I
have been working with the international marketing
pro, Jay Abraham, on my marketing plan. One
thing he always emphases is to test everything.
When you test your communication, you can
determine its effect on your market audience.
The non-verbal communication of your image
and the clothes you wear has an effect on
your market audience (co-workers, clients
and supervisors).
What is the effect you are creating in
the workplace? Are the clothes you are
currently wearing working for you? Are you
getting the projects you want, the sales,
the promotions, the opportunities? Or are
you being passed over?
Find
out by testing what style of clothes work
best for you. Then you can make changes and
increase your effectiveness by 10%, 20%, 50%
or even more.
Compare
the responses you receive when wearing jeans/t-shirt,
docker/blouse/shirt, pant suit/sport coat
casual.
Determine
what type of shoe generates the most positive
reactions - athletic, flip flops, sandals,
closed toe casual, closed toe dressy.
To
begin, evaluate the response you receive for
what you are currently wearing.
Rate
from 1 to 10:
• How do you feel overall?
• Your confidence level?
• Your energy level?
• Your feeling of authority?
• Your professionalism?
Now
rate from 1 to 10 how were you treated by:
• Your boss
• Others in power
• Subordinates
• Clients/Companies
•
Gatekeepers
• Vendors
Finally,
what results are you getting?
"• Did you get the sale, promotion,
project, the proposal?
Now
change something about your appearance. For
example:
• Capri's to dress pants
• Flip flops to casual closed toe shoes
• A lot of make-up to a more natural
look
With
the new changes in place, answer the above
questions again. Keep testing until you find
a look that gives you everything you want
every time. Afterall, you are already at work.
You might as well create as many opportunities
as you can by creating an image that supports
your personal goals!
Click on the link here to access a
PDF
file of a testing worksheet
you can use to help you keep track of
your testing results.
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Investing
in the stock market can be fun and profitable,
but it's not for the weak-of-heart.
As attractive as the market is when it is going
up; it is equally as gut-wrenching when it is
coming down (which it will). But history shows
you can increase your personal wealth by owning
stocks.
A
well diversified portfolio would include not only
stocks or mutual funds (a collection of pre-selected
stocks), but also a fixed income component. This
could be bonds or preferred stock for example
- something that pays you a known interest or
dividend stream. The mix will depend on your age,
financial status and risk tolerance. You should
also have at least 10% cash on hand, or enough
to live on for about 3 months.
Buying
stocks yourself can be rewarding. But if you don't
have or want to put in the time to research companies
and markets, engage with an investment advisor
to learn about their investment options and styles.
If
you chose to dabble in the stock market there
are a few fundamental rules to follow.
A.
Pick a strategy and stick to it
Whether you choose to only buy stocks that have
fallen below their 52-week highs or sell them
as soon as they decline more than 10% from your
purchase price, no matter what - consistency is
a winning discipline over the long haul. Invest
in companies or industries you know
If you walk into Nordstrom and find it consistently
void of traffic that may be a red flag, or at
least a starting point to investigate further.
Or how about if Starbucks starts selling rap CDs,
skate boards and piercing services at its stores
- that may not play well with their current target
market. Do you work at a bank? Financial stocks
may be your niche.
B.
Never invest more than you can afford to lose
The stock market holds no guarantees. You stand
to make the most gains if your time horizon is
longer (5-10 years), but there are peaks and valleys
along the way.
Good
luck!
Cherrie
Prinz
Portfolio Manager
CWC Advisors, LLC.
503-968-0950
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