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success tools: choosing the right weapon to go into battle

Success Tools

May 102013

Reading time: 6 – 9 minutes

Life is war…

I’m speaking metaphorically naturally but it is true that we must fight for what we want in life.

The woman of our dreams, the job we seek, the credentials we desire, success, money, fame…none of these just fall out of the sky. We must fight for them.

The other day I came across this post by Jeffrey Gitomer, the preeminent sales guy, entitled “A Dozen Books to Own and Read – at Least Once.”

After reading his list I was inspired to come up with my own dozen.

I have talked about some of my favorite novels and self-help books on here from time to time but I thought it worth writing a new list that I would say are “must-reads” for anyone going into battle in business in the 21st century.

How to Win Friends and Influence People
The 4 Hour Work Week
The Magic of Thinking Big
Lessons of History
Animal Farm
Atlas Shrugged
Living an Inspired Life
He Who Thinks He Can
Prophecy
Conversations with Millionaires
Scientific Advertising
The Compound Effect

Many of the books on the list fall into the self-development category because we can all use a good kick in the pants every now and then, but let me explain why I choose each book on this list.

For anyone looking for simple, applicable concepts that can be implemented almost immediately (that work just as well at the office and at home) you can’t go wrong with How to Win Friends and Influence People. It’s a great place to start.

The 4 Hour Work Week is a new addition to my best books’ list. To me it’s a critical book for anyone working in today’s environment. Whether we want to accept it or not, the rules of business have changed and this book will help you get the most out of those changes.

David Schwartz’s classic, The Magic of Thinking Big, is all about the importance of going for it. It’s hard to walk away from this book and not feel inspired to go out and chase your dreams.

Lessons of History is what I consider the best history book ever written. It’s short and so well thought out. I have never read three-page chapters so filled with knowledge. And the best thing about it is it links everything together. This book is one of the three books that actually laid the foundation for my financial seminar though I didn’t realize it at the time.

It’s an absolute mystery to me why no history teacher ever introduced this to me.

Animal Farm is one of the two novels to make the cut. It was the first book I ever read that I thought got it right. Its premise is simple, clever and helps explain a lot about the world. It’s one of those books that you won’t be able to put it down after the second chapter.

Atlas Shrugged is, in my humble opinion, the finest novel ever written (and Ayn Rand’s masterpiece) but it also one of the longest. This is a book for the serious student, and an absolutely incredible read. 10/10.

Living an Inspired Life was written by my mentor, Jim Rohn, and the man who got me started on this journey of self-improvement. It’s a great read and a book you’ll want to come back to time and time again. A timeless classic.

And speaking of classics, no success library would be complete without He Who Thinks He Can by Orison Swett Marden. Written way back in 1908 you’ll no doubt find some parts slightly funny but it’s amazing to see just how little we have changed, in spite of the fact that our society as a whole has undergone such incredible change over the past 100 years. It will also give you great respect for great minds of the past.

While Robert Kiyosaki is known best for Rich Dad, Poor Dad (another great book for many people looking to get started) but I went with Prophecy for this list. Kiyosaki met with a lot of backlash for this book and reading it today I have no doubt many people would say he was way off with his predictions. But from what I have studied, I can say it’s still early days and much of what he talks about could yet come to pass. Considering the economic situation we find ourselves in today, I feel this is a book not to be missed.

Conversations with Millionaires is a great little book that is just that. Interviews done with nine incredible individuals put together in one book. Very easy read and many powerful ideas to be had from this little gem.

When one wants to study marketing one book that is mentioned time and time again is Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins. It, along with a few others, is the book that many marketers consider the holy grail (much like Think and Grow Rich is the book most people attribute to their success to). Though it may be a book on advertising, it has incredible insight into the human mind and how it ticks.

I started the list with a simple, yet powerful book. So I felt it only fitting to end it with one as well. The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy is nothing earth-shattering, but actually just a single idea. However, applied properly and continually will lead to incredible results no matter if you are a marketer, an athlete, a CEO, a doctor, a teacher, a lawyer or an entrepreneur.

What books didn’t make the cut this time?

Think and Grow Rich – simply because it’s not the easiest book to read and the ideas contained within it will take more thought than the books above.
Awaken the Giant Within — most people will be too intimidated to start this incredible book.
The Success Principles – ditto.
iSucceed – didn’t want to toot my own horn.

So there you have it. Some great books that are worth their weight in gold…if applied.

Remember, it’s not good enough just to get the books. Or even read them.

It’s the application of the ideas contained within them that will change your life, and maybe even the world.

Get reading.

Adrian Shepherd

ps. I wholeheartedly agree with Gitomer that there are some essential non-book materials that should be on everyone’s list. In no particular order, here are just a few to look into: The Art of Exceptional Living, (CDs) by Jim Rohn, The Black Swan of Cairo by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Zig Ziglar’s How to Stay Motivated (CDs), Brendon Burchard’s Expert Academy (if you can get your hands on it), and Piranha Marketing by Joe Polish (CDs).

