Posts Tagged ‘coaching women’

My son is 14 years old is a handsome (of course),  fun loving, easy going teenager but he’s small in stature and often times mistaken as a middle schooler.  And worse when he’s with his brother, many believe he’s the younger instead of the older.

“I’m so tired of this.  I feel like people see me as this little kid who is just kinda hanging around.  I don’t feel like a teenager because I don’t look like everyone else, I don’t think like a lot of my other friends think. I am going to look back over my teenage years and feel like I completely missed out on so much fun.”

These were just a few sentiments my son shared with me that afternoon as tears strolled down his face.

As he spoke I heard the phrases -  I don’t feel like, I don’t look like, I am not, I am going to miss out…

And as I sat and listened to him intently I understood that what he was really saying was “I’m not enough!”

And boy did that strike a chord.

I find this issue of being enough is an underlying issue that we all face at different times in our lives. We all want to feel a sense of belonging, and sense of worthiness.  Sometimes we feel it and sometimes we don’t.

In business this issue of worthiness is a real one.  Because if you don’t feel worthy, you won’t feel empowered. And if you don’t feel empowered you won’t inspire. And if you’re not inspiring others, then you are not sharing your message and greatest gifts with the world!

If this is you today I declare today that you ARE enough.

I left my son with three thoughts, that also applies to you as a business owner:

• Feeling like you are enough starts on the inside and manifest on the outside; no one validates your worth but you.

• Start manifesting what you desire by celebrating who you are — all of it  (accomplishments, achievements, joys, mishaps, failures, and trials).  Don’t expect others to embrace or accept you for who you are,  when you’re not comfortable in your own skin.

• If you want to attract more friends (or clients), be more attractive (or client attractive) by exuding confidence.  No one wants to be around someone (or hire someone) who appears desperate or clingy.

Consider these four strategies to reaffirm your worth:

Find the right circle of influence.  Although there are times you feel good about who you are on the inside, your ego and conscious still needs reinforcements, reminders, and validation.

Who are your biggest fans?  Seek ongoing support and encouragement from those who lift you up instead of drag you down. This will undoubtedly be your base of support that will carry you through the life of your business.

Stop comparison despair.   There’s always going to be someone who is ahead of building their business or more successful than you — more money, more clients, more brand recognition, etc.  Get over it!   It’s a fact of life and business!

It’s important to aspire to be more.  But keep that desire in check so that it doesn’t become later develop into jealousy or manifest into a lack of self confidence in your abilities.

Instead use it as a motivator and fuel to keep your passion for what you love to do alive and take your business to new found levels of success.  Take note of where you are relative to when you first started.  Anticipate you will get to where you want go and stay the course.

Positive self talk. Nothing is more powerful than affirmations.  Take time to speak aloud and into existence who you are, who you are becoming, what is and what will be. And then seal the deal with unshakeable faith and believe that all things are possible.

Take action. It’s hard to celebrate wins if you aren’t taking action on your most important goals.  Without it, you cannot measure success or create new benchmarks to move to the next level.

Fear of failure is one of the reasons you are getting in your own way.  Use the tips above to combat fear and stop it dead in its tracks from achieving all that you desire for your life and business.

Sometimes as a business start up you don’t know what you don’t know.  As a result it may be difficult to take the next step.

It’s helpful when you are among a network or community of likeminded individuals to share and exchange ideas.  It’s also imperative to enlist mentors and invest in coaches and consultants who can give you the perspective you may be missing.

Often times, the cost of such services are prohibitive for new solopreneurs…until today.

You can hire your own team of business consultants to provide the guidance and perspective you are probably seeking for a little less than $2/day.  You may be wondering how.  Click here to learn more.

“Women need real moments of solitude and

self-reflection to balance out how much

of ourselves we give away.”

–Barbara de Angelis

I hear newbies saying, “Everyone is doing video in their business, I guess I’d better do it too!”  And yes, in many ways video can enhance your brand, get your name out there in a big way, and span your reach to ideal prospects.

Video provides an instant ability to connect authentically with your audience in a way that audio and written words can’t.  So should you use video — absolutely!  When used properly, it’s golden — a short cut to establishing the know, like and trust factor.  But when used improperly it can hurt your business and your brand.

