Lighten up and load up on profits

"Rock a bye lady

you just paid more

so happy and relaxed

inside of my store"

Ok, I'll admit to being a pretty crappy song writer but be careful about your purchases when you are as my little ditty says...happy and relaxed. The reason is that when you feel that way you will pay more for a product or service.

When researchers tested very relaxed participants as to what they would pay for a product or service they found that those who were relaxed over-valued items by on average 15%. This was compared to participants in the study who felt equally pleasant but not as relaxed.

Here's why....in a relaxed environment the brain does not perceive a threat. This alows for thinking more about the positive benefits of a product or service. It's then easy to think at an abstract level about how the product or service might be used to your advantage.

A less relaxed person is more likely to focus on the features and measure them against the price. Thus they are more critical in their purchase decision. They are on guard against what they might deem as any sales pressure. The relaxed person because they feel no threat are open to suggestions.

So Guru how do I take this to an even higher level in my business?

Glad you asked grasshopper. First, let me ask you a question. When are you most relaxed? If you said, when I am laughing you win the big prize. The big prize is more sales, better persuasion and more success. Pretty good prize huh?

Now you know that if you can make them laugh the door to endless opportunities is wide open. Boring kills sales. Laughter is directly proportional to success. And this my friends is your big advantage because while others are trying to win over customers with professionalism, superior product or lower price you will be laughing all the way to easy street.

Powerful persuasion tips that you should know

Imagine that you are at this tropical beach. It is a beautiful hot day with a gentle breeze off of the ocean. You are warm, relaxed and peaceful. The sun feels sooo good on your body. You are totally contented and happy.

Now think about me the writer. How do you feel about my personality? Odds are that if you really allowed yourself to imgine being in that hammock on the beach that you will feel better about me also. Just by imagining being warm and relaxed improves your feelings about me or anyone else you immediately come into contact with.    

So why am I telling you this? Because the feeling of warmth is very seductive. If you want to persuade someone to your point of view or buy your product or service you should always try to warm them up first.    This is a persuasion technique called priming.   It is priming you with a good feeling before introducing any request. 

I'm not saying that you should bring them pictures of tropical beaches (but it might help). There are many ways to warm up a person. Here are a few...

Give them a hot drink. Researchers found that even just holding a hot drink (without drinking it) caused people to feel warmer towards others. They also found that when people were given a hot drink they became more generous and more likely to give to others. So you want your sweetie to do something for you, give them a hot drink first.

A warm handshake warms up you both. Now if you live in a cold climate location you need to ensure that you warm up your hands before shaking hands with someone. If you are going to introduced to someone and if you can discretely warm up your hands you are going to perceived much better. Just rub your hands together rapidly. They won't know why but they will instantly feel a closer bond with you by shaking a warm hand. Cool huh?

Who doesn't love a good hug? Sadly there are a very few who don't like to be touched but not many. The problem is its not a good idea to hug people you just met. But if you are going to persuade someone you know and you can safely hug them they will melt in agreement. Just thinking about this makes me want a hug?

A great smile will warm any heart. You've got so use it! It's darn near impossible to resist returning a great smile.

Warm words. Reaserchers found that when bell hops went to carry bags from a room for guests that if they mentioned it was a beautiful sunny day their tips increased. Just talking about a sunny day was enough to warm up the other person. So words matter. Oh by the way did I mention its going to be a beautiful sunny day today? And how would you feel about buying me a Baileys and coffee?

And finally....

That's right....its good to have beautiful sunny images to warm you up and your clients.

Now that I've warmed you up to my ideas, would you like to buy a great book?

This is powerful knowledge to have

More specifically it is a technique, one that will get people to do things for you that they wouldn't normally do for others. It is very powerful idea that has been tested and proven effective. I should charge you something for it but since you were kind enough to stop by my site (and I like you) I'll be only to happy to share it with you! Please use it with discretion.

