The midnight workout

We live in a culture of appearances. Think, for a moment, about how many people you know — including yourself — who are constantly striving to project a certain image in order to impress, to communicate or even to connect with others. When it comes to social media, when is the last time you posted a photo that reflects your reality? Whether it’s a filter you used to enhance the aesthetic, or an image that is more of a momentary glimpse of time than an accurate representation of your life, we select and post photos that we want others to base their perceptions upon. And while this may seem benign enough, when you consider that social media is a mere microcosm of the world we live in, the implications become a little more meaningful. We have been conditioned to put on a façade when we want to give off a certain impression, or to tell people exactly what they want to hear....
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Change your words, change your life

Throughout human history, great leaders have used the power of words to transform our emotions, to enlist us in their causes, and to shape the course of destiny. From Winston Churchill’s focus on the “finest hour” to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s depiction of a “dream” we are well aware that beliefs are formed by words – and they can be changed by words. But what about the ability we each have within us to use words to ignite change, to move ourselves to action, and to improve the quality of our lives? We all know words provide us with a vehicle for expressing and sharing our experience with others. But do you realize that the words you habitually choose also affects how you communicate with yourself and therefore what you experience? For the past 35 years I’ve had the privilege of working with more than 50 million people and I’ve observed firsthand the power of changing just one key word in communicating...
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How to grow your medical practice

The paths of most medical professionals, like dentists, physicians and chiropractors, pose a conundrum. These individuals go through immense amounts of schooling, and then they work years – if not decades – to acquire the technical acumen and artistic skill they need to be successful at their chosen craft. And then, after dedicating this massive amount of time and effort, many take the entrepreneurial route, choosing to start their own private practice. It’s an entirely new journey, with a whole new set of skills – this time, in business. But where along the way did they learn how to become business owners? Where were they taught how to grow their practice and take it to the next level? For many, it’s the biggest (or only) gap in their education. Tony specializes in helping these types of business owners learn the core principles of business. At Business Mastery, he provides the tools and strategies for business growth and also the foundational psychology they...
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The power of user personas

If you’re a business owner, then you know there is a massive difference between starting a business and building a business. And the gap between a great idea and a great business is a tough one to close. Because it’s not enough to create a product or service. No matter how innovative, beautiful or extraordinary, if it’s not marketed in the right way to the right person, it’s never going to get off the ground. This is why “user personas” are so valuable. User personas are detailed composites of your customers that allow you to understand them on a deeper, more meaningful level, and, in turn, design a clearer, more productive and more successful marketing strategy. In short, they allow you to reach your target audience in the most impactful way possible. This is why you should focus on creating your user should before you focus on creating content, designing your website – or on anything, really. Because how much sense does...
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How to reprogram your mind

Are you living the life you’ve always wanted to? Or have you settled into the status quo? Most of us have a subconscious idea of what we think we deserve. And when life does not represent what we think it should be like, we experience frustration and discontent, which can spur us into action to make change. But this can work in reverse as well. So many of us end up sabotaging our success. What happens is, we start thinking that we deserve better, and we drop right back down to where we think we should be – in our careers, our finances, our relationships, our health, our general sense of well-being. What if you took active control of your mind and redirected your focus on making your life a masterpiece? What if you reprogram the way you think to design a life that gives you fulfillment, joy and passion? Your mind is the key to success. And if you want to live the...
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The power of story

When you think about a story, what comes to mind? Perhaps an enjoyable summer read, or maybe even a fable or fairytale. But a story doesn’t have to be confined to fiction alone. In fact, we tell stories every single day. How we see the past, how we envision the future – those are stories. How we convey a message, how we describe a product or service – those are stories as well. A pitch, a presentation, a plea – all stories. In fact, stories are a vital part of any business. And they are one of the most powerful tools you can use to engage your audience. Stories go far beyond simply relaying facts and data. Stories emotionalize information. They give color and depth to otherwise bland material, and they allow people to connect with the message in a deeper, more meaningful way. Those potential customers can then connect with your product, service and your entire business in a more...
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The Value of Merely Imagining a Test

The value of a detailed test case increases if you don’t perform it and decreases when you do perform it. The increased value comes from mentally walking through the test, which forces you to consider as many details as you can without interacting with the product-under-test.  This is more valuable than doing nothing. The decreased value comes from interacting with the product-under-test, which helps you learn more than the test case itself taught you. What’s the takeaway?  If an important test is too complicated to perform, we should at least consider writing a detailed test case for it.  If you think you can perform the test, you should consider not writing a detailed test case and instead focusing on the performance and taking notes to capture your learning as it occurs....
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