What Do Creative People Do

What Do Creative People Do

As I was going through my mail this morning, I stumble on one of the newsletters that was sent to me by one of my mentors and this struck me. Did you know that highly creative people tend to have fluid, flexible, adaptive minds? Here are three statements that creative people can make easily and which you learn by regular practice.

Admit It When You Are Wrong
The first is simply, “I was wrong.” Many people are so concerned with being right that all their mental energy is consumed by stonewalling, bluffing, blaming and denying.
If you’re wrong, admit it and get on to the solution or the next step.
Face Up to Mistakes
Second, non-creative people think that it is a sign of weakness to say, “I made a mistake.” On the contrary, it is actually a sign of mental maturity, personal strength and individual character. Remember, everybody makes mistakes every single day.
Be Flexible With New Information
The third statement that creative people use easily is, “I changed my mind.” It is amazing how many uncomfortable situations people get into and stay in because they are unwilling or afraid to admit that they’ve changed their minds.
Be Willing to Cut Your Losses
If you get new information or if you find that you feel differently about a previous decision, accept that you have changed your mind and don’t let anyone or anything back you into a corner. If a decision does not serve your best interests as you see them now, have the ego-strength and the courage to “cut your losses,” to change your mind and then get on to better things.
Action Exercises
Here are three ways you can break out of narrow thinking patterns and become more creative.
First, seek first to understand then to be understood.Third, be willing to admit that you are not perfect, you make mistakes, you are wrong on a regular basis. This is a mark of intelligence and courage.

Second, with new information, be willing to change your mind. Most of what you know about your business today will change completely in the coming years so be the first to recognize it.
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How to Be a Superhero Expert Author

How to Be a Superhero Expert Author

Superheroes to the Rescue!

Lately, superheroes are everywhere. They fill the pages of classic comic books, they grace the screens of big budget movies, and they can even be found in the world of article writing!

Yes, you heard it correct. There are outstanding article-writing superheroes who rise to the top with their quality content and ethical marketing practices. We are thankful for their existence because there are also devious article-writing villains who lurk in the corners of the Internet waiting to lure others into their scheming ways.

Are you playing the role of a superhero by giving your readers valuable, original content? Or have you fallen victim to the villains?

Let’s meet the cast to learn more about the superheroes and villains of article writing.

Spoiler Alert!

The superheroes ALWAYS win.

The VILLAINS

1. The Pushy Promoter – The Pushy Promoter loves to push his products in the face of his readers. Building trust and creating value means nothing to this aggressive villain! His tactic of forcing his opinion does NOTHING for his popularity. Readers run away at the sight of his hard-selling ways.

2. Master of Deception – Tactics of this deceptive villain include: robotic-sounding social media updates, using article spinners to generate content, and implying false scarcity like “Buy Now! Limited Time Offer!” in his Resource Boxes. His tactics are a waste of time and simply frustrate readers when they discover the truth. The content sounds artificial, causes confusion, and doesn’t lure any prospects. The Master of Deception never wins.

3. The Rambling Rewriter – The Rambling Rewriter has a way of regurgitating old information and presenting it as brand new. He doesn’t concentrate on writing unique content, which simply bores his audience. If this villain tries to persuade you to repurpose your old articles without adding any additional value, just say NO WAY.

4. Madam Keyword Abuser – Keyword stuffing is a practice that is aggressively shut down by search engines, but that doesn’t stop this villain! She continually attempts to fool search engines into sending traffic her way by stuffing unrelated keywords and using confusing, unnatural keyword variations throughout her content. Use the Google Keyword Planner to view keyword recommendations and build ranking to avoid temptation from Madam Keyword Abuser.

5. The Fraudulent Friend – This disliked villain tries to inflate his popularity by purchasing social media followers, page likes, and content views. He is constantly breaking trust with his readers when they find out his fans are fake. Don’t follow the sly ways of the Fraudulent Friend. Keep your hands clean by marketing yourself professionally and you’ll be respected for your genuine efforts.

