Developing Loyal Clients and Customers

The 6 reasons people do not buy products and services is no need, no money, no hurry, no desire, no trust and no value. Do not get into objection answering games to try to finesse people to buy your services. You may gain the sale, but you will lose a customer and referrals.

There are two types of services, a pleasure providing service and a problem solving service. A pleasure providing service is fun, provides escape, excitement, amusement and reward. A problem solving service on the other hand, should provide fast, easy, solutions to nagging tasks that people have to do, hate to do, do not know how to do, do not want to do and are afraid to do. The secret is to research and design your pleasure providing or problem solving service so it is ideally matched to your specific target market.

You can then confidently and persuasively present your services with impact and conviction because you have done your homework. You will not have to sell. Your prospect will want to buy. You will have lifetime clients and advocates and not just one time sales. You will also have referrals. You will earn them with superb advice and service.

The Art of Blessings

I Am There by James Dillet Freeman

Do you need Me?
I am there.
You cannot see Me, yet I am the light you see by.
You cannot hear Me, yet I speak through your voice.
You cannot feel Me, yet I am the power at work in your hands.
I am at work, though you do not understand my ways.
I am at work, though you do not recognize My works.
I am not strange visions. I am not mysteries.
Only in absolute stillness, beyond self, can you know me as I am, and then
but as a feeling and a faith.
Yet I am there. Yet I hear. Yet I answer.
When you need Me, I am there.
Even if you deny Me, I am there.
Even when you feel most alone, I am there.
Even in your fears, I am there.
Even in your pain, I am there.
I am there when you pray and when you do not pray.
I am in you, and you are in Me.
Only in your mind can you feel separate from Me, for only in your mind
are the mists of “yours” and “mine”.
Yet only with your mind can you know Me and experience Me.
Empty your heart of empty fears.
When you get yourself out of the way, I am there.
You can of yourself do nothing, but I can do all. And I am in all.
Though you may not see the good, good is there, for I am there.
I am there because I have to be, because I am.
Only in Me does the world have meaning; only out of Me does the world
take form; only because of Me does the world go forward.
I am the law on which the movement of the stars and the growth of living
cells are founded.
I am the love that is the law’s fulfilling.
I am assurance.
I am peace.
I am oneness.
I am the law that you can live by.
I am the love that you can cling to.
I am your assurance.
I am your peace.
I am one with you.
I am.
Though you fail to find Me, I do not fail you.
Though your faith in Me is unsure, My faith in you never wavers,
Because I know you, because I love you.
Beloved, I am there.

A copy of “I Am There” is now on the moon…carried there on the Apollo XV voyage by Astronaut James B. Irwin and left on the moon for future space voyagers.

Deliberately Creating Community

I created my company Practical Empowerment, LLC to show individuals, families, business owners and organizations how to create what they really want. Our purpose of is to inspire and touch people in such a way that they make the decisions and take the actions necessary to transform their life. Our mission is to make a meaningful and positive difference in peoples’ lives so that they can be more, do more and have more of life. We do that through a seven step process we call Practical Empowerment. The seven step process shows people how to gain power and control over their lives so that they can decide and create the life they really want. Practical Empowerment is a multi-dimensional process that is capable of being put to use, practice or action, is workable and gets the dramatically improved results that every individual, family, business owner and organization wants.

One of the steps is community. Community is defined as a unified body of individuals with common interests living in a particular area. It can be a group linked with a common policy, history, social, economic or political interests. Community is about joint participation.

How do you get involved in your community? You can join a church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship? You can volunteer at your local coop or food bank. You can be part of your community foundation Viroqua Area Foundation or local charity. This is where we can get meaning and connect with others. This is where we realize we are really all the same.

One way I have found to create community is to attend my local farmer’s market every Saturday morning here in Viroqua, WI. Search - LocalHarvest. It is a chance for me to buy organically grown fruits and vegetables that were grown by my neighbors. It is a chance for me to meet and talk with people and stay connected. I also know that I am helping the environment because my purchases are not shipped thousands of miles from the producer. I also know that I am supporting a small business grow and prosper in my community.

If you are looking for other ways to create community, go to Tools for Creating Community Sustainability Goals and read the information.

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My Grandchildren

This is a picture if my 2 grandsons, Charles and William and my Daughter Anna. It is Williams first birthday.I think life is wonderful. I will be going to see them next weekend.

What gift has Providence bestowed on man that is so dear to him as his children?
-- Cicero

George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life. You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60 ..

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92"

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again "I'm 100 and a half!"
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning Learn more about the computer, crafts, music, art, stock, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If by Rudyard Kipling

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise.

