I Dare You To Do This Impossible Tip

Copyright © 2008 Nancy Fraser




Something that's as important to me as oxygen....is creativity.



Now you may wonder - what does selling have to with being creative?



Let me sum it up in 3 words:



IDEAS CREATE CUSTOMERS.



My office is absolutely gorgeous and it's not an accident. (a heck of a lot of reno work last summer!).



I have wall to wall leopard print carpet, a chandelier, fireplace, bookcases stuffed with my favorite books, mirrors, a stunning life-size painting of my grandmother in a bathing suit, a vintage black and white cocktail dress on a seamstress mannequin, pictures of people I love, encouraging notes from my clients, and a large chaise lounge on which I sit every week as I write my e-zine as the sun streams through the windows.



And everywhere - absolutely EVERYWHERE - you'll see words of inspiration on my walls. Why?



I surround myself with creativity in order to be more creative for my customers and my business.



One of my favorite quotes on the wall is from Alice in Wonderland:



"There is no use trying," said Alice, "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."



~ Lewis Carroll



Why Do I Do This Dear Alice?



2 Reasons:



1. It keeps me focused working ON my business vs IN it.



2. It helps me to think of "impossible things"



What's The Difference Between On and In?



Perspective.



When you're IN something - you're working hard, fulfilling orders, invoicing, tons of meetings, networking etc. But you aren't focused on WHERE you need to take your business or your sales.



Too much working IN the business is pretty much a guarantee your business will stay small and actually will shrink in time (just like Alice in Wonderland).



You Need To Be Like The "Large Alice":



When Alice drinks the magic potion - it changed her perspective. She first appeared large and clumsy but it also gave her a completely different view of her world.



She was looking "DOWN ONTO" it.



You need to:

imagine where you want your business and sales to be in 2 yrs, 5 yrs, 10 yrs.

examine where you're wasting your talent and time by doing every damn thing yourself.

evaluate the clients you make the most money from

decide WHERE you want to attract MORE clients.

Dare To Jump Down The Rabbit Hole



What feels impossible today?



Why are you allowing yourself to be "stuck" in that nasty place?



I am challenging you to SNAP OUT OF IT!



As your bossy Sales Diva sales manager I want you to start becoming more OUTRAGEOUS with your thinking. Do it for an hour per week (and not in your office or house either)



Before every action - someone had to think about it FIRST. Whether it was flying to the moon, or that creative woman inventing Spanx because she saw that EVEN Oprah cut her support nylons so she could wear capris pants!



And YOU can too.



Hop to it lady!



Love from your Sales Diva



P.S. If you loved this article, can you please pass it on to 3 of your sassy friends? They'll receive my FREE Report: The 5 Biggest Sales Mistakes Women Make as well as my savvy and sassy sales tips each week. All they have to do is sign up at www.salesdivas.com



Thanks a million!






About The Author:

Nancy Fraser of Nota Bene Consulting has been helping clients get better results with their marketing and advertising for over 20 years. Sign up for Notable News and get free marketing tips at http://www.notabenemarketing.com

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I Dare You To Do This Impossible Tip, by Nancy Fraser

Internet Fax - Do You Really Need It?

Copyright © 2008 Titus Hoskins




In business, as in life, habits are very hard to break. Over the years, the reliable old fax machine has become the standard way of sending faxes in most offices and workplaces. Despite a few paper jams or the occasional missed fax because of a busy signal, the old fax machine has worked out quite well.



There's no denying that point, but is there a more efficient way to fax?



Everything changes, including the way we fax. Now, there is a new method of faxing called Internet Fax or Email Faxing. It simply means you use the Internet and your email system to send and receive your faxes. You sign up to an online fax service provider which handles all your faxes. There is no need for a second phone line and you can access your faxes anywhere, anytime. And yes, you can still send your faxes via the old fax machine.



Trying a new way of doing things takes some effort on the part of everyone. And like anything new, not everyone or every business has embraced this new technology. Is this a crucial mistake? Do you or your company really need Internet Fax?



