Having been out most of today, I have not seen all the postings on the Challenge but this one really caught my eye and I wanted to share…..

The first came early this morning from Dion Johnson -

OK, Yesterday night I had to make a difficult business decision and have a difficult conversation with someone I care a lot about, I was awake most of the night, wondering if I’d made the right decision, and thinking about how I may have hurt this lovely person. I think it was after 5am when I eventually fell asleep and I had to be out of the house at 08:30 this morning so I had definitely not finished sleeping when the alarm went off. I felt miserable on waking and didn’t want to do today. I was mega grumpy….and then I remembered the challenge. SMILE!!! So I di! I put a smile on; a big cheesy fake one! My daughter walked in the room and started laughing at me asking what on earth that ‘look’ was all about, then I started laughing… I started telling myself “Everything is going to be alright” And pretty soon, I began to KNOW….yes, everything IS going to be alright! Smiling works

I was so touched by this and how Dion had changed things round. This really illustrates the power of that smile, thanks so much Dion.

This poem was shared with me years ago and given what we are trying to do this week, how could I not share…..

Smiling Is Infectious
Author Unknown

Smiling is infectious,
you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner
and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realized
I’d passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile,
then I realized its worth.
A single smile, just like mine
could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,
don’t leave it undetected.
Let’s start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected!

Day 1 of our challenge and I just had to post some of the comments and sharing that has taken place. Most of us started with SMILE – Here’s a little insight….

Julie Stevens posted -

Hello All of you – I have been smiling away today – I had a client meeting first thing – I told the guy manning the Dockyard Barrier that it was a day to smile – he smiled, laughed and said he was going to tell everyone else that as they came through the barrier – smile and pass it on! I then went to see some contractors working on a fencing project for another client and smiled lots at them and that smile was infectious they ended up happy chappies digging holes and building fences. Then it was off to Bluewater to meet a friend to help her out with a business presentation whilst eating Yo Shushi – lots more smiles and giggles – then back home and I called a budding dressmaker (she did a great alteration to my dress), to invite her to a mastermind group she was over the moon and I could feel her smile coming back to me down the phone line! All in all a great day for smiling and its not finished yet – next to make Hubby smile!

Ruth Crone said  -

I’m pacing myself – smiling at strangers when waiting in car park (always amusing!), goofy grinning at hubby (response, what are you up to!) and turning the corners up every time I remember (feels new for me smiling when I’m on my own but I like it. Ha ha). Sure will be warmed up and ready to ‘beam’ while I network at an event this evening (always easier to smile in crowds.)

Then my dear friend and colleague Lou Beegan started with her favourite simple way, the second one – “do the most important thing first” and she commented-

The “12 Simple Ways to Rock your Business Challenge” starts here and now and I’m intrigued to see what happens. Together with the others who have taken up the challenge, I’ll be working through these tips one per week or fortnight and reporting back on my findings. Simple Way number one is simply Smile so what’s that all about?

Would you want to do business with someone who looks miserable? What about fed up or unhappy? No, of course you wouldn’t so the same goes for people wanting to do business with you. Make sure when you are out there delivering, networking and on show that you are wearing your smile. Even when on the phone a smile firmly planted on your face makes you voice sound different and more engaging.

There are so many good things about smiling. Firstly when you smile at people it’s very hard for them not to smile back and that in itself is a positive, just think how many people’s days you may have improved through that small act. Also smiling makes us more attractive and who can knock that. The very act is a face lift (cheaper and safer than botox) and that makes you look younger. This then results in people being drawn to you which is what we want when building our business and wanting to attract new clients. People tend to see smiley, happy people as fun and I don’t know about you but that sounds like the kind of person I want to do business with. I like to have fun in what I do.

If you’re feeling down or stressed, try smiling as it is known to lift your mood and as such it tricks the body making you feel better. It’s a natural drug increasing the endorphins in your body, relaxing you so that your blood pressure drops and your immune system works better. So, what’s not to like.

Fake it till you make it, although a good way forward is not ideal as a true genuine smile is an automatic response but as we’ve just heard the act of smiling makes us feel better so I would think that the fake one becomes real pretty soon.

In summary, if you want to stand out, attract others, live longer, make a difference and have fun, switch on that smile!

On Friday past, I was working with the wonderful Geoff Ramm – and he was showing some photos regarding marketing that he’d taken. One was of a very upmarket and elaborate flower shop, it was beautiful but empty. Standing in the middle of the shop was the person who was working there and in zooming in Geoff captured his expression. He was looking grumpy and miserable. Would you want to business with this person? Well, clearly no-one else did either.

Happy smiling.

