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Issue Date
July 1, 2008
If you want the latest news
go to
http://www.gathergreatness.com
and sign up now,
before it’s too late!!!
PS.
I would like to publically thank Mike Litman for his constant giudance and coaching.
Mike Litman is
#1 Mentor
#1 Best-Selling Author
Bill
Gratitude Journal
I wrote in my Gratitude Journal today.
Thank you God,
for allowing me the clarity to move my life forward,
for keeping my thoughts positive,
for inspiring me to action,
for going the distance.
Today I took a big step in realizing my dream,
my dream to help others achieve their greatness.
My dream of becoming a ‘Career Mentor’ and ‘Life Coach’ has started to take shape.
Bill
I hope to see you ‘on the road to greatness.’
Join me on my journey.
The 7 Deadly Sins of Internet Marketing
What might kill your Internet Marketing Business? As I see it, there are 7 glaring behaviors that will do you in, like dead.
I call them the 7 Deadly Sins.
One causes sudden death, the others a slow painful demise.
The slow and silent sins creep into your business like a serpent. They prey on the weaknesses of the human spirit. Why is my internet business not moving forward as I had anticipated at its inception? Where did my plans go astray? What happened to my motivation? What do I do now?
Sound familiar?
Perfection. Wait until its perfect. I don’t want to begin until all the t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted. It took me a long time to let go of this idea. I would plan and plan, then revise and revise until I was exhausted and not quite getting it perfect, my plan remained on the shelf, never to be realized. In internet marketing it is more important to start. Get your idea out to the world. How will you know if your idea will work if you keep it to yourself? You will also get feedback from others by getting started, so you can now begin to revise if necessary.
Scattered. Being scattered still tempts me, almost on a daily basis. It is easy to give up when things get tough. As soon as the next new gadget or leaked out secret rears its head, I am enticed to abandon my projects and take a new direction. If you keep jumping from one business to another, you will never develop the momentum to succeed. Laser-like focus is usually necessary to see your internet marketing to completion.
Indecision. From my vantage point, most successful marketers are not shy about being decisive. They believe in their product and go to great lengths to listing the benefits. Their success depends on capturing the soul of their readers. The temptations are plentiful and the pain of living without is masterfully laid before you. The time to act is now, the clock is ticking. There is no room for the indecisive.
Inconsistency. I am still very much plagued by this transgression. I confess that I have been extremely inconsistent at time. In order to be successful you must be visible and constantly in front of your readers. If you rely on a blog to reach your audience, new articles should be available on a regular basis. One or two posts per month will cause most people to look elsewhere for information or content. Updating your content is not only an option but an essential requirement.
Doubt. If your mind is full of insecurities you will never really commit to anything. Doubting your ability to do something will paralyze you from even starting. Why try if you know your will fail? Doubt can constrict and squeeze the life out of your dreams.
Fear. When it comes to fear and doubt, I’m not sure if the apple or the serpent appeared first on the scene. Fear is surely as deadly. Being afraid of failure, afraid of what others may think or some other negative outcome resulting from our actions can steal our dream and any hope of realizing our full potential. Funny thing is, most of our fears are unjustified. What stops us from creating value is not something from the outside, but something from within.
Nuisance. Bottom line is, you must provide value. The last of the 7 killers of marketing on the internet is sure to end your relationships with a premature death. This may occur as you are tagged with the name, spammer. Being present for your readers is vital, but being a nuisance is the one sin that may be non-forgivable.
I guess the use of the word Sins was a bit strong,
but most of us live with one or more of these limiting behaviors. The trick is to know that they exist and try our best to steer clear.
As a final note, i wish all my fellow bloggers and internet marketers success, success being a positive and rewarding, sharing of value with others.
Bill
Millionaire or Reallionaire
I started this blog with the intention of journeying toward the path of greatness, not seeking so much to becoming a man of success, but rather a man of value.
Becoming a man of value may not make you a millionaire, but it can produce something more. It can produce a reallionaire.
REALLIONAIRE
”Someone who has discovered that there is more to money than having money.
A person who understands that success is not just being rich in your pocket; you have to be rich on the inside too.” Farrah Gray
Anyone who wants more out of life and the rewards that follow will build their success on three pillars,
- honesty
- ambition
- hard work.
Become ’someone great.’
Journey ‘the road less traveled.’
I hope to see you, ‘on the road to greatness.’
I may have outfoxed the fox
Is it just me, or do you feel it too?
The first week of June,
The temperature has reached 90 degress +
Everything feels cheery, peaceful, and well………………………lazy.
That’s good, right?
Well, ……………………………………
Yes…….. and No…………
Bill, why No?
