YOU Time!

When was the last time you broke free of the business and just did something for you?

Today was my day!

I woke up early as I usually do. But, instead of turning on my computer and peaking into the world of social media, checking the magnitude of emails, or listening to the voice mails…I ignored them!

Yep! It was my day!

It had nothing to do with ignoring deadlines or responding to inquiries…it was just that I needed a free day (a personal “hookie” day).

I didn’t want to think about logging in, pushing papers, pleasing people or writing brilliant content. Nope!

I’m taking the day off. Rob has the left the building.

Most entrepreneurs would have a serious problem with just up and taking time off…even if it’s just for a day. And to be spontaneous…

…don’t even think about it!

Yet, sometimes taking time away from the business is exactly what’s needed to re-energize those entrepreneurial batteries.

You need a recharge!

Take a deep breathe! Clear your schedule! Relax!

It’s not that easy is it.

You have programmed yourself into thinking that you need to be available 24/7 for your clients and potential customers or you might miss out on that sale.

Well, my friend, the only thing you will miss out on is your enjoyment of life.

Take time to smell the roses! In fact gardening is therapeutic!

That’s what I did today! I put up a fence around my garden to keep the animals out, and then helped my wife plant all kinds of vegetables. It was fun!

I didn’t think about business, websites, Facebook, customers…and yes, I turned my cellphone off so I was not accessible to anyone.

Deals don’t need to be conducted 24/7!

Downtime is required!

It’s okay to play “hookie” from your business every so often…in fact I insist!

Go out and just enjoy the day. Turn off the cellphone, unplug the computer, no TV, no radio, don’t read the newspaper…No distractions.

Go fishing, see a baseball game, plant a garden, just do something that isn’t business related. Give yourself permission for YOU time!

When you return to work, you will feel refreshed and ready to tackle the world.

Until Next Time, 

  “Live with Passion!”

    Rob Anspach

 P.S.  Take a day off and tell me how you felt? Was it uncomfortable? Was it relaxing? How did you feel when you returned to work?

Contact Information

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Email: rob@robanspach.com                                   Phone: (717)330-7947 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rob Anspach is a “brilliantly savvy” entrepreneur who helps frustrated business owners regain the passion they once had by showing them how to be more effective in the marketplace, how to dramatically improve their business so they enjoy coming to work again and how to win over customers regardless of price. Discover how easy it is to make money in your online or offline marketing, to attract and retain clientele and profit from your passions… visit http://www.robanspach.com  today!

Rob is also the creator & dynamic force behind Success Secrets TV, the new online show dedicated to helping entrepreneurs stay successful… check it out by going to… http://www.SuccessSecrets.TV

Focused!

Over the last month, I’ve contemplated what my business stands for, who my client base is and why I do what I do. Maybe, you’ve played that game before too? Being an entrepreneur is not an easy thing. It’s not like going to a job, performing certain duties, getting a weekly paycheck, maybe a pat on the back or an ”atta boy”… no way, it’s nothing like that. Most entrepreneurs I’ve known, worked with or for, know how grueling life can be as the quintessential business owner. Long hours, sacrifice, waiting for money, advertising, employees, accountants, lawyers…doesn’t seem worth does it! An entrepreneur becomes not just a master of his field, but needs to know how to market themselves, how to socialize, and where to look for opportunities that others might have overlooked. So, back to my contemplations… What do I stand for? Well, for starters…Fairness! Freedom! Opportunity! I love having the ability to work or not to work, to create my own opportunities and share them with others and to be fair to people I hire or work with. Who is my client? This is a question every entrepreneur needs to know. What defines a client? What makes them appealing to you? Well, to be honest and somewhat forthright… my ideal client is someone that desperately wants my help and can afford my service. A client that understands the value of my service and is grateful for all that I do. One that follows my advice and gets excited when I present new ideas. Why I do what I do? It’s challenging! It’s fun! It’s a bit frustrating! It’s rewarding! I help right the mistakes entrepreneurs make in their business. I help them cut through the crap of their everyday business struggles and guide them back to the path of prosperity. So, that being said… I’m making changes in my own business structure. Some prices are going up! Some services eliminated! Some projects are being explored and some are being tossed. In the end, I’m doing some much needed housecleaning and putting my business back on track. Focused! Until Next Time,     “Live with Passion!”      Rob Anspach     P.S. Are you focused? Do you know what defines your business? If you’re ready…I’m just an email or phone call away!

Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Email: rob@robanspach.com                                   Phone: (717)330-7947 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rob Anspach is a “brilliantly savvy” entrepreneur who helps frustrated business owners regain the passion they once had by showing them how to be more effective in the marketplace, how to dramatically improve their business so they enjoy coming to work again and how to win over customers regardless of price. Discover how easy it is to make money in your online or offline marketing, to attract and retain clientele and profit from your passions… visit http://www.robanspach.com  today! Rob is also the creator & dynamic force behind Success Secrets TV, the new online show dedicated to helping entrepreneurs stay successful… check it out by going to… http://www.SuccessSecrets.TV

Is that really the angle you’re going with?

Maybe I told this story to you before, if I did, forgive me!  I believe it’s an important story that needs to be repeated as often as possible! Back in 1995, when I started my service business, my pricing was, well, very low! I figured I could win over mass amounts of accounts by being the “cheap” guy on the block. During my first year in business I must’ve gained 200 clients. I thought I was onto something. I ended up joining one of those local networking chapters and one of the members aked me about my business and how I was able to grow as fast as I was. I told him, it was my honest to goodness affordable pricing. So you’re using the cheap angle, huh? I being a bit cocky and a some what know-it-all, I shrugged my shoulders and said yep, that’s my angle. It wasn’t until I listened to an interview with Lawrence Steinmetz, Ph.D, did I realize I was all wrong. Everything Larry said, hit me like a ton of bricks. By being a “cheap” service I was actually putting my business in peril. Whenever the need arose to capture an account and I was up against a competitor my angle was the price card, which I pulled out frequently. Then they would counter attack with a lower price and a price war would ensue. I was being killed by my own ambitions of being cheap. Something had to give! And Larry’s words were the answers I needed. In his book, “How to sell at prices higher than your competitors”, Lawrence Steinmetz reveals why price is virtually never the primary reason someone buys something. “Price makes a statement; a credible statement. Just as people will believe you when you tell them you are cheaper (and they will believe that in every sense of the word — in your price, your quality and your value), they will also believe you when you say you are higher priced (again in every way — price, quality and value). Sales people who sell at high price know that you use a high price to make a credibility statement about your product being better – example, if it costs more, it probably is worth more. And they know that by acknowledging that your price is higher than your competitor’s prices, you trigger a “the hell you say” response in your customers which creates the most receptive, responsive atmosphere in which to sell your product.” That statement was my wake up call! The day I read that… I raised my prices 30%! Sure, I lost a few customers, but the one’s who stuck with me, valued my service, not my price. Was I upset that I lost a few customers? Well, to be honest, yes I was! But I soon realized those customers that didn’t stick with me, only accounted for about 20% of my revenue. And since I was raising my prices, it wasn’t going to negatively affect me. In fact, those that left were the biggest time wasting, cheapest of the cheap, pains in the butt, non-loyal customers ever. What happened next, astonished me! The higher I priced my services, the busier I got! People equated high prices to awesome work. And, I was the “go-to” guy! When my prices were low, all I attracted was low paying clients. But now that my prices were high, I was a magnet to a higher caliber clientele. I found my new angle and I was sticking with it! Until Next Time, “Live with Passion!” Rob Anspach P.S. If your business isn’t moving in the direction you would like it to be, let’s talk! Just send me an email and tell me a little bit about yourself and your company. Tell me why you think your sales aren’t where they should be, tell me what you’ve tried and why you think it didn’t work. The more I know about your situation, the better equipped I can be to help you improve and make money.

Contact Information  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Email: rob@robanspach.com Phone: (717)330-7947 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter! Rob Anspach is a “brilliantly savvy” entrepreneur who helps frustrated business owners regain the passion they once had by showing them how to be more effective in the marketplace, how to dramatically improve their business so they enjoy coming to work again and how to win over customers regardless of price. Discover how easy it is to make money in your online or offline marketing, to attract and retain clientele and profit from your passions… visit http://www.robanspach.com today! Rob is also the creator & dynamic force behind Success Secrets TV, the new online show dedicated to helping entrepreneurs stay successful… check it out by going to… http://www.SuccessSecrets.TV

Define Your Market!

