Are you at a crossroad in your life where you want the after to be better than the before? Do you feel as though your life is not on “purpose”? Are you scared of what the future may hold for you or angry at what has happened in the past? If any of these themes ring true for you, than I would ask you to let go, and surrender.

I am often asked what the term Spiritual Surrender means. To me it is about living each moment as it comes and not worrying about what has taken place in the past or what may happen in the future. It is about being certain that each moment of your life is being lived exactly as it is supposed to be to learn the lessons you were brought here to learn. My belief about surrender is based on metaphysical law. I believe that we create our destiny through our thought process. If I am in the state of surrender than my truest thoughts are always, “Thy will be done”.

I came to this place of surrender the hard way. I was an incessant worrier who grew up in a household that was riddled with fear. My dad was an independent insurance agent and everything in life revolved around how it could hurt us and what we could do to stop this from happening. Safety was a BIG issue in our family and because of this, I never felt safe. I developed both depression and panic as a young child and it has only been through a continued practice of complete surrender to the moment that I have been able to overcome this. It is a daily practice as you will soon find out.

The breaking point for me came when my son joined the military days before 9/11 and I was faced with his deployment to war. Just to make my point here, my son just called me as I was writing this article to ask me the name of the cemetery in our town. He is filling out some form for the army and it asks where and how he would like to be buried. Not exactly what I wanted to talk about today!

It is so funny how Spirit works and I just have to get a giggle right now.

Spirit: “So you want to write an article about Surrender?’

Me: “Yes I do?”

Spirit: “Do you really think you have mastered this enough to write about it?”

Me: “Yes I do.”

Spirit: “OK”

Phone rings: I notice the caller ID is my sons

Me: “Hey son, what is going on?”

Son: “Could you tell me the name of the cemetery in town?”

Me: “Why?”

Son: “I am filling out some forms for the army on how I want to be buried.”

Me: (gulp) “Are you kidding?”

Son: “No, and would you like to pick out my casket or have the army do it?”

Me: “Tell the army I will take care of all arrangements.”

Son: “OK, bye.”

Me: “Bye” (deep breath)

The fear of losing a child, my deepest fear, has just reared its ugly head. But I get this lesson and I have mastered it. I will not go into the fear but instead I sit back and find the place within myself that knows God is in complete charge and watching over both me and my son. All is well and I have nothing to fear. I am practicing what I preach in this moment, in the now, I am surrendering this conversation to God. What I desire for my son and surrender to God, is his perfect heath and safety today, tomorrow and always. I envision him alive and living out his life happily.

If you can live each moment as it comes and not worry or fear what might happen in the future, then you can be at peace. If you can look over all of your life up to this point and believe that it has all happened for a reason and was perfect. You can be at peace. What good does it do to rehash your past and all the negative things that may have befallen you? This just keeps you prisoner to that same past and you can never move into the bright future that God would have for you. If you are able to live this moment and then the next, accepting all that may come as perfect, then you can be at peace. This is surrender.

You can get closer to the state of surrender by following these steps:

1) Every time you think something negative or are in fear, reverse your thought to encompass something positive about the situation. Find a positive perspective to what is going on. There is always something good that is taking place and it is your job to find it.

2) Believe in a positive outcome. When the “world” tells you something is impossible. Don’t believe them. Believe all is possible and feel your desired outcome all the way down to your bones. You must believe with all your heart. Ask others to believe with you.

3) Intend for the outcome you want, not the outcome you fear. Don’t even let a minute of your thought process be on anything other than the intention for the perfect outcome. Intend for the impossible. Intend for the miracle. Intend for peace of mind. Intend to feel the presence of God.

4) SurrenderLet Gohave no attachment to the how, why, where or when. Just believe. Hold your thoughts on the positive. Hold your belief in the positive. Place your intention on the positive. Surrender.

I bless you on your journey.

For more information on Spiritual Surrender, please visit us at http://www.isurrenderthis.com. and see the powerful tool, “I Surrender This” that is helping people all over the world release their fears and live a more peace filled life.

Free “I Surrender This” e-book available on website.

Lisa Sullivan is the creator/facilitator of “I Surrender This”

E book, Fear, Intention, Letting go, Lisa Sullivan, Peace, Spiritual Surrender

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Increase your salesin five minutes. This article is the third in a series of five articles probing the five critical points influencing how you find a steady stream of customer for your business.

