Build Good Habits

Build Good Habits

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore,
is not an act but a habit.”. ~Aristotle

When examining our personal/business goals, it is equally important to bring our daily habits into question. What habits have we built that will aid in our success? What habits will keep us from achieving our goals? What habits do we need to develop to bring a positive change in our life?

I am amazed by how many people (fellow marketers and home based business owners) I run into that actually believe that they can get rich quick without putting in the investment of time & hard work. Many are too ‘busy’ (or too lazy) to slow down, focus on training, and work a business day in and day out. They haven’t counted the cost of what it takes to achieve their dreams.

To these people, I must pose the question: Do athletes win a race on sheer good intentions? No! They build good habits of training their bodies with daily, strenuous exercise, eating right, and staying focused on the goal. They know that the end result will require sacrifice. And yet they are determined to reach the prize because they firmly believe that it will be worth it in the end.

The same holds true for business people. When we set our goals, we should ask ourselves, ‘What is the cost? What am I going to need to sacrifice to get there? What habits will I build a day at a time to make my dreams a reality?’

Some ‘good’ habits that you should build:
1. Time management & Organization: This is something I have to daily work at. I am a people person & can get caught up in the daily phone calls to collegues each day. I’ve learned that I have to actually bulid a ‘to do list’ on my computer, so that I can visually see each task I need to complete, and see it crossed off as I go about my day. It gives me a sense of relief that I’m managing my time & getting things accomplished…I’m not just shooting in the dark. In addition, keeping appointments, and letting those that I’m on the phone with know how much time I have to talk keeps the converstaion focused and on task.

2. Watch the Company you Keep: If you hang around negative people all day, chances are you will end up having muddled, negative thinking yourself. That old saying ‘tell me who you run with and I’ll tell you who you are’ holds so much truth. I really have to limit my conversations with complainers. I make the choice to work with people who are positive, encouraging, and headed in the same direction: helping others and acheiving their goals. I don’t have time for pity parties, people who criticize, or people who simply limit themselves with small thinking. I’m careful not to share my goals/dreams with those types of people. Instead, I constantly pick the brains of those who have gone before me & found success. I ask them what they did that worked & try to implement some of their tools/tips with what I’m doing. Bottom line: if you want to fly with the eagles, don’t hang out with turkeys!

3. Make short/long term goals and reassess them as you go: Goals are definitely a road map to success. They need to be realistic, be tied to a time schedule, and be WRITTEN DOWN. The research shows that those that write down their goals are the ones that achieve more. Another important aspect of goals is reviewing them each day, reassessing whether or not the time constraints are reasonable, and adjusting your course of action based on your goals. If you aren’t getting closer to achieving, then you may need to make some changes to what you’re doing. Perhaps something you use to do worked better. It’s not always about working harder, but working SMARTER.

I’ll give you an example:
Sometimes I get out of balance when I immerse myself in learning a new internet business tool. I get so into it, that I forget the other techniques I was using to get leads/accelerate my business…the techniques that worked for me. Instead of chasing several rabbits, so to speak, you may want to focus on a few and MASTER THEM. For me, it is video marketing, doing IBuzz Pro blasts a few times a month, training those in my down line so that they can duplicate what I am donig. Master what works for you, and keep implementing it daily. If you focus, work it hard, and stay consistent, the $ will follow.

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day! Look at each day as an opportunity to do small, but effective things that will further your business. Don’t sit in complacency or stress out by trying to do too much at a time. Take the time to organize yourself, set/assess your goals, keep a positive mindset, and work with diligence! You will enjoy reaping the benefits of what you have sown! God bless!

Mark Stephens
http://www.ilovethisrecession.com
http://www.5ktrainer.com

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Feb 16, 2011 | 1 comment | View Post
Some Business Advice to Live By

Some Business Advice to Live By

‘If your thinking is sloppy, your business will be sloppy. If you are disorganized, your business will be disorganized. If you are greedy, your empoyees will be greedy, giving you less and less of themselves and always asking for more.’
Michael Gerber

This quote is incredibly powerful…so much wisdom wrapped in such a small package! If we payed attention to these 3 key elements highlighted in this short text, our business lives would change for the better! So what are three areas Mr. Gerber so eloquently touched on?

