How to Boost Your Personal Power and Command of Life

Source : Tipsforsuccess.org

You are about to read about one of the most effective self-improvement tools ever discovered. This one technique can do more for your mental strength, job performance and overall competence than dozens of self-help books or motivational seminars.

This simple formula eliminates self-criticism, fear and stress. It is applicable to any situation and works every time. You can use it repeatedly without limitation.

L. Ron Hubbard discovered the KRC Triangle in 1960.

"THE K-R-C TRIANGLE"

"The points are K for KNOWLEDGE, R for RESPONSIBILITY and C for CONTROL."

"It is difficult to be responsible for something or control something unless you have KNOWLEDGE of it."

"It is folly to try to control something or even know something without RESPONSIBILITY."

"It is hard to fully know something or be responsible for something over which you have no CONTROL, otherwise the result can be an overwhelm."

"Little by little one can make anything go right by

"INCREASING KNOWLEDGE . . . ,"

"INCREASING RESPONSIBILITY . . . ,"

"INCREASING CONTROL . . . ."

"If one sorts out any situation one finds oneself in on this basis, he will generally succeed."

"By inching up each corner of the KRC triangle bit by bit, ignoring the losses and making the wins firm, a being at length discovers his power and command of life." — L. Ron Hubbard

KRC Triangle Application Recommendations

Select a problem and write it down or type it into your computer. Then write or type the answers for each of these five steps.

1. Raise the Knowledge corner.

How can you increase your knowledge about the problem? What do you need to learn about it? What should you study to better understand the problem?

2. Raise the Responsibility corner.

How can you take more ownership for the problem? What parts of the problem are you responsible for? Can you accept responsibility for the parts you did not cause?

3. Raise the Control corner.

What part of the problem can you control? How could you take a little more control for the other parts?

4. Ignore the losses.

If you focus on losses or failures, they get bigger and more overwhelming. You then pull in even more losses. So find ways to ignore these losses.

If ignoring losses is difficult, try writing them down on a sheet of paper and then destroy the paper. Shift your attention. Stop talking or thinking about them. Avoid people who bring them up. Move on.

If you catch yourself dwelling on losses, knock it off. Put your attention elsewhere. Stop talking about losses. And learn to ignore the failures of others as well.

5. Make the wins firm.

What can you do to make your successes firm? How can you solidify them?

Maybe you can write them down or put them on a wall. Keep a record of your wins. Talk about them to everyone you can. Celebrate them.

Also, make a habit of finding and focusing on the wins of others. The more attention you put on success, the more success you get.

Some of your answers to these questions are easy, enjoyable steps. Do those right now! You will see a sudden improvement in the problem.

Then do the tougher steps you wrote. Once you start on them you will find they are not so tough after all.

If following these five steps does not completely solve the problem, repeat the steps until the problem is gone forever.

As well as solving problems for you, these steps will start to bring out the best in you. You will discover a new sense of command over life that you have always had, but never used.

Use the KRC Triangle to release the real powerhouse you know that you are.

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Six Secrets Of Successful Networking

By: Victoria K. Munro

Networking is an art as well as a highly effective tool to grow most any business. Anyone can become an effective networker and enjoy the process, provided they're willing to invest a little time and energy. Just showing up and hoping for the best won't result in success. Apply the Six Secrets below and make networking work for you and your business.

Secret #1: Keep an Upbeat Attitude
Attitude is critical. Failure to maintain a positive, enthusiastic attitude towards networking is guaranteed to diminish your success. Put yourself in a good frame of mind by remembering that you can learn and benefit from everyone you meet.

Focus on what you'll gain. For example, you can:
• Get to know potential power partners and people who might be able to help your clients or who might eventually become clients themselves.
• Learn from other people's experiences as you listen to them.
• Make new friends.

Secret #2: Go with a Game Plan
Wear something unique that stands out and makes it easier for others to ask you questions and start a conversation. Pins, custom nametags or embroidered logos can also pique someone's curiosity and beg a question.

Create meaningful conversational starters. Instead of asking, "What do you do?" when you meet new people, you could ask:
• What do you enjoy most about networking?
• What do you find most rewarding (or challenging) about being a business owner?
• What are you passionate about?