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success mistakes: don’t believe everything you see and hear

Uncategorized

May 082013

Reading time: 6 – 10 minutes

Trust is important…

Much more than most of us realize. Think about it for a second.

How do we choose what movie to watch? What car to buy? What to invest in? Who to ask for advice?

Trust is the single theme that rings true to the answer of each of these questions.

We often choose movies based on reviews by people we trust. We buy cars that we can trust to be able to get us from A to B (in style no less). We invest in companies we feel we can trust. And we seek advice from those people we trust (and like).

Unfortunately trust can be also be misplaced.

Many times over the past decade I have found myself on the losing side of trust.

Partners, associates, advisers and even friends who I have trusted, have let me down. It hurt…a lot. But the truth is I only have myself to blame.

I’m a trusting kind of guy.

I like to take people at their word (which as you probably already know is often a mistake). Out in the real world, we need to get things in writing, just in case.

I let myself get hurt by trusting too easily and paid the price.

But I learnt. I changed. I’ve gotten tougher on myself and those whom I trust.

As a result, I’ve made new friends and cut ties with others. And guess what? It feels like a weight off my shoulders.I feel so much better because I have managed to surround myself with good people. People I can trust. People I like and, maybe most important of all, people I respect.

Thinking about trust the other day, I sat down and wrote the following list of things people place their trust in which doesn’t always work out:

Politicians
Teachers
Doctors
Parents
Friends
Facebook
Business partners
Financial advisors
The majority
Our memory
Our eyes

Let’s start at the top.

Politicians seem to have an incredible ability to promise to do so much before being elected and then go on to do so little in office. And yet, we continue to fall for the same promises over and over again. Last I checked don’t politicians work for the people? Seems to me that a few (not all) politicians have an uncanny knack for helping themselves first…way too much…and far too often.

Teachers, we know, are not perfect. When in doubt, google it. In my experience, I have found that the best teachers are those willing to admit they don’t know everything. The best thing about the world today is we have access to the greatest teachers all over the world via the Internet in the form of YouTube videos, PDFs, audio programs and books.

In my book, iSucceed, I touch on the importance of judging the source of our information. Seek out the best in their professions to learn from and you’ll be glad you did.

Doctors, like teachers, are mere mortals and like teachers they make mistakes. There’s nothing wrong with seeking a second, or third opinion. I am reminded of the movie, Lorenzo’s Oil, in which two parents refused to accept the diagnoses of numerous doctors regarding their son’s rare disease. It truly was an inspiring movie and one that has stayed with me ever since. It reminds me to never accept “It can’t be done.”

Parents are some of the greatest teachers of life and human nature because they have years of experience over us. I love what Mark Twain once said, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man … But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

Friends are those people we turn to the most in times of need. Unfortunately, most friends tell us what we want to hear, not what we really need to hear. It’s a rare thing if you have a friend who is willing to tell it to you straight, out of love. But the greatest thing a friend can do for us is simply being there for us when we need them.

FB may be a great place for gathering information but we can’t trust everything we see and read on the Internet so do some due diligence before simply accepting what you see online as gospel.

Business partners. Nearly every expert I have read has their own story of woe from working with a less than honorable person. Business is not friendship, clear parameters must be set and rules enforced. Trust can only go so far and business will test the limits of your ability to trust others and them in you.

Be VERY careful who you entrust your money to. That goes for financial advisors as much as it does for business partners as well as teachers.

Speaking of money, it’s important to remember that the majority nearly always gets it wrong. This is especially true in the stock market where 90% of people end up losing money. That’s the majority, you want to be in the 10% that succeeds so be willing to go against the current.

Our memory is actually a poor storage unit for our greatest ideas, inspiration and stories. Why? First we forget and second we get distracted due to a sensory overload in today’s high speed world, so get things out of your head and onto paper. It’s incredible just how much smarter we’d all be by simply doing this one activity.

And lastly our eyes. Too often we judge with our eyes. We make snap judgments when we look at others but looks can be deceiving. It’s ok to make assumptions about people but don’t make the mistake of assuming you know who people are without talking to them.

Personally I like to make a game out of it. Pretending I’m Sherlock Holmes trying to figure out the clues other people are giving me and then see how close my guess was to reality.

Remember, magicians make a fortune out of knowing that our eyes can be deceived and it’s easier than you might think (speaking as an amateur magician) if you know what you’re doing.

The point is that things aren’t always what they seem.

People do lie. Mistakes do happen. Experts fail us. Even our own eyes can deceive us.

Now I said that to scare you but the truth is there are far more good in the world. There are sources we can, and should, trust.

We just need to seek them out.

I thank you for trusting in me.

Adrian Shepherd

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success principles: simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication

Expert Perspective

Apr 232013

Reading time: 5 – 8 minutes

Simplicity is underrated…

Take a look at some of the great success stories of the past decade. Google, Apple, Facebook…all making life simple.

