What get’s you in a good mood?
Is it people? or is it music? For me it’s a combination of both…
check this out…..you could only be in a good mood, if this happened around you.
This is how you get up!
February 2nd, 2009If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
I was watching this video and the presenter talks about finishing strong, and the characteristics you need to do that.
But what struck me is watching him get back up again.
Watch…. it is a process that involves…..GENTLE, SLOW, STRENGTH, PERSEVERANCE, DETERMINATION,FOCUS.
That’s how you get up again……
Stretching the Home Budget…
January 26th, 2009You know, I believe a turning point in business for me was setting budgets. Budgets and targets for Sales, but also budget and targets for spending in the business.
Don’t get me wrong, it took a while to set up, but it’s the old….
WHAT GET’S MEASURED - IS WHAT GET’S DONE.
But what about at home?
I have a confession.
I use to pretty much let home take care of itself. Being in business, you are your own boss, so it was easy to dip into things when you needed. No need to keep to a budget, so why bother?
The thing is….it’s a reckless way to live. Because you will always be stretching the home budget. There will always be bigger, better, brighter things to buy, and if you are not keeping a budget…it becomes a false economy. A bottomless pit that constantly needs to be topped up.
Are you making more than you earn…..or spending more than you earn?
WOULD YOU KNOW?
I came across this software and website last year. I have personally used his software in January last year, and subscribed to his free tips each week.
Wow, what a difference 12 months has made.
Apart from making me realise where I was WASTING MONEY, it made me value what I have. Not only that, I got some really good tips on where to save money with the home budget, and my favourite….some great negotiating tips. A kindred spirit there, but David focuses more around negotiating with the home budget and home purchases.
It’s not that times are tough…it’s just a smart way to run your life. I love the phrase I heard from one of my mentors. He said…
If you keep buying stuff…..you’ll end up with STUFF ALL!
If successful businesses are run with good budgets and measures in place…..surely that works for home too!
I used one of David’s negotiating strategies to negotiate a creditcard interest rate from 18.99% to a honeymoon period of 8.99%.
The most interesting things I found were….
1. budgeting for gifts!
2. What we spent on takeway, videos, family entertainment?
3. How much sport for children costs! Do they have to do everything?
If you want to know more about David Wright from Simple Budgets to help you with your home budgets you might want to visit his site and get his weekly tips. www.simplybudgets.com.au
Negotiating for Retail
January 22nd, 2009I keep hearing on the news that a great strategy to get the most out of your money in tough times is to NEGOTIATE WITH RETAILERS!
The issue is that most people don’t know how to Negotiate. They think it’s about being a bully and “screwing” people down on the price, so the retailer makes no money, and then the customer can brag about the deal afterwards! This is SO NOT Negotiating.
Negotiating should be WIN-WIN. As a buyer, you should get the best DEAL possible! As a retailer you should sell your goods at a PROFIT, to a customer you will want a long term relationship with.
So as a buyer, how do you get the best deal without offending?
You know I don’t know many skills that you can learn quickly and can earn you thousands of dollars in minutes! Simply by asking the right question the right way, and negotiating a better deal will do that for you.
As a retailer, how do you negotiate without loosing money and keep customers?
Negotiating is just another part of the GAME of business. No need to be offended and no need to lose money. Learn the skill, make a profitable sale, and keep a happy customer!
As a buyer, you have to follow my 3 key strategies:-
1. Just ask the question! (develop a phrase that is really easy for you to say and be comfortable with)
2. Be Nice! As Nanna use to say “You Get More Bees with Honey” and it’s TRUE.
3. Give a good Reason. When you are asking for a better deal, or a better price, if you give a good reason why you should get the better deal, then you are 3 times more likely to get it!
HINT, do your research before asking the questions!
As a retailer, my 3 best strategies are:
1. Know your margins. Know how far you can go, and be prepared to walk away from a deal.
2. Have a bag of “negotiating tools”…. things to offer instead of a cheaper price. Loyalty programmes, discount coupons for 2nd time around, free product (often slow moving or free from your supplier) even free delivery.
3. Don’t be offended if they ask! It’s often a game to some people, so learn the game and play to win!
If you think you could benefit from the strategies in your business, you may want to learn more in my home study audio programme. Just 3 CD’s with actual case studies, and examples to use. click here to learn more, or go to my product page.
Just believe in yourself….
December 1st, 2008Whenever you hear successful people get interviewed, there is always that one question….”So what do you think the secret of your success is?”
9 times out of 10 the say….”You just have to believe in yourself!” Believe you can do it, believe that is no option other than success, believe, believe, believe.
BUT WHAT IF YOU DON’T?
Pardon?
What if you don’t? What if you don’t believe you are great? What if you don’t believe you are capable of making it? What if when you tell yourself YOU CAN DO IT! a little voice inside SCREAMS, NO you can’t! and starts pointing out all the ways your life is a mess, just to prove it’s point!
You know my mentor Noah St. Johns has this theory. He believes that only about 3% of the population “Believe in themselves”. It’s almost an unconscious action for them. The rest of us have to find another strategy….and thank goodness there are other strategies.
