Author: Nancy Sheerin .

And while it can be a lot of fun to pick out your new kitchen, the new floors for your bathroom, it also requires your full attention. That’s a luxury members with children don’t always have. That’s why DirectBuy has developed a “Kids Zone” area in their clubs, so parents can focus on the task at hand and kids can enjoy the DirectBuy experience, too.

Though not a supervised area, the Kids Zone features a number of things to keep school-age children occupied and entertained: books, craft, puzzles and games. The Kids Zone also includes a flat screen television with DVD player so children of members can watch TV or movies.

“Let’s face it, most kids would rather go to the dentist than watch their parents shop for their next home improvement project. By the same token, it’s difficult for members with children to get the most out of the experience and do the research they need to do if they’re concerned about the kids getting fidgety. The Kids Zone gives children of DirectBuy members a place to play games, watch TV or even make new friends with other members’ kids while the grown-ups have their ‘fun’,” said Peter Maloney, co-owner of DirectBuy of Central Connecticut.

Creating fun things to do for children is nothing new for DirectBuy. DirectBuy franchises across North America regularly donate equipment to youth organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, and children’s hospitals.

“Because we are so entrenched in the community, we have an even greater incentive to make this a one-of-a-kind, unique shopping experience because many of the members are our friends, neighbors, even relatives,” continued Maloney. “The Kids Zone and donations to groups like the Boys & Girls Club and the Y are just an extension of that philosophy.”

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 50 Inwood Road in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, DirectBuy of Central Connecticut offers consumers a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on DirectBuy of Central Connecticut, you can call 860-571-1250 or visit www.directbuy-centralconnecticut.com

About DirectBuy
Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct enables members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy of Central Connecticut has been serving the region since 2004 and prides itself in providing excellent member service. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality. It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. Direct Buy of Central Connecticut is part of more than 150 franchise locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by contacting DirectBuy of Central Connecticut at 860-571-1250 or directbuycct@aol.com. To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy.com.

About the Author:

Author: Nancy Sheerin .

And while it can be a lot of fun to pick out your new kitchen, the new floors for your bathroom, it also requires your full attention. That’s a luxury members with children don’t always have. That’s why DirectBuy has developed a “Kids Zone” area in their clubs, so parents can focus on the task at hand and kids can enjoy the DirectBuy experience, too.

Though not a supervised area, the Kids Zone features a number of things to keep school-age children occupied and entertained: puzzles, games and toys. The Kids Zone also includes a flat screen television with DVD player so children of members can watch TV or movies.

“Let’s face it, most kids would rather go to the dentist than watch their parents shop for their next home improvement project. By the same token, it’s difficult for members with children to get the most out of the experience and do the research they need to do if they’re concerned about the kids getting fidgety. The Kids Zone gives children of DirectBuy members a place to play games, watch TV or even make new friends with other members’ kids while the grown-ups have their ‘fun’,” said Doug Barrante, co-owner of DirectBuy of Pittsburgh.

Creating fun things to do for children is nothing new for DirectBuy. DirectBuy franchises across North America regularly donate equipment to youth organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs and children’s hospitals. Most recently, DirectBuy of Pittsburgh donated a Decora Kitchen, a $10,000 retail value, to a silent auction to benefit Providence Heights Alpha School. The winning bid raised $6,000 for the school.

“Because we are so entrenched in the community, we have an even greater incentive to make this a one-of-a-kind, unique shopping experience because many of the members are our friends, neighbors, even relatives,” said Barrante. “The Kids Zone and donations to Providence Heights Alpha School and other youth-oriented groups are just an extension of that philosophy.”

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. With three convenient locations in the area, DirectBuy offers consumers a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on DirectBuy, you can visit www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

About DirectBuy
Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct enables members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy of Pittsburgh has been serving the region since 1996 and prides itself in providing excellent member service. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality. It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. Direct Buy of Pittsburgh is part of more than 150 franchise locations throughout North America.

