Tag: Chris Mahan

Famous Failures – Henry Ford

Posted on by Chris Mahan

Who you listen to has an incredible bearing on your success. Continually listen to the people around you who are always criticizing your ideas and dreams will hold you back from realizing those dreams. On the other hand, surrounding yourself with people who encourage you and challenge you to stretch is a surefire way to make progress in achieving your goals.

Henry Ford faced such a situation.

When you think of Ford, cars are probably the first thing that comes to mind. That or the process we have come to know as the assembly line. Despite the Ford brand being as dominate as it is today, Henry’s success was not immediate. In fact, he failed miserably twice before finally making a breakthrough and achieving his dream.

Ford was just twenty-three years old when he first discovered the wonders of the internal combustion engine. Fascinated, he immersed himself in the mechanics of it with the idea of attaching it to a horseless carriage. He even came up with a prototype that seemed extremely promising.

Unable to develop the project further on his own, Ford sought financing so he could take the automobile to the next level. He secured this reasonably quickly so his success should have been certain, right?

The problem lay in the prototype. The car he’d designed initially had too many parts that were difficult to obtain. He had to keep tweaking the design to make it into something able to go into production. In short, he took too long to get the desired results, and the financiers lost faith and backed out.

Undeterred, Henry Ford dug in and tried again. This time he focused more attention to the production aspects. He somehow convinced his backers to give him a second chance. They did, with the stipulation they could bring their own manager in on the project.

This also led to failure. Ford felt micromanaged by someone who didn’t understand his vision. When this second attempt fell apart, it could have been the end of his dream. He still believed in both the product and his ideas regarding production. Instead of listening to those who said it couldn’t be done, he hung in there. This time he searched for backers who came to see and buy in to his vision and were willing to allow him the freedom to act as he saw fit to make it a reality. This was the real beginning of the Model A Ford, which was the foundation of Ford’s success in automobiles.

Ford was a visionary in that he never allowed anyone else to stop him from doing what he knew he could. When someone or something stood in his way, he found a new way around the problem and surrounded himself with those who supported him. In the end, he succeeded through persistence.

You can, too. Align yourself with supporters, not naysayers. I’m not talking about conformists or lackeys. I’m referring to people who believe in you even if they can’t fully envision your dream. People who will challenge you, stretch you and force you out of your comfort zone. Surround yourself with people who support you and there is no limit to what you may achieve.

Simple Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Taking Action

Posted on by Chris Mahan

Don’t fault yourself for being afraid of taking that big step–the massive action that needs to happen in order for you to realize your dream! It’s a natural response to moving out of your comfort zone. But while you shouldn’t rebuke yourself for feeling fearful, neither should you wallow in it so that you never get past it. When fear rears its ugly head, use these simple tactics to put it in perspective and move on.

Recognize fear is only a feeling

Fear can feel very, very real. But it’s only an emotion that survives and thrives when we dwell on it and start to believe it. The first step in mastering your fear of taking massive action is to remind yourself that fear is only an emotion – one that you can control.

Remember, everyone has experienced fear of failure

Most everyone experiences fear before they try something new. Think of the most successful person you know. Do you think they haven’t experienced fear of failure? Sure they have. And I’m sure they would tell you that. Everyone has experienced fear of failure, the fear of looking like a fool, the fear of losing friends when you become too famous, too wealthy, too thin, or too whatever. When a moment of panic comes over you, imagine your role model and remember that they too have experienced fear. But they moved through it anyway.

Take the first small step

We’ve all heard of Newton’s 1st Law of Motion: A body at rest tends to stay at rest, while a body in motion tends to stay in motion. When you notice that feeling of fear arising, consciously make the decision to take that first small step in spite of the fear. You will feel amazing after you have done that one little thing. The success of even a small accomplishment will give you the confidence to take the next step. You will realize that you can do it, and you’ll be excited to keep the momentum going. Fear will be replaced by enthusiasm!

Use a lifeline

Sometimes we recognize fear for what it is but can’t seem to get over the hurdle anyway. That’s the right time to call in some reinforcements. Reach out to a friend, colleague or family member who is totally on board with your goal. Buy them a cup of coffee and talk to them about your feelings. Use them as a sounding board, ask for their advice or just come out and ask for a pep talk! Choose to do this with a person who loves you and has faith that you can achieve your goal. That way you don’t need to worry about being embarrassed to tell them that fear has you in a paralyzing grip! They will support you through each step you take. Sometimes all we need to hear is a person we love and admire tell us it will be all right.

One final thing to consider:

Give thought to hiring a coach. A Life or Business Coach can help you identify the fear that may be temporarily paralyzing you. They can remind you of others who faced their fears head-on and became widely successful as a result. Your coach can help you identify that first small step, along with the subsequent ones that will enable to realize your goal. And, a coach can be that lifeline you can turn to whenever you need to lean on someone for support.

