Jason’s Tips
Dealing With Rejection
We learn at an early age that we don’t get everything we want. In other words, we have had to deal with rejection since then.
This may make you think that people accept rejection easily. However in reality the exact opposite is usually true.
People start to develop an invisible shield against rejection. They may show anger or resentment to the people who are serving up the rejection.
But, in many cases, it can show who is resilient and who is likely to continue until they get what they want.
No one likes to hear negative comments about themselves. People take it personally.
However, knowing the reason for rejection can help change your direction. You can correct the aspects that made people reject you in the first place.
This won’t work with everything. For instance, if a person you are attracted to does not return the favor, it may be difficult or impossible to turn this around.
Then again, there are numerous stories of people who persevered even when they were rejected time and again, and won the love of their lives.
Another instance where you may face rejection is during a job interview. Many candidates will pass this off as incompetence on the part of the interviewer, and there are certainly cases where this is true.
But, you should always try to evaluate the reasons why the interviewer did not choose you. You’d be surprised at how few people even ask for the reasons.
Interviewers won’t typically volunteer this information. Many will feel you don’t care if you don’t ask.
In many cases, rejection is not personal. You may not have the necessary skills when seeking a job, or you may not have enough experience, etc.
In other cases, it may be somewhat personal, but it may be in your best interest to get rejected. For instance, if you don’t have an aggressive personality, do you want to pursue a career that requires one? If you are in sales, you need to have this driving personality to succeed.
Use rejection to your benefit. People who accept rejection and don’t give up are usually the ones who eventually get that acceptance.
Sometimes, the very fact that you are persevering is what turns the tables from rejection to acceptance.
Whose to say that next opportunity is not the one that will accept you? You won’t know unless you continue on your quest.
Another thing to make crystal clear in your mind is that only you allow yourself to feel rejected. The problem is that the fear of rejection is a really powerful one so it can be difficult to not feel rejected when it happens.
Also realise that the person is not usually rejecting you personally, but rather your idea/opinion etc. Reframe it like that in your mind and you can free yourself from the paralysis that fear of rejection can cause.
And the person rejecting you now, may well soon be your most fervent supporter.
Dealing with rejection really is that simple. Changing your state of mind works wonders for many areas in your life and rejection is another one.
You have to remember that you are your own worst critic, so when someone disagrees or rejects you, the mind can blow it up out of all proportion and really go to town on your confidence.
Having gratitude for what you do have in your life can really help and it definitely gives you a sense of perspective.
Take time to think about family, friends, your passions or hobbies, and the things you probably always take for granted e.g. having a roof over your head or food in your belly.
Another way to deal with rejection is to use it as a learning opportunity. If you have had a business idea rejected or been turned down for a job, take some time to analyse what may have caused you to fail at this particular endeavour.
The key here is to be objective and, more importantly, to be really honest to increase the chances of success and reduce the risk of rejection in the future.
By doing this, you can actually rebuild your self-esteem and come out even stronger than before.
Dealing with rejection can be tough but it builds perseverance and character and it doesn’t last forever and you will be a much stronger person when you overcome it.
Life is full of challenges; relish them and grow into the person you want to become and overcome any obstacles that bar your way, including rejection.
And remember…
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone Psalm 118:22
You’ve got this… 💪
Autoresponders: The Key To Successful Email Marketing?
The best outcome of your first online marketing campaign is a big response. The worst outcome is being overwhelmed by thousands of responses awaiting your response. Online buyers expect instant response to their information requests. Time is money, patience is thin!
So if you aren’t able to respond quickly, not only will you frustrate your potential clients, but you’ll wear yourself out trying to handle this alone.
The Amazing Autoresponder
That’s where you hire the inexhaustible personal email assistant, the autoresponder. Just set up your autoresponder to perform all of the tasks you need, and then you’re free to move on to the next campaign.
The autoresponder catches those email requests and in a split second sends information back. You can set the autoresponder to actually sound personal by sending the friendly, welcoming note that you wrote.
The autoresponder also captures the email information of prospects or buyers. That’s absolute gold for building your email list. Smart Internet marketers use this list to stay in touch on a regular basis.
The saying is that the money is in the list and this is true, although it is really in the buyer list.
Now you don’t have to irritate with daily emails. Many marketers email daily (and sometimes multiple times per day but this is inadvisable) and can be very aggressive so you need to strike a balance between offering good advice and going for the sale. A 3:1 ratio is a good balance, so for every email that is just going for the sale, provide 3 valuable emails offering good advice and tips to help the reader.
