Saturday, February 28, 2009

7 Ways to Boost Your Business, or How to Ask to Get Ahead



Ask and you shall receive.
How many times have you heard that? But how many times have you used this fundamental truth in your daily life recently?
Let me put it this way: when was the last time you asked for a written endorsement from a client or colleague?
How about feedback from your customers? Or the opportunity to renegotiate something that just doesn't work for you?
I can't tell you how often I watch business professionals--especially those in sales and marketing positions--falter because they simply stop practicing the art of asking.
If you were to ask successful top executives how they got to where they are, I bet most would admit they "asked to get to the top." In other words, they knew when and how to ask the right questions so they could gather the right information, build their reputation, seek useful referrals, generate new business, and expand their audience or customer base.
If the simple act of asking is so critical, then why don't more people do it?
Because for some reason, people falsely think asking implies weakness and sets one up for potential rejection. It's easy to come up with all sorts of excuses to avoid asking questions that can return unexpected or critical answers. Yet the world responds to those who ask.
If you are not moving closer to what you want, you probably aren't doing enough asking.
Here are seven asking strategies you can implement in your business (and in life) to boost your results:
1.) Ask for Information You can never have too much information; in fact, the higher up you go, the more you need to know. To win potential new clients, you first need to have an understanding about their current challenges, what they want to accomplish and how they plan to do it. Only then can you proceed to demonstrate the advantages of your unique product or service.
Ask questions starting with the words who, why, what, where, when and how to obtain the information you need. Only when you truly understand and appreciate a prospect's needs can you offer a solution.
2.) Ask for Business Would you believe that more than 60 percent of the time salespeople never ask for the order after giving a complete presentation about the benefits of their product or service?!
It's true, and a painful statistic that could put anyone out of business quickly if it's not changed. Always ask a closing question to secure the business. Don't waffle or talk around it--or worse, wait for your prospect to ask you. No doubt you have heard of many good ways to ask the question, "Would you like to give it a try?" The point is, ask.
3.) Ask for Written Endorsements These can be difficult to ask for if you don't like tooting your own horn, but well-written, results-oriented testimonials from highly respected people are powerful for future sales. They solidify the quality of your product or service and leverage you as a person who has integrity, is trustworthy and gets the job done on time.
When is the best time to ask? Right after you have provided excellent service, gone the extra mile, or made your customer really happy. Simply ask if your customer would be willing to give you a testimonial about the value of your product or service, plus any other helpful comments.
4.) Ask for Top-Quality Referrals Just about everyone in business knows the importance of referrals. It's the easiest, least expensive way of ensuring your growth and success in the marketplace. Your core clients will gladly give you referrals because you treat them so well. So why not ask all of them for referrals? It's a habit that will dramatically increase your income. Like any other habit, the more you ask the easier it becomes.
5.) Ask for More Business Look for other products or services you can provide your customers. Devise a system that tells you when your clients will require more of your products. The simplest way is to ask your customers when you should contact them to reorder. It's easier to sell your existing clients more than to go looking for new ones.