Customers Buy Benefits

You want more sales? Customers buy for one reason. They buy because your product or service has a benefit they want. Telling your customer your product has a 10 year warranty is a product feature. Telling them that in over 400 roofing jobs last year, there were no leaks, no call backs and no broken tile is selling the benefits your customer wants. Sell customer benefits and you will increase your sales.

Why You Sell Features

Bottom line, selling features is easier. Features are the visible things you see about products and services. Features are the things you see, touch, feel and smell.

Selling features is your self-interest. The products and services are your life-blood. You live with them every day. You know them inside and out. You love talking about them!

Identifying the benefits each customer wants it tough work. Customers are unique. Each buys for his or her own reason. It is easier to talk about common product features rather than uncover unique customer benefits.

Your Five Minute Exercise to More Sales!

The five minute exercise is called “SO WHAT.” When you complete this exercise, you will change your from selling product features to selling customer benefits. Remember, customer benefits are what sell! Here is how it works.

You create a five minute dialogue between a pretend customer and yourself. It’s important to speak this conversation out loud. Start with one of your most popular business features. Explain the feature to your pretend customer. Then listen as the customer says, “so what?” Now answer the customer’s so what question. Then listen as the customer says, “so what?” to your response. Again answer the customer’s so what question. The customer again responds with a “so what” question. Keep doing this dialogue until the customer no longer asks you a “so what?” question.

Now, you have identified a customer benefit!

Check Out This Example

This is how an insurance agent used the exercise. I asked him, “What distinguishes you from other agents?” He told me, “I find the cheapest and best policy for my customers.” I responded, “So what?”

He said, “Well, unlike other agents, I customize each policy for my customer.” I said, “So what”.

He answered, “As part of my program, I promise to keep my customer informed about any policies changes that may benefit them in the future. ” I asked “So what”.

He responded, “The customer has the security of knowing that they have the best program and best costs for their insurance.” I said, “So you are guaranteeing me that I can go to bed at night and not worry that I am paying too much for my insurance?”

“Exactly,” he exclaimed, “That is the security I provide each customer with my insurance program!”

By using the SO WHAT exercise, the agent moved from selling the “cheapest rates” (business feature) to providing the customer the security of knowing he will always have the best rates (customer benefit).

Which agent would you buy from; the one with the cheapest rate or the one that provided you with security about your rate and policy?

Conclusion

Now, you have a simple way to make more money by improving your sales at no additional costs! Use the SO WHAT dialogue with each of your business features and start selling customer benefits. For a special report that shows how the five critical pieces work together in getting more customers for your business, Send an email to al@hanzal.com with subject line, “Special Report.”

Copyright Al Hanzal, 2004. All Rights Reserved

About The Author

Customers have been using Al Hanzal’s materials to improve their sales and marketing skills.

al@hanzal.com

business sales, customer sales, sales, sales consultant, sales tips

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Risk management is an important element in managing your business. You have a wonderful plan for your business, so you want to protect it against risks.

Qualified Advisors Help You
Protect Your Business
It is essential that you find qualified advisors to help you with the legal aspects of protecting your business. Interview your potential advisors to find a fit in personality, objectives, and business philosophy. Trust your gut feeling; you haven’t become successful in your business by ignoring your intuition!

Here are the four types of qualified advisors who can help you with business management and risk management concerns:

Accountant
This is probably the most important advisor you can have. An
accountant will help you get your business off on the right footing. Not only will he/she set up your books, but you’ll also receive help with management, tax reporting, and strategic planning.

Insurance Agent
Insurance is a complicated issue. Lawsuits abound in our society and virtually all businesses are at risk. You may also be liable for acts of employees or people under contract to you. “Better safe than sorry” is an old adage that applies to insurance coverage with your business. Your liability may extend to your personal finances, also, depending on the type of business you chose.

Banker
There may be a time when you need outside capital for your business. You might need new equipment, a new computer/cash register, money for expansion, or cash flow management. If you have a relationship with a banker when you start your business, he/she will know about your business when you need that extra cash or extra help.

Attorney
You need an attorney who specializes in business issues. The best way to find an attorney is to ask your accountant or banker for a referral. Business law is a complex world, so it’s important to start out right.

The cost of finding advisors may seem high at first, but should be included in the start-up costs of your business. Your advisors will save you money in the long run. You may find that your accountant can give you the advice you need to get started. Remember, “Better safe
than sorry.”

Writer and certified “tea professional” Sally Jones has been recognized by the Specialty Tea Institute after attending a series of classes and exams and has been awarded its highest level of certification obtainable at this time. She publishes tea business information on her main website Tea Business Guide.

qualified advisors, risk management

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