Out with the Old and in with the New – Reflection of an Internet Marketer

As we get towards the end of 2009, I thought I’d take a bit of time to reflect on where I’m at personally in comparison to this time last year.

At the end of last year and having worked on an extremely demanding and mentally draining task in my corporate role, I was in work and thinking “I need another huge challenge similar to that, I need to be working pro-actively, making decisions, devising strategic plans and working alongside my fantastic team to deliver outstanding results.

It didn’t happen and much as I tried to be pro-active and forward thinking, proposing several suggestions based on sound business sense and customer service, others who needed to endorse the proposed changes were much more risk averse than I was.

Working in career guidance we teach a model called the alignment model and this basically outlines that your needs and wants have to be in alignment with the organisation you work for.  If you are out of alignment then you need to either find that motivator, that driver outside of work to feel fulfilled, or you need to look for another job.

I didn’t want to look for another job because I really love and believe in what I do, I work alongside a fantastic team who are well motivate, embrace change and constantly come up with new and exciting ideas that we discuss then implement.

So what did I do?  Well I found the challenge I was seeking by joining a Home Business opportunity with the full intention of making it a success and eventually working from home full-time.

I have to say however, I had absolutely no idea about internet marketing or how to make money online.  I knew how to surf the net and send email but that really was about the extent of it.  Now I have so much learning under my belt, I amaze myself sometimes by things I do know but thought I didn’t if that makes sense.

5 months down the road and I’m still working in my management role and running my business part-time.  That however is my choice.  Financially I could leave now but something inside of me is saying “don’t do it just yet”.

You see, I still have lots I want to do in my job, changes I want to see implemented, some of which I have personally proposed and many of these will happen in 2010.  I also don’t feel I’m ready to leave the team and sit at home on my own.  Although I love to work on my own at times, I also enjoy going to work in the morning, having a laugh with the others and seeing great results every day.

If you’re reading this blog post and you are working in a position that often leaves you unfulfilled, why not consider doing what I did and finding that challenge in something else.  You definitely won’t regret it, that’s for sure and may find like I did, that this is something I should have done years ago.

If you want to get started, just fill in your details at the top of this post and I’ll help you get started on your road to financial freedom (if that’s what you want) or get you to a point where YOU can sack YOUR BOSS!  How good would that feel?

As I sign off now with only 3 days left of this old year, I have to say it’s been fantastic, rewarding, challenging at times but just like any other year I have had, I wouldn’t have changed anything.  Everything I do and have done has been for a reason and it’s all been worthwhile.

Every day’s a school day and a day you haven’t learned something new, is a day wasted!

Lessons from geese – a leader is nothing without their team

The acronym TEAM represents Together Everyone Achieves More and there is no truer representation of teamwork and teambuilding at its best than through the geese that share out planet.  When I first read this, it just made so much sense to me and having always operated in a teamworking environment, I know that although I was in a leadership position, I was nothing without the backing and support of a strong team. 

I have carried this through to my current business in internet marketing, and although it is my own business, there is always a strong team with a positive mindset behind each individual that makes the opportunity and business sustainable and profitable for everyone.

Learn from the geese

As each goose flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the others behind it. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of another.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the “lifting power” of the bird immediately in front.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as the goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go (and be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others.)

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.
Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership–with people, as with geese, we are interdependent on each other.

The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging, and not something else.

When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or catch up with the flock.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we too will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

By Milton Olson

How to be a leader rather than a manager – 3 basic differences?

Leaders get the job done and keep the group going.  Leaders sell the tickets for the journey; Managers drive the bus to the destination.

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.
Peter F. Drucker
Define your vision

What is fundamentally crucial and an essential aspect of leadership is ‘visionary thinking’.  Constantly having a vision is what sets the leader apart from the manager.  The manager is the person who normally implements someone else’s ideas.  A leader will work from the end to the beginning i.e. they will start with planning their goal and then put steps in place to reach it.  Having this vision is the currency of all leaders.

Share your vision

The Rev. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is an excellent example of how a vision can be communicated. Through his skilful use of language and imagery, King brought his vision to life.
I have found my most successful ideas are communicated informally, through one-one-one discussions in offices or chatting over lunch.  A night out with colleagues where invariably the conversations turn to the workplace can be invaluable in sharing ideas and bringing everyone into agreement.  Visions build excitement, leaders must have the ability to enthuse others and be a cheerleader for the cause.  Achievements should be celebrated and progress must be acknowledged and rewarded.  Strong and positive 2 way communication is vital to the success of any goal.

Recognise your leadership style

All leaders lead differently and it is important to recognise which style comes most naturally to you.  We learn through watching others do things and often imitate them at times but when the pressure builds, you are most likely to revert to the style that best suits your personality type.  It is okay to practise other styles of leadership so long as you are aware which style it is.  The most common type of leadership is the facilitative one:  i.e. you know what the end result should be and you actively empower others to arrive at a similar result.  This can be done through simple questioning techniques such as: 

1. Have you thought about….?
2. I wonder what would happen if…?
3. Imagine if we could…..
4. What do you think of…..
5. Who in the team do you think would be best to do…?
6. What obstacles are we likely to face…?
7. Where do you think would be an ideal starting point…?
8. Why should we do it this way…?
9. When would be best to start…?

Another approach is autocratic.  Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of Great Britain is an example of this style of leadership whilst former USA President Bill Clinton is an example of one who used a facilitative style of leadership.

A third style is charismatic – having the gift of power.  Former presidents John F Kennedy and Franklin D Roosevelt were two historical figures with special abilities to energise those they led.

Although each of us has a style that comes most naturally, the best leaders can use various styles as the situation requires. For instance, a facilitative leader may need to act more autocratic in times of emergency; if the situation requires swift, bold action, the leader must be able to switch gears and provide what is needed in the crisis.

Just imagine how much more productive your team would be if they actually took ‘ownership’ of effecting changes either in the workplace or within the team dynamics.  Their ideas are readily sought and implemented and in turn a great sense of achievement is felt by all.  They need never know this was all your idea in the first place; your leadership skills have influenced and convinced them it was their idea all along!

Trish Mullen has over 20 years experience leading from the front within a military environment and many years since then coaching and mentoring others to be the be the best they can be by believing in themselves and knowing they deserve their achievements.  Trish is now leading and mentoring successful teams within her home online business to achieve enormous wealth in their own home businesses.  Find out more at http://www.wealthyincome4u.com and http://www.whoistrishmullen.com