Posts
eBay Live is being held in Chicago this year (2008) from June 19-21.
What is eBay Live?
It's an annual convention for all things eBay!! You won't want to miss it! Join the 10,000-15,000 others who will be there learning, growing their business and having a blast! Attend 3 days of workshops, meet eBay staff, talk to certified providers, shop the eBay store and so much more!!
You'll also have the opportunity to meet some of the awesome Rock Stars you've heard or will be hearing here on our 'Tips From the Top' talkcast series. WebWendy, Cindy, Janieruth, Lady Linda, Dany from Ghost Leg Media , Giant Squid Stephanie, Sharon from Dandelion Consulting, the amazing Janelle Elms and The Savvy Seller - we'll all be there!!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
What's Your Pet's Name??
Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take another look into the world of successful eBay entrepreneurs with the multi-talented Cindy Shebley - Certified Education Specialist Trained by eBay, eBay Store owner, photographer, author and pet-owner.
Cindy shares how she chose her business name, tells a great story about one of her first eBay sales, gives valuable information on international selling and lets us in on a super tip for using video in auction listings.
Click the orange button below to hear her words of wisdom.
Cindy shares how she chose her business name, tells a great story about one of her first eBay sales, gives valuable information on international selling and lets us in on a super tip for using video in auction listings.
Click the orange button below to hear her words of wisdom.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Fabulous to Funky!!
Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take another look into the world of successful eBay entrepreneurs with THE Fabulous and Funky Janieruth!
Janieruth is an amazing eBay seller with the most gorgeous eBay Store. You'll definitely want to hear about the first item she sold on eBay and pay attention to her tip on Customer Service!
Click the orange button below for your exclusive 'Sneak Peek' into the world of a Successful eBay Entrepreneur!
Janieruth is an amazing eBay seller with the most gorgeous eBay Store. You'll definitely want to hear about the first item she sold on eBay and pay attention to her tip on Customer Service!
Click the orange button below for your exclusive 'Sneak Peek' into the world of a Successful eBay Entrepreneur!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The Savvy Seller ''Tips From the Top" eBay Info Show Makes Its Debut!
From time to time I'll take you into the world of Successful eBay Entrepreneurs who have agreed to give us a glimpse of their eBay life and share a valuable tip or two.
Today's Talkcast is with WebWendy - Education Specialist Trained by eBay, Trading Assistant, eBay store owner and OSI Rock Star. She has a great story about an eBay sale and shares a tip for new and not-so-new eBayers.
Click the orange button below for your exclusive 'Sneak Peek' into the world of a Successful eBay Entrepreneur!
And be sure to stop by for more exclusive tips coming next week from the Fabulous and Funky Janieruth and the amazing Cindy Shebley, author, entrpreneur, TA, Certified Education Specialist and more!!
Today's Talkcast is with WebWendy - Education Specialist Trained by eBay, Trading Assistant, eBay store owner and OSI Rock Star. She has a great story about an eBay sale and shares a tip for new and not-so-new eBayers.
Click the orange button below for your exclusive 'Sneak Peek' into the world of a Successful eBay Entrepreneur!
And be sure to stop by for more exclusive tips coming next week from the Fabulous and Funky Janieruth and the amazing Cindy Shebley, author, entrpreneur, TA, Certified Education Specialist and more!!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
How to Set Priorities for Your Road to Success!
In the past 6 months, since becoming a member of Janelle Elm's phenomenal site OSI Rock Stars, I've learned about an incredible number of ways to grow my business.
So, what's the problem??
Not enough time to learn and implement everything. Ever had that feeling??
I just found this great article that provides some suggestions.
What would you do for success?
"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities."
- Stephen Covey
Setting Priorities
By Brian Tracy
In 1970, sociologist Dr. Edward Banfield of Harvard University wrote a book entitled The Unheavenly City. He described one of the most profound studies on success and priority-setting ever conducted.
Banfield's goal was to find out how and why some people become financially independent during the course of their working lifetimes. He started off convinced that the answer to this question would be found in such things as family background, education, intelligence, influential contacts, or some other concrete factor. What he finally discovered was that the major reason for success in life is a particular attitude of mind.
Banfield called this attitude "long time perspective." He said that people who were the most successful in life and the most likely to move up economically were those who took the future into consideration with every decision they made in the present. He found that the longer the period of time a person took into consideration, the more likely it was that he would achieve greatly during his career.