The answer to that question probably lies in a topic that's familiar to all businesses: competition. If you're in a competitive business, will you be at the top of your game without Internet Fax? That's probably the real question you have to ask?



Internet Fax gives you the advantage of accessing your faxes 24/7, anywhere you have Internet access so you are not tied down to your office fax machine. This can be a great benefit to those working on the road or in the field such as traveling salespeople, managers, real estate agents, engineers, onsite building contractors... and the list goes on.



Having access to your faxes at all times can make you more competitive in a very competitive world. It will give you that slight edge that can make all the difference in a crucial deal or transaction. It's probably your call or business decision whether or not you go with Internet Fax.



Keep in mind, an Internet Fax service is relatively inexpensive and there is no need for a second phone line. There are many fax providers you can choose from such as MyFax, eFax, RapidFax, TrustFax, and Send2Fax. You should also look at some lesser known fax providers such as Faxage out of Denver and Metrofax out of Seattle; many times choosing a relatively smaller company can give you better individual service in that you or your company don't get lost in the crowd.



In addition, many companies and individuals like to consolidate all their phone/fax services into one provider. RingCentral is a popular choice since it gives you virtual phone and fax services all rolled into one.



Like choosing any business service, it pays to shop around. You must find the service plan that suits your needs and budget. Internet Fax service plans range from the very modest $20 a year to around $10-$15 a month. Each plan will have a different number of faxes that you can send and receive. Rates are usually based on minutes with 5 cents per minute being the average cost. Multiple page faxes and International faxes will usually cost you more.



The question still remains, do you really need Internet Fax?



Since computers and the Internet are the wave of the future can your company or business remain truly competitive without Internet Fax? Again, this is your call or decision you have to make. It would mainly depend on how crucial faxing is to your business? Is faxing a vital element of your company? Does it play a part in generating new business or making sales? If faxing is a vital element of your company or business, then you may need Internet Fax just to stay in the game and remain competitive.



Many companies are switching over to Internet Fax or using it in addition to their current fax system. Considering the relatively inexpensive cost, this gives them the option of having access to their faxes at all times. For them going forward with Internet Fax is a wise business move on their part, one that will keep their company truly competitive in a very competitive world.






About The Author:

For more information on Internet Fax Services try this handy online Comparison Guide: Online Fax Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing try here: Internet Fax Services. Titus Hoskins Copyright Â(c) 2008. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

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Internet Fax - Do You Really Need It?, by Titus Hoskins

Automatic Online Income - Myth or Fact?

Copyright © 2008 Titus Hoskins




Nothing excites the mind more than receiving automatic online income, day-in, day-out for all 365 days of the year. A true marvel to behold and the perfect solution to all your money worries.



It is totally liberating.



It gives you the freedom to pursue your life's goals, no matter what they may be. It gives you the freedom of mobility; you can live anywhere in the world. Moreover, it gives you the time to do the THINGS you want to do, whether it's sailing solo around the world or staying home to raise your kids.



Simply put, it gives you choices, plenty of choices. You are no longer tied down by a 9 to 5 job. You are your own boss. You decide when you work or even how much work you do.



But is automatic income from the web a myth or fact?



Are there really people making money 24/7 while they're sleeping, enjoying a delicious restaurant meal or even while on vacation?



The answer is YES!



Computers and the Internet are relatively new inventions. Like anything new, many people don't fully understand how they work or what excellent opportunities they offer. Most people just can't comprehend how someone can earn automatic income from the web.



To understand how this income is possible, you must first understand how the Internet works. Basically, at its very core, the Internet is simply information. We use the web to find information. We use it to find what we're looking for - whether that "something" is in the virtual world or in the so-called real world. Whether it's a pizza with the works or the theory of relativity explained in full... you can find it all on the net.



We use the Internet to solve problems, find a friend, buy a condo, book a vacation, write a book report... and the list is endless. But how do you earn income from the web, automatic or otherwise?



