Your story!

   Over the weekend I watched a few movie flicks with my kids.    

   Although the stories were different they shared a common theme. 

   Embracing your story! 

   “Your story may not have such a happy beginning, but that doesn’t make you who you are, it is the rest of your story, who you choose to be… So, who are you?” -Kung Fu Panda 2 

    What makes you…well, you? 

    You’re story may not be interesting to you, because you live it. It’s interesting to others because they didn’t. 

    Don’t like how the story is written, rewrite it. 

    Yep, you can change your story at anytime. 

    Yet… 

    “No man can walk out on his own story!”- Rango    

     The chapters of your life can get better or worse as you go on…it’s your choice. 

     If you made choices in the past that were sketchy, there is always time to write a new chapter. That’s life. That’s your story. 

     I’ve known people whose story is so sad, yet they aren’t afraid to share it with someone in hopes the other person can benefit in some small way. 

     Your stories help you be authentic to your clients. 

     They can connect with you and share your pains and joys. 

      Last year I interviewed David Kekich for my Passions to Profits Interview Series…a brilliant storyteller and CEO of Maximum Life Foundation. David’s story goes like this…a successful businessman who while weight lifting felt a pinch in his back, that pinch was his story being rewritten. The very next day he was paralyzed from the waist down. Over the next few months, his fiance left him, and he was forced to sell his house and sports cars to pay for his medical expenses. 

      David didn’t like this chapter in his life and vowed to make it better. In doing so, he changed his future and became successful again. 

      So maybe you’re struggling in your business right now, and you don’t seem to think there is a future. Just remember, the final chapter isn’t written yet…and there is still time to write it.           

      Until Next Time,                  

   

  “Live with Passion!”

   Rob Anspach    

  P.S.  To help make your story successful, I’m relaunching my “Be A Better Entrepreneur” coaching and seminar series. I’m in the process of planning several 1 day seminar events (on the East & West coast of the USA) and scheduling multiple on-location consulting sessions. If you would like more information on the seminar events or the coaching services, feel free to drop a line and I’d be honor to help you make your story better. 

How many times is it for you now?

An old friend came up to me the other day and commented on how “together” I was and that I seemed to have a perfect business. I just shook my head and said “why yes, yes I do”…then I laughed and told him the truth. 

       It’s not perfect…no way…far from it! 

       But, I have secret… 

       I used to be that person who would think if it was perfect all these projects that I am working on would have been done and making me goobs of money by now. 

       But instead, those projects would sit on my desk waiting for me to look at them, finish them or toss them aside. 

       How many times is it now? I would say to myself. 

       That question would echo in my mind as I start to develop yet another project that may never see the light of day. 

       Unfinished project after another. 

       Oh, I keep saying to myself, I will get to it! Then that “next big thing” becomes a dust collector sitting on my shelf. 

       The cycle of insanity starts to mess with your head.  

       Then all of a sudden you are afraid to do anything for fear that you won’t finish what you started. Entrepreneurs stop being risk-takers, inventors and even marketers.  

        Stop fearing the unknown.         

        Yes, doing too many projects at once is bad. But doing nothing is worse. 

        It’s good to get creative, but limit your choice of projects to a minimum until you are caught up.

        Here’s the secret! 

        Learn to say “No” to yourself! And sometimes to others as well. 

        What I’ve learned is that we entrepreneurs get so inundated with “stuff” that we forget what made us entrepreneurs to begin with. 

        Freedom! 

        It wasn’t the money or the fame or the great benefits…nope it was freedom! 

        Freedom to do what we want, when we want! 

        Somewhere we did a 360 flip flop and convinced ourselves busy is more important than freedom. Bullshit! 

        If you want to feel better, have more control and quite frankly less bullshit, then…

        You need to schedule a few personal days throughout the month to give yourself freedom to do what you want, how you want. 

        If you want to chill out at Starbucks, or watch Oprah in your pj’s, or take in a movie or simply spend sometime doing fun stuff…now you can! 

        It’s hard to do! 

        But once you schedule those days and you stick by those days, you will actually feel better when you take them. 

        When you get back to your office, you will feel refreshed and ready to rock and roll. Your days will be more productive and you will end up making more money then had you worked those personal days.                                       

  Until Next Time,                 

     “Live with Passion!”  

