This is a beautiful country that you must consider in your business decisions. On this video you’ll see an interview I had with Maricel Mendez with the Panama Chamber of Commerce.

Also enjoy the scenery of Panama on this windy day by the Pacific Ocean.

Interview with Ursula Keiner Ford

This charming lady is brilliant! She knows just about everybody in Panama and knows how to help you do business in Panama. She helps companies and individuals relocate to Panama without all the hassle that could happen. Listen to this charming lady talk about what is happening with Panama and how you can benefit from the way events are unfolding.

Also, if you’re a member of our High Achievers Coaching System, you are in for a treat. I have a special recording of the presentation I did for the Chamber of Commerce in Panama. In that, I revealed a lot of secrets to success in Social Networking and Social Marketing. You can discover these with the audio MP3 of the presentation — plus I give you a PDF of all the slides! You will gain a huge amount of information that way. Watch for your email if you’re a member of our High Achievers Coaching System.

If you’re not a member of the High Achievers Coaching System (what? Are you nuts? Do you think you can get through this economy on your own???) you have a chance to get involved now before the rate increase. Simply sign up online at www.TerryBrock.com and you can connect to the resources you need to grow your business and boost your personal development.

Any questions? Drop me a note at Terry@TerryBrock.com and I’ll be happy to assist.

So long from this wonderful place in Central America with so much opportunity. I look forward to hearing from you.

Terry

www.TerryBrock.com

Business-Building Ideas From Terry Brock

If you use a Mac you are in for a treat with the new version of camtasia:mac which was recently released. Watch this video and read the article to get an idea of what you can do to use this tool to boost sales and build relationships.

You know that feeling you get when something you’ve wanted for a long, long time finally happens? It is a joyous rush of adrenaline when it occurs. It is even better when you experience new options that are even better than you anticipated.

Well, that was the case for me with the new Camtasia for Mac (or camtasia:mac —yes, all lower-case) that was released recently. This is a tool that can help boost your sales and build relationships.

Camtastia Studio, from TechSmith, has been the premier tool for creating movies of what happens on your computer. Business people use it to illustrate, for instance, a procedure, a website or a PowerPoint presentation. It can be made available online or via DVD, CD or live presentations. Until now, Camtasia was not available for Mac users.

In the past I’ve used other products like Snapz Pro and Screenflow which perform similar tasks and have worked well. Yet, this new release of camtasia:mac sees those benefits and raises the bar even higher.

If you’re using a Mac, you can use this tool to showcase new products, services and provide training. An accounting or financial planning firm could use a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation that illustrates the importance of proper investments for today. You can use graphs, pictures — even sounds and video. Then you can capture this and demonstrate it for anyone to see on your website using camtasia:mac.

One of the areas where Camtasia:mac sparkles is the ability to share video. You have the built-in ability to send your video to iTunes or YouTube easily. This can help in your marketing to send out information fast. I’ve used the great product Screenflow to create some movies in the past. However, each time we have to upload it separately to YouTube or iTunes. Now with camtasia:mac you can do it with one operation.

The product allows for some very nice transitions that add a touch of pizzaz to what would otherwise be dull and drab (think accounting and financial presentations!). One feature I particularly like is the ability to personalize your presentation by having a video of yourself as a picture in picture (PIP) that can float around the screen at various times. See the powerful effect of this on the video accompanying this article.

You can see that video of what you can do at http://bit.ly/tYzz3. Think of how you would use something like this in your own marketing and sales boosting work.

The product has many features for editing video and displaying it. I found that there are a lot of features and it took a little while to grasp some of the intricacies. The ability to create a subtitle graphic over a solid-color insert background took a little while to understand (took me about 1 hour). Once I figured it out the effect was a nice tool that I can use over and over. If you tie it into a Keynote presentation you’ll find that it works very well.

camtasia:mac is not identical to Camtasia Studio on Windows. You’ll be able to build on top of your existing knowledge if you’ve used the Windows version previously. Your previous experience will be a good foundation for this new version.

A strong feature of camtasia:mac is the ability to generate HTML code and place your video on your website for buyers to see. We haven’t had this available on Screenflow — but I suspect it will be available soon.

