Saturday, April 28, 2007

The Science of Getting Rich Forever

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com

Wallace D. Wattles wrote the Science of the Getting Rich about a century ago.
One publisher (Inner Traditions International, Limited) says this about Wallace Wattles:

"Wallace D. Wattles (1860-1911) was the author of numerous books, the best known of which is The Science of Getting Rich. He experienced failure after failure in his early life until after many years of study and experimentation he formulated a set of principles that, with scientific precision, create financial and spiritual wealth. He died a prosperous man in 1911."

They go on to say, he was the central inspiration behind the best-selling book The Secret.

In the last chapter of the book, he summarized his concept for getting rich that he says will always work.

"THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates, and fills the inter spaces of the universe.

A thought in this substance produces the thing that is imaged by the thought. Man can form things in his thought, and by impressing his thought upon formless substance can cause the thing he thinks about to be created.

In order to do this, man must pass from the competitive to the creative mind; otherwise he cannot be in harmony with the Formless Intelligence, which is always creative and never competitive in spirit.

Man may come into full harmony with the Formless Substance by entertaining a lively and sincere gratitude for the blessings it bestows upon him. Gratitude unifies the mind of man with the intelligence of Substance, so that man's thoughts are received by the Formless. Man can remain upon the creative plane only by uniting himself with the Formless Intelligence through a deep and continuous feeling of gratitude.

Man must form a clear and definite mental image of the things he wishes to have, to do, or to become; and he must hold this mental image in his thoughts, while being deeply grateful to the Supreme that all his desires are granted to him. The man who wishes to get rich must spend his leisure hours in contemplating his Vision, and in earnest thanksgiving that the reality is being given to him. Too much stress cannot be laid on the
importance of frequent contemplation of the mental image,
coupled with unwavering faith
and devout gratitude.

This is the process by which the impression is given to the Formless, and the creative forces set in motion. The creative energy works through the established channels of natural growth, and of the industrial and social order. All that is included in his mental image will surely be brought to the man who follows the instructions given above, and whose faith does not waver.

What he wants will come to him through the ways of established trade and commerce. In order to receive his own when it shall come to him, man must be active; and this activity can only consist in more than filling his present place. He must keep in mind the Purpose to get rich through the realization of his mental image. And he must do, every day, all that can be done that day, taking care to do each act in a successful manner.

He must give to every man a use value in excess of the cash value he receives, so that each transaction makes for more life; and he must so hold the Advancing Thought that the impression of increase will be communicated to all with whom he comes in contact.

The men and women who practice the foregoing instructions will certainly get rich;
and the riches they receive will be in exact proportion
to the definiteness of their vision,
the fixity of their purpose,
the steadiness of their faith,
and the depth of their gratitude."

I found a fascination with Wattles thoughts and not knowing anything about him, something kept drawing me back to his book.The full book is on online at:
http://www.v-j-enterprises.com/scienceofgettingrich.pdf

In the Science of Getting Rich there are striking parallels to the Spiritual path to Spiritual Riches.

The nucleus of all faith is that Spirit creates Matter.
God is Spirit.
Spirit creates from nothing what it desires.

God created the world, universe from nothingness. He created man from dust of what He created. And this phenomenon hasn't stopped. Spirit, now among us, gives us the same privileges to create--from nothing.

Faith is the trigger that ignites the explosion of vapor into matter, functional existence. In our vision, when in prayer and power, the power of Spirit is expressed in Scriptures. Our Faith wells up. We see a picture in our minds of God's designated outcomes. The longer, more intense our times in concentrated, contemplation, or overtly expressive times, the greater the thrust of Spirit Power is produced.

The vision from Spirit, in our hearts, minds, soul is put in motion.
It affects everything it is connected with and controls--That's Everything!

In our hearts we must know nothing can steal this (like competitive factors) in that God's Spirit creates from nothing and controls everything. In our hearts, we must also have a forgiving spirit.

Lack of forgiveness, bitterness, jealousy just kills Spirit activity. When you forgive, tolerate, bless rather than curse, give rather than horde or protect, you increase the ignition power of Spirit.

According to your faith (belief and a kind heart) it is done to you.

Gratitude is then another key as reflected by Wattles. Praise and Worship unites you with the inner soul of God's Spirit's Presence. In there, expressing gratitude to Him, He takes care of all challenging matters around you. In these moments of grateful expression, Spirit heals those you love, protects them. Spirit gives you exciting visions of even greater things He is planning to do. And shows your part in them.

