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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Inspired recently by Napolean Hill’s classic book ‘Think and Grow Rich‘, my partner and I recently sat down to plan our strategy to make more money than we can count. The following steps are the process we went through over the last year to get to the point where we were able to make this plan. There are six steps in the plan put forth in ‘Think and Grow Rich’. I have included them in this list, and added my interpretation of them. If you have not read ‘Think and Grow Rich’, I certainly suggest it. I can’t say it will make you rich, whatever your definition of that is, but it will certainly open your mind to the fact of just how possible it is to become so.

1. Think about what type of life you would like to live.

Don’t think about money. Money is pointless at this stage. In fact, pretend money does not exist. You simply have to choose what you will spend the majority of your time on. Now, don’t worry about changing your mind. That is okay. The important thing is to be successful in whatever you do, so learning how to succeed on one path will easily translate over to the next. Even if you pick the wrong path, it will not be a waste of time.

2. Write down how much money you would like to make.

As Napolean Hill says, you need to define this number and make a commitment to it. Write it down on a piece of paper right now. Don’t be scared either. I wrote down $200 million. My partner wrote down $333 million. Remember, this is our one life. If we are not going to try and go big, then why try at all? 

3. Write down what you are willing to sacrifice for this financial gain.

Napolean Hill opened my eyes to a very simple concept, that for some reason or other, had eluded me. If you want to make a lot of money, it is going to take sacrifice. It is not simply, think about it, and it will happen. You are going to have to give up family time, weekends, hobbies, television, and all sorts of things. Right now, list all of the things you are willing to give up to reach this goal. Remember, the higher the sum, the more sacrifice it requires.

4. Make a due date.

Another great step from ‘Think and Grow Rich’. Define the time period in which you want to achieve this goal by setting a due date to reach it. Now, don’t be scared to make the commitment. I wrote down 3 years with a due date of 7/4/2012. You can write down anything you like. The important part is to make that date and stand by it no matter what. Write it down right now.

5. Make a plan to acquire those sums.

This step from the book is quite useful. It helped us tremendously. You see, my partner and I had a couple of services that we are releasing this June. Now, originally, we were set on a certain strategy for marketing these services. We were thinking, in a few years, we may be able to collect enough monthly to pay all our bills. However, with this new commitment to a large financial gain, we had to think bigger. So we did, and what we came up with is incredible! I am not able to delve into details at this time, but the idea is probably our best idea yet. I can’t believe we didn’t see it before. We would have never thought of it had we not been forced to plan a way on how to make our fortune.

What I learned while doing this is, if you do not make a plan, how can you hope to achieve that sum? The answer is you can’t. That’s why, right now, you need to take some time and write down exactly how you plan to acquire the sum you desire. Don’t worry about the small details. Just get to thinking how you are going to take your passion, and turn it into gold.

6. Read it 2x a Day

So you now have a list. Napolean Hill, and my partner who had read hundreds of similar books, both say you should write the plan as if it already happened. For example, you may write…

“In the last 3 years, I have acquired $200 million dollars. To get this sum, I have sacrificed time with my family, weekends, television, training, luxuries, expensive dinners, good credit, sweat, blood, and tears. My fortune was acquired by (insert plan here). 3 years ago, I made a deal that by today, I will have acquired $200 million. There is no feeling quite like knowing I achieved my goal. It is too treasured to try and explain with mere words.“

Napolean Hill suggests reading it when you wake up, and before you go to bed. I think, as long as you read it daily, it will have the same effect. The important part is to get a taste of the incredible feeling of reaching that goal every time you read it. That is your daily motivation, Not the money, but that feeling of success. Right now, write down your own tale, as you would be telling it to others, after it is accomplished.

7. Believe in Your Ability

One of the things this book has done for me is it cemented the thought in my head that I really can do anything I want to. I think, along the course of our life, barraged by negativity day after day, we tend to doubt our ability to achieve things. ‘Sure, I’d love to be rich, but I’m just not the rich type.’ If you think like this, unfortunately, you are a 100% right.

To follow your plan, you must believe in it whole heartedly. You must believe that even if you are not ready at this very moment, by following that path, you will become as ready as you will ever be. It is not you that makes the path, but rather the path that makes you. You have made a commitment because you believed in your self. Now you have to do your best to stick to it.

8.  Start Right Now!

This is Napolean Hill’s final step in his book. He points out that, whether you are ready or not, you must start on this plan right now. It reminds me of starting out in Jiu Jitsu. They don’t show you moves, and make sure you know what to do before you start. Instead, they simply throw you right into the fire. To become good at Jiu Jitsu, you must first learn what NOT to do, before you learn what to do. The same goes for your plan. Jump right into the fire, and trust in your ability to adapt. Humans are nature’s greatest example of adaptation, so don’t tell me you don’t adapt well. Tell me you choose not to let yourself adapt well, because you are afraid you might not succeed. That is the truth, and from here on out, as you set out to start on this plan, the truth is all you have left.

