Service as a Leadership Model

Service as a Leadership Model for Entrepreneurs

Have you ever considered using service as a leadership model in your business? As an entrepreneur, you will gain both tangible and intangible benefits when you use service as a leadership model.

In this episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series Dexter and I discuss the importance of serving and engaging with your community.

1. Define Your Community

You decide how to define your community. Your community can be the customers, clients, and colleagues that you associate with online. Or your community can be the people and organizations in your physical world. Perhaps you are an active participant in both dimensions, online and off.

However, you define your community, Dexter and I encourage you to use service as a leadership model. It is important to your growth as an entrepreneur and a citizen of the world to be of service. Using service as a leadership model is also a wonderful way to network and be known in your community.

Robert Greenleaf is known as the "grandfather of the modern empowerment movement in business leadership." He is best known for his writings and lectures on servant leadership. I recommend that you read a compilation of his writings, On Becoming a Servant-Leader.

2. Service by Giving Your Time

One important aspect of servant leadership is volunteering your time. I understand that you are busy running your business. However, it is important to take a moment to look around and see the problems. Then think about how you can help.

As an entrepreneur you have very valuable skills that organizations can use. Your ability to set and accomplish goals, organize tasks, or make a presentation could be invaluable to your community.

I am not suggesting that you start a non-profit. I am simply suggesting that you volunteer a few hours a month. I recommend that you find a cause that is dear to your heart and volunteer a few hours of your time.

During the holiday session, I had the opportunity, as part of the Woodbridge Rotary Club project, to serve a meal and gift gifts at the local Boys and Girl’s Club. It brought joy to my heart to see the pleasure in the eyes of the children. They enjoyed their taco dinner, gifts, and a visit from Santa.

Service as a Leadership Model

Service by Giving Your Money

Another aspect of servant leadership is giving your money to worthy causes. There are thousands of philanthropic and cause-based organizations who can make a positive impact when your money is combined with that of other like-minded individuals.

Although you do not give with the expectation of receiving anything in return. You will often find that when you give with a loving heart that your gift is returned in many tangible and intangible ways. The goodwill that you generate is incalculable. The smile from a student that is helped by your donation can be breathtaking.

Also, you become known by your business colleagues as a person of caring and commitment. Those connections with other like-minded people could lead to better relationships and more business opportunities for you.

Conclusion

Entrepreneurs benefit their communities and themselves when they use service as a leadership model. The benefits to the community and to you are both tangible and intangible. We encourage you to actively engage with your community and commit to a model of service as leadership.

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How to Quickly Write a Business Book in 10 Weeks

How to Quickly Write a Business Book in 10 Weeks

Are you ready to learn how to write a business book? You have heard that being a published author is a great way to brand yourself. But you wonder how you could possibly accomplish such a huge task.

Dexter and I have written two books and are writing a third. Let us show you the blueprint that we follow. Listen to the discussion on the podcast as we share the first step in the process.

If you follow along with this podcast series, your book will be ready for publication in 10 weeks.

The first step in this streamlined book writing process is to find a laser-focused topic. Yes, you know a lot about your business. You are the expert. But, you need to decide which aspect of your business will be the topic for your book.

For example, if you are in the weight loss business, you could right about "how to lose weight." However, that topic is too broad. A better topic would be "how to lose 10% of your body weight in 30 days." This topic is much narrower and more focused.

To help you find a topic you should do some limited research. Do not spend a lot of time on research. Look at bookstores to find out what is selling in your niche. Check out the best-sellers on Amazon. Go to your local library. Find out what your targeted community is interested in learning. What kinds of questions are they asking. Be sure to include your unique position on the topic.

Listen to the podcast as we share with you how to get started with writing a business book in 10 weeks!

At My Biz Dream Team, we show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Podcasting Power Playbook, to help you increase your visibility, credibility, and authority status. Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.

Pamela Montgomery

I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, online marketing strategist, and speaker, providing you results-oriented strategies that help you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!

 

Inject Energy, Humor, and Personality into Your Presentation

You Need to Inject Energy, Humor, and Personality into Your Presentation

The number one rule of speech making: do not bore your audience. Therefore, you need to inject energy, humor, and personality into your presentation.

Unfortunately, it is easy to bore your audience when you are feeling anxious or when you are new to speaking. Sometimes you are concentrating so hard on making sure you do not forget your next point that you wind up sounding like a toy robot running low on batteries.

If you want to keep your audience interested and engaged, you must inject energy, personality and humor into your talk.

