Posted on: Sunday, September 2nd, 2012

Oftentimes letting go has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with strength.  We let go and walk away not because we want the universe to realize our worth, but because we finally realize our own worth.

And that’s what this short article is all about – realizing your worth, and harnessing this realization to identify the negative ideas, habits, and people in your life that you need to let go of.  Here are some points to consider:

1. The past can steal your present if you let it. – You can spend hours, days, weeks, months, or even years sitting alone in a dark room, over-analyzing a situation from the past, trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could’ve or sould’ve happened.  Or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and walk out the front door into the sunlight to get some fresh air.
2. Not everyone, and not everything, is meant to stay. – There are things you don’t want to happen, but have to accept, things you don’t want to know, but have to learn, and people you can’t live without but have to let go.  Some circumstances and people come into your life just to strengthen you, so you can move on without them.  Read The Language of Letting Go.
3. Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them. – Imagine all the wondrous things your mind might embrace if it weren’t wrapped so tightly around your struggles.  Always look at what you have, instead of what you have lost.  Because it’s not what the world takes away from you that counts; it’s what you do with what you have left.
4. Sometimes you just need to do your best and surrender the rest. – Don’t be too hard on yourself.  There are plenty of people willing to do that for you.  Tell yourself, “I am doing the best I can with what I have in this moment.  And that is all I can expect of anyone, including me.”  Love yourself and be proud of everything that you do, even your mistakes.  Because even mistakes mean you’re trying.
5. You are in control of one person, and one person only: yourself. – There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of your control.  Letting go in your relationships doesn’t always mean that you don’t care about people anymore; it’s simply realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.
6. What’s right for you may be wrong for others, and vice versa. – Think for yourself, and allow others the privilege of doing so too.  We all dance to the beat of a different drum.  There are few absolute ‘rights’ and ‘wrongs’ in the world.  You need to live your life your way – the way that’s right for you.  Read The Road Less Traveled.
7. Some people will refuse to accept you for who you are. – Always choose to be true to yourself, even at the risk of incurring ridicule from others, rather than being fake and incurring the pain and confusion of trying to be someone you’re not.  When you are comfortable in your skin, not everyone in this world will like you, and that’s okay.  You could be the ripest, juiciest apple in the world, and there’s going to be someone out there who hates apples.
8. Relationships can only exist on a steady foundation of truth. – When there is breakdown in a relationship, you must have the hard conversation.  It may not be pretty and it may not feel good.  But if you are willing to listen and tell the truth, it will open up.  When you build relationships based on truth and authenticity, rather than masks, false perfection, and being phony, your relationships will heal, connect, and thrive.
9. The world changes when you change. – Practice really seeing whatever it is you’re looking at.  You are today where your thoughts and perceptions have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts and perceptions take you.  If you truly want to change your life, you must first change your mind.  The world around you changes when you change.
10. You can make decisions, or you can make excuses. – Life is a continuous exercise in creative problem solving.  A mistake doesn’t become a failure until you refuse to correct it.  Thus, most long-term failures are the outcome of people who make excuses instead of decisions. Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
11. It usually takes just a few negative remarks to kill a person’s dream. – Don’t kill people’s dreams with negative words, and don’t put up with those who do.  Don’t let people interrupt you and tell you that you can’t do something.  If you have a dream that you’re passionate about, you must protect it.  When others can’t do something themselves, they’re going to tell you that you can’t do it either; and that’s a lie.  These people are simply speaking from within the boundaries of their own limitations.
12. Sometimes walking away is the only way to win. – Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who have proven that they are committed to misunderstanding you.  In other words, don’t define your intelligence by the number of arguments you have won, but by the number of times you have said, “This needless nonsense is not worth my time.”

Photo by: Lumatic

Posted on: Monday, August 27th, 2012

It‘s not where we stand but in what direction we are moving.

Sometimes we find ourselves running in place, struggling to get ahead simply because we forget to address some of the simple truths that govern our potential to make progress.  So here’s a quick reminder:

1. The acquisition of knowledge doesn’t mean you’re growing.  Growing happens when what you know changes how you live.
2. You can’t have good ideas unless you’re willing to generate a lot of bad ones.
3. A good idea without action is worth nothing.
4. Change is often resisted when it is needed the most.
5. Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want right now. Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
6. People seldom do things to the best of their ability.  They do things to the best of their willingness.
7. You can’t change other people; you can only offer guidance, and lead by example.
8. Right now, there’s a lot you don’t know.  And if you never challenge your own beliefs, the list will never shrink.
9. If you’re talking to someone you don’t know well, you may be talking to someone who knows way more about the topic of conversation than youdo.
10. The most common and harmful addiction in the world is the draw of comfort.
11. Growth begins at the end of your comfort zone.  Stepping outside of your comfort zone will put things into perspective from an angle you can’t grasp now.
12. When you spend time worrying, you’re simply using your imagination to create things you don’t want.
13. It’s usually only as good or bad as you think it is.  Most of what we see is only what we think about what we see.
14. Most of the bad things you worry about will never happen.  Most of the bad things that do happen will have never crossed your worried mind.
15. Some circumstances are uncontrollable, but we can always decide how we react to those circumstances.
16. Those who complain the most, accomplish the least.
17. Whenever somebody discredits you, and tells you that you can’t do something, keep in mind that they are speaking from within the boundaries of their own limitations.
18. Every problem you have in your life right now is your responsibility, regardless of who initially caused it.
19. It’s not so much about finding opportunities as it is about creating them.
20. Having a plan, even a flawed one at first, is better than no plan at all.
21. Paving your own road is intelligent only if nobody has gone exactly where you are going.
22. What you do every day matters more than what you do every once in a while.
23. What you don’t start today won’t be finished by tomorrow.
24. If you’re waiting for the perfect conditions, ideas or plans to get started, you’ll never achieve anything.
25. Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing.
26. Putting something off makes it instantly harder and scarier.
27. You cannot change what you refuse to confront.
28. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
29. The harder you work, the luckier you will become.
30. Kindness and hard work together will always carry you farther than intelligence.
31. Lots of successful people have failed as many times as they have succeeded.
32. Failures are simply lessons that help you prepare for next time.
33. Being successful is a journey, not a destination.
34. To be successful does not mean you have to dominate others; it means you have to dominate your own potential.
35. Your success isn’t just about you.  It’s about how you positively impact the lives around you.
36. Being busy and being productive are two different things.
37. Being happy and being successful are two different things.
38. You have every right to be happy, but it’s up to YOU and only YOU to exercise that right.  Read Stumbling on Happiness.
39. Everyone you meet is better than you at something.  We all have different strengths.  What worked for someone else might not work for you.
40. When you’re worried about what others think of you, you’re really just worried about what you think of yourself.
41. The bad news: nothing is permanent.  The good news: nothing is permanent.
42. You don’t have to settle.  It’s simply a choice you make every day.  If you don’t like your life, then it’s time to start making changes and better choices.
43. There’s no such thing as ‘risk free.’  Everything you do or don’t do has an inherent risk.
44. No matter how smart you are, you will make mistakes.
45. Problems, when they arise, are rarely as painful and hurtful as the process of fearing them.
46. Confusion isn’t a bad thing.  It means you’re growing and thinking.
47. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
48. In the beginning, you need to say “yes” to a lot of things to discover and establish your goals.  Later on, you need to say “no” to a lot of things and concentrate on your goals.
49. Even if it doesn’t cost any money, it’s not free if it takes up your time.
50. No matter how you make a living or who you think you work for, you only work for one person, yourself.  The big question is:  What are you selling, and to whom?
51. Money makes life easier only when it’s yours free and clear.  The stress of financial debt can change a person.
52. The fewer possessions you own, the more you will use and enjoy them.
53. Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.
54. There is good reason why you should wake each morning and mindfully consider what and who you will give your day to:  Because unlike other things in life – love, money, respect, good health, hope, opportunities, and many more – time is the one thing you can never get back once it’s gone.
55. Cutting your losses is often better than the alternative.
56. We sometimes do things that are permanently foolish just because we are temporarily upset.
57. Screaming at people always makes things worse.
58. Everyone likes a person who gets straight to the point.
59. First impressions are oftentimes inaccurate judgments of a person’s true character.
60. When you’re up, your friends know who you are.  When you’re down, you know who your friends are.
61. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you.  You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot.
62. When someone truly loves you, they don’t ever have to say a word.  You will be able to tell simply by the way they treat you over the long-term.
63. We rarely lose friends, we usually just figure out who our real ones are.
64. Just because one person doesn’t seem to care for you, doesn’t mean you should forget about everyone else who does.
65. Family isn’t always blood.  They’re the people in your life who want you in theirs – the ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.
66. Good looks attracts the eyes.  Personality attracts the heart.
67. In human relationships, distance is not measured in miles but in affection.  Two people can be right next to each other, yet miles apart.
68. Being nice to someone you dislike doesn’t mean you’re fake.  It means you’re mature enough to control your emotions.
69. If you aren’t happy being single, you won’t be happy in a relationship.  You have to create your own life first before you can share it with someone else.
70. Whenever you hate someone or something, you are giving that person or thing a piece of your heart.  Read The Road Less Traveled.
71. Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.
72. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company.
73. Saying “no” to right people gives you the time and resources required to say “yes” to right opportunities.
74. When you stop chasing the wrong things you give the right things a chance to catch you.
75. You can raise the bar or you can wait for others to raise it.  Either way, it’s getting raised.
76. In life you get what you put in.  If you want love, give love.  If you want friends, be friendly.  If you want money, provide value.  It really is this simple.
77. Cynicism might seem warranted at times, but it’s never useful.
78. Everyone dies, some sooner than later, and often unexpectedly.  To know this means you are alive, with a chance to make the time you have left count.
79. You are in competition with one person and one person only – yourself.  You are competing to be the best you can be.
80. Trying to be somebody you’re not is a sure path to self-hate, and a waste of the person you are.
81. It’s better to be disliked for who you are than to be liked for who you are not.
82. Giving up doesn’t always mean you’re weak, sometimes it means you are strong enough and smart enough to let go.
83. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
84. You can’t make the same exact mistake twice. The second time you make it, it’s no longer a mistake, it’s a choice.
85. Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
86. You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time.
87. Many of the greatest lessons we learn in life we don’t seek on purpose.
88. You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life.
89. A harsh fact of life:  Bad things do happen to good people.
90. Regardless of the situation, the sun rises the next day and life goes on.
91. You never know how strong you really are until being strong is the only choice you have.
92. We end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
93. We meet no ordinary people in our lives.  If you give them a chance, everyone has something amazing to offer.
94. Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours.
95. People are not as beautiful as they look, as they walk, or as they talk.  They are only as beautiful as they love, as they care, and as they share.
96. Silence is often the loudest cry.  So pay attention to those you care about.
97. Making one person smile can change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.
98. Blowing out another’s candle will not make yours shine brighter.
99. No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.
100. Things turn out best for people who make the best out of the way things turn out.
101. Life is short.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