9. Be honest with yourself.

Making a commitment to reach a goal is quite scary. It may sound ridiculous to others. It may invoke some teasing from friends and family. People think I am a moron when I tell them I am going to make $200 million in the next three years. However, I don’t care what anyone thinks. I don’t expect them to believe me. If someone told me that, I would not believe them either.

The truth is, you are not telling these people when you speak to them. You are telling yourself. You are being honest with yourself and your intentions. This is an important part of self confidence. Be firm in what you want. Don’t let anyone tell you different. It is your life, and the only thing you can do, is be honest with yourself about how you want to live it.

10. Money is not important.

This may seem ironic. If money is not important, than why the hell did we waste our time on the first 9 steps? The answer is that money is one part of living a stress free life. The feeling of reaching the goal you set out to reach is the true treasure of this journey. Imagine the possibilities that will open if you firmly believed you can achieve anything if you actually committed your mind to it. Think about the smug feeling of confidence you would have the next time somebody laughs at your lofty goals.

This is the feeling you need to have right now. This is the feeling of confidence you need to make your plan a reality. It’s not about the money, even though there will be plenty. It’s about harnessing the power of your mind, and realizing that with the gifts you have right now, anything, anything at all, is possible. It’s just a matter of committing yourself to it. Are you ready?

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Hey, you want to be successful? You looking to take it to the next level? You ever wonder what is it really going to take to achieve your wildest dreams? Me too. Over the course of the road I have traveled, I have come up with six things every single person must know if they ever dare to dream of success…

1. Shit ain’t easy.

I don’t care what it is, being successful is never, ever, ever, going to be easy. It is going to be a grind regardless. Just think about it, if it were that easy, everyone would be doing it. It takes physical and emotional strength. It takes faith. It takes nerve. Put it this way. Right now, think to yourself how hard you estimate it’s going to be to become a success in whatever you choose. Think about the long road. Okay, now however hard you just thought it was going to be, I would times it by 100. That might even be a little optimistic.  The bottom line is, whatever you want to do, it takes a lot of sweat and tears. If you know that going in, it makes the bumps in the road that much easier to travel. 

2. Don’t just do things, do things right.

We all love the short cuts. I am the king of short cuts. However, I learned time and time again, especially in Jiu jitsu, that you have to do things the right way. You may be able to get over everybody on a daily basis, but you are only fooling yourself. Take the time to do things right. Don’t rush them, or just do things to get them done. Take the time to learn everything you can. Do the research to feel confident in your decisions. You can’t win every battle, but you sure as hell can increase the odds each time. 

3. Even when no one else does, believe in yourself.

Risk is an essential part of becoming successful. A lot of people will warn you of the risks, mostly because they wouldn’t dare to take them themselves. Want to know what I think of this kind of advice? Next time your stomach is not feeling well, turn around after you finish using the toilet. That stuff floating there is just as valuable. I mean actually, it might be worth more. Business is business. No one knows what it’s like in your position except for you. No one has your passion. Don’t let the crowd steer your ship. That’s the captain’s Job, and passion is his steering wheel.

4. Out work your competition

Picture your job field like a huge MMA tournament. Everyone is training hard, but some are pushing the limits. Some are so dedicated to their own success, it consumes them. They become a machine, working every day toward their goal without thought. When it comes time to get in the cage, they look like silent predators stalking through the night, emotionless, till the cage door closes and it’s time to attack. Their belief in their preparation is what carries them through the arduous fight. Apply this same story to your job field. Are you a machine? Are you prepared for the grueling grind to be successful? You better be.

5. Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself.

An oldie, but a goodie. You don’t need to be religious to live by this creed. I have found that Karma is real. It is everywhere. When you do something negative, you send out a negative vibe, which always reverberates back to you in some way. The same goes for when you do something positive as well. Don’t worry about what other people do to you. Just do what you do. If your mind is right, they don’t have a chance anyway. You can overcome everything on the road to success. As I was always told by my family, it just takes patience, persistence, and perseverance to overcome any obstacle life throws your way.

6. Reap the Rewards and Pass them Around

You work your ass off. The first five steps involve taking people’s crap, working when other’s sleep, taking risks most wouldn’t dare, and making sacrifices most couldn’t bare. When you travel this kind of road, you better enjoy all of the success you get. Reward yourself for pushing the limits. Reward those who have helped you push those limits. Give away parts of your rewards to those that deserve them. Remember, whatever good vibes you spread around always reverberate back to you, so spread them while you can. Nothing breeds success, like success…or so I have heard

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Every Wednesday is Personal Development in Business, however I was late this week due to business obligations…

‘No nuts, no glory’ is a rather vulgar way of saying that if you don’t take risks, you’ll never get where you are going. This is great advice for business, and if you are like me, than the blunt, vulgar approach sinks in much faster than the sugarcoated, sappy crap.

