FEARLESS- - Leapstrong

10 downloads 128 Views 7MB Size Report
limit! This magazine is here to help you on your journey with articles about Closing the Sale, Passion, Productivity, Google Hangouts, Get- ting on TV, Customer ...
Issue 01 www.leapstrong.com

Leap Strong Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs

10+ ways to

Lean In

GOOGLE HANGOUTS for BIG BIZ RESULTS! Getting on TV

FEARLESS-

HOW TO CLOSE THE SALE (with ease) + Stop Being Busy & Start Making Money 1

Leap Strong Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs

Publisher Andie Lindgren Contact Us Visit us at www.leapstrong.com or email info@ leapstrong.com Be Featured Want to be featured in our next issue? Email [email protected] Advertise To explore advertising opportunities contact [email protected]

Welcome to the first issue of Leap Strong Magazine! I know you are going to love this magazine! It’s loaded with pure high quality content from 16 expert contributors to inspire you, the entrepreneur. This is an amazing time in history to take the leap from the corporate world to owning your own business and forging your own path. I know it can be a hard path... but also a good one. We have the technology to compete with the big boys, yet we are light and flexible. The sky is the limit! This magazine is here to help you on your journey with articles about Closing the Sale, Passion, Productivity, Google Hangouts, Getting on TV, Customer Driven Marketing, Energy, Dressing like the CEO, Money Management and much more!! Thank you, thank you to all the wonderful contributors who took the leap with me in creating this issue. You amaze me. After you dig in, I’d love to hear your feedback! We’ll be launching the next issue in January, along with a web show. Also, if you have an entrepreneur success story you would like to share contact me at [email protected]. Enjoy!

Andie

2

Contents

3

5

3 Shifts to Handle Your Fears.....by Christine Gallagher

7

Who’s Driving Your Marketing?.....by Payson Cooper

9

10 Ways to Lean In.....by Andie Lindgren

11

How to Get On TV.....by Sarah Shaw

14

Show Conviction to Close the Sale....by Fabienne Fredrickson

16

6 Money Pitfalls Entrepreneurs Should Avoid.....by Ree Klein

18

How to Radiate Positive Energy.....by Michelle Van Otten

20

Keeping Faith When You Feel Like Quiting.....by Lorie Roberts

22

Stop Being Busy & Start Making Money.....by Ellie Pope

24

Your Hidden Gems.....by Gretchen Duhaime

26

The Right Social Media Response.....by Megan Pruitt

28

A Career That Fits....by Kyleigh Wegmann

30

Do You Look Like the CEO or the Assistant?.....by Sybil Henry

32

Why Following Your Passion is Bad Advice.....by Marcy Criner

34

Entrepreneurial MOMENTUM.....by Cheryl Wood

36

Google Hangouts and LIVE video!.....by Brandee Sweesy

4

3 Shifts to Handle Your Fears,Own Your Expertise and Get Out of Your Own Way! By Christine Gallagher

F

ive years ago, I was working in a job, feeling restless and unfulfilled. I knew I was meant to have my own business, but I was unsure how to make the leap and anxious about losing the “security” of a paycheck. The practical, logical side of me said to stick with what I knew. The dreamer in me envisioned forging my own path as an entrepreneur. It was a frustrating time to say the least. Tired of feeling stuck, I decided to take a huge financial leap of faith to work privately with a mentor. From there, my life would change completely. The universe must have seen that I was ready to really play big when I made that decision—because 3 weeks later I was promptly laid off from my job. Fear set in, but my heart yearned to move forward in faith. Before long my anxiety began to dissipate, turning into nervous excitement instead. I knew with guidance and my own determination there was no turning back. But I also discovered that having a mentor

5

and learning how to market were only part of the equation for success. I once heard someone put it this way: “Running your own business is one of the biggest exercises in personal development that you’ll ever experience.” Yep. While many of my own clients initially come to me for my expertise in online marketing and social media, something else often becomes clear: Many times, the only person standing in the way of what we want… is us. Yes, there are always circumstances and people out of our control. But more often than not, it’s our “stuff.” For business owners, getting mentoring and support is a big part of the solution. However, I also believe that there are three shifts that entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs need to make in order to get out of their own way. Here’s what I’ve learned from continuing to “leap” in spite of fear.

Essential Shift #1: Understand that it’s practical magic. Success is two parts: the practical and the “magical.” You need the marketing, the website, the sales… but you also need the “magical” side–the mindset piece. The marketing is crucial but it’s not the only thing dictating your success. If you’re continuously living in a negative place inside, your marketing won’t be ENOUGH to get you where you want to go. Your thoughts, beliefs and feelings guide the actions that you take and it can show up in our businesses as procrastination, laziness, and self-created obstacles. BUT—we need to remember that our dreams really do exist for a reason. The ideas and creative passions you have are not an accident. And your purpose here is to create and be of service. So, it’s time to step out boldly and…

Essential Shift #2: Quit indulging your gremlin fears. In the past, many of us (myself included) have probably allowed fear to stop us from taking action. Fear leads to excuses, which leads to self-sabotage.

But although our fears FEEL real, they don’t actually exist! Why? Because there’s only now, and in the now, you’re ok. Successful people have lots of reasons to procrastinate and be fearful too. The difference is they feel the fear and act in SPITE of it. It’s about staying in that comfort zone vs. stepping up. To overcome this, learn to move through the fear and stretch your comfort zone. It’s about getting comfortable being uncomfortable, and then getting into action. Face your fear by taking the very next step.

Essential Shift #3: Own your expertise (and your worth) We often think we’re not enough, and this is all about self-image. “I’m not smart enough” “I don’t know enough,” “I don’t have enough testimonials,” etcetera. But YOU are an expert. Thinking otherwise is an insidious fear that keeps us stalled.

Another way to start owning your worth and upgrading your selfimage is to start living your life assuming you can be, do or have anything you want. No one else decides how far you can go—but you. Stop self-selecting yourself out of the game and play full out, because none of us is here forever. The big question is what are you going to do with your time here?

If all else fails, think of it this way: People need you. Don’t cheat them.

Free Good ie! To get Chri stin

e’s popular, More Clien free CD “Th ts, Credibil e Top 10 Se ity and Cash nonsense ti crets to Flow Onlin ps on how e” with noto grow yo visibility, a u r nd enjoy m ore income business, boost your on success —plus her , marketing weekly e-z and mindse visit www.S ine t for entrep hesGotClie reneurs, nts.com/To p10Secrets CD

Christine Gallagher

6

Christine Gallagher is founder of ShesGotClients.com, a company dedicated to teaching women entrepreneurs all over the world how to use authentic relationship marketing and online strategies to attract raving fans, enroll more clients, and enjoy more income in their business, while sharing their message in a bigger way. Christine’s unique ability to break “techy”concepts down into easy-to-understand and use strategies that that get entrepreneurs BIG results makes her a much sought-after mentor and coach.

Who’s Driving your Marketing? The Best Marketing Strategy is Customer Driven. What is a ‘customer driven marketing strategy’? It is a marketing strategy that keeps your customers squarely in the middle of everything you do… from the beginning stages right through the end… and it’s the only kind of strategy you will want to use for your business. Here’s a bit about what goes into a customer driven marketing strategy:

Focus On Your Target Market

This means you know as much as you possibly can about who they are, what they want, what they need, what their preferences are and more. You understand them and you take every opportunity to learn more. Then, you make sure all of your marketing is planned and oriented toward them. 7

Sell the Results Your Customers Want What most people do… When most people start to share about their product or service very often they are talking about the features of what they have or what they do. The features are the factual bits and bobs about what you’ve got… like how many hours of private time come in a coaching package, or how many bells and whistles this doodad has and what color it comes in. If you are talking about what you’ve got in that way, I would bet money that you aren’t seeing great results from your marketing efforts.