Doctors, for example, invest many years of hard work and study to finally earn the right to practice medicine. After university courses, internship, residency, and practical training, they may be more than 30 years old before they are capable of earning a good living. But from that point onward, they are among the most respected and most successful professionals in the United States. They had long time perspectives.
If you take additional courses in the evening to upgrade your skills and make yourself more valuable to your employer, you're acting with a long time perspective. Because it can have a long-term effect on your career and your life.
The key to setting priorities is to have a long time perspective - and that usually requires sacrificing present enjoyment for future enjoyment. It requires giving up a short-term pleasure in the present in order to enjoy a far greater and more substantial pleasure in the future. And it begins with deciding what you want most in life and then organizing your time and activities so you can achieve those objectives.
With your larger, long-term priorities in order, you can much more easily decide upon your short-term priorities.
Setting short-term priorities begins with a pad of paper and a pen. Sit down, take a deep breath, and list all the tasks you need to accomplish. Although there is never enough time to do everything, there is always enough time to do the most important things.
Once you have listed your tasks, ask yourself this question: "If I were to be called out of town for a month and I could finish only one thing on this list, which one thing would it be?" Think it through, and circle that one item. Then ask yourself: "If I could do only one more thing before I was called out of town for a month, what would it be?" This is the second thing you circle.
Continue with this exercise until you have sorted out the highest priorities on your list. Then number each according to its importance. You are now ready to begin working effectively toward the achievement of your major goals.
Another good way to set priorities once you have determined your major objectives is with the A-B-C-D-E method. You place one of those letters in the margin before each of the tasks on your list.
"A" stands for "very important; must do; severe negative consequences if not completed."
"B" stands for "important; should do; but not as important as my 'A' tasks, and only minor negative consequences if not completed."
"C" stands for "nice to do; but not as important as 'A' or 'B,' and no negative consequences for not completing."
"D" stands for "delegate or assign to someone else who can do the task in my place."
"E" stands for "eliminate if possible."
When you use the A-B-C-D-E method, you can easily sort out what is important and unimportant. This will focus your time and attention on those tasks that are most essential.
Once you can clearly see the one or two things that you should be doing above all others, just say no to diversions and distractions and focus single-mindedly on those priorities.
Much of the stress that people experience comes from working on low-priority tasks. The amazing thing is that as soon as you start working on your highest-value activity, your stress disappears. You begin to feel a continuous stream of energy and enthusiasm. As you work toward the completion of something that is really important, you feel an increased sense of personal value and inner satisfaction. You experience a sensation of self-mastery and self-control. You feel calm, confident, and capable.
Here are six ideas that you can use to set priorities and keep yourself working at your best:
1. Take the time to be clear about your goals and objectives so that the priorities you set are moving you in the direction of something that is of value to you. Remember that many people scramble frantically to climb the ladder of success, only to find that it is leaning against the wrong building.
2. Develop a long time perspective and work on those things in the present that can have the greatest positive impact on your future. Maintain your balance in life by setting priorities in the areas of your health, your personal relationships, and your financial goals.
3. Make the commitment to improve those aspects of your life that are most important to you. If you're in sales, learn how to be an excellent salesperson. If you're a parent, learn how to be an outstanding mother or father. The power is always on the side of the person with the best practical knowledge.
4. Take the time to do your work right the first time. The fewer mistakes you make, the less time you will waste doing it over.
5. Remember that what counts is not the overall amount of time you put in. Rather, it's the amount of time you spend working on high-priority tasks. You will always be paid for the results you obtain, not merely the hours you spend on the job.
6. Understand that the most important factor in setting priorities is your ability to make wise choices. You are always free to choose to engage in one activity or another. You may choose a higher-value activity or a lower-value activity, but once you have chosen, you must accept the consequences of your choice.
Resolve, today, to set clear priorities in every area of your life, and always choose the activities that will assure you the greatest health, happiness, and prosperity in the long term. The long term comes soon enough, and every sacrifice that you make today will be rewarded with compound interest in the great future that lies ahead for you.
This article appears courtesy of Early To Rise, the Internet’s most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com.
So, what's the problem??
Not enough time to learn and implement everything. Ever had that feeling??
I just found this great article that provides some suggestions.
What would you do for success?
"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities."