I was listening to the rapper TI’s ablbum the other day, and apparently, this is a favorite statement of his. It’s not like he invented it, or that I never heard it before, but being in the position I am in right now, it really hit home this time.

My business is in it’s second year, and we are just now getting to the right point we should be. It has been a long road, as this blog can reveal, and we are still climbing up hill. However, we have really made it through thick and thin, and survived.

When we first started, many thought I should just get a job for security and safety, especially after my failed mortgage venture. However, I have a very thick head and now, because of the ailing economy, everyone is realizing that the idea of a job giving you security and safety is a just an illusion. No one is safe from bad times. Truth is it’s not about avoiding the bad times, it’s all how you handle them.

After my experiences, the best analogy for starting a business I can come up with is playing a game of Texas Hold’em. Whether in business, or poker, it’s all how you play the hand your dealt.

Surviving the Initial Buy In

The initial buy-in in Texas Hold’em is like your initial investment in the business. Many people lose everything on the first few hands. It’s kind of the first test of a business.

• Can you survive?
• Are you able to live with the risks you need to manage?
• Can you handle financial stress while working for cheap, sometimes even free at first?
• Do you have the gall to risk everything on a pipe dream?

These are the kinds of questions every self employed person needs to answer. Believe me, there have been plenty of times I thought about whether or not I am on the right track. It certainly has not been easy. In fact, IT’S BEEN DAMN HARD. So hard, that I could not imagine possibly ever going through it again.

However, as a friend of mine recently said, ‘…these are the good times. When the money is rolling in, don’t get me wrong, it’s great, but these are the fun times, when you are building it all up. This is the stuff you remember.’

Over the years , this friend of mine made over a million, lost it all, made it again, lost most of it, and then just got it back again. He is a survivor, and the kind of person you need to be to deal with the lightening quick changes the information age causes today. Just like in Texas Hold’em, it’s not how many chips you have that matter, it’s how you play the hand you have.

Managing Risk

Now, if you have ever played Texas Hold’em, than maybe you can understand the meaning of ‘No nuts, no glory’ for a business owner. You see, the poker table is like your business world. The chips represent your market share, or your assets. The only difference between the table, and your world, is that at the table, everyone starts with the same amount of chips. In the real world, it is much more skewed.

At the table, though, the real playing does not begin till the chips start to move around. How many times have you seen somebody up big, and all of a sudden, like that, they are out? This person is probably a big risk taker. They may win big sometimes, but in the end, they are going to take one too many chances, and wind up ‘all in’ at the wrong time.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, how many times have you seen somebody play it so tight to the vest, that they never are even in the game? This person takes no risk. They play the hand they have to the tee. If it’s good, they are in. If it’s bad, they fold. They never lose a lot of chips at once, but they always lose them all over the course of the game while waiting for the perfect moment that may never come.

How to Play Poker Better and Apply it to your Business

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The same traits can be applied for business owners. Behind every success story is a story of tremendous risk management, and a soldier like work ethic. The best businesses, and the best poker players, all know how to manage risk. They take big chances, but only when they should.

For example, the best poker players bide their time before suddenly swooping in and taking all the pots. The reason is, they know how to manage their risk. They know that it’s not only about the hand you have, it’s also about the hand everyone else has. So they tend to skip a lot of hands in the beginning because the risk is too big. Too many players with too many cards and chips.

However, after getting a handle on the table, and how the other players play, a great player then feels comfortable taking big risks. As soon as the opportunity presents itself, they swoop in with big calls, and take home the pot.

For business owners, it is the same idea to build a successful business. At first, you need to keep your risks low, and get a feel for your market. Get a feel for your competitors. See what they do well, and what they don’t. Know your business world inside and out. Then, when an opportunity presents itself that just feels right in your gut, it’s time to suck it up, and take that big risk. If you don’t take the risk, you will never advance.

Most people are afraid of falling backwards. Not me. I’m afraid of staying still. The only time their are ups and downs is when you are making progress. If there are no ups and downs, than you are not moving at all, and that’s scarier then anything I can imagine.

Taking big risks does not mean you will always win either. That’s okay. No professional poker player wins even half the time. However, they all make a lot of money when they do win, and it usually compensates for the times they lose. Not only that, but each time they lose, they gain experience for the next time they face a similar situation.

So it’s all up to you whether you use this advice to take your friend’s money at the Texas Hold’em table, or simply use it to motivate yourself to success. The choice is yours. Just remember, the next time an opportunity presents itself…

NO NUTS = NO GLORY.

Go for it. Win or lose, you always come out on top in the end. It’s those of us that don’t go for it, that wind up the worst off.

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Every Wednesday is Personal Development in Business…

I would imagine the saying ‘stick to your guns’ developed over the course of history from gunfighters meeting their tragic end while trying to use a weapon they were not familiar with. Fast forward hundreds of years, and even though I am not a gunfighter, my experience in business has lead me to understand the true value of this pearl of wisdom.