What you want to do…

People buy because they want a particular result. Here are a few of the biggest results people are seeking: They want to make money, they want to have more time, they want to feel good about their body/appearance and they

By Payson Cooper

want fulfilling and intimate relationships. These are the outcomes people are looking for… and in most cases, pretty much any product or service can be tied to these results, in some way. Sometimes you will need to be a little creative, but that’s one of the fun things about marketing!

You may not want to talk about your product or service in these terms, but the bottom line is that if you aren’t talking about how what you’ve got will create a transformation for your customer and give them the results that they desire, you’ll find

your marketing misses the mark.

Finding Out What THEY Think

With customer driven marketing strategy you are always interested in your people… so you ask them for feedback ALL THE TIME. You conduct surveys, you talk with them and ask questions, you find out how they are using your product or service, how it’s working for them and how you can make it better. This sounds challenging, but it’s really pretty easy – it’s about having conversations and focusing on collecting information all about THEM. People love to share their thoughts, ideas and opinions, so you focus on giving them room to do it and you let that information guide your future product and service development and ALL of your marketing.

Big Bang For Your Effort!

Many things can come from this kind of marketing strategy… just a couple include building tremendous customer loyalty and raving fans. When people feel truly taken care of and understood they share their joy and delight with others, and they keep coming back for more.

Payson Cooper Payson Cooper is a marketing strategist + spiritual teacher. (Yes, really.) She believes that marketing can be a soulful practice — just like meditation, tai chi or yoga. The more you practice, the easier it gets. The easier it gets, the more you want to do it.  She’s helped hundreds of clients break through 6- and 7-figures for the very first time, by enticing them to come over to the light side ... of marketing. 

8

Meet your new champion for self-promotion + self-worth, at www.PaysonCooper.com.

10

ways to

Lean In

S

By Andie Lindgren

itting in the black leather couch waiting for my interview I looked at the elevator and thought seriously about getting back on it. I was more than a little intimidated by the floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over Michigan Avenue and the hallway of awards. At the time I was an inexperienced graphic designer from Oregon interviewing at one of the world’s largest advertising agencies in Chicago. The elevator was only a few feet away. I thought, “I’m not good enough for this. I should just go and save myself the humiliation.” I stayed. At the end of the interview with the wild-haired Studio Director I got a “we’ll try you for a week.” During that week I produced enough sweat for a basketball team, pretending to know what I was doing until I figured it out. And I got the job.

9

It turned out to be one of the most amazing jobs of my life. And, now, years later, that wild-haired Studio Director is my husband and the father of my beautiful girl. I’m so glad I didn’t get on that elevator. Even though I wasn’t nearly qualified, even thought I wasn’t technically “good enough” yet – I leaned in. Sheryl Sandberg talks about the many ways that women hold themselves back from success in her bestselling book, Lean In. Although much of the book is geared toward the corporate world, the biggest lessons also apply to entrepreneurs. Here are 10 ways that you, as an entrepreneur, can and should lean in:

1. Take on the big audacious project,

the one you aren’t good enough or well known enough to do, whether that is a Ted Talk, interviewing a guru, organizing a conference, etc. In Sandberg’s book she describes men applying for jobs and raising their hands for opportunities that they aren’t “qualified for” much more than women. Part of getting to the next level is jumping in.

2. Sit at the table

Often women sit on the side of the room (literally) rather than at the table. Act as if you are already big time and get in there. Don’t just show up at networking events – courageously connect with people.

3. Lean in to your own discomfort and handle the ‘yuck’ in your business –

whatever that is for you (letting an employee go, organizing your billing system, planning). Handling can mean delegating or hiring out. It just can’t mean sticking your head in the sand and avoiding it.

4. Ask your spouse to give you 50/50

Don’t let guilt over not having a J.O.B. make you spend more time on housework. If you’re really going to succeed as an entrepreneur your going to need that time and support.

5. Seek out mentor knowledge

Sandberg advises readers not to ask a stranger to be your mentor. First, soak up the knowledge, show you are applying that knowledge and then once you are displaying courage and drive, the great mentors will want to help you.

6. Seek out rejection

You will be amazed what people say yes to. Treat it like a game and say to yourself, “I have to get 50 rejections this month”. It will defeat the boogieman of fear. If you need inspiration on this watch Jia Jiang’s presentation at the World Domination Summit in Portland!

7. Let go of the myth of doing it all

Just because you forgot it was “spirit day” at your child’s school doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent. Focus on the big stuff and don’t live in a state of guilt with either your business or your personal life.

9. Help other entrepreneurs

There is a reason why people with workout buddies lose more weight than those who go it alone. When you participate in joint ventures you work off of each other’s momentum.

10. Become a master at communication

Real communication means speaking simply, confidently and truthfully in your own style. It also means asking for feedback and genuinely listening to someone else’s truth. There are so few great listeners in the world that when we encounter one we’ll do just about anything for them. Lean in and listen.

on the household stuff and don’t try to control how it is done.

Andie Lindgren Andie Lindgren is a mediapreneur who tells the stories of those who leap and what it took for them to succeed. She also helps entrepreneurs with marketing, design & writing. If you have a story that will inspire others contact andie at www.leapstrong.com.

10

How To Get Your Products on TV By Sarah Shaw

11

Getting your products on TV can really make a difference in how the world views your brand and product line.

who are looking for their “big break” and might see you as competition if you are not clear about your purpose for calling. Be sure you know whom you are hoping to speak to, and ask confidently to be connected. If you get the run around, remain polite and ask how you can get the information to the person.

Once you get your product on TV or into the hands of celebrities you will: 1. Build tremendous name recognition - people pay ridiculous amounts of attention to what celebs are doing or wearing. 2. Enhance your market credibility - a photo will turn fans into buyers. The end result…money in the bank! 3. Get free publicity – the media is much more likely to be interested in your brand if you have celebs behind you.

NOTE: Send your package via FedEx as people in the entertainment business will more likely open a FedEx package due to the perceived value… don’t ask me why….it just is. It seems to relay a sense of urgency…..so just go with it.

Know your TV shows and do your research! Start to REALLY watch TV! Watch TV with a different eye and try and figure out what characters are a good fit for your product. You want to be sure the character is the right fit and that your target market will think the show and the celebrity wearing it is cool and that they’ll want to be like them – meaning the viewers will want to purchase your product. Then do some research on the crew member you will need to contact. You can watch the end credits to see who’s who, and whom does what – it most likely will be the Costume Designer or the Prop Master. You can also call the production office and ask. To find the office, just google it or figure out which studio produces the show (end credits can help again here), and call and ask for the production office.

Become BFFs with all the GatekeepersMaking friends with the production assistant or any gatekeeper along the way is KEY to getting ahead. They could be the boss tomorrow. This is the person you need to charm first to get to the dept. head you are looking for. Remember, these are usually production assistants 12

Follow up is key to success – Once you have placed a product on a show, feel free to follow up with the person you delivered it to.

Ok, so now what can you do with your good news? Move your buns! The minute you get it – it’s all hands on deck to get the word out. You are going to send this superstar info to all the magazines, to your current store list and all stores you want to get in. And don’t forget the Gossip shows like E!, Access Hollywood, Extra and The Insider etc. If you have photos, that is obviously a HUGE plus, but not required.

You can make a single one sheet of the item with the photo of the celeb and/or TV show attached to it. It gives the editor a visual of what it could look like in print.

