Thank you for joining me for day two on our 35 day journey! Before we jump into our topic for today, I want to share a humbling and empowering experience with you. After completing the post from yesterday I followed the same traffic formula I teach my clients and distributed my post through my social network and web platform, when I returned to my computer after dinner I discovered the following Twitter message from Yanik Silver the creator of “Maverick Business Insiders”

“Pretty cool watch @AskJamesHolmes ‘live’ the 34 Maverick rules day-by-day http://budurl.com/vben”

Obviously this message made my night and it was very affirming. I wanted to publicly thank Yanik Silver for taking the time to acknowledge my commitment to teaching the “34 Rules for Maverick Entrepreneurs,” and his simple act demonstrated his authenticity by practicing Maverick Rule #17 – we will get to that rule in a couple of weeks.

Maverick Entrepreneur Rule #2:

“Strive to create 10 times to 100 times in value for any price you charge. Your rewards are always proportionate to the value you provide.”

Today we will explore a rule associated with a natural law in business that when followed can create significant business growth and substantial wealth as it relates directly to your financial results. If you consistently apply the law that states “your compensation is tied directly to the value you provide” you will be greatly rewarded.

Several years ago I was actively building a mortgage banking business and decided I wanted to serve the mid and high end market in Denver, Colorado. I knew that in many ways my clients would be more demanding, however, with their demands came an understanding that they also would recognize value and would be willing to pay a premium to get exactly what they wanted. I knew that if I could provide them with a Ritz Carlton or Nordstrom customer experience; I would be able to earn more on every transaction and make my business “competition proof” from low cost leaders in my market.

Let’s take a closer look at how Ritz Carlton and Nordstrom create value and therefore earn the right to charge a premium to be handsomely rewarded.

Case Study 1: Ritz CarltonTHEIR CREDO

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is a place where the genuine care and comfort of our guests is our highest mission.

We pledge to provide the finest personal service and facilities for our guests who will always enjoy a warm, relaxed, yet refined ambiance.

The Ritz-Carlton experience enlivens the senses, instills well-being, and fulfills even the unexpressed wishes and needs of our guests.

THEIR MOTTO

At The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., “We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.” This motto exemplifies the anticipatory service provided by all staff members.

I have personally experienced the dedication to provide an extraordinary level of service and the multiplied value The Ritz creates by consistently following their credo and motto. I can share with you several personal experiences I have had with the staff at the Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch Resort in Beaver Creek, Colorado. The moment you walk through the front door you recognize that you are experiencing a transformational experience far beyond what you might be expecting. Notice that the focus is on the customer experience and commitments being made by The Ritz to exceed the expectations of their guest. Although I have never seen their pocket cards first hand, I am told every employee carries a little card in their pocket emblazoned with The Ritz Carlton Credo as a reminder of the value they are to provide to their guest.

Case Study 2: Nordstrom

THEIR MISSION STATEMENT

At Nordstrom, we value the richness that diversity brings to our workforce – it makes our Company better and the communities we serve stronger.

THEIR DIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT

**Here is an example of Nordstrom adding multiplied value to their community

To maintain a workforce that represents many backgrounds, while remaining deeply committed to cultivating an environment where the contributions of every employee, customer and vendor are valued and respected.

I was once on a trip and received an invitation to a formal event and hadn’t packed appropriate clothes for such an event. I immediately looked for a Nordstrom – why? Because I knew that a Nordstrom salesperson would take personal responsibility to help me select a suit, shirt, tie and shoes, then make all of the arrangements to have my new suit tailored and have everything for me to pick up within a few hours. Nordstrom had earned my trust because I knew their desire was to create greater value as part of their culture and they do this consistently.

Action plan for Maverick Entrepreneur Rule #2:

1. If you do not own a copy of Yanik Silver’s “Maverick Business Insider” introduction package click here: Yanik Silver’s Give Away to obtain all of the details and claim your free package including all of the contents pictured in this post: Introduction of The BIG Idea

2. Find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted so that you can evaluate each product or service that you offer and consider strategies that can be acted upon immediately to leverage your value 10 times to 100 times more than you charge your customers.

3. If you are having difficulty determining how to multiply value in your specific business keep in mind that it isn’t just a money question. Value can be provided in time savings, convenience, emotion, experiential, and by many other methods. Unleash your creativity!

4. Enlist partners to create added value for your clients and other relationships – JV partners, highest quality vendors, added services provided by others bundled with your services, etc.

5. After you have watched the video, listened to the audios,  read the book and other material in your package share this information with others in your circle and network of influence. As stated, you want to surround yourself with like minded people and introduce others to the knowledge you gain on your journey.

