The 'fab five' keys to business!

A reader asks, "Jeff, what qualities or assets, skills or behaviors will help me achieve new levels of success this year?"

Great question!  If you want 2007, (professionally and personally) to be a year in which you have more meaning, more memories and more money, then be sure to embrace these "fab five."

1. Passion produces profit.
2. Liars are losers.
3. File your pipeline.
4. Forget time management.  Manage yourself.
5. Class is always in session.

Passion is mandatory!  There must be a fire in your belly and a passion in your gut.

You must have missionary zeal, along with a relentless pursuit to satisfy your customers, clients and prospects.

Your passion has nothing to do with phony smiles, cleaver phrases and hanging banners with slogans.  It means your ability and desire to compete profitably now and throughout the 21st century. 

Passion is burning the midnight oil.  It's going the extra mile.  It's doing the unexpected.

Passion is your positive attitude in a world of negativity.  It's finding the extra fuel when you thought your tank was dry.  It's an unwillingness to accept second best or "it's good enough."

Passion, somehow lets you execute, even when you're exhausted.  Passion confidently pits you against your toughest competitor, you.
Passion converts suspects into customers and customers into friends for a lifetime.

Passion turns successful businesspeople into superstars. Integrity is based upon truth.  Oscar Wilde said.  "Truth is advantage of honesty is, it doesn't require a good memory!  Your "word" represents your credibility, reputation and character. 

Integrity is a non-negotiable.   Its impact is powerful.  It's good character, goodwill and good sense.

Buyers might expect you to sit at a bargaining table with a sharpened pencil, laptop computer and savvy negotiation strategy.  But there should be no need for a lie detector, believe barometer or ethics evaluator.

As an ethical business pro, you may be perceived as unique.  And it's a valuable, respected and appreciated "unique."  Just like a diamond is worth more when it's unique and rare, so are you.  You possess a special power, an aura of influence.  Your prospects and customers believe in you.

They like you.  They trust you.  And they buy from you -- again and again.

Always be on the lookout for opportunity.  Shake the bushes.  Pound the pavement.  Circulate to percolate.  Constantly search for new prospects who have problems to solve, needs to fill and dreams to realize.

Serve your current customers or clients with a vengeance.  Yet, don't get comfortable.  Comfort and complacency can sneak up and bite you on the behind or whack you on the inside of the head.  It's a bottom line boo-boo.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.  Things change.  Instead, be like a farmer.  Till the soil.  Plant lots of seeds.  Nuture them.  Grow them.  Harvest them.  Reap the rewards.  Then, plant more seeds.  Watch your future.  Forever, fill your pipeline.

                                             ~ Jeff Blackman