Handy Phone Numbers CBS Studio Center: (818) 655-5000 TV City: (323) 575-2211 NBC Main #: (818) 840-4444 ABC Main #: (818) 560-1000 FOX Main #: (310) 369-1000 HBO Main #: (212)512-1000 USA Network Main #: (212) 413-5000 If you get your product on a TV show and want to have it recorded and mailed on DVD, L Phase can do it for you for around $20. L Phase #: (818) 782-4700

Production Weekly

If you want to get your product on a new show before it becomes popular, you can purchase a subscription to to find out about new shows and pilots. Go to http://www.productionweekly.com This is a weekly newsletter that lists upcoming show and production offices. It is very reasonably priced and will get emailed to you each Sunday night.

Here is how to read the production weekly report (above): Top Row: shows name of project and if it is a feature film, TV show or Pilot Status Options: In development or it will show date if in production Location: shows location of filming Cast: Shows the cast that is listed so far but could need updating. Contact info: Might be the production office but could be the producing office so be sure to ask. Description: Under the cast is a short description of the project so you can see if it is in line with your product offering. Tip: some films are strictly military or animated so be sure to read carefully.

Good luck with your celebrity placements!

Free Good ie! Sarah offe

rs a fr on T.V. and ee service to get your products in Movies through he connection r personal s. Sign up h www.insta ere: ntlyfamou sproducts.c om

Sarah Shaw Sarah Shaw is an information “junkie” and the ultimate go-to girl for everything -- from which stores are the best to approach first, to how to calculate your margins, to the best manufacturers. Translating ideas into action is her strength, and she lends her wisdom willingly to those who have brilliant ideas and want to turn them into gold! Sarah’s extensive knowledge will help you get your product onto store shelves and into celebrity hands. 13

The Power of Conviction to Close the Sale By Fabienne Fredrickson

14

Did you know there is a way of BEING that literally makes or breaks your ability to attract clients in large numbers? Many self employed people don’t use it and, as a result, are literally letting prospective clients slip through their fingers, day in and day out—even if they have done a lot of marketing and networking, and even if they have lots of prospects. To avoid letting prospects slip through your fingers, you need to have serious conviction about what you offer. If there’s no certainty on your end, then a prospect is simply not going to be certain either that working with you is the answer to their problems. They’ll question whether you are really good at what you do and then decide to keep looking. Here’s an example of what happened to me a few years ago, after going to see my dentist. For months, I’d been researching some light cosmetic dentistry done to improve my smile. During my routine dental checkup and cleaning, I asked “Dr. Smith” if he performed cosmetic dentistry. Now, before I tell you what happened, let me explain his typical behavior. He was naturally very outgoing, charming, and did good work (as far as I could tell from the routine cleanings.) He told jokes, was jovial and seemed pretty confident all around. But something happened when I asked him if he did cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Smith’s behavior changed, almost on a dime. He looked away, mumbled something about being in business for 20 years and of course he did cosmetic dentistry, and that he did it well. And then that was it. Nothing else. The strange thing was his words were no longer enthusiastic and confident. They turned empty and uninspiring, and I wasn’t sure how to read the situation. Whatever had happened, my gut feeling told me not to work with him. Right then and there, in just one sentence, he lost thousands of dollars worth of potential business. I knew by the manner in which he spoke that if I was to go forward with the cosmetic dentistry, I wasn’t going to be using Dr. Smith. He simply had not convinced me—not even close. In fact, quite the opposite. Here’s what I have discovered from that experience and countless other experiences I’ve had, just watching entrepreneurs talk about their abilities:

• Prospects want to work with people who are CERTAIN about their abilities. • Prospects want to work and learn from an AUTHORITY on a subject. • Prospects are looking for someone CONFIDENT about the results they offer. • Prospects are silently begging to be LED! 15

Your Client Attraction Assignment: From this moment forward, you cannot afford to be wishywashy about what you offer. You’ve got to have total conviction about what you do. Not only that, you have got to express that conviction in a way that makes the prospect feel confident about your abilities.

You see, your job is not to sell. Your job is to be so quietly self-assured that you convince prospects to get out of their own way to work with you. The way you do that is by building trust, showing authority on your topic, and expressing your capability about the results they’ll get with you. And that’s all in your way of BEING.

Now, a caveat. This doesn’t mean that you become overly zealous, or over confident. That’s just a ridiculous turnoff and it would send prospects running in the other direction. Just be yourself, but speak with conviction and certainty. One more thing. I would recommend that you not tell a prospect you can do something that you can’t‚ just to close the sale. Some sales gurus will tell you to do this, and then figure it out later, but I don’t agree. It’s out of integrity and we are looking for authentic selling here. It’s better to gently turn away that prospect and move on to the next one. So, be yourself. Be a leader, and start speaking with conviction from this moment forward. It doesn’t take much, and yet I guarantee you’ll start attracting more clients than you are now. It works!

Fabienne Fredrickson Fabienne Fredrickson, The Client Attraction Mentor, is founder of the Client Attraction System®, the proven step-by-step program that shows you exactly how to attract more clients, in record time...guaranteed. To get your F.R.E.E. Audio CD by mail and receive her weekly marketing & success mindset articles on attracting more high-paying clients and dramatically increasing your income, visit www.attractclients.com today.

6 Money Pitfalls To Avoid By Ree Klein

Entrepreneurs are bold believers. We’re people who generate ideas, hatch plans and aren’t afraid to take action. We cover the spectrum from those driven by the need to build something grand to solopreneures who prefer to go it on their own. Whatever the scale or motive, money plays a critical part in making it all work. While there is no guarantee that your business will take off, you are guaranteed to fail if you fail with your money. The proof is in the numbers. Google “top reasons why small businesses fail” and you will find that poor money management is a common theme. Here are six money pitfalls entrepreneurs can avoid in the quest for a successful business.

16

Pitfall #1: Poor personal money management Before you venture off and start a business, even a one-man show, you should take a microscope to your personal finances. Then ask “would I fire myself as Chief Financial Officer of my own life?” Hint: If you say “I don’t know where my money goes,” fire the CFO. If you have credit card or auto debt, fire the CFO. If you don’t have an emergency fund equal to one year of living expenses, fire the CFO. If you discover that your CFO should be fired or needs some serious training, you’d be wise to focus on your personal finances before starting a business.

Pitfall #2: Skipping the blueprint stage You wouldn’t build a house without a blueprint. Why? Because everyone knows that it ALWAYS costs more than you expect to build a house, add a room or remodel a kitchen. So why would you start a business without knowing exactly what success looks like and the path to get there? Unless you have a blueprint with financial milestones, you’re at risk for running out of money before achieving success.

Pitfall #3: Going for the whole enchilada Sometimes, your business idea can take on a life of its own. Before you know it, you’ve got grand plans, not a lot of time and not enough money to make it all happen. Don’t give up on the idea, but don’t go into debt or risk all your capital to go for the whole enchilada right out of the gate. Instead, break it down into smaller parts and prioritize what can be done first, second and so on. You might be surprised to find that: • •

You don’t need the grand plan after all, or You evolved the idea and would have gone too far in the wrong had you pursued theporepudae big plan all Pudi cumdirection ipsanda dolorum ati dolupta quiat res at once. everspe rchici ut estis cus nus utatia dolorempeles aut ad ut accupta.

Here are a few questions you should consider before saying “you’re hired” to family. 1. Will you have the courage to let a family member go when money gets tight? 2. Can you confront a family member about their poor performance if needed? 3. How will you ensure you treat all employees equally, including fairness in pay?

