Why You Need to Focus on Focus in Your Marketing Plan

Focus — it’s something I’ve tried to instill into my kids through the years. It’s something I teach in my class at New York University. It’s something I try to place into every client assignment.

Focus is a key tenant of any marketing plan.

Without focus, a marketing plan is all over the map. It lacks a mission and a purpose. It lacks a central objective that guides its every move. It lacks clarity and a specific call to action for the team.

Without focus, you don’t have an actionable marketing plan.

Truth be told, focus isn’t something you suddenly think about when you’ve completed your plan. It would be a lot of work to go back in and add focus at the end of your planning.

But hopefully what you’ve been noticing as this series has progressed is that the process we’ve been following to build your marketing plan has had focus built right into it. If you’ve been following it step by step, then your plan couldn’t be anything but focused.

It all started with a clearly defined objective to kick off the process and a single-minded question: What do you want to accomplish this year?

The plan got rooted in some fundamentals of the brand and then we kicked into gear with some data about the target customer, the competition and your own past marketing initiatives.

The plan then followed a somewhat regimented approach to map out strategies and tactics as well as a measurement protocol to make sure that you were accomplishing your objective along the way.

There was focus the entire time!

But don’t take focus for granted. We could have easily strayed and added in a litany of tactics that could have put us in a spin. We could have decided on strategies that wouldn’t really accomplish the objectives. We could have mishandled the budget and tried to do too much with too little.

We could have easily lost our focus. It happens every single day.

Which is why I have to say that while focus is built into the process, it’s not automatic. Focus is not an innate talent for most of us. We have to learn it along the way.

As human beings, we are enticed by shiny objects, and as marketers we are constantly bombarded with new ways of doing things. We are constantly sidelined with new problems that have to be fixed and fires that have to be put out.

It’s so easy to lose focus at any given moment in the process.

So as you write your marketing plan and begin to execute it throughout the year, keep your focus sharp. Challenge yourself to bring even more clarity to your tactics and even more acuity to your marketing spending.

It’ll not only make for a closer adherence to your plan and to your goals. It’ll also set you up for even greater success next year.

Good luck to you!

JIM JOSEPH
CONTRIBUTOR
Agency President, Author, Blogger, Professor

Something Different

As an entrepreneur, I realize that those who have started their own entrepreneurial journey, are looking for success spelled money. Money is their number one reason for starting a business and it is their main priority for growing a business. I just want to say that if you’re doing what you love to do and you are sincerely passionate about your work, then the money will come.

Looking around on Facebook I see that making money is all that I read about. Our entrepreneurial journey should be about doing what we love, using the gifts that God has presented to us. With all the amazing tools that God has equipped His children with, we should be focusing on using those tools to build thriving businesses that will honor Him.

How do you spend your day? Do you start out in prayer of thanksgiving and then asking God for guidance and direction in and for your business? Are you on every social media platform promoting your business? What are your main goals? Is it that you just want to make enough money to care for your family; to make ends meet or do you sincerely want to help others with a need they may have? Are your entrepreneurial goals in line with God’s plan for your business?

I know for me working from home as a graphic designer, I have a deep love for graphic design. It is my passion. It is everything I dream about in terms of being a Christian women business owner. It is everything I dream about in terms of working from home. It is everything I dream about when I think about all the masterpieces that I have created when I hear people say, “Your designs are spectacular”! Behind every creation, the various hues, the vibrant purples, blues and reds, there is love. Love for God and then for my business. There is thanksgiving. I thank God for the amazing skill set that He has bestowed upon me and the ability to use the tools found in the software program that allows me to create such beauty that is truly timeless and traditional. Behind every design there is hope. Hope that my business will go to an even a higher level than it has ever gone before. I am hoping to continue building my design business, Cyndi’s Light Work Designs, to help others learn to do what I do so that they too, can enjoy a thriving home based business that is both fulfilling and successful.

I hope you are enjoying your entrepreneurial journey with each new glorious day that the Lord creates and with you in it, life just doesn’t get any sweeter. So come and join me and let’s take our entrepreneurial journey together without fear, without doubt, without worry and just be who we are meant to be; Great Christian women entrepreneurs who look out into the universe and recognize that our prosperity is abundant because we have something special indwelling on the inside of us; God’s Holy Spirit. Business just doesn’t get any better than this.

Written by

Cynthia G. Boyer

Dare to be different and watch your business soar!