- Stephen Covey
Setting Priorities
By Brian Tracy
In 1970, sociologist Dr. Edward Banfield of Harvard University wrote a book entitled The Unheavenly City. He described one of the most profound studies on success and priority-setting ever conducted.
Banfield's goal was to find out how and why some people become financially independent during the course of their working lifetimes. He started off convinced that the answer to this question would be found in such things as family background, education, intelligence, influential contacts, or some other concrete factor. What he finally discovered was that the major reason for success in life is a particular attitude of mind.
Banfield called this attitude "long time perspective." He said that people who were the most successful in life and the most likely to move up economically were those who took the future into consideration with every decision they made in the present. He found that the longer the period of time a person took into consideration, the more likely it was that he would achieve greatly during his career.
Doctors, for example, invest many years of hard work and study to finally earn the right to practice medicine. After university courses, internship, residency, and practical training, they may be more than 30 years old before they are capable of earning a good living. But from that point onward, they are among the most respected and most successful professionals in the United States. They had long time perspectives.
If you take additional courses in the evening to upgrade your skills and make yourself more valuable to your employer, you're acting with a long time perspective. Because it can have a long-term effect on your career and your life.
The key to setting priorities is to have a long time perspective - and that usually requires sacrificing present enjoyment for future enjoyment. It requires giving up a short-term pleasure in the present in order to enjoy a far greater and more substantial pleasure in the future. And it begins with deciding what you want most in life and then organizing your time and activities so you can achieve those objectives.
With your larger, long-term priorities in order, you can much more easily decide upon your short-term priorities.
Setting short-term priorities begins with a pad of paper and a pen. Sit down, take a deep breath, and list all the tasks you need to accomplish. Although there is never enough time to do everything, there is always enough time to do the most important things.
Once you have listed your tasks, ask yourself this question: "If I were to be called out of town for a month and I could finish only one thing on this list, which one thing would it be?" Think it through, and circle that one item. Then ask yourself: "If I could do only one more thing before I was called out of town for a month, what would it be?" This is the second thing you circle.
Continue with this exercise until you have sorted out the highest priorities on your list. Then number each according to its importance. You are now ready to begin working effectively toward the achievement of your major goals.
Another good way to set priorities once you have determined your major objectives is with the A-B-C-D-E method. You place one of those letters in the margin before each of the tasks on your list.
"A" stands for "very important; must do; severe negative consequences if not completed."
"B" stands for "important; should do; but not as important as my 'A' tasks, and only minor negative consequences if not completed."
"C" stands for "nice to do; but not as important as 'A' or 'B,' and no negative consequences for not completing."
"D" stands for "delegate or assign to someone else who can do the task in my place."
"E" stands for "eliminate if possible."
When you use the A-B-C-D-E method, you can easily sort out what is important and unimportant. This will focus your time and attention on those tasks that are most essential.
Once you can clearly see the one or two things that you should be doing above all others, just say no to diversions and distractions and focus single-mindedly on those priorities.
Much of the stress that people experience comes from working on low-priority tasks. The amazing thing is that as soon as you start working on your highest-value activity, your stress disappears. You begin to feel a continuous stream of energy and enthusiasm. As you work toward the completion of something that is really important, you feel an increased sense of personal value and inner satisfaction. You experience a sensation of self-mastery and self-control. You feel calm, confident, and capable.
Here are six ideas that you can use to set priorities and keep yourself working at your best:
1. Take the time to be clear about your goals and objectives so that the priorities you set are moving you in the direction of something that is of value to you. Remember that many people scramble frantically to climb the ladder of success, only to find that it is leaning against the wrong building.
2. Develop a long time perspective and work on those things in the present that can have the greatest positive impact on your future. Maintain your balance in life by setting priorities in the areas of your health, your personal relationships, and your financial goals.
3. Make the commitment to improve those aspects of your life that are most important to you. If you're in sales, learn how to be an excellent salesperson. If you're a parent, learn how to be an outstanding mother or father. The power is always on the side of the person with the best practical knowledge.
4. Take the time to do your work right the first time. The fewer mistakes you make, the less time you will waste doing it over.
5. Remember that what counts is not the overall amount of time you put in. Rather, it's the amount of time you spend working on high-priority tasks. You will always be paid for the results you obtain, not merely the hours you spend on the job.
6. Understand that the most important factor in setting priorities is your ability to make wise choices. You are always free to choose to engage in one activity or another. You may choose a higher-value activity or a lower-value activity, but once you have chosen, you must accept the consequences of your choice.
