Volume V • Number 11 • November 2017 • $97
BUSINESS IS ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
expert interview with
4 Steps To Show Appreciation Over The Holidays
Allison Larsen
THE WHOLE PACKAGE
November 2017
ABOUT STEVE
About the Publisher, Steve Sipress If you want to grow your business slowly – or just maintain it as is, you’ll have to do that all on your own. But if you want dramatic growth in your income and lifestyle, then Steve’s out-of-the-box and time-tested strategies and tactics could be the keys to your dreams. You can benefit from Steve’s coaching experience and expertise to revolutionize your business – yes, even in this challenging economy – at one of the many in-person entrepreneur events he hosts, OR from the comfort of your own home anywhere in the world. You can also learn basic and advanced direct response marketing strategies and tactics from 150+ hours of video instruction, plus use any or all of Steve’s multi-million-dollar, proven “done-for-you” marketing materials at SSSMarketingUniversity.com. That website has been called The Single Most Powerful Client Attraction Program Available Anywhere, and you could be using it to skyrocket your income anytime you want, 24/7, along with hundreds of other sharp, successful business leaders. If you’re just starting up your new business, you’ll want to take advantage of all of Steve’s training, guidance and resources at NewBusinessAcademy.org. Steve is a successful and award-winning serial entrepreneur, who has created and built nearly a dozen successful companies of his own, and he can help you do the same – more quickly and easily than you’ve ever imagined. In fact, you can immediately use plenty of his simple and powerful strategies and tactics that work especially well in this current frustrating economy. You can discover the basics of Steve’s powerful “The WOW! Strategy™: How To Solve All Of Your Marketing Problems” by watching a short video at www.SteveSipress.com. Steve is a celebrated author, speaker and business coach who has established profitable businesses and helped thousands of ambitious and aggressive business owners, entrepreneurs, executives and sales professionals all around the world. He has written numerous newsletters and articles on sales and marketing for a wide range of publications and has appeared on radio and television, helping millions of people along the way. For over five years, Steve was the #1 “Dan Kennedy Certified No B.S. Business Advisor,” and was Runner-Up out of 25,000 members for 2010 GKIC Marketer Of The Year. If you want the very best, hard-hitting, no-nonsense, caring advice and help you can get, then “Straight-Talk Steve” could be exactly what you and your business need most. Whether you’re a current or future business superstar, Steve can help you get exactly where you want to go as quickly, easily and powerfully as YOU want – with massive results both short-term and long-term.
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www.SteveSipress.com www.SSSMarketingUniversity.com www.NewBusinessAcademy.org www.Facebook.com/SmallBizHelp www.Twitter.com/SteveSipress
When we first started, I was terribly in debt and we were just a few months away from bankruptcy. We started seeing a boost right away in our business, we took what Steve’s given me and we just started implementing and implementing, and it’s just totally transformed my business. Steve has helped me with my laser focus, he helps me implement, he’s taken my business to a whole new level. We went from a half a million dollars to a million dollars in two years. It’s just an incredible experience to know that where you think you’re just dead and things are horrible, to now anything is possible. I can see taking this to a whole new three or four types of businesses -- it’s going to be huge. Steve is all business, he is an unbelievably smart, brilliant man. I can’t say enough about him. Everything he’s told me, I’ve made so much money it doesn’t matter what it costs. They don’t make enough money in this world that somebody could pay me so I would stop listening to Steve. Steve is the exact reason why I have a retirement fund now. It’s probably illegal how much fun I’m having!”
Jon Bockman
Owner, Bockman’s Auto Care Sycamore, Illinois
Business Is All About RELATIONSHIPS
By Steve Sipress
Everyone knows that long-term success in business is all about relationships. But exactly what do we mean by that?
Over time, this should lead to more repeat business, more referrals, and more loyalty from your buyers.
Often, it takes many contacts for someone to go through the process of checking you out, while you check them out, to see if there is a good fit to do business with each other. Many times, a relationship starts out with a low-end sale to a relative stranger, but over time your job as a business owner is to create a relationship with that buyer.