Secret #3: Craft a Dynamic 30-Second Commercial
At most networking functions, you will be repeatedly asked what you do. Respond with a commercial that is:
• Emotionally engaging
• Memorable
• Succinct -- don't ramble
• Sincere and caring -- expressing genuine passion for what you do
• Intriguing -- causing people to ask more questions

Use strong visual language -- word pictures they'll remember. This will make it easier for them to refer you when they meet someone who needs your products or services. A friend who operates a pest control company gave the same short message at his leads group each week. "If it moves and you don't want it to, call me!" No one ever forgot what he did. A children's portrait photographer encourages potential clients to buy the gift that she guarantees mom-in-law will never return. Always focus on the benefits you offer.

Secret #4: Get a Great Business Card
Always carry an adequate supply of business cards, and make sure that your card truly reflects who you are and what you do. This may be the only representation of you and your company you'll leave with someone. Hire an expert to create a card that clearly, attractively and accurately portrays who you are and what you offer. A creative tag line can help explain even a complex concept and make it memorable.

Secret #5: Don't Focus on the Food
Plan to eat before arriving at an event. If that isn't possible, take care of your hunger first, then start networking. Don't try to mix the two. It's impossible to give someone your full attention while balancing a plate and glass and digging in a purse or pocket for a business card.

Secret #6: Make a Fabulous First Impression
There are no second chances at making a fabulous first impression! Business is built on relationships, and you're there to start building new relationships, not to sell your products or services. A key to making a good first impression is ensuring that the other person feels important, allowing him or her to bask in the spotlight.

Apply the secrets above and develop the fine art of networking to grow your business.

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Outdoor Billboard Advertising: 10 Issue To Things In Your Campaign

Outdoor Billboard Advertising – One of the Most Difficult Advertising Strategies

Outdoor billboard advertising is one of the most difficult of all advertising simply because of the variables that surround its success or failure.

Size, location, and the message must create a call to action either by calling a phone number or visiting a web site. This is why many small business owners look to outdoor advertising companies for help and guidance.

Outdoor billboard advertising is most effective when it is part of a larger advertising campaign that also includes display advertising in newspapers, radio and television advertising, and website campaigns. Compared cost-wise to other forms of advertising, outdoor advertising rates are favorable due to their exposure level.

The most effective billboards are ones that cause the viewer to go, “hmmm.” Many famous (and highly effective) outdoor billboard advertising strategies could fill the halls of many mansions but they have one thing in common: creativity. Some of the most creative ideas can be found at Billboardom


1. Outdoor Billboard Advertising Needs to Be “To the Point” – and Memorable for Passing Motorists

Think about this: how much of a billboard can you read going 60 miles per hour?
Effective billboards have a message that has “punch” such as a shorter version of a slogan. “I'm Thinking Arby's,” “Got Milk?” and a variety of other “mini-slogans” add just the right of information to make it identifiable with a brand name.

In fact, part of a comprehensive advertising campaign is to create slogans for the company that promote name recognition and company branding.
Some of the most memorable outdoor billboard ads have the fewest words and three or less graphics.


2. Outdoor Billboards Need to Have Lettering that is a Minimum of 1 ½ Feet Tall

Even if your billboard is close to the road, you still need to stick to this rule for maximum visibility. Remember that the speed limit of that particular stretch of road will either allow for more or less time for your message to be read. If your outdoor billboard is further from the road or higher up from the ground, the lettering should increase in size accordingly.


3. Large and Powerful Graphics Make Billboards Memorable

A huge photograph of a hand holding a hammer says, “Strength” without words. The hammer itself can be used to portray a building company but can also project, “our workmanship is solid” for many types of businesses and industries.

A graphic such as this should be the same height as the billboard area for the most effectiveness. Remember the adage, “a picture says a thousand words” to help guide you in finding a great graphic or visual effect to say the words instead of cluttering the billboard with text.
Dare to be different with the use of graphics.


4. Contrasting Colors Make Billboards Stand Out

Your graphics and text must stand distinctly apart from each other in order to be seen and remembered. Along these same lines, a website domain name and phone number that tie into the graphic's message helps the most important information – the call to action – easy to remember.

