Archives for November 2016

Freelancing Work – Which Kind of Freelancer Are You? [Infographic]

November 26, 2016 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

You’re an Uber driver. Or you work the holidays at the mall to earn extra cash. Or you do freelance IT work.

Whatever your freelancing specialty, balancing your freelance work with your other job, family and social life responsibilities can be a challenge. There’s just not enough time to do everything. So you need to set priorities and boundaries.

With the shift if social norms towards work and jobs, people want flexible work schedules, telecommute options, and ways to earn more money and contribute to their world. Often this turns into side hustles and freelance works to supplement income and or keep the creative juices flowing. Things that often aren’t available for many in the fixed salary, repetitive task situation in most people’s jobs.

So if you decided to go the side hustle route. Whether starting a full-fledged small business, or just adding some light income at nights or on weekends with minimal administrative work required, you still need to optimize your efforts.

Check out this infographic from Invoice2Go. And when you’ve read it, I’ll continue with my insights on how I’ve implemented some of those ideas (or might) and how you might too.

Enjoy!

Okay. You read through this. Interesting, huh? I think they did a great job with this as it really hit home with me.

Here’s some of my highlights.

Always be prepared to pitch your work, you never know when and where you will meet your next client.

I’ve found clients through family and friends recommendations (I’ve had family refer friends who were being laid off or facing job uncertainty or looking to pursue new opportunities – for me to help with updating their resume or providing career coaching services).

I had a prior client call me six months after I did his resume to get help asking a family member for money to cover crippling student loan debt. Not something I typically do…but because I was ready and able to help, I jumped on it. And it was a cool copywriting opportunity.

Become skilled in your niche to attract and connect with your target audience.

As I’ve consistently published hopefully interesting, thought-provoking, and helpful blog posts to you, my fans who enjoy hearing about cutting edge ideas around small business growth (or your freelancing and side hustle versions) or career strategy advice, I now have people coming to me. Whether it is connecting with my via LinkedIn or my website to have me help them with their business or career needs. Or if it is other bloggers or content creators in the space who want to get their awesome content out to you, my readers (and hopefully drive some extra business their way), this all feeds itself.

You need to keep learning, growing, and trying things if you’re going to grow your connections (both the number and depth of connection). And by doing that, the investment you consistently make will then translate into personal growth and business growth over the upcoming year.

Venture outside of your home and find a good cafe or co-working space, it’s a different type of networking.

Being time limited between my job, freelance work, and family, I often find myself on the living room couch – laptop on my lap – typing away while my kids are watching TV or after they go to sleep. Trying to find quiet time to focus can be a challenge for any freelancer. If you’re single or just need a break or change of pace. Or if you’re transitioning into something full time or are a stay-at-home mom who does this and wants to use the business to get out and connect with people (including your future clients), consider getting out of the house. It will likely spur some new ideas (changing your environment is often the quickest way to mix things up).

Now go tackle your freelance work!

Also check out these related articles:

Ultimate List: 156 Most-Read Marketing Blogs

Side Hustle? Promotion? Why Not Both?

Do Millennials Know the Secret?

The Secret to Harnessing the Power of Ambition Without Sacrificing Your Soul

November 24, 2016 by Mike McRitchie 3 Comments

Ambition

A drive to succeed.

Knowing what you want and that nothing will stop you from attaining it.

These are the hallmarks of the ambitious, high achiever.

They are our future leaders, be it media, government, sports, or business. They come to conquer.

Both Respected and Rejected

And in today’s media they are both adored and despised.

You see it every day on the celebrity-focused TV shows. Money and fame puts people on pedestals…until they fall. And like a great NASCAR race where everyone puts down their drinks to watch the restarts…for the crashes, so it is the same with those who acquire wealth and prestige. People can’t wait to see them fall. Or tear them down to make it happen faster. It’s part of a jealousy culture that pits rich and famous against the ordinary person.

