Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid
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Tag Archives: @changeinadvance
Fear is Useful
30 JulFear is useful.
(When you know what to fear.)
Remember the Boogeyman? And how he came every night whether you saw him or not? Or Freddy Kruger and Jason? These guys scared the bejesus out of me when I was real young, and many of you too I bet.
See fear is a natural occurrence. We need it. Some people say they are fearless I say that’s foolish. Fear can ruin your life or build your drive to succeed and its simply a matter of whether you master it or not.
-What is fear?
Fear is a response to external and or internal factors and actions. Most of us are afraid of pain. And pain is simply your body warning you to certain permutations and facts. As a recipient of a few broken bones and surgeries I know first hand that at times fear can paralyze you. However if you seek the calm point in you it is an ally. Fear is basically your response to things. Nothing else. However fear can cripple and incapacitate or build and renew.
-Know what to fear.
So we touched on fear being useful. Fear is useful, it is the beginning of wisdom says the Bible in the book of Proverbs and there is truth to that. Being afraid to die can give you a certain center that will enable you to not make ignorant choices. However you have to know what to fear. Fearing red ants is pointless. Fearing success is as well but many people are too afraid to take the steps that lead to pure, unbridled success. If you are afraid of meeting new people, building connections, and or closing sales- don’t quit your day job. Being your own boss comes with a huge magnanimous serving of failure. However when you fear failure you don’t SUCCEED. The key here is to fear not reaching your potential.
You should fear not rising to your potential. You should fear not giving back because you didn’t meet your level. We all have the ability to rise. And while we won’t all be olympic medals we are all entitled to and I dare say required to be our best.
What do you fear?
Why do you fear it?
Conquer your basic fears and move forward.
Can you imagine still being afraid of the dark? You’d get nowhere.
Afraid of the dentist?- I bet you go though because the potential downside is horrendous. And if you avoid the dentist now he will see you more later- CONQUER!
-Harness the power of fear.
In life I’ve been scared of roller coasters, heights, girls, and success. And I had to harness that fear to beat these things that scared me. For rollercoasters I simply let my brother in law shame me until we got on every ride in the park! And after I yelled like a little girl I learned that I actually liked rollercoasters. For heights I beat that by accident. I had to climb a rope ladder repaeatedly when a wild animal almost attacked. While I dislike heights now I won’t lose due to fear. As for girls when we were younger one of my closest friends and I made a deal that we would take turns talking to every pretty girl we saw on our troop home. And it worked! We not only beat the fear but conquered it and realized how easy it was. And for the younger fans and readers- the girls are just as nervous.
When it comes to success I simply force myself to do it. I won’t be in a j-o-b forever. And I make a point to tell people my goals. Not to brag but to hold myself accountable. That way if I say two days it has to be less- otherwise I hear the junk and look inefficient. And I refuse to be less than I am. Do you feel the same?
Conquer People!
#thriveorsurvive.
Thoughts? Concerns?
Questions? Think I’m wrong?
Let’s chat.
Need ideas?
Want to learn how to invite?
Let’s chat.
Want a mentor or maybe the guy who will bounce ideas back and forth with you?
Let’s chat-
Changeinadvance@gmail.com
@changeinadvance
Or simply reply to this article.
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Exclusive Interview #2. Spotlighting Ceddy J of www.Duskspot.com
28 JulExclusive Interview #2. Spotlighting Ceddy J of http://www.Duskspot.com
——————–
The second interview in a series highlighting up and coming entrepreneurs and leaders.
Today we interview Ceddy J.
And without further ado:
-Where you from?
Originally From Trenton, NJ and Now Living In Dallas, TX.
-Age?
I’m currently 25 years of age.
-How did you get in the game?
This all sparked from playing many instruments at a young age along with being on the newspaper staff back in high school. After a college professor recommended I take her voice and diction class, she encouraged me to become a radio personality.
-What made you embrace your position?
As far as event promoting, I went to an event for homecoming at my college, which was real fun until some random lames decided they wanted to have a huge brawl. This lead to not only the event ending early, but also lead to the venue never letting Black people have nothing there again. I told myself that night I was going to become a promoter and have events that weed out fighters. After I threw a “Project X” type of party I was involved with some of the premier events in the Dallas area. After a while, I took the experience I have as a promoter, radio personality, and musician to fuse myself into the DJ that I am today.
-What keeps you in your position?
I’m not afraid to take risks along with not allowing rejection to get in the way of I’m passionate about.