Google redefined search, Apple developed the smartphone and FB took on social media.

Back in the early 90s life was simple.

And then the Internet went and changed all that.

Now me…I can’t get enough of it.

I love being able to turn on Apple TV and watch the latest shows halfway across the world.

I still marvel at being able to send emails to my mother in Thailand or chat with my friend in Ireland when I’m on a train heading to work here in Japan.

I whip out my iPad (for the presentation) and iPhone (to record it) when giving seminars.

However, I worry a little.

Something just doesn’t seem right.

People seem to have no time for anything these days.

Many people are so wired in that should the Internet go down they’d go through withdraw symptoms.

Online relationships are replacing actual friends.

I also worry that we’re becoming a little too smart for our own good.

It seems that we have forgotten some of the basic laws of life.

With what was going on in Europe last year my friend and I got into a healthy debate over what would happen.

I told him I didn’t see things ending well, and quite quickly I might add.

He didn’t agree but was quite curious as to how I had come to my conclusion.

I answered him with but a single word.

I guess my answer didn’t satisfy him because for the next hour or so he went on explaining all the intricate details of the European Union.

Very interesting ideas indeed, but no where had he addressed what I see as the underlying problem.

Just yesterday I was reading a book by Ayn Rand, “The Fountainhead,” and I came across this lovely quote, “All things are simple when you reduce them to fundamentals.”

Exactly.

Today I have a feeling that most people are like my friend, making the world more complicated than it needs to be and in doing so we run the risk of greater dangers.

Why do I say that?

I have been running a franchise for going on 12 years now. I have worked as a consultant for a few companies and I have studied my butt off the last few years.

What all that has taught me from a business perspective is that you MUST keep things simple.

Each level of complexity you add increases your risk of running into a big problem somewhere down the line by a factor of 2.

And that’s the problem with the world today.

No one seems to understand it.

We need lawyers to explain the laws. Accountants to organize our taxes. And now politicians and economists (like Ben Bernanke) to fix our economy.

The worst part is that the lawyers, accountants, politicians and economists can’t seem to agree on anything.

Errr, is it just me but doesn’t that make you worry?

History is filled with stories of great empires but one thing is clear, all empires fall as well.

Today we seem to think that we can continue our present path forever because we’re smart enough to get out of any situation.

That’s hubris.

Any time a country, a business or a person believes they can do no wrong, amazingly, something does go wrong.

Apple just a few months ago was being touted as the world’s first trillion dollar company and it was well on it’s way, and then suddenly, BAM…it went on to lose almost half of its value.

Einstein once said, “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage — to move in the opposite direction.”

I’m sure you agree that our world today is bigger, more complex and also more violent.

Unfortunately, I don’t see anyone trying to move in the opposite direction.

It seems that every day I click on over to the news that there are new laws being added, new restrictions, new policies, new taxes, new programs…all with one intention, to make things better.

I don’t know about you but each time I hear we’ve added a new tax, it makes me cringe.

They say it’s to “help” us but all I know is that the politicians of the world seem to be doing just fine while so many people seem to be struggling.

There’s something to be said from the simple things in life. In fact, a lot to be said for them.

Trust, love, freedom, happiness, integrity…they’re simple…and they don’t need computer programs or geniuses to figure out.

They are the things that make us human, not blips on a screen.

So the next time someone proposes something that will complicate matters immensely, run…as fast as you can…in the opposite direction.

In today’s complicated world, it’s simplicity that comes out ahead.

Me, I still love my gadgets but will stick to reading good old-fashioned paperbacks and when my son turns 6, I’m going to have him learn the abacus.

Why you ask? Because though I know the world has changed, I know one inevitable truths — fundamentals won’t.

Adrian Shepherd

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success principles: there is always a price to pay for success

Expert Perspective

Apr 012013

Reading time: 5 – 8 minutes

Helping people isn’t easy…

I’m amazed at how often people ignore good advice. Movies, gadgets, restaurants, relationship advice, or investments…people seem to have a built-in force field that prevents them from listening to good suggestions.

Just the other day as I jumped on the train, I happened to notice the young lady next to me studying English.

As is common here in Japan, she was using a word book so I asked her what she was studying. She replied she was studying for TOEIC which is a business English test.

I wished her good luck and then took a seat.

I started reading my own book when I remembered I had some flyers of my school in my bag.

I quickly jotted down my email in case she might want to contact me directly, then went back up to her and gave her the flyer.

Now, in all the years I have given out my card on the train, less then 10% of people ever bothered to contact me.

It doesn’t make a difference whether we talk about English, success or investing (my three main areas of expertise), 10%.

When I have gotten an email from someone, I am rather taken back.

This was one such time.

I got an email from her later that evening thanking me for the information.

I asked her why she wanted to learn English and she told me that her reasons were two-fold:

Improve her job opportunities
Make friends with people all over the world

She then asked me how she could improve. It was obvious from her writing that she was very much a beginner so I told her that the most realistic option was to find a good teacher.