When you receive these inspirations,
write them down.
Share with others who have faith in God and you.
Recite it daily,
pray it daily,
dream it daily
and express praise for it daily.
Walk in the path it tells you to walk, daily.

You will always see more accomplished than you imagined, contribute more than you thought you could, and see miraculous around you more than you ever thought possible.

But in this journey there may be a few toll roads along the way. Jesus asked, "Are you willing to pay the price?" When Jesus said "follow Me," He was also asking “are you willing to have the same priorities as I have?"

Do you value having a home more than “walking with Me?”
Do you mourn physical death and losing the things of the world more than Spiritual death... “ and living with Me forever?”
Do you value earthly ties, biological and socially, more than ties to Heavenly fellowship, or the fellowship with those who also “believe in Me with all their heart?”
(see Luke 9:52-62)

Has your faith developed so that your faith extends beyond belief just for you, but also for others' well being? Is your faith, your vision, so fixed on God's Power at work with you, and His love for others that you have the same faith for them... what He wants for another person?

Is your life about living in the Supernatural so you walk with power to heal others, as Jesus did, and Spirit can do through you too. Is life about getting stuff, or using what is given you to contribute to others?

As God told Joshua, the Psalmist, the Wise one,
"To meditate on His ways.
Study this Book of Instruction continually.
Meditate on it day and night
so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.
Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."
(Joshua 1:8. NLT)

Jesus said to live for His Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven, and all these things will be part of your life as well.

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else,
and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need."
(Matthew 6:33, NLT)

Evil will fight good.
Persist in Spirit and you will eventually win.
His Power will fight for you.

Do not waver in this Faith, this vision, this Inspired walk. Keep active in it, stay active in Spirit. But first, always start in Spirit and then from Spirit's direction... take action.

Spirit through Prayer moves matter,
creates favorable conditions,
then shows you.

You Now walk with victory just ahead. New levels of depth in happiness will come into your life, into your deepest part of your soul continually.

Riches of Spirit will have an eternal sustaining place... in your heart, mind, soul.

"I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.
I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.
I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your principles."
(Psalm 119:14, 16, 30, NLT)

Jesus was saying... "put My mission for you first, follow My Spirit-Inspired principles above all other things." If you do, the kingdom of Heaven will walk with you, along with all its resources, and be continually around you.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Instant Income... Spirit Lives Immediately

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com

Instant Income at first sounded a little sensational, then after looking through it, Janet Switzer, the author, has crafted some great strategies for boosting your business money stream. She has strategies for getting more cash into your business, going into business with your boss, becoming an occasional entrepreneur and turning wealth into a lifetime income.

In the first 8 chapters of the book, several money stream strategies for small business are laid out. Included are getting cash from great ads, your sales force, the Internet... But for now here's others and a part of the picture she paints that will get you started.

Getting Customers to give you more money.
Your best resource... your customers past, present, future. The customers you have had, presently have will do more business with you, when you give them the opportunity. You already won them as a customer so the door is open for other beneficial services/products you provide.
Customer Strategy 1
Keep track of Customer Buying Patterns, then call to take Reorders. What have they bought? What will they want to buy if they knew about it?
Customer Strategy 2
Up-Sell Customers at the Point of Purchase.
What would they want in the future and it would serve them well now as part of the package? Do the two sentence approach...Enlighten them on a potential threatening circumstance and then show what they can do now to avoid this frustration, hassle, worry in the future.
Customer Strategy 3
Convert One time Customers to Continuity Customers.
What services can you offer that converts customers to clients? Put more than one arrow in your quiver.. so you have other offers to shoot off to them.
Customer Strategy 4
Re-Sell Customers Prior to their Renewal date.
Before warranty contracts run out, approach about renewals, upgrades, new offers. What products or services can be added to, enhanced, intro new hardware/software, etc.?
Customer Strategy 5
Instantly Re-activate past customers.
Special offers, special events, plan a campaign to Re-activate past customer. Pay them... special bonuses, free consultation, one-time fee reduction, special packages. Needs of people change, find out and re-offer.