You always want to be thinking of how you can build better and stronger relationships with everyone you come into contact with in your business. Sometimes these relationships can last a lifetime. Here’s an example of something that recently happened to me.
After you thank them for their initial purchase, here are just a few of the things you can offer them to start building a relationship: • • • • •
More help with solving their problem Something else that goes along with what they purchased from you Your weekly tips on how to make the most of their purchase An article or video where you tell your story of why you do what you do Testimonials or case studies of other people that you’ve helped
I got a Facebook message from someone I hadn’t seen in over 20 years. He was flying to Phoenix for a business meeting and wanted to meet for coffee while he was here. I shuffled my schedule around to make the time to go see him. Over 25 years before, he had interviewed me for a position with a door-to-door sales company. He then took me under his wing, taught me the ropes, guided me through ups and downs, and eventually promoted me into a management position with the company. (He even let me crash on his couch for a short time when I was homeless – but that’s another story for another day.) He went on to build an empire in that business, staying with them for 26 years (I left them after nine years). After his
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November 2017
BUSINESS IS ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
Technology has made it easier than ever to connect with people.
tremendous success with the company, he recently decided to move on to bigger and better things, and he contacted me for help with using direct mail in a new business of his. If we decided to work together on this project, we would both make a ton of money together.
I am always thinking of ways I can make people’s businesses and lives more profitable, more enjoyable, more fulfilling. That all starts with really caring about people, and treasuring the people I’m connected with. Then the right actions need to be taken to grow that relationship stronger and better over time.
I get calls and messages like this ALL THE TIME, from people I haven’t seen in 5, 10, 15, 20 years or more. If it isn’t happening with you, think about why it isn’t happening, and think about some ways you can build better business relationships.
Some people say that you shouldn’t mix business and pleasure. I totally disagree. I love my clients, and thoroughly enjoy spending time with them and working together on growing their businesses and improving their lifestyles. Some want more financial freedom, some want more time freedom, and some want both. I make it my business to help them get whatever they want, and to have lots of fun in the process.
Here’s one of the keys: Technology has made it easier than ever to connect with people. For example, I record a new Facebook Live Video every single day, and then publish it to my podcast and blog, and share it with my tens of thousands of followers via email and social media. But I don’t stop there, because the downside of all of this “connecting” technology is that often the interactions aren’t real or substantial. Virtual, electronic communication can’t possibly take the place of seeing someone in person face-to-face. Second best is getting on the phone with them and having an actual conversation, where you can hear each other’s voice. (I know, how strange of me to suggest people use their phones for actually making phone calls.) Way, way, way down on the list is thinking that just texting, emailing, and messaging people is the way to build deep, long-lasting business relationships. That’s a dangerous trap that I see far too many business owners falling into these days. Here’s a tip: You should love your clients and business partners. I genuinely love mine, and I’m always thinking about how to help them. When I meet someone new that I like and respect, I immediately think about who I can connect them to. When I see someone I haven’t seen in a while, I’m always asking them whether they’re still in touch with other people we both knew. If they’ve fallen out of touch with them, I offer to reconnect them.
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I highly recommend you do the same. Life is too short to do it any other way.
