that
Calendar! What measurable, specific results do you need in
January to reach your goals for the first quarter? Spend
more time on plans, budgets and action-steps than you do on
setting goals. The "HOW" you'll get there is even more
important than defining the destination. Put your plans on
your Calendar.
4.  Team-building. Successful people work with friends,
partners, family and a MasterMind team. No one achieves
great success by themselves. Who will help you? Who has the
skills, networks or resources you need? Be specific. You'll
need to recruit people to help you. And I recommend
starting with your family and friends. Be sure they are
behind you every step of the way.
5.  Plan Celebrations in Advance. Americans do not
celebrate enough. We work hard to accomplish goals, but
then we rush straight on to the next one. Don't do that!
Plan to celebrate your victories. Plan parties and dinners
with loved ones. Decide exactly how you will reward
yourself as you achieve your goals through the year. That
new car, vacation or whatever is waiting for you! All you
have to do is complete your tasks and claim your prize.
Plan celebrations in advance! (And include loved ones.)

There's an old allegation, usually born in jealousy or
envy, that claims highly successful people don't play fair.
They must "lie, cheat or steal" to get to the top. Nothing
could be further from the truth! No one who is dishonest in
any way can achieve and sustain long-term success. At least
not in my experience.
But high achievers absolutely do stack the odds in their
favor. They use specific, learn-able skills to increase
their chances of winning, every time. And they do it
honestly! Most of the winners I've talked with are happy to
share their most valuable "secrets." They simply do "the
right things, in the right way, at the right time." And
they use Calendars and Goals, Plans and motivational
Celebrations to keep themselves on track.
You can, too! In 2015, stack the odds in your favour.

DECODING BODY LANGUAGE: WHAT YOU'RE SECRETLY COMMUNICATING ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP

What are you saying with your body language, without speaking a word?Like it or not, your non-verbal communication is painting the big picture of what you say, far more than your words.
Imagine a time before the spoken word, thousands of years ago when cavemen relied on gestures and eye contact for communication.
For one thing, it was prudent to speak out loud only when necessary. You might scare away big game or attract enemies. For another thing, language and syntax were concepts barely in their infancy. With populations so sparse, body language was the common speech.
During that time, if you puffed out your chest to the clan leader, you might wind up in hot water, maybe even ostracized from the tribe. Meanwhile averting your eyes at just the right moment might win over an attractive member of the opposite sex.
Hey, it could happen, even among Neanderthals.
And here we are today in modern times, still dealing with the same classic questions. What do you think would happen if you stood up in the middle of a meeting and puffed out your chest to the division manager? Or turned your back when someone on your team was talking with you? Or turned your eyes away from your spouse in the middle of an important conversation?
Sending the right message with your non-verbals is keenly important. Your voice inflection is part of that message, but it’s not the total package. Here are factors to consider in leadership and in life.

Eyes:
The eyes truly are the windows to the soul. Be sure you’re making eye contact with those you’re having a conversation with. Glancing around the room, looking past someone or simply phasing out all indicate that you’re just not engaged in the conversation.
If you’re giving a talk, eye contact with your audience is even more important. Keep your eyes focused on those you’re speaking with, and you’re half-way home to winning their trust.

Posture:
Your posture conveys a number of factors to the people you’re with, including how you feel about your topic and even your energy level. If you’re slouched, resting your chin on your hands or crossing your legs, you’re conveying a casual attitude. This can be a big benefit in certain situations, but be careful. It can also imply carelessness.
Standing solidly on two feet conveys strength and energy. With your weight distributed on the balls of your feet, you’re ready to move. Square shoulders and chin up display confidence and self-respect.
The great thing about displaying good posture is that, even when you’re not feeling confident and interested, adopting this body language will help you feel brighter and more energetic immediately.

Arms & Hands:
When your hands are open, you’re ready to receive. With your arms outstretched or at your sides, you’re in a neutral or even a welcoming position.
Folding your arms across your chest is a great way to keep warm. After all, you’re covering your vital organs, including your heart. But it also could convey a closed attitude. Be careful how you use this gesture.

Feet:
You may be surprised to learn that your feet are talking as much as your hands are, telling the story of your interest in the conversation. If you’re looking at someone but your feet are pointed toward the door, guess which way you sub-consciously want to move.
Crossing your ankles or legs indicates a casual stance or even a feeling a comfort. You’re certainly not about to go anywhere in that posture. But here again, be clear about what you want to convey. This can be great for bridging the gap, but it also could be inappropriate in formal settings. Understand what’s standing under you.