Let's imagine that you arrive at a busy restaurant, a airline ticket booth or a hotel and you would like something extra. Perhaps you would like a better room or a better seat by the window. Here is a special phrase you can use that will get you surprising results. Please make sure you use the exact phrase.....

I don't know if you have the authority
or the power but I need a favor.
Can you help me (then give your request)

Here is why it works...

What it is really saying is, if you can't help me, then you have no power or authority. It also becomes a challenge. When they do help you they then think to themselves, that you think they have power and authority. This makes them feel powerful and good. Also, asking for a favour is very hard to refuse. Together they are a powerful mix.

This powerful technique can be used for many different things besides getting a better seat in a popular restaurant. Use your imagination?

So friend, I don't know if you have the authority or power but I need a favor? Would you buy me a beer?

It's not who you know

It's not who you know

it's not who you know it's who you know that likes you"

I've been writing for years about how to make our lives; fun, easy and over-flowing with abundance. Lately, I've been wondering...what is the easiest way to accomplish that? If there was just one thing that could impact our lives in a positive way, what would it be?

In search of an answer, I tried to think of who I knew that seemed to have a charmed, happy and profitable life? I could think of many people, some I knew and some I read about. So I asked myself, what do they have in common? And the answer is....."they are all likeable"

People who are likeable tend to get the best jobs, build the best companies, have more friends, better relationships and enjoy life more. Sounds good, right? But that doesn't even touch the benefits of being likeable. Here are a few more benefits;

* Doctors give more time and better care to patients they like

* Likeability is the most consitent predictor of election results

* Likeable people inspire others to give more

* They get better and quicker service from retail businesses

* Likeable students get better marks from teachers

* They get forgiven quicker for misdeeds (I need that one)

* They have better physical and mental health

* Live longer and happier lives

There's more but you get the point. Things come quicker and easier for likeable people. We favor them and do what we can to make their lives fun, easy and abundant. And this amigos is one of the biggest secrets I've ever learned...

"it isn't the choices we make about other people that makes life enjoyable, it's the choices they make about us"

There will always be the foolish few who actually prefer to go it alone. Their attitude is I don't need other people to make it. And with supreme effort, they still succeed. I'm just not one of those who wants to make any more effort than is necessary to reach my desires. If others want to help me out and make my life easier, I say welcome onboard.

Life is fun, easy and abundant when others want you to succeed because they like you. I've decided that at Eduardo's Happy School, the first subject taught will be....How to be more likeable! I can't think of a more important subject. My graduates will all be taught this vital skill and as a result will be world leaders in likeability.Now that we have established that the most important skill to attain in life, is likeability, the obvious question is how?

I've been researching to provide you some answers. Appreciating my limited brain power you will have give me more time.....so come back tomorrow! I promise you some fresh insights. I might even go into more depth than the ever popular method of...buying the first round.

Smile, I really, really like you!

What you really need to succeed?

The most important skill you need to succeed that they don't even teach at business schools?

The Carnegie Institute of Technology did some fascinating research that revealed that 85% of your success is attributeable to 'human engineering skill;s.    That's a fancy way of saying, people skills.  The remaining 15% relates to your technical knowledge.   IQ is not all that important, in that you can have an average IQ and as long as your acquire great people skills you are 85% of the way there.  Fascinating!

So what are the people skills we are talking about?

* Likeability
* Persuasion skills
* Negotiation skills
* Communication skills
* Leadership skills

Why is likeability at the top of the list?

Because when you win the business with the best price, product or service, you risk losing the business to someone else with a better price, product or service.   However when the client really likes you, then you have to really screw up before they will take their business elsewhere.  We all want to do business with people we like even if they don't have the best price, product or service.  Research has proven that people will pay more to deal with someone they like.   Isn't that amazing?  So I'm thinking.....why don't business schools teach likeability?

Lucky for you I have done a ton of research into likeability.    And I'm always happy to share, so come back here for the good stuff....

Selling is easy (if you read this)

So what if I told you that there is no need to work hard, sacrifice and delay gratification till some distant time in the future? What if I told you that your life was meant to be fun, easy and abundant?

