We've been doing some serious baking in our household this weekend and what a fun
(and messy) time we had.
I was reminded of the 'Recipe for Success' that someone once sent to me. I don't know the origin of this recipe or who to credit but try it out it's rather tasty.
1. Take the strengths you already have
2. Add adose of empowerment
3. Sprinkle generously with creative thinking
4. Stir in accountability, networking and commitment
5. Allow to simmer and watch as a powerful, successful business women emerges
Monday, 21 September 2009
Monday, 14 September 2009
Are You A Fraud?
Mary has officially been running her beauty consultancy business for the past six months ‘….but I feel such a fraud at times – on the surface I appear to be coping well, but under the exterior I often wonder how long I can keep this front up……….everyone else seems to know exactly what they are doing.’
Mary, although an expert in the beauty industry is experiencing a fairly common feeling , when she is working directly with her clients she feels very confident but a lot of her time is spent doing unfamiliar tasks and she often feels outside her comfort zone.
I pointed out to Mary that this was a fairly common experience in the early days of trading and this kind of self talk can quickly lead us to placing self - imposed limits upon on ourselves, it can stop us dead in our tracks if we aren’t quick to identify it.
I invite you to read the article below by Personal Development coach Karen Williams who describes how you can overcome just about anything that is holding you back and shares 20 top tips that will help you celebrate the good you are doing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you ever think that "I'm no good at this" and expect to be "found out"?
Do you dismiss your accomplishments or successes as a "fluke" or that you were "in the right place at the right time"?
Do you believe that other people think you are more intelligent than you believe you actually are?
Are you waiting for people to reveal that you are a phoney or exposed as a sham?
Do you think that any success you have is due to contacts, luck, good timing, or perseverance?
If you agree with any or all of these statements; don't worry, you're not alone. Studies indicate that up to 70% of people fear that they will be labelled as a phoney. Perhaps you don't feel that you are good enough, or something has happened to you that makes you put a downer on yourself.
Whatever your achievements and how good about something you feel, do you find it difficult to celebrate your successes and go out and shout about what you have achieved or done?
In today's society we are pressurised to do more with less, have higher expectations, and fit more and more into our days. It is no wonder that we feel angst and disappointment rather than euphoria and excitement. Sometimes it can link from the messages and expectations you received as a child and even during your adult life, but often we forget to celebrate our successes.
So, how can you celebrate every small thing that you achieve and have the belief and faith in your own abilities?
1. Don't set yourself impossible standards
2. Learn from your mistakes, brush yourself down and move on
3. Reward yourself for the effort you take to get things done not just for the outcome
4. Keep a success journal outlining all of your achievements and add to it every week, no matter how small you think it is
5. Recognise the times that you doubt yourself and remind yourself that you are good enough
6. Remember that you don't have to be superwoman or superman
7. When you receive a compliment, thank the person giving it to you rather than just brushing it off
8. If you want to appear more confident than you actually are in a situation, 'act as if'. You're not being a phoney, you are promoting yourself in the way you wish to be received
9. Give yourself permission to achieve your greatest potential
10. Take a risk and learn from it - good and bad
11. Recognise your negative inner voice which may tell you that you are not good enough. Acknowledge it, then ignore it or challenge it
12. Remind yourself daily that you are good enough
13. Never undervalue yourself
14. Do one thing each day that you don't want to do to move you closer to your dreams or goals
15. Don't compare yourself with others and remember that you are a unique person
16. Trust your instincts and listen to what your heart is telling you
17. Accept that there will be days when you want to stay under your duvet
18. Do something every day that you love to do
19. Acknowledge your strengths and make them stronger
20. Do a good deed, help someone else or make someone's day
Karen Williams is a personal development coach who helps people to re-find direction in their career. If you want to achieve greater success in your career, download your free tips now at www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk.Karen can also help you on your journey to career success. Register today at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/onlinecareerprogramme.html.
Mary, although an expert in the beauty industry is experiencing a fairly common feeling , when she is working directly with her clients she feels very confident but a lot of her time is spent doing unfamiliar tasks and she often feels outside her comfort zone.
I pointed out to Mary that this was a fairly common experience in the early days of trading and this kind of self talk can quickly lead us to placing self - imposed limits upon on ourselves, it can stop us dead in our tracks if we aren’t quick to identify it.
I invite you to read the article below by Personal Development coach Karen Williams who describes how you can overcome just about anything that is holding you back and shares 20 top tips that will help you celebrate the good you are doing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you ever think that "I'm no good at this" and expect to be "found out"?
Do you dismiss your accomplishments or successes as a "fluke" or that you were "in the right place at the right time"?
Do you believe that other people think you are more intelligent than you believe you actually are?
Are you waiting for people to reveal that you are a phoney or exposed as a sham?
Do you think that any success you have is due to contacts, luck, good timing, or perseverance?
