How To Be More Persuasive Have you ever wished you could be more charming? You know – like someone who instinctively knows how to get the right people on side at just the right time? The reality is that we all need to get along with people at some point in our lives, whether it be at work or home – so it really does pay off to be able to persuasively state your opinions when you need to. Take work for example – you may not realize it, but regardless of your official job title – it’s likely that you are frequently in a situation where you’ll need to sell either your ‘point of view’ or yourself for that matter! Simple things like ‘asking for a day off’ or ‘giving your boss an update on your progress’ all require an element of selling. And the most important part of selling is the ability to be ‘persuasive’: to be able to present your case in a favorable light that will get you the best outcome. Rapport is one of the most underutilized methods of persuasion. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. (Photo credit: The Bait via Shutterstock)
10 Blogs Entrepreneurs Need to Be Reading See the 2012 edition: 10 Must Read Blogs for Entrepreneurs (2012 Edition) #1. The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur Site: What it is: Mike Michalowicz provides entrepreneurs and small businesses with tips on everything from starting a business to networking to marketing and health care. Why you should read it: Mike not only provides great tips but he provides great tips from REAL people. #2. Site: What it is: Written by a panel of small business owners, the site offers tips and advice on everything business related. Small business trends really covers EVERYTHING! #3. Site: Run by two brothers, Matthew and Adam Toren, Young Entrepreneur is exactly what it sounds like; a site dedicated to young entrepreneurs. Between blog posts, forums, polls and interviews with other small business owners, the site offers fantastic content. #4. Site: Why you should read it: #5. #6. #7. #8.
60 Small Ways to Improve Your Life in the Next 100 Days Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to make drastic changes in order to notice an improvement in the quality of your life. At the same time, you don’t need to wait a long time in order to see the measurable results that come from taking positive action. All you have to do is take small steps, and take them consistently, for a period of 100 days. Below you’ll find 60 small ways to improve all areas of your life in the next 100 days. Home 1. Day 1: Declutter MagazinesDay 2: Declutter DVD’sDay 3: Declutter booksDay 4: Declutter kitchen appliances 2. If you take it out, put it back.If you open it, close it.If you throw it down, pick it up.If you take it off, hang it up. 3. A burnt light bulb that needs to be changed.A button that’s missing on your favorite shirt.The fact that every time you open your top kitchen cabinet all of the plastic food containers fall out. Happiness 4. 5. 6. How many times do you beat yourself up during the day? 7. Learning/Personal Development 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
Robyn Beavers Role Model: Mae JemisonThree Words to Describe Herself: Goofy, optimistic, and a little nerdyCrucial Reads: Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough & Michael Braungart and Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and Hunter LovinsSource of Courage: The support of her family. As a civil engineer, Robyn Beavers is determined to see more women in science and engineering, and she is certainly a role model for young girls in this industry. Beavers is the founding member of Google's Green Business & Operations strategy team. She has served as an AARA Fellow for the Department of Energy, and worked with Vestas in pioneering the creation of WindMade, an international NGO that provides companies with the means to "label" their commitment to renewable energy and sustainability. Currently she is working for Dean Kamen as head of commercialization for water and power technologies.
Making Goals Happen For Five Dollars I know this will sound stupid, but just force yourself to work on some of your goals, and it will become a habit. I know, it sounds doubtful, but there really isn't anyway to force yourself to enjoy working on your goals, you've just got to get rid of the attitude that they're like homework assignments. When switching from being a major procrastinator to being a workhorse, you always will have to start with pain. The 14 Most Powerful and Effective Words in Marketing | 60 Second Marketer | Tips, Tools and Techniques for Marketers Around the Globe In Go Mobile, the book I’ve written with Jeanne Hopkins from HubSpot, we review a list of the 14 most powerful words in marketing so that readers can use them in their mobile marketing campaigns. This post gives you a sneak peak at the list that’s included in the book. Enjoy. Have you ever bought a product that you didn’t really need? Or, you may have been told about a deadline to buy concert tickets, join a health club or even buy a car for 0% interest. What’s up with that? This week, I’ll be posting blogs on this very topic. Below, you’ll find the 14 most powerful and effective words in marketing. I’ll cover this entire topic in depth when I speak at the SXSW conference. FreeNowYouSaveMoneyEasyGuaranteeHealthResultsNewLoveDiscoveryProvenSafety After decades of testing, these words have proven to be the ones that are the most persuasive at encouraging people to choose Brand A over Brand B. What do all these words have in common? How should you use these words in your marketing campaigns?