Lose 5 Lbs in 5 Days Naturally with Total Life Changes

Lose 5 lbs in 5 Days Naturally, Safely and Effectively with Iaso Detox and Cleansing Tea!

Would you like to lose weight and just be healthy once and for all? How would you like to get rid of all the toxins that are weighing down your body? Wouldn’t you like to enjoy optimum health and start living the life you were meant to live?

Well with Total Life Changes you can be on the path to great health success! You could also be getting paid weekly by sharing this amazing opportunity with your family and friends.

Start Your Own Business and Get Paid Weekly!

If you need more energy and just want to feel your best so that you can get out and enjoy all that the world has to offer and if you want to gently cleanse and rid your body of toxins, parasites, colon, purify your kidneys and intestines and feel great and look totally awesome, then now is the time to start your new journey with Total Life Changes!

For more information, please go here and fill out the more info form and I’ll get right back to you asap! http://www.gotlcdiet.com/cyndigboyer or email me at cyndisdesignz@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to share this amazing opportunity with you!

Higher Standard

High Standard of Business Which Leads to An Amazing Life

I remember watching the Temptations movie and the one thing that spoke to my heart was when Paul said to Berry Gordy, founder and owner of Motown Records, “What’s wrong with being the biggest group in America and Berry said, “You’re the biggest black group in America, but I want you to be the biggest group in the world period!” Berry had a great plan for the Tall, Talented and Tan group and when he set his amazing plan in motion, the Temptations soared to newer and greater heights.

Converting with My Son

I had what I think was a very important conversation with my son, B.J. this morning as I was driving him to school. My B.J. is a sophomore in college and is enjoying all the lessons he has been blessed to receive last year as well as this semester.

My family and I have conversations often about being business owners and one of the things that my oldest son, Todd, always tells me is that in order to be highly successful in business you have to be a shrewd business owner. He tells me stories about Steve Jobs and Bill Gates and how they built, ran/run their businesses. He says, “Mom, you cannot take any mess from people” because people will walk all over you.” While I do believe that there is some truth to this, it is not what I believe in or how I run my businesses.

Getting back to the conversation that I had in the car while driving B.J. to school. I told B.J. that if he were ever going to start his own business that it would be wise for him to set his standards at a much higher and superior level so that his business will soar and thrive in such a way that he will enjoy long lasting success for as long as he’s in business. Now, I’m not saying that people don’t have high standards when it comes to business. No, I’m not saying that at all, but what I mean by this is that just because everyone else runs their businesses the way most of corporate America runs business doesn’t mean that his business can’t be successful.

Starting a business should be exciting especially if you’re operating from your gifts, talents, great skills and remarkable abilities. Your business should be a welcome mat for your customers. Your brand should be comprised of greatness, kindness, consideration, wisdom, patience, knowledge, understanding, passion, brilliance and intelligence. Your brand should tell the world that you are an endless ocean of greatness; yes you are special and while you may think that “special” should not apply to your brand and business, I think being special can give you the advantage over your competition. I think that branding your business to be spectacular, brilliant, sensational and phenomenal by doing things your way, by being that special, creative, giving, understanding, patient, confident and spectacular boss can make your business a magnificent one. I believe this makes an enormous difference in every aspect of your business that pour over into your life. Being special means that a conversation about you and your services will endure for years to come and your customer base never stops growing. Branding should not just be the look, feel and the message of your logo, but it should be who you are and how you run your business.

As Christian women in business, I want you to take your God-given gifts and use them to always bring glory to His Holy name. Remember, your gifts are exclusive. God wrapped them and presented them to you in love. They are yours and yours alone which simply means that you can build a business from scratch, from the ground up, laying a foundation that will allow you to help change the world of business, standing firm and true to God, yourself and your employees, taking your journey to go new and higher heights, setting amazing standards at a level that is higher than the norm and where prosperity and abundance daily embraces your business.

Be blessed.

Written by Cynthia G. Boyer

Where Is My Success

I Am Success

As a Christian woman business owner, I love doing business God’s way. God has designed a pathway exclusively for me that has led my great and abundance success in every aspect of all my businesses.

