Now that 2010 is upon us, we’ve had a few years to adjust to this shift in our economy, jobs, insurgence of heights in taxes, fees, charges and the like (I think I’ve gotten more automobile tickets in 2009 than I have in the total years I’ve been driving).  It’s now upon each of us no matter if we’re working a 9-5 job, have our own business, or starting/expanding a career, to begin developing new ways to generate more money coming into our pockets and bank accounts.  The idea of job security is no more – no news flash there.  People are constantly being paid less to do more, while the cost of living is continuing to rise.   With that said, it’s time to put on our creative hats and assess and focus on what makes us unique, what skills and talents on which to capitalize, and position ourselves in multiple arenas.

Now this does not mean you have to go out and get 2 or 3 jobs.  We must work smarter, not just harder – though I am a believer in hard work.  There are a couple of things to consider when expanding into other opportunities to make more money.

1. Who?  Partners, clients, customers, investors, employees, contractors.  It’s time to assess if people that you work with truly add value to you making money (and vice versa, but we’ll look at that in a moment).  How do the people that you’ve aligned yourself with bring a financial advantage to the table?  In a sense, focus on creating true partners with the key people around you.  See how a mutual win-win can be created so that you all prosper.  I like to look at any business or client that I work with as a potential business partner.  I look for those that have a viable business and possess something that I see as a benefit where working with them brings them more money as well as myself.
2. What?  What is the game plan?  What can be created or reworked that is new or uniquely different (that is a need or want) that can bring in money?  People may be spending less, but they are still spending.  What is it that they need or want that I can provide?  Look to package that in such a way that creates a demand for it.
3. When?  Now it’s even more critical to capitalize on seasonal offerings and catching those that will spend their money with you at a key time.  Everything from holidays, seasons, when people tend to spend on what you or your circle of partners have to offer are important windows of opportunity.

Initial small investments or putting forth time and work into things that can grow, as well as being flexible in working with key clients, customers and partners can bring in more bang for your buck as well.  Bartering or providing inexpensive give-a-ways are incentives that get people to spend money with you over time and bring in consistent and long term money.  In an age of utilizing multiple talents, feel free to also consider leveraging other talents, skills, products, etc and incorporating them into money-making opportunities.  Overall, brainstorm, assess the value, focus on key people, create a plan, and then work your plan and allow others to work it for you at their benefit.  This cycle you can reciprocate in multiple different facets, therefore creating multiple streams of income.

In exchanges through Twitter with John Patterson of the Chicago Convergence, I was reminded and had time to really take in and reflect on something that inspired me and positively influenced me (especially in my business) called Landmark Education, which still impacts me today.

For those not aware of what Landmark Education is, the best way to describe it is as a truly “powerful” experience. I completed three of them including the Landmark Forum, the Advanced Course, and Self-Expression and Leadership Program (SELP).  To explain exactly what they are: the Landmark Forum, is 3-days that present the opportunity to take a look at any area of your life where you don’t feel empowered and address what it is within yourself to create possibilities and being powerful in that area of your life.  The methodologies in the Landmark Forum can be applied to all areas of your life.

For me, Landmark Forum was so powerful I continued on to the Advanced Coarse which allowed me to address possibilities beyond myself but with people around me – my family, my friends, clients, and others.  And then the Self-Expression and Leadership Program had me define myself as a leader in my community, in the world, and how I can truly impact and influence so many others.

So, why am I writing about Landmark Education in this blog?  Well, because so many of the things I’ve experienced in the Landmark Forum have greatly impacted my career and my companies, I wanted to use this as an opportunity to share with you.

Understanding my responsibility in everything I do and how my world is created by ME is one of the fundamental things that have significantly transformed my career.  Every client, every project, every person, who is brought into my businesses is a result of what I create for myself. This alone has allowed me to see remarkable results in my business and what I do.  It’s not enough for me to be mediocre, unless I want mediocre results.  So this pushes and drives me to do extraordinary things like writing thousand dollar grants and sponsorship proposals, travel to other cities and countries to seek prospects, call and reach out to people I may have never previously thought to and more.  This has allowed me to see phenomenal results including money, more clients, publicity, and other opportunities.  I like to say in order to see phenomenal results you have to start doing phenomenal things.

Especially in these trying times, one can no longer play small.

It wasn’t until I did SELP that I began to truly see myself as a “real” leader. I used to think being a leader took a certain amount of skill to truly influence people and that if people thought one way or were in a specific mindset that you can’t impact them unless they wanted.  To an extent that may be true, people do have to want to transform their career, their lives; however, there is a specific way that we as leaders can “be” that truly make a difference in the world of others.  In certain ways that I interact with my clients, business partners, the youth I work with, and others, I completely acknowledge how I am and how that causes them to “be”.  From my passion, my being authentic, and desire to see them being powerful and seeing remarkable things in their life, they begin to “be” that themselves.  It’s one of the reasons clients like to work with my firm, why my youth feel a sense that I truly do care and want the best for them, and people begin to see things for themselves that they may have never seen before.

I can go on and on with many things I can share but I’ll end with just a few things for you to take with you.

-          We often let fear stop us, disconnect yourself from your fears and you’ll see yourself as being powerful in the face of what has previously stopped you.

-          Don’t let your past dictate your today, as well as your future.

-          You create everything in your life…everything starts and ends with you.

 For more information about Landmark Education, visit http://www.landmarkeducation.com.

Now that Innovatec Services, LLC is going on its 6th year, like every year in the past, we re-launch a new version of our website and focus on some new marketing initiatives of our own. This not only serves as an example to our clients, partners, and other businesses, but there are a variety of reason why we do this and would recommend this to you.

1) A re-launch in marketing can serve your business just as much as when you first opened the door. It's a way of letting current clients/customers, potential clients, the business community and your target market that you are here and what you do.  It serves as a reminder to those that may want to do business with you.

2) A new image is a way for your business to develop a different and/or more improved look. It's a way to impress and put another face of your business forward for people to notice.

3) If your business is currently stagnant, especially in today's trying economic times, its a way to start generating new business.  It's key to start new marketing initiatives for you to continue building your business.

4) Encompassing new technologies and new mediums in a new design, new site, or new push keeps your business up-to-date (i.e. Twitter, blogging, SEO trends, SmartPhone technology)

5) Keep your business fresh, innovative, and fun.  Sometimes a marketing makeover is what is needed to jump start new business ideas and way to incorporate what has been working in your business with something new and different.

Whether it is yearly or every so often, its good to at least do a marketing assessment where you can do some housecleaning within your business.  This usually generates some groundbreaking opportunities to reach new audiences, demographics, and markets.

Check out www.innovatecservices.com

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