| Strategies
to Strengthen Yourself
and Your Speaking Business
in Tough Times
by Burt Dubin
"Tough times don't last.
Tough people do!"
-- Robert Schuller.
This is for tough people when times get tough. How do you
engage tough times, and we all have them? Take these savvy
actions starting today. See your improvement and growth with
each loving action you take.
1. Hold What You've Got
Tough times call for tough competition. That means
holding on to what you have as well as going after new business.
Take this action: Respond to inquiries and possible gripes
on the same day. I use my cell phone to respond from wherever
in the world I am. I want to be responsive to the needs
of my clients, family, and friends.
2. Show That You Care
Focus even more on your prospects and clients. Stay closer.
Be sure they experience your caring concern for their well-being
in every communication you transmit. In tough times, people
feel increased stress. Knowing that others care about
them reduces that stress. Become an oasis of caring.
In letters, use this complimentary close, "With kindest
regards," It works.
3. Break a Sweat
You experienced emotional lows in stressful times. So have
I. So have all of us. Put stressful thoughts in the past.
Focus on your optimistic future.
Clear your mind of negative vibes. How? One fine way is
physical movement. My favorite way is a brisk 2 mile walk
after the sun goes down. I walk even when it is cold. When
it is cold, I must bundle up complete with scarf, hat, and
gloves. Hot or cold, I always get home wide awake and invigorated.
You may prefer indoor aerobic exercise. Or a workout at
your health club. Or a swim. Movement enough to break a
sweat. That's the key.
4. Meditate
Another easy response to tough and stressful times is to
meditate. I started meditating in 1975. This is a sure way
to still the mind, to access your essence, to allow yourself
to function with serenity regardless of the tumult and clamor
all about you.
5. Have an Attitude of Gratitude
Hans Selye wrote that this alone, feeling grateful for
everything in your life, yes, even the negatives, induces
a state of peace, of tranquility, enables you to cope from
a position of inner strength.
6. Be in Closer Touch With Everyone in Your Life
Loved ones, friends, clients, peers, prospects and vendors.
This kinship and connection, this reassurance of your aliveness
and your value, makes you stronger in every way.
7. Add Value to Every Transaction
You feel better because you're giving more than before.
You're doing your bit. Others feel better because they appreciate
you and what you do for them even more, especially in tough
times.
8. Open Your Heart Even More
Consciously move up to a higher plateau of contribution
to the life of everyone in your world. Be a source of comfort
and hope in every way you can. To everyone you know.
Some people stuff it. Stiff upper lip and all that. They
hide their fear. Be there for them. Watch what happens.
Lose yourself in service to others. Be a go-giver. Seek
ways to cause others to feel better about themselves and
their life now. The outcome is you feel better about you.
9. Believe in Your Personal Transcendence
Set new, bold goals for yourself and your business. Do
something to propel your business and your life to a desired
new level. Tough times are prefect times because fearful
others are retrenching. Not you. You're forging ahead.
10. Focus on NOW
Live each day fully. Pack all the value you can into every
hour of every day. Value for others. Value for you. You're
here. You're alive. You're the "Master of your fate,
the Captain of your soul..." (I wish I'd said that!)
You're in charge. You're the steward of your talents.
11. Engage Your Higher Powers
Remember, regardless of external circumstances, you are
the creator of your life experience. Let your luminous spirit
light up your every attitude, thought, word, and action.
Make yourself the light in your own life and the light in
the lives of all others you touch.
BONUS:
Give Yourself Away
That's right. Perform a free service for a deserving charitable
organization. In tough times, charities need you even more.
Years ago, I was approached by United Way. They wanted a
speech to charge up the troops at the start of a fund-raising
campaign. And for free. I did it, even though it was not my
usual type of program. They loved it. And I felt so good about
myself because I allowed myself to stretch. Try it. You have
nothing to lose except your old limits, your old sense of
what you can do. And you may gain a whole new sense of the
possible you.
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