This economy is wreaking havoc on how intelligent entrepreneurs define not only themselves but the market they’re targeting.

They are throwing their hands up in dispair and waiving the white flag of defeat!

They’ve lost faith in their own abilities!

They’ve become victims…allowing others to define who they are.

Yes, it’s true! But, it doesn’t have to be this way!

In fact, there are some entrepreneurs who will never fall for the excuses, will never allow someone else to define them and will never waive that white flag in defeat.

To them, not running the show the way they want is complete madness!

Yet, there are those stuggling!

I was one of those, years ago!

Let’s take a trip back to 1998, I was three years into my cleaning business.

Sales were down, bills were piling up, and my spirit was slowly being broken!

I cut prices in hopes to make it up in volume. I started offering phone quotes because well it seemed easier. I performed service in places that nobody would dare send crews to…just for a few dollars. And, I was killing myself working long, grueling hours.

I was losing my identity and my business all at the same time.

Luckily, I saw the writing on the wall!

I redefined who my market was! I eliminated all low paying jobs right off the top. No more rentals, no more restuarants, no more hotels and no more undersirable locations where half my equipment goes missing 5 minutes after arrival.

I raised my prices and strictly marketed my services to the affluent neighborhoods! In six months my average sale went from $99 to $425. I was working less hours and making more money. Way more money.

My clients appreciated me! My competitors envied me!

Sadly, most entrepreneurs don’t get it! They believe you are defined by the market, by what your customers demand and how your competitors advertise…nothing could be further from the truth.

You define your own market!

You educate your clients so they hire you, regardless of price!

You lead the pack, not follow it.

Until Next Time,

“Live with Passion!”

Rob Anspach

P.S. If you’re ready to waive that white flag, if you’re tired of being pushed on by over demanding, under paying clients, if your competitors are forcing you to change…well, it’s time you defined who you are and what you expect from the market you’re serving. It’s time to get tough! It’s time to get out of the trenches and start winning the war. It’s your game, play to win to it!

Words of Wisdom!

Today I met an elderly oriental man! And he shared with me some very powerful words of wisdom, that I thought I would pass on to you.

But first…

Let me tell you a bit about this man I met.

In the few minutes I was talking to him, he told me that he came to the United States in 1969 with his wife and nine kids. (Yep, nine! The man was blessed with patiance.)

He told me that he was lawyer in his native country but because of the way the law is practiced in America he forced to take up a new career.

He worked 2 jobs and went to school at night just so he could give his kids what they needed in life. He completed a four year degree in computer technology in just two years.

He worked for the Army and Navy as computer consultant.

He then worked 23 years as a computer analyst for a major corporation. Thinking that the company he worked for would never fail, would always be there, and would continue to be a global powerhouse…he invested most of his life savings in the stock.

Two years after he retired, the company filed bankruptcy. His retirement nest egg gone!

His son stepped in to help his father out and bought him a new house to live in.

As I was listening I could picture in my mind how this man is like a typical business. Starting out in one field then over time switching into other fields of service that although look promising and may support the company ultimately end in disaster.

Unlike the elderly man whose son came to his rescue…most businesses don’t always have the luxury of a white knight to rescue us.

Back to those words of wisdom… “Don’t work hard…work smart!”

In life (and business) we have a misbelief that working hard will give us a nice reward… when all it does is teach us that everything we worked hard for can be taken away.

Start to work smart and you’ll see you are working half as hard as you used to, and most likely making twice as much money.

Until next time,

“Live with passion”

Rob Anspach

www.robanspach.com

P.S. His son, the one who bought him a house, never went to work for someone else. He created a dynamic internet based company and probably never has to work a day in his life if he doesn’t want to. He worked smart not hard!

P.P.S. A great book I would highly recommend you read, is called “Bank on Yourself” by Pamela Yellen. I had the opportunity to interview Pamela for my “Passions to Profits” series… and let me tell you, she is one smart women. If you like to learn about Pamela or about Bank on Yourself… go to www.bankonyourself.com

Dont read this!

