GETTING THE RESULTS YOU'VE EARNED

Many years ago, one of my mentors gave me an essential life
lesson. He said "we rarely get what we deserve in life, but
we always get what we've earned."
At the time, I didn't believe him. I thought life "ought"
to give us what we deserve! I felt that hard work, honesty
and fairness ought to be rewarded with a just and fair
result. And secondly, I felt I had "earned" far more than I
was being paid and I was not at all happy to hear what he
had to say.
About 30 years later, however, I am convinced he was
correct.
Life is not always fair, but the law of "cause and effect"
is reliable. In life, our results DO reflect our actions.
I believe that every human being deserves to be happy. We
deserve to be healthy, to do work we enjoy, and to be
rewarded richly. Being human is the only requirement to
deserve a "World Class Life." But it doesn't always work
out that way.
Recently, a friend of mine put it this way. I think he is
doing very well. He's healthy, has a great family, and he
makes a ton of money. His life looks pretty good to me! But
he'd like to grow his business and achieve more, so he
decided to take action. Here's how he described it.
He named a mutual acquaintance of ours who runs a huge
business and is obviously making far more money than the
two of us combined. Rather than be jealous or frustrated,
my friend said, "He obviously uses his time differently
than I do, so I've made arrangements to spend a day with
him. I want to pick his brain and see what he does
differently than me."
The difference in results is NOT luck or talent. The
difference is NOT in family history, education or the
economy. The difference in results is "in how he uses his
time!"
You can use time differently! If you do different things,
you will get different results!
That's a pretty simple truth, but how many of us really
leverage it to our advantage?
My friend flew to California. He spend a great deal of
money for a day of conversation centered around one simple
question: "What do you DO with your time that would help me
get more and better results?"
The answer involved hiring the right people, effective
communication and strong leadership skills, and a couple
months later the "differences" are showing up in
measurable, tangible results. Doing different things may
not be "easy" but it is "simple!"
You can do this!
Life is not fair, but it is predictable. People who get
better results simply do things differently than people who
get mediocre, less satisfying results. If you do the right
things, you will absolutely get better results.
Winners invest in themselves. Winners hang out with
winners. They read and study, they experiment, they learn
new techniques, they attend the conferences and they keep
on trying until they get the results they desire. You can,
too!
You deserve a World Class Life! If you aren't satisfied
with your results, invest in new ideas. Learn better
strategies. Do things differently!

NEVER BE WITHOUT A JOB AGAIN, HOW?

Your goal is to organize your life in such a way that you enjoy a good income, a high standard of living, and that you are the master of your economic destiny rather than a victim of changing economic times. Does this sound consistent with your goals?

Contribution Is the Key

Your job is an opportunity to contribute a value to your company in excess of your cost. In its simplest terms, your job is as secure as your ability to render value in excess of what it costs to keep you on the payroll. If you want to earn more money at your current job, you have to increase your value, your contribution to the enterprise.

Add Value Every Day

If you want to get a new job, you have to find a way to contribute value to that enterprise. If you want any kind of job security, you must continually work at maintaining and increasing your value in the competitive marketplace.

And here's a key point. Your education, knowledge, skills, and experience all are investments in your ability to contribute a value for which you can be paid. But they are like any other investments. They are highly speculative.

Once you have learned a subject or developed a skill, it is a sunk cost. It is time and money spent that you cannot get back. No employer in the marketplace has any obligation to pay you for it unless he can use your skill to produce a product or service that people are ready to buy, today.

Prepare For Your Next Job

Whatever job you are doing, you should be preparing for your next job. And the key question is always: Where are the customers? Which businesses and industries are growing in this economy, and which ones are declining?

Where Is The Future?

I continually meet people who ask me how they can increase their income when their entire industry is shrinking. I tell them that there are jobs with futures and there are jobs without futures, and they need to get into a field that is expanding, not contracting.

Never Be Without A Job

There are three forms of unemployment in America: voluntary, involuntary, and frictional.

Voluntary employment exists when a person decides not to work for a certain period of time, or not to accept a particular type of job, hoping that something better will come along. Involuntary unemployment exists when a person is willing and able to work but cannot find a job anywhere. Frictional unemployment is the natural level; this includes the approximately 4 or 5 percent of the working population who are between jobs at any given time.