Getting Other People to help bring in the cash.
Consider Joint Ventures.... or simply simple referral relationships where you pay finder's fees for sending new customers/clients. (It does not mean you are in a formal, legal partnership in someone's business.) Look for synergistic companies... who sell products or services complementary to yours; competitive companies... leads your competitor doesn't convert to as clients; (If they don’t convert to them and they do to you and you pay for the lead. Your competition still makes money on the deal. So this would possibly interest them.) Unrelated companies who have demographics, psychographics similar to yours. Switzer shows ways to develop a joint-venture relationship with them.
Strategy 1
Create Endorsed offers... They endorse your product or service and email or direct mail introducing you to their clients.
Strategy 2
Referral Circle or Professional Consortium... This is a professional relationship of a diverse group who proactively, strategically refer each other to those they know, are doing, or have done business with. They work as a team actively for helping each other expand business with the contacts they all have.
Strategy 3
Offer Other People's Products and Services to your customers... This can enhance value, increase revenue for you.
Strategy 4
Conduct Tele-seminars with your joint venture partners.
Strategy 5
Become an Add-on to Some Else's Product or Service... do for them what they don't like, don’t want to do or can't do.

Prospecting for Instant Income
Strategy 1
Conduct Preview Workshops and Start Speaking… low sign up fees, then sell products, special consulting packages, advanced programs.
Strategy 2
Run a Two-step Campaign... sell great value, sampler, at low price, then followup for a bigger priced tag offer. If they like what they tasted, they will naturally want more.
Strategy 3
Place Your Literature in Target locations... with a compelling offer in the literature.
Strategy 4
Ask Customer and Vendors for Referrals.
Strategy 5
Create Instant Income at Trade Shows.

Switzer also leads you through finding
instant income in overlooked assets
including liquidation of overstocks,
sell excess service capacity,
credits for short-pay options,
turn employees into experts,
sell apprenticeships that teach your business model.

As Switzer swishes the net in developing these ideas in the first main section, she gives the reader a great advantage tool in Chapter 8-- identify the Hidden Income Opportunities in Your Small Business. She takes the first seven idea and process-packed chapters and helps you conduct your own internal audit... to find all the cash hidden there.

You now are more skilled in identifying where it is, creating strategies on how to generate it, and prioritizing where to start. Now, you have in hand several in-sight-full Instant Income Opportunities.

This book is loaded and sufficiently thorough in how to do it. Instant Income is truly a credible title. It does what it says and it will lead you to more cash with some great solid money growth ideas. There's more in Instant Income as an internal entrepreneur, occasional entrepreneur, and long-term income systems.

And even more at
www.instantincome.com

"Instant" is a popular word used by Mark when he penned the significance of Jesus' life. Mark's Gospel uses the word which means "immediate, instant, sudden" about 47 times in His account of Jesus.

The very character of Jesus Spirit is one of dramatic things happening immediately, instantly. They are Supernatural.

Just for instance, leprosy disappeared instantly, a young girl was healed instantly, people were fed immediately, storms subsided suddenly, the disciples responded to follow Him immediately. Actually, when people refused to listen to Him, he left them immediately and went some where else.

Qualities of Spirit are Fast, Decisive, Over Powering all imminent obstacles.

Where does this power come from… the very Almighty power of God's unmatchable Spirit. When we live in Spirit, Abide in Spirit, spend focused time in Spirit, we can expect the same... actually, proactively causing the same.

Prepare in Spirit, connect in Spirit as Jesus did on the mountain (where Moses and Elijah even visited Him in person). Spend time like this and "Instantly, Powerfully, Incredibly" will be part of your every day experience .You must believe. As a father of a sick child cried out to Jesus for help... he asked Jesus to help his unbelief and instantly the child was healed. Jesus did two miracles there... gave the father instant faith he needed and healed the little girl instantly.

Can Instant Income come your way?
In prayer, God's Spirit will show you where. Jesus told them to go catch a fish to get money… instantly... the exact amount and right when they needed it. Thousands of people were fed immediately when Jesus took a few pieces of a meal and multiplied it...right then and there.

Instant Supply can come your way. See it, Believe in Jesus Miracle Power in, around, for you. Jesus has access to Thousands of Angels He can dispatch on a moments notice. In response to any immediate, threatening situation.

In John's Gospel, Jesus saw the disciples in trouble 4 or 5 miles from him in a death threatening lake storm. He vetoed the natural and pursued them by skiing across the water to them (without a jet ski). But beyond the storm subsiding when He got in the boat, an equal miracle is that "immediately" the boat reached the shore... another incident of Spirit Superseding the natural.

Spirit in you creates suddenly, immediately, at once. Believe in your connection as One in Spirit to God, Jesus, and the universe and all other people around you in Spirit. At once, an immediate need can be satisfied Instantly.

You must Believe, See, and expect it to come as a child's faith. Be a child in Spirit. Expect the Greatness of God to work through you... Instantly. Live, Receive, Abide in Spirit and live, as a normal lifestyle, in the Instant with the Almighty Power that taps anything, everything, everywhere.

Jesus message is all about Power.
A real formidable power that created
the universe and still creates the world around us.