Luckily, we have a strong team of superheroes that are ready to battle evil content marketing villains until only quality content prevails!

The SUPERHEROES

1. Doctor Wordsmith – Informative content is the epitome of quality writing; and submitting exciting and unique articles is what Doctor Wordsmith does to rise above derivative or spammy content. Be a true contender in your niche by delivering new value when others are just regurgitating old information. If your content lacks originality or personality, it won’t matter how much you write because your audience will be long gone. Set a good example by offering 100% original, informative content every single time.

2. The Talented Repurposer – The Talented Repurposer is an intelligent writer who publishes their articles over multiple platforms. Your content can reach a wider audience when packaged in article sets, eBooks, or visually stunning infographics. Create videos that touch on the main points of your articles and submit them to your social media pages. Turn quotes from your content into pins on Pinterest; or create Internet memes from your article topics to add humor. You can also build PowerPoint presentations from your articles and upload them to SlideShare with a keyword-rich headline. These are traffic magnets to attract readers!

3. Captain Authorship – Captain Authorship knows that one great way to brand yourself as an expert author is to link your content with Google Authorship. It’s just one more way to link your quality content to your online persona, which helps to build trust. Follow Captain Authorship’s lead and look into Google Authorship today!

4. The Traffic Agent – Measuring data is a top priority for authors who are focused on success. Be a Traffic Agent by understanding where your articles are making the most impact, then syndicate them in areas of good traffic. You can use integrated CRM and web analytics systems to view your prospects’ activities, figure out what’s driving them, and automate reports to track your success. Compare one or more articles against each other to gather data on where you can maximize future content.

5. The Social Connector – A social butterfly since birth, the Social Connector continually searches out new, promising social media avenues that cater to her fans. Social media continues to evolve with an increasing demand for interesting and newsworthy content. The challenge is to rise above the pests and deliver beautiful content to all. Be hero with your positive ways, put yourself out there, andexpand your audience!

6. Evergreen Man – Relevant content helps build authority and improve your ranking in search engines. From the latest trends in your niche to new product reviews, write articles that are valuableto your readers. Article writing won’t work if your content is stale. Keep it fresh, but also timeless. The Evergreen Man has a responsibility to write content that will stand the test of time. Instead of discussing specific events, discuss the greater issue surrounding the event. These articles will be relevant for years to come!

7. The Video Pioneer – Finally, the Video Pioneer knows that videos have a strong influence. He creates videos to accompany his articles in order to showcase his expertise in another medium. With the use of video, your articles can be shared through social media sites like YouTube, newsletters, and podcasts. YouTube has a Video Annotations feature to add commentary or links in your videos, which is a great way to link to your library of articles! Try responding to customer questions with a quick video on your website. Imagine their reaction when they see their answer spoken to them, rather than in writing!

While it would be wonderful if the world was full of superheroes, we know that villains exist, and it’s no different in the world of content marketing. Readers want to trust what they read, and the information you provide should always prove you are one of the good guys.

If you need help battling villain tendencies, don’t fear! That’s why we’re here. We’d love to help you develop the strong writing habits needed for success in article writing. Ask any questions you may have below, or visit the Library tab of your My.EzineArticles account for helpful training resources.

With great power comes great responsibility … Be the best Expert Author you can be!
To Your Article Writing/Marketing Success & Passion!
Christopher Knight
Christopher M. Knight, Publisher
http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/
http://EzineArticles.com/

www.olutaller.com
Are You Working Too Much?

Are You Working Too Much?

Only the truly competent individual can be free of politics in an organization. When you’re really good at what you do, you can rise above politics. Think about it. It’s the mediocrities at work who have to play games and every study shows that although they sometimes succeed in the short-term, they invariably fail when everyone figures them out.
Do What You Have To Do
Select your work carefully and if you don’t love what you’re doing enough to want to

be the best at it, get out! Flee from the boring or unsatisfying job as you would from a burning building. Working at something you don’t care about is the very best way to waste your life. Remember, this life is not a rehearsal for something else.