Three Keys to Lifelong Employment

However, there are always jobs for the creative minority. You never have to be unemployed if you will do one of three things: change the work that you are offering to do, change the place where you are offering to work, or change the amount that you are asking for your services. You should consider one or more of these three strategies whenever you are dissatisfied with your current work situation.

Action Exercises

Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, look around you at your current job and find ways to create added value every day. There's always something more you can do.

Second, identify the kind of work you want to be doing in the future and then make a plan to develop the knowledge and skills you will require to do it well.

TOP 10 TRAITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE

We have all read about people who are successful briefly. They win a gold medal, make a fortune, or star in one great movie and then disappear. Or, there are those like Marilyn Monroe and Howard Hughes who achieve extraordinary success, at the cost of their own lives. These examples do not inspire me!

My focus and fascination is with people who seem to do well in many areas of life, and do it over and over through a lifetime. In entertainment, I think of Paul Newman and Tom Hanks. In business, I think of Ben and Jerry (the ice cream moguls), and a local hardware store owner who is famous for the money he's give to children's charities. As a Naval Officer, husband, businessman, politician and now as a mediator and philanthropist on the world stage, Jimmy Carter has had a remarkable life. We all know examples of people who go from one success to another.

These are the people who inspire me! I've studied them, and I've noticed they have the following traits in common:

1. They work hard!
Yes, they play hard, too! They get up early, they rarely complain, they expect performance from others, but they expect extraordinary performance from themselves. Repeated, high-level success starts with a recognition that hard work pays off.

2. They are incredibly curious and eager to learn.
They study, ask questions and read - constantly! An interesting point, however: While most of them did well in school, the difference is that they apply or take advantage of what they learn. Repeated success is not about memorizing facts, it's about being able to take information and create, build, or apply it in new and important ways. Successful people want to learn everything about everything!

3. They network.
They know lots of people, and they know lots of different kinds of people. They listen to friends, neighbors, co-workers and bartenders. They don't have to be "the life of the party", in fact many are quiet, even shy, but they value people and they value relationships. Successful people have a rolodex full of people who value their friendship and return their calls.

4. They work on themselves and never quit!
While the "over-night wonders" become arrogant and quickly disappear, really successful people work on their personality, their leadership skills, management skills, and every other detail of life. When a relationship or business deal goes sour, they assume they can learn from it and they expect to do better next time. Successful people don't tolerate flaws; they fix them!

5. They are extraordinarily creative.
They go around asking, "Why not?" They see new combinations, new possibilities, new opportunities and challenges where others see problems or limitations. They wake up in the middle of the night yelling, "I've got it!" They ask for advice, try things out, consult experts and amateurs, always looking for a better, faster, cheaper solution. Successful people create stuff!

6. They are self-reliant and take responsibility.
Incredibly successful people don't worry about blame, and they don't waste time complaining. They make decisions and move on. Sometimes they are criticized for taking this to extremes - Jimmy Carter carried his own briefcase and a President "shouldn't" do that! Extremely successful people take the initiative and accept the responsibilities of success.

7. They are usually relaxed and keep their perspective.
Even in times of stress or turmoil, highly successful people keep their balance, they know the value of timing, humor, and patience. They rarely panic or make decisions on impulse. Unusually successful people breath easily, ask the right questions, and make sound decisions, even in a crisis.

8. Extremely successful people live in the present moment.
They know that "Now" is the only time they can control. They have a "gift" for looking people in the eye, listening to what is being said, enjoying a meal or fine wine, music or playing with a child. They never seem rushed, and they get a lot done! They take full advantage of each day. Successful people don't waste time, they use it! 

9. They "look over the horizon" to see the future.

They observe trends, notice changes, see shifts, and hear the nuances that others miss. A basketball player wearing Nikes is trivial, the neighbor kid wearing them is interesting, your own teenager demanding them is an investment opportunity! Extremely successful people live in the present, with one eye on the future!

10. Repeatedly successful people respond instantly!
When an investment isn't working out, they sell. When they see an opportunity, they make the call. If an important relationship is cooling down, they take time to renew it. When technology or a new competitor or a change in the economic situation requires an adjustment, they are the first and quickest to respond.