If you agree with any or all of these statements; don't worry, you're not alone. Studies indicate that up to 70% of people fear that they will be labelled as a phoney. Perhaps you don't feel that you are good enough, or something has happened to you that makes you put a downer on yourself.
Whatever your achievements and how good about something you feel, do you find it difficult to celebrate your successes and go out and shout about what you have achieved or done?
In today's society we are pressurised to do more with less, have higher expectations, and fit more and more into our days. It is no wonder that we feel angst and disappointment rather than euphoria and excitement. Sometimes it can link from the messages and expectations you received as a child and even during your adult life, but often we forget to celebrate our successes.
So, how can you celebrate every small thing that you achieve and have the belief and faith in your own abilities?
1. Don't set yourself impossible standards
2. Learn from your mistakes, brush yourself down and move on
3. Reward yourself for the effort you take to get things done not just for the outcome
4. Keep a success journal outlining all of your achievements and add to it every week, no matter how small you think it is
5. Recognise the times that you doubt yourself and remind yourself that you are good enough
6. Remember that you don't have to be superwoman or superman
7. When you receive a compliment, thank the person giving it to you rather than just brushing it off
8. If you want to appear more confident than you actually are in a situation, 'act as if'. You're not being a phoney, you are promoting yourself in the way you wish to be received
9. Give yourself permission to achieve your greatest potential
10. Take a risk and learn from it - good and bad
11. Recognise your negative inner voice which may tell you that you are not good enough. Acknowledge it, then ignore it or challenge it
12. Remind yourself daily that you are good enough
13. Never undervalue yourself
14. Do one thing each day that you don't want to do to move you closer to your dreams or goals
15. Don't compare yourself with others and remember that you are a unique person
16. Trust your instincts and listen to what your heart is telling you
17. Accept that there will be days when you want to stay under your duvet
18. Do something every day that you love to do
19. Acknowledge your strengths and make them stronger
20. Do a good deed, help someone else or make someone's day
Karen Williams is a personal development coach who helps people to re-find direction in their career. If you want to achieve greater success in your career, download your free tips now at www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk.Karen can also help you on your journey to career success. Register today at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/onlinecareerprogramme.html.
Monday, 7 September 2009
Maintaining Your Business Mindset
Recently I was interviewed by Karen Williams of Self Discovery coaching, during which we spent considerable time discussing success and how it correlates to ones mindset.
Mindset intrigues me, Earl Nightingale said “We become what we think about”. So understanding how to adopt and maintain a positive business mindset is critical to our success- why? Because its one of the biggest factors that prevents many business women from marketing themselves effectively.
It was about three years ago that I first heard the term ‘business mindset’, mentioned by one of my mentors - it really made me sit up and listen as I heard her explain,
“The difference that really makes the difference between women who run their businesses successfully and those who have some intermittent success is their business mindset……….”
“……..It’s their attitude or approach to running their business that really makes the significant difference.”
She continued to describe this as the difference between those who ‘play at having a business’ and those who go out there and really make it happen. It was the bit about those who ‘play’ at business that struck a chord with me. I was guilty, I hadn’t taken things a seriously as I could’ve up until then, coming from a back ground in education I had little business knowledge and I had hoped that I would meet a few contacts thorough networking, they would refer me to friends and colleagues and my business would take off, I’d do a little bit of advertising (in all the wrong places I might add) and that would be sufficient.
So when my mentor talked about investing time, effort and money right from the start I knew I had to go back to basics, review my business plans, at least I had them! And start over like a professional not an amateur.
Every business decision you make today will affect your business tomorrow, with this in mind let me share with you my top 3 tips for creating a business mindset.
1. Start with the end in mind. You have to know where you are going if you are ever going to get there and to do this you need to think strategically and plan, plan, plan. Ask yourself, what specifically you are trying to create. Yes, you might have a great vision for your business but something I find that frequently gets overlooked is that you are ultimately in business to make a profit. Are you choosing to ‘play’ at being in business and just making a little extra pocket money or are you taking this venture seriously? Jot down your thoughts.
2. Act strategically. Why are you doing precisely what you do? Are you going with the flow just because everyone else appears to be? Or are you deciding what actions to take to bring you the best results? Every action you take needs to be focused.
You need to clearly define the results you are aiming for and question the choices are you making. Don’t just go along to the next networking event because you feel you ‘should’ or ‘ought’ to. Instead go along with a clear objection in mind, think of your actions strategically, otherwise you could be leaving money on the table. Ask yourself these questions.
Is this action good use of my time?
Are the actions I am taking leading to new clients or a financial reward?
Will this activity lead to where I ultimately want to go?
3) Learn from your mistakes. We all make them, take Thomas Edison and his famous experiments to invent the electric light bulb as an example. He didn’t perceive his copious attempts as failures but as advancements towards his ultimate goal.
