Archive for the ‘Entrepreneurial Mindset’ Category

One of the barriers that stops many women entrepreneurs dead in their tracks from getting off the ground running, and declaring to the world, “We’re open for business” is fear.

-Fear of not being taken seriously.

-Fear of not appearing competent.

-Fear of what others may think or feel about them.

-Fear of failure.

Fear can be paralyzing to say the least, and if gone unchecked will dimish any hopes of who you are or who you are becoming as an entrepreneur.

Taking small steps to overcome the “fear factor” is necessary to stay the course:

1. Simply acknowledge your fear.  Write them down and get it these negative thoughts out of your head.

2. Envision what life would look and feel like without it’s existence…Paint a vivid picture of  life without limitations…now, tell me how does that feels?

3. Reframe how you see fear.  We’ve heard time and time again:  fear=false evidence appearing real. But let’s go beyond that. What if you saw fear as an opportunity for personal growth, and invitation for increased faith and reliance on Divine power to pull through?  Empower yourself by trusting and believing that whatever happens you can handle it!

4. Face fear head on. That’s right!  Put on the boxing gloves and commit to going the whole 12 rounds. But in order to get to round 12 you must start at round 1. Whatever it is that holds you back from becoming, take one small step forward — and then another, and another,  and watch your confidence soar and fear vanish!

Overcoming fear is only one of the steps to developing an incredible  mindset for sustainable long term success.  But there’s more. 

Come find out:

Free teleclass: 5 Strategies For How To Launch While You Work, August 31, 9:00-10:00pm EST

YOUR ASSIGNMENT:  Write out your vision for a life of freedom. Be specific…include every intricate detail that you can think of.  Here are some questions to get you started:  What does a life of freedom mean to you?  What does it  look like to you?  Your family?  What does it feel like?  What kinds of activities are you engaging in daily? weekly? monthly? And under what terms?   How much time are you devoting toward self exclusively?  With loved ones and friends?  How will ”being” and “becoming” on your own terms  change your life for good?

Tomorrow will be the first day of Brendon Burchard’s Experts Academy Training.    I am filled with much expectation of what will be and excited about all that I will gain from this experience.

As a successful entrepreneur it’s important to always invest in personal and professional development.  With you as the heart and soul of your solo-business, it’s up to you to learn continuously.

Top 10 reasons why learning is key:

• Advances your business faster
• Opens up the door to new perspectives, insights, and new ways of thinking
• Makes you become more competent and feel more confident in the work that you do
• Sets you on the fast track to profits
• Helps you overcome obstacles that block your success
• Instills both knowledge and wisdom for future business development
• Makes business building feel less daunting, but more interesting and fun
• Facilitates creativity and innovation
• Fosters business mastery and expert status
• Prevents you from making costly mistakes and unnecessary setbacks

You see, as you evolve, so will your business. 

A business that is stagnate is one that is no longer moving forward and will cease to exist. 

When you commit yourself to ongoing  personal and professional development, you will set yourself a part from all the rest and thrive. 

Here are some practical ways to continue learning and developing:

- Capitalize on opportunities to use professional development monies from your employer.  Be creative.  Seek workshops, seminars, and conferences that foster personal and professional growth for your job but also benefits you as business owner. 

-  Read.  Choose publications  that teach you ways to advance your business or heighten your understanding of the pressing issues pertaining to your industry or clientele.   This also helps you  formulate your own perspective of what solutions are needed or missing.  With this understanding you can fill that void and better position yourself in the market as an expert on your topic.

- Learn from the masters.  Yup!   That’s what I’m doing this weekend    Seek guidance and understanding from those who have been where you are, and know where you’re going.  Avoid spinning your wheels and encountering needless set backs in your business based strictly from lack of knowing.

- Jump right in. We’ve all heard the expression, “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.”  Sometimes the greatest way to stretch and grow is simply by doing.  Rolling up the sleeves and experimenting with a new idea or approach can be the powerful catalyst to move your business forward.  It’s liberating and encouraging to see the fruits of your labor manifest into very positive results in your business.

- Get coached.  A coach helps you develop strategies for success, and formulate your most important personal and business goals. Working with a coach accelerates your business building progress by challenging you to stretch beyond places of comfort.  This helps you leap frog to greater profits more quickly.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT:  Always assess value when choosing any form of professional development. 

Ask yourself three questions: 

-What is the cost of not knowing this information right now ?  Time?  Energy? Frustration?  Money?   

