So I’m often shocked and surprised when even after they follow my advice they still don’t seem to have enough money. So why is it even though a woman entrepreneur can make more money it doesn’t necessarily mean she will keep more money?

I know, it sounds unbelievable at first.  I mean if you’re working harder and harder at becoming successful, why does it seem to just slip through your fingers and out of your bank account?

Our relationship with money is a complex thing.  The reality is nearly ALL women have a secret, haunting issue with money that causes them to freak out and give away their power with money.  And when you lose your power, the cash is sure to follow.

Most possess a fear that somehow, having more money will change them or change their life in some way they can’t control.

So, while on the outside they do everything they can to be successful, on the inside, their mindset and beliefs are sabotaging their efforts.

If you, too, have created that endless struggle with never seeming to have enough money, even when you’re making more, then I know you’ll find these 3 tips really helpful in getting to the bottom of what’s really going on:

Money Will Change You

A lot of women are afraid they’ll turn into someone their not.  But truth be told, money doesn’t change you in that way.  It will magnify your values and your character but not change you into someone completely different.  If you were generous before. you’ll be more so with more cash.

On the flip side, if there are traits and values about yourself that you don’t particularly like then now’s the time to do something about them before you have more money.  Take the time to express your positive characteristics now and stand firm in what you stand for and eventually you’ll see that money will only enhance your quality of your life, not turn you into a mean and heartless bitch.

Who Are You Afraid of Offending?

I can tell you from experience that it’s not uncommon to have someone in your life who you think will be upset, jealous, threatened or disturbed in some way if you make more money.  Typically it’s a family member, but it could just as easily be a close friend too.

Does this feel vaguely familiar?  Ok, well it’s just fear you’re feeling, so go ahead and acknowledge the fear. If you really dig deep here this person more than likely wants the best for you.  They want you to be secure, safe, happy, etc.  So, focus on the positive intentions they have for you instead of focusing on what you’re afraid of.

What’s the Money For?

So, what’s your big money why?  If you don’t know, figure it out.

Making more is great and it allows you to indulge in life’s luxuries.  But once you’ve indulged a few times, eventually you’ll want to connect to your big why which has to do with your heart and spirit.  Maybe you want to finally own a home at the ocean or pay for your grandchild’s college education.

Knowing exactly and specifically what larger amounts of money are slotted for will help you value keeping more of it instead of splurging it on something that won’t change your life in any meaningful way.

Money Equals Self-Growth

Do you want to grow as a person?  Well, money is the perfect catalyst for your self-growth and development.  Not only will you delight in how advanced you become but your new income will give you the opportunity to make a profound and positive difference in the lives of everyone around you.

You’ve just had a great meeting with a potential client and you’re ready to reveal your fee. You smile and tell them your rate; you go cold waiting for their response.

While you’re anxiously waiting their reply, crazy thoughts are running through your head like a steamroller.

Will she hire me?

Will she think I priced my services too high?

You hear “You’re hired!” and a wave of other thoughts begin to flood your mind… now you begin to second-guess your pricing!

Did I low-ball it in order to get the job?

Should I have gone higher?

You know what I’m talking about; you’ve been there and you know what’s coming next. The project always takes more time than you realize and you end up feeling overworked, undervalued and underpaid.

So what is a business woman to do who knows that she’s worth so much more but isn’t sure about how to price her services? Follow these tips for better fee setting.

1. Know What You’re Worth

When you’re pricing your service, how do you go about landing on a fee? Do you throw darts and hope for the best? Pick a price out of a hat? Or worse yet do you look to your competition to see what they’re charging?

None of those methods are going to give a price point that addresses YOUR worth.

If you bill hourly, remember that many factors go into determining your price point.  So many entrepreneurs fail to consider all the factors so remember the following:

• First figure out how much you want to be making a year
• What are your subcontractor expenses (if you have any)
• What are your other expenses
• How much profit do you want to make
• All these factors make up your “required revenue”
• Divide your “required revenue” by number of billable hours and you have your rate

Don’t forget that your total number of billable hours is never 40 hours a week.

Is this rate acceptable?  If not raise your fees.

2.  Give Them Results

Clients are paying for results. Technically they’re paying for a service but in reality they’re buying a solution.  It’s your job to make sure that you communicate those results clearly so that people know what to expect.

Will she get more clients? Streamline her processes? Be more confident when having a selling conversation? Know the benefits and communicate them effectively!

3. Create A Haggle-Free Mindset

Don’t haggle with clients about money. You’re not selling junk at a yard sale — you’re selling yourself and you have a lot of value! When you engage in haggling, it immediately lowers your perceived worth and once that happens you’re sunk!  When you haggle, you set yourself up for a continuous relationship by which your clients will nit pick you to death over everything… and NO ONE wants that kind of client interaction.  Heck, truth be told, no one wants that kind of client!