I told her that word books and grammar study, although it being the de facto choice here in Japan, aren’t effective for most people for one simple reason — they are BORING.

Despite what we may have been taught to believe about studying, I’m here to tell you it can be fun.

A good teacher can make a difficult subject seem easy. A good teacher can make a dry subject interesting. A good teacher will keep challenging you to be better. And a great teacher can do all of that and more.

But as I’m used to hearing, I got an email from her saying…”But a good teacher isn’t cheap.”

I chuckled…because I have learned that in life, for whatever we want, we must be willing to pay the price for success.

The price can only be paid in three ways:

Money
Effort
Time

And you must pay in two ways. Let me explain.

If you spend money (access to quality education) and put in effort then your investment of time can be shortened.

If you spend money and time, you don’t have to invest that much effort.

If you put in a lot of effort and time, you can save money.

Many people try to get away with just paying one…no can do. Simply spending money on expensive courses won’t help if you don’t invest time or effort. Simply working hard for a short period of time without investing in quality training won’t get you very far. And simply investing time but not effort or money will result in slow progress, if any.

As one might expect, the fastest way to success is to pay with all three. Quality education, hard work and a lot of time invested in any task will pretty much guarantee your success.

Unfortunately, as we have other responsibilities and things to attend to, most of us can’t pay all three. It’s just too high a cost.

So what’s the best option?

The answer really depends on where you find yourself at this very moment.

You could be one of those unfortunate people who was downsized so you might be concerned about money; effort and time might be the right choice for you.

On the other hand, you might be a student and your parents are footing the bill. In this case, you might not be willing to work that hard. Thankfully, time is on your side.

Only you know which is the best option for you but if you’ll allow me, I’ll share mine with you.

Of these three though, only time is irreplaceable.

You can always make more money and you can control how much effort you put in, but time is what it is.

Therefore, to me, by choosing to pay success with money and effort will get you to where you want to go the fastest giving you plenty of time to enjoy it.

Don’t be cheap when it comes to success; in both money and effort.

Seek advice from the best out there…then go to work on the ideas you discover.

Success may come with a steep price tag, but it’s all worth it.

I only hope the lady on the train figures that out.

Adrian Shepherd

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iSucceed interviews: Jim Stovall, author of “The Ultimate Gift”

interviews

Mar 062013

Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes

All leaders are readers…

Harry Truman once said that but as a child I wouldn’t have believed him.

The books I read in school were mostly a chore and I couldn’t see how they applied to my life so I turned to the time-honored tradition of watching movies instead.

Two hours instead of two weeks.

For a kid that’s time management 101.

But that was then, today I’m a whole new man.

It all started a few short years ago when I realized I didn’t have all the answers (what a surprise?!).

I was faced with problems that I didn’t have answers to and as I lived in Japan I turned to books for answers.

What I discovered amazed me.

Since that time I’ve never looked back.

Today I read, listen and watch everything I can get my hands on the topics of self-help, time management, marketing, finance and business.

A few years back I was introduced to a little books by Jim Stovall called “The Ultimate Gift.”

It was hailed by the late Charlie “Tremendous” Jones as a classic and he was absolutely right.

It’s everything I believe a good book should be; short, easy-to-read, powerful, inspirational and memorable. And rightfully deserves a place in any body’s library who is serious about success and life.

Last night I had the good fortune to be able to sit down with Jim and get his take on success and more.

This is another interview you won’t want to miss.

Adrian Shepherd

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success principles: iSucceed author Adrian Shepherd’s 100 life lessons (part 1)

Expert Perspective

Jan 212013

Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes

Are there any list-lovers out there?

Whether you’re like me (who loves to not only read lists but write them as well) or not chances are you’ve seen lists on the best movies, the nicest hotels, the most expensive cars, the funnest places to visit, the hottest men and women, and so on. It seems we just can’t get enough of lists.

Lists are powerful because they serve two useful purposes; they are simple and they are informative.

Let’s face it, in today’s world for most people time is a commodity.

The Internet may have been the greatest gift of our lifetime but it has made free time a thing of the past.

It’s hard to stay out of touch these days. The boss can track you down on the phone, via email of maybe even on FB. And if the boss doesn’t get you, someone will. Maybe it’s your customers. Your children. Your wife. Or even well meaning friends. The point is it’s hard to find time to yourself.

And when you do, you’ve got so many options today.

Should we download a movie via Apple TV, watch our favorite dance performances on YouTube, read an ebook on our Kindles, play a game on our iPads, get a massage, go for a jog…it’s simply mind-boggling how many choices we have today.

So, if you’re anything like me, lists fulfill our need for speed.

They give us quick little tidbits which we can then explore further if they pique our interest.

I love them because there’s no fluff, just short and sweet.

It’s like using Cliff Notes (which for those of you who might not know is a company that produces condensed versions of books and study tips for students and a high schooler’s best weapon for time management).