The start of this wonderful event has been delayed to allow many more people to join in. I’ve had interest expressed but because next week is half term here in the UK, people are not going to be able to join and to be honest, I want to pass it on to more people so……it will be Monday 20th Feb instead.

Please tell others about it, here is the information again so you can send them to the blog, tweet the link, put it on Facebook etc or whatever you wish and get this info out there. It’s going to be a great way to help people implement these “12 Simple Ways”

We’ll start on Monday Feb 20th and although I say in my audio try one a week or a month, I’m going to suggest that we try a new one and work on it for two weeks and then move onto the next. In this way, we are keeeping it real for those who want to read how things are developing and we will see some tangible results. Also, if you feel that two weeks has not been enough time then you can always revisit certain ways in the future.

We do not all have to choose the same tip, so go with the one that speaks to you or by all means join in with me. I will post the one I am doing every two weeks on the Monday.

What I ask of you is to keep in touch and focussed by posting on the blog, on social media and also email me on heather@waringwell.com. Who knows what we jointly may be able to develop as a result of this. It’s rather exciting.

So, to recap:

• we start on Monday 20th Feb.
• you choose which ever you want to do
• we all post comments on the blog, on social media etc so others can share and benefit from our learnings
• we celebrate our achievements regularly.

If you haven’t got your free audio of “12 Simple Ways….” then sign up now on http://waringwell.com/

Hi there, this one is totally for the women.

I have shared many of Claire’s blog posts in the past as she always writes such interesting things which are full of value and this lady walks her talk too. Therefore, I’m delighted to help her promote this event and only wish I could get there too. Please pass this on to others too.

So over to the lovely Claire

OK, it’s happening…..are you joining in and stepping up to the challenge?

We’ll start on Monday Feb 13th and although I say in my audio try one a week or a month, I’m going to suggest that we try a new one and work on it for two weeks and then move onto the next. In this way, we are keeeping it real for those who want to read how things are developing and we will see some tangible results. Also, if you feel that two weeks has not been enough time then you can always revisit certain ways in the future.

We do not all have to choose the same tip, so go with the one that speaks to you or by all means join in with me. I will post the one I am doing every two weeks on the Monday.

What I ask of you is to keep in touch and focussed by posting on the blog, on social media and also email me on heather@waringwell.com. Who knows what we jointly may be able to develop as a result of this. It’s rather exciting.

So, to recap:

• we start on Monday 13th Feb.
• you choose which ever you want to do
• we all post comments on the blog, on social media etc so others can share and benefit from our learnings
• we celebrate our achievements regularly.

Onwards and upwards. Let me know if you’re on board. I have two definites already.

Have you signed up for your free audio download? If you haven’t, please do as I can honestly say that there is so much value in these “12 Simple Ways to Rock Your Business” that I know you will get loads out of them. Even if you only do one or two and they’re designed in a way that you can use them however you wish. If you do them all, well, you really will be going towards the stars!

You can sign up at the top of the page, yes, just up there.

Each tip is simple and totally free to implement and purposely so which means that whatever stage you are in your business, you can use them.

When I was writing them, I was asking myself just how thoroughly I used every tip and to be honest, I believe there’s room for improvement. So I’ve decided to set myself a challenge and go through all twelve, one by one. I shall be implementing and reporting back on both social media and in these blog posts and I’m going to try to get Alan Stevens, whose business I manage, to try this out too. Any of you interested in joining in?

If so, please respond to the post below or get in touch through Twitter or Facebook and let’s set it up.

Not sure if you’ve realised but the challenge has developed as I’ve been writing this and why not? We may as well all get as much out of it as we can. So look out for some more specific advice later, either today or tomorrow on how we’re taking this further.

Woohoo!

Posted on facebook this testimonial was a wonderful surprise, not asked for, it was clearly heart felt and isn’t that what we are all aiming for –

” You will be pleased to know I can’t stop blogging! It’s your darn fabulous workshop that’s done it! I now blog or write so much that my keyboard is getting worn out. I need to reign in in a bit. I am averaging one new newletter/blog a week….is this too much? I can’t remember what you said about frequency. Anyhow…just thought you would like to know that you inspired me. Stay perky. “

It was from the lovely Ruth Keel from http://www.superstyling.me.uk/ whose website you must check out. Ruth is a reasonably new contact of mine but we’ve had coffee together, had lots of chats on social media therefor building our relationship and she came on my December Blogging Masterclass. I would say that investing in our relationship has already shown results.

If you are interested in attending my blogging masterclasses in 2012, either comment below or drop me an email at heather@waringwell.com and if you’d be interested in finding out more about asking for and using testimonials or investing in building relationships again comment or email me.