What if I told you that asking hypothetical questions could influence how other people will act?

The way that you ask questions can be highly persuasive especially if the question starts with the words, ‘what if.’ Here is why, the brain process what was said like ‘what if’ isn’t even there. So people are processing your question as if it were fact according to recent research from the University of Alberta. Think about that?

So lets have some fun and run through a few examples of how you might use this sneaky seduction technique….

1) A realtor wants to get a listing on a home.

E.G. “What if I told you that I could get your home sold quicker and for more money by using our companies unique marketing system?”

Why it just might work?
If you made the statement without the ‘what if’ then the client might be thinking to herself…‘yeah right, that’s what they all say’. But if you precede the statement with ‘what if’then the client first allows the information into her brain with out resistance and wonders to herself how that may be possible? The realtor now has an open door to continue the persuasion because she is now considering it as possible.

2) You want a client to sign up for your weight loss program.

E.G. What if I told you that you could lose 20 lbs before Christmas and you could eat as much as you like?

Why it just might work?
Again it gets past the resistance by not phrasing it in a way that would be perceived as a sales pitch. The client starts to imagine it being possible to lose those 20 lbs by Christmas. Remember you haven’t directly asked for the sale you have just proposed a possibility. The clients response will dictate how you react next. If you’ve gained their interest in your ‘what if’ question the sale is half done.

3) A nervous young man wants to ask a girl out on a date.

E.G. What if I were to ask you to join me Saturday night for a movie?

Why it just might work?
First our nervous young man finds it an easier question to ask that question since it is only a possibility question and he won’t face the same rejection by asking a direct question like, ‘would you like to go to a movie with me on Saturday’. That would probably get him stuttering and stammering and appear unconfident. But because it’s only a ‘what if’ even if he gets a no it is a ton lot easier to take. On the other hand he gets by her immediate defences and she if only for moments starts to imagine going to the movie with our nervous young stud.

So will this work all of the time? No, of course not but it will work a lot of the time and that’s good enough to learn this sneaky little seduction method. Of course this will only work if your ’what if’ question is received as credible and plausible.

Now for something personal….

What if I told all you ladies that are reading this article that all women who meet me personally find me to be a handsome devil and totally irresitable?

No, your not buying that?….dang I should have kept my big mouth shut and never shared this stuff with you!

Pssst…..you’re probably thinking this is a pretty nifty idea, right? Then don’t you think it’s a good idea to take it for a spin? Play with some ’what if’ questions now and then go try them out. What if it becomes a habitual part of your presentations and makes your richer and skinner?

NOTE; This is the first draft of an article for my next book...How To Seduce Business. It would sure help if you left a comment and if you wanted to be really nice to me hit the f button below and share it with your facebook friends. Thanks!

Are nuts because you talk to yourself

Would you be smarter if you talked to yourself?   Yep!   That's the results of research published in the Quarterly Journal of Exponetical Psychology.   And who's going to argue with a brainiac sounding Journal like that?   Certainly not a goofy Guru like  me. 

Here's how to look like an idiot and yet outsmart your peers?

In several different experiments one group was asked to speak to themselves (silently) while trying to find objects or solve problems.   The other group was told to speak to themselves (out loud) while also trying to find objects or solve problems.   You guessed it they out performed their silent mates every time. 

But wait I can make you even smarter..

We already know that going for a walk when you are working on a problem helps your cognitive functions as well.   I will admit to this when working on a talk.   Mind you I stop talking out loud when I see someone coming with in  listening distance.   Too many people think I'm a little strange as it is.   I sure don't want to further encourage their beliefs.  

So if you want to improve your creativity or solve a big problem, you know what to do?   Yep, go for a walk and talk to yourself.   And if the guys in white coats stop you, just tell them about the research.   If that doesn't work.....don't blame me!   I have enough problems trying to appear sane as it is.  And I don't need them to think that I'm associated with the nut walking through the neighborhood talking to herself.   

