In this age of information overload, you’re inundated with new ideas and concepts. The overload, however, isn’t the challenge. The challenge is what to do with the information.

When a “new” idea or concept comes your way, it’s easy to give it serious consideration, even thinking it’s the “silver bullet.” However, you soon realize you haven’t used the previous twelve silver bullets that were supposed to solve your problems. As a result, the new information is just another distraction, further confusing your mission and focus. .

This is particularly true for the business professional looking at that hot new sales and marketing system, or another “great idea”. There’s nothing wrong with these, but if you’re not using what you have, what makes you think these will be any better?

New systems can be useful; however, you have enough ideas in your head, on paper or loaded on your computer to be successful. You don’t need another program. Using what you have and acting on what you already know is the order of the day. (more…)

Differentiate yourself! Have a unique selling proposition! As business people, we’re told that these qualities will help us be successful. However, just how different can you be?

In a world crowded with intense competition, it’s a challenge to stand out. Unless you have a really special product, or a better mousetrap, it isn’t very likely that you’re much different from your competitors. This is true whether your competition is that other company in your industry, or that other person in your office.

If you’re really not that different, how do you stand out?

When you think about differentiating yourself, you likely think of “what” you do or offer, versus “how” you do it. As such, you tend to concern yourself more with narrowing your niche and refining your pitch, than with something that might be more important. In the process, you place too much emphasis on the uniqueness of “things.” (more…)