I want to talk to you about a dance I do every morning. I’m not talking about the kind of dance you might be thinking of – the one that clearly embarrasses my twelve year old son even when nobody is around. No, I’m talking about a different dance – the dance I do each morning with the myriad of thoughts and emotions that run rampant in my head. Each morning, as I make my way from my bedroom to my small corner of the world where I feel comfortable and safe, I am often amazed by what’s bubbling up inside me.

Sometimes my thoughts linger to what didn’t get done the day before… good morning Guilt. Sometimes I think about a pending project or an upcoming campaign… hello Worry. And more mornings than not, my thoughts drift to the never ending list of things I want to get done that day… greetings Overwhelm! They all want to dance with me – arms outstretched, beckoning me to take them on as a partner for the day. But thankfully, I’ve learned a thing or two about dancing in the morning… I get to choose my partners.

Each day we have a choice. We can dance with the thoughts and emotions that feel crappy and painful, or we can turn toward what fills us up with joy, peace and a sense that anything is possible. Which will you choose? Tomorrow when your feet hit the floor and you are asked to dance with feelings of guilt, fear or overwhelm, will you chose something better?

For me, it’s my morning practice that allows me to choose wisely. Some days it’s a quick fifteen minutes, other days I give myself the gift of an hour. But no matter how long I take for this sacred dive, I am always changed. I breathe deeper, think more clearly, and can handle more of what life throw’s me. At the simple lighting of a candle and the centering of my soul, I turn mayhem to magic.

You see, the entrepreneurial mind is something that I find fascinating. So much so, I dedicated my opening Module of my newest course, The Inner Game of Direct Selling, to the topic. And after seeing the impact of the insights I revealed, I’ve decided to take these discoveries to a broader audience through the Mindset Makeover training. It’s a 55-minute exploration of the insights and personal strategies I’ve used to create extraordinary success both in my business and personal life.

If I’ve sparked an interest, I hope you will check out the Mindset Makeover training. Together we’ll help you take the steps to once and for all – manage the thoughts and emotions that literally determine the quality of your life.

Available soon!

Maintaining Mindset inspiration, progress

I’m on my soap box today and the object of my obsession is ACTION.  It’s a particularly poignant topic because I’ve seen both sides of it in this beautiful 8-hour day. Stay with me, there’s a message here that I’m hoping will reach those who are seeking the trick to “moving at the speed of Jane”.

So here goes… I rose at 5:30 and enjoyed a pared down version of my morning practice – just enough to fuel me for what lay ahead. While I religiously head to the gym each morning, I opted out knowing that the guilt of not working out today would be totally eclipsed by a day of glorious accomplishment. I also know I will return to the ritual tomorrow as it’s become a positive habit. Here’s what the day held for me…

1. Wrote two keynote speeches with accompanying Power Points
2. Designed the outline for a leadership call being conducted by a client this evening
3. Conducted a great call with my buddy John Dulworth for the Revenue Revolution Course
4. Held four, one hour, one-on-one coaching calls with my amazing private clients
5. Got my son up, fed and out the door to an all day birthday party
6. Finished up at 5:00 for an evening with my family
7. Oh yeah… fired off this blog

What I DID do…

• Moved through my day with focus, clarity and a sense of humor – noticing that my propensity to procrastinate is what created my jam-packed day.
• Reached out to my team when I needed help or encouragement.
• Made a request to move a call when I sensed it would be OK to ask for that space.
• Committed to an extra 10 min on the treadmill tomorrow to balance my day of no exercise.
• Trusted that my time on the leadership call would strengthen my connection to the client by stepping up in the final hour.
• Asked to take a walk with my husband and dog Boomer after dinner as if to say “thanks for giving me space.”
• Opted for “rotisserie chicken” rather than a homemade gourmet dinner. No guilt here!

What I did NOT do…

• Lament or beat myself up about waiting until the last minute to design my speeches.
• Feel guilty about not going to the gym or shortening my morning practice.
• Feel imposed upon for the work I did on the leadership call, despite the fact that compensation for my time on it has not yet been decided.
• Give any less of me to each client who has invested in coaching. Rather, I stayed focused on them and their needs alone.
• Take a shower, which is rare for me. Rather than feeling frumpy, I referred to this as my natural look. J
• I did not sing the “victim’s song” wondering where my day went and why I had so much to do.
• I did not make myself wrong, crazy, less than or feel guilty because one day of my week was a little out of balance.

So there you have it – a look inside a day with enough “to dos” to send even the most action-oriented woman into overwhelm and yet I stayed focused, positive and joyful.