As a self-taught graphic designer and owner of Cyndi’s Light Work Designs, my passion fuels my design business allowing me to create all kinds of unique masterpieces that my customers appreciate, love and some need because of the power that can be found in the wording that usually accompanies my designs. I love to design. For those who know me, knows that it gives me a sense of peace and comfort because it is by the prompting of the Holy Spirit that I work. When I design, it is the Holy Spirit speaking to me and as He speaks, He warms my spirit and pours love, comfort, wisdom, knowledge and understanding of how the design process works for me. I am special, as are you. I love using my talents and all the gifts God has given and with the ability that He has bestowed on me, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Thank You, Holy Spirit.

And here lately I ask myself

Where is My Success?

At first I didn’t know how to answer this question, but after deep and careful thought I told myself that my success could be found deep within my soul. My success is not in how many customers I have or how much money I make.

If you could look and delve deep within my heart you’ll quickly find that my success can be found a multitude of places.

My success can be found in my character. It’s in the way I carry myself. It’s the way I speak. It’s the life I live. It’s the path on which I travel. It’s the peace that encompasses, comforts and warms my spirit. It is my righteousness. It is my joy, my hope, it is my mind, my happiness, it is my strength, my courage and my boldness. My success can be found in the seeds of faith that God has planted in my soul, watered for growth with roots deeper than the deepest sea, sprouting and equipping me with all the tools that I need to run my business. My success can be found in the way I encourage and help others. My success is my faith in Jesus, along with the wisdom, knowledge, patience and understanding that guides me on my journey. It is my goal, always more than one, my dreams, and all that I envision, my endeavors and all that I aspire to be. My success can be found in my daily things to do list.

Where is my success? My success, like your success, can be found in God’s majestic and wondrous creation called the universe.

Written by Cynthia G. Boyer

Total Life Changes

Total Life Changes is Changing Lives!

Get Physically Fit and Financially Free with Total Life Changes!

Iaso Detox and Cleansing Tea

As a woman in business, I love creating in streams of wealth for me and my family. I love doing business God’s way which for me is the only way to do business. I enjoy hearing committing my life to the Lord because I know He knows what’s best for me. He helps me easily achieve all my goals as I live the dreams that I dream from day-to-day.

I am a graphic artist, a writer and an encourager to those in need. I love connecting with women who need help in life and/or in their businesses. I love sharing the wealth of information that I have gleaned over the years in my life. I enjoy showing stay-at-home moms how to become highly successful work-at-home moms. It is my heart to be a blessing to others.

Last year when I came across an amazing business opportunity that is changing lives in more ways than one I wanted to know more about the opportunity. I’ve noticed that a lot of people are committing to becoming healthier because they want to feel great inside and look amazing on the outside. They are careful to fuel their bodies with God’s manner and not man’s processed foods which causes the body to break down allowing deadly diseases to creep in and take up residence in the body.

A good friend of mine recently shared with me an amazing company, Total Life Changes and their spectacular detox tea that is ideal for weight loss. This tea is changing lives around the globe. I was, of course, extremely skeptical about trying the tea because I didn’t want something that was going to cause headaches, dry out my mouth and take my appetite away because for me, this is not healthy, it is not enjoyable and it is not living. I want to enjoy my life and I want to be able to still eat and not starve myself to lose weight. My friend assured me, and then reassured me that the tea was safe. I decided to give it a try.

To my surprise, the tea tasted fine. It didn’t make me sick in any way and it didn’t take my appetite away. It just helped melt the few pounds away that I wanted to lose. It was great. Not only did it rid the toxins from my body, but it became another stream of income for my family and it didn’t cost a small fortune to start my own business. The price to join was unbelievable and the return on my investment has been phenomenal. Who doesn’t want to be healthy and who doesn’t want to get paid every single week. The tea sells itself because women want to be healthy and they want to shed those burdened pounds that take their energy away. Lugging those extra pounds around is neither healthy nor is it any fun. When we have the energy that we need to do what we want, we soar; it’s as simple as that.

Join My Phenomenal Team; Women of Wealth!

Want to join me in getting healthy and make money in the comfort of your home? Click here to start your new business today with Total Life Changes in one easy step and you’ll be on the road to great health and amazing wealth. I’m reaching out because I want you to be as healthy as possible and Iaso all natural detox and cleansing tea has helped me and so many others lose weight and feel amazing!!! If you are interested in getting healthy, giving it a try or have more questions, please let me know. I’d love to share my results with you!

If you want to know more about Total Life Changes and this life-changing opportunity and you want to join my amazing team of sisters, I will help you every step of the way! Email me cyndisdesignz@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Women in Business Prospering Through Wisdom

Women in Business Blossom in Prosperity!