1. Mind Set- “If your thinking is sloppy, your business will be sloppy…”- Do you start your day without a plan of action or goal in mind? I know from listening to Zig Zigglar & some major hitters in the marketing world, that WRITING OUT your list of goals is a must! In fact, I encourage others I work with to not only write out their goals, but also to post them on a mirror, verbalize them, visualize them in your mind. Our mind is our worst enemy! We need to train it & make sure we start each day on a positive foot. I like to come into my day in prayer & meditation on God’s Word as well…bringing my mind into submission. It gives me a completely different outlook when I transform my mind.

Are you surrounding yourself with positive people? That’s another downfall people run into. I talk to a number of people on the phone that have a passion & a zeal to learn how to market online with my team, who later fall off the face of the earth. They stop returning my calls & I later find out that their passion fizzled, and they decided to drop out. What happened along the way? I can pretty much guess they shared their excitement with someone close to them who brought their zeal to a halt with a little bit of negativity. Guard who you share business ideas with & make sure you keep positive company!

2. Get Organized- “If you are disorganized, your business will be disorganized…”- Organization is not my strongest suit, I must admit. I am great at writing out my goals & reaching new levels as a visionary/entrepreneur. However, organization has been a learning curve. I am seeing the fruits of coming into my day with a well-developed plan though. I think one of the most practical & focusing activities of my day is sitting down & making a To-Do List & following it through. I’m still learning, but I know organization is something I will always strive for…to make my business more and more successful & efficient.

3. Don’t Let $$$ Rule You- “If you are greedy, your employees will be greedy, giving you less and less of themselves, and always asking for more.” I can really relate to this part of Mr. Gerber’s quote. I’ve seen greed steal so much joy & success from potentially great businesses. It’s very important to live each day with an attitude of gratitude & to remember that your #1 goal is to HELP OTHERS. If you make it about yourself, or your pocketbook, you will never be satisfied. The old saying, ‘He who loves money will never have enough’ is so true! If all you care about in business is the dollar, that show through in your actions towards others. In turn, those under you will have the same attitude & it will end up being an endless cycle of using others. Remember that you only keep that which you give away.

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Nov 14, 2010 | 7 comments | View Post
5K Inner Circle: Taking it to the NEXT LEVEL

5K Inner Circle: Taking it to the NEXT LEVEL

EXCITING NEWS!!! Team Mark and Jerry are taking it to the next level! For those of you that are familiar with us & have joined us on our weekly team calls (Tues. nights 6 pm Pacific/ 9pm Eastern), you know our dedication to serve marketers. We have been providing training to business owners on how to market on-line, how to dominate the search engines, how to close sales, etc.

We now are going one step further & are closing people’s sales for them! What other on-line marketing team will do that for you? This is cutting edge! If you’re interested, check us out at: www.5kman.com.

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Oct 19, 2010 | 3 comments | View Post
Mentorship in Marketing

Mentorship in Marketing

Mentorship in Marketing: Do You Have a Mentor?

‘A wise man will hear & increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.’ ~Proverbs 1:5

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life & my career, it’s that having a mentor is crucial to one’s success. How are you going to learn & grow if you don’t have someone to gain wisdom from? Along my journey, I’ve found several people that have acted as a mentor in one way or another (sometimes even when they were unaware of it). In marketing, I’ve gained a wealth of wisdom from individuals such as Stephen Pierce, my good friend, Ivan Harris, and my business partner, Jerry Maurer. We all have different strengths, talents, and experiences that we share & draw from each other.

Mentoring in Marketing: So how do you find a good mentor?

Marketing

The Right Mentor Will Inspire You!

I have narrowed down 4 key components that make up a great trainer:

1. Find someone who won’t put you in the ‘Witness Protection Program.‘ What I mean by this is, be cautious of self-proclaimed ‘gurus’ on the internet who want nothing more than to take your $ and run! I’ve been there, done that. When you have someone pursuing you to close the sale, and then you don’t hear from them (or have trouble contacting them), you know that is NOT a quality mentor. They are more concerned with selfish gain, than with aiding you in your own success. Stay away! Research, research, research each mentor you’re considering & go with the one that has the most ‘added value’- according to who they’ve helped.

2. Find someone with a COMPATIBLE PERSONALITY. Not everyone jives, or has the same outlook on life. Even if a trainer has a wealth of information, if you’re not on the same page as them (personality wise), it’s not going to work. With Team Mark & Jerry, there are some team members who feel more comfortable working closely with Jerry than myself…and visa versa. Do I take offense that they prefer Jerry in some cases? No! I encourage people to find a trainer/mentor who fits their own personality. There’s nothing worse than trying to work with a person that you bump heads with!