Here are some of my favourite strategies that I like to use…
Surround yourself with people that can see the good & beauty in you that you sometimes can’t see.
Surround yourself with people that expect more of you than you do of yourself - and will push you.
Support yourself with an environment that you thrive (declutter & reduce the noise)
Keep learning.
Think daily of what you are grateful for.
Create systems around success. Daily RICHuals.
Swim downstream. Find the easier, faster, better way to do it. (It may not involve YOU doing it).
Now if you need help with the person pushing you or learning… then that is what www.madamemarketing.com is for!
But for now, let’s start with being gratful, it costs nothing and is the richest feeling of all.
until then,
I wish you abundance and good fortune.
Sharon
If you want to learn more about Noah and his programme - click here.
The Perfect Women Role Model
November 24th, 2008
me,ali brown & belinda jackson
Wow- what an amazing adventure it has been. If you did not know, I have been attending the last ever Marketing Blue Print Workshop- run by my mentor, Ali Brown - in L.A.
Last Ever….they always say that to fill the room right?, but I truly believe this will be the last ever event run by Ali for the 500 mainly women attending. Why?
You, see Ali Brown has some big dreams and she is taking action like I’ve never seen any other women before. She has hired a “Billionaire” women mentor that lives on the other side of the world to push her forward. She is putting all her fears aside, the economy aside and stepping into her greatness as a leader for women in business.
I asked her about finding women role models, and having the courage to do what she is doing…….did she ever get nervous or scared?……Ali stood there quietly and started to teared up.
If you didn’t know, Ali Brown now runs a multi-million dollar on-line marketing business that she runs from home, and created in under 5 years. When she started, there were no role models doing what she does. Only men. Many telling her it could not be done by a women. Women don’t like buying off women, women have no money to spend on business stuff, etc etc etc.
There was only one way to do it - like a man….you had to have B.A.L.L.S. to survive in the cut throat world of marketing on-line.
You know what she said to me….”be your own role model… step into your greatness and allow yourself to be the best person you can be.” Why?
WHY NOT?
It meant the world to me, because I have been told the same thing.
The other comment I often get is…… “women don’t support other women”….my answer is - “Well the women I hang around do!”
Today, one of the women came back with an interesting thought. We do have Balls, us women in business. It goes like this……
Balance.
Attitude.
Lifestyle
Leverage
Sensuality.
SO HOW DO YOU FIND THE PERFECT ROLE MODEL?
If you want some clarity and focus about where to go next, you might enjoy this exercise in finding yourself a mentor.
Write down all the traits you would like in your perfect mentor. I did, and here’s what it looks like:-
She is a smart and Saavy Successful Business Women.
She has empathy for others and especially for me!
She is Sassy & Fun Loving.
She loves her family and her children.
She is nurturing & loving
She is playful & fun to be around
She holds me accountable.
She is authentic.
She can see the best “me” I can be!
She respects others and respects herself.
Now,while I’m waiting for her to show up, my job is to BE THAT PERSON! How about you? What is your perfect mentor like?
Mother In Business - How Do You Do it?
October 24th, 2008Whilst I’ve been a mother - I have always been in business. I have two beautiful children, now of school age. I run four businesses, one of them a multi-million dollar business and the majority of time I work from my home office during school hours.
I love being in business. I love the flexibility of it, I love that I have control over what I earn (or don’t) and I love the lifestyle that it gives me.
I love being a mother. I love watching my children have new experiences and watching it through their eyes. I love seeing myself in someone else (the good and the bad) and learning from that. I love how they bring me back down to earth - when life get’s so overwhelming.
But the question I so often get ask?
How do you do it?
Well I’m going to give you my 8 tips to make it work. I hate to say it - but you will have to read my book to find out the details “If I’m So Successful How Come I Never Get To Be On Top” available at Dymocks in Australia or on www.amazon.com
8 tips to being a MOTHER IN BUSINESS.
1. 90% is Ok. Actually 80% is too. You don’t have to be a perfect mother and a perfect business women. Doing both of them 80% right is still great and doesn’t make you an exhausted wreck. The ironing can wait. The email can wait.
2. Part-time work is a great compromise when your children are under school age. Use the downtime to educate yourself. When the children go to School you will be so much more effective and up-to-date. It will help your business sky-rocket forward.
3. Guilt is a wasted emotion. Repeat after me! Mother Guilt achieves nothing. You have two choices. Fix the problem or make up for your mistake and move on. This is a unique time we live in. Don’t base what it should be like on the past. Choose how you want it and work towards that.
4. You may have to sacrifice income. When the children are young, unless you want to have them in full time care, you may have to earn a little less. Enjoy the time, and use it to learn.
5. When you are at work - spend 80% of your day on income producing activities. Don’t waste your day on silly emails and gossipy chats. You should be 100% focused when you are at work. Enjoy your social time when you are home with friends and family.
