Why You're NOT A Millionaire

I was asked an interesting question over the holiday weekend. A woman told me her story about starting a business. While she had all the right tools and building blocks in place, ten years had gone by and she wasn't even close to breaking the bank - never mind reach her goal to be a millionaire. She asked me why I thought this was. I told her the same things I am sharing here. If you're not reaching your millionaire goal, keep reading....

1. All you think about is money. You can't think of money so much that you stop thinking about strategy or customer service. If you are more concerned about money than your actual product or services, you are going to have many problems.

2. You're not overly helpful. Yes, helpful. This may be the key to success in addition to the key of making yourself a millionaire. You see, the more people you help- the more people will help you. If you help your employees, they will be more loyal. They will have a sense of ownership over your company. They will forever promote it. Same with vendors, people you meet on the street, etc.

3. You're not honest about your progress. If you are unwilling to track your own progress and hear client or peer feedback (and then do something about it), then you are unwilling to make a million dollars. You have to be accountable, you have to be ready for growth. This isn't possible if you don't track your own progress.

To you first million!

Twyla N. Garrett

Sochi ; Did We Overreact?

You can’t always win with the media. This time last week, the major broadcast stations were busy noting how many opportunities terrorist had when it came to the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. While there are always concerns about safety and the Olympics, it was a particular hot button issue for many reporters.

Today, the concern isn’t as strong and things seem to be going smoothly. This is when we, as a country, shouldn’t let our guard down. The media reporting on how safe everything is right now sets a tone of lax and could open us up to security issues. There is, it seems, no middle ground with the press.

As the owner of a Homeland Security company, I would like the media to really start thinking about the tone they develop with their reporting. We should have honesty, accuracy and a straight-forward approach. Over-hyping potential incidents can equate to crying wolf when nothing happens and leaving us less likely to take future threats seriously. Stating the security concerns are not as validate as they were the prior week is also dangerous. It can instigate a potential security threat, or worse yet- an attack.

As we head into the final days of the Olympics, I truly hope the media uses their power to help maintain an honest, open and level-headed approach when filing their future reports.

Until next time,

Twyla Garrett

5 Habits Mentally Strong People Practice.

Are you mentally strong? Much like your body has to be worked out to become strong, the brain does too. Many of the most celebrated CEOs and business leaders around the world are know for being "tough as nails", but this didn't happen overnight. In fact, most CEOs have to practice being mentally strong. Here are the top five habits of mentally strong people.

#1. They don't attend pitty parties. That's right, the mentally strong don't feel sorry for themselves when things don't happen as planned. They don't blame others or dwell on things, either. So, if you want to be great, brush off something that didn't work out and move on without holding a grudge.

#2. They refuse to be complacent, even when the money is good. Yes, complacent only means you will one day be outdated. Embrace change and learn new things daily.

#3. They refuse to please others. Mentally strong people have a job to do. Worrying about pleasing others or how others will react is a distraction that will cut off money and success. Don't worry about people, worry about the task at hand.

#4. Don't give up after a venture fails. Most of the known CEOs have had failures. But they're out there, spinning a new business and looking at other opportunities. If you let failure stop you, then you really do fail!

5. Don't rely on the world for anything, including breaks. The world owes you nothing, regardless of how tough you had it as a kid or so on. If you know the world isn't going to give you a break, then you realize you have to try harder than everyone else to be successful.

This is my last blog until January 2, 2014. As I leave for the holiday break, I truly hope you learn from these five practices for mentally strong people.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year,

Twyla

How To Be More Productive For The New Year

            We all know someone who seems to be able to accomplish a million and one tasks a day. That person is able to work their job, take care of their kids, grocery shop, retain a clean household, and have a social life at the end of the day. What do really productive people do that we do not? Here are some tips on how to function more like they do.

            The first thing to do is pick your priorities. You are responsible for the activities that you partake in your life. If you are interested in having a big family, but focused on maintaining your business, you may need to choose which one is more important. It is essential that you focus on finding time for the things that you enjoy.

            The second thing to keep in mind is going for efficiency. You are not able to do everything well. Focus on the activities or business strategies that come naturally to you. Those seem to come easier and are enjoyed more as well. Design your life to meet your personal wants.

            Third, try integrating your activities together. It can be hard to maintain work, family, play, and friendships separately. Instead, find activities that can combine them together. Find friendships in coworkers or get the family together and do a favorite activity of yours. It is very rewarding to spend more time with the people you care about while doing the things you enjoy.

            The fourth tip is to manage time-wasters. These could be things like social networks, family, employees, co-workers, or friends that divert your attention away from your job or other activities. It is essential to limit non-supportive contact with these people as well as manage the amount of time spent on social networks. Websites such as Facebook can easily distract you from a goal and kill valuable time. Practice time management and use it sparingly.

            The fifth tip is to be an active listener. The more you pay attention to rules or directions, the less time you have to spend re-reading or figuring out what was said. Paying attention helps save time that could be used doing something more exciting. Listen closely and you will be able to spare yourself a few extra minutes or hours in your day.

            The final tip towards being productive is to lighten up. As much as we like to think so, we cannot do everything. Keep a list of all projects or tasks that need to be done and cross them off when accomplished. This will help organize all that you need to get done and give you a time frame of when to accomplish them by. Although you may not be able to complete the list in a day or even a week, each task is a small victory until the list is completed.

How To Make Your Business Better For 2013

The New Year gives business owners the opportunity to recount previous year’s mistakes and make necessary changes to improve their business and promote success. If you are looking to take your business farther this year, try these five steps.

The first step is to spend smart. Seems easy enough, but sometimes business owners overspend on pricey software or things deemed necessary for a business to thrive. Instead, focus on the value of the product or service in consideration and less on the cost itself. Cost does not necessarily mean the value of the product is better than something less expensive.

The second step is to terminate year-end bonuses. Your employees may really enjoy those few extra bucks during the holiday season, but instead of shoveling out lumps of money at one time, try breaking up bonuses throughout the year. Provide incentives monthly for employees and set goals to help your business thrive as well as employ morale.

The third step is to ask customers what they want. The most successful products are those that appeal to a large amount of people. You can only know this by asking for input on products you are selling. Suggestions help to improve the quality of the product you are selling. By manufacturing the product to fit the needs of your customers, you are showing appreciation towards them as well as giving them exactly what they like. Asking for ideas on future products could also help your business. Customers have innovative ideas as well which you can use to your advantage.

The fourth step is to sell solutions and not products. This may seem contradictory of the step mentioned before, but as a business owner your main goal is for your business to thrive long-term not just short-term sales. Present your product or service as a solution to potential customers. When they benefit, your business benefits. Focus on how you would like to market your product as a solution to a problem that a person may be having.

The fifth and final step is to try new strategies and often. The longer your business has been around, the more you may find yourself in the same business trends or patterns. Investigate new ideas and opportunities, which could help jumpstart your business. Make it a commitment to change strategies in every aspect of your business at least once a year.

The last day of 2012

The final day of 2012 is here. Monday, December 31st of 2012. It has been a wonderful year for me and a year of self-reflection too. I had personal losses and personal gains, the same with my businesses too.

As 2013 is just a day away, I can't help but feel overjoyed at the opportunity to share my advice with the world through this blog, Twitter and the upcoming books that will be completed in the New Year!

So keep those business questions coming and remember to drive and be safe tomorrow night! I will not be posting an update tomorrow so let me wish you all a happy and healthy New Year now.

Best
Twyla,