I know things have been a little quiet here on the blog lately and I want you to know why. 

Recently I received some rather bad news from my doctor.  I have a progressive illness that requires major surgery.  The good news is that it’s not fatal, and once the surgery is performed I should be fine.  However, there are few surgeons who are skilled at this particular procedure, and so I must travel back east in order to have the surgery performed.

Because of this, my life is now a flurry of planning and preparations, consultations and tests, and it has become increasingly difficult for me to focus on the blog.

Therefore, I am going to take a leave of absence from this blog until I have fully recovered from the surgery.  I expect to be able to post here again in a few months – probably February or March.

Please know that I am not abandoning you, and I appreciate each of you very much.  I have some big plans for what I hope this blog will become, and I look forward to returning to it with renewed energy and a fresh perspective.

Until then, I wish you all a very joyful holiday season and all the best in 2012.

To your riches!

Kim Hillman

Some Changes Happen, Others We Create

Changes are unavoidable in both business and in life.  Some changes we create ourselves – such as when we decide to quit a job in search of something better.  Other changes are forced upon us without our prior knowledge or consent – such as when we are laid off or fired from a job.  And although each of these scenarios is markedly different from an emotional aspect, neither one is going to be an easy adjustment.

So, how do you ride the winds of change?  In the first scenario, you might think you would be happy as you leave your old job and find a better one.  But, is the grass really always greener?  And in the second scenario, you might think you would be unhappy.  But, what if you found a much better paying job as a result?

Change = Opportunity

All changes are opportunities – even the seemingly negative ones.  Without change we would have no way to advance or to grow beyond what we presently have and know.

Some people try to avoid change.  They will stay with the same low-paying job, living in their own self- made status quo, not completely miserable, but not really happy.  It’s a ho-hum existence, until one day, like it or not, something happens to change it.  Unfortunately, these people don’t see change as an opportunity and they end up wrestling with the changes that happen to them rather than harnessing them so they can benefit from them.

Changes will happen to you whether you create them or not.  The trick is to embrace change rather than trying to avoid it.  When something unexpected happens, you need to keep your cool and deal with it rather than trying to hide from it and avoid it.

Create Your Opportunities

Not only should you embrace the unexpected changes, you should also endeavor to create positive changes for yourself and your business on a regular basis.  This will open new doors for you that otherwise would not have been possible.  in effect, it allows you to create opportunities.

Those who embrace the changes that come their way AND endeavor to create new ones are the ones who succeed.  They are the Walt Disneys, The Oprahs, The Donald Trumps.  Walt Disney saw a place for family fun and a way to make money where others only saw a swamp.  Oprah was a poor, little, unwanted black girl who was told she would be a maid for the white folks when she grew up.  Donald Trump grew a multimillion dollar business from the ground up, lost it all, and then did it again – even better.  Each of these people created change for themselves against the odds.

What if Walt, Oprah and Donald had not opted to create the changes they did?  Can you see Walt saying, “Yes, you’re right.  It’s a crazy idea.  What was I thinking?”  Can you imagine Oprah as an unknown, a house maid?  Can you picture Donald folding up for good, living an average lifestyle?  Not likely.  And if they hadn’t created the changes they did, how many other lives would be affected besides their own?  Millions!

As an author, you also have the power to affect others.  Your booklet isn’t just about you – what you want to say and the money you make from it.  Your booklet also has the power to change lives.  So, make your best decision.  Embrace change.  Create change.  That’s the first secret of true riches.

To your riches!

Kim Hillman

PS:  Are you ready to create a change by writing your first booklet?  Click here.

PPS:  Remember, it only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you!  Subscribe to this blog now.  Click here!

1)  The One Thing That Can Bring You Down Fast

2)  Are Your Expectations Too Low?

3)  Is Stupidity Standing In Your Way?

4)  Have You Looked Into Your Future?

5)  Ten Bad Habits That Will Hold You Back

This month our theme will be The Best Kept Secrets Of True Riches.  Think you know the secrets?  Stay tuned and find out!

To your riches!

Kim Hillman

PS:  Are you ready to write that first booklet?  Would you like to avoid some costly mistakes?  Click here.

PPS:  Remember, it only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you!  Subscribe to this blog now.  Click here.