It happens every year at this same time. All of my business goals are instinctively shelved for a matter of weeks. The cool breeze, the warm air, the lazy feeling of summer is too much for me. One of my biggest goals this year was “to become more focused.” I was making good progress, making new contacts, meeting deadlines and showing positive results. Was……………………….
How could this year be any different from those prior? Like I said, I was working on staying more focused and trying to “increase my power of concentration.” But how could I do this with less effort and still get good results? It’s hard to focus when everyone and everything around you, is heading in the complete opposite direction!
I think I may have found a solution, at least a way to keep moving forward. I may have found a way.
What if there was a way to:
- Learn without concentrating,
- Read without focusing,
- Stay motivated in spite of everything!
Here is what I discovered.
After all my hours of distraction, I only needed to do two things:
- set thirty minutes aside before retiring for the night, and
- pop a CD into my computer.
Pretty easy! Huhh?
It is, actually.
So what’s on the CD, and how am I going to concentrate on it, anyway?
That’s the best part!
The CD is comprised of soothing and relaxing sounds of flowing water, quite easy to listen to. Ingeniously, it is also embedded with subliminal suggestions………Suggestions to encourage and guide you toward your goals. It reaches and speaks to your subconscious mind without adding further demands to your already overworked conscious mind.
No more stress trying to motivate myself, or feeling guilty about giving up on my goals.
I feel like I may have “outfoxed the fox.”
Don’t let summer distractions stand in the way of your dreams. You decide! Could ”subliminal suggestion” be “right for you” ?
subliminal tapes - http://www.subliminal-tapes-self-improvement.com/
subliminal tapes – http://www.subliminal-tapes-self-improvement.com/subliminal_tapes_self_improvement_testimonials.html
subliminal cd - http://www.subliminal-tapes-self-improvement.com/subliminal_tapes_self_improvement_online_catalog.html
subliminal mp3 – http://www.subliminal-tapes-self-improvement.com/subliminal_tapes_and_cd_demo.html
Become your Greatest Self !
Dare to be Great !!
I hope to see you “On the Road to Greatness” !!!
Bill
The Power of Words
I don’t think he ever truely understood.
He was a sports’ fanatic. He worked a lot of hours, but every free moment was centered around ‘the next game.’ He loved to listen to baseball, and was always the first to volunteer to coach the local little league.
He played to win, and always brought out the best in his players.
Only one problem………………….. his energy was focused soley on the players who had the natural talent, ‘the gifted’ if you will.
He had little time or patience for the fledgling,
the mediocre,
the second string.
His words of praise were reserved
for the select,
the superstars,
the winners.
“Keep your eye on the ball!
“What are you swinging at?
“Stand closer to the plate!
were all too often spoken,
to the not-so-talented.
He was excited,
he was passionate,
and as I said,
he played to WIN.
He was my father, a great man.
He was their for many,
but………..when it came to sports, I was the untalented, I was the mediocre, I was second-string.
I’m sure,
He never really understood, the power of his words, and how much they shaped my life.
One thing I do know,
I know, first hand. Words are extremely powerful !!
Words can raise you up
or
they can crush you.
Positive and uplifting words, spoken to us, or spoken to ourselves, can make ‘all the difference.’
I live my life trying to be a positive example,
to speak only in kindness, and
to provide value to everyone I meet.
Thanks to all who have contributed to my success, by the praise, encouragement and by “the power of your kind words.”
Bill
A Journey of 1,000,000 Miles
I’m on a journey to fulfilling a dream, a dream that I have struggled with for quite some time.
I’m on a mission to further defining myself, and helping you do the same!
Why am I here? What is the deeper purpose of my existence? I’m on a journey to finding myself.
Finding myself ?
Bill, What are you talking about?
Let me explain.
Maybe a brief account of my life will help you see my inner struggle.
I was born in the Eastern-Part of the USA, the oldest of eight. I went to grade school and high school, as most all the youth of my day.
Up to this point I had done what my parents and society had asked. I liked school and managed to achieve better than average grades.
Upon graduation, my father encouraged me to enter the University. I, however, had no idea what I wanted to pursue. I had no inclination as to my future career upon completion. I, nevertheless, gathered up my confidence and apprehensively enrolled in a 4 years Arts & Science Program.
I clearly remember my affirmation. ” I would honor my father’s request.” “I decided I would enroll as a Pre-Med Student, the hardest curriculum in the Program, and if I made through the first year without failing grades, I would continue.”
Pretty dumb reason for continuing my education, if I do say so myself.
Well, as it turned out, I learned something the first year, not so much the material of the subjects I studied, but, several life lessons:
1. No one could tell me I couldn’t succeed! I studied my _ss off. I had a hard time with Chemisrty, Zoology and only managed a 2.3 on a 4.0 scale….but I passed!