Now you might be thinking that public speaking is not really your biggest strength. Do you think that you cannot possibly get up on stage, remember your presentation, and give it with great energy!

But you would be wrong. You can be funny and energetic. You do not need to become a comedian. But you can bring some zest and vigor to your talk. Just think, you might find you even enjoy it.

Here are three ways to inject energy, humor, and personality into your presentation.

1. Start with Practice and Preparation.

You must know your speech inside and out. Only when you know your speech inside and out can you be more comfortable improvising and making those off-the-cuff remarks and points that can take your audience by surprise. Those off-the-cuff remarks are the moments that will bring the laughs.

In addition, a smart way to practice is to record your presentation. When you record your practice session, then you will be able to watch yourself. This is a must do for all great speakers. Watching a recording of yourself helps you to identify problem areas and spots where you could use a bit more sparkle.

2. Improve your mood.

Watch funny television shows instead of crime dramas. Visit the local comedy club. Smile more. Get more exercise. Ask a few questions of the audience right from the beginning of your talk.

Not only will your overall mood improve, but you will bring that extra energy and happiness to all your presentations.

3. Start off on the right foot.

Before your each presentation, do not hole yourself in your hotel room going over your speech one more time. Instead, go for a brief walk or do a few jumping jacks just before you go down to the meeting room.

 I also like to interact with the audience before my presentations. I can gauge their interest. I can find out their most pressing concerns. Then when I get on stage I can interject points from my conversations with them into my presentation. It has been my experience that audience members like being referred to. Walking around the room and introducing yourself to the audience members shows your confidence and command of the subject.  It also humanizes you!

Are you still not feeling like you can give your presentation that burst of energy that will make it more memorable? Consider joining Toastmasters or another local club focused on presentation.

Here is one last point.  The best way to put some personality into your presentation is simply to have one. Remember, do not walk on the stage acting like a business owner. Go out there and be you. No one can tell your story like you can. The audience is there because they want to hear from you, so give them what they want. Let your personality shine!

I got wonderful experience learning how to think on my feet as a trial and appellate court litigator. Answering questions from a judge trying to poke holes in your case quickly teaches you the importance of preparation and knowing how to respond ...

 

Content Repurposing for Entrepreneurs

The Three Insider Secrets to Content Repurposing for Entrepreneurs

If you have been in business for more than a few months, then you have content that you can repurpose. Look at the blog posts that you have already written. Also consider the emails that you have sent and your social media posts. The content that you have already created, plus the done-for-you content that you have bought can be repurposed for the benefit of your community. In today's episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series I will share with three of my insider secrets for content repurposing for entrepreneurs.

1. Find and Evaluate Your Available Content

This morning I spent about an hour searching for content on the topic of writing a non-fiction book. I had much more than I realized. There were several blog posts, emails, social media posts, and a few videos. I organized it into a folder and will come back to it later.

Now it is time for you to do the same thing. Go through your computer files, emails, videos, social media posts, images you have the right to use, and private label rights materials to see what is available. You may find more than you thought.

Then evaluate this material against the needs of your ideal client. How can this material help your ideal client deal with the pain she is feeling? How does your ideal client like to receive information? Remember, all your content must be focused on addressing the needs of your ideal client.

2. Change the Format of Your Content

Often when I talk to my clients about content repurposing for entrepreneurs, they immediately think about rewriting material. But I stop them and ask them to instead think about using the same content in a different format.

For example, you could take a blog post and turn it into a video. Or you could take that blog post and turn it into a e-course that you share with your mailing list. Perhaps you can take an email and turn it into a blog post. That is one of my favorite strategies.

Sometimes we send some of our best information to the people on our email lists. We should also consider sharing that information with the audience that reads our blogs. Think about the ways you can systematically begin to change a piece of content into another format that may better meet the needs of your ideal client.

For more information on creating your content strategy check out this blog post: Content Strategy-Your Goals and Plans

Content Repurposing for Entrepreneurs

3. Use Your Content for Multiple Purposes

As I was looking through my pieces of content on writing a non-fiction book this morning, I came across a checklist that I had working on but had not finished. My original idea for the checklist was to send it to my email list. It occurred to me that the checklist could also be used as a blog post, a resource for my affiliates, and perhaps a bonus for one of my paid courses. I need to finish it. Then I can use the checklist for multiple purposes. I call this content repurposing on steroids!

Perhaps you are like me and have content that was originally intended for one purpose. But with strategic creativity, you can use the content for multiple purposes. Perhaps a video that you created can be part of a paid course, or a webinar, or a bonus to one of your products.

