Networking Journal

November 7, 2009 — bodybydesign

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Table of Contents:

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Building Structure:

MLM Startup:

Govt Issues:

Industry:

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Just Because

November 6, 2009 — bodybydesign

What one word can get people to say “Yes”?

Noah J. Goldstein, PhD, Steve J. Martin, and Robert B. Cialdini, PhD write this in their book (Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive):

“But is it possible that just a single word from a requester could drastically increase the likelihood that you’d say, “Yes, go ahead”?

Yes–and the single word is because.  Behavioral scientist Ellen Langer and her colleagues decided to put the persuasive power of this word to the test.  In one study, Langer arranged fro a stranger to approach someone waiting in line to use a photocopier and simple ask, “Excuse me, I have five pages.  May I use the Xerox machine?”  Faced with this direct request to cut ahead in the line, 60 percent of the people were willing to agree to allow the stranger to go ahead of them.  However, when the stranger made the request with a reason (“May I use the Xerox machine, because I’m in a rush?”), almost everyone (94 percent) complied.  This kind of boost may not seem very surprising.  After all, providing a solid reason for the request justifies asking to jump ahead.

The Xerox study demonstrates the unique motivational influence of the word because.  The word gets its persuasive power from the continually reinforced association over the course of our lives between because and the good rationales that typically follow….”

It’s a powerful word so don’t forget to use it–just because I said so!

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Tooting Your Own Horn

November 1, 2009 — bodybydesign

Third Party Credibility has much to do with Horn Tooting and eliminates sounding boastful by tooting our own horn.

A strong leader gives credibility (speaks life) to all those sponsored into Network Marketing (no matter their pin or skill level).

Noah J. Goldstein, PhD, Steve J. Martin, and Robert B. Cialdini, PhD write this in their book (Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive):

“One option is to get someone else to speak on your behalf.  This approach has been widely accepted by speakers, authors, performers, and other public communicators for many years…”

Research has shown how effective it is on phone introductions:  “Oh, rentals, you need to speak to Judy, who has over fifteen years’ experience renting properties in this neighborhood.  Let me put you through now.”

“I’m going to put you through to Sheldon, our head of sales.  Sheldon has twenty years of experience selling properties; in fact, he recently sold a property very similar to yours.”

Reciprocity is a two-way street so play close attention to the tactics used by your sponsor. Be sure and team up with a sponsor that “toots your horn.”

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Blog Effectiveness

October 31, 2009 — bodybydesign

Blogs are a great way to explore (experiment) with the Internet Environment.

As of this time this particular blog has 80,014 hits (that’s small) but I don’t mention or advertise the blog because it’s my journal and only indirectly will it spill over into our business with totally new people.  I have not designed this blog specifically to be a Marketing Tool.

What does this blog do for me?  It allows me to experiment with those articles and headlines that appear to be effective and those that are totally ineffective. I also vent some of my personal views on this blog.  In other words, it’s part of my scientific platform. WordPress is great.  I think Blogger is good too but it’s not as flexible to me as WordPress as a free environment.

Please don’t go out and pay money to start a blog unless you really understand what you are doing on the Internet!

You may try that because you have read books by so-called experts. I’ve read tons of them and I go back a year latter to find that their website/blog no longer exists or I go to their blog to find that they have no traffic.  Just like the smoke and mirrors of a so-called “heavy hitter” in Network Marketing–where have they gone after (10) years–can’t seem to find them?  That’s the point in experimenting.  Unless you have tons of money to waste I suggest the scientific approach.  My wife has tons of traffic on Facebook (so it’s easy to get opinions on that platform too) but so far it’s just traffic (noise) but very useful for her (she’s a social being).

Network Marketing is still a face to face business for many of us but the Internet is a wonderful tool so learn to use it.

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Strong Action Plan

October 30, 2009 — bodybydesign

Fear of loss should be accompanied by a strong action plan.

Most salespeople know that “Fear of Loss” is more effective than “Promise of Gain.” However, there is a problem if we don’t present our products as a strong solution to the problem.

Noah J. Goldstein, PhD, Steve J. Martin, and Robert B. Cialdini, PhD write this in their book (Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive):

“Health care professionals and public service communicators should also be aware of the implications of this research.  Physicians or nurses who wish to persuade an overweight patient to lose weight and exercise more often should focus that patient on the potential dangers of failing to lose weight, but only if they follow up that message with some clear, straightforward steps the patient can take to do so–perhaps in the form of a specific diet and a specific set of exercises.  Simply pointing out that he or she is at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes if no weight is lost might only serve to instill fear and denial in a patient.  In the case of public service officials, merely painting a gruesome picture of impact of dangerous behavior, such as smoking, having unprotected sex, and drunk driving, may also be ineffective–or even potentially backfire–if unaccompanied by a good plan of action.”

Medical Doctors that don’t understand nutrition drive our business.  Why?  Because they don’t have good solutions or action plans for patients.