As you begin to act on the principles contained in this material you will find that the people, resources and opportunities required to manifest your dreams will begin to attract to you. The relationships, clients and partners needed to live a BIG life will emerge and you will be in a position to establish new and larger goals. The Maverick Business Insider philosophy is for anyone with a desire to make more money, have more fun and give more back.

In my next post: We will explore why you MUST charge a premium price!

(c) Copyright 2008 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

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Today, I am starting a very special series of post designed to lead you on a journey through the mind of Yanik Silver a Maverick Entrepreneur in the truest sense. Over the past couple of months I have been recommending that my readers accept Yanik’s generous offer and  claim your copy of his amazing free training titled the “Maverick Business Insider” shipped to your door – you only pay $7.95 shipping in the US or $19.95 outside the US. In this post I am going to explain what is in the package and I am including a photograph of the actual package you receive. In addition, we will explore each of the “34 Rules for Maverick Entrepreneurs” as contained in Yanik’s book.

My goal is not to convince you to sign up for this package, although I can’t think of a reason not to do so today.  My objective is to encourage you to adopt a set of principles and mindset that will allow you to create a BIG and fulfilling life for you and your family. I will detail one rule each day over the next 35 days and then provide a few personal observations concerning the application of these principles in your life. The rest will be up to you and those of you who benefit the most will be those who take action and apply what you learn to your life.

My personal mission is to sow increase into the lives of others by co-creating wealth and abundance, which has been my purpose throughout my career. I have found this program to be in perfect alignment with my values, which is why I am so driven to share this with you. Three simple concepts form the foundation for the Maverick Entrprenuer philosophy; make more money, have more fun, give more back. I will explore each of these concepts as we move through the program and site a few real life examples along the way.

Who is Yanik Silver? Yanik is a self made millionaire and leading expert in internet marketing, information product creation, and self proclaimed  techno-dunce. Yanik has turned an $1,800 investment into more than $12,000,000 from online sales with no end in sight. Yanik is much sought after as a consultant and speaker around the world and true to his Maverick mindset spends time in some of the worlds most exotic locations with many of the worlds most powerful entrepreneurs and thought leaders. Yanik has achieved elite status as one of the leading marketers while living the maverick lifestyle.

Maverick Entrepreneur Rule #1:

“It’s got to be a BIG Idea that you, your team and your customers can “get” in seconds.”

Humans process approximately 60,000 thoughts per day and are bombarded by marketing messages with such velocity that it is easy to understand why it is often difficult to create that moment of interruption when we can effectively communicate with our chosen audience. If your idea is too small you will have difficulty inspiring your team to rally around your vision or your prospects to become paying customers. When prospecting for business partners you will not be able to attract the highest quality partners if your ideas are perceived to be small. The powerful truth in this principle is that many BIG ideas are also very simple, think back to the last time you saw a new product or tried a new service and thought to yourself, I wish I would have thought of that!

Action plan for Mavrick Entrepreneur Rule #1:

1. If you do not own a copy of Yanik Silver’s “Maverick Business Insider” introduction package click here: Yanik Silver’s Give Away to obtain all of the details and claim your free package including all of the contents pictured in this post.

2. Find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted and reconsider your personal and business goals and objectives. Act boldly by challenging any self limiting beliefs that might cause you to play small; if you find yourself playing small make immediate revisions and go BIG!

3. If your ideas are BIG enough your ideas will capture the imagination and inspire your audience to take action in an instant causing people to lock arms and join in your cause. Overcome the fear of stepping into the unknown and recognize that pioneers are often handsomely rewarded.

4. If accept the premise that your results in life are a reflection of the five people you spend the most time with you owe it to yourself to take inventory of the people you surround yourself with and ensure that you are not being held back. People who do not support the development of your energy and focus set to your highest purpose may not need to be completely removed from your life, but they cannot occupy center stage.

5. After you have watched the video, listened to the audios,  read the book and other material in your package share this with others in your circle and network of influence. As stated, you want to surround yourself with like minded people and introduce others to the knowledge you gain on your journey.

As you begin to act on the principles contained in this material you will find that the people, resources and opportunities required to manifest your dreams will begin to attract to you. The relationships, clients and partners needed to live a BIG life will emerge and you will be in a position to establish new and larger goals. The Maverick Business Insider philosophy is for anyone with a desire to make more money, have more fun and give more back.

In my next post: We will explore the value you present to others!

(c) Copyright 2008 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

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Twitter is a phenomenon growing at an increasingly rapid pace to gain mainstream acceptance that reaches beyond the new media devotees to include traditional media outlets and corporate communications offices. This is a insightful presentation featuring Twitter co-founder Evan Williams at TED 2009.

Who is Evan Williams?

Evan Williams is the co-founder of Twitter, the micro blogging social media site that is revolutionizing real-time communication. Before Twitter, Evan was a creator of the free blog platform Blogger now owned by Google where he was employed until 2004. Evan launched Odeo a podcasting service from which Twitter was born in 2006. Enjoy this video and be sure to post your comments.