Why professionalism is hurting your business?

"Too much professionalism is bad for business"

When you do everything by the book you end up becoming a professional.    The problem is that your competition is reading the same books, going to the same seminars and copying the leaders in your field.    It's great that you are good at what you do but....

Professionalism was once the path to success but in the new world the advantange you need is...personalization.   Everyone tries to be professional and that's a good thing but your customers want more than that, they want a relationship.   They want to feel that they matter to you.   No one tells their neighbors or friends about the professional service they got.   What makes you worth remarking about is when you get personal with your clients.

 

Your clients want to laugh, play and be amused.   Business is boring when you leave out the best parts of human interaction.   So lighten up and have some fun at work.   Because...

"The reason you aren't making more money is because you just aren't having enough fun"

The question is.....how can you make doing business more fun for you, your staff and your customers?

You would make more money if you had more fun!

A friend sent me this picture just for laughs, but it got me thinking. When I first saw this picture, I thought to myself...I would stop for a refreshment at a place with a sign like that. Humor sells! Of course marketers have know that for a long time. That's the reason for all the funny commercials. Humor lowers our resistance and opens us up. It's hard to say no when you are laughing and having a good time.

I do think though that the serious folks (they prefer to be called professionals) don't fully appreciate what humor can do. For instance look at this sign and tell me....isn't it more effective than some typical boring government sign? And yet no government professional would consider such an amaterish sign. And yet, I'll be willing to wager you that NO one hit that bridge again after that sign went up?

And would you stop at a gardening store with a sign like this?

Would you go into this retail store?

How about this liquor store?

Do you think this might be a fun place to work?

A friend was telling me about how his young drivers in his business sometimes had a bad attitude and it sure as heck wasn't good for business. He said to me, ok Mr Guru, tell how to use humor to solve the problem. So I made up these posters....

And would you speed through a neighborhood if you saw this sign?

So I'm thinking of become a 'Business Humor Consultant'. I've already given myself the title of Guru so this isn't much of stretch. I wonder if I put my new title of a business card if anyone will believe it? There shouldn't be much competetion since I've never heard of a 'Business Humor Consultant' before. No wait....how about Business Humor Guru? That sounds like I can charge more. What do your think?

Psssst....if you ever come across a picture of a funny business sign I would be sooo happy if you would send it to me. I might even meet you at the bar in the first picture and buy you a refreshment!  

And if you really wanted to make me happy, leave a comment or hit the f button below to share this with your facebook friends because we all need to lighten up.   Cheers!

Smiling makes you look 3 years younger



If you are a woman....you will be walking around today with a big goofy grin plastered all over your beautiful face all day.....

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/10/smiling-makes-you-look-two-years-younger_n_1085672.html?ref=canada-living&ir=Canada%20Living

and as for me....the more fun I have the luckier I get....

Visualizing Success does it work? Prepare to be surprised!

"Positive visualization can be  ineffective and even counter productive "

Self help teachers have had it all wrong and now there is research to prove it!   A lot of well intentioned people in the self help industry have actually been hurting their clients chances of success.   These teachers have been teaching from anecdotal evidence but now we have solid research to show us what works and what doesn't.   There is some really good news in recent research but first we have to expose the truth.

What happens when you visualize reaching a goal?

This type of positive visualization is ineffective and even counter productive.   This only serves to drain you of energy and actually triggers a relaxation response.  It's as if you have achieved your goal and there is no reason for you to call up the energy to pursure your dream because your subconscious acts as if you already have it .   So instead of being motivated you become calmer and your energy level drops.  

Yikes!

Now I'm positive that someone will read this and want to refute it with a personal story.   But that's how we end up  with these misconceptions....we go by someones anecdotal evidence rather than solid research.  Yes its true, there will always be exceptions to the case but I'd much sooner have the odds in my favor wouldn't you?   Hard and difficult sucks!

