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Last week, Dave moved his office
to Sky Ridge Hospital where Victoria had her second
hip replacement surgery. She is now recovering at home, and moving
around nicely with her cane. Thank you all very much for your
thoughts, prayers, cards, flowers and well wishes. They meant
so much to us. We are blessed indeed to have so many wonderful,
caring friends.
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| Another Advisory Board 101
begins at the end of this month. After that, we’ll start only
one more—our 60th Advisory Board 101—this year.
It promises to be very special and there are still a few seats open.
You can get more info below. We’re
really excited about our fall day retreat, “The
Balancing Act,” presented by our dear friend
Bob Heavers, on September 12. You definitely won’t
want to miss this event. Sign up below and
save $25.
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Our very best regards,
Dave and Victoria |
| Mike
Belasco
seOverflow
Just when it seems that entrepreneurs have to be technical experts
in order to make their businesses fly, along comes a company like
seOverflow. Owner Mike Belasco has made it his mission to take
the mystery and fear out of acronyms like SEO, PPC and IBL.
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“We specialize in providing outsourced search
engine optimization and pay per click marketing services for web
designers, marketing consultants and other SEO companies,”
Mike says. Started in 2006, seOverflow was formerly known as Mike
the Internet Guy.
Q: What do you find most fulfilling
about running your business?
MB: I love to see
my clients have success and make money!
Q: What motivated you to start
this business? What is your background experience in this area?
MB: I have always
been interested in the Internet, and I got started by helping
my mother’s business with search engine optimization. I
also started a poker affiliate website, which did very well, and
I was intrigued with trying to get more business from the Internet.
Q: What book has been most helpful
to you in your business?
MB: The E-Myth Revisited
and Action Plan Marketing.
Q: Who has influenced you most
in your life?
MB: My mother has taught
me so many things about life and business. She is by far the most
influential person in my life.
Q: What has proved to be your most
successful marketing strategy?
MB: Search
engine optimization ;). Seriously, I get quite a few good leads
from my website every week. Also, blogging was a huge help to
my marketing as well, as it helped me become more well known in
the industry.
Q: What have been the greatest
challenges you have had to overcome, or are currently facing,
in your business?
MB: Growing
a staff is by far the biggest challenge I am currently facing
in my business. Recruiting, hiring and training are very time
consuming but are absolutely critical.
Q: How did you benefit/are you
benefiting from participating in a Make-it-Fly®
board?
MB: The Make-it-Fly®
board benefitted my business in so many ways it is hard to pick
a place to start. I’d have to say Goal Planning was a huge
thing for me. Creating, tracking and achieving 30-day goals really
helps me organize business objectives and figure out what is important
to work on. Goal Planning also helps me to ‘slot out’
time to work towards each month’s goal. The second major
benefit of participating in Make-it-Fly®
was the people I met. I have developed several excellent business
relationships with my board members. I also have several good
mentoring relationships with board members who I don’t do
business with. It is so nice to be able to chat with people going
through similar experiences with their businesses.
Q: What would you say to other
business owners who are contemplating getting involved in a Make-it-Fly®
board?
MB: I
would say getting involved with Make-it-Fly®
is something every business owner should do. Even if you think
you know it all, you will learn so much from the others in the
room it would be worth it!
Mike Belasco can be reached by
phone at: 303-905-1504, or visit his web site at: www.seoverflow.com.
Forward
this email to a friend. |
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|
 Dave’s
Networking Tip:
Always
treat people with the upmost respect.
Honor them, and aim to make each person you meet feel
very special. Don’t be self-focused, rather direct
your attention to the person you’re with.
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Passion
and Profit – Can You Really Have Both?
By Victoria Munro
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“Ordinary people become extraordinary and produce extraordinary
results when they align their
passion with a meaningful purpose.”
– Theresa Szczurek, Ph.D.
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We’re inspired
by stories of wildly successful entrepreneurs who
turned a hobby – or a passion – into
a thriving business and realized their dreams. It’s encouraging
to read about those who started with little and seemed unlikely
candidates for business success but, driven by passion, worked
absurdly long hours and surmounted enormous difficulties to beat
the odds and make it big.
Passion is a powerful emotion.
It ignites energy, enthusiasm and creativity, and brings meaningful
purpose to life. We can’t
just drum up passion when we need it. It comes
from within. In his outstanding book Good to Great, Jim
Collins writes, “You can’t manufacture passion or
‘motivate’ people to feel passionate. You can only
discover what ignites your passion and the passions of those around
you.”
What Are You Passionate about?
It may be helpful to take time and find out. If you’re
totally stumped and don’t know what it is, think back to
your childhood dreams. What did you enjoy as a child? Your passion
should certainly line up with your values and personal goals.
Some know what they are passionate about, but have a hard time
stepping out to pursue it. Fear, faulty beliefs or negative self-talk
may be stopping them. Sometimes, just recognizing what’s
holding you back is all you need to change and move forward.
Will Passion Lead to Business Success?
Experts disagree on the importance of passion for business success.
Some insist that solid business know-how is all you need. Others,
especially those who have successfully followed their dreams,
disagree. We have Make-it-Fly® board members who are successful
entrepreneurs and enjoy, but are not passionate about, their businesses.
However, their companies afford them the freedom and financial
resources to do what they love – perhaps devote extensive
time to family, or to a sport or hobby that they are passionate
about. They reap profits from their
businesses and pursue their passions.
