HELLO, my name is BLOG!

There is nothing more powerful than a question.

A question can ENABLE learning.
A question can PREDICT the future.
A question can EXPLODE people’s brains.
A question can CRACK open a new world.
A question can ENLIST your creativity.
A question can SEND you off to the races.
A question can CUT deeply, yet playfully.
A question can VISUALIZE ideal conditions.
A question can EMPOWER others to turn inward.
A question can FORCE you to confront yourself.
A question can FUNCTION as that little nudge, push, tipping point or last straw you needed.

In my experience as a writer, speaker, coach and entrepreneur, the most important moments in my career have revolved around asking myself specific, profound questions.

Questions that shifted my paradigm.
Questions that changed my business model.
Questions that doubled and tripled my annual income.

Here are the Top Ten Questions That Changed My Business Forever:

1. What did you write today? Not just because I’m a writer, but also because writing is the basis of all wealth.

2. Is everything you know written down somewhere? My customized Content Management System was built on this question. Because if you don’t write it down, it never happened.

3. Is what you’re doing RIGHT NOW consistent with your #1 goal? This question kept me focused more than anything. I wrote it on a sticky note and kept it in a visible location on my desk. Made me a LOT of money.

4. Now that I have this, what else does this make possible? The ultimate leverage question. Helps you kill two stones with one bird in any situation.

5. If everybody did exactly what you said, what would the world look like? My mentor shared this question with me as a foundation for creating my own Personal Philosophy, my own Theory of the Universe. Kept me focused and congruent in all my endeavors.

6. What is your #1 income producing activity? It’s simple: once you figure out this answer to this question, you just go and DO that activity. All day. Everything else is a waste of time, money and energy.

7. What personal skills have I not tapped into yet to build my business and/or add value to my customers? Helps you add more value to yourself and others. Taps into that which is natural and beautiful and true and exploits it in the service of your purpose.

8. What’s next? Like a shark, if you don’t swim, you die. Gotta keep moving. Always thinking about what else is to come.

9. Am I making a living or growing my business? Provides a powerful understanding of your long-term goals. Focuses on equity and wealth, not income.

10. How can I change the rules so I can win at my own game? This is about becoming a category of one. Eliminating the competition by not having one. Blocking a punch by not being there.

REMEMBER: Because it’s not about the answer but what the answer POINTS to.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What questions changed your business forever?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
For the list called, "22 Questions to Sidestep Entrepreneurial Atrophy," send an email to me, and I'll send an email to me?

Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag
scott@hellomynameisscott.com

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Never the same speech twice.
Always about approachability.

Watch The Nametag Guy in action here!

Labels: approachability, approachable, hello my name is blog, nametagTV, rent scott's brain, scott ginsberg

When passion is involved, the rules change.

The shy become outgoing.
The introverted become assertive.
The disconnected become engaged.

Customers. Prospects. Employees. Managers. Whoever.

SO, HERE’S THE SECRET: Whatever your goal is, find a way embed people’s passion into the pavement that leads the way.

Because if you do this, three things will happen:

1. People will arrive at their destination faster and better.
2. People will have more fun and take more ownership of their endeavors.
3. People will (actually) take CARE of the path that led them there because THEY designed it.

AND REMEMBER: If you don't know what your passion is, discovering your passion can become your passion until you find your passion.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
How are you incorporating passion into everything you do?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
For the list called, "86 Passion-Finding Questions to Discover What You Love," send an email to me, and I'll send you the list for free!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag
scott@hellomynameisscott.com

New website go live this week?

Tune in to The Entrepreneur Channel on NametagTV.com!

Watch video lessons on spreading the word!

Labels: discovering your passion, hello my name is blog, nametagTV, rent scott's brain, scott ginsberg, why passion works

Your life is too short.
Your time is too valuable.
Your brain is too important.

You need to surround yourself with high quality people who inspire and challenge you.

Stop wasting your time with losers.

Don’t become twisted into their vortex of bloodsucking.

Love yourself enough to walk away from people who do nothing more than contaminate your soul with their negativity.

And if you're ever in doubt, just ask yourself:

o What am I gaining from this relationship?
o How is this person challenging me?
o Is this an opportunity or an opportunity to be used?

If this causes you to have fewer friends, so be it.

Better to have five REAL friends you can call at 2 AM when you’re freaking out about your life … than to have five hundred “friends†on Facebook who don’t even know you’re wife’s name because they’re too busy trying to win first place in some social networking pissing contest.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
How much of your time is spent with people who inspire you?

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
For the list called, "18 Lessons from 18 People Smarter Than Me," send an email to me, and I'll send you the list for free!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag
scott@hellomynameisscott.com

Nobody talking about your business?

Bummer. Perhaps I could help on a more personal, one-on-one basis.

Rent Scott's Brain today!

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Labels: approachability, approachable, nametag guy, nametagTV, rent scott's brain, scott ginsberg, stick yourself out there

Show me a person who EARNS a lot, and I’ll show you a person who LEARNS a lot.

Period.

Earning comes from learning.

BUT, HERE’S THE CATCH: The word “learn†derives from the Old English term, leornian, which means, “to cultivate.â€

So, there’s a certain dedication inherent in the learning process.