Photo by: Alexander Steinhof

 

Posted on: Saturday, August 25th, 2012

By Bill Miltenberg, PR News

If the concept of opting for paid vs. earned exposure on social media makes some PR pros squirm, consider that there are now more than 400 million posts on Twitter per day (according to Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, as of June 2012). Integrating Twitter’s free and paid offerings is an underused way to reach a wider group of users or spark engagement from existing followers.

PR pros should take an integrated approach to communications, and using Twitter’s promoted products—whether it’s to promote a tweet, trendor account—can extend the reach of campaigns. Here are five tips on using the platform’s paid offerings in addition to your organic efforts:

1. Use Promoted Accounts to Start Fast: Much content has been published by PR News about how to make your brand heard on Twitter organically, but to be heard, you first must have an audience. If your brand is, for whatever reason, just getting started on Twitter, using the Promoted Account feature places your organization’s account on the Twitter homepage, a place where most people go to log in. Promoted Accounts are part of Twitter’s Who to Follow section, which suggests accounts that people don’t currently follow and may find interesting.

2. Promote Your Best Content: While using the paid products are a great way to kick off your new account or campaign, they can also help you propel your best preexisting content to a wider audience. If you’re using a third-party analytics client for Twitter, see which of your tweets has generated the most organic retweets and responses (or use Google Analytics to see which pages on your site have generated the most shares on social media) and consider promoting that item. If your existing audience likes it, chances are your potential audience will, too.

3. Promoted Tweets in a Crisis Crunch: Integrating a paid and earned strategy can help a brand haveits messaging heard during a crisis above all others, and Twitter’s Paid Tweets option is one of the best crisis resources. “’Paid’ is not a dirty word,” says Dallas Lawrence, chief global digital strategist at Burson-Marsteller and speaker at PR News’ Oct. 2 Social Media Measurement Conference, who was part of the Nuclear Energy Institute and Burson-Marsteller team that won PR News’ 2011 Digital PR Award for best digital crisis management for its work during Japan’s nuclear crisis. “It’s an effective way to amplify your messages and go from 1,000 impressions to 150,000 in one day,” says Lawrence.

4. Don’t Max Out the 140-Character Limit: While keeping your messaging limited to 140 characters may be hard enough as it is, Lawrence says that tweets with 80-100 characters are also significantly more likely to be more retweeted. Allow space for “RT,” which is three characters when used with a space, followed by your handle, and leave extra characters for the retweeter to provide additional commentary to the tweet.

5. Include a Call to Action: Be sure there’s a call to action with promoted tweets, says Nada Arnot, chief digital officer at RF Binder. “You must drive people to do something—such as a retweet giveaway,” in which followers who retweet your post can win a prize.

6. Use a Hashtag in Promoted Tweets: The good news: Arnot calls Promoted Trends the holy grail for social media advertisers. Users see time-, context- and event-sensitive trends promoted by advertisers, and promoted Trends appear at the top of the Trending Topics list on Twitter, a choice location and worth the expense for some big brands. The bad news: The cost of a Promoted Trend is $120,000 per 24-hour period, says Arnot. That’s why, if are you’re paying for a Promoted Tweet, introduce the hashtag you intend to use either for an event, product or new brand campaign. Once your paid campaign ends, continue using the hashtag to extend the life of your campaign for free. 

Follow Bill Miltenberg: @bmiltenberg

Posted on: Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

Whatever the situation may be, we compare ourselves. We compare ourselves to friends, classmates, coworkers, and even our significant others. We worry about what others are accomplishing and dwell on what we have not. And while worrying, we forget our own accomplishments. We forget our goals. And we forget how far we have come.

I watch people compare themselves every day in the gym or other places. I watch them stare at another person’s barbell while they load their own. I watch them worry about beating another person’s time so much they completely throw form out the door. And I watch others sink into frustration and sadness when they don’t beat their friend’s score. But what is that accomplishing? How are we improving ourselves if the only thing we are doing is steering off our own course and trying to follow the path of another?

As I get older and- I have figured out that I don’t want to follow someone else’s path. I want to create my own destiny. And, yes, I know how lame that sounds. But I don’t want to be like anyone else. I don’t want to set my goals based on someone other than myself.

The thing is, I can’t lift more then 95lbs over my head. I can’t string together muscle ups like the athletes you watch on TV. And I can’t do strict handstand push ups. Yet. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t worked my ass off. That doesn’t mean I don’t try. That doesn’t make me a lazy crossfitter. It makes me human. And as humans, we have to work for what we want to accomplish. Thinking about what others have done doesn’t make us stronger. Getting our ass in the gym, does. Blood, sweat, and tears do.

In my 38 years of figuring out who the hell I am, I have finally figured out that I don’t want to be anyone but myself.  Comparing myself to others will get me nowhere. Hard work will.  Not hoping and dreaming to be like someone else. Setting my goals high and working to accomplish those goals are what make me who I am.