It's not a superficial power,
but a Perfected Power
that creates instantly, formidably and perfectly.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

The Ultimate Sales Tool Kit... ask, seek, knock

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com

According to author William "Skip" Miller of The Ultimate Sales Tool Kit,
the art of selling is about getting solid hits throughout the game. Hit the ball hard and straight, on the line, or on the ground... fly balls get caught. He's compiled 15 tools for the beginning, middle and end of the sales process. He has also created Visual Exercise Areas (VEA) so you can go from "what to do" to "how you will do it."

Each chapter is only 4 or 5 pages for explaining the tool, followed by Illustration and application pages—few on words, big on how to get it going.

The first tool is the process which is initiate (in interest), educate, validate (transfer of ownership), justify (rationalize), and close (decide).

The Beginning (6 tools)

Buythink-- think like the buyer. Prepare two Immediate Questions (IQ).
You must find out what's on the prospect's mind...
Right now.
What decision options does the prospect have?
Great Action Stops--how will they implement what I sell them?

Miller points out the sales person has all these wonderful ideas on features/benefits of his product. But the buyer, on any given day, has a couple key problems he must solve right now. Seek and find what they are and then help him.

The Power Hour--create an hour to get to your best prospects.
Look for whales... the bigger catches. Focus one hour to do just that. So many of us get into our emails, voice mail, fires to put out and then think we just started out great. Miller says to set aside the Power Hour to get to the big ones. His VEA includes 9-10 steps that get you there. It is a process. This will keep you driving the ball and keep building up runs.

30-second intro-- starting the sales call.
1. Intro--short and sweet
2. 3/3 -- 3 things about you (take only 10 seconds) then into questions. Get from about you to about them as soon as possible.
3. Summarize and flip--
Use "bridges" to shift to questions. You "flip" by shifting from telling to asking about them.... it’s then their turn to talk.

20-second intro--best use of email, voice mail.
Step 1 Quick intro (5 seconds)
Step 2 Then questions "The reason for my call is to answer questions you may have...”
Step 3 Call to Action. "I can be reached at .... Please call me back at your earliest convenience.”

3 Languages--everyone lives differently.
Speak the language of the level of who you are speaking to.
First level--first-level managers are more into features and benefits.
Second level--the middle leaders are into cost, profits.
Third level--the top executive is looking at market share.
When in Spain, don't speak Russian.

RePhrase--make sure they know they are heard.
Do not answer prospects question, but rephrase it back to them, so they know you heard them and heard them correctly. It's about getting what they meant not what you think they are asking. Then ask a clarifying question to make sure you "get it."

The Middle (5 tools)

Time Zones--buyers purchase to satisfy needs; and time considerations are a critical deciding element. What issues do the past, present, future create. Find them related to strategic needs, operational efficiencies, planned events, future consideration, projected actions.

Yes, we can do that--prospects want to feel needs are being met, that they are being heard. When seeking clarity by asking questions and the concluding with "yes, we can do that." Re-affirm customer’s confidence in you.

Value Star--how customer values what you have.
ROI--return on investment, time savings or speed. Find their risks and address them. Leverage by satisfying multiple needs. The brand’s value of what it can do for them is most important. Use 30-second intro process and ValueStar email process for these.

3 Stages of Value--buyers must substantiate value in their minds, and you must lead them there. Three stages of Value:
1. Basic understanding
2. Taking ownership
3. Applying value
The seller progresses through these stages: 1. Agreement, 2. Transfer of Ownership, 3. Quantified Value.

Ask/Tell--buyers want to be educated and have their decisions validated.
Educate--when the prospect gets it (it’s mostly tell, tell, tell)
Validate--ask what's important, tell them what you do, ask them would they use it and what they'll do with it.

The End (5 tools)

The idea of closing is a "sales" interest although the prospect is not too hip on the idea they are being closed. Miller encourages the view to be jointly involved in the process of a buying decision. With his tools Miller inserts that if you have made it this far, a buying decision is about inevitable. These tools then will aid in completing your prospect's buying decision.

Summarize/Bridge and Pull--ending the sales call with you in control of the sale. Summarize/Bridge and Pull( SBP) has three parts:
1. Them/you, 2. Agree?/Bridge, 3. Next Step.
Summarize what you have covered, the prospects needs and interests, and ask them "would you agree?" Next Step... then you direct the next step and ask "Does that sound good to you?" Then finally ask if they have any additional questions. At the "would you agree?" stage if they still have questions, it goes back to them for clarity of certain specific areas.