6.) Ask for Feedback This is an important component of asking that is often overlooked. How do you really know if your product or service is meeting your customers' needs? Ask them, "How are we doing? What can we do to improve our service to you? Please share what you like or don't like about our products." Set up regular customer surveys that ask good questions and tough questions. It's a powerful way to fine-tune your business. 7.) Ask to Renegotiate The negotiating room should never be locked up for good. Regular business activities include negotiation and often re-negotiation. Many networkers get stuck because they lack skills in negotiation, yet this is simply another form of asking that can save a lot of time and money. All sorts of contracts can be renegotiated in your personal life, too, such as changing your credit card terms and rates. As long as you negotiate ethically and in the spirit of a win-win, you can enjoy a lot of flexibility. Nothing is ever cast in stone. It's only in stone if you don't speak up!
The 5 Secrets to Successful Asking
The first stumbling block for most is knowing how to ask.
There are five secrets to great asking that can guarantee you results, however big or small. If you ever find yourself hitting brick walls and coming up short in responses, come back to these five tips:
> Ask Clearly: No one likes getting a vague or fuzzy question. Be precise. Think clearly about your request. Take time to prepare. Use a note pad to pick words that have the greatest impact. Words are powerful, so choose them carefully.
For example, if you throw out the "How am I doing?" question without specifics, it may take time for the other person to understand what you're talking about. Instead, try, "How is my attitude with customers? Do you see room for improvement? Where?"
> Ask with Confidence: People who ask confidently get more than those who are hesitant and uncertain. When you've figured out what you want to ask for, do it with certainty, boldness and confidence. Practice in the mirror if you have to, or write out your question in advance.
Be prepared to hear the unexpected or the unwanted. Try to have an open mind and heart (it's okay to feel intimidated by the experience, but don't show it). Don't get defensive if you hear something you don't like or that makes you uncomfortable. It's good to get a little uneasy once in a while upon the observations or insights of others. They will inspire you to stop, reflect, and take steps to make a shift for the better.
> Ask Consistently: Top producers know that they can't quit if they ask once and don't get a good response. Keep asking until you find the answers, and try different ways of asking if one doesn't seem to be working.
In prospecting there are usually four or five "no's" before you get a "yes." You may, for example, want to ask a co-worker about your performance on an important team project, but you sense a reluctance from that person to offer an opinion.
You can always ask another person who is more receptive to the question, or consider how you are asking it and try again. Because people don't normally go around asking others for opinions on how well they are doing, it's not a question typically heard. So be prepared to ask over and over again before you hear a clear--useful--answer.
> Ask Creatively: In this age of global competition, your asking may get lost in the crowd, unheard by the decision-makers you hope to reach. There is a way around this. If you want someone's attention, don't ask the ordinary way. Use your creativity to dream up a high-impact presentation.
Bear in mind that asking someone to stop and evaluate you can seem awkward or time-consuming. Show respect for them first and find the ideal time to ask the question. Here's one way to engage the insights of a superior: "I highly value your opinion and honest perspective, and would love to know what you think I could be doing differently on a daily basis that would make your life easier and make our clients happier."
> Ask Sincerely: When you really need help, people will respond. Sincerity means dropping the image facade and showing a willingness to be vulnerable. Tell it the way it is, lumps and all. Don't worry if your presentation isn't perfect; ask from your heart. Keep it simple and people will open up to you.
Like speaking a different language, asking takes continual practice until it becomes a regular, reflexive habit. The sooner you build your "Ask Muscle", the sooner you'll see the results you've been waiting--and searching--for.
Don't think asking only relates to work-related goals and tasks. Bring this practice home to enrich your relationships with your family members and your friends.
I trust you'll be surprised and delighted at what you discover about yourself in this process. Happy asking!