These traits work together in combination, giving repeatedly successful people a huge advantage. Because they are insatiable learners, they can respond wisely to change. Because their personal relationships are strong, they have good advisors, and a reserve of goodwill when things go bad. And finally, none of these traits are genetic! They can be learned! They are free and they are skills you can use. Start now!

 

© Copyright 2019 by Philip E. Humbert. All Rights Reserved.

 

TURN DRIVING TIME INTO LEARNING TIME

Your mind is your most precious asset. Think about it. You must always be continually working to increase the quality of your thinking.

One of the best ways to continually improve is to turn driving time into learning time. Listen to educational audios in your car. The average person drives 12,000 to 25,000 miles each year, equating to 500 to 1000 hours spent each year in their car. That is the equivalent of 12 to 25 forty-hour weeks or the same as two full university semesters spent behind the wheel of your car each year.

Use traveling time as learning time. This decision alone could make you one of the best-educated people of your generation. Many people have gone from rags to riches simply by listening to audio programs as they drive to and from work. And you can, too.

Attend Every Seminar You Can

In addition, for personal and professional development, you should attend every seminar you can. You can often save yourself hundreds of hours of reading and researching by attending a seminar given by an authority in his or her field. You can learn ideas, techniques, and methods that can save you hours, days, even months of hard work and research on your own.

The Key to Increased Income

Remember, to earn more, you must learn more. Your outer world of results will always correspond to your inner world of preparation.

Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field.

Action Exercises

Here are two things you can do to put these ideas to work in your life immediately.

First, purchase an audio program that can help you to be happier and more effective today. Begin listening to it immediately. Resolve never to listen to music in your car when you can turn driving time into learning time.

Second, seek out seminars and training programs given by experts in your field. Sit close to the front, take careful notes, and apply the best ideas that you learn immediately.

TIME IS MONEY

Time is the most valuable resources given to man. It is the only acceptable currency, which is peculiar to the whole world. If you have a lot of money and no time, you’re still a poor person. A billionaire who has just a week to live might not be able to do anything tangible with the money. God does not give us money; he gives us time and we convert it to money. Your success in business life will be determined by your ability to use your time wisely. Your life is an accumulation of years; your years an accumulation of months, your months an accumulation of days, and your days an accumulation of hours. Looking at your life from this perspective, you will be more focus on how you spend your time.

KEYS TO USING YOUR TIME WELL

-       Place Value on your time

If you have to quantify your time in monetary value, how valuable is it? How much would it be? In the universe today, we have the time wasters and the time savers. People have a lot of time to waste because they have nothing to do with it, they have no goals. On the other hand, people who have goals are so busy about reaching those goals and they have no time to spare.

-       Be goal oriented

Because your time is as valuable as your goals, you must learn to place a high premium on your goals. Always approach everything you do with a goal in mind.

-       Eliminate distraction

Distraction simply means to pull away from. Every single day of your life, people and circumstances will come your way from your goal. Distraction comes in various forms but they all have one purpose; to break your focus and waste your time. So keep focus and take responsibility to recognize it.

Your time is like an empty space; its value is determined by what you put into it. Don’t give everybody and everything free access to your space. Otherwise, it will quickly become a rubbish dump. Create your own space and fill with precious and pleasant things. Like anything else in life, time if left on its own, will go in any direction. Your times are precious, harness and use it well.

 “You cannot manage time you can only keep to time” – Mike Murdock

SHOULD YOU BE DOING BETTER?