3. Find a Mentor who will invest at least 2 hours a week into helping you succeed! Is this mentor you’re considering too busy to meet with you weekly (via phone, internet, or whatever means necessary)? If the answer is yes, save your money! It’s crucial that you have a mentor who can evaluate where you are in your learning, encourage and train you in your weakest areas, and keep you accountable on your progress & goals. That is what good teachers do! They don’t simply take your $, throw out information, & move on without checking back to see if you’re succeeding!

4. Find a Marketing Mentor who knows how & can teach you how to DOMINATE the Search Engines & BRAND YOURSELF! With business today, internet marketing is the way to make $$$. It is crucial to learn how to get on top of the Search Engines (Yahoo, Google, YouTube, etc…). You want to know how to brand yourself in your industry if you want to take your business to the next level!

Mentorship in Marketing: Are You Ready?

Now that we’ve touched on finding a mentor, let’s focus on YOU. After all, it takes 2 to Tango! You can’t expect a mentor to do all the work! Success is also going to be based on what you DO with the information you’ve learned! Here are 3 questions you need to ask yourself:

1. Are you TEACHABLE? So many people will defensively answer ‘yes.’ Take the time to really think this through. Are you humble enough to admit that you need help? Are you willing to absorb new information from someone who has already traveled the road you’re on? This may seem like a no-brainer to you, but I cannot tell you how many times I’ve listened to those I’m training, and told them what adjustments they need to make, only to hear, ‘I don’t know…I like doing it this way instead.’ Really? If you already have attained success in your business, why did you call me? I’ve learned that I can only help those who genuinely WANT to helped. They have to be willing to step out of their comfort zones, and follow the instructions I give.

2. Are you ready to TAKE ACTION? Sam Ewig said it best when he stated, ‘Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.’ You cannot take information and then refuse to put it into action. Building a successful business does NOT happen overnight & it will take a lot of energy and hard work. You have to decide whether you are just going to talk the talk, or if your willing to WALK THE WALK!

3. Are you DISCIPLINED? In MLM businesses, I run into countless individuals who jump from business to business. In fact, I get exhausted listening to so many new pitches daily…people wanting to recruit me into their ‘new, cutting edge opportunity.’ How will you ever know if something works, if you only put it into action for a short time? Again, you can’t have the ‘get rich quick’ mentality & expect everything to come easily to you. There are times you are going to feel exhausted, intimidated, doubtful, emotional…the list goes on and on! You have to be determined to stay the course & reap the long term benefits. Remember what Aristotle declared: ‘We are what we REPEATEDLY DO. Excellence then, is not an act but a HABIT.’

In a nutshell, marketing in this economy is not a small task. If you want to bring your business to the peak of success, you must find mentors to help you along the way…people who are willing to walk alongside you & train you in your business. In turn, you must be teachable, put your learning to action, and be disciplined to follow through repeatedly.

If you are interested in a team of Internet Marketing Mentors, check out my websites: www.teammarkandjerry.com
www.5ktrainer.com God bless you!

Mark Stephens, Marketing Mentor

Marketing Your Business

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Oct 06, 2010 | 7 comments | View Post
Customer Service

Customer Service

Is it just me, or does it seem like today’s ‘Customer Service’ lacks the focus on…well, customers? This is evident to me every time I have to contact my phone campany’s Customer Service line. I am told “We are sorry, but because of the large volume of phone calls received, your wait time to speak to a representative is 1 billion minutes.” Then, I get the pleasure of listening to whatever random elevator music they have, while trying to stay positive about losing out on precious business time. Once I reach an actual human on the other line, I am then transferred because it’s not the ‘right department.’ On some occasions, I’m even cut off from a mishap during the transferring, and the cycle starts all over again.

Thankfully, nothing goes to waste if you just look at every situation as a lesson to be learned. The lesson I’ve learned is that Customer Service is key to building a solid business! My desire is that my customers will look back and remember a positive feeling after having worked with me. I hope they feel more like an individual than a number in line.

So, how do you provide great customer service? For starters, don’t pass the buck when someone needs help! It’s ok sometimes to say, “I’m not sure about that, but I will give you a call (give them a time & day) after I do some research on that.” Don’t just leave it at that. Go, do your homework, find the best way to help your customer, and FOLLOW UP on it! Call them when you said you would…don’t be a flake! Your word & action will build your reputation…and a good reputation is to be valued above wealth!