If you use Macs in your work, this new tool is worthy of your consideration. See the video I produced and you’ll get an idea of some of the things it can do for you. Remember, business is not about the technology, but about building solid mutually-beneficial relationships. You can catch the video for more real-world applications at http://bit.ly/tYzz3. By combining the technology of camtasia:mac with the personal touch of you talking via PIP, you can strengthen your Relationship Marketing. Now THAT can really get the adrenaline rushing!

(camtasia:mac, US$99.00, http://tinyurl.com/lfe3bb)

Copyright (C) 2009 Terry L. Brock and Achievement Systems, Inc.

Dateline: Panama City, Panama I’m in this beautiful Central American country and getting a lot done. I was just asked to present to the Panama Chamber of Commerce and if you’re in the area, wanted to invite you to the presentation. I plan to speak about marketing for success in today’s economy using video and audio specifically to generate business.

We plan to cover how these relate to social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and more. YouTube will be featured prominently. In fact, you can see the video promo from YouTube below.

As a side note, just today, TechSmith released a version of Camtasia for Macintosh called Camtasia:mac. To demonstrate it, I used that tool to produce the video you’ll see below. There is a lot you can do with Camtasia:mac and I’ll feature it more in the future. For now, watch this video to see what can be done.

If you’re using a Mac, this is a must-buy program. For only $99 it is a steal. It will be a great way for you to promote your events (like I’m doing with the Panama Chamber) as well as give instructions. The folks at TechSmith have done a great job consistently not only with their excellent products but even more with their legendary customer support. Check it out.

For now, enjoy the video. So long from the rain forest country of Panama — also known as Paradise!!

Terry
www.TerryBrock.com
Terry@TerryBrock.com

Business-Building Ideas From Terry Brock, MBA, CSP, CPAE

As I was growing up, my mother always told me to treat people with dignity and respect.  This was given as normal where I grew up out in the country in the Midwest.  We valued people just as people and viewed everyone —- at least initially — with a basic level of dignity and respect.

Too many times today that sense of dignity in how to treat people seems to have gone the way of 8 track players and bell-bottom pants. At best many people seem to have a superficial, “Love you.  Mean it” plastic, forced smile at best.  When this permeates marketing we have a culture of people who only see others as a quick way to make money or obtain some other objective.

You and I might wish that such a culture didn’t exist but we can’t do anything about the big picture.  What we can do is make some changes in our own lives and our own businesses, which will make a difference.  Stay with me on this one and you’ll get a way that can help.

We see it in the Internet marketing world too often.  There are some very good Internet marketers who genuinely want to help others.  However, there are too many that really don’t care for how you’re doing and don’t want to help.  You’ve probably seen them.  They make a good presence on the stage and have their audiences turning to each other as total strangers voicing some staid, trite saying like “I’m terrific and you are too!”  How manipulative!

Give me a break!

I think the world today is crying out for more sincerity.  This is what human relations is all about.  It is about caring for people as people — not just as someone who can buy something or help you in some ulterior way.

By the way, here’s a quick way to find out about the sincerity of the person on the stage.  When you’re at the next meeting, walk up to and talk with them in person, face-to-face.  First, see if they “allow” this.  Second, watch their eyes and see if they are roaming for someone better to speak to while they are supposedly talking with you.  See if there is a significant difference between the person on the stage and the person they really are off the stage.  Those who practice real Relationship Marketing make it a point to be genuine, real and to be “in the moment” with you.

So, how can you and I do business today in this environment and be serious about Relationship Marketing?  Make it a point to focus on people as people, not just “consumers” or prospects who could buy our stuff.  Yes, we sell products and services.  Yes, there must be value-for-value in every sincere interchange.  Takers who only want something for nothing come on both sides of the transaction.

Focus on the real human being and the needs that person has.  We’re all human beings.  This is what life, not just business, is all about.  Helping others to meet their needs and to be with them at crucial times is vital.

At a business level, you succeed when you genuinely, sincerely care about others and demonstrate that in words and actions.  Human beings want to be with people who really care about them.  That means building systems around you which can support your ability to care more for others.  Think through what that means in your business.