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Entrepreneurs, leaders, speakers, teachers, mentors who are equipped with powerful God-given tools are women of power and women of power are Women in Business Prospering Through Wisdom. Wisdom is a true gift from God that comes from the very depth of His Almighty Word. Wisdom enables you to live your dreams by reaching your goals.

We all have goals – whether they are our own or from God, we vow to fulfill our dreams and goals using our God-given skills and abilities.

Many women have traveled a path that has and continues to excite, motivate, satisfy and comfort us for just a moment; we still long to walk the path designed by God for our lives that will give us the long-lasting peace, joy and true contentment we long for and so often dream of.

Women in Business that have taken, with confidence, a step of faith on the path of righteousness, have prospered through wisdom and spiritual understanding. Women in Business are in business for themselves because they long to be their own person and they aspire to be their own boss. Through it all we had/have to lean on God’s awesome ability and infinite wisdom to attain what we have and all that we’ve learned – we’ve done it through wisdom by the help of our Divine Aid; by the empowering of the Holy Spirit, we have accomplished and continue to achieve our God-given goals by utilizing our talents, gifts and abilities.

In our quest to be our very best, we dedicate ourselves to hard work and we wholeheartedly welcome the challenges that sometimes forces us to jump over the walls that contain the obstacles placed on the path in front of our footsteps with enormous leaps and bounds.

We fight on as we press for the mark and when we press for the mark our eyes are open to help us to be able to see and realize our potential; true and great. We dig deep down into the depths of our souls; it is there that we find and then achieve great success, prudently, carefully and wisely receiving and using God’s instructions for our lives and through our wisdom, we apply His instructions and principles to our businesses.

We’re a Christian Family
Blessed in every way
We long to be just like Him
Serving Him day-to-day
We worship Him in Spirit
Forever and in truth
We spread joy to the hopeless
Even to our youth.
We desire to share our dreams,
Our knowledge and our wisdom
Blessings from the Lord
From His glorious Kingdom.
We lift up one another
As we work to give Him glory
We praise Him for His goodness
His grace and His mercy.
Please won’t you join us
On this awesome journey
His countenance is upon us
Guiding us eternally.
(C) 2014 Cynthia G. Boyer Poetry

Pearls for WIB

Prosperity Pearls for Jesus’ Jewels

Daily Affirmations for God’s Virtuous Women in Business

The positive things you think and then speak over and into your business can truly have a major impact on your life. Your business is a part of your life and vice versa. So, if you’d like to see your business thrive like never before, in ways you never thought possible, in ways you never dreamed of, here are some amazing affirmations that can change your course of business in a matter of minutes. Truly, these affirmations are powerful pearls that have the awesome ability to ensure the success of your business every day for as long as you’re in business.

There are no fancy words for you to speak; none needed; just plain and simple words that you can incorporate into your business to propel you to prosperity. All you have to do is speak these words over your business to be taken to a whole new level.

Sometimes we do things the hard way truly not knowing and understanding how simple things in life and in business can really be and how we can enjoy all the things that we, as women entrepreneurs, deserve and envision for ourselves. Doing business should be easy although at times we encounter people and personalities that try to make our lives more difficult than they have to be. This is where knowing God, trusting God and having deep-planted faith in God comes in. Knowing God and doing business His way is what helps us to have rich and plentiful businesses. Knowing God is where our knowledge-of-business comes from. It’s where our gifts, skills and abilities are birthed and once birthed, it is then that we can share all the blessings that God has bestowed on us with our sisters forming a long and everlasting sisterhood. That’s what God’s Virtuous Women Entrepreneurs do; we create strong foundations that help to bless our Sisters in Christ Jesus and together we can do great things in Him and for Him.

Are you ready to soar! Let’s go.

Cynthia G. Boyer’s Life Changing Affirmations!

I am thankful!
I am powerful!
I am confident!
I am capable!
I am able!
I am successful!
I am wealthy!
I am strong!
I am bold!
I am of a good courage!
I am amazing!
I am awesome!
I am creative!
I am highly skilled!
I am beautiful!
I am abundant!
I am prosperous!

Written by Cynthia G. Boyer

Owner, GVWE

8 Daily Habits That Will Make 2015 Explosive

EXPLODE YOUR BUSINESS IN 2015!

Here is great information that you can incorporate into your business to help you achieve your goals. These 8 daily habits will help your business explode this year!