   Rob Anspach     

  P.S.  Many entrepreneurs experience “burnout” before enjoying freedom…that is so messed up! Make freedom a priority so burnout never happens.

Three weeks can make all the difference!

It’s been 3 weeks since my last post.

In that time, I traveled half way round the world to be a chaperone for the youth of my church. We visited some pretty amazing places. Some very humbling, some very choatic and others helped put my life in a new perspective.

We visited the Grotto at Lourdes France, The Basilica’s in Loyola & Burgos Spain and then participated in World Youth Day in Madrid.

While in Madrid we suffered from heat exhaustion and got the experience of being a human sandwich while riding the Metro. (eew!)

I had only been home for about 8 hours when the earthquake hit. Not a very welcoming sign.

Then the next day I was incapacitated with a sinus cold (most likely from the recycled airplane air) that sidelined me for a few days. Then the hurricane struck.

No power! No water! No cell service!

I thought okay…more signs.

Most of us take for granted all the great things we have until we can’t get them elsewhere. We are used to instant access to computers, cell service, fast food, heck you name it…if it makes our life easier in any way we do it, right?

It took me a while to see the signs before I had that “lightbulb” moment!

Doing things the easy way…isn’t always the best way!

Accepting who I am and what I stand for is and will always be what people judge me by. If I am true to myself, so will people be towards me. If I am false or misleading, people will see right through me.

Here’s the kicker, and why my life is taking on a new perspective.

You see, not that I found religion, I’ve always had it…it’s just that religion is now more important to me than used to be. Yeah, three weeks can make all the difference.

I’ve heard it before and most likely I will continue to hear it again…you can’t mix religion with business.

I’ve even taught this in my social media classes.

I was wrong!

You see, what I discovered was the complete opposite of what I taught and what I heard…and this just doesn’t apply to religion…it could even be politics.

Talk about it!

Share your thoughts, your views and your stories and watch in amazement as your sales grow!

Yeah, I did say grow! As in more sales, mega money, boat loads of dollars.

What the fudge, Rob!

Why you flip flopping?

Simple!

The more in common you have with your client, the more comfortable they will be hiring you the next time, or shelling out mucho dinero for what you to deliver.

So regardless of your religious beliefs or political agendas, if you find others that share your convictions, your commonalities will help solidify sales.

How to find people like you?

If you’re a church going person, well, that’s the first place I would look.

Or, maybe if you’re into the political scene, join the local party and get to know the group.

Look for people just like you!

And those people will introduce you to more people and soon you will have a list of people who share the same ideologies as you.

All because you stopped trying to avoid the controversial “hot button” and talked about the exact things people warned you not to.

I’ll leave you with this… a quote from Adam Hommey (a facebook friend), “Proclaim who you are in a positive way and allow it to resonate with those who resonate with you!”

Talk soon!

Until Next Time, 

      “Live with Passion!” 

   Rob Anspach 

  P.S.   I’ll be conducting a social media marketing teleseminar towards the end of September. It’ll be packed full of “ready to use now” tricks and tips followed by a Q&A session. Every participant will receive a copy of the teleseminar along with a special bonus (valued at $99). The cost to participate in this seminar is just $74. If you would like to learn the secrets to making social media work for you, simply reply to rob@robanspach.com with “YES, tell me more” and I will email more details and a link to sign up.

Recharging those batteries!

This is the first summer I’ve taken this many vacations! 

   The beach! The mountains! Overseas! Time off to visit friends! 

   I don’t say this to impress you, but to impress upon you. 

   You need a vacation! 

   My neighbor asked me point blank, how I can afford to take off so much.

    He’s an entrepreneur (in a sense) who has fallen victim to the “I’m a slave for my own company” attitude. 

   I explained to him that vacations are just as important to an entrepreneurs mindset as making money is.  Maybe more so! 

   Taking time away from your business gives you an appreciation for the business you created (or bought, traded or otherwise acquired). 

   Your mind, body and spirit become refreshed, rejuvenated and renewed. 

   Thinking about your business 24/7 is fine… when you’re working! But, don’t do it while on vacation. Give yourself time to escape the business and have fun. 

   When I start to get the “pain” from working too much…I know it’s the sign to take a vacation and recharge those entrepreneurial batteries. 