Here are 10 bad habits that you MUST change in order to be a successful booklet author.  But, when you change these habits, you’ll find they not only create business success for you, but success in your every day life too!

1)  Getting up in the morning without a plan for your day.  It’s easy to let time slip through your fingers if you don’t have your day planned.  So many little things come up that only take a minute, and before you know it you’ve run out of minutes and it’s time for bed!  Plan your day the night before.  Make a list of everything you need to accomplish, and if you want to get really detailed you can write down the time at which you will perform each task.  That way when your head hits the pillow at night, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment!

2)  Not treating your writing and your projects like a business.  Sometimes it’s difficult to connect the dots and see what you do as a real business – but that’s exactly what it is.  You’re writing booklets for money, and that means you’ve got a business.  Start looking at all of the little projects you do – from making calls to potential quantity buyers to writing your next booklet to mailing booklets to your readers – as part of a larger whole.  Each project adds up to create a business.

3)  Tardiness.  It doesn’t matter whether you’re meeting someone face to face, calling them on the phone, or sending an email -  Promptness should be a priority.  Being late for a face to face meeting is about the worst thing you can do.  It tells the other person that you don’t respect them or their time.  But, calling past the time your call was expected, or sending an email the day after you promised to send it is almost as bad.  In today’s high tech world, everything is wanted and expected right now.  If you need time to prepare an email or to prepare information for a phone call, let the other person know that and tell them when they can expect to hear from you.  Then, make sure you contact them at the appropriate time, even if gathering the information is taking longer than you expected.

4)  Inappropriate style of dress.  This one should be a no-brainer, but so many people mess it up.  When you meet with anyone who might offer you money for your booklets or other products or services, it is extremely important that you dress like a professional.  It doesn’t have to be a three piece suit, but it should be something nice and something modest.  Remember, you’re an author, and authors are viewed as professionals, and even as celebrities.  Jeans are a no-no.  Shorts, short skirts and immodest apparel are also no-no’s.  You can dress semi-casual, but your style of dress should present you as a successful professional who cares about what you do.

5)  Procrastination.  This is one of the worst habits because it will literally stop you dead in your tracks.  When you get an idea or you know you need to get something done – take action!  Even if that action is to decide not to tackle that new project right now, you can always make a note of it and come back to it later.  Don’t leave anything hanging.  Deal with what needs dealing with.

6)  Not keeping track of what you spend.  You should always keep track of what it costs you to do business.  If you don’t know the costs, you can’t be sure you’re making a profit.  Many entrepreneurs think that because their business is small or just starting out, they don’t need to worry about costs because they’re not spending large sums of money.  But, this creates a very bad habit that will keep your business from growing.  You need to know how much things cost, and you need to keep track of what you spend.

7)  Not getting the best deal.  When you need to buy something or pay for a service, you should spend as little for it as possible.  The more you save, the more you keep in your own pocket.  Businesses have gone bankrupt from spending too much.  It’s worth your time to do a little research to find the best prices.

8)  Focusing on the negative.  Chances are you’re not a pessimist, because if you were you wouldn’t be an entrepreneur.  But, sometimes we all get a little negative when things aren’t going the way we had hoped, and some of us have more of a problem with this than others.  If you have a tendency to see the downside of things you need to change this FAST!  Start looking for the positive and you’ll find that things improve.

9)  Thinking you have to do it all yourself.  This is a real problem for us entrepreneurs.  We think we are the only ones who can do what we do, so we never ask for or hire any help.  In the beginning stages of your business, you may not be able to hire help and you may not need to.  But, one day it will become necessary in order for your business to grow.  At that point, you must let go of some of the things you have been doing and allow another person to take over the job(s).  They may not do it the same way you did, but often you’ll find they can do it better.  And you’ll have more time freed up to work on the things that really matter in your business rather than all the little day to day tasks.

10)  Not taking care of yourself.  You are the top person in your business, and you may be the only person running your business.  If you become sick or injured, there is nobody to run your business until you are better.  Make sure you are eating healthy food, getting some exercise, and getting enough rest.  Allow yourself some downtime at the end of your work day, and take a break once in a while.  Keep your body and your mind refreshed and you’ll be able to accomplish more each day!