Just the other day I came across one such list that made me think so I decided to come up with my own to share with you.

As this site’s all about success I wanted to share with you my condensed version of secrets to the good life.

The total comes to a little over a hundred but since most people don’t want to read that many I thought I’d break them down and share them little by little with you over the next few weeks and maybe comment on one or two of them afterwards.

So here goes:

Adrian Shepherd’s 100 Life Lessons (Part 1)

Balance is everything
Appreciate what you have
Continually strive to achieve your dreams (you can always do it part-time)
Keep your word
Listen (even an old dog can learn new tricks)
Never forget to say “please,” (it is the magic word after all) “thank you” and “I’m sorry”
When you say I’m sorry, mean it.
Life is not fair (get over it)
What goes around, comes around
Bad things do happen to good people
Take action
Take chances (but don’t risk the whole kit and kaboodle)
Understand your limits (but push yourself to them)
Health is a key component to both enjoyment and success
Passing a test doesn’t necessary make you smart
Opportunity is everywhere
Treat your friends well
Life is all about making mistakes
Always go for a win-win situation
Don’t believe everything you hear
Your choices are yours to make, no one else’s
Face facts (hiding from the truth can be hazardous)
Look for people who are not afraid to give it to you straight
The fear of an event is often worse than the actual event
Ask (it’s amazing how many people don’t)

And there you have it, part 1 of 4. Of all these, from experience I can say that many people have trouble with numbers 1, 4, 5, 14, 21, and 25.

Personally, I’m still working on number 5 but I’m getting better at it with each passing day and that’s all one can really hope for.

If any of these are an issue for you, I believe in starting small.

Too many people like to jump in headfirst and run into all sorts of problems. I know people that have tried to go cold turkey when it came to alcohol, run a full marathon in a week (despite not having exercised for years), or change their financial life overnight and in each case it didn’t work out that well for them.

Baby steps.

Till tomorrow,

Adrian Shepherd

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success mistakes: the this-time-is-different syndrome mistake people make in investing and life

success mistakes

Nov 142012

Reading time: 5 – 8 minutes

To err is human…

No truer words have ever been spoken.

Part of being human is being fallible. We all make mistakes.

We stick our foot in our mouth. We have lapses of judgment. We think we’re so smart. We think we’ll never lose. We think it can’t happen to me. We think that we’re special.

And as a result, each generation goes through many of the same problems.

I once read that every 40 years we have a recession and every 80 years a depression.

Working my way back through history, I found that events in every generation are eerily similar.

Sometimes a little worse, sometimes a little more frequent. Different in their own ways due to the different causes and subsequent effects but devastating nonetheless.

These days I split my study time between three very different fields (as you might already know):

Success
Marketing
Finance

While I may not have a degree in any of these three fields I would have no problem putting together a whole day seminar on each topic. That’s how much information I have assimilated. And the most amazing thing, I haven’t even gotten through a third of all the materials (books, audio and DVDs) I have.

And what I have noticed through all that studying is that there are striking similarities between the principles of them that only people with a keen eye would be able to assess.

A few weeks ago I came across something called the “this-time-is-different syndrome” in one of my economic newsletters (I assume inspired by the book aptly titled “This Time Is Different” which you can see above).

It is essentially the belief that financial crises are things that happen to other people in other countries at other times; crises do not, and cannot, happen to us, here and now.

Why is this the case? Simply because we are doing things better, we are smarter, we have learned from past mistakes.

The old rules no longer apply.

This time, unlike the other times that have preceded the present, is built on sound fundamentals, structural reforms, technological innovation, and good policy. Or so the story goes.

I decided to do a little social experiment, talking to my friends on FB all over the world and I notice a disturbing trend today.

The majority of people I talked to were Americans, British, and Japanese as I wanted to get their take on the situation in Greece and in every case they all say how sad it was, and then went about their merry way.

This greatly worries me.

Why? To answer this question we must first ask the simple question – What’s the problem in Greece?

To keep things simple, it’s debt.

So now let’s turn to Japan, what’s the problem? Debt.

What about the US? Debt.

Notice anything suspicious? While the reasons each country got into may differ, and the amounts are vastly different as are their ability to produce goods, but the root problem is the same: debt.

We are witnessing firsthand the dangers of debt unfolding in Europe.

But not to worry. We’re different. We’re better…it won’t happen here. It can’t.

Now some of you might be thinking, well that’s all well and good Adrian, interesting stuff but that’s all financial stuff and it has nothing to do with me. I hope you’re right but let’s take this same concept and apply it on a more personal level.

As I said earlier, the same principles apply to success and marketing as they do in finance.

So now let’s apply this concept to the guy (and girl) on the street.

We’ve all been there. Friends and family members have warned us not to do something but we went ahead and did it anyway. Why? Because…yep, we’re smarter. This time is different…and guess what? It isn’t.

My wife warned me about getting involved in two separate business deals for very different reasons but I thought I was all that.