Entrepreneurs Are Value Creators

Achieving any level of success is not easy. It takes hard work and dedication and a never-say-die attitude. And that is the attitude that many entrepreneurs – the doers in this world – bring to the table.

And that dedication, to do whatever it takes to succeed, is often created from a childhood frustrations or feelings of lack or being misunderstood. A childhood where they didn’t fit the mold. Often failed by a school system designed to create “good workers” instead of successful outside-the-box thinkers destined for greatness. And so they find themselves pursuing a different path. One where society can’t dictate how they should behave and what they can achieve.

Ambition: Leading With Gratitude

And that is the experience of Seth Buechley, author of the new semi-autobiographical business book, “Ambition: Leading with Gratitude.” In the book Seth explores his journey from living in a commune in rural Oregon to joining his father in business building cell towers, selling the company, becoming a multimillionaire, and then having to deal with what to do next with no road map to guide him.

You may find yourself on a similar path. You may have achieved some degree of success and then wondered, “What’s next?” Or wished you could have the things that only more money could buy. And if you were able to acquire them, you then found yourself still comparing yourself to those with more and ending up with a perpetual feeling of lack. So you keep driving towards that next adrenaline rush – that fix you need to satisfy your yearnings.

So on this Thanksgiving Day, before you turn the football game on and grab that beer. Or before you start in on that bird, check out Seth’s book. It is a quick read with some awesome insights into the world of entrepreneurship, the struggles within, and a roadmap that guides you to achievement through ambition and gratitude.

Some of the lessons I learned from the book include…

Wisdom of Counselors

One of the best ways that ambitious leaders can manage the downside of the expectation trap is to intentionally develop relationship with wise counselors who understand their gifts, passions, and capabilities. To go even further, when those counselors can encourage you toward your calling and purpose, things get really good.

Seek Out Wise Counsel

Over the years I’ve surrounded myself with both high achievers and deep thinkers. This included a very close friend Timothy Adams. He was a Kodak executive who always loved reading and learning and exploring the meaning of life and business. Some of my greatest insights into my own purpose here on earth have come from our long conversations and email exchanges. We often take opposing views and through that challenge, and and openness to learn something new, attain new perspectives and understandings we would not have received in our respective personal spaces.

My father and mother also provided similar guidance over the years. Whenever there was a need for guidance and support after a particularly challenging experience, our talks often provided the clarity I needed to move forward.

Reach for your potential

Impact Your World

Leave A Legacy

Other-Focused ==> Gratitude ==> Happiness

By focusing outside yourself, and being other-focused, the stress and worry drift away. And your achievement begins to have much more meaning – as you develop your purpose.

Having spent decades achieving and learning and using that knowledge to achieve more, I came to a point where I wanted to use that knowledge to help those going through similar challenges. And like Seth, help others achieve their goals and dreams in a healthy environment.

Whether that was developing positive, team-building, not team-breaking cultures that attracted top people rather than pushing them away. Or using that passion and wisdom to inspire and guide other leaders and future leaders. I found that being other focused made me more effective, gave my life a higher purpose. And the gifts that God gave me are given the space to flourish.

As you invest in your future, as you set off on your entrepreneurial or other achievement-based journey, recognize the opportunities and the responsibilities that are joined together. Find the wisdom and knowledge that others who have gone before you have uncovered and shared. And use that to achieve even greater things. Using the gifts that are uniquely you.

And so on this Thanksgiving, enjoy your family, friends, football 🙂 and your downtime to do some reflection. Acknowledge and appreciate the abundance that surrounds you and immerse yourself in the gift of gratitude.

As as you work on uncovering your purpose, here are some other posts you might check out.

Do Millennials Know the Secret?

Why You Need A Career Strategist

Millionaire Mindset – Part I

What Does Your Brand Say About You?