 

Maybe this explains why I didn't always get the girl?   Visualizing her under the spell of my many charms but then too lazy to get off my butt and actually go ask her out.    Oh, if I told you some of the things I visualized?   Well forget that, I've told you too much already.  How about you?   What have you visualized but never got?

So Guru are you telling us that there is NO value in visualization?

No there is some good news.    For instance lets imagine that you are stressed out or flooded with aniety.   Visualizing everything working out beautifully will help to calm  and even destress you.  Your anxiety level will decline and you will feel much better.     A good imagination can work nearly as well drugs and its free with no bad side effects other than a lack of energy.

But wait it gets better....

Now here's what the right kind of visualization can do?

* Do better on a test? 
* Become a better negotiator? 
* Improve your performance whether its sports, business or social encounters.  
* Make a better speech?
* Make more sales?
* Become more creative?

This is beginning sound like one of those late night TV infomercials, right?   Well friends, here's the good news....this is backed by more solid research!   It works and you can try it out for yourself and I sincerely hope you will. 

Here's how it works...

Imagine you are to give a public speech.   You are nervous about the content and your performance.  Here is the fun and easy solution.  First...

DON'T...visualize a successful outcome.

DO.....visualize the best damn day in your life.   And visualize it in as much detail as you can possibly recall.   Visualize what was going on and how you were feeling.   Really get into it and enjoy it to the max.  Try to recall sounds, words, sights, smells and even touch if you can.

WHEN...visualize before you start writing your speech.    Visualize before you give the actual talk.

There is no guarantee that you will be a super star but you will do much better than if you did nothing or if you visualize a successful speech.    Your energy level will spike and you will have greater motivation to succeed. 

One more way visualizing works to your advantage..

This isn't near as much fun as visualizing a successful outcome but it does work.   Visualize all of the steps to your desired goal.   Include all the possible challenges and setbacks.  This type of visualizing is actually motivating and will be get you off your butt and moving in the right direction.

  

That's it!   Now what are you going to do with this new knowledge.   Write a book?   Apply for a better job?    Ask for a raise?   Start a business?    Just please remember don't visualize success instead visualize the best damn day in your life.    How can that not be good? 

P.S.   Now I'm off to do some reasearch to find out if 'Vision Boards' work?    I have my suspicions ...

The awesome power of surprise

"the moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them but that they seize us" (Ashleigh Montaqu)

There is a sudden joy that hits without warning with a happy surprise. That joy finds us feeling young, vibrant and alive if only for moments. Even an unpleasant event can be softened in our memory by one small pleasant surprise.

It is in these too infrequent moments that we rediscover our inner child. Moments when we can once more feel the awe and wonder that a child experiences daily. That everyone should be so lucky to have more happy surprises.

"surprise is a gift to both the recipient and the giver"

We can't purposely set out to surprise ourselves anymore than we can tickle ourselves. What we can do is give the gift to others at little cost or effort to ourselves. And what a beautiful gift a pleasant gift is. By being the giver we can share in the awe and wonder it brings.

"you can't bore me into loving anything"

When life becomes boring and predictable it starts a downward cycle to nowhere. Relationships deteriorate with predictability without the essence of surprise. The successful romantic always keeps an element of surprise up his or hers sleeve.

"life is best lived as play" Plato

The best jokes, the most beautiful cherished memories are born in surprises. It's the jet fuel of relationships. And think how easy it is to suprise someone? You could clean the house, cook a special meal, buy a present for no reason, pay a visit unannounced or show up naked at the door when your sweetie comes home from work. (ok, I don't want to hear about that last one).

This reminds me of a surprise birthday party my amigos had for me in Mexico. Since my birthday was actually in November, I didn't see this one coming. Nor would I have ever expected to be mocked and teased that much. I'm guessing they got more pleasure out of the surprise than I did. (maybe that was part of their evil plan, hmmmm)

Smile, a good surprise can cost little and will be remembered forever!

