The New Leaf™
The Official Newsletter of Authentic Promotion™
Volume 5, No. 49, December 9, 2003
U.S. Library of Congress ISSN: 1530-311X
Molly Gordon, Master Certified Coach
FRESH START IN 2004 AND SAVE
Start the New Year with fresh inspiration, fresh tools for success, and fresh sources of energy and confidence – all at special Fresh Start savings. Click on the Fresh Start link in the next issue of The New Leaf and save on e-books, classes, and software to make this year the best ever.
In This Issue
Fast Focus: Think Again
Simple Gifts: Focus Your Niche, Expand Your Offer
Last Week to Enter Small Change Contest: Win The Tao of Abundance
Open for Business: The Art of Networking
The Bedside Table: Lunchtime Enlightenment
Quick Links: Resources
Small Print: Copyright | Getting On and Off the List
Privacy Statement | Contact Info
Readers' Special: A Gift of Music
Errata
Please forward this issue without cutting to your neighbors, friends, and colleagues. That's how we grow. To show our appreciation we donate 10 cents To Childreach for every new subscriber. http://www.childreach.org
Fast Focus
Think Again
Do you avoid networking because you question the sincerity of others who engage in it? That’s like deciding not to use batteries to power a flashlight because you've seen them used in annoying toys. Let's distinguish the potential of networking from some of the annoying and insincere ways it is used and network consciously and deliberately in a context of trust, purpose, and competence.
Simple Gifts
Focus Your Niche, Expand Your Offer
If your business were single, would your friends be able to arrange a successful blind date? If not, odds are that you have not adequately defined your niche and offer. Learn what that's all about in this free Real Audio Recording of my presentation to the West LA Chapter of Coach U. The recording and production were done by Rob Schultz, audio genius and proprietor of AudaciousAudio.com.
If you're are familiar with RealAudio, you can go directly to http://authenticpromotion.com/audio/focusniche.ram and start listening. If you want more information about the program and directions for listening, go to http://authenticpromotion.com/focusniche.html .
BONUS: The list of Keepers, books that New Leaf readers go back to over and over again, is available for download in the Life Enrichment Resources page of the Resources section of mollygordon.com. To download your copy, lick here and scroll down a bit: http://www.mollygordon.com/resources/liferesources/index.html . While you're there, help yourself to the other great resources.
Contest
Win The Tao of Abundance
In the November 11th issue I wrote, "Make a list of the small changes that can make big differences in your life. Choose one to implement for at least three weeks. Repeat."
Send me your small change list before December 15, 2003, and I'll enter your name in a drawing for The Tao of Abundance by Laurence G. Boldt. All entries become the property of Shaboom, Inc. I'll remove identifying information and compile the entries into a resource list for all New Leaf readers.
Open for Business
The Art of Networking
Some time back I received a letter from a reader that poses questions I know many of you share. She wrote:
"I've always shied away from networking for any purpose, even though I know about its potential power. I've been especially turned off by network marketing... as I've been approached by many people, and never felt that they had my best interest at heart.
"As I was researching and idea for a start-up, I ran across a network marketing company that was doing almost exactly what I wanted to do... But I still find it difficult to talk to people about it. How can I become a .natural networker,. now that I have found something I am excited about sharing?"
As I read Tammy's letter, the first thing that caught my attention was the phrase "potential power." In fact, potential IS power. Potential is power to manifest results in the future. That's true of the potential stored in a battery as well as the potential of networking.
So what gets in the way of using that stored energy, of tapping the potential of networking? Tammy's objection to networking gives us a clue. She questions the sincerity of some networkers and she has associated that apparent lack of sincerity with networking itself.
When you think about it, that's like deciding not to use batteries to power a flashlight because you've seen them used to power annoying toys. Let's separate networking from some of the annoying and insincere ways it is used and network consciously and deliberately in a context of trust, purpose, and competence.
Networking is largely about relationships. We might ask whether annoying and insincere solicitations can really be called networking, because they don’t originate in or result in relationships. In contrast, when you network with integrity, you create relationships with the people who will truly benefit from your offers. So think about how to engage people in conversations that give them room to get to know you and your work and evaluate for themselves how they can benefit from what you do or sell.
It's important to notice that networking is more concerned with creating possibilities than making sales. Consider The New Leaf, for example. It's not a way to sell every reader coaching. Instead, it's a way to build relationships; it's a conversation that I have readers about our shared interests as well as how those interests intersect with my work. Over time, these relationships reveal opportunities for me and, I hope, for you to benefit from our connection. Some of those opportunities involve coaching, most don't.
Here are some questions you can use to explore how you can be a more effective networker.
As you reflect on these questions, be gentle and curious. It is likely you will find that some old beliefs that are in way of effective networking. See how it might be to let go of those old beliefs and make room for new options.
Your gentle curiosity about networking will help you generate new possibilities, new ways to show up powerfully and generously. That's an irresistible combination, and one I think you can be proud to call "networking."
I welcome your comments and questions. Please send your letters to letters@mollygordon.com . Please do not reply to this newsletter as your message will be lost in cyber-limbo.
Better Selling Skills = More Sales
I don't know how many New Leaf readers are involved in cold calling. I am confident, for those of you who are, that there is no better resource for improving your results than Jeff Mayer's Overcoming Your Fear of Cold Calling. And I suspect that anyone who uses the phone as part of their sales process would be well-served by investing in and then applying Jeff’s techniques.
