In my special report, What I Know For Sure: Lessons Learned in 10 Years of Business, I list 75 topic areas that I have bumped into over ten years. And every day in October, I will randomly choose one of the 75 and expound on it. So here’s today’s:

Set out to answer the question,
“What can I be the BEST in the
world at?” It may take years to
find the answer, but seek it, and
know that it must be answered
one day, so watch yourself and
ask your clients often, “What do
I do best in the world?” The
question is not, “Of all of my
skills, what am I best at doing?”
It’s what are you the best in the
world at. Period.

I was on a telecall a couple of years ago led by an older business man whom I respected–
though I’m embarrassed to say I don’t remember who it was. But he said that on his desk
he had a question: “What can I be the BEST in the world at?” And he admitted that he was
still valiantly trying to answer it. So, I adopted the idea and put the question on my desk,
believing that I *would* answer it. It, like all things that our physical senses experience
routinely, disappeared into the woodwork most days–but every so often, my Reticular
Activating System would have me catch sight of it again and I’d ponder the possibility:
What can I be the BEST in the world at?

Be assured that it’s a game-changer to know you can go toe-to-toe with the best in your
field and give either as good a performance or, more likely, a better one. Suddenly,
with this realization, your stock just took a quantum leap. You know you deserve, can,
and must command top-dollar for what you do–assuming, of course, that it is wanted.
As the best leaf-presser in the world, you may have a tough time with that. But if what
you’re “the best at” is valuable to the marketplace, you’ve just written your golden ticket.

Steve Jobs knew he was the best in the world at
innovation and made no qualms about boasting
so publicly. Writers Lev Grossman and Harry
McCracken wrote in Time Magazine’s October 17,
2001 issue: “Jobs dubbed the $2,495 Mac ‘insanely
great,’ a bit of self-praise that became forever
associated with him and Apple.” He didn’t listen
to his customers or his employees: he knew the
brilliance of his own mind and knew that to succeed,
he and everyone at Apple would do best listening to
it without reservation. They did–and the world was
changed.

On the one hand, you don’t have to broadcast to the world that you’re the best; one can
be more humble about it. But there’s also something very compelling about an expert
who asserts with conviction that he can do something no one else can. Humans aspire
to self-actualization, after all; we are fascinated by the evidence before us of one who
has reached it–at least on one  level.

Just the other day at my public speaking training, I said, for the first time, with clear
eyes and cellular certainty that I am the best in the world at extracting the message
an entrepreneur has been born to share–and that will change the world and
build a business empire. I would never compare myself to Steve Jobs, but I said it
with the same kind of knowing he had that no one can do what I do better. It was true.
It was simple. It was real. And so I said it. And I went on to let them know that come
2012, my stock price would be very different. It wasn’t a ploy or a manipulation. It
was just the truth–take it or leave it. It had impact.

Knowing what you’re the best in the world at is a game-changer. As I said
above, the question is not, “Of all that I do, which skill am I the best at?” It’s What am
I the best in the world at?

I suggest you write the question out and look at it every day–as that business man has
done, and as I did (and still do). Your subconscious will work on it, and one day, if you
want it enough, if you believe in yourself enough, the answer will come. And it will be
a brand new day.

Get all 75 tips PLUS an invitation to join me in celebrating 10 years on a free
call October 17th, PLUS much more! http://inspiredleadershiptraining.com/10Years/report/

Hate to sell? In celebration of my 10th anniversary, I am reprising one of my most beloved programs. A 4-part/2-week course, Grillin’ the Gremlin: Freedom for the Sales Phobic. Learn the 7 reasons you do not sell EAGERLY or WELL. This is the LAST time you’ll ever get his program, and the ONLY time you get to work with me for peanuts. Jump on this. It’s good only until Tuesday Oct 18th! http://inspiredleadershiptraining.com/10Years/gg/

It was October 2001. After nearly nine months of rigorous study and practice, I charged out of the iPEC Coaching school in New Jersey, where I’d just earned my ICF-accredited certification, and was ready to change the world. After all, two years before, I’d left my marriage to do just that (that’s another story) and I figured it was about time I followed through.

Never mind that I had no idea how to run a business. My father had been a minister, my mother a psychotherapist and the very cornerstones of any successful business—selling and marketing—had never been skills they’d needed, and in fact, they had quite openly disparaged them. While it has become a cliché now, I was one of those who truly believed that all it took to be good in business was being good at what I did. And I was great at coaching. So, it wasn’t much of a leap, I figured, to assume I’d be great in business.

