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Home Page > Self Improvement > Has A Self Help “guru” Ripped You Off?

Has A Self Help “guru” Ripped You Off?

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Posted: Feb 14, 2010 |Comments: 0
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Copyright (c) 2010 Willie Horton

We have recently witnessed the furore over the deaths of three people in a “sweat lodge” in Arizona during a “Spiritual Warrior” retreat run by self-help guru James Ray who has now been charged with three counts of manslaughter as a result. Allegations from participants in the retreat include that people who were complaining of feeling faint or dizzy or who were clearly feeling the effects of dehydration were forced to stay in the sweat lodge, whilst others claim that a thirty six hour enforced fast also played its part in the tragedy. Whatever truly happened will, no doubt, emerge in time – but the key question has to be asked as to why people would pay up to $9,000 to be subjected to a rite of passage such as this.

The current publicity surrounding this incident masks a deeper unease that the public should have with people who encourage their followers to believe them to be gurus because no one needs a guru, you don’t need any representative to act on your behalf on introducing you to your true inner self. You don’t need to become dependent on someone else to help your self to emerge. Self help means that, ultimately, you’ve got to help yourself.

I’ve been working with people since 1996 and regularly come across the ill-effects of guru dependence. One guy told me that he didn’t know how he would survive the next six months because he’d been told to attend the Annual European Sales Conference of his company on the same weekend that he’d booked his “annual pilgrimage” (his words, not mine) to partake of Tony Robbins at London’s Excel Centre. “How will I do without my Tony fix?” he asked – and he was serious. And, it is serious – if you’re seeking the inner you, you need to detach yourself from the transient things of this world that drag the normal soul down – you certainly don’t need to attach yourself to some new addiction.

I’ve had to assist people in re-directing their minds away from clearly self-destructive (either in a business, personal or relationship sense) courses of action that “came to them” in the pressure-cooker, cult-like environment of one or other self-help guru’s retreat. One guy ended up stalking his ex-girlfriend after being encouraged to “follow his heart” (repeatedly chanted at him) in some form of “group therapy” session. He was told that positive thinking would bring her to him (suggesting his thoughts could control someone else – very dangerous). Indeed, if you want to explore the havoc that positive thinking can wreak, take a look at Barbara Ehrenreich’s latest book, “Smile or Die: How Positive Thinking Fooled America and the World”.

But back to my point – and another client who I had to assist. He had just returned from a $90,000 (yes, you read that right!) two-week retreat to find his wife had left him – she discovered that he had taken out a new mortgage on his home to pay the $90,000. The staff of the guru in question are well known for arranging multiple car loans for those who wish to attend but who don’t have the wherewithal to re-mortgage their house. I was informed by my client that he was told that this guru believed himself to be Jesus Christ re-incarnate and that he “recollected giving the Sermon on the Mount” – some saviour though because, having a penchant for large-breasted girls, the front row of his retreats were jokingly known as “Silicon Valley”!!

Why am I giving you these details? I want to make a couple of very important points. Number One: All of us need all the help we can get to find our true passion, discover our inner potential and live life to the full. But only a fool would take a paracetamol for a headache and then become addicted. Number Two: You don’t need anyone to come between you and God (however you define God) – all major spiritual traditions intimate that we are an integral part of the divine, quantum physics states that we are an indivisible, quantum entangled part of the underlying entity. Find God by finding your inner self – not by becoming hooked on some guru.

Number Three: Self help means helping yourself. Yes, as I’ve said, we all need guidance – we all know, in truth, little or nothing about our universe and our place in it. Most of us instinctively feel, however, that there is more to life than meets the eye – and we want that “more”. Not only that, it is ours as a natural inheritance. But the journey to discovery (of the self and our purpose) is one we can only make for ourselves. Sure, we need the signposts but each step taken is a step that can only be taken alone.

So, by all means, read your self-help books, watch your self-help DVDs, participate in your self-help seminars – but use them as nothing more than the valuable resources they are to assist you on your journey – for to arrive you need to free yourself from all attachment.