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If you missed previous issues of Success Strategies, I keep an archive of past issues you can always refer to.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Sou© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: http://www.jackcanfield.com/
Membership details for The Last Chiropractor click the following link: http://tlcmemberbenefits.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

What Is The Best Question Ever?


The Last Chiropractor is always in Integrity. Always is a big word, however it is impossible to be one of The Last Chiropractor's if YOU are not always in INTEGRITY. The Last Chiropractor uses The Best Question Ever to make it easy to stay in integrity making the right decision decisively. There is actually a book about The Best Question Ever which I would suggest you read. For the purposes of this post we will share The Best Question Ever with you so you can apply it to the following 3 examples.

You have a practice member in your office. You took x-rays of the member’s lower back. You see an area on the x-ray that looks like it could be some type of degenerative change but something in you makes you flash that it might be some type of cancer. It just doesn’t look right. You have to make a decision. Should you send the films off for a second opinion or should you treat the patient for a week or two and see how they respond first? The Last Chiropractor applies the best question ever.

You are in your practice caring for your members and the member asks you if you could speak to the local Kiwanis’s club in two weeks. They need a speaker and thot of you. Now you don’t really like speaking in front of people and you have a family at home and that’s the night of your favorite TV show. The question is should I do this or should I come up with some excuse? The Last Chiropractor applies the best question ever.

Finally you are processing a new member in your office. They are 36 and have a history of a couple of bad falls on the ski slope 15 years ago and were involved in a MVA 5 years prior. He slipped going down his basement stairs injuring his lower back and that’s why he is in your office today. You are finding subluxations in the lower back right in the area he is having pain and tenderness along with restricted motion, swelling and spasm. You are really busy and have to decide whether this person needs x-rays or not. You are on the edge and not sure which way to go. If you take the films it will put you another 15 minutes behind schedule. If you just send them home to put ice on their lower back you can get back on schedule in no time. Your CA just informs you that you have another new member in the office ready to be seen. What do you do? Do you take the x-rays or not? That is the question. The Last Chiropractor applies the best question ever.

Knowing and using the best question ever makes the answers to the above questions easy. So here goes. What is the best question ever? The best question ever is:

What Is The Wise Thing To Do?

In each of the above examples ask this question of yourself. I believe you will send the films out for a second opinion, you will enthusiastically tell your member you would be honored to speak at their club and there is no doubt you will take x-rays in the third example.

The Last Chiropractor when faced with a decision routinely defaults to the use of the best question ever. This allows The Last Chiropractor to make decisions quickly and correctly. What is the wise thing to do? The Last Chiropractor knows!
Membership details for The Last Chiropractor click the following link: http://tlcmemberbenefits.blogspot.com/

Monday, February 23, 2009

"WHY"


Chiropractic Philosophy is the WHY behind Chiropractic.


As one of The Last Chiropractors you must be able to answer a very important WHY question. It is "Why am I on this planet?"


Take some time to reflect and then answer this question in only four words. Feel free to share your answers with us.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Simple Explanation "How Chiropractic Care Works"


You will benefit from Chiropractic Care whether you believe in it or not. It's based on universal and biological principles and laws. The law of cause and effect is a good example. It's common sense. It's simple.

Chiropractors keep an individuals nerve system free from interference allowing the brain and body to stay in constant communication enhancing performance. If there is interference to that brain body communication performance levels suffer. The most common interference to the nerve system is the vertebral subluxation complex. A minor misalignment of the bones of the spine causing direct pressure on the nerve or more commonly disturbing the neurological bed in which the nerve root rests causing irritative stimuli resulting in abnormal function from this structural alteration. This causes the brain body connection to be less than perfect lowering human performance on all levels. Subluxation eats away at the very fabric of life!

A good analogy is tuning in a radio station. You are in your car and want to listen to your favorite radio station. All of your presets were accidentally deleted the other night by your teenage son so you have to tune in the station manually. When you get close you can here the station you want, it's just not crystal clear. That's what a subluxation does. This is how your left kidney feels when a subluxation is interfering with the spinal nerve that controls its function. The left kidney still works, however its performance suffers with a less than perfect signal from the brain. This results in less than perfect function of the kidney due to this fuzzy signal from the brain caused by the subluxation.

Now the chiropractor has as their mission the detection and correction of subluxations in the spine to remove the static/interference from your nerve system, creating a clear channel. We adjust the subluxation and open the nerve channels, resulting in more perfect communication between the brain and the left kidney. Just like tuning in that radio station when you get that clear signal. In both cases you have removed interference improving communication and performance.

Chiropractors keep brain body communication free from interference. It's as simple as that!

How To Describe Chiropractic To A Child


If you take a garden hose with a sprinkler attached and run water through it onto your lawn, what happens to the grass? It grows doesn't it? Then what would happen if you interfered with the water flow (put a kink in it)? The water would stop flowing, wouldn't it? What would happen to the grass? It would die, wouldn't it? This is the same thing that happens to our bodies when the nerve flow is reduced, the nerve flow doesn't get to our organs and tissues so our bodies don't function and perform at its best.


