What You’ve Got To Be…

Posted in: Blog by scott_manning on February 24, 2010

Okay, so I confess, I actually hate watching TV.

So I don’t.

For more reasons than I have time to list here (I do talk about them in detail throughout my book called “A Positive Way Of Life” which I debuted as a gift to Mastermind Members last year).

None the less, there are some programs I do watch, from time to time.

Football – of course.

Fox News

Shark Tank (which is on once weekly, not very many weeks through the season, but a must see for serious Entrepreneurs)

Lie to Me (awesome, great characters, lessons to be learned, once weekly)

I’ll watch the Celebrity Apprentice.

And right now I’m watching at most an hour or so of the Olympics.

Typically I will go at least a week or two not watching anything, then going back and catching up on shows.

However, when I’m not traveling there is one show I do the best I can to watch with my Family, as a Family event (which I think is important…hey, whatever pulls you together, you’ve got to embrace)

That’s AMERICAN IDOL.

You betcha. Personally, I love ‘singing’ not just music but singing, and my only preference is that you can understand the words that they are saying, and they are words that my mother wouldn’t be ashamed of. That’s it.

So, I’m enthralled with this show. From a marketing standpoint, they do a lot of smart things also, but that’s not what I’m writing about. (and believe me, it would be much harder to watch without Simon, he’s awesome and I thoroughly admire his candor and honestly – I do think he’s gotten softer over the years)

Last night and what prompted me to write to you about this, was Randy Jacksons comment’s before they began the first night of the “America Votes” phase to the show.

When ask for advice to give the girls on competing tonight he said:

“Listen girls, it’s make it or break it time tonight. You’ve either got to BE Great or BE Mad at yourself. It’s up only up to you…”

I immediately wrote it down.

Of course we know this, but and it’s a BIG but, how often to we accept it, believe it, live by it.

I thought to myself, “self, you are a crazy SOB – you’ve got to be telling yourself that every single day!”

YOU’VE GOT TO BE GREAT

Or

YOU’VE GOT TO BE MAD AT YOURSELF

Funny thing is, this goes right along with so many things Dan Kennedy says, teaches, preaches, and lives by in his writings to us with the No BS Marketing Letter, this month, opening monologue, all about keeping score…same concept.

Lessons for this week:

1. Why not have enough going on, enough to be excited about, and enough on your plate that You don’t have to rely on some Flat Box to motivate, entertain, and live your life through each and every day. Watch for fun, for lessons, for information and inspiration, for family, even for relaxation, but not for habit and excuse.
2. Try to have something You and Your family (kids still at home, or just You and your spouse) have to look forward to, take that necessary time to drop the book, the paper, the DAMN phone, stop typing and SIT with those you give you the reasons to do all you are doing.
3. THE BIG ONE – Wake up everyday and know You’ve got to be 2 things, when its all said and done, in terms of results, productivity, money, opportunity, success, etc – You’ve got to BE Great – or – MAD at yourself.

By the way, in American Idol, right now American’s voting, only thing you’ve go to go by is how you’re keeping Score. And, You’re worth JUDGING every single day.

Make ‘em count, and as another Judge last night Suggested – “when it’s all said and done, you don’t want to have to be Mad at yourself”

In other words – BE GREAT! Today.

Scott Manning

February Update

Posted in: Blog by admin on February 22, 2010

February Marketing Video Update

What To Learn From the Colts (even after the loss)

And How To Ensure Success

Don’t forget the GKIC-Indy March Chapter Event is Coming Up.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE CHAPTER EVENT

Swift Action & ”What’s Next”

Posted in: Blog by scott_manning on February 17, 2010

Today, I wanted to share two points with you, so I’ll be brief on each.

We often talk about “What’s Next In Your Business” – For a couple reasons.

First, Your customers need a “what’s next” they want something new, all the time. At least something different, a different reason to keep coming back and giving you money.

Second, You need it, to keep fresh, creative, and challenging yourself, which is where big breakthroughs are found.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, The Market REQUIRES It – I’ve heard Dan Kennedy say time and time again, “if you are in the same business 3 years from now, you will probably be out of business”.

Of course he means doing everything exactly the same way…

The getting of customers

Taking care of those customers

Selling the same stuff

Making of the money

Your Business Model, Etc.

In Bill Glazer’s Recession Rescue Presentation he gave and his 7 points, most of them had to do with “DIFFERENT” ways, strategies, customers, things, thinking, etc.

So, an essential question to be asking yourself, all the time is – What’s NEXT!

Understand, I did not say, “what can you go and find new to do and work now, now”

We are not talking about BRIGHT SHINY OBJECTS as they like to say, we are talking about You have to be making progress, moving forward in your business and marketing – that’s ‘WHAT’S NEXT’ is all about.

Think about our world for a moment.

Colts – been thinking about this since the onside kick after half-time

Olympic Athletes – thinking about it all through their performances and certainly immediately after, win or lose, medal or not

Democrats – “which way do I go”

News, Media, Everyday – What’s NEXT!

Of course you can watch us, as I always tell our Members, it’s worth hanging Me, Dan and Bill, Glazer-Kennedy – and certainly on a local level following our Mastermind Members – seeing all we are doing – and observing the WHAT’S NEXT in action is key.

What is – Your WHAT’S NEXT, this week, next month, next quarter, next year?

In fact just this week, for two of my Private Clients, we are knee deep in HUGE What’s Next Developments for their businesses.

And if I counted up just since January 1^st – for Clients alone, how many “what’s next” I could come up with, it would be much more than a dozen, of significant adjustments, modifications, business add-ons, marketing and money making strategies that have been put into action.

Which brings me to Point 2 – for this week.

