Patricia Noel Drain | boomerguideblog.com

Saturday
Jan 10, 2009
2:01 am

RESULTS VS RESOLUTIONS

ARTICLE: RESULTS VS RESOLUTIONS

I love the title of today’s article RESULTS VS RESOLUTIONS. Year after year we come up with New Year’s resolutions. This year I personally will be focusing on results rather than New Years resolutions, and hopefully you will join me with that focus.

The tool I am sharing with you in the article today is SO simple, that we forget to use it.

Talk about the LAW OF ATTRACTION at work… I heard this message 25 years ago. This process worked so many times for me that of course I continued to use it over and over… NO

Why didn’t I constantly use this easy technique???

I am a human being just like you and I forget sometimes to continue doing the things that WORKED for me in my life. I am committed to getting back to the basics of goal setting.

You will also read in the ezine today that we are offering several new informational programs to help each of us grow our businesses as big as we wish this next year.

Read on…

Respectfully
Patricia

Several years ago I attended a seminar and heard this gentleman speak. He was talking about the power of the written word. He asked the audience a few questions:

Do you really want something??? Then write it down. Do you want to change your life??? Write it down. Do you know who you want to meet, where you want to travel, what you want to accomplish? Then

Write it down!

Okay, Okay I decided… I’ll try it! That day I started writing down my goals. What did I have to lose?

He then shared with us one of his written goals. He said, “What I want more than anything is to write a national best seller that is in every bookstore across the country.” What high expectations he had for himself. I sure hoped he’d accomplish what he wanted.

I started writing out my goals…Guess what happened? My life started unfolding right before my eyes. From the car I drove, to the house I lived in, to the business I eventually owned, to the books I have written, even to the trips my family took. It worked! Writing down my goals WORKED!!!

I began sharing my new found “miracle” with my employees, my business associates, and even started giving seminars to spread the word.

I want to share with you a few excerpts from the book Future Diary. I think it is an interesting concept about our personal power. I hope you get as much out of it as I have throughout the years.

By the way, that gentleman who wanted to write a best selling book was Mark Victor Hansen, the author of Future Diary (which didn’t become a national best-seller), but his other book…Chicken Soup for the Soul was a huge best seller. I would say his lofty goal came true, wouldn’t you??

If it worked for Mark, for me and so many others - Give it a try!…

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Write it down.

CLICK HERE to read the “FUTURE DIARY” excerpts.

If you would like to use this article on your site please feel free to do so, just give me credit and list my site: www.whatshouldibewhenigrowup.com

As you will note that we usually have a Q&A For my THREE TARGETED MARKETS

1. Women business owners

2. Speakers and entrepreneurs

3. Recruiting and staffing professionals

You spoke, we listened to your informational needs and have designed 3 -4 week teleclasses specifically for the three groups. Read on and Register today, invest in your business and your future.

WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS

8 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO TAKE CONTROL

OF YOUR BUSINESS RATHER THAN

YOUR BUSINESS TAKING CONTROL OF YOU

In this 4 part teleclass you will learn from Patricia and other women business owners what they learned the hard way. Here is a quick quiz to see if you would gain anything from the sessions.

Do you ever feel like an employee rather than the boss?
Do you ever pay everyone else first before you?
Do you work longer hours than you want to?
Do you feel alone at the top?
Do you feel you are dancing as fast as you can and getting nowhere?

If you answered YES to even one of these questions I promise you will take away “exactly” what you need to hear during these teleclasses designed for women business owners everywhere.

Mark your calendar for 4 Mondays beginning

January 19th and 26th, February 2nd and 9th at 9am CST

Click here to register

Popularity: 37% [?]

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Friday
Oct 17, 2008
3:10 am

Target Marketing Works!