Resolve, today, to set clear priorities in every area of your life, and always choose the activities that will assure you the greatest health, happiness, and prosperity in the long term. The long term comes soon enough, and every sacrifice that you make today will be rewarded with compound interest in the great future that lies ahead for you.
This article appears courtesy of Early To Rise, the Internet’s most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
3 'A-HA' Success Principles
Guidelines to skyrocket your business!
While these tips are not eBay-specific, they are worth reading for anyone looking to succeed in business.
What would you do for success?
"3 'A-Ha' Success Principles That Have Reshaped My Business"
by Alexandria K. Brown
Over the past several years I've immersed myself in learning. Because my business is marketing, I have mostly attended and spoken at marketing seminars. But I also make plenty of time to read books, attend seminars, and listen to audio programs on personal development as well.
Why?
You should actually work harder on yourself than you do on your business (or job). I first learned that from Jim Rohn, whom some call the father of personal development. Some call him America's foremost business philosopher. I just call him brilliant. (Jim was one of Tony Robbins' first mentors, too.)
There are three success principles I've learned over the years that I wanted to share with you. I call them my "a-has" because they put my attention on areas I'd never thought of. And following these guidelines has helped me skyrocket my business.
1. You are the average of the five PEOPLE you hang around the most.
When I first heard this quote from Jim, it struck a big nerve in me. Robert Allen says something similar, that your bank account balance is typically the average of the five people you hang around the most. (Yikes!)
I realized I needed to surround myself with people whom I wanted to be like. I still love my old friends, but I make a specific effort to be around people who take risks, think big, and talk about great ideas instead of the latest celebrity gossip, the price of gas, or how much they hate their clients.
What first opened up my circle of influence was attending seminars. I continually go to seminars on marketing, business, and personal development. There are so many great seminars going on every month all around the country, at all price points. You have no excuse not to get out there and meet people who are playing big!
2. Your HABITS create your future (and your fortune).
Brian Tracy talks a lot about this. Your daily habits create your long-term results. Your habits today will determine your outcomes tomorrow. If you want to be a millionaire, you've got to have millionaire habits. If you want to be a great leader, you must have the habits of a great leader. If you want to get in shape, you've got to have the habits of a fit person.
What new habit can YOU put into place right away?
I wanted to put into place a millionaire habit. Because I detest budgets (and enjoy spending), I needed an easy way to save money. So now I have a set percentage of my inflow automatically go into a savings account that I don't touch.
And because I enjoy looking and feeling great, I made the habit many years ago to exercise at least 5 days a week. To kick this into gear, I hired a trainer, which forced me to make the habit happen. It was a struggle at first, but now I feel off-balance if I don't work out regularly.
3. Make sure your ENVIRONMENT supports you in playing big.
A few years ago I had the chance to hear a dynamic woman named Artemis Limpert speak at an event in Dallas. In her talk, she pointed out that when you have a pet fish that's sick, you treat the water -- NOT the fish.
Your success depends more on your environment than you know, but it's extremely important that you give yourself an environment that supports you at the level you want to BE at. (Note that I did NOT say the level you are at now!)
There are generally 3 areas of your environment you should pay close attention to:
First, your physical environment. Do you love your office? Do you have enough space to work and plan? Are you surrounded by attractive things? Do you have a nice view or at least a beautiful piece of art to look at? I paid a pretty penny for my beach pad, but I can't tell you how inspiring it is every day to look out at the peaceful ocean, sailboats, blue sky, and the sand. It fuels me.
But you don't have to spend a lot of money on your environment. Little touches like candles, flowers, music you love, and photos of friends and family can go a long way. (Even if your office is the kitchen table!)
Second, your emotional environment. Are you getting the support you need from your family and friends? It's up to YOU to ask for what you need.
If they cannot provide it, find a coach, a mastermind, or a support group. I find it wonderful to have a mastermind group for support. I can bounce ideas off them, ask for help with problem solving, share my victories, and sometimes just vent!
Third, your intellectual environment. Jim Rohn says, "Are you feeding your brain protein every day, or are you just giving it candy?" Most Americans sustain their brains solely on candy - that is, useless television shows, news, and gossip. Are you stimulating yourself with big ideas and new learning? Again, check out a seminar, take a teleclass, or buy some books or audio programs. (I love listening to programs on CD or my iPod, so I can learn while driving my car or relaxing on a plane.)
