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Give Them More Than What They Expect!

July 23rd, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 1 Comment | Filed in Achieving Success

Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected — Steve Jobs

We live in interesting times. The Internet has brought the world together like never before and we all have access to vast amounts of information.

But it is easy to get lost in the midst of the data jungle, with your words…your voice, crowded out.

I included the quote from Apple founder Steve Jobs for a reason. Of all the tech companies we know, Apple is a cut above the rest. Above Yahoo. Above Microsoft. And, yes, above Google.

Though Google is prized for its sheer size, much of what it develops has been acquired. With Apple, all of their products are of their own innovations. You may not own a Mac, but you love iTunes; you may own an iPhone and you are absolutely intrigued by the iPad.

Quality Yardstick

Apple got where they are because they are THE yardstick of quality. It took nearly two decades of using PCs to show me that Macs are best and are without all of the goofy registry problems plaguing Windows based units. I promise I won’t become a Mac snob, but their computers are exceptional.

Few of us can be compared to Steve Jobs when it comes to scale and influence. But that shouldn’t stop us from pursuing our best. Jobs and many tech wonders like him started out small, but thanks to a relentless pursuit of excellence have made a name for themselves and their products.

Niche Dominator

So, what is the best approach for being a stand out in your particular niche? That’s easy: give “them” more than what is expected from you. Here are some examples I like to employ:

Writing — Your client may call for a 400-word lightly researched article, but why stop there? Consider contacting at least one expert for an in-text quote, add in some long tail keywords and pluck a related public domain photo from Wikimedia Commons. You’ve not only demonstrated to your client that you can get the job done, but that you took leadership in crafting a well researched, nicely written and proofread piece.

Marketing — Your expertise may be along the lines of marketing, a broad category that may include on-line and off-line strategies. Though I would never advise people to give away the store, I do encourage them to dress up their presentation. For example, offer clients a detailed spreadsheet outlining articles written, links exchanged, ads placed or some other tasks completed.

Design — You have found a suitable WordPress theme, but does it do enough? Probably not, unless you paid for a professionally designed theme. Importantly, it is often the back end issues that make all the difference in the way a blog looks and runs. Those issues include plug-ins to make the blog more secure, watermarks for photographs, optimization of posts and pages for SEO purposes and so much more. Your customer may not understand the importance of these things but you do. Tell them and then show them what a difference you make.

Lasting Value

One phrase you will never hear from Steve Jobs is this one: “we lack new customers.” Because Job set a yardstick for quality, people know that what Apple makes will be of lasting value and will continue to beat a path to Apple stores.

In whatever sphere you work, you can do the same by dominating your niche because you consistently go beyond what is expected from you.

Adv. — Looking for online deals? Shop the nBuy Shopping Plaza and save!


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7 Tips For Effective Business Networking

February 4th, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 3 Comments | Filed in Achieving Success

Effective networking is most beneficial!

Networking is a hot topic with so many people out of work, underemployed, or simply having given up looking for work. Even some people who feel safe in their positions wonder what they would do if they lost their jobs.

The key for everyone? Networking, which is defined by Entrepreneur.com as meaning, “Developing and using contacts made in business for purposes beyond the reason for the initial contact.”

That’s a mouthful but it suggests something well beyond a passing fancy. It is all about building up relationships that are mutual and satisfying. Not always on equal terms, but beneficial to both parties.

Effective networking is something everyone should strive for, but how do we implement and nurture that strategy? There are a number of things you can do to help you in that endeavor:

1. Get Real: If you want to be a friend, then show yourself friendly. This means being “real” with people and genuinely concerned with how that person thinks or feels.

2. Be Clear: Too many messages are muddled these days with people parsing their words, changing what they said, or outright reneging on their promises. Who needs that? Say what you mean, mean what you say and you will eliminate most misunderstandings.

3. Immerse Yourself: Break free of just one group of people by joining several groups of interest to you. Let your enthusiasm spring forth, be passionate about whatever who you are and what you do. This also means culling activities where you do not excel or where networking fruit is non-existent. Poet Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “It’s faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living.” Enthusiasm is contagious and can be a life giver!

4. Stand Tall: Are you an expert in your field or knowledgeable in a particular area of expertise? Become known as a trusted authority and do everything you can to cultivate and maintain that trust. A “go to” person is a people magnet, someone frequently called upon for help.

5. Assume Leadership: Not everyone is a leader, many people are followers. But leadership goes beyond a title, it is also a condition. Initiate, implement, and advance what you believe and people will respect you regardless of your title. Even effective leaders know their place as British statesman Benjamin Disraeli said, “I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?”

6. Respond Quickly: When approached by someone for assistance or when an inquiry is made, be prepared to respond as soon as you can. Your quick response shows this person that you think they are important, someone they will remember as being a helpful network builder.

7. Joint Projects: Collaborate with like-minded people to get the job done. Rubbing shoulders with people cements relationships, offering visible proof of each person’s talents.

Each of these steps must be put into practice nurtured if you want to be part of a healthy network. Your strong network is what you will need to fall back on in times of trouble, taking out from it what you have been putting into it all along.


