Archive for November, 2009

Wishing all of you a wonderful and peaceful Thanksgiving Day.  May you put away your troubles and savor this day, a day to reflect all that you have and are grateful for in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I read a story recently written by Dr. Alan Morinis about Itzhak Perlman and I would like to share it with you.  The story highlights how gratitude can be found in any situation; it all depends on how you look at things.

There is a story — maybe an urban legend, but full of truth nonetheless — concerning the famous violinist Itzhak Perlman. One evening, Perlman was in New York to give a concert. As a child he had been stricken with polio and getting on stage is no small feat for him. He wears braces on both legs and walks with two crutches. Perlman crossed the stage painfully slowly, until he reached the chair in which he seated himself to play.

As soon as he appeared on stage that night, the audience applauded and then waited respectfully as he made his way slowly across the stage. He took his seat, signaled to the conductor, and began to play.

No sooner had he finished the first few bars than one of the strings on his violin snapped with a report like gunshot. At that point Perlman was close enough to the beginning of the piece that it would have been reasonable to bring the concert to a halt while he replaced the string to begin again. But that’s not what he did. He waited a moment and then signaled the conductor to pick up just where they had left off.

Perlman now had only three strings with which to play his soloist part. He was able to find some of the missing notes on adjoining strings, but where that wasn’t possible, he had to rearrange the music on the spot in his head so that it all still held together.

He played with passion and artistry, spontaneously rearranging the symphony right through to the end. When he finally rested his bow, the audience sat for a moment in stunned silence. And then they rose to their feet and cheered wildly. They knew they had been witness to an extraordinary display of human skill and ingenuity.

Perlman raised his bow to signal for quiet. “You know,” he said, “sometimes it is the artist’s task to find out how much beautiful music you can still make with what you have left.”

We have to wonder, was he speaking of his violin strings or his crippled body? And is it true only for artists? We are all lacking something, and so we are all challenged to answer the question: Do we have the attitude of making something of beauty out of what we do have, incomplete as it may be?

When you are open to gratitude you see clearly and perfectly how much good there is in your life.  Gratitude affirms that very fact.

We will always be faced with challenges in our lives.  Life provides the ebb and the flow no matter how much we try to resist it.  There is no limit to what we don’t have and if we focus on the lack in our lives we will inevitably be filled with an abundant amount of pain and dissatisfaction.  But when we can look at our lives, businesses, family situations with a focus on what is right we experience gratitude.

Like other attitudes, gratitude can be cultivated.  We don’t have to wait for our fairy godmother to shower us with presents to feel thankful.  We can develop gratitude by reflecting on the gifts that we already have.  Gratitude is the memory of our own heart I once heard someone say.  It is therefore an expression of love and abiding friendship which transforms itself into deed.

I try to cultivate gratitude every day and when I feel it – when I am grateful for my body and mind, for the world in which I live, for my family and friends – I know that my spiritual path is in order.  When I don’t feel it, I understand that I am off and I try to right myself.

Gratitude is profound – it takes us to the edge and beyond.

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Successful business owners will tell you that having a well thought out marketing strategy is crucial to their overall success.  Developing the plan doesn’t have to be a daunting task if you follow these components.

1. Proper Positioning

Positioning is the most important element when developing your marketing plan.  Positioning is the process by which you create an image or identity in the minds of your customers each time they experience your product or service.   Generally speaking positioning involves several steps; but in a nutshell it boils down to ensuring you are offering what your customers want with the most profitable market opportunity while differentiating your product/service from the competition in such a way that customers will choose your product or service.   To sum up, positioning is putting the right product at the right price in front of your target market.  When you have done this, you have mastered positioning.

2. Survey Your Customers

Don’t know what your customers want?  The best way to get the information that can propel your product or service forward is to ask your customers.  You need to understand clearly your target market if you have any chance at appealing to them to buy your products or services.  Surveys, samples, and test markets are great ways to get the feedback you need.  The feedback you get from your current customers or potential customers is priceless and will help you evaluate the integrity of your product, whether or not it’s in line with you branding, if the pricing strategy is correct and whether or not the quality of the product meets your customer’s expectations.

3. Tap Into The Power of Your Mastermind

Mastermind programs are one of the most powerful programs a person can participate in.  Why?  Because you get to leverage other people’s expertise and information and that is always better than trying to go it alone.  Your mastermind participants have probably had similar situations when developing their own marketing plans and even if they haven’t, they are a wonderful resource for ideas, perspectives, and experiences.  Having this resource to brainstorm with and to solve your biggest business challenges is the greatest benefit of a mastermind.  The synergy created between the members of the mastermind is the fuel that creates powerful results.  If you are not part of a mastermind I encourage you to investigate it and see if it doesn’t help you achieve the goals you set for your business.