Locations serving the greater Pittsburgh area include: DirectBuy Pittsburgh North, 106 Thomson Park Drive, Cranberry Twp, PA, 724-327-0211; DirectBuy Pittsburgh East, 5027 William Penn Hwy, Monroeville, PA, 724-327-0211; and DirectBuy Pittsburgh South, 600 Bursca Drive, Suite 610, Bridgeville, PA, 412-257-4040.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by contacting DirectBuy at 1-800-DIRECTBUY or doug@dbpit.com. To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy-Pittsburgh.com.

About the Author:

Author: Nancy Sheerin.

For two days, the brain trust behind that network, L&W franchise owners, will convene in Boston for L&W Investigations annual national convention on April 7 and 8.

Taking place at the Boston Copley Marriott, the two-day conference will feature presentations by nationally recognized experts from the insurance, legal, and IT industries—key partners in conducting any insurance fraud investigation. Featured presenters include:

? Joseph Hayre & Traci Talamini, Trustmark Insurance
? John Sargent, MetLife
? Joe Zuromsky and Dan Donovan, Liberty Mutual
? Jill Henriques, Esurance
? Jodi Conners, Esq., Smith & Brink
? Kurt Buck, Digital Aerospace Solutions

“The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud estimates the costs associated with insurance fraud to be $120 billion annually. That’s not an epidemic, that’s a plague,” said Neal Lyons, CEO and chairman of L&W Investigations, Inc. “So we’ve loaded up our conference agenda with speakers who can help our franchise owners in making a dent in that figure by working more efficiently with clients, conducting tighter investigations and more effectively running their respective territories.”

L&W Investigations works exclusively on fraudulent workers compensation, disability, liability, auto and property claims for organizations ranging from insurance companies to third-party administrators, self-insured companies to law firms and municipalities. And while traditional investigations firms look to former law enforcement types, L&W actively pursues franchise candidates with executive and management experience who have the business savvy and people skills needed to run a business and manage a team of investigators.

“That’s what makes our national convention such an invaluable experience for all our franchise owners, but specifically those fairly new to insurance fraud. It gives them a chance to further educate themselves on the industry and learn from experts on the client-side and from our more seasoned franchise owners,” said Lyons. “Beyond that, it’s just a great way to further solidify the network of investigations offices by having franchise owners meet in a great city like Boston.”

In its fifth year of operation and presently with 55 territories nationwide, L&W typically employs three to eight investigators at each office. L&W investigators go through extensive training and have access to the most state-of-the-art surveillance equipment. L&W’s service offerings include: surveillance; statements; activity/disability checks; asset/background investigations; and medical audits/clinic inspections.

For more information on L&W Investigations, Inc, you can call their corporate offices at (508) 616-9370 or visit the Web site at www.lwinvestigations.com.

Not your everyday investigations firm
With 55 offices, L&W Investigations, Inc. specializes in fraudulent insurance claims. In addition to nationwide coverage, L&W investigators are highly trained specialists equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance technologies and other advanced systems to provide second-to-none results and service. That includes online case status reports, video delivery by digital download or CD, DVD or VHS tape, rush services at no extra charge and much more.

L&W Investigations are located across the U.S. and the Hawaiian Islands as well as in Canada and Puerto Rico. Franchise locations are still available and the company has set a manageable growth plan at 15 new units per year.

For additional information, visit the Web site at www.lwinvestigations.com or contact L&W’s corporate headquarters located in Westborough, Massachusetts, at (508) 616-9370.

About the Author:

Author: Jim Mcdonald.

Selling your business privately saves money. Since you won’t be working with a broker, there will be no need to pay a commission. Not only will this result in more profit for you, more importantly, it may help you set a more attractive price for your business. The difference in price may be enough to help you achieve a quicker sale.