Distance:
Everyone has a comfort zone, that personal space they’ll let you into. If you come closer than arm’s length, you’re likely to incite strong feelings – either of romance or anger. When you’re talking with someone, don’t encroach into their personal zone unless you’re absolutely sure you’re invited.
Using these tips for non-verbal communication may not win you any public speaking awards. On the other hand, they’ll help you keep your feet on the ground where they belong – and out of your mouth!
 

ADVERTISING, PROMOTIONS & MARKETING

I've been struck by the glut of advertising coming my way. 
Spam and junk mail are full of it, television is full of
it, even magazines seem to have more.  And, I don't buy it.
I've often written that businesses cannot "advertise their
way to success".  Of course there is a time and place for
advertising!  You have to let people know you exist, and
you need to make a splash with new products or new
services.  Advertising is a good thing.  But you probably
can't buy enough to build a business with it.
And promotion, particularly self-promotion, has a similar
limitation.  Obviously, if you believe in a product or
service, you MUST tell people about it and invite them to
buy. You owe that to yourself, and to the customers who
need and want your service.  Promotion has it's place.
But in the end, marketing is a different animal.  Marketing
is about your reputation.  It's about customer satisfaction
and retention.  It's about your relationships.  Marketing
is about letting people know who you are, what you do and
what you offer.  (Never keep yourself a secret!  There is
no advantage in being shy!)  Marketing is about YOU more
than your product or service.  It's about your reputation,
your level of responsibility and your follow-through.
In the end, most marketing is "free" because it comes from
being who you are and doing what you do, to the best of
your ability. 
Many small businesses would be far ahead to scrap their
advertising budget entirely and invest the money in
themselves, their personal development, and their
relationships.

THE POWER OF BIG DREAMS!

There is something uniquely human and very important
about looking to the skies. From the beginning of time,
wise men and woman have encouraged us to "look to the
hills, from whence cometh my strength," and we all know the
call of "distant horizons."
Henry Thoreau talked about marching to the beat of our own
drum, "no matter how feint or far away." Humans have always
wondered what's beyond the horizon, over the hill, or
around the bend. We long to see farther, go further and do
more. From the beginning of time, men and women have
insisted on pushing the boundaries to go where no one has
gone before.
And yet in our daily lives, too often we get bogged down in
the trivia of every-day things. Now, of course, life
requires that we do our daily work. Taking care of the
house, running the errands and paying the bills are not
trivial things! They are the routines that make our lives
possible. We rely on each other to be dependable and to
complete our assigned responsibilities.
But, as the old song asks, "is that all there is?" We know
the answer, and it troubles us.
Sometimes, we need to step back and lift our eyes to the
hills and beyond. Sometimes we need to ask the big
questions, and contemplate the big answers.
In 1959, David Schwartz wrote a book called, "The Magic of
Thinking BIG" that has changed thousands of lives. It's
written in an old style and there's no mystery or drama
in it, just the truth that we NEED big dreams. There is
something in us that needs a larger destiny, a greater
purpose.
I think the true heroes have always been people who
balanced three very difficult things:
1.  They did their work and fulfilled the ordinary
responsibilities of life as mature adults. Our heroes are
not irresponsible people!
2.  They also had the ability to hear and honor a big
dream. Amelia Earhart heard the call. John Glenn heard a
similar call. Teddy Roosevelt never stopped exploring the
great American west. Helen Keller could see more clearly
than most.
3.  They took action in the direction of their dreams. They
challenged and dared, tried and tried again. They didn't
just look at the horizon and wonder, they got up and went.