Remember :  Be intentional in what you do…don’t create a video just to get one out there.  Have a strategy for how you will incorporate it into your business to reach results.

75 experts were asked for advice on how to make video work for their business.  Below are tips and strategies from experts across different industries.  Never be clueless about how to use video in your business again.

http://www.carolroth.com/unsolicited-business-advice/?p=5560

Check me out at  # 71.  Leave me a comment below. I want to know your thoughts.

You work hard to establish relationships. Don’t let those relationships fade. Develop a database to track contacts with clients and prospects. If there has been a lapse, get back in touch. Your easiest opportunity to sell your services or products is with your existing clientele. The hard part is done. When you have an offer that makes sense, roll it out to this group first. Not only will you generate sales, you will generate referrals.

This tip is adopted from GoSmallBiz.com.  If you found this information helpful and looking for more business success tips like this one, visit here.

A truly great selling proposition must be communicated in terms that your prospects can clearly understand without having to stretch for the meaning.  Avoid using taglines that are too cute or difficult to understand it’s subtle meaning. If prospective clients don’t connect the unique value, the message will not be effective.  Use words that resonate instantly with your target audience for better results.

This tip is adopted from GoSmallBiz.com.  If you found this information helpful and looking for more business start up tips like this one, visit here.

A first impression is a lasting one indeed.

What will someone say about you after they meet you personally or interface with some aspect of your business or brand for the first time?

Check out this impressive list of tips and advice from 137 experts who share their insights on how to be “memorable”  from the first encounter and beyond.

http://www.carolroth.com/unsolicited-business-advice/?p=4429

At number 136,  I share how to make your website a favorite at first glance.

Looking forward to your thoughts and insights.  What else would you add to this list?

Are you missing systems in your business?

Below is a comprehensive list of technology tools and resource you can use to fully automate your business, get untrapped from the day-to-day operational grind, and regain more time back week-to-week without fail.

There’s no time to be a technophobe in 2011.  This is your year of productivity and profitability. 

85 business owners share their insights about how to use technology to help your business grow, prosper, and make more money…I’m number 77.  Check it out:

http://www.carolroth.com/unsolicited-business-advice/?p=4177

This past Sunday my pastor delivered a fabulous sermon entitled, ”Pushed Into My Purpose.”

I was so inspired, I couldn’t help to adapt his message and blog about it in the context of solopreneurship.

There are three elements to living in purpose:  answering the call,  being committed, and dealing with circumstances.

1.  Answer the call.  There are many reasons why people decide to start a business.  Being called is one of many.  Some of us answer willingly as active seekers, others of us reluctantly as life steers us into unforeseen situations such as being downsized, under or unemployed,  or unfulfilled in a job.   It is these situations that push us to enter unfamiliar, unchartered territory so that ultimately we live a life of greater purpose.

However, in order to answer the call, you have to commune with the Divine so that He can order your steps down the business ownership path.  In the process you grow deeper in Him which is exactly what He wants.    Remember as a solopreneur you are the soul of your business. Without you, your business would cease to exist.  And since you are wonderfully and divinely made, it is only fitting that you rely on God for wisdom and support as you work toward launching and growing a prosperous business.   Be encouraged and know that if you are called to start a new business according to His purpose, you are serving His will for your life.  In light of this, you will never be led astray, unless you fail to stay in communion with Him.

2.  Be committed. It’s one thing to answer the call, it’s another to go the distance.  In order to stay the course, you have to adapt a “no excuses”  attitude toward the success of your business.  You have to make unrelenting strides toward building your business on a regular consistent basis, while seeking  guidance and direction every step of the way.  Be sure to listen to where you’re being led to go and trust it is the right path with confidence.

3. Deal with circumstances.    The road to purpose driven success and prosperity is not a smooth one.   There are uneven places, detours, trials, challenges, but also triumphs.   Additionally many emotions along the way —  anxiety, uncertainty, insecurity, doubt, fear but also joy, contentment, and fulfillment.

When my pastor discussed discomfort as a necessary aspect of living in purpose,  I had an A-Ha moment.  I never really thought about purpose driven business ownership  in this light.  It opened up new perspective to one of the reasons entrepreneurship is such a challenging pursuit; and it encouraged me to see the uneven places of my business  journey in a completely different light.