Evan Williams at TED Conference February 2009
Source: TED.com

I encourage you to create a social media plan for your home business and make Twitter along with Face Book and You Tube the central platforms of your strategy. Be sure to refer to my other post on the subject of social media and become engaged in this power niche in the new media space.

(c) Copyright 2008 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

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There is a big movement underway to re-brand network marketing to bring the profession into the mainstream and change misconceptions of the people and companies in our profession, this effort should include a set of best practices that includes the manner in which we recruit prospects into our opportunity. I network with a large number of MLM distributors often becoming engaged in conversations related to their businesses and that of their down lines concerning “warm market” vs. “cold market” prospecting, I have had several spirited conversations with experienced marketers and new marketers alike leading me to conclude that this debate is just plain silly.

Network marketing is a powerful business model and like most business organizations can be built a number of ways, including working within warm or known markets as well as cold or unknown markets. The days of limiting your prospecting efforts to friends, family and those within your immediate circle are gone and the most productive recruiters are utlizing a variety of methods to identify willing prospects in order to expose them to their businesses. The Internet has transformed the landscape and for the first time in history has provided a economical method of reaching a large group of people with a simple message and advance those exposures toward personal relationships.

Regardless if you are recruiting within a known or unknown (my preferred terms) market two of the most powerful mindset principles your can adopt are perspective and empathy.

1.) Perspective: a. Understanding the unique value of both warm and cold market prospecting strategies b.) Understanding the perspective of both warm and cold prospects by standing in their shoes for a moment.

2.) Empathy: a. Understanding how the prospect will view your approach to them when presenting your opportunity b. How are they going to feel 90 days after they join your program? This is a test to determine if your commitment is to succeed by helping others succeed, the opposite would be your desire to succeed by recruiting others with the mindset that some will make it and some will not, so I am going to throw as much mud against the wall as I can and hope enough sticks.

I’ll pose a simple question; why wouldn’t you approach your prospecting efforts in the same manner as you would any other business? The answer is you should leverage a variety of channels to drive qualified prospects into your sales funnel in order to grow a large and thriving organization. So what does a solid “Warm Market” and “Cold Market” strategy look like when working in unison?

With both strategies you need to adopt a “burn the boats” mindset. In other words, I have burned the boats that brought me here, so I have no other choice than to keep moving forward.

I. Known Market (Warm Market) Prospecting

Here are 7 actions you should take to grow through known market.

1. Complete a major blast with massive action to pour prospects into your funnel. Immediate action would be creating a list of 50 people you would like to evaluate your opportunity and expose them all to your program and then work with your prospect one on one to reach decisions.

2. Remember that when dealing with your known market your posture is critical. You must convey the confidence that you are serious about building a successful team and that they can really succeed with you.

3. Develop the internal mindset that you have a “gift” to offer them, not that you are begging them to join your team.

4. Learn not to become emotionally tied to the decision the prospect makes to join you or not. Many people fail because they become discouraged when their friends and family say no to their opportunity.

5. Often when your friends and family say no, they really mean no for now. They will see you in a few months and might be interested to see if you are still building your program. Are you driving that new car you talked about? Did you go on that cruise that you promoted to them?

6. Be willing to cycle known prospects through your list until they truly say “no,” you may find that as your story gets better “more success,” their interest level may increase.

7. Be sensitive and connect to where your known prospect is mentally and try to expose gaps in their lives that your opportunity can bridge. You must be willing to recruit based on shared mindset and not on emotion. People will stick with you and build a business over time if they know why they are doing it. “No empty get rich quick promises.”

II. Unknown Market (Cold Market) Prospecting

Here are 7 actions you should take to grow through cold market:

1. Make a decision about the components methods you will use to attract 1000-2000 unknown prospects into your funnel per month. Social network marketing, Web 2.0, blogging, websites, buying a pre-qualified list, etc.

2. Recognize that you can attract people that are looking for an opportunity online, so acknowledge the fact that this is very fertile ground to farm.

3. In the beginning avoid the temptation to measure results, instead measure activities and let natural ratios reveal themselves and play into your favor.

4. Create a duplicate-able system that you can teach you’re down line team and leverage into consistent growth. Here is a turnkey system that you can plug into your downline: MLM Mastermind Training

5. Recognize that a solid unknown market strategy can “save” members of your down line team who are not succeeding within their known market of friends and family.

6. Recognize that you will need to create a support system for your unknown market as many who join your team will not be in your local market. So, you will need to help them plug into your company leadership structure in their local market. Use technology to bridge this gap.

7. As with known market, be prepared to cycle your cold market prospects through your list and seek ways to add value for them, even if they do not join you right away. They may likewise be watching you to see if you are going to be around in 6 months.