Learning isn’t just reading. Or listening. Or writing stuff down.

Learning is WORK. And it all starts with that moment … that epiphany … that exact point of reference in which you gain something new.

THEN … to truly and honestly embrace the essence of what’s happening inside, around and TO you.

THEN … to patiently allow those little nuggets of wisdom to profoundly penetrate you.

THEN … to think on those things through some combination of writing, discussing and meditation; or whatever process of reflection you choose to practice.

THEN … to slowly get outside of yourself and begin to notice the application of those nuggets in the lives of others.

And ultimately, this makes you bigger.

So. Want to earn more? Learn more.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
How many books did you read last month?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
For the list called, "194 Books in Scott's Success Library."

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag
scott@hellomynameisscott.com

No time to write?
Can't finish that book?
Dog ate your last article?

Come to the St. Louis Writing Marathon!

No excuses. Just writing. All day.

I promise it will be the best $20 you'll invest in yourself all year.

Learn more at www.writingmarathon.com!

Labels: approachability, approachable, earning comes from learning, nametag guy, nametagTV, scott ginsberg, stick yourself out there

“Yeah, but what does that have to do with MY problem?â€
“That has NOTHING to do with our discussion!â€
“Oh yeah, that’s a REAL big a help!â€

Ever overheard one of those lines in a nearby person’s conversation?

Kinda makes you cringe.

THE PROBLEM IS: Those phrases are reactions, not responses.

They immediately slam the door on future communication between two people.

When someone offers limited, short, weak or odd comments in a conversation, your job as The Listener is remain objective, not judgmental.

Less confrontation, more discovery.
Less accusation, more exploration.
Less assuming, more asking.

Here’s a list of Phrases That Payses to put this principle into action:

1. Can you think of a related example?
2. I don’t see the relationship between...
3. Tell me what you mean by the word…?
4. Can you say how your comment is related to…?

REMEMBER: Listening is about keeping people on point.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What's your best Listening Line?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
For the list called, "17 Behaviors to Avoid for Effective Listening," send an email to me and I'll send you the list for free!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag
scott@hellomynameisscott.com

How many unsolicited referrals did YOU get this week?

Tune in to The Sales Channel on NametagTV.com!

Watch video lessons on enabling customers to buy!

Labels: approachability, approachable, grow bigger ears, growing bigger ears, nametagTV, patient listener, rent scott's brain, scott ginsberg

There is no secret.
It’s about hard, smart and long work.

There is no secret.
It’s about discipline.

There is no secret.
It’s about getting up and going to work, every single day.

There is no secret.
It’s about focus.

There is no secret.
It’s about leverage.

There is no secret.
It’s about commitment.

There is no secret.
It’s about courage.

There is no secret.
It’s about the willingness to be a little crazy.

There is no secret.
It’s about consistency.

There is no secret.
It’s about dedication.

There is no secret.
It’s about contribution.

There is no secret.
It’s about validation.

There is no secret.
It’s about usefulness.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What's your non-secret?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
For the list called "65 Things I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me When I First Started My Company," send an email to me, and I'll send you the list for free!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag
scott@hellomynameisscott.com

Is your frontline IN line?

Tune in to The Frontline Channel on NametagTV.com!

Watch video lessons on delivering unforgettable service!

Labels: approachability, approachable, hello my name is blog, nametagTV, rent scott's brain, scott ginsberg, stick yourself out there, there is no secret

If you’ve attempted to contact someone and that person hasn’t gotten back to you yet, it means one of three things:

1. He never got your email.
2. He DID get your email, but has been too busy (or forgot) to reply to you.
3. He DID get your email, but chose NOT to reply to you because he doesn’t LIKE you.

So, here’s what I suggest:

1. Send a friendly follow up email saying, “Morning Tom! I hadn’t heard back from you in a few weeks, so I thought I’d follow up. As I explained in my first email on January 28th…â€

2. If you STILL haven’t heard back, send a friendly follow up email/phone call saying, “Morning Tom! Looks like it’s been difficult for us to connect lately. Now, I don’t want to be an annoyance. Still, I DO want you to know that I’m nothing less than completely professional in my follow up. So, if you would kindly pick from one of the following options:

[ ] Yes! I would love to chat on the following date: ________

[ ] Right now I’m totally slammed, so I’ll get back to you when I can.

[ ] If I get one more email from you, I’m going to burn your office to the ground.

Thanks Tom. I’ll be standing by for your decision."

3. If, after both of these attempts, you STILL haven’t heard back, it’s highly probably that Tom doesn’t like you.

Don't take it personally, get over it and move on.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Whom are you annoying via email?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
For the list called, "12 Ways to Get Customers to Open Your Email FIRST," send an email to me, and I'll send you the list for free!

Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag
scott@hellomynameisscott.com

* * * *

Planning your 2009 Conference? If you want The Nametag Guy, better hurry. Only 29 slots left.

Watch Scott in action here!

Labels: approachability, approachable, approachable email, email ettiquette, joys of emailing, nametagTV, rent scott's brain, scott ginsberg, stick yourself out there