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn out tools.

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “HOLD ON!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that is in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling

Measuring Your Performance

I have been a CPA since 1974 and a CFP since 1989. I have worked with individuals, families, business owners and organizations for the past 35 years helping them produce greater incomes, save money in income and estate taxes, increase sales, start and sell their business, create vision and mission statements, do planning, produce meaningful and timely financial information and increase their net worth. I have worked in just about every industry there is and with both large and small companies. I have developed an expertise in helping companies increase their bottom line. I have started, operated and sold many successful businesses. So with all this experience, I have developed some practical ideas that can be used by anyone to transform their business and personal life.

One of the most important ideas I share with my business owners is the need for meaningful, accurate and timely financial information. This is the one idea that can transform your business, because it will measure your performance and show you exactly where you are positioned financially. A runner would never run a race without a watch and trying to run your business without financial statements is the kiss of death. Your balance sheet details assets, liabilities and net worth, while the income statement tells the story of your performance showing revenues and expenses. In addition, the cash flow statement explains how the cash was received and spent.

Ideally you should have your financial statements completed by the 10^th or 15^th day after month end. This allows you to make adjustments before it becomes too late to make adjustments to your operations until the next month. Having meaningful, timely and accurate financial information will let your banker know you really are serious about success and they will want to be part of your team. If you need help completing your financial statements, please let me know

I have found that one of the best software programs for doing your accounting to be QuickBooks and you can find more information at Accounting Software – QuickBooks. In addition, I like the QuickBooks Online program because there is no need for backups, you have access to it anywhere in the world and I can be in the program giving you advice from my office while you are in the program at your place of business. You can find more information at Online Accounting Solutions and Professional Internet Accounting Software - QuickBooks OE | Home

If you want to purchase regular QuickBooks, you should call me because I usually can get a discount on the program at 608-637-6898 or email me at marty@martymcevoy.com In addition, if you would like to purchase QuickBooks Online, you should call my friend Patrick Gillogly at QuickBooks Online at 520-407-6759 or email him at patrick_gillogly@intuit.com If you tell him I said to call, he will give you a 40% discount off the purchase price.

Decide today to have meaningful financial statements. Success and decision are partners.

Your Definite Purpose

Author James Allen says that ‘until thought is linked with purpose, there is no intelligent accomplishment.” You must decide what you want. You must decide on your definite purpose. Only you can decide that. Most people go through life trying to find their purpose, only to realize that it can be whatever they decide it to be. It is an intention, resolution or determination. Purpose is the focus of your attention and attention is the creative energy that brings about your reality. Purpose is a settled determination and comes about from a decision. You can make a difference in the world. What is your purpose? If you fail to determine and decide on your definite purpose, everything else will feel wrong. Your purpose gives you direction in life. It is why you get out of bed in the morning and it is the fuel that will transform your life. It could be you might want to work with. Without a clear purpose, you will wander through life, not sure which way to go, and usually living someone else’s dream. Your purpose should be to do something that you love. When you have your purpose, everything else will fall into place. You will focus less on what is wrong and more on what is right. You will be happier. Your purpose may be something you would be willing to trade your life for. The psychologist Alfred Adler once said, “I am grateful for the idea that has used me.” Martin Luther King said, “If you do not have a life worth dying for, you are not living.” Mr. King died so others could live. What is your purpose? We live in a world of abundance, where you can have anything your heart desires. There is nothing standing between you and your desires except lack of definite purpose and the plans that will derive from it.

A Self Empowering Message - Esther Hicks Abraham

Self Confidence Formula

1. I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my Definite Purpose in life; I DEMAND of myself persistent, continuous action toward its attainment, and I here and now promise to render such action.

2. I realize that the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward, physical action, and gradually transform themselves into physical reality; therefore I will concentrate my thoughts for 30 minutes daily upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture of that person.

3. I know that through the principle of autosuggestion any desire that I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object back of it; therefore, I will devote ten minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of SELF-CONFIDENCE.

4. I have clearly written down a description of my DEFINITE CHIEF AIM in life, and I will never stop trying until I shall have developed sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.

5. I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure unless built upon truth and justice; therefore, I will engage in no transaction that does not benefit all whom it affects. I will succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use and the cooperation of other people. I will induce others to serve me because of my willingness to serve others. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and cynicism by developing love for all humanity – because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success. I will cause others to believe in me because I will believe in them and in myself.

6. I will sign my name to this formula, commit it to memory, and repeat it aloud once a day, with full FAITH that it will gradually influence my THOUGHTS and ACTIONS so that I will become a self-reliant and successful person.

