One Failure Does Not Make YOU a Failure

How to Effectively Turn Defeat into Victory

All of us have made mistakes in our lifetimes, whether it has been in our personal lives, professional lives, or both. In some cases, we have made more than one mistake and often those slip-ups consume how we feel about our current positions in life and about ourselves. It is important to remember, however, that making mistakes is just a part of life – we all make them and we are only human! What is more important than making the mistake is how we react to it and what lessons we learn from it.

Dani Johnson, a renowned motivation speaker and teacher, talks about making mistakes in one of her latest blog entries. In this entry, she stresses the importance of not giving up when mistakes are made and how simply changing your mindset about these kinds of slip-ups can make all the difference in how you view yourself. Ms. Johnson suggests to begin living your life “like a winner” and no matter your current mindset about setbacks, it is important to stop focusing on losing and start focusing on winning.

Do Not Get Discouraged

Ms. Johnson’s first tip to turning defeat into victory is to stop getting discouraged so easily. Making a mistake or being rejected is not the end of the world and although it is understandable to feel defeated or beat down when these things happen, it is important to brush off the disappointment and keep going. Instead of focusing on what made that moment in your personal or professional life embarrassing, difficult, or bad, try and focus on what you can do now to make the situation positive moving forward.

Use Defeat as an Opportunity to Learn

Going through a period of defeat is a great opportunity to learn from your mistakes. It is important to remember that you are not defined by the mistakes you make but how you react to them. Think about what your knee-jerk reaction is when you make a mistake – do you curl up in a ball of self-pity? Or do you shake it off, learn what you can, and move on? Ms. Johnson stresses the importance of  remaining teachable even through hard times and how your reaction to a mistake can change the outcome.

Do Not Be Afraid to Make Changes

Going hand in hand with learning from mistakes is making corrections. Once you have determined what went wrong and how it can be fixed, make sure to take action and implement those changes. If lessons are not learned and changes are not made from mistakes we encounter, nothing will improve and it is possible to continue making those mistakes over and over again. Ms. Johnson says that although the saying “practice makes perfect” may apply, “practice and correction” is really what makes a difference!

Ms. Johnson understands how it can be easy to get discouraged and not want to fight back when we make big mistakes in our lives. But, the only way to improve upon those mistakes and not make them again is to remain teachable throughout the situation and be sure to make corrections along the way. Remember – we are all human, we all make mistakes and how we react in these types of situations will be more remembered by our family, friends and peers than the actual mistake that we made.

Stacy O'Quinn has been using the techniques he learned in Dani Johnson training to create not only his financial independence, but to also help dozens of other entrepreneurs realize their financial dreams. If you would like to join the ranks of those that Stacy has helped, you are only one click away from changing your life forever. For more information about Stacy and how he can help, click here.

Get Your Small Business Tips from Today’s Business Leaders

Top Business Tips for the New Year

Stacy is a leader in the
Work-from-Home Industry

As we begin wind down another year, this is generally the time when we begin to think about what we want to do differently in the coming months, such as eating healthier, relaxing more, spending more time with loved ones, and working out. But as much as we make these resolutions for ourselves, we also make resolutions for our business. While we ponder what needs to be accomplished in 2015, here are some great business tips compiled by BBC Business News to help start off the New Year right.

Lead by Example

Danae Ringlemann, founder of the crowd funding website Indiegogo believes in the importance of being an example as a leader. She mentions a famous quote from Mahatma Gandhi that reads, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” As an owner, it is important to let your actions speak as loud as your words. If you want a positive change to happen within your business or with your employees, it is important to be that positive change and make positive changes in the way you work day to day.

Get Back to Basics

Many business owners have grand plans to expand, add new products and services, or launch themselves fully into the digital marketplace. While all of these things are great for growing a business and staying relevant, the founder of Nutmeg, an investment company, Nick Hungerford says it is also important for small business to keep to the basics. “Don't over-complicate, and instead think about what your customers genuinely need. What will make their lives easier, richer and more convenient?”

Take Advantage of Resources

The managing director of Divine Chocolate, Sophi Tranchell, stresses the importance of taking advantage of resources and advice that is given from other business professionals. No one has all the answers and being able to cultivate information from others who have been where you are and are where you want to go is vitally important. Tranchell suggests planning what you want to achieve in your business and coordinate the external professional knowledge and internal skills you have to get you to that goal.

