Posts Tagged ‘living success’

“Life-fulfilling work is never about the money –

when you feel true passion for something, you instinctively find

ways to nurture it.

~Eileen Fisher, fashion designer

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!!

I wanted to share this affirmation with you today…Today, let’s speak what you desire most into existence.

I have goals and dreams that matter to me. I see these as important, and I work toward them each day.

Goals and dreams are important and attainable. Nothing is too difficult for me, because I believe in myself. My dreams are coming true, and my goals are being reached. I know I have what it takes to see continued success.

Each day I move closer to the dreams that are in my heart. I visualize what I want in my life, and then I go get it. Because I have goals and dreams, I have plans for the present and the future. I have hope because I have dreams. I meet my goals and encourage others to do the same.

I enjoy making plans, setting goals, and following my dreams. I move forward with my life quickly and confidently.

I am brave, strong, and powerful. Each day I work on improving myself and improving the lives of others. People emulate my work ethic and planning abilities. I am proud of what I can accomplish.

I know I am able to see my dreams come to pass. I am able to reach every goal I set for myself. I focus only on goals that are really important to me. I avoid worrying about what others are doing or what they think of me. What I think and do is all that matters when it comes to reaching my goals and seeing my dreams come true.

Today, I take action to accomplish my goals and bring my dream of business ownership to reality.

Now ask yourself:

1.      What can I do to move closer to my most important business & personal goals in 2011?

2 .     What action do I need to take right now to achieve my goals?

Perhaps you are confused and feeling lost and unsure about what  next steps to take.

Join us for teleclass, Countdown to Prosperity 2011 and learn how to turn a so-so year into a more successful, prosperous one.

Although one of the first steps to becoming an entrepreneur is locating a profitable business idea, the true foundation of entrepreneurial success rests within your mindset.

A good idea can take you only so far. However, true determination to stop at nothing to achieve your goals can carry you through to the finish line. You have hundreds – if not thousands – of competitors in your field. Many of them sell similiar products or services as you. Yet, one business may be raking in huge monthly revenue, while the other can barely get off the ground.

So, what separates these two businesses?  Again, it’s the difference in mindset of the entrepreneurs behind the ventures.

Let’s examine the distinctions between the success of those who thrive even in a sluggish economy and others who fold:

Successful Womanpreneur Mindset

- Always reaches higher and focuses on the up-sell. She knows how to turn $25 into $100.

- Has an elevator speech prepared and will recite it to anyone who’s willing to listen.

-Values the power of marketing and employs proven marketing tactics.

- Markets her business whether business is booming or in a lull.

- Believes in her ability to achieve the best and constantly pushes herself beyond her comfort zone for the greater good of her business.

- Believes that customer service is just as important as promotion and providing quality products.

- Problem solves.

- She knows how to run a tight ship in order to keep revenue up and overhead down.

- Values and trusts her intuition over the advice of another.

- She truly understands what’s best for her business.

- She’s always quickly moving on to the next task that must be done to improve her business.

- Thrives under pressure. She’s always attentive and alert.

- Implements sound ideas into her existing business plan in order to increase revenue, customer service, and promotion.

Unsuccessful Womanpreneur Mindset

- Just “good enough” is her mantra.

- She believes that a dollar in revenue is better than no revenue at all.

- She is afraid to toot her own horn and often downplays the complexity of her business.

- Employs marketing tactics only when business is slow. She’s all about cutting corners, and when business is booming, marketing expenses seem unnecessary.

- Allows her personal low self-esteem to translate into her business leadership. Because of this, her marketing, networking, public perception, and revenue take a hit.

- Customer service is an afterthought. She takes personal offense to most customer complaints.

- Is a problem solver only when it comes to menial issues, but she cracks under pressure when the hard times come knocking.

- Ignores her intuition and runs to all the wrong people for advice before taking action.

- May thrive under pressure, but it’s her fear that keeps her going rather than her optimism.

- Lets her ideas lie dormant until her business is bringing in more money.

Which of these characteristics describe you? What else would you add to this list?

Ladies, as you can see, a heightened mindset is foundational for attaining higher profits and long term sustainable success.

The time is now!   Change your mind.  Change your thoughts.  Change your behavior.  Take action.  Prosper!

Join us for the Countdown to Prosperity 2011 Teleclass to find out what action steps you need to take to break the mold and make 2011 your best.

I was reading Carol Roth’s blog today and saw an interesting (and a bit controversial) entry about how your greatest passions in life are better suited for hobbies not entrepreneurship.