Remember to consider how your ideal client likes to learn. A visual learner may like images and graphics. An auditory learner may like to listen to podcasts and audio files.

 

3 Steps to a Stress-free Business Launch

3 Steps to a Stress-Free Business Launch

Dexter and I had a fun today discussing the 3 steps to a stress-free business launch. It is a topic that we love to discuss with budding entrepreneurs. Therefore, if you are thinking about quitting your 9-5 job and leaving that bad boss behind, listen to this episode of My Biz Dream Team Opportunity Wednesday Training Series before you break out of those of chains.

 You will quickly realize that the issues that we discuss in this podcast episode are not about business.

Instead, we are talking about life. We are discussing how you need to order your life before and after you make that leap into the world of entrepreneurship.

Realize that everyone is not going to be happy with your decision to leave your 9-5 job behind. There will be people who are jealous, because they wish they had the guts to break out from the mundane job they have.

There will be others who think that you are a fool for giving up the security of a regular pay check.  They will be looking at you. Perhaps wishing that you fail. That is the reality of life.

You will be joining the more than 500,000 small businesses that are started each month. By tuning into our podcast, you find valuable information that will help you become one the successful new business owners. For more information on planning and launching your new business check out the business guides at the Small Business Administration.

Now, you are ready to take a moment to consider the 3 steps to a stress-free business launch!

3 Steps to a Stress-free Business Launch

1. Build-up Your Financial Reserves

If you want a stress-free business launch, then make sure you have financial reserves before you resign. You will probably want emergency reserves for your business and your personal life. As you launch your business, you do not want to be worrying about how you are going to pay your bills. You will have enough on your mind without the additional stress of worrying about whether you can afford to pay the mortgage and buy groceries.

2. Gain Family Support

The second step for a stress-free business launch is to make sure that your family supports this decision. Dexter and I have known entrepreneurs who did not have spousal support.  It is not a good situation. The lack of support can range from no interest in the endeavor to hostility to the endeavor. Neither situation is good.  Therefore, we recommend that before you resign that you discuss your plans with your family. Let them know of your dream for your business and your life. Hopefully they will buy into your vision and give you the support that you will need.

3. Take Time for Yourself

The third step for a stress-free business launch is to take time for yourself to reflect on this new phase of your life. Once you have decided to break out the chains of your 9-5 job and launch your business, be sure to schedule time for yourself.

Yes, you are excited about your new business!  But you cannot work all the time. Make sure to schedule time for a walk or a work out. Take a few days off.

You do not want to work all day long. Click here to read: Finding Time for Yourself: "Me" Time

Remember that you are building a business, not a job!  At some point you will want to add team members who can help you reach the business and financial goals that you have set.

 

Create a Meaningful Brand for Your Business

How to Create a Meaningful Brand for Your Business

In this episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series we explore more deeply how to create a meaningful brand for your business. Remember that your brand creates the foundation for the relationship that you will build with your clients. As an entrepreneur, consultant, speaker, or author you want your brand to represent the value that you offer and the promises that you will keep.

1. Three Key Questions to Answer to Create a Meaningful Brand for Your Business

We begin this episode by sharing with you three key questions that you need to consider that will help you to create a meaningful brand for your business. We call this concept of creating a meaningful business brand, “personal branding for entrepreneurs” because you are the personal representative for your business.

The three key questions to ask and answer are:

(1) What does your business do and how do you do it better than anyone else?

(2) What images and words do you want your audience to think about when they hear your name?

(3) What are the advantages and benefits of doing business with you?

Take time to carefully consider these questions. Write down your answers in a notebook. These questions and answers are essential to helping you create a meaningful brand for your business.

2. The Importance of Telling Meaningful Stories

The next part of the podcast discusses the importance of telling stories. Telling meaningful stories is fundamental to help you create a meaningful brand for your business. Remember that your clients and potential clients relate much easier to stories rather than facts and data.

If you want your story to be meaningful make sure that it is: relevant, timely, and motivating!

For more information on branding check out:

The "ABCs" of Branding

Be Different: Increase Your Perceived Value

Conclusion/Call to Action

Listen in to this episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series as we help you learn how to create a meaningful brand for your business. Tune in next time to My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series as we continue our discussion of personal branding for entrepreneurs!

You can download our Free Focus Guide on Personal Branding for Entrepreneurs by going to our website: http://mybizdreamteam.com

At My Biz Dream Team, we show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Podcasting Power Playbook, to help you increase your visibility, credibility, and authority status. Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.