The new year is here and most entrepreneurs are looking at how they will raise their game in 2015. Many of you may want to ramp up your personal development and productivity to a whole new level to reach some major goals.

When it comes to finding success and achieving your goals, many times the most important struggle is the one that you encounter in mundane daily life. To truly find success in your life, it is important that you take the time to do the little things that matter most. Small changes to your daily routine can translate into monumental success in all of your endeavors.

Here are eight things that you should be doing, if you aren’t already, habitually.

1. Get up early
Getting up early is about more than just getting up on time. When you get up early, before most people, you have a quiet and relaxing time to get things done. Imagine being able to sit down and go through emails or handle daily tasks without your message notification buzzing or your phone going off.

By getting up early, you are not only giving yourself some extra time in the morning, but you are giving yourself some extra valuable time that will allow you to get even more done.

2. Read
You should be reading every single day. Never let a day go by that you don’t grow in some area of your life. This doesn’t necessarily mean crushing an entire novel in a few hours, but put aside a little time to read, preferably 20 to 30 minutes.

When you read you help stimulate your thought processes, and may be surprised by the ideas that you come up with. Reading things such as magazines or newspapers can also help you stay abreast of the world around you, a trait that can only be helpful, no matter what industry you work in.

3. Exercise
Even if it is just for 30 minutes, it is important to start exercising daily. Exercise can help release endorphins that can naturally boost your mood and your energy levels. Not only will you feel happier and more energized but those who work out regularly report lower levels of stress.

4. Practice gratitude
This can be a hard one for some people and it’s something that unfortunately many of us need to consciously practice. When our lives get consumed with work and personal demands it can be hard to remember to show gratitude to those that we interact with. Try to make a conscious effort to practice this.

As it starts to become more natural, you will be surprised by how many doors open and how many new relationship you can form by showing sincere gratitude to those around you.

5. Schedule your day before it starts

Having a set schedule is a powerful tool when it comes to making the most of your day and being as productive as possible. To have the biggest impact with your time, try making your schedule the day before. This way the moment you wake up you will know just what is ahead.

6. Focus on high-priority tasks first
Many people actually often put their high-priority tasks on the backburner and end up saving them until the last minute. This may be because the task is daunting, or because they think they will have more time to dedicate to the endeavor.

No matter what the reasoning is, challenge yourself by starting with focusing on your high-priority task. Get it done first and then focus on smaller things. After being in the mindset of tackling a high-priority project, your less demanding tasks will be easier to complete. It’s a small change but one that can improve your effectiveness drastically.

7. Always go the extra mile
Do a few extra (meaningful) tasks every day that go beyond what your actual requirements are. This can mean just a few extra sales calls beyond your quota, or working for an extra 30 minutes before shutting down.

By putting in a little more effort than required you can start getting the attention of your superiors or clients, get more done during the workday and feel a new energizing sense of motivation and satisfaction.

8. Improve in one area each day
This area can be something small or large and it can be in your personal or professional life, but make it a goal to improve in one area of your life every day. This can be improving your jogging speed while you work out, getting more emails done in a certain time period or improving on your elevator pitch.

No matter what it is, take the time to really try to improve one small thing, and before you know it the improvements in your personal and professional life will surprise you.

Timothy Sykes
Entrepreneur and Penny Stock Expert
Timothy Sykes is an entrepreneur and a penny stock expert, trader and advocate. He has been featured on CNN, Fox News, CNBC and more and has spoken at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University.

Prosperity

What It Means to be Prosperous

When I think of being prosperous, I don’t think of financial riches. When I think of prosperity I immediately think of women of God who are kind, considerate, powerful, bold, courageously stepping out in faith, equipped with greatness, women who possess sincere hearts filled with love, compassion, patience, understanding, kindness, goodness and righteousness overflowing and operating in an abundance of God’s treasures.

Women of God Possess a Bevy of Elements That Automatically Make Them Prosperous in Every Single Area of Their Lives.

When I think of prosperity I also think of Christian women entrepreneurs who have the great and wonderful ability to build life sustaining businesses on the foundation of God’s principles and His promises. I also think of women of God who possess hearts of love, compassion, loving and serving God in sincerity, in truth and with all their hearts, souls, minds, might and strength.

This is how God’s Virtuous Women Entrepreneurs define prosperity, build their businesses and how they live their lives.

Author: Cynthia