Another simple way to better your customer service is to shift your frame of mind! Each day, remind yourself that your purpose for business is to HELP OTHERS. Don’t look at people like a dollar sign or an irritating obstacle. Remember that your business would not exist without the people you’re serving! Simply go by The Golden Rule…it’s simple, but very wise. Treat others the way YOU want to be treated…you can’t go wrong.

In addition, I believe customers appreciate simple guestures, such as a phone call to check in & see how they are doing. Use that opportunity to show that you didn’t just put them in a ‘sign up club,’ but that you remember them, are willing to train them, and are thankful for them. Since I have been very busy training, I have a wonderful marketing friend that is doing follow-up for Team Mark & Jerry…his name is Ivan Harris. Ivan is a jewel & his personal phone calls to my customers have built so much value to my business. I cannot express how important follow-up is!

Thank you cards also leave a lasting impression. Remember, people may not remember what you say, but they will remember the way you made them feel. My business partner, Jerry Maurer, sent me a personalized thank you card with a picture of his beautiful family months ago, but I still remember thinking, “Wow! How awesome that he took the time to brighten my day!” Remember to slow down & take a few minutes to uplift those who you serve.

To sum it up, GOOD Customer Service is what this world needs! Are you serving others and treating them as valued clients, or do you simply look at them as cash in your pocketbook? Make it a priority to answer their questions, follow up on their progress, and show them that they are valuable. It will bring your business to a whole new level!

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Sep 20, 2010 | 30 comments | View Post
NO Quitters Allowed!

NO Quitters Allowed!

Passion and zeal followed by burn out and complacency. I see it all the time as an internet marketer. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve built a connection with someone, trained them, given them to tools to find success…only to see them quit in the end. It seems the ones that do the most talking about what they’re going to do, end up being the first to throw in the towel! All their plans, aspirations, talk, and excitement evaporated at the thought of daily dedication to the tasks.

As a trainer, it’s disheartening to run into so many people that give up. Is this an entire generation of people who lack commitment, discipline and endurance? It’s as if those that believed in the power of their word have been replaced by flakes!

Which is what brings me to my new mantra: ‘NO QUITTERS ALLOWED.’ That’s right…if you are going to be a quitter, I don’t want your business. In fact, if you jump from business to business, you might as well stop reading here because I’m not going to invest in you. Go back to your day job & be a slave to ‘The Man.’ I don’t have the energy to waste training a quitter. The few pennies I would gain in signing you into a company and mentoring you are nothing in comparison with the hours I would throw away teaching a bump on a log. Time is $!

I’m looking for the rare diamonds in the rough. The ones who not only say with a passion that they want a change, but those who are willing to put change into motion! How? By taking the training I provide, and daily practicing it!

Are you willing to take your business to the next level? Are you interested in joining a DEDICATED team of internet marketers who will come alongside you & aid you in your success? If so, it’s gonna take a lot of stick-to-it-ness. Sometimes you might feel out of your comfort zone, challenged, or tired, but I guarantee that you’ll grow leaps and bounds if you never give up!

Check out my team of committed marketers: www.teammarkandjerry.com. We have marketing training every Tues. night @ 6pm Pac/9pm Est. We discuss closing sales, overcoming objections, marketing on-line, home based businesses, and include guest speakers who are the leaders in the MLM industry. I’ll see you at the TOP!

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Sep 15, 2010 | 6 comments | View Post
Team Mark & Jerry: Two Guys Helping One Marketer at a Time!

Team Mark & Jerry: Two Guys Helping One Marketer at a Time!

In my previous posts, I’ve referred to my primary goal in marketing: teaming with others to help them succeed in their own businesses. I know that this sounds very general, but I believe we only keep what we give away. With that in mind, I’ve worked on my game plan for training others for quite a while now. Some questions I struggled with were: How do I help others in my circle of influence? What do I have to pass on that can better someone else?

I knew training was what I wanted to do…it’s what I enjoy. I’m the interpersonal guy. It’s been said that I could sell water to fish, ice to Eskimos, etc, etc. Yes, sales comes easy to me & I enjoy selling, but I generally just enjoy meeting & connecting with new people…especially those who are on the same wavelength as me (with business or life).