-How will acquiring this knowledge help me grow my business? (Hint:  think measurable obtainable results.) 

- How soon before I see a return on investment?

If you missed my teleinterview Wednesday with my expert guest, Ms. Carey Peters, Money, Marketing & Soul Coach and Creator of Coach Tools To Go, you missed a treat!!

As I was preparing for this interview I reflected on the fact that so many women coaches and service entrepreneurs are clear about their desire to pursue a more God purposed life by helping and serving, making a greater difference in the lives of others, and more money on their own terms.

I thought about how so many of you have sought formal training to perfect your skill as a coach and service provider.  You use your God given talents, gifts, and professional experience to start, launch, and grow your business.  

But it hasn’t been easy. 

You’ve investing time and energy toward learning business tactics and strategies, and following prescribed formulas for success… yet you still struggle to make progress. 

My advice - stick with it!  Know that you are enough –  smart enough and capable enough.  

All that is probably missing is the right mindset for business success. 

The bottom line is you can’t attract prosperity  in your life and business  if  your passions, beliefs, thoughts, and actions are counter to receiving abundance.

Here are some things to think about and start doing TODAY to create a money mindset:

• Function day to day, as if you are already wealthy…this way when it happens you are already in a place of receiving abundance.

• Money is energy; when others pay you for your services it’s an exchange of energy….this means you must maintain your energy levels  by stop working for free.   Instead value more what you do, and how you transform lives.

• Limited beliefs are created from your background, upbringing, and personal experiences… open up to prosperity by letting go the past, and re-program your thinking about how you relate to money.

• Money is a magnifier of your true self…if you are a giver by nature, having wealth will allow this character trait to resonate so much more profoundly.  This unfortunately is the case if your character is the reverse.

• Money is NOT the root of all evil!  In fact the only way you can live a life ordained by God (and yes He wants you to be prosperous and generious) is to have money.  Without it, you deny yourself the life you are meant to live.

Remember, the greatest philanthropists of the world are millionnaires and billionnaires.  Imagine being able to write a check with unlimited number of zeros to your favorite charity, or for a cause that is near and dear to your heart…without blinking an eye.  Think about how powerful that would be, and also deeply soul-filling.

It can happen!  Starting today, make a commitment to creating your money mindset for success.

TAKE ACTION:  Remember the age old expression, ” it’s the little things that means so much? ”  Start small and build from there.  Begin by becoming self aware about how you handle money.

Ask yourself the following:

• Do I exercise discipline to follow and maintain a budget?
• What is the appearance of my wallet – is it old and tattered?  Is it stuffed and unorganized with things falling out of it? (In other words, what would Oprah’s wallet look like?)
• Do I know when bills are due, and do I pay on time?
• Do I know the balance on my credit cards?
• Do  I know how much debt I have, and my net worth?
• Do I remember to tithe? give offerings? pay myself first? … before spending a dime of my check?

I am inspired today by Brendon Burchard!

I thought I would share one of his latest videos, Success & Winning Streaks. As you know success is my favorite topic in the whole world. My passion lies with helping women achieve success in their new business from start up to launch and beyond.

Today I hope you know that YOU ARE ENOUGH and YES YOU CAN!!

But just in case you need a little pick me up, consider these 10 “ways of being,” to find your winning streak of success!

Your Assignment: Your life, your journey…get excited!! Enjoy the Video.

I am currently reading a book, “Becoming a Millionnaire God’s Way,” by Dr. C. Thomas Anderson. I just finished chapter two. I liked his summation of the key points about having a good attitude.

We’ve all heard the expression, your attitude detemines your altitude (e.g. just how far you go or become). Chance are, this is the premise you’ve grown up with, and what you communicate to your kids on an ongoing basis.

I am wondering if you are approaching your business in the same light.

As a parent you desire to see your kids succeed, without question or hesitation. You are willing to do what needs to be done (by any means necessary) so that your kids can have more, can be the best, achieve anything their heart desires.

Imagine if you exhibited this same deep rooted passion for success toward your business?

You would be unstoppable!! However, this will be hard to come by without the right attitude about life, and what you believe is possible.

I wish to share the key points I read this morning that were a powerful reminder of where I need to focus my energies today:

So in a nutshell, your attitude reflects what’s in your heart, dictates your thoughts, your behaviors and your actions.

I am wondering how many of us are in need of an attitude check this morning? Make today a great day!!

