Welcome to my World

Today - I thought it would be fun to share some of the good self improvement books that I have read over the years.  These books have impacted me and changed my life over the last 35 years.   Funny thing is that I didn't get involved in reading these types of books until I became an Amway distributor in the late 70's.   That's when I was introduced to Zig Ziglar and stinkin thinkin!  That's when I learned about the round tuit coin.  It's when I really started reading positive, meaningful, books that changed my life.  I would not have had the Navy career I had without an understanding of these books.   I so enjoyed them that I filled a small notebook with quotes and excerpts from these books so I could take it on the submarine with me during deployments.  That way I could refer to them when I needed a boost.  I divided this little book into sections so I could find a quote, or excerpt that worked for me for any particular situation.  It really helped me during tough times.

Well here is the listing of books and their authors - probably not a complete list - but this will get you started

The Power of Positive Thinking - Norman Vincent Peale

Think and Grow Rich - Napolean Hill

See You at the Top - Zig Ziglar

The Magic of Thinking Big - David J. Schwartz

The Greatest Secret in the World - Og Mandino

The Greatest Salesman in the World - Og Mandino

The Greatest Miracle in the World - Og Mandino

The Spirit of Apollo - Dr. Sydney Newton Bremer (Out of print - but I still have a copy - a wonderful 25 year study of successful people)

As a Man Thinketh - James Allen

Top Performance - Zig Ziglar

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Steven Covey

The New Dynamics of Winning - Dennis Waitley

The Master Key to Riches - Napolean Hill

Acres of Diamonds - Russell Conwell (Everyone should read this - great story / parable)

The Magic of Self Direction - David J. Schwartz

Success!  The Glenn Bland Method

Psycho-Cybernetics - Maxwell Maltz

The Confident Decision Maker - Roger Dawson

The Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren

Change your Thoughts, Change Your Life - Dr. Wayne Dyer

Excuses Be Gone - Dr. Wayne Dyer

The Power of Intention - Dr. Wayne Dyer

The Go-Giver - Bob Burg and John David Mann

Go-Givers Sell More - Bob Burg and John David Mann 

Beach Money - Jordan Adler

Promptings - Kody Bateman

Stay the Course - Adam Packard

Appreciation Marketing - Curtis Lewsey and Tommy Wyatt

Want to change your life and your business dramatically?  I know the secret and it is easy to implement and simple to sustain.  But consistency is the key.  You must practice this each and every day and you must commit to thinking about it daily.

Many have long embraced the concept of being a Go-Getter.  There was even great little book written on the subject and it was well received by many since its first printing in 1921.  There is nothing wrong with the values, principles and character traits of the story's main character and the story is indeed a motivating one.  As a business person, I truly hope that anyone I hire has these values.  But this is a story of personal motivation and not of building relationships.

The principle I am discussing is based on building quality relationships with people no matter who they are.  I learned this principle and the 5 laws that go along with this principle from another small, easily readable parable called "The Go-Giver."  This book was written by Bob Burg and John David Mann and is supplemented by their follow-on book "Go-Givers Sell More."   

So you want to change your life dramatically?  Become a Go-Giver!  This doesn't mean that you have to give away all your money, your time, or join the Peace Corps.  What it does mean is that you begin to put into practice the 5 Laws of Stratospheric Success as outlined in the book, The Go-Giver.  Want to know more about the 5 Laws then be sure to read Go-Givers Sell More.

The books are also available as audio books and I highly recommend you read them or listen to them.  You will be glad you did. And if you know any people in your life who are already Go-Givers - Bob and John's website also has a Go-Giver Certificate you can download, fill out and print to give to those people.

Bob and John are genuine people who live these principles - and they work.  You want to get more - give more!  If you are in sales then you may have heard of a famous guy named Zig Ziglar.  He once said "You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want."  (Bob and John selected Zig as the first recipient of the lifetime achievement Go-Giver Award!)

It works - it has always worked and it will always work!  Become a Go-Giver today!

You know - it seems that everyone has advice on marketing your business.  But how many of us are so overloaded with advice that we don't know where to turn?  When it gets like this, do a little meditating.  Contemplate the relationships you have with the people (and yes - customers are people) you do business with.  Then dig deep down and think about all the things you truly enjoy about all them.  How grateful are you for their business?  Have you expressed your gratitude?  What physical act have you performed to ensure they know of your thankfulness?

It is amazing to me that when I ask people how they correspond with their customers, most say "We send an email newsletter."  So how many of you enjoy sifting through tons of junk email newsletters from businesses?  Does this make you extremely happy?  Does it make you feel important?  So why do you stop there?   Yes - email marketing is an essential tool - but how do you go about making sure your friend,the customer feels important?  That is the key.  Everyone has a sign around their neck that says - "Make me feel important".  Even you wear this sign and you must admit that you truly enjoy when someone goes out of their way to make you feel important.

There are no pat answers to making people feel important.  Just treat them the way you would want to be treated.  Go the extra mile.  Do more than you are paid to do - and don't expect anything in return.  When you give - you receive.  Give more - receive more.   

Have you ever thought of sending your customers birthday cards?  If not - why not?  Don't you like getting them in the mail?  Or do you think your Facebook birthday wishes are more sincere?  Or an eCard from JibJab?  Although they are funny - you are probably not competing with comedians.  Sending birthday cards used to be complex - but today is as easy as composing an email - or working on a document.  It can even be accomplished using a phone, or iPad.

Send Holiday cards, Thank You cards, Anniversary Cards and even include some gourmet brownies!  They will definitely get a kick out of those.   Building relationships with your customers using greeting cards will help your grow your referral based business exponentially.  It can and has been done by many of the most successful sales people in history.  Now you can do it easily.

Want to know more?  Visit this link:  http://www.remembergreetingcards.com/randyallen