Benjamin Franklins 13 Keys To Success

Benjamin Franklin, the man on the $100 Bill, the guy who invented the heated stove, the lighting rod and the odometer among a thousand other achievements in his life. What made Benjamin Franklin such an over achiever is that he lived a purpose driven life. At the age of 20 years old Benjamin Franklin laid out 13 key values for himself which he would go on to master and become the well known man in our history to this day.
Read on for a translated and updated version for the business world today of Benjamin Franklins 13 Key Values.

1. Stop wasting time

Then: ”Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.” Now: Life hackers and multitaskers will win the startup war every time.

 

2. Get a calendar app and use it

Then: ”Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.” Now: Your modern day business has a lot of moving parts. Devise a system for keeping it all in order.

3. Don’t screw people over

Then: ”Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.”Now: Shady business practices will come back to bite you.

 

4. Don’t bang your co-workers

Then: ”Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.“Now: To ensure a healthy atmosphere, office romance should be handled with care.

 

5. Stop blowing money on stupid things like Aeron chairs

Then:“Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.” Now: Forget the fancy office chair, save that scrap paper and remember to brown bag a lunch.

 

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff

Then: “Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.“ Now: When things go wrong, take a breath a relax. An occasional yoga class couldn’t hurt.

 

7. Bathe — and then dress for success

Then: ”Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.“ Now: Get it together, and dress to impress.

 

8. Don’t get drunk on the job. Or fat, for that matter

Then: “Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.” Now: You’ll work harder without a hangover. Skipping the fourth cup of coffee couldn’t hurt either.

 

9. Be straightforward with people

Then: “Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.“Now: Being straight forward is the best way to connect with customers and co-workers. Leave the slick sales talk at home.

 

10. Don’t just sit around thinking about what to do — actually do it.

Then: “Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.”Now: Don’t let problems fester and follow through once you’ve set a goal.

 

11. Don’t obsess about one part of your business at the expense of others

Then: “Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.” Now: Don’t let one aspect of your business overwhelm all others. And when your competitors play dirty, don’t take it personally.

 

12. Stop wasting time gossiping with co-workers and start doing stuff

Then: “Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”Now: Don’t Tweet every random thought. Communication works best when you have something worthwhile to say.

 

13. Be humble

Then: “Imitate Jesus and Socrates.” Now: … or Warren Buffet, if you feel so inclined.

7 Ways To Be More Persuasive in Business

Have you ever had trouble closing a deal or convincing someone of your worthiness? Most people have this problem or at least have had this a few times in their life. In Business, mastering the technique of persuasion is known to be the key to major success and can be the difference between a pat on the back or a slap in the face, figuratively speaking.
Read on for a little insight into the art of persuasion in the world of business.

7 Great Persuasion Techniques To Use In Business

 

1. Give and you shall receive

When someone does you a favour, you know instinctively that you will have to do something in return in the future. Psychologists call this the reciprocity rule, and it can be very useful in persuasion.
Try it out next time a colleague or your boss needs help with something by being the first to stand up and lend a hand. Even better, think ahead and be aware of the deadlines and meetings your boss has to reach so you know to step in if they get called away. According to the reciprocity rule, they’ll be more likely to return the favour in the future.

2. Admit your weaknesses

People will never accept an idea or proposal if it sounds too good to be true, so one of the most effective ways to be persuasive is to admit a weakness.
Next time you’re trying to convince someone into giving you that job or deal, admit a small drawback before you go on to tell them that you are the best person for the job, or why your proposal will work. For example, point out that you have only two years experience instead of the required three, but then go on to explain the relevance of your past experience and how it puts you ahead of other potential candidates.

3. Emphasize potential loss

A study in the Journal of Organizational Behavior showed potential losses count far more in a manager’s decision-making than the same things presented as gains. What this means is that to be more persuasive, you should point out what they have to lose by not accepting your idea, as well as what they can gain.
So if applying for a job, or putting forward a proposal, make sure to emphasize what the company has to lose by not taking on your skills or suggestions. Just make sure you do so respectfully, and do your research on the company or your client first.

4. Highlight similarities

It is well known that people respect and listen to those who they believe to be similar to themselves. One way to influence this is by using what psychologists call mirroring. By mirroring the body language, tone of voice and interests of the person you’re speaking to, you’ll make them more likely to accept your suggestions.
Next time you meet a potential employer or client, do a brief background check on their company or personal interests. Find any similarities between them and yourself or your individual companies and bring them up in the beginning of your meeting – they’ll be more likely to say yes if they feel like you’re on common ground.

5. Appeal to their reputation

People are more likely to behave in a way that is consistent with their past decisions or beliefs, thereby upholding their reputation. This is what psychologists call labeling.
You can use this to your advantage by pointing out that someone has demonstrated a particular trait in the past, and then suggesting that their next course of action remains consistent with that label. For example, say, “Your company is cutting edge and cutting edge companies invest products like X.” This technique is tried and true and you’ll often see it used in marketing.

