A nice mix of stuff you need to read, from email marketing resources to figuring out where all your tax money went. Enjoy.
Announcing the Connection Agency, by Steve Woodruff: Right off the bat, I gotta give a tip o’ da hat to my pal Steve Woodruff. So, yeah, the fact that he’s starting a company based on his great faith in networks and connections is awesome. But the real thing here is that, probably more than anyone else, I always love reading Steve’s stuff on how the whole point of it all is connecting, and his clarity for what that means. He talks about it a lot on his blog, and his free white paper on Opportunity Networks is really a must-read to get your head straight before you start firing into all the tactical side of online networking. Good luck, Mr. Sticky Figure!
13 Top Email Marketing Resources, by Amy Garland at Blue Sky Factory: Looking for some case studies, stats, ideas on how to do email marketing right? First, be sure you’re reading Blue Sky Factory’s blog. Second, work your way through this list. The data meccas alone toward the end of the list of mind-altering. Email is still extremely important people; it ain’t dead. Start doing it right … this stuff will help.
Designing Your Ideal Week, by Michael Hyatt: One of these days, I’m gonna make it through one of these link-heavy posts without referencing Michael Hyatt. Today ain’t that day. He simply keeps pumping out too much extremely practical stuff that I gotta pass along. In this one, he shows how he schedules his weeks … for everything. It’ s admittedly over-the-top, and certainly not set in stone, but his point makes sense: If you don’t at least try to design a perfect week, then you’ll never have one. I’m gonna be trying this this week myself.
The Truth About Confidence, by Steve Sammartino: Steve is the master of packing maximum punch out of a simple paragraph. He never writes much in a post, but he does milk that puppy for all its worth. I daresay he’s even better at it than Seth Godin. So, I ain’t gonna explain this one. Just read it and see what I’m talking about.
Where Did My Tax Dollars Go?: Hopefully, you’ve recovered from the tax season. Ever wonder where it all goes? This site’ll show you, and I bet you don’t like it
Today’s guest post is courtesy of Nicole Rodgers. I come across a lot of prospective guest posts ideas due to some services I subscribe to, but Nicole’s title here intrigued me. Which made me think it would intrigue you. Keeping an eye on trends is muy important, and Nicole’s guidance here is extremely helpful.
The successful entrepreneur watches for trends that can be utilized and worked into the business. There are a number of different areas that many indicators are saying will have a great impact on the future of business. Getting in on the ground floor can help ensure the entrepreneur grabs a part of the trend as it pushes forward.
“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them. Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it like partisans, whilst the others defend lukewarmly, in such wise that the prince is endangered along with them.”
I’m a guitar player and songwriter. Granted, I used to play and write a lot more than I do now (kids’ll do that to you, ya know?). There were spurts you could’ve even considered me a professional of some sort. Those were good times.
Like with any endeavor, self-doubt is an ever-present obstacle. As I played with bands and wrote songs, I had big dreams. But I never went long without wrestling with the idea that I just may not have what it took. Maybe my chops weren’t good enough. Maybe the songs I thought were great actually sucked. Maybe I just wouldn’t catch my break.
Self-doubt like this is inevitable.
One day, a revolutionary thought struck me. A thought that, in and of itself, had the power to conquer self-doubt in a single bound. A thought that empowered me with the spark to quit pitying myself and get back to work and dreaming.
Wanna know what it was?
eBooks, reports and guides for entrepreneurs about branding, small business marketing, Twitter, teaching, marketing and creative design.