Pitfall #6: Not having a failure test

Re nossimil et quam re the velecte ndande Pitfall #4: Choosing nam volorupta wrong partnernusdae comnima ipicten imagnisit, vollitaessit experovid moloMany intoeturiam a partnership runtpeople lia es go volorit enihillam et for what seems like good reasons at aut ad ut ipis esto int omnis in re, the time. However, once thingsdiget od molese sandae liastositget et hilitat underway oneofficip or both start annoyed over one thing or another. In vellecaepro to volupienist estium. Ga. the worst-case scenario, you might be Nequia consequam essunti cuptatus forced to buy out your partner to save the business and/or relationship.

Too often you hear of good people who pursued a dream straight into the ground. They hocked their home, drained their accounts and even borrowed from family before finally throwing in the towel. Not all good ideas end up being successful businesses, so don’t bet the farm. Set some measurable goals and if you fail to meet a goal within the stated timeline, maybe it’s time to rethink what you are doing. For example, your first milestone could be a specific number of clients generating a specific amount of revenue by a certain date.

Consider paying the other person to do the work they are great at, but think twice before making them a partner.

1

Pitfall family as employees Piodi#5: cum Hiring ipsanda dolorum ati dolupta quiat porepudae res everspe rchici ut estis cus nus utatia dolorempeles aut. Solorepr ectendis sum

faccum essitasor modia quaepro vitectet fugit et fugia.doesn’t Fero volorem quam Hiring family starting a family business always volumhowever, sit volupta ne perio idelibus simus est oditregret mosaspellerrupta disaster; a lot ofblaccup small business owners men iaepediafter aut eicidebis assum id qui cone cuptame lacepel iditiis the decision it’s tooeos late.

Whether you hit the target or not, it’s a good time to reevaluate and refine your business goals.

Here’s the good news: if you avoid these common financial pitfalls you are significantly more likely to succeed at your business venture... and that is what I want for you. Here’s to your success!

Ree Klein

17

Ree Klein is the creator of EscapingDodge.com, a site dedicated to helping people transform their relationship with money. Through early adulthood, she learned that money has the power to support or destroy your health, relationships, self-confidence and dreams. With the help of a mentor, she changed her money beliefs, made a plan and took action. Now, she’s determined to help you do the same. Be sure to check out her Help100in100 campaign launching September 23rd.

How to Radiate

Positive Energy! I

n life and in business - people really care about two things when they meet you and these two things can create a lasting impression. The first is the energy that you give off and the second is the experience that you create for them. When you show up, your energy speaks volumes without you saying a word. It actually creates an energy field around you. Do you know what your energetic blueprint feels like to the people you want to attract?

You could be 10 times more powerful if you worked on your energy. Too many of us are overwhelmed, stressed out, maxed out, out of balance, out of shape, struggling to take care of ourselves and our bodies (which always seem to come last on the To-Do list, right?), suffering in our relationships, trying to overcome our itty bitty shitty committee in our heads, trying to figure out how to reach our next levels and wishing we could just hook up an IV and mainline coffee for some energy, RIGHT!? Your first step is really detoxing the negative from your self-image. Work with a coach or find a plan to get rid of that toxic stuff. Your subconscious self-image is full of all the old stuff from the past and from your childhood 18

that affected you. The subconscious is a 24-7 goal striving mechanism to produce results that you believe based upon that self-image. It will fight to the death to keep you in that selfimage. Until you learn to change that negative subconscious image, no amount of will power can help you get the results in your life and your business that you want. You need to be in control of your mind, not the other way around. If you can shift that, it turns on the faucet. After a good detox you are ready to set up a system for creating positive energy. Your foundation for success, the epicenter of your personal power, is made up of four components: your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self.

The Physical Body

I work a lot with clients on their bodies. Lifting off the dead weight on a body increases your energy, makes you feel good and confident. I used to weigh 200 lbs. I was the girl in the fat suit – I didn’t just show up like Barbie. Working on our physical bodies is not about wanting to be perfect. For me it was about me wanting to conquer the enemy within. I wanted to become the best athlete I could become because of what that gave me. The discipline that I learn from fitness teaches me how to be

Your physical body is your gateway to elevate your beliefs about yourself and to change that internal environment to one of self-love and high self-worth.

a better leader, how to overcome challenges. It teaches me how to create a champion mindset that I carry over to my business. I’ve learned not to allow things to defeat me. Not long ago, I was out celebrating with a friend. I walked up to the bar and ordered a water. The woman next to me at the bar gave me the dirtiest look and actually said, “aren’t you just the perfect little Barbie?” I turned and put my hand on her shoulder and said “you wouldn’t believe where I have come from”. She was shocked because she expected venom from

me, not love. It isn’t about being Barbie. It is about not letting Tip! down. yourself After studying several high achievers I found that they eat an optimized diet and they book exercise as a standing appointment every single day. For them, it isn’t just about creating the energy to get up and do things. It affects the energy they give off to the world. That is why working on your physical body is as important as your marketing plan.

4 Components of Energy Physical

1

Lifting off the dead weight on a body increases your energy and makes you feel good and confident. Eat an optimized diet and schedule daily exercise.

Emotional

Mental

2

Start with the first thought you think in the morning being positive. You don’t want to wake up saying, “Oh, my God, how am I going to change my life?” Start your morning with an incredible mindset.

3

Go to the mirror and talk to yourself. Say something that you love about yourself. That will help you to put yourself in a great emotional state for the day.

Spiritual

4

Do something every day that connects with spirit – that can be anything – meditation, prayer, yoga or being in nature.

You will see that once you make these things part of your life, you’ll enter a room differently. Your acceptance and self-love will radiate positive energy and it will allow you to genuinely connect with other people and attract rock solid, unstoppable success.

Michelle Van Otten Michelle is deeply connected to the huge significance and importance of the global movement of women entrepreneurs. She’s the #1 ranked Business Image Expert on Google, an expert in magnetic branding and hosts a successful weekly radio show that empowers entrepreneurs. She’s an international speaker and leads her 4-day transformational intensive “The Magnetism Makeover” along with her one-of-a-kind yearlong breakthrough coaching mastermind in Las Vegas. Michelle has appeared on TV, radio and featured in magazines nationwide. For more information, to book Michelle to speak at your next engagement, request a marketing or media package please contact: [email protected] or visit her website at www.michellevanotten.com 19

Keeping Faith By Lorie Roberts

20

I

was brought up to believe the following messages: ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going.’ ‘Idle hands are the ‘devils’ playthings.’ ‘Work hard and play hard.’ ‘Life is about competition and survival of the fittest.’

What do you suppose happens when we choose to focus on the fear… through worry, fretting, talking about it or even by trying to ignore it? Yes, of course, it just gets stronger, and in a sense it expands.

If these were not messages that you received directly in your home, these are messages that you have likely been exposed to in our culture. These messages have a main underlying theme, which is that they are all fear based. How many So if fear does not work to motivate you times have you used fear to motivate other people or even yourself? I know I to keep going, to not give up, than what will? The opposite of fear: courage, certainly have. confidence and/or faith.

Changing Your Focus from Fear to Faith The answer to doing this is not something you will likely hear in too many places, and that is to do the exact opposite to the beliefs that got you focused on fear and lack in the first place. Yes, how about, when the going gets tough the tough take a break? Or, idle hands are an angel’s plaything (so go play!). Work soft and play soft. It is all about cooperation and survival of all.