Again, the answer is quite simple, you just have to give web users what they're looking for and in most cases that "something" is information. They want information, neatly packaged and accessible at all times. They want things explained and pointed out to them in a direct manner. They want easy solutions to solve their questions or problems.



Information Is The Key



If you want to earn income from the web, you must place your website or sites squarely into this "information mix." You must offer something of value to your site's visitors, whether it's how to make the perfect angel cake or tips on buying a new laptop. You must offer valuable content, special deals, bargains... you must give people a good reason to use your site. They must benefit from using your site.



Just look at Google; they have built a billion dollar company by simply telling people where they can find information on the web. Their homepage is one of the simplest pages on the web and hasn't changed much since they started in 1998. But they offer the visitor valuable content/information which is needed and appreciated.



Granted you're not Google, but even the smallest webmaster can offer valuable information to their visitors. Everyone is an "expert" on something - just take your favorite hobby or pastime and run with it. Build a site, offer tips, give advice, gather information... create an online presence for your chosen topic or hobby and you're in business.



Once you have built a reputation for useful content, the search engines and your visitors will spread the word about your site's content. Then it is simply a matter of monetizing that content with affiliate links or thru advertising, such as Google Adsense.



There are countless ways or models of making automatic income on the web. The above example is just one of the simplest ways of earning income from your website. If you have your own product and an army of affiliates, then the above scenario is multiplied a hundredfold.



Automation Is Your Friend



You must keep in mind: computers and the Internet are tailor-made for automation. Once you create your sites and content, they run 24/7 without any help from you. Once you set up your follow-up autoresponders, they run 24/7 without any help from you. Once you set up your affiliate links and/or Adsense Code, they run 24/7 without any help from you. Once you have set up your viral marketing systems, such as free videos, free buying guides, free downloads, free articles and ebooks, they run themselves 24/7 automatically.



Of course, it is a good idea to monitor your site and your whole online operation. Plus, it would be wise to keep adding valuable content to your site or sites on a regular basis. But once you have set up your automatic income streams, they pretty much run themselves without much help from their creator.



Then you will see for yourself that regular automatic income from the web is indeed possible and not a myth. You will earn revenue, like clockwork, day-in, day-out; it is a true beauty to behold. Besides, there is no greater joy than coming back from a computer-free vacation only to find you have earned enough money to pay for your vacation and then some... all the while you were away enjoying the sun and the company of friends.



That's just one of the many joys having an automatic online income will give you. Many more await you...






About The Author:

The author is a full-time online marketer who has numerous websites, including two sites on Internet marketing. For the latest web marketing tools try: Marketing Tools If you want to create your own automatic income from the web, try these free courses from Ken Evoy's SiteSell: Internet Marketing Guides Copyright (c) 2008 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

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Automatic Online Income - Myth or Fact?, by Titus Hoskins

How to Make a Sale Almost Every Time!

Copyright © 2008 Acey Gaspard




Making a sale is not the easiest thing to do. It takes skill, technique, knowledge, and persistence as well as many other skills. This article will help you improve your sales by focusing on one technique. Used correctly, your sales will skyrocket.



The best way to make a sale is to remove as many barriers as possible. I heard a story told by Bill Myers about how a World War II hero made a record flight, destroying several enemy planes single-handedly. When interviewed, the pilot revealed how he had accomplished this outstanding task. He said it was simple. The enemy planes were all in rows, still on the runway. That's how you'll want to set up your sales: aim for targets that are easy to hit!



To make a dramatic increase in your sales, simply find out what your customers want and give it to them. It's that simple!



Why try to sell your customers something that they don't want or something that you have to persuade them to buy? Doesn't it make more sense to offer your customers something they already want?