The Pluses of Passion
Starting a business is stressful. When you’re passionate
about the company and what it stands for, you are more likely
to weather the small biz start-up storms. It still requires a
lot of effort, but it’s certainly much more fun and rewarding
to work hard for something you’re passionate about.
Passion is highly contagious.
If you’re madly enthusiastic about your business, you will
naturally inspire that same enthusiasm in others: your employees,
vendors and clients.
Passion can motivate you to persevere when the going gets tough,
but passion alone isn’t enough.
It will still take hard work and self-discipline. You must do
the needed research, make a realistic plan, set goals and decide
on strategies to achieve your goals.
Points to Ponder:
| 1. |
You can’t
do it alone. Be sure to get encouragement
and support along the way. Find and join a like-minded group
of entrepreneurs, or hire a coach or mentor. |
| 2. |
Your role could change.
If the business grows, you may find yourself managing others
who are doing what you love to do. |
| 3. |
Plan time away to stay balanced.
The temptation to work seven days a week increases when you’re
doing what you love. |
| 4. |
You may love what you do, but do
you love to sell? Will selling be an overwhelming
challenge? |
| 5. |
Be realistic.
Ask yourself if this will still be your passion when you have
to work at it. |
| 6. |
Learn all you can.
Talk to others who have successfully done what you want to
do, read books and take classes. |
Pursuing our passion
energizes us. It brings joy and a sense of purpose
to life. What is your passion? Are you pursuing it through your
business? Or does the business enable you to do what you love?
When your business is your passion, or the business allows you
to pursue your passion, you can
enjoy both passion and profit.
Click
here for the printable version.
Click
here to read more articles like this one.
Forward
this email to a friend.
|
| Victoria’s
Marketing Advice
Help Your Raving Fans to
Market for You
Encourage your customers—especially
those raving fans—to tell others about you and your
services and/or products. If they’re wowed by what
you’ve done, they’ll be happy to tell their
friends, but may not have thought to do so. Let them know
you’d like their help, describe your ideal client
and encourage them to tell how you’ve helped them.
|
Back
to Top
|
Make-it-Fly‘s First Day
Retreat for Entrepreneurs
“The
Balancing Act”
Presented
by Bob Heavers
A retreat
destined to bring out the very best in all of us!
|
 "The
Balancing Act" may be the single best, and most
efficient way, to re-vision your life.
It is a wonderful opportunity to do something special
for yourself, your employees, your customers or your
family and friends. All in one day you will rekindle
fond memories, surface more to be grateful for than
you ever imagined, and become crystal clear about who
you are and what you want out of life. |
When:
Friday, September 12, 2008
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Mount
Vernon Country Club, Golden
Cost: $195
($25 early bird discount before 8/1/08 - $170)
Continental breakfast and delicious lunch buffet are
included. |
|
|
Click
here to sign up now and save $25.on
your early bird discount.
Click
here for more information. |
|
 |
READING THIS AD? THEN WHY NOT PUT YOURS
HERE TOO? The In-Flight Refueling Ezine reaches more
than 2,700 entrepreneurs, small-biz owners, consultants
and marketers. Reserve
your advertising spot today in the next In-Flight Refueling
Ezine,
http://www.make-it-fly.com/ezineads.html.
Paid Advertising Disclaimer: Make-it-Fly®
LLC does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability
of any of the paid advertisements above or the quality of any
products, services, information, or other materials displayed,
purchased, or obtained by you as a result of an offer in connection
with any ad. It's common sense to do your own due diligence before
purchasing any product.
Back
to Top
|
The
Make-it-Fly® Advisory Board 101
Each
Make-it-Fly® Advisory Board 101 program
consists of 12 non-competing business owners who meet once a month
for three consecutive months. In the spirit of giving, they offer
each other solutions, ideas, resources and encouragement. Dave
and Victoria facilitate each group and share powerful tools to
assist business owners in reaching their goals and living more
balanced lives.
If you have experienced a Make-it-Fly®
program, please share the following openings with other business
owners who need support. Call Dave for more information at 720-962-8888.
Programs are held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Current program openings in Denver:
- Thursdays - July 31, August 28, September 25, 2008 (Full)
- Fridays - September 9, October 5, November 2, 2008
- Fridays - January 9, February 6, March 3, 2009
Click
here to sign up for Advisory
Boards.
Or call Dave at 720-962-8888.
Alumni
Boards are groups of 12-14 small business owners who have
participated in at least one Make-it-Fly®
Advisory Board 101 and wish to continue the support and accountability
with a group of like-minded, giving business associates. Members
meet once a month for a three-hour meeting.
If you completed the initial Make-it-Fly®
Advisory Board 101 and are interested in more information on Alumni
Boards, call Dave at 720-962-8888.
Make-it-Fly®
Café 
High altitude networking, where exceptional people help each
other.
Next
Café:
Date: Thursday, August 28, 2008
Time: 4:30 to
7:30 p.m.
Location: The
Riverfront
2852 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton (One block west of Santa Fe)
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|
Click
here to read previous issues of Make-it-Fly®'s
email newsletters.
Contact
Make-it-Fly® - Dave and Victoria:
email: info@make-it-fly.com
voice: 720-962-8888
web: www.Make-it-Fly.com
Reprint
Permission:
Please email or call Victoria if you'd like to reprint any information
contained in this newsletter. Thanks! © Copyright 2008. All
rights reserved.
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Make-it-Fly®
LLC
720-962-8888
355 South Teller Street, Suite 200, Lakewood, CO 80235, USA
http://www.make-it-fly.com
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