4. Create Your Plan

A marketing plan is an essential element in your business and its overall success.  So many women business owners fail to create a marketing plan that it is no wonder that there scattered marketing attempts fail to yield them the results they are looking for.  Your plan doesn’t have to be complicated or complex to be effective.  I teach my clients an effective and simple marketing strategy that gets them the results they are looking for.  Remember simple is better and will be more effective.

5. Measure and Track Your Results

You know the saying if you don’t know where you are going how will you know when you get there?  The same is true of your marketing results.  If you don’t have the plan in place how will you know if you have achieved the results you are looking for.  You must track your results to see if you’re yielding the desired outcomes.  How will you measure the results of your plan?  Some ways this can be accomplished is by:  tracking open rates from your newsletter or other email marketing campaigns, how many unique visitors visit your website, increased signups for your newsletter, increased calls for new business, your return on investment vs what you spent.  Only you can determine what activities you want to engage in.  Just remember to know precisely the results you are looking for when developing your plan.

Money.  The word conjures up a ton of emotions for most of us.  Some of them good and often times bad.  When I was a child my father would often tell me that I needed to “work hard” if I wanted to be successful.  As I grew up he would often exclaim, “That Maureen, she’s not afraid of hard work!”  To even write that makes me cringe now.  Back then, I thought that was how it needed to be; that I needed to work very long hours, with little time to enjoy myself if I had any chance at being successful.

What I learned over the last several years was how untrue that really was.  Now, don’t get me wrong I work, but the work is no longer hard.  I can have a career that I love and make the money that I am worth without sacrificing myself and my personal time in the process.

What stuff gets in the way of you doing what you love and making the money that you desire?  Are you sick and tired of struggling with money issues?  Want to find out more about what money means for you and where your limiting beliefs come from?

I want to pose some questions for you to ponder.  Get out a piece of paper and write your answers down.  Let the information percolate for a while.  See what ideas pop up for you that are unresolved when it comes to money.  Let me know how you do as I would love to read your comments!

1. What are the money stories that you grew up with? We all have them and they have shaped our beliefs about money since we were very young.  What’s yours?

2. How has this money story shown up in your life? Think about this one because I bet it shows up over and over again.  For me, I was always working and finding jobs that required that I work long, tedious hours in order to make a good living.  What about you?

3. What is the underlying belief that is within that story? These are the beliefs albeit positive or negative that has shaped your money story.

4. Within the story, what is there to love or be grateful for?

5. Within the story, what is there to forgive?

6. What do you value in your life right now in this moment?

7. How would having more money support what you value most?

Are you ready to answer these questions?  Are you ready to have a different belief about money?  If you want to really make the changes to bust through your money roadblocks then watch for upcoming details about a brand new group coaching program that I will be launching in 2010!  Imagine finally being rid of what stands between you and making the money you desire…

While we all recognize that a complete economic turnaround is still a few months away, smart women business owners are taking control of their money right now  by implementing strategies so that they can make more and keep more.

The sooner you take control of where your money is coming from and how much you keep the better off you are as the economy takes that upward climb and emerges from this economic cycle.  What’s the trick?   To take an active role in ensuring you are creating the income that you want from your business, as opposed to sitting back and passively waiting for money to fall into your lap or for “things to change”.  So here is 5 simple tips to help you get a handle on your cash flow right now so that you are in control of your money and cash flow destiny!

1. Know Where The Money Comes From

Do you know where your money comes from?  Do you have multiple streams of income or are you reliant on just one?  If you have only one stream of income I suggest that you start to look at ways to increase your revenue streams.  If you are a coach or consultant and currently only offer 1- on -1 services it may be time to look at creative ways to bring in more money.  You could develop a group coaching program or mastermind.  This will dramatically increase your revenue with very little additional effort on your part.

2. Value and Pricing Go Hand In Hand

Most business women undervalue their products/services.  I bet that when you started your business you looked to your competition to determine the price…am I right?  The problem with this is most business owners undervalue and under price themselves so you perpetuated that same mistake.  Take a look at your current prices.  Is it time for a review?  Probably!  Find a way to offer greater value to your clients for a higher price and everyone wins.   I just did this and it’s why my next mastermind program will never be the price it was ever again!

3. Track Your Income Daily!

I learned this trick from my mentor and I have to say it works and it works brilliantly!  This is so easy and you are going to love it!  Every day I track how much money I brought it from every income stream.  I use an excel spreadsheet to accomplish this task, but simple paper and pencil will do the trick.   At first you may think that you don’t bring in enough money to track it, but don’t worry that will all change over time. When you pay attention to money in this positive, abundant and grateful way more of it will flow to you faster and faster.  Everyone that I know that has used this trick reports making more money faster than they ever dreamed possible.

