Yancey Foster

I've Moved

2009-04-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

I've decided to take the leap and jump to Wordpress.

I was a bit intimidated by the small amount of coding needed to install it on my site. Fortunately, it wasn't too large a task.

So, the new home for my blog is www.yancey-foster.com/blog.

Stop by and say hi.

Cheers,

Yancey

2009-03-14T21:38:00.001-07:00

If you aren't on twitter sign up now.

Follow me here: http://ping.fm/iOJqM

Lovn' Pingfm

2009-03-08T09:42:00.001-07:00

Good morning from the Pacific Coast. Breakfast and a walk on the beach with my wonderful wife and kids. (Tweets...sorry for the double post:-)

Vacation in March

2009-03-03T02:25:00.000-08:00

Ah, a little early spring vacation with the family.

It's not as enjoyable with my wife and kids in school. But anytime I get to spend with them is a joy.

It's 2:30 in the morning and I'm still fighting with jet-lag. The effect of crossing so many time zones is staggering...especially as I get older. A few years ago I would've barely noticed this. But now...Sheesh!

So I've been using this "up time" to do a little work. Writing some letters, working on marketing and sorting lists of a mailing I'm working on. It's fun and the time is zipping past.

I do need to get some rest so I can do the running around tomorrow that needs to be done.

Anyway, doing a little work beats the heck out of watching TV at this ungodly hour. However, I do admit I really enjoy watching a good infomercial.

There's a new on out that's got the same fellow that was in the Shamwow infomercial. He's selling a manual food processor...I think it's called the Slap-Chop. Anyway...he's good. I'm not much of a kitchen type guy but lordy I wanted one of those devices.

I sure would like to see the result of that campaign. I'd be willing to bet it's quite successful.

Speaking of success, I believe that with the doom and gloom being spouted by the news services now is an unprecedented opportunity to really shine for those willing to take the plunge.

Businesses need help more than ever. The need for accountable, trackable advertising is greater than ever before.

I'm hitting it hard.

Stay positive and stay safe,

Yancey

Your Most Valuable Business Asset

2009-02-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

As a business owner, do you know what is your most valuable asset?

While it is not a secret to IM (Internet Marketing) folks, it is surprising how many off-line businesses completely overlook this gold mine resource.

I'll give you a second to take a guess of what I'm talking about.

No, it's not your inventory.

Nor is it you property or buildings.

Neither is it you accounts receivable.

If you don't manage and grow this asset, all the above is meaningless.

Figured it out yet?

Your most valuable asset is your list of customers. The people who trust you, like you and have bought from you.

These are the folks who have demonstrated with their wallet you have what they need or want.

This is your most important business asset.

Pause...And a Deep Breath

2009-01-25T05:52:00.000-08:00

The last couple of days have reinforced my belief in the saying:

"Never do anything that makes you feel good when you're angry"

I had an issue come up and my first reaction was to fire off an email full of vitriol.

So I did the hardest thing to do when I'm a little upset...nothing. I made sure I was well away from the keyboard and did some deep breathing and then read a book.

Soon I was back to my normal calm self and had an opportunity to think about things.

First, the information was second hand. Or as TV lawyers say "Objection Your Honor, Hearsay", and I had to take that into account.

Second, the person who was the source of information had had a really tough month or more dealing with issues of his own.

And third, how much of a difference will the outcome of this make in 5 years? Not a whole bunch.

After giving the situation some time and thought I put together an email that explained things and didn't nail anyone down for anything in particular...left 'em wiggle room.

Then I Let It Sit For a Couple of Hours

I didn't fire off the calmer email. I let it sit and cool.

Then edited it.

And let it cool.

Then re-read it outloud.

Then sent my response.

There's a happy ending. No feelings were hurt and working relations are intact.

And the issue is resolved to everyone's satisfaction.

Wow, and it just took a little patience.

Attitude of Gratitude

2009-01-18T08:53:00.000-08:00

This is not something that's talked about a lot.

I mean, if you've read the right books or have talked to the right folks you'll hear it. But it's not mainstream stuff.

You'll mostly hear opposing info being put out for general consumption.

In such books like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and Wallace D. Wattle's manuscript The Science of Getting Rich this is one of the common threads that are woven throughout. And these books are still relevant even after all these decades of being in print.

You can probably find free copies online with a simple search. They're public domain.

It's easy to get caught up in getting what you can to stay ahead, or hell, even staying even.

But I've found that just a short pause in the hustle and bustle to reflect on things that I'm grateful for calm me and reinforce the good things that I'm doing.

It also helps me to reevaluate and change direction if needed.

Just a quick pause to inventory the things in life that are a blessing.

Health, relationships, opportunities.

And it helps keep me focused and positive.

Don't Want To Get Too Personal

2009-01-11T07:42:00.008-08:00

Are your autoresponders personal?

I'm banging out an autoresponder series for my newsletter list and decided to take a break and surf the internet. I head over to Facebook to see what's happening with the people I know (a good portion I haven't met...yet).

So there I am, toolin' around Facebook and there's this place at the top of the page to let folks know what you're doing. Not wanting to deprive the internet of the riveting details of my life, I type in "working on autoresponders". And click to post.

Anyway, a couple hours later a buddy replies "yeah, wouldn't want to get too personal".

He's just giving me a friendly poke in the ribs.

But his post made me stop and think...how many of us think of autoresponders as cash generators instead of relationship builders? After all, aren't they to used to develop and maintain a relationship with our clients and prospects?

Now, I truly want to believe that the majority of the folks that use these understand the importance of keeping a trusting relationship with our list.

But, I was given a peek at how a potential member of my mailing list views what I (we, us, them) do.

And it brought home the importance of making sure the folks I talk to on my list feel like I'm looking them in the eyes and speaking only to them. To communicate to them how much I value their precious time they've decide to give to me.

I took a couple of steps in another man's shoes.

By the way, my reply was "LOL...Actually, I want to get personal with a bunch of folks at the same time".

2009-01-10T05:37:00.004-08:00

A Task Begun...

Whew...I'm scurrying around the internet and flipping through PDF manuals figuring out autoresponders, web page development, and blog software.

I've been dancing around doing this stuff for longer than I care to think about.

So I decided "to hell with the details" and started doing it. I'll pick it up as I go along.

And in the process I've again learned a lesson I thought I knew...

"You can't drive a parked car"

I've been trying to get the little stuff lined up so everything will be perfect for the launch.

Ain't gonna happen. There will always be things that need adjusting, amending or just plain tossed out once a project gets going.

This detail-itis is just a way to delay the start. Avoiding failure by not starting...which ensures failure.

So here it is. I've taken the leap into the blogosphere.

The fun is in the journey any how.