Are you laughing? I wish someone had laughed at me and set me straight back then, but I didn’t have any entrepreneurial friends or family members, so they stepped into the poppy field with me and off we marched into my fantasy.

I soon woke up. With a start.

As I’ve said, I had no idea how to sell—but it was all much worse than just that. I didn’t want to sell. Like, fiercely. I honestly would have rather starved—and if it hadn’t been for my ex-husband, I probably would have. Sales people were desperate, sleazy, manipulative. And since I wasn’t any of those, I was not going to risk my reputation and become them. Lesson 1.

I had no target market. If you’ve been a student or client of mine, you’re openly gaping right now—but I assure you, it’s true: I wanted to be a generalist coach. After all, Marianne Williamson and Wayne Dyer didn’t have narrow markets: they spoke to the whole world and so would I. Lesson 2.

Then there was the clarity thing. It was bad enough that the world didn’t really know what a “coach” was outside of sports–and while making the analogy helped, still, furrowed brows dominated the faces of those to whom I tried to describe this new profession. And since I was a generalist, I had very little compelling to say about what I did. Lesson 3.

There’s more to the story–not trying to tease, but too long for a post. Go get the rest PLUS the 75 lessons I learned the hard way: http://inspiredleadershiptraining.com/10Years/report/

In my last post, I cracked the moral whip, taking a zero-tolerance
stance on “how-to experts” who earn a living sharing their expertise,
without ever learning the expertise of teaching. I made it clear
that I find doing so irresponsible and glaringly out of alignment with
their professed intention of wanting to help others. No one is being
helped by an expert who doesn’t know how to successfully transfer
knowledge. And I ruffled a few (not many, but a few) feathers,
clearly hitting a nerve.

So, let’s leave morality behind and get practical. Teaching power-
fully is the difference between a message sticking, and a message
evaporating into thin air. Teaching effectively is the difference between
your viewers, readers or listeners taking the action you want them
to, and slipping away into oblivion. Teaching well is the difference
between their buying on the spot, and procrastinating. Contributing,
and making excuses. Participating full-on, and sitting on the bench.
Telling others about you, and remaining silent. If you got triggered
by my wrist-slapping the other day, you can certainly agree with the
common sense fact that teaching well is good for your reputation,
your business and your intention to stimulate action.

But I believe there is a critical purpose to teaching effectively that is
greater than the moral value and the benefits to your business—and
it has to do with the historic times we find ourselves in, and what
they mean for the future of entrepreneurs.

Have you noticed the once-incomprehensible changes that are happening
on the planet right now? Upheavals of almost every kind abound, and
with them come growing fear and uncertainty. And whether you realize
it or not, your role as a business owner is changing, too. Where once,
you were in service to your individual markets—now, you’re in service to
the planet. Your role as entrepreneur is being upgraded to “leader of
change.” I met an 85-year-old woman the other night who was terribly
excited about the GET ON YOUR FEET2011 movement I’ve launched,
and she added a new word to my lexicon: world-citizen. In these times,
we are being called to world-citizenship as businesses.

Which means we will be called forward to lead–on platforms we’ve
never stood on before.

And we must be worthy of that leadership. We must communicate
so potently and effectively, that our words of insight get through, and
move people to change with these changing times. It is essential that
we not waste a breath speaking, unless it impacts. As a leader of change,
everything we convey must count. And that is the most important
reason to teach with powerful effectiveness. Not just because it’s morally
responsible (which it is), or because it will make you more money (which
it will)—but because you are here to achieve something and become a
part of something bigger than you, and its success is imperative.

The “new world” we are so quickly inhabiting will require powerful new
leaders with new-paradigm qualifications. Teaching with excellence
will be just one.

On Thursday, February 24 at 4pm EST, I am doing something I have
never done. (You’ve heard that one before, right?) I’m serious, though. For
years, I’ve taught a revolutionary public speaking training based on brain
research in memory and learning. Secrets of Impact and Influence
has been an enduring and highly acclaimed signature program—that I only
give live. Outside that training, I have never so much as whispered to any-
one the secrets I teach there—and all of my attendees have been sworn to
the same code of honor.  But on Feb. 24, I am opening up the Secrets of
Impact & Influence manual and teaching page 13: The 10 “Don’t-Bother
-Teaching-Without-These” Factors of Deep and Rapid Learning.

And because I’ll be using all 10 factors, The Inspired Speakers teleclass is
going to be unlike ANY free call (or paid call!) you have EVER experienced.

If you’re an expert, you cannot miss this. If you’re an entrepreneur, this
is your future: leaders of change must know this information. So go now,
read all about it and sign up!

