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The One Question That Will Transform Your Life

Posted: 11 Jul 2019 08:36 AM PDT

By JT Terrell

If you've been alive long enough, you know that there's no end to the amount of books, studies, online courses, podcasts, conferences, videos, tips and tricks to tell you how to achieve your goals. While this information is valuable, it can get overwhelming, leaving you right where you started—stuck even.

Throughout my career, helping businesses scale and grow, I've landed on the one question that I believe you have to know the answer to before you can move forward with anything else:

What does 'success' mean to you?

Money, fame, stability, achievement, love—all of those? Trust me when I tell you those things alone won't bring you happiness; in fact, most of the people I know who make a larger income than 99% of the country are far from "happy." I believe it was Socrates or Notorious B.I.G. who famously spoke the truth of "mo' money, mo' problems," and he wasn't lying.

Typically we've found that the f-word (fulfillment) is what people are really searching for. The hard part about chasing fulfillment is that it's different for everyone.

So ask yourself:

What does success look like to me?

If you want to put together a strategy for YOU, simply look into the distant future and put a pen to paper about what you really want in your life. Get a blank sheet of paper, and something to write with, and find a place where you can be alone for at least one hour (to start).

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Consider yourself 20 to 30 years from now and imagine yourself truly pleased, content, happy, and (finally) fulfilled. Close your eyes. Let your mind run wild and don't be limited by what you think will happen. Dwell on what you want, no matter how crazy it sounds, or what others will tell you is possible and impossible.

Take a look around and tell me what you see? Write it down!

  • Who are you?
  • What does your life look like?
  • Where do you live?
  • Who do you live for?
  • What kind of work do you do, even if it's a hobby/personal pursuit?
  • What kind of wealth do you have, and how charitable are you?

Get really specific about these things and write them down in the present tense. Then, ask yourself:

What do I need to change?

Once you've committed to some objectives in writing, now it's time to change.

Yes, I said change. The word that spurs feelings of fear and hesitation in the hearts of many. In order to achieve these future goals, you must break free of bad habits and start developing great ones. This step is where some people benefit from personal coaching. Whether it is your weight, your health, your creativity, or your personal interactions, a dose of discipline and the wisdom of a coach will help you break through barriers and discover new ways to navigate to those end goals.

So figure out what you want and find someone who can help you get there, faster. The clock is ticking.

RELATED: 4 Ways to Move Past the Toughest Part of Any Goal—Getting Started

JT Terrell is a speaker and accountability coach for Petra Coach—an award-winning business coaching firm helping entrepreneurs and leaders across the country build company cultures focused on purpose, alignment and accountability.

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15 Proven Ways to Improve Your Business Negotiation Skills

Posted: 11 Jul 2019 08:35 AM PDT

Entrepreneurs are constantly making deals, so learning how to negotiate becomes an essential skill to master. But when you’re at the bargaining table, it sometimes can be difficult to strike the right balance and arrive at a healthy compromise with a client or partner.

To learn how to become a successful negotiator, we asked a group of Young Entrepreneur Council members to weigh in on the following question:

Q. What type of negotiation strategy do you prefer using? Why is it effective?

1. Be willing to walk away

You have to go into a negotiation knowing that there are results that will hurt you. If the situation arises, you have to be willing to walk away. If you’re trying to be aggressive, you can walk away earlier which may cause the other party to fold, but realize if you walk away and then come back, you’ve lost all your cards. —Anthony Saladino, Kitchen Cabinet Kings

2. Let the other party make the first offer

One great negotiation strategy is to get the other individual to make the first offer. That way, you can better gauge how the negotiation is going. You never want to speak first, because you might be selling yourself short or pricing yourself out of the conversation. Be blunt if necessary. Ask the other side what they want in a bottom-line fashion. —Andrew Schrage, Money Crashers Personal Finance