6. Be in the moment. When you are with the children - be with the children. When you are at work - be at work.
7. LOOK FOR LEVERAGE in everything you do. Ask yourself “how can this be systemised, done cheaper or faster by someone else?” What could be automated on a computer, could you use a virtual assistant, or out sourced to another company that is far more effective that you learning a new skill.
8. Be kind to yourself. I feel somedays being a mother in business is like standing on a SEE SAW. Some days I slide down one side - and I’m a great Mum and a lousy business women. Other days I slide the other way and I’m a great SUPER business women - and a lousy Mum……every now and then……………………………………………………………………………
I’m standing in the middle of that SEE SAW, with both fists in the air - absolutely aceing it.
LIFE IS GOOD.
What Media Do I Choose?
September 30th, 2008Last week I spoke about the “lies advertising reps tell” and the importance of choosing the right Media!
Infact I mentioned it is 40% of your success!
So how do you choose the right Media?
What is Media? It is TV, Radio, Newspaper, On-line Advertising, Direct Mail Advertising, Telephone Selling, SMS texting, Faxing, Networking, Letterbox Drop advertising, etc etc.
Think about these points:-
What is your budget?
There is no use having grand advertising plans and no money. There are many cost-effective ways to grow your business that don’t involve loads of money. As Robert Kyosaki says “do the small deals first”, you can make money on them and grow into the bigger deals. That’s how successful people do it. Don’t get tricked into “spending big” as apposed to “thinking big”
Where do your Target Customers Hang out?
what do they read?, Listen to? How do they spend their day?
If you know how to find them, you are onto a winner. I must stress, don’t try and be ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE. You have to have a TARGET. TARGETS are where the MONEY IS. It’s an easier way to advertise and measure.
Shop Around.
If you have established your target market are local business people, your next step is to try and get the BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK. Is there a publication that targets “local business people”? Often by being a member of some groups you get access to the “list” of other members, or get to advertise for FREE in their publications. I am a member of several organisations, and have access to great lists of my target customers. Along with great friendships, I also have an affordable targeted list.
There is a saying amongst MARKETERS……the MARKETING MONEY is in THE LIST!
remember I want to find you easier sales through better marketing.
Sharon Tieman.
Madame Marketing.
The Top 3 Lies Advertising Reps tell!
September 25th, 2008
You know how it is…..a good looking charming rep walks into your business, and the next thing you know you’ve just signed up for thousands of dollars in advertising. You are pumped. This deal is going to make you thousands, even millions.
Here are my 3 tips to know the difference between just “sales talk” and the real truth with advertising.
1. “You ad didn’t work, because you have to keep repeating it to make it work - it’s all about REPETITION”
RUBBISH. What’s the use of repeating something and loosing money - that doesn’t make sense. I’ll let you in on a secret
40% of your success in advertising is the MEDIA you choose. That is Newspaper, TV, Direct Mail, Radio, etc. You have to choose the right media to get your message across. If you choose the wrong media for your target audience, it doesn’t matter how many times you REPEAT it, it still won’t work.
40% of your success in advertising is the MARKET you choose. You have to have your ad targeted to who you want to purchase. If you are advertising Tampons in a Lawn Bowling Magazine, I can tell you now, you can advertising until the cows come home and you won’t make a sale.
2. “This is the last one/spot I have” - This may be true (most of the time it is not), but if it is, and it does appeal to you - make a counter offer. “Look I’m really not looking to advertise at the moment, but I’ll take it for $300, if you are trying to get rid of it”. Selling Scarcity, is one of the oldest selling tactic’s in the book.
3. “Everyone else is doing it, so it must work”. This is the same story as when we use to all tell our mother - “everyone else is doing it”. She didn’t fall for it, why do we as business people?
The truth is, just because your competitors are doing it, does not mean it is working. You still have to know your costings, target market and have a great offer. Most businesses throw money at advertising and marketing and never measure it. We don’t want to be like most businesses.
Remember these rules:
40% of your advertising success is media.
40% of your advertising success is your target market.
10% of your advertising success is the offer you make (you MUST have an offer)
10% of your advertising success is the sales copy/display ad.
until then,
I wish you easier sales through better marketing.
Sharon Tieman.
Madame Marketing
Stop asking…”How’s Business?”
August 13th, 2008We need to ask a new marketing research question. You see, misery likes company, and when business is not going well for some, they often want to make sure it’s not going well for you either. It doesn’t help either of you discussing it this way.
So let’s be Market Researchers! Let’s ask a different question! From now on it’s….
What’s popular right now?
What’s selling well at the moment?
The economy is still turning. Money is ALWAYS flowing. So as people in business we need to be little market researchers and find out what’s popular.
Then we can work out how we can adapt it to our own product or service.
There’s no use selling icecream in winter. There is nothing wrong with the product, it’s just not a popular time to eat it.
In small business we need to focus on where the money is. We need to aim for the low hanging fruit. Then we need to market to that.
So let’s start today and ask a new question…………afterall we are Market Researchers!
wishing you abundance and good fortune.
Sharon Tieman.
Director.
www.madamemarketing.com