Here's a story I'm going to share with you. I love to use self-development courses on CDs. I'm eager to learn new things. I receive offers in the mail all the time, even though every time I finish a course, I say, “That’s it for a while.” The first step I take when I see a new offer in the mail is to open it and 50% of the time, I'll order the course. Some of the sales letters for these courses are 12 pages long. Do I read them from beginning to end? No, not really. I already know if I want it or not. I look over the benefits and the price, and I decide to buy it or not. I don't need a salesperson to persuade me. I don't need seven e-mails spread out over time telling me the benefits. I don't expect to have the offer shown to me. That’s it. The company that sends me the offers has an automatic moneymaking system. All they need to do is get the offer to me. Their sales are steady, they have a satisfied customer, and their return rate is low. For me, it's been zero returns since I’ve been buying these courses.



Now, if everything this company did was the same, except the product they offered was in a different category, they would have a zero percent response from me; because I don't want the product. If they sent this new offer to people like me, they would get a zero response rate. They might close the company, they might spend thousands of dollars to see what's wrong, and it's as simple as finding out what people want and giving it to them. Some business people spend thousands of dollars on products and services that no one wants. Then they spend thousands of dollars trying to market these products and services. Why go through all that trouble and spend all that money and waste all that time? Give your prospects and customers what they want! It’s the best way to make solid sales, get lifetime customers, and streamline your business.



You need to focus on one issue and make sure you don’t get off-track. Give your customers what they want and nothing else. Stay focused on the needs and wants of your prospects and customers, and your business will prosper!



That’s the way I see it. To Your Success! Acey Gaspard



Action Steps to Make More Sales



1. Find out what your customers and prospects want.



2. Provide products and services that your customers and prospects already want



Important Points to Keep in Mind for Making More Sales

To make a dramatic increase in your sales, simply find out what your customers want and give it to them.

Why try to sell your customers something that they don't want or something that you have to persuade them to buy?

Some business people spend thousands of dollars on products and services that no one wants. Don't guess, investigate!

Stay focused on the needs and wants of your prospects and customers, and your business will prosper!

About The Author:

Acey Gaspard has over 20 years of business experience. His site, A Touch of Business.com, http://www.atouchofbusiness.com is steadily growing with well over 1,100 original pages to help you run and market your small business. Get Tips you can use today! http://www.atouchofbusiness.com/tips.html

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How to Make a Sale Almost Every Time!, by Acey Gaspard

Why you don't want Michelangelo working on your website

Copyright © 2006-2008 Mark Silver




Everyone wants to live surrounded by beauty. Beauty soothes the soul, and lifts the spirit. It inspires us and keeps us healthy. We all want beauty.



Can you have beauty in your website? Sure you can, and it's important to have your website be pleasing to the folks you want to help. Unfortunately, this desire to have beauty and to please folks means that you can spend a great deal of time creating a 'unique and beautiful' web design that people actually avoid. How can you spend so much time on beauty, sacrifice so much money with a designer, and still end up with a mess?



Do you do Frescoes?



No one would complain about the beauty of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.



Michelangelo spent four years, from July, 1508 through October, 1512, painting over 5,000 square feet of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling.



Unfortunately, Michelangelo was a sculptor, and loved working in marble. Prior to the Sistine Chapel, he had only painted briefly as a student of Domenico Ghirlandaio in Florence. Which means that he got off to a slow start as he learned how to paint frescoes.



Luckily for him, Michelangelo was already an accomplished artist. He wasn't exactly doing the Sistine Chapel as a free promotional effort. Pope Julius II commissioned him for those four years, and didn't seem to mind that it took Michelangelo a while to get in a groove.



History reports that one of the Pope's motivations was to outdo Pope Alexander VI. So, the whole idea was to create an amazingly glorious ceiling that would stun everyone who saw it.



Are you trying to stun your visitors? Remember the purpose of your website: to create a relationship with the right people, connect with their hearts and needs, and to help them take the next step in relationship to what you offer. If you aren't being commissioned to paint the ceiling of your website by a fabulously wealthy Pope, and if you aren't trying to stun your visitors with beauty, I suggest you relax, just a little bit, any attachment you might have to beauty and uniqueness around your website.



Your visitor is waiting for dinner.



Imagine showing up at a friend's house to eat. You've worked all day, you're hungry and you've been looking forward to dinner. Yet, once you arrive, they keep you waiting for three hours while they pull out family home movies, or their wedding album.



