Wednesday, May 11, 2011
In today’s culture there are many topics and buzzwords that seem to remain in fashion with unfailing consistency. I’m sure that given a minute, you could name a few that you value, yet don’t see enough of in your daily interactions. One that’s tossed around a lot these days is ‘Integrity’. Many of us, including myself, would name integrity as a driving value, yet how often is it compromised in our daily life?
When we speak of the integrity of a building, we know that to compromise could result in potential disaster. Strict industry measures are in place to ensure this structural integrity, and those who don’t meet those standards are penalized. If we buy a product or service that isn’t what we’ve come to expect we usually move on to another brand without thinking twice. Yet, what happens when the structural integrity of an organization or person is less than? How do we maintain our own integrity if we’re employed by a person or organization that doesn’t meet the personal standards we hold dear? We can find ourselves settling for less than what we know is right in our hearts. Often we are tested and have to decide whether to continue to participate, all while the ill effects spill into multiple areas of our life.
Recently, I had such an experience and it reminded me of how easily we can get thrown off track even when a value is part of our very fabric. It can be very difficult to stay true to ourselves when we commit to a project, person or cause. When others are involved life can get sticky as we manage their perceptions and expectations. Then we may be forced to choose whether it is better to stay involved or walk away and put energy elsewhere. Rarely an easy decision to make.
In my view, this journey is about relationships. With ourselves, with others, with individuals, and with businesses. There are times we need assistance to see clearly, to be able to find alternatives or solutions, or admit that staying involved is not healthy. In my quest to be someone of integrity and to stay healthy, I did need to walk away, yet for that too, there is a price. I have not yet uncovered the lesson of this experience, but I do know that I am very lucky to be able to associate (mostly) on a level that is in line with my own values and standards. We all must decide how to play this game of life, and what we will stand for.
That said – how do you determine if your core values are (or are not) being compromised on a daily basis? Are you someone who becomes physically ill when you are out of alignment with your own principles or can you participate without difficulty? Can you intuitively assess and respond in an appropriate manner? How many sleepless nights do you spend before taking action?
We’re guided by our own definitions, we are driven by our own sense of right and wrong, and we have to be brave enough to pay the price of standing in our truth. I believe that if each of us stand strong for what we believe in, we will make this world a better place, we will make a difference, and we will ultimately succeed in our endeavors.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Do you have any habits that get in the way of growing your business? Do you seem to struggle with any self-sabotaging behavior, that runs like a continuous tape through your head? Maybe that tape is so ingrained you don’t have to try to hard to recall it, or perhaps even now you now have a list running through your mind of what you do that might be considered self-sabotage. You may even have a ‘favorite’ that keeps coming up, time and time again. Or perhaps you have some seasonal challenges, and now that summer is here, you’ve kicked into your summertime ‘self destruct’ tape. If that’s the case, I have a tip that can work for you.
The common theme I’m referring to is focusing on what isn’t working. Have you ever noticed what you focus on? Some of my clients seem to get stuck in this destructive behavior, and its such a natural part of their thought process, that is goes virtually unnoticed…that is until we notice and create an intention to do the exact opposite. That is to ONLY focus on what’s working. Put signs around your house and on your desktop to remind you. Right now, close your eyes or pick up your pen and make a list of what’s working. I know you can come up with five or ten items. What’s happened in the last week or two that is working, or what actions do you engage in daily that work for you every day.
Have you heard the phrase ‘what you focus on expands’? Now you can control what expands into your life. Focus on what’s working, today. Then tomorrow, then the day after that. Each time you notice something working, give yourself a silent (or not so silent) acknowledgement, and when something isn’t working, take notice. Then STOP. Take a breath and turn your attention away, and think of a way to either make it work, or move on. Take control of your thoughts for 30 days, and see what happens. You’ll have a new habit. A habit that supports your growth, that fosters new, beneficial thoughts, and will allow you to reach your dreams with much less effort.
