Some folks like to do their “Year-in-Review” stuff during the last week of December. Me, I prefer the first week of January. Hey, how can you review your year’s performance when you’ve got a few days left, anyway?

So I was doing a little analysis on the numbers and, if you don’t mind, I’ve got something to crow about:

13% of our revenue last year came from leveraged or passive sources.

Thirteen percent! That’s the best we’ve ever done in that area.

Thing is, since 2006, we’ve been listening to various folks preaching the gospel of leveraged revenue - traditionally including workshops, speaking engagements, teleclasses, mastermind programs, and so forth - and passive revenue from information product sales and affiliate commissions.

Getting over the 10% mark is pretty significant for us. It’s funny, too, considering that 2009 was such a topsy-turvy year in the business world, and this is one of the results we’re seeing. (It’s a safe bet Melanie Benson Strick’s CEO Factor event from April plays a part in this result. You can see a few videos we recorded during the event on our YouTube Channel, “A-Ha!” TV.)

We had our eggs in too few baskets in 2008, and when the recession hit, it gave us a good punch. Our 2009 numbers were down from 2008, but I’m happy to say we’re a six-figure business for the third year in a row, and that’s a great feeling.

So, I’d like to encourage you to look at your business and ask yourself:

1. How could I share what I know to help people in a group setting?

2. How could I record what I know - in text, audio, video, what have you - to help people without me being there?

3. How could I help more people by letting them know these options exist for them - and are often less expensive than working with me one-on-one?

Because here’s what I know: Businesses are made of people, and people still need help. They’re also still being careful with their money, so they may be looking for ways to learn what you know without breaking the bank.

And if you don’t offer those kinds of low-cost, low-risk options…well, aren’t you selling your audience short?

Posted in Entrepreneur Diaries, Lessons Learned, Mood Boosters, Storytelling, Success Strategies | 1 Comment »

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 7th, 2010 at 11:02 pm and is filed under Entrepreneur Diaries, Lessons Learned, Mood Boosters, Storytelling, Success Strategies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Imagine, if you will, Dirty Harry. Sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat. A full breath taken in through the nose, then released as a whispered “Om” chant.

It’s silly to think of it that way, but it may well be true. One of the many interesting nuggets of info I learned about Clint Eastwood from this GQ article is that he’s been meditating twice a day for nearly 40 years.

Yes, that Clint Eastwood. Icon Emeritus of cinematic masculinity and machismo. A meditatin’ fool.

If he can do it, so can you.

Don’t like the word “meditate”? Go with “getting focused” or “centered.” Or call it “mxyxptlk.” Whatever works for you.

Lani taught me one way that got me past my initial resistance. (Not sure where she got it or if she made it up. I’ll have to ask her.) It goes like this:

1. Set a timer for 10 minutes.

2. Get a pen and a piece of blank paper.

3. Start by drawing a circle. Any size, doesn’t matter.

4. Draw whatever comes to mind next. Circles, spirals, stars, squares, dodecahedrons, calligraphy, entirely up to you. Choose to keep your pen tip on the paper or not, also up to you.

5. Stop after ten minutes.

Simple. Do it once a day, any time before you start your work day, for three weeks. Then tell us what you think about meditation.

I was imperfect about it in 2009, but on the days I did it, it kept me sane. I humbly invite you to give it a shot in 2010.

Posted in Success Strategies | No Comments »

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 at 12:16 pm and is filed under Success Strategies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Here’s a question for you:

Where do you draw the line?

In our work today, we talk to businesses and organizations about “Social Marketing and Success Strategies.” Technically speaking, these are two very different topics. “Social marketing” is all about engaging with your target audience with the new and ever-expanding palate of social media tools out there. (And note the word “engaging,” as opposed to simply “broadcasting” your message.)

Then there are “Success Strategies,” which are more about the mental game of being in business for oneself, deciding to become a lifestyle entrepreneur, or being the leader of a mission-driven organization. It’s about who you are, how you evolve, the risks you take, and the commitments you make.

As it happens, there’s overlap between the two, and a lot of it happens at the “A-Ha!” intersection.

Since re-branding in 2006, we defined the “A-Ha!” as “Bold Insight + Joy-filled Action = Powerful, Profitable Results.” The fact is, you can’t separate the feeling from the action. And the results you get often reflect the balance between them. Feel bold, act scared? Usually weak results. Feel desperate, take massive action? Usually no results. Feel bold, act confidently? You’ve got better chances than either of the other two for success.

Even if success doesn’t come walking in the front door, look over to the window. Bound to be a pleasant surprise over there. 

So ask yourself today, “Where do I draw the line between how I feel and what I do?” Don’t be surprised if you can’t tell for sure where you end and the work begins.

Posted in Success Strategies | No Comments »

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 at 11:53 am and is filed under Success Strategies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.