I just returned from a meeting with the principal of my
daughter’s high school. Great guy. Just love him because
he is student-centered, not teacher-centered. At one point,
we got to talking about the poor teaching that occurs across
the board in our district (despite its being one of the most
affluent in the state) and he asked me for any insights I had.

He didn’t know that I teach adults how to use brain-based
learning in their presentations and seminars, so he was
surprised, to say the least, when I rattled off many things
these teachers are not doing that they should. Things that
are brain-antagonistic. These are trained teachers who do
not know how to maximize learning. These are professionals
who are paid, yet do not know how to maximize learning.

And I have a problem with that. I have an extreme problem
with state-trained teachers of our children not knowing how
to teach. But I have just as big a beef about ANY professional
getting paid to ”transfer knowledge” without knowing how
to teach. How to get clients/students to learn. At least
trained teachers go through a system that supposedly prepares
them to educate our kids. They at least get some guidance
on effective teaching practices. But what business professional
does? Virtually none.

Meanwhile, they proclaim they can teach you how to write
a book in thirty days; how to save on your taxes; how to get
media publicity; how to optimize your website; how to make
love with your husband; how to talk to your teen; how to
meditate; how to lose weight; how to write a proposal; how to
use XYZ software; how to market your business, etc. etc.

My ire really gets up here and I say, how dare you! You have
never learned how to teach, how can you POSSIBLY think
you can?? Do you know how intuitive teaching is? How much
of an art it is? How you must score extremely high on empathy
tests to teach well? It does not come naturally to most of the
population. Just because you know how to do something does
NOT MEAN YOU CAN TEACH IT. And shame on you for
taking money from vulnerable, unsuspecting customers when
you have not learned (and then practiced!) how to maximize
learning.

For this very reason, it is appalling that that the information
industry is a trillion-dollar industry. There is no excuse for
trained teachers, who get paid, not to know how to tap the
brains of our students. Equally so, if you are getting paid to
teach anything–via the internet (especially), or in books or
information products (especially!), or in live seminars—
then learn how to teach first!

And student beware! If you are about to learn from a million-
aire, STOP! Ask them what they know about learning. I
took a course from a billionaire that was so bad, I could
barely contain myself. She made a lot of money off of that
training—but it was a deplorable effort and she did not
deliver results. But she led everyone to believe that she could
teach them “how,” just because she had been successful.

After witnessing too many of these accounts, as well as the
insane proliferation of on-line study programs, I am going
back to the basics and again centering all of my programs
around teaching best-teaching skills–which translate to
best leadership skills. If you’re leading, you MUST know how
to effectively convey your message. If you are on this planet
to make real change for the planet, you must transfer your
knowledge effectively. And it just won’t happen if you don’t
know how to teach! Specifically, to the brain.

So, if that describes you—a conveyor of information, a leader of
change, then stay close. You don’t want to miss out on the
direction I’m going and the brand new programs I’m offering.

Let’s review terms, so we’re all on the same page.

“Brain-Sticky” Communications are compelling, memorable,
original–and persuade people to act.

“Brain-Antagonistic” Communications literally antagonize the
brain’s ability to process naturally. These are communications that
are boring, confusing–and perhaps surprisingly–too intellectual.

Are you surprised that most web-pages are Brain-Antagonistic?
Didn’t think so.

But I bet you’d be surprised to find that on your own site, your value
is not at all conveyed . Or it’s communicated much too far down
the page. Do you know why customers need you? Don’t talk about
yourself–talk about THEIR needs–and say it immediately.

Another Brain-Antagonistic website mistake is the use of generalities
rather than specifics. Your prospect’s brain is seeking precision and
instant clarity. Do not say things like, “I help women have more energy.”
Far too general. What would they be doing if they had more energy?
Working out an extra 20 minutes? Then say that.

Rambling is another much-too-common Brain-Antagonistic blunder.
Get to the point. Write concisely. If you can’t manage this (you’ll
know if this is a trouble spot for you if you tend to ramble in your
spoken communication)–get a professional copywriter! I am happy
to share names I know. (I don’t do copy writing any more).

Most service professionals use vague, broad terms on their web
pages, when the brain is starving for concrete words that form
pictures. “We evaluate your website communications” is vague and
broad. “We evaluate your website against the following 7 criteria…”
is concrete.

Maybe your very worst offense is that you’re saying nothing new.
The brain attends automatically to what is novel. Are you sharing
your expertise in intriguing new ways? Or are you saying what
everyone else is saying? I am willing to bet that you are NOT unique
enough, and so cannot convey your worth in an intriguing way.
If you’re game, I can check out your site and tell you instantly.

