Here's how I use 99% rule in everyday activity to help me cut to chase and find out what's really on someone's mind. Let's say a salesperson comes into my office and begins his sentence with, "It's not that we're trying to raise money, we're simply trying to help you gain a new product line for your corporation."

Now, whatever comes out of his mouth next doesn't really make a difference, because I know by using 99% rule that he really wants to raise money. So I would interrupt him mid-sentence and say, "Listen, you need money, and I could use product. Forget five dollars that you want for each unit. I'll save us both time and give you what you could really use: two dollars each. Do you want it?"

You see, once you master listening to what people are actually trying to tell you, it puts you in control and it can save a lot of heartache in long run.

The other example I mentioned was phrase I don't. When someone starts a sentence with I don't, 99% rule tells you that they're actually trying to direct you without hurting your feelings. Here are some examples.

"I don't want to tell you how to raise your children, but . . ."

"I don't want to tell you how to drive, but . . ."

"I don't want you to take my side, but . . ."

See what I mean?

Now go out and use this information for yourself. Try it out with your friends, business associates, and dates. They'll be amazed at how well you can read them, and you'll look like a star by simply using and applying 99% rule.

Keep Smilin'

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6. Money flow problems? Pay helpers, media ad billings and suppliers FIRST. Period. Also let clients know that you pay your helpers promptly (like every Friday).

7. Are you keeping up with competition? Keep educating yourself and your helpers. For example,inexpensive company subscriptions to an ebookwholesaler http://presssuccess.com/wholesale and jvAlert Perpetual Learning Series http://www.jvAlert.com/LearningSeries.aspx?id=1805 help to catch up with latest scoop about what works and what doesn’t work from top-level marketers & industry leaders.

8. Do you have ongoing campaigns? Send a direct mail campaign one month, then call them next. Continue with a monthly or bimonthly postcard newsletter with calls in between. Keep in touch regularly.

9. Need to jumpstart new business, maybe B2B? Submit an executive resume via ResumeRabbit and ResumeZapper, both listed here: http://movingaheadcommunications.com/partners.html . In resume, include an active link to get updated version 24/7. More than a year later, local & non-local companies will still seek you out with proposals.

10. Are you trying new product and service lines? Don’t be afraid to test and try new things. Place small classified ads & really listen to what people want when they call in. Stay competitive.

11. Are your goals too high? Don’t try jumping gun on increasing income too rapidly. If your income is very small to start with, you may get away with doubling it from one month to next. But for higher figures, higher $$ can mean increased expenses, work load, deadlines, workers coordinating, communications, stress, technical issues, etc…Instead of a shaky foundation, grow slow and learn to gradually handle more in a professional, fun, growing environment. An average, solid growth figure is much closer to 20% than it is 100%.

12. Are you keeping track? Keep progress logs similar to this listing so that you have a history of issues you’re working on. They say, “History repeats itself” so write out your positive results.

* Sources: U.S. Bureau of Census; Advocacy-funded research by Joel Popkin and Company (Research Summary #211); U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey; U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration.

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