Message from Shoi...

Hi

A very warm welcome to new readers who've just joined us this past week as well as to our regulars.

The past week seemed to have whizzed by as well as dragged its feet. With some new challenges on the business front, I suspect this sense of disorientation was largely due to the way I've been handling the change these challenges bring and having some unrealistic expectations. It left me feeling adrift for awhile, and took some wrestling to clearly assess each situation for what it really is (and separating real concerns from imagined ones) and my "real" role in each.

It's been one heck of a journey ever since I started working on the "clarity" and "inner child" issues covered by Ray in the first part of his series "The Coming Alive of Internet Marketing". My biggest personal challenge is letting go of cherished ideas/ideals that don't work anymore in order to make room for (and create) new ones that can jive with "new" current realities. It's not been easy to break out of these comfort zones. Ray has been coaching me through the rough spots and I'm surprised he's not wrung my neck yet because I've been pretty resistant in a lot of areas. Thanks for going the distance with me, Ray, I'm grateful.

Coincidentally, Ray touches on all the above issues, and more, in his article today (more below).

Another thing which we've noticed since Ray started his series is there's been no unsubscribes?! It's a significant stand for eMasters to take, and we were expecting some backlash. Also, although the opening rates for our ezine have spiked to an all time high, we've hardly received any feedback from our readers regarding the series. I guess the jury's still out on us -- But, we have an interesting comment from one of our new readers, which we'll be sharing with you in our Feedback section below.

The Coming Alive of Internet Marketing series continues...

Today, Ray concludes the topic on "Clarity". The insights he shares today include "relative reality" in the relationships we form with others -- Read more in Ray's article "Relative Reality - Context, Goals & Objectives"

My thanks to last week's featured expert, Adam J. Kovitz of The NationalNetWorker, for his article on networking and partnering. Also thank you, Adam, for putting in a plug for eMasters/in-the-loop in your latest newsletter.

Next week, we'll be starting Part 2 "Due Diligence and the Question of Accountability" so be sure to join us for that.

If you like our series and you think it may help somebody, do forward this issue to as many of your friends as possible and encourage them to subscribe to in-the-loop Ezine.

Shoi's Pick

There's no Shoi's Pick feature today. We had a designer slotted in, but due to some unforeseen technical hitches she wasn't able to get her order in in time for this issue.

It's been quite a challenge to find designers/artists for this column. I've written to so many this past month and I've not been getting the results I'd hoped for. As this column is still pretty new, I guess "cold" contacts would not work as well as a personal recommendation could. Perhaps you could lend me a hand here -- If you like what I'm doing in Shoi's Pick as well as the values reflected in our ezine, and you personally know of any designers/artists/artisans who'd make a great feature here... I would be deeply appreciative if you could refer them to us.


Thanks for sharing your time with us today. Till we next speak... blessed be.

Editor

in-the-loop™ Ezine

Email Shoi

The Coming Alive of Internet Marketing - The Series

Relative Reality - Context, Goals & Objectives

© 2007 Raymond Siew

I'd like to thank Adam for his contribution last week. I am glad he brought up the need to have a vision as well as smart goals. I am going to complete the section on "Clarity" today and move on to "Due Diligence and Accountability". However, before I do that, I would like to address a point that has come up time and time again like a loaded gun. And this point is on relative reality -- You are right from your point of view and I am right from mine. If there is an idea floating around that can shoot you in the foot, I think this is it.

It seems to me that there are, very broadly, 3 types of relationships.

One is when we meet and pass each other like ships in the night. The encounter can be positive or it can be negative. Each encounter serves as a mirror to who we are by the way we respond. But yes, there are two relative realities here. Two journeys.

The second type are encounters that put us in a temporary relationship. Like a job or an unwanted guest. Here again, it can be seen as two separate realities. We can set boundaries which effectively say what is acceptable to us and what is not, and if we are to have a deeper relationship then our conditions have to be met.

In the third type, however, I believe there is a profound difference -- This is when we come into partnership, form a team, etc. The big difference here happens because we agree to a vision, goal or objective... and this fact now places a context to the relationship. There is now right and wrong.

Let me explain and try to put it all in perspective. We have a vision. But that is not enough.