WELCOME FROM PATRICIA DRAIN
Hello everyone from sunny Arizona. Snakes and scorpions are still roaming around but the heat is gone. Last week I shared the fact that if we are targeting markets our success of growing any business will increase. I also shared my 3 target markets which are Women Business Owners Recruiting and Staffing Professionals Speakers/Entrepreneurs. Please take the time today to list your target markets, it will make your business so much more enjoyable and controllable. I also have a story in my article today from a business owner relating to the 5 step marketing system that I shared last ezine. Her comments after trying it… ”IT WORKS.” If it worked for her and has also worked for me, try it, what do you have to lose?
ARTICLE: IT WORKS… IT REALLY WORKS
“Well I decided to give it a try,” Pamela Mulroy CPC, of Corporate Search Group said. Sure enough out of the 10 companies I targeted 2 of them hired me. One company wants me to recruit a talented person for their organization, the other to train their managers on HOW TO RECRUIT, MOTIVATE, AND RETAIN TOP TALENT. Since I do business all over the country I never really thought about “targeting” companies right here in my community. I used the same excuses most of us have used: They don’t need my services in such a big company. They probably think my fees are too high. Which companies would I even want to do business with since I don’t even know them. These were all my reasons that I waited 5 years before venturing out and “trying the 5 STEP TARGET MARKET SYSTEM” Patricia has shared with me for years. I decided to do 3 emails, one direct mail piece, and one last judgment phone call for number 5. I still have 5 companies on my list that I will market to monthly, and 2 that I am doing business with presently. IT WORKS… IT REALLY WORKS Visit my site today at www.corpsearchgroup.com maybe we could do business together??? Pamela Mulroy CPC, Idaho Well there you have it, proof that it can and does work, so look at your calendar and mark the days you will reach out to your target markets. Think of 5 clever subject lines that are irresistible, and start with a 5 step email campaign. I can’t wait to hear from some of you saying… IT WORKS… IT REALLY WORKS From Patricia Noel Drain … let’s grow our business together one ezine at a time.

Popularity: 30% [?]

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Monday
Oct 06, 2008
4:10 am

Target Marketing

As you know whenever I write or speak about marketing I always say if you target your market you will get faster and better results. However, first you have to know your audience.

Now if I really believe in my own message about identifying and taking care of your target customer then I should follow my own advice. So I looked over my database and came up with my target markets which fell into the following 3 categories:

WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS
RECRUITING & STAFFING FIRMS
SPEAKERS, CONSULTANTS, BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS & ENTREPRENEURS

The reason you are receiving my ezine is because you are in one of those 3 categories, that happen to be my area of expertise.

Each of these groups have different questions, challenges, situations, that apply just to them. I am committed to giving more education, information, and answers - to those target markets. The staff at BUILD A GREAT BUSINESS will occasionally be featuring our loyal and faithful readers in upcoming ezines which go out to 15,000 professionals just like yourself.

Here is how it works:

Send the following information, including your question to be considered as a featured business in an upcoming ezine.

CATEGORY YOU FALL IN (from my 3 categories above)
SPECIFIC BUSINESS QUESTION
SHORT BUSINESS PROFILE ABOUT YOU
YOUR WEBSITE URL
SEND TO PATRICIA@PATRICIADRAIN.COM

IF CHOSEN, THE ANSWER TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR EVERYONE’S INFORMATION by myself and my Expert Advisory Board, as well as featuring your name and business information..

Looking forward to serving my faithful readers that are always thanking me for the inspiration or the knowledge they are receiving in each ezine.

Hope you like the new format

Respectfully,

Patricia

Popularity: 30% [?]

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Saturday
Sep 20, 2008
3:09 am

PICK UP THE PHONE!

PICK UP THE PHONE

As you saw in my subject line today Pick up the Phone is the title of my article this week. In our economy today, all of us have to take personal responsibility to pull ourselves out of what is being termed a depression, recession, etc. We need to stop pointing fingers at our government, politicians, media and help each other grow business… so PICK UP THE PHONE TODAY.

When I was President of the Phoenix Chapter National Association of Women Business Owners NAWBO my theme that year was NAWBO WOMEN DOING BUSINESS WITH NAWBO WOMEN. It was everywhere; on key chains, in the newsletter, on t shirts, as a reminder to do business with each other. At every meeting I would hold up the NAWBO directory saying, “before you go to the yellow pages, or the internet, go through this directory and find a NAWBO sister that is doing the business you need, pick up the phone and call her first.”

Novel idea huh? It definitely created more business for members

Today’s ezine (short for email magazine) is a reminder to pick up the phone TODAY and call someone you trust, someone you know from an organization you belong to, someone who could possibly help your business grow.

It is our responsibility to keep the economy strong by doing business together. Pick up the phone Today!!

Receive complimentary weekly e-zines from Patricia Noel Drain to grow your business, find your career passion, and set new goals! Go to: http://www.buildagreatbusiness.com/

Popularity: 26% [?]

