It’s May 28, 2010. If I could, I would put one of those five pointed gold stars on this day – the kind we used to get in school when we finally got it right.

You see, today’s blog entry is a leap of faith for me. It’s not a marketing ploy or a part of some grand scheme to overtly move you into one of my training programs or have you click on a link and take me up on a coaching offer. Nope, I’ve let go of all that and am stepping into TRUST.

Today I am celebrating that I am one year into a personal journey that has changed me at my very core. I’m celebrating that I now see and experience my life and work as one big beautiful journey.  I’m honoring my lean and healthy body at the age of 50. I’m appreciating the depth of connection I have with the people in my life, and I’m acknowledging that while I’ve come so far in these past 12 months, I’ve only just begun.

Today I’m also publically committing to follow through on a promise I made to myself in August of 2009, to take only those projects and clients that serve my personal evolution and help usher me into the work I am supposed to do and the person I am meant to be.

Today I’m stepping into my belief that we all get to have a business that is wildly successful and beautifully fulfilling – all at the same time. I’m calling myself to a higher level – not just for my own evolution but because I sense I’m supposed to figure some things out for all of us who want it all.

Today I am inviting you to join the journey which is actually pretty scary for me because when we extend an invitation, there is always a chance we will be rejected. But that’s OK. This journey is first for me and secondly for those of you who feel discontentment in your experience as an entrepreneur and want some new ways to find joy, peace and success on the way to building your business.

What’s ahead? I have no idea.

But what I can promise you is this…

1. I will write often. No promises of how often but you can count on me to show up and share numerous times a week no matter what’s happening in my life and business.
2. I will write honestly. I’m taking off the mask and putting aside my very real need to look like I’ve got it all together. Been there done that. And while my game face serves me at times, it’s not honoring the fact that who I am today is all I need to be to make a difference in this world.
3. I will look for new solutions. This is where it gets fun for me. You see, I’ve got two big beautiful needs… to create and to contribute. In writing this blog I get to do both. My hope is that the insights and solutions I find for myself will in turn, serve you.
4. I will be authentic. I promise to be me. That means some days I will show up powerfully and full of confidence and other days I will show up wobbly and unsure. I’ll do this because I want you to find comfort in knowing I fight the same demons of doubt and fear on the way to my dreams.
5. I will make it fun. This is a growing edge for me and so I’m calling myself to bring levity and fun to the process. It’s a nudge from my dear friend John Dulworth who has opened my eyes to how much more meaningful the journey is when we don’t take ourselves so seriously.

So how about it?

Will you check in now and then to watch the journey unfold? Will you comment when you are moved or share an insight you’ve gained? I hope so because I’m sensing what will unfold over these next 6 months will be something pretty cool and I’d be honored to have you on the journey with me.

Maintaining Mindset, Personal Growth inspiration, progress, prosperity

The answer may be killing your profits and your passion.

As a business strategist I help business earn more and have more fun doing it.  How we do that varies for each client. Sometimes we expand into new markets or tweak how they talk about their offer. However, one thing nearly every client needs is greater clarity about where they should invest their time and capital for the greatest return.

Let’s face it, today there are thousands of options for growing your business. But in a hour of work time, what should you do?  You could write a blog, post in Facebook, answer emails, run a campaign, call a client, form a JV alliance, go to a networking event…AHHH… it can drive a person batty!

To help ease your pain and confusion, here are some tips for deciding the best use of your time for the highest return.

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND: You may think you have a clear vision for your business but do you really? Is it a written vision that includes both the right and left brain components? When I work with a client, we spend time clarifying the creative, feeling-aspect of your vision but we don’t stop there. We get super detailed around what must go with it – the sales figures you’ll hit, the team you’ll have, the marketing strategies you will implement and so on.

ESTABLISH REASONABLE BENCHMARKS: These are smaller goals that when completed, move you closer to your big vision. My studies show that 85% of entrepreneurs begin their month WITHOUT specific goals or a plan.
All I can say is… you can’t hit a target you can’t see!

CHOOSE THE RIGHT STRATEGIES: I see so many well-meaning entrepreneurs investing in programs, tools and information without really considering whether it’s appropriate for their plan or personality. Then they feel guilty when they don’t follow through. Give yourself a break – choose 3 to 4 strategies that are aligned with who you are and what you love. You’ll be more courageous, you’ll follow through and you’ll get much better results. I promise!

DESIGN YOUR WEEK: One of the tips my clients love is to ditch the Daily To Do List and move to a Weekly Action Plan. It gives you freedom, a longer range vision and allows you to be flexible and kind to yourself. What do you put on your Weekly Action Plan? Single steps that are born out of something I call a Freedom Plan. This is a simple document that outlines your main objectives for a specific period of time, identifies the strategies you’ll utilizes and specifies the steps you’ll take to get there. A Freedom Plan is freeing!

So there you have it… you need a clearly defined one year vision, specific monthly goals, 3-4 appropriate marketing strategies and a weekly plan of action. Add a great Business Coach (that would be me!) who guides and supports you in the implementation and watch the magic happen and the sales soar!
Click here to learn about coaching with Jane.