Use your mind to work for you, and you’ll reach your goals much faster, with less effort and stress. Now that’s something worth trying out!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
It’s my job to talk to people. Find out what’s bothering them, what gets in the way, hear any challenges they may be encountering. Honestly it’s my joy to have these conversations because of my curious nature, so digging around in this muck is a worthy exploration. Most peeps come to me because they’re stuck in some way. Stuck in doing the same old thing, stuck in not doing the same old thing, stuck at a revenue plateau, ready for something different yet not knowing what different is. Maybe you were never in business for yourself before and had no idea that we’re rarely taught in this culture to be productive and self-directed. You know what I mean cause we all have this dis-ease at some time or another.
I may arrive on your radar because of a need for assistance in the realm of marketing or brand building, but the truth is, you’re likely in ‘the swirl’. The Swirl is my special technical term for all that stuff. The confusion. The frustration. The overwhelm. The fear. The exhaustion. The beliefs that don’t serve. The whole enchilada.
The Swirl has two main effects, three if you’re lucky. Paralyzation is a biggie. Spiraling is the other. Again, these are technical terms so allow me to explain. Both have similar symptoms. Doing nothing, worrying, procrastinating (you know the gateway to doubt and fear), and yeah-buts are the top four major effects. Whining or anger can also be near the top of the list. We each have our favorites.
There is another option that can accompany The Swirl. The decision to break free, break the habit. That’s right, the number one way to battle this malady is to get support, hire an expert, work a proven system that’s helped others. You were not meant to be trapped by these symptoms! You are here to bring your amazing gifts to the world! There really is NO time to waste here. In order to live the life you are meant to requires a team. Just as you don’t do dental work on yourself, have accountants to help with taxes or fix your own car, having a team member who supports you in business building is just as crucial. Can you do any of those things yourself? Maybe, but your skills are best used elsewhere. Your skills, when focused in a clear way, and applied to a strategy for growth and expansion can allow for some spectacular results.
To get you started with unraveling The Swirl, let me suggest:
1. Notice when the symptoms begin. This may be an inordinate time with email, or too much TV. You know yours I bet.
2. Take some time as soon as you notice, and begin to list all that crazy making right now. Do this preferably in a space you enjoy. The beach. The backyard in your favorite chair. Maybe in the bathtub.
3. Choose one area that IF it changed, everything would begin to feel right again. This can be a challenge. Be honest with yourself here, it’s important. Now consider the first step forward in getting this done. Doesn’t have to be big. Reach out to someone. Call a prospect or someone new and invite them to lunch. Imagine where you want to be next year at this time and take the first step to getting there. Explore with your marketing specialist how to increase business considerably. Something. Then go do it.
Of course this is only the beginning. This doesn’t have to hurt. It actually will feel SOOOO much better than The Swirl. Just because that way of being has become a habit, doesn’t mean there isn’t something else. Begin today, and you’ll create new ways of being that will last a lifetime. Banish The Swirl forever!!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
When our world and times are in a state of flux, it usually equates to many of us feeling a bit off kilter. Add to that mix the information from friends who work in astrology share about the stars, planets and universal energies being wacky, and it’s no surprise then, if you may be reeling a bit too. What I’m noticing is that this is a real opportunity to go deeper into what’s important, plus what I’m willing to do to create my life and grow myself.
Recently I was able to hear John Assaraf speak and he said something that really stuck with me. He spoke about stepping into a place of ‘confidence and certainty’ which seems to be severely lacking and at least challenging for many of the business owners I speak to. For myself, it’s a place I think I’m always longing to be. As if I will ever finally arrive at the welcome sign: ‘WELCOME to Confidence and Certainty – Population ?’. (I really wonder if anyone can actually live there all the time).
When looking at the dictionary definitions of these two words that sum up what seems to me like a very powerful place I found that: Confidence is all about trust and faith, while Certainty was described as a state of being. My interpretation is that once we step into confidence we are more apt feel certainty. Without confidence it’s almost a cosmic dare to feel certain (positive or negative).
With that noted, let’s look at 4 steps to enhance confidence & certainty:
1. Give yourself PERMISSION to feel. Bad, uncomfortable, confused. Whatever words you use, just go for it. You’d let your best-friend be themselves fully, so give yourself that same gift.
