Tag Archives: conscious entrepreneur

Taking Responsibility for Your Own Actions

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Definition: answerable or accountable, as for something within one’s power, control, or management

What do you think of when you contemplate the word responsible? I want you to be honest with yourself here. Do you secretly wish you weren’t responsible for as much as you are? Are you trying to get out of responsibilities because they’re just “too much”? Have you been unrealistic about how much you can commit to and still uphold your responsibilities? Do you find yourself blaming others for things that don’t go your way?

I believe for entrepreneurs, responsibility can be a very loaded term. Let’s face it, we all want to feel responsible for our successes when they occur, but it’s no fun taking responsibility for your failures, too. But, alas, this is part of the conscious entrepreneur’s journey; being awake and aware to both sides of the coin when it comes to responsibility.

The truth is responsibility isn’t a very “hot” or “sexy” topic. Responsibility brings you face to face with the more challenging aspects of being an entrepreneur. I learned this the hard way by having gone through a few failures in my past, both with my Los Angeles based yoga studio and my Network for Empowering Women Entrepreneurs. Both of these businesses had a certain level of success, but not enough to be sustainable over the long run and I had to shut them down. It was painful to look at the truth that I was responsible for what happened with those businesses.

Granted, if I had them both to do over again today, I would change many things and I see exactly how I’d set those businesses up for long-term success. But, I have no intention of starting these business over again at this point, but I do feel I can share some thoughts that may help you feel fantastic about being responsible for your own success.

Here are three key considerations for loving your responsibilities… and owning them fully:

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

This is one of the most pressing issues I see with entrepreneurs. It’s so easy for us to get excited about many, many things. Often entrepreneurs will bite off more than they can chew. The reason many business owners do this is because they don’t realize how much effort will go into a particular project. They make their timelines too short, their goals too aggressive and then get overwhelmed and discouraged when a project takes a long time and doesn’t reach it’s goals.

I’m taking my own advice into consideration and releasing a few projects that I just don’t have the time, or energy to do right now. I had bitten off more than I could chew. The important thing here is to try not do to this in the first place, but if you do you’ve got to take steps to recognize you’ve committed to too much, and make some adjustments so you feel you don’t have too much on your plate.

Hear What People Are Saying To You

Another mistake entrepreneurs make is a totally unconscious response of not hearing what people are telling you. This is easy to do when you’re excited about something and you want to live in the “honeymoon” of your idea. This is an intoxicating state of bliss, and it’s challenging to get grounded into some of the input you’re getting on your project.

This happened to me with my women’s networking group. I kept hearing from the women at the meetings that it was something very special, and I better prepare myself for rapid growth. I didn’t listen. I didn’t want to complicate things. I didn’t want the responsibility of running yet another business when the one I already had was struggling. So, I embarked on a “stop gap” approach to that business, rather than hearing what everyone told me in the beginning. Had I only “heard” what they said, I’m sure that business would be thriving today. So, if you notice you’re doing this in your business… letting important input go in one ear and out the other like you never even heard it… listen up! This is the Universe speaking to you through the people you’ve placed in your life. It’s worth paying full attention to what they’re saying, because their input may be guiding you toward taking on your responsibility with a lot more ease, grace and fun!

Notice if You’re Placing Blame on Others

This one is a big tell-tale sign that you don’t want to take responsibility for your own success. This one isn’t particularly fun to look at, but it is extraordinarily valuable to do this self-evaluation. Simply notice… is there something in your business or your life that isn’t working right now. Identify what that is, and see if you are placing blame on someone else for the situation you are in.

Believe me, I understand that sometimes things happen to you, but even then, how you respond (versus react) is your responsibility. How you learn from a situation and use it to discover more about yourself and your relationship to responsibility can make a huge impact on your success. Everything that occurs in your business is a learning oppor^tunity… remember every single thing that happens is happening for one purpose and one purpose only; because the Universe is conspiring for your highest and best at all times. Even those situations where you want to blame; chances are those are the places you have the greatest gifts waiting for you.