5-Part Millionaire Mindset Success Formula – Part 2

November 17, 2016 by Mike McRitchie 2 Comments

Mike McRitchie's 1st Stage Performance R Place Open Jam Night

When Opportunity Knocks, Take Your “Millionaire Mindset” for a Walk on the Wild Side

I was in my mid-40’s.

The local newspaper in Snoqualmie, WA where I lived had an article about a local guitarist starting up a guitar studio and was starting to take students for guitar lessons.

I’d always considered playing guitar as something that would be cool to do.

I’d played clarinet in middle school and high school. But it wasn’t exactly the instrument people were beating down the doors to listen too. And I’d considered both guitar and piano (my mom and sister both played piano) since those were instruments people enjoyed listening to and were the easiest to play at a moments notice (who wants to shuffle off to the symphony to hear someone play?)

After reading the article something caught my eye…I had to take a second look.

Unexpectedly I’d stumbled across something that clinched it for me.

Davey French, lead guitarist for Everclear, was teaching these guitar lessons. Not just any old music teacher teaching scales and classical music. No, this was a real live guitar hero. Touring with a known rock band. And sharing his love of rock music and guitars with anyone interested and willing to put in the work.

Go for it!

Yeah, you could probably say I was having a mid-life crisis. But screw it! You only live once, right? And besides that, it was five minutes from my house.

So I took the plunge at 45 years old. This wasn’t some hair-brained, idea I had that would end up turning into a guitar-turned-coat-rack like the treadmill. No, I was committed. This was going to be a lifelong pursuit (I know this is against the “instant gratification” nature of the Social Media Worlds we now inhabit – but very important to recognize if you want to accomplish anything of significant value).

That mindset is what helped me stay the course when I hit the eventual plateaus. Whether working out or music, the principles are the same no pain (work), no gain (cool, awesome, rewards).

Live A Rich, Full Life

And learning from Davey in particular was incredible. Hearing his stories about playing for the troops in Iraq, performing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (video below), and playing with greats like The Rolling Stones and other iconic rock acts, made going to lessons more than just learning to play guitar. It was a rich tapestry of experiences that I lived and shared with Davey, a connection that I could never have experienced with an ordinary guitar teacher.

After a few years with Davey I moved from the Seattle scene to the San Francisco Bay Area. Okay, I wasn’t really part of the scene but a guy can dream can’t he?

So by this time my chops were improving. I didn’t suck too badly. People were willing to listen to me play and not leave the room after two minutes.

No, I wasn’t rocking the crazy speed-picking, lead guitar riffs on my electric, but I could rock the rhythm guitar parts on dozens of classic rock songs.

Plateau Time.

Be Open To Side Excursions

So what’s next? Time to check out the acoustic guitar genre.

I wanted to play more. And pulling a band together with long hours from my day job made that tough. I also didn’t have the dedication to be a great lead guitar player. It didn’t work well without a band to back you up, especially if you were just average, and I wanted to be able to enjoy playing guitar more often. Acoustic guitar was that opportunity.

So I used every opportunity to play. I learned Taylor Swift songs and played those for my daughter and neice. I played country songs, classic rock songs by Neil Young, pop songs and anything I enjoyed listening to and playing and fit my style (yes, I finally had my own style).

It was great playing for friends and family when it didn’t require much setup – just pull out the guitar and start playing.

But there was more to come. Playing was nice, but how about singing along with it. That way I wouldn’t need to have the song playing on my phone or iPod (and learning to sing and play together ups the coolness factor and improves your playing). So I played and practiced. And I performed at my company potluck. And at my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. And played for my daughter when she couldn’t go to sleep at night. That was really fun.

But now I wanted even more (it does get kind of addictive…in a good way).

I had a friend offer to do an open mic with me. But it didn’t work out schedule-wise. So later I heard of an open mic coming up. I thought to myself, “I should just check it out. I’ll bring my guitar. And if I get the courage up, I’ll do it. If it doesn’t look right then I’ll bow out and just have a nice night drinking and listening to music.”