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Willie Horton’s acclaimed two-day personal development seminars have been running for thirteen years. He teaches that a clear and present state of mind creates extra-ordinary personal and business success. His vast expertise is now available in his Online Workshop at Gurdy.Net. His website also offers daily free personal development video seminars, articles and a Free Personal Development Ezine published every Monday morning.

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Home Page > Business > Management > Leadership Training Can Help Increase Rapport between Management and Employees

Leadership Training Can Help Increase Rapport between Management and Employees

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Leadership training can help turn around a struggling business or make a fledgling business even stronger. It’s important that all aspects of a business run efficiently for the best profits and reputation. Leadership training doesn’t just focus on the managerial aspects of a business, but teaches all employees how to act like leaders and work competently as a group. Businesses who take part in leadership workshops and seminars will find that their workforce become better-equipped at dealing with problematic situations quickly and efficiently.

How Does Training for Leaders Work?

There are a variety of methods used to help develop strong leaders. Most leadership coaches will consult with you and your employees to get a feel for the overall morale of the company. This can include observing employee manager relationships, coworker relationships, and the ability of workers to handle tasks without getting overly emotional. Emotions play a large part in a person’s ability to handle a situation effectively without getting upset or stressed out. A leadership coach can work with employees on controlling their emotions and channeling them into positive energy.

Coaches will also offer to host a meeting to discuss changes that could be made in different department to better develop leadership skills. Strengths and weaknesses will be discussed and solutions provided for areas of weak leadership. Ideas can be shared at the meetings and coaches will work the company to help these ideas become reality. Often it is a lack of leadership skills that keep employees from moving forward productively on projects.

Leadership Retreats

One of the most adventurous ways leadership coaches improve employee morale and rapport is through l retreats. These retreats usually involve the teams responsible for bringing projects to fruition and the people involved in making important decisions for the company. The purpose of these retreats isn’t to provide a vacation, but to get away from the daily grind and explore different ways of teaching leadership skills.

Some businesses like to go on an adventure and take part in a kayaking or hiking trip. These trips force people to work together, communicate effectively, and act like leaders. The coaches will assign different exercises and tasks to individuals and groups to help them in leadership areas where they may be lacking skills. Groups will also be encouraged to discuss any shortcomings they feel about themselves or other people in the group. These sorts of leadership training retreats can also take place at posh hotels, ski resorts, or anywhere and most find that people can truly work together in a different environment to enhance their leadership skills. Is it time for some positive changes at the top in your business?

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It’s important to keep a balanced perspective of the recession and a realistic outlook on your own budget and lifestyle.  Despite whatever doomsday philosophy you have heard out there, the end isn’t nigh.  America is not going to turn into pre-Nazi Germany.  America is not going to go bankrupt.  We’re not going to be sold back to the U.K. nor is a civil war going to break out any time soon.  The entire world is not going to collapse in on itself, and we are not going to revert back to mob rule. 

Oh yes, things are going to get tough, but if you are frugal with your money and approach your long-term future with caution, you can survive this crisis.  One nice thing you can say about the recession is that it is teaching American consumers the value of good financial strategy.  It is making people think twice about impulsive buying.  The recession is helping reckless people to treat life a little more respectfully and focus just a little bit on tomorrow, rather than splurge it all for one day.

You might have read a little bit about “recession-proof businesses” in recent months.  The more you analyze these lists such as the “10 Recession Proof Businesses” http://money.howstuffworks.com/10-recession-proof-businesses1.htm at HowStuffWorks.com, the more you start to sense a pattern. 

The best recession-proof businesses included:

* Candy
* Cosmetic
* Contraceptives
* Luxury Retail
* Repossessions
* Government Jobs
* Education
* Vices
* Discount Retail
* Information Technology
* Healthcare
* Non-cyclical Businesses

Why were these businesses elevated above powerhouses like the real estate industry and the automotive industry?  Because these businesses, not so coincidentally, were far closer to the mindset of the majority population.  When there’s a recession the luxury businesses are the first ones to suffer.  The industries that sell risky investments suffer.  Meanwhile, people still follow their hearts and spend money on what really matters most. 