Here’s what I want you to think about…
What is your inaction costing you? Could it be that the feelings of guilt or frustration from NOT being in action far outweigh any discomfort you will feel as you do move into action?  If I have to choose between the feelings of discomfort and guilt – I will take discomfort because I know that, with time, my discomfort is actually expanding my comfort zone and building my action muscle. On the other hand, with time, guilt simply becomes… well, more guilt.

In the place of discomfort I can make a difference – perhaps even change my world and the world of others. Which will you chose?

Maintaining Mindset inspiration

Here’s the truth… there is probably a line item missing from the expense column of your P&L that is arguably the most important investment you should be making during these times.

Yes, everyone is watching the bottom line closely these days. Today’s economic climate dictates that we carefully monitor what’s flowing in and what’s flowing out. But as you and I are called upon to up our game in all aspects of growing our businesses there is one investment we can’t afford to cut – the investment in ourselves via coaching.

“But coaching is a luxury” you may be saying. “What I need is strategy!”

Is that really true? How many strategies do you already know of and have not implemented? How many books and audio programs have you invested in and still not woven the suggestions they contain into your day to day business model?

The truth is, to take your business to the next level you need to focus on your ability to IMPLEMENT the strategies you already have on your plate! The money is in implementing the strategies you already know of to the best of your ability – PUT THEM ON STERIODS if you will. Because success in business is in ACTING on what you know, not just knowing.

Here’s my story… While I’m a business strategist who helps business owners select, implement and profit from utilizing the right strategies, what I was missing was a life coach that could guide and support me in my personal world. Since coaching with my coach, John Dulworth, my life and my business has been completely transformed. From losing 12 pounds and getting my body in better shape than when I was in college, to exploding my revenues by redefining my business model to be in alignment with my purpose, these shifts came from having a skilled life coach on my team.

You need two types of coaching: personal and business.

Business Coaching with a seasoned strategist is essential because they shorten the learning curve and enable you to make better decisions. Imagine having a wise sounding board with whom you can brainstorm strategies for reaching new markets, harnessing technology, building your team and optimizing your marketing dollars. These are all areas in which a business coach can make a positive and profitable difference.

Personal Coaching with a certified life coach is essential because, in the end, the success of your business is dependent upon YOU. Are you in the right place emotionally and mentally to take on all that comes from growing a business? Are you able to handle set backs or navigate a challenge with ease and confidence? Are you able to see things clearly so you can correct your course when you get off track? And more importantly, can you maintain your momentum and enthusiasm to do what needs to be done? This is what a life coach offers.

So stop being penny-wise and pound foolish and put this single most important line item onto your P&L. The result will be a happier YOU and a stronger BOTTOM LINE!

To get the support you need from a business strategist and a life coach all wrapped into one incredible 8 week business building program, click here: http://www.revenuerevolutioncourse.com. Join the Revenue Revolution!

Business Growth, Business Vision, Maintaining Mindset, Masterminding profit, progress, prosperity, strategies

I remember my “dog days” like they were yesterday… working long hours, achieving the goals, and bringing in revenue BUT leaving no time at all for ME.  This has been a recurring theme for business owners since the beginning of time. We love our businesses, our clients, the challenge, the excitement . . . but, at the end of the day, we are losing a piece of ourselves on the way to our dreams. This has got to stop!!!!

As I continue my personal evolution, as I described in an earlier blog post, I am delighted to discover that as I reconnect with ME, take care of my body, enhance my relationships and spend time doing the things I love, my worst nightmare is NOT coming true.  You see, somewhere in the back of my mind I carried a disempowering belief that if I took time for me the rest of my life – specifically my business – would suffer. But instead I’m attracting more clients, opportunities and revenue than ever before.

Think about that! As I create new daily habits, including waking to a practice that puts me “in the moment” and daily workouts that have allowed me to release unwanted pounds effortlessly – I am taking a stance for ME – feeling happier and healthier than ever before.

I love this because my experience personal fulfillment and business success these past months counters the prevailing belief in the world today that it isn’t possible to have both a profitable business and a fulfilling personal life. I’m LIVING PROOF that you can!

Not only CAN you have both – simultaneously – it is becoming my life’s mission to show other business owners how to make it happen! Toward that end, I held a tele-class Tuesday night, called the “Revenue Revolution”. The response has been truly overwhelming and gratifying. Clearly I have tapped into one of the biggest pain points of today’s entrepreneurs.

Along with two of my team members, who are expert coaches, I am launching the Revenue Revolution Program on July 14, 2009, to show other business builders how they too can have it all. I’m so excited to share this with the world! If you’d like to get instant access to the replay of the call, click here. My intent is that it offers insights and inspiration you can take into your day.

