Persevere, Keep Going, Stay Motivated!

Have you ever had goals that you set that you looked back on to find that you never completed them? Maybe it’s a novel you were working on (like me), or learning a new dance step- whatever it is we have all been there. Starting out with the best intentions but falling short because of unmotivation. Even the best of us can feel unmotivated at times. Sometimes you feel so unmotivated that making small decisions is hard. But you can get out of the slump by going through some simple steps, small baby steps in fact.

At times it can look to be impossible at times around you. Just getting out of bed is a struggle. This feeling can make you feel so depressed and hurt inside. You’re not alone. Most successful persons have been there before. At times the road to be successful involves you having to fall on your face and getting back up.

For instance to exercise there are days I am so motivated that I cannot stop- other days it is like pulling teeth. It is hard to get started exercising when your body and soul feel depressed. But you can motivate yourself with the steps listed below:

1. Make a Goal. Having a goal ensures that you have a path that you can always look to if you veer off.
2. Find inspiration. If you are inspired by music- use that, nature – use that.
3. Get excited. Make the task/goal you have exciting- find excitement in it so it doesn’t feel like a burden.
4. Build anticipation. This is a part of excitement but different. For instance when you are baking a cake you are excited ablout the recipe- but you anticipate the results. Make your end results the best part of your goal.
5. Post your goal. Write out your goal somewhere that you can visually see it.
6. Commit publicly. When you tell others your goal it makes you accountable.
7. Think about it daily. The more you think of your goal the more you think of ways to accomplish your goal.
8. Get support. Your friends and family can help you to keep pushing when things seem hard.
9. Realize that there’s an ebb and flow. You won’t always be excited about your goals. Some days you will wake up not wanting to do anything- but like anything worth having you have to ride out the highs so that the lows won’t be as low.
10. Stick with it. Keep trying. Never give up- you will see the produce of your handiwork.
11. Start small. Really small. Small structured goals will help you get to the end of your road.
12. Build on small successes. Each time you accomplish something use that as a springboard to further successes.
13. Read about it daily. Research ways to achieve your goals.
14. Call for help when your motivation ebbs. Talking to others who have accomplished their goals will help you to get tasks done.
15. Think about the benefits, not the difficulties. When you think of your difficulties you tend to get tired before you even start. Think of the benefits of achieving your goal.
16. Squash negative thoughts; replace them with positive ones. Be POSITIVE! I cannot stress this enough. It takes more out of your body to be negative than to smile and remain positive about your outcomes.

Until the next time I hope that this has inspired & motivated you to keep trying. Be persistent & wait to see the results of your toil & labors. Never, never, NEVER give up!

Stay Connected-Get Involved with Community Events!

This past weekend, Team Sageeden Media Group participated in the SelfStarters Trade Show which showcased several businesses owned by Bahamian Entrepreneurs 30 and under.

It was also a great networking opportunity and we were able to get local media coverage in the press, via print, radio and television.

With this in mind, I wanted to remind you that there is no event too big or too small to participate in. Try to get involved with your community through trade shows and other gatherings that will give you marketing exposure and assist in promoting your company. You never know where your next client will come from so just be ready to jump in and participate.

Things to enhance your display set up at events like trade shows include:

Preparation: Be prepared in advance to have a lovely display set up. Knowing who your audience is helps a lot as well. Also try to have items that would be interactive and a sign in sheet so that you can remain in contact with those passing by or who are directly interested in your services.

A large banner: Ensure that your banner displays your company’s logo and slogan as well as a brief listing of your products or services. Remember that most people are visual so including a few photos of your various events or actual products would be beneficial.

Flyers and business cards: Don’t spare the expense! Ensure that you have eye catching and creative flyers and business cards handy because people who stop by your booth, or table will need something tangible to get in contact with you.

Visual Aids: These could include a computer screen or monitor that will portray video footage or even photos of your company’s activities.

Flowers:  Even if you don’t sell flowers, they can be a great accessory for the table. When setting up your displays, try to have something eye catching for your potential clients to notice.

People with personality: No matter how great your company is, if you don’t have the right faces and people sharing the information with those passing by, then all the effort is in vain. Smiling faces and genuine smiles definitely draw people in!

Lights camera action! Get ready to experience the best that life has to offer you as an entrepreneur who is making things happen.

Remember that your attitude determines just how far you go and grow. Life can be beautiful when you begin to believe that it can. No matter how difficult it may get, awaking to another day gives one hope that the best is still yet to come.

As the year wraps up, keep pushing. You never know where you will meet your next million dollar client, so treat everyone with respect and kindness!

All the best to you and yours!

SageEden @ The Self Starters Exhibition in the Town Centre Mall

Give Thanks

I have always loved fall. As a child it was the time that most people seemed happiest, and there was the feeling in the air that Christmas was almost here. A favorite holiday for those of us here at SageEden is Thanksgiving- because it is a time that people sit and give thanks for the blessings present in their lives.

Today is a day set aside for the act of thanksgiving,where families and friends gather around a meal and say to each other what they are thankful for- something that should be done every day. The pilgrims who came to the ‘new world’ took this day to be their way of thanking God for life and blessing them with an abundance of blessings. They realized that God grants new mercies to us daily, as such they wanted to spend one day thanking God & each other for the blessings.

When was the last time you said thanks? Speaking words of affirmation is one of the five love languages we have present. A simple thank you goes so far to making someone feel appreciated. Don’t think of it as ego-stroking as persons perform better when they know that the work they do makes a difference. And saying what you are thankful for daily helps you to look at your blessings in a better light. Thankfulness brings into your heart a spirit of cheerfulness. Which is something we all need daily.