Sometimes when selling a business the owner will incorporate the broker fees and commissions into the asking price. This method will almost certainly scare off any potential buyers. You will also need to be able to justify your asking price, so make sure this is possible otherwise a buyer will see through this and lose interest.

Selling a business privately may cost some money to advertise your business sale, but these costs will be negligible compared to broker commissions. When utilizing the services of a business broker, you can expect to pay anywhere between 4% and 9.5%.

Selling your business privately allows you to use your specialized knowledge of your business to help make the sale. Whether or not this benefit is relevant to you really depends on the type of business you’re in. The more highly specialized and technical your business is, the more likely you are to have specialized knowledge that will help you sell it. You’re also more likely to know your potential customers, how to find them and how to talk to them.

When you’re selling a business privately, you’re highly motivated to sell. Depending on the reason causing you to sell your business, being personally involved in the sale will allow you to apply your passion and energy to move things along. However, you should be brutally honest with yourself about your ability to remain professional and detached throughout the entire process.

Selling your business privately puts you in control and gives you ownership of the process. As an entrepreneur and business owner, you’re probably very comfortable making your own decisions. If you are confident of your abilities to handle any accounting, taxation and negotiation issues that arise in the sale process, you’ll probably be more comfortable selling your business privately than working with a business broker.

Depending on your individual circumstances, selling your business can be a significant life experience. When you’re deciding whether to sell your business privately or work with a business broker, take the time to choose wisely. It’s a decision you’ll be living with for quite some time.

About the Author:
When selling a business visit http://www.business-trader.com.au - Australian business for sale Classifieds.

Author: Vincent Woodall.

Can’t decide on the right paper cutter for your home or office? Well, this informative article will first define the purpose of a paper guillotine, and how to find the best one to fit your needs.

As the name implies, it works with the same principle as the French Guillotine, a gruesome execution device invented and used in France more than 200 years ago. Fortunately, the use of today’s guillotines is limited to just cutting paper and similar types of media, and is considered an invaluable resource for most classrooms and businesses.

A paper guillotine or a paper cutter is a simple and convenient device used to cut large stacks of paper at a time, leaving every sheet with a straight, clean edge. You simply align a stack of paper along the designated cutting guide, and holding the handle; bring the guillotine or the elongated blade down onto the paper stack in a swift chopping motion. The blade is connected to the corner edge of a cutting board, and the base is normally covered with grid lines and ruler measurements (usually about 1 foot) along the edges of the cutting board. This kind of paper cutter is called an Arm paper cutter, and is relatively inexpensive. Most can fit onto a desk top, so they don’t take up too much space. Some paper guillotines now come equipped with a safety locking mechanism on the blade to prevent cutting accidents and injuries. It’s not the most efficient due to fact that it’s still operated manually, but the amount of paper (200+ sheets) that can be cut at a time is a great benefit. These are a little expensive, and are usually found in professional copy shops and businesses.

For those looking to use a paper guillotine around children, it’s a good idea to think about safety first-especially for the home or school environment. The sliding trimmer or a rotary paper cutter works with a blade that slides on a rail attached to the side of the cutting base. Since the blade cannot be lifted vertically to chop the paper, it can only cut a minimal amount of paper at a time, as the sheets must fit under the rail to be cut by the sliding blade. This kind is popular for cutting other media besides paper; it’s also faster and easier to use.

Still, some people may need a machine that keeps up with technology like the electric paper cutter. It operates with the paper being fed into the machine, and it’s then cut into specific measurements. Since this machine requires specialized training and extreme care, it’s used mostly in larger companies and businesses-not a machine meant for personal use.

About the Author:
If you would like to learn more about the different makes and models of guillotines available online then visit the website : http://www.guillotine-guillotines.co.uk

Author: Gavin Ingham.

Copyright (c) 2008 Gavin Ingham

1. Believe you can and stay positive!

One of the problems with all of this talk about recession is that once people believe there is going to be a recession they start to feel negative about their business prospects and only tend to see what they believe rather than believing what they see. Once you believe that there is going to be a recession you tend to only notice articles, comments and statistics that support your beliefs.

