We’re already in month two of 2012, how’d that happen?
Here are 3 quick tips that will help ensure that you’re going to reach your goals this year!

Feel free to comment below!

Movies, stand up comedy and even pizza are seeing evolutions in their business models that are game changers.

Here in Canada (home of the overpriced pizza) Little Caesars developed the $5 hot and ready pizza. Total game changer. Why pay $20 when you can pick one up for $5?

Comedian Louie CK offered up his latest live video on his website without any restrictions for a $5 immediate download. Unheard of since pirates could have a field day, but he did it fearlessly and created a game changer. He also made a bundle. http://ow.ly/8m4fu

In his latest movie, Newlyweds, Indy film producer Ed Burns got story ideas from Twitter, found some of his stars on YouTube, offered an unsigned artist a song in his movie and made it available directly for download. All game changers. http://ow.ly/8m4er

What’s your version of game changer in your business?

Joe Calloway doesn’t always give speeches, he’s often asked to interview a CEO on stage, allowing the corporate message to be heard in a unique and interesting way. (And no one makes others look like heros better than Calloway, so of course, his clients love it!)

How can you create something that no one else has done before?

See you soon Wealthy Speakers!

ps: My game changer a few years back was developing my group coaching model. It’s been very successful and has now evolved into The Wealthy Speaker University. We have just 1 or 2 spots open. Please check this out and drop me a line to check availability and wait lists. http://wealthyspeakeru.com/

Cliff Atkinson

Everyone needs a smart person to talk to.

That someone in your corner who can be annoying at times, but when you think about what they have said, they often have impact.

My brother was this for me, and I didn’t really realize it until it was too late.

He passed away in January 2010.

Our long distance chats would never be less than an hour and would usually end with me saying “okay Cliff, that’s enough, I can’t take any more information”.

My brother Cliff inspired my interest in many things: travel, entrepreneurship, continuous learning. He was a self help junkie and an avid reader on many topics. He also had a great sense of humor.

We all need a Smartie McFarty, like Cliff, to help stimulate our thinking. Even if they don’t understand your profession (many people don’t “get” us) they can offer us perspectives that we may not have thought of – we just need to stay open.

Who are the Smarty McFarty’s in your life?

Are you appreciating them?

Feel free to give them a shout out here with a comment below.

Bottom line. Don’t wait to tell the people who are important to you that they are having an impact.

See you soon Wealthy Speakers!

PS: Wanna have me as your Smarty McFarty? There is one spot open in Club Hybrid which started this month, check it out! http://www.speakerlauncher.com/ClubHybrid.html

We’ve all heard the message that we need to stop working IN our business – on a regular basis – to work ON our business.

When you get sucked into the vortex of day-to-day business “to do’s”, it’s easy to forget to move your strategy forward.

So how do you ensure that you stop to strategize on a regular basis? Here’s my formula:

SET THE GOALS. Everybody is used to sitting down a couple of days after the New Year to set out their goals, but when are we accountable for moving those goals forward? There are many different systems, but I believe the most productive people review their goals on a daily basis.

PUT THE TEAM IN PLACE. Whether you have a mastermind group, a business networking group or a team of staffers, meeting with other people to hold yourself accountable can be highly effective.

MEET REGULARLY. My Mastermind team meets every two weeks; so I know that at least every two weeks I am going to think about my business strategy. This is more than worth the cost of joining. (Note: there are many free masterminds, but I wanted to ensure I had some very smart people leading the group, so joined a paid group).

MAKE IT A PRIORITY.  I could blow off some of the mastermind calls but I make moving my business forward my #1 priority. Are you making your business strategy a #1 priority?

I hope this post will get you thinking about stopping to work ON your business on a regular basis.

If you’d like to share your success formula, please post a comment below.

See you soon Wealthy Speakers!

PS: What a surprise that I have a new group coaching club starting in September! (This is my version of the mastermind). If you want to have a group and a coach to hold you accountable for 10 months, check out this very affordable option. http://www.speakerlauncher.com/ClubHybrid.html

The pendulum idea applies to nearly everything in life.

Sometimes it’s created by a knee-jerk reaction, like in the case of our camping last year.

My husband and I camped in a 2 man tent with our 50 lb dog, rather squishy! This year, the first tent we purchased was meant for 13 people. Oooops way too big, the pendulum swung too far! (Anybody need a tent?)

The pendulum often swings too far in order to correct a negative situation, thus creating another negative situation.

The goal is that it settles back to center (ie: 6 person tent). In the case of the economy and our speaking business, the pendulum still applies.

The pooh hits the fan, the economy breaks down and corporate buyers cancel meetings and stop spending altogether. This knee jerk reaction affects the economy even more because not only are speakers now out of work, hotel employees, airlines, every one working in the meetings industry is now affected and the economy erodes further.

The pendulum swings too far.

But then it starts to right itself. Companies start planning their meetings again. Perhaps more cautiously. Perhaps less extravagantly.

So where does that leave us? Right now the pendulum is heading back to the center from the knee jerk reactions of two years ago.

I’m hearing things like:

“2011 is shaping up to be my best year ever”
“everybody wants a deal but they ARE booking”
“the phone is ringing again”
“just booked multiple dates”
“my Canada and overseas work carried me”

Sometimes all we can do is wait, but while you are waiting there’s an opportunity: to get better, to re-tool, and to build relationships with people who will ultimately become clients.

See you soon Wealthy Speakers!

ps: Speaking of getting better, that Joe Calloway DVD has now SOLD OUT!!! BUT, we now have Diary of a Killer Keynote available for digital download at an all time low price of $37. http://speakerlauncher.com/tools.html