Well, I see that my warning of “don’t read this”… meant nothing.

You would get along beautifully with my 13 year old son.

Who didn’t listen to my warning either.

He was playing a game on facebook and must’ve got distracted by the ads… and then he did it… he clicked on something he shouldn’t have.

Virus programs went into overdrive…but couldn’t keep up.

I was able (due to my technical geeky-ness) to keep the infiltration at bay.

The damage was done!

This particular virus was labeled as “Antimalware Doctor” – and it’s pure sinister.

It took me 5 hours of wrestling with registry fixes, virus scans and jumping up and down screaming to be able to at least have access to critical files again.

Although I constantly update and back up my information, having the ability to see and use my own computer is more comforting than a back up.

As much as I wanted to continue to press forward and see if I could tame the trojan virus… I realized my time and energies could be devoted to something more productive.

I should be making money with my time…not fixing things that are wasting my time and costing me money.

A replacement PC tower with all the bells and whistles can be had for less than 500 smackaroos… and a laptop for about double that. Either way, it’s probably cheaper in the long run to buy a new one over fixing my 5 year old outdated virus-laden, stress inducing personal computer.

How many times have you continued to try to fix something that was not meant to be? Or how many times have you tried to do something yourself in order to save money when it would have been cheaper to call someone with experience to help you fix it.

We all do it! The over powering feeling that we can some how save money by tackling something we know very little about is ingrained in our entrepreneurial spirit. It’s the “hey look how much I’m gonna save when I do it myself” attitude. Sadly, ninety nine percent of the time it doesn’t work, and it ends up costing us twice as much.

This is the precise reason I no longer work on my own car. It’s too time consuming and I can make more money doing what I do best then trying to be something I’m not.

A perfect example of this is when Bones McCoy says to Captain Kirk while on the Starship Enterprise… “I’m a doctor, not an astrophysicist!”

Accept your limitations!

Heed warnings… if you dont understand something well enough…don’t try fixing it.

If your brain (the doctor in your head) says you should be doing something more productive…then get someone who is either more qualified or more patient to handle the problem.

Until next time,

“Live with passion”

Rob Anspach

www.robanspach.com

P.S. Pay the right people, and you will have time to focus on what it is you do best.

Sometimes it’s not about lemons!

Today I want to share an article with you that might just “squeeze” you enough to get your juices flowing…and hopefully make you think about how your business could be different if you changed just a few things.

 

This article was originally written by Seth Godin (a brilliant author and marketer).

            _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

 

The Lesson From Two Lemonade Stands.

The first stand is run by two kids. They use Countrytime lemonade, paper cups and a bridge table. It’s a decent lemonade stand, one in the long tradition of standard lemonade stands. It costs a dollar to buy a cup, which is a pretty good price, considering you get both the lemonade and the satisfaction of knowing you supported two kids.

The other stand is different. The lemonade is free, but there’s a big tip jar. When you pull up, the owner of the stand beams as only a proud eleven year old girl can beam. She takes her time and reaches into a pail filled with ice and lemons. She pulls out a lemon. Slices it. Then she squeezes it with a clever little hand juicer.

The whole time that’s she’s squeezing, she’s also talking to you, sharing her insights (and yes, her joy) about the power of lemonade to change your day. It’s a beautiful day and she’s in no real hurry. Lemonade doesn’t hurry, she says. It gets made the right way or not at all. Then she urges you to take a bit less sugar, because it tastes better that way.

While you’re talking, a dozen people who might have become customers drive on by because it appears to take too long. You don’t mind, though, because you’re engaged, almost entranced. A few people pull over and wait in line behind you.

Finally, once she’s done, you put $5 in the jar, because your free lemonade was worth at least twice that. Well, maybe the lemonade itself was worth $3, but you’d happily pay again for the transaction. It touched you. In fact, it changed you.

Which entrepreneur do you think has a brighter future?

 

Be passionate in what you do and profits will follow!

 

“Live with Passion!”

             _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

 

Rob Anspach

www.robanspach.com

www.handsfreesocialmarketing.com

 

P.S.  Simple changes in your business can add a big impact to your bottom line (regardless of the size of your company).