OR


Your body is self healing and self regulating, and the nerve system is the master controller of all body functions. What do you think would happen if the nerve system was interfered with? Would the body be more healthy or more sick? Of course more sick. Your spine is better off in place than out of place. It is as simple as that.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Will Your Life Work the Way You Want It to in 2009?


2009 may bring greater uncertainty and more unsettling economic news than recent years, but these circumstances should compel us to take a deep breath, and pause to think about our lives.
When things happen in the world that seem so far beyond our individual control, it can feel unsettling.
Don't give up on your goals and dreams just because "the time isn't good"... you can still make 2009 the year you uncover a whole new you for the better!
Even in tough times, you get to decide how to respond to certain conditions, opportunities, and outcomes--both good and bad.
Life will always be a series of choices and YOU get to decide on what will move you closer to your goals, or farther away from them. External forces will always be part of the equation, even during the good times when the world is thriving.
When people ask me about the single most important ingredient to success, I always share the same response: realizing what's making you achieve success, and then realizing what is stifling your success.
Sometimes recognizing the things that are NOT working in your life can be painful, yet VERY powerful to shaping the life you want.
Don't try to rationalize them, make excuses for them, or hide them. This is when it's even more critical to take personal inventory and evict those excuses, rationalizations, and hidden habits that don't serve you. These things will keep you from the life you want to be living. Let me give you some examples. Ask yourself if you relate to any of these questions:
Do you want to be active, fit, and strong? Then you have to stop making excuses about your weight, diet choices, and lack of exercise.
Do you want to be in a loving relationship based on friendship and respect? Then you have to stop rationalizing why you and your partner are not communicating well.
Do you want to embrace Monday mornings and feel excited about going to work every day? Then you have to stop hiding your true passions and go after whatever it is you really want to be doing day in and day out.
Do you want to lose the debt forever? Then you have to stop ignoring your spending habits and get real about a creating budget that will pull you out of debt and allow you to reach financial freedom.
Do you want to feel more connected to the people in your life, such as your children, friends, and colleagues? Then you have to stop complaining about your poor relationships and figure out why you don't feel as connected as you'd like to be.
These things can be painful to look at because the truth is that you have to do something about them in order to make it work in your life.
You'll have to say no to the second helping of dinner and the dessert to follow and go through the awkward stage of getting into shape... You'll have to confront your partner about the areas that need work... You'll have to get past fears about changing your job or professional path... You'll have to cut back on your spending and be frugal... You'll have to take a good hard look at your personal relationships and perhaps consider your own shortfalls and weaknesses in communicating your needs and concerns.
Plain and simple, you will have to do something uncomfortable.
Successful people don't waste time in denial (or complain or make excuses for that matter). They face situations like a warrior. They look for the warning signs, they find out why things aren't working, and they go about fixing them- even when fixing requires problem solving, hard work, risk, and a level of uncertainty.
It's okay to identify a problem even though you haven't a clue about how to go about solving it right away.
The first step is just recognizing the issue, and then having faith that you'll figure it out with careful attention to it. That's how successful people live--in constant focus on goals, on results, on problem solving, and on the actions that get them to where they want to be.
Following are three things to do constantly in pursuit of your goals and dreams, however big or small:
Awareness: Keep your awareness on the feedback you are getting from life and decide to address the situations immediately. Don't bottle up feedback, cast it aside, and avoid it like you would a pile of dirty laundry or a stack of unopened bills. Life tells you things every day. Do this. Don't do that. Think about this. Try me. Forget that. We live in a world that seemingly encourages us to live on autopilot. Successful people fly manually every day and so should you. When those feedback signals come in, listen to them and use them in planning your next step.
Commitment: Commit to finding out why things aren't working and learn what will fix them. Once you start the process it will be much easier to continue. Nothing fruitful stems from inaction.
Trust: Trust that making changes to the situation will ultimately bring about the best results. Sure you might go through a bit of discomfort during the change, and some unlikely or unwanted outcomes, but in the end you will triumph!
So are you ready to admit the things that just are not working out?
Make a list of the things in your life that are working against your success and ask how the situation can be improved. Commit to tackling just one of those issues and be brave!
If you need help organizing those "things" in your life, try using the following list of categories. I recommend reflecting on each of the 7 areas and ask yourself, what's not working here in each one and then brainstorm 3 potential solutions.
1.) Financial Goals, 2) Career/Business Goals, 3.) Free Time/Family Time, 4.) Health/Appearance Goals, 5.) Relationship Goals, 6.) Personal Growth 7.) Making a Difference
Remember, by facing what is not working, you can only improve your life!
© 2009 Jack Canfield