-What are your secrets to success?
I always study trends of the industry, understanding every position so that I can convey exactly what I want done the way I want it.
-What don’t you like in the game?
There are always a lot of sharks who say “it takes money to make money”, but half of them are the exact people always looking for handouts. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH!
-What do you like in the game?
The Underground Aspects Of The Industry set the tone for the majors. Like for instance, internet radio shows like mine focused on the upcoming leaders in the entertainment industry. This lead to major radio stations playing more local music and having weekly shows with local artists.
-What would you change in the game?
Stop letting budgets dictate talent. If an artist is GREAT, let’s find them some investments so that we have quality.
-If I gave you a milli what or whom would
you invest in?
With a milli, I’m investing in starting foundation to help small businesses get their feet off the ground through strong planning and executing.
-What sets you apart from the game?
I understand the basics of the game and then play by my rules and feed off of suggestions to keep myself well-rounded.
-What are your thoughts on 360 deals?
360 are worth it depending on how much a label is willing to invest into its artist, especially when it comes to marketing.
-What made you love hip hop?
My appreciation for multiple genres helped me love hip hop. Its a genre of music that has sparked a huge culture that is always evolving over time.
-Who is your fav rapper/lyricist?
Phonte because this dude is the full package that the industry has been blessed with. He always delivers when he says he has another great project coming out.
-Best person to ever play your position?
Ricky Smiley, because a personality he is not afraid to be himself show after show.
-Best rapper alive?
If we want to talk revenue and talent, hands down Jay-Z.
-Advice for my readers?
I have a coinphrase I say at the end of every show, which is “Where There’s A J, Or A U(You) There’s A Way!” I live by this everyday and encourage my listeners to always go after what they want the best way they can with as many ways possible.
-Your definition of success?
Success is being able to realize that you set the tone through how confident and knowledgeable you are in your position.
-Any projects you’d like to promo?
My social network for upcoming stars in music and modeling called DuskSpot.com which is dedicated to playing an direct role in its members’ careers. I also would like to promote my partner in crime, DJ P Bucc, because without his continued support and direct involvement with all of my projects I would almost give up.
#thriveorsurvive
Lessons from the movie Paid In Full.
27 JulLessons from the movie Paid In Full.
So I’m in a waiting room after a back injury and was discussing the movie Paid in Full with a colleague and while its a ‘hood movie’, or a ‘drug movie’- I found some great points for any business person.
The protagonist whose moniker is Ace has an unusual way of doing business and leading. At least in comparison to his peers.
-Keep pricing down.
In any business if your clientele and partners can purchase at a lower cost your average goes up.
I was part of a business that required me to buy product monthly for consumption or to give away. Now the product was great- is great. Top notch. But the problem I had was that the costs were high and then they went up! And I couldn’t convince people to buy my product. Oh I had some sales and didn’t walk away bankrupt. But the costs were extreme. And you can easily say- Tony you failed there not them. And you might be right. However if the product was a better value for the dollar I think I would have believed in it more and my customers would have bought more and been more numerous. The lesson here is simple- if your product can’t be moved in your market at the desired price- lower it. Now you may not be able too, but if you can do it. Ever notice that Old Navy and Gap inc always have sales? Or how about Honda and Toyota? Both product types are in demand. Both offer quality products. However sale pricing closes the deal. In a psych-sales/marketing class the teacher spoke on how the $19.99 pricing of a unit could lead to a 30% profit margin over the similarly priced $20.00 unit. You see, the sale price is akin to a fish hook covered in tasty bait. That one penny difference not only lures them in but seals the deal.
In the Movie ACE sold a higher quality. product and at a cheaper price. This enabled him to move product faster and satisfy his consumer base. He also benefited by having his money in hand faster and being able to buy more product faster. Also the faster you can profit the more you can minimize your risks and increase value to clients.
-More importantly keep cost down.
Now if your product is cheaper than your competitors your advantage is astronomical. And when marketed it right sales will grow exponentially. In the movie ACE purchased a higher quantity of “merchandise” at a time which enabled him to make a larger profit easier. What’s even more amazing was that since he was in essence buying wholesale he could lower his price and still make a killing. Remember profits are made wen you buy not when you sell. That applies to buying homes, flipping homes and cars and even signing contracts. Ill let you figure how the last one applies ;).
—-
-Share the wealth.