   Speaking of pain… Here’s an article I wrote last year (6/22/2010) that I feel fits right in… 

LISTEN TO THE PAIN!    

I took a few days off, did you miss me? 

After 6 months of what seemed like non-stop work…I felt burned out! 

I needed some desperate me time. No phones! No computer! No checking emails or facebook! I just totally unplugged!  

And why not I thought… it was the perfect weekend to escape. 

I went dancing with my wife (something we haven’t done it awhile). Took the kids to see Toy Story 3, celebrated my 41st birthday, then celebrated Fathers Day, ate at a creperie, took a couple naps in between… it was awesome! 

Now I’m back! Refreshed and ready to rock! 

A few days before I left I was really starting to feel the passion slipped away…it seemed my mind was always intune to business, marketing and helping others…and I was losing focus on what really mattered. Oh, don’t get me wrong…I love helping people. But, after many months of non-stop, nose to grindstone, this marketing maniac was starting to feel the pain. 

My friend, Charlie McDermott, shared this very important message with me, “Pain is good…it teaches us a lot “if” we listen”. He went to say, “sounds like your pain is speaking to you!” 

Most entrepreneurs will eventually feel the pain. Some choose to ignore it. Others noticed the pain they are feeling and prescribe themselves with a few days of R&R (rest and relaxation).  

My buddy, Scott Linde (yeah the bug guy from New Jersey) eliminates his pain by taking multiple vacations a year. He says, taking vacations actually makes him more money. Strange right? Not really! When he comes back from his trips, he is refocused, reenergized and recharged.  

Taking time away from your business, getting away from all the distractions, enables you to focus on your goals. Focus on why you really started your business.

In the book, “The E-Myth” by Michael Gerber, your business is suppose to fund your personal life, not your personal life funding your business. If we are focused on constantly building our business, we are taking away the time needed to build up ourselves. 

What do you enjoy doing?  

Why aren’t you doing it? 

In the book, “The 4 Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferris, Tim loves to travel and experience all that life as to offer…his book will help guide you to refocus your business energies in such a way that you are maximizing your work load and spending more time on what you really enjoy. Work Less, Make More!  

But, how do we get there? 

Well, here’s Charlie again to share his thoughts on how you can do it. “Get away for a day or better yet two…no phones, email etc. Focus on your long range goals and dreams. Set up a plan or a timeline that will get you to the point where you are spending most of your time doing what you love. Then come back recharged and work your plan.” 

Great advice Charlie…thanks! 

So before you get to the breaking point and start to feel the pain or have that feeling where you want to go “postal” on everyone, maybe it’s time to take a break and schedule some days away so you can refocus.             

   Well my friend, as I type this, I’m also busy packing! Yep, I’m off again!  

   Actually, this time… it’s with my whole family! Sort of a family reunion vacation. 

   Lots of lazy river tubing, shooting stuff and enjoying life to the fullest!                          

  Until Next Time,          

     “Live with Passion!” 

   Rob Anspach   

 

Contact Information

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

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

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

 

 Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube & WordPress!

                    

 

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

Blood and influence!

  Last week I spent 2 days volunteering at Boy Scouts of America’s Camp Bashore.  

   I was reluctant at first. I mean, really, who wants to spend a couple of days with a bunch of rowdy boys when they could be out making money. 

   And yet… 

   I actually discovered a few things that I would like to share with you.

   Maybe you know them already, maybe you were even a Scout once. 

   For starters…they make excellent salesmen!   

   Some of these boys will be awesome salesmen in the future! 

   Yeah, they have a merit badge for that! 

   Who’d a thunk? The Boy Scouts rolling out the next ”Billie Mays”! 

   Well, it’s not to far off. 

   I was impressed! They were taught some really creative ways to sell.  

   And, some vivid ways to keep them safe!    

  They have safety protocols better than OSHA! While earning their “Tote n Chip” for whittling they have a term called “Circle of Blood”? It’s basically an arm reach area around the knife wielding scout that you want to refrain from being in. The accident zone! Get too close and whittlers knife could cut you, hence the blood.  

   Which leads me to the last thing I would like to share…   

   The boys were told time and time again, to act as a team, not as individuals! 