Most likely–this happens constantly–one of the main culprits of your
looking and sounding like everyone else is your use of cliche words.
Words that are over-used carry no meaning to the brain. Examples:
“authentic,” “stress relief,” “success,” “get to the next level.” GET
CREATIVE! Pull out a thesaurus–or again, get a professional copy-
writer.

And finally, chances are strong that you make no persuasive argument
on your site–or a very weak one. Prospects are instantly skeptical and
suspicious. If you cannot persuade them that your product or service
is required for them right now, your website has failed to do it’s job.
Your business has failed to do its job. First, you must HAVE an argument,
then you must prove it. Do you?

Here are the 7 Criteria of a Brain-Sticky website (possible only if the
business itself is Brain-Sticky): Your value is conveyed 1) immediately;
2) intriguingly; 3) specifically; 4) concretely, 5) concisely;
6) freshly and 7) persuasively.

Would you like to see if your site passes the Brain-Sticky
Litmus test? For one week only–Jan. 26-Feb 2--I am opening my
schedule for “1-hour 1-Shots.” In a break-neck speed, action-packed
hour, I will examine your site against these 7 criteria–and provide
countless suggestions–all at a 50%+ discount off my private hourly fee.
This is unprecedented. And if your site meets all 7 criteria, I’ll refund
your money back and congratulate you. Why? Because if your site meets
the Brain-Sticky Litmus Test, then your business does. And that’s really
what I’m checking for. I use the website as a tool to determine the health
of your business identity.

So, click here to get the details.  Don’t wait because it’s just for this
one week.

Listen here to 2 excerpts from a web evaluation I did a
few months back. Hit the “back” arrow button to return
here.

WebsiteEvalSample1.mp3

webeval2

Jan 26 – Feb 2 only. Read the details and get not just your SITE, but your
entire business identity, up to Brain-Sticky speed! Click here now.

Do you feel changes in the air?
Do you envision yourself a part of accelerating those changes?
Do you have a message, a fire in your belly…
…That you’ve been holding back?

Are you DONE with hiding out?
DONE with your own excuses?
Your silence?

Are you ready to RISE UP and be heard?
Ready to make things happen?
And wake up the world?

Then 2011 is your year.
2011 is OUR year.

2011 is the year “inspired leaders” around the world
get on their feet, share their voice, and make things happen!

But to do it, we’re going to need to get a little crazy.
Our goals will be irrational.
Our time-lines will be illogical.
Our actions will break all boundaries of common sense.

But we will be unstoppable.

We will defy gravity.

And in the end, we will have activated new levels of awareness.
Broken limitations in ourselves and others.
Developed new leaders for a new world.

In just one year, we will create world-wide transformation.

Sound unreasonable?

It is.

We are going to be “unreasonable”—breaking the bounds of “reason”;
doing the unexpected; creating the impossible.

But we’ll do it because we’ll do it together.

GET ON YOUR FEET 2011 is the movement dedicated to getting visionaries for world change out of hiding, out of smallness, and on their feet, delivering the messages they have been destined to share.

On December 2, 2010 at 4:20 a.m. I was awakened
with the words GET ON YOUR FEET emblazoned on my mind…
then Gloria Estafan’s song wafted through…and I knew instantly
what it was saying: “It’s time to get the world on its feet–out
of limitation and hiding—and the Inspired Leaders must first
get on their feet to make it happen!”

The next morning, I Googled the lyrics to Estafan’s song.
They confirmed my understanding.  Here is some of it:

I Think It’s True That We’ve All Been Through
Some Nasty Weather
Let’s Understand That We’re Here
To Handle Things Together
You Gotta Keep Looking Onto Tomorrow
There’s So Much In Life
That’s Meant For You

Get On Your Feet
Get Up And Make It Happen
Get On Your Feet
Stand Up And Take Some Action

Get On Your Feet
Don’t Stop Before It’s Over
Get On Your Feet
The Weight Is Off Your Shoulder

Get Up And Make It Happen
Stand Up Stand Up Stand Up And Take Some Action

Are you ready to stand up and take some action?

I am gathering a core team to work with me.
Do you want to be a part of it?

I’m also looking for a team to create in-person groups around
the country. I’ll be saying more about this very soon.

Beyond that, anyone and everyone is welcome to join
this movement! The logo above will be available for everyone
who joins to use.

From “Wicked” and the song “Defying Gravity”:

I just had a vision
Almost like a prophecy
I know it sounds truly crazy
And, true, the vision’s hazy
But I swear someday we’ll be flying so high!