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Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: http://www.jackcanfield.com/

Friday, February 6, 2009

BJ Palmer


Only the hen can earn money by laying around - BJ Palmer

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Truth


A poem attributed to BJ called The Truth was not written by BJ, it was named The Truth by BJ. The poem was called The Chiropractors Creed in a book called Chiropractic Thots by then Texas Chiropractic College's president Dr. James Drain. Dr. Drain said the original author was Dr. J G Gregorson and BJ borrowed it and named it.


We chiropractors work with the subtle substance of the
soul. We release the prisoned impulses, a tiny rivulet of
force, that emanates from the mind and flows over the
nerves to the cells and stirs them to life. We deal with
the magic power that transforms common food into
living, loving, thinking clay; that robes the earth with
beauty, and hues and
scents the flowers with
the glory of the air.
In the dim, dark
distant long ago,
when the sun first
bowed to the morning
star, this power spoke and there was life, it quickened
the slime of the sea and the dust of the earth and
drove the cell to union with its fellows in countless living
forms. Through eons of time it finned the fish and
winged the bird and fanged the beast. Endlessly it
worked, evolving its forms until it produced the
crowning glory of them all. With tireless energy it
blows the bubble of each individual life and then
silently, relentlessly dissolves the form and absorbs the
spirit into itself again.
And yet you ask "Can chiropractic cure appendicitis or
the flu?" Have you more faith in a knife or a spoonful
of medicine than in the power that animates the living
world?
B.J. Palmer, D.C., Ph.C.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The 33 Principles