   Together Each Achieves More! 

   Eliminate the “I” and “Me” and instead use “We” and “Us”. 

   It takes too long to try and do things by yourself. Ask for help. Ask your team. 

   We can learn a lot from a Scout. And, we can put what we learn to better use in our business. 

   That term Circle of Blood reminds of me of another…it’s called the…”Circle of Influence”! No blood involved in this one! This circle comprises of your most trusted advisors and friends. Those that you can call at a moments notice and get advice or help. Although some entrepreneurs treat their Circle of Influence like the scouts Circle of Blood. They don’t want friends and mentors getting to close for fear they will get hurt by the advice. 

   This is where the whole “Team” approach comes in. Without a team to lean on, to trust, and to look after you, you will never be able to have a viable company. You can’t do it all on your own. It’s physically, mentally and emotionally not possible. 

    You need to count on others and you need to have confidence in their abilities. 

    Sure, I could have made some money not going to scout camp, but the lessons learned…are priceless!     

   Until Next Time,               

     “Live with Passion!” 

   Rob Anspach    

  P.S.  If you’re serious like I am about reshaping your business, about making it a lean, mean, money making machine then you need to join my “Back to the Drawing Board” coaching program. This is unlike probably anything you’ve ever experienced before, yet, it will feel refreshingly honest and new. This program will help reestablish you with your business again and give you that feeling that you have purpose and meaning and help you move in the direction that will have the greatest impact in making money.   

P.P.S. ”Back to the Drawing Board” coaching is individualized – it’s customized to your exact needs and not a cookie-cutter one size fits all, take it or leave program. If interested reply and I will share with you all the details.

 

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!

 

 

The cheapest, most effective marketing ever revealed!

      Today’s the day! 

       Today I reveal to you the cheapest, easiest, most overlooked marketing strategy ever invented. 

       It’s not video! 

       I’ll give you a hint… this type of marketing has been around for over 100 years. 

       It’s your business card.

        Well, maybe not yours!

        Most business cards I’ve seen are well…to be blunt, downright awful. 

       Name, Rank Serial Number on the front and a Big Ole’ nothing on the back. 

       If you only knew the true power of this little 2 inch x 3 inch piece of card stock, you would have this at the forefront of your marketing arsenal. 

       For less than .04 each you could have a full color, glossy, front and back marketing tool driving people to call you every day. 

       I’m going to take an example out of my own playbook and show you how I drive people to call my cleaning business using just a business card. 

       Yep, I did say cleaning business. Long story short… I started a cleaning business in 1995 and after a few years of struggling realized I needed help. I methodically learned all about marketing and by 1998 I was not only making money, I was designing all my own ads.  

        Here’s my unconventional but highly effective business card that I use to drive customers into my marketing funnel. I tell them what to expect from me, what’s in it for them to call me and how they can try my service risk free without cost or obligation of any kind. But, it’s also a tool to eliminate those I didn’t want to do service for. 

         Take a gander… 

  
      

          Notice the doodles? 

          These copy cosmetics actually help point the potential customer in the right direction and get them to take action. 

          The back side bottom has a referral spot which a customer can fill out and give to a friend. 

          Using a business card in this fashion increases referral business without the need to spend tons of money on wasteful advertising that doesn’t work. 

          With every cleaning a client gets 3 cards to hand out. They then get sent 3 more in a few days when I send them a “Thank You” card. They’ll also receive more cards with each service reminder we send out.  Over a years time, they might receive over 24 cards. That’s 2 a month on average!    

          Imagine something that costs so little has the potential to make you so much money. But like I said, most business cards are terrible and have no compelling features what so ever! 

           In my cleaning business the average profit generated from one $35 box of 1000 business cards is worth on average $45,000. That my friend is one of the most powerful return on investments you will achieve anywhere. For every 1 dollar I spent on business cards, I get in return $1,285! That’s not too shabby! 

           Redesign your business cards not to please you, but to compel people to call you! It can be the single, most cost effective marketing tool you’ll ever use to grow your business and generate an avalanche of referrals.                            

  Until Next Time,                        

  “Live with Passion!” 