For those that don’t know, my partner Chris and I started up a new business in November of 2007. The business is a media production company called Reimagine, that specializes in web and video production. Chris is a multi talented graphic/web designer from an advertising background. He has been in the freelance creative business for a long, long time. I was a video guy with a background in business. My skills shine when I am networking, selling, and at the editing station.

As a company, we could make money doing print media, web design/development, social media consulting, marketing videos, event videos, TV commercials, internet videos, motion graphics, email blasts, t-shirts, writing, and sound production. I’m sure you are saying, well that’s a good thing. A lot of avenues to make money. However, time has taught me that this can actually be a negative.

A Positive experience with Mortgages

It’s funny, cause before I got into this business, I had my own mortgage branch. I graduated film school and got engaged. I was writing screenplays, but that was not cutting it. I needed something to pay the bills while I honed my skills. That’s when I jumped on an opportunity to get into the hot mortgage game.

One of the things I always remember from my experience in mortgages is how the successful brokers did business. Depending on their license, a broker can do refinances, purchases, FHA, VA, FHA streamlines, Jumbo, and until recently, Home Equity Loans and 2nd Mortgages. Not only that, but you could even get licensed in multiple states. However, with all these options, I found that a very successful broker usually only did one kind of loan. This means they specialized in one type of loan from the hundreds they could do.

At first, I didn’t understand this. As a young broker, each time I got a lead, I was pumped. I didn’t care what the person wanted, I would figure out how to get it done. So if they were doing a refinance, I could do it. Purchase, no problem. FHA, of course I can. As long as I could make money, it was legal, and good for the client, I was in. While many brokers had no regard for their clients, it was very important to me. Doing right by my customers was not so I could say I was a good person. It was so the client would refer me to someone. I always found doing good business to reward itself.

However, with all these options, the money for these loans got stretched very thin. Doing a good job for my clients was hard. Each loan was completely different from the last. I had to learn the bank guidelines, the proper procedures, which paperwork and information to get, as well as the little rules unique to the client’s situation. Instead of knowing what was next, I was always trying to figure it out. Each loan I got was like starting over from scratch.

One weekend, to open my own branch, I flew down to Florida for a big mortgage conference hosted by the enormous company I was joining. At the conference, to pump us up, they celebrated their top branches across the country. I was shocked at the time to find out that each of these ridiculously successful branches only did one type of loan. One person, who grossed the most ever for the company, specialized in only VA streamline loans in Kansas. That’s it. That person just did loans for veterans living in Kansas. He did no other type of loans whatsoever. None. I didn’t even know there were that many veterans in Kansas.

Another top person just specialized in FHA Streamlines in Missouri. Another just in FHA in Florida. All of these top people did one type of loan. What I learned was that it made their job, their service, and their time management that much easier. Sure, there were opportunities to make money doing other loans, but that would mean learning a whole new routine. The time alone was not worth it to them. It was more beneficial to just stick to what they knew.

Stick to your Guns, Increase your Funds

That’s the approach my partner and I have learned to take with our business. While there are numerous avenues to make money, being a specialist at what you do is that much more rewarding. You can easily grow more and more efficient each time, and not have to spend the extra time feeling your way through the process. Your clients will appreciate it more as well. Nothing is better than having the confidence the person you hired is an expert.

For all of you out there with your own business, try this approach. Think about what it is that you do best. What is it that you can be better than everyone else? Then stick to that, and build from there. I’m sure it will be tough to turn down some business down at first, but you must look at the big picture. Over time, becoming a master at something effects the work process in the following ways:

• It gets easier
• Work time decreases
• Profit margin increases.
• Customer service gets better which leads to more referrals.

Looking at your short term money is necessary to pay your bills. However, using this strategy can pay your bills over and over as time goes on. It may be slow in the beginning, but after all, I believe it was the tortoise that won the race against the hare in that timeless children’s story, wasn’t it?

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Every Wednesday is Personal Development in Business…

Every business owner would love to have one thing: more clients. In today’s economic climate, it is more important than ever to properly build your network. Now, being that this is a blog, I can obviously talk about all of the ways you can network through Social Media. We can discuss Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Flickr, and MySpace till we are blue in the face, but I feel like others have gone into much better depth about it than I ever could.

Today, I want to concentrate on 5 Ways to Find more business the old fashioned way: physically. To me, even with the massive amounts of people I network with online, I still get most of my business through personal interaction.

Networking for Your Business

It is quite easy for us business owners to network over a computer. I have done it myself for months. However, there is a trust issue over the computer. Most businesses are skeptical of working with people they have never met. Sure, I have gotten jobs this way, but it is difficult when you have not seen the other person’s face. I have found the following ways to have a much higher lead/job ratio, then the internet. Seems on the net, I get a lot of leads, but not a great deal of business.

What Methods Work for Me?

Now, of course this depends on your type of business. These methods work for every business, but especially for service based small businesses. For example, our company Reimagine specializes in web and video production. We could build a website for anyone in the world, ideally. However, so could anyone else.