There is no question that you will experience challenges when trying to reach goals…it’s very much a part of the journey as an entrepreneur. So given the unpredicability of life, it’s not a matter of “if” obstacles will come your way, it’s a question of “when.” The best way to get through these times is to be prepared for any situation that may be thrown your way.

Here are some tips to help you overcome challenges and achieve your goals:

1. Take a step back – this requires looking at the issue from an outsider point of view. Sometimes when you’re close and emotionally invested in the situation, it’s hard to think with a clear head. In many cases taking a broader view, reveals answers to the challenge.

2. Search for the silver lining – it’s easy to focus on what’s broken. Instead try seeking out the good that has come out of the situation. However, you have to be willing to look for it, as it’s not always present. If there’s only a speck of hopeful light in a grim situation, focus your attention on that hope.

3. Look for a new path – sometimes challenges will show you a new path or option to get you from where you are to where you want to be. Leave these doors open and see where life takes you… this “detour” may bring you to a better place than you ever expected

4. Stay flexible – although it’s important with any venture to begin with the end in mind, sometimes the best made plans or deadlines have to be altered in some way. Additionally give yourself adequate time to implement. This will help minimize pressure and frustration when confronted with the unexpected.

5. Seek solutions and take action -look at challenges as opportunities to take bold action toward your goal. The faster you jump into finding a solution, the faster you’ll be back on track to reaching your goals.

6. Allow yourself to make mistakes – if you are a recovering perfectionist like me, this tip may be hard to embrace. But give yourself permission to be human. So often, a great deal of learning comes about from mistakes.

7. Ask for help – hopefully you are not running your business as a one woman operation. If so, it’s time to retire the super women cape and recognize you can’t jump hurdles alone. You must have a support network in place so that you are not carrying the weight of “what goes wrong” on your shoulders. Asking for help and trusting others to help are critical.

8. Avoid blaming yourself or others – in many cases it’s not important whose at fault. The only thing that really matters is finding a beneficial solution to the problem, quickly and efficiently. Allow your network to brainstorm solutions with you so that resolve can be reached more quickly.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION:

- I accept my limitations and celebrate what I can do.

- I am determined to turn any event that happens to me into a lesson learned.

- I continue to run the race even when others around me give up.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

Think about and answer these questions:

How can I turn a recent disappointment into useful learning experience?

Is there an old commitment I’ve abandoned?

What distractions can I eliminate in order to refocus my goals?

Disappointment. Hinderances. Set backs. Overwhelm. Confusion. Lost of investment. I know you’ve experienced these in some shape form or fashion in your personal life and in your business.

These “thorny” places can be debilitating at times. Psychologically, it makes you feel weak and that which gets in your way of “being” and “becoming,” as an entrepreneur – so you think….

However, what if you reframed for a moment and looked at these places as opportunities to learn more and become a better person, mom, wife, business owner?

I once heard someone say, “You’ve got to go through to get to.” What I like about that statement is that it forces each of us to tap into a place of complete faith, belief and knowing that these places of discomfort are all for our greater good.

In the end, these “thorny places” will be your ultimate source of strength, and mold and shape you into your extraordinary purpose: an entrepreneur.

I know this way of thinking is easier said than done, especially when you’re feeling worn down by the demands of life and your business.

Here a few quick strategies that will assist you in maintaining a more victorious mindset:

1. Rely on a Higher Power – that is, complete dependence on the grace that is given to you by the Divine to pull you through. Trust that this source of power is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all, if you tap into it. Choose to rest in this assurance and persevere.

2. Focus on What’s Working – what you focus on expands. As you focus on making what’s good, even better, the areas that aren’t as strong have less power. This can be done by think about the things that will create greater increase in already existing strength areas. As a result, your energy levels will be better maintained, and your thoughts will be that of possibilities more readily, instead of defeat.

3. Seek Support from Others- it’s about maximizing efforts and return on your investment of your time, energy and money. As a solopreneur you must remember it’s not about working on your business singlehandedly. You must trust others to do what you despise. This way you will see better, quicker returns on your investment.

4. Learn from Others – you must be willing to learn from others who have already been where you are and know where you trying to go. This makes the journey much more sustainable over time.

AFFIRMATIONS:
Today, I choose to have faith and trust that there is a plan for my life bigger than what my eyes can see.

By moving forward instead of giving up, I give myself the gift of a new opportunity to fulfill my purpose.

SELF REFLECTION: Ask yourself: What lessons have I learned from a recent failure? How has disappointment helped me redirect my dreams and focus?

Welcome to week 2 of 2010! I don’t know about you but, I am still appreciative of this new year and feeling of renewal.