To find out more about Steve Sipress and how he can help you have more fun and make more money with your business, see the Inside Cover Page. To get new moneymaking strategies and tips from Steve and other top business-building experts from around the world, go to:
RhinoDaily.com or LessonsLearnedFromDonaldTrump.com
MANNY’S BLOG
November 2017
PANTING OR PAINTING: Why Choose Just One? In my never-ending search for new ways to unleash my creativity (and force myself to relax), I have taken up the noble art of painting. I had a lot to learn. When someone asked me which “medium” I would be using, I replied, “Certainly not one who would conjure up my late uncle Ernie. He scared me enough when he was living.” Another acquaintance asked, “Which wetting agent will you be using?” They have agents for wetting? I hope no one expects to collect 10 percent for all the times I’ve gone over the years. Readers who can’t think outside the realm of opposable thumbs may be wondering how I can handle a paintbrush. My momma told me not to talk with my mouth full. She didn’t say anything about not producing a mural of the founding of my hometown with my mouth full. And, yes, we canines are hampered by a different perception of color than you humans. Some of us cope by doing paintby-numbers projects. That hasn’t worked so well for my cousin Clerow’s son, who was never housebroken. He never gets beyond “#1” and “#2.” I’ve had a hard time settling on any one style. I mentioned to Steve that I wanted to dabble in “Impressionism.” Mr. Bigshot Comedian chuckled that the folks at Goodwill still talk about the impression I left on that old sofa we donated. If my jaws weren’t so tired from painting… I’ve also looked into “Primitivism.” I think that means paintings of the era before there were power windows
to make it easier for dogs to hang their heads out the car window. My pal Joey fancies himself more of a Romanticist. Or at least he does when there’s a table leg present. Don’t get me started on all the times his wife has tried getting him to go for therapy… I can’t even decide if I want to concentrate on Fine Art or do something more commercial. No, I’m not going to settle for a cliché like poker-playing dogs. Maybe Frisbee-chomping humans. I’ve wanted to inspire myself with the study of art history; but every time I mention anything about “the Old Masters” to Michele, she looks in the mirror, sighs, and dashes off to the spa or the hair salon. I wish I could find more inspirational models. Grant Wood couldn’t have painted “American Gothic” without that stoic farmer and his pitchfork. Most days, all I can find in the neighborhood is a slacker teenager playing with a leafblower. I don’t want to get lazy like my friend Herkimer. His idea of a “landscape” is a painting of an invisible fence. I don’t have any illusions about painting the Sistine Chapel. The only time I’m near the ceiling is when someone announces, “Hey, did you see the new cat that moved in down the block?” This is the year for my brush with fame! Keep watching your local art gallery for the sensational show “The Dog Did It!”
Manny (full name Emanuel or “Dog With Us”) brought non-stop joy, affection, and energy into the lives of Steve and Michele Sipress for over 13 years. He also shared his wit, humor and insights with readers here every month. Thankfully, as he got on in years and knew that his time on this Earth was growing short, he poured himself into his writing, leaving many, many columns behind, so that his fans can have the continued pleasure of being entertained and enlightened by him for a long time to come. He is no longer physically with us, but his memory lives on…
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expert interview with
Allison Larsen The Whole Package Steve Sipress: Allison Larsen, what a spectacular pleasure it is to have you here on The Rhino Daily Podcast! Allison Larsen: Thanks for having me, Steve. I’m excited to be here as well! Steve: Not nearly as excited as I am, and as my audience is about to be, because I gotta ask, tell me why… I know you’re excellent at it, but tell me why are you so passionate about helping people connect with their crowd? Allison: Thank you for asking that
question. This is something that I love to talk about, because I think it’s really important. People are asking me all the time, “Allison, why are you doing all of this connecting? What’s in it for you?” I get people all the time saying to me, “Do you have some kind of ulterior motive or something?” And when I explain to them my “Why,” it’s actually very simple. Steve, I’m going to ask you a question. Is it okay if I go deep here? Steve: In the very first second of the podcast? You will be my all-time favorite podcast guest, because usually
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people sit there and “blah, blah, blah” for a while before they do that, and my audience will love the fact that you’re immediately going to give them an in-depth, real, cut-right-to-the-core answer. I love it. Allison: Good. Get your deep-diving gear, on because I figure there’s not really any time to waste when it comes to connecting people and doing what I do. Here’s why I’m passionate about it. Steve, for a long time… I was just born with this desire to help people, to connect people, and that’s
EXPERT INTERVIEW
something that I was just born with. I really got into entrepreneurship in my late-twenties, and became a serial entrepreneur. What I found was that I had this message… And I can’t take credit for it. It’s things that people taught me and things that I learned, but I learned and was taught to put things together in a certain way when it came to networking, when it came to coaching, when it came to helping people improve their life, and by the time I was in my mid-thirties, I felt like I had this amazing thing – this message, this that could really help people. People didn’t see that, and I didn’t know how to help them see that. I actually had been pondering and praying – I’m a religious person – for years: “God, help me be an instrument in your hands. I just want to help people, as much as I’ve been helped with it.” And it was at that time that I was led to a mentor who helped package me correctly – a branding specialist – and I literally, Steve, went from a reach of two thousand to two million in about nine months. Now, I’m a Mom from Idaho, just to kind of give you an idea. I grew up in small-town Idaho, I’m a mother of four, I love being a Mom. I was a stay-at-home mom the majority of my twenties. Loved it. My kids are older now, but my third time ever in L.A., and really my first time ever in downtown L.A., I find myself on the red carpet, doing interviews at Walt Disney Concert Hall, with people walking on the carpet, like John Travolta and Halle Berry, and I’m just totally… Externally, I’m being all professional, but inside I’m kind of wigging out. “This is really cool!”
