3 Phrases To Stop Saying Now!

If you look up any marketing or PR strategy, you will notice that visibility seems to be priority number one. Well, yes. Visuals do help any cause but content is always going to be king. With this said, what you say is important and it can harm you, your reputation, your company, or cause major turnover within your company!

So, what are the top 3 phrases you must stop using ASAP?

1. "I need you to be more like..." Wow, so much for treating people like individuals. People are not the same... not even twins. So, why are you expecting certain individuals to live up to the expectations of others? Don't drag other people into the conversation when you're having a one-on-one with anyone. Be specific and be direct.

2. "How do you think you're doing?" This is a set-up. The person on the other side of this question will become defensive and this will turn into a game that you don't want to play personally or professionally. Instead of asking someone how they think they are doing, tell them how they are doing at a job or as a client regardless if the news is good or bad.

3. "Hopefully, soon." This is not a commitment to anything and a waste of words. Again, be direct with people, employees, and clients. Don't give a rough and round about way of when someone is going to get started on something. It is OK to say, "I don't know when but my eventual plans within the next (months, years... whatever) are to have you...." If you can be specific, do so. If you can't, say so.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

Gaining Control Over Social Media

Tonight I want to address an issue I am seeing on an continued basis. Your personal online content. I read a terrible Facebook rant over the weekend and I’m sickened that a business professional would put her hateful opinions for clients and peers to read on her personal Facebook page.

Now, some of you might say that it is her personal page. Sure it is, it is just archived onto Google’s search engine for the world to read. She is entitled to her hateful opinion but she is going to have business lost to it. Peers will soon catch on and stop referring her too. I will not repeat what she said, only that it is filled with hate and aimed at a certain demographic of sexually orientated people.

I can’t stress enough that nothing you write is personal anymore. Friends can quickly become enemies and take screen shots of your “private” social media accounts for all the world to see. Don’t ever write anything on your personal pages that you wouldn’t want to proudly read- out-loud- in front of a client or potential client.

As a business professional, you don’t have a personal life. Your clients’ lives are your obligation- both personally and professionally when it comes to branding and visibility. Voicing your own opinions online (even via a personal account) will harm your own reputation- right or wrong, this is the culture we live in.

Keep it professional and keep those negative or opinionated posts off of social media!

Twyla Garrett

Is Your Personality Harming Your Business?

Did you know there are some entrepreneurs out there who don’t ever have success? Shocking, right?! There is a personality trait that separates those who want to do from those who do and succeed. So what is it?

Being a dreamer. That’s right, dreaming big and having ambition isn’t enough. Dreamers don’t succeed. Doers do. The dreamer has lots of big ideas. But every dream needs direction and a system of execution for success.

It is possible for dreamers to not succeed because they are too busy dreaming up what will work, what will happen, etc. that they forget to put the wheels of the dream in motion and nothing ever comes into fruition as a result.

Today is your day. If you have big dreams ask yourself what you’re doing to implement them into materializing. No one is going to come by your desk and sprinkle magic dust over you or your dream. You have to be as much as a doer as you are a dreamer.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 2, 2013 - Twyla Garrett is the owner of Investment Management Enterprise and was recently invited to speak at The White House on issues related to business and the country’s economic growth. Now, Garrett is announcing her “2013 Business Awareness Campaign.” The Campaign is designed to help aspiring business owners launch their ideas into actual business ownership during the 2013 year.

“The word “economy” strikes fear right now in many people. I don’t want potential business owners to miss out on great opportunities because of a misperception right now,” said Twyla Garrett. “I was just at The White House. I own several businesses and I know what it takes to make a good go at starting a business. Thus, I am launching this Campaign to help others feel empowered, not fearful, when starting their businesses in the New Year!”

The “2013 Business Awareness Campaign” will allow potential business owners (world-wide) to reach out to Twyla Garrett, via her blog http://twylangarrett.blogspot.com/, and submit questions. In turn, Garrett will offer free advice as a response to the questions. “I normally charge for a full business consultation. I know start-up owners often don’t have spare cash laying around. So, I thought why not launch this campaign and have my blog be a free spot for potential business owners to network, ask questions, and maybe even find investors,” continued Garrett. The Campaign will start on January 3rd of 2013.

About: Twyla Garrett is an extraordinary entrepreneur, corporate speaker, and compelling author who has been personally invited to speak at The White House on the issues of creating jobs, economic growth and the controversial fiscal cliff of 2012. Garrett is known for her notable (sometimes 100% self-funded) business deals as much as she is known for providing excellent opportunities to individuals facing immense challenges. Twyla’s memoir will be published in 2013 and it will be followed by a series of “how-to” business books, starting with one based on Homeland Security. Currently, Twyla’s business blog and social media accounts furnish motivational quotes and an over-the-shoulder view of her unique perspective on profiting in business while helping others.

MEDIA CONTACT
https://twitter.com/TwylaGarrett
Helene Vece of JumpStart Ink (Media Manager)
702-749-5925 Ext 210

Business Idea.... Now What?

Many business owners go from idea to funding easily. They have it in their blood. That good old entrepreneurial  spirit is there and ready to materialize products and concepts, but what about the administrative software to get you from concept to profit? That's why I am listing the top five software products that can help you go from concept and funding to streamlining your business and growing your profit margins!

** Note, I am NOT paid by any of these companies

1. ZenDesk.com is a great tool for maintaining your online reputation through a customer service platform!

2. Google Analytics is awesome because it is FREE! With this application you can find out how long people are staying on your site  and see which pages are getting the most traction.

3. Microsoft Corporation This is great if you work from home and use Microsoft for your business, personal, and even the kid's homework needs.

4. SalesForce.com This is a great sales application and has everything you need to "grow revenue, boost productivity, and get visibility into your business."

5. AME Payroll This payroll software is great because you can use it for an unlimited number of businesses and  it has an auto-setup wizard.