| Mark Twain once said, "Keep away from people who | | | | spirit and soul. |
| try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do | | | | A professional coach helps you envision, clarify, |
| that, but the really great make you feel that you, | | | | create, and sustain the results that matter most to |
| too, can become great.' | | | | you. Perhaps the most important thing your coach |
| It's true. Have you ever noticed that people who are | | | | does do is to hold you accountable for creating the |
| successful have friends and work with others who | | | | results you say you want to create. And people do |
| are successful? | | | | create results! |
| Take Chicken Soup for the Soul author Mark Victor | | | | I have several coaches myself: a business coach, a |
| Hansen. | | | | life coach and a book coach. Coaching is a relationship |
| As the story goes, Mark Victor Hansen was | | | | that has challenged me to tap into and bring out the |
| lamenting to Tony Robbins about his less than | | | | best of myself. I can not emphasize enough the |
| desirable level of success. "I don't understand it," said | | | | positive effect that my coaches have had on my life |
| Hansen. "I just can't seem to get from where I am | | | | and my business |
| to where I want to be." | | | | 4. A Virtual Assistant |
| "Well, who are the people around you?" asked | | | | I never understood how someone billing 200.00 or |
| Robbins. | | | | 100.00 per hour could say they can't afford an |
| "The thing is," replied Hansen. "I'm hanging out with | | | | assistant. They can't afford not to! Not only does it |
| millionaires." | | | | free up their mental energy to do what they love, it |
| "That's the problem," declared Robbins. "You need to | | | | frees them up to concentrate on activities that are |
| start hanging out with billionaires." | | | | billable or sales related. |
| Mark Victor Hansen took Tony Robbins' advice, and | | | | Having a virtual assistant (or VA) is fast becoming a |
| the rest is history. | | | | need for the busy entrepreneur, small business |
| Surround yourself with the best and your efforts will | | | | owner and person on the run. With the advent of |
| more naturally - and more surely - lead toward | | | | new technologies and ways of doing business, the |
| excellence. By doing so, you will begin to achieve | | | | VA has stepped up to help you along your way. |
| success faster, easier and with greater predictability | | | | Virtual Assistants work remotely and often can hook |
| than you could by yourself. | | | | into your computer to make you more organized and |
| What can you do to begin surrounding yourself with | | | | efficient. They run upwards of 30.00 per hour and, |
| success? Here are my top six must-haves for your | | | | believe me, are invaluable! |
| business: | | | | 5. A Computer Doctor |
| 1. A Visionary Thinker Combined with an | | | | Computers are great when they work. But when |
| Detailed-Oriented Operations Manager | | | | they don't, they can bring your business to its knees, |
| I happen to be extremely visionary with exceptional | | | | causing you to lose time and money, miss business |
| out-of-the-box ideas. People who work with me call | | | | opportunities, and your customers to lose confidence |
| me an idea factory. So what's the problem? Having a | | | | in your service. |
| visionary around is essential to growing a business, | | | | And even when they seem to be working, |
| right? Well, I often have so many ideas, I can't keep | | | | computers can have hidden problems that can slow |
| on-track! | | | | your efficiency, cause errors, and sow the seeds of |
| That's where my business partner, Sheryl, steps in. I | | | | trouble. |
| realized it's just as essential to balance my creativity | | | | Don't wait until you have a major technology |
| with someone whose a detail-oriented operations | | | | meltdown to try to find someone who can come to |
| person, so that all my ideas are realized. | | | | the rescue! As unlikely as it may seem, there are |
| Let's face it. We can't be good at everything. You | | | | people who actually enjoy fixing our computer |
| should form a success team with a person who | | | | equipment and who can solve issues in a matter of |
| balances you out. If you are not interested in | | | | minutes that would have you pulling out your hair or |
| establishing a formal business partnership, then find | | | | on the verge of tears. |
| your opposite and meet weekly to trade your wares. | | | | 6. A Marketing Professional |
| Your business will benefit! | | | | Nearly 90% of business owners and managers have |
| 2. A Financial Guru | | | | little or no professional experience in sales or |
| If you are good at finances and like to take care of | | | | marketing. Yet, their businesses and often livelihood |
| them, using a program like Quickbooks can get you | | | | depend on their marketing effectiveness. For the |
| the information you desire. However, when it comes | | | | same reason that people hire an auto mechanic, an |
| to tax time, I don't recommend going about the task | | | | accountant, counselor and others, hiring a marketing |
| unless you are a CPA yourself. | | | | consultant provides expert guidance and support in |
| CPAs are no longer just number crunchers and tax | | | | needed areas. When talking about the success of |
| preparers, they are business and financial strategists | | | | your business, the stakes couldn't be higher. |
| who help chart the paths of businesses and | | | | Even talented marketers like me need to have |
| individuals. Businesses are tapping CPAs to not only | | | | someone who can help them objectively market their |
| manage finances and taxes, but also to determine | | | | business. Entrepreneurs should be spending about |
| profitable new product lines, help diversify | | | | 60% of the time marketing and we can't afford to |
| investments, and provide a variety of other | | | | be off-message or be the same as everyone else's. |
| consulting and business services. | | | | Find a professional resource that can help you with |
| If you are like most business owners, you have | | | | web design, brand identity and collateral development. |
| knowledge and drive and a strong affinity for your | | | | At this point many of my clients say, "I can't afford |
| industry; you know your product inside and out and | | | | this!' |
| enjoy promoting it. But a business is in existence to | | | | You can't afford not to. Doing everything yourself |
| make money, and every business requires money to | | | | isn't free. If you spent all your time doing all of the |
| keep it alive. Keeping track of the money that you | | | | tasks above, when would you pitch new business or |
| are earning, spending and saving is crucial to your | | | | service your existing accounts? And what if you |
| success. Do you have as much knowledge and drive | | | | make a mistake on your finances? Choose the wrong |
| and affinity for financial recordkeeping as you do for | | | | marketing technique? Or your computer crashed and |
| your company? Many people don't, and for them the | | | | lost all your documents? What is that going to cost |
| nominal cost of having a professional take care of | | | | you? |
| their all-important financial needs is well worth it. | | | | Successful people are goal-oriented. They aren't |
| 3. A Coach | | | | afraid to work with people who are smarter, harder |
| Top performers in all fields use personal coaches to | | | | working or more ambitious than they are. |
| help them create outstanding results and to develop | | | | Hire an expert and stick to what you are best at. |
| their full potential as human beings. Your coach is | | | | The financial returns will come. |
| your personal consultant - a personal trainer for your | | | | |