Of course, email marketing is a great way to give them a “sneak preview” and as a pre-sale buying opportunity for your new product along with many free tips.
Another great use of the autoresponder is to send regular newsletters.
Offering a free niche market newsletter helps you get those valuable email opt-ins. Some prospects want to learn more about your product before buying. The newsletter is a tool for developing trust with potential buyers.
The fact is that buyers would rather choose products from trusted sources than take a chance on the unknown, so keep the relationship solid with regular, meaningful communication. Your autoresponder can handle multiple lists and different messages. That gives you a way to tailor the email to prospects for each product.
One of the biggest mistakes that marketers make is failing to target the message for each product prospect. They get lazy, write one message and one thank you note and then move on.
And this is such a common mistake that 90% of marketers make, including those who know better and even teach segmentation techniques to their buyers and readers!!! This undoubtedly brings their integrity into question in the minds of their subscribers, so always practice what you preach!
The autoresponder is capable of so much more work for you. Give each list a distinct name that relates to the product so that you can easily identify the list.If the autoresponder tool seems daunting, take time to view the tutorials.
Even if you have an active list under management, scan the tutorials to see if there are new tricks you can learn for maximizing the effectiveness of your autoresponder emails. Keep your electronic personal assistant busy and you’ll make more money online with less effort.
There are many autoresponder companies out there to suit all types of business needs. The good thing about them is that they will grow with you; as your list grows your cost will increase, but if you are using the tool correctly, you should be making more than you are paying i.e. it is an investment rather than an expense.
There are free autoresponders out there but they are limited with what they can do so it is always best to sign up to a paid service. Prices range from around $9-$19 per month for a list of up to 500 subscribers and the most popular all have free trials so you can try them out to see which one works best for you.
As a marketer I would personally recommend either Active Campaign or Aweber.
I use Active Campaign as it is more powerful and versatile than Aweber, although it has got better over the last couple of years.
Although the primary purpose of an autoresponder is to automate the email sending process, it is also important to send regular broadcast emails to your subscribers, especially if there are any trending topics in the news relating to your niche, and also to tell them more about you and what you are up to.
This creates a more personal connection with you and builds more trust and likeability.
And this leads me nicely onto my next point…
Autoresponder Email Marketing – Make It Personal
As already discussed, the technical options that you have make it possible to send personalized emails from your autoresponder that can seem like the real thing.
Not every buyer knows about autoresponders, so it gives them the sense that you created an email individually for each reader i.e. just for them.
When you write an email, start with the name of a trusted friend in mind and write as if the message was just for that friend. Then edit out the friend’s name and set up the message so that your autoresponder takes over and inserts the prospect’s name.
Personalization isn’t just for emails – use it as an intro to your ezine, too: “Hi, Susan, here’s some great new ideas for using the XZY Information system that I know you’ll appreciate.” Use the name that the prospect gives in the information gathering form.
Add the name naturally as it would occur in conversation. Internet marketers can make the mistake of over-using the name just because it’s easy to insert electronically. Read the message aloud.
Would you use the name that many times or does it sound phony? Yes, people love the sound of their own names, but when it’s over used, the reaction is that you’re being a fake and that send the buyer fleeing.
Don’t let spell check defeat you. First, be extremely careful when you type a name into the autoresponder list. If the name was automatically added to a list, don’t change it. Some names are spelled differently on purpose.
There is an ongoing dispute between Teresa and Theresa as to which is the accurate spelling of the name. Answer: the way she wants it! Also, be careful that the name isn’t changed in the final spell check.
Avoid the marital status question. Don’t add Ms, Miss or Mrs to any correspondence. For one thing, email isn’t that formal. You don’t need to guess on this one or you’ll surely be wrong more often than right.
While the generic “Dear Friend” or “Dear Internet Marketing Colleague” seems impersonal, at least it doesn’t make obvious mistakes that are humorous to some people and blatantly offensive to others.
Use the name when you ask for the order. Remember to be personal when you make the final pitch.
What’s more appealing to you: “Everyone needs this marketing package to increase sales” or “ I want to see you enjoy the kind of success I’ve had with this product – so, Stan, are you ready to make serious money online? If you are then click here. . . .but wait, Stan, I’ve got one more bonus that’s just what you need!”
That’s a personal close using the name and showing interest in the prospect’s success. So keep it real, keep it personal and keep making contact with your list so that the first sale isn’t the last one.
OK, so there are a few things to bear in mind when using an autoresponder and writing emails for your email marketing campaigns.
Email is a very powerful tool if used correctly and can be very profitable, but always put your prospects needs before your own and you will surely be successful.