When people walk into your “store” in business, do they feel accepted?  Do they find the atmosphere inviting?  Do they feel like you’re there to serve them?  Continue to test this.  Always focus on the needs others have and be there for them.

As you do this, you’ll succeed in any environment.  Have a product or service that helps them solve their problems and pain.  Be understanding of where they are as a human being.  From that you will be enriched as a human being yourself.  As a side benefit, you’ll also have a better business.

Yes, these are just basic, common sense values that many of us were raised with years ago.  We need regular reminders to make sure we are listening to and caring for others.  Somehow I think our mothers would be proud of us for practicing those important principles in our lives and our businesses.  And then I think our bankers today will smile as they see the inevitable benefits from focusing on helping others and serving them.

Copyright © 2009, Terry Brock and Achievement Systems, Inc.  Terry Brock is an international marketing coach and professional speaker who helps businesses generate profitable results.  He can be reached by e-mail at terry@terrybrock.com or through his website at www.terrybrock.com.  Join the Twitter adventure with Terry through his Twitter address: TerryBrock

Advice For Today From Ben Franklin –
Surviving Any Economy

Business-Building Ideas From Terry L. Brock

We’re hearing about the economy, job losses, etc., etc. on a daily basis. One day the stock market is up, the next day we hear the pundits tell us things are dismal. This roller-coaster ride of economic news can be quite depressing and make us distraught — if we let it.

You can’t take the ostrich approach. Funny, I don’t hear people spouting that trite “We’ve heard there is a recession but we’re not going to be part of it” any more today. I’ve never believed that taking the ostrich approach is the way to success. I also firmly believe that being depressed is not the answer.

So what is the solution?

Well, I gained some wisdom and insight from a great book I read again yesterday. You might have read it also. If you haven’t, write this down immediately to buy it today. It is called, “The Way to Wealth,” by that sage philosopher and wise man Benjamin Franklin. Yep! That Founding Father of the US had a lot of wisdom. His words are truer today than ever. I think ole Ben has some profoundly accurate advice in this “Twitter-Facebook-YouTube and all-things-social-media” obsessed world which can help us.

Ben Franklin created a character he called “Father Abraham” who listened to a crowd and then dispensed wisdom.

The crowd asked, “Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Won’t these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advise us to [do]?”

“Father Abraham” agreed that the taxes were high. However, he said we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. “We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride and four times as much by our folly.” In other words, yes the taxes were then, and are today, onerous and should be abated. However, as bad as the taxes — and the economy — we inflict ourselves with even greater pain by our own idleness, pride and folly.

You’ve got to read (or re-read) this very short book by Ben Franklin. He goes on to have “Father Abraham” tell us that most of our problems are our own doing. We have to work hard and not engage in being idle. We have to avoid laziness and embrace leisure (read the book for his definition of the important difference).

When I read that, I was taken aback by the wisdom of this great Founding Father. It was as if he were speaking to me directly — and smiling with that charming, legendary Ben Franklin grin.

Yes, times are tough. Yes, we recognize — and are aware of – what is going on. We don’t take the ostrich approach. However, in the midst of that, we know that our success is largely up to us. Yes, taxes are high and should be lower. Yes, there are specific steps that should be taken in the broad macroeconomic and political picture.

But all of these are insignificant compared to what you and I can do today in our own businesses and our personal lives. Pick up the phone (remember that?) and call that client you haven’t chatted with for a while. Just say hello and don’t try to sell anything. Be there and reconnect with them. This is what Relationship Marketing is all about. Find out the problems they are going through and help them.

I’ve seen smart, well-meaning businesspeople become obsessed with the nightly cable news and politics. If that same amount of time, money and effort had been devoted to reading good books (like Ben Franklin’s!!) perhaps they would have generated more income regardless of the crisis of the moment.

Take charge of your life and your business during tough times. Don’t be obsessed with the news of the moment. Don’t shut it all out either. Focus on what matters — building quality, profitable business relationships. Focus on Relationship Marketing.

Find the pain your prospects and clients are going through and come up with unique, creative ways to help them. This will be the way to get out of any problem. To paraphrase Jim Ziegler, a noted sales trainer in the auto industry whom I recently interviewed, “There is no problem in business you can’t sell your way out of.” Focus on doing what you can, with what you’ve got, right where you are (as Teddy Roosevelt advised us long ago).