As you go throughout this holiday season, don’t get bogged down by the commercialism, truly enjoy this season, give thanks daily for each blessing, each trial, each storm. In all of these God is present.  (Nahum 1:3) As you look at the light in each aspect of your life you see the path you must take better.

What is it that you are thankful for today? Are you thankful for life? Are you thankful for family? Are you thankful for the gifts/talents he has bestowed on you? We wanted to share with you some of the things persons are thankful for in our office as an encouragement to you.

Sharell: I am thankful for life and its many blessings...being a wife to the best husband in the world, mother and mentor to many, for the ability to worship freely, to be everything that I was created to be. I am also grateful for the heart that forgives and lives! ♥ Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! ♥

Larissa: Thankful for seeing a day that so many others didn’t get to see. I am thankful for family, friends and for the opportunity to work at a job that I enjoy. Also very thankful for the awesome meal that I will enjoy today!

Shanda : I am thankful for the gifts of life & health. I am also thankful for the great family I have and friends that have truly enriched my life.

Natasha:  I am thankful for all the blessings that God has granted me this past year. I am thankful for a loving family, having the best siblings in the world, an amazing fiancé and the friends & co-workers present in my life. I am thankful most importantly for grace. Without grace I would not be where I am.

Until the next time remember to be thankful, stay positive and look ahead.

Essentials for marketing a small business

Hello everyone! Hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday. We're so excited here at SageEden. Our website is up and running -- sageedenmedia.com. Please visit it to find out more about our services and how to contact us.

In light of this small but significant achievement, I have decided to write a blog post about starting a small business. Recently, I have met a number of people who are striking out on their own. They have come out with creative ways to generate income and become their own bosses. So, this is dedicated to all of you! After you've created a sound business plan, gotten a business license and found your start-up money, here is what comes next.

1. What's in a name? Everything. Give your business a name that people will remember and will make it stand out from competitors. Don't give your business a name that can easily be mispronounced or sounds weird. If you do, people will have a hard time searching your business online or finding you in the phone book. And finally, don't get into legal trouble -- make sure that the name you want for your business is unique.

2. You NEED a Logo. The importance of a company logo is often underestimated, but it it vital in building brand recognition. Being recognized is the only way to be known by the public. Being known by the public is the only way to generate income. See why it's so important?

3. Get business cards. Business cards are an awesome way of networking effectively (and cheaply). Get a professionally designed card that you can hand to anyone, whether you meet them in a seminar or in the supermarket. Keep them on you at all times -- you never know when you'll meet a potential client or investor. Ensure that when you hand out the cards, you are not disingenuous. Engage the person in conversation and explain to them what you do. If you just hand them out to every person you see, it's a guarantee that the card will end up cleaning someone's fingernails.

4. Get Facebook fans. We've preached time and time again the importance of social media. It's all free, so don't limit it to Facebook -- join Twitter, Linked In and any other sites where you can get an audience. Remember to keep the accounts active and engage your visitors.

5. Add a signature to your email. It's free marketing every time you send someone an email. Take a look at the one we use here at SageEden. It includes our logo, services and contact information.

This is just a little information to help all of the aspiring millionaires out there. We do have a few other tips and tricks up our sleeves, so get in contact with us at sageeden@gmail.com for info on marketing packages that can help your business to flourish -- they start from just $100.

See you tomorrow, same time, same place!

Re-Branding? What about your website?

SageEden International Media Group is re-branding itself. An aspect to this goal for us has been updating and re-vamping our website. The old website had a lot of what we did formerly- our vision for the company has changed and with that we needed a new look. We believe at SageEden that a powerful website is worth the biggest building in your city because the building will get you local and some international fame, but the website is seen and felt through millions around the world.

A website is used as a way of marketing your company’s brand & products to potential customers before they have a chance to experience your products firsthand. Unlike your company's office that may be open from 8-5, Monday thru Friday, your company’s website is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is a global economy and your customers are not just the persons who can physically go through your product. 

Having a company website is a great way to increase the sales of your products. You have products- get them to the persons who need them, in and around your area. It is also very cost effective,  look at the cost of producing a magazine or newsletter monthly as opposed to updating your website and having a blog about your company and its services.

Having a website that is easy to manage is also a great way to let your customers know what your products are and update them on new aspects of your company as you grow. It also decreases customer frustrations as they have the information and ideas they need even when you are unavailable for consultation. This improves customer service, by providing answers to questions your clients have in an easy to read format that they can get to at anytime it is convenient for them. 

What we like about a wonderful website is that it helps you to present a professional image and to promote your services. Our website’s main goal was to do this. To give persons an image of who our company was that reflected our vision. Your competitors (especially the more established ones) have their marketing and brand together- you are trying to get everything together.

Below are some tips we used when creating our website’s new look and copy:

• ·         Look at your competitors’ websites for an idea of what you like and don’t like.
• ·         Ask around for general advice on what websites in your line of business others go to frequently.
• ·         Ensure that the copy for your website is short & sweet.
• ·         If your company is selling anything- make sure you have photos of your products or services, pictures capture the imagination and attention quicker.
• ·         Bold colors, excessive amounts of bold fonts & distracting graphics can if used incorrectly be a bad thing.

Don’t forget to always cater to your customers wants before they even know they want it- this is what your website should ultimately do. For further tips, or if you need help with your company’s website- feel free to contact us at SageEden International Media Group.

Until the next time check out our brand new website up today: www.sageedenmedia.com

Re-Cap of "Constellations"