This is by far the most popular time of the year when everyone makes promises about what they will do MORE to realize success. And appropriately so – I think we would all agree.

However, the problem with new year’s resolutions is they often become fair weather promises, and a thought of the past after a few months or so. What is lacking is a real sense of COMMITMENT to your goals and ambitions, and pursuit of what you MOST want in your life & your business.

Here are some quick tips to move from short term promise to long term I WILL:

BE Convicted: Maintain wholehearted BELIEF that you are enough and CAN be successful. Have FAITH in knowing that your talents and gifts are just what is needed to BE the change you wish to see in the hearts, minds, and lives of those you serve.

Maintain Passion & Purpose: Reconnect with the reason you are pursuing this journey at this particular time. Remember long term success is motivated by something that goes way beyond personal gain; it’s got to be something that are bigger than yourself. I encourage you to align what you MOST want for your business with what you MOST want in your life. And then explore whether you are truly pursuing your Divine purpose? When all of these areas are in sync, a natural flow of success will come forth much more easily.

Stay In It to Win – You MUST adopt a “No Matter What” mindset and attitude to win! What are willing to do “so help you God” to be successful? Yes, it will mean making some sacrifices that perhaps you wouldn’t make otherwise without this deep rooted DESIRE. However, if you are serious about your commitment, know that this short term discomfort is for long term benefit.

Affirm Self – Self motivation is KEY at all times. The power to BE just who you are Divinely appointed to BE is already within. You simply have to tap into it, seek it, and pursue it on a regular consistent basis. I am wondering when the last time you looked at yourself in the mirror and stated aloud “ YES I can do this! I deserve to be successful because (and stated three reasons aloud)?” If you haven’t, make this a daily ritual.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: What new commitments and goals have you made for 2010? Are they personal, business specific or both? Write them down. Choose the tip that you will COMMIT to using readily to help you manifest greater success in 2010 and beyond. Journal and track your results.

Resources to Get From Where you Are to Where you Want to Be – NOW!:
Legal/Marketing/Tax/Accounting Consultation – http://www.bizsuccessforyou.com
How-To Steps from Start-up to Launch and Beyond – http://www.audiostartupminicourse.com

I recently finished reading this book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, by T. Harv Eker. What a book! He teaches that each of us has a “money blueprint” that has been formulated from our life experiences, encounters with money, and lessons learned from our upbringing. In identifying and understanding your blueprint, you will know why you react, respond, and manage money they way you do. Additionally, you will be able to develop strategies to combat the attitudes and beliefs that block you from manifesting abundance and wealth.

There were many a-ha’s that I experienced while reading this book.

One wealth principle that struck a cord was “the habit of managing your money is more important than the amount.” This represented the important need to manage what you have WELL first before you acquire more.

It occurred to me that as soloprofessionals and solopreneurs, our businesses will take on our personalities and characteristics. Thus, if you are a perpetual spender and struggle to manage money currently earned from your working income, chances are you will be unsuccessful in managing the finances of your business as you launch, grow, and sustain overtime.

One of the reasons small businesses fail is a lack of financial capital. The mismanagement or mishandling of money is definitely one contributing factor. Although the start up cost for most solo-businesses is small, it is important to minimize risk by taking an active role in understanding the financial picture of your business, and finetuning your spending choices. Yes YOU must be in the driver seat….afterall its YOUR business.

I am sure you would agree it’s a bit of trial and error, as a new business owner. And fortunately, tax deductible write-offs are a great benefit that offset the impact of expenditures or investment of funds that result in a loss.

However, the idea is to live, learn, and constantly work toward making smarter choices, understand why you spend the way you do, and save and invest more than spend. These are critical and very necessary aspects of business development and survival.

By the end of the book, I thought more about how I can ensure every dollar spent will serve a greater good, and produce maximum results and financial gain in my personal and business life.

What thoughts do you have?

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Take a moment to think about your attitude toward money? To what extent has your inner belief about money hindered your business success? Take some time to journal and see what is revealed.

Secondly, track how you are spending money for at least one pay cycle (e.g. what you are spending and it’s cost). Are there some expenditures you can get rid of to save more? Are there too many frivolous expenditures that give you immediate satisfaction, but do not get you any closer to reaching your most important business and personal goals?

After identifying these “hidden” sources of money, think about how you can reallocate these funds for savings and reinvesting into your business. Focus on ways to ensure every dollar spent is stretched and utilized to its fullest.