A short and easy-to-remember domain name and phone number in bright yellow against a dark background helps the eye to register the information to the brain in a glance.

Just because all the text and graphics are very large on a billboard does not mean they will be seen and responded to. Because the elements are larger, it is even more important to use high contrast with graphics and text.


5. Billboards that Speak the Language of the Community Get Results

If your business appeals to a younger market, the edgier you can get, along with “street talk.” While many business owners may not fit into that crowd, their audience might.

How you, as a business owner, may phrase a statement in “proper language,” the use of slang and deliberately misspelled words can let your customers know that your business is progressive and not adverse to change and innovation.

On the other hand, if your customers consist of another type of audience, speak to them in the language they are accustomed to. “Yo, heads up” may not be very appealing to an audience who relates better to, “We're New….and Better.”



6. The Way The Eye Travels is the Way Your Billboard is Read

The eye travels from left to right. You want to be sure that your billboard's message goes in the order you intend.
Make sure that your message doesn't lose the viewer in lack of order or sense.

Your graphics and text should have a natural flow so that the eye travels naturally from the most important element to the next. There should be a natural flow from element to element with the most important being what stands out the most: is it the text message or the graphic?

Again, color and contrast help to determine an easy flow where there is a specific order and the message is absolutely identifiable with your business.



7. Dare to be Drastic and Different with Your Billboard Advertising

Most of the time, it's risky to be daring in business and errors in judgment can cost a business hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Gather ideas from friends and family as to what their most memorable billboard signs have been. Creativity is the key so that your billboard stands out from the rest of the signage along the roadway. Think outside the box and include humor, a headline of great interest, and graphics that lead the readers to call or click to your business.



8. Create an Advertising Message on your Billboard that Beats the Competition

Consumers are exposed daily to every suggestion, nuance, and saying that advertising executives can dream up for any type of advertising campaign. The problem is, how can you make your message convey how your product or service outperforms the competition?
This is the time for a very good writer and thesaurus to come into play if you cannot afford an advertising agency's expertise.

Come up with a better way of saying why your business is better in the fewest number of words. In fact, this is the very method used when creating a slogan and you can start with a longer slogan and shorten it to a catch-phrase for your billboard.



9. Offer Something for Free on Your Outdoor Billboard Advertisement

Insurance companies and other similar businesses are notorious for proclaiming, “Call for a Free Quote Today!”
Today, more than ever, consumers are not only comparison-shopping for great deals but also value for their money.

If your business offers a guarantee of work, trade-in products, humanitarian contributions and charities it donates to that people are passionate about, fit this information into your billboard message.



10. Call to Action is the Goal of Outdoor Billboard Advertising

The goal of your outdoor billboard advertising is to establish new customer relationships. By using the tips provided here, the goal is to create a billboard advertisement that entices potential customers to contact your business for more information.

By utilizing the steps outlined above, you will be well on your way to achieving more traffic and inquiries for your business.

Outdoor billboard advertising can be quite expense so adequate time and care needs to be taken into the choice of graphics, colors and their placements, and a unique message that portrays a solid business that portrays customer satisfaction and beats the competition with its products and services.


Important Points to Remember when Doing Outdoor Billboard Advertising:

• Create billboard messages that are to the point.
• Create letters and graphics that are adequate in size and height for visibility.
• Create billboard messages that can be easily seen and their messages understood quickly.
• Be creative with graphics, text, color, contrast and concepts.
• Be sure to relay an offer and a call to action for more information by phone or website.

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Ten Tips on Career Advancement

Many career experts agree that the best time to look for a new job is while you are still comfortably in your old one. If you’re starting to feel unchallenged in your present position, you may be ready for a promotion to the next level. If there aren’t many career advancement opportunities where you work, the best next job may be waiting for you elsewhere.

Nowadays, it’s up to you to take control of your professional future and make sure that you are progressing wisely down the right career path. Here are 10 proven strategies to help you get started:

1. Talk to your boss. Sit down and have a very direct and pointed conversation with your boss about your future in the company. Stress that you want your job performance to meet the company’s goals. Share your own career goals with him or her. Your boss will respect this display of confidence and maturity.