Top 10 Essential DIY Skills That Aren't as Hard as You Think I think it depends on your definition of "maintenance." I wouldn't hesitate to change my own oil or something like that but I wouldn't dream of replacing a radiator myself. That isn't my idea of "maintenance." Sorry you are afraid of doing that stuff, but even a complete engine rebuild is easy to do, and no you don't need "special tools" unless you call things beyond a hammer and screwdriver "special" I can do a front end alignment on a car in my driveway with a tape measure and a couple of carpenters squares along with the wrenches most people would have. Also if you do buy the cheap but special tools you can replace your own tires and balance them better than the "laser computerized" balance machine at the tire place. In fact the only expensive special tools I need are a Crane and engine run stand. Danger? This is why I don't take my cars to the dealer for any routine maintenance. Aside from that, dealers are inconvenient. Those are also the reasons I have seen and more.
Build Up Your Courage By Mentally Rehearsing Like a Movie Stuntman (My English is far from perfect, but I hope you understand the story) In 1958, the Brazilian national soccer team coach, Vicente Feola, was showing the players a strategy to beat the Russian team. "In the middle field, Nilson Santos, Zito and Didi make short kicks to distract the Russians, Vavah goes to the left, shoots to Nilton. Garrincha gets the ball, runs to the other side of the field, passes do Mazzola, who is already on the spot to receive, kicks to Pele, who dribbles by the keeper and makes the goal". He showed in every detail how to win the game. Then Garrincha, a "craque", superb player, who was also known for not being very intelligent, called the coach: "Teacher", said Garrincha, "have you already settled everything with the Russians?" I don't mean you can't or you shouldn't rehearse.
3 Ways to Take Lecture Notes Steps Part 1 Preparing for the Lecture <img alt="Image titled Take Lecture Notes Step 1" src=" width="728" height="546" class="whcdn" onload="WH.performance.clearMarks('image1_rendered'); WH.performance.mark('image1_rendered');">1Complete readings before the day’s lecture. <img alt="Image titled Take Lecture Notes Step 7" src=" width="728" height="546" class="whcdn">7Consider formatting options for your notes. Part 2 Optimizing Your Note-Taking <img alt="Image titled Take Lecture Notes Step 16" src=" width="728" height="546" class="whcdn">9Ask questions. Part 3 Revisiting Your Notes
How to Handle Your High Maintenance Friends and Family Without Losing Your Mind My mother-in-law and her useless husband are high maintenance from an emotional and financial standpoint since they are always dead broke. We have cut them off financially and when they complain I simply tell them the truth, that I'm trying to pay off our debts and set the right example for our kids. I'm certainly not throwing anymore money into that pit. I have always been respectful to both of them, yet somehow whenever their finances become problematic (read: often) they have a tendency to throw me under the bus with my wife by lying their asses off. So, when my mother-in-law called and was excited about a job prospect for her hubby in the Virgin Islands I asked if she knew what the cost of living was. I want them to make a wise decision in this matter, but more importantly I simply hope he gets and accepts that job!!!
Learn the Built-in Superpowers of Your Brain and Body This Weekend I believe this article and the "How to Hack Your Brain" article are touching on the subject of the power of the mind that books such as "As A Man Thinketh" by James Allen have already discussed. People may be wary of believing the law of attraction, but even if one doesn't subscribe to the idea that his thoughts forge his being and his life, simply opening oneself up to new perspectives can have a dramatic effect on hacking one's mind. For example, when I read in an Andrew Matthews' book that our emotional reactions are caused by the rules we have set of what we consider to be good or bad, I began to see my emotions differently and realize how I could better control them. By changing and relaxing some of the rules of what one considers good and bad events, one can alter his quality of life. That is but one example of how one may take on new perspectives.