3. Listen more

During a negotiation, it’s best to only talk when necessary. By sticking to this rule, one prevents the cardinal sin of overtalking, and one reduces the chance of saying something disagreeable. By giving other parties enough time to speak early in a negotiation, you are able to modify your position without contradicting yourself. —Ismael Wrixen, FE International

4. Focus on what they want first

When working on a deal, I always try to understand what the other party wants first. By using this tactic, it is easier for me to understand what points they care about most and which ones are easiest for them to move on. This way, before I share what I want exactly, I have a better idea of what to ask for and concede to. —Michael Averto, ChannelApe

5. Offer preemptive concessions

Give a concession first to build goodwill prior to entering into the main negotiation process. Entering into a negotiation with a spirit of compromise, on my side, usually helps seal a bigger deal at the end of the negotiation process. Additionally, I offer many alternatives so that potential clients feel empowered to make a choice between the options that favor my interests and theirs. —Matthew Capala, Alphametic

6. Know where you can “budge” ahead of time

In every negotiation, I know what I need and what I want. The difference is that “what I need” is something I can’t budge on, but something that “I want,” I can. Knowing what those two things are will help you navigate every negotiation. You will know when you put your foot down and fight, and when to give in a little to the other side. Without knowing this, you risk leaving without what you need. —Colbey Pfund, LFNT Distribution

7. Go in with a win-win mindset

This is the only strategy that I try to deploy during a negotiation. Negotiations should be thought of as the bridge to long-lasting and trusting relationships. Too often, people treat negotiations as a way to “get the best of” the other person. Ultimately negotiations that are centered around this are win-lose and that’s not good for anyone, especially the winner’s reputation. —Nicole Munoz, Nicole Munoz Consulting, Inc.

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8. Do not be pushy

Trying to force a deal on someone can push them away. I try to always let deals happen naturally. I do not put on a different persona; I go in and be myself. I speak up when I think something is not fair or right, and I listen when the other side brings up the same. If it is a deal that is meant to be made, it will be. But whatever you do, do not be pushy. No one enjoys that approach. —Adrien Schmidt, Aristotle by Bouquet.ai

9. Set deadlines

Using deadlines in a negotiation strategy works well because it forces people to take action in a timely matter. If you give them an unlimited amount of time to think it over and make a decision, the negotiation process could go on forever. But a reasonable deadline politely forces the other person to make a decision so that you can move forward. —Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms

10. Focus on return on investment

Negotiation exists for the sake of reducing ongoing expenses. Instead of discussing costs and fees, an ROI-driven conversation would yield a better output than going through price charts. Finding unique opportunities to deliver value by a combination of lead generation opportunities and automation would be incrementally better. —Mario Peshev, DevriX

11. Practice transparency

Negotiating with clients and investors is one of the most challenging aspects of being an entrepreneur. I find that by being transparent, and letting others know exactly what I expect and what I’m willing to offer in exchange for their partnership, we are more likely to come to an agreement. Plus, when you’re transparent, people tend to trust you, which could lead to big business partnerships. —Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner

12. Use objective, third-party criteria

A successful negotiation strategy is to use objective, third-party criteria to resolve differences with the other party. By pointing to objective third-party sources as the basis for your position, you can depersonalize the negotiation and achieve a fair compromise for both parties. —Doug Bend, Bend Law Group, PC

13. Find out what they’re willing to trade

The key to a successful negotiation is to make sure the deal is a win-win for both parties. For instance, if the other party won’t give you a lower price, maybe they’re able to throw in an extra service for free. Find out what they’re willing to trade off for by asking open-ended questions like, “What if we increase the quantity?” and “Would you offer us a discount?” during the negotiation. —John Turner, SeedProd LLC

14. Be fully prepared

It’s natural to walk into a negotiation and think about your objectives and the language you’ll use. What’s not natural for most people is preparing for the full negotiation. What does your counterpart value? What other alternatives are there if you can’t close a deal? What are you most willing to yield (a.k.a., something you want that you can do without)? Your preparation is your strategy. —Aaron Schwartz, Passport