If you could do better, should you? If you can make more
money, or serve more customers, or live a better life,
should you?
Most of us are doing better than just ok. We've got so
much! We've got computers and cars, we travel and live in
beautiful homes. We have air conditioning, big-screen TV's,
and food on the table. How much more should we "go for?"
Here's my answer: As much as your potential allows. Greed
or blind ambition is obviously a terrible waste. It narrows
our perceptions and robs us of joy. And frankly, it limits
our achievement because people don't like or trust us, and
we lose a certain creative nimbleness that is essential for
maximum achievement.
At the same time, if you have potential that could serve
more people, that could make and share more money, that
could build and create more products, I believe it is
immoral to sit on your hands. You've got to try! There's
something wrong with being so afraid of "failure" that we
deny the ability, the talent and opportunity the universe
(God) has invested in us. If you can do better, I believe
you have an obligation to "go for it!"
Which leads us to our theme of the month, getting more
done. How do you achieve more while maintaining balance,
peace of mind, family time and your spirituality? The
answer is in the SYSTEMS you use!
Some ambitious people have terrible systems! Because they
have a home office, they try to make sales and do laundry
at the same time. Or, they work from cluttered desks and
can never find the document they need. They fail to master
their technology and are always explaining why they are a
day late and a bit short.
Don't do that to yourself!
Here are some suggestions for getting more done:
1. Do One Thing Well. Focus on whatever lies at hand. If
you're writing a key proposal, close the door, turn off the
phone and write! If you're making a call, pull off the road
and focus on the call. When you check email, close the door
and spend a solid few minutes taking care of those
messages. Take a moment to run spell check and use good
grammar. Your customers and colleagues deserve that from
you.
2. Use Appropriate Technology. Some people have all the
newest gadgets but don't use them well. Others use old-
fashioned paper-and-pencil but actually get the job done.
Master your phone system. Learn your software. WiFi PDA's
and smartphones are wonderful if they serve your desired
outcome of GETTING MORE DONE. But if they are merely
impressive toys that clutter your life, get rid of them.
3. Be FAST! Practice making decisions quickly. Return
phone calls and emails the same day and get them off your
desk. Take time to think clearly so you can act quickly.
Use "tickler files" and systems to remind you of tasks that
need to be done, and when the time is right, do them. Get
up early and work quickly all day long. Keep moving!
4. Know What to Delete. A vast amount of the stuff that
comes across our desks each day is junk. We may need to
read it or glance at it, but never "stack" stuff! Read and
delete. Delegate if necessary. Respond appropriately, then
be done and move on. Many of our "have-to's" are just time
wasters and distractions. Never get bogged down in trivia!
5. Focus on Desired Outcomes. Know your most important
results, write them down, and stay focused all day long.
Nothing sabotages productivity like confusion! Every day,
identify the two or three things that will actually move
your forward, then stay on them! When you know (precisely)
what MUST GET DONE by 5:00 this afternoon, you'll move
quickly and get results. Everything else is just wasting
time and successful people don't waste time.
The twin secrets to getting more done are clarity and a
sense of urgency. When the phone rings and company is
coming in 20 minutes, it's amazing how much cleaning can
get done! When you know exactly what you're trying to
achieve, and know it must be done today, the same principle
applies! Never let "Murphy's Law" that work expands to fill
the time available apply to you. Have a sense of urgency
about making those calls, getting those sales, finishing
your most important projects. Be a person of ACTION! Get
 things done!

RISE TO MEET THE CHALLENGE

This week, I've been reading David McCullough's biography
of President Harry Truman, and it's an amazing story for
anyone who desires to be their best and achieve more. There
are lessons here, and we need to take them to heart.
Harry Truman didn't find a career until late in life. He
didn't marry until well into his thirties, and before that
he tried a variety of jobs and ventures, including farming
and selling men's clothing. His clothing store went
bankrupt and he referred to himself as a "failed
haberdasher" for the rest of his life. Because of poor
eyesight, he barely made it into the Army, but served with
distinction and courage in World War I. In his 40's and
50's he drifted into politics and served as a county
commissioner, mainly dealing with road repair.
He never had money and he and his wife spent most of their
married life living upstairs in his mother-in-law's home.
When he was elected to the U.S. Senate, he was seen as a
party hack and given little credit or respect. In 1944,
Franklin Roosevelt selected him to run for Vice President
after the "better" candidates were all rejected. FDR
thought so little of him, they never had a serious
conversation and Truman was told nothing about the atomic
bomb until several days after he was sworn in as the new
President.
And yet this "common man" is often viewed as one of the
greatest Presidents of the 20th century. How can this be?
Truman himself often said that there "are probably a
million people more qualified than me to be President, but
I'm the one with the job, and I'll do my best." Throughout
his life, he was always known for doing his best, and often
astonished people by exceeding their expectations. Here are
some of my observations about how he did it.
1. First, he out-worked everyone around him. FDR rarely
got to work before 10:00 AM, but Truman was usually up by
5:30 and worked all day long. In his first days as
President, the change caught the White House staff off-
guard. From the butlers to members of the Cabinet, they had
never seen anyone who worked so hard and demanded so much from
them. One key to his amazing success was simple hard work.
2. Second, he was decisive. Where FDR delayed and avoided
decisions, Truman listened to advice, read the reports,
made decisions promptly, and once they were made, he rarely
changed his mind. He made bold decisions and once they were
made, he knew how to hold a steady course.
3. Third, his personal integrity was beyond reproach. At
the Potsdam Conference after the war, he went into Berlin
and a staffer suggested they could go drinking or get some
"women of easy virtue," to which Truman coldly responded
that he loved his wife and didn't mess around on her. He
kicked the staffer out of his car and never spoke to him
again.
4. Fourth, he knew the value of loyalty. He was famous for
his life-long friendships and personal warmth. He knew the
names of staffers in the White House, and remembered their
families. When members of his staff came under political
fire, he ignored the newspapers and kept his team together.

