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The BOLD Bulletin by  |
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February, 2008 |
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SWOOOShhhh !!! Yep, that was January wizzing by.
 By now the 'new' year is well underway. Isn't it interesting how the cycle repeats - every year. We're such creatures of habits and routines, that it is tough - even painful to make a change, even though we know it's for our own good or for the good of our business.
So, how's your 2008 progressing? Are you doing the things to improve your business like you said you would? What was it; finally completing that marketing plan; starting that newsletter; updating your website? What was it?
If you're on track, Good for you! You're in the minority, unfortunately. Most of us fall right back into the routine of the-way-we-always-do-it, fighting the daily fires and going through the daily motions. Most of us even tell ourselves "I don't know what else I can do! There's just not enough time in the day to do anything differently!".
Hogwash! Give me a break.
What there is not enough of in your day is discipline. If you'll be honest with yourself - REALLY honest, you'll agree. It's about priorities, and recently I had a candid chat with myself and I'll share share some of that "chat" with you this month.
Sometimes being BOLD is about tough self-love.
Lynnelle | |
| Quotes of the Month |
"Time is money."
&...
"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
Sage thoughts from
-- Benjamin Franklin | |
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| Featured Article - Discipline, Wealth and Your Time |
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How many times has a client or prospect told you "I don't
have the budget for that right now."? What they are really saying to you is "That isn't important for me right now." or "I would rather spend my money (or time) on something else right now."
You do the same thing. When you tell yourself or others "I don't have the time (or money) to ...finish the marketing plan ...to start the newsletter, ...to update the website..." what you're really saying is "Finishing the marketing plan is less important to my business than ...organizing my files ...surfing the internet ...attending that networking meeting ...etc."
Sometimes it's a good trade. Sometimes it isn't.
The reality is that there is only so much we can physically do in a 24 hour period. In addition to work there are other demands on our time, some of which are sensible, (community volunteering, work obligations, exercising, sleep) and some which are not (incessant email, mindless interruptions, chit chat gossip)
Alan Weiss, author of Million Dollar Consulting, makes the point (one I agree with) that discretionary time is wealth. If you agree, then the real issue is how we invest our money and our time.
Most of us have limits on our finances, but we're not as strapped as we lead ourselves to believe. Haven't you bought that purse ...that dress ...that... CAR, even though you didn't specifically "allocate" the money? But, because you purchased that dress ..that car ...etc. you are not able to purchase the "other thing". It's not that we don't have the money. It's that we chose to allocate our money elsewhere. We don't acknowledge that we can afford most things by simply refraining from buying something else. It is the same with your time.
So: How do you intend to spend your time? Are you going to allow circumstances; guilt; someone else's agenda, obligations and whims to direct your investment? Or will you, as Alan Weiss puts it, "examine each separate day and make decisions based on your short-term and long-term priorities? When everything is a priority, nothing is a priority. And when you believe your resources force your decisions, and that you have limited, pre-allocated resources, then you have no priorities."
I agree. "Life is about doing what's really important while you can."
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| Ocular Forum - Waltham, MA & South Portland, ME |
"I know I wouldn't have grown any where near where I am now. I have procedures and a plan and I understand what I'm doing and why rather than just plowing ahead. I wouldn't have been here without the Ocular Forum."
The Ocular Forum 
Be a member of an exclusive, confidential group of business-minded individuals with a common goal to grow a successful business.
- You are held accountable by your forum partners;
- Create a roadmap for the next 12 months; a simple 1-page plan;
- Meet monthly with your committed peer partners who challenge you to reach and grow.
For more information call 207-221-3492 or go www.OcularForum.com. |
| You Should Know |
This week (Feb 4 - 8) marks the second International Networking Week, which is about celebrating the key role that networking plays in the development and success of business around the world. Here's a brief 8-minute video of Ivan Misner, President of BNI, talk about International Networking Week. For more information visit the International Networking Week website at www.InternationalNetworkingWeek.com.
 The last week of February (Feb 23 - Mar 1) marks the second National Entrepreneurship Week, celebrating the heritage of entrepreneurship in America and new opportunities for a NEW Generation!
I'm on the steering committee for Maine's participation and I encourage you to visit the National Entrepreneurship Week website to see what your state has planned. You can check out some of Maine's events at eWeekMaine.com. |
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Fun Sites - |
 If you are in the market for a car you can research published invoice prices, MSRP prices, book values, trade-in values and other estimates of valuation, but until now, there was no source of real, actual car transaction prices. PriceHub, now in beta, provides that price transparency. Your search on a particular make and model on PriceHub.com will result in a chart listing transactions made, including model year, mileage, condition, location, transaction date and actual sale price. How cool is that? Now that we've all gotten used to finding cheap flights and hotel rooms on the web, it's time for Liftopia. Liftopia lets ski resorts sell discounted lift tickets online. You simply choose dates and regions (such as Lake Tahoe or Maine) where you want to ski, and then scroll through a list of budget-priced lift tickets. The resorts are able to charge lower prices for tickets sold in advance-which can't be cancelled-and keep prices for on-mountain sales at a higher level. Swishhhh!
And while the price of gas is still a budget buster, I'll repeat this site which was also one of December's fun sites. You can scope out the best gas deals before you leave the house by checking gas prices online. A good site is www.gasbuddy.com. They post regular updates of the cheapest gas prices in towns across the U.S. and Canada. |
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Happy February, all. Enjoy your networking, entrepreneuring and your wise investment of time. If I can help you get back on and/or stay on track please give me a call. Likewise, let me know if you have comments or suggestions for the next issue of BOLD Bulletin.
Warmly,
Lynnelle |
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Bold Vision Consulting | 819 Broadway; B2 | South Portland | ME | 04106
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