When you take these three concepts into consideration in your business, you’ll find it much easier be fully engaged and happy in your commitments. You’ll also feel confident that you can be (and WANT to be) responsible for your own success. This is one of the most exciting aspects of being a conscious entrepreneur; there’s nobody that can create your success, but you. Yes, of course, you have coaches, consultants and mentors to help you along the way, but ultimately your success is up to you.

Copyright © 2009 Christine Kloser, author of The Freedom Formula, helps small businesses put soul in their business and money in the bank. If you want to enjoy a purpose-driven business and a soulful life, send for my free Conscious Business Success Kit, which includes my report, How to Avoid the 3 Massive Mistakes Made by Conscious Entrepreneurs and audio, 7 Strategies Entrepreneurial Authors Need to Know Before Writing a Word, at LoveYourLife.com.

How You Can Succeed as a Conscious Entrepreneur

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1193639_bugBranding, marketing and sales… oh, my! Many entrepreneurs (including myself when I was learning about business) overlook the importance of these aspects of entrepreneurship. Often, conscious entrepreneurs start a business to help others, make a difference and transform the world; with most of the energy going into creating a website, getting a business card designed and putting together product/service offerings.
These are essential steps. But, there are two additional important aspects of your business you’ve got to consider from the beginning (or beginning TODAY if you’ve been in business for a while). These are two more nuggets I’ve learned from my mentors that have made a big difference in my business success.

Insight #1: “Branding occurs in the minds of your prospects and clients.” Wisdom From: Patty Azzarello, CEO of The Azzarello Group

When I first heard about branding, I thought it was about creating a logo design and a “look” for my website. Yes, I knew it involved getting clear on my brand statement and mission, but nobody ever told me it penetrated every single aspect of my business. I thought branding was something I did to create a particular experience for my clients. It is… but that’s only HALF of the story.

When I interviewed Patty Azzarello, (who ran a $1 billion software business by the age of 35) it was the first time I actually “got” what branding is. Branding is not something I “do” rather it’s a process that occurs in the mind of my prospects and customers. It’s a DECISION they make about me and my business based on their experience of my business. Patty’s insight completely shifted how I thought about branding, and over the past three years has made a huge impact on my business and my position in the marketplace.


Something To Think About: What decisions are your prospects and customers making about you and your business (based on their experience with your company)?

Insight #2: “You have a responsibility to market your business and share your gifts.” Wisdom From: Michael Port, Author of Book Yourself Solid

Similar to my experience with branding, I had a very limited understanding of marketing (and sales) when I first started in business. I was turned off to the concept of marketing/selling when the radio station I used to work for in 1989 sent me to a sales training at which I witnessed a “mock” sale that shocked the living daylights out of me. The sales trainer had basically coerced, convinced and strongly persuaded the mock customer to purchase something they honestly didn’t need. Everyone clapped at his sales ability, whereas I wanted to run out of the room. This had been my introduction to marketing/sales.

Thanks to my interview with Michael Port, I finally grasped a true (and aligned) understanding of marketing and sales as something I had a responsibility to offer as a SERVICE to my prospects and clients. Whew… what a relief that was?! I no longer needed to convince or coerce anyone to do anything. Michael helped me see that all I must do was joyfully, confidently and consistently share my offering as a gift of service to those people I believed I could help. That’s the bottom-line of marketing and sales… plain and simple. And, once you embrace this nugget of wisdom, you’ll find it much easier to fall in love with marketing your business… and you’ll have a lot more FUN in the process!

Something To Think About: What would be different for you and your business if you embraced marketing (and sales) as a GIFT to your prospects?

Copyright © 2009 ChristineKloser, author of The Freedom Formula, helps small businesses put soul in their business and money in the bank. If you want to enjoy a purpose-driven business and a soulful life, send for my free Conscious Business Success Kit, which includes my report, How to Avoid the 3 Massive Mistakes Made by Conscious Entrepreneurs and audio, 7 Strategies Entrepreneurial Authors Need to Know Before Writing a Word, at LoveYourLife.com.

