skip to main |
skip to sidebar
5 Tips to Create a Habit of Self-Discipline
Lack of discipline is what often prevents small-business owners from creating extraordinary organizations and having more meaningful lives. Discipline is the ability to continue doing things after the mood in which they were started is long gone.
Here are tips on how to go about working on your self-discipline:
1. Discipline doesn't always mean punishment. Changing the way you look at being disciplined is the most difficult step. Just thinking about it often brings to mind negative connotations: limitations, sacrifice, reprimand . . . But it's up to you to use the stick or the carrots to motivate yourself to take action. Realize that self-discipline doesn't limit you, but rather it gives you the power to do the things that matter most both in business and in life.
2. Cultivate your carrots. Decide on how you will reward yourself. Doing things to get rid of unbearable pain or to avoid punishment is for strugglers. Developing a powerful vision for what's possible and working towards it will keep you excited and energized. Reward yourself along the way even for reaching the smallest milestones. Celebrate all the wins. Make it a game and have fun with it!
3. Make it a group sport. Going it alone is the hardest way to accomplish anything significant, so involve others. Do not underestimate the power of accountability -- it can work wonders. Carefully choose your supporters and mentors - make sure they are the type that will tell you what you NEED to hear and not necessarily what you WANT to hear.
4. Forget the losses but don't lose the lessons. Don't allow temporary defeats to sway you off your chosen path towards your business goals and life purpose. It's easy to beat yourself up for making mistakes, but it won't take you far. Instead, treat them as learning opportunities. Simply evaluate what didn't work, apply new strategy and take different action.
5. Start now and be consistent and persistent. Remember the Nike's commercial -- "Just do it!" Or my personal mantra: "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing poorly to begin with!" Even the best intentions will not create any results; the universe has a tendency to reward action. Taking small steps in one direction every single day translates into huge leaps forward over a period of time.
Make a commitment to creating the habit of self-discipline; it can make a huge difference in both your professional and personal life!
Keywords: business plan, marketing strategy, business strategy, small business, Adam Urbanski
About the Author
Adam Urbanski, Irvine, California, USA
accounting@themarketingmentors.com
© 2001-2010 Marketing Mentors. All Rights Reserved. The author, Adam Urbanski, teaches service professionals and business owners how to develop better marketing strategies to increase sales and profits. Once a year, in November, Adam hosts Attract Clients Like Crazy Boot Camp designed specifically to teach entrepreneurs effective marketing strategies. www.themarketingmentors.com
Fundamentals of effective PR program
An effective PR (public relations) program includes both reactive — answering the media’s requests - and proactive — reaching out to the media — public relations strategies. Tactics range from telephone and on-camera interviews to wellplanned media events that include a variety of stakeholders. Many PR programs include elements of crisis communication and internal or organizational communication.
reactive
• Responding to media inquiries
• Interviews
• Crisis communications
proactive
• Pitches & press releases
• Video news releases
• Media events
• Bylined articles
• Press kits & Bios
• Web sites, blogs & more
Interview tips
Don’t be intimidated! - an interview is an excellent opportunity to gain added exposure and get your message in to the public. Whether, the reporter seeks you out or you find yourself in the right place at the right time, an invitation to be interviewed about a positive story is one you don’t want to turn down.
• Preparation — Try to find out beforehand as much as possible about the topic and what type of questions you’ll be asked. If possible, schedule a time for the interview so that you’ll have an opportunity to prepare and write down key messages you want to deliver.
• Messaging — Be clear and concise when answering questions and repeat your key messages, knowing that the interview will be edited. Avoid misleading and feel comfortable telling a reporter you don’t know the answer to a question.
• Follow-up — Thank the writer, editor or reporter for the opportunity to be included in their story and be sure to leave him/her with contact information in case they have follow-up questions and for future stories.
Tip — Be wary of reporters who don’t tell you what the interview is about or who might have a negative story in mind. And at no time should you speak “off the record.” Keep in mind that in any interview, even when the camera or recorder is turned off, your comments may still be used or quoted in the story. It’s good to establish a rapport with a journalist but, refrain from making comments you wouldn’t want repeated or even paraphrased by the reporter. Consider yourself always “on the record“.
PR constituents
• Media
• Industry analysts
• Customers/clients
• Executives & internal stakeholders
• Employees
• Community members
• Other influencers
Make money online from home
Here are some ideas for starting an Internet home business:
Blogging
Affiliate Marketing
Recruiting
E-zine / Email Marketing
Niche Forums
eBay Auction Selling
E-Commerce
Arts Crafts
Freelance Consulting Services
Internet Research Business
Podcasting
Membership Sites
Tutoring
Bookkeeping
Coaching
VA (Virtual Assistant)
E-Product Development
Workshops Tele-seminars
You may have a legal problem and not know how to resolve it. Lawyers have been specially trained in the law and our legal system. The lawyer will be helping you solve your problems, so the first qualification is that you must feel comfortable enough to tell him or her, honestly and completely, all the facts necessary to resolve your problem. Sometimes people feel nervous when meeting lawyers, but remember that you're the one doing the hiring, and what's most important is that you're satisfied with what you're getting for your money.