My vision for GET ON YOUR FEET 2011 is still hazy,
still in progress…and the core team will grow it even more!
But here it is, as of today, winter solstice, December 21, 2010:

«      Virtual and live community

«      In person inspirational events

«      Pay-it-forward opportunities

«      On-going motivational incentives for inspiring members to successfully deliver their messages!

«      An opportunity to work inside of a structured curriculum (the persuasive communications material I’ve mastered and taught for 4 years), taking leaders from message creation through message delivery.

«      A VERY EXCITING (can’t be revealed yet) free event in the summer that will get everyone on their feet for sure!

«      A December 31, 2011 awards ceremony, where all attendees usher in 2012 together!

Right now, you can do one thing: go to the brand-spanking-new Facebook Page for this movement and LIKE! And tell everyone you know to JOIN/LIKE!

Together, we will change the world in 2011!
Go to www.getonyourfeet2011.com now!

So, one of the twelve sentences that we craft in my upcoming
“12 Sentences: The Ultimate Business Creation and
Articulation Course” is a “business thesis.”

Remember theses from college? Here’s a definition: A single
declarative sentence that states what you believe,
where you stand on an issue, and what you intend
to prove.

Below, you will find the exact excerpt from the chapter
on “business thesis” in the potent “9 Strategic Inquiries
Manual” that comes with the “12 Sentences” course.  It is
chapter 8 because there is no way to arrive at a business thesis
before having gone through all previous 7 chapters. Not a
sales-pitch; just the truth.

Excerpt from “9 Strategic Inquiries Manual”: Chapter 8

Every business has a statement of why their product or service
is needed–but virtually none realizes it is a thesis–and it is
important to recognize that. Furthermore, because their
speaking about their business is so unconscious, they don’t
understand the power of a thesis statement: that there should
be just one per business, and that that entire business must
stand solidly on that foundational statement.

Rather, they hop tactically from one value-statement to another,
unaware that they’re even using such a statement. So, you want
to bring the entire concept of your business argument into
conscious awareness.

This strategic thinking will ensure that your articulation is laser-
sharp. Just as important, knowing your thesis statement clearly
ensures that what you say when you speak about your business’s
value “holds water”–all the leaky holes of skepticism have been
sealed and your prospects are convinced of your contention.

In my analysis, lack of sales happens primarily because of a
poorly constructed argument. Your prospect says, “But what
about this or that?” They have not been persuaded that your
reason for being valuable is valid. In this chapter, we’re going
to begin to get it right–and this is one of the 12 sentences, so
with the work to come on those, and my editing, you’re argument
will not have holes!

From Indiana University’s Writing Tutorial Services:

How to Tell a Strong Thesis Statement from a Weak One:

1. A strong thesis statement takes some sort of stand.
2. A strong thesis statement justifies discussion.
3. A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.
4. A strong thesis statement is specific.
5. A strong thesis statement is supported and convinces the reader of the argument.
These five points correlate precisely to a “business thesis,” as
well, which takes a stand. It justifies discussion–i.e. is
thought-provoking enough to get a prospect’s attention so
they inquire further. It expresses one main idea–so prospects
understand clearly what a business does.  And a business thesis
is specific, capturing the attention of a prospect’s brain, and also
lends immediate credibility because it indicates that thoughtful
investigation has taken place n the topic.

Which leads to the most important element of a thesis argument:
it is supported somehow, making it as close to irrefutable as
conceivably possible. No one can poke holes in it. When a
prospect can poke holes in the stand you’re taking,
they’re going to walk away.

You must close all the doors so they’re left saying, “You’re
right.” Only when you’ve proven your case will you get clients.

You’ve heard the expression, “I don’t buy it.” It’s used when
someone doesn’t believe a position that someone’s taken. In
the case of your business, those words are literally true!

So, prove your case by offering supporting evidence, or by making
a point that is naturally irrefutable, such as, “As a human, you need
to ingest some form of nutrition every day.” Irrefutable.

So, the thought for the day is this: A poorly constructed “business
thesis” will result in lack of sales.

I don’t know anyone else teaching this–or any other aspect of this
course, for that matter. So, if you want to get your business thesis
“hole-proof,” I hope you will get on one of the free calls I’m giving
this week and next.

I’ll share the mistakes you’re making when articulating about your
business + you’ll learn specifics about this Masters-Degree-level
course, “12 Sentences,” and how it will completely alter your
business and its sales + you will get exercises only students of
that course ever experience + receive an incredibly inexpensive
tuition.

To read more and register, click here.