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown publishes the award-winning 'Highlights on Marketing & Success' weekly ezine with 28,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at www.AlexandriaBrown.com
While these tips are not eBay-specific, they are worth reading for anyone looking to succeed in business.
What would you do for success?
"3 'A-Ha' Success Principles That Have Reshaped My Business"
by Alexandria K. Brown
Over the past several years I've immersed myself in learning. Because my business is marketing, I have mostly attended and spoken at marketing seminars. But I also make plenty of time to read books, attend seminars, and listen to audio programs on personal development as well.
Why?
You should actually work harder on yourself than you do on your business (or job). I first learned that from Jim Rohn, whom some call the father of personal development. Some call him America's foremost business philosopher. I just call him brilliant. (Jim was one of Tony Robbins' first mentors, too.)
There are three success principles I've learned over the years that I wanted to share with you. I call them my "a-has" because they put my attention on areas I'd never thought of. And following these guidelines has helped me skyrocket my business.
1. You are the average of the five PEOPLE you hang around the most.
When I first heard this quote from Jim, it struck a big nerve in me. Robert Allen says something similar, that your bank account balance is typically the average of the five people you hang around the most. (Yikes!)
I realized I needed to surround myself with people whom I wanted to be like. I still love my old friends, but I make a specific effort to be around people who take risks, think big, and talk about great ideas instead of the latest celebrity gossip, the price of gas, or how much they hate their clients.
What first opened up my circle of influence was attending seminars. I continually go to seminars on marketing, business, and personal development. There are so many great seminars going on every month all around the country, at all price points. You have no excuse not to get out there and meet people who are playing big!
2. Your HABITS create your future (and your fortune).
Brian Tracy talks a lot about this. Your daily habits create your long-term results. Your habits today will determine your outcomes tomorrow. If you want to be a millionaire, you've got to have millionaire habits. If you want to be a great leader, you must have the habits of a great leader. If you want to get in shape, you've got to have the habits of a fit person.
What new habit can YOU put into place right away?
I wanted to put into place a millionaire habit. Because I detest budgets (and enjoy spending), I needed an easy way to save money. So now I have a set percentage of my inflow automatically go into a savings account that I don't touch.
And because I enjoy looking and feeling great, I made the habit many years ago to exercise at least 5 days a week. To kick this into gear, I hired a trainer, which forced me to make the habit happen. It was a struggle at first, but now I feel off-balance if I don't work out regularly.
3. Make sure your ENVIRONMENT supports you in playing big.
A few years ago I had the chance to hear a dynamic woman named Artemis Limpert speak at an event in Dallas. In her talk, she pointed out that when you have a pet fish that's sick, you treat the water -- NOT the fish.
Your success depends more on your environment than you know, but it's extremely important that you give yourself an environment that supports you at the level you want to BE at. (Note that I did NOT say the level you are at now!)
There are generally 3 areas of your environment you should pay close attention to:
First, your physical environment. Do you love your office? Do you have enough space to work and plan? Are you surrounded by attractive things? Do you have a nice view or at least a beautiful piece of art to look at? I paid a pretty penny for my beach pad, but I can't tell you how inspiring it is every day to look out at the peaceful ocean, sailboats, blue sky, and the sand. It fuels me.
But you don't have to spend a lot of money on your environment. Little touches like candles, flowers, music you love, and photos of friends and family can go a long way. (Even if your office is the kitchen table!)
Second, your emotional environment. Are you getting the support you need from your family and friends? It's up to YOU to ask for what you need.
If they cannot provide it, find a coach, a mastermind, or a support group. I find it wonderful to have a mastermind group for support. I can bounce ideas off them, ask for help with problem solving, share my victories, and sometimes just vent!
Third, your intellectual environment. Jim Rohn says, "Are you feeding your brain protein every day, or are you just giving it candy?" Most Americans sustain their brains solely on candy - that is, useless television shows, news, and gossip. Are you stimulating yourself with big ideas and new learning? Again, check out a seminar, take a teleclass, or buy some books or audio programs. (I love listening to programs on CD or my iPod, so I can learn while driving my car or relaxing on a plane.)
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown publishes the award-winning 'Highlights on Marketing & Success' weekly ezine with 28,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at www.AlexandriaBrown.com
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