1. The win/lose mentality,
2. The lose/lose mentality and
3. The win/win mentality.

People with a win/lose mentality are usually the super competitive type, not willing to be taken disadvantaged of and always comparing themselves to other people all the time. They believe that in order for them to succeed in life, others must fail. To them, success is relative.

As for people with a lose/lose mentality, they have a strong belief that they can never achieve anything worthwhile in life, so why should they let someone like you do so. Very often, they are also pessimistic and negative in their outlook. For such people, it would be pointless to tell them that you have great plans for your life and wish them success. They will only criticize you and tell you it cannot be done. After all, they had tried that already and it did not work!

People who are achievers in life have the win/win mentality. Not only are they are confident about their capability and their chances of success, they also realise that their success does not depend on other people’s failure. To the contrary, their success at times depends on other people’s success.

Cultivating the Win-Win mindset

Stephen R. Covey, in discussing this subject states: “Win/win is based on the paradigm that there is plenty for everybody, that one person’s success is not achieved at the expense or exclusion of the success of others…It’s not your way or my way; it’s a better way, a higher way.”

If you are to succeed in life and become the person you are meant to be, then you must know that you will not get there alone. You need others to get there just like conquering a mountain. You need a team of climbers and supporting team members to help you journey this road to the highest peak – success at the top!

Therefore, we must learn to think of win/win and cultivate a mindset of mutual benefit if we want to achieve greater success in life. Helping others to succeed in life in turn will allow us to receive help from others when we need it most to succeed. It is often said that the greatest people are always those that help others.

We must also learn to be happy and celebrate others’ success while we look forward to our own success. We need not judge ourselves based on what others have achieved, but rather based on what we want to achieve.

Life is not a race against other people. It is a one man race. You determine the destination, the route, the time limits and the prize. We are all running a different race. How do you compete with someone that is not on the same track as you are?

There are certain pitfalls in this journey towards success. We must always be weary of and guard ourselves against undesirable habits such as envy and jealousy. Like other bad habits, envy and jealousy will only rob you of your energy, creativity, drive, clarity of mind and enthusiasm for life.

The Win/Win mindset – conclusion

We need not “Keep up with the Joneses”. We can choose a higher way as Stephen Covey says. It is a way where we and others both win. This is a mindset of abundance – willing to share with others and ensuring everyone is a winner.

What will be your choice?

I bet that got your attention!  Reducing costs to maximize profit is something that every business owner knows, but it seems to get lost in the busyness of our day-to-day running of the business.

Here is a list of some savvy ways to reduce the cost of doing business:

1.  Barter – You could barter goods or services with other businesses.  Try to trade for something before you buy it.
2.  Borrow/Rent – Have you purchased a piece of business equipment and only needed it for a short period of time?  You could have borrowed the equipment from someone else or rented it from a rental store instead of buying it.
3. Free Stuff – Try visiting the thousands of “freebie” sites on the Internet before buying business supplies. You can find free software, graphics, legal forms, online business services, etc.
4. Search – You could always be on the lookout for new suppliers for your needs.  You will never know when you meet another supplier with lower prices and better quality.  When you find one, try pointing the difference to your current supplier. You may be able to get a better deal from him and not have to change.  Do not be satisfied with just a few.  You never know when your favorite supplier may decide to go out of business.
5. Network – Could you trade leads or mailing lists with another business similar to yours?  This will cut down on your marketing/advertising costs. If you do not have a leads list, try bartering your goods/services for their leads.
6. Plan Ahead – Make a list of supplies or equipment that you will need in the future.  Watch for stores that have big sales, and purchase your items when they go on sale before you need them.
7. Used but Not Spolit – If your equipment and supplies need not to be new, buy a second hand or used one. Cars, desks, file cabinets, etc. can be found at garage sales, used stores, on message boards, and free publications.  Some excellent items are sometimes offered when a business decides to relocate or is closing.
8. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate!  This has become a lost art.  You should always try to negotiate a lower price for any business equipment or      supplies.  It does not hurt try to save some costs by bargaining with a supplier.