2. When doubts or discomfort creep in, be CURIOUS. Often the first thing we do, is push away uncomfortable feelings. Instead, notice that you are in a ‘spot’ and let it wash over you. Shifting into curiosity about what is important to learn at this moment will be very useful.
3. First BE confident and certain before you take any action to DO. Give yourself some quiet time to notice how you define confident. Let yourself use step 2, be kind to yourself and gentle with what your expectations may be. Better yet, BE OPEN to being committed rather than attached to outcomes. Then ask whatever forces guide you to help.
4. Get ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE. It’s impossible to see when we’re in our own ‘stuff’ what can be easy for someone else to recognize. Just the way it is. Being assisted by a professional who works in the area where you feel any lacking or disconnect is a great way to move through it faster, with more lasting results. For my work, I use this information to build a stronger marketing platform.
I know that ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’, but sometimes that is forgotten when it comes to reaching for where I want to go. Using these steps has helped on more than one occasion to open up the flow and allow for some amazing growth and opportunities. Each time the phone starts ringing as if by magic! Next time you hit that ‘wall’ of chaos, try these tips to see what you can create.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
A quote from Einstein has been running in my head a lot lately: ‘You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it’.
Perspective + Life experience can help or hinder. They may be the best fireworks ever or closer to the worst; economic conditions are an opportunity or simply a mess. Sometimes getting too attached to any perspective can really be a problem. Often it’s completely out of my awareness that I’m operating from anything but ‘the truth’. Nowhere is this more apparent than when I work with my coaches, and again with my clients. We all have our version of what happened or is happening.
We forget that everyone we come in contact with is having their own experience of the same events. It can be life altering to have another view presented. In the last few months that is exactly what’s happened for me. Having multiple coaches and learning opportunities has been a real gift. As a result so much is opening up for me, my own self-limiting thinking has been revealed on numerous occasions, and I can feel myself growing into places that were off limits previously, simply because of a shift in my p.o.v.
A very big piece of this has been that I thought I’d processed thru the beliefs that I had inherited or been ‘installed’ by others. Beliefs that get in the way, unhealthy, keeping me stuck. In the last few months the work of peeling back the layers has begun to yield results. Not only can the shift be felt internally, the reflection is also becoming apparent in my outer world.
This month I challenge you to an exercise. It won’t hurt and can yield fantastic results. Done once, you’ll see that you can apply it repeatedly whenever you need to in order to clear blocks and create/manifest more than previously. Give yourself the gift of some private time and look inside. Then:
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Identify where you’re stuck. (Like making more money, or attracting more clients. ‘Economy’ has nothing to do with it.)
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Notice where you can feel it in your body or mind (For me it was like a big block in my core stomach area.)
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Consider some belief or message you find your self-talk repeating. (It could be something that you heard a lot at home, such as ‘You’ll never be happy unless—’)
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Start to look at the earliest memory of that message, or when that seed was planted. Go as early as possible. (Hint: When you feel you’ve gone back as far as possible, see if you can go further)
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Look to see who feed you that message. Look to see what their perspective of life was at the time. See how much that influenced their messages. (Hint: If you don’t know, then imagine it, as you know the person who was the influencer.)
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Last, decide if you really do have that belief, or if you’ve been operating with someone else’s perspective. If it’s not really yours, then its time to choose another. WRITE it down, because you will need to remind yourself and create a new habit.
Give yourself some time with this. Quiet time. Close your eyes, and take yourself through these steps. Einstein was on to something important. If you have trouble digging deep, get some assistance.
Your Perspective + Outside View = Lots More Success.
Today have the courage to move forward into the future you know awaits you.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Over and over we’re hearing of those who are confronting some difficulty in growing their business, or in keeping their j.o.b. Besides being a major topic of discussion, it’s also a massive opportunity for shaking up the status quo and looking deeper at what’s possible for each of us. It’s time to tap into your Creative Intelligence. Our culture may try to teach us not to imagine, not to utilize our creative side, and we’ve complied. Now is the time to rebel and take back our dreams!
For us to be truly successful, to live richly, it’s vital that we use our imagination and creative parts. Whether you consider yourself a 2 or a 10 on the Creative IQ scale, here are a few tips to exercise your creative muscle:
1. Give yourself permission to dream. Consider dreaming a critical part of your day, rather than a waste of time. Our culture has it all wrong. Can’t have the life of your dreams, until you dream.