November 2017
Steve: I love that story, but most people having that success like you did would then be content with referring anyone that needs help to that person that helped you. What made you say, “Hey, wait a minute. I’m going to do that myself for other people?”
that question, because what I’ve realized, too, is that I can’t… I mean, I guess I could, but how much time would it take for me to build a TV studio, or to build a radio station? I have done my own events, and it’s a lot of work. But what I’ve found is that if I can refer people to the right TV station, or if I can connect people with the right radio station, or if I can connect people with the right mentor, the right stage, or the right person to help them brand, then they can get their message out to the world. So to answer your question, I’m doing just that. I actually refer and connect people. One of the ways I do that is through The Speakers Coalition that I created, where speakers have a place to house their bio and their headshots, and when events are looking for speakers, they come to me. Or when speakers are looking for events, they come to me. I’m just constantly connecting people. So it’s actually really beautiful. I’m able to help people on such a vast level that way, because I draw upon other people’s talents and skills and things that they’ve built to create a beautiful referral that’s bigger than I could ever create on my own.
Allison: That’s what I do. My whole business is about referring and connecting. And I’m glad you asked
Steve: I love it. It makes sense now that you… That’s exactly what you do, so let me ask you… You’re specializing
talking about, it was that media that helped me get my message out to the world. And instead of reaching dozens of people, I was now reaching millions of people. And I’ll tell you what: I went from really feeling like I had something more to offer the world, to going to bed every night feeling like I was making a difference in the world and that I was reaching a large crowd. So I looked at that and I thought, “I know there’s other people out there that have great products and great services, and I know if they just found the right platforms where they can reach their ideal audience and be able to reach them in the masses, that they would experience success and that they could help people on a greater level. So that’s why I’m passionate about doing what I do, about connecting people with radio, TV, with opportunities to publish their books, and opportunities to speak on stages as well.
But what I found was, in that nine months, I got a TV show, I got a radio show, I became an international speaker, I wrote a book! And what I found was that media was the best way to get my message across. As soon as I was packaged correctly, and people saw the importance of what I was
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EXPERT INTERVIEW
in helping connect speakers, people with a passion themselves… Let me just ask you this kind of a curiosity question: What’s the most “out there” type of speaker topic… What specialty have you… somebody you work with… somebody where you thought, “Wow! You speak about that? I never even thought of such a thing!” Is there anything like that? Allison: Oh my goodness. I have heard it all. Before I got into the space and arena I’m in now, I began as energy work. So if you want to talk about some interesting things, and I think there’s a lot of legitimacy to it, I think there’s a lot of people out there doing a lot of good things, but yeah, there are some people that are kind of out there. I don’t want to name any names or point out any people. I don’t want anyone to feel bad, but I have heard some pretty insane and crazy things. But the important thing is – and this is kind of a personal rule that I made for myself – and I think business owners sometimes forget to do this, and the people I work with forget about this, and that is if you’re in a space where you’re helping to promote somebody, do you believe in what they’re doing? My rule of thumb when it comes to helping anybody connect with an event, or a TV appearance, or a radio show, or whatever it is, my rule of thumb is that I have to feel like what they’re doing is making a difference in a good way in the world. And that’s something I adhere to and I tell people. And they say, “You can’t do that. That’s discriminatory.” And I say, “How is that discriminatory? That’s my personal rule. I have to believe that what you’re doing is making a difference for good. I’m not going to promote you, I’m not going to connect you with the people that I love and the people that trust me if I feel like you aren’t going do them right.”
