Be Honest About How You Dodge The Truth

What triggers a person to lie? There are those we tell ourselves, those to get ahead, white lies, broken promises, exaggeration, deceptions, compulsive lying -- there are several ways to go about it. In Bella DePaulo’s Ph.D. research, she found people lie during one in five of their daily interactions. Pamela Meyer, author of Liespotting, says in her TED Talk that we’re lied to about 10 to 200 times a day! This leads us to wonder: how honest is our world?

As Meyer goes on to say in her TED talk, lying is a complex feature that is woven into the fabric of our history and our modern lives. She describes several indicators that unravel deception and arms people with the tools needed to spot lies. Lying in any form is serious, not just for our personal lives. Lying can be one of the main causes for the failure of your small business and why you aren’t living your ideal future.

How familiar does this sound: “it's too late to change direction now.” You’ve spent several years in a career you hate and the idea of change seems impossible – you’re convinced it’s too late. This is a lie! There isn’t a time of life that serves as an imaginary cut off point, age doesn't play a role in accomplishing your goals. What you do with your future is not permanently set in stone. If you want change in your life, go for it!

Your business needs to remain credible, and lying will never fail to ruin that. Stay credible by following through with your promises and remaining authentic. It’s okay for your goals to be reasonably aggressive, but when you're making a commitment make sure you do what you say you're going to do. Also, try to lay off the exaggeration. Stay honest and the customers will take notice, stretch the truth and the customers will see that too. 92% of consumers believe recommendations from friends and family over all forms of advertising: make sure what they say about you is good.

“I hate my job now, but I will be happy as soon as I [get the promotion/finish the project/collect my bonus/etc.]” Which is it? Small fixes are temporary boosters when it comes to feeling fulfilled, but you have to think long-term. Maybe this means starting your own business, or changing your businesses company culture or pursuing your true passions. Don’t wait for something you hate to suddenly get better, only you can remake your situation.

Question your narrative, discover what lies you tell yourself or to others. The truth will certainly lead to a more fulfilling, positive outcome. Find security in your authenticity -- honesty is the path to a happier, healthier you.

Do you feel that you’re ready to get started? Let FranNet connect you with the business you’ve been looking for. Ask us about a free consultation with a qualified and experienced franchise consultant. Our purpose is to connect the dots and make the transition from corporate employment to the freedom of business ownership manageable and safe.

How Involved Is Your Online Community?

One of these three thoughts quickly crossed your mind. It was either:

·      I don’t have an online community

·      Of course, they love me

·      No, they don’t and I forgot the passwords anyway

None of the above will lead to a engaged online community, so let’s focus on the first one.

“I don’t have an online community”

If this is you, then make it a top priority to get one going as soon as possible. Even if you think your business doesn’t need a social media presence or a blog or a website, it does. Building an online community means identifying, reaching out to, and entering into relationships with the online component of the diverse pieces that compose the sphere of your business. This will not only build your brand and widen your reach, but it will help fulfill the purpose you company set out to accomplish in the first place.

“Of course, they love me”

How do you know? This might burst a few bubbles, but thousands of friends don’t mean a thing in the social media world. The average Facebook user is shown 1,500 pieces of content out of the thousands of posts they have liked, commented on and people they follow. The chance that you are making a real connection to everyone on your friends list is very unlikely and even if they do see it, the chances of them actually commenting is even bleaker. To truly discover how well you are doing, make sure you are using the correct tracking/data collecting tools and that your content is genuine and thoughtful.

“No, they don’t and I forgot the passwords anyway”

This is a clear indication that your digital marketing needs to be revisited and revamped. A thriving online community is not merely a large quantity, it is superior quality that drives people to your social media and eventually to be loyal customers. You need to identify your audience, listen to what gets them excited and then build a significant presence. An absent, abandoned account might actually be worse than not having one at all. Treat it just as you would for any other part of your marketing plan – it is just as important.

Hopefully, after carefully rethinking the approach to your online community, the only thought you have now is, “I care about my online community and I will consistently strive to make it the best it can be.”

Do you feel that you’re ready to get started? Let FranNet connect you with the business you’ve been looking for. Ask us about a free consultation . Our purpose is to connect the dots and make the transition from corporate employment to the freedom of business ownership manageable and safe.