TimeDemo--creating sense of urgency so prospects can deal with their fears and make decisions. When the thought of "change" creates fear in the prospect's mind for whatever reasons, take him on down the road to the benefits of the decision in the future...out 30 - 60 days when things with product/service are in motion. Move him to the next great place..."where he'll find his hopes, dreams and desires.”

I-Date--Implementation Date
The sales person sees the contract signing as the end of the sale, while the prospect sees the "start to use" time as the beginning date, his implementation date. So focus on these dates as your most important dates with the prospect. Dragons are what causes an I-Date to be firm... that can be the board meeting, end of a lease, start of a tournament, launch of a new product. These motivate movement to locking in a buying decision. Find the prospect’s dragons.

Homework Assignment--the prospect taking ownership of the sale. The more you get them involved, the more control you have. Doing something of value. The prospect will do many things for you they see as value which keeps them influencing the buying decisions, lessens their risks, and solidifies the sale. Some areas of involvement could include proposal drafts, demonstrations, agenda sharing, wipe board explanations, option lists with rationales, etc.

Neutral Elements--a prospect-communication tool that gets all parties involved and helps everyone understand the different points of view. Flow charts, pictures, diagrams can be neutral elements for both to refer to for clarity, understanding, potential applications. Send out a prospective agenda for the meeting and ask the prospect to check areas of their interest... this keeps them working along side you and you along side them.

Lastly, use the tools and adapt your sales content, objectives of meetings, approaches to them. Make them your progressive innings of play so you have the runs to win in the end.

More on William "Skip" Miller's book, with worksheets, at his company's website. Go to the site, then products, books…scroll down and click on The Ultimate Sales Tool Kit. There you will find the link to free worksheets for the book, the tools. Do this. It is very helpful and made a difference for me in just after one week of putting just some of the tools to work.
www.m3learning.com

Jesus says to ask, seek, knock.
He tells a story of someone who goes to a friend’s house late at night. The friend doesn't want to get up to help because it is late and he is already in bed. But because of the person’s "shameless persistence," the friend doesn’t want to mar his reputation, so he gets up and gives him what he wants.

Here’s the story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' But I tell you this—though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. "

"And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?" (Luke 11:5-11, NLT)

Jesus said to keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking, the doors will be opened for you. We are to do the same.

What God promises He will honor when we persist based on His Promises.... His reputation is at stake and He always honors His promises. If you don't approach Him because you have failed, and feel your aren't worthy, Jesus said God will forgive you. Forgive from your heart, ask boldly, and God will respond when you persist. He will give you what you ask for.

Persistence and Faith in Him are the critical issues.

Once a business entrepreneur (who happened to be Inc magazine’s entrepreneur of the year) gave this advice to a person I knew who had a very difficult business problem. His advice was "when you are desperate, you got to be bold." Big problems need big solutions, so big boldness is needed.

God responds to us when we are bold.
This relates to sales. Jesus said to go find the lost sheep.There are many people who would benefit greatly from what you have to offer them. The principle here is to keep asking where they are, go seek them out and find them and when you do, knock on their door until they answer.

As in The Ultimate Sales Tool Kit, Miller has about a 9-step approach to get to the major, best prospects. It is about constantly coming back and knocking on the door until they realize what you have for them is important and they need to hear about it. Some people will greatly benefit from what we have to offer them. You have a great solution for them... seek them out and knock on their door until they respond to you.

Also, God sees us as His Children. Would you give your child a poisonous snake when they ask for a puppy.... Of course Not! Just like our children, He delights to do good to us.

Maybe in your life it seems like many people have not done good to you. Jesus said come to me all you are weary, tired and discouraged. He will console you and give you boldness to ask, seek, and knock and receive what you ask for.

Ask for help from people who can make a difference
in your life,

seek them out and find the just right person
for your circumstances,

and keep knocking, boldly,
until they respond to you.


And the Biggest promise of all is that Jesus Himself will assist you and respond on your behalf with all the Spirit's power to help you.

Your are part of His Family, His Creation,
and He delights to do good to you.
He will give you
The Same Spirit as Part of Your life
that creates all things.

That has power to form matter from nothing!

Jesus Himself told us to ask, seek, knock.
Keep knocking until with a determined, bold persistence, you are heard and responded to.
He stands behind His promises. He never lied or misled.
He will honor His Word and do what He said He will do.


But He tells us to ask, keep asking,
to seek, and keep seeking
and knock and don't stop
until His promise is fulfilled
and we get what we are asking for.

Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.
Don't ever stop.
He loves you more than anyone and
He delights to do good to you.