Pamela Montgomery

I am

Unlocking the Door to Personal Branding for Entrepreneurs

Unlocking the Door to Personal Branding for Entrepreneurs

Wouldn’t you love to learn the secrets to unlocking the door to personal branding for entrepreneurs? Branding seems shrouded in mystery and intrigue. You know that big companies have brands. You see them all the time in ads on television, social media, and magazines. But, what you may not realize is that your small company can be branded also. We will help you learn the secrets to unlocking the door to personal branding for entrepreneurs.

This episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series is the first part of a series on “Personal Branding for Entrepreneurs.”  In this episode we answer the follow questions for you:

* What is Branding?

* Why is branding important for your business?

* How to determine your brand?

1. What is branding?

You have probably heard that you should brand your business. But, maybe you are not sure about what that means.

Some people believe that a logo is all you need to brand a business. While a logo plays a role in your brand, it is not your brand. A logo is merely a visual representation of your brand. Just like a map is not the world, merely a visual representation of the world.

So, if your logo is not your brand. What is branding?

Branding has been defined as the process of creating a unique name, message and image in the consumer’s mind. The goal of branding is to differentiate yourself from others in the market. You want to use your brand to both attract and retain clients.

As you can tell, branding is not a simple task.

2. Why is branding important for your business?

Your brand is communicated through every single action your business takes. It is an essential element of your marketing success.

For more information on this topic see the following blog posts:

The ABC's of Branding

3 Secret Branding Tips for Successful Entrepreneurs

3. How to Determine your Brand

Ultimately your brand is a combination of what people think of when they envision your business and the message that you want to convey. Think about the benefits and advantages to using your goods and services. Then ask yourself the following the questions:

What do people say about my business?

What do I want people to say about my business?

Once you can honestly answer these questions, then you can begin to create a solid brand and change your image in the minds of your prospects and clients.

Conclusion/Call to Action

Listen in to this episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series as we help you learn the secrets to unlocking the door to personal branding for entrepreneurs.

At My Biz Dream Team, we show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Podcasting Power Playbook, to help you increase your visibility, credibility, and authority status.  Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.

3 Tips for Building a Solid Business Foundation

3 Tips for Building a Solid Business Foundation

Have you ever wondered why some business owners seem to have it all together? They are always on-time. The products and services are meticulously presented. Everything is under control! Have they found the secret for building a solid business foundation?

In contrast, other business owners can not seem to get out of the door with a matching pair of shoes. They are always harried and frantic.

You may be wondering, what makes one so professional and the other one such an amateur.

Do you want to know the secret?

I bet that you do!

Well, the difference between the two is that the professional business owner understands the beauty of systems. Yes, the secret for building a solid business foundation is creating systems for your business.

The frantic business owner re-invents the wheel every day.

Can you imagine what your life and business would look like if you figured out the best, most efficient way to get things done?  What if you created systems for your business? How would your life and business improve?

This episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series is about how you can strategically create systems for your business.

Listen in to find out about establishing systems for your business that will help you build a solid foundation for your business

1. Building a Solid Business Foundation with Systems

To truly build a solid business foundation you need to determine the systems that you need for your business. To do this, first make a list of every task and function that will be part of your business. Then determine whether the function or task can be

* Automated,

* Out-sourced, or

* Done by you.

My advice is not to do tasks or functions that will not benefit from your personal involvement. For example, if you are not a graphic designer, do not create the designs for your business. Out-source the project.  There are several expert graphic designers who will do a better job than you.

Only do those things that will build your reputation more quickly.

My motto: Do what you do best; Delegate the rest!

Click here to read my article: A Powerful Approach for a Practical Business Start-up

Get Started Quickly with Email Marketing

2. Automate Your Email List System

I found out early in my business that I needed a system to capture and organize the names and email addresses of people interested in what I had to offer. These were people who bought my products or were intrigued by my free offers. It is much easier to have my clients and potential clients to opt-in to an automated email list than trying to keep track by hand.

Click here to read my article: How to Get Started Quickly with Email Marketing

3. Automate Your Content Management System

I am calling your website, your content management system.  The best option around is WordPress. Your content is easily accessible and manageable. In addition, there are numerous plug-ins made especially for WordPress that can customize your site for you.

Click here to listen to my podcast: Top ...

 

How to Start an Amazing Blog

How to Start an Amazing Blog: 3 Quick Tips

Are you stuck trying to figure out how to start a blog? What if you could learn 3 quick tips about how to start an amazing blog?