What am I up against? My competitors. What are the expectations of my market segment (clients)? What would my clients expect in terms of quality and service? And how does that compare with what I have now?

We now need to have a realistic assesment of who and what we are: What are my skill sets? What are the skill sets necessary to achieve my vision? What are my resources, both financial as well as strategic partners?

With a strategy to get there, we can now bring in SMART goals -- Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Bound. Let me expand on measureable. In physics, work is defined as the force (effort) multiplied by the distance moved by the object. Another way of looking at it is, it says no work is done, no matter what the effort is, if there is no movement ie. no result -- Now this is a very important definition to me because...

This is the reality of business. This is the context of the vision. There is right and wrong here. You can be moving towards your vision or away from it. Wrong here means you are moving away. Wrong here means you are moving away from the agreement, the goal.

I believe this is the case anytime a person, a couple or a group makes a promise, a resolution or a goal. That is why goal-setting needs to be realistic or it can be very destructive. Perhaps that's where the saying "Be careful what you wish for" comes from.

And don't let that angry child, or anyone else, tell you otherwise. But you know that already. Also, right and wrong in this context will also need to be balanced by the need of relationships, so complications can arise. Please see earlier section on "Inner Child" -- To expand on that... I think some of the mental constructs, etc. serve to compartmentalise knowledge, to reverse decisions out of fear and finally, we cannot apply what we know to a situation. We cease to be authentic and our internal and external conflicting goals now serve to destroy the mission, the vision. M. Scott Peck thought very deeply on this and I recommend his work if you want to know more.

But this is something the child may need to learn -- Your understanding of reality changes daily if you choose to learn without fear -- Let me give you an example. I'll use chess. A beginner looking at a game will have a very different perception from a grandmaster. Essentially, the difference (apart from natural gifting) is the amount of thought, practice and thought again he has put into the game. His understanding deepens daily. I think this is also the same situation in business. As we go deeper into its practise and learn, we find that what we initially thought it was... and what it really is in reality... continues to change. It's a process, and I think it is God's process for us to deepen our understanding.

How does this "fact" help us in business. This is what I think -- Create the vision in terms of who we want to be in business in the end (Stephen Covey's "7 Habits"). Have a general strategy to get there. Gather new information of your reality in business daily in what works and what doesn't and keep moving on. Drop bad ideas fast (not easy) and re-think your strategy when sufficient information tells you something is wrong. Set up new smart goals and do it again.

I absolutely promise you what you thought was real in the beginning of the journey continually changes as you move on. In fact, maybe the only reality is change and you'll see that happening much faster on the Internet than anywhere else today. That is why I don't really advocate too much research before the start of any Internet venture... as what you think is real before the actual practise of the business becomes something else.

I'm sorry I can't show you any easy answers. I don't think there are any. What I can offer in terms of hope is... If you get it right, then the Internet will propel you faster towards success, heaven, faster than any other vehicle known to man today.

And networking is essential. I look at it this way -- Do you remember your physics and vectors? Vectors are forces, and forces above the horizontal (assuming your direction is up and vertical) take you towards your destination; and forces below take you away. To me, the really interesting thing about this idea is that an additional force creates acceleration. So get the right strategic partners, don't try to go it alone. Strategic partners do not have to be moving due North as in your strategy (although I think there should be conformity in values), but if they are heading above the horizontal... then there is synergy.

Two other things before I conclude...

One, the angry child is powerful. Don't ever underestimate him/her. The illusions are strong. Which is why I normally say, get a good business coach who can help you sort out the realities of business from the illusions. A good complement is to join a group that is grounded in reality in a caring and loving way. I would have recommended FCE, a group that M. Scott Peck started, but they have closed down after his passing. There is a new group formed and I am still in discussion with them on how best to introduce them to you.

Another thing that is very important, in my opinion, is to choose the right business, the right career. On the WWW, we have so many who seem to me to be in the wrong business. You may also seriously need to consider whether you are in the business of writing, for instance, or you are a writer. This is important. Because if you are a writer who is plying your craft, then you will need to qualify your vision because there are only so many hours in the day for you to write. But, if you are in the business of writing, then you can enlarge your vision although you will need other skill sets for running that business. Some points to consider:

• what I like
• what I’m good at
• what I have time/knowledge for
• what my resources are
• what my timeframe is (when I want an ROI)
• and also things like “just because I can doesn’t mean I should”

I hope this section has helped you to see more clearly the journey before you, and I wish you all the success your courage can bear.