What a powerful mindset to have?
Model Edison's approach and you will achieve so much more. So make new mistakes, but refrain from making the same mistakes and celebrate your successes.
Mindset intrigues me, Earl Nightingale said “We become what we think about”. So understanding how to adopt and maintain a positive business mindset is critical to our success- why? Because its one of the biggest factors that prevents many business women from marketing themselves effectively.
It was about three years ago that I first heard the term ‘business mindset’, mentioned by one of my mentors - it really made me sit up and listen as I heard her explain,
“The difference that really makes the difference between women who run their businesses successfully and those who have some intermittent success is their business mindset……….”
“……..It’s their attitude or approach to running their business that really makes the significant difference.”
She continued to describe this as the difference between those who ‘play at having a business’ and those who go out there and really make it happen. It was the bit about those who ‘play’ at business that struck a chord with me. I was guilty, I hadn’t taken things a seriously as I could’ve up until then, coming from a back ground in education I had little business knowledge and I had hoped that I would meet a few contacts thorough networking, they would refer me to friends and colleagues and my business would take off, I’d do a little bit of advertising (in all the wrong places I might add) and that would be sufficient.
So when my mentor talked about investing time, effort and money right from the start I knew I had to go back to basics, review my business plans, at least I had them! And start over like a professional not an amateur.
Every business decision you make today will affect your business tomorrow, with this in mind let me share with you my top 3 tips for creating a business mindset.
1. Start with the end in mind. You have to know where you are going if you are ever going to get there and to do this you need to think strategically and plan, plan, plan. Ask yourself, what specifically you are trying to create. Yes, you might have a great vision for your business but something I find that frequently gets overlooked is that you are ultimately in business to make a profit. Are you choosing to ‘play’ at being in business and just making a little extra pocket money or are you taking this venture seriously? Jot down your thoughts.
2. Act strategically. Why are you doing precisely what you do? Are you going with the flow just because everyone else appears to be? Or are you deciding what actions to take to bring you the best results? Every action you take needs to be focused.
You need to clearly define the results you are aiming for and question the choices are you making. Don’t just go along to the next networking event because you feel you ‘should’ or ‘ought’ to. Instead go along with a clear objection in mind, think of your actions strategically, otherwise you could be leaving money on the table. Ask yourself these questions.
Is this action good use of my time?
Are the actions I am taking leading to new clients or a financial reward?
Will this activity lead to where I ultimately want to go?
3) Learn from your mistakes. We all make them, take Thomas Edison and his famous experiments to invent the electric light bulb as an example. He didn’t perceive his copious attempts as failures but as advancements towards his ultimate goal.
What a powerful mindset to have?
Model Edison's approach and you will achieve so much more. So make new mistakes, but refrain from making the same mistakes and celebrate your successes.
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Take Your First Step
Have you ever dreamed about what you would do if you won the lottery?
It's nice to dream but in reality we have a higher chance of being struck by lightning!
So how about this? Have a think about what you would do differently with your life if there were absolutely no limitations of any kind, what you would do if you could not possibly fail and if you didn't have to answer to anyone else?
Write down your answers, because within your thoughts are seeds of ideas that you will certainly offer an awareness of a new sense of direction. When you know where you want to go, you can then create and take the first steps towards that ideal destination.
An Autobiography in five short chapters
CHAPTER 1
I walk down the street and there is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost,
I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
CHAPTER 2
I walk down the same street; there is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I'm in the same place.
CHAPTER 3
I walk down the same street; there is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it there.
I still fall in, it's a habit, but my eyes are open. I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
CHAPTER 4
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
CHAPTER 5
I walk down another street
Author unknown
It's nice to dream but in reality we have a higher chance of being struck by lightning!
So how about this? Have a think about what you would do differently with your life if there were absolutely no limitations of any kind, what you would do if you could not possibly fail and if you didn't have to answer to anyone else?
Write down your answers, because within your thoughts are seeds of ideas that you will certainly offer an awareness of a new sense of direction. When you know where you want to go, you can then create and take the first steps towards that ideal destination.
An Autobiography in five short chapters
CHAPTER 1
I walk down the street and there is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost,
I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
CHAPTER 2
I walk down the same street; there is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I'm in the same place.
CHAPTER 3
I walk down the same street; there is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it there.
I still fall in, it's a habit, but my eyes are open. I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
CHAPTER 4
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
CHAPTER 5
I walk down another street
Author unknown
Monday, 20 July 2009
What is your Keep in Touch Strategy?
How are you going to stay in regular contact with your prospects?
Picture this:
You have just spent the past week preparing for a speaking engagement at a large trade event, you made a good impression. Following the event you have a pocket full of business cards - contact details of people who are already interested in your product or service or in other words, warm leads.
What do you do next? Be honest – what do you do?