Do you know about B-HAGS? Depending on who you ask, the
acronym stands for Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals. The thing
about B-HAGS is not that we always achieve them, but it is
amazing when we do! More commonly it's that B-HAGS change
us. They force us to learn and try new things. They change
the way we think and how hard we work. They change our
level of optimism, creativity and daring.
I've never known anyone to set a B-HAG and not be
transformed by the process. As long as the Big Hairy
Audacious Goal is something that truly inspires and pulls
you forward, transformation seems inevitable. And that's a
good thing!
A generation ago, we responded to President Kenney's
challenge to go to the moon. Later, we built the Space
Station. And just this week, two different companies made
headlines because of tragic failures in their private space
programs. Obviously, we have decided we're going to space
and even these set-backs will not delay us for long! It’s
in our nature to be part of something meaningful and
significant. We look to the skies and ask "what's next?"
So, what's your BIG idea? What challenges and excites you?
What takes your breath away, keeps you up at night, makes
you smile all day long? What's your B-HAG? Sometimes it's
"distant and far away," but it's in there! Find it, dust it
off, honor it. Pursue it! People will join you and things
will unfold in amazing ways. Dream bigger dreams and take
action. It's what makes life worth the living!
To be specific: Challenge yourself to do something
incredibly big, different, exciting and worthwhile in the
next couple of months. Use the season! Go further, climb
higher, sell more, do something amazing this season. Then,
use 2015 to your advantage. In 2015, set and pursue a
bigger B-HAG than you've ever dared before!

HOW TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE: 3 TiPS FOR GETTING YOUR POINT ACROSS CLEARLY

Who is the most effective conversationalist you know?  What makes them stand-out in the crowd?Public figures like Cicero, Napoleon Bonaparte, Winston Churchill and Ronald Reagan live on today because of their verbal prowess. They knew how to move nations with their ideas.
In communicating your ideas in a conversation, have you given thought to the structure you use to get your ideas to stick?
Can you imagine what it would be like to be the most persuasive speaker in your network?  Odds are if you are that person, you’ve put some work into your conversational skills.
If you want to become a skilled conversationalist, here are some practical tips, whether you want to advance your career or simply connect with others more effectively.

Adapting Your Style

 If you want to get through to people, it helps to meet them on their own turf. For your message to be welcome, you need to look like one of their tribe. You need to get their attention – the right kind of attention.
Sometimes in makes sense to stand-out in a crowd.  But the most effective communicators often will work hard at blending-in to their environment.
That means if you want to ask a question, make a statement, or verbally compel someone to act the way you want them to, the first thing to do is make yourself blend in. You need to seem familiar, like someone your listener would want to know.
So what’s the easiest way to do that? You can make yourself fit into their world by subtly matching the way they dwell in it – literally mirroring their moves, matching their vocal pitch and volume, adapting yourself to their style of speech. When you reflect what they’re comfortable with, they’re more likely to be comfortable with you.
Have you ever noticed that when someone bounds into the room and they’re just a little too happy, you feel annoyed? Or have you ever been jarred out of reading a great book by someone talking a bit too loud, interrupting the world’s greatest battle or love scene?
These people are getting your attention, all right, but in all the wrong ways. You might think of them as inconsiderate, maybe even rude. Whatever they have to say is lost on you.
Tailor your tone and style to blend with your listener’s, and you’re sure to stack the deck in your favour.

Matching Your Speech

Countless studies have shown that people interpret the world around them according to their dominant senses. Some people call it your primary learning style.  What you’ll discover in becoming an effective conversationalist is that people will reflect their primary learning style in their speech.
The way a person relates to their world is a called their Representational System: visual, auditory, or kinaesthetic – sight, sound or sense. If it seems like you and that certain person are speaking a different language, maybe it’s because you really are!  Here are 3 tips for understanding how to adapt your style of communication:
1.  Sight: Is there someone you don’t see eye to eye with, no matter how plain your message may be?
2.  Sound: Or maybe there’s someone who just never listens to you, even when you think you’re coming in loud and clear.
3.  Sense: Perhaps there’s a weighty issue you need to mull over with someone, but you feel like they’ve always got a bone to pick with you.
Each of these situations is actually the same kind of problem wearing a different disguise.
If you’re not getting your message through, successful communication may be a simple matter of matching your speech to their Representational System.
If they don’t see your point, help them visualize it a little more clearly. If they don’t hear your message, explain it to them. If they don’t grasp your meaning, help them feel the weight of your ideas and wrap things up for them with a bow.

The Power of Pointed Questions

Finally in getting your ideas across verbally, don’t underestimate the power of asking good questions. The more deeply you understand your audience or your conversation partner, the more relevant your discussions can be. Find out where they’re coming from, and use the dialog’s momentum to communicate what’s on your mind.
You don’t really have to be a genius or even a great orator to get through to people. It just takes a few simple tactics to get them to listen up, see your point, and move into action. Now that you know how, whose life will you change today?