I remember well the story of a lady that lost over (200) pounds being advised by her doctor that she was in a dire situation if she didn’t lose weight.  The only problem was that the MD couldn’t tell her how to lose the weight.  People in the nutrition field understand that medical doctors have few (if any) courses in nutrition.  If they can’t cut the problem out, or kill it with a strong drug, they don’t have solutions (that’s why they are at odds with preventive medicine and PhDs in nutrition).  Also, since diets don’t work, overweight people lose hope because they have tried everything they know to do.

Therefore, we paint our nutritional products as a solution (along with exercise and calorie reduction) because we do have a solution.  If the body receives high quality nutrition (not a diet) it will fill in the nutritional gaps and the “smart system” or body will do the rest.  Diets (skipping meals and not getting proper nutrition) don’t work because our metabolism slows down and the body retains fat when it is “being starved.”  Also, the body begins to cannibalize muscle–needs protein–to stay strong and not look flabby.  That’s just how the body works!

If you can’t give someone a simple plan of action you are probably wasting their time and yours!

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Audit the Fed

October 29, 2009 — bodybydesign

Do you think it is strange that congress cannot even get an audit of the Federal Reserve Banks?  Isn’t it their responsibility to have oversight?

The central banking system, controlled by the Federal Reserve Banks, was created by the Federal Reserve Act December 23, 1913.

It’s amazing that very few people understand where our money comes from and those in control of creating currency (legal tender).  Many people think that our government prints the money which is the smaller portion of legal tender.  Actually, money is created by debt as a bookkeeping entry (out of thin air) due to fractional-reserve banking and control by the Federal Reserve Banking system.  When you sign a debt agreement for a car, house, credit card, and other loans money is created in the closed loop banking system.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could create your own money and then charge interest on it–including the government (Federal, State, and Local)? You would go to jail but Banksters don’t.

Because of compound interest, charged on thin air, this is the greatest ponzi scheme (house of cards) ever created that will not be sustainable over the long run without a collapse (bankruptcy) correction.  What will you buy with worthless money?  Wealth is not destroyed it is just transferred.  Audit the Fed because we will then see the necessity to take back control of the money.

“Give me the right to issue and control a nation’s money and I care not who governs the country.” Meyer Amschal Rothschild, International banker

“In God We Trust – Jesus Saves and Banksters Withdraw.”

“It’s a proprietary strategy.  I can’t go into it in great detail” Bernard Madoff, Barron’s May 7, 2001

Posted in Govt Issues. Leave a Comment »

Your Team

October 28, 2009 — bodybydesign

Get your senior team right

In the book 1000 CEOs, written by Andrew Davidson, these comments were written by Marjan Bolmeijer:

“CEOs must understand the need and have the skills to work on their senior team.  They must not take the attitude that their team is what it is, and cannot be improved upon; nor must they work on the team and then be too easily satisfied by a small amount of improvement.  Failing to work on the senior team often means that the CEO is left with a team that is far less efficient or productive than it could be:  they may compete against each other; rarely agree with all the elements of the strategic direction or plan; or be great at championing change but bad at changing themselves.  These issues make it much more difficult to get things done.  So it makes sense to take the time to focus on getting the senior team dynamic right, whether through training, internal resource allocation, replacements, or managing politics.  There are a lot of criteria that feed into the functional dynamic of the senior team and CEOs need to be sensitive to them all.  It is tough but it is worth it, as research suggests that a team that works well together, no matter how diverse its make-up, has a beneficial effect on operational performance.”

Let’s look at the flip side…

Everything that this CEO is evaluating his senior team on (according to CEO coach Marjan Bolmeijer) should be the same criteria to evaluate him or her.  Have you ever taken a job you just didn’t feel right about?  How long is it going to take you to correct that mistake?  Are you really going to go up in an organization where the CEO is a poor fit for you! Are you really going to change who you are? Are you going to be in the inner circle?

If not, please don’t make the mistake of joining that organization.  It’s not wise to bet that a poor quality CEO will leave before you do and if he does then what?  A new CEO will want their own team–so go find a good fit fast.

On a leadership call today Andy Andrews was talking about Bill Polian the President of the Indianapolis Colts (the person that had the wisdom to pick Peyton Manning).  Polian has a long history of taking unsuccessful teams and making them very successful.  Were the players, coaches (senior management) bad?  No, there needed to be a CEO change and Bill Polian was that change.  Who’s in the “drivers seat?”

You are the CEO of your own company.

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I am the Decider

October 26, 2009 — bodybydesign

Getting tired of authority figures?

If you like to read a lot you pick up a book that appears authoritative enough (has an interesting title, PhD credentials, great endorsers, etc.) and half way through the book you are asking yourself:  “Why am I reading this book?”

Many of us realize that people often publish in order to gain credibility in their chosen career (not to make money on a book).  The credibility is that they wrote this book–I’m an authority figure.  Unfortunately, we may not be getting any real benefit from their book.  I often read completely through a book to at least get that “one idea” that makes the book worthwhile.  What a let down when we can hardly even find one thing that makes the book valuable (picked another winner).

