'The More People I Meet, The More I Like My Dog." (Bumper Sticker)

I'm not sure where I first saw that bumper sticker, but being a dog lover, I thought it was funny although I internally disagreed with it. (I like people)

Fast forward about 20 years...20 years of advertising sales, retail sales and working with the general public. Okay...I still like people but I really like my dog -

What you can learn about a dog and how to apply it to business:

1. Dogs are reliable: You can count on them - they're loyal. Is your staff dependable, do they treat customers with respect? Do your staff arrive on time, do their job well? Or, are there problems? How does reliability fit in your business? Can you deliver your product or service on time and to the best of your ability?

2. Dogs like to have fun: If your business isn't any fun, why do it? Okay...some of you have to for the moment - there's no quick alternative. But when you get the chance, see how you can infuse some fun into your workplace.

For example, even after the 'politically correct' way of being emerged in the corporate world, my former boss at a newspaper, downloaded un-politically correct comics and we laughed our heads off on Monday mornings. What a great way to start the week!

3. Dogs know when to play hard and go for a nap: If you're 'burning the candle at both ends,' you're not going to be having fun, and you're not going to be F-U-N. After you complete a huge project, you owe it to yourself to 'goof off' and do something fun.

Go for that hike, bikeride, swim - read, do yoga, hit the spa, have a night out with the guys...do something to blow off steam. We're all too serious and it hurts our bodies, minds and spirits.

4. Dogs like exploring: Stuck on a project, feeling 'in a slump,' or stressed out? Go exploring. You can travel out of town, visit another city or armchair travel online. Get out of your head and environment and see what others are doing.

My dog, Ricker, is 'an escape artist,' and loves to run away so he can see new things in the neighbourhood (and chase cats). When he comes back home he's happy, exercised and ready to do whatever a dog needs to do.

5. Dogs are creative: If a dog wants a bone, to chase a cat or to escape, he'll find a way. When you consider that the average dog has the intelligence of a five year old, that's pretty smart - quiet a bit of knowledge in that doggie brain.

Creativity is fast becoming something that innovative companies are looking for. If you or your company are creative, you can stand out and attract more customers or clients. How to be creative? Put a creativity box in your business. Ask employees to post ideas based on a company challenge;read a book on creativity, keep a notepad nearby, write in a journal, surf the Net, take photographs, do a crossword puzzle, create the title for a hit song, write a poem, play an instrument. The point is - get your creativity juices flowing. Everyone is creative in a certain way - i't's about thinking differently, solving old problems new ways.

Have fun and remember: 'It's a dog's life.'

Lisa Rickwood, "Small Biz Stress Buster," is a small business coach, visual artist and author of Escape The Pace: 100 Fun And Easy Ways To Slow Down And Enjoy Your Life and co-author of Power & Soul: 42 Successful Entrepreneurs Share their Secrets for Creating the Business and Life of Their Dreams. She helps small business owners ‘master stress for professional and personal success.’ Get your FREE e-book, 5 Critical Actions That Hurt Your Business and Add Stress to Your Life…and How to Escape Them by visiting: http://www.escapethepace.com/

Does anyone want what you have to offer?

Has this happened to you? You have a temporary lack of confidence and ask someone who's very successful about your business and they say something that 'temporarily crushes your confidence?'

Last week I asked a highly successful Internet marketer about my business. I appreciated the honesty (really I did) and the constructive criticism but...and here's the but - I was told no one wants what I have.

I have polled people, asked my subscriber list, read articles for five years and I know people are stressed. I also know as a retailer and small business person, that stress keeps us from truly being successful; think how much more you could accomplish if you were organized, unstressed and focused.

Anyway, this marketer said small business people are 'ONLY TRYING TO SURVIVE AND DON'T WANT WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER...'

I disagree - I BELIEVE SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE WANT TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE BUT THRIVE! And, if I can help them do this by eliminating stress, I believe there's enough people who value this service.

What do you think? DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WANT TO MASTER STRESS FOR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL SUCCESS?

If they don't, I'd love to know because I really thought I had something of value... :-(


Lisa - "Small Biz Stress Buster"
www.escapethepace.com
Get your One Hour Stress Buster Power Hour Here! Guaranteed to help you succeed.

A New Cure for Business Wimpiness...

Have you ever felt wimpy in business? What do I mean? You know...you call a prospect in hopes of doing business and then you 'wimp out' and say you're 'just touching base' instead of telling them about your latest 'project that might actually help them.'

Or... you go to a network meeting but talk to one person because you 'just don't want to have to introduce yourself to a lot of people.' Or...you don't want to tell an employee that they 'don't really have a clue' so you say that 'they're just having a bad day.'

I admit it - I've wimped out and I know it's not a recipe for success. What if Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, a Governor, a brain surgeon, a police officer, a nurse - you get the idea...what if they wimped out at work? It wouldn't be good. There would be no Oprah show, Donald Trump might lose a billion, a Governor might do a lousy job, a brain surgeon might remove the 'wrong part of the brain'...

So what's a busy, wimpy-feeling business person to do? Act strong. And what if you don't feel strong because you're doing something new, something uncomfortable, etc. Still ACT STRONG.

One of the best techniques for doing this is to think back to when you had a major challenge in your life. What happened? Most likely you excelled because if you live long enough, you get strong.

Make a list of things you survived and thrived from. Now, think about that business meeting, that client you need to call, that talk in front of people -anything that makes you feel 'wimpy' and then think about how you conquered much more challenging things.

Not sure what things I'm talking about? Make a list of near death times, challenging times, whatever really made you 'step up.' Then, see how the things you're facing now are in relation to the past.

For example, I've lived through: a broken elbow with two steel pins put in and later removed, a broken tailbone (twice), broken fingers, car crashes, numerous falls, dog bites, near death fall 15 feet to cement, sunstroke, heatstroke, 105 degree fever, childbirth (twice) without medication, disappointment, heartbreak, dysfunctional family stuff, losing friends, losing family, losing pets, the dentist, bad jokes, bad hair days, bad clothes days, camping horror stories, being human, being female - you get the concept. Heck, if a person can stand this, they can handle rejection, speaking in front of crowds, spiders, business challenges, etc.

I'm sure you are 20 times stronger than you think. So...the next time you feel 'wimpy' think about what you've endured. You're a surviver and you can kick that wimpy feeling right out the door. Look out world, here you come!

Hope this inspires you to GET STRONG and have success!

Feel free to drop me a line at: www.escapethepace.com I'd love to hear how you eliminated the 'wimpy feelings.'