How To Find Inner Peace And Calm In Times Of Chaos
During these turbulent times it is very easy to live in a state of constant worriment! At the time of writing, everyone is pretty much in a global lock-down which also causes a lot of feelings of isolation too.
But there is always hope, and it is even more important to find things to be glad about on a daily basis.
Here is a post about the science of gratitude.
And if you want to go deeper, take a look at the Grateful Mind training here.
Even the Bible recognised this basic human need thousands of years ago:
Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. (2 Corinthians 13:11)
However, when the news is filled with negative emotion and our surroundings are chaotic, it can seem overwhelming and stressful to be trapped in the house, full of uncertainty.
Yet it is important to realize that peace and tranquility come from within and can be found even in the most challenging times. Making an effort to find this inner peace is one of the most important things you can do during these times.
So, how do you find inner peace in these time?
Well, here are 5 things that you can start using today to combat stress and achieve inner peace. There are many more, but these are as good a place to start as any.
1: Meditation & Yoga
Meditation is great way to calm the mind and focus on your breathing in order to stay present in the moment. Yoga and meditation practices allow you to feel balanced from within and allows you to reflect on outside surroundings rather than consuming them.
Starting with a guided meditation or a yoga class on YouTube is a great way to start practicing without spending money. They will teach you breathing techniques that can help you calm down when you find yourself stressing out and you will notice that you are not as anxious and overwhelmed.
Alternatively, use an app like Headspace to practice meditation and mindfulness.
Meditation allows you to slow down and start appreciating what you have in your life; friends, family, roof over your head etc. and allows you to put things into perspective.
Yoga is a little like meditation in motion and so is also great for physical as well as mental wellbeing.
They may not be for everyone but could be worth a try if you are feeling stressed and isolated.
Develop A Routine
It may sound a little boring, but developing a routine, even when stuck at home, is a crucial way to find structure in your life when there are challenges put in front of you.
Waking up at the same time, making time to workout each morning, and reading before bed are a few examples of tasks you can incorporate into your daily routine to keep you feeling calm.
Many of the most productive and successful people, do the same thing every day, including the weekends; no Saturday morning lie-ins for them, so doesn’t that indicate how powerful routine can be?
If you have children and are homeschooling, then having a routine is incredibly important for them too, and will allow you to get them into study mode when required.
Of course, you can also add a little spontaneity too, but the general day should be well-structured so you know what to expect.
Get Outside
Even though we may not have the ability to go shopping or be in public to get out of the house, we can always take our dogs for a walk or go on a hike in nature to relax and get rid of the feeling of being trapped in the house.
Nature is a great stress reliever that will help you feel gratitude and inner peace throughout these tough times.
Taking a 30-60 minute walk each day is a great way to stay active and get a breath of fresh air to reduce your stress and anxiety levels.
Even getting outside into your garden (if you have one) can boost your mood; you don’t even have to do any gardening (although this will have physical benefits too), just sitting in the sun and listening to the birds singing can instantly make you feel better.
When you are constantly surrounding by technology filled with news that may seem concerning, your stress levels are likely to rise, and you will feel worried. When you step away and let go of this attachment, you will instantly feel calmer.
Beware The News
When chaos is going on around the world and there is stress in the air, the news is the main source that people base their opinions on and process information from.
However, the news is very quick to only announce negative news and alarming stories, which can make the brain feel overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed. The UK tabloid press is particularly good at this.
The problem with consuming too much news, is that you get a very skewed vision of the world that is NOT reality, and this can have a major impact on how you feel.
It is important to stay up to date with current events, but it is also important to not let it consume you.
Many of these things are out of your control and after you take all of the precautionary measures that you can, it is important to step away from the news in order to relax the mind.
Read A Book
Reading a book is great way to clear your mind and distract yourself from your surroundings when they seem overwhelming or negative.
It is a great way to restore your emotions and reduce stress without staring at a screen or scrolling through social media.
When you read a book, you are improving your brain function, and this has proven to improve mental wellbeing.
Whether it be an educational book, self-help book, or fiction, you will find that you are able to learn a lot and grow both professionally and personally in an enjoyable way.
And why not pick up a Bible if you are feeling really low. The pages of the Bible are filled with hope which we all need in these uncertain times, so perhaps now is the time to delve into the Word. You never know, it could be the beginning of an incredible journey of self-discovery for you.
OK, there are 5 things that you can do to combat stress and achieve some inner peace.
Why not try one (or all of them) and see which works for you, and if you have any that you want to add, let me know.