Work Hard

James Watt, the co-founder of Brewdog, a Scottish beer company, says the simplest way to see success in the New Year is to work hard but make sure you are enjoying yourself. Part of working hard is employing only the best people to work for you, those who share your passion and your vision and who will work hard for you and with you. Additionally, Watt challenges business owners not to be afraid to take risks, “Don't be scared to take risks … as the biggest risk to your company is when you stop.”

Keep Finances in Focus

“Never spend more than you are making,” says Rob Baines, co-founder of the frozen yogurt chain Snog, “and invite friends into your business with caution.” When a business starts to become successful, it can be easy to justify spending more money on company dinners and client lunches. It is important to keep finances in focus and ensure the extra spend is positive for the business. Business success will also bring people in your personal life out of the woodwork– make sure to approach these situations with caution.

One of the leaders in the work from home industry is Stacy O'Quinn and you can get him to help you with a simple phone call or email. If you would like to learn more about Stacy, his opportunity, and how he can help you, click here.

Clean Up Your Small Business Office for the New Year

Tips on Ringing in 2015 with an Organized Work Space

Get Organized for 2015

With the New Year comes a chance for small business owners to start fresh and jump into the next year of their business on the right foot. As many business professionals know, the one thing that keeps them from being productive all year round is not being properly organized. By this time in the year, a business owner’s desk is piled high with year-end financials, new business plans, final payroll approvals, and other end-of-year business necessities. Instead of starting off the New Year in the same cluttered work space you have been working in for months, it may be a good idea to get organized and start fresh for 2015.

Clean Out Your Email

Email is one of those business applications that can get out of control very quickly. It is easy for business owners to read a note and let it sit for months at a time, even if they have already responded or resolved the issue. While you have some time to get organized before the New Year, start going through emails that are dated six months back or more – anything that was already resolved can be deleted and anything that needs to get accomplished should be marked for your to-do list. The end of the year is also a great time to archive your emails – this will not only help to free up space in your email application it will also allow you to be able to keep important messages that you may need down the road.

Finish Your Filing

Every business professional dreads this statement – “I have filing that needs to be done.” Instead of continuing to ignore those reports, financial statements and other important papers that have been sitting on the desk for months, take an hour out of your day to get those items organized and put away where they need to go. If you need an important paper for a client meeting or presentation and you cannot find it on the spot, you are wasting precious time that could be used to make money for your business. By having filed put away, labeled and organized you can find anything you need quickly. Also, make sure to continue to block out time once a week or once a month to file to keep yourself organized.

Do Not Hold On to the Clutter

Many professional organizers who help individuals clean out the closets in their homes live by the rule “if you haven’t worn it in six months, get rid of it!” The same can be said for the random papers, emails, and voicemails you have been holding on to all year. Chances are, if you have not needed it in the past six months and it is not a crucial document, you will not need it six months from now. For these “clutter” items, you have one of two options – throw it away or pack it up in a box and move it to a storage area. If you choose to store these items, make sure to label the box with the month and year it was packed away – if you come back to that box a year from now and still haven’t touched it, throw it away!

If you do not yet have a small business or work from home opportunity to create your own financial freedom, you should contact Stacy O'Quinn today! He has helped dozens of entrepreneurs already using the techniques he learned at Dani Johnson training sessions and now he would love to help you! For more information about Stacy and his opportunity, please click here.

*Photo Courtesy of Lisa Risager via Creative Commons License

Set Your Small Business Up for Success in 2015

3 Tips to Help Start the Year Off Right

Stacy teaching others how to be
successful working from home

With the year winding down and companies beginning to close for the holidays, many small business owners are beginning to think about what must be done to see continued success into the New Year. What many do not realize is that planning for this kind of success begins way before the calendar changes to 2015 and that preparation for a prosperous new year takes a lot more time than we suspect. If you have not already begun this process, the time to start is now! By implementing these simple tips, it can be possible to set your business up for 2015 success even if the time to plan is running short.