"'Cold Calling' is the most complete sales 'how to' book I've ever read. It lays out the formula - process - for how to sell over the telephone from A to Z. Jeffrey Mayer's 'Cold Calling' training manual is FABULOUS. It's great stuff." Scott Payne, Sales Rep, Weiss Brothers Paper
"My pipeline has tripled - from $250K to $750K - since reading 'Cold Calling' because of the better telephone selling techniques I've learned. 'Cold Calling' gives you concrete ways to rapidly increase your business." - Diana O'Rourke, Inside Sales Manager, Tripos, Inc.
How much has your pipeline grown in the past month? Fill it now with Jeff Mayer's e-book, Overcoming the Fear of Cold Calling.
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?AFID=70427
The Bedside Table
Lunchtime Enlightenment
I receive numerous requests to review books and audio products in The New Leaf, and I am always grateful for the opportunity to learn something new that may also be of value to readers. Often, books languish in the "to read" stacks that decorate my office. Sometimes one calls to me.
So it was with Pragito Dove's welcome book, Lunchtime Enlightenment. And once I had started the Introduction, I was hooked.
In clear, conversational tones, Dove shows why meditation is not only practical but within reach of ordinary folks. She does this without denaturing it or reducing it to a mechanical recipe for climbing another step on the ladder of serial self-improvement. (I don’t know about you, but I am tired of that damn ladder.)
One caution. Dove begins her introduction by describing a day in which she spends more than two hours in various meditative practices. My first reaction was, "Right. I'll be doing that in my next lifetime." Fortunately, I kept reading and learned that this was by no means the rule in her life nor was it the message in her book. Like most of us, there are many days on which she has only a few minutes at a time for sitting meditation. Her message is emphatically not that you need to give up your life in order to meditate, but rather that you can use mediation as a living resource – one that can take different forms for different functions and in different circumstances, informing your life (even being your life) rather than taking you away from it.
I look forward to reading the rest of the book and learning many of the techniques in it. Congratulations, Pragito, on a job well done.
Buy Lunchtime Enlightenment at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0670894575/mollygordonperso
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Quick Links
Happy Distractions
Thanks to Luey Anderson for this snow globe – I love these things.
http://ww12.e-tractions.com/snowglobe/globe.htm
The folks in Andrew Cohen's community have created a short multimedia clip based on a dialogue between Andrew Cohen and a participant on one of his retreats. Supermind is a collaborative presentation from ursaminor.org and andrewcohen.org. See and hear it at http://www.andrewcohen.org/supermind/?ac=112403
Resources
Thank you for supporting The New Leaf by purchasing the products and services recommended below. I personally test every product I recommend, and every merchant will refund your investment if you are not satisfied. If they don't make it right, I will.
===> KickStartCart
KickStartCart is a shopping cart system that includes unlimited sequential auto responders, secure order pages (you do not need your own secure server), a fully integrated affiliate program, and so much more. It's one of several "re-brandings" or franchises of the same system, and i like this one because it has excellent customer service and support. It’s the system I've used for over a year, and it paid for itself in the first week.
http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/default.asp?pr=31&id=29060
====> Integral Naked
Ken Wilber and the folks at Integral Institutes have gone live with a Web site on matters integral full of cheeky irreverence and attitude. Members enjoy exclusive online access to audio taped conversations between Ken Wilber and some of the leading integral thinkers of the day for a mere $10 a month. Check it out at http://www.integralnaked.org . enter "mollygee" (without the quotes) in the referrer box and I'll get a free month
Small Print
Copyright | Getting On and Off the List
Unless otherwise attributed, all material is written and
edited by Molly Gordon, MCC.Copyright (c) Shaboom Inc. (r) 2003.
All rights reserved. www.mollygordon.com
"Shaboom, Inc." and "Authentic Promotion" are registered trade or service marks of Shaboom, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
You may reprint material from "The New Leaf(tm)" in other electronic or print publications provided the above copyright notice and a link to http://www.mollygordon.com is included in the credits. Please send me a copy of the publication.
You can get off this list by going to http://www.mollygordon.com or by sending an email to unsub@mollygordon.com.
When you forward this material, please send the entire newsletter. Thanks!
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Readers’ Special
A Gift of Music
I invited my friend Werner John to put together a special offer for New Leaf readers. He wants to earn money to tide him over the winter months and learn more about marketing online. I want to offer readers special incentives so that I continue to build the New Leaf community and I also want to be able to measure the response to special offers.
Werner already offers free shipping for any online order of more than one CD. Now, for a limited time, New Leaf readers can receive 10% off any CD or combination of CDs. In addition, if you order four CDs, Werner will throw in a free copy of his Christmas Past, with special guest Eugene Friesen of the Paul Winter Consort. These discs make wonderful gifts.
To get your discount and free CD, go to http://www.woodflutes.com/elhome.html. Read about the albums, listen to samples, and make your choices. Then, when you use the online secure credit card order form, enter the discount code newleaf (one word!).
I hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to support Werner's work and to get a great value for yourself.
Errata
The correct title of Paul Pearsall's book is Toxic Success, How to Stop Striving and Start Thriving
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1930722095/mollygordonperso