My advise is do not compare yourself to others. Stop trying to be someone else. Start figuring out what you are going to accomplish today. Then do it.

Posted on: Tuesday, August 21st, 2012

20 ways to get people to believe in your ideas and create a movement

Start with you

1. If you don’t believe in your idea how can you expect anyone else to believe in you?

Before you go out and try to spread your message make sure that your idea is something that is important to you.

Is this just a cool idea that you’re interested in or something that you’re willing to attach your entire reputation to?

Do you believe in your cause with passion? Does it inspire you and motivate you? Does it match up with your values as an individual?

If so, then move forward with confidence. Energy and confidence are naturally magnetic qualities. People believe in enthusiasm. They are attracted to passion. It’s easy to believe in someone who believes in themselves.

2. Know your principles and you can choose your methods.

What’s important to you? What are your values and ethics?

Know the principles that you want to stay true to and those principles will help guide your actions.

As your idea grows and becomes a movement, you’ll be faced with difficult decisions. Who do you partner with? When is it right to say yes to an opportunity? When do you say no?

When difficult decision points arise, it will be helpful to remember your principles and values. Those ideas and beliefs will help you recognize the types of opportunities you should pursue and the types of actions you should avoid.

3. Prepare for failure.

Every movement has failures and setbacks. Be ready for them.

You’ll tell someone about your idea and they will snap back that they didn’t want to hear about it. You’ll get people telling you that you’re doing it all wrong. You’ll try to be nice and people will get offended.

In short, you’ll do all sorts of things with good intentions and they’ll turn out the wrong way.

Don’t sweat it.

Failure is the price of admission. If you’re going to do anything significant, then you need to get used to the idea that you won’t always be right.

Of course, the alternative is that you could play it safe, avoid risk, and never build a movement. Your choice.

Laying the groundwork for success

4. Meet the desires that people already have.

Most people have an idea and make the mistake of telling themselves, “I think this is awesome and I have an exciting story, so people will care about this. I find this interesting, so other people will want to follow along and join my movement.”

Wrong.

This might not be what you want to hear, but people don’t care if you think your idea is cool or if you find a particular story or idea interesting. In fact, they don’t even really care about your movement … or any movement for that matter.

What they do care about is meeting their own desires.

There are desires within all of us and you will see many of them come up over and over again. These are things like the desire to be loved or appreciated or respected or rich and famous or to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

Now, the good news is that you probably don’t need to start with a new idea. You just need to frame your idea in the right way.

It’s how your idea addresses a desire that gets people to show up, not the idea itself.

For example, how many “weight loss” or “fat burning” products have you seen? If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably lost count.

Why is that?

It’s because the desire to lose weight is very strong.

When a new diet or exercise product comes out, they don’t try to create a new desire for people. They simply show how their product addresses the already existing desire to lose weight.

You can do the same with your movement.

What is the desire that your target audience has? Why will someone join your movement? What will they feel when they become a part of your community? Use those desires to tell people about your idea.

Facebook didn’t create the desire to meet and connect with people. It just addressed that desire in a new and exciting way.

5. Ignore the messages from your competitors.

I don’t mean ignore them completely, you can read them if you want — but don’t bother with imitating them.

Their message is already out there. They already have an audience and that audience doesn’t need another me–too leader. Ignore the messages of your competitors and create your own.

Now it can be similar, but you also want it to be unique. You want to be relevant, yet fresh.

I’ll give you an example.

I talk a lot about earning more money on Passive Panda, but so do many other sites. What makes Passive Panda different? Three things.

1. We focus on the five pillars of earning: freelancing, entrepreneurship, employment, awards, and investing. And then we allow you to choose the earning strategies that best fit your situation.
2. We think that getting others to believe in your ideas is the key to earning more money.
3. We believe that you need to own the choices that you make and take responsibility for your earning power. We help you earn more, but it’s your responsibility to take action.

See how that positioning is different than what many other “make more money” sites talk about?

That unique positioning allows me to go to the other businesses and websites in the industry, speak to their audiences, and say, “Hey, I know you’re probably interested in this type of stuff… but here’s a different take on it. If you like that, then check out Passive Panda.”

Think about how you’re going to position your message because good positioning is very, very powerful.

Note: Some people refer to this as your Unique Selling Proposition or USP. Read this article by my buddy Corbett Barr to figure out how to find yourunique selling proposition.

6. Get started.

No one has it all figured out when they start. (Most of us never have it all figured out.)

Just because it’s not the “perfect” time to start, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get started.

You’re allowed to change your mind after the fact. Good business, organizations, and ideas will change over time. (How many times has Apple reinvented itself with a new product?)

Change is part of the game.

Get your idea out of your head and into the world. Get some feedback. Get started.

7. Develop a platform.

It can be a website. It can be a store. It can be a booth at the local fair. It can be a patch of grass on a hillside.

Choose what is best for you, but you need to have a place that you can call home.

Where does your movement start from? If one of your followers is talking about your idea, where do they send other people?

Regardless of what you choose as your platform, you need a place where people can go to find more information, to discover like–minded people, and to join the movement.

8. Develop methods of one–to–many communication.

There cannot be a movement without communication. It’s impossible gather a following and get them to act if you cannot reach them.