Profit sharing can have enormous implications when related to sales, profit, loyalty and growth. Now you can keep 80% of your profits and see what happens. After costs you might have 2% left to pay employees and partners. And I don’t know about you but I won’t bust my hump for peanuts- especially for your dream and not mine. See that’s a normal human reaction. Even if I give you a 110%, eventually someone else will see my caliber and snatch me up. This is avoided by either profit sharing and or paying an exceptional wage. People who are paid what they are worth or more will give more. In the movie ACE worked this out by not cutting out his competition. He made it possible for everyone to ‘eat.’. Every individual who wanted in was in. Everyone looking to cash in- DID. Your team will work. But pay them like family and you all win. Disagree? Email me.
-Share the power.
ACE shared power with friends and confidants. He didn’t rule Nazi wild style. People were given rolls and responsibilities. While ACE was top dog he had enough people whom he had given a stake too that these people kept the cogs in the machines rolling. Look at our government in the USA- there are three branches to create a balance where power is concerned. In your own business you need partners. And with these partners you may keep a majority share but when their voices don’t count they won’t care. Also in sharing power you relinquish some power but also remove a burden; a yolk is lifted from your neck. Share people. It will improve ALL results.
-Reward friends.
In business many people reach out to and or work with friends before anyone else. Now this is ideal- providing you do it right. Your friends don’t want to be slaves or butlers. They want a say, and some equality. Now here’s the tricky part- KNOW YOU. If you don’t you fail. You have to know if you can share. You have to know if you even want too. However friends deserve to be rewarded. The people who stick with you and help you build an empire must reap the rewards. Giving them this form of loyalty rewards you with theirs. And when the friends are rewarded they work harder.
In the movie ACE had a true friend in Mitch who was a hustler when ACE walked the straight and narrow. And when the tables turned and ACE was the boss he rewarded Mitch richly. Which gave him not just loyal workers but a friend for life. Now it wasn’t the materialism side that fed and freed people for ACE- it was the simple act of giving. When you reward those who are with you, everyone wins.
-Overall this movie was a ‘hood classic.’. However what people are missing is that the protagonist was able to use real business principles to succeed. He also quelled violence, saved lives and rewarded Rico the friend of Mitch. Now that dog bit the hand that fed him you might argue, but he was rewarding Rico’ loyalty to Mitch.
#thriveorsurvive.
“Lack of loyalty is one of the major causes of failure in every walk of life.” -Napoleon Hill
Thoughts? Concerns?
Questions? Think I’m wrong?
Let’s chat.
Need ideas?
Want to learn how to invite?
Let’s chat.
Want a mentor or maybe the guy who will bounce ideas back and forth with you?
Let’s chat-
Changeinadvance@gmail.com
@changeinadvance
Or simply reply to this article.
#thriveorsurvive
From the big bro Ceddy J over @ Duskspot.com
25 JulAfter an almost month hiatus, tonight I return back to the airwaves!
In honor of The 3rd Annual Dusk Model Month, I have assembled a panel of modeling industry professionals for tonight’s topic “How Bad Do You Want To Model?”
We will briefly share our opinions on how you know if you’re prepared for the industry, and how to identify what lane to go in.
Listen Live!
Link: http://blogtalkradio.com/ceddyj/2012/07/26/the-panel-how-bad-do-you-want-to-model
Time: 11pm – 11:30pm EST/8pm -8:30pm PST
If you miss the show, don’t worry it will still be available for playback at that link, free on iTunes, DuskSpot.com, and various other outlets.
Thanks for your time everyone!
@CeddyJDusk
pin:3261BEA6
#SpreadTheWord
#thriveorsurvive
Words
25 JulWords do two major things: They provide food for the mind and create light for understanding and awareness. – Jim Rohn
#thriveorsurvive
Innovation is the new Procrastination.
23 JulInnovation is the new Procrastination.
Yup. You read that right. I had a busy day and I stumbled upon some true greatness.
In business as in life you have to make moves. You have to make decisions fast when necessary and be prudent always. Gutsy moves are useful as well- but innovation trumps almost anything.
-By innovating you create a wealth stream that you weren’t expecting as people weren’t doing what you are. And this also gives you an advantage as you get there first. Now you may not be first per say but your innovation will be. The man who invented the paper clip got one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00).
The man who improved upon it got five hundred thousand ($500,000.00). So as we can see from this true story the money and success can be found through innovation.