I thought I could control the situation. In both cases I was wrong.

But maybe it’s a good thing. I got it out of my system.

Now I know I have to be careful. Now I know who to trust and what NOT to do. And, most importantly, I know I don’t know everything.

History doesn’t repeat because we are constantly growing through innovation and technology but it sure does rhyme. We’re not the first generation to have a financial crisis. We didn’t just discover heartache and sorrow.

The only question is whether we’re smart enough to learn from the past.

Personally I think we should all make history a study, the world’s, your family’s and your own.

Apply it. And hopefully, you can make all new mistakes…

Adrian Shepherd

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success principles: auto repair marketing expert Ron Ipach’s 10 steps to success

Expert Perspective, Marketing

Nov 062012

Reading time: 6 – 9 minutes

It’s all connected…

Over the past 6 years I’ve been on one big journey. And I have succeeded in transforming myself through hard work and dedication.

It all started with a problem, a big one. I knew I needed help with so I turned to books in search of answers.

That’s where it all began and since that time I have become a sponge for knowledge which has helped make me a better parent, a better businessman, a better educator, a better me.

And through all my studies I have come to the conclusion that it’s all the same.

What works in business, works at home, works with relationships, works in finance and…well, you get the idea.

Today I divide 95% of my studies between into three separate areas: success, marketing and finance.

But that doesn’t stop me from every now and then checking out a book or program that intrigues me.

Two years ago I ticked off Women Are From Venus, Men Are From Mars from my list; a book I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who wants to understand the opposite sex whether at home or at the office. It is eye-opening to say the least.

Early last year I finished off Jack Canfield’s Breakthrough To Success, a 36 hour program. Whew…

A few months later, I became friends with a guy who’s as interested in personal development, possibly more-so, than I am. He kindly gave me access to much of his library (which was very.

As I had many programs and books of my own to get through, I didn’t start on some of the material he suggested I go through till this year…and boy was that a mistake.

I should have started sooner!!!

You may remember him from a previous post as the gentleman who has been at this for over 20 years and he knows his stuff.

Recently I decided to go through one of the programs he picked up a few years back by a man by the name of Ron Ipach.

Never heard of him? Great, neither had I.

He’s an auto repair marketing expert and I just finished his course.

While I may not be in the auto repair business I can say that it’s a course I would recommend anyone go through because much of what he talks about applies to any business…as well as life.

As I said, it’s all connected.

Whether I listen to the great self-help gurus, the top marketers, the #1 sales people, the best authors, the most creative inventors, the best teachers…each of them devotes talking about the very same concept: success (just in very different ways)

And one the best things any entrepreneur, parent or business man or woman can do is see the world through different people’s eyes. It gives you a whole new perspective on the same idea, allowing you to fully grasp the concepts discussed.

No one person, regardless of how good they are, has all the answers. And the best will admit this upfront.

It’s the fools that always know everything…and are always wrong.

There’s just so much to know, and so little time, which is why we need to find specialists in each field and in doing so, we save ourselves lost time and money.

Anyway, back to auto repair…I mean, Ron Ipach.

I thought you might find it interesting what an auto repair marketing expert’s 10 Steps to Success (and my comments) are:

STEP 1: Do something.

How simple is this. But he’s right. Nothing happens without action. Theory and study is all well and good but action is where miracles happen.

STEP 2: Step away from your business.

So many people are engrossed in doing that they forget to take the time to plan. Take a week off work and think. You’ll be amazed how much more clearly you will see things upon your return.

STEP 3: Focus on direct-response marketing.

Without customers, you don’t have a business. You must develop a marketing plan, and then put it into action.

STEP 4: Market to your current customers first.

This is the #1 most valuable group for you to market to. They already know you and trust you, plus you’ve already invested time and money to attract them to you. By far the best strategy to accomplish this is with a monthly newsletter. (and something I intend to start in the near future)

STEP 5: Never create marketing from scratch when a proven strategy can be copied.

When in doubt, copy. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Your best success, and easiest success, will come from duplicating the successful efforts of other sharp marketers. This saves you time and heartache.

STEP 6: Duplicate the process exactly.

When testing a new marketing strategy that you already know has been proven to be successful, it is important that you duplicate the strategy EXACTLY as it is.

STEP 7: Test small, track your results and then go big fast.

Never assume that a marketing piece will be a home run. Test it small, track the results, and once it works, go big fast. Don’t delay.

STEP 8: Embrace failure.

Nothing is a surefire winner; you will FAIL! Failure is simply part of success. Each failure teaches you what not to do…just make sure not to make them too costly.

STEP 9: Join a Mastermind group.

This is probably the most powerful concept in the classic Think And Grow Rich, and it’s something nearly every successful person understands. As Richard Tirendi once said, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” Don’t be afraid to share ideas and take criticism. Every great leader does.

STEP 10: Let others do all the work for you.

There is simply not enough time in the day to do everything you need to do to run a successful business. Find people who can support your business, give them the tools with which to do so, then get the heck out of their way.

