The 3 Essential Elements for a Successful Social Support System

The 3 Essential Elements for a Successful Social Support System

By Sandy

The world of online marketing, ecommerce and lifestyle entrepreneurship can be an isolating one. Yet, humans are social creatures and thrive from having a social support system. It leads to better and faster learning experiences, increased positive behavior and connections to additional opportunities. Business leaders today absolutely must put a system of support into place.  Without it, one runs the risk of losing touch with customers, new technology and trends and overall falling behind.

Not only has implementing this social support system accelerated the launch of my online store, Get Unrobed, but it has done the same for many of my peers. I have seen members of my mastermind group soar to the top of iTunes in days, launch eLearning systems with success and increase their total audience in an amazingly short period of time. Peers in my online course have launched many successful ecommerce sites in a much shorter period of time than those struggling alone. So, today, I’ve given you a quick rundown of three essential parts to any business leader’s support system.

Find a Structured Learning Environment

From my experience working with college students, I know that many of them expect learning to cease once their diploma is in hand. Unfortunately, this mentality won’t get anyone very far. Learning might become less structured once formal schooling is completed, but that only means one must take more initiative to get ahead. This also means that only the most motivated will seek out ways to increase their knowledge outside of “the school of hard knocks.”

When I first decided to open an ecommerce site, I quickly sought out a course that could teach me everything I needed to know about getting started. Luckily for me, and for you, we live in an age that caters to information seekers. Information is available online, 24/7. However, this doesn’t mean that all information is quality information. Although I could have spent hours, days, weeks even months, searching the internet and finding a bread crumb trail of information to put all the pieces together, it was much quicker and easier to instead search for a quality course.

You have a few options here. First, you can enroll in a specialized course at a local college, you can arrange to attend an intense training program that might require traveling and lodging, or you can enroll in an online course.

Today, many business leaders are producing online courses. Personally, I think this is a great option. First, there are many to choose from. Second, they are cost effective and third, you have access to a professional in the field who is knowledgeable on the subject, right from your home or office.

If you do select the online route, be sure to have a system in place for staying organized and a timeline for moving through the course material. Not everyone will reap the benefits of a course. Only those dedicated to the work, the readings and who put the steps into action will come out successful.

In 5 Tips to Succeed in an Online Course by US News, they suggest following a consistent schedule with a dedicated work space, just like you would if your professor set up a course that you were required to attend in person. This structure will keep you accountable so you don’t fall behind and end up wasting time and money on the course.

Join a Mastermind Group

In addition to a formal learning environment, you’ll need a group of peers that you can connect with, share ideas with and collaborate with. A mastermind group is a great way to network with other like minded individuals who are on the same path that you are on.  The now famous quote by Jim Rohn, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with,” actually has roots in social science.  Humans have good reason to mimic one another. It is essential to our survival. So, if you surround yourself with individuals that exhibit particular behavior, you will likely begin to pick up on that behavior as well.

A mastermind group allows you to surround yourself with highly motivated and focused individuals that are exhibiting behavior worth picking up on. If you want to change your behavior for the better, surround yourself with peers that are smarter than you, more motivated than you and more experienced than you. Your actions will follow shortly.

Secure a Personal mentor

Although the above two options are magnificent places to start, having a one on one relationship with someone who is where you want to be in the future will give you inside access to knowledge and a personal “in” with a more successful network of peers that you would otherwise not have access to.

How do you go about finding a mentor if you are just starting out, or don’t have access to highly successful people? In Tim Ferris’ popular trilogy (The Four Hour Workweek, The Four Hour Body and The Four Hour Chef), he explains how to contact people who can help you learn at an accelerated pace. He suggests contacting someone who was at the top of their game about 5 years ago. This gives you a better opportunity of connecting because this person will be less busy and more willing to take on the responsibility of a mentee. Reach out to a few people and ask them a question related to their field of work. Don’t make the question too simple, it should be something you can’t discover with research, something only they can answer. After you make this initial contact, continue the dialogue and see if you can develop a relationship.

If you are interested in a more active relationship, you could ask the person directly if they will be your mentor. They might be willing to take you on as an apprentice in exchange for a fee or in exchange for work.

The bottom line: Don’t go it alone. Although the internet, smart phones and other technology has taken us further from direct human interaction and brought more information to our fingertips, it is still quicker and easier to learn from those who have done it before, and those doing it now. In addition, you will start to create a network of strong, motivated peers that can help you in the future. Set up your social support network and start accelerating your success.

Sandy Donovan

Sandy is the owner of Get Unrobed – an online retail store where you can find a kimono robe or a set of bridesmaid robes. In addition, Sandy is a communication professor in Nevada and interpersonal communication researcher.

How to Buy Homes Without Borrowing From the Bank

Don Nay has purchased more than 3,300 residential properties during the past 30 years and has never borrowed money from a bank to purchase a home. Now he wants to teach other people in Southern California how to buy homes the same way he did.
“Banks are financial institutions, not people,” explains Nay. “They have a cookie-cutter approach to making and servicing home loans in Southern California that is without concern for the person responsible for repaying that loan. I figured it was time to share what I’ve learned about the home buying process so that it might just help a few folks to buy a home or avoid foreclosure. It might help wake the banks up, too.”

I live in San Bernardino County and this county has been hit the hardest with foreclosures. Real estate has also been tough in Riverside County. There was an increase in foreclosures by 34% in the first part of 2013. I meet a lot of agents who say now is the time to get back into the market. I know people HAVE to be educated. The market is different. Even if you have experience, it’s best to learn what is working now and why. Don recommends a Purchase Money Mortgage and he can teach you how to use it.

Don Nay will conduct three free workshops that provide an overview of his approach to home buying. The free workshops will take place at Hilton Orange County, 3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 12:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m.; Thursday, September 12, 2013 6:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and Tuesday, September 17, 2013 from 12:00 p.m. to 3 p.m.
He will also conduct a three-day, in-depth seminar where he provides detailed information on how to use his process to purchase homes without bank loans. The seminar will take place on Friday, September 20, 2013 through Sunday, September 22, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Hilton Orange County, 3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

Watch this video!

To register for the free workshops or the three-day seminar visit  www.donnayzerorules.com call (800) 596-8196, or email donnay@don-nay.com.

Crowd Funding: Dr. Wright Talks with Michel Shane

Michel Shane kissed his daughter Emily goodbye for the last time in April 2010.  As she walked alongside the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, to meet him for  ride home following a sleep-over, a speeding motorist swerved off the road and struck her, killing her.

Emily became yet another victim of a road nicknamed “Blood Alley.”

Shane, an executive producer of Catch Me if You Can and I, Robot, hopes to end the senseless loss of life – in his community and others across the country – by doing what he knows best: telling the story on film. 

He has launched a Kickstarter campaign, which runs through Aug. 20, to raise the money to make a documentary on his daughters story, the dangers of the PCH and how communities across the country can help make their notorious highways a better and safe place.

Michel Shane is a filmmaker, producer and co-founder of Hand Picked Films. He’s best known as the executive producer of “Catch Me If You Can” and “I, Robot,” along with his business partner Anthony Romano. On April 3, 2010, Shane’s 13-year-old daughter Emily Rose was killed by an erratic, speeding motorist on Pacific Coast Highway, a road that has become notorious for motorist and pedestrian fatalities. Lined by homes on one side and ocean on the other, it serves a community of 13,000 but draws hundreds of thousands of motorists on holiday weekends. Recognizing that many communities have a deadly highway, Shane hopes to provide a “template for change” using his documentary as a catalyst.

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