Look for Pay for Performance
One key to getting onto the fast-track is for you to work for the right company and the right boss. The right company is one that respects its people and practices pay for performance. The right company is dynamic, growing, open to new ideas, and full of opportunities for people with ambition and initiative.
How to Make Progress
A woman spoke to me at a seminar recently and reminded me that she had asked me a question at a seminar about two years ago. She had told me that she was very ambitious and hard-working but that she wasn’t making any progress in the large company where she worked. She felt it was because most of the senior executives were men in their fifties and sixties and that women had a hard time getting into positions of responsibility. What could she do?
Change Jobs When Necessary
I told her quite frankly that there was nothing she could do. The senior executives and the company were not going to change. If she was really as capable as she said, I told her to find a job with a young, growing company that wouldn’t care whether she was a woman as long as she could do the job.
A Success Story
She told me that she had followed my advice, quit her job, much to the disapproval of her co-workers, and found a job with a small growing company – and it was exactly as I had said. She had been promoted twice in the last 14 months and was already earning 40% more than her best year with her previous company.
Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do to assure that you are in the right position.
First, make sure that you really enjoy your work and that you do it well. You will never be successful at a job that you don’t like.
Second, be sure that there are lots of opportunities for you to grow, develop and advance in your company. Your future is too valuable to waste where there is no future.

Brian Tracy
www.olutaller.com

Are you willing to cut your losses?

Did you know that highly creative people tend to have fluid, flexible, adaptive minds? Here are three statements that creative people can make easily and which you learn by regular practice.

Admit It When You Are Wrong

The first is simply, “I was wrong.” Many people are so concerned with being right that all their mental energy is consumed by stonewalling, bluffing, blaming and denying. If you’re wrong, admit it and get on to the solution or the next step.
Face Up to Mistakes
Second, non-creative people think that it is a sign of weakness to say, “I made a mistake.” On the contrary, it is actually a sign of mental maturity, personal strength and individual character. Remember, everybody makes mistakes every single day.
Be Flexible With New Information
The third statement that creative people use easily is, “I changed my mind.” It is amazing how many uncomfortable situations people get into and stay in because they are unwilling or afraid to admit that they’ve changed their minds.
Be Willing to Cut Your Losses
If you get new information or if you find that you feel differently about a previous decision, accept that you have changed your mind and don’t let anyone or anything back you into a corner. If a decision does not serve your best interests as you see them now, have the ego-strength and the courage to “cut your losses,” to change your mind and then get on to better things.

“How to Build Rock Solid Self-Confidence and Achieve All of Your Goals”
The Science of Self-Confidence Training Kit

You probably already know that the most successful people have incredible levels of self-confidence. They’ve accomplished great levels of success and happiness in their lives and seem to be uns toppable in everything that they do.

The fact is, that when you develop unshakable self-confidence your whole world will change for the better.

You’ll have the confidence to take whatever steps necessary to make more money and enjoy a higher standard of living.You’ll be more powerful and persuasive with other people. And you’ll be more popular and likable. 

The Science of Self-Confidence Training Kit
I have combined all of the information you’ll need to accomplish anything you set your mind to. In my exclusive training kit, you’ll lear n a number of practical action steps you can take to build immediate feelings of self-confidence.

Buy The Science of Self-Confidence Training Kit  today!

Action Exercises
Here are two ways you can break out of narrow thinking patterns and become more creative.
First, be willing to admit that you are not perfect, you make mistakes, you are wrong on a regular basis. This is a mark of intelligence and courage.
Second, with new information, be willing to change your mind. Most of what you know about your business today will change completely in the coming years so be the first to recognize it.
Brian Tracy
www.olutaller.com

Mandela’s Message to Nigerian leaders

All I wish after reading the message below is that we all can take responsibility of things that happen within and around us, It is time for us to stop pointing fingers at our leaders, I think we deserve the type of leaders we have and the change can only start from me and you. We need to start asking questions, not from the President “first” but from our Local Government Council to State Executive Council then to National Executive Council. 

