Top 3 Business and Marketing Lessons Learned in 2008

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.” -- Vince Lombardi

Well yes another year has seemingly breezed by but 2008 was a very different kind of year for so many reasons. The biggest one that comes to mind was all the doom and gloom surrounding conversations about a failing economy. It seemed like so many people were using the supposed failing economy as an excuse to crawl under a rock and die. “Oh no one is spending money right now so they won’t buy my services… it’s that damn economy.  Oh no one is giving me leads anymore… it’s that damn economy. This damn economy is killing me!”

I’m saddened to say that I’ve heard it all this past year!

That venomous message seemed to permeate every orifice of our being – as scary as that sounds!

So as usual as each year passes by there are so many lessons we can learn and grow from each year. And for me there were 3 core ones that I’ll share with you here: 

#1 – Don’t Buy Into the Bull
Yes while it’s true that the economy had been in quite a state of flux in 2008, that didn’t mean that I had to sit idly by and suffer. That was completely against all I stand for as I firmly believe that we create our own reality. So my mantra quickly became “if it is to be, then it’s up to me!” It’s up to me to as Ghandi once said “to be the change I wanted to see in the world”. I knew it was time to step up my game in a big way… and I did!

Let someone else do the worrying… Let someone else do the blaming… Let someone else become the ‘victim’… not me… I refused. My credo for 2008 quickly became “When the going gets tough, the tough get marketing”. I decided to live or die by what I do best… marketing! Hey guess what? I’m still here so I guess it worked. 

#2 – Focus on My Fastest Path to Cash
No matter what, money does make the world go around; therefore it was critical that I earn my share.

Now you must have heard the saying that ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’. Well my experiences over the past year confirmed for me that this doesn’t have to be the case! The grass can be plenty green right here! I just had to learn how to nurture it better. So this past year I focused diligently on nurturing and growing my most promising and lucrative profit centers. The few that I did choose to do were to be done great. My focus became razor-sharp at marketing, selling and delivering those specific services and those only. Everything else went into what I call the ‘parking lot’ -- a repository for items worth consideration at some time in the future -- just not now. 

#3 – Greater Health Leads to Greater Wealth
I honestly can say that taking the time out of my already hectic schedule to focus on my physical health was the single-most smartest move I made all year!

As my physical health improved so did so many other critical areas of my life. My brain felt sharper… I became more focused… I had more energy… my self esteem climbed through the roof… heck even the air smelled fresher, need I go on?

What did I do differently? Well 3 main things: weekly chiropractic care, regular massage therapy, and I became much more conscious of what I was eating. Hey I lost 23 pounds in 2008… that’s no small feat! However with the right regimen, the right coaching, and a strong desire… it really did happen easily. Big thanks to both my wife Andrea and the team over at DREAM Wellness for all their guidance, support, and care.

So in closing, I’ll tell you that sitting around blaming stuff outside your control will not get you the things you want in life. Tough times will certainly test your will! How bad do you want it? Because I’ll tell you this challenging economy will weed out the weak – that’s for sure! And you know what; maybe that’s not such a bad thing. That’ll just leave more for those who are willing to play a bigger and better game. I intend to continue to raise my game… how about you?

© 2009 Online Marketing Muscle -- All Rights Reserved.

Want to use this article in your newsletter, blog or web site? You have my blessing so long as you include the following complete blurb with it (including links).

Liked this article? -- Then you won’t want to miss Long Island-based marketing consultant, coach, and entrepreneur Dean Mercado’s highly acclaimed marketing blog 'The Motivational Marketer’s Journal' (www.MotivationalMarketer.com). Additionally, for even more small business marketing and success tips, sample the latest edition of his FREE marketing tips newsletter the 'Marketing Minute' (www.OnlineMarketingMuscle.com/marketingminute), -- a multimedia e-zine designed to give you a jolt of marketing wisdom in less than 5 minutes.

Dean Mercado, Online Marketing Muscle, success articles, lessons learned, failing economy, health, wealth, DREAM Wellness

The Core Secret of Superstar Entrepreneurs

"Be the change you want to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi

Now I’ve been at this entrepreneur thing for the better part of this decade and have studied with and modeled a wide variety of superstar entrepreneurs.