-By innovating you create a solution that wasn’t there. You create an answer that people are looking for. An answer that is needed. I saw an auto show and they needed a piece of body trim for some Eleanor Mustang remakes. They went nuts! This small oversight now needed molds to be fabricated, specs, die-cast metal molds and then approval and manufacturing time. One of the major players said why don’t we put a piece of sheet metal on that we can cut right now? And we can also make it optional so as to appeal to a broader market and raise more money in sales. Genius right?! He solved the problem, made more sales appeal, and made a marketing move possible all with a piece of metal! This guy didn’t look at the problem. He looked at the solution needed and innovated in real world time. Profits grew at a minimum of cost. Sales could increase easily now as well. At every point in his choice/idea there was innovation that solved problems and created wealth. Sounds ideal doesn’t it?
-One more example to paint the picture:
So my parents bought a new pool for the backyard and needed help getting the assembly completed. And as the male heir I rise to the occasion as I think all sons should ( ladies you can too, just speaking for my gender). In the final leg of assembly I notice a cove was created by pre-cut foam pieces to give the edge a shape. I was amazed by this, and here’s why:
– pool cover: pre-cut for clients is a seventy dollar add on ($70.00). Even at a thirty dollar ($30.00) cost per set there is still a forty dollar ($40.00) profit per set. This means that for every thousand (1000) sets ,they make more money than on pools by a small margin of cost. They can even outsource this task and reduce cost by ten percent and still win. Also they don’t have to sell more pools to increase profits. The added cove is desirable as well as cost efficient which will mean that for a majority of sales they increase profit margins every time. This is an example of pure innovation. It shows how we can not only survive but thrive as businessmen (Hint, hint- #thriveorsurvive). Remember this one cove set costs them pennies but makes seventy thousand dollars ($70,000.00) given the earlier example. So innovation doesn’t just save time or money. It makes you money when properly applied.
-Small ticket item making big profits.
Just to rehash- small ticket items are pure profit. When you convert a if to a yes you win and when you can add on even one dollar you are even better off.
-Labor can be subcontracted.
Yup, that’s right. You don’t have to lack infrastructure to subcontract. I’d its easier and lower cost than get it done asap. Time waits for no man so tap into your network and utilize resources.
“A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.” Frank Capra
#thriveorsurvive.
Thoughts? Concerns?
Questions? Think I’m wrong?
Let’s chat.
Need ideas?
Want to learn how to invite?
Let’s chat.
Want a mentor or maybe the guy who will bounce ideas back and forth with you?
Let’s chat-
Changeinadvance@gmail.com
@changeinadvance
Or simply reply to this article.
#thriveorsurvive
Innovation is the new Procrastination.
23 JulInnovation is the new Procrastination.
Yup. You read that right. I had a busy day and I stumbled upon some true greatness.
In business as in life you have to make moves. You have to make decisions fast when necessary and be prudent always. Gutsy moves are useful as well- but innovation trumps almost anything.
-By innovating you create a wealth stream that you weren’t expecting as people weren’t doing what you are. And this also gives you an advantage as you get there first. Now you may not be first per say but your innovation will be. The man who invented the paper clip got one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00).
The man who improved upon it got five hundred thousand ($500,000.00). So as we can see from this true story the money and success can be found through innovation.
-By innovating you create a solution that wasn’t there. You create an answer that people are looking for. An answer that is needed. I saw an auto show and they needed a piece of body trim for some Eleanor Mustang remakes. They went nuts! This small oversight now needed molds to be fabricated, specs, die-cast metal molds and then approval and manufacturing time. One of the major players said why don’t we put a piece of sheet metal on that we can cut right now? And we can also make it optional so as to appeal to a broader market and raise more money in sales. Genius right?! He solved the problem, made more sales appeal, and made a marketing move possible all with a piece of metal! This guy didn’t look at the problem. He looked at the solution needed and innovated in real world time. Profits grew at a minimum of cost. Sales could increase easily now as well. At every point in his choice/idea there was innovation that solved problems and created wealth. Sounds ideal doesn’t it?