What’s more, your negative beliefs quickly affect your outlook and the way that you feel about your business prospects.

If you thought 2008 was going to be a great year for business, your best year yet; how would you feel?

On the other hand, if you thought this year we’re going to have a major downturn and you and your business would be badly affected; how would you feel?

Mighty different huh? And remember, nothing’s changed here other than your belief. Having a positive and supportive belief structure is essential if you want to succeed in any market but it is vitally essential if you want to keep on selling in a tough one.

Having a winning belief system does not mean that you need to be deluded however! In the middle of the darkest recession you don’t want to have your eyes shut! But you have to understand that in a downturn clients want to partner with the best companies. Suppliers that they can rely on. Suppliers that support them. Suppliers who are going to be around tomorrow. And if your competitors struggle, that means more sales and more business for you.

2. Get proactive

You need to be more proactive. Much more proactive. You need to do more marketing and more selling. You need to attend more events and do more networking. You need to do more promotion and more canvassing. You need to increase your sales activities, maybe dramatically.

In a recession many companies cut their sales activites. They figure, “If we’re not going to sell anything, what’s the point?” Many individual salespeople do this too.

Cut your activity, cut your sales. You’re a living, breathing, self-fulfilling prophecy! You believe there is not much business out there, so you feel negative. That in turn affects your activity and your activity destroys your sales results.

Even if there is not as much business out there, then you need to be more active, more focused and more targeted. If your competitors are easing off a little, now is the time to up the anti and grab your share of the market. Even if there is a blip, you will be strongly placed when activity picks up.

One of my friends went down to our local estate agent this week to put his house on the market. He was told that maybe he should wait as he might not get the price he wants right now. They told him the market was quiet and that might not be able to sell the house at all. Better to wait for the market to pick up. I walked past their offices later on that day. They were all sitting, chatting and drinking coffee. They were probably moaning about what a bad year it’s going to be. If I’s have been in that office, I’d have taken my mates house on and I’d have been on the phone drumming up some viewings. 50 calls, 100, calls, 500 calls… Whatever it takes. I’d have found someone.

Talk about killing your own market! If you see less business then you need to do more sales and marketing, not less. That’s common sense.

3. Sharpen your sales skills

If a workman needs a spade and a farmer needs a horse; a boxer needs a defence and a chef needs a recipe; what do salespeople need? The answer’s obvious - it’s sales skills.

Most salespeople do not spend enough time working on improving their sales skills and techniques. Sales training and development is not something that many salespeople spend their time on out of choice. Perhaps they can get away with this in a booming marrket when sales are easy. Perhaps not. But things will always change if the market tightens. Sales success will go to the salesperson who really understands why people buy and can help people make the right business decisions. Salespeople of this calibre stand to benefit from possible changes ahead because there will be more business for them as their competition falls by the wayside.

Sales will not go to the journeyman salesperson, the mediocre wannabee or the 9-5 order taker. Salespeople like these could well be in for a rough time.

When did you last read a sales training book on selling? How many sales training audios have you listened to over the last month? How many sales training seminars have you atteneded in the last 6 months? For 80% of salespeople reading this, the answer is zero.

4. Improve your service and focus on relationships

As I write this many companies will be working out how to cut corners. They will try to save money by tinkering with their business offerings. They will try and eek extra profits out of their clients by cutting the bells and whistles from their offerings. This is not a good idea. A Swiss cow with no bells is just a cow and no-one would send postcards of them home!

If business is tight you want to be wowing your clients with the best service that they have ever had, from you or from any of your competitors. You need to be going the extra mile. If a recession bites many companies will try and discount to survive. They probably won’t (survive), but you don’t want your clients going to them as they try to keep their heads above water! You need to “lock in” your existing clients now so that they won’t even think about going anywhere else.

