Quote Of The Week #15

Great people, not great strategies, are what made it all work. We spent extraordinary time recruiting, training, developing and rewarding the best. Our reach and success would have been limited without the best people stretching out to become better. - Jack Welch in Jack: Straight from the Gut

The 7 Greatest Lies In Network Marketing (E-book)

Over the past year or so I have become a convert to network marketing. While understanding the role of traditional business models I am convinced that network marketing, done ethically and properly, is a tremendous vehicle for the ordinary man in the street to begin their own business and achieve success.

Don't misunderstand me - I am not saying this is a 'get-rich-quick' model nor am I saying that success does not come with very hard work. It is the power of leverage and residual income coupled with the low start-up cost that makes this a powerful model.

It is unfortunate that there have been many charlatans and scam artists who have misused network marketing to their own ends and who have used shady business practices to promote their own ends. Last month I posted "Network Marketing - Do I Smell A Rat?" which explained more about this and gave a list of the hidden values of this business model.

The network marketing companies themselves are also to blame at times. I have posted an e-book entitled "The 7 Greatest Lies In Network Marketing" for you to download and read in your own time. This e-book explains how so many people are fed misinformation about network marketing and then struggle to succeed. This breeds dissatisfaction with the model which continues to break down the excellent work so many are doing within the industry.

The top three lies are :

1) Everyone is your prospect!

2) This really isn't sales. We just share products with people.

3) Anyone can do this!

These lies and the remaining 4 continue to destroy the image of network marketing and lead to the dreams of financial security and an enhanced lifestyle lying scattered at the feet of many disillusioned people.

If you are involved in network marketing or wish to know more before you get involved, you really should read this book. It will give you a great heads-up so you know what to expect and can set yourself up for success.

Another recommended resource for planning your action steps is here - Strategic Planning Outline for Small Businesses

Quote of the Week #12

Ideas have a short shelf life. You must act on them before expiration date.
- John C. Maxwell in Thinking For A Change

Other books by John C.Maxwell -

100 Greatest Leadership Principles - New Book Available For Pre-Order

To celebrate this 100th post on @Home.Biz I could have written some really inspirational piece about setting goals, visioning and other leadership principles. However while browsing through Amazon today I came across a book entitled The 100 Greatest Leadership Principles of All Time which is only due for release on 31 August this year.

Now obviously I have not read this book but I wanted to link it to this 100th post! So here it is :

According to Amazon this book is for anyone preparing to step into a leadership role and is a unique collection of quotes from 100 great leaders of armies, social movements, political revolutions, fashion revolutions, businesses, and nations is sure to inspire. From Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King, Jr. ,from Napoleon to Coco Chanel, readers will encounter such inspiring words to lead by as: "It is not fair to ask of others what
you are not willing to do yourself." (Eleanor Roosevelt); "You do not lead by hitting people over the head--that's assault, not leadership." (Dwight D. Eisenhower); and "What you cannot enforce, do not command." (Sophocles). The essential and eloquently expressed principles in this book will motivate readers to lead with passion and compassion and teach them how to identify and achieve what is best for the group.

I like these kind of easy-read books for inspiration when I am not in the right head-space to get me teeth stuck into anything meatier. I am open to anything that will help me to raise my leadership bar even if it means spending ten minutes a day contemplating a quote or two from a recognised great leader.

My order is in - at under $10 its a steal!

Quote of the Week #11

"I am not satisfied." This is the mantra of the leader. As a leader you are never satisfied with the present, because in your head you can see a better future, and the friction between the "what is" and the "what could be" burns you, stirs you up, propels you forward. This is leadership. - Marcus Buckingham in The One Thing You Need To Know

Quote of the Week #10

In every interaction, pursue points of connection. This is where communication begins.
Don't fake it. Seek connection only as far as you sincerely desire to know and relate to another. If you must, settle for a connection that is less strong rather than pretend. - Jedd Medefind and Erik Lokkesmoe in The Revolutionary Communicator

Quote of the Week #9

So a leader must learn to lead down, up, and laterally. But perhaps the most overlooked leadership challenge is the one in the middle. - Bill Hybels in "Courageous Leadership"

Strategic Planning E-book Download

I recently came across Lulu which gives one the opportunity to self-publish any books, brochures, e-books, video files and so on. It is a really great way to get your work into the view of the public at next to no cost. The FAQ section is very comprehensive and is a good way to get a feel for what the company offers.

I decided to give it a go and publish an document online - Strategic Planning Outline For Small Businesses. This is my first attempt at online publishing (besides my blogs!).

I do believe that this strategic planning strategy outline will add value to small businesses and so I invite you to download it here for the low cost of $1.