6. Use Social Proof

When people are unsure of which course of action to take or how to behave, they tend to assume that others around them are better informed, and will look to them for guidance. Psychologists call this Social Proof, and it is a powerful mode of persuasion.
If you’re trying to convince someone to hire you, mention that you have had interest from other potential employers. Or if you’re trying to sell an idea or product, highlight how the idea or product has been successful with other businesses. People will trust the decisions or behaviours of others and will be more likely to do the same.

7. Take it one step at a time

This is all about getting your foot in the door. If you’re pitching a proposal that’s a bit of a risk, if you throw it all on the table at once your potential employee or client is likely to say no to the whole lot. In order to build trust, you need to convince them one step at a time.
Try breaking down what you aim to achieve into small steps, and then gradually talking them into saying yes to each one – you’ll be more likely to persuade them into giving you what you want. This process can take time but remember small steps in the beginning can lead to big leaps in the future.

The Great Jim Rohn once said: “If you want more, you need to be more”. Something to think about.

50 Ways To De-Stress Your Way To Success

Stress is a number one killer and demotivator of success and productivity. We are all guilty of stressing out, even over the smallest of things so I have put together a list of 50 simple ways you can start de-stressing your life right now!

So we all know that it is always easier said than done however if you start small by implementing one or two things from this list a day to help de-stress your life then you are on your way and sooner than you think, you will be stress free and able to focus with more positive energy to reach your goals.

- Wake up 15 minutes earlier
- Prepare for the morning, the night before
- Don’t rely on your memory…write things down
- Repair things that don’t work properly
- Make duplicate keys
- Say ”NO” more often
- Set priorities in your life
- Avoid negative people
- Always make copies of important papers
- Ask for help with jobs you dislike
- Break large tasks into bit sized portions
- Look at problems as challenges
- Smile more
- Be prepared for rain
- Schedule  play time into every day
- Avoid tight fitting clothes
- Take a bubble bath
- Believe in you
- Visualise yourself winning
- Develop a sense of humour
- Have goals for yourself
- Say hello to a stranger
- Look up at the stars
- Practise breathing slowly
- Do brand new things
- Stop a bad habit
- Take stock of your achievements
- Do it today
- Strive for excellence, not perfection
- Look at a work of art
- Maintain your weight
- Plant a tree
- Stand up and stretch
- Learn to meet your own needs
- Become a better listener
- Know your limitations and let others know them too
- Throw a paper airplane
- Exercise every day
- Get to work early
- Clean out one closet or drawer
- Take a different route to work
- Leave work early (with permission)
- Remember you always have options
- Quit trying to fix other people
- Get enough sleep
- Praise other people
- Take each day at a time…you have your whole like to live.
- Take time out to just ‘be’ everyday
- Do one thing at a time
- Stop thinking tomorrow will be a better today

Advice From The Worlds Top Billionaires

Business advice from The Worlds Top Billionaires: Sheldon Adelson, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Charlie Munger, Donald Trump, Warren Buffet, Jim Pattison, Charles Koch and Sunil Mittal.

 Advice From Billionaire’s

 

Sheldon Adelson (Net Worth 3.4 Billion) – Just do things in life the way other people dont do things, Change the Status Quo and then you’ll succeed.

 

Bill Gates (Net Worth 50 Billion) -Its surprising that the fundamentals of business are pretty straight forward, you should be trying to take more in as an income than you spend in your costs.

 

Warren Buffett (Net Worth 47 Billion) – Run this business like its the only business your family will own for the next 100 years, don't measure it by the earnings that where made in that quarter of the year, what gives it competitive advantage over time and if its widened or narrowed.

Investing your money basics

1. Over the long term, stocks have historically outperformed all other investments.

Stocks have historically provided the highest returns of any asset class -- close to 10% over the long term. The next best performing asset class is bonds. Long-term U.S. Treasurys have returned an average of more than 5%.

2. Over the short term, stocks can be hazardous to your financial health.

On Dec. 12, 1914, stocks experienced the worst one-day drop in stock market history -- 24.4% . Oct. 19, 1987, the stock market lost 22.6%. More recently, the shocks have been prolonged and painful: If you had invested in a Nasdaq index fund around the time of the market's peak in March 2000 you would have lost three-fourths of your money over the next three years. And in 2009, stocks overall lost a whopping 37%.

3. Risky investments generally pay more than safe ones (except when they fail).

Investors demand a higher rate of return for taking greater risks. That's one reason that stocks, which are perceived as riskier than bonds, tend to return more. It also explains why long-term bonds pay more than short-term bonds. The longer investors have to wait for their final payoff on the bond, the greater the chance that something will intervene to erode the investment's value.