To build your business from the ground up, I have found it is much more effective to make personal relationships, no matter what your business is. With personal relationships, you develop a camaraderie with your clients. They know what to expect, as you do. This makes it easier and easier to develop a positive working relationship. When they dial the phone, they know who they are talking to.

You can not put a price on reliability. It is probably the single most important trait a business can have. If your business is not reliable, then it will not be smart for a client to deal with you. This is what causes the fear over the internet. Sure, you have a website, and some great products, but how do your potential clients know what you say is true?

That’s why I have found building a business from the ground up to start with conquering your local area. Nothing beats having an effective base for your business, and there is no easier way to build a reputation then through personal interaction.

However, it all starts with spreading the word. Word of mouth is the most effective resource, but to achieve that, you have to give clients something to talk about. With that in mind, here are…

5 Steps to Physically Find More Business

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1. Join Local Networking Groups

It is a must that you find these groups and participate in them. There are private networking groups, the local Chamber of Commerce, networking events, tradeshows, town fairs, barter associations, and numerous other networks that businesses use.

2. Consistently Attend These Groups

It may take some time to sort out which groups work best for you, but to achieve success with this method, you have to go more than once. In fact, you have make consistent appearances. Let people get to know you personally, and that will lead them to what you do in business. Once people get to know you, not only may they give you business, they may recommend others to you as well.

3. Set A Good Initial Price

We all have the goals for what we want to make in our business. However, to get there, we have to sacrifice in the beginning. It can be very hard to give a good deal when you are struggling to build your business.

However, when approached in these networking groups, you have to think of the big picture. By giving out a great deal to one person, you will automatically get business from others. People in these networking groups network themselves. They talk to many other businesses. Do them right, and watch how your name spreads like wildfire among the people they know. Multiply this with a few key people in the group, and watch how the calls fly in.

4. Do Unto Others As You Would Want Done To You

No, I am not reciting the ten commandments. However, this is an important message. Most people attend these groups only concerned about how it can help their business. What I do, is I try to also pay attention to who I can recommend. I may meet a good plumber, mortgage broker, or landscaper who I can recommend to the people I know.

In turn, these people will be indebted to return the favor. Now, do not go hunt someone down who you recommended if they don’t do the same. It happens, but more often than not, this will get you some return business.

5. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat

Keep on networking. Keep on meeting people. Keep on pursuing business relationships. I know a guy locally who even started his own free networking group. There is no fee to join. The only rule is there is only one business allowed in the group per field. So for instance, I am the group’s web designer/development person. This guy is a mortgage broker, and every meeting he gets more and more business. Why? Cause it is his networking group. He started out networking with other groups, and eventually formed his own. All it took was him renting out a restaurant for free, with the promise people will order food during these weekly meetings. 

Talk about setting yourself up with business for life. He now has grown this group to over 5o businesses, and it is still climbing. That is 50 businesses (think of how many people work in a business) that all know his name, what he does, and that he is a nice guy.

Feedback

In the comments, add any other techniques you have used to grow your business through personal relationships.

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Every Wednesday is Personal Development in Business…

It took us a year to figure out what I am about to share with you. I may be a bit of a slow learner, but at least it definitely all makes sense now. For any entrepreneurs out there, here is some advice that may save you the same trouble my partner and I experienced while building our company.

I am partners in a media production agency called Reimagine. We are a two man team. My partner specializes in design and creative direction. I handle the video side, client relations, project management, with a smidgen of content writing thrown in.

Making Our Mark

Our main issue has been in branding Reimagine over the last year. When we first opened, we were lucky enough to get a couple of major jobs right off the bat. However, this caused us to put off building our own image for the time being. It was only recently, this became a top priority for us.

For some reason, it always seems easier to help brand other people’s companies then your own. We tend to do design driven, edgy work, and wanted  to attract medium to large clients who had no problem paying for our talents. Usually that means attracting Agencies. To do so, we wanted to provide a very professional image. We wanted to be like the million dollar companies racking up the clients in our industry. We wanted to convey the impression that we were just like them.

The Reality

The problem is, we were not just like them. In fact, nothing could be further than the truth. Two men in a start-up business is no comparison to a seasoned slew of veterans in a million dollar company, no matter what image we projected. Our website and print media may look like a million dollar company, but after working with us for a a few months, it is apparent we are simply a small talented team.

That’s when my partner and a colleague figured out a better way. The solution they discovered seemed so simple, it was like, why didn’t I think of that? All of a sudden, it all made sense, and we had a concept for our branding. What was the concept?

We are a two man team that is hungry, talented, unique, off the wall, and easily accessible.

In other words, we would just be ourselves. We didn’t need to pretend to be something we were not. Actually, we realized it was quite beneficial for us to relish in the fact we were a small company with less overhead.

We even took it a step further. My partner and I are polar opposites. Whatever he can do well, I can’t, and vice versa. He’s way to the left, and I grew up conservative. It’s what makes us such a well rounded pair. We decided that this would be our identity. We didn’t have to be like the big companies to succeed. We had to just be ourselves and play to our advantages. 