Guru Eduardo

BONUS; What is the hostess's purpose in having a party? Surely not for her guests enjoyment. If that were true, they'd simply send wine and women to my place! (P.J Rourke)

My get rich quick scheme

Those crazy researchers at Standford University have come up with another gem. If you are a computer geek we should get together.   We could make a fortune on this one!

Here is what their research revealed; when they studied sedentary people (that's code for couch potato's) they found that an automated exercise reminder phone call had about the same (get up and go) power as calls from human counsellors. Think about that? We are just as motivated by a machine generated message as from some qualified expert.

Just think of the possibilities? We could sell little message machines to mothers that they could have motion actived in little Johnny's room. When Johnny retreats to his room the machine would nag him to clean his room just like the real Mom does. I'm sure Mothers around the world would gladly buy our machine to do the nagging for them!

Next thing the woman of the household would want is a programmable husband nagger machine. 'Take out the garbage, cut the grass and don't be late for supper' are just a few of the pre-programmed messages on our machine (in a very sweet voice of course).

Now before I incur the rath of women all over the planet let's get serious. What does this latest research really tell us? I'm thinking that whenever we tackle changes in our lives we need support,encouragement and reminders. There are huge opportunities for those with the technical expertise to assist those who want to lose weight, quit smoking or become more successful.

Encouragement is addictive and pleasing to all of us.

This is something we knew so well when we are kids, however as we get older we forget just how important it is. It is so much easier to critizeBut  and find fault. I wonder if anyone really ever got nagged to success?

But wait it gets better...

Another research article I read says that when you ask someone to do something you can increase the likelyhood of it getting done if you add this word...because.   Follow that with the reason and your chances of success go up by as much as 30%..
Maybe you would like to get a daily, automated phone call from Guru Eduardo telling you what a wonderful person you are and reminding you to (fill in the blanks)________________. NO? Well, then how about  from someone you actually  admire and respect?

Smile, I have more dumb ideas than you have money!

Success made easy...

"it's not who you know it's who you know that likes you"

I've been writing for the last year about how to make our lives; fun, easy and over-flowing with abundance. Lately, I've been wondering...what is the easiest way to accomplish that? If there was just one thing that could impact our lives in a positive way, what would it be?

In search of an answer, I tried to think of who I knew that seemed to have a charmed, happy and profitable life? I could think of many people, some I knew and some I read about. So I asked myself, what do they have in common? And the answer is.....they are all really likeable. 

People who are likeable tend to get the best jobs, build the best companies, have more friends, better relationships and enjoy life more. Sounds good, right? But that doesn't even touch the benefits of being likeable. Here are a few more benefits;

* Doctors give more time and better care to patients they like

* Likeability is the most consitent predictor of election results.   Since the advent of TV, the most likeable candidate won each Presidential election. 

* Likeable people inspire others to give more

* They get better and quicker service from retail businesses

* Likeable students get better marks from teachers

* They get forgiven quicker for misdeeds (I need that one)

* They have better physical and mental health

* Live longer and happier lives

There's more but you get the point. Things come quicker and easier for likeable people. We favor them and do what we can to make their lives fun, easy and abundant. And this amigos is one of the biggest secrets I've ever learned...

"It isn't the choices we make about people that makes life rewarding, it's the choices they make about us"

There will always be the foolish few who actually prefer to go it alone. Their attitude is I don't need other people to make it. And with supreme effort, they still succeed. I'm just not one of those who wants to make any more effort than is necessary to reach my desires. If others want to help me out and make my life easier, I say welcome onboard.

Life is fun, easy and abundant when others want you to succeed because they like you. I've decided that at Eduardo's Happy School, the first subject taught will be....How to be more likeable! I can't think of a more important subject. My graduates will all be taught this vital skill and as a result will be world leaders in likeability. Now that we have established that the most important skill to attain in life, is likeability, the obvious question is how?

I've been researching and applying my  brain power to provide you some answers. Appreciating my limited brain power  you will have give me more time.....so come back and I promise you some fresh insights. I might even go into more depth than the ever popular method of...buying the first round.

Smile, I really, really like you!