Moreover, it’s difficult, time–consuming, and risky to assume that your followers will check back consistently to see what you’re saying. People get busy with other parts of life and you need a way to broadcast your message, your events, your products, and your ideas to your community at a moment’s notice.

This includes things like a Twitter account, a Facebook page, and — most importantly — an email list. I’m not saying you need all of those things, but you do need a way to communicate with your following.

That said, if you have to pick one, then make it the email list.

Build it one at a time

9. Embrace that first follower.

Someone was the first patient for the award–winning surgeon. Someone was the first reader for the best–selling author. Someone was the first supporter of the President of the United States.

A movement is nothing without someone else rallying around the cause. Someone needs to take a chance on you. Don’t dismiss it when one person has the courage to believe in you!

Watch this excellent 3–minute video by Derek Sivers to get a sense of how important that first follower is…

10. When people ask me how I built Passive Panda’s audience up so quickly I tell them the truth, “I did it one person at a time.”

Even after being featured in mainstream outlets like US News and World Report, Yahoo Finance, and Lifehacker, Passive Panda has never enjoyed a game–changing influx of new visitors.

Instead, I just do my very best to connect with each reader on a personal level. I ask if I can help my followers on Twitter. I respond to every email I get. I put as much value as I can into articles like this one.

The result, I hope, is that every reader knows that I’m here to help them and that I truly want them to be a part of this community.

By the way, if you haven’t introduced yourself yet, please do! Say hello to me by using the contact form. I’ll get back as soon as I can. I’d love to hear from you.

How to spread the word

11. Reach out to a gatekeeper.

With the rare exception of the CEO’s son or daughter, we all start out in the same place: no money, no resources, and no contacts.

The good news? It’s far easier to connect with an influencer than it is to gain influence.

When you’re thinking about getting the word out about your movement, don’t be afraid to make friends with the A–listers in your space. In fact, you need to do that.

It might feel uncomfortable at first, but say hello to someone who has an audience. Then do it again.

Of course, there is one thing you need to remember…

12. Be helpful, not desperate.

Desperation is toxic. It’s the number one reason people are terrible at self–promotion.

When you go around begging and pleading for help, it sends the wrong signal. The thought that goes through each person’s mind is, “If their idea is really that great, how come they seem so desperate for support?”

Instead of worrying about how you can get the Top Dogs to help you, spend some time thinking about how you can help them.

Focus your energy on being valuable and helping others. It will all come back to you in return and your movement will grow as a result.

For more ideas on building relationships, check out this list of networking tips.

13. Go to an event with the purpose of meeting one person.

If you’re serious about getting the word out and building a movement, then you need to meet people in person. It’s simply more powerful than any other form of networking.

There are events, conferences, seminars, and meetups for every topic imaginable. Find out where the thought leaders and celebrities in your industry are going, and then join them.

Going to an event with the specific goal of meeting someone in person is a great way to build influential relationships.

14. Write a report and then send it to the right person.

This is a brilliant strategy that I got from Nick Reese. If you do it right, then this tip works like a charm.

Here’s how it works:

Write a report that is closely related to your idea, but that also ties in well with a larger industry or new trend.

For example, let’s say that you love cars and you know that there is a new type of headlight that is becoming popular. If you have a nifty automotive idea or project or business that you want to share, then you can use this new kind of headlight as your entrance point.

All you need to do is write up a short report on this new headlight style. Talk about the benefits of it and what makes it more popular than old headlights. Make sure to highlight why this is a new trend or how it’s the future of the industry. Then, create a graph or two that displays an interesting fact about this new headlight.

Compile all of that into a document. It doesn’t have to be long … maybe it’s just a page or two.

Then — and this is where the magic happens — just email that document to any relevant journalists that you can find and tell them that you’re available for interviews on the subject.

At the end of the interview you can mention your big idea or project. This is the perfect way to drop a story into a journalist’s lap and get some free press out of it.

This strategy can work for any industry and any topic. If you do it well and catch someone at the right time, you might even be able to featured in a large publication like The New York Times.

Getting it out to the masses

15. Make it easy for people to share your work.

Notice how I have those social media sharing buttons at the top and bottom of every post?

Those buttons are there because I want to make it easy for you to share the ideas on the site. That’s how good ideas spread.

How can you make it easy for your followers to spoon feed your information to others?

16. Pay attention to why people say “Yes”

The number of ways that you can promote your idea is almost overwhelming. Everything seems like an option — especially in the beginning.

This is why it’s critical to track things. What articles or webpages do people enjoy the most? What advertisements generate the most sales? What projects have you done a good job on in the past?

Basically, what have you done that people like? Do more of that.

17. Recognize the spectrum.

No two people are in the same situation when they first hear about your idea. Everyone comes from different experiences, different backgrounds, and different places.

What this means is that people are ready to take different actions based on where they come from.

You can think of this as a spectrum. On one end is your most passionate fan and on the other is someone who has never heard of you. Each person that shows up is somewhere on that spectrum.

Why is it important to realize this difference? Well, because …

18. You need to give people choices.

Your job is to give people choices so that they can take an action and continue to move along the spectrum.

I’ll give you an example of how I do this on Passive Panda.