2. Allow some quiet time to close your eyes and inquire within. Ask your inner self the burning question you have about your business. DO NOT give up if the answer doesn’t appear immediately. Let your mind play with the question, and ask it again during another session.
3. Stay aware for the answer. It may come in the form of a song, or a snippet of conversation during dinner. Answers are everywhere.
4. Go outside, and don’t take ANY technology with you. Enjoy one of your ‘delicious habits’ and just be. Do it with a co-creator for more fun and impact.
5. Write. Write a poem about your problem, or a song with a happy ending. See what you can imagine as a great ending to a rough situation. Or make a list of the silliest ways you can think of to grow business. Or paint your feelings and dreams.
6. Take some of the ideas you’ve generated and reverse engineer them to see what it would take to turn them into dollars.
7. Go try one! Focus, carve out the time and just do it. Repeat this process weekly until it becomes second nature. The creativity muscle needs to be exercised regularly.
This is how amazing inventions come to be. Remember Einstein, or Buckminster Fuller, or Henry Ford, or the guy that designed the chair you’re sitting in right now, and use your CQ, your creative IQ to build a better future. Imagine yourself into the most amazing future you can conjure!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Have you ever watched a movie and marveled at how it’s woven together? The actors and the dialogue fit so well. All the locations, the lighting, even the editing seem so natural, so well done. I saw such a film the other day; it was just so darn believable it was sort of amazing. So I began to wonder, how do I know it’s just a movie, and am I in the process of creating one myself. After all, isn’t that what we’re doing when we plan our business (or our lives)? We’re essentially writing a script for ourselves. Many great sales people write sales scripts. They swear by them. That’s what we do when we create a marketing plan. Or build a brand, each day, frame by frame. At the end of the day, what has your audience seen, what will they now understand to be the ‘truth’ about your business… or yourself?
When we realize we are designing our future, we may choose differently. First of all, we may begin to choose, rather than pretend that we have no choice. Building a brand requires that we look into ourselves to ask what we really, really, really want. What kind of life, what kind of business will allow us to be our best, to find joy? It’s time for you to write the story that you want told. To be the star of your own movie. So, I ask you, who is writing the story of your life?
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
There is a particular element that seems to set many successful people apart from the rest of us. My father had it, and when I was young, my uncle told me a story about my dad, that at the time didn’t have the significance it has today. He told me that when my dad was a little kid he would spend hours alone in his room working on model airplanes. My uncle (his little brother) was really impressed with his determination, and his talents, but most of all he emphasized his ability to focus on the task until it was complete and well done. He also noted that my dad’s inherent capacity to focus was perhaps what most contributed to his later success in law school and business. Now, this story was told by a man (my uncle) who was on the NASA team, and certainly no slouch himself, yet he identified this most valuable skill as one that had the ability to separate good from great.
Focus is something many of us struggle with, as those of us who are self-employed have so much on their plates, it can be difficult to stay on course. Entrepreneurs are known for having lots of ideas, for being conceptual and visionary, but not necessarily focused. Running a business has many moving parts, lots of fires to put out, and it’s easy to be thrown off track. Having a clear focus can actually change your life. Here’s how:
• This week, identify ONE area to focus on.
• Each morning, select one to three actions that will move you forward in that area.
• Delegate whatever you can, so that you can keep on track.
• Every evening, before you end your day, notice the steps taken in that direction.
• Appreciate and silently acknowledge your progress. Then chart the next day’s course.
• Notice what happens… do you finish tasks more quickly, are they easier, do you handle them differently? What does focus bring you?
• Next week, begin again with step one…. Keep a journal to chart your progress, just for fun.
Although we all have many tasks to complete each day, we can isolate elements that are of particular importance and manifest more easily. We actually do it all the time, without noticing… just imagine if we harness our energy in a laser-like, intentional fashion? The power can be incredible! It’s no accident that super successful people have mastered this skill.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
You may be aware (or not) that I spend a fair amount of time speaking about Leadership. The other day, a client asked me what the heck that had to do with Branding. Feeling that if he has that thought, so do others, it seemed a great time to bring it to the fore.