2. Ask for more. Volunteering to help out other departments or teams — or simply asking for more responsibilities — increases your value within the organization. Asking for additional work shows an interest and desire to help your department and company to succeed. It also puts a spotlight on your value to the business.

3. Volunteer for boards. If you have your career set on something beyond what you are doing in your present position, seek out opportunities to volunteer or serve on advisory boards, where you can build a reputation as someone who is passionate and dedicated to your particular industry.

4. Sharpen your people skills. Strong interpersonal skills play a crucial role in gaining the respect of your boss and coworkers; they will also attract the notice of outside influencers who might open new doors of opportunity for you. Be friendly, outgoing, and personable. Listen carefully to people, and practice being a clear and effective communicator.

5. Be innovative. Never be afraid to think outside of the box and put your business acumen to work. Stay on the lookout for creative solutions to problems that will make you — and your boss — look good.

6. Find a mentor. Develop mentoring relationships, either inside or outside the company. Recent studies have shown that four out of five promotions are influenced by a mentor higher up in the company. Mentors are also great sources of information and career guidance.

7. Sell yourself. Learn the fine art of self-promotion. If you have had major accomplishments or created successful programs, make sure people know about it — especially those in influential positions who could help you advance professionally. Let it be known that you are seeking a promotion or the next step up in your career.

8. Keep learning. A proven way to advance in your career is to be continually acquiring new knowledge. Stay on top of trends or developments in your field and make sure that your current résumé reflects those needed skills.

9. Network. Strengthen your personal network and join professional organizations, attend industry conferences, or even volunteer. The more people who are aware of your strengths and abilities, the better your chances of hearing about any new opportunities that might arise.

10. Build your reputation. In business, your reputation is the most valuable thing you own. Be known for being dependable, professional, and cooperative. Act and look the part by dressing professionally. Make a name for yourself by attending conferences, delivering speeches, or writing articles.

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Making Your Home Office a Success

These days there is an ever-increasing trend of people working from their homes. And it is easy to see why; working at home is cheaper and more convenient than commuting to an office.

However, as can be expected with this thriftiness and convenience, working at home comes with a certain risk: that of distractions and temptations to laze around the house having fun or relaxing.

When it comes to working out of a home office, there are many things that can stand in the way of your productivity. This article will outline a few of them and recommend ways to avoid them and get the most out of the time you spend working at home.


Avoid Distraction at all Cost

The most important thing to avoid while working at home is distraction. This can come in many forms, but will always detract from your working abilities. The most common source of distractions, unsurprisingly, is you.

Since so many at-home jobs these days involve computers, it is easier than ever to spend a few minutes here and there surfing the net or listening to music. But a few minutes here and there can add up to more than expected.

It is important to keep your workplace free of entertaining distractions. For many people this means having two different personal computers: one for work and one for play. This will help you stay focused on the task at hand. You will be amazed at how much more work you get done when you spend the entire day working with no messing around!


Home Office Organization Techniques

Another way to ensure that you get the most out of the time you spend working at home is to make sure that your office is optimally organized. Simply having the most expensive desk, chair, and shelving available is not enough; your home office’s furnishings have to mesh with one another.

In other words, you should consider things like how much space they occupy before purchasing them. Doing so will help you come up with an office layout that is maximally efficient. In these days where people are either tight on money or tight on space, or both, something like the Techni Mobili Computer Desk is a popular choice.


What Room of the House to Use

Another factor that will contribute to the efficiency of the time you spend in your home office is its location. You should make sure the area you have set aside to do at-home work is not used for other purposes, if possible. It does not take any more than a person walking by to distract you from your work and require you to spend extra time refocusing your attention.

As far as time is concerned, every little bit adds up, and, as the saying goes, “time is money.” There are other factors associated with your home office’s location that you should also consider. For example, how much sunlight gets to your office during the time you work?

How many electrical outlets are available to you without using a surge protector? Do you have space to perform all the working actions you need to perform? And finally, do you feel comfortable working in the area you have chosen?


The All-Important Office Desk

The office desk you choose to use is one of the major factors determining how comfortable your working area will be. For this reason, it is important to put a large amount of planning into the purchase of your office desk. Available models vary according to available features, quality of materials used, storage space, etc.


