How To Stay Cutting Edge In Online Business

Let's face it, there's just way too much information out there for any one individual to try to keep abreast of. And yet, if we shut ourselves off from the world, we risk building our businesses in a vacuum and suffering on the bottom line. So how can we put structures in place that help keep us plugged in, with the minimal amount of energy and effort on our part? Here's a few tips.

1.) Remain open to all information, and use technical and human filters

First, don't try to stop the flow of information because you can't. Instead, adopt a soft and flexible stance towards it.

Subscribe to any and all things that are of interest to you. These things can be in your niche market or areas that are of interest to your customers. Bring on all information sources that will inform you and create a context for you from which to make decisions.

For the most part this means you'll get more email. This is simple to manage using filters. Create a dumping folder called "Library" or "Ideas" in your email program. Then direct the stream of information you've created into that folder.

From there, allot yourself an hour or 30 minutes each week to scan these publications. When one piques your interest, read further. If everything is bland, let it go. Delete or simply move on to your other work.

2.) Follow the work of a few leading-edge authors

Have you heard the saying that there is no new material, just new ways of presenting or interpreting it? Along those same lines, have you heard the idea that often it's the 3rd, 27th or Nth time a person hears a certain concept that it really clicks? Meaning that many people have said the same thing to that person, but not at the right time or in the perfect way for them to really hear it?

For these reasons, it's very worthwhile selecting a few authors that you find particularly unlock your thought processes. Certain authors have a way of putting things that makes you connect things well. Others seem as clear as mud and do nothing for you.

Once you find these individuals, follow their work. Sign up for their stuff, visit their sites, buy and read their books.

3.) Cultivate relationships with people around you, to keep an eye out for things of import

Whether this be your support team, your friends and colleagues or your customers, take the opportunity to educate them on what is of interest to you. They'll help you scan your environment and bring you pertinent information.

Staying cutting edge is a mentality. As you build your environment to include the elements above, your way of thinking will start to be shaped by it. Once your mind stretches to incorporate new ways of thinking, it won't be able to stretch back, so thinking small or bland will become a way of the past. Instead of feeling forced to keep up, let information flow around you. You'll save a lot of energy that way.

Andrea J. Lee coaches entrepreneurs and online business owners. As Thomas J.Leonard's General Manager, she helped build and manage the largest network and trainer of personal and business coaches in the world. Now the CEO of Andrea J. Lee Group of Companies, she writes, speaks and consults on Marketing, Internet and Business systems. For more helpful tips, visit www.39lessons.com

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Google News Updated : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:49:19 GMT Notes on a Milk Scandal - Wall Street Journal Canada.com Notes on a Milk Scandal Wall Street Journal - 5 hours ago By JOSEPH STERNBERG | FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ASIA It's a question I'd never expected to spend much time thinking about. France pulls tainted Chinese food BBC News Tainted milk prompts new Chinese standards United Press International Voice of America - The Associated Press - Xinhua - RedOrbit all 2,270 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:28:15 GMT GOP Alleges Nonprofit Voter Fraud - CBS News Boston Globe GOP Alleges Nonprofit Voter Fraud CBS News - 27 minutes ago (CBS) This week Sen. John McCain and his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, went after one of the nation's leading voter registration groups which focuses its efforts minorities and low-income families and now being investigated for voter fraud. McCain Campaign Calls for Investigation of ACORN-Obama Ties Washington Post Voter fraud accusations mar presidential campaign The Associated Press New York Times - AFP - Chicago Tribune - Huffington Post all 1,109 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:21:41 GMT Wall Street, markets continue roller coaster - Bizjournals.com NEWS.com.au Wall Street, markets continue roller coaster Bizjournals.com - 2 hours ago A roller coaster week on Wall Street ended with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 128 points Friday after bouncing back from almost 700 points down in the day. Video: Wild Swings Drive Morning Trading AssociatedPress Worst Week on Wall Street Ends Down ABC News WMBB-TV - Washington Post - WMDT - NEWS.com.au all 2,033 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:29:25 GMT Conflict Resolution Marked Career of Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari - Voice of America BBC News Conflict Resolution Marked Career of Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari Voice of America - 2 hours ago By Andre de Nesnera Conflict resolution marked the career of former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari who has received this year's Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to secure peace in various regions of the world. Video: Ex-Finland President Wins Nobel Peace Prize AssociatedPress Martti Ahtisaari gets a deserved Nobel Peace Prize for a (failed) plan Times Online The Associated Press - Sydney Morning Herald - TIME - AFP all 1,240 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:23:27 GMT Emptying the Pac-10 notebook - ESPN Los Angeles Times Emptying the Pac-10 notebook ESPN - 1 hour ago USC is a perfect 8-0 vs ASU this decade, last losing to the Sun Devils in 1999. Over the 8 wins, USC has averaged 39.8 PPG. The Trojans are going for their 400th victory at the Coliseum. Trojans sense an opportunity with Arizona State Los Angeles Times USC, ASU to avoid second Pac-10 loss International Herald Tribune AZ Central.com - East Valley Tribune - Arizona Republic - Examiner.com all 266 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:31:02 GMT Two Banks in Midwest Fail - Wall Street Journal WWJ Two Banks in Midwest Fail Wall Street Journal - 35 minutes ago By JEFF BATER WASHINGTON -- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Friday announced the closings of two banks, bringing to 15 the number of federally insured banks that have failed this year. Two banks fold, bringing total to 15 failures this year MarketWatch Regulators shut small banks in Mich., Ill. Forbes Bloomberg - Reuters - Detroit Free Press - WWJ all 37 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:14:00 GMT John McCain, Barack Obama on healthcare - Los Angeles Times Seattle Post Intelligencer John McCain, Barack Obama on healthcare Los Angeles Times - 21 minutes ago How workable are the presidential candidates' health reform plans? Here's a summary of their proposals and a list of online resources for more information. In this economy, don't count on comprehensive health reform Chicago Tribune Fact Check: Would Obama fine businesses that don't offer health care? CNN Political Ticker The New American - The Associated Press - MarketWatch - NJBIZ all 1,686 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:27:40 GMT Automatic Blogging Display RSS Feeds on Your Website

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