2. I really learned how to concentrate, not like high school. The half hour review was replaced by four to five hours of study and research. At the University Level, I was far from the sharpest crayon in the box. I really needed to apply myself to keep up.
3. I learned to manage my time. I attended all the basketball and football games and had a good time, but I always gave study-time a priority. If I failed, it wasn’t because I didn’t try.
While I am thinking about it, let me share a story with you.
It occurred during my first year at the University.
I remember, 3 credit hours of my 18 hour schedule was a class entitled, Introduction to Psychology.
Most of the Pre-Med Students complained about it. It had no apparent value to them, on the road to their profession. Well, like I said, I really didn’t intend on becoming a doctor.
The University I attended was a Private University, and was fairly small in comparison to a State University. The Psychology Class of which I partook was comprised of 40 or 50 students.
Anyway, there was a young man named Doug, who sat directly adjacent to me. He was clearly bound for success. He had an IQ far superior to 95% of then Freshman Class. In a word, he was, brilliant. He scored high in all of his classes, Summa Cum Laude, I believe it was called.
Anyway, I remember him gloating everytime the test papers were passed back to us. He never scored below a 90%.
As I said, he sat right next to me.
The guy was very likeable and we developed somewhat of a friendship,
at least in Psychology Class.
What I am about to share was one of the proudest moments of my College Career.
The Professor was in the habit of scheduling a weekly review test on Fridays.
The material for that week was very challenging and required not only memorization but understanding a lot of theory.
He had received his paper back before me that day.
I can still see the the score on his papers, 88%. Not bad, infact quite good, considering the content of the material that was covered.
I was all smiles!
I had recieved my score now.
He must have seen my expression, for I couldn’t contain feelings.
The look on his face was priceless.
I had scored a 100%.
He almost ripped the paper out of my hands to study my answers.
How could I, a 2.3 student, beat him on a test like this!
On that day, I was the best!
I had proved to myself that I could outperform even ‘the best of the best’, but only in my area of expertise.
On that day, or shortly thereafter, I decided to switch my Major. I would manage to graduate with a 3.5 grade point average, Majoring in Psychology.
Now what ???
It was time to find a JOB.
I had worked every summer to help my parents to pay for my education. I worked on an auto assembly line during two summers, and as a custodial groundskeeper for the other two.
What was I prepared to do now?
With college degree in hand, I realized my beginning venture into the job market was not all that promising. It was kind of depressing.
What was a college graduate, with a bachelors degree in psychology, supposed to do.
My father was an accountant. He seemed to know exactly what his goals were.
Without further study, a myriad of psychology classes and fifty cents could maybe get you a soft drink.
I took a job at a department store for a lesser hourly pay than my summer jobs had yielded.
It was more or less,in my mind, a temporary position, until someone recognized my true value and offered me thousands of dollars for my services.
Yea right.
I didn’t know it, but I was entering the next level of my education, at the School of Hard Knocks.
Nothing would come easily to me.
I did meet a young lady that year. To make a long story short, we worked together, fell in love, and were married shortly thereafter.
She is still the love of my life,
after 30 odd years and 4 children, we are still together.
Getting back to my story,
the story of my journey,
the story of my life purpose,
I guess I always relied a lot on others to set my direction.
I have always been employed by someone, never the one that owned the company.
I have traveled a difficult, but rewarding road.
After leaving the department store life, still kind of drifting along, I accepted a position as a restaurant manager trainee. This was mainly due to the higher pay incentive. It was quite foreign to me, but the ability to train, organize and work under pressure came somewhat quickly to me.
I worked for a small company, as the general manager of a quick sevice restaurant, for 5 years.
Again, with growing family obligations, I accepted a management position with a larger restaurant chain, with more benefits and a higher pay.
Six more years as a general manager, I finally earned the position of Area Manager, with the responsibility of supervising a handful of restaurants. This was a tough position, hiring, training and assuring all of the stores were being operated efficiently, achieving their maximum P&L Potential.
After 3 years of intense pressures of staff problems, management problems and upper management demands, I decided to change direction a little.
I stepped down to the general manager position and began looking for something a little more calm.
For some time I struggled. Did I make a mistake? Should I have kept pushing myself to maintain my middle management position?
A year later, I came accross a newspaper ad. The owner of a new concept restaurant franchise was looking for a Training Director.
Interesting.
I had trained several management people. I was good at it. I was the man they were looking for!
Well, as it turned out, I am still with this, now quite larger company. I have been the Training Director, Franchise Supervisor, and a Regional Director of Operations.
I have, as you might say, “done it all.”