Listen to some so-called journalist in the news media belittling the information online.  You can’t trust it.  It doesn’t adhere to journalistic standards and so on (while they read their script from a teleprompter with no idea about the validity of their material).  It’s probably a pack of lies.

We hear the same tired lines, opinions, etc. over and over again.  People actually believe this stuff! Go online and find an author that enjoys their work, enjoys their subject, and has enthusiasm (perhaps even a strong opinion or so) and enjoy.  If we learn anything in life it is that everyone has an opinion (right or wrong) and authority figures don’t make those opinions “truth.”

In fact, I’m becoming cynical enough I’m starting to believe that a lot of so-called historical facts are really fiction and were fabricated by the author (no matter their credentials) or those in power–the authorities.

Live your own life in your own world because it’s much more fun and interesting that way and question everything!

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Home Based Business

October 23, 2009 — bodybydesign

How can our government promote “Home Based Business?”

Why should government promote home based businesses? Look at the gas used to get people back and forth to cubicles.  It’s like herding cattle twice each day.  If you look at cities like Atlanta and DFW (where mass transit is not used) we wonder how much fuel could be saved if those massive traffic jams were missing because people are telecommuting instead?

Not too many years back our forefathers lived on farms and didn’t experience massive traffic jams.  Also, if you look at history books, you will see that many cities had mass transit (electric cable cars like San Francisco) before the introduction of the automobile.  Look at various profitable industries (like electric cars) that were abandoned because of gas automobiles and airplanes.  As we know, most airlines are broke or on their way to being broke (besides being controlled by terror legislation making it anti-customer).  How could government speed up and promote this back to the future trend.  People could invest in their own business instead of too big to fail ponzi schemes that make the people at the top in Corp. America mega rich.

Some argue that working out of the home is not productive and isolates people.  Contrary to that idea we see people networking online and meeting friends and customers.  Many home based business require that people “get out” on occasion.  In fact, my wife and I see more of our country, and people,  than we ever saw working for Corp. America.  I hypothesize that cubicles are not healthy places to be mentally of physically.

Manhattan is an exception to many cities.  Many of these people live and work in the same area.  In fact, many are healthier because they walk a lot.  Admittedly, there are many commuters but they don’t drive cars.

Legislators need to start eliminating tax laws that hinders home based business and business travel for those people who need to travel to other parts of the country and the world.  If we look at how we work it will automatically adjust how we commute reducing our carbon footprint.

Legislators need to promote to the “Nth degree” home based business.  As an example, favorable health insurance legislation is a huge step in the right direction.

I know, politicians are controlled by “robber barons” and will tend to move in other directions but the citizens will get their fill and begin to take back control (we hope). We need voices so be a voice.

Posted in Govt Issues. Leave a Comment »

Be Nice

October 16, 2009 — bodybydesign

Do you remember your mom telling you as a child:  “Be Nice!”

There’s a good reason to be nice to people and one of them is the comment we hear from people all the time:  “It’s a small world.”  At some point it’s payback time.

That statement applies to the Health Insurance Industry, Wall Street Banks, and Politicians.  At some level, people don’t forget and they do get even.

When it comes to doing business with people would you like to be in the spotlight like health insurance companies are now?  The fact that people feel you purposefully kill your customers and their family members.  I know that’s true of me because I fully blame them for my sister’s death from cancer.  The way they did business with her, and delayed necessary treatment and so on, caused her death in the opinion of my family.  While we may forgive do you think my family will forget?  Multiply my family by thousands of families.

I think that in many respects the politicians have brought about change.  What’s the change?  The transparency of lobbyist on K-Street has been in the spotlight and the fact that we have a one party system (the “good old boy” system).  Isn’t it high time to vote out of office “all incumbents” that have been around for decades and have had time to make positive changes?  Don’t think they haven’t been getting emails for years. Will people forget the politicians that have put their interest over the people?  I don’t think so because the spotlight has been too illuminating and transparent  to the average person.

Chris Brogan and Julien Smith write this in their book Trust Agents:

“… social capital is different from other kinds of capital.  When people come together and share a meal, they not only end up fed, they also become tighter as a group.  The mere act of gathering means that they will exchange things–stories, favors, and laughs–and will grow richer as a result.  It may sound touchy-feely, but these things have real value.  And we don’t just mean that they keep you warm on a cold winter night, either; we mean they have real value, as in ‘you can take it to the bank’ value.  But how?

It’s simple:  Jokes aren’t the only form of social capital; favors are, too.  Buying somebody a cup of coffee is a real exchange of value, and it can at some point be repaid.  You can never truly be sure how, but the fact that it can be repaid is unquestionable:  You can ask for that cup of coffee back one day.  Just think of your favorite television cop drama and how often the phrase ‘you owe me a favor’ is uttered.  These things are real.”

I think they’ve used up a lot of their capital don’t you?

“The best thing about telling the truth is you never have to think about what to say.” Mark Twain

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