Can you think of some other habits that sabbotage success?  I would love to read your comments!

To your riches!

Kim Hillman

PS:  Don’t procrastinate any longer!  If you’re ready to write that first booklet and you want to get started on the right foot, click here!

PPS:  One idea can change your life!  One idea can start the riches flowing to you!  This blog is full of ideas and new ones are added every week.  Subscribe now!  Click here.

Take A Look Into Your Future

Anyone who starts a business should have a solid vision of what they hope to achieve in that business and how they would like the business to grow in the next few years.  Practicality is a good thing, but it should never keep you so focused on the present that you can’t imagine something better down the road.  Your vision is what will create your plan, and your plan is what will create your future.

Your vision is what keeps you on track, and keeps you from being tossed about by the winds of change.  When something unexpected comes up, you’ll be better prepared to deal with it because you have a sense of where you’re going and what you want to accomplish.

Plant Some Seeds Today

Every successful person on the planet had a vision for what they wanted to accomplish and where they wanted to be at a particular point in the future.  Each one worked hard toward achieving that vision before they saw it become a reality.

The present is constantly changing.  The present doesn’t last.  It is constantly evolving and bringing us into the future.  The present becomes the future.  This gives you control, because what you do or don’t do today will affect tomorrow.  You can plant seeds today that will sprout tomorrow, and at some point those sprouts will bloom.

Don’t make the mistake of getting too caught up in the present.  Think ahead.  If you don’t have a vision of what you want in the future, create one.  It will keep you on track when the winds of change try to blow you in a direction you don’t want to go.  It will give you enthusiasm and drive when you need it most.  And best of all, it will create a tomorrow for you that is better than today.

To your riches!

Kim Hillman

PS:  Ready to write that first booklet?  It’s time to plant some seeds!  You will shortly be presented with a decision.  What you decide will help to shape your future.  To make your decision, Click here!

PPS:  Here is another seed you can plant.  It only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you.  This blog is full of ideas, and new ones are added each week.  Now it’s time for you to decide whether you will plant a seed that can help your future bloom into something beautiful, or whether you will continue on as you have been.  To plant that seed, which is to subscribe to this blog, click here now!

Why Some Will Not Take That Next Step

You might wonder why anyone would not take that next step when they know exactly what that next step is.  There are several reasons for this.  They may not have the funds to do it, or they may have a personal issue standing in their way, or, and this is the worst of all, they may be afraid.

If lack of funds is the problem, one only needs to find a way to overcome that.  There are many ways to do this and since this is a broad topic I won’t deal with it here as it’s out of the scope of this post.  Suffice it to say that when it comes to money, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Personal issues can range from lack of funds, mentioned above, to family disputes – such as going through a divorce – to an illness of oneself or a close family member, to losing one’s day job, and the list goes on.  These issues are not as easily tackled and may take time to resolve.  But, once resolved you absolutely MUST pick yourself up and get going again.  You must take that next step.  You may need to regain some lost ground while you were dealing with personal issues, but once that ground is recovered you need to move on.

It’s All Up To You

Fear is the worst of these reasons because there isn’t anything holding you back except for your own mindset.  That next step might seem like a doosy, and it might scare you half to death to take it, but if you don’t do it you might as well pack up and go home.  You’re business will never grow.

So many wanna be booklet authors have had big dreams and high hopes when they started out.  But, their dreams were shattered and their hopes were dashed because they couldn’t get beyond a certain point in their own thinking.

Nobody else can make you a success.  It doesn’t matter how much education you have or how many self-help or whiz bang, million dollar business products you buy or books you read.  If you’re not willing to do what it takes then you will fail.  Nobody else can do it for you.

The True Meaning Of Stupidity

Not taking that next step when you know what it is really amounts to stupidity.  Stupidity is not like being uneducated.  The uneducated are willing, but they lack the knowledge needed.  This is remedied easily enough by seeking out the information or education that is needed.  But, in the case of stupidity, the information is there, the next step is known, and it is not taken due to fear of the unknown, or fear of something big happening – something good, but something that will change everything.

