“People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I think what we’re really seeking is an experience of being alive, so our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonance within our innermost being and reality, so we can actually feel the rapture of being alive.”

“Follow your bliss.”
–Joseph Campbell

Over the years, I have read many books on mind power, self-empowerment, time management, success and achievement, philosophy, and spirituality. I’ve attended many seminars, listened to mountains of tapes, and took numerous classes. And the one common thread I have found in all that I have learned was that they all taught in some way that a person’s outer world is somehow connected to his inner dimension.

Read the rest or post a comment »

Core expansion is far different than extension. Extension is often referred to as franchising, licensing, line extension, or branching out — also known as conglomerating. In this context, I am referring to expansion by division.

If you’re a specialist in your field — which I hope you are after reading this book — and you offer only one type of service, you can expand from within by dividing your core (your product or service) into multiple, smaller components.

This helps to do 3 things. 1) It doesn’t take away from your category or specialization. 2) It increases your hit ratio when targeting clients, since some of them might be interested in your entire package while others may be interested in only a portion of it. And 3) it increases the aura of expertise you project because you refrain from spreading yourself too thin.

Read the rest or post a comment »

We’ve made it! You’ve now reached the last commandment. And what better way is there to end this book that’s chock-full o’ marketing secrets other than by telling you about something I truly hate. I hate networking. Really, I do!

I hate it because, in my experience, it hasn’t brought me anything substantial in return. You’re probably saying right now, “What? Is he crazy? Has he lost his mind?”

But wait a minute, hear me out. Networking isn’t a bad concept. Far from it. If the previous commandments have been properly followed, networking can be a fantastic marketing tool to leverage them. If you can be at the top of your prospects’ minds, you can also be at the top of your network’s mind, right?

Read the rest or post a comment »

Here’s a bonus commandment. I thought I’d make it a bonus because 11 would sound a little funny, wouldn’t you think? And it is indeed a bonus since, with all that you have learned, you would never be as effective if I didn’t give this extra piece of advice while implementing the first 10.

I can never stress enough, whether it’s in this book or in my seminars that, in order to create endless streams of new, repeat and referral business, you must turn every single nook-and-cranny of your business into an effective marketing system. Everything you do must become a marketing activity.

Read the rest or post a comment »

When I spoke on stage in London, UK last summer, I met a really nice guy by the name of Patrizio Moi. We hit it off quite well, probably because we have something in common: music.

You see, this Italian-born entrepreneur is not only a brilliant guy with a lot of talent. Patrizio is also a recording professional and music producer, with his own recording studio and label.

His repertoire is quite extensive, too. He’s worked on or collaborated with some of the top recording artists in the world. (Andrea Bocelli is one of many, just to give you an example.)

This afternoon, Patrizio contacted me via MySpace and asked me a favor. He was about to send an email to his list, making a one-time offer promoting his demo recording service. (Demos are incredibly important in the music business, just so you know.)

I don’t normally offer free consulting. But…

Read the rest or post a comment »