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Achieving Success BLOG

May 2nd, 2009 by Krayton M Davis | No Comments | Filed in Achieving Success

BLOG postings: (link to Achieving Success BLOG for PDF downloads)

Execute Success: The Evaluation Process

I saw a fleet of fishing boats . . . I flew down almost touching the craft and yelled at them, asking if I was on the right road to Ireland. They just stared. Maybe they didn’t hear me. Maybe I didn’t hear them. Or maybe they thought I was just a crazy fool. An hour later I saw land.
Charles Lindbergh

The steps outlined in these next postings will measure your progress on a daily, weekly and phase-to-phase basis. We have segmented the postings into the following discussions:

I: Daily Task Measurement.
II: Weekly Goal and Benchmark Evaluation
III: Weekly Role Evaluation
IV: Daily Character Attribute Evaluation
V: Weekly Character Attribute Evaluation
VI: Life Phase Evaluation
VII: Starting a New Life Phase
VIII: Objective and Goal Evaluation

VII: Starting a New Life Phase

You will begin a new life phase for two reasons:

a) When circumstances in your life require that you shift direction and pursue other goals.

Certain changes in your life may force you to end your current life phase and begin a new one. Changes such as a new career, marriage, transfer to a new location, etc., will require new goals and perhaps a different goal plan. This will be an appropriate time to begin a new life phase.

Some changes in your life can be dramatic like a divorce, a death in the family or a loss of job. This can be upsetting where you lack the enthusiasm to pursue your goals. This is understandable. Your best option under these circumstances is to begin a new life phase and select some special goals and benchmarks that can help you through this time.

Beginning a new life phase is easy. Simply follow the steps outlined in Chapter 12. The next phase will begin with n+1 ( n equals the number of your current phase that is ending). Assign 2-5 years to the n+1 phase. Select the goal(s) with their respective benchmarks that you want to achieve or continue for the next phase. Identify the tasks that will achieve the benchmarks with assigned completion dates.

b) When your current phase ends, or when you achieve all of the benchmarks and goals selected for the current phase.

You will begin a new life phase when your current phase ends. It’s a great feeling to complete a phase, especially when you achieved all of the goals/benchmarks assigned for this phase. You are achieving success . . . one phase at a time.

As you end one life phase and begin another, simply repeat the steps outlined in Chapter 12 for beginning a life phase. Consider working and accomplishing more goals and benchmarks in the next phase to inch yourself closer to the objective — if you have the confidence and strength to accomplish more.

Sometimes a life phase will end without your achieving all the goals and benchmarks assigned for this phase; e.g., you didn’t get accepted to graduate school or you failed to win that special promotion. You might want to extend your current life phase for additional year or two to complete the goals/benchmarks that were unfinished.

Next week: we move onto VIII: Objective and Goal Evaluation

You can find the day planning systems we are illustrating in this discussion in our FREE appendix file (Appendix as Form-N and Forms O.1-O.7 ).

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Achieving Success BLOG

April 18th, 2009 by Krayton M Davis | No Comments | Filed in Achieving Success

BLOG postings: (link to Achieving Success BLOG for PDF downloads)

Execute Success: The Evaluation Process

I saw a fleet of fishing boats . . . I flew down almost touching the craft and yelled at them, asking if I was on the right road to Ireland. They just stared. Maybe they didn’t hear me. Maybe I didn’t hear them. Or maybe they thought I was just a crazy fool. An hour later I saw land.
Charles Lindbergh

The steps outlined in these next postings will measure your progress on a daily, weekly and phase-to-phase basis. We have segmented the postings into the following discussions:

I: Daily Task Measurement.
II: Weekly Goal and Benchmark Evaluation
III: Weekly Role Evaluation
IV: Daily Character Attribute Evaluation
V: Weekly Character Attribute Evaluation
VI: Life Phase Evaluation
VII: Starting a New Life Phase
VIII: Objective and Goal Evaluation

VI: Life Phase Evaluation

We now turn to your personal “Goal Planning Kit” that you assembled in Chapter 12 to measure your goal progress. Periodically, you will refer to your kit to plan the goals/benchmarks/and related tasks for a planning week. As you complete each assigned task listed on your Task Assignment Sheet (Appendix Form-J), you will add new task assignments until you complete everything that has been planned for this life phase. You will refer back to Chapter 12 to assign new tasks as diagrammed by the letter “J” on the illustration.

Much can happen in the next 2-5 years to change your goal selection. You could change your career or studies, you could get married, or you could win a million-dollar lottery. Changes in your life can affect the selection of goals that you planned for this phase.

The Benchmark Planning and Selection sheets (Appendix Form-I) list the goals and benchmarks that you selected for this life phase. You will need to review this selection periodically to evaluate whether you are accomplishing these goals and benchmarks. Perhaps you need to change one or two goals. Or maybe you need to add or delete one or more goals or benchmarks (see the illustration below). If you decide to change your entire goal/benchmark selection, I suggest you begin a new phase selection as discussed in the next section.

Next week: we move onto VII: Starting a New Life Phase

You can find the day planning systems we are illustrating in this discussion in our FREE appendix file (Appendix as Form-N and Forms O.1-O.7 ).

———-
Read more about achieving success and become something grand: subscribe to our RSS feed


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