Stupidity is NOT when there is a personal issue or lack of funds.  In these cases the next step may be put on hold, but the plan is to overcome the obstacles in the way and then move forward once those obstacles are removed.  Stupidity is when you hold yourself back for no reason other than being afraid to move forward.  It means that everything you’ve done up to now, which has brought you to this point, has been for nothing.  You’ve worked hard for what – to throw it all away now that you’re standing on the precipice of something really big?

Don’t let stupidity stand in your way.  Take that leap.  You’ve worked hard to get to where you are.  You deserve to take that next step!

To your riches!

Kim Hillman

PS:  If you’ve been thinking about writing your first booklet and starting a booklet adventure of your own, you know what your next step is!  You need to write that booklet!  But, you may lack the information you need to do it right so that it will be a salable product.  The information is waiting for you!  Take that next step now and get what you need.  Click here!

PPS:  It only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you.  This blog is full of ideas, and new ones are added each week.  Don’t miss a single one!  If you’re not a subscriber to this blog, your next step is to click here now!

Why Your Booklet Will Do Well

One of the scariest mistakes you can make in ANY business is having low expectations of yourself, your work, and those around you such as vendors or employees.  When you have low expectations, it’s like setting yourself up to fail.

When you write your booklet or produce other products, chances are your motive for doing so is to enhance the lives of others.  This means that you want to make your booklet and other products the best you possibly can.  This is a good thing.  Why should that fail?  Why should you expect it won’t do well?  If what you are creating is needed or desired, then you have every reason to believe it will do well.

Are You Creating Positive Or Negative Energy?

Your belief about what you are creating will give you energy – either positive or negative.  If you believe in what you’re doing from a positive aspect, that positive belief will pump you up and help you get through the next step and the next – the end result being that you’ll sell more copies or products.

But, if your belief about what you’re doing is negative and you really don’t think much will come from your actions in creating your booklet or other products, then that belief will drag you down like a self fulfilling prophecy.  If that is the case, why bother creating the booklet or whatever project you’re working on at all?  If you’re not going to be able to give it your maximum effort and enthusiasm, there isn’t much point because you’ve failed before you’ve even begun.

Don’t make the mistake of having low expectations.  Expect the best, and you’ll find that’s exactly what you get!

To your riches!

Kim Hillman

PS:  Expecting the best is one thing, knowing how to create the best is another.  If you’re contemplating writing your first booklet, you need to know the right way to do it in order to make it a salable one.  Interested?  Click here!

PPS:  It only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you.  Subscribe to this blog so you can continue to get new ideas on a regular basis!  Click here!

You Have Two Choices

Sometimes a project will be stalled due to circumstances that are beyond your control, such as when you’re waiting on a decision from a quantity buyer.  But, often the ability to move forward is simply due to a lack of information.  You don’t know what the next step is, or you don’t know how to do something.   In this circumstance, many people give up.  This is why so many entrepreneurs fail within their first year.  They come up with an idea, get stuck, and are never able to move forward.

If you are in this situation you have two choices.  You can remain stuck, or you can do something about it.  You do have a choice.  While most people make the decision to sit and wait, hoping something will change, you have the opportunity to make something happen.  How?  By taking the initiative and getting the information you need to move forward.

Difficulty Is Part Of The Game

Getting information isn’t always easy.  Sometimes the information you need is difficult to find or not readily available.  This is why so many people give up.  They think the information they need isn’t recorded or written down anywhere and that they’ll never be able to find it.  But, the information does exist.  Other people have done what you are trying to do.  They got the information from somewhere.

Sometimes you will need to pay for the information you need, and sometimes it can be time consuming to find the information.  The internet can be a big help, but it can also give you tons of irrelevant information and websites to slog through before you find anything useful.  And, libraries are full of books but they don’t always have the one you need.  And, people can be helpful but their success is based on their own experience which will be different from yours, and most people with good information won’t give it to you for free.  So, what can you do?

Overcoming The Obstacles

When you take that first step onto the game board of your booklet adventure, you have no idea what lies ahead.  It’s really a leap of faith that things will work and you’ll come out a winner.  You’re excited because you’re doing something new, and you can sense that something has changed in a positive way.  Perhaps now you’ll finally be able to sell your writing for the first time.  Or, perhaps you’re expanding on something you built before you started your adventure.  Remember that excitement, and how gung ho you were at the beginning?  Remember how determined you were to succeed?  How sure you were that you would succeed?  You need to revive those feelings now.