I am constantly seeking purpose in my life’s work.   I always want to know if I am doing exactly what it is I am supposed to be doing according to God’s will.

So far I feel like I am walking along the path God  has ordained for me at this particular time. But everyday I’m seeking clarity of vision and purpose driven understanding every step of the way.  For now,  I am content!

How about you?  To what extent is the ”pursuit of purpose” driving your life’s ambitions and deep rooted desires as a solopreneur?

As one year ends and another begins, I am filled with mixed emotions –  a bit of nostalgia, but mostly sheer excitement.    This is the case because positive change is on the horizon!

The fact of the matter is nothing in the universe stays exactly the same. There is always some element of movement that is going on the atmosphere to make the world go round.

The same must be the case for you personally.   You are a dynamic, powerful being who is meant to evolve over time.  So if 6mos to 1 year from now you are standing where you started on the first day of this year, you will have essentially allowed a part of you to die within. 

What I mean by this is that you didn’t be and become more of who you are uniquely designed to be, and as a result a part of you didn’t live.  Your biggest goals, hopes, and dreams did not come to pass.  You were merely in existence but you were not fully ALIVE!  

In 2011, if you are looking for powerful change in your personal life and business, you have to go beyond existing and become more fully present. 

Everything that you do day-to-day must be more purposeful.  Let’s say good bye to  ”going through the motions” and say hello to being more laser focused and success driven in all that you do. 

For this to happen, you must seek transformation from the inside out in every aspect of your life.   Remember as solopreneur you are the soul of your business. Without you, your business would not exist.  So any success you achieve is predicated by your desire to step more into your element of greatness.   This deeply rooted desire must start  from within in order for it to manifest profoundly on the outside.

I am wondering what transformational change you are seeking this year…  

What internal/mind shifts do you need to make NOW in order for 2011 to be your best?

In what ways are you thinking about your business differently to get optimal results more quickly?

How do you need to show up in the world in a new way to bring forth more meaningful personal and business relationships?

What new words or phrases will describe 2011 this time next year?

Knowing what to do is easier said than done…making it happen is what really counts!

Click here and listen to 5 quick strategies to facilitate powerful transformational shifts from within throughout 2011.

Let’s make 2011  your year of success, prosperity and purpose and really LIVE!!

This IS the bottom line...

If you are committed to building a business that serves your life’s purpose, and enriches rather than drains your life,  you have to set it up with financial prosperity and freedom in mind.  What this means is you have to begin with the end in mind – more clients, more money, more purpose, more fulfillment.

You can achieve all of this, but, your business model must be designed in such a way to make it happen.

Many new soloprofessionals fresh out of their training, certification, or licensure program start off with the notion of serving clients one at a time.  It’s their framework — it’s all that they have been taught; it’s all that they know. 

But a sustainable profitable business requires that you move beyond this narrow scope and adopt an entrepreneurial style business that can generate revenue on it’s own — in your sleep or while you work. 

What I am describing is the difference between owning a business or a job!

The one-on-one client model is one of the main contributing factors to why solo professionals get trapped in their business, and burnout overtime.

There’s only a finite number of hours in a day. When you spend every waking moment working with clients, you leave no room to do anything else for your business.  So in the long run you limit your financial potential and cease to exist. 

There is no question…the fastest way to profits for your business and getting off the ground running is to offer BOTH services & products.

You may be thinking,”But I don’t want to create products, I just want to help people and be booked solid.” 

There is a place for that in your business model but what we are describing is a both/& solution to helping, serving, and being a blessing to more people – 24/7! 

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to take time off from working on the business but still make money in the process?  A business that offers service and product makes this happen.

Still not convinced?  Here are 10 MORE reasons why adding products to your business is a must:

- Gain instant credibility in your topic

- Enter expert status in your field more quickly

- Help more, serve more at different price points

- Make money in your sleep or while you work

- Get known among many faster

- Increase your exposure on the internet (the viral effect)

- Strengthen & advance your brand

- Offer more value to your current and potential clients

- Increase your opt-in rate  & build your list faster

- Boost the net worth of your business

You may be thinking, this is great Zenobia, but how in the world do I begin to think about incorporating products to my business, when all I know is how to work one-on-one with clients?

There is an answer. Join us for Countdown to Prosperity 2011 teleclass to find out.