The awesome thing is, in my marketing journey, I came across a guy who is very much on the same page as me…regarding vision, work ethic, and interests. The awesome thing is that he’s more gifted in the technical area than I am. So we offer a great balance. His name is Jerry Maurer & he we have teamed up to offer quality training to marketers on-line. Check out our website: www.teammarkandjerry.com.

We have a Team Mark & Jerry training call every Tuesday night & teach REAL marketing strategies that will put $$$ into your bank account! We focus on hands-on training, role playing with customers, how to master your marketing, closing sales, overcoming objections, marketing tools that we recommend, etc. That’s every Tuesday (6pm Pac Time/9pm Eastern). If you’d like to join us, dial 605.477.2100 & enter access code: 602265# (You must dial the 605 number even after logging into the webroom).

We also offer a Webinar portion: http://meetwith.me/coachjerry/web/ and enter the room w/your name as an attendee.

Our trainings are fun, educational, and EYE OPENING! Get ready to take your business to the next level! The Team Mark & Jerry Show will also air on BLOG TALK RADIO every Tues. 9pm EST. Call in details: Dial 347.637.2360 @ 9pm ESTEnter the LIVE chat here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/attentionnetworkers

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Sep 11, 2010 | 11 comments | View Post
Too busy for my britches, and loving it!

Too busy for my britches, and loving it!

I find that there are too many things to do, too few hours in the day to do them (so forgive me readers, for it’s been too long since my last post). This is especially true lately because my internet business is booming! I have so many leads chasing me that I can barely keep up! I guess it’s a good thing, and I can thank the good Lord & Ibuzz Pro for that!

It’s been a couple years now since I’ve been using Ibuzz Pro & it has been the best business decision I’ve made yet! No longer do I have to rely on cold calling or buying my leads for hundreds of dollars every month (which I did for many years!). Ibuzz Pro literally retired me from corporate America & has allowed my wife to stay home with our two boys.

I believe Ibuzz Pro is one of the BEST internet marketing tools out there. It’s freed me up to actually focus on training & building a strong business team…helping others! Instead of spending so much time on the phone recruiting, I can spend more time making my recruits more successful in their businesses.

So, are you still relying on cold calls or leads? Are you exhausted chasing people to join your business? Wouldn’t it be great if in a matter of minutes, your message goes out to the masses, and people start chasing you, for a change?! If so, check out my page for more info: http://www.ibuzzman.com.
iBuzzPro Pictures, Images and Photos

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Sep 10, 2010 | 9 comments | View Post
MLM ADD

MLM ADD

ADD Pictures, Images and Photos

Jumping from business to business. Burning out the ‘Friends & Family’ bridge. Limited success, but never reaching full potential. Does this sound familiar? It does to me. For years, I was infected with MLM ADD. I had many talents & an overload of passion, but I would quickly burnout on the latest MLM I had joined. I was always searching for something that would work ‘better.’ I’m not saying that our industry doesn’t call for change, or that we have to stick with one thing until we die, but there is a problem out there. So many marketers spend dollar after dollar looking for the latest ‘get rich quick’ program.

I don’t know if it’s age, maturity, or the scrapes that I’ve gotten along the journey (or maybe all of the above), but I now have a new outlook on marketing as a whole. What I’ve found is that there is no such thing as ‘get rich quick’ (unless maybe it’s illegal…I don’t go down that road) program. There’s no point in jumping from business to business because you’ll end up spinning your wheels. Yes, the grass looks greener on the other side…until you have to mow it. Any business you get into will have its ups & downs. It will frustrate you some days to no end. But if we quit along the way, how will we ever make it to the top? The marketers that have become financially free are not the ones that jumped from program to program. They found what worked for them & committed themselves to making it work!

Successful marketing, in my opinion, is about harnessing your zeal, focusing on a business or tool, working hard, and helping others. Trust me, I’m still a work in progress, and I have to remind myself of this daily. This is why I’ve really backed away from MLM businesses, and I’m refocusing on providing tools & training that will foster others’ success. I’m not in marketing to make a quick buck…I’m looking towards long term stability. This means pouring my knowledge into others, getting them to achieve their personal business goals, and in turn reaching my potential as a trainer. I’m looking for people who are ready to stop the MLM ADD and seriously take their business to the next level. If you fall into that category, I’d love to come alongside you in your marketing journey & allow me to help you.

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Jan 18, 2010 | 9 comments | View Post

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