Praestabilis - Marketing Excellence with Connie Ragen Green

Welcome to Episode 44 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing.

In Episode 44 the topic is “confidence and self-esteem” in your life and business.

I went through most of my life not believing in myself. When there was something I wanted to do I told myself that others could do it, but not me. Even when I did manage to accomplish a goal I played down my role in achieving it. That all changed when I came online in 2006. A world of possibilities opened up to me. When I was willing to do the work great success followed.

My confidence and self-esteem improved and now I believe I can do just about anything. I’ve allowed this belief to spill over into my private life as well. Whenever I feel like somebody else would be the one to step up, I remind myself that “somebody else” is me. This occurred most recently when they opened up a COVID 19 testing center in my community. When I discussed with my friends the possibility of volunteering at the hospital for this project they told me I should let somebody else do it because it might be risky. After checking out the situation completely and speaking with people I know at the hospital I came to the realization that “somebody else” could be me.

I want you to believe in yourself, to the point where you know that you can achieve all of your goals and dreams. This all begins with the self-realization and self-awareness that you want and need to change your thinking, beliefs, and actions.

If you begin with the precept that we are all just ordinary people, capable of achieving extraordinary goals then the next logical question is “What can you do today to move yourself closer to the life you desire?” I realize that answering this question may seem like an insurmountable task right now. You might even be thinking that if you knew what you do today, and each day to move closer to your goals you would already have arrived at the doorstep to success.

Take Inventory of Your Thoughts and Feelings

Writing or bullet journaling your thoughts and feelings daily helps you become self-aware. Doing this shows you how you react to situations. Journaling helps with connecting triggers of specific thoughts, feelings, and reactions to them. It can help you gain more insight into the problems you face daily and what you want to change. Every morning I write in my journal as a way of checking in with myself as to how I am feeling. I do this before going to bed as well. If there is anything bothering me I like to address it head on so I can move forward in a focused and positive way.

Try starting your journal with a prompt. It can be as simple as “Today, I am feeling….” or “Today…” Write down how your day is going. You can start writing events that happened and how you felt and thought about them. Try to ask questions that focus on your thoughts and feelings to situations.

Ways to Become More Self Aware

You can perform several exercises to become more self-aware. Exercises can include meditation, mindfulness, and journaling. There are also quizzes and games you may wish to participate in to build your awareness of yourself. One of the most popular quizzes for self-awareness is the Proust-Questionnaire. French essayist Marcel Proust invented the quiz. It started as a parlor game. It gained popularity to build insight into yourself among popular magazines and psychologists. Another exercise comes by participating in a new card game called Go Wish. I’ve purchased a dozen of these to gift to friends and family members because I believe it’s so powerful.

Self-awareness and self-realization help to take us to a higher level in our lives. Reading and working with mentors has made a difference for me and now I look for every opportunity to enhance my life experiences in this way.

Welcome to Episode 43 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing.

In Episode 43 the topic is “taking the next logical step” in your life and business.

I continue to believe that everything we do in our lives is in preparation for something that will come in the future. There are dozens of examples of how this has manifested in my own life and in the lives of people around me and I will share a few with you here. But first let’s examine what it means to always be taking the next logical step in your life experience.

This concept was first introduced to me by an early mentor named Armand Morin. He is a logical thinker and attempted to turn his mentees into successful entrepreneurs by having us think a few steps ahead in our businesses. Instead of creating a product he encouraged us to create a “product line” and instead of planning a live or virtual event he preferred that we create a program that included ongoing events. After working with Armand my thinking shifted and my goals got bigger. This was the next logical step for me at that time.

If you begin with the precept that we are all just ordinary people, capable of achieving extraordinary goals then the next logical question is “What can you do today to move yourself closer to the life you desire?” I realize that answering this question may seem like an insurmountable task right now. You might even be thinking that if you knew what you do today, and each day to move closer to your goals you would already have arrived at the doorstep to success.

If only it were that easy! Taking the next logical step is simple, but our sophisticated minds take us on a journey that complicates the simple and makes it anything but easy. Let’s explore how to simplify our thinking and take it one step at a time…

Years ago I was in a graduate course on educational psychology. The first day we were given the assignment to describe to the rest of the students how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We were to bring in the necessary items and instruct someone on how to achieve this goal. I was sure I’d be able to ace this because of my years of experience with making sandwiches of all kinds. Without thinking about it very much I packed a plate, butter knife, jars of my favorite peanut butter and jelly, several slices of bread, and some paper towels into a bag. When I arrived at my classroom I saw that the other students had done the same, with some variations such as napkins instead of paper towels and different types of utensils for spreading the two ingredients on the bread.