Regardless if you decide to build a successful network marketing business in a known market, unknown market or both; you have an obligation to be a leader and help those who trusted you enough to give you their credit card and invest many of their dreams into what you presented to them, they joined you for a reason. The network marketing business is not a numbers business it is a people business and when people are committed to your business and are being properly lead, the numbers needed to allow everyone to succeed will follow.

(c) Copyright 2008 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

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Seth Godin is counted among the leading thought leaders on the topics of branding, marketing and social media. In this extended interview conducted by Andrew Warner of a wide variety of relevant subjects are covered and you are also given deep insight into the mindset of Seth Godin. This is an extended interview covering a wide range of subjects with enlightened insights which will allow you to create the proper mindset to develop a Tribe of your very own.

I am sharing this video with you because if you can implement this knowledge to grow your business by nurturing a thriving Tribe of like minded people. Do yourself a favor by clearing away all distractions and watch this video in one sitting while tacking notes; then create an action plan based on the specific goals you have set for your business. Please be sure to leave a comment for others to read.

Seth Godin with Andrew Warner from Andrew Warner on Vimeo.

Seth Godin:

• writes the most popular marketing blog in the world;
• is the author of the bestselling marketing books of the last decade;
• speaks to large groups on marketing, new media and what’s next;
• and is the founder of Squidoo.com, a fast-growing recommendation website.

Seth is a renowned speaker as well. He was recently chosen as one of 21 Speakers for the Next Century by Successful Meetings and is consistently rated among the very best speakers by the audiences he addresses.

Seth was founder and CEO of Yoyodyne, the industry’s leading interactive direct marketing company, which Yahoo! acquired in late 1998. Godin worked as VP Direct Marketing at Yahoo before leaving to become a full time speaker, writer and blogger.

He holds an MBA from Stanford, and was called “the Ultimate Entrepreneur for the Information Age” by Business Week.

(Source: www.SethGodin.com)

Special thanks to: Chris Spagnuolo at www.EdgeHopper.com; Andrew Warner at www.Mixergy.com, Seth Godin at www.SethGodin.com

(c) Copyright 2008 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

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The majority of the better networking marketing companies in our profession offer replicated websites for their distributors. The quality of these sites are quite good and it would be impossible for the independent distributor to create sites of such quality on their own. I highly recommend taking full advantage of these sites as long as you include one specific action. Forget this and the site will be comparatively useless for prospecting new team members online.

In this video I will explain how I accidentally discovered the key to leveraging your company replicated website to enroll new team members into your business. It is a short video but provides a great marketing tactic.

Here is the link to the Instant Squeeze Page Software system that I recommend. It is free and amazingly easy to use, you literally use their templates to create your page and then either copy and past html code into your own page and host it yourself, or you can have the service provider host it for you. When you sign up you will also be able to become an affiliate (no purchase required) for their paid products and add a high value product to your affilate section of your business funnnel.

Go to the sales page: http://snipurl.com/c0a80-value

If you would like a free :30 consultation with me to put this to work for you send an email to james@AskJamesHolmes.com
(c) Copyright 2008 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

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This interview was conducted by Robert Scoble of Fast Company and Fast Company TV in the home office of Guy Kawasaki the visionary entrepreneur, former Apple Computer inner circle member, author, and creator of All Top. I personally believe that Guy Kawasaki is among the most import voices in social media today, the is no question that he is among the most influential.

I wanted to share this short video with you because I believe the insights contained here will help to provide perspective for anyone who wants a glimpse of where we may be heading in the social media space in the coming year. I also wanted you to hear for yourself how Guy Kawasaki feels about the value of Twitter.

Guy Kawasaki is a managing director of Garage Technology Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm and a columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine. Previously, he was an Apple Fellow at Apple Computer, Inc. Guy is the author of nine books including Reality Check, The Art of the Start, Rules for Revolutionaries, How to Drive Your Competition Crazy, Selling the Dream, and The Macintosh Way. He has a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA as well as an honorary doctorate from Babson College. (from http://www.guykawasaki.com)

Here are a few key questions this great interview answers:

1. What is the story behind “Reality Check” Guy Kawasaki’s latest book?
2. What is the value of “All Top” Guy kawasaki’s latest venture?
3. Is Steve Jobs brilliant a jerk or a brilliant jerk?
4. What was the motivation behind the $1000 bet with Michael Arrington
5. Would Guy Kawasaki rather have Twitter or a cell phone?
6. What was it like being at Apple Computer in the formative days?
7. What is the value of company culture?

To learn more:

Guy Kawasaki http://www.GuyKawasaki.com
Robert Scoble http://www.Scobleizer.com
All Top http://www.AllTop.com

(c) Copyright 2008 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

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