Stay safe and be strong…
Self-Discipline: 7 Benefits Of Being Disciplined
Every day we have choices to make. Wake up early and go to the gym, or get an extra hour of sleep? Pack a healthy lunch to take to work, or buy something when lunchtime rolls around? Throw a little extra money in your savings account, or buy that new gadget or pair of shoes you’ve been eyeballing all month?
Deep down inside, we know which actions will yield the best results. Yet many of us struggle with making the best decisions – and fail to reach our full potential as a result. How do we overcome these challenges? Self-discipline is the answer.
Why Is Self-Discipline Important?
If you want to be successful and reach your goals, self-discipline is the most crucial skill to master.
Frequently, the best choices aren’t the fastest, easiest, or most pleasant. So you must exercise a high level of control over your emotions and behavior.
Improving your ability to do what is best for you regardless of initial desire is the only way to make consistent progress in life.
As such, if self-discipline is your foundational skill, you grow more effective in everything you do.
7 Benefits Of Self-Discipline
When you develop a stronger sense of self-control, you can expect multiple improvements across many areas of your life. Here are ten benefits of self-discipline.
1- Better Physical Health
First, improving your self-discipline leads to improved physical health.
Exercising control over the quality and quantity of food you consume, establishing a regular fitness routine, and drinking enough water help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce your chances of illness and disease, and increase your chances of longevity and vitality later in life.
This does require a lot of self-discipline for some people, but the benefits will enhance pretty much all areas of your life.
2- Better Academic And/Or Career Success
Next, self-discipline can help you to make choices that could potentially lead to higher academic and career success.
Sometimes you must choose between studying longer hours and spending time out with friends, or staying late after work to complete a project and heading home to relax.
Self-discipline helps you see the value of delayed gratification, which pays off down the line.
This is especially important in the modern world as the vast majority of people want it now and are not prepared to wait.
3- Better Relationships
Third, self-discipline improves your relationships because you become a person who follows through on your commitments.
People in your life learn they can trust you to do what you say you will, and they view you more favorably.
Having self-control and doing what you say makes you a more reliable partner, friend and worker, so all types of relationships will benefit from becoming a more disciplined person.
4- Better Control Of Your Finances
Next, gaining better control over your finances is another direct benefit of self-discipline.
While it’s more fun to spend money than it is to save, the disciplined individual sees the long-term benefit of putting money away for a rainy day. This is also linked to the benefits of delayed gratification mentioned above.
That’s not to say you pinch pennies and sacrifice quality of life.
Self-discipline isn’t supposed to make you miserable. Instead, it’s about weighing the pros and cons and making decisions that bring you closer to your goals.
Examples of financial self-discipline that don’t require total restriction include regularly putting a certain percentage of each paycheck into your savings account or sticking to a budget that allocates a certain amount of money each month for discretionary spending.
This way, you still get to enjoy the present, though, not at the expense of your future and you will have the opportunity to splurge out occasionally.
5- Fewer Regrets
Another benefit of growing more self-disciplined is that you’ll have fewer regrets because you make better choices in the first place.
You’ll eliminate such problems as saying the wrong thing at the wrong time because you’re disciplined enough to think before speaking.
This is especially important nowadays, as you have to be so careful what you say in case you upset or offend someone, and social media makes this even more difficult to manage; always think before you speak or post something online!
You’ll avoid jumping to conclusions, give yourself time to gather information before making decisions, and make choices based on facts rather than emotion or opinion.
6- Improved Time Management And Productivity
With an ever-growing list of things vying for our attention, it seems that time is often in short supply.
One of the best benefits of self-discipline is improved management of your time.
For example, social media can be the ultimate time-killer if you don’t exercise self-control. While it can be useful at times, you can easily fall into the trap of mindlessly scrolling through news feeds when you could be completing other tasks.
By practicing self-discipline, you will become a lot more productive and this is really important for people who work for themselves at home.
Have strict times when you are working, have a space which you use solely for work purposes and stick to it and your productivity will soar.
7- Staying The Distance
Finally, self-discipline helps you complete tasks and projects that you start, even when you lose steam or desire.
Motivation is always high at the beginning of a new goal.
Whether it’s a new diet plan, a new business idea, or even new relationships to a certain degree, when things are fresh, there is nothing but excitement and stimulation ahead.
Yet over time, motivation fades, challenges arise, reality sets in, and its tempting to go back to something more familiar or move on to the next shiny object.
Exercising self-control and choosing to finish what you start, within reason, even when you lose motivation and desire means you not only have the finished project under your belt, but you’ve learned lessons and acquired skills you wouldn’t have had you quit.