   Rob Anspach    

  P.S.  If you’re serious like I am about reshaping your business, about making it a lean, mean, money making machine then you need to join my “Back to the Drawing Board” coaching program. This is unlike probably anything you’ve ever experienced before, yet, it will feel refreshingly honest and new. This program will help reestablish you with your business again and give you that feeling that you have purpose and meaning and help you move in the direction that will have the greatest impact in making money.  

 P.P.S. ”Back to the Drawing Board” coaching is individualized – it’s customized to your exact needs and not a cookie-cutter one size fits all, take it or leave program. If interested reply and I will share with you all the details.

Contact Information

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

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

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

 

 Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube & WordPress!

                    

 

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

Social media etiquette from a Baltimore housewife!

 Over the years I have shared my thoughts and frustrations in regards to social media…and I appreciate you listening. 

       I have shared ideas, tips and secrets to help you get more how out of your social media experience. You’ve thanked me. 

       But today, I’m going to do something different… 

       I’m going to introduce you to a friend of mine… who as it happens is not a marketer, or an entrepreneur or even a social media guru. Nope! 

       She’s just a mom! A mom who cares about her family to write her response to what she sees concerning Facebook and social media in general. 

        Her name is Jaimie Jacobs and her article is entitled, “Facebook Status Updates: What Not To Write!        

        http://www.helium.com/items/2180749-facebook-status-updates-what-not-to-write    

        Read it!

        Comment on it!

        Tell her Rob sent you!  

        Until Next Time,                       

  “Live with Passion!” 

   Rob Anspach    

   P.S. The internet is full of mom’s just like Jaimie who are very expressive with their thoughts and we marketers could take a lesson from their handbook every now and then. 

The truth about fanpages!

It’s about 6:30pm EST and I’m still sitting at my computer.

I made the mistake of taking yesterday off to spend at the beach. And, today I’m paying for it.

I had several emails and a few phone calls while I was away.

It seems what’s on everybody’s mind right now is how to make their fanpage more effective. To some just having a fanpage would do wonders.

But, a word of caution…

A fanpage won’t do diddly if you don’t work it!

“You got to work it, work it!” – as my kids would sing, from the movie Madagascar.

Yep, you have to actively engage readers (followers, friends, stalkers) or whatever you wish to call them, to respond to what it is you are conveying.

It’s not easy.

If they have hundred of friends (or in my case thousands), your message may not get much “play-time” and may just fall on deaf ears.

So, truth be told…why waste time creating a fanpage if you aren’t going to continously make it interesting and fun.

The best fanpages incorporate a “thank you” for liking us feature. Or, some type of incentive to get people to share the page with their friends.

Yeah, I know it’s crazy!

Just a few years ago, there was no Facebook. Now, if your business doesn’t have a fanpage you are labled a leaper or maybe something worse.

The times they are a changing…are you keeping up?

I know!

Almost 3 years ago, I screwed up!

In the early days of fanpage development I made a few mistakes…even had my very first fanpage shut down for two weeks due to violating Facebook’s terms of service agreement. Which, ironically wasn’t my fault, but it did cost me time and money.

It was a hard lesson to learn.

Now, with Facebook surpassing 600 million active members, having a fanpage for your business is definately the way to build sales. And, you need to do it right!

Gimmicks work for a bit! They are like that tangling carrot in front of the mule to get him to move forward. Eventually, the donkey will get tired and want to eat the carrot. So substance is just as important.

The key is to keep your followers engaged…is to actively educate and entertain them.

 

Until Next Time, 

      “Live with Passion!” 

      Rob Anspach    

P.S.  If you need help with your fanpage (setting up, increasing traffic, conversion), give me shout out! I offer consulting, content creation and yes, even management of your fanpage.  

Contact Information

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

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

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

 Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube & WordPress!

                    

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

Are you waving it proudly?

Kind of a weird subject line isn’t it?

Are you waving it proudly?

You’re probably shaking your head, wondering where the heck I’m going with this aren’t you? Maybe, you’ve already decided I lost my marbles, but the curiosity is killing you, so you are still hear hanging on every word. Cool! (the hanging on every word part, not the losing of my marbles part)

Well, if you’re a citizen of the United States…this day should already be circled on your calendar.

Let me explain…it happened 234 years ago.

I’m sure you weren’t there!

But, trust me, it was kind of awesome.