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Sunday
Sep 14, 2008
10:09 pm

Find Your Passion and Make a Career Change

Years ago, when I re-entered the job market after being a school teacher years before, I knew I was beginning a new chapter in my life. I wanted to make the right career choice, but as I looked through the want ads I became confused. The more interviews I went on, the more I realized what I didn’t want. I did discover, however, that it’s just as important to realize what you don’t want as it is to discover what you do want.You see, I wasn’t looking for “just” a job. I was looking for a place that I would feel good about going every day, not one where I was just putting in time. I finally realized I had to start narrowing the field because I was too scattered in my thoughts and desires. What followed led me down an amazing path of self-awareness.Here’s what I learned: When we go through a time of transition, job change, redirection, we need to know who we are, what we really want, and how to define it before we are able to go after that new opportunity.

And so I asked myself a question: What should I be when I grow up?

After additional exploration, I began to get more focused on what I wanted to do with my career.
I didn’t necessarily know the title of my dream job, but I did know its ingredients.

I consider ingredients, as I call them, to be the keys to career success.

Everyone’s ingredients are different, but my ingredients included these seven items:

1. Professional atmosphere
2. Flexibility in schedule
3. Unlimited income potential
4. Opportunity to help people
5. Use of my communication skills
6. Environment in which I’d feel productive
7. Location 15 minutes from my home

After each interview, I would review my ingredients’ list, and see if one, two, or all were covered in the position.

Since I was living in Scottsdale, Ariz., the resort capital of the world, I started interviewing for jobs within the resort industry. I discovered immediately that the resort industry wasn’t for me because it only had one of my ingredients: use of my communication skills. That was it.

I also interviewed at a computer sales company, a real estate firm, a car dealership, and an insurance agency. It proved to be a long process for me to discover what I did not want. None of these environments or jobs satisfied more than two of my ingredients.

Then I read an ad for a salesperson at an executive recruiting firm. I had never heard of such a company because none existed in my small hometown. I wasn’t even sure what people at a recruiting firm did.

I arrived at a professional office where the salespeople looked like they were going out for an interview themselves. Check off No. 1 on my list of my ingredients: professional atmosphere.

I asked about hours and was told I could work the hours necessary to be successful. Some of the recruiters on staff only worked four days a week. Check off No. 2 on my list: flexible in schedule.

What about salary? Yes, the firm offered a draw against commission. If a recruiter did well, earning six figures was possible. Bingo on No. 3: unlimited income potential.

Finding people jobs and interviews took care of Nos. 4, 5, and 6 on my list: opportunity to help people; use of my communication skills; and environment in which I’d feel productive.

What about No. 7, 15 minutes from my home? Well, I had to give up that ingredient to get the others. Depending on traffic, this career move required a 35- to 60-minute drive from my home.

I had no idea if this was the career of my dreams. In fact, when the person interviewing me asked if I thought I would be good at this recruiting job (I’m sure he wanted me to sell myself), I said I didn’t know. Truthfully, all I knew was that it had the ingredients I’d set out to attain.

Within a couple of months, I was the top producer at the firm. I’m not saying this to brag. I’m telling you because the process of matching my ingredients with a job was painful. But it paid off in the end.

The process required me to ask myself questions, ask again, and then ask again to discover my “needs,” “desires,” “passions,” “skills,” and more. In fact, that’s how I developed the purposeful questionnaires you’ll find in my book. I wish I’d had these questions to refer to when I was first looking. I would have found my career path much faster.

Today, I am an author, professional speaker, and consultant doing exactly what I want to do.
It’s funny how my Top 6 ingredients are still the same:

1. Professional atmosphere
2. Flexibility in schedule
3. Unlimited income potential
4. Opportunity to help people
5. Use of my communication skills
6. Environment in which I’d feel productive

When it comes to No. 7, location, I’ve created my missing piece. I now work from home.

The moral of my story is one that applies to everyone: You have to know yourself, your needs, passions, and desires before you can find your perfect career.

You have to know your ingredients.

Receive complimentary weekly e-zines from Patricia Noel Drain to grow your business, find your career passion, and set new goals! Go to: http://www.buildagreatbusiness.com/

Popularity: 31% [?]

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Thursday
Sep 11, 2008
4:09 am

Grab the “Brass Ring”

Grab the Brass Ring

I recently had the opportunity to work with a woman business owner named Linda, to not only help build her business, but to turbo charge it. It was such an exciting venture to watch Linda discover an excitement about her business once again. You see her business had become a “job” that she was stuck in. She needed clarity, she needed new information, she needed a plan of action.