Really what I am saying is to ease up, relax, have fun with it and stop pushing so hard to make something happen. It is from this “softer” and slowed Although fear is sometimes a short-term down place that you can turn the “ship” According to the dictionary, courage is motivator it can often disempower us around more easily. It is from this place the ability to do something that frightand lead to feelings of helplessness and that inspiration is able to flow back in loss of control. When we feel this lack of ens one, confidence is the state of feeling to motivate you toward your goals and certain about the truth of something motivation we can get stuck. So, based dreams. and faith is complete trust or confidence on our beliefs we try to push harder. in someone or something. Sometimes this can lead to a breakthrough but more often it leads to an Where do we get the confidence or faith increase in our anxiety and frustration to continue on despite the fears we are when we can’t seem to pull it together. experiencing? We start by understanding that we have a lot more to gain by If you look at the beliefs that bring on having faith and confidence and focusthese fears, you will see that we are ing on what we have to gain rather than usually afraid of lack. This lack consciousness says that there is not enough being fearful and focusing on loss. to go around and if I don’t work hard enough I will not get the things I need to survive.

If something brings up fear in us then we have a decision to make in that moment whether to focus on the fear of what we don’t want, or the positive expectation of what we do want.

Now, like many things this is easier said than done. I certainly do not want to infer that it can’t be done, or that you can’t do it, I am actually certain that you can. But, once we get a momentum going in a certain direction it can be difficult to suddenly put the brakes on and “turn the ship around”.

Lorie Roberts

21

The Ultimate Career Change Guide: The Steps to Find Passion and Purpose at Work! Are you or someone you know stuck and burnt out at work? If so check out The Ultimate Career Change Guide. In this guide you will find the exact steps to finding a career you love! www.theultimatecareerchangeguide.com/

Lorie Roberts assists stressed and burnt-out professionals to increase their happiness and satisfaction in work and life through discovering their purpose and turning it into a career they love. Lorie’s own experience of reaching out when she had little education and no work prospects catapulted her on a fast track of growth leading her to finding her own true purpose. Lorie has worked as a college instructor, addiction, and career counsellor spanning over 20 years.

Stop Being Busy & Start Making Money By Ellie Pope

G

ot too much to do and too little time? If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you probably think if you could get just a little more time in the day, then you’d get more done and grow your business faster. It’s an illusion. More Hours Doesn’t Mean More Productivity Think about it: when you get extra time in the day, does it go to “mission-critical” tasks? Or does it go to “busy-work” instead? Mission-critical tasks are the ones that bring in profits, reduce expenses, and move your business forward. Busy-work is that work which consumes your time and attention without giving much value in return. And it’s easy, so you can do it even when you’re tired and worn-out, which

22

explains why you tend to do it the most. The problem is that busy-work displaces the mission-critical tasks that build your business. A day of busy-work can leave you feeling like you’ve worked all day, and gotten nothing done … which may not be far from the truth! Is Your Own Commitment in the Way? As an entrepreneur, you’re no doubt highly committed to the success of your business. That’s a great trait, but it has a downside. It means you may tend to keep working even when it’s time for your body, mind, and brain to stop. The rationale for busy-work is: “I’m too tired do the challenging work, but at least I’ll move these smaller items off my plate.” It seems logical and productive. But it’s not. We rarely think of it this way, but you have a limited capacity to focus each day. Your brain needs energy to function. When you hit your limit, all that you are capable of doing is busy-work because it’s fairly easy. You literally don’t have the

attention span to maintain focus on more challenging work.

This means you have to stop putting busy-work ahead of your downtime. High quality downtime includes a range of activities, and you need different ones at different times. Sometimes, you need a good nap. Other times, cardio or strength-training exercise helps to reset you. And often, it’s social activities, like time with friends and family.

The Longer You Work, the More Time It Takes Doing busy-work when you’re tired creates two problems: First, your tasks take longer. A LOT longer. An email that would take you 5 minutes when you’re in the zone may take 30 minutes when you’re tired. It becomes a big time-waster. But worse, when you do busy-work instead of taking a needed break, you keep yourself from restoring those brain resources. So it gets harder and harder for you to do that concentrated, money-making work. The result is a vicious cycle, where the longer you work, the less you get done per hour, and the longer you need to work to stay on top of it. It’s Not About Being at Your Desk You might not have distinguished the difference between staying at your desk and adding value to your company. In the factory model of workers, people got paid by the hour to do rote work, and more hours really did mean bigger results.

But as a business-owner, it’s on you to use your inner resources your intelligence, resilience and creativity - as well as possible. Your profits are correlated to the wisdom of your choices, not to the hours you put in. The Key to Making More Money If you want to be less busy and make more money, the key is to be more productive during your work sessions, and focus on the activities that make a difference. This requires more concentration and energy, and in order to have this, you need high-quality downtime, which restores your brain, your body, and your focus.

Do things you enjoy, and your ability to focus increases naturally, along with your entrepreneurial resilience. Those challenging tasks become less daunting, you make wiser choices, and you’re more productive in your work sessions. You literally become less busy, and make more money.

Free Good ie!

Discover h ow to get m ore done b easing up. y Get your fr ee report n www.Prod o w at uctivityPoo lside.com/w e lcome

Ellie Pope Ellie Pope is a productivity expert, speaker, and business coach who knows what it takes to get focused in the busy business world. She shows entrepreneurs how to get more done by easing up, tapping into their inner rhythms, and leveraging the latest brain science. The result is they make more money with less stress, more peace of mind, and more freedom.

23

Your Hidden Gems By Gretchen Duhaime

What part of you are you hiding from your people? This is a question I love to play with, for myself and my business, and also with participants in my trainings and workshops.

The magic of asking questions is letting your conscious mind (or ego), step aside so the real wisdom and insight from your intuition and divine guidance can shine through.

Here’s a tip - when you ask yourself the question, don’t try to answer it. Really!

One really easy way you can do this is with a game (this game is adapted from Robert Moss’s book “The Three ‘Only’ Things”). Here’s how you play:

Step 1

Write down the question, “What am I hiding, that if I showed it right now, would bring me more clients today?”

Step 2

Choose an “oracle.” You can use a deck of tarot or oracle cards, a book, the radio, even a search engine.

>

If you’re using a card deck, pull one of the cards. Now write down your associations when you look at the card. If this is a deck you work with, try to let go of any previous associations you had with this card and look at it with a fresh mind.

> 24

If you’re using a book, open it to a random page and write down the first phrase that catches your eye.

> >

Step 3

Intend or pretend the your oracle is really all-knowing and has the answer to your question.

If you’re using the radio or TV, turn it on to a random channel and write down the first phrase you hear.

If you’re using a search engine, or wikipedia, click the random feature and write down the first result.

Success! Sometimes the answer will

be spot on and very clear. But oracles stay in business by sometime giving answers that are a little obtuse. If your answer doesn’t seem to fit, try it on with different aspects of yourself and your business. How does the answer relate to how you’ve been marketing yourself? How does it relate to o what you do to attract clients and to the programs or products you offer?

The reason this exercise works so well is it provides a shortcut to accessing your intuitive mind. The more you practice, the easier “seeing” the message becomes. Of course not every message is an earth-shaking revelation. Sometimes I get reminders for everyday things, like drinking more water. Making connections like this is amazing, but not surprising.

Free Goodie! To get more fun exercises to tune your client attraction frequency, register for Gretchen’s free audio training “Boost Your Impact and Your Income TODAY Using Your Irresistible Magnetism” available here: https://ef128.infusionsoft. com/app/page/defaultcampaign-landing-page2

The easier “seeing” the message is, the more you’re living in the flow of your brilliance. Getting into creative flow is truly magical. It’s the state we’d love to be in all the time, right? I hope this quick exercise has brought you a bit more flow today. Keep dreaming BIG!