When each person visits my site, I want them to join Passive Panda’s email newsletter. The people on my email list are the most passionate fans on the spectrum — and I treat them that way. I email them new articles first. I send them links to special webinars I run. I tell them about private presentations I’m doing with special guests. Basically, I provide them with as much value as possible.

But not everyone is ready to join the email list when they first show up. So how do I get a new visitor, who has never heard of the the Passive Panda movement, to move a little further along the spectrum? Well, I give them choices.

If you go to the homepage, then you’ll see what I mean.

I start by asking people to join the email newsletter. Not ready for that? No worries, scroll down and you can read the most recent article. Doesn’t strike your fancy? Well, look to the sidebar and you’ll see the free course, the popular articles, and links to our Facebook and Twitter pages. In other words, I gradually give people other options to engage with my ideas.

Maybe they show up the first time, read an article and decide to follow Passive Panda on Twitter. A few days later, then see an update on Twitter and click on another article. Maybe this happens two, three, or four times before they finally say, “You know what? I really like this content. I’ll join the email list.”

The point here is that you need to give people multiple ways to stay in touch with your message. Not everyone wants to be your best friend today … but if you keep giving them chances they might come to your party this weekend.

19. Experiment.

Try new ways of getting your message out. Sure, some experiments will fail, but you might be surprised by how a little risk can turn into a big reward.

For example, I put together a list of 50 free ebooks that will help you earn more money. Instead of giving that list out for free, however, I used a special “Share To Get” button that required people to share the article on Twitter or Facebook before they got access to the list.

When I posted that article I was worried that people wouldn’t read it at all because they had to share it.

What happened? Over 1500 tweets later that article is one of the most popular ones on the site.

I had no idea how people would respond because there was an extra step involved, but they loved it. In fact, I get emails every week from people thanking me for putting the list together.

Free ebooks for them. Free traffic for me. It was a win–win that only happened because I took a risk.

How can you experiment with getting your message out?

It’s on you.

20. Own your decisions.

It sounds simple, but it’s important to realize that your success or failure is the result of your choices.

If your following isn’t growing the way you want it to, then change what you’re doing. If you’re message doesn’t seem to be sticking, then alter it. If your movement isn’t successful, then you need to adjust.

You can make excuses all you want, but at the end of the day the decisions you make, make you.

Thank You. Yes, You.

Speaking of creating a movement, I want to thank you for being a part of Passive Panda’s movement. Thousands of people visit the site every day, but I’m particularly happy that you’re here. Thanks for being a part of the community.

If you’re looking for even more tips on earning more money by spreading your message, then join Passive Panda’s free newsletter. You’ll get access to private events, new articles, and much more. I’d love to see you on the inside.

Posted on: Monday, August 20th, 2012

“Dare to Be

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.

When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.

When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.

When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.

When times are tough, dare to be tougher.

When love hurts you, dare to love again.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.

Dare to be the best you can –

At all times, Dare to be!” 
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

Posted on: Monday, August 20th, 2012

“I’d always believed that a life of quality, enjoyment, and wisdom were my human birthright and would be automatically bestowed upon me as time passed.  I never suspected that I would have to learn how to live – that there were specific disciplines and ways of seeing the world I had to master before I could awaken to a simple, happy, uncomplicated life.”
-Dan Millman

I want to honor and discuss each of these 12 points, because no matter what part of life’s path we’re currently traveling on, these ‘happiness habits’ will always be applicable.