The first person was called upon and came to the front of the room. The professor asked him to choose another student as an assistant. He was then to give the instructions to the helper, who would then make the sandwich by following the exact steps he offered up.

This became a comedy of errors as he called out what to do next. Because making a sandwich is second nature to almost everyone we tend to leave out some important steps, such as taking the bread out of the bag, opening the jars of peanut butter and jelly, and most hilarious of all, only slathering them on one side of each piece of bread. And just the idea of following a step by step set of instructions eliminated the creativity and took the fun out of this activity for many of the students.

So how then do we formulate our own logical steps for getting from where we are right now to closer to where we wish to be? I will share an example based upon my experience as a new online entrepreneur in 2006. I could soon see it would be “sink or swim” and I was determined to achieve success and build a profitable and lucrative business on the internet.

Looking back to this time, I’m not sure how I thought I was going to make a living online. But what I lacked in experience I more than made up for with my enthusiasm. Sitting in front of my computer I attempted to figure it out all on my own.

Welcome to Episode 42 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing.

In Episode 42 the topic is around my belief that everyone should know how to write, publish, and market their own eBook. This is some of the information I share…

Why Everyone Should Know How to Write an eBook

Being an entrepreneur means wearing many hats, including author, publisher, marketer, product creator, copywriter, mentor, and more. As I move into my fifteenth year online I now see that writing and publishing an eBook on a topic I knew well within three months of starting my business on the internet was the wisest step I could have taken at that time. I firmly believe that everyone should know how to write an eBook to build an online business based on your current level of knowledge and expertise. This will also bring in some income and get you in the habit of creating something once and selling it over and over again.

When I started my online business in the spring of 2006 I was coming from twenty years as a classroom teacher and over twenty years as a real estate broker and residential appraiser. The writing and the technology were a struggle for me and I wasn’t sure how I was going to earn income with my new endeavor. Believing that everything would work itself out (I’m a positive thinker and believer) the solution came more quickly than I imagined and from an unexpected source.

My new neighbor, Lori, came to my door in tears one morning. When I let her in and we sat down to talk she told that her husband had said she had to get a real job because she wasn’t earning enough in real estate. His suggestion was for her to apply at J.C. Penney in the local mall and as she shared that her tears turned into a full sob.

“I don’t want to work at Penney’s. That would be just…awful!”

I gave her a hug and told her she didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want to do. Then I asked her if she was “farming” a neighborhood in our community. Farming refers to the process of choosing a geographic area of homes with the intention of connecting with the residents to let them know you can help them with their real estate needs. I had done this quite successfully over the years and finally had three farms I worked in on a regular basis. My question brought more tears and wet sobs.

“I don’t want to knock on doors every Saturday.”

“Every Saturday? You only need to go into your farm four times a year. I can show you how to do it.”

I believe Lori was more excited at the thought of not having to work at J.C. Penney (a wonderful store, in my opinion) than she was at the prospect of having me teach her what had worked well for me with farming over the previous two decades. But we had made a deal and I welcomed this opportunity to share knowledge and expertise I had garnered over the years with someone who desperately needed this information.

How to Write an eBook – Start With an Outline

Before my friend had walked back to her house I was already in my home office mapping out an outline on my mini legal pad. I wrote down what I would include in the information I was about to prepare for her, as well as what I would omit. I made two columns and wrote in my own shorthand to sort out what was of the utmost importance and what could be left out. Then I went to the computer and opened up a new Word document.

Remember that I was new to the world of online business and that in 2006 eBooks were a fairly new concept. But somehow I knew that from the five pages I wrote on that day something much bigger would evolve. Over the next several weeks my document doubled in size as I thought of more pertinent details to include. I even made a schedule and doodled a crude drawing of what I wanted to put into words.

At some point I turned one portion of my writing into an article and published it on two of the articles directories we used at that time. Both sites bounced my article back to me because of the titl...

Welcome to Episode 41 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing.