Business Growth, Business Vision, Maintaining Mindset inspiration, profit, strategies

Thankfully…. organization and time management are two skills I have truly mastered over my 22 years in business. In fact, I feel it’s these skills, combined with my ability to manage my mindset, that enable me to get so much done in so little time.
One aspect of organization and time management that has served me well in this age of technology is my personal strategy for eliminating what I call “Inbox Overwhelm.”
In short, too many business owners’ lives are being run by their inbox and I am on a mission to change that!
So here you go…. My personal system for managing email overwhelm so I maintain an inbox that is either empty or under 6 emails on a regular basis.

• Be the victor not the victim. Establish an email management system that allows you to control how much time and energy your emails take.
• Have more than one email account for campaigns and subscriptions
• Unsubscribe to what’s not necessary
• Create a swipe file where you keep samples of competitor’s email campaigns
• Schedule time for Research and Review (Don’t click and get lost on line. YOU decide when you review your inbox!)
• File strategies – Set up sub folders in Outlook where you store past emails
• When you receive an email that requires a response be brief yet thorough
• Emails that require action – place the “to do” on a master list (or your calendar) and file the email in the appropriate folder.
• Delete what’s taken care of that you don’t need a history of
• Consider a catch-all archive folder where border line stuff is placed for a month or two. Empty the archive box every 3 months.
• If a request comes in and the timing isn’t right, tell them you are not able to handle their request at this time and ask if they would be so kind to re-email you a month from now. (Only the people who have something important follow up.)
• Be decisive! Either Do it, Delegate it, Delay it or Dump it
• Most importantly… YOU decide which emails you respond to and when you respond. Don’t let your workday be designed by other people’s requests.

Business Growth, Maintaining Mindset productivity, progress, strategies

Something significant happened to me last Thursday. It may have seemed subtle on the outside but inside it felt as if I’d experienced a shift at the DNA level. It happened at The Profit Builder’s Summit – my first live, solo, local event here in Monterey, CA. While the primary purpose was to step out locally after working nationally and internationally for so many years, the event also served as an opportunity to share a new message that’s been brewing inside for a while.

A New Approach For New Results
Here’s the truth… over the past few weeks everything has changed for me. From the way I see my life and business to the way I coach and consult my clients, I am seeing life and business in a new light. This change sprang from the personal realization that what small business owners need today is not another proven strategy or the latest online marketing tool. No, what most entrepreneurs need today are practical, down to earth insights on how to break through their personal barriers, manage their monkey mindset and improve their productivity so they can get stuff done, turn a profit and have time to live the life they desire!

Herein lies the shift that I brought to the stage last Thursday. In a great leap of faith I took a HUGE left turn from my typical strategy-based training and got “up close and personal” with those who attended. In short, I let them into what’s happening in my life, my business and my inner journey on the way to living an extraordinary life. As a result, those in attendance quickly came to see that there is little difference between us. That like them, I face challenges, self-doubt, fears and frustration. The only difference is that I have gained the skills to work through these blocks quickly so I can ease the pain and get back in the game.

Together we were moved in the realization that what keeps each of us from achieving our heart’s desire is, in truth… ourselves. In email after email they are telling me that they found themselves in my story (or the story of my clients) and have recommitted to shift the way they see and grow their business. They continue that they’ve gained renewed strength, commitment and courage to be the business owners they truly want to be.

So there you have it… proof that sometimes it’s worth revealing a piece of yourself in the name of helping others along the path. I can’t wait to share the journey that is about to unfold.

Business Growth, Business Vision, Maintaining Mindset, Masterminding inspiration, prosperity, strategies

In a recent survey co-sponsored by Network Solutions, LLC and the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, researchers not only concluded that having a serviceable website is key to the success of small businesses but that doing so can improve their competitiveness in the marketplace.

The summary of the survey states: “Assuming that a venture capitalist is not going to suddenly appear and shore up most small businesses, a sound investment a small business can make is in ramping up its Internet business solutions, or so it would seem based on the experiences of those small businesses who have done it. This means more than just building a website, but making a commitment to online advertising, allowing customers to view and order products online, providing email customer service and self-service options to customers.”

Does your website boast the features above? As the saying goes… You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The same holds true for your website! Don’t go live until you have taken each step outlined on Profit Partners’ Website Effectiveness Checklist. Live already? There is still time. The Tech Team at Profit Partners makes it fast and simple to have an impressive online presence that gets results.

Invest five minutes of your time and click here to review key elements to website success. From Branding & Identification to having a Site Traffic Marketing Plan, know where your website stands on the seven dimensions covered in the checklist!