 You might find these things mentioned above hard to do but with a little practice, you may find some of them very effective when it comes to reducing costs on your balance sheet.  It certainly takes some determination to acquire a good habit of saving costs!

If you are the owner of a business, then you have to sell your ideas to your employees or your board of directors.  If you are just an employee of an organization, then you must be able to sell your ideas to your boss, your company, or your clients.  It seems that in this life, no matter whether it is in business, relationships, or interacting with others, we need to be adept at selling our ideas to others.

It is not hard to master this skill but it takes practice.  The first and most important rule of thumb is to remember that one’s credibility and power to make the desired changes must be earned.  Here are some specific points to remember if we want to learn how to sell our ideas effectively to others:

1. We need to be absolutely sure that we have understood every aspect that is related to our proposal. If there are obstacles within your organization that hinders your idea, then you need to find a way around them before you make your suggestions.  This is so that when      the obstacles are raised, you can come up with a solution.
2. We need to also know who or what sections of our business that may be affected negatively by our idea. This is to help us find a way to modify it so that the organization can get all or most of the benefits without any parties getting hurt.
3. We also need to be aware of our own credibility.  Often, it is the presenter more than what is presented that is judged.
4. We must also limit the number of suggestions made.  This will increase your credibility if you have prioritized your ideas before trying to sell them.

In selling your ideas to others, make sure your role is that of a clear advocate.  It is essential that we gain the respect we need through hard work and dedication to our responsibilities.  We can also form alliances with others that are based on mutual respect and hard work.  Finally, we need to know exactly what we are proposing and all the implications of our idea.

The ability to sell your ideas to others is a valuable asset to your life and understanding how it is done is critical and ought to be mastered.  It does not matter whether you are dealing with your peers, your business, your children, or your significant other – your ability to sell your idea will be used, so make sure you hone this tool well.

1.  If you are selling a product which is something your prospect can hold in his hands, you have to get it into his hands as quickly as possible. In other words, get the prospect “into the act”.  Let him feel it, weigh it and admire it.

2.  Do not stand or sit alongside your prospect.  You should face him while you are pointing out the important advantages of your product.  This will enable you to watch his facial expressions and body language and help you determine whether and when you should go for the close.

In handling sales materials or brochures, hold it by the top of the page, at a proper angle, so that your prospect can read it as you are highlighting the important points. Do not release your hold on it because you want to be in control of the parts which you want your prospect to read.  In other words, you want the prospect to read or see only the parts of the sales material you are telling him about at a given time.

3.  With prospects who would not talk with you:  you must dramatize your presentation to get him involved.  Stop and ask your prospects questions such as, “Now, don’t you agree that this product can help you or would be of benefit to you?”  After you have asked such a question, stop talking and wait for your prospect to answer.  It is a proven fact that following such a question, the one who talks first will lose, so do not say anything until after your prospect has given you some kind of answer.  Wait him out!

If you may not be a born salesman, but if you study these tips and adapt it to your selling, you will experience greater success in sales.

Motivational experts get paid big bucks to tell working professionals why they need to stay motivated in order to strive for success. The question is how can we then motivate ourselves without having motivational experts to tell us what to do.

Here are some quick tips which would help one to stay motivated in their lives:

• Maintain a Positive Attitude – We need to realize that life is only 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we react to it.  We are responsible for our own actions and attitudes, and changing them when there is a need to do so.  When we are with people/things that are uplifting and positive, we feel good and energised.  We need to have more confidence in ourselves and change whatever needs changing. If we can make our workplace a more uplifting and positive work environment, we will find happier workers and higher production. We might even find our employees look forward to coming to work!
• Create Positive Affirmations -  The reason for writing goals for your business is the same as creating positive affirmations on paper.  What your eyes can see and ears can hear, your mind will believe.  Do try it!  After you have written your goals or affirmations down, read them aloud to yourself – and do it every morning when you get into work.  You will be amazed at what happens.  Come up with a set of new ones every month.  Statements such as, “I’m an important and valuable person,” or “I know I can make good use of my time today.”  Repeating them out loud everyday at a set time will help reinforce positive actions.
• Make Sure Break Times Are Really Break Times -  This is an area where most bosses/entrepreneurs have trouble managing.  We always become anxious and concerned about the big project or situation we are working on.  We need regular break schedule so that the break helps us to release the tension in our work.  If we work on a computer this is even a greater problem because we may end up working in that same position for hours.  The best answer to this is to set a reminder on your appointment calendar for every 2 hours, and let the computer reminder chime send us the alert to move around.
• Exercise, Exercise, Exercise -     By “exercise” I do not mean that we should go out and join a gym and spend our lunch-time, 3-days-a-week there working out.  What is really beneficial and workable is that at those chiming alerts from your computer, we can get up and walk around our desk or room.  Maybe we can stop our work temporarily and go outside to enjoy some sunlight or just get up and do a few stretches.  Concentrated, tense thinking – typing – drafting plans – or whatever we work at, makes all our muscles tighten up and knot up.  Periodic stretching, even at our desk, or just getting up and walking over to the window and getting a different view can help.  There is nothing more relaxing than getting up from our desk and walking over to a peaceful, serene, seascape or pastoral painting and just watching it visually.  Momentarily transporting your mind out of work and into that place of relaxation does wonders.

It only takes a little concentrated effort on our part to keep motivated and productive, which can lead to more success

Your current employer could be your ticket to a successful freelance business provided your employer’s business does not conflict with your dreams. If you were thinking of starting a freelance copywriting business, you could negotiate a contract with your current employer for 50% of your time for the first year after you resign. This would give you a springboard for finding other clients while still covering your monthly expenses.

You are probably wondering why would your employer agree to sign a contract for half of your time? There are a number of reasons, and they can result in a “win-win” situation for both of you.

If you are on good terms with your employer, chances are that he does not want to lose you. It takes time to train someone to fill your job and train them to be productive.

Even if he decides to replace you, it can take months to gather resumes, interview candidates, and hire the right person. During that time you can be performing job functions from your home office, perhaps even training your replacement and providing your boss with a smoother transition by minimizing the disruption to his business.

If you are not on good terms with your boss and the company is downsizing, merging, or being bought out, you can help them avoid the unpleasantness and cost of firing you. You are actually doing them a favor by restructuring this in the form of a contract for services that can be “stretched out” for a period of time if needed.

Frankly, if an employer has to choose between letting you go and paying severance and benefits versus signing a contract for a time period, which do you think they would prefer? Signing and getting tangible work and services in return without the costs associated with terminating you is a much better deal for him. The contract may even be allocated from a different budget category, making it more affordable for the company.

There is another reason your boss may opt for a contract, and that is your knowledge. You are already familiar with the company, its clients and services. You are able to provide the services they need and you understand what has to be done. Many creative people have used this logic in approaching their bosses to negotiate their first contract and go out on their own.

If you are interested in starting your own business, your current job can provide the security you need in your first year. What better way to get started on your dream?

As with any marketing campaign, business owners should do some market research before they launch their Internet marketing campaign. Ideally this will involve hiring a research consultant with a great deal of experience in conducting and evaluating this type of market research. The results of this research should determine the basic demographical information for the target audience. The results should also include information on how to reach this target audience. A business that cannot afford to hire a consultant to conduct this market research should still make an effort to obtain this information on their own. This can be done through informal polls of current clients. This information may not be as comprehensive as the information obtained in a more formal study but it can still provide a great deal of insight into the best way to reach the target audience.

Once this information is obtained, it is important to tailor the Internet marketing campaign to appeal to the target audience. There are a number of different variables which can be modified to ensure the right message is reaching the right people in a manner they can understand and in which they can relate. Some of the ways in which your Internet marketing campaign can be tailored in this way include the aesthetics of your website or advertisements, the wording of your copy and the use of more advanced design features such as audio and visual or interactive tools.