Spend time with your clients. Build stronger relationships with your clients. Make sure you truly understand them, their concerns and their businesses. Find ways to help them and add value over and above what they could have ever expected.

5. Leverage your efforts

In a soft market many salespeople only chase the easy stuff. They don’t chase the tough stuff. They’re doing ok, they don’t have to. They’re making sales right?

Wrong.

Most salespeople have all sorts of opportunities which they squander every day and every month because there are seemingly easier things that they can be doing. This is particularly true in an industry or a company where leads have been relatively easy to come by, where sales targets are relatively soft (I could tell you which industries but I’m not going to) or where salespeople are overpaid so don’t crave the business (again, I’ll keep this to myself!).

In a tough market you must leverage all of your efforts. This is basic sales 101 and should be stuff that you do every day anyway… Here are just a few ideas.

Always ask for referrals. Referrals are great business but most salespeople do not ask for them because clients often say no. Learn how to ask for a referral properly and then build asking for a referral into your sales process and ask for one every time.

Upsell and cross-sell. Whether though laziness, lack of knowledge or lack of ability many salespeople sit on accounts where there is so much more business than they are currently leveraging. Extending your business with existing clients will not only make you more money, it will also strengthen your relationships with and value to them and their businesses.

Contact dormant accounts. Most companies have hundreds if not thousands of “dormant” accounts. There may be multiple reasons for this from changing business practises to fall-outs with the client. Dormant clients may well be redeemable and may have been “lost” purely because someone forgot to ring them or a salesperson moved on. Get in touch with them!

Follow up on all leads. I recently contacted 5 health insurance companies over the web. Only one replied. You should not be burning leads like this in any market. Follow up on all leads professionally using a proven sales system like the ones I teach in my sales training seminars and programmes and you will close more business. New business is the lifeblood of any business in any market.

So there we are, 5 tips to help you to sell in a recssion. This year may well prove to be an interesting year for some businesses and individuals. Some of this will be down to the market itself. Much of it will be down to you and how you react and respond to what might be a challenging year.

Here’s my prediction for the year…

There will be winners and there will be losers. Which are you going to be?

About the Author:
For more powerful personal development articles visit http://www.gaviningham.com now.

Author: Tanya Wiseman.

highlights and types

There are considerable amount of different types of lending programs developed to accommodate commercial loans for office buildings. These programs change in the requirements, terms, and loan amounts available and are highly dependent on the individual situation of the business or business owner. While each loan has its function in the commercial funding arena, each also has drawbacks. Each option should be assessed carefully with a financial counsel to ensure that the needs of the individual borrower are fully met. 1. The Real Estate Purchase Loan.This type of comercial loan is very conventional; it capitalizes the office building as its own security. It is accessible as both a commercial and a governmental guaranteed loan. Rates are generally competitive and calculated upon the Loan to Value (LTV) of the property. 2. Commercial Mortgage Fixed Rate. These types of loans are more contrivable when it comes to a budget as the payments and the interest rate stay invariant during the term of the loan. Furthermore these types of loans offer firmness in position over market fluctuations. Typically, the maximum LTV is 80%. Terms range from 5 years to 20 years. 3. Commercial Mortgage adjustable rate. Multiple buyers work with this type of loan to finance their office buildings. This loan has an adjustable annual rate of interest. As a general conduct, borrowers are able to qualify for a larger amount with these types of programs. The payments and interests are subjects to accrual during the term of the loan. As another preference, some programs offer borrowers the option of making graduated payments or even increasing the loan amount in the future. Depending on the loan accordance, it is feasible for the Adjustable Commercial Mortgage to actually cost less than the Fixed Rate Commercial Mortgage.

About the Author:
Tanya is the aurthor for:
Types of Commercial Loans

More info on this Blog:
Types of Commercial Loans

Author: jeffadams.

