If you’ve been following trends in exercise and fitness over the past few years, you've probably heard the phrase "core strength." In anatomy, the core refers to the body or trunk (minus the legs and arms). Core strength supports the spine, improves body control and balance, and increases power and improves athletic performance.

Core strength develops your center of power. Though it’s the most important element of a stable body, assuring the transfer of energy during normal fitness and exercise, many people pay little attention to core strength because there's nothing flashy about it.

Jayme Broudy worked for years as a general management consultant who worked with a variety of business owners across many industries. Her challenge was that she struggled to find clients because she lacked a clear, focused target market to guide her marketing efforts.

In 2006, Jayme wanted to reach better, more qualified prospects. After realizing that building contractors--from plumbers, to electricians to roofers--were traditionally her best clients, she developed a Super Niche marketing strategy targeting the building contracting industries.

In the good old days, businesses could plan their marketing campaigns based on a fairly consistent economy and consumers’ willingness to spend. For decades, companies could conduct initial marketing planning and research, followed by money, time and resources, and good results were often predictable.

No more.

The recession has profoundly altered consumer behavior. Now, as home values plummet, stock portfolios shrink and company profits erode, prospects are less likely to purchase items they perceive they can’t afford and thrift is back in vogue.

"The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms -- greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge -- has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed -- you mark my words -- will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."

Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko, Wall Street (1987) 

Helene Solomon, a principal in the Boston-based strategic communications firm Solomon McCown & Company embraces strategic alliances to establish her firm in prime industries. Solomon organizes an educational panel discussion series titled SM& Presents and, since 2003, has organized seven panel events comprised of Solomon principals alongside guest experts, showcasing topics that align with the firm’s expertise in strategic communications.

One morning, you open your inbox and find several e-mails that will
boost your business. There is an invitation to speak at a local group
comprised of your best prospects. Several emails have arrived from
people who've "heard of you" and inquire about your services.

There is a message from a potential joint venture partner who has
invited you to be a guest on a teleconference that will reach 500
people, all of them prospects. Later that day, a journalist calls. She
wants to write a story about your business, which she heard about on a
radio interview you gave weeks earlier.

Is this a fantasy? No. This could be a typical day in your life as a published author.

I recently received an inquiry on my website from a prospective client. It was a local human resources consulting firm that wanted to learn how my Personal Fame Program could help them expand their corporate team performance services within the Silicon Valley business community.

Although it was not unusual to a receive prospect inquiry online (most of my sales leads do in fact come through my website), it was interesting that this particular prospect resulted from publicity generated a few days earlier, when I was promoted as a guest on a colleague’s teleseminar.

Recessions are self-fulfilling prophecies. At the first hint of a slow-down, businesses start to worry. They lay people off and pull back their investments in new initiatives because no one wants to be the last one off the train. Other businesses then react to hearing of the layoffs and pullbacks. They start to stockpile cash, too scared to carry out their plans for promotion and expansion. Fear and negativity rule! Once they decide things will get bad they do get bad.

Economic storm clouds gather on the horizon. Headlines run from grim to apocalyptic. Investors are losing fortunes. Housing is in a downward spiral. Financial institutions warn of a crisis. The White House hopes for a fiscal stimulus via tax cuts. Any day, consumers and companies could slash spending and trigger an economic downturn. 

Public speaking showcases your knowledge to people who are interested in hearing it. Speaking can be the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to establish yourself as an expert, and gives you tremendous credibility that increases over time, often helping you close sales before you leave the room.

Without fail, almost every speaking engagement I pursue is profitable. After a talk, many audience members contact me and become paying clients. Others purchase my book and information products, or join my mailing list. Speaking has helped me expand my network, generate referrals, and form alliances with joint venture partners.