It's not that you wouldn't eventually like to see those things. But first, can we have dinner, please?



The Two Functions of Your Design



Absolutely prepare and present the food with love and beauty. But just remember that your visitor is looking for food, not frescoes. It's been shown that when a visitor comes to a website, design plays two primary functions:



(1) to show that the website is solid and professional-looking enough that the business can be trusted, and



(2) to make sure that the visitor can find what she needs really easily without having to guess or hunt.



As long as you are meeting those two needs, your design is going to work.



So, where is it safe to bring forth beauty and inspiration on your site, and where will it keep you stuck to the ceiling for four years?



Keys to Website Design

Things to avoid.



Avoid putting a pattern behind your text, or using a text color that isn't very dark. In fact, I recommend that you stick with black text on a white background. Millions of novels of great variety, beauty and talent are written, all printed black text on a white background.



As a general rule, avoid animation and oversized photos and illustrations- anything that distracts from the food you want your visitor to eat.



Avoid unique design layouts. Many websites look the same structurally- and so do human beings. You don't have to look at the back of someone's knees to find their eyes. People know how to connect with each other more easily in part because of structural similarities.



Your visitor has been trained to expect certain conventions in web design, so they can find what they are looking for. Don't play a guessing game with them by creating some outlandishly creative and confusing design.

Things to do.



Keep your text front and center. Keep your navigation either across the top, or down one side, with clear labels. Don't use more than two columns- one for the navigation or side text, and one for the main content of the page.



Have a clear banner across the top with a simple message about your business.

Things of beauty and inspiration



Make your banner beautiful and inspiring, without being cluttered. Use colors you love.



Use creative bullets rather than just the usual round variety.



Use color highlights around navigation buttons, and in the frame around your page.

Above all, don't agonize over it.



If you don't have a website yet, or your website isn't effective and you are upgrading it, bring in what creativity you have, but don't agonize over the beauty aspects. Your visitors are waiting to be fed! Once you start having a lot of visitors coming to your website, and your business is humming, you can take the time and space to bring out the fine china for them.



My very best to you and your business,



Mark Silver





About The Author:

Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line. He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the globe succeed in business without losing their hearts. Get three free chapters of the book online: http://www.heartofbusiness.com

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Why you don't want Michelangelo working on your website, by Mark Silver

How to Become a Medical Assistant

Copyright © 2008 Mark Stout, BSc, MD




The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the practitioner’s specialty. In small practices, medical assistants usually do many different kinds of tasks, handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area, under the supervision of department administrators.



Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. They should not be confused with Physician assistants, who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the direct supervision of a physician.



The duties and job details of medical assistants vary according to what is allowed by State law. Some common tasks include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting physicians during examinations. Medical assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens and sometimes perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They might instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x-rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings.



Medical assistants also usually perform administrative tasks such as update and file patient medical records, fill out insurance forms, and arrange for hospital admissions and laboratory services. They also perform tasks less specific to medical settings, such as answering telephones, greeting patients, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, and handling billing and bookkeeping. Medical assistants also may arrange examining room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean.



In most cases a medical assistant is a none licensed health care professional and they are trained in a variety of way. Many receive informal on the job type of training while others learn the basics of a medical practice and patient care in a more formal setting such . Formal training for medical assistants may occur at a local junior college, vocational school, medical assistant school, high school technical classes, local hospital or online distance education programs. A good example to newer innovative online training is available at www.medassistant.org . St. Augustine Medical Assistant School is an educational service that uses internet based technology to train medical assistants online.



According to the United States Department of Labor, employment for this filed is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the fastest growing occupations over the 2006-16 decade. Job opportunities should be excellent, particularly for those with formal training or experience.






About The Author:

Mark Stout, BSc, MD is the director of medical assistant education services at St. Augsutine Medical Assistant School online at http://www.medassistant.org

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How to Become a Medical Assistant, by Mark Stout, BSc, MD