Business Growth, Website Essentials profit, strategies

Today I’m feeling lucky. Lucky to be in business for myself. Lucky to have awesome, brilliant clients who are committed to positive change. And lucky to be a woman entrepreneur in a time when all evidence points to the fact that NOW is the time for us to apply our unique gifts not just to building our businesses, but to also healing the economy and yes… even the planet.

Check out these stats and celebrate the unstoppable you!

• 10.1 million firms are owned by women (50% or more), employing more than 13 million people, and generating $1.9 trillion in sales as of 2008.
• Women-owned firms (50% or more) account for 40% of all privately held firms.
• Women business owners are as likely as men business owners to be willing to adopt new technology and more likely (24% vs. 18%) than women in general.
• One in five firms with revenue of $1 million or more is woman-owned.
• Women business owners are prepared to face risk: most (66%) are willing to take above average or substantial risks for business investments.
• Between 1997 and 2006, the percent growth in the number of majority women-owned firms was nearly twice that of all U.S firms (42.3% vs. 23.3%).
• Women are entering the global marketplace at a rate equal to that of all US businesses. In 2005, about 13% of women-owned firms are involved in international trade, and the number is constantly growing.

(Statistics from the Center for Business Women’s Research and the National Women’s Business Council)

Business Growth, Maintaining Mindset inspiration, progress, prosperity

In a season of fresh starts and new beginnings, it’s worth noting a few helpful hints that can ease us past our initial fears of starting something new. Here’s three simple things I do to muster the courage to embrace a new beginning.

Begin with the end in mind. These timeless words by Steven Covey are a life mantra for me! Get super clear about what it will look like when you have “arrived” at your goal. How will it feel? How will it look? How will you and your family be impacted? As I work to launch The 90 Minute Marketer’s Club (launching in June) I could easily become paralyzed by all I need to do. But by staying focused on the prize at the end of the journey I remain motivated to do what needs to be done.

Take the leap with friends. Whether they are jumping in with you or simply serving as a cheering session, when we start something new it helps to have a network of support. I’m blessed to have a variety of support: a women’s wealth group of friends I’ve met with regularly for nearly three years, a brilliant mastermind partner with whom I meet weekly and an extensive network of positive, like-minded and supportive friends.

Shake it off! When embarking on anything new, disappointment, frustration and rejection are simply a part of the journey. Let it go. Whether it’s a phone call that didn’t go as planned, an invitation that was not accepted or a goal missed, the sooner we put it behind us, the faster we can make the dream a reality.

Maintaining Mindset inspiration, progress, strategies

Nearly every client I have worked with has wrestled with this topic. What I’ve noticed is that across the board, clients (mainly women) charge too little for the value they deliver. In the event the fees are where they should be it’s not uncommon to see them “throwing in the extras” to the point the fee is where it was before. I too have reflected on my fees and taken the leap of faith to charge my worth.

While I can’t say I know exactly why this is common among women, I believe it is deeply connected to our sense of self worth, a desire to serve and the fear of being rejected.  So if you are among the sisterhood of women re-examining the value they bring to their clients, here are some things to keep in mind…

It’s Not About Time, It’s About the Value You Bring

This can be tricky when we were brought up being told to be humble and not brag about ourselves. Couple this with the natural self doubt that run deep within many of us and one can find themselves in a quandary. The good news is that this gives us the opportunity to truly acknowledge the impact of our work – to honor the lasting impact we bring to those we serve. So as you gradually raise your fees you will be charging, draw confidence from the value you bring.

Consider the “Opportunity Cost”

“Opportunity Cost” is the value of the next best alternative foregone as the result of making a decision. In business, I interpret this to be the new client or great project I miss out on if I take on a client or project for which I am underpaid. While it may be a way to “get business in the door,” we must remember that it takes us away from a higher and better use of our time. Instead of delivering our services for less than our worth we could be fine tuning a new skill, creating new products or marketing for the perfect client. So stand strong regarding the price you place on your time and expertise.

Inch By Inch, Everything’s A Cinch

There are two schools of thought on how much and how quickly to raise one’s fees. Some feel more comfortable raising them gradually over time. During your next conversation try 10% more. The next time after that, add in another 10%!  This allows you to gradually settle in to the new fee structure. On the other hand, career milestones, recognition or outstanding accomplishments can support a more substantial raising of one’s fees. In my case, when my book launched at #1 in the business section on Amazon and was subsequently translated into multiple languages, my speaking fee was doubled.

So in the end, raising one’s fees is a combination of intuition, reason and leap of faith. I know you will find the right answer for you.

Maintaining Mindset inspiration, prosperity