So the day comes. I pack up my stuff, hop in the car, and head over to “R Place”. I go in and check out the scene. Talk to the guy running the open mic and ask how it all works. He offers to get me set up. So I put my name on the list.

And then the longest hour commences. I’m listening to the music and nursing my beer. But all the time I’m running this upcoming performance through my head. Starting to sweat a little as it is becoming more and more real.

And then it is time. My name is called. And I get up and walk out on stage…

What was it like?

It is everything you imagine it can be and so much more. It was awesome! Very cool experience with a very supportive group of musicians and bar patrons. Hell Yes! I was nervous. But I sucked it up and performed. I didn’t self-destruct.

Looking back I’m so glad I took that risk to call up Davey French and sign up for that first guitar lesson.

It started a chain reaction of unbelievable experiences that have created so many great friendships and helped me push my limits to consistently achieve more and more. Not just in music but in all areas of my life.

And it would never had occurred had I not picked up that guitar.

…but there’s more.

To top it off, a brief snippet of my story made it into the

“Bob Dylan December 2016 Issue of Acoustic Guitar Magazine”

– yes, I’m now in the same rarified air as Nobel Prize for Literature Winner, Bob Dylan 🙂

Click the picture below to read the article – about people picking up guitar later in life.

Mike McRitchie, a career strategist from Elk Grove, California, says learning to play guitar in his mid-40s marked the beginning of a series of special events, such as performing an original song at this parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. “If you have the passion for learning, an interest in guitar, and a commitment to keep going, the sky’s the limit,” McRitchie says. “You never know where you’ll end up, but the ride is awesome.”

What does this have to do with The Millionaire Mindset?

In the The Millionaire Mindset Part 1 you saw that Achievement is built on “Passion+ Persistence”.

Those two qualities provide the fuel that drives you toward success. But if you aren’t open to the opportunities and willing to jump right in, you’ll never accomplish or experience a fraction of what you would have had you had an…

Opportunity Mindset

Opportunity (and the rewards that go with it) presents itself to those who are prepared and willing to jump in with both feet. You can’t always analyze it. Sometimes you have to trust and say, “Yes!”

Which brings us again to the next step.

To be continued…

P. S. Want to be notified when Part 3 comes out (and get a free report that will put these ideas on rocket fuel)?

Go here to get it now.

Plus you’ll get my weekly newsletter with cool links to I search out each week to help you, whether with your career, your business, or to get more out of life’s adventure.

Ultimate List: 156 Most-Read Marketing Blogs

November 9, 2016 by Mike McRitchie 16 Comments

Marketing Blogs.

Chock-full of timely useful information that can fill your tool belt with what you need to craft great marketing messages to drive customers to your door.

But how do you find them?

Yes, we all know the top ones that are well known in the internet marketing community. Marketing blogs like Copyblogger and Duct Tape Marketing.

But how about other marketing blogs that might bring you different perspectives and unique approaches that haven’t hit the mainstream blogs yet?

And what if you don’t have the time to do the research and hunt down the best of the best?

Well you came to the right place.

I took many of the top lists on the web. I dumped the ones with pathetic social media numbers. And the best of the best rose to the top.

You’ll see the big names. But you’ll also be exposed to some other blogs with interesting twists that just might help you jump start your business marketing and take your small business to an exciting new level.

So jump in and enjoy. And if you like it, please share this post. If you have any other marketing blogs you’d recommend please add as a comment.

NOTE: Checking out all these resources will take some time. You can read it all right now, try to remember to bookmark it, OR you can download the entire marketing blog guide in ebook form for FREE and read it later…and get another productivity ebook thrown in as well.

BONUS 25 SALES BLOGS [UPDATED 11/9/16]

Bonus: 60 Sales Blogs Update [11/9/16]

500,000 Unemployed People Voting For Donald Trump?

November 3, 2016 by Mike McRitchie Leave a Comment

They’re hiding in the shadows. Scared. Embarrassed.