it’s discriminating! Look it up in the dictionary: Discriminating is a positive word. You hear it in marketing: “Our wine is for people with discriminating taste.” It’s a positive thing. Of course I’m discriminating against your ridiculous hurting people. Which is another question I was going to ask, because nowadays trust is such a major issue, and partly thanks to social media, there is so much distrust and mistrust, and who’s who, and you don’t know, and what’s really going on. What do
Steve: First of all, where is that person? Let me get a hold of that person and shake him by the neck. Of course
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you do to really discern who is on the up-and-up and who you should stay far away from and not put your reputation on the line by recommending them to somebody? Allison: That’s a great question. That’s something that I’ve had to learn the hard way, but here’s what I’ve learned… To listen to the complete interview, go to: SteveSipress.com/magazine
Allison H. Larsen is an international speaker, author, host of the cable TV show Spotlight, founder of The Speakers Coalition, and co-owner of the Influencers Channel on Voice America. She has found great success in being able to “Connect with her Crowd” and “Monetize her Message,” and is passionate about helping others do the same by connecting them with platforms including events, speaking, television, and radio so they can reach their ideal audience. Find out more about how to work with Allison at: SoulIntuition.com
Steve Sipress The WOW Strategy™ Creator
To find out if The WOW! Strategy™ Results Group could be right for you, go to:
www.SteveSipress.com/results
Jon Bockman Sycamore, IL
“Steve is all business. He is an unbelievably smart, brilliant, brilliant man. I can't say enough about him. Steve has put probably more, I would say, thousands, and thousands, and thousands of dollars... I mean, I probably can't even put a true figure on it, because it keeps coming back, and keeps coming back, just more and more money all the time.”
“One suggestion that Steve gave me, well, without question, put $300,000 more in my bank account. And we are going to be using it forever. This is not a one-time deal. We’re going to be using this idea that Steve helped us with... and we’ll be using it until it doesn't keep working like it is. And so, the value over time could literally be way over even the $300,000 number.”
Mary Forte Bensenville, IL
Keith Lee Seattle, WA
“He's helped me learn how to market my business, and today I can say that we're more successful than we've ever been… I needed to learn how to market the business better to create more revenue, and that's what Steve has helped me with. The financial difference is considerable. We've probably close to doubled our revenues. We're on track now to do another close to $500,000 more than we did last year. So that's awesome. I do owe all of that to Steve.”
4 STEPS TO SHOW
APPRECIATION
OVER THE HOLIDAYS By Brian Tracy It’s the perfect time of year to be thankful. Even in the midst of the greatest difficulties you will experience in life, you can find things for which you are truly grateful. In fact, if you take a piece of paper and begin to write down the parts of your life you are grateful for, you may be amazed at how many items appear on your list. With the holiday season upon us, it’s a great time to show appreciation to coworkers, employees, and loved ones. By developing an attitude of gratitude, you will become warmer, friendlier, and increase your own self-esteem. An attitude of gratitude causes you to be more sensitive and aware of people around you. The more gratitude you have, the more gratitude you express, the better and more positive your personality is, the higher your selfesteem becomes, the more popular and liked you are by all the people around you. The habit of feeling and expressing gratitude to people, for all of the things in your life that you should be grateful for, has a wonderful effect on your personality. How To Make Others Feel Important One of the deepest needs in human nature is to feel valuable and important. By developing an attitude of gratitude, you begin doing everything possible to raise the person’s selfesteem and help them to like
themselves even more. You should imagine this holiday season that every person is wearing a sign around his or her neck, all day long, that says, ‘‘Make me feel important.’’
There are four key behaviors that you can practice over the holidays, and every day after to make people feel important. They all begin with the letter A:
In every interaction with every single person, you should respond to this basic human request. You should always be looking for ways to make people feel important and valuable as parts of your life. Since the holidays are beginning, it is also a good time to take a moment for yourself and decide right now what you want to learn and take action.