I know for sure that many of the women I work with make great efforts to keep in touch, sadly what is often lacking is strategy. Often their attempts are random, unpredictable and unplanned. They haven’t clearly defined or thought through a series of steps or a process which will deliver a specific message to their contacts. The trick is to create a natural blend of messages that gradually move your prospects closer to becoming paying clients.
Nurturing the relationships you already have I believe, is crucial to growing and sustaining your business. If you don’t these warm leads will quickly become cold again.
Picture this:
You have just spent the past week preparing for a speaking engagement at a large trade event, you made a good impression. Following the event you have a pocket full of business cards - contact details of people who are already interested in your product or service or in other words, warm leads.
What do you do next? Be honest – what do you do?
I know for sure that many of the women I work with make great efforts to keep in touch, sadly what is often lacking is strategy. Often their attempts are random, unpredictable and unplanned. They haven’t clearly defined or thought through a series of steps or a process which will deliver a specific message to their contacts. The trick is to create a natural blend of messages that gradually move your prospects closer to becoming paying clients.
Nurturing the relationships you already have I believe, is crucial to growing and sustaining your business. If you don’t these warm leads will quickly become cold again.
Monday, 13 July 2009
What does caring for a new puppy have to do with marketing?
Two weeks ago we brought home our adorable new addition to the family, an 8 week old Tibeten Terrier puppy, Bodington, or Bodders for short. He really is adorable and my daughters simply can’t wait to come home from school to play with him in the garden.
So why am I telling you this? Surely this can’t be pertinent to running your own business?
Well, it is and let me tell you why.
When Bodders left his mother and 7 siblings to start his life living with us there was a lot of adjusting he had to accustom himself to. The first night he slept soundly until 6am. Well wouldn’t you if you had to contend with your first car journey, a ferry ride across The Solent and a completely new environment, with strange people, oh and a cat. Pretty tiring all in all.
The second night, he initially settled well but then woke at 1am, making a noise which has since developed into a full blown bark. We’d been advised to leave him, to see if he would settle but after 20 minutes I must admit, I gave in, threw back the bed covers and went down stairs to reassure him.
This happened several times each night for the following four nights, each time I went downstairs and settled him and then he was fine.
I had to keep reminding him I was there, just like you need to consistently remind your prospects that you are there too. After all customers and clients can’t walk through your door if they don’t know you are there.
Keeping in touch with your prospects is such an important strategy that enables you to develop strong relationships with your prospective clients so they gradually get to know you, like you, trust and remember you before until they become ready to buy.
So what is your strategy? How do you keep in touch? how do you follow up and strengthen the relationships between yourself and your prospects?
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
How To Increase Your Fees And Still Get MORE Clients?
There’s so much talk about tightening purse strings but don’t be tempted to cut your prices. Many business owners believe that if they cut their prices they will gain more customers – not so.
It doesn’t necessarily follow that your sales volumes will increase. Putting up your fees is actually doing your clients a favour.
This is just one of the topics that marketing expert and author Hannah McNamara will be covering on her FREE Teleseminar event ‘ How to increase your fees and still get more clients’ on Thursday 9th July 2009.
You can claim your free place on this very special tele-seminar here:
Hannah McNamara will be covering so much material including:
* Why you could easily earn an extra £26,000 ($42,000) per year from your
coaching sessions alone - it won't happen overnight, but if you apply what
Hannah tells you, the results are guaranteed
* Which niche markets you should focus on and which you should avoid like the
plague if you want to be successful
* 3 ways that you are sabotaging your clients' successes - many coaches are
stopping their clients achieving their goals without even realising it
Hannah will also be previewing material from her new tell-all marketing training programme on this call.
Until now she has only revealed this information to a select number of people on her one-to-one coaching programme.
Fancy a sneak preview?
Claim your free place on this tele-seminar here:
It doesn’t necessarily follow that your sales volumes will increase. Putting up your fees is actually doing your clients a favour.
This is just one of the topics that marketing expert and author Hannah McNamara will be covering on her FREE Teleseminar event ‘ How to increase your fees and still get more clients’ on Thursday 9th July 2009.
You can claim your free place on this very special tele-seminar here:
Hannah McNamara will be covering so much material including:
* Why you could easily earn an extra £26,000 ($42,000) per year from your
coaching sessions alone - it won't happen overnight, but if you apply what
Hannah tells you, the results are guaranteed
* Which niche markets you should focus on and which you should avoid like the
plague if you want to be successful
* 3 ways that you are sabotaging your clients' successes - many coaches are
stopping their clients achieving their goals without even realising it
Hannah will also be previewing material from her new tell-all marketing training programme on this call.
Until now she has only revealed this information to a select number of people on her one-to-one coaching programme.
Fancy a sneak preview?
Claim your free place on this tele-seminar here:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