4.  Not Everyone Is Your Client

There will be times when you will have to walk away; when a potential client will not be willing to pay your fee. That’s OK; they were not meant to be your client. The right client who IS willing to pay your rate is just around the corner.

Pricing your services is one of the most difficult tasks a business owner will ever undertake. Be a smart and savvy businesswoman and be prepared by reviewing the project and price. It will save you a ton of heartache in the long run.

What I would like to know is how do you manage your emails each day?

Don’t leave your response here…it’s time to travel the blogoshpere and visit your blog to read your best tip.

Just drop in the title of the blog post and a link to your blog.

Thursday I will post the link so everyone can travel around and read all the great suggestions.

You must stop undervaluing your time by spending it in ways that are so far below your skill level they are practically underground. You know what I mean here…the house work, laundry, errands, futzing around with your website, book keeping.  The list is endless.

If you want to make $100, $200 or even $300 or more then you must stop doing those types of tasks.

But how do you know what to delegate first?

Here ‘s a quick list and few tips to help you get started:

1.  Household chores, including running errands, house cleaning, laundry, cooking,  and food shopping to name a few.

2.  Business tasks such as answering emails, invoicing and paying bills, balancing the checkbook, ordering supplies, setting up conference calls and teleseminars, and publishing your newsletter are just a few of the tasks better delegated to your assistant.

Tip #1: Stop Bartering!  When you barter it sends a message of not valuing what you do or how much your worth.  Energetically it sends the wrong message – the message of limitation and lack.

Tip #2: Eliminate (fire) any clients that don’t meet the criteria on your “A” list.  We all have our ideal client in mind…start getting rid of those clients who don’t meet your ideals.

Tip #3: If you want to be a six or even seven figure business owner then you need to start thinking like one.  Ask yourself this question:  “How would a six or even seven figure business owner spend the next hour?  How would a six or even seven figure business owner handle this situation?  How would a six or even seven figure business owner delegate?”

Choose one of these simple ways to start valuing your time and implement it starting today!  Don’t delay – your six figure business is just around the corner!

Head over to www.breakthroughyourmoneybs.com to learn all the ways that you can do all of the above and so much more!

I will be posting video tips and money saving strategies on a regular basis and I know you won’t want to miss them!

If you like what you’re reading comment, ok?

As small business owners we need to be keenly focused on our ability to get things done and not just on keeping busy for busy sake.

When you are engaged in activity you are busy doing things all day long.  You may move from one project to the next busily working.  At the end of the day you feel that you worked your butt off.  This concept of activity can be seen in most corporations — especially where people are engaged in “meetings.”  You’ ve probably experienced this yourself if you have ever worked in a job.  Meetings where nothing gets done; that’s activity!

Accomplishment is something very different.  When you are focused on accomplishment, you are super attentive on a particular project or task and you complete it in the time allotted or until it is finished.

Unfortunately, accomplishment is rather rare, whether it be in the corporate arena or in a small business.  But those who accomplish stand out in the crowd; and those who stand out, succeed.

Those businesses that fail to accomplish will ultimately fail, or worse yet, will be nothing more than so many other businesses.  Frankly, they will be mediocre.

Here are three strategies that I use to keep “accomplishing” in my business:

1. Develop A Marketing Plan:  My marketing plan consists of my one-year strategy which is then broken down into quarterly objectives, monthly activities, weekly assignments and daily accomplishments.  I learned this technique years ago when I had to write treatment plans.  This is an effective way to get your plan into bite-size manageable action items that easily turn into accomplishments.

2. Schedule Everything:  This is such an effective system.  I schedule everything into my outlook calendar.  Those daily accomplishments that I was referring to above are scheduled into my calendar.  I work on those items first so that I’m always working on THE most important tasks each day.

3. Review and Repeat: At the end of each day, I review what I had on my plan and prepare for the next day.  Sometimes this means adding daily accomplishments to my schedule that were not completed on the previous day.  No matter what, I’m always focused and actively working on my plan.

4. The More You Get Done, The More Money You Make: When you are laser focused on what you want to accomplish and then actually accomplish it, you make more money.  If you are wasting time, are unfocused and have no clear plan of how you will market your business, then you won’t be making the money you desire each and every month.  It’s that simple.

If you’re thinking that this sounds complicated and time consuming, nothing could be farther from the truth.  Your business requires strategy and planning.  Remember the old saying, “Failing to plan means planning to fail.”  The success of your business is at stake.

BIO For Linda Holt

New Light Redesign transforms spaces through the use of color and what the client already owns . Owner Linda Holt has had a life long passion for art and design. For 26 years she was a professional  photographer and the owner of Linda Holt Photography in Boston. Throughout her photography career she maintained an active interest in Interior Design decorating her own home and those of her friends. In 2006 she closed her photography studio and enrolled in  North Shore Community College Interior Design program. She is also a graduate of The School of Redesign and Home Staging as well as having earned 2 different Color Consulting Certifications.  In 2008 she opened New Light Redesign to be an affordable alternative to traditional Interior Design. She works with Home Owners and Realtors from North of Boston to Southern NH.   Linda’s  passion is creating  warm and welcoming spaces that you’ll  love coming home to.

