Tag Archives: entrepreneurs

A Success Secret Every Entrepreneur Knows…

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1093701_vitamin_bombEvery entrepreneur knows that if they want to become more successful they have to not only set goals for themselves, but they have to RESET their goals to stay on course.

The big problem, though, is most entrepreneurs wait way too long to reset their goals. Since today is July 1st (and the official Second Half of the Year Day) let’s take a look at 3 types of goals every entrepreneur must have in place to succeed…and ones you may want to reset for the remainder of this year (hint, hint, wink, wink):

1. Attitude Goal

Zig Ziglar says, “Your attitude will determine your altitude.” Now, I don’t think being blindly optimistic in general will help you to succeed; however, optimism and a positive attitude is a must.

In my opinion, an extremely important attitude goal to reset this month is your CAN DO attitude. Not, it can be done. But, I CAN do it.

Your belief and attitude toward YOU being able to do something (whatever that something is) will help you succeed. Right now, reset your attitude to I can do it!

2. Energy Goal

No matter how good you are, if you’re not creating new energy on a regular basis it’s only a matter of time before your body and mind give-out or burn-out.

Reset your energy goal right now and design a plan to create new energy every day. Some ideas to put in your plan are: exercise, meditation, sleep, healthy food, and sex.

All of these ideas will help you create new energy; keep your mind and body sharp; and keep you sane!

3. Marketing Goal

For us entrepreneurs, marketing is the most important part of our business. After all, without new, fresh blood (clients, customers, patients) coming in the door on a regular basis, we’ll be out of business. Fast.

That’s why resetting your marketing goals are so crucial. What have you done in the past 6 months that’s worked? Do more of it this next six months. What have you done that has not worked? Don’t do it anymore.

Looking at your successes and tests (failures) will help you determine which way to go for the next few months. Reset your marketing goals now and watch the money flow into your bank account.

So there you have it, three types of goals to RESET for the remainder of this year. Of course, you can reset more than just these goals…and more sub-goals within the types of goals I laid out.

Whatever goals you decide to reset, make it happen now. Don’t know the secret and then do it too late!

Weston Lyon is the author of 10 books & a passionate-professional speaker. More of Weston Lyon’s articles and strategies can be found at http://www.westonlyon.com For outstanding information and to receive Weston’s 3 NEW books…free! – go here now: http://www.WestonLyon.com/topsecretgift

Photo: Zsuzsanna Kilián

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.

Painless Discipline

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258444_doors1I was talking to a colleague of mine the other day about writing books. The discussion went from “how do you write a book” to “how do you discipline yourself to write a book”.

You see, the fear most entrepreneurs have when thinking about writing a book is the fear of discipline. In other words, they feel it’s going to be painful. And this feeling of pain (though imaginary) stops them before they get started.

Listen. Discipline isn’t painful. Discipline is just taking control of your emotions and doing what you need to do. There is no pain involved. Here’s how to be disciplined in everything you do, whether it’s writing a book, sending out thank you notes, or practicing the piano:

Step 1: Take out a sheet of paper and write down what you want to do at the very top in BIG bold letters. For example: WRITE A BOOK.

Step 2: Write down all the reasons you want to do this. For example, if you want to write a book, write down reasons like: to become an author, to be recognized, to leave a legacy, to make more money. Whatever your reasons are, write them down.

Step 3: Draw a line under these reasons and write down the reasons behind these reasons. Ask yourself, “Why did I say this; Why do I want this; and Why do I feel this way?” You see, your initial reasons are what I call surface answers. You have to dig deeper if you want to get to the core. You may have to do this several times to find your REAL reasons.

Step 4: Re-read your list aloud and see how you feel. If your reasons don’t make you feel all tingly inside, complete steps 1-3 again. You have to drill down past the surface and find your core reasons for wanting to write a book. These reasons are your driving force.

Step 5: Once you have the reasons written down that make you feel all tingly and excited inside, review this list on a regular basis. Read what you wrote down and FEEL your heart beat faster. FEEL your stomach float up like you’re going down a huge hill. FEEL the excitement building inside you.


Now, the only thing left to do is read this list whenever you’re getting ready to complete what you want done. So, if you’re getting ready to sit down and write a portion of your book, grab this sheet of paper and get re-excited. Again, discipline has nothing to do with pain. It’s all about controlling your emotions and doing what needs done (based on what you want and desire).

Weston Lyon is the author of 10 books & a passionate-professional speaker. More of Weston Lyon’s articles and strategies can be found at http://www.westonlyon.com For outstanding information and to receive Weston’s 3 NEW books…free! – go here now: http://www.WestonLyon.com/topsecretgift Photo: Iva Villi

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