What a Journey!

The Journey- It is in all of us!

My family took a trip to the beach recently, for relaxation and much needed time to be with each other and have some fun in the process. There is nothing better than a mini vacation. I of course had to the do all the driving. So since we were only going to stay for one night due to other family duties back at the church which is almost like a business with all the to do items that need to be done before the next weekends services, we decided to leave a 5 AM so we could get there before the rooms were ready and spend all day. I have to admit, I also went there so that I could do possible business with this resort, but that might be for my next post.

The journey started off with good intentions.. However, the 5:00 wake up time, turned more like 5:30 Am- our family was going to meet us at the church as a central place and then we were going to drive up to the resort, following each other so that if something happened, we could help each other.

We got everything packed and then had to wait for someone, not from my family but my extended family. They were ready, but not ready to leave just yet. We finally got on the road about 45 min after we planned. We took it in stride, it was just part of the journey and we knew it.

Right away, when we stopped to fill up gas, I had to put in a little oil and some brake fluid, then I remembered something as my wife asked me, if I put the spare tire back underneath the vehicle, I had to admit that was one thing that I didn’t do. I had asked my brother in law for the tools earlier in the week which I did and he forgot to give them to me. So we had to make this trip without a spare tire, which is not necessarily a good plan.

After the long 4 hour drive, we finally arrived. However on the journey, we could have went a bit faster but would have missed some really beautiful scenery as we driving and avoiding the potholes and other crazy drivers that would pass on a no passing zone.  It was fun to actually talk about personal stuff , instead of business stuff, even though there was a mixture of both. % fell more on the personal then the business so that was refreshing.

I also noticed something that I have observed a few times before. When you set out on your journey, you plan what you are going to do, when you are going to get some place, where you are going to go, what you are going to do, but sometimes that will change. I also noticed that the journey to an unknown destination seems to take longer, you are always looking for what is around the next corner, and you are always wondering when you are getting closer to your destination. However when you return from your trip and go back to your home, the trip seems to go faster, the trip that took hours doesn’t seem like it was the same amount of time that it was getting to the destination. It seems like everything goes faster when you get back to something familiar.

What does this have to do with Business? Well everything. When you start out in your business you have grand plans, you know what you are going to do, whom you are going to do this with (your perfect client- target) and how you will get to that final destination, usually it is a financial figure. However, as you start rolling out your business and doing what is necessary to spread the word about you and what you do, it becomes more of a journey. You over that course of time- could be 6 months, 2 years, 5 years or more that you meet people that you have never met before that can and will help you grow your business. You might have had a few bumps in this journey but that is okay, some misdirection and potholes are expected when you go on this journey. But if you continually go forward and learn from this journey you will become a better person in the long run. 

We want everything to happen instantly, that is the culture of us growing up in a society that teaches us through media, internet, tv, radio, even schools. But we know as well as anyone that journeys  will take some time, it will take some effort. However, when you journey is completed you will know it and you will be happier because of it. 

Don’t think of a journey as a bad thing, it is not. All successful men and women I know went on their own personal journeys and now they are happy they did go through it all, because it matters to them and people that know them, how awesome a trip it really was as they recall their journey to others that want to learn from their experiences.

Social Media Can Be Simple? Right?

If you are in a business, which I am assuming you are, otherwise you would not be reading this. You know without a shadow of doubt that you need to be on Social Media. You all have read the articles that you need to be on the at least the following : G+plus, Facebook, Youtube, Linked-In, Twitter, and the fairly new one called Pinterest.

What you might not realize is that even if you have a profile filled out and you started interacting with people that it could still take months before you develop relationships that will create a potential client for you or a potential income for you for all your effort in talking to people.

Talking to people is one, thing that is the start. What you have to do is engage. Engage in meaningful conversations, engage in deep discussions, engage at helping people find resources if they ask. Engage so that people know you care. No one cares about your product until they know you care about the first and foremost. You as a business person need to build that trust in such a way that when they are in the market for your product and services that first person that comes to mind is you.

What if you could have a short cut to this, would you take advantage of it? What if you had a way to learn all of this without going to a FREE -Webinar to learn some tid-bits about how to work social media and find out afterwards you have to pay a lot more to really get the training?

What if you could get University Level Training for Social Media for no price at all? Would you take advantage of it or would you ignore it?

A group of my business associates and friends are doing just that. The classes will be online for anyone who is serious about their business and want to survive and thrive in the next 5 years for no cost. What if I promised you that they would not only help you and anyone you know to do social media the "right way" but could also not sell you anything! Would you go and attend?

If I have "peaked your interest" please go to register for the  Free Social Media and Goal setting Webinar. make sure you use the special code 317 so you can get into these classes. This is invite only. I am inviting you since you took the time to read this blog post. Simple, right.

Ps, let's connect after and let me know what you think, I have seen a preview and I have been blown away. check out this video and let me know what you think in the comments. Please pass this on to someone you care about- your team, your employees, your family.