Gretchen Duhaime Gretchen Duhaime is energetically committed to helping women business owners align Spirit and systems to create magical success! My clients break through the guilty feeling of spending too much time on their business, the overwhelm and frustration of trying to implement all they’ve learned, and the fatigue of pushing to get to their first (or next) six figures. My mission and commitment is to help you be your greatest self so you can have a fabulous, fulfilling business and life. For more information on working with Gretchen, visit http://gretchenduhaime.com 25

The Right Social Media Response By Megan Trombino Pruitt

S

ocial media is the most visible and exposed area of your company. How does your team react to a positive or negative review left by a brand ambassador?

In my time helping clients with social media, I have seen a range of responses from “let’s delete the comment” to “my business will be destroyed from this review.” My hope is this article can serve as a roadmap to help ease anxiety and give you some tips on how to respond. Reputation management is what you do to listen to conversations taking place on social media about your company and more importantly, how you respond to what you hear. Be prepared for both positive and negative sentiment! The first step, (with the exception of profanity) is to respond to each and every comment regarding your business left on any social media platform.

According to a recent Harris Survey of customers that received a response from a company after posting negative feedback, 33% turned around and posted a positive review, and 34% deleted the original negative review. Wouldn’t you like that result? If you think you don’t need to respond, here is a great example of why sitting back with no acknowledgement can destroy a business. One early morning, my client, a national restaurant chain, called me with a full-blown social media crisis. My client had released a menu item that in one sandwich provided more calories than what was recommended for an adult to consume in an entire day. Twitter was in an uproar, mommy bloggers had a field day and the client was mentioned on The Tonight Show and many other media out26

lets. Our team communicated the social reach statistics, the volume of exposed audiences, and other important metrics but most importantly, we recommended the client create an official response. Against our strong recommendations, the client chose to stay quiet, thinking the crisis would go away and would not do any damage. They could not have been more wrong. Sales plummeted, entire families boycotted the restaurant and several locations ended up closing. I often wonder what a personal response highlighting healthier menu options or listening to their consumers and removing the menu item would have meant for that company today. The Best Way to Respond to Negative Social Media First, simply acknowledge the frustration of the person who has left a negative review. A simple, “We are sorry you had that kind of experience and appreciate you bringing the situation to our attention” will go along way. Next, work to move the conversation to a private channel so the details of the complaint can be discussed and a more prompt resolution can be given, “Please take a minute and send us a private message with your contact information and details so we can provide our customer service team can get these issues resolved.” Lastly, follow up and provide a resolution. Shine a Spotlight on Positive Feedback Positive sentiment is like a gift from a higher power. When Sally has a great experience with your company and comes to Facebook to tell you how happy she is, just think of the additional audience exposed to your company. Her Facebook connections will see the review and any future visitors looking to gain more information about your company will see Sally’s kind words. Respond to Sally with specific details

within 24-hours. Strike while the iron is hot! Take the comment from Facebook and spread it on your other various social platforms. By following this roadmap, you will establish best practices to minimize the damage resulting from a negative response and will be able to celebrate the positive reviews with your brand champions. If you would like to receive further information, please visit www.suffusionsocial.com

Megan Trombino-Pruitt A successful entrepreneur, Megan Trombino-Pruitt has pioneered the way brands harness the power of social media since the infancy of the industry. After being one of the first in the country to receive a Masters Degree in Internet Marketing, Megan gained valuable experience leading social media efforts for clients like Pep Boys, QVC, Party City, Lane Bryant and Energizer. As an expert in accelerated relationship development, she founded Suffusion Social, a full service social media company.

22 Ideas for great Blog Posts 1. Examine the pros and cons of an issue. 2. Write a tutorial. 3. Do an interview with key people in your niche. 4. Discuss a book relevant to your business. 5. Answer commonly asked questions. 6. Post about current events in your niche. 7. Invite others to submit articles. 8. Inspire people 9. How do celebrities use your products/service? 10. Make a post for beginners. 11. Write about how to do something in a more efficient way. 12. Post generally unknown secrets in your niche. 13. Do a post transcribing live events (conference). 14. Make a post about how things have changed from the past. 27

15. Make a post that involves how people in different cities use your product differently. 16. Examine pitfalls in your niche. 17. Compare a sports challenge to your business. 18. Write a post about something that is merely “good” but not “great”. 19. Run a poll on LinkedIn and post the results of that poll. 20. Ask your loyal readers to email you links to their best resources and make a post about what you found. 21. Create a theme of the week and make several posts about it. 22. Announce a crazy personal challenge and give updates on how it is going. Source: www.ihelpyoublog.com

A Career That Fits: How to Align What Your Mind Wants with What Your Soul Needs

By Kyleigh Wegmann

I

n the first months of my former HR career, I was privy to an experience that etched itself into my brain. It went like this: After an extensive interview process, the company I worked for hired an individual into a long-time-open role. The red carpets were rolled out, he and his family ecstatically made the move from out of state, and everything was great… until 2 months later when the guy up and quit because he decided he wasn’t digging the whole thing after all. Company ramifications aside, what I couldn’t figure out was why someone would accept a position, uproot their entire life, and THEN figure out it wasn’t what they wanted in the first place. It seemed completely backwards to me.

The Fit Factor

Years later, after seeing many repeat performances of this same type of situation, I now know the truth about it. There is a critical component that people commonly fail to take into account when considering a career move. It’s something called “job fit,” which is a fancy term for how well a role and organization matches someone on a personal level. Job fit goes beyond a person’s skills and abilities to the core of who 28

they are as a human being—including their deeply-held values, intrinsic motivations, and life aspirations—ultimately making sure who they are on the inside aligns with the career choices they are making on the outside. Time and again it was proven to me as a key factor in whether or not a person would be engaged, satisfied, and successful in a role. But as an employee, and individual person, it took me a long time to understand how to apply job fit to my own career. When I finally flipped the mirror and connected with my true self, I saw glaring discrepancies between the career path I was chasing and what I was really called to do in this life. As a result, it became vital for me to make some hefty changes; I ended up ditching the corporate life and made the leap into the deeply fulfilling work I do today as a life coach and entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurial Job Fit

As an entrepreneur, it is just as important to evaluate your job fit with what you do (or want to do) in your business. The fundamental considerations remain the same—it’s still

about creating and living into a life on the outside that matches who you are on the inside—but you need to focus on aligning your true self with your particular product or service path. So how do you determine whether or not you are pursuing the “right” business with the “right” product/service offerings? Bottom line, it takes some soul-work. Here are the four entrepreneurial job fit questions I recommend you spend some time exploring (and answering truthfully):

1

How does this align with my values? Your values are the foundational bricks that comprise your core and make you who you are. Get to know them intimately, and use them to guide you on your business path.

2

Does it pass the “Hell yeah!” test? When considering options about your product/service offerings, apply this test: If it’s not a “Hell yeah!” then it’s a “no.” Lean in to the things that make you come alive—and refuse to settle for less or mediocre.

3

Is this within my zone of brilliance? Your zone of brilliance lies at the crossroads of your innate gifts and greatest passions. This is your sweet spot! Unleash your natural genius into your business by operating from this place.

Unleash your natural genius into your business by operating from your personal zone of brilliance

4

How does this correlate to my life Purpose? The work you do in your business shifts the world. Get in touch with the impact you have when you are on purpose and the effect that happens when you’re off-purpose. By the way, these questions are not a one-time-only thing. It’s important to revisit them periodically in order to maintain a connection between what your mind wants for your business and your soul needs for your life. Ultimately, that is how you ensure a career that fits.