We have a lot to learn from this great man, Nelson Mandela, his message below except:

“YOU know I am not very happy with Nigeria. I have made that very clear on many occasions. Yes, Nigeria stood by us more than any nation, but you let yourselves down, and Africa and the black race very badly. Your leaders have no respect for their people. They believe that their personal interests are the interests of the people. They take people’s resources and turn it into personal wealth. There is a level of poverty in Nigeria that should be unacceptable. I cannot understand why Nigerians are not more angry than they are.
“What do young Nigerians think about your leaders and their country and Africa? Do you teach them history? Do you have lessons on how your past leaders stood by us and gave us large amounts of money? You know I hear from Angolans and Mozambicans and Zimbabweans how your people opened their hearts and their homes to them. I was in prison then, but we know how your leaders punished western companies who supported Apartheid.
“What about the corruption and the crimes? Your elections are like wars. Now we hear that you cannot be president in Nigeria unless you are Muslim or Christian. Some people tell me your country may break up. Please don’t let it happen.
“Let me tell you what I think you need to do. You should encourage leaders to emerge who will not confuse public office with sources of making personal wealth. Corrupt people do not make good leaders. Then you have to spend a lot of your resources for education.
Educate children of the poor, so that they can get out of poverty. Poverty does not breed confidence. Only confident people can bring changes. Poor, uneducated people can also bring change, but it will be hijacked by the educated and the wealthy…give young Nigerians good education. Teach them the value of hard work and sacrifice, and discourage them from crimes which are destroying your image as a good people.”
(Excerpts taken from a 2007 interview with Mandela conducted by Dr  Hakeem Baba-Ahmed).
Culled from Nigerian Tribune 10-December-2013
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Become Everything You Are Capable of Becoming – Brian Tracy

The turning point in my life came when I discovered the law of cause and effect, the great law of the universe, and human destiny. I learned that everything happens for a reason. I discovered that success is not an accident. Failure is not an accident, either. I also discovered that people who are successful in any area usually are those who have learned the cause-and-effect relationship between what they want and how to get it.

Determine Your Personal Growth and Development Values

To realize your full potential for personal and professional growth and development, begin with your values as they apply to your own abilities. As you know, your values are expressed in your words and actions.

You can tell what your values are by looking at what you do and how you respond to the world around you. Your values are the root causes of your motivations and your behaviors.

Clarify Your Personal Growth and Development Vision

Create a long-term vision for yourself in the area of personal growth. Project forward five or ten years and imagine that you are developed fully in every important part of your life. Idealize and see yourself as outstanding in every respect. Refuse to compromise on your personal dreams.

Set Goals for Your Personal Growth and Development

Now take your vision and crystallize it into specific goals. Here is a good way to start. Take out a piece of paper and write down ten goals that you would like to achieve in the area of personal and professional development in the months and years ahead. Write in the present tense, exactly as if you were already the person you intend to be.

Determine exactly what you want to be able to do. Decide who you want to become. Describe exactly what you will look like when you become truly excellent in your field and in your personal life.

Upgrade Your Personal Knowledge and Skills

Set specific measures for each of your goals. If your goal is to excel in your field, determine how you will know when you have achieved it. Decide how you can measure your progress and evaluate your success.

Perhaps you can use as a measure the number of hours you study in your field each week. Perhaps you can measure the number of books you read or the number of audio programs you listen to. Perhaps you could measure your progress by the number of sales you make as the result of your growing skills.

Develop Winning Personal Growth and Development Habits

Select the specific habits and behaviors you will need to practice every day to become the person you want to become. These could be the habits of clarity, planning, thoroughness, studiousness, hard work, determination, and persistence.

Action Exercise

Decide today to develop yourself to the point where you can achieve every financial and personal goal you ever set and become everything you are capable of becoming. Write down your goals and make sure to look at them every day, then ponder ways you possibly achieve these goals.

Brian Tracy

www.olutaller.com