Before you make any hiring decisions, you might want to ask certain questions to aid in your evaluation.
Questions you should ask your prospective lawyer before making a final hiring decision:
1. Ask about the lawyer's experience and areas of practice.
. . . How many similar matters have you handled?
. . . What were the results of those cases?
. . . Do you typically go to trial or settle out of court?
2. How long has the lawyer and the firm been practicing law?
3. What kinds of legal problems does the lawyer handle most often?
4. Are most clients individuals or businesses?
Also:
Will there be any limitations on the scope of the representation?
How will you be kept informed about the progress of the case?
How quickly do you respond to phone calls and e-mails?
How can I reach you after normal business hours?
In many cases, there is no fee charged for an initial consultation. However, to be on the safe side, ask about fees before setting up your first appointment. If the attorney does charge, simply ask if the amount will be credited to the bill later on.
Tips for real estate agents:
How to Sell a House When Seller Cannot Pay Off the Bank
Part 2/2
6. SET THE RIGHT PRICE.
Price the home at least 5 percent under market. You have to give the buyer compensation for the inconvenience of the Short Sale and a reason to wait. Price it even further under the market if the foreclosure is right around the corner. Negotiate by creating a sense of urgency in marketing materials and on the MLS. Most banks will accept as much as 10 percent under market.
7. PRESENT ANY REASONABLE OFFER.
This gets the waiting period started. Submit the offer and let it be working as you’re waiting for the file to be assigned. Some real estate commission mandates that you have to disclose any other offers that come in. If you get someone with a back-up offer now, the process is easier. If you submit another offer, call the people who made the original offer to let them know and give them an opportunity to update theirs. There is very few situations where the first people to make an offer didn’t get the property.
8. CALL EVERY WEEK.
Without agent calling the bank, no one would know the file is still in limbo. During the calls, establish rapport with the lender representatives and be nice. It’s very frustrating to call every week and have them try to get you off the phone, but they do take notes and put notes in the file. If you’re a jerk, they’ll note that too. Think about getting the borrower on the phone with you and the loss-mitigation negotiator to humanize the situation.
9. NEVER INCLUDE PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE SALE.
Treat the sale of appliances, playground equipment and other items as a separate transaction. You don’t want any money unnecessarily going to the lender. If the seller doesn’t need these items, you can have the buyer purchase that property to give the seller money to move or to pay down a second mortgage.
10. TEACH OTHER AGENTS ABOUT SHORT SALES.
The seller’s credit isn’t damaged as badly, the seller moves with dignity, the buyer gets a home that’s in better shape than an REO, the neighborhood is saved from vacancies that leave properties at risk of damage, the bank gets more money sooner and reserves aren’t wasted. If you meet agents who don’t want to do Short Sales, turn them into a referral source. You’ll gain a reputation as a Short Sale expert.
Go to part 1/2
Tips for real estate agents:
How to Sell a House When Seller Cannot Pay Off the Bank
Part 1/2
1. TRY TO SAVE THE HOME.
Determine if the sellers have a job with an income that provides a reasonable chance to support the house with a loan modification. Some might say I’m crazy for helping people get them. Yes, I’m crazy like a fox. If I help the homeowners now to save the house, save their credit, keep their kids in the same school, who do you think is their Realtor for life? You won’t make money in the short run, but in the long run you’ll end up with lots of referrals because you put their interests ahead of yours.
2. QUALIFY SELLERS FOR SHORT SALE.
There are specific hardships that must exist for a Short Sale to be an option. Verify that the seller (a) faces financial hardship (b) has no financial reserves, excluding retirement, and (c) is losing ground financially each month and heading toward foreclosure.
3. PREPARE A LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION.
Make sure you have permission to represent the sellers. In the pre-listing appointment phone calls, get the information about their lenders and the loan numbers, so that you can arrive at your first meeting with a letter of authorization for them to sign. Have the borrower/seller in the letter direct the lender to give you the name and contact information for the investor and any mortgage guarantors, too. You want to have the power to negotiate with everyone involved.
4. PUT THE SELLERS TO WORK RIGHT AWAY.
Give them a list of what you need in the Short Sale package and have them collect the items for review during the first listing meeting. Every bank asks for different items, but typically they want the hardship letter, a financial form showing assets and liabilities, two months of bank statements, the last two pay stubs as well as copies of the mortgage statements. If the sellers are self-employed, you may need two years of tax returns. Once everyone signs the listing agreement, you lose the power to walk away if the client isn’t cooperative, so make the Short Sale package information a condition of the listing agreement.
5. DO A TITLE SEARCH UP FRONT.
You need to know what all the problems are as early in the process as possible. In title company states, get a title report, normally provided as a service. In attorney states, have a firm you work with do it, and specify in your offers that this will be the closing attorney. Make sure the attorneys and escrow officers are trained in Short Sales.