If that is what you want, then read this blog post and listen to this episode of My Biz Dream Team Opportunity Wednesday Training Series.

However, before I jump in to tell you how to start an amazing blog, I want to give you some basic information.

First what is a blog?

A blog is generally defined as a web journal. You are writing about a topic of great interest to you and others. A blog allows you to share your ideas about a specific topic with a targeted audience. For more information about the history and evolution of blogs, check out this article in lifewire.com

Second, why should you have a blog?

If you are an entrepreneur, you may want to start a blog because the other entrepreneurs in your niche have a blog. But, is that a good enough reason?

Before you jump into that big pond of bloggers, stop and think a minute.

What is your why?

Do you have a real passion for the topic?

If you have the passion, do you time to regularly blog?

If you have the passion and the time to regularly blog, then start writing!

Now you want to know, “What do I write about?”

Well you probably have thousands of ideas about the topic you are passionate about. But have stopped a minute to eliminate some of your creative mental chaos?

*

Think Strategically

Take those thousands of ideas and write them all down. Yes, you heard me. Brain dump your ideas!

Now begin to categorize and organize your creative ideas.

Next conduct some research on the leaders in your niche. What are the most popular topics on their blogs? What topics receive the most comments and social media shares?

 

*

Write Strategically

Grab the Attention of Your Targeted Audience!

After you have strategically organized and categorized your ideas for your blog, begin to focus on writing eye-catching headlines.

In writing strategically, make sure that your headlines are specific and offer a result.

For inspiration, visit the blogs of leaders in your niche. Study the headlines and the writing style of the posts.  See what is getting the attention of their readers.

*

Repurpose Your Content

Remember you do not need to stay in constant creation mode. You can repurpose your content.

Once you have been blogging for a few months, go through your posts, and revamp them. Give them a rebirth with a new voice.

For more information on repurposing your content, read, Repurpose Your Content: 3 Quick and Effective Strategies

Also see:  Write, Speak, Broadcast: 3 Strategies for Business Success

Developing Your Content Plan

Conclusion/Call to Action

If you want to know how to start an amazing blog...

 

Quickly Start Blogging Today

How to Quickly Start Blogging Today

Do you want to quickly start blogging today about your fantastic solution to solve that pressing problem for your target audience? Yes, I understand your enthusiasm. I felt the same way.

You have a million ideas that you want to share with the world. But, you wonder, “How do I get started.”

If that is your question, then this post is for you!

Today’s blog post, is about channeling all that energy and enthusiasm into The Quick Start Blogging System that allows you to quickly start blogging today.

Step 1 Decide on the format of your blog

Will you use audio, video, or writing to produce your blog? Most bloggers use a written format. However, that does not mean that you must follow the lead of other bloggers.

Several points favor written blogs. First written blogs are familiar and popular.

Second, a written blog is best for search engine optimization.

Third, a written blog is great for an audience who wants to read content.

Some bloggers combine formats on their blog. When you combine different formats, you can reach a broader audience who likes to receive information in a variety of ways.

Do not spend too much time on this issue. Pick one format. You can add another format later.

Read more to find out How to Quickly Start an Awesome Blog

Step 2 Develop an Action Plan

If you want to quickly start blogging today, you must immediately write down when you plan to create the blog content. Do not keep this schedule in your head. It is imperative that you write it down. Otherwise, it is not a plan!

Creating content for your blog is the key to long-term blogging success.

If you are still working a job, you must carve out time for content creation. Otherwise, the idea to quickly start blogging today remains a dream.

Read more to find out How to Quickly Create an Action Plan for Your Awesome Blog

Step 3 Get a Quick Understanding of SEO

This blog post is not about teaching you SEO (search engine optimization. However, you do need to understand a few concepts before you can quickly start blogging today.

Understanding these three concepts will save you from spending money on advertising.

You need a quick understanding of: categories, keywords, and tags.

1. Categories on your blog, are like the table of contents in a book. These are the broad topics that you will cover.

2. Keywords are specific words that use in your blog to position your content high in the search rankings.

3. Tags are used like an index that you find in the back of a book. A tag is usually a narrow topic.

You can always add more categories, keywords, and tags later. It is important that you quickly start blogging today.

Do not spend too much time planning, start blogging today!

Read more to find 12 Sources for Great Blog Content Ideas.

Also, checkout, Blog Checklist:15 Ideas for Your Next Blog Post

and Josh Morrow's seminal article How to Start a Blog in 2018....