Not just ACTION But – S W I F T Action!

This is key, because truly, honestly, accurately, if You’d be reflective for a moment, nothing sort of happens, gradually or slowly.

It may culminate, preparate (I know I made that word up, makes sense to me)

But when it comes down to it – “ACTION” only happens FAST.

Again, I use the Olympics as example. Of course the Cross Country Skiing or the Bobsledding take time, but, they are thinking fast, believe me, and the actions occur moment by moment, not one long drawn out action.

Anyhow – I challenge you – decide on “What’s Next” then take SWIFT ACTION.

You only get paid for results, and results only come from actions –

Actions, as we agreed, only happen fast –

So watch some speed skating, snowboarding, or whatever, turn on the Damn TV this week, check out the Olympians and guess who wins – depending on the event of course, but generally – The GOLD Medal goes to the FASTEST!

Let that rub off on you this week.

And go get your own Gold Medal in SWIFT ACTION on WHAT’S NEXT in Your Business.

Scott Manning

They Didn’t But We Can!

Posted in: Blog by scott_manning on February 10, 2010

The Opportunity for Redemption comes with the BIG BIG BIG News you are about to Read.

I’m going to use this space today in effort to recruit You to help us Win, and give you a life changing and business altering experience all at the same time.

The 2010 Marketing and Money Making SuperConference is upon us. And this year happens at the tail end of April in Dallas Texas.

Now, before you jump to conclusions, let me say, most of You reading this, have probably never been to an International Event, the size and scope of this. And a strong majority have never experience a Glazer-Kennedy Event before – and needless to say, You are missing out.

However, it goes above and beyond that, this year, Bill Glazer and Dan Kennedy have something extra special planned for us.

Not only will You get more face time with Dan and Bill than ever before, with each of them presenting a special Extended Evening Symposium they have also, for the first time, put together a very special Dessert Reception and Q&A Evening Event just for Chapter Members.

Here’s the thing, You have heard me brag many times before about “having the Entrepreneurs in attendance from Indiana than any other City in the Country” and that’s happened, but we have also been beat out a few times by groups in Michigan, Florida, and even Chicago.

LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING (as our wonderfully articulate President would say) I CAN NOT WITHSTAND A SECOND PLACE FINISH TWICE IN THE SAME YEAR.

Of course I’m talking about the Colts!

We may not have won the Super Bowl, but we can damn sure win on the Biggest Stage of the Entrepreneurial Game – THE PLACE FOR PROSPERITY – at this Years GKIC SUPERCONFERENCE!

We have nearly 30 very smart People already registered (many of which are bringing their Children ages 12 to 18, who can attend FREE).

All around this EVENT can not be missed.

INDIANAPOLIS Must Represent. And I need your help to make sure it happens.

You see, during the Private Chapter Members Only Dessert Reception, Dan and Bill will be taking Group Pictures with each Chapter – and I nor You should want to be outdone.

By the way, I’ll be treating you to a special GKIC Indy SuperConference Rally the day before the Event begins.

Rather than convince you anymore, I’m going to give you all the details, right here, right now, and I urge you to follow suit with my Private Coaching, Mastermind, and Top Chapter Members in joining us for the 2010 SuperConference.

While in the Manning Family Champions might be born (even though it didn’t happen this year) Successful Entrepreneurs are MADE – and you’ll walk out of Dallas feeling like a Champion, marketing like a Champion, and making money like Champion.

It’s our time to shine, it’s your time to get Rich – Put Indianapolis Back on Top at this Years GKIC Marketing and Money Making SuperConference!

Looking forward to sharing the experience with You and raising Your hand in victory!

Scott Manning

The ULTIMATE Marketing IQ Test – In One Question!

Posted in: Blog by admin on February 3, 2010

http://www.NoBSIndy.com/chaptermeeting

Now, here’s why I just said what I did.

PROBLEM – “word of mouth” is not a STRATEGY, it implies that you believe your customers will, on their own free volition, go out of their way to interrupt their lives, without any reason or incentive, and turn into your passionate and devoted Sales Force.  “Word of Mouth” more often than not means You have no strategy and it always means you are giving up control and responsibility for ONE out of two of the most critical pieces to EVERY Business – New Customer Acquisition (the other being Customer Retention, it’s the 2 sided business coin, those you’ve got, and those you don’t)

SOLUTION – “word of mouth” only makes sense and/or works when it is created DELIBERATELY, through strategic means and methods of stimulating this Phenomenon amongst your customers and referrals sources.

To make something very detailed and complex Simple –

(The detail and complexity, we’ll blueprint out this Friday http://www.NoBSIndy.com/chaptermeeting)

4 SIMPLE Steps to Making “Word of Mouth” work

YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM:

1) SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT
2) REASON TO TALK ABOUT IT

Then, as if that weren’t enough,

3) YOU HAVE TO TEACH THEM HOW TO TALK

And, finally after all that effort…

4) YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM THINGS TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN WITHOUT THEM ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING including Talking, Thinking, or Exerting Effort

Now, if you can illustrate to me, each of these 4 steps in your so called wonderful “Word of Mouth” New Customer Acquisition Marketing Plan, I’ll believe that a) you know at least a little regarding what you’re talking about and b) you actually get any new customers via this Strategy.

The bottom line is this – Bill Glazer says, “everybody has systems, whether they are good systems or not, is the question.”  So, You saying “word of mouth”, might actually mean you’ve got a system, I just bet it’s a system based around a whole lot of HOPING and not much Marketing.

It doesn’t have to stay that way.

As I said, We’ll fix it Friday, just click here:

http://www.NoBSIndy.com/chaptermeeting

Scott Manning