When investing in properties, why not consider a partner? Many people who buy properties forget the advantages of having a partner. Selecting a partner must indeed be a judicial procedure involving reference checks and credits. More than one salary at a stake will raise your power of purchasing, which will open many opportunities. In states like Pennsylvania, they offer liability protections and tax benefits for partnerships who are registered. Do take a trip to the tax assessment office and look at the names of the streets and look for more information on real estate sales in that area. Getting tax information will also be helpful as it will help you prevent from offering more money than the neighboring house. Even if you haven’t applied a line of credit to purchase a house or for a mortgage, you have to behave as though you are prepared to buy. A drive around the neighborhood and areas within which you would like to buy the property, making note of the street names as you pass by; this work will save lot of time during your hunting. Make a note of the houses, people and the general surroundings of the neighborhood. It might look silly, but it is sure to help you a lot.
Many people leave out the potentially profitable dealings when comes to real estate due to their poor knowledge at the time of mortgage loan process. Before looking for a loan, you must know what the average interest rates are. Learn your rights and make sure you aren’t taken on a ride by the lenders. Do your home works regularly, as researching definitely works a lot. Today multi family units are considered to be top, a good deal on a single family house is by no means a candidate for dismissal; yet multi family units usually have higher income than single family units. Take this example; converted single family house can station two units. Assume the house can be rented for $600 per month in a particular area and apartments can be rented for $400 per month. In this case, a duplex home offers $200 return over the single unit and this should cost the same.
Be careful of those business relationships which are based on other’s misfortunes and ‘Get-Rich-Quick’ schemes. Real estate is a dealing which generally has more long term benefits than short term benefits. As short term incomes are considered to be replete, so be careful you don’t allow the greediness to overcome your ethics and humanity. Pay attention to your skepticism and don’t hesitate to pass up the deals. In lot of ways, your judgment will keep you away from irrational business decisions. Learn to protect your good name and credit—with great honor by making clear and well thought decisions. After hard word, research and good judgment, you are sure to find the best deals of the millennium just for you!

About the Author:
Jeff Adams is a SEO copywriter for real estate millionaire code. He has written many articles in various topics. For more information about jeff adams and jeff adams real estate. Visit our site real estate millionaire. Contact him at realestatemillionaire.info@gmail.com .

Author: John Mowatt.

Making concrete products,including cement blocks and garden ornaments,is a low cost business opportunity.

Concrete bird baths are,by far,the best selling garden ornament.There is a huge demand and they sell readily.You can make a variety of these easily with hand made molds and you can sell them to local building supply or garden stores. Transporting these heavy items from a distant supplier is expensive.These businesses will be happy to find a local supplier who has low costs and competitive prices.With no transportation costs you can make an excellent profit from your work.

You can also make many other types of concrete garden ornaments and garden furniture from available plans.Vases,large and small,including ‘Ali Baba’ style vases,are easy to make without molds.You can learn the simple production methods quickly and make a wide variety of these.They are very popular decorative items for patios and gardens.Your basic business of concrete block making can be supplemented by these items.They are easy to produce and very profitable.

You can make many other types of garden ornaments from either hand made or commercial molds and you will find a ready sale for your products. By starting part time,in your garage,you eliminate all risk.Plywood and sheet metal are the only materials needed to make your cement block molds which makes starting cost low.The appropriate concrete mix is made from Portland cement,gravel,sand and water in the correct proportions.As your business builds you can decide to go full time when you are ready.

For volume production of concrete blocks you will need a concrete block making machine.Commercial models are available.They are quite expensive however. The other option is to build your own machine.From available plans you can build a fine concrete block making machine.The components are used auto parts,sheet metal and a few odds and ends. You can build one of these at very low costand it can turn out all the blocks you will need very easily.

As business grows you will probably need to rent premises large enough for the racks needed to store your cement blocks for drying.You will also need a helper to move the blocks from the machine to the racks.At this stage however your business will make enough profits to more than justify the extra costs. You can start your own concrete product business on the proverbial shoestring. With hard work it will rapidly grow into a full time very profitable business.You will give up your job and be an entrepreneur.The sky is the limit in this business. Demand never dies for concrete products and you can have an income you could only dream about while working at a job.