Now then, you can’t really make the argument that people are so afraid of the recession that they’re not blowing money on instant gratification.  They do want their candy, they want their vice and they want their horror movies on Saturday night.  They are definitely spending their hard-earned money, and they don’t care about the consequences if this “vice” (literal or symbolic) can give them a few moments of happiness, enough to forget about the worries of next year. 

What seems to be happening is that people are only spending recession money on what they perceive as their absolute needs.  Whatever they can rationalize as a “want” is being postponed or dismissed altogether.  Of course, the things they are not totally sold on are quickly seen as “wasteful expenses.”  As a retailer, you should take this to mean that your audience is not going to buy your product out of boredom, out of sheer novelty, or even out of curiosity.  (Maybe in the 80s and 90s, but not today) 

Now more than ever, it is vitally important to the success of your business that you create a “need” in your audience to buy your products and services.  You probably already know how to tap into this subconscious yearning, so we won’t bore you with the details.  However, we are going to talk about one marketing avenue that can benefit your business and even help to “recession-proof” your business.

Article marketing!  Yes, yes, we know.  We SEO firms tend to think of article marketing as the next miracle cure for just about everything.  I admit that there’s no evidence to suggest that article marketing can add 10 years to your life, but then again, there’s no evidence against that claim either.

Seriously, let’s consider eight good reasons why investing in Search Engine Optimization (articles optimized for search engines) and article marketing (directory submissions) can help your business in a recession.  These eight reasons, as you will see, actually correspond to some of the points made by Harvard Business School professor John Quelch in his recent article entitled “Marketing Your Way Through a Recession.”  http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/feb2008/ca20080219_060846.htm

1. Research the customer.

In a time of financial recession you really need to focus on learning your customer’s needs.  Article marketing and SEO are considered one some the best ways to get inside the head of your prospects.  After all, you are tapping into their ego and id (forgive my Freudian reference) by taking the exact keywords they are searching for and using them in your sales copy.  You are also tracking their every move via web analytics.  You can see where they lose interest, what pages bring them to your site, and what particular articles captivate their attention.  You can even collect demographical information regarding their web browsers, their referral pages, or their country/state of origin.  Stopping short of taking an in-person survey, SEO is one of the best ways to “learn” your customer.

2. Focus on family values.

John Quelch wrote about the importance of returning to family values in times of financial stress.  While this point didn’t exactly correspond to an SEO strategy, it does make you think of social media marketing which is quickly become the next evolution in our business.  Quelch said “When economic hard times loom, we tend to retreat to our village.”  That certainly explains our desire to hang around popular social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, doesn’t it?  Hey, making more friends and friendly acquaintances online never hurts. 

3. Maintain marketing spending.

Quelch next refers to maintaining your marketing campaign.  This makes sense to anyone who is a businessperson because you can’t expect to profit if you’re not putting any “noise” out there on the market.  The great thing about Search Engine Optimization and article marketing is that these venues remain two of the cheapest ways to advertise your business, and yet the best ways to get maximum mileage out of your investment.  SEO articles can build traffic indefinitely and continue to bring in new customers while improving search engine rankings (after all, the more relevant content you have, the better).  Directory articles also influence ranking, especially when regularly submitted over a period of time.

4. Adjust product portfolios.

Quelch stated that “tough times favor multi-purpose goods over specialized products.”  He also foresees a time when “Gimmicks are out; reliability, durability, safety and performance are in.”  Now more than ever consumers are looking for good value in every single purchase.  I personally like to think of the SEO articles we do as a polished presentation and quality product that has been sold to a client.  This is a product I am confident will provide high Return On Investment, not only because of the informational value presented, but also because of the organic optimization process that ensures higher and longer-lasting top 10 rankings.  Honestly, you have to do good work to stay in business these days!  

5. Support distributors.

There is no distribution channel when it comes to article marketing, but I tend to think of an SEO firm as the distributor and the clients we work with as the manufacturer and supplier.  Clients are not buying their base needs from the SEO firm.  They are buying our services so they can better sell their products to the public.  This is why client satisfaction is paramount in SEO work.  In this business, you are not just a freelance writer looking for a check or a webmaster working by project.  Your goal is to form a long-term relationship with every client.  We help each other out and we combine forces to create that all-important need in the public.  That’s what makes the money go around and that’s what will help end this recession someday.  One of the best things about working with an SEO firm is that you are not just paying for services rendered but are actually working with a virtual business partner in this particular campaign—someone who’s just as vested in your success as you are.

