I have had interactions with local Action coaches before. Some are good; some are not. If you have never heard of Jim Rohn, Action looks like gold. If you have read Jim Rohn’s work, then the 28 points aren’t new. In fact, some of it sounds like Gerber’s E-Myth. But then who doesn’t borrow. (I do).

When Brad was spouting off about his investments passively making him more than his business (and talking about buying a new helicopter), it reminded me of Tim Ferriss of 4 Hour Work Week fame.

One point to remember: your coach and your financial planner should make more money than you. If not, how can they help you? There’s a theory that I heard from Loral Langmeier that if you learn from a millionaire, they can take you to $100K, because you can only take about 10%. It’s also important how they got their money. Obviously, if your Financial Planner is telling you to buy bonds, but all his money is in T-bills or a couple of mutual funds, you have to ask.

On to some of the points:

1) ATTITUDE. Are you playing to win or playing not to lose? Success requires growth.
2) FINANCIAL SEASONS. Reminds me of Jim Rohn’s Seasons of Life. Think like a farmer. Plant in the Spring, Work the farm during Summer, Harvest in the Fall, fix everything up during the winter as you prepare for another growth-harvest season.
3) THINK GLOBAL. I disagree with this, since so many businesses are local — and should focus on growing that market before growing beyond local.
4) RESPONSE ABILITY. I call this Accountability. You should participate in a Master Mind Group, to expand your view, your thinking, and be held accountable for your goals.
5) OPPORTUNITY. Everything new and different happens in th erealm of discomfort. Growth happens when you are uncomfortable. Fear is just Failure Expected And Realized. Anxiety is just fear before it happens. Get over it. Get uncomfortable.
6) GRATITUDE . Say Thank you. It creates a Relationship when you give thanks. Philanthropy doesn’t have to involve millions.
7) CELEBRATION. Celebrate successes – even small ones. Do you buy yourself a birthday gift? Focus on winning.
Brad did make a joke about TV shows. Now, they are named after the audience: Lost, Desparate Housewives, Biggest Losers.
9) Learn before you earn. Brad says to work for someone else to get a paid education before you start your own business. For many of his clients — small business owners — it’s a little late for that. That’s why they hire a coach – to teach them, to show them, to help them grow.
10) Everyone is in Sales. (I use this one a lot myself in talks). When you were a kid, you were a great salesperson. “I want it! I want it! I want it! I want it! I want it!” – Persistent and Pushy. Then we lose that and let No get in our way.
If you believe that your service or product can truly help the customer, aren’t you doing thema favor by being persistent?
11) Dream – Goal – Plan – Action
Have a Bucket List. Write down your Dreams.
12) BE + DO = HAVE.
13) LEVERAGE. Work Once / Get Paid Many Times.
15) It takes about 10 years to get Rich. Learn It. Ride It. Do It. Take Action.
16) CASH FLOW. There’s Passive and Active. Passive is best.
17) CAPITAL. Sell and Buy. I was out the door.
14) Employee -> Self-Employed -> Manager -> Owner -> Investor -> Entrepreneur

That’s the Ladder to climb. As Jim Rohn says, we make the tough stuff up higher, so you have to stand on the books you have digested to reach them. Brad says that you have more to learn to climb the ladder.

Brad also says to invest in Real Estate, Businesses and Stocks. Balance.

A Business is a commercial profitable enterprise that works without me. (I guess I am just self-employed then).

Ricki introduced me to another VA that edited my book. I met Susan from Ace Concierge online. I am getting busier so I am trying to figure out how to delegate better. I need to learn how to utilize my VA better to free up my time, so I can spend more time writing (blogs, articles, book #3); doing podcasts; speaking; consulting; and talking with prospects and clients.

I asked Susan if she had a tele-seminar about How to Use a VA. She didn’t but gave me thoughts. Then I Googled it. This is what I found:

1. WebWorkerDaily has an article about How to Use a VA.
2. Here’s a list of 101 tasks that a VA can do for you.
3. And here’s 30 creative ways to use a VA.
4. The typical MLM article: How to use Virtual Staff to make passive income. I actually have hired a freelancer to write non-technical copy, so anything is possible.