-One more example to paint the picture:
So my parents bought a new pool for the backyard and needed help getting the assembly completed. And as the male heir I rise to the occasion as I think all sons should ( ladies you can too, just speaking for my gender). In the final leg of assembly I notice a cove was created by pre-cut foam pieces to give the edge a shape. I was amazed by this, and here’s why:
– pool cover: pre-cut for clients is a seventy dollar add on ($70.00). Even at a thirty dollar ($30.00) cost per set there is still a forty dollar ($40.00) profit per set. This means that for every thousand (1000) sets ,they make more money than on pools by a small margin of cost. They can even outsource this task and reduce cost by ten percent and still win. Also they don’t have to sell more pools to increase profits. The added cove is desirable as well as cost efficient which will mean that for a majority of sales they increase profit margins every time. This is an example of pure innovation. It shows how we can not only survive but thrive as businessmen (Hint, hint- #thriveorsurvive). Remember this one cove set costs them pennies but makes seventy thousand dollars ($70,000.00) given the earlier example. So innovation doesn’t just save time or money. It makes you money when properly applied.
-Small ticket item making big profits.
Just to rehash- small ticket items are pure profit. When you convert a if to a yes you win and when you can add on even one dollar you are even better off.
-Labor can be subcontracted.
Yup, that’s right. You don’t have to lack infrastructure to subcontract. I’d its easier and lower cost than get it done asap. Time waits for no man so tap into your network and utilize resources.
“A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.” Frank Capra
#thriveorsurvive.
Thoughts? Concerns?
Questions? Think I’m wrong?
Let’s chat.
Need ideas?
Want to learn how to invite?
Let’s chat.
Want a mentor or maybe the guy who will bounce ideas back and forth with you?
Let’s chat-
Changeinadvance@gmail.com
@changeinadvance
Or simply reply to this article.
Don’t Reinvent The Wheel.
22 JulToday’s article is going to be random in its cohesiveness but bear with me- it will be cogent by its end.
-What is your mindset?
What is it that you have told yourself you will do? What path have you created for yourself to follow? You see the mind will do what you tell it. And if you supply your mid with a simple concept, a seed idea- it will do the rest. We as entrepreneurs have to learn to keep to the basics. Merely getting the idea in your mind so it is deeply rooted and doing this three to five times a day will cause a tremendous mindset shift. This shift will move you from dreaming about success and wealth to having a wealth of success.
-Are you consistent in your actions? (Not just your speech)
This is a key concept a lot of people gloss over or outright ignore while paying lip service to the concept. Everyday we must do it all. WE must achieve. And the greatest step after mindset creation is consistency. By consistently acting in a manner that exudes business people will come for the ride. When people see that you are the same day in and day out. They will want to be with you. When they know that your actions speak louder than your words, and that the two match- then you will have true success. And I am not speaking of a few quick sales, or some opt-ins for a few weeks. No. I’m talking repetitive sales.
Repetitive growth.
Residual income.
Success.
-Don’t reinvent the wheel.
A lot of times the path before us is ready and right in front of us. If you have joined a team
And the leader/organizer has a blueprint for success- do it their way. Now I know from experience that not all uplines are created equal. And I know that some have no clue what’s going on in today’s marketing world. In fact they may even be half wrong.
But are they producing?
You joined right so it must work. Sorry to say it so crass but its that simple folks.
A mentor in a venture I left consistently does close to a quarter million dollars a year.
For about twenty years.
Recap:
$250,000.00 a year for 20 years.
Total:
Five million dollars aka $5,000,000.00.
His son does a million a year.
I’ll stop the dog and pony show now. Yet if we look at his results and the results of his son we see that the system works when you work it. I made a good profit before I left.
And it was simply from doing what he said. He said hit the ground running.
Act with urgency.
Make lists.
Do self improvement.
And I did everything he said. And it worked. Quickly too. And the only things I did were what he suggested. Heck!, I skipped a few steps thinking I was smart and still made money. Let’s imagine if I had not reinvented the wheel and just followed through one hundred percent…
-Follow through.
That’s it. No long diatribe. No fancy speech. Follow through. In golf it may define your swing. In love it is its definition. In life it is everything. When you don’t finish what you start you are almost worthless. Its equivalent to quitting. And if that’s you- quit the race.
And if its not- you will succeed.
And if it is and you want to change it- I’m here. Let’s win together.
I’ll show you a few tools and some cool concepts- most of which you can implement free. Let’s do it folks.
#thriveorsurvive.
Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit. – Napoleon Hill
Thoughts? Concerns?
Questions? Think I’m wrong?
Let’s chat.
Need ideas?
Want to learn how to invite?
Let’s chat.
Want a mentor or maybe the guy who will bounce ideas back and forth with you?
Let’s chat.
Changeinadvance@gmail.com
@changeinadvance
http://bit.ly/yWRUFh
Or simply reply to this article.
#thriveorsurvive
tee site
silverfreedom
tee pic and site
Changeinadvance 