5. Fifth and most important, he knew who he was. In the
face of enormous pressures and criticism, Truman knew his
goals and purposes, remained firm in his beliefs and seldom
waivered. He had enormous personal courage and quiet
confidence in his own judgment.
Sooner or later, life confronts us with problems that seem
beyond our abilities and asks us to meet them anyway.
Whether from illness or business gone bad, or in some other
form, eventually we must all dig deep to see what we are
made of. These "impossible" challenges reveal our character
and give us the opportunity to surprise ourselves.
President Truman did it, and so can we.

NO CAPITAL FOR START-UPS BUT SWEAT EQUITY?

Here is how and why you can start your own business with little or no money by using sweat equity.

Everyone Starts Off Broke

I used to feel sorry for myself because I came from a limited background and I had no money. Then I found that nobody has any money. Everyone starts off broke. In fact, most successful people go broke or nearly broke several times during their lives. Don’t let this hold you back.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Transformational leaders empower others by keeping them "in the know," by keeping them fully informed on everything that affects their jobs. People want and need to feel that they are “insiders,” that they are aware of everything that is going on. There is nothing so demoralizing to a staff member than to be kept in the dark about their work and what is going on in the company.

But if you are willing to put in the time to learn, remember about 95 percent of the working population in America have the ability to start and build their own businesses if they would only do it.

Multi-level marketing is an excellent second income opportunity where you can learn vital business skills at low cost. Especially selling, organizing, making presentations, accounting, team building, negotiating, persuading, and communicating. 85 percent of what you need to learn to be successful in business you can learn from running a successful multi-level marketing business.

Roll Up Your Sleeves

Remember this, though. Leaders are always willing to do what is called "dog work." They're willing to render humble service. They're willing to roll up their sleeves and plunge in. They never think of themselves as being too good for a job.

There is an enormous number of people who are presented with second income opportunities who turn them down because they think that they're too good to do something like that. But the people who are thinking that they are too good are the people who retire poor.

You'll find that leaders of all organizations are always willing to roll up their sleeves and to get in there.

Action Exercises

Now, here are two things you can do to put these ideas into action immediately:

First, remember that buying and selling things is the essence of all business. Look for opportunities to buy and sell things on your own account. Visit garage sales or hold a garage sale of your own. Visit swap meets and negotiate with people with things for sale. Make it a game to learn these skills.

Second, start in a small business of some kind. Look for a second income or multi-level marketing opportunity where you can buy and sell on a small scale. Many people become wealthy starting off with virtually nothing in this way.