In Episode 41 the question is “What do you do when life throws obstacles in your path? Here are some things we are dealing with in the world right now…

* Today is September 11th and we are remembering those we lost and the families that have been affected forever by the event of this day in 2001

* We have made it six months, so far with the COVID-19 virus. Living through a pandemic was not something anyone could have anticipated at the beginning of 2020

* Climate change continues to wreak havoc with Mother Nature in the form of wildfires, hurricanes, and more

* It’s an election year and never during our adult lives has the country been more divided. This affects the whole world in one way or another

We must stay strong and be people with true grit. Here are some ways I am staying positive and focusing on serving others during this challenging time…

* Volunteering in my neighborhood and the community

* Taking care of my health with exercise and healthy eating

* Watching as many baseball games as possible!

* Spending time engaged with friends and family members in new and creative ways

* Starting a Book Club on Amazon

Thank you for this opportunity to serve you as I share my beliefs, perceptions, and experiences as an author, online entrepreneur, and marketing strategist with you. Marketing has become the joy of my life as I continue to learn, grow, and share concepts with others.

I’m author, publisher, and entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and would love to connect with you. If you’re new to the world of online entrepreneurship please check out my training on how to syndicate your content for exponential growth, visibility, and credibility with Syndication Optimization.

 

Welcome to Episode 40 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing.

In Episode 40 the topic is around creating an information product by using private label rights (PLR) content as a starting point. The example I use is the high quality, professionally written and created PLR from Sharyn Sheldon. Using two of her rebrandable content packages as a starting point I move on by…

* First, I choose the package(s) I wish to use to create my new information product.

* Next, I read every word of what is included in the package at least twice, so I will become familiar with the topic.

* Then I take a look at the original sales page for the package or packages I will be using for this info product to get some ideas for what I will include on my sales page.

Once I have completed these initial steps I am ready to move forward. I purchase a .com domain that describes what the product is about. A recent product I created in this way is called “Really Simple SEO Tips.”

I also contact the person who will be doing the technology set up for the new site and product so they can add me to their schedule to get everything completed over the next few weeks. They will install the new WordPress site, create an attractive header for the page, add the membership site plugin I use for all of my products, add the payment button and link, set up the product for affiliates, and test everything out to make sure it is working.

The most important work I will do is to go through the content and make it my own as much as possible. This does not mean that I will rewrite it, but I do like to interject my thoughts, ideas, and experiences wherever possible. I hope you will take action with this income model and strategy, and please let me know where I may find your next information product! Be sure to take a look at Sharyn Sheldon’s most recent offering to get started right away.

Thank you for this opportunity to serve you as I share my beliefs, perceptions, and experiences as an author, online entrepreneur, and marketing strategist with you. Marketing has become the joy of my life as I continue to learn, grow, and share concepts with others.

I’m author, publisher, and entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and would love to connect with you. If you’re new to the world of online entrepreneurship please check out my training on how to syndicate your content for exponential growth, visibility, and credibility with Syndication Optimization.

 

Welcome to Episode 39 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing.

In Episode 39 I challenge you to accept the mission of staying focused and productive during the worldwide pandemic. Some of the activities I’m actively engaged in every day include…

* Walking for an hour and interacting with people I encounter

* Watching and/or listening to the Yankees in the 2020 Major League Baseball season

* Connecting with people on Zoom calls, either individually or as a part of a group or organization

* Supporting others in any way I can help to serve their needs

* Using the concept of “Project Based Learning” in my work

By business is thriving and I am currently writing a new book, the second one I have co-authored with Ellen Finkelstein. I’m also adding a third season that will be taught live for Really Simple Authority Blogging that begins next week. My information product on the topic of “entropy” is one I have gone back to and will complete by the end of this summer.

What are you accomplishing during this time? Are you taking the time and making the effort to stay in touch with people? This can be done by socializing and networking, both in person at a safe distance and over the phone or by email, or even with a handwritten letter or card sent by snail mail!

Thank you for this opportunity to serve you as I share my beliefs, perceptions, and experiences as an author, online entrepreneur, and marketing strategist with you. Marketing has become the joy of my life as I continue to learn, grow, and share concepts with others.

I’m author, publisher, and entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and would love to connect with you. If you’re new to the world of online entrepreneurship please check out my training on how to syndicate your content for exponential growth, visibility, and credibility with Syndication Optimization.

 

Welcome to Episode 38 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing.