Free Goodie! Kyleigh has created a free toolkit for you that cuts through the overwhelm of where to start and puts you quickly into tangible action. Get it at www.thelivehugefactor. com/leapstrong

Kyleigh Wegmann Kyleigh Wegmann is founder of The Live Huge Factor, a lifestyle coaching practice devoted to revolutionizing the way people approach their lives through undaunted ownership of their self, life, & Purpose. Through her programs and courses, Kyleigh teaches her clients how to claim who they are and create a life that is vibrant and deeply fulfilling. You can learn more about Kyleigh and her work at thelivehugefactor.com. 29

Do You Look Like the CEO or the Assistant?

First impressions are made within 30 seconds and your style speaks volumes about you before you even say a word. Your clothing and overall appearance quickly gives us information. It provides valuable insight into your values and personality. If you’d like to make an impression that is the most accurate about who you are, what you do and your level of competence, your style is the fastest and most powerful way to non-verbally communicate your message and show your leadership. The truth is that we are judged by how we look. People do make assumptions about our competence based on our appearance. People will often make decisions about whether or not to approach us based on our appearance. While this is a reality, many women are so busy with their careers and managing multiple roles, they just don’t feel they have time to focus on themselves, let alone pay attention to their style. Some women believe that focusing on their appearance may be frivolous, or they feel 30

guilty to do so since there are so many other priorities competing for their attention. In the meantime, they are being held back for promotions, not being invited to participate in joint venture partnerships, avoid networking or just don’t feel good about themselves. If you’re feeling like your style is falling short of your competence and you are in need of a style upgrade to bring your style to the level of your brilliance, here are a few tips to take your style to a higher level and accelerate your business opportunities:

Consistency Counts

You are your brand. Customers are buying you. Your business was built on your dream, your vision, your values and the culture you cultivated. As the owner, you are the ambassador of your brand. As a brand ambassador, whenever you step outside your door, you are representing your brand and your business. Imagine a life where the paparazzi might catch a shot of you going to the grocery store. Would you cringe at the thought of that photo being posted on Facebook or would it still look like you in a more casual setting? Consistency counts, in every way, whether you’re giving a keynote speech or running errands in the neighborhood, always maintain your authentic brand style, dressed up or down.

Be Authentic to Who YOU are…

Authenticity is magnetizing. When you have the comfort and confidence to show up unapologetically exactly as who you are, you appear comfortable in your own skin. This allows others to feel more comfortable too. Authenticity gives you the appearance of having a strong vision and sense of yourself as some of the world’s best leaders demonstrate; that gives perspective clients the perception that you’ll do the same for them. Visit Sybil Henry’s Polyvore page for more information on the outfits on this page.

Dress for Your Shape, Not Your Size

When a woman knows her style and how to dress for her body shape, she is powerful. She appears more confident and open. When you hide in your clothes, you can’t fully express yourself and it creates a perception that you are not comfortable, you appear closed. As a result, you may not appear approachable. Getting comfortable with your body and dressing for your shape is essential to having great style and it shows the confidence of a leader. Accentuating your positives and strategically deemphasizing areas to bring your body into balance is an art worth mastering.

Free Goodie! Want to learn more about how you can get the look of the leader? Visit www. TheStyleConcierge. com to receive your free tip sheet of the top 20 brand style secrets!

Sybil Henry As a fashion brand stylist and owner of The Style Concierge, Sybil Henry brings her expertise, enthusiasm and encouragement to make styling approachable and practical to career women over 40. Through her Signature Brand Style Sessions, she works with women to style the look of their brand to accelerate business growth. Sybil gives her clients the tools they need to make lifelong changes to more effectively communicate their message. As a result, they save time, money, feel more confident and beautiful everyday.

31

Before launching The Style Concierge, Sybil spent over 25 years in the fashion industry, including corporate executive roles in fashion design, brand strategy and marketing.

Why Following Your Passion Can Be Bad Advice

G

o to any commencement ceremony and listen. I mean really listen. See how many speakers look out over the crowd of caps and gowns and smiling parents, to say some version of this, “Follow your passion”. When I was graduating, I took this to mean do something I really loved. For me that was horses. I grew-up riding and loved Pony Club. I told my parents that I was going to follow my passion and do something with horses. My mom’s first question was, “what?” That was much harder for me to figure out. During one summer break, I decided to ride young horses for a local trainer for a few months. I thought it would be hard work but glorious fun! Boy was I wrong! It turns out that riding nine horses

32

a day isn’t that much fun! I dreaded it in fact. Back to the drawing board I went. The next summer I got a job teaching riding at a summer camp. This made my brain work, as I had to figure out how to explain the ins and outs of riding and provide feedback to the riders. I used examples that made the kids laugh but also learn. When the summer was over, I told my mom I wanted to be a riding instructor. This is the bad advice part. Just picking something you enjoy or even love isn’t the way to find a passion. Passion is much more subtle than that. It’s not about beams of light streaming down from the heavens and announcing your passion.

It’s about trying things out and seeing which parts fit and discarding the ones that don’t. I decided to be a riding instructor just to show my mom I was serious about horses as a career path. When I thought about what I loved about the riding instructor job it was the teaching. I knew I needed much more training and experience to figure out if teaching was for me. That’s when I volunteered to tutor at a local elementary school. As I explored this path, I just knew that it was worth the time and effort to become teacher. I did just that and continued to ride horses with passion! No matter your age or where you are in your life nothing is static. Now is the time to experiment and see what lights you up. Today there are more roads less traveled and opportunities that even a few years ago you couldn’t have dreamed of. Get out of your head and stop playing with the what ifs. Try something old or new. Just make a decision to either find a new passion or ramp up an old one. Know in your heart that like driftwood you can admire it or throw it back to the ocean at any time. You are the creator of your life.

Sit up tall in the saddle and keep your eyes fixed on where you w ant to go. Love, not forc e, will get you there.

Enjoy the ride.

My advice is to try many different roles and do all sorts of projects. See what you like and what you don’t. Be flexible and know that finding a passion can come from small hints or big messages. Get out there and explore.

Marcy Criner Marcy Criner is the creator of Phatmare.com, author of soon to be published novel, The Art of Foreclosure, and a follower of horse wisdom. As an inspired speaker, she combines meditational imagery of horses with deep insights to move her listeners to their soul essence. Listening to her 5-minute horse meditations, brings a jolt of clarity to any day. Reach out and touch the mane for the best in life. Go to: http://phatmare.com 33

Entrepreneurial MOMENTUM: How to Gain, Nurture & Maintain It!

M

omentum signifies being in motion and demonstrating the strength of forward movement. It is unquestionably one of the most critical elements for achieving entrepreneurial success. Gaining momentum gives you a competitive advantage; however, that advantage must be nurtured and maintained. Many start-ups fail to comprehend that in order to grow a thriving, sustainable enterprise momentum must be implemented for the long-haul similar to that of a runner in a marathon who does not stop until they reach the finish line. I had to learn this valuable lesson four years ago when I began my transition from a full-time corporate job into entrepreneurship. As I embarked upon my big dream, I came out of the gate with unparalleled momentum and basked in the “build it and they will come” mindset. But I did not factor in the time, strategy, and consistency required to build a credible brand that would make “them” come. As a result, like many entrepreneurs in the start-up phase, after 6-9 months of grinding for my dream and experiencing my share of challenges, setbacks, and disappointments, I reflected on all the work I had put in – not realizing at the time that 6-9 months was a drop in the bucket compared to the time most successful entrepreneurs

34

invest in their success – and was left wondering: Where are the customers? The profits? The success I dreamed about? And those thoughts impacted my momentum in a detrimental way.