Recently, however, I have been looking to advance myself further. Something inside me is telling me there is more that I can share with my fellow man.
I have finally decided my journey lies in an entrepreneurial design.
I have been an employee all of my career. It is now my time to stand in front of the crowd and further define myself.
It is time to take the skills that I have developed and go beyond what was once ‘my boundary’, into something new and more challenging.
My new direction is:
helping others find value in their lives,
helping them develop their true potential,
helping them find their purpose in life,
helping them define themselves.
I would like to help YOU answer the questions:
Who are you?
Why are you here?
Where are you going?
How will you know you have gotten there?
When I get there,
I will have reached ‘my dream.’
“I am not here for everyone, but for someone.”
I hope to meet you someday, “On the Road to Greatness.”
I am in the process of starting a Mentoring Program, a Coaching Program.
I am at your service.
Please let me know if you are the kind of person who may benefit
from a Life Coach.
P.S.
A Hint,
If you got to the bottom of this long-winded post….You probably are!
E-Mail me, for more details.
Thank you,
Bill
Bill Baumgartner
Hamilton, Ohio USA
Bill@gathergreatness.com
www.gathergreatness.com
How To: Add the [Date and Time] to your Website
What time is it where you live?
Click on my wesite homepage: www.gathergreatness.com
to see what time it is in my hometown, Hamilton, Ohio. USA.
P.S.___________________
If you want to put a clock (like the one on my website),
onto your website,…………go to:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
Click on your current location,
scroll down to the bottom of the page
under “Additional Time-Related Services”
to get the HTML Code (which you can modify color, color background and font size),
Copy & Paste………… and Voila!
Pretty Cool!
Well, I thought it was cool.
I see the light
I hear it almost everyday. People complaining about anything and everything.
How can they expect for things in their lives to get better?
All their energy is focused on finding and broadcasting all the negatives they can muster up.
Sometimes I ignore these people.
More often, I try to engage them in converstion, not to propogate their gloom, but to see if I can help them see things in a more positive light.
Often, they just blow me off, some other times I manage a smile from them, and rarely I even make a friend.
I am on a mission.
I now wake up in the morning with a burning desire,
to bring ‘VALUE TO EVERYONE I MEET.’
I’ts really not so hard. It just takes a little effort in the morning to start the day with a positive attitude. I make it a point to look for opportunities to bring joy, happiness, and a zest for living to everyone I encounter.
I hope you had a Great Day,
and wishing you a Greater Day Tomorrow.
Bill
These things didn’t work
Imagine, if you will, two individuals with equal intelligence and equal ability entering the marketplace.
Both given the same opportunities,
what causes one individual to achieve average success,
and the other to excel, really excel,
……………………………. possibly to Greatness!?
I used to ask myself these questions.
I went to work everyday. I showed up on time, I kept my uniform looking good. I learned all the basics of my job. I even went the extra mile to learn the details of each component task that contributed to the quality of the final product. Quality was, in fact, an important piece to the overall objective of the Company. If the quality wasn’t 100% accurate, the reputation of the company was severely damaged. Every detail was important.
My employer seemed to recognize my competance, the Company was flourishing, the bosses were happy, but I was miserable.
I had been with the same company for four or five years. I had a good relationship with my co-workers and my immediate supervisors. Why then was I always passed by for promotion? Oftentimes the Comany would hire upper management from outside the Company. I had even seen individuals that I had worked alongside, advancing in the Company, ahead of me.
What was wrong? I did a better job than most of them. Maybe if I had worked a little harder, worked more hours, or had been a more dedicated employee, I would have been recognized for what I was worth.
Or maybe not!
I was already one of the hardest workers. I put in the extra time. I was a model employee!
These things didn’t work!
They don’t work!
As it turned out, these were exactly the things that were holding me back.
Was I destined to remain miserable, underappreciated and underpaid ?
I was frustrated.
It was at this low time in my career that I discovered an important lesson.
No matter how hard I tried to succeed, I would not receive what I wanted, until I changed something internally.
It was still important to keep doing all the little things that made up my job,
But,
instead of wasting energy on further improving my job skills, (they were about as good as they could get ), I needed to focus on something inside.
I needed to focus on Me.
I needed to improve Me.
I needed to become more Valuable.
I needed to help others become more Valuable.
I short, I needed to develop my training skills, my relationship skills, my leadership skills.
I learned two very important lessons that eventually helped me move my career forward::
“ EVERY LEVEL OF ADVANCEMENT DEMANDS A NEW YOU. “
and
” LEARN TO WORK HARDER ON YOURSELF, than you do on the Job! “
I wish you every good wish,
On the Road to Greatness,
On the Road to Your Greatest Self.
Bill