Episode 38 is all about productivity and time management and how mastering this area of your life is all important in the bigger scheme of life and business success. The concepts I share include…

* Managing your to-do list and using a dynamic list every day

* Measuring your results instead of your time

* Building on and then tracking your habits to increase your productivity

* The value of “sharpening your saw”

* Scheduling when you will stop working each day

During this podcast I also mention the bestselling book I co-authored on this topic, “Time Management Strategies for Entrepreneurs: How to Manage Your Time to Increase Your Bottom Line”

Thank you for this opportunity to serve you as I share my beliefs, perceptions, and experiences as an author, online entrepreneur, and marketing strategist with you. Marketing has become the joy of my life as I continue to learn, grow, and share concepts with others.

I’m author, publisher, and entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and would love to connect with you. If you’re new to the world of online entrepreneurship please check out my training on how to syndicate your content for exponential growth, visibility, and credibility with Syndication Optimization.

 

Welcome to Episode 37 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing.

Episode 37 asks the all important question, “In the story of your life, will you be the star?” We are living through and attempting to thrive during a pandemic of unprecedented proportions. How we act and react during this period of time will make all the difference as to how we will be able to carry on once this is over. In this episode I ask you, the listener to answer a series of questions thoughtfully and honestly. These include…

* What do you want to have accomplished during the pandemic?

* What story or stories will you be able to tell now, during, and after it is over?

* What will you be most proud of?

* What will you wish you had done more of, less of, or or not at all?

* What must happen to make you look back over this period of time to be able to say it was the best year (or longer) of your life?!

During this podcast I share stories and examples that may be of interest and relevant to you as you probe your mind  to think and to explore ideas around these topics.

Thank you for this opportunity to serve you as I share my beliefs, perceptions, and experiences as an author, online entrepreneur, and marketing strategist with you. Marketing has become the joy of my life as I continue to learn, grow, and share concepts with others.

I’m author, publisher, and entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and would love to connect with you. If you’re new to the world of online entrepreneurship please check out my training on how to syndicate your content for exponential growth, visibility, and credibility with Syndication Optimization.

 

Welcome to Episode 36 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing.

Episode 36 is an experiment in how I may record and produce my produce my podcast shows in the future. For years I have regularly hosted a teleseminar I call “Ask Connie Anything” where I answer questions, provide resources, and offer training in my areas of expertise. I used this format for Episode 36 and you can be the judge of whether or not this is a style that is preferable for you.

These are some of the topics I covered during this podcast episode:

* How to find out which keywords you must be optimizing for to reach your target audience

* The best free resources for help with your keyword research

* Using Google to get the answers to all of your questions

* The importance of time management and consistency in every area of your life

Thank you for this opportunity to serve you as I share my beliefs, perceptions, and experiences as an author, online entrepreneur, and marketing strategist with you. Marketing has become the joy of my life as I continue to learn, grow, and share concepts with others.

I’m author, publisher, and entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and would love to connect with you. If you’re new to the world of online entrepreneurship please check out my training on how to syndicate your content for exponential growth, visibility, and credibility with Syndication Optimization.

 

Welcome to Episode 35 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing.

Episode 35 is all about enjoying massive visibility during 2020 and beyond. With live and other in person events on pause right now, this is the time to reset your marketing strategies to make the most of what is, and has always been available to us as entrepreneurs, marketers, authors, and speakers.

These are the methods I discuss in great detail during this podcast episode:

* Reaching out to colleagues and others you know within your “circles of influence” to plan ways you may support each other

* Going “BIG” on social media for an exponentially wider and broader reach to your target market

* Emailing more often to better stay in touch with friends, thoughts leaders, prospects, and clients

* Picking up the phone, or using Zoom or Skype to hold one-to-one conversations

* Creating a new product, course, or program

* Blogging regularly and syndicating your content

* Hosting a challenge – I started the Blogging Challenge in 2009 and these have really taken off through the years

* Teaching something you know and take for granted

* Recording short (less than five minutes in length) videos to connect with your audience on a deeper level

Thank you for this opportunity to serve you as I share my beliefs, perceptions, and experiences as an author, online entrepreneur, and marketing strategist with you. Marketing has become the joy of my life as I continue to learn, grow, and share concepts with others.

I’m author, publisher, and entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and would love to connect with you. If you’re new to the world of online entrepreneurship please check out my training on how to syndicate your content for exponential growth, visibility, and credibility with Syndication Optimization.