Go to Part 2/2
Still not convinced that blogging and other forms of social media can boost business?
If you’re not blogging, you’re missing some prime opportunities to capture new leads, market listings and make a lasting impression on your clients. The more you blog and repeatedly use the same phrases, the more hits your site will get through search engines like Google.
Blogs needn’t be longer than 300 words and you should use some photos, videos and plenty of links to relevant Web sites and material.
With millions and millions of users on social networks such as Twitter, Facebook,
LinkedIn and YouTube – along with the reach ActiveRain provides through search engine optimization – your name will be in front of potential clients if you’re an active blogger.
1. MORE VISIBILITY.
Garner exposure for yourself by writing insightful, concise articles that will ultimately lead more buyers and sellers to you online.
2. MORE CREDIBILITY.
Position yourself as an expert in real estate or in a certain geographical location by targeting your market.
3. MORE MARKETING.
Successfully market your listings.
4. MORE TRAFFIC.
Increase Internet traffic to your Web site by creating links back to subjects or people in your blogs.
5. MORE REFERRALS.
Generate referrals from clients and other real estate agents.
The world of real estate prospecting has morphed into Facebook friend requests, tweets, chirps and fan pages. Instead of asking for your phone number to talk about your services, clients might instead request you as a LinkedIn connection or message you on Facebook to get updates on a transaction.
Facebook is one of the largest social networking sites out there – and real estate agents shouldn't ignore that fact. But you have to make your impact on social network meaningful and relevant to your target audience; you can't post a bunch of listings and expect business to rain down on you like manna from heaven.
Here are some tips to stand apart from the crowd on Facebook:
After you sign up
1. Target your audience (past/current clients, other agents, niche businesses)
2. Pay attention to what people are posting about
3. Attract friends, followers, connections and subscribers
4. Interact and engage with your friends and/or fans
Maximize your exposure
There are three types of accounts on Facebook: personal profiles, groups and business/fan pages. Also, you can place ads to targeted audiences in certain geographic areas for little cost.
Personal pages – Messages are limited to 20 recipients at a time with a personal page. There are strict rules about posting business information on a personal page.
Groups – Groups are set up for more personal interaction and are more directly connected to the people who administer them. Groups can be public or prviate.
Business/Fan pages – This is the ideal way to attract a public following. Here are some business page options:
* Geographic area page.
Create a page for your county or a specific neighborhood that is solely about that area and has no mention of your business. You'll get fans instantly and people won't feel pressured by seeing your business information on the page. Get people to interact on the page by holding photo contests, asking questions that elicit participation ("What's the best pizza place in town?" or "Where's the best hiking trail in our county?") and offering prizes, such as gift cards, dinner for two, etc. Get local businesses to participate; they'll be more than happy with the free exposure. To spread the word about your business, download a tab called FBML, which allows HTML on the page, such as a framed-in IDX search.
* Agent referral page.
Add items of value, network with other agents at events posted on Facebook and share referrals.
* REO business page.
Market your distressed property business and expertise to asset-management companies.
* Office or team page.
Promote your office or team members, services and more with this page.
*Builder/condo page.
Reach out to builders, condo associations and other groups who have a vested interest in these niches. Promote your expertise in condos, new construction and niche services.
The U.S. Treasury plan to help homeowners avoid foreclosure is many-faceted. The plan was announced in November 2009 and officially went into effect in April 2010:
It sets limits on the time it takes lenders to approve or reject Short Sales requests.
It provides incentives to lenders and borrowers for completing Short Sales.
It streamlines and standardizes the documentation necessary for Short Sales.
It limits the ability of subordinate lien-holders to obstruct the Short Sales process.
Incentives to Borrowers
Under the plan, borrowers who complete a Short Sale are released from their primary mortgage debt. Additionally, they receive $3,000 for moving expenses.
Incentives for Lenders
The plan provides for payments of $1,500 to mortgage servicers and investors for completing a Short Sale - or a deed-in-lieu transaction, in which the deed is simply turned over to the lender.
Standardized Documentation
The program has published streamlined and standardized documentation for Short Sales, including a Short Sale Agreement and Offer Acceptance Letter. Creating one standard set of documents minimizes the complexity of Short Sales, which should significantly increase use of the option.
Payments Capped to Subordinate Lien-Holders
In the past, some holders of second mortgages have blocked Short Sales by seeking steep payment in exchange for releasing their claim. Under the new plan, participating subordinate lien-holders as a group can receive no more than $6,000 from proceeds of the sale.
Time Limits for Short Sales
Lenders have only 10 days to approve or reject a Short Sale - a significant step, since the process often takes so long to complete that numerous transaction fall through. Borrowers are allowed at least 90 days to market and sell their home, with the possibility of additional time based on local market conditions. Marketing can run at the same time as the foreclosure process, but no foreclosure can take place during the marketing period as long as the borrower is acting in good faith to sell the proper.