Leadership and Branding are inextricably linked. Which means they cannot be untangled from one another. Think about it. If great branding is all about being different and standing out, isn’t that also the definition of leadership and the drive to innovate?
Great leaders may be born, but many aren’t aware of these qualities. Or perhaps cultivating and a form of excavation is needed for leaders to step into those shoes. A few years ago I was asked how long I’d held Leadership positions, and it really took me back. I had never considered myself a leader before. It took a bit for me to see that in fact I had indeed not only these qualities, but that I had eagerly taken on the role on numerous occasions going back many years.
Jim Rohn said, ‘”A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better.” This is my life’s work, and is also the work of my clientele. Those who seek to allow others to do well, or even better.
There is another layer though, that is most valuable. Another mentor of mine calls it the cycle of ‘change-adapt-grow’. In order to continue to lead we must embrace this cycle. No business owner, or growing professional can stay at a particular level. There is a drive, both internal and market driven for us to be more, to provide at a greater level, to develop a wider reach or larger market. It’s simply evolution. Again this is where Leadership enters the picture. Consider these tips to access your inner leader:
1. Embrace and acknowledge that you ARE already a leader in your marketplace.
2. Decide how your life purpose is being expressed thru your life and business endeavors.
3. Look at your past to see how you as Leader is woven through your path.
4. Plan to set yourself apart by stepping even more fully into this and create a business model that’s uniquely yours!
If you are reading this, you are likely a Leader whether you realize it or not. It’s time to step fully into this role, begin to change the norm in your industry, and help others adapt and grow to their fullest. As Leaders this is part of our Purpose, and as experts in your chosen field, it’s the best way to contribute to that which you love and feel passionate about.
Let me know what you think and how it’s going…. It really IS time to release your Inner Butterfly!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Humans seem to resist change. Few of us say, ‘YES, I love change!’ and embrace it wholeheartedly (myself among that group). Yet, you may have noticed that the world is constantly changing in many ways. Changing the way we do business, changing what we call business, changing the arena in which business occurs. Those young people who are 10 years old today will be operating in a completely different environment in only another ten. And the rest of us will need to adjust, adapt and recreate if we wish to thrive. Now, I’m likely not saying anything you’re not aware of. Yet I hear every day ‘the market is SO different’, and ‘wow, it’s so different from a year ago’, and with much surprise ‘my how things change’.
Call me crazy, but since we already know this, why all the shock and wonder? This is what is, and resisting change won’t make the world stand still or change this natural law.
If we decide to accept that fact, the world could be a very different place. What occurs in your first year of business aren’t the same challenges as in your fifth or fifteenth. Making plans and strategies are a great place to incorporate this principle. As you begin to plan, plan for change, build plans that reflect market conditions, and those that are impervious to market conditions. Look at the businesses that are able to thrive in any market, and learn valuable lessons from them. Some things never change, like the need to market and brand effectively. Here are some tips to embrace change everyday:
DO: Create a plan and strategy for growth.
DON’T: Look only 6 months out, or a year, but consider 6 years from now as well.
DO: Find multiple streams of income for your product, service or idea.
DON’T: Assume that once you’ve done it, you’re done. Keep learning, looking and creating new streams and let go of those which are no longer valid.
DO: Look to other industries to find new ways of doing business. Create new models.
DON’T: Put too much financial power into these, without testing.
DO: Look long term at building a brand presence in your chosen field.
DON’T: Assume that if you like it, so will your clients. Ask, research, and test.
DO: Identify and build a business based on your values.
DON’T: Forget how critical it is to keep to your values and brand promise, and build systems to keep them in place.
And finally:
DO: Continue to look deep inside yourself for what is possible. See change as opportunity.
DON’T: Do it all alone. We all need support, and a team that can help you be your best. Find your teachers, coaches and consultants, and remember to invest there too!
Here’s your chance to shift the tide, to become aware of how you view and navigate change. It’s time for all of us to say YES! to change. I’ll let you know how that goes with me, feel free to let me know about you too.
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