For me, the key is probably control. Susan wrote to me, “It is not easy to delegate what we have always done; to trust another to do it, or to believe someone can complete a project/task as well as we can. Developing a comfort level and knowing that someone can truly and effectively help you manage your business is a learned skill.”

I think it’s my mindset that I can get it done myself faster before I even explain it once. But that’s a falsehood. If I explain it correctly once, the VA can do it over and over. Also, it always takes longer to do something than I think it can (or worse schedule it to). (Like this blog post).

“Solo-preneurs cannot do it all themselves. It is impossible. Something will always suffer for this type of mentality. We all try, but miss the mark,” Susan points out.

I think she is right on the mark with this: “Once you lay the foundation, discuss accountability, responsibility, expectations and deadlines, it comes together. Some tasks may take a little more creativity with training while others, not so much, but in the end, if you think about all you stand to gain with outsourcing, it is a win-win. Just think if you delegated only 4 hrs per week-that is 16 hrs per month to work on income generating activities or have a little more me time.”

Thoughts? [I am going to spend this week thinking about what I can outsource].

In this difficult economic climate, most sales cycles are doubling, some are even tripling. Yet, sales leaders are being asked to produce more results faster with less support.  How can you manage these conflicting priorities and continue to meet expectations?  To win more sales today, you need to play by the new rules.

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Options CFO’s  are considering or using to avoid layoffs include:

1. Redistribution of responsibilities;
2. elimination of bonuses;
3. restructuring;
4. reduced payroll and
5. options to telecommute.”

Reduced payroll can include: shortened work weeks; no overtime; mandatory time off; pay cuts. Although employees get disgruntled with these measures, a frank discussion with employees should help everyone understand that it is far better to take a little less now than to be unemployed altogether.

In reports I am seeing, companies are refraining from touching health benefits but are suspending 401K matches and other monetary benefits.

And here are twenty more from TechRepublic‘s article “Layoff: A Four-Letter Word in Any Economy,” by Steven Martin, president of Profit Professionals of Business Solutions – The Positive Way.

1. Wise leaders understand that emotions are contagious.
2. Discuss relevant matters openly and appropriately.
3. Keep your people connected – Face-to-Face not all electronic.
4. Reduce physical and electronic clutter.
5. Offer skill development, coaching support and training for your people.

Overall, just manage by walking around and connecting with your employees. Be authentic and transparent if you can.

Business development 101: It’s a lot like dating. “You can stand outside the supermarket, asking every passer-by to kiss you — but it’s hard work and you’re going to get slapped a lot on the way to that first kiss. (Corallary: People would rather go out with someone they know than with a stranger.) …. It’s important to have a lot of contacts (i.e., potential customers) at the top of the funnel because the sales cycle is so variable. The overwhelming majority of customers buying your services do so only when they decide that they have pain you can address — and not before.”

10 Dating Rules That Can Help Your Career: “Desperation is Not Attractive” and “Listen More Than You Talk”

How is Selling Like Dating? “Close on a commitment. In dating, you wouldn’t end a date with “See ya.” In a sales call, to build a long term relationship that leads to closed business, you want to always get a commitment that advances the sale.”

• What is Marketing? Every Touch of the Customer. Everyone is in Sales and Marketing.
• Attitude is Everything. Sales is the transfer of Emotion. Enthusiasm pays off.
• USP. How are YOU Different? If you can’t answer that, pack it in because it’s all about price.
• Perceived Value. See above.
• Profit. You can sell below cost because everyone wants to get paid and get a raise.
• Engage the Prospect in Open Ended Questions so you can find the Pain.
• Sell to Verticals or Sell in Niches. Easier to be an Expert.
• Testimonials. A book or a video. Let others sell for you.

Gitomer says: “It’s not just product knowledge; it’s your insight and understanding of how the customer benefits and wins from it.”