MARKETING WITH ATTRACTION

This week, I was reminded of a quote from one of my
mentors, Thomas Leonard, who observed that, "People love to
buy things, but almost no one wants to be sold."
Thousands of people are eager to buy what you sell. They
want the benefits, the convenience, the comfort or prestige
that you can provide. Human beings are an “acquisitive”
bunch. We want stuff!
Of course, consumerism can be abused, but buying and
selling is the process that creates the life (and the
lifestyle) we all want. The "desire to acquire" goes deep,
and it’s a good thing.
So, if you aren’t making as many sales as you would like,
let me suggest that the problem is not with your customers,
but with you. The problem is likely one of the following:
1.  Not enough potential customers know about you or that
your product could enrich their lives. This is a marketing
problem, and as a business leader it is your job to solve
it. Let people know! Get out there and get in the game!
2.  Or, the other possibility, is that you’re trying too
hard to sell.
Personally, I have a deep-seated aversion to being "sold"
anything. I see websites that seem manipulative or
dishonest. I see sales techniques that fail to build trust
or credibility, and definitely do not attract me.
But people are eager to buy benefits! They buy solutions to
their problems. They buy things that make their lives
better, easier, simpler, healthier or more comfortable.
They buy stuff that makes them happy. And they buy from
people they know and like and trust.
If enough people "know and like and trust" you, they will
listen when you offer a product or service that will make
their lives better. If they "know and like and trust" you,
they will flock to your door and you’ll make all the sales
you need.

THE CATEGORIES OF SUCCESS

Pretty much everyone wants to be successful. Everybody
thinks about success, and most desire it. Some people talk
about it, others read about or study it, and a few serious
folk hire coaches to help them achieve it. But very few
take time to actually define or clarify exactly what
they're after.
There's an old saying that, "You can't hit a target you
can't see." If you don't know exactly what your success
looks like, how will you know when you've achieved it? Some
people, who are seen as extremely accomplished and
successful by their friends and family, nevertheless spend
their whole lives striving for just a bit more, always
fearing they don't have "enough."
As you begin the thoughtful process of setting your goals,
plans and budgets for 2015, I'd like to suggest a couple
ideas that may prove useful.
First, and most important, is that as an over-all concept,
"success" hardly exists. We've all heard the tragic tales of
someone who became rich, but died alone and unloved--
Howard Hughes comes to mind. Or, how about a famous
entertainer (or politician, entrepreneur, whatever) who is
adored by the whole world, but dies of addiction or suicide
or foolish behavior? Marilyn Monroe comes to mind.
I cannot in good conscience consider them as having been
"successful" in an over-all sense.
Success is always about something specific. That bears
repeating and emphasizing: Success is always about some
specific, defined objective.
Most can (and have) achieved success in dozens of specific
ways. Millions of people have successfully lost five
pounds. Maybe you've mastered a new language, written a
book, hit your sales goals for the year, or purchased a new
house. All of these are "success," clearly defined!
As you ponder your goals and objectives for 2015, I
encourage you to define what success looks like in terms
of:
    Your health
    Your finances
    Your career
    Your relationships
    Your spirituality
    You hobbies and personal development

You may have other areas that are important to you. But in
every area, the categories and specific outcomes that you
choose will define your success far more than any temporary
feelings or the brief applause of the crowd.
Please consider the categories in which you desire success,
and then define specific outcomes or "finish lines" for
each category. It's much easier to achieve success by
saving 10% of your income during 2015, than to "get rich"
next year. Most people in good health can achieve the goal
of doing 100 sit-ups, but vague, generic goals of "being
physically fit" are more elusive. Be specific!
Second, success is about things that are important to you.
We all have talents or abilities that are unique and might
even amaze our friends--but they don't impress us or give
us pride because we take them for granted. They aren't
particularly important to us.
Success is achieved by accomplishing things that matter.
Being able to juggle may be a fun party trick, but if it
isn't important to me, my "success" won't be measured by my
juggling skills.
Choose categories that matter to you!
Success is about specific, measurable progress in areas
that you value. Becoming a measurably more patient,
thoughtful and effective parent might be a success that
changes your family forever, while becoming a better
juggler would make no difference at all. Learning new
skills to advance your career might make a huge difference
in income, recognition, new opportunities, or in a hundred
other ways, while one particular promotion may, or may not,
make much difference in the long-run.
Success is a very personal thing. It's about the
achievement of specific, tangible goals in a reasonable
amount of time, in areas that actually matter to you.
Choose your categories, then set specific "finish lines"
with care and thought. This is your life! And here's to
your extraordinary success in 2015!