Suddenly the longing for an identity dissipated into thin air. It seems the concept we were searching for was right in front of our eyes all along.

Playing to Your Advantage

I think the original problem we had when looking at our company was we were too focused on where we wanted to be, and not where we were. Building your dream company happens one step at a time, and there are advantages and disadvantages for every step along the way. One of the advantages we were ignoring was the fact that we were a small personable team. We were too concerned with the giant shadow of some of the major players to just simply be ourselves. However, unlike the big wigs, we are extremely adaptable, easily accessible, and also, a bit less expensive. That was our advantage, and that’s the best way to brand ourselves.

For anyone else building their business image, try answering these questions:

• Who are you?
• What do you do best?
• What are the positives for a client that chooses your product or services?

Take the answers to these questions and start from there. No matter who you are, or where you are starting from, I guarantee there is some advantage to your position. You just have to find it. It is amazing, but if you think about it, there are always advantages to every position, from high to low. Just like Poker, it all depends on what your hand is, and how you play it.

Remember, you can not please everyone. However, rest assure that there is a deep pleasure derived from the relief of no longer pretending to be something you are not. Trust me on that.

Feedback

Have any of you had a similar experience with your business? Ever try to project yourself to be something you are not, when in reality, the best option was simply to be yourself? Leave your answeres in the comments below….

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Every Friday is Video Day…

What if I told you you could Pay Off your Mortgage in as little as 8 to 11 years or less, just by doing what you are currently doing, and without any change to your current lifestyle or current cash flow?

This video will show you how. It is not an advertisement. In fact, it is a news report about how a regular person used the bank’s own systems to accelerate his mortgage payment. If you own a home, and have a mortgage, than this is a must see video. I could not believe it when I first saw it, but after a bunch of research I have found that everything in this video is true. Actually, proving it is quite easy, as all you need is know about APRs and how to calculate them.

This video will explain the rest. I could not resist sharing this with you after I saw it. Be warned, this is not magic. You have to have some equity in your how, and make more money than you spend. However, if you meet that criteria, you will be shocked at what you see. This method was discovered in Australia, and has worked for years. It is just the last few years that they started selling software to help figure out the exact amount of time left on your mortgage.

Enjoy. Let me know what you think below! If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and I will do my best to answer them.

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Every Wednesday is Personal Development in Business…

I recently learned an important lesson in business that I’d like to share with you. My partner and I run a website & video production company. We produce design driven media to help companies brand their business online. Our business is highly dependent on team work, and therefore putting the right team together is imperative to each project. Everyone involved in a particular project plays a role, and as the saying goes, you are only as strong as your weakest link.

In order to stay versatile in the web business, it is imperative from time to time to work with contracted outsources. Picking these outsources is where I learned an important lesson. Like many other businesses, we have formed relationships with many different outsources that we feel confident in. However, sometimes, because of the rapid changing technology, you need to go outside your trusted sources. This happened to us a few months ago. We needed a developer specializing in a rather new coding language. So, as the process goes, we put out a job ad, and then checked out the work from the responders. It is evaluating these sources where I learned an important lesson.

Picking your team is critical to success in business…

At first, my partner who handles the majority of the creative decisions, would sift through the work and pick out the most talented and qualified people. After this, we send emails to each of them to get an estimate of both the cost and the time for completion. Then, after we have all of this information, we make a decision on who to meet with. It is during this interview that we decide if we have made the right decision.

The lesson I learned is the order of importance for certain characteristics when selecting who to work with. See, at first, my partner and I, like most people, were all about talent. The more talented the work, the more we wanted to make them a part of our team. Talent is an important part of the creative process, and everyone figures the more talent you have, the better off you are. However, this was our mistake.

Headaches Cost Money…

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation, and only 5 minutes to ruin it.” -Warren Buffett

Talent is not the most important characteristic when building a team. In fact, it is last on the list. Time is money, especially in business. Therefore, the less headaches, the less time spent, and consequently, the more money made. Plus, even more important, is building a relationship with clients. The more headaches for the client, the less likely they are to work with you again. Nothing is worse than having to cover for your team when you know they are wrong. Protect your reputation by choosing the right people to represent your company.

A perfect example of this is last year’s Dallas Cowboys football team. They ignored all external factors when putting together their roster, choosing to go with talent over all else. Their squad was loaded with talented players with questionable character. What happened was the locker room collapsed, the distractions became too many, and they are still dealing with the aftermath from this season. They sold their soul and now they are desperate to get it back.

Anytime you work in a team, it is the culmination of that team’s effort that makes a project successful. It is never just one talented individual, no matter how it may seem. Everyone plays their role, whether it’s a success, or a failure. To help you get the most out of your team, I have come up with a priority list to refer to when judging candidates. Whether outsources, employees, or just a 5th member of your local basketball pick up team, this short list will help you make the right decision.