4. Know Your Hot Button Money Issues

We were all raised with certain beliefs about money.  These beliefs came from what we learned from our parents.  Most of these limiting beliefs and old values just don’t serve us any longer but many people don’t know how to rid themselves of the past.  Don’t worry, this is totally normal and you can do something about it.  Many women business owners discount their services.  Discounting tells me that you have a fear about what your clients can afford so in order to make yourself feel better and in the hopes of making a sale, you discount.  I recommend checking out my next group coaching program launching in January 2010.   The Money and Mastermind Group Coaching Program:  How To Bust Through Your Money Roadblocks AND Solve Your Biggest Pricing Challenges! will help you shift your mindset and free yourself from those limiting money beliefs so that you can transform your business and daringly charge what you want and get it!

5. Get  Help Where Needed

More times than not I meet women entrepreneurs who have no idea what their cash flow looks like.  Why?  Because they don’t have a handle on their books.  I hate doing my books that’s why I have someone else do them for me.  This way I always know how much I have coming in and how much I have going out the door.  My expenses are at my fingertips which allow me to make informed decisions about expenditures.  It also helps me to know if I am on track or not in reaching my money goals.  If you hate bookkeeping as much as I do, do yourself a favor and hire someone to take care of this for you!  You won’t regret it.

Having Control Over Your Money Simply Means Finding Creative Solutions To Your Situation

Follow these simple tips to have the control necessary to make more money.  Remember it need not be complicated.  Look at what works and what doesn’t and be willing to make the changes.  Keep it simple and it will be effective!

Sometimes I get so tired of the hype that marketers use to sell their products or services.  These marketers are sometimes the exact people who preach about being authentic and using the highest degree of integrity when marketing.  Here are some of my pet peeves and how to avoid them:

1. The Automatic Sign Up

This just happened to me last week at my local Chamber meeting.  I gave this person my business card and before I got home I had her most recent ezine in my in box!  Did she ask me if she could send it to me?  No, she didn’t, but I got it anyway.  And the icing on the cake…she told me if I put a link up on my website to her website she would do the same for me!  Now this may be appealing to some but I wasn’t falling for it!  Don’t do it!

2. Going, Going, Gone

Marketers who say stuff like, “We have 15 spots left, no I mean 17, no I mean 19.” Or the other version is, “Offer ends Monday, no I mean Tuesday, oops I mean Friday.”  Give me a break!  No matter if the game is played with numbers or time, the bottom line is it is still a game; and one that is insulting to potential clients.  Again, don’t do it!

3. Direct Messages

It seems like every day I get a new direct message from some yahoo  telling me how I must  check out this link so that they can sell me their stuff!  No thanks…and then I block them.  You heard me right.  When I get pitched to immediately I block them.  I don’t need to be sold too all day long and this is what some of these people on twitter are doing and frankly I won’t stand for it.  Don’t do this one either!

4. All Promo, All The Time

Some marketers send one promotion after another and it gets tiring.  Usually their ezine is full of useless information and when you check out their website they offer nothing free.  You guessed it, don’t do it!

5. Bad Twitterfeed

I like Twitterfeed,  but I really don’t need to get every feed, post, and link about everything.  Twitter is used best when used as a marketing tool; one that has been given careful consideration and is in line with your marketing plan.  There is no need to post every single thought, action or food you consumed because bottom line -  nobody cares.

6. Immediate Action Required

You all know what I am talking about!  You must act NOW.  Everything is urgent and it’s urgent all the time.  Give me a break…reading these emails and sales letter exhausts me.  I mean really do they think we have nothing better to do then stop what we are doing and attend to ANOTHER urgent message.  Now that is not to say that sometimes you get a notice and it is urgent but you will quickly learn if this is an ongoing case of the “emergencies” or if it out of the ordinary for this person.  If it’s all the time just hit the unsubscribe button.  And remember just don’t do it yourself!

Are you guilty of any of these mistakes?  If so, you know what to do…don’t do them again!

As a business owner our time is valuable so if you come across people who present their products and information in a manner that sends up the red flag then move on.

I hear it all the time…”I want to charge more for my services. ” When I ask them what is stopping them, I usually get a look of panic and hear words that are filled with fear and doubt. Hearing their “money words” is an important first step when I work with a client.  Why?  Because, it tells me a great deal about their money habits and beliefs.

For example, I recently spoke with a woman who was interested in joining my mastermind program. She was letting fear and cost stand in the way of her stepping up to the plate.  Instead of investing in the program, she decided it was better to play it safe and small.  She said things like, “I can’t afford it” and “I don’t have the money” and even “I don’t know if it will be of benefit to me.”  These are words that are rooted in fear and lack and will have a direct impact on your ability to raise your own fees and up your prices.