1. The Major PremiseA Universal Intelligence is in all matter and continually gives to it all its properties and actions, thus maintaining it in existence.
2. The Chiropractic Meaning of LifeThe expression of this intelligence through matter is the Chiropractic meaning of life.
3. The Union of Intelligence and MatterLife is necessarily the union of intelligence and matter.
4. The Triune of LifeLife is a triunity having three necessary united factors, namely: Intelligence, Force and Matter.
5. The Perfection of the TriuneIn order to have 100% Life, there must be 100% Intelligence, 100% Force, 100% Matter.
6. The Principle of TimeThere is no process that does not require time.
7. The Amount of Intelligence in MatterThe amount of intelligence for any given amount of matter is 100%, and is always proportional to its requirements.
8. The Function of IntelligenceThe function of intelligence is to create force.
9. The Amount of Force Created by IntelligenceThe amount of force created by intelligence is always 100%.
10. The Function of ForceThe function of force is to unite intelligence and matter.
11. The Character of Universal ForcesThe forces of Universal Intelligence are manifested by physical laws; are unswerving and unadapted, and have no solicitude for the structures in which they work.
12. Interference with Transmission of Universal ForcesThere can be interference with transmission of universal forces.
13. The Function of MatterThe function of matter is to express force.
14. Universal LifeForce is manifested by motion in matter; all matter has motion, therefore there is universal life in all matter.
15. No Motion without the Effort of ForceMatter can have no motion without the application of force by intelligence.
16. Intelligence in both Organic and Inorganic MatterUniversal Intelligence gives force to both organic and inorganic matter.
17. Cause and EffectEvery effect has a cause and every cause has effects.
18. Evidence of LifeThe signs of life are evidence of the intelligence of life.
19. Organic MatterThe material of the body of a "living thing" is organized matter.
20. Innate IntelligenceA "living thing" has an inborn intelligence within its body, called Innate Intelligence.
21. The Mission of Innate IntelligenceThe mission of Innate Intelligence is to maintain the material of the body of a "living thing" in active organization.
22. The Amount of Innate intelligenceThere is 100% of Innate Intelligence in every "living thing," the requisite amount, proportional to its organization.
23. The Function of Innate IntelligenceThe function of Innate Intelligence is to adapt universal forces and matter for use in the body, so that all parts of the body will have co-coordinated action for mutual benefit.
24. The Limits of AdaptationInnate Intelligence adapts forces and matter for the body as long as it can do so without breaking a universal law, or Innate Intelligence is limited by the limitations of matter.
25. The Character of Innate ForcesThe forces of Innate Intelligence never injure or destroy the structures in which they work.
26. Comparison of Universal and Innate ForcesIn order to carry on the universal cycle of life, Universal forces are destructive, and Innate forces constructive, as regards structural matter.
27. The Normality of Innate IntelligenceInnate Intelligence is always normal and its function is always normal.
28. The Conductors of Innate ForcesThe forces of Innate Intelligence operate through or over the nervous system in animal bodies.
29. Interference with Transmission of Innate ForcesThere can be interference with the transmission of Innate forces.
30. The Causes of Dis-easeInterference with the transmission of Innate forces causes incoordination of dis-ease.
31. SubluxationsInterference with transmission in the body is always directly or indirectly due to subluxations in the spinal column.
32. The Principle of CoordinationCoordination is the principle of harmonious action of all the parts of an organism, in fulfilling their offices and purposes.
33. The Law of Demand and SupplyThe Law of Demand and Supply is existent in the body in its ideal state; wherein the "clearing house," is the brain, Innate the virtuous "banker," brain cells "clerks," and nerve cells "messengers."
Membership details for The Last Chiropractor click the following link: http://tlcmemberbenefits.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

THE BIG IDEA OF CHIROPRACTIC


A slip on the snowy sidewalk in winter is a small thing. It happens to millions. A fall from a ladder in the summer is a small thing. It also happens to millions. The slip or fall produces a subluxation. The subluxation is a small thing. The subluxation produces pressure on a nerve. That pressure is a small thing. That decreased flowing produces a dis-eased body and brain. That is a big thing to that man.Multiply that sick man by a thousand, and you control the physical mental welfare of a city. Multiply that man by one hundred thirty million, and you forecast and can prophesy the physical and mental status of a nation. So the slip or fall, the subluxation, pressure, flow of mental images and dis-ease are big enough to control the thoughts and actions of a nation.Now comes a man. And one man is a small thing. This man gives an adjustment. The adjustment is a small thing. The adjustment replaces the subluxation. That is a small thing. The adjusted subluxation releases pressure upon nerves. That is a small thing. The released pressure restores health to a man. This is a big thing to that man.Multiply that well man by a thousand, and you step up the physical and mental welfare of a city. Multiply that well man by a million, and you increase the efficiency of a state. Multiply that well man by a hundred thirty million, and you have produced a healthy, wealthy, and better race for posterity. So, the adjustment of the subluxation to release pressure upon nerves, to restore mental impulse flow, to restore health, is big enough to rebuild the thoughts and actions of the world.The idea that knows the cause, that can correct the cause of dis-ease, is one of the biggest ideas known. Without it, nations fall; with it, nations rise.This idea is the biggest I know of.- Dr. B.J. Palmer, Developer of Chiropractic