1. Express gratitude. – When you appreciate what you have, what you have appreciates in value.  Kinda cool right?  So basically, being grateful for the goodness that is already evident in your life will bring you a deeper sense of happiness.  And that’s without having to go out and buy anything.  It makes sense.  We’re gonna have a hard time ever being happy if we aren’t thankful for what we already have.
2. Cultivate optimism. – Winners have the ability to manufacture their own optimism.  No matter what the situation, the successful diva is the chick who will always find a way to put an optimistic spin on it.  She knows failure only as an opportunity to grow and learn a new lesson from life.  People who think optimistically see the world as a place packed with endless opportunities, especially in trying times.
3. Avoid over-thinking and social comparison. – Comparing yourself to someone else can be poisonous.  If we’re somehow ‘better’ than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, it gives us an unhealthy sense ofsuperiority.  Our ego inflates – KABOOM – our inner Kanye West comes out!  If we’re ‘worse’ than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, we usually discredit the hard work that we’ve done and dismiss all the progress that we’ve made.  What I’ve found is that the majority of the time this type of social comparison doesn’t stem from a healthy place.  If you feel called to compare yourself to something, compare yourself to an earlier version of yourself.
4. Practice acts of kindness. – Performing an act of kindness releases serotonin in your brain.  (Serotonin is a substance that has TREMENDOUS health benefits, including making us feel more blissful.)  Selflessly helping someone is a super powerful way to feel good inside.  What’s even cooler about this kindness kick is that not only will you feel better, but so will people watching the act of kindness.  How extraordinary is that?  Bystanders will be blessed with a release of serotonin just by watching what’s going on.  A side note is that the job of most anti-depressants is to release more serotonin.  Move over Pfizer, kindness is kicking ass and taking names.
5. Nurture social relationships. – The happiest people on the planet are the ones who have deep, meaningful relationships.  Did you know studies show that people’s mortality rates are DOUBLED when they’re lonely?  WHOA!  There’s a warm fuzzy feeling that comes from having an active circle of good friends who you can share your experiences with.  We feel connected and a part of something more meaningful than our lonesome existence.
6. Develop strategies for coping. – How you respond to the ‘craptastic’ moments is what shapes your character.  Sometimes crap happens – it’s inevitable.  Forrest Gump knows the deal.  It can be hard to come up with creative solutions in the moment when manure is making its way up toward the fan.  It helps to have healthy strategies for coping pre-rehearsed, on-call, and in your arsenal at your disposal.
7. Learn to forgive. – Harboring feelings of hatred is horrible for your well-being.  You see, your mind doesn’t know the difference between past and present emotion.  When you ‘hate’ someone, and you’re continuously thinking about it, those negative emotions are eating away at your immune system.  You put yourself in a state of suckerism (technical term) and it stays with you throughout your day.
8. Increase flow experiences. – Flow is a state in which it feels like time stands still.  It’s when you’re so focused on what you’re doing that you become one with the task.  Action and awareness are merged.  You’re not hungry, sleepy, or emotional.  You’re just completely engaged in the activity that you’re doing.  Nothing is distracting you or competing for your focus.
9. Savor life’s joys. – Deep happiness cannot exist without slowing down to enjoy the joy.  It’s easy in a world of wild stimuli and omnipresent movement to forget to embrace life’s enjoyable experiences.  When we neglect to appreciate, we rob the moment of its magic.  It’s the simple things in life that can be the most rewarding if we remember to fully experience them.
10. Commit to your goals. – Being wholeheartedly dedicated to doing something comes fully-equipped with an ineffable force.  Magical things start happening when we commit ourselves to doing whatever it takes to get somewhere.  When you’re fully committed to doing something, you have no choice but to do that thing.  Counter-intuitively, having no option – where you can’t change your mind – subconsciously makes humans happier because they know part of their purpose.
11. Practice spirituality. – When we practice spirituality or religion, we recognize that life is bigger than us.  We surrender the silly idea that we are the mightiest thing ever.  It enables us to connect to the source of all creation and embrace a connectedness with everything that exists.  Some of the most accomplished people I know feel that they’re here doing work they’re “called to do.”
12. Take care of your body. – Taking care of your body is crucial to being the happiest person you can be.  If you don’t have your physical energy in good shape, then your mental energy (your focus), your emotional energy (your feelings), and your spiritual energy (your purpose) will all be negatively affected.  Did you know that studies conducted on people who were clinically depressed showed that consistent exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft?  Not only that, but here’s the double whammy… Six months later, the people who participated in exercise were less likely to relapse because they had a higher sense of self-accomplishment and self-worth.

Jacob Sokol is committed to living an extraordinary life.  Today he released “Living on Purpose – An Uncommon Guide to Finding, Living, and Rocking Your Life’s Purpose.”  He also loves his mom dearly.

Posted on: Saturday, August 18th, 2012

Here are 15 simple suggestions for those who want to break free from the mold and truly live more of their life – to experience it and enjoy it to the fullest, instead of settling for a mere existence.

1. Appreciate the great people and things in your life. – Sometimes we don’t notice the things others do for us until they stop doing them.  Don’t be like that.  Be grateful for what you have, who loves you, and who cares for you.  You’ll never know how much they mean to you until the day they’re no longer beside you.  Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you.  Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it to live.  Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
2. Ignore other people’s negativity. – If you allow people to make more withdrawals than deposits in your life, you will be out of balance and in the negative before you know it.  Ignore unconstructive, hurtful commentary.  No one has the right to judge you.  They may have heard your stories, but they didn’t feel what you were going through.  You do not have control over what others say; but you do have control over whether or not you allow them to say these things to you.  You alone can deny their poisonous words from invading your heart and mind.
3. Forgive those who have hurt you. – I forgive people, but that doesn’t mean I trust them.  I just don’t have time to hate people who hurt me, because I’m too busy loving people who love me.  The first to apologize is the bravest.  The first to forgive is the strongest.  The first to move forward is the happiest.  Be brave.  Be strong.  Be happy.  Be free.
4. Be who you really are. – If you’re lucky enough to have something that makes you different from everybody else, don’t change.  Uniqueness ispriceless.  In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, find the courage to keep being your awesome self.  And when they laugh at you for being different, laugh back at them for being the same.  It takes a lot of courage to stand alone, but it’s worth it.  Being YOU is worth it!
5. Choose to listen to your inner voice. – Life is a courageous journey or nothing at all.  We cannot become who we want to be by continuing to do exactly what we’ve been doing.  Choose to listen to your inner voice, not the jumbled opinions of everyone else.  Do what you know in your heart is right for YOU.  It’s your road, and yours alone.  Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.  And be sure to appreciate every day of your life.  Good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience, and the worst days give you the best lessons.  Read Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No.
6. Embrace change and enjoy your life as it unfolds. – The hardest part about growing is letting go of what you were used to, and moving on with something you’re not.  Sometimes you have to stop worrying, wondering, and doubting, and have faith that things will work out.  Laugh at the confusion, live consciously in the moment, and enjoy your life as it unfolds.  You might not end up exactly where you intended to go, but eventually you will arrive precisely where you need to be.
7. Choose your relationships wisely. – The best relationships are not just about the good times you share, they’re also about the obstacles you go through together, and the fact that you still say “I love you” in the end.  And loving someone isn’t just about saying it every day, it’s showing it every day in every way.  Relationships must be chosen wisely.  Don’t rush love.  Wait until you truly find it.  Don’t let loneliness drive you back into the arms of someone you know you don’t belong with.  Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.  A great relationship is worth waiting for.
8. Recognize those who love you. – The most memorable people in your life will be the ones who loved you when you weren’t very loveable.  Pay attention to who these people are in your life, and love them back, even when they aren’t acting loveable.
9. Love yourself too. – If you can love children, in spite of the messes they make; your mother, in spite of her tendency to nag; your father, even though he’s too opinionated; your sibling, even though she’s always late; your friend, even though he often forgets to return what he borrows, then you know how to love imperfect people, and can surely love yourself.
10. Do things your future self will thank you for. – What you do every day matters more than what you do every once in a while.  What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.  Make sure it’s worthwhile.
11. Be thankful for all the troubles you don’t have. – There are two ways of being rich: One is to have all you want, the other is to be satisfied with what you have.  Accept and appreciate things now, and you’ll find more happiness in every moment you live.  Happiness comes when we stop complaining about the troubles we have and offer thanks for all the troubles we don’t have.  And remember, you have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life.  Read The How of Happiness.
12. Leave enough time for fun. – Sometimes you need to take a few steps back to see things clearly.  Never let your life become so filled with work, your mind become so crammed with worry, or your heart become so jammed with old hurts or anger, that there’s no room left in them for fun, for awe, or for joy.
13. Enjoy the little things in life. – The best things in life are free.  There is absolute joy and wonder to be had in the simplest of moments.  Watching the sunset over the horizon or spending time with a family member. Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things.
14. Accept the fact that the past in not today. – Don’t let the past steal your present and future from you.  You might not be proud of all the things you’ve done in the past, but that’s okay.  The past is not today.  The past cannot be changed, forgotten, or erased.  It can only be accepted.  We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past.  But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.
15. Let go when you must. – It’s not always about trying to fix something that’s broken.  Some relationships and situations just can’t be fixed.  If you try to force them back together, things will only get worse.  Sometimes it’s about starting over and creating something better.  Strength shows not only in the ability to persist, but in the ability to start over again with a smile on your face and passion in your heart.