So what kinds of words will let you stand in your power around money?  Talking about money in ways that are rooted in abundance and power like, “I value myself enough to spend money on this program that will greatly benefit my business” or “I would love to spend that kind of money on (fill in the blank)” or even “Things that cost more have a higher value”.   Do you feel the difference in these statements?

When you use words that are powerful you automatically shift your belief about YOU and what’s possible in your business and life. You’re creating a shift deep within yourself that values quality, which recognizes that good things DO cost more and that they are worth it.

Next time you hear yourself using language that is rooted in lack I want you to immediately shift to those powerful words that can help you make the shift from lack to abundance.

Do you like this tip?  You can learn more money secrets in my upcoming coaching program “The Money and Mindset Program:  How To Bust Through Your Money Roadblocks and Solve Your Biggest Pricing Challenges Easily! To find out more, contact me at maureen@daretobephenomenal.com

I was sitting and thinking the other day about the presentation that I did at the last DARE To Be Phenomenal Networking Event.  So many of the women came up to me after and told me how they have struggled with many limiting beliefs that were instilled in them by their parents.  It got me thinking about some serious questions one should ponder about money.  I am going to focus on a few here today and will be back later in the week with some more questions to think about.

Write down your answers and see what comes up for you.

1. What stories did your family tell you about money?  Was there a story that was repeated over and over again in your family?  Were these stories positive or negative?
2. How did your mother portray her attitude about money? What messages did she send about money?
3. How did your father portray his attitude about money?  What messages did he send about money?
4. Did you worry about money as a child?  What stories or words would you use to describe your worry about money?
5. What did you learn about money as a child?  How did these lessons make you feel about money?
6. When given the opportunity to learn about money do you resist learning this information?
7. Does money flow in and out of your life smoothly or do you have difficulty getting and giving money?
8. Do you feel in control or out of control with regard to your financial situation?
9. Do you know what your financial goals are?  Do you have a plan to get there or are you using the hope and pray method?
10. When you think about money do you feel dread or excitement? Why?
11. What are you willing to do about the beliefs about money that are having a negative impact on your ability to attract abundance into your life?

For some of you when you read these questions it is going to stir up all sorts of feelings about money.  It’s ok and it’s totally normal.  It is all part of the process of busting through those negative beliefs so you can embrace new, positive beliefs about money.  Let me know how you do and best of luck through this journey.

I bet right now you have a ton of things on your to-do-list.  Am I right?  As women business owners it is so important to get a handle on your list and to focus your time and attention on what matters most.

But often I hear my clients complain that they just can’t get focused.  Well, I used to have this same problem until I learned some easy steps that I could take to help me hone in on what needs my attention and time and what doesn’t.  Follow these 3 simple and easy tips to get a handle on your to-do list!

1. Choose Your Priorities Wisely

The reality is successful business owners never get their entire to-do lists done; and neither will you.  As an entrepreneur it is crucial to focus your time and attention on the few activities that will move your business forward the fastest and easiest way possible.  This means only focusing your time and attention on what matters most.  If you are wondering what those activities should be I can tell you it doesn’t include sending invoices or posting your newsletter.  It does include:  marketing your business according to the marketing activities that you have committed to doing; growing your list; and creating new and innovative service offerings to your growing client base.  Anything else on your to-do list is just a pesky distraction that will take you off track!

2. Ask Positive Questions

One of the first things that I learned when I implemented this system was to NEVER ask myself  “How will I get everything done?”  This is such a draining and exhausting question filled with anxiety and dread. Instead try asking yourself innovative and fresh questions that will spark ideas and keep you upbeat and positive.  Remember you are only focusing on tasks that have to do with marketing, list building and product/service development so focus your questions on those topics.  You might try asking yourself “Who could I partner with to grow my list faster?”  This question helps you to start thinking about who you could create a joint venture or alliance with.  By asking the right questions you move from dread to excitement.

3. You Are In Charge

I have written before about the importance of taking care of you first.  So if you find yourself constantly taking care of other peoples’ needs and request then you’re putting yourself last when you should be first.  Many women entrepreneurs fall into the mistaken belief that once you take care of others you can then focus your attention back to yourself.  The problem with that type of thinking is it never happens.  You end up feeling drained and overwhelmed and then never find the time or energy to take care of your business.  So remember, you are in charge of what your day will be like. If you are distracted by others it is because you have put their needs above your own and you are the only one to blame for that.  The more you honor your time and the vision of your business the more you are living your phenomenal dream.  Stay focused on YOUR priorities!

The most successful entrepreneurs became successful by focusing their time on what matters most, not on just what got their attention!  Follow these three simple tips and you will be amazed at how much you can get done with less effort than you’ve ever spent.