Photo:  lora milcheva


Conscious Business: Are You Willing to Lead?

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by Christine Kloser /

1181982_cuban_lizard_2What does leadership have to do with your success as a conscious entrepreneur? The answer is… everything! In all honestly, it took me a while to realize this. I’d always felt like a leader in some way, but never quite saw how much “being a leader” can have an impact on my business… until recently.

First, in order to be seen as a leader, you need to be willing to step up and lead. And, now more than ever, the world is in need of inspiring leaders like you. (If you’re looking for the BEST book on this topic, read Tribes by Seth Godin.)

So, let’s look at what is takes to be a leader in your business, and your life.

Connect With Your Mission

To begin with, as a leader, you must have a deep, passionate connection with your mission. Often time, this is not something you sit around and think about until you “figure it out.” Rather, your MISSION is something that comes to you from Source and finds YOU. It’s YOUR job to release any ego-based thinking that you have to be the one to come up with your mission. The most powerful missions are, by far, the ones that are given to leaders who are willing to listen to their call.  Photo:  Rasmus Andersen

Don’t worry, you don’t need to be clairaudient (able to hear voices) to get a call. For me, it’s simply a feeling that I have inside where I simply “know” what it is I’m supposed to be doing; changing the face of business in the U.S. and the world by leading a movement of conscious entrepreneurs. Once you connect with your mission at a soul level, rather than a logical level, then you can begin showing up as a leader in pursuit of a mission. And, others will begin to follow.

Put An End To “Status Quo”

If there’s anything that’s gotten our world into the mess it is in today, it’s the ongoing acceptance of the “status quo.” Let me rephrase the word “mess.” We are in a state of rapid, evolutionary growth right now… as individuals, communities, nations and global citizens. And, it’s the issues we’re facing today (“the mess”) that are bringing awareness to some much needed change… while birthing a whole new way for us to BE together at the critical point in time. All of the “breakdown” is indicative of a breakTHROUGH! And, that requires an end to the “status quo.”

Business as usual, also known as the “same old, same old” just isn’t working anymore. It is time for NEW models, new strategies, new ways of working together, and NEW leadership. And, that’s where YOU come into play as a leader in your conscious business. You’ve got to look around you and anywhere you feel yourself sliding into the “status quo”… take a closer look. Is there a new way you can do what you’re doing? Is there a new way to BE with your clients? Is there something new that wants to be birthed through you to put an end to the “same old, same old?” Saying yes to the creation of something new (perhaps where NO model exists yet) sets you apart as someone who is willing to be a leader.


Go Beyond The Point Where Others Quit

Lately, I’ve had many people (especially my coaching clients) tell me how much they appreciate my willingness to lead them, and this movement of conscious entrepreneurship. I asked one of them recently why they thought I was a leader? And, the response I got was this: they said I was willing to go beyond the point where others would quit. Ha! Isn’t that the basic truth of all leaders? Look at Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Martin Luther King… they’re all incredible leaders who went far beyond where many others would have quit. And, they all changed the world through their leadership.

What about you? Do you quit when the going gets tough? Or, are you UNwilling to quit because you are so committed to your mission that you just won’t give up. I know you’ve heard the expression, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” I don’t believe that so much anymore. Mere will can only get you to a certain point… and it’s usually because of a LOT of hard work. Whereas, being a leader who is committed to a mission can get you MUCH farther, with a lot more ease. Why? Because people NEED to be lead. They are looking for leaders to follow. (Don’t believe me… let me tell you again to go read Tribes by Seth Godin). Now more than ever, people are looking for strong, powerful leaders to follow.

So, I ask… are YOU willing to lead?

Christine Kloser, author of The Freedom Formula, helps small businesses put soul in their business and money in the bank. If you want to enjoy a purpose-driven business and a soulful life, send for my free Conscious Business Success Kit, which includes my report, How to Avoid the 3 Massive Mistakes Made by Conscious Entrepreneurs and audio, 7 Strategies Entrepreneurial Authors Need to Know Before Writing a Word, at LoveYourLife.com.

Photo:  Rasmus Andersen