You see, on this day way back in 1777, our country had formally adopted by resolution our country’s red, white and blue iconic symbol.

The American Flag!

It’s a symbol of freedom, it’s a badge of honor and it’s beacon of hope!

But, Rob, I didn’t come here for a history lesson.

True!

Like everyday events that unfold before us, the past and present are reminders that can be used as powerful motivators to push us into the future.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again…everyday is a new day to promote your products or services.

Use it!

Your marketing is the flag that gets you noticed…wave it proudly!

A year ago, almost to the day…one of my client’s sent out his first ”Flag Day” promotion. A small postcard with a picture of him and his staff waiving American Flags. The headline read…”Proudly serving the fine folks of (his town)!”  On the address side, it had a brief statement of what Flag Day meant to him and how his clients could take advantage of a discount by mentioning his card.

A promotion tied to an event!

It was simple, yet effective!

Marketing doesn’t require lots of thinking or planning, although it does require action!

You must do something!

And, I don’t mean just do it once! I hear that garbage all the time…”I tried that once and it didn’t work”…waah!

Wave that flag all over the place…that’s the only way people will take notice.

After a while people will take notice of your marketing, and they will associate your marketing as your flag that waives proudly. They will see you as their beacon of hope, then they tell their friends about you!

Happy Flag Day!

       

Until Next Time, 

      “Live with Passion!” 

      Rob Anspach   

P.S. That same client who basically started his postcard marketing campaign with his Flag Day promo, now sends out a new postcard just about every week. Some are wacky, some serious! His average return on investment is 20 to 1. For every 1 spent on promotion, he receives 20 back. Click on the links below and discover additional days that could be used as marketing campaigns.

  National Holidays & Food Holiday List -

 http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/National_Symbols/American_Hollidays.html

  Unofficial National Days -  http://www.louderbacks.com/home/dict/days.html

 

No wonder you’re not catching anything!

     Over the weekend I had the opportunity to take my 6 year old son fishing with the Cub Scouts. 

      By the time we showed up, there were about 50 kids and their dads (and some moms) strategically positioned around this small lake ready to fish. 

      Fish they did! 

      It was like a “warrior” fish competition. 

      I wasn’t prepared for this level of madness! 

      I brought a small fishing rod for my son, a bucket and a small tackle box. 

      Five minutes into fishing, my son caught this massive clump of algea that sprang into the branches above when he gave it a tug. 

      The next 20 minutes were spent, untangling the fishing line from me, the branch above and shielding my eyes from the gaze the other parents were giving me. 

      “Dad, I don’t like fishing, can’t we just throw rocks at them instead”, to which I really wanted to say, “at the parents?”

      As I was getting my son’s rod and reel ready for round two of “algea into tree” fishing, a real live authentic tobacco chewing redneck approached me and said, “whaja usin fer bait?” 

      I suppose not fishing for many years I was out of the loop on the proper methodologies of bait using (or fishing for that matter). And, this gentleman (term used very loosely here) graciously shared with me “what fer” bait I should be using. 

      Funny thing was, most of the kids didn’t catch anthing. They just wanted to run around, throw rocks and be kids. It was the parents (mostly dads) that were treating this event as a competition.  

      It got me thinking. 

      Most entrepreneurs start out like the unprepared fisherman. 

      Instead of using rods and nets to fish, they use advertising, marketing and word or mouth techniques. 

      And like the “warrior” fisherman, the entrepreneur will get better at capturing clients (fish) as his/her experience grows. 

      The true fisherman is patient, understands the dynamics of his equipment, knows what bait to use to attract and (this is the big one) knows where the right fish are. 

      I meet so many entrepreneurs who act like the clueless fisherman. They have no idea how to advertise, where to find the best clients or what do when they get them. 

      Basically they are like the typical 6 year old who throws stones into the water in hopes of stunning a few fish along the way. 

      If you want the best clients, you have to learn to be a better entrepreneur. 

      Study marketing!  

      Study the habits of your potential clients! 

      Use the right tools to make capturing clients more effective.    

      Now go out and fish!       

     Until Next Time,   

       “Live with Passion!”

        Rob Anspach   

 P.S.  Knowing where to fish is just as important as knowing how to fish!

P.P.S. Discover how to be a better entrepreneur…reply for details or click on the icon below.