6. Adjust pricing tactics.

Quelch’s next point was about pricing.  Right now is really the best time to get involved with an SEO firm, because during recession, return on investment is crucial.  While quality SEO firms are not cheap, they do offer discount rates for bulk orders.  More importantly, article marketing doesn’t charge you by the ad or by the click.  You are only paying for the content to be written and for the article submission.  Search Engine Optimization (both web copy and article submission) is largely seen as the less expensive alternative to Pay-Per-Click or banner advertising, since your articles run forever at the small price of maintaining a website.  In a recession, every saved dollar counts. That’s another plus worth mentioning: when you work with an article marketing firm you are actually conversing with a human being and you can work pricing arrangements out.  It’s much harder to negotiate a friendly contract with Google Ad Words, if you know what I mean.

7. Stress market share.

Quelch’s next point was on market share.  The statement he made was, “Knowing your cost structure can ensure that any cuts or consolidation initiatives will save the most money with minimum customer impact.”  Cost structure is definitely an important factor but that’s more related to the managerial side of running a business.  What stuck out in my mind is the whole point about the “battle for a market share.”  It made me think of how much opportunity some small “niche” companies have right now, considering the fact that reaching just a portion of “the big market” can still make them big profits.  (And all for a minimal investment)  Article marketing and SEO are very effective for niche businesses because the whole focus of small businesses is on target marketing.  I like this statement by the SBA.  http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/manage/marketandprice/SERV_TARGETMARKETING.html

“It’s important to remember that the focus of marketing is people. If you’re concentrating your efforts on your product or profit only, you’ll miss the mark. The term target market is used because that market – that group of people is the bull’s eye at which you aim all your marketing efforts.”

8. Emphasize core values.

Quelch ended on a positive note saying that the best companies stress loyalty amongst their workers and that “Successful companies do not abandon their marketing strategies in a recession; they adapt them.”  That’s an interesting fact to ponder on.  How do you, the self-starter, the entrepreneur who is struggling financially maintain loyalty and emphasize core values when you don’t really know what the future holds?  Simple solution—you retain valuable professional relationships but you take advantage of modern cost-saving technology.  Investing in article marketing and telecommuting technology saves you from having to hire or fire an entire sales staff. 

You don’t have to hire new workers if you have an SEO firm working for you on a project-to-project basis or on a long-term basis (which involves constantly feeding search engines with even article submissions, the most effective way to maintain a top 10 ranking).  You don’t even have to pay for a temporary staff or an outsourcing firm, because you are quite literally able to manage your company through email, a web browser and a cell phone. 

The advantages of choosing article marketing over hiring a sales staff are numerous.  You save on salary, on multiple types of insurance policies, on office supplies, and on day-to-day operating expenses.  This is one of the major reasons why companies are outsourcing work—to avoid the physical costs involved of running an office.  With article marketing, you can even one-up the idea of outsourcing work to a call center or accounting service.  You are not paying an outsourcing firm to handle your work load.  Rather, you are paying for web content that runs forever and handling the work yourself.  Just think about it like this: you value professional contacts but save on the expenses involved in running a traditional company.  Now that’s what we call adapting to the market!

Article marketing and Search Engine Optimization are recession-proof venues of marketing that cannot be ignored.  You cannot afford to be ignorant about today’s massive online market.  These are two solid and cost-effective ways to advertise, brand your company name, test and experiment with new markets, and most importantly, to motivate your customer base to buy.  Remember that there is a worldwide market out there ripe for the picking.  The U.S. may be in a recession, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the rest of the world is also flailing.  You have the ability to work in local markets or to reach out to foreign markets if your business calls for it.  Consider it a form of “offshore marketing”; protecting your company from whatever happens with the U.S. economy.  There are no limitations on what you could do with article marketing, and that is another reason why this technology can rightfully be called recession-proof. 