The aesthetic appeal of a website can greatly contribute to how the website is viewed by the members of the target audience. A website which is designed to attract the attention of an older generation with more conservative tastes should include muted colors, clean design and conservative graphics. This will help to ensure the target audience enjoys the website. Conversely if you are looking to appeal to a younger audience with more liberal viewpoints you might chose to design the website with bold colors, eye catching graphics and creative design features.

The copy you include on your website should also take your target audience into consideration. Consider the examples of a conservative and a liberal audience listed above to create a better understanding of how the copy on your website can appeal to the target audience. When marketing to a more conservative audience, the copy should be tailored to use formal language and use facts to back up viewpoints. However, when you are marketing to a more liberal audience or a younger audience you can consider using less formal language which is likely to appeal to the target audience. You can also focus more on emotion to express viewpoints.

Finally, when a website is created for the purposes of Internet marketing it is important for the design of the website to appeal to the target audience. You may wish to include audio and video clips on your website but these clips should appeal to the target audience. For example if your website sells skateboards you might consider incorporating audio clips from punk rock bands as opposed to country music bands. There may be some skateboarders who enjoy country music but in general punk rock music more closely represents the skating culture. Keeping these details in mind is very important for Internet marketing

1. Establish the objective or goal – We need to define what we want to achieve. There must be clarity in terms of the end outcome that we want to achieve.

2. Agree on the process – We need to know how the final decision will be made in particular who are the stakeholders that would be involved in this process. Would be it a shared process or determined by one final individual?

3. Involve the right people – We need to ensure that we have consulted all the stakeholders even if the final decision is to be made by a single individual.

4. Allow opinions to be heard – We must encourage and allow the various stakeholders to contribute to the discussions, debates, and analysis without any fear of rejection from the group. This is one of the best ways to avoid groupthink. We must also recognize that the objective is to make the best decision under the existing circumstances and constraints. It is not about siding anyone to get a preferred decision being made or adopted.

5. Ask the right question – We need to ask questions to elicit what is really the true issue. The 5 Whys technique is a classic tool that can helps us identify the real underlying problem that we face.

6. Use innovation tools – The basis of creativity is to think from a different perspective. The use of innovation tool will allow us to practice divergent thinking and generate alternatives while we deal with the issue. This is particularly important since the generation of new ideas will help create new connections, break old thought patterns, and consider new perspectives.

The decisions can range from the very mundane and simple operational decision such as what corporate colour to match your namecards, which supplier do you use to complex and strategic decision for which candidate to hire for the marketing position or
which strategy to pursue.

The ability to make a good decision with the available information is a vital one. It would be easy if there is an ultimate decision-making formula you could use in any situation,
but the sad truth is there isn’t any. Each decision presents with itself its own unique set of challenges, and different individuals will have their own peculiar ways of processing
information, evaluate situations and make decisions.

If there isn’t any formula to good decision-making, what about avoiding making a bad decision? Or can we leave this to chance? Of course not! We need a systematic approach to decision-making so that no matter what type of decision we have to make, we can have the confidence that we are using an effective process to ensure the
decisions we make ends up with consistently, higher quality results. In this way, we can improve the quality of our decisions!

There are six steps to making an effective decision:

1. Create a constructive environment.
2. Generate sufficient options.
3. Review suggested options
4. Evaluate and select the best option.
5. Conduct reality check on your decision.
6. Communicate your decision.

Pushing a product on potential customers that they do not really need might work once but I believe the awful experience that they encountered might make them to think twice before coming back again to get something from you.

The secret of good sales practice is not to focus on selling though that is the intention. The secret of good sales practice is to provide a really useful service or product to some one who really needs it! Helping customers understand the benefits that your service or product provides is important before they purchase.

It might be a case where you have to point out that what you have might not be right for them and hence loses a potential customer. This may result in a loss of customers for the short term but what you gained is an advocate – someone who know that you truly care for their interests and will soon endorse your service/product to someone whom they think is the right customers for you.

Focus on building a rapport with your customers and potential customers, offer them a service that they truly need and will benefit from it and soon you will find happy customers coming to back to you and recommending you to their friends, colleagues and family members.