One thing that permeates all of my most successful mentors as well as all of the most successful entrepreneurs I’ve come across in my travels is simply that they understand and practice this one thing…

They give!

They give their time. They give their money. They give their wisdom. They give their love. They give their compassion. They simply give of themselves first and regularly. Not because they have to, but because they genuinely want to.

They don’t give with the expectation that they will get something in return. To them, that’s not really giving.

They give because they understand it’s not about them.

They give because they genuinely want to add value to others.

They give because it’s simply the right thing to do.

Need I say more?

So in closing, it’s all about giving.

Want more money… give more money!
Want more love… give more love!
Want more power… give more power!
Want more referrals… give more referrals!
Want more testimonials… give more testimonials!

The point here is that who you’re being has everything to do with what you’re doing each day which ultimately defines what you will have in your business and in your life!

Become the conduit that supports the natural flow of the universe and see the things you want flow to and through you regularly.

© 2008 Online Marketing Muscle -- All Rights Reserved.

Want to use this article in your newsletter, blog or web site? You have my blessing so long as you include the following complete blurb with it (including links).

Liked this article? -- Then check out Long Island-based marketing consultant, coach, and entrepreneur Dean Mercado’s highly acclaimed marketing blog 'The Motivational Marketer’s Journal' at http://www.MotivationalMarketer.com. Additionally, for even more small business marketing and success tips, sample the latest edition of his FREE marketing tips newsletter the 'Marketing Minute', -- a weekly multimedia e-zine designed to give you a jolt of marketing wisdom in less than 5 minutes.

Dean Mercado, Online Marketing Muscle, success articles, entrepreneurs, giving, give, referrals, testimonials

Who Else Wants World Class Business Advice From Top Experts For Little or No Cost?

Well I’ll tell you, I certainly do! And why not? There’s plenty of it out there for the taking. As a matter of fact there’s more available these days than ever before in history. Why? Mainly because of the ease of access to both the material as well as those who have authored them… thanks mainly to the maturing of the Internet that is. There are educational and content rich web sites, blogs, podcasts, videos, seminars, teleseminars, and we can go on and on and on here. However, for all of that new technology that exists today, in my opinion, there’s still one medium that stands head and shoulders above the rest… especially when we consider getting the most bang-for-the-buck!

So what am I talking about here? I’m talking about books!

Books are one of the most effective and inexpensive ways of allowing you to climb inside the mind of someone who has been there and done that. Besides providing tremendous insight, they can save you years of struggle.

Personally on average I read about a book a week from either the “self-help”, “business” or “marketing” categories. I share this with you not to impress you in any way but to impress upon you the importance of reading. Does this mean you need to be as voracious a reader as I am? Absolutely not! I read as much as I do for a variety of reasons, one of which is just the fact that it’s one of my favorite hobbies… I do it for fun. It just so happens that my hobby brings with it a whole host of residual benefits for me and my business as well.

Now I am a firm believer that if you were to study maybe just a couple of great books from each of the categories I just mentioned to you a moment ago, and diligently practiced applying the wisdom they so generously shared, you would probably see a significant increase in your success.

Often when I’m working with a client I’ll recommend a book or two that would significantly further their success… some clients willingly take on the challenge by running out, buying the book and devouring it immediately. These are typically the clients that seem to move along their path to success the fastest. Then there are the other clients who kick and scream the whole way… making every excuse in the world why they can’t read what I recommended. Some of the excuses I hear the most are:

“I don’t have time to read.” Come on… isn’t your future worth a measly 15 minutes a day? At that pace, you could still finish about 26 books over the next year.

“But I don’t like to read.” Well then try an audio book and listen instead.

“I can’t afford to buy the books I want.” Well than fortunately for you, in America we have a place called a Library where you can borrow them for free.

Now I have to say my responses here were quite gentle… more gentle than I’d like to be because if you’re serious about taking your business and your life up a notch, there is simply no excuse for not reading.

So in closing, when was the last time you read a book on marketing? How about any business book for that matter? Or better yet how about a book in the self-help genre because if you’re anything like most people, it’s always best to get you out of your own way first; This way, the business and marketing strategies and tactics that you’ve picked up in the other books can stand a chance at succeeding. Ooh… that’s a bit harsh, however it’s said with only the best intentions for you!