In closing, just think for a moment if the recession happened but you didn’t have all the power of the Internet and SEO technology at your disposal.  Now that would be the time to panic!

Benefits of computer rentals to small businesses

Affordability: Renting is much more affordable compared to buying computers. A large number of computers can be rented at a low cost. Small businesses generally access cash from secure lines of credit to fund new projects and buy new equipment. Renting helps save money and gives them an opportunity to make the credit line available for other business expenses that may arise. In other words, renting frees up cash that can be set aside for emergencies or different business purchases.

Access to the latest technology: Businesses can rent the latest technology while keeping the costs low. Rental companies typically maintain up-to-date inventories, offering latest technology to meet the technological needs of different businesses. Some rental companies even source specific systems, hardware and software not present in their existing inventory for businesses and make them available on time.

Flexibility in rental plans: Typically, the rental plans offered are flexible, meaning that you can rent for a short-term, medium-term, long-term and also switch plans without any associated penalty fees. Rentals can be canceled with no penalty while getting out of a lease generally attracts one.

Great for one-time business needs: Renting is a great solution for a one-time business need, such as a temporary project or a short-term employee contract. For projects with a term of a few months to a year, purchasing computer systems would be a financially unwise decision. On completion of the project, the surplus equipment will be of no use. A short term computer rental plan on the other hand is a better option, as costs of renting can be easily factored into the total project costs.

Computer rental companies also offer customers technical support, so downtime can be avoided in the event of technical glitches in the equipment.

When is renting a good idea

Corporate training events: Corporate trainings are not everyday events. Such trainings are conducted for new hires or short term employees, with the training sessions extending up to a few weeks or months at maximum. In all scenarios, renting the necessary computer equipment for the training participants is a cost effective solution.

Presentations and events: High end graphics capability computers can be rented for new product presentations conducted within the office space or at marketing events. For bigger company events as well as trade show participation, renting is great option. Rental companies provide installation, take-down services and transport the equipment to the location of the event.

Temporary set-up: If there is a requirement for a temporary IT set-up at the office or for a sales campaign at a new location, then renting necessary computer equipment from computer rental companies would be the best solution.

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Hello…

Welcome to my story, my sharing and my blog.

I am Dave J, an author, keynote speaker, E-preneur and a NLP-certified coach.

Before we begin, I would like to answer the question that pops into the mind of readers each time they open my blog:

“What motivated me to share my experience and expertise?”

When I planned to start my own business many years back, I talked to dozens of successful entrepreneurs, I attended seminars, I purchased training materials, signed up for courses and participated in countless business events. But I still do not get satisfactory answers for a systematic approach to starting up and running a profitable business. One thing for sure, it has cost me a lot of money and time in the process. The saddest part is most of the materials, seminars and courses are expensive and too theoretical in nature. Most of them are not practical, not easily applicable and not cost effective for a fresh entrepreneur like me.

Secondly, as I have mentioned earlier I did manage to seek guidance from successful entrepreneurs on the nuts and bolts of starting up and running a profitable business. However, many of them are too busy to share with me their expertise. Furthermore, even if they do, they are not so keen to part with their “secrets” to me. Some are willing to do so, but the advice does come with a high price tag!

I always believe in the law of giving, in which the more I give the more I shall be blessed in many other ways. Hence, I have decided to share with you (anyone out there) a one-stop guide for everyone who is planning or decided to startup a business of their own choice (even if they do not have any capital) before they get disappointed or frustrated in the search for the right kind of guidance to starting up their own business profitably. I hope they will not walk the “costly” and “bumpy” path that I’ve taken many years back without any such help whatsoever.

In the next few days, I be posting my business startup journal – a 10 step-by-step guide to starting your own business (regardless whether it’s online or offline, small or medium, physical product or no-product at all). The journal is updated constantly whenever I found a new way to get thing done better, cost-effective or faster in result. Whatever I idea, formula or tip I shared with you, I assure you I have personally utilized it somehow directly or indirectly.

*Note: Unproven teories to not be shown to my readers! If you need any small business startup help, feel free to visit my Website

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Disclaimer – This article may be freely reprinted in its entirety in any e-zine, newsletter, blog or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.