How to Get Powerful Testimonies for Your Business

Posted on by Chris Mahan

The words of happy customers can have a significant impact on both your lead generation and conversion rates. One of the simplest ways to gain testimonies?  ASK!

Here’s how you can start to gather credible testimonials for your marketing strategy:

1. Create a system for requesting, collecting and organizing testimonials.

Once you begin your testimonial acquisition program, you’re going to need a place to organize and store testimonials. You will want to track the customers you’ve asked and those who have responded.

I recommend you begin by creating a list of all of your customers in an editable spreadsheet. Place four columns beside each name and label them: (1) Will ask, (2) Have asked, (3) Have received and (4) Refused. Mark each name appropriately and update as needed.

Then, create an electronic filing system or binder for organizing and managing testimonials. You can sort them by date, customer last name, or category (customer service, product, etc). Just be sure it is easy for you to find them when you need to. This is going to be an going part of your marketing campaign, so prepare for a large quantity of testimonials when you’re setting up your system.

2. Read incoming mail and email for unsolicited testimonials.

Create a folder or system for keeping testimonials that come in on their own – unsolicited ones. Any kind of customer feedback or thank you could be a great testimonial to use, so include them in your organization system. It is best to get the customer’s permission to use their testimonial and you may want to protect their identity by only publishing first name and the initial of their last.

You may need to go back through your old files, or your inbox, to locate feedback and testimonials you received in the past but haven’t used. Any testimonial – old and new – is potentially a good one.

3. Start by asking your best customers for testimonials.

While you may see a nice number of testimonials float in through the mail and email, you will have to work for the majority of your testimonials. You will have to ask for them.

Start with the list of your customers you created and organize them by sales volume and frequency. Choose the top 10 – 20%. These are your best customers and should be the first from whom you request a testimonial.

Create a simple “Testimonial Request” letter or email that you can use over and over again. Be sincere, and encourage the customer to write their own letter instead of you drafting it for them.

Feel free to make general suggestions about what you would like them to write about, but try not to control the process. If you’re comfortable doing so, when you see what they have written make some suggestions or request certain sections be strengthened or more specific.

4. Make requesting testimonials a part of your sales process.

Once you’ve “caught up” on your testimonial requests, and asked your top customers for a few thoughts and opinions, you can create a system for ongoing testimonial collecting. These testimonials will be “solicited” as opposed to “unsolicited.”

The most important point here is to ask for a testimonial as soon as possible after the sale. The longer you wait, the less inclined the customer will be to put the effort in to writing their thoughts down. Besides, most customers are happiest and most willing to help immediate after the sale.

·         Ask for the testimonial. If a customer is glowing and gushing with praise, ask them to put it in writing, on letterhead if they have it. Tell them that it would really help you (your customers will love to help!) and that you value their feedback. If they’re not gushing, but you know they’re happy, be bold and ask them if they would write about their experience with your business. Stay on top of your testimonial gathering and ask as soon as possible.

·         Get all their contact details. Get all your customer’s contact details so you can follow up with them once they have agreed to submit a testimonial. The act of giving you their contact information will also establish a sense of commitment on their part, and it will be more likely they’ll follow through.

·         Tell them when you’re going to follow up. You don’t want to be a pest, but if you don’t follow up you may never get that testimonial. Tell them when you’re going to be in contact to retrieve their letter. If you’re going to email them in a week, or call them in a few days, let them know what your plan.

·         Offer to write the first draft. This is a last resort strategy for customers who are either too busy or too lazy to write their own. Remember the testimonials written by real customers are the most believable, so try not to offer this up front. If your customer suggests this, try to encourage them to write their own brief notes. If that doesn’t work, brainstorm some of their ideas, and then write it yourself. Make sure you have it printed on their letterhead and signed.

5. Always ask your customers for permission to use their name and words in your marketing materials, and don’t forget to say thank you.

Once you receive their testimonial, reach out via email or phone and thank your customer. Use that opportunity to gain their permission to use their name and words in your marketing materials – including your website, brochure, ads, and in-store displays. You may want to provide a small token of your appreciation – a percentage off a purchase, a small gift, even some candy – the next time they visit your place of business.

Be sincere in your thanks, and if appropriate send a full letter or email. Thank them for their time and their kind words, and anything else you may notice about their efforts.

You will need to gain permission from customers who send you solicited and unsolicited testimonials. The easiest way to do this is to send a “blanket release” that allows you to use their comments – in part or in whole – in all current and future materials. This way you won’t have to ask each time you want to run an ad or send a direct mail campaign.