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MLM Woman Issue 75 April 2003 This FREE monthly newsletter is made possible by our advertisers and customers. We thank them for their support! From the Desk of the Editor Welcome to the 75th issue of the MLM Woman Newsletter. This month we feature articles on how to benefit from a MasterMind Group, how to avoid struggle and get into the flow of success, tips for helping your customers in the sales process and how to decide if hiring a coach can help you become more successful in your life and business. We also have a special extra free bonus report that you can download this month. To get the Free Special Report - "65 Ways to Circulate Post Cards Postage Free" click here to download. Enjoy! Linda Locke, Editor MLM Woman A Success Essential - Join A Mastermind Group Copyright 2003 by Willie Crawford In the quest for secrets to internet marketing success some very obvious factors are often overlooked. One that you may have noticed but not acted upon is the mastermind principle. Since so many people don't use this principle in building their business, you have a tremendous advantage if you just begin using this simple tool. It's a recognized fact that when you have several people brainstorming and working on a project you get more breakthroughs and unique perspectives than you would if just one person were working on it. A mastermind group is simply a group of people bonded together to work on a common objective. This objective can be as simple as to share knowledge on what is or isn't working to grow members' businesses. In working with and studying six and seven-figure income earners, I don't know of one who is not a member of a mastermind group. They all also have mentors or coaches. They often even coach each other since we all have unique skills and perspectives that can benefit others. Mastermind groups brainstorm, inspire, prod, and joint venture the group members to a level of accomplishment they could never achieve individually. The mastermind group can be structured many different ways. You can meet in person if practical. You can meet via teleconferences or web casts. You can meet once a week, once a month, or even once a year. How and how often you meet depends upon what's practical and what is needed to keep the all group members on-target. The structure is very flexible. There is a lot of literature available of joining or locating a mastermind group. I personally belong to 4 separate groups... each with a slightly different purpose. I located or formed these groups by exchanging emails with like-minded individuals. I also met several members of my mastermind groups at conferences. The face-to-face interaction confirmed that the chemistry was right. What is critical is that the groups purpose be very clear to each member, and that the group adhere to that purpose. How do you, find or join a mastermind group, and begin achieving much more than you ever could individually? I would begin by asking those I frequently communicate with if they would like to work together on projects or form a group. I would also approach someone I admired or respected and seek their advice. If they were not part of a mastermind group open to new members, they could probably point you in the right direction. They may also be open to serving as a coach or mentor for you. Working closely with and contributing to a mastermind group has been a big part of my success and that of all of my very successful acquaintances. It's one of those obvious things you can't afford to overlook. Begin seeking out and cultivating relationships today. Instead of going it alone, learn to harness the incredible power of the mastermind! About the Author Willie Crawford is a recognized internet marketing expert. He is the organizer of the Internet Marketing How To Workshop, which completely steps you through the process of creating and marketing your own products. The workshop brings together experts who have developed many highly successful products to show you step-by-step. Get more details at: http://internetmarketinghowtoworkshop.com No More Struggle Seven Steps to Stay Out of Struggle and in the Flow of Success By Michael Angier I've worked hard throughout much of my life. I still work hard and I like doing so. What I don't like is struggle. And I've done that, too. Working diligently at something we're excited about doesn't seem all that hard. When we're confident that what we're doing matters and we're making noticeable progress, it rarely seems like hard work. Struggle, on the other hand, feels totally different. Struggle is when you aren't making any progress--or can't SEE any progress. Struggle is when you get frustrated and have doubts about what you're doing or how you're doing it. The trick is to notice when you're in struggle and then make the mental and emotional shift out of it. Easier said than done. Highly successful people still have their challenges. They still face roadblocks and sometimes even experience struggle. They just don't stay there. They have a different attitude. They have more optimism and choose better strategies. They have confidence in themselves and in what they're doing. Here are seven steps to stay out of struggle and in the flow of success: Become and remain clear about what you want and why. Keep focused on intended results. Be willing to change what's not working and keep doing what IS working. Have a sense of urgency but also be patient with yourself and others. Use obstacles and difficulties as learning guides--chances to grow stronger and better. Stay the course. Persist until you break through. Appreciate the fact you have the freedom and opportunity to pursue your dreams. About the Author Copyright Success Networks International. Part of Success Net's mission is to position you for success. Free subscriptions, eCourses, memberships, eBooks and SuccessMark Cards available at http://SuccessNet.org - InfoPlease@SuccessNet.org Are You In Business To Help Customers? Copyright 2003 Bob Leduc Customers want to believe you are in business to help them. They don't mind if you make a profit by helping them. But they won't buy from you if they believe you are only in business to get their money. Here are 4 ways you can assure customers that you are in business to help them. 1. Personalize Your Sales Approach Customers will not believe you really want to (or can) help them when they see you trying to sell the same product or service to everybody. Learn everything you can about your customers and their lifestyles. Then, sub-divide your targeted market into several narrowly defined niche markets. Customize your sales messages to the specific interests and needs of prospects in each niche market. Customers should be able to see your product or service as the perfect solution to their specific situation. 2. Convert Everything Into Customer Benefits One way to convince customers you want to help them is to focus on the benefits they can get from you. Customers don't really care about you, your company, your products or your professional credentials. They only care about the benefits they can get by using your products or services. Keep this in mind as you develop your web pages, sales letters and other promotional materials. Present everything in terms of the benefit it provides to customers. For example: ...Don't just list the features of your product or service. Explain how those features provide the benefits your customers want. ...Don't just publicize your educational or professional credentials. Describe how those credentials equip you to do a better job for customers than your competitors. 