Once you have bought this document go ahead and take a look at the rest of the Lulu site - what a fantastic site for those wishing to be published!

Is A 4 Hour Work Week Possible - Maybe So ...

Could you change your current working reality so that instead of a 60-70 hour work week, you spent 4 hours a week working your business?

It seems that this may just be possible!

While listening to the Internet Business Mastery podcast I was introduced to the concept of a Four Hour Work Week. This was put forward by Tim Ferris who has made this his lifestyle and heads up a very successful business. Does this seem impossible to you? It certainly did to me. However take a look at these case studies of people who have implemented a reduced hour work week posted on YouTube. See this post on eSoup to read another account of how a reduced hour work week has changed the author's life.

The website of Tim Ferris, author of The Four Hour Work Week, espouses the idea of "outsourcing your life". The site gives great insight into this concept and is well worth a visit. There are also chapter samples available to read to get an idea of what Tim's book is about. The book has been a New York Times bestseller and is based on a series of controversial lectures at Princeton University.

It is clear though that embarking on the journey towards chronological freedom entails risk taking, making sacrifices initially and the willingness to back yourself to win. That all seems perfectly acceptable to me - short term sacrifice, long term gain. Isn't that a principle of life? It seems that all successful people understand that.

I must confess that I have not read this book but having heard about it, listened to the testimonies around it and having explored the website, I am now dead keen to go out and purchase it!

Once I have read the book I will post my review. If you've already read it, please send me a review to publish as well.

If you know of any South Africans who utilise this type of work lifestyle, please do let me know. I would love to feature them (interview them) for this blog.

To find out more about the book or to purchase your own copy, please click on the cover below.

Quote of the Week #9

Energy is the currency of your leadership. It is also the currency of your team. Good personal stewardship of energy will inspire your team to do the same. - Dave Fleming (Author of Leadership Wisdom From Unlikely Voices)

Quote of the Week #7

Understand that character is not essential to leadership, but character is what sets you apart as a leader worth following. Talent and determination determine your potential; character determines your legacy. - Andy Stanley (The Next Generation Leader)

Free Marketing Resource From South African Company

I recently came across the ZA Group (Pty) Ltd. This is a company who describe themselves as -

a team of marketing and communication strategists, writers, graphic designers and other creative professionals, passionately concerned about the well-being of South Africa.

They offer a fantastic resource for the small/home business owner - a free e-book called "Three Marketing Essentials Without Which Your Business May Not Survive". It is written by the company's CEO, Theresa Muller who has three decades of experience in this field and has taught and written extensively on this subject.

This is not your run of the mill marketing exercise to give you a useless e-book in return for your email address. This is a valuable resource to which you will return often especially if you are new to running your own business.

Please let me know if you find any other e-books of this ilk - I am looking for quality here as there is an awful lot of junk out there masquerading as valuable material for the small business owner.

Art Of The Start - Essential Viewing

Every now and again one comes across a piece of teaching that is so valuable it cannot be kept to oneself. This is certainly the case with this video of Guy Kawasaki teaching about "The Art Of The Start".

It can be found on Guy's blog and I highly recommend any person in business to watch it and take notes. It is highly entertaining and informative. The slides used in the presentation are also available for download - all for free!

Enjoy . . .

Quote of the Week #4

Life skills are often best learned through experience. These are important lessons not taught in school. Formal education is really for those seeking to be employees or self-employed individuals. To obtain true financial freedom, you must be either a business owner or an investor, generating passive income. - Robert Kiyosaki

The Real Story Behind Franchising In South Africa

Franchising occupies about 12% of South Africa's retail and services market. Those wishing to enter this market would do well to consider the pros and cons of such and move. It would be good to be able to hear from those who have been both successful and unsuccessful and entering the world of the franchise.

Franchising in South Africa: The Real Story takes the reader behind the scenes of the franchising world. Using examples from South Africa's well-known businesses such as Spur, Nando's, Pick 'n Pay and Mugg&Bean, this book reveals the realities of actual franchisors and franchisees.

The authors are Eric Parker and Kurt Illetschko. Parker is a well-known speaker and business strategist and Illetschko has lectured for 30 years on the subject of franchising.

7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Communication

Jamie S. Walters, author of Big Vision, Small Business: 4 Keys to Success Without Growing Bigwrites in The CEO Refresher about the importance of excellent communications in business.

I have listed what he calls The Big Seven Mistakes in Communication here :

1) Contacting others only when you need something.

2) Not following up, or closing the loop.

3) Not returning telephone calls or email messages.

4) Foregoing basic courtesy.

5) Not listening.

6) Telling lies.

7) Spewing chronic negativity.

The entire post, along with explanations of the above may be found on The CEO Refresher site here.