She opened by stating, ” I am a little bit tired (and by a little bit, I actually mean really tired) of hearing about how you should create a business from your greatest passion in life. Well, you can really screw up your passion for something by having to earn a living from it. So, here’s the other side of the coin- six key reasons why you may just want to keep your hobby a hobby.”

Click below for the complete article

http://www.carolroth.com/unsolicited-business-advice/?p=3236

What are your thoughts?

Should passion be narrowly confined to a hobby?

Can passion for your life’s work and business ownership mix well or are they more like oil & water?

I once heard someone say, “If you LOVE what you do, you’ll never “work” a day in your life!”  I believe that  wholeheartedly!  Without passion for “the reason why,” what will sustain you when challenges with the business come your way?

I was reading an edition of  Success Magazine that focused on Living Your Fullest Potential.  There were many topics of discussion that spoke to how to discover the BEST within you..

The topic I found most appealing was prepared by the publisher and editor himself, Darren Hardy.   He spoke about  Maslow’s 8 Ways to Self Actualize.

This really inspired me because I find over and over again that it’s easy to “settle” for the status quo, and circumstances and situations that don’t allow you to be your best.

The reason:  it’s just easier to do so.

But it takes a certain level of conviction, inner drive,  and motivation to rise above what’s comfortable and what’s familiar to be and become more of who you are uniquely designed to be — all that you are, and all that you are becoming, as a rising soloentrepreneur.

Here are Maslow’s 8 ways to truly self actualize and achieve the greatest goal and purpose of life — live your fullest potential:

Another part of being your best is knowing what you want and being fully committed to achieving your most important goals… no matter what!

Perhaps what you really want – what you desire more than anything –  is to start your own business as a coach, consultant, trainer or some other independent service provider.  But you have allowed every excuse in the book to get in the way of making this dream a reality.

Use Maslow’s 8 principles to motivate and inspire you to seek MORE:  more of what life has to offer, more self fulfillment, and greater purpose. And then move to action…starting today! 

Grab a copy of my free ecourse and learn how http://bit.ly/c32ELY

I think we all remember the phrase, “If you build it, they will come” from the popular movie, Field of Dreams.  However when it comes to business start up, there is a very different story to tell.

It’s one thing to start a business, it’s another to sustain overtime.  I recently read a blog post by Small Business Trends, that outlined the 5 yr success rate of small businesses by industry.    And much to my surprise the service industry’s survival rate is performing slightly higher than average.  However, in spite of this, it also means there is still a large number that aren’t making it.

There are many reasons why small businesses fail.  One area is obviously tied to insufficient financial capital.  So what makes the difference between big revenue streams vs. small or non-existent ones?

Here are my top 10 picks for why new solo businesses remain small and don’t profit:  

 10. No infrastructure to run business.  Once you find that perfect client, the question that comes next is now what?  Many newbies have a difficult time answering this question because they have been so focused on getting their first few paying clients, they don’t have a plan for how they will deliver their product promise, and/or manage the operations of their business. 

Quick tip:  Before getting your first client, establish processes to facilitate ongoing, consistent communication, and systems to manage your finances, and administrative functions of your business.  This way your focus can remain on business building and development.

 9. One-on-one client orientation.  A business model that only consists of working one-on-one with clients is short sighted and typically results in burnout overtime.  It’s much more advantageous to share more of you and what you have to offer with the masses, than with only those whom you can serve personally at any given time. 

Quick tip:  Incorporate both products and services to your sales funnel to help more, serve more and  expand your earning potential.   

 8. A website without a hook.    The harsh reality is once a  unique visitor comes to your website they will  either save your site as a favorite or leave and never return…unless you give them a reason.  Design your site with the goal of converting visitors into prospects.

Quick tip:  Provide relevant and valuable tools, resources, free giveaways…and an opt-in feature to capture contact information and keep in touch.

 7. One dimensional marketing.   Think about your marketing plan as a portfolio of sorts – the more diverse, the better your chance of reaching your intended goals and benchmarks, and the less risk of losing time and money with all your eggs in one basket.  It’s also important to monitor the performance of each strategy to  ensure you are pouring the right resources in the right areas at the right time. 

Quick tip: Incorporate a tracking mechanism for each strategy to eliminate the guesswork around what works, what doesn’t, and achieve optimal results fast.