TRIUMPH OVER TROUBLE

The biggest difference between winners and losers is their
ability to cope with adversity.
Life is going to throw problems in your path. Sometimes the
challenges will be physical, other times they will be
financial. Sometimes they will be difficult people, or a
natural disaster like a fire or earthquake, but sooner or
later, life challenges each of us. And here's a key point:
Our response to "small" challenges is a much better
predictor of our long-term success than our response to the
so-called "disasters" in life.
Disasters are big! We can't deny or avoid them; we MUST
deal with them. When our home catches fire or an accident
puts us in the hospital, everyone understands that we MUST
deal with these things.
It is no accident that Winston Churchill described the
Battle of Britain as "their finest hour." When emergencies
strike, we rise to the occasion.
The real test is with the "termites," the "little things"
that are so easy to ignore. Things like paying our bills
and living within our means. Things like managing our
weight and staying fit. Things like time for loved ones,
for rest and renewal.
These things are not dramatic and they are not urgent. We
can delay taking time for our kids. We can neglect our
health for a long time before obvious problems occur.
Recently I saw a biography of Donald Rumsfield, and one of
the points they made is that he "moves toward problems; he
never turns his back or walks away." That is a sound
strategy!
High achievers in life expect challenges. They know that as
they move forward in life, problems will occur. Unexpected
things will happen, and they maintain an attitude of
optimism, humor, strength and resolve in the face of
difficulties. They know that as they become ever more
successful, the size and complexity of their problems will
grow. How could it be any other way?
So, here are a couple of keys to solving problems:
1. Expect difficulty! This is no surprise, it is not
"unfair" or unusual. Life is complicated. Get good at it.
2. Keep a buffer around the edges of your life. Maintain a
"reserve" of extra time, savings in the bank, and a bit of
energy to handle the unexpected.
3. An attitude of optimism and enthusiasm is essential.
4. View difficulties as "challenges" or "learning
opportunities" rather than as problems. How we talk about
our difficulties makes a huge difference in how we handle
them. Words matter!
5. "We get by with a little help from our friends." Have a
team of cheerleaders, experts and colleagues to help you
understand and over-come any problem.
6. Be proactive. Take care of problems while they are
small. Preventive maintenance is good for your car, your
relationships and your heart.
7. Learn from every experience and (try) not to have the
same problems twice. Learn from difficulties, make changes,
and move on. Never repeat the same life-lesson!
The key is understanding how life really works, that
challenges are how we learn and grow. Life is about what we
learn and what we learn to do. Expect "interesting"
situations. Taking them in stride builds your confidence.
Never fear trouble; expect to triumph over it!

BUSINESS IDEAS: BE PREPARED FOR YES

Proper prior preparation prevents piss poor performance. Rule of the seven “Ps,” U.S. Army, c. 1860 and possibly long before.   

 At a hospitality suite during a two-day business seminar, those hosting the event are obviously promoting their products to the attendees. Freshly pumped with a flood of information, a potential way to use this new-found information begins to formulate in your brain. It is still rattling around connecting with this possibility and that, some of which are humorously impractical; but one seems to be on more solid ground. Eager to try this new concept out on someone else, you approach one of the vendor’s representatives, and he answers, “Yes, we do that quite often. In fact we just implemented a similar program with one of your competitors.”

Now that the application of this concept that you envision seems possible, you are burning to tell one of the higher ups in your company about it. Although your eagerness may be somewhat powered by alcohol, pause. First, have you sufficiently thought through the concept and its ramifications?  Secondly, can you implement the program if you were asked to run it?

Knowledge based requirements

Although the product that you have been told about has all of the excitement that new technology can bring, do you know enough about it to effectively sell it? How much is this going to cost in time and money to implement? What new people are going to be involved? I Is this new product or operational concept going to increase profits or reduce costs?  Is there likely to be a profitable return on investment?  Is this a logical extension of the company’s  line?

The product being discussed at the seminar might have been industrial machinery. It could be a new method for recruiting talent. It might have been a discussion of innovative organizational structures. Perhaps it was an innovative approach to marketing, advertising or product packaging. Any of these can have impacts on your company. Have you sufficiently thought about what those might be, before approaching your bosses with it?  If you are satisfied that you have, then go ahead with some preliminary feelers. Say nothing too solid yet, just an inquiry to judge the potential degree of interest. If the answer is “yes” or a “maybe,” then you have time to work up a formal proposal, which would probably be asked for anyway.

Personal factors

We all have lives, and these life happenings very often interfere with business. With what you can anticipate in your near-term future, can you actually take this idea from concept to presentation to implementation. Perhaps you can do the concept and presentation without any problem, but a family illness, planned vacation or health problem might prevent you from being able to implement the program. In such a case, who do you recommend to lead the project?  Obviously, this person needs to be brought into the project as soon as possible. If you do not have a person in hand, then at the least the project leader’s requirements need to be specifically outlined so that the Human Resources Department knows what kind of candidates to bring in for interviews.