15. Be your authentic self

I find the best negotiation strategy is to be your authentic self. People can tell when you are trying to close them before they’re ready to do business and it makes them feel uncomfortable. The close should come naturally. People like to do business with someone they trust and have an authentic connection with, and who can provide them with solutions—not a hard close. —Ben Walker, Transcription Outsourcing, LLC

RELATED: Attitude and Achievement: Perfect Partners for Business Success

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5 Ways to Make New Connections at Your Next Business Conference

Posted: 11 Jul 2019 08:28 AM PDT

By Anna Slyusareva

Attending conferences is not only a great way to keep up with industry trends, but it is also one of the best ways to expand your professional network, meet new clients, or even find a new job.

Despite knowing about amazing networking opportunities that exist at conferences, many people are frightened at the thought of talking to someone they don't know, or worse, of being alone in a hall where everyone seems to know each other. Equipped with the right networking strategy, however, you can avoid spending an entire conference alone and missing out on opportunities to meet new people.

1. Become a volunteer

Many conferences offer opportunities to volunteer. Volunteering can help you get an active role at a conference and a reason to speak to other attendees. For example, as a volunteer reporter, you can ask people questions about their experiences at the conference, and in most cases attendees are happy to answer your questions.

You can choose a volunteering role that corresponds to your professional experience, which will enhance your resume as well as expand your network. Or you can choose to get involved in an area that is not directly related to your profession and use the experience to improve your skill set.

Many conferences have a section for volunteers on their website. If you don't find such a section, you can always contact the organizers and offer your help. Don't forget to briefly discuss your expertise in your message to make it easier for event managers to assign the right job for you.

2. Join a committee

Behind almost every conference is an organization. Typically, these organizations have a variety of committees responsible for organizing annual meetings, regional and national conferences, webinars, and other programs. You can attend conferences with fellow committee members who can introduce you to their colleagues and friends, eliminating the awkwardness of having to enter a room full of people alone. You also may be given an active role on a committee, which can help you to develop your leadership potential.

3. Attend panels and workshops

Most conferences have a selection of smaller events within the conference to choose from. Be strategic about deciding which event to attend. For example, if you are looking for new customers, do some research about what might interest them, and attend panels, lectures, or workshops that correspond to those interests. If you are looking for a job, attend sections that might attract potential employers. In this case, joining a panel on how to retain talent might not be your first choice as a candidate, but it may be a first choice for recruiters and a great place to meet them.

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Panels and workshops will provide you with relevant information you can use to start conversations with other attendees during breaks. You can ask a specific question about a particular point or a general one, such as how he/she found this program.

4. Sign up for sponsored dinners

Often, companies that are sponsors will organize breakfasts, dinners, or cocktail receptions during or after the conference. Dinners are probably the most inviting and comfortable way of building new connections. Some events require an invitation—and even if you didn't receive one, you can always contact the organizers and express your interest in attending.

5. Apply to be a speaker

Speaking at a conference can bring multiple benefits, ranging from the acknowledgment of your expertise and experience to boosting your professional visibility. But most of all, it will help you to connect with people at the conference. You will be introduced to other speakers, and people might come to you with questions after you speak. During preparation and rehearsals, you will meet event managers and can always ask them to introduce you to people you are looking to meet. Speaking at a conference will provide you with authority during the conference and connections even before the conference begins.

Attending a conference alone might be an intimidating experience, especially if your attendance is encouraged by your employer who expects certain results, such as meeting a number of prospective customers or partners. If you prepare in advance and have a strategy of how to meet other attendees, you will feel more confident and have a positive experience.

RELATED: How to Land New Clients Via Public Speaking Events

About the Author

Post by: Anna Slyusareva

Anna Slyusareva is a marketing professional who works with companies to build and grow their brands, setting up digital strategies, creative marketing initiatives, and community-oriented activities.

Connect with me on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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