Think of Business Resolutions

Just as we set New Year’s resolutions for ourselves every year – to go to the gym, eat healthy, be more outgoing or work harder – it may also be beneficial to set resolutions for your business. This is a great opportunity to sit down and decide what positive outcomes you would like to see for the business in the coming 12 months and help to set a strategy of how to reach those goals. It is important to be specific about what you would like to accomplish and figure out a way to measure progress and success with those goals as well as share them with the associates within your company. Having these resolutions in place is important to having something to work toward for both yourself and your employees.

Think About Your Business Growth

One of the goals of any business owner is to see his or her company grow and prosper from one year to the next. In many cases, this growth must be supported by adding more talented individuals to the payroll in order to continue to meet goals. A great way to plan ahead for hiring new employees is to think about what you may need and set dates of when you would like to start the search and have someone hired. Think about different options you may have as well, instead of just hiring someone onto the team full time – can some of your needs be met by temps? Or  maybe by outsourcing the work to freelance professionals? Having a plan in place early will make the hiring process much smoother later on.

Get Yourself Organized

Any small business owner knows that there are many projects, tasks, and responsibilities that are touched throughout the business every day. In many cases, this can lead to an overly cluttered desk, email box, office, and voicemail box. An important part of being efficient and being able to get tasks completed quickly is being organized, and being organized is very important for the head of any company. Before the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve, block out some time to get your office and yourself organized to start the new business year off on the right foot.  Having a clean workspace when you return to the office after the holiday will help to get you started on the right foot.

If you are still looking for the right business opportunity for 2015, you really need to call Stacy O'Quinn. Stacy has helped dozens of entrepreneurs create a six figure income and the financial freedom they have always wanted. All you need to do is call him and you could be next! For more information about Stacy and to find out how he can help you with your very own work from home job, click here.

Be a Small Business General, Not a Soldier

How to Effectively Work On and Lead, Instead of Working in Your Business

Be a general, not a soldier!

As many small business owners know, it can be very easy to fall into the trap of working in your business instead of on your business. The problem with this is that as an owner, you get lost in the trenches of daily operations instead of being able to step back and look at the big picture. While day to day tasks help to keep the business running, being able to look at it as a whole can help you to make changes and move the business grow as a whole. Achieving this can include goal setting, business planning, action plans, and many other items which cannot be completed when the day to day tasks get in the way. So, for the New Year, why not consider these tips to help you to work on your business instead of in it.

Create Long-term and Short-term Goals

Many business owners and business professionals thrive on meeting goals and completing tasks, which is why they often get lost in the daily operations of the company. A great way to work on your business and move it toward a state of growth while still feeling a sense of completion is to set both long-term and short-term goals. Long-term goals should include sales growth, business growth, employee satisfaction, and the like. Short-term goals, however, should be quickly attainable to help keep you and your employees motivated and excited to keep moving forward toward completing those bigger goals. It is also important to celebrate these accomplishments and reward both yourself and your team.

Create a Vision Board

A vision board is a great way for business owners to have a clear goal or end state to work toward. Creating a vision board for your business is almost like creating a lighthouse that will to guide you to your biggest goals – items on your vision board should include photos, graphs, quotes, and other items that help to motivate and inspire you. Having one of these in a central location or in your office is a great way to continue to remind yourself what the big picture is and help to pull you back to reality when things become overwhelming. It is also OK to make changes to your vision board as your business and goals change, which will continue to help you keep your eye on the big picture and the end result.

 Delegate Whenever Possible

The hard truth is that it is impossible for you to look at the big picture and work on your business if you are too busy working in your business. This is where delegation plays a key role – be comfortable giving operational and day to day tasks to others to complete while you work on the company’s larger goals. For many business owners, and professionals in general, it can sometimes be hard to let tasks go to others and have the confidence in them that the item will be completed correctly. The solution – let it go! If you as a business owner are trapped in the day to day tasks, there will be no time or energy to work on the business and set plans and initiatives in motion to help the business grow and be successful.

Need more ideas to make your small business more successful? Did you know that Stacy O'Quinn has helped dozens of entrepreneurs just like you enjoy the financial freedom of a successful business? How does he do it? By sharing his techniques and lessons learned during Dani Johnson training. For more information about Stacy and how he can help you, click here.

*Photo Courtesy of The U.S. Army via Creative Commons License