As we worked together the business started coming alive because of new marketing strategies we put in place, new ways to make money in several areas of her business that she simply was not seeing for herself. She focused on areas in the business that she loved to do, was very good at doing, and got someone else to do the rest, so she could grow the business.

The best part of the story is that Linda did not have the money to hire a mentor, she definitely did not have the time, since she was dancing as fast as she could just to get new business. She had also just been faced with her Mom’s death and a lot of challenges at the time.

But guess what?

Linda GRABBED THE BRASS RING. What do I mean by that…

I talk to hundreds of people each and every week and I watch them need and want information to help grow their business. They want to make changes but never move or do anything differently

They are told…

“Buy this book it is so helpful”

They don’t buy the book

“Make sure you take advantage of this seminar that is coming to town it will enhance your business”

They don’t attend

“Hire a coach, consultant or a mentor to help your business take off”

They never call to even find out how much it is.

Linda knew she had to do something different this time so SHE GRABBED THE BRASS RING.

… GRAB YOUR BRASS RING TODAYCall 866-580-0696 to get more information on how to get clarity and a plan of action for your business.

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 40% [?]

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Friday
Sep 05, 2008
3:09 am

Why We Needed the Olympics

Why WE NEEDED THE OLYMPICS

HELLO EVERYONE FROM ARIZONA WHERE THE LONG HOT SUMMER IS ALMOST OVER.Last Saturday I was having dinner with friends at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the water, when suddenly I noticed there were flat screen TV’s everywhere. I couldn’t understand why at such a fine dining restaurant TV’s would be on. Then I remembered… the Olympics.When the swimming relay race began, people started leaving their tables to get a closer look.We watched together as a group of proud Americans in a restaurant that night as the USA took another Gold medal. Everyone was cheering, clapping, smiling. It was such a defining moment for me because I realized at that moment that all of us NEEDED the Olympics.

We have all been bombarded with news exposing us to gas prices, politicians being scorned , the war, the down turn in the economy, etc etc. Actually this has been a pretty dismal time in all of our lives. Everyday I hear fear creep into almost every conversation.

WE NEEDED THE OLYMPICS to remind us that we are the Greatest Country on Earth. WE NEEDED THE OLYMPICS to remind us that we are proud to be Americans as we watched our athletes represent our fine country.

I think a song that speaks the loudest for me about our country is GOD BLESS THE USA by Lee Greenwood.

Here is a verse from that song“I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free, and I won’t forget the men who died who gave that right to me. And , I’ll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today. ‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land…GOD BLESS THE USA” Let’s STAND UP and stop participating in this economic downturn chatter of gloom and doom… let’s STAND UP next to each other and say “even with gas up, Real estate down… isn’t this a GREAT country?”Live your life with passion
Patriciawww.patriciadrain.comwww.whatshouldibewhenigrowup.com

www.buildagreatbusiness.com

Receive complimentary weekly e-zines from Patricia Noel Drain to grow your business, find your career passion, and set new goals! Go to: http://www.buildagreatbusiness.com/

Popularity: 39% [?]

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Wednesday
Sep 03, 2008
9:09 pm

A New Low in Networking

A NEW LOW IN NETWORKING

Hello Everyone,

I think there has been some confusion about networking your way to success in business.The other day I attended a business meeting with a group of business owners, when a gentleman came over to me saying, “I need to meet the famous Patricia Drain.” We casually talked about what he did in business. As he slipped his business card in my hand telling me not to lose it because it was very important to him, he was now looking over my shoulder to find another business owner to introduce himself to. As I watched him move quickly around the room I overheard him say over and over “I need to meet the famous (fill in the name), don’t lose my card it is very important to me.”A couple of days went by when I received a call from him, suggesting we meet, so he could tell me more about him and his business.I told him my brother-in-law did exactly what he did so I would not need his service.His next line was shocking.

“I can meet you at a coffee house by your house to tell you more about me.”

NO.

“I can come directly to your house if that is more convenient.”

NO.

“Give me a break Patricia. I am just trying to do my job and tell you more about me and my business.” (have you noticed all the me’s and my’s).

My reply was, “Remember when I told you my brother-in-law is in the same business, so I will not be using your service?”

His response… ”I am just networking, I am sure you must have friends that could use my service.”

I am not sure if you have had a similar experience, but that is the reason NETWORKING has such a bad reputation.

To me, networking is about building relationships.

In fact, when I thought about it I came up with 4 simple rules about networking that would help any business grow and flourish consistently.