This has been taken from the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

Distinctions Between Coaching and Therapy

I have often been asked by potential coaching clients to explain the difference between coaching and therapy. So here is my explanation and most of it is taken from the work by Patrick Williams titled The Continuing Debate: Therapy or Coaching? What Every Coach Must Know.

Therapy is a medical and clinical model and relies on diagnosis. Deals with identifiable dysfunctions in a person and is about fixing the past. It deals mostly with a person’s past and trauma, and seeks healing. The questions always are “Why.” Therapy helps patients resolve old pain. Therapy focuses on processes and feelings, and assumes emotions are a symptom of something wrong. The therapist diagnoses and then offers professional expertise and guidelines to provide a path to healing. Therapy style is one of patient nurturing, evocative, indirect, cathartic and parenting. Progress is often slow and painful. The therapist is responsible for both the process and outcomes.

Coaching is a learning and developmental model focusing on attainable goals and possibilities. It deals with a healthy client desiring a better situation. Coaching is about understanding the past as a context for the future. It deals with a person’s present and seeks to help them design and act on behalf of a more desirable future. The questions asked are: How and What. Coaching helps clients learn new skills and tools to build a more satisfying and successful future and focuses on goals. The coach offers perspective and helps the client discover their own answers. Coaching focuses on actions and outcomes and assumes emotions are natural and normalizes them. The coach stands with the client and helps her or him identify challenges, then partners to turn challenges into victories, holding the client accountable to reach desired goals. The coaching style acts as a catalyst to challenge and is direct and uses straight talk and accountability. Growth and progress are often rapid and usually enjoyable. The coach is responsible for the process and the client is responsible for the outcomes.

Coaching today embodies the superior purpose of psychology. It is not just about pathology, diagnosis and treatment of human facilities. It is, more importantly, the study of human potential and possibility. Since we are by nature infinite and unlimited, all things are possible. The purpose of coaching is not to repair what has been damaged but to cultivate the genius that resides within the human mind and the generosity that resides within the human spirit. Most of us have a story that we have created about ourselves that is so small compared to our potential it is ridiculous. In A Course in Miracles, it says we have been given the wings of an eagle. Is the story you keep telling yourself the one you want? If not, when would now be a good time to do something about it?

Coaching is about empowering people and helping them discover what they want and what they can do, instead of focusing on what is wrong and what they can’t do. By doing this coaching improves dramatically the overall mental health and the quality of life, both personally and professionally. Which would you rather do, focus on the past and what went wrong, or focus on your strengths and write and create a future that is filled with purpose, passion, financial success, love and excitement? Today can be the first day of the rest of your exciting life if you choose it to be. Why wait?

Therapy is about recovering and uncovering, while coaching is about discovery. It is about discovering the greatness that lies within each human being and the possibilities which are limitless. What do you really want?

My company, Practical Empowerment LLC, Marty McEvoy - Practical Empowerment offers its coaching clients a multi-dimensional process, that is able to be put into practice and is workable, and that shows people how to gain power and control over their lives, so they can create and have what they really want. What do you really want? What about you income? What about your relationships? How about your health or your business?

You tell me what you want and I will show you how to get it. Call me today at 608-637-6898 or write me at marty@martymcevoy.com

Mt. Everest

Until one is committed there’s hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative, and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:

That the moment one definitely commits
oneself then Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would come his way.

I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s concepts:

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can do,
Begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

W. H. Murray

(Discussing his expedition to the summit of Mt. Everest)

Conquest of Mount Everest - More Information

Creating a Better World for You and Me

We all want to make it a better world. We want peace, joy, happiness, health and abundance for everyone. I have found the following exercise to be very practical with amazing results. It comes from one of thirty exercises that can be found in Resurfacing Techniques for Exploring Consciousness, by Harry Palmer, the founder and developer of the Avatar Program. If you would like to find out more about the Avatar Program, you can contact me at 608-637-6898 or by e-mail at marty@martymcevoy.com I wish you an incredible day.

COMPASSION EXERCISE

Honesty with one’s self leads to compassion for others

OBJECTIVE: To increase the amount of compassion in the world.

EXPECTED RESULTS: A personal sense of peace.

INSTRUCTIONS: This exercise can be done anywhere that people congregate (airports, malls, parks, office, beaches, etc.). It should be done on strangers, unobtrusively, from some distance. Try to do all five steps on the same person.

Step 1 With attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person is seeking some happiness for his/her life.”

Step 2 With attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in his/her life.”

Step 3 With attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person has known sadness, loneliness, and despair.”

Step 4 With attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person is seeking to fulfill his/her needs.”

Step 5 With attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person is learning about life.”