What Worked BEST in 2011?

It is that time where everyone is looking forward and planning for the year ahead, but to plan for the future, you MUST first learn from the past.

So this is a look back at SOME of the things that worked best for me in 2011.

So let’s activate “list mode”.

#1 – Filtering out the time wasters

I speak with a LOT of well connected people on a regular basis, I know what is going on, I know when someone wrongs some body… and I filter those people out of my life ASAP.

Some people also just rub me up the wrong way… one example was a person who was introduced to me, and then before we even started to build a relationship, he said “So, are you going to promote my S&%T or what?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, but I now actively go out of my way to avoid him.

Maybe this method of communication works for him, but to me it came across as rude, arrogant and lacking in even the basics of social etiquette.. I don’t associate myself with that sort of person. Sorry.

#2 – The “Oprah Winfrey Webinar Business Model”

Anytime you can model your business on the world’s wealthiest woman you are probably making a good move.

Here is how this works:

You act as Oprah Winfrey for your audience…

This means that you are host, and you provide a platform for experts to shine.

The downside to this model is the need for a TV studio, production crew, editors etc…. so that is why I use webinars instead.

I provide an audience, and the webinar platform, and guest experts come and share their knowledge.

This model is extremely powerful, I did it sporadically throughout the past year, and in 2012 I will aim for more consistency and even more filtering when dealing with potential experts.

#3 – Relationship Marketing

Here is a little story to emphasize the potential power that high quality relationships can bring:

I went along to an event here in Florida, one of the people at this event really impressed me, and I made an active effort to build a relationship with him… we had dinner, a good chat, and I kept in contact after the event….

He then offered me the opportunity to share my knowledge with his audience… and it looks like this deal alone may bring close to $10,000 in sales.

What’s more, both him and his wife are now considered close friends. (priceless).

If you have the right motives, and the right method of conversion, then high quality, high value relationship building can be hugely profitable and rewarding.

I may create additional training on the EXACT steps I take to go from stranger to big money in a short space of time.

* If you think this sort of training would be valuable, please let me know via the comments.

#4 – Saying “Adios” to Alcohol

I am from a part of the UK where binge drinking is pretty much a badge of honour… you can be defined as “a man” by the types and quantities of alcohol you can consume… Have you ever wondered why “light beers” are so commonplace in the US, but they are almost impossible to find in the UK? It is part of the culture, nobody where I am from would be caught dead with a “light” or “no alcohol” drink… but many years living in Spain and now the US, plus hopefully a little more maturity have led me to the conclusion that I don’t need or want alcohol in my life anymore.

There was a time where having a drink or 5 would make everything seem more amusing, everyone more interesting, every goal more achievable, and every social awkwardness more diluted… that no longer happens, all I am left with now after a few too many drinks is a terrible hangover, a lack of productivity, and generally being often LESS fun to be around.

I have no regrets, and I have thousands of great memories of fun times over the years, but even putting aside all of the issues listed above, and the long term health issues… it can get VERY expensive… A quick tally up over a period of one week when we had friends stay with us left my wallet almost $500 lighter from food and drinks.

I also tend to be an “all or nothing” type of person… so having the occasional beer just wouldn’t work for me… so I have now been well over a month without touching a single drop of alcohol, and I have no intentions of ever doing so again.

TIP: One of the biggest mistakes I see is people thinking that having a few drinks will temporarily make them a better person… whether it be being more courageous, funny, charismatic etc… the reality is that alcohol makes you FEEL like you are achieving all the above, but in reality, it is often making you look like a prat. Believe in yourself, you are capable of much more than you may think.

#5 – High value, high intensity group coaching

I always got the best results for my clients and students when I spoke to them directly… but not everyone can afford my $1,000 per hour consulting rates.

So I found a middle ground that has generated massive results for my clients: High value, high intensity group coaching.

We take 5-10 people, we do a structured training once per week… throw in some Q&A, a members area where people can ask questions and connect 24/7, some one to one time with me for emergencies… and 9-12 weeks later we get successful students.

There are many success stories that spring to mind, but one of my favourites was Ben Rogers… he had never done a webinar before, I showed him the technology, the mindset, how to create a presentation/pitch, how to find JV partners with high level relationship marketing… and before the 12 week program was over, he was well in profit. In fact, he had done his first webinar in week 5.

Fast forward 7 weeks and he had sold approx $40,000 in coaching with these methods.

Needless to say, I will be doing at least one more group of this in 2012.

So there we are, some of the things that worked well for me in 2011… comment below with your thoughts, and share what has worked well for you.

Dean