Business Growth, Business Vision, Marketing Innovation, Sales productivity, profit, prosperity, strategies

Usually when I pose this question I am using it to help a client more clearly define their ideal customer.  But that’s not the intent of my question today.  My question “Who does your business serve” is a check in for you regarding who you want your business to ultimately benefit.  Is it your customer, your employees, your creditors, or perhaps YOU?

Certainly… your business needs to serve your customers. I’m a huge proponent of making sure every coaching client has a crystal clear picture of their ideal customer and a game plan on how they will serve them. Without knowing who we serve and how we’ll do that we can’t possibly have a profitable, thriving business.

My invitation to you is to go deeper with the question, “Who does your business serve?” What is your life as an entrepreneur really like? Is it a never ending marathon moving from one item on your to do list to the next? How do you feel on the inside? Is there tightness in your chest or an uneasy feeling in your belly? How about your schedule? Is there time woven into each day for you – time to eat well, to exercise your body, to connect with your inner world and be with your loved ones or are you moving so fast that you miss the moments that make up an extraordinary life?

I ask this because I have had a business that served everyone BUT me. That business had all the signs of success – healthy revenues, national notoriety, successful teams and paychecks that afforded me a beautiful lifestyle. But behind the scenes I was in pain – working too much and sleeping too little. I spent too much time in front of my computer and not enough in nature or at the gym. I put client calls before talks with my loved ones and began my mornings answering emails rather than connecting with my higher power. The business clearly did not serve ME.

Thankfully, this time around I’ve gotten smarter. I now have a business that serves me as well as my customers, team and the bottom line. I start my days with a morning practice that keeps me clear and centered throughout the day. I get my butt to the gym or run to the beach at least five times a week. I schedule in time for myself, my loved ones and time for play. In essence – I have a business that leaves space for all of me.

What’s exciting is that the more my business serves ME, the more I show up in both my business and my personal life. I am productive, creative, focused and incredibly happy.

How about you? Do you need to make some adjustments in your business model so there is more room for you?  If yes, begin with a good hard look at the past two weeks of your life. If you found yourself crowded out by your never-ending list of emails, phone calls and obligations – it’s time for change and I would be honored to help.

Jane Deuber is an internationally known business strategist, best-selling author and highly sought speaker.  Jane has also served as a leader in the virtual training movement. Over the past four years Jane has helped over 3000 entrepreneurs experience higher profits and greater fulfillment. Let Jane show you how to create a business that serves YOU as well as the bottom line. Take Jane’s Business Innovation Quiz and find out if you are on the path to having a business that serves you. Email us at: support@janedeuber.com or call 831-375-6856.

Business Growth, Maintaining Mindset inspiration, prosperity

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

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

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

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

If you have ever pondered the evolution of your purpose, you and I have something in common. In fact, as my one-year anniversary of founding Profit Partners Consulting rolls around, I have been reveling in the unfolding of a deeper and more meaningful purpose.  Are you curious? Good, because I’m excited to share it…

My purpose is to support Thought Leaders to live their life’s purpose through a profitable, fulfilling business that changes the world.

What’s cool about standing in this place is that everything has changed. My clients are upping their efforts and playing a bigger game. Clients who are not yet “Thought Leaders” have moved on. Brave and brilliant Thought Leader clients showed up in their place and most of all… I am connecting with Thought Leaders I have long admired. (Read my blog entry above if you haven’t already to meet one of them.)

What is your purpose and are you living it each day? Is the work you do a reflection of your purpose and more importantly, are you happy? These are all important questions that, when answered, change the very nature of your being. When you are living your life’s purpose through your work you see every day as a gift to be enjoyed and shared.

For guidance on discovering your purpose, check out a true Thought Leader I know you will enjoy at TranscendentSolutions.com.

Business Growth, Business Vision, Maintaining Mindset inspiration, prosperity

The following entry was written after reading an incredible book, Focus On The Good Stuff, by my friend, Mike Robbins.

There I was, waiting on yet another flight that was delayed by more than an hour. “Use this time wisely,” I thought, as I situated myself on the floor near an outlet where I could “charge up” for the next leg of my flight. “Road Warrior” was the label I was wearing that night, feeling rather proud that I managed to turn an entire day of travel into a series of phone calls with business associates and loved ones and answering nearly three quarters of my emails. (Yeah!)  I had every right to be frustrated. Read more…

Business Growth, Business Vision inspiration, progress, prosperity

Yep, that’s right – I’m wishing you a very happy “New YOU” as we begin 2009.  It’s a celebration of the fact that ANYTHING you want to have in the coming year is within your reach if you simply want it bad enough and are willing to take the steps to make it happen.

I know, I know… the economy is questionable right now. People all around you are shouting “the sky is falling” and there is plenty of evidence that says things could get worse. Yet the truth remains that during these challenging times millionaires are being made, deals are being closed and people ARE prospering more than ever before. Read more…

Business Growth inspiration, profit, prosperity