1) Appreciation Have an attitude of gratitude and take every opportunity over the holiday season to thank each person for everything that he or she does, small or large, in the process of carrying out their duties. Every time you develop an attitude of gratitude and say ‘‘Thank you’’ to a person, three major things happen: Their self-esteem goes up, they feel better and more valuable, and they’re
How To Show Appreciation Using The Four A’s
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4 STEPS TO SHOW APPRECIATION OVER THE HOLIDAYS
even more motivated to do more of the things for which they received appreciation in the first place.
experiences that you have had in your travels and work. Look back over the years that have passed and look at the years ahead. Think about the opportunities you have lying ahead of you, and you will be amazed at how many things you have in your life for which you can be truly grateful. No matter what your condition, you can be grateful for all of your senses, for the miracles of sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, and feeling. You can be thankful for the functioning of your body and for the health of your limbs. You can be grateful for the incredible gift of the life that you have lived up until now, and the great life that lies ahead of you.
2) Approval The second way to make people feel valuable over the holiday season is to express approval. Give praise and approval on every occasion for every accomplishment of whatever size. Give praise for every good effort. Give praise for every good suggestion or idea. Especially, praise people when they do something that goes above and beyond the call of duty. Praise immediately, specifically, and regularly. Whenever you praise people, they experience it physically and emotionally. Their self-esteem rises and they feel happy inside. And whatever you praise gets repeated. In fact, the definition of self-esteem is, ‘‘The degree to which a person feels himself or herself to be praiseworthy.’’ 3) Admiration The third self-esteem building behavior you can practice is admiration. As Abraham Lincoln said, ‘‘Everybody likes a compliment.’’ Continually compliment people on their traits, such as punctuality and persistence. This holiday season, compliment people on their accomplishments, both at work and in their private lives. Every time you admire something about another person, you raise that person’s selfesteem and make them feel happier. 4) Attention The fourth behavior, perhaps the most important of all over the holiday season, is the behavior of attention. This simply means that you listen patiently, quietly, calmly, thoughtfully, and without interrupting. True listeners hear what’s being said to them.
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wonderful experiences you’ve had in the past, the lessons you’ve learned, the books you’ve read, the movies you’ve seen, the songs you’ve heard, and the foods you have eaten. Think of the places that you have visited and the
During the holidays while sitting alone in your room, think about your current blessings and of reasons to be truly grateful. Develop an attitude of gratitude and practice the four A’s to show your gratitude towards your loved ones, coworkers, and employees. Thank you for reading my article. I wish you a plentiful holiday season.
Brian Tracy is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian’s goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. Get your free 12 Step Goal-Setting Guide at: www.BrianTracy.com
Be Thankful Over The Holidays Over the holiday season, think of the
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RHINO MONTHLY Volume V Number 11 | November 2017
CONTENTS:
1
Business Is All About Rela�onships
3
Pan�ng Or Pain�ng: Why Choose Just One?
By Steve Sipress
www.SteveSipress.com/magazine
8
4 Steps To Show Apprecia�on Over The Holidays By Brian Tracy
Manny’s Blog
4
INTERVIEW WITH
ALLISON LARSEN The Whole Package
Publisher Steve Sipress Successful Selling Systems, Inc. 20701 N Sco�sdale Rd Ste 107-509 Sco�sdale AZ 85255 (p) 773-236-8134 (f ) 847-232-1535 Ques�ons? Comments? Sugges�ons?
w w w.AskSteveSipress.com
Layout & Design Bobbie Miltcheva www.33graffics.com
Publisher’s No�ce: Copyright 2017 Successful Selling Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduc�on of any part of this work beyond that permi�ed by Sec�on 107 or 108 of the 1976 U.S. Copyright Act without permission of the copyright owner is unlawful. Neither the author nor the publisher make any express or implied warran�es concerning the legal or ethical appropriateness of any of the marke�ng documents, materials or instruc�ons in or enclosed with the magazine and/or your use of the same. If in doubt about the appropriateness or legality of any materials or instruc�ons, you should obtain competent guidance, just as you would with any marke�ng documents, materials or marke�ng plans you have develop ed or would develop on your own. In the interests of disclosure, we want to b e op en ab out how we may, from time to time, make money from this mag azine. Certain third-party links contained in this magazine may be affiliate links for which we get paid a commission if you buy the product or service through the affiliate link.