Email your feedback to Raymond

About the author: Raymond Siew is the Business Development Strategist at eMasters. He has 21 years of corporate experience in deal-making, negotiations & business strategy and now shares his personal insights and knowledge. Raymond is also the author of the work "The Sentic Negotiator", a book that he is still writing and hopes to publish soon. The word "sentic" comes from "sentient" and denotes "awareness". In his book, Raymond demonstrates that self-awareness is the cornerstone of any successful negotiation. NB: This article DOES NOT come with reprint rights. It can only be distributed, reproduced or published in any ezines/websites in its entirety and with the author's resource box intact.

The Coming Alive of Internet Marketing TABLE OF CONTENT Introduction - The Nature of the WWW and How It Works Part 1 - Clarity Clarity by Raymond Siew Inner Child (I) by Raymond Siew Inner Child (II) by Raymond Siew Of Islands, Networking and Partnering by Adam J. Kovitz Relative Reality - Context, Goals & Objectives by Raymond Siew Part 2 - Due Diligence and the Question of Accountability Part 3 - Web-Based Multí-Level Markéting/Affiliate Programs and Its Business Model Part 4 - The Aftermath Created by Multí-Level Markéting & Affiliate Programs Part 5 - Summary and What is the Way Forward for Netpreneurs on the WWW?

[ Back to top ]

Comment from Lisa Lamoreaux...

Hi Raymond,

Am I under the spell of the Illusionist or unearthing a bit of reality? ;)

Hmmmm...I can't resist a fascinating dialogue...

...perhaps the role of artist in the context of your writing (which by the way, I really really enjoyed) among others, might be one who questions reality. The "observer" simply notices the questioner AND the responder(s). With this new knowledge and information, the "inner child" then takes the hand of the Muse and creates a new version of reality for the artist to play with....soon, a new "whole" far greater than it's parts reveals itself: art as emergent property - forcasting reality.

Hmmmm...so I change my mind - maybe artists are "forcasters"!

Reminds me of a book I like called "Art & Physics" by Leonard Schlain...I think he talks about this.

Cheers,
Lisa
www.Creative-Legacy.com

Ray's reply...

Hi Lisa

I too really enjoyed thinking through your comments.

Allow me to first state my perspective. I am a spiritual "realist". Since this is a term which, to the best of my knowledge, I coined, this is what it means to me -- There was a time when I thought that developing my imagination would be the highest expression of my creativity. Then Neale Walsh and another compelling book (I forget the name, I think it was called "A history of the world; something about everything") forced me to re-examine that assumption. I began to question if we can ever out imagine the creation of the universe. So to me this is now the ultimate reality, understanding our purpose in life by observing the clues that God has given us in both our outer and inner lives. I think she calls us to understanding and back to her.

So in my philosophy, yes the muse and the inner child holds hands (or is one) and is able to create a whole which is greater than the sum of its parts. But that also begs a question of the impartiality of the observer/artist. It seems to me that can only happen when we are stripped of our egos, biasness; calm inner storms and conflicts. Therefore, to the extent the observer is able to do that, the greater the connection to the inner child, the greater is the unleashing of creativity. Perhaps that is when God and us are one. One with the ultimate creator and artist. And yes I think we can forecast. Why not? If we can connect that deeply, in the moment, with our inner child, muse, holy spirit, God in us, God is us.

The realist part says that there is nothing esoteric or surreal or metaphysical about the experience. It's all real. We have only uncovered another bit of reality. The whole is only greater than the sum of our parts which in turn is the parts of other wholes as we see more of ultimate reality. Maybe this journey for mankind is asymptotic (ie. we approach but we never actually touch) except for the very briefest of moments for individuals in special circumstances. But I think we can certainly train, teach ourselves to stay more connected and to be less out of touch with reality.

Raymond

[ Back to top ]