q

I had to wake up and smell the coffee to realize there’s no such thing as overnight success. If you want it, you must be willing to work for it and maintain the same momentum you started with. You must develop “crazy glue commitment” by investing whatever amount of time, energy, effort, and resources are necessary to achieve what you say you want. Gaining momentum is only one piece of the puzzle. As you begin to set goals that stretch you and expand your expectations you will undoubtedly gain momentum. You will feel an increased level of positive energy as you start to execute your ideas and that energy will breed heightened levels of momentum. However, nurturing and maintaining momentum is what often presents a challenge. The best way to nurture your momentum is to consistently reflect on your “Why.” Why did you decide to pursue

the business from the onset? Why did you choose to take the risk of stepping outside of your comfort zone? Why will you persist to achieve the realization of your big dream? Nurturing your momentum is an intentional process that will keep you energized to consistently market, promote, advertise, network, build relationships, and educate prospects about your ability to solve their problems. Maintaining momentum involves staying focused on your ultimate destination and constantly moving. Each successful step leads to another and before you know it you are gaining momentum from one goal towards yet another until you reach your big dream. A vital part of maintaining momentum is to eliminate one of the greatest entrepreneurial inhibitors: negative self-chatter. Early in my journey, as I started to grow from a small t-shirt business in my basement to a successful international speaking and coaching practice, I had to shift my thoughts and redirect my self-talk to convince myself that I had the power to do what I set my mind to, and that I could build momentum around my unique gifts, skills, talents and experiences to create solutions to every challenge that came my way. Fast forward and today in my coaching practice, I now challenge my clients to upgrade their internal dialogue on a daily basis in order to positively impact their momentum. As you gain, nurture and maintain momentum in your journey, implement these four simple strategies:

ant hat you w w f o n io is a clear v ant to 1. Create lish and why you w to accomp . h it accomplis ide it al and div o g ig b h c down ea sks. 2. Write nageable ta a m , ll a m ce into s that produ s k s ta n o focused s. 3. Remain d avoid distraction n a of results foundation e th is it xecuting – 4. Keep e ! momentum

Refuse to be paralyzed by thoughts of self-doubt, selflimitations, and fears. Instead, keep your momentum high and persist even in the face of challenges, failures and setbacks!

Free Good ie! To get y

ou r m om e ntum st ar h an d s on te d get yo a c o py of ur C her y l’s F “7 Network REE Rep o ing Strateg r t, ies That L C oll ab ora e ad to tive R elati on w w w.cher y lwo o dem ships” at p owers.co m

Cheryl Wood Cheryl Wood is an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, author and coach who specializes in equipping individuals to stretch their thinking, expand their expectations, and play a bigger game. Her message of empowerment has been spotlighted on Fox 5 News, News Channel 8, Radio One and Afro-American Newspaper, to name a few. Cheryl’s personal story of FEARLESSLY taking risks to soar beyond the frustrated mother who was “existing” to the mission-driven woman living in her purpose resonates with audiences globally. 35

Engage! Ignite! Expand!® your audience with

Google Hangouts and LIVE video!

I

n this over saturated and information overload market how can you stand out from the crowd?

There are millions of bloggers and video has become the “norm” for a lot of people. How are you going to differentiate yourself during these times? How will you share your message, reach a wider audience and make money? With Google Hangouts and LIVE video, of course! Google Hangouts have become incredibly popular with the market leaders for a couple of reasons: 1. It is relatively new, so they have the chance to be the leaders. 2. More and more business owners understand that impact comes from deeper connection. What are Google Hangouts? According to Google it is the unification of chat, voice and video calls. It is a lot more than that! Hangouts on Air stream LIVE to YouTube. Youtube is owned by Google and also is the second largest search engine on the planet. For market leaders this is a “no brainer.” Hangouts on Air rank higher in search than your standard YouTube video. Also, there is no expensive video, editing, lighting - all you need is a webcam, G+ account and a linked YouTube channel and you have a resource for unlimited content. 36

These are the obvious reasons from an SEO perspective of getting your websites ranked. The other tremendous benefit of Hangouts on Air is the opportunity to engage with your audience on a deeper level. We have all heard, people buy from who they know, like and trust. The more opportunity you give your audience to connect with you the more this will contribute to your long term goals and effectiveness of getting your message shared. Hangouts can be used for private coaching, webinars, web shows, special events, to launch products and virtual office hours. Oh yes, and it is FREE. Webinar software cost $500 a month for 1,000 viewers. With Hangouts you have unlimited viewers for FREE! Strategy is the key component with Hangouts on Air. You can embed them in your website, stream them live on your Facebook page and they are on Youtube channel for more ranking within the search engine. You can have the videos transcribed for blogging content, use the audio for podcasts and the list goes on. The idea being - you engaged with your audience LIVE and then take that same content and repurpose it to your heart’s desire, further expanding your reach.

You need to have your YouTube channel verified for uploads of more than 15 minutes and most hangouts run longer than that.The great advantage when you stream live to your YouTube channel is that at the end of the broadcast, you have unlimited YouTube content.

Although hangouts can be any length, the ideal time is around 30-45 minutes. It only works for longer periods if it’s high-energy and moves forward.

It is important to optimize your video once the broadcast ends - with keywords, descriptions, and calls to action. It is best to transcribe the video as well.

First you need to decide what your goal is and where you want to send people. It’s the number-one consistency in your marketing. Promote your hangout where your audience is. Never try to drag them to another place. You need to make it as easy as possible for your end users.

There’s also a Hangouts on Air page that lists all of the hangouts that are currently on air. You can share content with both private hangouts and hangouts on air. All you have to do is press the Screen Share button. If you use Keynote, you need to convert your slides into PowerPoint, then load them into your Google Drive and select Present in New Window. If you want to share exclusive content, the best option is to go back into the video once the broadcast has ended and mark it as unlisted. This allows you to share your exclusive content with only the people who registered to watch it. Once you mark it as unlisted, it’s pulled out of your YouTube channel. My favorite app is the Hangout Toolbox. It allows you to have a lower third, where you can put your name and your website address.

How to promote a hangout:

About 30 minutes before you start your hangout on air, start setting up and making sure the lighting and camera angle are in a good position. Then 15 minutes before you start, you need to invite your guest to come and join you in the “green room.” Remember - the key is to have fun and to Engage! Ignite! Expand!® your audience with LIVE interaction!

Free G oodie Brand ee h !

as a on ho w to u free 33 m inute se Ha www. trai ngo Hang outsF uts. Regis ning orBus t iness. er at com

Even if it’s a hangout with others, you still need to have your name, website address and a call to action there.

Brandee Sweesy What you need to know before you get started with hangouts: “What is your why?” Once you understand this, the next stage is your strategy, which includes where you want people to watch your hangouts. If you’re a video person, you’ll want to send viewers to your YouTube channel. For a marketing person who wants to build a list, then the best place to send them to is your website and ask for an optin. It all depends on where your biggest audience is. As with all marketing, it’s about consistency. If your goal is to build relationships and engage your audience, then you might want to do a weekly show. If you want to sell a product, it won’t be as often but you will become known for this through your hangouts. It’s another marketing tool. 37

Brandee Sweesy is the leading Hangout Marketing Expert. With 20 years marketing and public speaking experience she helps coaches, speakers, online thought leaders and businesses to Engage! Ignite! Expand!® their audiences with all forms of Live Video. With her unique strategies, currently her clients are driving thousands of viewers and thousands of dollars in sales every month using Google Hangouts and LIVE video!

Enjoy Leap Strong Magazine? Please share the love. Click here to Tweet.

Get more done. For REAL.

Continue the Conversation 38

with Ellie Pope Join Here