 6. The wrong offer. Not all solutions you have ideas about are the most viable in the eyes of your prospects and clients.  Remember it’s not about you, it’s about your clients.  Focus on what your clients really want and avoid the temptation of creating services or products in a vacuum.

 Quick Tip:  If you are unsure about what solutions your prospects or clients need, simply survey them or ask directly.

 5. A non-compelling marketing message.  It’s one thing to know who you are seeking to attract, it’s another to know how to communicate with them and enlist them as clients.  Without careful attention to this, you’ll end up working ten times harder by chasing down prospects instead of pulling them toward you.

Quick tip:  Your “sales conversation” should always speak to their heart and mind, by focusing on what matters and concerns them most.

 4. Missing marketing plan.  The “art” and “science” of attracting ideal clients is a focused and purposeful activity.  It’s always a good idea to start with the end in mind and design your strategy for how you will get there.  

 Quick tip:  Establish goals for how you wish to build your list, bring in more business,  and then take action to make it happen.

 3. Fishing in the wrong pond.  There are many criteria for choosing viable markets, to include the ability to reach your prospects easily and inexpensively.   However, without a clear idea of where they “hang out” you will be hard pressed to begin any marketing conversation, build your list, or grow your business.

Quick Tip:  Take time to study your target first so that you know where to direct your marketing efforts.  This way you avoid the “spray and pray approach” to marketing. 

2. Inconsistent marketing efforts.  This fatal error fosters the feast or famine syndrome. In order to keep your pipeline full of prospects, see marketing as an ongoing and consistent activity.  Always remember, if you aren’t actively seeking business, then your business is not making money.

Quick tip:  Carve out time every day to devote toward some aspect of marketing.

 And the number one reason:  Jack of all trades and master of none.   It’s extremely difficult to be a generalist and attract all the clients you will ever need at the same time. Having a specific target audience or niche in mind, will help you formulate a cogent marketing message that pull prospects toward you, more quickly, more often and without fail. 

The end result:  more clients, more business, more money!!

 Quick tip:  As you seek to find the ideal client, never lose sight of what fills you up on the inside – an eager individual with a pulse and credit card in hand shouldn’t be the only criterion for ideal. 

Sometimes a complete business makeover is required to get your business turning profits. But other times a small tweak is all that’s required. Use these simple strategies to audit what’s working  and what isn’t with your business to accelerate your profit making potential by leaps and bounds. 

For more viable solutions for getting your business off the ground running, growing, and making more money: http://bit.ly/9jW642

You are a talented women and possess many skills.  It’s a wonder each day how you are able to manage the multiple roles in your life…and do it so well.  

However when it comes to your role as an entrepreneur, it requires a different level of personal management and effectiveness. 

Remember you are the soul of your business.   This means as soloprofessional, you must “bring it” in order to maintain momentum in your business building efforts.

How you process internally affects greatly your output. 

The better you are at functioning at your peak, the more you will be able to give back to your business and operate efficiently.

Here are 8 ways to boost your personal effectiveness:

1. Maintain high energy levels.  Keep close watch and monitor how different energy levels affect your performance throughout the day.  Make consistent strides to eliminate energy drainers and replace it will energy gainers.

2. Lose the “No it all” attitude.  Maintain a positive expectation for every action and move with great expectation that good will come forth.  Always look for the best of every situation and an opportunity in every problem.

3. Make plans.  Write your plans with defined steps that lead to specific  major objectives.  Visualize the process for each initiative or new project from beginning to end.  Work to integrate the steps of your plans into your schedule every day.

4. Stop putting out fires everyday.  Instead live your life based on what’s important vs. most urgent.  Focus your attention on the role you can influence the most at any moment in time.

5. Invite helping hands.  Delegate as much as possible and communicate clear expectations of how you want things done.  Remember to show appreciation and give credit where credit is due.

6. Get Organized.  Create a separate filing or e-folder for each new person or task to find information quickly and easily.  Get rid of clutter.  Resist the habit of setting things down;  instead put things away where they belong.

7. Optimize.  Make every minute of your day count.  Learn how to say “no” so that you create space for what really matters to you and allow you to focus on becoming your personal best.  Make it easier on yourself by simplifying life. 

8. Make it happen.  Stop getting ready to get ready, spinning your wheels and going no where fast.  Take immediate action and stop procrastinating and overthinking small stuff.  Break down complex tasks in bite sized pieces and get going.

The work of your business is endless and time is limited.  Tuning up your personal effectiveness is just one component of maintaining momentum of your business.

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