You must be determined to find the information you need to move forward.  Not doing so means remaining ignorant in a crucial area of your business that will keep you from succeeding in your goals.  If it takes some time and research, then it does.  If you need to pay someone for their information, so be it.  If the information is difficult to find, then you must resolve that you won’t rest until the answers you need are found.  They are out there.  I guarantee it!

Remaining in the dark and hoping to stumble your way through is a very scary mistake.  You’ll become frustrated, or you’ll become passive and time will just slip away.  Either way, your booklet business will come tumbling down- fast!  Don’t let it happen.  Information is your light in the darkness.  Find it.  Use it.  And, move forward!

To your riches!

Kim Hillman

PS:  Are you ready to embark on your own booklet adventure?  All the information you need to succeed is right here!

PPS:  Ideas are a type of information too, and it only takes ONE to start the riches flowing to you!  Subscribe to this blog now!  Click here.

1)  How To Deal With Executives And Potentials Quantity Buyers

2)  How To Keep Your Customers Coming Back

3)  The Most Important Thing You Can Do To Build Trust With Your Customers

4)  Why Your Contact Information Is Not Enough

5)  Is Your Refund Policy A Deal Maker Or A Deal Breaker?

6)  The First Rule Of Sales

October’s theme is:  Scary Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Success.  There’s some good stuff coming up!  Stay tuned…..

To your riches!

Kim Hillman

PS:  Are you ready to start your own booklet adventure?  Click here!

PPS:  It only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you.  This blog will give you a steady flow of new ideas to help you succeed in your booklet adventure.  Subscribe to this blog now so you never miss a post!  Click here!

Why trying to sell to everyone is a bad idea

The scouts who sell their cookies and candies are like the door to door salesman.  They ask everyone they come into contact with if they will buy a box of their candy or cookies.  The problem with this method of selling is that most people will say no.  There is no specific target market to sell to.  Everyone is asked.

Every product has only a small segment of the general population that will be interested in purchasing that product.  Even products that everyone uses, such as shoes, are broken down by category and each category has it’s own specific market.  In the case of shoes you have three main categories – men’s, women’s, and children’s.  And then each of those categories has sub-categories: sports, casual, dress, and so on.  A 65 year old man probably is not going to be convinced to buy a pair of toddler girl’s dress shoes, unless he is buying for his granddaughter.

The Exception To The Rule

Sometimes people do buy something outside of their specific market, as in the case of the 65 year old man above.  When they do, they are usually making the purchase as a gift.  There were times in my childhood as a scout, when I was selling candy and cookies door to door, someone would tell me that they didn’t eat candy, but that someone dear to them did and they would make the purchase for them.  But, this is the exception in sales, not the rule.

Getting people to buy your product is difficult when you are approaching everyone.  Someone once said that you have to go through alot of “no’s” to get to one “yes.”  If you are approaching your sales this way, and offering your booklet to everyone, this is true.  But, if you do your homework, you can get far more yes’s than no’s.

The First Rule Of Sales

The first rule of sales is to know your market.  If you don’t know your market, you’ll end up trying to sell to everyone and the majority will not be interested.  The world may be small, but the world of sales is a very large place.  Only a small percentage of people will be interested in your booklet, and it’s far more efficient for you to find the ones who are likely to make a purchase than it is to waste time asking every one who crosses your path whether they would like to buy.

To do this you need to know who your booklet is for.  You need to create a profile of your most likely buyers.  How old are they?  Are they men or women?  Are they blue collar or white collar?  College grads?  Professionals?  Homemakers?  Married?  Do they have a family?  And the list goes on.  The goal is to have an idea of who your buyers are so that you don’t approach the people who don’t qualify as potential buyers.

Know your market, and you’ll know who your buyers are so you can offer them your booklet.  When you do, you’ll get far more takers.

To your riches!

Kim Hillman

PS:  Are you ready to write your first booklet?  Click here!

PPS:  Remember, it only takes ONE Idea to start the riches flowing to you!  Subscribe to this blog now. Click here!