Top 4 Characteristics for Picking Team Players

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1. Professionalism

The key to quality and efficiency is professionalism. This is defined as a person who understands they are part of a business and therefore acts in a professional manner. They understand what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. They help out with client relations by providing honest feedback, quick responses, and by meeting deadlines. In short, their professionalism makes your job easier. Even though they are not representing your business, they act as if they are.

2. Relationship Builders

A good team player thinks long term. They understand that one project can be the beginning of a beneficial relationship for both parties. Good team players will ask about the project, give their professional input, and list their price for services. Individuals will give demands, worry about themselves, and think short term. If the person starts to ask questions about personal goals, benefits, or rewards, then you may have to move on. These types focus only on the single project and how it affects the now. Long term team players worry about building a relationship. I have found businesses, even one person shops, understand the importance of relationship building better than the work-starved freelancers eager desperate to pay their bills.

3. Experience

Nothing makes working with someone easier than experience. Experience means they have learned from their mistakes, and can even add to your experience. Nothing makes life easier than have someone to work with who has experience doing what you need them too. It gives you confidence in their abilities. This confidence makes life easier, because you will spend less time questioning if what they say is accurate. Simply put, you know they’ve been there, done that, and therefore they can do it again.

4. Talent

Talent is important, but it takes a back seat to these characteristics. Don’t get caught up in the wow factor of someone’s work. Take it into consideration, but look past the glitz and glamour. Remember, no team is dependent on one person to carry them. A team is only as good as the sum of its parts. Adding talent to one part of a team is useless if it is going to drain the talent from other parts of the team.

Comment Below

What characteristics do you find essential to building the right team?

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Every Wednesday is Personal Development in Business…

Unless you are living under a rock, I’m sure you are aware of the historic day that took place yesterday. Barack Obama was sworn in as our 44th president of the U.S.A. Stepping aside from our own political views, you can not help but like this man. It is undeniable that he is a natural born leader, regardless of what you think he will do as our President.

This country has been desperate for a leader to guide it into the information age, and to connect with the exploding youth of today. It appears for now that we have found what we have been looking for.

As a business owner, there are many things to learn from Barack Obama. Being a business owner is like leading a very small country in your own right. You do not have all the answers. You are not always going to be right. There are many different opinions on what is right and wrong, and there is also a balance of keeping everyone involved relatively happy.

However, watching President Obama make it look easy yesterday, I thought long and hard about his approach. I believe that is why he is such a magnetic individual. His personality resonates with everyone because he speaks from the heart. We believe, whether wrong or right, he has our best interest in mind.

Inspired by watching this natural born leader during the inauguration, here are…

7 tips to make you a better business owner.

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1) Being right is less important than doing what’s right.

Work with your team. Sure, you can have an opinion or a firm belief, but being a leader is about listening to those around you, not just pretending to.

2) Know your limits

President Obama made it clear that he can only do so much. It is up to each one of us to help guide this country to a better place. He put the challenge on us to be accountable for our actions.

3) Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.

Being a great leader means knowing when it’s your turn to follow. Sometimes, a person beneath you may have a better plan. A good leader recognizes this, and understands that sometimes you lead by following others.

4) You catch more bees with honey.

As a business owner, just like a President, you can have many enemies. Some are even in your own camp. However, it is how you handle these disputes that conveys your leadership ability to others. Do not overreact and try to make each issue a case of right and wrong. Listen to your enemies, and challenge them not with words or power, but with your example. You may find an enemy becomes a great ally.

5) Take it one challenge at a time

Imagine being President Obama right now. He faces some of the toughest challenges any president has ever had to. The same can be true for a new business owner. Try not to get caught up in the pressure. Simply handle each challenge one at a time, and take it from there. You can not fix everything in one day, so no need to try.

6) It is okay to be Human.

President Obama did not come out and claim to know everything, have all the answers, or prove he is smarter than everyone else. Instead, he let his humanity show and that is what drew us all to him. We are all human, no matter how hard we try to be perfect robots. It’s okay to show our humanity. We all make mistakes, and a business owner, or the President of the U.S.A. is no exception. Admit it when you make a mistake, and take the pressure off of everyone else afraid to do so.

7) Don’t worry about the haters.

Haters to me are people who have not been able to get things in their own life to go right. Therefore, they hate on everyone else trying to accomplish the things they could not. It is most important to believe in yourself, no matter what those around you say. If you believe you can change the world, than you sure as hell have a chance of doing so. Look no further than a man named Barack Hussein Obama for your inspiration.

Now it’s your turn. In the comments section, add some other ways President Obama may have inspired you….

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Every Wednesday is Personal Development in Business…

The other night, I was lucky to catch the Ridley Scott classic, Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe, on TV. I have the DVD, but it is one of those films I have a hard time turning off whenever I see it. For those that have not seen it (rent it now!), the movie is about a man who has everything taken from him and is forced to fight as a gladiator. It is there that he attains his revenge.

