Those days are over, my friends. There are more and more people in your field; your target customers and clients are more and more inundated with marketing messages. They have heard it from seven other people before you, and they just do not have the bandwidth to listen anymore. The bar has just been raised for my self-employed clients; and for you.

In 2007, a new kind of power is necessary. Focus, inspiration, and mastery are going to be the keys to your success; now more than ever. You need to be THE BEST at what you do, to capitalize on your strengths so that everything is easier, and to FOCUS on the simplest actions that will have the greatest impact on your results.

If you are having trouble with any of these, you may have a Fatal Power Drain at work behind the scenes. Take a little look over your business. Are any of these tendencies draining your power?

1. Conforming. If other people are saying the same things you are saying, using the same marketing techniques and strategies you are using, or offering the same products or services you are offering, YOU ARE INVISIBLE. Do something new.
2. Chickening Out. If you make great plans but then falter when it is time to pick up the phone, send the email, or approach the well-connected person; you cannot be successful. You need to find your own source of boldness and courage. Dive in.
3. Perfectionism. If you spend all of your time and energy planning things out on paper, making spreadsheets, and perfecting your copy; everyone else in your industry will be so far out ahead that you will never catch up. Take action!
4. Assuming. You cannot possible guess what your customers are thinking, alone in your own head. You cannot assume that a marketing strategy will work for you. You cannot foresee which business name, tagline, or title will resonate with your people. Do not assume. FIND OUT. Do the research.
5. Forcing Things. If anything you are doing is really h
   Two Types of Business Plan Executive Summaries
   Companies seeking capital often ask how long the Executive Summary of their business plan should be. The answer depends upon the use of the summary, mainly determining if 1) it precedes the full business plan, or 2) it will be used as a stand-alone document.When the Executive Summary precedes the business plan, its length should be short, typically only one to two pages and certainly no longer
   s are more and more inundated with marketing messages. They have heard it from seven other people before you, and they just do not have the bandwidth to listen anymore. The bar has just been raised for my self-employed clients; and for you.

   In 2007, a new kind of power is necessary. Focus, inspiration, and mastery are going to be the keys to your success; now more than ever. You need to be THE BEST at what you do, to capitalize on your strengths so that everything is easier, and to FOCUS on the simplest actions that will have the greatest impact on your results.

   If you are having trouble with any of these, you may have a Fatal Power Drain at work behind the scenes. Take a little look over your business. Are any of these tendencies draining your power?

   1. Conforming. If other people are saying the same things you are saying, using the same marketing techniques and strategies you are using, or offering the same products or services you are offering, YOU ARE INVISIBLE. Do something new.
   2. Chickening Out. If you make great plans but then falter when it is time to pick up the phone, send the email, or approach the well-connected person; you cannot be successful. You need to find your own source of boldness and courage. Dive in.
   3. Perfectionism. If you spend all of your time and energy planning things out on paper, making spreadsheets, and perfecting your copy; everyone else in your industry will be so far out ahead that you will never catch up. Take action!
   4. Assuming. You cannot possible guess what your customers are thinking, alone in your own head. You cannot assume that a marketing strategy will work for you. You cannot foresee which business name, tagline, or title will resonate with your people. Do not assume. FIND OUT. Do the research.
   5. Forcing Things. If anything you are doing is really
      The Most Frequent Management / Leadership Mistakes
      Over the years I have observed and worked with numerous managers, business owners and executives in a variety of industries worldwide and I have made a number of observations. There tend to be common consistent management mistakes and errors that are made routinely.My latest sales book, You Call That Selling, 91 Mistakes Smart Salespeople Make, looks like it is headed for best seller status.
      ier, and to FOCUS on the simplest actions that will have the greatest impact on your results.

      If you are having trouble with any of these, you may have a Fatal Power Drain at work behind the scenes. Take a little look over your business. Are any of these tendencies draining your power?

      1. Conforming. If other people are saying the same things you are saying, using the same marketing techniques and strategies you are using, or offering the same products or services you are offering, YOU ARE INVISIBLE. Do something new.
      2. Chickening Out. If you make great plans but then falter when it is time to pick up the phone, send the email, or approach the well-connected person; you cannot be successful. You need to find your own source of boldness and courage. Dive in.
      3. Perfectionism. If you spend all of your time and energy planning things out on paper, making spreadsheets, and perfecting your copy; everyone else in your industry will be so far out ahead that you will never catch up. Take action!
      4. Assuming. You cannot possible guess what your customers are thinking, alone in your own head. You cannot assume that a marketing strategy will work for you. You cannot foresee which business name, tagline, or title will resonate with your people. Do not assume. FIND OUT. Do the research.
      5. Forcing Things. If anything you are doing is really
         Marketing Value of Branding, Identity, and Trust
         Who will your potential customers call when they want what you sell? Are you the only one they can call, or do you have competition? Do they go to your website, or someone else's? What can you do to encourage these potential customers to choose you instead of your competition?All of those are important questions. And, unless yours is the only business in the world doing what you do, you've
         products or services you are offering, YOU ARE INVISIBLE. Do something new.
      6. Chickening Out. If you make great plans but then falter when it is time to pick up the phone, send the email, or approach the well-connected person; you cannot be successful. You need to find your own source of boldness and courage. Dive in.
      7. Perfectionism. If you spend all of your time and energy planning things out on paper, making spreadsheets, and perfecting your copy; everyone else in your industry will be so far out ahead that you will never catch up. Take action!
      8. Assuming. You cannot possible guess what your customers are thinking, alone in your own head. You cannot assume that a marketing strategy will work for you. You cannot foresee which business name, tagline, or title will resonate with your people. Do not assume. FIND OUT. Do the research.
      9. Forcing Things. If anything you are doing is really
         Steps to Success - Planning Your Next Trade Show
         Making the decision to participate as a vendor in a trade show is a commitment. You are pledging your time, money, energy, and other resources. You involve your staff. You put much effort into the planning process.Before you leave for the next trade show, confirm all of your reservations. Ensure that your travel plans, hotel, rental car, and other accommodations are in place. If you are t
         copy; everyone else in your industry will be so far out ahead that you will never catch up. Take action!
      10. Assuming. You cannot possible guess what your customers are thinking, alone in your own head. You cannot assume that a marketing strategy will work for you. You cannot foresee which business name, tagline, or title will resonate with your people. Do not assume. FIND OUT. Do the research.
      11. Forcing Things. If anything you are doing is really hard - if you are having to force yourself to do it or force a strategy to work - you are doing something wrong. There is an easier way that people will respond to much more readily! Find it.
      12. Bogging Down. You cannot possible move your business forward while you are constantly reacting, tying up loose ends, and putting out fires. If you can't get ahead of things in your business because there are so many crises, then you need to work SMARTER, not harder. Focus!
      Any of these six patterns will east your business alive and make your success an uphill battle. If you find any of these drains lurking, plug them up immediately so that your business can move forward under its own power.