Financial aspects

Return on investment, shareholder value and market share are all catch phrases that you will need to supply information about.  Someone will ask about these at the discussion of any change in the company’s product or operational methods.   It is likely if you are a “concept guy,” you are not well versed on making estimates that are based on anything but hopeful wishes. You need harder information and will have to go to someone else to help you get it. In short, you need to cultivate a friendship with someone in the accounting to help you out. These are things that they have received training on, but may never have had a chance to put that training into practice. Find someone who is excited about doing more than handling payroll and see if you can elicit their aid.

You don’t have time

Already faced with a 12-hour work day and travel two weekends a month, there is no way you can touch this project, however appealing it might be. In former times when there was a group of relatively new hires, such investigations could be passed on to one of the junior staff. Nowadays, there are few, if any, junior staff with many companies. Another possibility is to contract with one of the company’s retirees who might be eager to reconnect with those he once knew and work on a significant project. Another option is to hire a gig employee to come in, look at the concept and report on it. You could not expect as good a result as would come if someone intimately involved with the company did the work, but it might be serviceable, and your gig employee might even become a regular employee if you liked his work and you thought he had the capabilities of managing this project. Another possibility is to depend entirely on the company who made the product to make recommendations on how to fit it into your company and run it for you on a contract basis.  In such cases, they would be responsible for selling the product to  company management. This does happen, but at the costs of effectively bringing a partner into the company who controls a vital part company operations.

Business ideas are like children. You want to give them a fair chance to be seen, heard and perhaps even tried before they are rejected. Before you propose an idea, be prepared to help it grow into a prosperous adulthood.

DO YOU CARRY CHARISMA?

If someone were to ask you what the word "charisma" means, what would you say?

The Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines charisma as "a personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty or enthusiasm for a public figure." Knowing this, how can you develop your own personal charisma?

Develop Personal Magnetism

Charisma is also that special quality of magnetism that each person has and that each person uses to a certain degree. You have a special charisma to the people who look up to you, who respect and admire you, the members of your family and your friends and coworkers. Whenever and wherever a person feels a positive emotion toward another, he imbues that person with charisma or attractiveness.

Project Yourself Positively

In trying to explain charisma, some people speak of an "aura." This aura is a light that is invisible to most people but not to everyone, and that radiates out from a person and affects the people around that person in a positive or negative way. The halo around the heads of saints and mystics in many religious paintings was the artist's attempt to depict the light that people reported seeing around the heads of these men and women when they were speaking or praying, or in an intense emotional state.

Control the Impression You Make

You also have an aura around you that most people cannot see but that is there, nevertheless. This aura affects the way people react and respond to you, either positively or negatively. There is a lot that you can do, and a lot of good reasons for you to do it, to control this aura and make it work in your best interests.

Sell Your Way to the Top

If you're in sales, this aura, reflecting your level of charisma, can have a major impact on the way your prospects and customers treat you and deal with you. Top salespeople seem to be far more successful than the average salespeople in getting along with their customers. They're always more welcome, more positively received and more trusted than the others. They sell more, and they sell more easily. They make a better living, and they build better lives. Salespeople with charisma get far more pleasure out of their work and suffer far less from stress and rejection. The charismatic salesperson is almost invariably a top performer in his field and enjoys all the rewards that go with superior sales.

Influence People Around You

If you're in business, developing greater charisma can help you tremendously in working with your staff, your suppliers, your bankers, your customers and everyone else upon whom you depend for your success. People seem naturally drawn to those who possess charisma.

They want to help them and support them. When you have charisma, people will open doors for you and bring you opportunities that otherwise would not have been available to you.

Enhance Your Personal Relationships

In your personal relationships, the quality of charisma can make your life more joyous, happier. People will naturally want to be around you. Members of your family and your friends will be far happier in your company, and you will have a greater influence on them, causing them to feel better about themselves and to do better at the important things in their lives.

Action Exercises

First, identify the people with whom you seem to have a lot of charisma - the people who know you, like you, respect you the most. How could you increase your charisma with these people?

Second, identify the people who have charisma to you, the people you most like and respect and admire. What is there about them that you could copy or emulate? If you think charisma, you'll have more of it.