As I was watching the movie for the umpteenth time, it got me thinking about my business. In the movie, the one thing that Russell Crowe does best is fight. He starts out as one of Rome’s most celebrated generals, and ends as its most renowned Gladiator.  No matter what happened in his life, when it came down to a fight, he was right at home. However, after his son and wife were murdered, he is ready to give up fighting for anything anymore. He finds it pointless until he realizes the best way to achieve his revenge is by doing what he does best.

The Business Arena

In the business world, especially in today’s tough times, it can be hard to reach our necessary goals. I know that I have been building a company with my partner for a year, and we learn new things every day. There are numerous opportunities out there for us to make money with our talents. My partner is an incredible web designer, and I have been writing & producing videos for over 10 years.  Between the two of us, there are numerous ways for us to earn a living. Because of this, it can get confusing some times. We have created commercials, websites, and print media for all types of businesses. When someone wants to pay you for your services, it can be hard to say no.

However, that is not a gladiator. A gladiator is born and bred to do one thing, and that is fight. His life, though full of danger, is very simple. He has to be the best fighter he can be. He does not need to know anything else except how to handle his weapon of choice in the arena. That is all he needs to concentrate on.

The same goes for business. My partner and I have always had a niche for the martial arts, entertainment & music industries. It is what we enjoy doing because we enjoy mixing edgy graphics with great functionality. We love music, entertainment, and martial arts. So when a project comes along that fits that bill, are true talents naturally surface. It is as if we are in the arena slaying all of the client’s competition. We are at home.

When we get other projects that we are capable of doing, but does not fit our forte, we have not been as successful. Sure, the clients have been happy, and they got what they desired, but it is us that never feels satisfied. In other industries, our work is less enjoyable. Being that it is creative work, the enjoyment factor plays a major role in the project’s outcome.

Do What You Do Best

Just like Russell Crowe’s character, no matter what our goal is, there is only one way we are going to get there. That is by focusing on our strengths and doing what we do best. A Gladiator does not worry about the Senate, or try to figure out how to build a better arena. He does not worry about the crowd’s looking on, or the politics of the land he is in. All he worries about is the opponent(s), and doing his best to beat them.

The same exact thing needs to be applied to your business. For my partner and I, it took us a little while to realize this. All of the projects we could make money on, but did not fit our forte, wound up becoming headaches. They lacked the enjoyment necessary to put our passion into the work. We were more than capable of doing them, but that does not mean we needed to. Even though money can be tight in the first year of any business, it is not the profit that makes you money in the years to come. It is the work and service that you provide.

Just like a gladiator, it is the reputation you build that brings on real success.

Slaying the Competition

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For those of you with your own business, think of it as being in the arena. There are many weapons you can use. Which one fits you best? Take that weapon and master it. Don’t worry about learning to use every weapon out there. Become a master of one, and build from there. Over the course of your career, the opponents will change all the time. Some will be big and strong, others small and fast, but you must be ready for all. You must know that whatever opponent comes out of the gate does not matter. This is what you do. This is what makes you who you are.

Unlike a gladiator, money plays a big role in any business. Paying the bills is the top priority, so sometimes it can feel as if you need to take those jobs out of your realm. You may have to. I am not going to tell you to just forget about your bills. However, those jobs will only accomplish a single objective: making money. They will not help build your reputation, they will not be easy, and they will take more time because your passion will be lacking. At the beginning, it can seem making that money is a good thing, but once you dive into the project, you will likely find a different story. You may even be wasting time instead of finding the work that will help build your reputation.

When to Walk Away

When I used to do mortgages, it was the same story. There are many different mortgages out there (at least there used to be). There were refinances, FHA, VA, purchases, FHA streamlines, option ARMS, ARMS, and reverse mortgages. As long as I had the proper license, I could easily do anyone of those. Throw in the 50 states, and now there were so many options, your head could spin. When I first started I was so happy to get a lead, I did not care what kind of mortgage it was. However, my first boss gave me a classic piece of advice good for any business…

“In this business, it is not the deals you get, but the ones you walk away from that make you successful.”

What he meant was that each loan that I had no experience in was going to take twice as long. Sure I would make money, but if you coupled that with the time it took to figure out the process, and the fact that my customer service would be worse because of my lack of experience, you soon understood what he meant. The key to making money in mortgages was concentrating on whatever loans you did best. If you were a pro at refinances in NJ, then do not worry about a purchase in Pennsylvania, or an FHA streamline in Florida. The ratio of time to profit would not be worth your while.

So the next time the opportunity comes for you to make money in something that is not your forte, think of the Gladiator. Think of that Gladiator trying to make money by leading the Senate, or becoming a salesman. Think of how silly a Senator would look in Gladiator garb, walking around the Senate. Think of the time they would be wasting while they could simply be at home in the arena, slaying the competition they are so familiar with.

Remember, just like a gladiator, it is not the money, but rather the reputation you are building that will ultimately take you anywhere you want to go.

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