Are they illegal aliens sneaking across the border in waves? Is the Trump Wall going to solve the problem?

Is that why they’re voting for Trump?

Actually No.

It is a different demographic. People hiding in the shadows for another reason. Hidden by government numbers that don’t count them.

They’re the ’99ers.

No, not the ’49ers. This isn’t about kneeling during the National Anthem.

No. This is about those who have been unemployed for over 99 weeks.

While Over Half A Million People Have Been Unemployed For 2 Years Or More, the statistics don’t show that. And the government doesn’t want you to know that for sure.

They’re selling the shell game that draws you in with a rosy 5% unemployment rate that economists consider “Full Employment”. But dig under the hood and it isn’t really what you see on TV.

Try selling that to the ’99ers. Or to those who are now underemployed just to make ends meet. They’re not buying.

The real story is this…

The data show that from 1967 until the Great Recession, people unemployed for at least 99 weeks never exceeded 5.6 percent of the total number of unemployed Americans. The 5.6 percent high was set in 1985. But currently, these 99ers represent 8.1 percent of the jobless, down from 14.5 percent in 2012.

So what is really happening is people are still not able to find jobs or find jobs at a level they had before layoffs hit.

And that is where Trump’s message hits home,

“Make America Great Again.”

People know they are hurting. They don’t feel like anyone really cares. They’re tired of the establishment games of telling people they’ll help them then ignoring them after they’re elected. Or politicians and their cronies making trade deals that are killing industries that supported their towns for generations.

Whether that is steel, or coal mining, or drilling for oil or fracking. Or even at the state level. Like California, where the regulations are so restrictive and the taxes so high, that anyone who isn’t tied to the state for another reason, will move out of state (or out of the country) just to stay in business and stay competitive.

So people are fed up.

They aren’t going to take it any more. And so they’re registering to vote for the first time in years. They’re ignored in the polls because they’re busy scrapping and trying to put food on the table.

And will the half million 99ers vote for Trump? When no blog votes 100% in lockstep. But when you consider what they’re feeling and saying, I think that wave is coming.

The Huffington Post Article shares one family’s story…

After they lost their home in 2011, Zapasnik and her husband moved to a campground in Roebuck, South Carolina. He found work in a school cafeteria and as a custodian. She said that work pays much less than he used to earn.

Although Zapasnik thinks of herself as having been unemployed since 2008, she doesn’t count as a 99er anymore by the government’s standards. In South Carolina, she’s had some part-time work as an office temp thanks to an AARP program for people older than 55. She has also received a few offers for home health care positions, though she doesn’t want to go back to that type of work.

She said she’s currently unemployed, applying for jobs online but only occasionally receiving a response, usually a form letter saying her name will be kept on file. She said she doesn’t believe the official statistics reflecting a better economy.

“I don’t care what the government says,” Zapasnik said. “They’re lying.”

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump loves to cast doubt on the government’s unemployment statistics. Zapasnik isn’t much of a Trump supporter but wouldn’t rule out voting for him. She said she hasn’t voted since casting a ballot for Ross Perot in 1992.

“To tell you the truth, we don’t really have anybody to choose from,” she said.

And the wave continues while the “Weekend at Bernie’s” crowd of Hillary Clinton political operatives scramble to make Hillary believable as a viable candidate and in collusion with the media, carefully craft messages that she’s leading in the polls and attempt to scuttle the opposition’s energy.

But Trump continues to pull mammoth crowds while Hillary struggles to fill a cafe.

And so they prop up the lies, hoping that the American Public will buy them one more time.

But we’re on to them now. It isn’t going to work this time. It will be a landslide. But not the one they were hoping for.

It will be a Trump-nado!

And he will put good, hard-working, blue collar people back to work. He will revive this nation. And the wave that thought they were voting for prosperity with Obama’s “Change” message will turn into real, positive change under a Trump Presidency.

And America will be great again.