This is a best way to take matters into your own hands.

And for starters, bounce over to your favorite online bookstore and purchase The Way of Wealth by Benjamin Franklin. It is a very short read and one that can change your life as it has millions of others through the years.

Sure, times are more challenging. But that will actually help us become better if we handle it right.

Somehow I can see Ben Franklin, beaming with a big toothy grin and giving us a “thumbs-up” signal!

Copyright © 2009, Terry Brock and Achievement Systems, Inc. Terry Brock is an international marketing coach and professional speaker who helps businesses generate profitable results. He can be reached by e-mail at terry@terrybrock.com or through his website at www.terrybrock.com. Join the Twitter adventure with Terry through his Twitter address: TerryBrock

Here’s a short (less than 2 minutes) video that I just shot in Panama City, Panama. This is worth your time to understand how you can operate from just about anywhere. I’m getting ready for a Webinar in a few minutes and wanted to share this with you.

Let me know what you think. Please leave your comment here on the webpage. Thanx!

Terry
www.TerryBrock.com

Twitter and Facebook were both attacked with DDOS (Denial of Service) attempts to bring the services to their knees.  Yes, this is a disruption to many.  Fortunately, the good people at Twitter and Facebook were able to repair the damage quickly and get service back up and running.

What does this mean for you?  The only reason Twitter and Facebook were attacked was because they can get visibility and recognition for the bad guys perpetrating these schemes.  It is a fact of life that we can’t avoid completely.  How should you run your business in light of these attacks (and the threat of others in the future)?

Here are a few quick thoughts:

1. Be aware it can and will happen.  You’re going to run into problems with any Net-based service.  Recognize that.  It is part of the real world today.

2. Have back-up plans. I don’t mean just backing up your computer data (as important as that is).  Have alternate ways to get your message out.  Multiple email accounts, phone messaging ability for important people, additional ways to access your website, etc.  Be creative here and think through what can happen.

3. Have those disaster plans in place.  Know what you’ll do in the event of likely events. This is important no matter what you do — but doubly important when you rely on computers, mobile phones, the Internet and more — like so much of our world does today.

4. Be patient.  Usually these things are resolved in a short time.  Twitter and Facebook were able to recover in a matter of a few hours.  It makes a big news story but these guys know their stuff and are really, really good.

More will come in the future.  For now, plan for your business to be there.  And reach out to your customers to help them where they have these challenges.  All of us will be better because of it.

Your thoughts?  Please leave a comment below for others so they can benefit as well.

Thanx!

Terry

Dateline: Panama City, Panama  – I’m visiting this wonderful country to explore business opportunities.  This is a fabulous country with lots of business opportunities.   I’ll plan to post several entries from here so if you’re looking for some out-of-the-US business opportunities, this is a good consideration.  Free Market.  Solidly pro-business and working to help the average person get ahead. The new President is proposing the already-successful in many countires flat-rate tax.  This would further boost the economy of this “Dubai of Central America.”

Panama has very strict financial laws.  Privacy laws are very strict.  This helps to generate a confidence among investors.  Who knows what the future will be but this is a place to consider in an international strategy for business development — and lifestyle enjoyment.

More to come later.

Terry

You’ve heard of “Cash For Clunkers” if you live in the US. It is a program whereby the US Government is trying to spur demand for auto sales. Well, there is a lot more to it than what you’ll hear in the press. So, I decided to get one of the experts in the auto industry, Jim Ziegler, to help you decipher what is going on with that.

Well, not only did Jim help on that but even more important, he shares how he was able to take a major devastating blow last year with the economy and turn his business around. Listen to this and be inspired. Listen to this and learn. Listen to this and discover what you can do in your own business to make it work. It is worth the 21:31 time investment to hear how you can bounce back from any business defeat. Ziegler tells you how in this interview.

You can reach Jim at http://zieglersupersystems.com/ for more information.

Enjoy this one!

Terry

Terry L. Brock, MBA, CSP, CPAE
www.TerryBrock.com
Terry@TerryBrock.com

 Cash for Clunkers - An Interview with Jim Ziegler [21:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (840)