Final Thoughts
As the American writer, philosopher and artist, Elbert Hubbard once said, “Self-discipline is the ability to do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.”
Understanding the importance of self-discipline, then taking steps to improve this most critical skill is perhaps the best thing you can do for your personal development and likelihood of lifetime success.
Working From Home? Transitioning To Working At Home
Transitioning To Working At Home
Have you been forced to work from home due to the global coronavirus crisis? Obviously you are not alone during these strange times!
The initial joy of being able to work from home can be quickly replaced by worry, a lack of motivation and never-ending distractions.
How on earth do you get things done when there are so many distractions in your home? While home working can deliver a lot of benefits, there are a lot of challenges it presents too and many people seriously underestimate these!
In this post, you’ll discover some useful tips you can follow when it comes to transitioning to working from home.
Set Up A Quiet Work Area
With all of the distractions at home, it can be really hard to concentrate on work. This is especially true if you have kids at home.
So, if you want to ensure you can get things done in peace, it’s worth setting up a quiet working space.
Try and use a room that isn’t frequently used during the day. Place a sign on the door when you’re trying to work to let others know not to disturb you.
Make sure the workspace is comfortable too as you won’t get a lot done if you aren’t comfortable.
Start Work At Your Normal Time
One of the main challenges that can come from working from home is delaying the time you usually start.
It’s tempting to have a lie in and take longer to relax in the morning before starting. However, this only zaps your productivity.
If you want to ensure you stay productive, you’ll want to start as early as possible. The positive side to this is that the earlier you start, the earlier you’ll get to finish.
Limit Social Media Screen Time!
You’ll have a lot more time to check in on social media when you haven’t got the boss breathing down your neck. However, it’s easy to waste hours using social media accounts if you aren’t careful.
Many home workers find it useful to set limits on their social media use during working hours. It could be simply committing to using it during a specific time for example. Having limits in place makes you more aware of how much you’re using it.
Maintain Your Usual Work Routine
It’s really important to try and maintain your usual routine. This is linked to starting work at your normal time as mentioned above.
This means, getting ready for work in the same way you usually do.
So, wake up at the same time, have your usual cup of coffee and get dressed into your work clothes. It’s amazing how much of a difference this can make to your productivity.
These are just a few tips you can follow when transitioning to working from home. It can be a big adjustment, but there are lots of tools and tips out there to help.
Trying to maintain your usual routine is one of the best things you can do during these changing times and will allow you to be just as productive as you were in your work place.
Here are a few more tips to help you with productivity when working from home.
How To Be Productive Working At Home
As convenient and beneficial as working from home can be, it can also prove to be damaging to productivity.
The trouble is, up until now, you’ve associated your home as a space for relaxing. So, it can be difficult switching to a more productive mindset when you’re in the comfort of your home.
The good news is, there are ways to boost your productivity when remote working. Here, you’ll discover some of the best ways to stay productive when working at home.
Keep Your Workspace Tidy And Just For Work
You’re going to find it hard to stay productive if your workspace is cluttered.
So, before you start, take time to clean up the area you’re planning on working in.
Get rid of any clutter and organize the space.
The cleaner and tidier the space is, the easier you’ll find it to focus on your work.
Take Regular Breaks And Get Outside For Air
Suddenly being cooped up in the house all day can be detrimental to productivity.
It can cause issues with low mood and leave you feeling less motivated to get through your workload.
By taking regular breaks and making time to get out into the yard, it can really boost those productivity levels.
Spend just 10-15 minutes gardening or reading a book outdoors to help refresh productivity levels.
Always Prepare For The Day Ahead
When you go out to work, you know there’s things you need to do to get ready for the day.
You have a routine which prepares you for work. However, when you start working from home you don’t really have that.
Rather than thinking you can now work in your pajamas all day, make the effort to get dressed.
Create a morning routine which sets you up for work. That way, you’ll find it much easier to stay productive if your mindset is geared towards work.
Harness The Power Of Nature
Did you know that plants and flowers can help you to feel more motivated? Adding them into your workspace can help to brighten up the working environment.
Numerous studies have shown how effective greenery can be within an office environment. So, if you want an easy way to stay productive, add a few houseplants and flowers to your home office.
You can also utilize the power of scent too. In some countries, workplaces spray citrus scents to boost employee productivity. Try experimenting with different scents to see which ones make you work more efficiently.
Staying productive when working at home isn’t easy but it is doable.
The above are some of the best methods you can try to increase those productivity levels. Taking regular breaks away from your computer are important, not just for productivity but for your health too.
OK, I hope these pointers will help you to stay productive in your working from home during these unprecedented times, and stay safe.