It is important to know your needs before beginning to shop for a desk. For example, you should not buy a desk with four drawers intended to store paper files if your work does not involve keeping any kind of paper records. Office desks can be expensive, and picking one that suits rather than exceeds your needs is a great way to save some money.


Sit on It for a While

Women at a deskPicking the right office chair is another great way to save. It can be tempting to buy the most expensive, comfortable chair on the market, justifying it as a “business expense,” but ultimately you should consider how much time you plan on spending sitting in the chair each day.

If your back can handle sitting at a cheap chair for the few hours per day you spend working at home, you can save serious dollars by purchasing an inexpensive chair or using one you already have around the house. All things considered, the most important thing to consider when planning the layout of your home office is practicality; does your design allow you to complete the work you need to complete in a clutter- and stress-free environment?

If not, try to come up with a plan for reducing the elements involved with your home office that are cutting into your efficiency. And remember, your home office is yours; there is nobody to blame for things not getting done but yourself.

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Business Ethics To Practice

There is a lot of tension that business managers have to learn to deal with in today's business environment. Shareholders want higher profits, but the workforce wants higher wages. Consumer want lower prices, but suppliers want to charge more for parts and supplies. In the midst of all that, companies need to keep a close eye on business ethics issues.

Ethics in business has been a concern for businesses for a while now, but events of the past years has mad it even more of a focus. It seem like it should be such an easy thing; do what is right and you won't get into trouble, but deciding what is right seems to depend on who you talk to.

Business schools teach managers have a responsibility to grow the business and get the best return for the stakeholders, but some times the stakeholders have conflicting concerns. How do business ethics apply to that type of situation?

3 Important Business Ethics

While there are often times that the answer is not clear cut, there are a few standards that will help you avoid major missteps.

Honesty

One business ethics rule you should never violate is to tell the truth. Regardless of what problem you might face, you will never go wrong by being honest. If you need to make a decision that is not popular, or may even harm one group or another, be honest with the people involved.

Most of the major business ethics scandals over the past years have come as a result of business leaders that were dishonest. Knowing right from wrong, they chose wrong, and then lied about what they had done. Those in the organization that were not involved in the original problem ended up getting in trouble when they participated in the cover up.

Perhaps the most basic tenet of business ethics is maintaining honesty. Those you deal with may not agree with you, but they will respect the fact that they know that you are telling them the truth. That goes a long way with people.

Integrity

Business WomenThere are times in business when people do something that may be honest, and it may be the right decision for the company, but they go about it all wrong. You have heard stories of companies that announce layoffs the week before Christmas.

Many times these companies new about the decision weeks or even months before it was announced, but in order to avoid problems, they put off the announcement until the last minute. Integrity in business ethics would say that you tell your people what is coming so they have the opportunity to prepare for the layoff.

The same is true with price increases for your clients. If you need to increase prices you need to be honest and up front about the increases, not try to slip an increase in unnoticed. This type of behavior usually backfires, and the reputation of your business is harmed in the process.

Security

One area that has improved over the years is the issue of security of information about your clients and customers. There have been too many examples in past where a company has sold customer contact information to a third party for marketing purposes. You customers end up on a junk-mail list because the company owner saw an opportunity for a quick pay-day.

You need to apply business ethics by making sure that any information you collect about your customers is kept completely private. If your customers do not feel safe with your business they will quickly go to your competitors, and you will have a hard time trying to win them back.

Code of Business Ethics

One way to make sure the people in your organization abide by your business ethics is to write a Code of Ethics for your organization. This sends a message to your employees and your customers that you practice good business ethics.

Be prepared to spend some time getting this right. It isn't something you can typically knock out over lunch one day. You need to make sure it truly captures your view of business ethics for your organization. If you do this half-heartedly, your customers and employees will see through it, and they will probably doubt that you truly hold to the business ethics that you claim are important.

Points To Keep In Mind…

• Many problems can be avoided by being honest with the people involved.
• Sometimes businesses do what is right, but they go about doing it all wrong.
• A Code of Business Ethics lets your customers and employees know what is important to you.
• Once you lose the trust of the people you deal with it is very hard to get it back.
• Your Code of Ethics needs to truly reflect what you believe and not just something you threw together.

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