Ask questions about the other person’s business!
Listen to the person… I mean REALLY listen!
Learn to communicate with someone so they feel they are the most important person in the room.
Be authentic when building relationships because if you are not authentic I promise… You will get discovered.

What I know for sure (to copy Oprah’s column) about networking and building any business, anywhere, anytime, is if you just follow those 4 simple procedures your business will grow all by itself.

If the networking gentleman is reading this ezine, I hope you recognize yourself and realize there are BETTER ways to play the networking game.Patricia Noel Drain

www.patriciadrain.com

www.whatshouldibewhenigrowup.com

Receive complimentary weekly e-zines from Patricia Noel Drain to grow your business, find your career passion, and set new goals! Go to: http://www.buildagreatbusiness.com/

Popularity: 35% [?]

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Sunday
Aug 31, 2008
3:08 am

Work ON Your Business, Not IN Your Business - Q & A

Ask Patricia

Q I totally believe in working on the business not IN the business but how does a person find time? A You have to make the time.I had to decide will it be in the mornings evenings weekends.So I started testing the water… I went into the office and discovered very quickly that I could never work on the business inside those walls., I was always putting out fires or answering questions.My get away was going to be in the morning hours before I went in at my home office.

You are going to have to discover what will work for you also. You might be a night person, so mark off on your calendar and set aside at least one hour a day to work on your business and your lifestyle… wait till you see the difference.

For more info, go to:

www.patriciadrain.com

Receive complimentary weekly e-zines from Patricia Noel Drain to grow your business, find your career passion, and set new goals! Go to: http://www.buildagreatbusiness.com/

Popularity: 33% [?]

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Wednesday
Aug 27, 2008
4:08 am

WORK ON YOUR BUSINESS, NOT IN YOUR BUSINESS

How could this ever be possible??? How could I work ON my business?? I was the company’s top producer. I was the one closing most of the deals, after all, I was the boss. I HAD to work IN the business in order to survive.THEN I GOT IT… Until I created a business that worked without me, I only had a job, a very demanding job. At first you feel very protective of your “baby” (that business you nurtured and cared for), but eventually you have to let the “baby” grow up and take on a life of its own. One of my favorite questions for business owners who have started their own company is, “What does your ‘baby’ look like today?”Some of the responses have been as follows:

An out of control teenager.
A tired, sick old man.
A frustrated old maid.
An excited child with no focus.
A baby just learning to walk.

For all you business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs reading this, have fun filling in the blanks.What does your “baby” look like today? If your answer was right on track, profitable and fun, or that it is growing, then stop reading NOW. Please give the book to a friend or business associate who could use the information. This book is for all those business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders who need guidance and advice in their business.If your answer was right on track, profitable and fun, or that it is growing, then stop reading NOW. Please give the book to a friend or business associate who could use the information. This book is for all those business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders who need guidance and advice in their business.So how do you work ON your business instead of IN it?I can only tell you what I did. You will have to design your own plan that fits your style and your company’s. I did not quit running my desk overnight — that would not have worked in my situation. But I did decide to start taking the early mornings NOT to go into the office, but to stay at home where I had peace and quiet and could think about what I wanted this business to look like when it was finished.It bothers some business owners when I say “finished” because they think it will always be a work in progress. If you are considering selling the business, you should have a “finished” product to sell.That is when I wrote my first real business plan. Can you imagine starting a business and not having a business plan in place? If you are like the majority of business owners…yes you can.

I decided to write how my company would operate when it was complete and what it would look like if I ever decided to sell it. I didn’t realize at the time that this would be the start of a very solid business plan that my future buyers would be very impressed with.

I started with a marketing plan. I then attacked the accounting end of the business, and then public relations. I also addressed how the meetings would be run, how management would work, what computerized systems could be put in place, the kind of training I would emphasize, how the filing would be done, and how the organizational part of the company would work.

It took a lot of time and thought to create the systems that are needed to make a company not only survive, but thrive.

As I wrote out each section of the business plan, I continued feeling empowered. I started to feel like I was back in control of my life and my business once again.

Wishing all of you future success working ON your business.Respectfully,
Patricia Noel Drain

For more info, go to

www.patriciadrain.com

Receive complimentary weekly e-zines from Patricia Noel Drain to grow your business, find your career passion, and set new goals! Go to: http://www.buildagreatbusiness.com/

Popularity: 31% [?]

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