BIO For Susan Siefer

MadPatter ArtDesign develops and produces innovative artisan decorative finish surfaces on walls, ceilings and canvas.  Owner Susan Siefer is an established decorative surface designer creating beautiful environments in residential homes and commercial establishments throughout the New England area. With a formal education in fine arts and design, Susan stays current with new decorative finishing products and techniques through workshops, contacts and collaboration with other designers. When not working on site, Susan works out of a beautifully renovated mill building in Lawrence, MA.

How to Shop for Free

Coupon Class for DARE To Be Phenomenal Members

with

Kathy Spencer

Author of the book

How to Shop for Free:  Shopping Secrets for Smart Women Who Love to Get Something for Nothing

Learn How to find the best savings and combine them with store promotions, coupons, rewards programs, and store credit to get almost everything on your shopping list for free!

Tickets are $25.00 and include light refreshments!

Book sales  will also be available before and after the event. The cost of the books are $14.99 and a book signing will take place after the class.

**All Sales Final

When:

Tuesday, April 5^th at Connie Doto Realty Group

119 Pleasant St, Methuen, MA

Visit the site below to register!  Only 20 seats are available so don’t wait too long to register for this event!

http://www.meetup.com/Dare-To-Be-Phenomenal-North-of-Boston-Chapter-Meetup/events/16767468/

But what if I told you that one and its elegant power can propel your business forward in ways that you currently only dream of?

Think of this… Could one phone call change your life?  What about if you submitted that one outstanding article to the right publication?  Or, if you met that one special person at a networking meeting that launches you into a joint venture that changes the landscape of your business?  How about that one new client?

Of course, the answer is, “yes.”

As business women, we are often so focused on growing our business that it’s easy to miss how simple and powerful the power of one can be.

Often times I see women collaborating, looking for multiple partners to help build their business.  But the reality is, one strong partner can help you achieve the same thing the other five might not be able to do for you.

Reaching out to that one super power partner can raise feelings of fear, doubt, or thinking you’re not ready or not good enough.  But that fear is just fear and it’s helping you to play small.

Putting the power of one into play into your business will help you connect with the right people at the right time, and move your marketing efforts forward like you never imagined.

Here are three simple tips for using the power of one to help you power up your marketing.

Tip #1:  Do This One Action Each Day

Make one marketing contact per day.  Sounds simple and it is simple!  This marketing activity can include things such as:  calling a potential JV partner, asking to speak at a local event, asking to guest blog or post one of your articles in someone’s popular ezine.  All these activities will yield great results which give you greater exposure, increased name recognition and more doors opening up to you. If you do this consistently for 90 days, I know you will see the payoff!

Just stick with it and remember to do this daily!

Tip #2:  Do This One Action Each Week

We all have our comfort zone.  But the problem with our comfort zone is that it doesn’t help to move us forward.  Instead it helps you to stay exactly where you are, and exactly where you are isn’t going to grow your business.  I’m figuring you want to grow your client base, your opportunities and your bank account, right?

Here’s what you can do each week:  reach out to people who are at the next level of success.  Post on their blog, send them a note of appreciation.  The point here is to find out how you can be of service to them and then make the offer.

Tip #3:  Do This One Action Each Month

How to you get your groove on and get your energy up?  When your groove is gone and your energy depleted, you can’t be creative or inspired so you must regularly connect to be refueled.

Remember that you can only be of service to others to the extent that you are fulfilled and whole.  Trying to give of yourself when your gas tank is on empty will only result in negative actions and issues arising in your life.  It’s like what they teach you when you fly with small children – put the oxygen mask on yourself first before the little one.  If you’re passed out, you’re not much good to anyone else.

So how does one accomplish this refueling?  I recommend taking a day a month where you get to focus on you and recharge those batteries.  Maybe you spend the day at the spa, go for a long walk in the woods or at the beach.  No matter what you choose, what’s important here is to allow yourself to take a break and slow down.  You’ll refuel your body, mind and soul allowing you to give from a place of wholeness.

Watch the Power of One Revitalize Your Marketing…

Successful women entrepreneurs display high energy, have unlimited inspiration, and opportunity is always knocking.  So what’s their secret?  Taking clear, consistent action even on the days when they don’t feel like it – they don’t allow excuses to stand in the way of their goal.

The power of ONE can and will change your life if you put into action this simple and easy plan.  So go ahead; take that one action now!

We all have our own way of doing things and I know I love my system but I’d be willing to bet all you creative women out there have some pretty amazing rituals or habits that keep your business running smoothly!

So go ahead and post your best tip here!  I’ll be posting the results tomorrow.