3. Build A Relationship You can also demonstrate your commitment to help customers by building a relationship with them. Few prospects buy on the first communication - even if they desperately want or need what you are selling. Stay in contact with these prospective customers. Follow up periodically with some useful information ...and don't charge them for it. Building a supportive relationship proves you want to help them. It gains their trust - and eventually a sale. Internet Marketers: Make sure you have a way of getting the email addresses of visitors to your web site. You need it to follow up with them. For example, offer a complimentary subscription to your email newsletter - or a complimentary special report delivered by email. 4. Encourage Questions Answering questions is another way to demonstrate your interest in helping customers. It also captures sales you would otherwise lose from prospects unable to get all the information they wanted. Encourage prospective customers to ask questions when you are in a live selling situation. Make it easy for customers to ask questions when they are at your web site or in other selling situations without live communication. For example, provide a phone number customers can call to speak with you or someone else who can answer their questions. Consider using a toll-free number unless you only do business in a local area. Tip: Include a Q&A page on your web site with answers to frequently asked questions. It will reduce the number of questions you have to answer individually. Customers know you are in business to make a profit. But they also want to know you are in business to help them. The 4 methods revealed in this article will help you assure customers that you are committed to helping them. About the Author Bob Leduc spent 20 years helping businesses just like yours find new customers and increase sales. He just released a New Edition of his manual, How To Build Your Small Business Fast With Simple Postcards and several other publications to help small businesses grow and prosper. For more information: Email: BobLeduc@aol.com Subject: "Postcards" Phone: 702-658-1707 after 10 AM Pacific Time/Las Vegas, NV How to Make the Next 7 Months Your Best 7 Months by Using a Coach By Phyllis Wilson Life is a fast-paced game and as a player in this game called "life", we all need a coach at sometime. With just seven months until 2003 is over, are you where you want to be in this game? Perhaps you could benefit from having a coach - it is like having your own best friend, guide, cheerleader, sounding board, listener, confidant, resource, mentor, supporter, educator, and an equal partner all rolled into one. Typical signs that you need a coach are: starting a business, improving an existing business, relationship issues, life transitions, career changes, short-term project completion, personal transformation, not knowing what to do with your life, or your life seems out of balance - all work and no play perhaps. This might be due to losing focus, with a career setback or perhaps just a feeling that you are not moving forward as you want to. How does coaching work? Coaching is a very proactive process and one of partnership between the coach and the client. Coaching is different from therapy; while therapy looks at the past, coaching looks at the current situation and what is to come next. A coach will encourage you to move forward faster towards clear objectives. He or she will do this by providing positive, truthful, honest and clear encouragement. Unlike most friends, a coach will always tell you what they feel is true, even if it isn't what they think you want to hear. Let's face it, most people are afraid to tell us the truth because they don't want to take the chance of hurting our feelings or jeopardizing the relationship. Coaches take that risk. Each coach has a different technique or method, but all coaches listen to everything you are and are not saying. By asking questions you have probably never heard before, you and your coach will gain insight regarding what you truly value and want. They will support you in creating a sensible action plan designed toward you achieving your goals. Most coaches believe that your answers, strengths, talents and abilities are already right there, inside of you, just waiting to be recognized. But finding those answers by yourself isn't always easy. How much does coaching cost? Fees for coaching vary and are based on the individual coach. The coach considers such factors as: - The frequency of your coaching. - The length of your coaching sessions. - Whether sessions are in person, by phone, or email - Whether you participate in group coaching Whatever the format, successful coaching calls for extended conversations (typically for 30 to 60 minutes) at least twice a month, and usually weekly. On average coaching ranges from $100 - $1500 a month. But the return on investment far exceeds the dollars spent. How long do I have to commit to coaching? Since coaching is tailor-made to each person's needs. Many people retain a coach for a short duration (usually three to six months) to work on a specific set of goals. Others partner with a coach for years to work through a variety of issues/goals. Whether the scopes of your goals are limited or extensive, the essence of coaching is to move forward advantageously. A good coach will prod you constantly to your most optimal performance. That's one reason coaching is so effective. And once people experience that effectiveness, they often make an extended commitment to coaching. How do I find a coach? Perhaps the most important quality in your potential coach is that he or she is someone you feel absolutely comfortable with. Someone with whom you have "good chemistry." Remember, you are going to be engaged in many candid and confidential conversations with your coach or mentor. You need someone with whom you are instantly and constantly at ease with. Look for a coach who understands the subtleties of human behavior. Someone who asks intuitive, provocative questions. Your coach should be stretching you in almost every session. While it's important to be at ease with a coach, you don't want a coach who makes you comfortable. The purpose for having a coach or mentor is to grow, and you never grow while being made comfortable. There are several ways to find a coach: - Ask someone close to you or a friend for personal recommendations - Do a search on the internet for "coach" and contact several coaches for a complimentary session. Evaluate three or four coaches through the complimentary session to find the "perfect fit." Coaching is a one-on-one working relationship - a partnership based on trust, candor, and accountability - that allows people to make the most of their skills, strengths, and relationships. Coaching improves your bottom-line effectiveness and produces more fruitful careers, personal lives, and families. Just as you might hire lawyer to help you through a legal problem, personal coaches help you address your most pressing needs in both the workplace and your private life. Just image 7 months from now you could be on top of your game! About the Author Phyllis Wilson, Professional Coach, pwilson3@grandecom.net Back to the MLM Woman Newsletter Index We want your feedback! Send e-mail comments to Linda at: regent@west.net Copyright 2003, Regent Press