Anyhow, let me leave you with a powerful quote from someone that many consider a guru to the stars in business and that’s Jim Rohn… and he once said, “Most homes valued at over $1,000,000 have a library. That should tell us something.”

© 2008 Online Marketing Muscle -- All Rights Reserved.

Want to use this article in your newsletter, blog or web site? You have my blessing so long as you include the following complete blurb with it (including links).

Liked this article? -- Then check out Long Island-based marketing coach and consultant, Dean Mercado’s highly acclaimed marketing blog 'The Motivational Marketer’s Journal' at http://www.MotivationalMarketer.com. Additionally, for even more small business marketing and success tips, sample the latest edition of his FREE marketing tips newsletter the 'Marketing Minute' at http://www.onlinemarketingmuscle.com/marketingminute/ , -- a weekly multimedia e-zine designed to give you a jolt of marketing wisdom in less than 5 minutes.

Dean Mercado, Online Marketing Muscle, success articles, business advice, books, reading, web sites, blogs, podcasts, videos, seminars, teleseminars, self-help, marketing

What Could Your Small Business Learn from a 16 Year Old?

I have to say, although I’ve always been a fan of the Olympics, I’ve never quite seen them the way I’m seeing them now. No I’m not talking about some new high-definition television equipment… although that would be nice too… I’m talking about seeing them with new eyes… seeing the athletes in the light of the pure-perfection that they are.

What they do is amazing! Their ability to perform seemingly incredible feats under pressure is quite impressive. However, for me it’s the person they’ve had to be and are currently being in order to position themselves for this level of greatness that just astounds me. It’s hard to believe that some of these Olympic athletes are only 16 years old. So what’s the secret to their success? How is it that a 16 year old can literally become the best in the world at anything? And what can we all stand to learn from them?

Well here are 7 core characteristics that jump out at me:

1. They Have a Dream -- They know exactly what they want… they’ve got their eye on the prize and they pursue it with unwavering determination.

2. They Set Big, Audacious Goals -- They take that vision and chunk it down into milestones that constantly push the limits of what they know to be possible.

3. They Have a Plan -- I heard one announcer say that some of the Chinese athletes have been being groomed since Kindergarten to be where they are today some 11 or 12 years later… talk about having a plan and sticking to it.

4. They Have a Winning Mentality -- In their minds, there’s simply no room for second best. They practice and practice and practice some more until they can perform their routines without blinking. They master the fundamentals knowing they lie at the core of greatness as well as identify, nurture, and capitalize on their unique talents that separate them from everyone else. They are willing to do whatever it takes to win.

5. They Have a Strong Support Structure -- This level of excellence can not be achieved alone. It’s all about team! A supportive family, great coaches, inspiring mentors, generous sponsors, like-minded peers, as well as so many others play a significant role in making it all possible.

6. They Keep Metrics -- Everything is measured to ensure proper progress is happening at all times. There is nothing left to guesswork. This becomes the measuring stick for greatness.

Lastly and most importantly…

7. They Believe in Themselves -- They honestly and wholeheartedly believe that the only limitations they face are the ones they set for themselves. This makes them powerful and unstoppable. It provides that final bit of edge needed to win.

Wow… just imagine if you as a small business owner could harness just a glimmer of all of these characteristics of greatness. How effective and successful would you and your small business be?

So why settle for mediocrity? Why live day-to-day wondering and worrying where your next meal is coming from? Is this stuff easy? No! If it was every small business would perform like an Olympic athlete. However, the lessons for success do lie all around us… even in a 16 year old… we just have to be willing enough to see it, seize it, and care enough about ourselves and those we touch to go for the gold.

© 2008 Online Marketing Muscle -- All Rights Reserved.

Want to use this article in your newsletter, blog or web site? You have my blessing so long as you include the following complete blurb with it (including links).

Liked this article? -- Then check out Long Island-based marketing consultant, coach, and entrepreneur Dean Mercado’s highly acclaimed marketing blog 'The Motivational Marketer’s Journal' at http://www.MotivationalMarketer.com. Additionally, for even more small business marketing and success tips, sample the latest edition of his FREE marketing tips newsletter the 'Marketing Minute' at http://www.onlinemarketingmuscle.com/marketingminute/ , -- a weekly multimedia e-zine designed to give you a jolt of marketing wisdom in less than 5 minutes.