10 concepts. Simple to learn, hard to master.

I hope you found them as valuable as I did.

Adrian Shepherd

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success principles: where would we be without friends and our health?

Expert Perspective

Oct 292012

Reading time: 5 – 8 minutes

When it boils down to it, life is really only about two things…

Health and relationships.

Without health, it’s hard to live the life you want. Without relationships, life just doesn’t have the same zing.

Despite the importance of both, many people seem to take them for granted.

Let’s start with health.

It should go without saying that our health is important and yet, day in day out, most of us are guilty of eating something that is less than good for us.

Potato chips, a chocolate bar, candy, cigarettes, a bottle of wine…we all have our vices.

Me, I’m guilty of eating two yummy chocolate chip cookies tonight. And since I’m no longer 18, I can feel it.

You see, there is a problem – we’ve only got one body.

We have two eyes, two hands, two legs, one stomach, you get the picture. Every one of these is irreplaceable. And more over, priceless.

A Ferrari costs $150,000…but how can you put a price on seeing?

We can replace a car, but our body is with us for the long haul…and I do mean THE long haul.

And yet, so many of us treat it like garbage.

There are people who watch their pets diets like a hawk and yet can’t even see their own feet. It’s crazy.

The sad truth is that most people only care about their health when it’s gone.

Their teeth are rotting, their lungs black, their bones brittle, their eyesight deteriorating…but they do little about it.

Then one day the pain begins and suddenly people spring into action.

The result, expensive procedures that may or may not work…most of which could have been avoided with a little care.

We all want our Toyota to keep running, so we take it in for a tune-up once a year or so. Our body, on the other hand, is put through the works and we expect it to just keep on ticking.

So many of us think we have plenty of time.

That we’ll start our new diet regiment tomorrow. That we’ll get in shape tomorrow.

And then one day, years down the line, tomorrow actually arrives and we have a lot of catching up to do.

I think my mentor, Jim Rohn, said it best, “Treat your body like a temple…not a woodshed.”

Thanks to my wife, I’ve never been healthier.

I have a balanced diet. I do yoga for my body and mind. And recently our entire family decided to start doing Karate.

And just to be safe I get my blood checked every few months.

Simply put, I’m doing what I can to stay healthy for as long as I can.

You can never be too careful when it comes to your health.

With health taken care of we can turn our focus to achievement and contribution.

In either case, relationships take center stage.

Failure is that much harder without having a friend’s shoulder to cry on, and victories much less sweet when you don’t have someone to share them with.

Our family and friends are often the reason many of us do what we do.

And it’s the relationships we develop and the stories we share that what we remember as the years go by.

Every successful business is nothing more than a good leader, a product of value and relationships. And the product isn’t all even that important.

Most people don’t realize that after the war the Sony corporation began by a group of I believe 12 people with the desire to make a difference.

While Sony started out fixing radios, their first product was actually a rice cooker.

Only one problem, it was defective.

It was a memorable failure for Ibuka and Morita and their team but it did not deter their drive to create quality products for the Japanese people. It was this drive that led Sony to become synonymous with innovation in the late 20th century.

It’s amazing what people that share a common goal can achieve.

Despite what people might think, it’s more one man than a product that leads a business to success.

All one has to do is look at Apple, FB, Microsoft, Zappos, Amazon, Walmart and many many more to confirm this fact which is why many businesses flounder when there are leadership changes.

Relationships in both our business lives and our social lives are often what make the difference between success and failure, between happiness and sadness.

And yet how many times have people left you hanging, forgotten dates, shown up late for appointments, or broken their promises to you.

Relationships are like bank accounts.

You can either add to them (by doing good things), or withdraw from them (by asking favors or disappointing people). The key is not going bankrupt.

I’ve had “friends” that cleaned out their accounts long ago…and all I can say is good riddance.

Life is too short to spend with people who don’t care enough about you.

Move on. The relationships you develop with often make you or break you.

Build relationships that are mutually supportive, by doing so you set yourself up for success in both business and life.

Adrian Shepherd

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success mistakes: you’ve got to worry when you hear things like this

Expert Perspective

Oct 252012

Reading time: 7 – 11 minutes

It’s the same every year…

You pick up a newspaper, read Yahoo! News or hear someone telling a story and you just have to scratch your head.

Despite access to the incredible knowledge we all possess today, ignorance and stupidity aren’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s just the opposite.

A remarkable thing happened in the 90s when the Internet was born: information became available to anyone with a computer.

But navigating through it all was slow going.

Enter Google.

Suddenly you couldn’t just buy your position on the search engines, and soon afterwards you couldn’t trick them.

Today it’s all about three things:

Good product/service
Good marketing
Good content

As a result, now when you do a search for relevant material on your topic of interest you find pretty much everything you’ll need on the first two pages. (although occasionally we have to dig a little deeper)

So not only do we have access to the greatest minds and thinkers in the world but with Google you find what you want fast.