Photo by: Toni Blay

Posted on: Friday, August 17th, 2012

Posted on: Thursday, August 16th, 2012

By: ERIN SOMERS
I ask you this most crucial question because marketing your practice is all about telling your story to the general public and to those all-important referring physicians. Is your current marketing effectively telling your story well enough to drive traffic through your front door?

Many physicians (and practice administrators) find the whole marketing process slightly perplexing, which is understandable. You went to school to learn how to heal, not how to advertise. But that does not mean you have no responsibility to understand how or where your hard-earned money should be utilized to expand your patient base.
As a professional who has successfully marketed everything from medical practices to imaging centers, let me share some insights with you.

First and foremost, this is not the time to not market. Many doctors have the knee-jerk reaction to cut their marketing budget when money is tight. If your current marketing is not working, do not drop it, change it!
Second, you must think “outside the box.” That old box blew up with the stock market in September of ’08. Accept the fact that those days are gone and move forward in a creative and effective new direction. How do you do that exactly?
Third, you need to find the right marketing professional who can help make smart choices in this new world economy. Someone who can assertively and uniquely showcase all that you do and what sets you apart from the rest. Always remember…you can have the best practice or medical facility in town, but if no one knows about it, it does not matter!

You have two ways to get patients in your door. You can advertise to potential patients through the general media or you can market your practice directly to the physicians who will be referring patients to you.

In my professional experience, the most effective way to increase your patient load is to have good, strong relationships with as many referring physicians as you can. Real estate is location, location, location. Marketing is relationships, relationships, relationships! If you and your competitor offer the exact same services, the referring office will always send to the physician with whom they have a relationship.

People in general tend to be “followers” and that is why it is so important to have referring physicians lead the patients to you! Do all these physicians know your full story and all that you offer? (i.e. board certified, locations, accepted insurances, etc.)
Besides enlightening these doctors to all your terrific services, you also must make it easy for them to refer to you. Convenience counts! We are a nation of convenience. We have drive-thru bank tellers, fast-food joints and a gas station on every corner. Additionally, many referring offices are now working with smaller staffs to reduce costs so their referral coordinator may be wearing several different hats. Referral coordinators no longer have the luxury of time when coordinating referrals to other doctors. Your information must literally be at their finger tips.

Do these referral “decision makers” know your full story? Are they up to date with all your latest offerings and is it easy to refer to you? The answers to these questions should be yes, yes and yes.

If not, we need to talk…seriously. If not me, find an experienced, effective marketer to tell your story, the whole story as it needs to be heard.

A good marketer will come free of charge to consult with you and learn about your practice and your needs. During your second meeting, the marketer should present a detailed marketing strategy. If the game plan meets your goals, hire them. If not, look for an alternative professional who can fulfill your needs for the practice. Do not hire a marketer without a detailed plan in place. Marketers have many varied talents and philosophies and some are more effective than others. A marketer who listens to your goals, understands your needs, enjoys working with your staff, and creates an effective and affordable plan to tell your story will soon become one of the most valued members of your team.

“So, what’s your story?”