About the Author:
John Mowatt is retired from the concrete products business.He is a free lance writer who writes about the concrete products business and about health and fitness.For more information and resources go to http://www.concreteblockmaker.com

Author: Heather Dominick.

 remember attending a meditation workshop with Mark Epstein, a well-known ‘Buddhist psychologist.’ He told a story about a meeting he had with Ram Dass, spiritual teacher and author, where Ram Dass had asked Mark Epstein about his work with his patients. As Mark talked about his work, Ram Dass interrupted him and asked, “Do you see them as already healed?”

I was so struck by this story. As a coach and healer of businesses, I saw the clarity in this question. So often as solo-service professionals it is easy to focus on our success by looking at ourselves (what we are doing, creating, visualizing, etc.), but the results are incredible when we turn the focus on those that we serve.

What do you see when you look at your clients or customers? Do you see failure or success?

When I worked as a high school teacher–in moments when my students were working on their own–I would say to myself, “The light in me sees the light in you.” I really felt that. I could see my students succeeding long before they could see it or could even venture to believe it. However, I knew as their teacher it was my duty to hold that vision and energy for them and then guide them through the action steps of getting there. It always worked. I have countless high school teaching success stories.

I see that same (if not more–I’ve learned a lot in the past few years) success for the private and Boot Camp clients I work with now. I literally see them as a successful magazine owner, professional organizer, coach, meditation expert, Feng Shui practitioner…and the list goes on. It continues to work.

I ask you to begin to apply this to your own business. Here are 3 steps to begin SEEING success in those that you serve.

1)Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.

In Dr. Wayne Dyer’s book, The Power of Intention, he sites that, “It turns out that at the tiniest subatomic level, the actual act of observing a particle changes the particle.” This is a clear example of energy affecting energy. If I look at you and see your success, then you begin to create more of and be success! How great is that?

So when speaking to a prospect, customer, or client, instead of questioning your abilities (wondering if you’ll get the sale or joining them in their woes), the most powerful action you can take is to change the way you are looking at the situation. See them as happy, joyful, peaceful, well, successful…and more. You will be effecting a change that will result in more success and abundance for the both of you. (It feels so much better than worry and doubt!)

2)Be constantly giving.

The energy of success is constantly giving and the supply is limitless. When you can come from this place in your own business, you begin to attract more into your life.

I know when I first heard this, it was hard for me to grasp. Mostly, because I used to come from a place of giving, but have one eye immediately on making sure that I was compensated and at the same time convinced that I wouldn’t be. Guess what? I wasn’t and I felt a whole lot of resentment at the same time.

When I shifted my attention to giving for the sake of the success of those that I was serving and simultaneously confidently took care of what I needed for myself and my business (instead of waiting for someone else to do just do it), there was more success ALL around.

3)Detach from the outcome.

When you are able to SEE success, you don’t need to be attached to the outcome because you KNOW that it’s going to be successful. Whenever you are caught up in accumulating (I have to get this client; I have to sell to this customer), then you lose sight of what your main goal is–to see the success of those that you serve.

Find out exactly what’s going on for the person that you’re speaking to. Ask them and ask yourself, what do they need? The answer to this question is usually multi-layered. (For example, prospects that come to me may need more income from their businesses, but they also need to move through the blocks they’ve unconsciously set up for themselves that’s keeping them from getting more money). So, you then SEE them as getting their needs fully met and begin the process of working with that person, so you can help make it happen.

Call To Action:

1)Ask yourself, how do I see my prospects, clients, or customers? Be honest. Just let the answer come. No judgment. It will give you a lot of information.

2)With whatever answer you get now, ask yourself, “How can I improve?” How can I see this situation differently?

3)For one day focus only on those you serve and their success. Write down the difference in how you feel, the results that your clients get, and anything else that pops up.

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