Take Ken Rockwell for example.

His site is about photography (and a must-read for anyone thinking about buying a camera). He doesn’t get paid by any of the big camera companies and it shows. He pulls no punches and tells you the good, the bad, and the ugly of pretty much everything he can get his hands on.

It’s got no fancy intro, no graphics, run by one guy who just loves taking pictures…and yet it is among the top 10,000 websites in the world.

But that’s the good news.

The bad is that there is a growing gap between the information-have’s and the information-have-not’s which is evident when I read about 4 very different stories.

Yoga in school is unconstitutional.

Yeah, I get the fact that yoga has links with Hinduism (meaning it has no place in school according to the law) but for most people it is simply about exercise.

And last I checked, America has one heck of a problem with obesity. When you’ve got something like 20-30% of children in the US being obese, shouldn’t we focus on that and not whether it has links to religion.

Then you have the high number of people using anti-depressants. I can’t speak for everyone but for me yoga helps me clear my mind and help my body relax. Oh, no…what a horrible thing that is.

C’mon now…

Despite almost bringing down the entire financial world, bankers receive billions in bailouts.

After the Lehman Brothers collapse in 2008, other banks were given large sums of money to stay afloat, in spite of making risky bets themselves. To make matters worse, they have now doubled or tripled their bets.

It’s common knowledge that what you reward, you repeat.

If a child is kicking and screaming and throwing a tantrum because mommy didn’t buy him a toy…so she runs back into the store and gets him what he wanted…guess what? He’ll do that again.

What happens if the same situation happened and instead you grab his candy out of his hand, throw it in the trash and carry him home kicking and screaming. It’s not easy…but kids are fast learners.

“Ok, kicking and screaming didn’t work…it only made matters worse…can’t do that again.”

Adults aren’t much different from kids in this manner.

Too Big To Fail.

Oh please…

Too Big To Fail is the motto of big companies today. If our company collapses then it will put 20,000 people, 50,000, 100,000 out of work.

It will cause problems in the economy. You will lose their votes in the next election – save us!

Essentially a threat by a company that made poor decisions now is getting a reward for failing.

Imagine if we did that at school?! Say kid, you failed the test but here’s an A. B and C students, sorry, you’re not dumb enough to qualify for this bonus. How long would it take for most B and C students to start failing…not long at all, let me tell you.

(tiny commercial here – be sure to check out my latest mini-video series here on the latest in the financial world)

Homework should be banned.

Just recently I read that the French priminister Hollande doesn’t think it is fair that some kids get help from their parents at home while children who come from disadvantaged families don’t.

It’s an issue that goes well beyond France, and has been part of the reason that some Americans oppose homework, too.

He was quoted as saying “An education program is, by definition, a societal program. Work should be done at school, rather than at home,” as a way to ensure that students who have no help at home are not disadvantaged.

Oh, please…give me a break.

I think my wife’s experience will enlighten people to what should be obvious but then again, maybe not as you will understand from watching the video below. (Deer crossing)

As a child, my wife, just before summer vacation, was asked by her parents what she planned to do over the break.

Being a typical kid, she wrote up something that looked like this:

8:00 wake up
8:30 breakfast
9:00 homework
10:00 play with friends
12:30 lunch
1:00 play with friends
7:00 dinner

Her mother and father, upon seeing her schedule, said something along the lines of, “Oh, no no no…this won’t do. We will make a schedule for you.” which looked like this:

8:00 wake up
8:30 breakfast
9:00 math hw
10:00 science hw
11:00 Japanese hw
12:00 lunch
12:30 break
1:00 Kanji hw
2:00 history hw
3:00 English hw
4:00 play with friends
6:00 Japanese hw
7:00 dinner

My wife, being a young child then made the mistake of saying, “But I don’t have any homework in Math, Science, English or Kanji.”

“No problem, we’ll come up with our own homework for you.”

That’s what most educated parents do – give their children the best opportunity for them to succeed in life.

Some hope that school will be enough but most know that hiring tutors is pretty much a necessity to help children with their weak areas, or giving them extra work is a must.

Either way, banning homework will not succeed in closing the gap between the have’s and the have-not’s but ironically, widen it.

But I don’t need to tell you this stuff, you’re reading this site (and hopefully listening to my blog) so I’m preaching to the choir here.

Most people never think that they should make success a study. Most people think that school is enough. Most adults never even read a book after graduation…for them, school is one and done.

But you know better.

You know that school is just the beginning. That’s why call our final ceremony from college – commencement, because it is just the beginning of something bigger and better and in today’s ultra-competitive world we are either staying ahead, or getting left behind.

Hearing things like this make me worried.

People today, thanks to better materials, better technology and (hopefully) better teachers should be better able to succeed in life

But it just isn’t the case.

We are, and always will be, human. And therefore, err.

I guess no matter what we do or how smart we get; ignorance and stupidity are here to stay.

Adrian Shepherd

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